Stanton Healthcare Joins with She Leads America and She Leads UK in Groundbreaking Consultation at Historic St. George's House at Windsor Castle NEWS PROVIDED BY Stanton Healthcare May 30, 2024 BOISE, Idaho, May 30, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- The name of the consultation is "Faith Based Solutions for Modern Day Challenges" and it brings together Christian women in leadership from across all sectors of society, both in the United States and the United Kingdom. Some of the topics during this consultation include: "Bringing the World Back to Life," which examines the Biblical view of LIFE from the 'womb to the tomb and beyond.' "The Dignity of Women," looks at the increasing attack on womanhood and the safety and equality of women in society today. Discussing the practical ways we can restore our identity and the dignity of women wherever they find themselves. "Ethnic Harmony," addresses the advantages and challenges of a multicultural society and how to connect with and serve our new neighbors. Brandi Swindell, Founder and CEO of Stanton Healthcare, will be a featured presenter on the panel, "Bringing the World Back to Life." Ms. Swindell comments about her presentation: "Stanton Healthcare is a women's healthcare clinic which specializes in serving women with unexpected pregnancies by providing professional medical care, practical and emotional support, women's wellness care and a special outreach to refugees and the marginalized. "It is critical the faith community makes sure that every woman facing an unexpected pregnancy has access to life-affirming quality medical care, compassionate resources and tangible support. This is especially true for minority and underserved communities. "I will also be addressing 'abortion abuse.' Abortion on demand has created an undue burden on millions of women who are often pressured into unwanted and forced abortions. This occurs most often by someone they trust, which is typical of other forms of abuse. At Stanton Healthcare, we stand with women, and we believe their stories. Abortion trauma is real. Abortion abuse needs to stop. "Our message is clear: Stanton stands with abortion abuse survivors. Forced, coerced, or pressured abortions are abusive and criminal. We are working to ensure that the full weight of the law is upheld to protect women, prevent forced abortions, and end abortion abuse and trafficking. "Stanton Healthcare is so thankful for 'She Leads America' and 'She Leads UK' for putting this critical event together." For more information or interviews contact Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741 SOURCE Stanton Healthcare CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741 China steadily enhances ability to ensure livelihood during development 09:42, May 30, 2024 By Ren Ping, Zhang Fan ( People's Daily "The Chinese people's aspiration for a better life is the goal we have been striving for, and the ultimate purpose of advancing reform and promoting development is to improve the livelihood of the people," Chinese President Xi Jinping said. Xi is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. Xi made the remarks while chairing a symposium attended by representatives from businesses and academia in Jinan, east China's Shandong province on May 23. Photo shows a community canteen in Cuijiayuan community, Xiujiang neighborhood, Yuanzhou district, Yichun, east China's Jiangxi province. (People's Daily Online/Zhou Liang) The essence of modernization is the modernization of people. Chinese modernization is a cause of the 1.4 billion Chinese people. Since entering the new era, China has achieved two miracles - rapid economic growth and lasting social stability. Putting livelihood issues in an important position is exactly one of the significant reasons for this success. The country has won the largest battle against poverty in human history and achieved moderate prosperity, the millennia-old dream of the Chinese nation. It has built the world's largest networks of high-speed railways and expressways. Besides, it has built the largest education, social security, and healthcare systems in the world. The splendid development of China is exactly a perfect answer sheet to livelihood problems. Livelihood progress is an important standard measuring economic and social development. Over 70 percent of China's government expenditures went toward ensuring the people's wellbeing. This year, the country has set aside 66.7 billion yuan (about $9.39 billion) for employment subsidies, 408.5 billion yuan for transfer payments for shared fiscal powers in education, and 76.5 billion yuan for subsidies for basic public health services. Minzhucun community of Xiejiawan neighborhood, Jiulongpo district in southwest China's Chongqing municipality was once troubled with poor housing conditions, outdated infrastructure, excessive sewage, and inadequate supporting facilities. A residential building is renovated in Huayuan Xincun village, Rucheng neighborhood, Rugao, east China's Jiangsu province. (People's Daily Online/Xu Hui) Today, this place has transformed into a vibrant community with a spacious community reception hall, a multifunctional service center, and a community canteen where delicious meals are served. By addressing deficiencies in facilities, enhancing community functions, and improving the quality of living, old communities have become new homes for residents in the new era. China is always working to address the needs of the people, from their basic necessities to reform and development, in an attempt to improve their wellbeing and create a better life for them. This fully embodies the people-centered philosophy followed by the country. China has strengthened its efforts in renovating old urban residential communities and ensuring the supply of affordable housing, so as to allow more families to be able to have a decent and secure place to live in. A free clinic is given by medical workers to a village in Aksu, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. (People's Daily Online/Bao Liangting) China has raised the thresholds for special additional deductions in personal income tax for taking care of children and the elderly, which benefits 66 million taxpayers. Besides, medicines covered by the medical-insurance system saved over 200 billion yuan for patients nationwide in 2023. Ensuring and improving people's livelihood helps build a better future. In Xicheng village, Lujiang county, Hefei, east China's Anhui province, villager Tao Youbao has installed household photovoltaic equipment on his rooftop, which he calls a "solar bank." According to him, the "solar bank" generates electricity for his family, and the surplus can be sold to the power grid, which earns him a few thousand yuan per year. As of 2023, China's installed capacity of distributed photovoltaic power generated by households exceeded 115 million kilowatts, equivalent to the capacity of approximately five Three Gorges power stations. It is predicted that nearly 27.3 billion square meters of total roof areas covering more than 80 million rural households can be installed with photovoltaic power generation equipment. A child plays on the playground of a kindergarten in Fuxing community, Dongying, east China's Shandong province. (People's Daily Online/Liu Zhifeng) The widespread adoption of household photovoltaics will not only contribute to rural vitalization, but also play a pivotal role in driving the green transformation of the energy sector. China works to meet people's aspirations for a better life, with an aim to provide them with more stable jobs, higher incomes, better education, and more reliable social security. Regions and departments across China have been making sustained efforts and taking more measures to strive for greater achievements in improving people's wellbeing. By focusing on the concerns of the people and addressing practical issues related to their livelihood, China will steadily enhance its ability to ensure livelihood during its development and continuously improve people's sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security. Photovoltaic panels and rural landscape make up a fantastic view in Yantao village, Changxing county, Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang province. (People's Daily Online/Chen Haiwei) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attends the inauguration ceremony of the Al-Zour Refinery in Ahmadi Governorate, Kuwait, May 29, 2024. Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah officially inaugurated the Al-Zour Refinery, marking the start of full operations at the country's largest refining facility. The ceremony, held on Wednesday at the Al-Zour complex around 90 km south of Kuwait City, also saw the participation of high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) KUWAIT CITY, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah officially inaugurated the Al-Zour Refinery, marking the start of full operations at the country's largest refining facility. The ceremony, held on Wednesday at the Al-Zour complex around 90 km south of Kuwait City, also saw the participation of high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Deputy Prime Minister and Oil Minister Imad Al-Ateeqi hailed the project as a cornerstone achievement, aligning with both Kuwait's national development plan and the 2040 strategy of the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC). Al-Ateeqi also noted that the full operation of the refinery solidified Kuwait's position as a key global energy supplier. The refinery's full operational capacity is 615,000 barrels per day and adheres to the latest environmental standards, according to Wadha Al-Khatib, acting CEO of KPC subsidiary Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC). The Al-Zour Refinery, with extensive participation of Chinese construction companies, is also seen as an example of the alignment between China's Belt and Road Initiative and Kuwait's "2035 National Vision." Over half of the project contracts were awarded to Chinese companies. Notably, Sinopec Fifth Construction Company completed six refining units by 2021, while Sinopec Luoyang Engineering Company, acting as a general contractor, finalized 15 core units in 2019. Deputy Prime Minister and Oil Minister Imad Al-Ateeqi attends the inauguration ceremony of the Al-Zour Refinery in Ahmadi Governorate, Kuwait, May 29, 2024. Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah officially inaugurated the Al-Zour Refinery, marking the start of full operations at the country's largest refining facility. The ceremony, held on Wednesday at the Al-Zour complex around 90 km south of Kuwait City, also saw the participation of high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Wadha Al-Khatib, acting CEO of Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company, attends the inauguration ceremony of the Al-Zour Refinery in Ahmadi Governorate, Kuwait, May 29, 2024. Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah officially inaugurated the Al-Zour Refinery, marking the start of full operations at the country's largest refining facility. The ceremony, held on Wednesday at the Al-Zour complex around 90 km south of Kuwait City, also saw the participation of high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Algerias state-owned energy firm Sonatrach expects to sign in the coming days an agreement with Chevron that is set to boost the countrys natural gas production, Algerian Energy Minister Mohamed Arkab has said. The deal with the U.S. supermajor will be signed within the next few days, Arkab told state television in an interview carried by Bloomberg. Algeria, the North African OPEC producer, is looking to raise its natural gas production and exports and will remain a key provider of gas to Europe, the minister said. Last week, the other U.S. supermajor, ExxonMobil, signed an agreement with the Algerian government for exploration at two natural gas fields in the North African country. Exxon, in partnership with Algerias state energy firm Sonatrach, will study the existing opportunities to develop the hydrocarbon resources in the Ahnet basin and the Gourara basin in the southern part of the country, the New Arab reported. Algeria holds huge conventional natural gas reserves, and it is also estimated to have the thirdlargest shale gas reserves in the world after China and Argentina. Early last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Chevron had increased efforts to reach an energy exploration agreement with Algeria and was assessing the North African countrys estimated huge shale gas resources. Most of Algerias gas exports are heading to Europe, which is increasingly betting on Africa to import large volumes of pipeline gas and LNG to replace pipeline gas supply from Russia, which was Europes top gas supplier before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Italys energy major, Eni, has been particularly active in securing more natural gas supply for Europe from Africa and has fast-tracked projects in Africa to meet Europes gas demand in the absence of Russian pipeline deliveries. Moreover, the UKs Grain LNG, Europes largest liquefied natural gas terminal, signed earlier this year a ten-year agreement that will extend the long-term storage and redelivery capacity of Sonatrach at the Grain LNG terminal from January 2029. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The European Union member states formally adopted on Thursday a decision to withdraw from a 1990s energy pact that allows oil companies to sue governments over their climate policies. The Councils decision today gave the final green light for the EU and Euratom to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty after the European Parliament approved it during its last plenary session in April 2024, the EU said in a statement. The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), signed in 1994 and in force since 1998, was originally designed to promote international investment in the energy sector and has historically provided protections for investors in fossil fuels. The treaty basically allows oil firms to sue governments for compensation for lost profits if they think energy policies have harmed their business. As the EU and other developed economies are looking to become carbon neutral by 2050, staying in this treaty has become problematic for many of them. Last year, the European Commission proposed a coordinated EU withdrawal from the pact, as the treaty has been largely unchanged since it was agreed in the 1990s, and is no longer compatible with the EUs enhanced climate ambition under the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement. Member states who wish to remain contracting parties after the EUs and Euratoms withdrawal will be able to vote during the upcoming Energy Charter Conference expected to take place by end-2024 by approving or not opposing the adoption of a modernized agreement, the EU said today. Following approvals from all EU institutions and member states, the decisions on the withdrawal of the EU and Euratom, as well as the decisions on the modernization of the Energy Charter Treaty, enter into force as of today. The withdrawal will take effect one year after the receipt of the notification by the depositary of the treaty. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Germany will abolish from 2025 a controversial levy on natural gas storage which countries in central Europe have had to pay to get gas piped through Germany. Countries in central Europe, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia are being charged by Germany with the so-called gas storage levy on exports of natural gas from Germany. The tax has raised tensions between the central European countries and Germany, with Germanys neighbors saying that the tax makes their gas imports from Germany more expensive and their efforts to reduce Russian gas imports futile. Berlin introduced in October 2022 the so-called gas storage levya national export duty on natural gas, which has since increased the cost of exporting gas from Germany to Central and Eastern Europe. Now the levy on gas exports will be scrapped from January 2025, Sven Giegold, Germanys state secretary for economic affairs and climate action, said on Thursday. Still, an increase in the tax will go as planned from July 2024, Giegold added, as quoted by Bloomberg. For traders within Germany, the gas storage levy will remain beyond 2025, the official noted. It was never our intention to hamper the diversification away from Russian gas, Giegold said, commenting on the announcement of scrapping the gas levy for cross-border transit. Austria welcomed the German decision, with Climate and Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler saying that the end of the gas storage levy for imports of non-Russian natural gas to Austria, which Germany announced today, is an important success. Austria has pressured officials during numerous meetings for an end to the levy, pointing out that this measure was contrary to European law, Gewessler said on X. The scrapping of the German levy also removes another obstacle to the EU and Austria, as there are now no excuses left for increasing gas dependence on Russia, Gewessler added. Only independence gives us energy security, the minister concluded. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: California could avoid rolling blackouts this summer thanks to a fast buildout in battery storage capacity, the states Energy Commission said this week. Since 2020, California has added 18.5 gigawatts of new resources as Bloomberg put it in a report on the news. These include 6.6 GW in battery storage capacity, 6.3 GW of solar generation capacity, and 1.4 GW of solar plus storage, the California Energy Commission said. These should provide supply security during the hottest months of the year, in combination with hydropower, which has increased after two wet winters, the authority also said. In case of extreme heat, the capacity already built could supply an additional 5 GW of electricity, helped by so-called peaker gas-fired plants. We are going into the summer feeling much more prepared and confident, said the vice chair of the California Energy Commission, Siva Gunda. He added, however, that supply could still be jeopardized by wildfires if they affect transmission lines. One of the patterns over the last four years was the unexpected, Gunda said. Earlier this month the California Energy Commission boasted that as much as 61% of retail electricity sales in the state came from non-hydrocarbon sources, after historic investment that has led to an extraordinary pace of development in new clean energy generation. California plans to have a 100% emission-free grid by 2045 and is moving in that direction by building solar generation capacity and battery storage, mostly. Plans are to add another 18.8 GW of new clean resources by 2028. California is the biggest solar generator in the United States and it also has the most battery storage to back up that generation in the world, after China. The emission-free grid plan by 2045 would necessitate the buildout of some 50 GW in battery storage capacity by that year. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Saudi Arabia is expected to launch as soon as Sunday a secondary share sale in its oil giant Aramco, Reuters reported on Thursday, quoting sources familiar with the plans. The landmark new share offering needs final approval from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to Reuters sources. Last week, reports started emerging that Saudi Aramco planned to sell more shares as soon as next month. The news about a planned sale was exclusively reported last Friday by Reuters, which cited two unnamed sources as saying there were such intentions at Aramco. One of these sources said the deal could bag Aramco some $10 billion in proceeds. Decisions about share sales are matters for our shareholders and are not something we are able to comment on, the company itself said in a response to the report. Currently, Saudi Arabia owns just over 98% of Aramco after selling 1.7% in the initial public offering (IPO) in December 2019. Of the 98% held by the Kingdom, the Saudi government owns 90% of Aramco, while the sovereign wealth fund owns the other 8%. The Saudis initially aimed to list Aramco on the Saudi stock exchange, Tadawul, and on one major international market, with London, New York, Tokyo, and Hong Kong all rumored or reported to have been in the race. But in the end, tepid investor demand and the possibility of exposing the Kingdom to lawsuitsespecially with a New York listingforced the rulers to downsize the Aramco IPO. Saudi Aramco made its debut on the Saudi Stock Exchange in December 2019 and raised around $30 billion in the share listing which became the largest in history. Since the IPO, Saudi rulers, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have said on several occasions there would be more Aramco shale sales on Tadawul in the future. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Record-high crude imports in India have pushed Asias oil arrivals in May to the highest level in a year, per data compiled by LSEG Oil Research and cited by Reuters columnist Clyde Russell. Asia, the key crude oil importing region and a gauge of oil demand trends, is set to welcome in May 27.81 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil volumes, nearly 1 million bpd higher than the April imports, per the LSEG Oil Research data. Most of the 920,000-bpd growth in Asias estimated crude oil imports this month has been thanks to a 710,000-bpd surge in volumes shipped to India, which is back to importing increased volumes of cheaper Russian crude oil. India is estimated to see its crude imports jump to a record-high of 5.26 million bpd in May, up by 710,000 bpd from 4.55 million bpd of crude imported in April, according to the data compiled by LSEG Oil Research. While India is leading Asias crude imports higher, China is again showing signs of weaker import demand. The worlds top crude oil importer is expected to haul in 10.72 million bpd of crude in May, down from the 10.93 million bpd imports in April and the lowest per-day volumes since January, Reuters Russell notes. The stronger Indian economy compared to China and the renewed appetite from Indian refiners for Russian crude after hesitation earlier this year when stricter U.S. sanctions on Russias oil trade were enforced have been pushing Indian fuel demand and crude imports higher in recent weeks. For example, India is estimated to have boosted its imports of Russian crude to a nine-month high in April, per data Reuters has obtained from industry and shipping sources. Moreover, Indias crude oil demand has been growing this year despite consistently higher prices, suggesting that it is more resilient to price rises than some expected. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Ghanaian government has issued a restriction order on travellers from countries with over 200 confirmed cases of Coronavirus Covid-19. A travel advisory signed by a Ghanaian minister of information, Kojo Nkrumah, on Sunday, says people who have been to countries with over 200 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the last 14 days would not be allowed into Ghana. Ghanaian citizens or persons with Ghana residence permit, are exempted from the ban. The minister, added that however, persons allowed into the country will undergo a 14-day mandatory self-quarantine. Nkrumah noted that the ban was placed after confirmed cases of coronavirus increased to six after four more people, all of whom who traveled abroad, tested positive. The advisory reads: All travel to Ghana is strongly discouraged until further notice. Any traveler, except for Ghanaian citizens and persons with Ghana residence permits, who, within the last l4 days, has been to a country that has recorded at least 200 cases of Covid-19 will not be admitted into the Ghanaian Jurisdiction. Airlines are instructed not to allow such persons to embark. Border posts are instructed not to allow such persons into the jurisdiction. There will be a mandatory l4-day self-quarantine for persons who are otherwise allowed to enter the Ghanaian jurisdiction. Guidelines for sclf-quarantine will be available at the various Ghanaian ports of entry. Enforcement protocols are being deployed in collaboration with state security and health authorities. Persons determined to be unable to satisfactorily self-quarantine will be quarantined by the State. Any admissible traveler, who exhibits symptoms of Covid-l9 will be quarantined and tested upon reaching Ghana. Ghanas restrictions will affect travellers from about 30 countries, mostly in Europe, Asia and the U.S. For now, no African country might be affected by the restrictions as none has recorded about 200 cases. At least 19 countries in Africa including Nigeria have reported at least a case of the disease. HANOI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China surpassed South Korea to become Vietnam's largest source of tourists in May with 357,907 arrivals, or nearly 40 percent of all foreign visitors, local media has reported. It marked the first time China regained its status as the biggest feeder market since it reopened its borders in March 2022, according to VnExpress. Vietnam recorded more than 1.4 million international arrivals in May, a surge of 51 percent year on year, according to the General Statistics Office. It raised the country's total number of international arrivals in the first five months to nearly 7.6 million, up 64.9 percent year on year and 3.9 percent higher than the pre-pandemic level of the same period in 2019, said the office. During the cited period, most of the arrivals (6.3 million) were via air routes, accounting for 83.7 percent of the total, followed by road (1.1 million) and sea (162,400). The majority of visitors from January to May came from Asia with over 5.8 million. Favorable visa policies and attractive tourism stimulus programs in many localities were attributed to the rising number of foreign visitors to Vietnam, according to the office. As soon as it was announced that Beyonce, Donald Glover and Chiwetel Ejiofor will star in the upcoming live-action remake of The Lion King, it immediately shot to the top of everyones most anticipated movies list. Now, as the release date nears, weve just got another trailer for the film, and this time, we get our first glimpse of Chiwetel Ejiofor as Simbas villanous uncle, Scar. Disney has breathed new life into several animated features in recent years, such as Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book etc, repeatedly finding an impressive collection of talent to do so. The British-Nigerian actor was cast as Scar, which is super exciting, and now weve been given a first look. Scar is the films main antagonist, and the live action remake steers away from the original Scar being a bit effeminite. From the second trailer, the despondent nature of Scars empire is really highlighted, complete with a thin and straggly looking lion, with a powerful roaring voice. The Lion King remake is only a hundred days away, and were not sure those days can come any quicker. Hopefully, Disney will continue to satiate us with more clips from the film, before its July 19 release. Check out the trailer right here: [embedded content] Anthony Martial has confirmed that he will leave Manchester United this summer after nine years. Martials contract expires at the end of 2023/24 campaign and having not agreed an extension, he has announced that he will be departing. In an open letter, via The Mirror, to supporters on social media on Monday evening read: Dear Manchester United fans, Its with great emotion that I write to you today to say goodbye. After nine incredible years at the club, the time has come for me to turn a new page in my career. Since I arrived in 2015, I have had the immense honour of wearing this shirt and playing in front of you, the best supporters in the world! You have been an unwavering support, through the good times and the difficult. Your passion and loyalty have been a constant source of motivation for me. Id like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything youve done for me. Your songs, your encouragement and your love for the club are memories that will remain engraved in my heart forever. I would also like to express my gratitude to all my team-mates, technical staff and all the members of the club I have met during my 9 years here. I am proud to have been able to share these experiences with you. Also Read: NFF Discredits Report Of Unpaid Bonuses, Allowances Manchester United will always be in my heart. This club has left its mark on my career and offered me an incredible opportunity to play in front of you. Im leaving to take on new challenges, Ill always be a Red Devil and Ill continue to follow the clubs results with passion. Thank you again for everything, and see you soon. With all my affection, Anthony Martial. Martial joined United in 2015 as a teenager from Monaco in a deal worth an initial 36m, potentially rising as high as 57.6m. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described a statement credited to former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode over the abduction of nine Muslim children in Kano as misleading, deceitful and unrealistic. Recall that about nine children were recently kidnapped in Kano and were allegedly taken to Onitsha in Anambra state where they were sold, and eventually rescued by the Kano Police Command. While MURIC had described the abduction as kidnapping for Christ, claiming that nine Muslim children were converted to Christianity and sold into slavery, Fani-Kayode had countered the claim, insisting that the abduction was an act of wickedness which has nothing to do with religion. Not satisfied with FFKs reaction, the Islamic human rights group through its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Friday, 18th October, 2019 rejected FFKs pontifications and described them as misleading, deceitful and unrealistic. FFK has committed a fundamental blunder. Was he not the one that came out with scud missiles shelling mercilessly from all artillery machines in March 2016 over the Ese Oruru imbroglio? There was nothing he did not say at that time. FFK should listen to himself sometimes. By the way, what has FFK got to say about another case of abduction of a 6-year-old Muslim boy, Ukashatu, who was kidnapped, baptised and sold to Madam Christiana. Perhaps FFK will tell us that Christiana is not a Christian name? Anyway, Madam Christiana gave Ukashatu a Christian name, Michael. Ukashatu was not found until a few days ago. He is now Michael, aged 14. Still, nobody kidnaps for Christ? But pray, what is the nexus between Ukashatu and Michael if it is true that nobody kidnaps for Christ? FFK speaks with his tongue in his cheek. FFK should realize that he is a leader and a leader should lead responsibly. He should stop manifesting double standards. Playing to the gallery, particularly using inflammatory statements and double-speaking are not characteristics of responsible leadership. Christians and Muslims in Nigeria share the same destiny and the leaders must not steer that destiny towards ruination. In conclusion, we appeal to Nigerians to always consider issues dispassionately. We should all reject and expose the criminals in our midst. There should be no attempt to extenuate the crimes of brothers-in-Christ or those of brothers-in-Islam. Crime is crime whether it is committed by a Christian or by a Muslim. It has no other name. We must also boldly and objectively reject attempts by fanatical Christians and Muslims in our midst to seek conversion using fair and foul methods. Speaking for the first time since President Muhammaadu Buhari was declared winner of the 2019 presidential elections, former President Olusegun Obasanjo says his criticism against President Muhammadu Buhari was not personal, but in the interest of the country. Obasanjo who clocked 82 on Tuesday, spoke on his criticism of Buharis administration during his birthday anniversary celebration held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, in Abeokuta. The former president while responding to the remarks by the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Michael Gbadebo, who advised Obasanjo to stop attacking Buhari, said he (Obasanjo) is Buharis boss. There is nothing personal between President Buhari and me. In a democracy, you can criticize a policy, a government or a leader because democracy is not a family affair. So, if I say anybody in government in Nigeria or any government for that matter is not doing well, let that government prove that it is well. Its not anything personal. So, Kabiyesi, your boss, Buhari; there is nothing personal between me and him. Just as he is your boss, I am his boss, with all due respect. Now, the point is that I have been in that position longer than any Nigerian will ever be there. Thats true. If any Nigerian comes in and have two terms, he will not have almost four years of military rule. So, I have been there longer than any Nigerian would ever be there. So, when I say something I know what I am talking about. Kabiyesi, anytime you say, leave my boss alone, I say he is your boss. But I am also his (Buhari) boss. So, you might also ask your boss (Buhari) to leave his boss alone or do what is right than his boss wants him to do. Earlier in his goodwill message, Alake who served as a military officer during the military administration of Muhammadu Buhari between 1983 and 1985, disclosed that he had always told Obasanjo to leave his boss alone. Those guys who are talking about three terms, should check their mathematics because Obasanjo had gone beyond. At 82, baba is still fighting on, please, fight less and be a consultant to everybody. You are a warrior all your life. You need to rest, fight less, and rather take a position of a consultant at your new age. At 82 years of age, I think you should keep your sword more rather than use it always, he said. Organisers of the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) 78th Birthday Essay Competition are yet to pay four winners that emerged from a quiz six weeks ago. Some Nigerians had participated in the essay with a grand prize of N100,000 up for grabs in four different categories. According to one of the winners, on July 20th, an essay competition was announced via Facebook in honour of the former Head of State. And on August 17th, the organiser, Mr. Earl Yemi Saka, announced the four winners via the social media platform. Abubakar Akote (Media practitioners category) won N100,000 for his essay on, The impact of Ethnicity and Religion on promotion of Public Peace and National Cohesion in Nigeria. In the Legal Practitioners category, Aliu Toyin Abdul, also won N100,000 for his writing on, Presumption of innocence and legal technicality in effective corruption cases between 2015 and 2018: Nigeria as a case study. Chioma Okonkwo won N100,000 in the Medical Practitioners and Related Fields category. She wrote on Drug Control and mental health in Nigeria: Efforts and Challenges, while Ogbaga Sunday Thomas won N100,000 in Undergraduates and Post Graduates Students category. He wrote on the topic, Artificial intelligence, Robotics and emerging employment requirements: How relevant is the curriculum of Nigerias universities? The winner recalled that Mr. Saka posted of short video of General Babangida going over the entries on August 23. In the video, Babangida commended the writers and asked that their works be published online for public consumption. I think you should make sure that these essays are placed on websites so that others will be able to access the efforts that these young children are putting in because these are good, General Babangida said. Speaking on the delay in the payment of the prize money, Saka said, First of all, many charitable activities were outlined towards the celebration of the 78th Birthday of IBB which execution commenced on Monday, August 19 2019. Classrooms were to be renovated in some schools, medical bills of some indigent people to be settled, grants to be given to some students, scholarships for some students to study at El-Amin International Schools. A widow who lost her husband to his heroic feat is billed to be given financial support and the essay competition. In strict compliance to religious dictates, the family did not publicise these activities. Second of all, these projects are executed in order of priority as deemed fit by the Press Office. The winners will corroborate my claims as I contacted them few days ago for their bank details. Third of all, I take responsibility for the delay as I did not inform the winners and judges about other activities and delay. Going forward, the lesson from this is we shall create a dedicated account for subsequent editions to eliminate such delay, and I assure you this will be resolved within the next forty-eight (48) hours. The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is investing $742,000 (10.8 million Ghana Cedis) in fonio production to increase food security and improve farmers livelihoods in northern Ghana. This funding will support AMAATI, a Ghanaian social enterprise, to expand its fonio processing capacity from three to ten metric tonnes per day at its factory in Tamale. Fonio is a drought-resistant, gluten-free, grain from the millet family. It regenerates degraded soil and is packed with numerous nutrients and health benefits. Fonio isnt just a grain; its a symbol of resilience, empowerment, and progress, for communities across northern Ghana, especially for women who have limited access to land, said USAID/Ghana Deputy Mission Director Grace Lang during the opening of the expanded AMAATI fonio factory in Tamale. USAID Ghana Deputy Mission Director shows off a new package of fonio - a sustainable grain grown in Northern Ghana and processed at AMAATI's factor in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana (May 29, 2024). Since 2021, USAIDs West Africa Trade and Investment Hub (WATIH) has supported AMAATI, which pioneered the revival of fonio in northern Ghana, to develop a 1,000-hectare fonio farm, train 8,100 landless and disenfranchised farmers, mainly women and youth, to produce and process fonio, to engage in good agricultural practices, and to export fonio worth $4.6 million (66.9 million Ghana Cedis). This factory represents our [USAID and AMAATI] joint commitment to develop the fonio market in West Africa. It will enable more women and youth in northern Ghana to engage in fonio farming and facilitate value-added manufacturing of the super grain for domestic consumption and export Lang added. The United States is Ghanas largest bilateral development partner. In 2023 USAIDs bilateral development assistance, totaling over $140 million, was dedicated to supporting agriculture, economic growth, health, education, governance, and more. WATIH supports businesses, like AMAATI, to increase productivity and competitiveness, and access the U.S. market. Through the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), Ghana can export more than 6,500 products to the United States duty free. About USAID USAID is the lead U.S. government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAIDs activities and strategic partnerships support Ghana to advance an integrated approach to development, promoting accountability, sustainable systems, and inclusive development. About WATIH The USAID-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub is a five-year, $116 million trade and investment facilitation activity designed to improve private sector productivity, profitability, and competitiveness in West Africa through market-based approaches. By working in partnership with the private sector and fostering co-investments, the Trade Hub generates new private-sector capital investment in key sectors to create jobs and increase trade between the United States and West Africa. About AMAATI AMAATI Company, Ltd. is a Ghanaian social enterprise that pioneered the revival of fonio, an ancient African grain that is gluten-free and high in nutrients. Working with farmers to produce and process fonio, AMAATI was formed with the idea of creating a sustainable livelihood for women farmers using regenerated land Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] 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 Tullow has partnered Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) to launch the Tullow Alumni Connect (TAC) in Ghana. The move reflects Tullows long-standing commitment to education in Ghana and reinforces a strong partnership with Youth Bridge Foundation over the years. Education is a critical component of a thriving economic future. However, educational achievement does not automatically translate into a successful career. Research has shown the important role experience, expertise, skills and mentorship, contribute to advancing young careers. The Tullow Alumni Connect has been launched to bridge this gap in Ghana. Since 2012, Tullow has been at the forefront of advancing the educational journeys of many young people in Ghana, with more than 1,000 students being empowered to transition into tertiary education. The Alumni network will invite these beneficiaries, in addition to beneficiaries of various Tullow tertiary scholarship schemes, to become part of a community of alumni focused on supporting young people through mentoring and essential skills training. The aim is to reach 1,000 students every year and link about 600 beneficiaries to employment opportunities through the network. Seth Oteng, Executive Director of Youth Bridge Foundation, said: Building on our successful partnership with Tullow to date, the Alumni Network will bridge gaps for positive youth development in Ghana. We are helping young people position themselves for success. Cynthia Lumor, Deputy Managing Director, Tullow Ghana, said: As a responsible and progressive company, we have always emphasised the importance of education as a driver of growth and prosperity. It has the power to unlock opportunities for transformation. Working in partnership with the right organisations, such as the Youth Bridge Foundation in Ghana, can help us make long-lasting impact in Ghana. Beyond Tullows contribution to education since its inception in Ghanas oil fields, the company also announced in 2021, an investment of US$10 million over five years in Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service in partnership with the Council of Bureaux of Ecowas Brown card insurance scheme is in Ghana to educate drivers on the need to have motor insurance for future benefits. Speaking to the Media, the General Secretary for the Ecowas Brown card insurance scheme, Mr Richard Eshun stated that the Ecowas Brown Card scheme is anchored on the key ECOWAS objective of economic integration and the free movement of persons, goods and services across the sub-region. He stated that the main objective is to ensure prompt and fair compensation to victims of motor accidents caused by non-resident motorists travelling to and from other ECOWAS member States resulting in deaths, injuries and property damage. He again said The Brown Card Insurance Scheme serves as a common insurance cover against Third Party Liabilities that the visiting motorists may incur while travelling in other member states. Mr Richard Eshun made this known during the celebration of the 42nd Anniversary of the Council of Bureaux of Ecowas Brown card insurance scheme which began with education of drivers on the Achimota Overhead (N1 Highway) Mr Richard Eshun therefore urged drivers and car owners to ask for the Ecowas Brown card after insuring their cars at the insurance company. The Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng, also advised drivers on the need to have motor insurance. Source: Clinton Akwasi Amoako 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 Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, and some members of Ghana's parliament probably had a lot to think about after an engagement with the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye. Apostle Nyamekye, in a viral video clip of the engagement, could be heard urging Ghanaians to learn to live selfless lives. "Your Excellency, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana; the convenor of this meeting, the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin; Your Ladyship, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana; for the sake of time, please permit me to address the rest of us as ladies and gentlemen, good evening. "... all of us who desire to have a good name, you need to serve humanity. Now, the suggestion that I'm going to offer is this: live and work for the good of people," the pastor said. He then turned to face the politicians at the event and gave them a dressing-down on how they have managed to make the country's democracy about money. He said that the actions of the political class in the country would soon lead to criminals leading the country. "Maybe I should turn here and look at the faces of my parliamentarians. You are making democracy too expensive. The monetisation of what we call democracy is dangerous. Soon we are not going to have good leaders because you will need people who have cash, and it doesn't matter where they got the cash from. "This thing is dangerous. If we think that we cannot follow this American democracy, let us stop it. Let us design something that would help this nation. It is dangerous, and I'm even afraid of the future; I'm afraid of the future," the Pentecost chairman fumed. He also slammed the politicians for tricking Ghanaians into voting for them by giving them meagre items like cutlasses and lanterns, rather than putting measures in place to better the lives of ordinary citizens. "How can you deceive people just by buying a cutlass for them, and you pride yourself on it? What a shame. I pray that God will save this land. God will save this land because many of us are poor, and instead of investing in them, you deceive them with lanterns and cutlasses. May God have mercy on us," he said. The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; and the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, could be seen looking on quietly as the pastor was addressing them. There were mixed feelings at the event as some people could be seen clapping while others had their hands covering their mouths. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The High Court in Accra has granted Samuel Ofosu-Ampofos request for time to open his defense following complications suffered after minor surgery. The former National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was expected in court on Thursday, May 30, 2024, to open his defense in the case in which he is facing charges alongside Anthony Kwaku Boahen. However, when the case was called before Justice Samuel Asiedu, a Justice of the Supreme Court sitting as an additional High Court judge, counsel for Ofosu-Ampofo, Tony Lithur, said his client had 'aggravated his leg' following a long flight. "You gave us today (Thursday, May 30) to open our defense," counsel acknowledged. He said, "Fortunately, the first accused (Ofosu-Ampofo) is back in the country, and it appears the long flight has aggravated his leg a bit." Counsel also informed the court that "yesterday (Wednesday), when I asked him to come for preparation, he said he couldnt walk." Mr. Lithur said he has since "procured a medical excuse duty." He said, "I have spoken to him, and his doctor says because it is just a swell, within a week or two, he could walk with a stick to court." The counsel said the information has been made known to the prosecution, led by Director of Public Prosecutions Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, and she has agreed to their request for adjournment. Mrs. Obuobisa corroborated the submission made by Tony Lithur, saying, "We are in agreement for the adjournment." Though the parties agreed to come back in two weeks, which would have fallen on June 13, 2024, Justice Samuel Asiedu adjourned the case to June 20, citing congestion in the court's schedule. The case has been adjourned to June 20, 2024. EIB Networks Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reported that while Ofosu-Ampofo was absent, Anthony Kwaku Boahen was present. At the last court sitting on April 25, the court directed that the former Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC, Anthony Kwaku Boahen, should be ready to open his defense today should Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo remain absent. However, the update that Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo is back in the country softens that stance. Ofosu-Ampofo is standing trial with Anthony Kwaku Boahen, the former Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC. They are being tried for allegedly conspiring to cause harm to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and the Chairman of the Peace Council. Both are also separately facing a charge of assault on a public officer, have both pleaded not guilty and have been granted bail. Background: Sometime in November 2023, lawyers for the former NDC Chairman, led by Tony Lithur, provided a letter indicating that their client was in the United States undergoing treatment for post-surgery complications. The content of the letter given to the court by the prosecution indicated that his condition is such that he cannot travel for at least six months. The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution, has closed its case after calling three witnesses. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video NAIROBI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Council of the European Union on Thursday gave the final approval of the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The EPA deal will preserve Kenya's long-term tax-free access to exports to the 27 countries in the EU bloc while gradually opening up her market for duty-free imports and investments from Europe. "This will boost trade in goods and create new economic opportunities, with targeted cooperation to enhance Kenya's economic development," the EU said in a statement. The EU is Kenya's top export destination and its second-largest trading partner, posting 3.6 billion U.S. dollars in trade in 2022, up 27 percent from 2018, according to EU statistics. According to the EU, the EPA provides a platform to support job creation on both sides, along with targeted cooperation to enhance Kenya's economic development. "The agreement will provide duty-free, quota-free EU market access to all exports from Kenya (except arms) as soon as it enters into force, as well as partial and gradual opening of the Kenyan market to imports from the EU," the statement said. The agreement includes binding provisions on trade and sustainable development, such as climate and environmental protection and labor rights, and a transparent dispute resolution mechanism. "This is the most ambitious economic partnership agreement the EU will have with a developing country when it comes to sustainability provisions," the statement said. The agreement, which has already been approved by Kenya's National Assembly, will enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date on which the parties have notified each other of the completion of their respective internal procedures. The Minority leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has petitioned the Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo for a live broadcast of the ongoing Ambulance trial. This was contained in a letter from his lawyers to the Chief Justice on Thursday, May 30. The request follows the recent allegations made by the third accused in the case, Richard Jakpa against the Attorney-General, Godfred Yebaoh Dame. It will be recalled that, on Thursday, May 23, while undergoing cross examination, the third accused alleged that, the Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame had engaged him to provide false testimony against the Minority leader in the ongoing trial. "We write to formally request the live broadcast of all subsequent court proceedings in the case of Republic vs. Cassiel Ato Forson & 2 Ors (Case No: CR/0198/2022). This request is made on behalf of our Client in the light of recent developments that have significantly impacted public perception of the case and the administration of justice," the petition stated. Following the development, Dr Ato Forson believes that, a live broadcast of the trial will ensure transparency and accountability in order to advance the course of justice. Dr Cassiel Ato Forson is standing trail along side businessman, Richard Jakpa for allegedly causing a 2.37 million Euro financial loss to the state in the purchase of some ambulances for the state in 2014. Source: Philipa Atanga/Court Reporter/Despite Media Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Pan African International Students (PAIS) is deeply concerned by the recent video circulating on social media depicting Ghanaian students in Morocco struggling due to a lack of support from the Ghanaian government. These students, sent to Morocco on government scholarships, are facing dire circumstances, lacking basic necessities like food and shelter. A female student in the video poignantly expressed their hardship: "We are pleading with the Government of Ghana to come to our aid. As ladies here, we cannot afford basic needs like sanitary pads..." Unable to hold back tears, her statement spoke volumes about the students' plight. It is heartbreaking to see these brilliant young Ghanaians struggling to meet their fundamental needs, says Apostle Aheto Jacob-Paul, National Coordinator of PAIS Ghana. The video, where a female student tearfully pleads for sanitary pads, exemplifies the dire situation they face. PAIS, dedicated to the well-being and success of international students, particularly across Africa, stands in solidarity with these distressed students. We urge the Ghanaian government to take immediate action and address these critical issues. PAIS remains committed to supporting these students in any way possible, building upon our existing efforts towards the welfare of international students in Ghana and Kenya since our launch last year. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has presented essential items to support the upkeep of immigrants at Krisan Refugee Camp at Krisan Town, in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region. The items consist of 100 bags of 25 kilograms (kg) rice, 25 cartons of canned fish, 100 carton of cooking oil, 100 buckets of tomato paste, 500 pieces of mosquito nets as well as 500 students mattresses and 300 bags of sachet water. All these items are coming from the contributions of individuals from our branches in Ghana, Africa and across the world through our Humanitarian Aid, President Christopher L. Morgan, of The Churches of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Ghana Cape Coast Mission explained. Also, he said: We give 10 percent of our tithes to the Church and we believe in alms, fasting, prophesying of faith and great pilgrims among others. We offer support to help and bless all Gods children, we do what the Saviour Jesus Christ will do and I am honoured to be here with my wife Christine Morgan, to present these items. He mentioned that the missionaries of the Church, have been of great support to the camp and prayed all who contributed to this worthy course will be blessed abundantly. We believe these items will make you stronger as well as the communities stronger. We pray these items will be a blessing upon you and we will encourage you to share with others for God to give us more, President Morgan said. Emmanuel Akonful, Krisan Refugee Camp Manager was grateful to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for the support. The Church has been supporting the camp for some time now and I urge other organizations to follow suits for the immigrants to have a comfortable life, he said. He explained that the camp was set up in 1996, with some immigrants from Liberia following the conflict that distabilised the country. They settled at a town called Sanzule in the Ellembelle District and within three months, they moved to their present location at Krisan. Currently, the refugees here are about 900, coming from 16 African countries such as Togo, Sudan, Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone among others. They are funded by the Government of Ghana, partnered by the United Nations and other organizations, he further explained. Like any other settlement, he said there has been a cordial relationship with the host communities. There are schools here, a clinic, a Police Station as well as a community centre that makes their lives lively. However, he said the camp is in need of additional shelter, a library, and related amenities. With the conflicts ranging in Sudan, Congo and other counties in the sub-region, there are refugees trooping in here. Therefore, we are appealing to cooperate organizations, church bodies as well as some philanthropists to support us from time to time since government alone cannot shoulder all the responsibilities, Mr. Akonful added. Source: Peacefmonline com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Kwamena Duncan has slammed Richard Jakpa and the opposition National Democratic Congress over the controversial ambulance purchase trial involving the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, and Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. Jakpa and Ato Forson have been accused before a High Court of causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the State in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016. Per the A-Gs facts accompanying the charge sheet, in 2009, while delivering the State of the Nation Address, the then President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, indicated that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service. Jakpa, a local representative of Big Sea General Trading Limited, a company based in Dubai, approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal that he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for supply of the 200 ambulances but subsequently 30 ambulances were purchased at a sum of 2.37 million, however all were found not fit for purpose. But the case has taken an interesting turn with Richard Jakpa, a third accused person, claiming the A-G approached him to help build a case against the Dr. Ato Forson, who was a former Deputy Finance Minister during the time of the ambulance procurement. Jakpa had recorded the A-G's private telephone conversation with him regarding the case. A-G has on several occasions engaged me at odd hours to help him make a case against A1 and I have evidence for that. If he pushes me, I will open the Pandoras box. I dont understand why the A-G will accuse me of defending A1 when Im here to defend myself, Jakpa said in court. Addressing the issue during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, the former Central Minister, Kwamena Duncan described the audio recording as a breach of law as provided in the constitution that gives the Attorney-General and every Ghanaian the right to privacy. "It is unlawful to record someone you are having a conversation with without informing the person. Therefore, whether meeting at the residence of the Supreme Court Justice or even on phone is an intrusion into the privacy of the other party. The law doesn't permit it," he told the host, Kwami Sefa Kayi. To Kwamena Duncan, the recording is a ploy by Jakpa in collaboration with the National Democratic Congress to create doubts in the minds of Ghanaians about the A-G's suit. "I'm sure this is all grand scheme which was carved out...Everything that is happening, it is for one effect, one single effect; to create doubt in the minds of the public," he stated. Watch video below Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video NPP parliamentary candidate for Adentan constituency, Akosua Manu has lauded the Electoral Commission for a successful limited registration exercise. The Electoral Commission has ended its registration exercise aimed at registering eligible Ghanaians into the voters' register for them to exercise their voting right in the December 7 general elections. The exercise which began on Tuesday, May 7 was met with controversies and criticisms but the Electoral Commission supervised the process till end. Akosua Manu, popularly called Kozie, narrating a smooth process in her constituency applauded the Commissioners saying, "the EC was very responsive. During the process, concerning every complaint that was made, at least you would realize they will issue a statement or they will clarify issues all through the process. I believe this helped the process and if this continues, it gives me hope that everything will be fine in December". "I think Madam Jean Mensa has performed very well despite the pressure," she added. She gave these comments on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" panel discussion programme. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, Togbe Tapre Hodo IV has lauded policies by the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Togbe Hodo IV, the Paramount Chief of the Anfoega traditional area, said Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's vision for the country is Progressive and forwarding looking ideas. He, however, hopes Ghanaians will vote him into power to implement his ideas. You and I agree that this country needs to move forward, we need progress, we need economic development. Let us listen carefully and ponder on all the suggestions the vice president has made . I am not suggesting any partisanship as far as this is concerned, I am talking of a country called Ghana. We need Ghana to move forward. These progressive ideas ought to be made to bear fruits for the good of this nation. Togbe Hodo IV said during Dr Bawumia's Bold Solution tour to the region. Adding that: We should all embrace these positive ideas. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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: Biculturals can influence business negotiations and "help their firms outperform others," according to Northeastern co-authored research. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University A study co-authored by a Northeastern University researcher has found that hiring senior staff who are comfortable in more than one culture to conduct international negotiations can help "supercharge" the result for businesses. Research conducted by Priyan Khakhar, head of international business at Northeastern University in London, and others found that people deemed to be "biculturals" appeared to have an advantage when it comes to bridging divides between two different cultures. Khakhar and his colleaguesHussain Gulzar Ramma from the University of Adelaide in Australia and Vijay Pereira from the NEOMA Business School in Reims, Francedefine biculturals as people who "have internalized two or more cultures" The findings were featured last month in the European Business Review, a periodical aimed at global leaders and others in business. The study, "Biculturals in international business negotiations: moving away from the single culture paradigm," published in the Journal of Organizational Change Management, explored how biculturals "possess higher cultural intelligence than monocultural individuals." It found that their cultural knowledge and the way they hold multi-identities can influence business negotiations and "help their firms outperform others." Khakhar said they picked 35 bicultural senior managers in Lebanon to interview because the Middle East country has witnessed regular patterns of migration and return over the past five decades due to instability, including a civil war between 1975 and 1990, and the 2006 war with Israel. In addition to Lebanon, the participants had experience of cultures in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Australia, Canada, Armenia and Brazil. After using artificial intelligence to pick out themes from the interviews, Khakhar said the researchers found biculturals had the ability to be "one person, two personalities," with those interviewed often suggesting they could tap into a different part of their personality when speaking another language. This shifting identity and ability to blend cultures, according to Khakhar's article in The European Business Review, is a "beneficial superpower" that can "help create understanding and synergy between parties with different cultural backgrounds." A second finding was the ability of those immersed in several cultures to switch between different ways of thinking. "When it comes to international cross-cultural communication, there is always room for miscommunication because we don't understand customs or the nuances sometimes," Khakhar told Northeastern Global News. "So there is a bridge-building capacity that these biculturals have. And, as a result, their adaptability was higher." The research thirdly found, the assistant professor said, that biculturals were innovative thinkers, creative and more resistant to going along with so-called "groupthink." The professor's analysis also found that such people had the ability to immerse themselves into major global corporations with greater ease than someone from a single culture. Khakhar, who previously lived and taught in Beirut, argues that employing a bicultural person can have benefits in some business situations. Being able to make bonds across different cultures can "nudge the negotiation towards a certain party, even if in an implicit way," the assistant professor said. Khakhar said, "In terms of building bridges, there are implicit connections that [biculturals] make with the language, the linguistics and understanding nuances." He suggested that a corporate U.S. company might find that a Japanese employee who has studied and lived in America might prove a "good negotiator" to strike deals with a Tokyo firm as their dual experience could help create a mutual rapport. But Khakhar said there were two sides to the argument and that context would be key when making hiring decisions. He continued, "I'm not saying bicultural individuals are going to be Superman or Superwoman in negotiations by the virtue of their upbringing, background or ethnic mixes. "There are also studies out there that show that if biculturalism is not navigated well, it can lead to psychological effects, such as confusionit can lead to things like paralysis in decision-making. "So when it comes to selecting managers, obviously their culture is not the only criteria of hiring. It is about the overall blend. "But if there was that competence therethey call it bicultural integration competence and there is a scale that measures itthen that would be a plus. "They have the ability to successfully navigate two or three cultures when not everyone can." More information: Priyan Khakhar et al, Biculturals in international business negotiations: moving away from the single culture paradigm, Journal of Organizational Change Management (2023). DOI: 10.1108/JOCM-04-2022-0110 This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu. 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: Neotoma rodents (woodrats) in a nest, also known as a midden, at City of Rocks National Reserve in Idaho. Pictured are both a modern and ancient midden. Credit: Syracuse University Packrats, also known as woodrats, are the original hoarders, collecting materials from their environment to make their nests, called middens. In deserts throughout western North America, for instance, packrat middens can preserve plants, insects, bones and other specimens for more than 50,000 years, offering scientists a snapshot into the past. Packrats and numerous other rodent species in dry environments around the world gather plants, insects, bones and other items into their nests from a radius of about 50 feet and urinate over them. The urine dries and crystallizes, hardening the fossils into rock-like masses and preserving the items inside. Ancient rodent middens have allowed scientists to reconstruct the ecology and climate of semi-arid ecosystems in the Americas, Australia, Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. These natural time capsules are unparalleled archives for observing how plant, animal and microbial species and assemblages have responded over millennia as environmental conditions have changed. Researchers have learned how populations of plants and animals were impacted by climate change in the past, which can provide clues about how populations might respond to future rapid climate disruption. Today, with advanced molecular technology, scientists can learn more than ever about the ancient organisms that once inhabited the area in and around these middens. Researcher Francisca Diaz, a co-author on the study, sampling middens in the Atacama Desert in South America. Credit: Syracuse University Now, scientists are calling for improved preservation of middens, new research in existing archives and a revival of field studies, according to a prospectus paper recently published online in Trends in Ecology & Evolution. The paper is the result of a multi-year effort involving collaborators from 10 different institutions in the United States, France and Chile, according to Katie Becklin, lead author and assistant professor of biology in Syracuse University's College of Arts and Sciences. "New technology in DNA and chemical analysis also allows us to get more information from smaller and smaller amounts of materials," says Becklin. "We can start to understand what traits are important for predicting which species could do well in the future as climate change continues to impact natural systems." But most midden collections are stored at individual institutions where they could be lost or discarded as researchers retire. Midden fossils in the wild meanwhile are vulnerable to destruction by human development and ongoing climate change. The authors recommend establishing regional depositories for midden materials, which could provide long-term access for researchers. Additional middens must be collected and preserved to stem accelerating losses from land-use conversion, mineral resource extraction, increased wildfire frequency and climate change. "This is an invitation to the next generation of scientists to take advantage of these resources, to build on the legacy of midden research so far," says Becklin. "We need to protect these records and make them accessible to the global scientific community and bring in new ideas and people to continue this work." More information: Katie M. Becklin et al, New uses for ancient middens: bridging ecological and evolutionary perspectives, Trends in Ecology & Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.12.003 Journal information: Trends in Ecology & Evolution This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Lake Mead's five-year outlook is slightly better after two wet winters, according to projections released May 29 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The five-year projections, released three times a year, account for a vast range of scenarios that could result in different cuts in water use depending on how low reservoirs actually go. However, they come with a wide margin of error, providing little clarity on what's actually to come. They're also much more uncertain as 2007 Colorado River interim guidelines are set to expire in 2026 and two groups of Colorado River states squabble over how to address the water scarcity crisis, including how reservoir releases operate. But the bottom line is that there's now a zero percent chance that Lake Mead will fall below 1,000 feet before 2028. That's down from a 3% chance in January's projection. While that might not seem like much, it does signal that snowpack may have bettered Lake Mead's prospects in general. In some cases mapped by the projections, the reservoir could return to normal elevations; but those, too, represent a best-case scenario with a margin of error. It's anyone's guess whether weather conditions will allow for that to happen. There's still a 13% chance that the reservoir will fall below 1,020 feet by 2028, which didn't change from January's projection. The lowest the reservoir has ever been is 1,040.58 feet in 2022. Next month's two-year projectionreleased monthlyis one for Southern Nevadans to pay attention to. Whether Nevada will have to cut water usage further because of a water shortage will be determined by June's two-year projection, which Reclamation is expected to release mid-month. In 2022, Nevada had to shoulder a cut of an additional 4,000 acre-feet of its Colorado River allotment, based on that year's June projection. 2024 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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: Frida Hemstad Danmo with a material that seems promising for producing oxygen cheaply. Credit: Per Henning, NTNU New materials for producing oxygen may challenge traditional production methods. This is exciting news, because pure oxygen is in demand for many areas in industry and medicine. "We have identified materials that can store and release pure oxygen much faster and at much lower temperatures than known materials currently used for this purpose," says Professor Sverre Magnus Selbach at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU's) Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Oxygen is an element, so it cannot be made, only released. The most common method is to distill oxygen directly from the air, but it can also be extracted from materials that have oxygen bound in them. Retrieving oxygen from materials Many materials absorb oxygen from the air. When these materials are heated up, they release this oxygen, and small changes in the materials can change their properties. As the chemical process speeds up, scientists refer to "the kinetics being faster" in the material. The fact that this process can take place at low temperatures is a big advantage. Not only does it mean that less energy is required for heating, but also that reactors can be made from cheaper materials that will need less maintenance than if they had to be exposed to higher temperatures. "Both of these improvements in material properties make the materials more competitive," says Frida Hemstad Danmo. The research was part of her doctoral work. The research results have now been published in the journal Chemistry of Materials. The illustration shows how the process for oxygen separation will take place, with oxygen entering the material in one reactor, and oxygen escaping from the material in another. Credit: Illustration: Frida Hemstad Danmo The wonder material So, what kind of wonder material are we talking about? It might be a little surprising. Have you heard of hexagonal manganites? Probably not. Almost no one has heard of hexagonal manganites. Fortunately, the researchers at NTNU have. The material is not only very suitable for extracting oxygen, it can also be made quite cheaply and efficiently. "Because oxygen is absorbed so quickly into the material, we can use bulk materials that can be made in large quantities using cheaper methods than those required to make nanoparticles," explains Danmo. If the oxygen transport was not already so rapid in these hexagonal manganites, the process would have required nanoparticles to increase surface area and provide the oxygen with a 'shorter way' in and out of the material. Nanoparticles are more complicated to produce and cannot be made in large quantities as easily as bulk material. Impurities in the material are unproblematic The hexagonal manganites they have developed are so-called "high-entropy materials." This means that they are neither pure nor have a particularly well-ordered crystal structure, and this is where the secret lies. Hexagonal manganites. It's just as well to learn the name right away. Credit: Photo: Frida Hemstad Danmo Not only are the materials quite cheap, they are also not that particular when it comes to chemical composition. Impurities and small defects in the material are therefore not a problem. Things don't have to be so precise, the process works anyway, and it makes it possible to achieve cheaper production on an industrial scale. The researchers used five to six different rare earth metals in the mix they experimented with, and the result was much better than when well-ordered materials with just one or two rare earth metals were used. "The high-entropy materials are actually more stable than those with simpler chemical composition. The reason is the entropy, i.e. the disorder that comes from having many different elements in the crystal structure instead of fewer," says Selbach. "All spontaneous processes will increase the disorder of the universe. Interestingly, it is the disorder itself that also provides such rapid oxygen absorption, since our materials are not sensitive to precise chemical composition. Focusing on high entropy is a paradigm shift for this particular class of materials, and something that has given us exceptional properties," says Danmo. Using cheaper and available materials These types of materials are not currently used in the industry, but a great deal of research is being done on them precisely because the potential for cheaper oxygen production is so great. "Industry can use cheaper raw materials, such as oxides of recycled rare earth metals or low-quality ore. These raw materials remain after more expensive elements such as neodymium and dysprosium are extracted for use in electric motors in windmills and electric cars," says Selbach. Industry may even be able to use waste materials from the production of electric motors. In collaboration with Danmo, Aamund Westermoen conducted much of the experimental work. Senior Engineer Elvia Anabela Chavez Panduro contributed measurements at NTNU, and Kenneth Marshall and Dragos Stoian at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in France helped with the synchrotron measurements made at the SwissNorwegian Beamlines facility in Grenoble. More information: Frida Hemstad Danmo et al, High-Entropy Hexagonal Manganites for Fast Oxygen Absorption and Release, Chemistry of Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c02702 Journal information: Chemistry of Materials HELSINKI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish government on Thursday submitted the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Finland and the United States for parliamentary approval. The agreement was signed last December. "The DCA will improve the conditions for the United States to support Finland and strengthen Finland's security as a member of NATO," the Finnish government said in a press release. The Finnish government recommended to parliament that a two-thirds majority be required for the final approval, as parts of the DCA contravene the Finnish constitution. In the Finnish parliamentary process, the parliamentary constitutional committee ultimately determines the required majority. Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen expressed hope on Thursday that the DCA would be passed within a few weeks, the national radio Yle reported. Finnish nuclear energy laws prohibit any presence of nuclear weapons in Finland. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has assured that the DCA does not change this situation. Orpo reiterated in mid-May that there is no intention in Finland to start changing the nuclear energy laws now. 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 The sense of a European identity has increased among inhabitants of the European Union in the past 15 yearsin spite of crises like Brexit and the Eurozone crisis. That is the conclusion of professor of European Studies Theresa Kuhn in a recent publication. "The euro and open borders have made the EU tangible." With the European elections just around the corner, one question is more relevant than ever: to what extent do the inhabitants of Europe feel a sense of connection with the European Union? And where does that come from? "We wanted to map out how European identity has evolved over the years," says Theresa Kuhn, "but our research into this was severely limited by the types of opinion polls that we usually consult for our research. Most polls don't date back very far and usually only one type of question was asked on the subject." In order to rectify this problem, Kuhn and her team combined various opinion polls from dozens of countries over a period of 41 years. "We subsequently applied a calculation to this, as a result of which we now have information about the development of European identity since the 1980s." Crisis has a reinforcing effect The research reveals that the sense of European identity among inhabitants of most EU countries has increased in the past 15 years. "That surprised us to be honest," says Kuhn. "The past two decades were marked by crises, not only externally, but also internally, such as Brexit and the Eurozone crisis. You might expect that this would make people want to distance themselves from the European Union, but that does not appear to be the case. "One explanation for this could be that people are more inclined to adhere to a group as a result of a crisis. People feel threatened and are more likely to surround themselves with people whose views align closely with their own." The fact that an entire generation has only ever known the European Union to be part of Europe may be another explanation for this according to Kuhn. She explains, "This group of people have grown up in an era in which there are open borders and many countries have the euro as currency unit. These things have also made Europe something tangible, as a result of which people have been able to experience the EU, rather than it being an abstract institution." It is the case, however, that there are major differences in the development of European identity from country to country. She says, "In Northern and Western European countries, the sense of a European identity is usually more prevalent, while South and Central Europe exhibit a more diverse development. For example, you see that Italians have become increasingly less pro-European over the years, whereas Spain has actually experienced growth in that regard." Euroscepticism A lot of Eurosceptic parties are poised to make gains according to polls for the upcoming European elections. In Kuhn's opinion, however, that does not mean that people also feel less European. "A clear differentiation needs to be made between the perception of a European identity and support for the European Union. Someone may feel European, but not agree with the current policy. The opposite may also be true," she says. She also argues that the popularity of the Eurosceptic parties does not automatically mean that people are less pro-Europe at present. "Eurosceptic voters have most likely existed since the 1950s. However, they didn't have any way yet to express that electorally, because almost all parties were pro-European at national level. Parties have only decided to make this an issue since the 1990s." In her research, Kuhn argues that the European Union should do even more to strengthen a sense of European identity. She says, "Many important decisions are taken at European level. That's why it is important for the democratic legitimacy of the EU that a significant proportion of Europeans also feel connected to Europe. "In addition, research shows that people who identify as European are less likely to vote for populist parties and more likely to show solidarity for other Europeans." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this image to determine if any underlying voids or associated faults can be observed in this part of Arsia Mons. Pits like this can be caused by recent geologically-recent volcanic or tectonic activity. If there are caves under the pit, they could one day act as shelter for astronauts. The caves could also be targets for future robotic exploration. The pit is only a few meters across. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona Human visitors to Mars need somewhere to shelter from the radiation, temperature swings, and dust storms that plague the planet. If the planet is anything like Earth or the moon, it may have large underground lava tubes that could house shelters. Collapsed sections of lava tubes, called skylights, could provide access to these subterranean refuges. Does this hole on Mars lead to a larger underground cavern? This image was captured by the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The pit is only a few meters across and is in the Arsia Mons region of Mars. Arsia Mons is one of the three dormant volcanos in the Tharsis Montes group of three volcanos. This colourized image of the surface of Mars was created with data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The line of three volcanoes is Tharsis Montes, with Olympus Mons to the northwest and Valles Marineris to the east. Arsia Mons is the southernmost volcano of the three that comprise Tharsis Montes. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ Arizona State University The Tharsis Region of Tharsis Bulge is a vast volcanic plain that's thousands of kilometers across. It's elevated compared to the rest of Mars and averages about 10 km (33,000 ft) above the planet's mean elevation. The region was volcanically active in the past, obviously, and features like the pit are a direct result of ancient volcanic activity. Several pits in the Arsia Mons region may be collapsed skylights or openings into subterranean lava tubes. However, there is much uncertainty. An image of one of them shows an illuminated sidewall, which could indicate that it's just a cylindrical pit. These images of a pit near Arsia Mons were captured several years ago. The image on the left was captured first, and scientists wondered if it could lead to a lava tube or cave. Then, the image on the right, showing a side wall, was captured. The side wall could indicate that theres no tube or cave. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona The hole in the featured image could only be a pit or shaft and not an entrance to a cave or lava tube. They're found on Hawaiian volcanos, where they're called pit craters. They don't connect to long caves or lava tubes. They're the result of a collapse that happened much deeper underground. In Hawaii, the pit craters range from 6 to 186 m (20 to 610 feet) deep and from 8 to 1140 m (26 to 3,740 feet) wide. The Arsia Mons pit in the leading image is only about 178 m (584 feet) deep. These four sequential images show how pit craters form. As volcanos erupt and settle, cracks form. They slowly migrate upwards, and rocks above them start to fall into them. Eventually, the upward migrating crack reaches the surface, and the roof caves in. On Earth, plants will eventually colonize the crater. On Mars, they stay much the same as when they collapsed. Credit: US National Park Service. We have a much better understanding of lava pits and tubes on the moon than we do on Mars. We know some of them are thermally stable at about 17C (63F.) We also have better images of them, with intriguing glimpses of boulder-covered floors. Lots of thinking is going into how to explore these lunar caves and lava tubes, including conceptual designs for robots that could explore them. Maybe on the moon, astronauts could take shelter in inflatable habitats inside these tubes, where they're protected from temperature swings, radiation, and micrometeorites. But Mars is another question. There's no reason that lava tubes shouldn't exist on Mars. In fact, Mars' gravity is much weaker than Earth's, and that should allow for much larger tubes. Images of Mars show rilles, which are collapsed tubes. It seems likely that not all of these tubes have collapsed to form rilles. One pit on the Martian volcano, Pavis Mons, is particularly intriguing. There's some kind of void under the pit, but the nature of the pit is difficult to ascertain. Is it a lava tube? If it is, it dwarfs most tubes on Earth. Martian lava tubes are still a mystery. Scientists have found plenty of morphological evidence suggesting that they're plentiful. But in science, you can't assume they're there, even though it seems likely that they are. There's no clear reason why they wouldn't be. Could they one day provide shelter for astronauts? Maybe. We need a robotic mission to explore them first. 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 New Jersey's 2017 cash bail reform lawwhich eliminated financial barriers to avoiding pretrial detentionsuccessfully reduced the state's jail population without increasing gun violence, according to a study published this month in JAMA Network Open from researchers at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health and Boston University. "We know that removing financial barriers to pretrial release can reduce mass incarceration and related health inequities without sacrificing community safety," said Jaquelyn Jahn, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Dornsife School of Public Health. "This paper offers another metric to discredit the argument against meaningful cash bail reform by showing that there were no increases to gun violence in the three years after New Jersey's bail reform policy was implemented." The authors looked at data on rates of gun deaths from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics and on fatal and nonfatal shooting numbers from the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive from 2014 to 2019. The research team used 36 states that did not pass bail reform as a control group, and controlled for other factors that may influence violence, such as gun law restrictions, rates of gun ownership, and state senate majority partisanship. Before New Jersey's 2017 cash bail law, about 38% of the state's pretrial population were in jailwhile legally innocent and awaiting a trialsolely because they could not afford bail. The law was successful at substantially decreasing the pretrial population in the years since it was passed: 8,899 people were detained before their court date in 2015, but that number dropped to 4,976 people in 2019. Unlike previous studies that looked at rearrest and reincarceration rates, the current study measured how violence and health outcomes changed at the community level since bail reform was enacted. A 2023 study in American Economic Journal: Applied Economics found no evidence that cash bail has an effect on a defendants likelihood of re-arrest or show up for their trial. "Our research shows that reducing pretrial detention has no measurable impact on firearm violence, suggesting we can significantly reduce the criminal legal system's footprint without harming community safety," said co-principal investigator Jessica T. Simes, Ph.D., an associate professor in Boston University's School of Arts and Sciences. The U.S. Constitution's Eighth Amendment states that "excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." Despite this, a 2022 report from the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights noted that from 1970 to 2015, there was a 433% increase in the number of people who had been detained pretrial, and more than six out of 10 defendants were detained before their trial due to an inability to afford bail. Cash bail policies also fuel racial and socioeconomic disparities in pretrial detention rates and higher bail costs for men and for Black and LatinX defendants. The same 2022 report also noted study findings that Black defendants had bail amounts that were set at 35% higher than white men and Latino men faced bail amounts that were 19% higher than those of white men. Proponents of ending cash bail say the policy may help close the gap in racial disparities in incarceration. Of the 1.2 million people incarcerated in the United States, 32% are Black, while Black Americans make up 12.1% of the overall U.S. population, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. "Reducing pretrial detention helps keep families and communities intact, and potentially avoids many of the inequitable health consequences of jail for incarcerated individuals and their loved ones," said Jahn. "And, programs that reduce gun violence by investing in communities help address racist histories of disinvestment. These and other measures must be prioritized to stem pervasive gun violence in communities across the United States." The authors noted that New Jersey has a uniquely comprehensive gun law environment, in addition to cash bail reform, but said the findings can help inform policy debates about bail reform nationwide. However, they also noted that New Jersey's policy is not without important critique, especially related to racial inequities in outcomes of the state's pretrial risk assessment tool, which considers factors like other charges or past convictions. "The public conversation often assumes a link between gun violence levels and what's happening in the criminal legal system, whether it's policing, prosecution, or incarceration. This study is important because it directly contradicts that assumption," said senior author Jonathan Jay, DrPH, JD, an assistant professor at Boston University School of Public Health. 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: Lava flows from a volcano in Grindavik, Iceland, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted Wednesday for the fifth time since December, spewing red lava that once again threatened the coastal town of Grindavik and led to the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Credit: AP Photo/Marco di Marco Lava continued to spurt from a volcano in southwestern Iceland on Thursday but the activity had calmed significantly from when it erupted a day earlier. The eruption Wednesday was the fifth and most powerful since the volcanic system near Grindavik reawakened in December after 800 years, gushing record levels of lava as its fissure grew to 3.5 kilometers (2.1 miles) in length. Volcanologist Dave McGarvie calculated that the amount of lava initially flowing from the crater could have buried the soccer pitch at Wembley Stadium in London under 15 meters (49 feet) of lava every minute. "These jets of magma are reaching like 50 meters (165 feet), into the atmosphere," said McGarvie, an honorary researcher at Lancaster University. "That just immediately strikes me as a powerful eruption. And that was my first impression ... then some numbers came out, estimating how much was coming out per minute or per second and it was, 'wow.'" The activity once again threatened Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people, and led to the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, one of Iceland's biggest tourist attractions. Grindavik, which is about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, has been threatened since a swarm of earthquakes in November forced an evacuation in advance of the initial Dec. 18 eruption. A subsequent eruption consumed several buildings. A volcano spews lava in Grindavik, Iceland, Wednesday, May 29, 204. Wednesday, May 29, 2024. A volcano in southwestern Iceland is erupting, spewing red streams of lava in its latest display of nature's power. A series of earthquakes before the eruption Wednesday triggered the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. The eruption began in the early afternoon north of Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people that was also evacuated. Credit: AP Photo/Marco di Marco Protective barriers outside Grindavik deflected the lava Wednesday but the evacuated town remained without electricity and two of the three roads into town were inundated with lava. "I just like the situation quite well compared to how it looked at the beginning of the eruption yesterday," Grindavik Mayor Fannar Jonasson told national broadcaster RUV. McGarvie said the eruption was more powerful than the four that preceded it because the largest amount of magma had accumulated in a chamber underground before breaking the earth's surface and shooting into the sky. The rapid and powerful start of the eruption followed by it diminishing quickly several hours later is the pattern researchers have witnessed with this volcano, McGarvie said. It's unknown when eruptions at this volcano will end. "It could go on for quite some considerable time," McGarvie said. "We're really in new territory here because eruptions like this have never been witnessed, carefully, in this part of Iceland." An eruptive fissure spews lava and smoke from a volcano in Grindavik, Iceland, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted Wednesday for the fifth time since December, spewing red lava that once again threatened the coastal town of Grindavik and led to the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Credit: AP Photo/Marco di Marco Ash rising behind Sylingarfell, as magma hits groundwater triggering phreatomagmatic activity from a volcano in Grindavik, Iceland, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted Wednesday for the fifth time since December, spewing red lava that once again threatened the coastal town of Grindavik and led to the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Credit: AP Photo/Marco di Marco Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, sees regular eruptions. The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures over Europe. None of the current cycle of eruptions have had an impact on aviation. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain About 60 miles north of Sacramento, the Sutter Buttes rise starkly from the floor of the Central Valley, the remnants of a volcano active more than 1.4 million years ago. Their cathedral-like spires twist upward, some reaching more than 2,000 feet into the skyan imposing circular formation, 10 miles in diameter, that's been called "the smallest mountain range in the world." Sheltered within these lava domes is an oasis of rolling hills, rich with wildflowers and Native American artifacts, and watched over by hawks and countless other species of birds. Bitter debates over the lack of public access to the Sutter Buttes have roiled for years. But most everyone on both sides agrees on this: They encompass some of the most magical and otherworldly terrain in California. Long sacred to Native American tribes, the formation is now home mainly to cattle that chomp grass behind stone walls built by Chinese laborers more than a century ago, oblivious to the fact that some people want to throw open the gates and some want to keep them locked forever. For the last two decades, the Sutter Buttes have also been home to a California state park that almost no one is allowed to visit. In 2003, the state of California spent about $3 million to buy 1,800 acres on the north side of the buttes, including an idyllic stretch of emerald called "Peace Valley." The government has eyed a park in this ruggedly beautiful landscape since the inception of the state parks system in the 1920s. Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., the famed landscape architect who helped establish the National Park Service and also surveyed potential parkland for California in those early years, put it on a state park wish list, along with such gems as Point Lobos on the Monterey County coast and Donner Lake in Northern California. In 2005, the state finally achieved its goalsort of. The State Park and Recreation Commission officially declared its 1,785 acres a park. The property has its own state-sponsored webpage and a budget for conservation and maintenance. What it does not have is any way for the public to get in. "Please note: There is currently no public access point to enter this park," reads a notice in big red letters at the top of the webpage. Beneath that are breathtaking photos: sunlight glinting off a placid lake; a dirt road leading up a verdant hill; a haunting photo of the buttes at sunsetfrom a distance. That last imagethe one from a distanceis the only way most people can view the park. The issue, according to current and former parks officials, is that all the roads leading into the Sutter Buttes are privately owned. And none of the landownerssome of whom have had title to the land since before California entered the unionwill give the state permission to use those roads for park visitors. Nor has the state found anyone willing to sell them property near a public road that could be used to access the park. With the impasse in its 20th year, state officials instead allow a few people into the park on occasion for carefully guided visits. State parks officials were not available for an interview to discuss the situation, but said in a statement that the department "continues to look for opportunities to either secure land or easements to provide access." So far, nothing has come up. Many locals say the current statusan empty state parksuits them just fine. The Sutter Buttes are a precious ecosystem, they say, filled with delicate tribal artifacts and threatened species. It isn't the same, they argue, as a state park in the immense Sierra Nevada or vast inland deserts or along the glittering coast. "This little blob in the middle of the Sacramento Valley is so sensitive to encroachment," said Marty Steidlmayer, 59, whose family has owned land in the Sutter Buttes since the 1930s. A state park, he said, would "let people in, free and unattended," which could lead to vandalism, fires and degradation. "It's not a good idea," he said. Sutter County Supervisor Mat Conant agreed. "It is more important to protect those land rights," he said, noting that "some families have held that land for close to 200 years." Francis Coats is one of the few local landowners who think the state needs to find a way to let in the public. "It's absolutely beyond me why it's not open," said Coats, whose family has been in the area since the 19th century. Coats said he owns a small interest in 160 acres on the north side of South Butte, and so strong is the antipathy toward access that he faced death threats when he first tried to visit his own parcel. The Sutter Buttes, though little heralded in modern-day California, have played an outsize role in the state's history. The Maidu people took refuge there for thousands of years during periods when the Sacramento Valley flooded. They believed it was a resting point for spirits on their journey to the afterlife. In the 1840s, Kit Carson and Gen. John C. Fremont, fresh from their savage massacres of Native Americans in the north state, hid out in the buttes and plotted to seize California from Mexico. Then they headed to Sonoma County to lend support to the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846. Their Republic of California was short-lived, but helped stoke the Mexican-American War, which paved the way for California to join the United States. When state officials first proposed a park in the Sutter Buttes in the 1920s, local newspapers took the opportunity to celebrate this history. "These rugged hills hold a prized place in the hearts of Californians," the Sacramento Union wrote in 1931. "They are indelibly linked with the romance of the state's secession from Mexican rule." The park didn't come to fruition then, and the Depression and World War II created other priorities. The state tried again in the 1970s, putting money in a parks bond to fund the purchase of tens of thousands of acres in the Sutter Buttes. Local landowners were horrified, and the county Board of Supervisors voted in opposition. "We'll fight them, right down the line," Supervisor J.A. Bagley told the local newspaper. The state backed down. But within the parks department, some never dropped the dream. The department's chief of land acquisition, Warren Westrup, knew how to play a long game. Westrup, who worked for the state for 37 years, figured out how to put together parcels of land, piece by piece, until a vision came to fruition. He did it in the Santa Monica Mountains, where state officials devised ways to purchase land for a trail that connects communities from Los Angeles to Malibu; and in Chino Hills, buying one canyon after another until eventually a whole park came to fruition. In 2003, Westrup heard through an intermediary that someone with land in the buttes was looking to sell. He arranged for its purchase, even though he was aware the property was surrounded by private land blocked by private gates and accessible only via a private road. Parks officials moved forward to establish the park with the notion that they eventually could persuade someone else to sell them land adjacent to a public road, where they could build a parking lot, bathrooms and maybe a few tents for people to camp. The problem: No one would sell. Most of the land in the buttes is held by a small number of legacy families who primarily use the fields for grazing cattle and sheep. No one lives in the interior, although there are a few homes on the outside. After the state pushed for a park in the 1970s, some landowners feared the government might take their property. To stave that off, they began providing guided tours that granted limited access to the public and also to researchers. Local schoolchildren were also invited in. They hired a manager, who moved into a cabin for the job, along with his wife, their golden retriever and their cat. They fell in love with the quiet grandeur of the areaall except for the cat, who was snatched by an eagle and never seen again. "Some places just attract us more powerfully than others," Walt Anderson, the manager, explained in a 2006 oral history. "I mean, everybody loves the profile of the buttes when they pass it, but once they get inside, I mean, they're hooked." Steidlmayer, who owns land adjacent to the state park, said officials have told him "that the state will buy anything that we would be willing to sell. But that is the last thing my family would ever do." Even some outdoor enthusiasts have reservations about opening the park. Lisa Lindman, executive director of the Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust, said she has come to view the issue as "really complicated." She wants the public to be able to appreciate the peace and beauty of the buttes, but echoed landowners' concerns about the delicate ecosystem and centuries-old Native American artifacts that remain largely untouched. In lieu of full public access, Middle Mountain Interpretive Hikes, a sister organization to Lindman's land trust, leads private tours for small groups of people who pay about $35 apiece for a carefully supervised hike. Reservations can be hard to come by. The Middle Mountain hikes do not enter the state parkland. Instead, they traverse private land near the park under a long-standing agreement with landowners that grew out of those early tours from the 1970s. On a recent spring day, a tour group wound up dirt roads and through locked gates in a small caravan of cars, before parking near the center of the range. Volcanic domes rose above a green meadow. Wind rustled through the grass. A flock of snow geese passed overhead, their silver wings gleaming against a blue sky. From atop the lava domes, it was possible to see Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta. The snow-capped Sierra stood to the east. After a precarious scramble down, group members traversed the grassy base of the domes and came to the edge of the state park at Peace Valley. A guide warned the tour group they did not have permission to enter. Ruth Coleman, who was head of the Department of Parks and Recreation when the site was designated a state park, said she hopes California will keep pushing to find a way to change that, while putting measures in place to preserve the land. "It's classified as a state park. And a state park has access," Coleman said, adding, "I've been there. ... It's magic." 2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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: Map of median household impact by tract. Negative values indicate net costs to households, while positive values represent net receipts. Lines delineate the borders of the Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMAs) from which the synthetic households in each tract are drawn. Inset provides a histogram of median impacts by tract. Credit: Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (2024). DOI: 10.1086/727476 Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Smith College have developed a new method to assess the equity implications of carbon taxes, which are among economists' favored solutions to address the looming threat of climate change. The method, which uses spatial microsimulation (SMS) to generate granular household-level estimates using aggregate statistics, is able to provide more detailed insights into the distributional consequences of carbon taxes compared with relying on averages to predict the effects on a given population. Nathan Chan, associate professor of resource economics at UMass Amherst, and Susan Stratton Sayre, associate professor of economics at Smith College, employed SMS to assess the impacts of Initiative 732 (I-732) in Washington state. The initiative would have established a new carbon emission tax on certain fossil fuelsand electricity generated from themwhile cutting the sales tax and creating a tax rebate to mitigate the effects on lower-income working families. The study found that, while the rebate would have provided substantial benefits for many lower-income families, the new tax would still have cost a considerable number of households hundreds of additional dollars each yearand delivered savings to upper-income households in the form of reduced sales taxes. "A major stumbling block for carbon tax proposals has been the concern that they will exacerbate income inequalitiesthough there historically has been little clear evidence to support that," Chan says. "The prevailing method for understanding these policies has used averages for geographic areas, but that omits much of the variation that matters. Our method using SMS provides the detail required to understand the distributional consequences." To analyze the effects of I-732, Chan and Sayre constructed a synthetic population for the state of Washington and then projected carbon consumption for each household in that population. Consistent with conventional thinking, they found that for rebate-eligible households, the effects of the tax were largely mitigated. However, the study identified other low-income families ineligible for the rebate due to their working status who would have been negatively affected. In addition, the study found that, contrary to popular belief, the carbon tax would not have put an outsized burden on rural households. In fact, the largest burden would have been shouldered by families in the suburbs and exurbs of major metropolitan areaspeople who commute long distances to work in Seattle, for instance. Further, the results show the sales tax cut (from 6.5% to 5.5%) wasn't deep enough to completely mitigate the carbon tax for low-income householdsbut it did produce savings for wealthier families who purchase more goods and services. "Sales taxes are known to be fairly regressive, so one might think that cutting a regressive tax would be progressive," Sayre explains. "But it turns out, it wasn't progressive enough, and higher-income households would get more savings from the sales tax reduction because they spend more money." Ultimately, Washington voters rejected I-732 in 2016 and a similar proposal two years later, but the SMS model developed by Chan and Sayre can be adapted to analyze carbon tax policies virtually anywhere by adding local demographic and energy market data. "We hope this study informs future local, state and regional carbon tax initiatives," Chan adds. "Policymakers should be analyzing the data in advance to figure out whether their proposals will have the intended outcomes and to allay concerns about equity and distributional consequences." The complete paper, "Spatial microsimulation of carbon tax incidence: An application to Washington State," will be published in the July 2024 edition of the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists. More information: Nathan W. Chan et al, Spatial Microsimulation of Carbon Tax Incidence: An Application to Washington State, Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (2024). DOI: 10.1086/727476 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The biokinetics of N 2 O reduction, for CB-01 versus other strains. Credit: Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07464-3 New research by the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) proposes using soil bacteria to cut greenhouse gas emissions from food production. The research is published in the journal Nature. Nitrogen fertilization leads to emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N 2 O) from agricultural soils, accounting for a significant portion of total greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. It has long been assumed that these N 2 O emissions are unavoidable. However, an international team of researchers led by NMBU has discovered a method to reduce these emissions. They have identified bacteria that can "consume" nitrous oxide as it forms in the soil, preventing the gas from escaping into the atmosphere. The researchers believe that this method alone has the potential to reduce agricultural nitrous oxide emissions in Europe by one-third. The N 2 O problem Plants need a lot of nitrogen to grow. A productive agriculture, therefore, requires an abundant supply of nitrogenous fertilizer. This was a bottleneck in agriculture until Fritz Haber pioneered technology for the industrial production of nitrogen fertilizer from atmospheric nitrogen. This technology has contributed to the world's food production keeping pace with population growth for 120 years. However, there are microorganisms in the soil that produce the greenhouse gas N 2 O, and fertilization stimulates this production. "This greenhouse gas has an effect that is about 300 times stronger than CO 2 , and agriculture accounts for about three quarters of Europe's N 2 O emissions," explains Wilfried Winiwarter, one of the co-authors of the study and a senior researcher in the Pollution Management Research Group of the IIASA Energy, Climate, and Environment Program. "Also, globally, agriculture is the primary source of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. Nitrous oxide emissions are primarily regulated by soil bacteria, making reduction efforts challenging due to their elusive nature," he adds. Bacteria can do the job Researchers at NMBU have been conducting basic research for over 20 years on how microorganisms in the soil convert nitrogen. They have, among other things, thoroughly studied what happens when the microbes do not have access to enough oxygen, a condition called hypoxia. When fertilization occurs (and during rainfall), some parts of the soil become hypoxic. Since the microbes then do not have access to oxygen, they are forced to find other ways to get energy. Many microbes can use nitrate instead of oxygen, and through a process called denitrification, they convert the nitrate into other gases. One of these is nitrous oxide, and in this way, the microorganisms contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers have made significant discoveries regarding the regulation of this process, and they have developed a unique way to study denitrification. They use, among other things, robotic solutions both in the laboratory and in the field, and have developed a special robot that can make real-time measurements of nitrous oxide emissions from the soil. The solution to reduce N 2 O emissions is to use a special type of bacteria that lacks the ability to produce nitrous oxide but can reduce nitrous oxide to harmless nitrogen gas (N 2 ). "If we grow these microbes in organic waste used as fertilizer, we can reduce N 2 O emissions. This could mean a solution to the problem of N 2 O emissions from agriculture," says Lars Bakken, lead author of the study and a professor at NMBU. "But it was not easy to find the right bacterium. It must be able to grow quickly in organic waste, function well in soil, and live long enough to reduce N 2 O emissions through an entire growing season. It was also a challenge to go from testing this in the laboratory to trying it out in nature, and to ensure that it actually reduced N 2 O emissions in the field," Bakken adds. The research team is now working to find more bacteria that consume nitrous oxide and to test these in different types of organic waste used as fertilizers worldwide. The goal is to find a wide range of bacteria that can function in different types of soil and with various fertilizer mixtures. More information: Elisabeth G. Hiis et al, Unlocking bacterial potential to reduce farmland N 2 O emissions, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07464-3 Journal information: Nature This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This composite film can twist light into a spiral, thanks to microscopic grooves that cause horizontally and vertically oscillating light waves to pass through the film out of phase. Unlike existing materials that can do this, the film maintains its light-twisting properties when heated up to 250 degrees Celsius. Credit: Brenda Ahearn, Michigan Engineering. Imaging the hot turbulence of aircraft propulsion systems may now be possible with sturdy sheets of composite materials that twist light beams, according to research led by the University of Michigan and Air Force Research Laboratory. The sheets were produced with a new manufacturing method that opens possibilities beyond aircraft design, as it enables new classes of materials to be used in polarization optics. While the team demonstrated high temperature tolerance, new mechanical, electrical and physical properties are expected to emerge as wellwith potential applications in energy, sensors for vehicles and robots, and space exploration. "Combining multiple functionalities into 2D materials opens up a world of possibilities," said Dhriti Nepal, senior research materials engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory and a co-corresponding author of the study published recently in Nature. "Think of a butterfly's wings, which allow it to fly, regulate temperature, and reflect light to produce specific colors for attracting mates and avoiding predators. This technique provides new design opportunities for creating multifunctional devices capable of anything one can imagine." The key is arranging nanomaterials that don't twist light on their own onto layers that turn light waves into either left- or right-handed spirals, known as circular polarizations. In the aircraft example, turbulence created by the engine spins the light, which is then filtered through the material for imaging. Today, devices like LCD screens and thermochromic paints already control the twist and orientation of light waves using liquid crystals, but they melt not far above ambient temperatures. To measure how well the film twists light at high temperatures, U-M researchers use a small flame as a light and heat source. Credit: Brenda Ahearn, Michigan Engineering. "There could be situations in which you want to twist light outside the normal operating temperatures of liquid crystals. Now, we can make light-polarizing devices for those kinds of settings," said Nicholas Kotov, the Irving Langmuir Distinguished University Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering at U-M and lead author of the study. The new material can twist light at 250 degrees Celsius, and through the imaging of turbulence in aircraft engines and other applications, it could enable aerospace engineers to improve designs for better aircraft flight performance. "Future aerospace systems continue to push the edge of technical feasibility. These low-cost optical materials afford modularity, which is crucial for optimizing solutions for a broad range of future technologies," said Richard Vaia, materials and manufacturing chief scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory and a corresponding author of the study. To make the materials, the researchers put microscopic grooves into a plastic sheet and covered it with several layers of tiny, flat particles with a diameter 10,000 times smaller than a millimeter. These particles were held in place with alternating layers of a molecular adhesive, and they could be made from any material that can be made into flat nanoparticles. For their heat-tolerant materials, the researchers used ceramic-like materials called MXenes. Jun Lu, an adjunct research investigator working in Kotov's lab and the study's first author, demonstrates how he uses a fire to test a film's ability to twist light at high temperatures. Credit: Brenda Ahearn, Michigan Engineering. As light moves through the material, it divides into two beams, one with horizontally oscillating waves and another with vertically oscillating waves. The vertical waves pass through faster than the horizontal waves. As a result, the waves exit out of phase and appear as a spiral of light. The angle of the grooves determines the direction in which the light spirals, and layers of silver nanowires can help ensure the light spirals solely to the left or right. "Our calculations suggest that the optical properties didn't come from the nanoplates themselves, but from their orientation on the grooves caused by our fabrication process," said Andre Farias de Moura, associate professor of chemistry at the Federal University of Sao Carlos and a co-corresponding author of the study. Felippe Colombari from the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory also contributed to the study. Nicholas Kotov is also the Joseph B. and Florence V. Cejka Professor of Engineering and a professor of macromolecular science and engineering. More information: Jun Lu et al, Nano-achiral complex composites for extreme polarization optics, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07455-4 Journal information: Nature 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 NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Kennedy Space Center on May 28 as their much-delayed flight to the International Space Station aboard Boeing's CST-100 Starliner looks like it may finally happen Saturday. The duo are slated to climb back aboard the capsule and fly atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 41 at 12:25 p.m., with a backup launch opportunity on Sunday. ULA said the weather forecast calls for 90% good conditions at the launch site for both days, although the weather also has to be clear along the launch corridor in the event of an emergency abort. Dubbed the Crew Flight Test, the mission marks the first human spaceflight for Starliner as Boeing tries to play catchup to SpaceX as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. SpaceX launched its first crewed test flight of its Crew Dragon on May 30, 2020, so Starliner's launch will come just over four years since that flight. Wilmore and Williams came within two hours of launch back on May 6. The pair had suited up, ridden out to the launch pad and climbed aboard the spacecraft when teams scrubbed the attempt because of an issue with a fluttering valve on the rocket's upper Centaur stage. The decision was made to roll the rocket back from the launch pad to ULA's nearby Vertical Integration Facility, where teams switched out the valve. A second issue involving a small helium leak on the propulsion system of the Starliner spacecraft led to more delays, so Wilmore and Williams returned to Houston where they remained in quarantine. Teams with NASA, Boeing and ULA just last week announced they were OK with the helium leak not threatening the safety of the crew while also working a related issue that addressed the unlikely potential for multiple engines failing on the return trip home. With the rocket cleared to launch, Wilmore and Williams flew back on their T-38 jets arriving at the former shuttle landing facility at KSC with four days to go before they will try again. ULA plans to roll the rocket back out to the pad Wednesday. The Commercial Crew Program was designed to break NASA's reliance on Russian Soyuz launches after the 2011 end of the Space Shuttle Program, providing ferry service from the U.S. to and from the ISS. SpaceX's fleet of four Crew Dragons over the last four years have launched 50 humans into space across 13 flights. Its most recent, Crew-8, took four crew members to the ISS in February. They await the arrival of Williams and Wilmore on Sunday afternoon. The duo will spend about eight days on board before returning on Starliner to Earth with a desert landing planned in western United States. If all goes well, Boeing's first contracted mission for crew rotation to the ISS could come as early as next February. 2024 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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: Artist illustration of the satellite Intelsat 40e. NASA's TEMPO instrument launched into geostationary orbit 22,236 miles above Earth's equator in April 2023 as a payload on the satellite. Credit: Maxar Technologies NASA has made new data available that can provide air pollution observations at unprecedented resolutionsdown to the scale of individual neighborhoods. The near real-time data comes from the agency's TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution) instrument, which launched last year to improve life on Earth by revolutionizing the way scientists observe air quality from space. This new data is available from the Atmospheric Science Data Center at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. "TEMPO is one of NASA's Earth observing instruments making giant leaps to improve life on our home planet," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "NASA and the Biden-Harris Administration are committed to addressing the climate crisis and making climate data more open and available to all. The air we breathe affects everyone, and this new data is revolutionizing the way we track air quality for the benefit of humanity." The TEMPO instrument measured elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) from a number of different areas and emission sources throughout the daytime on March 28, 2024. Yellow, red, purple, and black clusters represent increased levels of pollutants from TEMPOs data and show drift over time. Credit: Trent Schindler/NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio The TEMPO mission gathers hourly daytime scans of the atmosphere over North America from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Coast, and from Mexico City to central Canada. The instrument detects pollution by observing how sunlight is absorbed and scattered by gases and particles in the troposphere, the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. "All the pollutants that TEMPO is measuring cause health issues," said Hazem Mahmoud, science lead at NASA Langley's Atmospheric Science Data Center. "We have more than 500 early adopters using these datasets right away. We expect to see epidemiologists and health experts using this data in the near future. Researchers studying the respiratory system and the impact of these pollutants on people's health will find TEMPO's measurements invaluable." NO 2 levels are elevated along major traffic corridors including I-35 in Texas with the highest levels between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Elevated NO 2 levels are shown across cities including Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, with the highest levels persisting across Houston from morning to evening. Credit: Trent Schindler/NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio An early adopter program has allowed policymakers and other air quality stakeholders to understand the capabilities and benefits of TEMPO's measurements. Since October 2023, the TEMPO calibration and validation team has been working to evaluate and improve TEMPO data products. "Data gathered by TEMPO will play an important role in the scientific analysis of pollution," said Xiong Liu, senior physicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and principal investigator for the mission. "For example, we will be able to conduct studies of rush hour pollution, linkages of diseases and health issues to acute exposure of air pollution, how air pollution disproportionately impacts underserved communities, the potential for improved air quality alerts, the effects of lightning on ozone, and the movement of pollution from forest fires and volcanoes." Measurements by TEMPO include air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and ground-level ozone. High NO 2 levels associated with prescribed burns are seen popping up across East Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi, beginning around 1:00 p.m. and extending into the evening. Elevated NO 2 levels are visible in cities from El Paso to Memphis. Credit: Trent Schindler/NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio "Poor air quality exacerbates pre-existing health issues, which leads to more hospitalizations," said Jesse Bell, executive director at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Water, Climate, and Health Program. Bell is an early adopter of TEMPO's data. Bell noted that there is a lack of air quality data in rural areas since monitoring stations are often hundreds of miles apart. There is also an observable disparity in air quality from neighborhood to neighborhood. "Low-income communities, on average, have poorer air quality than more affluent communities," said Bell. "For example, we've conducted studies and found that in Douglas County, which surrounds Omaha, the eastern side of the county has higher rates of pediatric asthma hospitalizations. When we identify what populations are going to the hospital at a higher rate than others, it's communities of color and people with indicators of poverty. Data gathered by TEMPO is going to be incredibly important because you can get better spatial and temporal resolution of air quality across places like Douglas County." Determining sources of air pollution can be difficult as smoke from wildfires or pollutants from industry and traffic congestion drift on winds. The TEMPO instrument will make it easier to trace the origin of some pollutants. TEMPO observes the northerly transport of NO 2 from the Permian basin, a large oil and natural gas producing area spanning parts of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, with the highest levels measured during the morning over the basin. NO 2 plumes from coal-fired power plants are visible in the rural areas far west and northwest of Houston and far east of Dallas between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Credit: Trent Schindler/NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio "The National Park Service is using TEMPO data to gain new insight into emerging air quality issues at parks in southeast New Mexico," explained National Park Service chemist, Barkley Sive. "Oil and gas emissions from the Permian Basin have affected air quality at Carlsbad Caverns and other parks and their surrounding communities. While pollution control strategies have successfully decreased ozone levels across most of the United States, the data helps us understand degrading air quality in the region." The TEMPO instrument was built by BAE Systems, Inc., Space & Mission Systems (formerly Ball Aerospace) and flies aboard the Intelsat 40e satellite built by Maxar Technologies. The TEMPO Ground System, including the Instrument Operations Center and the Science Data Processing Center, are operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Organization, part of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. More information: To learn more about TEMPO visit: nasa.gov/tempo Provided by NASA United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has postponed the plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Speaking during a campaign rally, Sunak said that the flights to Rwanda will commence immediately after the July 4 elections, if his Conservative Party wins the snap elections. Sunak had vowed that the flights will commence in July come what may even as the Labour Party pledges to reverse the policy if it takes over the government. The plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda had split the lower and upper chambers of parliament for months over its legality and its effectiveness to curb illegal immigration. The Rwanda bill, which sailed through on April 23 after several concessions between the two houses, was drafted to address the legal issues identified by the UK's Supreme Court. The countrys highest court had ruled in November 2023 that Rwanda is not a safe country for asylum seekers and refugees based on its poor human rights records which would put at risk asylum seekers being forcefully returned to their home country. The Apex Court found that the plan by the U.K. government was a breach of its national and international legal obligations based on the possibility of affected persons finding themselves in the same circumstances they were escaping from. Sunaks government moved to parliament to amend laws that would guarantee the safety of persons relocated from the U.K. to Rwanda. With the passing of the bill, any asylum seeker who arrives in the U.K. illegally will be sent to Rwanda. Church leaders in the United Kingdom had collectively condemned the passing of the controversial bill. In a joint statement in April, the leaders of the Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic and United Reformed Churches maintained their stance on the plan, saying churches and charities offering kindness to people fleeing war and persecution were unjustly maligned for political reasons. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up We retain deep misgivings about the Safety of Rwanda Billfor the precedent it sets at home and for other countries in how we respond to the most vulnerable. This includes victims of modern slavery and children wrongly assessed as adults, whom we have a duty to protect, read the statement. The Church leaders maintained that they were in support of a system that displayed compassion, justice and transparency in handling asylum seekers and refugees. As leaders in Christian churches, we wish to express our profound gratitude to those who live out Jesuss call to feed and clothe the poor, and to welcome the stranger, through their work with asylum seekers and refugees, at times in the face of opposition and prejudice, noted the leaders. They referred to an incident in February this year where an asylum seeker from Afghanistan carried out a chemical attack on a mother and her child in the Clapham area in London leaving them with life-changing injuries. The church had been blamed by political leaders for not doing sufficient background checks when the attacker converted to Christianity. In their response to the tragic attack in Clapham earlier this year, some former Home Office ministers, MPs and other commentators sought to portray churches and clergy as deliberately facilitating false asylum claims. It was for this reason, at the request of Anglican leaders, that representatives of our churches met the Home Secretary in February. When asked, neither he nor officials could provide evidence to support the allegations of widespread abuse, said the leaders in the statement signed by seven U.K. church leaders. The statement was co-signed by Anglican Church leaders Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell and Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun. Other signatories included Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, Paul McAleenan who is the Bishop for Migrants and Refugees, Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, The Baptist Union of Great Britain, Revd Dr. Tess Henry-Robinson, United Reformed Church General Assembly Moderator and Revd Gill Newton, President of the Methodist Conference. In April 2023, 1,450 Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed church leaders under the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) expressed their dissatisfaction with the Illegal Migration Bill, terming the governments proposal as incompatible with our Christian conviction that all human beings are made in the image of God. Methodist Public Issues Team Leader Rev. David Hardman said that the proposals lacked compassion and basic respect for peoples dignity. On a practical level, they fail to see that punishing people who cross the channel in small boats without offering alternative safe routes will only cause pain and increase the backlog of people who are stuck in unfit accommodation here in the UK. Even whilst some MPs are pushing for further tightening of this cruel approach, we know that we can and must do better than this. Today we call on the government to lead the way to change by creating and implementing new safe routes by which people can come to the UK to seek sanctuary, said Revd Hardaman in the joint statement by JPIT. According to the UKs Refugee Council, there were 67,337 asylum applications in 2023, a 17 percent decrease compared to the previous year. The top five countries of origin for asylum seekers were Afghanistan, Iran, India, Pakistan and Turkey. In Africa, about 25 percent of immigrants head to Europe with an overwhelming majority moving to other African countries, states a UN report on immigration trends in Africa. Speaking to Christian Daily International, Tom Albinson, the Founder and President of International Association For Refugees (IAFR), said international conventions protect people crossing borders due to conflict, persecution or adverse conditions. When an asylum seeker crosses the border and asks for asylum, they havent broken any law, they are exercising a human right at this point, said Albinson. 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 For Malcolm and Simone Collins, declining birth rates across many developed countries are an existential threat. The solution is to have "tons of kids," and to use a hyperrational, data-driven approach to guide everything from genetic selection to baby names and day-to-day parenting. They don't heat their Pennsylvania home in winter, because heating is a "pointless indulgence." Their children wear iPads around their necks. And a Guardian journalist witnessed Malcolm strike their two-year-old across the face for misbehavior, a parenting style they apparently developed based on watching "tigers in the wild." The Collinses are leading spokespeople for a movement called pronatalism, popular in Silicon Valley. Elon Musk, a father of 11, is one of its leading proponents. "Population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming," Musk tweeted. Demographers disagree: there is no collapse, and one is not even predicted. Such evidence has not stopped the rise of pronatalism in response to an imagined "population bomb." Pronatalism has strong links to effective altruism, a movement tied to Silicon Valley and elite schools, which uses "evidence and reason to figure out how to benefit as many people as possible" , and longtermism, which insists our long-term future is the key moral priority. What is pronatalism? A general definition of pronatalism is "any attitude or policy that is 'pro-birth," that encourages reproduction, that exalts the role of parenthood." For pronatalists, having many children is not an individual choice, but a societal imperative: higher birth rates are necessary to maintain population levels, support economic growth, and preserve cultural and national identities. Pronatalism is not new. Anxieties around a declining citizenry are longstanding and states have not been afraid to intervene. For instance, after World War I, women in France were only averaging three children, while their German "rivals" were averaging five. Pronatalist organizations sprang up and lobbying groups were formed. Laws were passed prohibiting contraceptives and abortion, though these failed to alter the trend. On the surface, pronatalism is driven by "rational" concerns. Many developed countries have fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 children. The inevitable result is an aging population. The fear is economic: with fewer working-age people, there will be no one to support the elderly and maintain economic productivity, straining state resources and social welfare systems. Pronatalism's rational allure also stems from its reasonable recommendations. Financial incentives like direct payments and tax breaks are recommended for families with multiple children. Generous parental leave policies and affordable childcare are suggested to make the work/life balance work. And affordable housing and subsidized education can take the sting out of child-rearing costs. These are not radical policiesindeed many countries struggling to increase birth rates, such as Hungary, Sweden and Singapore, have already implemented various forms of them. All of this assumes growth is not only good, but urgent. However, scholars have questioned this powerful but unexamined assumption. In Decline and Prosper!, population economist Vegard Skirbekk assembles a wealth of material to demonstrate that declining births do not mean the death of society, but may actually be a boon. In fact, the population is only decreasing in some places: across Africa, it is increasing. In Niger, Chad, Somalia and many other countries, total fertility rates range from 4 to above 6. Pronatalism, ethnicity and engineering This brings us to a second and more disturbing definition of pronatalism: "a political, ideological, or religious project to encourage childbearing by some or all members of a civil, ethnic, or national group." In short, the problem for pronatalism is not declining reproduction, but who is reproducing. Pronatalism is inextricably tied to nationalism alongside race, class and ethnicity. In Britain, for instance, the media have doggedly begged or threatened women into having more children for the sake of the nation: "close your eyes and think of England." Such a framing can quickly become xenophobic. Births "inside" the nation are inevitably contrasted with immigration from the "outside." This is fertile ground for theories such as the "great replacement" to take root. Immigration is a "misnomer," writes one popular proponent of the theory, "it is more akin to an invasion, a migratory tsunami, a submerging wave of ethnic substitution." In this zero-sum world, if "we" are not actively maintaining our numbers, our cities, cultures and livelihoods will swiftly be taken over by "them." Here, nationalism tips into ethnonationalism and reproductive debates descend into violent racism. "It's the birthrates, it's the birthrates, it's the birthrates," repeated the Christchurch shooter in his manifesto, a connection discussed in my book about digital hate. It's no surprise, then, when we see white supremacists attending pronatalist events. The movement resonates with the infamous 14 words of white supremacy: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children." These more insidious aspects shed light on the pronatalism exemplified by the Collinses. Firstly, this vision appears to be about reproducing a certain kind of person. The Collinses screen for disability and optimize for intelligence. The logic here is that DNA is all-important. It doesn't matter that their children's rooms aren't heated, or they wear iPads around their necks, or that their two-year-old is struck across the face for misbehavior, because, in the end, nature wins over nurture. Secondly, in the pronatalist vision, the children themselves seem to be beside the point. The child is less an individual, with desires and dignity, than a vehicle for a political project, a dense bundle of futurity. Here we see the strong connections between pronatalism and effective altruism. Both are obsessed with abstract anxieties about "trillions of people to come" in the long-term future. In this numbers game, the child is demoted to a data point. As pronatalism rises, grasping these unspoken logics becomes key. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Liyan Shi. Credit: Carnegie Mellon University Liyan Shi, an assistant professor of economics in the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, argued in a study published in Econometrica that noncompete agreements harm the economy. She suggested that a near ban of these noncompete agreements may be the best policy. In April, the Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule aimed at promoting competition by banning noncompetes nationwide, to protect the fundamental freedom of workers to change jobs, increasing innovation and fostering new business formation. In a recent Q&A, Shi provided insights into noncompete agreements and their influence on both the workforce and the economy. Q: What are noncompete contracts and how common are they among U.S. workers? Shi: Noncompete contracts are agreements between a company and an employee where the employee promises not to work for a competitor after leaving the company. These agreements are an elusive aspect of the labor market for researchers and policymakers because they are private contracts, which makes them difficult to measure and quantify. Economists and researchers have gone to great lengths to conduct surveys and collect data to understand the prevalence of noncompetes and have found that they are surprisingly common. According to a nationwide survey by Evan Starr at the University of Maryland and his co-authors, about 30 million U.S. workersroughly 18% of the entire workforceare bound by noncompetes, and an even higher 38% have signed such contracts during their careers. Q: What does your research reveal about the prevalence and duration of noncompete clauses among executives? Shi: One segment of the labor market where we can observe the details of employment contracts is among executives and key employees at publicly listed firms, who must disclose these details for regulatory reasons. To understand the use and effects of noncompete clauses, I utilized machine learning and natural language processing tools to collect a large set of these contracts and analyze the details of the arrangements. My findings reveal that nearly two-thirds of executives are bound by noncompete clauses, which last about two years on average. Q: What are the main concerns about noncompete agreements? Shi: The main concern about noncompete contracts is their anticompetitive effects: restricted labor mobility prevents workers from moving to more productive jobs and inhibits the entry of new firms. With declining labor market fluidity, stagnant wage growth and decreasing business dynamism in the U.S., noncompete contracts have been identified as a likely contributing factor. Noncompete contracts are justified as protecting employers' investments, especially in their employees. This debate has led to varied legal approaches across the country: many states allow noncompetes, while others, like California, ban them entirely. Q: What policy recommendations do you have regarding noncompete agreements? Shi: The effects of noncompete agreements present a policy trade-off. My research aimed to evaluate whether intervention is necessary. While noncompetes benefit firm investment, particularly in intangible assets like R&D, these benefits are outweighed by the costs of reduced labor reallocation and fewer new jobs. This indicates that a laissez-faire outcome is undesirable and that regulation is needed. On balance, I recommend a near ban on noncompetes. Q: How does the noncompetes affect workers and employers? Shi: Another issue of contention is how noncompete agreements affect wagesit's complicated. One reason noncompete clauses lower wages is because workers cannot take new, potentially more lucrative jobs. They are also less likely to get raises because their outside option is diminished. However, wages are often set through employer-worker bargaining, especially for high-skill workers, who may demand a higher starting wage to compensate for future restrictions. This is precisely what I found for key personnel such as executives in a firm. While employment restrictions may seem unappealing, workers can be enticed with appropriate compensation. Nevertheless, noncompetes should not remain unregulated because they affect third partiespotential employers who could offer more productive jobs but cannot recruit workers bound by these agreements. Q: What is next in the research world regarding noncompete contracts? Shi: Researchers are examining the effects on different labor market segments, in particular low-skill workers who may have limited bargaining power against their employers, and why they agree to sign noncompetes. There is also exciting new research on how noncompete enforcement affects knowledge spillovers and the firm's innovativeness. More broadly, researchers are exploring how noncompete policies interact with other employment contracts and intellectual property policies, such as nondisclosure agreements, trade secret protection and patent protection. 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: Using a superparaelectric high k dielectric to solve the trilemma in a gate layer ("polarizability""scalability""insulation robustness"). (a) "low (k) and scalable" simple oxide gate layers facing the challenge of electrical breakdown with a physical thickness approaching the quantum tunneling limit; (b) "high (k) and non-scalable" complex polar oxide gate layers facing the same challenge as in (b), with a higher threshold of the smallest physical thickness due to a lower breakdown strength (E bd ); (c) "high (k) and scalable" SPE gate layers having both a thickness-scalable high k and a large E bd . Credit: Journal of Advanced Ceramics, Tsinghua University Press In our communication-centered society, Moore's law sets a high expectation for the increasing rate of the packing density of Si-based transistors. This drives the search for thickness-scalable high dielectric constant (high k) gate layers. Current material candidates, from simple binary oxides to complex polar oxides, all have failed to solve the "polarizability-scalability-insulation robustness" trilemma, hence contributing to the sum total of issues threatening the continuation of the Moore's law. A team of material scientists led by Jun Ouyang from Qilu University of Technology in Jinan, China recently proposed a solution to this trilemma on gate layers, which is an ultrathin film of a ferroelectric oxide in its superparaelectric (SPE) state. The team published their research article in Journal of Advanced Ceramics on April 30, 2024. "In the SPE, its polar order becomes local and is dispersed in an amorphous matrix with a crystalline size down to a few nanometers, leading to an excellent dimensional scalability and a good field-stability of the k value," said Jun Ouyang, senior author of the research article, professor in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and team leader of Advanced Energy Materials and Chemistry at Qilu University of Technology. "As an example, a stable high k value (373) is shown in ultrathin SPE films of (Ba 0.95 ,Sr 0.05 )(Zr 0.2 ,Ti 0.8 )O 3 (BSZT) sputter-deposited on LaNiO 3 -buffered Pt/Ti/ SiO 2 /(100)Si down to a 4 nm thickness at room temperature, leading to a small equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of ~0.46 nm." The research team analyzed the average diameter of the nanometer polar clusters (NPCs), the feature size for the short-range ordered SPE film, as a function of the film thickness. They found that the film's NPC size, which is positively correlated with the film's k value, is dictated by the temperature of the sputter-deposition, not the film thickness. "These observations suggest that the dominant factor for a scalable k in a SPE dielectric is its NPC size, not the film thickness usually being investigated. It is such a small feature size that has led to a good thickness scalability of k in a SPE ultrathin film, as opposed to a non-scalable k in its ferroelectric counterpart," Jun Ouyang said. "Furthermore, through studies of the temperature dependence of k (kT curves), we estimated the critical NPC size for the superparaelectric-to-paraelectric (SPE-PE) transition in the BSZT film, i.e., its theoretical scalability limit as a gate layer. This limit is between 1.3 and 1.8 nm, which is consistent with the thermodynamic prediction for the BSZT material." The research team outlines other unique properties of the superparaelectric BSZT films endowed by their aforementioned microstructure of "well-dispersed nanometer polar clusters (NPCs)". These properties include a high breakdown strength (~10.5 MVcm1 for the 4 nm film), which ensures a low leakage current for the operation of the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) gate. Moreover, a high electrical fatigue resistance, i.e., chargedischarge stability, was displayed by the SPE films. These results reveal a great potential of superparaelectric materials as gate dielectrics in the next-generation microelectronics. The research team expects this work to spur development of new superparaelectric-based gate layers to further decrease the EOT value and help continue Moore's law. More information: Kun Wang et al, Pushing the high- k scalability limit with a superparaelectric gate layer, Journal of Advanced Ceramics (2024). DOI: 10.26599/JAC.2024.9220876 Provided by Tsinghua University Press This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Holme I timber enclosure with central inverted oak stump. Credit: Mark Brennand New research into an ancient timber circle discovered on a Norfolk beach and dubbed "Seahenge" suggests it was created in response to a period of extreme climatic deterioration at the close of the third millennium BC. University of Aberdeen researcher Dr. David Nance has published new findings in GeoJournal on Holme Ia 4,000-year-old Bronze Age timber circle revealed by the shifting sands of Holme-next-the-sea beach on the north Norfolk coast in 1998. The circle, consisting of an upturned tree-stump surrounded by 55 closely fitted oak posts, was originally built on the saltmarsh away from the sea and specialists estimate it to have been built of timbers dating from the spring of 2049 BC. It would have been positioned in an area protected from the sea by sand dunes and mud flats. This swampy area created a layer of peat which slowly covered the timbers, protecting them from decay. Dr. Nance also looked at Holme IIa second, adjacent ring dated to the same year centered on two oak logs laid flat. He considered the archaeology of the sites together with climatic and environmental data, astronomic and biological evidence, regional folklore and toponymy. It has previously been suggested that the structuresthe only known British monuments erected togethermay have been erected to mark the death of an individual while others have suggested they were used for sky burials, where the dead would be placed inside to be pecked and carried away by carrion-eating birds. Dr. Nance puts forward an alternative explanation in his paper instead suggesting that Seahenge and the adjacent timber circle were constructed during a bitterly cold climatic period for rituals intended to extend the summer and the return of warmer weather. Dr. Nance explains, "Dating of the Seahenge timbers showed they were felled in the spring, and it was considered most probable that these timbers were aligned with sunrise on the summer solstice. "We know that the period in which they were constructed 4,000 years ago was a prolonged period of decreased atmospheric temperatures and severe winters and late springs placing these early coastal societies under stress. "It seems most likely that these monuments had the common intention to end this existential threat but they had different functions." He points to the alignment of Seahenge with sunrise on the summer solstice and suggests that its function was to mimic the "pen" described in folklore for an unfledged cuckoo with the intention to keep the bird singing and thereby extend the summer. "Summer solstice was the date when according to folklore the cuckoo, symbolizing fertility, traditionally stopped singing, returned to the Otherworld and the summer went with it," Dr. Nance added. "The monument's form appears to imitate two supposed winter dwellings of the cuckoo remembered in folklore: a hollow tree or 'the bowers of the Otherworld' represented by the upturned oak-stump at its center. "This ritual is remembered in the 'myth of the pent cuckoo' where an unfledged cuckoo was placed into a thorn bush and the bird was 'walled-in' to extend the summer but it always flew away." For Holme II, he points to legends of 'sacred kings' described in Iron Age Ireland and northern Britain who were sacrificed if misfortune fell on the community, as happened at Holme-next-the-sea, in an attempt to appease the goddess of Venus to restore harmony. He said, "Evidence suggests that they were ritually-sacrificed every eight years at Samhain (now Halloween) coincident with the eight-year cycle of Venus. "The fixtures in Holme II that were thought to hold a coffin, are orientated towards sunrise on Samhain in 2049 when Venus was still visible. "Both monuments are best explained as having different functions and associated rituals, but with a common intent: to end the severely cold weather." More information: David Alexander Nance, Holme I (Seahenge) and Holme II: ritual responses to climate change in Early Bronze Age Britain, GeoJournal (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s10708-024-11088-5 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: CC0 Public Domain Children and youths in Sweden who are placed in out-of-home care via court order run an increased risk of suicide, mental illness, and crime, according to research conducted by Ronja Helensdotter at the School of Business, Economics, and Law, at the University of Gothenburg. A particularly vulnerable group in society are children and youths who interact with the child protection system. These individuals often have significantly poorer outcomes and run a high risk of developing destructive behaviors later in life. Research from several Western countries documents that between 2 and 6% of all children will be placed outside the home before they turn 18. Helensdotter has, in her dissertation in economics, studied the consequences of removing children from their homes via court order in Sweden. The study is based on a new database that Ronja constructed by collecting and processing over 20,000 child protection judgments from 2001 to 2019. The study shows that court-ordered removal has a significant, adverse impact on the lives of children and youths. In cases where it is not obvious whether the child should be placed outside the home, the risk of death before the age of 20 increases by several hundred percent, mainly through suicide. In addition, the risk of hospitalization due to mental illness and the risk of committing non-narcotic crimes, such as violent and sexual crimes, increase within the first year after the judgment. "There are many potential explanations: the emotional stress of being taken from one's home, abuse in the new environment, and interruption of ongoing treatments. However, more needs to be done to understand why some children fare so badly," says Helensdotter. A contributing factor may be that children who are placed together affect each other negatively. The children in the study are often placed together with other children, either in foster homes, group homes, or in state-owned institutions, also called SiS homes. Typically, youths placed in SiS homes have a background of substance abuse or criminal involvement. A large proportion suffers from mental illness. Thanks to SiS systematically recording who lives with whom and when, Helensdotter was able to use their records to study whether there are negative peer effects among youths institutionalized between 2000 and 2020. The results clearly show reinforcing peer effects in self-harm and drug abuse that persist even after the youth is discharged from the facility. "Placing youths with a history of self-harm together with a higher proportion of peers who also have a history of self-harm increases the risk of death and hospitalization from self-harm in the future. The same applies when placing youths with substance abuse problems," says Helensdotter. Adverse effects of spending time with people with similar problems appear already while the youths are institutionalized, and the youths are often hospitalized for the same reason at the same time. "An important factor seems to be direct exposure to situations where someone is actively harming themselves or abusing drugs. That exposure can then worsen the person's problems and lead to an increased risk of dying or being hospitalized even after the SiS placement has ended," says Helensdotter. An intervention by the child protection system, where a child or youth is taken into care because of problems at home or behavioral problems, can improve the individual's life. At the same time, court-ordered placement can have a considerable adverse impact on the child's health and development. "However, it is important to be careful when interpreting my results. We should not interpret them as meaning that we should stop providing court-ordered care. There are reasons why these children are placed outside the home. But we must do more to ensure that these children get the childhood they deserve. It is also important to emphasize that I am studying involuntary care. The results can be very different for voluntary placements," says Helensdotter. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: the input pulse is mapped into a speckle pattern through the MMF. Then, the MCF samples the output pattern into a pulse sequence. The seven cores of the MCF are extended in different lengths to avoid overlapping. Credit: Zheng Gao, Ting Jiang, Mingming Zhang, Yuxuan Xiong, Hao Wu, and Ming Tang. Accurate high-speed measurements of wavelength are fundamental to optical research and industrial applications, such as environmental monitoring, biomedical analysis, and material characterization. Recent studies have shown that a disordered scattering medium such as a multimode fiber can generate a wavelength-dependent speckle pattern, which can provide a high spectral resolution and broad operational bandwidth in a compact structure. However, the measurement speeds of current speckle spectrometers are constrained by cameras, which limits their applications. In a new paper published in Light: Advanced Manufacturing, a team of scientists, led by Professor Ming Tang and Dr. Hao Wu from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, with doctoral students Zheng Gao and Ting Jiang as co-first authors, have developed an ultrafast wavemeter based on multimode and multicore fibers, which employs spectralspatialtemporal mapping. By integrating the speckle pattern characteristics of multimode fibers with the sampling capabilities of multicore fibers, this new method achieves a spectral measurement speed of 100MHz without compromising accuracy. The scientists summarize the operational principle of their wavemeter, saying, "To break through this speed limitation, we introduced multicore fibers, proposing an innovative spectral-space-time mapping scheme. We fused multicore fibers to the output end of multimode fibers, using each core to sample the speckle pattern, effectively transforming the intensity distribution into a pulse signal sequence. As a result, high-speed single-pixel photodetectors replaced traditional cameras, overcoming the frame rate limitations and achieving a leap in measurement speed." "We experimentally demonstrated a measurement rate of 100 MHz while maintaining a high resolution of 2.7pm. This measurement method has significant potential for application in many fields." More information: Zheng Gao et al, Breaking the speed limitation of wavemeter through spectra-space-time mapping, Light: Advanced Manufacturing (2024). DOI: 10.37188/lam.2024.013 A court in Pakistan denied a Christian victim of fake conversion to change the religious designation of Islam and the Muslim name that his Muslim employers fraudulently registered on his National Identity Card, sources said. Islam teaches that everyone is Muslim at birth but the parents and society cause one to deviate from the straight path, Pattoki Civil Judge Mian Usman Tariq stated in his May 18 verdict on a petition filed by Christian brick kiln laborer Sufyan Masih, 24. Therefore, when someone accepts Islam, he is considered to revert to his original condition. Nevertheless, Islam prohibits the use of force against anybody to get him converted. Attorney Sumera Shafique had filed Masihs petition in September 2022 after officials at the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) in Pattoki Tehsil of Kasur District, Punjab Province, refused to accept his pleas to correct his religious designation to Christianity on his national identity card and to change his name from Muhammad Sufyan to Sufyan Masih. Shafique said that when Masih and his family worked at a brick kiln owned by Asif Ali, a Muslim, the Christians relatives approached her in 2020 seeking her help to recover Masih from Alis illegal custody. Ali had refused to give Masih back to his family, saying that the boy had converted to Islam and that he had adopted him as his son, Shafique told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. I filed a petition for his recovery and succeeded to reunite him with his parents. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up When the Christian family applied for Masihs national identity card, NADRA officials told them that his name was already registered in the national database as Muhammad Sufyan, she said. When we investigated, it came to the fore that the kiln owner had gotten Sufyans identity card made in 2018 showing him as a Muslim, ostensibly to preempt any move of his parents to recover him, Shafique said. Sufyan told us that a NADRA mobile van had visited the kiln during a campaign to make computerized identity cards of kiln workers where his employer had fraudulently gotten his thumbprints on the registration form as well as his photograph. She said that Masih and all his family members, including his parents and siblings, were illiterate and could not read or understand the form. When NADRA officials told Sufyans parents that his name and religion could not be changed, Sufyan categorically declared that he was a Christian, and the contents on the form were entered without his knowledge, she said. NADRA officials refused to accept his claim and sent them away. The attorney said that during the course of the proceedings, she submitted documentary evidence, including his baptism certificate, and also presented Masihs Christian parents in court as evidence of his Christian upbringing. Most importantly, Masih himself told the court that he continued to practice his Christian faith and was not a Muslim, she added. The Muslim cleric who had allegedly issued Masihs conversion certificate did not appear in court despite several notices, Shafique said. The bailiff told the court that the cleric could not be traced, and the seminary mentioned on the conversion certificate had also disappeared, she said. This was a clear enough proof of the mala fide behind the alleged religious conversion, yet the court ignored it. The attorney informed the court that NADRA had also violated its own policy by failing to seek a mandatory undertaking from the applicant at the time of registering his alleged new religion. Masihs parents are Christian, and their official record clearly states this fact, she said. When Masihs NIC [National Identity Card] was being made by his Muslim employers, the NADRA officials should have asked for the mandatory undertaking related to religion conversion instead of relying only on the fake certificate, she said. Masih was barely an adult at that time, moreover he had no idea what was being done to him, but the NADRA officials should have been more vigilant. According to NADRAs CNIC (Computerised National Identify Card) registration policy, any mistake by applicants to state their religion correctly due to illiteracy may be handled in office fault category. In Masihs case, however, NADRA claimed that his name and religion could not be changed because at the time of registration he had allegedly verified his religion as Islam on the official form. NADRA asserted that according to official policy, a Muslim cannot change his religious designation in the CNIC to any other religion, whereas people who convert to Islam from other faiths can get their CNICs amended. Apostasy is considered a sin punishable by death under most schools of Islamic jurisprudence. Although there is no specific law in Pakistan to deny Muslims their right to change religion, apostasy may be punished under Section 295-A of the countrys blasphemy statutes, which imposes up to two years imprisonment for outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens. Right to Practice Any Religion Shafique said that freedom of religion or belief is recognized by numerous human rights instruments to which Pakistan is a signatory. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights declares freedom of religion for everyone, including freedom to change it along with the right to practice it either publicly or privately, she said, adding that Pakistan had also ratified the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights under which no individual could be stopped from adhering to the religion or faith of their choice. Shafique emphasized that Article 20 of Pakistans constitution also allowed citizens the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion, but Masihs case shows how this fundamental right is being denied to non-Muslims. The attorney said that she would challenge the civil judges decision in the appellate court. Our case is very strong, and I was very hopeful of a positive decision, she said. But it seems the judge was not willing to face pressure from religious groups and threw the ball in the court of his superiors. Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year. GLENS FALLS Lower Adirondack Pride will host the second annual Glens Falls Pride Festival and other pride events throughout this weekend. Events kick off Friday with Lower Adirondack Prides first ever Gayla at The Queensbury Hotel. The evening includes dinner, music from DJ Young Pete, speeches from elected officials, and basket raffles. Its going to be bigger and better than ever, Lower Adirondack Pride President Cam Cardinale said. We have more vendors, more things to do, and its really just a great time to get out and enjoy the festivities this weekend. Saturday Lower Adirondack Pride invites the community to attend Family Movie Night at Glens Falls City Park at 8 p.m. There will be a screening of Strange World, which is Disneys first movie with an openly gay main character. There will be a variety of refreshments and snacks will be made available by donation. The second annual Glens Falls Pride Festival will be held Sunday, June 2 in Glens Falls City Park. Opening Ceremonies will begin at noon. There will be a Pride Parade at 12:30, and a Drag Show at 2 p.m. there will be food trucks and around 40 vendors, and kids activities. The mission behind our organization is visibility within the community. Now, more than ever its important to have that visibility, have that outlet, Cardinale said. Our organization brings 12-month programming to the area, and this is our biggest weekend, and our biggest event. This year the City of Glens Falls will be flying the pride flag at City Park in honor of Pride Month this June, Cardinale said. The subject of the city flying the Pride Flag during Pride Month had been a highly discussed item by the board and members of the public at recent meetings. The Glens Falls Common Council recently designated the flagpole in City Park on Ridge Street as the pole that will fly approved of a flagpole policy that allows for certain flags, mainly those from a list produced by the United States Department of State, to fly on the city-owned flagpole in City Park. Michael Charlton, CEO of AtlantiCare, has an ambitious goal for his organization and the communities it serves. Over the next few years, he wants to grow the health care provider to twice its size and invest $1 billion into improving the health of South Jerseys residents. He also aims to add good-paying jobs and create a school-to-workforce pipeline. And he believes he can use his organizations role as the regions largest single employer to help revitalize Atlantic City. The timeline: Six years. Charlton, 55, believes urgency and ambition are whats needed to overcome the challenges facing his industry and South Jersey. Starting with Atlantic City, Charlton sees the looming threat of gaming in New York City as a call to action. We probably have five or six years to get this right. New Yorks gonna get gaming, and North Jersey will fall behind that, Charlton said in a recent interview. What does that incrementally do to the region, if we were maybe to have one or two less casinos? Five thousand or 10,000 less jobs? You have to look at that even though were far removed from the casino industry. I did. Likewise, competition in the health care industry is challenging AtlantiCare to innovate. Charlton took over as CEO of the $1 billion-a-year organization in October with a plan already taking shape. AtlantiCare gala raises funds: Hometown briefs AtlantiCare raised more than $640,000 in support of behavioral health and addiction initiatives during the AtlantiCare Foundations 63rd annual Century Club Gala on Saturday at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. More than 650 people attended the event during which Dr. Fernando Delasotta was presented with the Edward R. Knight Award and Richard Mairone was honored in memorium. In April, he unveiled AtlantiCares VISION 2030 on stage at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and issued a challenge to the room of over 200 people. We as organizations in this community need to be done partially solving problems, he said. If were going to be so bold as to think we can reimagine and transform health care, we must be willing to adapt to new ways of doing things, and we must be more daring. It was the type of big-swing community building project called for in the 2018 report on Atlantic Citys path out of state oversight. Report author Jim Johnson, then special counsel to Gov. Phil Murphy, spent more than a year mapping out the citys assets and challenges. His findings in Atlantic City: Building a Foundation of Shared Prosperity were to serve as roadmap for the citys stakeholders. He urged anchor institutions, so-called because they are large employers with a stake in the community, to take active roles. AtlantiCare and Stockton University were two organizations with a stake in Atlantic City, wrote Johnson. Working together would help build an eds and meds approach that would bring jobs and investment. This spring, Charlton took up that challenge, citing a goal of building a medical college in Stocktons Atlantic City footprint. One hefty anchor AtlantiCare is a model of an anchor institution. The company has $1 billion in annual revenue, employs 6,500 people and serves 1 million people. At the same time, the company was facing serious headwinds, Charlton said. He cited shrinking profit margins, a shortage of medical professionals and more competition. AtlantiCare announces six-year plan to become a $2B company AtlantiCare, the region's largest health care organization, is embarking on a six-year initiative to improve the health of South Jersey residents, expand health care services and grow into a $2 billion-a-year company, president and CEO Michael Charlton said Wednesday. At the same time, Charlton, who was born and raised on Absecon Island, was seeing Atlantic City and the region also facing challenges. The solution lay in a plan that would help strengthen both company and community. When I got here, it was now we have to uphold our responsibility, Charlton said. What better organization to step up and lead? He looked at the old formula of eds and meds, which existed here, but had not yet made a serious impact. You know the saying that any area that has meds and eds will do all right. But we have eds, meds, beds (hotels) and hospitality and were still struggling. Why is that? Charlton saw it as a problem in need of solving. That was his pitch to the board: Lets transform the company and drive change in Atlantic City and beyond. The board agreed, and after seven years on AtlantiCares Board of Trustees, he was named CEO last fall. He went to work solving the problem he saw, working within his organization and building partnerships outside it to expand its capabilities. A start in the hospitality and development world had taught Charlton what a focused approach could do. As chairman of Icon Properties, a family business, hed helped develop Galloway Townships most recognizable businesses. AtlantiCare holds Red Dress/Red Tie Reception: Hometown briefs AtlantiCare's Heart & Lung Institute hosted its 15th annual Red Dress/Red Tie Reception last week at the Carriage House in Galloway Township. More than 320 attendees wore red to raise awareness of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, raising over $52,000. Now, he was leading an organization capable of having even more of an impact. Ambitious plans The goals spelled out in AtlantiCares VISION 2030 are specific and measurable. Reduce food insecurity for patients by 6% Reduce unsheltered homelessness by 20% Expand life expectancy by five years Increase annual fundraising for the AtlantiCare Foundation by 20% year over year Establish a medical school in New Jersey to diversify and strengthen talent pipeline Establish a clinical career program (launched earlier in 2024) to grow local talent Double in size to a $2 billion organization Expanding AtlantiCares Mainland campus. Additions include a behavioral health center, a pediatric unit and a cardiac care building. AtlantiCare celebrates 125th anniversary AtlantiCare, the local health care company that operates two hospitals and dozens of medical offices throughout the region, celebrated its 125th anniversary Thursday. Another project Charlton discussed in a May interview was developing a medical college in Atlantic City. He identified a 2.25-acre beach block vacant lot next to Stocktons City Campus. The land is owned by the Atlantic City Development Corp., which built the Stockton campus. Charlton sees a thriving medical campus there one day, with 200 to 300 students. The partnership with Drexels College of Medicine would drive that vision. The graduating students would help provide the local talent AtlantiCare would need to expand. Were talking six-figure jobs, hundreds of them, Charlton said. But Charlton also sees other benefits. Those graduating students will need places to live. He sees the project creating a wave of development and investment. Looking even farther ahead, that development could one day reach midtown, where AtlantiCares City Campus is. I think if we can do that, in six years, you have two-thirds of the city properly developed. That, of course, is in the future. The start of that vision will be more modest, officials stressed, with 40 to 50 medical students in training at AtlantiCare facilities. Gov. Phil Murphy pledges $5.5 million to bolster Atlantic City's food access New Jersey will spend more than $5.5 million to address food insecurity in Atlantic City, Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday. Deadline looming Worrying about job creation or job loss isnt something youd associate with the leader of a health care organization. But part of reimagining AtlantiCare involves addressing less traditional aspects of its services. Jobs, housing and food security are all roles that have been thrust on health care providers, with few federal safety nets in place. Charlton uses the term social determinants for life when discussing housing and accessibility to healthy foods. Those issues dont have an adequate public safety net, he said, and therefore fall to employers and health systems to address. That puts stress on health care organizations, which need to finds ways to solve the problems while dealing with their own issues of rising costs from wages to building to insurance reimbursements. In other words, solving the problems youre capable of solving, while staying financially solvent. That was the problem that inspired AtlantiCares VISION 2030. Ive challenged the organization to make sure that were financially viable because were going to take care of all of these other social determinants of life that the state, the federal government, that nobody else is fulfilling, Charlton said. Thats where the emerging partnerships AtlantiCare announced will help in its transformation: Oracle Health, Drexel University College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute and Global Neurosciences Institute. Besides the national partners Charlton introduced in his April 10 presentation, he also has strong local connections to build with. That includes Stockton University, also an anchor institution. Last August, the college created a task force to explore its continued growth in the resort. Part of their mission was to determine a use for the lot Charlton mentioned earlier this month. The schools communications office referred to the August 2023 news release when asked about an update. We are actively exploring opportunities that would best enhance experiences for our students and elevate the impact of Stockton as a good neighbor within Atlantic City, Stockton President Joe Bertolino said then. AtlantiCare's Galloway hospital receives high marks AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Mainland Campus, was given the highest possible grade by a national patient care watchdog, the company announced Monday. Stockton also offers more than a dozen health-related degree programs at the baccalaureate, graduate and doctoral level and partners in health education with AtlantiCare, according to information provided by the university. Michael Chait, president of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, applauded AtlantiCares plan under Charlton. They are fostering groundbreaking partnerships and investing in our workforce to deliver exceptional, compassionate care that improves community well-being, Chait said. State Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, also understands Charltons vision, as well as the threat facing the region. Back when Charlton was still in the interim role, he was already building coalitions and developing a strategic plan. Polistina helped the AtlantiCare CEO connect with Drexel. He later joined Dean of Medicine Charles Cairns on a couch to discuss the partnerships potential. Theres a real threat of the loss of jobs, and we have to create opportunities against that, Polistina said. Michael has a great vision. If anyone is going to pull it off, he will. Voters at the Jersey Shore will be able to select their favorite non-alcoholic mocktails from drinks submitted by 25 bars, restaurants and casinos in the Great HEROtini Mocktail Challenge this summer, the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers said Thursday. Bartenders from participating establishments will create unique mocktails to compete for the HEROtini Cup. Patrons can visit participating bars and restaurants to taste the mocktails and vote for their favorites between Memorial Day and Labor Day at herotini.org. Each vote and donation supports the HERO Campaigns mission to promote responsible and designated driving. Funds raised also support the Holiday HEROES Safe Ride Program, which provides discounted rides in partnership with Uber for customers of participating HERO establishments over the Thanksgiving to New Year's holidays. The challenge returns this summer for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Voters donated more than $25,000 in 2019. The competition is sponsored by and benefits the nonprofit HERO Campaign to raise funds and awareness of the role of designated drivers in preventing drunken driving fatalities and injuries nationwide. Elliott was killed by a drunken driver in July 2000 while driving home, two months after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. Print advertising and social media will publicize the contest and display a QR code that will connect voters to the HEROtini voting page, where they can see pictures of all of the competing mocktails. For more information on the HERO Campaign, visit herocampaign.org. ATLANTIC CITY Since the U.S. Army Signal Service opened a weather station at 27 S. Vermont Ave. on Dec. 10, 1873, the city has experienced a superstorm (Sandy, 2012), a landfalling hurricane (1903), eight brushes with hurricanes and 18 impacts from tropical storms. And thats just tropical systems. In the 150 years since then, the equipment and locations have changed. However, the National Weather Services mission to protect life and property and provide enhancement of the national economy at the Jersey Shore has relied on the citys accurate weather observations to do just that. All while barely missing a weather reading, making this weather station one of the oldest continuously reporting stations in the entire country. We truly use this data on a daily basis to help inform our observations and make decisions that impact peoples lives on a daily basis, said Alexander Kloo, lieutenant at Coast Guard Station Atlantic City. This year effectively marks the 150th anniversary of Atlantic Citys weather station. Since that chilly December day (the high was 41 degrees) it has kept the public aware of big and little changes in the weather. The nationalization of weather reporting officially began Feb. 9, 1870, when a joint congressional resolution required the secretary of war to develop a method to take weather observations. The name was the Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce. Vague forecasts, out to 24 hours, were put out to protect mariners and military members. Meanwhile, Atlantic City was just a fledgling resort, having been incorporated 20 years earlier on May 1, 1854. As the weather station opened, the resort began to enjoy its first wave as a tourism giant on the East Coast. Back then, knowing what the days weather was in the city required going to the Signal Services office and asking the observer. Or, seeing it the next day in a news report. Observations were taken manually by the Signal Service on Vermont Avenue. Temperatures were taken every hour or every day with a thermometer that only showed the highest, lowest and current temperatures seen at the time of observations, according to Alex Staarmann, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly. There was no way to determine how quickly temperatures cooled as a sea breeze came in, for example. Rain and snowfall meant going out in the elements to measure, too. Unless you saw it yourself, there was no way to know when rain changed to snow. Record keeping was also manual. They were physically mailed to a centralized processing center where they were ultimately archived and kept on the official record database, which we still have access to today, Staarmann said. This was the case all the way through the 1970s. The advent of digital equipment in the 1980s brought observations into the modern era. Rain gauges and thermometers automatically recorded changes and events, and observations could be heard by the media and public by radio, satellite and telephone, Staarmann said. However, the data archives were still mailed to a processing and archive center until 1989, when the station moved to its current location at the citys U.S. Coast Guard station and electronic data took over, thanks to the advent of the internet. That is good news for the men and women who rely on up-to-the-minute observations of temperature, wind, precipitation, humidity and barometric pressure data. Were checking it. I mean, every morning, every afternoon. First thing in the morning, what Ill do is come in and get a good weather report, get a good wave and tide report and kind of make our determination on how were going to start, said Steve Downey, chief of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol. WATCH NOW: Here's what a rip current is and how to escape one A rip current, or rip tide, is a narrow current in the surf zone flowing seaward from the sh His roughly 160-person crew is responsible for 55 beaches throughout the city. Since the weather station first opened, its been moved six times, according to the NWS. However, all have been on the citys eastern side of town. In 2004, in its sixth and latest move, it landed at the Coast Guard station. The Atlantic City station is a unique one. Its maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey using equipment the NWS approved. If a thermometer breaks, the USGS will fix it, said Jim Eberwine, retired NWS meteorologist who worked at both Atlantic City International Airport and Mount Holly. In a 1958 move, the weather station became a cooperative observer program location. That means a manned, volunteer observer records the days weather and reports daily back to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. However, this station is not manned and reports instantaneously. Those happen at automated weather stations the NWS operates, like at Atlantic City International. Each day, over 15,000 volunteers take weather observations. Here's why. Nearly 15,000 volunteers provide a critical service to the weather community, fueled by their passion for meteorology. Since 1998, data collected have confirmed record events, provided drought updates and become the go-to source for their neighbors. However, it doesnt have the full suite of equipment NWS-maintained weather stations have. For example, the station cant tell what type of precipitation is falling from the sky. Snow measurements are recorded at a COOP station in Margate. It could be a matter of life and death, hotter NJ nights threaten vulnerable Humid summer days in South Jersey were always tough to bear. A warming climate is making the evenings warmer too, exposing more people to the stresses of heat around the clock. Still, Atlantic Citys consistent weather reporting resume is nearly unmatched. On the East Coast, only New York Citys Central Park weather station, which opened in 1869, and Charleston, South Carolina, which established a station in 1870, have been operating as long. Its a climatologists dream to have a time series (period of weather observations) like this, state Climatologist Dave Robinson said. Atop the 20-foot tall platform where the weather equipment stands, the various economic engines of the region are clear. Coast Guard members clean and tune up the boats in the slips. The Clam Creek is roughly 10 feet to the south, the main marine road for fishing boats to enter and exit the sheltered waters. Casinos are seen to the north and south. The large, sandy expanse of Cove Beach in Brigantine is visible to the east. Having water on nearly every side is the stations biggest benefit, though. Its a true, official, coastal weather observation station. Atlantic Citys longevity in weather data collection has helped establish the resorts reputation in a number of ways. The American Meteorological Society, the nations largest professional weather organization, has held its annual meetings here on a number of occasions. In 1932 and 1936, scientists visited the city to present their findings. Topics during the meetings included how temperatures cool during a solar eclipse and the possibility of using a radio-meteorograph to record observations tens of thousands of feet aloft and communicate them to the surface. That later developed into the crucial weather balloon launches that simultaneously sample the atmosphere daily at 91 locations in the United States and its territories. The continuous data from 150 years also demonstrates changes in climate along the Jersey Shore. Whether through urbanization or the increase in greenhouse gases, the hard data is clear from the weather station. Its a warmer and wetter climate than it was in the 1800s. Atlantic City's hottest and coldest years Hottest years 1 - 2012 2 - 1998 3 - 2023 4 - 2002 5 - 2020 Coldest years 1 - 1875 2 - 1904 3 - 1888 4 - 1917 5 - 1885 Data is from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The data reveals a big change around the early to mid-1980s, Robinson said. Just like the climate, Atlantic City has changed since the weather station first began operating. The original building at 27 S. Vermont Ave. is now a public walking path owned by the Casino Redevelopment Development Authority. The two locations on Rhode Island Avenue are vacant. The two previous Atlantic Avenue locations are now an AtlantiCare facility and an office building. Its pretty amazing, Downey said. This was all dirt and clamshells when it all started. Now its awfully developed, but its obviously here for a reason. Its very effective. Average Atlantic City high and low temperatures January: 42 | 30 February: 43 | 31 March: 48 | 37 April: 57 | 46 May: 66 | 55 June: 75 | 65 July: 80 | 71 August: 79 | 70 September: 74 | 65 October: 65 | 54 November: 55 | 43 December: 47 | 35 Data via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from the 1991-2020 climate period. Staarmann agrees, although he sees room for improvement, like adding sensors to record the present precipitation and sky cover so the rain-snow line during a noreaster can more accurately be measured. However, the weather station has, does and will continue to provide critical weather and climate information, no matter where in the city it might be. We truly use this data on a daily basis to help inform our observations and make decisions that impact peoples lives on a daily basis, Kloo said. Take a drone tour of Coast Guard Atlantic City and the city's weather station This Account has been suspended. On May 1011, 2024 in Rome, Italy, the Italian Evangelical Alliance (Alleanza Evangelica Italiana, AEI) celebrated its 50th anniversary during its 2024 general assembly. The event also commemorated 50 years since the first World Congress on Evangelization held in Lausanne, Switzerland and included members of the Lausanne Movement. Pastor Scognamiglio, a member of the first AEI committee in 1974, told the assembled group that he was happy to see how the alliance has borne fruit over time. Letters from former AEI presidents were shared. According to Evangelical Focus, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also wrote an extensive letter on the governments commitment to religious freedom which was read to assembly participants. AEI leadership and members attending the event remarked on Gods faithfulness as their organization grew and overcame challenges. From Pentecostals and the Salvation Army to Chinese and Romanian churches, many evangelical groups expressed their gratitude for the AEI. The general assembly also had several panels that discussed topics such as the state of mission in Europe, the regional impact of Lausanne, and the state of religious freedom on the continent. In one panel, Co-director of the Lausanne Movement Europe Jim Memory talked about Europes current spiritual condition. The narrative of Christians about Europe should not be dominated by pessimism but by what can be read in the Bibles book of Revelation 7, where people of every language and nation are around the throne, Memory stated. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up AEIs vice president Lucia Stelluti explained that priority must be placed on being faithful to the gospel. Without fidelity to the Word of God there is no evangelical mission, but inconclusive religious activism. Jonathan Gilmore, the Acts 29 area lead for southeastern Europe, explained that the Lausanne Movement can be a platform that strengthens conversation among evangelicals in Italy. He also said it can magnify the impact of missional vocations. Another panel discussed religious freedom. Julia Doxat-Purser, socio-political representative of the European Evangelical Alliance, explained that problems exist on three main levels. The first is defective or discriminatory laws (legislative level). The next is the absence of a value for pluralism (cultural level). And the final is a problem that Doxat referred to as secularization that becomes an anti-religious mindset (antagonistic level). She emphasized that the goal is not to protect Christendom, but to ensure religious freedom for all. Co-chair of the Lausanne Movement Europe (LME) Usha Reifsnider mentioned how migration is reshaping churches in Europe. Referring to Leviticus 19:33-34, she pointed out the Christian duty to welcome foreigners as native-born regardless of a persons religious background. Reifsnider went on to share that conversions to Christ can come about when the Church fulfills these responsibilities. Following the panel discussions, the Theology and Dialogue Commission of the AEI initiated a dialogue on collaborating for theological formation, research, and evangelical witness. It was agreed to establish a forum which includes several theological training institutions and a representative of the AEI. Participation in the forum is open to other evangelical teaching institutions. In the last part of the assembly, the AEI presented a document asking four questions about evangelical witness, today. It connected to the 850th anniversary of the Waldensian movement a pre-reformation ascetic movement in France and Italy which was later absorbed into the Protestant movement. The questions were about the authority of Scripture, the legitimacy of the Waldensian 1655 Confession of Faith, the place of ecumenicalism, and the significance of current evangelism efforts in Italy. The Lausanne Movement is a globally recognized movement that gathers evangelical leaders together to collaborate and work together on pressing missional issues. The movement was born in 1974 with the International Congress on Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland. This first congress, headed by Billy Graham, attracted more than 2,300 leaders from 150 countries. The AEI is an organization of communion and connection of evangelical churches, works and believers. It was founded in Florence in 1974 as a response to the European Congress on Evangelization (Amsterdam 1971) and the Lausanne gathering in 1974. It is now based in Rome. On Friday, May 31, crews with the South Dakota Department of Transportation will begin chip seal and fog seal projects on portions of S.D. Highway 40 and S.D Highway 36. Traffic will be reduced to one lane and guided through all projects with the use of flaggers and a pilot car. Delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected while traveling through the work area during daytime hours. The contractor will be working Monday through Saturday for the duration of the projects. Loose gravel will be present on all projects for a period of 36 to 72 hours after each days chip seal application. Traffic is advised to travel 45 miles per hour or the posted speed limit if it is less than the advised speed during this timeframe. Permanent pavement striping is scheduled to be applied seven days after the chip seal on each project. The contractor will move from one project to the next in the following order: S.D. Highway 40 Project begins at the intersection of S.D. Highway 40 and S.D. Highway 79 heading east for approximately one mile to the Custer County Fairgrounds entrance. The chip seal and fog seal will take place Friday, May 31. S.D. Highway 36 Project begins at the intersection of S.D. Highway 36 and Iron Mountain Road heading east for nine miles to S.D. Highway 79. The chip seal and fog seal will take place Friday, May 31, through Saturday, June 1. U.S. Highway 385 Project begins at the South Dakota/Nebraska state line heading north for approximately 12 miles to Oelrichs. The chip seal and fog seal will take place mid-July. U.S. Highway 18 Project begins at Oelrichs heading north for 20 miles to Maverick Junction. The chip seal and fog seal will take place mid-July. S.D. Highway 79 Project begins at Maverick Junction heading north for 33 miles to the intersection of S.D. Highway 79 and S.D. Highway 36. The chip seal and fog seal will take place in mid-July. U.S. Highway 16 Project begins at the South Dakota and Wyoming state line heading east for 11 miles to Jewel Cave National Parks west side. The chip seal and fog seal will take place in late-July. The prime contractor on the $2.3 million project is Bituminous Paving Inc. The completion date for these projects is Friday, Sept. 20. Dave Thompson, Oglala Lakota, was 11 when he heard a womans body was found under a cement bridge two miles outside of his hometown, Gordon, Nebraska. In 2022, Thompson first heard about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and remembered that woman lying in an unmarked grave in the Gordon Cemetery. Nearly 54 years later, Thompsons memory of that unnamed woman has brought advocates one step closer to giving her her name back. Its always been on my mind, Thompson said. We go to the Gordon cemetery, we drive by her all the time. She had an unmarked grave, it was just a rock. I started calling around the tribe but I didnt hear from anyone until I called Amanda Takes War Bonnett. Takes War Bonnett, public education specialist for the Native Women's Society of the Great Plains, was able to alert the Bureau of Indian Affairs and shed light on the case that had stuck with Thompson for more than five decades. Without him, wed probably have never known about her, Takes War Bonnett said. In January, the womans body was exhumed from her unnamed grave in the Gordon Cemetery by the BIA and then sent off for DNA testing. DNA testing revealed the woman had both Mexican and Native American ancestry, particularly from the Oglala, S.D. area, Takes War Bonnett said. While her identity and family is still unknown, the search was narrowed significantly. Mexican colonies were established across Nebraska in places like Gordon throughout the early to mid-20th century. Workers set up camps in rural towns and often socialized with the residents of nearby reservations. Takes War Bonnett speculates the woman may have been a descendant of someone from these camps who had a baby with a Lakota. Takes War Bonnett said her own relatives are descended from these types of relationships, specifically individuals from the Gordon camp. Often, federal immigration authorities would raid the camps and send workers back to Mexico, which might explain why no relatives have claimed the woman or reported her missing at the time, Takes War Bonnett said. Racism in reservation border towns can run deep. In 1972 Raymond Yellow Thunder, an Oglala Lakota man, was abducted and beaten to death by a group of white men in Gordon. Yellow Thunders murder caused the American Indian Movement to descend upon Gordon and call for change. While the woman was found three years before AIM came to Pine Ridge and two years before they came to Gordon, there was still a significant spike in MMIW cases in the 1970s. We have to remember that it was a really crazy time period, Takes War Bonnett said. They were having so much trouble in border towns. There were people going missing at that time that people just really didnt pay attention to. I dont know if maybe she wasnt reported or maybe they thought she just left somewhere. People were going everywhere at that time, going places with AIM or wherever. Dozens of Indigenous women disappeared or were murdered on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the 1970s, which is about 20 miles from Gordon. Theres no official number of how many women disappeared or were killed during this time. It got me thinking, how many other places are there missing people and we dont know who they are? Thompson said. They could be some of these missing Indigenous women, children and men. Maybe somebody could go check the cemeteries and see if youve got somebody in there with no name, nothing. Theres a lot of missing people out there. Currently, the woman is being held at Sioux Funeral Home in Pine Ridge, Takes War Bonnett said. She had no dignity in burial, said Susan Shangreaux, Oglala Sioux Tribe Victim Services director. In Gordon, the woman was buried in a body bag in an unmarked grave with just a stone above her. Shangreaux is preparing to request a star quilt, coffin and traditional burial from the tribe for the woman. Even if shes not actually from Pine Ridge, Victim Services still wants dignity for her. We dont know who this woman is, but Im still finding victims that are missing or were murdered way back in the past, Shangreaux said. Some families call and then others I find through research. I look and look and look and find people. Shangreaux and Victims Services have spent countless hours documenting MMIW cases across the reservation. All of the walls of the main street building in Pine Ridge are covered in handmade posters with photos and information about each case. Often families will reach out to Shangreaux about their missing or murdered relative, or shell find them on her own through independent research. So far there hasnt been anyone reported missing in the time period that the Gordon Jane Doe was found that matches her description. The woman would have been between 40 and 50 years old, with several gray strands in her black hair. She was about five feet tall and 120 pounds with several missing teeth. The womans cause of death has not been identified, Takes War Bonnett said. Anyone with information about the woman should call BIA Special Agent Savannah Peterson at 505-221-0974. The BIA did not respond to requests for comment on this story. A former Richmond U.S. Postal Service employee who in March pleaded guilty to stealing mail from more than 180 people has been sentenced to 13 months in prison. Authorities said mail carrier Wendy Lawrence, 40, for several months in the fall 2022 removed envelopes entrusted to her care ... (from) the mail stream and took them to her Chesterfield County home. Lawrence then stole checks, gift cards and various other items found in the envelopes. She also used bank account information obtained from stolen mail to make electronic payments for personal expenses including her rent, tax bill and pest control treatments, authorities said. Officials estimated that financial losses for all of Lawrences victims totaled as much as $40,000. In September 2022, Lawrence used bank account information from one victim to wire $10,542 from the victims bank account to cover her rent, investigators said. She then requested a fraudulent address change on behalf of the victim to redirect the victims mail to her own residence. While serving a search warrant on Lawrences home in October 2022, investigators found checks belonging to at least 30 individuals, according to court records. On several of the checks which ranged in value from roughly $900 to $5,000 Lawrence had forged her name in the pay to the order of section. Lawrence pleaded guilty on Feb. 29 to one count of mail theft. In mid-May, officials reported that Virginias mail service was no longer the worst in the country, although it still falls in the bottom 10. 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the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Correction: A previous version of this story said the vending machines would dispense Narcan for $35 and fentanyl test strips for $1. A city spokesperson, who did not return our initial request for comment prior to publication, clarified that residents will not be paying for products from the machines. Richmond has been awarded nearly $148,000 for three vending machines that will be stocked with the opioid antidote Narcan and test strips. The funding is part of four grants aimed at curbing the ongoing opioid epidemic, according to the state agency that is stewarding much of the money for Virginia. These vending machines will help people who are not connected to harm reduction services or who are likely to witness or experience an opioid overdose and to reduce stigma by integrating harm reduction into public spaces, reads a proposal submitted by city grant specialist Dominic Barrett. Tracking the news The funding: Virginia is expected to receive $1.1 billion from companies such as Purdue Pharma, Walgreens, CVS and others responsible for marketing and distributing painkillers beginning in the 1990s. The impact: Since 2007, nearly 19,000 Virginians have died of an opioid overdose. The cases: Richmond has the most overdoses of any locality in the state, followed by the cities of Hopewell and Petersburg. Narcan, a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of opioids on the brain, will be bought by the city for $35 a dose and and test strip kits for $1 each. They will be dispensed free of charge, according to city spokesperson Petula Burks, who responded to questions regarding the vending machines on Thursday. Similar harm-reduction vending machines have been installed in New York City, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and other communities. The machines were put into place in Clark County, Nevada, which includes Las Vegas, in 2017. The county that year saw a 15% reduction in overdose fatalities, according to research from the Annals of Medicine published in 2022. Its not yet clear where the Richmond machines will be located. The city said it would rely on overdose surveillance data to find areas where the machines will have maximized access. Funds come from painkiller settlement The money for the four grants comes from the multi-billion dollar national opioid settlement agreed to by drugmakers responsible for selling and marketing addictive pain killing drugs like Oxycodone. One of those grants will help pay for the vending machines. In 2023, opioid overdoses claimed the lives of 270 in Richmond, according to preliminary data for the year compiled by the Richmond Office of the Medical Examiner. Thats around the same level as in 2022, which set a record for the most overdoses in a year at 274 deaths. The grants will also breathe life into three other initiatives that will touch Richmonders. These include a website for mapping recovery resources, a campaign targeted at educating children, and the hiring of peer-specialists who have lived through addiction themselves but now are at a healthy stage in their own recovery. According to the citys proposal, the hiring of peer-specialists has been flagged as a top priority. The city plans to invest another $250,000 of its own money received directly from the opioid settlement, bringing funding for its peer-specialist training program up to $500,000. The request for the funds was approved by the Opioid Abatement Authority, a state agency created by the Virginia legislature in 2021. The agency hears proposals from localities and regional partnerships, approving them on a case-by-case basis. Since scaling up operations in 2023, the agency has distributed $56 million. The state of Virginia expects to receive a total of $1.1 billion from companies associated with the opioid epidemic including pharmacies, drug distributors and manufacturers. The monies are not being distributed in lump sums from the companies, who are contributing slices of their settlement debt to a national escrow fund that is then funneled to individual states. Those disbursements are expected to continue through 2041. Peer-recovery programs in Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties also received funding in this latest round. Some of the largest allotments announced on Wednesday went to counties in rural southwest Virginia, which have disproportionately high rates of opioid overdose. The agency announced a $1.5 million transmission to Smyth County, where it will go towards capital expenses for the Appalachian Center for Hope, a residential drug treatment program. And a $1.9 million investment was made by the authority into a similar capital expense aimed at treating addicts in Russell and Tazewell Counties. These grants will help communities across the commonwealth develop and expand programs to prevent opioid addiction, to provide treatment, and to support people in recovery, said Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Abingdon, chairman of the Opioid Abatement Authority Board of Directors. Virginia fought back against companies that were pushing their highly addictive drugs on vulnerable people, and now we are making sure those settlement funds are being used to save lives, support families, and restore communities, he said. Gallery: Richmond City Hall Observation Deck With suspects in a homicide case pressuring the victims relatives to make false statements, police in Pakistan are declining to arrest them in the case of a Catholic tortured to death by his Muslim employers, sources said. Sonia Shahid, widow of 35-year-old Shahid Masih and mother to their six children, said her husbands employers tortured him on May 8, resulting in his death 10 days later, because they wrongly suspected he had stolen goats from their farm in the Bhikkhi area of Sheikhupura District, Punjab Province. After 12 goats were stolen on April 7-8 and police were unable to find the thieves, the farm owners began to accuse Shahid Masish and another Christian worker, Faryad Masih, of the theft, and on May 8 asked police to take Faryad Masih into custody, Sonia Shahid said. On that day she was working inside her servants quarters on the farm of Rana Nazar and his brothers when she heard the screams and cries of her husband, she said. When I came to my quarter to check, I was horrified to see at least seven men armed with weapons, including Rana Nazar, Rana Ejaz, Rana Ramzan, Rana Aftab and three others beating Masih with batons, Sonia Shahid told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. My husband kept pleading his innocence, but they dragged him to their outhouse where they tied him up and continued to torture him. They broke his teeth and fingers and then poured a bottle of acid into his mouth. When I tried to stop them, they beat me as well as our children who had followed me there. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up The assailants stopped torturing Shahid when they saw his condition deteriorating, she said. I begged them to take him to the hospital, but they refused and left him there, she said. She and other family members managed to take him to a local government trauma center, but doctors there advised them to take him to Lahore due to his critical condition. With no ambulance available, they took him in a taxi to the Mayo Hospital in Lahore. When the doctors there examined Masih, they told us that the acid had caused massive damage to his internal organs, and the nature of his injuries was also very serious, Sonia Shahid said. We could only plead with them to do their best and save his life, but Masih couldnt survive and died after 10 days, on May 18. Their attorney, Kashif Naimat, said the suspects have evaded arrest by taking captive, threatening and pressuring Sonia Shahids relatives. The accused detained Sonias father, Munir Masih, another brother, Saqib, and nephew Shahzad in their custody and pressured them to tell police that they [the Muslim employers] had not murdered Masih, Naimat told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. The latter three were in the fields when the incident happened, but they succumbed to the threats and pressure when the accused offered to waive off their loans and also gave them other monetary incentives. He added that the suspects have also used Sonia Shahids father to offer money to her to withdraw the case. Sonias father told her that the Rana brothers were ready to give 3.5 million Pakistani rupees [US$12,526] to the family as compensation if she withdraws the case against them, Naimat said. However, Sonia and her husbands family have rejected the offer. He said that Sonia Shahid had stated in a First Information Report registered on May 19 that the suspects were holding her family members hostage at that time in an attempt to prevent her from registering a murder case against them. Sonia Shahid, her brother Naveed Masih, and her sisters husband Farrukh Naeem are three eyewitnesses of the assault, and they are standing by their testimonies, he said. We have held several meetings with senior police officials and urged them to arrest the accused and interrogate them in light of the statements recorded by the eyewitnesses, Naimat said. However, the false testimonies recorded by Sonias three relatives have given the local police an opportunity to protect the accused landlords. The attorney said it would be a grave miscarriage of justice if the influential suspects were allowed to get away with the murder of a poor Christian laborer. Its not uncommon for powerful people to use their money and influence to protect themselves from prosecution, neither it is uncommon for the weak to surrender to pressure and threats, he said. It is the polices duty to ensure that the weak are not manipulated by the powerful accused, especially when they belong to vulnerable communities, and that justice is served on merit. The grieving widow said her husband was the sole breadwinner for the family, and that they were now dependent on her elderly father-in-law, Rafaqat Masih, who earns 400-500 rupees (less than US$2) per day working as a daily wage laborer. I appeal to the government and senior police officials to give us justice, she said. None of the accused have been arrested so far despite the registration of a case. They are offering us financial compensation, but we want justice only. Her husband was an honest man, and the family does not want his tragic death to go in vain, she said. I also appeal to my Christian brothers and sisters to help us as we have no financial resources and are facing a huge challenge in meeting both ends, she said. Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year. The Trump verdict is proof that no one is above the law in this country. Its also tragic in this wayAmericans put the reins of leadership in the hands of a person whose character is so far beneath the office that no rational adult would ever encourage young people to emulate... Chetumal criminal gang member gunned down in attempted abduction Chetumal, Q.R. A Chetumal resident believed part of a local criminal organization was gunned down outside a market Wednesday. It was around 2:30 p.m. when police were notified of the Lazaro Cardenas Market shooting that left one man lifeless on the ground. Responding officers found a lone male of around 40 laying face down against a sidewalk on Confederacion Nacional Campesina Street. He had been shot several times. Neighbors from the Colonia Adolfo Lopez Mateos neighborhood alerted police after witnessing an attempted abduction that turned into a deadly shooting. Two men from a gray car intercepted the man who was on foot. While resisting the attempted abduction, he was shot. His shooters, armed with long weapons and covered faces, fled in the same gray car they tried to force him into. A criminal gang member was shot to death during a failed abduction Wednesday. Photo: May 29, 2024. Preliminary reports say the now deceased was a member of Los Tobas criminal group that operates out of several Chetumal neighborhoods. Huge deployment: More than 2,000 security elements will take to state streets for upcoming elections Riviera Maya, Q.R. More than 2,000 security elements will be deployed around the state of Quintana Roo for the June 2 elections. The stepped-up security is to ensure peaceful voting Sunday. A total of 2,233 officers will hit the states streets during the voting process. Police will patrol streets in 551 units during the Sunday elections. Photo: SSC Rear Admiral Julio Cesar Gomez Torres, head of the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC), says their goal is to guarantee security and order during the electoral process on June 2. He pointed out that together with the different security corporations of the three orders of government, they will carry out the installation of command posts whose purpose is coordination and presence to provide due and effective attention to any situation that may arise. Of the 2,233 officers, 697 will be from the SSC (Secretaria de Seguridad Ciudadana) in 145 police units. The balance of 1,536 police officers will be from municipal directorates or secretariats and dispersed in 406 units. Marina personnel will also be part of the increased security for June 2. Photo: SSC The total State of Force deployed and dedicated to generating peace and order in these electoral commissions is 2,233 elements, 551 units and one helicopter, he said. The states helicopter will also be deployed on voting day. Photo: SSC The increased security has been planned in coordination with the Local Council of the National Electoral Institute and the Quintana Roo Electoral Institute. According to information provided by the Local Council of the National Electoral Institute in the State of Quintana Roo, more than 1.4 million people are expected to head to the polls on June 2. Security will be increased June 2 to ensure a peaceful voting process. Photo: SSC Part of their vote will include not only new municipal mayors and state deputies, but also a new president for Mexico. Main suspect in recent Cancun murder picked up for drug and firearm possession Cancun, Q.R. A man picked up for drug and firearm possession is now facing possible murder charges. On Wednesday, Cancun police arrested Jose Luis N after he was seen making a drug deal. During an inspection, the arresting officers located additional drugs and a loaded firearm. He was handcuffed and taken into custody. After his street arrest from the Almendros neighborhood of Cancun, the State Attorney General reported his possible involvement in a recent murder. According to their report, Jose Luis N is being investigated as the main suspect in the May 20, 2024 murder of a Cancun woman. Authorities say that murder was romantically motivated. Members of organized crime toss human head on busy Puerto Morelos road before firing shots Puerto Morelos, Q.R. State authorities have become involved with the opening of an investigation after a human head was tossed onto the side of a public Puerto Morelos road. The grisly incident happened late Wednesday morning in broad daylight while motorists passed through the area. Members of organized crime established in the municipality of Puerto Morelos abandoned the human head at the intersection of Timon Avenue and Vallarta Street in Villas Morelos I. Before fleeing, shots were fired into the air, hitting one bystander. An orange bucket containing the adult male head was tossed onto the side of the busy street in front of motorists. The unidentified bystander hit by a stray bullet was treated at the scene by paramedics. Both Municipal Police and personnel from the FGE (State Attorney General) arrived at the site. State Police and National Guard also made an appearance, however, those responsible managed a successful escape before they arrived. The head of an adult male was tossed onto the side of a busy Puerto Morelos street late Wednesday morning. Photo: May 29, 2024. In response to the Wednesday morning incident, the states FGE (Fiscalia General del Estado) issued the following update: The mans head was removed from the busy Puerto Morelos street. The FGE reports on the beginning of an investigation after the discovery of human remains and a person injured by a firearm in the municipality of Puerto Morelos. Elements of this Social Representation were at the scene, collecting evidence to integrate into the investigation folder and facilitate their identification. Evidence was collected from the scene Wednesday morning. The State Attorney Generals Office and the municipal security forces work in a coordinated manner to identify those responsible for these events, which appear to be drug related crimes. Mexican national wanted for sexual abuse in Florida returned to U.S. Mexico City, Mexico A man wanted in Florida on sexual abuse charges has been returned to the U.S. On Wednesday, Manuel R was escorted by plane back to Florida to face charges that date back more than 10 years. On Wednesday, the State Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) announced the extradition of Manuel R. He was handed over to American federal marshals at the Mexico City International Airport for his return. In a brief note, the FGR reported that Manuel R was wanted for the sexual abuse of three minors that took place between 2005 and 2015. He has been wanted by a Glades. Florida court since then. Between 2005 and 2015, Manuel R sexually abused three minors under the age of 16, the FGR said. The Government of Mexico granted the extradition request to the United States Government after arresting him in Coahuila, in December 2023 and holding him for extradition purposes. South Africa holds its local and national elections today in what will likely be the toughest election for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party that has been in power since the end of apartheid thirty years ago. The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa (TEASA) views this election as the most contested in the history of democracy in South Africa noting that numerous new political parties as well as independent candidates provide the electorate with more leadership options. The elections will happen in a context of national disillusionment over the high levels of graft by the ruling party, which in turn led to poor service delivery, the TEASA stated. Whatever the outcome of the elections, the stark reality of high unemployment (32%) deepening poverty and inequality as well as low economic growth will pose a challenge for the incoming government to deliver on the basic expectations of the majority of South Africans, it added. Polls conducted via telephone by the Social Research Foundation, project that the ANC might not garner the required 50% of the votes. A majority in parliament would mean that the party would extend its reign in government and get to retain the presidency and all cabinet positions. But in view of the low ANC ratings, it is alleged that senior party leaders have been reaching out to the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led by firebrand Julius Malema for a possible post-election coalition. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up Incumbent president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has in the past pledged to tackle South Africas most pressing issues of unemployment, corruption, crime and an electricity crisis that causes frequent and long power cuts. This year, however, numerous new political parties as well as independent candidates have stepped forward to join the race, offering the electorate a better deal. Whatever the outcome of the elections, the stark reality of high unemployment( 32%) deepening poverty and inequality as well as low economic growth will pose a challenge for the incoming government to deliver on the basic expectations of the majority of South Africans. It is for this reason that TEASA calls upon all South Africans to exercise their right and duty to vote, and to do so with due regard to the lessons learned in the last 30 years of Democracy in South Africa, it said. Additionally, TEASA calls upon all South Africans, beyond the exercise of their vote today to continually hold those in power accountable. Democracy works best with an active, vigilant and engaged citizenry, it said. Police search for gunmen who shot Cancun fireman inside hall Cancun, Q.R. State officials have begun an investigation into the shooting of a fireman Thursday inside a Cancun fire hall. The Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) says a fireman was rushed to hospital Thursday morning after being shot. The unnamed supervisor was shot twice at a fire hall in SM 100 on Chac Mool Avenue. The shooting was reported to emergency services around 8:30 a.m. after he was found by fellow firemen. Reports say three shots were fired with two of them hitting him in the upper body. According to the FGE, their line of investigation is personal revenge, however, they did not provide details. In a brief statement, the State Attorney General (FGE) said The FGE reports the beginning of an investigation for the crime of attempted homicide to the detriment of a male person who works as a firefighter in Cancun. This autonomous body indicates that it was a direct attack against this element, who was transferred to a hospital for medical attention. Police were called after fellow firemen arriving for work found him. Photo: May 30, 2024. The State Attorney Generals Office, in collaboration with members of the State Coordination for the Construction of Peace and Security in Quintana Roo, is working to find the person or persons responsible for this event, which, the first investigations, point to possible personal revenge. The fire hall supervisor was taken to hospital with two gunshot wounds. Photo: May 30, 2024. The man was alone at the time of the shooting. He was found by fellow firemen who had arrived for a shift. He was transferred to hospital by ambulance. Urban residents protest in Akumal over unfinished federal business Akumal, Q.R. A group of residents protested in frustration in Akumal Thursday over a failed commitment to repair their roads. It has been about a month since the majority of Maya Train trucks have stopped traveling in their areas. The trucks, which are said responsible for the damage, were hired to haul gravel. Now that a majority of that work is finished, area residents say there has been no effort on the part of federal officials to repair their damaged roads. The group of a few dozen residents from rural Tulum and Solidaridad blocked the road for the remaining large trucks still working the Maya Train. The group refused to allow passage until federal officials comply with their commitment to make the repairs. The group said as with other damaged areas, the repairs need to be made. They are asking the companies in charge of those Maya Train sections to keep their commitment and pave their roads, in particular, the road to Uxuxubi, Solidaridad, which is about 12 kilometers from the town of Akumal. The group met in Akumal to prevent large Maya Train truck passage. Photo: May 30, 2024. To date, the group have not been met by any federal Maya Train official. World War II seems to be the conflict that gets the most literary and cinematic attention, but the War to End All Wars produced a handful of classics. The poet and novelist Robert Graves, a veteran of the Battle of the Somme, produced one that perfectly captures the hell of trench warfare and the therapeutic power of the memoir. This year marks the 95th anniversary of the book that for many solidified the view that World War I dealt a deadly a blow to European culture: Robert Graves Goodbye to All That. His was one of a spate of books reflecting the disillusion with the war and its consequences, all of which appeared over a two-year period, 19281930: Vera Brittains Testament of Youth, R.C. Sheriffs play Journeys End, and the most famous: Erich Remarques All Quiet on the Western Front. Graves book is still in print, and other than Remarques it is one of the few still read today. Goodbye remains fresh and quirkily readable, and in the words of the literary critic Paul Fussell, its the best memoir of the First World War. Goodbye was written over four months in 1928. It was inspired by Laura Riding, his lover who had been living with him and his wife in a bizarre menage a trois throughout the early 1920s. She convinced him that, if he wanted to move on in his life and grow as a writer he had to say goodbye to his past, especially the war. When Goodbye appeared in 1929, it was a financial success and enabled Graves and Riding (his wife had left him by this time) to move to the island of Majorca. A second edition in 1957 brought Graves further success and included the story of his relationship with Riding, which had been left out of the first version. What Graves produced was something more than an autobiography dealing with the ghastly nature of World War I: it was also an eccentric portrait of Edwardian society with all its quirks, including small biographies of the famous authors Graves had met (and he appears to have met or known just about every important English literary figure of his time)Edith Sitwell, Thomas Hardy, John Masefield, even the mountain climber George Mallory, whose love of mountaineering Graves shared. Among these portraits, that of T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) stands out. In a few pages, Graves makes that strange character come alive. He met Lawrence after the war when Graves returned to Oxford to take up a fellowship. Graves describes him as short and vain with a tendency to stand on the fireplace grate to make himself appear taller. They formed an odd friendship and talked mostly about poetry and rarely about the war or the Arabian campaign, which Graves writes he knew little about. Graves would later compose one of the first serious biographies of Lawrence, Lawrence and the Arabian Adventure, which perpetuated some of the myths about him first spelled out by the American reporter Lowell Thomas. Graves joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers at the outbreak of the Great War as a first lieutenant. He served at the front for two years until he was wounded at the Battle of Somme, the bloodiest British campaign of the war, one in which the British suffered 59,000 casualties, including 19,000 dead on the first day. He was shot in the thigh, cheek, and most seriously in the lungs. He was left for dead in a dressing station, and his commanding officer even wrote a letter to his parents, telling them that he had died, describing him as very gallant and a great loss. Yet Graves survived: he was found breathing among the dead and records his survival with the same mix of shock and humor that he treats the war. Graves discussion of the conflict is similar to the other antiwar volumes but offers an offhand, undramatic way of dealing with it. For instance, he writes: There was no patriotism in the trenches. A new arrival who talked patriotism would soon be told to cut it out. For most public school types who happily volunteered in 1914 or 15, the war was as much about testing oneself as it was an act of patriotism. Most of the soldiers talked about getting a cushy, a minor wound that would send you home. Graves was not an adherent of the Lions Led by Donkeys school of World War I history. He admires the junior officers tremendously, finding them to be brave and loyal to the men. Nor does he hate the Germans. If he is critical of anyone it is the French. He told his parents that he found it very difficult to love the French. The French civilians overcharged the English soldiers for food, and what is worse, he writes, they watered the beer directly from canal with a horse-pipe. One of his fellow officers says he would never fight in a war again unless it was against the French. There are no atheists in foxholes goes the old saw. Perhaps. But there was very little religion in these trenches. Graves, who had lost his faith in God during his public school days, writes that the soldiers had no respect for the Church of England regimental chaplains. They stayed behind during the fighting, one even preaching on, of all things, the commutation of tithes before the battle began. An exception was made for the Catholic padres who went to the battle scenes so they could give extreme unction to the dying. He particularly admired a Catholic priest who, after all the officers has been killed, stripped off his black badges and, taking command of the survivors, held the line. Among other things, Graves writes offhandedly of seeing ghosts of men he knew walking around his trench waving to him. He hated the rats: he woke up once to find one next to him eating part of a corpse. He constructed an elaborate formula for taking risks. To kill a German sniper, he would take a 1 in 5 chance. To save a German life in No Mans Land (the area between opposing armies and trench lines), the odds were 1 in 20. Graves claims he only once refused to shoot an enemy soldierthrough his rifle scope he saw a German soldier taking a bath. I somehow did not like the idea of shooting a naked man, a scene reminiscent of George Orwell in Homage to Catalonia relating that he couldnt shoot an enemy soldier taking a bowel movement. (One wonders if that is where Orwell got the idea for the scene.) After he had recovered from the wounds suffered at Somme, Graves returned to the front in 1916 but found he was no longer a dependable soldier. Suffering from battle fatigue, he was given an administrative post and served the rest of the war in England. The last six chapters of the book deal with Graves experiences at Oxford and later as a teacher in Egypt. They lack the vividness and quirky detail of the war sections and have a kind of flat quality to them. He returned to England in 1928 and wrote Goodbye in eight weeks that year following the advice of a friend that your best friend is the wastebasket. Graves always believed that his best work was his poetry, although it does not appear in the academic canon in high school or college anymore. In the mid-1930s, he wrote a popular novel, I Claudius, which was a success but would gain greater fame as a television serial in Britain and America in the 1970s. With his friend Alan Hodge, he also wrote an idiosyncratic social history of England between the wars, The Long Week-End. He borrowed the camera eye concept from the American John Dos Passos to paint a picture of the oddities and frivolities of England in the 1920s and 30s as the nation tried to forget the war: outrageous clerics, silly dance crazes, nudism, etc. Goodbye to All That isnt the first book to deal with the disillusion that followed World War I, the belief that a great civilization sent the best young men of their generation to their deaths in a cause that was anything but noble. That record belongs to Dos Passos Three Soldiers, published in 1921. It has the same quality of disgust with the war and the leaders who sent the soldiers to their death. H.L. Mencken argued that Thee Soldiers changed the tone of writing about war, deposing of oceans of romance and blather. I would argue that Goodbye to All That did that and more; it captured the war in imaginative, often shocking detail, but with a sense of humanity. No wonder it remains a classic of its type. Roanoke College will partner with an environmental services contractor to investigate claims that the university has a higher-than-average cancer rate. School President Frank Shushok Jr. issued a statement to students Tuesday in response to the publication of an article in Air Mail, a weekly digital newsletter, written by reporter Clara Molot, alleging that the university cancer incidence rates are five times higher than that of 20- to 29-year-olds in the country. Molots story details seven of at least 16 Roanoke College alumni from the classes of 2011 to 2019 to have been diagnosed with cancer since 2010. Shushoks statement calls into question whether the schools cancer incidence rates are higher than average, though he does not cite any specific statistics. Still, I recognize that an article like this one causes the sort of anxiety and concern that deserves more concrete evaluation, Shushoks statement reads. It is for this reason, and out of an abundance of caution, that Roanoke College has contracted with an independent, national, and esteemed environmental services company who will assist us in approaching this topic in a data-informed and scientific manner. The statement went on to say that the contractor, which is not named in the statement, would partner with an independent epidemiologist and the Virginia Department of Health to further investigate claims of a high cancer rate. The Air Mail piece, published Saturday, deals primarily with the group of people who graduated from Roanoke College prior to 2020, who have since been diagnosed with various types of cancer. While the story alleges the possibility of a cancer cluster, the Virginia Department of Health denies the claim, stating that, to qualify for investigation, the cancer incidences must all be of the same type, or linked to the same known causes. After many conversations with public health professionals, epidemiologists, and physicians about cancer incidence rates, we have absolutely no evidence to show that Roanoke College is anything but a safe place to live, work, and learn, Shushok said. We also believe the evidence indicates that the incidence of cancer among our graduates is no greater than the overall population. Apart from alleging that cancer rates among Roanoke College students and graduates are five times higher than average, the Air Mail story also claims that the mortality rate for those diagnoses are 15 times higher. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Virginia Department of Health had not yet responded to The Roanoke Times about those statistics. The Air Mail story does not give any indication as to what is thought to be causing the high cancer rate at Roanoke College, though the piece mentions possible sources, including the presence of carcinogens, similar to the cancer outbreak at UNC Chapel Hill that was linked to the presence of PCBs, a possible mold infestation or toxins released by the Radford Army Ammunition Plant. MARTINSVILLE Teal-Jones Group filed for bankruptcy and was granted creditor protection on April 25. The company, with headquarters in Canada and operations in Henry County, obtained a Provisional Recognition Order from the U.S. Court for the District of Delaware under Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, according to a news release issued May 24. The company did not respond to a request for comment. County staff was informed by the company of the filing in Canada, said Henry County Administrator Dale Wagoner. I understand that the local facility has been profitable, and after a brief furlough, the company has ramped back up to full production locally. Wagoner said he recently had conversations with three unnamed lumber companies in the region and each had indicated to him a strain on business because of the global devaluation of lumber over the past few months. The interconnectedness of our local economy with the global marketplace is undeniable, Wagoner said. While this interdependence brings both opportunities and challenges, it underscores the importance of fostering resilience, adaptability, and diversity in our local economic initiatives. In September 2019, Teal-Jones Pine Products on Carver Road, along with state and local officials, announced the company would spend $21 million for new capital investment and create 67 new jobs over the next three years in Henry County. At the end of its performance period, Teal-Jones had made new investments of over $26 million, but did not meet the job goals, primarily due to the impacts related to the pandemic. The company was granted an extension in order to meet the job goals and as of December, the company had created 41 new jobs that were paying approximately 25% higher wages than projected, Wagoner said. The company was eligible for $200,000 from the Governors Commonwealth Opportunity Fund as part of the incentives, Wagoner said. Because it did not meet the job requirements, the funds were never paid to the company. Teal-Jones also received $600,000 in incentive monies from the Harvest Opportunity Fund and although the company exceeded its capital investment requirements, it failed to reach the target number of jobs. As a result, Wagoner said the incentives were pro-rated, leaving the company with a repayment amount of $141,000. The assets of Teal-Jones outweigh its liabilities, but the filing was necessary to provide for better options and protection to affect a restructuring that will enable the planning of a more stable financial footing for the future, a company release stated. The company also said it had the means to honor existing credit terms and plan to continue operating the business. Teal-Jones said it intended to sell its surplus assets, but did not say specifically what those assets were. Residents along Carver Road have criticized the company over what they say are excessive noise levels, increased traffic from lumber trucks and mud, lumber, and other debris along the roadway as a result of regular operations at the lumber plant. Teal-Jones Pine Products Mill Manager Harrison Wicks presented plans to address residents concerns at a community meeting in February. The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. lists Teal-Jones in Henry County as employing between 50 and 100 employees. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Despite the importance of innovation for the growth of firms, industries, and the national economy, the strategic tools available to effectively manage and create new technologies are often neglected by entrepreneurs and corporate managers. A new book, "The Management of Innovation," by Alberto Galasso, a professor of strategic management at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, examines how firms can leverage and create technology capital. Over the past two decades, economists and management scholars have developed several new insights into how large companies and startups can be more innovative. Many of these research findings have not yet reached management practice. With this book, Prof. Galasso aims to address this issue by providing an accessible overview of the innovation literature and a discussion of the latest research findings. The analysis considers the two key stages of the innovation process: technology management and technology creation. Each stage involves complex managerial decisions related to resource allocation and the assessment of relevant costs and benefits. This book examines the most frequent tradeoffs that shape the innovation process across these two stages. It also provides an introduction to intellectual property and patent analytics. The book provides MBA students and practitioners with tools and insights to innovate successfully. Prof. Galasso holds the Rotman Chair in Life Sciences Commercialization at the University of Toronto. He is a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and research fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR). He serves as co-editor for the Journal of Economics and Management Strategy, as associate editor for the Journal of Industrial Economics and the International Journal of Industrial Organization, and as member of the editorial board for the Strategic Management Journal. His research agenda focuses on the determinants of innovative activity, the management of innovation and the functioning of markets for technology. Provided by University of Toronto In 2020, Hansjorg Albrecht began recording Anton Bruckner's symphonies transcribed for organ. This year, coinciding with the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth, he caps his Bruckner Project with the release of a CD box set containing all the symphonies in the Bruckner organ cycle. The massive project was first suggested by the director of classical music label, Oehms Classics. Albrecht subsequently contacted Bruckner specialist Erwin Horn to make transcriptions of the Romantic composer's first symphonies, which was followed by transcriptions from Thomas Schmoegner and Eberhard Klotz, as well as Gerd Schaller's finale for the Symphony No. 9, which Albrecht released earlier this year. He is no stranger to Bruckner's symphonies, being both a conductor and an organist. He is also aware of Bruckner's career on the organ, for which the composer was known before attaining symphonic success. Albrecht writes on his website: "[Bruckner] was known throughout Europe for his virtuoso playing and received invitations to concert tours to France, England and Switzerland, among other places. In London he played to more than 70,000 people and at his concert in Notre Dame de Paris fellow composers...cheered Bruckner's symphonic organ improvisations." He embarked on the project with the intention of showing Bruckner "in all his glory as a master of the 'Queen of Instruments.'" The transcriptions were recorded in various locations, including Munich, Lucerne, Zurich, and Vienna-all cities where Bruckner lived and worked. Each album opens with a short orchestral piece by Bruckner, followed by what Albrecht has dubbed a Bruckner Window: a work by a contemporary composer who continues to be influenced by Bruckner, in recognition of how his forward-looking music prepared the way for composers of the 20th century. This then leads to the crowning jewel of the album: a Bruckner symphony transcribed for organ. The Bruckner Project was completed under the patronage of Christian Thielemann, principal conductor of the Sachsische Staatskapelle Dresden. He calls it an "epochal project," saying: "You wouldn't want to hear a Beethoven symphony on organ. Or Brahms, but Bruckner makes sense." DARLINGTON, S.C. Navigating more than a decade of school en route to a high school diploma can, in many ways, be a carefully monitored experiment involving the students, families, teachers and numerous variables and controls. The Institute of Biomedical Innovation at Lamar High School, taught entirely by Jennifer King across three levels, is a Project Lead the Way curriculum implemented at the school three years ago. The program offers interested students in-depth access to various branches of medical science, engineering, health-based law and more. A student must successfully navigate three units in a program approved by the South Carolina Department of Educations Office of Career and Technical Education in order to be named a completer. The end of the 2023-24 school year marks the first that the Institute of Biomedical Innovation will produce completers. The goal of the Institute of Biomedical Innovation is to create a hub of future medical professionals hailing from Lamar while providing students with state-of-the-art educational opportunities. The first three courses of the PLTW Biomedical Science Curriculum currently being taught at LHS are paving the way for a fourth course to open next year. Those courses are: Principles of Biomedical Science (9th Grade) Human Body Systems (10th Grade) Medical Intervention (11th Grade) Biomedical Innovation (Opening 2024-25) These courses more closely resemble college-level experiences than a typical high school class. This is most evident during laboratory exercises that occur throughout each course. King, who teaches the Biomedical courses, says her involvement is an extension of a fascination with biological science since she was in school. I was inspired by my AP Biology teacher in high school, Carol Sanderson. Her lessons were fascinating and challenging, and although it was my dad that instilled a love of science early on in my life, it was in Mrs. Sandersons class that I discovered my love of biology, King said. She inspired me and that is my goal with the Institute of Biomedical Innovation magnet program: to inspire the next generation, build them up and help them discover their own passions. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to lead this program and work with these amazing students. Abigail McManus, a rising Lamar High School senior and a member of the inaugural Biomedical completer class, said she enrolled in the institute to lay a foundation for her future. I chose to participate because I knew I wanted to do something in the medical field, McManus said. I knew this program would help me discover what I truly wanted to do and then better prepare me for that occupation. Becoming a completer in the Institute of Biomedical Innovation will help me so much in the future, especially with understanding how to run different procedures while using the right techniques. We are already performing high level labs, so I have no worries for my future Biology and Chemistry college courses. In a recent experiment, McManus and other Year 3 students carefully prepared petri dishes of yeast, including both control and experimental samples, in order to expose half of the samples to ultraviolet rays and record the reactions. The students, working in tandems, clung to the careful demonstrations of King to properly dispense the samples before exposing them and later storing them in an overnight incubator to speed up the reaction. Bella Wilkes, who just completed her freshman year and her first year in the Institute of Biomedical Innovation, said her goal of becoming a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse led her to enroll. Since I can remember, Ive always wanted to be a NICU nurse and help tiny babies, Wilkes said. I knew this program would help me be successful in my career. I also love hands-on classes and that is what the Biomedical classes are all about. My favorite experiment was exploring a sheeps heart, because it taught me so much about the human body, and I loved that we explored the organ firsthand. It made me understand the lesson so much more. To delve deeper in the curriculum of PLTWs Biomedical Science would be to study urinalysis, kinesiology evaluation and taping, bloodwork analysis, triage, karyotyping, and quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis to name a few topics. Students also earn their CPR certification through the course, thanks to further guidance from King. There are approximately 30 students who participated this past school year, but the program has capacity for expansion. I would tell them that if they are thinking of doing anything in the medical field, then this is the place for you, McManus said. You will learn how to work with others and use critical thinking to problem solve. Also, its so much fun! Wilkes echoed those sentiments. If I was to talk to a student thinking about being a part of the Biomedical program, I would say do it. What do you have to lose? These classes have so much to offer. Being in Mrs. Kings classroom, being taught all these things makes it feel like Im really not even in school. It is so fun, and I look forward to this class every day. Glenn Henriksen and Father Kelly in Concert The St. Joseph Arts Council will hold a concert with Glenn Hendriksen and Father Paul Kelly at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 2, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1305 Okoboji Ave, Milford, Iowa. Father Kelly and Glenn will share their musical gifts in an array of musical instruments and favorite selections. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. This is a free concert, a Free Well Donation will be accepted. A Welcome to Summer Sundae reception will follow the concert in the Parish Center. Fjords, Fire, and Ice New Horizons United Church of Christ, 141 Reed St., Akron, Iowa, welcomes guests to its annual Akron Community Program "Fjords, Fire, and Ice" at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12. James and Lynette Kiger will present information on their visit to Norway and Iceland. Refreshments will served. Citywide confessions Sacred Heart Parish, 5010 Military Road, will hold citywide confessions from 7 to 8 p.m. on June 18 in an effort to encourage the Catholic faithful to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). The Rev. Tim Friedrichsen of Sacred Heart Parish will lead the confessions. Vacation Bible School Peace Reformed Church, 4100 Outer Drive North, is holding VBS for grades K-5 on June 23-28. Sunday, June 23, will be from 12 to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. with dinner served at 5:30 p.m. Friday will be Family Fun Night. Call 712-258-0486 or email office@peacereformed.org for more information. GriefShare GriefShare Summer Session - Host Church, Calvary Lutheran, 4400 Central St. in Leeds will be held on Tuesdays, beginning May 21, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, as well as Thursdays, beginning May 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sessions (13 weeks) will run through the week of Aug. 19 (no gatherings during the week of July 4). Register at www.calvaryleeds.com. Call 712-389-5226 with any questions or concerns. If you are hurting due to the loss of a loved one this endeavor will most likely be very helpful to you. Food pantry St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1200 Douglas St., will have its food pantry open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays. DES MOINES A state grant program will fund 61 new free summer meal sites for Iowa children in low-income families including four districts in Northwest Iowa, the state education department has announced. The $900,000 grant program was created by Gov. Kim Reynolds after she declined $29 million in federal funding to remain in a federal program that provided $40 per month to low-income families for food during the summer months. The new state program still is supported by federal dollars: Reynolds used federal pandemic assistance funding to finance the program. Four Journal area school districts applied for funds and will receive some funding although less than most of their requests. Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto asked for $69,600; South O'Brien sought $22,950, River Valley requested $15,000; and Spencer Community School District, applied for $24,900. Each district received the same $16,639 allocation. Under the new Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant program, 38 grant recipients were chosen from among 43 applicants. Of the 38 recipients, 36 are public or private school districts; the others are the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo and Story Medical Center in Nevada, Iowa. Of the recipients, 14 are new sponsors and collectively are creating 19 new meal sites in their communities. The average grant was $23,684, and 24 of the 38 grants awarded were for $16,639. Most grant recipients will use the funding to operate between one and three summer meal sites. But the Central Community School District in Elkader received a $51,557 grant the largest award to fund four meal sites. Those sites begin June 6, according to the district. The Cedar Rapids Community School District received a $39,918 grant to fund three meal sites at Noelridge Park, the Cedar River Academy at Taylor Elementary and the Truman Early Childhood Center. The sites will run for different time frames, according to the districts application, but they begin June 10 at Noelridge and Truman and June 17 at Taylor. The Marion Independent District received $16,639 for a site at Starry Elementary, from June 3 to Aug. 16, and the Iowa City Community School District also was awarded $16,639 for a site at Hills Elementary School, which will close for academic programs at the end of the school year. The meals program there will run June 17 to Aug. 2, according to the districts application. Among the applicants that did not receive grant funding was St. Joseph Catholic School in Marion, which had requested $93,400 over three years, including $24,100 in the first year, to expand its Seamless Summer Option program. New meal sites were required to be in areas where at least 50 percent of the children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Through partnerships with schools and community-based providers, the Summer Meal Expansion Grant builds upon family-focused solutions to support child nutrition and well-being in the summer, Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow said in a statement. We commend the awardees for their leadership in growing the reach and impact of these programs, providing children with no-cost, healthy meal options in enriching environments this summer and beyond. The 61 new sites add to the more than 500 summer meal sites that operated in Iowa last year, according to the education department. Luke Elzinga, board chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition, said the daily average participation at summer meal sites in Iowa in 2023 was 21,557. Elzinga said more than 245,000 Iowa children would have received the $40 per month from the federal Summer EBT program that Reynolds rejected. While we certainly welcome the new grant program to expand summer meal sites, we also recognize that barriers will remain for families to access those sites. Summer EBT is meant to complement, not replace, summer feeding sites, Elzinga said in a statement when Reynolds announced the new grant program. The new grants help expand participation in two current federal summer child nutrition programs the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option. Those programs are administered by the Iowa Department of Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Free summer meal site operates will be reimbursed with the grant funds once their operating budgets are finalized, the state education department said. SIOUX CITY Two Republicans are seeking a full term on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors. Mark Nelson will face Willard Brian McNaughton for the District 3 seat in the June 4 primary. No Democrat is on the primary ballot, but by special convention, the Democratic party could place someone on the Nov. 5 ballot. Nelson was selected in January 2023 to serve the remaining two years of Rocky De Witts term. De Witt resigned after being elected to the Iowa Senate in 2022. McNaughton had also sought the selection for the seat. This is the first time Nelson has run for election. He is a farmer living in Correctionville and is originally from Moville. He is the owner and operator of Hungry Canyon Cattle Co. and farm manager of Bar N Feedlots. The campaign trail has been humbling, Nelson said. "Just all the people that come out and support ... lots of volunteers door-knocking, putting signs up, donating, sporting signs in parades," he said. "It's just been a really moving and humbling experience so far." Board of Supervisors meeting Mark Nelson speaks during a Woodbury County Board of Supervisors meeting at the Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City, Iowa, Tuesday, Oct. Prior to being selected for the supervisor's seat, Nelson had attended board meetings to speak on a variety of matters including the wind turbine issue. He served on the Woodbury County Farm Bureau as director and treasurer and the Woodbury County Cattlemens Associate as director and president. He said he wants the community to know he is running for all county residents, not just Republicans. "Obviously I'm not going to please everybody, but I really enjoy that I have something to offer most people and that I can bring people together because that's how we get things done," he said. Nelson said he wants to focus on financial responsibility and finishing the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center. In the past 17 months, Nelson said a few of his biggest achievements include taking a hands-on approach to finding a new director of the Woodbury County Emergency Services and being active with secondary roads. In 2016, McNaughton ran for the seat against De Witt and filed to fill the seat in 2023 when Nelson was selected. He said he is still interested in doing his civic duty and serving in public office. My competition is running as the incumbent, and yet he was appointed as a stopgap to fill the position until the election was held, he said. I think we need to let the county residents decide who should be serving them. McNaughton, a Lawton resident, is the owner of Macs Heating & Air and has served on a variety of boards including Woodbury County Board of Adjustments, Banner Township Trustees and Lawton City Council. So far on the campaign trail, McNaughton said he has received positive feedback from the people he has spoken to. He said he would like to focus on rejecting eminent domain for carbon pipelines, finishing the new jail and improving road infrastructure in the county. Nelson was appointed to the Law Enforcement Center Authority in September 2023 amid the delay of the jail project. He has spoken publicly about the process, sharing regular updates with the board of supervisors. The seat requires the board of supervisor's representative to live outside the Sioux City limits. McNaughton said if elected, he would like to be placed on the LEC Authority as the county's representative and said he brings construction experience to the role. Both Nelson and McNaughton are self-employed and said they have the time to dedicate to the role. 1 Cher & Cher Alike! Remember the old "the only thing that will survive a nuclear holocaust is Cher and cockroaches" joke? Well, we don't know anything about roaches, but "The Cher Show" -- a live theatrical show about the entertainer's life -- will be presented at the Orpheum Theatre, 528 Pierce St. at 7 p.m. Monday. 2 Cover-ups! What type of music does the Sioux City party band Above the Covers? A better question might be what music don't they play? Possibly, Hungarian polka music would be our guess. See them play an 8 p.m. Friday concert at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 111 Third St. 3 Hail Hoyer! Lincoln-born "soul shouter" Josh Hoyer will bring his merry band of Soulsters (aka Soul Colossus) for an 8 p.m. Friday show at Vangarde Arts, 416 Pierce St. Be there or be square! 4 Book marks! Kids, you now have our permission to ditch those boring old schoolbooks for something fun to read. Luckily, there will be a Summer Reading Kickoff Event, from 2 - 4 p.m. Monday at the Aalfs Main Library, 529 Pierce St. Be sure to check out something while meeting Slider, the mascot for the Sioux City Explorers. Sadly, you cannot take Slider home with you, even with a library card. 5 1871: The Sequel! Do you know what Sioux City was like in 1871? If you do, you must be very old. Otherwise, you must be historian Russ Gifford, who wasn't around in 1871 but knows a lot about it. He'll be at the Betty Strong Encounter Center at 2 p.m. Sunday. Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve jodi moats Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve manager Jody Moats 6 Donkeys, geese, sheep and Moats! Join naturalist Jodi Moats as she shows off plenty country critters at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Adams Homestead Nature Preserves, 264 Westshore Drive, North Sioux City Doing something new with the slasher subgenre in horror is like reanimating a corpsepossible (at least, according to many of the genres offerings) but tricky, and too often the product remains lifeless. Triggered by the blockbuster success of John Carpenters low-budget 1978 Halloween, the early-1980s deluge of cookie-cutter hack-em-ups slowed to a drip by the end of the decade, and it wasnt until 1996 that the subgenre saw a resurgence thanks to Scream. Directed by Wes Craven, who helmed first-wave slasher classic A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream reinvigorated the cinematic slaughter of dumb, horny teens by having its tuned-in characters discuss the rules of the genre, sometimes to the point of pontification. Self-awareness yielded a new flood that petered out within a decade or so. Since then, truly relevant slashers have been rare. David Gordon Greens 2018 Halloween requel hit hard by reinvesting in beloved characters (namely, Jamie Lee Curtis Laurie Strode and her antagonist, Michael Myers). The Scream movies have continued to capitalize on a similar hunger for reboots and the franchises commitment to smart-assery. Halina Reijns 2022 Bodies Bodies Bodies began with a familiar template (a bunch of teens getting picked off in a house without electricity on a dark and stormy night), but its maniac-free resolution contorted the genre just enough to feel fresh. Chris Nashs Canadian slasher In a Violent Nature does a similarly slight twisting of slasher tropes, and the result is something novel yet familiar: a Goldilocks approach to innovation. Perhaps most striking is how unconcerned Nash seems to be with scaring his audience. The movie sets aside such timeworn, manipulative tools as jump scares and dramatic scoring. Sounds of the forest, such as the rustling of leaves and the chirping of bugs, provide sonic ambience, while all music is diegetic, coming not from any composer but from the characters themselves. (This doesnt mean that its not used to great effect, as when the Walkman of a fresh kill keeps playing after its batteries have already started to drain, so what we hear coming out of the headphones sounds melted.) The killer herea partially decomposed zombie and subject of local legend named Johnny, who has the hulking frame and baldness of Jason Voorheessurprises his victims but rarely us, because the camera spends most of the movies 94-minute runtime following not Johnnys targets but Johnny himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though this is In a Violent Natures most radical creative decision, its also rooted in horror history: The original Friday the 13th and Halloween movies open from the killers point of view. However, we dont see the world through Johnnys eyes per se. We follow him, watching his back and head (complete with a metal stake lodged in it), as in a third-person video game. Much of the conversation that takes place among his preymainly, a handful of young adults who are staying in a cabin in a section of the forest called White Pinesoccurs in the background as he stalks them. This includes a confrontation between a ranger and a local over the latters bear traps, as well as the somethings-not-right epiphany that occurs when the members of the interloping group realize that their numbers are dwindling. Nash, who also wrote the script, seems to acknowledge that a great degree of the dialogue in pre-Scream slashers is prattle and relegates it to being just barely within earshot. Elsewhere, the movie is unabashedly referential: What are you waiting for? calls a character to the unseen killer, echoing Jennifer Love Hewitts battle cry in I Know What You Did Last Summer. In all of these ways, In a Violent Nature is a horror fans horror movie: To understand what makes it special, you have to understand not just what its doing but what its not doing, and to fully appreciate it requires a decent amount of knowledge. Its hardly a surprise that Nash has opted for a VHS-reminiscent 4:3 aspect ratio. Advertisement Advertisement Nash has cited inspiration from Gus Van Sants death trilogythe inspired-by-real-life dramas Gerry, Elephant, and Last Dayswhich he describes as slower, more methodical, more deliberate and whose movies follow characters through a scene. (Van Sant himself touted Tomb Raider as his own inspiration.) Though the movie takes the time to stew in its own stagnant juices, its pace makes it no less brutal than a typical slasher. Death is always imminent, even as our antihero walks through idyllic landscapes at various times of day (the most beautiful of which occurs at golden hour, with a tangerine sky above and yellow wildflowers all around). This is a movie that is as concerned with its Ontario-shot setting as it is with what the majority of its audience has signed up for: carnage. Some deaths are elegantly stagedJohnnys hand reaches out to his first victim; the scene cuts and shows that same hand bloodied. The murder is telegraphed only by implication. Theres a rather quiet, yet more elaborate scene that involves drowning in a lake: Johnny spots his next casualty across the water, he wades in (were to understand hes walking across the lakes floor), and a few minutes later, shes pulled under. Shes allowed one last gasp at the surface before submerging again. Then her body floats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gore isnt always so subtle: Theres also a bludgeoning by axe (its a thing!), a head exploding when a rock is dropped on it, and the pulling of one victims head through a hole Johnny just made in her torso. This one is particularly on the nose, as we see the dearly departed doing yoga before her demise. Its the kind of kill that would prompt Freddy Krueger to say something like Namaste, bitch! Related From Slate The Science That Can Help You Tolerate the Worst Part of Horror Movies Read More We follow Johnny, but we dont exactly identify with him. Its kind of hard to empathize with a murder machine whose peaceful (?) rest has been disturbed by the stealing of a locket at his gravesite by one of the camping kids. That creates a disconnect that makes much of In a Violent Nature feel more like an exercise than a proper horror flick in terms of the sheer adrenaline it gets pumping. Imagine a roller coaster without climbs and drops that is still very much a roller coaster by virtue of the fact that youre strapped into a cart on rails. However, suspense permeates the final 20 minutes or so. (Read no further if you dont want to hear what happensand, just as importantly, doesnt happenat the movies conclusion.) Advertisement Advertisement The de facto final girlwhose characterization is so spare that she could have been any of the other girls she was staying with in the cabinwatches Johnny murder the last of her friends and, instead of attempting the plan they had hatched to rebury him, flees. Shes not cut out for the role shes found herself in; shes simply not final girl material. After a horrifying run through the woods that leaves her with a nasty gash on her leg, she miraculously finds a road and, even more miraculously, is picked up by a driver who vows to help her. We know what to expect: Ever since 1976, when Carrie ended with the hand of its title character bursting up from her grave, its been de rigueur to lull the audience into a false sense of security before one last scare. Johnny should pop out of the woods before they can drive off (much like Leatherface does in the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre as Sallys being saved via big rig) or when they stop to tend to her wound. They should get a flat tire, or the driver should turn out to be in cahoots with the killer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, we get no such scare. The movie ends with its effective protagonist gazing into the woods, waiting for the reappearance of the monster that just terrorized her. He does not materialize. We get the feeling that this is the first day of the rest of her life as more elegiac shots of the outdoors display on screen. Barring a sequel, shell spend her days looking into the woods, trying to parse out whether shes safe, and never quite succeeding. A more recent horror convention is the deliberate projection of social awareness. Horror movies have long been about trauma, especially when their calloused heroes return in sequels, but 2018s Halloween was practically marketed as a meditation on trauma (or trow-ma, according to its star, Jamie Lee Curtis). Sometimes this social awareness proves resonant, as with Jordan Peeles Get Out, but often it just reads as pretense, a socially redeeming excuse for all the evisceration thats the real attraction. In a Violent Nature isnt so didactic. Besides the impression that someone who just went through hell may remain there mentally, the movie has little to no message. Like a swift axe to the skull, In a Violent Nature is blunt and makes no excuses for itself. How refreshing. Racist ideology spreads virulently in U.S., spills across borders: report Xinhua) 09:47, May 30, 2024 BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Racist ideology is spreading virulently in the United States with the help of the Internet, and even shows a trend of transnational diffusion, according to the Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2023, which was released on Wednesday. Racists "have opened up a new space of communication on the Internet, using social media, music, games and other platforms to carry out widespread abuse and harassment against ethnic minorities," said the report issued by China's State Council Information Office. For instance, the gunman who killed 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, in May 2022 had posted on Discord, a gaming chat app community, that a game on the Roblox gaming platform had influenced his radicalization. Even worse, racism in the United States "has become a major exporter of extreme racism, which has aroused the vigilance of many countries," the report said. "Conspiracy theories, racial superiority theories, anti-government extremism, and other forms of hate and intolerance have spread so far in the United States that some countries have labeled American groups and citizens as foreign terrorists," it added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) SpaceXs mega rocket Starship launches for a test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica on Nov. 18, 2023. Eric Gay/Associated Press Elon Musk is interviewed at the 2023 New York Times DealBook Summit in Manhattan in late November. AMIR HAMJA/New York Times SpaceXs second flight test of a fully integrated Starship lifts of from the companys Starbase at Boca Chica on Nov. 18, 2023. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer SpaceXs Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy booster rocket explode after an April launch from the companys Starbase in South Texas. The Washington Post via Getty Im The Starship spacecraft rides atop the Super Heavy booster during the systems third launch from SpaceXs Starbase near Boca Chica. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer SpaceXs Starship is a step closer to its fourth launch from South Texas after a Federal Aviation Administration determination that problems the spacecraft experienced during its last flight in March posed no safety risks to the public. The decision allows the commercial space company to launch its Starship as soon as June 5 before completing a mishap investigation report into its March 14 third flight. SpaceX still needs a launch license from the FAA, which remains pending. Advertisement Article continues below this ad READ MORE: SpaceX plans next Starship launch for June 5 from South Texas Starbase The agency notified the company of the public safety determination Friday, an agency spokesman said. After a comprehensive review, the FAA determined no public safety issues were involved in the anomaly that occurred during the SpaceX Starship (Orbital Flight Test-3) launch on March 14, the spokesman said Thursday in an email. The Starship vehicle may return to flight operations while the overall investigation remains open, provided all other license requirements are met. SpaceX requested the FAA review so it can continue Starship operations as the investigation into the last flight is finalized, in accordance with FAA rules. During the review, the FAA evaluated the crafts safety-critical systems, the nature and consequences of the anomaly, the adequacy of existing flight safety analysis, safety organization performance, and environmental factors, the FAA spokesmans email said. License watch Starship followers are now in a familiar preflight license watch. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For each of the three prior Starship launches, final FAA approvals came a day or two before the launch windows opened. An FAA spokesman said Thursday to expect similar timing for the license for the upcoming launch, but couldnt provide an exact date. For each license, the agency reviews policies, payloads, safety issues, financial responsibility and environmental impacts of the proposed launch. The agency has 180 days to complete a space launch license evaluation, and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has previously embarked on a sort of pressure campaign to expedite the regulatory review. Hes posted about it on social media, energizing his loyal fan base to chime in on a bureaucratic process that few people pay attention to. Before Starships second flight in November, two area congressman piped up to pressure the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to complete its environmental review, which was the last regulatory hurdle before the FAA could issue its approval. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So far, in the run up to the fourth Starship flight, Musk hasnt zinged regulators or fired up his fans about government processes, but SpaceX includes its usual disclaimer pending regulatory approval in updates about potential launch timing. During Starships third flight, the most successful so far, the two stages successfully separated, but the booster exploded shortly after. Starship continued on its path, eventually breaking up over the Indian Ocean. Since the craft experienced significant issues and was lost, the FAA required a mishap investigation. SpaceX is leading the investigation with the FAAs support. Final preparations SpaceX continues to prepare for a possible June 5 launch. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Thursday, the company loaded more than 10 million pounds of propellant on the Starship and its Super Heavy booster in a launch rehearsal. Several Starbase watchers, including San Antonio-based photographer John Cargile, reported on Thursday that SpaceX is installing the explosives for the rockets autonomous flight termination system. Cameron County officials have posted a possible closure for Highway 4 and Boca Chica Beach on June 5 and backup dates June 6 and 7. Starships fourth flight will focus on demonstrating the ability to return and reuse Starship and its Super Heavy booster, SpaceX said. The company hopes to accomplish a landing burn and soft splashdown of the booster in the Gulf of Mexico and a controlled entry of the upper-stage Starship. The flight will follow a similar trajectory as the previous one, with Starship expected to splash down in the Indian Ocean. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Thursday, Musk posted on X that he thinks Starship will eventually be about 100% reusable but that the company must solve some problems. There are many tough issues to solve with this vehicle, but the biggest remaining problem is making a reusable orbital return heat shield, which has never been done before, he wrote. After a couple of years of pushing the envelope on state-level immigration enforcement, with the disastrous Operation Lone Star and its offshoots, Texas last year decided to go all in on Senate Bill 4, the law that would make it a state crime to enter the country illegally or to reenter the country (and the state) after a removal. Most absurdly, S.B. 4 grants the state itself the power to conduct removals to Mexico. After a false start in which the Supreme Court briefly cleared the path for the laws implementation in March, it has been blocked by the 5th Circuit as litigation continues. Yet, even in its unrealized form, the bill has spurred copycats across the country, as far afield as completely landlocked Iowa. Oklahoma has now enacted its own version, and another has been passed by legislators in Louisiana. States like Georgia and Tennessee are considering measures a bit short of full local immigration enforcement. If youre getting vague deja vu here, it might be because this type of thing was already attempted and decisively struck down by SCOTUS in its 2012 decision in Arizona v. United States, after that state passed its now-infamous S.B. 1070. In fact, the court has continuously held that immigration regulation and enforcement is a pure federal function stemming from the governments plenary powers on foreign relations and interstate commerce since the late 19th century. By all rights, this should be open and shut: States cannot legally make or enforce their own immigration policies. But the 5th Circuit, stacked with Trump-appointed conservative ideologues, has been tacking hard right in recent years, delivering a string of precedent-upending red-meat decisions. SCOTUS itself, it goes without saying, has not been a friend to precedent in its current iteration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Does that make it likely that the courts will side with Texas? It might be a bridge too far, and even state Solicitor General Aaron Nielson admitted in court that in trying to go up to the line of legality, maybe Texas went too far, particularly on the issue of removals. However, its at least plausible that either the whole bill or portions of it might be allowed to go into effect, along with the domino of other states passed or advancing bills, setting up an unprecedented system that even state officials dont seem to know how to handle. In legislative arguments and in arguments before the courts, GOP legislators who pushed S.B. 4 and the state officials defending it have generally attempted to represent its impact narrowly, as something that would predominantly apply to recent border arrivals; vilifying them, youll notice, is now standard-issue Republican dogma. Yet, like recent state laws on culture-war issues ranging from curriculum censorship to abortion, S.B. 4 and its copycat bills rely on a certain vagueness not as a defect but as a surreptitious selling point. Advertisement Nothing in the plain text of S.B. 4 limits the application of the law to people who have just crossed the border, nor does it technically limit it to people in the country unlawfully. The illegal-reentry part of the statute creates an offense for noncitizens who enter the state after theyve been denied admission to or excluded, deported, or removed from the United States. Iowas law contains similar language. Advertisement As American Immigration Council Policy Director Aaron Reichlin-Melnick told me, this could snare tons of people who might at some point have been denied a visa or even been ordered removed but have since obtained legal status. [Potentially] a green card holder, a student visa holder, or someone with temporary protected status who is inside the United States and crosses the Texas border from Oklahoma to Texas, or New Mexico to Texas, is committing a felony under Texas law, even if they are 100 percent legally in the United States, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Even if Texas attempted to apply the law only to recent entrants, theres a practical issue here: How can you tell? Unless an officer literally watches someone unlawfully enter the country or someone volunteers that information, its inherently an unobservable offense. The truth is, we know what most law enforcement would probably construe as probable cause here, but thats unconstitutional. (Though its not as unconstitutional as you might think; in its 1975 decision in United States v. Brignoni-Ponce, the Supreme Court ruled that the likelihood that any given person of Mexican ancestry is an alien is high enough to make Mexican appearance a relevant factor in allowing Border Patrol to stop someone.) Advertisement Advertisement There certainly are some robust immigration-related information-sharing programs between states and the federal government, but theyre structured to go in the other direction: State criminal justice data feeds into federal law-enforcement databases, not really the other way around. Some local law-enforcement officials are effectively deputized to act as immigration agents under a federal program known as 287(g), but thats currently active only in detention settings, i.e., after someone has already been arrested for something unrelated and is tightly controlled. Any given cop on the street will be unable to confirm if an offense has been committed, a fact that Texas Department of Public Safety and local law-enforcement agencies have laid bare with constant waffling on how S.B. 4 would even be enforced if active. (DPS did not respond to questions about its preparations or guidance for officers ahead of a potential S.B. 4 implementation.) Advertisement The uncertainty over enforcement extends to the prosecutorial and judicial parts of the process. How will prosecutors prove that the offense was committed? How will local judges with no immigration expertise weigh the evidence? The laws are not well written. They dont really contemplate the step-by-step of what officers and judges have to do to determine a persons immigration status without grossly violating that persons rights in the interim, said Huey Fischer Garcia, a staff attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Centers Immigrant Justice litigation team out of New Orleans. Immigration law is so nuanced and technical. Determination of whether somebody gets to lawfully continue residing in the United States requires multiple hearings and arguments pursuant to the [Immigration and Nationality Act] and other laws that the [state] judges frankly arent equipped to make determinations about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, the reason state judges would have these problems is that they have never had to bother with any of this federal law anyway. That only highlights how, under S.B. 4, the state judicial system wouldnt supplement the federal one but would necessarily conflict with it. For instance, the bill would allow people to avoid criminal prosecution if they agreed to leave the country, a detail that suggests that the legislations main objective isnt to convict people but to force them to leave under threat of prison. You would have a situation in laws like S.B. 4 where you have the federal government telling a person, You have a right to stay here. Were going to put you through [an asylum process]. Thats perfectly OK with us and you would have Texas saying, If you dont leave, were gonna throw you in prison for 20 years, Reichlin-Melnick said. Advertisement Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts border-enforcement cosplay, including setting up buoys along the Rio Grande, already nearly set off international diplomatic incidents with Mexico. An attempt to actually remove peopleincluding many non-Mexicansto that country would probably trigger an even more acute crisis. In response to questions about its engagement with Texas and other states on these laws, a spokesperson for the Mexican foreign ministry pointed to materials from Foreign Secretary Alicia Barcenas recent tour of Texas, including her reaffirmation that Mexico would not accept repatriations by the State of Texas under any circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement To complete the trifecta after interfering with national and international functions, laws like S.B. 4 would probably also hamstring some state objectives. [Consider] a child living with a mother whos undocumented, and shes a victim of domestic violence actively seeking a safer home for her and her son. If shes stopped by a police officer and then removed, that son would automatically stay in a house of violence, said Linda Corchado, senior director of immigration at the Texas-based research and advocacy center Children at Risk. The state crime of having entered the country illegally as written under S.B. 4 has no built-in defense for people who otherwise have particular vulnerabilitiesor who might otherwise help law enforcement, for that matter. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate What Youre Not Seeing From the Darien Gap Read More There might be an attempt at actually locking people up for being undocumented. If that occurs, even just once, I think that would have a very chilling effect across the community, said the SPLCs Fischer Garcia. These laws make folks more hesitant to interact with law enforcement if folks in the community are victims of a crime or witnesses of a crime. Already, with the law not even having gone into effect, undocumented immigrants in Texas are considering leaving areas near the border and otherwise avoiding contact with the authorities. Lest some immigration advocates hope that a ruling for Texas would mean that states would then be liberated to establish their own state-level regimes in the other direction by, say, issuing visas, that would still be off the table. Anything that the Supreme Court said here would really be about the world of [immigration law] enforcement because enforcement and benefits are categorically different, said Reichlin-Melnick. Essentially, the part of the law that grants immigration status is different from the part of the law that spells out how to contend with those who do not have it, and the former is generally much less flexible. Advertisement So, if S.B. 4 and its ilk are allowed to stand, we will end up with a set of systems that no state official seems to know how to implement, probably relying on open discrimination, and that would conflict with international diplomacy, federal law, interstate dynamicsfunctionally making simply crossing from one state to another a felonyand interstate objectives, all in order to somewhat duplicate federal purposes while violating both national and international law. This would be, to put it mildly, a complete train wreck. GOP-controlled states see that and are running full speed ahead. Now the courts stand at the brakes, and its not looking great. Read our ongoing coverage of Donald Trumps first criminal trial here. Support This Work Slates independent journalism is made possible by our Slate Plus members. Join today. Join Slate Plus At 4:37 p.m. on Thursday, gasps could be heard in the Manhattan courtroom where former President Donald J. Trumps hush money trial was taking place. Justice Juan Merchan announced that the jury had reached a verdict. After just under 12 hours of deliberations, the jury found Trump guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump now faces the potential for four years in prison for each count, though any sentence would likely be set to run concurrentlyand the logistics of imprisoning a former president along with Secret Service officers may make such a sentence unlikely. The end result is that Donald Trump is a convicted felon looking at possible jail time. He is unlikely to receive such a sentence during the course of the likely yearslong appeal. If he is elected again in November, he may never face justice for his crimes. Before the verdict was read out, Trump sat cross-armed, glaring ahead as his lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove whispered to him. His son Eric Trump briefly left the courtroom but returned immediately. (One reporter asked if there was time to use the restroom before the verdict was read, and an officer politely told her no, to laughter, adding, Do you really want to leave now?) District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose team achieved the victory of the first prosecution and conviction of a U.S. president in American history, also joined the courtroom for the initial time following the news of the verdict, chatting with his seatmate and putting his hand to his chin as he waited in anticipation. Advertisement As they had done throughout the proceedings, none of the jurors made eye contact with Trump as they passed him on the way to the jury box. The courtroom was silent as the foreperson listed off guilty 34 separate times to each individual count related to the falsification of 11 checks, 11 invoices, and 12 ledger entries. And as he has done throughout the trial, after the verdict was read, Trump appeared to close his eyes. Blanche put his face in his hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blanche requested that the verdict be thrown out based on the jurys reliance on the testimony of Michael Cohen, who Blanche claimed perjured himself on the stand, but the request was quickly denied. After each member of the jury affirmed that guilty was their verdict, Merchan thanked them for their service over the course of the six-week-long trial and set a sentencing date for 10 a.m. on July 11. As Trump left the courtroom, he seemed to reach to grab his son Eric. The tension and silence in the room were deafening, even as courtroom reporters struggled to relate the news due to downed Wi-Fi. Advertisement After the verdict was announced, the capstone of his career, Bragg stared ahead with a poker face. I think it is a real credit to the American jury system that they were able to deliver a verdict, particularly given the amount of evidence in the case, former New York Judge Vincent J. Grasso told me as we left the courtroom. After all the evidence that I saw, I thought it was a very fine verdict. Trump was, predictably, livid. This was a disgrace, he said in the hallway afterward. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. Its a rigged trial. A disgrace. They wouldnt give us a venue change. We were at 5 percent or 6 percent in this district in this area. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people. Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the prosecution told a coherent and convincing story: that Donald Trump had engaged his fixer Michael Cohen to pay off Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election as part of a conspiracy to unlawfully promote Trumps victory, then falsified records in the ensuing scheme to cover up the reimbursement to Cohen. Advertisement The defense, meanwhile, struggled to convincingly explain the vast trove of documentary evidence showing that the $420,000 Trump paid Cohen in 2017 had been part of the reimbursement scheme and not for a legal retainer, even though no such physical document existed. This scheme, cooked up by these men, at this time, could very well be what got President Trump elected, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said during closing arguments. Well never know if this effort to hoodwink the American voter impacted the election, but thats something we dont need to prove. Advertisement Looking back through the present lenswith the shock of Trumps 2016 victory, his 2020 attack on the election, and his 2024 comeback playing into a sense of apparent invincibilityit is hard to credit the view that if the Stormy Daniels story had come out in October 2016, it would have changed anything. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Donald Trump Really Did This to Himself Read More When you look closer at the series of events as laid out at this trial, though, the impact of the criminal conspiracy, for which Trump has now been convicted, feels far greater than how we see it today. Recall that had Hillary Clinton flipped a combined 80,000 votes in the Rust Belt, she would have been president. Also, the trial painted a portrait of a successful conspiracy to elevate Trump not only during the 2016 general election but throughout the Republican primary. Most importantly, this was all going on at a time when Trump himself didnt know he would win. Indeed, almost all of the events in question happened when the election was very much up in the air. The key portions, indeed, happened after the release of the Access Hollywood tapewhen Trumps support had tanked but before the FBI announced that it had reopened an investigation into Clintons email scandal, trashing her own polling. Advertisement Advertisement Consider that timeline, as laid out by the prosecution. On Oct. 7, the Access Hollywood tape was published by the Washington Post, sending Trumps campaign into disarray.* After a series of phone calls with Trump three days later, Michael Cohen began to set up his shell company to pay off Daniels. Trump then, however, tried to slow-walk the compensation to Daniels until after the election so that he wouldnt have to pay her. Ultimately, that was untenable. After a series of phone calls between Trump and Cohen on Oct. 24, 26, and 28, Cohen finalized the deal on Trumps orders. On Oct. 26, the $130,000 payment to Daniels was deposited from Cohens personal HELOC account into the shell company. On Oct. 27, the wire transfer was filled out from Cohen to Daniels attorney Keith Davidson. One day later, the story broke about the reopening of the FBI investigation of Clintons email scandal, completely upending the election. A little more than a week later, Trump won the presidency. Davidson texted National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard as the votes were being counted and as it was becoming clear that Trump would win: What have we done? The hype about new technologies often follows a predictable pattern. Were told a new technology is about to change the world, and then its often labeled a failure when it doesnt make an immediate impact. Take Google Glass, which promised a bold and slightly dorky vision of the futurebut ultimately failed in embarrassing fashion. Much of the time thats where the story ends, and the graveyard of tech history is filled with failed projects. However, some of the most successful technologies in the world followed that same pattern but survived what the research firm Gartner calls the trough of disillusionment, and people tend to eventually forget about those initial struggles. Few examples illustrate that pattern more clearly than the modern barcode, a technology that celebrated its 50th birthday in 2023. Barcodes are one of the most successful technologies in history. More than 6 billion barcodes are scanned each day. Theyve been so omnipresent for so long that most people rarely give them a second thought. I know I didnt; Im 41 years old, and I grew up in a world where barcodes were everywhere. They were on almost every product I bought, every ticket I scanned, and every package that ended up on my doorstep. As the podcaster Roman Mars put it, Its hard to imagine now, a world without barcodes. Advertisement It wasnt until I began doing archival research for my book about the cultural history of the barcode that I realized how close we came to living in a world where I wasnt surrounded by those iconic patterns of vertical black lines. Before barcodes became so embedded in our lives that we barely noticed them, they went through a dramatic trough of disillusionment filled with major consumer protests, legislative hearings, and moments of near-catastrophic failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barcode technology was first patented in 1949, but the barcodes we know today have their roots in a 1970s initiative spearheaded by the grocery industry. By the late 1960s, grocery stores faced serious challenges including rising labor costs and struggles with tracking inventory. Barcodes seemed like a possible solution, and the industry created an ad hoc committee in the early 1970s to develop a workable barcode system. The committee created the Universal Product Code (UPC), which is still the data standard used in grocery stores in the United States. The data standard dictates what each number in a barcode represents, but the standard was designed to work with various types of barcode symbols, so the committee then had to decide which type of symbol to use. They narrowed the pool to seven finalists, most of which people today wouldnt recognize as barcodes. The committee chose IBMs submission after three years of deliberation, and 50 years later that IBM symbol has become synonymous with the word barcode. By 1974, the committees work was mostly done, and UPC barcodes were ready to launch. Advertisement For a brief period, it seemed like barcodes might make their way onto products without a hitch. On June 26, 1974, the first UPC barcode was scanned on a pack of Wrigleys gum at a grocery store in Troy, Ohio. The event went well, the barcodes worked, and grocery executives were pleased; however, a storm was already forming on the horizon. Despite years of consulting with various stakeholders, the ad hoc committee had neglected one group in particular: consumers. As a later industry report noted, consumer concerns had been mishandled and underestimated since the early stages of planning, an oversight that had serious consequences throughout the 1970s. Advertisement The backlash began basically as soon as the UPC launched. In the summer of 1974, The Phil Donahue Show ran an episode warning people that the grocery industry would use barcodes to rip consumers off. The ire only grew from there. In a particularly notable example in late 1974 described by Paul V. McEnroean engineer who was involved in the development of the UPCprotestors gathered outside a Giant Supermarket in Tysons Corner, Virginia, that was installing barcode systems and briefly stopped the store from opening. Consumer concerns were so significant that in November 1974, a conference was held at Middlesex College to address the unexpected backlash. The grocery industry had not planned for the consumer pushback. They especially hadnt planned for Carol Tucker-Foreman, a woman whom grocery executives would later acknowledge was a formidable adversary they were ill-prepared to fightand quite a fight it was. Advertisement Advertisement Tucker-Foreman was the head of the Consumer Federation of America, and she began a nationwide campaign against barcode adoption as soon as the technology was released. In December 1974, she testified in front of the U.S. Senates Symposium on the Universal Product Coding System and complained that consumers had not been consulted and argued that barcodes would harm customers. Her campaign grew from there, and she gave countless interviews throughout the mid-1970s warning people about barcodes. She even hosted multiple public debates with grocery executives where, according to a 1975 article in the Salt Lake Tribune, they verbally slugged it out. Advertisement Advertisement The major controversy about barcode adoption focused on an issue that might seem a bit strange in retrospect: item-level pricing. Before barcodes, every item in a grocery store had a price tag. Tagging each item required significant labor, and one of the primary reasons grocery stores developed the UPC barcode was to remove the labor costs required by item-level pricing and instead put product prices on shelves. Advertisement Tucker-Foreman argued the removal of item-level pricing would be a disaster for consumers and, to quote a 1975 interview, would totally remove the consumer privilege to shop comparatively. The grocery industry tried to compromise by offering people grease pencils they could use to write prices on items, an idea that, to put it mildly, did not go over well. In a 1975 interview with the Central New Jersey News, Tucker-Foreman derided the grease pencil idea as typical of the public be damned attitude the industry takes. It equates on the PR equivalency scale with let em eat cake. The CFAs campaign to preserve item-level pricing and slow barcode adoption got national attention, and other consumer organizations began publishing pamphlets about barcodes with titles like A New Supermarket Ripoff. Most importantly, consumer groups began a concerted push for legislation that mandated the preservation of item-level pricing. A few states like California did pass legislation to preserve item-level pricing temporarily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grocery industry took the official position that individual stores should choose whether to move to shelf pricing. Behind the scenes, industry executives showed how significant a threat the backlash had become; they organized editorials like a 1978 article in the magazine Fortune that tried to dismiss local protests and boycotts as a fight with the local luddites that mostly only happened in stores in less enlightened areas. In retrospect, a battle over whether to put price tags on an item or a shelf might feel rather abstract to those of us who grew up with shelf-level pricing. But the controversy was far from inconsequential to the future of the barcode. Early barcodes and computerized checkout systems were massively expensive and cost roughly $250,000 per store to install. Even the most optimistic estimates predicted it would take a grocery store about three years to recoup the costs of the system through reduced labor and inventory costs. Advertisement Consequently, the only way barcodes could be viable was if companies saved enough money to justify the cost of the systems. The president of Giant Food, Joseph Danzansky, made that point explicit in 1976 testimony where he said that laws preserving item-level pricing would impact whether grocery stores stuck with plans to adopt barcodes and computerized checkout. Consequently, if consumer groups had succeeded in passing federal legislation preserving item-level pricing, barcode adoption might have stalled completely. The battle with consumer groups was that consequential. Advertisement Advertisement No federal legislation about item-level pricing was ever passed; however, for about half a decade it seemed like consumer concerns might halt barcode adoption regardless. Just two years after the first UPC barcode was scanned, Business Week ran an article titled The Supermarket Scanner that Failed that declared barcodes were already a failure. In 1978, some grocery stores abandoned plans to install barcode systems and, as a 1978 article in the Lansing State Journal noted, the feeling of industry observers is that supermarket executives have lost their enthusiasm for the system. Barcode adoption was so anemic that by the end of the 1970s only 1 percent of U.S. grocery stores had installed barcode scanners, which was well below what the industry had predicted. Advertisement Advertisement Barcodes survived the struggles of the 1970s. Consumer backlash mostly disappeared by the turn of the decade, likely in part because Tucker-Foremanwho had become the national face of the protestsleft her job as the head of the CFA to become the assistant secretary of agriculture at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In the early 1980s, barcode adoption in the grocery industry began to increase exponentially, and by 1989 more than half of all U.S. grocery sales used barcodes. Additionally, the grocery industrys eventual success spurred other industries, including the Department of Defense and the Automotive Industry Action Group, to mandate barcode adoption in the mid-1980s. Related From Slate An Entertaining New Book Will Tell You Something You Never Knew About Witchcraft Read More The rest is history. By the early 1990s, barcodes had become a key data infrastructure in everything from global supply chains to the postal service to concert tickets. Billions of barcodes are still scanned every single day, and theyve become so taken for granted that the controversies of the 1970s have mostly been lost to history. Advertisement Today, these early struggles of the barcode are more than a quirky historical footnote; they are also an important reminder that technological adoption is rarely linear. People often expect new technologies to make an immediate impact, and when they dont, theyre sometimes prematurely labeled as failures. Take virtual reality as a particularly drawn-out example. In the 1990s, tech columnists were predicting that VR was about to go mainstream. The famous futurist Nicholas Negroponte predicted in 1993 that within the next five years more than one in ten people will wear head-mounted computer displays while traveling in buses, trains, and planes. VR then failed rather spectacularly and has only become somewhat mainstream in the past few years. Advertisement We dont even have to leave the world of barcodes to find another example: QR Codes, which are barcodes. Theyre a subset of the technology called 2D barcodes. They were invented in the mid-1990s, but they reached the peak of their hype in the late 2000s when they began popping up everywhere, often for seemingly no reason. They then failed so spectacularlyin the West at least; they quickly became popular in East Asiathat by the mid-2010s articles were confidently declaring that QR Codes are dead. QR Codes then seemed to rise from the dead during the early days of the COVID pandemic and finally achieve the success predicted more than a decade earlier. Technologies often come close to failing before they eventually succeed. By the mid-1970s, newspapers were already writing their eulogies for the barcode. But two decades later, the Smithsonian acquired a facsimile of the pack of Wrigleys gum that was the first official product ever scanned with a UPC barcode. The journey a random pack of gum took from a grocery store in Troy, Ohio, in 1974 to the Smithsonian collection was far more precariousand significantly more controversialthan most people realize. The new artificial intelligence features Google announced just weeks ago are finally breaking through to the mainstreamalbeit not in the manner Google might prefer. As you may have gleaned from recent coverage and chatter (or even experienced yourself), the autogenerated A.I. Overviews now sitting atop so many Google search results are giving answers that well, to call them incorrect is true but doesnt quite nail it. Try surreal and ridiculous and potentially dangerous instead. Since their rollout, A.I. Overviews have told users to smoke cigarettes while pregnant, add glue to their home-baked pizza, sprinkle used antifreeze on their lawns, and boil mint in order to cure their appendicitis. To address the erroneous answers to both straightforward and jokey queries, Google appears to be addressing each incident one by one and tweaking the relevant Overviews accordingly. Still, the broken top-of-Google answers may even be spilling over into the search engines other features, like its automatic calculator: One U.S.based user found, posting a screenshot to X, that Googles tech couldnt even scan that the unit cm stands for centimeter, reading the measure as a whole meter. Search engine optimization expert Lily Ray claimed to have independently verified this finding. Thats really bad. Now Google doesnt even know that cm = centimeter? And the calculator appears automatically with a wrong answer? Yikes. (I was able to replicate) https://t.co/DgOcfCp2QF Lily Ray (@lilyraynyc) May 27, 2024 Advertisement The mass rollout of A.I. Overviews has prompted users and analysts to share other, even buggier Google discoveries: The underlying Gemini bot appears to spawn answers first, then find citations. This process appears to be causing a lot of old, spammy, and broken links to show up as supporting information for these responses. Nevertheless, Googlewhich still sweeps up piles of digital-ad dollars, despite recently losing some of that market sharewants to insert more ads into Overviews, some of which could be A.I.powered themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the very appearance of the A.I. Overviews is already redirecting traffic from more reliable sources that would normally pop up on Google. Contrary to CEO Sundar Pichais statements, SEO experts have found that links featured in Overviews are not earning many click-through boosts from their placement. (This factor, along with the misinformation, is just part of the reason why plenty of major news organizations, including Slate, have opted out of inclusion within A.I. Overviews. A Google spokesperson told me that such analyses are not a reliable or comprehensive way to assess traffic from Google Search.) Advertisement Rays studies find that search-result Google traffic to publishers has been dropping overall this month, with much more visibility going to posts from Redditthe site that, by the way, was the source for the infamous glue-on-pizza recommendation and that has signed multimillion-dollar agreements with Google in favor of more of that. (The Google spokesperson responded, This is in no way a comprehensive or representative study of traffic to news publications from Google Search.) Still seeing many sites dropping heavily in the last couple of weeks, including many popular news and publisher websites. I also check Reddit's trajectory daily, expecting it to drop at some point. Nope, it just skyrocketed off the chart, yet again. For context, using this pic.twitter.com/ipH9BDfjz9 Lily Ray (@lilyraynyc) May 29, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Google likely was aware of all the problems before pushing A.I. Overviews into prime time. Pichai has called chatbots hallucinations (that is, their tendency to make stuff up) an inherent feature and has even admitted that such tools, engines, and data sets arent necessarily the best approach to always get at factuality. This is something he thinks Google Search data and capabilities will fix, Pichai told the Verge. That seems dubious in light of Googles algorithms obscuring the search visibility of various trustworthy news sources and also possibly torching small sites on purpose, as SEO expert Mike King noted in his study of recently leaked Google Search documents. (The Google spokesperson claims that this was categorically false and that we would caution against making inaccurate assumptions about Search based on out-of-context, outdated, or incomplete information.) Advertisement Advertisement More to the point: Googles errant A.I. has been in public view for a while now. Back in 2018, Google demonstrated a voice-assistant technology that could purportedly call and answer people in real time, but Axios found that the demo may have actually used prerecorded conversations, not live ones. (Google declined to comment at the time.) Googles pre-Gemini chatbot, Bard, was showcased in February 2023 and gave an incorrect answer that temporarily sank the companys stock price. Later that year, the companys impressive video introduction of Geminis multimodal A.I. was revealed to have been edited after the fact, to make its reasoning capability seem faster than it actually was. (Cue another subsequent stock-price depression.) And the companys annual developers conference, which occurred just weeks ago, also featured Gemini not only generating but highlighting an erroneous suggestion for fixing your film camera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fairness to Google, which has long been working on A.I. development, the rapid deployment of and hype-building around all these tools is likely its way of keeping up in the era of ChatGPTa chatbot that, by the way, is still generating a significant amount of wrong answers in various subjects. Its not as though other companies following the investor-mollifying A.I. trends arent making their own risible mistakes or faking their most impressive demos. Last month, Amazons supposedly A.I.powered, human-free Just Walk Out grocery-store concept actually featured many humans behind the scenes to monitor and program the shopping experience. Similar results were found in supposedly A.I.powered human-free drive-thrus used by chains like Checkers and Carls Jr. Theres also the driverless Cruise cars, which require remote human intervention almost every couple of miles traveled. ChatGPT parent company OpenAI is not immune to this, having employed a lot of humans to clean up and polish the animated visual landscapes supposedly generated wholesale by prompts made to its not-yet-public Sora image and film generator. Advertisement Advertisement All of this, mind you, constitutes just another layer of labor hidden on top of the human operations outsourced to countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and India, where workers are underpaid or allegedly forced into conditions of modern-day slavery to consistently provide feedback to A.I. bots and label horrific imagery and videos for content-moderation purposes. Dont forget, also, the humans who work at the data centers, chip manufacturers, and energy generators required in heaping amounts to even power all this stuff. Related From Slate What Mark Zuckerberg Should Learn From Horny 19th-Century Telegraph Operators Read More So, lets recap: After years of teasing, disproved claims, staged demos, refusals to provide further transparency, and the use of human-free branding while in reality employing a lot of humans in a lot of different (and harmful) ways, these A.I. creations are still bad. They keep broadly making up stuff, plagiarizing from their training sources, and offering information, advice, news, and facts that are wrong, nonsensical, and potentially dangerous for your health, the body politic, people trying to do simple math, and others scratching their heads and attempting to figure out where their cars blinker fluid is. Advertisement Does that remind you of anything else in tech history? Perhaps Elizabeth Holmes, who herself faked plenty of demos and put forth fantastic claims about her company, Theranos, to sell a tech innovation that was simply impossible? Holmes is now behind bars, but the scandal still lingers in the public imagination, for good reason. In retrospect, the glaring signs should have been so obvious, right? Her biotech startup Theranos had no health experts on its board. It promoted zany scientific claims that werent backed by any authorities and refused to explain any justifications for those statements. It established partnerships with massive (and actually trusted) institutions like Walgreens without verifying the safety of its output. It inculcated a deep, intimidating culture of secrecy among its employees and made them sign aggressive agreements to that effect. It brought in unthinking endorsements from famous and powerful folks, like Vice President Joe Biden, through the sheer force of awe alone. And it constantly hid whatever was actually fueling its systems and creations, until dogged reporters looked for themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been nearly 10 years since Holmes was finally exposed. Yet, clearly, the crowds of tech observers and analysts that took her at her word are also willing to put all their trust in the people behind these error-producing, buggy, manned-behind-the-curtain A.I. bots that, their creators promise, will change everything and everyone. Unlike Theranos, of course, companies like OpenAI have actually made products for public consumption that are functional and can pull off some impressive feats. But the rush to force this stuff everywhere, to have it take on tasks for which its likely not close to being prepared, and to keep it accessible despite a not-so-obscure track record of missteps and mistakesthats where we seem to be borrowing from the Theranos playbook all over again. Weve learned nothing. And the masterminds behind the chatbots that really teach you nothing may in fact prefer that. Old house turned into hotel offers guided tours. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Orlove, a borough in the town of Povazska Bystrica, Trencin Region, boasts a mansion from the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries. A helping hand in the heart of Europe offers a travel guide of Slovakia. The old manor has been used as a hotel since 2016. However, its rich history can also be admired by the public, in addition to hotel guests. Starting from the new year, the hotel offers a guided tour on the last Sunday of a month. "We have three time slots, at 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, and they are always booked out," Hotel Gino Park Palace's business development manager Elizabeth Silhanova told the My Povazska website. The tour, for which visitors have to register, lasts about 50 minutes. Rare chapel Visitors can walk through almost all areas of the mansion, with the exception of hotel rooms. The most interesting part of the tour is probably the chapel. "It's a Slovak rarity and the only part of the mansion that is two storeys high," added Silhanova. The chapel is a late-baroque sacral building dedicated to Saint John of Nepomuk, also depicted on the main altarpiece. It was added to the mansion in the 18th century. A rarity is the statuette of baby Jesus - the Infant Jesus of Prague, added to the chapel in the 19th century by the mansion owner, Countess Sarlota Majlathova. Before coming to Orlove, the countess had been a court lady to Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sissi. A large historical park with native trees surrounds the mansion, which was built by Bystrica Castle owner Zigmund Balassa. Taste Georgian alcohol A few years after the Second World War, the mansion was taken over by Povazske strojarne, a mechanical engineering plant. In 1955, the plant turned the mansion into a dormitory for its employees. "During this period, the interior suffered the most. They even wanted to turn the chapel into a concert hall, but luckily they didn't succeed," Silhanova described. Some premises were used as warehouses. For a short period, the mansion also served as the state district archive, as well as a museum. Later, there was extensive restoration of the historical building. It gave the mansion a luxurious appearance. The renovation took place between 2014 and 2016. "The scope of the renovation was large, because it was also necessary to set it up for the hotel operation," said Silhanova. Like the hotel, the restaurant also underwent renovation. It can boast an original massive marble fireplace, crystal chandelier and a coffered ceiling. The restaurant serves Georgian wines and cognacs, while the mansion houses a small Georgian exhibition. My Povazska https://sk.frame.mapy.cz/s/famumovota 28. May 2024 at 20:33 I Modified at 30. May 2024 at 21:56 I To Lam has been suspected of involvement in a 2017 abduction case. The new Vietnamese President To Lam and NAKA's list of charged Vietnamese citizens. (Source: TASR/AP/SME) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share The new president of Vietnam, To Lam, is no longer facing charges in Slovakia for the abduction of Vietnamese entrepreneur and former politician Trinh Xuan Thanh, which dates back to 2017. The prosecutor cancelled the charges on April 29 due to serious formal and procedural errors made by a National Crime Agency (NAKA) investigator, the Regional Prosecutors Office in Bratislava told the TASR news agency on May 30. At the same time, the prosecutor ordered that an investigator of the Interior Ministrys police inspectorate should act on the matter, due to the fact that proceedings for the same act are already being conducted there, said the Office. Lam, who assumed office last week, on May 22, might still face a prison sentence of up to 15 years if charges are brought against him again and is convicted in the future. With To Lams ascent to the presidency, Vietnam is now a literal police state, writes the Associated Press agency in its story. Because of Lams diplomatic immunity, his prosecution, unlike the investigation of the case, was expected to be suspended. According to international law, the president of a state has immunity during the performance of his office, which provides them with protection from criminal prosecution in other states during the entire term of office, lawyer Tomas Stremy of Comenius University in Bratislava told the Sme daily last week. Seven other Vietnamese citizens had faced charges in the abduction case before the prosecutor decided to cancel them. They had been brought against them by Slovakias National Crime Agency, including PM Robert Ficos ex-adviser, Quang Le Hong, on March 27 of this year. Who is Dalibor Jurasek? Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share One of the authors named in a disputed bill, which seeks to label non-governmental organisations as entities funded from abroad, is the prime ministers adviser, who has a history of involvement in the disinformation landscape. Dalibor Jurasek advises Robert Fico regarding civic society. Jurasek says that he worked in the IT sector, and even describes himself as an activist. In an interview with the Sme daily, he said that his academic interest was the politicisation of the non-governmental sector. Jurasek previously co-authored an analysis on the financing of political NGOs between 2000 and 2020. Afterwards, he created a website where he shared his findings and talked about them on the Slobodny vysielac disinformation website. The daily sums up Juraseks findings as follows: political non-governmental organisations are not civil because they are not funded by donations from citizens, and since most of the money comes from abroad, they serve foreign interests, primarily American. The problem is that they do not represent the interests of the public, but of foreign sponsors, the adviser opines, adding that by portraying themselves as the representatives of the civil sector, they distort the democratic environment in Slovakia. Civil society is supposed to represent citizens. It should not serve to reeducate the majority of society according to the ideas of foreign sponsors. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/austin-heads-to-singapore-set-for-first-in-person-meeting-with-chinese-counterpart-1118695197.html Austin Heads to Singapore, Set For First In-Person Meeting With Chinese Counterpart Austin Heads to Singapore, Set For First In-Person Meeting With Chinese Counterpart Sputnik International US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to have his first face-to-face meeting with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun at a major defense conference in Singapore this week amid a broader effort to restore bilateral military ties between the two countries. 2024-05-30T04:16+0000 2024-05-30T04:16+0000 2024-05-30T04:16+0000 world singapore taiwan pentagon us china https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/08/1116065797_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_1eb14ec82e510e452db88924c8ad9678.jpg Austin held a video teleconference with Dong on April 16, but the two defense ministers will meet in person for the first time on the sidelines of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore being held May 31 to June 2. The last time defense chiefs from the two countries met was in November 2022, when Austin met Dong's predecessor, then-Defense Minister Wei Fenghe. China suspended military-to-military dialogue with the US in 2022 amid soaring tensions over then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. Though US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed last November to restore some military-to-military communications, issues including Taiwan and the South China Sea remain a source of sharp dispute between the two nations. Earlier this week, the State Department's China coordinator lambasted a senior Chinese diplomat over Beijing's "dangerous and destabilizing" actions in the South China Sea and military actions near Taiwan, while China's Foreign Ministry demanded that the US stop playing the "Taiwan card." A Pentagon spokesperson on Wednesday declined to reveal what key topics will be discussed during Austin's meeting with Dong, but the last time the two spoke, they covered a range of security-related topics including Taiwan, the South China Sea, North Korea and Ukraine. Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu in comments to Sputnik noted that the two militaries have conducted a series of exchanges and cooperation aimed at stabilizing and improving the bilateral relationship. Beijing hopes the US side will work with the Chinese government in good faith to avoid conflict and confrontation, he added. At the summit in Singapore, Austin will also participate in a series of other meetings, including with Singapore's new Prime Minister Lawerence Wong and other senior Singaporean officials. He will also engage in a multilateral meeting with his counterparts from Southeast Asia, and a Trilateral Ministerial Meeting (TMM) with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea. Austin is also scheduled to travel to France and Cambodia after his stop in Singapore. While in Cambodia, Austin will meet with senior government officials. Austin will conclude his trip in France to participate in several commemorative events for the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230814/singapore-blasts-us-for-extreme-competition-with-china-warns-disastrous-for-global-economy-1112595823.html singapore taiwan china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us defense secretary lloyd austin, admiral dong jun, singapore, military ties https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/biden-admin-edging-closer-to-lifting-ban-on-ukraine-hitting-russia-with-us-weapons---reports-1118696234.html White House Edges Closer to Allowing Ukraine to Strike Russia With US Weapons - Reports White House Edges Closer to Allowing Ukraine to Strike Russia With US Weapons - Reports Sputnik International The Biden administration is edging closer to lifting restrictions on Ukraine to strike Russian territory with US-supplied weapons, Politico reported. 2024-05-30T06:49+0000 2024-05-30T06:49+0000 2024-05-30T08:20+0000 us joe biden us military aid ukraine antony blinken john kirby jens stoltenberg world nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101664/22/1016642244_0:845:1500:1689_1920x0_80_0_0_853e37694c5435a9bcedb48f1265e25e.jpg The Biden administration is edging closer to lifting restrictions on Ukraine striking Russian territory with US-supplied weapons, Politico reported.The issue is purportedly "under consideration" as Russia advances on the battlefield, leaving Ukraines Armed Forces facing manpower and hardware losses.No final decision has been made, the publication cited administration officials as saying, which explains why both US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby have been insisting that no such authorization has yet been given. Chances are that the Biden administration will continue to restrict the Kiev regimes ability to strike Russian targets, the report added.Any possible rethink of the US policy would come amid growing pressure from the Democrats, allies, and Kiev, the publication stated. Ukraine has been complaining that the US restrictions "significantly reduce the effectiveness of partners assistance and neutralize the efforts made," as per an internal document obtained by Politico.A succession of other outlets have also reported that the White House was mulling reversing its ban.Bidens national security aides are in a very brisk process to make a formal recommendation to the president regarding the risk such a policy change would entail, The New York Times said.Some unnamed advisors claimed a reversal of Bidens position was inevitable, albeit with caveats. Kiev would likely have to limit strikes to military targets just inside Russias borders. The ban on using US weapons to strike deep inside Russian territory, or at critical infrastructure, would probably remain, the outlet said.Meanwhile, the US is concerned over recent Ukrainian attempts to carry out drone strikes against Russias ballistic missile early-warning sites, The Washington Post cited an American official as saying.These sites are sensitive locations because Russia could perceive that its strategic deterrent capabilities are being targeted, which could undermine Russias ability to maintain nuclear deterrence against the United States, the official said, adding that Washington has conveyed its concerns to Kiev.In public, US officials like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Council spokesman John Kirby have maintained a degree of ambiguity, claiming that there have not been any changes in the policy. The US has not encouraged Kiev to strike outside of Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Moldova on Wednesday, adding that Ukraine has to make its own decisions. He also said that the Biden administrations approach toward the Ukraine conflict has been to adapt as the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed. Weve adapted and adjusted, too, and well continue to do that, he said.National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also stated that theres no change in the current policy that says Ukraine cannot use US-supplied weapons to strike inside Russian territory.Western powers have been split on the issue of untying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's hands and letting the Kiev regime strike deep into Russia. Last week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged the blocs members who have supplied weapons to Ukraine to stop barring Kiev from using these weapons to attack Russia. He was supported by hawkish officials like Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and Estonias Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, but there has been pushback against the idea as well. Italy's government has called for efforts to "work for peace and lower the tone. On the home front, the Biden administration is also under pressure. Sixty former US officials and scholars sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday demanding that he lift the existing restrictions amid the deteriorating situation on the battlefield for Ukrainian forces in the Kharkov region. The signatories included former US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker, former US Army Europe Commanding General Ben Hodges, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe Philip Breedlove, and former US ambassadors to Russia and Ukraine.If the Biden administration were to flip-flop on the matter of the ban, it would hardly be a "first." Suffice it to recall how the administration changed its tune on other Ukraine policies, namely sending depleted uranium ammunition, cluster bombs, and long-range missiles. The discreet delivery of Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles to Ukraine in March was confirmed by a Defense Department spokesperson to Sputnik last month.Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory using Western-supplied military hardware could lead to direct conflict with NATO. In response to the debate on the issue from Washington and its NATO allies, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the US-led military bloc was toying with military rhetoric, raising the degree of escalation and plunging into what he called a warlike "ecstasy." https://sputnikglobe.com/20240529/blinken-says-us-has-not-encouraged-kiev-to-strike-outside-of-ukraine-1118688609.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240528/nato-members-divided-on-ukraines-plans-to-hit-russia-with-western-weapons-1118668183.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko biden administration considering lifting restrictions on ukraine to strike russian territory with us-supplied weapons, ukrainian attacks on russia, nato weapons to ukraine, western weapons attack russia, russia-nato showdown, nato threat inflation, strikes on russia, us weapons on russia, lavrov on us threats https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/constitution-author-zelenskys-illegitimacy-deliberately-created-to-escalate-ukraine-conflict-1118702462.html Constitution Author: Zelenskys Illegitimacy Deliberately Created to Escalate Ukraine Conflict Constitution Author: Zelenskys Illegitimacy Deliberately Created to Escalate Ukraine Conflict Sputnik International The presidential term of Volodymyr Zelensky expired on May 20. The 2024 presidential election in Ukraine has been canceled citing martial law and general mobilization. Zelensky said that the election was now untimely. 2024-05-30T15:46+0000 2024-05-30T15:46+0000 2024-05-30T15:46+0000 world volodymyr zelensky boris johnson ukraine russia united kingdom (uk) presidential election election https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/04/1117742349_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_2c7bb98b00ac2e9311a355acdbf4f77f.jpg The illegitimacy of Volodymyr Zelensky's rule was intentionally set up to make negotiations with Russia impossible, one of the Ukrainian constitution's authors tells Sputnik.The current constitution was adopted in 1996. Dmytro Tabachnik, then head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, was one of the members of the constitutional commission that drafted the charter."According to the constitution, there can be no other interpretation Zelensky is an illegitimate leader of Ukraine, this clearly follows from the norms of the constitution," he underlined.Tabachnik argued that Zelensky's illegitimacy was "specially created.""There are various interested parties in the bloody conflict in Ukraine. One of the most devious and cynical is Britain," Tabachnik noted. "Over the past few years, Britain has been trying to play its own separate game. Britain is primarily interested in prolonging the military actions and their escalation.""Britain absolutely does not care about Zelensky's illegitimacy," the constitutional expert said.As evidence of this, he recalled that London has already repeatedly interfered in events in Ukraine."The Istanbul agreements were destroyed by the direct, brazen interference of the former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. All the initial statements on the use of heavy and long-range weapons usually came from Britain as well," Tabachnik said."Creating stalemates between different great powers is Britain's typical method. To bring the great powers together along the lines of their immediate neighbors," he pointed out. "This is how they tried to shake up the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the 19th century, this is how they made mischief along the entire perimeter of the Russian Empire."He noted that the "British model of prolonging" the conflict in Ukraine has several aspects."The first is the gradual escalation of hostilities. Notice that British politicians are always the actors and promoters of this escalation," Tabachnik explained. "The second is the complication of negotiations. A special Jesuitical formula was designed to complicate negotiations, consisting of three points."According to Tabachnkik, London is well aware that Russia, represented by its top leadership and Foreign Ministry, relies on the impeccable purity of legal formulas in international relations, so it will not negotiate with an illegitimate president.However, if negotiations with Kiev are impossible, there remains only one solution Kiev's capitulation."In the case of accepting capitulation, [legitimacy] becomes secondary," Tabachnik argued.For instance, after Adolf Hitler's suicide, the Third Reich was headed by Grand Admiral Karl Donitz, solely based on Hitler's will Donitz was neither elected nor approved by the German parliament."Nevertheless, the delegation formed was recognized by all allies and agreed in Potsdam on the night of May 8-9 that these individuals would sign the capitulation," Tabachnik recalled.Russian President Vladimir Putin, following Russian-Belarusian talks on May 24, stated that Russia assumes Zelensky's presidential mandate has ended. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240331/free-and-transparent-election-in-ukraine-would-have-been-disaster-for-zelensky-1117674979.html ukraine russia united kingdom (uk) Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International volodymyr zelensky, ukraine, ukrainian president, ukrainian president legitimacy, why zelensky is illegitimate A businessman who has been living in Houston was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in San Antonio to 7 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $29 million in restitution to some 120 victims of a fraud scheme involving visas. Bill Oxford/Getty Images A businessman who pleaded guilty to engaging in a more than $29 million fraud scheme related to visas reserved for entrepreneurs was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in San Antonio to 7 years in prison and ordered to make restitution to his victims. Juan Carlos Martinez Cecias Rodriguez 54, who ran unsuccessfully for governor of the central Mexican state of Queretaro in 2021, the year he was arrested pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud during his criminal trial in July. As part of the deal, 14 counts of wire fraud were dropped. Martinez helped convince about 120 people to invest in a company that would purportedly use a license to sell spray-on truck liners and truck accessories. Court records show he marketed himself and Uberwurx LLC a company he had part ownership in and led as president to investors with the hook that they could obtain E-2 or E-5 visas for legal entry into the U.S. Such visas allow eligible foreign nationals to temporarily stay in the United States if they invest in a business or commercial enterprise and meet other qualifications. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Each victim invested $175,000 or $525,000, depending on the type of visa they wanted to apply for. Each one of them tried to come to this country, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daphne Newaz told U.S. District Judge Fred Biery before he delivered the sentence. Many of them wanted those visas the vast majority of them to make a better life for themselves and their family. As a result of Mr. Martinezs conduct, none of them currently have legal rights to be here unless theyve taken upon themselves to somehow procure additional visas or obtain some other legal right to be here, she said. That has impacted their lives. Many of the investors from Mexico and Southeast Asia were forced to return to their home countries and, besides the monetary losses, have suffered physical and mental pain as as result of Martinezs scheme, said Newaz, who asked the judge to sentence Martinez to 7 years. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gerald Goldstein, a defense lawyer representing Martinez, sought a far less severe sentence. He described Uberwurx as a successful business until it was upended by the coronavirus pandemic. I think probation would be appropriate in this case, Goldstein said, proposing that $10 million was a fair restitution amount. Goldstein added there was possibly $4.4 million available in Ubewurxs bankruptcy case in Houston to compensate victims, along with $500,000 that Martinez has and another $500,000 he could raise from relatives and friends in three days. Some victims watched the proceedings via Zoom, while a few attended in person. Among those in court was Alejandro Mier, who said he lost $175,000 with Martinez. We were coming here for a better future, and we trusted you, Mier said through an interpreter while directly addressing Martinez. The only thing you did was cause pain. It cost me my marriage and not being able to be there for my family members who passed away in Mexico because of my immigration status, which I lost. I have lost everything because of what you have done. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Biery had Martinez address his three victims in the courtroom. I came here with a lot of regret in my heart, Martinez said to the three men. I know I did a lot of harm to you and your families. I feel bad for what happened. Im a businessman. I made a lot of bad decisions. I took money that I should have not taken. Newaz, the prosecutor, asked the judge to have Martinez taken into custody immediately rather than allowing him to remain free on a $500,000 surety bond, saying that she deemed him a flight risk. His immigration status, or lack thereof at this point, is obviously a big issue, she said. Martinez, who has lived in the Houston area, is a citizen of Mexico and Spain. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So there may be thoughts that he wouldnt go back to Mexico but Spain is the perfect place that he could go, she said. Biery gave Martinez until July 29 to turn himself in to the Bureau of Prisons, with an order to remain under house arrest until then. You will not leave that house, the judge said. Martinez must serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence, but he could be deported because of the felony conviction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Martinezs indictment said he worked with investment brokers, including Karina Hernandez of Texas Franchise and Business Consulting. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/hungary-to-be-stripped-of-top-eu-posts-as-punishment-for-opposing-ukraine-funding---report-1118697400.html Hungary to Be Stripped of Top EU Posts as Punishment for Opposing Ukraine Funding - Report Hungary to Be Stripped of Top EU Posts as Punishment for Opposing Ukraine Funding - Report Sputnik International Hungary is to be punished by fellow EU leaders for its opposition to arming Ukraine, Politico reported. There is a plan to slap Budapests representatives with a weak portfolio in the next European Commission. 2024-05-30T11:22+0000 2024-05-30T11:22+0000 2024-05-30T11:22+0000 world hungary viktor orban ukraine european union (eu) european commission nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1e/1118697555_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_6826f4cfe8ce18e0d662e31baf7e9123.jpg Hungary is to be meted out a dose of punishment by fellow EU leaders for its staunch opposition to arming Ukraine, Politico reported.A plan is afoot to slap Budapests representatives with a weak portfolio in the next European Commission, according to diplomats cited by the outlet.Hungarys Oliver Varhelyi has held the post of European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement since 2019. However, after the elections slated for June 6-9, Hungary should not expect to land any senior posts in the European Commission, stated the report.There is hardly "even a question" of the country being allowed to retain control of any high positions, one insider was cited as saying.Hungary has resisted pressure from all sides to march in lockstep with other EU and NATO patrons of the Kiev regime. It has stuck to its guns on opposing everything from disbursing cash to further pump Ukraine with Western weapons to its NATO accession bid. As part of its vehement opposition to the ongoing NATO proxy war in Ukraine, Hungary has been holding up a multi-million euro military aid package for Kiev that was agreed in March. Budapest insisted on the need to make peace, and to prevent the escalation of the conflict. On Monday, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto acknowledged after a Brussels meeting that there had been a "huge row" about Hungary's veto on military assistance for Ukraine covering 6.5 billion with German, Polish, Lithuanian colleagues.Hungary has also reportedly been holding up holding up legislation to fast-track handing Ukraine profits from illegally frozen Russian assetsAmid statements by Western politicians and media reports indicating that Europe is preparing for a war with Russia, Hungary's prime Minister Victor Orban has insisted that talks about the "Russian threat" are nothing but a maneuver of the West.As for NATO, after slamming the military alliance for its war planning just recently, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced a legal effort to redefine Hungarys status in the bloc. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240524/orban-calls-talks-about-russian-threat-wests-maneuver-to-prepare-for-war-1118611358.html hungary ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko hungary to be punished by fellow eu leaders for opposing ukraine aid, hungary to be stripped of top eu jobs over ukraine stance, budapest may get weak portfolio in the next european commission, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, russia-nato showdown, hungary ukraine, hungary nato, orban ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/italys-meloni-says-better-to-boost-ukrainian-defenses-than-to-allow-strikes-into-russia-1118700736.html Italys Meloni Says Better to Boost Ukrainian Defenses Than to Allow Strikes Into Russia Italys Meloni Says Better to Boost Ukrainian Defenses Than to Allow Strikes Into Russia Sputnik International Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argued in an interview out Thursday that bolstering Ukrainian air defenses was preferable to allowing strikes deep into Russian territory. 2024-05-30T10:56+0000 2024-05-30T10:56+0000 2024-05-30T10:56+0000 world ukraine russia italy giorgia meloni nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/0e/1107397994_0:238:2297:1530_1920x0_80_0_0_4e0615769405cefc0c180590d00bb311.jpg "It is better to strengthen the ability to equip Ukraine with effective air defense systems This allows us to protect Ukraines civilian population without the situation getting out of hand," she told Corriere della Sera. The right-wing politician said that was being achieved with the help of Italian-donated SAMP/T air defense systems. Meloni called for caution after NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg urged the allies to let Ukraine use longer-range Western weapons against targets in Russia. He said some of the member states were ready to reconsider those limits. Russia called the move reckless, warning that it could lead to a direct military confrontation between Russia and the West. The Kremlin spokesman described Stoltenbergs proposal as provocative, saying that the Russian military was not sitting idle. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/ukraine-can-use-danish-f-16-to-hit-targets-in-russia--danish-foreign-minister-1118700104.html ukraine russia italy Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International italys meloni, italian prime minister giorgia meloni, ukrainian air defenses, strikes deep into russian territory https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/lava-from-volcano-in-iceland-approaching-us-navys-communications-masts---reports-1118699667.html Lava From Volcano in Iceland Approaching US Navy's Communications Masts - Reports Lava From Volcano in Iceland Approaching US Navy's Communications Masts - Reports Sputnik International Lava flowing from a volcano following the eruption in southwestern Iceland is fast approaching the communications masts owned by the US Navy near the city of Grindavik, Icelandic broadcaster RUV has reported. 2024-05-30T09:59+0000 2024-05-30T09:59+0000 2024-05-30T09:59+0000 world iceland us navy volcano eruption eruption https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/12/1117400362_0:257:3072:1985_1920x0_80_0_0_fd3a90caf9c5b8d8a383e1d8e76ed93a.jpg The report said on Wednesday that defensive walls were built around the masts, and there was hope that the walls would hold lava. The Icelandic Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring the situation, the report said. Grindavik Mayor Fannar Jonasson has expressed concerns that defenses might break. The eruption in the area of the volcanic hill Sundhnukur on the Reykjanes Peninsula began on Wednesday afternoon. Before the eruption, authorities ordered that people be evacuated from Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. The lava is flowing toward Grindavik, which is located to the south of the eruption cluster. The city has no power supply, and all but one of the roads leading into the city are covered with lava. Three citizens who refused to evacuate reportedly remain in the city. Following the eruption, police declared a state of emergency in the country. January's volcanic eruption destroyed several houses in Grindavik, which has a population of about three thousand people. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/icelands-volcano-erupts-with-little-warning-1117400235.html iceland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International volcano in iceland, us navy, communications masts https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/le-pen-sees-macrons-backing-of-ukraines-strikes-inside-russia-as-step-toward-world-war-1118699805.html Le Pen Sees Macron's Backing of Ukraine's Strikes Inside Russia as Step Toward World War Le Pen Sees Macron's Backing of Ukraine's Strikes Inside Russia as Step Toward World War Sputnik International French President Emmanuel Macrons support for Ukraine's targeting of military facilities in Russia's internationally recognized territory is another step toward a world war, Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French right-wing National Rally party, said on Thursday. 2024-05-30T10:01+0000 2024-05-30T10:01+0000 2024-05-30T10:01+0000 world ukraine emmanuel macron marine le pen russia france nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/04/18/1095003386_0:27:3001:1715_1920x0_80_0_0_1e488755f561d7733c1481e6650fa650.jpg "Macron wants France to enter the war. This statement is an additional step in that direction. I am against it and I think it creates an enormous risk for the security of our citizens," Le Pen told French radio broadcaster Franceinfo. The right-wing politician only supports the supplying of defensive weapons to Kiev, she added. The parties should return to diplomacy and start talks, but Macron is preparing French society for the announcement he is sending troops to Ukraine, Le Pen said. France does not try to play a role of a mediator anymore while other countries are doing this, she said. "No one except Ukraine and Russia can resolve this [conflict], but some countries might try to bring their positions closer. Others are doing that instead of us, and France is not doing that," Le Pen said. On Tuesday, Macron said that Ukraine should be allowed to strike military sites in Russia. The supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine capable of hitting Russian military facilities is not an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, he said. On Monday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraines right to self-defense includes the right to strike legitimate military targets outside the country. Some NATO member states should realize "what they are playing with" when they suggest allowing Kiev to launch strikes on Russian territory, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240307/macron-consults-on-ukraine-with-unrepentant-russophiles-sarkozy-and-le-pen-1117194908.html ukraine russia france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International french president emmanuel macron, ukraine's targeting of military facilities, marine le pen https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/macron-pressured-trudeau-to-relieve-airbus-from-sanctions-on-russian-titanium---reports-1118705772.html Macron Pressured Trudeau to Relieve Airbus From Sanctions on Russian Titanium - Reports Macron Pressured Trudeau to Relieve Airbus From Sanctions on Russian Titanium - Reports Sputnik International French President Emmanuel Macron intervened on behalf of Airbus to persuade Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to issue a sanction waiver on Russian titanium used by the aircraft manufacturer, Reuters reported on Thursday. 2024-05-30T18:12+0000 2024-05-30T18:12+0000 2024-05-30T18:13+0000 world emmanuel macron justin trudeau canada russia france airbus eu sanctions western sanctions https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/04/1092021917_0:193:1435:1000_1920x0_80_0_0_b3fed7c40456891d86990bc954c9680f.png In late April, media reported that Airbus had been granted a waiver by Canada permitting it to utilize Russian titanium in its manufacturing after the country banned the metal in one of its sanctions packages related to the conflict in Ukraine. In a phone-call held in late March, the French president reportedly made significant efforts to persuade Trudeau in granting a sanctions exemption on several European aerospace firms, the report said, citing a source close to Macrons entourage. The message was reportedly passed at "all levels." Macron contacted Trudeau ahead of French Prime Minister Gabriel Attals visit to Canada and the latter also addressed the issue with Trudeau. The request was made after Canada imposed the sanctions, which prompted great concerns at Airbus and other firms still relying on Russian titanium supplies for their plants in Canada and elsewhere. Canada stood firm in the initial phases of dialogue, but it soon changed its stance and allowed the sanctions waiver for Airbus and other firms. The outcome would likely not have been possible were it not for Macron or Attal intervening in the matter, according to the report. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240513/defying-sanctions-russias-s7-masters-overhauling-of-airbus-and-boeing-engines-1118405791.html canada russia france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International what sanctions did us adopt against russia, is us limiting import of russian fuel, does russia export fuel to the us, what fuels does russia export to the us, what is enriched uranium, is us struggling with enriched uranium, who is global uranium leader, are russia and us cooperating in nuclear industry https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/macron-seeks-to-form-eu-coalition-for-sending-military-instructors-to-ukraine---reports-1118702096.html Macron Seeks to Form EU Coalition for Sending Military Instructors to Ukraine - Reports Macron Seeks to Form EU Coalition for Sending Military Instructors to Ukraine - Reports Sputnik International French President Emmanuel Macron is seeking to establish a European coalition for sending military instructors to Ukraine, French newspaper Le Monde reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter. 2024-05-30T12:50+0000 2024-05-30T12:50+0000 2024-05-30T12:50+0000 military emmanuel macron volodymyr zelensky olaf scholz ukraine france european union (eu) kiev https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/12/1117399515_0:0:3070:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_db5bcae4ceb3c590d668ba3679a483e8.jpg The French authorities are to conduct consultations on organizing such a coalition, the newspaper reported, adding that the decision might be announced during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys visit to France scheduled from June 6-7. The plan presupposes first sending several dozens military specialists to Ukraine to assess the needs of the country's forces, which would be followed by sending a mission of several hundred personnel, the news outlet reported. The issue was reportedly discussed between Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday on the margins of the Franco-German Councils of Ministers meeting in Berlin. Earlier in May, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that Vilnius was ready to send military instructors to Ukraine as part of a coalition led by France. Following a Paris-hosted conference on Ukraine held on February 26, Macron said Western leaders had discussed the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine and, although no consensus had been reached in this regard, nothing could be ruled out. Some EU countries opposed such plans. Western countries have been providing massive military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240528/macron-ukraine-should-be-allowed-to-hit-only-russian-facilities-used-to-shell-it-1118669726.html ukraine france kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International french president emmanuel macron, eu coalition, military instructors to ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/natos-tightening-grip-on-gotland-whos-really-militarizing-the-baltic-sea-1118701100.html NATOs Tightening Grip on Gotland: Whos Really Militarizing the Baltic Sea? NATOs Tightening Grip on Gotland: Whos Really Militarizing the Baltic Sea? Sputnik International Whats the story around Sweden's Gotland Island? Is Moscow really planning to seize it? And whos really trying to establish hegemony over the Baltic amid the anti-Russian fearmongering? 2024-05-30T11:43+0000 2024-05-30T11:43+0000 2024-05-30T12:49+0000 analysis russia baltic sea moscow russian foreign ministry nato gotland island sweden militarization https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1e/1118700942_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_1dd87058a1ad587fade5620b0e3d403c.jpg Russias Foreign Intelligence Service warned Thursday that the Swedish militarys top brass is whipping up anti-Russian hysteria by trying to convince Swedes that Moscow has its eye on the Swedish island of Gotland, deemed key to establishing control over the Baltic Sea. Situated in the heart of the southern Baltic Sea, about 150 km southeast of Stockholm, and 250 km northwest of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, Gotland has been at the heart of Swedish anti-Russian fearmongering for over a decade. The historical background to this Chicken Little attitude goes back to the Russian-Swedish War of 1808, during which Russian forces temporarily captured Gotland. While the two nations would never again fight another war after that, Swedish paranoia over Russias intentions apparently never went away.Moscow has stressed repeatedly that it has no plans to attack Sweden, but has warned Stockholm against provocations, including recent threats to turn Gotland into a NATO fortification.The alliance, which has made no secret of its efforts to turn the Baltic Sea into a NATO lake, has greedily eyed Gotland as a major component of its strategy, training alongside Swedish troops on the island in the summer of 2022, and after Stockholm joined NATO in March, praising Swedish openness to reinforcing the islands defenses. Fresh drills on the island under the auspices of NATOs BALTOPS exercises are planned in June.Gotland is just one of an array of NATO facilities in the region, which after the alliances 2023/2024 expansion came to include:Thats on top of naval facilities NATO has access to in:NATO has also strengthened its Baltic presence through its so-called multinational battlegroups in the region, deploying additional warships, aircraft and troops to maintain a permanent, rotating forward presence along the alliances eastern flank with Russia, and flying regular air policing missions over the Baltic countries.Russias military presence in the Baltic is certainly nothing to shake a stick at. The Russian Baltic Fleet is based in Baltiysk, Kaliningrad region and Kronshtadt, Leningrad region, and possesses over 40 surface warships, ranging from destroyers and frigates to corvettes and landing craft, and has about 25,000 personnel in its ranks.That said, Moscows diplomatic and military posture in the region has demonstrated conclusively that Russia has no comparable megalomaniacal NATO-style plans to turn the Baltic Sea into its lake. On the contrary, the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s saw Moscow voluntarily step back from control over most of the southern Baltic Seas coastline from Wismar in the former East Germany to Narva in Estonia. Today, Russian military activities in the region are aimed almost entirely at blocking NATO efforts to put its assets into a stranglehold through the militarization of strategic areas, including Gotland. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240405/swedens-plans-to-create-nato-base-on-gotland-island-provocative---moscow--1117753391.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240312/good-gotland-nato-militarization-risks-putting-swedish-island-in-nuclear-crosshairs-1117283743.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220831/gorbachev-was-promised-non-expansion-of-nato-his-mistake-was-to-believe-it-ex-us-official-says-1100199807.html russia baltic sea moscow gotland island sweden Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov where is gotland island, why is gotland island strategic, is russia planning to invade gotland https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/no-signs-israel-will-reopen-rafah-crossing-for-humanitarian-aid---palestinian-minister-1118693883.html No Signs Israel Will Reopen Rafah Crossing for Humanitarian Aid - Palestinian Minister No Signs Israel Will Reopen Rafah Crossing for Humanitarian Aid - Palestinian Minister Sputnik International There are no signs that Israel will reopen the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan said in Geneva. 2024-05-30T00:53+0000 2024-05-30T00:53+0000 2024-05-30T00:53+0000 world israel gaza strip rafah hamas benjamin netanyahu israel defense forces (idf) israeli-palestinian conflict israel-gaza conflict palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102253/30/1022533097_0:300:5760:3540_1920x0_80_0_0_35ceacd609a6d68c26824393bb2e1bce.jpg Abu Ramadan said at a briefing with the Association of Accredited Correspondents at the United Nations (ACANU) that he hopes the international community and, in particular, the United States will put pressure on Israel to have the crossing reopened for humanitarian aid. About three weeks ago, the Israeli military established control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah checkpoint, through which humanitarian aid came from Egypt to the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, Israel struck a refugee camp northeast of Rafah. The Palestinian civil defense service said that at least 40 people died and dozens were injured as a result. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the airstrike on the refugee camp a "tragic incident," adding that an investigation is underway. The Israel Defense Forces said that it used "precise munitions." Israel sent troops into the city of Rafah on May 7, seven months after an attack by Palestinian movement Hamas on Israeli territory unleashed the worst escalation of conflict in the Gaza Strip in decades. Israel's war cabinet vowed to expand the operation in Rafah until it accomplished its declared goal of eliminating all Hamas fighters. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240529/horrific-pictures--world-responds-to-israeli-strike-on-gaza-camp-1118671735.html israel gaza strip rafah Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International palestinian health minister majed abu ramadan, rafah crossing, will israel reopen the rafah crossing, gaza border crossings, gaza egypt border, palestine humanitarian crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-toward-sea-of-japan---reports-1118693282.html North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Toward Sea of Japan - Reports North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Toward Sea of Japan - Reports Sputnik International North Korea launched an unspecified ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan early on Thursday, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, citing the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. 2024-05-30T00:06+0000 2024-05-30T00:06+0000 2024-05-30T00:06+0000 asia japan north korea yonhap japan coast guard ballistic missile ballistic missile test https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/0f/1116789686_7:0:1991:1116_1920x0_80_0_0_4fa00f8021a303d96138a87d6541dc82.jpg The report said Seoul's military did not provide further details and was analyzing the launch. Pyongyang fired a total of ten short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday, Yonhap cited the South's military as saying. The report also cited a spokesperson for the Japanese Defense Ministry as saying that the suspected ballistic missile has landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has strongly condemned the North's launch and expressed hope for cooperation with the United States and South Korea.Japanese news agency Kyodo reported, citing the South's military, that the missiles traveled about 350 kilometers (217 miles) before landing at sea. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240520/north-korea-will-increase-readiness-for-nuclear-deterrence-amid-us-subcritical-test-1118533171.html japan north korea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International north korea, korean ballistic missile test launch, north korea missiles, japan report korean missile test https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/opposition-mayoral-candidate-shot-dead-in-western-mexico---reports-1118695572.html Opposition Mayoral Candidate Shot Dead in Western Mexico - Reports Opposition Mayoral Candidate Shot Dead in Western Mexico - Reports Sputnik International Jose Alfredo Cabrera Barrientos, an opposition candidate for the post of the head of the municipality of Coyuca de Benitez in the Mexican state of Guerrero, has been shot dead at a rally closing his election campaign, Mexican media have reported. 2024-05-30T04:30+0000 2024-05-30T04:30+0000 2024-05-30T04:30+0000 americas mexico institutional revolutionary party (pri) police opposition https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/06/16/1083213566_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_5fd59c84c22e87b36603339d8b371c44.jpg The candidate running from the PRI-PAN-PRD opposition alliance has been killed in the community of Las Lomas, local media reported on Wednesday. An attacker with a handgun approached the candidate, who was talking with residents in his home community at the rally, from behind and made at least 16 gunshots, a video posted on social media showed. Earlier on Wednesday, a candidate from the ruling Mexican party for the post of the head of the Encarnacion de Diaz municipality in the state of Jalisco, Gilberto Palomar Gonzalez, and two others were injured in an attack. The candidate, as well as his brother and secretary, were taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds. As many as 82 people engaged in electoral processes have been killed in Mexico since last summer, 34 of them candidates for various local offices, according to the Laboratorio Electoral research center. A total of 2,172 cases of various types of violence, including assaults, threats and kidnappings, have been recorded between 2023 and 2024. General elections in Mexico to elect a new president for a six-year term, 500 members of the lower house and 128 lawmakers of the upper house, as well as nine governors and over 19,000 local officials, will take place on June 2. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240320/mexico-to-deny-entry-to-migrants-deported-from-texas-under-new-sb4-law-1117447569.html americas mexico Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International jose alfredo cabrera barrientos, opposition candidate, coyuca de benitez, mexican state of guerrero Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net. Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/pentagon-watchdog-says-ukraine-us-forces-in-syria-received-non-mission-capable-equipment-1118705548.html Pentagon Watchdog Says Ukraine, US Forces in Syria Received Non-Mission Capable Equipment Pentagon Watchdog Says Ukraine, US Forces in Syria Received Non-Mission Capable Equipment Sputnik International US forces in Syria and the Ukrainian military received non-mission capable equipment due to poor execution of storage and maintenance requirements by a contractor at a US military base in Kuwait, the Defense Department Office of Inspector General said in a report on Thursday. 2024-05-30T18:04+0000 2024-05-30T18:04+0000 2024-05-30T18:04+0000 military syria kuwait ukraine defense department office of inspector general pentagon us us arms for ukraine us military https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0b/1109364457_0:158:3072:1886_1920x0_80_0_0_6375aaa30aeca2f7fc4be2f86dc4d4bb.jpg "The Army did not effectively manage contractor execution of the storage, maintenance and accountability of APS-5 [Army Prepositioned Stock5] equipment," the report said. Defense Department officials selected 57 pieces of equipment for inspection and found that 25 of them - 24 vehicles and one weapon - were defective and non-mission capable due to at least one maintenance deficiency, the report said. The report also said that the APS-5 contractor failed to protect 5,885 pieces of equipment, or more than 10% of all equipment stored there, and to account for 51 weapons and other sensitive items between November 2021 and January 2023. The inspection also identified 50 questionable contractor invoices for a total of nearly $134 million that the Office of Inspector General recommended to be verified by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the report added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240528/ex-pentagon-officer-applauds-russias-unmatched-ew-success-against-western-weapons-in-ukraine-1118659820.html syria kuwait ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us weapons in ukraine, us weapons in syria, failing us weapons, non-capable american arms https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/pepe-escobar-the-west-is-hell-bent-on-provoking-russia-into-hot-war--1118696941.html Pepe Escobar: The West is Hell-Bent on Provoking Russia Into Hot War Pepe Escobar: The West is Hell-Bent on Provoking Russia Into Hot War Sputnik International Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov then came up with the appropriate metaphor to designate NATOs ramped-up military outbursts: not only NATO is raising the degree of escalation but delving into a warlike "ecstasy". 2024-05-30T07:27+0000 2024-05-30T07:27+0000 2024-05-30T12:47+0000 world vladimir putin dmitry peskov ukraine nato army tactical missile system (atacms) west kiev https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/15/1117462465_0:236:3139:2002_1920x0_80_0_0_cd6287304242318885e90c8483c56a17.jpg Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov then came up with the appropriate metaphor to designate NATOs ramped-up military outbursts: not only NATO is raising the degree of escalation but delving into a warlike "ecstasy".It does not get more serious than that. They, as Putin alluded to, do seem to want global conflict. Thats at the heart of NATOs new suicidal ecstasy strategy.For all their circumlocutions, NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have effectively greenlighted Kiev using Western weapons for attacks deep inside the Russian Federation. The alleged debate, still ongoing, is just a smokescreen for the real objective: a pretext that could lead to WWIII.Theres no reason to think Kiev will stick to limited strikes against relatively unimportant targets. Instead, it is likely to target critical security infrastructure in hopes of provoking an unrelenting Russian response, which in turn would pave the way for NATO to invoke Article 5 and de facto engage in a Hot War.Already on the Edge of DoomThe escalation ecstasy defined by Peskov went out of control since a secret - new batch of ATACMS was dispatched to Kiev earlier this year, complemented with longer-range ATACMS. Kiev has been using them for serious hits on Russian air bases and key air defense nodes. These ATACMS fire missiles at Mach 3 speed: a serious challenge even for the best Russian air defense systems.All that seems to point to a crucial decision enveloped in several layers of fog: as the incoming, cosmic NATO humiliation in the black soil of Novorossiya becomes self-evident day after day, the Western elites who really run the show are betting on provoking a full Hot War against Russia.Richard H. Black, a former US senator from Virginia, offers a sobering analysis:In Russia, Senator Dmitry Rogozin, a former head of Roscosmos, directly warned Washington: We are not just on the threshold, but already on the edge, beyond which, if the enemy is not stopped in such actions, an irreversible collapse of the strategic security of the nuclear powers will begin."General Evgeny Buzhinky advanced an ominous scenario: I am sure that if the strikes of Taurus of ATACMS are very harmful for Russia, then I presume we will at least strike the logistical hub in the territory of Poland in Rzeszow where the missiles are staged for delivery to Ukraine.The connection in this case would be irreversible: Russia hits Poland; NATO invokes Article 5; WW3.Be Careful What You Wish ForNATO warlike ecstasy is predictably cloaked in cowardice. For all the rhetorical garbage 24/7 about we dont want a war with Russia, the facts point to NATO using Kiev to attack and try to destroy a wide range of Russian military assets. Theres also no denying the US Deep States role in enabling Kievs terror attacks against Russian civilians in the Donbass, Belgorod, and elsewhere.Considering the serious debate finally on across several Russian platforms, all of that might constitute a reasonable pretext for a tactical nuclear drop on the legally illegitimate Kiev gang. At least that would finish a war that is dragging for too long.Yet that would be totally out of character when it comes to legalistic Putin who deals with Armageddon-laden issues with the patience of a Taoist monk. Yet Russia has an entire arsenal of asymmetric tools both conventional and nuclear -- that can deliver a painful blow to NATO in places where the alliance least expects.Were not there yet even as we get ominously closer day after day. Dmitri Medvedev has issued the umpteenth red line: a US strike on Russian targets, or the US letting Kiev hit targets within Russia using American missiles and drones would be the start of World War.And Foreign Minister Lavrov, once again displaying his trademark Taoist patience, had to come up with another serious reminder: Russia will regard the deployment of nuclear-capable F-16s in Ukraine which de facto can only be operated by NATO pilots as a deliberate signal from NATO in the nuclear field to Russia.And still the gaggle of armchair Dr. Strangeloves lavishly rewarded by the rarified Atlanticist plutocracy holding real power, funds, influence and mass media control - is not listening. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240528/nato-members-divided-on-ukraines-plans-to-hit-russia-with-western-weapons-1118668183.html ukraine west kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg pepe escobar, kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov, military outbursts, provoking russia into hot war https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/revealed-natos-air-defense-shield-in-eastern-europe-so-full-of-holes-its-essentially-nonexistent-1118704752.html Revealed: NATOs Air Defense Shield in Eastern Europe So Full of Holes It's Essentially Nonexistent Revealed: NATOs Air Defense Shield in Eastern Europe So Full of Holes It's Essentially Nonexistent Sputnik International NATO has sent billions of dollars-worth of sophisticated air and missile defenses to Kiev among the $200 billion+ in support committed to date for the proxy war against Russia. The Russian military has used a combination of missiles, heavy glide bombs and drones to gradually grind the Western-supplied equipment into dust. 2024-05-30T17:54+0000 2024-05-30T17:54+0000 2024-05-30T17:54+0000 military russia ukraine military & intelligence eastern europe nato senate https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1e/1118704594_0:218:2867:1831_1920x0_80_0_0_589e9ac50e5b6932bec66274cf3a3011.jpg The Western Blocs European allies have only an infinitesimal fraction of the air defense capabilities its Eastern European members would need to stave off Russia if the proxy conflict in Ukraine expanded into a direct Russia-NATO confrontation.Thats the concern of officials familiar with the alliances internal calculations, as cited by the Financial Times. Officials told the UK-based business newspaper that NATO presently has less than 5 percent of the capacity necessary to defend its so-called eastern flank with Russia in the event of a full-scale attack.[Air and missile defense capabilities are] a major part of the plan to defend Eastern Europe from invasion. And right now, we dont have that, an anonymous senior NATO diplomat told the outlet.One of the diplomats indicated that NATOs latest defense plans call for measures to significantly increase air and missile defense systems quantity and readiness, confirming that sending existing equipment to Ukraine had reduced stockpiles in Europe itself.The stunning admission echoes revelations in explosive testimony in the US Senate earlier this month that North America is essentially defenseless not only against Russian hypersonic missiles, but even to a conventional missile and drone attack like the one Iran carried out against Israel in mid-April in retaliation to Tel Avivs deadly April 1 attack on the Iranian Embassy compound in Damascus, Syria.But thats your mission your mission is missile defense, a frustrated Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces chairman Angus King told top Pentagon officials trying to explain why the tens of billions of dollars the DoD gets every year has not translated into a working air and missile defense system. Ill look forward to some further response because right now, we dont have much missile defense. Whether its to hypersonics, to drones, Id like you guys to go back and really rethink what is your mission. If you mission is missile defense, we need to reorient what it is you do, King said.The revelations also beg the question as to why the alliance keeps escalating tensions with Moscow by threatening to untie Ukraines hands to strike targets deep inside Russia using Western long-range missiles.The apparently shambolic state of NATO air defenses is also somewhat surprising when considering that the alliance spent $1.3 trillion the equivalent of over 55 percent of global defense spending, in 2023 more than 13 times what Russia did over the same period.The reporting appears to corroborate statements made by officials and media from European countries including Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom over the past two years that they would have enough ammunition for just 24-48 hours of fighting if their nations were ever to come under direct, full-scale attack. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240529/how-us-is-flirting-with-idea-of-limited-nuclear-conflict-with-russia-and-china-1118682784.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/pepe-escobar-the-west-is-hell-bent-on-provoking-russia-into-hot-war--1118696941.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240529/poland-okays-its-weapons-to-be-used-by-ukraine-for-strikes-on-russia----1118680933.html russia ukraine eastern europe Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov can europe defend against russia, does europe have a good air defense system, does europe have missile defenses https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/rfk-jr-seeks-spot-on-cnn-debates-israel-continues-rafah-onslaught-taiwan-turmoil-and-more-1118692259.html RFK Jr. Seeks Spot on CNN Debates, Israel Continues Rafah Onslaught, Taiwan Turmoil and More RFK Jr. Seeks Spot on CNN Debates, Israel Continues Rafah Onslaught, Taiwan Turmoil and More Sputnik International On this episode of Fault Lines, host Jamarl Thomas and a lineup of esteemed guests discuss various current events, including RFK Jr. seeking a spot on the CNN debates. 2024-05-30T04:12+0000 2024-05-30T04:12+0000 2024-05-30T10:06+0000 fault lines us radio joe biden israel-gaza conflict rafah ohio taiwan china ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1d/1118692417_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_b7c87cc3f70251f627ba31e1ff51779c.png RFK Jr. Seeks Spot on CNN Debates, Israel Continues Rafah Onslaught, Taiwan Turmoil and More Sputnik International On this episode of Fault Lines, host Jamarl Thomas and a lineup of esteemed guests discuss various current events, including RFK Jr. seeking a spot on the CNN debates. The show starts with human rights lawyer Dan Kovalik discussing RFK Jr.'s race to the debate stage and the criteria needed to qualify. He also touches on the mass discontent over Biden's presidency amid the overall war on Gaza and the recent massacre in Rafah.To kick off the second hour, Mohammad Marandi, Professor at the University of Tehran, joins the show to delve into the Israeli attacks on Rafah and the latest out of Iran amid the death of late President Raisi.Then, political activist and podcast host Misty Winston discusses the Democrats' plans to get Biden on the Ohio ballot.The third hour begins with journalist KJ Noh analyzing the rising tensions between Taiwan and China as the US amid the latest elections.The show closes with International relations and security analyst Mark Sleboda discussing the latest out of Ukraine.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 rafah ohio taiwan china ukraine israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Jamarl Thomas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114086_0:0:373:374_100x100_80_0_0_c7506df4524fd8cdd4e40ad19918cd78.png fault lines, biden rating pollings, will china attack taiwan, israel operation in rafah, iranian president dead https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/russia-not-linking-forming-inclusive-govt-by-taliban-to-policy-on-afghanistan-1118696828.html Russia Wont Link Afghan Policy to Taliban Forming Inclusive Government Russia Wont Link Afghan Policy to Taliban Forming Inclusive Government Sputnik International Russia does not link the fact that the Taliban* must fulfill their promises of an inclusive government with Moscows policy towards Afghanistan, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said on Thursday. 2024-05-30T07:06+0000 2024-05-30T07:06+0000 2024-05-30T08:06+0000 world russia afghanistan moscow sergey lavrov taliban https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107867/37/1078673723_0:18:1801:1031_1920x0_80_0_0_f759b8b5a54cd5d324329c6dd4b835d4.jpg We are not linking anything. We expect the Taliban* movement to fulfill all their promises that they have previously made publicly to the international community. But by no means do we make this some kind of condition, and we do not link it to their activity, to their policy, including on the Russian direction, Rudenko told reporters, adding that Moscow's Afghan policy won't change.On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the Taliban movement is the real authority in Afghanistan and that plans to remove it from the list of organizations banned in Russia reflect reality. Later, Special Russian Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov maintained that to continue labelling the Taliban* as a terrorist organization in Russia is obstructing the potential progress of relations between Moscow and Kabul.*An organization under UN sanctions for terrorist activities https://sputnikglobe.com/20240528/why-time-is-ripe-to-delist-taliban-as-banned-entity-1118667255.html russia afghanistan moscow Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian deputy foreign minister andrey rudenko, taliban, moscows policy towards afghanistan https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/russian-deputy-defense-minister-myanmar-air-force-commander-outline-cooperation-prospects-1118695376.html Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Myanmar Air Force Commander Outline Cooperation Prospects Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Myanmar Air Force Commander Outline Cooperation Prospects Sputnik International Russian Deputy Defense Minister Col. Gen. Alexander Fomin met with Myanmar Air Force Commander Gen. Tun Aung to outline cooperation prospects, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. 2024-05-30T04:20+0000 2024-05-30T04:20+0000 2024-05-30T04:20+0000 military myanmar russia moscow russian defense ministry https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/1b/1113729155_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_6c547dc4de9a7e44070d2ec7e2003759.jpg A working meeting was held in Moscow today between Russian Deputy Defense Minister Col. Gen. Alexander Fomin and Republic of the Union of Myanmar Air Force Commander Tun Aung, the ministry said. It said the sides noted positive dynamics of the development of bilateral defense industry cooperation, and also identified promising areas of interaction and ways of their implementation. The parties emphasized their mutual desire to strengthen the dialogue between the defense departments and build up mutually beneficial ties, including between the two countries' air forces. The meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere, the Russian ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240328/russia-myanmar-armed-forces-plan-over-50-military-cooperation-events-in-2024-1117601840.html myanmar russia moscow Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian deputy defense minister, myanmar air force, russian defense ministry, cooperation prospects https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/sergey-lavrov-full-interview-us-missile-threats-strategic-partnership-with-china-ukraine-conflict-1118689147.html Sergey Lavrov Full Interview: US Missile Threats, Strategic Partnership With China, Ukraine Conflict Sergey Lavrov Full Interview: US Missile Threats, Strategic Partnership With China, Ukraine Conflict Sputnik International In a big interview, Russia's foreign minister discusses several critical topics, including the potential threat posed by US missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the expansion of military cooperation with China, the special military operation's progress and Zelensky's illegitimacy after his term ended. 2024-05-30T06:15+0000 2024-05-30T06:15+0000 2024-05-30T06:26+0000 sergey lavrov world volodymyr zelensky russia ukraine china nato osce un security council (unsc) white house https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1d/1118690081_0:53:2994:1737_1920x0_80_0_0_389d1bf4bfd3ab22535818850d303200.jpg Russian strategic objects, including nuclear ones, may come under threat from American short-range missiles if the US deploys ground-based intermediate and shorter-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. What additional nuclear deterrence measures might Moscow take in this case? Would a reciprocal response from the Russian side be sufficient?Sergey Lavrov: You are undoubtedly correct that the deployment of American ground-based intermediate and shorter-range missiles (INF) in the mentioned regions would pose a serious security challenge for us. This issue is not only significant for us. In a joint statement following the recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China, it was noted that such destabilizing actions by the US represent a direct threat to both our country and China. Therefore, we have agreed with our Chinese partners to increase cooperation to counteract Washington's irresponsible behavior, which undermines international stability.The implementation of US plans to deploy ground-based INF missiles will not go unanswered by us. Specifically, in this scenario, the abandonment of unilateral self-imposed restrictions introduced by Russia after a US withdrawal from the INF Treaty is inevitable. Additional steps in the field of nuclear deterrence are also not ruled out, as forward-deployed American missiles could target our command posts and locations of our nuclear forces. Decisions on these matters are within the competence of the president of the Russian Federation.Is Russia considering increasing joint military exercises with China in response to US actions in the Asia-Pacific Region?Sergey Lavrov: The foundation of our military cooperation with China is a high level of mutual trust. Russian-Chinese collaboration aims to strengthen international security and is conducted in accordance with international law.Our joint efforts are not directed against third countries. However, both Russia and our Chinese friends must consider the negative military-political trends in the Asia-Pacific region and take measures to mitigate their effects.We agree on the importance of enhancing defense cooperation not only bilaterally but also within multilateral formats. This understanding was recorded in the joint statement signed following the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China. Specifically, this involves expanding the scale of joint exercises and combat training, conducting naval and aerial patrols, and developing joint response capabilities.With the end of Volodymyr Zelensky's presidential term, does Russia see any forces in Ukraine with whom it is ready to engage in dialogue for peace? Is there any understanding of when the special military operation might be concluded?Sergey Lavrov: In Kiev, the "party of war" is in power, striving, at least rhetorically, to defeat Russia "on the battlefield." Under these conditions, a dialogue for peace is hard to imagine. Furthermore, since September 30, 2022, a legal ban on negotiations with Russia's leadership has been in place in Ukraine.Regarding Volodymyr Zelensky's legal status after May 20, when his presidential term ended, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke clearly on this matter at a press conference in Minsk on May 24.Let's hope that sooner or later, political forces will emerge in Ukraine that care about the interests of the people. For now, there is no other option but to continue the special military operation until its goals are achieved.Is there a possibility to speed up the process of political settlement of the situation around Ukraine?Sergey Lavrov: Theoretically, yes. For this to happen, the West must stop supplying Ukraine with weapons, and Kiev must cease hostilities. The sooner this occurs, the quicker a political resolution will begin. We have repeatedly stated, including at the highest level, that Russia remains open to negotiations. However, it is crucial to understand that we seek peace, not just a ceasefire. There is no point in granting the opponent a pause, which they will use once again for regrouping and rearming. Negotiations must be based on the principle of indivisible security and the realities on the ground.Is it worthwhile for Russia to continue cooperation with the OSCE given the organization's pro-Ukrainian stance?Sergey Lavrov: It cannot be denied that the OSCE is in deep crisis. This is the result of the West trampling on all the principles upon which this organization was founded. The total 'Ukrainization' of its agenda nearly nullifies its activities in traditional areas: military-political, economic-environmental, and humanitarian. Perhaps the only reason for Russia's continued participation in the OSCE is the opportunity to directly convey our position on current issues to the other 56 participants, including those Western states that have 'frozen' dialogue with us in other formats. Additionally, the organization's consensus rule allows us to block proposals from unfriendly countries that do not suit Russia.It has been reported that F-16 fighters provided by some NATO countries will soon appear in Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that Moscow views these aircraft as carriers of nuclear weapons. What will be Moscow's response to the presence of such fighters in the Ukrainian Armed Forces?Sergey Lavrov: The supply of increasingly destructive weapons to the Kiev regime indicates the West's lack of interest in ending the conflict. The delivery of American F-16 fighters will not change the situation on the front lines. These aircraft will be destroyed, just like other types of weapons supplied by NATO countries to Ukraine.It is important to note that F-16 fighters have long been a primary means of delivery in NATO's so-called joint nuclear missions. Therefore, we cannot help but view the supply of these systems to the Kiev regime as a deliberate signaling action by NATO in the nuclear sphere. They are trying to convey that the US and NATO are ready to go to any lengths in Ukraine.Nevertheless, we hope that the ongoing Russian-Belarusian exercises, which involve the practice of using non-strategic nuclear weapons, will serve as a sobering reminder to our opponents of the catastrophic consequences of further escalation up the nuclear ladder.How do you assess Washington's statement about the potential halt of certain arms supplies to Tel Aviv in light of the Israeli operation in Rafah? Why was there no similar US reaction after the Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled Russian cities?Sergey Lavrov: Our experience with the Americans clearly shows that their statements cannot be trusted. We wanted to believe them for a long time, engaged in negotiations, and reached agreements. However, it turned out that Washington did not intend to fulfill any of its "promises," even those documented on paper and in UN Security Council resolutions.The Americans continue to publicly speak about their commitment to a just solution to the Palestinian issue, while in practice, they generously fuel armed conflicts. For six months, Washington blocked the adoption of a UN Security Council decision to cease fire, effectively giving a "green light" to the destruction of Gaza. When the Americans were forced to abstain from voting in March this year, allowing the Council to approve a resolution demanding a halt to hostilities, the US representative shamelessly declared that the UN Security Council document was not binding.Washington's statement about halting the supply of munitions to Israel pertained to one type of ammunition - air bombs - and only from a "single batch of short-term aid." A few days later, the US House of Representatives approved a bill to lift the "pause" in arms supplies to Israel. If the document, prepared by Republicans is also passed in the Senate, it will prevent the White House from denying military aid to Tel Aviv.Regarding the second part of your question, the answer is quite obvious. In the US National Security Strategy, Russia is identified as an immediate threat. The US and NATO openly state that their goal is to inflict a "strategic defeat" on our country. In this context, the fate of the civilian population of Russian cities does not concern the White House, which has become an accomplice in the crimes of the Kiev regime.Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that Beijing would support a peace conference recognized by both Russia and Ukraine. How does Moscow view Beijing's position on the Ukrainian crisis? If Beijing proposes holding a peace conference on Ukraine, will Moscow support such a proposal? What topics, in Russia's opinion, could be discussed at such a conference?Sergey Lavrov: We highly value Beijing's constructive stance on the Ukrainian crisis. Our Chinese friends understand the nature and essence of the situation. In February last year, they proposed a plan to resolve the conflict. This April, Chinese President Xi Jinping called to reduce tensions to establish peace and stability, rather than escalating the situation for selfish interests. We hope the West and Kiev will draw the right conclusions.Regarding the idea of convening an international peace conference that ensures equal participation of Russia and Ukraine and discusses all existing peace initiatives, we see it as a continuation of Beijing's efforts to create conditions to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. We share the view that it is crucial to address the root causes of the crisis, ensure the legitimate interests of all parties, and reach agreements based on the principle of equal and indivisible security. I emphasize once again: this implies respecting the realities on the ground, which reflect the will of the people living there. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240517/putins-trip-sends-message-of-growing-russo-chinese-partnership-1118504260.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240529/ex-ukrainian-prime-minister-zelensky-is-nothing-but-impostor-since-may-21-1118686532.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240507/how-us-may-weaponize-confusion-around-nuclear-capable-f-16-in-ukraine-1118321231.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240529/israel-on-path-to-make-gaza-unlivable-while-seeking-to-destroy-hamas-1118688979.html russia ukraine china rafah Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia china cooperation, russia china ties, russia china relations, us military in eu, us military in europe, us military presence, russia's special op, special military operation, ukraine crisis, ukraine conflict, zelensky illegitimate, zelensky's legitimacy, zelensky's presidency https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/top-hungarian-diplomat-criticizes-nato-plans-to-let-ukraine-strike-inside-russia-1118702619.html Top Hungarian Diplomat Criticizes NATO Plans to Let Ukraine Strike Inside Russia Top Hungarian Diplomat Criticizes NATO Plans to Let Ukraine Strike Inside Russia Sputnik International Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto decried NATO plans to let Ukraine use Western-supplied weapons to hit targets in Russia as "insane," warning that Russias response would be multifold. 2024-05-30T13:48+0000 2024-05-30T13:48+0000 2024-05-30T13:48+0000 military peter szijjarto jens stoltenberg ukraine hungary russia nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/0e/1117933407_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_30f7c6e6d3f5bd59f8743c8834077e53.jpg "I think it is an insane idea because, as we have seen before, Russia will respond. There is no lack of munitions or equipment in Russia. Its response will be multifold," Szijjarto told Hungarian reporters in Brussels. The Hungarian minister called for an end to "this madness" before it spiraled out of control. Szijjarto also criticized a proposal made by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg that NATO take over the coordination of military aid to Ukraine, giving the alliance a more active role in the conflict. Szijjarto argued that NATO was wiping out its own red lines. Earlier in the week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed he was in favor of lifting restrictions on the use of Western weapons on "legitimate targets" on Russian territory. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/ukraine-can-use-danish-f-16-to-hit-targets-in-russia--danish-foreign-minister-1118700104.html ukraine hungary russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International hungarian diplomat criticizes, ukraine strike inside russia, nato plans https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/ukraine-loses-up-to-445-soldiers-in-battles-with-russias-battlegroup-zapad---mod-1118701242.html Ukraine Loses Up to 445 Soldiers in Fights With Russia's Battlegroup Zapad - MoD Ukraine Loses Up to 445 Soldiers in Fights With Russia's Battlegroup Zapad - MoD Sputnik International Ukraine lost up to 445 soldiers in the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Kharkov region in battles with Russia's Battlegroup Zapad over the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Thursday. 2024-05-30T11:31+0000 2024-05-30T11:31+0000 2024-05-30T11:42+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine kiev russian ministry of defense lugansk lugansk peoples republic donetsk donetsk people's republic kharkov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/15/1116296872_0:123:3205:1926_1920x0_80_0_0_c19f4124fb817e465fcd42a80d18a021.jpg "The Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 445 military personnel, two infantry fighting vehicles and three vehicles in battles with Battlegroup Zapad," the MoD said in a statement, adding that the group repelled three counterattacks in the LPR and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). Russia's Battlegroup Sever repelled two counterattacks in the Kharkov region and Kiev lost up to 225 soldiers, the statement read. Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr repelled six counterattacks in the DPR and Kiev lost up to 335 soldiers, while Battlegroup Yug improved its tactical positions and Ukraine lost over 305 soldiers. In battles with Battlegroup Vostok, Kiev lost up to 145 soldiers. Additionally, the forces of Russia's Black Sea Fleet destroyed four Ukrainian unmanned boats in the northwestern part of the Black Sea, the ministry added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240524/ukraine-loses-up-to-11200-soldiers-in-donetsk-in-battles-with-russian-battlegroups---mod-1118616290.html russia ukraine kiev lugansk donetsk kharkov black sea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russias special military op in ukraine, special military operation, special military operational zone, special op zone, russian troops in special op zone, ukraine casualties in conflict, total ukrainian losses, how many people did ukraine loose, how many people did kiev loose, new russian weapons in ukraine, advanced russian weapons, russian defense ministry statements, latest russian military statements, what did shoigu say about ukraine, donetsk peoples republic, nato in ukraine, is nato in ukraine, russian drones, drone warfare, new military drones, uavs in ukraine, ukraine crisis, ukraine conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/university-in-malaysia-joins-sputnikpro-project-1118698556.html University in Malaysia Joins SputnikPro Project University in Malaysia Joins SputnikPro Project Sputnik International Sputnik International News Agency and Radio held the first SputnikPro online masterclass for a Malaysian institution the International Islamic University of Malaysia joined the project. 2024-05-30T09:58+0000 2024-05-30T09:58+0000 2024-05-30T10:24+0000 malaysia sputnik beyond politics students universities media mass media https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1e/1118698639_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_837b6507c479fb9d21c87cd88929a1cc.jpg Sputnik has forged new educational ties with budding Malaysian journalists.As part of the master class, Victoria Polikarpova, Head of Sputnik International and Sputnik India, told students of the Department of Communications the secrets of newswriting. She talked about journalists' responsibilities when breaking new stories and how to recognize and debunk fake news."As the world is becoming more multipolar and multidimensional, the stories from regions other than the Anglo-Saxon world and the voices of the Global South journalists are becoming louder and more meaningful," she added.Associate Professor Aida Mokhtar of the Department of Communications gave her impressions of the event."The students and staff of the International Islamic University Malaysia enjoyed the Sputnik training session," Mokhtar said. "We learned what makes a news article newsworthy, the importance of using words with suitable connotations and the importance of doing a fact check before writing news articles."The International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) is a public educational institution located in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia. It was founded in 1983 and specializes in educational programs in Islamic teachings and humanities. The university is supported by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its teaching and administration are conducted entirely in English.SputnikPro is a project by Sputnik News Agency and Radio for journalists, students, press service employees and media managers. Its main goal is to promote exchange of expertise and develop professional ties between colleagues worldwide.The project's modules are hosted by Sputnik media managers and other prominent Russian experts. The sessions focus on various aspects of journalism, including production of multimedia content, social media management and building website traffic.Since March 2018, more than 10,000 people from more than 80 countries have taken part in SputnikPro workshops. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231024/sputnikpro-joins-un-global-media-and-information-literacy-week--1114443734.html malaysia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International malaysia, sputnik. sputnikpro, malaysia-russia cooperation, malaysia university joins sputnikpro project Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller talks about his frustration and anger over immigration reform and other issues during an interview at Archdiocese Pastoral Center on June 30, 2022. Ronald Cortes Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, seen at an interfaith event last year, on Thursday apologized on his social media account for "very poor choice of words" but did not specify if the regrets were for social media posts made three weeks ago. He also apologized to the city's Jewish community. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller apologized Thursday to San Antonios Jewish community and said he could not defend his very poor choice of words for social media posts regarding the government of Israel and the conflict in Gaza. The archbishop apologized in two separate posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, that were made about an hour apart Thursday morning. Garcia-Siller did not specifically say if the apologies were for posts made and deleted three weeks ago that seemed to conflate all Jewish people with Israeli actions in Gaza. I offer my most heartfelt apology for a series of posts on X which have been seen by many as being solely a condemnation of the government of Israel and the people of that nation concerning the war in Gaza, the archbishop wrote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I offer no defense for my very poor choice of words, he continued. In another post, Garcia-Siller offered apologies to the citys Jewish people. I apologize also to my friends in the local Jewish community in San Antonio who know me well, for I know my comments caused them deep pain. My intent was and has been to pray for peace in the Middle East, he wrote. Garcia-Siller also wrote Thursday in two other posts that Israel most assuredly has a right to self-defense and called the actions of Hamas horrific terrorist acts and called for the release of all hostages. In another post, the archbishop expressed concern for Israel and others in the areas of conflict. Advertisement Article continues below this ad All who are suffering the consequences of war in that region are in our prayers, he wrote. Social media reaction to the apologies was mixed, with some commentaters expressing forgiveness and others urging the Catholic leader to withdraw from social media. The Archdiocese of San Antonio did not issue any remarks on the archbishops social media posts Thursday, only saying in an email that the archdiocese has no statement beyond the archbishops comments. Earlier this month, the archdiocese issued a statement after Garcia-Siller posted a series of remarks on X over a few hours on May 7 that had some expressing bewilderment and asking for an explanation. Some of his more contentious posts were removed by the morning of May 9. Among the posts that were removed, presumably by the archbishop, was one that said, Why Israel wants to destroy lives Palestines. Why, O Lord, allow people to hate so much to kill people. The Holocaust was already forgotten for Jews and everyone else. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a statement sent to the Express-News May 9, the archdiocese did not directly apologize for the archbishops posts but instead offered regrets over any misunderstanding and emphasized his years of work and solidarity with the Jewish community. The archbishop deeply regrets that posts in recent days on the war in Gaza have caused confusion and misunderstanding in some, the archdiocese statement said, without directly identifying the comments that it said Garcia-Siller regrets. The statement, which was not posted on the archdiocese website or on social media, expressed regret that some of the archbishops posts were misinterpreted but offered no clarification of his meaning. The bulk of the five-paragraph statement highlighted the archbishops record of working with the Jewish community and his history of calling for peace and prayers, including on social media. Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, MSpS, has consistently called for an end to violence in Gaza and around the world, the statement said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Archbishop Gustavo has preached strongly and emphatically against anti-Semitism through the years, including many public statements in the media abhorring anti-Semitic acts. Though not included in the statement, the archdiocese at the time also distanced itself from the archbishops social media account where the contentious posts were made. Jordan McMorrough, director of communications for the archdiocese, told the Catholic media outlet The Pillar that the personal account of Garcia-Siller is not an official communication tool of the archdiocese. Garcia-Sillers name and photo are on the social media account that uses the handle @ABishopGustavo and links to his Facebook page. His accounts on X and Facebook both link to the archdioceses official website. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The archbishops X account, according to its biography section, was created in October 2017 and has more than 8,000 followers. The archbishops Facebook page, which links to his X account, lists him as a public figure and has more than 6,000 followers. Garcia-Siller did not write an apology on his Facebook page, where many of the more recent posts are video clips of the archbishop celebrating Mass or attending an official archdiocese event. It does not appear to have posts or mentions of the Israel-Hamas War or of politics in general. The archbishops social media accounts remained active Thursday afternoon. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/us-navy-years-behind-already-over-budget-in-designing-new-class-of-frigates---report-1118694592.html US Navy Years Behind, Already Over Budget in Designing New Class of Frigates - Report US Navy Years Behind, Already Over Budget in Designing New Class of Frigates - Report Sputnik International The US Navy is encountering more problems with designing its new proposed force of 20 Constellation-class frigates, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report said. 2024-05-30T02:00+0000 2024-05-30T02:00+0000 2024-05-30T02:00+0000 military us us navy military & intelligence us government accountability office (gao) constellation https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0c/0b/1091450424_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_b175b6e932444db378d7c66789b450d7.png "Delays in completing the ship design have created mounting construction delays," the report said on Wednesday. "The Navy acknowledges that the April 2026 delivery date, set in the contract at award, is unachievable. The lead frigate is forecasted to be delivered 36 months later than initially planned."Over at least two decades, the Navy's Constellation class Guided Missile Frigate program plans to acquire and deliver up to 20 frigates - multi-mission, small surface combatant warships at a combined cost of over $22 billion, the report said.However, the Navy lacks visibility into the true scope of work remaining to stabilize the frigates functional design and the extent to which ongoing delays in completing the design will have on construction of follow-on ships, the report said.The Navy's decision to begin construction before the design was complete is inconsistent with leading ship design practices, the report added. Then, design instability caused weight growth and therefore the frigate's 3D design was still incomplete over a year after construction began, according to the report. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us navy, gao us navy report, constellation class frigates, us navy upgrade program https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/watch-russian-artillery-hit-ukrainian-forces-near-avdeyevka-1118695928.html Watch Russian Artillery Hit Ukrainian Forces Near Avdeyevka Watch Russian Artillery Hit Ukrainian Forces Near Avdeyevka Sputnik International The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage of artillerymen of Battlegroup Tsentr attacking positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Avdeyevka area. 2024-05-30T09:45+0000 2024-05-30T09:45+0000 2024-05-30T09:45+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia russian defense ministry ukrainian armed forces defense ministry msta-s video https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1e/1118699156_17:0:1325:736_1920x0_80_0_0_e1ca1a382abc05e7a8a47a9a28f57bd6.jpg The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage of Battlegroup Tsentr artillerymen attacking positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Avdeyevka area. The ministry noted that the artillery crews fired a number of fragmentation shells from a distance of more than 10 kilometers at the area where the enemy was located.The artillerymen supported offensive actions of infantry assault groups against enemy positions, hitting their concentration areas. Target control and transmission of the coordinates of enemy positions was carried out by reconnaissance soldiers with the help of UAVs, the Defense Ministry added. russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Russian Battlegroup Tsentr artillerymen carried out a "fire cleansing" of Ukrainian positions in the Avdeyevka area Sputnik International Russian Battlegroup Tsentr artillerymen carried out a "fire cleansing" of Ukrainian positions in the Avdeyevka area 2024-05-30T09:45+0000 true PT0M51S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian defense ministry, ukrainian forces, positions of the ukrainian armed forces, avdeyevka area https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/western-opposition-to-georgian-foreign-agents-law-reveals-why-it-is-essential-1118694393.html Western Opposition to Georgian Foreign Agents Law Reveals Why It Is Essential Western Opposition to Georgian Foreign Agents Law Reveals Why It Is Essential Sputnik International The opposition by the US and the West to Georgia's new foreign agents law is rooted in their desire to control the country, not protect democracy. 2024-05-30T02:59+0000 2024-05-30T02:59+0000 2024-05-30T03:03+0000 analysis irakli kobakhidze robert fico national endowment for democracy (ned) cia european union (eu) georgia russia ukraine the critical hour https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/19/1118625304_0:107:3072:1835_1920x0_80_0_0_c9685f718c8d7c0c1cedc0e4ae5ac005.jpg This seemingly reasonable legislation was supported by 84 MPs out of 150, comfortably more than the 76 required to overcome a veto according to the Georgian constitution.Officially known as the Transparency in Foreign Influence Act, the bill would not ban NGOs from the country, and would instead require any NGO, media outlet, or individual receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as an entity promoting the interests of a foreign power and disclose their donors or receive a fine of up to $9,500.Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US plans to impose visa restrictions on Georgian legislators who supported the legislation. Nevermind that Washington has its own foreign agents legislation, the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) which the Joe Biden administration recently used alleged minor violations to arrest and charge the leader of the African Peoples Socialist Party with crimes that could land him in prison for more than 15 years.Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the EU warned that the legislation will harm Georgias EU path and said its Member States are considering all options to react to these developments.Like good little lap dogs, the Western media has followed suit, calling the legislation pro-Russian, an assertion only backed by the fact that Russia similarly took action against foreign NGOs influencing its domestic politics.There are about 10,000 NGOs registered in Georgia, about one for every 400 Georgians and Western NGOs have been used to foment revolutions around the world in the past.A lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA, Allen Weinstein, one of the founders of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), said in 1991. Since that time, the NED has been linked to influencing elections, revolutions and coups (both failed and successful) in numerous countries including Venezuela, Nicaragua, Haiti and most significantly, in Ukraine in 2014.The NED, along with USAID are two of the most prominent and well-funded US-based NGOs, both of which receive most of their funding from Congress. Both operate in Georgia.Szamuely noted that Georgia was invited to join NATO at the same time Ukraine was, and it does not want to be used as a battering ram by the West against Russia. [Georgia is saying] we dont want to go down the Maidan path, we dont want to be pushed into a war that we cannot possibly win, that were going to lose more territory as Ukraine has lost territory and Georgia lost territory in 2008 and thats what these NGOs are trying to do.Last week, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that a high-ranking EU Commissioner threatened him by bringing up the attempted assassination of Slovakian President Robert Fico who was shot four times by a pro-Ukrainian activist.The EU Neighborhood and Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi later admitted to making the comments but claimed Kobakhidze took them out of context.Democracy in the American and essentially, the Western definition is governments doing as theyre told by their American and Western masters, Szamuely asserted. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220730/fbi-raids-african-peoples-socialist-party-claims-the-group-was-controlled-by-fsb-1097960392.html georgia russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ian DeMartino Ian DeMartino News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ian DeMartino foreign agents act in georgia, transparency in foreign influence act, cia in georgia, ned in georgia, usaid in georgia Two-year-olds made their first appearance at an eastern Pennsylvania racetrack this year during the Wednesday, May 29 morning qualifying session at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. The team of driver Scott Zeron and trainer Jared Bako won five of the baby events, including a near sweep on the pacing side, while the Todd Schadel barn produced the fastest trotter on each sex. Zeron/Bako swept the pacing filly contests, the faster with the Huntsville-Code One Hanover miss Cowgirl Hanover, who went wire-to-wire in 1:58.1 (:56.4 back half, :28 final quarter) for owner NY Seb Inc. They also came together for a 2:00.3 (:58.1, :28.4) win by Th Cha Cha Cha, a Dancin Lou-Pasta Blue Chip miss owned by David Kryway. The fastest clocking of the freshman session, 1:57.3, was produced by two males from Team Zeron/Bako. Sire Dancin Lou and owner David Kryway again combined behind the gelding Stonebridge Wizard (dam Odds On Magic), who used engine tactics and came home in :57.2 with a :28 final quarter for the victory. Matching his clocking was the Courtly Choice-Fashion Guru gelding Fast Choice, who came from behind and put in back fractions of :56 and :27.1 to triumph for owners Ashley Bako and Randy Zane. Also successful was the American Ideal-Mako Wish colt Braydens Bandit, moving early and going on to success in 2:00.3 with a :28.3 final quarter for driver Marcus Miller, trainer Tom Jackson and owner Peter Scamurra. Todd Schadel now has a sub-2:00 two-year-old trotter to his seasonal credit after the Bar Hopping-Promisemethis gelding wired his field in 1:59.3 (:58 back half, :28.3 final quarter) with driver/trainer Schadel, also co-owner with his wife Christine and Rick and Regina Beinhauer. Encomium, an International Moni-Enfilade colt, came home in :29.4 to be successful in his bow in 2:03.1 for driver Braxten Boyd, trainer Mahlon Martin and LCT Stable. The quickest of the two filly trot winners was the Cantab Hall-Setntheworldonfire miss Shalamar Hanover, coming out of the pocket to win in 2:04.4 for trainer/driver Schadel, with his wife Christine also co-owning. Team Zeron/Bako watched the Devious Man-Paya La Renta filly Paya La Diva recover from an early miscue, coming her own back fractions in 1:00.2 and :29.2 to stop the timer in 2:05.2; trainer Bako is the co-owner with Carmen Iannacone. (PHHA / Pocono) The 60th anniversary season of harness racing at Hanover Raceway will begin on Saturday, June 1 with a 10-race afternoon program starting at 1:30 p.m. The program will feature the Prospect Series for Ontario-sired three-year-old pacing colts, with a pair of $8,000 divisions carded as races two and six. Bettors Rush, a Prospect division winner two starts back on May 15 at Western Fair Raceway, is the 8-5 morning line favourite in the first field of a half dozen, drawing the inside post with Travis Henry listed to drive for trainer Blake MacIntosh. Another MacIntosh trainee, Macwow, also drew the inside post for the second split but the 7-5 early favourite in that race is the outside starter from the Katie MacNeil stable, Ballykeel Painter, a 1:56.4 winner last time out on May 24 against $20,000 claimers at Western Fair who will have Daryl Thiessen back in the bike. The Hanover, Ont. half-mile oval will host three more Prospect Series legs this season in addition to a leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series. Other highlights of the meet will include the track's signature Balanced Image and Dream Of Glory trotting stakes. Cassidy Schneider, Hanover Raceway's top trainer last year, will have two chances in the afternoon's ninth race to launch the new season on a winning note as she sends out Derby Dylan and Just Call Me Pete in the five-horse field of $8,000 claiming pacers. Canada's 2023 Future Star Award winner earned nine of her 83 wins last year at Hanover Raceway to top the local standings. For the 2024 meet, Hanover Raceway will host 15 Saturday race dates running through Sept. 14, with the exception of Aug. 10. Post time will be 1:30 p.m. for all programs except for a 5:30 p.m. program on Aug. 3. To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click one of the following links: Hanover Raceway - Saturday Entries || Saturday Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT). (Standardbred Canada) With the exception of McCrunch rejoining the poll at No. 10, there was little movement in the fifth edition of Dave Little's Road to The Meadowlands Pace weekly Top 10. That's bound to change in the next three weeks, with the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes and North America Cup to be contested at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Meadowlands Pace will be contested on Saturday, July 13 at Meadowlands Racetrack. To view the full list, click here. *All earnings reported are in USD. (With files from Meadowlands Racetrack) Baltazar Castaneda, 39, has been indicted on murder and arson charges in the Feb. 27 death of his neighbor Richard Amesquita, 58. Bexar County Sheriff's Office A Bexar County grand jury indicted a 39-year-old man accused of killing a man and setting his house on fire in February. Baltazar Castaneda is facing murder and arson charges in connection with the death of Richard Amesquita, 58. Both charges are punishable with 5-99 years or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Video surveillance showed Castaneda pacing back and forth hours before the fire on Feb. 26 in the 800 block of 20th Street between Woodlawn Lake and Elmendorf Lake Park, stated an arrest affidavit. He appeared to talk to and motion to things that were not there, the affidavit said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Around 9 p.m., Castaneda knocked on Amesquitas door, and when he came out onto the porch, they began to fight, police said. It was reported that Amesquita attempted to escape into his house but was unsuccessful. It was during the fight that Castaneda allegedly killed the man. Video surveillance supported the accusation as Castaneda was seen dragging Amesquita into the home before returning to his house. Investigators said Castaneda returned to Amesquitas home just before midnight, where he is accused of lighting the house on fire. The video shows a flicker like a flame at the homes front door. The district attorneys office considers Castaneda a habitual offender due to two prior felony convictions, both for assault. If proven right at trial, the punishment would increase to a minimum of 25 years in prison. Castaneda was known to go into Amesquitas house when he wasnt home, according to a news release from the district attorneys office. Sometimes, the news release states, Castaneda broke into the home. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Amesquita deserved to be safe in his own house before his untimely death, the district attorney said. 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 Even artificial intelligence doesn't have the smarts to square the left's green agenda with the energy needs of the future. Some of today's biggest growth industries are in cutting-edge technologies. They include AI, data centers and advanced manufacturing. As The Wall Street Journal reported recently, these industries require large amounts of electricity. This shouldn't be a problem. The United States has produced cheap and reliable power for decades. Years and years of experience have produced technological innovations and improvements. Building reliable plants may take time, but it shouldn't be a long-term obstacle. It is, though. Companies and utilities have the technical knowledge and ability to build more reliable power plants. But they're often running into major political hurdles. The environmental left wants to decrease carbon emissions. Greens argue that burning fossil fuels is an "existential threat to human existence as we know it," as President Joe Biden said in 2021. Climate alarmists seek to leverage their relentlessly dire predictions to raise money, gain political influence and overhaul the nation's economy to reflect a reliance on central planning. This approach has been successful, in part. Many states now have renewable portfolio standards that require the use of renewable energy, no matter how practical. Some go further. California and Hawaii want to reach net zero emissions in only 20 years. A key part of reducing emissions is reducing overall power usage. That's because fossil fuel or nuclear plants are needed to provide backup for renewable sources. Nuclear power doesn't produce carbon emissions, but many environmentalists oppose it for reasons that suggest they don't believe global warming is an existential threat. One place this dynamic is playing out is in the Southeast. Georgia Power is that state's main utility. Its projections for future demand have shot up 16-fold as more of these power-hungry companies look to move there. Providing that power offers a clear path to economic growth, but greens are up in arms over the increased carbon emissions. There's a major opportunity here for Nevada as California further reforms its electrical grid to emphasize less-reliable energy sources. Nevada should show it's capable of providing reliable power to industries that could become integral to future growth and prosperity. Unfortunately, voters and politicians alike have shackled Nevada with a 50 percent renewable portfolio standard by 2030. In recent years, Nevada has already faced energy shortages. The RPS will also increase energy prices. Fossil fuel and nuclear power have generated vast wealth and remain essential to powering the economy. Unfortunately, environmentalists would prefer we move back to the Stone Age. 2024 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The race for dominance of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is redefining the global geopolitical order. Whoever can master this rapidly changing technology will have an unprecedented level of economic control, and will govern new employment on a vast scale. According to many economists, we are currently in the midst of the "fourth industrial revolution." In this power struggle, the leading powers are the U.S., the Asia-Pacific region (especially China) and the European Union (EU). However, each is following a different model for developing this technology. China: The highest number of STEM graduates in the world China is the country making the most investment in AI, with expected investments of over $38 billion by 2027, almost 9% of the world's total. In China, investment is primarily driven by the state, though there are also many private technological platforms in the sector. Its population is very open to technology, and this grants the state access to a huge field of experimentation: over 700 million internet users. Many US platforms are barred from the Chinese market, and the country boasts a much higher number of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) graduates than other countries: almost 3.6 million in 2020, followed by India with 2.6 million, and the United States with 820,000. Trailing far behind, the only EU countries that feature in the top 10 countries by number of STEM graduates are France and Germany, with 220,000 and 216,000 respectively. The power struggle between China and the US In August 2023, the Chinese government issued a formal statement of "concern" in response to a US government order prohibiting investment in Chinese semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum technology and AI. The US claims the limits were put in place are because these sectors play a key role in developing advanced military, intelligence, surveillance and computing capabilities. While the private sector is the driving force behind the current technological revolution in the US, a significant amount of research funding is provided by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the US Department of Defense agency responsible for developing new military technologies. Microsoft and France's GDP The largest companies in the AI sector are US-based. They have a virtual monopoly on the current development of the technology, and are global leaders in terms of stock market value. These macro-companies are beginning to have influence and impacts at state level. Microsoft has recently returned to the top of the global stock market after increasing its stock value by more than 50% in 12 months, becoming the first company to surpass the $3 trillion valuation, equivalent to the GDP of France. As of 13 February 2024, Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco is the only non-technology company in the top seven largest companies in the world. The rest of the global pie belongs to, in order of size, Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet (Google), Nvidia, Amazon and Meta. The hegemony of these large companies means they can attract talent, and they are expanding into other territories, especially European countries. However, last year's HAI Artificial Intelligence Index Report shows a striking decline in their attractiveness: a noticeable drop in hiring international students in both the US and Canada, especially at master's level. Decisions are in the hands of private companies These big tech companies wield indisputable amounts power, and not just on an economic level. They have access to massive amounts of data (protecting privacy and limiting data leakage with legislation is increasingly complex), global political influence (not just in the US) and an unbeatable public image that allows them to lead innovation. These businesses dictate the direction of research and innovation worldwide, and they dominate cutting edge AI research, as well as the basic technology that is crucial in strengthening a country's technological independence and sovereignty. Only a few years ago, this "frontier" research was led by academia, and it is here that Europe still has a relevant role to play. Europe's research institutions outweigh China In Europe the situation is mixed, with strong state support in some member states, mainly France and Germany, and a significant number of startups, especially in the UK. However, none of the world's top technology companies are European, and the continent also lacks the large entrepreneurial platforms of the US and China. In Europe there is a relative aversion to risk. Another significant factor is talent drain, as many European graduates move away for better opportunities. But Europe does have one major advantage, as it is home to a significant number of top 100 research insitutionsjust as many as the US, and more than China. This is mirrored in the ranking of the most prestigious universities in AI research, where the US leads and Europe follows closely behind, with only one Chinese institution in the top ten. Who will pay to develop GPT-4? In 2023, 51 notable AI models were developed by private industry, compared to just 15 by academia. However, models developed in collaboration between the two sectors hit a record high, with 21 industry-academia collaborations recorded last year. One relevant factor here is the substantial increase in the economic cost of developing these models, which consume large amounts of both computing and energy resources. The training costs of Open AI's state-of-the-art GPT-4 and Google's Gemini Ultra models were estimated at $78 million and $191 million respectively. Figures like these are beyond the reach of most academic research. Europe is taking the ethical route On 13 March 2024, the EU approved the AI Act, the first regulation in the Western world on artificial intelligence. The law is designed to be ethical, aiming to serve the people rather than big business. Other countries such as China and the US are moving forward with their own regulation, but with very different perspectives. While not its intended purpose, some claim the AI act will stifle innovation in the sector. AI is bringing with it a new wave of innovation, not only promoting new forms of technological entrepreneurship, but also new values such as sustainable computing, privacy by design in algorithms and technological sovereignty, all of which are present in the new EU regulations. Europe is pushing for the use of AI in climate action and building sustainability, and the development of AI with better data and greener algorithms to make it sustainable. Ethical courage could well be the path to a strong EU position in the unstoppable technological revolution of the 21st century. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman participates in a discussion during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit, Nov. 16, 2023, in San Francisco. The U.N. telecommunications agency has kicked off its annual AI for Good conference in hopes of guiding business, consumers and governments on ways to tap the promise of the new technology but avoid its potential perils. OpenAI chief Sam Altman whose company created ChatGPT is among the tech leaders set to join the Geneva event Thursday, May 30, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File The U.N. telecommunications agency has kicked off its annual AI for Good conference, hoping to guide business, consumers and governments on ways to tap the promise of the new technology but avoid its potential perils. OpenAI chief Sam Altman, whose company created ChatGPT, is among the tech leaders to join the Geneva gathering on Thursday as the two-day event hosts speeches and talks on artificial intelligence applications for robotics, medicine, education, sustainable development and much more. "Artificial intelligence is changing our world and our lives," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said by video, noting its promise for things like education and health care in remote areas, increasing crop yields, and early warning systems for natural disasters. While artificial intelligence has been developed for years, its application for consumers burst into public view 18 months ago when OpenAI launched ChatGPT, a standout among AI systems that churn out novel text, images and video based on a vast database of online writings, books and other media. Other corporate titans like Google, Microsoft and Amazon are vigorously competing in AI too. OpenAI has been battling a rising tide of concern about how it handles AI safetyincluding criticism from former top executives who recently left the company. Experts warn that AI could supercharge the spread of online disinformation: With a few typed commands and requests, computer-generated texts and images can be spread on social media and across the Internetblurring the line between fake news and reality. "Transforming its potential into reality requires AI that reduces bias, misinformation and security threats, instead of aggravating them," Guterres said, insisting it must also involve helping developing countries "harness AI for themselves" and "connecting the unconnected" around the world. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Brussels launched a probe last year into Chinese electric car subsidies, provoking Beijing's ire. The EU faces a delicate balancing act as it prepares to rev up taxes on Chinese electric cars to protect European industry, while steering clear of a US-style showdown with Beijing that could spark a trade war. Europe's automotive sector is the jewel in its industrial crownbehind iconic brands from Mercedes to Ferraribut it faces an existential threat from the looming end of combustion engines and China's head start in the switch to electric. When Brussels launched a probe last year into Chinese electric car subsidies, officials said they wanted to put the brakes on what they claimed were unfair practices undercutting Europe's car manufacturers. Beijing reacted angrily at the time, crying protectionism. The EU has until July 4 to order a provisional hike in import duties on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs)currently at 10 percentwith the expectation it could make its move some time in June. As anticipation builds, China has raised the temperature further with its own threats of duties. Europe's agriculture imports could be in the firing line. Experts suggest Brussels could hike duties to between 20 and 30 percentenough to discourage but not fully deter Chinese exporters, which research firm Rhodium Group estimates would require 40 to 50 percent tariffs. That is a calculated move by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyenwho stressed the EU was planning "targeted" action, after the United States quadrupled its own duties on Chinese electric cars to 100 percent. The EV standoff comes in a context of rising trade tensions between Beijing and Western countrieswhich are investing billions in the energy transition and accuse the Asian giant of unfair competition on everything from wind turbines to solar panels. But the EU is carefully calibrating its steps. "I don't think anyone in Brussels wants a full-blown trade war or technology war," said Jacob Gunter, senior analyst at China-focused think tank MERICS. "But there's a growing recognition that something needs to change in the trade and technology relationships between the EU and China." Different EU, US approaches China is the world's biggest car exporterand Europe is a critical market. EU imports of EVs from China mushroomed from around 57,000 in 2020 to around 437,000 in 2023, the US-based Peterson Institute for International Economics said. Their value rose over the same period from $1.6 billion to $11.5 billion, according to Rhodium Group. Whereas the United States appears ready to risk a trade conflict with China, Elvire Fabry of think tank the Jacques Delors Institute sees key differences in Europe's strategy. Washington's move is "based on a political priority to isolate China and slow down its technological development", she argued. "The European approach is... based on facts established by an investigation" and aims to restore fair competition, Fabry said. Green transition risk Crucially, Brussels must also balance concerns about Chinese imports with its targets for slashing carbon emissions. The EU wants many more Europeans driving electric cars as it prepares to outlaw the sale of new fossil fuel-powered cars from 2035. China has sought to leverage this point. "These measures will only harm the interests of their own consumers and affect the global green transformation and efforts to tackle climate change," He Yadong, China's commerce ministry spokesperson, said this month. At home too, the EU's anti-subsidy probe has fueled divisions between member states: it is pushed by Paris and backed by French automakers, but Germany and Sweden both expressed reservations. Not all European manufacturers are on board either, with German carmakers opposing the probe. 'Politically driven' The EV investigation, one of the bloc's biggest to date against China, provoked Beijing's ire, especially since it came at the initiative of Brusselsrather than being triggered by a formal complaint. MERICS' Gunter said he expected a "pretty sharp response". China gave a taste of what retaliatory moves it could take by launching an anti-dumping probe in January into brandy imported from the EU. Beijing appeared to up the ante last week with reports in state-owned tabloid Global Times on potential tit-for-tat moves, like targeting pork imports. And the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) referred to a legal expert cited in Chinese media saying that European wine and dairy products could find themselves caught in the crossfire. The trade group told AFP that the probe "appears to have been politically driven, lacking substantial complaints from European industries that adequately represent manufacturers' interests". The EU will have to decide on any final duties by November. 2024 AFP Cecilia Huerta Gallegos, 30, was last seen in the 5600 block of Southwick Street on July 8, 2019, according to the San Antonio Police Department. Carlos Javier Sanchez | Contribu The sister of a San Antonio woman who has been missing since 2019 is pleading for the man charged in her death to take a polygraph test. In front of the Bexar County Courthouse on Thursday, Mireya Lopez, sister of Cecilia Huerta Gallegos, publicly called on her sisters husband, Reyes Gallegos, to take a polygraph test, also known as a lie detector test. Lopez said her family believes Cecilia Gallegos is dead, but they are hoping they can get the answers they need to give her a proper burial. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Our family has endured unimaginable pain and uncertainty during this time, Lopez said. Our family, Cecilias children, deserve to know the truth. They need closure; they need answers. She was joined by members of the nonprofit Search and Support San Antonio, which helps families search for their missing loved ones free of cost. The nonprofit has been searching for Cecilia Gallegos since she went missing. Recently, the group posted an AI-generated video of Cecilia Gallegos where she is seen talking about her disappearance and pleading for people to find her. Mireya Lopez, center, is embraced by her friend Laura Flores, from left, Nina Brooks, founder and president of Search and Support San Antonio, and Lori Wittmeyer, case intake manager of Search and Support SA, after talking to reporters about her missing sister Cecilia Huerta Gallegos outside of the Bexar County Justice Center on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Lopez publicly called on her sisters husband, Reyes Gallegos, to take a polygraph test. He was charged with murder in connection to his wifes July 2019 disappearance and is scheduled to stand trial in August. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Nina Brooks, founder and president of Search and Support San Antonio, introduces Mireya Lopez, right, sister of Cecilia Huerta Gallegos during a press conference outside of the Bexar County Justice Center on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Lopez publicly called on her sisters husband, Reyes Gallegos, to take a polygraph test. He was charged with murder in connection to his wifes July 2019 disappearance and is scheduled to stand trial in August. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Mireya Lopez talks about her sister Cecilia Huerta Gallegos during a press conference held outside of the Bexar County Justice Center on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Lopez publicly called on her sisters husband, Reyes Gallegos, to take a polygraph test. He was charged with murder in connection to his wifes July 2019 disappearance and is scheduled to stand trial in August. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Mireya Lopez shows one of the tattoos she got to honor her sister Cecilia Huerta Gallegos, who has been missing since July 2019, outside the Bexar County Justice Center on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Search and Support San Antonio, a local missing persons non-profit, held the press conference to urge Gallegos husband Reyes Gallegos to undergo a polygraph test. He was charged with murder in connection to his wifes disappearance and is scheduled to stand trial in August. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Mireya Lopez holds up a picture of her sister Cecilia Huerta Gallegos, who has been missing since July 2019, outside the Bexar County Justice Center on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Search and Support San Antonio, a local missing persons non-profit, held the press conference to urge Gallegos husband Reyes Gallegos to undergo a polygraph test. He was charged with murder in connection to his wifes disappearance and is scheduled to stand trial in August. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Lori Wittmeyer, case intake manager of Search and Support San Antonio, front, talks during a press conference about missing person Cecilia Huerta Gallegos on Thursday, May 30, 2024, outside of the Bexar County Justice Center in San Antonio, Texas. The local missing persons non-profit held the press conference to urge Gallegoss husband Reyes Gallegos to undergo a polygraph test. He was charged with murder in connection to his wifes disappearance and is scheduled to stand trial in August. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Mireya Lopez shows one of the tattoos she got to honor her sister Cecilia Huerta Gallegos, who has been missing since July 2019, outside the Bexar County Justice Center on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The tattoo is a picture of Gallegoss eye and the year she went missing. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Mireya Lopez, center, is embraced by her friend Laura Flores, from left, Nina Brooks, founder and president of Search and Support San Antonio, after talking to reporters about her missing sister Cecilia Huerta Gallegos outside of the Bexar County Justice Center on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Lopez publicly called on her sisters husband, Reyes Gallegos, to take a polygraph test. He was charged with murder in connection to his wifes July 2019 disappearance and is scheduled to stand trial in August. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Mireya Lopez shows one of the tattoos she got to honor her sister Cecilia Huerta Gallegos, who has been missing since July 2019, outside the Bexar County Justice Center on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Search and Support San Antonio, a local missing persons non-profit, held the press conference to urge Gallegos husband Reyes Gallegos to undergo a polygraph test. He was charged with murder in connection to his wifes disappearance and is scheduled to stand trial in August. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Mireya Lopez holds up a picture of her sister Cecilia Huerta Gallegos, who has been missing since July 2019, outside the Bexar County Justice Center on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Search and Support San Antonio, a local missing persons non-profit, held the press conference to urge Gallegos husband Reyes Gallegos to undergo a polygraph test. He was charged with murder in connection to his wifes disappearance and is scheduled to stand trial in August. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lopez said her request was not meant to be an attack on Reyes Gallegos but an attempt to clear his name. We ask (Reyes Gallegos), from the deepest of our hearts, to consider taking a polygraph test. Its a small step that could mean everything to us, to Cecilias memory and to the healing of our family, Lopez said. At the time of her disappearance, Cecilia Gallegos had four children: 6, 7, 12 and 14 years old. Nina Brooks, founder and president of Search and Support SA, said their group has been searching properties they believe fit the timeline of her disappearance, but said the polygraph test could help them find her body. We hope that he shows some kind of reaction, and based on that, we will go and search locations, Brooks said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Polygraph tests are not admissible in Texas courts due to their lack of reliability. It is possible for someone to tell the truth and fail a lie detector test. Brooks said they hope the test will provide some direction so that they can continue their search. Cecilia Gallegos was last seen on July 7, 2019, when she left her job as a certified nursing assistant at St. Francis Nursing Home. She was 30 years old. Reyes Gallegos was charged with murder in 2021 in connection with his wifes disappearance. He is scheduled to stand trial in August but is currently free on bond. Investigators believe Reyes Gallegos killed his wife in a jealous rage and disposed of her body. He was convicted for filing a false police report in the case. Reyes Gallegos previously told police he and his wife got into an argument about infidelity, and she cut him on his finger with a knife before fleeing on foot. Police said his story was inconsistent with home security camera footage. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An arrest affidavit for Reyes Gallegos states that the video captured Cecilia Gallegos going inside a bedroom shared by the couple. However, there is no footage of her coming out. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The cross-section image of a fuel rod assembly shows individual rods, like a handful of pencils seen from above. Credit: Riina Virta All spent nuclear fuel that will be deposited in the bedrock will be measured with a method and device that have been developed in a doctoral research thesis being defended on 4 June 2024 at the University of Helsinki. The final disposal operations are being prepared to start next year in Finland. At Olkiluoto in Eurajoki, preparations are underway to start the disposal of spent nuclear fuel in the Finnish bedrock next yearas the first place in the world. After use, nuclear fuel becomes strongly radiating and dangerous waste. It contains a large amount of uranium and plutonium, which are building blocks for nuclear weapons. All these materials must be intact when the fuel rods are stored in their final deposit. This is why they must be meticulously and dependably measured before depositing them. "This way, we can be sure of what is being deposited in the bedrock, and that all nuclear materials will remain in peaceful use," says visiting researcher Riina Virta at the University of Helsinki. All the important information must be gathered before the final disposal. The measurements must also be stored in a way that will be accessible and understandable to human beings for thousands, even hundreds and thousands of years. For her doctoral thesis, Virta has studied measuring methods for nuclear waste at the University of Helsinki in cooperation with the Helsinki Institute of Physics (HIP). Virta also works as an inspector in the nuclear materials safeguards section of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. Gamma camera sees inside assembly In her thesis work, Virta developed a PGET device, i.e. an imaging method called passive gamma emission tomography, which measures the gamma radiation emitted by spent nuclear fuel. Nuclear fuel consists of rods, a few meters long and containing uranium, which are gathered into an assembly to act as a fuel element. The PGET instrument can produce an exact cross-section image of the fuel assembly. The cross-section image allows us to check that the assembly still retains all the rods. The challenging thing with this method is that the fuel dampens the radiation very efficiently. "In practice, the radiation from the middle of the assembly just barely reaches the detector, i.e. the 'camera.' We wanted to fix this problem in our research," notes Virta. The image quality was improved e.g. by developing the collection of data and using that data more wisely. The method was also developed so that the instrument can be used, not just in water, but in air, as well. This makes it adaptable to the Finnish plants taking care of the final disposal. The research also developed software tools to make the operative application of the method easier. The performance of the method was proven with the help of an extensive library of field measurements carried out in Finnish nuclear power plants. "This means the method has been studied in detail and found to work well, and now we are just waiting for the operations of final disposal to start in Olkiluoto," says Virta. More information: Thesis: Gamma tomography of spent nuclear fuel for geological repository safeguards This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The sections of these images outlined with a red box were annotated as privacy threatening with the use of an open source dataset called DIPA. GCR then used the annotated text prompts to replace the sections with visually similar or well-integrated substitutes. Credit: 2024 A. Xu, S. Fang, H. Yang et al./ Association for Computing Machinery Image privacy could be protected with the use of generative artificial intelligence. Researchers from Japan, China and Finland created a system which replaces parts of images that might threaten confidentiality with visually similar but AI-generated alternatives. Named "generative content replacement," in tests, 60% of viewers couldn't tell which images had been altered. The researchers intend for this system to provide a more visually cohesive option for image censoring, which helps to preserve the narrative of the image while protecting privacy. This research was presented at the Association for Computing Machinery's CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, in the U.S., in May 2024. With just a few text prompts, generative AI can offer a quick fix for a tricky school essay, a new business strategy or endless meme fodder. The advent of generative AI into daily life has been swift, and the potential scale of its role and influence are still being grappled with. Fears over its impact on future job security, online safety and creative originality have led to strikes from Hollywood writers, court cases over faked photos and heated discussions about authenticity. However, a team of researchers has proposed using a sometimes controversial feature of generative AIits ability to manipulate imagesas a way to solve privacy issues. "We found that the existing image privacy protection techniques are not necessarily able to hide information while maintaining image aesthetics. Resulting images can sometimes appear unnatural or jarring. We considered this a demotivating factor for people who might otherwise consider applying privacy protection," explained Associate Professor Koji Yatani from the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo. "So, we decided to explore how we can achieve boththat is, robust privacy protection and image useabilityat the same time by incorporating the latest generative AI technology." Examples of popular methods for image content replacement and protection (outlined here by red boxes), and how they compare to GCR in the far-right column. Credit: 2024 A. Xu, S. Fang, H. Yang et al./ Association for Computing Machinery As has been comically noted in many other AI-generated images shared online, for now GCR can also struggle to recreate realistic hands and facial features. Credit: 2024 A. Xu, S. Fang, H. Yang et al. / Association for Computing Machinery The researchers created a computer system which they named generative content replacement (GCR). This tool identifies what might constitute a privacy threat and automatically replaces it with a realistic but artificially created substitute. For example, personal information on a ticket stub could be replaced with illegible letters, or a private building exchanged for a fake building or other landscape features. "There are a number of commonly used image protection methods, such as blurring, color filling or just removing the affected part of the image. Compared to these, our results show that generative content replacement can better maintain the story of the original images and higher visual harmony," said Yatani. "We found that participants couldn't detect GCR in 60% of images." For now, the GCR system requires a lot of computation resources, so it won't be available on any personal devices just yet. The tested system was fully automatic, but the team has since developed a new interface to allow users to customize images, giving more control over the final outcome. Although some may be concerned about the risks of this type of realistic image alteration, where the lines between original and altered imagery become more ambiguous, the team is positive about its advantages. "For public users, we believe that the greatest benefit of this research is providing a new option for image privacy protection," said Yatani. "GCR offers a novel method for protecting against privacy threats, while maintaining visual coherence for storytelling purposes and enabling people to more safely share their content." More information: Anran Xu et al, Examining Human Perception of Generative Content Replacement in Image Privacy Protection, Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (2024). DOI: 10.1145/3613904.3642103 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: CC0 Public Domain A phishing incident involving the emails of workers at University of Chicago Medical Center may have exposed the personal information of about 10,300 people, according to the hospital. The email accounts of several hospital workers were accessed between Jan. 4 and Jan. 30, the hospital said in a news release. When the hospital learned of the incident, it took steps to secure those email accounts, and it launched an investigation. In late March, the hospital determined that the email accounts contained health information, and for some people may have also included Social Security numbers, passport numbers, driver's license numbers, insurance information, billing information and access information, such as security questions and answers. "UCMC remains committed to protecting the confidentiality of all faculty, staff, students and patients and takes cybersecurity threats to its systems seriously," the hospital said in a news release. "It has taken steps to prevent a similar occurrence from happening again, including implementation of additional technical safeguards." Phishing is when cybercriminals attempt to access sensitive data through fraudulent emails or websites, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Affected individuals may call 833-918-4065 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with questions. The security incident follows a string of high-profile cyberattacks on health care institutions in the Chicago area and across the country. Earlier this month Ascension, which has 14 hospitals in Illinois, said it was the victim of a ransomware attack. The attack led Ascension to postpone some nonemergency elective surgeries, tests and appointments and temporarily divert ambulances carrying new patients from one Illinois hospital. In January, Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago also faced a cyberattack. It took more than a month for Lurie to get all of its systems back online after the attack. Health care institutions are often targets for cybercriminals because of their size, their dependence on technology and the large amounts of sensitive data they hold, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2024 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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 Systemic issues can put women's security at risk when artificial intelligence (AI) is adopted, and gender biases across widely used AI-systems pose a significant obstacle to the positive use of AI in the context of peace and security in South-East Asia. Moreover, women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and women's Civil Society Organisations (WCSOs) in the region are at high risk of experiencing cyber threats and, while largely aware of these risks, are not necessarily able to prepare for, or actively recover from, cyber-attacks. These are among the key findings of research released today by UN Women and the United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau) examining the connections between AI, digital security and the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda in South-East Asia. The research was made possible with support from the Government of Australia, under the Cyber and Critical Tech Cooperation Program (CCTCP) of the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the Government of the Republic of Korea through the UN Women initiative, Women, Peace and Cybersecurity: Promoting Women, Peace and Security in the Digital World. With AI projected to add USD 1 trillion to the gross domestic product of South-East Asian countries by 2030, understanding the impact of these technologies on the WPS agenda is critical to supporting these countries to regulate the technologies and mitigate their risks. The report "Artificial Intelligence and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in South-East Asia," examines the opportunities and risks of AI from this unique perspective by focusing on four types of gender biases in AIdiscrimination, stereotyping, exclusion, and insecuritywhich need to be addressed before the region can fully benefit from new technological developments. This research examines the relationship between AI and WPS according to three types of AI and its applications: AI for peace, neutral AI, and AI for conflict. This report notes that across these categories, there are favorable and unfavorable effects of AI for gender-responsive peace and women's agency in peace efforts. While using AI for peace purposes can have multiple benefits, such as improving inclusivity and the effectiveness of conflict prevention and tracking evidence of human rights breaches, it is used unequally between genders, and pervasive gender biases render women less likely to benefit from the application of these technologies. The report also highlights risks related to the use of these technologies for military purposes. This research identifies two dimensions to improving the dynamics of AI and the WPS agenda in the region: mitigating the risks of AI systems to advancing the WPS agenda, especially on social media, but also on other tools, such as chatbots and mobile applications; and fostering the development of AI tools built explicitly to support gender-responsive peace in line with WPS commitments. The second report, "Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities and Resilience among Women Human Rights Defenders and Civil Society in South-East Asia," explores cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities in this context with the goal of promoting cyber-resilience and the human and digital rights of women in all their diversity. While there is increasing awareness of the risks women and girls face in cyberspace, there is little understanding of the impacts of gender on cybersecurity, or of the processes and practices used to protect digital systems and networks from cyber risks and their harms. This work differs from previous research into cybersecurity as it focuses on human-centric as compared to techno-centric cybersecurity and emphasizes human factors rather than technical skills as well as the centralization of gender as critical to cybersecurity. Furthermore, cyber threats are understood to be gendered in nature, whereby WCSOs and WHRDs are specifically targeted due to the focus of their work and are likely to be attacked with misogynistic and sexualized harassment. The results highlight that digital technologies are central to the work of WCSOs and WHRDs, while simultaneously noting that WCSOs had higher threat perceptions and threat experiences compared to CSOs that do not work on gender and women's rights, carrying disproportionate risks of disrupting their work, damaging their reputation, and even creating harm or injury, all of which contribute to marginalizing women's voices. The largest differences in experienced threats between the groups were for online harassment, trolling (deliberately provoking others online to incite reactions) and doxxing (when private or identifying information is distributed about someone online without their permission). This report's recommendations include fostering inclusive and collaborative approaches in cybersecurity policy development and engagement, and building the knowledge of civil society, government, private-sector actors and other decision makers to develop appropriate means of prevention and response to cyberattacks and their disproportionate impacts on WCSOs and WHRDs. Specific attention should be given to at-risk individuals and organizations, such as women's groups operating in politically volatile and conflict and crisis-affected contexts and situations where civic space is shrinking. The launch took place during a UN Women youth conference, Gen-Forum 2024: Young Leaders for Women, Peace and Security in Asia and the Pacific which commenced today in Bangkok, Thailand. UNU Macau and UN Women aim for this research, conducted over 12 months, to contribute to the global discourse on ethics and norms surrounding AI and digital governance at large. Next, training materials based on the research findings and consultations with women's rights advocates in the region will be rolled out, initially in Thailand and Vietnam, with e-learning modules and training handbooks to be publicly available in English, Thai and Vietnamese for interested stakeholders from mid-2024. More information: Artificial Intelligence and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in South-East Asia [Full Report] [Research Summary] Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities and Resilience among Women Human Rights Defenders and Civil Society in South-East Asia [Full Report] [Research Summary] Marc Whyte, San Antonio city council member representing District 10, was seen outside of a courtroom after his hearing on May 14, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. This was Whytes first courtroom appearance after he was arrested for a DWI charge last year. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer An independent lawyer has determined that the citys Ethics Review Board should take up an ethics complaint that embattled attorney Martin Phipps filed against Council Member Marc Whyte last week. Attorney Ross Fischer, hired by the city to vet the abuse-of-office complaint, deemed these allegations sufficient for the ERB to consider, city spokesperson Brian Chasnoff said in a statement. Phipps alleges in his complaint that Whyte used his authority as City Councilman and special access to law enforcement in an attempt to remove one of Phipps two minor children from his King William home April 26 during the childrens court-ordered overnight visit. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Whyte told the San Antonio Express-News last week that his wife, Lorien Whyte, alerted him via text message about an alleged situation involving one of the children. The District 10 council member said shed shared a screenshot of an alarming text exchange between Phipps ex-wife and the child. The child said their father had grabbed and shaken them. Lorien Whyte, an appellate attorney, had represented Phipps ex-wife in part of their child custody case. Attorney Marc Whyte was elected to City Councils District 10 seat in May 2023. John Davenport/San Antonio Express-News Attorney Martin Phipps announces Wednesday May 16, 2018 at the Bexar County Courthouse that Bexar County has filed suit against opioid manufacturers, promoters and distributors responsible for opioid addiction in Bexar County. JOHN DAVENPORT/San Antonio Express-News Marc Whyte, who was attending a Fiesta event a few blocks from Phipps house, called and texted Police Chief William McManus after receiving the screenshot from his wife. When McManus did not respond, Whyte sought out Sheriff Javier Salazar, who happened to be at the same event. Salazar sent a deputy who was working security at the event to Phipps house. By the time the deputy arrived, San Antonio police were there. A police report attached to the ethics complaint notes that the responding officers did not observe any injuries on the child. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If any child is in danger, I will always act as immediately as possible, Whyte said last week. I would do everything I did that night again. Phipps, who represented Bexar County in a 2018 lawsuit against opioid drugmakers, distributors and retailers, has faced accusations from former employees of abuse and retaliation. He was arrested in 2021 on suspicion of telephone harassment for repeatedly contacting another ex-wife. A judge dismissed the misdemeanor charge against him in 2022 for insufficient evidence. When someone files an ethics complaint against a council member, it is the citys policy to hire an independent lawyer to review the complaint and determine whether it could constitute a violation of the citys ethics codes. If so, the complaint goes before the Ethics Review Board, whose 11 members are appointed by the mayor and council. The board will now work with Fischer to review the facts of the case and could decide to hold a hearing on the matter before issuing a decision. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fischer is based in the Austin area. Hes a previous appointee to the Texas Ethics Commission and worked for the State Bar of Texas as assistant chief disciplinary counsel. He was county attorney for Kendall County from 2001 to 2004. The Ethics Review Board received Phipps complaint Wednesday, Chasnoff said. Phipps filed the complaint May 21. Phipps ethics complaint accuses Whyte of violating sections of the citys ethics code covering conflicts of interest, unfair advancement of private interest and representation of private interests. All but one of the alleged ethics code violations Phipps made against Whyte will be considered. The Ethics Review Board wont consider Phipps allegation that Whytes actions that night represented a conflict of interest between an elected official and his or her outside client, as defined by city code. In a video released by San Antonio police, Mikey Valdez, 18, is seen running in Market Square after shots are fired at Fiesta de los Reyes on April 28. Valdez was shot and killed by officers after they say he fatally shot Albert Cisneros, 20. San Antonio Police Department San Antonio police released body-worn camera footage from the night two people were killed during Fiesta. The shooting took place on April 28 at Market Square during Fiesta de Los Reyes. The two suspected gunmen, identified as Albert Cisneros, 20, and Mikey Valdez, 18, died at the event. Two bystanders went to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, and two others were treated at the scene. A fifth person said they were shot in the incident, but Lt. Michelle Ramos said in the video released Wednesday night that person has not spoken with investigators. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police have said Valdez fatally shot Cisneros. Valdez was then shot by police and died at the scene. Cisneros later died at a hospital. A sergeant was also struck by debris. Police are still investigating whether the bystanders were struck by the suspects or police officers gunfire, Ramos said. Police said the officers who shot at Valdez were Sgt. Joseph Fech, with 13 years of service, and officer Zachary Krok, with five years. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ramos emphasized that the body camera footage was from officers who did not fire their weapons at the scene. She does not explain why the footage from the officers who shot their guns was not included. The video begins with the flash from the muzzle of a gun being fired toward Valdez, who is seen wearing a black hoodie at the corner of Conch Valley and Dolorosa Street. Cisneros isnt seen in the video. After Cisneros is believed to have shot his gun, Valdez is seen running one way and then turning back and running the other way after Cisneros. Officers began to run after the two men, telling the crowd to get down as they pushed them out of the way. Another shot shows a bottle the police believe was shot by Cisneros. Lastly, a video shows the officers running after Valdez and Cisneros. Gunshots can be heard. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police released both a narrated version of the video and raw footage. A San Antonio man has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prisonvfor stealing firearms from a pawn shop to sell online. seng kui Lim / 500px/Getty Images/500px A San Antonio man who stole guns from a pawn shop at gunpoint and sold them online has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison. Antonio Hinojosa Jr., 21, plotted with others in a social media chat to rob the pawn shop, according to court records. Wearing gloves, masks and dark clothing, Hinojosa and the three others carried out the robbery on May 18, 2023. They brandished guns to intimidate store employees and made off with 14 firearms and more than $8,600 in jewelry. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Afterward, Hinojosa posted photos of the stolen weapons on social media to sell them to his contacts. He was arrested the following month, and this year he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery in violation of the Hobbs Act, a federal statute that punishes robberies, attempted robberies and acts of extortion that affect interstate commerce. Hinojosa also pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm in the course of a crime of violence and conspiring to traffic firearms. A co-defendant, Joshua Michael Govea, who held the pawn shop employees at gunpoint, pleaded guilty to similar charges. Govea was sentenced last week to nine years and 9 months in prison. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Then 17-year-old Margaret Thompson of Grand Island was fighting an uphill battle with death in the face of cancer. Prayer, research and a whole lot of willpower were giving her the edge. In the May 30, 1974, edition of the Grand Island Daily Independent, Thompson shared her story with reporter Ron Stewart. A slight and fragile girl who weighs only 52 pounds, Margaret learned two years ago that she had a rare form of cancer about which little is known, the article reads. Called Sipples Syndrome, the cancer is believed to be caused by defective cells, probably present at birth. Doctors here were stumped by her symptoms. She had always been small, slight and slow developing, but she seemed otherwise healthy. After some time Thompson was referred to the University Hospital at Omaha for tests in 1972. Doctors there were still unable to diagnose her disease, until a medical student doing research in cancer suggested Sipples. The extremely rare disease attracted the attention of doctors all over the country, but no cure is known, the article said. The best doctors could do was suggest a risky attempt to arrest the cancer by surgically removing it. The decision whether to try the surgery was left to Margaret. We didnt keep it from her, Margarets mother, Mrs. Blaine Thompson, said. We explained to her what she had and what the doctors had recommended to do about it. And we told her they really didnt give us much hope. Margaret remained aggressively brave. They didnt know me, she said. Oh, I had a good cry, but that was enough of that. I decided theres no time to cry; Ive got to live. Because the surgery was the only thing the doctors could recommend, thats what she decided to do. And that was September of 1972. For weeks after the surgery, doctors watched her, hopeful that the cancer would not spread, the article read. Their hopes were dashed when it was discovered that the cancer had reached Margarets lungs. By December of that same year, any further recommendation by doctors included a desperation cure with an experimental drug out of Italy Adriamycin. Margaret said she felt like an experiment, but she tried this option too. By December of 1973, doctors seemed to think the cancer had stabilized and was not spreading. She stopped her bi-monthly treatments as of the articles date, but would likely have to pick them up again in the future. Despite her disease, Margaret has managed to keep up in school, the article adds. In 1972, when she had surgery, she missed about half the year, but made up the credits with a teacher who came to her home. She completed her junior year this year with above average grades and hopes to graduate next spring with the rest of her class. Although never able to participate in sports, Margaret led an otherwise normal life. A very craft-minded person, she reported a love of knitting, crochet, embroidery and decoupage. Margaret and her family credit doctors, researchers and faith. I know there were many people that were concerned for Margaret and prayed for her, Mrs. Thompson said. I think prayer has been a big help. When the doctors came to the final diagnosis it was tough the only thing I had to rely on was God. I had to trust Him. Looking forward Margaret did indeed graduate from high school Grand Island Senior High with the rest of her class in 1975. She had another surgery a year after to remove cancerous tumors from her thyroid, added more regular medications, and was diagnosed with scoliosis, but never lost her spunk. She picked up a full-time career with Goodwill Industries straight out of school and was honored with Goodwills Worker of the Year in 1976 and as Outstanding Handicapped Nebraskan by the Governors Commission on Employment of the Handicapped in 1979. Obituary records indicate that her father, R. Blaine Thompson, survived both Margaret and Irma (his wife), passing at the age of 92 in 2011. Further research shows that Margaret is buried alongside her parents at the Grand Island Cemetery. She died on April 10, 1988 at the age of 31. As of 2011, a Maggie Thompson Memorial Scholarship lived through the Goodwill Scholarship Fund. Marubeni seeks offshore wind power, green industrial park investment in northern Vietnam By Tri Duc Thu, May 30, 2024 | 4:31 pm GMT+7 Vietnams northern province of Thai Binh is working to facilitate Japanese giant Marubenis offshore wind power and green industrial park projects, said Thai Binh Chairman Nguyen Khac Than. The provincial leader made the statement at a Wednesday meeting with representatives from a joint venture between Marubeni and its Vietnamese partner T&T Group. Japanese businesses play a crucial part in Thai Binhs development, with investments of $2 billion so far, he added. From left to right: Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh, deputy CEO of T&T; Yuji Sato, vice president of Marubeni Europower; Nguyen Khac Than, Chairman of Thai Binh province; and Vu Kim Cu, head of Thai Binh's economic zone and industrial park management at a meeting in Thai Binh province, northern Vietnam, May 29, 2024. Photo courtesy of Thai Binh's news portal. Offshore wind power For the offshore wind power project, Marubeni said it is deploying feasibility studies in the province and is willing to make the investment as soon as the Vietnamese government approves the relevant legal framework. In August 2022, a joint venture between T&T Group and Denmarks Orsted unveiled an offshore wind power proposal in Thai Binh province. The 1,000 MW project, with an investment of $2.5 billion, was set to generate 3.5 billion of kWh annually, starting 2030. However, in June 2023, Orsted said it had "paused market development activities in Vietnam", noting that Vietnam is still "an important supplier market". Green industrial park Regarding its green industrial park project, Marubeni noted that per Thai Binh provinces 2021-2030 master plan, the Japanese firm aims to develop a green facility. It also plans to supply green energy and rooftop solar power to businesses inside the industrial park. Thai Binh has 10 industrial parks and 49 industrial clusters, covering 3,000 hectares in total. Per the master plan, the province wants to build 13 more covering 3,574 hectares, including those specializing in biology-pharmaceuticals, tourism-service-seaport-industry, and logistics-urban area-industry. Thai Binh is planning to make industry-construction its driving economic force, accounting for 62.1% of its economy in 2030. Pharmaceutical industry sees slowing growth momentum By Vietnam News Thu, May 30, 2024 | 2:07 pm GMT+7 The pharmaceutical industry's growth momentum started to fade in the first quarter of the year, as companies grappled with fluctuating and rising prices of raw materials and intensifying competition in the market. The IMP4 high-tech Imexpharm antibiotic factory in Binh Duong province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of imexpharm.com The industry is an essential sector that is typically less impacted by economic slowdowns. However, weak demand has posed challenges for this fast-growing industry in Vietnam. After record profits and strong growth in 2023, the industry's momentum has faced limitations in 2024 due to rising raw material costs and increased market competition, according to SSI Securities Corporation. The broker forecasts pharmaceutical profit growth of 8.4% in 2024, lower than the 15.5% projected for the market's benchmark VN-Index. It estimates an 8% increase in revenue and 6% net profit growth for companies in the industry. The lower projected net profit growth is due to the rising costs of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), as well as the healthcare market having lower gross profit margins compared to retail. While 2023 was a good year for the industry, SSI believes it will be hard to achieve the same momentum this year. In fact, the industry's business results have largely remained flat or seen only slight improvements compared to 2023. Rising revenues, falling profits In the first three months, top pharmaceutical firms like DHG Pharmaceutical (DHG) and Imexpharm Corporation (IMP) experienced a paradoxical situation as their revenue increased while profit dipped. Despite a slight rise of 2.4% in net revenue, DHG reported a 38.4% year-on-year decline in profit after tax to VND222.2 billion ($8.7 million). This was largely attributed to a more than 21% spike in the cost of goods sold, which sharply erased gross profit margins. Similarly, Imexpharm saw its net revenue grow nearly 2.5% over last year to VND491.1 billion ($19.3 million), but its profit after tax dropped 20.5% to over VND61.9 billion ($2.43 million). While many companies in the same industry have reported increasing revenues but declining profits, there are still some businesses that have seen both their revenues and profits decrease. Imexpharm's leadership cited three main reasons for the mixed results, including higher input material prices, intense market competition, and the IMP4 factory coming online in the third quarter of 2023, which led to rising depreciation and operating costs. Meanwhile, during the same period, Bidiphar saw a slight gain in net revenue to VND383.8 billion ($15.08 million), but the cost of goods sold climbed at a faster pace than revenue, causing gross profits to drop more than VND2 billion to VND188.5 billion ($7.4 million). After deducting expenses, the company reported a profit after tax of VND67.1 billion ($2.63 million), which showed no change from the same period last year. Nevertheless, it has already earned 25% of its full-year profit target of VND320 billion ($12.57 million) in just the first three months. Poor results On the other hand, some companies have witnessed declines in both revenue and profit . For instance, Vinapharm recorded consolidated net revenue of VND1.19 trillion ($46.74 million), down 3% on-year, and profit after tax of VND94.4 billion ($3.7 million), down 15%. The falls were due to poor business results at its parent company, some subsidiaries, and associated companies in the first quarter. Traphaco also saw a 11.6% drop in net revenue, to nearly VND547.5 billion ($21.5 million). Although the company reduced costs and its financial income increased, the large decline in revenue led to a loss of 32% in profit after tax to VND54 billion ($2.12 million). Traphaco had enjoyed three consecutive years of strong profit growth, including a record year in 2022 and its second-highest profits in 2023. First quarter profits at the pharmaceutical firm were also higher than in the same period in 2021, when Traphaco's strong profit streak began. However, the significant decline in profits is likely to indicate that the company has passed its peak profitability. According to SSI, policies are expected to continue supporting domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in 2024. A key policy expected to be passed this year is an amendment to the Pharmaceutical Law, which aims to help reduce challenges and provide more incentives for domestic enterprises to pursue higher standards. The securities firm said that these policies will help local manufacturers improve their market share compared to imported healthcare products. However, the impact of these policies will be more evident in the following years, starting in 2025. Mirae Asset Vietnam Securities also believes that legal and regulatory reforms will help drive growth in Vietnams pharmaceutical sector. The financial services firm forecasts that the value of the country's pharmaceutical market will reach $7.89 billion in 2024, a 9.1% increase year-on-year. Brent Salter conducts a tour of the Tower Life Building this month. The building, which was set to close at the end of the month to begin a two-year renovation project, will remain open for another month to accommodate a heavy demand for additional tours of the historic structure. Robin Jerstad For those whove wanted to see the historic Tower Life Building up close, theres still a chance to tour the iconic structure. Restoration work on the building set to begin this summer has been delayed, and that means more time to accommodate the high demand for tours of the historic property. Due to tremendous public response to explore Tower Life Building ahead of its multi-year renovation, tours of the building have been extended, says a news release from Amigo Walking Tours, the local company that conducted paid tours of the historic building from April 12 through May 15. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tours will resume Saturday and continue through June 30, Amigo announced Wednesday. The tours cost $40 per person, with a portion donated to the downtown beautification group Centro San Antonio. The tours are touted on the Amigo website as an opportunity to step inside a time capsule and explore both the past and future of San Antonios most iconic neo-gothic skyscraper, offering a final chance to see typically off-limits areas. Tours take participants to the buildings basement level, including its old tunnel system underneath South St. Marys Street, and up to its 28th floor to bask in the buildings panoramic downtown views. Tour participants are encouraged to take photos and shoot video to document their experience. READ MORE: Tower Life Building set to begin next chapter as housing complex Interest in seeing the building up close increased as word of its lengthy closure and subsequent tours spread, said Brent Salter, Amigo owner and founder and the person conducting its Tower Life tours. Advertisement Article continues below this ad More than 1,100 guests have already come on the tour, including some traveling from Austin and Houston, says an Amigo news release. The building was set to close at the end of May for a two-year renovation project to convert the bulk of the office space into a 244-unit housing complex. Visitors look over the 28th floor during a tour of the Tower Life Building this month. The building, which was set to close at the end of the month to begin a two-year renovation project, will remain open for another month to accommodate a heavy demand for additional tours of the historic structure. Robin Jerstad A group that includes the McCombs family, local developer Ed Cross and Jon Wiegand of Alamo Capital Advisers bought the building from the Zachry family in May 2022 for an undisclosed price. Plans are to turn the building into a multiuse facility that will include apartments, retail space and restaurants. Estimated costs of the renovations have not been disclosed. READ MORE: Frost Bank gives $2 million to Classical Music Institute for The Orchestra San Antonio Advertisement Article continues below this ad The majestic 31-story building, with its distinctive green terra cotta tiled roof and gothic, tiered design, has graced San Antonios skyline for more than nine decades. The Tower of Life building is seen in the distance this month. The building, which was set to close at the end of the month to begin a two-year renovation project, will remain open for another month to accommodate a heavy demand for additional tours of the historic structure. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Over its 95-year history, the building, at the corner of South St. Marys and Villita streets, has been home to numerous businesses. Several law firms leased office space there over the years, as did San Antonio Transit Authority, now VIA Metropolitan Transit, in the 1970s. The citys first Sears store occupied space in Tower Lifes first few floors when it opened in 1929 and through the 1930s, according to historic records and media accounts. Tower Life held the distinction as the tallest building on the citys skyline until 1988, when the Marriott Rivercenter surpassed it. Tower Life was the citys tallest structure until 1968, when the Tower of the Americas was built. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Twenty years ago, Beth Stroud was defrocked as a United Methodist Church pastor after telling her Philadelphia congregation that she was in a committed same-sex relationship. On Tuesday night, less than three weeks after the UMC repealed its anti-LGBTQ bans, she was reinstated. In a closed meeting of clergy from the UMC's Eastern Pennsylvania region, Stroud exceeded the two-thirds vote requirement to be readmitted as a full member and pastor in the UMC. Bishop John Schol of Eastern Pennsylvania welcomed the outcome, stating, "I'm grateful that the church has opened up to LGBTQ persons." Stroud was brought into the meeting room after the vote, overcome with emotion. "I was completely disoriented," she told The Associated Press via email. "For what felt like several minutes I couldn't tell where the front of the room was, where I was, where I needed to go. Everyone was clapping and then they started singing. The bishop asked me quietly if I wanted to say anything and I said I couldn't." She was handed the red stole that designates a fully ordained member of the clergy, and joined her colleagues in a procession into a worship service. Earlier this month, delegates at a major UMC conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, struck down longstanding anti-LGBTQ policies and created a path for clergy ousted because of them to seek reinstatement. Stroud even while recalling how her 2004 ouster disrupted her life chose that path, though some other past targets of UMC discipline chose otherwise. At 54, Stroud doesn't plan a return to full-time ministry at least not immediately. Now completing a three-year stint teaching writing at Princeton University, she is excited to be starting a new job this summer as assistant professor of Christian history at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio one of 13 seminaries run by the UMC. Yet even with the new teaching job, Stroud wanted to regain the options available to an ordained minister as she looks for a congregation to join near the Delaware, Ohio, campus. When Stroud finally made her decision, she knew it was the right one. But the decision did not come easily as she followed the UMC's deliberations on the anti-LGBTQ policies. "The first thing I felt was just anger thinking about the life I could have had," she told the AP at the time. "I loved being a pastor. I was good at it. With 20 more years of experience, I could have been very good helped a lot of people and been very fulfilled." Instead of pastoring, she spent several years in graduate schools, while earning modest income in temporary, non-tenured academic jobs. There were challenges, including a bout with cancer and divorce from her wife, although they proceeded to co-parent their daughter, who was born in 2005. Had she not been defrocked, Stroud said, "My whole life would have been different." The process that led to Stroud's ouster began in April 2003, when she told her congregation, the First United Methodist Church of Germantown, about her same-sex relationship. The church where Stroud had been a pastor for four years set up a legal fund to assist with her defense and hired her as a lay minister after she was defrocked. The UMC says it has no overall figures of how many clergy were defrocked for defying anti-LGBTQ bans or how many reinstatements might occur. (TBTCO) - Gia xang dau trong nuoc hom nay (10/10) uoc du bao co the uoc ieu chinh tang manh. Theo o, gia xang trong nuoc co the tang tu 950 - 1.250 ong/lit; gia dau diesel co kha nang tang khoang 820 - 1.050 ong/lit. Tren thi truong the gioi, gia dau giam sau khi du lieu cua Hoa Ky cho thay luong dau tho du tru tang, nhung muc giam bi han che boi rui ro gian oan nguon cung cua Iran do xung ot Trung ong va con bao Milton o Hoa Ky. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). China's drive to develop clean energy accelerates global green transition Xinhua) 10:43, May 30, 2024 BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- China's steadfast efforts in advancing clean energy and fostering global cooperation have emerged as a crucial drive propelling the world towards a greener future, experts and entrepreneurs said. "China has emerged as a significant contributor and leader in the global development of clean energy," Yang Lei, vice dean of the Institute of Energy, Peking University, said at a sub-forum of the 14th China Overseas Investment Fair that concluded on Tuesday. Data from the National Energy Administration has revealed that China contributed over 50 percent of the 510 gigawatts of newly installed renewable energy capacity worldwide in 2023. It also holds a dominant position in the production of photovoltaic components, wind turbines, and batteries. The rise of China's clean energy industry is a testament to the country's industrial prowess and vividly represents the country's firm pledge to pursue green and low-carbon development. China has announced that it will peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. This commitment has further spurred the development of clean energy products. "China's strong capacity to manufacture clean energy products has driven down green transition costs, paving the way for large-scale development of renewable energy globally and the phase-out of fossil fuels," Yang said. Meanwhile, China is committed to providing affordable Chinese solutions for global energy transformation. Li Fei, representing PowerChina International Group Limited, explained the company's role in advancing sustainability since its entry into the overseas wind power market in 2011. Citing one of their landmark projects, the Adama Wind Power Project 1 in Ethiopia, Li said it was the company's first project designed and equipped with Chinese technology, significantly contributing to bringing clean energy to Africa. As of last December, the company has constructed wind power and photovoltaic power generation projects in over 20 countries, with a combined installed capacity of 50.4 gigawatts, comprising 18.7 gigawatts of wind power and 31.7 gigawatts of photovoltaics. The company has been exploring the construction of hydrogen energy projects in overseas markets over the past few years, Li said, noting that a wind-to-hydrogen project in Uzbekistan has broken ground, marking the first overseas hydrogen energy initiative undertaken by Chinese companies. The story of the infrastructure company epitomizes China's endeavors in international cooperation in the clean energy sector. The country has actively engaged in power infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa. Notable endeavors include the Kaleta hydropower project in Guinea and the Belo Monte power transmission projects in Brazil. China's wind and photovoltaic power products have also been exported to over 200 countries and regions, helping to reduce electricity generation costs globally. As a staunch practitioner of enhancing global cooperation, China has partnered with over 100 countries on green energy projects. It has also carried out various forms of cooperation under the framework of green Belt and Road cooperation. Vladimir Norov, former Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, highlighted the tangible progress made by Chinese enterprises in energy and electricity storage projects in Uzbekistan, his home country. Last October, Uzbekistan and China forged an agreement on renewable energy cooperation, a pivotal step towards bolstering energy security and achieving carbon neutrality. "China is of crucial significance to Central Asia," Norov said, "the demand for clean energy in Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan, is substantial. I hope Chinese enterprises will be more active in investing in this region." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The UAE and Qatar have signed an agreement to avoid double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion of income taxes. The agreement was signed by Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Qatari Minister of Finance, in the presence of several officials from both sides. This took place on the sidelines of the 121st meeting of the GCC Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee. Al Hussaini underscored the agreements transformative potential, stating that it will not only enhance financial, economic, and investment partnerships between the UAE and Qatar, but also bolster coordination and cooperation in tax matters, open up new investment opportunities, and stimulate trade. Furthermore, it will play a crucial role in diversifying national income sources and providing comprehensive protection for goods and services. Full protection He pointed out that this agreement contributes to strengthening the economic and trade relations between the two countries and provides full protection for companies and individuals from direct and indirect double taxation. He said: The UAE Ministry of Finance is keen to strengthen its trade and investment relations with all partners by developing mechanisms that clarify to investors the status of their operations in trade, economic, financial, and other activities in countries that have active economic relations with the UAE. Al Kuwari stressed the importance of this agreement and its effective role. He said: The agreement will contribute to supporting international standards of transparency through the exchange of documented financial information, which comes in light of strengthening bilateral economic relations between the two countries. Expanding network The signing of the agreement stems from the UAEs keenness to expand its network of international and Arab relations, enhance economic and investment cooperation with various countries worldwide, protect UAE investments from all non-commercial risks, facilitate the transfer of profits and returns, and regulate dispute resolution. Notably, the UAE has signed 146 double taxation avoidance agreements to date. In addition, it has signed 114 agreements to protect and promote investments. Together, these agreements provide a legal framework that protects UAE investments worldwide.--TradeArabia News Service Driven Properties, a leading real estate brokerage, has announced that a five-bedroom residence in the Villa Amalfi community on Jumeirah Bay Island has broken the record for the most expensive townhouse ever rented in Dubai. At AED3.7 million ($1 million) a year, it is also one of the most valuable rental deals in Dubai, ever. The new rental record was set by Driven Properties' agents Dalila Laaribi and Inga Brykulska. The 5,192-sq-ft townhouse was offered fully furnished to exquisite standards, complete with Christofle cutlery, Hermes furnishings and an array of striking contemporary art, said the Dubai brokerage in a statement. Along with modern and stylish interiors, it features a private gym, a sauna, a spacious rooftop terrace with unrivalled skyline and sea views, and endless premium finishes. Driven Properties said the gated, super exclusive Villa Amalfi offers the finest in contemporary luxury living, in the heart of Dubai. Centrally located yet secluded, residents enjoy full accessibility to the finer things in life, from upscale dining, leisure and wellness experiences to state-of-art community facilities. The residential community has established itself as one of the citys most exclusive addresses, it stated. Driven Properties has a track record of setting benchmarks in the luxury real estate market and holds previous records for the most expensive ready penthouse, the priciest piece of land in Dubai, the highest price per sq ft, and the costliest townhouse sold in Villa Amalfi, said a company spokesman. "The new rental record adds to the firms impressive history of achievements on Jumeirah Bay Island," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Saudi-based Jabal Omar Development Company has announced that it has been granted the licence by the Ministry of Tourism to operate the fourth tower of Jabal Omar Jumeirah hotel in Makkah with a five-stars rating. This is the last tower within Jabal Omar Jumeirah, a major hotel property in the Saudi city. It comprises 282 luxurious and modern style rooms and suites in addition to three restaurants, separate prayer room for female guests and meeting room, said Jabal Omar in its filing to the Saudi bourse Tadawul. Designed by top architects Fosters + Partners, the Jabal Omar Jumeirah property comprises four towers with each tower containing 19 hotel floors located adjacent directly to the main mosque. Once operational, it will boasts a total of 1,123 luxury hotel rooms and suites, it stated. On the financial impact, Jabal Omar said the operation of the hotel will have a positive impact on the company's revenues during this year. The top Saudi developer had in August last year won the licence for operation of the first tower followed by the second and third tower early this year in January and March respectively.-TradeArabia News Service Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, is launching a free, open version of Ardian AirCarbon, its proprietary emission quantification and reduction tool for the aviation industry. This is the first platform showing average daily carbon emissions per country and aircraft efficiency indicators for most commercial airports worldwide. The platform is available on www.air-carbon.com. Through its direct infrastructure investment activities, Ardian has significant experience in owning and operating European airports and has always put the net zero target for the industry by 2050 at the heart of its strategy, as detailed in the study published in 2022 The Fight for a Net Zero Aviation. As part of this strategy, Ardian AirCarbon has been developed since 2019 by Ardian's Data Science and IT teams in close collaboration with our portfolio airport teams to support the Scope 3 emissions dynamic assessment at airports where the infrastructure team is an investor. Scope 3 is estimated to represent more than 95% of an airports emissions as it covers all indirect emissions, such as those generated by an aircraft landing, take-off and taxiing, or airport ground vehicles. The platform uses granular, real-time operations data to quantify and project emissions. This enables airport operators to effectively monitor and reduce their CO2 emissions. Following successful usage by the airports and inquiries from non-Ardian owned airports to access the platform, it has been decided to provide Ardian AirCarbon more broadly. The platform is currently deployed in five airports across Europe (Keflavik, Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Naples and Turin) and covers a total of 59 million yearly passengers. This new open version of Ardian AirCarbon is open to everyone and aims at monitoring on a global scale the progress made on the decarbonisation trajectories for the aviation industry. The platform will thus provide open access to the aggregated Scope 3 carbon emissions of airports within each country, alongside more in-depth aircraft efficiency indicators such as the proportion of high, medium and low fuel efficiency aircraft in the overall aircraft mix of an airport at any given date. It complies with recommended methodology from the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA), the global certification program for airport carbon management. More information on which emissions are displayed, which airports or flights are mapped, or how Ardian AirCarbon computes emissions can be found in our FAQ. Airports who would like to go further can also subscribe to the Pro version to access a complete view of their Scope 3 emissions, based on their operations data and including additional Scope 3 items such as half-cruise and ground service equipment emissions. Ardian AirCarbon has already been used by airports to reach important sustainability and net-zero reporting milestones. For example, in 2024, Milan's SEA airports used Ardian AirCarbon to renew their ACA 4+ certification for the current year. This was the first time the platform had been used by an airport to report half-cruise flight emissions to the ACA. The goal is for the platform to become a tool for the entire airport ecosystem and to support the aviation sector in achieving net-zero. Making Ardian AirCarbon open and available to all stakeholders is an important step in supporting the transition to a more sustainable industry, said Mathias Burghardt, Executive Vice President and Head of Infrastructure, Ardian. As a long-term investor and shareholder in airports, it is our duty to help secure the future of aviation for the next generations and to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. We look forward to working with the entire aviation ecosystem to control emissions, because collectively we need to act now. Ardian AirCarbon is an essential tool for airports seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and participate in the decarbonization of the industry, said Pauline Thomson, Head of Data Science and Managing Director, Infrastructure, Ardian. With this open version, we are proud to offer our expertise and help the industry achieve its ambitious net-zero goals by making it easier to access and track emissions data. We invite the whole aviation industry to use Ardian AirCarbon and join us in this essential mission. TradeArabia News Service The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry) has signed a co-operation agreement with Bahrain Polytechnic for launching an apprenticeship programme aimed at equipping national cadres with in-demand skills for the job market by combining practical training in various mechanical and electrical fields. Supported by the Labour Fund Tamkeen, the programme will help boost employment opportunities for the students and also help develop their careers, said Asry officials at the signing ceremony held in the company headquarters in the Hidd in the presence of the executive management of both parties. The programme is also distinguished by its focus on the practical aspect, as 30% of registered students time is allocated to academic education, while 70% of their time is allocated to on-the-job training, for a period of 3 years, they added. Lauding the key initiative, Asry Acting CEO Shaikh Mohamed bin Rashed Al Khalifa said: "Our extensive experience, high-quality work, and strong reputation in the regional maritime industry makes us a perfect fit for this programme. Initiatives like this align perfectly with Asry's vision: to invest in young Bahrainis and develop their skills to become future leaders in the maritime and industrial sectors." "By empowering these young minds, we contribute directly to a stronger national economy," he noted. Bahrain Polytechnic CEO Professor Ciaran O Cathain said: "As a Bahraini government educational institution, we are closely aligned with the esteemed government's vision for 2050, which aims to enrich educational outcomes and cultivate specialised and exceptional talents in the job market." "Therefore, the Polytechnic believes in the role of training in the development and enhancement of human resources skills, contributing to the supply of capable and qualified personnel to fill positions in the labour market," he stated. "The training is considered a strategic choice for entities aspiring to build a workforce capable of meeting the needs of work, developments, and rapid changes occurring in various fields," he added. Prof O Cathain pointed out that its professional apprenticeship programmes enhance the principle of national partnership and unite joint efforts to invest in human capital, through the qualification and development of national cadres. This contributes to achieving the strategic goals of the Polytechnic within Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030, he stated. Shaikh Duaij bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, the General Manager of Support Services and Senior Manager of the Human Resources Department, at Asry echoed this sentiment, stating that since its establishment, the company had consistently provided training opportunities for university students and graduates as part of its social responsibility, with the aim of refining their skills, expanding their capabilities, and qualifying them to enter the job market. This programme will provide an exceptional opportunity to 20 students, opening doors to a bright future after graduation, he added. The third edition of the Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) Forum and exhibition saw AED20 billion ($5.45 billion) worth of new investments announced in industrial projects and AED23 billion worth of procurement opportunities for local manufacturing. The event, which concluded on May 28, was organised by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and Adnoc and was attended by more than 6,000 attendees including investors, industrialists and innovators. It witnessed five strategic announcements and 82 agreements that were signed between government entities and manufacturers, alongside the introduction of competitive electricity prices for industrial companies in Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah under a partnership between the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Etihad Water and Electricity. Investment pledges It also saw investment pledges raising the total value generated by the three editions of the forum to AED143 billion, comprising more than 2,000 products. This includes AED20 billion allocated by Adnoc, and AED3 billion by PureHealth. The two-day event in Abu Dhabi was attended by six thousand investors, industrialists, innovators and experts and featured 200 leading companies and financial institutions in the UAE. The event marked the introduction of AED1 billion in solutions via a co-lending financing between Emirates Development Bank (EDB) and commercial banks to empower industrial companies. It also launched the AI Innovation Programme, an initiative designed to support startups on AI integration which is backed by EDB with a AED370 million fund. Support for local manufacturing The forum showcased the achievements of local industrial companies, along with the incentives that bolster and attract industrial investments to the country. It highlighted the countrys support for the local manufacturing of essential products and materials. The exhibition that accompanied the forum showcased 300 products that came as a result from Make it in the Emirates initiative, National ICV-Programme, and import substitution efforts by national and international companies. These included innovative solutions designed to support the development of the industrial sector and boost food security. The forum underscored the pivotal role of AI as a cornerstone of the countrys strategic direction and in raising efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness. The forum further cemented the UAEs position as a key global platform for collaboration among institutions, companies, and financial institutions. The third edition witnessed the signing of 82 MoUs and agreements between government entities and leading industrial companies. Launch of Transform 4.0 The forum featured the launch of Transform 4.0, a programme aiming to accelerate the adoption of advanced technology in industry through developing a roadmap for 100 industrial companies. This initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of national industries, elevate productivity, improve operational efficiency, and foster sustainable growth opportunities. Ultimately, it aims to support the digital economy by leveraging knowledge, technology, and innovation. The Ministry announced the three winners of Make it in the Emirates Start-Up Pitch Competition covering the two categories of additive manufacturing and decarbonisation. The forum supports sustainable economic development and promotes self-sufficiency, localisation and resilience in value chains, particularly by driving the adoption of advanced technology, Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions and AI applications. Furthermore, the forum serves as a platform for empowering Emirati talent in the industrial sector.--TradeArabia News Service Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has emerged as the world's most valuable sovereign wealth fund (SWF) brand in 2024, according to a report by Brand Finance. The report surveyed over 4,400 entities, including companies, individuals, and media from the investment and financial sectors, to compile a list of 50 major asset management and SWF brands from around the world. The report highlights the PIF's ambitious growth prospects, aligned with its 2030 targets, which contribute to enhancing the value of its brand. The PIF stands out among other SWFs through its focus on investing in the local economy, launching new sector capabilities, and creating job opportunities, the report indicates. Brand Finance estimated the PIF's brand value at $1.1 billion, making it the highest among the regional and international sovereign wealth funds included in the list. The report attributes the PIF's advanced brand position to its impactful economic activities and investment performance. Respondents in the survey expressed a positive outlook towards the PIF's innovative investment strategy and its role as a catalyst for growth and development. With assets under management (AuM) exceeding $930 billion, the PIF actively engages in developing strategic sectors and opportunities that shape the future of the global economy. It serves as an active investor and a key driver of economic transformation in the Kingdom. Since 2017, the fund has launched 94 new companies, providing over 644,000 local job opportunities. For over 25 years, Brand Finance has been evaluating brand strength and determining its financial value. Its publication of more than 100 specialized reports ranks brands across various sectors and countries.-TradeArabia News Service Hilal Computers, a leading IT solutions provider in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman marked a significant milestone by hosting a collaborative event with SonicWall. Held at the Wyndham Grand in Bahrain Bay, the event not only addressed the critical issue of cybersecurity threats but also served as the platform to unveil its exciting rebranding as Hilal Technology, a Gulf Daily News report said. The event attracted more than 90 attendees eager to learn about the latest cyber threats and gain valuable insights for protecting their businesses. Hilal Technologys managing director Ronnie Middleton welcomed the audience and announced the companys rebranding, signifying its unwavering commitment to innovation and continued expansion within the IT industry. The launch of the new Hilal Technology logo was met with enthusiasm, symbolising a new era for the company. Were thrilled to celebrate this transformation with our valued customers and partners, said Mr Middleton. The event served a dual purpose to raise awareness about critical cybersecurity issues and to introduce the exciting new chapter for Hilal Computers as Hilal Technology. Following the unveiling, SonicWall regional director Mohamed Abdallah delivered a comprehensive presentation on the companys latest acquisitions: Banyan Security, a leading provider of security service edge (SSE) solutions for the modern workforce, and Solutions Granted, a top MSSP based in the United States, delivering world-class managed security services to support a network of MSPs throughout North America. He also introduced the SonicWall Unified platform and outlined the future roadmap. Additionally, Mr Abdallah discussed the evolving cyber threat landscape and how organisations can effectively leverage SonicWall solutions to address these challenges. This collaborative event underscores Hilal Technologys continued dedication to empowering businesses. As a Gold Partner of SonicWall, Hilal Technology aims to create a more secure digital environment for organisations across the region. - TradeArabia News Service Microsoft is showing how the latest advancements in Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) are unlocking new opportunities for individuals and businesses to enhance their productivity at the 33rd edition of COMEX. The global technology show opened at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in which Microsoft is participating as the shows official Innovation Partner and as one of the main event sponsors. Microsoft is showcasing its latest AI solutions that are empowering professionals across Oman and the region to drive innovation and thrive in the new AI-powered era. Seven partners The company is exhibiting alongside seven of its partners including BI-Technologies, Netways Solutions, CYPHER Learning, International Information Technology Co (IITC), Inspira Enterprise, PwC, and Noventiq. Microsofts stand at COMEX 2024 features a demo zone where Microsofts partners can spotlight their solutions, an executive boardroom, a cafe with networking areas, and a space dedicated to highlighting Microsofts latest innovations and technology trends. Sheikh Saif Hilal Al Hosni, Country Manager, Microsoft Oman and Bahrain, said that Oman has entered a new era of work which necessitates the adoption of game-changing AI solutions such as Microsoft Copilot to empower professionals to keep pace with the growing volume of work, while also enhancing their ability to drive innovation. Organisations in Oman have embraced the potential of Generative AI in helping their workforce to spend less time on mundane and repetitive tasks and instead focus on more creative and fulfilling work. Microsoft is committed to supporting organisations of all sizes and across all sectors achieve this through our comprehensive portfolio of productivity solutions, including Copilot for Microsoft 365, which we are showcasing today at this years edition of COMEX. Experts at the Microsoft stand will also demonstrate the advanced capabilities of Copilot for Microsoft 365, an everyday AI companion that combines the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) with business data and Microsoft 365 apps to unleash creativity, unlock productivity, and uplevel skills. Enhancing user's ability By seamlessly integrating with Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, and more, Copilot enhances a users ability to create content such as impactful reports and visually stunning presentations. The solution also helps professionals to better manage their daily workloads by assisting with meeting summaries, scheduling events, and generating to-do task lists, resulting in improved collaboration and operational efficiency across an organisation. To further enhance the experience of professionals utilising Generative AI in the region, Microsoft recently rolled out support for Copilot for Microsoft 365 in 16 additional languages including Arabic. According to Microsofts research, professionals that have utilised Copilot for Microsoft 365 since its launch over a year ago, have reported a remarkable increase in their performance at work; 70% of users said that it helped them be more productive, while 68% said that the solution helped improve the quality of their work. Microsofts expansion of its productivity offerings is backed by the companys unwavering commitment to responsible AI development, underpinned by its Responsible AI Principles that the company puts into practice when developing its own AI products and when supporting its customers on their AI development journey.--TradeArabia News Service The Dubai Pavilion is showcasing more than 25 advanced digital projects and initiatives presented by 9 entities from Dubai at GITEX Africa 2024 which was opened by Aziz Akhannouch, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco. Dubais participation at the 2nd GITEX Africa, which runs until May 31, gathers 9 government entities including Digital Dubai, Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Economy and Tourism, Dubai Civil Defence, Dubai Customs, the Security Industry Regulatory Agency, and DP World. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General, delivered a speech on behalf of UAE Delegation, said: The UAE's relations with Morocco have evolved and become increasingly prominent and entrenched over the years, it gives an example in the fraternal relationship based on sustainable cooperation and coordination in the common interest for both sides. Morocco's digital transformation Morocco's experience of modernity and digital transformation over the years have gained increasing attention every day by the determination of this country and its insistence on securing an advanced position among nations, benefitting from its ancient heritage and national competencies characterised by intelligence and advanced skills. Above all, Morocco has a global vision that was evident in hosting of GITEX Africa for the second consecutive year. This event serves as a modern twin to GITEX Dubai, the global and prestigious event, helping Marrakesh to become Dubais twin in its aspiration for a bright human future based on harnessing the latest technologies to serve people everywhere, he added. He said: The Dubai Pavilion at GITEX Africa 2024 is an embodiment of the state of integration and coordination of roles between government entities in Dubai, which work together in order to achieve the vision and directives of the wise leadership aiming at making Dubai a global hub for digital transformation. We share the same path, and carry the same message, we want to contribute actively in transforming the region and the world to the fourth industrial revolution and artificial intelligence. We want to develop modern strategies for the future and establish for more collaboration and more engagement, all these efforts have a noble goal which is the human being, he concluded. Government entities services The list of services that will be showcased at the Dubai Pavilion include Invest in Dubai an interactive platform by DET dedicated for investors. On its behalf, Dubai Civil Defense will shed the light on many initiatives such as Eco Readiness and Dubai Civil Defense Readiness. The event will also witness Dewas projects including Smart Office, Smart Grid, Mobile App, Website in addition to Dubai Digital Clouds, Cybersecurity Services, Managed Services, Professional Services. Dubai Municipality will also showcase services related to the building and construction sector including Build in Dubai a unified electronic platform designed to provide all services and information covering all needs and desires related to construction activities in Dubai. The platform is the latest electronic system for construction that has been developed to organise, simplify, and facilitate the customers journey using the latest technologies and software supported by Building Information Modelling and E-Checking. The other service is Providing Geographical Data also known as the Digital Twin Of Dubai which is a digital representation of the emirate of Dubai through the use of 2D and 3D maps, representing all assets of the emirates from buildings to road assets in one single geospatial digital twin. DP World will showcase the Dubai Trade website, a portfolio of smart services including marine services, manifest and cargo handling services, cargo clearance and haulage services, invoicing and payment services, and free zone services. Dubai Police Joining other entities, Dubai Police will showcase both Dubai Police Application and Dubai Police Website, while Dubai Customs will shed the light on its 4th Generation Services including AlMunasiq, Robot Automation Processing for Post Clearance Audit, and Cross Border eCommerce solution in addition to the Comprehensive Customs Solution (Mirsal) which is an integrated customs solution for managing customs operations to facilitate cargo clearance procedures and risk management, using latest technologies and best international practices. Lastly, the Security Industry Regulatory Authority (SIRA) will present the Call Centre Avatar service which is a cutting-edge solution designed to enhance customer service and support interactions in call centres, and the Legal Advisor Chatbot an AI-powered conversational tool designed to provide security information and guidance to users. The event will witness the participation of 130 countries and will work to enhance international exchanges and collaborations, enhancing its position and role to become a major platform for innovation and economic development in Africa.--TradeArabia News Service Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan presides over the House at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday May 23, 2023. Jay Janner/AP Speaker of the House and presumptive run-off winner in the District 21 Representative race Dade Phelan is celebrated by supporters at his election party at JW's Patio. Photo made Tuesday, May 28, 2024 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise Kim Brent House Speaker Dade Phelan stands at the dias during a special legislative session at the state capitol in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 17, 2023. Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune Speaker Dade Phelan joins Texas Governor Greg Abbott at NASA's Johnson Space Center to announce the inaugural members of the Texas Space Commission Board of Directors and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium Executive Committee alongside Rep. Greg Bonnen and NASA's Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Houston . Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas House Speaker Dade Phelans primary runoff victory was just the first hurdle for the Beaumont Republican to overcome as he seeks a third term as leader of the lower chamber and one of the states most powerful politicians. Phelan is coming back to Austin defiant after he beat a multimillion-dollar effort to unseat him, but hes also returning weakened: Several incoming House members say they dont support him for speaker, and some incumbents are upset he led the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton last year. Phelan has faced months of attacks from his partys right flank, as his critics including Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have accused him of ceding too much power to Democrats and failing to pass private school vouchers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Phelan, who won his runoff Tuesday by fewer than 400 votes, will need to mend GOP relationships, build coalitions and possibly even rely on Democrats to hang on to the speakers gavel and the race has started. But he was confident Tuesday night that he would win another term, saying, Ive done it twice. Ill do it a third time. State Rep. Tom Oliverson, a Cypress Republican who authored a bill last year to ban gender transition health care for minors, unveiled his campaign for speaker in March an unusually early announcement and a clear shot at Phelan. But he said Wednesday that his campaign will now begin in earnest, and conservatives want the Texas House to move in a different direction. He said he plans to see his campaign all the way through. Typically, speakers races take shape in November, during or after the general election decides the makeup of the House. Currently, Republicans hold an 86-64 lead over Democrats. A candidate needs 76 votes to become speaker. The Republican Majority will get the chance to go on the record as to whether or not they choose to continue to be ruled by Democrat Chairs, sit idly while House leadership wastes the first 60 days of the Session, chafe under a parliamentary system that is weaponized against them, suffer another Session without votes on key conservative priorities, and watch as leadership kills their bills over petty personality differences, Oliverson said in a release. Phelans critics have accused him of not being a true Republican, even though he has presided over two sessions widely considered the most conservative in the states history. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Phelans campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Several other Republicans could be considering a run for the gavel. Rep. Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville, notified House Republicans on Thursday that she was joining the race, as first reported by the Texas Tribune. Oliverson said he doesnt believe he, Phelan or any other candidate has three-fifths of the caucus on their side yet, which party rules dictate as the threshold for selecting a speaker. He said he would be open to supporting another person for speaker if they support the reforms he wants in the House, such as making it easier for non-lawyer members to navigate the parliamentary process and starting to work on legislation earlier in the session. He said if Republicans cant agree on a speaker by the beginning of session, they need to start from a clean slate and find a new candidate without trying to rally Democratic votes. State Rep. Jared Patterson, a Frisco Republican and Phelan ally, said he believes Phelan will be back for a third term next year, especially now that the speaker has the opportunity to support GOP candidates in the November election. Redistricting eliminated most competitive districts in Texas, but there are a few where Phelan could throw around his money or political weight to help Republicans get elected and maintain or expand their GOP majority. Look, Dade Phelan will be the speaker next session, Patterson said. Its not lost on me that everyone calling for unity 48 hours ago is now promoting or pushing divisive rhetoric within our own party, after Dade Phelans win. Were focused on November. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Patterson said he isnt sure if Phelan will be able to secure 76 Republican votes to win the gavel, but he noted that the caucus will choose their preferred candidate by secret ballot later this year. Its tradition for the House Republican Caucus to privately decide who their speaker candidate is and then present a unified front on the House floor. Next years speaker battle may be different, though, as several right-wing members have already declared that they will never vote for Phelan. That could leave the ultimate decision up to Democrats. Democrats are trying to think about who can get them the best deal, moderate Republicans are likely to stick with Phelan, and some of the more insurgent, especially new, Republicans are wary about supporting Phelan after the ruggedness of the campaign, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston. As it is now, you wont see many of these fights in public. Theyll be primarily in private. The kind of deals that are cut have traditionally, in a speakers race, been done privately behind the scenes. Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio, the head of the House Democratic Caucus, said Democrats unity is our strength and our greatest asset heading into the next term. U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York met with the Texas caucus recently and essentially told them the same, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, echoed a similar sentiment. He said the Republican Party is falling apart and being taken over by Christian nationalist billionaires, referring to West Texas oil tycoons Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, who have been architects of Texas lurch to the right and dropped millions to oust Phelan this year. He said Democrats are still eyeing November before they look toward the speakers race because there are a handful of seats that could mean the difference between the House having the votes to pass private school vouchers, a priority for Gov. Greg Abbott, and shutting down the plan again. Thats top of mind for all Democrats right now, he said. I think Democrats as well as, as some rural Republicans, are committed to protecting public education and stopping voucher scams, Talarico said. And so I think that will remain our No. 1 priority going into the speakers race and into the next legislative session. Phelan largely stayed out of the voucher debate last year and encouraged members to vote their conscience. Abbott targeted rural Republicans who opposed the voucher proposal during this primary election cycle, but he didnt campaign for or against Phelan. Its been widely discussed that Democrats could be the deciding factor for Phelan, who may be seen as the most palatable option for the minority party. Democrats supported Phelans past two runs for speaker. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, said its still up in the air whether Democrats would bail out Dade. Personally, she said shes looking for a speaker candidate who will commit to standing up for the House and allowing members to vote their districts not to arm-twist representatives to get a desired policy outcome. We are a unified Democratic caucus not necessarily for Dade but for us, Hinojosa said. We are going to need to come up with what that means. Ericsson has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vodafone to explore areas for collaboration on corporate social responsibility initiatives in Oman on key Information and Communications Technology (ICT) educational initiatives. The joint efforts are aligned with the national and global sustainable development goals and supports efforts to realise Oman Vision 2040. The agreement will focus on leveraging Ericssons Connect To Learn program to enhance digital skills development, including programmes designed to develop and attract Omani youth and talent into the ICT industry. The two companies will also look at different areas that the Omani youth can benefit from Ericsson global educational initiatives, like Ericsson Educate, and access different learning experiences through Ericssons extensive portfolio of educational programmes. Beneficial impact Fahad Al Busaidi, Chief Corporate Affairs at Vodafone Oman, says: Vodafone is dedicated to harnessing sustainable technologies and practices to make a positive contribution to the environmental, social, and economic fabric of Oman. Our partnership with Ericsson will have a significant beneficial impact by equipping the youth with the knowledge and skills to accelerate the nations digital transformation journey in line with Oman Vision 2040. Abdullah Al Balushi, Country General Manager of Ericsson Oman at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: At Ericsson, we work to empower an intelligent, sustainable, and connected world where first-rate education is accessible for all. Our partnership with Vodafone Oman is driven by our shared commitment to fostering local tech talent, empowering the new generation, and enhancing competitiveness and employability in the rapidly evolving Information and Communications Technology job market. Together, we will provide relevant learning content to build a digitally savvy future workforce in Oman in line with Oman Vision 2040. Ericsson has enjoyed successful collaboration with Vodafone Oman as its core network supplier since the launch of the CSPs trial operations in the country in 2021. The two companies are working together to deliver a state-of-the-art 5G standalone network while enhancing Vodafones radio access network (RAN) and transport capabilities, in addition to developing a cloud-native 5G infrastructure and microservices architecture.--TradeArabia News Service Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies of South Africa to boost cooperation. The MoU was signed in Johannesburg by Sulaiman Al Ali, Yahsat Chief Commercial Officer, and Nonkqubela Jordan Dyani, Director General of South Africas Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies on behalf of the Republic of South Africa Government. The agreement focuses on a broad range of areas for collaboration including partnering on satellite and ICT-related services, satellite broadband connectivity, Internet of Things, geospatial applications, High-Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS), and Earth Observation Satellites. It also creates a framework for exploring the potential of building ground stations in South Africa to operate satellites, collaboration on manufacturing of devices and antennae, skills exchange and investment. Delegation visit The MoU signing followed a successful high-profile visit by a delegation from the Government of South Africa in early May led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile. It included senior government ministers, heads of several departments, and Brainwave Projects SA, the Public Sector service partner in South Africa and resulted in positive talks between the two parties on developing a path for greater cooperation. Ali Al Hashemi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Yahsat, said: We are delighted to complete the MoU as a testament to the excellent relationship our two countries share. It is an exciting step forward in Yahsats relationship with South Africa and the wider continent. The mutually beneficial agreement will enable Yahsat to expand its presence in South Africa, work even closer with our partners to develop infrastructure and skills, and enhance communications capabilities in the country. Mondli Gungubele, South Africas Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, said: "Satellite communications are playing an increasingly important role in the development of Africa. At present technology is connecting isolated and underprivileged communities with essential services such as e-learning, telemedicine, e-commerce, and more. The MoU represents the next phase of development as countries on the continent begin to establish their space tech sectors.--TradeArabia News Service The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has unveiled an exciting new campaign, "Be Moved in a Thousand Ways," designed to convey the transformative power of culture. This campaign, introduced by the iconic Oprah Winfrey, philanthropist, talk show host and author, aims to inspire and unite people by showcasing the profound impact of cultural experiences. The centerpiece of the campaign film is the breathtaking Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, a testament to the UAE capital's rich and diverse heritage. Through this initiative, DCT Abu Dhabi seeks to open minds and hearts, fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts and the connections they create. In the film, Oprah takes the audience on a journey of the Saadiyat Cultural District, a voyage into the heart of curiosity and creativity. The District is a testament to the passionate creators and curators of our generation, she says inviting the viewer to be moved in a thousand ways. Contributors to the campaign include HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi; HE Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the President of the UAE and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University; HE Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs UAE; Lord Norman Foster, Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner and architect of the Zayed National Museum; Mariet Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation; celebrated artists Mohammed Ibrahim, Najat Makki, Afra Al Dhaheri from the UAE; multi-award-winning actor, musician, and entrepreneur Idris Elba, OBE; legendary pianist Lang Lang; and many more. The film can be viewed here. Saadiyat Cultural District, an embodiment of empowerment, showcasing museums, collections, and narratives that celebrate the regions heritage while promoting a diverse global cultural landscape, is on track for completion in 2025. UNIQUE DESTINATION Once completed, the diversity of Saadiyat Cultural Districts institutions will make the district one of the most unique cultural platforms. Saadiyat Cultural District is a testament to Abu Dhabi's commitment to preserving heritage while embracing a forward-looking vision. The district invites the world to engage with diverse cultures, fostering dialogue and exchange, and offers a global cultural space that empowers the region and the global south. The district is already home to Louvre Abu Dhabi the first universal museum in the Arab world showcasing artworks from different cultures side by side and telling a story of human connections. Since opening in 2017, Louvre Abu Dhabi has welcomed 5 million visitors and is recognized for its breathtaking architecture and its innovative narrative. Nearby, Berklee Abu Dhabi offers music, performing arts, and educational programs throughout the year. Additionally, Manarat Al Saadiyat serves as a center for creative artistic expression and is home to two significant initiatives in Abu Dhabis cultural calendar: Abu Dhabi Art and Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. The current construction progress of other soon-to-open institutions in Saadiyat Cultural District stands at 76%. Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the United Arab Emirates, will celebrate the nations rich history and culture, as well as honor the legacy of the countrys founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Meanwhile, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi will invite visitors on an ever-changing exploration that will transcend the limits of their imagination. They will be joined by the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, which will include a research and teaching institution that will take visitors on a 13.8 billion-year journey through the story of our universe and our planet. And Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be a museum celebrating art from the 1960s to the present and the most important artistic achievements of our time. HOMAGE TO HERITAGE Saadiyat Cultural District pays homage to the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed, who defined the cultural agenda and unveiled the history of the UAE to the world through archaeological excavations and findings. This legacy began with the establishment of Al Ain Museum, the first museum in the UAE, which opened in 1971. This was followed by the inauguration of the Cultural Foundation in 1981. Sheikh Zayeds legacy continued to evolve under the guidance of the late Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Today, HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, continue to build on that legacy. HE Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: Culture transcends mere connections; it shapes our very evolution and broadens our perspectives. Here in Abu Dhabi, we embrace this influence, fostering a deep appreciation that resonates throughout our community. Saadiyat Cultural District embodies cultural hope. The district will convey a message of cultural diversity that will become more powerful over time, creating global connections, inspiring cultural exchange, and fostering new ways of thinking to support the region, the global South, and the world. Saadiyat Cultural District is somewhere people can come to learn from the past, understand our present, and focus on our future. For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Cultural District, please visit: dct.gov.ae; scdabudhabi.ae and abudhabiculture.ae. About Saadiyat Cultural District The Saadiyat Cultural District is one of the worlds preeminent global destinations, which brings together diverse culture and fosters knowledge and understanding through its museums, educational and cultural institutions. The anchoring museums of the Saadiyat Cultural District encompass natural history, cultural heritage, and contemporary creative expression, and are places that collectively tell the story of the United Arab Emirates, the world, and the connections that have fostered creativity and innovation for millennia. The Saadiyat Cultural District is a place of cultural dialogue and a centre for the creation of knowledge, attracting local, regional, and international visitors and making a lasting impact on the world. The sixth edition of the ExpoCulinaire exhibition, hosted by Expo Centre Sharjah (ECS) from May 20-22, saw a 30% increase in exhibitors, with the participation of more than 3,500 chefs from around the world, a report said. Hosted with support from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the event was organised by Purple Kitchen Events, Emirates News Agency, WAM, said. ExpoCulinaire 2024 witnessed a significant surge in visitor turnout, featuring an extensive list of top-tier professionals and enthusiasts in the cooking, food, hospitality, culinary, and tourism sectors. It showcased the finest products and services in the culinary industry, including restaurant service equipment, bakery and food preparation supplies, storage and cooling systems, and tableware and accessories. The event featured more than 200 companies and brands representing some leading regional and global food and hospitality names. ExpoCulinaire 2024 brought together food and beverage industry leaders and major investors from around the globe, offering them an ideal platform to explore the latest trends in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Furthermore, the event provided businessmen with opportunities to exchange knowledge and experiences, forge business deals, and establish partnerships in the hospitality sector, while supplying food products and ingredients to restaurants and hotels. The sixth edition of ExpoCulinaire spotlighted the skills and talents of top chefs and culinary experts who presented picture-perfect displays of delicious dishes from some of the worlds most famous cuisines. Participants included culinary professionals representing the UAE, Iraq, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Azerbaijan, China, and Denmark, in addition to other countries showcasing their expertise in both cooking and pastry arts. During the show, many exhibiting companies and brands presented new healthy food products that align with the UAE's vision and commitment to sustainability. Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, pointed out that the exhibition, originating in Sharjah, has become a global platform where professional chefs and specialised businesses can showcase their latest products and services and exchange expertise with counterparts worldwide. A substantial number of Emirati chefs and culinary experts took part in some of the industry's top-billed competitions included in the ExpoCulinaire 2024 show, serving as both contestants and jury members. Resident chefs also showcased Emirati cuisine, promoting its unique qualities and global appeal to the attendees. The event experienced a marked increase in competition participants, notably in the 27th Emirates International Salon Culinaire, the largest single-entry chef competition in the world. Organised by the Emirates Culinary Guild with the support of the Sharjah Chamber, the prestigious competition featured 928 chefs vying for top honours. Duke Energy has partnered with Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Nucor to support carbon-free energy generation in response to increasing data center demand. The companies proposed developing new rate structures, known as "tariffs," to reduce the long-term costs of investing in clean energy technologies like nuclear and long-duration storage through early commitments. The Accelerating Clean Energy (ACE) tariffs would enable large customers like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Nucor to directly support carbon-free energy generation investments through innovative financing structures and contributions that address project risk to lower costs of emerging technologies. ACE tariffs would facilitate beneficial on-site generation at customer facilities, participation in load flexibility programs, and investments in clean energy assets, making them attractive to customers with large-scale energy needs. The ACE framework also would include a Clean Transition Tariff (CTT) the key feature enabling Duke Energy to provide individualized portfolios of new carbon-free energy to commercial and industrial customers. The CTT would match clean-energy generation and customer load to accelerate overall grid decarbonization. This would be a voluntary program for larger customers seeking to advance their clean energy goals, and it would include protections for non-participating customers. Lon Huber, Duke Energy, SVP Pricing and Customer Solutions, said: In this new era of large-scale energy demand, Duke Energy is committed to working with our regulators and customers to find innovative and responsible ways to satisfy the growing need for more and cleaner energy. With the help of companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nucor, we can accelerate our service of large customer needs and the transition to cleaner energy, while reducing financial risks and supporting economic development in our communities. Kevin Miller, Amazon Web Services, Vice President of Global Data Centers, said: As the worlds largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy, Amazon is committed to enabling new sources of carbon-free energy to help power our operations and the communities where our customers live and work. With a footprint of data centers, fulfillment centers and corporate buildings across Ohio, the Carolinas and Florida, were excited to collaborate with Duke Energy to find new solutions that can help us achieve our Climate Pledge to be net zero carbon by 2040, and todays agreement marks an important step in that journey. Briana Kobor, Google, Head of Energy Market Innovation, said: As we continue to progress toward our goal to operate every Google campus on clean electricity every hour of every day by 2030, we are always looking for opportunities to accelerate the delivery of new clean power to the grid. Through collaboration with Duke Energy, the Clean Transition Tariff creates a pathway for us and our peers to bring new, innovative solutions to the forefront faster, in a region we have called home for more than 15 years. Jeff Riles, Microsoft, Director of Datacenter Energy and Sustainability, said: Microsofts aim is to advance groundbreaking solutions that support the energy transition. Innovative frameworks such as this agreement with Duke Energy support Microsofts ambition to have 100 per cent of our electricity consumption, 100 per cent of the time, matched by zero carbon energy purchases. We are committed to creating a more sustainable future as we actively work to add more clean energy to the grid. Greg Murphy, Nucors Executive Vice President of Business Services, Sustainability and General Counsel, said: Nucor is one of the cleanest and most sustainable steel producers in the world and has proudly operated in the Carolinas since the 1960s. We are excited to see our partnership with Duke Energy evolve through this shared commitment to bring the next generation of clean, reliable, safe and affordable energy to our region while also supporting our net zero goal. --OGN/TradeArabia News Service Neo Space Group (NSG) and Display Interactive (DI) have announced an advanced Skywaves satellite connectivity system for airlines and SkyFly end user portal which will transform in-flight passenger experiences. The introduction of Skywaves, under the pioneering new partnership, will unlock a wide range of capabilities that will enable airlines to provide passengers with seamless connectivity and digital services during flights. Skywaves is a tailored traffic management platform with the ability to intelligently switch traffic from one interoperable network to another through the latest cloud technology with the ability to connect to multi-orbit satellite capacity. New levels of efficiency The platform will create new levels of efficiency for the aviation industry and offer superior Service Level Agreements (SLAs) compared to current industry standards. In addition, the Skywaves platform is also agnostic towards underlying satellite operations and fits neatly within the Connectivity-as-a-Service model, offering airlines a comprehensive and future-proof connectivity solution. Moreover, the partnership will offer SkyFly, a state-of-the-art end user portal that will enable a range of services for passengers at the touch of a button during flights such as movie streaming, online shopping, and other digital services with seamless user experience. SkyFly will be flexible enough to increase the bandwidth based on specific demands during the flight while providing high levels of service to different passenger groups, as and when required. Faisal Alsalloum, Managing Director of NSG, said: This partnership with DI represents a significant milestone in our mission to revolutionise inflight connectivity, Skywaves empowers airlines with a flexible and scalable solution that enhances passenger experience while meeting the demands of today's digital era." New standard Tarek El Mitwalli, CEO of Display Interactive, added: "We are thrilled to partner with NSG to introduce Skywaves to the aviation industry, with the ambition of a fibre-like throughput to aircraft. Our combined expertise and technological innovations will set a new standard for inflight connectivity, providing airlines with unparalleled capabilities and enhancing their competitiveness in the market. Skywaves and SkyFly will initially launch with leading airlines in Saudi Arabia, subject to obtaining the relevant licences and approvals, and has plans for further expansion across the aviation sector. The partnership between NSG and DI represents a shared commitment to driving innovation and delivering next-generation connectivity solutions that meet the evolving needs of airlines and passengers worldwide.--TradeArabia News Service On Saturday, Fort Caspar Museum will host a ceremony featuring speakers, presentations and military honors to commemorate nine new headstones honoring soldiers that died at the post. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m., and speakers will include Elizabeth Jennings a descendant of Adam Culp, a member of the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry who will be receiving a headstone and Colton Sasser, an Afghanistan veteran, Purple Heart recipient and Casper native. The nine headstones will highlight members of the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, a Civil War regiment that was moved to Platte Bridge Station now called Fort Caspar to protect telegraph lines at the site. The museum will also have an indoor exhibit highlighting the human side of the conflicts with items belonging to 11th Kansas Private William Bonwell. It will include a letter he wrote to his mother one he never had a chance to finish. There are already a number of headstones at the site commemorating members of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, of which Caspar Collins was a member. The new installation is part of a broader project spearheaded by Johanna Wickman, a museum association board member. She said she felt the need to start the project because the incompleteness of the original headstones installed in the 1970s has bothered her for years. Ive been on the board now for almost 10 years, and every time I drive in, Id see those 11 headstones, Wickman said. It wasnt the honors that bothered her; it was the dozens of soldiers she knew died those that never got a proper burial who werent acknowledged. Ive worked in military museums. Ive worked with a lot of veterans, and I know thats not how you do things from a military perspective, she lamented. And so one day, I just went to Rick, and I asked him, hey, what do you think about finishing this? Thus came the Headstone Project. The museum intends to honor members of the 6th West Virginia Cavalry, 6th Michigan Cavalry, 6th U.S. Infantry, 18th U.S. Infantry, 7th Iowa Cavalry and one more member of the 11th Ohio. All told, those will bring the total number of headstones to 62 from the original 11. Given the price of headstones and the museums available funds, Wickman said the project will take years. Ceremonies will be held grouped by regiments. Both Wickman and museum director Rick Young emphasized that this project means more than headstones, noting the importance of closure to descendants of those who died. Keep in mind, their graves are lost to the prairie, Young said. They dont have a stone anywhere. They certainly deserve to have one. First Citizens has announced its continued sponsorship of the National Secondary Schools Entrepreneurship Competition (NSSEC). It is an initiative aimed at fostering innovation, leadership, and business acumen among young students outside the traditional school system, the bank said in a media release yesterday. The number of dead in a bomb attack on a large store in Ukraine has grown to 18 as some of the victims are being identified. The aerial attack on Saturday targeted a construction supplies store in the city of Kharkiv. 48 people were injured and several remained missing, CNN reported. The city's mayor said that about 120 people were in the store at the time. Among them was Irina Myronenko and her 12-year-old daughter Maria. They were both killed, Ukrainian Catholic University said in a Facebook post. Myronenko's husband was also injured in the attack and remained hospitalized. "Please wrap the families of the fallen in prayer during this difficult time," the school said in its announcement. "The attack targeted the shopping center, where there were many people - this is clearly terrorism," Mayor Ihor Terekhov said, according to the Voice of America. It is the deadliest attack on Ukraine in several weeks. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko described the scene as "hellish" in the hours after the attack. Kharkiv is Ukraine's second-largest city and is near its border with Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that Russia is preparing to intensify its military push along Ukraine's northern border,the Associated Press reported. On Tuesday, Belgium promised Ukraine $1 billion in military aid. It came a day after a similar pledge from Spain. Russian President Vladimir Putin is warning that if any Western military weapons are used to hit inside Russia that the war could escalate. "Representatives of countries that are NATO members, particularly in Europe, should be aware of what they are playing with," Putin said, according to the Associated Press. Putin also said that "countries with small territory and dense populations" should be particularly careful. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. ROBUST REVENUE: In this freeze frame from a video, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley delivers the feature address at the launch of the Overwatch Cyber Security Operations Centre yesterday at The Brix hotel, Port of Spain. The Opposition Leader cited figures that showed the official entertainment for the Office of the Prime Minister moved from a revised estimate of $240,000 in 2024 to an estimated expenditure of $30 million in 2025. This is an increase of 12,400%. Harvard University has announced its promise to remain quiet on controversial issues, saying it will no longer take public positions on matters outside of academia. A faculty committee found that speaking on situations outside its area of expertise carries risks, including "compromising "the integrity and credibility of the institution," reported The Washington Post. University leaders released a statement noting they had accepted the recommendations of the committee following their report and will avoid statements on public issues, especially those of serious social and political importance. The university's promise comes on the heels of widely received criticism of the school for its response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, as the violence in Gaza stirred tensions across college campuses nationwide. Conservative critics initially condemned Harvard's leadership for what they described as a "slow response" to Hamas' October attack before coming under fire again over a statement issued by a pro-Palestinian student group that blamed Israel for the attack, leading to several donors cutting ties with the university. Comprised of eight faculty members, the Institutional Voice Working Group concluded in a three-page report: "The university is not a government, tasked with engaging the full range of foreign and domestic policy issues, and its leaders are not, and must not be, selected for their personal political beliefs," the report stated. "In issuing official statements of empathy, the university runs the risk of appearing to care more about some places and events than others," the report continued. Due to conflicting viewpoints on most world events, such statements could cause division among members of the community, it added. Noah Feldman, co-chair of the Institutional Voice Working Group and a law professor at the university, states that the school should only speak on matters relevant to its core function, "which is creating an environment suitable for free, open inquiry, teaching, and research." Jimmie Tramel Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow Jimmie Tramel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Tulsa Film Collective announced it will screen the 2024 Sundance Institute Indigenous Film Tour, an 83-minute short film program featuring selections from past editions of the Sundance Film Festival and alumni of Sundance Institutes Indigenous Program. The screening will take place June 28 at Philbrook Museum of Art. A news release said the Indigenous Film Tour curates vibrant works by Native filmmakers, providing audiences with a glimpse into the present and future of Indigenous cinema. The 2024 program will include eight short films from Indigenous filmmakers four from the 2024 Sundance Film Festival program, three from the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and one short film from the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. These eight shorts include narrative and documentary projects, some from Native storytellers outside the U.S., and theyve all resonated with Sundance Film Festival audiences in the past its our pleasure to take such a diverse cross-section of Indigenous cinema on tour, Adam Piron, director of the Sundance Institute Indigenous Program, said. The Sundance Film Festival and Sundance Institute Indigenous Program have a long history of supporting and launching talented Indigenous directors, including Erica Tremblay, Blackhorse Lowe, Sky Hopinka, Taika Waititi, Caroline Monnet, Fox Maxy, Shaandiin Tomem and Tulsa Film Collective co-founder Sterlin Harjo. Support for screenings is provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. We are thrilled to bring these remarkable films to Tulsa, Jessica McEver, co-founder of Tulsa Film Collective, said. Sundances commitment to amplifying voices from independent storytellers aligns perfectly with our mission to amplify voices within our own community. This program showcases the incredible talent of Indigenous filmmakers and highlights the importance of diverse storytelling in cinema. We believe these films will resonate deeply with our community and spark meaningful conversations about Indigenous cultures and experiences. Tulsa Film Collective programming is made possible by support from Tulsa Film Music Arts and Culture. For more information and to purchase tickets to the Sundance Institute Indigenous Short Film Tour, visit tulsafilmcollective.com. In order of screening, the program includes: Bay of Herons (Director: Jared James Lank): Calling on the strength of his ancestors, a young Mikmaq man reflects on the pain of bearing witness to the destruction of his homelands. Fiction. Winding Path (Directors: Alexandra Lazarowich, Ross Kauffman, Producer: Robin Honan): Eastern Shoshone M.D./Ph.D. student Jenna Murray spent summers on the Wind River Indian Reservation helping her grandfather any way she could. When he suddenly dies, she must find a way to heal before realizing her dream of a life in medicine. Nonfiction. Headdress (Director, screenwriter and producer: Taietsaron:sere Tai Leclaire; producer: David Spadora): When an act of casual racism confronts a queer Native man, he retreats into his mind to find the perfect clap back from various versions of his own identity. Ekbeh (Director: Mariah Eli Hernandez-Fitch): While learning to make gumbo, the creator shares personal stories about grandparents as a way to honor and preserve Indigenous history and life. Nonfiction. Baigal Nuur Lake Baikal (Director, screenwriter and producer: Alisi Telengut): The formation of Lake Baikal in Siberia is reimagined, featuring the voice of a Buryat woman who can still recall some words in her endangered Buryat language (a Mongolian dialect). Animation. Hawaiki/New Zealand (Director and screenwriter: Nova Paul; producer: Tara Riddell): At the edge of the playground close to the forest, the children of Okiwi School made a refuge they call Hawaiki. Hawaiki has spiritual and metaphysical connections for Maori as the children create a space for their self-determination. Fiction. Sunflower Siege Engine (Director, screenwriter and producer: Sky Hopinka): Movements of resistance are collapsed and woven together, from reflections of ones own body in the world today, to documentation of Alcatraz, the reclamation of Cahokia and the repatriation of the ancestors. Fiction. Goodnight Irene (Director: Sterlin Harjo): Three Seminole patients share some laughs and poignant truths as they wait for treatment at the local Indian hospital. Fiction. The Tulsa World is where your story lives Republicans are split over Supreme Court justices vocalizing their political opinions, according to a new poll, in the wake of growing controversy surrounding Justice Samuel Alito flying an upside-down flag at his home. A YouGov America survey of more than 1700 adult U.S. citizens showed 40% of Republicans think it's unacceptable for justices to express their political views in their personal lives. Similarly, 37% of Republicans surveyed felt it was acceptable, while 23% were unsure. A majority of Democrats however 59% agreed it was unacceptable for justices to voice their political opinions in their personal lives. Americans are more likely to say Supreme Court justices should not express their political views in their personal lives than to say it is OK (46% vs. 28%). While a majority of Democrats think it is unacceptable, Republicans are closely divided.https://t.co/GsnljavdAF https://t.co/JeplsUPWB6 pic.twitter.com/Lk3e8AQAmH YouGov America (@YouGovAmerica) May 29, 2024 The study was published the same day Alito sent a letter to Congress refusing to recuse himself from cases involving the Jan. 6 riot and the 2020 presidential election after controversial upside down flags were spotted flying at two of his private residences in 2021, CNN reported. The upside down flag became synonymous with Trump supporters hinting the 2020 election was stolen. The Supreme Court justice said the incidents did not meet the conditions for recusal and therefore he was "duty-bound" to reject the recusal request. Alito denied his involvement in flying the flags, instead blaming his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, who he claimed was "greatly distressed" due to a "very nasty neighborhood dispute" in the first incident, according to The New York Times. "She makes her own decisions, and I have always respected her right to do so," Alito said in his letter to lawmakers, invoking Martha-Ann's First Amendment rights, CNN reported. "My wife is fond of flying flags. I am not." Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Thanks to a gift from a former Roper, students at Will Rogers College Middle and High School now have a little more support on campus. In collaboration with the Will Rogers Community Foundation, QuikTrip co-founder and Rogers graduate Burt Holmes donated $150,000 during the spring semester to pay for an additional mental health professional to be available for students at Rogers College Middle and High School for three years. This will help us be more proactive addressing our students needs, Rogers Principal Cindy Largent-Williams said, noting that the new counselor was able to start before TPS ended the school year on May 21. According to data compiled by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, 10% of Oklahomas secondary students reported attempting suicide in 2021-22, and an estimated 7,200 children and teenagers in Tulsa County have untreated mental health needs. Additional data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness indicates that high school students with depression are twice as likely to drop out of school. It (mental health) is not a particular passion; its just that I intend to put what little money I have behind that and the homeless, Holmes said. Those are two things that are of interest to me. I do a lot of other things, too, but those two things are of particular interest to me. The donation and its specific earmark came after a conversation among Holmes, the foundation and Largent-Williams about the schools needs and the issues facing its students. By developing students social-emotional skills, crafting strategic behavior plans and fostering greater parent engagement, we aim to address the challenges such as chronic absenteeism and repetitive classroom behaviors so that students are in class learning, building skills and relationships and are set up for success and future opportunities, Largent-Williams said. Along with getting a counselor on campus for Rogers students, the contribution has made an additional impact on both the school and the foundation. Spurred in large part by the conversation with Largent-Williams and Holmes donation, the Will Rogers Community Foundation has since purchased ACT and SAT test preparation materials for Rogers students. Burt did two things with this gift, Will Rogers Community Foundation board member Louis Coleman said. First, he brought this position to life. But more importantly, its gotten the foundation thinking about bigger ways to support Rogers. We reached out, and it was a low-hanging fruit to be able to get the (test preparation) books and training. It was a need that we hadnt thought about before, but we were able to fund it. Burt did more than just the mental health aspect he shook us up, too. The Tulsa World is where your story lives Melissa Jacques Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Melissa Jacques Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today OKLAHOMA CITY State Rep. Ajay Pittman came to a settlement with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission on Wednesday over violations of campaign finance rules. The settlement approved at a special meeting of the Ethics Commission requires Pittman to pay $35,000 to the commission over the next three years. Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, will pay the first $5,000 by the end of this month but has until May 31, 2025, to make the next payment of $12,000 to the commission. She will have to make two more payments by May 31, 2026. Pittman has also promised to correct or add records of transactions to the states campaign fund tracking system within the next 60 days. The settlement also includes a statement of responsibility from Pittman. She has admitted to personal use of candidate committee funds, improper withdrawal of campaign funds through ATMs and personal credit card payments amounting to $17,858. Pittman admitted to inaccurately reporting $30,000 worth of contributions in 2020 and $20,000 worth of contributions in 2022. In the settlement, she also admitted to failing to maintain 2020 and 2022 campaign records. Pittman will be receiving education and training from the commission regarding these violations. When contacted by the Tulsa World, Pittman gave no comment on the agreement. The Tulsa World is where your story lives Preliminary survey data from the National Weather Service after Saturdays tornado in Claremore indicates that it was more than a mile wide and could be among the widest tornado paths in state history. The official information has yet to be determined, but surveyors said the tornado that traveled about 24 miles from Claremore to Pryor on Saturday had a path at least 1,900 yards wide at its maximum. A mile is 1,760 yards. Data available through weather.gov indicates that Cleveland County has seen two tornadoes with similarly wide paths: one in 2010, rated an EF4, and another in 2013, rated an EF5. The 1999 Moore tornado that left 36 dead and hundreds injured traveled a path 38 miles long and 1,760 yards wide. Two people were killed Saturday when the tornado left EF3-level damage near Pryor. Survey details for the storm have not been finalized. The path began northeast of Owasso before moving through Claremore as it destroyed numerous residences and businesses. It traveled into Mayes County and destroyed a mobile home near the Rogers County line before continuing northwest and dissipating outside Pryor. This supercell produced extensive straight-line wind damage associated with the rear flank downdraft outside of the tornado track to the south, National Weather Service surveyors said. About 3,500 Claremore residents still have no power, city officials said Wednesday. Another tornado that developed across the state line early Sunday had a 3,200-yard path at its widest point, according to preliminary survey data. Widest tornado paths in Oklahoma history 1999 (EF5) Moore: 1,760 yards wide at path maximum 2010 (EF4) Cleveland County: 2,000 yards 2013 (EF4) Cleveland County: 1,500 yards 2013 (EF5) Cleveland County: 1,900 yards April 27, 2024 (EF3) Hughes/Okfuskee counties: 1,760 yards May 6, 2024 (EF4) Osage County: 1,700 yards May 19, 2024 (EF2) Custer County: 1,500 yards Source: Weather.gov The Tulsa World is where your story lives NEW DELHI -- India's capital, Delhi, has recorded its first heat-related death this year, media reported on Thursday, as India's northwest swelters in record high temperatures. The heat-related fatality was a 40-year-old labourer who died of heatstroke on Wednesday, The Indian Express newspaper reported. Record Delhi heat, readings under review The temperature in Delhi reached a record high of 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.22F) in the Mungeshpur neighbourhood on Wednesday, while parts of northwest and central India have been experiencing heatwave to severe heatwave conditions for weeks. The reading for Mungeshpur may be revised however, as maximum temperatures in other parts of the city ranged from 45.2C to 49.1C. Delhi's lieutenant governor on Wednesday asked the government to ensure measures were taken to protect labourers by providing water and shaded areas at construction sites and granting them paid leave from noon to 3 p.m. A man and a cow sit under the shadow of a tree on the Yamuna river bed on a hot summer day in New Delhi, India, May 22, 2024. Photo: Reuters Why is India seeing more heatwaves? The India Meteorological Department has said a confluence of weather patterns has driven up temperatures. Summer temperatures often peak during May in India, but the IMD predicted 7-10 heatwave days in northwestern regions this month, compared with the usual 2-3 days. This was largely due to fewer non-monsoon thundershowers and an active but weakening El Nino, a climate pattern that typically leads to hot and dry weather in Asia and heavier rains in parts of the Americas, the IMD has said. Warm, westerly winds blowing in from Pakistan also contributed to the heat. Other parts of India have already seen summer temperatures climbing to record peaks, including eastern and southern India, where temperatures in April were among the highest on record. A dog sleeps on a wet land on the Yamuna river bed on a hot summer day in New Delhi, India, May 22, 2024. Photo: Reuters People sleep on the Yamuna river bed under a bridge on a hot summer day in New Delhi, India, May 22, 2024. Photo: Reuters Extreme heat A heatwave alert has been in place for large parts of India since last week. The IMD threshold for a heatwave is when the maximum temperature reaches 40C in the plains, 30C in hilly areas, 37C in coastal areas and when the departure from the normal maximum temperatures is at least 4.5 degrees. Rajasthan state has also been reeling under scorching heat, with mercury touching 50C in some districts. Government data shows four people have died since March with 451 cases of heat stroke reported on Wednesday itself. Asia has sweltered in a hotter summer this year - a trend scientists say has been worsened by human-driven climate change. People rest on the Yamuna river bed under a bridge on a hot summer day in New Delhi, India, May 22, 2024. Photo: Reuters People bath from a broken water pipeline on the Yamuna river bed under a bridge on a hot summer day in New Delhi, India, May 22, 2024. Photo: Reuters Near term relief Heatwave conditions will reduce over the next two to three days due to a gradual fall in temperature along with rainfall and southwesterly winds blowing from the Arabian Sea to northwest India, the IMD said on Wednesday. Late on Wednesday, some parts of Delhi received a spot of light rain. Construction of the Phuoc Khanh Bridge, which will connect Ho Chi Minh Citys outlying Can Gio District and neighboring Nhon Trach District in Dong Nai Province, has been suspended due to issues with the contractor. The bridge is slated to span 3.1 kilometers and boast a vertical clearance of 55 meters, making it the tallest bridge in Vietnam, together with the Binh Khanh Bridge, which will link Nha Be and Can Gio Districts in Ho Chi Minh City. The two bridges are part of the Ben Luc-Long Thanh Expressway project, which passes through Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Long An and Dong Nai Provinces. Work on other parts of the expressway project has been accelerated to ensure it meets the September 2025 deadline. The road leading to the construction site of the Phuoc Khanh Bridge project. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre A consortium of Japans Sumitomo Mitsui and Vietnams Cienco 4 Group JSC earlier took charge as the contractor. However, the project was suspended in 2022 due to policy bottlenecks. Vietnam Expressway Corporation, the investor, announced the termination of a contract with the contractor. At the time, the bridge project was 80.7 percent. As the project utilizes official development assistance loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the investor had to comply with the requirements outlined in an agreement between the governments of Vietnam and Japan, including the stipulation that the main contractor must be a Japanese firm. In 2022, Vietnam Expressway Corporation, the investor, announced that it would terminate a contract with the contractor of the Phuoc Khanh Bridge project. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre On December 20, 2023, the investor issued bidding documents to seek another Japanese contractor through an international tender, but no Japanese contractors were interested in taking on the project. The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport asked the Ministry of Finance to work with JICA to ease the requirement so that Vietnamese contractors could join the tender. The Ministry of Finance later sent a diplomatic note to the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, while the Ministry of Transport also wrote to the embassy and JICA, proposing adjustments to the requirement. On December 20, 2023, the investor issued bidding documents to seek a new Japanese contractor through an international tender. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre No Japanese contractors showed interest in the project. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre Under an agreement between the governments of Vietnam and Japan, the main contractor must be a Japanese entity. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has asked the Ministry of Finance to work with JICA to ease the requirement so that Vietnamese contractors can join the tender. Photo: Duc Phu / Tuoi Tre The Ministry of Finance later sent a diplomatic note to the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, while the Ministry of Transport also wrote to the embassy and JICA, proposing adjustments to the ODA requirements. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre It will take 17 months to complete the incomplete workload of the Phuoc Khanh Bridge package. Therefore, it is urgent to choose another contractor. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre The main entrance to the construction site of the Phuoc Khanh Bridge package has been temporarily blocked. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre Building materials for the construction of Phuoc Khanh Bridge have become rusty. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! NATO only has 5% of the air defense capabilities needed to protect its eastern flank, one NATO diplomat warns, as allied nations pledge to build a "drone wall" capable of stopping a potential attack near Russia's border. The stark outlook was reported by the Financial Times using the alliance's own projections. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shown the importance of being able to defend against air strikes in Eastern Europe. The paper quoted an unnamed NATO diplomat saying, "Right now, we don't have that." Another said, "[Air defense] is one of the biggest holes we have. We can't deny it." Moscow's use of cheap, long-range drones has increased the urgency of bolstering defenses. NATO is holding two days of talks in Prague ahead of a summit of the leaders of NATO member countries that will take place in Washington in July. Members of the alliance are proposing competing plans to bulk up air defenses. One solution could be for the various air defense systems to be integrated. Each country operates its systems independently right now. Six NATO countries said this week that they plan to establish a "drone wall" against Russia following a series of provocations. Officials from Finland, Norway, Poland and three Baltic states discussed deploying a wall of drones to strengthen their borders. Many NATO countries fear Russia could test the 32-member alliance's border in the next five to 10 years, according to the FT. Police have begun a criminal investigation into the death of a five-year-old boy who was left for some 11 hours inside the school bus of a preschool amid 40-degree-Celsius heat in Thai Binh Province, northern Vietnam on Wednesday. On Wednesday evening, police officers issued a decision to start legal proceedings in the 'involuntary manslaughter' case that occurred earlier on the same day at Hong Nhung 2 Preschool in Thai Binh City, the capital of the namesake province. According to initial reports, P.Q.A., a teacher at the preschool, and N.V.L., 59, the driver of the school bus, were tasked with picking up the boy, T.G.H., and nine other preschoolers at 6:20 am on Wednesday and transporting them to the school. Upon arriving at the school, L. opened the door, allowing the teacher and students to get off and proceed to their classrooms. The driver then parked the vehicle at the school gate and left. After checking student attendance by taking their photos and sending them to the schools software for management purposes, the teacher responsible for the class detected H.'s absence but she did not notify his family. This image shows the door of the school bus of Hong Nhung 2 Preschool, located in northern Vietnams Thai Binh Province, being broken open to get a five-year-old out after the boy was left for nearly 11 hours inside the vehicle, resulting in his death later on May 29, 2024. Photo: K. Linh / Tuoi Tre At about 5:00 pm on the same day, H.s uncle came to the school to pick up H. but the teacher informed him that the boy had not attended school that day. H.s relative then joined the schools staff to search for the boy and eventually found him remaining inside the school bus, which means the boy had been left forgotten in the vehicle for about 11 hours amid the outdoor temperature of up to nearly 40 degrees Celsius in Thai Binh that day. As the bus key was not available at that time, H.s uncle and local residents broke the door open to get H. out in a critical condition. H. was immediately brought to Thai Binh General Hospital for emergency treatment, but doctors said the boy had passed away before hospitalization. As his mother is working abroad in a labor export program, the boy had stayed with his grandmother and uncle before the tragic incident, according to local authorities. Nguyen Khac Than, chairman of the Thai Binh administration, convened an urgent meeting on Wednesday evening with local police and other agencies, urging them to promptly probe into the case and clarify the responsibilities of all those who were involved in the death. Than directed a review and rectification of the student transport processes of all preschools in the province to ensure safety for students. The chairman also asked local authorities to visit and support the victims family. Five years ago, a similar tragic incident occurred in Hanoi on August 6, 2019, when a six-year-old boy at Gateway International School died after being left on the school bus. The schools student transport supervisor and the bus driver were sentenced to 24 months and 15 months in prison, respectively, for involuntary manslaughter, while the homeroom teacher of the victim got 12 months for 'irresponsibility that led to serious consequences.' Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Peoples Court in Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday afternoon handed down prison terms on a 24-year-old woman and her lover for torturing her three-year-old son. The woman was sentenced to one year in jail for torturing her son, while her lover received an 8.5-year term for tormenting the boy and illegally storing drugs. The mother is Nguyen Thao Nguyen, a resident in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, and her lover is Le Van Bam, a 45-year-old resident in Hoc Mon District. Earlier, videos showing the two allegedly letting the boy use meth surfaced on social media. However, investigators said that they could not seize meth as the case happened in 2022, so they had no ground to charge Bam with organizing drug use and forcing or enticing others to use drugs. According to the indictment, Nguyen got married to T.N.T. and they have two children T.N.A.N. and K.. In 2021, T. was forced to undergo detoxification. Nguyen later lived with Bam as husband and wife and her two children in Hoc Mon. On April 10 and 25, 2022, Bam threatened, cursed, tortured, and used duct tape to tie the arms and legs of K., who was then three years old. He even threatened to cut K.s genitals with a screw, a hammer, and scissors. Nguyen used her smartphone to film Bams acts on the two days and sent them to her friend for fun. On April 15, 2022, Bam prepared meth for him, Nguyen, and Nguyens friend. After Nguyens friend left, Bam gave the remaining meth to K. for use, while Nguyen utilized her smartphone to record the situation. After T. completed his detoxification period, he returned and detected the videos. He asked his friend to upload them to social media and then reported the case to police in Ba Diem Commune, Hoc Mon District. At the police station, Bam said K. often cried and was naughty, so he tortured K. to scare the boy and amuse himself. Meanwhile, Nguyen declared that she felt excited when seeing Bam tormenting her son, so she recorded the videos of Bams acts and sent them to her friend for fun. Police confiscated 0.21 grams of meth at the residence of Bam and Nguyen. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! "One unfortunate habit many Vietnamese share is irresponsibly blaring their horns. Personally, I don't use my horn even once a year, whether I'm riding a motorcycle or driving a car," stated one of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper's readers. Tuoi Tre reported on common negative transportation behaviors, such as blowing horns to hurry up and move forward at the last seconds of a traffic light. The newspaper received numerous reactions from readers about the article, indicating that the public not only recognizes this poor behavior as common but also disapproves of it. Honking horns at traffic lights One reader, Hai Dang, recounted a story of being honked at while he stopped at a red light. He remembers stopping at the intersection of Tran Hung Dao and Ham Nghi Streets as the traffic light turned yellow. At that moment, a white taxi approached and the driver honked the horn. "I was so startled that I sped up, and coincidentally, the traffic light on Ham Nghi Street turned green," Hai Dang said. "Looking in the rear-view mirror, I saw the white taxi stopped at the red light, while I had inadvertently run the red light." Another reader, My Toan, points out that blaring the horn is more common in cars, buses, and taxis. Toan believes that the negative behavior "seems to be hard to change" because he frequently hears deafening horns day and night, even on empty roads. "That some people honk incessantly in an air-conditioned car is unbelievable, while there are still a few seconds before the traffic light turns green," My Toan wrote to Tuoi Tre. Another reader named Duong agreed with My Toan that blaring the horn on hot days exhausts everyone and causes headaches. Tan Thi has a complaint regarding bus drivers. "Bus drivers honk the most," Thi said. "They run the red light, weave in and out of traffic, and honk their horns when the red light is still on for a few seconds." According to Tuoi Tre readers, many delivery workers frequently honk their horns, run yellow and red lights, and talk on their phones while driving. Photo: Trieu Van / Tuoi Tre One reader, with the nickname Nghieptran, stated that despite the prohibition against honking in the Saigon River Tunnel, many people continue to do so. It is not surprising to hear honking horns on the streets, they added. Traffic culture and education Reader Thanh Nguyen remarked that horn sounds contribute significantly to noise pollution. Binh Son expressed concerns about delivery workers who frequently run yellow and red lights. These drivers often honk their horns incessantly, despite their vehicles being loaded with merchandise that obscures their license plates. "Police should crack down on these drivers," Binh Son stated. Reader Triet Nguyen agreed, advocating for traffic safety education to be taught in elementary schools rather than during driving lessons, which he believes is too late. Reader Khanh added that driving lessons are focused on passing the driving test rather than instilling a culture of road safety and adherence to traffic rules. Huygo suggested leveraging the popularity of social media to raise awareness about road etiquette. "Road safety culture and environmental consciousness have seriously degraded," Huygo stated. Dangerous driving habits According to reader Chanh Tin Nghia, Vietnamese drivers should change two particularly risky habits: honking carelessly and driving against traffic. Many people frequently drive on the wrong side of the road to take the shortest route, endangering everyone. Noisy roads Reader Tran Tuan noted that buses beep excessively, often startling road users and causing some to fall. Despite this, nobody gets punished for such behavior. Another reader, Hoang, reported that horns begin sounding five seconds before the red light changes. "Dump trucks and trucks are the most aggressive vehicles, with their drivers sometimes hiding or coating registration plates to avoid being fined," Hoang stated. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Australian Broadcasting Corporation in partnership with the Australian International Documentary Conference have opened applications for the Indigenous Documentary Placement program for 2024. Running for the third time, the Indigenous Documentary Placement provides one mid-career Indigenous practitioner with a unique opportunity to undertake a four-month paid placement with the ABC. ABC Chief Content Officer, Chris Oliver-Taylor, said, The ABC is committed to supporting opportunities for Indigenous creatives to expand their skills and experience. Reflecting the diversity of this nation both on our screens, and in our teams enriches the content we produce. The Indigenous Documentary Placement is a wonderful initiative and one were proud to support in partnership with the AIDC. We look forward to welcoming this years successful candidate to the ABC Indigenous team. AIDC CEO / Creative Director, Natasha Gadd, said, We are thrilled to be co-presenting the Indigenous Documentary Placement with the ABC for a third year. AIDC is committed to creating opportunities for First Nations practitioners that facilitate Indigenous led storytelling and new industry pathways. Since 2019, AIDC has welcomed over 390 First Nations practitioners to the Indigenous Creators Program, designed by and for Indigenous creators. The placement is an opportunity to extend this commitment outside of the AIDC conference and, following the outcomes for previous recipients Daniel King and Perun Bonser, we are excited to extend this opportunity with the ABC to another talented First Nations storyteller. The successful applicant will be embedded in the ABC for a period of four months based in Sydney. The placements goal is to provide the practitioner with the opportunity to develop their skills in documentary and/or factual development and production within the context of a public broadcaster with a broader view towards creating employment pathways. The placement will commence with the ABC in mid-August 2024. The successful candidate will receive an equivalent annual producer level salary of up to $94,620 per annum which equates to approximately $40,000 for four months inclusive of statutory superannuation contributions. The participant will be contracted by the ABC. Practitioners from all states are welcome to apply and may be eligible to seek additional relocation support from their relevant state or territory screen agency. In its launch year in 2021, the first recipient of the Indigenous Documentary Placement program was award-winning filmmaker, and descendent of the Yuin and Awabakal nations, Daniel King. In 2022 the placement recipient was Perun Bonser, a Ngarluma writer and director based in Boorloo / Perth, whose work has focused on telling the stories of First Nations peoples. Perun Bonser, said, As an independent filmmaker committed to telling First Nations stories, the ABC placement was a great opportunity to gain insights into broadcast production, commissioning and factual programming. During my time at the ABC I worked on Compass and with the documentary development and commissioning teams and gained practical hands on experience of how documentary and factual programs are created from within a public broadcaster All Indigenous practitioners interested in the placement are invited to attend a virtual information session hosted by Kelrick Martin (Head of Indigenous, ABC) on Thursday 13 June, 11:00am-12:00pm AEST. To register interest in the Information Session, email [email protected] Applicant enquiries about the 2024 Indigenous Documentary Placement should be directed to Kelrick Martin, Head of Indigenous, ABC: [email protected] Applications close 23:59 AEST Sunday 30 June 2024. aidc.com.au/initiatives/indigenous-documentary-placement Mondays Four Corners report Breaking Free profiles a three month program at Sydneys Rainbow Lodge for ex-prisoners in a cycle of reoffending. Australia has one of the highest reoffending rates in the world. Every year, 19,000 people leave prison in New South Wales, but less than three per cent of them get a bed in a supported accommodation program. Reporter Linton Besser meets the lucky few whove been given a place at Sydneys Rainbow Lodge one of the longest continually running halfway houses in the world. These men have committed multiple crimes and been in and out of prison for decades. Most have been cast out from their families in the process. For many, the lodges three-month program is their last chance to take responsibility for their actions and prove theyre ready for the outside world but one slip-up could land them back inside. Special time 8:45pm Monday 3 June on ABC. ABC News Director Justin Stevens has issued a statement following reports of ABC presenter and Board Member Laura Tingles comments at the Sydney Writers Festival where she described Australia as a racist country. Laura Tingles remarks at the Sydney Writers Festival at the weekend lacked the context, balance and supporting information of her work for the ABC and would not have met the ABCs editorial standards, Stevens said in a statement. Although the remarks were conversational, and not made in her work capacity, the ABC and its employees have unique obligations in the Australian media. Today she has explained her remarks in more detail to ensure there is a factual record of the relevant context and detail. The ABCs editorial standards serve a vital role. Laura has been reminded of their application at external events as well as in her work and I have counselled her over the remarks. Laura Tingle is one of Australias most experienced, knowledgeable and accomplished journalists. During her career, including working for The Australian, the AFR and the ABC, she has always sought to better inform Australians by cutting through the politics that often alienates them. The ABC strongly believes hearing informed and independent voices is valuable to our society. I did indeed make the observation on Sunday that we are a racist country, in the context of a discussion about the political prospects ahead, Tingle told the Australian Financial Review. I wasnt saying every Australian is a racist. But we clearly have an issue with racism. For some months now, for example, The Australian newspaper has been devoting considerable space to its alarm about a rise in anti-Semitism in Australia. Without even going into the historic record, there is also ample evidence that racism remains a particular problem in our legal and policing systems. A coronial inquest underway in the Northern Territory has become mired in an expose of racism in the NTs elite policing unit. Racism and racial profiling repeatedly show up as an issue of concern in our policing and justice systems. Update: ABC Managing Director David Anderson Opening Statement to Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications I welcome this opportunity today to address with the Committee a recent issue I am sure I will receive questions about. Laura Tingle is among the most respected and admired journalists and political commentators in the country. Her reporting across broadcast and print platforms, at numerous media organisations, has always been characterised as candid, honest and accurate. She is valued and admired by her ABC colleagues and the public. Like all ABC journalists, Laura understands the ABC is held to a higher standard than other media organisations. The higher standards the ABC Editorial Policies demands of our journalists is necessary for a public broadcaster with legislative requirements for impartiality and accuracy. It is also the bedrock of the trust Australians place in us. The ABCs Director News Justin Stevens has explained in a public statement why recent comments by Laura during a panel at the Sydney Writers Festival would not have met our Editorial Standards if they had been made on an ABC platform. He has reminded Laura of her responsibilities to our Editorial Policies. As 730 Chief Political Correspondent, Laura is required to ensure her comments, even at an external event, have sufficient context to support the statements made. Contrary to some media reports, the issue Mr Stevens raised with her was not a response to Laura calling out racism in Australia. The issue was the public comments at the recent Sydney Writers festival did not provide the relevant context and explanation to support her analysis of the Oppositions post-budget policy position on immigration. In a separate statement, endorsed by Mr Stevens, Laura has provided the context that sits behind her analysis and our audiences are the better for it. Mr Stevens leads the largest news team in the country. They do an outstanding job in keeping the country informed, engaged and able to understand the key issues that drive our national debate. Australians expect the highest standards from our journalists because they need and demand information they can trust. Journalists like Laura and Justin come to work every day with this responsibility at the centre of everything they do. And they do an excellent job. I am grateful for the professionalism and dedication they bring to their respective roles. Their hard work reflects their overall ambition to provide Australians with the news, context and analysis they need. Australia is not unique in coming to terms with issues such as racism, the cost of living, or immigration. They are issues being debated around the world, as they should be. A mature nation, regardless of political views, should be able to discuss such issues in a respectful and intelligent way. The ABCs role, and the work of journalists like Laura, is to help facilitate those debates on our platforms. Finally, Laura does not deserve the ferocity and frankly vicious attacks we have seen this week. I now welcome any questions you have. A lengthy Board meeting at Nine yesterday addressed allegations of poor behaviour by executives at the media group, but ultimately united behind chief executive Mike Sneesby, despite some reports suggesting a dead man walking. Sneesby, chairman Peter Costello and human resources boss Vanessa Morley released a statement after the five-hour meeting promising scrutiny of the allegations and apologising to those affected. It is important we all acknowledge the trauma some of you have experienced in the past, and the distress and frustration the substance of these reports has caused. We also acknowledge and thank those who have come forward to share their experiences with us directly in the last two weeks, and the courage they have shown, the statement said. The group leadership team is united with the board, and working closely, to ensure our workplace is one of respect, safety and inclusion. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that top of an external independent review for television news and current affairs, Nine will establish a dedicated hotline to report sexual harassment, and conduct an organisation-wide independent and anonymous survey. All employees will have to complete refreshed sexual harassment prevention training. These actions were discussed with our board today, which expressed full support and endorsed this approach, the statement said. Intersection, an independent, external organisation specialising in trauma-informed workplace cultural transformation, will complete its report by the end of July. We want to assure you we will be sharing the report findings and using these to reframe and rebuild the culture in our news and current affairs team, the statement said. Sources close to the board said it discussed trying to recoup at least part of a reported nearly $1m payout, to former TV executive Darren Wick, before multiple staff members told media outlets about his conduct. Much of the payout was made up of entitlements accrued over almost 30 years, sources close to management said. Wick would remain on the books until June. Sneesby has also faced questions over the departure of former Stan publicity chief Adrian Foo, who was the subject of a review over allegations of inappropriate conduct. Foo left Stan before the review was finished, in May 2023. Israel's war with Hamas will cost the Middle East country about $67 billion in defense and civilian costs between 2023 and 2025, Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron said, according to the Times of Israel. Yaron called the civilian war costs of the conflict that has been raging since Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7 "significant," and said they would be a budgetary burden. He also said the country's future security budget will continue to grow. "The government needs to make sure that it makes the right balances and budget adjustments in light of growing permanent security expenses," Yaron said, the publication reported. About half of the cost - $32 billion - will be necessary to meet defense needs. Another $10 billion will be needed for civilian spending until 2025 that includes evacuating civilians and providing housing and services to evacuees. The bank also estimated that about $9 billion in lost tax revenue because of the fighting, and $6 billion will be needed to compensate for direct war damages. An estimated $2.4 billion in expenses come from interest payments related to the government's debt level and increasing borrowing costs. The $67 billion figure has outpaced the previous estimate of $56 billion set at the beginning of 2024. By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli forces killed at least 12 Palestinians in a dawn airstrike on Rafah in southern Gaza on Thursday and fighting raged in several other areas of the coastal enclave, Gaza medics said. Israel pressed on with its offensive on Rafah a day after saying its forces had taken control of a buffer zone along the nearby border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, giving it effective authority over Gaza's entire land frontier. It said the buffer zone's capture had cut off a route used by the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas to smuggle arms into Gaza during more than seven months of war, which has laid waste to much of the territory and raised fears of famine. Gaza medical sources said the 12 Palestinians, whom it said were civilians, had been killed and an unspecified number of others wounded in an Israeli airstrike as they tried to recover the body of a civilian in the centre of Rafah. Another Palestinian civilian was killed in an airstrike on Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City in the north of the densely populated enclave, the medics said. Israel reported clashes in southern, central and northern Gaza but did not immediately comment on the reported deaths in Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians took refuge earlier in the war. Communication services were cut off in Rafah, Palestinian telecommunications company Jawa said in a statement. Israel has kept up raids on Rafah despite an order by the International Court of Justice, the top U.N. court, to halt the attacks. Israel said its forces had killed 300 Palestinian gunmen in the city since May 6, when it launched what it has called a push to root out Hamas fighters and rescue hostages. The ICJ also called for the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's air and land war across all of Gaza, with 53 of those killed in the past 24 hours, the Hamas-run enclave's health ministry said. Israel launched its offensive after Hamas fighters crossed from Gaza into southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year, killed 1,200 people and abducted more than 250, according to Israeli tallies. The Israeli military said a soldier had been killed in fighting in northern Gaza, bringing to 292 Israel's combat losses since its first Gaza ground incursion on Oct. 20. TUNNELS, ARMS AND EXPLOSIVES In an overnight call with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant underlined the continuing importance of Israeli operations in the Rafah area "due to concrete information regarding hostages held there". "Minister Gallant detailed IDF activities in the Rafah area where 20 terror tunnels have been identified," the Israeli Defence Ministry said. The Israeli military also said in a statement that tunnels used by Hamas for smuggling and moving fighters underground had been discovered during the latest raids, as well as large amounts of arms and explosives. The Israeli statements did not say where the smuggling tunnels ran from. An Israeli official said on May 15 there were 50 tunnels connecting Rafah to the Sinai in Egypt, and voiced concern that Hamas could use them to smuggle senior operatives or hostages into Egyptian territory. Egypt on Wednesday denied the existence of any such tunnels. The United States, Israel's closest ally, reiterated its opposition to a major ground offensive in Rafah on Tuesday but said it did not believe such an operation was under way. The U.S. has, with Egypt and Qatar, been involved in efforts to mediate indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on arranging a ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages. Those talks have stalled, with both sides blaming the other for the lack of progress. Hamas said on Thursday they would not continue negotiations during the "aggression", but were ready for a "complete agreement" if Israel halts the war. Israel has rejected past Hamas offers as insufficient and said it is determined to wipe out a group bent on its destruction. As the war drags on, malnutrition has become widespread in Gaza as aid deliveries have slowed to a trickle, and the United Nations has warned of incipient famine. Offering one possible lifeline, the Israeli military has lifted a ban on the sale of food to Gaza from Israel and the occupied West Bank since the start of the Rafah operation, Palestinian officials, businessmen and international aid workers told Reuters. Army authorities gave Gazan traders the green light to resume their purchases from Israeli and Palestinian suppliers of food such as fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy goods this month, the people said. The conflict has also stoked violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, another territory where Palestinians seek statehood. Israel said two soldiers were killed in an overnight hit-and-run by a Palestinian motorist in the West Bank city of Nablus. There was no immediate claim of responsibility from Palestinian factions. Israeli security forces killed a Palestinian while carrying out an arrest raid in the occupied West Bank on Thursday. On another front, the leader of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis - who have attacking ships in the Red Sea region, they say in solidarity with the Palestinians - said they would escalate their operations "in quality and quantity". (Additonal reporting by Dubai newsroom and by Ali Sawafta; writing by Timothy Heritage and Andrew Heavens; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Alison Williams) Slovenian government passes decision about recognition of Palestinian state to parliament in Ljubljana LUBLJANA (Reuters) -The Slovenian government on Thursday approved a decision to recognise an independent Palestinian state, Prime Minister Robert Golob said, following in the steps of Spain, Ireland and Norway. The move drew swift condemnation from Israel. Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the decision rewarded Hamas for murder and rape, a reference to the Palestinian Islamist group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza. "Today the government has decided to recognise Palestine as an independent and sovereign state," Golob said at a news conference in Ljubljana. The parliament of the European Union member country must also approve the government's decision in coming days. The move is part of a wider effort by countries to coordinate pressure on Israel to end the conflict in Gaza. Golob also called for the immediate cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the release of all hostages. "This is the message of peace," he said. The Slovenian government raised a Palestinian flag alongside the flags of Slovenia and the EU in front of its building in downtown Ljubljana. On May 28, Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognised a Palestinian state, prompting an angry reaction from Israel. Of the 27 members of the European Union, Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria have already recognised a Palestinian state. Malta has said it could follow soon. Britain and Australia have said they are also considering recognition, but France has said now is not the time. Germany joined Israel's staunchest ally, the United States, in rejecting a unilateral approach, insisting that a two-state solution can only be achieved through dialogue. Denmark's parliament on Tuesday voted down a bill to recognise a Palestinian state. Norway, which chairs the international donor group to the Palestinians, had until recently followed the U.S. position but has lost confidence that this strategy will work. Israel has been fighting against Hamas, which rules Gaza, since the cross-border Oct. 7 attack by militants in which some 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Nearly 130 hostages are believed to remain captive in Gaza. Gaza health authorities say more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war over the past seven months. (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Sharon Singleton) Over 100 rockets fired from Lebanon into N Israel: IDF 11 Oct 2024 | 10:01 PM Jerusalem, Oct 11 (UNI) More than 100 rockets and missiles were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel Friday afternoon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported, with about 80 launches occurring within a four-minute span. see more.. Trump says Obama will vote for him because of Harris Low IQ 11 Oct 2024 | 7:58 PM Washington, Oct 11 (UNI) Former US President Donald Trump expressed confidence on Friday that his predecessor Barack Obama would vote for him in the upcoming presidential election because Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris has "low IQ." "I think Obama will be voting for me because he doesnt like the fact that Kamala is an extremely low IQ person!" Trump said on Truth Social. see more.. FAO urges use of technology to transform agri-food system in Africa 11 Oct 2024 | 7:47 PM Nairobi, Oct 11 (UNI) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Friday called for the use of technology to transform agri-food systems in Africa. see more.. Japan HC rules ban on dual nationality constitutional 11 Oct 2024 | 6:52 PM Tokyo, Oct 11 (UNI) A Japanese high court has upheld a lower court's ruling that the country's prohibition of dual nationality is constitutional, dismissing a claim by a Japanese-born U.S. citizen, local media reported on Friday. see more.. HA NOI Starting from July 1st, biometric information such as fingerprints and facial recognition will be required to finalise transactions of VN10 million (US$391) or more, according to Decision No 2345 by the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV). Biometric security, which will be matched to data stored in the national ID database, is already required to transfer more than VN20 million a day, regardless of the amount of each transfer. Users who transfer money for the first time via mobile banking and e-payment platforms must also log in using biometric information. Commercial banks have been sending their customers notifications and reminders to update their biometric registration in anticipation of the new rules. In addition, people who switch online payment applications or with recurring payments over VN100 million must also be authenticated using biometric information. Tran Cong Quynh Lan, Deputy Director General of VietinBank, said hundreds of thousands of customers have proactively updated their biometric information. The banks said biometric registration can be done using online applications. Users' devices must have facial or fingerprint scanners and NFC (Near-Field Communications) functionality. If a customers device lacks these features, they can visit the nearest bank branch for additional assistance. The central bank said the new rules will help fight a surge in online fraud, which has ensnared thousands of victims across the country. "Fraudsters often hide their real identity and erase traces of transactions by buying or renting 'dummy' accounts for money transfers," he said. He added that biometric authentication would filter out such accounts and help prevent fraudulent activities. Adding another layer of security, on top of SMS OTP and soft OTP, can further protect account owners' funds. The central bank's governor Nguyen Thi Hong said the new rules also require citizens to present chip-embedded ID cards when opening electronic accounts at banks. Citizens without chip-embedded ID cards must visit the bank for verification and follow account owner identification procedures. VNS HA NOI The plastics industry has been facing challenges due to weak construction activities, resulting in a decrease in demand for plastic products in the first quarter of 2024. But the industry's performance is expected to improve, especially in the second half of the year, as state capital divestment boosts share prices. Recently, the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) announced its plan to divest state capital from Tien Phong Plastic Joint Stock Company (NTP), leading to a surge in the company's stock prices. Over the past week, NTP shares have experienced a significant increase, from just under VN43,000 per share to VN62,600 per share. Tien Phong Plastic currently has a charter capital of nearly VN1.3 trillion, with SCIC owning 37.1 per cent of the shares. Other major shareholders include Sekisui Chemical (15 per cent), Southern Tien Phong Plastic (14.27 per cent), and Chairman of the Board of Directors, ang Quoc Dung (6.87 per cent). Investors anticipate that Sekisui Chemical, a Japanese shareholder, will acquire the shares divested by SCIC and become the controlling shareholder. Sekisui Chemical, Japan's largest manufacturer of plastic construction materials, has been a major shareholder of Tien Phong Plastic since 2017. The two companies have a history of collaboration, with Tien Phong Plastic acting as a distribution channel for Sekisui Chemical's products. In return, Tien Phong Plastic received technology transfers, molds and equipment to produce and sell products under the Sekisui brand. This partnership has been beneficial for both companies and has contributed to their growth. Despite a decline in business results in the first quarter of 2024, the expectations surrounding the state capital divestment have driven an increase in NTP shares. Tien Phong Plastic recorded a revenue of over VN948 billion and a profit after tax of VN109 billion in the first quarter, reflecting a decrease of 27 per cent and 7.6 per cent respectively compared to the same period in 2023. Looking ahead, Tien Phong Plastic aims to achieve a revenue of VN5.4 trillion, representing a 4.3 per cent increase, and a pre-tax profit of VN555 billion, a decrease of 15.7 per cent compared to 2023. FPT Securities Company (FPTS) predicts that Tien Phong Plastic's revenue for this year may reach VN5.25 trillion, a 1.4 per cent increase, with an after-tax profit of VN542.7 trillion, a 3 per cent decrease compared to 2023. The housing construction segment's prospects may be constrained by difficulties from residential real estate customers. Among the 28 plastic businesses that have announced their first-quarter results for 2024, 16 companies reported increased profits compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, two companies moved from loss to profit, three companies reduced losses, six companies experienced decreased profits, and one company changed from profit to loss. The leading enterprises in the industry, including Binh Minh Plastic (BMP), Tien Phong Plastic (NTP), An Phat Bioplastics (AAA), Ha Noi Plastics (NHH) and Tan Tien Plastic (TTP), account for nearly 54 per cent of total revenue and 89 per cent of total net profit. Binh Minh Plastic Joint Stock Company (BMP) achieved a revenue of VN1 trillion in the first quarter of 2024, a 30.5 per cent decrease, with a profit after tax of VN190 billion, down 32.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. However, business results in the second half of the year are expected to improve as the real estate market gradually recovers, leading to increased demand for plastic products. Binh Minh Plastics aims to achieve a revenue of more than VN5.5 trillion in 2024, nearly a 6 per cent increase, with a profit after tax of VN1 trillion, similar to the previous year's performance. SSI Research suggests that while the business results for the second quarter may improve compared to the first quarter, they are still expected to be lower than the same period last year. The consumption output is projected to recover in the second half of 2024. For the entire year of 2024, SSI Research forecasts that Binh Minh Plastics will achieve a revenue of VN5.18 trillion, a 1 per cent increase, with a profit after tax of VN915 billion, a 12 per cent decrease compared to 2023. The estimated sales volume is 91,000 tonnes, a 5 per cent increase, but the average selling price is expected to decrease by 4 per cent. By 2025, revenue and net profit could reach VN5.5 trillion and VN1 trillion, respectively. Despite the challenges faced by the industry, BMP stock price has shown growth, increasing nearly 9 per cent in the past month and more than 63 per cent in the past year. Overall, while the plastics industry has experienced some setbacks in the first quarter of 2024, there is optimism for a gradual recovery, particularly later this year. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam recorded a trade deficit for May, following surpluses over several months. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO),Viet Nam had a trade deficit of US$1 billion in May. Viet Nam's imports reached $33.81 billion, an increase of 12.8 per cent month on month and nearly 30 per cent year on year. Exports grew by only 5.7 per cent month on month and 15.8 per cent year on year to $32.81 billion. The return to a trade deficit was mainly due to higher imports of equipment, machinery and raw materials. However, over the whole of the period to May this year, Viet Nam still achieved a surplus of $8.01 billion, which is significantly lower than the trade surplus of $10.2 billion in the first five months of last year. Of which, the foreign invested sector had a trade surplus of $19.27 billion, but the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of $11.26 billion. The country's total trade value was $305.5 billion in the first five months, an increase of 16.6 per cent over the same period of last year. During this period, the total export turnover reached $156.8 billion, up 15.2 per cent over the same period last year, including more than $113.1 billion from the foreign invested sector and $43.7 billion from the domestic economic sector. The products with high export value included electronics, computers and their components ($27.37 billion), phones and components ($22.54 billion), machinery, equipment, tools and other spare parts ($18.44 billion). Meanwhile, import turnover over the first five months stood at $148.8 billion, up 18.2 per cent over the same period last year, including $93.8 billion from foreign investments and $55 billion from the domestic economic sector. Notably, the import value of production materials was at nearly $134 billion, accounting for 94 per cent of the total. In first five months of the year, China remained the biggest import market for Viet Nam to a value of $54.9 billion. Viet Nam posted a trade deficit, of $32.3 billion with China, an increase of 55.9 per cent year on year. Meanwhile, the US was Viet Nam's largest export market to a value of $44 billion. Viet Nam gained a trade surplus of $38.1 billion with the US, up 24.2 per cent over the same period last year. Its trade surplus with the EU was at $14.3 billion, up 18.4 per cent. VNS QUANG NAM Actively creating opportunities for investors instead of just waiting for them is among the contents in the central province of Quang Nams plan to seek high-quality investors and enhance the localitys capacity to absorb investment through proper mechanisms and policies in the 2024-25 period. According to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, with a list of 233 projects prioritised for investment attraction, Quang Nam aims to open up opportunities for cooperation in different areas, from investment to trade connections with foreign partners. The department reported that in the first four months of this year, Quang Nam granted investment licences to 109 projects, including 16 foreign-invested ones. Director of the department Nguyen Quang Thu said that the department has been assigned to select 30 strategic investors meeting the localitys investment attraction orientations, along with five international organisations and associations to approach, enabling the province to set up and send working groups to work with them in 2024 and 2025. One of the criteria for the projects is the capacity to attract satellite manufacturing businesses, forming a global value chain and production-manufacturing-supply-service clusters, he said. For domestic investors, the locality targets enterprises in the top 500 firms of Viet Nam, from which it will choose 30 prestigious economic groups with high financial capacity to call for investment in the period, said Thu. The province takes the master plan for the 2021-30 period with a vision to 2050 as the foundation for investment attraction, focusing on areas that the locality has outstanding advantages. Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam Peoples Committee Ho Quang Buu said that the province will evaluate and select investors right from the beginning to avoid the postponements or extension of investment time. The locality will set up a cooperation relationship with Vietnamese economic and diplomatic representative offices abroad to reach investors, he said. At a working session with the provincial Department of Planning and Investment in late April, Secretary of the Party Committee of Quang Nam Luong Nguyen Minh Triet pointed out that the locality boasts great development potential but its capacity to attract investment remains modest. He stressed the need for the province to make documentaries introducing the potential and advantages of the locality to investors, while increasing investment promotion abroad. VNS President Joe Biden promised voters that he would name progressives to the Supreme Court if he wins a second term this November and suggested there might be two openings on the bench. The president was speaking in Philadelphia on Wednesday as he and Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off a national outreach program to mobilize Black voters, clicking off accomplishments of his first term, including putting Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on the high court. "The next president - they're going to be able to appoint a couple of justices, and I'll be damned if they're not going to ... if in fact we're able to change some of the justices when they retire and put in really progressive judges like we've always had, tell me that won't change your life," he told the crowd, recalling the court's decision in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade. Former President Donald Trump appointed three justices - Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch - to create a 6-3 conservative majority on the court. Two of the current justices are over 70 - Clarence Thomas, 75, and Samuel Alito, 73. Sonia Sotomayor turns 70 next month. Biden named Brown Jackson to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of 83-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer in 2022. HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Thursday for Chief Operations Officer of the Denmark-based LEGO Group Carsten Rasmussen who is on a working visit to Vietnam. At the event, Deputy PM Quang affirmed that the Vietnamese Government treasures and pays special attention to the LEGO plant in the southern province of Binh Duong which is built in line with the global development trend and one of important solutions for the country to concretise the net-zero commitment it made at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26). LEGO plant will be a standout example for Viet Nam's foreign investment attraction in the coming time since it initiates a green production method that the country and the whole world are heading towards, he said, stressing the plant is a vivid illustration for the commitments of the two countries leaders on enhancing bilateral investment and trade ties. He spoke highly of the efforts made by ministries, sectors and Binh Duong Province to remove bottlenecks and push ahead the construction of the plant. Quang expressed his hope that Danish Ambassador to Viet Nam Nicolai Prytz and LEGO leaders will continue working to call for Danish firms to land investment in Viet Nam. Carsten Rasmussen thanked the Vietnamese Government, ministries, sectors and the locality for their support for LEGO to develop its plant which is sixth and first-ever carbon-neutral one in the world. LEGO is working with Binh Duong Province to build a solar energy farm to serve the plant, and it is expected to become operational on the outset of 2025, he said. Meanwhile, the Danish diplomat stressed that the one-billion-USD LEGO plant is the largest overseas project of Danmark and also a typical model for green and sustainable development. He said he has been impressed by Viet Nam's strong commitment to the net-zero target by 2050, holding its efforts to realise the goal will help the country hold competitive edge in attracting foreign investments. VNS The United Kingdom and Viet Nam have established a mutually beneficial and robust trade relationship with trade doubling within 10 years. The UK has remained one of the key markets for Viet Nam. Britains Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, Martin Kent, while on a trip to Viet Nam, spoke with Viet Nam News about bilateral ties at a time when his country is becoming a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Please tell us about the UKs accession to the CPTPP and what this means for it? The CPTPP is a large free trade area made up of some of the worlds most dynamic and rapidly growing economies across the Asia-Pacific and Americas. With the UK as a member, the bloc will account for 15 per cent of global GDP. Were delighted that Singapore, Japan and Chile have formally ratified our accession to CPTPP. The CPTPP Act also recently received Royal Assent in the UK Parliament meaning we are one step closer to entry by the end of this year. CPTPP is a gateway to the wider Indo-Pacific and Americas regions, bringing new opportunities for British businesses in a region that will account for the majority of global growth and half of the worlds middle-class consumers in the decades to come. Joining these high standards and this forward-thinking trade bloc enables us to work with Viet Nam and other CPTPP members to shape the trading systems of the future, for example in areas like digital trade. So CPTPP will give us another opportunity for preferential trade with Viet Nam and build on the UK Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (UKFFTA), which entered into force in 2021. UK-Viet Nam trade has doubled in the past 10 years from 3 billion (US$3.8 billion) in 2013 to over 6 billion ($7.6 billion) last year. As a rapidly growing economy in the heart of the Asia Pacific region with growth of over 5 per cent last year and predicted to grow at roughly 6 per cent this year, we see Viet Nam as an important partner and are committed to continuing to grow our trade relationship. How has the UKVFTA boosted trade between the UK and Viet Nam? The UKVFTA has emerged as a cornerstone for enhancing trade between the United Kingdom and Viet Nam, ushering in a new era of economic co-operation and opportunity for both nations. This landmark agreement, which came into effect on January 1, 2021, has already begun to yield tangible benefits, creating a significant boost for bilateral trade through various mechanisms and provisions aimed at fostering greater economic integration and collaboration. Over the years bilateral trade has witnessed significant growth and with bilateral commerce hitting all-time highs, Viet Nam has become one of the UK's most important Southeast Asian trading partners. To further capitalise on this momentum, both countries are focusing on promoting trade and investment through enhanced co-operation in key sectors, leveraging digital technology for trade facilitation, fostering closer economic ties through joint initiatives and agreements, and continuously updating and improving the terms of the agreement to adapt to changing economic landscapes. Additionally, efforts to promote awareness of the benefits of the UKVFTA among businesses and stakeholders in both countries would be crucial for maximising its potential impact. The ASEAN - UK Economic Integration Programme was launched last April. Could you tell us about its impact on Viet Nam and bilateral trade relations? The 25 million ($32 million) ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme launch highlighted our commitment to work together with ASEAN towards a more cohesive regional economy. The programme will harness opportunities from the digital economy with a strong focus on womens economic empowerment and small business development. We look forward to bringing the best of UK expertise in regulatory reform, financial services, and trade policy to ASEAN for mutual prosperity. Viet Nam is a key market for the UK in ASEAN with rapid economic growth and a liberal trade policy. We want to continue to work closely together to boost trade and economic relations between the UK and Viet Nam. What is the outlook for further strengthening bilateral ties ? What are the key factors involved here? The outlook for further strengthening bilateral ties between the UK and Viet Nam appears promising and holds significant potential for growth and collaboration in the coming time. Several factors contribute to this positive outlook. Firstly, the UK and Viet Nam have complementary economies, with each country possessing strengths in different sectors. Viet Nam is known for its competitive manufacturing sector, particularly in textiles, electronics and footwear, while the UK excels in services such as finance and technology and creative industries. This complementarity allows for mutually beneficial trade exchanges, with each country able to supply goods and services that the other demands. In addition, there is room for further diversification of trade and investment between the UK and Viet Nam. While certain sectors such as textiles, electronics and agriculture have traditionally dominated trade, there are opportunities to expand co-operation in emerging sectors such as digital technology, renewable energy, healthcare, and education. By tapping into these new areas of collaboration, both countries can broaden the scope of their economic partnership and unlock new sources of growth. Furthermore, the existence of the UKVFTA provides a framework for facilitating trade between the two countries. By reducing tariffs, eliminating trade barriers and providing a stable legal environment, these agreements incentivise bilateral trade and investment, creating opportunities for businesses to expand their market access and competitiveness. As a member of CPTPP, we see Viet Nam as an important partner with a rapidly growing economy in the heart of the Asia Pacific region, we are committed to continue to growing our trade relationship by joining this high standards and forward-thinking trade bloc, which enables us to work with Viet Nam and other CPTPP members to shape the trading systems of the future, for example in areas like digital trade. Another factor is that the digital transformation and innovation agenda presents exciting opportunities for enhancing bilateral ties. Both the UK and Viet Nam are prioritising digitisation and innovation as key drivers of economic growth and competitiveness. By sharing best practices, fostering collaboration between startups and tech companies and leveraging digital platforms for trade and investment, both countries can accelerate their digital economies and create new avenues for partnership. As we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Viet Nam-UK diplomatic ties last year. Cultural exchanges, educational collaborations, and people-to-people connections continue playing a crucial role in strengthening bilateral ties. Student exchanges, academic partnerships, and cultural events foster mutual understanding and trust between the people of the UK and Viet Nam, laying the groundwork for deeper economic and diplomatic co-operation. Both the UK and Vietnamese governments have implemented policies and initiatives to support bilateral trade and investment. This includes trade missions, business delegations, investment promotion activities, and diplomatic engagements aimed at fostering closer economic co-operation between the two countries. Government support provides businesses with the necessary resources and assistance to explore and seize opportunities in each other's markets. Overall, the combination of complementary economies, trade agreements, diversification of trade and investment, government support, and cultural connections contributes to the strong trading relationship between the UK and Viet Nam. By leveraging these factors and continuing to strengthen their economic partnership, both countries can further enhance bilateral trade and unlock new opportunities for mutual prosperity and growth. VNS HCM CITY Viet Nam is Asias third fastest growing destination for European globetrotters based on accommodation searches, according to digital travel platform Agoda. As Europes summer approaches, travel insights from digital travel platform Agoda reveal that destinations in Asia not only rank among the most popular outside Europe, but their popularity is increasing compared to last year, with Agoda noting 52 per cent more accommodation searches in April by Europeans for travel to Asia this summer. According to Agodas search data in April, Malaysia saw interest in its attractions increase 89 per cent, while Japan placed second, with 71 per cent more interest noted than last year. Viet Nam took third place, with a 66 per cent increase in interest from travelers in Europe. Lam Vu, Agodas Vietnam Country Director, said: "The increase in searches compared to last year indicates Viet Nams growing popularity as a summer holiday destination among Europeans. Its great to see more and more Europeans exploring all that Viet Nam has to offer during their getaway periods." HCM City, Hoi An and Nha Trang are the most searched locales in Viet Nam by Europeans. These destinations offer a mix of leisure, adventure, and cultural experiences, appealing to travelers seeking to make the most of their long-distance summer holiday, Agoda said. The European markets with the most searches for travel to Viet Nam in April were France, Germany, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Spain. Within Asia, top destinations in Asia for European travelers are Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan, respectively. This reflects the wide appeal of Asian destinations to travelers with a variety of interests. Whether seeking the vibrant street life and historic sites in Bangkok or riding the rolling waves on the surf-friendly coasts of Bali, European tourists are looking to explore what Asia has on offer. The referenced data originates from accommodation searches conducted on Agoda in April 2024, compared against searches conducted in April 2023, specifically for check-in dates between July and August. Agoda, a digital travel platform, helps anyone see the world for less with its great value deals on a global network of 4.2 million hotels and holiday properties worldwide, plus flights, activities, and more. VNS Vientiane Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on May 29 applauded Viet Nam-Laos cooperation in science-technology and innovation as he received a delegation from Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology led by Minister Huynh Thanh at. He affirmed that the delegations visit contributes to consolidating and cultivating the special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. He appreciated the results of cooperation in the field of science and innovation between the two countries in recent times and thanked Viet Nam for supporting Laos in human resources training and infrastructure development to serve its science-technology development and innovation. The PM asked for further cooperation between Viet Nams Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant Lao ministries and agencies in the coming time. For his part, Minister at said that the bilateral sci-tech collaboration has been continuously developing in diverse forms, better meeting the requirements for socio-economic development in each country. From 2011-2021, Viet Nam invested over VN100 billion (US$4 million) in nearly 25 joint research projects with Laos. Viet Nam also provided training for hundreds of Lao managers and dozens of researchers to improve their sci-tech research and management levels. Many Lao research organisations received Vietnamese support to improve their facilities and equipment. On this occasion, at proposed the Lao PM continue to support the bilateral cooperation in the fields of science and technology, innovation, intellectual property and quality metrology in order to contribute more practically and effectively to the sustainable socio-economic development goals of both countries. He suggested Laos create favourable conditions and give more investment resources to scientific research, technology development and innovation activities. at also hoped for the Lao PM's support for cooperation projects between his ministry and Lao agencies. - VNS HA NOI President To Lam hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Thursday for Ambassadors and Charge d'Affaires of ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste, who came to extend their congratulations on his election as the Vietnamese State leader. On behalf of the guests, Lao Ambassador to Viet Nam Khamphao Ernthavanh extended congratulations and warm regards from leaders of Laos and other ASEAN countries to President Lam. She hailed Viet Nams crucial role in strengthening ASEAN's unity and central role, as well as shaping the ASEAN Community Vision beyond 2025 during its nearly 30 years of ASEAN membership. The diplomat believed that under the sound leadership of the President, the friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Southeast Asian countries will grow stronger and deeper, significantly contributing to regional peace, security and stability. President Lam, for his part, affirmed ASEANs special position in Viet Nams foreign policy. He expressed belief that on the back of six-decade collaboration, ASEAN countries will continue to uphold the spirit of sharing and understanding, harmonising the interests of their own and the region as a whole, and working together to address outstanding challenges at present. Expressing delight at the positive development of ties between Viet Nam and Southeast Asian nations within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks, he noted that Viet Nam has successfully built strategic partnerships and comprehensive partnerships with all ASEAN members and affirmed desire to see Timor-Leste soon become a full member of the ASEAN family. According to him, Viet Nam and Southeast Asian countries have been closely working together in economy-trade-investment, national defence-security, education-training and people-to-people exchange, while expanding into new fields in the Industry 4.0 era such as innovation, digital transformation, digital connectivity, green economy and clean energy. He wished that the diplomats would serve as an important bridge to boost friendly cooperation between Viet Nam and Southeast Asian nations, join hands to build a united and strong ASEAN Community for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and beyond. VNS HA NOI - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anna Krystyna Radwan-Rohrenschef co-chaired a deputy ministerial-level political consultation in Ha Noi on May 30. Affirming that Viet Nam always values and wishes to enhance multifaceted cooperation with Poland, Hang suggested Poland expedite the ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and support the early removal of the European Commission (EC)s "yellow card" warning against Viet Nams seafood exports. She thanked the Polish Government for assisting the Vietnamese business community hit by the recent fire incident at a shopping centre in Warsaw, and requested further support for the victims and the Vietnamese community in Poland so that they can early return to normal lives, thus upholding their role as a bridge for bilateral cooperation. Hailing Viet Nam as a top priority partner and a potential economic partner of Poland in the region. Radwan-Rohrenschef agreed to push for the Polish Parliament's early approval of the EVIPA and expressed support for stronger EU-Viet Nam ties in sustainable fisheries development and the EC's early removal of the yellow card for Vietnamese seafood exports. Both sides vowed to enhance exchanges at all levels across the Party, State, Government and Parliament channels while stepping up coordination across national defence-security, education-training, sci-tech, agriculture, culture, tourism, labour, environment, climate change response, digital transformation, green development, water resource management, and more. They committed to further close cooperation at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, to reinforce relations between ASEAN and Poland, and between ASEAN and the EU. The two sides agreed to coordinate to hold cultural and music exchanges in 2025 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Vietnam-Poland diplomatic ties. The two sides will actively implement a consultation mechanism on economic cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology. They will consider establishing an Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic Cooperation between the two countries, continue to effectively carry out the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), thus facilitating stronger market presence for each other's goods. They will encourage Polish businesses to increase investment in Viet Nam, particularly in pharmaceuticals, information and communication technology, renewable energy, processing and manufacturing industries, mining, and shipbuilding. On the occasion, Hang proposed that the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs continue providing opportunities for Vietnamese diplomats to attend its short-term training courses on international law. On global and regional issues of shared concern, host and guest underlined the importance of settling disputes and conflicts in line with international law and the United Nations Charter. Regarding the East Sea issue, they called for ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a directive urging the acceleration and timely completion of land clearance work for vital national projects and transportation infrastructure developments. The directive was sent to organisations and ministries, including political and social agencies, industry and trade, transport ministries, provincial and city party committees, people's committees, member councils and Vietnam Electricity. The PM's directive stressed the importance of modern infrastructure in Viet Nam, particularly in transportation, for driving economic growth and ensuring national security. The 13th Party Congress set a goal of completing 3,000km of expressways by 2025 and 5,000km by 2030. Local areas should accelerate efforts to streamline land clearance, engage in direct dialogue with residents who will be moved, resolving complaints and improving resettlement conditions. While progress has been made, some localities are still lagging behind, which is impacting overall project timelines. To meet set deadlines for key projects, PM Chinh urged the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Party Central Committee's Commission for Mass Mobilisation and various political and social organisations to actively engage and closely coordinate with local party committees and authorities, in order to mobilise residents along project routes to promptly hand over land. Provincial party secretaries and People's Committee chairs with projects passing through their areas are instructed to provide leadership, direct agencies and closely monitor progress. They are urged to expedite land clearance for projects including the North-South Expressway, 2021-2025, two ring road projects and three East-West Expressway projects by the second quarter of 2024. The directive stresses the need for direct communication with residents, effective legal solutions for grievances and prioritising land clearances in construction-critical areas. Provinces are called upon to speed up completion of resettlement areas and infrastructure relocation and those who are still behind schedule are urged to catch up. Additionally, provinces are urged to resolve forest land use issues promptly, while those with disputes over land prices are advised to address them swiftly. Ministries and agencies, such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade and state capital management agencies, are urged to support investors in expediting procedures for relocating high-voltage power lines. The deadline for this is June 30, 2024. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and the Government Office are tasked with overseeing the implementation of this directive, ensuring prompt reporting to the Prime Minister on any issues beyond the delegated authority. VNS HA NOI Five-year-old children will be exempt from tuition fees from the start of the next school year. The regulation was defined in Article 15 of the Governments Decree 81/2021/N-CP. The decree, which took effect on October 15, 2021, contains regulations on tuition and management for educational institutions under the national education system. It stipulates policies on tuition exemption, reduction and service prices in the education and training sector. According to Clause 6, Article 15 of the decree, a total of 19 groups of beneficiaries are eligible for tuition exemption. The Ministry of Education and Training has sent Official Dispatch No 2179/BGDT-KHTC to ministries, ministerial-level agencies, socio-political organisations, provincial and municipal people's committees and schools to guide the Governments regulations. Other groups who are exempted from fees include disabled students, orphan students as regulated in the Law on Vocational Education, and students in severely disadvantaged, island, border, remote and mountainous areas. The beneficiaries also include children from families who have made a great contribution to the nation, ethnic students alongside students who study majors including tuberculosis, leprosy, psychiatry and pathology, according to the State's targets. They also involve learners of specific fields serving requirements of socio-economic development, national defence and security, based on the Law on Vocational Education and the Prime Ministers regulations. VNS HA NOI Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received Anna Krystyna Radwan-Rohrenschef, Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Ha Noi on May 29. The Polish official is on a visit to Vietnam to convene a political consultation at the deputy ministerial level between the two foreign ministries. Son affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and wishes to enhance multifaceted cooperation with Poland. The minister suggested the two countries step up all-level mutual visits to strengthen political trust and mutual understanding, thus creating a foundation for promoting and expanding cooperation in other areas. In particular, they should continue to effectively maintain the political consultation at the level. Appreciating the Polish Governments active support for the Vietnamese people there, he called on all-level authorities of the European nation to continue creating favourable conditions for the community to settle down, practically contribute to the local society and economy, and perform their role as a bridge of bilateral friendship and multifaceted cooperation. On this occasion, the host official also proposed Poland ratify the EU - Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to facilitate equal and mutually beneficial investment partnerships. For her part, Radwan-Rohrenschef noted she is impressed with Viet Nams achievements in socio-economic development and integration into the world. She shared her hosts opinions and proposals, pledging to promote Polish ministries and sectors coordination with Viet Nam to further boost the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation in all spheres. VNS HA NOI In anticipation of the inaugural International Day of Play on June 11, the UN agencies in Ha Noi celebrated the occasion early onThursday, following the March 25 approval of the UN General Assemblys resolution initiated by Viet Nam and co-sponsored by 138 countries. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs o Hung Viet emphasised the importance of play, especially to the well-being and development of children. He stressed the need for all children, whether in urban, rural or remote area, to have access to playgrounds, toys, safe spaces, and opportunities for physical activity. On the occasion, he called on UN agencies and the private sector to collaborate with Viet Nam in addressing the shortage of games, recreational activities and resources for children. UNICEF Acting Chief Representative in Viet Nam Leslie Miller thanked the Vietnamese Government for initiating and promoting the resolution on the International Day of Play. Sharing the same sentiment, Chief Operations Officer of LEGO Group Carsten Rasmussen expressed a desire for continued cooperation with the Vietnamese Government and UNICEF to expand play and learning opportunities for children. The event also showcased the creativity of Vietnamese children. Over 8,000 artworks were submitted to UNICEF on the theme of dream playgrounds, with 31 chosen for presentation there. VNS A man was reportedly stabbed with a machete in both legs in Times Square on Thursday afternoon. It happened near a McDonald's according to the New York Post. The FDNY said it got a call about a reported stabbing at West 45th Street and Broadway around 10 a.m., WNBC-TV reported. The reason for the attack was not immediately available. Three men were seen running away after the attack. The NYPD said one suspect was wearing jeans and a black shirt, one was wearing a Wu Tang shirt and another was in jeans and a black shirt. Several people were taken into custody Sixth Avenue and West 52nd Street and 660 Fifth Avenue, according to WABC. EMS took the victim to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. He was expected to survive. The area where the attack took place is one of New York's busiest tourist districts. It has also seen several high-profile crimes in recent years. In February, a tourist was shot in Times Square. A 15-year-old migrant from Venezuela was arrested in connection with that incident. At the beginning of May, Prep, a Vietnam-based language learning and test preparation platform, announced that it had raised $7 million in Series A funding, co-led by Cercano Management Asia and Northstar Ventures, with the participation of Touchstone Partners, East Ventures, and Saison Capital. AI models simplifying the teacher-student dynamic, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com Tu Pham, founder and CEO of Prep said, This $7 million round will allow Prep to further refine its AI models and build more features with improved AI capabilities. This strategy will help Prep gain a competitive edge in the education sector, Pham added. Prep has been among the early adopters of AI technology and stands as the first Vietnamese company to implement AI Markup Language and Deep Learning in Test Preparation. Utilising the former, Prep develops virtual test rooms with significant educational and business impacts. Preps practice modules integrate AI to reduce wait times for learners while maintaining feedback and scoring comparable to that of a high-quality tutor at a fraction of the cost. These AI features also enable teachers to save time grading assignments and ensure students have adequate practice time. Another edtech startup, Vuihoc, has also stepped up its investment in AI technology after raising $6 million in a funding round last year. Vuihoc quickly launched an AI-powered learning centre, Vuihoc Station, in August 2023. In addition, the startup has applied AI to voice recognition to provide real-time assessments and grading for students. Facial recognition using AI is also adopted to see whether the student is paying attention to the online lessons so that teachers can give appropriate reminders. All of these initiatives help our students study more regularly and more enthusiastically with improved learning efficiency, said Vuihoc CEO Do Ngoc Lam. Lam said the company would only invest in AI if it helps address issues with reasonable expenses and optimisation compared with other solutions. We are determined not to rush to apply AI widely or invest in it without control, so we can avoid creating unnecessary risks for our development, Lam said. Looking at other education companies in the region, we see the growing trend of applying AI more deeply in operations. However, it requires plenty of resources. Thus, companies also need to make sure of what they want, what metrics AI will help improve, and how many resources are needed to achieve efficiency. According to a report by South Korean venture capital fund Nextrans, Vietnamese edtech firms are increasingly integrating AI into their platforms, aiming to establish a more engaging and personalised learning atmosphere, with a focus on learner-centricity as a guiding principle. This shift towards AI integration signifies a broader trend in the Vietnamese edtech sector, where technology is leveraged to create tailored and effective learning experiences. Le Hoang Uyen Vy, general partner at Do Ventures, said, AI is showcasing remarkable capabilities in Vietnams education sector. While traditional teaching methods will dominate in the short to medium term, AI will enhance teaching quality and support student learning. AI can create adaptive learning environments by tailoring educational content and pace to each students individual needs and learning style. This personalisation enhances student engagement and improves learning outcomes. One of Do Ventures portfolio companies, Azota, has developed a tool that simplifies homework assignments and grading for hundreds of thousands of teachers. Utilising generative AI technology, Azota integrated a system based on ChatGPT-4 into their platform to assist teachers in effortlessly creating exams with simple prompts. Leveraging extensive data from Vietnamese teachers and students, Azota can generate customised content and exams tailored to the specific needs of Vietnamese educators. Many edtech startups are integrating AI into their products, though most are still in the experimental phase, exploring effective applications, Vy said. Edtech firms should prioritise delivering core value to users, using AI to enhance product value rather than just to draw in investors. While it holds great promise, its application in education should be thoughtful and strategic, genuinely enhancing the educational experience and delivering real value to educators and students. Pham of Prep added that AI heavily relies on data, meaning edtech startups need to gather ample data to train AI models. This process can be labour-intensive and costly, as data must be collected from qualified teachers. Fortunately, Prep has been collecting data for many years, Pham said. As a result, our models have been built on millions of hours of research and millions of data points which are comments made by human teachers. US company steps up AI investment in Southeast Asia The US chip manufacture Nvidia is planning to build a 200 million USD artificial intelligence (AI) centre in Indonesia as part of its push into Southeast Asia. Defining the role of AI in digital transformation AI has become a fuzzy catch-all term for any computational system that mimics human-like intelligence. It enables machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, and decision-making. AI is the new electricity. Blockchain and AI bringing better value The combination of AI and blockchain technology is helping global venture capital flows gradually warm up after a long funding winter. Nguyen Trung Kien, CEO of Hanoi-based smart camera manufacturer Pavana Technologies JSC, noted that Vietnams camera market has been growing rapidly at 13-14 per cent annually, of which cameras for household use have expanded more swiftly at 17 per cent per year. Currently, local factory production capacity comes to around 2-2.5 million cameras per year. The market for surveillance cameras for infrastructure, enterprises, and government organisations remains underdeveloped in Vietnam, so it has large development potential, said Kien. Kien also revealed that based on diverse sources, the countrys camera market generated $175 million in revenue in 2023, of which Chinese brands Dahua and HikVision and their subsidiaries held nearly 90 per cent of the market share, with the rest mostly seized by smaller Chinese brands. In the general camera market landscape, cameras for household use account for up to 48 per cent of the total revenue and 60 per cent of the total volume of the products in circulation. Most of these products have a low value, ranging from $8.3 to below $42 per unit, being sold either online or without control in the domestic market. Business executives in the field shared that locally-produced cameras struggled to compete with foreign low-cost cameras that are widely available in the Vietnamese market. Availing the advantage of being produced in huge volume and receiving government support, Chinese camera makers are taking the upper hand over native producers in many countries. Vo Duc Tho, CEO of AI camera startup Hanet Technology, said that the low cost of Chinese cameras came from the fact that they are produced in mass volumes of millions of units. Hence, for market survival, local firms need to find a distinction, such as integrated AI or other features their foreign rivals have yet to embrace, and shouldnt enter a price war with Chinese-made items. Nguyen Tuan Anh, chairman of innovative startup Lumi Vietnam, said that the company is striving to best avail of smarthome technology and synchronised solutions to bolster competitiveness. The cost is by no means small when embracing a big solution, yet it could drop sharply through a shared use. The room for development in the Vietnamese market is still huge. The question is how to optimise the cost, master the technology, and elevate user experience? Local camera makers could form an alliance aimed at market dominance, said Tuan Anh. Viettel Telecom, part of tech giant Viettel Group, also envisages not competing through individual camera sales. Nguyen Dang Trien, director of the IT Solutions and Digital Services Centre under Viettel Telecom, said that the business has enacted camera hardware technical specifications set to satisfy user requirements. Viettel has integrated hardware and software applications, network layer, and servicers, including ensuring camera data storage in Vietnam for user protection. With this approach, the product price and relevant costs might be higher compared to several global platforms which manage huge volumes of cameras reaching several hundred million units. I believe to enhance competitiveness and ensure information security, it is necessary to have in place a set of criteria about basic network information security requirements, including technical specifications, to create fair competition between domestic businesses and their foreign peers operating in Vietnam, said Trien. Advocating the mindset, Nguyen Duc Quy, CEO of Vconnex Technology, which boasts international standard IoT platforms, said that independent local businesses often face myriad hardships. Local firms might be defeated at home if users continue to use the uncontrolled low-cost cameras that are drifting into the domestic market. Therefore, it is important to have in place policies strong enough to support local firms before thinking of reaching out to the global market, said Quy. A GlobeNewswire report showed that the global security camera market value amounted to $12.83 billion in 2023, and is expected to touch $41.32 billion by 2032, eying a compound growth rate approximating 13.9 per cent annually. In Vietnam, the demand for cameras is huge. The total market size might reach 100-150 million units a year, yet in fact the country just produces 10-15 million units, and needs to import 5-6 million units each year, mostly cameras for business and household use. Government agencies increase casino surveillance The Ministry of Finance is asking casinos in Vietnam to equip their venues with a working camera system for it to properly supervise their operations. FPT Group partners with Landing AI to bolster global presence On October 24, Vietnamese IT giant FPT Group entered into a strategic partnership with Landing AI, a top-tier AI firm from the US. This pivotal move aims to bolster collaboration between the United States and Vietnam in this burgeoning sector, expanding market opportunities for both parties and pushing the evolution of AI globally. An engineer demonstrates the spraying of chemicals on rice fields using an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) to help local farmers. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - The Hanois People's Committee will allocate approximately 11 billion VND (432,100 USD) to support organisations and individuals in a two-year trial using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to spray chemicals on agricultural land to protect crops. The plan will be implemented according to Resolution No. 08/2023 issued on July 4, 2023, by the municipal People's Council, using funds from the city's budget for 2024-2025. In 2024, the drones will be used over an area of 24,972 hectares in the districts of My Duc, Thach That, Thanh Oai, Phuc Tho, Me Linh, Chuong My, Thuong Tin, Ung Hoa, Soc Son, Phu Xuyen and Quoc Oai, with a total budget of over 6.24 billion VND (245,120 USD). Next year, the drones will be used over 18,959 hectares in the districts of My Duc, Thach That, Son Tay, Me Linh, Chuong My, Thuong Tin, Ung Hoa, Soc Son, Quoc Oai and Phu Xuyen, with a total budget of 4.74 billion VND (186,190 USD). The committee has assigned the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with relevant departments and district-level people's committees to supervise the trial to ensure effectiveness and compliance with regulations. Relevant units have been asked to collaborate with districts, towns and related sectors to compile and evaluate the implementation results, propose solutions and promptly report difficulties encountered during the implementation. National Assembly deputies discuss issues on socio-economic development and State budget on May 29. (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the National Assembly (NA)s ongoing 7th sitting on May 29, Hong said that the recovery of domestic production and exports in the coming time will push foreign currency supply and demand. Its forecast that exchange rates will cool down by the end of this year and the SBV will continue to closely monitor market developments so that businesses can feel secure about the Government's management, Hong said. Regarding low credit growth, the Governor said that this trend is not only in Vietnam but also across the world as countries continue tightening their monetary policy. The Government has strongly directed ministries and agencies, including the SBV, to implement solutions to support and promote credit growth, she noted. There are many reasons for the low credit growth, including those regarding exports and the domestic market, Hong said. Sectors that usually have huge demand for loans like real estate market are facing difficulties, particularly relating to the legal framework. The Government has asked for drastic solutions and established a working group to guide localities in solving the difficulties, the governor said. She added that the Government has recently urged speeding up public investment, particularly in infrastructure, which will boost the cash flow for businesses and then activate the credit of the banking system. In addition, the SBV has repeatedly called for more support for small-and-medium-sized enterprises as they account for 95% of the total businesses, as a way to boost credit. Also at the event, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said Vietnam has achieved positive results in implementing the socio-economic development tasks in 2023 and the first five months of 2024 despite of difficulties and challenges. As challenges remain in the coming time, the Government is focusing on solutions such as supporting domestic businesses; further attracting foreign investment; promoting investment, consumption and exports; speeding up digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, emerging industries, and important industries such as semiconductor chips and renewable energy; as well as accelerating disbursement of public investment capital. The minister also noted the importance of institutional reforms and stronger decentralisation to localities. SBV gold auction sells 7,900 taels A gold auction held by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) on May 21 sold 7,900 taels (70 lots) of SJC-brand gold bullion to nine different bidders. Eleven bidders win May 23 gold auction Eleven bidders bought 13,400 out of the 16,800 taels of SJC-branded gold bullion that the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) offered for sale at an auction held on May 23. At the "From 'Brown' to 'Green' - Innovating in Transition" session held at the ACCA Asia-Pacific Forum by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) on May 28 in Hanoi Jonathan Back, CFO of Ayala Energy, expressed an optimistic outlook for the renewable energy sector in Vietnam. "Since we entered this market six years ago, the Vietnamese government has implemented numerous favourable policies for the development of renewable energy," Back said. "With a strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuel power plants and promote renewable energy, the Vietnamese government has introduced incentive policies for renewable energy project developers, including the highly regarded feed-in-tariff mechanism." The presence of seven renewable energy plants in Vietnam serves as clear evidence of Ayala Energy's confidence in Vietnam's clean energy goals. "The countries where we operate are places where our group believes there are many favourable factors for renewable energy. I am very optimistic about the future of the renewable energy sector in Vietnam," Back added. Nguyen Hoa Cuong, deputy director of the Central Institute for Economic Management under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, gave an example of Quang Ninh province as an example of the green transition. "Quang Ninh is a northern province with distinct advantages in coal production and coal-fired power plants. However, in the past five years, it has also been a leader in business environment rankings, competitiveness, and digital economic development indices," he said. "The story of Quang Ninh is a microcosm of the broader changes occurring across Vietnam. This demonstrates that we have undergone a transformation, where economic development no longer relies primarily on natural resources but on high-tech industries, green energy, and a commitment to sustainable development." Additionally, Cuong highlighted the long-term national strategy for comprehensive green development issued by the government. "Vietnam made a historic commitment at COP26 with the strong goal of achieving net-zero emissions. Accordingly, Vietnam has initiatives to mobilise the strength of the entire society to build a green economy, supported by the concerted efforts of the government, localities, the domestic business community, and foreign direct investment," he said. Green workforce crucial to a green economy The Vietnamese government is targeting green growth with policies and international commitments towards the green economy. Nguyen Cong Thuy, founder and CEO of HRDC, discusses the influence of the green workforce on sustainable development. 'Green skills vital' for green transition Organised by the United Nations in Vietnam on August 11, this years International Youth Day focussed on the role of education and highlighted the importance of teaching green skills to young people, so they can move towards a brighter, greener, and more sustainable future for Vietnam. A number of software-as-a-service (SaaS) startups and companies have wrapped up investments from venture capital funds and financiers this year, signifying the growing interest in the market. Finviet Technology Corporation, which focuses on cashless payment apps and an online ordering platform for physical retail businesses, secured an undisclosed amount from Japans Sojitz Corporation at the end of April. The same month, CNV, which offers digital transformation products and marketing growth services, also bagged $1 million in fresh funding from Wavemaker Partners. Elsewhere, ScaleUp, a provider of e-commerce solutions similar to the SaaS model, received seed funding from the South Korean venture capital fund Nextrans in March. Funding rounds are supporting further business expansions into next year, Photo: Shutterstock Nguyen Tuan Phu, CEO of CNV, said SaaS startups offer innovative solutions to optimise business processes, create new opportunities for market access, and boost sales. There is ample potential for SaaS models as businesses tighten their budgets and cut unnecessary costs amid the economic recession. CNV is providing one solution that optimises resources and drives sustainable sales growth through the model of selling to old customers or nurturing new potential customers. Some startups are emerging as a bargain for venture capital funds amid the funding freeze if they offer an attractive business with transparent data, sustainable growth, and the potential to apply AI to scale up, Phu added. It is also the reason why CNV has raised capital during this startup winter, he said. According to the Vietnam Startup Industry Report 2023 by Nextrans, capital inflow in the SaaS market experienced a modest recovery last year, with investments totalling around $6.5 million, nearly double the $3.4 million recorded in 2022. This resurgence was driven by several notable late-stage investment deals, such as TopCV, 1Office, and Nami Technology, each securing an average valuation of $2 million. Bui Hai Nam, CEO of smart sales management app SoBanHang, said, Funding in the Vietnamese SaaS market is growing rapidly. The market in Vietnam is valued at $200 million and growing at 11 per cent annually. In comparison, the global market is worth $3 trillion, with a growth rate of 29 per cent per year. This presents a significant growth opportunity for Vietnam to catch up with the global trend. Another reason is that the government is actively supporting digital transformation, investing in e-governance and technology infrastructure, and assisting startups, Nam added. Startups that survived through the funding winter can now thrive in the new global economic cycle, and venture capital funds have a fantastic opportunity to succeed, he said. Over the past two years, SoBanHang has made significant investments in developing technology to enhance management and growth efficiency for small businesses. This has resulted in a four-fold increase in growth, with over 500,000 satisfied users and overwhelmingly positive reviews on the App Store. We are currently focused on building a very innovative fintech solution to better serve our clients this quarter. Subsequently, we plan to initiate a Series A funding round to support further business expansion in 2025, Nam said. Besides funding flows into Vietnams SaaS startups, Nextrans also pointed out that the increasing utilisation of SaaS in industries such as banking, healthcare, and law in Vietnam has resulted in mergers and acquisitions (M&As) with the domestic market. This is driven by the need for market expansion, technology synergy, scaling operations, and market consolidation, creating opportunities for both investors and SaaS providers. M&A activities offer investors the potential for significant returns on investment, while SaaS providers can leverage these deals to access capital, expand their market reach, enhance technological capabilities, and strengthen their competitive position, it said. According to CNVs Phu, as economic difficulties continue to linger, the upcoming trend of Vietnams SaaS industry will revolve around solutions for business management, optimisation, and sales operations. Some potential models are software to support orders on livestream, software to measure livestream performance, software to monitor the performance of the sales department, as well as customer care software, Phu said. Nguyen Van Tung, Chairman of Haiphong People's Committee, said that Haiphong has been striving towards green and sustainable development since 2010. The green conversion pillars are set to encompass economic zones and IPs, seaports and logistics, high-tech industries, commerce, and tourism. The greening of economic sectors has been identified as a key part of the city's socioeconomic development resolutions, gearing towards green growth and sustainable development. Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park aims for green and sustainable development Haiphong is determined, together with Hanoi and Quang Ninh province, to play a leading role in the development of the whole region by promoting the development of the digital economy, digital society, green economy, circular economy, and new economic models. Nguyen Thanh Phuong, general director of Sao Do Group a major industrial real estate developer in the city, said that green and sustainable development take priority for every project implemented by Sao Do Group. The company is working actively with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) consultants regarding conversion to an eco-IP model, moving step by step in accordance with the process. Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park is striving to become a successful destination for investors To contribute to realising the Vietnamese governments net-zero commitment by 2050, as pledged at COP26, and making Nam Dinh Vu IP a place where investors can enjoy competitive advantages by using renewable energy for production, Sao Do Group has signed strategic cooperation deals with energy groups from the EU, deployed rooftop solar power, and is striving to use clean and environmentally friendly energy. In addition, businesses at Nam Dinh Vu IP have signed a cooperative agreement on promoting green development at the IP, prioritising the use of environmentally friendly technologies and renewable energy in production and business through rooftop solar power. Sao Do Group has determined that the greening of the IP must be aligned with UNIDO evaluation criteria on the development of green and ecological IPs. Enhancing local investment promotion Sao Do Group is also striving to best avail of investment opportunities to be found at the citys diverse working sessions with foreign delegations. Phase I of Nam Dinh Vu IP project covering 370 hectares has been filled So far this year, delegations from China, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea have visited Haiphong to learn about the investment environment and seek cooperation opportunities. This has ushered in cooperation opportunities in diverse potential areas such as logistics, clean energy, technology transfer, and green growth. Sao Do Group leader Nguyen Thanh Phuong noted that the city's investment promotions for international businesses would create huge opportunities for both sides. For Nam Dinh Vu IP, Sao Do Group can promote the image and advantages of the IP, such as its infrastructure and facilities, directly to investors. Through meetings with city leaders, investors can learn about the infrastructure and the supply chain within the IP, and links between businesses in the area. With a total area of 1,329 hectares and an investment reaching $375 million, Nam Dinh Vu IP is home to more than 60 foreign-invested projects from countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong (China), Chinese Taipei, Germany, and France. With internal seaports, and modern and synchronously invested logistics ecosystems, Nam Dinh Vu offers competitive advantages compared to other IPs. It is the only IP in Haiphong with an internal seaport. This area currently has seven container terminals and general ports, with bonded warehouses and other utilities available. Currently, phase I of Nam Dinh Vu IP covering over 370ha has been filled. Phase II will include a further 960ha, and more than 400ha are now under intensive construction. Priority shall be given to businesses that utilise high technology with a focus on green development. This is an example of Nam Dinh Vu IPs commitment to success and sustainable development for investors not only in the region but also all around the world. Haiphong is the second-largest locality in the Red River Delta behind Hanoi. In terms of industrial production, the city is among the top five localities nationwide and is witnessing strong growth momentum. In 2023, the city's regional GDP surged 10.34 per cent, among the top performers in the country and marking the 9th consecutive year of growth surpassing 10 per cent. Green development the first choice for businesses Many businesses in Vietnam are still committed to investing more resources for green and sustainable development, despite the macroeconomic challenges. EPR can be a move towards sustainable development By implementing extended producer responsibility, Vietnamese businesses can meet the increasingly high demands of partners and participate extensively in the global value chain, but it is also a challenge because new regulations always take time to deploy and enforce effectively. The work will be auctioned as part of the Arts d'Asie sale on June 14 at Sothebys Paris, and will be on public exhibition there from June 8-13 June alongside other works from the auction. Created in 1930 during Chanh's peak creative period, the painting is poised to set an auction record and stands as the artist's most significant work ever to hit the market. The discovery of this masterpiece is a tale of serendipity. Previously known only through archival records and landmark exhibitions in Hanoi (1930) and Paris (1931), the painting was unearthed in a modest rural French home. Acquired by the current owner's grandfather at the 1931 Paris Exhibition an inaugural showcase of Vietnamese modernism in the West the painting has since remained a hidden gem, patiently awaiting rediscovery. Executed in 1930, 'Les Chanteuses de Campagne' exemplifies Chanh's most sought-after period, from 1930 to 1935, capturing everyday moments with unparalleled intimacy. The painting portrays two women of modest means in a candid moment, rooted in earthy tones. This composition, reflecting Chanh's focus on authentic action over aesthetic novelty, offers viewers a poignant glimpse into everyday life in early 20th-century Vietnam. Born in a remote Vietnamese village in 1892, Nguyen Phan Chanh defied conventional artistic paths, embarking on his creative journey at the age of 33 after a career as a primary school teacher. This unconventional start did not impede his rapid ascent to international renown as an artist who skilfully intertwined Eastern traditions with Western artistry. Deeply inspired by the rural world of his early life, Chanh remained closely connected to the people, depicting familiar scenes with an intimate vision that earned him acclaim as a chronicler of traditional life. Hao Khi Thang Long exhibition showcases artworks by two Vietnamese artists The Hao Khi Thang Long exhibition introduced the public to 24 lacquer works, as well as large, austere paintings, by artists Nguyen Anh Thuong and Vu Thi Hong Ngoc. Pan Pacific Hanoi launches painting contest in collaboration with Vietnam University Fine Arts The Pan Pacific Hanoi introduces 2024 Art Award along with the launch of the "Inspiring Tradition" painting contest, in collaboration with Vietnam University of Fine Arts, aiming to recognise and celebrate the talents of Vietnamese artists with special needs aged 19 to 35. Daisy Ridley, as Trudy Ederle, in a scene from "Young Woman and the Sea." Disney/Associated Press Maya Hawke in 'Wildcat' Oscilloscope Here are the major new films being released this week. 'The Dead Don't Hurt' Viggo Mortensen directs, writes and stars in this Western about two pioneers fighting for their lives during the Civil War. Vicky Krieps co-stars. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rated R. Opens Friday throughout Houston. 'Deer Camp '86' Horror film in which friends from Detroit decide to go deer hunting in rural Michigan and then discover they are the ones being hunted. Unrated. Opens Friday at AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston. 'Dial M for Murder' Advertisement Article continues below this ad Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings and Ray Milland star in this 1954 Alfred Hitchcock thriller in which a man arranges the murder of his unfaithful wife. Unrated. Screens 5 p.m. Sunday and June 9 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. 'Ezra' Robert De Niro, Bobby Cannavale, Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg and Rose Byrne star in this drama about a man who bonds with his autistic son while on a cross-country road trip. Rated R. Opens Friday throughout Houston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 'Haikyu! The Dumpster Battle' Japanese anime set in the world of high school volleyball. Unrated. Opens Friday throughout Houston. 'In a Violent Nature' Canadian horror film in which a vengeful spirit is on the hunt for a locket removed from the place where he was entombed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Unrated. Opens Friday throughout Houston. 'It's Such a Beautiful Day' Don Hertzfeldt's 2012 animated comedy-drama about a man trying to restore his broken psyche has been hailed as one of the best animated films of all time. It will be preceded by Hertzfeldt's latest film, the 22-minute short, "Me." Unrated. Opens Friday at the Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra, Katy. 'Summer Camp' Advertisement Article continues below this ad Three adult friends, who used to go to summer camp together as kids, get back together for a summer camp reunion. Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates and Betsy Sodaro star in this comedy. Rated PG-13. Opens Friday throughout Houston. 'Wildcat' Ethan Hawke directs this biopic about the writer Flannery O'Connor. His daughter, Maya Hawke, plays the author. Laura Linney co-stars. Unrated. Opens Friday at AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston; AMC Loews Fountains 18, Stafford; AMC Katy Mills 20, Katy. 'Young Woman and the Sea' Daisy Ridley stars as Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Feature: Chinese solar products, technology benefit local hospital in Uganda Xinhua) 10:51, May 30, 2024 A healthcare worker uses solar energy powered medical equipment at Ndejje Health Center IV in the central Ugandan district of Wakiso, on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Joseph Kiggundu/Xinhua) WAKISO, Uganda, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Power outages once plagued Ndejje Health Center IV, a hospital serving 40,000 people, in Uganda's central district of Wakiso. Surgeons would get stuck in theater. Midwives used to improvise, using phone light to aid births. Now, the situation has improved, with solar panels transforming the facility, said Geoffrey Kisuze, manager of the health center. Affordable and increasingly accessible, solar power now ensures uninterrupted services, vital for maternal care and vaccine storage. "Ever since we got solar, we were able to address the challenges of an unpredictable power schedule," Kisuze told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Previously, there would be a time when you have no power for a week. Those vaccines would go to waste. With solar, we are able to maintain the cold chain for the vaccines all the time," he said. Phiona Happy, a mother of two living in informal settlements nearby, said the solar light at the health facility was very helpful when she gave birth to her firstborn, now aged three. "I developed complications while giving birth, and since it was at night there was no ambulance to transfer me to a bigger hospital," Happy said. "Although there were power outages at the time, the solar lighting helped the medics to perform cesarean section successfully." She said it has also been a smooth routine whenever she takes her children for immunization, since she is assured of the safety of the vaccines due to the storage facilities at Ndejje, powered by solar panels. Kisuze, the manager, said the solar panels, mounted on almost all buildings at the health center, and the batteries in the powerhouse are all from China. Beyond powering health centers, solar energy is making strides across Uganda, from agricultural innovations like solar-powered water pumps to home lighting solutions. China's solar exports to Africa surged by 187 percent in the first half of 2023, according to Ember, an energy think tank. Experts have refuted the narrative of "overcapacity" in China's green industry, saying China's solar technology and products are helping low-income countries, especially the off-grid areas. China has played a critical role in the use of solar power in sub-Saharan Africa where many people live beyond the grid and have no access to electricity, said Peter Tonui, head of policy and regional strategy at the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association, an organization that helps off-grid industry build sustainable markets. He said most of the solar units, ranging from panels to other components like batteries, installed in Africa are manufactured in China or are using Chinese technology. Brian Isabirye, commissioner of renewable energy at the Ugandan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, said Uganda's solar energy potential is immense, and the country aims to boost its electrification rates, currently among the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, with solar power. "Within our generation strategy, we plan to generate up to 12,000 megawatts (MW) by 2040 from solar alone. If you look at about 52,000 MW general generation (in plan) across the country, solar will be the second most important contributor after nuclear energy," he said. "We look at solar as one of the most important sources of energy for the country because it is clean, it is affordable, it can be distributed through the grid, but also through off-grid," Isabirye added. According to Uganda's Electricity Regulatory Authority, the country's total installed capacity reached 1,847.5 MW in 2023. Hydropower contributed 1,510.9 MW, or 81.8 percent, followed by bagasse at 8 percent, thermal at 5.4 percent, and solar photovoltaics at 4.8 percent. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 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. MANCHESTER Joe Hegland, a former teacher and longtime public school professional, announced his campaign to be the Democratic nominee for Iowa Senate District 34. A special nomination convention will be held to get Hegland on the ballot for the Senate District 34 seat, which represents all of Buchanan and Delaware counties as well as portions of Black Hawk, Dubuque, and Fayette counties. Sen. Dan Zumbach currently hold the seat in the Legislature. Northeast Iowa has experienced challenges delivering economic and educational opportunities for people. As Senator, I will always work for Iowans, focusing on restoring Iowas status as first in the nation in education while protecting our main streets and personal freedoms, Hegland said in a news release. Hegland is the Director of Technology at West Delaware County Community Schools and co-owner of Trivial Dudes, which hosts Trivia Nights and Music Bingo across Northeast Iowa. He lives in Manchester with his wife and three children. To learn more about Heglands campaign for State Senate, visit his campaigns website at joeforiowa.com. Photos: Denver girls soccer in State first round Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (29 May 2024) The Sever Group of Forces continues to advance into the depth of the enemys defence. The Group inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, 3rd Tank Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 125th Territorial Defence Brigade near Liptsy, Volchansk, Vilcha, Neskuchnoye, and Malaya Danilovka (Kharkov region). In addition, four counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, the 71st Jaeger Brigade, and the 13th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 165 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, as well as two Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations. One AFU ammunition depot was destroyed. The Zapad Group of Forces has taken more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on the 14th, 30th, 77th, and 116th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 13th, and 31st National Guard brigades of Ukraine near Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Grigorovka, and Serebryanka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Two counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 43rd Mechanised Brigade and 3rd Detachment of the Ukrainian Border Service were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 400 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, 11 motor vehicles, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one French-made 155-mm TRF-1 howitzer, and two U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzers. The Yug Group of Forces has improved the situation along the front line and hit manpower and hardware of the 79th Air Assault, 28th and 41st mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Elizavetovka, Konstantinovka, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The Russian troops repelled a counter-attack launched by an assault group of the 114th Territorial Defence Brigade. The AFU losses amounted to up to 245 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two motor vehicles, one 152-mm Giatsint gun, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer. Six AFU ammunition depots have been destroyed during the day. The Tsentr Group of Forces has improved the tactical situation and inflicted fire damage on the 47th Mechanised, 59th, 100th motorised infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Yevgenovka, Novoaleksandrovka, and Selidovo (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Five counter-attacks of the AFU 24th Mechanised, 1444th, 143rd, 142nd infantry, and 25th Airborne brigades were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 335 Ukrainian troops, three pickup trucks, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and four 122-mm D-30 howitzers. The Vostok Group of Forces has taken more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Urozhaynoye and Storozhevoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade was repelled. Up to 125 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and six motor vehicles were neutralised. The Dnepr Group of Forces has engaged the manpower of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade and the 35th Marine Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Kamenskoye (Dnepropetrovsk region), Tyaginka and Chervony Mayak (Kherson region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 35 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer. One AFU missile and artillery ammunition depot was wiped out. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged one uncrewed vehicle depot, aviation equipment, fuel depot for AFU military hardware, unmanned aerial vehicle assembly plant, as well as clusters of enemy manpower and military hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 118 areas during the day. ??Air defence systems shot down one MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force. In the past 24 hours, 31 unmanned aerial vehicles, two U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, two French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, as well as nine Grad and Olkha projectiles have been shot down. In total, 605 aircraft, 274 helicopters, 24,770 unmanned aerial vehicles, 524 anti-aircraft missile systems, 16,191 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,322 MLRS combat vehicles, 9,930 field artillery and mortar guns, and 22,093 special military vehicles have been neutralised since the beginning of the special military operation. Tags: WtR Briefing by Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, Chief of NBC Protection Troops on military-chemical activities of the United States and Ukraine Analysis of documents concerning radiation safety threats The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation continues to record violations by the United States and Ukraine of fundamental international instruments, such as the 1925 Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases and the Chemical Weapons Convention. As we have noted before, not only has Washington not renounced the use of chemical weapons, but it has also strengthened the possibility of their use at the legislative level. In the United States, for example, a common military regulation on the use of non-lethal weapons was adopted, and the Chiefs of Staff Committee approved the Manual for National Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The documents regulate the use of non-lethal chemical weapons by military units in special, humanitarian, counter-terrorism, and peacekeeping missions. While Americans used to talk about using such weapons only in response to the enemys chemical aggression, an important aspect of the new rules is the ability to use toxic chemicals unilaterally. The U.S. thus has a legal framework that regulates a wide range of scenarios of the use of chemical weapons by the Armed Forces. I would like to draw your attention once again to the fact that, in accordance with the deadlines set by the OPCW, the United States was due to complete the destruction of declared stockpiles of chemical weapons in 2007, but, despite its economic potential, it did so only in 2023, twice delaying the deadline under the pretext of financial, organisational, and technical difficulties. The United States continues to store the remaining, highly toxic, chemically reactive materials in facilities designed to destroy chemical weapons. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ignores this fact. In addition, abandoned U.S. ammunition, filled with toxic substances, was detected in Panama and Cambodia. In 2012, for example, 58 ammunition containing CN and CS were discovered in Cambodias Mondulkiri Province, as well as 12 aircraft gas sprayers to transport them. The OPCW Special Commission has identified them as belonging to the United States. Another indication of Washingtons breach of its obligations under the Convention is the transfer to third countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine) of non-lethal chemical weapons. The Pentagon reportedly continues to develop new and modernise existing non-lethal chemical munitions and other systems for the use of chemical weapons, such as 120-mm mines, 155-mm artillery shells, and 120-mm tank rounds. Every year, at least $10 million is allocated to purchase them for use in combat zones. It should be noted that the United States has long possessed one of the worlds most significant stockpiles of chemical weapons stored within and outside the United States. The use of chemicals in armed conflicts was explicitly envisaged by U.S. doctrinal documents, despite Washingtons signing the 1925 Geneva Protocol. The document was ratified by the U.S. Congress with numerous caveats only in 1975 amid the international communitys condemnation of the Vietnam War and the widespread use of toxic chemicals by the U.S. Armed Forces during the conflict. It has been established that the use of herbicides during the Vietnam War resulted in the destruction of more than 1 million hectares of tropical forest in the south of the country. Some 5 million people have been affected by the dioxin damage, and so far the effects have been felt. Along with herbicides, American troops used non-lethal chemicals, including Adamsite, chloropicrin, and the BZ. In some cases, high concentrations of chemicals were used, resulting in lethal outcomes. During the war on the Korean Peninsula, the use of toxic substances by the U.S. military was carried out with single chemical projectiles and bombs. From February 1952 to June 1953, more than 100 cases of chemical munitions were reported, resulting in 145 deaths and more than 1,000 poisonings. Symptoms of defeat (suffocation, tearing, loss of consciousness) suggest that ammunition was armed with prussic acid, nitrogen oxides, and arsenic compounds. At the time of the American troops entry into Iraq in April 2003, the non-lethal chemical munitions were in the service with the U.S. Army deployed in the region. During the fighting, the weapons were used by the military police to suppress anti-government attacks by the civilian population and to mop up urban areas with dense development. At the same time, the United States has taken deliberate measures to cover up these facts in order to rule out a resonant international response. The basic principle is that they are allowed. Everything was done allegedly to reduce losses among the civilian population and members of the coalition group. With Washingtons acquiescence, the use of toxic substances and riot control agents by Ukrainian militants during the special military operation has become systematic. Numerous cases of use of chloropicrin irritant by the Ukrainian side, often in mixture with chloroacetophenone, have been recorded. Similar incidents have been recorded near Donetsk, Bogdanovka, Gorlovka, Kremennaya, Artyomovsk. If chloroacetophenone is classified as a chemical riot control device, chloropicrin is listed in Schedule 3 of the Chemical Weapons Convention. It will be recalled that chloropicrin was first used by Ukrainian neo-Nazis during the siege of the Labour Union Building in Odessa on 2 May 2014 against the opponents of the coup detat organised by U.S. and its allies. The use of this toxic agent was indicated by the presence of pre-filtered gas masks worn by militants, the appearance of specific yellow-green smoke after the fire broke out at the Labour Union House, and the attempt to conceal the use of toxic chemicals by setting a fire. There is reason to believe that the campaign in Odessa was planned, designed to take into account the specifics of the toxic substances used, and aimed at defeating as many people as possible. In connection with the terrorist attack, Russian law enforcement agencies conducted an investigation that identified the perpetrators. The Russian side has recorded and confirmed the use of ammunition by the AFU not only with chloropicrin, but also with other chemical irritant agents. For example, U.S.-made gas grenades containing CS were used against Russian servicemen in Krasny Liman and Boguslav tactical directions. Hand grenades with irritant agents marked Teren-6 were dropped from Ukrainian UAVs on Russianpositions, and an ammunition cache was detected in Donetsk. According to Ukrainian prisoners of war, assault groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are equipped with such grenades. I would like to point out that Ukrainian armed formations use other scheduled chemicals as well. These are cases of Russian servicemen using the BZ chemical warfare agent in August 2022 and prussic acid in February 2023. Criminal proceedings under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, entitled Terrorism, and Article 355 of the Criminal Code, entitled Development, production, storage, acquisition or sale of weapons of mass destruction, have been initiated by the investigative bodies against three Ukrainian citizens arrested for preparation of a terrorist attack using analogues of the BZ agent. Of particular concern are the statements by AFU representatives about the availability of organophosphorous compounds, including analogues of the Tabun (GA) warfare agent, which is included in Schedule 1 of the Convention. Plans for the large-scale use of toxic substances are reflected in Ukraines requests for the supply of antidotes, gas masks, and other personal protective equipment in quantities that are clearly excessive. Attempts by Ukrainian nationalists to destroy chemically dangerous sites in the territories of Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics continue unabated, thus threatening to inflict chemical damage on the civilian population of the regions. Massive missile strikes have repeatedly targeted the following industrial plants: Zarya in Rubezhnoye, Azot in Severodonetsk, and KoksoKhim factory in Avdeyevka. In the run-up to the regular session of the OPCW Executive Council, I would like to recall that Russia has been removed from the Executive Council, and Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania were included instead. One can imagine how it would go without voting rights for the Russian Federation considering the fact that, at the last session, representatives of Romania, Estonia, Germany, and other EU countries launched an aggressive campaign with false accusations against Russia. The actions of the collective West follow a well-established pattern of discrediting aimed at depriving the Russian Federation of the right to vote in the Organization, as well as the possibility of electing and holding office in its executive bodies, as was done in the past with respect to Syria. The practice of the OPCWs investigations of chemical accidents in Syria in 2018, when the main evidence was the testimony of West-sponsored White Helmets, suggests that such investigations will not be transparent and impartial in the future. With regard to the OPCWs double standard policy, I would like to recall the confirmed use of toxic substances (like Tabun, BZ, prussic acid) and non-lethal chemicals (CS, chloropicrin, chloroacetophenone) by the Kiev regime. All the necessary evidence has been submitted to the OPCW Technical Secretariat, but we have not received a meaningful response. Moreover, with funding from the Organizations budget, several courses have been held specially for Ukraine on the investigation of chemical accidents. Slovakia has organised special exercises on substance management and real-world sampling, with the participation of Ukrainian representatives. This once again convinces us that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in its current form, is controlled by the West and used by it to settle political accounts. Despite severe Western censorship, the information we publish about the use of chemical weapons by Ukrainian armed forces has been heard by foreign media and the expert community. Leading foreign editions have published material on the most resonant issues: the U.S. delay in destroying toxic chemical weapons left in Panama and Cambodia, and the use of U.S.-made chemical munitions in Ukraine. The relevant reports were posted by the CGTN television and radio company, Blitz and Republic, Defense Mirror, as well as by the Middle East media. Several editions have drawn attention to the active use of UAVs to deliver toxic chemicals. For example, Al-Mayadeens report says that the diversity of UAVs has become one of the hallmarks of the current military conflict. Ukraines use of this type of weapon, including in combination with prohibited ammunition, has reached its maximum A lively debate involving European and American experts has been launched on media platforms and social media. The Australian journalist and founder of the information edition, Jamie Mcintyre, has confirmed that Ukrainian armed forces use toxic chemicals. As evidence, he cited the fact that in August 2022, the AFU used a BZ-type toxic agent, and in 2024, similar samples were detected in abandoned Ukrainian positions. His page also shows that, for purposes of intimidation, representatives of the AFU have declared that they have analogues of the Tabun substance. We believe it crucially important that the disclosure of U.S. transfers of chemical weapons to Ukraine and the use of toxic chemicals by the AFU has prompted the expert community, including in the West, to consider fulfiling Kiev and Washingtons obligations under the Convention. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation will continue to work in this direction and will keep you informed. 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2006 (1) July 2006 (1) June 2006 (6) May 2006 (4) April 2006 (3) March 2006 (1) February 2006 (11) January 2006 (2) Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the UN, signs Israeli bombs intended for use in Gaza and Lebanon with the words FINISH THEM, signaling support for their use in targeting civilians. Nikki Haley signed not just the normal shells being fired at Gaza, but look, the banned white phosphorus shells, code D528. To the left of the image This is the second person desired for the Republicans after Trump, simply amazing and sick Why are American politicians going to Israel and signing bombs? Think people and realize what you are facing #GazaGenocide @PressTV WtR Baraboo went up north to find its next city administrator, whose previous experience was with tribal affairs. John Young, the former Lac du Flambeau tribal administrator and a native of Springfield, Ohio, was tentatively hired in a unanimous vote by the citys Common Council on Tuesday following a closed session. Young is slated to begin with Baraboo on July 9 and would succeed current co-administrators Pat Cannon and Tom Pinion, who are also the citys Community Development Authority and Public Works directors, respectively. Youngs hire is tentative pending background check results and final approval of his contract by Boardman and Clark, the law firm contracted by the city, which Mayor Rob Nelson anticipates would be done over the next week. What really excited me was that it Baraboo appeared to be a very vibrant community, Young said. It was close to larger areas and had very much of a hometown, small town feel to it. Theres a lot of opportunity for growth. He said the Baraboo administrator job checked all the boxes for a position that would entice me. Young applied for the position near the end of April. Youngs starting salary would be $132,500, Nelson said after the closed session. He said Young was chosen from a pool that had 15-20 candidates at its peak. Young stepped down from his tribal administrator position on April 19 after serving in the role since September 2021. He worked with the Lac du Flambeau tribe in different capacities for nearly 24 years. In my role with the tribe, I have developed a very good understanding of the relationship between tribes and municipalities, and also working with state and federal officials, Young said, adding that he has worked on projects that require collaboration between tribes and nearby municipalities. The Lac du Flambeau tribe has collaborated with northern Wisconsin municipalities including Eagle River, Arbor Vitae and Woodruff, along with Vilas and Oneida counties, as well as with school districts in those communities, during his tenure, Young said. I just feel that I am well-equipped to be an individual that is committed to working for the betterment of all parties that are affected by the decisions that are made, Young said. Cannon and Pinion have served double duty since Casey Bradley left the Baraboo administrator post to take the same job in Sheboygan in October. Cannon expressed confidence that Youngs experience would serve him well as Baraboos administrator. Nelson and Cannon anticipate that Cannon and Pinion would help ease Youngs transition. It sounded like his duties as the tribal administrator are very similar to a city administrator, Cannon said. They have a very wide variety of duties and functions that they handle. Young confirmed Cannons comments, saying that there are many similarities between tribal and city governmental operations, including services such as water and sewer, health care, social services and public safety. Nelson said Young met with Baraboo department heads and all of them were in favor of hiring him. Unanimous agreement among department heads for such decisions is rare, the mayor added. The city department heads had the pleasure of meeting John Young last Thursday May 23 during a question-and-answer session, Baraboo Police Chief Rob Sinden said. His responses were intuitive, informed and most importantly, geared toward a focus on people. Sinden added that that his comments were kind and considerate towards city staff and residents and that his approach to management will suit the city. Meeting with Sinden and the other department heads confirmed to Young that he was making the right decision to take the Baraboo job. He had spoken with them on the phone prior to the May 23 meeting. Young also praised Baraboos Common Council and its relationships with department heads and city employees, as well as its synergy with city businesses and residents. Baraboo almost hired Bradleys replacement in February, choosing one of two finalists: former Shorewood Hills village administrator Sharon Eveland and Cottage Grove deputy administrator J.J. Larson. The chosen candidate, whom the city did not identify, withdrew from consideration during negotiations. Bacon enthusiasts around the Houston area who have dreamed of drinking bacon-flavored lemonade will be able to Saturday at Humble's first ever Bacon Festival. zeljkosantrac/Getty Images/iStockphoto Bacon enthusiasts around the Houston area who have dreamed of drinking bacon-flavored lemonade will be able to at Humble's first ever Bacon Festival. On Saturday, the Humble Civic Center on Will Clayton Parkway will host a festival for those who get excited at the jingle of snap, crackle and pop. With more than 100 venders, guests will be able to indulge in a variety of bacon-flavored treats from bacon cotton candy to bacon lemonade. COOL TREATS: Montgomery County snow cone stands can help beat the summer heat Advertisement Article continues below this ad After organizing the In a Pickle Festival and the Lake Houston Farmer's Market, Krystal Wertman said she was looking for the next popular food to showcase for people in the city north of Houston. "I love food," Wertman said. "It's how I show love. And so I was thinking 'what's the next food,' and it was bacon. So, I thought it would be fun to bring a bacon festival to Texas. I haven't seen one that was like a real festival." Here's what to know about the inaugural Humble Bacon Festival: Tickets and treats Both founders of In a Pickle and Hops n' Hot Sauce festivals have collaborated to create the bacon festival, according to a Facebook post by the event. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tickets are priced at $10, with free admission allowed for children 12 and younger. The event will go from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will include 140 vendors that will serve a plethora of bacon-flavored snacks, such as bacon bread, chocolate covered bacon, chicharrones, bacon earings, bacon beer, spicy bacon honey, bacon dog treats and many more bacon-flavored treats. The event will also have a bacon cook-off and live music, the Facebook post states. Live music for all things bacon The event will also host two Houston area bands while everyone enjoys everything bacon Blue Bonnet Basterds and DadBod Band. Advertisement Article continues below this ad DadBod Band is an cover band that plays a variety of 80s favorites such as "Hungry Like a Wolf" and "Blue Monday," according to the band's website. Blue Bonnet Basterds is also a cover band that takes requests from the crowd, according to the band's Facebook page. Bacon-themed events Guests will also be able to partake in several bacon-themed activities such as riding a mechanical pig, entering a bacon bod contest, a bacon eating contest and a kids bacon snow cone eating contest. The event will also host a bacon cook-off, judged by private chef, a restaurateur and a food writer, according to the organization's website. Those that enter the contest will have a chance at winning a cash prize. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I'm really excited about that," Wertman said, noting anyone can join the cook-off. "If they think like 'hey, I have a great bacon recipe,' anything with bacon in it...they can bring their dish. They (just) have to turn it in by 12 o' clock." 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. With benefits that include reducing blood pressure, boosting brain health and preventing falls, tai chi is at the top of the list of recommended exercises for older adults. The research on the benefits of tai chi has long been compelling, says Ardeshir Hashmi, M.D., section chief of Cleveland Clinics Center for Geriatric Medicine. Members only Dozens of studies have found the ancient art form can prevent falls, boost cognition, reduce blood pressure, ease pain and more. But after Hashmi heard prominent tai chi researcher Elizabeth Eckstrom speak at an American Geriatrics Society conference a few years ago, Hashmi said tai chi vaulted to the top of his list of exercise recommendations for the older adults. He says Eckstrom had patients at the conference talk about how tai chi had changed them. One woman who spoke was able to walk again after using a wheelchair for years. Another patient was able to stop using supplemental oxygen after just six months of regular tai chi. I would not have believed this just reading the research, but she had these people come up on stage, Hashmi said. So that was pretty compelling living proof. Now, Hashmi says, tai chi is the No. 1 activity his clinic recommends for older patients. He also recently started practicing tai chi himself. Ardeshir Hashmi, M.D., section chief of Cleveland Clinics Center for Geriatric Medicine Now, Hashmi says, tai chi is the No. 1 activity his clinic recommends for older patients. He also recently started practicing tai chi himself. What is tai chi? Tai chi is a traditional Chinese practice that combines a series of slow movements and physical postures with meditation and controlled breathing. Its movements are designed to balance your bodys energy, or qi (pronounced chi). Many refer to tai chi as meditation in motion or moving meditation. Eckstrom, chief of geriatrics in the division of general internal medicine and geriatrics at Oregon Health & Science University, says whats especially notable about tai chi is that it requires you to perform physical activity while simultaneously meditating, focusing and remembering a series of movements. Doing something that requires concentration when youre also moving your body has been shown to have more benefits than doing one or the other alone, Eckstrom says. Youre using your body, but youre also using your brain, Eckstrom explains. So (tai chi) works on balance and posture and gait, but it also works on mind-body stability and really enhancing your ability to perform functions in a kind of structured way. Who can do tai chi? Tai chi is a low-impact exercise that doesnt require any special equipment. It can be practiced indoors or outdoors, and you can do it alone or in a group setting. You can even do it while sitting. Because its so versatile, anyone can do it, Eckstrom and Hashmi say. To see the biggest benefits, aim to practice for an hour at a time two to three days a week for at least six months, Eckstrom suggests. You have to stick with it for a while, she says. To find a tai chi class near you, check local fitness centers, health clubs, hospitals, community centers or senior centers. Some places offer specific programs focused on balance or arthritis, Eckstrom says. You can also access tai chi videos online. (See box.) Like other forms of exercise, tai chi will help you build muscle and improve flexibility. But it also conveys a variety of other health benefits. Here are eight unexpected health benefits of tai chi: Nicole Hensley is a staff writer for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at nicole.hensley@houstonchronicle.com. She joined the Chronicle in 2018 from the New York Daily News and after writing for The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington. A native of Seattle, Nicole is a graduate of Washington State University. Renewed Wee MacGregor Copper Exploration Program Melbourne, May 30, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Altair Minerals Limited ( ASX:ALR ) ( CHKMF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to provide an exploration strategy update with plans to follow up its highly prospective copper intercepts at its 80% owned Wee MacGregor Project. Following a detailed review, the Wee MacGregor Project represents a high-grade brownfield copper exploration opportunity for Altair, which it intends to conduct fieldwork, rock-chip sample analysis and a follow-up RC Drill program over the coming months. WEE MACGREGOR Upon conducting a thorough review of existing and historic exploration works, re-interpretation of Wee MacGregor data presents a highly prospective walk-up Copper exploration target which is expected to be incorporated into Altair's future work programs. Wee MacGregor comprises of 3 granted Mining Licenses located 60km from Mt Isa. The Wee MacGregor mine and neighbouring Rosebud mine has had a rich history of high-grade copper production 6.2% Cu and 6.6% Cu respectively , with minimal modern exploration work completed. Drilling completed in 1991 has shown significant remnant and high-grade copper mineralisation remains at Wee MacGregor which remains open along strike and at depth. ALR had also conducted a small RC step-out drill program at Wee MacGregor in 2018 which confirms high-grade copper mineralisation exists outside of the block-model, historic production area's and previous drilling sites which indicates widespread mineralisation as seen by: - WM004: 10m @ 2.84% Cu and 0.54g/t Au (~100m Step-out) - WM002: 4m @ 4.40% Cu and 0.80g/t Au (~100m Step-out) The historic block model at Wee MacGregor has also shown mineralisation to be open at depth, in particular the high-grade mineralisation extends down plunge. Furthermore, high-grade XRF readings of rock-chips and laboratory grab sample analyses have been discovered by both ALR and previous vendors which all sit outside the historically drilled area and associated block model which further accentuates exploration potential for the Project which require follow-up exploration procedures. These results include: - WM001: 16.42% Cu and 0.17% Co (Rock-chip; pXRF) - WM003: 45.38% Cu and 0.21% Co (Rock-chip; pXRF) - WM005: 5.71% Cu and 1.88% Co (Rock-chip; pXRF) - WM006: 24.38% Cu and 0.13% Co (Rock-chip; pXRF) - WMS001: 7.45% Cu and 0.94% Co (Rock-chip; pXRF) - RB001: 14.2% Cu and 0.12% Co (Rock-chip; pXRF) - WMS1: 14.2% Cu and 0.03% Co (Grab-Sample; fusion ICP-OES) - WMS2: 9.9% Cu, 1.38 g/t Au and 0.06% Co (Grab-Sample; fusion ICP-OES, Au FA-ICP) - GC1: 3.5% Cu and 0.01% Co (Grab Sample; fusion ICP-OES) OLYMPIC DOMAIN PROJECT Complimentary to Wee MacGregor, the Company's wholly owned Olympic Domain projects presents mega-IOCG targets surrounded by some of the largest mining companies in Australia. The Olympic Domain assets sit in prime position adjacent to one of the most significant copper discoveries in the country over decades - BHP Oak Dam West - 425.7m @ 3.04% Cu & 0.59g/t Au & 346ppm U3O8. The Olympic Domain assets (Horse Well, Pernatty-C, Lake Torrens) strengthens Altair's exposure in the emerging copper sector located in one of the most sought-after copper districts in the country. The company is currently reviewing Olympic Domain geophysical surveys and conducting lithological/structural analysis to generate a fresh strategy and targets for its next phase of exploration with aims of working towards a groundbreaking discovery. Altair Chief Executive Officer, Faheem Ahmed comments: "As we begin re-evaluating our assets and looking at them with a fresh set of eyes it continues to present outstanding greenfield and brownfield opportunities in the copper space. In today's copper market, Wee MacGregor represents low-hanging fruit and an excellent opportunity to follow-up previously untested and potentially high-grade targets in a prominent copper district. The mineralisation body here has already been defined which means we don't have to go in blind and have a strong understanding of where the high-grade copper lies. Furthermore, the resource model shows the highest graded portions of Wee MacGregor is open along strike and at depth which should present exciting targets for Altair to potentially chase up. This asset sits within granted mining licenses which is an added bonus and copper mineralisation outcrops all over the license which we want to conduct further work on. The mineralisation is known but remained largely untouched and the refreshed approach is aimed to generate shareholder value as we continue evaluating further business opportunities in parallel." *To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/C7AIE9NR About Altair Minerals Limited Altair Minerals Limited (ASX:ALR) (OTCMKTS:CHKMF) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) with the primary focus of investing in the resource sector through direct tenement acquisition, joint ventures, farm in arrangements and new project generation. The Company has projects located in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland with a key focus on its Olympic Domain tenements located in South Australia. Related Companies HISD Chief of Police Shamara Garner speaks to Community Advisory Committee members about school safety measures in a $4.4 billion school bond plan on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at Cornelius Elementary School. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Houston ISD unveiled a $4.4 billion bond proposal, the largest in HISD history and likely the largest package any Texas school district has taken to voters. Much of the bond, $2.05 billion, would go to school upgrades. The district defined this as rebuilding, renovating and modernizing facilities. The district identified more than 40 campuses with "urgent facility needs." The district would invest $1.35 billion into making "safe and healthy campuses," which would include updating HVAC systems, securing campuses, and testing whether school grounds, air, water and buildings meet environmental standards, according to materials distributed at the district's first public meeting about the bond Thursday night. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And $1 billion would go to career and technical education, early childhood education and district technology investments. Improving district technology includes securing student data, expanding broadband access, and accessing AI, according to a district meeting handout. The district said it intends to fund the bond without raising the tax rate. THE REPORT CARD: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicles weekly newsletter recapping HISD news HISD has not had a bond since 2012, when voters approved $1.9 billion to rebuild 28 high schools and make other improvements across the district. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Because a dozen years have passed without maintenance and repairs, the district identified roughly $10 billion in overdue upgrades, according to a May 22 press release. The district announced that day 28 members of a Community Advisory Committee that will host five public meetings on the bond over the next few weeks. The committee includes parents, educators, community advocates and elected trustees. Former HISD board president Judith Cruz, former Democratic state Rep. Garnet Coleman, and retired president of H-E-B Scott McClelland will serve as committee co-chairs. The committee's in-person meetings will be at 6 p.m. June 4 at Fondren Middle School, 6 p.m. June 5 at Fleming Middle School and 6 p.m. June 10 at Forest Brook Middle School. The bond committee will also hold a virtual meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Community members can share feedback in small group workshops and learn about the district's facility needs at the meetings. Details from the first meeting on Thursday focused on HISD's south division. Six elementary schools in that region would be rebuilt under the proposal: Brookline, Grissom, Hobby, Kelso, Law and Montgomery. Six campuses would be renovated: Baylor at Ryan, Deady Middle School, Attucks Middle School, Cornelius Elementary School, Petersen Elementary School and Windsor Village Elementary School. And 53 campuses in the district's south will see revamped safety measures or health improvements, district officials said. Similar information was not readily available for HISD's other regions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad STATE TAKEOVER: Tell us about your experience in Houston ISD during the past year Dallas ISD previously held the record for largest bond in Texas when voters approved nearly $3.5 billion in bonds in 2020. Austin ISD voters approved a $2.4 billion bond in 2022, and voters in the fast-growing Propser ISD near Dallas approved a $2.7 billion bond in 2023. Voters in the Los Angeles school district, the second largest school system in the nation, approved a $7 billion bond in 2020. A 2019 Texas law requires school districts to call bond elections tax increases, even if the district keeps its tax rates flat, in part, because the district could return that part of the tax rate to homeowners if it didn't ask for a new bond. Bishop James Dixon, president of the Houston chapter of the NAACP, speaks during a press conference about the management of the Houston Independent School District on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the headquarters of the Houston branch of the NAACP in Houston. Speakers at the press conference called for an investigation into HISD Superintendent Mike Miles. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Leaders of Houston's NAACP branch spoke out Thursday against the more than $4 billion bond that state-appointed HISD leaders are expected to ask voters to approve and repeated their calls for state and federal investigations into possible wrongdoing in the district. "We all agree that the present chaotic conditions and structure of apartheid at HISD disqualifies them to seek a bond proposal in the upcoming election cycle," Houston NAACP President James Dixon II said at a press conference. "Presently, HISD is a graphic demonstration of taxation without representation." U.S. Rep. Al Green and the NAACP Houston Branch on Thursday called for a federal investigation after Spectrum News reported that a charter school network funded by now-Superintendent Mike Miles moved funds from Texas public charter schools to Colorado campuses. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, center, speaks during a press conference about the management of the Houston Independent School District on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the headquarters of the Houston branch of the NAACP in Houston. Speakers at the press conference called for an investigation into HISD Superintendent Mike Miles. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Green wrote in a May 20 letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona that he and his constituents were "outraged" by the report's findings. "Although it has been reported that various state agencies, such as the Texas Education Agency, have acknowledged their awareness of this transfer and intend to investigate, I believe that the Department of Justice or the Department of Education conducting a thorough independent investigation is warranted to ensure transparency and accountability as well as restore public confidence," Green wrote on May 20. Green's call joins U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia's demand for an audit of pandemic-era federal funds that went to HISD and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee's call in March to investigate what she called "the alarming and apparent systemic and discriminatory state takeovers of public and private programs receiving federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education throughout the State of Texas." Advertisement Article continues below this ad HISD administration provided a statement Thursday saying, "The Superintendent has commented extensively on the inaccuracies in the Spectrum report. Spectrum's reporting has been reviewed and the claims in the story have been specifically debunked. HISD has no additional comment other than what the Superintendent has already said on the record." Charleen Jones records a press conference about the management of the Houston Independent School District on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the headquarters of the Houston branch of the NAACP in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The Houston branch of the historic Black civil rights organization hosted a Thursday press conference, joined by state elected officials, teachers union leaders, community leaders including Ruth Kravetz of Community Voices for Public Education, and Daniel Saenz of LULAC Council 60, part of the national Latino civil rights organization. Dixon said the Texas Education Agency is failing Houston children and called on the public to act now. Dixon supported U.S. representatives' calls for a federal investigation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The press conference comes ahead of the district's first public meeting Thursday about an proposed school bond. The district last week gave the bond's approximate amount between $4 billion and $5 billion, and it said that the bond will be largely devoted to upgrading the district's aging campuses. THE REPORT CARD: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicles weekly newsletter recapping HISD news But community leaders are upset with the lack of transparency among state-appointed leaders of HISD. "And finally there is no bond. There is no bond as long as we have a rubber stamp Board of Managers at HISD with no accountability to the community," State Rep. Ron Reynolds, a Democrat from Missouri City, said. Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, speaks during a press conference about the management of the Houston Independent School District on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the headquarters of the Houston branch of the NAACP in Houston. Speakers at the press conference called for an investigation into HISD Superintendent Mike Miles. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Bishop James Dixon, president of the Houston chapter of the NAACP, becomes emotional while speaking about the value of organizing Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the headquarters of the Houston branch of the NAACP in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Green and state elected officials also linked the state takeover, approaching its one-year anniversary on Saturday, to the wider fight pushed by Gov. Greg Abbott about school vouchers that would put public dollars toward private and religious school tuition. Green denounced vouchers and linked the history of vouchers to attempts to maintain segregation in the U.S. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "From that day to this, there have been efforts to voucherize our school system," Green said. "We have resisted that. The courts have resisted that. But the governor in the state of Texas is persistent with that. And the governor in the State of Texas, if he succeeds, will drain money from the public schools." State Rep. Ann Johnson, a Democrat representing District 134, said that a bill intended to put more funding toward public education did not pass the legislature. "Abbott thinks he now has the votes (for vouchers) votes he bought by lying to Republican voters," Johnson said. "They didn't run on public ed. They ran on a lie, and he got what he wanted. So the fight is now. The fight is through November. We, at the (Texas) House, are the last stand for public education and ask for you to vote for public ed in November." The third Knowledge Seminar titled, Trust or Bust: Thriving in the Digital World, was presented by Malayala Manorama with Knowledge Partner - ASCI, which brought together a distinguished panel of experts. Among them were Amit Doshi, Chief Marketing Officer at Britannia; Falguni Vasavada, Professor at MICA and Digital Creator; Paras Sharma, Director of Global Partnerships at Meta; and Sharan Hegde, Finance Content Creator and Co-founder and CEO of 1% Club. Steering the conversation was Manisha Kapoor, CEO & Secretary General of ASCI. In this informative and interesting session, the panel offered insights into navigating the idea of trust through the complexities of the digital landscape. Amit began by stating, Trust between a consumer and a brand is now a two-way street. He also emphasised the exponential importance of listening to the conversations in which a brand is involved. Additionally, in response to Manisha, Sharan stated that finance content creators play a crucial role in demystifying complex financial topics and offering accessible advice to consumers. He noted that financial scams have existed for ages and believes that the realm of content creation and digital following has only begun to address financial awareness. "Building trust is relatively easy, but once it's lost, it can be gone forever due to one bad move or piece of news. Therefore, the focus should be on maintaining and nurturing that trust consistently," he added. With discussions ranging from building trust in online platforms to leveraging digital innovations for business success, the session provided invaluable perspectives on how organisations can thrive amidst the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age. Through shared experiences and expert analysis, attendees gained a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics of trust and authenticity in the digital realm. Keventers has had a chequered and interesting history in India. The inspiration behind the brand Keventer, which is now over 125 years old, was the man who revolutionised the dairy industry Edward Keventer. He was a true pioneer in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry, especially scientific cattle breeding, nutrition and pasteurised dairy milk. In 1890, Edward Keventer was recruited by the British Government to modernise the Dairy industry in India. He soon achieved a business empire of his own, buying the Aligarh Dairy in the United Provinces in 1894. Over the next 50 years, Edward Keventer went to unleash an entire revolution, the effects of which continue to reverberate today. His contributions gave birth to modern Indian scientific, industry-scale dairy farming, processing and marketing of milk and dairy products. Established in 1986, Keventer Agro Limited acquired the rights of Edward Keventers operations. Keventer Agro Limited is a leading fast-moving consumer goods company headquartered out of Kolkata focused on Dairy & Fresh Food and Packaged Food & Beverages. The company aims to take the legacy of over 130+ years in FMCG to new heights, while remaining committed to Edward Keventers philosophy and beliefs. In conversation with Adgully, Suparna Mucadum, Head of Marketing and Brand Custodian, Keventer Agro Limited, delves into the current trends in the beverage industry in the East market and more. Sharing her observations on the current consumer trends in the beverage industry in the East market and the evolution of buying behaviour, Suparna Mucadum said, One of the beverages that we have seen moving this year is the TetraPak Keventer Lassi. Priced at Rs 20, we have two variants Rose and Mango in 180ml packs. These drinks have been in heavy demand this year. One of the reasons we feel is that consumers are moving from unorganized open lassi available in the market into healthy packed beverages. The drinks are nutritious and refreshing. The success of the two flavours Mango and Rose, has led us to research other flavours which will be launched next year. Speaking on the focus areas for Keventer in 2024 and its marketing as well as media mix strategy, and the medium in which it is investing more in, Mucadum shared, Keventer as a brand has always used mediums to communicate to consumers at sale points. As a brand, we have a high recall and affinity with consumers. So, our strategy has been to use local languages and keep our communication simple and to the point for consumers to continue their relationship of trust with our products. Our market medium has always been hyperlocal activities with consumer promotions like sampling, and tasting which will give a feel to the product. This backed by targeted digital promotions has worked well with us. Elaborating on how Keventer is leveraging digital media, and technology as well as influencer and social media marketing, she said, Keventer is strategically leveraging Social Media Marketing and Influencer Marketing to stand out in the market, particularly targeting trending topics and younger audiences. By staying attuned to current trends, Keventer crafts timely and relevant content that resonates with the interests and lifestyles of younger consumers. This includes engaging posts, interactive stories, and eye-catching visuals on platforms like Instagram, and Facebook. To amplify their reach, Keventer collaborates with popular influencers who align with the brands ethos and appeal to the younger demographic. These influencers create authentic, relatable content that showcases Keventers products in everyday scenarios, making the brand more relatable and desirable. Through this approach, Keventer not only stays relevant in a fast-paced digital landscape, but also fosters a strong connection with a younger, trend-savvy audience, driving brand loyalty and market differentiation. Day 1 of Goafest 2024 sparked vigorous discussions, illuminating the indomitable spirit of advertising and marketing in the face of rapid change. To set a compelling tone for Day 2 of Goafest 2024, a session with Knowledge Partner IAA, titled Gender-Sensitive Marketing: Navigating The New Consumer Landscape, will delve into the nuances of gender-sensitive marketing. Distinguished speakers include Chandni Shah, Chief Operating Officer of FCB Kinnect; Darshana Shah, Head of Marketing & Customer Experience at Aditya Birla Capital; Kailashnath Adhikari, Business Head of Sri Adhikari Brothers & Managing Director of GovernanceNow; Rajdeepak Das, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Groupe South Asia & Chairman of Leo Burnett South Asia; and Ram Madhvani, Filmmaker, Producer, and Founder of Equinox Films, Ram Madhvani Films and Equinox Virtual. Guiding the discussion will be Kranti Gada, Management Committee Member of the India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) and Founder of NeOwn.in. Following this, the next session is Media Agencies Panel - The Changing Expectations from a Media Client Leader, and the Challenges in Getting There. Through insights and shared experiences, the panellists, including Ajay Gupte, CEO of Wavemaker South Asia; Anita Kotwani, CEO of Media South Asia at Dentsu; Tanmay Mohanty, CEO of Publicis Media Services India; and Vaishali Verma, CEO of Initiative India, will throw light on the dynamic landscape of media agencies, offering perspectives on how leaders navigate industry shifts while striving for excellence. Guiding the discussion will be Vikram Sakuja, Partner & Group CEO of Media & Out-of-Home at Madison Communications. The third session, titled Trust or Bust: Thriving in the Digital World with Knowledge Partner - ASCI, will bring together a distinguished panel of experts. Among them are Amit Doshi, Chief Marketing Officer at Britannia; Falguni Vasavada, Professorand Chair, Marketing Academic Areaat MICA; Paras Sharma, Director of Global Partnerships at Meta, India; and Sharan Hegde, Finance Content Creator and Founder of 1% Club. Steering the conversation will be Manisha Kapoor, CEO & Secretary General of ASCI. This session will witness panellists offering insights into navigating the complexities of the digital landscape. Thereafter, the attendees will witness an engaging fireside chat with Mahesh Shetty, National Sales Head at Viacom18; Ankit Kapoor, Head of Marketing & International Business at Parle Agro, and Navin Khemka, CEO, South Asia at Essence Mediacom. The fireside chat will be moderated by Shibani Gharat, Senior Anchor and Associate Executive Producer at CNBC TV18. The second half of Day 2 has yet another Knowledge Seminar in store, titled A Story Of Adaptability: From the Silver Screen to the Mobile Screen with Zeenat Aman, Indian Film Actress and Moderator, RJ Anmol. Following the Fireside Chat, the concluding Knowledge Seminar for Day 2, titled Marketing Adaptability: Blending Traditional And New-Age Marketing For Brand Success, will feature a distinguished panel of industry specialists. Among the esteemed speakers are Chandan Mukherjee, Director & Executive Vice President at Nestle; Shubhranshu Singh, Chief Marketing Officer of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles; Sukhleen Aneja, Chief Executive Officer of The Good Glamm Group; Sandeep Karwa, Vice President, Monetization at Flipkart; and Zairus Master, Chief Business Officer at Honasa Consumer Ltd. Conducting the discussion will be Delshad Irani, Editor of Storyboard 18. Authored by Aparna Thakur, Senior VP, HiveMinds The digital world offers a multitude of touch points for consumers and brands to interact. It is an evolving landscape where technological strides constantly shape consumer behaviour in new ways. Attention spans are shrinking, choices are becoming more abundant, and engagement and interactivity are critical for a brand. What remains unchanged, however, is the importance of building a strong emotional connection with consumers through stories that define your brand. To cut a long story shortor not? Digital platforms allow or even compel brands to adapt their narratives to multiple formats and ad durations while retaining the core of the idea. Long-form content that allows for immersive and leisurely storytelling coexists with bumpers, reels, and shorts, with just a few seconds to capture the viewers attention and tell the brands story. Preganews has consistently used short films of 2-4 minutes to establish that motherhood and career can co-exist for a woman. #shecancarryboth demonstrates the power of storytelling. At the other end of the spectrum, a youth-centric brand like Fastrack Watches used a 30s thematic video featuring a celebrity to establish the #BeBoth proposition. It supplemented it with multiple 15s videos, bumpers, shorts and reels that carried forward the theme. Deploying multiple creative formats for storytelling can also help the brand meet various communication and marketing goals, such as maximising reach, growing store footfalls, growing brand searches and focusing on specific regions. The festive campaign for Tanishq leveraged multi-format storytelling on YouTube to great effect Interventions such as ad-sequencing, retargeting video viewers through non-skip ads and bumpers, and frequency optimisations through target frequency plans aim to control the storytelling experience in the digital world. The length of a brand message depends on the idea, the audience, the marketing context, and the platform under consideration. The key is to ensure that the brand voice remains consistent, regardless of where the consumer encounters the brand communication. Keeping the story real According to the EY and Big Bang Socials report titled State of Influencer Marketing in India, 75% of brands consider influencer marketing part of their marketing strategy. While high-end celebrity ambassadors can create larger-than-life imagery and purchase decisions for a brand, micro and nano influencers drive engagement and lend relatability to it by bringing in regional languages and small-town nuances. Influencer marketing has broadened the scope of storytelling by a brand as it leverages the unique narrative styles and audience affinities of various individuals and can also create topical communication that is relevant in the short term. Lifestyle, fashion and beauty are the key segments where influencers are driving the brands consumer engagement. User-generated content and interactive ad formats are other ways to involve the audience in creating more credible, authentic brand stories that resonate better with them. Leveraging technology for Storytelling Brands are creating novel storytelling formats using emerging technologies like generative AI, augmented reality and mixed reality. Britannias 1947% More History campaign used these technologies to bring alive stories of 5 nonagenarian freedom fighters, using Britannia packs as the medium. Cadbury Celebrations recent ad used personalisation at scale through AI to create a unique and memorable experience for its consumers - a story they would cherish forever. Caratlanes Postcards campaign also showcased a unique storytelling format by embedding personalised messages in jewellery pieces that would play when the piece is scanned. Another recent example is the mixed reality newspaper advertisement for Britannia Nutrichoice Biscuits, featuring Ranveer Singh, where the newspaper ad would transform into a video experience on the phone by simply scanning the ad with the smartphone camera. These examples show that leveraging emerging technologies is only limited by a marketers imagination and creativity. Advances in AI have given the art of storytelling a boost. Understanding the scope and possibilities of AI, coupled with a deep understanding of human behaviour, will be a critical skill for digital marketers. Make (them) believe the story Continuous evaluation of the brand's narrative is not just critical; it's crucial. It's the key to assessing its efficacy and ensuring it resonates with the audience. Deployment of A/B tests, BLS studies and brand tracks is the roadmap towards formulating the right communication strategies. Continuous measurement of metrics such as CTRs, VTRs, engagement rates, conversion rates and brand health measures is not just a task; it's a process that helps refine the brand's storytelling approach, instilling confidence in its effectiveness. Digital media allows audiences to discover and curate content according to their preferences; the same holds true for brand messages. Consumers who resonate with a brand's stories and identify with its positioning can express this affinity by 'following' it on social media and/or opting in for the brand's updates to be shared with them through channels like WhatsApp. Ultimately, a brand's storytelling should help it differentiate itself and create a unique personality that appeals to its core audience. Write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best as you can. I am not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter - Neil Gaiman DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and Adgully.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. Peter Warren is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at peter.warren@houstonchronicle.com. Peter previously lived in Dallas, where he covered the sports as a freelancer for the Dallas Morning News and other outlets. He has been published in Texas Highways Magazine, DMagazine.com, the Star Tribune and Bowlers Journal International. Peter graduated from Northwestern University in 2021. Jio Studios continues to make waves at international film festivals with its acclaimed films! Their upcoming Hindi films Mrs. and Sumo Didi will once again enthrall audiences at the global stage at the esteemed New York Indian Film Festival 2024. Mrs. has been honoured as the festivals Closing Film on 2nd June, while Sumo Didi will also be screened on the same day. Adding to the excitement, Sumo Didi has secured double nominations for Best Debut Film and Nikhil Sachan for Best Screenplay. Meanwhile, Mrs shines bright with a nomination for Sanya Malhotra in the coveted Best Actress category and Best Director Category for Arati Kadav. Jio Studios and Baweja Studios Mrs is a captivating account of a womans strength and resilience, and stars Sanya Malhotra in the lead along with Nishant Dahiya and Kanwaljit Singh in pivotal roles. Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Pammi Baweja, and Harman Baweja, Mrs is helmed by director Arati Kadav. Lead actress of Mrs, Sanya Malhotra, says It is a proud moment for me that Mrs has been chosen as the closing film for NYIFF. Playing Richa, a character grappling with the delicate balance between tradition and ambition, was an immense honour and responsibility, given that it embodies the struggles of so many Indian women. Our endeavour to breathe life into this story has been incredibly rewarding and I am eagerly awaiting to share it with the world. Expressing her gratitude, Director, Arati Kadav, says, I always look forward to films screened at NYIFF every year. Hence I feel truly privileged that we have been chosen as the closing film of such an esteemed film festival. Our aim with this film is to connect with Indian audiences living not just in India but abroad and this platform helps us reach the diaspora. I am thankful to our producers Harman Baweja, Baweja Studios and Jio Studios who have supported the journey of this film and made this day possible. I am also thankful for the hard work of the cast and crew and their sincerity that has made the film take these strides. We all are so happy and proud to represent our country and our stories on the world platform, and I feel very encouraged to keep working hard in all our endeavours. Producer of Mrs, Harman Baweja says, "Im deeply honoured to have 'Mrs.' chosen as the NYIFF closing film. NYIFF has a longstanding legacy of celebrating ground-breaking Indian cinema, and we're incredibly proud to be a part of it. We can't wait to share our labour of love Mrs.' with the audiences in New York Another pathbreaking film, Sumo Didi in association with Fresh Lime Films and MA + TH will be screening on 2nd June. Inspired from the remarkable journey of Indias first Sumo Wrestler Hetal Dave, the film stars Shriyam Bhagnani in the titular role along with Chaitnya Sharma (Slow Cheeta) and is directed by debutant Jayant Rohatgi. Presented by Jio Studios, Sumo Didi is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Akash Chawla, Amit Chandrra, and Arunava Sengupta. Sharing his excitement, director, Jayant Rohatgi, says, After a heart-warming response at Tokyo and Palm Springs, I am excited to be a part of another prestigious film festival in NYIFF. Its a privilege to be amidst such powerful films and filmmakers celebrating the best of Indian cinema. Hetals journey is simply remarkable. Her tenacity in breaking through gender stereotypes, social prejudices, lack of opportunities and her own demons to make a seemingly impossible dream come true moved me immensely. I hope our film resonates with and inspires the audience in New York as well. Shot in Kolkata, Mumbai and Japan, Sumo Didi is a story of grit and rising from the depths of despair. A middle-class girl from a conservative Marwari family defies all odds to turn her perceived weakness into her strength and breaks the glass ceiling. With talented casts and impactful storytelling, both films are poised to make a mark at the 24th New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF). Little Dot Studios, a digital content leader from All3Media, has struck a deal with Curiosity Stream to bring 230 hours of programming to its vast network. This includes over 80 digital channels and eight free, ad-supported streaming channels (FAST channels). The partnership leverages Little Dot Studios' established reach to broaden Curiosity Stream's global audience, building on their existing fanbase. Viewers can expect shows like "Besieged Fortresses: Battle of Legend," "Queens of Ancient Egypt," and "Putin & The Oligarchs," alongside a variety of science, engineering, and natural history content. Connie Hodson, Director of Content Acquisitions & Partnerships at Little Dot Studios, said: To be partnering with an established and reputable platform such as Curiosity Stream and to be able to bring their premium content to the Little Dot Studios network, increasing brand awareness on a global scale, is a huge win for all of us. I cant wait to unlock the potential that this new partnership offers. Ludo Dufour, Vice President of Licensing at Curiosity, said: We are thrilled to announce this forward-thinking partnership with Little Dot Studios, an industry leader renowned for its innovative data-driven approach to digital content distribution. This collaboration enables Curiosity to leverage Little Dots extensive digital network and FAST channels, enhancing our global reach and the impact of our premium content. Thanks to this partnership, our evergreen, globally appealing, and high-quality productions will connect with new audiences and further our mission to enlighten, entertain, and inspire viewers around the world. The One Club for Creativity has launched the ONE Asia Creative Awards 2024 with a splashy call for entries campaign developed by GIGIL Manila, the Philippines' most awarded independent creative agency. "Enter ONE Asia, Make Them Regret It" is the theme for this year's competition, celebrating its fourth year of recognizing the best creative work from the Asia Pacific region. Aspiring agencies, brands, and creatives can submit their entries now and take advantage of the early bird deadline for the most significant savings. The deadline to submit entries for the early bird discount is June 21, 2024. Regular deadline follows on July 19th, with extended deadlines on August 9th and September 6th, 2024. The 2024 edition introduces new categories across various disciplines, reflecting the industry's evolving landscape. These include: Creative Use of Technology: Highlighting exceptional work leveraging technology as a creative tool. B2B Marketing: Recognizing the unique challenges of marketing within an industry. Commerce: Showcasing a brand or organization's interaction with consumers in product sales. Humor/Drama in Film & Video: Celebrating the power of storytelling through humor and drama. For Good: Recognizing work that achieves creative excellence while supporting a greater social purpose. Culture Impact: Highlighting content created in response to immediate client needs. Rankings Points All awards will receive rankings points, multiple awards for the same work within a discipline will not be de-duped. One-Year APAC Membership An exclusive APAC Membership offer will be unlocked for agencies that submit a minimum of 10 entries to the ONE Asia Creative Awards 2024. APAC members will gain access to numerous complimentary perks, including a cross-media corporate profile and portfolio featured on The One Club website, access to awards archives, opportunities for jury nomination, event speaking engagements, and more. Following the conclusion of the awards call for entries period in September, The One Club team will reach out to qualifying agencies with comprehensive instructions on how to claim these benefits. This opportunity is a one-time privilege valid for the initial year only. Subsequent to this exclusive period, the APAC membership may be renewed at a fee of $3,000. By becoming a member, individuals and corporate entities alike join a legacy and a global community committed to championing excellence in creative advertising and design across all forms. The One Club Membership includes benefits such as discounted awards entry fees, exclusive access to member-only content and a global creative network, as well as participation in events and more for both individuals and corporate members. Agencies, brands, production companies and individuals responsible for winning work each year are highlighted in ONE Asia Creative Rankings, as well as The One Clubs Global Creative Rankings, which combines points won at The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Type Directors Club TDC awards, Art Directors Club of Europe (ADCE) Awards, and ONE Asia Creative Awards. Winners are ranked globally, regionally and by country. ONE Asia awards won by agencies and brands now gain them international recognition, and corresponding points contribute to regional and global network and holding company global rankings totals. Credits: Client: The One Club for Creativity Campaign: Make Them Regret It for ONE Asia Creative Awards 2024 Agency: GIGIL Manila Founding Partner: Badong Abesamis Founding Partner: Herbert Hernandez Managing Partner: Jake Yrastorza Associate Creative Director: Dana De Leon Acting Head of Copy: Greggy Gregorio Junior Art Director: Rain Landingin Freelance Illustrator: JP Cuison Group Account Director: Bev Lubid Account Director: Yosh Kikkawa Account Supervisor: Sean Cu Senior Strategic Planner: Nanais Hernandez Junior Strategic Planner: Phyllis Ong Strategic Planner Intern: Kimichiro Yagi Adgully has been turning the spotlight on the entrepreneurs who fought against all odds to bring their dreams to fruition in our special series START-UP STARS. We at Adgully wholeheartedly support the Vocal for Local movement and have been featuring numerous local/ homegrown businesses, brands, and Apps in the country launched in the last few years. In conversation with Adgully, Saket Dandotia, Founder and CEO, Onetab, shares the origins of Onetab, challenges in the current market environment for AI-based SaaS solutions, the landscape of the Indian startup ecosystem, and much more. Could you tell us what inspired you to start Onetab and what problems it set out to sort? After experiencing the challenges of managing updates and collaboration across different platforms while working with various technology companies, I recognised the need for a unified solution. The idea occurred during a trip to Goa when I couldnt access Trello to check ticket statuses. Realising the potential for a platform where developers, product managers, and clients could seamlessly collaborate, I embarked on a journey to create Onetab. After six months of intense discussions, agreements, and disagreements we launched Onetab a unified platform that keeps everyone in the loop, fostering better collaboration and productivity for all stakeholders. What specific challenges do you perceive in the current market environment for AI-based SaaS solutions, and how has the landscape evolved over the last few years? As the serial entrepreneur and a founder of an AI-based SaaS company, I recognize several challenges in the current market environment. One significant challenge is the increasing demand for personalized and scalable AI solutions while ensuring data privacy and security. The AI software market is growing fast, but it is not without challenges. Teaching customers about the real benefits of AI can be hard. Some people think AI will solve all their problems instantly, but it is really about making things more efficient, not performing miracles. Another problem is finding enough skilled people who understand AI and can connect it to business needs. But things are getting better. Customers are getting smarter about AI, and it is becoming easier to use with ready-made models and online platforms. The future looks good, but we need to be realistic about what AI can do and make sure we have the right people to make it work. Could you tell us about the landscape of the Indian startup ecosystem and how it is growing? I have seen our startup scene grow a lot. India is now the worlds 3rd biggest hub for startups, with over 100 unicorns. It is a big deal and lots of money is coming in from investors who see the potential in our talent and ideas. One of the most notable trends in the Indian startup landscape is the diversification of sectors. While technology startups continue to dominate, were also seeing significant growth in sectors such as fintech, healthtech, edtech, and agritech. This diversification reflects the evolving needs and opportunities in the Indian market and presents exciting prospects for innovation and growth. However, the Indian startup ecosystem still faces challenges, including access to talent, regulatory hurdles, and intense competition. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration between startups, government agencies, educational institutions, and industry stakeholders. Overall, the Indian startup ecosystem is vibrant, dynamic, and full of potential. Im excited about the opportunities ahead and committed to driving innovation, growth, and positive impact in India and beyond. We are building tools to make workflows smoother, so our developers and entrepreneurs can focus on what they do best creating amazing things. How does Onetab navigate the regulatory landscape and ethical considerations surrounding AI technology, particularly in the context of data privacy and security? We prioritize compliance with regulatory requirements and ethical considerations surrounding AI technology, especially regarding data privacy and security. We adhere to industry best practices and regularly update our systems to meet evolving standards. Our platform incorporates robust encryption and access controls to safeguard sensitive data. Additionally, we are transparent with our users about data usage and provide clear opt-in mechanisms for data collection. By prioritizing ethics and compliance, we ensure that our AI-driven solutions empower users while respecting their privacy and security concerns. As the landscape of AI technology continues to evolve rapidly, what notable shifts or developments have you observed in the market, and how is Onetab adapting its strategies to stay ahead of the curve? The current AI market is like a rollercoaster ride through a big tech jungle. At Onetab, weve been watching closely as things change. One big change that we have noticed is that AI is becoming more accessible, thanks to pre-trained models and cloud platforms. To stay ahead, we are boosting our own AI skills and adding these cool new technologies to our platform. Plus, we are hiring lots of talented folks our team is like the Avengers of AI! Were keeping up with all the latest stuff so we can handle whatever comes our way. So get ready, because the future of AI is going to be exciting, and were leading the charge with lots of energy and confidence! Could you elaborate on the significance of Onetabs OneBharat developer community in nurturing a vibrant ecosystem for AI and tech enthusiasts across India? India has got some of the worlds brightest software development minds. OneBharat is my dream to unite them! Its a community-driven event series where developers across India can meet, share ideas, and collaborate. This dream event aims to unite developers from across India for in-person discussions and collaboration. Its a community-focused initiative where developers can share ideas, network, and receive support to nurture their projects. Following a successful event in Hyderabad, we are excited to expand to cities like Indore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Gurgaon, Bangalore, and Chennai soon. OneBharat is more than just a gathering its a platform for fostering innovation, building connections, and empowering developers to make a difference in the tech world. Together, were creating a vibrant community that celebrates the incredible talent and potential of Indian developers, driving forward progress and excellence in software development. How do you foresee the growth and evolution of the Generative AI market in India, and what role does Onetab aim to play in shaping this landscape? The Generative AI market in India is exciting and full of potential, just like a big Bollywood movie! At Onetab, were not just interested in watching it happen, we want to be a leading force in this market. We believe Generative AI can help businesses be more creative and innovative, and thats why were here. Our aim? To be the Shah Rukh Khan of Generative AI, leading the charge with charm, charisma, and a dash of humour. With our cutting-edge technology and talented team, were here to shake up the scene, create waves, and leave a lasting impact on the Indian Generative AI landscape. So, get ready for the show, because Onetab is about to steal the spotlight and set the stage on fire! What advice would you like to give to young budding entrepreneurs in your sector? As a seasoned CEO with 15 years of experience in nurturing startups and achieving successful exits, here are five pieces of advice for young budding entrepreneurs in the tech sector: Focus on Problem Solving: Always start with a clear understanding of the problem you aim to solve. Your product or service should address a genuine need or pain point in the market. Invest time in thorough market research and customer validation to ensure youre building something that people actually want. Build a Strong Team: Surround yourself with talented individuals who complement your skills and share your vision. A diverse team with expertise in different areas will bring fresh perspectives and help navigate challenges more effectively. I am here because I was fortunate to have great team. Stay Agile and Adapt: The tech industry evolves rapidly, so its crucial to remain agile and adaptable. Be open to feedback, iterate quickly, and embrace change. Stay updated on emerging technologies. Prioritize Customer Experience: Customer satisfaction is key to long-term success. Listen to customer feedback, iterate based on their needs, and strive to exceed their expectations. Building strong relationships with your customers can lead to loyal advocates who help drive growth through referrals and positive reviews. Learn from failures: Every startup faces setbacks. Dont dwell on mistakes, analyze them, learn, and iterate your approach. Remember, exits are just chapters, not the whole story. Could you outline Onetabs overarching plans for expansion both in the global market and specifically within India? Our plans for expansion involve a two-pronged approach, focusing on both the global market and specific growth strategies within India. Globally, we aim to leverage our innovative product offerings to penetrate new markets, establishing strategic partnerships and alliances to enhance our reach and market presence. We will prioritize regions with high demand for productivity tools, tailoring our marketing and sales efforts to cater to diverse customer needs and preferences. Within India, our expansion strategy involves a combination of market research, localized product adaptations, and targeted marketing campaigns. We recognize Indias dynamic business landscape and the growing demand for digital productivity solutions. We will customize our offerings to better serve Indian customers, addressing their unique pain points and requirements. Additionally, we plan to forge partnerships with Indian businesses and organizations to foster greater adoption and usage of Onetabs platform. Overall, our expansion plans encompass a comprehensive approach that balances global scalability with localized strategies to ensure sustainable growth and market leadership in both the global market and within India. Tata Motors, Indias largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, today unveiled an exciting new campaign, Jo Tata Trucks Chalate Hain, Bahut Dur Tak Jaate Hain. Featuring four engaging films, the campaign highlights the superior fuel efficiency of Tata Motors Intermediate, Light and Medium Commercial Vehicles (ILMCV) range. An extension to the successful 'Desh ke Trucks' campaign, the films showcase how enhanced fuel efficiency drives increased profitability for customers, promising savings of up to Rs. 5.75 lakh over five years. Here is a link to the films : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDlPSWyHxA54v-ZIemfU2ZfZRSF4hGYxF Commenting on the campaign, Shubhranshu Singh, Chief Marketing Officer, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, said, We are thrilled to launch our latest campaign, embodying Tata Motors' commitment to offering superior fuel efficiency. Each film demonstrates the significant cost savings and profitability of our ILMCV range, supported by robust data from extensive nine-month trialsa first for Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles. Understanding that fuel efficiency is a priority for customers, we have used slice-of-life storytelling to highlight the financial benefits of choosing Tata trucks. Created for television and digital platforms, the four films, each with its unique storytelling style, reiterate the trust customers place in Tata Trucks. Highlighting superior fuel efficiency and its direct benefits increased profitability and savings as the key premise, the films tactfully drive home the message of Tata Trucks empowering customers to go the extra mile. The master film sheds light on the overarching benefits of the entire range, while the subsequent films explore the key attributes of specific models, including the Tata LPT 1916, Tata LPT 1921, Tata LPT 710, and Tata LPT 1616. your-space, Indias premier student-housing brand, has appointed Kapil Poddar as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Sudhanshu Varma as Chief Business Officer (CBO). These strategic appointments mark a significant milestone in the company's journey towards expansion and profitability in the upcoming year. Sudhanshu Varma brings over 35 years of experience driving revenue and growth with leadership roles at leading education institutions and FMCG brands like Manipal Global Education, Bennett University, Hindustan Unilever, BPL Ltd, and more. Sudhanshu will play a pivotal role in expanding your-space's footprint across key markets and enhancing the overall customer experience. Speaking on the appointment, Sudhanshu said: With a student population of over 30 million, student housing is a sunrise sector with immense potential. The current generation of students is more demanding of themselves and their surroundings, seeking high standards in their living conditions. Student housing is still largely unorganized and presents a tremendous opportunity to standardize the segment and create a world-class brand. your-space is perfectly positioned to lead this transformation, setting new benchmarks in student accommodation and ensuring students have the best possible environment to thrive in. As the newly appointed CFO, Kapil Poddar brings a wealth of expertise in financial management and capital optimization with leadership roles at companies like Reliance Ritu Kumar Pvt Ltd, VLCC, Bharti Infratel, and EY. With over two decades of experience, Kapil will spearhead your-space's financial strategies, ensuring sustainable growth and profitability as the company continues its expansion plans. Kapil said: Im thrilled to be a part of this exciting journey. As we embark on the next phase of profitable growth at your-space, we are confident of delivering continuous value creation for all our investors. We are truly on our way to becoming the biggest & most admired student housing company in the country. Speaking about the appointments, Nidhi Kumra, Co-Founder & CEO, your-space, said: We are elated to have Sudhanshu and Kapil join our team. Their wealth of expertise and understanding of the market adds immense value and will help us advance our strategic roadmap and vision. your-space is at a pivotal point with aggressive growth plans and strengthening our business, post our recent nationwide expansion. your-spaces nationwide expansion and future growth plans have translated into a recruitment boost with a string of hirings across marketing, finance, operations, and customer experience. Court sentences gangster Chhota Rajan to life imprisonment in case of murder of Mumbai hotelier 2 A special court in Mumbai on Thursday sentenced gangster Chhota Rajan to life imprisonment in the case of the murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty in 2001. Special judge for cases under the Maharashtra Control Of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), AM Patil, held Rajan guilty under the Indian Penal Code provisions for murder. Jaya Shetty owned the Golden Crown Hotel at Gamdevi in central Mumbai. Shetty was shot dead by two alleged members of Rajans gang on the hotels first floor on May 4, 2001. The courts detailed order was not yet available. Police had registered the murder case based on a complaint filed by the hotel manager. A probe into the case indicated Shetty had received extortion calls from Hemant Pujari, a member of the Chhota Rajan gang, and was killed because of his failure to pay the money. As there have been a number of cases filed against Rajan for extortion and related offences, charges under the stringent MCOCA were also added against him and other accused in the case of the hoteliers murder. In previous two separate trials, three other accused in the murder case were convicted, and one was acquitted due to lack of evidence. Rajan, already serving life imprisonment for the murder of journalist J Dey in 2011, is currently lodged at the Tihar jail in Delhi. Stranger Things fans in Alabama may have spotted a familiar face on stage this week, if they visited a certain concert venue in Birmingham. Finn Wolfhard, one of the stars of the Netflix series, has been performing some shows with his friends in the Sharp Pins, testing out material for a forthcoming solo album. Wolfhard, 21, is a musician as well as an actor, playing in rock bands such as Calpurnia and the Aubreys. The actors concert schedule for May included a Tuesday show at Saturn in Birmingham, where he was billed as a special guest. Hello everyone, Wolfhard said in a May 14 Instagram post. Im playing a show at 529 in Atlanta. Ill be testing out songs from my first upcoming solo album with the amazing @hallogalloinc and SHRUG. Incredibly excited for it. Also playing a show on May 28th at the Saturn in Birmingham Alabama along @hallogalloinc. Two more Instagram posts from the actor hyped tickets for the Saturn show on May 28 and invited fans to come hear new music from all of us! Wolfhard has 22.6 million followers on Instagram, along with 223,000 followers for the Aubreys. Saturn also mentioned that Wolfhard would be on stage Tuesday night, but kept the info under wraps until a few days before the show. Videos of Wolfhards performance at Saturn surfaced Wednesday on the YouTube channel Panickelodeon! at the Disco, showing the Stranger Things actor in low-key rock mode. Im going to play a bunch of songs from the record that wont come out for another few months, Wolfhard says in the video below. But I had a great time making it. He adds that Kai Slater of the Sharp Pins was his producer, and says all my friends are here backing me up. In another video filmed at Saturn, Wolfhard joins the Sharp Pins on bass guitar and backing vocals. His Monday performance at 529, a concert venue in Atlanta, can be found on YouTube, as well. Although the Sharp Pins played on May 24 at Gold Sprint, a coffeeshop in Huntsville, Wolfhard evidently didnt appear at that show. During a March interview for the 2024 movie Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Wolfhard told The Hollywood Reporter his new album was due in 2025, and confirmed that he hasnt left the Aubreys. The Aubreys will always be around, Wolfhard said. It will always be a project with me and Malcolm [Craig]. But Im in the midst of finding a label and putting out a solo album under my name. So thatll come out next year, and Im really excited about it. Its a little noisier with more rock and lo-fi stuff that I recorded all on tape. Wolfhard plays Trevor Spengler in Frozen Empire, reprising a character from 2021s Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Hes best known for his work in Stranger Things, however, and has been an important character on the series for four seasons. A release date hasnt been set for the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, but Netflix announced earlier this month that production for the new season was underway. Wolfhard is the latest in a fairly long list of actors whove showcased their music skills in Birmingham, following in the footsteps of movie and TV stars such as Jeff Goldblum, Jared Leto, Steve Martin, Kevin Bacon and more. READ: 10 movie and TV stars who brought concert tours to Birmingham Wolfhard isnt the only Stranger Things cast member who pursues music as a sideline, by the way. As many as 10 actors from the series have released singles, play in bands or write original material, according to Billboard. The list includes Gaten Matarazzo, who also appeared on Broadway in 2023 in a revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. And heres another music connection to Stranger Things: Alabamas Craig Johnson, who grew up in Decatur, has worked as a set dresser for the series. One of the songs Johnson recorded for his synth-pop project Space Knife, Im Taking Off, was briefly featured on the show during its first season. Space Knife popped up in various ways on Seasons Two and Three, as well. READ: Stranger Things: Alabamas connection to hot Netflix show Shakari Briggs is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at shakari.briggs@houstonchronicle.com. Before joining the Chronicle in November 2023, she worked for Spectrum News as a digital journalist based in her hometown. Shakari comes to the Houston newsroom with experience in broadcast reporting and producing as a former multimedia journalist and associate producer. The Dallas native has also worked at small to medium-sized newspapers throughout her career. Her reporting on the rise and fall of a shopping mall won an Arkansas Associated Press Managing Editors Contest award. She also earned an Arkansas Press Association award for freelance reporting. At Bigbee Coffee Roasters in the small South Alabama town of Jackson, in Clarke County, they like to say their coffee is worth going to jail for. And they mean that. The coffee shop and cafe, as well as Bigbees roasting operations, are in the former Jackson city jail, where in 1971, Southern rockers the Allman Brothers Band were famously detained on numerous marijuana and heroin possession charges after they were arrested while traveling through town on their way to a concert at the University of Montevallo. The old jail cells are still as they were, including cell No. 3, where roadie Joseph Red Dog Campbell carved his name along with the words Allman Bros Band into the concrete block wall. Their black-and-white booking photographs -- including those of brothers Gregg and Duane Allman -- are also displayed in the cell. Preston Quillen, who started Bigbee Coffee Roasters six years ago with the help of his father, Jesse Quillen, says hardly a day goes by that a fan of the band doesnt stop by the jailhouse-turned-coffeehouse to see where the Brothers were locked up. I had a guy in from Maryland this morning who went to the beach, Quillen says. He found us and made the drive up just to see us and see the Allman Brothers cell. Weve had people from all over, he adds. California, Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee, northern Georgia. So, yeah, people from all over. While they may drop by out of curiosity, Quillen says, they stay for the coffee and conversation, and they usually leave with a bag of Bigbee coffee to take with them. [Want good news about Alabama delivered to your inbox each week? Sign up for This is Alabamas weekly newsletter.] The black-and-white booking photographs of the Allman Brothers Band are displayed in the cell where they were detained folllowing their 1971 arrest. Brothers Gregg Allman and Duane Allman are on the top left and top right, respectively, in the second set of photographs. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com) Saved from demolition If not for the Bigbee Coffee Roasters sign out front, the nondescript red brick building with the white columns could otherwise pass for a law office or a library. After the jail closed, the building sat vacant for a decade or so and was on the verge of being torn down, Quillen says, until he and his father approached the city about leasing it to start Bigbee Coffee Roasters, which they named for the nearby Tombigbee River. I had this crazy idea about starting a coffee shop, he says. The city was very generous and gave us a good deal on the building. At the time, his father worked as an economic developer for Clarke County and didnt want to see the building, and all its colorful history, demolished. I love the history there, Jesse Quillen says. The Allman Brothers is, of course, the headliner when it comes to the history there, but given that it was a police station, theres a lot of stories there. RELATED: The Jackson burger joint thats like a trip back in time The mysterious bullet hole in one of the glass doors leading into the coffee shop is part of that lore, too. It looks like about a .38-caliber pistol shot -- something that somebody wasnt happy about, Jesse Quillen says. So they just drove by and shot into the building one night. Rather than repair it, the Quillens just left it as a conversation starter. Im kind of weird when it comes to that kind of stuff, Jesse Quillen says. Thats character, right? Its leaking hot air or cold air -- whichever -- but its also character. A coffee shop is all about community and having fun and interacting with people, he adds, and you can stir up some real conversations about that kind of stuff. Jesse Quillen, left, gave up a full-time job as an economic developer to help his son, Preston, start Bigbee Coffee Roasters in 2018.(Photo courtesy of Bigbee Coffee Roasters; used with permission) Inspired by a mission trip A summer mission trip to Haiti with First Baptist Church Andalusia piqued Preston Quillens interest in learning to roast coffee. We got to see how it grows, how its harvested, see how they roasted it there -- which is over an open flame, he remembers. I came home with a vision to partner with people like that and help them and buy coffee beans from families like that. He and his dad took a commercial coffee roasting class in Minnesota before starting the business, and Preston came home more convinced than ever that thats what he wanted to do. From that (class), we were like, I think we can do this; I think we can make it work, he recalls. It was just a crazy pipe dream. Jesse Quillen -- who had previously owned a family insurance business in Bruce, Miss., before making a career change that eventually led him to Jackson -- left his job with the Clarke County economic development office to help his son get started. I was real happy doing what I was doing, he remembers. Nevertheless, (Preston) wanted to do this, and I said, OK, Ill just take a year off and do this for you and then go back to doing economic development work somewhere. Preston was living in Tuscaloosa and working as a cardiac sonographer at DCH Regional Medical Center when they launched the business, so his father ran the day-to-day operations until he could move to Jackson. He was the one roasting till 10, 11, 12 oclock at night and then getting up at 5 a.m. making pastries and muffins and doing that seven days a week, Preston says. Its very humbling to know that he would do that for me. I owe him pretty much everything. One year turned into nearly three, with the COVID-19 pandemic putting Jesse Quillens plans to return to his regular line of work on pause. He has since moved to Enterprise, where he is the executive director of the Wiregrass Economic Development Corporation. The (coffee) business was always intended to be his, Jesse Quillen says of his son. It was his idea. Preston was the guru of roasting coffee. He taught me everything I know not the other way around. It was his passion, his dream, and I did this for him simply because he was my son and I wanted to help him. RELATED: Beloved Pete the Cat now has his own groovy coffee Bigbee Coffee Roasters imports most of its coffee beans from growers in Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador and Ethiopia, Preston Quillen says, and ships its roasted coffee to customers all over the country -- from Hawaii to Texas, California to North Dakota. In addition to online and in-store sales, the coffee is available at Bee on the Brow Bed & Breakfast in Mentone and at The Pecan on Broad and Black Belt Treasures in Camden, Quillen says. The Piggly Wiggly in his hometown of Bruce, Miss., also sells it. Were a small roaster, he says. Its literally just me and one employee. That (roasting) side of our business is a lot of work that our regular customers just dont see. The Quillen family from Bigbee Coffee Roasters celebrates the unveiling of the historical marketing commemorating the day members of the Allman Brothers Band were locked up in the Jackson city jail. The family members are, from left, Jesse Quillen, Linda Quillen, Norah Quillen, Zoey Quillen, Edie Quillen, Preston Quillen and Amos Quillen.(Photo courtesy of Bigbee Coffee Roasters; used with permission) A big day for the Quillen family Earlier this spring, the Clarke County Historical Society unveiled a historical marker in front of the old jail commemorating that infamous day the Allman Brothers Band got locked up there. They reached out to us and said, We want to put a historical marker here outside this building since you guys have kept it up and done a lot of renovations to it, Preston Quillen says. They approached us about having this big event, and it was amazing, he adds. I would say we had probably 200 people show up that day. You know, for a small town, thats a lot of people. It was a big day not just for Jackson but also for the Quillen family -- who posed for a family portrait alongside the marker -- and especially for Preston and his dad, who gave up his job to help his son realize his dream. I am very blessed that he would do that for me, Preston says. He did it in hopes that I would keep it going and build it into something super nice for the community. And here we are, he adds, six years later. Bigbee Coffee Roasters is at 118 College Ave. in Jackson, Ala. The phone is 251-262-1231. Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first Saturday of each month. For more information, go here. A woman has filed a $10 million federal lawsuit against a Mississippi police officer who she says sexually assaulted her during a traffic stop last August. According to the suit, filed May 21 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Shanterra Jackson was riding in a vehicle driven by a man, identified by FOX13 in Memphis as Jacksons fiance, in the town of Sardis, Miss., about 225 miles west of Huntsville, when they were stopped by a police officer. The Sardis officer, unidentified in the lawsuit, walked up to the vehicle with gun drawn, the suit claims, ordering Jackson and her fiance to get out. The officer never informed Jackson or the man why they had been stopped, but he called for assistance from an officer from nearby Senatobia. Senatobia officer Willis McNeil arrived at the scene and, without explanation or probable cause, handcuffed Jackson, according to the complaint. At the same time, Jacksons fiance was ordered by the Sardis officer to get inside a police vehicle. McNeil began driving Jackson into the woods. When Jackson repeatedly asked why, McNeil is alleged to have replied You know for what. Once McNeil stopped the vehicle, he took Jackson out, removed her handcuffs and bent her over his car before sexually assaulting her, according to the complaint. The complaint says McNeil turned his body camera off prior to the assault. FOX13 obtained police records which also showed McNeil turned his body camera off after detaining Jackson. Jacksons attorney, Carlos Moore, told McClatchy News Jackson was never charged with a crime after she was detained and assaulted. McNeil and Senatobia police chief Richard Chandler are named as co-defendants in the $10 million suit. In a statement to McClatchy News, Chandler seems to suggest McNeil wasnt on duty at the time of the incident. In the complaint, Attorney Moore makes allegations against Defendant Willis McNeil and says that McNeil was on duty for the Senatobia Police Department. Attorney Moores allegation is blatantly false. The City and Chief Richard Chandler look forward to responding to Attorney Moores allegations in more detail through the proper legal channels. Jacksons lawsuit marks another controversy for the embattled Senatobia police department and Chandler, both listed as defendants in a $2 million lawsuit filed by the mother of a 10-year-old boy who was arrested last August for urinating in public. In addition to Chandler and police Lt. Zachary Jenkins, four unnamed police officers are listed as defendants in that lawsuit. Its unknown whether McNeil is one of those officers. More people convicted of felonies in Alabama will be automatically disqualified from voting under a new law that expanded the list of crimes defined in Alabama as those involving moral turpitude. The main purpose of HB100, by Rep. Adline Clarke, D-Mobile, was to provide enhanced penalties for crimes committed against poll workers and other election officials. The bill came in response to the rise in threats to poll workers and election officials since the 2020 presidential election. Examples include threats to officials in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, and other states. Eighteen other states have enacted laws since 2020 specifically addressing protections for election officials and poll workers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In addition to the enhanced penalties, HB100 defined crimes against election officials as crimes of moral turpitude, a designation that means those convicted are disqualified from voting in Alabama. Individuals who commit one of the crimes of moral turpitude listed in the Felony Voter Disqualification Act will lose their right to vote, Clarke said in a statement. It stands to reason that if someone commits a serious crime against an election official, thereby interfering with the election process, that person ought to lose their own voting rights. But before passing the bill, lawmakers amended it to define six more felonies as crimes of moral turpitude, plus four categories of felonies for inchoate crimes, such as attempted crimes and conspiracies. Rep. Jim Hill, R-Moody, proposed the amendment to add to the list of moral turpitude crimes. Hill said the office of Secretary of State Wes Allen asked him to sponsor the amendment, and he supported the idea. Clarke did not oppose Hills amendment on the House floor. The House approved the amendment without a dissenting vote and then approved the bill 95-0. The Senate approved it 31-0 and Gov. Kay Ivey signed it into law. The law will take effect Nov. 6, one day after the general election, according to the secretary of states office. Thats because of a constitutional amendment Alabama voters approved in 2022 that says laws affecting elections cannot change within six months of an election. The new felonies considered crimes of moral turpitude include three categories of domestic violence crimes, compelling gang membership, aggravated stalking, and elder abuse. I agreed to accept the floor amendment primarily because it makes domestic violence a crime of moral turpitude, Clarke said. I feel strongly that anyone who commits a felony of domestic violence should lose their right to vote until they have served their time. Kathy Jones, president of the League of Women Voters of Alabama, said it is disappointing to see the Legislature expand disenfranchisement of people convicted of felonies. Jones acknowledged that the crimes on the list are serious but said disqualification is a relic of segregation era schemes to keep Blacks off the voting rolls. The list of crimes that are listed here, they are hard-core crimes, Jones said. But when youve got someone that has paid their debt, theyve served their time, there really should be no linkage between voting and the crimes that are committed. This is all basically a legacy of the Jim Crow era that we have this law at all. Alabama has a long history of disenfranchising voters for crimes of moral turpitude, going back to the Alabama Constitution of 1901, which was intended to keep Blacks and poor whites from voting. The law applied to both misdemeanors and felonies. There was no definition for moral turpitude. That gave county boards of registrars, political appointees, discretion over which people convicted of crimes could be disqualified from voting. In 1985, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Alabamas disenfranchisement of voters for misdemeanors. Alabama voters approved a new constitutional amendment in 1996 disqualifying voters who committed felonies involving moral turpitude, but still without a definition for the term. In 2017, after a federal lawsuit known as Thompson v. Alabama, the Legislature finally defined crimes of moral turpitude by passing the Felony Voter Disqualification Act. It listed more than 40 crimes, including murder, robbery, rape, assault, sexual abuse, and other violent crimes, as well as some nonviolent crimes such as burglary and forgery. Many felons who lose their voting rights and who have completed their sentences, paid all fines, court costs, and restitution, and who do not have a pending felony charge, can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote, or CERV. Those convicted of about 15 crimes, including murder, rape, sexual abuse, and treason, are not eligible to receive a CERV. I believe that citizens should have the opportunity to have their voting rights restored once they have completed their sentences, completed probation, or been pardoned, Clarke said. I firmly believe that citizens deserve a second chance when they have paid their dues. The League of Women Voters and other organizations work to help disenfranchised felons who have completed their sentences obtain a CERV to regain their eligibility. Democratic lawmakers have sponsored bills to eliminate the requirement for a CERV, legislation that says the Board of Pardons and Paroles would automatically restore voting rights for those who have met their sentencing, fine, and restitution obligations and do not have another pending felony charge. Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, sponsored that legislation this year but it did not advance. They should either get their voting rights back automatically or they should never have lost them in the first place, Jones said. Alabama is not going to go that way. But this bill (HB100) basically has expanded the list. Its like were headed in the wrong direction. Secretary of State Allen stands by his idea of expanding the list of disqualifying felonies. HB100 received unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers of the Alabama legislature, meaning that every Republican and every Democrat who voted in both the Alabama House and Senate voted for this bill, Allen said in a statement. HB100 will be a strong deterrent to those who think about committing crimes in Alabama. Im not disqualifying anyone from voting as it relates to HB100. Its the criminals who disqualify themselves when they break the law and wreak havoc on our communities. Hill, who sponsored the amendment adding to the list of crimes of moral turpitude, said he respects Jones opinion but does not agree that it is wrong to include voting disqualification as part of the punishment for some crimes. I like for people to vote, Hill said. You have an absolute right to vote. We want you to vote. But its not something that you cannot lose by virtue of your actions. And thats what this is. According to the Voting Rights Lab, a nonpartisan organization that tracks state election laws, only two states, Maine and Vermont, do not have some form of voter disenfranchisement for convicted felons. In 20 states, disenfranchisement applies only during the time the person is incarcerated for the felony. Hill, a former circuit judge, said he supported the original idea for Clarkes bill, to protect election workers. The new law says a person who commits a crime motivated by the victims roles as an election official will face minimum punishments that exceed the normal minimums for the same crime. For example, a person convicted of a Class B felony against an election official, such as first-degree assault, would serve at least 10 years in prison. The minimum for a Class B felony generally is two years. Hill said poll workers perform a vital task for minimal pay. Its a public service, Hill said. And people should not in any way be harassed or intimidated or threatened or, goodness knows, hit, or assaulted, any of that stuff while they are volunteering to help the system that we all want to see work. An anti-union group is slamming United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain in the pages of The New York Times following the union election at Mercedes-Benzs Alabama plant. The Center for Union Facts, a non-profit, is responsible for the full-page advertisement, appearing Thursday. In a secret ballot election earlier this month, workers at the Alabama Mercedes plant voted 56% against UAW representation, the ad states. Now, UAW President Shawn Fain wants to toss out the election results, asking the Biden NLRB to override the workers decision and force them to vote again. Fain should stop trying to undermine workplace democracy, the ad states. Last week, the UAW filed with the National Labor Relations Board to reject this months union election at the German automakers Vance plant and order a new election. See also: Why the union vote failed at Alabamas Mercedes-Benz plant The union contends that the company violated labor law when it fired four pro-union workers and allowed anti-union employees to solicit support on company time, while at the same time preventing union supporters from doing the same. A Mercedes spokesperson said more than 90 percent of the plants workforce made their voices heard through a secret-ballot vote and the majority indicated they are not interested in being represented by the UAW for purposes of collective bargaining. Workers at Vance and the companys Bibb County battery plant voted 2,045 to 2,642 against UAW representation -- a margin of 597 votes. Just one year ago, Erskin Irvin Jr.s family grieved outside the yellow crime scene tape as police investigated his ambush killing in front of their Norwood house. It was the same scene again Wednesday night when Irvins adopted brother was gunned down, again in the neighborhood the family has long called home. The Jefferson County Coroners Office on Thursday identified the victim as Valdez Deundra Stephenson, 37. Irvins mother, Janice, had raised Stephenson since he was a toddler and considered him her own. I just dont know how much more I can take,' she said. North Precinct officers responded about 10:10 p.m. to calls of shots fired in and around the 3200 block of 13th Avenue North. Once in the neighborhood, police found multiple shell casings in the area. They continued to investigate, and a short time later found Stephenson unresponsive in the yard of a home. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead on the scene at 10:27 p.m. Birmingham police investigate a deadly shooting in the 3200 block of 13th Avenue North in Norwood.(Carol Robinson) Officer Truman Fitzgerald said details are limited. What our patrol officers and detectives know at this time is that neighbors called in reporting the shots fired, he said. They canvassed the area and thats when they found the victim. We do have family on scene and the family is extremely emotional, Fitzgerald said. We understand, and were hoping to learn more about the victim so we can pinpoint possibly what led to him being shot. Investigators place 20 to 30 evidence markers on the ground. It wasnt immediately clear how many guns were fired. We do believe the victim was the targeted, he said. Stephensons brother died May 11, 2023, when gunmen opened fire on the 37-year-old in the 1400 block of 33rd Street North. When the ambush shooting stopped, the father of two sons had been hit more than 20 times. Erskin Irvin Jr.(Contributed) Irvin, a truck driver, had gotten off work and been home only about an hour. He was at the home he shared with his mother in the 1400 block of 33rd Street North. Home security camera footage showed what happened next. You can watch him leaving out of the house, sister Tiffany Irvin previously told AL.com. He was telling my aunt bye and as he walked down the steps and got in his car, they ran from darkness across the street and shot up his car. She said the video showed three masked gunmen carrying out the ambush, standing at his car and unleashing more than 35 rounds. Family members heard the shots and ran outside. You wouldnt shoot and kill an animal the way they did my brother and did it right in front of our mothers home, Tiffany Irvin said earlier this month. What could he have possibly done that was so bad? My family hasnt been the same since this tragedy happened, she said. Irvins killing remains unsolved, and family members on Wednesdays night scene were visibly distraught that they now had another loved one gone. The family has no idea who killed them or why. Stephenson is Birminghams 58th homicide of 2024. Of those, five have been ruled justifiable and therefore arent deemed criminal. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 81 homicides including the 58 in Birmingham. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Alabama is poised to add at least 51 new all-electric school buses to the roads, thanks to $16.9 million in federal funding announced this week. The grants were announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday for 10 school districts across Alabama. Jeaneanne Gettle, acting administrator for EPA Region 4, said the new clean school buses will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save schools money, and better protect childrens health from air pollution. Eliminating these diesel emissions in our communities and around our children absolutely has health benefits, Gettle told AL.com. We know that particulate matter creates health concerns and creates air quality concerns in our communities, and so theres theres absolutely the benefit of [reducing those emissions]. We think that zero-emission school buses can, and one day will be, the American standard, and we think that this is a great place for us to invest. Gettle also said the buses and batteries purchased with these funds will be made in the United States, boosting domestic EV and battery production. Alabama school districts receiving the funding are: Huntsville City -- $ 8,625,000 for 25 electric school buses Lanett City -- $1,725,000 for five buses Selma City -- $1,725,000 for five buses Fort Payne City -- $1,380,000 for four buses Clay County -- $1,035,000 for three buses Montgomery County -- $690,000 for two buses Jasper City -- $690,000 for two buses Gulf Shores City -- $600,000 for three buses The Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School -- $400,000 for two buses This $16.9 million in funding to Alabama schools this year is in addition to $11.5 million awarded last year to three school districts, bringing Alabamas Clean School Bus total to more than $28 million over two years. Last years awards went to: Albertville City -- $7,505,000 for 19 buses Fairfield City -- $3,555,000 for 9 buses Tuscumbia City -- $395,000 for one bus The awards are part of a $5 billion Clean School Bus initiative by the EPA to advance the transition to electric or low-emissions school buses across the country. President Biden believes every child deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and breathe clean air, and his Investing in America agenda is designed to deliver just that, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a news release. With todays latest round of funding, we are transforming the nations school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargoour kidssaving school districts money, improving air quality, and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time. Funding for the project came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021. U.S. Rep Terri Sewell, the only member of Alabamas Congressional delegation to vote for the law, said this funding would make a difference for Alabamas schools. President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is once again delivering for Alabama, Sewell said in a news release. Not only will this funding reduce pollution and make our communities healthier, but it will also save our school districts money and free up resources to invest in the success of our students. I was so proud to make this program possible and I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for this investment into Alabamas schools. School districts that have not received or applied for electric bus funding can still do so, said Gettle, the acting EPA Regional Administrator. Funding for the program runs through 2026. The next round of applications closes on July 25. [This program] is a way that EPA really makes a difference in the communities where these buses show up, Gettle said. Its just a new piece of technology that really can make a difference in the quality of peoples lives. A Mississippi coast restaurant which has hosted scores of celebrities from presidents to Hollywood A-listers and has catered events at the White House has admitted to selling customers foreign, frozen seafood and passed it off as fresh Gulf seafood. It is a scheme which began as early as 2002, according to federal prosecutors. A complaint filed in U.S. District Court said Mary Mahoneys Old French House in Biloxi was selling fish described on the menu as premium higher priced local Gulf fish, such as snapper and grouper, but was in actuality perch from Africa, triple tail from Suriname, and Unicorn filefish from India. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration performed genetic testing on the fish which confirmed the scheme. Between December 2013 and November 2019, the restaurant admitted to selling more than 29 tons of frozen and imported fish that was sold to customers as local premium species. Restaurant co-owner Anthony Cvitanovich admitted that in just 2018 and 2019 alone, he was involved in mislabeling over 17,000 pounds of fish sold at the restaurant, according to prosecutors. Mary Mahoneys pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to conspiracy to misbrand seafood and wire fraud. Cvitanovich pleaded guilty to misbranding of seafood. Cvitanovich is facing up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000, while the restaurant could get five years of probation and fines in excess of $500,000. Sentencing is scheduled for September. When people spend their hard-earned dollars to enjoy the incredible local seafood on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, they should get what they paid for, not frozen fish from overseas, said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee. Mislabeling food and defrauding customers are serious crimes, and this case will help convince restaurants and seafood suppliers that it is not worth lying to customers about what is on the menu. In 2019, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) raided the restaurant, which has operated just off U.S. 90 in Biloxi since 1962. At the time, co-owner Bobby Mahoney, son of the original owners, told the Sun Herald I think its about fish when asked about the raid and denied any wrongdoing. Mary Mahoneys has enjoyed icon status for decades, playing host to celebrities ranging from President George W. Bush to movie and music stars such as Denzel Washington, Usher, Jimmy Buffett, Dick Clark, Waylon Jennings and many others. The restaurant also catered an event at the White House during the Ronald Reagan administration. The U.S. Department of Labor Thursday is asking a federal court to compel Hyundai, an Alabama automotive supply plant and a temporary agency to surrender profits related to child labor in the state. A complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Alabamas Middle District says a 13-year-old worked for up to 60 hours a week on an assembly line in Luverne operating machines that formed sheet metal into auto body parts. And when federal investigators learned of the minors employment, the company, Smart Alabama, told another two employees not to return due to their appearance and other physical characteristics, which suggested they were also underage, according to court documents. The court action was filed against Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Smart Alabama, which employed the teen, and Best Practice Service, the service that provided the worker to Smart Alabama, according to court documents. The court action came after an investigation by the Labor Departments Wage and Hour Division. Investigators say that, between July 11, 2021, through Feb. 1, 2022, the three companies willfully and repeatedly violated the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as its hot goods provision. Hot goods refers to shipping products produced in violation of minimum wage or overtime requirements, or that were produced where a child labor violation occurred in the past 30 days. The Department of Labors complaint seeks to hold all three employers accountable in the supply chain, Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda said in a statement. Companies cannot escape liability by blaming suppliers or staffing companies for child labor violations when they are in fact also employers themselves. A 13-year-old working on an assembly line in the United States of America shocks the conscience, said Wage and Hour Division Administrator Jessica Looman. In a statement, Hyundai spokesman Scott Posey said the use of child labor and breach of any labor law, is not consistent with the standards and values we hold ourselves to as a company. Posey said the company has rigorous policies and procedures to prevent child labor and took immediate action when it learned of the issue. Hyundai also will commission third party audits to make sure policy is being followed. We worked over many months to thoroughly investigate this issue and took immediate and extensive remedial measures. We presented all of this information to the U.S. Department of Labor in an effort to resolve the matter, even while detailing the reasons why no legal basis existed to impose liability under the circumstances. Unfortunately, the Labor Department is seeking to apply an unprecedented legal theory that would unfairly hold Hyundai accountable for the actions of its suppliers and set a concerning precedent for other automotive companies and manufacturers. We are reviewing the new lawsuit and intend to vigorously defend the company. Reuters originally reported in 2022 that children were employed at SMART Alabama, which supplied parts for Hyundais Montgomery plant since 2003. Two suppliers, SL Alabama and SMART, have terminated their relationships with third-party staffing agencies which, the company said, falsely certified that they had screened and cleared children as being eligible to work. Both SL Alabama and JK USA, an Opelika temporary employment agency, in 2023 paid fines from federal court and the Alabama Department of Labor. The legal battle between a small-town Alabama mayor and a council-appointed city manager has moved beyond the courtroom to the checkbook. John C. Brown already lost his job and $100,000 salary as city manager in Tarrant. And now Mayor Wayman Newton has asked a judge for a $78,000 garnishment against Brown to recoup legal expenses. It is just the latest development in a series of clashes between the mayor, city council and other leaders in Tarrant, a town of 6,000 near Birmingham, where lawsuits, contradictory directives, and public insults fly frequently. The mayor is benefiting from representing his own interest in the case, said Browns attorney Scott Morro. Hes benefiting from suing the city himself. Mayor Newton, who is also a lawyer, sued last summer, arguing the Tarrant City Council did not follow the letter of the law when hiring Brown to manage daily operations, stripping the mayor of some of his elected duties. Brown in January lost his fight to keep his job after Jefferson County Judge Patrick Ballard ruled that the city council erroneously hired him. Newton sued on behalf of Deanna Ceasor, one of his supporters in the city, rather than naming himself as the plaintiff and hiring a separate lawyer to represent him. Newton now wants Brown to pay up. Brown is appealing the case to the state supreme court. But as they await a hearing, Newton is moving to seize $78,071 directly from Brown to cover the legal expenses. The court recently froze $21,574 in Browns personal bank account. Newton said he filed to claim for his legal fees because Brown did not get a bond that was part of his appeal process. He has not complied with the court order to stay the judgment, Newton told AL.com. Hes had four months. We are well into the supreme court case, and he has yet to file a bond. Lawyers for Brown in the case last summer challenged Newtons qualification to serve as the plaintiffs attorney, saying he would personally benefit if the judge ruled for his client. In the end, Newton won, besting his rivals on the city council for power by eliminating the city manager. Now hes also prevailed as a lawyer who is entitled to payment for legal fees. Morro said he is working with the city council to secure a bond and letter of credit to remedy the situation. He said Browns money remains frozen until a bond is secured to guarantee money for fees if he loses on appeal. The garnishment is the bank saying, we are going to hold this amount, Morro said. Weve already got the appeal brief in, and we are waiting on the bond, so once the bond is made the underlying judgment is stayed. Morro said a bond should be secured within a few days. He said it was proper for the city council to play an active role on Browns behalf. The city council should be an intervener, he said. The city council is an indispensable party in the John Brown case because they are the ones who hired him. A Mississippi woman is accused of repeatedly coming to Mobile to steal, according to police and Alabama court records. Tyazia Aniya Gipson, 21, of Gautier, Miss., a coastal community about 40 miles west of Mobile, was arrested Wednesday after police say she was caught stealing items from a Belk department store on Airport Boulevard. It was the same Belk store, investigators said, from which Gipson had stolen items a week earlier, but had managed to flee the scene before police arrived. But Gipson was known to Mobile police prior to Wednesdays arrest. In February, Gipson was indicted by a Mobile Grand Jury for felony theft of property for the July 2023 theft of a womans iPhone at Bel Air Mall. She was taken into custody the day the theft occurred and has been free on $3,000 bond. With Wednesdays arrest, however, prosecutors have already filed to have that bond revoked and Gipson to remain in custody. Janice Irvin says she will never be the same. Her adopted son, 37-year-old Valdez Stephenson, was gunned down Wednesday night near the familys longtime Norwood home. His murder happened one year and 18 days after her other son, 37-year-old Erskin Irvin Jr., was also fatally gunned down outside the house. My heart is tore up, the 63-year-old grieving mother said Thursday. It was devastating with one and I know I birthed that one, but to lose two? I didnt birth Valdez but he was just like a birth child, she said. I didnt love one no more than the other. My heart is aching. It feels like somebody is stepping on it. North Precinct officers responded about 10:10 p.m. Wednesday to calls of shots fired in and around the 3200 block of 13th Avenue North. Once in the neighborhood, police found multiple shell casings in the area. They continued to investigate, and a short time later found Stephenson unresponsive in the yard of a home. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead on the scene at 10:27 p.m. No arrests have been made, and police have not released any updates into the investigation. Irvin described Stephenson as quiet, low key. He wasnt a real people person, crowd person, she said. He liked to be by himself a lot. He loved his (13-year-old) son a lot. Stephensons family had lived across the street from the Irvin family in Norwood. His mom was going through some stuff and my mom ended up getting him when he was a baby, Irvin said. My mom passed when he was 3, so I went through the courts and raised him as my own. He started out being my brother, she said, and ended up being my son. Irvin, who also has two daughters, said Stephenson was close to her and to Irvin Jr. He didnt ever want to leave me, she said. I tried to tell him he was grown and get on up out of here but neither one of them wanted to leave me. Now theyre both gone, she said through tears. They were real close, she said. They were two different people. Erskin was the party one, liked to have fun. Valdez was the laid back one. Irvin Jr. died May 11, 2023, when gunmen opened fire on him in the 1400 block of 33rd Street North. When the ambush shooting stopped, the father of two sons had been hit more than 20 times. Irvin, a truck driver, had gotten off work and been home only about an hour. He was at the home he shared with his mother in the 1400 block of 33rd Street North. Home security camera footage showed what happened next. You can watch him leaving out of the house, sister Tiffany Irvin previously told AL.com. He was telling my aunt bye and as he walked down the steps and got in his car, they ran from darkness across the street and shot up his car. She said the video showed three masked gunmen carrying out the ambush, standing at his car and unleashing more than 35 rounds. Family members heard the shots and ran outside. You wouldnt shoot and kill an animal the way they did my brother and did it right in front of our mothers home, Tiffany Irvin said in an earlier interview. What could he have possibly done that was so bad? My family hasnt been the same since this tragedy happened, she said. Irvin has not spent one night in the Norwood home since her sons 2023 killing but had actually taken some of her belongings back earlier Wednesday. She was out with friends Wednesday night when she got a phone call from someone telling her Stephenson had been shot. She called her sister at the Norwood house and asked if her son was there and was told that he had walked to a nearby store. Irvin rushed to the scene, and once again saw her neighborhood cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape. She and other family members tried Stephensons cell phone, but there was no answer. I didnt want to believe it, she said. Everybody was calling him. Irvin was overcome with grief in the street, and paramedics were called to tend to her. She was insistent, however, on remaining on the scene until she was officially notified that the victim was indeed her son. She said she has no idea who killed either of her sons, or why, or if the same gunmen are responsible for both. Whoever did it, yall got parents, I know you got somebody, family that knows what yall are out here doing, Irvin said. Theyre just as wrong as you are. " They just need to stop, she said. The family is clearly frustrated at the lack of progress in Irvin Jr.s case, and hope it wont be the same with the investigation into Stephensons killing. You just continue to let them sit out here and do this, she said. Every time I call to try to get an update, I get no kind of update worth listening too. Its the same stuff over, and over again. Irvin said she needs answers, and she needs arrests. I think Id be a little more at ease than I am now, she said, but Ill never be the same. As for the killer or killers, Irvin said, I am very, very angry with them. I wouldnt wish this on them. As much as it hurt me, I wouldnt wish this on nobody and I just wish they were turn themselves in and just stop, I just want everybody to continue to pray for me and my family, she said. I dont know what Im going to do now. Im just taking it day by day. A cruise line has canceled more visits to its private resort due to violence in the country and a new U.S. travel alert. Royal Caribbean first suspended stops at its private resort in Labadee, Haiti in March. The suspension will now last through at least fall, the cruise line confirmed to USA Today. The safety and security of our guests, crew, and communities we visit are our top priority, a spokesperson for the cruise line told USA Today. Our Global Security and Intel Team is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti, and in an abundance of caution we have suspended all visits to Labadee fleetwide through September 2024. Royal Caribbean will continue to monitor and reassess calls as needed, the spokesperson said. READ MORE: State Department issues worldwide travel alert Haiti is currently under a Level 4 Do Not Visit advisory, the highest warning from the U.S. State Department, due to gang violence and riots. According to the United Nations, more than 2,500 people were killed or injured as a result of gang violence in Haiti in the first quarter of the year. Earlier this month, Dave and Natalie Lloyd, missionaries from Missouri who were working with youth in the country, were attacked and fatally shot by gang members as they were leaving a church service. In its latest alert, the State Department said the security situation is Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous and any travel there should be conducted at your own risk. The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders or during any onward travel the alert said. You should consider your personal security situation before traveling anywhere in Haiti. Only attempt to depart Haiti or travel within Haiti if you believe it is safe for you to do so. Among the risks cited were violent crimes, including kidnapping for ransom. The royal familys website removed Prince Harrys 2016 statement confirming his relationship with now-wife Meghan Markle, according to multiple outlets. The link to the November 2016 statement in which a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex, 39, lambasted the wave of abuse and harassment leveled at the 42-year-old Suits alum is newly inactive. Harrys spokesperson said in the statement, in part: Some of this has been very public the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments. The link appears to have been removed between Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, 2023, as internet archive site Wayback Machine notes it was accessible on the former date but not the latter, per Newsweek. Though the alteration looks to have occurred late last year, the news comes just weeks after the couples charity, the Archewell Foundation, was declared delinquent by authorities in Markles native California. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly last filed tax returns for 2022. Also earlier this month, People reported that Harry had invited King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton to attend a 10th anniversary service for his Invictus Games, only for the trio to skip the milestone event. The monarch, 75, and Princess of Wales, 42, have both been undergoing cancer treatment of late. The Sussexes, who wed in May 2018 and share two young children, stepped back from senior royal duties in early 2020 and decamped to the Golden State. Back in March of this year, their respective biographies on the royal site were merged into a joint profile, People reported at the time. The site does link to the couples new Sussex.com, which was launched weeks prior. ------- 2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Eight Alabamians were sentenced to at least one year in federal prison and more than $12 million combined in restitution for their involvement in a criminal operation that stole millions of dollars in military equipment from Anniston Army Depot and sold the property, prosecutors announced Thursday. Police officers with the Directorate of Emergency Services and other civilian employees at the depot stole millions of dollars worth of equipment from the depots warehouses over several years and delivered them to middlemen, said U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona; Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones; Defense Logistics Agency Office of the Inspector General Deputy Inspector General Jerold Unruh; and United States Army Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent in Charge D. Todd Outlaw. The middlemen then delivered the stolen property to the owner of a military surplus store, where the owner then sold the equipment. The conspirators split the money from the sales of the stolen property, which included night vision equipment to be attached to military weapon systems, prosecutors said. Sentences for the eight Alabama residents ranged from one year in federal prison to more than two years in a federal lockup. Collectively, they were ordered to pay more than $12 million in restitution to U.S. Department of Defense. They were: Steve Bonner, 63, of Goodwater, a middleman, was found guilty of conspiracy to steal United States property following a four-day trial. He was sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison and ordered him to pay $1.87 million in restitution. Jerry Baker, 63, of Hokes Bluff, a Captain with the Directorate of Emergency Services, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. He was sentenced to 25 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $3.75 million Kelvin Battle, 54, of Anniston, a Sergeant with the Directorate of Emergency Services, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 21 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $2.4 million. Eric Matraia, 54, of Munford, a guard with the Directorate of Emergency Services, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 16 months in prison and ordered him to pay $3 million restitution. Shane Farthing, 42, of Gadsden, a guard with the Directorate of Emergency Services, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 15 months in prison and ordered him to pay $707,000 in restitution. Christopher Price, 55, of Childersburg, the owner of a military surplus store in Sylacauga, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 14 months in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $3.94 million. James Kenneth Scott, 73, of Sylacauga, a middleman, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison and ordered him to pay $3.5 million in restitution. Scott Bunch, 54, of Alexandria, a Defense Logistics Agency supervisor, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal United States property. The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison and ordered him to pay $3.75 million in restitution. These sentences send a clear message that such criminal conduct will not be tolerated, said Escalona, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. The successful investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrates the dedication of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to ensure that these defendants were brought to justice. Im proud of the great work done by the investigative team and the U.S. Attorneys Office to bring these government employees and their co-conspirators to justice, added Special Agent-in-Charge Darrin K. Jones, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. Our office will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorneys Office to ensure those who steal from our military supply chain and degrade our combat readiness are held accountable. This is the latest example of Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division working collaboratively with federal partners to relentlessly pursue those who conspire to steal government property, said D. Todd Outlaw, Special Agent in Charge, Southern Field Office, Army CID. Army CID will continue to protect Soldiers, families, civilians, and warfighting assets from crimes that affect readiness and warfighting capabilities in multi-domain operations. Alabama Death Row inmate Jamie Ray Mills was executed by lethal injection Thursday evening for the brutal slayings of an elderly couple with a machete, ball-peen hammer, and a tire iron two decades ago. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, in announcing the execution had been carried out, stated that Almost 20 years ago, the grandchildren of Floyd and Vera Hill, worried for their grandparents, filed a missing-person report only for police to discover the couple had been brutally and horrendously beaten to death. The Hills lives were taken at the hands of Jamie Mills. The evidence in this case is overwhelming, and Mr. Mills is undoubtedly guilty. Tonight, two decades after he committed these murders, Jamie Mills has paid the price for his heinous crimes. I pray for the victims and their loved ones as they continue to grieve. Mills had maintained his innocence, and didnt mention the crime in his final words. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall also issued a statement Thursday night, saying Mills actions were cold and calculated, and his assigned punishment has never been more deserved. Mills was convicted and sentenced to die for the June 24, 2004 beating deaths of Floyd and Vera Hill. The elderly couple were beaten at their Marion County home before, prosecutors said, Mills and his former wife stole cash and prescription medication. The execution The execution was carried out at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore using the states three-drug lethal injection cocktail instead of nitrogen gas, which was used for the first time in the nation in Alabama in Januarys execution of Kenneth Smith. Mills did not elect to change his execution method to nitrogen when inmates were given the opportunity to do so in June 2018. The curtain to the execution chamber opened at 6:07 p.m., while several of Mills five witnesses cried softly in the witness room. One of his witnesses whispered, Oh my God as the curtain opened. During the execution, his family continued to cry softly. One woman whispered, Oh god at one point. After the curtain opened, Mills gave a thumbs up motion towards the witness room where his attorney and family watched, along with members of the media. He was softly trembling as the death warrant was read. His last words were: I love my family. I love my brother and sister. I couldnt ask for more. Charlotte, you fought hard for me. I love yall, carry on. He was referring to Charlotte Morrison, his attorney from the Equal Justice Initiative. She was in the witness room. Mills continuously gave a thumbs up to his family. At 6:12 p.m., his spiritual advisor approached him and prayed over him. Mills mouthed I love you to his family. About a minute after that, Mills appeared to slip into unconsciousness. At 6:14 p.m., a prison guard in the execution chamber performed the standard consciousness check by flicking Mills eyelid, yelling his name, and pinching his arm. Mills did not respond to any of those actions. Curtains to the execution room closed at 6:19 p.m. and his official time of death was 6:26 p.m. The execution started about an hour and a half after the United States Supreme Court issued orders rejecting Mills two appeals and a request to stay the execution. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said the team who starts intravenous lines for the lethal injection didnt have any issues finding a vein. Similar issues plagued several executions over the past years, with multiple being called off after IV lines couldnt be started in time. He said that Mills had two sticks and that each of the two IV lines were started on the first try. The members of the execution team who start IVs were replaced following the governors three-month halt to executions at the end of 2022 and into 2023. Hamm credited that personnel change to the quick turn-around of Mills execution. Members of the Hill family witnessed the execution, but requested their names not be shared. The family of the Hills released a statement for Commissioner John Hamm to read following Mills death. It said, In the past 20 years, our family has been seeking justice, and today justice has been served. However, it took 20 years to do so. Our family believes in the judicial system, no matter how long it takes. Our family now can have some closure to this heinous crime that he committed and our loving grandparents can rest in peace. Let this be a lesson for those that believe justice will not find you. Hopefully this will prevent others from committing future crimes. God help us all. Mills last hours Before the execution, Alabama prison spokesperson Kelly Betts provided a recollection of Mills last 24 hours, including his last meals. On Wednesday, he was visited by his brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, spiritual advisor and a friend. He ate breakfast and lunch, along with snacks throughout the day. He refused his dinner. He also had phone calls with family members and his attorney. On Thursday, Mills was visited by his brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, spiritual advisor, and attorney. He didnt make any phone calls. His breakfast on Thursday was made up of eggs, gravy, prunes, oatmeal, and biscuits. He had snacks including potato chips, a candy bar, and a Sunkist and cola drink. His last meal consisted of a seafood platter with three large shrimp, two catfish filets, three oysters, three onion rings, and one stuffed crab. Mills, 50, had fought his execution in two separate federal lawsuits: One challenging the states lethal injection protocol and another claiming his former wife lied when testifying against him. Wednesday afternoon, Mills lawyers from the Equal Justice Initiative appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after having had the appeal rejected by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday. EJI, which represented Mills for many years released a statement after the execution: By failing to honestly disclose the conversations and arrangements with the states main witness against Jamie Mills at trial, state prosecutors have lied, deceived and misrepresented the reliability of the evidence against Jamie Mills for 17 years. They werent honest with Jamie Mills, with the jury, the judge, state and federal appeal courts or the public. New evidence documenting this deceit has been dismissed as too late, making finality more important than fairness. This is not justice. The group added, Jamie Mills becomes another person needlessly killed by state officials who comfortably tolerate state deception, violation of the law and breach of fundamental, constitutional rights to carry out a death sentence they claim upholds the rule of law. The crime Floyd Hill and Vera Hill had been married 55 years and lived in Guin, a small town in Marion County. According to an inscription on his gravestone, Floyd Hill was an Army veteran of World War II. Vera Hill, 72, was in poor health. Though 15 years older, Floyd Hill acted as her caretaker. Court documents laid out the events surrounding the couples brutal deaths on June 24, 2004. Jamie Mills and his then-wife, JoAnn Mills, went to the Hills house on County Road 54. According to JoAnn Mills testimony at Jamie Mills trial, the Hills let the couple inside for Jamie Mills to use their phone. After he made several phone calls, Vera Hill wanted to show JoAnn Mills some of the items in their shed that she was planning to sell at a yard sale. Floyd Hill unlocked the shed and everyone looked at the items for sale, according to JoAnn Mills testimony. After that, Jamie Mills and Floyd Hill continued to talk inside the shed while the women stepped outside. JoAnn Mills said that she heard a loud noise and saw her husband swinging something. She followed Vera Hill back inside the shed, when she saw Floyd Hill lying on the ground. Then, she said, Jamie Mills hit Vera Hill in the head with a hammer. Jamie Mills continued to beat the couple, JoAnn Mills said. At some point, the Mills left the shed and went into the Hill home and stole various items, including Floyd Hills wallet, Vera Hills purse, a phone, and a tacklebox containing prescription medication. Guin police stopped the couple the next day when they were leaving their house with the murder weapons and bloody clothes. The Hills were found after one of their adult grandchildren stopped by to check on them the night of the murders and couldnt find them. When police arrived and found the elderly couple in their shed, Floyd Hill was pronounced dead at the scene. Vera Hill was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, and later transferred to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. She died September 12, 2004. Court records show her cause of death was complications of blunt head trauma. JoAnn Mills initially told police a local drug dealer had committed the murders. But the murder weapons, along with Jamie Mills bloody clothes, were found in the Mills car trunk. Jamie Mills has argued that the car trunk didnt lock, and the drug dealer had access to the couples car on the day of the crime. Mills maintained his innocence. The lawsuits Throughout the past few weeks, Mills had been fighting his execution through two separate appeals in federal court. On Tuesday, the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals rejected both of Mills arguments. Both orders were issued by a three-judge panel. Those denials were appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which later denied them as well and cleared the way for the lethal injection. In his lawsuit challenging Alabamas three-drug lethal injection method, Mills had argued that Alabamas practice of restraining its condemned prisoners on a gurney before execution will violate his constitutional rights to access the courts, to counsel, to due process, and against cruel and unusual punishment. While the intravenous lines are established for a death row inmates lethal injection, no one is allowed to be in the room except for state officials. Mills had challenged that procedure, but the court ruled that Mills has no constitutionally protected interest in having counsel present throughout his execution. The appellate judges also remarked on a lower courts ruling that called Mills lawyers delay in filing his lawsuit inexplicable and inexcusable. The appeals court ruling Wednesday said, A reasonably diligent plaintiff would have sought a stay (of execution) much sooner. In his lawsuit, Mills cited several executions dating back to 2022, when a controversial execution and two aborted execution attempts led Gov. Kay Ivey to halt executions for several months. 11th Circuit Judge Nancy Abudu wrote a concurring opinion Tuesday to ensure Mills concerns regarding Alabamas execution process are appropriately acknowledged. While precedent does not establish that these conditions are unconstitutional per se, Alabamas pattern of delay during executions is troubling. Mills has a valid fear that he will be unnecessarily placed on the execution gurney if a stay is in place, while the IV team is not attempting to establish IV access, or while officials transport witnesses to the viewing area, without being given any updates from officials on the status of his cases or the ongoing execution protocol. Mills other lawsuit concerns the testimony of his former common-law wife, JoAnn Mills. After her testimony, JoAnn Mills pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of murder and was sentenced to life in prison. She will be considered for parole in December 2027. Jamie Mills was convicted and on an 11-1 vote the jury recommended he be sentenced to death. Jamie Mills lawyers have long argued that Jamie Mills had testified against him to get a better sentence for herself, and that she had a plea deal in place before she took the stand. Prosecutors have always denied the claim. No reasonable jurist could conclude that the district court abused its discretion in rejecting this argument, the appellate court judges wrote. Judge Abudu wrote another concurring opinion in that lawsuit. The death penalty is the harshest punishment one can receive in this country... Unfortunately, even when a petitioners life hangs in the balance, our case law does not extend sufficient procedural and substantive due process protections. Advocates from several organizations that oppose the death penalty delivered a petition to Ivey on Tuesday opposing the lethal injection. Ivey has the power to commute a death sentence but has never done so. Along with the petition opposing Mills execution, advocates delivered two other petitions opposing Alabamas nitrogen hypoxia execution method and seeking greater transparency in the execution process. Abudu wrote in her opinion on the lethal injection lawsuit, Although those on death row are considered the most detested members of society, our humanity remains dependent on carrying out the most severe penalty in the least barbaric way. An Alabama woman who called authorities in great distress on Sunday before dispatchers lost contact with her was killed by her ex-husband in a murder-suicide. Covington County sheriffs deputies and Andalusia and Gantt police officers responded to a home on in Andalusia after Cindi Jordan, who was in great distress, called authorities, said Sheriff Blake Turman, according to WDHN. Authorities lost contact with Jordan shortly after she made the call. Her body was found in the home, the sheriff said. Turman said Jordans ex-husband, Robert Ribarin Sr., broke into her house and killed Jordan before taking his own life. This was a tragic event and totally uncalled for, Turman said in a statement, according to WDHN. Thank you to all the responders who assisted, and please keep our citizens dealing with this loss in your thoughts and prayers. An Alabama congressmen posted the controversial Appeal to Heaven flag as reports circulated that a New York jury has reached a verdict in the hush money trial of former President Donald Trump. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, tweeted the flag without any context at 3:37 p.m. Thursday. A spokeswoman for the congressman could not immediately be reached to elaborate on the tweet, which featured an image of the Appeal to Heaven flag: The flag has drawn attention after the New York Times reported that flag was flying over the New Jersey beach home of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito last summer. The paper previously reported an inverted American flag was flown at Alitos Virginia home after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Both flags were carried by rioters who violently stormed the Capitol in January 2021 echoing Trumps false claims of election fraud. Alito said he was unaware that the upside-down flag was flying above his house until it was called to his attention. As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused, he wrote in nearly identical letters to Democrats in the House and Senate. Alito said his wife made the decision to fly the Appeal to Heaven flag. Moore later posted a statement on the guilty verdict. This will go down in history as a sad day for America. This verdict is a travesty of justice in a kangaroo court, and it proves Joe Biden's sole focus is not to help the American people, but instead to weaponize against his political opponents to help his reelection during a Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) May 30, 2024 This will go down in history as a sad day for America. This verdict is a travesty of justice in a kangaroo court, and it proves Joe Bidens sole focus is not to help the American people, but instead to weaponize against his political opponents to help his reelection during a failing administration, he said. Americans will be outraged by this obvious weaponization, because they now know that anyone can be targeted, Moore continued. They deserve better than a president who convicts his opponent because hes too afraid to face him at the ballot box. Gov. Kay Ivey issued this statement on the verdict: Despite this New York jury, as President Trump said, the real verdict will be by the people on Election Day November 5, the governor said. Despite this New York jury, as President Trump said, the real verdict will be by the people on Election Day November 5. Kay Ivey (@kayiveyforgov) May 30, 2024 Rep. Dale Strong, R-Monrovia, who attended the former presidents trial and stood with Trump outside the courthouse, said he was disheartened by the verdict. My statement on the Trump Verdict: pic.twitter.com/p571rz6X43 Dale W. Strong (@RepDaleStrong) May 30, 2024 I strongly believe that these charges would not have been brought against Donald Trump had he not sought the office of the president, Strong said in a statement. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought this case because of politics, not justice, Strong continued. It is clear Democrats weaponized our court system to try to undermine President Trump. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, the lone Democrat in Alabamas congressional delegation, applauded the verdict, After evaluating the evidence and the facts of the case, a jury has found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts. Todays verdict confirms that no one is above the lawnot even a former president, she said. Justice has been served. After evaluating the evidence and the facts of the case, a jury has found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts. Todays verdict confirms that no one is above the lawnot even a former president. Justice has been served. Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) May 30, 2024 Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Aderholt, accused prosecutors of being swayed by politics to perform legal gymnastics that led to the guilty verdicts. The prosecutors in this case, with I believe help from the bench, had to take the law and make origami out of it to try and get the verdict they wanted, he tweeted. This was not about justice. This was about politics. This will be overturned on appeal. ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT. Trump Verdict: The prosecutors in this case, with I believe help from the bench, had to take the law and make origami out of it to try and get the verdict they wanted. This was not about justice. This was about politics. This will be overturned on appeal. ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT. Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) May 30, 2024 U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, said Bragg made a mockery of the American justice system. Todays verdict is disheartening for our country, but I am hopeful that Americans can rectify this injustice on Election Day, he said. Alvin Bragg just made a mockery of the American justice system. Todays verdict is disheartening for our country, but I am hopeful that Americans can rectify this injustice on Election Day. https://t.co/h96jYYdV9c Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) May 30, 2024 Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, said the trial was nothing more than a political assassination attempt. The only reason this case proceeded is because the defendants name is Donald Trump, Palmer said. The left will do anything to stop him before the election in November. The Trump trial has been nothing more than a political assassination attempt. The only reason this case proceeded is because the defendants name is Donald Trump. The left will do anything to stop him before the election in November. Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) May 30, 2024 U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, called the verdict an absolute disgrace and an abuse of the American justice system. The American People can see right through the Lefts tactics of weaponizing the courts to keep an innocent man from returning to the Presidency, he said. Our country needs Trump back in the White House. This verdict is an absolute disgrace and an abuse of the American justice system. The American People can see right through the Lefts tactics of weaponizing the courts to keep an innocent man from returning to the Presidency. Our country needs Trump back in the White House. Rep. Jerry Carl (@RepJerryCarl) May 30, 2024 Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl, echoing the sentiments of the states Republican congressional delegation, said the party fully stands behind Donald Trump. The leftist-inspired court case against him is clearly politically motivated. The facts surrounding this entire situation date back to 2016. These Democrat elected officials had eight years to bring charges but chose to act only when Donald Trump started leading Joe Biden in the polls. The justice system should never be used as a political weapon, and we are deeply disappointed by what we have seen throughout this case, he said. It is crucial to recognize that one of the true enemies of democracy is the misuse of the justice system to target political opponents, Wahl continued. With the conviction of Donald J. Trump, it is evident that our country is heading in a very dangerous direction. This is not how a republic or a democracy should be run. The conviction of a former president, especially one who is a current candidate for the presidency, sets a troubling precedent. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen expressed confident that Trump would successfully appeal the verdict. Todays verdict is a perfect example of why our judicial system has an appeals process in place. It is a fail safe for every American citizen against errors made in the court system, Allen said. Every citizen has a right to a fair appeal and President Trumps appeals case should be a slam dunk for any unbiased and fair appellate court. It is obvious to anyone paying attention that todays verdict is a travesty of justice, he continued. This verdict will not stand! English News China steadily enhances ability to ensure livelihood during development Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 30 Mai 2024 Regions and departments across China have been making sustained efforts and taking more measures to strive for greater achievements in improving people's wellbeing. By focusing on the concerns of the people and addressing practical issues related to their livelihood, China will steadily enhance its ability to ensure livelihood during its development and continuously improve people's sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security. By Ren Ping, Zhang Fan, People's Daily "The Chinese people's aspiration for a better life is the goal we have been striving for, and the ultimate purpose of advancing reform and promoting development is to improve the livelihood of the people," Chinese President Xi Jinping said. Xi is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. Xi made the remarks while chairing a symposium attended by representatives from businesses and academia in Jinan, east China's Shandong province on May 23. The essence of modernization is the modernization of people. Chinese modernization is a cause of the 1.4 billion Chinese people. Since entering the new era, China has achieved two miracles - rapid economic growth and lasting social stability. Putting livelihood issues in an important position is exactly one of the significant reasons to this success. The country has won the largest battle against poverty in human history and achieved moderate prosperity, the millennia-old dream of the Chinese nation. It has built the world's largest networks of high-speed railways and expressways. Besides, it has built the largest education, social security, and healthcare systems in the world. The splendid development of China is exactly a perfect answer sheet to livelihood problems. Livelihood progress is an important standard measuring economic and social development. Over 70 percent of China's government expenditures went toward ensuring the people's wellbeing. This year, the country has set aside 66.7 billion yuan (about $9.39 billion) for employment subsidies, 408.5 billion yuan for transfer payments for shared fiscal powers in education, and 76.5 billion yuan for subsidies for basic public health services. Minzhucun community of Xiejiawan neighborhood, Jiulongpo district in southwest China's Chongqing municipality was once troubled with poor housing conditions, outdated infrastructure, excessive sewage, and inadequate supporting facilities. Today, this place has transformed into a vibrant community with a spacious community reception hall, a multifunctional service center, and a community canteen where delicious meals are served. By addressing deficiencies in facilities, enhancing community functions, and improving the quality of living, old communities have become new homes for residents in the new era. China is always working to address the needs of the people, from their basic necessities to reform and development, in an attempt to improve their wellbeing and create a better life for them. This fully embodies the people-centered philosophy followed by the country. China has strengthened its efforts in renovating old urban residential communities and ensuring the supply of affordable housing, so as to allow more families to be able to have a decent and secure place to live in. China has raised the thresholds for special additional deductions in personal income tax for taking care of children and the elderly, which benefits 66 million taxpayers. Besides, medicines covered by the medical-insurance system saved over 200 billion yuan for patients nationwide in 2023. Ensuring and improving people's livelihood helps build a better future. In Xicheng village, Lujiang county, Hefei, east China's Anhui province, villager Tao Youbao has installed household photovoltaic equipment on his rooftop, which he calls a "solar bank." According to him, the "solar bank" generates electricity for his family, and the surplus can be sold to the power grid, which earns him a few thousand yuan per year. As of 2023, China's installed capacity of distributed photovoltaic power generated by households exceeded 115 million kilowatts, equivalent to the capacity of approximately five Three Gorges power stations. It is predicted that nearly 27.3 billion square meters of total roof areas covering more than 80 million rural households can be installed with photovoltaic power generation equipment. The widespread adoption of household photovoltaics will not only contribute to rural vitalization, but also play a pivotal role in driving the green transformation of the energy sector. China works to meet people's aspirations for a better life, with an aim to provide them with more stable jobs, higher incomes, better education, and more reliable social security. Regions and departments across China have been making sustained efforts and taking more measures to strive for greater achievements in improving people's wellbeing. By focusing on the concerns of the people and addressing practical issues related to their livelihood, China will steadily enhance its ability to ensure livelihood during its development and continuously improve people's sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Progress made in desertification control along Yellow River Basalt rocks made into national flag carried by Chang'e-6 probe Prospering telemedicine a reflection of China's rapid internet development Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Digital technologies contribute to Great Wall conservation, studies Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 30 Mai 2024 The resources, unique remains, and scenic views along the Tianjin section of the Great Wall were all showcased through dynamic surrounding imagery on five screens, accompanied by professional commentary, creating an immersive experience for the public as if they were "flying over" the Great Wall, Li explained. By Shi Fang, Shi Ziqiang, People's Daily Spanning 15 provinces, the Great Wall is the largest cultural heritage site in China. In recent years, regions across the country have vigorously leveraged digital technologies to advance the protection and studies of the Great Wall, making it accessible for virtual tours. With great care, this unique and precious treasure is being meticulously safeguarded. At the Urban Big Data Application Research Center (UBDARC), Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, there are two computers showing the meteorological and vibration data at eight points along the Great Wall in real time. "Monitoring the deformation and damage of the Great Wall enables timely detection and assessment of the extent of wall damage, providing strong support for protection efforts," said Liu Fei, associate professor at the UBDARC. The monitoring data can also be used to develop preventive measures, Liu added. Over the course of thousands of years, the Great Wall of China has been subjected to various factors such as natural erosion, human activities, and historical changes, resulting in significant damage to many sections. Over the course of thousands of years, natural erosion, human activities and historical changes have resulted in significant damages to many sections of the Great Wall. Some parts are on the verge of collapse, while some have lost a significant portion of their ground structure or foundation. To treat these damages, it is important to identify the causes. Over the past four years, Liu and his team have launched an environmental vibration disaster monitoring project for the Great Wall in Huairou district and Changping district of Beijing. They have also carried out a research-based restoration project along the Dazhuangke section of the Great Wall in Yanqing district, collecting digital information of the section. Additionally, the team utilized drone-based oblique photography technology to capture high-resolution images along a 352-kilometer stretch of the Great Wall in Beijing. These images were used to create orthophotomaps and real scene three-dimensional models, forming a database of the damages in an approximately 100-kilometer section of the Great Wall. By employing deep learning algorithms, the team has developed an intelligent model for identifying damages, which features an accuracy of over 80 percent. "More and more technologies are applied to help the Great Wall 'live longer'," said Liu. According to him, his team is currently working to improve the database, and it is expected that by the end of this year, aerial monitoring and digital 3D modeling of the brick and stone sections of the Great Wall in Beijing will be completed. The utilization of digital technologies strengthens the protection of the Great Wall, shifting the approach from reactive rescue efforts to proactive preventive measures. It has also created more possibilities for visitors to virtually experience the Great Wall through "cloud tourism." The Jinshanling Great Wall, located in Luanping county, Chengde, north China's Hebei province, is a pilot Great Wall national cultural park. Since 2020, the Jinshanling Great Wall has been presenting its apricot blossom festival online, allowing netizens to appreciate the beauty of its sceneries. The hashtag "Virtual Tour of Jinshanling" has attracted over 130 million views annually for four consecutive years, said Guo Zhongxing, director of the Jinshanling Great Wall cultural relics protection center. A national research center for ancient mural and earth site conservation engineering technology has been established in northwest China's Gansu province under the joint efforts of the Dunhuang Academy and other institutes. This center has mastered a series of key technologies for the protection of earthen Great Wall and developed a mature set of protection theories and technical specifications, becoming an important technical support for the preservation of the Great Wall. Since 2015, Gansu province has undertaken and initiated a total of 12 research projects at the provincial level and above in this field. A team led by professor Zhang Yukun from the School of Architecture at Tianjin University initiated a project in late 2018 that involves the use of the latest technology as drones to collect "the most complete possible real-scene three-dimensional images of the Great Wall". During the four-year project, the team collected over 2 million real-scene images and established an three-dimensional database of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. In early 2023, the team organized an exhibition in Tianjin Museum showcasing the digital outcomes of their efforts through immersive multimedia displays, 3D printed objects, and historical scene restoration. "The exhibition aimed to digitally showcase to the public the entire Great Wall in a realistic and immersive way," said Li Zhe, a distinguished research fellow at the school of architecture, Tianjin University. The resources, unique remains, and scenic views along the Tianjin section of the Great Wall were all showcased through dynamic surrounding imagery on five screens, accompanied by professional commentary, creating an immersive experience for the public as if they were "flying over" the Great Wall, Li explained. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Progress made in desertification control along Yellow River Basalt rocks made into national flag carried by Chang'e-6 probe Prospering telemedicine a reflection of China's rapid internet development Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Democrats and their friends on the left are hoping against hope that the Supreme Court rules that Donald J. Trump possesses only limited immunity for his presidential actions and is thus subject to prosecution by the Biden administration as well as local and state prosecutors. As the ancient adage proclaims, be careful what you wish for. Unless the Supreme Court constructs a bulletproof ruling that shields presidents from endless prosecutions for official acts performed while in office, when elected this fall, Donald J. Trump suddenly will have the power to investigate a wide range of controversial and questionable actions taken by Biden and other previous presidents during their time in office. There used to be a constitutional norm that immunized ex-presidents from prosecution by their successors. However, Biden administration agencies, including the DOJ, FBI, and DHS, have decided to ignore this centuries-old constitutional norm and wage widespread and unfettered lawfare against former president Donald J. Trump and his supporters. In doing so, they have fundamentally changed the rules of political engagement in America. On a recent Sunday Futures program hosted by Maria Bartiromo, Eric Trump cautioned that without immunity, former presidents could face endless prosecution. Joe Biden wont have one foot outside the White House doors before they begin to go after him ruthlessly, predicted Eric Trump. President Trumps DOJ could go after Joe Biden for having cocaine in the White House as well as raiding his opponents home. Eric Trump suggested that the DOJ could even investigate Biden for depleting the strategic petroleum reserve two weeks before the primaries in order to boost his standing by lowering gas prices. He speculated that the DOJ could pursue charges against former president Obama for Fast and Furious, where he gives 2,000 weapons to cartel members. He speculated that the Trump administration could even go after George Bush for lying about weapons of mass destruction. Stephen Miller, a former senior adviser in the Trump White House, suggested that if they say theres no immunity for official acts, the moment Joe Biden leaves office, every single red-city and red-state D.A. in the country can charge him for financial crimes related to illegal student loan bailouts ... war crimes related to deaths of service members overseas ... human-trafficking, human-smuggling and, by the way, more election interference than you can even count. The Trump DOJ could certainly investigate the possibility that the Biden administration adopted a soft, accommodative approach to our global foe China to protect and enhance Biden familys financial dealings with that country. The same questions could be raised regarding Bidens overly protective stance on Ukraine. Would anyone be shocked if the Trump DOJ next spring raids the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania, searching for evidence of Bidens self-serving political policies towards these and other countries? Jim Jordans Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government recently issued a report claiming that Alvin Bragg has been under political pressure from the Biden administration to pursue charges against President Trump on the bookkeeping hush money controversy. The report holds Biden culpable for attempting to interfere in the election by keeping his opponent in court. Prominent legal expert Mike Davis, the former chief counsel for nominations for the Senate Judiciary Committee, has repeatedly stated that the Biden White House, as well as the offices of Alvin Bragg, Letitia James, Fani Willis, and the Arizona A.G., are all involved in clearly coordinated lawfare and election interference actions aimed at violating the civil rights of Trump, his aides, and his supporters. By bogging Trump down in court cases, the Biden administration hopes to hamper his ability to campaign effectively. According to Davis, years ago, Barack Obama, while president, put the machinery in place to weaponize the Justice Department and U.S. intelligence agencies against Democrats political adversaries. To get to the bottom of this criminal conspiracy, Davis says, the House should subpoena former prosecutors like Andrew Weissmann as well as Judges Merchan, Engoron, and Chutkan who oversee what many view as biased prosecutions of the former president and 2024 Republican candidate for president. He predicts that soon after President Trump is inaugurated on January 20, 2025, his acting attorney general will open a probe into a criminal conspiracy to interfere in the election. Davis is calling for the most severe legal political and financial consequences for those involved in this blatant election interference. Davis sees Mark Pomerantz, an attorney instrumental in pressuring Bragg to prosecute Trump in the N.Y. case, as the weak link to incriminate others when the Trump DOJ begins its investigations. In his May 2023 congressional testimony, Pomerantz pleaded the Fifth when asked if he broke any laws or violated anyones constitutional rights or New York State Bar rules during the Trump investigation. Davis exhorts House Republicans to grant Pomerantz immunity to speak so he can reveal what he knows about the efforts of the Biden regime and Biden himself to interfere in the 2024 election. Congressman Jim Jordan reiterated on Foxs Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo that Alvin Bragg and Jack Smith are in a conspiracy to impact the 2024 election. And Fani Willis is part of this effort as well. Already, the hunters are becoming the hunted. Due to pressure from the GOP base, Representative Jim Jordans House Weaponization of Government committee is opening an investigation of whether former Biden administration lawyer Matthew Colangelos leading role in the Bragg New York trial is further evidence that Biden is using these trials to interfere in the 2024 election. Also, N.Y. representative Elise Stefanik is demanding that the DOJ investigate various legal chicanery by Jack Smith. Things are already heating up around Smith he stands accused of evidence-tampering in the Mar-a-Lago Presidential Records Act dispute. House speaker Mike Johnson recently stated that the Biden administration is weaponizing our justice system to target President Trump. Its election interference. Its borderline criminal conspiracy. American people see right through it. It has to stop. Now Missouri attorney general Andrew Bailey announced that he plans to use the Freedom of Information Act to pry loose from the DOJ any information related to activity and/or communications between Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith or Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis related to the investigation or prosecution of former president Trump. The investigations and subsequent prosecutions of former President Donald J. Trump appear to have been conducted in coordination with the United States Department of Justice, Bailey states. Baileys Exhibit A is the role former third-highest-ranking DOJ official Matthew Colangelo is now playing in Manhattan D.A. Braggs criminal case, N.Y. v. Trump. Americans understand that the Democrats and their minions in the DOJ, the FBI, the DHS, the IRS, and other alphabet agencies have abused their powers and violated constitutional norms that go back well over 250 years to prosecute Trump, his lawyers and advisers, and even his grassroots followers. The American people are demanding accountability and expecting Trump to finally return American governance back to its constitutional roots. Only by holding accountable those responsible for violating our constitutional norms can we hope to preserve Americas legal traditions. After all, no one is above the law. Sociologist Michael G. Zey, Ph.D. is the author of Ageless Nation, Seizing the Future and The Future Factor; professor, Montclair State University (retired). www.zey.com. twitter.com/futurist3000 Facebook. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Thanks to progressive Democrat control over educational institutions, media, and the administrative state, Democrats are encouraging an environment that is eerily like 1930s Nazi Germany. As in Germany, many institutions of higher education have become Marxist indoctrination centers that work together with Muslims to overthrow the West, destroy Christianity, and slaughter Jews. Currently, Marxists and Muslims are perfectly aligned. They believe in statism and complete obedience to the state, political violence, and murderous hatred for Jews and Christians. To achieve power, they are willing (temporarily) to embrace the leftist obsession with race and homosexuality. This alliance explains why Marxists have substantially increased Muslim immigration into America, spurred on by eight years of Barack Obamas pro-Iranian presidency. American Thinker readers will recall that one of Obamas early acts was his American apology tour. Watching an American President bow before the Saudi Muslim head of state was sickening. Obama, who many believe is Muslim, also swooned over the beauty of the Islamic call to prayer and put Islam, a bit player in America, into a position of preeminence in our history. Image by Andrea Widburg. The Muslim anarchy that is on full display today is Obamas doing. It was part of his plan to destroy Israel, the worlds only Jewish state, with America following as the larger target. The American left is fed and driven by hate. Leftists feed off destruction. To maintain their coalition with Islam, they endorse their age-old hatred of the Jews and jihad to eliminate the Judeo-Christian world. Leftists do this effortlessly because they share Islams beliefs in these matters. Their main contribution to the mutually agreed upon goal is a compliant media skilled at propaganda to move matters forward. In 2024, the Democrats have allowed and encouraged violent, illegal antisemitic protests on college campuses. Theyve done the same with equally illegal protests that block highways leading to airports, stop busy bridge traffic, close major thoroughfares, and break into Congressional hearings (which isnt an insurrection when they do it). Their approved actions ignore the fact that there are limits to free speech when you encroach on public safety or explicitly call for illegal activity. Thats why calls to exterminate Jews cross the line. But still, for months, Democrat institutions made (and many still make) no attempt to discourage the mobs calling for death to Israel and the Jews. In Dearborn, Michigan, Muslim protesters also shouted, Death to America. The war in Gaza was always meant to provide Hamas with a political victory. The American left seeks to justify creating a Palestinian terror state by promoting the Palestinians as victims of a genocidal Israeli government. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a false narrative utilizing the vast network of leftist media to propagandize this falsehood. The media and other leftists have encouraged the campus unrest fueled by fabricated fatality counts and charges of genocide. Time magazines retired Columbia professor Les Roberts is an example of the insanity of accepting information from a terrorist organization as a basis for driving policy. (During World War II, would the Western nations have accepted Nazi propaganda?) In the outlandish The Science Is Clear. Over 30,000 People Have Died in Gaza, Roberts, whose full title is Professor Emeritus at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, wrote: Do the Gaza Ministry of Health numbers combine combatants and civilians? Yes, but this does not imply manipulation. Making the distinction is sometimes not called for and is functionally hard for the health system to do. There is something imperfect in every government measure but that does not mean they should be ignored. Talk about whistling in the wind. In fact, the lack of verification has forced the truth out of both Hamas and the UN. The Foundation for Defense of Democracy now reports that the Gaza (Hamas) Ministry of Health is unable to verify the identities of over 10,000 of the 34,000 claimed dead. This would be laughable if it were not so serious a situation. And heres the final verification of fatality falsehoods: UN Cuts Estimate of Children Killed in Gaza by 50%; Blames Fog of War for Errors. If I had to guess, Id shave off another 20% to get to the real numbers, given Israels obsessive care to protect enemy civilians. There is no genocide going on in Gaza. Whats happening is that Israel is fighting a war against Hamas, a military organization, in accordance with international law governing armed conflict: In fact, both Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Defense Department spokesperson former Admiral John Kirby have gone on record publicly asserting that Israel is not guilty of genocide. Secretary Austin also acknowledged that Hamas is guilty of war crimes. Nevertheless, based on the accepted Hamas lies, its been reported that the U.S. administration has green-lighted arrest warrants for Israeli military leaders, something carried out through the sham International Criminal Court (ICC)followed, of course, by a performative Biden condemnation. The ICCs action legitimizes the civil unrest growing across America, the consequences of which are hard to predict. An already unstable Europe, thanks to allowing infinite legal and illegal Muslim immigration, will continue to see Muslim riots across EU nations. (A recent American Thinker post shared how the European Muslim community is declaring a new Caliphate.) The exceptions are the few EU nations that were wise enough to tell Brussels nein to Muslim immigration. The current internationally orchestrated legal attack on Israel can be directly attributed to the Biden Administration. According to Robert Spencer, the Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, was elected to his position three years ago with American assistance. He immediately cleared two cases against America for war crimes related to Afghanistan and now serves the needs of his American handlers. This is no different than the lawfare directed against President Trump. As proof of the ICCs bias against Israel, the ICC has never green-lighted arrest warrants for Ayatollah Khamenei or other members of Irans regime for funding and directing Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. What about the Hamas war criminals living the good life in Qatar? There will never be a call from the ICC to extradite these criminals. To seal the deal between the progressive Democrats and the Islamic community, our Senate chaplain said a prayer of condolence to the people of Iran when Ebrahim Raii died. Within Iran, Raise was known as The Butcher of Tehran for his role in overseeing the murder of thousands of innocents during his time in power. (link 2a) But Trump is Hitler! Israel is an indispensable ally in the war against Islamic terrorism. Hezbollah, Israels enemy to the north, which constantly fires rockets at Israels civilian populations, is a narco-terrorist organization now aligned with the drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere. Hezbollah presents a direct threat to America. Likewise, our European allies are threatened by a growing Hamas insurgency on the European continent. America and Europe should join with Israel to eliminate these threats. Instead, they attack Israel. Lying is an epidemic even worse than COVID. Our president and his press secretaries seem to lie with every word they say and deny facts that anyone with a pair of eyes can see for himself. Scientists and doctors, formerly among the most trusted members of our society, lie to foster popular environmental theories and get government grants, or to promote Big Pharma and deter people from effective treatments. Our news media no longer report the news; they shape the news as instructed. Here is just a sample of commonly promoted lies starting in 2020. Covid has a 4% death rate. Masks will keep us safe from COVID. COVID vaccines are safe and effective. Oil and natural gas are going to destroy the planet. Electric cars are going to save the environment. Electric cars are safe. Our justice system is fair for all. Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian disinformation. Trump stole classified documents. Boys should compete in girls sports. Men can have babies. Search engines give honest results. Protecting Ukraines borders is in the interest of the United States. Our borders are safe and secure. Israel is guilty of war crimes. Inflation is under control. The 2020 Election was the safest and most secure in history. Lyndsey Stonebridges fascinating article in Time from February of this year cited Hannah Arendt, a German-American historian and philosopher who died in 1975. She lived through the persecution of the Jews starting in the 1930s and often discussed the big lie. She had been interested in how the most outrageous lies get a political hold ever since Nazi lies about the Jews, Communists, and intellectuals drove her from Berlin in 1933 after her arrest by the Gestapo. She wrote her final analysis of the nature of the modern political lying after the publication of the Pentagon Papers revealed the extent to which American lawmakers and bureaucrats had carefully, patiently, painstakingly constructed a fiction about the Vietnam War a fiction fit enough for other peoples children to die in[.] ... Lies like this are grandly shameless, blatantly, and obviously fake. Political lying isnt even lying anymore. We know that you know we are lying, say the politicians, but isnt that part of the thrill? Tell us the world is made up of more than the mundane fact we are forced to live by, reply many, and yes, of course we will believe you. Anything is better than this[.] ... [T]he world is complex, shifting, sometimes random, perplexing and bewildering. Politicians have always known that this means the best stories are likely to be those that make some sense of reality. In other words, we believe the lies, because to disbelieve them, we would have to realize that our entire world is insurmountably corrupt. What makes this scholarly article so much fun is that Stonebridge is decrying the continuing popularity of Donald Trump in 2024. His article starts with [a]s we head into 2024 with Donald Trump as the all but confirmed Republican nominee, any hope that Trump and his rampant lying seemingly about anything and everything might retreat into history has clearly become wishful thinking. Mendacity is back in town. He continues: Trumps outrageous lies are one thing. But what about self-deception? In the realm of politics, Arendt said, perhaps political self-deception is the greatest threat. The self-deceived politician, loses all contact, not only with his audience but with the real world which will catch up with him. In another sobering moment, Arendt reflects that perhaps the person who is most likely to be an an ideal victim of complete manipulation is the President of the United States themselves. Some Presidents might stake their power on outrageous deceits; but is the President who is deceived about his own beliefs necessarily in the strongest position to win the battle for democracy? Stonebridge is blind to the possibility that his own world may be upside-down. What if Trump is telling the truth, the people he supports/worships are lying to him bigly, and the president who is deceived is Biden? Stonebridge has bought the lie that Trump is a self-serving maniac, capable of doing anything. He prefers this to a reality where a cabal of Soros, China, Iran, tech moguls, and Marxists have conspired to take over everything in our world. Their control of the media means they can weave their lies of orange man bad and portray themselves as the only ones who can save you. Review my list of lies above. Note the use of fear COVID, global warming, the Far Right and the word safe. We will keep you safe. Another liberal, Brian Stelter, also bought the lies about Trump, and wrote in November of last year, First, the lies arent really about the lies. As Anne Applebaum, the Pulitzer Prizewinning historian, has observed, sometimes the point isn't to make people believe a lie it's to make people fear the liar. Its to assert power over reality. Second, the point is ... to overwhelm the press and the public with so much misinformation and disinformation that democracy can't function. Trump, despite his frontrunner status, is barely fact-checked anymore. He says so much, so wrongly, that fact-checkers are at a supreme disadvantage just the way his team likes it. Third, lying is contagious. Neuroscientists have studied how peoples brains react when they lie over and over again for personal gain. In short: The more they do it, the easier it gets. The results suggest a slippery slope where small acts of dishonesty escalate into more significant lies, Dr. Tali Sharot has said. Its positively amazing that the authors of these scholarly articles are victims of the very groupthink they decry. Their own leaders lie blatantly because they have no fear. We control everything, they say. Well throw you in jail for any reason we choose. We control your news. What are the current lies? Joe Biden is running for president in 2024. Is there anyone on the planet who thinks Joe is competent to be president of the United States for another four years? When he drops out at the convention for health reasons, he will be canonized for his self-sacrifice and lifelong service to the nation. The new RNC will win the 2024 election by ballot-harvesting and poll-watching. This is the clearest indication that the RINOs remain at the RNC and are part of the cabal. Theyre lying to all of those concerned about election fraud that they will save us. Far Right Groups are disputing recent elections to disrupt 2024. The cabals greatest fear is that their rampant and shameless election cheating wont be enough. Instead, they dishonestly demonize the nationwide movement of election fraud sleuths that has arisen to expose the fraud. The shameless lies of the 2020s are designed to shift your focus to anything but the fact that our elections are rigged from the top down. If you dont believe me, listen to Barack Obama in his speech at Stanford in 2012. Our only hope is to wholeheartedly support efforts to force fair and honest elections through civil rights litigation all the way to the Supreme Court before November. If we dont win this election, we will all be at the mercy of the merciless forever. Image via Raw Pixel. Regarding the issue of deportation, The New York Times published an opinion piece titled 'Trump's Taste for Tyranny Finds a Target,' by Jamelle Bouie. In it Bouie wrote: "Among the worst episodes in American history are those moments when the federal government deploys the full weight of its power against the most vulnerable people in the country: the Trail of Tears and the Fugitive Slave Act in the 19th century and Japanese internment in the middle of the 20th [century] (all implemented or enacted by Democrats). If he is granted a second term in the White House, Donald Trump hopes to add his own entry to this ignominious book of national shame." According to Kelly Lytle Hernandez, deportation (what she calls immigration control) is both unconstitutional and racist: "immigration control is one of the least constitutional and most racist realms of governance in U.S. law and life." Fiona Harrigan, in her Reason article 'Trump's Mass Deportation Plan Is Anti-American,' wrote, "...his most extreme proposal is to carry out 'the largest domestic deportation operation in American history. Trump's mass deportation plan isn't just anti-immigrant. It's anti-American." None of the above authors ever addressed 'the root cause' (as our esteemed Vice-President is wont to say) of this entire issue illegal immigration. As reports Chris Matthews, 'the removal of one million immigrants would cost the federal government between $40 billion and $50 billion over 10 years (according to a Penn Wharton Budget Model -- yep, that's the same Penn that received a $54 million donation from China and the home of the UPenn Biden Center).' Trump estimates the deportation of 15 million to 20 million illegal immigrants, so taking his highest estimate and Matthews' highest estimate (which is certainly suspect), the total cost will be $1 trillion over ten years. However, according to David Zimmermann in a National Review article, illegal immigrants cost the U.S. taxpayers $450 billion each year. A report by the House House Committee on Homeland Security reports that figure. Let's see, $450 billion times ten years is $4.5 trillion. Kinda puts Matthews' estimate in perspective, doesn't it? As Miriam Jordan wrote in her New York Times article '8 Million People Are Working Illegally in the U.S. Here's Why That's Unlikely to Change,' "They make beds in inns across the country. They pick oranges in Florida, strawberries in California and vegetables in Ohio. And they have built new subdivisions in Phoenix, Atlanta and Charlotte. But the economy has grown to rely on them. Employers want cheap labor, benefit tremendously from illegal immigration. Companies that rely upon unskilled labor are primarily food processors, cleaning companies, and agriculture. They always want more laborers because more means less pay." Remember when Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) chimed in, tried to justify illegal immigrants? Pelosi said, "We have a shortage of workers in our country, and you see even in Florida, some of the farmers and the growers saying: 'Why are you shipping these immigrants up north? We need them to pick the crops down here.'" She agreed that U.S. has a responsibility to secure the border, but didn't stop there. She said the U.S. should "recognize the importance of newcomers to our nation." She created a euphemism for illegal immigrants by referring to them as 'newcomers.' She, however, failed to refer to them as 'illegal newcomers.' Not wanting to be outdone, Rep. Jared Nadler (D-NY), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee at a Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement hearing, said, "We need immigrants in this country. Our vegetables would rot in the ground if they weren't being picked by many immigrants -- many illegal immigrants. The fact is the birth rate in this country is way below replacement level which means our population is going to start shrinking." The U.S. receives a million legal immigrants per year, and the vast majority of them enter the labor market competing with Americans for jobs. Why would we want millions of illegal immigrants, most with no job skills? The Department of Labor has said for more than twenty years that America has an ample supply of unskilled labor. What would occur if all illegal immigrants were deported? Dr. Steve Camarota, research director at the Center for Immigration Studies, believes that wages would rise and motivate many chronically unemployed Americans to get back to work. This situation is, in my opinion, the strongest argument for deportation of illegal immigrants. The District of Columbia approved the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act in 2022, which cleared the way for noncitizen residents to vote in local elections (see 1-1001.02. 2(B)) starting in 2024. The House of Representatives passed HR192 that would nullify a law in Washington, D.C. which permitted noncitizens to vote in local elections by 262-143. Fifty-two Democrats joined a solid block of Republicans in passing HR192, which is not expected to be considered in the Senate or get President Biden's signature. "Allowing noncitizens -- including illegal aliens and foreign agents -- to vote in elections dilutes the voting power of the citizen voter." said Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), the bill's sponsor. Voting against Pfluger's bill were 143 Democrats. In effect 143 Democrats voted to let noncitizens vote in a U.S. election. Step One for the Democrats -- noncitizens voting in local elections in D.C. -- was blocked. But, as we well know, they never quit. New York City, San Francisco, and College Park, Maryland, now allow illegal immigrants to vote. More than a dozen California municipalities permit illegal immigrant voting. Chairman of the House Administration Committee Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) said during a hearing, "American elections are for American citizens, and we intend to keep it that way." Democrats on the committee castigated their Republican colleagues for focusing on what they called a 'nonissue,' arguing it was a strategy for Donald Trump to challenge elections this fall. Is this Step Two, Democrats dismissing Republican arguments? Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), at a House Leadership Press Conference, discussed Democrats' ultimate goal. Johnson said, "Many leading Democrats here in Washington want illegal aliens in our country. Why? So they can become voters, and they can affect the outcome of the census in six years to affect reapportionment in Congress. Now, if you want example of that, look at the District of Columbia, that's what Leader Scalise was mentioning. The city council has decided they want noncitizens and foreign actors deciding who will serve as mayor and local attorney general here." Bottom line: Trump is correct. Image: DHS The Washington Post came out with a report the other day by Mary Beth Sheridan, an experienced investigative reporter, about Mexico's notorious cartels shaking down tortilla vendors in that country, forcing many to close shop and head to el norte. It was a good, detailed report, but not entirely new, given the many stories about Mexico's cartels growing ever more powerful by the day in various Mexican sectors -- ports, avocados, highways, maquiladoras, owing to all the billions they draw in from Joe Biden's open border, both through illegal drug sales and human smuggling with all those "crossing fees" they collect from illegal border crossers. I commented on such things here, here, here, here, and here. Buried within the Washington Post's story was one disturbing detail that pretty well discredit's the Biden administration's great gaslight to the public, that their policies aren't enticing more migrants to come here illegally and the border surge is just a matter of global warming, a sudden surge of persecution from democratic elected governments, or some other nonsense. Here's the money quote: The expanding criminal grip on the economy is starting to have a spillover effect at the U.S. border. Detentions of Mexicans at the U.S. border including asylum applicants have tripled since 2019, reaching about 717,000 last year. People leave the country for many reasons, including better-paying jobs. But an increasing percentage of Mexican migrants say they are fleeing violence and extortion. In a poll commissioned last fall by the State Department, and not previously made public, 39 percent of Mexicans surveyed said theyd be willing to migrate irregularly to the United States in the following months a fourfold rise from early 2022. So the number who wish to enter the U.S. illegally has quadrupled, given how easy it is to get here without papers, how big the benefit packages are, and how once in, they will get to stay. The risk of deportation is an increasingly remote prospect given the current policies. This is not to say that these Mexicans do not have good reasons for wanting to get here. Can you imagine having a small tortilla business, which is very labor intensive just to start with (seriously, see how long it takes to make a Mexican-style taco), and being shaken down for all of your meager earnings from your hard work? People "go Galt" for those kind of living conditions and that they want to come here is understandable, even though the open border certainly hasn't spared the U.S. from growing cartel penetration, which is going on now, and is most likely to affect Mexican immigrants first. The U.S. isn't really a refuge the way it was in the past, even if the migrants think it is. I wrote about that here, here, and here. But what this development shows is that Mexico has been turned into a living hell for ordinary Mexicans based on the growing strength of the cartels, whose profits have exploded based on Joe Biden's open border. Just the other day, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was actively denying that the Biden administration's open border policies had anything to do with the surge seen now at the border. According to CBS News: Mayorkas said the accusation that Biden administration policy has encouraged desperate migrants to journey to the U.S. is "false." "The reasons why people leave their countries of origin are those with which we are quite familiar: extraordinary poverty, violence, extreme weather events, corruption, suppression by authoritarian regimes. Those reasons and more," Mayorkas said. He makes no link between the increased cartel violence in Mexico and how the cartels got so powerful so as to be able to enact their violence and render Mexico into a living hell. That's the open border at work, fattening cartels with untold profits, which they are now seeking political power from as a result. That's what cartels do -- Pablo Escobar did that in Colombia in the 1990s, and now these Mexican cartels are seeking to do the same in Mexico and it's getting very violent. Given the importance of Mexico as a trade partner to the U.S., which supplies a lot of our agricultural products seen on grocery store shelves, as well as other products -- electronics, cars, oil drilling equipment, and more, that's pretty disturbing. Now the numbers of Mexicans who want to come here illegally has quadrupled and Mayorkas is claiming it's nothing to do with him. Same old cool, reflexive liar, isn't he? What we can expect from this Biden-created turmoil is yet another wave of illegal immigration from Mexicans themselves, brought on by the previous wave of border surging, like a snake that's eating its tail. It's snowballing. The more the border stays open, the worse it becomes for Mexicans and the more likely that they too will pack up and head for the states as well. That's an evil dynamic, a border crisis that feeds on itself. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Recent publicity has shone a light on the fact that long after the excuse of the pandemic has passed for most of America, federal government workers are still staying home an astonishing percentage of the time. Not only that, they are resisting calls for them to start coming back to work more often. There are at least three ironies embedded in this resistance. First: Do the resisters realize that the nation is being treated to yet another estimate of how much worth versus waste is involved in their work? While there are surely many federal employees who work hard and accomplish worthwhile things, a wide-spread resistance against returning to the office must appear to We the People as if something is possibly amiss in the District. Second: Do the resisters realize they are implicitly revealing a mindset that reverses the constitutionally intended master-servant relationship? We the People are supposed to be the Sovereigns, not the servants. On what basis do the servants get to dictate to the masters the terms of their employment? Third: Probably most important, has anyone paused to consider how much of the resistance may be the direct result of poor examples set by the leaders of the Deep State? After all, Biden campaigned in 2020 largely from his private basement bunker, and throughout his presidency, has spent far more time away from the White House than any of his predecessorshes napped on the Delaware beaches a shocking amount of time. One estimate is that he has been away from Washington for about forty percent of his time in office. His Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg famously abandoned his Cabinet post for months on paternity leave. And his Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin did not consider it important enough to alert Biden hed be in the hospital for an extended period for prostate surgery. Austin showed his staff he considered being AWOL from his post of so little import that he failed to tell not only his commander-in-chief but also key members of his own staff, and he notified the acting Secretary of Defense that he had passed the con to her while she was on vacation in Puerto Rico. It is often said as a general principle that the fish stinks from the head. Here we have a specific instance of the importance of leadership setting properly impactful examplesor not. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. Digital technologies contribute to Great Wall conservation, studies 11:11, May 30, 2024 By Shi Fang, Shi Ziqiang ( People's Daily Spanning 15 provincial-level regions, the Great Wall is China's most colossal cultural heritage structure. In recent years, regions across the country have vigorously leveraged digital technologies to advance the protection and studies of the Great Wall, making it accessible for virtual tours. With great care, this unique and precious treasure is being meticulously safeguarded. At the Research Center for Urban Big Data Applications, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, there are two computers showing the meteorological and vibration data at eight points along the Great Wall in real time. Photo shows the Juyongguan Great Wall in Changping district, Beijing. (People's Daily Online/Yang Dong) "Monitoring the deformation and damage of the Great Wall enables timely detection and assessment of the extent of wall damage, providing strong support for protection efforts," said Liu Fei, associate professor at the research center. The monitoring data can also be used to develop preventive measures, Liu added. Over the course of thousands of years, the Great Wall of China has been subjected to various factors such as natural erosion, human activities, and historical changes, resulting in significant damage to many sections. Over the course of thousands of years, natural erosion, human activities and historical changes have resulted in significant damages to many sections of the Great Wall. Some parts are on the verge of collapse, while some have lost a significant portion of their ground structure or foundation. To treat these damages, it is important to identify the causes. Over the past four years, Liu and his team have launched an environmental vibration disaster monitoring project for the Great Wall in Huairou district and Changping district of Beijing. They have also carried out a research-based restoration project along the Dazhuangke section of the Great Wall in Yanqing district, collecting digital information of the section. Additionally, the team utilized drone-based oblique photography technology to capture high-resolution images along a 352-kilometer stretch of the Great Wall in Beijing. These images were used to create orthophotomaps and real scene three-dimensional models, forming a database of the damages in an approximately 100-kilometer section of the Great Wall. An exhibition on Great Wall studies and their digital achievements is hosted by Tianjin University at the Tianjin Museum, north China's Tianjin municipality. (Photo from the public account of Tianjin Museum on WeChat) By employing deep learning algorithms, the team has developed an intelligent model for identifying damages, which features an accuracy of over 80 percent. "More and more technologies are applied to help the Great Wall 'live longer'," said Liu. According to him, his team is currently working to improve the database, and it is expected that by the end of this year, aerial monitoring and digital 3D modeling of the brick and stone sections of the Great Wall in Beijing will be completed. The utilization of digital technologies strengthens the protection of the Great Wall, shifting the approach from reactive rescue efforts to proactive preventive measures. It has also created more possibilities for visitors to virtually experience the Great Wall through "cloud tourism." The Jinshanling Great Wall, located in Luanping county, Chengde, north China's Hebei province, is a pilot Great Wall national cultural park. Since 2020, the Jinshanling Great Wall has been presenting its apricot blossom festival online, allowing netizens to appreciate the beauty of its sceneries. The hashtag "Virtual Tour of Jinshanling" has attracted over 130 million views annually for four consecutive years, said Guo Zhongxing, director of the Jinshanling Great Wall cultural relics protection center. A national research center for ancient mural and earth site conservation engineering technology has been established in northwest China's Gansu province under the joint efforts of the Dunhuang Academy and other institutes. Photo shows a device that monitors the vibration of the Great Wall developed by a research team from Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. (Photo/Liu Fei) This center has mastered a series of key technologies for the protection of earthen Great Wall and developed a mature set of protection theories and technical specifications, becoming an important technical support for the preservation of the Great Wall. Since 2015, Gansu province has undertaken and initiated a total of 12 research projects at the provincial level and above in this field. A team led by professor Zhang Yukun from the School of Architecture at Tianjin University initiated a project in late 2018 that involves the use of the latest technology as drones to collect "the most complete possible real-scene three-dimensional images of the Great Wall". During the four-year project, the team collected over 2 million real-scene images and established a three-dimensional database of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. In early 2023, the team organized an exhibition in Tianjin Museum showcasing the digital outcomes of their efforts through immersive multimedia displays, 3D printed objects, and historical scene restoration. "The exhibition aimed to digitally showcase to the public the entire Great Wall in a realistic and immersive way," said Li Zhe, a distinguished research fellow at the School of Architecture, Tianjin University. The resources, unique remains, and scenic views along the Tianjin section of the Great Wall were all showcased through dynamic surrounding imagery on five screens, accompanied by professional commentary, creating an immersive experience for the public as if they were "flying over" the Great Wall, Li explained. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Texas State Rep. Shawn Thierry during a campaign event alongside over 50 African American pastors at Sunnyside Park on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Lauren Ashley Simmons, running for the state representative of District 146, speaks to supporters during a campaign event at the Texas State Employees Union Local 6186 on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer One of the common takeaways from Tuesday's primary runoff election is that Democratic state Rep. Shawn Thierry lost her seat because of one legislative vote: supporting a statewide ban on medical treatment for transgender children. When Thierry stood up on the House floor last year and gave a teary-eyed 10-minute speech explaining her decision to support that bill, some actually praised her decision as courageous, particularly for bucking her own party on a highly controversial issue. This board characterized her speech as sincere and principled for wrestling with a highly complex topic. If Thierrys rhetoric on transgender medical care had ended with her speech and roll call vote, perhaps she'd still be on the ballot for the November general election. After all, one of the other Democrats who voted for the bill, state Rep. Harold Dutton, staved off his primary challengers. Voters can have short memories, and Thierry managed to distinguish herself in her four terms no easy task for a Democrat in the GOP-dominated Legislature working with both Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst and Gov. Greg Abbott to extend a task force on maternal mortality. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Instead of leaning on her accomplishments, Thierry made a curious strategic decision for a Democrat in a deep-blue urban district: she leaned into the controversy, drenched it in kerosene and lit it on fire. And it cost her dearly: Thierrys runoff opponent, organizer Lauren Ashley Simmons, trounced her in the low-turnout race by nearly 30 percentage points. For Thierry, who seemed to at least have a basic understanding of the nuance surrounding transgender care in her floor speech, her decision to double down on divisive rhetoric made her unrecognizable to voters who previously supported her. The new Thierry was more openly inflammatory. She equated her vote banning puberty blockers and hormone therapy to stopping Black genocide and compared those treatments to castration. The new Thierry burned bridges. In a contentious primary endorsement screening with the editorial board, she interrupted Simmons after her opponent noted that she earned the support of several of Thierrys House colleagues dismissively referring to those lawmakers as the gay ones. The new Thierry was unaccountable. In that same screening, she dismissed allegations of mistreatment by staff members as retaliatory because she believed they were gay or bisexual and thus, angry about her vote for the trans bill. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Such language is beneath any elected official, regardless of your party or your position on LGBTQ+ issues. For Thierry, who as recently as 2022 earned the endorsement of groups such as the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Texas, it completed a rather stunning heel turn. Anecdotally, her choice of words appeared to mobilize Simmons voters, who knocked on doors with abandon in the southwest parts of her Houston district over the past several weeks. We wonder if Thierry turned off some of her would-be supporters who agree with her position on transgender issues. Even M.D. Morrison Sr., the president of the Ministers Coalition of Harris County and Vicinity, who endorsed Thierry, questioned her genocide reference. He told the Chronicle earlier this month: I dont see anything in the law that would force a certain ethnic group to undergo that type of procedure, and so I cant call it that, he said. Of course, while words certainly matter, money tends to speak loudest in local elections. And when Thierrys small-dollar donors retreated in the primary election cycle, it was hard for some voters to ignore her hearty embrace of wealthy Republican donors who kept her afloat. The Texas Tribune reported in February that more than a third of Thierrys donations came from people and groups who support Republicans. That alone isnt disqualifying certainly there are "maverick" politicians in both parties who attract donors from the opposite aisle but typically those polls have more politically diverse constituencies than Thierry. Chasing GOP dollars in a district that Joe Biden carried by nearly 80 percentage points in 2020 only reinforced the notion that Thierry couldn't be trusted to represent her constituents. That perception was only exacerbated by her decision to not file a campaign finance report in the week before the runoff, which effectively obfuscated her Republican benefactors to voters. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Politicians can get away with a lot in this day and age but divide-and-conquer strategies are risky. Many voters would welcome a thoughtful and deliberate discussion of when, or if, hormone therapy and puberty blockers are medically appropriate for minors. That's not what Thierry delivered. For every new voter she attracted by railing against transgender medical treatment, she likely alienated many more. Thierry's defeat proves that, in an election year fueled by animosity and division, at least a few thousand Houstonians still want the Texas Legislature to be a forum for respectful debate. In the past few days, Israels successful military action in Rafah wiped out members of Hamass senior leadership, revealed a massive network of tunnels leading into Egypt, and allowed Israel to control completely the border between Gaza and Egypt. Those are all Israeli wins, despite it losing a propaganda battle when a Hamas weapons supply exploded, killing several dozen civilians, something Hamas successfully blamed on Israel. But within Rafah, Israel might have won the biggest battle of all for hearts and minds because food prices are dropping. Both the Biden administration and Egypt were absolutely opposed to Israel going into Rafah, the last major Hamas holdout. We can speculate as to the Biden administrations motives, whether affinity for Hamas or Iran or just a desperate need to keep its radical, anti-Israel, antisemitic base happy. However, thanks to Israels success in Rafah, we dont need to speculate about Egypts reasons. It wanted to hide those tunnels, which were (a) embarrassing and (b) profitable. JNS summarizes the tunnel news, along with information about Israels control over the Philadelphi Corridor between Rafah and Egypt: Israeli troops have taken operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor, the 8.7-mile-long border area between Gaza and Egypt, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said on Wednesday evening. Israeli forces have so far uncovered 20 tunnels underneath it, he added. [snip] Hamas exploited the Philadelphi Corridor, using it to build this infrastructure just dozens of meters from the border with Egypt so that we would not strike them, said Hagari. This infrastructure was located between 10 and 40 meters from the border, specifically so that Israel would not strike near the fence with Egypt. I remind you that in recent weeks, Hamas has fired about 70 rockets and mortars from the Rafah area. Hagari described the Philadelphi Corridor as Hamass lifeline, through which the terror group smuggled weapons and supplies into the Gaza Strip. As I said, these discoveries are embarrassing to Egypt because its always made a big deal about its secure border between Gaza and itself, so secure that no Gaza refugees were allowed to cross into Egypt. The discoveries also explain how Turkey was able to treat all those wounded Hamas terrorists. They were almost certainly being smuggled through Egypt as were, Id guess, top Hamas officials and lots of weapons. It turns out that the tunnels were also a source of profit for those controlling them. Because the above-ground border was closed, the below-ground tunnels were the food conduit for the people in Rafah. And with Egypt and Hamas out of the picture, their control over food prices has also ended: Holee scheisse - You won't see this at @CNN GAZA Journalist with balls of steel reports that since the IDF took over the RAFAH crossing prices for food have *plummeted* in markets since Hamas & Egypt are no longer in control or able to extort GAZA civilians. pic.twitter.com/0k4HnrCTZK Ron M. (@Jewtastic) May 27, 2024 This news follows on the heels of the revelation that Israel did not bomb the hell out of refugees in Rafah. Instead, it made a targeted strike at Rafah fighters hiding among civilians. The strike managed to hit a Hamas weapons warehouse that was also hidden among civilians: Massacre hoax The IDF investigation determined: the explosion of a Hamas ammunition depot in Rafah caused the deaths of the civilians The IDF reveals a conversation between two Gazans regarding the attack in Rafah. IDF spokesman Hagari: The point we attacked was a pic.twitter.com/t2ou3kgtId Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) May 28, 2024 It certainly wasnt Israels fault that her enemy decided to situate its own civilians on top of a powder keg. All of this provides further perspective about the fact that Joe Biden is desperate to protect Hamas from losing the war. He is doing everything he can to shelter a genocidal organization that has no problem using its citizens as shields and charging them extortionate food prices to line its own pockets. Image: X screen grab. Are Democrats and their policies always the common denominators between political problems both big and small? Id say so. Take a look at the latest example, out from a Reuters report published on Tuesday: A surge of attacks on ships traveling the waters of the Red Sea is forcing shippers to reroute their vessels, sending them on longer journeys that drive up their carbon dioxide emissions. Since the attacks by Yemens Houthi rebel forces began in the Suez Canal last year, hundreds of ships - powered by heavy fuel oil - have been diverted around the Cape of Good Hope, adding hundreds of kilometers (miles) to each journey. Those extra kilometers (miles) are resulting in higher emissions. The numbers? Well according to Reuters, a 26% increase in emissions, per shipping container, on averageafter analyzing the data, the authors found that each container on the original route would release 1.07 tons of CO2, and the reroute bumped that number to 1.35 tons of CO2. From the article: At this rate, the extra emissions from one ship carrying 10,000 containers on a single rerouted journey would dwarf the Statue of Liberty. Heres where it got even worse: A large container ships journey from Shanghai to Hamburg, for example, emits 38% more CO2, or 4.32 million kilograms, if it goes around Africa instead of through the Suez Canal, according to data pulled for Reuters by LSEG. Now, carbon dioxide emissions are apparently the same thing as carbon dioxideat least thats what the climate scientists making it up as they go allegeso while I certainly dont subscribe to the idea that carbon dioxide is a pollutantmore carbon dioxide means a more verdant and thriving planetthey do, so its an ironic situation. Democrats and their failed policies are both the cause and effect of the negative news story. Were told that carbon emissions are being driven up because ships that would originally use critical waterways in the Red Sea are forced to take much longer routes around the southern tip of Africabecause there are marauding Houthi terrorists on the high seas, and theyre growing in strength. I mean, its not like this is the 18th century anymore, so you might wonder how in the world some ragtag low-IQ Islamists from Yemen (of all regressive places) can even impact global shipping with all its modern technologies and equipment? Well, because theyre well-financed, well-armed, and up-to-date on intelligencethanks to the patronage of the Iranian regime. But then one has to wonder why the Iranian regime has anything to give? Oh thats right, Joe Biden and his band of incompetents and saboteurs removed the economic sanctions imposed on the regime by President Trump and crippled American oil productionnaturally Iran filled the vacuum. And, before Trumps presidency, there Biden and his cronies were again, sending pallets of cash to the terrorist financiers and giving them nuclear capabilities! Oh the joys of living in the land of the corrupt and stupid. Image from X. The kangaroos are dancing. The Lincoln Project is celebrating. Joe Biden just put out a fundraising ad saying "let's finish the job." Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box. Donate to our campaign today: https://t.co/aJXS9oti0a Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 30, 2024 President Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of .. something, a bookkeeping issue turned into a felony, with whatever the underlying crimes the jury picked (Trump wasn't told) for a conviction, quite contrary to the Supreme Court's 1999 Richardson ruling, that the jury must be unanimous as to the underlying crime. Justice Juan Merchan said otherwise and that was what the jury was told. So now the left is happy, dancing, Joe Biden trying to make money off it, and Merchan, who presided over this kangaroo court in New York, setting the sentencing for Trump to July 11, just before the GOP convention. Maybe his Democrat political operative daughter recommended that one. The justice, who bitterly complained about not being able to send one of President Trump's executives to prison for a longer sentence than he did, again, over a bookkeeping issue, is sure to send President Trump to Riker's Island, making himself a hero to the left, which will no doubt ensure that he gets richer. Which seems about par, given the dishonesty of this entire case, one that makes the U.S. a global laughingstock on the world stage and will undoubtedly empower dictators to do the same to their political opponents. So much was utterly wrong with this case. As AT's Andrea Widburg has noted upon the news: The case violated virtually every aspect of the Sixth Amendment. The top New York court or the United States Supreme Court had better step in or this will not go well for America. ...and... The case is void ab initio -- Trump was not "informed of the nature and cause of the accusation" nor was he allowed to have an important witness in his favor, when the judge shut down testimony from someone who could have explained the campaign finance law. Not only did Merchan shut that down, he still let the prosecution make the campaign finance argument. Presumably, the conviction will be overturned on appeal, but Supreme Court justices have been subject to unprecedented attacks from the left in these past weeks, making it possible that some (not the strictest constitutionalists being attacked, but the soggy middle ones) may be intimidated to go along with Merchan instead and too bad about what the voters want. They have displayed a lot of cowardice already. But I don't want to get excessively pessimistic. There were other problems, too, with this case -- Trump was tried by a jury not of his peers but of his political enemies, all Democrats, one a teachers union member, none sequestered, all voting against Trump on election day. Worse still, Trump was tried by a judge with profound conflicts of interest, his daughter a Democrat political operative, himself a Biden donor, giving an illegal donation for which he was only "cautioned" by the New York bar authorities instead of disqualified. Worse still is the oddity of his trying multiple Trump allies in the past, always handing out the maximum sentence he could get away with. That's too much coincidence. But this garbage court case is unlikely to affect the election, as a Fox News poll out today by Fox suggests: A new national poll is the latest to indicate that regardless of whether former President Trump is found guilty or acquitted in his criminal trial, the verdict will not have a large impact on voters' perceptions in his 2024 election rematch with President Biden. Two-thirds of registered voters nationwide questioned in a NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist National Poll released on Thursday said a guilty verdict in the trial would make no difference to their vote in the presidential election. Seventeen percent said a conviction of Trump would make them less likely to vote for him and 15% said they'd be more inclined to support the former president at the ballot box. If Trump is acquitted, three-quarters of those surveyed said it wouldn't impact their vote. Fourteen percent said a not guilty verdict would make them more likely to back Trump, and 9% said they'd be less likely to vote for the former president. All it does it show us how vile and evil the left is, with absolutely no scruples of any kind as they seek to re-elect floundering Joe Biden and better still, knock Trump from the race by any means necessary. It's banana republic stuff and a sign of just how corrupted our court system has gotten. The only way out now is to re-elect President Trump. The campaign lines are now reportedly jammed with donors. Image: Picryl, via Gary Stockbridge // public domain The latest report issued by Trustees of the Social Security Trust Funds has come and gone, leaving a trail of good news in its wake. This is great for politicians running for office, and less so for the guy on the street. Given that voters are the ones who will suffer the consequences of procrastination, it is pretty important that everyone understands the conflicting narratives that come with the release of the latest forecast because it will last through the coming election and into next year. Social Security has two legally distinct trust funds serving two legally distinct programs: Old-Age/Survivors and Disability. While current law does not provide for the consolidation of these programs, the Trustees provide information for each report, and in combined form. So, there are actually three different versions of the report, giving pundits a lot of options to present. Understandably, experts pick and choose the information that fits their narrative without disclosing all the assumptions factored into their opinion. As a result, one person will hear at times that the program will inflict across the board cuts of 21 percent in 2033 while in other places experts will say that no matter what you will get 83 percent of your scheduled benefits starting in 2035. Given the importance of the program to average Americans, it is important for voters to ask why is there such a large gap in the numbers? The exhaustion date of 2033 refers to the Old-Age Survivors program, which serves about 80 percent of those collecting benefits from the overall system. When pundits cite the 2035 date, it incorporates a prediction that Congress will take resources away from the Disability program to cover the gaps in the Old-Age/Survivors program. When I write, my columns stick to current law. As a libertarian, I tend to doubt the overall effectiveness of politics. In this case, the premise that Social Security checks continue in full throughout 2033 and into 2035 is based on the idea that lawmakers will raid the Disability fund to subsidize the retirees. In my mind, that possibility has zero chance of materializing because Congress will have to convince Disability beneficiaries to accept 75 years of partial benefits so that seniors can collect full checks for an extra year. These trade-offs have never been this large, and now seem to the untrained eye entirely implausible. Of course, if this change will be easy for Congress to resolve in the 2030s, just show me and do it now. The other mistake that analysts tend to make is blind faith in the accuracy of these reports. Every conclusion in the Trustees Report is more of a coin-flip and less of a certainty. As you think about the importance of this program in your life and that of your loved ones, realize that the likelihood that program will pay scheduled benefits in 2033 is about 50 percent. For the average voter who turns 80 years old today, it is a coin flip that they will be alive in 2033, and a coin flip that they will have a lifeline. Believe it or not, it is about a coin flip that this person will collect 90 percent of their income from these checks. No one is saying that Social Security will go away entirely, but it is irresponsible to suggest that you will receive an across-the-board cut of 17 percent to 21 percent at some specific point in time. The key fact to consider is no one has any idea of how the program would distribute a system-wide reduction of benefits to the individual beneficiary. Moreover, these figures represent the overall reduction in the first year, where the second year of retirement is still up in the air. The Trustees assume that the economy will continue to grow at a 2.4 percent rate in 2035, whether seniors get full checks or partial checks. In this environment, it is fairly irresponsible to suggest that you will get 83 percent of your benefits in 2035. That assessment means that the economy will continue to churn out jobs and pay increases, whether the program is solvent or not, and whether Congress acts or not. Politics is the art of making the act of idle neglect take on the image of grueling hard work. The latest report serves politicians of the day because the numbers provide ammo to all sides of the debate, virtually ensuring at least another year of inaction. When people talk about the measure of good news, they mean that Congress has another year to think about the programs financial stability. That is great for Washington. It is terrible for everyone else. Brenton Smith (think@heartland.org) is a policy advisor with The Heartland Institute. Image: 401K 2012 via Flickr (Image source from: Etvbharat.com) Telangana Phone Tapping case takes new Turns:- On the day the Congress party emerged victorious in the Assembly elections, December 4, 2023, a curious incident occurred within the premises of the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB). From 7:30 pm to 8:15 pm, the CCTV cameras were mysteriously turned off. During this 45-minute window, the then Deputy Superintendent of Police, D. Praneeth Rao, confessed that around 50 hard drives from the computer systems and servers used for phone tapping were swapped with new ones, and the removed drives were subsequently destroyed. Rao also admitted that the cash seized from Opposition leaders was falsely labeled as 'hawala' money, a tactic employed to avoid criticism from the Election Commission and political parties. He further revealed that he had received directives from IGP Prabhakar Rao and retired Additional SP Venugopal Rao to profile and monitor specific targets. These surveillance activities were halted on November 30, 2023, upon the completion of the Assembly elections. After the exit polls were released, the SIB chief instructed Rao and his team to eliminate all documentary and electronic evidence. The laptops we used were essential tools for our covert and unauthorized activities. On December 4, 2023, after the Congress party's electoral victory, Prabhakar Rao, the head of our operations, resigned from his position. Before departing, he instructed us to erase all traces of political profiles and the hard drives of the systems used for monitoring purposes. In compliance with his orders, I arranged for the destruction of approximately 50 hard drives, documents, and clandestine profile data. This was achieved by coordinating with Anil Kumar, an RSI employee, to temporarily disable the CCTV cameras in the SIB premises. Initially, Anil Kumar was reluctant to switch off the cameras, but after I informed the SIB chief, he was summoned and directed to follow my instructions. On my orders, Anil Kumar turned off the CCTV cameras from 7:30 pm to 8:15 pm on December 4, 2023. During this time, Srinivas, Ananth, and other individuals from Convergence Innovation Labs in Hyderabad were called to the office and entrusted with the servers and hand disks. Additionally, Harikrishna, an RSI employee, removed the hard drives from our 17 systems, laptops, and other servers. Superintendent of Police K Krishna destroyed the electronic devices using an electric cutter. Praneeth was dismissed from SIP on 13 December 2023 and transferred to DCRP in Rajanna Sirchilla district. He was suspended on March 4, 2024 for illegal actions such as deleting profiles and hard drives and disabling surveillance cameras. If the police and middlemen follow me, I can show the SIB office the computer systems in which I changed the hard drives. I formatted my personal electronic devices like phones and laptops and threw away the USB drives to erase the traces of the crime, Jubilee Hills ACP P Venkatagiri Rao confessed in a statement to Pranitha Rao, who handed over three mobile phones and a laptop . It appears that Apple TV Plus could be coming to Android devices soon. Bloomberg reports that the tech giant is seeking an Android engineer who will help bring the TV app to Android. According to a job listing by Apple on May 25, the company is looking for a software engineer experienced in programming languages like Java and KotlinGoogles recommended language for Android development. Bringing Apple TV Plus to Android is a rare move by Apple Apple is not a company that is known for supporting its rival platforms. This is a company that intentionally refused to release iMessage for Android because it could lead to a decline in iPhone sales. Apples job listing indicates that it is deviating from its norms to bring the Apple TV Plus service to Android users. However, this is not the first time Apple has brought its services to rival platforms. The company has released Apple Music for Windows devices and Android. It even partnered with Google in 2023 to fight location stalking with AirTags. Apples services have grown significantly since Tim Cook took over in August 2011. In the second quarter of 2024 alone, it generated a total revenue of over $22 billion. Apple is trying to cater to potential customers Apple TV Plus is available on Roku, smart TVs, Chromecast , and other non-Apple devices. The service has around 25 million paid subscribers. As the service continues to grow, the company will have to cater to different kinds of customers. This includes potential customers who might not be in the Apple ecosystem but still want to enjoy everything that Apple TV Plus offers. Phones have gotten better over the years and each year, people find fewer reasons to upgrade their current devices. Companies like Apple whose major sources of income are from hardware sales, are turning to online services and subscriptions to maintain growth. It seems that Google is already working on bringing Gemini Nano to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a as well. However, enjoying its capabilities would not be as easy as on the Pixel 8 Pro. Currently, Gemini Nano is integrated into the Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24 series to power multiple AI-based features. Gemini Nano is the lite version of Googles family of AI models. Nano is intended for on-device AI processing on mobile devices. This enables AI-powered features locally, without going through the cloud. A few weeks ago, Google decided that Nano would be exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro, leaving the Pixel 8 out. This decision upset many owners of the vanilla model that uses the same Tensor G3 chipset. Gemini Nano would hide behind developer options on the Pixel 8 and 8a After numerous complaints, Google changed its mind and announced that it would bring the Gemini Nano model to the Pixel 8 as well. Now, new findings suggest the company is working on it. Not only to bring Nano to the vanilla Pixel 8 but also to its latest mid-ranger, the Pixel 8a. But, unlike the Pixel 8 or the Galaxy S24 series, the AI model would not be enabled by default. Instead, you would have to enable it in the developer options. The Android Authority team managed to activate a couple of toggles after an APK teardown to the AICore app. The toggles are Enable AICore Persistent and Enable on-device GenAI features. Both are available from Settings > Developer Options > AICore Settings. According to the report, both are expected to be disabled by default on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a. Activating the developer options on Android is not particularly difficult. You just have to tap seven times on Build number from your device settings. However, it is not something that the vast majority of people usually do. If Gemini Nano is really hidden behind this menu on the Pixel 8 and 8a, many may not even know about its existence. The toggle would also reach the Pixel 8 Pro for more control options If the rumor is true, Googles decision would clash a bit with its current strategy. The company seeks to ensure that the majority of people can access AI-powered tools. So, it wouldnt make sense to hide access to Gemini Nano. A possible reason would be unstable performance due to hardware limitations, something they said when they announced that the Pixel 8 would not get Nano. Its noteworthy that the Pixel 8 Pro has 12GB of RAM, while the Pixel 8 and 8a have 8GB. On the bright side, the new toggle would also allow more freedom of action for users over AI processing on their devices. After all, the toggle would also come to the Pixel 8 Pro, which would allow you to disable Gemini Nano if you wish. That said, this could possibly result in the loss of some features. Also in slower processing for others by always having to resort to the cloud. Google will soon unlock the ability to resize Android live captions. The search giant is adding a new feature called Grab bar, which will let users control the number of lines of text in Live Captions. What is Grab Bar and how will it allow users to resize Android live captions? Live Captions is one of the best Accessibility features of the Android OS. As the name implies, the feature automatically generates captions, in real-time. Live Captions can transcribe any speech inside any audio the Android OS detects. Simply put, the feature is similar to the auto-generated subtitles available on YouTube. While Live Captions is primarily intended for people with hearing issues, it can be useful for all Android device users. The auto-generated Live Captions can help users understand whats being said while keeping the volume low. Any Android device that supports Live Captions, shows the captions in a floating box. Currently, users cannot resize this floating box, which means they cannot vary the number of lines of text. Google's Live Captions feature will soon add a grab bar that you can drag to quickly resize the window. This will let you increase the number of caption lines that are shown. More detailshttps://t.co/rqTmmVdmfU Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) May 29, 2024 At this years Google I/O, the search giant discussed several new accessibility features that would gradually roll out to Android. One of these features is called the Grab bar. The new grab bar will allow users to easily change the number of lines shown for captions, Google has indicated. The as-yet-unreleased feature would have a system-wide impact. Live Captions is already available across the Android OS on all supporting devices. By extension, the Grab bar will also be accessible across multimedia apps. When will Google release the new Accessibility features for Android? Depending on the size of the text, Live Captions can currently show two or three lines. Reducing the size of the text allows users to cram in more auto-generated captions. The new Grab bar feature could allow users to show several more lines of text. Users need not activate caption preferences in settings and override the text size to a smaller value just to get more lines of text. Besides the Grab bar feature, Live Captions could reportedly get multiple new features. Theres a toggle for showing emoji icons, emphasizing emotional intensity, including emotional tags, and showing the word duration effect. Google had recently indicated several new Accessibility features would start rolling out this month. However, the company appears to be taking it slow. TSMCs 2nm process development may be back on track. A company executive recently said it is confident of beginning 2nm mass production in the originally planned schedule of 2025. A report last month suggested the Taiwanese firm is facing technical issues that may delay its 2nm chip launch to 2026. Samsung, meanwhile, aims to advance its 1nm mass production from 2027 to 2026. TSMC on track to launch 2nm chips in 2025 TSMC and Samsung, the worlds top two largest semiconductor foundries, began 3nm mass production in 2022. Both firms are now looking to jump to 2nm solutions in 2025. However, a tipster claimed last month that the Taiwanese firm is in no position to begin production on its 2nm process node next year. Its production schedule was allegedly pushed back to the second half of 2026. However, TSMCs vice president of process development, Zhang Xiaogang, recently refuted these reports. Speaking at a forum last week, Zhang said that the development of the 2nm process is progressing smoothly. The executive added that mass production should be possible around 2025 as planned. This likely means it wasnt a major setback if there was any. The previous report suggested that TSMC is struggling to achieve the desired technological efficacy with the GAA (Gate All Around) transistor architecture. The company employed the FinFET architecture in its 3nm chips, so it is new to this technology (Samsung jumped to the GAA architecture with its 3nm solutions). The new tech improves the power efficiency of the chip while reducing its footprint. It appears TSMC has solved the problem. According to Zhang, its current 2nm yield ratio (the percentage of usable chips produced from a wafer) is 90% of the target. While it hasnt hit the yield target, it isnt too far off. The company shouldnt have difficulties starting 2nm mass production next year. Apples A19 Pro for the iPhone 17 series should be the first chip manufactured on its 2nm process. Samsung aims for 1nm mass production in 2026 TSMC last month announced that it plans to begin mass production on its 1.6nm process node in 2026. Samsung, which has yet to launch its first 3nm mobile processor, may be looking to trump it by introducing 1nm chips that year. The Korean firm originally aimed to start 1nm mass production in 2027 but is now targeting a 2026 schedule. It will announce its plans and unveil a semiconductor roadmap at its upcoming annual SAFE Forum in Silicon Valley, USA. The event takes place from June 12-13. Though House Speaker Dade Phelan survived a close runoff, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and Gov. Greg Abbott have held up the record number of 2024 primary losses for incumbents in the Texas House as signs of their strength. Eric Gay/AP Last weekends raucous Texas GOP convention and Tuesday nights runoff results bring to mind a couple of predictions we heard a decade into the 21st century. One came from a respected Houston-based political pollster who predicted that Texas, in large part due to our growing Hispanic population, would be a vivid shade of purple, trending blue, by 2016. The other prediction came from the then-mayor of a big city, a Democrat, who at the time promised that the right-wing extremists running the Lone Star State would continue scurrying so far to the fringe that they would eventually tumble off the edge of the political table. A dozen years or so later, its becoming clear that the pollster didnt anticipate Hispanic voters in Texas drifting rightward, gradually becoming as difficult to categorize as Italian American voters or Irish American voters or German American voters. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The big-city mayor perhaps couldnt imagine voters continuing to support a governor wasting billions on a border law enforcement boondoggle; a corrupt and vengeful attorney general wasting taxpayer money on frivolous partisan lawsuits, including one against a modern-day Catholic saint trying to ease the suffering of migrants on the border; or a lieutenant governor who, along with the governor, is determined to put the Texas public school system on a path that could lead to its collapse. That table the prophetic mayor envisioned is apparently fit for the enormous mead hall in Beowulf. In other words, its long. The uber-right running the state, including Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, got most of what they wanted Tuesday night, although the latter two just missed bringing down a Republican speaker of the House who dared defy them. In all, 15 House incumbents lost races in the March primary or the runoff. The governor crowed that the House now has enough votes to pass school choice, his amorphous euphemism for allowing some Texans to pay private school tuition with our public tax dollars also known as vouchers. The governor may finally have enough House votes to deliver a victory to his Christian nationalist puppeteers, a trio of West Texas oil billionaires determined to decimate public schools through a voucher scheme. Abbott and friends also including a billionaire from Pennsylvania named Jeffrey Yass who shoveled nearly $12 million into the governors campaign coffers and a pro-voucher political action committee is poised to overcome long-standing opposition from Democrats and rural Republicans determined to save public schools. Those schools are now in desperate straits because Abbott used their fiscal health as a bargaining ploy during several special legislative sessions last year. (But hey, crusaders Tim Dunn and the Wilks brothers, the oil and gas billionaires, are happy.) House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Republican conservative from Beaumont, survived a massive effort from the far right to defeat him by a margin of some 400 votes. That effort included former President Donald Trumps endorsement for the challenger, David Covey, a 34-year-old first-time candidate who called Phelan an Austin swamp creature. Phelan earned the ire of the far right, not because of his position on vouchers he supported a more modest version than Abbott wanted but because he helped orchestrate the impeachment of the most corrupt attorney general in the nation, Paxton. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As the mild-mannered speaker declared victory before a gleeful crowd of supporters in Beaumont, Paxton released a statement blaming the election result on Democratic voters who crossed over. He didnt mention that Phelan also had the support of former Gov. Rick Perry, former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, two former Texas House speakers, Joe Straus and Dennis Bonnen, and a number of more traditional business-minded Republicans. If Phelan manages to retain enough votes from House colleagues to keep the speakership, old guard Republicans may still be able to apply the brakes on a political agenda careening to the extreme right. Depending on how much Phelan relies on the opposing party to retain power, its even possible that Democrats will increase their leverage in the House. The vengeful AG is doing his best to block this outcome by lobbing threats: My message to Austin is clear: to those considering supporting Dade Phelan as speaker in 2025, ask your 15 colleagues who lost reelection how they feel about their decision now. You will not return if you vote for Dade Phelan again. Paxton, blessed with a roach-like ability to survive every calamity, personal as well as political, no doubt knows his people. Theyre the gang who gathered in San Antonio last weekend for the GOPs 2024 state convention. Theyre the folks who, in the words of longtime conspiracy theorist Steven Hotze of Houston, are eager to wage war against demonic, satanic forces on the left. People that arent in Christ have wicked, evil hearts, he told the Texas Tribune. We are in a battle, and you have to take a side. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, state Sen. Angela Paxton, a McKinney Republican whos also married to Ken, told the Tribune. It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Leading the battle against the spiritual forces of evil will be a new party chair, Abraham George, the hand-picked choice of the Dunn and Wilks faction. The party of George voted for a platform that called for new laws to require the Bible to be taught in public schools and run-on proclamations that abortion is not healthcare it is homicide. The proposed platform also called for a reversal of recent name changes to military bases in order to publicly honor the southern heroes, as well as support for declaring silver and gold legal tender. George, a former Collin County GOP chair, urged his party to wage war against Democrats, radicals and RINO Republicans who oppose everything we stand for. Meanwhile, at least one other Republican incumbent escaped the pitchfork forces arrayed against him. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio, whose vast border district includes Uvalde, earned the ire of the far right by supporting tighter gun-buyer background checks in the wake of the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde two years ago. His party censured him last year for showing a lack of fidelity to Republican principles and priorities. His opponent was 28-year-old Brandon Herrera, a political novice who works as a gun manufacturer and YouTube personality known as the AK Guy. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, the mouthy far-right Floridian gadfly, endorsed Herrera, but Gonzales squeaked to victory in the runoff and will likely cruise to victory over a little-known Democrat in the fall. The low turnout in Tuesdays runoff election is a reminder that only a tiny fraction of Texas voters are responsible for the soap-opera Sturm und Drang thats roiling the Republican Party of Texas these days. Theyre small in number, to be sure, but as long as sensible Texans ignore their antics, theyll continue to be tremendously influential. Yes, indeed, the table is long. Only voters can determine if were near the edge. The Google Play Store is getting a new feature that lets you ask your friends to make payments for your Google Play purchases. Although you could pay for in-app purchases or services in the Play Store, there wasnt any feature that let users seek payment help from others. Earlier, you could pay for Google Play purchases using debit cards, credit cards, and other multiple payment options. However, the latest feature will allow seeking payment help, just in case theres any problem making payment in the Play Store. A new Google Play Store feature lets you seek payment help from your friends While this years Google I/O was centered around Gemini and AI, the company made some feature announcements around its apps and services including Google Play Store. And, now it seems we are starting to see those features rolling out. Android Authority reports that now youll see an Ask someone else to pay button on the Play Stores payment page. By the name itself, one can tell what this feature is intended to do. Not to forget, the Ask someone else to pay option is only available if you are purchasing a service or in-app item from an app that uses Google Play Billing, with the condition that the app developer has integrated it with version six or newer Play Billing Librarys version. After all this, you must be wondering how the Ask someone else to pay feature works, right? Heres how to use the Ask someone else to pay feature Well, when you select the new option, the Google Play Store will display another button called Share payment link. Once you click on that button, the Play Store will generate a shareable payment link. Lets say you want to ask your friend to help with your Google Play purchases. All you need is to copy the generated payment link and send it to your friend. On the other hand, the payment link recipient has to click on the shared link. And, make the payment for you, its that simple. Having that said, the latest feature is only available in India as of now. Theres no word on whether Google is planning to extend this feature to other regions. But one thing is certain, the new feature could increase Play Stores purchases down the line. Moreover, it will cater to Google Play users dependent on their parents or family. Just like humans, animals have ways of showing each other when they are annoyed by each other. Take these two giraffes at the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend, Indiana for instance. They have a pretty interesting way of letting one another know when they're doing something weird! The zoo shared the video on Wednesday, May 29th. It shows two male giraffes in their enclosure. One of them is sticking his neck through the bars to get to some tall grass on the other side. The other giraffe thinks what he is doing is weird and whacks him to let him know it! Potawatomi Zoo explains what's really going on in the video's caption. "Giraffes sometimes spar by swinging their neck and head at their "opponent." It's a way male giraffes can test or establish dominance without fighting." Pretty interesting! Commenters thought the whole scene was cute more than anything. @hungry_homebody pointed out, "The little half-hearted bonks!!" @Linds made me laugh with, "Giraffes are just so sassy for no reason. Like you upset me? Smack you with my head. You disrespectfully slighted me? Head smack to the butt. Giraffes have the most aggressive sibling rivalries." and I agree with @Maid who said, "It looks like the giraffe equivalent of smacking someone on the shoulder LOL!" Related: Older Giraffes Kind Gesture Toward Baby Giraffe Is Melting Hearts Interesting Giraffe Facts Giraffes actually fight using this same technique to establish dominance during mating season. Raw Tribe explains more about this neck-to-neck combat, "Giraffe fights involve a unique behavior called necking. This term refers to the act of two male giraffes engaging in a ritualized combat where they use their long necks as formidable weapons. Standing parallel to each other, the giraffes swing their heads and necks forcefully in an attempt to strike their opponent. They deliver powerful blows by using their necks as a pendulum, aiming to land blows on the body or head of their rival." While it may look like they're trying to hurt each other, it's actually not usually intended to cause harm; instead, it's to establish dominance and hierarchy within the group. Did you know that giraffes don't need much sleep? They only sleep about 4-1/2 hours a day in 30-minute cycles. Baby giraffes sleep a bit more and depend on their mothers for protection, explaining why their mothers don't sleep much and stay on the lookout for predators such as lions, hyenas, and leopards. Babies depend on mom for the first two years of their lives, at which point male giraffes will head out on their own and also begin using those fighting techniques for real instead of just for practice. Giraffes are such cool, docile animals! I love learning these interesting facts about them and appreciate when zoos share these facts to help educate the public and make us want to work to protect these endangered animals. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Watch: Benedict Cumberbatch discusses his experience making Eric Eric is quite the emotional series to watch but it also proved a moving show to film as well as Benedict Cumberbatch tells Yahoo UK that he was brought to tears by one emotionally-charged scene. The Netflix show sees Cumberbatch play Vincent, a puppeteer whose life is turned upside down when his son Edgar (Ivan Morris Howe) goes missing. He and wife Cassie (Gaby Hoffmann) find themselves and their relationship pushed to the brink because of the experience, with Vincent's struggle to cope resulting in him starting to see his son's 7-foot puppet creation Eric. Eric, in a way, is an extension of Vincent's psyche and as his mental health and substance abuse worsens he isolates himself more and more, coming to believe that the only way to bring Edgar back is to bring Eric to life. One scene in the series sees Cumberbatch don the Eric suit himself, a symbolic moment where he accepts the darker side of his psyche and reaches out to his son in the hope that it'll make him return home. "It read on the page as a challenge, as something extraordinary that I've never seen or read before as a way to examine a character going through what Vincent goes through," the actor says. Eric stars Benedict Cumberbatch as puppeteer Vincent, who starts to see and hear a puppet named Eric after his son goes missing. (Netflix) "And in the playing it was just a joy, a lot of humour, a lot of lightness as well as the dark, whether it was the technical aspect of what Ollie was having to cope with inside that suit with his vision mask that shows two or three points of view of the actual scene he's not seeing as we're seeing, he will see as the camera sees. "People [ask] what moved you most about the job, but actually putting that [suit] on in one of the last days filming in New York and just I cried afterwards. I put my arm around [the puppeteer] afterwards saying I can't believe this is how you've done what you've done, it's truly extraordinary." The actor also voices Eric in the series, a part he says was "very different" to his previous voice-acting role as Smaug in The Hobbit movies: "This is an extension of the same person, this is a psychic split and Eid, a Devil. It's very unusual to get to play against the version of yourself, albeit a 7-foot tall, walk around white, purple and blue puppet monster. "So it was also the opportunity to work with an amazing puppeteer, that whole world is just absolutely captivating, always has been since I was very young. And now, as a father watching my children get utterly and all of us, the child in all of us get utterly bewitched by this animation of the inanimate. In Eric, there is a scene in which Benedict Cumberbatch dons the monster's suit in a symbolic gesture of accepting the darker side of his psyche and the moment brought the actor to tears. (Netflix) "The voicing, within the limits of that, he's analogue, he's still part of Vincent. He isn't an extraordinary thing with visual effects, he's not a 400 year old fire-breathing serpent of Hobbit fame. He's something that we recognise from the worlds of the Henson puppets that we've grown up with, so it was important to authenticate him." Cumberbatch explains that he was keen to distinguish Eric's voice from Vincent, making him "gruffer" and more "rough around the edges" in a way that would embody "the humour, the ribaldry, the advice, the terrorising, the nannying" that he brings. "I tried, it's hard when you're going low, you know, to get all that expression in, and that was a struggle sometimes, but it was a fun one," the Sherlock star adds. It's not just Vincent who struggles with Edgar's disappearance, his wife Cassie also finds herself torn apart by it. The character's arc is brought to life with aching realism by Hoffmann, who shares how much she appreciated the way Cassie's pain was approached. Eric 'read on the page as a challenge, as something extraordinary that I've never seen or read before as a way to examine a character going through what Vincent goes through,' Benedict Cumberbatch said. (Netflix) (Ludovic Robert/Netflix) The actor explains: "I thought it was really beautifully and brilliantly drawn and there was so much to tap into and explore there. And as a mother myself who has found that life just gets more expansive and more beautiful, and more illuminated by the experience of being a parent, I was thrilled to find a character that was written that was giving me a chance to further explore all of that." Created by Abi Morgan, Eric is influenced by the writer's own experiences growing up in the '80s in New York, and other cities. "I'd spent time looking after a child in living in New York in the mid 80s and I'd sort of seen the city from their perspective, and I suddenly thought I really want to go back into that city and back into that time again because there's a kind of near history to it," Morgan says of coming up with Eric. "It feels like this other time, this place that was vivid and exciting, amazing music, amazing culture. But also we knew it was the time of the Aids epidemic, and so much vilification of that community, and stories of institutional racism and homophobia, and the gentrification just came out of that." Vincent's wife Cassie also finds herself torn apart by Edgar's disappearance, and actor Gaby Hoffmann describes her character's arc as 'really beautifully and brilliantly drawn'. (Netflix) These social issues are tackled in Eric because Morgan felt "it was kind of impossible to avoid those" matters when writing a story set in New York City. "Suddenly they became an engine," the writer adds. "And a real kind of vehicle for change within the show itself, and so that was kind of the starting point." The part of the narrative that examines institutional racism and homophobia revolves around Ledroit (McKinley Belcher III), the detective who is put on the case to find Edgar. Ledroit, who is still haunted by a previous missing child case, keeps his personal life a secret from his co-workers on the force, who often use homophobic language in their day-to-day lives and who constantly tell the detective he should find a woman to settle down with. Belcher III says he "fell in love with [Ledroit's] heart first" and the aspects of his personality that he gets to share when with his partner William (Mark Gillis). Created by Abi Morgan, Eric also examines social issues like institutional racism and homophobia through McKinley Belcher III's character Ledroit (pictured), the detective put on the case to find Edgar. (Netflix) (Ludovic Robert/Netflix) "I was thrilled that the show that Abi has written was interested in him as a whole human," the actor says. "I thought a lot about this managing of public and private self and what it is to compartmentalise your life. I think it's kind of beautiful what he's found in that apartment with William and that he can just be, there is a joy and an acceptance to the love that they found together. "And then how much of a counterpoint that would be to walking out of that apartment and into the world, into a kind of hostility where who you are is not OK and there is an opportunity to weaponise and use his queerness as leverage in a way that we see over the course of the show. "I think he is managing what it is to be other, but his otherness is also a gift, because it means that he can see things that a lot of the other detectives he's working with take for granted or are not aware of, which in some ways makes him the perfect person to be looking for these children and to tackle some of the ways that the institutional racism is apparent in the NYPD." McKinley Belcher III said he 'fell in love with [Ledroit's] heart first', and he 'was thrilled that the show that Abi has written was interested in him as a whole human'. (Netflix) Despite its difficult subject matter there were moments on set that lightened the load, such as the scene where Cumberbatch dons the Eric suit the one that the actor earlier said brought him to tears. Sharing that it's "equally strange walking around New York City next to a puppet" as it was walking around in the suit itself, Cumberbatch says: "Running around with half of it, as I did in part of the show, is quite a diary entry, I suppose. "You draw enough attention yourself and New York is so like 'ohh' and then back to the conversation, that amusingly happened on this as well 'Is that [Benedict Cumberbatch]? Oh yea it is, cool' back to the conversation. "Nothing fazes a New Yorker, so I got over my self-consciousness quite early on. It was really just trying not to fall over and run as fast as I could and trying to look less ridiculous, more heroic. But also giving in to the humanity and stupidity, and beauty of that kind of comedy as well." Eric is out now on Netflix. This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/benedict-cumberbatch-eric-netflix-tears-072306555.html Vincent Kompany has been unveiled as the new manager of Bayern Munich after leaving his position at Burnley. Here, the PA news agency looks at the tasks facing the former Manchester City captain in his in-tray at the Allianz Arena. Win the Bundesliga Kompany, who won the Championship with Burnley, will be expected to win the Bundesliga with Bayern (Martin Rickett/PA) Kompany will be under immediate pressure as there is little doubt that his top priority must be to win back the Bundesliga title. Missing out this year for the first time since 2012 and finishing in an almost unthinkable third place was a blow to the clubs pride and something they will want remedied next season. Little patience may be shown if he looks like falling well short. Get the senior players onside Kompany inherits a star-studded squad including Harry Kane (bottom row, second left) (Nick Potts/PA) Prior to making a title tilt, Kompany needs to make sure he has all his star names singing from his hymn sheet. The Belgian transformed Burnleys style of play and stuck steadfastly to his beliefs, even as the Clarets struggled last season. Bayern were attracted to his philosophy but there are some big names in the dressing room including Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich, and he will quickly need to earn their respect to get them playing his way. Win the fans and media over Bayerns fans are used to winning the Bundesliga (Nick Potts/PA) As the Belgian was far from the clubs first choice some estimates suggest he was eighth or ninth on the list, at best his appointment has been greeted with cynicism by fans and media. This could increase the pressure on him to deliver from the outset. To prove he is the right man for the job, Kompany will not only need to impose his playing style but start getting results quickly, no easy task. Strengthen the squad France international Theo Hernandez is a reported Bayern target (Martin Rickett/PA) Some of Bayerns summer recruitment will be out of Kompanys hands with moves reportedly already under way to bring in teenage Schalke midfielder Assan Ouedraogo and AC Milan and France left-back Theo Hernandez. Yet he will still need to convince players of the direction the club are heading with him in charge. The impression he conveys as he details his plans could have a big influence on players the club are interested in. Champions League final The Allianz Arena will host the 2025 Champions League final (Nick Potts/PA) Surely not even the most demanding of fans can expect Bayern to win the Champions League given the competition they face from across the continent but, with the final in Munich next year, a strong run will be the very least of expectations. Bayern will not want to exit with a whimper in this of all seasons. David Goffin has backed the decision by French Open chiefs to ban spectators from drinking alcohol in the stands after a fan spat chewing gum at him. Belgian veteran Goffin beat Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in five sets on Court 14 on Tuesday. But afterwards he hit out at the boisterous partisan crowd, claiming one fan even spat their gum towards him. David Goffin said a spectator spat gum at him (Aurelien Morissard/AP) As a result, tournament director Amelie Mauresmo announced that spectators would no longer still be allowed to drink in their seats. Alcohol was until now authorised in the stands. Now its finished, everywhere, said Mauresmo. After his second-round defeat by Alexander Zverev, Goffin said: Its funny because after my press conference two days ago, I dont know how many people and how many players came to me and were on my side. I was surprised that everybody was, like, OK, what you said is great, I agree. So everybody is behind me. Spectator behaviour is in the spotlight (Thibault Camus/AP) Hopefully its good what Amelie did because if they continue like that, you never know. (Maybe the spectators) said OK, it was fine this year. Maybe we go for it for more next year and then the year after is going even for more. You never know what theyre going to (do), if theyre going to come with firecrackers. The issue of fan behaviour was brought into even sharper focus on Wednesday when Iga Swiatek urged the crowd to keep quiet during points after missing a volley in her match against Naomi Osaka because a spectator shouted. Amelie Mauresmo has told umpires to be stricter with crowds (Mike Egerton/PA) Mauresmo also said security had been beefed up and umpires had been instructed to be stricter with the crowd during the match. I have personally passed the instructions to the chair umpires, who must be super reactive to all that, trying to control the court and what is happening, she added. I think a lot of the umpires are very experienced. For matches that are a bit heated, we also choose referees who are experienced and fully capable of handling the match and the fans. If there is even the slightest behaviour that crosses the line, they will be out. Even if identifying a person is not always obvious. The energy and enthusiasm are very positive, but limits must be respected. The new directive was immediately apparent during Novak Djokovics match against Roberto Carballes Baena when umpire Nico Helwerth told one noisy spectator he would be asked to leave if he continued. Djokovic said: I understand that, you know, a player like Goffin the other day reacted, because I have experienced quite a few times those particular situations. So I support a player standing up, you know, against people who are disrespecting and heckling him. Its not always possible, you know, to tolerate. What to expect on the General Election campaign trail on Thursday Parliament has been officially dissolved, meaning every seat in the House of Commons has become vacant. Here is your guide to the main developments in the General Election campaign on Thursday: Labour pledges to take back town centres Labour is pledging to put 13,000 police and community support officers in neighbourhood roles and take back our town centres. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said she would run a hands-on Home Office. She is expected to visit South Yorkshire on Thursday. (PA Graphics) The party said its plans draw lessons from the last Labour government, but with a focus on new technology and data analysis, and said it has received backing from former police leaders. The Conservatives dismissed the plan. Policing minister Chris Philp said only 3,000 of the proposed new officers would be full time with the power of arrest, and 3,000 were officers the current Government has already recruited. Starmer heads to Wales Sir Keir Starmer is expected to recommit to investing in the UKs steel industry amid concerns about job losses at Port Talbot steelworks as he launches his partys doorstep offer to Welsh voters. He is also expected to promise to put Wales at the centre of his partys plans for cleaner, cheaper energy and to work with the Welsh Government to cut NHS waiting times and recruit more teachers and police officers. He will be joined by Welsh Labour leader Vaughan Gething, who is facing a confidence vote in the Welsh Senedd on June 5. Welsh Conservative leader and Senedd member Andrew RT Davies said Sir Keirs decision to campaign with Mr Gething was a reflection of their equally poor judgment and should worry us all. Greens to launch campaign The Green Party will launch its campaign in Bristol and said it would set out practical solutions to the cost-of-living crisis, housing and the NHS, in addition to plans to clean up the UKs toxic rivers and seas. The party will commit to offering real hope and real change and said it hopes to elect four Members of Parliament on July 4. Mental health in schools The Liberal Democrats say they would increase the Digital Services Tax and use the money to fund mental health care in schools. Party leader Sir Ed Davey said children are being left in limbo when they seek mental health care. Sir Ed will be campaigning in Somerset on Thursday. A British-Finnish student who spent a year in national service with Finlands military said the scheme could instil discipline and teach people valuable life and social skills but he has doubts about its introduction in the UK. Daniel Simojoki, a 20-year-old studying history at the University of Cambridge, has an English mother and a Finnish father and served with the Finnish Defence Forces in the navy for a year between July 2022 and June 2023 when he was 18. Mr Simojoki has always lived in Fareham, near Portsmouth, but when he received a letter about conscription in Finland, he felt a sense of patriotism to step forward even though it was optional due to his dual citizenship. Daniel Simojoki was trained in weapon and navigation systems during his time in military service (Daniel Simojoki/PA) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to introduce a new form of national service for 18-year-olds, which would see them join the armed forces or take part in public service volunteering over the course of a year. Mr Simojoki said he thought national service could instil a level of discipline and teach people valuable life and social skills if it was brought into force in the UK, with the potential to become a rite of passage over a longer period of time. He also said it could seem unreasonable and unfair as he felt a necessity to protect his country due to its proximity to Russia but said he couldnt see an equivalent necessity in Britain. I think it would probably instil a level of discipline, teach people valuable life and social skills and foster a sense of community within groups doing it together as well as with wider community, Mr Simojoki told the PA news agency. I think over a longer period of time it would have a wider cultural and societal effect as it became more of a rite of passage. He added that young men in Finland would volunteer for national service because there is that sense of purpose, saying he undertook it in the sense of patriotism. Daniel Simojoki said he found military service challenging but positive (Daniel Simojoki/PA) I saw the necessity and wanted to do my part to protect my country but I dont see an equivalent necessity in England so being told to do national service would seem unreasonable and unfair, he said. Ive always said that if they tried to put something similar in Britain there would be riots and I dont feel that motivation is there people dont feel like they have that sense of duty. The student was stationed on a ship during his military service in Finland where he was trained in weapon and navigation systems and engaged with combat simulations, saying the experience was challenging but positive. Its a massive adjustment from civilian life, you go in one day, youre handed a uniform and suddenly theres a whole military culture there, Mr Simojoki said. Theres a lack of sleep, theres an expectation to just get on with things and youre part of an organisation thats not about you. On the other hand, I made very close friends and you get trusted with responsibilities that give you value and worth. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, pictured on a visit to defence vehicle manufacturer Supacat in Exeter, wants to introduce a new form of national service (Aaron Chown/PA) I learnt a lot about myself and new-found limits and at the end of the day, its quite good fun. It was a challenging but positive experience. Mr Simojoki said there were two types of days in the navy, days at port and days at sea. For the former, he said he would spend time exercising and repairing equipment while for the latter, he would be trained in mine warfare where he would drop practice mines at sea and engage in simulated combat drills. He added that it took (him) a while to adjust back to civilian life after leaving the military with the prospect that he could be called back to fight at any point throughout his life. After coming out, it sort of hit me, especially with the Ukraine war still going on, the significance of the fact that I could be called back and told to fight, he said. Thats got to me more and that definitely has an effect on my life because I have to keep in the back of my mind that when I get married and have children, I might be called up to war and possibly die. That definitely has an impact and thats why I dont think its a thing that should be taken lightly, especially when people dont have a choice I had a choice, uniquely. If people didnt have a choice, I think thats quite a big deal. Mr Simojoki said the culture in Finland makes compulsory military service very accepted but he feels the same ideology doesnt exist in the UK. Every guy grows up knowing that hell do his year in the army, itll be formative, and hell have the stories just like his dad and his friends, he said. Theres such a culture so it makes it very accepted but I just dont think the same thing exists in England. Theres no idea that men, or anyone, is more responsible for defence or should be required for community service. When asked if he would take part in national service in the UK if he was called upon to do so, he said: I think I would accept some sort of social responsibility but I would question the effectiveness and motives of the scheme, he said. I wouldnt agree fundamentally with the idea and I would think that quite a big sacrifice was being demanded of me, but at the end of the day the law is the law so I wouldnt disobey. Speaker of the House and runoff winner in the District 21 Representative race Dade Phelan is celebrated by supporters at his election party at JW's Patio. Photo made Tuesday, May 28, 2024 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise Kim Brent On Tuesday, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, narrowly avoided becoming the first speaker to lose a primary election in more than 50 years in Texas. In spite of his near-loss, Phelan is very likely to return as speaker of the Texas House in January 2025 when the Legislature reconvenes for its 89th regular session. Phelan can be expected to continue to block or soften many pieces of conservative legislation that are passed by the more conservative Senate. It wasnt for lack of effort on the part of his opponent, David Covey, who had support from high-profile conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton. With Covey out of the way, Phelan has a clear path to victory in November because hes unopposed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So how can Phelan keep his job as speaker next session? Two ways. The first: win a three-fifths vote within the Republican legislative caucus where Republican representatives would be bound, informally or formally, to then cast their vote for Phelan in the actual speaker election. Phelan will have the ability to count votes and would likely only pursue this strategy if he knew he would win the internal Republican vote. The second: retain the loyalty of at least 20 to 25 Republican representatives and rely on the support in the floor vote of most of the approximately 62 to 68 Democratic representatives who will assume office in January. This option could also be utilized in the event Phelan pursues the first pathway and a non-trivial number of Republicans break their pledge to vote for the winner (Phelan) on the floor. Today, Phelan retains the steadfast loyalty of somewhere between 20 and 30 Republican representatives who will return to Austin in 2025. He therefore has the potential (albeit with considerable uncertainty at present) to win a vote within the Republican House Caucus. But he certainly has a sufficient number of Republican loyalists backing him at the present time to achieve reelection as speaker with the support of Democrats, even if his election as speaker is opposed by a majority of the GOP House members. In 2009, Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, took a similar route to victory, ousting Tom Craddick, R-Midland, with the initial support of only 10 other Republicans, known as the Polo Road Gang, plus the vast majority of House Democrats. He then served for a record five terms between 2009 and 2018. Why would Democrats support Phelan? While Phelans position on many salient policy issues (enhancing border security, banning gender-affirming care for transgender children and cutting property taxes for businesses and homeowners) is well to the right of most Democratic representatives, these Democrats realize that Phelan represents their best hope for retaining the maximum amount of influence on the legislative process. While Phelan will likely continue to appoint Democrats as committee chairs, any Republican successor as speaker is very likely to end this practice. And, any Republican successor will be much less likely than Phelan to block legislation strongly opposed by Democrats and to facilitate the passage of salient Democratic-authored bills. Without Phelan as speaker, Democrats run the risk of becoming increasingly irrelevant in the Legislature. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Over the course of the next seven months Phelan can be expected to pursue two simultaneous strategies. The first strategy will be shoring up his support among current and future Texas Republican House members with the goal of having the pledged vote of a three-fifths majority of the members of the incoming Republican House Caucus by December. This is, no doubt, his preferred strategy. During this same time period, however, he will likely keep lines of communication open with the Democratic members of the Texas House as a Plan B in case he ends up needing their support. Ironically for the states most conservative Republicans, if Phelan returns as speaker in 2025 by winning a majority vote in the Republican Caucus and without the overt need to broker a deal with Democrats, hed end up with more flexibility to pass priority conservative legislation such as a robust school voucher bill and additional property tax relief than will be the case if he is forced to form an explicit coalition with Democrats to retain his speakership. A former Tory MP has said he is quitting the Conservatives to back Labour at the General Election, in a blow to Rishi Sunak as he battles to stay in No 10. Mark Logan, who represented Bolton North East for the Conservatives until Parliament was dissolved on Thursday, has said a government led by Sir Keir Starmer was going to be better for the UK. He told the BBC his application to join Labour was going in today. I believe, as a politician, its incumbent upon me to be able to say, to look people in the eyes in Bolton and say that I believe that a Labour government is going to serve you better, your interests better, its going to be better for your pockets, its better for the economy, its going to be better for the UK. For my constituents and for the country, its right that we get some stability back into the UK, we get optimism, we get new and fresh ideas. Mr Sunaks party was unrecognisable from the party he joined a decade ago, Mr Logan told the broadcaster, although he did not criticise the Prime Minister personally. Mr Sunak has already suffered two recent defections to Labour, with Dan Poulter and Natalie Elphicke crossing the floor in recent weeks. Mark Logan quitting the Tory Party will come as a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he campaigns ahead of the election (Aaron Chown/PA) In a personal statement dated Wednesday but posted on X on Thursday, Mr Logan said New Labour anthem Things Can Only Get Better represented the optimism of the incoming Labour government of 1997. Labour is back, and given how things have been, I believe things can only get better. After much soul-searching throughout my first term in parliament, brought to a head with the calling of a snap election last week, I have concluded that we need a new government and I believe the UK will be best served with that government being a Labour government. We need renewed enthusiasm and optimism in both tone and in policy, and I believe that we are already seeing this through Keir Starmer and the team. PERSONAL STATEMENT (My decision and letter from yesterday) pic.twitter.com/LhNdOX8FcY Mark Logan (@Mark_Logan_MP) May 30, 2024 I am resigning from the Conservative Party with immediate effect. Regrettably, I will therefore not contest our constituency at the upcoming General Election. He concluded: The first time I voted, I voted for Labour. The next time I vote it will be a vote for Labour. Labour has reportedly already chosen Kirith Entwistle as candidate for Bolton North East. Mr Logan won his seat from Labour in the 2019 general election with a narrow majority of just 378, making it one of the most marginal in the country. He was a junior member of the Government, a parliamentary private secretary to ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions. In recent months, his focus has been raising concerns from constituents over Gaza. Mr Logan told Sky News that he still believed Mr Sunak to be a person of integrity. Asked if he thought Labour must be moving to the right to attract people like him, he said he saw Labour as a broad church. I think the great thing with the Labour Party today is that its a broad church incorporating people from the right of politics and also from the left of politics, he said. Mr Logans decision comes as the Labour Party faces accusations of culling its left wing, sparked by uncertainty over whether Diane Abbott will be allowed to defend her seat, the suspension of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who was MP for Brighton Kemptown, and the decision not to endorse candidate Faiza Shaheen in Chingford and Woodford Green. Sir Keir welcomed Mr Logans switch to Labour, saying: Voters across the country are looking to Labour for change. I am pleased Mark Logan has taken the decision to vote for Labour at this upcoming General Election. After 14 years of Tory failure, voters are returning to Labour because they can see that we are a changed party and back in service of working people. Its time to stop the chaos, turn the page and rebuild Britain. The Conservative Party hit back, with a spokesperson saying: Its notable that Mark Logan has defected to a party he cant even name a single policy of. We wish Mark Logan well with the Labour Party a party that has no plan for the country and would take us back to square one. We will select a new candidate in due course. The people of Bolton North East now have the choice to vote to stick with the plan by choosing bold action for a safer, more prosperous future with the Conservatives, or go back to square one with Keir Starmer and the same old Labour. US actor Jeremy Renner is the latest star to join the cast of Rian Johnsons whodunit Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The Avengers star is continuing his comeback after a serious snowploughing accident last year which left him with more than 30 broken bones. The 53-year-old was injured while trying to help his nephew on January 1 2023, who was trying to free his car from the snow when the plough began to roll down the hill, according to a police report. The next Benoit Blanc mystery, the follow-up to Knives Out and Glass Onion, is called Wake Up Dead Man. pic.twitter.com/pdDXRDmwcI Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) May 24, 2024 Renner will join Daniel Craig as returning detective Benoit Blanc in the new murder mystery, set for release in 2025. Previously announced cast members include British actor Josh OConnor, who starred in Challengers and The Crown, Irish star Andrew Scott from Ripley and Fleabag, Scandals Kerry Washington, Fatal Attraction star Glenn Close and Cailee Spaeny of Priscilla. Last week, filmmaker Johnson announced on X that the film is about to go into production while plot details are yet to be revealed. After his accident, Renner was airlifted to hospital in Reno, Nevada, and spent some time in an intensive care unit (ICU). Known for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor was seen in drama series Mayor Of Kingstown after he recovered from his injuries, while Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is reportedly his first film since the incident. British actress Jorgie Porter has announced she is expecting her second child during the final episode of ITVBes Drama Queens. The Hollyoaks star, 36, known for her role as Theresa McQueen in the Channel 4 soap, underwent an elective C section in November 2022 to welcome her first son Forest with fiance Oliver Piotrowski. In August 2021, the pair announced they had lost the quadruplets they had conceived naturally and in February 2022 they learnt of their second miscarriage at six weeks on the day of their engagement party. Porter announced her pregnancy news in the final episode of new reality series Drama Queens, which follows the lives of a host of female actresses from Britains biggest soap operas focused around Manchester and the North West. She told the camera: Guess what? Im pregnant. After the episode was broadcast, Porter shared a video to her Instagram showing her and Piotrowski moving their hands and their son Forest moving his feet alongside the paws of their dog to unveil an ultrasound scan. She captioned it: Weve been keeping a little secret. The couple made a similar video to announce they were expecting their first baby in June 2022. Porter, who has competed on Dancing On Ice and Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, got engaged while staying at the Gleneagles Hotel in Perth and Kinross. She previously said she was sent on a treasure hunt of 12 photo clues documenting their love story, each captioned with a handwritten memory and a final clue that led her to a lakeside chalet. Sir Keir Starmer has not yet shaken claims he is culling the left wing of his party as a former Tory MP who has joined Labour called it a broad church. Mark Logan, who represented Bolton North East for the Conservatives until Parliament was dissolved on Thursday, said he is quitting the Tory party to back Labour at the General Election. He said he will not stand for re-election but will vote for Labour and join the party. Mark Logan (UK Parliament/PA) Asked if Labour must be moving to the right to attract people like him, he told Sky News: I think the great thing with the Labour Party today is that its a broad church incorporating people from the right of politics and also from the left of politics. The partys election campaign has been overshadowed for two days by accusations that the leadership is attempting to purge left-wingers. The accusations were sparked by uncertainty over whether Diane Abbott will be allowed to defend her seat and then the suspension of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who was MP for Brighton Kemptown, and the decision not to endorse candidate Faiza Shaheen in Chingford and Woodford Green. Diane Abbott (Jonathan Brady/PA) Ms Abbott had the party whip restored after an investigation into comments about racism, but said she was dismayed by reports that she could be barred as a candidate. She has said she wants to fight to retain her seat as long as it is possible. Sir Keir has repeatedly said no decision has been taken about whether Ms Abbott, who in 1987 became the first black woman elected to Parliament, will be allowed to defend her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat. But his deputy Angela Rayner went further and said I dont think theres any reason why Ms Abbott should not stand and the row over her future was not a great look. But Ms Rayner told the Guardian she did not think it was a purge. I dont know the details of the individual cases but I do know that we put a robust system in place around vetting and dealing with serious allegations that are made in the party. We had to do that because when me and Keir took over the party was failing. Mr Russell-Moyle cannot stand in the July 4 election after being suspended by Labour over what he called a vexatious and politically motivated complaint against him. Ms Shaheen is consulting lawyers after being the victim of a huge injustice as she was not endorsed as the Labour candidate to take on former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith. Sir Keir welcomed Mr Logans switch to Labour, saying: Voters across the country are looking to Labour for change. I am pleased Mark Logan has taken the decision to vote for Labour at this upcoming General Election. After 14 years of Tory failure, voters are returning to Labour because they can see that we are a changed party and back in service of working people. Its time to stop the chaos, turn the page and rebuild Britain. Sir Keir recently faced an internal backlash for accepting Tory defector Natalie Elphicke, the former MP for Dover, into the party despite her support for Brexit and accusations over her role in lobbying ministers over her then-husband Charlies sexual assault case. (PA Graphics) Mr Logans decision comes as a blow to Rishi Sunak as he battles to stay in No 10. The Prime Ministers party is unrecognisable from the party he joined a decade ago, Mr Logan told the BBC. The Conservative Party said it would select a new candidate in due course. Also on Friday: Mr Sunak will be campaigning in the North West. Sir Keir will be in Scotland, where he is launching the logo and website of Great British Energy and promising Scottish voters a decade of national renewal. The Conservatives are pledging to punish fly-tippers with points on their driving licences and to kick anti-social tenants out of social housing after three strikes. 31 May 2024 at 1:01 am Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's campaign immediately sought donations following the Trump verdict - AP Joe Biden remained silent on Donald Trumps guilty verdict on Thursday night, but the US presidents re-election campaign has already begun fundraising on the back of the conviction. Mr Bidens official White House spokesman, Ian Sams, released a brief statement shortly after the jury in Manhattans verdict was released. We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment, he said. White House aides suggested the US president would not be directly addressing his Republican opponents conviction. However, Mr Bidens campaign began fundraising over the shock verdict within hours of it being handed down. In a gleeful statement, Michael Tyler, the campaigns communications director, said: Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. There's only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box. Donate to our campaign today: https://t.co/aJXS9oti0a Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 30, 2024 Mr Bidens senior aides have been carefully debating whether the president should refer to his opponent as a convicted felon, fearful that any political opportunism could backfire on them. On Thursday night, senior Biden sources suggested he may let other Democrats attack Mr Trump over the case while he focuses on bread and butter issues. Senior Democratic officials were quick to crow over the news. Adam Schiff, a California congressman who led the first impeachment of Mr Trump, said: First, a court found Donald Trump to be a sexual abuser. He was then found to be a fraudulent business owner. Now Donald J. Trump is a convicted felon. All are an affirmation of the rule of law. And Trumps unfitness for office. Mr Biden has relied on campaign surrogates including 80-year-old Robert De Niro. The Hollywood star held a surprise press conference on behalf of the Biden campaign outside the Manhattan courthouse this week. He appeared to go off script when he proclaimed Trump was guilty and should go to jail before the jury began deliberating. The fact is whether hes acquitted, whether its hung jury, whatever it is, he is guilty, and we all know it, De Niro said. US 155mm caliber shells at the Scranton army ammunition plant in Pennsylvania last month. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden has allowed Ukraine to use some US-made weapons over one part of the Russian border, to allow Kyivs forces to defend against an offensive aimed at the city of Kharkiv, relaxing an important constraint on Ukraines able to defend itself. The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them, a US official said. Related: All the old rules are destroyed: how Kharkiv is coping with life under constant attack Limits on the use of US long-range weapons such as the army tactical missile system (Atacms) will remain, however. Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of Atacms or long-range strikes inside of Russia has not changed, the official said. The statement suggests that the main impact of the policy change would be to allow Ukrainian US-supplied artillery to fire back at Russian batteries over the Russian border from Kharkiv region, which have had a withering effect on Ukrainian defences around Kharkiv city. The change will also allow the Ukrainian army to target concentrations of Russian forces massing on the border in Russias Belgorod region. Bidens decision followed calls from US allies in Europe, including the UK, Germany and France, and the Nato secretary general, for Ukraine to be able to use western-provided weapons against military targets in Russia. The White House was also under pressure from Ukraine supporters in both parties in Congress. Vladimir Putin warned of serious consequences if Russia is struck with western weapons. The change of policy began just after Russia launched its new Kharkiv offensive. According to sources familiar with the decision, the Ukrainians made an appeal in a secure video conference on 13 May with the US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, the defence secretary, Lloyd Austin and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Charles Brown. Austin, Brown and Sullivan then agreed to recommend the change, and Sullivan took the proposal to Biden on 15 May. Biden agreed as long as the Ukrainian use of US weapons across the border was focused on and limited to the forces directly attacking them. After the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, returned from Kyiv, he was consulted and agreed. Since then, the administration has been focused on honing the new policy with the aim of making sure unforeseen consequences are contained as much as possible. I think the immediate change is that Ukraine will be able to use Himars [high mobility artillery rocket systems], which means they can strike targets more effectively at greater depths, said Rob Lee, a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institutes Eurasia program. Ukraine has been suffering higher numbers of losses to its artillery along the frontlines in Kharkiv in recent weeks, said Lee, probably because they had to operate closer to the frontlines and Russia had been successfully targeting them with Lancet loitering munitions. Ukraine could use the decision to use Himars to target Russian artillery, multiple rocket systems, UAV teams, Lancet loitering munitions teams, electronic warfare systems, and command and control posts, said Lee. He said: Its not clear were going to see a change on the frontlines in Kharkiv. But it will make it more difficult for Russia to continue offensive operations in that direction. So it will make it easier for Ukraine to defend Kharkiv. Early on Friday, Russian forces shelled a five-storey apartment building in Kharkiv, starting a fire and wounding eight people, according to local officials who warned that residents could be trapped under rubble. Several strikes were reported to have hit the area after the initial attack. A fire has broken out. People could be under the rubble, the regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said of the attack, which occurred at about midnight local time. The Biden administration believe that the resumption of US armed supplies in late April, after congressional Republicans dropped their opposition, combined with US advice on defensive measures, have helped to slow Russian progress. Administration officials think the new policy on the use of US weapons will help stop the offensive altogether. Tom and Richie Parry were due to return to their home in Cheshire on Wednesday after visiting Glen Nevis and Glencoe. Photograph: family handout/PA Tributes have been paid to a heroic father and his 12-year-old son who are believed to have died after going missing while hillwalking in the Highlands. Tom Parry, 49, and his son Richie had been due to return to their home in Cheshire on Wednesday after visiting Glen Nevis and Glencoe. Police Scotland confirmed that two bodies had been found on Wednesday night after a huge search by mountain rescue teams. The force said they were yet to be formally identified but the family had been informed. Specially trained police officers were on Thursday supporting Tom Parrys wife and Richies mother, Gemma Parry, who said she was heartbroken. A fellow hillwalker who said she met the pair on Ben Nevis on Monday described how they had been so happy and really chuffed to have reached the summit. The hiker, who was climbing the UKs highest mountain with her partner and 14-year-old daughter, said they had congratulated the Parrys when they reached the top. She said: They were happy. They were really chuffed that they were up there. They were determined because they said theyd come all that way. They were just lovely, really lovely. The hiker, who did not want to be named, said she had given a statement to police because she wanted the family to know the father and son were happy and proud of themselves on Monday, 24 hours before they went missing. She added: Its absolutely tragic. Whats so tragic is that the boy was saying he wants to climb mountains when hes an adult. That could be any one of us. Its just absolutely heartbreaking. The circumstances of the disappearance are not yet known but thundery downpours prompted a Met Office weather warning in Glencoe earlier this week. Glencoe mountain rescue team described the father and son as experienced hillwalkers. A Police Scotland spokesperson said inquiries were ongoing but there are no apparent suspicious circumstances. Insp Craig Johnstone said: Our thoughts are with all those involved. I would like to thank all emergency services and mountain rescue volunteers. The force said it would submit a report to the procurator fiscal service in due course. One of Parrys childhood friends, Bart Seaton-Said, paid tribute to a heroic soul and asked people to pray for Gemma Parry and Richies younger sibling. He wrote on social media: He was loyal and sensitive to others and faced obstacles with fortitude. The world is the less for his passing. Parry worked for the Senate Group, a risk management company. In a statement, it said: All of us at the Senate Group are devastated to have heard the tragic news about Tom and his son Richie today. Tom was a remarkable team member and friend, who was exceptionally hard working and dedicated to his role. He made consistently excellent contributions to our team that were greatly valued by all of us. The family are from the small market town of Alsager in Cheshire, about six miles east of Crewe. A spokesperson for St Marys church in the town said its prayers were with the Parry family and their friends and neighbours after the shocking and devastating news. Jeremy Corbyn with Mohammed Kozbar who endorsed him on an election pamphlet - Meta Jeremy Corbyns top endorsement on his campaign leaflet is from a prominent mosque chairman who has previously praised the founder of Hamas. The former Labour leader, who is running as an independent candidate in his north London seat of Islington North, launched his campaign this week. His leaflet, which was delivered to thousands of homes across his constituency on Thursday, features a list of local figures who are supporting his attempt to defend his seat. The top name on the list of endorsements is Mohammed Kozbar of Finsbury Park mosque, who says: Jeremy is full of humanity and compassion. He is a fantastic MP who cares about everyone in his community. Last year, Mr Kozbars past praise for Hamass founder Sheikh Yassin as the master of the martyrs of the resistance was cited in an official counter-extremism review. An official review of Prevent, the governments counter-extremism programme, raised concerns that the London branch of the National Association of Muslim Police had praised Mr Kozbar despite evidence that in 2015 he had previously supported the founder of Hamas. Hamas was proscribed as a terror group in its entirety six years later in 2021. In February, The Telegraph revealed that Mr Kozbar was removed as an adviser to the Metropolitan Police. Scotland Yard said it had decided to cease engagement with him after a social media post from late January 2024 was brought to our attention and reviewed. Mr Kozbar had previously been a member of the forces London Muslim Communities Forum, a strategic advisory body the Met has said exists to inform and help shape police policy and procedure at a strategic level. In January, The Telegraph disclosed that Mr Kozbar had liked a post on X, formerly Twitter, where the leader of an Islamist extremist group complained he can no longer speak for the body after it was proscribed. Dr Wahid Shaida, a former head of the Hizb ut-Tahrir group, said he could no longer speak on its behalf but vowed to continue to speak about things I believe in. Mr Corbyn officially launched his campaign this week at the Brickworks Community Centre in north London. He told the 200-strong crowd that, if elected, he would be an independent voice, for equality, for democracy, and for peace. Mohammed Kozbar says Hamas's founder Sheikh Yassin was 'the master of the martyrs of the resistance' - Mark Kerrison / Alamy Stock Photo His decision to run as an independent candidate presents an unwelcome distraction for Sir Keir Starmer and risks exacerbating splits between the Labour leadership and the Left wing of the party. The Labour leader has also come under pressure from the Left in recent days amid allegations that a purge of Left-wing candidates is underway ahead of the election. In his leaflet, Mr Corbyn lists his values which range from a more equal society to peace and human rights. The leaflet also features a timeline from 1983 when he was first elected as the Labour MP for Islington North to the present. The timeline highlights a series of key dates during his 40-year political career, but fails to mention his time as the Labour leader. Mr Kozbar did not respond to requests for comment but has previously claimed he was being subjected to repeated attempts to smear me as I pursue work to foster better community relations. He has said: I condemn the targeting of all civilians, whoever they are. It is criminal to indiscriminately murder innocent men, women, and children. He has said he supports the Palestinian people and their quest for freedom, as clearly expressed as a basic right within international law. Addressing his comments about the founder of Hamas, he said: I spoke on the extrajudicial assassination of a paraplegic man who was wheelchair-bound ... my comments were made well before this organisation [Hamas] was proscribed. Outside court, Mr Trump described himself as a 'very innocent man' - STEVEN HIRSCH/AFP Donald Trump has been found guilty in his hush money trial of falsifying business records to buy the silence of a porn star, a historic verdict that could influence the US elections. The Republican nominee was convicted by a New York jury on all 34 charges of falsifying business records, after weeks of testimony in a trial that veered from the implausible to the obscene. Trump, 77, now faces potential jail time over his convictions for covering up payments to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, to buy her silence over an alleged affair. He has become the first former president to be convicted of a crime, which does not disqualify him from running for office or serving as president if elected. Trump, who is almost certain to appeal, condemned the verdict outside court, calling the trial rigged and a disgrace. Donald Trump, pictured earlier in the trial, will be sentenced next month - Mark Peterson/REUTERS He told reporters that the case was long from over and vowed to fight for our Constitution. The real verdict is going to be Nov 5 by the people, he said. Trump will be sentenced by Judge Juan Merchan on July 11, 4 days before this years Republican national convention, where he is expected to be formally nominated as the partys presidential candidate. The most severe punishment Trump can receive is four years in prison for each count, which would likely run concurrently, although experts believe a non-custodial sentence is more likely. More lenient punishments include probation, which would require him to clear any out-of-state travel with a probation officer, or home confinement. A prison sentence would not disqualify Trump from a second presidency, although his secret service protection officers would be required to guard him in jail. Trump has repeatedly described his prosecution as a witch hunt which he claims has been orchestrated by Democrats who hope to stop his presidential campaign ahead of Novembers election. Unanimous verdict The New York jury deliberated for almost ten hours before handing down a unanimous verdict on all 34 counts. Alvin Bragg, the New York District Attorney who brought the prosecution, said jurors had been presented with overwhelming evidence to convict Trump. Mr Trump went to illegal lengths to lie repeatedly in order to protect himself and his campaign, he said after the verdict was returned. In Manhattan, we follow the facts without fear or favour and have a solemn responsibility to ensure equal justice under the law regardless of the background, wealth or power of the accused. The integrity of our judicial system depends on upholding that principle. Trump accused Joe Biden, the US president and his opponent in Novembers election, of orchestrating his conviction. This was done by the Biden administration in order to vote to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent, he said. And I think its just a disgrace. And well keep fighting. Well fight till the end and well win. Mr Bidens campaign responded immediately after the verdict, arguing that it showed that no one is above the law and accused Trump of an unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box, a campaign spokesman said. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. Both Trump and Mr Biden launched a fundraising push after the verdict. Trumps request for donations read: I am a political prisoner! The US president immediately launched a fundraising push. A spokesman for the White House counsels office said: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. The charges centred on a $130,000 (102,000) hush money payment that Trumps former fixer Michael Cohen made to Ms Daniels days before the presidential election in 2016. Michael Cohen was the prosecution's key witness - and convicted liar Cohen said he made the payment at the behest of his former boss to silence Ms Daniels about an alleged tryst with the former president, amid concerns it would be damaging to his campaign. Trump was accused of lying on his business records to disguise payments to Cohen to reimburse him, which were written down as fees for legal services rendered. To convict Trump on each charge, the jury had to find that the former president had created a fraudulent entry in his companys records, or caused someone else to do so, and that he did so with the intent of committing or concealing another crime. The jurors found that Trump had violated New York election law, section 17-152, which makes it illegal for two or more conspirators to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means. Polls show his conviction is unlikely to have a major impact on the result of the election. One survey of swing states conducted on behalf of The Telegraph found that his support would increase if he was found guilty. While the jury was required to unanimously agree that something unlawful was done to help Trumps election campaign, they did not have to agree on what exactly had taken place. Each charge brought by the Manhattan District Attorneys office was based on a business document. There were 11 falsified invoices, 12 falsified ledger entries and 11 falsified cheques, nine of which Trump signed himself from the White House. A Trump Organisation general ledger entry inputting Michael Cohen's monthly $35,000 payment for May 2017. It states the payment was for a 'retainer' The 12-strong jury began its deliberations on Wednesday morning, but few expected a verdict to be delivered after two days of discussion. Throughout the trial, the 12 New Yorkers heard testimony from a cast of colourful characters including Ms Daniels, a disgraced publisher and former members of Trumps inner circle. Ms Daniels herself recounted lurid details of the alleged affair, including that he had invited her to a hotel room and that she had smacked his bottom with a magazine bearing his face on the cover. She claimed that her previous statement denying the affair was false, and had been made on the request of Trumps inner circle. The prosecution alleged Trump, Cohen and former tabloid boss David Pecker conspired to corrupt the 2016 election through a catch and kill scheme to bury negative stories about Trump and promote negative ones about his opponents. Jurors were told of three hush money payments. The first was a $30,000 pay-off made by American Media Inc (AMI) to former Trump Tower doorman Dino Sajudinfor a false story about Trump having an illegitimate child with a maid. That followed a $150,000 payment to former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal, who alleged she had had a years-long affair with Trump. That fee was also paid for by AMI. Karen McDougal alleged she had an affair with Mr Trump Finally, there was the critical payment Cohen made to Ms Daniels weeks before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in Lake Tahoe in 2006. Prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorneys office argued the scheme could have led to Trumps 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton. This scheme, cooked up by these men, at this time, could very well be what got President Trump elected, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said in his closing argument. Cohen testified that Trump had approved the payoff after the fallout from the infamous Access Hollywood tape leak in which Trump boasted he could grab women by the p----. He claimed Trump agreed to a scheme to reimburse him through monthly instalments disguised as legal fees, and the pair had discussed the plan during a meeting at the Oval Office in 2017. The prosecution provided reams of evidence to bolster Cohens claims of criminal activity, including phone logs, text messages and secret recordings of Trump appearing to discuss a payoff to Ms McDougal. But the substance of their damning arguments relied on the testimony of a convicted perjurer, and two scribbled Trump Organisation documents appearing to map out the repayment plan. Throughout the trial, Trumps lawyers attempted to tear into Cohens credibility. He is literally the greatest liar of all time, said defence lawyer Todd Blanche during his closing argument. Ultimately, the jury decided otherwise, and Trump must now await his fate at sentencing on July 11. After the verdict, Cohen said: While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters. He thanked his lawyers for their invaluable guidance and support throughout this process. Drama is down 5.8% at A-level and 0.8% at GCSE. Photograph: Roger Bamber/Alamy Fewer pupils in England are studying drama, media and performing arts at GCSE and A-level, while the popularity of statistics, computing, physics and maths has gone up. Provisional figures for exam entries in England this summer, published by the exams regulator Ofqual on Thursday, also reveal a growing enthusiasm for modern foreign languages, which had been in long-term decline. The number of French A-level candidates has grown by 8% over the last year, Spanish by 2.3% and German by 3.1%, the last albeit from a very low base, taking numbers up to 2,280. The biggest jump at A-level is in further maths, where entry numbers have shot up by almost 20%. Drama, in contrast, is down 5.8% at A-level and 0.8% at GCSE, while entries for sociology A-level have declined by 6.9%, media is down 1.3%, geography by 3.9% and psychology by 2.4%. At GCSE, the number of entries for performing arts is down 3.1% to just 6,675 candidates across England, while citizenship studies is down 3.9%. At the opposite end of the scale, statistics entries are up 20.3%, engineering 17.4% and business studies 11.2%. Computing continues to attract growing numbers of students, with provisional GCSE entries up 6.2% on last summer and A-level entries up 11.8%. Overall, provisional entries for GCSEs in England have gone up by 4.8% since last summer and for A-levels by 2.4%, in line with population growth. Paul Whiteman, the general secretary at the NAHT school leaders union, said the changing pattern in entries was linked to government performance measures. Languages and computing, where numbers have grown, are part of the English baccalaureate (Ebacc), a government measure to encourage pupils to take core academic subjects. Secondary schools are measured on the number of pupils who take GCSEs in these subjects and how well they do. The government has used high-stakes performance measures as a blunt tool to drive curriculum and qualification choices in schools, Whiteman said. While entries inevitably vary each year, this may explain the concerning decline in take-up of arts GCSEs, which has a knock-on effect when it comes to choices for sixth-form and college students. Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said the figures showed the continuation of a catastrophic trend. Just this week, the government made another attack on the arts in education with its damaging, inaccurate rhetoric around degrees in these subjects. With young people hearing this, and schools and colleges both underfunded and constrained in the subjects they can offer thanks to wrong-headed, inaccurate performance metrics like the Ebacc, its no wonder entries in arts subjects have almost halved since 2010, he said. A House of Lords committee investigating education for pupils aged 11 to 16 last year called for the Ebacc to be axed amid concerns that the system was too focused on academic learning and written exams. The Department for Education said the governments knowledge-rich curriculum equipped pupils with the knowledge and skills they need for the future and that its proposed Advanced British Standard would expand the range of what 16- to 19-year-olds learn. An employee cleans a table at the Pappas BBQ in Hobby Airport in May 2023. One year after Pappas moved out of the airport, airport officials say its replacements have boosted revenue for the city. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Airport officials say they are bullish on Hobby Airports new dining options, despite some concern about a lagging transition one year after Houston City Council gave the contentious contract to a competitor of Pappas Restaurants. The food and beverage contracts at airports are among the most lucrative available at City Hall. Last years Hobby deal ignited a monthslong feud between Pappas Restaurants, which had a 20-year foothold at the airport before losing the contract, and former Mayor Sylvester Turners administration. Pappas officials decried an unusually protracted and cumbersome bidding war, suggesting the city broke its own rules and state law in the contracting process. Turner accused them of running a smear campaign and said the deciding factor was that the contract winners Areas and LaTrelles offered the city a higher share of their sales. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Airport Director Jim Szczesniak said in a budget hearing last week that so far the contracts have been financially beneficial. The city received about $11.3 million in rent fees from the operators between June 2023 and April 2024, up from $8.7 million in the same period of the previous year under Pappas. That is an increase of $2.6 million, or 29%, he said. Still, the increased revenue was not enough to quell some council members concerns about the transition period, which has seen temporary eateries open up in place of the recognizable Pappas brands. Council members question transition Council Member Joaquin Martinez said he has heard anecdotal complaints about Hobbys offerings, and Council Member Sallie Alcorn said the stopgap shops have seen sales fall precipitously. They include a 60% decline from Pappasitos Cantina, a 47% decrease from Pappas BBQ and a 28% cut from Pappadeauxs, comparing April 2024 sales with those from the year before. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Overall sales, though, were up 5% in April, according to Szczesniak. Alcorn, who chairs councils budget committee, pointed out that the Houston Airport System is estimating a $1.5 million drop in revenue to the city from Hobby Airport concessions in the next fiscal year, which begins in July despite the overall increase this year. I know were in a transition period at Hobby. Ive been very vocal about my displeasure at the transition. I have noticed that we are down, and I know these are not the brands that are staying, said Alcorn. Well be watching these revenues as they shift. The money collected from concessions stays within the Houston Airport System and cannot be used for general city services such as police, firefighters and garbage collection. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Airport officials said the prediction of a revenue drop comes from conservative estimates during the transition and that they expect operators to exceed those numbers. They said that should bear out when more recognizable brands, such as The Rustic and Landrys Seafood, move into permanent locations. We were a little bit cautious and conservative when we budgeted the transition period, and the good news is, in more recent periods, weve seen some acceleration, said Clint Stephen, the airport systems chief financial officer. As long as that trend continues, the transition is going to be well worth it. The new roster of restaurants also includes Velvet Taco, which took the place of Subway, and Pinks Pizza, among other options. Holdovers include Wendys, Buffalo Wild Wings and Chick-fil-A. LaTrelles broke ground on a new Starbucks on Thursday, and construction will begin next week on The Rustic. Officials from Pappas and LaTrelles declined to comment. Representatives from Areas could not be reached for comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Airport contract drama The Pappas fight was perhaps the most notable airport clash in recent years, extending for months between the restaurant chain and Turners administration. The new contract came after an unusually protracted bidding process, with three separate rounds of bidding over four years. Areas, one of the winners, finished no higher than third in the earlier rounds, and it prevailed in the final round by four-tenths of a point, 85.6 to 85.2. One of the earlier rounds had been canceled by airport officials because it was too close to call. Pappas officials argued that the constant delays and bidding cancellations raised questions about the citys decision making process. They hired lobbyists to sway council members, argued that the new operators would not be able to match their sales numbers and changed the signs of their restaurant marquees to support their messaging. COURT BATTLE: Pappas sues Houston over Hobby Airport deal, citing call from former mayoral aide during bid process Advertisement Article continues below this ad Turner said the city followed the same process as three prior contracts, which sailed through council without a whiff of controversy. The contracts supporters leaned on the fact that the new operators offered higher revenue to the city. Pappas later sued the city over the deal, alleging the city failed to comply with state law and city codes during the contracting process. Pappas unsuccessfully sought a restraining order as part of that suit that would have kept it from moving out of the airport. The Pappas lawsuit also alleged that a former mayoral aide, William-Paul Thomas, had called CEO Chris Pappas about the airport deal while it was still out for bid, a violation of city rules. Thomas later retired from the city after pleading guilty to bribery-related charges in a federal case unrelated to the airports. He was sentenced in February to one year and one day in prison. Rishi Sunak said he won't force people to change their cars prematurely for net zero - Alastair Grant/via REUTERS On day eight of the election campaign, Labour was unable to shake the furore over the political future of Diane Abbott as it faced fresh attacks from inside the party. Angela Rayner, the deputy leader, said Ms Abbott should be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate in a direct challenge to Sir Keir Starmer. It has piled pressure on Sir Keir, the Labour leader, who has been accused of a cull of the partys Left. Amid the backlash on Thursday, Sir Keir visited Wales where he publicly backed Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething despite a string of recent controversies. Rishi Sunak was in Milton Keynes speaking to factory workers, but faced a political blow as another one of his MPs defected to Labour. Mark Logan, the Tory MP for Bolton North East for the last five years, announced his public support for Labour at the general election. Rayner backs Diane Abbott in Labour split Angela Rayner said Diane Abbott should be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate in a direct challenge to Sir Keir Starmer. Ms Rayner, Labours deputy leader, said she could not see any reason why the veteran Left-wing backbencher should not stand for the party on July 4. In an interview with ITV, she also said she was not happy about anonymous briefings that Ms Abbott, 70, had been barred from standing. Ms Rayner said she could "not see any reason" why Diane Abbott should not stand for the party Ms Rayner, widely seen as the Lefts standard-bearer in the shadow cabinet, told ITV: I dont see any reason why Diane Abbott cant stand as a Labour MP going forward. Diane Abbott has given 37 years of service to the Labour party and also to the country. She is the first female black MP to come into Parliament, and she has been a trailblazer. Ms Abbott was suspended last year for sending a letter to the Observer in which she suggested Jewish people did not experience racism all their lives. Ms Abbott immediately apologised but was subject to a year-long investigation. The whip was restored to her this week after she completed an anti-Semitism awareness course. Left-wing Labour candidate blocked from standing A Left-wing Labour candidate blocked from standing at the general election by the party has suggested that she may run as an independent. Faiza Shaheen, an economist and academic, was selected to be Labours candidate in the north-east London constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green. Faiza Shaheen had allegedly liked a series of social media posts that downplayed anti-Semitism accusations - Lucy Young/Evening Standard / eyevine On Wednesday night, she found out that she will not be endorsed by the party. She had allegedly liked a series of social media posts that downplayed anti-Semitism accusations. Responding to the news that Ms Shaheen would be barred from standing for Labour, Dianne Abbott tweeted: Appalling. Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of Left-wingers? Tory MP defects to Labour Mark Logan, the Tory MP for Bolton North East for the last five years, has defected to Labour by joining the party and publicly supporting them at the general election. Mr Logan said the Conservative Party was unrecognisable from the one he joined a decade ago and revealed he was applying to become a Labour member on Thursday. He said: When I look back to my teenage years, in 1997 when Labour came to the fore at that time and we obviously heard the song Things Can Only Get Better, I feel that were at that point again in British politics and British history. For my constituents and for the country, its right that we get some stability back into the UK, we get optimism, we get new and fresh ideas, he added. Mr Logan made the announcement in an interview with the BBC on Thursday. He is now a former MP, given he is not seeking re-election and Parliament has now officially dissolved for the campaign. Farage: Reform will win seats at this election Nigel Farage, the honorary president of Reform UK, told a press conference: The elections over, we know that, we understand that, it doesnt fill us particularly with joy, but thats where we are. So that begs the question, whos going to be the opposition? When people realise that the Conservatives cant win, and they actually agree with a lot of what were saying, I believe we are going to win seats. Maybe not a huge number, but we are going to win seats and we intend to be the voice of opposition to a Labour government over the next five years. Thats the aim, thats the ambition. Richard Tice and Nigel Farage during a Reform UK campaign meeting - BEN STANSALL/AFP Richard Tice, leader of Reform, said the idea his party was a wasted vote is offensive to democracy, adding: If you vote Labour or Tory its socialism, theres no difference. I wont make you change car prematurely for net zero, Sunak vows Rishi Sunak has said he wont force people to change their cars as part of premature net zero schemes. Speaking to workers at a factory in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, on Thursday, he said: Of course I believe in climate change, I want to get to net zero. The question is how do we get there. We need to be more serious. I want to prioritise our countrys energy securitywe are better off getting it here at home. I also want to prioritise your bills. What I dont want to do is force you prematurely to rip out your boiler, change your car. We dont need to do them right now. Mr Sunak held a short speech and Q&A at the factory Niftylift, a cherry picker manufacturer, while on the campaign trail. Green Party says it will push timid Labour The Green Party said it will push Labour beyond the timid change they are offering if Sir Keir Starmer wins the general election. Launching the partys election campaign from Bristol, co-leader Carla Denyer said: Its so important that when Labour forms the next government, they are pushed beyond the timid change they are offering. Pushed to be more ambitious, braver, not to skirt around the edges of the massive crises facing our country, but to actually make real change that benefits peoples lives every day, thats what Green MPs can do. The party said it hopes to elect four MPs on July 4, targeting Brighton Pavilion, Bristol Central, Waveney Valley, and North Herefordshire. The Green Party launched its election campaign from Bristol - Jonathan Brady/PA Starmer backs Gething in Wales visit Sir Keir Starmer stood by embattled Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething as Labours election campaign arrived in Wales. At a campaign rally in Abergavenny, Sir Keir thanked Mr Gething for his leadership and said he was looking forward to a new partnership with the First Minister if Labour took over in Westminster. Sir Keir Starmer stood by embattled Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething - Stefan Rousseau/PA Speaking to reporters after the event, Sir Keir said he was proud of Labours record in Wales, where the party has been in power since devolution in 1999, and said Mr Gething was doing a very good job. What Vaughan Gething is absolutely focused on is delivering for Wales, he said. Questions have been raised about a 200,000 donation to Mr Gethings leadership campaign from a company owned by a man convicted of environmental crimes. He has also been criticised over his decision to sack cabinet member Hannah Blythyn for allegedly leaking to the press. teenager on phone What does it mean to tweet something? To Gary Lineker, it means that he can live with himself a little more easily. Speaking at the Hay Festival, Lineker stated that he doesnt tweet about politics to try and influence but does so to make sure that he can look at [himself] in the mirror at night. Lineker is more than 40 years older than me, but, with this statement, he hinted at an issue right at the heart of my generations social media activity we arent posting online because we think we will have a clear impact. Were doing it because of a huge moral impetus to speak out on issues whether or not they concern us and whether or not we are familiar with them and to be right about them. As a 20-year-old, I am firmly in Gen Z. My first lockdown was spent playing online games and talking to my classmates on Discord (a messaging app) in the wake of cancelled GCSEs. But, through social media, my friends and I all felt a visceral closeness to the protests that took hold of American cities after the brutal murder of George Floyd by police in 2020. Social media has made it easier than ever to see events from around the world and share opinions on them in real time. As a result, my peers and I feel that our Instagram feeds must be a continuous stream of political hot takes about domestic and international affairs. We share slogans, Instagram posts, black squares (in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020), AI-generated images of Rafah and hackneyed infographics. The reward? A feedback loop of heart reacts and supportive comments, and endless approval in the form of retweets and likes. If youre quick enough to dump on someone whos demonstrably wrong via quote-tweet, you might even be able to ratio them in other words, amass more likes and engagement with your post than the person you quote-tweeted something that in the days of lockdown was the biggest dopamine hit you could get. Every clever 280-character response (or long essay by people who pay for the new X premium) is a way to not only feel popular, but to feel like you are bringing about real change in the world. If youre one of the 46 million people thats retweeted or reposted the #AllEyesOnRafah hashtag in recent days, youve become an activist who could help to stop Israels continuing war in Palestine; or so you can allow yourself to think. In defence of people my age, the fact that more of us are engaged with issues like abortion bans in the United States, or the impacts of austerity in the UK over the last 14 years, gives the lie to the age-old criticism that all young people are politically apathetic. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) also let us hear directly from experts and make up our own minds about important issues. But there is undeniably a huge pressure to always say the right things; and if you dont have the right opinions, or arent completely clued up on highly complex debates which have churned on for decades, or simply stay silent on something, there can be significant consequences. It is not uncommon these days for friendships to be broken over differences of political opinion. Take the example of Theo Baker, a student journalist at Stanford University, in California, whos about the same age as me. Earlier this year, Baker wrote for The Atlantic magazine about the fact that his university had become a factory of unreason in the wake of Hamass attacks on October 7. He argued that Hamass attacks were not condemned as they should have been by both university management and students, and that several elements of the pro-Palestinian response had led to anti-Semitism on campus and a difficult environment for Jewish students. Baker put that down to the nature of students who attend elite universities and what he saw as their desire to [embrace] the fashionable cause of the moment and exhibit moral righteousness. Like me, hes clearly critical of the idea that being a good person is as easy as reposting an infographic, which has become common among people our age. But Baker was quick to make moral judgments himself just months later, when a professor at the university tweeted out a criticism of his father, a New York Times journalist. Baker Jr wrote in his own tweets that the academic was better than tweeting something like this proving that for people my age, this quandary is difficult to escape. To his credit, Baker later deleted his tweets and apologised by email, but the internet and social media exist in such a way that his rush to judgement will live on forever. And when you consider how strongly Gen Z feels about being on the right side of history, you can imagine the pressures such permanence creates. Until and unless the BBC rules that Gary Linekers political tweets breach its guidelines, Im sure he will continue to post his thoughts. But we should question why Lineker and my generation feel the need to use social media to clear their conscience, and whether this dynamic is making X ever more toxic. Police outside court in Hong Kong after 14 people were found guilty of subversion in the prosecution of the Hong Kong 47. Photograph: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Fourteen people have been found guilty of subversion by a court in Hong Kong in the biggest case against pro-democracy campaigners against a group known as the Hong Kong 47 since China imposed a national security law to crush dissent. A panel of judges handpicked by Hong Kongs government found that the convicted people one organiser and 13 candidates, almost all of them former politicians had committed the national security offence of conspiracy to subvert state power by holding unofficial election primaries in 2020. The 10-month trial finished in December, more than 1,000 days after the cohort were first arrested. Among the guilty are former lawmakers and activists including the politician Helena Wong, the veteran campaigner Leung Long Hair Kwok-hung, the journalist Gwyneth Ho, and the Hong Kong-Australian dual national Gordon Ng. Condemnation from rights groups and western governments was swift. Human Rights Watchs acting China director, Maya Wang, said the convictions showed utter contempt for both democratic political processes and the rule of law. All Hong Kong wanted was a chance to freely elect their government. Democracy is not a crime, regardless of what the Chinese government and its handpicked Hong Kong court may say. Australias foreign minister, Penny Wong, said Canberra was deeply concerned by the verdicts and maintained strong objections to the broad application of national security legislation to target opposition and civil society. The UKs minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said: Todays verdict will only further tarnish Hong Kongs international reputation. It sends a message that Hongkongers can no longer safely and meaningfully participate in peaceful political debate. Related: The old days are no more: Hong Kong goes quiet as security laws tighten their grip Two defendants, Lawrence Lau Wai-chung, a former district councillor, and Lee Yue-shun, a former social worker, were acquitted. The pair had run as candidates in the primaries and theirs are the first acquittals to be granted after a prosecution under the 2020 national security law (NSL). The justice secretarys legal team said he would appeal against the acquittals, and the judges agreed to extend most of the pairs stringent bail conditions in the meantime. The 16 people were the only ones to plead not guilty from a group of 47 charged in early 2021 after mass dawn raids on their homes and offices by national security police. Most of the group have been in jail ever since. The 31 who pleaded guilty, including four who testified for the prosecution, are still awaiting the outcome of their cases. The judges had decided to complete the trial of the others before moving on to sentencing. The 45 convicted campaigners face sentences of up to life in prison. On Thursday morning all 16 defendants sat in the docks behind a glass panel as the three-judge panel announced the verdict. Outside court the acquitted men thanked their supporters and urged people to maintain their concern over the other defendants. Lau, a barrister, also urged people to pay close attention to the reasoning, logic, [and] perspectives of our judges shown by the verdict. The judgment, published online, said the cohorts plan to gain a majority in Hong Kongs legislative council in order to block budgetary bills and force the resignation of the chief executive if she did not agree to the pro-democracy movements demands was a violation of Hong Kongs mini-constitution, the Basic Law. Any act that would seriously interfere in, disrupt or undermine the performance duties and functions of the government was clearly an act which would endanger national security in Hong Kong, it said. It also set a significant precedent in finding that non-violent acts, like the primaries, could be considered subversion under the wording of the NSL. The pre-election primaries were held on 11 and 12 July 2020, organised by Benny Tai, a legal scholar and activist who was also an organiser of the 2014 umbrella movement protests, for which he served four months of a 16-month prison sentence. They were not the first primaries to be held in Hong Kong, including by pro-establishment camps, but they occurred less than a fortnight after the introduction of the NSL, imposed by Beijing to help Hong Kongs authorities crush the remaining pro-democracy movement after mass protests in 2019. In the days prior, the Hong Kong minister Erick Tsang warned in an interview that the primaries could violate the NSL. But organisers went ahead, and more than 600,000 Hong Kong residents took part, in what was widely interpreted as an act of protest against the government crackdown. The election that the primaries were preparing for was later postponed by the government, ostensibly because of the pandemic. By the time it was rescheduled, the government had overhauled the electoral system to ensure that only pro-Beijing patriots could run. Thursdays guilty verdicts had been largely expected, but outside the court, supporters wept. Hundreds had attended the hearing, some lining up overnight to secure a seat. Grandma Wong, a well-known activist, waved a Hong Kong flag outside and shouted in protest. One supporter had arrived at 4am. I want to go inside to show my support [for the defendants], she said. This is a case about the election and I think the government is putting some unreasonable charges against them, and its not acceptable. She declined to give her name for fear of being identified, but said she was not worried about attending court in support of the pro-democracy figures. Its our right to have an open court and to go inside and listen. The case has been widely criticised by human rights and legal groups and foreign governments. It has been accused of being politically motivated, and of denying procedural fairness with a judge-only trial that stretched out over the course of months with repeated delays. The Hong Kong government crackdown has left the city with essentially no active political opposition. Scores of people have been arrested or jailed, others scared into silence. Many have fled overseas, including some who were facing charges. The Hong Kong government has issued large bounties for several fugitives, leading several countries hosting exiled Hongkongers to tear up their bilateral extradition agreements. More than 300 public servants have signed an open letter addressed to Anthony Albanese and members of the government calling for an end to arms exports to Israel amid fresh global condemnation over airstrikes in Rafah. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Hundreds of public servants from across Australia and across state and federal agencies have signed an open letter calling for the federal government to immediately cease all military exports to Israel. The letter, signed by more than 300 people, notes a warning from UN experts in February that the transport of weapons or ammunition to Israel to be used in Gaza is likely to violate international humanitarian law. Related: Labor backs ICCs role in international law as other MPs condemn Israeli war on court The warning named Australia as an exporter of weapons to Israel, a claim the government denies. In February the defence minister, Richard Marles, said there had no exports of weapons from Australia to Israel and there havent been for many, many years. In November, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, said Australia has not supplied weapons to Israel since the start of the Hamas-Israeli conflict. A majority of those who signed the letter work for federal and state government departments, with others working in local government. As public servants whose work is to serve our communities, it is our obligation to voice our deep concern that you are leading Australia to be complicit in an additional genocide, an additional colonial project, staining this nation with more war crimes even more than it lays claim to already and, in negligence of the public we serve, these war crimes are again in the service of foreign powers, the letter states. We call on the Australian government to take swift and decisive action to end its support of the genocide, ethnic cleansing and illegal occupation of Palestine by immediately ceasing all military exports to Israel. The signees make four demands of the Australian government: cease supplying all military parts and weapons to Israel cease providing reconnaissance support from the Pine Gap facility cancel all contracts and cooperation with Israeli weapons suppliers disclose all information relating to the sale of military export licences to Australian companies supplying weapons and weapons components to Israel directly and/or indirectly The letter refers to reports that civil servants in the UK have requested to stop work over fears they may be complicit in war crimes in Gaza. It also cites a report in November that revealed Australian arms and ammunition exports to Israel totalled $13m over past five years, and data published by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that shows Australia directly exported over $1.5m in arms and ammunition to Israel in February 2024 alone. At the time, the defence industry minister, Pat Conroy, told the ABC that Australia was not exporting military weapons, things like bombs, to Israel. The letter is endorsed by a range of organisations, including the Australia Palestine Advocacy network, Unionists for Palestine and the Palestine Justice Movement Sydney. Israel has denied genocide accusations, having argued in the International Court of Justice it is waging a war in self-defence. Israel stirred fresh global condemnation this week after it launched airstrikes in Rafah that hit tents housing displaced people, killing at least 45 people. Its war in the enclave has resulted in more that 36,000 Palestinian deaths since the Hamas attack on 7 October, including an estimated 15,000 children. One of the signees, Merah Hashmi, who works in the environment sector of the Australian public service, told the Guardian it was the steady rise in horrors that motivated her to sign the letter. Its harrowing to watch, and harrowing to go into work everyday and act like nothing is happening. Our major concern is that as public servants we have a responsibility to the Australian people to reflect and serve their interests, and an overwhelming majority of them do not want this to be happening. I dont think anyone becomes a public servant to want to be involved in something like this, she said. The Australian Public Service Act requires employees of the APS to behave in a way that upholds the APS values, including that the APS is apolitical and provides the government with advice that is frank, honest, timely and based on the best available evidence. The social media guidelines for the APS say that any statements made by APS employees on social media must be balanced with the obligations of APS employment, and the need to be seen as trusted and impartial public servants. An apolitical and professional public service is a core feature of our system of representative and responsible government, it says. In 2019, the high court unanimously upheld a decision to sack a public servant for anonymous social media posts that criticised the governments immigration policy. But public sector worker and fellow signee Sousan Ghecham said signing the open letter is the right and moral thing to do. Like most people were horrified at what were seeing, not just the last week but with everything thats unfolded over the last eight months, she said. It just became really hard to ignore and really difficult to justify not taking this stance publicly, not trying to use our position or our voices in a way that we might be able to effect some sort of change or put some sort of pressure on our governments to take steps that they need to take. Smoke rises above southern Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas When Norway, Ireland and Spain announced their intention to recognise a Palestinian state, they no doubt believed that they were acting in the best interests of the Palestinian people. As Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris remarked when explaining what he called an important and historic decision, his desire was to send the Palestinian people a message of hope that in this, their darkest hour of need, Ireland stands with them. Similar sentiments were expressed in Madrid and Oslo, with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez declaring the move an essential requirement if we are to achieve peace, while Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide said it was a special day for Norway-Palestine relations. By formally recognising Palestinian statehood, which involved months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, these three nations believe that they will help to generate diplomatic momentum towards implementing a ceasefire in the seven-month-old Gaza conflict, as well as securing the release of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. Precisely how they intend to achieve this objective is a moot point, given that the most notable impact of their joint declaration so far has been to further alienate Israel, which has withdrawn its ambassadors from all three countries in protest. From the Israelis perspective, recognising Palestine while they are involved in a bitter conflict with Hamas, responsible for carrying out the October 7 attacks, simply rewards the Palestinian terrorist group for committing diabolical acts of rape and murder. The depth of Israels anger was evident from the video its foreign minister Israel Katz posted on social media after the recognition announcement, showing flamenco dancing and music juxtaposed with the explicit images of the October atrocities alongside the heading: Hamas: thank you Spain. In many respects, the move amounts to little more than a token gesture because, while many countries recognise the principle of a Palestinian state, there is also an acceptance that the establishment of a fully-functioning, independent Palestine will not be achieved until comprehensive peace talks are convened to resolve the long-standing Israel-Palestine struggle. It is for this reason that the American and British governments, while sympathetic to Palestinian aspirations, say they will hold off from recognising Palestinian statehood until a long-term political solution to the Middle East conflict is agreed. This makes sense, not least because, so long as Hamas remains a dominant force in Palestinian politics, there is little prospect of the Palestinian people being able to form a government that would garner international support. Even well-meaning, if naive, countries like Norway, Ireland and Spain might balk at the prospect of recognising an independent Palestinian state that ends up being run by the leaders of an Islamist death cult like Hamas. They might also want to consider the motivations of other countries that have recognised the state of Palestine South Africa chief among them. Back in the 1990s, when ANC leader Nelson Mandela became South Africas first democratically elected black leader, world leaders were almost unanimous in supporting his fine vision for creating a rainbow nation. His main objective was to develop multi-racial democracy after the oppression the majority black population had suffered during decades of apartheid rule. But the overwhelming and honourable desire to support change in South Africa blinded many Western leaders to the ANCs venality and corruption, with the result that the movement has subsequently presided over the ruination of this once thriving nation. When South Africans went to the polls in yesterdays general election, their mood was grim as they contemplated a country that now boasts among the worlds highest rates of unemployment and inequality, constant power cuts, water shortages and spiralling violent crime. So much for Mandelas vision of transforming South Africas fortunes for the better. It is perhaps to distract attention from this woeful state of affairs that the ANC has taken the lead in seeking to denounce Israels involvement in the Gaza conflict, with South Africa instrumental to efforts at the International Court of Justice to condemn Israel for supposedly committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Instead of such cynical manoeuvring, the international community should be honest about the challenges inherent in the Palestinians achieving statehood, not least the need to ensure that proper safeguards are in place to make certain that an independent Palestine is a viable Palestine. Such an outcome certainly remains unlikely so long as Hamas, which thinks nothing of using Palestinian civilians as human shields and hospitals and schools as command centres for its terrorist operations, remains a serious contender to administer an independent Palestinian state. Rather than indulge in dangerous virtue-signalling, well-intentioned world leaders who want to achieve their goal of Palestinian statehood should first make sure that the Palestinian people are no longer oppressed by the malign designs of Hamas terrorists. Japanese Aegis-equipped destroyer Chokai fires an SM-3 interceptor missile to shoot down a ballistic missile target in space during a test - Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force/AP Sometime this year, the Japanese navy plans to lay the keel for the first in a new class of missile-armed warship. The two ships could be huge potentially the biggest surface warships in the Asia-Pacific region or even the world. They might be the first surface warships to rival Chinas massive Type 055 Renhai-class cruisers. But only if Japanese leaders let the new ships fight. The so-called Aegis System Equipped Vessels, or ASEVs, are as their designation implies designed to carry the American-made Aegis fire-control system, which combines powerful radars and data links to direct potent missiles capable of intercepting drones, aircraft, missiles and even ballistic warheads or satellites beyond the atmosphere. The Aegis system is the backbone of the US militarys missile-defence force, which includes ships at sea as well as installations on land. Paired with the massive ASEV hulls each displacing potentially more than 10,000 tons of water the latest version of Aegis should result in the most capable missile-defence ships in the world. And as a bonus, these ships could do more than shoot down missiles. Thats because their most flexible compatible missile, the American-made SM-6, is equally effective against targets in the air, at sea and on land. It is also thought to be one of the few systems capable of defence against hypersonic missiles. The ASEVs are a recent development. As recently as 2020, Japan planned to install two Aegis systems in ground facilities on the countrys west coast. These Aegis Ashore installations would have freed up the Japanese navys eight Aegis-equipped destroyers to do more than merely steam in tight circles in the Sea of Japan, waiting for North Korea or China to launch ballistic missiles toward Japan. An Aegis Ashore system the US government operates two in Europe takes the guts of a US Navy destroyer including the radar, vertical launch cells and SM-3 anti-ballistic interceptor missiles and crams them into unassuming buildings. The Aegis fire-controls tie all the subsystems together. An Aegis Ashore can, in theory, knock down incoming ballistic missiles from hundreds of miles away. Communities around the planned Japanese Aegis Ashore sites objected to spent SM-3 boosters raining down on their homes. With protests intensifying, the Japanese government cancelled Aegis Ashore in June 2020 and promptly pivoted to the ASEV project as an alternative. Japan had already spent $300 million on two SPY-7 radars for the ashore missile bases. The plan is to add the radars to a new, bigger variant of the navys existing Maya-class destroyer. A Maya has 96 vertical launch cells, usually loaded with SM-3 missiles. A larger ASEV could, in theory, pack even more cells. The US Navy's Ticonderoga class Aegis cruiser, currently the most powerful surface combatant afloat with 122 vertical launch cells - Lt Scott Miller/AP/US Navy The ASEVs, each of which could cost $2.4 billion, would take turns patrolling the Sea of Japan, alert for enemy missile launches. As with the abandoned Aegis Ashore bases, the idea is for the dedicated missile-defence ships to free up smaller destroyers for other tasks. Theres no reason the ASEVs couldnt perform other tasks, however. The ships Mark 41 launch cells are compatible with a wide array of missile types, including Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles. Japan has been buying huge consignments of SM-3s, SM-6s and Tomahawks from the United States. An ASEV packed with a hundred or more SM-3s, SM-6s and Tomahawks would be potentially the biggest and most powerful surface warship in the Asia-Pacific, if not the world possibly outweighing and outgunning the Chinese navys Renhais with their 112 missile cells. The US Navys 9,800-ton Ticonderoga-class cruisers the big dogs of the seas for decades have no fewer than 122 missile cells, but these ageing vessels are rapidly being retired. If the ASEVs do indeed outgun Chinas cruisers, they will soon be the biggest, baddest surface combatants afloat. Warship buffs will recall the situation during World War II, when the Japanese super-battleships Yamato and Musashi the largest big-gun battleships ever built, mounting the heaviest ever naval guns held a similar position. The first ASEV should begin construction soon and commission as early as 2027; the second could follow a year later. The radars, missiles and Aegis fire-controls are all ready. Theres no technological reason the ASEVs cant dominate Pacific waters starting later this decade. But there are political reasons. Successive Japanese administrations have been slowly reinterpreting Japans post-World War II constitution in order to soften its pacifist edicts and allow Japanese forces to conduct offensive operations in addition to defensive ones. The process is politically fraught and incomplete. Its possible to imagine Tokyo limiting the ASEVs roles to strictly defensive ones, firing SM-3s and SM-6s at incoming enemy missiles. Just because the giant ships could go on the attack, doesnt mean they will. Ms Shaheen allegedly liked a series of social media posts that downplayed anti-Semitism accusations - See Li / Alamy Stock Photo A Left-wing Labour candidate blocked from standing at the general election has accused the party of a systematic campaign of racism, Islamophobia and bullying. Faiza Shaheen, an economist and academic, was selected to be Labours candidate in the north-east London constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green. On Wednesday night, she found out that she will not be endorsed by the party. She had allegedly liked a series of social media posts that downplayed anti-Semitism accusations. It comes amid a separate row about whether Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary, will be allowed to run again as a Labour candidate. Ms Shaheen hinted on Thursday that she would run as an independent as she suggested she would take legal action against Labour. In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday night, Ms Shaheen said: I am heartbroken at this decision, but it does not come as a surprise. It is the end of a systematic campaign of racism, Islamophobia and bullying from some within the party which began when I first announced that I wanted to run for Labour again. She claimed that she had been singled out for unfair treatment, such as being banned from speaking about racism she suffered within the party and being told to curb the attitude when she suggested Labour wasnt sufficiently addressing concerns of the Muslim community. Ms Shaheen added that she had not experienced such relentless hostility even from the Conservatives and said she had met with her legal team to discuss her next steps. Ms Shaheen said she had thought she would be able to remain as the Labour candidate for the constituency, but got an email on Wednesday evening to confirm otherwise. She claimed the email told her that she would frustrate Labours purpose. 'Honestly I'm so shocked right now, to be treated this badly' Faiza Shaheen, who was set to stand for Labour, describes hearing that her candidacy had been pulled over liking a series of Tweets which she claims Labour said would frustrate its campaign#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/JtMIywDz2N BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) May 29, 2024 In an interview with the BBCs Newsnight, she said she was in a state of shock, adding: Theres so many people that have helped me. My phone is blowing up with local people trying to organise a rally, and I just want to thank my old school teachers and the kids that came out tonight and Im so sorry. Im genuinely so sorry that its come to this. I know you really wanted me to be your MP, and I really wanted that too. She insisted she did not remember liking one of the social media posts she was called upon by Labour, which alleged that anyone critical of Israel is assailed by professional organisations who every time inflict non-stop harassment and accuse you of anti-Semitism. Responding to the decision to block Ms Shaheen from standing, Ms Abbott, who claims she is banned from standing as a Labour candidate, said: Appalling. Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of Left-wingers? Ms Shaheen replied: Thank you so much for your support, youre my hero x. 'I don't remember liking this Tweet' Victoria Derbyshire asks Faiza Shaheen, who has had her Labour candidacy pulled, about liking a Tweet which referred to the 'Israel lobby'#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/xoCuKDaIJM BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) May 29, 2024 The Labour Muslim Network was among Left-wing groups to criticise the ruling, saying: The deselection of Faiza Shaheen is unacceptable. To use her tweets accounting for personal experiences of Islamophobia as evidence for deselection is utterly outrageous. A spokesman for Momentum, the the Left-wing pressure group, accused Labour of institutional racism, adding: This is a purge. Left-wing women of colour like Diane Abbott and Faiza Shaheen are being targeted for deselection by Team Starmer, against the wishes of their local parties. Outrageously, Faizas discussions of her own experiences of Islamophobia within Labour as a Muslim woman have been weaponised against her in a textbook case of institutional racism. Labour insists no final decision has been made about whether Ms Abbott will be allowed to stand for the party in Hackney North and Stoke Newington, which she has represented since becoming the first black female MP in 1987. Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, denied on Thursday that he was blocking Left-wing candidates, telling Sky News: No. Ive said repeatedly over the last two years as weve selected our candidates that I want the highest quality candidates. Thats been the position for a very long time. Lord Lucan has been on the run for nearly 50 years - HULTON ARCHIVE One of Britains most notorious fugitives asked powerful friends and a romantic crush to cover up the murder of his childrens nanny, newly uncovered police records reportedly suggest. Lord Richard John Bingham, Seventh Earl of Lucan, has been on the run since Nov 7 1974 when Sandra Rivett was found brutally murdered in the basement of his Belgravia mansion. Police concluded Ms Rivett, a 29-year-old mother-of-two, had been bludgeoned to death with a lead pipe before her body was found stuffed into an unused mailbag. They immediately focused the investigation on Lord Lucan after Veronica, the Dowager Countess of Lucan, reported her husband had confessed to the crime and beaten her when she tried to walk down the basement stairs to check on the nanny. Lord Lucan, then aged 39, has not been heard from since hours after the murder, when he phoned his mother to report a stranger had attacked his wife and to ask her to collect the couples two children. Ms Rivett, 29, was bludgeoned to death with a lead pipe - TOPHAMS People all over the world have at various times reported seeing the fugitive killer, who would now be aged 89, but despite one of the Metropolitan Polices largest ever manhunts he has never been found. Lord Lucan was officially declared dead in 2016 but reported sightings have continued, most recently in Australia where a man bearing similarities to him was spotted living in Brisbane. Now, a 60-page police dossier has reportedly laid bare how Lord Lucan was likely aided and abetted by friends in the super-rich Belgravia set to leave the country and how one person close to him was so romantically obsessed with the handsome aristocrat that they were willing to cover up his tracks. The crush, obsession with him was the reason why, in their opinion, that individual did not help police tell the whole truth, said Stephen Wright, the Daily Mail journalist who has revealed the report which had been gathering dust since 1975. Lord Lucan with his future wife, Veronica Duncan, in 1963 - HULTON ARCHIVE Police believed Lord Lucan, a former British Army second lieutenant and socialite known to frequent bars and gambling establishments, had used his friends in the international socialite set to provide false alibis and help him flee. By March 1975 they had put together a summary of the case, as they saw it, against Lord Lucan, Wright said in a recording for a new podcast. It goes into unprecedented detail what happened in the run up to this shocking, shocking tragedy. This report was to be sent to the Coroner... primarily, it was for the trial that never was. He adds: This document is written like a thriller. Detective Chief Superintendent Roy Ranson, the lead detective and author of the document who later went on to write a book about the case, reportedly made it clear he believed the crime was premeditated. That is spelt out in unprecedented detail, the movement of Lucan in the days and weeks leading up to the murder - who he visited, why the police thought he was setting in place alibis for himself, Wright said. The report does go in to detail about a particular very important witness in the case and the perception from the police that individual had a crush on Lord Lucan and that crush, that obsession with him, was the reason why in their opinion that individual did not help police tell the whole truth. The Metropolitan Police told The Telegraph on Wednesday night that any significant new information will be considered. The inquiry into the death of Sandra Rivett remains open as is the case with all unsolved murders. It has never been closed, a spokesperson said. The family of Ms Rivett was contacted for comment. Anyone with information should contact police or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Trump supporters clash with police on January 6. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty The FBI has arrested a South Dakota man on charges that he stood among the first participants in the January 6 insurrection, allegedly breaking police lines and ramming a large sign toward officers during the riot. William Knight, 37, of Rapid City, faces two felony charges of obstructing law enforcement and resisting or impeding officers, the justice department announced on Thursday. He also faces five misdemeanor charges, including engaging in violence on the day supporters of Donald Trump tried to derail certification of his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. He was arrested by the FBI on Sunday and was expected to make his first appearance in court on Thursday. Related: Trump with little room to extricate himself from mass of evidence in hush-money case Knight was featured prominently in several videos that were taken during the riot, helping the FBI build its case against him. Investigators were able to match Knights appearance in his videos to his state drivers license, which prominently shows tattoos on his neck. Prosecutors accuse Knight of being one of the first rioters to breach a restricted perimeter at the Capitol on January 6. Multiple times, he gestured aggressively and threateningly toward officers. He broke police lines and was sprayed with a chemical spray at one point, but he kept pursuing officers, prosecutors say. We aint leaving! We aint going nowhere! Knight could be heard yelling at police in one of the videos, according to court documents. Here are the bitches. Here are the bitches. At one point, documents say, Knight and a large group of rioters picked up a giant metal-frame TRUMP sign and rammed it toward officers. After, he allegedly shoved a police officer and removed barriers that police had put in front of the crowd. He allegedly continued to chant Stop the steal! with other protesters, referring to Trumps lies that electoral fraudsters rigged Bidens victory. Knights case is being prosecuted by the US attorneys office in Washington DC and the justice department. Nearly 1,500 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the January 6 insurrection, according to the justice department. More than 100 of those people have been sent to prison for sentences ranging from a few days to 22 years, the length of the Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrios sentence from last fall. The US supreme court is expected to rule soon on whether the justice department can prosecute rioters on an obstruction statute. A decision against the department could jeopardize the prosecution of hundreds of defendants who received obstruction charges. The US has permitted Kyiv to use its weapons to strike Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv - HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Joe Biden has bowed to international pressure to allow Ukraine to use American weapons to strike Russian territory after the head of Nato said the time has come to overturn the ban. The US has given Kyiv permission to use its weapons to strike Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, according to two US officials. The unnamed officials insisted the US policy preventing Ukraine from using American-provided long-range missiles to strike inside Russia has not changed. The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them, a US official told Politico. It comes after Jens Stoltenberg, Natos alliances secretary-general, said the time has come for restrictions to be lifted, after France and Germany earlier this week signalled an easing of their own rules. Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, reassured Czech leaders that progress was being made on the issue in meetings on Thursday at the beginning of a two-day summit of Nato ministers in Prague. It is rare for any Nato chief to directly put pressure on a US president and Mr Stoltenbergs intervention was described as surprising by diplomatic sources. Allies are delivering many different types of military support to Ukraine and some of them have imposed some restrictions on the use of these weapons these are national decisions, Mr Stoltenberg said in a speech ahead of the gathering. But I think that in light of how this war has evolved the time has come to consider some of these restrictions, to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves. Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance's secretary general, said: 'The time has come to consider some of these restrictions, to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves' - Shutterstock In recent weeks Kyiv has repeatedly urged its Western allies to allow the use of their long-range weapons to strike military targets on Russian soil. It was surprising, a diplomat said of Mr Stoltenbergs campaign to support Ukraines push. As important as it was, it is not for the secretary general to be giving advice to individual allies on bilateral issues. A growing number of European countries, including Britain and France, have granted Kyiv permission to use Western missiles against Russian military targets before they cross the border. Moscow is massing troops on the border with Ukraine ahead of a long-awaited summer offensive. But Washington, Ukraines key military backer, had until now refused to approve the use of weapons like the long-range Atacms missiles to strike troops or logistics hubs inside Russia. Ukrainian firefighters at the site of Russian aerial attack on the private residential area of the city of Oleksievo-Druzhkivka - Anadolu President Biden was said to be reluctant amid fears the move could drag Nato into a wider conflict with Russia, a nuclear superpower. But on Thursday, he was reported for the first time to be edging towards a U-turn on the issue as Mr Blinken said the US regularly adjusts its position in response to events on the battlefield. Im confident well continue to do that, he said at a news conference in Chisinau. The Kremlin on Thursday said Nato members calling for relaxed rules on Western weapons were provoking Kyiv into prolonging the war. Dmitry Suslov, an influential think-tank analyst linked to Vladimir Putins regime, said Russia should consider a demonstrative nuclear explosion to warn the West against its missiles being used in cross-border strikes. Despite the threats, there was a mounting expectation amongst European allies in Prague that Washington would soon overturn its ban. They [America] are looking into this. From what I understand there will be progress, a senior Czech official familiar with the discussions told The Telegraph. The source credited President Emmanuel Macrons decision this week to allow French weapons to be used to neutralise Russian targets over the border Jan Lipavsky, the Czech foreign minister, told reporters: I feel that we are moving on that in the international sphere. Mr Blinken was said to have changed his mind on the use of American weapons after he was warned by President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine could lose Kharkiv, its second-largest city, on a sobering visit to Kyiv this month, The New York Times reported. An anonymous US official told the newspaper that it was inevitable that Mr Biden would reverse its the ban. The White House is also understood to be cautious about allowing Ukraines position on the battlefield to deteriorate too much ahead of Natos 75th anniversary summit in Washington in July. Sources said Russian advances would be used by Donald Trump, who is expected to be officially named the Republican presidential candidate days after the gathering, to further undermine Mr Bidens flagship policy of defending Ukraine. 03:12 PM BST Todays live coverage has ended Todays live coverage has ended. Thank you for following the days events. 02:50 PM BST Ukraine to get up to 100,000 Czech shells in June Ukraine will receive 50,000-100,000 shells in June under a Czech-led initiative to buy ammunition for the war-ravaged country largely outside Europe, a Czech official said on Thursday. Tomas Kopecny, the Czech government envoy for Ukraine reconstruction, told reporters that Ukraine, battling a Russian invasion since February 2022, could get millions of shells if allies managed to collect the money. The first delivery under the umbrella of this Czech initiative will be in June, and it will be dozens of thousands of shells, between 50 and 100, he said on the fringes of a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Prague. Mr Kopecny urged further contributions as Ukraine will need 200,000 shells a month in the next two years just to make the balance vis-a-vis Russia. 02:40 PM BST Russia should consider nuclear explosion to warn West Russia should consider a demonstrative nuclear explosion to warn the West about allowing their weapons to be fired across the border from Ukraine, advisors to the Kremlin said. Dmitry Suslov, a member of the Moscow-based Council for Foreign and Defence Policy think tank, said a test detonation could cow the West, which is in the process of relaxing rules about the weapons it gives to Ukraine. The think tank is influential in Kremlin circles and its ideas sometimes become government policy for the Kremlin. The proposal was issued a day after Vladimir Putin warned the West that Nato members in Europe were playing with fire by relaxing its weapons rules. The Russian president said it could trigger a global conflict, with Russia, which possesses the worlds largest nuclear arsenal, at the centre. The US and Germany have so far refused to allow their weapons to be used inside Russia, while French President Emmanuel Macron followed the UK to shift his stance on Tuesday. Nato leaders are due to meet later today to focus on efforts to hammer out a support package for Ukraine. 02:18 PM BST Frances Macron to host meeting with Biden President Emmanuel Macron will host a meeting with US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill on June 8 as part of Bidens first state visit to France, the French presidency said on Thursday. The pair will discuss their ongoing support for Ukraine, as well as ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation on economic, space and nuclear issues, a statement from the French presidency said. 01:55 PM BST Fires break out amid Russian shelling Ukrainian firefighters have been working to put out numerous fires caused by Russian shelling in the village of Mala Danilivka in the Kharkiv district of Ukraine. The attacks injured at least seven people. One of the strikes hit a childrens equestrian club. Fire fighters work on putting out the fire broke out after the Russian rocket attacks - State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Anadolu via Getty Images Firefighters rest after extinguishing a fire at the site of a Russian missile strike - Denys Klymenko/Gwara Media/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images 01:30 PM BST Nato opinions shifting, says Czech foreign minister The opinion of Nato allies is shifting towards allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike military targets on Russian soil, the Czech foreign minister said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters, Jan Lipavsky said there was a growing belief that it was better to allow Kyiv to destroy Russian aircraft before they can take-off armed with bombs destined for Ukrainian cities. He said it was right to relax restrictions on weapons and show strong resolve in response to Russias changing tactics and escalations, including attacks on Poland and the UK, since Vladimir Putins re-election. The minister also dismissed concerns that slacker measures would result in the war spreading beyond Ukraines borders. Mr Lipavsky said: The message is simple The plane is flying with rockets, its better that the plane is not flying at all. If its flying, its better to shoot it down, rather than trying to shoot down rockets flying over Ukraine. We have to make use of logic and, also, international law, and the charter of the UN clearly says that you can protect yourself from aggression. I understand those concerns, I understand there are weapon systems that can be used quite far away. We have the discussions, but I feel that we are even moving on that in the international sphere. In response to Kremlin threats of retaliation, he added: Russia has decided to escalate. It is Putin after the inauguration, he feels strongly. He started an offensive in Kharkiv. We saw the provocations at the Narva River, the attempts of sabotage, some of them successful, on the territories of Poland and the UK. Im sure that we will see more of this escalation, so we need to repeat properly and definitely shouldnt be afraid, but show strong resolve to defend ourselves. 01:10 PM BST Sri Lanka seeks release of ex-soldiers in Russia and Ukraine Sri Lankas foreign ministry said Thursday it is seeking the release of hundreds of its ex-soldiers fighting for Russia as well as around a dozen prisoners of war in Ukraine. Sri Lanka opened an inquiry this month into illegal recruitment for the conflict, identifying 455 ex-soldiers who had gone to fight for Russia. Colombo is sending a delegation to Russia in June to negotiate their discharge, including 37 wounded Sri Lankans, Tharaka Balasuriya, state minister for foreign affairs, told reporters. President Ranil Wickremesinghe is also due to speak with his Ukrainian counterpart to plead for the release of 10 to 12 Sri Lankan POWs, Mr Balasuriya added. We are trying to get them released. At least 16 Sri Lankans have been killed in Ukraine while fighting alongside Russian troops, parliament was told this month. We want to stop Sri Lankans going to Russia and Ukraine, Balasuriya said alongside the Russian ambassador to Colombo. 12:39 PM BST The latest photographs from the front line Here are the latest photos from the front line in Ukraine. Ukrainian military tanks are in taking part in ongoing military training as the war continues in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian soldiers wait for orders during a training session A Ukrainian military tank fires during military training - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images 12:17 PM BST Crimea attack destroyed 2 Russian military boats Ukraine destroyed two Russian patrol boats off Moscow-annexed Crimea with naval drones, GUR military intelligence service said on Thursday. The GUR agency wrote on Telegram that its Group 13 special forces unit using Ukrainian naval drones successfully attacked the boats of the aggressor state of Russia in temporarily occupied Crimea. Ukraine's Sea Baby naval drones - Christopher Miller It said that Russia used fighter planes and helicopters to try to destroy the drones in the Vuzka bay in northwestest Crimea, as well as firing on them using small arms and 30 mm cannons. As a result of the strike, two Russian boats were destroyed, GUR said, adding that according to preliminary data, they were high-speed amphibious vessels of the KS-701 Tunets type. 11:40 AM BST Kremlin says Nato provoking Ukraine to prolong conflict The Kremlin said Thursday that Nato member states were provoking Kyiv into prolonging the conflict in Ukraine, whose leaders are appealing to Western countries to allow it to target Russia. Nato member states ... are entering a new round of escalations in tensions and they are doing it deliberately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that, they are provoking Ukraine in every possible way into continuing this senseless war. 11:14 AM BST France could announce sending military trainers to Ukraine France could soon send military trainers to Ukraine despite the concerns of some allies and criticism by Russia, and may announce its decision next week during a visit by the Ukrainian president, three diplomatic sources said. The diplomats said Paris hoped to forge and lead a coalition of countries offering such assistance to Kyivs war effort even though some of its European Union partners fear it could make a direct conflict with Russia more likely. France would initially send a limited number of personnel to assess the modalities of a mission before dispatching several hundred trainers, two of the diplomats said. Training would centre around demining, keeping equipment operational and technical expertise for warplanes to be provided by the West, they said. Paris would also finance, arm, and train a Ukrainian motorised brigade. The arrangements are very advanced and we could expect something next week, said one of the sources. 10:49 AM BST What to expect from todays Nato meeting The international row over whether Ukraine should be allowed to use Western weapons to strike targets on Russian soil will dominate this weeks meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Prague. The Americans will arrive in the Czech capital under pressure to relax the rules on their donations, after a string of public easing of restrictions. Jens Stoltenberg, Natos departing secretary-general, has launched a campaign to convince allies to change their minds. His attempt is seen largely futile, given donations to Ukraine are managed bilaterally and not through the Western military alliance. But a growing coalition, led by the Brits, French and Eastern Europeans, will work hard to convince their American counterparts that it is the right thing to do, given Russia is launching more attacks from its own soil. Elsewhere, ministers will attempt to find ways to satisfy Ukraine given the war-torn country wont be offered a clear pathway to membership, as reported by the Telegraph earlier this week. Plans for a $100 billion war chest to bring Kyivs armed forces to Nato standard, presented by Mr Stoltenberg in March, have already run into difficulties, given some member states reluctance to give Nato greater involvement in weapons deliveries, amid fears it could drag the alliance into a wider war with Russia. 10:25 AM BST Russia building up forces near Kharkiv regions north Russia is building up forces near the northern part of Ukraines Kharkiv region where it launched an offensive this month, but it still lacks the troop numbers to stage a major push in the area, Ukraines top commander said on Thursday. Ukraine says it has stabilised the front in the northeastern Kharkiv region where Russian forces launched a cross-border assault on May 10 that opened a new front in the 27-month-old war and stretched Kyivs outnumbered troops. Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russia was continuing to send additional regiments and brigades from other areas and from training grounds to bulk up its troops on two main lines of attack in Kharkiv regions north. That includes the Strilecha-Lyptsi area between two small villages and the vicinity of the border town of Vovchansk where there has been street fighting. These forces are currently insufficient for a large-scale offensive and breakthrough of our defence, Syrskyi said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. He said Ukraines creation of an ammunition reserve had also reduced the offensive capabilities of Russian forces. 10:04 AM BST In pictures: Equipment presented to Ukrainian servicemen Cars and drones were given to Ukrainian servicemen during a handing-over ceremony in Kyiv. A total of 38 different vehicles and 40 drones were bought by Kyivs community and handed to the 92nd Assault Brigade fighting in the Kharkiv region. A serviceman checks a drone - SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko (R) attends the handing ceremony - SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Drones are displayed - SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 09:23 AM BST Russian forces launch missiles on Kharkiv Russian forces launched a series of missiles early on Thursday on Kharkiv, Ukraines second largest city, injuring at least four people and damaging infrastructure, local officials said. Mayor Ihor Terekhov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said four people had been injured, a gas pipeline had been damaged and many windows had been broken. A Russian strike on the construction hypermarket - Emergency Service Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said eight missiles had been fired at the city, a frequent Russian target in recent weeks. A community just north of the city had also been hit. In the aftermath of the strikes, air raid alerts remained in force throughout the country. 09:02 AM BST Ukraine cannot use Italian arms on Russian territory, says Italian foreign Italy will never send any troops to Ukraine and any weapons it has supplied to Kyiv should not be used on Russian territory, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday. All the weapons leaving from Italy (to Ukraine) should be used within Ukraine, Mr Tajani said in a TV interview with public broadcaster RAI. Under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italy has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, but Rome has never disclosed any details about its military aid. Mr Tajani also dismissed the possibility that former Italian Prime Minister and European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi could become the next EU Commission President. Draghi is not an (official) candidate and does not belong to any (European) political family... I see it as a complicated matter, he said. 08:38 AM BST Nato has just 5 per cent of air defences to protect from Russian invasion Nato has just five per cent of the air defence capabilities it needs to protect Europe from Russia, confidential defence plans show. A senior Nato diplomat admitted to the Financial Times that the ability to defend against missiles and air strike attacks was a major part of the plan to defend eastern Europe from invasion, adding: And right now, we dont have that. A second Nato diplomat added that air defence is one of the biggest holes we have on the eastern flank. We cant deny it, they said. The war in Ukraine has highlighted the need for strong air defence as Russia pummels its forces with daily bombing raids. Last year, the UK government described the challenge of protecting against attack from the skies as being its most acute for over 30 years. 08:10 AM BST Ukraine destroys Russian attacks Ukraines air defence systems destroyed seven Russia-launched missiles and 32 drones overnight, its air force commander said on Thursday. The air force official said on the Telegram messaging app that Russia had launched a total of 51 missiles and drones. Drones lie on the ground - REUTERS/Oleksandr Ratushniak The commander said Russian forces attacked military facilities and critical infrastructure in Ukraine but did not provide additional details. Mayor of eastern Ukraines Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, said in a separate statement that critical infrastructure in the city was shelled last night and four people were injured. Other civilian and military authorities did not report casualties and destruction caused by the attacks. 07:49 AM BST Nato meets as pressure grows to let Ukraine hit Russia Nato foreign ministers are set to meet in Prague on Thursday amid growing calls for leading allies to lift restrictions stopping Kyiv from using Western weapons to strike inside Russia. The two-day gathering is meant to focus on efforts to hammer out a package of support for Ukraine. Ukraine has been pressing its supporters to allow it to use the longer-range weaponry that they supply to hit targets inside Russia. The US and Germany have so far refused out of fear that it could drag them closer to direct conflict with Moscow. Ahead of the meeting, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said repeatedly it was time for members to reconsider those limits. French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to shift his stance when he said Ukraine should be allowed to neutralise bases in Russia used to launch strikes. German chancellor Olaf Scholz remained less committal, saying Ukraine should act within the law - and Berlin had not supplied the weapons to hit Russia anyway. The White House said it still opposed Ukraine using US arms to strike inside Russia, although Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted that that strategy could change. 07:35 AM BST Russia neutralises 13 Ukrainian aerial drones Russias defence ministry said on Thursday that it neutralised 13 Ukrainian aerial drones in the southern Krasnodar region and close to the annexed Crimean peninsula. On Thursday morning, five Ukrainian aerial drones were shot down by anti-aircraft defence systems in the Krasnodar region, the ministry said in a statement. Another eight drones were intercepted during the night over the Black Sea, close to the Crimean coast, the statement added. The Russian army also said it had destroyed two Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea that were heading for Crimea. Eight tactical ATACMS missiles were shot down by Russian air defence systems over the Sea of Azov, near Crimea. Faced with more than two years of Russian bombardments, Ukraine has taken the fight to Russian soil, often targeting energy infrastructure across the border. A ShotSpotter device is photographed at Sunnyside Community Center on Friday, July 7, 2023, in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire revealed plans to scrap the citys $3.5 million ShotSpotter program, positioning Houston as the latest city government to abandon the controversial gunshot detection technology after a brief experiment. "I think it is a gimmick," Whitmire told the Chronicle on Wednesday. "I think it was cooked up by contractors and, personally, talking to officers, it doesn't do any good." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Houstons current five-year contract with SoundThinking, the California-based company behind the crime-fighting tool, is set to expire in 2027. When asked if a reevaluation was imminent, the mayor said his mind was already made up on the programs termination. "We're not going to have it," Whitmire said. "Let me save you some time. I do not support it." A SoundThinking spokesperson called Whitmire's comments "misinformed." While the company respects the mayor's decision to not extend the city's contract beyond its third year, the technology has helped Houston first responders locate dozens of gunshot wound victims since its deployment, the spokesperson said. "ShotSpotters effectiveness can be measured in the difference it makes for each life saved and for these individuals, the tool was the difference between life and death, not a 'gimmick,'" the spokesperson said. Acting police chief admits shortcomings ShotSpotter, which uses sensors placed in communities to pinpoint the location of suspected gunfire, has long sparked nationwide controversy. SoundThinking has fiercely defended its product as researchers and critics continue to raise concerns over inefficiency and risks of over-policing Black and brown communities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Even Texas officials are divided on the tools value. Harris County praised ShotSpotter as a godsend for Aldine, while San Antonio cut its funding in 2017 after just one year, saying it was simply not worth the money. Several City Council members questioned the efficiency of Houstons ShotSpotter program during a Tuesday budget hearing as they scrutinized Whitmires proposed spending plan for the Houston Police Department for the new fiscal year starting in July. Council Member Julian Ramirez cited the Chronicles investigation last year, which revealed that several years into its deployment, the tool has not significantly impacted gun crimes and has contributed to increased police response times within its program areas in Southeast and Northwest Houston. The SoundThinking spokesperson told the Chronicle the company designed the system to decrease response times to gunfire reports. "SoundThinking has never claimed to decrease overall response times regarding non-gunfire-related incidents," the spokesperson said. "The ShotSpotter system is not a cure-all, but when used as a critical tool in a comprehensive gun crime response strategy, it can ensure that first responders get to the scene of an incident quickly and take appropriate action safely." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite acknowledged the Chronicles findings. Since the department treats every ShotSpotter alert as a top-priority call warranting immediate response, he said, the program has sometimes diverted officers from other 911 calls, such as in-progress burglaries. Meanwhile, the probability of a ShotSpotter alert leading to an incident report less than 20% is about half that of traditional 911 calls, the Chronicle previously reported. Lower-priority calls will have to sit and wait until our officers are able to get to that Priority 1 and verify that nothing is happening of urgency, Satterwhite said. We only have so many officers in a given area It does affect response time. Council questions ShotSpotter cost HPD data shows that despite millions spent, the technology has mostly yielded dead-end alerts. Council Member Joaquin Martinez questioned whether the costly program $74,000 per square mile should have its funds redirected to alternative tools like automatic license plate reader cameras. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Satterwhite acknowledged the license plate reader technology has offered greater crime-resolving results than ShotSpotter. At the same time, he said the gunshot detection tool has its benefits. Since its deployment in late 2020, there have been at least three instances when ShotSpotter alerts allowed officers to promptly assist injured victims without any traditional police reports being filed, he said. Over the years, the department has seen a reduction in gunshot alerts in the program areas. But Satterwhite said fewer alerts does not necessarily correlate with fewer gun crime victims, and he has instructed his team to collect more data. Even if the number of shots detected goes down, which is a very good thing, if people are still being harmed at the same rate, thats a question mark for me, Satterwhite said. Also under city officials scrutiny is the programs limited coverage area. The initial pilot encompassed several Southeast neighborhoods, including parts of Sunnyside, Brookhaven, South Union and the Old Spanish Trail corridor. It was later expanded to include more neighborhoods in Northwest Houston. Still, it covers only 10 of Houstons 640 square miles. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Council Member Tiffany Thomas said she initially supported the citys ShotSpotter contract and told her constituents the technology would eventually come to her district, which now seems unlikely. ShotSpotter has not come to District F, Thomas said. We are making these expenses out. We do want to make sure that we get to yield some of the fruit of that so we can go back to residents and talk about the successes the departments making. All these factors the high costs, the citys strained budget and the programs limited impact and coverage area call for a reevaluation of ShotSpotters value, Satterwhite said. I am still yet to tell you that it is doing everything that we want it to do and there are other technologies coming on board that are similar that might be more affordable, he told City Council. Thankfully, I get to say that Im counting on yall to help me with that. Harry Trevaldwyn and Jessica Gunning in The Outlaws - Alistair Heap/BBC There are so many joys to The Outlaws (BBC One). Stephen Merchants Bristolian comic thriller is both outrageously funny and craftily plotted. Best of all are the characters, a melting pot of lovingly delineated miscreants on community service who get sucked into big-time drug-dealing, only to find that they can hold their own. It might as well be titled Oddballs Assemble. Its other trump card is the nous not to outstay its welcome. Too many dramas will string things out, resolve nothing and insist you return. Twice The Outlaws has concluded satisfactorily while leaving the door ajar. This third series another delicious blend of thrills and titters delivers a resounding finale with no further questions, your honour. The plot involves a body. Rani Rekowski (Rhianne Barreto), the swot who took to crime like a duck to water, needs help dumping it from her spurned ex Ben (Gamba Cole) and the gang. Thus they are sucked into a gripping conspiracy to keep the satanic druglord known as The Dean (Claes Bang) behind bars. That it gets the job done in five galloping episodes, rather than the usual six, is to its credit, though the absence of Christopher Walkens cat thief Frank means one less storyline to follow. His flavoursome cameo, which finds him hustling in a noisy New York bar, is an exuberant nod to those harrowing Russian roulette scenes in The Deer Hunter. Stephen Merchant writes and stars in the comic thriller - Alistair Heap/BBC The rest of the cast get along fine without him, each given a bigger emotional arc involving love or family. Indeed, when posh influencer Lady Gabby (Eleanor Tomlinson) has a scalding confrontation with her grasping aristo-daddy (Richard E Grant), the tone deepens into something way darker. Comic relief is always to hand, with hapless lawyer Greg (Merchant) and wannabe detective Diane (Jessica Gunning) ready to drop another sex-based gag, all unquotable here. Meanwhile, failed industrialist John (Darren Boyd) and career activist Myrna (Clare Perkins) produce lovely angry sparks. Were not in The Fast and the Furious, he snaps at her during a suburban car chase. Were in Harrow and Wealdstone. Thanks to Baby Reindeer, Gunning has become The Outlaws most bankable star. If they do contemplate a spin-off, its a big yes please to a Cagney and Lacey tribute act with Dianes straight-laced cop idol DC Lucy Haines (Grace Calder), who in a mic-drop pay-off reveals theyve more in common than suspected. That cant be quoted either. Reform UK leader Richard Tice Four weeks ago we found out Reform UK was real. Though it did not stand candidates everywhere in the local elections, where it did it performed well. In Sunderland it romped home, pushing the Conservatives into third place in some wards. They doubled their support from 6 per cent in 2023 where they stood to 12 per cent. They beat or came close to their polling benchmarks in Blackpool, Derbyshire, the East Midlands, London and Manchester. Now it could be unwinding. In the latest JLP/Rest is Politics poll Reform UK is on the decline with people over the age of 35, where it gets most of its support. The party has seen a statistically significant drop amongst women, garnering the backing of less than one in ten of the female vote. For the first time in our election tracking, Labour is taking more votes amongst 2019 Tories than Reform is. And critically, the number of Conservatives who would consider switching to Reform has dropped from 33 per cent at the time of the local elections to just 23 per cent today. What has happened? The squeeze is on. The Conservatives can convincingly say to Reform voters that a vote for them is effectively a vote for Starmer: some people in our poll gave this as a reason for changing their mind in the last few days. If the race tightens this line will only gather credibility. And Tory policies like national service and the pension triple lock plus could also win more Reform backers over. It did not have to be this way. If Nigel Farage had taken on the leadership of the party and stood for a seat, we would be in a very different place. To be taken seriously in an election, you have to stand. Richard Tice just does not have the same bite: two in every three voters do not have an opinion of him, and Reform voters overwhelmingly prefer their man from the jungle. Some caution is needed. Farage is still getting airtime and could yet stand. Reform are still taking 13 per cent of the 2019 Tory vote. Whereas the Tories needed to squeeze the Brexit Party to under 10 per cent in 2019, this time they need to squeeze Reform UK to below 5 per cent to have any chance of forcing a hung parliament. Even then, with such a dire national position, it would not be guaranteed. To convert more Reform voters, the Conservatives will need to make more radical bids for their support especially on immigration - and ratchet up the message that a vote for Reform means a vote for Labour. But assuming they do, this is shaping up to be another two-horse race. Even if one is a pony with only three legs. James Johnson is co-founder of JL Partners polls Robert De Niro has been a vocal opponent of President Trump - Bloomberg In the year 2024, it may seem unlikely that anyone in America, or indeed on planet Earth, has yet to decide what they think of Donald Trump. Robert De Niro, however, evidently believes that such people exist and that, to help these poor confused creatures finally make up their minds, what they desperately need is some expert political analysis from a Hollywood actor. Hence the extraordinary scenes on Tuesday, when the 80-year-old star of Goodfellas, Taxi Driver and The Irishman turned up outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trump is facing trial and, before a startled media, launched into an eye-poppingly frantic diatribe against the former president. If returned to office in November, Mr De Niro gibbered, Trump would declare himself dictator for life and very likely destroy the world. And so, faced with this terrifying existential threat to life on Earth, the only way to preserve our freedoms and hold on to our humanity is to vote for Joe Biden. I dont think you need to be a fan of the 45th US president to find these claims ever so slightly hysterical. For one thing, Trump is about to turn 78. So dictator for life would be an ambitious goal. Hed be doing well to last the four years hed been elected to serve. Im declaring myself dictator at least till naptime. Still, next to Joe Biden, I suppose Trump does look ominously young and fresh-faced. And, given Bidens calamitous poll numbers, perhaps celebrity Democrats like Mr De Niro have concluded that the only way their man can still win is to convince the public that Trump is Hitler, Stalin and Voldemort rolled into one. Unfortunately for them, however, this type of shrieking alarmism is only likely to backfire. As we in Britain saw during the EU referendum, voters are not necessarily persuaded by wealthy liberals warnings of imminent armageddon. Indeed, such an approach can drive voters in the opposite direction. It makes them suspect that theyre being taken for fools. And, in this particular case, they may well think: Look, we all know Trump is crass, egotistical, and has more temper tantrums than a toddler on Red Bull. But destroy the world? Like a baddie from James Bond? Give us a break. The Dems must be totally out of ideas. If thats all theyve got, maybe they deserve to lose. I did say at the start that voters will already have made up their minds about Trump, one way or another. But if anything is likely to make them think again, its being treated like gullible children. So if, come November, the US public refuses to believe that Trump is plotting to bring back slavery, nuke the moon and strangle every kitten in America, I hope Mr De Niro wont be too astonished. Police examine what appears to be a phone at a Buninyong dam during a search, as part of their investigation into the alleged murder of Samantha Murphy. Photograph: ABC News Victoria police have ended their search of farmland south of Ballarat amid forensic testing of items of interest, after finding a phone at a dam during their investigation into missing woman Samantha Murphy. Murphy, 51, was last seen nearly four months ago, when she left her Ballarat East home to go for a run on 4 February. In March police charged 22-year-old Patrick Stephenson with Murphys murder after arresting him in the nearby farming town of Scotsburn. Related: Samantha Murphy: items of interest found in new search for Ballarat woman months after she disappeared In a major development in the search for Murphy, police on Wednesday said items of interest had been found in Buninyong, about 11km south of Ballarat. Footage and photographs from the scene show officers lifting what appears to be a phone on the bank of a dam, although police would not confirm what the items of interest were. Footage also showed some searchers hugging each other after seeing the object at the dam. Murphys phone last pinged off a tower in Buninyong tower at 5pm on the day she went missing. On Thursday morning police said the search of the area had concluded. Police had cordoned off the area on Wednesday and said items they found would be forensically tested. The items were located during todays targeted search, which involved investigators and other specialist units from across Victoria Police and assistance from the AFP, police said on Wednesday. They said further information would be provided after the testing was completed. Detectives had scoured areas of the regional Victorian city after announcing the renewed search. Murphys family had been advised of the search, police said. Police said detectives had conducted a range of inquiries and small-scale searches as part of the investigation. Past searches have zeroed in on Enfield state park, about 25km south of Ballarat, and Buninyong. Searches have also focused on the Woowookarung regional park, known by locals as the Canadian forest, on the south-eastern fringe of Ballarat. Stephenson is due to appear at the Ballarat magistrates court on 8 August. Murphys family reported the mother of three missing when she did not return home from a 7am run on Sunday 4 February. She had told family and friends she planned to go for a 14km run. Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of a 'cull' of his party's Left - Stefan Rousseau/PA Sir Keir Starmer is facing a backlash from the Labour Left after the party announced a flurry of moderate candidates for the election. Four young centrists have been picked to stand for Labour on July 4, prompting accusations that would-be MPs ideologically aligned with Sir Keir are being parachuted into parliamentary seats by Labour HQ. The Labour leader has been accused of a cull of the partys Left, with the row over Diane Abbotts candidacy, the suspension of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the MP for Brighton Kemptown, and the blocking of Faiza Shaheen, a Left-wing candidate. Among Labours new cohort at the election is Luke Akehurst, a moderate member of the national executive committee and a long-time critic of the hard Left. Labour confirmed that he will stand in North Durham, replacing Kevan Jones, the outgoing MP. Another is Josh Simons, the director of Labour Together, a think tank launched during Jeremy Corbyns Labour leadership to reinvigorate the partys moderate wing, who will stand in Makerfield, previously held by Yvonne Fovargue. Labour also announced that Heather Iqbal, a former adviser to Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, will contest Dewsbury and Batley, a new seat in Yorkshire and The Humber. Georgia Gould, the leader of Camden council and the daughter of Philip Gould, a New Labour strategist, is standing in Queens Park and Maida Vale, another new constituency in London. All four were announced on Wednesday. Responding to Ms Goulds selection, Alistair Campbell, Sir Tony Blairs former spin doctor, tweeted his congratulations, saying: Your dad would be so proud of you. But the influx of moderate candidates, in a trend described as the march of the Starm-troopers, has prompted a backlash from the Labour Left. A spokesman for Momentum, the Left-wing campaign group, said: Its back to the bad old days. Westminster insiders are being parachuted into seats they often have no connection with, while local members are denied the chance to pick their own candidates. Never mind that this is yet another promise broken by Keir Starmer. More significantly, it smacks of the entitled behaviour of New Labour, which saw millions turn away from the party in disgust at an arrogant political elite. Sadly, Starmer looks set to repeat the pattern. There was a particularly angry reaction to Mr Akehursts selection, with many taking issue with his stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Some claimed he had deleted reams of posts on X, formerly Twitter, in recent days. Responding to the news that Ms Shaheen would be barred from standing for Labour, Ms Abbott tweeted: Appalling. Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of Left-wingers? On Wednesday night, Mr Corbyn warned Sir Keir that nothing would be achieved by driving people out of the party. Left-wingers have claimed that they are being purged, with disciplinary cases blocking the path for some would-be candidates, often with trade union links. But members of Sir Keirs team argue that they play no direct role in the process, with both disciplinary and selection matters being handled by the national executive committee. Trump claimed on Wednesday: Mother Teresa could not beat these charges. The charges are rigged. The whole thing is rigged. Photograph: Doug Mills/AFP/Getty Images Donald Trumps criminal hush-money case in New York enters its second day of jury deliberations on Thursday with panelists weighing whether a payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels was part of a plot to sway the 2016 election. The jurors deliberated for approximately four and a half hours on Wednesday after beginning their discussions at about 11.30am. Related: Its bullshit: voters on what Trumps hush-money case means to them Outside of the courtroom on Wednesday, Trump ranted about the proceedings and likened himself to a saint, claiming in the hallway: Mother Teresa could not beat these charges. The charges are rigged. The whole thing is rigged. Judge Juan Merchan had instructed jurors for about an hour before they started to deliberate. His instructions on the law were were meant to inform jurors about how they are supposed to consider the 34 business falsification counts Trump faces. In the afternoon, the jury sent two notes to the court. One missive was a request to hear some trial testimony from two key witnesses. The second message was a request to re-hear Merchans instructions to them. After receiving more information from jurors about which instructions they wanted re-read this morning, Merchan went through the requested directives: they wanted guidance about how to interpret evidence and draw inferences from facts. The jurors seemed attentive during Merchans re-reading. Some scribbled on notepads. Others eyed Merchan intently as he read through the instructions. One sometimes handled a pen in a way that seemingly hearkened back to the purpose of a fidget spinner; using the writing implement as passive physical activity while paying attention to Merchan and jotting notes. Trump the first US president, present or former, to face a criminal trial is charged with falsifying business records over his former fixer Michael Cohen paying Daniels $130,000 shortly before the election. Prosecutors contend that Cohen did so at Trumps behest to cover up her account of an alleged extramarital sexual affair, to protect his chances in the race. They claim that Trump, Cohen and the tabloid mogul David Pecker convened at Trump Tower in summer 2015, where they formed a plot to keep unfavorable information under wraps. The Daniels payoff, which came later, was in keeping with that plan. The trial testimony that jurors requested included Peckers testimony about a phone call with Trump, his comments on his handling of the life rights of one woman who alleged an affair with Trump, testimony regarding the Trump Tower meeting and Cohens testimony on said get-together. This testimony was read back to jurors. In total, this reading took slightly less than 90 minutes. Pecker had testified at trial that he had a phone call with Trump where he had apprised him that the Playboy model Karen McDougal had a story about an alleged extramarital sexual relationship with Trump. The then candidate, Pecker told jurors, said Karen is a nice girl and then asked if he should buy her story. With the Trump Tower meeting, Pecker had told jurors: I said what I would do is I would run or publish positive stories about Mr Trump and I would publish negative stories about his opponents, and I said that I would also be the eyes and ears. Cohen had told jurors about the Trump Tower meeting as well, and corroborated Peckers narrative. Trumps ex-lawyer recalled Pecker saying that he would: Keep an eye out for anything negative about Mr Trump and that he would be able to help us to know in advance what was coming out and try to stop it from coming out. In addition to this trial, Trump also faces three more criminal cases: one proceeding for trying to sway the 2020 election in Georgia, another for his behavior around the January 6 Capitol insurrection, and a third one related to his treatment of sensitive documents after he left the White House. These other three cases have been delayed and they are unlikely to wrap before Novembers election. A captured M1 Abrams tank is paraded through Moscow's Red Square - Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Americas Abrams tanks are failing on the battlefield in Ukraine as Russia has labelled them empty tin cans. The US donated 31 Abrams to Ukraine last year in a move heralded as a potential game changer for Kyiv in its fight against Russia. Ukraine had been complaining that its old soviet-era tanks were getting stuck in mud, not firing and constantly breaking down. But the superior US models appear to be faring little better in practice. Speaking to CNN, Ukrainian crews working on the tanks say the Abram M1s are not as robust as touted. Its armour is not sufficient for this moment, said one crew member with the callsign Joker. It doesnt protect the crew. For real, today this is the war of drones. So now, when the tank rolls out, they always try to hit them. The tanks usually come equipped with secret uranium armour, but the US donated modified versions with Chobham armour, the composite ceramic and steel protective material developed in Britain in the 1960s. The move was likely made out of fears the uranium armour could end up in Russian hands. The US donated 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to help the country's war against Russia Ukrainian crews say the fundamental problem is that the Abrams were built for advances aided by air power and artillery, which Ukraine lacks. Russia, meanwhile, continues to make heavy use of drones in its attacks, which the Abrams struggle to defend against. Drones can quickly detect and hunt the tanks, leaving them exposed. One driver told CNN he lost a leg when the tanks armour was penetrated. Ukraine has quietly withdrawn some of its Abrams from the front line to avoid the threat of drones. One senior US official told The Telegraph last month there was not any open ground where they could drive undetected. The tanks inability to live up to their reputation as among the strongest in the world, costing $10 million (8.5 million) each and capable of taking out Russian tanks at a range of 1.9 miles (3km), has been quickly seized on by the Kremlin. In Russia, pundits have described the tanks as empty tin cans. One captured model has been displayed as a trophy from the battlefield in Moscows Red Square. A spokesman for the Ukrainian defence ministry told CNN that Ukraine is now testing and improving equipment that was not initially prepared for our war. We are asking all countries to support us with equipment of any technical capacity levels. We use all of it accordingly. Stacy Gilbert addresses students in 2018. Photograph: US Department of State: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration The state department falsified a report earlier this month to absolve Israel of responsibility for blocking humanitarian aid flows into Gaza, overruling the advice of its own experts, according to a former senior US official who resigned this week. Stacy Gilbert left her post as senior civil military adviser in the state departments bureau of population, refugees and migration, on Tuesday. She had been one of the departments subject matter experts who drafted the report mandated under national security memorandum 20 (NSM-20) and published on 10 May. The NSM-20 report found that it was reasonable to assess that Israel had used US weapons in a way that was inconsistent with international humanitarian law, but that there was not enough concrete evidence to link specific US-supplied weapons to violations. Related: US finds Israels use of weapons in Gaza inconsistent with human rights law, but will not cut flow of arms Even more controversially, the report said the state department did not currently assess that the Israeli government is prohibiting or otherwise restricting the transport or delivery of US humanitarian assistance in Gaza. It was a high-stakes judgment because under a clause in the Foreign Assistance Act, the US would be obliged to cut arms sales and security assistance to any country found to have blocked delivery of US aid. Gilbert, a 20-year veteran of the state department who has worked in several war zones, said that reports conclusion went against the overwhelming view of state department experts who were consulted on the report. She said there was general agreement that while other factors impeded the flow of aid into Gaza at a time when famine has begun to take hold of its 2.3 million population such as lack of security, caused by Hamas, Israeli military operations and the desperation of Palestinians to find food it was clear that Israel was playing a role in limiting the amount of food and medical supplies crossing the border into Gaza. There is consensus among the humanitarian community on that. It is absolutely the opinion of the humanitarian subject matter experts in the state department, and not just in my bureau people who look at this from the intelligence community and from other bureaus. I would be very hard pressed to think of anyone who has said [Israeli obstruction] is not an issue, Gilbert said. Thats why I object to that report saying that Israel is not blocking humanitarian assistance. That is patently false. The state department did not respond on Thursday to a request for comment on Gilberts remarks. Gilbert was one of the experts consulted in drawing up the NSM-20 report, but she said it was taken out of their hands as it approached completion. Sometime at the end of April, the subject matter experts were taken off the report and we were told it would be edited at a higher level. So I did not know what was in the report until it came out, she said. But when the report came out, late on the Friday afternoon [on 10 May], I read it and I had to reread it. I had to go back and print out that section and read it, because I could not believe it stated so starkly that we assess that Israel is not blocking humanitarian assistance. Two hours after it was released, I sent an email to my front office and the team that is working on this, saying I will resign as a result of this, Gilbert said. According to Democratic senator Chris Van Hollen, the NSM-20 report should have been based on an unvarnished assessment of the facts and law. Stacy Gilberts statements further corroborate the concerns I have expressed that the findings of the bureaus and experts most involved with the distribution of aid and compliance with international law were bypassed in favor of political convenience, said Van Hollen. Gilbert was one of two US officials to resign this week over the Biden administrations Gaza policy. Alexander Smith, a contractor for the US Agency for International Development (USAid), who resigned on Monday, said he was given a choice between resignation and dismissal after preparing a presentation on maternal and child mortality among Palestinians, which was cancelled at the last minute by USAid leadership last week. Smith, a senior adviser on gender, maternal health, child health and nutrition, chose to resign on Monday after four years at USAid. In his resignation letter to the head of the agency, Samantha Power, he complained about the inconsistencies in USAids approach to different countries and humanitarian crises, and the general treatment of Palestinians. I cannot do my job in an environment in which specific people cannot be acknowledged as fully human, or where gender and human rights principles apply to some, but not to others, depending on their race, he wrote. Smith and Gilbert bring the total number of Biden administration officials to have publicly resigned over US policy on Gaza to nine, though Josh Paul, the first official to resign, said that at least two dozen more had left quietly, without a public declaration. Im aware that there are other resignations pending in the near future from officials with similar concerns in their own areas of work, said Paul, now a senior adviser at Dawn, a group advocating democracy and human rights in the Middle East and north Africa. Asked about Smiths resignation, a USAid official said the agency could not discuss specific personnel matters and why this individual is no longer employed by their contractor for USAid. Hundreds of staff across the agency are working tirelessly to accelerate aid, to advocate for greater protections for civilians and the improvement of deconfliction, and to advance diplomatic efforts, a USAid spokesperson said. Additionally, agency leadership continues to engage candidly with staff about USAids work and perspectives on the conflict through a range of meetings, town halls, and other forums. The resignations have come as famine is spreading in Gaza, with only a trickle of humanitarian assistance arriving through land crossings controlled by Israel, and the collapse of a US-made pier intended for food deliveries, severely damaged by a Mediterranean storm earlier this week. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his war cabinet, have defied Biden by pursuing an offensive on Gazas southernmost city, Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the Israeli assault. More than 900,000 of them have been forced to flee from the bombing once more in recent weeks. Of those on board, 26 are still in hospital with skull, brain, spinal and bone injuries - PONGSAKORNR RODPHAI/BBC/UNPIXS For some, it was the beginning of a trip of a lifetime. For others, it was a normal journey home, a chance to reunite with friends and family. And as Singapore Airlines SQ321 entered the last portion of its 13-hour flight from London to Singapore on May 21, the pilots, too, were no doubt thinking this was just another day in their office, 37,000ft above Myanmars Irrawaddy Basin. And then, as Singapore Airlines would later put it, the 16-year-old Boeing 777 carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew encountered sudden extreme turbulence. It dropped 54 metres in less than five seconds. But it was enough to provoke a fatal heart attack in 73-year-old theatre director Geoffrey Kitchen, inflict life-changing injuries for others of the 71 treated, 26 are still in hospital with skull, brain, spinal and bone injuries and an incredibly traumatic experience for everyone on board. 73-year-old Geoffrey Kitchen suffered a fatal heart attack on board the Singapore Airlines flight As Jerry, 68, from Reading says: It was the worst day of my life. It was a little bit bumpy and then suddenly its like we fell off a cliff. There were people somersaulting through the cabin. Jerry might count himself fortunate to escape with a minor head injury given he collided with the ceiling at major G forces. Andrew Davies, from Stockton, recalls the surreal, scary experience of seeing people, belongings, phones, cushions, teacups, plates, just hurtling through the cabin. There was coffee on the ceiling and a woman covered with blood from a deep gash in her head. In the seat behind me there was a man who was motionless and they were trying to find a pulse. I got up and helped and they performed CPR but sadly he passed away. The interior of the SQ321, which experienced 19 seconds of extreme turbulence on May 21 - REUTERS It does feel like the word sudden in many passenger accounts and the Singapore Airlines statement is key to understanding (and sympathising with) exactly what happened on board the SQ321. Its a story where descriptions such as terrifying, horrific and complete havoc have been regularly repeated by passengers. It was really really quick, says student Dzafran Azmir. Which is why I think nobody could really respond to it. I was in my chair but I was belted in. I saw people from across the aisle just going completely horizontal, hitting the ceiling and landing back down in really awkward positions. Azmir, perhaps inadvertently, hit upon the real lesson from SQ321. Anyone who was wearing a seatbelt at the time had a deeply unpleasant flight, rather than a life-threatening one. As Australian Ali Bukhari puts it: It was just like going down a vertical roller coaster oxygen masks had all come out, parts of the interior of the plane were damaged I thought that was from the force of the turbulence but a lot of it was just because everyone who wasnt wearing a seatbelt flew right into the air and hit the ceiling. Which is not to apportion blame. Wearing a seatbelt isnt mandatory, and whether the seatbelt signs were on at the time of the extreme turbulence is a matter which will have to wait for the full investigation. The preliminary findings of Singapores Transport Safety Investigation Bureau, published on Wednesday this week, suggest that the pilot switched the signs on 10 seconds into the first altitude changes (the entire incident from first vibrations to levelling out took 19 seconds), some passengers such as Azmir report they heard no such announcements. In any case, anyone walking around the cabin or not strapped in would have had just eight seconds to buckle up before the extreme turbulence event. More unfortunate still, although it was early afternoon local time, the nature of the time difference and the take off time from London late the previous evening meant many passengers were stretching their legs, going to the toilet and getting ready for the meal service. Some may even have been still asleep. The crew was with the breakfast, we were both in our seats, says Spaniard Iago Peteiro Pereda. There was a prior hint of turbulence as he remembered it. Enough for his wife Estrella to put her belt on, at least, and for Pereda to reach for his. But he didnt get strapped in quickly enough. I hit the ceiling and I landed on the armrest, sitting down, in a vertical position. It was very rough, very quick a matter of seconds. Pereda has since been diagnosed with one fracture in his vertebrae and is wearing a neck brace. No wonder Pereda says that everything was a nightmare... people were flying, hitting, blood, things flying around, everything broken. Indeed, such was the sudden force of the incident some still dont remember it at all. Josh Silverstone, a broker from South London, just woke up on the floor with what turned out to be minor injuries. I didnt realise what happened, he says. I must have hit my head somewhere. Not that his lack of recollection is a mercy. I thought I was going to die. I bought some airplane WIFI, and texted my mum, trying not to scare her, and just saying I love you. It was pretty scary. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok - REUTERS The full investigation will no doubt want to ascertain whether the seatbelt signs could have gone on earlier still. The preliminary report merely says the flight was likely flying over an area of developing convective activity. Again, this is not to blame the pilots; turbulence happens all the time and is usually predictable enough that if necessary, the seatbelt signs will go on. Its when clear air turbulence occurs in these weather systems cloudless and difficult to detect that these sudden events are provoked. One suspects the reason SQ321 is still making headlines over a week on is because these passenger accounts contain all the classic tropes of a disaster movie: the violence of the event, the communality of the screams. It is, really, the worst nightmare of any fearful flyer. And yet, here is some comfort. The plane landed safely after diverting to Bangkok. It didnt break up and fall out of the sky that hasnt happened to any commercial aircraft for nearly 60 years. Still, there are always further lessons to learn from events such as these. Singapore Airlines have since implemented interim measures to cease cabin service completely when seatbelt signs are switched on. Experts have also suggested that pilots should be better trained in using their instruments to spot clear-air turbulence. But the take-home from this turbulent week is loud and clear buckle up. Expert pilot: Being a pilot is no longer just about getting in an aircraft and flying they need soft skills 99 per cent of the time we can tell turbulence is going to happen, says pilot Brian Smith, who has been flying aircraft such as the 777 for 25 years. The weather might forecast it, you can see it ahead, air traffic control will tell you that traffic on the same route is experiencing turbulence. So we mitigate that by putting the seatbelt sign on and getting passengers to sit down. But this Singapore Airlines flight is an unfortunate incident which ultimately comes down to the question of whether we want to live our lives risk-free. If you go to the toilet, which you obviously must on a long flight, and that second hit an area of clean air turbulence which hasnt been foreseen or forecast or radioed ahead by another aircraft then Im afraid its just not your day. Theres an element of luck involved. But I must also say that Ive been flying civilian aircraft since 1999 and Ive never experienced severe turbulence. Its exceedingly rare. Smith says that planes are built to withstand buffeting, and deal with moderate turbulence routinely. The problems come when loose objects be that things or people are inside the cabin, he says. Which is why I would always say just listen to the advice we give and keep your seatbelt on while seated. In fact, Smith says the real step change for pilots dealing with turbulence these days isnt so much the mechanics of handling the aircraft through it, but having the soft skills to deal with the aftermath. On SQ321, there were passengers lying in the aisle even as the plane descended into Bangkok, such were their spinal injuries. Others were crying in extreme pain or fear. Panic attacks were reported. And most distressingly, CPR and a defibrillator were being put into action unsuccessfully. Being a pilot is no longer just about getting in an aircraft, starting it and flying, says Smith. You have to manage up to 18 crew and 300 passengers on a 777. So you have an obligation to try and pre-warn and get people strapped in if you can, but then speak with your team if there is any incident, reassure people, get medical assistance and get the aircraft to the nearest suitable airport before getting people off to hospital. Our training is about managing these situations and I think that was certainly the case on SQ321. Emergency services were quick on the scene at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok - Shutterstock Expert steward: Turbulence happens but I dont think we can have stricter seatbelt rules Singapore Airliness temporary suspension of cabin services while the seatbelt signs are on certainly makes sense: it has always felt faintly odd that trolleys of boiling hot drinks can be pushed around by cabin crew appearing to be in a precarious balancing act as their aircraft jolts around the sky. But, as Kristina Galvydte, who was once employed as cabin crew on a low-cost airline, suggests, how sustainable this will be in the long term is less clear. There are margins particularly for the low-cost airlines to make. And even though Hong Kongs Greater Bay Airlines this week made it a requirement for passengers to fasten seatbelts at all times, Galvydte doesnt think their initiative will catch on either. I dont think we can have a seatbelt rule cabin crew would have to police passengers constantly which might result in disruptive situations, she says. But my first thought when I heard about SQ321 was there is a reason why passengers are advised to keep their seatbelts loosely fastened. When I was working as cabin crew, we had a few bad turbulence moments where things flew in the air, bags were falling out of the lockers, and my colleague ended up with a cracked cheekbone. So the main thing is to secure the cabin once the seatbelt signs go on. The reality is that turbulence happens, it just doesnt normally happen as severely as we have seen on this flight. Vivek Ramaswamy is an activist investor in Buzzfeed - Jose Luis Magana While the hit HBO show Succession is done, the drama roiling the very-real media landscape is far from over and a wealthy conservative is trying to show Jeff Bezos that hes not the only player in town. This time, instead of Waystar Royco facing a potentially hostile new owner, its now Buzzfeed News with a big new stakeholder: Vivek Ramaswamy, former presidential candidate and billionaire investor, who wants to shake the company up with a series of interesting ideas. To many, it came as a shock to learn that the Left-leaning blogging site Buzzfeed still existed let alone that a $3 million investment doesnt even amount to 9 per cent of the company, but Ramaswamy addressed that head on in his letter to its board of directors, leading off his 7-page memo by simply stating: BuzzFeed has lost its way. The company has ebbed and flowed over the years, starting off as a blog with cat-themed listicles to publishing the anti-Trump dossier from Christopher Steele in its entirety to winning a Pulitzer in 2021 for its sensational reporting on Chinas mass detention of its Muslim Uyghur population. But times have become tough. Buzzfeed shuttered its Pulitzer-winning Buzzfeed News division in 2023 to prioritise the sister-site Huffington Post, while allowing the Buzzfeed home page to continue churning out content like Bake A Cake And Ill Tell You Which Strawberry Shortcake Aesthetic Is Yours! and 21 Excruciatingly Entitled People Whose Outright Selfishness Will Make You Feel Sick To Your Stomach. Ramaswamy has a three-pronged solution for the ailing website: slash staff, prioritise its successful YouTube expansion over listicles, and make Buzzfeed a bold and distinctive brand. The latter is all but certain to never happen, given that he wants the outlet to distinguish yourself from competitors by openly admitting your past journalistic failures and redefine BuzzFeeds brand around the pursuit of truth. In the short term, Ramaswamys Buzzfeed stake has proven to be great news for the company, which saw its stock surge to around 3 dollars per share following the news. In the long term, its hard to see his vision for the company panning out, in part because it would require a full-blown repudiation of what Buzzfeed is. The former presidential candidate correctly notes a series of stories broken by Buzzfeed that turned out to age worse than, well, Buzzfeed. New media outlets arent exactly in the self-policing business: look no further than the New York Times erroneous coverage of a hospital bombing in Gaza Strip, repeating claims from the terrorist group Hamas that the IDF were responsible, while later admitting errors in presentation. While Ramaswamy concedes that the optics of a former Republican presidential candidate coming in and bossing Buzzfeed around arent great, his business know-how is strong enough to give him a good hearing. In making the case for ideological diversity, he floats a wide variety of content creators, many of whom are free agents due to conflicts with their previous employers. Go for talents across the political and cultural spectrum, he wrote. Be bold. Dont be afraid to challenge your audiences. From Candace Owens to Destiny, Tucker Carlson to Bill Maher, Aaron Rodgers to Charles Barkley, no talent should be off-limits to platform, hire, or acqui-hire. This agenda of mass layoffs and pivot to YouTube is ambitious, to be sure. Unfortunately for Ramaswamy, several of the factors that caused Buzzfeed News to shutter remain firmly in place. In announcing its closure last year, Buzzfeed blamed a pandemic, a fading SPAC market that yielded less capital, a tech recession, a tough economy, a declining stock market, a decelerating digital advertising market and ongoing audience and platform shifts. The symbolic power of Ramaswamys intervention is noteworthy, even if this particular venture doesnt work out. Conservatives have found their voices increasingly marginalised in mainstream media organisations, with moderate voices (such as Uri Berliner at NPR) being no longer tolerated. If Jeff Bezos can take over the Left-leaning Washington Post, why cant Ramaswamy push an ailing media brand to serve the unheard voices of the silent majority? If Ramaswamys efforts pay off, he may have made Buzzfeed great again. If they fail, would anyone even notice? Mayor John Whitmire poses for a portrait in his office at City Hall on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer In the latest wave of departures from Houston City Hall, Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello, known as the citys flood czar, and three other key officials from Mayor John Whitmires office have either left the administration or handed in their resignations. Since the new mayor took office in January, about a dozen department heads and senior officials have left City Hall, raising questions about Houstons future policies on issues ranging from transportation to economic development. LEADERSHIP OVERHAUL: All the major leadership changes made by Houston Mayor Whitmire as he shakes up City Hall Advertisement Article continues below this ad Costello, a former City Council member, was appointed by former Mayor Sylvester Turner in 2016 to oversee flood and drainage projects. He also helped coordinate the citys recovery efforts following Hurricane Harvey and other disasters. He began his career in stormwater and floodplain management in the 1970s and later founded his own consulting firm. As an engineer, Costello championed the passage of a voter-approved dedicated fund for street and drainage improvements, a topic that continues to spark debate in Houstons municipal politics. Costello declined to comment on his decision to leave the city amid this months severe weather events. Whitmire recently told the Chronicle that there were indications earlier this year that Costello was considering leaving. I havent talked to him, to be honest with you. Hes off working on flood and FEMA and Harvey deals, Whitmire said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The chief recovery officer will stay in his role until the end of June while the administration searches for a replacement, according to the mayors spokeswoman, Mary Benton. Three other senior officials on Whitmires team George Buenik, director of the Mayors Office on Public Safety and Homeland Security; Marc Eichenbaum, special assistant to the mayor on homeless initiatives; and Elijah Williams, senior adviser for infrastructure and economic development also left City Hall this month, according to Benton and Whitmire Chief of Staff Chris Newport. A former assistant chief at the Houston Police Department, Buenik was appointed by Turner to lead the Mayors Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security in 2018. The office focuses on preventing and responding to man-made and natural disasters and other major emergencies. Buenik previously announced his intention to retire, and while Whitmires team tried to get him to stay longer, he left his role last Friday, according to Benton. Thomas Munoz, the citys emergency management coordinator, will take on Bueniks role on a temporary basis until a permanent replacement is in place. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Houston experienced three severe weather events in 2024, and Tom has done an outstanding job leading our emergency operations, Whitmire said in a Thursday statement. His leadership is unmatched, and I know he is the right person to serve as acting director. He will keep Houstonians informed, prepared, and protected. Eichenbaum, another Turner appointee, also left earlier this month. Over the past seven years as a special assistant to the mayor, he spearheaded Houstons homelessness initiatives and worked with partners to help house tens of thousands of residents. The mayor does not have plans to fill Eichenbaums vacancy and intends to pass over his responsibilities to Housing Director Mike Nichols, according to Newport. Nichols, recently appointed by Whitmire, spent five years as the Coalition for the Homeless' chief executive officer before joining the city. Marc did a great job, but Mikes got pretty deep relationships in the homelessness space, Newport said. Weve already had a number of meetings with the nonprofit partners, so that shouldnt skip a beat. TRANSIT POLICY: Houston transportation planner resigns as street designs lead to strife Advertisement Article continues below this ad Another vacancy that might remain unfilled is the one left by Williams, who departed last week after only a few months on the job. He previously worked as the executive director for Houstons Energy Corridor and held government roles at NASA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Williams told the Chronicle he made a personal decision to leave the mayor's office and plans to pursue new opportunities in public service. "I appreciate the opportunity to serve and lead on many critical issues during my time at the city," he said. Newport said the mayor plans to distribute Williams responsibilities among existing staff. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Some of the latest departures reflect Whitmires intention to reshuffle key staff positions at the mayors office given the administrations needs, according to Newport. The chief of staff added he does not anticipate more major personnel changes within the office in the immediate future. Pedestrian deaths on Britains roads increased by 6% last year, new figures show. Some 407 pedestrians were killed in 2023, up from 385 during the previous 12 months, provisional Department for Transport (DfT) data shows. A further 18,749 were injured last year. The year-on-year increase in fatalities was driven by a rise in deaths of pedestrians aged under 16 (from 17 to 25) and 60 and over (from 172 to 194). Joyce Hickson, 89, was killed when a car collided with six pedestrians on a pavement in Church Street, Malvern, Worcestershire, on August 8 last year. Peter Burrow, 91, of Meadow Walk in Colwall, Herefordshire was charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Ruth Billingham, head of campaigns at walking charity Living Streets, said: We all deserve to be safe on our streets. These incredibly upsetting figures show that more needs to be done to protect pedestrians. The next UK Government needs to prioritise safer streets if we are to prevent more people dying or having their lives changed irrecoverably by losing a loved one. Across all road users, a total of 1,645 people were killed in crashes in 2023, a decline of 4% from the 1,711 in 2022. Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart said: Its disappointing that such little progress has been made in reducing the number of deaths on our roads in 2023, and alarm bells should also be ringing about the increase in the number of pedestrian fatalities. It is a stark reminder to all parties that an updated road safety plan as well as a national roads renewal programme must be a priority for whomever forms the next government. RAC head of policy Simon Williams said the increase in pedestrian fatalities should be a red flag to the Government signifying just how dangerous our roads still are. He went on: Its extremely concerning that these figures have risen in the two years since the Highway Code was changed with a view to making the roads safer for the most vulnerable users. We hope there isnt a negative link between the two, but with RAC research showing a third of drivers think pedestrians now face greater danger at junctions due to the changes, there seem to be questions that need answering. Any number of deaths on the road is too many, so we strongly encourage the new government not to take these figures lightly and to make road safety a priority. Separate Government figures show 52 pedestrians were seriously injured in e-scooter crashes in Britain last year (Yui Mok/PA) The DfT said pedestrian fatalities have fallen by 13% since 2019, adding that the Governments Think! campaign aims to cut road deaths by changing attitudes and behaviours. Separate Government figures also published on Thursday show 52 pedestrians were seriously injured in e-scooter crashes in Britain last year, with a further 132 suffering slight injuries. There were no pedestrian fatalities. A year earlier, one pedestrian was killed and 60 were seriously injured in collisions involving e-scooters. Six e-scooter users were killed in crashes in 2023, down from 11 in 2022. Private e-scooters cannot be legally ridden on roads or pavements in the UK, but have become a common sight, particularly in urban areas. Trials of rental e-scooters on roads in dozens of towns and cities across England are ongoing. British actor Nicholas Galitzine has been cast as He-Man in a live action Masters Of The Universe film. The star, 29, has found fame in romantic films such as Red, White And Royal Blue and The Idea Of You and period drama Mary And George, with Julianne Moore. It is likely the brunet will undergo a significant physical transformation to play the blonde barbarian who inspired the Mattel toy. The film will be directed by Bumblebee filmmaker Travis Knight but plot details are currently being kept under wraps. Julie Rapaport, head of film production and development at Amazon MGM Studios said: Were thrilled to bring the beloved Masters of the Universe to life and couldnt be more excited to announce the immensely talented Nicholas Galitzine as our He-Man. Joining forces with director Travis Knight, Mattel, and Escape Artists, this reintroduction of the character and his universe will be an epic film that will delight audiences from here to Eternia. Galitzine has become hot property in Hollywood in recent months following the juggernaut success of The Idea Of You, in which he played a boy band member who falls in love with an older woman, played by Anne Hathaway. The film had nearly 50 million worldwide viewers in its first two weeks on streaming service Prime Video, Amazon previously revealed. Mattels Masters Of The Universe were first introduced to the world in 1982 through a line of popular action figures. The animated series He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe premiered in 1983. Toy company Mattel, which makes Barbie, currently has 15 live action films in active development following the juggernaut success of Greta Gerwigs Barbie film. They include films about Hot Wheel, Bob The Builder and Polly Pocket. Race Across The World's Viv and Stephen pictured on the reunion episode. (Studio Lambert) (Studio Lambert) What did you miss? Race Across the World's Viv and Stephen admitted they thought part of the BBC show was "fixed" but they were proved wrong. In the reunion episode, the Race Across the World contestants had the chance to share their favourite unseen moment that didn't make the final edit of the show. Viv shared her "wow" moment was when a stranger let the couple come and stay with her family for free when she and Stephen were "despairing" at Busan port on their way to Sokcho, South Korea. Before taking part in the race, the married retired couple confessed they thought these moments where strangers offer their kindness whether it's help with travel or somewhere to stay was "fixed". However, they were delighted to find out this was not the case at all. What, how and why? Astonishing unseen Race Across the World moment where strangers offered Stephen and Viv somewhere to stay. (BBC screengrab) (BBC screengrab) Viv told the group: "One of my wow moments was when we were at the point of despair, I spotted this lady just watching." Then the astonishing unseen moment from the race was shown on the reunion show where Viv and Stephen spoke to the stranger in Busan. "We have a spare bed if you want to come stay with us, we're in a family room and it's massive!" The stranger shared. In response Stephen made light of the situation, asking if she snored to which she cheekily responded: "Actually I do." Viv told the rest of the Race Across the World contestants of the moment: "We got new energy from people being kind to us. We thought we couldn't give up." Stephen agreed saying: "We went from depths of despair up to elation." Race Across The World's Stephen and Viv in the final. (Studio Lambert) ((Studio Lambert/BBC)) Mother and daughter Sharon and Brydie who were eliminated early in the race returned for the reunion episode. The mother said: "People who are helping you, what do they get out of it? Nothing. They just want to help you." Viv didn't mind sharing she thought this previously had been "fixed" before their own experience of filming the show. She said: "We always assumed it was a bit of a "fix" previously." "Yes, we previously did," Stephen revealed, smiling ear-to-ear. Viv set the record straight on what actually happens. She said: "But in actual fact when it happens to you you are like 'Oh I can't believe'." They then told the group about how the kind stranger let the couple come stay with them. Kindness from strangers Race Across The World's Stephen and Viv had an adventure of a lifetime. (Studio Lambert) ((Studio Lambert/BBC)) In an interview with Yahoo, Stephen and Viv had shared the kindness of strangers was the most rewarding part of race. They were wowed by people's kindness. Stephen said: "We regularly get asked what was the best bit? What was the best place you went to? Its a hard one to answer but singularly the people we met every country were so nice. So supportive. Friendly. Welcoming. Just lovely." Viv agreed: "Sometimes we didn't even have to ask for help. Sometimes they saw us. Sometimes we were crying. They would come over and offer help. Its amazing, the help that they did offer." Race Across the World exclusives Where did Viv and Stephen come in Race Across the World? Race Across the World's Stephen and Viv finished in fourth. (Studio Lambert) (Studio Lambert) Stephen and Viv finished the race in fourth behind Betty and James, signing their place in the book in Indonesian island Lombok. However, they weren't disappointed and were delighted to have completed the race. In the final, the couple realised they weren't going to come first and instead relished in the last leg of the journey. There was an incredibly romantic moment where they danced in the streets. Watch the moment where Alfie and Owen won the 20,000, just beating their nearest rivals Eugenie and Isabel after a tense speedboat race. Watch all of Race Across the World on BBC iPlayer, available now. This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/race-across-the-world-fixed-viv-092351363.html Rayner backs Abbott to stand for Labour and denies purge of left Angela Rayner has backed Labour veteran Diane Abbott to stand at the General Election as the party leadership denied an attempt to purge left-wingers. Ms Abbotts own future remains uncertain after she said she wants to fight to retain her seat as long as it is possible after the party whip was restored following an investigation into controversial comments about racism. Deputy Labour leader Ms Rayner said I dont think theres any reason why Diane Abbott should not stand and the row over her future was not a great look. Her comments are more forthright than party leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has repeatedly said no decision has yet been taken about whether Ms Abbott, who in 1987 became the first black woman elected to Parliament, will be allowed to defend her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat. Uncertainty about Ms Abbotts fate, the suspension of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who was MP for Brighton Kemptown and the decision not to endorse candidate Faiza Shaheen in Chingford and Woodford Green has led to complaints that Sir Keir and his allies are carrying out a cull of the Labour left. Appalling. Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of left wingers? https://t.co/bDNrmACfRN Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) May 29, 2024 Ms Rayner told the Guardian: I dont think its a purge. I dont know the details of the individual cases but I do know that we put a robust system in place around vetting and dealing with serious allegations that are made in the party. We had to do that because when me and Keir took over the party was failing. She told Sky News: I dont think Keir is acting in a factional way. You do have factions in the Labour Party. But you know, our party will only succeed if were a broad church. She added it was not a great look with the way Diane was briefed against. The row meant that for a second day, Sir Keirs General Election campaign has been dominated by questions about internal Labour Party affairs. The uncertainty over Ms Abbotts position comes because she had the Labour whip suspended in April 2023 pending an investigation after she suggested Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice but not racism. The whip was restored on Tuesday, but Ms Abbott said she was dismayed by reports that she could be barred as a candidate. There has been speculation the return of the whip could have allowed her to retire with dignity. Ms Rayner told The Guardian: I want to see her be able to retire with her 37 years of service being respected and being celebrated. But if Diane wanted to stand again, I dont see any reason why she cant. Sir Keir Starmer speaks at the launch of Labours six steps for change in Wales at the Priory Centre in Abergavenny, while on the General Election campaign trail (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Speaking to broadcasters in Monmouthshire, Sir Keir denied he was removing left-wingers from the Labour candidates list and said: The situation in relation to Diane Abbott is that no decision has been taken to bar her and you have to remember that she was a trailblazer as an MP, she overcame incredible challenges to achieve what she achieved in her political career. She carved out a path for others to come into politics and she did all that whilst also being one of the most abused MPs across all political parties. But Ive always had the aspiration that we will have the best quality candidates as we go into this election. Mr Russell-Moyle cannot stand in the July 4 election after being suspended by Labour over what he called a vexatious and politically-motivated complaint against him. And Ms Shaheen is consulting lawyers after being the victim of a huge injustice after not being endorsed as the Labour candidate to take on former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith. Im in such shock, but Im a fighter. Sign up to my mailing list below. Ill put out more later today.Its hard for me to put me into words how much your support means to me, from my heart, thank you https://t.co/0sqHZJwov3 pic.twitter.com/5GxXvXIE3U Faiza Shaheen (@faizashaheen) May 30, 2024 She said: At 9pm last night, by email, I learned that Labour has removed me as its candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, less than six weeks before the General Election, after working to win this seat for over four years. Ms Abbott said the situation was appalling and asked: Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of left wingers? Sir Keir was campaigning alongside Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething, who is facing his own difficulties including a no confidence motion due to be debated next week in the Senedd. A Conservative spokesman said Labours campaign has descended into complete chaos with Sir Keir being undermined by his own deputy on Ms Abbotts position. Starmers central claim that he has changed the Labour Party has been exposed as nothing more than a con which is falling apart before the publics eyes, the spokesman added. In other developments: Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey rode down a childrens water slide in a large rubber ring in the latest photo stunt of his campaign. Leader of Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey after he rode down the Ultimate Slip n Slide attraction near Frome (Rod Minchin/PA) Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves ruled out increasing VAT following a claim from Jeremy Hunt she had a secret plan to hike the tax. The Green Party launched its campaign in Bristol, with co-leader Carla Denyer saying they would push a future Labour government to go beyond the timid change they are offering. Reform UK leader Richard Tice ruled out any form of electoral pact with the Tories. Mr Tice said there should be an employer immigration tax to wean firms off the addiction to foreign workers. Musician Self Esteem features on a star-studded bill for a new theatre production which will see each artist perform a script they have never seen before. The world premiere of Echo, which stands for Every Cold-Hearted Oxygen, will run at the Royal Court Theatre as part of Londons international festival of theatre (Lift) from July 13 to July 27. British singer Self Esteem, real name Rebecca Lucy Taylor, is joined on the line-up by Mr Bates vs The Post Office star Toby Jones, Fiona Shaw from Killing Eve, Olivier Award-winning actress Kathryn Hunter and Meera Syal from Goodness Gracious Me. Toby Jones (Suzan Moore/PA) The fear is so loud that I know its the right thing to do, Taylor said. It comes after Taylor landed her first West End role in a production of Cabaret opposite musician Jake Shears, playing the characters of Sally Bowles and The Emcee respectively. She said: Alarmingly my gut is telling me to choose interesting and challenging projects when it comes to my acting career. I am honoured and terrified to be asked to be a part of this insanely special event. The three-week run will see a different performer take to the stage each night with a script they have not seen, which is said to become their guide as they journey through the story of the playwright. Meera Syal with the Bafta Fellowship award at the Bafta Television Awards 2023 (Jeff Moore/PA) The production has been written by acclaimed Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour and is directed by Omar Elerian. The production is said to confront what it feels like to be an immigrant in time, where no one travels yet everybody can be present. Syal, who was awarded a Bafta fellowship in May 2023, said: I had the pleasure of working with Nassim Soleimanpour on Red Rabbit White Rabbit and it is simply a unique theatrical adventure for both actor and audience. Delighted to be included in the next journey at the Royal Court with the extraordinary talents of Nassim and Omar Elerian. Have no idea what is going to happen but thats the magical buzz of this experience. Cant wait. An additional 10 artists and dates for each performer will be announced in the coming weeks, it was confirmed. Hunter said: I am excited to be a part of project Echo for Lift at the Royal Court. Working with Omar Elerian on Ionescos The Chairs was both hugely inspiring and challenging; a leap into the unknown; this project promises to be no less, for performers and audience alike. A Tory parliamentary candidate has said excrement was put through the letterbox of her constituency office. Katherine Fletcher, who is standing for re-election in South Ribble for the Conservatives, said the act was an attempt to bully me. She added that a volunteer discovered the substance and police are looking into the matter. Women in public life get more than their fair share of s*** but really ???? To the bully trying to intimidate me during this election wrong person to try it on with the #southribble police are now looking for you pic.twitter.com/5AZsvcckDP Katherine Fletcher SR (@K_Fletcher_MP) May 30, 2024 In a video posted to X on Thursday, Ms Fletcher said: Today the police are at my office because somebody has put excrement through the letterbox. One of my volunteers had to find that this morning. Now, I understand that women get more than their fair share in political environments, but this attempt to bully me will not work because it is not the decent or right thing to do. Im working hard for South Ribble. Ive delivered loads I want the opportunity to do more. And so to the bully that did this: not the right person. (PA Graphics) A 31 million package to boost security measures for politicians including providing MPs with a dedicated police safety liaison was introduced by the Government in February. It came amid heightened tensions caused by protests around the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Justice minister Mike Freer, who is not standing at the General Election because of threats to his safety, said the extra cash was not actually going to the root cause of why people were targeting MPs. Ms Fletcher, who served as transport minister and minister for women under Liz Truss in 2022, has represented the South Ribble constituency in Lancashire since 2019. A hand holding four hundred dollar bills that are on fire Image source: The Motley Fool/Upsplash Medical bills are often unavoidable, and they can also cause a huge financial strain. Americans owe a whopping $220 billion in medical debt, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. And all told, roughly 14 million people owe more than $1,000 in medical bills. Since medical bills can be such a burden, you need to be careful when paying them. And that means avoiding these all-too-common mistakes. 1. Not making sure the charges were run through insurance Just because you hand over your health insurance card before a medical appointment does not automatically mean your insurance is getting billed for your visit. If you receive a bill that seems unusually large relative to your typical bills, perhaps your provider billed the wrong insurance or simply forgot to run the charges through your insurance altogether. So don't just assume you owe the money and pay it. The best way to know is to log into your account on your health insurance provider's website and see if you can find a claim that matches the appointment or service you're being billed for. If there's no such claim, contact your provider to see what insurance, if any, was billed. Then, confirm your insurance provider and ID number and ask that the claim be submitted. 2. Not confirming the correct billing codes were used Medical billers aren't perfect. Unfortunately, sometimes, all it takes is a transposed or incorrect billing code number for an insurance company to reject a claim for services. If you've received a bill that leaves you owing more money than expected, log into your account and review your claim or explanation of benefits to see why it was rejected. Or, call your insurer and ask. If it's a billing code issue, your insurer will likely have you go back to your provider and ask it to resubmit the claim using the correct code. 3. Charging costs on a credit card before asking about payment plans Even with medical insurance, you may end up in a situation where you can't afford your healthcare bills in full. This may happen if you haven't yet met your deductible for the year and therefore have to cover the cost of a given appointment in full. For example, if you have a $1,500 deductible and you receive treatment costing $1,000, that entire $1,000 is on you. You may be inclined to charge your medical bill on a credit card and pay it off over time. But that could end up costing you a lot of money in interest. If it takes you a year to pay off a $1,000 balance at an APR of 20%, you're handing over an additional $112 to your credit card company. A smarter move may be to talk to your provider about a payment plan. You may be eligible for a payment plan at 0% interest, or considerably less interest than what your credit card will charge you. Also, credit cards let you get away with making just your minimum monthly payments. But that could cause a balance to linger for longer than it should, resulting in higher interest costs. With a payment plan through a provider, you may end up paying off your bill much sooner if you work those monthly payments into your budget. It's unfortunate that healthcare has the potential to be so expensive -- even when you're insured. Do your best to avoid these mistakes, so you don't cost yourself money needlessly. Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025 This credit card is not just good it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. 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. A man convicted of killing an elderly couple in 2004 is set to be executed by Alabama on Thursday, which will make him the second man executed in the state this year and the sixth in the country. The execution of Jamie Ray Mills, 50, comes about four months after that of Kenneth Eugene Smith, who was put to death by nitrogen gas despite his objections to the method. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall noted in a statement that Smith's execution "marked the first time in the nation and the world that nitrogen hypoxia was used as the method of execution," saying the state "has achieved something historic." Four days after that execution, Marshall filed a motion to set Mills' execution date, writing that it was time for his death sentence to be carried out. There is no doubt that Mills committed those offenses," he wrote. "Mills' convictions and sentence are final." The Alabama Supreme Court approved Marshalls request for execution on March 20, allowing Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to set Thursday's execution. Heres everything to know about Mills' execution. Jamie Ray Mills will be executed by the State of Alabama on Thursday, May 30 in connection with the murders of an elderly couple in June 2004. Jamie Mills execution date, time set Mills is set to be executed at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, about 50 miles northeast of Mobile. The execution is not set for a specific time but rather a 30-hour window that will begin at 12 a.m. Thursday, May 30, and end at 6 a.m. on Friday, May 31, according to reporting by The Montgomery Advertiser, part of the USA TODAY Network. Mills will be put to death by lethal injection, considered a primary method of execution by all states and the federal government, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. The kinds of drugs or combination of drugs vary across jurisdictions, with states using one, two, or three drugs to put inmates to death. The drugs vary depending on availability and many states have struggled to obtain the drugs as sometimes overseas suppliers decline to be involved in the death penalty. Most three-drug protocols use an anesthetic or sedative, followed by a drug to paralyze the inmate, and finally a drug to stop the heart. The one- and two-drug protocols typically use an overdose of an anesthetic or sedative to cause death, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. The Alabama Department of Corrections has not answered USA TODAY's request for which drug or drugs they plan to use on Mills. They also haven't said what his last meal request is. More: Alabama governor sets 2nd execution using controversial nitrogen gas method Mills seeks relief, attempts to delay execution with litigation Mills argues that ex-wife JoAnn Mills, who testified against him in connection with the 2007 murders of Floyd and Vera Hill, lied on the stand. Floyd, 87, and Vera, 72, were beaten to death and robbed in their home in Guin, about 70 miles northwest of Birmingham. JoAnn Mills was considered a key witness in the case, testifying that she saw her husband kill the Hills with a ball peen hammer, tire tool and a machete, according to court documents filed in Marion County. The couple was arrested a day after the murders, and were found with an assortment of items that connected them to the crime scene, court records show, including the suspected murder weapons in their car. Jamie Mills asserted that the physical evidence collected not only proved his innocence, but supported the theory that he was framed by a local drug user he says had access to his vehicle on the night the Hills were killed. He says it calls into question not only the reliability of the capital trial verdict in this case, but also the integrity of the court, according to the April 5 motion. About two weeks later, Jamie Mills filed another motion alleging that he might be strapped to the execution gurney for an extended period of time, which he says is unnecessarily cruel." There is an imminent risk at play, his attorneys argue in the April 26 filing, saying that he could be subject to an unnecessarily prolonged and tortuous execution at the hands of state officials with unreviewable authority. Jamie Mills has asked the court for access to his attorney over the course of the execution, citing examples of four inmates were either executed or were subject to attempted executions that he argues were carried out improperly and caused unnecessary suffering. Alabama attorney general address Jamie Mills' claims All of the allegations Jamie Mills has brought forth in the weeks leading up to his execution could have been made earlier, according to a May 17 response by Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall. For a condemned inmate without the law or facts on his side, the best chance of delaying his execution is by filing multiple lawsuits in hopes of overwhelming the Eleventh Circuit and Supreme Court at the last minute, causing the execution to be carried out under a "compressed or untenable timeline, according to court records. Jamie Mills has yet to provide any new evidence that could actually help clear his name, and instead he is unwilling to believe that JoAnn might have simply done the right thing in testifying against him," according to Marshall. JoAnn Mills was only offered a life sentence instead of the death penalty because of the "sincerity and remorsefulness" she showed on the stand, according to Marshall. Claims by Jamie Mills about the validity of JoAnn Mills' testimony were improper, untimely, and meritless, serving as a way to a further delay the execution, Marshall wrote. He also dismissed concerns of unnecessary cruelty that Mills could face at the hands of the corrections department, saying there's no data to support the claim that he could be strapped to a gurney for an unconstitutionally long time. Marshall says that there is no constitutional right that would grant Jamie Mills the ability to have lawyers in the execution chamber. Courts reject last-minute appeals from Jamie Mills This week the 11th Circuit Court of Criminal Appeals denied two defense motions seeking a delay in Mills' execution The defense can still seek a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court. Two federal judges denied Mills petitions for relief last week, both stating that he could have brought the information forward several years ago. Emily Marks, a judge for the Middle District Court of Alabama, wrote in a May 21 response that the claims made against the the corrections department were barred by statute of limitations. The delay in making these claims known recently is unreasonable, unnecessary, and inexcusable The practice of filing lawsuits and requests for stay of execution at the last minute where the facts were known well in advance is ineffective, unworkable, and must stop, Marks wrote. Marks did acknowledge that the correction department has been known on several occasions to subject inmates including Joe James, Alan Miller, and Kenneth Smith to prolonged executions or execution attempts during which those inmates were unnecessarily strapped to the execution gurney. But it was up to Mills to bring the allegations forward sooner, Marks wrote. Contributing: Amanda Lee Myers and Marty Roney This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama to execute Jamie Ray Mills in couple's murder. What to know Otter 841 has reappeared in northern California waters after shooting to fame last year for her surfboard-stealing ways. Photograph: Dustin Mulvaney Otter 841, who shot to international fame last year for her surfboard-stealing interactions with northern California surfers and kayakers, has been spotted recently after disappearing for several months. Over Memorial Day weekend, photos of the now six-year-old otter posted to social media showed her floating on her back at Steamer Lane, a popular surfing spot in Santa Cruz. She was identified by her signature blue tag attached to one of her flippers. When you and a friend spot each other after a long absence #841 pic.twitter.com/nMO1PG3MLQ Native Santa Cruz (@NativeSantaCruz) May 27, 2024 Otter 841 began making waves last summer after Mark Woodward, a local photographer, began posting images and videos to social media of her biting and commandeering surfboards. People were captivated by her fearlessness when interacting with humans and quickly projected human motivations to her behavior. When Dustin Mulvaney, a Santa Cruz resident who has also posted several photos of otter 841 to social media, heard about the most recent sighting from Woodward, he and his children biked over to the cliffside above her usual hangout and caught a glimpse and photo of 841. It wasnt too surprising since its her usual spot, Mulvaney said. Last time I saw her was December or November. As her star rose last year, people began to fill the waters she frequented to get an up-close look at her. These actions, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said, were incredibly dangerous to both the otter and humans, since otters have sharp teeth that they use to bite through shellfish. Theyre extremely charismatic animals, so it doesnt surprise me that when you put one on a surfboard, it becomes meme-able, Mulvaney, who is also an environmental studies professor at San Jose State University, said of 841s notoriety. I think its cool because people are surprised to hear the story of sea otters and how their population was driven down to nothing. Related: Catch her if you can: viral surfboard-swiping otter is on the loose, and fans love it Otter 841s celebrity came amid growing acknowledgement of the role that sea otters can play in keeping kelp forests healthy. Before the fur trade drove them to near extinction, sea otters once roamed the waters of North America from Alaska to Baja California. They are the smallest marine mammal in North America at up to 4ft long and 70lbs, and play an integral role in the coastal ecosystem and are known to help keep sea urchin populations in check, which is vital to protect kelp forests. Today, a small population of southern sea otters lives on Californias central coast and the threatened animal occupies just 13% of its historic range. Soon after 841 came to national prominence, staff with the FWS and the Monterey Bay aquarium attempted to lure her into nets so they could take her in for a medical exam before transferring her to an aquarium. But 841 wasnt having it. She managed to evade her captors time and time again. In October 2023, 841 made headlines once more when she was spotted floating along with a pup lying on top of her. After the birth of her baby, she took a break from public life to raise her, according to the FWS. Between October 2023 and April 2024, 841 gave birth to and successfully raised a pup. While she was caring for her pup, 841 largely avoided interactions with people, the service said in a statement. They also reiterated that people should avoid interacting with 841 and her marine mammal comrades. If approached, the service recommends moving as far away from them as possible, and if an otter decides to trail you, splashing water or making yourself big will help to scare it away. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo joins Houston and federal officials in a press conference regarding recovery and assistance after a derecho swept through Houston. Hidalgo said Thursday she plans to seek a third term in office. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Thursday she plans to seek a third term in office in 2026. Hidalgo told the Chronicle during a live virtual event that she is really excited to run for reelection. The county executive, who took a leave of absence last year for treatment of depression, said if she can tackle her mental health challenges, she can tackle another campaign cycle. Now, I feel I can do anything, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hidalgo also said she still has work to do work that has been interrupted by a series of disasters Harris County has faced since she took office. Theres some big things I want to get done, particularly on the flooding piece, she said. The judges comments come amid political speculation that she may have sought a statewide position or an appointment in the federal government if President Joe Biden wins reelection in November. PRIMARY FIGHT? Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker considering a run for Harris County judge in 2026 Hidalgos plans also help set up one of the Houston regions marquee local elections in 2026. Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, a Democrat, has been talking to friends and supporters about potentially challenging Hidalgo in a primary election, and Hidalgos last general election victory which she won by fewer than 2 percentage points drew a well-funded Republican opponent in Alexandra del Moral Mealer. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Despite the name, the county judge does not serve a judicial role. He or she serves as the chief executive of the county government, presiding over Commissioners Court and serving as director of the countys emergency management system during disasters. The judge serves 4.8 million constituents, more than the governors of 26 states. Hidalgo stunned many political observers in Houston when she secured an upset victory over GOP incumbent Ed Emmett in 2018, winning her first term in office. She has used the post to broaden the scope of county government into new areas, such as early child care access and affordable housing. President Biden is leading former President Trump in New York but only by single digits in the largely blue state, according to a poll released Thursday. An Emerson College Polling/The Hill/PIX11 survey found Biden leading Trump 48 percent to 41 percent, with 12 percent undecided. When undecided voters are factored in, the incumbents lead stretches to 10 points, 55 percent to 45 percent. Biden also holds a single-digit lead over Trump when independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and several other long-shot candidates Jill Stein and Cornel West are factored in the survey: Biden is at 44 percent, while Trump sits at 38 percent. Those numbers are notable given New Yorks largely blue status. The Empire State voted for Biden over Trump by a much larger margin of 61 percent to 38 percent in 2020. But Republicans are enjoying some favorable tail winds. The poll found that only 39 percent of New Yorkers surveyed for the poll approved of Bidens job as president, and Gov. Kathy Hochuls (D) approval rating is even worse, at 34 percent. When respondents are asked what the most important issue is facing New York, the top issues that New Yorkers point to are also ones that Republicans have leaned heavily on: 34 percent said the economy, 16 percent said immigration and 13 percent said crime. Twelve percent said housing affordability. Independent voters in New York who traditionally voted for Democrats, according to exit polling, have now flipped to lean toward Trump by a margin of ten points, 43% to 33%, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a press release. The polling also found that a majority of New Yorkers believe Trump is guilty of some or all counts in his criminal trial, with 46 percent said they thought he was guilty on every count, 34 percent said not guilty on all counts and 20 percent who believed he was only guilty on some. Kimball noted, however, stark political breakdowns within those numbers. 71% of Democrats would find Trump guilty of all charges, while 71% of Republicans would find him not guilty. Independents are split: 37% say hes not guilty, 35% say hes guilty of all counts, and 29% think hes guilty of some but not all counts, Kimball explained. Overall, 84% of Democrats, 69% of independents, and 46% of Republicans expect the jury to find him guilty of some or all charges. Biden is grappling with underwater approval ratings and polls showing him trailing in many of the battleground states. They also show tighter than expected match-ups in blue states such as New York. While the election is more than five months out, the polling is offering warning signs for Biden and Democrats in what is expected to be another contentious election. The Emerson College Polling/The Hill/PIX11 poll was conducted May 28-29 with 1,000 registered New York voters surveyed. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Bob Menendez outside court in Manhattan earlier this month. Photograph: Alex Kent/AFP/Getty Images Senator Bob Menendez has reportedly procured enough signatures to run for re-election as an independent, even while the incumbent Democrat faces bribery charges over his alleged work promoting the interests of the Egyptian government. NBC News reported on Thursday that Menendez secured the 800 signatures needed by 4 June to appear on the November ballot, although the senators team hopes to collect as many as 10,000 signatures before the Tuesday deadline. Menendezs presence on the ballot could complicate Democrats efforts to hold on to the Senate seat, although Joe Biden won New Jersey by 16 points in 2020. New Jersey will hold its congressional primaries on Tuesday, and Congressman Andy Kim is expected to easily win the Democratic Senate primary. If Kim is victorious, he will face off against one of the four Republican Senate candidates in November. People are fed up with a broken political system that only benefits the well-off and well-connected and fuels corruption, Anthony DeAngelo, senior adviser to Kim, said in a statement. Voters deserve better, and theyll have a chance to vote for change next week and this November. Related: Bob Menendez corruption trial to begin: I look forward to proving my innocence Menendezs hopes for a victory in November appear bleak. A poll conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University last month showed Menendez receiving just 6% or 7% of the vote in hypothetical general election match-ups. But Menendezs candidacy will allow him to fundraise for donations that can be used to help cover his lawyers bills, as campaign finance filings show the senator has already spent at least $2m on legal services. The news of Menendezs candidacy comes as his bribery trial, which began this month, continues to unfold in Manhattan. Menendez has pleaded not guilty to charges that he accepted bribes including gold bars, a luxury car and almost half a million dollars in cash as he promoted Egypts interests in his influential role as chair of the Senate foreign relations committee. Following his indictment last year, Menendez stepped down as committee chair, but he has rejected demands for his resignation. More than 30 members of the Senate Democratic caucus, including fellow New Jerseyan Cory Booker, have now called on Menendez to resign. Menendez has maintained his innocence, but in a video shared in March, he acknowledged that the legal turmoil would prevent him from seeking the Democratic nomination in New Jerseys Senate race. Unfortunately the present accusations I am facing, of which I am innocent and will prove so, will not allow me to have that type of dialogue and debate with political opponents that have already made it the cornerstone of their campaign. New Jerseyans deserve better than that, Menendez said. I am hopeful that my exoneration will take place this summer and allow me to pursue my candidacy as an independent Democrat in the general election. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) tore into former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday, calling her a disgusting human being after she was photographed writing Finish them on an Israeli bomb during a visit to the country this week. The message on the shell, photographed and celebrated by Israels former U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon, read Finish them! America [heart] Israel always, Nikki Haley. Bowman harshly criticized Haley for the comment in a CNN interview, which came as criticism of Israels operations in Rafah has increased after an airstrike over the weekend killed more than 45 people. Nikki Haley is disgusting. Shes a disgusting human being to do that, he told CNNs Abby Phillip. Thats genocidal language, and its the language that has the American people turning against our government. Why do we continue to support not just the consistent attacks in Gaza, but the forever wars? Bowman continued. There are people in our country, their entire lives, me included, it seems like were constantly at war with someone spending trillions, killing millions, while people are suffering and starving and dying right here in our country. The progressive congressman also turned his criticism against President Biden for continued support of Israel despite quickly rising civilian casualties in the conflict and allegations of war crimes brought against the Israeli military. Last week, the U.N.-backed International Court of Justice ordered Israel to stop its operations in Rafah because of the impact on civilians. The court is also overseeing a case labeling the conflict a genocide. U.S. weapons are burning infant children alive and so he has to respond, Bowman urged Biden. We can not send another weapon or another dollar to Israel and [Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu at this point because they have been moving forward with what the ICJ has called a plausible genocide, and everyone sees it. My district sees it, the country sees it. Bowman faces a tight primary for his district, and the Israel-Hamas war has taken center stage after he openly called for a cease-fire in the conflict. His opponent, George Latimer, the Westchester County executive, has strongly backed Israel and received support from AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs turned himself in to the Tuscaloosa County Jail on Thursday on misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Buggs was later released on $600 bond for two counts of cruelty to dogs in the second degree. The Tuscaloosa Police Department found two dogs that were seriously malnourished and emaciated March 28 on the back porch of a house that Buggs had rented, according to court documents. The court filings reported that a neighbor said a pitbull and a Rotweiler mix had been left there for at least 10 days and had no access to food or water. The pitbull was eventually euthanized. Witnesses said Buggs had moved out of the house on or about March 19. A Chiefs spokesman said the team was aware of the situation, but declined to comment. Buggs' agent, Trey Robinson, issued a statement this week saying that the player vehemently denies the allegations and that the dogs didn't belong to him. Under no circumstances does Mr. Buggs condone the mistreatment of any animal, Robinson said, declining to answer further questions. Robinson said Buggs didn't know they were still on the property and is the target of a subversive campaign to shut down a hookah lounge he owns. The 27-year-old Buggs is a former Alabama player who spent three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and two with the Detroit Lions. He joined the Super Bowl champion Chiefs in January as a practice squad player and received a futures contract in February. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 The move comes two months after all 370 99 Cents Only locations shut their doors JHVEPhoto/Getty Dollar Tree location in Houston, Texas Almost half of the 99 Cent Only stores that closed earlier this year when the company went out of business are about to get a new life. On Wednesday, May 29, Dollar Tree announced that it had acquired designation rights for 170 locations of 99 Cent Only stores across Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas with some expected to open as early as fall 2024. The move comes just a month after 99 Cent Only closed all of its 371 stores, with executives citing changing economic conditions as the reason. 99 Cents Only Stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April, before initiating "a process to dispose of its assets, including its inventory, owned real estate and store leases," per the announcement from Dollar Tree. The move "was an attractive opportunity" for the company to get their stores into "priority markets," according to Dollar Trees CEO Michael Creedon, Jr. Related: Dollar Tree Raises Price Cap to $7: See Which Items Will Get Price Hikes ohn Greim/LightRocket via Getty Dollar Tree location As of February 2024, Dollar Tree operated 16,774 locations across North America (in 48 states and Canada), under its Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada brands. Per the company's announcement, it's purchase of the 99 Cents Only locations was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. It now owns the North American Intellectual Property of 99 Cents Only stores, as well as various "furniture, fixtures and equipment." 99 Cents Only's then-interim CEO Michael Simoncic called the decision to close its stores in April "not the outcome we expected or hoped to achieve," citing the "unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting consumer demand, and rising levels of shrink" among other reasons as the cause. "Shrink" refers to inventory loss due to shoplifting, employee theft, vendor fraud and administrative errors. 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 first 99 Cents Only store opened in 1982 and at the time of the closures, the company employed 14,000 workers, per KTLA. "We deeply appreciate the dedicated employees, customers, partners, and communities who have collectively supported 99 Cents Only Stores for decades," Simoncic added. He will step down while Chief Restructuring Officer Chris Wells handles the company's "wind-down." Dollar Tree, which acquired Family Dollar in 2014, previously announced it was closing roughly 1,000 stores under its Family Dollar brand earlier this year. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -A New York state appeals court said Donald Trump can sue his niece Mary Trump for giving the New York Times information for its Pulitzer Prize-winning 2018 probe into his finances and his alleged effort to avoid taxes. The Appellate Division in Manhattan found a "substantial" legal basis for Donald Trump to claim that his niece violated confidentiality provisions of a 2001 settlement over the estate of his father, Fred Trump Sr. A five-judge panel said it was unclear whether Mary Trump's disclosures were subject to confidentiality, or how long both sides intended the provisions to remain in effect. It also signaled that the former U.S. president might deserve only minimal damages, not the $100 million he sought. "At a minimum, nominal damages may still be available on the breach of contract claim even in the absence of actual damages," the court said. Lawyers for Mary Trump said the lawsuit violated a state law barring frivolous cases designed to silence critics and "chill and retaliate against" their free speech. These cases are called strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs. "Mary has made valuable contributions to the public's knowledge of the former president with her unique perspective as a family member," her lawyer Anne Champion said in a statement. "We are confident she will be vindicated as the case proceeds." Champion also said Donald Trump "can claim no injury for the publication of truthful information." Alina Habba, a lawyer for Donald Trump, said he looked forward to holding his niece "fully accountable for her blatant and egregious breach of contract." Thursday's decision upheld a June 2023 ruling by Justice Robert Reed of the state Supreme Court. Reed also dismissed Donald Trump's claims against the Times and three reporters, and in January ordered him to pay $392,639 of their legal fees. In November 2022, Reed dismissed Mary Trump's separate lawsuit accusing her uncle and two of his siblings of defrauding her out of a multi-million-dollar inheritance. The Times' reporting challenged Donald Trump's claim that he was a self-made billionaire. It said he received the equivalent of $413 million from his father, largely the result of "dubious" tax schemes in the 1990s, including undervaluing his family's real estate holdings. Donald Trump has denied wrongdoing. Mary Trump, a psychologist, identified herself as a Times source in her 2020 tell-all best seller, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man." The case is Trump v Trump, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 1st Department, No. 2023-03021. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Rod Nickel) YouTube Former General Hospital star Elizabeth MacRae has died at age 88. Deadline confirmed that the soap star passed on Monday, May 27, in her hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. She had a wonderful life, MacRaes nephew Jim MacRae told local North Carolina outlet City View on Monday. She was bright and articulate. She was still getting fan mail at Highland House. He added, Its sad, but she has crossed the river. She had a wonderful life. The last few years were rough, but she is with my dad, who she adored, her father and mother, sister and husband. She lived a good life. Celebrity Deaths of 2024: Stars We Lost This Year The actress is survived by her five stepchildren, Terry Halsey, Peter Halsey, Hugh Halsey, Cate Halsey, and Alex Halsey Topper. MacRae made her acting debut in the late 1950s, making her television debut in 1958 on The Verdict Is Yours. She went on to appear in television shows such as Route 66, The Fugitive, Gunsmoke, Bonanza and I Dream of Jeannie, among others, throughout her 25-year acting career. She famously starred in a recurring role on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., playing Lou-Ann Poovie, from 1966 to 1969. She also appeared as Betty Parker on The Andy Griffith Show in 1967. So much of a show business career depends on luck and timing, MacRae told North Carolina newspaper The Mount Airy News in 2014. So much depends on lucky breaks. There are so many talented people. MacRae also had an extensive soap opera career, playing Meg Bentley on General Hospital from 1969 to 1970 after taking over for Patricia Breslin, who played the part from 1966 to 1969. MacRae returned to General Hospital for a second stint as Meg from 1972 to 1973. She also appeared as Agatha Dobson on Guiding Light from 1983 to 1984. When it came to her film career, MacRae worked alongside director Frances Ford Coppola for the 1974 movie The Conversation, in which she starred as Meredith. Demi Moore and More Stars Who Got Their Start on Soap Operas After she retired from acting, MacRae focused on her work as a drug and alcohol counselor with the Freedom Institute in New York City, according to her obituary. She and her husband, Charles Day Halsey, Jr. who died earlier this year at age 96 eventually relocated back to North Carolina. (MacRae married Halsey Jr. in 1969.) MacRaes most recent acting role was in 2011 when she voiced various characters in Supernatural: The Animation. According to her obituary, the late actress donated a trove of items chronicling her acting career to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hills Southern Historical Collection. MacRae was inducted into the Fayetteville Performing Arts Hall of Fame in March 2023. Editors Note: A version of this story appeared in CNN Business Nightcap newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free, here. In her cameo in the 1996 comedy First Wives Club, Ivana Trump offers a witty post-divorce kernel of wisdom: Dont get mad, get everything. The 2024 version of that sentiment, at least among a certain class of billionaire women, might tack on an addendum: Get everything, and give it all away as fast as humanly possible. Thats the way MacKenzie Scott, one of Americas single largest philanthropists, has chosen to disburse the spoils of her divorce from Jeff Bezos in 2019. And its a style that Melinda French Gates appears to be emulating, at least partly, in her newly solo philanthropic venture. On Tuesday, French Gates revealed in a New York Times essay that her first project after leaving the foundation she co-founded with her ex, Bill Gates, would focus on advancing womens rights around the world. French Gates said she is experimenting with novel tactics such as doling out $20 million grants to 12 smart people and letting them do with it what they see fit. Im eager to see the landscape of funding opportunities through their eyes. That kind of unrestricted giving is uncommon in the traditionally bureaucratic realm of philanthropy. But its not unheard of, and thats largely thanks to the way women generally, and Scott in particular, have taken a radical, trust-based approach to giving. I think its been the bane of a lot of nonprofits existence is that, if its government grants, they have to comply with a lot of red tape to demonstrate that theyre having an impact, Amir Pasic, the dean of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, tells me. And I think a lot of philanthropies, especially the highly professional foundations kind of emulate that way of looking at things they want you to know how to measure the impact that youre having And nobody asks the nonprofits if these are even the appropriate impact measures. Thats starting to change as more women control the direction of the billions getting disbursed. Women tend to be more social in the way that they approach giving, and theyre more collaborative, Pasic says, citing research from the Womens Philanthropy Institute. Scotts style of giving generous, unrestricted and consistently happening with zero fanfare around it has been a notable departure from the more methodical, top-down approach of large charitable foundations, including the one French Gates co-founded. Now independent of that organization, French Gates is free to take bets on organizations and communities regardless of their size or ability to demonstrate their impact. Scott and French Gates ex husbands, meanwhile, arent getting as many kudos for their charitable work as they might like. Bezos has a history of hyping his big plans just one of many sharp contrasts to Scotts charitable work and told CNN in 2022 that he planned to give away the majority of his wealth (currently estimated at more than $200 billion). But Bezos has not signed the Giving Pledge, a popular way for the ultra-rich to declare their charitable intentions, and many of his big-ticket promises have come under scrutiny. Most recently, Bezos made a $100 million pledge to help rebuild Maui after last years wildfires. But in January, Bloomberg reported that local officials and nonprofits on the island hadnt received any money from Bezos. Gates, with a net worth of $154 billion, has also faced criticism for the Gates Foundations methods. Gatess vast wealth could help the world in far-reaching ways, for example if it were redistributed as cash gifts to the poor, the journalist Tim Schwab recently wrote in The Nation. That cant happen through the Gates Foundations father-knows-best, look-at-me brand of bureaucratic philanthropy. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Michigan during a visit by President Joe Biden in May. Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images Israel's war in Gaza and US support for it has become a major issue in the 2024 election. Some voters are threatening to stay home or cast protest votes over Biden's handling of the issue. But Trump would likely be even more supportive of Israel if he gets a second term. Israel's ongoing war in Gaza and President Joe Biden's continued support for it has become a major issue in the 2024 election. After Hamas killed more than 1,200 people in its October 7 attack, Israel launched a counteroffensive aimed at eliminating the group. That's led to the deaths of over 35,000 Palestinians, mass displacement and looming famine in the Gaza strip, and an international investigation into whether Israel is committing genocide. Here's a guide to where President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump stand on Israel and why some are threatening to stay home or cast protest votes in November. Where Joe Biden stands on Israel In general, Biden has remained staunchly supportive of Israel as it has waged its war in Gaza but over time, he's gradually pushed the country to change its tack in the war. His administration has pushed for a six-week cease-fire, conditioned upon Hamas agreeing to release the remaining Israeli hostages. In February, he described Israel's conduct in the war as being "over the top," and one month later, he announced the establishment of a temporary port in Gaza while urging Israel to do more to allow the passage of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. In March, the US abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire and the release of hostages, allowing it to pass though the administration quickly downplayed the significance of that vote. Biden described Israel's conduct of the war as "over the top" at a February press conference. Nathan Howard/Getty Images In May, his administration halted the shipment of some weapons to Israel amid concerns about the impending invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge. He also threatened to halt further shipments of offensive weapons if a large-scale invasion proceeds, though he has insisted that he will continue to supply the country with defensive weapons. Yet the Biden administration has also cut off US funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the primary source of humanitarian aid in Gaza, over concerns that members of the organization may have been involved in the October 7 attacks. Where Donald Trump stands on Israel Trump, the all-but-certain GOP nominee for president in 2024, has been somewhat murky on the present conflict, criticizing Israel numerous times over the optics of the war. "I think Israel made a very big mistake," he told Israel Hayom in March. "These photos and shots. I mean, moving shots of bombs being dropped into buildings in Gaza it's a very bad picture for the world." At the same time, Trump said in that same interview that Israel should "go and do what you have to do" and that "you have to finish up, you have to get the job done." Trump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2020. Doug Mills/Getty Images As president, Trump was even closer with Israel than Biden is, and he took several steps that benefited the Jewish state, including relocating the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. His administration also recognized the Golan Heights a disputed territory claimed by Syria as part of Israel. Trump has also said numerous times that any Jewish person who votes for Biden or other Democrats should "have their head examined" a missive that many have found offensive, but that signals he would be more staunchly supportive of the country than Biden. The former president has also reportedly pledged to deport pro-Palestinian protestors on college campuses. "If you get me reelected, we're going to set that movement back 25 or 30 years," Trump told a group of Jewish donors in May, according to the Washington Post. Why some voters might cast protest voters or stay at home Given that Trump is broadly more supportive of Israel, one might expect voters who are concerned about Israel's war in Gaza to vote for Biden. That's especially true given that many of the most vocal opponents of Biden's Israel stance are Arab and Muslim Americans, who have long been a scapegoat for Trump's brand of politics. Trump has also made vague pledges to expand upon the so-called "Muslim ban" that he enacted when he was president. But many voters aren't doing that. Hundreds of thousands of voters who might otherwise support Biden have cast "uncommitted" ballots in Democratic presidential primaries this year in protest of his handling of the conflict. While a solid chunk of those voters are likely to vote for Biden in the general election anyway, many say they're still waiting to see Biden change course. Some are even saying it's too late that Biden has supported what they consider to be a genocide, and that there's no way they can vote for him again. For these voters some of whom may have even had family members killed in Gaza they argue that the war outweighs all other considerations. Abdullah Hammoud, the mayor of the predominantly-Arab city of Dearborn in Michigan, told Business Insider in March that even though he believes Biden has been a "transformative" president in terms of his domestic agenda, some of his constituents will never vote for Biden now. "A genocide outweighs all of this," said Hammoud. "Aiding, abetting, defending, and supporting a genocide outweighs all that transformative legislation." Rather than cast votes for Biden or Trump, these voters may simply stay home, or cast so-called "protest" votes for third-party candidates who have no chance of winning, such as Green Party candidate Jill Stein or independent candidate Cornel West. Read the original article on Business Insider Matt Zdun is a data reporter for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at matt.zdun@houstonchronicle.com. Matt earned bachelor's degrees in journalism and economics from Northwestern University. He later got his master's in data science and data journalism from the University of Missouri. By Christopher Bing WASHINGTON (Reuters) - - An unidentified hacking group launched a massive cyberattack on a telecommunications company in the U.S. heartland late last year that disabled hundreds of thousands of internet routers, according to research published Thursday. Security analysts with Lumen Technologies' Black Lotus Labs discovered the attack in recent months and reported on it in a blog post. The October incident, which was not disclosed at the time, took more than 600,000 internet routers offline. Independent experts said it appeared to be one of the most serious cyberattacks ever against Americas telecommunications sector. The researchers said the hackers installed malicious software that disrupted internet access from Oct. 25 to 27 across numerous Midwest states. The analysts found the malware, which continued circulating, on the internet months later through certain file links that the hackers left visible. The report did not name the company that was attacked. Nor did Lumen attribute the hack to a particular country or known group. The researchers said the saboteurs used common methods which made them harder to identify. The internet routers were disabled when a malicious firmware update sent to the company's customers deleted elements of the routers operational code, making them effectively inoperable. Exactly how the firmware update was shipped to users was unclear. We assess with high confidence that the malicious firmware update was a deliberate act intended to cause an outage, Lumen's report said. Destructive attacks of this nature are highly concerning, especially so in this case." A comparison of details and event descriptions in the Lumen report with internet outages on the dates of the attack pointed to one entity: Arkansas-based internet service provider Windstream. A spokesperson for Windstream declined to comment as did the FBI. The National Security Agency and Homeland Security Department referred inquiries to the FBI. The researchers described the potential consequences from the attack as serious. "A sizeable portion of this ISPs service area covers rural or underserved communities; places where residents may have lost access to emergency services, farming concerns may have lost critical information from remote monitoring of crops during the harvest, and health care providers cut off from telehealth or patients records, the researchers wrote. There are few public signs of the incident. On the social media platform Reddit, self-identified Windstream customers posted complaints about a strange outage beginning around Oct. 25, the date noted by Lumen. The Reddit users described how their routers would not connect to their internet provider so they could not access the internet. The users said Windstream was requiring them to return their disabled routers for new devices because a remote fix did not seem possible. It was not clear if the FBI, which is in charge of investigating U.S. cybercrimes, was notified of the hack. But private companies often elect not to disclose such incidents. (Reporting by Christopher Bing; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) Henrik Fisker told staff there would be another round of layoffs on Wednesday, four sources confirmed to Business Insider. Fisker Fisker announced another round of layoffs during an all-hands meeting Wednesday morning. CEO Henrik Fisker said he wasn't directly involved in the decision, sources told BI. Fisker recently appointed a chief restructuring officer who was given sole authority over some of the company's financial decision-making. Henrik Fisker had grim news for his staff when they logged on to a short all-hands meeting Wednesday morning. The electric carmaker was implementing yet another round of layoffs, he said. Four employees who attended the meeting told Business Insider that the CEO and founder attempted to shift responsibility for the latest staff cuts, frustrating some staff who felt he was failing to take accountability for how the company had gotten to the brink of bankruptcy. Henrik Fisker told employees he had not been directly involved in the decision to cut staff and instead said the choice to further reduce the company's workforce was made by chief restructuring officer John DiDonato, two employees who attended told BI. DiDonato, the restructuring officer, is the managing director of Huron Consulting Group and was brought in to help Fisker in April. Fisker was required to install a chief restructuring officer last month after the company missed an interest payment to an unnamed institutional investor and noteholder. The agreement gave the CRO, who reports directly to the company's recently established transaction committee, "sole authority" over decision-making related to a potential sale of the company and "oversight of cash management," according to an April 16 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. "The general gist of the meeting was Henrik was saying 'These are not my layoffs,'" said one worker, who witnessed the meeting and later found out that their role had been eliminated. Shortly after the meeting, dozens of workers found out they'd been impacted by the cut when they lost access to the company's internal systems, two workers who lost their jobs as part of the cuts told BI. The employees later received an email from human resources notifying them they'd been impacted by the cuts, they said. At least one Fisker employee took to the company's internal Microsoft Teams channel to criticize Henrik Fisker's comments, according to a screenshot viewed by Business Insider. "You have not one time taken responsibility for what's going on at Fisker," the employee wrote in the Teams chat, according to the screenshot. "I am here for 8 months and not once did you acknowledge mistakes by our leadership. It's always others." In another comment viewed by BI, a different employee wrote: "We love you Henrick!!!!! Keep fighting!" The recent layoffs represent the latest in a series of cuts at Fisker, including a round last week. The significant staff reductions are designed to eventually bring the workforce down to a group of about 100 employees, one former Fisker employee with knowledge of the issue said. It's not clear how many employees remain. A spokesperson for Fisker declined to comment. DiDonato, the CRO, did not immediately respond to requests for comment ahead of publication. Fisker has repeatedly warned over the past few months that the company may go out of business within the year. On April 29, the company sent notices to staffers, in compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, that they may be laid off in two months if the company can't find a buyer or additional funding. Do you work for Fisker or have a tip? Reach out to the reporter via a non-work email at gkay@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider A California judge ruled that the duct tape attached to Laci Peterson's pants will be retested for DNA over two decades after her husband, now 51-year-old Scott Peterson, was convicted of murdering her and their unborn son, according to multiple reports. The Los Angeles Innocence Project and Scott Peterson, who joined the San Mateo County courtroom virtually from Mule Creek State Prison, continued to try and secure a new murder trial on Wednesday. The goal of the proceedings was to get Judge Elizabeth M. Hill to allow the DNA testing of 17 physical items of evidence including 11 items found near or with Laci and Conner Peterson's bodies, two items from a burglary that occurred across the street from the couple's home and four items connected to a torched orange van containing a blood-stained mattress. "New evidence now supports Mr. Peterson's longstanding claim of innocence and raises many questions into who abducted and killed Laci and Conner Peterson," legal filings say, per ABC News. Hill denied most of the items Peterson requested DNA testing for, but she did OK the retesting of the 15-inch long piece of duct tape that "was found adhering to Laci's pants on her right thigh," CNN reported, citing the judge's motion. A section of the tape was folded over onto itself and underwent DNA testing, and while "the presence of human DNA was found, no DNA profile could be obtained," according to the motion, per the outlet. USA TODAY reached out to the LA Innocence Project. Convicted murderer Scott Peterson is escorted by two San Mateo County Sheriff deputies as he is walked from the jail to an awaiting van March 17, 2005, in Redwood City, California. Laci Peterson killed on Christmas Eve 2002 Scott Peterson was found guilty in November 2004 of killing his wife, Laci, and unborn son, Conner, on Christmas Eve 2002 and dumping their bodies into San Francisco Bay from his fishing boat. Before Peterson's arrest and subsequent conviction, he told investigators that he last saw his eight-month-pregnant wife on that Christmas Eve morning before he went fishing at Berkeley Marina, which is about 90 miles from the couple's home. After an extensive search, a couple walking their dog found the body of a full-term fetus on the shoreline of San Francisco Bay in April 2003. A decomposed body of a woman was then found a couple of miles north of the Berkeley Marina. The bodies were identified as Laci and Conner Peterson. Police arrested Peterson on April 18, 2003, and charged with first-degree murder of his wife and second-degree murder of his unborn child. Investigators' cause for arrest stemmed from Laci Peterson's body being found near where her husband went fishing on the day of her disappearance. Investigators also discovered an extramarital affair with a massage therapist named Amber Frey. Frey worked with law enforcement and testified against Peterson during his murder trial, which began on June 1, 2004. Did the judge grant Scott Peterson a new trial? Judge Elizabeth M. Hill only allowed the retesting of the duct tape for DNA evidence and did not permit a new murder trial for Peterson. Prosecutors argue that Peterson's and the Los Angeles Innocence Project's desire for DNA testing and a new trial only prolongs an already decided case. "We were right then and we are right now, and (it) is inappropriate for the defense to continue to try and find the things to drag this case out, Dave Harris with the Stanislaus County District Attorneys office said, according to CNN. "The state of California has a powerful interest in the finality of its judgments." Hill scheduled a hearing for July 1 to discuss the testing stipulations, NBC News reported. A passer-by holds up a special PM edition of the San Mateo County Times after the reading of the verdict that found Scott Peterson guilty of murder November 12, 2004, in Redwood City, California. Why were the items Scott Peterson wanted to be tested for DNA denied? Hill denied the testing of the items found where Laci Peterson's body washed ashore due to the defense failing to prove they had anything to do with the murders, according to NBC News, citing the judge. The mattress in the van was tested in 2019 and showed no blood, so the judge did not allow DNA testing of that item either, NBC News reported, citing Hill's motion. Attorneys with the Los Angeles Innocence Project also did not prove how the van was related to Peterson's case, the outlet said. A glove and hammer were found in the home of one of the Petersons' neighbors but police never took the items into custody making them ineligible for DNA testing, Hill declared, according to NBC News. Scott Peterson given life without parole after death sentence overturned A month after Peterson's conviction, he was originally sentenced to death. After two appeals, a California Supreme Court overturned Peterson's death sentence but upheld his conviction in 2020. Peterson was resentenced in December 2021 to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and in 2022 he was denied another murder trial. Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Josh Peter, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scott Peterson case: Judge allows duct tape to be retested, reports say An Idaho jury resumed deliberations Thursday in the case of Chad Daybell, who is accused in the deaths of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and Joshua "JJ" Vallow and Tylee Ryan, the children of his second wife, Lori Vallow Daybell. The jury started its deliberations Wednesday afternoon in the trial, which started nearly two months ago, comes after Vallow Daybell's July 2023 conviction of murder, conspiracy and theft. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the case. Chad Daybell, however, could face the death penalty if convicted. Chad Daybell, an author of apocalyptic fiction who owned a publishing company focused on religious works, has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including first-degree murder in the deaths of Tammy Daybell, JJ and Tylee; conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of JJ and Tylee, which also includes conspiracy to commit grand theft by deception; conspiracy to commit murder as well as two counts of insurance fraud in the death of Tammy Daybell. The case first came to national attention after 7-year-old JJ's grandparents, Larry and Kay Woodcock, reported him missing in November 2019. Investigators realized that 16-year-old Tylee had also not been seen since September 2019. Tammy Daybell, 49, died in October 2019, and Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell married two weeks later. The children's bodies were found on the Daybell property months later. A timeline of events in the Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell case Testimony in both Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell's trials highlighted the couple's fringe religious beliefs, which focused on doomsday and divided people into "dark" and "light" spirits. The prosecution in Daybell's case called more than 60 witnesses and the defense called 11, including two of his five adult children. Chad Daybell's children told "48 Hours" in 2021 they believe their father is innocent. Chad Daybell did not testify in his own defense. Prosecutor Lindsey Blake highlighted in her closing argument Chad Daybell's assessment of whether people including Tylee and JJ, and other children were dark and light, and discussed Chad Daybell's belief in his ability to discern what was described as someone's "death percentage," or how close a given person was to death. She also noted that the couple believed an evil spirit could possess someone, turning them into a "zombie." "The problem was that eventually, Chad and Lori taught that if a person was possessed, it meant the body had to die. The individual, the actual spirit of that body, was gone. An evil entity was in that body, and in order to set the person free, the body had to die," she said. Witnesses testified to the couple's affair and the prosecution introduced excerpts from a story written by Chad Daybell about "James" and "Elena," religious figures in a romantic relationship that paralleled Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell's. The pair referred to themselves as James and Elena, and claimed to have been together in past lives. Two of Chad Daybell's children, Emma Murray and Garth Daybell, testified for the defense. Both described their father's beliefs, with Garth Daybell calling them "traditional" Daybell was a longtime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though CourtTV reported he had been excommunicated and said their mother had health problems. Defense attorney John Prior argued in his closing that Chad Daybell is entitled to his religious beliefs and that none of the text messages introduced as evidence establish a conspiracy. "Chad was the target. This author writes about uncomfortable things. He talks about uncomfortable things, he discusses topics that maybe make people uncomfortable but you know what? He has every right to talk about it, and you cannot hold it against him because you don't like the topic or you don't agree with the topic or you don't even understand the topic," Prior said. Vallow Daybell was extradited to Arizona after her sentencing, where she faces separate charges, including conspiracy to commit murder in the July 2019 death of her husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot by Cox. Second American sentenced after ammo found in luggage in Turks and Caicos Trump jury resumes deliberations after rereads of testimony, judge's instructions U.S. may allow Ukraine to hit Russian territory with American weapons, Blinken signals Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, is seen here in November 2023. She has taken a step back from public life in 2024, following her cancer diagnosis. Credit - Mark CuthbertGetty Images A Welsh holiday residence reminisced on social media about a visit from Prince William and Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, posting a previously unseen photo of the royal encounter. Duffryn Mawr Country House, a bed-and-breakfast in Brecon Beacons National Park, shared a post on Facebook in April, relaying it had been a year since the Prince and Princess of Wales stayed at the residence. In the photo, the royal pair can be seen wearing the same outfits that they wore for their visit to Aberfan on April 28, 2023, indicating that the picture was taken the same day. They visited Aberfan to pay respects to families who lost loved ones in the 1966 mining disaster that took the lives of 116 children and 28 adults The Prince and Princess stand side-by-side in the image, next to five members of the Duffryn Mawr Country House staff. In another photo, the royal couples signatures adorn the inns guest book, as well as the date of their stay. The Prince and Princess of Wales during their two-day visit to South Wales Valleys and Mid Wales in April last year Duffryn Mawr Country House pic.twitter.com/oIg3inXZZ6 anna (@tokkianami) May 27, 2024 It's been 1 year since we welcomed William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, to Duffryn Mawr!" the inns team captioned the Facebook post. We were delighted to welcome William and Kate for a night here when they visited The Brecon Beacons. So kind and friendly, it was a pleasure to have them stay here. This photo comes at a time where sightings of the Princess have been far and few between, as she continues to take a break from public-facing duties following her announcement that she was diagnosed with cancer following a planned abdominal surgery, and is receiving preventive chemotherapy. In a video message shared on March 22, Middleton said the diagnosis came as a huge shock and that she and her family had needed time to process the news. Aberfan disaster child survivor David Davies (L), walks with Prince William and Kate Middleton during a visit to the Aberfan memorial garden in Wales on April 28, 2023. Ben BirchallGetty Images Prior to this announcement, Middleton had not been seen in public since Christmas last year, and the internet speculated wildly on her whereabouts and reasonings for her time away from the spotlight. In early May, the Prince of Wales shared an update with the public while visiting James' Place, a charity therapy centre for men struggling with suicidal ideation in the North of England, stating that Middleton and his family as a while are doing well. Contact us at letters@time.com. New research suggests that people who take antacids may be at greater risk for migraine attacks and severe headaches. ingwervanille/Getty Images This article originally appeared on Healthline A study of more than 11,000 adults suggests an association between migraine attacks or severe headaches and acid-suppressing medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). An estimated 20% of adults in the U.S. have GERD, which can cause heartburn and acid reflux. These types of drugs are widely used to treat them. However, the study does not state that these classes of acid-suppressing medications cause migraine attacks or severe headaches. People who take antacids may be at greater risk for migraine attacks and severe headaches, a new study using data from more than 11,000 people suggests. The study, published in Neurology Clinical Practice, [EMBARGOED UNTIL 4PM EST], identified the potential link between proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like esomeprazole (Nexium) and omeprazole (Prilosec), antacid supplements, and histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs) like famotidine (Pepcid AC) or cimetidine. The risk of migraine and severe headache, when compared with people who used no acid-suppression therapy, was 70% higher for those using PPIs, 40% higher for those using H2RAs, and 30% higher for those taking generic antacids. All drugs examined in the study were prescription only. The data did not look at most over-the-counter medications. Some of them were made available at nonprescription strength during the study, but those were not included. Acid reflux, a condition in which stomach acids and contents can return to the esophagus, causing irritation, burping, and burning pain, is an aspect of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, about 20% of Americans have GERD. Those who are overweight or obese, pregnant, or either smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke regularly are at the highest risk for GERD, but anyone can develop it. The study used data from adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from the years 1999 to 2004. That survey is a cross-sectional analysis that has been continuously conducted since 1999, but only in those first five years did it contain a question about headaches and migraine attacks. The study results are associative, so the results do not suggest that antacids are causing migraine episodes or severe headaches. How are acid reflux and migraine episodes connected? Dr. Medhat Mikhael, MD, pain management specialist and medical director of the non-operative program at the Spine Health Center at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA, who was not involved in the study, told Healthline that theres not one known connection between acid reflux and migraine episodes, but all PPI drugs, H2 blockers, and antacids are known to produce side effects like headache, nausea, and fatigue. One theory is that it is a problem with the persons central nervous system or glutamate level, which is one of the pain pathway facilitators, and that might link acid reflux disease and headaches, Mikhael said. When acid is overproduced and retained, it causes an inflammatory cascade in the mucosa of the stomach and esophagus. He noted that several mechanisms could be behind the triggering of the headache or migraine. The first would be the use of PPI, as the class of drugs can interfere with the absorption of magnesium and other vitamins, which then can trigger headaches and worsen migraine episodes. Another theory is the inflammatory cascade reaction that starts at the GI level can trigger the central nervous system to facilitate the release of the calcitonin gene-related peptides that would trigger migraine, Mikhael added. Dr. Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, who was also not involved in the study, told Healthline that, in general, high levels of stress could create conditions for GERD or migraine. In my clinical practice, I see countless patients with increased life stress causing disabling headaches, and many of these patients increased life stress also causes disabling GERD, Segil said. It is challenging as a neurologist to explain why any stomach acid level-changing medications would cause a change in a patients brain to increase or decrease the frequency of headaches or migraines, but it easy as a neurologist to blame increased life stress on causing patients to have migraine headaches and GERD. Why are proton pump inhibitors so associated with migraine episodes? PPIs are a widely used treatment for GERD that can halt the production of acid and relieve heartburn. They take longer to take effect than H2RAs but tend to have more lasting results, with the intended use being between four and 12 weeks. Mikhael pointed out that PPIs effect on magnesium absorption in the body could have a strong role in the development of migraine episodes or severe headaches, and the fact that this class of drug is so often used could be a possible connection. Segil again pointed to stress as a significant factor but noted the connection between strong GERD and headaches. Proton pump inhibitors are the most potent acid-decreasing medications available and are newer and work better than old H2(histamine) blocking medications and antacids, Segil said. Patients with increased life stress would be expected to produce more acid as a stress response, which is what I see in clinical practice. Patients with increased life stress would also be expected to have more frequent headaches, Segil said. He added, I am not surprised to see the treatment group requiring the strongest acid-decreasing family of medications, PPIs, to have the most frequent headaches as a comorbidity. I was surprised to see the placebo group in the weakest of the stomach acid-producing medications to have the highest number of migraines, which was 20% of the placebo group versus 22% of the patients taking antacid supplements. Takeaway A study of more than 11,000 adults suggests an association between migraine attacks or severe headaches and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like esomeprazole (Nexium) and omeprazole (Prilosec), antacid supplements, and histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs) like famotidine (Pepcid AC) or cimetidine. An estimated 20% of adults in the U.S. have GERD, which can cause heartburn and acid reflux; these drugs are widely used to treat them. The study does not state that these classes of acid-suppressing medications cause migraine episodes or severe headaches; its an associative finding from existing data. View the original article on Healthline A Minnesota man has been arrested after police say he killed and dismembered his pregnant sister last week and placed her body parts on a stranger's front porch. Jack Joseph Ball, 23, of Lakeville, is charged with second-degree murder with intent and second-degree murder of an unborn child in connection to the death of his 30-year-old sister, Bethany Ann Israel, court records filed Tuesday in Dakota County District Court show. The killing reportedly took place May 23 at Ball's home in Lakeville, about 20 miles south of Minneapolis, according to the Lakeview Police Department. $15 Big Macs: As inflation drives up fast food prices, map shows how they differ nationwide Mom discovers 'a substantial amount of blood,' court papers say According to a five-page criminal complaint, police responded to Ball's home about 11 p.m. after the siblings' mother called 911 and reported she thought her daughter had been killed inside the residence. The mother told arriving officers her daughter visited her son's home to have dinner earlier in the evening and when she did not hear from her, she went to the home to check on her. She told police when she arrived, her son "tore out of the house" and when she went inside, court papers show, she saw "a substantial amount of blood" and called for help. Officers with the Lakeville Police Department arrested a 23-year-old man after they allege he killed his pregnant sister and dismembered her on May 23, 2024. Fatal FedEx crash: 5 family members killed after FedEx truck crashes into SUV in south Texas Brother's journal reveals anger about sister's pregnancy Officers entered the home and found a large amounts of blood in the kitchen and discovered a "bloody saw, hatchet, and large, bloody, knives," the complaint reads. They also reportedly found "several dismembered body parts" in the home and another bloody knife on the living room floor. In the home, the complaint continues, police found journals and handwritten notes from Ball expressing his anger Israel was pregnant and "no longer innocent." A body part on the front porch While searching for the suspect, police received a 911 call from a resident in Rosemount, a community about 11 miles northeast, reporting they watched a man through their Ring security system place a body part on their front porch. Arriving officers located a dismembered body part believed to belong to Israel and during a search of the area around the home, found Ball near a shed in a neighboring backyard. He was covered in blood and had a "self-inflicted knife wound across his throat." A further search of the area, the affidavit continues, found additional body parts belonging to the victim. An autopsy revealed Israel died as a result of "complex homicidal violence" and was about 18 weeks pregnant when she was killed. Ball was arrested and remained jailed without bond on Thursday, records show. Ford recall: Ford recalls 109,000 Lincoln Aviator vehicles: Cellphones could cause issue with rearview camera GoFundMe describes woman as 'a cherished wife, daughter, sister' According to an online fundraiser created by Kylie Contreras, Israel was "a cherished wife, daughter, sister, and an expectant mother but also a beloved figure in the volleyball community." "Bethanys radiant spirit and unwavering kindness touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her," the fundraiser created to help raise money for funeral arrangements and her husband, Josh Israel, through financial hardship, reads. As of Thursday it had raised more than $34,000 since it was created Tuesday. USA TODAY has reached out to Contreras. 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: Man kills pregnant sister in Minnesota, dismembering her: court papers The US has permitted Kyiv to use its weapons to strike Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv - HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Joe Biden has bowed to international pressure to allow Ukraine to use American weapons to strike Russian territory after the head of Nato said the time has come to overturn the ban. The US has given Kyiv permission to use its weapons to strike Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, according to two US officials. The unnamed officials insisted the US policy preventing Ukraine from using American-provided long-range missiles to strike inside Russia has not changed. The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them, a US official told Politico. It comes after Jens Stoltenberg, Natos secretary-general, said the time has come for restrictions to be lifted, after France and Germany earlier this week signalled an easing of their own rules. Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, reassured Czech leaders that progress was being made on the issue in meetings on Thursday at the beginning of a two-day summit of Nato ministers in Prague. It is rare for any Nato chief to directly put pressure on a US president and Mr Stoltenbergs intervention was described as surprising by diplomatic sources. Allies are delivering many different types of military support to Ukraine and some of them have imposed some restrictions on the use of these weapons these are national decisions, Mr Stoltenberg said in a speech ahead of the gathering. But I think that in light of how this war has evolved the time has come to consider some of these restrictions, to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves. Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance's secretary general, said the time has come to 'enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves' - Shutterstock In recent weeks Kyiv has repeatedly urged its Western allies to allow the use of their long-range weapons to strike military targets on Russian soil. It was surprising, a diplomat said of Mr Stoltenbergs campaign to support Ukraines push. As important as it was, it is not for the secretary general to be giving advice to individual allies on bilateral issues. A growing number of European countries, including Britain and France, have granted Kyiv permission to use Western missiles against Russian military targets before they cross the border. Moscow is massing troops on the border with Ukraine ahead of a long-awaited summer offensive. But Washington, Ukraines key military backer, had until now refused to approve the use of weapons like the long-range Atacms missiles to strike troops or logistics hubs inside Russia. Ukraine firefighters after a Russian attack on residential area in city of Oleksievo-Druzhkivka - Anadolu/State Emergency Service of Ukraine President Biden was said to be reluctant amid fears the move could drag Nato into a wider conflict with Russia, a nuclear superpower. But on Thursday, he was reported for the first time to be edging towards a U-turn on the issue as Mr Blinken said the US regularly adjusts its position in response to events on the battlefield. Im confident well continue to do that, he said at a news conference in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. The Kremlin on Thursday said Nato members calling for relaxed rules on Western weapons were provoking Kyiv into prolonging the war. Dmitry Suslov, an influential think-tank analyst linked to Vladimir Putins regime, said Russia should consider a demonstrative nuclear explosion to warn the West against its missiles being used in cross-border strikes. Despite the threats, there was a mounting expectation amongst European allies in Prague that Washington would soon overturn its ban. They [America] are looking into this. From what I understand there will be progress, a senior Czech official familiar with the discussions told The Telegraph. The source credited president Emmanuel Macrons decision this week to allow French weapons to be used to neutralise Russian targets over the border. Jan Lipavsky, the Czech foreign minister, told reporters: I feel that we are moving on that in the international sphere. Mr Blinken was said to have changed his mind on the use of American weapons after he was warned by president Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine could lose Kharkiv, its second-largest city, on a sobering visit to Kyiv this month, The New York Times reported. An anonymous US official told the newspaper that it was inevitable that Mr Biden would reverse the ban. The White House is also understood to be cautious about allowing Ukraines position on the battlefield to deteriorate too much ahead of Natos 75th anniversary summit in Washington in July. Sources said Russian advances would be used by Donald Trump, who is expected to be officially named the Republican presidential candidate days after the gathering, to further undermine Mr Bidens flagship policy of defending Ukraine. 03:12 PM BST Todays live coverage has ended Todays live coverage has ended. Thank you for following the days events. 02:50 PM BST Ukraine to get up to 100,000 Czech shells in June Ukraine will receive 50,000-100,000 shells in June under a Czech-led initiative to buy ammunition for the war-ravaged country largely outside Europe, a Czech official said on Thursday. Tomas Kopecny, the Czech government envoy for Ukraine reconstruction, told reporters that Ukraine, battling a Russian invasion since February 2022, could get millions of shells if allies managed to collect the money. The first delivery under the umbrella of this Czech initiative will be in June, and it will be dozens of thousands of shells, between 50 and 100, he said on the fringes of a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Prague. Mr Kopecny urged further contributions as Ukraine will need 200,000 shells a month in the next two years just to make the balance vis-a-vis Russia. 02:40 PM BST Russia should consider nuclear explosion to warn West Russia should consider a demonstrative nuclear explosion to warn the West about allowing their weapons to be fired across the border from Ukraine, advisors to the Kremlin said. Dmitry Suslov, a member of the Moscow-based Council for Foreign and Defence Policy think tank, said a test detonation could cow the West, which is in the process of relaxing rules about the weapons it gives to Ukraine. The think tank is influential in Kremlin circles and its ideas sometimes become government policy for the Kremlin. The proposal was issued a day after Vladimir Putin warned the West that Nato members in Europe were playing with fire by relaxing its weapons rules. The Russian president said it could trigger a global conflict, with Russia, which possesses the worlds largest nuclear arsenal, at the centre. The US and Germany have so far refused to allow their weapons to be used inside Russia, while French President Emmanuel Macron followed the UK to shift his stance on Tuesday. Nato leaders are due to meet later today to focus on efforts to hammer out a support package for Ukraine. 02:18 PM BST Frances Macron to host meeting with Biden President Emmanuel Macron will host a meeting with US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill on June 8 as part of Bidens first state visit to France, the French presidency said on Thursday. The pair will discuss their ongoing support for Ukraine, as well as ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation on economic, space and nuclear issues, a statement from the French presidency said. 01:55 PM BST Fires break out amid Russian shelling Ukrainian firefighters have been working to put out numerous fires caused by Russian shelling in the village of Mala Danilivka in the Kharkiv district of Ukraine. The attacks injured at least seven people. One of the strikes hit a childrens equestrian club. Fire fighters work on putting out the fire broke out after the Russian rocket attacks - State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Anadolu via Getty Images Firefighters rest after extinguishing a fire at the site of a Russian missile strike - Denys Klymenko/Gwara Media/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images 01:30 PM BST Nato opinions shifting, says Czech foreign minister The opinion of Nato allies is shifting towards allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike military targets on Russian soil, the Czech foreign minister said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters, Jan Lipavsky said there was a growing belief that it was better to allow Kyiv to destroy Russian aircraft before they can take-off armed with bombs destined for Ukrainian cities. He said it was right to relax restrictions on weapons and show strong resolve in response to Russias changing tactics and escalations, including attacks on Poland and the UK, since Vladimir Putins re-election. The minister also dismissed concerns that slacker measures would result in the war spreading beyond Ukraines borders. Mr Lipavsky said: The message is simple The plane is flying with rockets, its better that the plane is not flying at all. If its flying, its better to shoot it down, rather than trying to shoot down rockets flying over Ukraine. We have to make use of logic and, also, international law, and the charter of the UN clearly says that you can protect yourself from aggression. I understand those concerns, I understand there are weapon systems that can be used quite far away. We have the discussions, but I feel that we are even moving on that in the international sphere. In response to Kremlin threats of retaliation, he added: Russia has decided to escalate. It is Putin after the inauguration, he feels strongly. He started an offensive in Kharkiv. We saw the provocations at the Narva River, the attempts of sabotage, some of them successful, on the territories of Poland and the UK. Im sure that we will see more of this escalation, so we need to repeat properly and definitely shouldnt be afraid, but show strong resolve to defend ourselves. 01:10 PM BST Sri Lanka seeks release of ex-soldiers in Russia and Ukraine Sri Lankas foreign ministry said Thursday it is seeking the release of hundreds of its ex-soldiers fighting for Russia as well as around a dozen prisoners of war in Ukraine. Sri Lanka opened an inquiry this month into illegal recruitment for the conflict, identifying 455 ex-soldiers who had gone to fight for Russia. Colombo is sending a delegation to Russia in June to negotiate their discharge, including 37 wounded Sri Lankans, Tharaka Balasuriya, state minister for foreign affairs, told reporters. President Ranil Wickremesinghe is also due to speak with his Ukrainian counterpart to plead for the release of 10 to 12 Sri Lankan POWs, Mr Balasuriya added. We are trying to get them released. At least 16 Sri Lankans have been killed in Ukraine while fighting alongside Russian troops, parliament was told this month. We want to stop Sri Lankans going to Russia and Ukraine, Balasuriya said alongside the Russian ambassador to Colombo. 12:39 PM BST The latest photographs from the front line Here are the latest photos from the front line in Ukraine. Ukrainian military tanks are in taking part in ongoing military training as the war continues in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian soldiers wait for orders during a training session A Ukrainian military tank fires during military training - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images 12:17 PM BST Crimea attack destroyed 2 Russian military boats Ukraine destroyed two Russian patrol boats off Moscow-annexed Crimea with naval drones, GUR military intelligence service said on Thursday. The GUR agency wrote on Telegram that its Group 13 special forces unit using Ukrainian naval drones successfully attacked the boats of the aggressor state of Russia in temporarily occupied Crimea. Ukraine's Sea Baby naval drones - Christopher Miller It said that Russia used fighter planes and helicopters to try to destroy the drones in the Vuzka bay in northwestest Crimea, as well as firing on them using small arms and 30 mm cannons. As a result of the strike, two Russian boats were destroyed, GUR said, adding that according to preliminary data, they were high-speed amphibious vessels of the KS-701 Tunets type. 11:40 AM BST Kremlin says Nato provoking Ukraine to prolong conflict The Kremlin said Thursday that Nato member states were provoking Kyiv into prolonging the conflict in Ukraine, whose leaders are appealing to Western countries to allow it to target Russia. Nato member states ... are entering a new round of escalations in tensions and they are doing it deliberately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that, they are provoking Ukraine in every possible way into continuing this senseless war. 11:14 AM BST France could announce sending military trainers to Ukraine France could soon send military trainers to Ukraine despite the concerns of some allies and criticism by Russia, and may announce its decision next week during a visit by the Ukrainian president, three diplomatic sources said. The diplomats said Paris hoped to forge and lead a coalition of countries offering such assistance to Kyivs war effort even though some of its European Union partners fear it could make a direct conflict with Russia more likely. France would initially send a limited number of personnel to assess the modalities of a mission before dispatching several hundred trainers, two of the diplomats said. Training would centre around demining, keeping equipment operational and technical expertise for warplanes to be provided by the West, they said. Paris would also finance, arm, and train a Ukrainian motorised brigade. The arrangements are very advanced and we could expect something next week, said one of the sources. 10:49 AM BST What to expect from todays Nato meeting The international row over whether Ukraine should be allowed to use Western weapons to strike targets on Russian soil will dominate this weeks meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Prague. The Americans will arrive in the Czech capital under pressure to relax the rules on their donations, after a string of public easing of restrictions. Jens Stoltenberg, Natos departing secretary-general, has launched a campaign to convince allies to change their minds. His attempt is seen largely futile, given donations to Ukraine are managed bilaterally and not through the Western military alliance. But a growing coalition, led by the Brits, French and Eastern Europeans, will work hard to convince their American counterparts that it is the right thing to do, given Russia is launching more attacks from its own soil. Elsewhere, ministers will attempt to find ways to satisfy Ukraine given the war-torn country wont be offered a clear pathway to membership, as reported by the Telegraph earlier this week. Plans for a $100 billion war chest to bring Kyivs armed forces to Nato standard, presented by Mr Stoltenberg in March, have already run into difficulties, given some member states reluctance to give Nato greater involvement in weapons deliveries, amid fears it could drag the alliance into a wider war with Russia. 10:25 AM BST Russia building up forces near Kharkiv regions north Russia is building up forces near the northern part of Ukraines Kharkiv region where it launched an offensive this month, but it still lacks the troop numbers to stage a major push in the area, Ukraines top commander said on Thursday. Ukraine says it has stabilised the front in the northeastern Kharkiv region where Russian forces launched a cross-border assault on May 10 that opened a new front in the 27-month-old war and stretched Kyivs outnumbered troops. Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russia was continuing to send additional regiments and brigades from other areas and from training grounds to bulk up its troops on two main lines of attack in Kharkiv regions north. That includes the Strilecha-Lyptsi area between two small villages and the vicinity of the border town of Vovchansk where there has been street fighting. These forces are currently insufficient for a large-scale offensive and breakthrough of our defence, Syrskyi said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. He said Ukraines creation of an ammunition reserve had also reduced the offensive capabilities of Russian forces. 10:04 AM BST In pictures: Equipment presented to Ukrainian servicemen Cars and drones were given to Ukrainian servicemen during a handing-over ceremony in Kyiv. A total of 38 different vehicles and 40 drones were bought by Kyivs community and handed to the 92nd Assault Brigade fighting in the Kharkiv region. A serviceman checks a drone - SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko (R) attends the handing ceremony - SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Drones are displayed - SERGEY DOLZHENKO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 09:23 AM BST Russian forces launch missiles on Kharkiv Russian forces launched a series of missiles early on Thursday on Kharkiv, Ukraines second largest city, injuring at least four people and damaging infrastructure, local officials said. Mayor Ihor Terekhov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said four people had been injured, a gas pipeline had been damaged and many windows had been broken. A Russian strike on the construction hypermarket - Emergency Service Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said eight missiles had been fired at the city, a frequent Russian target in recent weeks. A community just north of the city had also been hit. In the aftermath of the strikes, air raid alerts remained in force throughout the country. 09:02 AM BST Ukraine cannot use Italian arms on Russian territory, says Italian foreign Italy will never send any troops to Ukraine and any weapons it has supplied to Kyiv should not be used on Russian territory, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday. All the weapons leaving from Italy (to Ukraine) should be used within Ukraine, Mr Tajani said in a TV interview with public broadcaster RAI. Under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italy has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, but Rome has never disclosed any details about its military aid. Mr Tajani also dismissed the possibility that former Italian Prime Minister and European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi could become the next EU Commission President. Draghi is not an (official) candidate and does not belong to any (European) political family... I see it as a complicated matter, he said. 08:38 AM BST Nato has just 5 per cent of air defences to protect from Russian invasion Nato has just five per cent of the air defence capabilities it needs to protect Europe from Russia, confidential defence plans show. A senior Nato diplomat admitted to the Financial Times that the ability to defend against missiles and air strike attacks was a major part of the plan to defend eastern Europe from invasion, adding: And right now, we dont have that. A second Nato diplomat added that air defence is one of the biggest holes we have on the eastern flank. We cant deny it, they said. The war in Ukraine has highlighted the need for strong air defence as Russia pummels its forces with daily bombing raids. Last year, the UK government described the challenge of protecting against attack from the skies as being its most acute for over 30 years. 08:10 AM BST Ukraine destroys Russian attacks Ukraines air defence systems destroyed seven Russia-launched missiles and 32 drones overnight, its air force commander said on Thursday. The air force official said on the Telegram messaging app that Russia had launched a total of 51 missiles and drones. Drones lie on the ground - REUTERS/Oleksandr Ratushniak The commander said Russian forces attacked military facilities and critical infrastructure in Ukraine but did not provide additional details. Mayor of eastern Ukraines Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, said in a separate statement that critical infrastructure in the city was shelled last night and four people were injured. Other civilian and military authorities did not report casualties and destruction caused by the attacks. 07:49 AM BST Nato meets as pressure grows to let Ukraine hit Russia Nato foreign ministers are set to meet in Prague on Thursday amid growing calls for leading allies to lift restrictions stopping Kyiv from using Western weapons to strike inside Russia. The two-day gathering is meant to focus on efforts to hammer out a package of support for Ukraine. Ukraine has been pressing its supporters to allow it to use the longer-range weaponry that they supply to hit targets inside Russia. The US and Germany have so far refused out of fear that it could drag them closer to direct conflict with Moscow. Ahead of the meeting, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said repeatedly it was time for members to reconsider those limits. French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to shift his stance when he said Ukraine should be allowed to neutralise bases in Russia used to launch strikes. German chancellor Olaf Scholz remained less committal, saying Ukraine should act within the law - and Berlin had not supplied the weapons to hit Russia anyway. The White House said it still opposed Ukraine using US arms to strike inside Russia, although Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted that that strategy could change. 07:35 AM BST Russia neutralises 13 Ukrainian aerial drones Russias defence ministry said on Thursday that it neutralised 13 Ukrainian aerial drones in the southern Krasnodar region and close to the annexed Crimean peninsula. On Thursday morning, five Ukrainian aerial drones were shot down by anti-aircraft defence systems in the Krasnodar region, the ministry said in a statement. Another eight drones were intercepted during the night over the Black Sea, close to the Crimean coast, the statement added. The Russian army also said it had destroyed two Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea that were heading for Crimea. Eight tactical ATACMS missiles were shot down by Russian air defence systems over the Sea of Azov, near Crimea. Faced with more than two years of Russian bombardments, Ukraine has taken the fight to Russian soil, often targeting energy infrastructure across the border. 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 (Reuters) - Donald Trump is considering tapping billionaire Elon Musk as a policy adviser if the Republican presidential candidate reclaims the White House in November's election, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the talks. The two have discussed ways for Musk, who runs the social media platform X as well as SpaceX and Tesla, to have "formal input and influence" over economic and border security policies, according to the Journal. The WSJ also said Musk informed Trump about his ongoing influence campaign aimed at convincing powerful U.S. business leaders not to support Democratic President Joe Biden, who beat Trump in the 2020 election and is seeking a second term. Those talks, which included billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, also included discussions about funding a "data-driven project to prevent voter fraud," the outlet said, adding no further details were known. Representatives for Trump and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Representatives for the Biden campaign also did not immediately respond. Trump campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes told the Journal that only Trump will decide "what role an individual plays in his presidency." The WSJ said Musk did not respond to its requests for comment. In March, following a meeting with Trump in Florida, Musk one of world's wealthiest individuals said he would not donate money to Trump or Biden. Instead, he aims "to use his clout ... to help defeat Biden by galvanizing the support of influential allies", said the WSJ, citing a person familiar with his thinking. Musk in recent years has more fully embraced the Republican Party. Musk has said, without evidence, that Biden is intentionally allowing migrants to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. He has also endorsed antisemitic comments on X, though Musk has denied being antisemitic. While he has publicly criticized Biden policies on immigration, electric vehicles and tariffs, Musk has not made any formal endorsement in November's contest and Trump has said he did not know if he has the billionaire's support. Musk's views have hurt his standing among some consumers, according to a CivicScience survey shown exclusively to Reuters. Trump, a prolific user of Twitter, now X, before he was banned from the social media site following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, launched his rival Truth Social platform, owned by Trump Media and Technology Group Corp. (Reporting by Tim Reid, Manas Mishra and Stephanie Kelly; Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) Fox News anchor and legal analyst Shannon Bream pushed back on an assertion made by Alina Habba, one of Donald Trumps attorneys, that President Biden is responsible for the criminal charges the former president faces in New York. And Joe Biden unfortunately cant really do anything in office, Habba said as she joined Bream, the host of Fox News Sunday who was broadcasting for much of the afternoon from outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trumps trial is taking place. So hes got to use the same means as somebody whos just trying to have a quick slip and fall and make money. And that is, frankly, what were seeing right now. This is exactly a Biden show because hes got to distract the American people, Habba continued. But the Biden administration is not responsible for this trial, Bream interjected. How can you say the Biden administration is not responsible? Habba shot back. Its a state trial, Bream explained. Its [Manhattan District Attorney] Alvin Bragg. Whether you think theres a political motive for him, its not connected to the DOJ. I mean, the feds passed on these election charges. After Habba suggested logs showing state officials in New York and Georgia visiting the White House were proof of political influence in Trumps prosecution, Bream pushed back by saying, The feds passed on these cases, is the point Im making. Trump faces 34 charges in New York in connection with allegations that he falsified business records to conceal hush money payments just before the 2016 election to women who said they had affairs with him. The former president has pleaded not guilty in the hush money case, and his political allies have repeatedly said that the charges against him are political and meant to keep him from winning a second term in the White House this fall. A jury in New York began deliberating a verdict in the case on Wednesday morning. Trump also faces two separate criminal cases over his efforts to remain in office after the 2020 election, as well as a federal case over his retention of White House records after the end of his term. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Texas State Rep. Shawn Thierry during a campaign event alongside over 50 African American pastors at Sunnyside Park on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Houston state Rep. Shawn Thierry, facing criticism from her Democratic primary runoff opponent about taking big campaign donations from Republicans, was able to avoid divulging information about her fundraising in the run-up to election day. She simply never filed a campaign finance report. The punishment is a $500 fine modest in comparison with the nearly $200,000 Thierry raised in one month alone this election cycle. READ MORE: Lauren Ashley Simmons defeats Houston state Rep. Shawn Thierry in heated primary runoff Advertisement Article continues below this ad Campaign finance transparency advocates say the situation exemplifies the states lax approach to enforcing campaign finance laws, which dont limit the size of contributions and approach violations with puny fines. The laws are in no way compelling to force officeholders to file these reports, said Anthony Gutierrez, executive director of Common Cause Texas, an advocacy group that seeks to reduce the influence of money in politics. The Texas Ethics Commission desperately needs new enforcement powers so that they can enforce these laws. The Texas Ethics Commission, the regulatory agency in charge of enforcing election laws, doesnt have many tools at its disposal to go after scofflaws. Texas law does not allow for more aggressive forms of campaign finance enforcement that some other states deploy, such as garnishing wages, levying tax liens or even sending collections agencies after debtors. The most extreme step the commission takes is referring candidates who owe more than $1,000 in fines to the attorney generals office, which can sue them for the money in civil court and block them from receiving state reimbursements. But historically, even then, most delinquents still have not complied. Candidates with unpaid fines and missing reports can continue to run for office, and political committees can go on operating. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thierry, who lost the runoff election to union organizer Lauren Ashley Simmons, said she didnt file the report because the person who compiles the data had a death in her immediate family. She said she planned to file the report, which covered campaign donations and expenditures made in the days before the March 5 primary and through Tuesdays runoff, but did not respond to a question about when. The ethics commission already has issued her a $500 fine. If this had been a regular election and not a runoff, Thierrys potential fine might have been up to 20 times more because of a technicality in the state election law. The penalty for a late filing during the primary just a couple months ago would have been $500 on the first day and an accumulating $100 a day up to $10,000. Gutierrez said the penalty should apply evenly to all elections. I cant think of any other law where the penalty changes depending on which Tuesday you decided to break the law on, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Grant Martin, a political consultant for Simmons, said Thierry, who is a lawyer, should have been able to find someone else to file the form. It seems clear to me that shes got something to hide, and I would imagine that A) she was out of money and B) that what money she had was coming from Republicans and Greg Abbott donors, and she just didnt want voters to know that election day, Martin said. Thierry said that is not true and referred back to her response explaining why the report was late. Simmons campaign had attacked Thierry for receiving nearly a third of her campaign cash ahead of the March primary from prominent GOP donors Darwin and Doug Deason and the Family Empowerment Coalition PAC, the group co-founded by Doug Deason that advocates for private school vouchers, a policy supported by most Republicans and overwhelmingly opposed by Texas Democratic state lawmakers. (Thierry voted to oppose a voucher measure last fall.) Since then, she has received nearly $43,000 from groups supporting charter schools and $50,000 from a political committee representing Las Vegas Sands, a casino and resort company that is pushing to legalize gambling in Texas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The $500 fine Thierry owes for the missed runoff report brings the total she owes to $2,000, ethics commission records show. She previously had been fined $1,000 for missing reports. Late filers can request to waive the penalty, and Thierry received one in 2020 for a $500 fine for a late form, according to a commission spokesperson. On Thursday, Thierry said she had not yet looked into filing a waiver request for the latest fine. In recent months, the rules governing the qualifications for a waiver have changed. Previously, the rules allowed for waivers in a variety of circumstances, including a death or unforeseen serious emergency for the filer, a filers relative or household member or a person whose usual job duties include preparation of the report. Other circumstances included severe weather or responding to an emergency if the filer was a first responder. As of January, however, the rules are more objective and have been boiled down to whether a late filer is a repeat offender. A person with fewer previous violations can receive a fine reduction, while having multiple violations disqualifies him or her from receiving any cutback. James Tinley, general counsel for the commission, said the rule change was made to streamline the waiver decision-making process and clear up a backlog the office was facing late last year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We wanted to have easier rules to follow, that are easier for staff to process and ultimately, automate that process, Tinley said. We retain that commission discretion to waive fines based on an individuals circumstances. John Christopher Spatafore received a ticket for jaywalking in Fresno, California. Kittinit Yassara/Getty Images A man waged a revenge campaign against an officer over a $196 jaywalking ticket, a lawsuit says. The officer and his family are suing for $16.5 million, citing distress and privacy invasion. The man told police that he harassed the officer online. A Fresno police officer issued a California man a ticket for jaywalking in 2019. But instead of taking the fine on the chin, John Christopher Spatafore launched a campaign of revenge against the cop, which included filing false police reports about him, a civil lawsuit says. The officer, identified only as John Doe, is seeking $16.5 million in damages for himself and his family. The Fresno Bee was the first to report on the lawsuit, which is expected to go to trial later this year. According to the local outlet, the officer's lawyer, Brian Whelan, described the lawsuit as addressing a "cyber campaign of hate and revenge" waged against the officer and his family. A complaint filed by the officer, his wife, and his daughter in 2021 said the officer witnessed Spatafore jaywalking near Fresno City Hall and along railroad tracks on October 25, 2019. The officer issued Spatafore with a ticket for violating a section of California's vehicle code. Under the code, jaywalking carries a fine of up to $196, plus court administrative fees and assessments. Spatafore was "visibly upset" while being detained, the lawsuit says, and asked "strange personal and vaguely threatening questions" about the officer's address and whether he had kids. Four days later, the lawsuit adds, the officer started receiving password-reset codes, which suggested attempts were being made to hack into his personal email account. The lawsuit says this was followed by a flood of texts, calls, and emails from car dealerships "responding" to information requests about purchasing cars that the officer had never made. It adds that on November 6, 2019, the officer had more than 100 texts on his personal phone concerning inquiries he had never initiated. The lawsuit says Spatafore then filed two false police reports against the officer. In the first, he accused him of being involved in a hit-and-run. An investigation by Fresno police found that this wasn't true, The Fresno Bee reported. In the second, Spatafore alleged that the officer's wife was a victim of domestic violence, the lawsuit says. The police also found this report to be false, The Fresno Bee said. According to the lawsuit, the officer and his wife also received a message claiming that their computer camera had been hacked and compromising videos of them would be released unless they met certain demands. Spatafore is also accused of trying to get the officer's water and trash services turned off on Thanksgiving Day, The Fresno Bee reported. Spatafore was arrested on November 21, 2019, nearly a month after the harassment campaign began. He was pulled over within 1 mile of the officer's home with a loaded .38-caliber revolver that was not registered, and for which he did not have a license to carry, The Fresno Bee reported. The local outlet said the hospital he worked at fired him that same day after finding that he had used his work laptop to carry out the revenge campaign. The officer is now seeking $5.5 million each for himself, his wife, and his daughter, accusing Spatafore and the hospital of invasion of privacy, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims. During an interview with police, Spatafore admitted to harassing the officer online, adding that he used Facebook, not hospital records, to find information on him, according to The Fresno Bee. He was charged with two counts of unauthorized use of personal identifying information and one count of having a concealed firearm, alongside misdemeanor charges, but the criminal case was suspended after his lawyer got him into a mental-health diversion program. Spatafore's lawyer, the lawyer for the officer, and the hospital did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon as a KLM Cityhopper flight pushed back from its gate at the busy terminal A person died after being caught in the engine of a passenger plane moments before it was due to take off from Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon as a KLM Cityhopper flight pushed back from its gate at the busy terminal, a Dutch military police source told The Telegraph. An incident took place at Schiphol today during which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine, the Dutch national flag-carrying KLM airline said in a statement. Sadly the person has died, it added, without disclosing the victims identity. Investigators were on Wednesday night looking into a possible suicide as part of the initial probe into the highly unusual death. The aircraft, bound for Billund, Denmark, was full of passengers when the body fell into the engines spinning turbine blades. The passengers were almost immediately disembarked from the plane and offered support because of the tragic nature of the incident. They will be questioned as they could offer some of the best insight into the persons death, said a spokesman for the Dutch military police, who are responsible for security at the airport. An incident occurred this afternoon on the Schiphol platform where a person fell into a running aircraft engine and died, the Marechaussee agency added in a statement. All passengers and employees of the flight in question have been disembarked and are being taken care of. The jet involved was an Embraer, operated by KLM on short-haul routes, such as London. A picture published by the NOS public broadcaster showed the plane surrounded by fire engines and ambulances next to the terminal. The Dutch Safety Board sent three investigators to Schiphol, NOS reported. Workplace standards inspectors were also dispatched by the labour ministry to establish whether it was a workplace accident. Schiphol airport wrote on X: Our thoughts go out to the relatives and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this. Safety and security measures are strict at Schiphol and accidents are rare at the busy airport, which handled around 5.5 million passengers last month alone, according to airport figures. The airport, which is six miles from Amsterdam, is Europes third busiest. 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. If you think there have been a lot of tornadoes this year, you're right: With at least 850 confirmed tornadoes so far and several major tornado outbreaks, it ranks among the busiest years in recorded history. It's at least the sixth-busiest in the past 30 years, based on preliminary information from the Storm Prediction Center. That number is likely to rise as the National Weather Service continues surveying and confirming damages from the April and May tornado reports, which were up significantly over previous years. Even some of the most veteran storm chasers have been astounded by tornado activity so far this year. "We've had a lot of tornadoes and several 'big' days," said Harold Brooks, a senior scientist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma. Preliminarily, the U.S. has seen four days with at least 30 tornadoes rated EF1 or stronger, Brooks said. The average is two a year. That likely puts 2024 in the top 10% of years. The exterior of the Veterans of Foreign Wars facility suffered severe damage following a tornado on May 23, 2024 in Temple, Texas. Dozens dead from spring 2024 tornadoes Since April 26, the U.S. has experienced 18 killer tornadoes in which 36 people have died. Half the victims were in mobile homes. May 27: At least 22 people killed in Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Texas. May 6-8: Multiple tornadoes hit northeastern and central Oklahoma, including one in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, that killed one person and destroyed 30 to 40 homes. They were among dozens of tornadoes in the U.S. April 27-28: Tornadoes struck 12 Oklahoma counties, leaving at least four dead and 100 injured. Sheriff Ray Sappington of Cooke County, Texas, a veteran of more than 30 years in law enforcement, was overcome with emotion as he talked to the news media overnight Saturday night after a deadly tornado. Im still emotional, Sappington told USA TODAY on Tuesday. The EF3 tornado traveled 48 miles across three counties, one of four tornadoes in the Dallas/Fort Worth weather service region. Its winds of up to 140 mph killed seven and injured 100, the weather service said. Sappington has responded to countless storm scenes, but said it's "different when youre the sheriff and its in your county. I told the parents of a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old that their kids were dead and I led them in there to make the identification and watched that, he said. Its just tough. Why has this tornado season been so active? So far, the weather service puts the number of tornadoes at 857 though May 27, based on preliminary reports. Meteorologists interviewed by USA TODAY blame an active jet stream, coupled with a series of powerhouse storms rolling from the West Coast across the nation's midsection. It has "been a great recipe for numerous severe thunderstorms and tornadoes" over the past few weeks, said meteorologist Peter Mullinax of the Weather Prediction Center. The storms have been able to tap into a very warm, moist atmosphere that's been sitting over the Gulf of Mexico, AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok added. Both meteorologists said the active jet stream is being powered in part by the diminishing El Nino, a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that affects weather in the U.S. and around the world. The storm activity has come in waves this year, with unusual warmth earlier in the year fueling more storms, said Victor Gensini, an associate professor of meteorology and severe weather at Northern Illinois University. The big heat dome over Central America and the Gulf of Mexico "allows for this reservoir of gasoline, in this case moisture, to store up," said Gensini, in the field on Tuesday in Texas, where additional severe weather is expected over the next week over the high plains of West Texas and eastern New Mexico. Typically this time of year, a cold front will pass over the region and shut down storm activity but it's difficult for cold fronts to push down into the heat dome, he said. "The moisture remains in place, that's one of the fundamental ingredients you need for tornadoes." Looking ahead, Pastelok said the stormy pattern should continue into June, but that the month shouldn't be as busy as May was. Is climate change causing more tornadoes? Additional research is needed to understand the role climate change is playing in tornado activity, Gensini said. "I think it's safe to say climate change plays a role, but is it 10%, 5% or 1%, I don't think we know that right now without a bigger push to understand the role of climate change in these events." For example, climate scientists say theyre not confident in a long-term trend in larger numbers or intensity of tornadoes. Instead, what appears to be happening is that tornadoes are occurring at different times and in different places than they have in the past, making old certainties less useful in predicting when and where communities are at risk. Tornado warning: Twisters are hitting more frequently and dealing more deaths in the South Among the oddities observed this year: April was well above average for the number of tornadoes, Brooks said. Some areas have been hit repeatedly, or by multiple tornadoes. Gilmer County, Georgia, experienced four tornadoes on May 8 and 9. The Dallas/Fort Worth weather service office reported four tornadoes in its region over the weekend, then gusts of up to 77 mph in Dallas and Arlington on Tuesday. Illinois experienced several strong storms in February, a time of year in which they are certainly known to happen, but the spacing was surprising, Gensini said. We had tornadoes in similar areas just a few weeks ago, Gensini said of the Illinois tornadoes. Couple the earlier than typical tornadoes with some record-breaking temperatures and folks begin asking why that's occurring. To me, this is a good example of the new norms associated with climate change. Cities mostly spared so far As devastating as this season has been, the worst storms have not hit densely populated areas. "We've had some terrible disasters and loss of life, but thankfully some of the most violent storms so far this year have missed highly populated areas," Gensini said. What to do during a tornado warning: Staying safe at home, outside, in a car Gensini hopes the trend will continue but worries about an outbreak hitting a heavily populated area. "From a perspective of somebody who's continually watching these events, it's a matter of time before we see 'the big one.'" This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is 2024 a record year for tornadoes? Data shows a busy, deadly spring. Billionaires from coast to coast are putting their influence and money behind Donald Trump, a wave of support that is helping the former president narrow his fundraising gap with President Joe Biden and seize new momentum in his race for the White House. Some have already donated millions to his campaign, some have announced plans to do so, and some are only saying for now that they will vote for him. Trump, meanwhile, is returning the favor. He is reportedly promising to make policy changes that would help their businesses and perhaps even rely on them as advisers if he returns to the White House. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Trump and Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk have discussed a formal advisory role for the billionaire if Trump should win. The close back-and-forth with billionaires is a notable departure from Trumps previous Oval Office runs that often focused more on smaller contributors. The website OpenSecrets tracks donations by size and found that "large contributions" made up about 14% of Trumps bankroll in 2016. That same figure this time around is more than 68%. The latest example of elite support came last week with the news that Blackstone (BX) CEO Steve Schwarzman, after years of keeping his distance from Trump, is now a supporter. Blackstone Group CEO Steve Schwarzman in 2019. (REUTERS/Gary He) (REUTERS / Reuters) The financier told Axios he's supporting Trump and will donate to him as a "vote for change." He is just the latest wealthy donor to overcome past objections to Trump's conduct and character. Schwarzman responded to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, by saying at the time that the "insurrection that followed the president's remarks today is appalling." Traditional GOP megadonors return to Trump The flip in GOP donor support to Trump comes after many billionaires tried to boost his Republican rivals, especially Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. But that quickly changed after the primary season ended. Haley ended her run in March and Trump then outraised Biden in April. That was largely due to a single event featuring an assortment of billionaires at hedge fund manager John Paulson's home in Palm Beach, Fla. The event raised more than $50 million in a single night. Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump arrive at the home of billionaire investor John Paulson on April 6 in Palm Beach for a fundraiser. (Alon Skuy/Getty Images) (Alon Skuy via Getty Images) In total, Trump raised about $76 million in April, besting Biden's $51 million. But Biden is still ahead when it comes to cash in the bank, with $192 million saved across his operation. A collection of familiar GOP names announced their support for Trump in recent months, in addition to Schwarzman. They include figures like hotel tycoon Robert Bigelow and activist investor Nelson Peltz. Both have donated to Republicans for years. Both distanced themselves from Trump after Jan. 6. Both are now back on board. Robert Bigelow, the billionaire owner of Budget Suites of America and founder of Bigelow Aerospace, previously backed DeSantis, but he has since made plans to give over $20 million to Trump. He also reportedly co-chaired the recent fundraiser at Paulson's Florida home. Nelson Peltz and Elon Musk attend a movie premiere in February in Los Angeles. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images) For his part, Peltz told the FT earlier this month he would vote for Trump, but donations may or may not be forthcoming. "I'm not happy about that," he told the paper, saying he still had misgivings about Trump but that they were outweighed by his concerns about Biden's fitness for office. Peltz who recently lost a high-profile proxy battle with Disney (DIS) and its CEO Bob Iger donated to Sen. Tim Scott during the presidential primary season. Peltz supported Trump financially and with his vote in 2020 but said on CNBC on Jan. 7, 2021, he was "sorry I did that." Some traditional GOP megadonors are still holding out, at least for now. Billionaire hedge-fund investor Kenneth Griffin told attendees at the Qatar Economic Forum earlier this month that he wants to see who Trump picks as his running mate first. Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal who has long bankrolled GOP campaigns, told the Atlantic late last year he wouldn't be giving any money to Trump or anyone else during this presidential campaign. Outreach to oil executives Trump has also received support from wealthy energy executives after what appears to be a concerted outreach effort to that industry. Trump has reportedly made direct appeals for donations in return for looser restrictions on things like oil drilling if he wins. That outreach may have pushed the limits of campaign finance laws, according to the Washington Post, with Senate Democrats promising to investigate. Trump and the industry are "conferring on how to trade campaign cash for policy changes," said Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Ron Wyden in a recent statement. "Such potential abuses must be scrutinized." But the promises appear to have allowed Trump inroads with oil executives. Harold Hamm, the founder and chairman of oil and natural gas company Continental Resources, has increased his alliance with Trump in recent months. Federal Election Commission (FEC) data shows a contribution of $614,000 from Hamm to Trump's joint fundraising committee at the end of March. Hamm had a relationship with Trump that stretched back for years, but he distanced himself after 2020 and gave money to Haley as recently as last year. Then-president Donald Trump gestures to Harold Hamm at a Shale Insight Conference in 2019. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) A beachhead of support in Silicon Valley Perhaps the most surprising source of potential billionaire support for Trump comes in traditionally deep-blue Silicon Valley. Multiple recent reports from The New York Timesto Puck have chronicled ongoing efforts from venture capitalist David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya of Social Capital to organize a fundraiser on Mr. Trump's behalf. Whether the fundraiser and a possible appearance on the pair's podcasteventually comes together remains to be seen. But the news was especially notable given the long history the two men have of donating to Democrats. Palihapitiya gave Biden more than $250,000 during the 2020 campaign, according to FEC data. Other prominent figures like Marc Andreessen of Andreessen Horowitz and Shaun Maguire, a partner at Sequoia Capital, have lambasted Biden on their social media feeds but, as of yet, have declined to get behind Trump. Chamath Palihapitiya at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles in April. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Another closely watched figure is Musk. The current third-richest man in the world has unleashed an onslaught of anti-Biden commentary online this year and says he can't imagine voting for Biden this fall. The trend comes after years of Musk's deepening ties with Republicans. A new Wall Street Journal report this week demonstrated the increasingly warm relationship between Trump and Musk after Musk posted in 2022 that Trump should "hang up his hat & sail into the sunset." Musk met with Trump in March and, according to the report, now talks with Trump several times a month. The two men have even reportedly discussed giving Musk a formal advisory role on border security, an issue Musk is keenly focused on, as well as on the economy. What remains to be seen is whether Musk stays true to a promise he made in March when he posted, "I am not donating money to either candidate for US President." Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance The actors married in a 'cowboy black-tie'-themed ceremony in Dallas at Harrison's family farm The Brothers Martens Hassie Harrison and Ryan Bingham's elegant western wedding was everything they dreamed of for their big day. The actors, who play love interests on Yellowstone, tied the knot at Harrison's family home in Dallas, Vogue reported. The weekend, which kicked off with cowboy-cocktail welcome party, included a stunning ceremony held in a cathedral-style tented conservatory, and a performance by the bride and groom. There was a palpable sense of love and energy in the air, a kind of magic that's hard to describe, Harrison told Vogue. Seeing generations from both sides of our families, our friends, and especially the children all coming together was such a blessing. And then, there was the moment I locked eyes with Ryan as I walked toward him. Seeing the tears well up in his eyesit just melted my heart. It was a moment so raw and filled with emotion, it perfectly captured everything we felt about stepping into this new chapter together. Below are all the pictures from the pair's special day. Striking Couple The Brothers Martens Harrison, 34, and Bingham, 43, first met while working together on the set of Peacock's Yellowstone. But for Harrison, who plays Laramie, and Bingham, who plays Walker, it wasn't exactly love at first sight. According to Vogue, it was Harrison's mother, who met Bingham at a charity event in Dallas, who encouraged the songwriter to reach out to her daughter. It truly was one of those serendipitous moments that make you realize life has a way of bringing people together at precisely the right time and place, Harrison said. Family Affair The Brothers Martens Having a wedding at Harrison's family home in Dallas was always the plan for the couple, who wanted an intimate gathering one that was a reflection of their Texas heritage, Harrison shared with Vogue. Fun Festivities The Brothers Martens To kick of the wedding weekend, the pair hosted a welcome party with friends and family at the Crescent Club in Dallas. That place holds so many cherished family memories, it was the perfect spot to start our celebration. We really went all out with the theme, turning the club into an old-time Western bar complete with a mariachi band, Texas wildflowers, and a great DJ," Harrison said. Exclusive Invite The Brothers Martens Southern Fried Paper designed the couple's invitations. I knew I wanted Western, but it had to be elegant Western, with tones of worn leather, delicate lace, and a soft, blush color palette, Hassie remarked to Vogue of the palette and theme for the couple's nuptials. Flowing Florals The Brothers Martens Both the ceremony and reception featured stunning florals that complemented the magic of the day. The bride and groom worked with Harrison's mother, sisters and wedding planners at Gro Floral and Event Design to design a wedding that was reflective of the pair. From the start, Ryan and I just really wanted to create a day that wasn't just a series of eventsbut a heartfelt experience that centered around emotions, comfort, intimacy, and genuine moments with the people we love the most, Hassie said. Every choice was a reflection of us, and getting to witness it all come to life was incredible. Cowboy Black-Tie The Brothers Martens Harrison went with a beaded, corseted gown by Galia Lahav. It was the one the second I tried it on, she said. My sister Caroline insisted over and over again that I had to walk down the aisle in it. The groom wore a custom-tailored Kiton tuxedo, custom-made Republic Boots, and an American Hat Co. hat, per Vogue. Dance Hall The Brothers Martens The reception tent was designed to honor Gruene Hall, Texass oldest continually operating dance hall, while dinner featured classic Texas cuisine, including cornbread and caviar during the pre-ceremony cocktail hour to smoked wagyu ribs, chicken fried steak, and corn on the cob. Western Wonder The Brothers Martens Everything at the wedding had a Western tingeright down to the backdrop of the stage at the reception, which featured a live greenery wall and custom neon signs. Each detail of the backdrop was uniquely personal to the couple, including a neon Bingham's Bourbon sign (Bingham's personal bourbon brand) and the phrase "Live the Best of This Life," which were among the first words that the couple shared, Harrison told Vogue. Sing Thing The Brothers Martens Before the night was over, the couple joined band Straight Tequila Night, who performed '90s country cover songs throughout the night on stage. The most special performance of the evening though was by far Ryans daughter, whose beautiful piano solo moved everyone to tears, Hassie told Vogue. It was a magical moment that we will never forget. After Party Lights The Brothers Martens The bride's short, beaded, fringe dress that she changed into after the reception was designed by Netta BenShabu and made for a perfect late-night dancing look, Harrison dished to Vogue. And it also made for the perfect look for one last surprise that the couple had up their sleeve... All Lit Up The Brothers Martens The couple surprised their guests with an afterparty post-reception. We ushered all our guests into the backyard, unveiling a cosmic cowboy after-party that was really a sight to see," Harrison said. The after-after party featured copious amounts of neon lights, a DJ, sweet treats and even a disco saddle hung from the ceiling of the tent. Into the Wee Hours The Brothers Martens The couple made an exit in style from the driveway of Harrison's house in a Cadillac Coupe Deville. Of the moment, Harrison revealed to Vogue, Despite what appeared to be this magical car ride into the night, we actually just took a quick circle around the block before ultimately slipping back into the house to join the rest of our wedding party as the last ones standing. We kept the celebration going into the wee hours, dancing in my familys living room. It was the perfect ending to a perfect nightand honestly, we couldnt have imagined it any better. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Editors Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travels weekly newsletter. Get the latest news in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments. Some travelers pick a city break based on the destinations cultural offerings shortlisting the best museums and galleries to visit. Others eye up cities with buzzy nightlife or opt for a destination hosting a festival or event. But for many vacationers, the most exciting part of any trip is the food. These are the travelers that wake up on the first day of the trip excited for all the culinary delights awaiting them: from sprawling markets offering local delicacies, to late-night street food, to independent restaurants serving distinctive dishes you wont forget any time soon. Its these gourmand travelers Time Out had in mind when the global media organization put together a new ranking of the worlds best foodie cities. Food is everything when traveling, Grace Beard, Time Outs travel editor told CNN Travel. A good (or bad) meal can make or break a trip its usually one of the things we remember most. Coming in at number one on Time Outs list is the Italian city of Naples, the oft-rumored birthplace of pizza. Unsurprisingly, the cheesy delights of pizza margherita gets a shout out in Time Outs list as the citys must-eat dish but sumptuous pasta dish Neapolitan ragu and sweet sfogliatella are also namechecked. To compile the round-up, Time Out surveyed thousands of citydwellers across the globe, quizzing these locals on the food options in their city, with a focus on quality and affordability. Time Out editors sifted through the results, including the highest-scoring city for each country in the resulting ranking. Pizza and more For travelers keen to sample authentic pizza in Naples, Time Out suggests heading to pizzeria Santa Maradona, located in the citys Spanish quarter. Santa Maradonas owner Andrea Viviani told CNN Travel it was a pleasure to be spotlighted by Time Out, although he added that considering Naples only as a food destination is truly a waste. Food is certainly an important part of our culture, but Naples is much, much more, said Viviani. The idea of Santa Maradona is precisely this: to convey all the facets of Naples. Vivianis restaurant, he explained, is a celebration not just of pizza but also football. Its named in honor of Argentinian soccer player Diego Armando Maradona, who played for the Naples team in the 1980s. While Viviani hopes travelers coming to Naples will enjoy more than just the food, he added that its exciting that many travelers come to the city with a great desire to learn about our tradition and taste our fantastic pizzas. At number three on Time Out's list is Lima, Peru, where visitors are encouraged to try ceviche. Pictured here: a traditional sea bass ceviche dish cooked by Peruvian chef Roberto Madrid at his restaurant Aroma de Mar in Lima. - Cris Bouroncle/AFP/Getty Images At number two on Time Outs list is the South African city of Johannesburg, with Time Out quoting Johannesburg food writer Thando Moleketi-Williams, who recommends the central neighborhood of Braamfontein and spots including wine bar Mamakashaka and Friends on De Beer Street, and restaurant and gallery space Artivist. Time Out declares the citys must-eat dish is kota sandwich, a stuffed bread featuring tasty ingredients such as potato chips, sausage, egg or cheese, and also spotlights bunny chow, a South African street food featuring curry, meat or beans stuffed inside bread. And rounding out Time Outs top three is Lima, Peru, where Time Out recommends visitors try signature dishes ceviche and arroz con pollo (chicken and rice). The citys Central restaurant, recently named as number one in the 2023 Worlds 50 Best Restaurants awards, naturally gets a mention too. Prioritizing affordability At number two on Time Outs list is the South African city of Johannesburg. Pictured here: a bunny chow -- a South African street food featuring curry, meat or beans stuffed inside bread. - Alexandr Milodan/iStockphoto/Getty Images Other cities on the list include Ho Chi Minh City (number four), Beijing (number five) and Bangkok (number six). The commonality between all the cities on the list is theyre undergoing a culinary renaissance or theyre particularly buzzing right now, according to Time Outs Grace Beard. Beard told CNN Travel that affordability played as much a role as quality in creating this ranking and the editors were looking for cities where good-quality meals are accessible to travelers on every budget. The top US city on Time Outs ranking was Portland, Oregon at number 10. According to Time Out, Portland is another must-visit spot for pizza lovers, with Mexican pizza a pizza topped with taco ingredients was named by locals as the citys best-value dish. In the UK, the city of Liverpool just missed out on a spot on Time Outs top 10, coming in at number 11. Time Out shouted out the citys signature city dish of Scouse a rich stew usually comprised of beef or lamb and what Liverpool-based writer Alice Porter calls a clutch of brand new foodie ventures, such as Manifest, a restaurant named in the Michelin Guide. Time Outs Best Cities for Food 2024 1. Naples, Italy 2. Johannesburg, South Africa 3. Lima, Peru 4. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 5. Beijing, China 6. Bangkok, Thailand 7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 8. Mumbai, India 9. Dubai, UAE 10. Portland, USA 11. Liverpool, UK 12. Medellin, Colombia 13. Seville, Spain 14. Porto, Portugal 15. Marrakech, Morocco 16. Lyon, France 17. Sydney, Australia 18. Montreal, Canada 19. Osaka, Japan 20. Copenhagen, Denmark For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Photo : Unsplash/Austin Distel) Forget about quietly quitting. Millennials have come up with a new sneaky way to skip work: quiet vacationing. Many Americans do not have guaranteed paid time off from work, but even when they do, they are not using it all. According to a new Harris Poll survey of 1,170 American workers, 78% of US workers admit to not taking all their paid time off days, with Gen Z and millennials being the highest percentages. Younger professionals avoid asking for time off as they experience pressure to adhere to deadlines and uphold productivity levels. Libby Rodney, chief strategy officer at The Harris Poll, explains that they feel anxious about asking for paid time off (PTO) because they do not want to appear unproductive. It is not quite openly quitting, but more like quiet vacationing. Millennials are "Quiet Vacationing" Many millennials in the workforce have found workarounds to play hooky, with nearly 4 in 10 admitting to taking time off without informing their managers. A similar proportion of millennials admit to "moving their mouse" to appear active on company messaging platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams, even when they are not actually working or schedule out-of-office messages to give the impression that they are working overtime. Rodney notes that there is a significant workaround culture in play in a CNBC article. While Gen Zers tend to be more vocal about workplaces that discourage time off, millennials prefer to handle it themselves but discreetly to achieve a work-life balance behind the scenes. READ ALSO: Employees Acting Out Roles in "Productivity Theater," Do Managers Need to Micromanage? How Can Employers Possibly Address The "Quiet Vacationing" Trend? Rodney suggests that when individuals feel compelled to sneak out for breaks, it indicates a lack of supportiveness in their workplace's paid time off (PTO) system or culture. To alleviate this tension, bosses can be transparent about the process of requesting time off, normalize the practice by taking time off as a boss, support their employees when they take time off, and even mandate a certain amount of time off. Unlimited PTO is not always the answer. Rather than relying solely on unlimited PTO, employers can explore creative approaches to their time off benefits. For instance, they could implement company-wide week-long shutdowns around major holidays, compensate new hires for taking a vacation before they start, or mandate that employees take a certain number of PTO days each quarter to distribute their time off more evenly throughout the year. According to the Harris Poll survey, many Americans express the desire for the United States to implement laws similar to those found in Europe. These laws would establish clear boundaries between working hours and personal time and include policies such as extended vacation periods (such as a month off in August), longer lunch breaks, workweeks shorter than 40 hours, and regulations to safeguard slower response times outside of work hours. RELATED ARTICLE: Hush Trips: The Other Side Employees "Get Away With It All" While Being Clocked In 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Israeli forces have taken controlof a buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, the country's military said on Wednesday, giving Israel effective authority over the Palestinian territory's entire land border, Reuters reports. In a televised briefing, chief military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Israeli forces had gained "operational" control over the "Philadelphi Corridor", using the Israeli military's code name for the 14 km-long (9 mile) corridor along the Gaza Strip's only border with Egypt. "The Philadelphi Corridor served as an oxygen line for Hamas, which it regularly used to smuggle weapons into the area of the Gaza Strip," Hagari said. Israel also continued deadly raids on Rafah in southern Gaza despite an order from the International Court of Justice to end attacks on the city, where half of Gaza's 2.3 million people had previously taken refuge. The World Court said Israel had not explained how it would keep evacuees from Rafah safe and provide food, water and medicine. Its ruling also called on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7, the report adds. Israel's National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said earlier that fighting in Gaza will continue throughout 2024 at least. More than 36,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's Gaza offensive, the enclave's health ministry said. Israel launched its war after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. YEREVAN, 30 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Russian Federation is following the border delimitation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during Thursdays weekly press conference, noting that the process is of great importance for establishing stability in the region. "We support all processes aimed at a peaceful settlement exclusively through diplomatic methods and believe that agreements should be consistent, balanced, and mutually beneficial, serving as the foundation for establishing strong peace in the region. We confirm our readiness to play a consultative role in the border delimitation process, based on the tripartite agreement reached between the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan," said Maria Zakharova in her speech. Referring to the protest actions held by the participants of the 'Tavush for the Motherland' movement, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the Russian Federation considers these processes to be internal affairs of the Republic of Armenia. Zakharova emphasized that Russia is ready to continue maintaining the same full, friendly relations with the Armenian people, which are especially manifested when the fraternal people feel the need for it. YEREVAN, 30 MAY, ARMENPRESS. For about five years, the Photojournalism School of Armenpress State News Agency has been giving young people the opportunity to gain knowledge in the field of photojournalism. Thanks to honored photojournalist Felix Arustamyan, students develop a passion for the profession of a photographer, and later engage in professional photography. On May 30, the 2023-2024 graduates of the School of Photojournalism were presented with their certificates by the director of 'Armenpress,' Narine Nazaryan, which, as the graduates admit, are of great importance to them. Addressing the graduates, Narine Nazaryan said that she is sure that the knowledge imparted by Felix Arustamyan would greatly help young people both now and in the future. "We often hear the expression 'figuratively speaking.' Why? Because images sometimes fill in what cannot be conveyed in words. In today's rapidly developing world, where there is often little time to read lengthy texts, the visual aspect of materials becomes more impactful and targeted," said Nazaryan, adding that she would be very happy if the "Armenpress" School of Photojournalism also becomes a unique platform for the professional orientation. "In 2023-2024, 13 participants attended the classes; they are free. There are children among the participants who have a very good "eye". They are students, schoolchildren, who enthusiastically attend classes, participate in practical sessions, receive assignments, and create their own portfolios. Some children have already expressed their desire to participate in next year's courses, said Arustamyan. Feature: Chinese doctors praised for dedication, outstanding work in Equatorial Guinea Xinhua) 11:22, May 30, 2024 MALABO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- "It is truly miraculous, I can see again!" said Pedro Bena, a 78-year-old cataract patient from Equatorial Guinea. Surrounded by his jubilant family at the Regional Hospital of Malabo, Pedro expressed deep gratitude for the surgery performed by Chinese doctors, particularly ophthalmologist Xie Hongbin. Xie is a member of the 33rd batch of the Chinese medical team in the Central African country. Since arriving over a year ago, he has performed 69 cataract surgeries, helping many regain their vision and allowing some families to have their primary breadwinners return to work. "With the necessary equipment, we can assist even more people in restoring their vision," Xie told Xinhua. Since 1971, over 600 Chinese medical professionals have been sent in 33 batches to work in the cities of Malabo and Bata in Equatorial Guinea. The cataract treatments conducted by Chinese doctors in Equatorial Guinea are part of the "Bright Journey" project, Xie said. For years, Chinese doctors have been assisting in these surgeries, bringing in the necessary equipment. Beside the operating theater at the Regional Hospital of Malabo, 30-year-old local anesthetist Diosdado Batapa was studying under the guidance of Chen Zhicong, an anesthesiologist from the Chinese medical team. "Dr. Lucas (Chen Zhicong) emphasizes attention to detail, which greatly aids in learning anesthesia techniques and more," Batapa said. Pergentino Obono, another anesthetist at the Regional Hospital of Malabo, said that the team's kindness is evident in their willingness to help with the most challenging cases. "Local doctors have been impressed by the techniques introduced by the Chinese medical team," he said. The compassion and expertise of the Chinese medical team have earned recognition and praise from the government and people of Equatorial Guinea over the years. In October 2021, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo thanked the Chinese government in a video message, expressing gratitude for the medical teams' dedication and outstanding work. These days, long lines of patients would wait outside the Chinese medical team's consultation rooms at the Regional Hospital of Malabo. The hospital's technical director, Reynolds Ondoua Trillo, said this year, procedures like laparoscopic surgery and acupuncture introduced by the Chinese team have greatly benefited patients in the country. Over a month ago, Benjamin, suffering from an incarcerated hernia and facing unbearable pain as he prepared for an entrance exam, came to the Malabo hospital to seek help from Chinese doctors. However, the bill of 200,000 Central African francs (about 330 U.S. dollars) left his father, Juan, in a dilemma. Upon hearing of their conundrum, Liu Anwen, a surgeon from the Chinese medical team, and his colleagues covered Benjamin's expenses out of their own pockets. Following a laparoscopic surgery, Benjamin was discharged the next day and took his entrance exam a few days later. During a follow-up visit, Benjamin told Liu, "When I grow up, I want to become a doctor like you and save lives." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) In a surprising twist, the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) postponed the much-awaited interview to select the next chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI). The last-minute decision came just hours before the interviews were set to begin, catching many by surprise. The FSIB responsible for finding directors for state-owned banks and financial institutions, was set to interview candidates to replace Dinesh Khara, who is retiring on August 28 upon reaching the age of 63 for the chairman position. The process typically involved choosing from the current managing directors of SBI. The FSIB recommends a candidate, with the final appointment made by the appointments committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Quite possible that the interviews were postponed due to the ongoing general elections and will take place once the new government is sworn in. The FSIB is led by Bhanu Pratap Sharma, former secretary of the department of personnel and training (DoPT) and the selection panel includes the financial services secretary, the department of public enterprises secretary and an RBI deputy governor. Other members are Animesh Chauhan, former chairman and MD of Oriental Bank of Commerce, RBIs ex-executive director Deepak Singhal and Shailendra Bhandari, former MD of ING Vysya Bank. The wait continues. * Parliament security: CISF takes charge, PSS future uncertain Why have 3,300 CISF personnel abruptly replaced 1,400 CRPF personnel in guarding the two Parliament buildings during the general elections? This significant shift has sparked concerns, with many wondering about the future of the Parliament Security Service (PSS). Observers and babus are puzzled by the decision to assign key security functions to the CISF, a force primarily experienced in managing public interactions at airports and metro stations. The CISFs limited familiarity with the unique security demands of Parliament has intensified these concerns. The PSS, on the other hand, has been a cornerstone of Parliaments security since India adopted its Constitution in 1950. This move has naturally left many PSS officials anxious about their jobs. Contributing to their worries is the fact that no new hirings have been done in the past ten years. Additionally, PSS officers, originally hired by the Parliament secretariat, now fall under the jurisdiction of the Government of India, with rumours of forced retirement at age 55 further unsettling them. The PSS has traditionally worked closely with other security agencies to ensure a seamless and user-friendly security environment. It specializes in identifying MPs, VIPs and staff, thereby preventing undue harassment and unauthorized entry. This expertise is now at risk as the CISF assumes control. With no clear answers forthcoming, the apprehensions among PSS officials and the broader implications for parliamentary security remain unresolved. * Historic choice awaits as Rajiv Gaubas term nears end Rajiv Gauba, the current Cabinet secretary of India, is set to make history as the longest-serving individual in this role if he steps down in August. Gauba, a 1982-batch officer from the Jharkhand cadre, will surpass P.K. Sinha, who served just over four years. While one shouldnt get ahead of oneself in figuring out his likely successor, three standout 1987 batch IAS officers are in the running to step up to his role. Gaubas replacement will likely be one of these three finance secretary T.V. Somanathan, Gujarat chief secretary Raj Kumar, and Jal Shakti secretary Vini Mahajan each with an impressive background and excellent credentials. Mr Somanathan, from the Tamil Nadu cadre, is known for his financial expertise and integrity and has held significant roles, including a notable stint at the World Bank. His reputation is such that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh extended his tenure at the World Bank upon a request from the bank leadership. By all accounts, Mr Somanathan is well-aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modis economic agenda, which is seen as a big plus for his claim. Raj Kumar is another candidate and has held crucial positions such as secretary of defence production and chief secretary of Gujarat, Modis home turf. He has effectively managed sensitive departments, demonstrating his capability in high-pressure roles. More notably, he is known to be straightforward and enjoys Mr Modis trust. Vini Mahajan, the third contender, is poised to make history as Indias first woman Cabinet secretary! A former chief secretary of Punjab, she has had extensive experience in the Prime Ministers Office under Manmohan Singh and is known for rational and methodical planning. Interestingly, all three are first-attempt IAS officers, the youngest of their batch, and known for their integrity. Barring the appearance of the proverbial dark horse at the last minute, one of these three babus may become the next Cabinet secretary. I begin with a short anecdote. I was a part of Operation Pawan (Sri Lanka) where the Indian Army was involved in an expeditionary counter-terrorist campaign. I was often involved in hits and misses in operational contacts with the militants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at the sub-tactical level, especially in the urban built-up environment of Jaffna city and its outskirts. That is very usual in such operations; every operation does not end in a resounding success, as the intelligence may be inaccurate or the contact could start even when the adversaries are at some distance and one has little control over such situations. A particular senior officer was most unhappy about my few botched operations and ascribed it to lack of professionalism on my part. He said quite openly that my refusal to fire when there was a possibility of civilian casualties did not reflect high professional capability and flexibility. In his opinion, civilian casualties were a part of the collateral, and we should not be concerned about that. Mercifully, I never agreed to his perception about the conduct of such operations, and retained my equanimity and the reputation of my unit, but almost at the cost of my career. The Indian Army suffered heavy casualties at the beginning of the Jaffna campaign and many times thereafter. Urban, near-conventional warfare in which it got involved, was not its forte. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were a surprise for us, as were snipers from rooftops and militants merging into crowds which backed them. Yet, we never ever consciously disregarded the rules of war, despite the fact that units suffered casualties of both officers and men and it took almost 16 days to initially capture Jaffna. Operation Pawan was never a tactical failure, it was a catastrophe at the strategic level; primarily for the lack of clarity of aim and task. Units which participated there held their heads high and came away with many lessons learnt, although allegations in the media against their high-handedness were rife; no one really accepted that internationally. I ascribe my ability to understand counter-militant and counter-terrorist operations in the later stages of my career to the patience and forbearance I acquired during Operation Pawan. The purpose of relating this is to compare the Indian Armys approach to warfare, especially in urban terrain, in relation to two prominent armies, the Israeli Army and the Russian Army, both having especially close relationships with the Indian Army. The Russian Army has been involved in Ukraine for almost 27 months. After failing to take the capital Kyiv, it has concentrated on the Donbas region where its targets have been cities and urban villages. With six million people displaced, eight million who have fled the country as refugees and an indeterminate number of civilian casualties, there is little as far as the ethics of war are concerned. The UN recorded over 700 civilian casualties across Ukraine in April 2024, including 129 deaths, a significant increase from March. Food insecurity is on the rise and humanitarian assistance is a major challenge. It is yet acceptable that economic blockades are a part of warfare, but deliberately targeted civilian casualties are unethical. The war is between two formed armies with a sprinkling of irregulars. Gaza is about a formed army versus irregulars. Here, a 2.5 million population is reeling under offensive operations by a force of at least 300,000. It remains a moot point whether a warning to the civilian population to vacate a city or a region, and its consequent refusal under duress or not, is legitimate reason for the commencement of an operation with no limitations and terms of reference. Almost 37,000 civilians have died in Gaza since October 7, 2023, all targets of artillery, missile fire or simply the collateral of many engagements that Hamas has been involved in. In India, our military community has great respect for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and its ruthless approach to warfare. In discussions with the rank and file of the IDF, Israeli servicemen often decry the Indian military concept of non-acceptance of collateral or the thought process of balance between hard and soft power in a counter-terrorism environment, alongside the idea of the population being the centre of gravity. Both campaigns, Ukraine and Gaza, are not people-centric although there is an element of hybridity in both. For the Russian Army, territorial gains are important but beyond the threshold quantum of civilian casualties is a factor too. With Israel inflicting heavy civilian casualties in the conduct of clearance operations in Gaza, the United States and Nato are unable to take a strong stand against Russian actions. Israels political stance on heavy Palestinian civilian casualties continues to ignore the same in the hope that capitulation will shortly take place. Most professional military minds, observing the war, find it difficult to fathom how Hamas retains the capability to fire missiles and rockets from within Gaza after the degree of attrition suffered and the presence of such a large number of Israeli troops. Can one ascribe an uncaring approach towards civilian casualties as unethical or simply unprofessional? Executing surgical operations in terrain such as Gaza or Donbass poses a major challenge. We are not sure to what extent have Special Forces been tasked and applied but their employment would definitely make a major difference. More than artillery, missiles or air power, it is the suitably deployed grenade launchers and heavy machine-guns which make the difference in street battles. That is what the Indian Army ultimately employed in Jaffna. It had no maps to take artillery shoots, nor the will to launch bombs on people. In street battles, it got the better of the 2,500-3,000 LTTE militants who deployed in a manner to depict a much larger force. What made the Indian Army stand out even more was the humanitarian attitude and the display of will to return Jaffna to normal at the earliest. It set up a civil affairs organisation and posted the iconic Risky Kahlon as the first town commandant to ensure that order was restored and life of the people returned to as normal as possible. It paid great dividends, which prompts me to suggest to these armies to take a leaf from the experience of the Indian Army. They may just find it useful, and successful. Today's news: Four Pakistanis killed in a shootout on the border with Iran; Netanyahu surpasses Gantz in an Israel poll for the first time since October 7; Hun Manet announces the start of work on the Funan Techo canal in August; In Kaliningrad, Rosatom top management and the IAEA discuss the Zaporizja nuclear power plant. HONG KONG Fourteen members of pro-democracy movements were convicted and two acquitted in the first verdict of a trial that came to a close over the 2019 crackdown on protest movements implemented under the National Security Law. The subversion offence charged is that of organising primary elections to win as many seats as possible in the Legislative Assembly, with the intention of toppling the government then led by Carrie Lam by rejecting the budget. IRAN-PAKISTAN Four Pakistanis were killed and two wounded in the late evening of 29 May when Iranian forces opened fire in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan. The shooting occurred near the border between the two countries in the Washuk district. The late former Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi had travelled to Pakistan in April for a three-day official visit, seeking to mend fences after unprecedented military attacks earlier this year. Iran and Pakistan have had a history of strained relations, but the January missile attacks were the most serious incidents in recent years. ISRAEL For the first time since the start of the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu overtook his main antagonist, War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, as the electorate's preferred choice in a poll. The poll broadcast by Channel 12 marks a recovery for Likud and punishes the uncertainties of Gantz, who is incapable of presenting a real alternative. On the left side of the political spectrum, the poll assigns 10 seats (out of 120) to the announced alliance between the Labour Party and the peace party Meretz, led by the newly elected Labour leader, former general Yair Golan. CAMBODIA Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that work on the construction of the Funan Techo Canal will begin in August. The infrastructure is contested by Vietnam - which fears repercussions on the course of the Mekong River - and is viewed with concern in the West as a further sign of advancing Chinese interests in Cambodia. Hun Manet has replied that the Funan Techo will be built on Cambodian territory to serve the interests of the Khmer people, while most of the investment capital is also Khmer. INDIA Chennai-based space start-up Agnikul Cosmos this morning successfully launched from a private platform in Shriharikota for the first time in India. The SOrTeD rocket uses a combination of gas and liquid fuel and has the world's first one-piece 3D printed engine, designed and built in-house. RUSSIA-UKRAINE In Kaliningrad, in a hall at the Khrabrovo airport, talks began between the head of the Russian agency Rosatom, Aleksej Likhacev, and the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, to discuss the situation at the Zaporizja nuclear power plant, following a number of prior meetings in Moscow, St Petersburg and Soci, including with Putin. KAZAKHSTAN Kazakhstan's Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliev said that the new nuclear power plant planned in the country would be awarded through a competition, for which companies from South Korea, Russia, China and France had passed preliminary examinations. Other suitors could be added to the list, including the US and Japan. Some 20 people walked for 25 days from the southern province of Madhesh to the capital, carrying empty buckets on their heads. In the Chure region, which is home to a mountain range and several streams, natural springs have dried up due to decades of overuse. The government, however, is ignoring the issue. Kathmandu (AsiaNews) A group of environmentalists arrived in Nepals capital Kathmandu almost a week ago in a campaign to protest the degradation of the Chure, a mountain range on the border with India, whose water sources are drying up due to decades of uncontrolled sand mining from river beds. The protesters, 22 in all, walked for 25 days from the southern province of Madhesh carrying empty buckets that read: Government, give us water Save trees for water Stop the encroachment of Chure. They will not leave, they said, until the government heeds their demands. But so far, the latter has ignored the group of protesters, one of whom is Sabita Kumari Mahato, the younger sister of Dilip Kumar Maharo, an environmentalist killed four years ago for protesting illegal mining. Mahato told local media that despite the personal tragedy she and her family have endured, the fight for the preservation of the Chure range today concerns the entire region and, soon, the entire country. We cant survive without water, nobody can, Mahato explained. So why is the government barely doing anything about this? In some villages, local water sources, which are also crucial for farming, have dried up completely and residents are forced to wait for government water tankers. At this rate, if the government remains idle, soon well have to import water as well, Mahato lamented. On Tuesday, the Nepali parliament began discussing the budget, and the group of environmentalists hoped the government would allocate more funds for reforestation and water conservation than last year's budget. This was not the case: the government did not make any changes to existing projects. In 2014, the President Chure-Tarai Madhesh Conservation Development Board (PCTMCDB) was set up while the Chure was recognised as a protected area, including the Tarai Plains, traditionally Nepals food basket. Recent research suggest, however, that the efforts made by the government have been futile. In fact, the creation of ponds and irrigation canals has been too slow compared to the pace of mining and deforestation. Experts note that an independent fund with full authority is needed to deal with different environmental issues. Sunil Yadav, coordinator of the Chure and Forest Conservation Committee and head of the protest campaign, said it is shameful that locals have to rely on tankers for their daily needs. Tarai is lauded as the food basket of the country, but in the years to come, there will be nothing much to see because everything is slowly drying up, he said. You can see the effects of a warming climate everywhere the Tarai, hills, and the mountains. Soon the degradation of Chure will affect the whole nation, because where will the grains come from? Our ancestors never had to undertake such a huge march of suffering just for water. I cannot imagine what lies in store for the coming generations, said Sangita Devi Sada, who joined the campaign because the rivers in her village stopped flowing two years ago during the dry season. My feet are covered in blisters. I can barely walk. Whom do I share this suffering with? Who will listen to us? she asks. The perennially flowing Kamala River has started drying up. It is becoming unrecognizable, said Sonabatti Mukhiya, 70. They are bringing huge tippers and excavators to extract sand and boulders at night. The police just watch. They are all hand-in-glove. If this is not stopped, the Kamala River will soon vanish without a trace. Sabita, Sunil, Sangita, Sonabatti, and the other Nepalis who marched to Kathmandu have 12 demands for the government, including a law to protect the mountain range, a ban on sand mining from riverbeds, a stop to construction in the name of development, and an investigation into activities in forests, where illegal mining is often taking place. 30 May 2024 14:11 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Mine threat is still one of the world's most priority problems on the international agenda. The main source of the problem is the consequences of merciless wars. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is at the forefront among the countries suffering from the mine problem nowadays. The reason for this is the heavy mining of the Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur regions, which have been under occupation for more than 30 years, especially the former contact lines. The Conference themed "Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future," and held for the third time with the initiative of the Azerbaijan Republic held a mirror to the current problem in the country. The main point of the conference was remembered with the address of President Ilham Aliyev to the conference participants. In his speech, the head of state pointed out that one of the most important values, human life, is in danger due to the threat of landmines. Today, Azerbaijan is carrying out rapid reconstruction works to rekindle a new life in the territories freed from occupation. All the work done now leads to the full realisation of the Great Return project. However, the enemy hiding under the soil still creates serious obstacles to this. According to President Ilham Aliyev, the landmine problem is delaying post-conflict elimination. As long as there is death and misery, the conflict will be refreshed. The only way to get rid of it is to eliminate the mine problem once and forever. In addition, the problem of landmines, the scourge of humanity, hinders the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. As the head of state noted, almost half a decade has passed since the conflict, but the issue is still on the agenda as a serious problem. One of the other dangers and consequences of the mine problem is the deadly damage it causes to the environment and nature. Since man is a part of nature, the poisoning of our environment and turning it into a dangerous area is also included among the topics of concern. The president of Azerbaijan did not overlook this issue either. He emphasized that as long as this problem exists, it will lead to more serious threats and once again mentioned the importance of discussing this issue at COP29, which will be hosted by Azerbaijan at the end of this year. "Mines that remain unearthed for a long time can lead to hazardous chemical reactions. The soil not in use due to the threat of mines is subjected to erosion and abrasion. Therefore, it is particularly significant that todays conference is organized in the run-up to the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP29, which Azerbaijan will host," the President said. Mine problem is one of the most serious problems of Azerbaijan. Enduring thirty years of occupation and then facing the threat of landmines, as well as human casualties and many unfortunate events after the conflict, is a severe test for the country. The fact that the territories are free from occupation does not mean all problems are resolved. More than 1.5 million mines and countless unexploded ordnance cover about 12 per cent of the de-occupied land. This is indeed, a bitter truth. Since the end of the war in 2020, 361 Azerbaijani citizens, mostly civilians, have fallen victim to a mine explosion, resulting in 68 deaths and 293 severe injuries. Overall, since the beginning of Armenias aggression against Azerbaijan, over 3400 of our citizens have suffered from mines, including 358 children and 38 women. The steady increase in the number of mine victims is associated with Armenias refusal to provide accurate maps of the mines it planted across Azerbaijans territory, and with placing booby traps along the roads, cemeteries, and other civilian facilities located behind the former line of contact. From 2020 to 2023, new mine zones were created stretching up to 500 kilometres, new mines were planted in Azerbaijan. Certainly, responsibility for that rests with Armenia. Return of 800 thousand formerly displaced persons is still outstanding Challenges Azerbaijan faces on demining also hamper the countrys development and recovery efforts, creating serious obstacles for the return of 800 thousand formerly displaced persons. President Ilham Aliyev also touched on this issue while addressing the conference. "Humanitarian demining is among the top priorities of Azerbaijans state policies, and the foundation of that was laid by the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev. Today, the primary body in charge of humanitarian demining in Azerbaijan is the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan ANAMA. So far, some 140 thousand hectares have been cleared of 119,946 mines and unexploded ordnances. Yet, mined areas stretch far beyond that. Mines are easy to plant but mine clearance is a much more difficult and complex process. In a short span of time, Azerbaijan has mobilized all its strength and is using the most advanced and cutting-edge technologies available worldwide. We are implementing measures to enhance efficiency in mine clearance, and our capabilities have significantly improved compared to previous years. All-women demining teams have also been deployed since last year." Certainly, as mentioned by the President, Azerbaijan is currently implementing humanitarian demining at its own expense. However, adequate political and practical support from the international community for mitigating the humanitarian consequences of mines and demining the affected areas are of utmost significance. At the same time, Azerbaijan has comprehensively informed the international community about the landmine problem and brought the problems to their attention. This is a clear manifestation of the official launching of the humanitarian demining initiative in the 18th Sustainable Development Goals of the UN. In addition, Azerbaijan's launching initiative to establish a Special Contact Group on Humanitarian Demining within the Non-Aligned Movement is another important step towards tackling this issue globally. Further to the address of the President, he said that in the past three years, Azerbaijan has hosted a number of international conferences, in collaboration with the UN, dedicated to the subject of mines. Along with being leading platforms for the discussion of mine action matters, these events draw greater attention to this significant problem that troubles humanity in the modern era. Presently, Azerbaijan is working with the UN to establish the "Centre of Excellence" to provide education on the mine action. A letter of intent is due to be signed between the ANAMA and the UN Development Programme on the sidelines of this Conference. This notable development will allow Azerbaijan to share its expertise with countries that face similar problems. Todays international event is a clear manifestation of Azerbaijans determination to eliminate the existing mine threat in the South Caucasus region. These events in Baku shine a light of hope for tomorrow's mine-free future. Each step taken also brings experience to the country and creates a fertile environment for a healthy life for future generations. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews Deputy Editor-in-Chief; follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijan, in its pursuit to reclaim territorial integrity and sovereignty, has launched ambitious projects aimed at sustainable settlement and economic revitalization in the liberated areas. These endeavors are supported by substantial state funding and encompass various initiatives, such as tunnel construction in Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, the development of crucial international corridors, the establishment of airports, and the implementation of diverse industrial projects. The Great Return Program, dedicated to restoring all liberated territories, is making significant progress. Emerging towns, cities, and modern trade hubs in Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur reflect this success, showcasing contemporary urban planning with smart cities and villages leveraging cutting-edge technologies. Concurrently, substantial strides are being taken to develop industry and diversify the non-oil and gas sector. This includes the establishment of competitive modern production facilities to bolster industrial capacity, alongside infrastructure enhancements and various incentive schemes fostering increased production and sectoral growth. President Ilham Aliyev's leadership has seen notable efforts towards non-oil sector development and the enhancement of export potential. Favorable conditions and the establishment of industrial parks and neighborhoods have enabled Azerbaijan's non-oil industry to produce competitive, export-oriented products, with high-tech enterprises in industrial zones playing a pivotal role, particularly in polymers, rubber, cables, and aluminum-based products. Amidst rapid construction and reconstruction in long-occupied regions, extensive economic recovery and reintegration measures are underway in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. The focus on restoring Karabakh's industrial potential contributes to economic reintegration and employment generation. Notably, industrial parks in Agdam and the "Araz Valley Economic Zone" in Jabrayil district have been established, fostering favorable conditions for entrepreneurial ventures and business activities. In these designated zones aimed at reviving business activity, favorable conditions have been established to facilitate entrepreneurs' access to various concessions, thus stimulating business growth. In his comment to Azernews on the issue, economic expert Rashad Hasanov highlighted that within a year, enterprises in these zones collectively produced products valued at four billion manats. He emphasized the significant contribution of completed investment projects in industrial parks and districts to the economic growth of Azerbaijan, particularly in the processing industry. Hasanov pointed out that around 50-55 percent of the products manufactured in these zones are directed towards exports, significantly impacting the expansion of non-oil exports. Notably, industries such as polymer, rubber, cable products, and aluminum-based products have seen substantial growth in exports. Hasanov projected that with the commencement of operations by residents in the upcoming years, these industrial zones will continue to play a vital role in economic development, particularly in export activities. He highlighted ongoing processes in two industrial parks in the liberated territories, emphasizing the potential influx of new residents and businesses in the near future, along with the opportunity for entrepreneurs to leverage various benefits. Aghdam and the "Araz Valley Economic Zone" industrial parks, along with other existing industrial parks nationwide, offer a conducive investment environment for entrepreneurs. Residents are provided with pre-built infrastructure at state expense and are exempted from property tax, land tax, income or profit tax for a decade from registration, as well as VAT during the importation of machinery and customs duties for ten years. Moreover, recent amendments to the Tax Code, effective from January 1 of this year, introduce additional benefits for entrepreneurs operating in liberated territories. These include subsidies for social insurance fees, granting extra vacation days to professionals residing in liberated territories, monthly salary supplements, a one-time allowance, simplified work permit procedures, and exemption from labor migration quotas for foreign specialists. Additionally, entrepreneurs engaged in production activities in the liberated territories will receive financial assistance equivalent to 20 percent of their monthly utility service payments for ten years. Hasanov stressed that these concessions would further optimize product costs, thus enhancing the competitiveness of domestically manufactured products in foreign markets. He also noted the importance of modern technology in facilitating competitive product manufacturing and emphasized that while technology plays a crucial role, price competitiveness remains equally significant. Looking ahead, Hasanov highlighted the potential for creating new industrial zones in liberated territories, particularly in Khankendi, Kalbajar, and Zangilan, where favorable conditions exist for attracting investments and establishing infrastructure to support industrial development. Khankendi boasts both the potential and infrastructure for manufacturing light and heavy industrial products, making it an ideal location for establishing an industrial park in this sector. Additionally, experts suggest that Kalbajar could host an industrial park focusing on the food industry. However, it's crucial to consider the long-term impact alongside short-term gains. While industrial zones may stimulate the economy initially, over-reliance on them could potentially limit overall economic competitiveness. Maintaining a balance, especially considering Azerbaijan's relatively small market size, should be a priority in industrial zone policies. Nonetheless, exploring new approaches to expand this sector remains an option worth considering. Rashad Hasanov also highlights the significant role of the tourism industry in the economic development of liberated territories. Predictions suggest that the share of tourism services in these regions could increase by 3-3.5 times compared to the main economy. To harness this potential, creating specialized zones such as tourism-free zones and tourism recreation areas becomes crucial. Establishing numerous tourist centers and recreational zones aligns with long-term goals, aiming to bolster service exports and effectively utilize the region's resources. Currently, Azerbaijan operates seven industrial parks (including the "Araz Valley Economic Zone" in Sumgayit Kimya, Garadag, Pirallahi, Mingachevir, Balakhani, Aghdam, and Jabrayil districts) and five industrial districts (Hajigabul, Masalli, Neftchala, Sabirabad, and Sharur). Notably, the Agdam Industrial Park, covering 190 hectares, was established by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on May 28, 2021. Similarly, the "Araz Valley Economic Zone" was created by a decree on October 4, 2021, spanning an area of 200 hectares. Both industrial parks have undergone complete demining operations, and mobile settlements have been set up to ensure the comfort of residents. According to the Economic Zones Development Agency, since 2013, 142 business entities have been granted resident status in industrial zones, with a total investment volume of 7.79 billion manats. Entrepreneurs have injected over 6.7 billion manats into these zones, generating more than 10,500 permanent jobs. Moving forward, an additional 1 billion manats will be invested in industrial zones, creating over 6,500 new jobs in the next phase of existing projects. In the first quarter of 2024, industrial zone residents recorded product sales totaling 640.3 million manats, with exports amounting to 223.6 million manats. Notably, sales by industrial park residents surged by 20.6 percent last year, with exports increasing by 10.8 percent. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 12:12 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has delivered 4 billion cubic meters of gas in the initial four months of 2024, Azernews reports. Access to paid information is limited Find the plan that suits you best. 30 May 2024 14:52 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Leading up to the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), an exclusive session titled "For a Green World: COP29 Strategic Development Paths" has been integrated into the agenda of the Baku Energy Forum, Azernews reports. During a press conference dedicated to Baku Energy Week, Aynura Nazarli, project manager at "Iteca Caspian," shared insights into the event's program. Nazarli shed light on the key agenda items, emphasizing the paramount importance of addressing environmental challenges and the imminent threats they pose to our planet. Additionally, the forum will delve into strategies for mitigating these challenges, with a special focus on green energy initiatives. This year's agenda encompasses crucial topics such as "International Cooperation on Energy Security and Sustainability," "Energy Security 2.0," "Exploration and Production Opportunities in the Caspian Region," "Sustainable Energy: Unveiling the Green Energy Potential in the Caspian Region," and "New Technologies and Digitization." Notably, OPEC has extended its support for the event, marking a significant milestone. Nazarli highlighted the participation of leading global energy corporations, underscoring the forum's status as a hub for innovation and collaboration. With over 600 participants expected to attend, the forum is poised to foster meaningful discussions and drive actionable strategies towards a sustainable energy future. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 13:31 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more The implementation of the agreements reached between Azerbaijan and Iran was discussed, Azernews reports. On May 29, Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Mehrdad Bazrpash, engaged in a telephone conversation. During the discussion, Deputy Prime Minister Mustafayev extended condolences to Iran for the tragic helicopter crash that resulted in the death of President Ebrahim Raisi and accompanying officials. Bazrpash, in turn, expressed gratitude to Azerbaijani officials for their presence at the farewell ceremony for President Raisi, both in Baku and Tehran. Additionally, the Iranian minister congratulated Azerbaijan on its Independence Day, celebrated on May 28th. It's worth noting that an event commemorating the commissioning of the Khudafarin hydrocomplex and the inauguration of the Giz Galasi hydrocomplex took place between Iran and Azerbaijan. The Iranian side highlighted that approximately 5.5 trillion rials (equivalent to about $131 million) were invested in the Giz Galasi hydrocomplex. This dam will manage a total of two billion cubic meters of water annually, with one billion cubic meters allocated for Azerbaijan and the other billion for Iran. The unfortunate helicopter crash occurred on May 19, while President Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, Tabriz Province Imam Ayatollah Ali Hashim, and East Azerbaijan Province Governor-General Malek Rahmati were en route from Khudafarin to Tabriz. Tragically, President Raisi and the entire delegation perished in the accident. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 15:25 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more At a press conference alongside Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted the prospects for enhanced cooperation in "clean" energy between Azerbaijan and Pakistan ahead of COP29, Azernews reports. Bayramov expressed optimism about the forthcoming 8th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Pakistan joint intergovernmental commission, scheduled for later this year in Islamabad. He emphasized that this meeting would provide a significant boost to economic cooperation, inviting Pakistani business representatives to explore the opportunities presented by international transit corridors passing through Azerbaijan and the Baku International Sea Trade Port. He also mentioned the advantageous conditions and privileges offered by the Alat Free Economic Zone for Pakistani partners. Moreover, Bayramov underscored the importance of the direct air connection between the two countries in fostering tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Currently, there are six weekly flights from Baku to Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. He noted that last year, Azerbaijan welcomed 55,000 Pakistani tourists, with an expected number of 20,000 in the first four months of 2024. Looking ahead to COP29, slated to be held in Azerbaijan in 2024, Bayramov emphasized that this event would offer additional opportunities for collaboration in "clean" energy and the transition to a "green" economy. Addressing the importance of connectivity, Minister Bayramov underscored the pivotal role of the Middle Corridor in fostering mutual benefits for both nations. "The Middle Corridor offers a transit route approximately 2,000 kilometers shorter than other alternatives, particularly emphasizing land transport," he remarked. Bayramov pointed out Azerbaijan's strategic focus on enhancing transit routes, citing a remarkable 65 percent increase in transit flow along the Middle Corridor in 2023. He further outlined ambitious plans for future enhancements. Highlighting Azerbaijan's commitment to infrastructure development, Bayramov noted substantial investment decisions aimed at boosting the capacity of the Baku Sea Trade Port from 15 million tons to 25 million tons. Moreover, Azerbaijan's significant investments in railway infrastructure, both domestically and in neighboring countries, align with the transit potential of the Middle Corridor. Minister Bayramov emphasized the synergistic opportunities arising from the transit aspect of the project, particularly amidst the growing economic ties between Pakistan, Central Asian nations, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a focal point of today's discussions. The Middle Corridor serves as a pivotal transport and trade route linking Asia and Europe through multiple regional countries. Offering an alternative to traditional North and South corridors, it provides a vital land route connecting eastern Asian regions, including China, to Europe, offering shorter transit times compared to longer sea routes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Azerbaijan State Film Fund has hosted an evening dedicated to the memory of the well-known film director and actor, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Elkhan Gasimov, Azernews reports. In the evening, organized with the support of the Culture Ministry and the State Film Agency, an exhibition was launched, featuring photographs reflecting the director's life path. A video dedicated to the memory of Elkhan Gasimov was shown to the guests of the event. In his speech, the director of the State Film Fund, Honored Artist, film director Jamil Guliyev noted that Elkhan Gasimov was a regular participant in events held by the State Film Fund, spoke and shared his thoughts about cinema and well-known personalities. It was emphasized that Elkhan Gasimov was always there and supported his counterparts. Further, People's Artists Abdul Makhmudov, Khamis Muradov, Ogtay Mirgasimov, Khalida Guliyeva, People's Writer Natig Rasulzade, Honored Artist Sugra Bagirzade, Honored Artist Mushfig Khatamov and other people shared their memories of Elkhan Gasimov. The daughter of Elkhan Gasimov, Kamala Gasimov, expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the State Film Fund for hosting this evening dedicated to the anniversary of the death of film director. Documentaries "Sketch about Azerbaijan" (1969) by Ogtay Mirgasimov and "Nizami Ganjavi" (1976) by Elkhan Gasimov were screened as part of the event. It should be noted that Elkhan Gasimov starred in the film "A Study about Azerbaijan", where he also acted as an assistant director. Both films were shot at the AzerbaijanFilm Studio, restored and transferred into electronic format by the State Film Fund. Elkhan Gasimov was born on April 24, 1945 in Nakhchivan. He graduated from the acting department of the Azerbaijan State Institute of Arts (now the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts) and the Directing Department of the Leningrad State Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography (now the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts). He played in about forty films, most of all remembered for his roles in such films as "Where is Ahmed?", "The Last Pass", etc. Since 1969, he worked at the AzerbaijanFilm Studio as an actor and director he worked in more than forty feature and documentary films, Mozalan satirical film magazine. Elkhan Gasimov passed away on May 29, 2023 at the age of 79. ---- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 11:10 (UTC+04:00) President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of the Conference themed Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future, Azernews reports. The address reads: "Dear Conference participants, I welcome you on the occasion of the opening of the International Conference themed Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future. Today, mines and unexploded ordnance continue to remain an acute problem posing a threat to peoples security across many countries. Along with jeopardizing human life, the mines seriously challenge socioeconomic development, damage the environment and cultural heritage, hinder post-war recovery and development initiatives, and ultimately impede the Sustainable Development Goals, even decades after wars have ended. While mine explosions pose a threat to peoples lives and put their very right to live into question, they also significantly damage the environment. Plastic waste resulting from an explosion entails environmental consequences by negatively impacting soil structure. Mines that remain unearthed for a long time can lead to hazardous chemical reactions. The soil not in use due to the threat of mines is subjected to erosion and abrasion. Therefore, it is particularly significant that todays conference is organized in the run-up to the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP29, which Azerbaijan will host. Azerbaijan is bearing the brunt of a 30-year-long conflict and occupation of its lands by Armenia, suffering from a mine pollution problem, and stands among the most mine-polluted countries of the world. According to initial estimates, roughly 12 percent of the countrys territory is polluted by 1.5 million mines and an unknown number of unexploded ordnances. Since the end of the war in 2020, 361 of our citizens, mostly civilians, have fallen victim to mine explosions, resulting in 68 deaths and 293 severe injuries. Overall, since the beginning of Armenias aggression against Azerbaijan, over 3400 of our citizens have suffered from mines, including 358 children and 38 women. The steady increase in the number of mine victims is associated with Armenias refusal to provide accurate maps of the mines it planted across Azerbaijans territory, and with placing booby traps along the roads, cemeteries, and other civilian facilities located behind the former line of contact. From 2020 to 2023, new mine zones were created stretching up to 500 kilometers, new mines had been planted in Azerbaijan. Responsibility for that rests with Armenia. Challenges we face on demining also hamper our development and recovery efforts, creating serious obstacles for the return of 800 thousand formerly displaced persons. Humanitarian demining is among the top priorities of Azerbaijans state policies, and the foundation of that was laid by the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev. Today, the primary body in charge of humanitarian demining in Azerbaijan is the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan ANAMA. So far, some 140 thousand hectares have been cleared of 119,946 mines and unexploded ordnances. Yet, mined areas stretch far beyond that. Mines are easy to plant but mine clearance is a much more difficult and complex process. In a short span of time, Azerbaijan has mobilized all its strength and is using the most advanced and cutting-edge technologies available worldwide. We are implementing measures to enhance efficiency in mine clearance, and our capabilities have significantly improved compared to previous years. All-women demining teams have also been deployed since last year. Our country is implementing humanitarian demining at its own expense. Adequate political and practical support from the international community for mitigating the humanitarian consequences of mines and demining the affected areas are of utmost significance. While addressing its mine problem, Azerbaijan has simultaneously launched multiple initiatives to rivet the international communitys attention to this matter. As you may know, last year our country has officially declared humanitarian demining as the 18th National Sustainable Development Goal, and we are working to ensure the recognition of this issue as the UNs Global 18th SDG. In the meantime, Azerbaijan has launched an initiative to establish a Special Contact Group on Humanitarian Demining within the Non-Aligned Movement. The Contact Group has begun operating since last September. At the 15th meeting of the states-parties to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, held in 2023, a resolution titled The Impact of Mines on Cultural Heritage was adopted upon Azerbaijans initiative. As a follow-up to this momentous resolution, Azerbaijan hosted a special conference in Aghdam this May, themed The Impact of Mines and Unexploded Ordnance on Cultural Property. In the past three years, our country has hosted a number of international conferences, in collaboration with the UN, dedicated to the subject of mines. Along with being leading platforms for the discussion of mine action matters, these events draw greater attention to this significant problem that troubles humanity in the modern era. Presently, Azerbaijan is working with the UN to establish the Center of Excellence to provide education on the mine action. A letter of intent is due to be signed between the ANAMA and the UN Development Programme on the sidelines of this Conference. This notable development will allow Azerbaijan to share its expertise with countries that face similar problems. Todays event demonstrates Azerbaijans determination to tackle the mine issue, one of the challenges of modern times. I believe that this conference will contribute to addressing the problem of mines and their consequences, including the environmental impact, as well as to the exchange of advanced experience in the area of the mine action. I extend my best wishes to you and wish the conference every success. Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 29 May 2024" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 13:13 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more We totally reject a biased and unacceptable statement by Peter Stano, Spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy of the European Union (EU) dated 29 May, 2024, Azernews reports, citing the commentary by the MFA Spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada concerning the statement by Peter Stano, Spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy of the European Union, on claims about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. The rhetoric of the EU statement is full of blatant falsifications that are detached from reality about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. People detained due to certain criminal investigation, such as illegal funding of certain activities, illegal financial transactions and etc. are subject to the requirements of the relevant laws on penal regimes. Instead of waiting for the results of criminal cases and investigations, as well as court rulings, call on Azerbaijan to release suspects is in open contradiction with legal procedures. Moreover, claims about deprivation of detained people of medical and other assistance have no grounds. All the people that the EU side refers to are subject to necessary assistance in the manner and to the extent specified by law. The groundless public demands of the EU to pardon certain individuals on the basis of political preferences of certain European governments and politicians cast doubt on Europe's true commitment to the rule of law. Azerbaijan has enough experience, knowledge and wisdom, and does not need imposing advice and prescriptions. In the same line, conditioning of Azerbaijans presidency of COP29 with inappropriate political motivation contradicts the very essence of idea of cooperation addressing climate change that Azerbaijan has undertaken. Azerbaijan will continue to comply with its international legal obligations, and urges certain EU institutions to focus on gross violations of human rights in the EU area, and cease its interference and provocations against Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 14:34 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more On May 30, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who is on a working visit to Turkiye, participated in Distinguished Visitors Day held within the EFES-2024 multinational exercise in Izmir, Azernews reports. President of the Republic of Turkiye, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Turkiye, Mr. Yasar Guler delivered speeches during the Distinguished Visitors Day. After getting acquainted with the Defense Industry Exhibition, Azerbaijani representatives watched the demonstration flights of the "Turkish Stars" and parachute jumps. Then the awarding ceremony was held in the EFES-2024 multinational exercise, which included a total of 1567 participants from 49 countries. In the end, a solemn concert program was presented. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 14:03 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu has sent a letter of congratulation to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28-Azerbaijan's Independence Day. Azernews presents the letter: "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Excellency, On the occasion of Azerbaijans Independence Day, I extend my congratulations to you and the citizens of Azerbaijan. I wish your country continued progress, prosperity, and peace. I deeply value the strong relations between the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and I reaffirm my countrys commitment to further deepening our bilateral dialogue. We will always remember how, in times of need, you were there for us. I am confident that, through joint efforts, Moldova and Azerbaijan will fully capitalise on the opportunities to enhance our cooperation in crucial areas such as energy, transport, agriculture, trade and investment, ultimately benefiting citizens of both our countries. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend your decision to host the 29th session of the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP29). I firmly believe that this event will advance our collective efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and fostering a greener future. With my best wishes, please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration. Maia Sandu President of the Republic of Moldova" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 13:59 (UTC+04:00) King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni has sent a letter of congratulation to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28-Azerbaijan's Independence Day. Azernews presents the letter: "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. President, On the occasion of the celebration by the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan of its National Day, I am glad to extend to Your Excellency my warmest congratulations, as well as my best wishes of happiness and prosperity for the friendly people of Azerbaijan. I sincerely hope that the relationship between Cambodia and Azerbaijan will further strengthen and develop on issues of common interest, particularly with regard to serving peace and security in the world. Sincerely, Norodom Sihamoni King of Cambodi" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 17:01 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more A ceremony to award the VI English Language Olympiad for Academic Purposes was held at ADA University, Azernews reports. Since 2015, the English Language Olympiad, which has become a tradition, has been organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the "Baku Education Information Center," the "BEST COMP group," and the "British Summer School" at ADA University. A total of 1638 students from 174 schools across Baku city (189 schools), the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (65 schools), and other regions participated in the Olympiad among 8th and 9th-grade students. The first stage of the Olympiad was held in three venues - at ADA University in Baku, at ADA University's Qazakh Center in Qazakh, and at the Heydar Aliyev Middle School in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. 114 students who successfully completed the first stage qualified to participate in the second stage and were invited to attend the award ceremony for the winners at ADA University. In his opening speech at the ceremony, Vafa Kazdal, the Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development at ADA University, noted that these Olympiads not only develop the language skills of the younger generation but also enhance their academic abilities, analytical, synthetic, and critical thinking. He particularly appreciated the role of partners who have not spared their support in the attainment of these values. Fariz Ismayilzade, the Vice-Rector for State, External, and Student Affairs at ADA University, welcomed the participants and guests, emphasizing the necessity of acquiring academic English language proficiency to pursue successful professional careers in line with international standards. He highlighted that this Olympiad encourages students to develop their language skills. Subsequently, Fuad Qarayev, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Huseyn Asgarov, the Deputy Director of the Education Department in Baku City, Gunay Massimova, the Director of the Baku Education Information Center, and Jamila Amir Aslanova, a representative of the BEST COMP group, congratulated the high-achieving students, their families, and the representatives of the schools they represented. According to the results, Aisha Tapdiqzade from Idrak Lyceum took third place, Zeynab Ayyublu from Ismet Qayibov Secondary School No. 3 in Qazakh city took second place. They were awarded Lenovo laptops. Mahabbat Nesibova from Elitar Gymnasium named after Ilyas Afandiyev was awarded first place and received the opportunity to participate in a two-week "Global Young Leaders" course in the United Kingdom. It should be noted that the first stage of the Olympiad, consisting of three stages, assessed students' knowledge of English grammar and reading ability. In the second stage, students participated in an exam to assess their writing and listening skills, followed by an examination of their speaking skills. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 21:46 (UTC+04:00) By News Centre Istanbul has once again broken tourism records! Istanbul, one of the most visited cities in the world, hosted a total of 5,244,936 foreign tourists in the first four months of 2024. According to the statement from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Istanbul hosted a total of 5,244,936 foreign visitors in January, February, March, and April. The number of foreign visitors to Istanbul increased by 9.94% compared to the same period of the previous year. In April, Istanbul hosted 1,478,218 foreign visitors, an increase of 14.60% compared to the same month last year, making it the locomotive of Turkish tourism. In April, Istanbul was visited by 167,824 people from Russia, 109,202 people from Germany, 80,193 people from Iran, and 68,103 people from the United States. France followed the US with 62,404 visitors, the United Kingdom with 60,429 visitors, and Saudi Arabia with 42,059 visitors. Most passengers arrived at Istanbul Airport In April, 1,063,035 foreign visitors arrived in Istanbul through Istanbul Airport. Istanbul Airport accounted for 72.86% of the total number of foreign visitors arriving in Istanbul by air in April. Last month, 394,772 foreign visitors entered through Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Sabiha Gokcen Airport became the second busiest entry point for foreign visitors to Istanbul. 27.06% of foreign visitors to Istanbul traveled through Sabiha Gokcen Airport. 19,000 tourists arrived by sea Last month, the number of foreign visitors arriving in Istanbul by air increased by 15.54% compared to the same month in 2023. The number of foreigners arriving in the city by sea in April was 19,135. March occupancy rate was 45.85% According to the latest accommodation statistics published by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of arrivals at Ministry-certified facilities in March of this year totaled 1,004,536. A total of 2,219,479 nights were spent in these facilities, with an average length of stay of 2.21 days. The occupancy rate of accommodation facilities in Istanbul in March was 45.85%. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 19:45 (UTC+04:00) By News Centre Haluk Gorgun, head of the Defence Industry Agency (SSB), stated that the Defense Industry Products Exhibition, where products in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces are displayed, is significant in demonstrating the point our country has reached in the defense industry to the whole world. According to a statement from the head of Defense Industries (SSB), EFES-2024, which is Turkiye's largest joint exercise, started in Seferihisar, Izmir. With the participation of over 1,500 foreign personnel from 50 countries, along with TAF elements, a total of 11,000 personnel are involved in the exercise. The Defense Industry Products Exhibition, where products produced with domestic and national capabilities by 47 defense industry companies coordinated by SSB and included in the TAF inventory, is located in the exercise area. In his evaluations included in the statement, President of Defense Industry Gorgun stated: "As part of the EFES-2024 Exercise, many platforms built with domestic and national capabilities and integrated radars, electro-optics, ammunition, subsystems, payload, electronic components, and software developed by our defense industry are also included. The Defense Industry Products Exhibition, where products in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces are displayed, is significant in demonstrating the point our country has reached in the defense industry to the whole world. On this occasion, I would like to express my gratitude to the valuable personnel of the Turkish Armed Forces who have served with great dedication at all stages of planning and execution of the exercise, as well as to the main contractors, subcontractors, and SMEs who have developed and produced indigenous and national systems for our security forces for their outstanding efforts." The exercise will allow participant countries to see the capabilities of Turkish defense industry companies, which have developed and produced many systems ranging from UAVs to helicopters, from warships to ammunition, and from electronic warfare systems to radar systems, and presented them to the service of security forces. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 20:42 (UTC+04:00) By News Centre Turkish Eximbank has signed a credit agreement for the Turkiye Green Export Project, totaling 1 billion euros. According to the statement made by Turkish Eximbank, the bank has added another financing opportunity to support the investments exporters will make in green transformation. Under the guarantee structure of the Treasury and Ministry of Finance and the initial loss compensation structure of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a member of the World Bank Group, in the amount of 600 million euros, Turkish Eximbank has signed a credit agreement totaling 1 billion euros for the "Turkiye Green Export Project." The 10-year term loan, realized with the participation of Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, BNP Paribas, and ING Bank, is the largest borrowing transaction of Turkish Eximbank to date, and it is also the first guarantee transaction of IBRD supporting the green transformation of exporters. This financing transaction aims to help Turkish exporters overcome the difficulties that may arise as a result of the European Union's Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) through cooperation between IBRD, creditors, and Turkish Eximbank under the Turkiye Green Export Project. While the Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism of the European Union initially targets carbon-intensive sectors as of 2026, it will be implemented in other carbon-intensive sectors and carbon taxes in other export markets in the future. In addition to focusing on the mentioned green transformation, the loan also aims to support social goals such as financing companies supporting women's participation in the workforce and SME financing. "I believe it will support our country's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2053." Kerem Donmez, General Director of External Economic Relations at the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, stated in the statement that they attach great importance to providing exporters, the driving force of the economy, with access to appropriate conditional financing and supporting their adaptation to the European Union's Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism to increase the international competitiveness of exporters, and he added: "I believe that the Turkiye Green Export Project, developed for this purpose, will lead the green transformation of our country's exporters, create new employment opportunities, and support our country's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2053. We will continue to work with the World Bank and other development partners to support productivity-based and export-oriented qualified growth in the coming period." Humberto Lopez, World Bank Country Director for Turkiye, stated that the ongoing success of the export sector is vital for the Turkish economy and the transition towards sustainability remains a high priority for the government. Lopez said, "The World Bank is pleased to support initiatives that will not only contribute to the transition to a low-carbon future worldwide but also enhance both the competitiveness of firms and the country." "We will be pleased to support green exports through long-term financing." Ali Guney, General Manager of Turkish Eximbank, stated that they will be pleased to support green exports through the 10-year financing of 1 billion euros secured with the IBRD guarantee, accompanying Turkiye's efforts to adapt to climate change, and supporting Turkish exporters' green transformations and green exports through affordable long-term financing. Guney expressed that the Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) set by the European Union, which will subject Turkish-made goods to import tariffs in the form of "carbon taxes," will disadvantage our exporters in terms of competitiveness compared to companies using low-carbon production processes and potentially affect the marketability of their products in the European Union and other export markets. He made the following assessment: "This situation is expected to expand CBAM to include all sectors in the relatively near future, by 2030. Therefore, it is expected that our exporters will adapt and decarbonize their productions as much as possible to protect their export potentials. With the resources we provide, we will also do our part in drawing up a strategic roadmap for transitioning to low-carbon exports and preserving the competitiveness of exporters in sectors affected by CBAM." Orhan Ozalp, Country Director of Turkiye and General Manager of Deutsche Bank AS, stated that the 1 billion euro agreement provided to Turkish Eximbank is a landmark agreement demonstrating Deutsche Bank's commitment to Turkiye and the bank. Ozalp said, "Deutsche Bank's commitment to Turkiye will continue to grow with the improvement in the country's macro outlook." Kasif Atun, General Manager of Standard Chartered, highlighted that this agreement assists Turkish Eximbank in providing long-term financing at very competitive rates, stating, "Supporting our clients and the communities we operate in on their journey towards energy transition and decarbonization is at the heart of our bank's strategy. We are grateful to be part of this transaction, which is very important for the country." Umit Leblebici, General Manager of Turk Ekonomi Bankas (TEB), emphasized that TEB actively participates in providing financing for its customers' sustainability-focused investments and supporting their projects in this field, stating: "We provide consultancy support in the green transformation processes to our corporate customers, including exporters, and offer them the financing products they may need. We also benefit from the knowledge and experience of our global partner, BNP Paribas Group, in the fields of ESG and sustainable finance." Alper Gokgoz, CEO of ING Turkiye, stated that they position sustainability among their strategic priorities and believe that green transformation requires collective effort and action. Gokgoz expressed their belief that the green transformations of exporters in Turkiye are crucial for preserving their export capacities and gaining competitive advantage. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) The United States will allocate 50 million dollars to Moldova for reforms. According to Azernews, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this while speaking at a joint press conference with Moldovan President Maya Sandu. "Today, in cooperation with Congress, I am announcing an additional $50 million to help achieve [Moldova's] energy and agricultural reform goals and to further combat disinformation," Blinken said. According to him, this should "strengthen the ability of the Eastern European country to resist interference in the elections of other countries" and allow it to continue moving towards European integration. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 18:48 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The Chinese authorities welcome the strengthening of cooperation between Chinese and Arab financial institutions, Azernews reports. Jinping noted that China intends to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as oil, gas, trade and infrastructure, as well as investment and artificial intelligence. "China also supports strengthening cooperation between financial institutions and the accession of Arab banks to the system of cross-border interbank payments. China is ready to strengthen the exchange of digital currency and strengthen cooperation between central banks," the Chinese president said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 22:48 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The United States has agreed to sell Austria and Sweden 12 UH-60M Black Hawk multipurpose helicopters and related equipment for $1.05 billion and $900 million, respectively, Azernews reports. This was reported by the US State Department and the relevant government department, which is part of the Pentagon. It is responsible for supplying military equipment and weapons abroad under intergovernmental contracts, promoting relations between the Armed Forces of the United States and other states, providing financial and technical assistance to Washington's foreign partners in the field of defense. The agreements provide for the transfer of, among other things, T700-GE-701D engines, AN/AAR-57 missile attack warning systems, EBC-406HM emergency radio transmitters, as well as software, personnel training, transportation, provision of spare parts and maintenance. Permission to implement these agreements, which, in accordance with national legislation, is issued by the Foreign Ministry, has been received. The American administration has already notified Congress of its decisions. The legislative branch of the US government has 30 days to study the agreements and their possible blocking. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 30 May 2024 20:00 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more The European Union has once again made groundless accusations against Azerbaijan. Peter Stano, Spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy of the European Union (EU) voiced unrealistic views about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan. This behavior of the EU, which is indifferent to the fate of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis, whose rights have been violated by being subjected to ethnic cleansing by Armenia and deprived of their property and cultural heritage, is discriminatory and provocative. Undoubtedly, such statements seriously damage the reputation of the European Union as well as its approach to human rights. Currently, the issue of signing a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is on the agenda in the South Caucasus. Peter Stano's statements are aimed at disrupting the positive dynamics observed in the direction of sustainable peace in the region. Tarnishing both economic and political relations with Azerbaijan undoubtedly harms the credibility of the European Union. It should not be forgotten that this statement is another unsuccessful attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan. The fact that the West comes up with statements in this form is directly related to its lack of influence in the South Caucasus. The peaceful steps of the Pashinyan government reduce Yerevan's dependence on other countries. It seems that the Armenian authorities have begun to understand the contributions that the peace treaty can make in the political and economic spheres. Some Western forces, on the other hand, are worried about losing leverage to poke into regional processes and are trying to regain these opportunities by various means, including making baseless claims. It should be noted that the European Union mission stationed and expanded in Armenia is the main example of this intervention. It should be remembered that Azerbaijan has sufficient experience, knowledge, and wisdom in the field of human rights, so it does not need mandatory advice and instructions. In this regard, it is more appropriate for the West to focus on its problems. In recent years, human rights in Europe, especially the argument of Islamophobia, has become a driving force that serves to gain influence in society for many political circles. Some racist parties in Europe are trying to influence the masses through Islamophobia. The European Union covers up such problems and works on Azerbaijan's internal issues. It exposes the biased policies and insidious plans of the West. Currently, peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia are ongoing. Despite all the efforts of the West and the United States, Azerbaijan regained the sovereignty of its lands. After the local anti-terror measures in 2023, the separatist forces in Garabagh were neutralised successfully. After the meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Almaty on May 10, it was confirmed that the signing of the peace treaty between the two countries is in the near future. This is proof that the West cannot implement its plans in the South Caucasus with the help of Armenia. Along the same line, the conditioning of Azerbaijans presidency of COP29 with inappropriate political motivation contradicts the very essence of the idea of cooperation in addressing climate change that Azerbaijan has undertaken. Recall that Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, will host the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) for the first time in the region from November 1122, 2024. The decision was made at the plenary session of COP28 on December 11. Azerbaijan successfully participated in the COP28 held in Abu Dhabi last year. Azerbaijan will take the opportunity to bring heads of state and governments, civil society organisations, business, and international institutions together in the South Caucasus to discuss climate change, measures to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and focus on long-term climate strategies and goals. It is worth noting that Azerbaijan confirmed its commitment to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 35 percent by 2030 and increase this target by 40 percent by 2050. Fulfilling the commitments under the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 and actively working in this regard are priority issues for the government of Azerbaijan. The Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been held annually since 1995. The event aims to assess the progress made in combating climate change around the world. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Michigan urogynecologist Husam Abed, MD, has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for practicing medicine without a license. In addition, Dr. Abed, 53, of Sterling Heights faces a $2,000 fine and $1,000 in court costs as well as other penalties, according to a May 29 news release from the Michigan Department of Attorney General. Dr. Abed was convicted of six counts of unauthorized practice of a health profession in March. An investigation determined that Dr. Abed departed from acceptable medical standards while practicing at his clinic in Grand Rapids, and his license was suspended May 23, 2022. An additional investigation found that Dr. Abed continued treating patients at his clinic after the suspension of his license. From financial challenges, state law violations and reimbursement issues, many factors can contribute to hospitals shutting down. Many surgery centers are facing similar challenges, and hospital closures in nearby markets could lead to an uptick in ASC case volume. Here are the reasons behind five hospital closures since Jan. 1 1. Prairieville (La.) Family Hospital closed April 29 after the Louisiana Department of Health determined that the hospital violated state hospital laws and regulations and revoked its license. The department determined the hospital violated a state law by operating as a freestandiing emergency department, according to a March 20 letter to Prairieville Family Hospital obtained by Becker's. 2. Family Hospital at Papillion (Neb.) closed late March after its sister hospital, Family Hospital at Millard in Omaha, shut down in January. The hospitals, which were both part of Texas-based Family Hospital Systems, closed for financial reasons. 3. Stoughton, Mass.-based New England Sinai Hospital, a rehabilitation hospital owned by financially distressed Steward Health Care, closed in March, citing low reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid service. 4. Jellico (Tenn.) Regional Hospital closed March 9. The hospital had been on diversion, but after the CEO resigned and the company that ran the hospital pulled out, CMS intervened to officially shut the hospital down. The hospital had temporarily suspended services due to a staffing shortage in December. 5. Kettering (Ohio) Health closed its emergency department at Kettering Health Piqua on Feb. 1. In a statement shared with Becker's, the health system said there had been a shift in the type of care needed, leading to fewer emergency cases and a rise in demand for other types of care. Tenet Healthcare, parent company of ASC giant United Surgical Partners International, is one step closer to securing a 30-year lease for the 387-bed Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Calif., the Desert Sun reported. The board for Desert Healthcare District and Foundation voted May 28 to move forward with Tenet's proposal. Here are five things to know: 1. The board's district staff, its legal counsel and a consultant will work with Tenet in refining details into a contract, which will likely come back to the board for approval in July, Will Dean, director of communications and marketing for the district, told Becker's . 2. Pending board approval on an adequate timeline, it can develop a ballot measure by the Aug. 9 deadline for the lease to go before voters in November. With voter approval, Tenet and the district would enter into the lease agreement beginning May 31, 2027, and ending in May 2057. 3. The current proposal would give Tenet the option to acquire the hospital at the end of the lease Tenet would pay the district roughly $650 million over 30 years and agree to maintain Desert Regional in compliance with regulatory standards, among other provisions. 4. So far this year, Tenet has been on a hospital sell-off spree in California, closing on two major deals selling hospitals in California. The strategy is aligned with Tenet's focus on USPI to spur growth. 5. On March 29, Tenet finalized an agreement to sell two hospitals to Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health for $550 million, or after-tax proceeds of around $450 million. Tenet also finalized the $975 million sale of four hospitals and two ASCs in Southern California to Orange, Calif.-based UCI Health. Gastroenterologist Maria Abreu, MD, has been appointed the 119th president of the American Gastroenterological Association, effective May 30. She is the fifth woman to lead the AGA as president, according to a May 30 news release from the organization. Dr. Abreu serves as the Kalser Endowed chair of gastroenterology, professor of medicine, microbiology and immunology and director of the Crohn's and Colitis Center at the University of Miami. Dr. Abreu specializes in inflammatory bowel disease and has sat on both the government advocacy and diversity committees for the AGA. She also served as the chair of the immunology, microbiology and inflammatory bowel diseases section of the AGA council and as chair of the full AGA council. St. Louis-based Ascension has restored access to its EHR in its first market following a May 8 ransomware attack. The 140-hospital system is largely still relying on paper records and manual procedures but is making progress on reinstating its IT systems, an Ascension spokesperson told Becker's. "Restoring EHR access has been among the top priorities of our recovery process," the spokesperson said May 29. "Due to the hard work of our teams over the past several days, we have successfully restored EHR access in our first market and are actively progressing against a plan to restore access across our network on a rolling basis." The spokesperson did not specify which market the EHR was restored in. The cyberattack has disrupted Ascension's operations in multiple states, leading to ambulance diversions, longer wait times, and delayed diagnostic imaging and testing. Hospitals reduce patient intake following a ransomware attack, Politico reported May 29. The analysis, published in JAMA on May 29, found that emergency room and inpatient visits dropped by nearly 8% in the first week and more than 16% in the second week compared to levels before an attack. This reduction in patient intake, on average, persisted for up to eight weeks. The analysis, led by researchers at Wayne, N.J.-based William Paterson University and consulting firm Rand, reviewed data from California hospitals between 2014 and 2020, identifying eight ransomware attacks that affected 15 hospitals during this period. The researchers noted that the effects extended beyond the directly affected hospitals. Health systems in the surrounding areas also saw an increase in patient volume while the affected hospitals saw a decrease. The Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York City has entered into a 10-year partnership that will make MedMetrix its exclusive revenue cycle management services provider. As part of the partnership, the independent community hospital's RCM staff have transitioned employment to Med-Metrix, according to a May 30 news release from the RCM company. "We chose to partner with MedMetrix due to its demonstrated proficiency in leveraging innovative RCM technologies and operational best practices to achieve better outcomes and lower costs," Brooklyn Hospital Center President and CEO Gary Terrinoni said in the release. "MedMetrix listened to the unique needs of TBHC and crafted a customized RCM solution. This collaboration further strengthens our mission of delivering highquality care to our community." There are only two places in the world where semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) is made, and Novo Nordisk is racing against time and high demand to increase supply, Bloomberg reported May 30. When Ozempic, a Type 2 diabetes drug, and Wegovy, a weight loss therapy recently approved for serious heart problems, quickly rose to fame in late 2022, Denmark-based Novo Nordisk was caught unaware. Since then, the drugmaker has been playing catch-up as its rival Eli Lilly ramps up production of similar medicines and compounding pharmacies jump into the market expected to be worth $100 billion by 2030. In November, Novo Nordisk invested more than $8 billion to expand its manufacturing sites in rural Denmark over eight years. The initiative focuses on increasing production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, and the projects will be finished on a rolling basis between late 2025 and 2029. "I'm very confident that we will be fast in full operation and then you ask me how fast, we will do our very, very best to be very fast," Michael Hallgren, senior vice president of active pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturing at Novo Nordisk, told Bloomberg. For years, the company's blockbuster GLP-1 medicines have been in unsteady supply because of high demand. Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide) are only manufactured in Central North Carolina and a coastal town in Denmark, according to the report. In a rare move, Novo Nordisk is not contracting external manufacturers to manufacture the medicines. Mr. Hallgren said the company wants to keep its production strategy a secret. "Nobody else in the world is doing what we're doing," he told Bloomberg. "That's our crown jewel." Giving birth and becoming a new mother is often viewed as one of the happiest moments in a woman's life. However, this significant life change is often accompanied by changing mental and emotional needs. In fact, mental health conditions are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth, impacting at least one in five women during the perinatal period (the time while pregnant and the year following pregnancy), with individuals from historically marginalized communities at even higher risk. Untreated maternal mental health conditions can also lead to longterm negative health impacts on mothers, babies and families, which cost $14 billion each year to address. Though these numbers convey the scope of the maternal mental health crisis, each number represents an intangible impact on individuals and families. In our work supporting women's holistic health and maternal mental health, we have heard from new mothers about the ways that disconnection, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and exhaustion, among other impacts, have affected their lives, their health and their families. Having gone through some of these experiences ourselves, we know just how much it can weigh on each person. It has also become clear that this crisis is exacerbated by inadequate support from the place that has the potential to help new mothers the most: our healthcare system. The state of maternal health today: Why the system fails new mothers As is seen across the entire healthcare system, significant workforce shortages affect women's ability to get the prenatal and maternal care they need, when they need it: 36% of counties nationwide are "maternity care deserts," meaning they have no obstetric hospitals or birth centers and no obstetric providers, and 96% of birthing-age women in the U.S. live in locations with a maternal mental health professional shortage. Studies also suggest that there are low rates of preconception care, a time window that offers an opportunity to manage mental health conditions that might occur prior to pregnancy. Limitations on women's time, finances and flexibility mean some women may not go in to see their provider during the postpartum period, either. Even when women do see a doctor, their mental well-being may not be discussed or explored. Though pregnant and postpartum people have an average of 25 interactions with healthcare providers during a routine, uncomplicated pregnancy and first year of baby's life, providers who care for pregnant and postpartum patients are not always trained in identifying, treating or referring for maternal mental health conditions. Hectic schedules and physician shortages make it difficult for providers to find time for patient education, screening and treatment for maternal mental health conditions. As a result, fewer than 20% of women are screened for postpartum depression, and the vast majority of those impacted up to 75% never receive treatment. Building a better world for our patients and all mothers Addressing the maternal mental health crisis is simple in theory but challenging in practice, given the barriers noted above. To better support the mental health of new mothers and birthing people, we must emphasize holistic health across a woman's life, with special attention during the vulnerable childbearing years: 1. Prioritize prevention. Several evidence-based programs have proven successful at preventing postpartum depression, and group models of prenatal care also provide protective benefits such as education and social support. Even encouraging patients to create a simple postpartum plan which encourages expectant parents to think through daily logistics such as childcare, sleep, meals and visitors can help alleviate some of the stress of having a new baby in the home. 2. Help educate and empower providers. All providers who care for pregnant and postpartum patients from OB/GYNs to mental health professionals to primary care providers need to be supported to discuss and treat women's mental health needs throughout the perinatal period. Training in how to provide this care must start early in medical and nursing schools, residency programs and other educational institutions so that healthcare professionals across all specialties are properly trained to treat women's mental health throughout every life stage, including pregnancy. Hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations can also provide education and training for employees, with assistance from groups like Postpartum Support International (PSI) and Shades of Blue. CVS Health is working to support providers by investing in perinatal mental health training, educating our MinuteClinic mental health workforce through PSI, and helping navigate patients to the right providers across their care continuum. 3. Embrace integrated care teams and new models of care. Healthcare organizations can emphasize the importance of integrated care teams, including working with social workers or other mental health professionals to give women extra support throughout the perinatal period. Integrating or embedding mental health providers within obstetric or primary care practices can also enable immediate connection to mental health services and increases the likelihood that individuals will actually get the care they need. With patient data now more connected, providers can tap into their networks and help connect the dots between women's holistic health history and maternal health needs. This can include support from community-based resources such as doulas, lactation consultants, community health workers, as well as peer support groups which can now increasingly be accessed online as well as in person. 4. Bolster intervention resources for providers. Sharing just one link or one phone number can save a life. New mothers may not be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression or other maternal mental health conditions or know how to describe these experiences to providers. That is why it is so important for providers to be supported by resources like the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA), established by the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA), which provides free, confidential, 24/7 voice and text support in English and Spanish for mothers and others impacted by maternal mental health conditions. These resources can offer critical lifelines in a time of crisis. The perinatal period offers a unique opportunity to change the life course for both the parent as well as the infant. We all have a mother or mother figure in our lives. Many of us are mothers ourselves. We all deserve better support as we navigate the joys and challenges of pregnancy and new motherhood. Joanne Armstrong, MD, is Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Women's Health and Genomics at CVS Health. Adrienne Griffen is Executive Director at Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau, Alaska, seeks to extend the contract of interim CEO Ian Worden through the end of 2024 amid a search for its fourth leader in less than a year. Mr. Worden was selected as interim CEO of the hospital in September and has been serving in that role since October. "When Mr. Worden was hired as the Interim CEO, it was anticipated that he would hold the position for roughly three to four months while the organization identified a new CEO," Erin Hardin, a spokesperson for Bartlett Regional, told Becker's. "Given that a new CEO has not yet been identified and Mr. Worden is willing to extend his time through the end of the calendar year, the hospital's HR requested authorization from the board to review and amend his contract, which the board approved during its meeting [on May 28]." The chair of the CEO search committee chair also shared an update at the meeting that 39 individuals have submitted applications for the top role, and five are either in Alaska or have ties to the state, Ms. Hardin said. The committee aims to select a permanent CEO by early fall. The person who steps into that role will be the hospital's fourth leader in less than a year. Mr. Worden took the helm from Nate Rumsey, who was named acting CEO in August after David Keith announced plans to retire. Mr. Keith was named CEO in July 2022. Mr. Worden joined Bartlett Regional after serving as COO of Tacoma, Wash.-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. He also previously served as COO of CHI Franciscan Health from 2015 to 2021 prior to the merger of CHI Franciscan and Virginia Mason. As Mr. Worden continues helming Bartlett Regional, the hospital is considering cutting back or closing six programs due to financial challenges. A news release issued May 29 by the hospital said Bartlett Regional "has not achieved an operating margin since 2019 and has been losing about $1M a month from operations since the summer of 2020. The hospital needs to reduce the operating loss for core hospital programs within the enterprise fund by a minimum of $7 million, or more if additional programs are retained, to achieve a reasonable operating margin to ensure the organization can continue to provide the necessary resources to deliver quality care to the community." The hospital board is now seeking public comment on community healthcare priorities and non-core hospital programs, with multiple community feedback forums scheduled in June, the release said. Bartlett Regional is licensed for 57 inpatient beds, 16 residential substance-abuse treatment facility beds in the Rainforest Recovery Center, and 61 residential beds in the Wildflower Court long-term care facility, according to its website. Georgetown, S.C.-based Tidelands Health has named Derek Dudley vice president of revenue cycle, according to a May 29 post on his LinkedIn page. Mr. Dudley joins Tidelands from Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System where he served as AVP of revenue cycle operations, according to his LinkedIn page. He also previously served as senior director of revenue cycle for Marietta, Ohio-based Memorial Health System and interim director of revenue cycle management at Augusta (Ga.) University Health. The Change Healthcare breach disrupted services at hundreds of hospitals and physician clinics, and C-suite leaders are taking action to protect against similar future situations. Steven Ramirez, chief information security officer and chief technology officer at Renown Health in Reno, Nev., said on the "Becker's Healthcare Podcast" the incident spotlighted the importance of diversifying vendor partnership. Having a single vendor puts hospitals at risk because even the largest and most powerful companies can fall victim to a sophisticated cyberattack. Mr. Ramirez said many health systems have renewed energy around examining their enterprise third party risk. They are initiating security assessments as part of their overall risk management and business continuity disaster recovery. "We saw how important business continuity was during the Change Healthcare attack and there's been a lot more zero days we've seen as of late," said Mr. Ramirez. IT leaders need to stay on top of the latest news and patching to secure their systems. Renown is examining its third party vendor strategy and services, identifying the data sent over and potential vulnerabilities. The leadership team is asking simple questions, such as: Are there other ways we can send data? Can we send reports differently? Can we send more de-identified data? Do vendors really need all the data we're sending? What happens if service is disrupted? "You want to really understand that if there was an interruption, how will that impact your business and is there a plan B?" said Mr. Ramirez. "When we're looking at plan B, are there components that can be done as a workaround? Is this something we can do on paper? Do you need to have a separate vendor like an Equifax, for example, if something like that were to go down? Or even have a plan C?" In the past, Mr. Ramirez said his team conducted business impact assessments on important vendors, but didn't look deeply into the overall magnitude of the impact of the organization. Now, they're diligent about ensuring the security posture of vendor organizations before approving more data collection. His team has also considered beginning to collect types of security controls some partners have. "The third party vetting process is just now starting to evolve from these big high profile events that we've seen," he said. "It's going to be something we'll continue to have to keep a pulse on, and I think that can be something I'm hoping the feds start to crack down on a lot." Even as health systems dig deeper into cybersecurity and risk management, leadership teams should remain nimble to accommodate for the fast pace of change. Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and threat actors are using social engineering to manipulate victims. But resources aren't endless and IT leaders have to be mindful of return on investment. "Throwing money at an issue isn't always going to fix it," said Mr. Ramirez. "A lot of organizations could be doing everything right." He suggested making sure health systems have the fundamentals of patching and vulnerability management perfected so organizations are in the top 5% of most secure. "Threat actors want that easy, lucrative target. They don't' want to put a lot of work into getting into your organization," Mr. Ramirez said. "The more hurdles that are there, they'll hopefully move on. Having that mindset will really make an organization successful." Bowling Green, Ky.-based Med Center Health will acquire Logan Memorial Hospital, effective July 1, the health system said in a May 29 news release. Logan Memorial is a 75-bed acute care facility in Russellville, Ky., that serves a population of about 45,000. The acquisition also includes three medical office buildings on the main campus as well as rural health clinics located in Russellville, Auburn and Elkton, Ky. Once the transaction closes, the hospital will become Med Center Health's seventh hospital and rebrand as The Medical Center at Russellville. "This acquisition aligns perfectly with that mission as we look to further enhance healthcare services for residents of Logan County and surrounding communities," Med Center Health President and CEO Connie Smith said. "We have a proven track record of improving access to care and services in our rural communities, and we could not be more excited to do the same for our friends and family in Logan County." Members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association delivered a petition May 29 to management at Westfield-based Baystate Noble Hospital amid contract negotiations. The petition calls for immediate action from management on agreeing to a fair contract that addresses what the union says are unsafe staffing conditions, alarming recruitment and retention challenges and stagnant pay. "We call upon Baystate Health to prioritize the well-being of nurses and the quality of patient care by negotiating a fair contract that addresses these critical issues. Failure to act will compromise patient safety and the integrity of our hospital," the petition reads in part, according to a news release from the MNA. Union representatives call on management to prioritize investments in Noble nursing staff, address challenges with hiring and keeping nurses at the hospital long term, and agree to fair and competitive pay. Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health, the hospital's parent organization, shared the following statement with Becker's: "We are committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair agreement." A union spokesperson told Becker's negotiations have been ongoing for seven sessions. The MNA represents about 100 nurses at Noble. Registered nurses and the Massachusetts Nurses Association have filed a fifth round of complaints against Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mass., to state and federal agencies, which include a direct appeal to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to place an on-site inspector at the hospital. The complaints were filed in December, January, March, April, and May to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Division of Healthcare Quality, CMS, The Joint Commission, and the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing regarding ongoing concerns over patient care conditions deteriorating, according to a May 29 MNA news release. Some of the top issues at hand include a growing number of patients acquiring pressure ulcers, known as bed sores, while at the hospital. "...Pressure ulcers are mandated by the Joint Commission and the DPH as serious reportable events that signal problems in care management that need to be addressed," the complaint said. "Instead of addressing the systemic issue that prohibits the nurses from repositioning at-risk patients and minimizing the risk for soft tissue injury, nurses have been told that nursing leadership has threatened to fire every nurse who has cared for a particular patient whose ulcer advanced to a Stage IV wound while admitted to the hospital." The complaint also detailed how staffing cuts on nearly every unit and floor of the hospital, part of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, in the last few months have led to more than 900 patient care condition reports where patient safety is jeopardized. Many of the condition reports point to patients being forced to lay in their own feces and urine for hours, which can create "a breeding ground" for bed sores. A spokesperson for Saint Vincent Hospital disputed the complaints, and shared how the state Department of Public Health and the Joint Commission conducted surveys earlier this year that did not find serious issues at the hospital. "Saint Vincent Hospital proudly delivers high-quality care," the spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker's. "This has been substantiated by reputable third-party organizations and Saint Vincent has received numerous awards for its quality of care. Our hospital leadership quickly addressed areas of opportunities identified. We are focused on providing access to high-quality healthcare services, and will not allow the MNA's unfounded attempts to discredit our institution distract us from caring for our community." Trained Massachusetts DPH staff review all incident reports submitted from a healthcare facility or complaints regarding a healthcare facility to determine if a further onsite investigation is needed, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts DPH said in a statement shared with Becker's. "If survey staff identify areas of non-compliance with applicable federal and/or state requirements during any survey, DPH provides the facility with a written statement of deficiencies found during its investigation," the DPH statement said. "In response, the facility must file a plan of correction that addresses how and when each deficiency will be corrected to ensure patient safety and quality of care." Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, Calif., has been cited for immediate jeopardy by CMS, the California Department of Public Health confirmed to Becker's May 30. "CDPH teams are on-site at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto to investigate practices that may not be compliant with state and federal requirements," a spokesperson for the department said. The Tenet Healthcare-owned hospital was cited for allowing certified registered nurse anesthetists to oversee procedures they had not previously performed at the hospital, according to the Modesto Bee. An internal memo obtained by the Modesto Bee told hospital staff that a plan of correction had been submitted and it is working with the California Department of Public Health on its plan of corrective action. As of now, the CRNAs are not to return to the hospital until after CMS accepts the plan of correction. Becker's did not see the internal memo and cannot confirm the nature of its contents. The 394-bed facility has been under scrutiny in the past, as recently as 2022, for other deficiencies identified during federal inspections. "No further information will be available until those investigations are complete," the CDPH spokesperson told Becker's. "CDPH is monitoring this facility and providing oversight, in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to ensure the facility is in compliance with requirements and practices so it can provide safe, high-quality care to patients that need it." Becker's also reached out to CMS, and Doctors Medical Center for comment on this story. If new information becomes available, the story will be updated. Amid a looming shortage of pharmacists, health system pharmacy leaders are increasing their investments in technology and leveling up roles, according to a survey of 324 pharmacy directors of general and children's hospitals. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists conducted the survey, which found that inpatient pharmacists independently prescribe medications in 26.7% of hospitals. Here are 39 other statistics to know about hospital pharmacies: Data analytics Advanced analytics, including artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive analytics, are used in 5.7% of hospitals. Pharmacy service-level integration Three in five hospitals report some integration to optimize patient care transitions, and about 25% are not at all integrated. hospitals report some integration to optimize patient care transitions, and about are not at all integrated. About a fourth of hospitals report they are not at all integrated. About 13% consider themselves mostly integrated, and 1.8% report they are seamlessly integrated. The level of integration has increased over the last few years. Advanced pharmacy technician roles Hospital pharmacy technicians most commonly work in purchasing (98.7%), billing (68.4%), controlled substance management (52.3%), information technology system management (48.7%), 340B program management (47.6%), responsibility for USP chapter compliance (46.9%), regulatory compliance (46.2%), initiation of medication reconciliation (42.7%), and technicians supervising other technicians (37.4%). Outpatient clinics Pharmacists work in ambulatory or primary care clinics in 54.2% of hospital operating outpatient clinics. Distribution Most hospitals, 86.1% , use automated dispensing cabinets as the primary method of maintenance dose distribution. Nearly 12% use centralized manual unit dose and 2% primarily use an automated robot in their central pharmacy. , use automated dispensing cabinets as the primary method of maintenance dose distribution. Nearly use centralized manual unit dose and primarily use an automated robot in their central pharmacy. To verify doses during dispensing in the pharmacy, 73.6% of hospitals use machine-readable coding. of hospitals use machine-readable coding. About a third of hospitals require five or more characters for access to nonprofiled medications in ADCs, and 67.4% require four or fewer characters. of hospitals require five or more characters for access to nonprofiled medications in ADCs, and require four or fewer characters. Twenty-seven percent of hospitals use a carousel, a high-density medication storage and retrieval system that automates medication dispensing in central pharmacies. of hospitals use a carousel, a high-density medication storage and retrieval system that automates medication dispensing in central pharmacies. Robots dispense unit doses in 6.5% of hospitals. of hospitals. About 22% of hospitals used RFID tags. Sterile compounding Barcode scanning to verify ingredients is used in 53.6% of hospitals. of hospitals. Compounded sterile preparation workflow management software is used in 31% of hospitals. of hospitals. Pictures or video of the compounding process is used by 38.6% of hospital pharmacies. of hospital pharmacies. Gravimetrics to verify dose, amount, and volume is used by 7.7% of hospital pharmacies. of hospital pharmacies. About a third do not use any technologies for compounding sterile preparations. do not use any technologies for compounding sterile preparations. Only 3.7% of hospitals use automation for compounding sterile preparations, and 2.9% use a sterile compounding robot. Autoverification Autoverification functionality in EHRs are used in 73.4% of hospitals. Centralized shared services Most hospitals (80.6%) do not have a centralized shared service pharmacy in their system. About 10% has a standalone CSS pharmacy, and 5.4% of hospitals serve as the CSS pharmacy and distribute medications to other system hospitals. Diversion prevention More than half (58%) of hospitals use diversion detection software to monitor controlled substances. Staff vacancies Many large employers plan to maintain funding for well-being programs, with some planning to broaden their well-being strategy to address social determinants of health in the coming years, according to new findings from a survey of 160 organizations. Nearly all employer-respondents indicated well-being programs remain central to their strategy to support the workforce and plan to continue funding such programs at current levels. Meanwhile, 51% of respondents said they plan to broaden their well-being offerings within the next three to five years to address the effects of social determinants of health. Organizations responded to an online survey facilitated by the Business Group on Health and Fidelity Investments in January and February. More than 60% of the employer-respondents have global operations. "Addressing social determinants of health may soon be a key aspect of well-being design," Ellen Kelsay, president and CEO of Business Group on Health, said in a news release on the findings. "By supporting initiatives that reduce employee cost-sharing or provide child care support and flexibility, for instance, employers enable individuals and their families to boost their overall well-being and achieve other positive outcomes." Three more findings: Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is fighting two of its former partners Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health and Jersey City, N.J.-based CarePoint Health in court, according to a May 28 report from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Five years ago, Rothman sought to expand into New Jersey with the help of Hackensack and CarePoint. Now the institute is suing Hackensack for allegedly poaching its physicians and CarePoint for $336,555 in unpaid bills. Rothman is also in litigation with its former CEO, Christopher Olivia, MD, who was hired to help with a planned national expansion. In 2019, Rothman approached Hackensack about forming a joint venture to open an ASC in New Jersey, a state in which Rothman did not have any sites at the time. When the center opened in 2020, there were talks of a potential exclusive partnership between the two systems. Five months later, Rothman announced plans to partner with CarePoint Health, which owns hospitals in Bayonne, Hoboken and Jersey City. Hackensack continued to pursue a partnership with Rothman, which allegedly noted that CarePoint was primarily being used to fill overnight shifts. Hackensack then continued investing in the Rothman partnership before Rothman announced a 10-year partnership with CarePoint. At that point, the New Jersey system withdrew from partnership discussions. Rothman has sued CarePoint twice for unpaid bills. The lawsuit says CarePoint still owes $259,875 in on-call physician coverage fees under the agreement, which Rothman terminated last July. All three parties declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, according to the Inquirer. Rothman still maintains a presence in New Jersey, and has growing practices across the Philadelphia, New York and Florida markets. Spine device manufacturer Innovasis and two of its senior executives have agreed to pay $12 million to resolve false claim act allegations. The company and senior executives Brent Felix and Garth Felix allegedly paid kickbacks to spine surgeons who agreed to use Innovasis' spinal devices, according to a May 29 news release from the Justice Department. Brent Felix is the founder, president and chairman of the board of Innovasis while Garth Felix has held several leadership positions, including CFO. Between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2022, the company allegedly provided payments to 17 orthopedic and neurosurgeons to use Innovasis spinal implants, devices and other equipment in medical procedures the physicians performed on Medicare beneficiaries. Innovasis allegedly provided surgeons with consulting fees, intellectual property acquisition and licensing fees, registry payments and performance shares in Innovasis, as well as travel to a luxury ski resort, dinners and holiday parties for surgeons and their staffers and family members. Innovasis former Regional Sales Director Robert Richardson brought forward whistleblower claims against the company. He will receive approximately $2.2 million as his share of the settlement. As spine surgeons grow in their career, their teaching methods have also changed with time. Five spine surgeons discuss how their physician training skills have evolved. Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. Becker's invites all spine surgeon and specialist responses. Next question: What's one thing keeping you up at night in 2024? Please send responses to Carly Behm at cbehm@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CST Wednesday, June 5. Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length. Question: How have your teaching methods changed over time? Harel Deutsch, MD. Co-Director of the Rush Spine Center (Chicago): The residency teaching methods have changed dramatically. When I was a resident in the late 20th century, the idea was that you would spend many hours in the hospital and learn through osmosis and through practice. Medical practice would become reflexive. Of course, we have moved to the 80 hour work week and further decrease in time spent during residency. I think the hours spent are still necessary but off loaded to fellowships and the early years of practice and continuing education has an even more critical role. Mladen Djurasovic, MD. Norton Leatherman Spine Center (Louisville, Ky.): Our teaching methods have definitely evolved over the past 10 years. For one thing, our fellows tend to come into fellowship with much more first-hand experience in basic spine techniques than we used to see 10 to 20 years ago. At one time it was common that incoming fellows hadn't put in a pedicle screw or performed a lumbar decompression, but now our incoming fellows almost always have experience with basic techniques such as these. Another thing that has really transformed teaching is the use of navigation. With the use of navigation, we can see directly where a trainee is putting an implant, and this allows us to have confidence in their placement of screws as we can directly visualize what is happening on a screen. This allows us to be less "handsy" during a case as we can see early on if there is a problem with a screw trajectory. Finally, members of our faculty have made a very conscious effort to give our trainees lectures on "real-world" topics (eg. finding a job, negotiating a contract, how to succeed in their first years in practice, etc.). This is information that they often haven't heard before in an organized formal setting and they really appreciate learning about these topics. Brian Gantwerker, MD. The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: While I am not a teaching attending, and I don't teach residents, I do sometimes get asked to do guest lectures. One of my favorite teaching moments was when over a period of six weeks, I taught game developers how to do spine surgery. I mean that virtually, not literally. We learned about biomechanics, instrumentation, and anatomical considerations. This culminated in them coming to observe me in surgery. It was incredibly fulfilling and something so outside of my everyday life that it gave me real joy. The app is being released and currently is in play-testing, and I am incredibly proud of my mentees. My methods of teaching are essentially from my dad, who was an actual grammar school teacher. He was a great explainer and always used great metaphors. Even now, when I explain surgery to patients, we have a mini-anatomy course and I show them their films on a big-screen TV. Using examples they can relate to in their own lives, Relating to your pupils, be they patients, other physicians, or even game developers is key to teaching - and I think that will never change. Neel Anand, MD. Cedars-Sinai Spine Center (Los Angeles): While my teaching methods have not dramatically changed over time, I have continued to refine them so key principles are more effectively delivered and retained. I am a firm believer in the principles and comprehension of the basic anatomy, pathology, and physiology which I emphasize during teaching. As a result, the answers come automatically once they are understood. Finally, in my experience, I find it imperative for fellow surgeons to see the long-term results of patients when it comes to the use of new technology to validate its efficacy. Christian Zimmerman, MD. St. Alphonsus Medical Group and SAHS Neuroscience Institute (Boise, Idaho): Having been taught by the best of mentors, where mutual respect, meritorious accomplishment and communal expectation were the methods towards one's learning and success. Didactics were informational and utilitarian, not punitive. Work ethic and board scores were expectantly high. As this translates to my practice and graduate school instruction, it seems that 'more carrot and less stick' if you will, works best and subsequent student evaluations reveal likewise. Deadlines for paper and project presentations and punctuality are as stringent as this taskmaster gets anymore. Carbondale-based Southern Illinois Healthcare Brain and Spine Institute has earned a $50,000 technology grant, according to a May 29 report from the Southern Illinoisan. The grant was given to the spine institute by the SIH Auxiliary and will be used to purchase a transcranial doppler. The ultrasound device can look at blood vessels inside a person's head to assess damage from a stroke, aneurism or other brain injury. The noninvasive device will allow patients to seek care locally without being referred to physicians outside of the area, the report said. There is no official date for the transcranial doppler to arrive at the hospital. Saoirse-Monica Jackson arrives on the red carpet at the Omniplex Cinema in Derry for the launch of Season 3 - Derry Girls (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) The Walled City native was announced as part of the cast for This City is Ours earlier this week, with the eight-part drama currently being filmed in Spain and Liverpool. Set in the Scouse city, the gangland series centres around the story of Michael (James Nelson-Joyce), a man who for all of his adult life has been involved in organised crime, working for his friend and the gang leader Ronnie (Sean Bean). When Ronnie begins to hint at retirement, Michael too begins to imagine another life, after he falls in love with Diana (Hannah Onslow). A BBC statement reads: This City is Ours is the story of Michael and Diana's love affair, set against the disintegration of Michaels crime gang. For years, together with Ronnie, Michael has successfully been bringing cocaine into the City and beyond, directly from Columbia; but when a shipment goes missing, he knows their Kingdom is under attack. This City is Ours explores what happens when Ronnies son Jamie decides he wants to inherit their kingdom and that there is no longer a place for Michael at the table. Both Michael and Jamie have bold ideas to modernise the gang and they will battle for control of it. But Michaels biggest battle will be to save the woman he loves and the child he has always wanted. This is a story about family, and love destroyed and corrupted by ambition, pride and greed. Its a story about power: what we will do to secure and keep it. Top row L-R: Sean Bean (Image: Andy Gotts); James Nelson-Joyce; Hannah Onslow; Jack McMullen; Julie Graham; Laura Aikman (Image: Harry Livingstone). Bottom row L-R: Kevin Harvey; Saoirse-Monica Jackson; Mike Noble; Bobby Schofield; Darci Shaw; Stephen Walters Jackson plays a character called Cheryl Crawford, which will see her take on a more serious persona, after initially rising to fame for her comedic role as Erin Quinn in Derry Girls. Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, said: "It's a joy to see cameras rolling on This City Is Ours with a glorious cast who have made Stephen Butchard's sublime scripts even more exciting. Under the skilful direction of Saul Dibb, BBC viewers are in for one hell of a ride." The series is created and written by Stephen Butchard (The Good Mothers, The Last Kingdom, Five Daughters) and directed by Saul Dibb (The Salisbury Poisonings, The Sixth Commandment). Also joining the cast are Laura Aikman (Archie, Gavin & Stacey) as Rachel Duffy, Kevin Harvey (Treason, Time) as Bobby Duffy, Mike Noble (Shardlake, The Long Shadow) as Banksey, Bobby Schofield (SAS Rogue Heroes, The Suspect) as Bonehead, Darci Shaw (Judy, A Thousand Blows) as Melissa Phelan, and Stephen Walters (Slow Horses, Anne) as Davy Crawford. Queen of the decks from Armagh says event crucial for nurturing the very best in local talent A DJ has said the AVA Festival has opened up the world for some of the best local artists as it celebrates a decade. The event at Titanic Slipways returns this summer, and Co Armaghs Holly Lester said it had boosted not only her career, but those of many others. Electronic music fans from across Europe come to AVA, and this year the majority of performers are from Ireland. Holly, who has been a fixture at the event for a number of years, is thrilled to be a part of the big birthday party. Over the past 10 years AVA has done much work to help artists break into the industry and got so many Northern Irish artists to the global stage, she said. Im so excited to get back on the main stage. My first ever set at AVA was on the main stage and I was opening. So, of course, there were, like, 10 people there, and I think all of them were my friends. I had a couple of people on stage beside me and I was so nervous, but Im back on the main stage this year and hopefully there will be more than 10 people watching. Holly has been DJing since she was a teen, but had to move to England to make any progress. AVA organiser Sarah McBlair I was 14, and for me at the start it was escapism, she said. I lived in a very rural part of Northern Ireland so I didnt really know anyone that was into house music, apart from my dad. He was the one who got me into it, so I was obsessed with it. When I moved away, that was when I found my community, and it became less about escapism and more about being part of something bigger. She thinks local DJs can still face difficulties advancing their careers, and highlighted how vital the festival was. Its so important that AVA is here and it is still operating 10 years later, she insisted. Revellers enjoying AVA last year One of the organisers, Sarah McBriar, hopes the festival can continue to provide a stage for home bred DJs in the future. We have always supported emerging and established local talent, she explained. We have a live broadcast, so in terms of platforming artists, we have this amazing background and a crowd, but it also allows them to have a global reach. There has always been great talent, both north and south, but I think since AVA, and especially the broadcasting, we have seen a lot of artists make it their full-time career. Aside from performances, AVA also runs a conference and emerging talent programme. This years conference will be hosted at the Titanic Belfast Museum from 11am-3pm tomorrow. We have loads of elements that we have brought together to allow performers to develop and put a spotlight on artists that are from here, Sarah added. A group of people from Carrickfergus have been discovering the real-life stories behind Northern Irelands homelessness problem as part of a project supported by Clanmil Housing. Connect With the Homeless is being led by Carrickfergus community group, Carrick Connect in partnership with Belfast Homeless Services, and has been running since last winter. The year-long programme involves five groups of seven people participating in weekly workshops, involving visiting and helping out at Belfast Homeless Services (BHS) drop-in facility, as well as learning about homelessness from Liz Rocks, the service co-ordinator. The project has been a great success in terms of raising awareness of not only homelessness but of addiction and other issues that can relate to being homeless, says Tracey McNickie, project co-ordinator. Participants all have a better understanding and are more knowledgeable about the roles that homeless services offer and the difficulties and challenges they face. All in all, it is more than I could have hoped for. Volunteer Bethany Railton The project is being funded by the Department for Communities and the NI Housing Executive as part of a Good Relations plan for Clanmils new Housing For All shared housing development on Belfast Road, Carrickfergus where construction is nearing completion on 48 high quality apartments for people aged 55 and over. Tracey has described the initiative as both educational and enlightening. To enlighten means to give someone a greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation. I feel this project is a real learning curve in so many ways, she explains. We need to know more, we need to learn more, we need to listen more and be focused on issues that matter. Each and every participant has been bowled over by the light this project has shone, and also by the love and dedication in Belfast Homeless Services to the guests that attend there. Educationally wise, there have been more lessons learnt here than a year of lectures could ever do. Id like for readers to know that this project is probably one of the most valuable and eye-opening experiences that they could be a part of, she continues. To have the opportunity to participate and be part of a team in a homeless services environment brings with it some real thought-provoking stuff, and challenges us all to think differently. It gives us a unique insight into the lives of those who are really struggling and a better understanding of all the social and economic factors that contribute to the struggle. Estate agent Lynsey Graham is part of a second group at BHS. Through her involvement shes acquired a much better understanding of how homelessness affects any age group, gender and nationality. I was initially very apprehensive and extremely nervous as I had never done this type of volunteering before. It made me extremely appreciative for the little things we all take for granted, she says. Homelessness does not necessarily mean that you live on the street but can be someone who just does not have a permanent residence or bed to sleep in. They may spend their time sofa surfing or in hostels. I didnt anticipate that I would end up looking forward to being there every week, noticing when certain guests would not call in and how much I would worry about whether that were OK. Lynsey shadowed volunteers to learn about their roles and was mainly involved in the kitchen area. I also spent some time in the recreation area which involved looking after the rota for the pool table, making sure each guest got a chance to play. That was a good way for me to interact with and chat to the guests. Until you realise how much time and dedication the volunteers give, not just in the practical side of things, but how they support so many guests emotionally, it has made me question what would happen without them. Two of those who have participated, Jamee Peart and Bethany Railton, have completed BHS training programme to become regular volunteers. It has helped me have a different outlook on homeless people and their situation. It has changed my view on life and not judging others who have not been as privileged as I am, says James of his involvement. These services are vital to allow homeless people to access services not provided by authorities. They also have access to regular hot meals, replacement clothes, opportunities to socialize and to find out about other services available to support them. Bethany, whose role can switch from giving out food to playing a game or simply having a conversation with someone, wanted to develop more compassion for those of a different background and lifestyle. Ive developed a new gratitude for people on different walks of life and experienced the feeling of being there for someone in the simplest ways and the difference it can make, she says. Everyone is treated with dignity and respect which is something you dont see everywhere. I also think it is beneficial for younger people as it shows us how fortunate we are and how to pay that forward. Participants do not need any specific skills to come take part. If you're interested, PM Carrick Connect or email tracey@carrickconnect.co.uk Co Down mum-of-two Gayle Bunting couldnt forget the words of a young Thai girl rescued from human traffickers why did no one come sooner. Haunted by the horror of what the child had experienced locked in a shipping container while others suffocated around her, Gayle knew she had to do something. Fast forward to today and she is at the helm of Invisible Traffic, a Newtownards-based charity dedicated to stopping human trafficking and exploitation of children right here in Northern Ireland. Gayle set the charity up just months after first hearing about human trafficking at a Christian conference in London in 2012. Invisible Traffick works in schools and youth groups across Northern Ireland to educate children on trafficking and exploitation. Local children from all backgrounds and as young as eight years old are being groomed daily in Northern Ireland by paramilitaries to carry drugs and for sexual exploitation. Many of the children Gayles charity is working with dont even realise they are being exploited It is important work which Invisible Trafficks resolute team of five know is making a difference and preventing kids from becoming victims which is exactly what Gayle hoped for when she started out 12 years ago. Human trafficking has become a vast global crisis with an estimated 49.6 million victims, one in five of whom are children, believed to be trapped in modern-day slavery. Home Office statistics show that 462 children in Northern Ireland are potentially being trafficked right now, but the charity believes that is just the tip of the iceberg. Gayle recalls how despite having no experience of charity work and no finance she managed to get what has become a vital service off the ground: In 2012 I attended a ladies Christian conference in London and Christine Caine (founder of anti-trafficking group The A21 Campaign) was talking about girls being taken from a small village in Thailand and put on a shipping container to Europe. Their only means of survival was sharing a large polythene bag filled with oxygen for which they had to take turns to breathe. Horrifically, a lot of them perished on the route and one or two survived. When I heard that one of the survivors asked why didnt someone come sooner that really impacted me. I couldnt stop thinking about it and I asked God, is this really happening and I felt him say yes and it is happening in your area, on your doorstep and you need to do something about it. I had two small children of my own at the time and I just thought if anything happened to them it would break my heart. Gayle with husband Marc and their two children Jack and Emma I wanted people to know it was happening here on their doorstep and it could affect members of their family, but I had no idea where to start as my background is in cabin crew and I had no experience of charity work. I told friends in Bangor Elim Church about it and they said they would support me and they still do. Gayle is married to Marc, the managing director of a local retail store and they have two children Emma (24) and Jack (21). With their support, she started fundraising and began to hold meetings with volunteers in her North Down home. When the then justice minister David Ford set up a new engagement group for non-governmental bodies, Gayle applied for membership and was accepted. She is still a member today. This brought her into direct contact with police and law enforcement. She worked hard to raise awareness of human trafficking and decided the best way to prevent it was to educate children and young people. The charity rolls out two education programmes to thousands of schools and youth clubs across Northern Ireland every year. One programme has been developed especially for 812-year-olds and a second called Journey to Empowerment is aimed at young people up to the age of 24 years. It helps young people to recognise dangerous situations and then use coping tools provided by the Invisible Traffic team to protect themselves. Invisible Traffick present their anti-trafficking educational programme to a locals school While children in some communities are more vulnerable than others, Gayle insists that it is every child across Northern Ireland at risk of being exploited by paramilitary gangs. She says: If you did a survey in Belfast with the public most people will think human trafficking doesnt happen here and it is just kids abroad who are trafficked but horrifically it is worldwide and it is here on our doorstep. I felt my calling was to raise awareness in Northern Ireland and let people know it is happening to our children. As drug use increases here, more children are being lured into this industry because of demand. Children are getting groomed at school gates. We know of one school where eight-year-olds were being approached. I remember giving a presentation in Ballymena and I was outlining signs of how to spot young people who are victims and I mentioned that if the young person is on their own, not interacting much, looking odd and using public transport, chances are they are delivering drugs for someone. We had a bus driver in the audience who said he knew of two young boys who fitted that description, and he was going to try and help them. A lot of children dont even realise they are being exploited. We know of young girls groomed and then handed around at sex parties who think the person doing it loves them. And it is not just working-class communities where it is happening. Cocaine use is on the rise here and children are being drawn in to deal these drugs to high society. It is affecting everyone. There is a lot of coercion, brutality and darkness happening right under our noses. Through education and training, we are making a crucial difference. There are aftercare charities for victims, but my calling was to prevent or stop it happening in the first place and thats what weve been doing. We show the children and young people what can happen if they go down that route. A lot of them are victims but they become criminalised because of it. Tragically for the charity, all of Gayle and her teams hard work could be in jeopardy as the voluntary sector here faces a funding crisis. Funding could run out as early as July and Gayle who volunteers full-time as CEO and has never taken a wage, is working hard to secure alternative sources. The Invisible Traffick team from left Megan Phair, Erin Neill, Gayle Bunting, Chloe Higginson and Joan Dempster. She says: Part of my challenge is to bring revenue into the organisation and we are currently developing an online training platform which we hope will be delivered to maritime staff at seaports across the UK and Ireland and other professional groups. We have already delivered the training to staff at Larne port and as a result eight observations were raised to police and eight arrests were made which led to an international crime gang in Europe which was trafficking girls into Northern Ireland. It costs 120,000 annually to run the charity which reaches over 3000 children and young people with its education programmes every year. However, with no funding secured, Gayle fears for the future: I would be devastated if we had to close. There is so much less funding to go around now and if we dont get new funding this summer, we will have no choice but to close down. We would love it even if a local business who is looking for a charity to support would consider partnering with us. We are only a small charity, but we are making a significant impact. Our team is amazing, the work they do is changing the lives of the most vulnerable who cant speak up for themselves. Our aim is to make children aware of human trafficking and exploitation to help stop it from starting in the first place. To support the charity or find out more go to www.invisibletraffick.org or contact Gayle on info@humantraffick.org A man who was forced to move out of his Belfast home due to racist graffiti daubed on the property has called for the publics support in standing up to racism. Takura Makoni has lived in Northern Ireland for more than 20 years and in Finaghy for almost five years. Back in March, Mr Makoni who works with the African & Caribbean Support Organisation in Northern Ireland, openly condemned racist posters around his home that were calling for the Housing Executive to stop housing illegal immigrants. Then in April the words Taura not welcome were spray painted on the walls of the father-of-fours home. Mr Makoni said he felt he was targeted for speaking out against the anti-immigration signs. It was because I took a stance against the signs that were put up around my home so they targeted my home, he said. After some discussion with the Housing Executive, Mr Makoni has since been given alternative accommodation. He said he will continue to speak out about racism but is urging more people to join him. How I feel is neither here nor there. It doesnt matter how I feel, it matters how the rest of Northern Ireland feel, are they happy to let something like this continue? Or are they going to decide to do something about it? he said. Following the recent vandalism to his home, Mr Makoni stressed that he did not believe it expressed the views of the majority of people in the local area. However, he claimed there is a danger some have become bystanders to racism. I cant speak for the vast majority of people because I dont know how they feel. The vast majority of people need to speak for themselves and tell us how they feel, he said. You dont hear from anyone until an incident and then we dont hear from them again after it. The racist graffiti painted on Takura's home Mr Makoni is instead asking the public to educate themselves on some of the racial stereotypes present in society. He also urged everyone to take ownership of the problem in society. Just stop an immigrant in the street and say hello, thats all you need to do, from there you can learn anything you need, he said. There is no point running from blame station to blame station. We cant say this is the polices fault or this is the Housing Executives fault. I cant cure racism as a victim of racism, it is up to the people to educate themselves. This is the time for action, not the time to be sitting there with folded arms. If we want to, we can do something about it. In 1998 everyone politicians, the police, community groups all came together because they all had a shared vision of peace in Northern Ireland. They were able to achieve their shared vision, so we can do the same. News Catch Up: Wednesday 29th May 2024 A man wanted to stand trial in the Republic of Ireland has been arrested in east Belfast. Officers from the PSNI's Tactical Support Group detained the suspect alongside the forces International Policing Unit on Thursday. The 30-year-old man is wanted for a number of offences including robbery, possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply. The offences occurred in the Dublin area in 2021 and 2022. The suspect was detained today on an Irish extradition warrant and is due to appear before Laganside Extradition Court on Friday. PSNI Sergeant Davey from the International Policing Unit said: Todays arrest is another example of the Police Service working closely with An Garda Siochana to locate fugitives and bring them before the Extradition Courts. "Our message is clear, Northern Ireland is not a safe haven for any wanted persons trying to avoid arrest and the consequences of their previous actions. We will relentlessly pursue those that are trying to delay or deny justice to victims of crime." UK I was as close to death as you can be Paralympian on meningitis diagnosis Ulster Farmers Union slams proposal to ban fertilisers with phosphorus in effort to save Lough Neagh Organisation brands the plan irresponsible and likely to hit livestock farmers in the pocket Fertiliser being spread on a farm (Photo: Farm Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Garrett Hargan Thu 30 May 2024 at 07:00 The Ulster Farmers Union has branded a Stormont proposal to ban fertiliser containing phosphorous as irresponsible. A Northern Ireland-born former Conservative MP is backing Labour at the General Election after claiming Sir Keir Starmers party could "bring back optimism into British life". Mark Logan, who is from Ballymena and was sworn into the House of Commons in Ulster Scots, represented Bolton North East for the Tories until Parliament dissolved on Thursday. Stephen Farry accuses DUP of fighting old battles over Irish Sea border Alliance candidate calls for clarity after Gavin Robinson says party still committed to fighting post-Brexit trade arrangements Stephen Farry Andrew Madden Thu 30 May 2024 at 19:15 Stephen Farry has called for clarity from the DUP and others after leader Gavin Robinson vowed his party would continue to fight the Irish Sea border. Council-owned advertising space in Edinburgh will now be strictly regulated (Jane Barlow/PA) Edinburgh has banned the promotion of fossil fuel-powered cars and exotic holidays on council-owned advertising spaces in a bid to boost efforts to decarbonise. The ban, spearheaded by the Scottish Greens, extends to commercial flights, all SUVs including electric ones, and cruise ships. The City of Edinburgh Council stopped short of extending the ban to meat products as it deemed that decision highly controversial. Other categories including fossil fuel firms and arms manufacturers will be excluded from sponsorship partnerships across council-owned advertising spaces. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The move to prohibit high-carbon advertising and sponsorship follows a similar policy introduced by Sheffield City Council in March. It is hoped the ban will prompt behavioural change from consumers, and officials said allowing such advertising to continue could undermine efforts to reduce emissions. City of Edinburgh Council said reaching net zero targets requires a shift in societys perception of success, and that advertising has a key role to play in promoting low-carbon behaviours. The ban is described as basic common sense by the Scottish Greens. The councils advertising and sponsorship policy was approved by its Policy and Sustainability Committee on Tuesday. Green councillor Ben Parker, who spearheaded the policy, said: Were pleased the council has taken a lead on the issue of fossil free advertising and sponsorship, and hope to see other councils across Scotland follow suit. Its just basic common sense that if the council is serious about climate justice, we cannot allow council advertising space to be used to promote fossil fuel companies. We have taken a clear step to say: we dont need their money, we dont want their money, and we dont think its right for the council to legitimise the practices of organisations whose business is to profit from war. The policy is supported by Adfree Cities, and Robbie Gillett from the campaign group said: Our daily exposure to adverts encouraging us to buy more and more polluting products runs in contradiction to the urgent need to decarbonise our economy. Edinburgh council has taken an important step to resolve that contradiction. This is literally world-leading climate policy, putting Edinburgh ahead of any other global capital city. Five members of a gang that falsely claimed more than 53 million in universal credit, in what is thought to be the largest benefit fraud and money laundering-related scheme seen in England and Wales, have been jailed. Judge David Aaronberg KC said that Gyunesh Ali, 34, had committed fraud by false representation on an industrial scale during the scheme involving fellow Bulgarians Galina Nikolova, 39, Stoyan Stoyanov, 28, Tsvetka Todorova, 53, and Patritsia Paneva, 27. On Thursday at Londons Wood Green Crown Court, they were sentenced to a total of 25 years and five months imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to fraud and money laundering-related offences. The judge warned them they are all liable to be deported after servicing their sentences and added that an enormous amount of work by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had to be carried out in order to prosecute the gang. Galina Nikolova, Gyunesh Ali, Patritsia Paneva, Stoyan Stoyanov and Tsvetka Todorova (CPS/PA) He said: This is believed to be cumulatively the largest case ever prosecuted for benefit fraud on the DWP. It was a difficult case to unravel and prosecute in a coherent fashion to the court. Bundles of cash stuffed in shopping bags and suitcases, a luxury car and designer goods including watches, jackets and glasses were found during a raid on their properties, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. The defendants had made thousands of false claims for benefits using real people or hijacked identities, with claims supported by an array of forged documents including tenancy agreements, payslips and letters from landlords, employers, schools and GPs. If claims were rejected, the fraudsters would try time and again until they were granted. Investigators even discovered three benefit factories in London, the CPS said, claiming to help people get a national insurance number using claim packs containing forged and false documents. The gang would also give the claimants tips on how to fool the system, the court heard. But after applicants made their claims, they left them in the hands of the gang who laundered money through a number of different accounts. The court heard that messages and images were exchanged on a WhatsApp group at the height of the fraud showing the gang making fun of the naivety of the DWP. The DWP would sometimes ask for pictures of people outside properties with the front door open to prove they lived there Photoshop was used in mocked up images. Ali and Nikolova were the main architects of the fraud. The judge said that under current laws the maximum sentence he could give them was 10 years and it is only the rarest of circumstances that this would be followed. He said he would also give the defendants credit for their guilty pleas, time served and some other mitigating factors. Ali had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make false representations, possession of articles for use in fraud and possessing criminal property. He was sentenced to a total of seven years and six months imprisonment. The judge told Ali: You played a leading role in a scheme that was complex and sophisticated in nature. Your offending lasted for some four-and-a-half years and were involved in a vast number of false declarations. The judge said the was some evidence of him engaging in a lavish lifestyle and there is video showing him showering money in the air. After his release under investigation, Ali fled to Bulgaria but was extradited back to the UK on February 25 2023. Nikolova, who was found to be responsible for 25 million in losses to the taxpayer, was sentenced to a total of eight years imprisonment. She had pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to make false representations, possessing criminal property and also to possession of articles to use in fraud. In court, it emerged that Todorova and Nikolova had also tried, unsuccessfully, to flee the UK after their initial arrest in May 2021. Paneva was jailed for a total of three years and two months. The judge took into account that she had been 19 when she was first recruited by Nikolova and had been initially paid 80 a day by the gang. She pleaded guilty to entering into a money laundering arrangement and possession of articles for use in fraud. She also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make false representations on June 12 2023. Todorova, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make false representations and possession of articles for use in fraud, was sentenced to a total of three years imprisonment. She was due to be released on licence on Thursday because of the time she has already served in custody and under house arrest. Stoyanov was sentenced to four years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to make false representations and three counts of possession of articles for use in fraud. An order for a surcharge is set to be made at a future confiscation hearing. After sentencing, CPS specialist prosecutor Ben Reid said: This case is the largest benefit fraud prosecution ever brought to the courts in England and Wales. For a number of years, these defendants conspired to commit industrial-scale fraud against the universal credit system, costing the taxpayer more than 53 million. Submitting thousands of false claims, the organised criminals enriched themselves from government funds designed to protect and help the most vulnerable people in our society. Anas Sarwar has said the Labour candidate who once suggested smuggler gangs could be shipped to Scotland has shown contrition for his stupid joke. The Scottish Labour leader also described Diane Abbott as a trailblazer for Labour, while saying that he did not believe any final decision had been made in her case. Josh Simons was chosen as the Labour candidate for Makerfield in north-west England on Wednesday. Mr Simons, director of the Labour Together group, suggested on LBC radio in February that smuggler gangs should be put on a barge, which could then be shipped to the north of Scotland. He later apologised for the remarks. His selection as a Labour candidate in the General Election led to attacks from the SNP, which said the comments were a disgrace. Mr Sarwar has previously described the comments as stupid and flippant. On Thursday, the Scottish Labour leader met activists in Craigmillar, Edinburgh, along with candidate Chris Murray. Speaking to journalists, Mr Sarwar said: I dont know Josh Simons, I obviously know of Josh Simons. When he was a political commentator he made a stupid joke which, youre right, I called out at the time. He apologised, hes shown contrition. Alison Thewliss said Josh Simonss comments were a disgrace (Jane Barlow/PA) He continued: If this is someone who wants to come forward and help us get rid of this rotten Tory Government to deliver change across our country, then we should be willing to give that person a chance. Mr Sarwar added: We should put this into context, hes not trying to misuse public money like we saw with Michael Matheson, who John Swinney spent the last week trying to defend. The Scottish Labour leader said Ms Abbotts candidacy is something for the UK partys ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to decide. Mr Sarwar said: What I know about Diane Abbott is that she is a trailblazer, someone of a proud history for the Labour Party, her country and her community. And someone who made history when she became Britains first black female MP. Earlier, the SNP candidate for Glasgow North Alison Thewliss branded Mr Simonss comments a disgrace. She said: Sarwar previously claimed Josh Simonss views dont represent the Labour Party, despite Mr Simons being a key ally of Keir Starmer, but now its indisputable that they do. The row over Mr Simonss selection erupted as Labour veteran Ms Abbott accused Sir Keir of an appalling cull of left-wingers as she faced continued uncertainty about her own political future. Ms Abbott said she wants to fight to retain her seat as long as it is possible, but she criticised decisions made by Labour to exclude candidates from the partys left. David Linden said Labours treatment of Diane Abbott has been shameful (Ian West/PA) David Linden, the SNP candidate for Glasgow East, said: Keir Starmers purge of the Labour Party left, and anyone who disagrees with his Tory-lite policies, shows why its vital to vote SNP on July 4 for a strong voice to stand up for Scotlands values and put Scotlands interests first. Scotland needs a strong team of SNP MPs to ensure Scotlands voice is heard and the SNP will have an essential role to play in holding Starmers government to account to protect Scotland as the Labour Party drifts even further to the right. The way Diane Abbott and other progressive candidates have been treated is shameful but what is more worrying for Scotland is that Starmer wants to remove all opposition so he can impose Tory policies including Brexit, austerity cuts, creeping NHS privatisation and denying Scotland any say over our future. A Scottish Labour spokesperson said This desperate SNP attack is proof the party is well and truly out of positive ideas on how to deliver the change Scotland needs. Instead of worrying about a months-old interview by a candidate in Makerfield, the SNP should focus on fixing the chaos it has made in Scotland from sky-high NHS waiting lists to a flatlining economy. The spokesperson insisted Labour has selected a fantastic group of candidates in place for the General Election, adding the SNP is fielding candidates that will continue their record of decline and put the party interest before Scotlands interest. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of conducting a purge of the left in his party (PA) Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of conducting a purge of the left in his party, as Labour also came under fire for selecting a General Election candidate who suggested smuggler gangs could be shipped to Scotland. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn hit out after Josh Simons was chosen as the Labour candidate for Makerfield in north-west England. Mr Simons, director of the Labour Together group, previously suggested smuggler gangs should be put on a barge, which could then be shipped to the north of Scotland. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Mr Flynn said that at the time the comments were made, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar had said Mr Simons doesnt represent the Labour Party with the SNP politician adding: He does now. SNP candidate for Glasgow North, Alison Thewliss, challenged Mr Sarwar to come clean and admit whether he backs the selection of a Labour Party candidate who said smuggler gangs should be put on a barge and shipped to Scotland. She branded Mr Simonss comments a disgrace, and said: Sarwar previously claimed Josh Simonss views dont represent the Labour Party, despite Mr Simons being a key ally of Keir Starmer, but now its indisputable that they do. David Linden said Labours treatment of Diane Abbott has been shameful (Ian West/PA) The row over Mr Simonss selection erupted as Labour veteran Diane Abbott accused Sir Keir of an appalling cull of left-wingers as she faced continued uncertainty about her own political future. Ms Abbott said she wants to fight to retain her seat as long as it is possible, but she criticised decisions made by Labour to exclude candidates from the partys left. David Linden, the SNP candidate for Glasgow East, said: Keir Starmers purge of the Labour Party left, and anyone who disagrees with his Tory-lite policies, shows why its vital to vote SNP on July 4 for a strong voice to stand up for Scotlands values and put Scotlands interests first. Scotland needs a strong team of SNP MPs to ensure Scotlands voice is heard and the SNP will have an essential role to play in holding Starmers government to account to protect Scotland as the Labour Party drifts even further to the right. The way Diane Abbott and other progressive candidates have been treated is shameful but what is more worrying for Scotland is that Starmer wants to remove all opposition so he can impose Tory policies including Brexit, austerity cuts, creeping NHS privatisation and denying Scotland any say over our future. A Scottish Labour spokesperson said This desperate SNP attack is proof the party is well and truly out of positive ideas on how to deliver the change Scotland needs. Instead of worrying about a months-old interview by a candidate in Makerfield, the SNP should focus on fixing the chaos it has made in Scotland from sky-high NHS waiting lists to a flat-lining economy. The spokesperson insisted Labour has selected a fantastic group of candidates in place for the General Election, adding the SNP is fielding candidates that will continue their record of decline and put the party interest before Scotlands interest. Sir Keir Starmer accused the Welsh Conservatives of playing political games by tabling a no confidence motion in Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Sir Keir Starmer stood by embattled Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething as Labours General Election campaign arrived in Wales on Thursday. At a campaign rally in Abergavenny, Sir Keir thanked Mr Gething for his leadership and said he was looking forward to a new partnership with the First Minister if Labour took over in Westminster. Speaking to reporters after the event, Sir Keir said he was proud of Labours record in Wales, where the party has been in power since devolution in 1999, and said Mr Gething was doing a very good job. Vaughan Gething has endured a tricky first two months as Welsh First Minister (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Mr Gethings brief tenure as First Minister has already been beset by scandal, with questions raised about a 200,000 donation to his leadership campaign from a man convicted of environmental crimes and his decision to sack cabinet member Hannah Blythyn for allegedly leaking to the press. His woes have culminated in the collapse of Labours co-operation deal with Plaid Cymru, leaving the party governing with a minority in the Senedd, and the tabling of a no confidence motion by the Welsh Conservatives on Wednesday. Both Mr Gething and Sir Keir accused the Welsh Conservatives of playing political games with their no confidence motion, which will be debated on June 5. (PA Graphics) During his speech to activists in Abergavennys Priory Centre, Mr Gething made no direct reference to his problems but said the Conservatives had a record of treating politics as a game rather than a route to opportunity hope and security. Sir Keir told reporters after the event: Thats the oldest trick in the book, and its game-playing, its diversionary tactics. What Vaughan Gething is absolutely focused on is delivering for Wales. He also insisted it was absolutely clear that Mr Gething had broken no rules regarding his 200,000 donation and had answered all the questions that are put to him. Sir Keir Starmer set out his six first steps for Wales at a campaign event in Abergavenny (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Sir Keir was in Monmouthshire to launch his partys first steps for Wales, arguing that a Labour government in London would work more effectively with a Labour government in Cardiff Bay and turbo-boost the work that we can do delivering for Wales. Those first steps replicated the six Labour already set out for the wider UK, including ensuring economic stability, hiring more teachers, cutting NHS waiting lists, creating a Border Security Command, setting up Great British Energy and cracking down on anti-social behaviour. Education and the health service are devolved matters, controlled by the Labour government in Wales rather than the Conservative government in Westminster, but providing more money for services in England would automatically mean providing more money for devolved services in Wales as well. Sir Keir also promised to fight for the future of steel in Wales, after previously calling for a jobs guarantee for workers at the Port Talbot steelworks, where Tata is planning to close blast furnaces. On Wednesday, Welsh Conservative leader and Senedd member Andrew RT Davies said Sir Keirs decision to campaign with Mr Gething was a reflection of their equally poor judgment and should worry us all. Tory chairman Richard Holden described Sir Keirs speech as yet another vacuous ramble. He said: Starmer calls Labour-run Wales a blueprint for a UK Labour government. Yet after 25 years of Labour, Welsh NHS patients wait an average seven weeks longer for treatment than in England, they have imposed blanket 20mph speed limits, and theyre wasting millions of taxpayers money on a ridiculous plan to have more Senedd politicians. The choice is clear in this election: stick with the bold action and clear plan with Rishi Sunak or go back to square one with Sir Keir who doesnt have the conviction, courage or plan to deliver for British people, and would fail, like Labour have failed the people of Wales. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has hinted that the Biden administration may soon allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia (Petr David Josek/Pool/AP) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has attacked Russian attempts to sow discord in democracies with misinformation after hinting that the Biden administration may soon allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia. In Prague for a Nato foreign ministers meeting, Mr Blinken hit out at Moscows use of misinformation and disinformation, calling it a poison, and signing an agreement with the Czech government to combat it. He also toured a Czech military base, where he saw armoured vehicles that Prague is sending to Kyiv to help fight Russias invasion, and received a briefing on a Czech initiative to supply Ukraine with a million rounds of ammunition by the end of the year. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova attend a Czech Defence Capabilities Event at Prague-Kbely Airport in Prague (Petr David Josek/Pool/AP) We know that a major front in the competition that we have, the adversarial relationship that we have, notably with Russia, is on the information front, he said. Mr Blinken said the agreement with the Czechs the 17th such accord the US has signed with partner nations will help to effectively deal with misinformation and disinformation, which is a poison being injected into our democracies by our adversaries. The more were able to do together both between our countries but also with other countries, the more effective were going to be exposing it and dealing with it, he told reporters at a signing ceremony with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky. Mr Lipavsky agreed, noting that Czech authorities have recently exposed a major Russian-backed misinformation campaign. We are facing confrontation between democracies and autocracies, he said. The Kremlin has started targeting democracies all around the world with cyber warfare, propaganda and influence operations, and this danger simply cannot be underestimated any more. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky sign a joint memorandum at the Czernin Palace in Prague (Petr David Josek/Pool/AP) Russias invasion of Ukraine and support for Ukrainian attempts to repel it will be a major focus of the Nato foreign minister meetings on Thursday and Friday the alliances last major diplomatic gathering before a leaders summit in Washington in July to mark the 75th anniversary of its founding. On Wednesday in Moldova, Mr Blinken said US policy on how Ukraine deploys American weapons is constantly evolving, suggesting that Washington may rescind an unwritten prohibition on Ukraines use of them for attacks on Russian territory. Although US officials insist there is no formal ban, they have long made clear that they believe the use of American weapons to attack targets inside Russia could provoke an escalatory response from Moscow, something that Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised. That position appears to be being reconsidered, and Mr Blinken noted that it is a hallmark of the Biden administrations stance on Ukraine to adapt and adjust as needed. The US Secretary of State visited Kyiv earlier this month and heard a direct appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to use American military assistance to strike positions in Russian from where attacks on Ukraine are launched. As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how its pursuing its aggression, escalation, weve adapted and adjusted too, and Im confident well continue to do that, Mr Blinken said at a news conference in Chisinau. At every step along the way, weve adapted and adjusted as necessary, and so thats exactly what well do going forward, he said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Moldovan President Maia Sandu at the Presidential Palace in Chisinau (Vadim Ghirda/Pool/AP) Were always listening, were always learning, and were always making determinations about whats necessary to make sure that Ukraine can effectively continue to defend itself, and well continue to do that. Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron and Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said Western countries should not object if Ukraine needs to strike inside Russia to defend itself. Mr Stoltenberg reaffirmed that position on Thursday. I believe that time has come to (re)consider some of these restrictions to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves, he said. We need to remember what it is. This is a war of aggression launched by choice by Moscow against Ukraine. The right to self-defence, Mr Stoltenberg said, includes also striking legitimate military targets outside Ukraine. The remains of 15 recently identified Greek soldiers who fought in Cyprus against invading Turkish troops in July 1974 have been returned to their families (Philippos Christou/AP) The remains of recently identified Greek soldiers who fought in Cyprus against invading Turkish troops nearly half a century ago were returned to their families on Thursday. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides attended a funeral service at Ayios Panteleimonas Orthodox Church in the capital, Nicosia, for the 15 soldiers before their remains were contained in Greek flag-draped coffins. Mr Christodoulides said it was the least the state could do to honour and pay respects to the memory of those who died. Soldiers carrying the coffins of Greek soldiers whose remains were recently identified, process past Ayios Panteleimonas Orthodox Church in Nicosia (Philippos Christou/AP) Eight of the 15 soldiers will be reinterred in Greece. The families of another six opted to have their remains reinterred in a mass grave in Nicosia which stands as the countrys prime monument for the war. No family members have been located for one of the soldiers, according to the state broadcaster. Family members watch as a soldier leads a guard of honour at the funeral service in Nicosia (Philippos Christou/AP) Turkey invaded Cyprus in July 1974, a week after supporters of union with Greece mounted a coup backed by the Greek junta then ruling the country. The invasion resulted in Cypruss ethnic divide, with Turkish Cypriots later declaring independence that is only recognised by Turkey, which still maintains more than 35,000 troops in the breakaway north. Of the 2,002 people who disappeared in 1974 and the preceding decade amid ethnic violence, the remains of 1,033 have been identified and returned to their families since UN-led search efforts began in earnest in 2006. Soldiers help inter the remains of six Greek soldiers at the Tomb of Makedonitissa in Nicosia (Philippos Christou/AP) UN officials said this marks the second-best success rate in the world, after the former Yugoslavia. A total of 769 Greek Cypriots and 200 Turkish Cypriots are still listed as missing and officials say the passage of time poses a huge challenge. Harvey Weinstein was back in court at Manhattan Criminal Court (Angela Weiss/Pool Photo via AP) Manhattan prosecutors told a judge that they are evaluating new claims of sexual misconduct made against Harvey Weinstein. Prosecutors said they could potentially seek a new indictment against the former movie mogul ahead of his scheduled retrial on rape charges later this year. Assistant district attorney Nicole Blumberg said during a court hearing that additional people have come forward with assault claims and prosecutors are currently assessing which fall under the statute of limitations. She said some potential survivors who were not ready to step forward during Weinsteins first trial may now be willing to testify. The fallen movie mogul is awaiting a retrial on rape charges after his 2020 conviction was thrown out (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool) When asked by Judge Curtis Farber whether there was a possibility of prosecutors filing a new indictment, Ms Blumberg replied: Yes, your honour. Weinstein appeared before the judge on Wednesday afternoon in the same New York City courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial. He entered the court in a wheelchair, as he has during other recent court hearings after his 2020 conviction was tossed out. Ms Blumberg said prosecutors would be in a better position to update the court on the direction of the case at the end of June. The retrial on the rape charge is tentatively scheduled for some time after Labour Day. Arthur Aidala, Weinsteins lawyer, also addressed a letter prosecutors sent to the judge last week asking him to remind Weinsteins lawyers not to discuss or disparage potential witnesses in public ahead of the retrial. Manhattan district attorney Alvin Braggs office argues that Mr Aidala made statements earlier this month that were meant to intimidate Miriam Haley, a former TV and film production assistant who Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting. Mr Aidala apologised to the judge but said he did not intend to intimidate anyone and that it is the defences position that lies were told at the last trial, and will be told at this one. Judge Farber, in response, directed both sides to refrain from pandering to press, saying the case will not be decided in the court of public opinion but in the court of justice. He also set the next court date for July 9. Harvey Weinstein was also convicted of another rape in Los Angeles and was sentenced to 16 years in prison in California (Etienne Laurent/Pool Photo via AP) At his 2020 trial, Weinstein was convicted of raping Jessica Mann, an aspiring actor, and of sexually assaulting Ms Haley. But last month New Yorks highest court threw out those convictions after determining that the trial judge unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations from other women that werent part of the case. Weinstein, 72, has maintained that any sexual activity was consensual. The New York ruling reopened a painful chapter in Americas reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful figures. The #MeToo era began in 2017 with a flood of allegations against Weinstein. Speaking outside of court on May 1, Mr Aidala said Ms Haley lied to the jury about her motive in coming forward and that his team planned an aggressive cross-examination on the issue if she dares to come and show her face here. Ms Haley has said she does not want to go through the trauma of testifying again, but for the sake of keeping going and doing the right thing and because it is what happened, I would consider it. Weinstein, who had been serving a 23-year sentence in New York, was also convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and is still sentenced to 16 years in prison in California. Both Ms Haley and Mann have consented to be named. Myanmars junta is forcibly recruiting Rohingyas in the Rakhine state capital Sittwe and threatening to block monthly international aid supplies if they refuse to join military training, according to members of the ethnic group who are sheltering in camps for the displaced. Reports of the forced recruitment come amid fresh calls from the international community to monitor the situation facing Rohingyas amid fears that attempts by the embattled military to incite tension between Muslim Rohingyas and ethnic Rakhine Buddhist communities in Rakhine state is succeeding. The junta is desperate to recruit new soldiers as its ranks are depleted by battlefield losses and mass surrenders to rebel forces. Rohingyas, persecuted for decades in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, are getting caught up in the war between the ethnic Arakan Army, or AA, and junta forces in Rakhine state, human rights workers say. Both sides have pressed Rohingyas into their ranks and at the same time have accused Rohingyas of helping their rivals. Reports suggest that both the AA and junta forces have subjected members of the Muslim minority to violence. Rohingya residents of Sittwe who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, told RFA Burmese that junta troops on May 27 began ordering them to hand over around 30 people aged 18-30 each from more than 10 camps for the displaced in Sittwe including Thet Kei Pyin, Ohn Taw Gyi, Bar Sar Ra, Dar Paing, and Thae Chaung. "We were asked to give 35 people from our camp, a Rohingya resident of the Thet Kei Pyin camp said Wednesday. If we refuse to do so, they will not share [international] food supplies anymore. The junta is recruiting for the frontline. It was not immediately clear how many Rohingyas have been forcibly recruited from the camps. Attempts by RFA to contact the United Nations Development Program, or UNDP, in Myanmar for a response to reports that the junta has threatened to withhold food aid for Rohingyas in Rakhine state went unanswered Wednesday. The junta forcibly recruited around 1,000 Rohingyas for military service from camps for the displaced in Sittwe township in March and more than 300 from Rohingya villages last month, Rohingya residents told RFA, making this the third round of forced recruitment. Now, men sleep outside A Rohingya from Sittwe, who also declined to be named, said members of his community are no longer willing to sleep in their homes, for fear of being detained in the middle of the night. "They [the junta troops] often come late at night and if they see young men at home, they will take them immediately, he said. It isnt good for us to sleep at home anymore. Now, men sleep outside away from their homes and in the fields. A goldware shop owned by a Rakhine person in the market of Dar Paing village, where the majority of residents are Muslim, April 28, 2023. [RFA] Previous military training for Rohingyas was conducted at the juntas Sittwe-based Regional Command Headquarters for two weeks. After completing the training, the trainees received certificates before some were sent home and others were sent to the frontlines, Rohingyas said. A resident of Sittwe told RFA that the junta, which is increasingly losing territory to the AA in northern Rakhine state, is recruiting Rohingyas to defend the capital. "The junta seems to be preparing for a defensive war, he said. If they cant stop [losing territory], the junta will try to hold power by creating racial and religious conflict between the Rakhine and Muslim communities." The resident said that while the Rohingyas are unwilling to serve in the military, they have no choice. He urged senior Rohingya leaders to prevent the possibility of conflict between the states ethnic communities. RFA attempted to reach junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun and Hla Thein, the juntas spokesperson for Rakhine state, to inquire about the forced recruitment of Rohingyas, but was unable to contact them. Military analysts say the junta has used Rohingyas who received military training during battles against the AA in Rakhines Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships. In Sittwe and Kyaukphyu townships, which have so far been free of conflict, thousands of Rohingya have received military training, and analysts say they are likely to be deployed on the battlefield if fighting continues. Call to monitor Rohingya situation Amid reports of forced recruitment of the Rohingya, and of the military seeking to incite conflict between the Rakhine and Rohingya communities in Rakhine state, international organizations have called for a pause in fighting to allow for aid groups to enter the area and assess the situation on the ground. Last week, in response to reports of renewed violence and property destruction in Buthidaung township resulting in the displacement of potentially tens of thousands of civilians, mainly Rohingya, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, urged restraint among all parties in the region. With inter-communal tensions between ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya high and being actively stoked by the military this is a critical period when the risk of yet further atrocity crimes is particularly acute, Turk said in a May 19 statement. While we seek to corroborate information indicating serious violations, I appeal directly to the Myanmar military and Arakan Army to pause the fighting, protect civilians, allow immediate and unhindered humanitarian access, and comply fully and unconditionally with international law, he said. Rohingyas from Buthidaung township who fled to the Arakan Army (AA)-controlled area due to the fighting, seen May 8, 2024. [Twan Mrat Naing via X] According to satellite imagery and images circulating on social media, nearly the entire town of Buthidaung was burned to the ground after the AA attacked the area, prompting the withdrawal of junta troops. Some Rohingyas were reportedly prevented from escaping the fighting and killed by AA soldiers, U.N. officials said at a press conference on May 24. James Rodehaver, head of the United Nations Human Rights, or OHCHR, Myanmar team, recently highlighted the spread of misinformation and propaganda exacerbating tensions between the Rakhine and Rohingya communities. He noted that the AA has been disseminating false information about the Rohingya on the social media platform X, formerly called Twitter. Military incitement succeeding Jason Tower, the country director for the Burma program at the United States Institute of Peace, told RFA that the military's efforts to incite tension between the Rohingya and Rakhine communities is succeeding. For quite a few months now, there's been evidence that the Myanmar military has been spreading disinformation about the Arakan Army in the Rohingya community, as part of its efforts to forcibly conscript Rohingya, he said. There are many Rohingya that have been forcibly conscripted and this month, when a number of military junta troops surrendered to the AA, there were quite a few Rohingya conscripts amongst them. Tower said that the militarys strategy is to put pressure on the Arakan Army by stoking tensions between the Rohingya and Rakhine communities. And to some extent, it seems like this is working out in the favor of the military junta, as you now do see that the Arakan Army is starting to succumb to some of this pressure," he said. The Arakan Army (AA) announced that the headquarters of juntas Battalion 564 based in Buthidaung in Rakhine state was captured on April 5, 2024. [AA Info Desk] The AAs reporting on events in northern Rakhine state is extremely problematic, Tower said, and very derogatory towards Rohingya communities. And this is actually worsening the problem, although perhaps the intention of the Arakan Army in putting out this messaging is to appeal to a population of [Rakhine] that have been manipulated by the Myanmar military regime, he said. Nonetheless, this in no way absolves the AA of its responsibility to protect civilians and the Rohingya population, Tower said. There is a need for the Arakan Army to be held accountable for what's happening here, he added. The AA, which in November ended a ceasefire that had been in place since the militarys February 2021 coup detat, announced on May 18 that it had captured all military camps in Buthidaung. The AA said it now occupies nine townships in Rakhine state, as well as Paletwa township in neighboring Chin state. Tower said that while it seems pretty clear that the AA will ultimately expel the military from Rakhine state, the real test for the ethnic army is whether it will be able to adequately support displaced communities and begin governing the many territories under its control. Attempts by RFA to contact the junta and the AA for comment on the situation in Buthidaung and allegations of violence against the Rohingya community went unanswered Wednesday. Radio Free Asia is a news service affiliated with BenarNews. Prabowo Subianto will balance campaign promises and budgetary constraints with his predecessors programs, analysts say. Current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, center, adjusts his tie as Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, and his deputy Maruf Amin, right, take their position for a group photo with other new cabinet ministers after a swearing-in ceremony on Oct. 23, 2019. Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto has vowed to uphold the legacy of his predecessor Joko Jokowi Widodo, but he will be no mere puppet in office and is likely to quickly assert his independence, analysts say. The 72-year-old defense minister swept to victory in Indonesias Feb. 14 election on the coattails of the extraordinarily popular Jokowi, whose tacit support for his former rival proved decisive in his win. For many observers, the question now is will Prabowo stay true to Jokowis policies after assuming power in October? Muradi, a political analyst at Padjadjaran University in Bandung, said that Prabowo was likely to break from Jokowis influence within months as he seeks to establish his own presidential legacy. Prabowo has long dreamed of becoming president, Muradi, who goes by one name, told BenarNews. He wants to be seen as his own man. I predict their alliance wont last long after he takes office, 100 days tops. Prabowo, a fiery ex-general born into Indonesias political elite, is cut from a very different political mold than Jokowi, a former furniture salesman from central Java who improbably reached the countrys highest office. Fundamentally, these two individuals have distinct characters different perspectives, visions and obsessions, said Siti Zuhro, a political analyst at the National Research and Innovation Agency. It wouldnt be Prabowo if he didnt assert his unique approach, especially now that he holds the highest office. He will undoubtedly be more assertive and decisive, she said, adding he would probably maintain some of Jokowis programs to bolster his legitimacy as president. Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto, left, and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka at the General Elections Commission office after the results of the 2024 presidential race were announced in Jakarta on April 24, 2024. [Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP] Prabowo, who was married to the daughter of longtime dictator Suharto, lost to Jokowi in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections, before accepting an invitation to join his rivals cabinet as defense minister. During this years election, Prabowo chose Jokowis eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his vice-presidential nominee a move that was perceived as an attempt by the outgoing president to maintain power after leaving office. Though Jokowi, who is barred from a third term, did not explicitly endorse a candidate, his numerous public appearances alongside Prabowo during the campaign period and refusal to back the candidate from his own Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), sent a clear signal to the electorate. Jokowis ambitious infrastructure initiatives, including the relocation of Indonesias capital from Jakarta to a new city on Borneo island named Nusantara, are the most visible aspects of his political legacy. Prabowo has vowed to maintain many of these, but the president-elect has staked his name on numerous policies of his own. Chief among them is a pledge to provide free lunches to all 82 million Indonesian school children, a project with a price tag that dwarfs Prabowos proposed annual budget for the construction of the new national capital. Prabowos team estimates the program will require an initial investment ranging from $6.2 billion to $7.4 billion in the first year. In contrast, Prabowo said in early May that his government planned to allocate $1 billion annually for the construction of Nusantara. Basic infrastructure, including roads, dams, bridges and government buildings, are expected to be completed by year-end. But the entire project is not expected to be finished until 2045. This undated handout shows computer-generated imagery of Indonesias future presidential palace in East Kalimantan in the new capital named Nusantara. [Nyoman Nuarta/AFP] Nusantara has been dogged by challenges since its inception. Slow construction progress, delays in land acquisition, limited investment interest and concerns about environmental impact have plagued the endeavor. The site of the new city on Borneo island, rich in biodiversity, has raised fears that construction will irreparably harm its delicate ecosystem. Zuhro said Prabowo might restructure the Nusantara project. This move would ensure that the Nusantara capital project remains non-controversial under his leadership, she said. Trubus Rahadiansyah, a public policy observer from Trisakti University in Jakarta, said Prabowos decision to allocate approximately about $1 billion annually for the new capital project falls significantly short of Jokowis administration, which disbursed $1.8 billion in 2023 and set a budget ceiling of $2.8 billion for 2024. Prabowo is expected to evaluate other high-cost policies from Jokowis government, including the plan to extend the China-funded Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train to Surabaya, Trubus said. Prabowo is likely to take an instrumental approach to policy. If a policy demonstrates effectiveness, it will be maintained; otherwise, it will be reevaluated, he told BenarNews. Ambang Priyonggo, a political observer at Multimedia Nusantara University, said Prabowo was not someone who was easily swayed. Prabowo wont settle for being a mere puppet leader, he said. However, economic interests, particularly land concessions and project contracts related to the Nusantara capital project, could significantly shape Prabowos policy decisions, Ambang said. Behind the scenes, those who secure land concessions and projects [related to the national capital construction] align themselves with Prabowos camp, he said. Prabowo Subianto greets supporters during his campaign rally in Lubuk Pakam, North Sumatra, Indonesia on Feb. 7, 2024. [AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara] Muradi, of Padjadjaran University, said that Prabowo might even seek support from the PDI-P, which has strained relations with Jokowi. PDI-P secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto has indicated the partys willingness to engage with Prabowo, stating that chair and former president Megawati Sukarnoputri is open to a meeting. Prabowo's spokesman, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, did not respond to a request for comment on the speculation from BenarNews. Dahnil told CNN Indonesia on Monday that certain factions were sowing discord between Prabowo, Jokowi and Megawati, without providing details. Ultimately, Prabowo faces a delicate task of balancing policy ambitions with fiscal realities, according to Ali Sahab, a political lecturer at Airlangga University in Surabaya. He will have to navigate between fulfilling his own promises and proceeding with Jokowis programs, Ali said. The challenge is not merely about Prabowo imprinting his own style on the government, but rather ensuring theres enough money, Ali told BenarNews. Nazarudin Latif in Jakarta contributed to the article. Indonesia Solidarity Party Chairman Kaesang Pangarep (right), youngest son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo and brother of winning vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, arrives at the Jakarta home of winning presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, March 20, 2024. UPDATED at 6:20 a.m. EDT on 2024-05-31 A top Indonesian court has issued another ruling that raises questions about judicial neutrality and President Joko Jokowi Widodos political intentions as well as his dynastic aspirations before he leaves office in October. This time the potential beneficiary, critics said, is Jokowis youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep. The Supreme Court on Wednesday handed down a decision to modify minimum age rules, a revision that would enable Kaesang, 29, to contest the November polls for deputy governor of Jakarta as the strong buzz suggests. In October 2023, the Constitutional Court issued a similar ruling that lowered minimum age requirements for certain presidential and vice presidential candidates. Six days later, Presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto named Jokowis eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, his vice presidential nominee. Theirs was the winning ticket in the Feb. 14 general election. The Supreme Courts Wednesday ruling stipulated that candidates for the posts of governor or deputy governor must be at least 30 years old at the time of their inauguration provided they win unlike before when they had to meet that age requirement at the time of nomination. The ruling cannot be challenged or appealed. A constitutional law expert, Khairul Fahmi, said the Supreme Courts decision had to be automatically implemented by the Election Commission. Similar to the Constitutional Courts decision [of October], the Supreme Courts lawsuit decision is also final, Khairul told BenarNews. Candidates for the local government elections later this year have to register between Aug. 27 and 29. The elections for governors, deputy governors, district heads and municipal mayors, among others, is set for Nov. 27. The swearing in of the winners, which is also called the inauguration, is expected in January 2025. And Kaesang, who was born in 1994, turns 30 on Dec. 25. As one political observer noted, it was difficult to not suspect that the Supreme Court ruling had nothing to do with efforts to accommodate Kaesang. Is this to pave the way for certain individuals? Thats a reasonable suspicion because there is already a precedent, Yoes Kenawas, from the Atma Jaya University Jakarta, told BenarNews, referring to the Constitutional Courts ruling in October. Kaesang is currently chairman of the small Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), which named him to the top post two days after he became a member. Victorious vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka (left), the eldest son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Kaesang Pangarep (right), the presidents youngest son and chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party, and Didit Hediprasetyo, a fashion designer and son of winning presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, attend a Lunar New Year celebration event in Jakarta, Feb. 11, 2024. [Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP] The Supreme Court acted swiftly in delivering its ruling three days, precisely. A small outfit, the Garuda Party filed a petition on April 23 that said the rules should be changed so gubernatorial and deputy governor candidates need to be 30 years old upon their inauguration rather than their nomination, which was distributed to the judges on May 27. Garuda Secretary General Yohanna Murtika said the party chairmans petition was intended to open up opportunities for young people in the regional elections, and was not filed to facilitate Kaesang contesting. Dont let young people be limited by age. This lawsuit applies to anyone who has aspirations to serve the nation and state, he said, according to a report by Media Indonesia. The court revised the minimum-age limit at nomination for several other local government positions as well. Last year, the Constitutional Court revised the minimum age for presidential and vice presidential candidates from 40 to any age, for those who have served as regional heads. Jokowis eldest son, Gibran, was back then and still is mayor of Solo (Surakarta), pending his inauguration as vice president on Oct. 20. The courts chief justice, Anwar Usman, who is married to Jokowis sister, ruled on this petition. He was dismissed from his post in November for ethical violations linked to the ruling. Jokowi, who was traveling in South Sumatra, refused to comment on the Supreme Court decision, saying it would be better for journalists to ask the top court directly. The popular presidents tacit support for Prabowo played a large role in the latters victory in the February presidential election. And Jokowis son Kaesang, it is speculated, will run under the banner of Prabowos Gerindra Party in Novembers election. Talk is that he will run for Jakarta deputy governor with Budisatrio Djiwandono, a nephew of the president-elect, running for governor of the nations capital. Kaesang Pangarep (right) and Budisatrio Djiwandono, a nephew of President-elect Prabowo Subianto, are referred to as candidates for Jakarta vice governor and governor, respectively, on a mock poster uploaded on an Instagram account by Sufmi Dasco, a Gerindra Party politician, May 29, 2024. [Via Instagram/sufmi_dasco] This week a Gerindra politician Sufmi Dasco Ahmad created a stir when he uploaded a fake election poster featuring Budisatrio and Kaesang, which referred to them as Jakarta governor and deputy governor candidates, respectively. The poster is an expression of peoples wish, said Habiburokhman, Gerindra deputy chairman, adding that he had heard from many Jakarta residents that they wanted the duo to run for election in the capital. Critics saw Jokowis move to back Prabowo his two-time adversary in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections as an attempt to maintain political influence and ensure his policies continue after he exits office due to term limits. The February elections were the worst since the countrys democratic transition, said two watchdog groups, Indonesia Corruption Watch and KontraS, as they accused Jokowi of meddling and showing favoritism toward the ticket featuring his son Gibran. An uncivilized democracy The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) criticized the Supreme Courts ruling. A circumvention of the law, was how PDI-P member Chico Hakim characterized the courts decision. This is a form of avoiding the law and is the highest form of betrayal of the ideals of reform, he told BenarNews in a statement. Meanwhile, one political science academic said he was struck by how swiftly the Supreme Court ruled on the case, when there was no urgent need to do so. Moreover, it was preceded by posters that appeared on social media. It seems there are prerequisites and agenda settings, Cecep Hidayat, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia, told BenarNews. Such a court ruling would only strengthen dynastic politics, said Yoes Kenawas of Atma Jaya University Jakarta. And political elites such as people from such dynasties will destroy Indonesias fragile democracy, according to Siti Zuhro of the National Research and Innovation Agency. [Decisions like] these are the characteristics of an uncivilized democracy, proving that the factors inhibiting our democracy are actually the elites, Siti told BenarNews. Pizaro Gozali Idrus in Jakarta contributed to this report. Correction: An earlier version incorrectly reported the date a petition was filed in the Indonesian Supreme Court. The implementation of a China Plus One strategy has caused a surge of interest in Malaysia and Southeast Asia recently. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (center) talks with Alphabet Inc. President and Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat (second from left), in New York, September 2023. Google will invest U.S. $2 billion (RM 9.4 billion) to build its first data center in Malaysia, the government and big-tech giant said Thursday, after Microsoft announced a similar spending plan earlier this month. Google is the latest among Silicon Valley firms expanding in Southeast Asia to cater to growing demand and counter Chinas outsized influence in the region. The companys investment, including in a Google Cloud region, is expected to create thousands of jobs in Malaysia by 2030. It comes on the heels of the Malaysian government allocating $5.3 billion (RM 24.9 billion) to make the country a global semiconductor hub. This [Googles] investment is expected to have a twofold impact on Malaysias economy, of around $3.2 billion and the creation of as many as 26,500 jobs by 2030, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in a statement after the announcement, adding that job opportunities would be created in the healthcare, education and finance sectors. It is evidence of the governments clear planning, alongside the nations economic strength and resources, which attract both existing and new investors, Anwar added. Included in Googles investment is AI (Artificial Intelligence) literacy programs for Malaysian students and employees. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right) attends a video conference with business leaders including Ruth Porat, Alphabet Inc.'s president and chief financial officer (left on screen), in Putrajaya, Malaysia, May 30, 2024. [Malaysian Prime Ministers Office via AP] The prime minister said he had cited the importance of the teaching component in his interactions with Google. In a virtual meeting with Googles senior management May 6, I stressed that in addition to supporting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in general, strategic collaboration needs to be concentrated in the fields of education, health and agriculture, he said. This is important to ensure Malaysia can make use of the latest technologys ongoing skills and approach. In November, Malaysia and Google signed a memorandum of understanding to create growth opportunities for Malaysians and local companies using AI and cloud technologies. Google said the upcoming data center and cloud region is its largest planned investment in Malaysia. This investment builds on our partnership with the Government of Malaysia to advance its Cloud First Policy, Ruth Porat, chief financial officer of Googles parent company Alphabet, said in a statement Thursday. The data center will support digital services like Search, Maps, and Workspace, and the Malaysia cloud region will join 40 regions and 121 zones currently in operation around the world. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right) poses for a photo with Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella in Putrajaya, Malaysia, May 2, 2024. [Albarra Azfar/Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia via AP] On May 2, Microsoft said it would invest $2.2 billion (RM10.3 billion) in Malaysia to take advantage of the rising regional demand for Cloud and AI. The company also announced investments in Indonesia and Thailand this year. There has been a surge of interest in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia in recent months. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Satya Nadella, and Tesla founder Elon Musk recently visited countries in the region, including Malaysia. After announcing the Google deal on Thursday, Anwar posted photos on social media of his meeting in Putrajaya with Richard Smith, president and CEO of FedEx. The Malaysian PM said FedEx had informed him of their business expansion plans, especially at their facilities in several airports in the country. He didnt provide details. And on June 22, Apple will open its first retail store in Kuala Lumpur. Southeast Asia is becoming the beneficiary of technology firms China Plus One strategy, where companies complement production in China with investment in other countries. Malaysia is among the nations where the semiconductor sector is getting a boost. Widening FDI sources Investments like those of Google and Microsoft signal increased U.S.-China competition in Southeast Asia, analysts said. In Malaysia in late 2023, the top five sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) were led by the Netherlands, followed by Singapore, the U.S., the Peoples Republic of China, and Japan, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority. China recently fell behind in FDI in Malaysia although Beijing remains Kuala Lumpurs top trading partner, said Geoffrey Williams, an economist with the Malaysia University of Science and Technology. The large investments from the U.S. in high-value technology areas is clearly positive. It reflects a widening of the sources of FDI which reduces the risk and dependence on one dominant source, he said. Malaysia has consistently said it wishes to remain friendly with both superpowers and neutral in its economic relationship. Foreign affairs analyst Collins Chong Yew Keat said top U.S. firms investing in Malaysia signal strategic hedging and an eye on future changes in power dynamics in the region. Chinas demographic outlook and long term prospects have also forced top firms to look elsewhere, Collins from University Malaya, told BenarNews, referring to the countrys declining population and slowing growth. For this to succeed, its crucial to establish and maintain a strong regional base, which will help in resisting Chinese influence and ensuring the continuity of economic and trade partnerships in the region. Interview: China-Arab States Cooperation Forum reflects common desire to build "strong relations," says Arab League chief Xinhua) 11:24, May 30, 2024 Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit attends the press conference after the conclusion of the 33rd Arab League Summit held in Manama, Bahrain, May 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou) "China is a developing economic power and has a great ability to innovate, provide advanced technology, and present many inspirations to the Arab world, which deserves our great attention," said Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul-Gheit. CAIRO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Secretary-General of the League of Arab States (AL) Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum reflects a common desire to build "strong relations," stressing that the relationship between the two sides is growing stronger. "The forum has linked China and the Arab countries with a steady relationship through regular meetings. The forum is held every two years at the level of foreign ministers, and once a year at the level of deputy ministers and senior officials," Aboul-Gheit told Xinhua in a recent interview. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and the 10th ministerial meeting of the forum is taking place in Beijing. He noted that China has invited a number of leaders of Arab countries to participate in this conference, which "enhances the relationship between the two sides." "I attended the forum in 2020 in Beijing, where all the Arab foreign ministers were at the meeting. The discussions between the two sides were intense and warm, reflecting a common desire to build a strong relationship," Aboul-Gheit said. The Arab League chief noted that the forum is a multifaceted boost to China-Arab relations, ranging from deepening political and economic cooperation to promoting cultural exchanges. He also pointed out that the forum has led to more dialogue initiatives on promoting practical cooperation between China and the Arab countries, such as the first China-Arab States Summit successfully held in Riyadh in December 2022. Aboul-Gheit said China is willing to strengthen relations with the Arab countries, and the latter need to be more open to China. "China is a developing economic power and has a great ability to innovate, provide advanced technology, and present many inspirations to the Arab world, which deserves our great attention," he added. The AL chief highlighted the importance of periodic follow-ups on implementing these plans to ensure that cooperation progresses. "The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum has an executive program that follows up on all decisions and declarations and seeks to implement them as much as possible," he said. Regarding the future development prospects of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, Aboul-Gheit said that the most important thing for both sides is to commit to implementing what is agreed upon. In November 2023, China and Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly promoting the construction of the Belt and Road. With this, China has signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements with all 22 Arab nations. "All Arab countries are members of the Belt and Road Initiative, and it plays an important role in enhancing Arab-China cooperation," the AL chief noted. Speaking about joint efforts to build an Arab-China community with a shared future in the new era, Aboul-Gheit said that "there is a sense of well-grounded mutual trust, and the two sides are bound by win-win cooperation aiming at common interests." He praised the existence of 19 working mechanisms within the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, stressing that these mechanisms are the results of hard work. "This means that there are 19 sectors in which work is being done to enhance cooperation, such as the sectors of culture, women's rights, trade, production, ports, etc. These are extremely important areas which require a lot of endeavor, innovation, and cooperation between experts on both sides and the commitment to the implementation of these mechanisms," the AL chief said. To promote people-to-people exchanges, he stressed the importance of translating books into Chinese and Arabic, and hosting cultural activities to foster dynamic cultural relations. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. The question, posed during a deposition on Sept. 8, 2022, was straightforward: Where do you believe there was asbestos in the GE plant? Honestly, everywhere, answered Nicholas Barone, a Connecticut man who had worked for two years at General Electric in Pittsfield. It came in bulk in boxcars. It was manually unloaded, Barone said under oath. Guys used to screw around having snowball fights with it. Theyd unload it into like, I guess, hoppers, and it was used in most formulations that were going to be in a hot application. But the talc that also went into the mix for the phenolic resin compound Barone was helping GE produce also contained asbestos. Barone and his estate sued the successor owners of the company that sold the talc to GE, claiming it caused the cancer that took Barone's life before the case went to trial. On May 16, a jury seated in Bridgeport, Conn., found that Vanderbilt Minerals LLC, a successor to International Talc, was at fault for Barones exposure. His estate was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million for lack of consortium. The jury also ruled Vanderbilt Minerals is liable for punitive damages, to be determined later. Between 1965 and 1967, Barone worked at GE in Pittsfield in its phenolic resin compounding facility, in the 30s complex along Silver Lake Boulevard. The material, one of the earliest forms of plastic (also known by the trademark Bakelite), was valuable to the electronics industry, given its fire resistance thanks to the asbestos in the mix. Barone of Milford, Conn., who died June 14, 2023, sued Vanderbilt Minerals LLC and numerous other companies in Connecticut Superior Court, claiming they contributed to his exposure, and to the mesothelioma that killed him. He left GE for Olin Corp. in 1967, and worked for that firm through 2000. Barone was diagnosed with mesothelioma a form of lung cancer linked to asbestos exposure in 2022. Barones attorney, Brian P. Kenney, argued the talc sold to GE was contaminated with asbestos, and that Vanderbilt Minerals knew that when it purchased International Talc in 1974. Part of the deposition was included as an exhibit in GEs motion for summary judgment in the civil suit. Barone testified that he was hired at GE as a plant engineer in June 1965, following his graduation from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He said he was on the floor almost every day from the compounding area to the resin producing area checking on the process and the equipment. Talc proved essential in the process, he said, because it was the thing that kind of made it flow better in the actual formulation of the product down the line. Barone testified he would be next to workers adding talc to the process "sometimes right up on the platform, with him." Asked if he ever saw the operator handling talc wear a dust mask or respirator, Barone answered "no." "And you yourself, you didn't wear a dust mask as they were doing it; is that correct?" he was asked. "That's correct," Barone replied. "I mean, that building was full of machines and dust and [carbon] black for the whole length of it," he added. When asbestos arrived at the plant, Barone said, I remember it all coming in bulk. I never saw asbestos bags. Talc, yes. Asbestos came in bulk and was stored, and then they would throw off what they needed for their mix, dump it into the mixing area. In the deposition, Barone said he worked in Building 36C. On a map of the campus contained in an online version of Thomas Blalocks history of GE Power Transformer, 36C appears as a small annex adjacent to Building 36, just before Silver Lake Boulevard curves westward to follow Silver Lakes shoreline. Those buildings were demolished and handed over to the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority as part of the 2000 consent decree in which GE agreed to remove PCBs from the site and the Housatonic River. GE, in its motion for summary judgement, did not dispute that asbestos was present. But it said under Connecticut law, "employee's workers compensation is an injured employees exclusive remedy," thereby protecting the company from Barone's claim. The lawsuit removed GE as a defendant on Nov. 13, 2023. PITTSFIELD The three boilers that have kept students and teachers warm under the dome of Pittsfield High School since it opened in 1931 are being replaced. I definitely cannot run them any further, said Brian Filiault, Pittsfields director of building maintenance. Theyre done. Theyve done their tour. A unanimous City Council vote on Tuesday authorized borrowing $3 million to replace the boilers before school starts in August. The project's total cost is about $6 million. Its no small undertaking. Filiault told the council that the school building was constructed around the boilers, which were converted locomotive engines from 1930. Replacing them requires removing pipes and rebuilding the system with new boilers. The boilers have been heating the building with declining success in recent years. In October 2022, Pittsfield High told students to bundle up when the boilers went offline for repairs. Another emergency rebuild in February resuscitated one of the boilers, but Filiault said tuneups wont take the boilers any further. The No. 2 boiler is completely disabled and it "just doesn't run," Filiault told the council. Boiler No. 1 runs "semi-right," while No. 3 underwent an emergency rebuild in February to get it through winter. Finance Director Matt Kerwood warned the council that the city would need to close the high school if the boilers failed for good this winter. Councilors voted borrowing up to $3 million to cover the final costs of the project to replace the boilers. City officials had hoped to fund the project, which has been years in the making, with $4 million from the citys American Rescue Plan funds. City leaders touted the project as one of the shining examples of infrastructure works that would become possible through the coronavirus relief money, though now it appears the project has outgrown the financing abilities of that windfall. The city set aside $4 million in ARPA funds for the hiring of an architect, design company to design the replacement and a heating and plumbing company to see the plan through. Records from the citys ARPA reports show that just over $2.9 million has been spent on the architect and design portions of the project. The replacement portion of the project was put out to bid in early April with an estimated cost for the project of about $1 million. The lowest bid the city received, from Adams Plumbing and Heating, came in at $2.48 million. Kerwood wrote in his letter to city councilors that given the price of the low bid received and to provide for an appropriate contingency, ARPA funding is no longer a viable pathway for the project. Railroad Street in Great Barrington. Migrant families staying at hotels in town, as well as in Pittsfield have found themselves with one month left to find alternate housing. The hotel contracts run out at the end of June, and the National Guard will no longer be providing services. Start the day with the latest headlines Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter CHESHIRE Due to a cash infusion from the state, Hoosac Valley Regional School District will be able to offer universal pre-K for students in the upcoming year. Gov. Maura Healeys office announced Tuesday that the district will receive $328,000 as part of Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative grants. For the first time, our district will have enough slots for all age 4 students in Adams and Cheshire, Superintendent Aaron Dean said. All families will have access to free, quality preschool. Dean said that grant money from the state both last year and this year, which the district had to apply for, has helped it to expand its offerings. Last year we got the initial grant, and we added one full-day prep program to our elementary school, then we sponsored the two offsites one in Adams and one in Cheshire to kind of align our pre-K, Dean said. This year we added two more full-day classrooms to the elementary school, which will allow all students age 4 to access pre-K now. The CPPI grants establish a districtwide preschool program across classes in public and community-based early education and care programs, according to a Tuesday news release from the governors office. We know that the high cost of child care is holding back our families, our providers and our economy from their full potential, Healey said in the release. Thats why we have been focused on expanding access to affordable, high-quality preschool, creating new seats for children in Gateway Cities and rural communities across the state. The districts preschool program serves 3- and 4-year-old children from Adams/Cheshire at Hoosac Valley Elementary. Dean said there are currently 45 to 60 slots at school, and 15 to 20 slots at the Youth Center in Cheshire and at Magic Seasons in Adams, two locations the district was able to add as a result of previous CPPI money. In January, The Eagle reported that HVRSD was set to receive $672,000 through a separate CPPI grant. The application for the HVRSD preschool program says that there will be a lottery for placement on June 28. After this date, your child will be placed on the waiting list, the application reads. Those selected for a slot will be notified by July 5, 2024. This round of CPPI money totals $1.7 million to be split between HVRSD, Gloucester, Haverhill, Holyoke, New Bedford, Westfield, Chicopee Public Schools and Taunton Public Schools. Dean said the district has also accessed Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts funding, to align all our curriculum and programming between five classrooms. Were arming these kids with pre-reading skills and early school experience, Dean said, so when they come to kindergarten, theyll be stronger students. Seth Professor McSeth Brown has been denied teaching positions at some of the nations most prestigious colleges and universities. His website is RisingPun.com . BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code A Derry man who was jailed for conspiring to illegally traffic migrants into the UK is wanted in the North for the alleged attempted murder of his ex-partner, the High Court has heard. Stephen Andrew McLaughlin (44) was sentenced to nine years imprisonment in 2016 for conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK in August 2014, in a scheme that was discovered after an Afghan man died of a heart attack in a lorry container. Authorities in the UK are seeking his extradition for breaching the terms of his licence after his release from prison. Advertisement McLaughlin, of Rose Park, Limavady, County Derry, had denied the conspiracy charge but was convicted by a jury and jailed at Basildon Crown Court on June 30th, 2015. The court heard that in 2014, Afghan national Meet Singh Kapoor died from a heart attack while travelling from Belgium with 34 others, including his family. UK Border Force officials found 35 Afghan women, men and children in a container at Tilbury Docks in August 2014. The container had arrived in Tilbury with 10 men, 10 women and 15 children on board from Zeebrugge port. Advertisement McLaughlin, the court heard, supplied the lorry, his yard and allowed his shipping account to be used for the container's journeys. The court also heard that another container on a lorry had been discovered at the Europort in France, earlier in August 2014, that was due to depart to the UK with 12 Afghan nationals on board before it, too, was intercepted. At the High Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath was told by Jane Murphy BL, for the State, that McLaughlins licence was revoked for not complying with probation services and a warrant for his arrest was issued by Southend Magistrates Court in February 2024. McLaughlin has a balance of 341 days to serve, she said. Ms Murphy said that in January another warrant for McLaughlin was issued by Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast for seven alleged offences, one of which is attempted murder. Advertisement Authorities in the North are also seeking to charge McLaughlin with threat to kill, criminal damage, two charges of dangerous driving and two counts of assault. The maximum sentence for attempted murder in the UK is life imprisonment. The warrant alleges that on September 19th 2022, at Ness Woods Country Park in County Derry, McLaughlin rammed the car of his former partner before placing her in a choke hold, turning her face purple and causing her eyes to roll back in her head. The warrant alleges that McLaughlin threatened to kill the woman and then placed her in a sitting position against her car before reversing back his own car and again ramming her car. Advertisement The warrant further alleges that McLaughlin also assaulted a female friend of his ex-partner. David Perry BL, for McLaughlin, said the state had not established a corresponding Irish law to match "the conspiracy to breach immigration law" from the UK. The identification of a corresponding offence in Irish law is required in order to grant extradition. Separately, Mr Perry said that an expert lawyer in the North, consulted by the respondent, said that McLaughlin would not, in practice, receive credit there for the time he had already served in custody in the Republic. Under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, someone is entitled to credit for time served in this process. Expert evidence says that will not happen, which would be in breach of the agreement. Surrender then, should not be ordered. Advertisement The Minister says the sentence is ticking down while proceedings are ongoing here, but expert evidence says the contrary, said Mr Perry. Regarding correspondence, Ms Murphy, for the State, said that there was nothing in Irish law to say that a conspiracy charge applied "only to incomplete offences. Ms Murphy said conspiracy charges can be used to reflect the overall interactions and responsibilities in a criminal group and that there had in fact been a breach of immigration law. Regarding the issue of whether or not McLaughlin would be given credit for time served in the Republic, Ms Murphy said the Southend warrant stated that McLaughlins licence expires on January 17th, 2025, after which no additional time can be served. There will be no additional time, as the calculated date as it stands on the warrant, is 341 days from the date of its issue and credit will be given, said Mr Murphy. Mr Justice MacGrath adjourned the matter to June 14th for judgment. A brother of deceased gangster, Cyril "Dublin Jimmy" McGuinness, has failed in a High Court action claiming his business premises was unlawfully searched by gardai. Truck dealer Fran McGuinness (62), originally from Pinnock Hill, Swords, Co Dublin, and currently living on the Dublin Road, Newry, Co Down, claimed he was the victim of garda harassment over several years simply because of his brother. Advertisement Cyril 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. Cyril died of a cardiac arrest shortly after he collapsed during a police search of his Derbyshire, England, home in 2019. Fran McGuinness sued the Garda Commissioner and the State over a search of his truck business premises next door to the former family home at Pinnock Hill in Swords on August 23rd, 2014. He claimed the gardai wrongly associated him with the Quinn attacks and that information used to swear the warrant for the search was untrue. He also claimed 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. Advertisement They also took envelopes containing 2,000 sterling and 1,800 which were commission payments for other traders which he later had to make up for, he said. The defendants denied the claims, said the search was lawful, that there were no envelopes containing money and that copies of other documents seized were returned to him. Gardai carried out the search of the Pinnock Hill yard after it was established that a jeep used in one of the Quinn attacks had been seen in the yard at a specific time and date, the court heard. In a judgment on Thursday, Mr Justice David Nolan dismissed his case. Advertisement The judge said that in the circumstances following the Quinn attacks, it was "perfectly right and proper that, based upon credible information which was seen by a High Court Judge, that the steps taken by the Gardai should be as they were." He ruled Mr McGuinness had not discharged the burden of proof placed upon him that the search was unlawful or was carried out in a heavy-handed, oppressive manner so as to constitute harassment. He did not regard the cutting of the two gates as being excessive given that time was limited and that officers did not know what was behind the gates. "Given the size of the yard, it seems to me that the number of Gardai who were employed cannot be criticised", he said. Advertisement He found as a fact that the defendants did not take any envelopes containing cash or a cheque book. He also said no authority was opened to him which suggested that in any way that there was an obligation on the defendants to prove the warrant in a civil case. The failure of the gardai to produce the original warrant did not make the warrant in any way invalid, he said. He found as a fact that the garda sergeant who applied for the warrant did what he said he did and that the warrant was executed in a lawful manner. New research, published by the ESRI shows families living in poorer quality housing have lower social and emotional wellbeing. Using data on the families of children born in 2008 from the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) study, the findings show mothers living in inadequate housing and poorer quality neighbourhoods report more depression, find parenting more stressful, and report greater conflict and less closeness with their children. Advertisement The children of these mothers, in turn, face greater social and emotional difficulties at age nine. Inadequate housing includes damp conditions, lack of heating and accommodation being too small, and poorer quality neighbourhoods refer to areas with more disorder and less social support. Income is a crucial driver of housing and neighbourhood quality. They said low-income families are more likely to live in unsuitable homes (such as damp or cramped conditions), to struggle to heat their homes and to reside in areas characterised by greater disorder and lower levels of social capital (bonds and support among neighbours). Advertisement Long-term access to resources also plays an important role, with those excluded from the labour market (lone-parent families and parents with a disability) experiencing poorer quality housing. Families of children with disabilities are more likely to be in homes that are unsuitable and neighbourhoods with more disorder and less social support. Some migrant-origin families, especially of African or Asian origin, are more likely to experience inadequate housing, even taking account of their income levels. Problems of housing quality, or having to frequently move home, are more common among those living in the privately rented and socially rented sectors (social housing). Advertisement Families who have experienced adverse life events, such as mental health problems, addiction and contact with the criminal justice system, are more likely to be living in inadequate housing and more disorderly neighbourhoods. Living in homes where families struggle to heat is strongly linked to mothers wellbeing. Poor quality relationships They report more depressive symptoms, more conflict and less closeness with their child. They have a more hostile parenting style, find parenting more stressful, and report poorer quality relationships with their partner. Mothers in poorer quality housing, such as overcrowded or damp conditions, also find parenting more stressful, report lower quality relationships with their partner, and have more depressive symptoms. Advertisement Mothers who spend more time in privately rented homes (compared to an owned home) have more depressive symptoms, find parenting more stressful, and have a more hostile parenting style. Neighbourhood quality is strongly linked to mothers wellbeing. Mothers who spend longer living in more disorderly neighbourhoods and areas with less cohesion among neighbours have more depressive symptoms, a less warm and more hostile parenting style; they find parenting more stressful, and they report more conflict and less closeness with their child. Children who spend more time growing up in worse housing conditions and poorer quality neighbourhoods face greater social and emotional difficulties at age nine than their peers. Advertisement Children in homes that families struggle to keep warm or in more disorderly neighbourhoods appear to face socio-emotional difficulties because of their mothers greater stress, depression and parenting style. The research highlights the importance of addressing housing and neighbourhood quality in promoting family and child wellbeing. The proportion of families found struggling to heat their homes suggests the need for supports for upgrading (retrofitting) as well as additional targeted financial assistance to low-income families. They said it also highlights the importance of putting in place supports for parents, including those with school-aged children, embedded in both schools and communities. Lower-income families are less likely to feel their local neighbourhoods are safe and supportive, pointing to the need for measures to support community development and to enhance local social capital in disadvantaged areas. Professor Philip Nolan is expected to seek a High Court injunction later on Thursday seeking to restrain his dismissal. Prof Nolan was notified on Monday night that he was being dismissed from his job as director general of the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), his barrister Padraic Lyons SC told the court Thursday morning. Advertisement Mr Lyons was speaking as he made an urgent application to Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy to hear Prof Nolan's application for an injunction restraining his dismissal. The papers in the case would be ready by lunchtime, the court heard. The judge said if he got the papers by then, he would hear the case at 2pm. In a statement on Tuesday, SFI said Prof Nolan is no longer director general of the organisation and a new acting head had been appointed on Monday. SFI is a State-funded research agency which provides grants for researchers from around the world who wish to relocate to Ireland. Gavin Robinson has pledged to continue to fight against an Irish Sea border after being ratified as DUP leader. Mr Robinson has been the partys interim leader since early April following Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons resignation after being charged with historical sex offences. Advertisement Mr Robinson was unanimously ratified as the partys leader at a meeting of its ruling executive on Wednesday. Advertisement It is with honour, humility and commitment that I look forward to leading our party into the future, he said. In an address to party members in Lisburn, he defended his partys decision to return to powersharing in Northern Ireland and pledged to continue our quest in relation to the protocol. It wrecked the settled political balance within Northern Ireland and led directly to a loss of unionist confidence, he said. The DUP ended its two-year boycott of devolved government in Northern Ireland in February after striking a deal with the UK government on post-Brexit arrangements. Advertisement Mr Donaldson made the decision to return his party to Stormont based on a package of proposals aimed at reducing red tape on Irish Sea trade and providing assurances over Northern Irelands place in the union. However, a significant minority of DUP elected representatives remain opposed to the deal, insisting it does not go far enough to remove the contentious 'Irish Sea border'. Gavin Robinson was ratified as the partys new leader (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) Advertisement While outlining his partys election message, Mr Robinson criticised the Tories for inflicting what he said was some of the greatest harm on Northern Ireland. He said that the decision to return to Stormont was made in the interests of seeing local decisions being made for people which would not have been taken by direct rule Conservative ministers. He said that while the Command Paper did not remedy a number of the long-term problems born out of the protocol, it did contain important gains. Our clear message going forward is that we are campaigning to send a strong message to a new government, whether Labour or Conservative, that building on the progress to date, we will continue to fight to fully restore Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom, including removing the application of EU law in our country and the internal Irish Sea border it creates, the DUP leader said, which was met with applause. Advertisement He also said that illegal immigration had become an emerging and growing issue in Northern Ireland, and pledged to act on this through legislation at Westminster. Mr Robinson also confirmed the partys candidates for the upcoming UK General Election at the meeting, calling them a strong, united and determined team that have a determination to fight for every vote. They are Gregory Campbell in East Derry, Sammy Wilson in East Antrim, Jim Shannon in Strangford, Ian Paisley in North Antrim, Gavin Robinson in East Belfast, Paul Girvan in South Antrim, Carla Lockhart in Upper Bann, Jonathan Buckley in Lagan Valley, Phillip Brett in North Belfast, Tracy Kelly in South Belfast and Mid Down, Frank McCoubrey in West Belfast, Gary Middleton in Foyle, Tom Buchanan in West Tyrone, Keith Buchanan in Mid-Ulster, Diane Forsyth in South Down, and Gareth Wilson in Newry and Armagh. Accommodation for asylum seekers, pensions, and Roy Keane's evidence in court are some of the stories on the front pages on Thursday. The Irish Times reports on another joint-operation to clear tents from the area of the Grand Canal in Dublin. Advertisement The Irish Examiner leads with comments from Ireland's Chief Rabbi, who has sought a meeting with President Michael D Higgins over remarks he made over the weekend on antisemitism. The Echo focusses on the announcement of plans to significantly increase hospital bed capacity, reporting warnings from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) that the additional beds will require recruitment. Advertisement The Irish Independent reads: 'Towns now identified for new migrant camps outside Dublin', while the Irish Daily Mail reports "women have to work eight years more than men" to build up the same pension pot. Finally, both the Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star lead with images of Roy Keane, who gave evidence at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Wednesday in the case of a man accused of headbutting the former Manchester United star following a game at the Emirates Stadium in London last September. Advertisement In Britain, the future of veteran politician Diane Abbott in the Labour Party features among a variety of stories on the front pages. The Daily Telegraph and the i lead with Ms Abbott, who said she will not be intimidated by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer as she vows to run again at the UK General Election. Advertisement The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: 'Abbott: 'I will not be intimidated by Starmer''#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/824aapmK4e The Telegraph (@Telegraph) May 29, 2024 Advertisement i: Abbott dares Starmer -try to stop me #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/YkPKVcEqqC George Mann (@sgfmann) May 29, 2024 The Daily Express reports on a win for UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt after Labour backed down on tax rises. Thursday's Front Page You've buckled! Hunt's win as Labour back down on tax rises#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/KIqTTZK9Xg Daily Express (@Daily_Express) May 29, 2024 The Independent says if Labour wins the General Election, nearly half of its winning margin will come from people who agree with the Tories but are backing Mr Starmer. The Metro leads with UK health secretary Victoria Atkins calling a five-day junior doctor strike, planned just before the UK goes to the polls on July 4th, a highly cynical tactic. Tomorrow's Paper Today 'CYNICAL' ELECTION DOC STRIKE Walkout before Britain goes to polls#tomorrowspapertoday pic.twitter.com/9aiJei5Ik2 Metro (@MetroUK) May 29, 2024 Europe only has a tiny fraction of air power to defend Natos eastern flank, according to the Financial Times. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Thursday 30 May https://t.co/V27vraDTQi pic.twitter.com/l783Htv8YD Financial Times (@FT) May 29, 2024 The Daily Mail focuses on the Crowns case against Lord Lucan, who went missing after the death of his familys nanny in 1974. Daily Mail: Revealed: The Crowns case against Lord Lucan pic.twitter.com/vvrZbzbQyp George Mann (@sgfmann) May 29, 2024 The Daily Mirror focuses on the trial of teacher Fiona Beal for the murder of her former partner, Nicholas Bellingham. Thursday's front page: Teacher drank with victim's mother after brutally murdering him#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/QRB006pO5o pic.twitter.com/sZY6HrDpHr The Mirror (@DailyMirror) May 29, 2024 And the Daily Star says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent balloons into South Korea to drop suspected animal waste and rubbish. Two soldiers have been killed in a car-ramming attack in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military said on Thursday. Officials said they received a report late on Wednesday about the incident near the Palestinian city of Nablus. They said the attacker fled the scene and that soldiers had launched a search for him. Advertisement On Thursday, the military said top officials are carrying out an inquiry into the attack. Israeli Army Radio reported that the attacker had turned himself in to Palestinian security forces, but that could not immediately be confirmed. Israeli soldiers work on a tank near the Israeli-Gaza border (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) Advertisement The Israeli military also said on Thursday that it is reviewing an incident which killed two workers with the Palestinian Red Crescent in the Gaza city of Rafah. The Gaza Health Ministry said the two medics were killed on Wednesday when the ambulance they were travelling in to evacuate casualties came under Israeli fire. The Israeli military said a suspicious vehicle approached soldiers, posing a threat to the forces. A tank then fired at the vehicle, the military said in a statement, but did not specify whether the vehicle was an ambulance. Violence in the West Bank has surged throughout the war in Gaza. Advertisement Israel has been carrying out raids into Palestinian cities and towns in the territory to crack down on militancy and the incursions have led to the deaths of more than 500 Palestinians. Most of those killed have been in clashes with the military, but people throwing stones as well as others not involved in the confrontations have also been killed. Palestinian attacks against Israelis have also been on the increase in the territory. Advertisement Palestinians flee the southern Gaza city of Rafah during an Israeli ground and air offensive on Tuesday (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians in the border city of Rafah reported heavy fighting on Wednesday, and Israels military said it seized control of the entire length of Gazas border with Egypt. Fighting in Rafah has already spurred more than a million Palestinians to flee, most of whom had already been displaced in the war between Israel and Hamas. They now seek refuge in makeshift tent camps and other war-ravaged areas, where they lack shelter, food, water and other essentials for survival, the United Nations says. Advertisement Chinese President Xi Jinping promised more humanitarian aid for people in Gaza as he opened a summit with leaders of Arab states in Beijing on Thursday. Meanwhile, Cyprus has shipped more than 4,000 pallets of humanitarian aid to Gaza via the US-built pier and causeway off the Palestinian territory, a government spokesman said on Thursday. Konstantinos Letymbiotis said some 14,000 pallets of aid have been collected in the east Mediterranean island nation for eventual shipment to Gaza as part of the maritime aid corridor initiative. Of the 4,134 pallets that have already reached Gaza, approximately half have been picked up by humanitarian aid groups for distribution to civilians in need. The other half has been offloaded and stored. A satellite image of the remaining section of the temporary pier off Gaza (Maxar Technologies/AP) The aid includes food, hygiene items, shelters and pharmaceuticals. Donor countries include the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy and Romania. Other donors include the European Unions Civil Protection Mechanism and the UNs World Food Programme and the International Organisation for Migration. The Cypriot official said the initiative that started on May 9 is continuing, with ships still departing with loads of aid, despite the recent damage to part of the US-built pier that suspended operations. The pier is expected to come back on line by the middle of next week. Israeli bombardments and ground offensives in Gaza have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamass October 7th attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people mostly civilians and abducted about 250. Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 others. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has attacked Russian attempts to sow discord in democracies with misinformation after hinting that the Biden administration may soon allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia. In Prague for a Nato foreign ministers meeting, Mr Blinken hit out at Moscows use of misinformation and disinformation, calling it a poison, and signing an agreement with the Czech government to combat it. Advertisement He also toured a Czech military base, where he saw armoured vehicles that Prague is sending to Kyiv to help fight Russias invasion, and received a briefing on a Czech initiative to supply Ukraine with a million rounds of ammunition by the end of the year. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova attend a Czech Defence Capabilities Event at Prague-Kbely Airport in Prague (Petr David Josek/Pool/AP) We know that a major front in the competition that we have, the adversarial relationship that we have, notably with Russia, is on the information front, he said. Advertisement Mr Blinken said the agreement with the Czechs the 17th such accord the US has signed with partner nations will help to effectively deal with misinformation and disinformation, which is a poison being injected into our democracies by our adversaries. The more were able to do together both between our countries but also with other countries, the more effective were going to be exposing it and dealing with it, he told reporters at a signing ceremony with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky. Mr Lipavsky agreed, noting that Czech authorities have recently exposed a major Russian-backed misinformation campaign. We are facing confrontation between democracies and autocracies, he said. The Kremlin has started targeting democracies all around the world with cyber warfare, propaganda and influence operations, and this danger simply cannot be underestimated any more. Advertisement US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky sign a joint memorandum at the Czernin Palace in Prague (Petr David Josek/Pool/AP) Russias invasion of Ukraine and support for Ukrainian attempts to repel it will be a major focus of the Nato foreign minister meetings on Thursday and Friday the alliances last major diplomatic gathering before a leaders summit in Washington in July to mark the 75th anniversary of its founding. On Wednesday in Moldova, Mr Blinken said US policy on how Ukraine deploys American weapons is constantly evolving, suggesting that Washington may rescind an unwritten prohibition on Ukraines use of them for attacks on Russian territory. Advertisement Although US officials insist there is no formal ban, they have long made clear that they believe the use of American weapons to attack targets inside Russia could provoke an escalatory response from Moscow, something that Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised. That position appears to be being reconsidered, and Mr Blinken noted that it is a hallmark of the Biden administrations stance on Ukraine to adapt and adjust as needed. The US Secretary of State visited Kyiv earlier this month and heard a direct appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to use American military assistance to strike positions in Russian from where attacks on Ukraine are launched. As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how its pursuing its aggression, escalation, weve adapted and adjusted too, and Im confident well continue to do that, Mr Blinken said at a news conference in Chisinau. Advertisement At every step along the way, weve adapted and adjusted as necessary, and so thats exactly what well do going forward, he said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Moldovan President Maia Sandu at the Presidential Palace in Chisinau (Vadim Ghirda/Pool/AP) Were always listening, were always learning, and were always making determinations about whats necessary to make sure that Ukraine can effectively continue to defend itself, and well continue to do that. Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron and Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said Western countries should not object if Ukraine needs to strike inside Russia to defend itself. Mr Stoltenberg reaffirmed that position on Thursday. I believe that time has come to (re)consider some of these restrictions to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves, he said. We need to remember what it is. This is a war of aggression launched by choice by Moscow against Ukraine. The right to self-defence, Mr Stoltenberg said, includes also striking legitimate military targets outside Ukraine. Andrew Tate, the divisive social media influencer awaiting trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking and rape, has lost an appeal to have the court relax geographical restrictions preventing him from travelling outside the eastern European country. The Bucharest Court of Appeal ruled against Tate, who had challenged a May 10 decision that extended by 60 days restrictions on the 37-year-old stipulating he may not leave the country. Advertisement Tate had requested that he be able to leave Romania, provided he stay within Europes ID-check-free Schengen zone, which Romania partially joined in March. Andrew Tate, right, shakes hands with his lawyer Eugen Vidineac, left, inside the Court of Appeals building in Bucharest, Romania (Andreea Alexandru/AP) Its not about wanting to leave the country, Eugen Vidineac, one of Tates lawyers, told reporters at the court. Advertisement One thing is to travel free and another is to leave the country. The right to travel is a constitutional right, it is a legal right, it is one of the fundamental rights. Tate, a former professional kickboxer and dual British-US citizen, was initially arrested in December 2022 near Bucharest, Romanias capital, along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women. Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four in June last year. They have denied the allegations. Advertisement After the brothers arrest, they were held for three months in police detention before being moved to house arrest. They were later restricted to the Bucharest municipality and nearby Ilfov county, but may now travel freely within Romania. Andrew Tate, who has amassed 9.3 million followers on the social media platform X, has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him. Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan talk to media after exiting the Court of Appeals building in Bucharest, Romania (Andreea Alexandru/AP) Advertisement He was previously banned from various prominent social media platforms for allegedly expressing misogynistic views and for alleged hate speech. On April 26, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled in favour of the prosecutors case against Tate, saying it met the legal criteria and that the trial could proceed. However, no date was set. Advertisement That ruling came after the legal case had been discussed for months in the preliminary chamber stages, a process in which the defendants can challenge prosecutors evidence and case file. In a separate case, Tate is also facing a civil lawsuit by four British women in the United Kingdom, after a claim issued by the High Court in London, according to a statement earlier this month by the law firm representing the four women. The four allege Tate sexually and physically assaulted them and had reported him to British authorities in 2014 and 2015. After a four-year investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service decided in 2019 not to prosecute him. The alleged victims then turned to crowdfunding to pursue a civil case against him. In a separate, third case, the Tate brothers also appeared in March at the Bucharest Court of Appeal after British authorities issued arrest warrants over allegations of sexual aggression in a UK case dating back to 2012-2015. The appeals court granted the British request to extradite the Tates to the UK, but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded. President Joe Biden has given Ukraine the go-ahead to use American weaponry to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, according to two US officials. The officials underscored that the US policy calling on Ukraine not to use American-provided long-range missiles and other munitions to strike inside Russia offensively has not changed. Advertisement The move comes as Ukrainian officials have stepped up calls on the US administration to allow its forces to defend itself against attacks originating from Russian territory. The city centre is covered with debris after a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine (Andrii Marienko/AP) Mr Bidens decision was first reported by Politico. Advertisement Ukrainian officials, most notably Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, have been increasingly vocal in making the case that the restriction was putting Ukrainian forces in an untenable situation as Russia has intensified attacks around the north-east Kharkiv region. The advances came with Russia exploiting a lengthy delay in replenishment of US military aid and as Western Europes inadequate military production has slowed crucial deliveries to the battlefield for Ukraine. But since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Mr Biden has been steadfast in his opposition to the Ukrainians using American-made weaponry offensively out of concern that the action could be seen as provocative and lead to Moscow widening the war. The decision comes as US secretary of state Antony Blinken on Thursday assailed Russian attempts to sow discord in democracies with misinformation after hinting the Biden administration may soon allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia. Advertisement With an increasing number of officials saying Ukraine must be able to defend itself by attacking targets in Russian territory, Mr Blinken joined Nato foreign ministers for a meeting in Prague, where he said Moscows use of misinformation and disinformation was a poison and signed an agreement with the Czech government to combat it. He also toured a Czech military base, where he saw armoured vehicles that Prague is sending to Kyiv to help fight Russias invasion and received a briefing on a Czech initiative to supply Ukraine with a million rounds of ammunition by the end of the year. US secretary of state Antony Blinken and Czech defence minister Jana Cernochova at a Czech Defence Capabilities Event at Prague-Kbely Airport in Prague (Petr David Josek, Pool/AP) Advertisement We know that a major front in the competition that we have, the adversarial relationship that we have, notably with Russia, is on the information front, Mr Blinken said. He said the agreement with the Czechs the 17th such accord the US has signed with partner nations would help to effectively deal with misinformation and disinformation, which is a poison being injected into our democracies by our adversaries. The more were able to do together both between our countries but also with other countries, the more effective were going to be exposing it and dealing with it, Mr Blinken told reporters at a signing ceremony with Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavsky. Mr Lipavsky agreed, noting that Czech authorities had recently exposed a major Russian-backed misinformation campaign. Advertisement We are facing confrontation between democracies and autocracies, he said. The Kremlin has started targeting targeting democracies all around the world with cyber warfare, propaganda and influence operations and this danger simply cannot be underestimated any more. US President Joe Biden will make his first state visit to France next week after attending D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy, French President Emmanuel Macrons office said on Thursday. Mr Macron will be hosting Mr Biden and his wife Jill on June 8, a statement said. Advertisement Both leaders will discuss the need for unwavering, long-term support for Ukraine at a time when war has returned to Europe, 80 years after the landings that led to the liberation of France and the Continent from Nazi Germanys occupation, Mr Macrons office said. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte made a state visit to the US in December 2022 (Neil Hall/PA) In Normandy next week, major commemorations will draw 25 heads of state and government, along with dozens of Second World War veterans, to honour the nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the United States, Canada and other nations who landed on June 6 1944. Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is among those expected to attend. Mr Bidens state visit will allow close co-ordination between France and the US on world crises ahead of international events including the summit of the Group of Seven major economies next month in Italy and the Nato summit in Washington in July. Discussions also will include climate-related issues and will focus on strengthening bilateral co-operation, particularly in the economic, space and nuclear fields, the statement said. Mr Macron and his wife Brigitte made a state visit to the US in December 2022. Early counts in South Africas national election put the long-ruling African National Congress on just over 42 per cent of the vote, raising the possibility that it might lose its majority for the first time since it swept to power under Nelson Mandela at the end of apartheid in 1994. With just over 16 per cent of votes counted and declared, it was only a partial picture after Wednesdays election. Advertisement The final results of a vote that could bring the biggest political shift in South Africas young democracy are expected to take days, with the independent electoral commission saying they will be delivered by Sunday. South Africans are set waiting with bated breath to see if their country, Africas most advanced economy, is about to see momentous change. Ballot boxes wait to be opened for the vote count at Craighall Park Elementary school in Johannesburg (Jerome Delay/AP) Advertisement The electoral commission was projecting a 70 per cent voter turnout, up from the 66 per cent in the last national election in 2019. The ANC won 57.5 per cent of the vote in that last poll, its worst performance to date. This election was seen as a direct referendum on the unbroken three-decade rule of the ANC, which freed South Africa from the oppressive, racist apartheid regime in the famous all-race vote of 1994, but has seen a steady decrease in its popularity over the last 20 years. This year could be the tipping point when most South Africans turn away from the ANC and deny it a majority for the first time. The results that have been declared are from fewer than 4,000 of the more than 23,000 polling stations across the nine provinces that make up South Africa and there is a long way to go in the counting process. Nearly 28 million people out of South Africas population of 62 million were registered to vote. Advertisement The burning question their votes will answer is if the ANCs dominance of South Africas post-apartheid democracy will come to an end. Several opinion polls had gauged the ANCs support at below 50 per cent ahead of the election, an unprecedented situation. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said after casting his vote that he is confident the ANC will get a firm majority (Jerome Delay/AP) South African president and ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa said after voting on Wednesday that he is still confident his party will get a firm majority, but it is faced with more opposition than ever. Advertisement That political opposition is spread across an array of other parties, however, and the ANC is still widely expected to be the biggest party and have the most seats in Parliament. But if its vote does drop below 50 per cent for the first time, it is likely to need a coalition to remain in government and an agreement with others to re-elect Mr Ramaphosa. That has never happened before. South Africans vote for parties and not directly for their president in national elections. Those parties then get seats in Parliament according to their share of the vote and politicians elect the president. The ANC has always had a clear parliamentary majority since 1994 and so the president has always been from the ANC. Advertisement Former South African president Jacob Zumas new MK Party had the fourth-biggest share of the early count (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Though the vast majority of votes are still to be counted, the early results put the main opposition Democratic Alliance at around 25% and the Economic Freedom Fighters party at around 8 per cent. They also reflect the possible immediate impact of the new MK Party of former president Jacob Zuma, who has turned against the ANC he once led and added to their loss of support. The MK Party had the fourth-biggest share of the early count, just behind the EFF. The electoral commissions prediction of a high turnout reflected Wednesdays picture, as South Africans queued deep into the night to make their choice, reviving memories for some of the definitive election of 1994 that changed a country. While polls officially closed at 9pm, voting continued for hours after that in many places as officials noted a late surge of late ballots being cast in major cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town. The rules say that anyone queuing at a polling station by the closing time must be allowed to vote. It suggested South Africans had embraced how consequential this election might be. Electoral workers empty a ballot box during the count at Itireleng informal settlement in Pretoria (Themba Hadebe/AP) South Africa is Africas most advanced country but has struggled to solve a profuse inequality that has kept millions in poverty three decades after apartheid ended. That inequality and widespread poverty disproportionately affects the black majority who make up more than 80% of the countrys population. South Africa has one of the worst unemployment rates in the world and also struggles with a high rate of violent crime. Voters noted those issues and others, like ANC corruption scandals over the years and problems with basic government services, as their main grievances. A jury on Thursday convicted Donald Trump of falsifying business records to conceal hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Here is an explanation of the charges Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought against Trump, the Republican candidate challenging Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 5th US election. What was Trump accused of doing? Advertisement Bragg's office last year charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 (120,000) payment that Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen made to Stormy Daniels, whose given name is Stephanie Clifford. The payment was made in the waning days of the 2016 campaign in exchange for her silence about a sexual encounter she says she had with Trump a decade earlier, prosecutors said. Stormy Daniels (Stephanie Clifford) exits the courthouse during the trial. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images Prosecutors have alleged that was part of a broader "catch-and-kill" scheme to suppress negative news stories about Trump before the 2016 election in which Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton. Cohen has also said he and Trump discussed a $150,000 payment made by American Media, publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid, to former Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep quiet about an affair she says she had with Trump. Advertisement The tabloid never published a story. Trump denies both sexual relationships and has called the case a politically motivated "witch hunt." Trump in 2018 admitted to reimbursing Cohen for his payment to Daniels, though his lawyers have since argued that his payments to Cohen in 2017 were retainer payments for Cohen's work as his personal lawyer that year, not reimbursements for the Daniels payment. What laws was Trump accused of violating? According to prosecutors, Trump disguised his 2017 reimbursement checks to Cohen for the Daniels payment as retainer fees for legal services in records maintained by his New York-based family real estate company, the Trump Organization. Advertisement Former Trump attorney, Michael Cohen. Photo: Timoth A Clary/AFP via Getty Images Each of the 34 counts stem from a cheque, ledger entry or invoice from Trump's payments to Cohen. It is against New York state law to make a false entry in a company's records. While falsification of business records on its own is a misdemeanour, it is considered a felony punishable by up to four years in prison if it is done to conceal or further other crimes. In this case, Bragg said that other crime was a violation of a New York state law making it a misdemeanour to conspire to promote a candidacy by "unlawful means." Prosecutors say Trump, Cohen, and former American Media chief executive David Pecker conspired to pay off people with potentially negative stories about Trump - including Daniels - to remain quiet before the 2016 election. They say those payments were effectively campaign contributions that exceeded the $2,700 cap on individual donations in 2016. How did Trump pay Cohen? Advertisement Jurors saw 11 checks from Trump or his trust to Cohen in 2017 that totalled $420,000. Prosecutors say that included reimbursements for the Daniels payment and $50,000 for other expenses Cohen incurred while working on Trump's campaign, as well as $180,000 to account for taxes Cohen would have had to pay for falsely reporting the money as income rather than a reimbursement, according to prosecutors. The checks also included a $60,000 bonus for Cohen's work for the Trump Organization, prosecutors said. What was Trump's defence? Advertisement Trump's lawyers argued that Cohen acted on his own when paying Daniels, and that the purpose of silencing Daniels and McDougal was to spare him and his family the embarrassment of public attention to alleged extramarital affairs, not to help his campaign. They have also said that his payments to Cohen in 2017 were legal retainer fees. They sought to undercut Cohen's credibility as a witness, by pointing out that he perjured himself before Congress, pleaded guilty to federal crimes, and frequently stated publicly that he wants to see Trump punished. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to violating federal campaign finance laws through the hush money scheme. The U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan never charged Trump, whom it referred to in its charging document against Cohen as "Individual-1," with any crime. In an interview with Reuters in December 2018, Trump said the payment to Daniels "wasn't a campaign contribution" and "there was no violation based on what we did." - Reuters Fourteen pro-democracy activists were convicted in Hong Kongs biggest national security case on Thursday by a court which said their plan to effect change through an unofficial primary election would have undermined the governments authority and created a constitutional crisis. After a 2019 protest movement that filled the citys streets with demonstrators, authorities have all but silenced dissent in Hong Kong through reduced public choice in elections, crackdowns on media and the Beijing-imposed security law under which the activists were convicted. Advertisement Those found guilty of conspiracy to commit subversion included former politicians Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong and Raymond Chan, and they could face up to life in prison when sentenced later. The two defendants acquitted at West Kowloon Magistrates Courts were former district councillors Lee Yue-shun and Lawrence Lau, but the prosecution said it intends to appeal against the acquittals. Police officers stand guard outside West Kowloon Magistrates Courts in Hong Kong (Chan Long Hei/AP) Advertisement The activists were among 47 democracy advocates who were prosecuted in 2021 for their involvement in the election. Prosecutors had accused them of attempting to paralyze Hong Kongs government and topple the citys leader by securing the legislative majority necessary to indiscriminately veto budgets. In a summary of the verdict distributed to media, the court said the election participants had declared they would either actively use or use the power conferred on the (Legislative Council) by the (Basic Law) to veto the budgets. Under the Basic Law, the chief executive can dissolve the legislature if a budget cannot be passed but the leader would have to step down if the budget is again vetoed in the newly formed legislature. In the full, 319-page verdict, the court also said if the plan to veto Bills would lead to the dissolution of the legislature, it meant the implementation of any new government policies would be seriously hampered and essentially put to a halt. Advertisement The power and authority of both the Government and the Chief Executive would be greatly undermined, the court said in the verdict. In our view that would create a constitutional crisis for Hong Kong. The judges concluded that unlawful means are not limited only to criminal acts, and that it was not necessary for the prosecution to prove the accused knew that the means to be used were unlawful. Former pro-democracy district councillor Lawrence Lau was acquitted (Chan Long Hei/AP) Advertisement Mr Lau, who was acquitted, told reporters he should not be the focus at the moment as other defendants in the case warrant the publics concern and love. He said if there is any star in the case, the judgment should be the star because it set out the logic and perspectives of the judges. This is part of our rule of law, he said. The court acquitted Mr Lau after it found he had not mentioned vetoing the budget in his election campaign and the court was unable to conclude he had intended to subvert state power. Mr Lee, the other defendant found not guilty, thanked the public for caring about the case over the past few years. Advertisement I feel calm, as I have always been, he said. In an earlier Facebook post, he said Thursday was like a special graduation ceremony for him, though graduation is usually about sharing happiness with families and friends. This perhaps best reflects the common helplessness of our generation, he had said in his post on Wednesday. Mr Lee, like Mr Lau, was acquitted after the court found no evidence that he mentioned vetoing in an election forum, nor had he personally expressed his stance on using veto power to force the government to accede to protester demands. Lee Yue-shun thanked the public for caring about the case (Chan Long Hei/AP) While Mr Lee then a member of the now-defunct Civic Party had adopted a similar political platform as other party members, the court took into account that he was a latecomer to the partys campaign for the primary election and that he would have had little choice but to adopt the platform used by others. Thus, the court said in the verdict it could not be sure he had intended to subvert state power. The two men will be kept on bail, the court said. Observers said the subversion case illustrates how the security law is being used to crush the political opposition following huge anti-government protests in 2019. But the Beijing and Hong Kong governments insisted the law has helped bring back stability to the city and that judicial independence is being protected. When Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997, Beijing promised to retain the citys Western-style civil liberties for 50 years. However, since the introduction of the 2020 law, Hong Kong authorities have severely limited free speech and assembly under the rubric of maintaining national security. Many activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile and dozens of civil society groups disbanded. The activists prosecuted in the main case included legal scholar Benny Tai, former student leader Joshua Wong and a dozen former politicians including Leung and Claudia Mo. Thirty-one of them, including Tai, Wong and Mo, pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit subversion. They have a better chance of shorter jail terms and will be sentenced at a later date. After Thursdays verdicts for the 16 others who pleaded not guilty and underwent a non-jury trial, the court tentatively scheduled a mitigation hearing on June 25. Members of the League of Social Democrats hold a banner outside West Kowloon Magistrates Courts in Hong Kong (Chan Long Hei/AP) On Thursday, prior to the court hearing, Chan Po-ying, leader of pro-democracy political party League of Social Democrats, as well as three other LSD members, were arrested at court, according to a Facebook post by party member Figo Chan. Chan Po-ying is also the wife of Leung. Reports by local media such as the South China Morning Post said those arrested had attempted to raise a yellow banner in protest as they walked on to court grounds but were stopped by police and escorted away. Diplomats from the United States, Australia and Britain, along with dozens of residents, had waited outside the police-guarded court building to secure seats to hear the verdicts. Former chairwoman of the Democratic Party Emily Lau was among those who turned up in support. She told reporters she was sad that so many had been locked up for more than three years, but declined to comment on the verdict. Social worker Stanley Chang, a friend of one of the 16 defendants, said he arrived the site at 4am because he feared he could not get a seat. He said there were very few things supporters could do for them and that attending the hearing is a kind of company. I want to give some support for my friend and the faces I saw in news reports, he said. Representatives from various consulates wait outside West Kowloon Magistrates Courts in Hong Kong (Chan Long Hei/AP) Maya Wang, acting China director at Human Rights Watch, said the convictions of 14 people for their peaceful activism (show) utter contempt for both democratic political processes and the rule of law. All Hong Kong people wanted was a chance to freely elect their government. Democracy is not a crime, regardless of what the Chinese government and its handpicked Hong Kong court may say, she added. Sarah Brooks, of rights group Amnesty International, described the mass convictions as unprecedented and said it is the most ruthless illustration yet of how Hong Kongs National Security Law is weaponised to silence dissent. These convictions also send a chilling message to anyone else in Hong Kong who opposes the actions of the government, namely: stay quiet, or face jail, she said. The unofficial primary in June 2020 was meant to shortlist pro-democracy candidates who would then run in the official election. It drew an unexpectedly high turnout of 610,000 voters, over 13% of the citys registered electorate. The pro-democracy camp at that time hoped they could secure a legislative majority, which would allow them to press for the 2019 protest demands, including greater police accountability and democratic elections for the city leader. But the government postponed the legislative election that would have followed the primary, citing public health risks during the coronavirus pandemic. The electoral laws were later overhauled, effectively increasing the number of pro-Beijing lawmakers in the legislature. Donald Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a crime on Thursday when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. After deliberations over two days, the 12-member jury announced it had found Mr Trump guilty on all 34 counts he faced. Unanimity was required for any verdict. Advertisement The judge has set Donald Trumps sentencing for July 11th, just days before Republicans are set to select him as their 2024 nominee. Donald Trump at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool) Mr Trump watched the jurors dispassionately as they were polled to confirm the guilty verdict. Speaking after the verdict, Donald Trump said he is a very innocent man and that "the real verdict will be on November 5th". Advertisement The verdict plunges the United States into unexplored territory ahead of the November 5th presidential election, when Mr Trump, the Republican candidate, will try to win the White House back from Democratic president Joe Biden. Mr Trump, 77, has denied wrongdoing and was expected to appeal. He faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison, though others convicted of that crime often receive shorter sentences, fines or probation. Incarceration would not prevent him from campaigning, or taking office if he were to win. Opinion polls show Mr Trump and Mr Biden, 81, locked in a tight race, and Reuters/Ipsos polling has found that a guilty verdict could cost Mr Trump some support from independent and Republican voters. Advertisement The jury notified the court they had reached a verdict at 4.20pm (2020 GMT) and read out all 34 guilty counts shortly after 5pm. The jury found Mr Trump guilty of falsifying business documents after sitting through a five-week trial that featured explicit testimony from porn star Stormy Daniels about a sexual encounter she says she had with Mr Trump in 2006 while he was married to his current wife Melania. Mr Trump denies ever having sex with Ms Daniels. Mr Trump's then-fixer Michael Cohen testified that Mr Trump approved a $130,000 (121,000) hush money payment to Ms Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 election, when he faced multiple accusations of sexual misbehaviour. Mr Cohen testified he handled the payment, and that Mr Trump approved a plan to reimburse him through monthly payments disguised as legal work. Mr Trump's lawyers hammered Mr Cohen's credibility, highlighting his criminal record and imprisonment and his history of lying. Advertisement Falsifying business documents is normally a misdemeanour in New York, but prosecutors in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office elevated it to a felony on grounds that Mr Trump was concealing an illegal campaign contribution. Mr Trump complained that he could not get a fair trial in his heavily Democratic hometown. The case was widely regarded as the least consequential of the four criminal prosecutions Mr Trump faces. Jurors heard testimony of sex and lies that have been public since 2018, although the charges themselves rested on ledger accounts and other records of Mr Cohen's reimbursement. It was known as the "zombie case" because Bragg brought it back to life after his predecessor opted not to bring charges. Advertisement This case was also likely to be the only one to go to trial before the election, as the others are delayed by procedural challenges. World Donald Trump is convicted of a crime - Now what? Read More If elected, Mr Trump could shut down the two federal cases that accuse him of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and mishandling classified documents after leaving office in 2021. He would not have the power to stop a separate election-subversion case taking place in Georgia. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty in all the cases, and has portrayed his various legal troubles as an effort by Mr Biden's Democratic allies to hurt him politically. President Biden's re-election campaign called Republican Donald Trump a "convicted felon" in the wake of his hush-money guilty verdict on Thursday, and said it proved "no one is above the law." Communications director Michael Tyler said Mr Trump remains the Republican candidate and said: "There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box." - Reuters/PA Lava is continuing to spurt from a volcano in south-western Iceland but the activity has calmed significantly since it erupted a day earlier. The eruption on Wednesday was the fifth and most powerful since the volcanic system near Grindavik reawakened in December after 800 years, gushing record levels of lava as its fissure grew to 2.1 miles in length. Advertisement Volcanologist Dave McGarvie calculated that the amount of lava initially flowing from the crater could have buried Wembley Stadium in London, which seats 90,000 people, under 49ft of lava every minute. Advertisement These jets of magma are reaching, like, 50 metres (165ft), into the atmosphere, said Mr McGarvie, an honorary researcher at Lancaster University. That just immediately strikes me as a powerful eruption. And that was my first impression. Then some numbers came out, estimating how much was coming out per minute or per second, and it was, wow. The activity again threatened Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people, and led to the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, one of Icelands biggest tourist attractions. Grindavik, which is about 30 miles south west of the capital Reykjavik, has been threatened since a series of earthquakes in November forced an evacuation before the initial December 18 eruption. A subsequent eruption consumed several buildings. Advertisement The activity threatened Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people (Marco di Marco/AP) Protective barriers outside Grindavik deflected the lava on Wednesday but the evacuated town remained without electricity and two of the three roads into town were inundated with lava. I just like the situation quite well compared to how it looked at the beginning of the eruption yesterday, Grindavik mayor Fannar Jonasson told national broadcaster RUV. Advertisement Mr McGarvie said the eruption was more powerful than the four that preceded it because the largest amount of magma had accumulated in a chamber underground before breaking the earths surface and shooting into the sky. The rapid and powerful start of the eruption followed by it diminishing quickly several hours later is the pattern researchers have witnessed with this volcano, he added. It is unknown when the eruptions will end. The eruption on Wednesday was the fifth and most powerful since the volcanic system near Grindavik reawakened in December (Marco di Marco/AP) Advertisement It could go on for quite some considerable time, Mr McGarvie said. Were really in new territory here because eruptions like this have never been witnessed in this part of Iceland. Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, sees regular eruptions. The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread air space closures over Europe. None of the current cycle of eruptions has had an impact on aviation. Chief Justice John Roberts has declined an invitation to meet with Democratic senators to talk about Supreme Court ethics and the controversy over flags that flew outside homes owned by Justice Samuel Alito. Mr Roberts response came in a letter to the senators a day after Mr Alito separately wrote them and House members to reject their demands that he recuse from major Supreme Court cases involving former president Donald Trump and the January 6 rioters because of the flags, which are like those carried by rioters at the 2021 attack on the Capitol. Advertisement Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito (Carolyn Kaster/AP) Senate Judiciary chairman Dick Durbin and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a member of the Judiciary panel, had written to Mr Roberts a week ago to ask for the meeting and also that Mr Roberts take steps to ensure that Mr Alito recuses himself from any cases before the court concerning the January 6 attack or former president Donald Trumps attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat. I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Mr Roberts wrote. Advertisement Justices decide for themselves when to step aside from cases, Mr Roberts noted. Mr Alito said he concluded nothing about the flags, both of which he said were flown by his wife outside their homes in Virginia and New Jersey, required his recusal. Last year, Mr Roberts declined to testify at a Judiciary Committee hearing on Supreme Court ethics, and he made mention of that on Thursday in saying that chief justices only rarely have met with lawmakers. Moreover, the format proposed a meeting with leaders only of one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the court simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable, he wrote. Advertisement Both Mr Alito and an another conservative justice, Clarence Thomas, have rejected calls to recuse themselves from cases related to the 2020 election, which Mr Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Mr Thomas wife Ginni supported efforts to overturn the election results. Public trust in the Supreme Court is at its lowest point in at least 50 years. The justices are considering two major cases related to the Capitol attack, including charges faced by the rioters and whether Mr Trump has immunity from prosecution on election interference charges. Spains parliament has given final approval to a controversial amnesty law for hundreds of Catalan separatists involved in the illegal and unsuccessful 2017 secession bid. The legislation was backed by Spains left-wing coalition government, two Catalan separatist parties, and other smaller parties. It passed by a vote of 177-172 in the lower house with the conservative Popular Party and far-right Vox opposing it. Advertisement The amnesty could benefit former Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont, who is a fugitive from Spanish law in Belgium after fleeing his country following the failed October 2017 breakaway bid that he led. It should also help out hundreds more, including former government officials in Barcelona, average citizens who participated in the secession attempt or protests, and some police officers involved in the crackdown on an illegal independence referendum held by Mr Puigdemonts government. The amnesty could benefit former Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont, who is a fugitive from Spanish law in Belgium (Niall Carson/PA) Advertisement The passing of the amnesty law, however, does not immediately clear up the legal mess of the separatists. The law is likely to face legal challenges and will be reviewed by higher courts. It must also be applied by courts on a case-by-case basis. There are experts who question its constitutionality since they say it would create inequality between Spanish citizens by favouring some over others. Since taking power in 2018, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has focused on reducing tensions in north-east Catalonia and he argues that the amnesty is key to culminating that process. But the amnesty is also a political necessity for the premier, who agreed to the act of pardon when he needed the support of the separatist politicians in Madrid to form a new national government in November. Advertisement It was initially approved by the Parliaments lower house in March. The Senate, where right-wing parties hold a majority, rejected it earlier this month, but the lower house can push it through regardless. While the amnesty is popular in Catalonia, even among many unionists, the Popular Party and Vox have led protests against it in Madrid and other cities across the country. There have also been critics of the amnesty within Mr Sanchezs Socialist party. It comes during the run-up to European Parliament elections on June 6-9 and as Mr Sanchezs Socialists are trying to form a government in Catalonia after beating the separatists in regional elections earlier this month. Advertisement Review Eating outMargaret River Its a hat! New venue brings big-night-out fireworks to Margaret River Max Veenhuyzen May 31, 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 1 / 6 Line-caught dhufish, dhufish caramel beurre blanc, French fries. Ryan Murphy 2 / 6 Parsley cream and malted meringue crisp: two components of one of years most extraordinary desserts. Ryan Murphy 3 / 6 Beetroot carpaccio with fermented capsicum sauce. Ryan Murphy 4 / 6 Pre-service in the Desendent kitchen. Ryan Murphy 5 / 6 The best seats in the house, but only if youre a solo diner, or in a couple or trio. Ange Wall 6 / 6 Grilled Manjimup marron with marron chawanmushi. Ryan Murphy Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat 15 / 20 How we score Modern Australian$$$$ The Descendents are an American punk rock band formed in 1977, Wikipedia tells me. I dont know much about punk, so Ill take Wikis word for it. Desendent, on the other hand, I know something about. I have for some time been tracking the movements of the soignee dining room that opened in Margaret River at the end of January. All the way back to when Desendents owners Evan Hayter and Ann Spencer operated influential, off-grid Yallingup farm-to-table restaurant, Arimia. But whereas Arimia was a sea changers fantasy serving lunch among the gum trees, Desendent takes things in a more urban and urbane direction. The bushland is replaced with the surrounds of Bussell Highway and as reassuring and Country Living as Arimias timber digs were, Desendents moody dining room and open kitchen has that all-important edge and allure. This is a dinner booking worth dressing up and calling in babysitting favours for. Advertisement But while the chassis might have got an upgrade, whats under the hood a commitment to championing and celebrating the Margaret River region remains unchanged. Which helps, I think, explain the restaurants name. As does the detail that chef-patron Hayter also likes The Descendents and punk music in general. Having said that, on the Saturday I drop in, the soundtrack is light on power chords but big on bubbly disco, all the better to hear yourself drink and dine. And as he did at Arimia, Hayter also likes helping unlikely ingredients form unlikely bonds. Roasted beetroot. Ryan Murphy He likes using the heady native leaf anise myrtle to perfume chewy (in a good way) slices of roei abalone ($12). He likes mixing black garlic and herbs through thick, fudgy cows curd made at Cambray Cheese using milk from the dairys own herd of jersey cows, just the thing to swipe pinches of the airy house sourdough through ($7). And he likes using Japanese sancho pepper powder to add just enough tingle to his beef tartare ($12) to turn your head. He also likes leveraging his home court advantage to the hilt and hooking up with small-scale farmers and suppliers to explore the meaning and deliciousness of seasonality as well as regionality. The macadamias he roasts and turns into a butter to beautify crackers ($5) made from leftover bread come from the Jenkins family, of Treeton Valley Macadamias. The dhufish ($45) Hayter slowly brings to crisp-skinned, pearlescent perfection in a stainless steel pan, then dresses with a sauce of glossy reduced fish stock and crunches up with crisp slivers of fried prawn legs? All line-caught by a single fisherman in Cowaramup whos hung up his rod for the winter now that the seas are heavy. A 45-foot boat doesnt look like much in a seven-metre swell, offers Hayter. Advertisement Not that Desendent is strictly parochial in its beliefs about hospitality. The space designed by interior designer Kerry Brooks brings together beautiful pieces and products from around the world, not least the dreamy Angolan granite counter that is both a workbench for the chefs and front-row seat for diners. The three high chairs at the counter are the best seats in the house, though youll only get to sit there if youre a solo diner, a couple or a trio. And while Desendent aspires to provide out-of-towners with a concise snapshot of the region, its also somewhere for locals who want to eat and drink beyond their backyard. Good thing, then, that restaurant manager Kaelen Outram and her team are equally at home pouring a thrilling rose from Sicilian superstar Girolamo Russo as they are keeping glasses topped up with an off-kilter blend of viognier and savagnin from renegade local winemaker Amato Vino, a fine foil for the grilled marron. Your night will feature other daring combinations too, perhaps none more so than an exhilarating savoury dessert pairing a verdant parsley cream, mousse made of golden beetroot and a brittle wafer of malted meringue ($18). At the bottom of the bowl are little balls of toasted quinoa and popcorn-like white tufts of popped buckwheat. Cracker made from spent bread, with pimento, roasted macadamia butter; golden kelp crisp with dried organic carrots and carrot cream. Ryan Murphy Occasionally the kitchen can get carried away. Celeriac presented as both chewy crisps and a puree detracts from an otherwise brilliant summer flashback of thinly sliced beetroot dressed with a sauce of fermented capsicum: a vegetarian carpaccio to be reckoned with. Too many salty elements sea succulents, preserved seaweeds make the steamed marron custard taste a little too much of the sea. (Both the beetroot and marron dish were tasting menu-only items.) These missteps, however, arent deal-breakers and speak more to exuberance, daring and generosity than any technical shortcomings. The hits still outnumber the misses. Advertisement Guests can also get involved with the decision-making and meal planning by ordering a la carte rather than for the set menu ($185). While having to choose your dining format isnt anything new, its worth nothing that those on the set menu have a little more flexibility when picking a reservation time, including those coveted 7pm weekend slots. A la carte diners, on the other hand, can only book early or late. Also. Dont be misled by the offer of a snack menu either. Theres more than enough on there for any eater to assemble a substantial dinner and portion sizes are beefier than what youll get on the tasting menu. Maybe its just me, but Margaret Rivers bar and restaurant scene has found a new gear over the past 18 months. Thats not to say that the 6285 was ever a wining or dining dead zone. But, collectively, the arrival of newcomers such as food-truck-turned-diner Normal Van, curry canteen Dahl Daddys and small bars Pearls and Rhum Burgundy seems to have signalled a change in energy. Yes, long lunches at posh winery restaurants and post-swim coffees at White Elephant will forever be part of the Margies experience, but eating out should never be a case of either-or. Margaret River has long been a haven for disruptors, misfits and those unafraid of rocking boats. Desendent feels like its part of that club a smart Bussell Highway dining room with an unusual name and an offering thats unashamedly upmarket. While well have to wait and see exactly what influence Desendent might exert on those that come after it, the early signs suggest that the restaurant brings with it the promise of more than a few if I may borrow some lyrics from its namesake band Good Good Things. The low-down Vibe: A thrilling, contemporary big-night-out option for Margaret River locals and visitors Go-to dish: the tasting menu (but dont miss that thrilling beetroot and parsley dessert) Drinks: a considered, grown-up wine list starring local favourites as well as interstate and international benchmarks. Cost: about $260 for two, excluding drinks Her protagonists voice is crystal cut with observations about gentrification, sexism and an economic system that tells women they are nothing without expensive serums and Peloton machines. In one amusing scene we hear Annas inner demon try to persuade her that only a weak, lazy loser would walk away from a high-paid job in beauty PR. You there, Anna Walsh, yes you, you dedicated grafter, you can buy anything you want right now! How about an air fryer? You never cook and you dont know what an air fryer actually does, but thats not important. Keyes says she was inspired by seeing several friends quit senior jobs after the pandemic, as well as by her younger sister Caitriona, an oncology nurse in New York, who decided to return home more regularly after lockdown. For all the astute social observations, though, the book was born out of a need to hide away from the world. Two years ago, when we were emerging from the pandemic and Russia invaded Ukraine, Keyes said she felt she had nothing left inside, no stamina for the sharp and pointy bits of the world. She abandoned a book, a 40-year opus about people who had been friends since their 20s, because it involved characters who had got rich by unethical means. She didnt want to write about a world that I recognise where democracy is manipulated, where entitled people prosper. In fact, for the past two years she has not really read or watched the news. I know thats irresponsible. It was never meant to go on this long. I know broad brushstrokes and thats all I can cope with. Its perhaps no surprise, then, that Keyes decided to write a midlife forgive-yourself book. Keyes, who was born into a large Irish family (shes the eldest of five siblings), says her life has been divided into two halves. In the first 30 years she was completely clueless about myself ... It was all about the bad boys ... all about the fake passion of dysfunctional relationships. From a young age she found the world frightening and human beings baffling, so she studied people. I wanted to know the rules. I wanted to know how to behave like other people. After studying law at University College Dublin she took an administrative job and moved to London, where she felt she was failing in all her aspirations. Her alcoholism and clinical depression spiralled and when she was 30 she attempted suicide, ending up in rehab for three months. I love for a person to admit something and for me to think, Oh thank God, its not just me. MARIAN KEYES Thats when the second half of her life began. Shortly after rehab she got together with her husband, Tony Baines (a former IT system designer who since 1998 has worked, in his words, as her dogsbody, finance person, IT person, driver). She was impressed by how he loved books by female writers and Irish music and is nice ... and I deserved nice, so I thought, well give it a go. Eighteen months later, she had her first novel published. Her books are all about the gap between the way we present ourselves and who we really are. I love for a person to admit something and for me to think, Oh thank God, its not just me. Many of those admissions are in this novel. The struggle with the menopause and the frustrations of trying to get HRT (Keyes is a big advocate: I love it), the ugly feelings of jealousy and anger, and the anguish of falling out with a friend. Loading There is huge shame about female friendships that break down, Keyes says. There is a myth around female friendship that it just stays without challenges. When it doesnt work, and Ive been there, I have felt there is something wrong with me. We dont get beyond our youthful pain or mistakes, even in our 60s, Keyes says. There are days when she feels as ancient and wise as Mount Everest and others when she just wants to browse Etsy for Hello Kitty doorknobs. She talks a lot about the need to do things that bring her joy, such as hiking and more niche framing Swedish tapestry (I could just weep at the gorgeousness of it all). On the subject of Irish novelists, she has plenty of theories about why they have enjoyed so much recent success, especially the women. The influence of the Catholic Church has waned and social media has allowed them to be less parochial and more connected to their British and American counterparts. Of Sally Rooney, she says: Im so proud of a young Irish feminist Marxist woman getting people queuing outside bookshops! More generally, she believes Irish writers have moved on from questions of who we are to wider economic inequalities. A lot of these great young writers came of age at the time of the economic crash in 2009 and it woke them up to how events in the wider world affect individuals. They expect to be listened to on a bigger stage. We were told to sit down and be quiet. No chance of that now. Keyes leans over and whispers conspiratorially: Anger is kind of wonderful. Its very, very empowering. Better than becoming bitter, I suggest. Yes, if its used properly, anger gets things done. Bitterness doesnt change things theres no entry point for a conversation whereas anger can open up the channels of communication. Look again at that portrait. Theres a fire raging behind that smile. My Favourite Mistake (Penguin Random House) by Marian Keyes is out now. Premier Jacinta Allan has become the latest Australian Labor Party leader to feel the heat as Australia grapples to maintain community cohesion while the war in Gaza rages on. Allan was a guest on Wednesday night at an annual event in the city put on by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria and Zionism Victoria to commemorate Israels 1948 declaration of independence. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was criticised at a Jewish community event. Credit: Joe Armao Joining the Jewish community dignitaries in the room was Opposition Leader John Pesutto and Allans immediate predecessor, Daniel Andrews, bestubbled and telling people he was fresh off a flight from China. Everything was going all right until Allan was confronted by Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Philip Zajac. He told the premier that she might have talked and tweeted a good game on confronting antisemitism in the community, but it was time for action. Palestine supporters plan to occupy the offices of Labor MPs across the country on Friday in a national day of action over the war in Gaza, as one of the politicians targeted accused protesters of crossing a line and risking social cohesion. Foreign Minister Penny Wong this week demanded Israel halt its military campaign in the southern Gazan city of Rafah after the killing of dozens of civilians. But protest organisers said the failure of federal Labor MPs to support a Greens motion recognising Palestine as a state had compelled them to intensify pressure, testing Labors fault lines. Fake bodies were laid outside Labor MP Peter Khalils electorate office in Coburg in Melbournes north in November. Credit: Twitter A spreadsheet shared by protest organisers listed the way every lower house MP voted on the motion. They are urging supporters to occupy offices across the country. Fridays action from Stop Arming Israel calls for residents to occupy, picket and post flyers at electorate offices of Labor MPs around the country, and subgroups have planned die-ins with fake blood and dolls. Authorities are cracking down on a dangerous date rape drug which has been linked to sexual assaults and overdoses and is being hidden in beauty and food products. The drug, 1,4-Butanediol, commonly known as bute, reduces feelings of pain by interrupting the way nerves signal pain between the brain and the body and can cause breathing difficulty. It naturally converts into the illegal gamma-hydroxybutyrate GHB, or liquid ecstasy, once ingested. New legislation introduced in March controlling its import has allowed the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to confiscate more than 4000 litres of the drug in Sydney since the changes. The most common ways officers saw the drug hidden was inside body oils, face masks, and food products. In 2022, Justice Ian Harrison found Dawson had killed Lynette by midnight on Friday, January 8, 1982, or in the early hours of January 9, for the selfish and cynical purpose of eliminating the inconvenient obstruction she presented to a new life with the 17-year-old JC. Dawson would claim the message in The Daily Telegraph was timed for the couples 12th wedding anniversary. It appeared in print a day late. The 33-year-old PE teacher and former Newtown Jets rugby league player had already moved a vulnerable former student, JC, into the marital home. The body of the 33-year-old mother-of-two has never been found. Forty years later , a NSW Supreme Court judge found Christopher Michael Dawson had murdered his wife, Lynette Joy Simms, 11 weeks before it was published recasting his apparently loving plea as a chilling ruse. On March 27, 1982, a 15-word message appeared among the lonely hearts missives on the personals page of a Sydney newspaper, urging Lyn to call Chris. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Dawson had addressed a birthday card to JC in February 1981 to his lovely, beautiful Bub and signed off: knowing we will share all the birthdays to follow all my love forever xxx. Unbeknown to Lynette, Dawsons attentions to the Cromer High School student were far from pastoral. His interest in JC had been sexual since 1980, when she was in year 11 and Dawson was her PE teacher. The weeks before Christmas Day 1981 were fraught in the Dawson household. JC had first moved into the couples Bayview home on Sydneys northern beaches in October that year, after Dawson told his wife of the HSC student's troubled home life. The appeal court will deliver its decision later this year and will examine the evidence persuading Harrison of Dawsons guilt beyond reasonable doubt. This is some of the evidence marshalled by the states prosecutors. Now, Dawson has urged the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal to overturn his murder conviction . The 75-year-old was jailed in December 2022 for a maximum of 24 years and is likely to die in prison unless his appeal succeeds. While JC was living with Paul and Marilyn in late 1981, Dawson put down a $200 deposit on a North Manly unit to rent with the teenager. They did not move in. Harrison accepted JCs evidence that she overheard Dawson talking to his elder brother Peter, a lawyer, about the family law implications of him moving out. In a rare window into their domestic lives, played during Dawsons trial, the twins and their wives Chris and Lynette dressed in blue featured in the ABC documentary series Chequerboard in a 1975 episode on twins. Lynette, not yet a mother, greeted her young niece joyously, arms outstretched. JC moved doors away to the Bayview home of Dawsons twin brother Paul and his wife Marilyn, in the same street, after Lynette told the teenager: Youve been taking liberties with my husband. [JC] has problems + is Chriss shadow! Lyn ... very unhappy almost in tears about Chris, Lynettes mother, Helena Simms, wrote in her diary, which would become a trove for prosecutors. Dawson packed up his belongings, left his wife and their two young daughters then aged two and four and set out with JC for Queensland. He said it was to start a new life, his trial heard. The document was found in the pocket of Lynettes dressing gown after her disappearance. Dawson signed an agreement for the sale of the family home for $258,000. Lynette, the joint owner, did not sign it. Lynettes brother, Greg Simms, gave evidence at Dawsons trial that she told him she did not want to sell the house. To my darling [JC], All my love on our first real Christmas together, Knowing Ill love you more each day, wishing only for your happiness forever. Chris xxx, Dawson wrote in a Christmas card. The envelope was marked with three letters for her initials but with a D for Dawson, JC told the court. JC became ill and homesick, and the pair returned to Bayview. They spent the day at his twin brothers house. In a statement to police in 1982, Simms said Lynette had expected her husband to pick her up after work, came home after waiting to 6pm to find a goodbye note + not to paint too black a picture of him to the children, if I remember what Lyn told me correctly. JC gave evidence that Dawson dropped her at her mothers house because she did not want to continue the relationship. He returned shortly afterwards and dropped her at her sisters home in Neutral Bay. December 31 Dawson and JC spent New Years Eve at Manly. She returned to her sisters home the next day. New Year 1982 By about January 2, JC had flown to Kempsey and joined her sisters on holiday at a caravan park in South West Rocks on NSWs Mid North Coast. Harrison accepted JCs evidence that Dawson asked her to call him every day. Dawson, meanwhile, had moved home after Christmas Day. January 4: Saddest Xmas Ive had. Lyn wants Chris to go to see the Doc, is this Tuesday, I think, to see what is making him so angry with her, Helena Simms said in a letter to her daughter Patricia Jenkins, Lynettes sister. January 8: Dawson and Lynette attended marriage guidance counselling in Manly on Friday. The pair left the session holding hands, Dawsons trial heard, and Lynette, a trained nurse, returned to her work at Warriewood Childcare Centre. Helena Simms said this was the last photo taken of her missing daughter. Credit: NSW Supreme Court That evening, Lynette spoke to her mother on the phone for the last time and said her husband had just made her a lovely drink. Helena wrote in her diary: Rang Lyn, sounded half sozzled said all was well. Harrison found Dawson had murdered Lynette at their Bayview home that night, or on Saturday morning. The last photo of my Lyn, Helena Simms wrote neatly in a family album next to a photo of her daughter dated Christmas 1981. The disappearance What happened the following day, Saturday, January 9, was examined in detail during Dawsons appeal. 7am: Dawson claimed he dropped Lynette at a Mona Vale bus stop so that she could return some clothing at shops in Chatswood, and potentially go on to Paddys Markets. This would have been an early hour for retailers to be open in 1982, Dawsons appeal heard. 3pm: Dawson took the couples daughters to Northbridge Baths, where he had a part-time job as a lifeguard. He claimed Lynette had agreed to meet them there that afternoon, but she had instead called him long-distance at the baths and said she needed time away ... to sort things out. Chris Dawson had a part-time job as a lifeguard at Northbridge Baths. Credit: James Brickwood Dawson told Lynettes mother and a family friend about the alleged call at the time, but neither of them heard it. Chris agitated, said shes on Central Coast, Helena Simms diary recorded. Really shocked! She took her granddaughters home for the night. No phone records were available by the time of Dawsons trial. His barrister, senior public defender Belinda Rigg, SC, said during his appeal that the delay in charging him meant he had lost ... the capacity for that account, if its right, to be independently verified by phone records. Justice Christine Adamson, one of a trio of judges hearing the appeal, suggested the Crown had also lost the capacity to show that [the call] ... came from someone else, like, for example, JC or some member of the family. Deputy Senior Crown Prosecutor Brett Hatfield, SC, told the appeal court that, on the Crown case, Dawson had the opportunity to dispose of Lynettes body that night when the children were not home. Dawsons trial heard Bayview was an isolated and semi-rural area in the early 1980s. The days after the vanishing Dawson claimed he received more calls from Lynette in the following days, before contact ceased. Nobody else heard the alleged calls. January 10: Lyn rang him not coming home, Helena Simms wrote of Dawsons claim. January 11: Harrison found Dawson had told JC in a phone call: Lyns gone. Shes not coming back. Come back to Sydney and help me look after the children and be with me. January 12: Dawson started living with JC on or about this date, Harrison found. I was allowed to go through Lyns clothes and keep anything I wanted, JC said in her evidence at Dawsons 2022 trial. She described her role as housekeeper, sex slave, stepmother, babysitter. Slave, just a slave. Lynettes brother, Greg Simms, would later describe JC as another victim. She was only a child and didnt get a life to live, he told Nine in 2022. January 15: Lyn rang Chris. Cant come home yet! Helena Simms recorded. January 16: Dawson claimed to police in 1991 that he last heard from Lynette on this date. But Simms diary records that Chris rang no news! Mid-January: An artist Lynette had commissioned in late 1981 to sketch portraits of the couples daughters called their Bayview home. The artist said in a statement in 2013 that Dawson told her that Lynette has gone away and she doesnt want [the sketches] any more. A portrait of the Dawson daughters, commissioned by Lynette in late 1981. Credit: NSW Supreme Court Dawson reports wife missing JC turned 18 in February 1982 and Dawson gave her a suggestive birthday card. Days later, he reported his wife missing. February 18: Dawson filed a missing persons report with Mona Vale police. On his account, he had not heard from his wife for more than four weeks. The report recorded Dawson had told police that BankCard indicated that [Lynette] was at Warriewood on the 12th [of January] again called home on 15th stated that she needed more time to think hasnt been heard of since May have gone to a religious organisation on the NORTH Coast. Harrison said in his judgment [the] only evidence of the alleged bankcard transactions by Lynette Dawson is what Mr Dawson has told other people. The banking records were no longer available. March 27: Dawson placed the classified ad in The Daily Telegraph. April 29: A note in Lynettes missing persons file records Dawsons claim that she had $500 in cash with her when she disappeared. This did not appear in the original report in February. The prosecution alleged this was a lie. August 16: Dawson filed a fresh document following a police request for more information. In the handwritten report, he claimed he and Lynette had been having marital problems for approx 2 years, mainly over her Bankcard spending and financial matters in general. He said he had travelled north for three days over Christmas 1981 to be by myself. No mention was made of JC. Dawson told police that bankcard statements for January show [Lynette] made purchases at Katies Narrabeen on 12.1.82 and on Februarys statement 27.1.82 Just Jeans Narrabeen. September 25: The Simms family, including Lynettes mother, placed ads in The Sydney Morning Herald and the Telegraph to coincide with what would have been her 34th birthday. They followed up with a birthday notice in the Herald the following year, urging Lynette to [please] ring and let us know you are well. October 31: Dawson took Lynettes possessions and personal effects in 10 garbage bags to her mothers house. The wedding The Dawsons marriage formally ended in divorce in June 1983. Dawson married JC on January 15, 1984, at the Bayview home he had built with Lynette. They moved to Queensland in December. JC told Dawsons trial that he put his hands around her throat on their wedding day. She said her wedding ring was made from scratch to match his one that he had left over from his first marriage. The diamond ring was made using the diamonds from Lyns engagement ring and eternity ring that she left, she told the court. July 24, 1984: Helena Simms wrote to Dawsons lawyers and said she had last seen her daughter on January 3, 1982, and last spoke to her on the phone on January 8. Up to this very minute neither her parents, brothers, sisters or friends have any contact from her. She signed off: Yours in despair. The police interview JC left Dawson in early 1990. She made her first statement to police about Lynettes disappearance in May that year, triggering a renewed investigation. Dawson was interviewed by police on January 15, 1991. This time, he told police that in December 1981 he came up to Queensland with a girl that I was having an affair with at the time, but their relationship had finished by the time his wife vanished in January. Dawson claimed he didnt ask [JC] to come and live with me in January 1982, and that it was JC who asked if she could come back, if I could sort of come and get her and bring her back to Sydney. [She] was saying that she missed me obviously but that at that stage I was still under the understanding that she was going to come back and live somewhere else in Sydney, not with me, he said. He told police JC did not move in until several days later. The tapped call In a tapped phone call with his twin brother Paul years later on March 16, 1999, Chris suggested he had needed JC to move in as a babysitter. Paul asked: How long was it after Lyn left before [JC] moved in? I couldnt remember, not with exactness too They told me Lyn disappeared about mid-January. I said that Chris would have needed someone in the house to look after the kids when school started anyway. Im assuming about the end of January. Chris replied: Thats why I did. The call took place after Paul had spoken to police during a reopened investigation into Lynettes disappearance; an experience he described as f----ing horrible. He said police were asking stupid questions, including whether there was a path between the brothers former homes. He implied that something has happened to Lyn and you had the motive, Paul said. Chris replied that police think something has happened to Lyn and I had the motive, and they are going to search the property and do sorts of things. Oh well, good luck to them. They said that [JC] said you said it was alright for her to move in because Lyn wouldnt be coming back, Paul replied. Oh. So they have interviewed [JC], obviously, Chris said. The inquests A first inquest, in 2001, was terminated on the basis there was evidence before the coroner capable of satisfying a jury that a known person was responsible for Lynettes death. But the then NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Nicholas Cowdery, KC, determined in November that year there was insufficient evidence to support a murder prosecution. That process was repeated in 2003. JC outside the 2003 inquest into Lynette Simms disappearance. Credit: Sean Davey Cowdery told the ABCs Australian Story in 2018: Without a body, without knowing, first of all, whether in fact [Lynette] is dead, without knowing secondly if she is dead, how she died, its very hard to mount a case of a reasonable prospect of conviction just on motive and the undefined existence of means and opportunity. That makes it very weak. The reopened investigation The investigation into Lynettes unsolved disappearance was reopened in 2015 and ran until December 2018, when Dawson was extradited from the Gold Coast to Sydney and charged with her murder. A brief of evidence had been forwarded to the DPP on April 9, 2018. The Australians podcast on the case, The Teachers Pet, was first broadcast from May 18. The criminal trial Dawson did not stand trial until May 2022. He was convicted of Lynettes murder in August that year. Lawyers for the now-convicted killer had argued unsuccessfully that the criminal proceedings should be permanently stayed, or halted, and pointed in part to pre-trial publicity in arguing he could not have a fair trial. In sentencing Dawson to a maximum of 24 years in prison, Harrison said he had treated Lynette, a loving wife and mother, as completely dispensable. He set a non-parole period of 18 years. Mr Dawson planned to kill his wife. Whatever means Mr Dawson employed to kill her, he intended that result. He did so ... in her own home, the judge said. He condemned Dawsons self-indulgent brutality. A year was added to Dawsons non-parole period last year, after he was convicted of unlawful sexual activity with a then-pupil in 1980. He is first eligible for release in 2041, aged 93. Chris Dawson arrives at Surry Hills Police Station in December 2018 after landing in Sydney to be charged with Lynette Simms murder. Credit: James Brickwood Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. Police issued almost 300 infringements in a two-day crackdown on Melbourne e-scooter riders, denting rental operators claims about the safe behaviour of their customers and giving fresh ammunition to critics who want tighter controls. Most of the infringements were issued to e-scooter riders not wearing helmets ($240) or riding on the footpath ($192). An e-scooter rider weaves through pedestrians on the Evan Walker Bridge in Southbank on Thursday. Credit: Penny Stephens Under the Victorian governments trial, e-scooters can be ridden only on shared paths and roads with a speed limit of up to 60km/h. Road policing assistant commissioner Glenn Weir said many Victorians were concerned about the risks e-scooters posed, particularly in built-up areas, including the CBD. Ballarat and its high, cold-country districts wait, its people having already waited so long they seem barely capable of daring to hope that finally, the ghastly mystery of Samantha Murphys disappearance may be approaching an answer. A farm dam alongside a country road 15 kilometres south of Ballarat has given up a secret: Murphys mobile phone, long buried in mud. The dam on a property outside Buninyong where Samantha Murphys phone was found. Credit: Joe Armao It is the first tangible physical clue to what may have happened to the 51-year-old mother four months ago. But whether this is the breakthrough that might finally reveal the location of Murphys body remains unknown, the hope unspoken. Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes agreed there was a risk that extended orders could remove the checks and balances of the courts or worsen outcomes for victims who are misidentified as perpetrators by police, which she said happened 11 to 12 per cent of the time. Loading It wont be appropriate in every instance and I think the issues with misidentification of perpetrators is something that cant be ignored We dont want to create a system that increases that, Symes said. Antoinette Braybrook, chief executive of Aboriginal-led family violence prevention and legal service Djirra, said 20 per cent of Aboriginal women they see had been misidentified as perpetrators of family violence and they risked having children removed. Indigenous victim-survivors two in three of whom experience violence from non-Aboriginal men are blamed and punished for the violence they are experiencing, she said. The consequences of misidentification are incredibly traumatising and have long-lasting effects. This includes criminalisation, incarceration and the removal of their children into out-of-home care, Braybrook said. Right now Aboriginal children are being taken from their mums at rates nearly double the national average. The misidentification of Aboriginal women as the perpetrator of violence has devastating, long-term impacts on our women and their children. Its unacceptable and has to stop. A Melbourne rally calling for more action to counter the accelerating rate of womens deaths this year. Credit: Wayne Taylor The new Victorian womens safety package comes after a spate of killings of women around Australia. The premier tasked Symes, Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins and Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Vicki Ward with finding solutions. Campbell, an associate director of research, advocacy and policy at the Centre for Innovative Justice, said while other parts of the Allan governments response to high rates of harm to women were positive, without the oversight of extended orders by courts, women may unjustly lose custody of their children. More and more men using violence are gaming the system; theres a lot of information out there, increasingly, which gives people using violence a bit of a narrative [to tell police] about how theyre the real victim, she said. Loading Campbell said that as the proposal was worked through by the government, police and courts, how to prevent victim-survivors being misidentified to the point where they are immediately excluded from support services and may lose custody of their children must be considered. Successful attempts were so common now that perpetrator stories were showing increasing consistent coalescence of language giving the same scripts found online. Victorias 24/7 family violence crisis response agency, Safe Steps, had asked the premier this month to commit to ending the use of motels as crisis accommodation for women and children escaping potentially fatal violence. It said that while much of the package was pleasing, it was concerned that it did not include such a promise. Consultation to nail down the specifics of the new package will occur over coming months before a bill is brought to state parliament next year. The premier said she checked her personal safety when going out in the morning to walk the dog or for morning exercise. This is what women do. Every day. They check their own environment, they check their own safety, Allan said. That needs to stop. We deserve the right to be safe in every single space in our community. Allan has made the issue a priority for her government, this week appointing Tim Richardson the parliamentary secretary for mens behaviour change. Symes said she expected there would be an immediate cultural change from the courts in response to the governments concerns. If women are unsafe, they shouldnt have to come back to court time and time again, she said. The way intervention orders are issued could also change, with the government seeking to have them enforced more quickly and to close loopholes that allow perpetrators to avoid being served. What weve heard from police in particular is there are certain perpetrators who are particularly committed to avoiding their responsibilities, and they are seeking to hide and avoid being served family violence intervention orders which is a really strong message, its a court order, Symes said. Breaching an intervention order is a criminal offence. Symes said she also wanted strong action on serious breaches, but that the best outcome for victims was not always a criminal justice response. Many women seek family violence intervention orders because they want the violence to stop. They dont necessarily want a criminal law response to the perpetrator, Symes said. The government will also overhaul the stalking offence, as informed by the Victorian Law Reform Commission review handed down almost two years ago. Education programs to change the culture will also be expanded, with all non-government schools offered Respectful Relationships classes, and the Modelling Respect and Equality program will be expanded from 100 to another 240 schools. The government press release also called out toxic influencers specifically Andrew Tate, who is charged with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. I would like them to stop, Allan said. The algorithms are set in a way to drive toxic content into your daily lives. And thats really, really challenging for young people. Responsible Service of Alcohol training requirements will include the identification and prevention of sexual assault and harassment within venues, and Respect Victoria will launch a new advertising campaign. More immediately, case management for perpetrators will intensify. McAuley Community Services for Women will trial a Safe at Home pilot aimed at helping women at risk of becoming homeless due to family violence. Loading The Personal Safety Initiative will be boosted to roll out more home alarms, security assessments, outdoor lighting, locks, fence upgrades, security screens and personal duress alarms. Details about a perpetrator on the central information point where information is consolidated into a single report will also be tightened to save family violence workers time. A new Justice Navigator pilot will also be rolled out to help sexual assault survivors navigate the system and support. Police have arrested a 36-year-old man after he allegedly raped a woman in her home near Mandurah on Wednesday morning, before stealing her car and mobile phone. Police claim Joshua Stephen Morrison from Coodanup, then attempted to flee from them when they caught up with him a short time later. It will be alleged between 8.30am and 9am the man forced entry to the home and sexually assaulted the woman, they said. They claim Morrison, who they allege did not have authority to drive, was then spotted in the womans car a few hours later, 75 kilometres away in Myalup. Officers activated lights and sirens; however, it will be alleged the accused failed to stop and an evade-police incident ensued, they said. China has lifted an import ban on five Australian beef exporters, as trade tensions between the countries ease. The agriculture sector has praised the work of the Albanese government in dealing with China over a raft of restrictions placed on Australias farm exports, even as it railed against draft laws introduced to parliament on Thursday to ban Western Australias live sheep exports. China has lifted restrictions on five major beef Australian exporters. Credit: Bloomberg Agriculture Minister Murray Watt announced the beef ban had been lifted on five meat-processing facilities in NSW and Queensland on Wednesday night, removing restrictions on exports worth about $1 billion a year, or roughly a third of Australias beef trade with China. That is fantastic news for the cattle producers, for the meat processing industry and for the workers in those industries, Watt said on ABC television on Thursday morning. 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 Sticking out into the western Pacific like a rocky appendage, South Korea is one of the most rugged countries on Earth, with 70 per cent of its landmass made up of mountains. Once seen as a sleepy backwater, it has finally stepped into the spotlight, with an industrial, technical and pop-cultural output that boggles the mind. Less than half the size of the state of Victoria, this densely packed nation of 50 million punches well above its weight when it comes to making things, especially the films, TV dramas and pop music that have captured the imagination of so many across the globe. Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. Credit: iStock A visit to this vibrant country drives home just what a creative hub it is. Its cities are pulsating centres of neon-lights, humming footpaths, glimmering high-rises and street markets bursting with sights, sounds and aromas that entice and hypnotise. That said, the nation is more than just bright lights and hyperkinetic urban modernity. Occupying the bottom half of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea is a land of sandy beaches, azure waters and more than 3300 islands. Much of its craggy landscape is blanketed in deep pine forests, and the countryside is home to timeless Buddhist temples, rolling hills, rice paddies and tranquil villages where despite the trappings of modernity the pace of life continues as it has for thousands of years. Comparing the first quarter of 2023 to the same period in 2024, InsideAsia Tours has observed a staggering 58 per cent surge in South Korea bookings internationally. The Australia branch has experienced a 40 per cent increase with that trajectory set to rise as awareness of South Koreas appeal continues to grow. The Jeongbang Waterfall on Jeju Island falls directly into the sea. Credit: iStock Advertisement According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of Australian residents heading to South Korea over the past 12 months was 35 per cent above the pre-pandemic figures for 2019. So now is the time to visit this dynamic, East Asian hotspot. WHERE TO GO Seoul A Seoul kind of feeling... the bright lights of Sinchon, Seoul. Credit: iStock Most international flights land at Incheon International Airport, which serves the capital, Seoul. The citys greater metropolitan area is home to almost half of all of South Koreas residents, and with good reason: Seoul is the political, financial and cultural centre of the nation. Most anything that happens in South Korea happens here first, and one walk down its buzzing streets reveals a city in constant motion, with packs of stylish young folks intermingling with colourfully clad older women and suit-and-tie salarymen enjoying a bottle or two of soju at outdoor tables after work. K-pop blasts out from kiosks and mobile-phone shops, gruff street-food vendors tend their carts, and the smell of roasting coffee and sizzling barbecue fills the air. The city is also home to cool and quaint neighbourhoods, historic palaces and some of the most dazzling modern buildings in the country, including the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and the 123-storey Lotte World Tower a gleaming architectural triumph overlooking the Han River and the twisting urban tapestry spread out below. Advertisement Rest up Situated on the slope of Namsan Mountain, the Grand Hyatt Seoul (double rooms from $630; hyatt.com) offers an unbeatable central location and five-star sophistication without being stuffy or pretentious. Aloft Seoul Gangnam (doubles from $228; marriott.com) is a great choice for those seeking boutique chic in a neighbourhood synonymous with style, while occupying the 76th to 101st floors of the Lotte World Tower Signiel Seoul (double rooms from $560; lottehotel.com) sets the standard for excellence and modernity in a city already known to be on the cutting edge. Gangwon-do Now conveniently linked by the high-speed KTX train to the capital, Gangwon-do province is South Korea at its most outdoorsy. Host of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, this once isolated region has kilometres of empty beaches, thick forests, surging rivers and ski runs on the slopes of the mighty Taebaek range. This rugged ridge reaches its zenith at Seoraksan, the countrys third-highest, and arguably most beautiful peak, with a national park that overlooks the charming coastal city of Sokcho. Just down the road is laid-back Gangneung, renowned not just for its multitude of seaside cafes, but also Jumunjin Beach, where K-pop fans can pay their respects at what is now known as the BTS Bus Stop, the shooting location for the supergroups video, Spring Day. Rest up Overlooking Gangneungs Gyeongpo Beach, the elegantly designed Seamarq Hotel (doubles from $650; seamarqhotel.com) is one of Gangwons premier luxury spots with everything you can expect from a top-tier hotel, along with jaw-dropping vistas of the East Sea. The Sea Cruise Hotel (doubles from $96; seacruisehotel.com) offers clean and comfortable business sensibility with a convenient downtown Sokcho location, while The House Hostel (dormitory beds from $20, double rooms from $39; thehouse-hostel.com) is immaculate, friendly and a great base for local explorations. Gyeongju Cherry blossoms on a lake in Bomun, Gyeongju. Credit: iStock Situated in the countrys south-east, South Koreas most historic city is often described as a museum without walls, and is the perfect place to soak up the nations cultural heritage. Gyeongju was once the capital of the prosperous Silla Kingdom (57 BC-935 BC), which, for a time, ruled over most of the Korean peninsula. This placid town is home to colourful pavilions, stone pagodas, an observatory tower and scores of royal tombs, as well three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto and Namsan Mountain. Advertisement Rest up IJE Gyeongju (doubles from $523; stayfolio.com) is in the pine-forested shadow of Bulguksa Temple and sets the bar for class, amenities and relaxation in the ancient Shilla capital. Soi Hanok Stay (from $257; no website) honours Gyeongjus rich architectural tradition while providing modern comforts in the heart of town, and the Lahan Select (doubles from $332; lahanhotels.com) looks out over placid Lake Bomun, with its shores that burst to life every spring when the cherry blossoms bloom. Busan No longer content to linger in the shadow of the capital, the countrys second city of Busan has come into its own, and is a must-visit on any South Korean itinerary. With mountaintop fortresses, towering high-rises, funky hillside neighbourhoods and beaches galore, scenic Busan is where Koreans come to have a good time. Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan. Credit: iStock A raucous, port town at heart, the city also shows off its glamorous side every October, when it hosts Asias largest film festival. Busans proximity to the ocean guarantees that its markets and restaurants are teeming with the freshest of seafood, and dwaeji gukbap the citys hearty, signature pork soup delivers a kind of savoury satisfaction unmatched anywhere else in the country. Rest up The Paradise Hotel (doubles from $360; busanparadisehotel.co.kr) sits right on Busans iconic Haeundae Beach and is famous for its spacious rooms, ocean views and rooftop pool. Just down the street is the Haeundae Seacloud (doubles from $85; haeundae-seacloud-residence.busan-hotel.com), which pulls off sleekness while also managing to be budget-friendly, and the Lotte Hotel in Seomyeon (doubles from $217; lottehotel.com) is a go-to for both business and holiday travellers due to its central location, comfort and services. Jeju Island Advertisement While officially Korean, Jeju sometimes feels like another country. Dominated by the crater-topped rise of Hallasan a 1947-metre extinct volcano that is also the countrys highest peak the islands subtropical climate means that its the only place where youll see palm trees. Holiday isle Jeju Island. Credit: iStock With black-sand beaches, tangerine groves, crystalline waters and the traditional female divers called haenyeo, Jeju Island offers up a taste of Korea that is distinct from the mainland. Once the premier national honeymoon destination, the so-called Hawaii of Korea now draws those wishing to engage with nature, including surfers, birdwatchers and hikers hitting the Jeju Olle Trail, a 400-plus-kilometre walking path that rings the whole of the island. Rest up The Grand Chosun Jeju (doubles from $279; gjj.josunhotel.com) is the islands premier accommodation, with multiple pools, top-tier restaurants and a gorgeous seaside location. The Bayhill Pool & Villa (from $298; bayhill.co.kr) offers stylish family rooms with private terraces and swimming pools, while Zen Hideaway (doubles from $245; zenhideawayjeju.com) delivers class, comfort and windswept tranquillity right at the oceans edge. THE PRACTICALITIES Getting there Korean Air, Qantas, Jetstar, Asiana and Tway Air offer daily non-stop flights from Sydney to Seouls Incheon International Airport. Asiana flies Melbourne-Seoul several times weekly during the Korean summer. Advertisement Travel quiz: What is the only South American city you can fly to from Australia? Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss When David De Clercq travelled to San Francisco last year, he had a few musts on his itinerary: Go to Alcatraz. Try new restaurants. And ride in a self-driving car. Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles or, colloquially, robotaxis, have been driving the streets of San Francisco in some form since 2009 and have been operating commercially since August. The cars are also shaping up as the citys latest tourist attraction. A Waymo self-driving taxi in San Francisco. Credit: Bloomberg De Clercq, 42, who splits his time between New Jersey and Sardinia, where he owns restaurants and bars and rents villas, is an avid traveller. I love exploring and doing new things, he said. I knew that I definitely wanted to get a ride while I was in town. Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on screen as he delivers his annual state of the nation address in Moscow, Russia January 15, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov) Security services across Europe are on high alert following a series of mysterious fires and sabotage attacks on infrastructure in the Baltics, Germany, and the UK. These incidents, suspected to be orchestrated by Moscow, have raised concerns about a new dimension of Russia's hybrid warfare tactics aimed at destabilizing the West, which has strongly supported Ukraine. When a fire erupted at an Ikea store in Vilnius, Lithuania, earlier this month, it initially seemed like an isolated incident. However, suspicions grew after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk suggested foreign sabotage might be at play. This incident is part of a broader pattern of suspected Russian involvement in various acts of sabotage across Europe, including an arson attack in east London, a massive blaze at Poland's largest shopping mall, a sabotage attempt in Bavaria, Germany, and antisemitic graffiti in Paris. A New Era of Hybrid Warfare European security services are now considering the possibility that these attacks are part of a coordinated effort by Russia to undermine Western stability. This form of hybrid warfare, which blends traditional espionage with modern-day cyber tactics and physical sabotage, poses a significant challenge to security agencies. "After the Cold War, foreign intelligence operations primarily involved spies and their handlers. In today's era of social media, vandals can be hired as pay-as-you-go saboteurs, paid in euros or cryptocurrency, leaving few connections to other attackers," said a senior European security official who requested anonymity. This growing concern was a focal point at a recent summit of foreign and defense ministers in Brussels, where officials from the Netherlands, Estonia, and Lithuania highlighted their vulnerabilities. One unnamed minister expressed deep worry about "sabotage, physical sabotage, organized, financed, and executed by Russian proxies." Recent Arrests and Investigations Polish authorities recently arrested nine individuals in connection with acts of sabotage allegedly commissioned by Russian services. These crimes reportedly included beatings, arson, and attempted arson. Investigators are also probing whether Russia was involved in a fire at a Warsaw shopping center, a claim dismissed as a conspiracy theory by the Russian embassy. In Lithuania, investigations are ongoing into the Ikea fire, with a spokesperson stating that the source of the fire is still under examination. Similarly, in the UK, a British man was accused of orchestrating an arson attack on businesses linked to a Ukrainian businessman, allegedly under the direction of Russian intelligence. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur confirmed that Estonia has also been a target of Russian sabotage. "They have conducted similar operations here, hiring people to attack the interior minister's and a journalist's cars. This is typical behavior from Russia, and we must recognize their increasing aggressiveness towards European and NATO countries," he said. Broader Impact and Responses In Germany, suspicions of Russian-driven attacks have been compounded by a wave of cyber-attacks attributed to a hacker group linked to Russian intelligence. Two German-Russian nationals were recently arrested on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks, including on a military base in Bavaria. France is also investigating whether antisemitic graffiti on Paris's Holocaust memorial was orchestrated by Russian security services. This follows a similar incident last year when the Star of David was spray-painted on buildings around Paris. These physical attacks are part of a broader strategy that includes a disinformation campaign aimed at sowing chaos and distrust. For instance, several schools in Athens were evacuated following a bomb hoax traced to a Russian server. Lithuanian national crisis management authorities have urged businesses and organizations to remain vigilant. International Collaboration and Vigilance European nations are ramping up security measures in response to these threats. The Dutch national coordinator for security and counter-terrorism has warned of potential subversive operations in the Netherlands, emphasizing the need for increased vigilance. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has acknowledged the rise in Russian intelligence activity across the alliance, leading to heightened vigilance. "We have seen several arrests of individuals accused of arson or sabotage, indicating increased Russian intelligence activity," he said. Experts warn that these attacks may be the early stages of a systematic activation of Russian sleeper cells. Joseph Fitsanakis, a professor of Intelligence and National Security Studies, described this as an "unprecedented phenomenon in Western post-war history," highlighting the need for comprehensive security strategies. As Europe braces for potential escalation, the focus is on securing critical infrastructure and enhancing coordination among NATO and EU member states. "We are vulnerable due to our extensive infrastructure, and we must remain vigilant against these hybrid threats," said Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren. Full text: President Xi's keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum Xinhua) 13:32, May 30, 2024 BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. The following is the full text of his speech: Further Deepening Cooperation and Moving Forward to Step up the Building of a China-Arab Community with a Shared Future Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China At the Opening Ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference Of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum Beijing, May 30, 2024 Your Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Your Excellency President Abdul Fatah Al-Sisi, Your Excellency President Kais Saied, Your Highness President Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Your Excellency Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit of the League of Arab States, Heads of Delegations, Distinguished Guests, Friends, It gives me great pleasure to attend the opening ceremony of the Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. I always find it heart-warming to meet Arab friends. The friendship between the Chinese and Arab peoples is deeply rooted in our friendly exchanges along the ancient Silk Road, in our joint struggles for national liberation, and in our win-win cooperation in promoting national development. China-Arab relations have kept scaling new heights since the beginning of the new century. At the first China-Arab States Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2022, my Arab colleagues and I agreed unanimously to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era. China is satisfied with the progress we have made in delivering on the Summit's outcomes. It will work with the Arab side to enhance the role of the Summit in providing strategic guidance for continued leapfrog growth of China-Arab relations. I am pleased to announce that we will host the second Summit in China in 2026, which will be another milestone in China-Arab relations. Distinguished Guests, Friends, As changes unseen in a century unfold rapidly across the world, both China and Arab states strive to accomplish their historical missions of national rejuvenation and faster national development. Building a China-Arab community with a shared future is a strong statement of our common desire for a new era of China-Arab relations and a better future for the world. China will work with the Arab side as good partners to make our relations a model for maintaining world peace and stability. In this turbulent world, peaceful relations come from mutual respect, and lasting security is built on fairness and justice. We will, together with the Arab side, respect the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, the independent choice of every nation and the reality formed in history, and strive together for solutions to hotspot issues that uphold fairness and justice and sustain peace and security. China will work with the Arab side in the spirit of equality and mutual benefit to make our relations a fine example of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The Silk Road spirit is passed on from generation to generation. It keeps China-Arab relations abreast with the times to the benefit of the two peoples. In this interdependent world, we will further synergize development strategies with the Arab side. We will strengthen cooperation in key areas such as oil, gas, trade and infrastructure, step up fostering new growth areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), investment, financing and new energy, and embark together on an innovative and green path to prosperity. China will work with the Arab side in the spirit of inclusiveness and mutual learning to make our relations a paradigm of harmonious coexistence between civilizations. In a world of growing diversity, more dialogue means less confrontation, and more inclusiveness means less estrangement. Peace, truth, integrity and inclusiveness are the common pursuit of Chinese and Arab peoples. We are ready to work with the Arab side to promote people-to-people exchanges, champion the common values of humanity, and create a stellar example of mutual learning among civilizations in the new era. China will work closely with the Arab side to make our relations a model for promoting good global governance. The entire humanity shares one common future, which has become an inevitable trend. But deficits in governance, trust, peace and development are getting wider. This calls on us to improve global governance under the principle of "planning together, building together, and benefiting together." We are ready to work with the Arab side to jointly champion an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and set a model of South-South cooperation on global governance. Distinguished Guests, Friends, At the first China-Arab States Summit, I put forward "eight major cooperation initiatives" for our practical cooperation. Since then, the Belt and Road cooperation documents we signed have expanded to cover a full range of areas thanks to our joint efforts over the past one year and more. New progress has been made in scientific R&D and technology transfer. Trade and energy cooperation have scaled new heights. Small and beautiful livelihood projects are advancing in parallel with signature flagship projects. Cooperation in areas such as food security, green innovation and health is deepening and getting more substantial. Platforms for people-to-people exchanges and cooperation are functioning well. Early harvests have been achieved in all the "eight major cooperation initiatives." Moving forward, China is ready to work with the Arab side on that basis to put in place the following "five cooperation frameworks" to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. The first is a more dynamic framework for innovation. China will build with the Arab side ten joint laboratories in such areas as life and health, AI, green and low-carbon development, modern agriculture, and space and information technology. We will enhance cooperation on AI to make it empower the real economy and to promote a broad-based global governance system on AI. We also stand ready to build with the Arab side a joint space debris observation center and a Beidou application, cooperation and development center, and step up cooperation in manned space mission and passenger aircraft. The second is an expanded framework for investment and finance cooperation. We are ready to establish with the Arab side an industry and investment cooperation forum, continue to expand the China-Arab states interbank association, and implement at a faster pace the cooperation projects that are financed by the special loans in support of industrialization in the Middle East as well as by the credit line for China-Arab financial cooperation. China supports closer cooperation between financial institutions from the two sides, welcomes Arab states to issue panda bonds in China, and welcomes Arab banks to join the Cross-border Interbank Payment System. China is also ready to deepen exchanges and cooperation on central bank digital currency with the Arab side. The third is a more multifaceted framework for energy cooperation. China will further enhance strategic cooperation with the Arab side on oil and gas, and integrate supply security with market security. China is ready to work with the Arab side on new energy technology R&D and equipment production. We will support Chinese energy companies and financial institutions in participating in renewable energy projects in Arab states with total installed capacity of over 3 million kilowatts. The fourth is a more balanced framework for mutually beneficial economic and trade ties. China will continue to implement vigorously the development cooperation projects with a total worth of RMB3 billion yuan. It stands ready to accelerate the negotiations on bilateral and regional free trade agreements and advance the dialogue mechanism for e-commerce cooperation. It welcomes active participation of the Arab side in the China International Import Expo, and is willing to expand import of non-energy products from the Arab side, especially agricultural products. The fifth is a broader framework for people-to-people exchanges. China is ready to establish with the Arab side the China-Arab Center of Global Civilization Initiative, expand the size and influence of the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development, accelerate the establishment of such platforms as the think tank alliance, the youth development forum, the university alliance, and the research center on cultural and tourism cooperation. China will invite 200 leaders of Arab political parties to visit China every year. We plan to work with the Arab side to achieve the goal of 10 million two-way visits of tourists in the next five years. Distinguished Guests, Friends, The Middle East is a land bestowed with broad prospects for development, but the war is still raging on it. Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing the people into tremendous sufferings. War should not continue indefinitely. Justice should not be absent forever. Commitment to the two-State solution should not be wavered at will. China firmly supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. It supports Palestine's full membership in the U.N., and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference. On top of the previous RMB100 million yuan of emergency humanitarian assistance, China will provide an additional RMB500 million yuan of assistance to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction. We will donate U.S.$3 million to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in support of its emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza. As an Arab saying goes, friends are the sunshine in life. We will continue to work with our Arab friends to carry forward the spirit of China-Arab friendship, build together a better future, and make the road sunny toward a China-Arab community with a shared future! Thank you! (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) If theres one car that can be considered as the king of reinvention, its the Hyundai Santa Fe. In the five generations its been around, e... Walt Disney Animation Studios has revealed the first teaser trailer for Moana 2, slated to open in U.S. theaters on November 27, 2024. The theatrical feature is a somewhat unexpected entry from Disney. Back in February of this year, Disney CEO Bob Iger made the surprise announcement that the planned Moana streaming series was being retooled as a full-length feature. We were impressed with what we saw, and we knew it deserved a theatrical release, Iger said at the time. The original 2016 films performance on streaming also likely factored into the decision to produce a second animated theatrical film. Last year, the John Musker and Ron Clements-directed Moana was the #1 most-streamed title in the United States, and it has been among the top four streaming titles for four straight years. Uniquely (and perhaps concerningly, if you work in the L.A. animation industry), Moana 2 also marks the first Walt Disney Animation Studios feature in many years that is not being produced entirely at its Burbank studio. Thats because production on the Moana series was originally taking place in Canada at Disneys new animation studio in Vancouver. Work on the feature is now being split between the Vancouver and Burbank studios. As other animation studios continue to shift away from domestic production, it would not be surprising if Moana 2 becomes a trial run for a new production model at Disney Animation. Moana 2 is directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller. Both Derrick and Hand were story artists on the original film, while Derrick and Ledoux Miller both share Samoan ancestry. Producers on the film are Christina Chen and Yvett Merino. The film reunites Moana (voiced by Aulii Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) with other characters from the original film, including Heihei the rooster and Pua the pig. It is set three years after the original. Per the logline, After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything shes ever faced. Moana 2 features music by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Opetaia Foai, and Mark Mancina. Heidelberg Materials launches Green Finance Framework Suzanne Starbuck By 30 May 2024 Heidelberg Materials has announced the launch of a Green Finance Framework to help fund the ongoing transformation and decarbonisation of the building materials sector. The company intends to issue Green Bonds to finance and/or refinance assets and capital expenditure associated with economic activities that meet or will meet the eligibility criteria defined in the Green Finance Framework. According to Heidelberg Materials, this will complement the sustainable finance portfolio contributing to the company reaching its target to increase the share of sustainable financial instruments to over 70 per cent by 2025. Heidelberg Materials CFO, Rene Aldach, said, With the Green Finance Framework, we have set another cornerstone to cover our funding needs for the years to come. The framework reflects the continued confidence in our strong cashflow generation and enables us to fund sustainable projects and further decarbonise our business. The new framework underlines our position as front runner of decarbonisation in our industry. Dr Nicola Kimm, chief sustainability officer and member of the managing board of Heidelberg Materials, added, The increasingly close integration of financial and ESG aspects provides vital opportunities for companies to identify and close performance gaps and strengthen stakeholder confidence. The trend toward sustainable investments continues to grow steadily. We are delighted that the new framework will make Heidelberg Materials an even more attractive investment case for a broader investor base. Heidelberg Materials Green Finance Framework is based on the latest version of the International Capital Market Associations (ICMA) Green Bond Principles and the Loan Market Associations (LMA) Green Loan Principles. ISS Corporate has provided a Second Party Opinion, validating the alignment with ICMA and LMA Principles, the consistency with the companys sustainability strategy, and that the projects financed will positively contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The framework also considers selected elements of the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the associated Delegated Acts as well as the EU Green Bond Regulation. The EU Taxonomy defines which economic activity can be considered environmentally sustainable and thus sets a Europe-wide standard for sustainable investments. Published under Ecocem supports Irish government's 30% target for clinker reduction Peter Bell By 30 May 2024 The Irish government has announced that it will provide specific guidance for the use and procurement of low-carbon cement and concrete in public sector projects. Cement accounts for almost five per cent of Irelands total emissions. Specifically, the government has formally mandated a 30 per cent target for clinker reduction and Ireland is the first country in Europe to do this. Since clinker is the source of over 90 per cent of emissions from cement and cement in Ireland currently averages almost 85 per cent clinker, this is a significant shift and sends a clear message to the construction industry to invest in low-carbon products, claims Dublin-based Ecocem, a pioneer of low-carbon cement solutions. Ecocem has welcomed the government's announcement. Susan McGarry, director of public affairs and sustainability at Ecocem, said: Public procurement requirements on the use of low-carbon cement are essential to ensure sustainable delivery of Irelands infrastructure. At Ecocem, we have long been calling for mandatory use of low carbon cements, which have enormous potential to reduce emissions at scale, and the governments mandatory target of 30 per cent reduction in clinker is a solid start on which we as an industry can build. "Low carbon cement technology is available to be deployed immediately, offering a scalable, cost-efficient solution to cement and concretes carbon problem. The responsibility now lies with public sector decision makers to engage with the private sector in its efforts to reduce the carbon impact of construction." The announcement from Irelands Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment follows its "Reducing embodied carbon in cement and concrete through Public Procurement in Ireland" report, detailing technical and procedural recommendations for public procurement including: reduce the carbon impact of public sector projects involving construction lower the carbon impact of the procurement of cement and concrete do more with less by using less concrete and less cement and by designing, specifying, and managing products on site better. Published under Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) is hosting an Open House for its Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program to provide an opportunity to tour the facilities and to meet the instructors, staff and students. The event will take place on GNTCs Walker County Campus at 265 Bicentennial Trail, Rock Spring on Monday, June 3, from 4-6 p.m. The ASN program includes academic and occupational courses, along with a variety of clinical experiences to integrate theory and practice under the clinical instructors guidance. The laboratory equipment includes Gaumard patient simulators, or manikins, that can replicate various human patient physiology such as respiration, heart beat and pulse. Upon completion of the program, graduates receive an associate degree in Nursing and are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN). We are excited to continue to offer our Associate of Science in Nursing program on the Walker County Campus, said Allison Patnode, dean of Nursing and Health Technologies at GNTC. We look forward to putting more students out into the profession of nursing. For more information, contact Michelle Spears-Sevy, Registered Nursing program administrator, at msevy@gntc.edu or 706-764-3829. Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report. (If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com) AREVALO, ROSALES YESENIA MARIA 766 CHERISHED VW APT 132 CHATTANOOGA, 37415 Age at Arrest: 30 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) BARRETT, MARCIA ANN 5217 DELASHMITT RD HIXSON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 63 years old Arresting Agency: Red Bank Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) BROOKS, ROY ANTHONY HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, Age at Arrest: 41 years old Arresting Agency: East Ridge POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA POSSESSION OF HYDROCODINE (SIMPLE POSSESSION OF SC POSS.OF FIREARM WHILE IN COMMISSION OF FELONY POSSESSION OF FOR RESALE(POSSES BUCKMAN, ERIKA L 144 SIGNAL HILLS DR CHATTANOOGA, 37405 Age at Arrest: 44 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE BUTLER, CHRISTOPHER DEAN 6381 SATJANON DR OOLTEWAH, 37363 Age at Arrest: 32 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN GORDON CO GA) BUTLER, MATTHEW RYAN 727 EAST 11TH STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37412 Age at Arrest: 31 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff FORFEITURE CAPIAS PUBLIC INTOXICATION CASEY, JAMES SAMUEL 727 E 11TH STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37403 Age at Arrest: 52 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff VIOLATION OF PROBATION (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) COOPER, CHARLES DEAN 1483 SOUTH HIGHWAY 341 CHICKAMAUGA, 30707 Age at Arrest: 66 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE POSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIADRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEREGISTRATION, UNLAWFUL REMOVAL OF DECAL OR PLATEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYCROSS, MEGAN LEEANN3807 HOYT ST CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffFAILURE TO APPEARCROWTHER, TYRONE CORDELL727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 374033104Age at Arrest: 44 years oldArresting Agency: Humane SocietyPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIADAILEY, TONY LAVONHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37402Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)DEWS, JERSHAY D3884 YOUNGSTOWN RD CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 21 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDOMESTIC ASSAULTEALEY, CRYSTAL LYNETTE808 WES 42 STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37410Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency: CollegedaleBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)EDWARDS, JEFFERY LEE2310 OOLTEWAH RINGGOLD RD OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 46 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEELLIS, BRANDON L3529 BUCHANAN RD CLEVELAND, 373230205Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEEZELL, KAITLYN ELIZABETH4582 RUBY RED DRIVE OOLTEWAH, 37363Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEEVADING ARRESTRECKLESS ENDANGERMENTEVADING ARRESTRECKLESS ENDANGERMENTDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSERECKLESS DRIVINGFLEMISTER, ROBERTA L1706 WALKER ST CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 62 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDTHEFT OF PROPERTYGILLISPIE, YVONNE805 W MAIN ST CT CHATTANOOGA, 37402Age at Arrest: 59 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDASSAULTGRAY, JOSIAH SANSALVADOR6170 CALM BREEZE AVE UNIT 101 LAS VEGAS, 89108Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffFUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN ANOTHER STATE)GREEN, MARQUESE D ESHAWN4799 VICKI ANN RD PAHRUMP, 89048Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffFUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN ANOTHER STATE)HANKS, NICHOLAS LESTER3951 JASMINE ST CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALEPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAHARTGROVE, DAVID CHARLES727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37403Age at Arrest: 65 years oldArresting Agency: UTCCRIMINAL TRESPASSINGHIGGINS, SCOTTY LAMAR1052 HIRAM AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest: 41 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (METH)POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (FENTYNAL)POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIATAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCEFAILURE TO SIGNAL TURNSTOP SIGN VIOLATIONHOWARD, TYRESE MONTRELL3406 CLIO AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374072003Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDTHEFT OF PROPERTYRESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESSPOSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMEDPOSS OF FIREARM DURING A FELONYLEAVING SCENE ACCIDENTJOHNSON, TRAVIS KNIGHT128 SHADOW SPRINGS TR ROCK SPRINGS, 30739Age at Arrest: 32 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffFUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN CATOOSA CO GA)KING, LISA1096 CREEK RD WILDWOOD, 30757Age at Arrest: 54 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffASSAULTASSAULTLAND, LARRY HUEL6813 TRAMMELL DR MILTON, 33570Age at Arrest: 45 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgePOSS METH FOR RESALELAY, BRANDON MIKEL1000 EMMETT AVE NW APT C CLEVELAND, 37311Age at Arrest: 39 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCELEMING, JUSTIN MICHAEL8517 HIGHWAY 157 RISING FAWN, 30708Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffFAILURE TO APPEARLOWE, KACY KRISTINA3445 DURHRAM STREET SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 41 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDVIOLATION OF PROBATION (CONSPIRACY TO TAMPERWITH EVIOLATION OF PROBATION (TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE0MANASCO, DONALD RAY3696 COTTOON PORT ROAD DAYTON, 37321Age at Arrest: 52 years oldArresting Agency: CollegedaleBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)MCALLISTER, SAMUEL EUGENE3523 CONNELLY LANE EAST RIDGE, 37412Age at Arrest: 46 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)MCBEE, RANDY AARON3448 CAGLE ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37419Age at Arrest: 45 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffPASSING WORTHLESS CHECK(S)MCNAIR, JIMMY LEE8812 SHOREHAM RD KNOXVILLE, 37915Age at Arrest: 24 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF A WEAPON)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SMILLER, KENNETH JOE204 20TH STREET SE CLEVELAND, 37311Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: OtherDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCESPEEDINGOPEN CONTAINER LAWMORGAN, STEVEN TYLER7812 BALL CAMP PIKE KNOXVILLE, 379314033Age at Arrest: 35 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDRESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESSPUBLIC INTOXICATIONMORRIS, THARON DESMONDHOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37402Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDASSAULTCRIMINAL TRESPASSINGDISORDERLY CONDUCTPILON, ROBERT STACEY3250 OCOONITA RD JONESVILLE, 24263Age at Arrest: 42 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEPULLIN, JAYDEN TIMOTHY540 CENTRAL AVE CLEVELAND, 37311Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffTHEFT OF PROPERTYROBLERO MORALES, ANGELA180 CARTY AVENUE DAYTON, 37321Age at Arrest: 26 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEDRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINEREGISTRATION, IMPROPER DISPLAY OF PLATESDRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSESIVELS, KHALIL HAKEEM8451 BLACK WALNUT DR OOLTEWAH, 373633102Age at Arrest: 23 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDAGGRAVATED CRIMINAL TRESPASSVANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEFSMARTT, DEREKE ANTWON2001 CLEVELAND AVE APT A CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: Juvenile CourtNONSUPPORT AND FLAGGRANT 54595NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT 58333SMITH, SONYA ANNETTE112 RANDI CI DAYTON, 37321Age at Arrest: 51 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSETHOMAS, JAMES CHUCK825 GREENWOOD ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffNONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORTTODD, DEBRA D7017 SHALLOWFORD RD RM 232 CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 63 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSELIGHT LAW VIOLATIONFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYUPTON, DONOVAN MICHAEL158 SIGNAL HILLS DR CHATTANOOGA, 37405Age at Arrest: 26 years oldArresting Agency: Red BankFAILURE TO APPEARWILLIAMS, NATHAN LEE6228 CANOE LN CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 42 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffPOSSESSION OF METH (SELL, DEL. OR MANUFACTURING)POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAVIOLATION OF PROBATION(SIMPLE POSSESSION OF CONTROWILSON, BRANDON LUKE8225 OXFORD DR LAKESITE, 37343Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION (RECKLESS ENDANGERMENTWRIGHT, IYONNA DESHAE1804 RUBIO ST CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: Tenn Hwy PatrolSPEEDINGRECKLESS DRIVINGFAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANEEVADING ARRESTDRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARERECKLESS ENDANGERMENTCHILD RESTRAINT LAW VIOLATION Here are the mug shots: AREVALO, ROSALES YESENIA MARIA Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 08/19/1993 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) BARRETT, MARCIA ANN Age at Arrest: 63 Date of Birth: 06/29/1960 Arresting Agency: Red Bank Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) BROOKS, ROY ANTHONY Age at Arrest: 41 Date of Birth: 02/12/1983 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA POSSESSION OF HYDROCODINE (SIMPLE POSSESSION OF SC POSS.OF FIREARM WHILE IN COMMISSION OF FELONY POSSESSION OF FOR RESALE(POSSES BUCKMAN, ERIKA L Age at Arrest: 44 Date of Birth: 08/18/1979 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE BULLARD, ANTONIO JEROME Age at Arrest: 45 Date of Birth: 05/06/1978 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FOR LIFE BUTLER, CHRISTOPHER DEAN Age at Arrest: 32 Date of Birth: 09/09/1991 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN GORDON CO GA) BUTLER, MATTHEW RYAN Age at Arrest: 31 Date of Birth: 04/06/1993 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): FORFEITURE CAPIAS PUBLIC INTOXICATION CASEY, JAMES SAMUEL Age at Arrest: 52 Date of Birth: 01/03/1972 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) EALEY, CRYSTAL LYNETTE Age at Arrest: 25 Date of Birth: 07/24/1998 Arresting Agency: Collegedale Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) EDWARDS, JEFFERY LEE Age at Arrest: 46 Date of Birth: 10/14/1977 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE ELLIS, BRANDON L Age at Arrest: 27 Date of Birth: 11/07/1996 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE EZELL, KAITLYN ELIZABETH Age at Arrest: 36 Date of Birth: 02/27/1988 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE EVADING ARREST RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT EVADING ARREST RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE RECKLESS DRIVING FLEMISTER, ROBERTA L Age at Arrest: 62 Date of Birth: 02/28/1962 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY HANKS, NICHOLAS LESTER Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 01/24/1994 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA HARTGROVE, DAVID CHARLES Age at Arrest: 65 Date of Birth: 03/15/1959 Arresting Agency: UTC Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): CRIMINAL TRESPASSING JOHNSON, TRAVIS KNIGHT Age at Arrest: 32 Date of Birth: 07/19/1991 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN CATOOSA CO GA) KING, LISA Age at Arrest: 54 Date of Birth: 12/01/1969 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): ASSAULT ASSAULT LAND, LARRY HUEL Age at Arrest: 45 Date of Birth: 11/24/1978 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): POSS METH FOR RESALE LAY, BRANDON MIKEL Age at Arrest: 39 Date of Birth: 09/08/1984 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE LEMING, JUSTIN MICHAEL Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 12/27/1993 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): FAILURE TO APPEAR LOWE, KACY KRISTINA Age at Arrest: 41 Date of Birth: 10/25/1982 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (CONSPIRACY TO TAMPERWITH E VIOLATION OF PROBATION (TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE0 MANASCO, DONALD RAY Age at Arrest: 52 Date of Birth: 09/10/1971 Arresting Agency: Collegedale Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) MCBEE, RANDY AARON Age at Arrest: 45 Date of Birth: 06/08/1978 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): PASSING WORTHLESS CHECK(S) MCNAIR, JIMMY LEE Age at Arrest: 24 Date of Birth: 08/29/1999 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF A WEAPON) VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED S MILLER, KENNETH JOE Age at Arrest: 27 Date of Birth: 04/21/1997 Arresting Agency: Other Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE SPEEDING OPEN CONTAINER LAW MORRIS, THARON DESMOND Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 11/10/1993 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): ASSAULT CRIMINAL TRESPASSING DISORDERLY CONDUCT PILON, ROBERT STACEY Age at Arrest: 42 Date of Birth: 07/27/1981 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE PULLIN, JAYDEN TIMOTHY Age at Arrest: 29 Date of Birth: 04/17/1995 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY ROBLERO MORALES, ANGELA Age at Arrest: 26 Date of Birth: 11/03/1997 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINE REGISTRATION, IMPROPER DISPLAY OF PLATES DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE SMARTT, DEREKE ANTWON Age at Arrest: 34 Date of Birth: 06/30/1989 Arresting Agency: Juvenile Court Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): NONSUPPORT AND FLAGGRANT 54595 NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT 58333 SMITH, SONYA ANNETTE Age at Arrest: 51 Date of Birth: 09/19/1972 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE THOMAS, JAMES CHUCK Age at Arrest: 34 Date of Birth: 03/27/1990 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): NONSUPPORT AND FLAGRANT NONSUPPORT TODD, DEBRA D Age at Arrest: 63 Date of Birth: 08/16/1960 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE LIGHT LAW VIOLATION FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY UPTON, DONOVAN MICHAEL Age at Arrest: 26 Date of Birth: 01/31/1998 Arresting Agency: Red Bank Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): FAILURE TO APPEAR WRIGHT, IYONNA DESHAE Age at Arrest: 22 Date of Birth: 08/01/2001 Arresting Agency: Tenn Hwy Patrol Last Date of Arrest: 05/29/2024 Charge(s): SPEEDING RECKLESS DRIVING FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE EVADING ARREST DRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARE RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT CHILD RESTRAINT LAW VIOLATION In honor of Juneteenth, The Unity Group of Chattanooga and Community Haven are partnering in the Youth Love for Literacy Festival and Book Drive. It will be held Saturday, June 15, from 4-6 p.m. at The Community Haven. Organizers are asking community members to purchase a book, or books, for school-aged children and young adults from a list of titles about African American history and experiences, and those pertaining to Juneteenth. The books will be distributed during the Youth Love for Literacy Festival, as well as detail initiatives on how to continue to encourage reading and literacy with young people on an ongoing basis. In honor of Juneteenth, there will be free admission to the Bouncy Park for young people between 4-6 p.m. Community members may bring books to donate to the effort on Saturday, June 15, at The Community Haven, 815 N. Hickory St., or mail them to the Unity Group at P.O. Box 5441, Chattanooga, TN 37406. Recommended Juneteenth Reading List: Juneteenth Reading List | National Museum of African American History and Culture (si.edu) Juneteenth Reads for All Ages | The New York Public Library (nypl.org) 7 Books for Celebrating Juneteenth | Parenting | PBS KIDS for Parents NJOF - Education (national-juneteenth.org) Education is a lifelong journey. It starts long before kindergarten and continues well beyond high school graduation. Wisdom comes from understanding that learning and personal growth are never-ending processes. The world is constantly developing and growing more complex. Embracing new experiences and ideas is crucial for adaptation, informed decisions, and a deeper understanding of our existence. Learning is an ongoing journey, providing daily opportunities for growth and education. Education is not just about obtaining a degree or gaining a career. It's about expanding our knowledge, understanding the truths of life, and shaping our identity and aspirations. As Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently said, The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and critically. He further emphasized, We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus characterthat is the goal of true education. Those with positive character traits can better handle lifes challenges. Too often, the misdeeds of elected leaders and influential individuals are excused as an accessory to their power, genius, or station in life. We do ourselves a disservice when we fail to hold all individuals accountable to the same laws. When elected leaders are dishonest or misrepresent the truth, we barely notice. Dr. King warned teachers to remain vigilant to avoid nurturing narrow-minded, anti-science, irrational propagandists engrossed in immoral behavior. King understood the challenge as he wrote "The Purpose of Education" as a student at Morehouse College in 1947. Schools, like educators, parents, and taxpayers, are surrounded by diverse ideas and people with vastly different experiences and perspectives. K12 education cannot solely prepare students for college and careers; it must also produce thoughtful, engaged citizens and future leaders. When students graduate, they must continue to grow intellectually. Our schools must educate individuals who can effectively communicate, participate in civil society, and engage in the electoral process. Cicero, a Roman statesman and philosopher, once wrote: The welfare of the nation lies in the character of its citizens. In our own nation, we recognize that character development education teaches students core ethical values, such as respect, justice, civic virtue, citizenship, and responsibility, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. According to the Journal of Inquiry & Action in Education, the historical precedent for character education in America is a long one. Character education should encompass emotional, intellectual, and moral qualities and offer students opportunities to learn, discuss, and demonstrate positive social behaviors. It is essential that character education remains an integral part of formal education. When education focuses on more than just academic achievement, all society benefits. Today American education is influenced by the long-term effect of high-stakes testing. Federal policies like No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top shifted the focus of education in American schools by policymakers, and as a result, character education declined. Fostering strong moral character in children has tangible, everyday benefits and leads to numerous long-term advantages. This, too, must be part of the journey in our educational experience. Education is undergoing a paradigm shift but relies too much on standardized tests as the measure of success. Former US Secretary of Education Richard Riley proclaimed: We are currently preparing students for jobs that don't yet exist using technologies that haven't been invented in order to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet. This is as true today as when he made the statement. In today's fast-paced world, continuous learning is essential for adaptability. Lifelong learning includes professional development, upskilling, and reskilling to stay competitive in all aspects of any career. The most significant problem is adapting processes to meet individual needs, interests, and schedules. Life is a continual process of growth and learning. Lifelong learners who uphold core ethical values and possess basic skills will undoubtedly grow into engaged citizens and future leaders who can meet future challenges. JC Bowman Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee Years ago, Peggy Lee recorded a haunting tune, Is That All There Is? Written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in the 1960s, it wasnt one of those upbeat, feel-good songs. Not the kind that keeps us humming during the day with a smile on our face. Basically, the tune puts a story of disillusionment to music. Is That All There Is tells about a little girls disappointments: She witnesses her family home go up in flames. At the age of 12 she enjoys a circus, but afterward experiences a feeling of emptiness. The girl grows up to be a woman and falls in love, but eventually that love is lost. After each loss or disappointment, the song repeats the refrain, Is that all there is, is that all there is? If thats all there is my friends, then lets keep dancing. Lets break out the booze and have a ball, if thats all there is. In other words, when life lets you down, focus on the distractions of the present moment. This is hardly a new perspective. King Solomon of Israel expressed similar sentiments more profoundly thousands of years ago. Describing his life, the king honestly wrote, I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11). Other translations express it, vanity, all is vanity or everything is futile. Solomon might as well have been singing, Is that all there is? At the recent Chattanooga Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast, speaker Chris Simpson shared his life story, recounting how he had risen from a family of modest means to achieve great success in college, the military, and then in the U.S. Secret Service, serving under seven different Presidents. Any casual observer would have concluded, That guy has it made! And outwardly, Simpson certainly did. Except inwardly, he too was wondering, Is that all there is? Like King Solomon, as Simpson appraised his many accomplishments, terms like meaningless, vanity, and futility must have been marching through his mind. That all changed, he explained, when he decided to stop chasing after worldly success and recognition, choosing to follow Jesus Christ instead. Over the years Ive met and interviewed dozens of high achievers like Simpson, people who had devoted their lives to climbing the proverbial ladder of success, only to discover it was leaning against the wrong wall. Great amounts of time, energy and talent invested, and for what? Only when they experienced life-changing encounters with Christ did life take on true meaning. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon did not remain stuck in a dismal tale of woe and dissatisfaction. He learned that in the midst of this transitory life, he could experience fulfillment in a relationship with God. He observed, Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him for this is his lot (Ecclesiastes 5:18). And the king closed with this declaration: Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Today, Chris Simpson appreciates the successes he attained, but has a new mission. Instead of serving Presidents hes representing the King of kings, living out 2 Corinthians 5:20 which says, We are therefore Christs ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christs behalf: Be reconciled to God. As president of CBMC International, Simpson travels the world, meeting with business and professional people and telling them his story. He has gone from emptiness to fulness, discovering the truth of Christs promise, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). This assurance is available to us all, no matter where we find ourselves in life. When we reach the point of asking, Is that all there is? Jesus is waiting to fulfill His promise, as another translation states it, that they may have life, and have it abundantly. * * * Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly published, Marketplace Ambassadors; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Todays Workplace; Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. A weekly business meditation he edits, Monday Manna, is translated into more than 20 languages and sent via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for his blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net. It started as a concert series called 5 Nights in Chattanooga. Live trucks had yet to come to Chattanooga Television. Riverbend by the Tennessee River began in August 1982 and by then both WRCB and WTVC had live trucks. I suggested early on that the station should consider taking the newscast live from the event due to the predicted crowds. The news director wasnt as excited as I was. Riverbend on the other hand needed the publicity and they were happy to put me right in the middle of things. It was a straight microwave shot to the WRCB studios, but for WTVC it was a microwave 2-Hop. I needed extra gear to have a redundant path set up. I was turned down for the gear, but they still let me have the five live shots I wanted. I rigged a two-hop using a building across the river. (The anchors stayed back at the station since failure was an option with the new gear.) The Chevy Suburban we called a Live Truck, had a three-input mechanical switcher, but to cover five reporter locations I was going to have to plug and unplug two cables during the show. We also lacked enough Comrex IFB receivers so I put TV sets with rabbit ears at several of the locations. We hit all five shots and the next night they sent one of the anchors down to us. It was great fun flying by the seat of our pants for the rest of the week. WRCB took notice too. The gear worked great all week, but weather played havoc once or twice during the week cancelling several live shots. One of our anchors missed a complete show due to bad weather on site and not being able to get back to the station in time to anchor. During cleanup we got several of our low hanging A/V cables cut by trucks. (Next year our company electrician strung the cable with his bucket truck to avoid this.) Next year we moved into a production van with a real synchronous video switcher and an intercom system. The reporters all had Comrex IFBs. The microwave was a portable unit on the roof with the same two-hop as before. We had a home window AC unit that blew directly into the producers area and he had to wear a jacket during the show to keep from freezing, but we were LIVE smack dab in the middle of Riverbend, with half the anchor team for 6 and 11 p.m. every night. WRCB was right next to us. After the 6 p.m. show the first night Cindy McCashin from WRCB showed up with a checker board table cloth and lots of FOOD for her crew. My guys looked on with much envy! They asked me, "What are we getting? I called the ND and he said use your credit card and feed the crew every night. I cut a deal with a vendor and he also kept an ice chest full of water and sodas on hand. Riverbend was very TV friendly at this time. They allowed us to put a camera on an elevated platform facing the main stage. We used it for crowd shots at 6 p.m. and the bands at night. By copyright laws at the time we could use 90 seconds of each song, so we cut in live with the band every chance we got, timing each one using a stop watch. We planned to include the fireworks on Saturday night, but the band played on, live of course, and WTVC had a movie to run. The third year they moved us to Kirkman Hill overlooking Riverbend. It was a nice view but away from the crowd. The cables runs to site were very lengthy. All three stations had tents side by side. That eliminated the two-hop for WTVC, improving reliability. Both WRCB and WTVC brought their entire anchor teams. Dinners had become quite special and surprise desserts showed each time. Portable microwaves could feed shots to the production trucks from places too long for cables. We still had our stage camera as well. The last night in year three of Riverbend everything was running late. We went on at 11 p.m. and ran our nightly news stories, punctuated of course with Band Cam for 90 seconds. The band Chicago was on stage all the way through the show. We desperately wanted to get the fireworks in too. I called the guy in charge of master control to see if we could stretch the newscast. He said since we were running a movie tonight I could stay live as long as I wanted; Just call me back when its almost time to start the movie. I had researched the history of Rosss Landing and Chattanoogas river relationship. I sat in front of the anchors writing questions and answers on a clip board. After each question we went back for our 90 seconds of Chicago music. Did anybody really know what time it was? Did anybody really care? We did this for almost 30 minutes before the fireworks started. After they ended, the anchors tossed to a commercial break and then the movie. The station, WTVC, signed off the air after the movie ended. I think we spent two years on Cameron Hill. We also covered the Bessie Smith Jazz Strut on Mondays during Riverbends. For just one show we moved everything down to Martin Luther King Boulevard. We did multiple cameras with the whole anchor team for 6 p.m. The 11 p.m. was usually a single shot. Then we moved it all back to Riverbend the next day. The stations got into more sponsorships and advertising agreements with many companies at the Riverbend Festival TV was able to move back into the heart of Riverbend. TV stations constructed plexiglass control rooms so the public could see how we went live. Sets were built so the public could see the anchors too. We stayed there a couple years and the public loved seeing and meeting their favorite anchors in person. Local TV weather forecasters began feeding the live screens at Riverbend with a pre-show forecast. Food and drinks werent bad either. We moved after several years of being inside of Riverbend because the cost of being there as a station had gotten just too high. Copyright rules changed too and we were limited to 10 second audio clips of the bands. The stage camera was also gone. We turned the Bessie Smith Strut coverage into a single truck and talent shot. We settled on putting live trucks on the periphery of Riverbend. One camera and two microphones max became the norm. Riverbend was no longer the guaranteed lead. Now we use Live-U backpacks and solo talent. Anchor appearances were rare and the stories became part of the daily mix at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. I was chief photographer when Riverbend started and then I was ENG/SNG tech who helped with setup and operation of the multi-camera events. Call me anything, I was interested in Riverbend because the shear numbers of people warranted coverage. I also believed that if something happened getting to Riverbend to cover it due to pedestrian traffic, parking would be almost impossible. Remember this was before the cell phone backpacks that we have today. There was a PR angle, but I didnt push that like the news director and general manager did. This was 20-30 plus years ago. My memory isnt what it once was and Im withholding some of the names to protect both the innocent and the guilty. ----- John P. Creel III retired from from WTVC TV, Channel 9, in 2009 as chief photographer and went to work for WRCB TV, Channel 3, before retiring from television in 2017. The Auburn University graduate described his television career as a jack of all trades. A 13-year old was arrested after leading authorities on a chase in a stolen vehicle on Thursday. Collegedale Police Department personnel notified dispatch of a white KIA that had been reported stolen in Chattanooga after it was identified by an Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) camera in Collegedale. HCSO and Collegedale Police units immediately began searching for the vehicle around the area of Standifer Gap Road and Camp Road. After several minutes, the vehicle was observed near the 7700 block of Standifer Gap Road. HCSO units converged on the area and attempted to stop the vehicle; however, the driver refused to stop and fled, with deputies in pursuit. The pursuit traveled down I-75 south into Georgia with the suspect exiting and re-entering the interstate several times before striking a curb causing the front right tire to go flat. The vehicle eventually came to a stop near the 347-mile marker. Catoosa County Sheriffs Office, Georgia State Patrol, and HCSO took four juveniles into custody. The driver was determined to be 13 years old and it was later discovered one of the juveniles involved in the incident has an upcoming court hearing for a previous charge of theft of a vehicle and robbery. The four juveniles were released to their parents at the scene. The mother of one of the juveniles reported issues with getting a ride to the scene in Georgia. HCSO deputies went to her residence to ensure she obtained a ride to the scene to take custody of the juvenile. Charges will be filed for theft over $10,000 and an additional charge of felony evading will be filed for the 13-year-old driver. A man who was left with severe injuries Thursday morning following an incident at a liquid nitriding facility in Chattanooga has died. The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) is investigating the incident. Chattanooga Fire Department Blue Shift companies were called at 9 a.m. to TS USA, 1031 Windtower Drive, for a commercial fire. There were reports that one of the workers was burned and his fellow employees were trying to help him. The fire was extinguished by workers with fire extinguishers. Firefighters arrived on the scene and immediately began patient care. Others went inside to make sure the fire was out. The company has a state-of-the-art salt bath nitriding line. Large cylinders contain a hot solution that reacts with water. It appears there was a chemical reaction, causing an explosion. Hamilton County EMS transported one patient with extensive burns. Three other workers were treated on the scene with minor burns and one firefighter sustained a minor ankle injury. Since a hazardous chemical is involved, the building has been evacuated, but there is no danger or threat to the surrounding area. CFD Squad 1, Ladder 1, Hazmat 1, Battalion 1, Battalion 3, Special Operations, and members of the command staff are on the scene, along with Hamilton County EMS, CPD, Tennessee OSHA, and Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau. County Mayor Weston Wamp said the county has come up with another $5 million to go toward teacher pay. The county school board, which has not yet passed a budget, has been seeking a $20 million rise in funding. County Mayor Weston Wamp said, After weeks of studying the states TISA funding formula, working with state officials, and leaders in the school system, my office has proposed a one-time $5 million supplement for FY2025 ensuring starting pay for all teachers in Hamilton County is $50,000 in the upcoming school year. "This solution was achieved by reallocating funds within Hamilton Countys FY2024 and proposed FY2025 budget. It will not require any layoffs nor disrupt the operations of Hamilton County Government. "It is important to note Hamilton County Schools is expecting more than $20 million in new state and local revenue in the FY2025 budget, not including this $5 million. Thanks in part to leadership from our local legislative delegation and Governor Bill Lee, the school system will have in excess of $100 million more in recurring local and state funding in FY2025 compared to FY2023. "It is a great time for Hamilton County Schools, but with this $5 million supplement we can take an important step toward compensating teachers competitively with other school districts in our region. "Our projections show that with a disciplined approach, Hamilton County Schools should be able to increase starting teacher pay to between $53,000-$54,000 by FY2027 (the 2026-2027 school year), the same year the state of Tennessee is committed to starting pay of $50,000 for teachers statewide. "I am hopeful the Hamilton County Board of Education will quickly approve a budget that includes this one-time $5 million supplement from Hamilton County, so the County Commission can consider a consolidated budget in a timely manner on June 26th. Capturing three times more light: Empa and ETH researchers are developing an image sensor made of perovskite that could deliver true-color photos even in poor lighting conditions. Unlike conventional image sensors, where the pixels for red, green and blue lie next to each other in a grid, perovskite pixels can be stacked thus greatly increasing the amount of light each individual pixel can capture. Innovative light sensor: The researchers are now working on miniaturizing the pixels, which were originally up to five millimeters in size, and assembling them into a functioning image sensor. Empa Family, friends, vacations, pets: Today, we take photos of everything that comes in front of our lens. Digital photography, whether with a cell phone or camera, is simple and hence widespread. Every year, the latest devices promise an even better image sensor with even more megapixels. The most common type of sensor is based on silicon, which is divided into individual pixels for red, green and blue (RGB) light using special filters. However, this is not the only way to make a digital image sensor and possibly not even the best. A consortium comprising Maksym Kovalenko from Empa's Thin Films and Photovoltaics laboratory, Ivan Shorubalko from Empa's Transport at Nanoscale Interfaces laboratory, as well as ETH Zurich researchers Taekwang Jang and Sergii Yakunin, is working on an image sensor made of perovskite capable of capturing considerably more light than its silicon counterpart. In a silicon image sensor, the RGB pixels are arranged next to each other in a grid. Each pixel only captures around one-third of the light that reaches it. The remaining two-thirds are blocked by the color filter. Pixels made of lead halide perovskites do not need an additional filter: it is already "built into" the material, so to speak. Empa and ETH researchers have succeeded in producing lead halide perovskites in such a way that they only absorb the light of a certain wavelength and therefore color but are transparent to the other wavelengths. This means that the pixels for red, green and blue can be stacked on top of each other instead of being arranged next to each other. The resulting pixel can absorb the entire wavelength spectrum of visible light. "A perovskite sensor could therefore capture three times as much light per area as a conventional silicon sensor," explains Empa researcher Shorubalko. Moreover, perovskite converts a larger proportion of the absorbed light into an electrical signal, which makes the image sensor even more efficient. Kovalenko's team was first able to fabricate individual functioning stacked perovskite pixels in 2017. To make the next step towards real image sensors, the ETH-Empa consortium led by Kovalenko had partnered with the electronics industry. "The challenges to address include finding new materials fabrication and patterning processes, as well as design and implementation of the perovskite-compatible read-out electronic architectures", emphasizes Kovalenko. The researchers are now working on miniaturizing the pixels, which were originally up to five millimeters in size, and assembling them into a functioning image sensor. "In the laboratory, we don't produce the large sensors with several megapixels that are used in cameras," explains Shorubalko, "but with a sensor size of around 100'000 pixels, we can already show that the technology works. Good performance with less energy Another advantage of perovskite-based image sensors is their manufacture. Unlike other semiconductors, perovskites are less sensitive to material defects and can therefore be fabricated relatively easily, for example by depositing them from a solution onto the carrier material. Conventional image sensors, on the other hand, require high-purity monocrystalline silicon, which is produced in a slow process at almost 1500 degrees Celsius. The advantages of perovskite-based image sensors are apparent. It is therefore not surprising that the research project also includes a partnership with industry. The challenge lies in the stability of perovskite, which is more sensitive to environmental influences than silicon. "Standard processes would destroy the material," says Shorubalko. "So we are developing new processes in which the perovskite remains stable. And our partner groups at ETH Zurich are working on ensuring the stability of the image sensor during operation." Dunyann en tuhaf koprusunun, bu kadar tuhaf olmasnn bir nedeni var Around 8,200 years ago, a village was able to survive a period of climate instability, according to archaeologists. The village, named Habonim North, was found underneath the Mediterranean Sea off the Carmel Coast of Israel. It was located eight to 10 feet below the surface. The submerged site was first found in the mid-2010s. Now, researchers from the University of California, San Diego, the University of Haifa, and Bar-Ilan University in Israel are exploring its depths. It once covered the southern Levant, a region that corresponds with what is now Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. After radiocarbon dating organic remains from the site, they determined that it was occupied during the Early Pottery Neolithic period, which took place from approximately 6400 to 5500 B.C. The team was stunned to discover that the site dated back to a time period when a phenomenon that scientists call the 8.2 ka climate event occurred. Initially, they thought it was associated with a later archaeological period. There are many submerged sites in this area, but they are all from a later or earlier period, Roey Nickelsberg, a PhD candidate with the Department of Maritime Civilizations at the University of Haifa, said. And on land, there is very limited evidence for settlement during this period, so to identify an active permanent settlement was surprising and exciting. Not many settlements after 6200 B.C. were in the region because of the impact that the 8.2 ka event had. The event was characterized by a period of abrupt cooling that may have occurred over the course of just a few decades. Overall, the cooling event lasted for about 160 years. During the event, the eastern Mediterranean region experienced dry and arid conditions, which most likely affected farming communities. Previously, archaeologists assumed that the climate event caused people to abandon coastal settlements in the southern Levant. However, the findings from the investigations at Habonim North suggest that the village remained occupied throughout the period of climate instability. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. During the early 20th century, in the small town of Olalla, Washington, a so-called doctor killed a dozen of her patients by starving them to death. And, the strangest part is that these patients willingly paid for such treatment. Linda Hazzard was licensed by the state of Washington as a fasting specialist, even though she had little formal training and did not possess a medical degree. Still, she attracted a decent number of patients. Her methods of treating illnesses involved fasting for days or more. During the fasting periods, patients were only allowed to consume small servings of vegetable broth. Daily enemas were performed to flush out the system, in addition to intense massages that seemed more like beatings. Hazzard believed that all illnesses were related to impaired digestion after eating too much food. Supposedly, fasting lets the digestive system rest. Her cure was detailed in a self-published book from 1908 titled Fasting for the Cure of Disease. One of Hazzards patients was a Norwegian immigrant named Daisey Maud Haglund. She died in 1908 after fasting for 50 days, leaving behind a three-year-old son. But perhaps her best-remembered pair of patients were British sisters named Claire and Dorothea Williamson. They were orphaned daughters of an English army officer. The sisters saw an ad for Hazzards book in a newspaper while staying at a fancy hotel. They werent seriously sick but felt that they were suffering from some minor issues. So, they signed up for treatment in 1911. Hazzard fed them each a cup of broth made from canned tomatoes twice a day. They were also given enemas in the bathtub that would last for hours. Two months later, the sisters each weighed about 70 pounds. Nobody knew anything was amiss with the girls until their childhood nurse, Margaret Conway, received a concerning telegram from them. The nurse decided to travel to Washington to check up on them. On her way there, she found out that Claire was dead. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Upon reaching adolescence, its normal for teens to have an unclear sense of self since this period of development is marked by a lot of change and identity exploration. Thats why its common for teens to adopt the mannerisms, slang, and attitudes of their friends or classmates. But, a new study conducted by researchers in Finland revealed that mental health disorders might also spread within social groups. So, the research suggests a possible link between adolescent social networks and the later development of psychological problems. More specifically, the studys findings indicate that teens who have classmates diagnosed with mental health issues during high school may face an increased risk of experiencing similar challenges in the future. The studys authors, comprised of researchers from the University of Helsinki and other European institutions, examined the mental health trajectories of over 700,000 Finnish citizens born between 1985 and 1997 using a comprehensive dataset. By cross-referencing detailed school records with nationwide health registries, the researchers sought to explore the link between peer relationships and psychological well-being. The study found that people with one or more ninth-grade classmates who received a mental disorder diagnosis faced a slightly increased risk of receiving a mental disorder diagnosis themselves in the years after graduation. This relationship also persisted even after adjusting for various factors, including parental mental health history, school characteristics, and socioeconomic status. The findings also revealed that the risk was highest during the first year after being exposed to a classmate diagnosed with a mental disorder. There was a 9% increase in risk for individuals with one such peer; meanwhile, there was an 18% increase for those with multiple diagnosed classmates. This relationship was especially robust for anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and eating disorders. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Illustration by Mallory Rentsch Tlapek / Source Images: WikiMedia Commons Ive got my top summer reading recommendation ready for you. In fact, Im recommending you buy two copies of the book, Nicholas Kristofs Chasing Hope: A Reporters Life. There are two reasons why. Ill get to the second eventually. But the first is more straightforward: This is a memoir from someone who has led one of the most dramatically interesting lives of the last half-century, as an acclaimed foreign correspondent and columnist for The New York Times. If you make a list of the worlds most shattering and consequential conflicts, catastrophes, and convulsions over the last 40 years, the odds are very high that Kristof was present to witness them. So too are the odds that someone was threatening to shoot him: warlords smuggling conflict diamonds in the Congo, Sudanese soldiers roaming the deserts amid the Darfur genocide, Egyptian security gangs wielding straight razors in Tahrir Square, Israeli soldiers patrolling the dark streets of Beirut, ragged teenagers marauding with AK-47s in West Africa, or nervous American soldiers trying to contain an Iraqi mob robbing a bank in Basra. Sign up for CT Books Each issue contains up-to-date, insightful information about today's culture, plus analysis of books important to the evangelical thinker. Email* Sign Up This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thanks for signing up. Please click here to see all our newsletters. Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again. There is an even longer list of terrifying events where the weapons were being directed at people standing next to Kristof. Such scenes involve Tiananmen Square protestors being massacred by the Chinese army, heroin traffickers in Afghanistan, security forces in collapsing Communist regimes in Eastern Europe, or rioting mobs parading heads on pikes in Indonesia. The books narrative would be implausible as a movie script, but its irresistible as personal storytelling because there is no hint of bravado, attention seeking, or adrenaline addiction. We simply find ourselves following a very sincere human who, over a lifetime, keeps taking small steps to go see what is happening to other humans who are suffering unspeakable brutality in the hidden corners of our world. As he goes, he finds himself sharing the unseen terror borne by millions of ordinary people when historys great catastrophes unfold. And once among them, Kristof becomes the steward of their stories. When, for instance, a weeping rickshaw driver desperately pedals his cart through a hail of bullets in Tiananmen Square, trying to get the motionless body of a bloodied protester to safety, he gives Kristof his commission with a shout: Tell the world! Tell the world! In this case, Kristof (and his journalist wife, Sheryl WuDunn) fulfilled that sacred commission well enough to earn a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage. But such accolades are complicated, as Kristof seems to know: We were feted as heroes while our Chinese friends who had contributed so much to our reporting were jailed or in hiding or worse. Comparing notes on catastrophe This is not only a book about an exceedingly interesting and thoughtful life. It also poses interesting questions. How ought humans to live with eyes wide open in a fallen world of so much suffering, violence, injustice, and deathyet so much courage, love, undeniable beauty, and pulsating life? This is why I recommend buying two copiesand with a specific suggestion. Treat yourself to one, and share another with a family member or friend of an older or younger generation. Read it together and compare notes. For baby boomers, Gen Xers, and millennials, the narrative will take you back through certain seismic and shattering moments of world history. This is helpful, because its strangely easy to lose sight of generational trials youve already weathered when you are constantly assaulted with the screaming ferocity of todays apocalypse economythe outrage industry that demands your obsessive attention to every terrible thing that is surely ending the world. Chasing Hope helps us see the elevated, longer arc of human events. From this vantage point, you can see the harrowing climbs and treacherous passages through which you and the world have already passed. It doesnt make current challenges go away, but you may find it puts them in a less catastrophizing, more steadying, even encouraging perspective. The truth is, there is little that transpires in a given yearlet alone in a given 24-hour news cyclethat has the significance, gravity, or peril of a hundred things that shook the world over the last half-century. For example, exactly 30 years ago, the Rwandan genocide unleashed an orgy of murder that saw 800,000 innocent men, women, and children brutally hacked to death within a few short weeks. Nothing happening now or within the last 10 yearsnothingcomes close to the speed and scale with which the genocide inflicted terror, death, and tragedy. At the time, I was a 31-year-old prosecutor at the US Department of Justice. The UN sent me to Rwanda to direct its genocide investigation immediately after the war. That experience changed my perspective on everything that has happened in the world since. It doesnt lead me to minimize or disengage from the tragedies of today. In fact, Ive spent most of the last 30 years with my colleagues at the International Justice Mission immersed in todays heartbreaking struggles to overcome slavery, violence against women and children, and police abuse. But when I consider the longer arc of the human story, I find I can do this work with an elevated perspective. Much like Kristof in Chasing Hope, I am actually more encouraged and optimistic than ever. For Gen Z readers, Kristofs memoir will give you an intimate and authentic primer on the great train of global events that profoundly shaped and traumatized the world you inherited. You could consult Google and get a quick, metallic-tasting AI blurb on each event as you hear it mentioned in disjointed conversations over the coming years. Or you could treat yourself to a deeply human and coherent chronicle of contemporary history through the compassionate, questioning, loving eyes of a farm kid from Oregon who tried to honor the spirit of the worlds most vulnerable peopleincluding Kristofs refugee fatherby telling some of the hardest stories of his day. I think youll find that Kristofs larger story offers an orienting frame and inspiration for dealing with the rushing scroll of tragedy shorts and screaming trend lines that surround our brains and send the walls of panic closing in. Grant yourself a book-length summer sabbatical from the cultures newsfeed neurosis and let Kristofs history transport you to a higher frame of reference. And then talk about it with your book-club buddy from another generation. What was it like to be alive through these catastrophic and chaotic global events? Who saw things more clearly and wisely at the time, and why? What should good people have done? What should good people do now? Christs heart for the world These are especially urgent questions for people of Christian faith, who profess to know what Jesus would teach about living in a fallen and violent yet beautiful and worthy world. A world that, according to this same Jesus, he is relentlessly at work redeeming through his grace and through those who follow him. Although I dont know if Kristof is a believer, he seems thoroughly Jesus-curiousor, as my kids would say of so many friends, Christian adjacent. Kristof writes with a rare appreciation for the earnest, unnamed Christians who are serving, healing, and loving in the most Christlike ways in the hardest places. In Chasing Hope, many of his most exemplary heroes seem to be following Jesus. Some are famous, like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter. But most youve likely never heard of: Dr. Catherine Hamlin in Ethiopia, Dr. Tom Catena in the Sudan, Sister Rachel Fassera in Uganda, Dr. Denis Mukwege in the Congo, or the good people of the First Presbyterian Church of Portland, who sponsored his refugee father in the 1940s and made Kristofs story possible. For years, Kristof has written a New York Times Christmas column with earnest questions for Christian leaders about Jesus, the Bible, and the behavior of Christian people. As he has come to appreciate IJMs Christian community around the world and their work addressing slavery and violence among the vulnerable poor, he has asked me similar questions over the yearsespecially about evangelical Christians in America. For decades, IJM has been inviting American Christians to recover the biblical teaching about Gods love for the world and Christs passion for justice. Indeed, over 27 years, a generation of American Christians has helped power an IJM movement that has brought freedom and healing to hundreds of thousands of people who were enslaved, imprisoned, beaten, raped, and robbed in the worlds poorest communities. It would be a shame for American Christians to lose Christs heart for the world and for the vulnerable, leaving their preoccupations more inward, tribal, resentful, political, and fearful. The Christian faith teaches that every person in the worldof every nation, tribe, and tongueis of infinite and equal worth. Jesus taught that if people are hurting and in need, the relevant question is not Are they my neighbor? but Will I show mercy and love? Will I treat them as I would want to be treated if I were enslaved, imprisoned, beaten, raped, or robbed? This is what makes Kristofs life story such a welcome provocation for Christians old and young. In his writing and reporting, he seems to act as if Christs teachings about the world and its people are true, even though he may not share Christian beliefs about his divinity and the kingdom of God. What, then, should we make of those who do profess these beliefs but dont act as though they are true? More provocatively, what if they brought their beliefs and actions into greater harmony, radiating authenticity, courage, humility, and joy? Over a generation, I (like Kristof) have witnessed that such lives of Christlike beauty are, indeed, possible. And around the world, I see a new generation of everyday saints quietly doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with their God. As I write this, I am in South Asia, coming from a profound day with two young women of faith (one from Nebraska and one from Bangladesh) who are partnering with IJM colleagues and local authorities to bring healing to women and girls ravaged by sexual violence. Like Kristof, they are chasing hopeand finding it. And by their lives, they testify not only that the teachings of Jesus are true, but that he himself is true. Gary Haugen is the founder and CEO of International Justice Mission. His books include Good News About Injustice: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World. Home News Black residents in NC sue to remove monument to faithful slaves Calling it unlawful and racially discriminatory government speech that violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, a group of black residents in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, have filed a lawsuit to remove a monument that states, IN APPRECIATION OF OUR FAITHFUL SLAVES, near the front door of the countys courthouse. The 26-page lawsuit filed against the Tyrrell County Board of Commissioners by members of The Concerned Citizens of Tyrrell County, argues that the more than 100-year-old monument, which the plaintiffs have been trying to get removed for years, sends an offensive, ahistorical, and racist message. The Supreme Court has said monuments at government buildings are a means of expression and government speech, Ian Mance, who represents the Plaintiffs on behalf of the Durham-based civil rights organization Emancipate NC, said in a release. In all the years of debate over the monument, the Commissioners have never offered a substantive defense of its message. The reason is obvious. Its an offensive, ahistorical, and racist message. Our position is that the Fourteenth Amendment does not allow the county to maintain a monument expressing a racially discriminatory message. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe According to the lawsuit, the monument, which sits where people attend court for civil and criminal cases and exercise their right to vote, is believed to be the only courthouse monument in America that textually express a racially discriminatory message. This action challenges the countys maintenance of the monument as racially discriminatory government speech that violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the lawsuit states. According to Emancipate NC, some of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit are descendants of people who were enslaved in the county who have been trying to persuade the commissioners to relocate the monument for years. They allege that their efforts to remove the monument have been met by antagonism and racial intimidation by those who support the monument. These threats, they allege, have been ignored by the county officials who have been treating their protest as a bigger threat. Litigation was our last resort, said Sherryreed Robinson, who serves as the Concerned Citizens treasurer and traces her family lineage in Tyrrell to before the Emancipation Proclamation. We have peacefully voiced our objections for years. This monument says our ancestors preferred slavery to freedom. Thats a false and hurtful message for the government to communicate. The monument, says Emancipate NC, was a gift to the county in 1902 from W.F. Beasley, a merchant from a local slaveholding family. A federal court described the image of the faithful slave as mytholog[y] in 2023 and classed it as part of a narrative that denied the horrors of slavery and fueled white backlash against ... the rights ... granted to African Americans. The monument, the group argues, was intended to send an ominous message to every Black person with the misfortune of seeking justice in its halls. Tyrrell County is our home. We view our decision to bring this case as doing right by our community, Joyce Sykes Fitch, secretary of the Concerned Citizens, said in a statement. This is the only place in America where you can go to a courthouse and see a public expression in support of the institution of slavery. Its past time for it to come down. Home News California city accused of banning chaplains from praying in Jesus name A California city has been accused of wrongfully ordering two chaplains to stop praying in the name of Jesus Christ, which a legal group argues violates their religious freedom. The First Liberty Institute sent a complaint letter to the Carlsbad City Council on Tuesday regarding the City Manager Scott Chadwick allegedly ordering fire chaplain Denny Cooper and police chaplain J.C. Cooper to stop praying in Jesus' name. According to the letter, Chadwick told the chaplains of a new standard in separate conversations in April. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "Because the chaplains cannot in good conscience erase the name of Jesus from their prayers, this order deprives first responders of the solace and spiritual strength that the Chaplains' volunteer ministry has provided for nearly two decades," the letter reads. "Therefore, we urge the City Council to return to its longstanding practice of inviting the Chaplains to pray freely in accordance with their sincere religious beliefs." FLI Counsel Kayla Toney, who authored the letter, told The Christian Post via email that the institute became aware of the situation through a "former client who we helped with a different religious liberty issue." Toney took issue with the city manager's reported argument that praying in Jesus' name constituted harassment of non-Christians and created a hostile work environment. "This is not a true or accurate understanding of the law, which has always protected the prayers and expressions of religious Americans," she said. "Ironically, the city manager's order has created a hostile environment for the Chaplains and many other people of faith living in Carlsbad." Toney believes that while "we do see increasing hostility toward people of faith" in the United States, the laws were "changing in a positive direction." "In Kennedy v. Bremerton, the Supreme Court overruled the 'Lemon Test' which was used to purge expressions of faith from public life," Toney explained. "Now the Court looks to history and tradition, and our nation has a long tradition of public prayers by chaplains according to their sincere religious beliefs. So there's a lot of work left to do, but also good reason for hope. The Christian Post reached out to city officials for a response to the complaint letter. They did not return comment by press time. In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Town of Greece v. Galloway that a New York town could have ministers pray Christian invocations as part of their official meetings. Justice Anthony Kennedy delivered the court's opinion, concluding that "legislative prayer, while religious in nature, has long been understood as compatible with the Establishment Clause." "As practiced by Congress since the framing of the Constitution, legislative prayer lends gravity to public business, reminds lawmakers to transcend petty differences in pursuit of a higher purpose, and expresses a common aspiration to a just and peaceful society," he wrote. Home News Episcopal Church caucus wants denomination to reform how it handles clergy misconduct claims The young adult caucus for the Episcopal Church has demanded that the denomination reform its process for disciplinary action against bishops and other clergy accused of misconduct. The Episcopal Church House of Deputies' Young Adult Caucus submitted a letter to the 81st General Convention officials regarding efforts to reform the denomination's Title IV disciplinary canons. The letter, submitted as a resolution, expressed "grave concerns" about the disciplinary process, arguing that there was an "inconsistent application of the Canons that has been observed throughout the Church over many years." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "We urge the Church to take a two-pronged approach towards improving Title IV, calling for action both on the part of the Bishops of the Church and on the part of the General Convention and its subsidiary bodies," stated the Young Adult Caucus. "We urge Bishops throughout the Church to prioritize the safety and security of our Church first and foremost, and to use the powers given to them in the Canons in a protective manner whenever there is cause to believe a Member of the Clergy has committed an offense where they may reasonably assume that the welfare of the Church, person, or any community may be threatened by the Respondent." The caucus called on the bishops to "provide greater pastoral care to Complainants" and "realize that justice, accountability, and grace are not mutually exclusive, but are rather all-important elements in healing and reconciliation." Additionally, the letter called on the 81st General Convention to give "specific guidance" on any "changes it wishes to see from the Standing Commission" and to "prayerfully discern potential proposals to strengthen the weak areas within Title IV in the role of the Intake Officer." "We have observed, too often, that Intake Officers fail to follow Canon IV.6.7 by failing to limit their determination to the question: 'if the complaint is true, would it constitute an Offense?'" continued the letter. "Rather, we observe they often conduct their own investigations and other actions outside their Canonical Scope. We should discern how to address this weakness, and consider the possibility of a Church-wide intake office for all complaints, rather than simply for those filed against Bishops." Eva Warren, an Episcopal Diocese of Ohio deputy and chair of the Young Adult Caucus, addressed the letter during an online hearing Tuesday. "We are heartened that many of our suggestions dovetail neatly with resolutions already under consideration before this committee, and we hope that our memorial statement underscores our support for these broader reforms," said Warren, quoted by Episcopal News Service. In recent months, the Episcopal Church has garnered internal criticism over its Title IV disciplinary process, which some believe does not properly handle credible allegations of abuse by clergy. Last year, House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris made public an allegation that a retired bishop had "physically overpowered" her and made "inappropriate verbal statements." "Going through the Title IV process this past year was not something I would want anyone to have to endure," wrote Ayala Harris, as quoted by ENS. "Yet, living through that experience has given me an important perspective that I can apply in my leadership role, and it has renewed my long-lasting commitment to increased safety in our communities." In December, the ex-wife and two adult sons of former Bishop Prince Singh filed a complaint against Curry and Episcopal Bishop Todd Ousley over their alleged mishandling of abuse accusations against Singh. The family members argued that Curry and Ousley, the latter of whom served as an intake officer for complaints against bishops, failed to follow the Title IV process properly. In February, the denomination's Office of Public Affairs announced the creation of a new "three-part protocol" to better promote and explain the disciplinary process for Episcopal bishops accused of wrongdoing. The three aspects included a new webpage for reporting alleged misconduct, another webpage that provides updates for ongoing disciplinary cases and "an annual statistical report on complaints involving bishops and their outcomes." Home News High school student's diploma delayed for telling classmates to find Christ in graduation speech Five days after he graduated from Campbell County High School in Kentucky, Micah Price finally received his diploma from school officials Wednesday after it was withheld because he went off script in his commencement speech last Friday and encouraged his classmates to find Christ. Price's defiance of school rules has been the subject of a feverish debate online since a video of his speech went viral, with many Christian supporters praising him with words such as "brave." Superintendent Shelli Wilson told WKRC that Price was selected by his principal to deliver an approved speech that allowed him to thank his "Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" but not proselytize. However, Price urged his classmates to find Christ, telling them "He is the light. He is the way, the truth and the life," a paraphrase of John 14:6. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "I was told beforehand I wasn't allowed to bring up Christ, that He is the way, the truth, and the life in my speech," Price said on TikTok after the event. "I did anyways, and after the speech was over, one of the principals came and tapped me on the shoulder very politely and professionally and told me I was going to have to go in front of the board and explain what I did because I went off script," he added. As he waited in the days following his speech to meet with school officials, Price said people offered to stand with him before the board. He urged them not to support him but the message of Jesus. He also insisted that the school officials did nothing wrong and were just simply doing their job in reprimanding him for going off script. He eventually learned that he would not have to meet with the entire school board for his speech, only the principals. Shortly after meeting on Wednesday, he was beaming with his diploma in an interview with Chelsea Sick of WKRC. "It was a very quick and painless process. Went into this very short meeting with two principals. They were very professional in everything they did very kind. An answered prayer. We got the diploma," he declared. When asked about the social media firestorm over the delay in getting his diploma, Price said he knew his witness was against the rules but felt compelled to share more about the goodness of God in his life. "I did go against the rules. I should have been punished which I do agree with," he said. "I simply cannot go anywhere without mentioning what my Lord and Savior has done for me and just what he's brought to me and my life. I did deserve to be punished but through Christ we prevail." Price, who will be joining the Air Force in July, told Fox 19 that delivering a graduation speech that honors God has been a goal of his since the fifth grade. "I always wanted to give it," Price said. "I prayed about it a lot." His conviction grew stronger when he became a devoted Baptist in the eighth grade, and last Friday, he said he was prepared to pay the price for the message he delivered. "My Lord and Savior is your answer," Price said in his speech. "He will give you the truth, the way, and the light. I must give the honor, the praise, and the glory to Jesus Christ." I just interviewed Micah Price, who graduated from Campbell Co. HS on Friday. He didnt receive his diploma right away, bc he veered from his approved speech to talk about God. Today he met with his principals and received his diploma. Original Story: https://t.co/EQTE7ntl5zpic.twitter.com/l6P3FYGsgc Chelsea Sick (@chelseasicknews) May 29, 2024 Home News New York can't violate NRAs First Amendment rights: Supreme Court The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that government officials in New York unlawfully pressured businesses to cut ties with the National Rifle Association over its advocacy against gun regulations in a case with free speech implications. In a decision released Thursday morning in the case of National Rifle Association of America v. Vullo, the high court looked into allegations that New York Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo forced entities to sever ties with the NRA over the groups activism. Justice Sonia Sotomayor authored the unanimous opinion, writing that the NRA plausibly alleges that Vullo pressured regulated entities to help her stifle the NRAs pro-gun advocacy by threatening enforcement actions against those entities that refused to disassociate from the NRA and other gun-promotion advocacy groups. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Vullo was free to criticize the NRA and pursue the conceded violations of New York insurance law. She could not wield her power, however, to threaten enforcement actions against DFS-regulated entities in order to punish or suppress the NRAs gun-promotion advocacy, Sotomayor wrote. In sum, the complaint, assessed as a whole, plausibly alleges that Vullo threatened to wield her power against those refusing to aid her campaign to punish the NRAs gun-promotion advocacy. If true, that violates the First Amendment. The Supreme Court opinion overturns a lower court ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and remands the case back to that level for further proceedings. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who recently garnered criticism for stating that the First Amendment is hamstringing the federal government in significant ways, wrote a concurring opinion in which she discussed the important distinction between government coercion, on the one hand, and a violation of the First Amendment, on the other. That case does not hold that government coercion alone violates the First Amendment. And recognizing the distinction between government coercion and a First Amendment violation is important because our democracy can function only if the government can effectively enforce the rules embodied in legislation, Jackson wrote. The existence of an allegation of government coercion of a third party thus merely invites, rather than answers, the question whether that coercion indirectly worked a violation of the plaintiffs First Amendment rights. The NRA v. Vullo garnered attention from Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal nonprofit that specializes in religious freedom cases and the First Amendment. In January, ADF filed an amicus brief on behalf of the pro-life Christian group Heartbeat International, Inc. in support of the NRA because it is keenly interested in protecting itself and the pro-life centers it supports from viewpoint-based censorship. Here, it is gun control, but it could just as easily be pro-life speech. Regrettably, many public officials are hostile to pro-life speech and have violated the First Amendment rights of those expressing pro-life views, noted the brief. Heartbeats own insurance provider recently canceled its general liability policy, bluntly stating that Heartbeats stance on legalized abortion precipitated the move. Home News Rodeo star Spencer Wright seeks prayers as son fights for his life in hospital Rodeo star Spencer Wright and his wife, Kallie Wright, are asking for prayers after they found their 3-year-old son Levi Wright unconscious in a creek. Their son has since regained consciousness but remains in critical condition. According to reports, the couple were making end-of-life preparations for their toddler after he drove his toy tractor into a creek in Utah and was taken a mile downstream by the currents. While they originally planned to stop treatment for their son, another doctor began to care for their son and began waking up last week. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "LEVI WOKE UP!" Kallie Wright wrote in a Facebook post on May 24. "I am shook. We don't know much, but the doctor said it was OK for me to get excited about that, and I AM! My baby is so tough!" In a Facebook post shared on Wednesday, Kallie Wright provided an update on her son's condition, saying that, "Levi is getting another 24 hour EEG which monitors brain wave activity now & he has another MRI scheduled Friday." "Our goal this week is to extubate him (remove his breathing tube) and see if he will tolerate breathing on his own! One step at a time. Thank you for your continued prayers, support & love sent our way," she wrote. On May 22, a family friend shared that while Levi was "without oxygen too long and there is no coming back from that," they "feel strongly that his spirit is no longer with us." The Wrights haven't shied away from publicly sharing their continued need for prayers for their son's recovery. "This is an experience, I pray deep in my soul you never have to know the way I am beginning to. This is a roller coaster that you go on unwillingly & blindfolded, you do not know what's coming next. You just get to wait & ride it out. We are taking it day by day," Kallie Wright wrote in a Facebook post Sunday. "The term 'Brain Injury' is very broad. There are ranges and different severities. No two brain injuries are alike, even if the accident is similar. No two brains recover or don't recover the same. There is a lot Medical Professionals don't know, but what they do tell you is based off legitimate medical literature & history." Kallie Wright expressed gratitude to the doctors, saying they were "nothing short of outstanding" and that they "provided us the most precious gift of time." "Whether that is time to see if God provides a miracle to us or whether it's time for us to research, learn and process this all in order to make the most informed decisions," Kallie Wright wrote. "Every decision that Levi's Dad and I will make will be made based on what, we the two people who know him best believe he would want. In all this, he comes first. We are exploring the therapies that have been mentioned, engaging with those we feel can be of support for us & getting as many professional eyes on this as possible," she added. "We still just need the prayers. We will need them for years to come as I fear we haven't even reached the hardest part of this." Family friend and spokesperson Mindy Sue Clark said in a statement last week that she is "in awe of God's work, and how tough Levi is," adding that the child waking up is "nothing short of miracles." Levi Wright showed promising improvement in his health during a FaceTime call with his sister, Steeley, before waking up from his unconscious state. "Steeley started telling Levi how she was hoping he'd get better and couldn't wait for him to come home," Clark wrote. "Spencer was watching the EEG monitor and noticed, when Steeley would talk to him, there would be activity on the monitor, so he recorded it." When Levi Wright did wake up, he has since made faster improvements in his health and wellbeing than health care providers would have expected. "Don't give up on my boy just yet, we switched staff this morning and our doctor was a little taken back by her exam as they came in the room to end care," the Wrights wrote days before their son woke up. "She felt strongly that we needed to give him more time, now this doesn't mean that in 12 hours we won't be right back in the same position with him in my arms preparing for goodbye but it does mean we have time for a miracle." Spencer Wright, son of ProRodeo Hall of Famer Bill Wright, was ranked 35th in the world in 2023 by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. "The entire ProRodeo community's heart aches for the Wright family. We will continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers," PRCA CEO Tom Glause said in a statement. Home News SWBTS president expresses deep regret over former staffers implicated in federal investigation Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President David S. Dockery expressed "deep regret" Wednesday over the actions of two former staffers now serving as pastors charged or implicated in the U.S. Department of Justice's investigation of allegations that Southern Baptist Convention leaders intimidated whistleblowers and exonerated churches with credible claims of sexual abuse. "This episode is a matter of deep regret to me," Dockery, who was installed as president of the Fort Worth, Texas-based seminary last August, said in a statement. He had high praise for staffers like Terri Stovall, dean of women, interim associate dean in the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries and professor of educational ministries, who acted with "integrity" concerning the investigation. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "I am, however, grateful that several employees in whom I placed great trust acted responsibly, especially Terri Stovall. I commend the service and integrity of these employees. We remain resolute to continue to cooperate fully with the Department of Justice in all aspects of this investigation." Last week, former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary evangelism professor and interim provost Matthew Queen, 49, the lead pastor of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, was charged with one count of falsification of records from his time at the seminary. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The charge comes nearly two years after the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation into the SBC and its affiliate entities following the release of a Guidepost Solutions report finding that leaders failed to protect victims of abuse. Following Queen's indictment, Friendly Avenue Baptist Church announced Sunday that he had been placed on administrative leave. "Our church leaders and staff were first informed of a falsification of records charge against our Lead Pastor, Dr. Matt Queen, in recent days. The actions alleged in the indictment oppose the moral values of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church, and we condemn all forms of sexual abuse," Friendly Avenue Baptist Church said in a statement cited by Baptist Press, the SBC's media arm. "Dr. Queen has committed to resolve this matter responsibly, and we support his full cooperation with the authorities. To this end, Dr. Queen is on administrative leave from his pastoral responsibilities. He will step away to devote his attention to his family and to assist authorities in their inquiry. As Dr. Queen steps away, we will secure other speakers to fill the pulpit on Sundays. In parallel, the church will continue to monitor events closely." The charge against Queen stems from a November 2022 report of an alleged sexual abuse committed by a Texas Baptist College student, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary said in a statement on May 21. Seminary officials noted that they later helped facilitate the arrest of the student who went on to withdraw from the college. Before the sexual abuse allegation in November, however, the Justice Department issued a grand jury subpoena to the seminary in October 2022, which required the seminary to produce all documents in the seminary's possession related to allegations of sexual abuse against anyone employed by or associated with the seminary, among other things. In November 2022, the DOJ noted that a seminary employee identified as Employee-1, now revealed to be Stovall, received a report alleging that a current seminary student committed sexual abuse. Dockery said he was unaware of the report until late January 2023. "By way of background, in November 2022, Terri Stovall, longtime-serving dean of women, identified as 'Employee-1' in the indictment, received a report that a student had committed a sexual assault against an individual unaffiliated with the seminary. Stovall followed institutional procedure to care for victims of sexual abuse and immediately reported the allegation to the chief of Campus Police," Dockery said Tuesday. "No one else on campus was informed of this matter and the chief of Campus Police, who is no longer employed at the seminary, took no further action in November. Stovall documented her actions." According to the DOJ, the allegation was not reported to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Stovall documented her response in January 2023 and the seminary's failed response. On Jan. 26, 2023, Stovall met with Queen and another executive staff member of the seminary identified as Employee-2, prosecutors say. Dockery confirmed in his statement that Employee-2 is the seminary's former chief of staff, Heath Woolman, the lead pastor of Fruit Cove Baptist Church in St. Johns, Florida. Woolman reportedly told Stovall to make the report of the alleged sexual abuse "go away" in Queen's presence, but Queen told federal investigators more than once that he did not remember hearing Woolman say this until June 21, 2023, when he "testified under oath that he had in fact heard Employee-2 direct Employee-1 to make the document 'go away," authorities said. "At the end of January 2023, after the seminary had assisted the Burleson Police Department in arresting the student accused of sexual assault, Stovall, following a morning chapel service, discussed a document she prepared regarding the incident with Heath Woolman, then chief of staff, and in the presence of Matt Queen, then interim provost. According to Stovall, Woolman instructed her to make the document 'go away' during this conversation," Dockery said. "Of particular note here, all employees had previously been made aware of the Department of Justice investigation in an all-employees meeting in August of 2022. Further, upon receipt of a subpoena from the Department of Justice in November 2022, employees with relevant information had been made aware of the subpoena, including the need to preserve and produce any responsive documents," he added. Dockery said both Woolman and Queen misrepresented the facts of the investigation to him. "In a follow-up conversation concerning what was said to Stovall, Woolman provided me assurance that he did not instruct her to make the document 'go away.' Queen, for his part, acknowledged to me on more than one occasion that he did not hear Woolman instruct Stovall to make the document 'go away,'" Dockery said. "For nearly five months we operated within the tension of knowing that employees in whom we had confidence had differences of recollection regarding the January conversation. However, in June 2023, Queen claimed that he now recalled hearing the directive related to the document and also provided additional information that led to the decision for him to resign as interim provost and to be placed on administrative leave," Dockery explained. Dockery said he worked with the seminary's lawyers to update the DOJ on the developments. Prior to Queen recalling Woolman instructing Stovall to make her report "go away," Dockery said he recommended Queen for a pastoral position. But he said if he knew then what he knows now, he would not have been able to provide him with the same recommendation. "In April 2023, Woolman became a candidate for the pastoral position he now holds. He requested, and I offered, a brief affirmation of his candidacy to the church given his then role at the seminary, given the fact that he had been a quality student in one of my doctoral seminars, and given the information available to us at the time," Dockery said. "Woolman resigned as chief of staff on May 5, 2023, to accept the pastoral position. If asked to provide the same recommendation today, and based on information received subsequent to that time, I would not be able to provide the same recommendation," he added. It was unclear Wednesday if Woolman would continue as pastor of Fruit Cove Baptist Church. Officials there did not immediately respond to calls for comment from The Christian Post. Home News Sword-wielding Utah man arrested for attacking churchgoers at worship service Utah police have arrested a man who entered a Catholic church during Sunday morning worship and reportedly attacked parishioners at random by punching them with his fists and striking them with a wooden sword. Chandler Grillone, 31, was arrested on Sunday morning after he started attacking people at the Cathedral of the Madeline in Salt Lake City, reportedly doing so at random. Grillone is facing two felony charges of aggravated assault, a felony charge of property damage below $5,000, a misdemeanor assault charge, and charges of disorderly conduct and interfering with a police officer, according to ABC affiliate KTVX. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe According to a probable cause statement, Grillone entered the cathedral and allegedly struck two people with a wooden sword, then hit a third person with his fists, breaking the persons glasses. Grillones actions were deemed unprovoked, with the probable cause statement noting that the alleged attacker was uncooperative when he was being taken into custody by authorities. [Grillone] twisted away and refused to get into the police car, noted the probable cause statement, as quoted by NBC affiliate KSL 5 TV. [Grillone] braced his head and neck against the door preventing him from being placed in the back of the police car [and he] was placed in a WRAP for his safety during transport. According to its website, the Cathedral of the Madeline was built in 1909 at the behest of the Right Rev. Lawrence Scanlan, the first Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake. The architects were Carl M. Newhausen and Bernard O. Mecklenburg. The Cathedral combines a predominantly Romanesque exterior with a Gothic interior, stated the church. The property on which the Cathedral sits was purchased in 1890 for $35,000. The cost of the cathedral construction itself was $344,000. According to a report by the conservative Christian organization the Family Research Council that was released in February, there were 436 attacks against churches last year, which was more than twice the number reported by the group in 2022. From January through November 2023, the FRC report found at least 315 acts of vandalism, 75 acts of arson or attempted arson, 10 gun-related incidents, 20 bomb threats and 37 other incidents at churches. Home News Teenager arrested in connection with Memphis pastors shooting A teenager who allegedly drove a getaway car from Zionfield Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, in February after Pastor Clemmie Livingston Jr. was shot in the face by yet-to-be-identified carjackers has been arrested in connection with the shooting. RShunio Greer, 18, has been charged with aggravated robbery and theft of property, according to WREG. He is also facing a number of gun possession charges. Court documents cited by the news outlet said Greer was tied to Livingstons shooting after investigators reportedly found pictures of Greer in a car that was stolen from Livingstons church the day the pastor was shot. Greer allegedly admitted to driving away from the scene of the shooting. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe For the shooting case, Greers bond has been set at $250,000. With additional bond amounts for other cases, Greer is facing a total bond amount of $390,500. Livingston was shot just after 9 a.m. on Feb. 25 as he came out of his church before the start of his Sunday morning service. He recently testified about the ordeal during his first appearance in the pulpit since the shooting in his Easter Sunday message. Glad to be here to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I remember the words of Peter. He said, Lord, its good to be here. And sometimes we take being here for granted, but its good to be here, the 71-year-old Livingston said after directing his congregants to Matthew 28:5-6. Even after being a preacher for almost 40 years, he said he needs to keep reading Scripture to remind himself of how sure Gods promises are. Say what you will. I dont care what youre going through. You can always stand on the Word of God. His Word is everlasting all the way to everlasting, he said. Although he did not plan to discuss the shooting that day, Livingston used the experience to encourage Christians not to give up on their faith. "You've got to hold on. You've got to hold on. A few weeks ago, my faith was tested. A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted," he said. "Just a few weeks ago, I had to hold on to the faith when I was struck by a stray bullet. Don't know where it came from. I just saw myself going down on my knees. I said I wasn't going to talk about this because it's not easy to talk about," he continued. "But I was struck by a stray bullet that put me down on my knees. I didn't know what was going on. All I could feel was blood coming from every direction. All I could remember was Troy Franklin and my daughter, Tracy, holding my head," he recalled. "My daughter wouldn't let me shut my eyes. And I remember Sister Franklin saying, 'Hold on.'" He said he kept telling himself that he would be dead in a few minutes. "'You can't keep bleeding the way you are and not die,'" he recalled telling himself. God, however, had another message for him. "When I was down on my knees, let me tell you what He said. He said to me, 'Stop trying to die and start back living.' He said to me, 'Not yet, not yet,'" Livingston declared to shouts of praise from the congregants. "When you're rooted in the Lord, you can feel His presence. I felt the presence of the Lord." Home News Trump found guilty on all charges in hush money case Former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 charges by a New York jury in the hush money case. A 12-member jury found Trump guilty on all counts on Thursday afternoon, making him the first president in modern history to be convicted of a crime. The felony counts were related to falsifying business records stemming from an allegation that Trump paid porn star Stormy Daniels (real name Stephanie Clifford) $130,000 in 2016 to conceal an alleged sexual encounter from years earlier while he ran for president at the time. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The jury concluded that Trump authorized the plan to falsify checks and other related records to prevent voters from learning of the alleged sexual encounter with Daniels back in 2006. Prosecutors argued that the conspiracy had spanned his 2016 campaign as well as his first year as president. Trump has denied having sex with Daniels and all charges in the case. In the past, Trump has attacked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for leading the investigation against him, calling him a "local failed district attorney" and claiming that he "illegally leaked massive amounts of grand jury information, for which he should be prosecuted or, at a minimum, he should resign." In March, before the trial started, the court granted prosecutors' motion to limit Trump's ability to make statements about the case outside of the proceedings, namely on social media. New York Judge Juan M. Merchan found Trump guilty of violating this gag order in April on nine occasions via posts on his social media platform, Truth Social, and his presidential campaign website. Merchan wrote that while he was "keenly aware of, and protective of" Trump's freedom of speech and expression, he warned that the court will not accept "willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment." Trump and his supporters have long denied the validity of the trial and its proceedings, claiming that the entire matter was a politically-motivated attack on the GOP candidate. Since leaving the White House in January 2021, Trump has faced numerous criminal charges in multiple courts, which include his alleged efforts to overrule the 2020 election results. Washington AG Drops Pro-Life Probe, Hulu To Launch Gay Dating Show, Young Evangelicals' Support For Israel Declines link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 06:48 06:48 Top headlines for Thursday, May 30, 2024 In this episode, we delve into the conclusion of Washington state's investigation into faith-based pro-life pregnancy care centers, with no charges pressed. We also preview the upcoming new chapter announcement from former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz and his wife, Laura. Plus, Disney-owned Hulu's acquisition of the U.K.'s first gay-themed reality dating shows, and the shifting perspectives of young Evangelicals in the U.S. regarding support for Israel. Home Opinion 6 reasons to vote in elections Why should I vote? Does it make a difference? What if I dont like the choice of candidates? From Scriptures to civics and family legacies, there are many reasons why its vital for Americans to vote. Be salt and light take part in the process Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe First, Scripture reveals what government should look like. The Bible tells us that God ordained civil government to be His servant for our good (Romans 13:1-4). Conversely, when the government does not serve its God-given purpose, the nation tends toward corruption. The influence of Israels kings on the peoples behavior is a prime example. In Proverbs 14:34, we see that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. How do we take part in making a nation righteous? By being salt and light (Matthew 5:13). One of the ways people can be salt to flavor and even preserve the world is to influence who manages our government by participating in the election process and voting for people who share our biblical values. We should choose leaders who are capable men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain (Ex 18:21) Called to be good stewards Unlike many Christians before us, Americans today have the ability to direct the course of the nation through our votes. Just as with any other good gift or talent from God, we are called to be good stewards. The blessing carries with it a responsibility. In Matthew 25, the Master of the servant who has best used his talent says to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. As an American, your vote is one of your talents; it must be used wisely. Election outcomes impact our lives Looking outside of biblical references, elected officials determine laws that affect us whether we vote or not and those laws affect the ability for all of us to live out our beliefs. Almost every week, a new headline illustrates that the actions of an elected government official or someone who was appointed by an elected official affect our freedom to live according to our faith. We live with the choices that are made in elections, and the best time and place to stop bad policy is at the ballot box on Election Day. Even if there is not a great choice between the candidates, every vote can still slow the overall decline of our country. It takes patience and perseverance. Every vote really does count In recent years, many elections have been decided by the slimmest of margins. We only need to look at the March 2022 race for Attorney General in Arizona, where the winning candidate was decided by 280 votes! Or consider a U.S. House race in Iowa in 2020, where the margin of victory was a mere six votes! Those six people who voted made a huge difference in the future of their state. Such slim margins are even more common in local races. We cant leave our future to chance. Every vote matters. Election integrity With much concern these days about election integrity, one fact remains. The only way to 100% guarantee that votes are not counted is to stay home. By staying away from the polls, voters willingly give up their power to impact their own lives and the lives of future generations. An impact on the future It all comes down to this voters impact future generations. Our children and childrens children are impacted not only by how we vote but also by our example. The impact of our votes on the judiciary alone is sobering when one looks at Roe v. Wade and its reversal after nearly half a century of unconstitutional rule and millions of lives lost. We need only to ask ourselves whether, like our forefathers did before us, are we willing to devote our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to a legacy of liberty? By arming ourselves with facts and testing those facts against prayerful reflection and biblical values, you can be assured that you have made informed choices and carried out your duty, regardless of the outcome. Home Opinion We can't ignore the suffering of Christians in North Korea Life for Christians in North Korea [is] a constant cauldron of pressure; capture or death is only a mistake away. As cited by the 2022 State Department report, this is the daily reality for Christians in North Korea. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) was the latest to sound that alarm, documenting the testimonies of several North Korean defectors on the horrific experiences of Christians and other religious adherents in prison. One defector testified of a Christian prisoner who would pray daily and was then punished with extreme beatings with clubs or boots: One time they beat [the Christian prisoner] to the brink of death, leaving the person bleeding on the ground. But this person got up and prayed just the same the next morning. After being beaten, the man was cursed at by Ministry of State Security officials and told he should just drop dead. This torture lasted for 15 years in the political prisoner camp. Another prisoner was arrested for smuggling a Bible from China. The prisoner was put into solitary confinement, which the testifier said was the scariest room in the facility, and he was likely to be executed. Every two hours during patrol, correctional officers would strike the prisoners hands with a metal rod mercilessly, screeching that the prisoners actions harmed comrade Kim Il Sungs ideology. The prisoner also only received one meal per day of one serving of bloated corn kernels boiled into a muck. Others were tortured in several ways, including deprivation of food and water, deprivation of sleep, physical and verbal abuse, forced nudity, and positional torture, where a prisoner was forced to stay in a fixed position for long periods of time. According to a 2021 report by the nonprofit Korea Future, the campaign to exterminate all Christian adherents and institutions has been brutally effective. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Now, in a recent report by Hudson Institute, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Olivia Enos believes that North Korea may be committing genocide against Christians, and the U.S. government needs to investigate this possibility. Enos argues that the U.S. government needs to issue an atrocity determination to continue what the United Nations 2014 Commission of Inquiry (COI). The COI brought attention to the issue and outlined the crimes against humanity that North Korea had committed, but it did not point out the genocidal activity of the state. The 1948 Genocide Convention focused on groups targeted for elimination because of nationality, race, ethnicity, or religion. Yet, the North Korean regimes attacks on Christians and other religious adherents are motivated primarily by politics. Reports find that Christians are targeted because of their historical role in leading efforts to overthrow communist leaders, their refusal to worship the Kim regime, and the belief that Christians are influenced by the U.S. and South Korea. Nevertheless, as Enos points out, Christians in the state experience much of the cruelty described in the definition merely for their religious status, particularly the acts of killing, administering serious bodily or mental harm, and targeting children. Enos points to the political momentum generated by the COI to argue for a renewed response. Only two years after its release, the COI prompted the U.S. to expand sanctions against North Korea through the Treasury Department, then through two different laws that imposed sanctions for goods produced with forced labor and tied the relief of sanctions to improving human rights. South Korea also made legal and political commitments to promoting North Korean human rights two years after the reports release. Lastly, the U.N. discussed North Korean human rights for the first time after the reports release, and it established a U.N. office in Seoul. Enos argues that a similar response by the U.S. would again spark momentum on the issue. Not only is this important for human rights, but a response would align with American strategic interests. Security and human rights issues in North Korea are interconnected: North Koreas exploitation of its people allows it to stay in power and to grow its resources and weapons programs. A response from the U.S. government could be pivotal to addressing the suffering of persecuted Christians in North Korea. With the situation for North Korean Christians becoming increasingly dire, it is even more pertinent for the Biden administration to take action. Originally published at The Washington Times. Elderly Christian critically wounded in Pakistan after false blasphemy charge An elderly Christian was fighting for his life in the hospital after a Muslim mob in Pakistan attempted to kill him due to a neighbour falsely accusing him of burning pages of the Quran, his family said. The mob also ransacked the house and burned the shoe factory of the 74-year-old victim, Nazeer Masih Gill, in Sargodha city's Mujahid Colony, said his nephew Irfan Gill. Nazeer Gill had burned some wastepaper in the street outside his house in Mujahid Colony, Sargodha District, Punjab Province, on Saturday morning when the Muslim neighbour accused him of desecrating the Quran and instigated local Muslims to attack him, his nephew said. Area Muslims Ayub Gondal and Muhammad Ikraam were jealous of the success of the shoe factory of Nazeer Gill and his son Sultan Gill and had pressured them to give up possession of some shops they had bought two months ago, Irfan Gill told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News by phone. The Muslims had been looking for an opportunity to attack Nazeer Gill's family after they refused to surrender to their demands, he said. "On Thursday, my uncle Nazeer's teenage grandsons, Kashif and Jamal, had an altercation with Gondal's son over the same issue," Irfan Gill said. "Such clashes have been going on ever since they started to exert pressure on our family, but we didn't anticipate that they would go to this extent." Nazeer Gill had burned the wastepaper and gone inside his home when someone threw a copy of the Quran into the fire, burning the Muslim holy book, Irfan Gill said. "We came to know about the incident around 8 a.m. when announcements were made from mosque loudspeakers urging people to gather on the scene," he told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. "Within minutes, a mob assembled outside my uncle's home and stormed inside." They forced him out to the street and started to hit him with bricks, stones and sticks, he said. "In the meantime, some of the protesters ransacked the house and then went to the shoe factory, which is also located in the same street in a house. When they reached there, the protesters torched it, burning everything inside," Irfan Gill said. Most Christian residents fled their houses when they saw the mobs gathering and raising slogans associated with an extremist Islamist political party, he said. "Some sought refuge in the nearby churches while others left after locking their homes, fearing for the safety of their families," he said. "The situation would have gotten worse if the police had not arrived in time." The mob tried their best to lynch his uncle and also attempted to damage the ambulance that police summoned to evacuate him, he said. "The police couldn't stop the mob from torturing my uncle and damaging the property, but they did save the lives of my cousin and his family by spiriting them away from the area," he said. Irfan Gill, a member of the local Presbyterian church, said his uncle was put on a ventilator in a hospital, where his condition was said to be critical. "We are all in hiding at the moment, and the police are not allowing any relative to see my uncle," he said. "He has sustained serious injuries to his head and body, and we can only pray and hope that he survives. It will be nothing short of a miracle for us." Assault Eyewitnesses described the mob as highly charged, with several people filming the incident on their phones. A local Christian resident said the mob attacked Nazeer Gill and his property without attempting to verify facts. "They shouted slogans of 'Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah,' or, 'Prophet I'm here,' as they brought out furniture and packaging material from Nazeer's house and factory and burned them," the source told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisal from the Muslims. The resident said an associate of Gondal, Muhammad Ikraam, was a ticket-holder of the extremist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), and that he played a central role in mustering the mob. "Several Christian families sought refuge in churches because we couldn't leave the colony in time," the source said. "Inside the church, we prayed for God's intervention because it seemed that the mob would not stop until they had destroyed everything." A large police contingent led by the district police chief eventually arrived and were able to disperse the mob by firing tear gas shells, he said, adding that the mob retaliated by pelting stones, injuring several policemen. Punjab Police Inspector General Dr. Usman Anwar and Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal also reached the area later in the day to investigate. Anwar said in a press statement that police arrested 15 Muslims involved in the violence and were working to identify other perpetrators. He said 2,000 police personnel were deployed to the area to restore order and urged Christians who had fled their homes to return, assuring them of their safety. Punjab Home Secretary Mengal said violence against anyone under religious pretexts would not be tolerated. He added that action would be taken against suspects accused following investigation. At the same time police have registered a case against the victim under sections 295-A and 295-B of the blasphemy laws and Section 9 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) to placate furious Muslims. Section 295-A calls for imprisonment of up to 10 years for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings; Section 295-B calls for life imprisonment for anyone accused of willfully defiling or desecrating the Quran; Section 9 of ATA prescribes punishment of up to five of prison for instigating sectarian hatred. Christians Demand Justice National Council of the Churches in Pakistan (NCCP) President Bishop Azad Marshall said in a press statement that the distressing incident was reminiscent of the attack on Christians in Jaranwala in August of last year. "We are alarmed by the reported presence of law enforcement officers during the attack who did not take action, suggesting a grave dereliction of duty in protecting vulnerable communities," Marshall said. "This occurrence underscores the critical need for decisive actions to counter extremism and safeguard religious minorities." The senior church leader called for a comprehensive and impartial investigation as per the directives of the Supreme Court into the actions of both perpetrators and negligent law enforcement officials. "Furthermore, we implore the authorities to guarantee the protection of individuals falsely accused of blasphemy and to take necessary measures to reestablish peace and security in Sargodha," he said. Minorities Alliance Pakistan Chairman Akmal Bhatti said that the mob violence in Sargodha would not have happened had the government sternly dealt with perpetrators of the Jaranwala attacks. "Almost all of those arrested in the Jaranwala attacks cases have walked free on bail due to poor investigation and weak prosecution," Bhatti told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. "Such lapses embolden the perpetrators who exploit religious sentiments for their criminal acts." He added that if the government was serious in protecting religious minorities, then it should first ensure that the blasphemy laws are not misused and that those who incite violence are made an example for others. Advocacy movement Minority Rights March in a statement condemned the Punjab government and police for "failing to learn from the Jaranwala attacks last year and taking any concrete measures to curtail the growing radicalism." "We condemn the state of facilitating once-banned outfits such as TLP [Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan], resulting in a Pakistan which is becoming unlivable for religious minorities with each passing day," the group said. They demanded an "expeditious inquiry and action through a judicial commission and the one-man commission led by Dr. Shoaib Suddle... not only against the mob involved in the attack but against the police officials and officers of the Punjab government who failed to take preemptive measures." Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year. 2024 Christian Daily International-Morning Star News European bishops accuse Turkey of diluting 'historical roots of Christian presence in the country' (CP) European bishops have condemned the recent decision by Turkish authorities to convert the Church of Saint Saviour in Chora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Istanbul, into a mosque, calling it an effort to dilute the historical roots of Christianity in the country. "This step further dilutes the historical roots of the Christian presence in the country. Any interreligious dialogue initiative promoted by Turkish authorities loses credibility," the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union, or COMECE, said in a statement. The transformation of the Church of Saint Saviour in Chora into a mosque earlier this month came four years after the similar conversion of the Hagia Sophia Basilica, another iconic Byzantine Christian site, into a mosque. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally inaugurated the Chora church for Islamic worship earlier this month. "This is a step further in diluting the historical roots of the Christian presence in the country, and it is a regrettable decision that will make religious coexistence more difficult. With this action, any initiative regarding interreligious dialogue promoted by the country's authorities will inevitably lose credibility," stated Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, Secretary General of COMECE. The Church of Saint Savior in Chora, built in the fourth century, is an emblem of Eastern Christianity and a significant historical marker of the Christian presence in Turkey. It was converted into a mosque in the 16th century during the Ottoman Empire. It was designated a museum in 1945 and reopened for public display in 1958 after extensive restoration efforts by American art historians. The Greek Foreign Ministry issued a strong condemnation, stating that the decision to operate the Chora church as a mosque distorts its character as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and undermines its universal cultural significance. "The maintenance of monuments' universal character and compliance with international standards for the protection of religious and cultural heritage is a clear international obligation binding on all States," the Ministry's statement read. The inauguration ceremony of the Chora church as a mosque, held remotely by President Erdogan from Ankara, was broadcasted nationally. The event included prayers led by local worshipers and speeches by prominent religious figures, such as Istanbul's mufti, Safi Arpagus. The General Directorate of Foundations in Turkey organized the ceremony, which saw significant attendance from the community. The U.S. State Department also expressed concern. A spokesperson encouraged the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites that have hosted different religious communities, respecting their diverse histories. "We encourage the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories," the spokesperson told the state-run Athens-Macedonian News Agency. The conversions of churches are viewed as strategic efforts by the Turkish president to consolidate support from his conservative and religious base amid the country's ongoing economic challenges. In 2020, President Erdogan and hundreds of worshipers participated in the first Muslim prayers held at the Hagia Sophia in 86 years, marking its redesignation as a mosque despite widespread international disapproval. COMECE had called the change of status of the Hagia Sophia "a blow to interreligious dialogue." On that occasion, the bishops also pointed out Turkey's ongoing issues with hate speech and threats against national, ethnic and religious minorities. The Christian Post Sacked Christian lecturer defends homosexuality comments at tribunal A Christian lecturer sacked by a Bible college over social media comments about homosexuality has told a tribunal that the public expression of his beliefs are "academically defensible". Dr Aaron Edwards lost his job after seven years as a lecturer with Cliff College, a Methodist training college in Derbyshire, over comments he posted on social media last year. His tweet read, "Homosexuality is invading the Church. Evangelicals no longer see the severity of this because they're busy apologising for their apparently barbaric homophobia, whether or not it's true." The comments were made in response to a debate in the Church of England about introducing same-sex blessings. The tribunal, meeting in Sheffield this week, heard that complaints were made by three female students, two of whom were lesbians. The students claimed that Dr Edwards' comments made them feel "unsafe". After refusing to retract his comments, he was dismissed for allegedly bringing the college "into disrepute". Dr Edwards told the tribunal that he had wanted to "stand up for truth when it is being eroded in society". "Christians are called to profess what they believe," he said, according to The Telegraph. He said that he had been open about his beliefs in other writings, podcasts and sermons, and claimed that the college had been aware of his views prior to the backlash over his tweet. "My views on homosexuality have not been unknown, they have been discussed openly," he said at the tribunal. "In seven years of teaching at Cliff, I have never had a student who took one of my units raise concerns about feeling unsafe in the classroom, and no student has ever left feedback showing concerns about the expression of my views on homosexuality. "The college had more than enough opportunity to be familiar with my views and with my academic research for there to be less apparent shock and public disappointment from them in responding as they did on Twitter without any prior consultation with me." The tribunal also heard that he had struggled to find work after his dismissal. "Equality, diversity, and inclusivity quotas remain significant for all existing universities and validated colleges," he said. "It is already systemically difficult for a heterosexual white male with traditional Christian beliefs on morality to get an academic post." He added, "I believe the public expression of my beliefs is academically defensible, but many institutions will likely be unable to look past the controversy of being dismissed as a result." The hearing continues. Thousands sign petition protesting Progress Pride flags on London's Regent Street Nearly 20,000 people have signed a petition protesting plans to display Progress Pride flags along one of London's most famous thoroughfares. The petition was launched by Christian Concern ahead of the display planned for Pride month in June. It is common for shops, train stations and other public spaces to be decked out in Pride flags every June. Progress Pride flags differ from traditional Pride flags with the inclusion of brown, black, light blue and pink stripes. These additional stripes represent people of colour, trans people, and those living with HIV/AIDS. The petition to Westminster City Council calls the flags "divisive" and "gaudy", and says they are "completely inappropriate for this historic, iconic street at the centre of London". "Each June, our neighbourhoods are swamped with Pride flags as councils, shops and other businesses signal their support for LGBTQ+ ideology. It's time to stop this," the petition reads. "Rainbow flags are bad enough but 'Progress Pride' flags add transgender stripes a movement that has done untold damage to gender-questioning children in recent years." It adds that the flags "make everyone who doesn't support the whole LGBTQ+ agenda feel unwelcome". "They send the message that Christians, and others with historic beliefs about sexuality and gender are not welcome," the petition said. Perhaps no statistic shows just how much pressure CIOs are under to enable artificial intelligence (AI) than this: AI is now tied with cybersecurity as the top priority for CIOs, according to a recent Lenovo survey. However, though AI deployment is an urgent issue, most CIOs dont believe their organizations are ready. Less than half of CIOs say they possess the required technical skills, only 4 in 10 believe they have the required security infrastructure, and just one-third think their organizations possess the right computing infrastructure. Just as concerning, less than a quarter of CIOs say their organizations have an adequate corporate policy around ethical use. Despite these concerns, CIOs are bullish on the value of AI, though only half say the most important gains will include cost reductions. Instead, productivity gains (83%) are far and away the top expected benefit, followed by increased competitiveness (77%). That said, though CIOs have a clear vision of what their organizations will gain from AI, its clear that they are worried about their ability to demonstrate ROI. Just over 6 in 10 say that demonstrating ROI from any technology is very or extremely challenging. And while almost 4 in 10 say theyre already seeing value from their AI investments, a slightly larger percentage (42%) say they dont expect to see ROI for at least two years. Todays CIOs are working in a tornado of innovation. After years of IT expanding into non-traditional responsibilities, were now seeing how AI is forcing CIOs back to their core mandate, said Ken Wong, President of Lenovos Solutions and Services Group. This is driven by the clear promise of AI adoption combined with the pressure that IT leaders face to prove the value of these investments and deliver measurable business outcomes. CIOs know exactly which barriers lie in the way to AI success, and the amount of time it takes to bring AI vision to life is at the top of the list. Other barriers include security, inherent AI biases, and intellectual property concerns around the data on which AI is trained. But beyond these immediate challenges, there are also significant unknowns that could further confound AI success. For instance, while the vast majority (90%) of CIOs say they have the talent they need to scale AI in their organizations, theyre not certain theyll be able to continue meeting the talent challenge. About 9 in 10 warn that, as AI technologies become more advanced and pervasive, the need for highly skilled people will also grow. Financial resources are also a concern. Essentially all (96%) CIOs expect their AI budgets to grow over the next 12 months, but just 20% say their IT budgets will grow by more than 10%. Whats more, 48% have deprioritized cloud and digital transformation to focus on AI. If other key areas go hungry to feed AI, that does not bode well for the overall future health of IT. Finally, CIOs are concerned about how their organizations will meet the challenge of responsible AI use. More than 9 out of 10 CIOs say that as AI grows in power, the responsibility to inform and explain how people in the company are using it also grows. CIOs and the rest of the C-suite should already be creating a strategy to ensure transparency in AI use and policies to govern ethical use. Theres a clear opportunity for us to help businesses make sense of AI, accelerate its scale, and advise on how the impact of these investments can be effectively measured, added Wong. Our customers are already leveraging AI to advance sustainability, security, and digital transformation efforts. We can help them deliver further outcomes by developing cohesive deployment strategies that address CIOs challenges. The AI challenge is huge, and the barriers to success are large. A trusted advisor like Lenovo can help organizations make sense of AI. Lenovos AI Services Practice has been designed to help clients assess their preparedness for AI and determine how they can best fill the gaps. Learn more in the full report from Lenovo or find out more about Lenovos smarter technology solutions. 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. By Farnaces/Adobe NCVO and ACEVO have called on the next government to establish a civil society charter to help charities work more effectively with government. A joint manifesto by the membership bodies published today urges all political parties in the lead-up to the general election to consider developing a civil society engagement strategy to support the charter, underpinned by cross-government collaboration. The Voluntary Sector Manifesto , influenced by the organisations combined 17,000 members, also urges the next government to create a cabinet role to oversee public service delivery, protect the Charity Commission's independence and introduce 0% VAT for charities. Seven key asks NCVO and ACEVOs manifesto asks the next government to engage charities in policy making via a civil society charter and engagement strategy. It urges policymakers to establish a fairer partnership between government and charities on service delivery, with the creation of a dedicated cabinet office role and more investment in public services and local government. The manifesto calls on the next government to protect charities rights to protest, including by repealing the Public Order Act 2023, which gave police greater powers to crack down on protests when enacted last year. It asks the next government to provide a successor to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and introduce a strategy for investment in social infrastructure. The bodies call for volunteers to be prioritised, with the next government urged to introduce a right to request paid leave for volunteering and to guarantee people on benefits can volunteer without fear of losing government support. It urges the next government to introduce 0% VAT for charities, extending charitable rate relief to trading subsidiaries, and support charities to lower their carbon emissions. The manifesto urges the next government to make it easier for the public to give by streamlining gift aid, extending current giving schemes and appointed a philanthropy champion in government. ACEVO: We want to see our sector valued ACEVO chief executive Jane Ide said the general election is an opportunity for all political parties to demonstrate how much they value civil society. It makes clear our offer to politicians of all parties: we, our members and our sector stand ready to work with you, and to bring to the table the knowledge, the expertise, the relationships and the understanding our sector holds in order to build together the solutions our communities need, she said. And it also makes clear that we want to see our sector valued, acknowledged and supported by politicians across the spectrum to be the powerful force for good that we know it can be. NCVO: We have the skills, expertise and good will to help Sarah Vibert, chief executive of NCVO, said: By investing in this partnership, the government can harness the sectors power to address societal challenges and bring about a new era of decision-making where the needs of different communities are heard and understood. Our manifesto is the voluntary sectors offer to a new government: we have the skills, expertise and good will to help you achieve real and lasting change. NCVO and ACEVO have urged all political parties to include support for the voluntary sector into their policies and manifestos. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, The U.S. Supreme Court has revived a claim by the National Rifle Association (NRA) that a former New York regulator allegedly violated the organizations First Amendment rights by coercing insurers and banks to terminate their business relationships with the NRA in order to punish or suppress the NRAs gun rights advocacy. Government officials cannot attempt to coerce private parties in order to punish or suppress views that the government disfavors, the court declared in a unanimous opinion written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The Supreme Court found the NRAs allegations that former New York Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo violated its First Amendment rights to be plausible. The high court vacated a 2022 judgment of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit that dismissed the NRAs claims. The high court remanded the case back to the circuit court for further proceedings. The NRA claimed that Vullo infringed its free speech rights when she spoke out against gun violence and issued a press release and guidance letters urging banks and insurance companies in New York to consider the reputational risks of doing business with gun groups including the NRA. The gun advocacy organization argued that Vullos statements and letters constituted threats of adverse action if insurers or banks failed to support her efforts to stifle the NRAs speech and to retaliate against the NRA. The case stems from events in 2018 after Vullos department investigated the NRA-sponsored Carry Guard insurance programs offered by broker Lockton and insurer Chubb and similar programs underwritten by Lloyds of London. The DFS investigation concluded that the NRA-endorsed programs violated New York insurance law by providing insurance coverage for intentional criminal acts. DFS also found that the NRA promoted Carry Guard without an insurance producer license. As a result of the DFS investigation, Lloyds of London, Chubb and Lockton signed consent decrees agreeing to discontinue the sale of the NRA insurance plans in New York. Each consent decree expressly allowed the entities to continue to do business with the NRA. Vullo was quoted in the press release as stating that business can lead the way and bring about the kind of positive social change needed to minimize the chance that we will witness more of these senseless tragedies, and urging all insurance companies and banks doing business in New York to join the companies that have already discontinued their arrangements with the NRA, and to take prompt actions to manage these risks and promote public health and safety. Vullos comments came two months after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 high school students and staff were killed. In the wake of the shooting, the NRA and other gun promotion groups faced intense backlash. A panel of the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in September 2022 that Vullo was within her rights as a regulator and that she was entitled to qualified immunity for speaking out as she did. The federal appeals court said that NRAs First Amendment claims rested on whether Vullos statements were implied threats to employ coercive state power to stifle protected speech. Circuit Judge Denny Chin, writing for the three-judge panel, found that was not the case and that Vullos words speak for themselves, and they cannot reasonably be construed as being unconstitutionally threatening or coercive. Appeals Court Rejects NRA Free Speech Claims Against New York Insurance Regulator The NRA appealed to the Supreme Court that has now rejected that appeals court approach, concluding that the NRA plausibly alleged a First Amendment claim. While a government official can share her views freely and criticize particular beliefs in the hopes of persuading others, she may not use the power of her office to punish or suppress disfavored expression, the high court stated, adding that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from relying on the threat of invoking legal sanctions and other means of coercion . . . to achieve the suppression of disfavored speech. As DFS superintendent, Vullo had direct regulatory and enforcement authority over all insurance companies and financial service institutions doing business in New York. The court said Vullos communications with the DFS-regulated entities made clear she wanted Lloyds to disassociate from all gun groups, although there was no indication that such groups had unlawful insurance policies similar to the NRAs. Vullo also told the Lloyds executives she would focus her enforcement actions solely on the syndicates with ties to the NRA, and ignore other syndicates writing similar policies. The Supreme Court said the message was loud and clear that Lloyds could avoid liability for unrelated infractions if it aided DFSs campaign against gun groups by ending its business relationships with them. Vullos alleged communications, the court found whether seen as a threat or as an inducement were reasonably understood as coercive. The court said NRAs other allegations concerning Vullos guidance and communications reinforce the NRAs First Amendment claim. The high court criticized the Second Circuits conclusion that they were examples of permissible government speech and legitimate enforcement action, finding that the circuit court could only reach this conclusion by taking the allegations in isolation and failing to draw reasonable inferences in the NRAs favor. Vullo claimed that the NRAs position, if accepted, would stifle government speech and hamper legitimate enforcement efforts, but the Supreme Court said its conclusion simply reaffirms the general principle that where the complaint plausibly alleges coercive threats aimed at punishing or suppressing disfavored speech, the plaintiff states a First Amendment claim. Nothing in this case immunizes the NRA from regulation nor prevents government officials from condemning disfavored views. The takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or (as alleged here) through private intermediaries, the court stated. The American Civil Liberties Union provided legal representation for the NRA in the appeal. AKRON, Ohio Black abolitionist and womens rights activist Sojourner Truths legacy was cemented in Akron history and American history Wednesday night with the opening of the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza 173 years to the day she gave her famous Aint I a Woman? speech to the Ohio Womens Convention in Akron. The Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza, which features a life-sized statue of Truth, is located at United Way of Summit & Medinas offices at 37 N. High St., adjacent to the site of the Old Stone Church where Truth gave her historic speech on May 29, 1851. Truth was born into slavery in Swartekill, New York, in 1797. She escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. Though she was born Isabella Baumfree, she changed her name to Sojourner Truth in 1843 after she said God had called her to leave the city and go into the countryside, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. After delivering the speech in Akron in 1851, she continued to advocate for justice for Black people and women until her death in 1883. Efforts to commemorate Truths life work and famous speech in Akron have been discussed for decades, according to Towanda Mullins, chair of the Sojourner Truth Project. But it wasnt until Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro convened the Summit Suffrage Centennial Committee to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of womens suffrage in 2020 that the project began to take root. The committee, which formed in 2018, focused its attention on honoring Truths legacy and the Sojourner Truth Project was born. The plaza was constructed in the former United Way of Summit & Medinas parking lot because of its proximity to the site where Truth gave her groundbreaking speech. The United Way was the projects largest funder -- raising more than $1 million for the project. Additional funding was provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. We have demonstrated how the community can come together to honor the past while shaping the future, Mullins told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. We are thankful that the United Way donated its parking lot to be transformed into a living, breathing project that will live on forever. The plaza, which is open to the public daily from dusk until dawn, will serve as an educational hub, where community members and students can go to learn about Truths life and work. The United Way will manage group tours of the site, Mullins said. Summit Metro Parks Landscape Architect Dion Harris designed the plaza. Construction was engineered by GPD group and completed by the Ruhlin Company. The center of the plaza features a sculpture of Truth, which was created by nationally renowned Akron native and sculptor Woodrow Nash. We really wanted to make the statue of Truth the focal point of the plaza, Harris told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. The Truth statue is situated atop a huge impala lily that covers a large section of the plaza walkway. Impala lilies are the national flower of Ghana, where Truths paternal ancestors lived, according to Harris. Harris worked with other designers who were involved with National Trust for Historic Preservation projects to design the plaza, he said. Theres a lot of detail integrated into the site. We used concrete and steel so its easy to maintain but also has a natural feel. Its a mix of a lot of things that convey changing the structure of society and breaking though. The landscaping includes all native plants, grass and trees from the area, Harris said. Plaza features include: - A copy of Truths speech to the Ohio Womens Convention in Akron. - Four pillars around the plaza that each feature one of the following words: activism, identity, faith and power. Each pillar includes a steel plaque that includes information about Truth and her speech. - A rotating squares theme that is designed to convey breaking through, according to Harris. - A river-like walkway that traverses the plaza that is reminiscent of Akrons canals, which were also routes people used to escape slavery, according to Harris. The walkway includes a timeline that chronicles Truths life experiences interspersed throughout it. - A wall area that displays a mural by local artists, which can be changed to make the plaza dynamic, according to Harris. - Benches for seating and reflection that are integrated into the design. One of four pillars that surrounds the plaza that contain quotes and information from Truth's life.Megan Becka, special to cleveland.com Sojourner Truth Legacy Scholarship Part of the Sojourner Truth Projects efforts to educate students and the community about Truth and her work include the Sojourner Truth Legacy Scholarship. The $5,000 scholarship is sponsored by the Akron Press Club and the Sojourner Truth Project and is awarded to one Akron Public School senior each year who is interested in studying journalism, public relations, marketing or communications. The 2024 scholarship recipient is Demetrion Duvall of Buchtel. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Update, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Heres a look at some of the top stories trending online today, May 30. They include updates on the latest volcano eruption in Iceland, Samuel Alito and the Supreme Court and much more. Alito tells lawmakers he will not recuse from Supreme Court cases despite flag controversy (CNN) Roberts faces calls to press Alito for recusal (The Hill) Volcanic eruption puts on fiery spectacle near Icelands Grindavik (Al Jazeera) Pressure builds on Biden to let Ukraine strike inside Russia using U.S. weapons (NBC) Israel seizes Gazas entire border with Egypt, presses with raids into Rafah (Reuters) World Central Kitchen pauses operations in Rafah, aid workers warn humanitarian response on brink of collapse (ABC) Other trending headlines Power outages could linger for days after storms batter Texas again, leaving 1 dead (AP) Mets to reportedly DFA reliever Jorge Lopez after he called them worst team (Yahoo) Hong Kong court convicts 14 pro-democracy activists (Politico) Delhi Hits Record 126 F Degrees As Extreme Heat Wave Envelops North India (Forbes) George Clooney and Brad Pitt reunite in action-packed Wolfs trailer (CNN) World needs Chinas new-energy opportunities, not zero-sum games 13:48, May 30, 2024 By Hu Weijia ( Global Times Illustration: Liu Xidan/GT Citing data from the China Passenger Car Association, several media outlets recently carried stories saying that Brazil has overtaken Belgium as the largest export market for Chinese new-energy vehicle (NEV) shipments. China's NEV sector is in a phase of rapid development, serving as a key piece in the jigsaw for China's burgeoning green economy. The boom in green and low-carbon industries aligns with the global trend of energy conservation and emissions reduction, and it is an integral part of global green energy efforts. How will the world respond to China's rapid development in low-carbon industries? Reaction has been mixed. Jealous of China's achievements, the US tries to smear China's production capacity and mobilize the West against China's exports. A zero-sum mentality has disturbed the order and atmosphere of international public opinion, and suppressed some people's understanding of the truth. What is urgently needed is to break the zero-sum mentality and bring global new-energy cooperation back on the right track of globalization. In this context, Brazil's reindustrialization offers a new perspective for people to see global green energy cooperation. Brazil's government in January unveiled a sweeping reindustrialization plan that will provide credit and funding to the economy. New investment will help to accelerate the process of reindustrialization, but, in the meantime, the country has vowed to step up efforts to reduce carbon emissions. To resolve the contradiction between industrialization and emissions reduction, Brazil is being forced to develop a low-carbon economy. It means new opportunities for cooperation. China's low-carbon economy has developed in recent decades and the country has made achievements in NEVs, photovoltaic and wind power equipment, industrial energy conservation, low-carbon infrastructure and renewable energy sources. There is great potential for cooperation between the two countries in the field of the low-carbon economy. Brazilian Ambassador to China Marcos Galvao said in an interview with Chinese media outlets in 2023 that energy is one of the most dynamic areas of bilateral cooperation. He said Chinese companies investing in the fields of solar photovoltaic facilities, wind power projects and hydropower stations have made positive contributions to help Brazil upgrade its power system and ensure power supply for businesses and households. Bilateral cooperation has entered the fast lane of development. In the first four months of this year, total trade between China and Brazil increased 23.2 percent year-on-year. Brazil recorded a trade surplus with China in the amount of $17.04 billion. The surge in bilateral trade reflects mutual needs and complementarities. There is no doubt that mutually beneficial cooperation will help inject new dynamism and make new contributions to Brazil's economic growth and reindustrialization. Of course, trade friction is inevitable in any era. Earlier media reports said that Brazil is set to raise tariffs on electric vehicle (EV) imports as it seeks to encourage local production. Disputes are normal in international trade. It is believed cooperation between China and Brazil will continue to move forward. Several Chinese automakers have started increasing investment in local production in Brazil. BYD has started building a manufacturing complex there to begin local production by year-end or in early 2025, according to Reuters. China and Brazil have a promising future in the sector of clean energy cooperation. Galvao said last year in an interview that there would be more good stories in Brazil and China to tell the world. We sincerely hope that Western countries can adopt an open attitude toward global cooperation on clean energy and demonstrate their support for globalization and free trade. Currently, some Western economies are bowing to trade protectionism, which has resulted in trade friction and fragmentation. However, countries all over the world share common interests in the area of carbon emissions reduction. As long as Western economies see common interests where we can find synergy to further boost the low-carbon economy, the West and China can find ways to overcome difficulties and achieve win-win cooperation. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) After Salesforce posted its first revenue miss since 2006, CEO Marc Benioff told CNBC's Jim Cramer how the market for enterprise software companies has changed since the pandemic. "You can't control the buying environment. The reality is, you're going to have heterogeneous buying environments, it's going to happen," Benioff said. "And we're in this post-pandemic reality where the buying environment has and we've talked about this now for a few quarters been very measured for enterprise software companies. Not just a company like Salesforce but many companies." Salesforce posted weaker-than-expected guidance, and its revenue came in at $9.13 billion, less than the $9.17 billion analysts expected, according to LSEG. The company released earnings after Wednesday's close, and shares dipped as low as 16% in after-hours trading. Benioff said that during the pandemic, companies "aggressively" bought enterprise software. And since then, they've worked to "absorb a lot of the technology that they've put in" while, at the same time, there's the artificial intelligence boom going on. He suggested that "those things have to be rationalized for these companies." However, Benioff said he's pleased with Salesforce's cash flow and margins, as well as what its products can do for customers like FedEx and Air India. "It's been a complete financial transformation," Benioff said. "But, not only that, it's also a complete transformation of the product line for customers, giving them this incredible new capability with artificial intelligence." HONG KONG A Hong Kong court on Thursday found 14 of 16 pro-democracy activists guilty of conspiring to subvert the state in the Chinese territory's single largest case under a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing. Two of the defendants, Lau Wai-chung and Lee Yue-shun, were found not guilty. The defendants, who could be sentenced to life in prison, are among 47 politicians, academics and other pro-democracy figures who were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion over their involvement in an unofficial primary election. The judgment is being issued by Hong Kong's High Court over two days on Thursday and Friday. Critics say the trial symbolizes the decline of freedoms in the international financial hub amid a crackdown on dissent following mass anti-government protests in 2019. "This trial is not just a trial for these 47 individuals," said Eric Yan-ho Lai, a research fellow at the Georgetown Center for Asian Law. "It's a trial for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong." Most of the 47 have been held without bail since being charged in early 2021. Of those, 31 pleaded guilty in the hopes of a reduced sentence, while the remaining 16 pleaded not guilty. The 47 range in age from their 20s to their 60s and include prominent names such as legal scholar Benny Tai, former pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo and Joshua Wong, best known internationally as a leader of pro-democracy protests in 2014. The defendants who pleaded not guilty and were convicted on Thursday include former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung and Raymond Chan and journalist-turned-activist Gwyneth Ho. They went on trial in February 2023 and had been waiting for a ruling since it ended in December. Hong Kong had had a 100% conviction rate in national security cases, which are prosecuted under rules that diverge from the city's legal norms, including presumption against bail. Almost 300 people have been arrested under the national security law, which came into force in the summer of 2020. The charges stem from an informal primary election held in July 2020 in which more than 600,000 voters selected pro-democracy candidates for a legislative election that was scheduled for that September. Many of the candidates in the primary election had vowed to repeatedly veto the government's proposed budget in an effort to force the resignation of Carrie Lam, who was then the city's leader and seen as resistant to the 2019 protesters' democratic demands. watch now Artificial intelligence for cancer screening has taken off. Yet most of those new programs aren't covered by Medicare or private insurers, which creates headwinds for companies looking to boost adoption and for patients who could benefit from the new technology. "Traditionally, for medical devices it takes up to seven years after a product that's approved by the FDA to get reimbursed. So, it is quite a challenge," said Brittany Berry-Pusey, co-founder and COO of AI screening startup Avenda Health. As AI capabilities accelerate, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized 882 AI and machine learning-enabled devices and programs. Nearly 600 of them have been radiology AI applications approved in the last five years. Most do not yet have billing codes that would allow them to get reimbursement and prevent patients from paying out of pocket. While some tools have shown early promise in helping to improve diagnosis and care for cancer patients, more data may be needed to determine whether they are more effective than conventional screening before major insurers will be willing to cover them. A medical robot of French start up SquareMind, designed to facilitate cancer screening using artificial intelligence is displayed during the Vivatech technology startups and innovation fair, at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, on May 22, 2024. Julien De Rosa | Afp | Getty Images One of Avenda's products illustrates the complex process that has to take place before insurers cover AI tools. The company's Unfold AI prostate cancer platform helps urologists find more cancer cells than traditional MRI screenings. It can aid in identifying the best treatment to reduce the risk of prostate cancer surgery side effects like incontinence and impotence. The FDA approved the program for medical decision support last year. Just as important, the American Medical Association designated a provisional billing code for it which most AI radiology products have not yet received. Now, Avenda is working on getting Medicare and insurers to provide coverage, which can take years in many cases. "If there's no payment, that means patients have to pay out of pocket, which can be challenging especially for our patients. This is an older patient population," said Berry-Pusey. Hurdles to reimbursement The American Medical Association, the medical professional organization that assigns the Current Procedural Terminology codes that allow reimbursement, issued guidelines for establishing AI CPT codes last fall. The group said different medical specialties should help determine the standards for use in their fields. The lack of reimbursement is hindering adoption of new AI programs for cancer screening, especially for smaller hospitals and physician practices, said Dr. William Thorwarth, CEO of the American College of Radiology, which represents thousands of professionals in the field. Yet, in a letter to a congressional committee assessing the use of AI in health care, he cautioned against moving too quickly. Thorwarth wrote that AI reimbursement is complex and establishing billing codes for every approved AI tool is "problematic." He added that it is "unclear" whether the AI platforms currently covered are "adding value to patients or the health system." Medicare and private health insurers have expressed similar caution. A spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services told CNBC that the agency takes CPT codes into account for reimbursement and "continually assesses opportunities to leverage new, innovative strategies and technologies safely and responsibly, including Artificial Intelligence." Part of that caution may stem from an earlier experience with computer-aided mammography in the late 1990s. Doctors since have said it led to false positives and unnecessary biopsies. Independence Blue Cross Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rodrigo Cerda said the verdict is still out on the effectiveness of the newest programs. "The evidence hasn't quite met the bar to say it clearly makes a benefit of positive difference for our members and doesn't introduce other risks that might be false positives or sort of gives confidence to the false negatives," Cerda said. Charging patients out of pocket Without insurance reimbursement, radiology provider RadNet has resorted to charging patients a fee for its proprietary Enhanced Breast Cancer Detection AI screening, which was launched in 2022. RadNet has published data indicating the tool helps to improve cancer detection. The company recently cut the price of the test from $59 to $40. It said its AI digital health revenue more than doubled in the first quarter from a year ago, and patient adoption of AI screening increased from around 25% to 39% of mammogram patients. RadNet's executives compare the process with AI screening to the radiology industry's experience with digital breast Tomosynthesis, known as 3D mammography. It was approved by the FDA in 2011, and women were initially offered the screening for an out-of-pocket fee. By the end of the decade, it was widely covered by insurers. "The question is, can we eventually get the [insurers] to step up for that? And I think driving the adoption and the value propositions of finding more cancers, I think will eventually convince them," said Dr. Greg Sorensen, RadNet's chief science officer. Sorensen said RadNet has enrolled an employer in New Jersey, which will start covering the breast cancer scans for its workers. The company will also soon launch an AI-enhanced prostate MRI screening for $250. But at that price, it may pose a bigger barrier to adoption and access for patients who can't afford it. Concerns about access An Amazon delivery drone is on display at Amazon's BOS27 Robotics Innovation Hub in Westborough, Massachusetts, on Nov. 10, 2022. Amazon said Thursday it has received federal approval to fly its delivery drones longer distances without the need for ground spotters, clearing a key regulatory hurdle and opening the door for the company to scale the service to more parts of the U.S. Previously, Amazon was required to fly its drones within a pilot's view. The Federal Aviation Administration's approval allows Amazon to conduct flights beyond an observer's line of sight. The company said it will expand its delivery area in College Station, Texas, one of the cities where it has been conducting tests. Amazon received approval after it developed a collision-avoidance technology onboard the drones, enabling them to "detect and avoid obstacles in the air." The technology has been a key tool for other drone delivery companies, such as Zipline, looking to operate beyond visual line of sight, or BVLOS. The e-commerce giant's drone delivery service, Prime Air, has struggled since Amazon founder Jeff Bezos laid out his vision for the program more than a decade ago. In 2022, Amazon said it would begin testing deliveries in College Station, Texas, about 100 miles northwest of Houston, and Lockeford, a town south of Sacramento where the program was initially met with some skepticism by residents. Prime Air was hit by layoffs last year as part of broader job cuts at Amazon. The group also encountered regulatory setbacks and executive departures. Last month, Amazon said it would end its drone operations in California and begin deliveries near Phoenix, Arizona, later this year. It is also eyeing further expansion to other U.S. cities in 2025. The company has said it aims to deliver 500 million packages by drone per year by the end of the decade. (This is CNBC Pro's live coverage of Thursday's analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) Corning and PayPal were among the stocks being talked about by analysts on Thursday. JPMorgan upgraded Corning to overweight from neutral, calling for 20% upside. Mizuho, meanwhile, upgraded PayPal to buy from neutral with a price target that implies more than 45% upside. Nvidia also got a price target hike from Daiwa. Check out the latest calls and chatter below. All times ET. 8:18 a.m.: Deutsche Bank upgrades Formula One Formula One is a buy given its solid growth outlook, according to Deutsche Bank. Analyst Bryan Kraft upgraded the racing series to buy from hold, citing an attractive valuation. Kraft also noted Liberty Media's acquisition of MotoGP's parent company Dorna, the world championship of motorcycle road racing, is a boon for the stock. "We are upgrading F1 to Buy, from Hold, and raising our 12-month price target to $83, from $73; driven by our higher EBITDA and FCF estimates, as well as the inclusion of the pending MotoGP acquisition," Kraft wrote on Thursday. His $83 price target implies more than 20% upside for the stock from Wednesday's close. The stock is higher by more than 15% this year. Sarah Min 7:40 a.m.: Bank of America upgrades Datadog to buy Datadog's strong growth runway is worth paying more for compared to some of its enterprise tech peers, according to Bank of America. Analyst Koji Ikeda upgraded the stock to buy from neutral, saying in a note to clients that Datadog is a sector standout. "Datadog has a robust platform with 22 products. Its value proposition is attractive for spend consolidators and ... those who are yearning for bleeding edge tech. Moreover, we are expecting Datadog to consistently deliver a Rule-of-40+ profile (20%+ rev growth plus 20%+ FCF margin...), well above the 30% infrastructure peer group average," the note said. Web traffic and spending data suggests Datadog is off to a strong start to the year, the note said. Ikeda also raised the price target on the stock to $155 per share from $143. The new target is 27% above where the stock closed Wednesday. "Premium warranted given our increasing conviction on growth/profits upside potential and its category leadership," the note said. Jesse Pound 7:37 a.m.: JPMorgan upgrades Corning The stars are aligning for Corning , according to JPMorgan. Analyst Samik Chatterjee upgraded the optical glass maker to overweight from neutral. He also raised his price target to $43 from $37, calling for 20% upside. "The cyclical and secular drivers in the primary businesses of Display and Optical are lining up favorably for the company and should position it well to leverage the upcycle in revenue, with limited incremental operating expense and capital investment, driving significant EPS upside," Chatterjee said. These drivers include a rebound in consumer spending "supporting Display revenue growth" as well as a "secular increase in demand from Cloud customers in relation to optical solutions for AI datacenters." Corning shares have popped more than 16% year to date. Fred Imbert 7:21 a.m.: Guggenheim downgrades 'overvalued' Generac Holdings to sell Guggenheim Partners is throwing in the towel on "overvalued" Generac . The firm downgraded the backup power generator company to sell from neutral on Thursday, and lowered its price target to $120 per share. Guggenheim's forecast implies roughly 20% downside from Wednesday's $149.49 close. Analyst Joseph Osha says that despite forecasts calling for a robust hurricane season in 2024, the potential upside from averse weather events is already baked into the stock's current support level. The analyst also added that the company's difficulty bring to fruition its residential energy technology efforts remain a material headwind. "The company's efforts have not borne fruit, and we think that GNRC's outlook in residential solar energy and energy storage is increasingly challenged given how competitive the market has become," Osha said. "We think that GNRC had a decent energy storage offering initially, and that product lineup had the potential to be successful if [GNRC] had been willing to sell it as a free-standing offering." Generac stock has climbed about 16% in 2024. Brian Evans 7:11 a.m.: Here's what analysts are saying after Salesforce's first-quarter earnings report Salesforce's softer-than-expected second-quarter outlook and first-quarter revenue miss are pressuring the stock, with shares down more than 15% in premarket trading. The results put pressure on Dow Jones Industrial Average futures before the bell. Despite the results, some analysts see reasons to stay optimistic on the stock: Morgan Stanley: "Weak bookings in Q1 further test investor patience as the GenAI innovation cycle has yet to inflect top-line results and now increasingly becomes a point of competitive concern," analyst Keith Weiss wrote in a Thursday note, reiterating an overweight rating but lowering his price target to $320 per share from $350. Weiss' forecast implies nearly 18% upside from Wednesday's close. Goldman Sachs: "While acknowledging investors' need to gain confidence in the trajectory of top-line growth and potential re-acceleration, we believe there are both macro and micro reasons for optimism," Kash Rangan said. The analyst stood by a buy rating on the stock and lowered his price target to $315 per share from $345, amounting to roughly 16% upside ahead. "We note both headwinds from interest rates easing, uncertainty abating after this year's elections, and outsized growth potential from Gen-AI could all serve as growth catalysts." Others took a more cautious stance: Citi: "Valuation is undemanding at 20x EPS, 18x EV/FCF(FY25), but with slowing growth, lack of de-risked estimates and more active M & A we are comfortable on the sidelines awaiting improving growth or more evidence of Data Cloud/GenAI momentum/monetization," analyst Tyler Radke said. Radke reiterated a neutral rating on Salesforce stock but lowered his price target to $260 per share from $323, or about 4.2% below Wednesday's close. Brian Evans 6:42 a.m.: Evercore ISI upgrades Okta following 'upbeat' earnings tone Evercore ISI came away from Okta's first-quarter earnings feeling optimistic that the company is forging a more focused path. "OKTA delivered strong F1Q results that exceeded tempered expectations, accompanied by a much more upbeat tone, suggesting that prior missteps and execution issues are now behind them," analyst Peter Levine said. The firm upgraded shares of the access management company to outperform from in line and increased its price target to $122 per share from $102. Evercore's forecast implies nearly 27% upside from Wednesday's close. "Broadly speaking, the appetite for software isn't strong, but the setup for OKTA is a bit more idiosyncratic given the situation they have been in," the analyst added. "Despite past challenges, its current valuation is not a stretch, and we have enough confidence to take the bet numbers are de-risked." Okta has ticked up 6.4% in 2024. OKTA YTD mountain OKTA year to date Brian Evans 6:28 a.m.: Mizuho Securities downgrades First Solar Mizuho Securities is moving to the sidelines on First Solar . The firm downgraded the solar panel manufacturer stock to neutral from buy. Its new price target of $274, up from $209, implies about 2% downside from Wednesday's close. Analyst Maheep Mandloi noted that the company and stock already reflect robust pricing power, which underpinned the downgrade. "We are not assuming a higher price premium in the short term, which we believe is offset by our assumption of nominal 5%/yr price declines after 2029," the analyst said. First Solar stock has added more than 61% in 2024. Brian Evans 6:09 a.m.: Baird initiates UnitedHealth Group stock coverage, lists company as top long play Baird is growing bullish on the long-term outlook for UnitedHealth , with analyst Michael Ha labeling the firm as "best positioned for the next decade of industry transformation." The analyst initiated coverage on UnitedHealth with an outperform rating and a $597 per share price target, which equates to about 23% upside ahead from Wednesday's close. Ha sees the majority of UnitedHealth's potential growth tied to the expansion of its managed care business, which can differentiate itself from peers thanks to its Optum arm of the company. "Its scale in health insurance helps to build a competitive moat around its core business, but we believe the true differentiation lies in its Optum business and we are specifically very bullish on OptumCare/OptumHealth," the analyst said. "We believe the embedded earnings opportunity from converting existing UnitedHeatlhcare MA lives over to full risk capitation in OptumCare/OptumHealth is significant and will help drive increased visibility/sustainability of its long-term earnings stream with opportunity for enterprise margin expansion that should drive multiple expansion beyond historical levels over the next decade," he added. UnitedHealth stock has ticked down about 8% in 2024. Brian Evans 5:46 a.m.: Daiwa increases Nvidia price target, says company is AI's 'big winner' Shares of soaring chipmaker Nvidia have more room to run, according to Daiwa Capital Markets. Analyst Louis Miscioscia raised his price target on the chipmaker to $1,325 from $900, which implies more than 15% upside from Wednesday's close. "Why is Nvidia the big winner? Basically [because] they have built what AI needs," Miscioscia wrote. Nvidia stock has gained roughly 132% in 2024, adding to last year's 238% surge, as investors cheer the company's AI prospects. "The AI phenomena seems as important as the launch of the PC, the internet and the mobile phone and will change the world," Miscioscia said. "Even with raised numbers, Nvidia cannot fully meet demand." Brian Evans 5:46 a.m.: Mizuho upgrades PayPal to buy After tears of struggles, Mizuho thinks PayPal shares are primed for a comeback. Analyst Dan Dolev upgraded the payments stock to buy from neutral. His price target of $90, up from $68, implies upside of 47% from Wednesday's close. "Our proprietary analysis of PYPL's newly-introduced Fastlane product shows potential for $1.0-1.5bn transaction margin dollar lift (5-10% upside) over the medium-term given the $1.43 trillion of annual e-comm spend that we believe is addressable by Fastlane," Dolev wrote, referring to PayPal's new one-click checkout tool. "We are also encouraged by stabilization in Branded Checkout trends across our analysis of two dozen of PYPL's largest e-comm partners," he said. PayPal shares are down slightly year to date, while the S & P 500 has climbed 10%. The stock has also fallen over the last three years, losing 13.8% in 2023 and a whopping 62% in 2022. PYPL 5Y mountain Fred Imbert Argentina's President Javier Milei waves during the commemoration of the 214th anniversary of the May Revolution that led to the independence from Spain, at Plaza San Martin in Cordoba, Argentina, on May 25, 2024. Diego Lima | Afp | Getty Images Argentina President Javier Milei met with leaders of some of the world's largest tech companies this week, embarking on a Silicon Valley tour that analysts say is likely designed to boost his international profile and showcase the South American country. On his seventh overseas trip since taking office late last year, Argentina's Milei traveled to San Francisco late Monday and has since met with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google's Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook. The right-wing leader, and self-described "anarcho capitalist," is scheduled to meet with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg before departing from the U.S. on Friday. On a separate trip to the U.S. last month, Milei met with tech billionaire Elon Musk at a Tesla electric car factory in Austin, Texas. Milei has shared photos of his encounters on social media platform X this week, typically depicting himself giving two thumbs up alongside the top-level tech executives. Analysts say Milei's charm offensive is likely designed to position Argentina as an attractive place to invest, owing to the South American country's growing tech sector and ecosystem as well as promises of pro-business reforms. watch now "Argentina is also home to significant critical mineral resources, with the world's second largest lithium reserves as well as large (and untapped) copper deposits," Nicolas Saldias, senior analyst for Latin America at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), told CNBC via email. "Getting these minerals out of the ground is critical for both the green economy as well as tech firms having reliable access to critical inputs for their AI infrastructure. The growth of AI data centres will also require significant energy and water resources, of which Argentina has in abundance." The EIU's Saldias said U.S. tech companies were unlikely to invest in Argentina unless the ruling government can pass its keynote "omnibus" reform bill which has since been significantly watered down and its fiscal reform bill through Congress. Reform agenda in focus "The trip is valuable by itself because basically you're attempting to put Argentina at the center of a global conversation about material development and investments in relation to technology," Mariano Machado, principal analyst for the Americas at Verisk Maplecroft, told CNBC via telephone. "We're not only talking about sourcing, like lithium or copper, we're talking about how these companies make decisions over where to locate their network centers and their offices and such," Machado said Thursday. "Nonetheless, it feels like this is kind of like a first step in terms of that conversation that would not necessarily lead to immediate reactions on behalf of companies and investors. But rather a 'duly noted' reaction, like 'we see you're doing your homework, but we need to see more to make a substantial decision,'" he added. Aerial view showing members of social movements being blocked by security forces on their way to Olivos Presidential Residence to protest against President Javier Milei's proposed reforms and cuts in the most vulnerable sectors, in Olivos, Buenos Aires Province, on May 7, 2024. Luis Robayo | Afp | Getty Images Google DeepMind co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Demis Hassabis gives a conference during the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona on February 26, 2024. The CEOs of artificial intelligence heavyweights Google DeepMind, Microsoft AI, Anthropic and Mistral AI are among the elite list of business and political leaders attending a secretive meeting kicking off in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday. AI will once again dominate discussions at the annual Bilderberg Meeting after catapulting onto the agenda last year following the meteoric rise of the burgeoning technology. The tech chiefs will be joined by business executives including Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, former Google CEO and chair Eric Schmidt, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, Shell CEO Wael Sawan and investor Peter Thiel for wide-reaching talks spanning trade, finance and biology. U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg are also among the political figures who will attend for geopolitical discussions including on China and Russia. A total of around 130 participants, including former and current prime ministers, are set to attend the 70th annual private meeting, which this year runs from Thursday to Sunday in the Spanish capital. The Bilderberg Meeting is an event shrouded in mystery, with clandestine talks held behind closed doors and subject to Chatham House rules, meaning the identity and affiliation of speakers must not be disclosed or reported on within the media. According to its organizers, the closed nature of the event aims to foster "informal discussions about major issues." However, that secrecy has sparked conspiracy theories similar to those leveled against high-level meetings such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with critics accusing attendees of exerting outsized influence on society. Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, speaks during an interview for an episode of "The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations," in New York on Nov. 28, 2023. Hedge fund executive and billionaire Bill Ackman has signaled to associates that he is likely to support Donald Trump for president over Joe Biden, according to a source familiar with the matter. Ackman previously financed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign for president and Republican Nikki Haley's failed bid for the White House. Ackman has a net worth of just more than $4 billion, according to Forbes. Another source said Ackman had not made a final decision on whether he is going to endorse Trump. Sources in this story were granted anonymity to speak freely about private conversations. A spokesman for Ackman declined to comment. The Financial Times was first to report on Ackman's thinking. If Ackman endorses Trump, he will join a growing crowd of Wall Street executives backing Trump over Biden. Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman recently said in a statement that he would support Trump. Schwarzman's announcement came after the billionaire had said in 2022 that he would search for an alternative to the former president to back during the Republican primary for president. Ackman has been publicly consistent about his dislike for Biden and his policies. In an interview with CNBC in January, Ackman called on Biden, 81, to step down as president due to his age. When asked at the time whether he would vote for Trump over Biden, Ackman said, "I'll make that decision when I have the choice." Ackman's biggest bet so far in this election cycle did not pan out. He gave $1 million in January to a political action committee that supported Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., in a Democratic primary run against Biden, according to Federal Election Commission records. Phillips dropped out of the race in March. Boeing 737 Max 8 fuselages manufactured by Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita, Kansas are transported on a BSNF train heading west over the Bozeman Pass March 12, 2019 in Bozeman, Montana. It will likely be months before the Federal Aviation Administration clears Boeing to increase production of its bestselling 737 Max, the head of the agency said Thursday. The FAA in January barred the manufacturer from boosting production of the planes weeks after a door plug blew out midair from a new 737 Max 9, just minutes into an Alaska Airlines flight. Federal safety investigators found that the bolts that hold the panel in place appeared not to have been installed before the plane was delivered to Alaska Airlines last year. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun and other top company leaders met with FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker and other agency officials earlier Thursday to present a quality improvement plan that the agency gave Boeing 90 days to produce, in which the company outlined its efforts to improve staff training and production practices at its factories. "We will not approve production increases beyond the current cap until we're satisfied," Whitaker said. He said there isn't a timeline but it wouldn't likely be in the next few months. Whitaker said at a press conference after the roughly three-hour meeting that Boeing's work was far from complete and that the strong agency oversight of the company would continue. Whitaker's comments suggest a long road ahead for Boeing to ensure manufacturing quality. Meanwhile, it's grappling with a crisis that has drained cash from an iconic U.S. company eager to improve its reputation after two fatal Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 killed 346 people. Whitaker is scheduled to brief lawmakers on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on June 4. "Boeing has laid out their roadmap, and now they need to execute," he said. The FAA said its senior leaders will meet with Boeing every week to review their performance metrics. Trump Media shares fell as much as 15% in extended trading on Thursday and closed down Friday after a New York jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in his criminal hush money trial. After initially recovering in pre-market trading, the stock which trades under the ticker "DJT" continued dropping on Friday, closing the day down more than 5%. The former president owns 65% of the company's shares. Trump Media, which owns the Truth Social app, merged with shell company Digital World Acquisition Corp. in late March. The stock surged and then plunged. The company has a market cap of about $9 billion, based almost entirely on Trump's brand and his massive personal following. Trump Media reported a net loss in the first quarter of $327.6 million on less than $1 million in revenue. Justice Juan Merchan instructs the jury before deliberations during Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump's criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. May 29, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. False reports about the jury instructions in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial have been spreading across right-wing media, leading to threats against the judge overseeing the case. Several conservative news personalities, including some affiliated with Fox News, falsely claimed that Judge Juan Merchan, as one Fox News anchor put it in a viral post on X, "told the jury that they do not need unanimity to convict" Trump. That's not true. Merchan instructed the jury on Wednesday that they "must conclude unanimously that a defendant conspired to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means," adding that they "need not be unanimous as to what those unlawful means were." That means that jurors have to agree unanimously that Trump committed a crime by engaging in a criminal conspiracy to falsify records with the intent to commit one or more other crimes in order to convict him. But jurors can choose from three options about what those other crimes were: violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act; the falsification of other business records; or the violation of tax laws. Those "unlawful means" aren't charges themselves and would not result in separate convictions, so jurors do not have to unanimously agree on them. The jury instruction was complex and nuanced and some right-wing accounts ran with false reports. On X, after a right-wing influencer asked followers who among them wanted to see Merchan locked up for treason. Another user who identified himself as a Marine replied: "Let me handle the Justice System & be judge & Prosecutor, Immediate trial & Justifiable Punishments handed out, Funeral Directors get ready for a lot of Democratic Socialist Elites coming your way." Trump continued making social media posts about the jury instructions on Thursday morning, quoting a Fox News commentator who called the Trump prosecution "an 'Alice in Wonderland' case with a Mad Hatter judge" where the "cherished principles of fairness" had been turned upside down. Time and time again, legal proceedings in the four cases against Trump have resulted in violent threats and, in at least one case, actual violence. In August, Trump supporters posted the names and addresses of the Fulton County grand jurors who indicted Trump and 18 of his co-defendants. In August 2022, a Jan. 6 participant named Rickey Walter Shiffer posted calls for violence after the FBI searched Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate and then fired a nail gun into an FBI field office in Cincinnati before he was killed by law enforcement. More recently, Trump and his congressional allies falsely said that President Joe Biden plotted to kill Trump during the search of Mar-a-Lago based upon a disclosure of a standard FBI use-of-force form which limits the use of deadly force and which must be filled out for every operation. In fact, federal authorities specifically planned the search for a time when Trump was known to be out of state and contacted the Secret Service ahead of time to make sure the plan went as smoothly as possible. Even right-wing former FBI special agents who have called for the bureau to be abolished pushed back on the false narrative, calling the FBI use of force language "boilerplate" and showing frustration that viral misinformation on the right had forced them to be in the position of looking like they were defending the bureau. Attorney General Merrick Garland last week called the lies about the use-of-force policy "false" and "extremely dangerous" and pointed out that the same standard operations plan was used in the search of Biden's own home (yet did not lead to conspiracy theories that Biden planned to have himself assassinated.) Foot Locker surged Thursday after its quarterly earnings report showed signs that CEO Mary Dillon's turnaround plan is starting to pay off. The sneaker retailer isn't out of the woods just yet, but we're removing the stock from our penalty box and upgrading its rating. Revenue declined 2.7% year over year to $1.879 billion, slightly below Wall Street expectations of $1.883 billion, according to estimates compiled by LSEG. Adjusted earnings per share of 22 cents easily topped the 12-cent estimate, LSEG data showed. At its highs of the session Thursday, Foot Locker was up nearly 32% before giving up some of those gains. In midday trading, the stock was up about 20%. FL YTD mountain Foot Locker's year-to-date stock performance. Bottom line Foot Locker is on better footing than people thought in the wake of its calamitous report in early March , when Dillon pushed out the timeline for its turnaround. At the very least, Thursday's first-quarter release and conference call showed management is making progress toward those reset goals. That counts for something, especially when Foot Locker's stock entered Thursday down nearly 35% since the session before the March disaster. The bar was low. But Foot Locker cleared it. "Mary Dillon, the CEO, is back on plan, making the turn," Jim Cramer said Thursday during the Club's Monthly Meeting. "She is going to make something of this mishmash after all. ... This call today was terrific and if the stock weren't up [nearly $5] I would tell you that it's buyable right now. We have an ultra small position on and for the first time I can tell you I wish it were bigger." In addition to the better-than-expected earnings and margins, some of the key highlights included month-to-month strengthening in comparable-store sales a key metric in the retail industry even as Foot Locker's promotional activity moderated. It's a sign customers are willing to pay up when they like the products available to buy. "You want to see that," Dillon said in a CNBC interview. "We'll watch the customer," Dillon added later, referring to general amid concerns consumer spending. "But we think we have the right things at the right time for them." Companywide, which includes Champs locations, Foot Locker's comparable-store sales declined 1.8%, slightly better than the 1.9% drop Wall Street expected. Encouragingly, Dillon told CNBC that Foot Locker and Kids Foot Locker saw positive comp-store sales. "[We] feel really good about that. To me, these are just signs that our 'Lace Up' plan is working," Dillon said, referring to the name of the company's turnaround strategy. To be sure, Champs locations continue to be drag on the whole company, though management indicated on the call that its efforts to retool the brand are showing early signs of life. We'll need to see more evidence of that in the coming quarters. A few more positives: Management said comps in the current quarter will be flat to slightly positive compared with the year-ago period. And on CNBC, Dillon also described Foot Locker's relationship with key partner Nike as "reinvigorated," which follows a strategy shift from the Oregon-based company to lean back into wholesale partnerships. While Nike has had some struggles of its own due in part to competition from upstart brands like Hoka and On Holding , analysts have said a better relationship with the company can benefit Foot Locker's sales and margins over time. Foot Locker also is working to improve its customer relationships with the relaunch of its FLX Rewards loyalty program this quarter. It's an initiative that management believes can lead to customers shopping with the company more often. All these signs of progress are enough to warrant an upgrade on FL shares to a 2 rating, meaning we'd buy on a pullback. Our price target is under review. We recognize that after cutting guidance three times last year, Foot Locker may need to do more to rebuild credibility on the Street. That's why simply reiterating its outlook alongside an earnings beat is sparking such a strong reaction in the market Thursday. For now, we'll take this rally and hope that an opportunity to boost the size of our small position arises down the road. Foot Locker Why we own it: We are in Foot Locker for the turnaround. CEO Mary Dillon worked miracles when she ran Ulta Beauty . She has a knack for reviving struggling brands, and we've been betting that she can do the same at Foot Locker. We grew frustrated as Dillon's revamp hit obstacles, but we're highly encouraged by Thursday's results and commentary. Competitors: JD Sports, Dick's Sporting Goods and Nike Last buy: May 9, 2023 Initiation: March 27, 2023 Guidance Foot Locker maintained its full-year outlook for the 12 months ended Feb. 1, 2025, on all 13 metrics for which it provides guidance. That means it continues to see comparable sales rising between 1% and 3% with gross margin between 29.8% and 30%. It also sees adjusted earnings per share in a range of $1.50 to $1.70. Overall sales are expected in a range of minus 1% to 1%, which includes 1% headwind tied to an extra week in its previous fiscal year. For the current quarter, management said on the call that comparable-store sales are projected to be flat to slightly positive on an annual basis. Comp improvement throughout the year will need to continue for Foot Locker to hit its aforementioned full-year outlook. Second-quarter gross margin should be roughly flat compared with the year-ago period, but improving on a quarter-over-quarter basis. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long FL and BBY. 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. Shoppers leave the American multinational sportswear and footwear retailer, Foot Locker store in Spain. Xavi Lopez | Lightrocket | Getty Images Move over family travelers. Gen Zs are set to make the biggest splash this summer, with surveys showing they are upping their vacation plans and spending more than older travelers. No longer satisfied with road trips to their parents' homes, Gens Z are planning international trips at higher rates than other generations, according to a report released by Bank of America on May 20. The survey of more than 2,000 Americans showed Gen Zs are planning to travel for longer periods and to take more expensive vacations at higher rates too. Ready to spend Gen Zs, together with millennials, are at the helm of a surge in travel spending this year, according to an April report published by the market services firm PMG. That report, which surveyed 1,800 adults in the Unites States, United Kingdom, India, Germany and China, shows 65% of Gen Zs and 72% of millennials said they plan on spending more on leisure travel this year, well ahead of the 54% of Gen Xers and 40% of baby boomers who said the same. But how Gen Zs often defined as those born between 1997 and 2012 plan to fund their travels differs from other age groups too. The number of Gen Zs who said they're traveling because they have the savings to do so has fallen since August 2023, according to a new report from the research company Morning Consult. But that's not stopping them, said Lindsey Roeschke, Morning Consult's travel and hospitality analyst and the author of the report. "Gen Zers have come of age during an incredibly turbulent time," Roeschke said. "This is deeply impacting their travel behaviors." watch now "Why would they put off going where they really want to go for the sake of saving, when there may be another pandemic, financial crisis, war or other major event that may keep them from ever getting there?" she told CNBC. Roeschke also noted that Gen Zs will spend time finding ways to trim travel costs, rather than canceling or postponing their trips. "They're looking for ways to trade off and save money. That could involve traveling in the shoulder season, using apps and other tech to price-compare, cashing in credit card points, trading off in other spending areas, or picking up a side hustle to fund their travels," she told CNBC. Using debt to finance summer trips Still, 42% of Gen Zs and 47% of millennials say they plan to use debt to finance their summer trips, according to a survey by the financial services company Bankrate. The report showed that the most popular methods of financing summer holiday trips include: credit cards paid over multiple months 26% "buy now, pay later" services 8% borrowing from family and friends 6% personal loans 5% This debt-be-damned mentality worries older generations, who tended to travel less ambitiously in their 20s, if at all, and raises eyebrows among financial specialists, like Ted Rossman, senior analyst at Bankrate. "I don't want to tell people they can't have any fun, but I do worry about taking on debt for discretionary purchases such as vacations, especially with credit card balances and rates at record highs," Rossman said in the report. watch now The Google corporate logo hangs outside one of its offices on August 31, 2021. Google on Thursday said it will invest $2 billion in Malaysia, with part of the funds going toward building its first data center and cloud region in the country, as the demand for AI and cloud services rises. "This investment builds on our partnership with the Government of Malaysia to advance its 'Cloud First Policy,' including best-in-class cybersecurity standards," Ruth Porat, president, CFO, and CIO at Alphabet and Google, said in a statement. Porat added that the investment will be Google's largest yet in Malaysia in its 13 years of operation there. The data center will power Google's digital services, such as Search, Maps, and Workspace, while the cloud region will provide services to companies and organizations in the public and private sectors. Google also launched two AI literacy programs in the country for students and educators. These investments and programs are expected to contribute more than $3.2 billion to Malaysia's GDP and support 26,500 jobs by 2030. The Malaysia cloud region is the latest addition to Google's network of 40 regions and 121 zones in the world, the U.S. tech giant said. This comes after Microsoft said earlier this month it will invest $2.2 billion in Malaysia to advance new cloud and AI infrastructure. It also announced investments in Indonesia and Thailand this year. Tech giants like Google and Microsoft have pledged billions of dollars to Southeast Asia to capitalize on the rising demand for AI and cloud computing services. The AI boom has boosted demand for cloud computing services and data centers, as large amounts of data are required to train AI models and the cloud provides access to vast datasets. Data centers are facilities that contain servers and other infrastructure needed to store data and run applications or services. "Google's $2 billion investment in Malaysia will significantly advance the digital ambitions outlined in our New Industrial Master Plan 2030," YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, minister of investment, trade and industry, said in a press release. The minister added that Google's investments will enable manufacturing and service-based industries to leverage AI and other advanced technologies so that they can "move up the global chain." Attendees walk through the lobby at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago. I plan on writing up some data, along with a wrap-up or two after the conference, so stay tuned for my coverage. If you see me at ASCO this weekend, don't hesitate to say hello! I'll be focusing on some of the larger names in the industry. Here's some of the data I'm looking at: More than 5,000 research abstracts will be presented or published at ASCO, which starts on Friday and lasts until Tuesday. There will be data on existing drugs from pharmaceutical companies, experimental treatments in early to mid-stage testing from biotech companies and even AI tools. So will thousands of cancer researchers and clinicians, who expect to see encouraging new science and data that could advance cancer treatments, health equity and patient care. Good afternoon! This is Annika, and I'll be on the ground at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago in the coming days. Think a friend or colleague should be getting this newsletter? Share this link with them to sign up. Epic releases free tool set to help health systems evaluate AI models Software vendor Epic Systems is trying to make it easier for health systems to cut through the artificial intelligence noise. The company last week released a free new tool set called the AI Trust and Assurance Suite, which health systems can use to evaluate the performance of an AI model that integrates with an electronic health record, or EHR. An EHR is an electronic version of a patient's medical history. Epic is perhaps the best known vendor in the space, as it houses medical records for more than 300 million people. Epic released the suite as an open-source tool on the popular developer platform GitHub. That means it's available for anyone in the world to use. The suite can help health systems assess an AI model's equity, fairness and performance, as well as how it is affecting outcomes for patients, said Corey Miller, vice president of research and development at Epic. For instance, a health system could use the suite to test several different models and determine which one works best for that community's local patient population. The tool set can also carry out a "fairness audit," which can look for bias across race, sex and age within a group of patients, Miller said. The suite is specifically designed to evaluate health-care AI, and Miller said it will work regardless of whether a health system is using Epic's EHR. The tools are not specifically built for Epic's AI models, he added. "We saw this as an opportunity to create something that wasn't out there today," Miller told CNBC in an interview. The release of Epic's suite comes as the health-care sector has been reckoning with how to establish guard rails and best practices around AI. Several organizations like the Coalition for Health AI, Microsoft's Trustworthy & Responsible AI Network and the Health AI Partnership have been created with these objectives in mind, but there are no hard and fast rules about how to use the technology. In the interim, Miller said he thinks Epic's suite will make it easier for health systems to look at how an AI model performs with their local populations, particularly within rural community hospitals that might not have data scientists on staff. He said the suite has been in the works since late last year. It evaluates models based on existing standards developed by "healthcare systems, health IT software developers, third-party experts, and the government," according to the post on GitHub. Epic plans to update the tool as best practices evolve, Miller said. Epic's suite currently works with binary classification models, or typical predictive models, and Miller said generative AI models will be up next. "We expect to make this tool something that can really look at that whole spectrum of AI," Miller said. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at ashley.capoot@nbcuni.com. Reimbursement is one thing AI programs can't generate yet When I had my mammogram earlier this month, I was puzzled by having to pay cash for an AI-enhanced reading of my scan. I opted to pay, but wondered why my insurer wouldn't cover it. It turns out the majority of new FDA-approved AI radiology and diagnostic programs coming to market have yet to get billing codes for insurance reimbursement. Early forays into computer-assisted mammograms in the late 1990s proved to be no more effective than conventional screenings. This time around, medical societies along with government and private insurance plans are taking a more cautious approach toward signing off on paying for new technology. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Bertha at bertha.coombs@nbcuni.com. CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. CNBC's Michael Sheetz reports and curates the latest news, investor updates and exclusive interviews on the most important companies reaching new heights. Sign up to receive future editions. I'd be surprised if most Americans know that there are not one, but two crewed space stations in orbit currently. I'd like to think the International Space Station is common knowledge, but is Tiangong? The U.S. is in the throes of sorting out what to do when the ISS comes back to Earth. Maybe that's in 2030, as long has been expected, or maybe the laboratory can keep on truckin' for a couple more years beyond that. Regardless, NASA is looking to replace the ISS when it inevitably finishes its decades-long work in orbit and they're counting on private companies (bolstered by taxpayer dollars) to do it. The argument is that private stations would cost just a sliver of the $150 billion that it cost to build the ISS. So in other words, the same service, for fewer American dollars. That's a compelling argument, but it doesn't address an underlying fundamental question: Why do we need to replace the ISS? This week I caught up with an industry expert, who asked not to be named to speak freely, who put forward three answers to that question: Geopolitics - We can't cede the domain to China. Ecosystem - We've already created a means of reliably transporting crew and cargo, and many other space agencies are willing to pay for access. Exploration & Innovation - We've proven with the ISS that in-space research and development is valuable, and low Earth orbit space stations serve as an easier platform. I've heard the latter two reasons from the companies pushing for funding from NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program. But that first explanation is eye-catching saying the quiet part out loud. Tiangong, that second space station in orbit, is built and run by the Chinese. They began launching the station in pieces in 2021 and it currently hosts three taikonauts at a time, with plans to further expand its scale and operate it well into the 2030s. The peaceful exploration and commercialization of space should always be the industry's goal, but you can't ignore the unfortunate but existing reality that space has always been a warfighting domain, as much as land or sea. Ideally, NASA also gets more than one space station. My industry expert estimated there could be two flying for half the ISS' $4 billion a year operating cost. And they argued that "you'll be able to unleash a lot of potential opportunity" by running it like a business that's looking to facilitate R&D and materials science in a commercial way. Furthermore, my expert pointed out that new space stations don't have to fly in the ISS' orbit, since they wouldn't need to be in reach of Soyuz launches, and could fly in orbits that are cheaper and easier to get to, or even lower. Additionally, the new proliferation of inter-satellite links would give these stations access to 24/7 bandwidth from constellations like SpaceX's Starlink. There's a variety of different stations vying to be the ISS' successor, whether Axiom, Starlab, Vast or Orbital Reef. But as the future of NASA's CLD program evolves, and companies look for more backing, I won't be surprised to hear the don't-cede-LEO-to-China argument grow louder from those in D.C. Oranges are collected in a trolley at an orchard in Arcadia, Florida, on March 14, 2023. In Florida, the world's second largest producer of orange juice after Brazil, orchards have been suffering from a citrus tree disease, Huanglongbing (HLB), for the last 17 years. Chandan Khanna | Afp | Getty Images Orange juice prices have climbed to fresh all-time highs amid persistent supply constraints, pushing the industry into crisis mode and forcing some makers to consider alternative fruits. Prices of the breakfast staple have been climbing rapidly in recent years, partly driven by declining output in Florida the main producer of orange juice in the U.S. and climate-fueled extreme weather in the main orange producing areas of Brazil. The South American agricultural powerhouse is the world's largest producer and exporter of orange juice, which means it plays a hugely influential role in shaping the global industry. The benchmark frozen concentrated orange juice futures, traded on the Intercontinental Exchange in New York, closed at $4.77 per pound on Wednesday . That's nearly double the price registered a year ago. Orange juice on display in a grocery store on Jan. 19, 2023, in Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images Harry Campbell, a commodity market data analyst at research group Mintec, said that soaring orange juice prices have forced manufacturers and blenders to adapt to the situation by considering alternative fruit juices. "A lot of them will be changing the quantities of juice they are putting in their blends to drop the orange juice and increase other juices, such as pear juice, apple juice, grape juice, so they are less reliant on the orange juice," Campbell told CNBC via telephone. "It does seem like this [situation] is going to be here for the longer term," he added, noting that some players in the orange juice market had observed a large drop in demand year-over-year. "Until that point is reached where consumers are no longer willing to pay the premium for orange juice, because it is at such low supply, prices will continue to drive up," Campbell said. 'Drought, disease and demand' Research center Fundecitrus warned recently that excessive heat in Brazil last year meant the South American country was likely on track to register one of its worst orange harvests in more than three decades. In a report published on May 10, the citrus growers organization forecast that Brazil was set to produce 232.4 million boxes of oranges (each weighing approximately 40.8 kilograms) in the 2024 to 2025 season. That represents a 24% decline when compared to the previous cycle. Analysts say Brazil typically produces about 300 million boxes of oranges each cycle, although climate change has dramatically reduced crop production. Climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and more intense. Fundecitrus said a series of intense heatwaves in Brazil occurred at a critical phase of flowering and early fruit formation between September and November last year, substantially hampering production. Oranges on a truck in an orchard in Itupeva, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. Orange quality has been hurt after a severe frost affected Sao Paulo groves, probably reducing industry yield efficiency. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Texas Instruments CEO Haviv Ilan signaled on Thursday that the semiconductor giant would be open to a "constructive dialogue" with activist investor Elliott and pointed to fresh financial metrics that aligned with the hedge fund's proposals from earlier this week. "We definitely look forward to engaging in a constructive dialogue with Elliott," Ilan said at the AllianceBernstein's Strategic Decisions conference, marking his first public remarks since the activist revealed a $2.5 billion position in the company. Elliott in a Tuesday letter first reported by CNBC said that it had "tremendous respect" for TI but that the company had struggled compared with its peers to deliver shareholder returns. To solve that, Elliott said the company should adopt a "dynamic capacity-management strategy," align its capital expenditures to its revenue, and set a free cash flow target of $9 per share by 2026, which is above what investors currently expect. In his comments on Thursday, Ilan suggested the company would be willing to go beyond that $9 ask, pointing to Texas Instruments' FCF trendline, which showed the company reaching $12 per share in 2026 and $13.30 by 2027. "The trendline is there," Ilan said. "This is what guides us." The CEO also said capital allocation beyond 2026 would be determined "based on where revenue is." That could be from 0% to 10%, Ilan added. Texas Instruments has spent heavily on chip fabrication plants, or fabs, as it seeks to maintain its dominant position in the analog semiconductor market. That has come through capex but also via M&A; in 2021, TI acquired a 300-millimeter fab in Utah for $900 million from Micron Technologies. Elliott described TI's overall business positively, noting its long history of sound strategy. But that growth in capex has come at a significant cost to free cash flow per share, a self-declared key metric for TI, Elliott noted. According to Elliott's analysis, FCF per share fell from $6.40 in 2022 to $1.47 per share in 2023. Moreover, Elliott questioned whether TI was growing its capacity at a "magnitude and pace" that was appropriate relative to expected demand, observing that the 2026 revenue TI planned to achieve from the expanded capacity was more than 50% higher than what analysts thought the company could get. Analog semiconductors have long been TI's bread and butter. Analog semiconductors measure relatively straightforward data temperature level or an electrical current, for example compared with the more technologically advanced digital semiconductors that power computers. But it remains a giant business, accounting for $13 billion, or 74%, of TI's revenue in 2023. Caledonia Investments could see its stock price soar by more than 35% if restrictions on share buybacks are lifted, according to fund manager Brian McCormick. Caledonia invests in privately run companies and funds and publicly listed companies such as Microsoft , Oracle , Moody's , Philip Morris , and British American Tobacco . The company, which trades as an investment trust on the London Stock Exchange, says it has assets worth 3 billion ($3.8 billion). The stock is also traded over the counter in the United States. McCormick, who runs the Jupiter Global Value fund at Jupiter Asset Management, said Caledonia's share buybacks are limited due to restrictions in share ownership as set out in the U.K.'s Takeover Code . The Code exists to safeguard the interests of minority shareholders by making it challenging for a significant minority shareholder to become a majority shareholder. It compels any shareholder who wants to own 50% or more of a company to make an offer to buy out all the remaining minority shareholders. While the Code serves an important purpose, McCormick said that in Caledonia's case, it is preventing the company from taking actions that would benefit all shareholders. "There is a catalyst here if the company can remove the restriction that is preventing them from buying back their own stock in a meaningful way," McCormick told CNBC Pro at the London Value Investor Conference on May 15. CLDN-GB YTD line How will buybacks help? With Caledonia's shares currently trading at a substantial discount to net asset value (NAV), McCormick said, "it would be very, very accretive for the company to use more of its own cash to buy back stock." NAV represents the value of an investment fund's underlying assets. Caledonia's NAV at 53.69 per share would mean that the market is currently undervaluing the company by about 55% as its stock trades at 33.75 per share. In theory, this means that if the fund is liquidated and wound down, the cash returned would be about 55% more than the fund's stock market value at the current time. When the fund performs a share buyback while its stock trades below its NAV, it is buying its own assets at a 55% discount. Buying back stock also tends to raise the share price. Caledonia's buyback limits When a company buys back shares, those shares are canceled, which can increase the percentage ownership of remaining shareholders. In Caledonia's case, the Cayzer family and related parties currently own under 49% of the company's shares. If that ownership level were to rise above 50% as a result of buybacks, it would trigger the Takeover Code provisions. Caledonia's Chief Financial Officer Robert Memmott acknowledged the restrictions on buybacks but said the company will continue to repurchase shares within those limits. "During March and April, we purchased 290,000 shares at an average discount of 36%, which is accretion to NAV per share of 0.101," he said on the company's earnings call last week. "And we will continue to repurchase, but within the restrictions which we have." Analysts also agree that Caledonia's limits on buybacks right now are holding back the share price. "[The shares trading below NAV] does offer some value, but we always expect the discount to be relatively wide given the size of the Cayzer family concert party and this is also a factor that limits the size of any share buybacks that can be undertaken," said Stifel analyst Iain Scouller in a note to clients on May 21. Can Caledonia gain approval? In certain exceptional circumstances, the Takeover Panel may be willing to grant a waiver allowing Caledonia to repurchase additional shares, even if doing so would make the Cayzer family a majority shareholder. One such exception is designed for distressed situations where a business needs money in a hurry and a significant shareholder is willing to bail out the business in exchange for more shares. Under normal trading conditions, the Takeover Code would prevent the company from issuing more shares to the shareholder, which would cause an increase in ownership level. McCormick said Caledonia needs to work directly with the Takeover Panel to find a solution. He added that, even as a minority investor in Caledonia, he would be supportive of any potential moves by Caledonia to seek permission from the Takeover Panel. "[The company] needs to get the Panel onside to obtain a Rule 9 waiver which would allow them to buy back shares much more aggressively," McCormick said. "The Panel has the authority to grant approval for this in exceptional circumstances and there is a very clear win-win here for all shareholders. We just need a waiver and some increased protections for minority shareholders to be structured appropriately." Cadence Design Systems is well ahead of its artificial intelligence peers when it comes to delivering steady returns, according to Bank of America. The electronic systems design company is a "high-quality growth compounder" that's "well levered to AI," analyst Vivek Arya said in a Wednesday note to clients. Cadence develops software, hardware and intellectual property that is used to design chips and printed circuit boards, among other related products. Arya reiterated his buy rating on the company and lifted his price target by $20 to $350, which implies a potential upside of nearly 20% over the next year. Shares are up nearly 6% this year. Arya's price target is a bullish take, built on an expectation that the company will see growth acceleration in the second half of this year and into 2025 on renewed booking momentum. He cited the stock's potential to reclaim its historical premium to the PHLX Semiconductor Sector , or SOX, a capitalization-weighted index comprising the 30 largest U.S. companies involved in the design, distribution, manufacture and sale of semiconductors. "Like most long-term compounders, the true value of CDNS is often better felt when market becomes defensive," Arya said in a Wednesday note to clients. "Over the past decade CDNS has delivered 33% annualized returns, 300bps ahead of rival SNPS , and among top 5 across our coverage, well-ahead of SOX index up 25%. Importantly, CDNS stock has outperformed the SOX index each of the 18 times the SOX index declined by over 10% since 2010." According to Arya, the company has a "best-in-class profitability and opportunity" to gain market share with its clear focus on organic growth and avoiding large-scale mergers and acquisitions. AI should also propel share gains, Arya said, expecting Cadence to see longer-term double-digit sustainable growth well-levered to three phases tied to the emerging technology: complex chip design, incremental feature monetization and expansion into new markets. Even though the company's sales have not jumped like the data center and AI sales of its key customers Nvidia , AMD and Samsung, management expects its growth is entering a more sustainable phase as AI features are adopted across new industries such as biology and autos, he said. Arya expects Cadence's silicon and system expertise to benefit from the buildout of AI data centers over the next three to five years. This person, along with some others in this story, was granted anonymity in order to discuss private conversations with Trump and donors. Now, "There is zero care about that," a longtime Republican fundraiser told CNBC. "A year ago, maybe [the trials mattered]. Now, none." The donor sentiment represents a shift for some Republican megadonors, who initially looked for an alternative to Trump during the party's presidential primary, driven by a belief that the the former president's legal problems would fatally weaken his campaign to replace President Joe Biden. Many of the party's wealthiest donors tell CNBC they plan to stay in Trump's corner, despite him being found guilty in New York on all 34 felony counts. "I haven't heard anybody who gives a s---," said New York businessman and Republican donor Andy Sabin, when asked whether major GOP contributors he knows care about the verdict in Trump's trial. Former President Donald Trump has at least one group of supporters he won't have to worry about losing even after he was found guilty in his New York criminal hush money trial: Republican megadonors. The major donor solidarity with Trump is also reflected in Trump's fundraising numbers. Trump's trial on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star began on April 15. That month, Trump's campaign committee raised $9.4 million. Trump's donation website briefly went down after the verdict Thursday, prompting his aides to point would-be donors to another page. Trump and the RNC announced they had raised over $76 million combined in April. Biden's team announced that its political operation, which includes the Democratic National Committee, raised $51 million in the same period. Trump has also recently raised tens of millions of dollars at private events hosted by Republican megadonors. Texas businessman and former Trump administration official Ray Washburne co-hosted an event in Dallas for Trump on May 22. Washburne told CNBC the event raised $10 million for the Trump 47 Committee, which raises money for the Trump campaign, Trump's political action committee Save America, the Republican National Committee and dozens of state parties. He called Trump's trial in New York "frivolous" and "absurd," adding, "Trump will have no problem raising money." Omeed Malik, the president of 1789 Capital and a Trump bundler, told CNBC he believes the guilty verdict "will completely backfire just like the indictments, which actually boosted his [Trump's] support." Malik co-hosted a Trump fundraiser in New York on May 14 that raised over $10 million. A guilty verdict is a "non-issue," said David Tamasi, a Republican fundraiser and a managing director at lobbying firm Chartwell Strategy Group. "I think if somebody had told you after Jan. 6 that the country would be where it is today, it would've been hard to get your head around that," said Tamasi. He pointed to issues he's had with Biden's handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Venture capitalist David Sacks, who is co-hosting an event for Trump in June, posted on X a message of support for the former president after the verdict was read. "Trump has a lot of supporters in Silicon Valley; many are just afraid to admit it. But with each act of courage, like this one, the dam begins to break," said Sacks. Tamasi raised money for Trump's 2020 campaign and for former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's failed primary run against Trump last year. Now, Tamasi says, he's planning to come back to help Trump again, including likely fundraising for him. A Republican corporate consultant recalled to CNBC how he'd had conversations recently with nearly a dozen lobbyists who had privately ripped Trump after Jan. 6, and in the buildup to his New York trial. All of them are going back to help raise money for Trump, in spite of the guilty verdict. But perhaps the most telling sign of how GOP megadonors view Trump's legal problems is the case of Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman. In 2021, following the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by hundreds of Trump supporters, Schwarzman called the riot "appalling," and said he was "shocked and horrified by this mob's attempt to undermine our Constitution." In 2022, the billionaire and longtime GOP donor announced that it was "time for the Republican party to turn to a new generation of leaders," an obvious swipe at the party's former leader, Trump. Schwarzman also said that he planned to back one of these "new" leaders in the 2024 presidential primary. But fast forward two years, and Schwarzman has changed his tune. After not backing any of the Republican primary contenders, Schwarzman announced that he will support Trump's White House bid. "I am planning to vote for change and support Donald Trump for President," Schwarzman said in a statement to Axios published May 24. That same day, defense attorneys in Trump's New York criminal trial were cross-examining Trump's former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, who testified that Trump instructed him to spend $130,000 to buy the silence of a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. A spokeswoman for Schwarzman did not return a request for comment. The boss of Swedish financial technology startup Trustly says an initial public offering for the company is still a year or two away from happening, even after a 51% jump in operating profit. In an exclusive interview with CNBC, Johan Tjarnberg, CEO of Trustly, said that his firm still needs time to prove the value of its open banking technology to investors before going public. "We need another year or two to really demonstrate to the market that open banking is happening happening, it's here," Tjarnberg told CNBC. "For me, there is so much we want to demonstrate to the market in terms of user adoption, merchant adoption. We still need some time to execute on our existing playbook." Trustly is holding out on an IPO even after reporting a strong set of financials. Results shared exclusively with CNBC show the firm reported revenues of $265 million in its 2023 full year. Growth accelerated significantly in the second half of the year, Trustly said, climbing 27% compared with the same period in 2022. That was as transaction volumes spiked 48% over the same period. Tjarnberg told CNBC that the company's performance in 2023 was heavily driven by the growth at its U.S. business. Trustly merged with American rival PayWithMyBank in 2020. From left to right: Johan Pihl, Doconomy's chief creative officer and co-founder, and Mathias Wikstrom, chief executive officer and co-founder. Doconomy Swedish climate-focused financial technology startup Doconomy told CNBC on Thursday that it's raised 34 million euros ($36.9 million) from leading European banks, including UBS and CommerzVentures. Doconomy, which offers tools to help bank customers measure the carbon footprint of their everyday spending, raised the cash in a Series B financing round co-led by UBS Next and CommerzVentures, the venture arms of UBS and Commerzbank , respectively. Financial data and analytics company S&P Global came on board as a new investor, while existing shareholders Motive Ventures, PostFinance and Tenity also participated. Founded in Sweden in 2018, Doconomy works with the likes of Boston Consulting Group, Mastercard, S&P Global, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to calculate the climate cost associated with financial transactions. Among the firm's tools is the AIand Index, a cloud-based service for banks that helps their customers convert every transaction into its corresponding CO2 footprint. The index is used by more than 100 financial institutions in more than 40 countries. watch now Doconomy plans to use the fresh cash to drive expansion into North America and roll out new products, CEO and co-founder Mathias Wikstrom told CNBC in an interview. "Going forward, we want to enable every bank in every corner of the world to engage their clients in the ESG [environmental, social, and governance] work of the bank," Wikstrom said. "We see a connection between the E and S, the environmental and the social. We can't isolate those two different streams." Wikstrom said he was "very happy" to see partnerships emerging with the likes of UBS and Commerzbank, describing it as an "alliance of the winning both money and intellect into getting this issue under control. Politicization of climate News of Doconomy's latest funding follows the firm's February 2023 deal to acquire Dreams Technology, a platform that uses behavioral science to boosts customers' digital engagement and financial wellbeing. Wikstrom said that Doconomy's valuation in its Series B round is unchanged from the price at which it raised funds in its Series A, which saw the firm raise cash from the likes of Citi Ventures, Mastercard , and Ikea parent company Ingka. Doconomy's growth story hasn't come without its challenges. More recently, the firm faced attacks from right-wing online commentator Jordan Peterson and his followers. It's not really hurricane season anymore, it's fear season. Mathias Wikstrom CEO, Doconomy Last week, Peterson targeted the company in a post on social media platform X, labelling it the "soft positive planet-saving voice of the worst imaginable corporate/fascist/green tyranny." The Canadian psychologist, who gained internet fame critiquing so-called political correctness, is a noted skeptic who described climate change as "the idiot socialist get-out-of-jail-free card." He once framed rising greenhouse gas emissions as a positive for making the planet "green in the driest areas." Climate scientists say this is misleading, as it doesn't take into account the negative effects intensified droughts, wildfires and heatwaves caused by global warming have on plants and ecosystems. Wikstrom told CNBC that the situation concerning Peterson's attacks on his firm "illustrates that we need to educate a lot of people." "Fear will lead to frustration and frustration will potentially lead to protests, and protests will lead to violence and violence will lead to damage done," he told CNBC. Wikstrom said that he hopes that the more the likes of Peterson and other climate skeptics keep "banging the drum," the likelier that their sentiments will eventually sound "hollow." "Looking at what's happening in Hawaii, in Canada, in France, in Spain, in Greece we have the floods, we have the fires, we have so many concerns now," he said. "It's not really hurricane season anymore, it's fear season." Climate fintech is a niche area of financial technology that has attracted heightened interest from investors, as world governments push corporates to hit ESG targets and reduce carbon emissions associated with their operations. Michael Baldinger, chief sustainability officer of UBS, said the bank's venture investment into Doconomy "underscores our focus on fostering innovation to provide the data and actionable insights our clients need to make informed choices about their investments and effect the change they want to see." The three keys USB logo is seen outside the London office of Swiss bank UBS in central London, on March 20, 2023. LONDON UBS on Thursday announced a shake-up of its executive board in the latest phase of a radical overhaul of the Swiss banking giant, following its takeover of fallen rival Credit Suisse. A newly split global wealth management division, led by co-presidents Iqbal Khan in Asia-Pacific and Rob Karofsky in the U.S., sees the bank double down across the two geographies as part of what it has dubbed its "sustainable, strategic growth" strategy. It marks the first time a divisional UBS president has been based in Asia-Pacific, the bank said. The new appointments provide an important signal on the future direction of the bank, as it tees up a replacement for outgoing CEO Sergio Ermotti, who is expected to step down by early 2027. "The appointments to the Group Executive Board we are announcing today will allow us to continue to progress on our integration journey and realize the expected synergies and efficiencies, while putting even more emphasis on our long-term priorities and growth prospects, particularly in the Americas and Asia-Pacific," Ermotti said in a statement. George Athanasopoulos and Marco Valla also join the executive board as co-presidents of the investment bank, alongside Damian Vogel, incoming global chief risk officer. The trio replace outgoing board members Credit Suisse CEO Ulrich Korner, UBS Asia-Pacific President Edmund Koh, and UBS Americas Regional President Naureen Hassan. The reshuffle comes as part of a wider overhaul of the bank, following its emergency rescue last year of Credit Suisse a shotgun marriage brokered by Swiss authorities to prevent the then 167-year-old institution's collapse and protect the Swiss economy. The FT reported Monday that UBS had ruled out an outsider as successor to Ermotti, who returned last year to steer the bank through its mammoth takeover. The bank is said to be choosing from a shortlist of three internal candidates to assume the CEO role when Ermotti steps down in around three years' time. A name could be announced as early as next year, sources told the FT. UBS did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the reports. A dormitory of the Novokramatorsk Machine-Building Plant is heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike on May 29, 2024 in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. Russia's cross-border offensive into Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region has prompted Western leaders to urgently consider whether to allow Kyiv to use Western weapons to strike military bases inside Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron has joined the head of NATO in calling for a policy shift that would allow Ukraine to hit targets on Russian soil. However, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reportedly said on Thursday that any weapons it has supplied to Kyiv should not be used on Russian territory. Some top U.S. officials are said to be in favor of lifting the restrictions on how Ukraine uses weapons provided by Washington, NBC News reported on Thursday, citing two unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter. CNBC has contacted the White House for comment. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that China could hold peace talks to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, praising Beijing for its "constructive approach." "We share [China's] standpoint that it is crucial, first and foremost, to address the root causes and protect the legitimate interests of all parties," Lavrov said in an interview with Rossiya Segodnya media group, according to comments published via the Foreign Ministry's website. His comments come shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged U.S. President Joe Biden to attend a peace summit in Switzerland in mid-June. History has been made at Yale University as Maurie McInnis becomes the first woman to be named permanent president of the Ivy League school. McInnis, who starts her new job in July, has strong ties to New Haven, Connecticut. She has served as a Yale trustee since 2022 and earned master's degree and doctorate from Yale, per the school's announcement Wednesday morning. The 58-year-old has been president of Stony Brook University on Long Island in New York since 2020 and previously served in academic positions at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Virginia, where she received her bachelor's degree in art history. Yale has had only one other female leader, the historian Hanna Holborn Gray, who served as interim president from 1977 to 1978. It is the last Ivy League school to name a permanent woman president. McInnis's selection concludes a nearly nine-month selection process that kicked off last August when Yale's outgoing president, Peter Salovey, announced that he was leaving his post after the 2023-2024 academic year. Joshua Bekenstein, a senior advisor at Bain Capital who heads the Yale Corporation, the university's principal governing board, said the search committee had undertaken a "robust" selection process in the school's announcement. He told the Yale Daily News that the committee received nominations for more than 100 leaders in higher education and other sectors, but McInnis was selected by unanimous vote. McInnis is stepping into the role at a complicated time in higher education, which has been rattled by on-campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. The presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania both of whom are women recently resigned amid scrutiny after testifying about campus antisemitism before a congressional committee. The president of Cornell University announced her resignation on May 9. "There's no doubt that this is an incredibly complicated moment, not just for higher education, but in the world," McInnis told the Yale Daily News. "And I look forward to working with this community on those challenges as we build our collaborative response." Both Yale and Stony Brook were among the colleges and universities across the U.S. that saw protests over the war. In an interview with the Yale Daily News, McInnis expressed her gratitude for being elected president and reiterated her commitment to "tackle the world's most pressing challenges." She added that she was well aware of how her own history-making appointment means that she can "play an important role as a role model." Want to land your dream job in 2024? Take CNBC's new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview to learn what hiring managers are really looking for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay. Use discount code NEWGRAD to get 50% off from 5/1/24 to 6/30/24. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. Recent research conducted by Mass General Brigham found that alterations in memory reported by patients and their study partners may serve as an early indication of Alzheimer's disease, even preceding the onset of clinical symptoms. Published in Neurology, the study revealed that individuals who experienced cognitive decline reported changes in brain structure associated with the accumulation of tau tangles, a hallmark characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Rebecca E. Amariglio, a senior author of the study and clinical neuropsychologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, emphasized the significance of recognizing early signs of cognitive impairment. "Something as simple as asking about memory complaints can track with disease severity at the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease," Amariglio said, Neuroscience News reported. She noted that alterations in brain function due to Alzheimer's disease can manifest well before clinical symptoms are detected, emphasizing the importance of heeding patient and family member observations regarding changes in memory. "We now understand that changes in the brain due to Alzheimer's disease start well before patients show clinical symptoms detected by a doctor. There is increasing evidence that individuals themselves or a close family member may notice changes in memory, even before a clinical measure picks up evidence of cognitive impairment." Led by primary author Michalina F. Jadick, the recent study involved researchers from various departments within Brigham and Mass General. Their investigation, drawing participants from multiple studies including the A4/LEARN and Neurodegeneration studies, aimed to assess cognitively unimpaired individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease. Each participant, along with their study partner, completed cognitive function evaluations, accompanied by PET imaging to detect tau and amyloid beta levels. Analyzing data from 675 participants, the team discovered that both amyloid and tau accumulation correlated with heightened self-reported cognitive decline, with subjective reports aligning with objective cognitive performance tests. Despite the study's contributions, its generalizability is limited by the predominantly white and highly educated participant pool. Dr. Amariglio stressed that while noticing changes in cognition does not definitively indicate Alzheimer's disease, concerns from patients or family members should not be disregarded. Additionally, further studies involving diverse populations and longer-term follow-ups are necessary to expand understanding in this area. Over apologizing can be a habitual response that many people experience. Over Apologizing Over apologizing refers to the tendency to say "sorry" excessively, even when one is not at fault. This behavior can often stem from a desire to be polite or to avoid conflict. While apologizing can be appropriate in many situations, constantly saying sorry may indicate underlying issues. Why Do We Do It? Here are several reasons why people over-apologize: Guilt and People Pleasing Jocelyn Hamsher, a therapist in Arizona, identifies false guilt, carried guilt, and people-pleasing as common causes. False guilt involves feeling responsible for something beyond one's control, while carried guilt involves taking on guilt for someone else's actions. People-pleasing, on the other hand, is driven by a need to manage others' emotions and gain their approval. Low Self-Esteem Shahar Lawrence, a licensed clinical social worker in Utah and Nevada, suggests that low self-esteem is another significant factor. People with low self-esteem might feel they are taking up too much space or are being a burden, leading them to apologize frequently. Mental Health Conditions Over apologizing can also be associated with certain mental health conditions. Depression, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are all conditions that may contribute to this behavior. Society and Culture Psychologist Yara Heary from Perth, Australia, adds that societal and cultural factors play a role. Women, particularly in patriarchal societies, tend to over apologize more due to societal expectations and doubts about their own worth and capabilities. This behavior can be a response to cultural norms that undervalue women's presence and contributions. Trauma Dr. Cynthia King, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of FemFwd, notes that over apologizing can also be a trauma response. Trauma survivors, especially those with prolonged abuse histories, may use excessive apologizing as a survival mechanism to avoid conflict and further harm. If you owe money thanks to student loans, theres a chance you saw some relief over the last four years, because the government has forgiven $168 billion in student debt. The beneficiaries of this program are quite happy, while other people have complaints, such as This is a clear attempt to buy votes and You should have instead given the $168 billion to me. Paying your own debts may be the responsible thing to do, but there are situations where the person getting the bill deserves a little slack. For example, most people would agree about disputing the bill when, say 4 Freed World War II Concentration Camp Prisoners Were Charged Rent You may have a lot of excuses for why youre late with this months rent. Maybe youve been unable to work full-time, because youre secretly Spider-Man, or maybe all your money was stolen, and Spider-Man was not there to intervene. We think one of the more compelling excuses weve ever heard is, The Holocaust just happened, and I didnt pay rent on time because I was in a concentration camp. Don't Miss After World War II ended, 240 concentration camp inmates who returned to Amsterdam discovered that they were on the hook for rent during their time away. Furthermore, they were being fined, for having missed so many payments. The were being billed and fined, not by private landlords but by the government, who owned the properties. Given how insignificant these sums were compared with the war expenses the government had to deal with, Amsterdam really could have afforded to let this slide. Nationaal Archief Gonna take a whole lot more than that rent to fund the repairs on this. During those war years, these homes had been occupied by Nazis, since the whole country was under Nazi occupation, so youd think that if anyone should have received the bills afterward, itd be Nazis. Some of the homes had been occupied by Nazis, anyway. Others had been bombed and destroyed. The concentration camp survivors were on the hook for paying the rent on the bombed homes, too. The City of Amsterdam eventually did acknowledge that these bills had been unjust, and they issued refunds. They had to send the refunds to the descendants of the renters, because they sent these out 70 years later, in 2015. Advertisement 3 Families of the Titanic Band Were Billed for Their Uniforms After the Sinking Thanks to the movie Titanic, we know that four musicians kept the doomed passengers sprits up by bravely continuing to play music, even as the ship sank. Thats not true to what really happened. In reality, eight musicians kept the doomed passengers sprits up by bravely continuing to play music, even as the ship sank. Other than that, the depiction was accurate. Illustrated London News Even this newspaper illustration leaves out one poor cellist. Once two weeks had passed since the sinking, a recovery team had found the musicians bodies but had not yet identified which was which. This was when Andrew Hume, father of dead Titanic violinist John Hume, received a bill in the mail. It was charging him for his sons uniform. The uniform was still on the corpse at the time, which was how the body had been identified as a musician (but could not be identified as John specifically). Advertisement The bill charged him five shillings and four pence for recent alterations, including stitching a badge on the jacket representing the White Star Line. Normally, the musicians salary included a uniform allowance, which would have more than covered this expense, but their employers had canceled this benefit right before the voyage. Andrew Hume never paid the bill. Advertisement Incidentally, this would have been John Humes last voyage whether or not the Titanic sank. He had been planning to quit, to marry his fiancee, whod just become pregnant. We can only imagine the incredulous eyerolls if this had made it into the movie the ill-fated violinist optimistically announcing this is his one last job before retirement, so he can go home to his girl and be a dad. That would seem like such a ridiculous Hollywood touch. It would be, in fact, something like when the movie filmed a scene of characters cracking jokes about putting bits of the iceberg into their drinks, which is something the actual passengers did but seemed too ridiculous on-screen to believe. Advertisement 2 After a Hurricane, Comcast Billed Customers for Not Returning the Ruined Equipment In 2008, after Hurricane Ike, some Texas Comcast customers received a surprising notice. First, they were getting a $66 credit to their account, to make up for how Comcast failed to offer phone service for a couple weeks. Second, they were each getting charged $1,000, for damaged equipment such as modems, since they had been renting this stuff from Comcast. Steve Garfield Modems, and also DVRs, which were the height of 2008 technology. If were debating whether its reasonable for Comcast to charge customers so much for devices destroyed in a hurricane, its helpful to poke around and see how other providers handle these situations. Normally, a provider wont issue any bill like that. Since the equipment belonged to the provider, the provider was the one who took out insurance on the stuff. Indeed, if you as a renter are responsible enough to take out renters insurance (and to choose a policy that covers floods, since many will not), that insurance wouldnt cover Comcast-leased stuff, since that should be Comcasts domain. Advertisement Advertisement This is all perfectly in line with Comcasts reputation, if you remember them as Americas most hated company. Its possible that you dont remember them, though. In 2010, they changed the name of the brand that markets to homes to Xfinity, purely to confuse us and make us forget how Comcastic theyve always been. It was recently announced that theres a new Robin Hood movie in the works, because theres always a new Robin movie in the works. But this one will star Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer, which sounds like a lot of fu No, wait, it actually sounds like a huge bummer. Reportedly, A24s The Death of Robin Hood will depict the titular hero as a battle-worn loner who is grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder. Which seems like a pretty intense way to describe a character once played by a cartoon fox. Don't Miss This interpretation is hardly an outlier, as it seems like the majority of modern cinematic takes on Robin Hood have been disquietingly bleak. Ridley Scotts Robin Hood began with the real Robin being killed in battle, and another soldier assuming his identity, Armin Tamzarian-style. Then there was 2018s Robin Hood, which was basically just a Dark Knight movie, and turned Robins Merry Men into the Not-So-Merry Antifa. Even back in the 90s, things were far from cheery in Sherwood Forest. The Kevin Costner-starring Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves gave us witches, scenes of brutal torture and even (shudder) the musical stylings of Bryan Adams. Advertisement But weirdly, the parody of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves ended up being a better Robin Hood movie. As some fans have pointed out recently, Mel Brooks Robin Hood: Men in Tights is arguably closer to the spirit of the original Robin Hood stories than any of the recent, aggressively emo versions. Advertisement Despite being a comedy, Men in Tights is the most faithful, and fun, movie version of the Robin Hood legend that weve gotten in the past few decades. Just look at the scene in which Robin meets Little John for the first time. As in earlier iterations of the story, they face off on a bridge albeit a bridge crossing a mere puddle of stream. Its fun, funny and the characters actually form a bond as a result of the encounter. Advertisement Advertisement Compare that to the 2018 Robin Hood: Little John (played by Jamie Foxx) tries to stab Robin in the face during an action sequence that plays like one of Michael Bays wet dreams. In the end he gets his hand chopped off. Advertisement Then theres Cary Elwes, who Brooks cast after seeing him in the similarly delightful The Princess Bride. Even beyond his ability to speak with an English accent, Elwes is a perfect Robin Hood. Advertisement Advertisement And while Brooks was ostensibly parodying the Costner movie, he conspicuously patterned the movies look and feel after what many consider to be the greatest Robin Hood movie ever made: 1938s The Adventures of Robin Hood starring noted creep and alleged corpse thief Errol Flynn. Advertisement Brooks was clearly more interested in making a good Robin Hood flick than simply dunking on Kevin Costner, going so far as to include familiar plot points that Prince of Thieves didnt touch, such as the archery contest. Advertisement Advertisement After all, Brooks was already a fan of the Robin Hood myth long before Men in Tights; he even created a (mostly-terrible) Robin Hood sitcom in 1975 called When Things Were Rotten. He didnt seem to mind the Kevin Costner version either, telling one interviewer that he wanted to thank the actor because he had reawakened the world to this beautiful story once again. Advertisement Hey, Mel Brooks hasnt retired, maybe A24 should just hire him to direct this Hugh Jackman movie! You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). The Chappelles Show co-creator found his new calling as a psychonaut, thanks to another stand-up superstar Nothing says spiritual awakening quite like a couple of comedy A-listers losing their minds on ayahuasca in a Malibu beach house. Chappelles Show co-creator Neal Brennan is no stranger to the mysterious corners of human consciousness. After all, he was there when Charlie Murphy told his Prince stories. In his post-Dave Chappelle era, Brennan found himself at the forefront of the sad-core stand-up movement, exploring the complexities of depression and mental struggle in projects like his critically acclaimed 2022 Netflix special Blocks. Like many depressives, Brennan has enlisted chemical assistance to change his brain, but when the usual antidepressants fell short of ensuring a full recovery, he stumbled upon a new psychoactive path to wellness, with a helping hand from none other than Chris Rock. Don't Miss On the most recent episode of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Brennan told Saturday Night Live legends Dana Carvey and David Spade that Rock convinced him to undergo an ayahuasca experience in a Los Angeles home once occupied by Spade himself. As it turns out, the most effective way to fight depression is to trip balls on the granddaddy of psychedelics with Chris Rock in a beachfront mansion but good luck getting your normal people insurance to cover it. I got less sad in a very risky way, which is ayahuasca, DMT and MDMA, Brennan said of his successful fight against depression, telling his illustrious hosts, I got into ayahuasca because our mutual friend Chris Rock sent me an article from The New York Times about ayahuasca and was like, We gotta do this. Advertisement Brennan quipped, You know youre old when you get your drug ideas from The New York Times. For many years now, patients suffering from severe cases of depression have found reprieve in psychedelic substances, and when faced with the opportunity to try a traditional and spiritual South American panacea thats become increasingly trendy among American psychonauts, Brennan dove in head first. Upon learning that Rock had an ayahuasca experience, Carvey remarked, That explains a lot. We did it together twice, and it was pretty wild. and I kept doing it, Brennan continued. Remember when Rock was renting a place (in) Malibu? Brennan told the hosts of the setting of their joint psychedelic journey. It might have been your old place, Spade. Advertisement Said Brennan of the drug experience itself, I got a guide a guy came, and he was like a white guy, and Rock was like, (Hes) a little Starbucks-y. Brennan, Rock and a few of Brennans friends all consumed the brew of psychoactive plants under the guidance of their ayahuasca sherpa, and Brennan found the experience absolutely invigorating, describing the high as, (Psylocibin) mushrooms times a hundred. As for Rocks reaction, Brennan told Carvey and Spade, I saw Rock get his ass whooped by ayahuasca in a good way. I guess that slaps the shit out of the Will Smith way. A number of comedies made during World War II opted to overtly lampoon Hitler. Charlie Chaplin directed The Great Dictator, Looney Tunes turned Hitler into a doomed cartoon animal in 1942s The Ducktators and The Three Stooges starred in the button-pushing You Nazty Spy! prior to the U.S. joining the war. The Marx Brothers, on the other hand, didnt reference Hitler specifically. Although its hard not to read the 1933 anti-war satire Duck Soup, produced just 10 months after Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany, as a commentary on current events. As funny as the movie might be, the Marxes were understandably disturbed by Hitlers rise to power, even suspending filming of Duck Soup twice to hear Der Fuhrer rant. Harpo was particularly distressed by how little his friends seemed to be concerned about what was happening in Germany. Groucho did include a derogatory reference to Hitler in an alternate performance of the song Lydia, the Tattooed Lady, and his book about income tax, Many Happy Returns, featured an illustrated cover depicting Groucho pummeling the dictators head with a sledgehammer. But Groucho really stuck it to Hitler years after the war. Unfortunately, the moment wasnt captured on film. Advertisement Advertisement According to Robert Dwan, the producer of Grouchos hit game show You Bet Your Life, in the summer of 1958, Groucho traveled to Europe with the sole purpose of taking his 12-year-old daughter to see his late mothers hometown of Dornum, Germany. To his credit, Groucho invited Dwan and his daughter to join them. Advertisement Advertisement They visited Dornum, where there were no records pertaining to the Marx family. His mother Minnie wasnt listed in the birth registry. Even the grave of Grouchos great grandmother, which he had visited as a child, was seemingly gone. In fact, there were no Jewish names to be found in the graveyard at all. As Dwan recounted, it was as though Grouchos family had never existed. When they reached West Berlin, Groucho hired a limousine to take them into East Berlin. The trip proved to be surprisingly easy. The Berlin Wall wasnt built until three years later, and they merely had to pass through a checkpoint. The drivers only instruction was to drive Groucho and company to the bunker where Hitler was said to have died, and where they said, he was still buried. Upon arriving at the bombed out bunker, they found no guards and no marker just a 20 foot high pile of rubble. Next, as Dwan described it, Groucho climbed to the top, alone, stood for a moment, and then danced his eccentric, frenetic Charleston. Advertisement Yeah, he literally danced on Hitlers grave. Since theres no footage of this, heres Groucho dancing in Horse Feathers. Just try to imagine it taking place on top of the ruins of Hitlers bunker. Dwan noted that Grouchos dance was not a casual gesture and went on for maybe a minute or more. When he was done, the legendary comedian descended from the rubble, got in the car, and the group drove back to West Berlin. Be sure to ask Grouchos ghost about this incident the next time you visit the Laugh Factory. You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). If you get far enough in politics, youre going to end up talking to someone who speaks a language that you dont, and until Google Translate gets better, thats a disaster waiting to happen. If you dont know why, take a look at the lyrics of Smash Mouths All Star translated to Aramaic and back. Or just read on, because it turns out even the best translators governments can buy dont come with a 100 percent wont destroy the world money-back guarantee. 5 The Pope Called Priests in Training a Bunch of F-Slurs Pope Francis has been by far the most progressive pope when it comes to LGBTQ issues, which isnt saying a ton. Like, hes gone on record that gay people are not, in fact, children of Satan, but he still doesnt think they should be priests. That was the matter at hand during a 2024 meeting with Italian bishops, when Francis used an Italian word considered highly offensive to gay people to refer to the current state of seminaries. Don't Miss Basically, he said they were full of man love, but in a more hate-crimey way. Francis, who grew up speaking Spanish in Argentina, may not have understood the full meaning of the word, which would make sense considering his previous queerness is just alright with me stance. Its also not like it hasnt happened before. 4 President Carter Hit on Poland During what was supposed to be a routine visit to Poland in 1977, President Jimmy Carter gave what was supposed to be a boring speech about how happy he was to be in Poland, having just left America, and how excited he was to learn more about what Poland wanted for its future. Instead, his translator told the assembly that Carter had abandoned the U.S. because he desires the Poles carnally and wants to know their lusts for the future. It turned out the translator was some rando working part time for $150 a day, which is great money for having no idea what youre doing. 3 Khrushchev Threatened to Bury the West Advertisement Advertisement A literal scare quote about communism falsely attributed to former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev recently went around social media, but in 1956, something he actually said riled up an already blacklist-happy West. At a reception for a Polish politician, he was quoted as saying, Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you. Invocations of shovels and dirt are generally pretty menacing, but he didnt mean it as a threat. What I had in mind was the outlook for the development of human society, he later said. Socialism will inevitably succeed capitalism. Not long after, he addressed the U.N. to call for the opposite of violence, a gradual disarmament and an end to the Cold War. Fortunately, it only lasted another 30 years or so. 2 Ilhan Omar Supposedly Claimed to Be Somalian First Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, some of the crazier congresspeople got all up in arms over a clip of Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar addressing Somali constituents, claiming she said she was Somalian first, Muslim second. A Minnesota newspaper had to wrangle up its own translators to confirm that shed actually said, We are people who know that they are Somali and Muslim, and Omar pointed out that Somalian isnt even the correct term for a person from Somalia. If you are gonna talk about us, at least try to get our ethnicity right, she said. Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy looks at a banner that was unveiled at the corner of Main and Chrisler avenues in Schenectady on the wall of Trustco Bank as part of the 100th anniversary of its Mont Pleasant branch on Tuesday. Visiting archaeological sites becomes new cultural tourism trend in China People's Daily Online) 14:47, May 30, 2024 Watching archaeologists at work and learning about their discoveries are becoming increasingly popular cultural tourism experiences in China. Many archaeological sites currently being excavated, such as Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City in east China's Zhejiang Province are allowing public tours and educational activities. The Zhouqiao Bridge and the nearby Bianhe River relics site in Kaifeng city, central China's Henan Province, have been sharing with the public archaeological discoveries by allowing people to visit the sites and watch archaeological work over the past four years. Visitors observe an area of the Zhouqiao Bridge and the nearby Bianhe River relics site in Kaifeng city, central China's Henan Province, on May 16 2024. (Chinanews.com/Han Zhangyun) In an effort to make it more convenient for visitors to observe the relevant areas and work, the cultural relics authorities of Henan have constructed viewing platforms, walkways, and classrooms for study tours around active excavation zones. About 50,000 visitors have been able to observe archaeologists unearth and catalogue artifacts, while receiving explanations from tour guides, according to Zhu Yanrong, a teacher for study tours at the relics site. Visitors can also try "digging treasure" and "repairing cultural relics" through the mystery box products provided at the site, Zhu said. During the May Day holiday this year, the Dahe Village relic site, Shuanghuaishu site, and Qingtai site in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan, held open house events with a rich variety of activities, thus helping create an immersive archaeological experience for visitors. The tickets to the events were immediately snapped up. People visit Shuanghuaishu site in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan, on May 13, 2024. (Chinanews.com/Han Zhangyun) "It provides a great learning experience to see the archaeological process up close and learn about the findings directly," said a parent in Zhengzhou after taking part in an open house event. Archaeologists believe this transparent approach helps demystify their work for the public and generates more interest in cultural heritage preservation. Open archaeology allows the public to participate in discussions and voice different perspectives, said Pan Weibin, a research fellow at the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology who leads the excavation at the mausoleum site of Cao Cao, a prominent historical figure in China. Allowing the public to understand the archaeological research process can help cultivate scientific literacy and artifact protection awareness, drawing more people into cultural heritage efforts, said Wang Tao, a professor of the School of History at Capital Normal University in Beijing. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Even Diane Abbott's staunchest defenders would admit that she attracted more than her fair share of negative headlines in recent years. In 2019 she apologised after being spotted sipping from a canned M&S mojito cocktail at lunchtime on an Overground train, in breach of London Transport's alcohol ban. That same year, she went out canvassing while appearing to wear two left shoes from different pairs. Then there was her infamous radio interview during the 2017 election campaign, when she was shadow home secretary, in which she estimated the cost of employing 10,000 more police officers at a mere 300,000 (equating to some 30 per officer). Flustered, Abbott amended the figure to 80million: the true sum was 300million. Diane Abbott, who made history as the first black woman elected to Parliament in 1987, meets supporters on the steps of Hackney Town Hall in her constituency But surely no error was as fateful as last April's, in which the veteran trailblazing MP the first black woman elected to Parliament way back in 1987 wrote in The Observer that while Irish nationals, Jews and Travellers had experienced 'prejudice', they had not suffered the 'lifelong racism' endured by black people. Her remarks, which struck many as anti-Semitic, caused outrage. Despite issuing a swift apology, Abbott who had been a thorn in Sir Keir Starmer's side because of her unabashed hard-Left views and loyalty to ousted former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who happens to be her ex-boyfriend was swiftly suspended from the party. It seemed an ignominious end to an historic parliamentary career. And yet in the past 24 hours, Starmer in the first serious gaffe of his so-far lacklustre election campaign has made Abbott an unlikely martyr. On Tuesday morning this week, more than a year after her comments in The Observer, Abbott, 70, had the whip restored in what was meant to be an 'elegant' gesture of good faith, so that she could step down from the Commons as a Labour MP, rather than an independent. But if the move was designed to let her retain her dignity, in the end it was trashed. That same evening, Abbott was aghast to learn that a newspaper briefed by senior Starmer officials was splashing on its front page reports that Abbott was to be blocked from running for Parliament again, rather than gracefully retiring. 'I am very dismayed that numerous reports suggest I am being barred as a candidate,' said a distraught Abbott. The move struck many as vindictive and has horribly backfired. One Labour source tells me: 'Someone high up in the Leader's operation spread the poison about Diane. They just could not let her go out with pride and with her head held high after nearly 40 years as an MP. It's shameful.' Her pitiless defenestration has triggered a backlash against Starmer from both the Left and Right of his party. Even his traditional allies were appalled. John McTernan, who was Tony Blair's political secretary, said the briefings against Abbott first revealed in The Times were 'designed to humiliate her... and it's shameful'. The farrago has also raised troubling questions over whether Starmer has been honest about his role in her downfall. For months, he has avoided answering whether Abbott would be readmitted into the party. The former human rights lawyer, who rose to become the Director of Public Prosecutions, has repeatedly insisted the matter was being dealt with by an independent process that had nothing to do with him. As recently as March, he told the BBC that the probe into Abbott 'was an ongoing process'. However, we learnt this week that Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) in fact completed its investigation into Abbott as far back as December. Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituents gather to show their support for Abbott, calling for her to be confirmed as Labour's candidate for the coming election The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington subsequently took a two-hour online 'anti-Semitism awareness training course'. (In the past 24 hours, no one in the Labour leadership has denied the inquiry was completed last year.) So what's the reality? When Starmer claimed in March that the investigation was 'an ongoing process' when in fact it had been wrapped up months before was he ignorant of the truth, or being economical with it? After all, Starmer is not a mere member of the NEC: he prides himself on his iron grip on his party and its disciplinary procedures. Does he really expect anyone to believe him when he insists he had nothing to do with the NEC's decision, and didn't even know about it? Even those who flinch from Abbott's divisive brand of hard-Left redistributive politics acknowledge her extraordinary achievements. As the daughter of a nurse and welder who won a place at Cambridge, her place in British parliamentary history is assured. Despite her propensity for gaffes, which worsened in recent years, and those allegations of anti-Semitism, her supporters will forever hail her as an icon of multicultural Britain. Many trade unions, including both the Communication Workers Union and Unite (one of Labour's most generous paymasters) have demanded in the past 24 hours that she stand at the upcoming General Election for her old party. Mother-of-one Abbott, who has spoken about suffering from type 2 diabetes, ran for the leadership in 2010 but lost to Ed Miliband, who placed her on the frontbench in charge of public health. As shadow home secretary under Corbyn, she was subjected to more sexist and racist abuse on social media than any other MP. Yet this week, despite her exalted place in Labour's history, she became a pawn in Starmer's scheme to look tough to centrist voters before the election. Some of his aides insist dumping Abbott was the right strategy. They believe it makes the leader and his team look tough and decisive. But even I, who disagree with Abbott about almost everything, cannot be alone in thinking that Starmer and his cronies look like bullying, heartless, incompetents in their treatment of this remarkable woman. 'So, Sir Keir Starmer,' we might ask, 'why does an ordinary Labour leader like you want to give the vote to Left-wing teenagers?' For Sir Keir has said that he will extend the franchise to all voters between the ages of 16 and 18, about 1.5 million of them. The suspicion that this is cynical calculation by a man who intends to stay in power if he gets it is not just idle guesswork, either. According to the highly reputable British Election Study, age has replaced class as the biggest predictor of how people will vote. At the 2019 general election, the Tories won the support of 56 per cent of those aged 55 and over, but only 24 per cent of those under 35. For Labour it was almost exactly the other way round. They were backed by 54 per cent of under-35 voters, but by only 22 per cent of those aged 55 and over. The Labour leader has blustered that his scheme is really all about fairness and justice. He argues that because 16-year-olds pay tax and can join the Army, it is only right that they should help elect the Government. Sir Keir has said that he will extend the franchise to all voters between the ages of 16 and 18 But these days the state encourages young people between 16 and 18 to stay in education and training if they can, and their earnings are likely to be small. It's highly likely that very few of them pay much in the way of income tax. And if anyone who pays tax has to have a vote, then what about all those ten-year-olds, paying a stinging 20 per cent in VAT on ice creams and chocolate bars? It's a poor argument. As for the Army, Left-wing campaigners recently fought successfully to bar soldiers aged under 18 from combat. Defence chiefs did not much like this change, but a growing tide of opinion defeated them. Recruits may still join at 16, but they are normally banned from actual fighting until they reach voting age. Wouldn't giving votes to 16-year-olds strengthen the generals' case for letting the same 16-year-olds go back into battle, especially in an age when getting anyone to join the military is so hard? The Labour leader is going very much against the trend in his own movement which is to treat under-18s as children rather than adults. Many Labour MPs supported last year's Act which raised the minimum age for marriage in England. It went up from 16 to 18. In 2007, it was a Labour government which increased the minimum age for buying cigarettes from 16 to 18. Then there is the issue of jury service. When the voting age dropped from 21 to 18, in 1969, the jury age soon followed it. This is logical. If you are old enough to decide the fate of your country, you are surely old enough to decide the guilt or innocence of an accused person. We cannot really be surprised at Labour for seeking to find whatever votes it can, wherever it can, whenever it can, Peter Hitchens writes Sir Keir should be asked how consistent he is in all this. Does he want 16-year-olds on juries? If not, why not? Does he think his own children will be mature enough to get married, buy tobacco, buy drinks in pubs, or get tattooed at 16 rather than at the current age of 18? If they're not fit to take such decisions, why on earth does he think they should be able to vote? You can almost hear his mind flip and flop as he tries to cope. He has already flipped on his 2020 pledge to give votes, in general elections, to 3.4 million European Union nationals living in this country. Only a year ago he confirmed he was 'still thinking about' this. Then he said last Monday that he had gone off the idea. Sir Keir famously zig-zags like a wartime convoy evading U-boats. But where he has zigged, he can zag, and where he can zag, he may yet zig. If he attains power, how long will it take him to dig up and revive that plan for votes for EU citizens? Labour, by its nature, does not want to give up power and thinks it has a permanent right to rule. And it sometimes lets this slip. In its February 1974 general election manifesto, the party promised 'a fundamental and irreversible shift in the balance of power and wealth in favour of working people and their families'. Note that 'irreversible'. In 1997, it asserted that 'New Labour is the political arm of none other than the British people as a whole'. This was an astonishing claim to have superseded the old two-party state. But it goes deeper than that. Labour's programme would take many years to work. So Britain's traditional alternation between two parties, every few years, very much gets in the way. Labour's greatest Left-winger was Aneurin Bevan, still admired by people such as Sir Keir. On May 21, 1945, at the party's Blackpool conference, he rashly let the truth slip out, saying: 'We enter this campaign not merely to get rid of the Tory majority that will not be enough for our task. It will not be sufficient to get a parliamentary majority. 'We want the complete political extinction of the Tory party and 25 years of Labour government. We cannot do in five years what requires to be done'. In the end, the 1945 Labour government took six years to fritter away its huge majority. Harold Wilson, too, managed only six Labour years between 1964 and 1970. Blairism was conceived to overcome that problem but even that slick machine ran into trouble after 13 years. That is why Blair and his aides fought so hard in the 2001 election to browbeat the Tory party into accepting their programme and to become more like them, as it did under David Cameron. In light of this, we cannot really be surprised at Labour for seeking to find whatever votes it can, wherever it can, whenever it can. There are still many millions of people in this country and they tend to be those with more experience of life who have heard Labour promises before, and have even been beguiled by them. But they have also experienced what actually happens when Labour comes to office. So how odd it is to observe the recent media frenzy over Rishi Sunak's 'national service' plan. This idea has the sickly look of a policy bound to fall apart within days of contact with reality. By contrast, Sir Keir's bottomlessly cynical proposal of votes at 16, will certainly happen if he wins. It will be one of his first actions if he comes to power. Yet it has seen very little scrutiny. It is time that this changed. In this nasty little plan we see right into Labour's mind and what we find there is not pretty at all. You don't often get a danger signal as clear as this one. It's fair to say the Daily Mail has never been a fan of Diane Abbotts politics. The far-Left views she espouses have often been crass, intemperate and divisive. Yet no one can deny her unique place in the history of the modern Labour Party. The daughter of Jamaican immigrants, she won a place at Cambridge, was Britains first black woman MP and is rightly regarded as a trailblazer. In the face of considerable abuse, she has displayed determination which has benefited black and Asian MPs of all allegiances. Ms Abbotts life story is one which illuminates the best of an inclusive and upwardly mobile Britain. The daughter of Jamaican immigrants, Diane Abbott won a place at Cambridge, was Britain's first black woman MP and is rightly regarded as a trailblazer So why would Sir Keir Starmer cast her off in such a seemingly contemptuous manner? So why would Sir Keir Starmer cast her off in such a seemingly contemptuous manner? True, her remarks that Jews, travellers and the Irish did not suffer the same lifelong racism as black people were offensive and wrong. Also, she is a prominent Corbynite and darling of Momentum, which makes her a threat to Sir Keirs bid to drag his party back to the centre. But the disciplinary process by which she has apparently been blocked from standing as a Labour candidate is opaque and unfair. It pays no heed to her hinterland in the Labour Party, her status as a role model or her service as an MP (37 years) and eight years as a shadow minister, serving not just Jeremy Corbyn but Ed Miliband, too. Sir Keir has previously said Labour should put our arm around her, to protect her from the racist abuse that has been thrown at her. How does that square with his partys actions now? Far from being embraced, she has been jettisoned in the most brutal and hurtful way. The backlash is already growing, especially in her constituency. Her huge vote share in Hackney North and Stoke Newington where she is regarded by many as a living legend would surely carry through if she decides to run as an independent candidate. There were signs yesterday that Sir Keir belatedly realised that defenestrating Ms Abbott so peremptorily was a crass error (after his trade union paymasters expressed their own disquiet). Diane Abbott is a prominent Corbynite and darling of Momentum, which makes her a threat to Sir Keir's bid to drag his party back to the centre Abbott's huge vote share in Hackney North and Stoke Newington would surely carry through if she decides to run as an independent candidate Despite heavy briefing from his officials on Tuesday that her ban was official, the Labour leader now claims a final decision hasnt been made. But the damage has been done. The whole debacle raises yet more questions about his judgment and his competence. And Sir Keir has shown he would do anything to be elected including betraying a party icon. Why should anyone trust a word he says? Protect our post The proposed sale of Royal Mail to a Czech billionaire raises serious doubts about the future of this vital service. Tracing its history back to 1516, it is part of the fabric and heritage of this country from the sovereign depicted on its stamps to the royal ciphers on its post boxes. And lets not forget how local posties are often highly valued by their communities. The proposed sale of Royal Mail to a Czech billionaire raises serious doubts about the future of this vital service The sale would threaten Royal Mails universal service obligations and see the price of a stamp already 1.35 for first class soar yet further. The vague promise of temporary contractual commitments and intentions to protect public service aspects of the business will serve to reassure no one. Regulators and ministers must step in to ensure the Royal Mails future is protected. Despite heavy briefing from his officials on Tuesday that her ban was official, the Labour leader now claims a final decision hasn't been made. But the damage has been done. The whole debacle raises yet more questions about his judgment and his competence. And Sir Keir has shown he would do anything to be elected including betraying a party icon. Why should anyone trust a word he says? Every Sunday morning when I was a child, my father would take me to church at the local convent in Essex. One such morning, when I was eight years old and mucking about beneath the pews, he warned me that if I didn't behave, he'd send me away to the nuns. The idea filled me with dread. The sisters, in their doleful habits, made me shake in my buckle-up shoes. I never misbehaved in church again. Little did I know that four years later, I would indeed end up at the convent's independent boarding school. And not only would I love it, but it would be the making of me. This is why Sir Keir Starmer's proposed cash-grab on private schools has left me so furious and appalled. He sees squeezing the independent sector as an easy way of appealing to the Corbynite wing of his divided party. It's classic envy politics. What Starmer has failed to understand is that the private sector offers an unparalleled education for hundreds of thousands of children, many of whom aren't from well-off backgrounds and receive financial support through scholarships and bursaries. Starmer himself benefited from a bursary to fund his studies at Reigate Grammar School in Surrey, which became a fee-paying institution two years after he joined If Starmer does impose 20 per cent VAT on independent school fees, have no doubt: these less well-off children will be the first to suffer. As others have pointed out already, it won't be the super-rich or the scions of foreign oligarchs who miss out. It will be young girls like me who just needed to be given a chance. My family were by no means rich. I started at the local state secondary as a straight-A student, but by the end of the first year I was struggling at the bottom of the class. Then my father had the opportunity to relocate to America to work on Wall Street. Part of the agreement meant his company would pay a portion of my fees if I were to move to private school here at home. Understanding the value of a good education, Dad agreed to this and took out a loan to make up the remainder. He went off to New York and I packed my bags for New Hall, a convent school in Essex set in more than 100 acres in the grounds of Henry VIII's former home. The academic rigour, discipline and encouragement I received there changed my life. For a start, I had the opportunity to take O-Levels, which I passed. At my state secondary I would have only been offered the less well regarded CSE exams. But it was more than just academic success. New Hall taught me to speak in public, to try things I was afraid of, to think for myself and - most importantly - to believe in my own potential. How many young girls will now miss out on a similar life-changing opportunity because of Starmer's middle-class pick-pocketing? Let's not forget, no matter how profuse his denials, Starmer benefited from a bursary to fund his studies at Reigate Grammar School in Surrey, which became a fee-paying institution two years after he joined. And then there's the nonsense economics of his plan. There are roughly 2,500 private schools in England alone, educating 6 per cent of the country's children - that's over half a million pupils. Fees at these schools are expected to rise by an average of 3,000 - a hike only the very wealthiest can stomach. So where will all the pupils go? Nana Akua attended New Hall, a private Catholic school in Essex set in more than 100 acres in the grounds of Henry VIII's former home Nana asks: How many young girls will now miss out on a similar life-changing opportunity because of Starmer's middle-class pick-pocketing? Labour claims it can raise 1.7billion from the scheme. But that's nowhere near enough to accommodate extra places in an already failing state sector. In 2022-23, the Government spent 116billion on education - roughly 7,500 per pupil. In other words, when it comes to central government finances, 1.7billion is negligible. It would barely cover the costs of fixing the damp in existing classrooms, removing asbestos from gymnasiums or buying every school secretary a new printer. We're already seeing the consequences of Starmer's ill-considered plan. Applications for independent schools are down 2.7 per cent, and that number will only rise. Alton School in Hampshire has already announced it will close its doors at the end of the summer term, with the Labour proposals leading to an unprecedented downturn in prospective pupils. I fear Alton will only be the first in a litany of closures. I've been visiting both state and independent schools as a motivational speaker for more than eight years now. I understand better than most that the state sector needs some serious attention and adequate, sustainable funding. But the answer isn't crushing the private sector. That will only increase the burden on our state schools and the teachers who work tirelessly within them. Our only hope now is that Captain Flip-Flop Starmer performs yet another U-turn. Either that, or he risks putting the nation's entire education system in detention. Back in the dim and distant when I used to do a bit of TV and radio, she was always game for a laugh. And her laugh was infectious. Although she was a trailblazer, the first black woman MP and a genuine role model for aspiring politicians from minority backgrounds, she never took herself too seriously. Unlike some of her more intolerant, ideologically-pure colleagues in the Labour Party, who thought Right-wing reptiles like me should be avoided at all costs, she never ducked a challenge or refused to be interviewed, even when it was pretty obvious that she didnt have the foggiest idea what she was talking about. Dont get me wrong. Despite the ditzy reputation Diane has acquired over the years, shes a long way from daft, having studied at Newnham College, Cambridge, where one of her teachers was the fragrant Mary Archer. That was something I only discovered live on air when she appeared as a panellist on my late-night London Weekend Television show alongside Marys husband Jeffrey, who teased her unmercifully. She thought it was hilarious. Diane Abbott addresses her supporters and the media on the steps of Hackney Town Hall yesterday Diane never missed an opportunity to plug her achievements on behalf of the people of Hackney, East London, who sent her to Parliament in 1987. On one show, I had to warn her in advance that every time she mentioned Hackney, Id ring a bell. In the first ten minutes, I had to ring it at least a dozen times, much to everyones amusement. She was a perfect guest, going on to be a fixture on the long-running Andrew Neil BBC One politics programme, This Week, part of a Hackney Empire double act with Michael Portillo. Her tendency to open her mouth before engaging her brain has often landed her in trouble. Most politicians confronted with a difficult question dissemble or change the subject. Diane may um and ah, but she usually blurts out something, however incoherent. Brain fog frequently drops her in it. Among the many incisive interviews my old mate Nick Ferrari has conducted on his LBC breakfast show, a couple come to mind immediately both with leading Labour women. Diane was roundly ridiculed after Ferrari skewered her over the cost of Labours plans to put thousands of extra coppers on the street. She could have claimed she didnt know the exact figure and promised to get back to him. But she ploughed on regardless. Having failed to do her homework, she said that each extra officer would work out about approximately 30 a head or it might have been 30 bob, I cant remember. To be charitable, she was trying to give an honest answer. It didnt come out like that and she was kicked from pillar to post, with justification. Yet compare and contrast her response with that of Pixie Balls-Cooper (aka Yvette Cooper) when questioned by Ferrari over the migrant crisis. Pixie, you may recall, hit the headlines when she promised to take in a family of Syrian refugees during the war in that country. The weeks and months passed with no sign of any displaced persons turning up at one of the two beautiful homes Pixie shared with her husband and former Labour front-bencher Ed Balls. Ferrari asked reasonably when she would be welcoming the Syrians to Chez Balls-Cooper. Pixie bluffed, blustered, blamed Call Me Dave and, preposterously, claimed she couldnt take anyone in because she hadnt had proper foster parent training. This wasnt just a car crash interview, it was a multi-vehicle motorway pile-up. Yet today, lemon-sucking Pixie is nailed on to be our next Home Secretary in Starmers government and Diane Abbott has been cast into the outer darkness. Not that Im claiming Abbott would make a better Home Secretary, which she would have been if her ex-boyfriend Jeremy Corbyn had become Prime Minister. Ive always thought she was an exemplary constituency MP who added hugely to the gaiety of the nation, but in a perfect world Id never allow her anywhere near the levers of power. For the past 13 months, shes been under investigation by the party after sending an incendiary letter to the Observer alleging that Jews, Travellers and the Irish had never faced the same kind of racism as blacks. Only she knows what possessed her to write such offensive drivel. Its the kind of thing she might have blurted out on the wireless, without thinking it through, but this time she committed it to paper. (Incidentally, heaven knows what possessed the editors of the Observer to publish it. Maybe they thought it would play well with their Hamas-loving readers in North London.) I understand absolutely why British Jews were horrified by her remarks, not least the orthodox community in her own constituency, and I wouldnt try to excuse her. But, for the record, I dont believe shes an anti-Semite or an Islamist stooge like Corbyn. She has also been on the receiving end of the most vile racist abuse herself since getting elected in 1987. Thats a plea of mitigation, not a get-out-of-jail card. But it needs to be taken into consideration. Immediately after the letter was published she issued an apology, no doubt realising the distress her crass remarks had caused. Starmer could have either accepted it or dumped her on the spot. But dragging out an inquiry what was there to investigate? and handing down sentence after over a year purely for imagined electoral expediency speaks more about Starmers slippery cynicism than any offence on her part. Perhaps Keir Starmer thinks crushing Diane Abbott makes him look strong and ruthless. Sorry, guv, it just makes you look weak, opportunistic and vindictive, writes Richard Littlejohn The way in which Labours leader vacillated yesterday made Pixies evasion over Syrian refugees look like a masterclass in honesty and transparency. Perhaps Starmer thinks crushing Diane Abbott makes him look strong and ruthless. Sorry, guv, it just makes you look weak, opportunistic and vindictive. I havent seen Diane for a few years, but thought she looked diminished and shell-shocked when she addressed a rally outside Hackney Town Hall on Wednesday night. The old joie de vivre was conspicuous by its absence. Maybe 37 years of service have taken their toll and it is time to call it a day. But that must be her decision, not Starmers. What was obvious was that she still commands immense support among the voters of Hackney, who gave her a 33,000 majority last time round. They should decide her future, not the political spivs surrounding Starmer searching for a cheap headline. My favourite memory of Diane is the time we both turned up at Gordon Browns wedding reception. (Im not sure why I was invited, although I am an old mate of Gordons brother-in-law.) She gave me a big hug before standing back and saying: Hang on, what are you doing here? Youre not New Labour. Neither are you, I replied. Cue peals of infectious laughter. Sadly, shamefully, shes not part of pretend puritan Oliver Starmers New Model Army, either. An Australian influencer who lives in the UK has spoken out about how the summer fashion differs drastically between the two countries. Emily Brogan, who currently lives in London but is originally from Brisbane, took to her TikTok to speak about the culture shock she faced when she arrived in Britain. Emily said people back in her home country would walk around wearing shorts and a crop top and even a g-string and people would not 'give a s***.' But in London she feels that people are much more covered up and even wearing sandals makes her feel 'exposed', claiming that she 'get so many looks' and people 'keep staring'. She said: 'Its coming round to summer, she's knocking at the door, and I don't know how to dress myself. I'm Australian, I know how to dress for the summer. @emilybrogann realised I didnt cut the melon all the way watching this back original sound - Emily Brogan Emily Brogan, who currently lives in London but is originally from Brisbane , took to her TikTok to speak about the culture shock she faced when she arrived in Britain 'But I'm coming to learn that summer here, clothing wise, is very different to summer in Australia. In Australia, I would wear whatever, I would wear the shortest of shorts and I'd have no issues at all.' The content creator said people would wear shorts and crop tops in the UK but they would 'balance it out'. Emily said: 'So if they wear 'short shorts' they'll pair it with a long sleeve button up. Whereas I feel like no one is wearing short [bottoms] and short [tops]. 'Obviously there are some people, like me, but I feel like it's just not as common and then I just genuinely feel like you get so many looks.' She added that she was not being full of herself and insisted that people would continue to stare at you even if you were 'Nanny McPhee'. Emily has lived in the capital city for a couple of years and said that she did not have to think about her outfit choices much last summer. This is because she had a job as a waitress and had to wear her uniform five times a week, but now she is a full-time influencer and therefore has to configure her own ensembles. 'I've got to decide every single day, such a first world problem I know, but I don't feel comfortable in little crop tops and denim shorts every day of the week,' she said. Emily added that the area where she lives is not the safest and deliberated on whether she should go all out and dress how she usually would, or follow the London trend. The influencer is moving back to Australia in September and therefore only has four months left in Britain. Reaction: People took to the comments to speak about their experiences of London fashion People took to the comments to speak about their experiences of London fashion, with many agreeing with Emily. One wrote: 'I've just moved to London and the shift in fashion is wild to me.' A second said: 'No the change is WILD and why am I questioning open toe shoes!?!' Emily replied agreeing, saying that even in sandals she feels 'exposed'. Another added: 'I was always taught if you go short on the top go long on the bottom, and the same the other way around.' A fourth commented: 'I think it's because the other 50 weeks of the year its freezing so they aren't use to seeing people in summer gear?' Rose West is among the UK's most prolific serial killers, having tortured and murdered at least 10 young women and girls. Although the depraved mother committed the heinous crimes with her husband Fred West, she continues to claim innocence to the present day. However several experts and witnesses have suggested that, far from being passive in the heinous crimes that took place in the 'House of Horrors' on 25 Cromwell Street, Rose may actually have been the ringleader in the depraced campaign of torture and murder, having killed Fred's eight-year-old stepdaughter Charmaine when she herself was just 17. But how did Rose - a once withdrawn child - wind up being a brutal murderer? After Rose: Making of a Monster aired on Channel 5, FEMAIL delves into the 'middle class' upbringing of the most notorious female criminal the UK has ever seen... Rose West is among the UK's most prolific serial killers, having tortured and murdered at least twelve young women and girls with her husband Fred West (both pictured), including their own daughter After Channel 5 re-broadcast Rose: Making Of A Monster, FEMAIL takes a look at the killer's upbringing (Rose pictured in 1995) Who is Rose West and what did she do? Rosemary Pauline West, nee Letts, was born on November 29, 1953. She would go on to become one of the most notorious female serial killers in the UK, murdering and torturing 10 young women between the years of 1973 and 1987 with her evil husband Fred West. Rose and Fred met when she was only 15 and Fred was 27. At first, she was put off by his unkempt appearance and didn't find him at all attractive. However, the future husband and wife appeared to find a twisted sense of common ground in their depraved desires; as both had committed incest in their younger years. The author of Rose West: The Making of a Monster, Dr Jane Carter Woodrow wrote: 'When Fred started to talk about things of a sexual nature to do with bondage, S&M, all the stuff he was into, any other girl would have run off but Rose stayed. 'It was quite a normal thing she knew of.' After Fred left his ex-wife Rena, Rose, then 16, moved in with Fred as well as his step-daughter (and Rena's biological daughter) Charmaine, who would later become her first victim. It is believed Rose would attempt to enforce her father's strict rules on to Charmaine, but when the child defied her authority, she became incensed. It is thought Rose killed the eight-year-old in a red mist of rage. The eight-year-old's body was tucked away in a coal cellar and then hidden underneath the kitchen floor by Fred after he served his prison time for theft. However his wife, Rena, also came looking for her daughter, so Fred strangled her to death,later disposing of her body by dismembering her in a field near his childhood residence. Following their horrifying acts, the villainous couple would make 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester their home, which later became known as the 'House of Horrors' due to the horrific crimes which took place there. Among their known twelve victims was their daughter, Heather West, 16, who had been sexually abused by her parents throughout her life. Their other victims were Shirley Hubbard, 15, Carol Ann Cooper, 15, Alison Chambers, 16, Shirley Robinson, 18, Juanita Mott, 18, Anne McFall, 18, Lynda Gough, 19, Theresa Siegnethaler, 21, Lucy Partington, 21. Rose was initially not attracted to Fred - put off by his unkempt appearance (pictured: Fred and Rose West) Rose killed her step-daughter Charmaine, eight, when she was 17-years-old. She later went on to have eight children of her own with West (pictured) Mae West (pictured) now 52, was subject to vile sexual and physical abuse at the hands of her parents throughout her childhood in the killer couple's home (pictured in 1994). She believes her parents had at least 30 victims Where was Rose West raised? Rose was the fifth of seven children born in Northam, Devon, to father William 'Bill' Letts and mother Daisy. Prior to her birth, Bill served away in the Navy and would be away from the family home for months at a time. This meant her mother, Daisy, was often left to look after their growing brood alone, and whilst she was pregnant with Rose, she developed severe pre-natal depression. Her condition became so bad that Bill eventually quit the navy to return home and support her. But his return didn't make their family life any easier as Letts was described as 'brutal and violent' and would often terrify his wife. Their ex-neighbour, Gill Job, recalled hearing 'awful' screams and bangs from the Letts' family home. As a result, Rose's mother's depression became worse and she eventually underwent a controversial electroconvulsive therapy course (ECT), whilst pregnant with Rose. Daisy's final dose of ECT - a procedure which saw electrodes linked to the skull - was administered only days before her daughter arrived. According to psychologist Dr David Holmes, the controversial treatment would have impacted Rose's brain development. However, Rose's tumultuous development didn't end within the womb, as she was subject to her father's extreme anger throughout her childhood. The brood has been described as a 'dysfunctional family' whose youngsters were never allowed outdoors to have fun. Wansell dubbed Letts a 'tyrant of a father' who would punish his children by making them clean the carpets throughout the house with a singular toothbrush. Daisy Letts (pictured) - Rose West's mother - had electroconvulsive therapy up until days before Rose was born Letts had previously been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic during his teenage years - however, he had never told anyone in his family. He also refused any treatment for his condition. Daisy became so fearful of her husband that she developed an intense obsession with cleaning - to the point where their children weren't permitted to go outside and play. Letts also sexually abused Rose, promoting an environment of fear leading the youngster to become quiet and reclusive. Even into Rose's adult life and her relationship with West, her father continued to have a presence in her life. Letts and Rose continued their sexual relationship - and even had her husband's blessing to do so. As a result of her reclusive upbringing, Rose struggled to interact with others at school and found academic and social life challenging. However when her parents both got jobs she was tasked with taking care of her two younger brothers - and despite being a year behind began to become confident. Dr Holmes added: 'Rose began to identify with Bill and think of herself as someone who was strong and could create fear in others. 'And this actually led to Rose going out and bullying other children.' 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester, where the family lived and carried out their crimes The basement of their home where many victims were stored Inside Rose West's life in prison In 1995 Rose West was handed a life sentence and placed in HMP Low Newton in Durham, where she had to be protected from other prisoners. She was sentenced for the murders of ten women, however, her daughter Mae thinks the Wests could have upwards of 30 victims. In 2008, Rose West was moved from Bronzefield prison in Ashford, Surrey, to top-security Low Newton. She had her own en-suite cell, complete with curtains at the window, a 'fluffy rug' on the floor and a coffee machine, TV and radio. She has since changed her name by deed poll to Jennifer Jones and since finding religion believes 'God will forgive her'. Whilst behind bars Rose has managed to lose a few pounds and has even taken on a hairdressing and beauty therapy course as of 2017. She reportedly cuts her own hair dying it dark brown and giving it a feathered style. When the occasion allows, she swaps her grey tracksuit for fashionable trousers and 'glitzy' tops bought from catalogues. In 2017, it was reported she was suffering from a mystery-life threatening illness, however this was later dismissed by prison authorities as 'completely untrue'. 'There's nothing wrong with her, more's the pity,' said the source. 'But it's hardly surprising, is it? She's treated like royalty in there.' West enjoyed sharing her skills she has learned with fellow inmates while attending courses run at the jail. 'She often cuts other inmates' hair and does their make-up, something which is encouraged by the guards,' said the source. 'A lot of the lifers suffer from depression and they go to her, and others, for a makeover to give themselves a bit of a boost. 'She is allowed to cut hair but it must be under strict supervision and only safety scissors can be used the blades are sharp but the scissors have no points which is the same process for all inmates.' In 2019 she was moved to New Hall jail in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, after her life was reportedly threatened by another serial killer, according to The Sun. West also reportedly had relations with Myra Hindley whilst she was behind bars, however, the pair ended on negative terms as West thought Hindley was 'manipulative'. Rose West was handed a life sentence for her crimes in 1995. It is rumoured she had a love affair with fellow serial killer Myra Hindley (pictured) A 20-year-old who is step-mother to her 44-year-old boyfriend's children, has pleaded with her viewers to 'normalise age gap relationship and becoming a step-mum at a young age'. Content creator Ellie Liptrot, 20, met her 44-year-old partner, Mark, on a night out at the end of 2021 when she was just 18. The couple were introduced by a mutual friend and have been together for the last two years, and moved into their home Wales after just a few months together. Shortly after, in June 2022, Mark's two children also moved into the family home and began referring to 20-year-old Ellie as their 'step mum'. In a 'get ready with me video' on TikTok, Ellie explained that she has faced a lot of criticism from those claiming she doesn't deserve the title of step-mother since she is not married to Mark. Twenty year old Ellie Liptrot (pictured one from the right) has been in a relationship with her boyfriend Mark, (pictured on the left) who is 23 years older than her, since 2021 Social media creator Ellie, pictured in the centre next to her two step children, pleads with her viewers to 'normalise age gap relationship and becoming a step mum at a young age' Critics of the relationship have often compared Ellie to her stepdaughter, (pictured on the left) who is 15, with some even saying the teenager looks older than her dad's partner In a 'get ready with me video' from New Years Eve last year, Ellie (pictured next to her step son) explained that she has faced a lot of criticism from those claiming she doesn't deserve the title of step mother since she is not married to Mark Ellie met her 44-year-old partner, Mark, pictured, on a night out at the end of 2021 when she was just 18 After just a few months together, Ellie had moved in with Mark and the two were living together in a house in Wales She said: A lot of people are telling me Im not a step mum because me and Mark arent married but, at the end of the day, if you provide for the children, if you care for them, if you look after them, if you cook tea for them every night, if you go out and buy them things how does that make you not a step mum? Though Ellie says she is now 'besties' with her partner's children, she describes meeting Izzy, his eldest daughter as 'quite awkward' to begin with. While the pair look the picture of contentment, Ellie regularly faces critical comments on her videos and once described them as 'the most hated couple on the internet' because of their age gap. Critics of the relationship have often compared Ellie to her stepdaughter, who is 15, with some even saying the teenager looks older than her dad's partner. Others have even gone as far as to say Ellie looks like she's one of three of Mark's children. Though her relationship with Mark's family is ever thriving, Ellie said the relationship with a partner so much older than her, had caused tension with her own family who she is currently not on speaking terms with. Before becoming a full time content creator, Ellie previously worked as a dental nurse pre COVID before temporarily working an office job. In 2023, experts revealed the 'ideal age gap' for people who want their relationships to last - and it's bad news for couples born five years apart. Critics of the relationship have often compared Ellie to her stepdaughter, who is 15, with some even saying the teenager looks older than her dad's partner A resurfaced study by Emory University in Atlanta found that couples with a five-year age gap are 18 per cent more likely to separate than partners who are closer in age. The chances of a split then shot up to 95 per cent of couples with a 20-year age gap. In 2014, researchers at the institution analyzed 3,000 people as part of their study. Researchers found that the 'ideal' age gap between couples was one year or less. The study concluded that the chances of divorce dropped to just three per cent for couples who were born within 12 months or less of one another. A Texas father's supportive message to his daughter who was going through a break-up has won the hearts of millions online. Fallon Thompson, 20, posted a heartfelt TikTok video on May 14 showing the lengthy text message her father Scott Thompson sent her after her now ex-girlfriend unexpectedly broke up with her. Fallon wrote over the picture: 'POV: You just got dumped in your driveway and your dad saw the whole thing.' In a slideshow video that has amassed more than 18million views, Fallon showed a teary-eyed picture of herself alongside snippets of her father's inspirational message. She told Good Morning America: 'After I read the first sentence, I was like, "Oh, this is something that my heart needed". It just really made my heart soar.' Fallon Thompson, 20, posted a heartfelt TikTok video showing the lengthy text message her father Scott Thompson sent her after her now ex-girlfriend unexpectedly broke up with her In his lengthy message to Fallon (left), Scott (right) shared his past relationship experience and told her that it was 'necessary' for her to deal with heartbreak As the song TV by Billie Eilish played in the background, Fallon shared screenshots of her father's kind and thoughtful words. Scott said: 'Hey baby girl...here is some perspective from your old man...I have had lots of relationships...from one-night stands, to flings, to friends w/ benefits, to girlfriends, to live-in girlfriends, and then I met your Mom.' He continued to tell Fallon about his past relationships before he met her mother, saying that when she came into his life everything was 'instantly different' because he had other experiences before that. Scott then told his daughter that what she was going through was 'necessary' so that she could understand who is the right fit for her in the future. 'I can also say that even though I was broken up with, and in one instance I was cheated on, it was worth it, to get to where I am now,' he added. The doting father told Fallon that he was 'heartbroken' and felt like he was 'destined to be alone' when he went through rough breakups. 'After I read the first sentence, I was like, "Oh, this is something that my heart needed",' Fallon said He then promised his daughter that she wouldn't be alone before he gave her more meaningful advice. 'When someone lets you know that you are not for them, deal with the pain and hurt with the knowledge that this person just gave you back the most valuable thing in the world-your time.' He told his daughter to 'be grateful for the experience' and to 'rejoice' in knowing that she has her whole life ahead of her. Scott then shared a metaphor with Fallon about a bull running into a storm and dealing with the harsh conditions by being brave. 'So be the bull, and lean into the storm, embrace the suck, and let it fill you up,' Scott told Fallon. 'You are strong enough to endure, and very soon you will be at peace,' he added, signing off the message with 'Love Dad' and a heart emoji. Fallon explained that she and her ex-girlfriend were in a long distance relationship and that it was 'really hard.' Scott told Good Morning America that his main goal was making his daughter feel comforted and supported during a challenging time. The doting father told Fallon that he was 'heartbroken' and felt like he was 'destined to be alone' when he went through rough breakups Scott then shared a metaphor with Fallon about a bull running into a storm and dealing with the harsh conditions by being brave 'I knew it was really weighing hard on her so I started typing and it's a pretty long text but it came out pretty fast,' Scott said. 'A few minutes later I get a text back saying, "I love you, daddy," and I was like okay, mission accomplished, right? 'And then you wake up in the morning and she's like, "Dad, you went viral",' he added. Fallon explained that she knew that others would benefit from her father's kind and moving words. 'I just felt that in that moment that those words just touched me so deeply, that I knew that other people in the world probably needed to hear that,' Fallon said. Scott said that he was 'shocked' to realize that there are a lot of people out there who don't have someone to give them advice like his after seeing how many people were touched by his gesture. He explained how he wasn't close with his father and that it's 'always been important' to him to be there for his children. Fallon choked up in an interview as she described her father as her 'bestie.' 'We've always been super close growing up,' she said. Fallon choked up in an interview as she described her father as her 'bestie' 'She made me a dad, so the rules in my life changed when she was born,' Scott added. 'I don't always have the right answers but I come from the heart and try to give the best advice I can when she comes to me with something, and be her friend and just try to support her unconditionally as she's figuring out this really important part of her life.' Commenters quickly flooded the video and praised the father for his kind words. 'This is genuinely the sweetest thing I've ever seen,' one wrote. 'Well Scott you have us all crying,' another said. A commenter said: 'He's our dad now.' 'Now this has me SOBBING,' said another. If your manager is reluctant to introduce, or is even against the idea of a four-day week, 'Soft Fridays' could be the compromise that helps tick both employer and employee boxes, for now at least. But what is it? The concept of 'Soft Fridays' means a much looser working schedule on Fridays, typically allowing employees to leave early, start late, and work remotely with fewer demands. This practice is seen as a stepping stone towards the coveted four-day work week, which has been the subject of much debate and experimentation in recent years, despite a major six-month trial across 61 UK companies reporting increased revenue and consistent productivity. Still, shifting to a four-day week remains a bridge too far for many companies who voice concerns about meeting client expectations and ensuring operations are seamless, despite the many positive case studies now available. Meeting at the middle ground The origin of the term comes from Codeword, a New York-based communication design agency, which in January started an open-ended trial programme for 'Soft Fridays', a programme that allows its roughly 100 employees and their supervisors to decide if, and how they work on Fridays. 'Soft Fridays' are a far more palatable option for hesitant managers, who can stay in control while trialling a more relaxed Friday. This move can boost employee satisfaction and wellbeing, without compromising the company's performance, and managers can play around with its meaning. Perhaps 'Soft Fridays' means a half-day, or a late start or an early finish, or maybe it's an everybody work-from-home day, and a no-meetings day too. Of course, the more relaxed the better for employees, but consider it a foot in the door if your employer is old school. Perhaps 'Soft Fridays' means a half-day, or a late start or an early finish, or maybe it's an everybody work-from-home day, and a no-meetings day too If your company introduces 'Soft Fridays', insist its success is measured, including its impact on employee morale, as well as productivity and client satisfaction. If introduced as a pilot, this allows for adjustment and refinements hopefully widening the scope of relaxed and will hopefully pave the way for a smooth transition to a four-day week in future. Trends in PTO 'Soft Fridays' are part of a broader trend towards more flexible and employee-centric paid time off (PTO) policies, including the tech industry's Summer Fridays which allows employees to have a long weekend every other weekend during the hotter months. And there's also Nine-Day Fortnights, which sees employees working nine longer days over two weeks, gaining an extra day off every other week. Other policies, with admittedly less interesting names, include flexible hours, which at its most progressive, allows employees to design their own schedules, and can mean shifting start and finish times, or allowing for compressed working hours. 'Soft Fridays' are part of a broader trend towards more flexible and employee-centric paid time off (PTO) policies There's also Company-Wide Time Off, which is common in the construction trade, which sees entire businesses shutting down for a week or more every year, meaning no backlog of work to return to. Plus there are shorter work days, and even output-focused work, where it's all about tasks completed, and not about hours present at all. As 'Soft Fridays' spreads, it reflects a broader shift in how companies view productivity and employee wellbeing. As competition for talent remains fierce, companies are increasingly willing to experiment with progressive policies that boost engagement, and job satisfaction leading to better retention and attraction. If that isn't where you work, it could be time to search for a new role. Employee wellbeing remains a cornerstone of modern HR policies, and we are bound to see more innovation in the area of flexibility in the future of work, where it's all about how you work, not where and when you work. Unhappy with your company's flexibility? Find a new job today on the Mail Job Board Even though it was more than 15 years ago, I clearly remember looking round the primary school I had set my heart on for my firstborn son, Jacob. Despite being in North London, it was set amid green fields, with a huge playground and outdoor space for all the classrooms. It was rated outstanding and the head told us many pupils went on to attend the most prestigious schools in the area. The classrooms were filled with colourful paintings and the children were well behaved and neat in their smart uniforms. I was sold. But when I told one of my snootier friends, she reeled in horror. 'You're sending him to state school?' she sneered incredulously. It was as if I had announced I was letting my five-year-old loose in a crack den. This is a reaction I have encountered so many times over the years and I know I am not alone. I think I did my four boys - Jacob, 20, Max, 18, and twins Zach and Jonah, 15 - a huge favour by sending them to state schools, Ursula Hirschkorn writes Another good friend told me about a dinner party with some rich guests who grilled her on why she would even consider sending her daughter to a state secondary school. It was tantamount to child neglect in their opinion. As if by failing to cough up tens of thousands of pounds to push our children to the front of the queue in life, we are somehow failing as parents. Well the shoe will soon be on the other foot if Labour's plan to add VAT to school fees comes to fruition should they win the General Election. It's thought almost a quarter of a million children will have to leave their gilded private schools behind and brave the state sector. Imagine all those poor Tarquins and Arabellas having to rough it with the common folk! Do I feel sorry for them? Not a bit. For years, their parents have looked down on families like mine who didn't have the income to pay school fees. For most of their childhood, I supported mine with my writing and my husband Mike, 48, ran his own small business we didn't make enough to send one child to a fee-paying school, let alone four. When my boys were little, I had a radio debate with Katie Hopkins and she made her views clear: her children would attend a state school over her dead body. Although the conversation was good-natured, I was still left feeling as if I didn't love my children as much as she loved hers, just because I couldn't afford the fees (even with the 20 per cent discount afforded by dodging VAT). In fact, I think I did my four boys Jacob, 20, Max, 18, and twins Zach and Jonah, 15 a huge favour by sending them to state schools. First, it never stood in their way academically. Jacob got all As and A*s in his A-Levels and a place at medical school in the toughest ever entry year. It wasn't for him though as he'd caught the drama bug from his hugely talented teacher and is now studying at a leading drama school in London. Max has been offered a place at one of the country's top music colleges and the twins are studying like mad for their mock GCSEs. Their state school is hot on revision and, as a result, last year 83 per cent of pupils achieved A* to B grades at A-level. My friend's daughter picked up a clean sweep of A*s and is now studying medicine. Not too shabby considering how badly their parents let them down by not paying for their education. Naturally, when I hear about friends' privately educated children who didn't get the grades they needed or the places they felt they deserved at university, I have to hide my gleeful reaction. Despite coughing up at least 100,000, plus tutoring in many cases, their offspring still couldn't beat their state school contemporaries. Who looks the fool now? But the real benefit of going to state school is that you get to mix with all walks of life. At primary school, my boys were educated with the children of Afghan refugees, kids whose parents had fled war-torn Somalia and those who had immigrated from Eastern Europe. The school drop-off was a melting pot of languages and the PTA's 'bring a dish from your home country' event was a culinary trip around the world. The real benefit of going to state school is that you get to mix with all walks of life says Ursula Hirschkorn Ursula with her four boys. She takes a quiet satisfaction that Labour's private school tax could result in a Britain with 'fewer snobby elitists clogging up the higher echelons of our society' Ursula had a radio debate with Katie Hopkins (pictured), who made her views clear: her children would attend a state school over her dead body At secondary school, they rubbed shoulders with the children of celebrities (who were smart enough to know that paying for education isn't always best) and children in care. It means they can talk to anyone and have no airs and graces. This is in stark contrast to some of their haughty private school friends who either embarrassingly morph into 'roadmen' and start talking 'street', or amp up their poshness whenever they encounter anyone who isn't from the same tiny, indulged tribe as them. This is nothing new. When I went to Exeter University in the 1990s, the students were almost exclusively privately educated and they made sure you knew it. The first question I was asked was where had I been to school. When I answered an obscure British school in Belgium (and yes, it was private, but my parents could only afford it because they got a huge grant and it wasn't in the least bit posh), their faces glazed over and they moved on to the next person. One friend went into a lecture in her first week only to be asked 'Who the f**k are you?' because she had the temerity to come from a state school and try to infiltrate their clique. This is why I take a quiet satisfaction that Labour's private school tax could result in a Britain with fewer of these snobby elitists clogging up the higher echelons of our society. Those children forced out of their exclusive bubbles and into state schools will be better off for it and so will the country as a whole. And their smug parents might just realise what a waste of money private schools are when state schools can offer just as good an education. Even better, their kids won't come out with the hideous sense of unearned superiority an expensive education creates. Given the current political climate, being the author of a Westminster bonkbuster has its complications, as Cleo Watson has discovered. A former No 10 aide to both Theresa May and Boris Johnson, she is about to publish her second novel to feature venal, sex-mad MPs being led astray by their libidos. In both last year's Whips and her new book Cleavage, there are multiple splayed buttocks and much sexo al desko. Everyone is either having affairs, dragging a Spad (special advisor) into a BBC cupboard for a fruity encounter before appearing on Politics Tonight or logging on to a Tory-centric porn website called Blue Balls and Bazoomas. Cleo Watson is about to publish her second novel to feature venal, sex-mad MPs being led astray by their libidos An MP is caught putting visits to an Amsterdam sex club on expenses. A former prime minister pleasures himself in the bath while watching a tape of Winston Churchill's funeral and listening to Elgar's Nimrod. Complete fiction, right? Right. Yet Cleo's problem which is also our problem is that when it comes to this current generation of sex maniacs and power-crazed poltroons, their sordid truth is often stranger than her pulpy fiction. In Whips, she originally had a scene featuring an MP watching porn on his phone in the Commons. 'Then that actually happened with Neil Parish,' she says. And no novelist craving credibility would have dared publish the former Tiverton and Honiton MP's excuse that he was looking at tractors online and got distracted. 'Then I had a plotline with an MP sending d*** pics to bots and being honey-trapped but I thought it was too obvious and unnecessarily tasteless, so I left it out,' she says. Enter William Wragg, MP for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester, who last month admitted to being targeted on the dating app Grindr. After sending intimate photographs of himself, he was blackmailed into leaking the personal phone numbers of other MPs. In a preposterous plot twist no one saw coming, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt went on television to congratulate Wragg on his 'courageous' confession after the matter became public. You couldn't make it up! And Cleo wouldn't dare. 'If I had still been working at No 10, I would have been all over the Wragg stuff,' she says. 'I mean, Jesus. I guess you can't stop him going on Grindr, but you can frame it in a better way.' What frame could possibly make it look better? 'Well, you could try to stop a minister from going in front of the cameras and saying, 'Ooooh, he's been so brave' for a start. I get that Hunt wanted to be supportive, but what is going on?' Not long ago, Cleo stalked the corridors of power, a dazzling figure in Alexander McQueen skirts and knee-high boots. At six feet tall, she was nicknamed The Gazelle, which was annoying, but she didn't complain. 'I tried not to dwell on it. I didn't like it, but it could have been worse.' She was also called the Dom Whisperer, for her ability to talk down her boss Dominic Cummings from the high ledge of his worst eruptions no mean feat. Her political career had begun when she was recruited by Cummings, a family friend, to work on the Vote Leave campaign. 'He went to university with my sister. We called him Scruffy Dom,' she says. She remembers that one of their mutual triumphs was advertising on porn sites for people to take part in Vote Leave surveys, figuring correctly that anonymous porny punters would be more inclined to be honest. 'And there was a very funny moment when a Conservative MP rang us up and said, 'Oh my God, have you seen that there are Vote Leave ads on such and such a porn site?' When we asked him how he knew, there was a long pause.' It is a scene she has reprised in Cleavage and, to be honest, I'm not sure if I find it 'very funny' or utterly tragic. Cleo, now 35, was a deputy chief of staff and worked right at the heart of the Boris Johnson government from August 2019 to November 2020 a tumultuous period that included the proroguing of Parliament, the landslide Tory election win, the Covid pandemic, Johnson's hospitalisation and the events that would become known as Partygate, which still makes her sad. In June 2020, Cleo was asked to put together a small gathering with food and drink for a 20-minute mini-jolly at No 10 on Johnson's birthday. 'Stupid, in retrospect,' she says. The celebration resulted in Johnson, Carrie Symonds, Rishi Sunak and Watson all being given Covid fines. 'So much of that period has been characterised by Partygate,' she reflects today. 'But we were in a constant storm; it was gruelling. Everyone was working so hard. 'And we wanted to look back on it and be proud in a 'What did you do in the war, Daddy?' kind of way. We wanted to say 'I was right in the thick of things, I helped make decisions' but that is not how it turned out. It is so heartbreaking.' Boris Johnson used to go around beating his chest and saying 'Me Strong Like Bull'. But he was coughing a lot and struggling, says Cleo Watson There are moments when it was like a fever dream, when they were barely coping, when one day she ate 13 sausages due to stress. 'Not all in one go,' she says in her own defence. Yet it was always going to end in tears. When Cummings's star fell in November 2020, so did Cleo Watson's. Shortly after sacking his chief adviser, Johnson sacked her, too she reminded him too much of Cummings. He called her an 'ugly old lamp' left after a divorce, a totem of happier times. So Dom hired her, Boris fired her and it was all over. 'You always need to be ready to leave Downing Street. Everyone knows you are not there for long,' she says. But Cleo is the kind of posh, well-connected young woman who will always bounce back from adversity. She grew up in a 17th-century farmhouse in the Brecon Beacons where her parents, Robin and Liza, ran their own business from home an elite, residential English language school. She is one of five sisters (there is also one brother), who have all done well for themselves in one way or another. Older sister Bee also worked in politics, as Theresa May's chief of staff, between 2006 and 2010. Molly was a journalist, but is now a business consultant; Nell was head girl at her boarding school; Flora designs decoupage gift items. All attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls, a 30,000-a-year boarding school where a former headmistress remembers them fondly as 'bright, confident, sociable young women'. And in a manner of which Jane Austen would approve, all seem to have found excellent husbands on that desirable, peak-geek-hedge-funder-barrister-land-agent axis. These days, The Gazelle has swapped the corridors of power for the dappled lanes of Wiltshire. She lives in a limestone cottage in a darling village, along with a bulldog called Hippo, a handsome barrister husband named Tom and their baby daughter, Tosca. 'Tom was a choir boy at school. He is still very attached to the English choral tradition,' she says, lightly explaining the middle-class equivalent of calling your daughter Beyonce or Rihanna. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Boris Johnson will miss the election campaign and Tories are panicking... but a fresh purge of Boris fans by No10 is still in full swing, write GLEN OWEN and ANNA MIKHAILOVA Advertisement 'How charming,' I say, as little Tosca snuffles away in the corner, and Cleo brings coffee in Emma Bridgewater mugs, then pours milk from a pretty jug. Among the forest of new baby cards on the stone mantelpiece there is a congratulatory message from Dom, but nothing from Boris, whom she has not heard from since the day she left Downing Street. Instead of the designer outfits she wore back then which she bought secondhand on eBay today she wears a pair of her husband's old jeans, a bobbled Uniqlo cashmere sweater and a pair of trainers stained with cow pat. If you saw Cleo buying cheese in the village shop, with her country girl complexion and cheerful good manners, you'd never think she was one of those responsible for nursing the former prime minister back to health after his Covid scare. 'Boris used to go around beating his chest and saying 'Me Strong Like Bull'. But he was coughing a lot and struggling. I would try to get him to have healthy soups and broths instead of Coca-Cola. I don't think he was even registered with a GP,' says the woman who once described her high-flying political job as 'being Boris's nanny'. Once, when Boris's dog Dilyn fouled the carpet at Chequers, she told the prime minister to clean it up, and he did. Cleo has a degree in politics and economics from Cardiff University. She was an intern on Barack Obama's re-election campaign in 2012. Wasn't 'nannying' Boris just a bit demeaning? 'Carrie had just had a baby; Dom doesn't have the nursing skill set. And I felt that if I wasn't an epidemiologist or a data scientist, the most useful thing I could do was try to get this guy on an even keel, get him healthy and on the ball.' Neither could her Wiltshire neighbours perhaps imagine that lovely Cleo returns to her flagstone-floored cottage, not to bake a cake or pot the begonias, but to tap out another torrid sex scene for one of her political potboilers. For example? 'Look, I'm pretty short on time, so you can just shove it in dry if you want,' pants a female character in Whips, and she is not talking about the laundry. 'He sighs, rocking back on his haunches and wiping his mouth,' Cleo writes in Cleavage about a character who has not, how can I put this, just enjoyed a freshly baked scone with his afternoon cup of tea. Cleo had to watch so much online porn 'for research purposes' that she eventually had to get a new laptop because hers 'just frazzled up' under the strain. 'But my sex scenes are very tongue-in-cheek,' she says, no pun intended, 'and sometimes people don't get that.' Her mother is completely appalled by Cleo's book, but not in the way you might think. 'My mother has strong views on my sex scenes because she thinks she could write much better ones than me, with much better sex,' she says. Cleo's parents were one of the original couples featured in an updated version of The Joy Of Sex, the best-selling illustrated sex manual by British author Alex Comfort, first published in 1972. 'They were interviewed about how they kept their romantic life going when they had six children,' she says. 'Mum is terribly proud of being included.' During her years in politics, Cleo worked on the 2017 and 2019 election campaigns for May and Johnson respectively. She has put much of this insider knowledge into the plot of Cleavage, which centres around a beleaguered Tory government calling an election that no one thinks they will win and distracting themselves with sex. Ring any bells? Cleo insists she never personally encountered any predatory behaviour in Downing Street. Not even from Boris himself, despite being the sort of statuesque blonde that, in another life, would have been just his type. 'Well, no. I'm a head taller than him for a start,' she argues. 'Yes, I am tall and blonde, but I'm not very sexy. I think that helps. 'And Boris is mischaracterised as a sex pest person. He's not like that. Well, I think I suspect if your lights are on, he might be like a moth to a flame, but he is not pushing down every door, if you see what I mean. 'I never felt uncomfortable, and I also never got a hint of interest from him at all.' There are any number of bright young things like her working at the heart of this Conservative government. One has to wonder, do any of them know what they are doing? Despite all her fancy titles Head of the Prime Minister's Priorities and Campaigns. Strategist. Campaigner. Deputy Chief of Staff how important was she? 'In reality, I was the duchess of pinboards,' she says today. On one hand, she had the kind of emotional intelligence that was desperately needed in the wonk-rich Downing Street bunker. When Dominic Cummings's star fell in November 2020, so did Cleo Watson's. Boris Johnson sacked her She had the wit to make Boris stop and collect himself before rushing into Covid press conferences sounding breathless. And she was prescient about the Opposition. 'I sat in on those calls with Keir Starmer during Covid. He pretends to be robust now, but there was no input, no challenge, no nothing from him back then. All he would say was, 'Thanks for telling me', and that was it.' Meanwhile, the timing of Cleo's Cleavage election versus the real election is entirely accidental but she is hoping it will be fortuitous for her book sales, even if she did greet the news with mixed emotions. 'It was like hearing that an ex-boyfriend got married,' she says. 'Not a totally wonderful feeling, but I am glad I'm out of this one. It is going to be punishing. And I don't see them turning it around.' Her feelings of doom and gloom deepened when she watched the disastrous election launch, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak getting drenched in the rain outside Downing Street. 'It was all so painful,' she shudders. 'He could have held an umbrella, but people might have said he looked like Mary Poppins. Now the narrative has been decided, which is that he is going to look silly. It doesn't matter where he goes or what he does; he could do the coolest stunt in the world right now, but people would still call him a dweeb.' Would you have sent him out in the rain? 'I think,' she says, 'that I would have waited for a break in the weather.' Chip and Joanna Gaines have shared the strict social media rule that they have for their children to keep them off the platform. The HGTV stars - who tied the knot in 2003 - revealed on Today With Hoda And Jenna that they have banned their five kids from social media until they're 18 while plugging their new show, Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse, which has faced backlash. Chip, 49, and wife Joanna, 46, have built a loyal following after the first season of their home improvement series, Fixer Upper, in 2013 launched the Texas couple into stardom. Recently, the pair took a break from tearing down walls to dish out parenting advice as they shared why they didn't let their five kids - Drake, 19; Ella, 17; Duke, 16; Emmie, 14; and Crew, five - post about their lives online until they finished high school. While speaking with Today cohosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, the couple revealed they didn't allow their kids to have social media until the summer before college. Home experts Chip and Joanna Gaines have shared the rule they make all of their children follow regarding social media and why they decided to keep their kids off the platform The Fixer Upper stars - who tied the knot in 2003 - most recently revealed that they denied their five children access to any social media Jenna began the conversation surrounding social media and said: 'One of the things we all agree with is that we're careful when it comes to cellphones and social media with our kids. What is y'all's stance? Just help us raise our children.' Joanna replied: 'Our house rule is you get social media the summer before you go to college. So we have that time, so 18. We have that time to kind of work through that.' However, her husband noted that it wasn't easy to keep their children offline. He added: 'But it's a challenge! I mean, you can tell these kids want it before that. It's not like it's this agreed place to where we've all decided at roughly 18 and they're like, "Oh thank goodness. I didn't want it to begin with." They want it at 12, 13, 14.' Agreeing with Chip, the 46-year-old mom said that while her children wanted to be on social media, they understood why the rule was in place. She added that their kids were questioning it less as well. 'They've kind of been quiet about it. Like I'd say, I haven't said anything to them but Id say for the last year, no one's asked for it. While speaking with Today cohosts Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb, the couple revealed they didn't allow their kids to have social media until the summer before college However, her husband noted that it wasn't easy to keep their children offline Agreeing with Chip, the 46-year-old said that while her children wanted to be on social media, they understood why the rule was in place 'I think they just know the heart behind it, which is hard, I think because all their other friends have it. But I'm like, you have some other things. 'I think for us, it's kind of one of those things where we can say, "You have these other things that are really great. Our life is a little different and we care about this specific thing." 'Especially for my girls, as they're 14 and almost 17. Just that's the age where a lot of things mentally, you're influenced by...,' the mom-of-five said. Over the weekend, Joanna celebrated her son's 16th birthday and shared a slew of images with her family. Duke also got his driver's license, according to the Instagram post his mom uploaded over the weekend. The Fixer Upper star could be seen decorating ahead of a birthday bash for her third eldest child. She captioned the reel to her 13.7 million fans and followers, 'Third time doing this and it still makes mama cry. #16.' At the beginning of the video, Joanna filmed some of her children as well as herself as they set up blue, green and white balloons near the kitchen and living room area of their home. Last year, Joanna and husband Chip reached a big milestone of their own when they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. The TV personality shares Drake, 19, Ella, 17, Duke, 16, Emmie, 14 and Crew, five, with husband Chip - whom she tied the knot with in 2003 Joanna became emotional as her son, Duke, turned 16 and also got his driver's license in a new Instagram post uploaded on last weekend She shared a special montage taken by husband Chip Gaines as their son officially passed his test to acquire his driving license While also talking to People at the time, she told the outlet, 'I would say, as we're getting older, I'm shifting and I'm more like Chip, and Chip is more like me.' Chip - who also joined in on the interview - added, 'Jo and I are in this beautiful moment. We're evolving into each other. It's the second part of our marriage.' During the interview with the publication, the couple also talked about raising their five children, with four of them already in their teenage years. 'Chip is really good at saying, "You need your own identity. When you're finished with college, go do some stuff on your own. Learn some stuff. And then if you want to come back years later and teach us, we're here,"' Joanna explained. This week the couple appeared to brush off the furious backlash sparked by the recent release of the trailer for their latest show, Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse. Fans accused Joanna and Chip of flaunting their wealth in the newest installment of their hit show. After watching the sneak peek of their latest fixer upper project, uploaded to Magnolia Network's Instagram, a number of fans began commenting that the couple seemed to be 'showing off.' One explained: 'I don't like watching HGTV personalities renovating their own luxury 2nd or 3rd homes. It looks like they're showing off.' 'That show is no longer enjoyable,' another wrote as numerous others admitted they stopped watching their show altogether after they decided to charge 'for their network.' In response to the comment accusing the pair, who share five children, of being ostentatious, multiple Instagram users defended Chip, 49, and Joanna, 46. 'Don't be jealous they've earned it,' one fired back. Another asked: What's wrong with other's success?' A former publicist at Ashley Madison claimed she was asked to set up 'fake profiles' to entice men looking for mistresses. Sarah Symonds, from Newport, South Wales, has spoken out about her time working for the company after Netflix's explosive docuseries Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies, And Scandal about the controversial cheating website. Sarah, 54, who allegedly had an affair with chef Gordon Ramsay from 2001 to 2008, claimed she was asked to date men herself when she starting working for the controversial cheating website. In 2007, the author was approached by chief executive Noel Biderman to join the company after he spotted her on US talk shows promoting her book Having An Affair?: A Handbook for the Other Woman. Speaking to The Sun, she said: 'I was shocked that Noel wanted me to go on dates under fake names with married men. I was confused because i was meant to be spokeswoman for the company, not in this murky area. Sarah Symonds, from Newport, South Wales, who was a former publicist at Ashley Madison, claimed she was asked to set up 'fake profiles' to entice men looking for mistresses 'He wanted me to set up bogus profiles, although I refused. I found the whole thing sleazy and tawdry.' She joined the company which was rapidly growing across the US and the UK at the time, eventually it grew to 37 million users across 40 countries. At the time she thought the company was 'sleek and daring' however when she arrived in Toronto to start work she claimed it was 'disappointing' saying it was very male orientated. In 2008, the company started to expand and Sarah was able to move back to the UK, where 700,000 British men were on the site and just 31 UK women. While in the UK Sarah met with disgraced publicist Max Clifford, who was jailed for eight years in 2014 for sex offences and died in 2017. The author claimed she was 'persuaded to be intimate' with Clifford in a toilet while she was visiting his London office. Sarah was fired from Ashley Madison after her seven-year affair with Gordon Ramsay came to light in 2008. Sarah, who is now looking after her elderly parents in Newport, claimed the three-part Netflix docuseries about the site has 'opened up old sores'. In 2007, the author was approached by chief executive Noel Biderman to join the company after he spotted her on US talk shows promoting her book Having An Affair?: A Handbook for the Other Woman In 2015, someone hacked the controversial dating site and shared the name of every member online in a shocking leak, a group who called themselves The Impact Team took matters into their own hands and claimed responsibility for hacking the affair site. The website, which was launched in 2001, promoted itself as an anonymous place for spouses looking to be unfaithful offering the chance to connect those wanting to cheat on their respective partners together. But when the Impact Team came around, they demanded that the site be taken down - and, when it wasn't, the hackers released all the 37 million records of data from site onto the web for anyone to see. After a trove of data purporting to belong to the users was shared on the dark web, both police and Ashley Madison executives scrambled to find the tech wizards behind the Impact Team. The data dump exposed everyone from the man next door to TLC's Josh Duggar - who tainted his family's empire after it was revealed that he was arrested for possessing and receiving child pornography. Because of the leak, marriages were destroyed and the world as many knew it was ruined, with some of the adulterers even ending their life after their misdemeanors became apparent. Sarah, 54, claimed she had an affair with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay from 2001 to 2008 The state attorney in Florida was forced to resign and a pastor in New Orleans committed suicide. Netflix recently unearthed the scandal as it announced that it would be releasing a docuseries about those who got caught up in Ashley Madison's tagline, 'Life is short, have an affair.' In 2012, Sarah established Wife School, an online advice forum, after the success of her Canadian show The Mistress, which followed her on her mission to rescue women caught in the despair of an extra marital affair. Sarah then appeared on hit U.S. show Dr Phil and took five mistresses on the show with her to discuss their livelihood; the show proved to get the best ratings of the entire series. After her success over the pond, she moved back to Wales and set up Wife School, a non-profit making organisation ('you can't ask women in despair for money'), after hearing from so many wives asking for her advice. She now receives a constant flow of emails from wives in despair who worry that their husband is cheating and are desperately seeking tips on how to stop it happening. Speaking to the Mail Online in 2013, she said: 'Wife School found me. I was working on my show The Mistress over in Canada which highlighted the topic and I had so many wives contacting me for advice. 'The school is geared towards making todays marriages more successful and to ultimately lessen the divorce rates, and the subsequent demise to our societys structure. 'Any marriage or committed relationship needs daily maintenance and nurturing - people just don't seem to realise that. 'Marriage should be likened to a high powered job, once you land that job you know you need to show up daily, put a huge amount of effort into your role in order to keep it - and prosper within it - otherwise there is always the risk that someone may come along and take it from you. 'Therefore, if more people treated their marriage as they do their job, more marriages would last the lifetime they are supposed to.' Queen Letizia of Spain has been seen with her husband King Felipe for the first time since bombshell book which claims he was left 'crushed and destroyed' by her alleged infidelity. The Spanish royals put on a united front as they attended a board meeting with the patrons of The Gallery Of The Royal Collections in Madrid. The mother-of-two, 51, looked chic in a pale blue suit which she casually paired with white trainers and a sain white blouse. Meanwhile Felipe maintained a poker face as he stepped out in a smart pinstipped suit and white shirt. The joint appearance comes after journalist Jaime Penafiel, 91, launched a fresh attack on the European Queen with his new book 'Letizia's Silences', which was was published in Spain this week. Queen Letizia of Spain (right) was spotted with her husband King Felipe (left) for the first time on Thursday since bombshell book which claims he was left 'crushed and destroyed' by her alleged infidelity In January, the veteran royal reporter was sacked by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo after 20 years following a series of damaging allegations made in his first book 'Letizia & I'. His best-selling book alleged that Queen Letizia had an affair with her ex-brother-in-law Jamie del Burgo. The Spanish Royal Household refused to comment on the claims at the time. In his latest work, Jamie claims that Felipe was 'aware that Letizia was cheating on him in real time' as her bodyguards have an obligation to report on her whereabouts. The author alleges that bodyguards joined Queen Letizia on a trip she took to New York in 2011 with her 'lover' Jaime del Burgo, whom she had dated before meeting Felipe. The author wrote: 'That day [in New York], she was accompanied by her faithful escorts, who, without a doubt, any, they would pass a report to the Ministry of the Interior or [the Palace of] Zarzuela.' Following this, Jaime claims that Felipe has been left 'crushed and destroyed' by his wife's alleged cheating. The royal reporter - who worked for Hola! magazine for 20 years - claims that Felipe has been 'plunged into hell' by his wife's supposed 'betrayal' and 'wants to get out'. Elsewhere in the book, Jamie labels Queen Letizia 'cold, emotionally immature and passive aggressive' and makes unsubstantiated claims she is 'hated' by King Felipe's family. The Spanish royals showcased a united front as they attended a board meeting with the patronage of The Gallery Of The Royal Collections in Madrid Queen Letizia's ex-brother-in-law Jaime del Burgo (left) with his ex-wife Telma when they were still married in 2014 The mother-of-two, 51, looked chic in a pale blue suit which she casually paired with white trainers and a white blouse Meanwhile Felipe appeared downcast as he stepped out in a smart pinstipped suit and white shirt Letizia added a bit more glamour with gold hoop earrings and she donned a smokey eye makeup look Jaime Penafiel, 91, was sacked by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo after 20 years earlier this year following the publication of first book on the Queen called 'Letizia & I'. The book sent shockwaves through the Spanish Royal Family after the author alleged that the Queen had a romantic relationship with her ex-brother-in-law Jaime del Burgo. The Spanish Royal Household refused to comment on the claims at the time. Following his dismissal, the veteran journalist has now written another book - called 'Letizia's Silences' - which begins by delving into her early romance with King Felipe. In the opening chapter, the author sensationally claims that 'everything in Letizia's world has been broken' as a result of alleged 'deceit, adultery and betrayals'. The author goes on to say Queen Letizia has a 'cold, indestructible and determined' aura about her and that the royal's silence on the recent allegations signify her 'emotional immaturity'. Jaime claims the royal 'resorts to silence as a way of controlling and punishing other people'. He then goes on to claim that Letizia's 'passive aggressive' behaviour towards King Felipe is the reason her 'mother-in-law [Queen Sofia] and sisters-in-laws [Infanta Cristina and the Duchess of Lugo] hate her so much'. In the following chapter, Jaime alleges that King Felipe fell in love with his future wife while watching her present the news. The royal couple stood side by side as they attend the meeting with the patronage of The Gallery Of The Royal Collections Queen Letizia appeared in good spirits as she got to work after the bombshell book claims King Felipe and Queen Letizia, greet Marta Ortega (left) and Maria Helena Antolin (second left) attend a board meeting with the patronage of The Gallery Of The Royal Collections King Felipe and Queen Letizia and their parents on the couple's wedding day in May 2004 Veteran journalist Jaime Penafiel, 91, attends event in Madrid in December 2018. The author has confirmed he is no longer employed by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo Reports on how the royal couple got together have varied over the years - with some claiming they were introduced at dinner party while others allege they first met when Felipe visited an oil spillage site in Northern Spain. When they began dating, Jaime claims Letizia would 'test' Felipe's feelings for her by travelling frequently. TIMELINE OF DEL BURGO'S CLAIMS ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SPAIN'S ROYAL FAMILY Pre-2000 - Letizia Ortiz, who was a newsreader at the time, meets Jaime del Burgo - the son of a politician - and the pair start dating - Letizia Ortiz, who was a newsreader at the time, meets Jaime del Burgo - the son of a politician - and the pair start dating 2001 - Letizia and King Felipe meet on the site of a oil spillage. Jaime claims he was planning to propose when she told him about her new royal romance - Letizia and King Felipe meet on the site of a oil spillage. Jaime claims he was planning to propose when she told him about her new royal romance 2003 - Letizia and Felipe announce engagement. - Letizia and Felipe announce engagement. 2004 - The couple marry at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. Jaime claims he was asked to be a witness during the ceremony - The couple marry at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. Jaime claims he was asked to be a witness during the ceremony 2005 - The couple welcome Princess Leonor February 2007 - Letizia's sister Erika suddenly passes away - Letizia's sister Erika suddenly passes away April 2007 - Princess Sofia is born. During one of her pregnancies, Jaime claims Letizia sends him a selfie confessing her love. - Princess Sofia is born. During one of her pregnancies, Jaime claims Letizia sends him a selfie confessing her love. 2 010 - The couple reportedly profess their love for one another and allegedly meet with lawyers. Jaime claims they looked at properties in the US to move to. He also claims Letizia suggested they use a surrogate in LA to have a baby - The couple reportedly profess their love for one another and allegedly meet with lawyers. Jaime claims they looked at properties in the US to move to. He also claims Letizia suggested they use a surrogate in LA to have a baby 2011 - Jaime claims Letizia ends their relationship over the phone - Jaime claims Letizia ends their relationship over the phone 2 012 - Jaime marries Letizia's sister Telma. The couple relocate to New York - Jaime marries Letizia's sister Telma. The couple relocate to New York 2014 - Telma and Jaime announce their separation Advertisement In 2002, the future Queen flew to Santo Domingo to report on the annual Ibero-American Summit - which Jaime describes as Letizia putting Felipe's intentions 'to the test'. Weeks later, the author claims Letizia flew to Costa Rica as a 'strategy' to secure the future King of Spain. He explained: 'It was a strategy, because that absence was a real torment for the very much in love Felipe, who conceived distance as the worst of evils, coming to understand [Spanish poet] Lope de Vega when he said that "the beginning of absence is like the end of life."' Following this, Jaime says Letizia was certain of the strength of Felipe's 'total love' for her and returned to Spain 'bossy and manipulative'. What's more, the author claims that Felipe assured Letizia that he could 'cut short' any news outlet reporting on their romance. During one of Felipe's visits to Letizia's Valdebernardo apartment, Jamie alleges that the journalist confided in royal about how she used to work as a cigarette stewardess while living in Mexico. He also predicted the couple, who have maintained what the mainstream Spanish press have described as a dignified silence in the face of ongoing infidelity claims by Jaime del Burgo, would follow in the footsteps of Felipes parents Juan Carlos and Sofia. Spains former king is now living in exile in Abu Dhabi after corruption investigations he was caught up in left his reputation in tatters although he returns to his homeland from time to time. Later in the book, Jaime alleges that Felipe and Letizia are living separate lives and 'just keeping up appearances in public'. Following its publication today, Spanish publication El Nacional Cat published a review claiming that Jaime Penafiel is 'determined to end the Queen's career' and described him as 'one of Letizia's biggest enemies. In 'Letizia & I', the Queen's former brother-in-law Jaime del Burgo makes the unlikely claim that he was planning to propose to Letizia - who was a newsreader at the time - on the night that she told him that she was dating a high-profile man in Spain. Letizia reportedly told him that she had 'met someone who would oblige her to quit her profession', which Jaime said led him to deduce her mystery partner was Felipe. What's more, the royal's ex-brother-in-law also made the far-fetched claim that he 'dealt' with Letizia's pre-nuptial agreement and helped to front the cost of the Queen's family's wedding outfits. He is quoted as saying: 'When the wedding with Felipe came round, I dealt with the pre-nuptial agreement as you know, amongst other things. 'I also had to pay Letizia's family's expenses because [former King] Juan Carlos refused to pay or even go halves with me. So with the help of my friend Felipe Varela, I dressed her mum, grandmother and her sisters. And with the help of Jaime Jason, her father, grandparents and a cousin.' Jaime also makes the incredible claim that the Queen asked to see him the night before the wedding at the exclusive El Latigazo restaurant in Madrid - where she asked him to 'never leave' her. Following his dismissal from Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the veteran journalist has now written another book - called 'Letizia's Silences' - which begins by delving into her early romance with King Felipe He sensationally claimed: 'When we met, she took hold of my hand and asked me why I had never asked her to marry me. Obviously I didn't reply. I encouraged her as best I could. The last thing she said to me before we said goodbye to each other in that restaurant was a request: 'Never leave me.'' Jaime - who says the Queen nicknamed him her 'yogi pal' - claims he still had a romantic relationship with Letizia even after the wedding in 2004. He also claims he has kept 'photographs, videos, mobile phones' and text messages as evidence. In the book, Jaime sensationally claims that Letizia whispered that she loved him when they were lying in a hammock by a pool at her home following Princess Leonor's birth. One of the most damaging claims Jaime reportedly makes is that Queen Letizia suggested they have a child together using a surrogate in Los Angeles. Around this time, Jaime claims that he confronted Letizia after photos of her kissing Felipe appeared on the covers of Spanish magazines. He claims the Queen told him: 'I had to do it to protect us.' He says in the book Jaime del Burgo told him Felipe and Letizia had a 'difficult relationship' and told him: 'Felipe uses me as a good man because he felt incapable of calming her down.' After Letizia allegedly ended the 'relationship' in August 2011, Jaime claims that a female friend told him to get in touch with the Queen's sister Telma. The following year, the pair got engaged after just two months of dating. However, the couple divorced 2014 following two years of marriage. A shocking documentary has explored the dark side of Temu and found shocking discoveries about the products it sells on its platform. Known for marketing anything and everything, from children's clothing to BB guns at a dirt-cheap price, the Chinese-based company, which allows thousands of businesses to sell their products, has grown massively since it launched less than two years ago. The app has around 15million UK users and generates profit by cutting out the middleman, with the merchants sending the item directly to the buyer. Temu's parent company is worth an estimated 170bn ($216billion). The brand also boasts a large US customer-base - American shoppers made up 60% of all customers in 2023. The company also targeted American consumers with multiple Super Bowl Ads in February. But several concerns have been raised over its practices and the quality of its products, after it controversially offered shoppers enormous discounts in return for use of their personal data, and a father claimed his 11-year-old daughter had suffered third-degree burns using nail glue bought from the site. The Truth About Temu: Dispatches, which airs on Channel 4 tonight at 8pm, puts the platform (and its products) under the microscope - and finds Temu is selling items which contain dangerously high levels of lead. Concerns have been raised about Temu after 11-year-old Chloe Norris was left in hospital after her father bought her an at-home manicure set from the online outlet Chloe, from Kent, was left with severe third-degree burns after she bought the nail glue with her own money at the beginning of December Channel 4 Dispatches investigative reporter Ellie Flynn sets out to explore the quality and safety of its products In the 30 minute programme she purchases many different items from the website and put them through rigorous testing, along with checking the legitimacy of products approved by external organisations. She bought a silver effect necklace for 2.17, a gold effect chain for 2.97, and a children's jacket jacket for 11.09. None of the items listed any ingredients on the website. Ellie sent these items off to a toxicology lab for testing to see whether the materials used in them were safe. But the findings shocked Laurence Harwood, a professor of organic chemistry, University of Reading, who said he was 'very concerned' about the contents of the items. The silver necklace contained 10 times more lead than is legally allowed in the UK. The gold chain also had the harmful metal in the clasp of the jewellery piece. The clasp contained 17mg per kg of lead and another part had 26.7mg per kg of lead, much higher than what is permissible and two times more lead than what is allowed in the UK. Professor Harwood said: 'When lead builds up in the body, often over months or years, even small amounts of lead can lead to serious health problems [such as] reduced sperm count, miscarriages [and] stillbirth.' The gold chain also had 27 times more Cadmium than the UK allows, a metal that with prolonged exposure, has been linked to kidney damage and bone degradation, according to the documentary. The children's jacket that Ellie bought from the site had 82.5mg per kg of antimony in brown material and 33.6mg per kg in the leather part of the jacket. Ellie bought a gold chain for 2.97 and said it did not list the ingredients online The clasp of the gold chain contained 17mg per kg of lead and the trigger had 26.7mg per kg of lead Professor Laurence Harwood was very concerned about the findings and said exposure to toxic metals can severely impact your health Professor Harwood said: 'These are absolutely unacceptable higher levels of antimony. Over a long period of time this could have very, very bad effects on the body, in particular the nervous system.' He was most concerned about this material, despite there being no restrictions on how much antimony can be used in clothes. He added: 'I'm very concerned [by these results]. Children younger than six are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning and this could have all sorts of effects on mental development and physical development. 'In pregnant women, it can cause stillbirth. It can cause neurological issues in old and young alike.' In response to these findings, Temu told Channel 4 that their tests did confirm some items exceeded acceptable limits for heavy metals, that these have been permanently removed and that they were working with the merchants involved. It stated: 'We aim not just to meet the minimum legal requirements but to exceed them and will continue to devote significant resources to improving consumer protection.' Elsewhere in the documentary, Ellie found herself feeling increasingly drawn into the Temu app and wanted to explore why this was. She said: 'It's got all of these spinning wheels for prizes and deals, flash sales, there's even a section where you can play games. 'It feels like everything the app is doing is designed to try and keep you entertained and stimulated and on the app for as long as possible.' Ellie commissioned an expert in brainwave technology to measure her pleasure responses to Temu, Amazon and a gambling app. She put on a headset to see how stimulated she gets using these three apps, used each one for ten minutes and bought the same amount of items on both Amazon and Temu. Ellie found herself getting increasingly drawn into the Temu app and wanted to explore why this was Ellie said the Temu app has spinning wheels and prizes on to engage their customers (stock image) Speaking about her results, Tre Azam, CEO of MyndPlay said: 'The Temu app kind of sits in between [Amazon and the gambling app]. 'What we were seeing was more of an up and down journey, similar to the gambling [app]. 'But with the gambling you had a constant increase over the period of time, whereas with Temu you were getting quite highs of pleasure and then you were dipping. 'But the average pleasure was higher all the way through. I think there could be a risk of [addiction] to the Temu app.' Nina Jane Patel, emerging technology consultant: '[Temu] is gameifying the shopping experience but on steroids, they are alluring aesthetics, they're cartoon-like, they're playful.' Temu told the documentary: 'Gamificiation elements.. are inspired by activities at funfairs and shopping malls [and]... are designed to be enjoyable and provide value by allowing customers to unlock discounts. 'As a newcomer to the UK, we have been adapting our practices... to... align with relevant regulations. We are committed to working with stakeholders to address and improve aspects of our app.' Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Vice Chair, all-party parliamentary group gambling related harm also expressed concern - not only for the 'gambling-like' elements of the app, but also for the personal data belonging to Brits. He said: 'I think the Temu system is based on gambling technology. Instead of gambling on the outcome of something, [you] are gambling to get cheaper products. 'It's based very much on the way gambling companies work to get you addicted to their products.' Temu also presented its customers with an 'offer' to get a 50 voucher, but the catch was that you had to agree to permanently hand over considerable amounts of personal data. Ellie decides to test out a baby walker that was being sold on the website for 2.68 and it snapped immediately Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'The Chinese government demands data from Temu, from any Chinese company, [and] under the national security law, they are obliged to hand it over. 'I believe almost all of these companies, like Temu, are data-harvesters. One of their prime purposes is to sift data, first of all collect it and then pass it on to the intelligence services. '[They] will then sift through to see if there is anything of interest, anybody of interest, any job that someone is in which is interesting. 'The job of the government is to defend people from that kind of theft of their personal data. The UK is slow on the pickup on this.' Temu said that its data practices are clearly stated in its terms and conditions on its website. But when Ellie goes online to read how her data will be used and stored, it flashes up for just seconds before it redirects her back to the login page. She said: 'Alarm bells are sounding, why won't they let you read the terms and conditions?' UK consumer rights laws, even foreign companies that market their products to the UK market need to make their privacy policies viewable, according to the documentary. Temu later said it had found a bug 'affecting a small number of users' and that it had now 'been fixed'. In response to its controversial 50 voucher offer, Temu said: 'It respects user privacy [and] used only chosen names and profile pictures to identify gift senders / recipients and partially redacted information for reward winners.' The company added that 'it has never provided user data to the Chinese government nor would we do so if asked'. Temu offers its customers many different items, from children's clothing, to jewellery, to power tools and climbing equipment. Ellie purchased some pliers from the website which claim to have been certified by VDE, an institute that tests electrical products. Hendrick Schafer, from the testing department at VDE, said: 'These products that you have provided are not certified by the VDE institute.' The pliers appeared online with a VDE certificate that contained a code on it but when typed into the institute's system, another company's name popped up. VDE suggested that the documents had been forged. Hendrick said: 'The certificate was a copy. It was illegal. They faked the original certificate and just overwrote the name on the certificate with their own names. 'This will definitely have consequences for this manufacturer. If the certification is not correct, the insulation of these handheld tools are maybe not properly done. 'The result could be an electric shock and in the worst case, the shock could lead to death.' Temu said: 'We do not allow forgeries and will take action against any sellers involved if such cases are found.' Temu offers its customers many different items, from children's clothing, to jewellery, to power tools and climbing equipment (stock image) Ellie managed her hands on a box of sharp and dangerous tools, including BB guns with no questions asked about her age Ellie also found some carabiners on the website, a piece of equipment that rock climbers rely on for their safety, as it carries most of their weight. Compared to carabiners available elsewhere, Temu was offering them at a third of the price. They were advertised as being certified by the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA). Ellie travelled to Manchester to find out if this claim was true. Nick Galpin, a UIAA Safety Commission member said: 'The UIAA would not have their mark, ever, on a carabiner or certified product that did not hold a manufacturer's mark.' Temu said: 'In the case of the carabiners... while the seller had provided the UIAA certificate, they failed to clearly mark the name or trademark of the manufacturer or supplier on the products. 'We will... allow for the resumption of sales only after this issue is corrected.' Ellie also found medical equipment being sold on Temu, such as reusable hot & cold gel packs, dressings for wounds and plasters that say they are FDA-approved. The FDA - the US government department that regulates medical equipment - said they have not certified or approved any of the products she sent them because it does not issue certificates. In response to this, Temu said that the medical products have been removed and they are conducting a thorough review of other products claiming FDA approval to ensure they do not describe their registration status as approval or certification. Ellie purchases many items and speaks to a whole range of experts in different fields during the documentary Ellie also attempts to purchase restricted tools without getting her age verified. She managed her hands on a box of sharp and dangerous tools, including BB guns with no questions asked. Temu said: 'We have been testing an age-verification system in the UK and expect to roll it out soon.' During the documentary, Ellie also decides to test out a baby walker that was being sold on the website for 2.68. It was advertised as suitable for those up to three years old and the average weight of a child of this age is around 15kg. Ellie, who is a mother herself, put it to the test by putting a bag of sand that weighed 15kg inside it and the product immediately snapped after just seconds. She said: 'It is obviously slightly ridiculous testing this in a park with a couple of sandbags that are meant to be children, but the point is if people are buying these and expecting to put their kids in it at the advertised weight then they're relying on that advertising to be accurate and they're relying on these products to be safe.' Temu said an independent lab test said the product held 15kg weight for two hours without an issue but said it would look into this further. The Chinese company said it takes 'the safety of products sold by third-party merchants... very seriously... We have a comprehensive vetting, monitoring and enforcement process to ensure that products meet platform rules and regulatory requirements. 'We immediately remove any product listings in question pending a review.' Temu told Femail: 'Temu takes the safety of products sold by third-party merchants on our platform very seriously. 'We have a comprehensive vetting, monitoring, and enforcement process to ensure that products meet platform rules and regulatory requirements. We immediately remove any product listings in question pending a review, demonstrating that customer safety is our top priority. 'We appreciate feedback from the public, including the media, and this action demonstrates our responsive and serious approach to any reports of potentially infringing or non-compliant products.' Crown Princess Victoria shared a loving moment with her daughter, Estelle, as the young royal joined her parents for an official engagement. The family stepped out to visit a new installation at The Princess Estelle Sculpture Park in Djurgarden, named after the 12-year-old the future Queen of Sweden, to see the unveiling of a new installation, 'The Inner Flow of Life' by the Italian artist Giuseppe Penone. Twelve-year-old Estelle looked the spitting image of her graceful mother, 46, as the two co-ordinated in summery white gowns, alongside Crown Prince Daniel. The pair were pictured sat side by side looking ethereal in elegant button down dresses and loosely tied back ponytails. To go with their look-alike frocks, the two also matched in nude espadrilles. Crown Princess Victoria (pictured right) shared a loving moment with her daughter, Estelle (pictured left), as the Swedish royal and her family attended the inauguration of a new sculpture at the Sculpture Park in Djurgarden, Stockholm, earlier today Sweet moment! Estelles was pictured cuddling up to her mother as she placed an arm fondly around her shoulder The park is named The Princess Estelle Sculpture Park in Djurgarden, after the young princess (pictured right) Victoria's dress was pulled in at the waist with a chic white belt and her longer dress was finished with a patterned hem. Meanwhile, her daughter Estelle looked the picture of summer in a slightly shorter dress patterned with flower and leaf stems. The Princess Estelle Sculpture Park in Royal Djurgarden in Stockholm, was built by the royal couple in 2019 as part of a country initiative to promote cultural activity and make contemporary art more readily available. The sculpture park is extended annually and some of the works already installed include 'Hoop-La' by Alice Aycock, 'Life Rings' by Elmgreen & Dragset, and 'Wind Sculpture in Bronze I' by Yinka Shonibare. The mother and daughter were pictured sat side by side looking ethereal in elegant button down dresses and loosely tied back ponytails Smiling Victoria greeted wellwishers, while her confident daughter showed she's already getting into the swing of official royal duties as she shook hands Prince Daniel of Sweden, Giuseppe Penone, Princess Estelle of Sweden, and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden attend the inauguration of Giuseppe Penone's sculpture 'The Inner Flow of Life' Victoria's (pictured) dress was pulled in at the waist with a chic white belt and her longer dress was finished with a patterned hem Estelle looked the picture of summer in a slightly shorter dress patterned with flower and leaf stems Princess Victoria was last spotted snuggling up to her eldest child, Estelle when the family stepped out together in March to celebrate Name Day in Stockholm. On the day, the Swedish royal and her daughter were seen sharing a tender moment as they walked together with Victoria bringing a smile to her daughter's face as she whispered something in her hear. According to tradition, certain names align with particular dates and the Crown Princess Victoria's is celebrated on March 12. Just yesterday, the busy Princess Victoria took part in the Veterans Day celebrations in Gothenburg. The royal, sported nautical colours as she visited Tangudden port to honour those who have served with the Swedish Armed Forces and to remember those who died while serving their country. Mother and daughter showed off their close bond as they chatted together ahead of the unveiling of the new artwork Proud parents: Crown Princess Victoria and husband Crown Prince Daniel looked delighted to have their daughter join them on an official royal engagement The Princess Estelle Sculpture Park in Royal Djurgarden in Stockholm, was built by the royal couple in 2019 as part of a country initiative to promote cultural activity The mother-of-two was dressed in a long-sleeved, navy dress with white spots and a pussybow feature as she arrived in Sweden's second largest city. Cinched at the waist with a slim, white belt, the dress was perfectly complemented by a white, collarless blazer. Princess Victoria completed the look with a pair of high-heeled, navy court shoes and a clutch bag in the same shade. Wearing pearl earrings and with her brown hair brushed back into a chic chignon, she looked typically polished for the occasion. The fresh-faced royal kept her make-up simple and smiled as she posed for photographs with members of the Swedish Armed Forces, specifically the country's Royal Navy. At one point, she boarded a large vessel, holding on to the railings to steady herself at sea. Sweden's Veterans Day, which takes place annually on May 29, comes ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which will see leaders from around the world honour their militaries and commemorate the dead. Maxima attended the opening of DSM-Firmenich headquarters in Maastricht Queen Maxima of the Netherlands appeared cheerful as she arrived at the opening of a new company headquarters in Maastricht today. The Dutch royal, 53, beamed as she accepted a bouquet of flowers upon her arrival at the opening of DSM-Firmenich headquarters. After venturing into the company building, which aims to innovate various sectors, including health, nutrition, personal care, and perfumery, she greeted staff from a stage. Maxima looked typically stylish for the occasion and donned a long-sleeved white chiffon dress with floral embellishments. The royal kept her hair back in a low sleek bun, placing the emphasis on her regal angled hat. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands looked chic as she arrived at the opening of the new headquarters of DSM-Firmenich on Thursday She added further glamour to her outfit with a pair of multicoloured gemstone encrusted drop earrings and a chic, yellow-toned clutch bag. The mother-of-two opted for a glamorous makeup up look for the occasion, including a smoky eye and a touch of mascara to accentuate her eyelashes. Maxima's visit comes as Dutch DSM merged with the Swiss Firmenich, forming DSM-Firmenich. The company aims to innovate several areas, including perfumery, to tackle industry problems and meet consumer needs, according to its website. Maxima explored the company's offerings and looked delighted to smell scents on display in the perfumery and beauty area. It has been a busy week for the Argentine-born Dutch royal, who yesterday attended the fifth anniversary of a specialist coding school in Amsterdam. The Dutch royal, 53, who, as a member of the Dutch Committee for Entrepreneurship, has spoken about the power of technology, beamed as she interacted with students and staff at Codam Coding College. Wearing a blush, chiffon outfit, which she debuted in May 2022, the mother-of-three looked typically stylish - even with the addition of a few raindrops as she braved a springtime shower. The royal appeared delighted as she accepted a small bouquet of flowers from a young girl upon her arrival Maxima looked typically stylish for the occasion and donned a white chiffon dress with floral embellishments The Dutch Queen looked particularly interested in the perfume area of the DSM-Firmenich headquarters Maxima waved to the crowds of royal fans who patiently waited for her outside the headquarters in Maastricht Members of the public waited outside the the new DSM-Firmenich headquarters in Maastricht to catch a glimpse of Maxima Maxima shook the hands of a little girl while touring the business, which is active in the areas of health, nutrition, personal care and perfumery With a pussy bow and blouson sleeves, Maxima's top was tucked into a matching knee-length skirt which had an asymmetric hemline. She completed her outfit with an elaborate, floral-inspired fascinator in the same shade, which worked perfectly with her up-do, and a pair of suede court shoes and matching clutch bag. Radiant as ever, she kept her make-up simple for the fifth anniversary celebrations at Codam. She let her outfit speak for itself by keeping her jewellery minimal, sporting just a few gold bracelets on her wrist. Maxima smiled as she interacted with students and staff at the specialist school, which was established to make a career in software programming a reality for students of all backgrounds, ages and genders. She engaged with students as they were working and appeared focused as they showed her their projects, which included demonstrations of a remote-controlled car and a virtual reality headset. With no fees or teachers, the school, headed by Corinne Vigneux, the French General Director of GPS company TomTom, is genuinely open to all. An on-stage demonstration in front of staff at the headquarters appeared to be entertaining for the 53-year-old The 53-year-old Queen explored various scents during her visit to the DSM-Firmenich on Thursday Maxima was full of smiles and laughter as she toured the new business headquarters on Thursday Upon arrival, Maxima greeted members of the public who waited for her outside the headquarters The royal opted for a glamorous makeup look for the occasion, complete with a smoky and pink lipstick The little girl gazed towards the camera as she offered a bouquet of pastel flowers to Queen Maxima Maxima visited the headquarters because the Dutch DSM merged with the Swiss Firmenich, making DSM-Firmenich The mother-of-two injected further glamour to her floral ensemble with a wide brimmed, angled hat The perfume area captured Maxima's interest and she appeared excited to smell the different fragrances Staff members surrounded the stage at the headquarters to welcome Maxima to their workplace Earlier this week, Maxima swapped her usually feminine style for a sleek blue suit as she visited a charity in Wieringerwerf in the norther Netherlands. Despite opting for a suit, the monarch showed her radiant style by opting for a bright blue colour. The summery look was paired with a white T-shirt and towering nude heels, along with a nude clutch bag. Maxima accessorised her outfit with oversized colourful earrings and tucked her blonde locks back behind her ears. She kept her make-up simple with black mascara and a slick of lipstick while showing off her tan from a recent visit to the Philippines. Maxima's visit was part of the Leading Locals program of MIND Us in the Cultuurschuur in Wieringerwerf. The Queen is honorary chairman of the group which helps young people with mental health problems. I doubt there's a mother of teenage boys in the land whose heart didn't plummet as she read that Loaded magazine is to return to reassure men they can 'ogle beautiful women'. Give us a break. What reassurance do poor, downtrodden men need when they can ogle (virtually) naked beautiful women on every red carpet? Or, at the flick of a switch, watch endless online porn? After a nine-year hiatus, the rebranded Loaded World will return with the stated aim of recreating the nostalgic or retrograde, in my opinion feel of the title which folded in 2015 as competition from the internet and changing tastes sounded the death knell for so-called 'lads' mags'. The editor says it's aimed at the original Loaded audience but it's not grown men we need to worry about. They're already a lost cause. It's boys who need to learn they should have respect for women. They need to understand the feelings and fears of women and girls at a time when violence against us is in the news every day. They need to know that ogling near-naked women relegates them to mere objects. After a nine-year hiatus, the rebranded Loaded World will return. Liz Hurley fronts the relaunch of Loaded online Some might argue that readily available hardcore porn is infinitely more disturbing than anything Loaded might produce. But I find lurid magazine pictures dangerous, too. No matter how beautiful the women are, they're still presented as pieces of meat. My two boys were teenagers in the 1990s when the likes of Loaded and FHM made lusting after naked women so acceptable that they came down to the lower shelves in newsagents, supermarkets, even pharmacies. My two never bought the magazines to my knowledge. If they did, they wouldn't have dared bring them home. But their friends at school did and were generous in sharing around some of the more raunchy full-page spreads. I don't know if my boys thought I never went into their rooms to tidy up, but one day they were shocked to discover a furious mother insisting they 'take down all those disgusting pictures from the walls'. The conversations we had about why I called them 'disgusting' were rather delicate. The last thing any mother wants to do as a teenage boy's sexuality is developing is make him think sex and the admiration of a woman's body is somehow dirty. But I needed to make them understand that it might be hard for the women to expose themselves and they were probably only doing it because they desperately needed the money. It was also important to explain that there was more to women than just their bodies. They needed to think about learning to value them for their brains and humanity. Ogling might be an insult to the women they may get to know in the future. I suppose it was easier for my boys to get the point. After all, their mother was the presenter of Woman's Hour and had led many a discussion on the iniquity of Page 3. Many women cheered when in 2015, the same year The Sun dropped Page 3, Loaded ceased publication. It seemed the message from feminists like me was finally getting through. So, I was more than disappointed to read of the return of Loaded particularly as it's to be edited by a woman. Danni Levy says she wants to provide a 'safe space' for men to lust after females. She claims that while it is acceptable for women to be feminists, men did not have the equivalent freedom: 'Men need to be men.' In the 1990s, the likes of Loaded and FHM made lusting after naked women so acceptable that the magazines came down to the lower shelves in newsagents, supermarkets, and even pharmacies Excuse me, Danni, but men do have freedom. The good ones have learned about feminism and understand how demeaning it can be for a woman to have to earn her living posing for titillating pictures or filming porn. They've accepted that women feel fearful and uncomfortable at being objectified. They've understood the extent to which women are harmed by sexual and domestic violence. It might be a good idea for Danni to grasp the extent to which the presence of this lack of respect for women in popular culture undermines everything feminists have fought for. If my two boys were able to comprehend the risks of objectifying women from a young age, why can't the editor, who is 39, not see it too? Soon after I discovered that Loaded was to return, I read about the actress Doon Mackichan's concerns about the rise of what she calls 'crime porn'. Like Doon, who's best known for the brilliant comedy series Smack The Pony, I've ceased to watch programmes such as Silent Witness because I, too, am sick of seeing so many women become the victims of horrible crimes. Doon says she's lost work because of her zero-tolerance policy towards violence against women on screen. She turned down a job on Silent Witness when she was asked: 'Are you happy with nakedness on the [mortuary] slab?' She's right when she says that what we watch affects our culture: 'We are wading in very, very ugly waters of misogyny and violence against women,' she told the Hay Festival this week. There may be no violence in Loaded's pictures but there is misogyny in the notion of encouraging men to ogle women. It's part of the culture that insists women are fair game, not equal to men, and I don't want boys to learn that that's in any way OK. Why ARE girls afraid of the Pill? Those of us who fought for abortion to be legalised were at pains to point out it must not be used as a means of contraception. It was to save the desperate woman from illegal 'backstreet' operations. A growing number of women are fearful of taking the Pill because of TikTok videos warning of dangers from hormonal contraception The number of abortions is now at its highest since legalisation in 1967. Most worrying, though, is that the biggest rise is among women aged 25-29. Part of the reason is a growing number fearing the Pill. TikTok videos warn of the dangers from hormonal contraception, but, like many over-50s, I took the Pill for years without any regrets. The Pill is a reliable method of contraception. Abortion is not. When I travelled the West Coast Main Line, I always applied for compensation for delayed trains. We called it 'Virgin on the ridiculous'. Now I find the compensation comes not from the train company, but the taxpayer. How could the Government privatise the railways, then end up paying for their incompetence? That really is ridiculous. Don't glamourise killer bikes, Jodie I'm a big fan of Jodie Comer, but I'm sad to see she's starring in a film, The Bikeriders, which will inevitably glamourise motorbiking culture. The Peak District, where I used to live, has lots of quiet, narrow, winding roads. Not quiet on a Sunday afternoon when the motorbikes roar by, one by one. It's also dangerous. During a trip across the Pennines to see my parents, I once passed four dead motorcyclists. Heart-breaking for both their relatives and the drivers whose cars they had hit. Jodie Comer is starring in The Bikeriders, a film that will inevitably glamourise motorbiking culture, writes Jenni Murray Judi Dench, who once said retirement is a dirty word, appears finally to have given in at the age of 89. She has macular degeneration and says she can no longer see. She will be missed. Spanish Queen Letizia signalled it was 'business as usual' during her first public outing with King Felipe since a bombshell book claimed her husband was left 'crushed and destroyed' by her alleged infidelity, a body language expert has said. However, Spain's monarch looked 'emotionally conflicted and less assured' when appearing alongside his wife at a board meeting with the patrons of The Gallery Of The Royal Collections in Madrid today, according to Judi James. The body language expert told FEMAIL that mother-of-two Letizia, 51, displayed a proud posture, raised chin and a 'regal and warm gaze' - but Felipe, 56, sported a 'weak but warm-looking smile' and held his arms 'awkwardly at his sides'. Their joint appearance comes after journalist Jaime Penafiel, 91, launched a fresh attack on the European Queen with his new book 'Letizia's Silences', which was was published in Spain this week. Following his first best-selling book 'Letizia & I' (which alleged that Letizia had an affair with her ex brother-in-law Jamie del Burgo), the veteran royal reporter claims in his latest work that Felipe was 'aware' of his wife's alleged infidelity 'in real time'. Spanish Queen Letizia signalled it was 'business as usual' during her first public outing with King Felipe since a bombshell book claimed her husband was left 'crushed and destroyed' by her alleged infidelity, a body language expert has said However, despite the claims rocking the Spanish monarchy, Letizia appeared to show it was 'business as usual' during her outing with Felipe today, according to Judi. Speaking about the royal couple's visit, the expert said: 'Letizias body language performance here looks proud, assured and elegant. 'Her chin is raised to signal confidence and status and her hands are lightly clasped in front of her torso which there are no signs or tension around either the shoulders or the muscles at the sides of her face. 'Her gaze looks regal and quite warm, with her closed lips pulled into a hint of a smile that is congruent with the subtle smile in her eye expression. 'She appears to be retaining her usual demeanour here with no suggestion of any forced smiling for the cameras, in other words she seems to be signalling "business as usual" and doing quite a good job of it.' However, Letizia's husband looked 'less assured', according to Judi, who said: 'Felipe is also sporting a weak but warm-looking smile although his demeanour does look slightly less assured. 'His arms hang awkwardly at his sides and his mouth is pulled into a lopsided, asymmetric smile that would usually signal mixed emotions or emotional conflict. His eye expression suggests a light smile although his brows are pulled into a frown. 'At one point Letizia seems to be looking up at her husbands face but there has been no modification of expression from either of them as they relate to each other rather than the room.' The body language expert told FEMAIL that mother-of-two Letizia, 51, displayed a proud posture, raised chin and a 'regal and warm gaze' - but Felipe, 56, sported a 'weak but warm-looking smile' and held his arms 'awkwardly at his sides' Their joint appearance comes after journalist Jaime Penafiel, 91, launched a fresh attack on the European Queen with his new book 'Letizia's Silences', which was was published in Spain this week Spain's monarch looked 'emotionally conflicted and less assured' when appearing alongside his wife at a board meeting with the patrons of The Gallery Of The Royal Collections in Madrid today, according to Judi James The mother-of-two looked chic in a pale blue suit which she casually paired with white trainers and a satin white blouse, while Felipe stepped out in a smart pinstripe suit and white shirt. In January, Jaime Penafiel was sacked by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo after 20 years following a series of damaging allegations made in his first book 'Letizia & I'. His best-selling book alleged that Queen Letizia had an affair with her ex-brother-in-law Jamie del Burgo. The Spanish Royal Household refused to comment on the claims at the time. In his latest work, Jamie claims that Felipe was 'aware that Letizia was cheating on him in real time' as her bodyguards have an obligation to report on her whereabouts. The author alleges that bodyguards joined Queen Letizia on a trip she took to New York in 2011 with her 'lover' Jaime del Burgo, whom she had dated before meeting Felipe. The author wrote: 'That day [in New York], she was accompanied by her faithful escorts, who, without a doubt, any, they would pass a report to the Ministry of the Interior or [the Palace of] Zarzuela.' Following this, Jaime claims that Felipe has been left 'crushed and destroyed' by his wife's alleged cheating. The royal reporter - who worked for Hola! magazine for 20 years - claims that Felipe has been 'plunged into hell' by his wife's supposed 'betrayal' and 'wants to get out'. Elsewhere in the book, Jamie labels Queen Letizia 'cold, emotionally immature and passive aggressive' and makes unsubstantiated claims she is 'hated' by King Felipe's family. The Spanish royals showcased a united front as they attended a board meeting with the patronage of The Gallery Of The Royal Collections in Madrid The mother-of-two, 51, looked chic in a pale blue suit which she casually paired with white trainers and a white blouse King Felipe (pictured left) stepped out in a smart suit and white shirt for today's outing Jaime Penafiel, 91, was sacked by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo after 20 years earlier this year following the publication of first book on the Queen called 'Letizia & I'. The book sent shockwaves through the Spanish Royal Family after the author alleged that the Queen had a romantic relationship with her ex-brother-in-law Jaime del Burgo. The Spanish Royal Household refused to comment on the claims at the time. Following his dismissal, the veteran journalist has now written another book - called 'Letizia's Silences' - which begins by delving into her early romance with King Felipe. In the opening chapter, the author sensationally claims that 'everything in Letizia's world has been broken' as a result of alleged 'deceit, adultery and betrayals'. The author goes on to say Queen Letizia has a 'cold, indestructible and determined' aura about her and that the royal's silence on the recent allegations signify her 'emotional immaturity'. Jaime claims the royal 'resorts to silence as a way of controlling and punishing other people'. He then goes on to claim that Letizia's 'passive aggressive' behaviour towards King Felipe is the reason her 'mother-in-law [Queen Sofia] and sisters-in-laws [Infanta Cristina and the Duchess of Lugo] hate her so much'. In the following chapter, Jaime alleges that King Felipe fell in love with his future wife while watching her present the news. The royal couple stood side by side as they attend the meeting with the patronage of The Gallery Of The Royal Collections Queen Letizia appeared in good spirits as she got to work after the bombshell book claims King Felipe and Queen Letizia, greet Marta Ortega (left) and Maria Helena Antolin (second left) attend a board meeting with the patronage of The Gallery Of The Royal Collections Reports on how the royal couple got together have varied over the years - with some claiming they were introduced at dinner party while others allege they first met when Felipe visited an oil spillage site in Northern Spain. When they began dating, Jaime claims Letizia would 'test' Felipe's feelings for her by travelling frequently. TIMELINE OF DEL BURGO'S CLAIMS ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SPAIN'S ROYAL FAMILY Pre-2000 - Letizia Ortiz, who was a newsreader at the time, meets Jaime del Burgo - the son of a politician - and the pair start dating - Letizia Ortiz, who was a newsreader at the time, meets Jaime del Burgo - the son of a politician - and the pair start dating 2001 - Letizia and King Felipe meet on the site of a oil spillage. Jaime claims he was planning to propose when she told him about her new royal romance - Letizia and King Felipe meet on the site of a oil spillage. Jaime claims he was planning to propose when she told him about her new royal romance 2003 - Letizia and Felipe announce engagement. - Letizia and Felipe announce engagement. 2004 - The couple marry at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. Jaime claims he was asked to be a witness during the ceremony - The couple marry at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. Jaime claims he was asked to be a witness during the ceremony 2005 - The couple welcome Princess Leonor February 2007 - Letizia's sister Erika suddenly passes away - Letizia's sister Erika suddenly passes away April 2007 - Princess Sofia is born. During one of her pregnancies, Jaime claims Letizia sends him a selfie confessing her love. - Princess Sofia is born. During one of her pregnancies, Jaime claims Letizia sends him a selfie confessing her love. 2 010 - The couple reportedly profess their love for one another and allegedly meet with lawyers. Jaime claims they looked at properties in the US to move to. He also claims Letizia suggested they use a surrogate in LA to have a baby - The couple reportedly profess their love for one another and allegedly meet with lawyers. Jaime claims they looked at properties in the US to move to. He also claims Letizia suggested they use a surrogate in LA to have a baby 2011 - Jaime claims Letizia ends their relationship over the phone - Jaime claims Letizia ends their relationship over the phone 2 012 - Jaime marries Letizia's sister Telma. The couple relocate to New York - Jaime marries Letizia's sister Telma. The couple relocate to New York 2014 - Telma and Jaime announce their separation Advertisement In 2002, the future Queen flew to Santo Domingo to report on the annual Ibero-American Summit - which Jaime describes as Letizia putting Felipe's intentions 'to the test'. Weeks later, the author claims Letizia flew to Costa Rica as a 'strategy' to secure the future King of Spain. He explained: 'It was a strategy, because that absence was a real torment for the very much in love Felipe, who conceived distance as the worst of evils, coming to understand [Spanish poet] Lope de Vega when he said that "the beginning of absence is like the end of life."' Following this, Jaime says Letizia was certain of the strength of Felipe's 'total love' for her and returned to Spain 'bossy and manipulative'. What's more, the author claims that Felipe assured Letizia that he could 'cut short' any news outlet reporting on their romance. During one of Felipe's visits to Letizia's Valdebernardo apartment, Jamie alleges that the journalist confided in royal about how she used to work as a cigarette stewardess while living in Mexico. He also predicted the couple, who have maintained what the mainstream Spanish press have described as a dignified silence in the face of ongoing infidelity claims by Jaime del Burgo, would follow in the footsteps of Felipes parents Juan Carlos and Sofia. Spains former king is now living in exile in Abu Dhabi after corruption investigations he was caught up in left his reputation in tatters although he returns to his homeland from time to time. Later in the book, Jaime alleges that Felipe and Letizia are living separate lives and 'just keeping up appearances in public'. Following its publication today, Spanish publication El Nacional Cat published a review claiming that Jaime Penafiel is 'determined to end the Queen's career' and described him as 'one of Letizia's biggest enemies. In 'Letizia & I', the Queen's former brother-in-law Jaime del Burgo makes the unlikely claim that he was planning to propose to Letizia - who was a newsreader at the time - on the night that she told him that she was dating a high-profile man in Spain. Letizia reportedly told him that she had 'met someone who would oblige her to quit her profession', which Jaime said led him to deduce her mystery partner was Felipe. What's more, the royal's ex-brother-in-law also made the far-fetched claim that he 'dealt' with Letizia's pre-nuptial agreement and helped to front the cost of the Queen's family's wedding outfits. He is quoted as saying: 'When the wedding with Felipe came round, I dealt with the pre-nuptial agreement as you know, amongst other things. King Felipe and Queen Letizia and their parents on the couple's wedding day in May 2004 Queen Letizia's ex brother-in-law Jaime del Burgo (left) with his ex-wife Telma when they were still married in 2014 Veteran journalist Jaime Penafiel, 91, attends event in Madrid in December 2018. The author has confirmed he is no longer employed by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo Following his dismissal from Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the veteran journalist has now written another book - called 'Letizia's Silences' - which begins by delving into her early romance with King Felipe 'I also had to pay Letizia's family's expenses because [former King] Juan Carlos refused to pay or even go halves with me. So with the help of my friend Felipe Varela, I dressed her mum, grandmother and her sisters. And with the help of Jaime Jason, her father, grandparents and a cousin.' Jaime also makes the incredible claim that the Queen asked to see him the night before the wedding at the exclusive El Latigazo restaurant in Madrid - where she asked him to 'never leave' her. He sensationally claimed: 'When we met, she took hold of my hand and asked me why I had never asked her to marry me. Obviously I didn't reply. I encouraged her as best I could. The last thing she said to me before we said goodbye to each other in that restaurant was a request: 'Never leave me.'' Jaime - who says the Queen nicknamed him her 'yogi pal' - claims he still had a romantic relationship with Letizia even after the wedding in 2004. He also claims he has kept 'photographs, videos, mobile phones' and text messages as evidence. In the book, Jaime sensationally claims that Letizia whispered that she loved him when they were lying in a hammock by a pool at her home following Princess Leonor's birth. One of the most damaging claims Jaime reportedly makes is that Queen Letizia suggested they have a child together using a surrogate in Los Angeles. Around this time, Jaime claims that he confronted Letizia after photos of her kissing Felipe appeared on the covers of Spanish magazines. He claims the Queen told him: 'I had to do it to protect us.' He says in the book Jaime del Burgo told him Felipe and Letizia had a 'difficult relationship' and told him: 'Felipe uses me as a good man because he felt incapable of calming her down.' After Letizia allegedly ended the 'relationship' in August 2011, Jaime claims that a female friend told him to get in touch with the Queen's sister Telma. The following year, the pair got engaged after just two months of dating. However, the couple divorced 2014 following two years of marriage. An Aldi customer was left in disbelief after making a rude discovery while unpacking her groceries. The Irish shopper discovered an insulting image of a hand with the middle finger sticking up on the label of a bag of red onions. Images of the perplexing find have been circulating online with some offended by the mysterious mishap and others skeptical of its legitimacy. 'What's going on with the produce tags flipping me off?' a woman asked in a Reddit post with a snap of the onion tag. She claimed that while the symbol looks like it's been drawn on in the photo, it was 'definitely printed on the tag'. An Aldi shopper was left shocked after discovering a rude symbol on the tag of a bag on red onions. Many thought the mishap was hilarious while others were offended 'Maybe someone's last day at the factory?' she speculated. Many thought the ill-mannered mistake was hilarious with one jokingly calling the onions 'punk'. 'I can't stop laughing,' one woman replied. 'They'll probably make you cry,' laughed a third. 'That's exactly how I feel about red onions,' someone jested. Some said they loved the crude tag with one claiming: 'I want to buy those onions now'. 'Going to Aldi right flipping now,' a second replied. But not everyone saw the funny side and others thought the scenario had been crafted for social media. One person even found a stamp on Amazon that looked just like the figure on the label leading more to believe it was put there by a rebellious shopper 'If you find these labels please report them. They obviously came from the company because these are printed not drawn on,' one shopper complained. Others thought the marking was the work of a disgruntled staff member while some guessed it could have been a mischievous customer with a stamp. One person even found a stamp on Amazon that looked just like the figure on the label leading more to believe it was put there by a rebellious shopper. 'Someone clearly making the most of their last day working for label printers,' one user guessed. 'They clearly put a sticker over it, if you zoom in you can tell,' a second theorised. 'Guessing someone got bored with a stamp,' another chimed in. The Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Aldi Ireland and Aldi Australia for comment. Norovirus cases in the UK are 75 per cent higher than normal due to an outbreak in care homes. More than 1,200 cases of the virus were detected in April compared to the five-season average of 706 lab-confirmed cases, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) have revealed. Most lab cases were found in people aged over 65 and across care home and social care areas. Norovirus, the winter vomiting bug, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. The UKHSA said the unusually high numbers of cases could be due to the unseasonally cold weather or changes in the epidemiology or testing practices following the pandemic, The Times reports. An outbreak of norovirus in care homes has seen cases in the UK rise to 75 per cent higher than usual Norovirus, the winter vomiting bug, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea (stock image) The illness can appear similar the symptoms of Covid, with both viruses causing chills, fever and headaches In May, it was reported that cases soared to their highest seasonal level in five years amid a nationwide surge. Amy Douglas, a norovirus epidemiologist at the UKHSA previously said: 'Norovirus levels were higher in April than we would usually see at this time of year and have been increasing. 'This is likely due to a combination of factors, but the colder weather we have had won't have helped. 'Norovirus can cause dehydration, especially in vulnerable groups such as young children and older or immunocompromised people, so if you do get ill it is important to drink plenty of fluids. 'If you have got diarrhoea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing the infection on.' She added: 'Do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don't prepare food for others in that time either. 'If you are unwell, avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to prevent passing on the infection in these settings. The UKHSA said the unusually high numbers of cases could be due to the unseasonally cold weather or changes in the epidemiology or testing practices following the pandemic (stock image) UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) chiefs received 1,237 lab-confirmed reports of the vomiting bug in England in April. It means cases for this time of year are 75 per cent above levels seen pre-Covid Experts have suggested Covid restrictions could also be partly to blame for the current surge, as fewer people have been exposed to norovirus than usual since the start of the pandemic Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will also help stop infections from spreading. What is norovirus? Norovirus, the winter vomiting bug, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It usually goes away in around two days. The main symptoms are nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting. Some people also have a high temperature, a headache and aching arms and legs. Symptoms usually start one or two days after being infected. People can usually manage their symptoms at home. However, in severe cases, some people may need to be hospitalised with the elderly and children most at-risk. The NHS recommends drinking lots of fluids and avoiding dehydration. The virus is spread through close contact with someone with the virus, or eating food that has been prepared by them. It can also be passed on by touching objects that are contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth. Norovirus can pile pressures on hospitals because infected patients need to be isolated in single rooms or wards need to be closed to new patients to contain the spread. Advertisement 'Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus so don't rely on these alone.' Experts have suggested Covid restrictions could also be partly to blame for the current surge, as fewer people have been exposed to norovirus than usual since the start of the pandemic. Our bodies may be less well-equipped to fight off the infection after years with little exposure to them, according to their theory. The same reason was partly blamed for the unprecedented spike in scarlet fever cases, which in 2022 ballooned to the highest number reported since the 1950s. But they also cautioned new strains of the bug could be behind the rise. Professor Adam Finn, a member of the Government's vaccine advisory panel, at the University of Bristol, told MailOnline: 'The larger than usual recent numbers may still be related, at least in part, to the drop in numbers during the Covid lockdown period. 'We are still seeing unusual epidemiology in terms of numbers of cases and seasonality of numerous infections, post pandemic. The relatively poor weather during the spring may also have contributed. 'Sometimes we see emergence of new strains of norovirus against which people have little or no immunity from previous infections. 'Around 17 per cent of the very recent cases have been due to a strain called G.II.17 which has only emerged quite recently. So this too may be contributing to the higher than usual number of cases.' He added: 'There are also vaccines on the horizon with one about to announce results of a phase three trial. 'So, we may have the tools to prevent or at least reduce this problem in the not-too-distant future.' The Texas Republican Party have lodged a proposal that appears to call for the death penalty for women who seek abortions, as well as the doctors who help them. At a GOP convention on Saturday, Texas delegates presented a detailed platform that defines abortion as 'not healthcare... homicide.' The 50-page document calls for the 'equal protection of the laws to all preborn children from the moment of fertilization,' and for physicians to only be exempt from homicide charges when the abortion is 'non-elective, such as required to save the life of the mother.' According to Texas law, perpetrators of child homicide are punishable by death. Pro-life protesters stand near the gate of the Texas state capitol at a protest outside the Texas state capitol on May 29, 2021 in Austin, Texas Representatives are currently voting on whether or not to approve all the proposals. Commenting on the platform, Farah Diaz-Tello, senior counsel and legal director at Lawyering for Reproductive Justice, told Huff Post that the death penalty is the 'next logical step' in the anti-abortion movement in Texas. However, speaking to DailyMail.com, legal experts in Texas have suggested that the party platform has 'no bearing on legislature' and, in practice, enforcing death penalties for abortions in Texas would be 'virtually impossible'. 'Texas Republicans are just reaffirming beliefs that we've known they've held for a long time,' the attorney told DailyMail.com. 'In order for women to be sentenced to capital punishment, a law would have to be enshrined clearly stating this, and party platforms have no influence on this. 'Further, district attorneys rarely, if ever, prosecute women who have abortions. They are more likely to go after the doctor and even then, it is an uphill battle.' More prisoners have been executed in Texas than any other state since 1976, according to the Death Penalty Information Center with 586 capital deaths. Abortion is currently punishable by up to 99 years in prison in Texas, for both the woman who undergoes the procedure and the medical professional assisting her. However, in practice, the abortion-seeker is rarely brought to trial. The legislation has been enforced since August 2022, two months after Roe v Wade, which prohibited states from banning abortion, was overturned. The number of abortions in 2022 dropped by 59 percent compared to the previous year, from around 53,000 to 22,000, according to figures from the Lozier institute. And more recent figures suggest that this rate has plummeted dramatically since, with just 17 legal abortions recorded in the first four months of 2023, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. However, this is thought to be a major underestimation. At an April press event, former President Donald Trump said he believed there was no need for a national abortion ban anymore The new proposal also calls for 'preserving' the dignity of human embryos including 'banning human embryo trafficking', referring to people who wish to undergo IVF out of state. This has sparked fears that Texas may soon follow in Alabama's footsteps where human embryos are granted the same legal status as children. The decision led to the shutdown of major IVF clinics in the state, due to fears of criminal prosecution should embryos become unintentionally damaged. Also in the proposal is reference to homosexuality as an 'abnormal lifestyle choice', and a denouncement of 'all efforts to validate transgender identity'. 'We believe gender modification and any form of gender affirming care for minors does not constitute medical care and is, in fact, child abuse,' the proposal reads. Currently, abortion is illegal in 14 states, and a further seven restricts access to the procedure. Last month, Florida enacted a law banning abortion after six weeks, replacing the state's previous 15-week ban. Many women do not know they are pregnant until they are at least six weeks gone. In the South, abortion is now either banned or severely restricted in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana, meaning women must travel to Virginia to seek a procedure. A dairy farm worker in Michigan has become the third person in the US to be infected with bird flu in the current outbreak. The patient suffered from cold like symptoms such as a cough, which is the first time this has been reported in relation to this outbreak, as well as watery discharge from their eyes, similar to the previous two cases. The patient has been offered the antiviral oseltamivir and told to isolate at home. None of their colleagues or household contacts have reported symptoms of an infection. The case was revealed by the CDC, which said the worker had likely caught the virus from close contact with infected cattle on the farm. Officials in Michigan urged farmers with symptoms of an infection to come forward for testing today as the Biden administration revealed it was brokering a deal that would open the door to doses of a bird flu vaccine being supplied to the US. The above map shows states where bird flu infections have been confirmed in dairy cows Pictured is the Texas farm worker who was infected with H5N1 in March. The infection began in the right eye, before spreading to the left Officials insist the risk to the public is still 'low' and that there is no sign that the virus has spread from one person to another. The case follows two other infections recorded among dairy farm workers one in Texas and a second reported in Michigan last week. There are no links between the cases, with each suspected to have been infected via a separate case of the virus spilling over to humans. The agency said in its release: 'This is the first human case of H5 in the United States to report more typical symptoms of acute respiratory illness associated with flu virus infection, including [H5N1] viruses. The head of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Batasha Bagdasarian, added: 'Michigan has led a swift public health response, and we have been tracking this situation closely since [bird flu] was detected in Michigan poultry and dairy herds. 'We have not seen signs of sustained human-to-human transmission, and the current health risk to the general public remains low.' The CDC said swabs of the patient had tested positive for an H5 flu virus on May 29, with confirmation that the case is H5N1 or bird flu expected in the coming days. The patient was not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), the release added, which can place them at higher risk of infection. Officials in Michigan say they are now calling on farmers to report any symptoms of an infection to authorities. They are also planning to start to test blood samples from farmers for bird flu antibodies or virus-fighting proteins which are made in response to infections. This could reveal whether the virus is spreading asymptomatically in the state, or infecting humans without causing symptoms. Officials in Ionia County, in the center of the state and where four dairy farms and four poultry farms have reported the virus, revealed the plan. A total of 67 dairy herds in nine states have reported infections of bird flu to date. In response, the Biden administration is now on the verge of a deal to bankroll Moderna's development of a vaccine against the disease. In a similar operation that sped up the production of Covid vaccines, the US government is looking to fund a late-stage trial of the mRNA shot, targeting the H5N1 strain that is currently circulating in the US. It is unclear how much it is costing but it is likely tens of millions of dollars - in return for the US getting priority of doses. Many health experts are concerned that the virus appears to be jumping between multiple species, which gives it the opportunity to mutate. Four pet cats, for example, died of bird flu earlier this year including two with no links to poultry or dairy cows. The more mutations the virus acquires, experts argue, the higher the risk of it evolving to spread between people. This is particularly concerning as, historically, H5N1 strains have killed about 50 percent of the humans they infect. FDA commissioner Dr Robert Califf warned earlier this month that the agency was preparing for if the virus does mutate in a way that allows it to 'jump into humans on a larger level' although he said the risk was low. There have also been concerns about the food supply, although officials say that milk and beef do not pose a risk of infection. Bird flu fragments have been detected in milk, but officials say it is still safe to drink because of pasteurization where milk is quickly heated and cooled which effectively 'kills' the virus. Tests on ground beef in grocery stores have not revealed any virus in the meat. Bird flu virus samples have been found in tissue samples taken from one dairy cow sent to slaughter at a US meat processing plant, but officials pointed out the animal was already ill and would not have been used in the human food supply. BOOK OF THE WEEK Everest, Inc. by Will Cockrell (Gallery Books 20, 352pp) It is one of the most startling images ever taken on a mountain: the picture, from May 2019, showed a long queue of hundreds of climbers stretched out single file on an icy knife edge just below the summit of Mount Everest. They are all in what is known ominously as the death zone, an altitude above 26,000ft, where the human body begins to shut down rapidly due to a catastrophic lack of natural oxygen. For some observers, the picture represented the ultimate despoliation of the singular splendour of the worlds highest mountain, all for commercial gain. It seemed a far cry from that historic day in May 1953 when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to summit Everest, part of a large British expedition that was organised as tightly as a military operation. Before that, 14 expeditions had failed to conquer the 29,035 ft peak. Between that first ascent and 1992, only 394 climbers reached the top. The picture, from May 2019, showed a long queue of hundreds of climbers stretched out single file on an icy knife edge just below the summit of Mount Everest Between 1992 and 2024, more than 11,500 accomplished the same feat, almost all the clients of a few mountain guiding businesses, and all paying up to $100,000 (80,000) for the privilege. How did that happen? How did the highest place in the world, and one of the most hazardous, become a holiday you could buy, just like a Caribbean cruise? In this compelling, exhaustively-researched book about the Everest industry, Will Cockrell, an experienced adventure writer, tries to answer the question. At the same time, he tackles the complex moral issues involved: if you virtually eliminate jeopardy, are you killing the spirit of adventure? And just because you have $100,000 to play with, should you be entitled to buy such a remarkable personal achievement? But the fact remains that even if you are being guided up the mountain, climbing ladders, and hooked on to pre-placed ropes, all the while breathing bottled oxygen deposited en route by your guides, an ascent of Everest remains a powerful test of heart, fitness and endurance. And it is still a very dangerous place: steep, cold, wind-battered. Just because an industry has developed to get climbers to the top doesnt eliminate all hazards, as the recent disappearance of a 40-year-old British climber Daniel Paterson and his Nepali guide Pastenji Sherpa, 23, illustrates only too tragically. Cockrell traces the birth of the guiding industry to a wealthy Texan industrialist called Dick Bass, who had conceived a plan to climb the highest mountains on all seven continents. At noon on April 30, 1985, Bass stepped on to the summit of Everest, on his fourth attempt, accompanied by the veteran mountaineer and film-maker Dave Breashears. Bass was the 174th person to stand on top of the world and, at 55, the oldest. He knew he was never a real climber, and nor did he want to become one. Two weeks later, he appeared on Johnny Carsons Tonight Show and claimed that normally the only exercise I get is running through airports to catch a plane. Millions of average Americans were then able to say, So, that guy climbed Mount Everest. I could do that. As Cockrell says, Bass set something in motion that irrevocably changed the way people thought about Everest and mountaineering in general. Climbing Everest was becoming a commodity and, led by enterprising and skilled mountaineers, the guiding businesses started flooding in. Everest base camp, the destination for anyone wanting to attempt the peak on the Nepal side, is, at 17,600 ft, itself a monumental height for most people. For the early pioneers, it would now be unrecognisable. Row upon row of tents, neatly ordered like at Glastonbury, are sprawled across more than a mile of rock and ice. Impressive stone shelters act as mess tents, cooking stations and, during downtime, casinos and saloons. Briton Daniel Paterson has not ben seen since reaching the summit of Everest last Tuesday Nepali guide Pastenji Sherpa, 23, who was with Mr Paterson, is also still missing You can get a good cup of coffee, a fresh croissant and a massage, before happy hour, and then maybe an art show, followed by some late-night whisky-fuelled poker. This didnt go down well with everybody. Hillary said: Sitting round base camp knocking back cans of beer, I dont particularly regard as mountaineering. It is becoming so that you can go to the beach for your holiday or climb Everest. And the climber and guide Pet Athans observed, People think its still an adventure: its more of an adventure figuring out the New York subway system. But for Cockrell, the climbers who the guides are bringing up are not spoiling the mountain, they are sharing it. They might be inexperienced, but they are there for as good a reason as anyone else. Reaching the top is a huge challenge, no matter how much help you get. The notorious conga line photograph was taken by a Nepali mountaineer called Nirmal Purja, known as Nims and the most famous climber in the world. Nims is now the figurehead for Nepali success on Everest. Born in 1983, Nims joined the Gurkhas at 20 and was later accepted into the Navys Special Boat Service, a unit similar to the U.S. Navy SEALs. So he is, you might say, one tough guy. When he turned to climbing, he ascended three 8,000 m peaks in five days: Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. In 2018, he announced he would climb all the 8,000 m peaks in seven months, the previous record being well over seven years. Nims scaled all 14 peaks in just over six months. It was a titanic achievement, but equally a tribute to his organisational skills, with abundant oxygen, scores of climbers fixing the routes and a helicopter to get to the next base camp as fast as possible. This compelling, exhaustively-researched book about the Everest industry is written by Will Cockrell, an experienced adventure writer As his profile skyrocketed, he lined up book and film deals, and formed a guiding company, Elite Exped. He is able to ask $1 million for private one-on-one guiding, which is what he reputedly charged Princess Asma Al Thani of Qatar for taking her to the summit of Everest in 2022. Im sure she could afford it. Nims is not to everybodys taste for some he is too egotistical, an empire builder but he is the face of the new Nepali leaders dominating Everest and the Himalayan climbing industry. The biggest companies working on the mountain are now owned, staffed and guided by Nepalis. And if a fortune is to be made out of wealthy climbers who want to experience the roof of the world, then it is preferable that the money goes primarily to the people who live there. This is very much Cockrells view in this fascinating book, and if you approve of wealth creation (as I do), then what is happening on Everest is largely a good thing. I just wish he was slightly less gung-ho about it. As Venice is not alone in discovering, tourism can be damaging even arduous adventure tourism and the beauty of the worlds wild places must be cared for. If exploration and adventure becomes too easy and too safe, then a fundamental part of what it means to be human is lost. The number of smart meters being fitted in homes fell 10 per cent in the first three months of the year, continuing a long-term decline in new installations. Latest government figures show 780,000 smart meters were fitted by large energy firms between January and March, down from around 870,000 in the previous three months. More than half - 56 per cent - of all energy meters are now smart meters, with another 7 per cent being smart meters operating as traditional 'dumb' meters. Peaked: We may have reached the peak for how many homes will get smart meters fitted voluntarily, according to major energy firms The number of new smart meters being fitted has fallen overall since a peak in 2017. Last year, energy regulator Ofgem fined six of the UK's biggest energy firms 10.8million for missing smart meter installation targets. The Government wants smart meters to be fitted to 80 per cent of homes by the end of 2025. Smart meters were introduced in 2011 as a way of helping households stay in control of their energy bills and, in turn, keep bills down. They are fitted in homes to replace more traditional meters, including prepayment key meters. Suppliers say they provide more accurate and up-to-date readings, so customers only pay for the energy they have used. But energy firms are struggling due to most households that would chose to have a smart meter already having one, with resistance from many of the remainder. By last summer, energy suppliers said they had exhausted the 'low-hanging fruit' of households who want a smart meter, according to a report from the National Audit Office. The regions with the highest proportion of smart meters are Bolsover, Chesterfield, County Durham, Rotherham, North Kesteven and Mansfield, all with 74 per cent or more of their domestic electricity meters being smart meters. As a rule of thumb, the higher the population density in an area or the more remote it is, the fewer electricity smart meters are installed. In Inner London some regions have just 30-40 per cent of domestic homes fitted with smart meters. The lowest smart meter installations (>20 per cent) are on islands off the coast of Britain: the Isles of Scilly, Na h-Eileanan Siar, the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands. This is due to 'operational reasons', according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The charity Citizens Advice said it is worried about households losing out due to smart meters not working as they should. Gillian Cooper, director of energy at Citizens Advice, said: 'Smart meters can help households save money on their energy bills, but today's figures show millions are missing out on these benefits because their meters aren't working as they should. 'This is just the tip of the iceberg. Our research shows that 20 per cent of households with smart meters still have to submit regular manual readings. And nearly a third experienced issues with their in-home display. 'Suppliers have been too slow to fix issues with people's smart meters. We need new rules to ensure energy suppliers identify and fix problems as quickly as possible.' A Smart Energy GB spokesperson said: 'More than 35 million smart meters have been installed in homes and businesses up and down the country since the start of the rollout. Thats a significant achievement for such a complex national infrastructure upgrade. The vast majority of smart meter owners (8 in 10) believe the rollout has been a positive step for the country. 'Smart meters are bringing many benefits to Britains households and small businesses, including helping to manage energy use and access smart products and more flexible energy tariffs.' Do I have to get a smart meter? Smart meters are not compulsory and it is up to you whether you get one installed. You will likely be offered one by your supplier if you don't already have one, but you are well within your right to refuse. If you do refuse, remember that you won't have access to all energy tariffs, which means you might end up paying more for your energy than you otherwise could. Earlier this month Chris O'Shea, the head of British Gas's parent company, Centrica, said all homes should be made to have a smart meter to help the Government meet its net zero targets. The company behind Britains banknotes is considering breaking up its business just a day after Royal Mail fell into the hands of a foreign buyer. De La Rue, which prints notes for the Bank of England and half of the worlds central banks, is delaying its full-year results to July as it talks with a number of parties. It recently collaborated with the Bank of England on new banknotes featuring the Kings portrait, which will enter circulation next Wednesday. Chairman Clive Whiley said it was considering strategic alternatives, which could mean selling its currency unit and authentication arm. The money-printing business has suffered in recent years as demand for notes wanes. De La Rue recently collaborated with the Bank of England on new notes featuring the Kings portrait (pictured, being held by Governor Andrew Bailey and chief cashier Sarah John) And while bosses have said the business is bouncing back, De La Rues announcement sent shockwaves through the City. It came one day after the board of the company that owns Royal Mail agreed to a 3.6billion takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, which means the business may be taken into foreign ownership for the first time since it was established by Henry VIII in 1516. Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, said: First it was the UKs postal service, now its potentially the countrys bank note production. The UK is up for sale at the right price and everything looks available apart from the crown jewels. De La Rues been struggling for years with various headwinds including a significant downturn in currency demand, prompting a good look at the business and its future. Its only natural that De La Rue is now considering a break-up as signs of recovery put it in a better position to get a fair price. Last year the Hampshire company said demand for banknotes around the world was at its lowest level in 20 years, resulting in a low order book. De La Rue expects its full-year profit to be in the low-20million range and a debt pile of around 90million. Talks: De La Rue - which prints notes for the Bank of England and half of the worlds central banks - has revealed it is delaying its full year results to July It recently secured extensions to two Government contracts to provide a digital tax stamp for alcohol and tobacco. But despite the apparent resurgence, Richard Bernstein, the boss of activist investor Crystal Amber, said a break-up of De La Rue looks inevitable. Neil Shah, analyst at Edison Group, said a takeover bid could come from rivals such as Giesecke + Devrient, a German company that is one of the largest security printing firms, or Crane Currency, an American rival. Oberthur Fiduciaire, a French company and competitor, tried to buy it in 2010. But a successful bid would follow a string of takeovers this year with packager DS Smith, telecoms testing firm Spirent Communications and haulage firm Wincanton among those falling to overseas bidders. But some companies have been putting up a fight. This week Australian mining giant BHP walked away from its bid on mining titan Anglo American, while Currys and Direct Line have successfully defended themselves from bids this year. De La Rue shares rose 0.6 per cent, or 0.6p, to 98.6p. My father-in-law is 85. He has just had heart surgery, suffers from mobility issues and is in the early stages of dementia. He also recently lost his wife of more than 40 years. He still has some independence, but this is limited to a weekly five-minute drive to do a food shop and buy a lottery ticket, and the occasional visit to a nearby social club. In July 2023, he noticed that transactions had been made from his bank account with HSBC, totalling 5,523. This is his sole bank account and only held around 6,000. Needless to say, this spending was completely out of character. Card sharks: This reader says her father-in-law had money stolen from his bank account after using a cash machine - and believes his card may have been cloned (stock image) He does not have internet banking, so didn't notice until a few days later at which point he reported it to HSBC. He didn't tell us what was happening for several weeks. Originally HSBC did put the money back into his account pending an investigation. However, it later said that as it was his card that had been used and his Pin, the money would not be reimbursed. The confusing thing is that my father-in-law still has his debit card in his possession. We may never know what really happened, but our theory is it was cloned or skimmed, perhaps at a cash machine. We also can't rule out someone persuading him to give his details over the phone, or somehow taking his card and returning it to him. Due to the nature of the transactions we are certain he didn't make them himself. The money was spent around West Bromwich and Birmingham, more than 80 miles and almost two hours' drive from his home. Almost 4,000 was spent in a jewellery shop, and the rest was cash taken out from ATMs or spent at service stations in the early hours of the morning. I reported this to the Ombudsman and it suggested HSBC offer him 250 in compensation which we declined. Can you help? L.E, Lincolnshire Helen Crane, This is Money's consumer champion, replies: This is my 100th Crane on the Case, and I think your father in law's story illustrates what the column is all about fighting for justice for those who have been badly let down by institutions that should know better. The loss of this money, everything he had, has had a terrible effect on him. You told me he no longer goes to his social club, and refused to come to your house for Christmas as he was so down about the situation. Due to his condition we may never know exactly how his details were stolen, but it seems obvious to me that he was the victim of an unscrupulous criminal. His card could have been duplicated by a tampered-with cash machine, where he was watched while he entered his Pin. Or, he could have been persuaded to give over the information by someone on the phone or at his door. He has mentioned a call he got from the HSBC 'fraud squad' just prior to the incident, which sounds as if it may have been a scam attempt as HSBC have confirmed that no genuine call took place. But again, his memory of exactly when this happened and what, if any, information he gave is hazy. It is also possible though in my opinion unlikely that someone was able to take your father-in-law's physical card, spend on it and then return it to him without him noticing. Yet HSBC was happy to conclude that an 85-year-old man who struggles to get much further than his local high street drove for an hour down the motorway to an unfamiliar city, in the middle of the night, in order to fill up at various petrol stations, take out cash at multiple locations and then blow 4,000 on expensive jewellery. At best that is a total failure of common sense, and at worst it is exploiting a customers' vulnerabilities in order to avoid paying out a few thousand pounds. What's worse, the Ombudsman, supposed to be a customers' last recourse when their bank does not listen to them, agreed. It is true that your father-in-law may not have been able to properly explain what happened in that first panicked call to HSBC, and may have got some details wrong. But I would argue it should have been clear to the person on the other end of the phone who, you later discovered, he had to wait for 45 minutes to get through to that he was confused, vulnerable and needed extra support. HSBC has form here, too. One of the saddest stories I have covered for this column was that of a couple similar in age to your father-in-law, who led an equally frugal lifestyle. Unlikely purchase: The card was used to buy almost 4,000 worth of jewellery from a shop in Birmingham, which was a complete anomaly in the father-in-law's spending Their only bank account was closed with their 35,000 life savings inside, leaving them unable to access their pensions and surviving on loans from family and leftover food from the freezer. Having never travelled abroad or driven a car, they didn't have the right identification to open a new account. Their vulnerabilities led them to fail 'safeguarding' checks, designed to weed out customers committing fraud, so HSBC wasn't able to give a reason for the closure or reverse its decision. It was only after my intervention that the money was returned, and a new basic bank account set up. You told me that you thought unusual transactions like those that happened on your father's account would be blocked, because they were so different to his usual pattern of spending. It is true that banks do sometimes temporarily freeze accounts when unusual spending takes place. They are secretive about what triggers these warnings because they don't want fraudsters to be able to cheat the system, but spending thousands in a jewellery shop in an unusual location would seem to me to be a good candidate. CRANE ON THE CASE Our weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Helen Crane tackle reader problems and shine the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: helen.crane@thisismoney.co.uk And yet not only HSBC, but also the Ombudsman, insisted that it was either your father-in-law, with his own card, entering his own details - or that he had willingly handed someone his card and his details. Banks usually consider that as someone being too careless and won't pay them back the money lost. However, the Ombudsman's initial investigation relied on information your father in law had told HSBC about things like what he had been doing on specific dates, whether his card was in his possession on those dates and whether he had given anyone his card information, which due to his poor memory cannot be relied upon as accurate. It also said in its report that 'As far as HSBC's records show, [his] genuine card and Pin number were in use. [The] card had not been reported as lost or stolen at that time it wasn't done so until a week later.' The reason for the late reporting was that, as he doesn't use online banking, your father in law wasn't aware that the fraudulent transactions had happened until he received a paper statement. It is also difficult to prove that the card used was 'genuine' and not a sophisticated copy. Once credit card details have been obtained, they can be copied on to a blank card. Often, banks only realise this because two transactions have taken place in locations that are too far apart for both cards to be genuine for example, the real card being used London and then the copy in Manchester an hour later. That didn't happen in your father-in-law's case, as he usually took out money to spend in cash and therefore often didn't use his card for several days. The Financial Ombudsman Service, London headquarters pictured, said in an initial report that the card used appeared to be genuine and HSBC couldn't be made to reimburse the money The Ombudsman did suggest that HSBC paid your father 250 in compensation, because on two occasions he visited a bank branch to try and sort this out and faced a lengthy wait. However, you declined this offer and asked for the case to go to a final decision. At the same time, you got in touch with me. It can be difficult for me to get a bank to turn its decision around once the Ombudsman has come down on its side, even in an initial verdict - but I thought it was clear something had gone wrong so I decided to get in touch with HSBC. It reviewed the matter again, saying that it had not been aware of your father in law's vulnerabilities at the time of the investigation. It also accepted that the card may not have been in his possession at the time. In light of new information, it had made the decision to refund your father in law for the entire 5,523 he lost. The Ombudsman also changed its mind and backed up this new decision, after HSBC shared the new information with it. On top of that, HSBC said it would pay him 8 per cent interest on the money, as well as 400 as a gesture of goodwill. That should take the amount to just under 850. An HSBC UK spokesman said: 'Fraudsters are devious criminals who use a range of techniques to steal money from people without any concern for the mental or financial wellbeing of their victims. 'We are very sorry to hear that [this customer] has been the victim of fraud and we empathise with his situation. We have reviewed this case, and based on new information, have decided that a full refund is appropriate, given our new understanding of the circumstances of the case.' HSBC also said it advised customers to make it aware if a customer was vulnerable. I would suggest that you and husband speak to your father in law about whether he would be willing to grant you power of attorney. This would mean you could jointly manage his bank account and might help you to be alerted more quickly if something like this happened again. I hope that your father-in-law can move on from this experience and that this year, Christmas at your place is back on. Gen Z youngsters spend too much time chasing 'get rich quick' side hustles while finding their primary jobs a bore. A series of studies have found the generation admits to being less ambitious - but youngsters moan their elders are giving them a tough time. According to new research, millions of Gen Z spend their days 'chasing an easy fix' rather than working hard at their primary jobs. James McNeil, 37, the founder of Leicestershire car company Ready2Lease, said it was a 'given' that people with side hustles would focus more on that than their primary jobs. He told MailOnline: 'I had a couple of guys who had other things going on. One of them was a music producer on the side, the other made oven gloves. Do YOU have a side hustle - or do your staff have a second job? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk Cyd Ashbridge, 25, (pictured) is a senior account executive at a PR agency. In her free time, she runs a sustainable fashion brand called Cydsline The University of Durham graduate told MailOnline that criticism of Gen Z was 'unfair' because 'as a generation we are the hardest working people that I know' Aisha Dowlut, 27, (pictured) is another youngster with a side hustle. She works for the NHS as a senior house officer at a major trauma centre. In her spare time, she works on her side hustle, a micro bakery called The Sweetest Tooth He now supports her as she has turned her love of baking sweet treats into a money-making side hustle 'I think that's partly because of the work from home culture. 'They see that as, ''I can pretend to work and also do a side hustle to make some more money.'' 'Whoever starts a side hustle started it because they want to do that long term. 'I did the same thing. I started a business in 2020 whilst employed so I could quit that job in 2023. 'It's not a fear, it's a given. You don't start a side hustle unless you're going to give it your best.' Research by VistaPrint found the majority of young people with side hustles were more passionate about their own businesses than their full time job. Just under a fifth revealed they found their full time job 'boring'. Meanwhile, a study by McDonald's found that almost a third of Gen Z youngsters admitted they've become less ambitious. Even so, the same research found that more than three quarters didn't think society viewed them positively. Another report by BestBrokers this week listed the 'most harmful personal finance trend' on TikTok - a social media used by many GenZers - was the 'side hustle'. It said side hustles were presented in TikTok videos as part of 'lazy ways to get rich' or 'do nothing and earn money' concepts. The report said some side hustle videos had as many as eight million views and were ensnaring 'more and more naive viewers, eager to earn easy money for doing close to nothing'. James McNeil, 37, the founder of Leicestershire car company Ready2Lease, said it was a 'given' that people with side hustles would focus more on that than their primary jobs. Pictured: Cyd with some of her fashion line Research by VistaPrint found the majority of young people with side hustles were more passionate about their own businesses than their full time job However, one Gen Z with a side hustle said Gen Zs were being treated harshly. Cyd Ashbridge, 25, is a senior account executive at a PR agency. In her free time, she runs a sustainable fashion brand called Cydsline. She told MailOnline that criticism of Gen Z was 'unfair' because 'as a generation we are the hardest working people that I know'. Cyd added: 'People are able to work hard and do something different to fulfil their dreams. 'My friends in Gen Z are very hard working.' After leaving the University of Durham, Cyd started her company just before lockdown in 2020, when she was 21. She told MailOnline she 'wanted to make a difference' and 'just do my bit for the planet' by fighting against fast fashion. She said: 'I'm a firm believer in people having the ability to change the world with the power of their wallets. 'It's nice to have something that's just a hobby.' She added: 'I have monetised my hobby. 'As a generation we really want to do good. We are very happy to be growing up at this time.' She said with her generation's ability to reflect, they could 'be the best self you can be'. Aisha Dowlut found her passion for baking after learning from her grandfather as a child Aisha Dowlut, 27, is another youngster with a side hustle. She works for the NHS as a senior house officer at a major trauma centre. In her spare time, she works on her side hustle, a micro bakery called The Sweetest Tooth. She told MailOnline: 'There are a lot of people who are having to work two jobs but I by no means need to do this. 'I do this because I want to. It's something I started as an online thing to document [what] I was doing. 'My micro bakery makes me not burn out. [It's] a way of unwinding.' She said her work at the NHS would always take priority, especially if she was called to an emergency, and said her bosses were aware of her side hustle. Mr McNeill said Gen Z still had a part to play in the workforce, but warned youngsters away from thinking 'get rich quick' schemes were easy to come by. He said: 'Young people need educating on the truth behind those very, very unique success stories.' Rianne Rennalls, 24, is a youth worker who uses McDonald's fast food chains to meet Gen Z kids. Youth worker Rianne Rennalls, 24, (pictured) said many Gen Z she encountered had a 'lack of hope' She said Gen Z youngsters she encountered had a 'lack of hope' and 'imposter syndrome'. 'They come with no idea of what they want to do in the future. 'McDonald's [has] helped. They have been giving us a safe space - showing the young people there are other options. 'We need to give [young people] more support. She said in her experience, many young people flocked to McDonald's to meet their friends after school. McDonald's website says anybody can apply to work at the chain even if they don't have any qualifications. Even so, Rianne was delighted that the chain was also offering work experience to some of the youngsters hanging out at the restaurants, although she was unsure whether the chain was paying them. The chain has launched an initiative that will connect all of its restaurants connected to youth centres and fund 500 youth work qualifications. Rianne added: 'We want to best [young people's] ambition. It's inspiring them.' Scandal-hit special prosecutor Nathan Wade has put his former marital home on the market days after he defended his relationship with Fulton County District Attorney, Fani Willis, saying their affair was, 'as American as apple pie,' DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. The sale of the property, coupled with Wade's admission during a television interview last week that he and Willis are 'in communication daily,' has fueled speculation that the affair that almost derailed Willis's election-interference prosecution of Donald Trump, is not over. Viewings for the 5,215 square foot stone home in Marietta, Georgia, which boasts seven bedrooms, five baths, a pool room, with wet-bar and home cinema, started Monday with an asking price of $699,900. Rumors that Willis, 53, and her 51-year-old 'lover' are still very much an item first bubbled up when Wade stunned guests by showing up at her primary victory party on Tuesday night. Fani Willis' 'lover' Nathan Wade made a shock appearance at her primary victory party last week months after he was forced to resign over their affair which almost derailed her prosecution of Trump DailyMail.com can reveal Willis has now listed his former marital home in Marietta, Georgia, for sale Wade was in the audience and schmoozing guests when Willis delivered her victory speech, even though it is just two months since he was forced to resign his position as special prosecutor on the Trump prosecution after Judge Scott McAfee said he would disqualify Willis if Wade did not. But if he felt any unease at the ripples caused by his appearance Tuesday night, Wade did not show it. He was sharply dressed in a blue three-piece suit and proudly wore a Fani Willis pin on his vest. For her part Willis looked radiant in a sequined blue dress with plunging neckline, perhaps quietly thrilled to have the man with whom she remains 'the best of friends,' by her side on this important night. The following night Wade made his appearance on Joy Reid's MSNBC show where he defended his relationship with Willis and doubled down on earlier comments that a work-place affair was 'as American as apple pie.' Speaking on Wednesday night Wade told Reid that the relationship 'grew organically over time.' He said: 'It was something that was not deliberate or intentional.' But he said his 'apple pie comment' was 'not to make light of the situation.' He explained, 'That was just to say that it could happen to anyone.' The 7-bed, 5-bath home hit the market with an asking price of $699,900 Wade greeted and schmoozed with guests at the victory party in Fulton County last week Wade has been at the center of a bitter divorce case, where it was revealed he had a relationship with Willis Wade has always insisted that his relationship with Willis was strictly professional when he took on the role of special prosecutor in the election interference trial being brought against Trump in Georgia. He joined the case November 1, 2021, the same day that he filed for divorce from his ex-wife, Joycelyn, who exposed her ex-husband's illicit affair in divorce filings in which she claimed that Wade used 'marital funds' to 'entertain' his lover. She also attempted to subpoena Willis as part of the divorce case. According to Wade he and Joycelyn had an understanding that when their youngest child graduated high school and matriculated into college they would formally file for divorce. Both he and Willis maintain that their relationship did not become romantic until early 2022. Speaking last week Wade told of the special bond that he and Willis still have, as he shared the fact that both have received a deluge of threats to their safety. He said he has to empty threats left on his voicemail daily and has been forced to employ security at his law firm's offices in Atlanta. The intensity of his shared experience with Willis has, he said, fostered a unique understanding between the two. He described Willis as, 'the only other person on the planet who knows what I'm going through.' And added that he knows what she's going through too. A father-to-be died from a sudden cardiac death just hours before the birth of his first child, after doctors missed an abnormality on scans at A&E. Thomas Gibson, 40, was found unresponsive at his home in Manchester by partner Rebecca Moss who was 39 weeks pregnant with their daughter Harper at the time. Ms Moss, who was scheduled to have a planned caesarean section on the same morning, called 999 before performing CPR but could not save him. Harper was safely born hours later, but Mr Gibson never got to meet his first and only child. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust has since admitted to Ms Moss that it gave negligent medical care to Mr Gibson, which caused his sudden cardiac death. The trust told the family he should have been admitted as an inpatient to cardiology and fitted with a pacemaker device, which would have likely prevented his death. Rebecca Moss was 39 weeks pregnant with their baby at the time of Thomas Gibson's death Thomas Gibson and partner Rebecca Moss, who gave birth to their child hours after he died Thomas Gibson, who suffered a sudden cardiac death last year, and his partner Rebecca Moss Three weeks before Mr Gibson died, he contracted a stomach bug which he was struggling to recover from. Heart block: What are causes and symptoms? A heart block is a condition where the heart beats more slowly or with an abnormal rhythm and is caused by a problem with electrical pulses that control how the heart beats. Three levels of atrioventricular heart block exist with third-degree being the most serious that can sometimes be a medical emergency. Symptoms can include feeling faint, chest pain, being short of breath and extreme tiredness, sometimes with confusion. Some people are born with heart block known as congenital heart block but it more commonly develops later in life, known as acquired heart block. This can be caused by a heart attack, some prescription medicines, other conditions such as Lyme disease and having heart surgery. Unless someone is experiencing symptoms, heart block is often diagnosed during routine tests for other conditions. Electrocardiogram (ECG) tests can measure the electrical activity of the heart, and diagnose it. Advertisement After failing to be seen in person by his GP - Delamere Medical Centre in Stretford - he contacted 111 and was told to go to Wythenshawe A&E because of his symptoms. While in A&E, Mr Gibson was given an electrocardiogram (ECG) test which displayed abnormal results identifying a complete heart block. Also known as a third-degree heart block - the most serious type of heart block - this can lead to sudden cardiac death, which is what happened in Mr Gibson's case. The abnormality on the ECG was missed by the doctors in the A&E department and he was discharged for follow up care by his GP relating to his stomach bug. Then on the morning of June 7 last year, pregnant Ms Moss found him unresponsive at their home and was unable to save him. Now, an inquest will take place at Stockport Coroner's Court from June 4 to 5 - almost exactly a year after his death. Ms Moss is hoping to have a series of questions answered during the inquest, including how Mr Gibson had two ECGs during his admission and what led to them both being interpreted incorrectly. She is also asking whether there is an overreliance on an automated ECG report that is produced, which was erroneous in this case. Ms Moss would also like to know whether the A&E clinicians had sufficient training with ECG interpretation and, if they did not, whether they recognised they needed more senior or specialist input. It is understood that Mr Gibson was not reviewed by a specialist cardiologist during his admission. An inquest will take place at Stockport Coroner's Court into the death of Thomas Gibson Thomas Gibson had third-degree heart block - the most serious type of heart block The registrar who discharged Mr Gibson is said to have felt that there were no cardiovascular symptoms because he attended with gastrointestinal symptoms. However, Ms Moss contests that there had in fact been several cardiovascular concerns during his admission, and is therefore concerned about an issue with communication within the trust. She also wants to ask whether there is complacency on behalf of the registrar and in general when dealing with younger patients and 'failure to consider the patient as a whole and consider the full clinical picture'. The family's solicitor Charlotte Moore, from CL Medilaw, said: 'Tom's tragic death is a result of a misinterpretation of a basic cardiac function test, for which we have received a full admission of liability for Tom's partner, Rebecca. 'If the ECG had been properly interpreted as showed a complete heart block, Tom would have received a pacemaker, and his untimely death would have been avoided. Thomas Gibson died just hours before his partner gave birth to their daughter Thomas Gibson was told to go to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester due to his symptoms 'For this to happen on the day that Harper was born adds to the pain and anger that Rebecca now endures in losing Tom, unnecessarily. 'Harper's birthday, which should be a joyous occasion, will forever be tinged by sadness for Rebecca and Harper, due to the loss of their loving partner and father.' The charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) states that every week in the UK, 12 apparently fit and healthy young aged 35 and under die from undiagnosed cardiac conditions. Dr Steven Cox, the charity's chief executive, said: 'In 80 per cent of these cases, there will have been no signs or symptoms of a heart defect until it is too late, which is why CRY believes screening is so vitally important - particularly for those involved in regular, physical activity). 'As such, CRY now tests around 27,000 young people each year, aged between 14 and 35.' Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust declined to issue a statement to MailOnline ahead of the inquest taking place next week. A dodgy car dealer who received a lifetime ban from the industry has been caught on camera attacking an A Current Affair news crew after he was accused of operating out of another car yard. Mezin Hadad has been permanently disqualified from holding a motor dealer licence in Queensland and, along with his company Best Buy Auto Group Pty Ltd, was fined a total of $127,000. He was banned after the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) took disciplinary action against the car dealer and his company in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT). Mr Hadad was found to have provided false or misleading information to consumers, had harassed and coerced customers, and failed to repair consumers' faulty second-hand cars under warranty. He also failed to give customers important documents and contracts such as statement of ownership. Mezin Hadad has been permanently disqualified from holding a motor dealer licence in Queensland and along with his company Best Buy Auto Group Pty Ltd, was fined a total of $127,000. He physically clashed with an A Current Affair news crew The Channel Nine program initially ran a story on Mr Hadad's shonky business where he declined to speak, but after seeing the program he emailed to say he was ready to do an interview anytime and called reporter Reece D'Alessandro a 'loser'. But things turned physical when the TV crew showed up at Fair Dinkum Autos in Clontarf, northeast of Brisbane. Mr Hadad refused to answer any questions and instead threw folders and documents at the reporter. He also repeatedly shoved D'Alessandro and his crew and even threw a punch towards the cameraman. As D'Alessandro was wrapping up the segment, Mr Hadad poured a can of V energy drink over his head. The confrontation escalated after D'Alessandro probed Mr Hadad on why he was at the dealership if he'd been banned from the industry. A spokesperson for the Clontarf car yard told Daily Mail Australia Mr Hadad was not an employee but sometimes visited because his family ran the business. 'It's his family's business. He comes here and waters the plants and chats to people. He doesn't work here and he doesn't get paid,' she said. A scuffle broke out immediately when the Channel Nine crew arrived, with Mr Hadad refusing to be filmed and repeatedly shoving the cameraman. 'You're not going to air it, you're a f***ing grub,' he told the reporter. 'You're a piece of s***, you're a grub, and you're not going to air it because you're a liar, you're only going to air what you want to air.' Mr Hadad repeatedly shoved the camera crew when they turned up at a car yard he was in Mr Hadad then asked to sit down and talk but only if the cameras weren't rolling. He again shoved the cameraman and the pair became caught in a struggle with Mr Hadad appearing to throw his fist into the other man's face. While the reporter repeatedly asked Mr Hadad whether or not he was breaking the law, he refused to answer and instead suggested they sit down and talk. When D'Alessandro and Mr Hadad did eventually sit down for the interview, it lasted a matter of seconds. 'Are you Australia's dodgiest used car dealer?' the ACA reporter asked, to which Mr Hadad immediately denied he was. 'No, I've been a car dealer for 34 years, if I was, how would I have been a car dealer for 34 years? Answer that!' he said. Mr Hadad then grabbed the documents on his desk and threw them at D'Alessandro's head, before shoving him out of the room and down a walkway. Mr Hadad chased the TV crew out of the dealership while dumping a can of energy drink on the journalist's head. Mr Hadad had previously shared a video of himself on Youtube in 2019 flaunting his luxury yacht and holding what appears to be a novelty gun He was banned from the Queensland motor industry in January this year after an investigation found he and his company committed multiple breaches of the Motor Dealers Act and Australian consumer law. Mr Hadad was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $67,607 to affected customers, while his company Best Buy Auto was fined $50,000. He was subjected to a Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing, with the findings being handed down in December last year. He claimed the breakdown of his marriage to his wife had been 'emotionally and financially draining'. He also claimed to have tried to take his life on five separate occasions between 2018 and 2021, and had been admitted to a Queensland mental health ward. The tribunal said 'Mr Hadad has filed no medical or any other evidence to support these allegations'. 'Mr Hadad stated that in a span of two years he literally went from a tycoon to a mental health patient and attempted to take his life, his whole life was in ruins, and he had lost his house after the mortgage went into possession,' the document read. The car dealer was found not suitable to hold a licence. Mr Hadad had previously shared a video of himself on YouTube in 2019 flaunting his luxury yacht and holding what appears to be a novelty gun. It's understood questions regarding Mr Hadad's presence at the car yard were referred to him by Fair Dinkum Autos but no response was received. An Aussie farmer has raised questions after finding Australian beef sold at a retailer in Japan was cheaper than Coles and Woolworths. Andrew Dunlop, a cattle farmer from southern NSW, was shocked to find Australian cubed beef on the shelves in Tokyo for $18.35 per kilogram, about $4 cheaper than in major Australian supermarkets. Australian rump steak was also photographed for sale in a Tokyo supermarket at 298 yen per 100 grams, amounting to approximately $28.90 per kilogram. In Australia, Coles sells cubed beef online for around $22 per kilogram, while rump steak retails at Woolworths for between $28 and $40 per kilogram. Mr Dunlop explained that the meat came from the Hanamasa retail network, a discount retailer known for selling beef at near wholesale prices. Andrew Dunlop has raised questions after finding Australian beef selling in Japan in Japanese supermarkets for a fraction of the price it retails for at Coles and Woolworths Australian rump steak was photographed for sale in a Tokyo supermarket on April 20 this year at 298 yen per 100g around $28.90 per kg. The same product retails for as much as $40 per kg at Woolworths Mr Dunlop included a similar Japan/Australia price comparison in his submission to the ACCC inquiry into Australias supermarket sector. He found it astounding that foreign retailers managed to absorb the expenses of international shipping and a 25 percent import tariff, all while offering their meat at prices that rivalled those in the Australian market. Mr Dunlop described all the different Aussie meat he saw on Japanese shelves. 'I could see finely sliced product that would be equivalent to our stir fry... and I saw casserole,' he told ABC News. 'I saw a rump steak and they were all seemingly pretty competitive with what we would be paying here.' Mr Dunlop believes this situation highlights the dominance of a few powerful supermarkets in Australia. He explained that unlike in Australia, the retail industry in Japan is not dominated by a small number of companies. 'Any individual retailer in Japan probably has at most a 10 per cent share of the market, although there will be some regional differences,' he said. Australia exports approximately 70 percent of its meat, with Japan being its largest export market in 2022. Australian exports around 70 per cent of its meat and in 2022 Japan was Australia's largest export market A spokesperson for Woolworths said in a statement it was 'not really possible to make a like for like comparison between Australia and Japan'. 'Australia produces beef across a very broad quality spectrum,' the spokesperson said. 'Woolworths purchases premium cattle to a very tight quality specification, quality which is independently certified through the Meat Standards Australia program. 'In none of the pictures of the Japanese products is this certification visible.' A social justice entrepreneur who stole her lodger's 23,000 inheritance that had been left to him by his mother has avoided prison with a suspended sentence. Nichola Dame Hartwell, 50, is the director of 'Mr and Miss Black and Beautiful', a 'community focused non-profit social enterprise' aimed at assisting the career prospects of the young and underprivileged. After her lodger Paul Atherton inherited 23,249 from his late mother but had no bank account of his own for it to be paid into, Hartwell, of Lambeth, vowed to look after the money in her own account. But, despite Mr Atherton planning to give the entire sum to his son when he turned eighteen, Hartwell instead spent the lot. She spent years fighting the case, but after an Inner London Crown Court trial was convicted of two counts of theft between July 19, 2015 and March 11, 2019. Nichola Dame Hartwell (pictured), 50, stole her lodger's 23,000 inheritance that had been left to him by his mother The 50-year-old is the director of 'Mr and Miss Black and Beautiful', a 'community focused non-profit social enterprise' aimed at assisting the career prospects of the young and underprivileged 'This is in breach of trust,' Recorder Leo Seelig told a tearful Hartwell, who was sent to prison in the nineties for similar offences. 'He trusted you to safeguard his inheritance and you stole it. It must have been painful for him that you used that money as your own.' Hartwell, a Social & Policy graduate from South Bank university was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and must complete 120 hours community service work, plus fifteen days of a rehabilitation activity. She was described as having a 'long term' friendship with Mr Atherton, who suffers with chronic fatigue and had stayed at her address on different occasions. He did not have or want a bank account and arranged for the inheritance to be transferred to Hartwell's 'dormant account' without any written contract or agreement. Over the next four years Hartwell says she used the money for day-to-day expenses, but always intended to repay Mr Atherton, until the balance was reduced to just 6.00. She told the court: 'It was not malicious or calculated. It was for living costs, for food and items for my accuser, I remain innocent in this instance. Hartwell was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and must complete 120 hours community service work 'I felt I had borrowed the monies and I was always going to pay it back.' Hartwell continues to maintain her innocence and is appealing the conviction at the High Court, insisting Mr Atherton was impossible to find to repay the money. She told the court a prison sentence would destroy her plans for motherhood and interrupt her private fertility medical treatment as well as the care she provides to her 94 year-old grandmother. 'The money stolen was of substantial value to Mr Atherton and there was financial harm as a result of the loss of that money and emotional distress to him and, no doubt, his son,' said Recorder Seelig. 'You continue to deny these offences, but I must do justice to the jury's decision,' he told Hartwell. 'You agreed to hold this money in one of your bank accounts on his behalf. 'At some point you decided you could treat the money as your own. If you did borrow it with the intention to repay you have not done so.' None of the money has been repaid by Hartwell, who will now be subject to a Proceeds of Crime Act investigation in an attempt to identify any of her assets. From a Spanish ranch in Southern California to two innocent-looking townhouses in New England, all of these American properties have a chilling link. While they may have new owners or sit empty today, they were once home to members of the darkest and most notorious cults in the US. Mass suicide, murderers in hiding, and sex trafficking are just some of the horrors that went on behind the doors or within close proximity to these properties. Some of the homes are where cult leaders lived before going on to do unimaginable things - others are where they escaped to after committing heinous crimes. Here, MailOnline lists some of the places that were once stalked by the most horrific cults in the US, and what the properties and land are being used for now. Spahn Ranch Spahn Ranch was home to cult leader Charles Manson and his followers, the 'Mansion family' During the infamous 'Manson Family' slayings, the group resided on the ranch, however Spahn was never accused of a role in the murders A $4.8 million property hit the South California market back in February and it comes with some terrifying previous neighbours. The land, which is located in the West Hills, sits adjacent to none other than Spahn Ranch, which was home to cult leader Charles Manson and his followers, the 'Mansion family'. They lived rent-free in exchange for chores and the ranch was owned by George Spahn who was in his 80s when he let the group stay there. During the infamous 'Manson Family' slayings, the group resided on the ranch, however, Spahn was never accused of a role in the murders. Manson was 83 years old when he died and had been behind bars for more than four decades, since 1969, after he ordered members of his cult - which he dubbed 'the Family' - to go on a murderous two-day rampage. Three of his followers, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkle, and Leslie Van Houten, killed seven people: pregnant actress Sharon Tate, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, Steven Parent and Jay Sebring. He had ordered his family members to slaughter Tate, who was eight-and-a-half months pregnant, and three of her friends at her home above Beverly Hills. Stephen Parent was a fifth unfortunate victim that night. He had driven to the property to see if caretaker William Garreston wanted to buy his AM/FM Clock radio, and had stayed on for a beer at the guest house. He was shot multiple times when he wound down the window at the electric gate as he left. Pictured: Interior view of a living room at the Spahn Ranch in 1969 The buildings on the ranch burned down in 1970 and the land is now part of the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park (pictured in 1969) Pictured: Interior view of the kitchen at the Spahn Ranch in 1969, where Charles Manson and his followers lived The following night the Family butchered small business owners Leno and Rosemary La Bianca, in their home in Los Angeles. The murders were carried out in upscale, mostly white neighborhoods of Los Angeles in order to blame the crimes on African Americans, in the hope of sparking what he termed a 'Helter Skelter' race war. Manson was also later convicted of the slayings of musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald 'Shorty' Shea. During the trial, he was convicted of leading a cult in which disaffected young people living in a commune followed his orders and were ultimately turned into killers. The buildings on the ranch burned down in 1970 and the land is now part of the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park. However, the property next door which is the one on sale, includes both structures and caves where the cult members are said to have hid after carrying out horrific murders What's more, the Mansons were not the only cult to establish themselves in the Spahn Ranch area. A man called Krishna Venta created the Fountain of the World cult nearby, declaring himself to be Jesus Christ. However, in 1958 he was killed in a suicide bombing by some of his disgruntled followers. NXIVM New England townhouses Smallville actress Alison Mack, who was part of the cult, lived in a three-bedroom townhouse near Cliffton Park Another home linked to the cult was last sold for $64,500 in 2018 and is now on the market for $148,000 The HBO true crime documentary The Vow, revolves around the NXIVM cult and its leader Keith Raniere. Described as a pyramid scheme, sex-trafficking operation, and sex cult, victims of the group told of how Raniere and other leaders brandished them with a burning piece of metal. The horrors first caught the attention of the public in 2017, when several former members shed light on what was going on behind closed doors. The NXIVM cult leader, Raniere, is currently serving a 120-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, forced labor conspiracy, human trafficking, and multiple counts of racketeering including sexual exploitation of a child. However, what many people won't know is that two of the properties used by the notorious cult are being rented out and sold in New York state. Smallville actress Alison Mack, who was part of the cult, lived in a three-bedroom townhouse near Cliffton Park. According to the New York Post, it had been rented out for $1,800 per month before being sold for $270,000 in 2022. Mack pleaded guilty over her role in a sex-trafficking case tied to the cult group and served a prison sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, in September 2021. Best known for her role as a young Superman's close friend on Smallville, Mack, 40, pleaded guilty in 2019 to charges that she manipulated women into becoming sex slaves for NXIVM leader Keith Raniere. She was released from prison a year early in 2023. Another home linked to the cult was last sold for $64,500 in 2018 and is now on the market for $148,000. The two-bed house in Halfmoon features a room nicknamed 'The Library,' which is allegedly where Raniere had sex with a trafficking victim, according to the Times Union and Realtor. Muddy Ranch in Oregon Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his 7,000 followers, who were known as Rajneeshees, created their own village in Muddy Ranch (pictured in 1983) At first glance, Muddy Ranch in Wasco County, Oregon, looks like a normal expanse of land. Nowadays, it is owned and operated by a Christian youth camp called Young Life, who run an outdoor summer camp program where youngsters help to maintain the 64,000 acres of land. But, back in 1981, the ranch had a very different purpose. It was sold to an Indian spiritual leader who relocated to Oregon. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his 7,000 followers, who were known as Rajneeshees, created their own village in Muddy Ranch. Rajneesh presided over the New Age sex cult that was second to none in its embrace of 'free love', unorthodox meditation techniques and sheer outrageousness. In India, he was known as the 'Sex Guru' and attracted tens of thousands of followers from all over the world, including celebrities, from the venerable British journalist Bernard Levin to film star Terence Stamp. In the U.S. he was dubbed the 'Rolls-Royce Guru' given that he owned 93 of the luxury cars. When it was realized that they were a cult, the nearby town of Antelope began to raise alarm bells about the group. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his 7,000 followers, who were known as Rajneeshees, created their own village in Muddy Ranch Because the ranch was agricultural land in a rural part of Wasco County, creation of a new city violated state laws. They were also trying to gain political control and feared they would not get enough votes, so they carried out a bioterror attack in The Dalles in an attempt to incapacitate voters. The cult deliberately contaminated salad bars at ten local restaurants with salmonella - 751 people contracted it 45 of whom were hospitalized, but none died. It was the largest bio-terror attack in U.S. history. The Rajneeshees leaders were accused of various crimes and fled the country in 1985. The guru agreed to a plea deal and was deported. He returned to Pune, renamed himself Osho, and died aged 58 of heart failure in 1990. In the years since the cult's heyday, former members have exposed ugly truths about the free-love culture: some women were raped, abortions were sometimes enforced and nearly 90 per cent of disciples had a sexually transmitted disease. According to the New York Post, a property adjacent to Muddy Ranch is on the market now for $2,375,000. Tomales Bay Marconi Convention Center In the 1960s, the property was the headquarters for Synanon - a drug rehabilitation program that escalated into an 'alternative lifestyle community,' and eventually became a cult The group became the Church of Synanon in 1975 and faced various allegations of violent activity Marconi Convention Center in Tomales Bay, Northern California, is now a luxury hotel following a multi-million dollar renovation. Lodge at Marconi is described as a place 'where history meets the healing power of nature'. The modern hotel offers a: 'Sanctuary to explore, unwind, and connect with the timeless beauty of West Marin'. Some holidaygoers won't know it has a dark and disturbing history - the center notably used to serve as a clubhouse for a New Age Cult. In the 1960s, the property was the headquarters for Synanon - a drug rehabilitation program that escalated into an 'alternative lifestyle community,' and eventually became a cult. The group became the Church of Synanon in 1975 and faced various allegations of violent activity. It infamously forced its male members to have vasectomies, its women to shave their heads, and some to get abortions. It disbanded in 1991 after several members were convicted of multiple crimes, including attempted murder. The cult hit national news headlines in 1978 when two members placed a rattlesnake into the mailbox of attorney Paul Morantz who was representing several former members in a lawsuit against the cult. The Church of Synanon is now widely viewed as one of the most dangerous and deadly cults to form in the US. Mount Carmel Center in Waco More than 70 agents reportedly entered the compount which led to a shootout and a confrontation - four agents and six Branch Davidians died Thirty years ago, Mount Carmel Center, a large group of buildings near Axtell, Texas, were used by the Branch Davidian group. Branch Davidians are a religious sect that believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ - they were led by proclaimed prophet David Koresh. They built their community at the center, which served as headquarters for their movement. In February 1993 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms executed a search warrant of the compound as authorities suspected that weapons were being stockpiled there illegally. More than 70 agents reportedly entered the compount which led to a shootout and a confrontation - four agents and six Branch Davidians died. Following this, the buildings remained under siege until April 1993 when a fire started, which killed 76 of the cult members. The events later became known as the Waco siege and massacre. Now, a chapel is located on the grassy floodplain and 81 trees have been planted to commemorate the dead. Heaven's Gate 'suicide cult' home A mansion in the tiny suburb of Rancho Santa Fe sent shockwaves around the world in March 1997 when it was revealed that a mass suicide had taken place there First responders arrived to find 39 bodies in identical black clothing were carefully staged in bunk beds A mansion in the tony suburb of Rancho Santa Fe sent shockwaves around the world in March 1997 when it was revealed that a mass suicide had taken place there. First responders arrived to find 39 bodies in identical black clothing were carefully staged in bunk beds. Their heads were shaved but neatly covered with purple shrouds. They wore matching black tunics and fresh out-of-the-box Nike 'Decade' sneakers. Each had exactly $5.75 cash in their pocket and a travel bag next them on the floor. Triangular arm patches on all the bodies read: 'Heaven's Gate Away Team.' The founder of the cult, Marshall Applewhite, told his followers that the world was due to be 'wiped clean' by the alien founders and that they needed to leave the Earth. Police uncovered video manifestos explaining that disciples of the Heaven's Gate cult were 'exiting their human vessels' to enter the 'Next Level' via an extraterrestrial-piloted spaceship that was apparently, zipping along the wake of comet Hale-Bopp on its close cruise over planet Earth. In 2020, HBO released a four-part docuseries titled Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults, which examined how the bewitched UFO death cult ended in the largest mass suicide event on American soil. The mansion where the horrific deaths took place has since been demolished and the property built on the land has a new address to cut any ties with its past. It was last sold back in 2010 for $4.6 million. The verdict is in, and Donald Trump is the first former president in U.S. history to ever be convicted of a crime. A New York jury found the ex-president and presumed Republican presidential nominee guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records and he will be sentenced on July 11. Trumps legal team is expected to appeal, but the unprecedented conviction sets off a process that all convicted criminals face within the Manhattan criminal court system. Despite his conviction, he can still run for president and is expected to furiously campaign before his expected rematch with President Joe Biden. The judge has discretion when it comes to sentencing. So will he face jail or will he get probation? Donald Trump speaking to the media on May 30 as jury deliberations were set to start up again The probation office in the Manhattan criminal courthouse would begin preparing the pre-sentencing report for the judge which includes recommendations. If Trump thought the 'freezing' courtroom was bad, the probation office is worse. Located on the 10th floor of the Manhattan criminal courthouse, the New York City probation department is at the end of a long hallway through a set of double doors. Depending on how one gets to it, visitors must walk past the sex offender registry office. Inside, the drab reception area is situated with gray plastic chairs, tan walls, lime green colored trimming and stained tiled floors. Visitors stand about waiting to be called into the surrounding offices. This process would include interviewing the former president for details about his history, mental health and circumstances around the conviction. A sketch of Judge Juan Merchan during the hush money trial. Donald Trump's sentencing is at his discretion Trump returning to the courtroom from a break as the jury began deliberations on May 29 Trump is getting a bird's eye view of the criminal justice system from a very different perspective than he's ever had, said Cheryl Bader, Fordham associate professor of law. The prosecution and Trumps defense team also have the opportunity to submit additional information to the judge for sentencing and probation. Pre-sentence reports are required where the defendant faces jail time, said David Shapiro, a former assistant prosecutor and lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. These reports must be completed before sentencing within a reasonable time period not to exceed in most cases one year. Falsifying business records in the first degree carries a maximum of four years in prison. Theoretically, Trump could face 136 years in prison if given consecutive sentences on all charges. But even before the verdict came down, legal experts suggested Trump was unlikely to face time behind bars. Trump at 77-years-old has no prior convictions. The charges also involve a nonviolent offense. New York law recommends no prison sentence for non-violent felonies where the defendant lacks any prior felony conviction in the last decade. The more likely option, according to legal experts, is the ex-president could face probation or a steep fine. Both pose their own challenges for the former president. The charge of falsifying a business record in the first degree carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison Probation requirements depend on the case, but it could pose logistical challenges for Trump if he has to get permission to travel and faces reporting requirements as he ramps up his presidential campaign in battleground states. While probation could mean Trumps travel is limited, there is also the possibility he could check in with a probation officer by phone. The probation officer also has the ability to sort of lessen the amount of supervision that is required if the individual has been compliant, Bader said. Fines could also hinder the ex-president in another way as he is already facing staggering fines for committing civil fraud in New York and for the defamation of E Jean Carroll. Donald Trump at his rally in Wildwood, NJ on May 11 while he was on a weekend break from the hush money trail Meanwhile, because Trump as a former president and the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, he has another unique consideration officials need to contend with. Trump has Secret Service protection. The agency has already reportedly been in discussions over how it would proceed in its charge to protect him should Trump actually be locked up. Trumps lawyers have already been able to stall the three other cases against him. While New York law made it challenging to delay the hush money case, his team is expected to appeal the conviction. After sentencing, the case is ripe for any appeal, said Bader. An appeal would go to the Appellate Division First Department. While the case would make its way through New York criminal justice system, it appears the verdict will have little impact on voters. A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll of registered voters found 67 percent said it would not make a difference to their vote if Trump was found guilty in the hush money case. 15 percent said a guilty verdict would make them more likely to vote for him while 17 percent said it would make them less likely to vote for him come November. Among Independent and Republican voters, a guilty verdict in the case was actually more likely than less likely to make them vote for Trump. A Christian theology college lecturer was sacked after his tweet on homosexuality led to complaints by three students that they felt 'unsafe', an employment tribunal heard. Evangelical Dr Aaron Edwards, 39, lost his job at the Methodist learning institution Cliff College, in Derbyshire, following the social media post which read: 'Homosexuality is invading the Church. 'Evangelicals no longer see the severity of this b/c they're busy apologising for their apparently barbaric homophobia, whether or not it's true.' The married father-of-five was accused of homophobia following the tweet on February 19 last year. College bosses suspended him the next day and fired him after an investigation. Dr Aaron Edwards (pictured), 37, was sacked from the Cliff College, Derbyshire, after he was found to have brought it 'into disrepute' following a social media post Dr Edwards began work as Lecturer in Theology, Preaching, and Mission, and MA Programme Lead at Cliff College in July 2016. He taught on a wide variety of courses on both the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Dr Edwards told the tribunal, in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, that the tweet was consistent with views he had expressed in blogs, podcasts, and sermons he gave as a preacher. He argued that the college, where he had worked for seven years, was aware of his views. 'I express prolifically online and in podcasts almost every day of the week,' he said. The ex-lecturer is claiming harassment, discrimination and unfair dismissal against Cliff College. Dr Edwards told the hearing that at the time of his tweet, the Church of England was debating whether it should allow same-sex marriage in their churches. Putting the tweet into context, Dr Edwards said: 'In January 2023, there were numerous debates on social media on same-sex marriage in light of Church of England discussions over same-sex blessings, which had continued on from the latter end of 2022, when the issues had also been in the press. 'This was the immediate context for my tweet, within the aforementioned wider context noted above.' He continued: 'My tweet on the morning of 19 February 2023 was scheduled. Having first written it a week or so earlier, I checked it a few days before it came out to ensure it was what I felt needed to be said, and I was content with the wording. 'My scheduled tweet went out at 8:00am on Sunday 19 February, before we left the house to go to church. 'By the time I returned from church in the afternoon, sometime after 2pm, and checked the laptop, I saw not only that the reactions to my tweet had escalated significantly, with 25,000 views on the tweet and many negative comments about it, but that Cliff College had made a public statement denouncing the language of my tweet as "inappropriate" and "unacceptable" and that it did not reflect the views or ethos of the college. 'I believe the college's decision to denounce my tweet the way they did was effectively to denounce me.' He said the college offered no public support against the backlash and effectively sided with those harassing and slandering him, even though the college said they did not interpret his tweet as homophobic. Dr Edwards told the tribunal: 'I taught LGBT+ identifying students every year for seven years and have never had an accusation like that. 'My views on homosexuality have not been unknown, they have been discussed openly. 'In seven years of teaching at Cliff, I have never had a student who took one of my units raise concerns about feeling unsafe in the classroom, and no student has ever left feedback showing concerns about the expression of my views on homosexuality.' 'The College had more than enough opportunity to be familiar with my views and with my academic research for there to be less apparent shock and public disappointment from them in responding as they did on Twitter without any prior consultation with me.' Dr Edwards (pictured) began work as Lecturer in Theology, Preaching, and Mission, and MA Programme Lead He worked at the Methodist learning institution Cliff College (pictured), in Derbyshire Dr Edwards said he has suffered significant stress leading to heart problems after losing his job. He is also struggling to find employment following the social media storm. 'Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity quotas remain significant for all existing universities and validated colleges, it is already systemically difficult for a heterosexual white male with traditional Christian beliefs on morality to get an academic post,' he said. 'I believe the public expression of my beliefs is academically defensible, but many institutions will likely be unable to look past the controversy of being dismissed as a result.' QUESTION Why did Francisco Franco have all copies of the film Raza destroyed? Raza ('Race') was a novel by Spain's dictator General Francisco Franco which he wrote under the pseudonym Jaime de Andrade in 1940. Franco subsequently wrote the screenplay for the 1942 film version which was directed by Jose Luis Saenz de Heredia. Raza was an idealised version of Franco's own story the patriarch of the Churruca family is a war hero who sacrifices his life for his country. When the Spanish Republic is declared in 1931, the family is divided. Jaime, a priest, is killed by republicans. Pedro, a greedy politician, betrays his family but is ultimately redeemed. Isabel marries a nationalist soldier and Jose, the hero, also fights for the nationalist cause. The film is an unsubtle allegory; Spain is a family fractured by war and rescued by the heroic acts of the youngest son (Franco). After World War II, Franco was courting the political and economic support of the United States, taking advantage of the new Cold War climate. He ordered copies of the original Raza to be destroyed and replaced with a revised version. Raza ('Race') was a novel by Spain's dictator General Francisco Franco (pictured) Raza was an idealised version of Franco's own story the patriarch of the Churruca family is a war hero who sacrifices his life for his country All shots of the fascist salute and images of fascist insignia were excised, as were derogatory references to liberal democracy and the U.S. The bowdlerised version was released as Espiritu De Una Raza on July 3, 1950. The fascist-friendly precursor vanished and was believed destroyed. However, in the mid-1990s a copy turned up in the East Berlin archives of the German film production company UFA. Anthony Shepherd, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. QUESTION What was the nature of the argument between Dionysius Lardner and Isambard Kingdom Brunel? Who won? Dr Dionysius Lardner was a Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy at University College London in 1828-31. He was an early user of statistics but not a practical experimenter in the way Isambard Kingdom Brunel was. Their first argument was over the construction and use of Brunel's Box Tunnel. The tunnel was to be built with a gradient of 1 in 100. Brought in by those opposing the construction, Lardner claimed that should the brakes on a train fail, it would accelerate to 120mph, at which speed no one on the train would be able to breathe. Brunel countered this with friction and air-resistance calculations that Lardner had omitted. As we know, the tunnel was successfully built. Their first argument was over the construction and use of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's (pictured) Box Tunnel Brunel countered Lardner with friction and air-resistance calculations that he had omitted. The tunnel (pictured) was successfully built A statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel looks out over Paddington Station in London The other major argument was over the ability of Brunel's proposed steamship, the SS Great Western, to cross the Atlantic. Dr Lardner claimed no ship could carry sufficient coal to fuel the trip. Brunel responded by successfully building the vessel, which steamed into New York harbour in 1838 with 200 tons of coal to spare. There was a further disagreement over the efficiency of the Great Western locomotive North Star. Lardner recorded excessive fuel consumption at higher speeds. Brunel found out there was a problem with the blast pipe (which sends the exhaust steam up the chimney), amended it and considerably improved the locomotive's performance and economy. So 3-0 in Brunel's favour! John Webb, St Albans, Herts. QUESTION Did a burglar return James Montgomery's belongings because his poetry was so beautiful? Born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, in Scotland, James Montgomery (1771-1854) moved to Sheffield, where he made his mark as a poet, journalist and hymn writer. TOMORROW'S QUESTIONS Q: How do Native American naming systems work? J. Wollen, Thirsk, North Yorks. Q: Is the word embarrass related to the French word for kiss? Helen Race, Altrincham, Cheshire. Q: Did any of the U.S's most famous fictional detectives Kojak, Columbo, etc ever solve a crime in Britain? Antonia Taylor, Formby, Lancs. Advertisement In 1842, Montgomery's home was burgled. Money, plate and a treasured inkstand were stolen. The story goes that following a public outcry, the inkstand was returned with the following message: 'Honoured sir: When we robbed your house we did not know that you wrote such beautiful verses as you do. I remember my mother told some of them to me when I was a boy. I found what house we robbed by the writing on the inkstand.' His biographer, Helen Cross Knight, reported in 1857 that the story was 'not founded on fact'. Montgomery himself wrote to a friend that while he was upset at the loss of property, the most upsetting factor was that 'perfidy, rather than violence, did the deed'. Knight explains that a 'servant girl having herself introduced the thieves' was then 'tied up in the cellar, to elude suspicion and excite the compassion of her employers'. The story is perhaps founded in the belief that we wish to find the good in everyone. Rachel Emmerson, Dunstable, Beds. Is there a question to which you want to know the answer? Or do you know the answer to a question here? Write to: Charles Legge, Answers To Correspondents, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY; or email charles.legge@dailymail.co.uk. A selection is published, but we're unable to enter into individual correspondence. This is the awkward moment a Tory staffer tactically blocked a sneering woman who made it clear she was unimpressed during Rishi Sunak's speech in Exeter. As the Prime Minister addressed employees at defence vehicle manufacturer Supacat in Honiton, Devon, the young woman was caught by the cameras making faces and rolling her eyes. Mr Sunak said: 'It's been difficult for the last few years. You know that, I know that.' Reacting to this, the woman grimaces and chuckles before turning to look at the people standing next to her. When the Prime Minister suggests that his government provided support with energy bills, the woman did not even try to hide her true feelings, furrowing her brows in confusion and watching on with wry amusement. As Mr Sunak's speech came to a close, a Tory staffer checks his phone before awkwardly shuffling into the crowd and blocking the sassy onlooker from view of the cameras. The man then begins to nod along in a desperate effort to enhance the Prime Minister's optics. The sneering woman looks away from Rishi Sunak as the Tory staffer appears (right) The woman (right) grimaces as the Prime Minister delivers a speech in Exeter Rishi Sunak hosts a question and answer session at Supacat in Honiton, Devon During a whistle stop tour of Cornwall and Devon, Mr Sunak found himself clambering into the seat of an armoured vehicle, the Jackel 3, at the Supacat factory. The Prime Minister then met with a group of people who had taken over community ownership of a village pub in Drewsteignton in central Devon. He sat at a long table with the pub's committee and drank a pint of lemonade from a traditional beer mug as he was joined by Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary and Conservative MP for Central Devon. In the corner of the small pub room, two French tourists watched the scene with bemusement. Survation and Redfield & Wilton Strategies both found that Labour is 23 points ahead overall. A survey by Deltapoll of 1,517 British adults online, carried out from May 23-25, put Labour on 45 per cent. The latest poll by Opinium, carried out on May 23 and 24 among 2,050 UK adults online, put Labour on 41 per cent and the Conservatives 27 per cent. The Prime Minister climbs into a Jackel 3 in Exeter on May 29 Rishi Sunak sits in an armoured vehicle during a campaign event in Exeter Rishi Sunak swigged lemonade from a beer tankard today as he took his election tour to Devon The PM, a teetotaller, was visiting the Drewe Arms near Exeter, which has been taken into community ownership Rishi Sunak and Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride laugh at the pub But the JL Partners research, conducted Friday and Saturday, put Labour on 40 per cent, while the Tories were on 28 per cent - up two points since the start of May. Labour's lead has slipped from 18 points in April and 15 points in early May. The pollster said the main reason was a shift among over-65s, with the Conservatives going from a 10-point lead over Labour to a 20-point lead in the age group. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has been brutally grilled on live radio over the latest detainee crisis and asked point blank why he hasn't been sacked yet. ABC Radio host Sabra Lane asked the question on Thursday as pressure mounts for Mr Giles to be dumped over the fiasco. 'Andrew Giles, many Australians would be thinking this morning, 'Why do you still have a job?'' she said. 'You've had two years in the job and many people would be completely flummoxed by what's happened in the recent weeks.' Mr Giles has come under heavy fire following a series of immigration disasters. Some 153 detainees, including murderers and sex offenders, have been released from immigration after the High Court ruled last year it was unlawful to indefinitely detain someone if there was no real prospect of removing them from Australia. Mr Giles came under fire again after it emerged several criminal migrants including child rapists have had their visas stopped from being revoked after a tribunal was acting under Direction 99 - an edict brought in by Mr Giles in January last year. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson became the latest to join the pile-on against Mr Giles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelling them a 'pair of bozos'. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles was brutally grilled on live radio over the latest detainee crisis and asked point blank why he hasn't been sacked yet One Nation leader Pauline Hanson became the latest to join the pile-on against Mr Giles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelling them a 'pair of bozos' Mr Giles told ABC's AM he had cancelled seven visas in the past few days. Asked why he still had a job, he replied: 'There's so much work to do to clean up the mess, to rebuild the migration system that was left in tatters. 'A system that was fundamentally broken under Mr Dutton [as] minister. 'Just last night, I cancelled another visa which was revoked by the agency under the former direction. 'We believe that these decisions need to be guided by to clear principles for protection of the Australian community.' Lane dismissed Mr Gile's attempt to lay the blame at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's feet, pointing out that he had been in the job long enough to make changes. A new ministerial directive that is focused on 'ensuring the protection of the community outweighs other considerations' will be released for public scrutiny as soon as it is ready, Mr Giles said. 'We believe these decisions need to be guided by two clear principles: the protection of the Australian community and by common sense,' he said. 'We want to strengthen the role of victims and the impact of them and their family members in consideration because that's something we feel has been lacking, as well as, of course, ensuring the family violence consideration are consistent with the expectations of government and the wider Australian community.' Ms Hanson described Mr Albanese as the 'most pathetic, gutless Prime Minister I have ever known' and said she 'cringed' at his leadership. 'He's a gutless wonder. He shows no compassion for what's happening in this country. He was pathetic to listen to,' Ms Hanson said. 'I'm so angry with him in the leadership role of this nation that I cringe when I see him. I cringe when I hear their policies.' Seven of the former detainees previously convicted of murder or attempted murder and at least two of them and 26 sex offenders are not required to wear an electronic ankle monitor or keep to a curfew. 'They have no regard for the Australian people and their safety,' Ms Hanson said. Some 153 detainees, including murderers and sex offenders, have been released from immigration after the High Court ruled last year it was unlawful to indefinitely detain someone if there was no real prospect of removing them from Australia (pictured, Villawood Detention Centre) 'They have no regard for the security of this nation because they put out a clear message to the people smugglers. We're in a hell of a mess.' Ms Hanson called on the Prime Minister to sack Mr Giles from the federal cabinet. 'He has to go. Everyone keeps calling for it, but Albanese is protecting him, so it's his mate. He's protecting him because they think alike,' she said. 'And that's what tells me that they both think alike. Albanese won't get rid of Giles because Giles is thinking exactly the same way as Albanese.' Speaking on the immigration crisis this week, Australian Border Force commissioner Michael Outram told parliament that there was a 'big difference between some murders and other murders'. Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson was shocked by Mr Outram's statement and said 'a murder is a murder'. On Wednesday, Mr Albanese announced that the government would revise a regulation called Directive 99, which make 'ties to Australia' such as family connections a primary consideration in visa determinations. Ms Hanson called on the Prime Minister to sack Andrew Giles (pictured) from the federal cabinet Daily Mail Australia revealed that a Sudanese criminal with a lengthy rap sheet claimed he identified as Aboriginal and could play the didgeridoo in a successful bid to be allowed to remain in Australia. 'We've seen that we're not seeing the common sense approach that Australians should expect, nor are we seeing the focus on community safety,' Mr Giles said on Wednesday. 'But as the Prime Minister also made clear in Question Time, there were very many issues that clearly related to the application of the former directions issued under ministers in the former government, including, of course, Peter Dutton when he was the Minister of State. 'The new revised direction will make it abundantly clear that community safety is a consideration that outweighs all other considerations Making sure that that is effective is obviously something that I'm approaching with a laser-like focus.' Horrifying new video shows the moment a Missouri cop shot and killed a blind, deaf, Shih Tzu mix after he was called to help the pup find its owner. Teddy, a five-year-old, 13-pound dog, was tragically gunned down by police officer Myron Woodson, in Sturgeon, about two hours outside of Kansas City, on Sunday. Woodson had reportedly been called to the scene to help the dog after he got lost, and initially told the pup's owner, Nicholas Hunter, that he believed the pooch was an injured stray that needed to be put down. On Tuesday, Hunter filed a $1million lawsuit against the city and officer Woodson alleging that his Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated. Hunter told the Washington Post that he found out his dog was dead through a phone call. 'I was shaken, in tears, trying to figure out if it was really my dog that an officer had shot or if a mistake had been made,' he said. Horrific bodycam footage showed the moment Sturgeon police officer Myron Woodson shot a killed a five-year-old blind and deaf Shih Tzu mix named Teddy On Sunday, Woodson had reportedly been called to the scene to help the dog after he got lost. After attempting to catch Teddy, the officer opened fire on the disabled pup Bodycam footage of the tragic moment starts with Teddy roaming around in an open grass field as Woodson tries to lasso the dogs with a catch pole. As he tries to catch the dog, Woodson is heard saying: 'Come on, baby. Come on, baby. There you go.' Each time he attaches the lasso to Teddy's neck the pup backs out of it and runs away. 'I'm going to take you to get help,' Woodson says to the dog. Minutes later, Teddy is seen playing with a rope attached to a tree as the officer is heard cocking his gun in the background. Woodson then shoots the disabled dog two times before he walks away and interacts with a neighbor nearby. 'I had to dispatch it,' Woodson says to the neighbor. The woman tells the officer: 'I've got children here though, like don't you think you should warn before you fire a shot?' Woodson ignores the neighbor's concerns as he is seen waving her off in his shadow reflected on the grass. Officer Woodson (pictured) has since been put on paid leave amid backlash from residents in the small town. They are pushing to get the officer fired for his actions The officer's bodycam then shows the moment Hunter arrives and confronts Woodson for killing his beloved pet. 'That's not how you handle a situation. If a dog is a threat to a person and harms a person or shows immediate threat, that's when you use force,' Hunter tells Woodson as he chokes up. In the video that Hunter made, he asked Woodson: 'Was my dog a threat to you or anyone else?' 'I see a dog that is walking around blindly - I don't know the dog is blind,' Woodson responded. As he reportedly said he believed Teddy needed to be put down, Hunter questioned: 'So you're putting him out of his misery?' 'What am I supposed to do?' Woodson replied, noting that the tiny Missouri town doesn't have animal control. 'I don't enjoy shooting dogs,' the officer added. Hunter said that after meeting the disabled pooch, he 'instantly fell in love with his bubbly and playful personality', adding: 'He was so small you could hold him in one hand' Hunter's lawyer, Daniel Kolde told ABC17: 'It was unreasonable destruction of Mr. Hunters property, in this case, Teddy, and the state cannot do that unless they have a warrant or they have a really, really, really good reason. In this case, there was no good reason.' Kolde added that there is animal control in the small town and that Woodson is a part of it. 'He's animal control. It says so in the ordinance. He either didnt know it, didnt think about it or didnt care.' Abbey Harnish, Teddy's other owner, told ABC17 that he was 'the sweetest dog ever.' 'His life ended in a horrible way,' Harnish added. Hunter said that after meeting the disabled pooch, he 'instantly fell in love with his bubbly and playful personality.' Amid outrage from Sturgeon residents, the city released a statement where they insisted that the officer 'acted within his authority' after reviewing the body camera footage On Tuesday, Hunter filed a $1million lawsuit against the city and officer Woodson. The distraught owner alleged that his Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated 'He was so small you could hold him in one hand.' Amid outrage from Sturgeon residents, the city released two statements, including one where they insisted that the officer 'acted within his authority.' But locals say they remain disturbed by the shooting on a residential street, as the owner of the yard where Teddy was shot sent a letter to the city demanding Woodson be removed from his duties. The letter also stressed that the dog was not posing any kind of threat, and that Woodson fired his weapon multiple times with 'neighboring children (in) the side yards playing and my family within close perimeter.' The resident added that their 17-year-old daughter witnessed the dog being killed by Woodson. In its initial statement the day after the shooting, the City of Sturgeon claimed that Woodson believed Teddy was rabid and feared he may be bitten, despite the officer reportedly not making those claims at the scene. 'The SPD Officer also noticed the animal did not have a collar or tags. The SPD Officer made numerous attempts to capture the dog using the catch pole,' the statement added. 'Based on the behavior exhibited by the dog, believing the dog to be severely injured or infected with rabies, and as the officer feared being bitten and being infected with rabies, the SPD officer felt that his only option was to put the animal down.' Hunter is seen confronting Woodson in the officer's bodycam footage as he asks why he shot his beloved pet The city admitted that it was 'later learned' that Teddy's behavior was because he was blind, and that the 'animal's lack of a collar or tags influenced the SPD Officer's decision to put the animal down due to his belief that the animal was injured, sick and abandoned.' On Tuesday, dozens of citizens gathered at the Sturgeon Recreation Center and demanded that Woodson be held accountable for Teddy's death. The board told residents that Woodson would remain on paid leave until further notice. Jon Miller, a local resident, said: 'I think that it didnt need to come to Teddy being shot.' 'I think this could have been handled differently if people spoke up like we did today and go to your town hall meetings and pay attention to who you're voting into office and hold them accountable.' Another resident, Jennifer Mixson, who worked with Woodson at the Moberly Department of Corrections, called the officer a 'bully.' Abbey Harnish, Teddy's other owner, said that he was 'the sweetest dog ever,' adding: 'His life ended in a horrible way' 'Officer Woodson was a bully. He was inflexible, he was sadistic with the inmates. If you look at his record that will reflect my comment,' Mixson said. Regina Adams-Miller previously told KOMU: 'What if we had, you know, kids playing outside?' 'Its scary, I dont think the community feels very safe with him. And I think I can honestly speak for most of the community, not everyone, but most,' Adams-Miller added. The lawsuit filed against the small Missouri town and Woodson alleged that the city failed to supervise, properly train and discipline the officer who used unnecessary lethal force on the pup. 'This officer has absolutely no training and had no idea how to use this catch pole. Hes not using it correctly. Hes using it one-handed,' Hunter's lawyer said. The lawsuit, reviewed by ABC17, also claimed that Woodson has multiple complaints against him from residents though it is unclear what those complaints entail. Kolde said that he plans on seeking criminal charges against Woodson. 'I'm an animal lawyer, I've done lots of these cases. This is one of the clearest cases of felony animal cruelty I've seen,' he added. Hackers have stolen the personal data of more than 25,000 former and current BBC staff in a cyber attack. Names, addresses and National Insurance numbers were exposed when a cloud storage service for the corporation's pension scheme was targeted this month. The broadcaster's pension scheme wrote to those affected by the breach on Wednesday, stating the corporation was taking the attack 'extremely seriously'. It is not clear who was behind the cyber attack, but insiders said it was not believed to have involved ransomware. Members of the scheme were urged to be vigilant for unusual activity, including unexpected phone calls, texts and emails. The broadcaster's pension scheme wrote to those affected by the breach on Wednesday, stating the corporation was taking the attack 'extremely seriously' It is not clear who was behind the cyber attack, but insiders said it was not believed to have involved ransomware A spokesman for the BBC pension scheme confirmed that no passwords, bank details or email addresses had been compromised in the breach. The BBC and the pension scheme have both opened investigations into the data breach. The pension scheme spokesman said: 'We sincerely apologise to members affected and appreciate this will be concerning. We want to reassure members that the BBC has responded quickly and that the source of the incident has been secured.' The BBC pension scheme is one of the largest in the UK, with more than 50,000 members. It comes after a swathe of ransomware attacks in Britain, including a previous attempt on the BBC last year by Russians. The grief-stricken family of a five-year-old girl have revealed the cause of her death was a suspected asthma attack. Emergency services rushed to the Housing Trust on Ballater Avenue in Seaton in Adelaide's western suburbs just before 4pm on Wednesday following reports a young girl was 'unresponsive'. Paramedics treated the young girl at the scene before rushing her to the Women's and Children's Hospital where she died a short time later. The girl's great uncle Anthony Wanganeen said she had suffered from asthma for several years. Mr Wanganeen believes the little girl's mum was out buying her daughter an inhaler when she suffered the asthma attack. Emergency services rushed to a Housing Trust property on Ballater Avenue in Seaton, Adelaide, following reports a little girl was found unresponsive Paramedics treated the girl at the scene before rushing her to the Women's and Children's Hospital where she died a short time later He added her sudden death has devastated the girl's large Indigenous family. 'We're just in shock that she's gone,' Mr Wanganeen told The Advertiser. 'There's no way you'd expect a five-year-old girl to die of asthma. She was just like any other little kid, playful and happy.' A coronial investigation will be made into the girl's death, however police are not treating it as suspicious or domestic violence related. Emergency services received the triple-0 call from 13-year-old Jabar Stanikzai after he heard the screams of a man while walking home from school. The young teen approached the man and saw he was holding a little girl in his arms who was not moving. The man yelled at Jabar to call an ambulance, which prompted him to contact emergency services. 'When I came closer to the man I could see that he was holding a child - a little girl - in his arms and she was limp, not moving or anything and he was yelling her name I think,' Jabar said. 'When he saw me, he shouted at me to call the ambulance so I ran to the phone booth on the street and called the ambulance.' Jabar made the call just before 4pm and within five minutes saw six or seven ambulances and multiple police cars arrive at the home. The girl's great uncle Anthony Wanganeen (pictured) said she had suffered from asthma for several years. He believes her mum was out buying her daughter an inhaler at the time of the asthma attack Jabar's father Abdul Ghafar Stanikzai said he was proud of his son for helping the man and could not fathom losing a child. 'I'm very proud of Jabar because he has never been in an emergency situation like this before and he showed he was able to help others,' Mr Stanikzai said. 'But I am a father of three sons, and one of my children is five years old just like that little girl and I don't want to even imagine what it's like losing someone so young.' Neighbour Sharon Surace, 67, also heard the man's cries for help and described the scene as 'horrific' and heartbreaking'. 'All I heard was this guy screeching, he wasn't yelling like he was fighting or drunk, you just knew it was a scream like someone has died,' Ms Surace said. 'It was a horrific scene to witness, to see this guy holding the (unresponsive) little girl in his arms and yelling for help, it's just heartbreaking.' Ms Surace, who has lost a child in the past, left flowers on the doorstep of the girl's home on Thursday as the family 'would be going through the hardest of days'. Neighbour Sharon Surace, 67, (pictured) also heard the man's cries for help and described the scene as 'horrific' and heartbreaking' Flowers left at the site where a five-year-old girl died in Adelaide on Wednesday Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said authorities were treating the case 'seriously' and that authorities were trying to establish how the child died on Wednesday. 'It's obviously very tragic when anyone loses their life, more so with a young person,' he told ABC Radio Adelaide. 'Until we have further clarification in relation to the cause and circumstances, we obviously treat it seriously.' The Major Crimes unit is helping with investigations into her death, which Commissioner Stevens said was the usual procedure for early inquiries due to the child's age. 'When we have a five-year-old child pass away we want to make sure we have the right resources to establish the circumstances as quickly as possible so we can move forward in the right direction,' Commissioner Stevens said. A senior barrister has been stood down from his role as the chair of a NSW Bar Association committee after he questioned pronouns used by non-binary people. Lindsay Ellison SC, who lists his own pronouns as 'HeHaw HeHaw HeHaw and Ha Ha Ha', was told by the association's president Ruth Higgins this month he would be replaced as chair of the Succession and Protective Law committee. Complaints had been made about Mr Ellison's conduct while he chaired a meeting of the committee in April, The Australian reported. NSW Supreme Court Chief Justice Andrew Bell had written a note advising lawyers on how to properly address people in court using pronouns like Ms, Mr, Mrs, Mx, Dr and Prof. Mr Ellison then questioned the 'Mx' pronoun in a committee meeting he was chairing. Mx is used by those who identify as non-binary. Lindsay Ellison SC, who lists his own pronouns as 'HeHaw HeHaw HeHaw and Ha Ha Ha', was told by the NSW Bar Association's president Ruth Higgins this month he would be replaced as chair of the Succession and Protective Law committee Ms Higgins phoned Mr Ellison after the meeting to discuss his 'tone and content' after complaints were made. During the call, Mr Ellison was reminded of the Bar's LGBTQI 'Principles of Inclusiveness' and it was agreed he would step down as committee chair as he plans to retire in the next two months. But shortly after their discussion, Mr Ellison changed his mind and emailed Ms Higgins saying he'd like to stay on. 'Firstly, I would like to chair the final two 'Judges Talks' in late June. These have been a hallmark for the three years of the committee and have been spectacularly successful,' he wrote in the email, the publication reported. 'Secondly, the Supreme Court Practice Note Equity 7 (Succession and Probate List) is being rewritten by the Chief Judge. Over the next two months I believe I can provide guidance and leadership in any contribution the committee may make. 'In those circumstances, the next two months provide an important opportunity to stay rather than go.' His attempt to stay on was rejected, with Ms Higgins saying he had already indicated he would send in his resignation. 'In light of your email below, it is necessary for me to exercise my discretion under rule 4 of the Committee Tenure Guidelines to remove you as chair of the committee,' she wrote back. 'I regret that it has been necessary for me to take this step, instead of proceeding as discussed on our call.' Mr Ellison was called to the Bar in 1985 and promoted to senior counsel in 2005, according to his profile on the website of law firm Wardell Chambers. 'He practises principally in Equity and Probate and has appeared in many leading NSW Wills and Estates cases,' his profile reads. Mr Ellison lists his preferred pronouns as 'HeHaw' and 'Ha Ha' on his profile on the website of law firm Wardell Chambers 'He frequently lectures barristers and solicitors, and occasionally Judges, on aspects of law and practice.' He also jokes about his interests outside of law on his profile, while his 'preferred pronouns' of 'HeHaw' and 'Ha Ha' remain on the website. 'He does not wish to achieve a work/life balance. Lindsay doesnt smoke. Nor does he drink tea, coffee or alcohol. He eats too much chocolate,' it reads. 'He knows nothing about cars or sport. He is one of the least interesting persons you might ever meet.' Mr Ellison was appointed to chair of the Succession and Protective Law committee in 2021. He has been replaced by Ian Davidson SC. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Wardell Chambers for further comment. Cybersecurity experts have shared advice on what Ticketmaster customers can do following a massive data breach - and how to avoid getting hacked online. Dark web group Shiny Hunters claims to have stolen the personal information of 560million people, with Australians and New Zealanders among the victims. Ticketmaster, and its parent company Live Nation, have been ordered to pay a ransom of $750,000 on the dark web or risk the information being leaked. Monash University professor Nigel Phair, from the Department of Software Systems and Cybersecurity, called out lawmakers for failing to keep up with cybersecurity laws. 'Significant data breaches are becoming all too common. The current legislative approach is clearly not working as organisations are still not putting sufficient effort into cyber risk management,' he said. 'There are over five million Australian and New Zealand Ticketmaster account holders, they will be concerned about any loss of personal information, including names, addresses, passwords, credit card numbers, etc. and where this may end up on the dark web.' Ticketmaster, and its parent company Live Nation, were targeted by dark web group Shiny Hunters Monash University Professor Nigel Phair (pictured), from the Department of Software Systems and Cybersecurity, warned 'there's not much you can do' if your information is leaked online Professor Phair also called out Ticketmaster for its lack of accountability since the hack. 'Part of the problem is nothing has come out of Ticketmaster yet, which is really quite concerning that they've been silent and that doesn't help anyone,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'Customers need to know whether they've been caught up in it or not. There is an assumption they have going by what the the criminal group has said. 'We need a definitive response from the company and it's a failure on their behalf to not be actively engaging with their customer base to explain what's happened, how it's happened and what they're doing to remediate the problem.' Ticketmaster has not released a statement about the hack and did not respond to Daily Mail Australia's request for comment. While the Ticketmaster hack has renewed cybersecurity concerns, Professor Phair urged people to be very skeptical of all messages they receive as the first step of staying safe online. 'We have so many breaches. People need to be hyper vigilant at all times in the online environment,' he said. As for Ticketmaster-specific concerns, Professor Phair warned customers to think about what information has been shared with the website and how scammers could use it. 'Be on the lookout for phishing emails, texts and phone calls,' he said. 'They need to think about how they logged on. If their credentials have been exposed, it's going to be their username and password. 'Unfortunately, alot of us reuse the same password across a number of different logins so people need to think about changing those if they're used across multiple platforms.' However, once data has been leaked it can be difficult to undo the damage. Professor Phair blamed Ticketmaster's 'monopoly' over the ticket market for failing to incite competition, which would likely include companies with better cybersecurity. 'There's a lot of things that aren't under your control. If you want to go to a sporting match on the weekend, you go to the website you put in your credit card details,' he said. 'You hope the organisation you're dealing with is undertaking a competent risk management review and controls safeguard people's personal information, which includes names, addresses, email addresses and credit card details. 'One they get leaked, there's not much you can do.' Professor Phair warned all Ticketmaster users to 'be actively looking at their accounts'. 'They need to be checking bank accounts to see if their credit card details are being used and make sure there's no unauthorised or suspicious transactions,' he said. Professor Phair urged people to be very skeptical of all messages they receive as their contact details may have been leaked When asked if online companies, like Ticketmaster, can be trusted with a customers credit card information, Professor Phair's simple answer was: 'No.' 'They get hacked like this and they get exposed,' he said. 'There's mechanisms around the banking and finance sector use so there isn't the full storage of the full 16 numbers, expiry dates and CVV. 'But, again, we don't whether Ticketmaster was affording themselves of those security measures or whether they were just storing them in plain text. 'It goes back to my original statement that we just haven't heard from them. It's terrible.' Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre CEO Rachael Falk also warned Australians to be careful online. 'Hacking groups like Shiny Hunters are just one of many organised crime groups undertaking these types of operations,' she said. 'They can shapeshift quickly to evade law enforcement takedowns. They target companies with large amounts of personal data. 'Their currency is stealing personal data to on-sell to other cyber criminals.' Ms Falk shared her top four tips to avoid getting hacked as 'even the most secure systems can have vulnerabilities and these hacking groups are getting smarter every day'. Professor Phair blamed Ticketmaster's 'monopoly' over the ticket market for failing to incite competition, which would likely include companies with better cybersecurity 'Change your passwords regularly and dont use the same one more than once,' she said. 'Install any pending security updates or patches on your devices. 'Always check your credit or debit card charges: watch out for unusual activity on your bank cards and report anything suspicious to your bank. 'Dont open any suspicious emails or text messages - always go to the official website or app to check updates or offers.' Customers whose information was exposed are at risk of financial fraud and identity theft. The Department of Home Affairs is aware of the hack and is working with Ticketmaster to 'understand the incident'. Ticketmaster is a subsidiary of Live Nation, operating in 32 countries around the world. Woke Democrat Mayor Michelle Wu, who has been mayor of Boston since November 2021 has long supported a progressive approach to crime but is now looking for some of the most basic offenses to be completely off-limits to prosecution. Wu has argued for charges including shoplifting and disorderly conduct to be beyond the reach of prosectors along with other serious crimes including the receiving of stolen property and even driving with a suspended license. But Wu's progressive outlook goes even further with the 39-year-old seemingly comfortable with offenders that commit 'quality of life' crimes getting off scot free. They include the breaking and entering of property, wanton and malicious destruction of property, minor's in possession of alcohol and drug possession including the distribution of marijuana and non-marijuana types. Progressive Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants to decriminalize certain offenses Wu wants shoplifting, larceny and disorderly conduct to not be prosecuted. Pictured, an unidentified man breaks the windows of a store in Boston in May 2020 (file photo) Those who commit such wanton crimes would receive little more than a slap on the wrist. The offenses are all on a 'do-not-prosecute' list that was created by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins. Rollins, who later joined the Biden administration but resigned amid ethical violations, had advocated for the non-prosecution of more 'low-level' offenses. In a 2021 Boston Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire, from Progressive Massachusetts, a nonprofit organization that tracks and ranks how progressive elected officials, Wu was asked if she supported Rollins list. 'Do you support the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office's do-not-prosecute list and expanded approach to dealing with such low-level offenses? YES/ NO?' Progressive Mass asked in its survey. 'Yes,' Wu responded. When Wu was asked if she supported closing the Boston Police gang database, Wu again said yes. Wu has said she is in favor of certain crimes forgoing prosection. The offenses are all on a 'do-not-prosecute' list that was created by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins Those who commit a host crimes would receive little more than a slap on the wrist A host of offenses are on a 'do-not-prosecute' list that was created by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins Critics have argued that young people, primarily black and Hispanic males, have been incorrectly profiled as gang members and been entered in the database. Recently the database was lauded after it played a crucial role in the federal bust of more than 40 people allegedly connected to a violent street gang that had operated for years out of a city housing project. As mayor, Wu, who is the city's first female and first Asian American to assume the role, has promised to reallocate police funds to other city priorities and believes in demilitarizing law enforcement, opposing the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and attack dogs. In the questionnaire, Wu also stated that she supports the firing of any Boston Police Department employees involved in the January 6th Capitol insurrection. She also wanted police records over the use-of-force and officers facing misconduct to ben made public. Critics argue such identification of could endanger officers' safety. Last summer, Wu faced criticism for allegedly using tactics to silence her opponents, including creating a list of her most vocal critics and sending it to the police. 'The list was made in response to a request from the Boston Police Department after the Mayor had been harassed and physically intimidated by individuals for several months outside her home, at city functions such as the annual neighborhood parks coffee hours, and at other public events,' Wu spokesman Ricardo Patron said in a statement at the time. Last year, Wu was criticized for organizing a holiday party for non-white city council members, which was mistakenly announced to all council members Records show Boston Mayor Michelle Wu used her own campaign funds to pay for the 'electeds of color' holiday party which was held at a taxpayer-funded building Last year, she was criticized for organizing a holiday party for non-white city council members, which was mistakenly announced to all council members. "Honorable members: On behalf of Mayor Michelle Wu, I cordially invite you and a guest to the Electeds of Color Holiday Party," an email read - which was mistakenly sent to everyone, said. Just fifteen minutes after the email was sent - Wu's aide apologize noting how the invite was just for minority city councilors. Although her aide apologized for the mistake, the incident sparked complaints, but the Massachusetts Attorney General ultimately decided not to investigate. Upon taking office, Wu also established offices focused on 'Food Justice, Black Male Advancement, LGBTQ+ Advancement, and Worker Empowerment' to foster a more equitable city. But despite her progressive efforts, some critics had argued how she had not been inclusive of white residents, leading to various complaints to the state's attorney general, Andrea Campbell who ultimately decided not to investigate. Missing boy Timmothy Pitzen could be sequestered in a Mormon commune with no idea who he really is, his grandmother believes. Timmothy vanished without a trace on May 11, 2011, shortly after being dropped off at Greenman Elementary School, in Aurora, Illinois, by his father. His mother Amy Fry-Pitzen told the school she needed to take her six-year-old son home because of a family emergency. Fry-Pitzen, 43, then took her son on a three-day holiday, visiting the zoo and several water-parks and was found dead in a motel room on May 14 alone. A suicide note she left behind said her son was safe and being 'well cared for', but added: 'You'll never find him'. Timmothy Pitzen vanished without a trace on May 11, 2011, shortly after being dropped off at Greenman Elementary School, in Aurora, Illinois, when his mother picked him up early Amy Fry-Pitzen, 43, then took her son on a three-day holiday, visiting the zoo and several water-parks and was found dead in a motel room on May 14 alone Since then, his father Jim Pitzen and grandmother Linda Pitzen - along with police - have fruitlessly searched for him without any leads. Timmothy's childhood friend Hannah Soukup couldn't let the case go either, and did her own research into his disappearance. She believes her missing classmate is living in a remote Mormon commune without access to the internet - and Linda agrees. 'I think she wanted Timm to be raised Mormon,' Linda told the US Sun, adding that her daughter-in-law was raised in the religious sect. 'The rest of us aren't Mormon and I think this was her way of making sure he was after she'd gone. 'She never pushed it on anyone apart from Jim. But he was reluctant and I think her church may have been pushing her a little, I don't know.' What Timmothy would look like today, aged 19 Timmothy's grandmother Linda Pitzen believes he could be sequestered in a Mormon commune with no idea who he really is Timmothy's childhood friend Hannah Soukup believes he is living in a remote Mormon commune without access to the internet - and Linda agrees Soukup said her old classmate, who like her would be 19 now, had to have no idea who he was so he wouldn't come looking for his family. 'Whatever Amy did, she did a good job of hiding him,' she told the US Sun. 'I think she made it clear that either his identity had to be changed or that he had to stay away from the internet so he'd never know he was missing. 'I definitely think he's alive, but I definitely think he's somewhere that will be very difficult to find.' Soukup, whose lasting memory of Timmothy was when they were sent to timeout together for opening Thanksgiving treats early, recalled how her teacher explained what happened to him. 'I remember we all just kind of assumed he was sick, so it was all very sudden, and because we were all so young we didn't really understand what was going on, even when Mrs Broach briefly told us what happened in a sugar-coated way. 'I just remember being very, very confused that he wasn't there.' The first sign anything was wrong was when Jim Pitzen (left) arrived to pick up Timmothy from school and was told his wife (right) already collected him Soukup said her old classmate, who like her would be 19 now, had to have no idea who he was so he wouldn't come looking for his family Another missing poster released in 2019 showing Timmothy when he disappeared, and what he would look like at the time as a 14-year-old Soukup didn't find out the truth until her mother sat her down at age 11. 'It's so unfair that he was taken from the rest of his family because his mother had ulterior motives,' she said. 'And it breaks my heart that people would keep him and not let him know who he is or anybody he knew before, and keep him secluded away from the rest of the world. 'At the same time still, what really scares me is he could be out there leading a normal life with no idea who he is. 'He could be at college with a completely different name and think these people he was handed off to are his family.' The first sign anything was wrong was when Jim Pitzen arrived to pick up Timmothy from school and was told his wife already collected him. The couple discussed separating in the weeks before Fry-Pitzen took off with her son, and she was was 'not happy about the prospect of another divorce'. For more than a day, he found no sign of Timmothy or Fry-Pitzen, until eventually she called him and his brother Chuck on May 12. 'Timmothy is fine. Timmothy belongs to me. Timmothy and I will be fine. Timmothy is safe. Tim is my son, I can do what I want,' she told them. She told Chuck: 'What, don't you trust me?. I'm not going to hurt myself. I'm not going to hurt Tim.' Fry-Pitzen also told her mother 'everything's fine' and she just needed to spend some time alone with her son. The last known images of Timmothy and his mother together were captured on CCTV, checking out of the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells on May 12. The last known images of Timmothy and his mother together were captured on CCTV, checking out of the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells on May 12 Here they are walking out the door together, the last moments before he vanished The following day, Amy was spotted alone by a surveillance camera in a supermarket 120 miles away near Rockford, having bought a pen, paper, and some envelopes The following day, Amy was spotted alone by a surveillance camera in a supermarket 120 miles away near Rockford, having bought a pen, paper, and some envelopes. She used them to write her suicide note and send it to her mother Alana Anderson. 'Ive taken him somewhere safe. He will be well cared for and he says that he loves you. Please know that there is nothing you could have said or done that would have changed my mind,' she wrote. Fry-Pitzen was found dead inside her Rockford Inn motel room on May 14, having taken her own life by swallowing pills and slashing her wrists. Aurora Police launched an investigation spanning three states including Illinois and Wisconsin after her death to find the person allegedly in possession of Timmothy. Police say they also explored the possibility Amy may have murdered her son in the midst of her turmoil and hidden the child's body somewhere. The razorblade-edged knife she used to cut her wrists with showed only traces of her blood. The couple discussed separating in the weeks before Fry-Pitzen took off with her son, and she was was 'not happy about the prospect of another divorce' But three months after Timmothy's disappearance investigators found a 'concerning' amount of blood in the back seat of Amy's car. However, hope the six-year-old could still be alive was revived when the blood was later concluded to have come from a nosebleed suffered by the Timmothy several months earlier. Analyzing the exterior of Amy's SUV, police were able to determine the vehicle had at one stage been parked in a grassy area, near a stream and a road treated with glass beads. They believed this could have been the location where Amy handed over Timothy to the mysterious third-party, but nothing further came from the evidence. The last breakthrough in the disappearance of Pitzen came in 2014, when a woman hosting a garage sale in northern Illinois dialed 911 to tell police a boy matching his description had been standing in the front-yard of her home. READ MORE: Mother of girl killed by crocodile speaks out against cull Others defended his actions claiming cull was needed A One Nation MP has faced intense backlash after killing a wild dog and sharing a photo of the dead animal to social media. Stephen Andrew, who represents the seat of Mirani in the north of Queensland, shared the photo to Facebook on Tuesday. The photo showed the lifeless dog displayed across the bull bar of a white Toyota Prado 4WD. Mr Andrew's wrote the 'wild dog mauled and killed a $25,000 ram', which was trying to protect the herd. 'It was so good he (the dog) came back for seconds,' he wrote. 'I actually let him get into the dog proof fencing area before, I prematurely made his meeting with his maker.' One Nation MP Stephen Andrew shared a picture to Facebook showing a lifeless wild dog displayed on the bull bar of his Toyota four-wheel-drive (pictured) Mr Andrew added wild dogs in the area had become more bold and were edging closer to livestock 'by the day'. The post divided social media users, with some slamming the politician for killing the mixed-breed wild dog - which some argued looked like a dingo. 'Despicable human.. what is wrong with you killing wildlife and doing so with no awareness of their value to our ecosystem,' one commented. 'Most of all, these magnificent apex predators have been here for thousands of years.. they are sentient beings. This behaviour smacks of sociopathy.' Another person argued the killing would have repercussions on native wildlife and the local food chain. 'Shame on you! This is Australia's only apex predator and because of narrow minded f***heads like you, dingoes will eventually become extinct,' they wrote. 'You watch, the numerous herbivores we have (native and feral), their numbers will explode, if they do vanish. 'Find other solutions to protect your livestock, instead of thinking culling is the answer to every solution... also, keep making up stories that it's a hybrid. 'It's just an excuse to cull Dingoes.' Others claimed the online boast was irresponsible for a local politician as it would encourage others to cull dingoes. 'This dingo became a problem for you and you dealt with it,' one wrote. 'Sharing it in this way publicly will likely encourage others without deeper understanding to indiscriminately kill dingoes, which only further fuel the problem in the long term.' Mr Andrew defended his actions, claiming the dog was a mixed breed and that he does not use wild dog baits to protect his livestock. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Andrew did anything unlawful. The post divided social media users, with some labelling the Queensland politician as a 'despicable human'. Andrew defended his actions claiming the mix-breed dog had killed a prized ram 'In the past 12 months at night, on days off, I have removed 259 wild pigs, successfully had two salt water crocodiles relocated that were over 4 meters in length and have removed 1 one wild dog,' Mr Andrew said. 'Im very selective in what I do... others blanket bait with 1080 because frustrations set in and when this happens the unintended consequences cannot be measured.' Others applauded Mr Andrew's actions, with many claiming feral animals had to be killed to protect livestock and native wildlife. 'Well done, I applaud this when these animals come in and kill domestic animals, theyre now classed as FERAL!' one commented 'Any animal that is non domestic needs to be removed dogs, pigs, cats, toads, etc as they cause irreparable damage to agriculture, environment, flora and fauna not to mention disease,' a second wrote. 'Go hard Stephen Andrew you are doing a great job and service to community.' A third chimed: 'Well done mate! A cull needs to happen especially in the valley region These wild dogs are a big problem'. Locals in Mallorca have urged residents to storm the island's beaches in protest against mass tourism - while holiday operator TUI claims the Balearic Islands are now full. As many as 10,000 people took to the streets of Mallorca's capital, Palma, last weekend to demand limits on the number of visitors. The Mallorca Platja Tour protest group took to social media to call on locals, writing on X: 'Call for residents to fill the beaches of Mallorca as a protest against overcrowding.' The group, who said it is organising a mobilisation for the middle of next month, added: 'We invite all the residents who live near the beaches to go there to recover our beaches and enjoy them as before.' The group described itself as 'a civic, peaceful and family response' to mass tourism, adding: 'We will simply go swimming, to show that the beaches belong to everyone, they are a public asset and we are not going to resign ourselves.' It comes as TUI announced the Balearic Islands have 'reached capacity' as they urge holidaymakers to look elsewhere when booking their sunny getaways following recent anti-tourism protests across Spain. Protesters hold a banner reading 'Mallorca is not for sale' during a demonstration to protest against mass tourism and housing prices As many as 10,000 people took to the streets of Mallorca's capital, Palma (pictured), last weekend to demand limits on the number of visitors The CEO of TUI, Sebastian Ebel, 61, said the company had reached its 'capacity limits' in the Balearics and is looking to other Mediterranean destinations for growth File photo: Camp de Mar, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain Thousands of residents protested in Tenerife, Canary Islands, last month to demand the government temporarily limit tourist arrivals TUI announced the Balearic Islands have 'reached capacity' The CEO of TUI, Sebastian Ebel, 61, said the company had reached its 'capacity limits' in the Balearics and is looking to other Mediterranean destinations for growth. Less crowded destinations include Egypt and Turkey, with Algeria also being a potential option, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin. The travel company claimed it had accepted the Spanish archipelago can not host an increasing number of holidaymakers, with TUI already expecting to bring around two million tourists to the Balearics this summer, five per cent more than last year. But despite the pause on the Balearics, the TUI boss revealed he had recently discussed opening up Algeria for beach holidays. Amid a spate of mass anti-tourism protests and calls for boozy Brits to 'go home', Ebel made a surprise pledge to invest in residential housing on the Canary Islands rather than build new hotels as angry locals continue to rally against the overcrowding. He said: 'We are offering to create living spaces for employees and other residents; we are happy to tackle the issue head-on.' The decision follows the large-scale demonstrations in the Canary Islands on April 20 which saw over 50,000 people taking to the streets of Tenerife in protest against tourism on the island, brandishing 'you enjoy, we suffer' placards as locals fight poverty and housing shortages. The words 'Go Home Tourist' were scrawled in English over a wall underneath a real estate promotion billboard in Nou Llevant, Mallorca, a neighbourhood that has seen a massive influx of foreign buyers over the past few years Demonstrators packed into Weyler Square in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz, the start point for a march on the Brit-popular holiday island, on April 20 The campaigners claimed that the huge influx of tourists to the island is causing major environmental damage, driving down wages and squeezing locals out of cheap affordable housing, forcing dozens to live in tents and cars instead. One female protestor at the march held up a sign which read: 'Fourteen million tourists a year but 36 per cent of Canarians at risk of poverty.' Tenerife locals also carried out hunger strikes for over a week as part of a wider protest campaign. However, Ebel was keen to note that it was for policy-makers to determine how to regulate tourism, not the bosses of travel firms. Ebel added: 'It is not our place to dictate how many tourists a destination can accommodate; that is the responsibility of local politicians'. The German travel boss attributed the island's rising house prices primarily to the influx of foreign property buyers and the increased rental of holiday homes to tourists, rather than to package holidays. In response, TUI has decided against investing in new hotels in the Canary Islands. It comes as Mallorca's anti-tourism campaign urged locals to not reveal the island's beauty spots on their social media in its latest bid to discourage rowdy visitors. Earlier this month, stickers sporting the tagline 'Don't tag this beach, b**ch!' were spotted plastered around beach entrances following an initial launch of the campaign by the Mallorcan communication agency La Indis last year. A local told Ultima Hora: 'Overcrowding affects us residents first by making it more expensive and worsening our quality of life, but tourists are also harmed. Campaigners have been quick to distance themselves from anti-tourist graffiti which appeared on walls and benches in and around Palm Mar in southern Tenerife at the start of the month Spanish islands are threatened by sea pollution, traffic gridlock and lack of cheap affordable housing linked to the pushing-up of property prices because of Airbnb-style holiday lets Graffiti reading 'My misery, your paradise' is seen in the Balearic Islands 'For this reason, our campaign seeks to involve them in the search for solutions to alleviate this problem'. Majorcan-based hotel chief Joan Pla warned recently the mass tourism protests in the Canary Islands could be repeated in the Balearics. He also claimed the number of homes built for local residents that were being purchased instead by foreigners as holiday properties was a problem. And he complained islands like Majorca where he is based were having to cope with the influx of too many people at certain times of the year. On Monday, a Menorca holiday village dubbed the 'Spanish Mykonos' chained up its streets to prevent holidaymakers taking selfies on them in the latest attack on tourists. The 195 homeowners of Binibeca Vell have said they do not want any visitors before 11am and after 8pm as anti-tourist signs attached to thick rope and chains have been hung up throughout the holiday hotspot. Locals complained of rowdy tourists disrespecting the private properties by climbing stairs, scaling picture perfect balconies and even entering doorways as they hunt down the most Instagrammable spots. In Menorca, graffiti has also sprung up on walls telling tourists to 'go home', while in Marbella last year, tyres on cars with British number plates were slashed. It comes after the government of the Balearic Islands introduced a ban on the sale of alcohol between 9:30pm and 8am in a bid to crack down on so-called low quality tourism. The decree bans late night sales of booze from commercial establishments in Llucmajor, Palma and Calvia in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza. Ibiza also became the latest Spanish holidaymaker hotspot to join in with growing anti-tourism protests that have erupted throughout the country. 'We welcome anybody who wants to enjoy our local culture, gastronomy, local traditions, beautiful beaches and covers,' said Xaquelina Ana Perry, a spokeswoman for an activist group by the name of Prou Eivissa (Enough Ibiza). 'We are only against the massification of the type of tourism attracted to our island. The island is saturated, especially with illegal renting and our 572 square kilometres cannot take anymore,' she added. The Labour Party was embroiled in a civil war last night as Sir Keir Starmer was warned he must show Diane Abbott 'respect' amid the 'shambolic' handling of the row. After a day of mass confusion over whether the 70-year-old had been barred from standing as a Labour MP for the July 4 general election, a defiant Ms Abbott declared last night: 'I am not going to allow myself to be intimidated.' Ms Abbott, Britain's first black female MP, said she was 'shocked and alarmed' about her ban, adding: 'It is as if you are not allowed to be a Labour MP unless you are prepared to repeat everything the leader says.' The left-wing veteran, who has been MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, was delivering an impassioned speech at a rally in her constituency. Sir Keir's election campaign has been overshadowed by claims he is trying to purge the party's left, while members of his party called the internal chaos 'unedifying' and urged him to show Ms Abbott 'respect'. The Labour leader had decided to readmit Ms Abbott as an MP on Tuesday, following a 13-month suspension for saying Jewish, Irish and Traveller people do not face racism 'all their lives'. It later emerged the investigation had ended months ago and Ms Abbott claimed she was barred from standing as a Labour MP at the general election, something which Sir Keir later denied. In front of around 200 supporters at the Hackney Town Hall, Ms Abbott vowed to stay on as an MP 'by any means possible' and accused the Labour party of wanting to 'exclude' her from Parliament. Defiant Dianne Abbot tells her supporters that she will do whatever it takes to stand as an MP for Hackney North Supporters of Diane Abbott arrive at Hackney Town Hall for rally in support of her continuing as MP for Hackney North Close allies Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn have accused Sir Keir of trying to purge the Left of the party Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's election campaign has been overshadowed by a civil war Reacting to the saga, Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told the Standard: 'What I know, as someone who's known Diane well since 2005, is she's a trailblazer.' He added: 'So I think she's somebody who's done a huge amount for Hackney, for London, for our country, and so I think it's really important that she's given the respect she deserves.' Labour sources told The Telegraph that Sir Keir's team restored the whip to give her a 'soft landing' so she could retire and 'go with grace'. But it ultimately backfired and left other MPs on the Left fearing they would be barred from standing as well. In another twist to the saga, MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' against him, and that he cannot stand under the Labour banner at the election. Meanwhile, Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in northeast London, said she was told Labour were pulling her candidacy for allegedly liking a series of tweets that downplayed antisemitism accusations an hour before she did an interview on Newsnight. Ms Shaheen, who was yesterday out campaigning with her baby, told the programme: 'Fourteen tweets since 2014, ten years, three of those were about the Green Party... me liking my friend's tweet before I joined the Labour party. 'One of them was about my experiences of Islamophobia in the party. Like how am I not allowed to talk about my experiences of Islamophobia and the double standards that I've seen, and that we see with Diane Abbott for instance? 'I'm just so shocked right now to be treated this badly after being such an active member of the party.' Ms Abbott, Mr Russell-Moyle and Ms Shaheen are all on the left of the party. Ms Abbott later tweeted about Ms Shaheen's ban, writing: 'Appalling. Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of left wingers?' Former party leader Mr Corbyn, speaking at a rally to launch his own independent election campaign in north London on Wednesday, said he was 'disturbed' by the way Ms Abbott has been treated. Asked whether he believed Sir Keir was trying to purge the left of the Labour Party, he said: 'It looks like it.' Mr Starmer is now facing anger from even his allies at Labour's treatment of Ms Abbott. MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in northeast London, told Newsnight that the party was pulling her candidacy for allegedly liking a series of Tweets that downplayed antisemitism accusations Labour leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting attend a campaign event at Three Counties Medical School yesterday Diane Abbott has warned that she 'will not be intimidated' as she vowed to stay on as the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington for 'as long as it is possible' Shadow Health secretary Wes Streeting, who accompanied Sir Keir on the election train in the West Midlands on Wednesday, said he was not comfortable with the way the veteran MP was treated. He said the probe into the remarks she made comparing Jewish people to the bullying of reheads had 'gone on for a very long time'. Meanwhile Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, told Times Radio: I think that Diane should be allowed to stand... the delay has been unedifying. The whole thing has been unedifying.' Martin Forde KC, a former adviser to Labour on its handling of anti-Semitism, described the situation as 'utterly shambolic' and said it would have a 'tremendous' impact on the Afro-Carribean vote. Mr Forde said: 'I get WhatsApp messages, predominantly from professional black and Asian women, who are utterly dismayed by the way Ms Abbott has been treated.' Lord Woolley of Woodford, a crossbench peer and founder of Operation Black Vote, told BBC Radio 4's World At One: 'This is a very big moment, I would argue, for the Labour Party, and Diane, and Britain's black communities, and I think they have about 48 hours to get this right. 'I think they're in danger of not only disrespecting one of the most popular MPs in modern time, but also, if they get this disrespectfully wrong, it'll also be a slap in the face for Britain's African and Caribbean communities.' Supporters of Diane Abbott arrive at Hackney Town Hall for rally in support of her continuing as MP Diane Abbott MP addresses a crowd of supporters on May 29 Protesters gather outside Hackney Town Hall in support of Diane Abbott Ms Abbott was suspended from Labour's parliamentary party for more than a year, amid a probe into her comments about Jewish people in a letter to the Observer newspaper in April 2023. But it has emerged the investigation ended months ago. Britain's first black female MP had the Labour whip restored yesterday, but initially appeared to confirm this morning that she had been banned from standing. The situation descended into confusion again hours later when she posted on social media that she was 'dismayed' by 'reports' she would not be allowed to stand. Mr Starmer later told reporters that 'no decision has been taken to bar Ms Abbott'. But after a chaotic afternoon in politics, Ms Abbott refuted this by telling a crowd of around supporters outside Hackney Town Hall last night: 'I was shocked to learn yesterday that I am going to be banned from running for the Labour Party. 'I have been selected by my local party members, many of whom are here today, but the national party is insisting that I be banned.' She said she was not given a reason for the ban, adding: 'They just want me excluded from parliament. 'So I am so shocked and so alarmed about what is going on because it is as if you are not allowed to be a Labour MP unless you are prepared to repeat everything the leader says.' The Labour veteran vowed to fight on, telling her supporters: 'You have always stood with me, in good times and bad. And I will always stand with you. I am not going to allow myself to be intimidated. I am going to be your MP for as long as I am allowed to.' Mr Starmer is facing a mounting backlash over the treatment of Ms Abbott, 70, who has been MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987 Ms Abbott's (left) comments will deliver a stark warning to Labour that if they do not allow her to stand, she may continue to run as an independent - like Jeremy Corbyn (right) has She added: 'I remember when I first ran as a Labour MP all the way back in 1987 people thought I couldn't win. 'People thought you couldn't elect a black woman to parliament because it had never been done before. But local people went out, campaigned, knocked on doors and made me Britain's first black woman member of parliament. 'And I have to keep faith with that loyalty - I have to keep faith with my principles, I have to keep faith with supporting and speaking up for equalities, poor people, for the community here in Hackney. 'So I promise you that as long as it is possible, I will be the member of parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.' MailOnline has contacted Labour for comment. Ms Abbott's comments will deliver a stark warning to Labour that if they do not allow her to stand, she may continue to run as an independent. Mr Starmer has already faced this with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is running as an independent in Islington North. After reports emerged that Ms Abbott had been blocked from standing as a Labour MP, Mr Starmer insisted that was 'not true', telling reporters: 'No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott. 'The process that we were going through ended with the restoration of the whip the other day, so she's a member of the parliamentary Labour Party and no decision has been taken barring her.' Rishi Sunak said Labour had to be 'transparent' about Ms Abbott's position. Tory chairman Richard Holden wrote to Sir Keir demanding answers about the process. John McTernan, who was Tony Blair's political secretary, said: 'It's not for the Labour Party to ban a woman with Diane Abbott's record from standing for the Labour Party if that's what she wishes to do.' He added: 'This kind of briefing is aimed at humiliating her and that is disgraceful, utterly disgraceful. 'Whoever is responsible for this should hang their head in shame.' Mr Corbyn claimed Ms Abbott had been 'disgracefully treated' by Labour bosses. He told the PoliticsJoe website: 'Diane has been disgracefully treated by the Labour Party and by, particularly, the individual national officials of the party - all of them.' He added: 'If she's reinstated, good. If not she's got a choice of her own to make. But whatever she does, I'll support her.' Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson said: 'Solidarity with Diane, undeniably a trailblazer & a hero of our movement. Diane Abbott broke cover yesterday as Labour struggles to contain a row about her being blocked from standing as a candidate at the election Ms Abbott said she was 'dismayed' at suggestions she will not be able to stand as a Labour candidate Sir Keir Starmer faced fury from Labour's left-wing after it was earlier revealed the race row probe ended months ago Ms Abbott recently 'liked' a social media post by Mr Corbyn's wife Laura Alvarez praising his decision to stand against Labour in his Islington North constituency Ms Abbott issued a public apology to 'wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and disassociate myself from them' in April last year 'At a time when all our energy should be focussed on throwing the Tories out, this process looks nakedly factional. 'Diane should have the whip restored now so she can stand as Labour's candidate in the GE.' Ms Abbott had told the BBC earlier in the morning: 'Although the whip has been restored, I am banned from standing as a Labour candidate.' But she later tweeted: 'Naturally I am delighted to have the Labour Whip restored and to be a member of the PLP. 'Thank you to all those who supported me along the way. I will be campaigning for a Labour victory. 'But I am very dismayed that numerous reports suggest I have been barred as a candidate.' Ms Abbott recently 'liked' a social media post by Mr Corbyn's wife Laura Alvarez praising his decision to stand against Labour in his Islington North constituency. It is unclear whether this might have been behind the decision, but endorsing anyone other than a Labour candidate in an election risks being a breach of party membership rules. Ms Abbott issued a swift apology for her remarks in April last year, after she suggested Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience 'prejudice' but are not 'subject to racism'. She was forced to sit as an independent MP in the House of Commons while a probe was launched into her remarks. The internal saga overshadowed Sir Keir's election trail in the West Midlands on Wednesday, where he pledged to reduce waiting NHS lists. As Sir Keir, battled with a civil war breaking out in his camp, Rishi Sunak looked to be having the time of his life during a whistle-stop tour of the southwest of England. The beaming Prime Minister played toy soldier as he sat behind the wheel of an armoured vehicle and chatted with locals at a pub on the campaign trail on Thursday. As Sir Keir, battled with a civil war breaking out in his camp, Rishi Sunak looked to be having the time of his life during a whistle-stop tour of the southwest of England In his final visit of a quick tour across Cornwall and Devon, Mr Sunak found himself clambering into the seat of a Jackal 3, the latest in a range of armoured vehicles being manufactured at Devon-based company Supacat. His playful trip came as Sir Keir continued his own campaign for No 10 by hosting a Q&A session. Afterwards, Sir Keir took a group selfie with dozens of student nurses and trainee medics - but appeared to be snubbed by a baby who hilariously turned down a photo opportunity by blocking the camera with his hand. On Thursday, Sir Keir heads to Wales, where he will appear alongside Vaughan Gething. Mr Gething is due to face a confidence vote in the Welsh Senedd on June 5 after a series of rows, including over donations to his leadership campaign. Parliament was dissolved as of 00.01 on Thursday, meaning every House of Commons seat has become vacant and all MPs have stopped representing their constituencies. Parties must nominate their General Election candidates by June 7. Watch dealer Oliver White, who took his own life after robbers claiming to be clients raided his shop, 'should never have been alone in the office', the store's owners have said. The 27-year-old was found dead on Sunday after being the victim of a high value jewellery raid just one day earlier at the 247 Kettles store in affluent Richmond, south-west London. His family said they believe he took his own life 'due to the anguish and distress of this terrible incident' after he was left 'traumatised and unable to speak'. It came after horrifying video footage showed one of the robbers restraining the 27-year-old with a chokehold while his accomplice is seen sweeping up large numbers of timepieces, estimated to be worth 2.8million. 'The suspects targeted our store posing as potential clients across a three day period waiting for a vulnerability and the correct time to strike. Unfortunately on Saturday the attempt succeeded in a violent robbery which Oliver was the victim of,' a statement on 247 Kettles' Instagram said. The firm revealed that a series of safety measures were in place including panic buttons, alarms, smoke screens and security doors - but thaey were not deployed as the room was mercilessly emptied. The company said 'we have strict security procedures to prevent such circumstances', but 'through no fault of anyone's' they were not followed during the 'tragic event'. Watch dealer Oliver White, who took his own life after robbers claiming to be clients raided his shop Two unarmed thieves (pictured) entered the 247 Kettles store in affluent Richmond in south-west London last Saturday and stole dozens of high value watches Watch dealer 247 Kettles admitted Oliver White should not have been alone inside the showroom (pictured). An alarm (top left) and security camera can be seen as well Oliver pictured with his girlfriend, Alana Dredge. She described it as their 'last photo together' taken two weeks ago The Richmond firm said none of their security procedures were followed during the robbery on Saturday. Pictured: Another look inside their watch showroom with CCTV security cameras The video showing their watch room goes on to display these gold Rolex watches In the footage showing the inside showroom, alarms and security CCTV can be seen in the corners of the room. In a tribute to Mr White, a spokesperson for 247 Kettles said: 'It is with profound sadness we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved Oliver, who was a close friend for 20+ years before working with us at 247 Kettles. 'In his time working with us Oliver left a long lasting impact on the watch community as a whole - both suppliers and customers alike were taken back by Oliver's vibrant spirit and kind heart and his loss is felt deeply by all that knew him. 'Oliver had an incredible work ethic and a passion for pleasing customers. He liked to work around the clock and even out of hours to ensure customers were satisfied. 'As a business we will remain closed temporarily to grieve the loss of our friend. Any messages / requests will be picked up upon our return. Our thoughts are with all of Oliver's family at this time.' In promo footage taken from 247 Kettles' social media site, the interior of the luxury showroom can be seen which features a flatscreen TV, scent diffusers as well as an alarm and security CCTV. Viewers can also see its plush interior, with a number of high-profile designer brands displayed on the walls and on book covers, such as Supreme and Chanel. The video shows a number of expensive items in the showroom, including these designer book cases (left) and necklaces (right) A Rolex clock, pictured, can also be seen in the video alongside luxury scent diffusers and a flatscreen TV The 247 Kettles promo video displays the plush, expensive interior of the store Here is another look at the showroom, which displays expensive brands such as Supreme across its walls A CCTV image of one of the robbers who stole a number of high-value watches from the shop in Kew Road, Richmond The family of Oliver White, who was found dead at his family home in Shepperton after being the victim of a high value watch raid, say they believe he took his own life The promo footage goes on to show a range of expensive watches, including gold Rolexes, a Rolex clock and expensive-looking necklaces. Mr White's family said in a statement to Surrey Police yesterday: 'Our son Oliver returned home from his place of work on Saturday traumatised and unable to speak. He had been the victim of a terrifying attack and high value robbery at his place of work, which was later shared widely on social media. 'Sadly, it is our belief that Oliver subsequently took his own life due to the anguish and distress of this terrible incident. 'As a family we are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, funny, loyal boy, who lit up every room he walked into.' After paying tribute to their 'beautiful' boy, Oliver's family also asked for privacy while they grieve their loss. A close friend of Mr White, who was known as Olli, told MailOnline yesterday: 'He was very depressed after the robbery and was filled with a lot of worry especially after it was established that around 2.8million worth of watches had been stolen. 'Olli was petrified that he could lose all that he owns and that they might even take his mother's house. 'He was also traumatised by what happened and became very fearful about the impact this robbery could have on his and his family's financial future. He just didn't know what was going to happen.' Another friend claimed that Olli's fears were heightened over concerns about how much insurance cover was in place. He said: 'He wasn't sure if the insurance would have covered the theft or if there was any insurance at all. The robbery left him broken and combined with the financial uncertainty over who would be responsible he couldn't see another way out. Ms Dredge has posted online tributes to Oli after he was found dead on Sunday evening after police were called to Shepperton in Surrey 'Olli took it very personally and really believed that he would get all the blame and that it would ruin him.' Olli, who was reported to be in his mid 20s, lived in Shepperton with his mother Amy and stepfather Mark. The devastated couple were consoling his heartbroken girlfriend Alana Dredge at the family home this week. A family friend told MailOnline: 'They are going through an incredible amount of pain and it's going to take them a long time to get over this. 'Olli was a wonderful son and partner to Alana, and they had dreams about building a life together but tragically, this robbery has taken this all away.' Ms Dredge shared on Instagram a picture of herself and her partner on holiday - saying it was 'our last photo together', taken just a fortnight ago. She wrote: 'My darling boy I can't believe you're gone. This was our last photo together. This was only 2 weeks ago and now I'll never see you again. 'The last thing you said to me was I love you. I will cherish you forever, being with you was the best 6 years of my life. I hope you are reading this from up there, I will continue to make you proud.' An umbilical cord which was recently found on the banks of a Sydney river belonged to a baby boy, police have revealed. Authorities are still searching for the baby and his mother, after an umbilical cord and placenta was found by a dog walker at the Cooks River in Earlwood, in Sydney's west, at about 4.30pm on Monday. Forensic testing has confirmed the baby is a boy. Police are yet to confirm whether the baby was born on the river bank or elsewhere. Authorities are still searching for a baby boy and his mother, after an umbilical cord and placenta was found by a dog walker at the Cooks River in Earlwood An umbilical cord found on banks of the Cooks River (pictured) belonged to a baby boy Authorities have urged the mother to attend her nearest hospital to receive urgent care for herself and her son, a sentiment which was strongly echoed by NSW Health Minister Ryan Park. 'My heart absolutely goes out to this mother and her young baby,' he said on Tuesday. 'I want to say this very clearly to her if she's listening, or if her friends and family who are no doubt in distress or listening: You're not in trouble. 'You don't have to talk to the police. The only thing I ask that you do is make your way to one of our hospitals so that we can care for you and your baby as quickly as possible.' Detective Chief Superintendent Christine McDonald acknowledged that childbirth could be a 'traumatic' and 'distressing' time for many people. 'I am deeply concerned for the safety and the mental health of the mother,' she said. Police divers are seen scouring the mangroves at the waters edge A sniffer dog and its handler is seen on the banks of the Cooks River on Tuesday 'I need to know that she's safe and I need to know that she is receiving the support that she needs right now.' She urged any homes or businesses in Earlwood with CCTV of a distressed pregnant woman to contact Burwood Police or Crime Stoppers. It comes as the dog walker who discovered the placenta and umbilical cord detailed the moment he spotted the organs on a muddy riverbank. 'It was just sitting on top of the mud, the water was quite a distance away,' he said. '[I've] seen three births so you kind of know what you're looking at. I couldn't think what else it could be. It looked about the right size for a human. 'My wife took a photo of it, and we called the police.' Police have not found any evidence to indicate the child was harmed. Police need to answer if they let down the terrified family of a gunman before he murdered two people, a federal minister says, as calls grow for an independent probe into the tragedy. An internal police investigation will look at the handling of interactions with the daughter and ex-wife of Mark Bombara, who had fled 'out of fear of their lives'. But the WA opposition and a WA senator are also calling for an independent probe into the events leading up to the deaths. Bombara killed Jenny Petelczyc, the friend of his ex-wife, and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl Petelczyc in their Floreat home, before taking his own life. Ariel Bombara (pictured) says her family's pleas for protection from her father were repeatedly ignored Mark Bombara, 63, murdered Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, (together above) before turning the gun on himself His daughter, Ariel Bombara, claimed WA police ignored repeated warnings her father was dangerous and had several guns. Bombara believed his ex-wife had been staying at the Floreat house. Ms Bombara said their pleas for help 'were repeatedly ignored' and they had been 'repeatedly failed' by police. Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said an investigation into what went wrong was an appropriate measure. 'It certainly seems that she (Ms Bombara) did not get the response that she needed from police,' she told ABC News Breakfast on Wednesday. 'So it's right that the Western Australian government looks into this and it's right that the police commissioner looks at what could have been done in this circumstance to prevent this tragedy.' Bombara had been hunting his former partner, Rowena (pictured together) WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch rejected the force didn't act after it was approached by the women. 'To say nothing was done is wrong. A lot was done,' he told ABC radio. Greens Senator Dorinda Cox, a former police officer from WA, said independent oversight of the investigation into the murders was needed because she didn't trust police. 'Police investigating police is not the best practice solution,' she told ABC's RN. It was in everyone's best interests to have that conversation in quite a public space, she said. 'It's not about blame, and it's not about criticism, it is about actually getting to improvement in the system, improvement in our responses, and saving the lives of women and children in this country.' Senator Cox said the nation was at a 'crisis point' with a disproportionate amount of women dying across the country. WA Police Minister Paul Papalia said police did not receive a formal record of complaint from Ms Bombara and her mother about violence in the weeks leading up to the shooting. 'I understand that, the police were approached by Ariel and her mother, and what they reported did not meet the threshold for application of a police order,' he said. 'The premier has asked the police commissioner and me to look at that. 'My personal view is there is a need to lower the threshold.' Bombara owned 11 guns under a recreational shooter's permit and two pistols under a collector's licence, one of which was used to kill Ms Petelczyc and her daughter Gretl, who recently got her P-plates, was only just getting started in life after graduating high school and starting a bachelor of sport degree at the University of WA WA Opposition leader Shane Love and WA Liberals leader Libby Mettam called for a parallel independent investigation led by the Crime and Corruption Commission. Mr Love said Mr Papalia oweed the Bombara and Petelczyc families an explanation about why police failed to act on the warnings. 'He also owes them an apology for trying to spin their tragedy into political point-scoring,' he said. Mr Love said Mr Blanch must inform the public when the internal investigation would be completed and if it will be made public. Ms Rishworth praised Ms Bombara's decision to speak out and said her statement had been 'incredibly powerful'. 'It requires an enormous bravery, particularly at a time when she would be grieving, to speak up and make these comments,' she said. 'Her urge for action is also very powerful.' Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said all options needed to be on the table to make sure an incident like that in Perth doesn't happen again. 'Women everywhere feel like they have been failed and they have, we have failed women everywhere,' she told reporters in Canberra. EXCLUSIVE The mother of an Indigenous woman charged with murdering her ex-boyfriend has claimed her daughter had suffered a series of domestic violence attacks prior to the alleged tragedy. Nikita Kirby, 31, was arrested near her sister's home in Matraville in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Tuesday night after emergency services were called at about 6.15pm. Moments earlier her ex-boyfriend Scott Wallace, 37, had been found allegedly suffering from stab wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. 'It's been a rollercoaster of domestic violence in all our lives,' Nikita's mum Ruth Kirby said outside Waverley Local Court on Thursday morning. 'And Nikita has put up with it for a long time.' Nikita Kirby was arrested near the home in Matraville in Sydney 's eastern suburbs on Tuesday night In 2021, an AVO was taken out in the NSW Local Court against Scott Wallace (pictured) by police, for Ms Kirby's protection Ms Kirby said she feared her daughter was going to be stabbed by her ex-lover. 'She had bruises all over her,' she said. 'She's a mess. We all are. 'He bashed her and she had bruises all over her. Does a woman deserve that or should she put up with it? She doesn't deserve this. 'He was told not to go there and he still went there.' Ms Kirby said the family had already suffered tragic heartbreak this year when her niece had been murdered. 'These things are still happening to us,' she said. 'We're going through a lot of stuff.' Kirby, 31, was charged with murder (domestic violence) on Wednesday and was refused bail and did not appear at Waverley Local Court on Thursday. She was supported by friends and family. According to friends, the mum-of-one had been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Wallace who had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse. 'It's been a rollercoaster of domestic violence in all our lives,' Nikita's mum Ruth Kirby (pictured) said outside Waverley Local Court on Thursday morning Nikita Kirby, 31, was charged with murder (domestic violence) on Wednesday. She is pictured during her arrest On Wednesday morning, the single-storey brick home in Matraville remained a crime scene In 2021, an AVO was taken out against Mr Wallace by police for Ms Kirby's protection. That AVO lasted for two years and ended in October last year. On Wednesday morning, the single-storey brick home remained a crime scene with officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command and the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad, as well as forensic police investigating. Residents of Murrabin Avenue told Daily Mail Australia they saw a woman running up and down the dead-end street in the aftermath of the stabbing. 'She was running down the street screaming,' a resident said. 'It's a quiet family-friendly street, we're shocked this has happened on our doorstep.' A local business owner said they had seen the pair arguing outside the Matraville hotel earlier that afternoon. The matter was adjourned to August 6 in Downing Centre. A desperate father has begged a major radio station for help over fears his stepdaughter will be murdered by her violent ex-partner. 2GB radio host Ben Fordham told listeners on Thursday he had been contacted by a father who was worried his stepdaughter Sarah* was in 'grave danger'. The father Mark* said Sarah is constantly harassed and intimidated by her ex-partner who had been found guilty of domestic violence related offences. 'Since then, he's breached the ADVO and two police stations have prepared charges for the breaches, but every time Port Macquarie officers and prosecutors have pushed back and refused to run the matters,' Mark wrote. 2GB radio host Ben Fordham (pictured) told listeners on Thursday he had been contacted by a father who was worried his stepdaughter was in 'grave danger' 'The other police stations, Fairfield and Granville, were disgusted that Port Macquarie would not take any action on what they felt were clear breaches. 'This guy just laughs at the police and his criminal record proves that he only escalates his violence. 'I'm convinced he will murder her. We are begging for help to expose this and stop my stepdaughter from being killed.' Mark called in to 2GB radio to discuss the 'consistent police inaction'. 'She's to the point now that she does genuinely believe that he's going to turn up and harm her, possibly her children as well,' he told Fordham. 'She's almost resigned to the fact that he's going to turn up and kill her.' The father said his stepdaughter was being constantly harassed and intimidated by her ex-partner, who had been found guilty of domestic violence related offences (stock image) Mark said his father and brother-in-law had been police officers for a combined 55 years and that he worked as a prison warden. 'I deal with these people every single day that I go to work,' he said. 'I let these people out each morning and I lock them away at night and I know how they behave, this is how this person behaves. 'Yet NSW Police don't seem to be overly interested in that.' Mark said several women who had dated his stepdaughter's ex-partner had told him the relationships had ended in physical violence. 'There's been choking involved, breaking into a home to physically assault his partner, that was in Victoria where the system is an absolute joke,' he said. 'He got a fine and he had to attend counselling a program on how to respect women. I'm unsure how he managed to pass that one. 'The legal system in Victoria is such that he was able to just get away with a fine for breaking into a home and choking his ex-partner.' Ben Fordham said he would forward Mark's letter to the office of NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb (pictured at a press conference earlier this year) He said his stepdaughter was terrified every time her phone rang. 'She's terrified in her own home. This bloke got her address through means that we don't understand so he knows where she lives,' Mark said. 'He could rock up there at any time. I reported it to the police and no one investigated. No one. She knows that the police aren't going to act. 'What's the point of the premier and all these people jumping up and down at press conferences and getting themselves on TV if no one takes any action.' Fordham said he would forward the message to the office of NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and bring it to the attention of NSW Police. *The names in this story have been changed to protect their identities. A phone uncovered by police during a search for the body of missing mother Samantha Murphy does belong to the missing mum, sources have told media. The 51year-old was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street, Ballarat, to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest on the morning of February 4. Detectives from the Victoria Police Missing Persons Squad and a range of specialist police officers mounted a fresh search on Wednesday morning. Its location - initially kept secret - was later revealed to be south of Buninyong, with officers finding a phone. Sources have told 7NEWS the phone does belong to Murphy and is a significant clue into the investigation. A phone uncovered by police during a search for the body of missing mother Samantha Murphy does belong to the missing mum, sources have told media. The phone appeared to contain identification within a wallet 'Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad have located some items of interest in Buninyong this morning during their search for Samantha Murphy,' a Victoria Police spokeswoman said on Wednesday afternoon. 'The area has been cordoned off and those items will now be forensically tested. 'We are not providing further information about the items until that testing has been completed.' The search was described as targeted and also involved the Australian Federal Police. Samantha and Mick Murphy in happier times Patrick Orren Stephenson is charged with Samantha Murphy's murder 'Further information will be provided once we are in a position to do so,' the police spokeswoman said. Officers hugged each other after finding the phone near a dam. Victoria Police confirmed on Wednesday evening the search was not expected to continue on Thursday. Ms Murphy, 51, was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street to go for a run in Canadian State Forest on the morning of February 4. Police in March charged 22-year-old tradesman Patrick Orren Stephenson with the murder of Ms Murphy at Mount Clear on the day she went missing. He will return to court in August. Stephenson is the son of Orren Stephenson, who played 15 AFL games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014. Police have launched multiple searches in bushland since February as part of the investigation. Ms Murphy's family has been advised of the latest search. Peter Dutton has slammed ABC 7.30's chief political correspondent Laura Tingle as a 'partisan Greens-Labor supporter'. Mr Dutton appeared on Sydney radio 2GB's Ray Hadley show on Thursday to condemn Tingle's comments at the Sydney Writers Festival last Sunday. While speaking on a panel at the event, Tingle labelled Australia a 'racist country', praised the Labor Party under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's leadership and accused Mr Dutton of inciting violence against migrants. On Thursday Mr Dutton reflected on Tingle's spectacular rant and said her 'credibility as a journalist is really shot'. 'Laura Tingle's outed herself now as somebody who is a partisan, she's a Greens/Labor supporter,' he said. 'I mean, she's just now completely destroyed her credibility - but they'll keep her on because that's what happens at the ABC. 'But, as I say, I think it's comical, and you just let them play their games.' Peter Dutton slammed the ABC's senior political correspondent Laura Tingle (pictured) as a 'partisan Greens/Labor supporter' Mr Dutton's harsh words followed Tingle's public reprimanding from the ABC's news director, Justin Stevens. Mr Stevens said Tingle's comments did not meet the ABC's editorial standards and described them as 'lacking context, balance and supporting information'. Tingle is one of the broadcaster's most senior journalists and took up a staff-elected position on its board in 2023. Nevertheless, Mr Stevens said she had been 'counselled over her remarks'. During Sunday's panel, Tingle said she couldn't remember the last time a major party leader was seen 'to be saying everything that is going wrong in this country is because of migrants'. '[I] had this sudden flash of people turning up to try and rent a property or at an auction and they look a bit different - whatever you define different as - (and) that basically he (Dutton) has given them licence to be abused, and in any circumstance where people feel like they're missing out,' she said. Tingle accused Mr Dutton of 'dog whistling' and said his call to cut immigration didn't make 'rational sense'. She also praised Labor, saying: 'It's not just about whether they got rid of Scott Morrison, they are actually trying to govern, they are trying to run a government, they are actually trying to do policy. 'Whether you think the policy is s*** or not, that's another issue.' Mr Stevens on Wednesday revealed Tingle was warned against poorly representing the ABC at 'external events'. Tingle accused Mr Dutton (pictured) of inciting violence against migrants during a panel at the Sydney Writers' Festival on Sunday 'Although the remarks were conversational, and not made in her work capacity, the ABC and its employees have unique obligations in the Australian media,' he said. 'Laura has been reminded of their application at external events as well as in her work and I have counselled her over the remarks.' The ABC's managing director, David Anderson, will be questioned over Tingle's comments at a Senate Estimates hearing in Canberra on Thursday. Despite receiving 'counselling' for her rant, Tingle released a 1380-word statement on Wednesday in which she described reporting on her comments as creating an 'opportunity for yet another anti-ABC pile-on'. 'This is not helpful to me or to the ABC. Or to the national debate,' she said. 'I am proud of my work as a journalist at the ABC, on all its platforms, and I let that work speak for itself.' Tingle also attempted to downplay her claim that 'Australia is a racist country'. 'I did indeed make the observation on Sunday that we are a racist country, in the context of a discussion about the political prospects ahead,' she said. 'I wasn't saying every Australian is a racist. But we clearly have an issue with racism.' The ABC's editorial policy specifically states its employees should not make public comments that could 'affect the perception of impartiality of staff and the ABC', even during external activities. Opposition communications spokesman David Coleman described Tingle's comments about Mr Dutton as 'extraordinary and completely indefensible'. Tingle was publicly reprimanded by ABC's news director, Justin Stevens (pictured), on Wednesday 'In addition to her comments about Mr Dutton, Ms Tingle has made further statements about her views on the Albanese Government and the Coalition,' he said. 'While every Australian has a right to their political views, not every Australian is Chief Political Correspondent for ABC's 7.30 program. 'The ABC needs to explain how Ms Tingle's statements are compatible with her role at the taxpayer-funded broadcaster.' The ABC did not respond to Daily Mail Australia's request for comment on Monday. Billionaire Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management has sold its entire stake in Walt Disney after a boardroom battle with the media giant. Disney shareholders had last month backed CEO Bob Iger and other company directors after a multimillion-dollar, mud-slinging battle launched by Peltz and Blackwells Capital. Their campaigns were separate, competing efforts, but both wanted change at the top at Disney. The hedge fund was Disney's fifth-biggest shareholder with a 1.77% stake as of March 31, according to LSEG data. Billionaire Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management sold its entire stake in Disney - about 1.77% Last month, Disney shareholders supported CEO Bob Iger and the current board In a video released online, Disney said Peltz has a long history of 'attacking companies to the ultimate detriment' of shareholders and said it would be 'disruptive' and 'value-destructive' to include him and crony Jay Rasulo It sold the stake at close to $120 per share, CNBC reported, adding that Peltz made about $1 billion. Trian has declined to comment on the report, while Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Peltz - who is the father-in-law of Brooklyn Beckham - and his Trian Fund's campaign had launched a campaign to win two board seats. CEO of Trian Fund Management, and Blackwells were seeking five seats between them on the board, arguing that the media company has botched its CEO succession planning, lost its creative spark and failed to properly harness new technology. But Iger received the backing of 94 percent of voting shareholders. Peltz was supported by just 31 percent. Trian had said it was 'disappointed' with the outcome, but noted that Disney's share price had risen since it launched its campaign. Meanwhile Iger is said to be 'overwhelmed and exhausted' after extending his contract for three more years while battling dropping share prices and challenges to his leadership. In October, Disney shares tumbled to record lows of $78. Disney shares were $100 apiece at the close of trading on Wednesday. Billionaire Nelson Peltz, pictured with his daughter Nicola - who married Brooklyn Beckham last year - launched his first proxy war in January calling on Disney to 'restore the magic' Jay Rasulo (left) with Mickey Mouse and Bob Iger (center right) in 2005. The former CFO worked at the company for 30 years. Iger recently revealed the company will 'quiet the noise ' around cultural issues because it has shown to be bad for business In March, Disney lashed out at Peltz's antics with a political-style video trashing the activist shareholder's motivations and qualifications. In a video released online, Disney said Peltz has a long history of 'attacking companies to the ultimate detriment' of shareholders and said it would be 'disruptive' and 'value-destructive' to include him and crony Jay Rasulo. 'Disney could suffer the same fate as other great companies that Peltz has previously infiltrated, such as G.E. and DuPont. Nelson Peltz has a long history of attacking companies to the ultimate detriment of shareholder value,' the narrator claimed. Disney argued that Peltz lacks an understanding of the challenges the company is facing, and that his suggestions for improvement 'are nothing new.' Neither Peltz nor Rasulo have the skills to help Disney, the company said. Peltz's daughter, Nicola (pictured right), married Brooklyn Beckham last year Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and wife Nicola Peltz Beckham are pictured in 2022 In September, Iger revealed the company will ' quiet the noise' around cultural issues because it has shown to be bad for business. The company has been stuck in a legal battle with the Florida government and Ron DeSantis after former CEO Bob Chapek criticized the so called 'Don't Say Gay' bill. DeSantis targeted Disney's special tax district, replaced the board of it with his allies and led the charge to change the name from the Reedy District to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. Before the DeSantis-picked board took control, Disney created development contract for future investments. Those were thrown-out by the new board, which led to a federal lawsuit. Disney has since dropped a massive chunk of its federal lawsuit against the Florida Governor. Iger has extended his contract until 2026 and hinted that he will re-retire at that point, once a proper successor has been found and named. Meanwhile, Peltz's daughter, Nicola, married Brooklyn Beckham in 2022 and has been accused of having been a 'nightmare bride' in a new documentary about her bitter dispute with her wedding planners. Housekeepers in Florida are making six figure salaries as masses of the American elite flock to the Sunshine State. Palm Beach maids and butlers are earning up to $150,000 a year as the demand for help from new residents far outweighs the current supply, staffing companies told CNBC. The population of Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach and Boca Raton, grew by around 13 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The influx of wealthy new residents and growing tourism has created a competitive market that saw housekeeper salaries jump from about $25 an hour in 2020 to $45 or $50 an hour this year, according to some agencies. 'I have been placing staff for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like this,' said April Berube, founder of domestic staffing company The Wellington Agency. Palm Beach housekeepers are now making between $120,000 and $150,000 annually and have benefits including 401(k) plans, health care and overtime 'We've seen such a boom from people relocating, especially Palm Beach and Miami. 'For housekeepers it's wonderful,' Berube said. 'For us it's extremely difficult. It's a severe shortage.' Berube said the new hefty price tag for hiring high quality help often comes as a surprise to her clients. 'At first they're in shock, and they say, '"No way I'm paying that." It's even uncomfortable for me to give them the numbers,' she said. 'But when they try to hire someone for less, with less experience, they almost always come back to us and say, "I learned my lesson. We are willing to pay for the experience".' Palm Beach was the 10th wealthiest city in Florida last year, according to a Forbes ranking, with an average household income of $332,764 and a staggering median home value of $1,523,100. The city itself is a symbol of wealth and excess, with superyachts parked in the marina and the streets being clogged with Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces. Plus, Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort is there, along with billionaire Paul Tudor Jones' giant $71 million mansion. An influx of new wealthy residents in Palm Beach, Florida has created an increase in demand for housekeepers Housekeepers are now making between $120,000 and $150,000 annually and have benefits including 401(k) plans, health care and overtime. 'There's been a drastic change that started with Covid,' Melissa Psitos, who provides domestic help through her staffing company, Lily Pond Services, told The New York Post. 'These are ultra-high net worth people who want the best, and they're willing to pay for it. If you have a home that's worth $100 million, that's an investment. They want smart people managing them. 'These are people who can manage working with high end marble surfaces, and they're not going to ruin your imported carpet from Italy. They're used to working in high-end homes.' Scammers have targeted Robert Irwin with hoax Facebook ads which claim he has been arrested - as part of efforts to con Aussies out of their hard earned cash. The hoax ads are fake mockups of major Australian newspaper front pages showing Mr Irwin being arrested, with his arms pinned behind his back, being led away by police. The images are entirely fabricated and have been created using artificial intelligence to look authentic. One hoax spreading on Facebook is a fake Sydney Morning Herald front page with the headline: 'Is this the end of his career? Robert Irwin didn't know the camera was still recording.' This fake image of Robert Irwin is entirely fabricated and has been created using artificial intelligence to look authentic One hoax spreading on Facebook is a fake Sydney Morning Herald front page with the headline: 'Is this the end of his career? Robert Irwin didn't know the camera was still recording.' It links to a fake news article that claims a bank is suing Mr Irwin due to comments he made on live TV. The fake news article describes a completely made-up incident during an episode of The Cheap Seats. In this fictitious account, it is claimed that Mr Irwin revealed a trading platform called Trade iPlex 100, which he supposedly said could make people rich through AI-driven cryptocurrency trading. Readers are asked to give Mr Irwin $375 so he can make them money using cryptocurrency. None of this is true. The incident, the platform, and the claims are entirely fabricated by scammers trying to take your money. Mr Irwin is not involved in any way. Mr Irwin is not involved in any way with the scams. Pictured with his mum Terri The Australian government National Anti Scam Centre said scammers use the image, name and characteristics of famous people without their permission, to get you to 'invest' in cryptocurrency scams. These can be very realistic, as scammers use artificial intelligence to create 'deepfakes' of the person. These images and voices can be very hard to recognise as fake. The celebrities images are often used in ads on social media or YouTube and fake news stories that appear to be from a well-known news company. How scammers are targeting Australians Money lost to scams is tracking in the right direction even as fraudsters prey on the cost-of-living crisis to target people looking for side hustles. An 11 per cent fall in total scam losses was clocked over the March quarter, the National Anti-Scam Centre said in a report. Most of the improvement was led by shrinking losses to investment scams. Several fake news articles have spread online about Robert Irwin. None of this is true. The incident, the platform, and the claims are entirely fabricated by scammers trying to take your money. Yet with a sizeable $73.2 million lost to fraudsters over the three months and a slight uptick in the number of scams reported to the government body from the quarter before, Australia is facing an uphill battle. Scammers were starting to exploit the cost-of-living crisis, the report found, by deceiving social media users trying to make extra money through second jobs or side hustles. By posing as department stores, hotels or other companies, scammers have been drawing users in with offers of good pay and flexibility, and then asking for small payments to complete tasks with the promise it will be paid back later. Younger Australians of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds were most at risk to this increasingly-popular scams, the centre said in its report. Social media scams overall continued their upward trend in the March quarter, lifting 11.8 per cent. But progress was made on losses to scams circulating on the platforms, down 10.7 per cent, from $15.9 million in October to December last year to $14.2 million in January to March. Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones said the scam crackdown, including the creation of the National Anti-Scam Centre last year, was working. 'Scam losses are down first the first time in almost a decade since we released stage one of our strategy, but we have more to do,' he said. The federal government has been consulting on mandatory industry codes that would require digital platforms, banks and telcos to curb scam risk or face penalties. Mr Jones said the codes would set a high bar for the key sectors. A popular bakery that was loved by customers for more than 30 years has been forced to close up shop in the latest of a string of small businesses shutting down. Brewbakers at Albion, in inner Brisbane, will close for good on June 15. The family-run business first welcomed customers in 1992 and is owned by Richard and Caroline Cotton. While the bakery was loved for its handcrafted pastries and fresh sourdough, the organic flour it sourced was becoming too expensive and the business had struggled to find a replacement baker. Brewbakers at Albion, in inner Brisbane, will close for good on June 15 after 30 years in business. It is owned by Richard Cotton (pictured) and his wife Caroline Mrs Cotton said a skills shortage and the addition of several other bakeries in the area meant it was becoming harder to keep up. 'We thought we might've had (a baker) up until quite recently but he is leaving to return to his home country,' the owner told the Courier Mail. 'I think a lot of bakeries have opened nearby, probably about five or seven in the last five to seven years, so maybe if those five or seven other bakeries hadn't opened there might have been someone we would have been able to secure.' She said a lot of her customers had been coming to the bakery since they were children and were 'quite emotional' to hear it was closing. 'In the end it will just be Coles and Woolworths left,' Mrs Cotton said. The family-run business first welcomed customers in 1992 but struggled with the recent addition of other bakeries in the area It comes after BCN Events Group fell into voluntary liquidation on Tuesday, leaving 90 staff across seven hospitality venues without jobs. The company is owned by award-winning chef Shannon Kellam. The affected businesses include the Lumiere Culinary Studio in Newstead, Mica Brasserie in Newstead and the popular King Street Bakery in Bowen Hills. It's understood BCN Events Group suffered a $150,000 loss when floods in February, 2022 left their businesses without any power. Bombs used in the Israeli strike on a displaced persons camp in Rafah that killed dozens of Palestinians have been identified as being manufactured in the United States, according to weapons experts and visual evidence reviewed by The New York Times. Debris from the strike included remnants of a GBU-39 bomb, which is designed and made in the U.S. American officials have advocated for Israel to use the bomb, claiming it minimizes civilian casualties. Trevor Ball, a former U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal technician, identified the bomb by its tail and unique bolt pattern. 'I instantly knew the housing was a GBU,' Ball told CBS News. 'I've seen a lot of them in this conflict, and I've even gone back and looked at past conflicts just to get an idea of what ordinance Israel has used in the past when I started looking into this, and it's a very distinct object, the GBU. It's a very unique round.' Fire rages following an Israeli strike on an area designated for displaced Palestinians, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip from Monday Palestinians search for food among burnt debris in the aftermath of an Israeli strike on an area designated for displaced people, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip The fragments, filmed by Palestinian journalist Alam Sadeq, also bore numbers beginning with '81873,' identifying the parts as manufactured by Woodward, a Colorado-based aerospace company. At least 45 people in the Kuwaiti Al-Salam Camp 1 that was built in January were killed by the bomb blast and resulting fires, according to the Gazan Health Ministry. A further 240 were wounded. The U.S. had been pushing for leaders in the Israeli military to use GBU-39 bombs more often because they are more precise and better suited to urban environments than larger bombs. Earlier this month, President Biden said the United States was pausing a delivery of the larger 2000-pound bombs that Israel often uses. 'The strike was conducted using two munitions with small warheads suited for this targeted strike,' Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, said. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari explained how the military had specifically taken steps to target two Hamas leaders who were killed by the strike and had not expected the bombs to harm any nearby civilians National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said there is there is still 'no major ground operation', following repeated U.S. contact with Israel urging it to protect civilian life The bombs contained 17 kilograms of explosive material, he said. 'This is the smallest munition that our jets can use.' Hagari explained how the military had specifically taken steps to target two Hamas leaders who were killed by the strike. They had not expected the bombs to harm any nearby civilians. But the bombs landed inside a camp for people that had been displaced from other parts of Gaza earlier in the war. Tents were seen close by, with footage appearing to show that fires were ignited by the bombing. 'Our munition alone could not have ignited a fire of this size,' Admiral Hagari insisted. 'The Israelis have said they used 37-pound bombs,' John F. Kirby, a White House spokesman, said at a briefing. 'If it is in fact what they used, it is certainly indicative of an effort to be discreet and targeted and precise.' Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike where displaced people were staying in Rafah in the Gaza Strip Palestinians, carrying their personal belongings with them, migrate to the areas where they consider as a safe after the Israeli army targeted tents in Al-Mawasi, previously declared as a 'safe zone' by Israel, in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza On Wednesday Israel's military it seized control of a strategic corridor along Gaza's border with Egypt to cut off smuggling tunnels as it tries to destroy the militant Hamas group in a war now in its eighth month. The capture of the Philadelphi Corridor could complicate Israel's relationship with Egypt which has complained about Israel's advance toward its border. Israel says the corridor is awash in tunnels that have funneled weapons and other goods for Hamas - despite a years-long blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt. Israel also deepened its incursion Rafah where hundreds of thousands have been seeking shelter from the fighting. The military said that a fifth brigade - up to several thousand soldiers - joined troops operating in the city on Tuesday. Egypt says any increase in troops in the strategic border area would violate the countries 1979 peace accord. It already has complained about Israel taking over the Rafah border crossing, the only crossing between Gaza and Egypt. An Israeli military official said Israel had notified Egypt of the takeover. Some 20 tunnels, including some previously unknown to Israel, were found, as well as 82 access points to the tunnels, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations. It was not clear if the tunnels were currently in use. The fighting in Rafah has displaced 1 million people, the United Nations says, most of whom were already displaced from other parts of Gaza. Palestinians view the destruction after Israel bombed their tents and shelters in Rafah, Gaza The U.S. and other allies have warned against a full-fledged offensive in Rafah, with the Biden administration saying this would cross a 'red line' and refusing to provide offensive arms for such an undertaking. But so far, it hasn't tried to stop Israel's advances. Last week, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its Rafah offensive as part of South Africa's case accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, a charge Israel denies. The war began when militants burst into southern Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking around 250 hostages. More than 100 were released during a November cease-fire in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israel's offensive in response to the attack has killed at least 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Israel says it has killed 15,000 militants. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has suggested the United States is contemplating allowing Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons to directly strike Russian territory, given the changing dynamics on the battlefield in Ukraine. It's the first time a senior Biden administration official has indicated there could be a potential shift in policy. Until now, the U.S. had prohibited Ukraine from using U.S. weapons, like ATACMS missiles, to target Russian territory. But Blinken's comments align with recent statements from European officials who support Ukraine using Western weapons against Russian sites used for the invasion. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has suggested the United States is contemplating allowing Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons to directly strike Russian territory More than two years into the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two, Western allies are debating how to stop Russian military advances while Putin is increasingly evoking the risk of a global war. Pictured, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on a trip to Portugal this week NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also suggested this week that the 'time has come to consider whether it will be right to lift some of the restrictions.' 'If they cannot attack military targets on Russian territory, then it ties one hand of the Ukrainians on their back and makes it very hard for them to conduct defense,' Stoltenberg said at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Sofia, Bulgaria. Blinken chose his words carefully during a meeting with with Moldova's president and was keen to make clear the U.S. neither encouraged nor enabled strikes on Russian territory. He said Ukraine 'has to make its own decisions about the best way to effectively defend itself. We're going to make sure that it has the equipment it needs to do that.' 'Another hallmark of our support for Ukraine over these, now, more than two years has been to adapt as conditions have changed and the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how it's pursuing its aggression and escalation,' Blinken said. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, seen here with kraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has also indicated it might be time for a change in policy Ukrainian soldiers hold a national flag over the coffin of Ukrainian serviceman Ruslan Troianchuk, callsigned "Friend", who was killed in the Donetsk region Ukrainian firefighters with Magirus Wolf C1 tactical robot carry out extinguishing efforts at the site of Russian aerial attack on the private residential area of the city of Oleksievo-Druzhkivka 'We've adapted and adjusted, too, and I'm confident we'll continue to do that.' Officials within the Biden administration have said that a shift in policy is being considered but that a decision has not yet been made. 'We do not encourage nor do we enable attacks using U.S. weapons on Russian soil,' National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. 'Our support to Ukraine has evolved appropriately as the battlefield conditions have evolved, and that's not going to change, but right now, there's also no change to our policy.' Russia's foreign ministry had warned in September 2022 that should the U.S. become involved it would 'cross a red line' and be considered a 'direct party to the conflict' in the eyes of the Kremlin if it started supplying longer-range missiles to Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of the threat of a global conflict if Kyiv's Western allies allow it to use weapons they have supplied to strike inside Russia, something Ukraine's government is urging its partners to permit. The U.S., which is Kyiv's most important supplier of weaponry, passed a $61 billion aid package in April following months of delay that exacerbated shortages of artillery shells. Ukrainian soldiers carry the coffin of Ukrainian serviceman who was killed in the Donetsk region Military investigators work on the site of the damaged building housing the Paradise restaurant following a strike in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, earlier this month Western allies are debating how to stop Russian military advances while Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly evoking the risk of a global war Blinken said the U.S. weapons supplies were now having a 'real effect' and that Putin had not been able to achieve his goals in the Kharkiv area in northeastern Ukraine where Russian forces launched an offensive this month, opening a new front. 'On the contrary, I think what we see, again, stabilization of the front and a failure in terms of Putin's objectives,' he said. Blinken will travel to Prague on Wednesday to attend an informal gathering of NATO foreign ministers, which will focus on advancing preparations ahead of a July summit of the alliance in Washington. The U.S. has been working with European allies to help Ukraine build its long-term force, efforts that would bring Kyiv closer to NATO. Individual members including the U.S. are working to reach bilateral agreements with Ukraine. More than two years into the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two, Western allies are debating how to stop Russian military advances while Putin is increasingly evoking the risk of a global war. A Democratic lawmaker has delivered an impassioned plea to push through a bill to send pedophiles who buy sex with children to prison. California State Senator Susan Eggman declared 'we have a moral responsibility to say, enough, enough' as she rallied the chamber to unanimous approval. Antiquated state laws mean people who solicit underage prostitutes can only be charged with misdemeanors and only get two days in jail. The bill SB 1414 would make it a felony punishable by two to four years in prison, a $25,000, and registration as a sex offender. However, a group of rogue Democrats led by State Senator Scott Wiener watered down the bill in the Senate Public Safety Committee. California State Senator Susan Eggman declared delivered an impassioned plea to push through a bill to send pedophiles who buy sex with children to prison Eggman lashed out at the rebel lawmakers in her own party in her fiery speech on May 23 after they went against a bipartisan majority and Governor Gavin Newsom, who want the bill kept as tough as intended. 'I'd like to say as a progressive, proud member of this body for the last 12 years, I'm done,' she said. 'I'm done with us protecting people who would buy and abuse our children. I'm done.' Wiener's rebels were concerned that the law would send too many more people to prison after warnings from legal groups about unintended consequences. But Eggman disagreed, after many other attempts to update California's laws were stymied over the past decade. 'I don't want to send more Black and Brown men to prison. I don't want more people in prison,' she said. 'But I don't want people buying girls. I don't want people buying little girls anymore. And I'm tired of saying it's okay and that we have to protect the men who do it.' An anti-pedophile protest in St Paul, Minnesota Eggman said she met too many young victims of sexual abuse in her pre-politics experience as a social worker who were 'wounded to their core'. She said victims were often abused by those closet to them whom they 'love and look to protect them' - and when parents failed, the law had to act. 'I am not arguing that we open the gates to flood our prisons with people, but I am arguing that we have a moral responsibility to say, enough, enough,' she said. 'We have given away enough on this area and we've got to move back into the center or we all look like fools and laughing stocks. And what do we stand for?' Eggman referenced documentary Escaping the Blade, which examined the underage sex trade in Sacramento. State Senator Shannon Grove, who authored SB 1414, appeared in the documentary and used it as a key component of her push to get it through the chamber. 'Men are being given a little slap on the hand or a couple days and then they're back out again and they do the same thing,' Eggman said. 'They get caught over and over and over again. And somehow that's OK. It's not OK. It is not OK anymore. And no more am I watching.' Eggman lashed out at the rebel lawmakers in her own party in her fiery speech on May 23 after they went against a bipartisan majority and Governor Gavin Newsom , who want the bill kept as tough as intended Eggman will leave the state senate at the next election due to term limits, and urged her colleagues to continue the work after she was gone. 'I'm leaving. But the rest of you who are going to be here for a while, let's get our stuff together and really start focusing on some of the important things,' she said. 'We talk about learning and we talk about being safe. This is like at the core of it. And a lot of these kids can be throwaway kids. 'They're poor kids, they're kids of color, but they shouldn't have to live a life determined by what happens to them by others at a very young age and have the Democratic Party of California say, it's OK. 'It's not okay. And I'm not doing it anymore. And I hope none of you do too. We have to be able to draw a line. And for me, I'm drawing a line. I urge your aye vote.' Soon after Eggman and many others spoke in support of SB 1414, the bill sailed through the state senate 36-0. The bill will now go to the state assembly, where Grove and most others on both parties hope it will be beefed back up to its original form. Grove designed the bill to make soliciting underage prostitutes a felony across the board, to follow up a previous bill that targeted pimps and sex traffickers. In addition to increasing punishments, the bill also removed the need for suspects to know or to have reasonably known that that sex worker was underage. Eggman said she met too many young victims of sexual abuse in her pre-politics experience as a social worker who were 'wounded to their core' But after the Public Safety Committee, controlled by Wiener's rebels, was finished with it, it was so watered down Grove wanted to take her name off it. 'That's garbage, garbage. I don't know what to say. I may pull my name off the bill. It's not my bill. They hijacked my bill, and they turned it into something that was palatable to them,' she said. Instead of a felony, the the crime would be a 'wobbler', meaning the court can decide whether to charge the accused with a felony or misdemeanor. The need to know or reasonably know the sex worker was underage was reinstated and first-time offenders would not always have to register as sex offenders. The most controversial change was to make the bill essentially not apply when the victim was 16 or 17, leaving the crime a misdemeanor in those cases. The changes were in response to criticism from the ACLU and the California Public Defenders Association, among others, about unintended consequences. 'The core problem is that this bill is not limited to solicitation by mature adults or even adults at all,' Smart Justice California policy adviser Natasha Minsker said. 'This bill applies to words spoken by 16 or 17-year-olds to another 17-year-old.' State Senator Shannon Grove, who authored SB 1414, wanted to take her name off it after it was watered down in committee The CPDA said the bill punishes some defendants more harshly even when they did not have the intent to have sex with a minor. 'This change will unfortunately lump some defendants into the category of sex offender with lifelong consequences for them and their families even though the intent is completely lacking,' it said. The bill will be debated by the state assembly in coming months and some or all of Grove's provisions could be reinstated. 'The crime of purchasing a child, of any age, for sex in the state of California should be a prison felony,' she said after the weaker version passed. 'We must restore this bill in the Assembly to protect every child in the state of California from the horrific crime of sex trafficking.' An Aussie bloke's ute became fully submerged in water after he forgot to engage the handbreak while on a camping trip. The new Chevrolet Silverado, worth about $150,000, rolled into Yarrilwanna Creek in Toobeah, on the Queensland and New South Wales border, around 10am on Wednesday morning. Two RACQ crew members were called to the creek and found the car almost completely underwater after the owner forgot to engage that handbrake. Local Robbie Hanna told the Courier Mail: 'Some fella went down there, parked next to the creek and didn't put his handbrake on. Before you know it, the car rolled into the creek. 'This is a good reminder of the safety aspects of recreational fishing always put your vehicle in park.' Locals said the mud in the ute made it challenging to retrieve. The area is known as one of Toobeah's top fishing spots, renowned for its frequent large catches of yellow belly fish. A child and two adults who were among four shot after a motorbike hitman opened fire on a Turkish restaurant in Dalston 'were from the same family'. Officers were called at around 9.20pm last night to reports of a shooting near Evin restaurant on Kingsland High Street. Eye-witnesses revealed how diners dived under their tables in terror as a motorcycle drove by and sprayed bullets in their direction before speeding away down the road. Three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries. Police say the child is in a serious condition, the other victims' conditions are unknown. A large cordon remains in place this morning focused on Evin. Describing the shooting, one resident said: 'I don't know who [they were] targeting - but for a child to be hit? It's just horrendous. I also heard that two of the adults hurt are the child's parents, but I'm unsure.' The man, who did not want to be named, added: 'I doubt anyone will give you their names - not when this could be gang violence.' A look at Evin restaurant on Kingsland High Street this morning which is covered in police tape A cordon remains in place along Kingsland High Street as Evin restaurant (pictured) is taped off Empty beer bottles and glasses of alcohol can be seen left behind on an outdoor table after the shooting Eye-witnesses said diners dived under their tables at Evin restaurant as a motorcyclist fired shots at them Police guard the cordon at the scene in east London this morning. A child remains in serious condition after the shooting A look at where the shooting occurred in Dalston last night as a motorcyclist fired shots towards the diners A diner who was at the Evin restaurant at the time of the alleged shooting told the Hackney Gazette how everyone dived under the tables during the 'chaos' and he used his coat to stop the bleeding on someone's leg. 'There was a big group having dinner in the rear,' he said. 'I couldn't get my usual table so got one close to the front window. 'The big group paid up and left and shortly afterwards that's when the loud bangs - which were obviously gunshots - happened.' After everyone scrambled on to the floor, the man saw that someone was injured and he used his coat to stop the bleeding on a leg wound. He continued: 'I'd say it was around 10 to 15 minutes when the emergency services arrived. Police first, then NHS staff. They were very efficient.' A second resident, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: 'It's so awful. I live just down the road so it's really shocking to hear. 'I only found out when I walked up here this morning to get my hair cut. To hurt a kid? I mean it's messed up. 'It's the way the world is going these days and I worry if things will continue to get worse.' Dave Evans told how he had walked passed the Evin Bistro just minutes before the violence erupted. Mr Evans, 62, said: 'I was out last night walking my dog. I must have walked passed Evin five minutes before the shooting. 'I was down the road when I heard the noise. There were six shots. I knew they were gun shots immediately. Forensic officers pictured outside Evin restaurant, where a horror drive-by shooting took place Police guard the cordon at the scene in east London this morning. A child remains in serious condition after the shooting Police pictured on Kingsland High Street in Dalston, Hackney, where there was a drive-by shooting yesterday evening 'I walked back up there before the police got there. It was horrendous. There were bodies on the floor. Blood. It was awful.' Cafe workers told how the Evin Bistro is owned and run by a Turkish family and is popular with local residents. A waitress, who asked not to be named, said: 'I know the family at Evin. They are nice people. What happened there is terrible! Shocking! I heard that oriole got shot and a baby! Who can shoot a baby?' Other residents claimed the shooting could be linked to a dispute between rival drug gangs. One said: 'It's got to be a drugs hit.' Today half eaten food and drinks remained on tables at the Evin Bistro. A half drunk glass of beer, abandoned coffee cups and a plate of mixed starters could be seen behind the police cordon. Blood splatter in the floor could be seen amongst the upturned tables and chairs at the popular Turkish cafe. A paramedics green first aid bag and discarded medical gloves were also abandoned at the scene. Local John Thompson, 57, who has lived in Dalston all his life, claimed parts of the area used to be off-limits due to crime - but it has improved in recent years. 'Sandringham Road - in the cordon - used to be a massive no-go zone,' he said. 'Murders, shootings, stabbings - everything. But I do feel like things have gotten better in the past years, so I'm quite surprised to see this. 'But let's be honest - it's Dalston. There are still bad pockets. Like, if you have something expensive on you, just don't come in the area. I had my bike stolen in the middle of the day - in front of everyone. But this? This is just awful. Horrific.' Another person Antonia, who did not want to share her last name, was in Nandos at the time and said she heard five or six gunshots and saw a motorcyclist speeding away. An eye-witness filmed the large group of people who were gathered outside Evin restaurant Three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries at the scene. They have all been taken to a major trauma centre She said: 'At first everyone didn't think it was [a shooting], it sounded like a car not working, but we were in Nando's and we just saw people running past. 'Everyone stepped out to look and we could see loads of people surrounding that shop. 'The police took ages to come and prior to that we saw the motorcyclist. He went around Nando's on that road. We kind of just wanted to get out of there.' Another eye-witness who was on Kingsland High Street after the shooting posted a video to social media, saying: 'Someone just got shot five times in Hackney, Dalston.' Police sirens can be heard in the background as a large group of people stand outside Evin restaurant. Martha, a nearby resident on the high street told MyLondon that she heard four shots: 'We heard the shooting and we saw people coming gathering there and we saw ambulances and police cars but nothing else.' 'You don't really realise or think that it's gun shooting. We heard noise - it could be a car, it could be anything. We were worried but not straight away. Then we saw people shouting and the ambulance so then we started to realise. It came out of nowhere.' Miklos, a nearby resident of 20 years: 'Its shut down like this maybe once every two months' When asked if he thought it was gang violence: 'Well that's what came to mind right away. If it's not then it's even worse' Do you feel safe living here? 'No not so much anymore because I've got a child as well, I just dropped her in nursery.' A nearby cafe worker said: 'The shooting came from someone on an electric bike. it was automatic shooting, multiple shots. And innocent people got hit. One of them was targeted, there were three adults and a child' Local shopkeeper on Kingsland High Street Tahir Sandh told MyLondon at these scene: 'How can it be possible? We are in London and somebody comes and shoots people. It gives me a very unsafe feeling.' Kingsland High Street, Dalston shooting Three adults and a child were shot in an alleged drive-by shooting. A person pulled up on a motorcycle let off about 5-6 shots and then sped off. pic.twitter.com/MaA0y3g4Rv WeGotitBack (@NotFarLeftAtAll) May 29, 2024 Eye-witnesses say it was a motorcycle that drove by and sprayed bullets in the direction of the diners, before speeding away down the road One eye-witness, who was at the Evin restaurant at the time of the alleged shooting, told the hackney Gazette it was 'busier than usual' before the incident occurred Officers were called at around 9.20pm last night to reports of a shooting near a restaurant on Kingsland High Street Emergency services attended the scene where three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries Earlier this morning, forensic officers were pictured outside the Turkish restaurant gathering evidence as a police cordon remains in place on Kingsland High Street. Yesterday night officers, including specialist firearms officers, and London Ambulance Service rushed to the scene. The three adults and child were all taken to a major trauma centre at an east London hospital after the attack. Officers are working to establish the circumstances of this incident. No arrests have been made at this time and the shooter is still at large. Kingsland High Street is closed in both directions between Dalston Lane (Dalston Junction) and Crossway / Shacklewell Lane while police investigate. This means several London bus routes have been diverted, namely the 67, 76, 149, 236, 243 and 488. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, said: 'We know Londoners will be shocked by what has taken place tonight. 'Our thoughts go to all those affected. Fast moving enquiries are under way and we will update as soon as we can. If anyone has any information, please contact us.' A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called at 9.21pm on Wednesday 29 May to reports of a shooting on Kingsland High Street, Hackney. 'We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, incident response officers and members of our tactical response unit. 'We also dispatched a trauma team from London Air Ambulance, which consisted of a doctor and a paramedic in a car. 'We treated three adults and one child at the scene before taking them all to a major trauma centre.' Anyone with information that can help police should call 101 or post @MetCC reference CAD 8082/29May. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A Royal Mail investor has spoken out to oppose 'Czech sphinx' Daniel Kretinsky's 3.6billion take over of the postal firm. Jeremy Smith, a top-ten shareholder in International Distributions Services the parent company of Royal Mail has today said that current management can add more value to the struggling company. It comes after the board of International Distributions Services said it had agreed to an offer of 3.57 billion from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's EP Group. But Columbia Threadneedle Investments believes that Kretinsky's current offer of 370p-a-share undervalues the postal company. The Times newspaper has reported concerns among investors, that 'operational benefits' of an agreement between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union including a workforce pension scheme surplus and property estate have not been properly valued. Businessman Mr Kretinsky, 48, already owned more than a quarter of IDS, which controls Royal Mail, Parcelforce and international mailing service GLS. Jeremy Smith (pictured) co-head of UK equities at Columbia Threadneedle Investments Known as the 'Czech Sphinx' for his inscrutable nature, his purchase of IDS which may yet be subject to government scrutiny could take the UK's 500-year-old postal service into fully foreign ownership for the first time. The IDS' board rejected EP Group's initial 320p-a-share offer last month and has since been engaging with investors. According to The Times, shares in the Royal Mail hit a two-year high after the board recommended the takeover by Mr Kretinsky. But the stock actually remains short of the 370-p-a-share value of the offer. There are also doubts that a Labour government, which could potentially be elected in July, would approve the deal and the offer is too low for some shareholders. The EP Group's offer has acquiesced to a demand from IDS bosses to keep the Royal Mail name and brand, and for the postal service to retain its UK headquarters and tax residency, in order to keep it tied to Britain. Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky (pictured) who has offered 3.5billion to take over the postal firm The deal looks set to include Royal Mail's proposal to deliver second class post every other weekday, which it applied to Ofcom for earlier this month, pending consultation. Shareholders will vote on the deal at IDS's next annual general meeting in September - at a perilous time for Britain's universal postal service. The deal values the group at 5.2bn. Gerald Khoo at investment bank Liberum Capital told The Times he believes the deal would not receive government approval under the National Security and Investment Act. He warned investors that shares could fall to as low as 200p. Keith Williams, chairman of the company, said: 'IDS has the potential to become a leading international logistics player. 'Both the IDS board and EP are acutely aware of their responsibilities to IDS and particularly to the unique heritage of Royal Mail and its obligations as the designated Universal Service Provider of postal services in the UK. According to The Times, shares in the Royal Mail hit a two-year high after the board recommended the takeover by Mr Kretinsky (stock image) 'The IDS Board has negotiated a far-reaching package of legally binding undertakings and commitments which provide our customers, employees and broader stakeholders with important safeguards. 'These cover the provision of the one-price-goes-anywhere Universal Service Obligation (including First Class letters still delivered six days a week), the financial stability and maintenance of the IDS Group including Royal Mail, the maintenance of employee benefits and pensions, and ensuring Royal Mail remains headquartered and tax resident in the UK.' However, these commitments are only guaranteed for the first five years of Mr Kretinsky's ownership of IDS - alongside a pledge not to strip its assets, and a promise to keep using the Royal Mail name and to use the Royal Cipher. There is no guarantee that these promises, along with pledges to recognise unions and continue delivering first-class post six days a week, will remain in place after five years have elapsed. Mr Kretinsky said he had the 'utmost respect for Royal Mail's history and tradition'. The deal is not believed to come with any requirements of redundancies beyond those factored into the Royal Mail's existing cost-cutting plans. Nigel Farage has defended his comments claiming that young Muslims 'do not subscribe to British values' - after being accused of alienating them by Robert Peston. The former UKIP leader turned president of Reform UK denied that he was trying to set apart Muslim communities across Britain in a clash with Peston on Wednesday night. Instead, Mr Farage, 60, claimed Muslims viewed different parts of their community as 'other', adding: 'That's the problem.' Last Sunday the veteran general election candidate was accused of Islamophobia after claiming on Sky News 'a growing number of young people in this country... do not subscribe to British values' - later clarifying that he was referring to Muslims. He was criticised across the political spectrum: Tory minister Steve Baker called his comments 'ignorant and offensive' while Plaid Cymru's leader Rhun ap Iorwerth labelled them 'outright Islamophobia'. Nigel Farage has doubled down again on his comments claiming that young Muslims 'do not subscribe to British values' He clashed with ITV's Robert Peston over his comments, made on Sky News last Sunday Asked about Sunday's comments on Peston last night, Mr Farage doubled down again and claimed Muslims were trying to 'change our way of life' - before adding that the 'most worried people' were Muslims themselves. Mr Peston suggested during the clash: 'What we should be doing is building bridges between communities, not alienating them.' 'So ignoring it - brush it under the carpet,' Mr Farage replied. 'No no, I'm not saying brush under the carpet,' Mr Peston fired back, 'but what people feel when you characterise a group of people in that way is you are broadly saying they are "other" and that is not helpful.' Mr Farage said: 'No they think we're "other", that's the problem, that's the problem. I don't think we've ever had before a group of people who think we should change our way of life to adapt to what they think. 'And I'll tell you who the most worried people are - the most worried people are British Muslims, working, bringing up their kids, paying their taxes. 'They are the ones that are even more worried about this than I am.' Asked for the evidence of this happening in Muslim communities, Mr Farage pointed to voting in Burnley, Bradford and Leeds in May's local elections. In Burnley, a number of Labour councillors were re-elected as independents after quitting their local party last year in protest at the party's then-refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Bradford, meanwhile, saw a number of independent councillors elected, unseating several Labour incumbents as the party wrangles with its stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, per the Telegraph and Argus. Nigel Farage defended the comments on Good Morning Britain earlier this week, adding that polling claimed nearly a quarter of young Muslims in Britain supported 'jihad' But he was challenged on that polling by Richard Madeley (left), who said the methodology of the polling had been flawed Your browser does not support iframes. And in Leeds, Green Party councillor Mothin Ali apologised after using his victory speech in the local elections to say his election was a 'win for the people of Gaza'. He had also shouted 'Allahu Akbar' - Arabic for 'God is the greatest' - after winning. Mr Farage said: 'Look at the local elections. Did you not see what happened in Burnley, in Bradford, in Leeds? Did you not see sectarian politics entering into politics in this country?' The ex-MEP, who has failed to be elected at general elections seven times, previously defended his comments on Good Morning Britain. He claimed polling by JL Partners, commissioned by the Henry Jackson Society, backed up his claim. It claimed just one in four British Muslims believed Hamas committed murder and rape in Israel on October 7 - but its polling methods have been questioned. 'It showed that 23% of 18 to 24-year-old of young Muslims living in Britain think that jihad is a good thing,' Mr Farage said. 'Now that of course is not a British value in any way at all and its a very disturbing trend that's particularly prevalent among the young.' GMB's Richard Madeley fired back that polling carried out in 2018 by IPSOS Mori found 85 per cent of British Muslims felt they truly belong to Britain. The presenter told Mr Farage: 'The poll that you just quoted from has been very heavily criticised as self-selecting - people were basically drawn in through a series of clicks and by the time they were asked to register their opinion they had already made their minds up. 'You also said in the interview that you could take someone to a particular street in Oldham and there would be nobody there who speaks English. 'Well again that's just not true - the Office of National Statistics say that only 0.7% of people in Oldham don't speak English - that's less than one in a hundred.' Rishi Sunak (pictured) yesterday ruled out an electoral pact with Reform UK after Nigel Farage suggested that he could stand down candidates to boost Tory fortunes The Prime Minister said 'yes' when asked if he was ruling out striking a deal with Mr Farage (pictured on his campaign launch) Your browser does not support iframes. Mr Farage said it was possible to 'argue about numbers and statistics' but it was 'undoubtedly true' that there is an increasing number of young people in Britain who 'don't only not subscribe to our values - they openly support Hamas'. Farage had said on Sky News in a clash with presenter Trevor Phillips that a 'growing number of young people in this country who do not subscribe to British values. In fact, loathe much of what we stand for.' Challenged over who he was referring to, Mr Farage replied: 'Oh, I think we see them on the streets of London every Saturday.' Pressed on whether he was referring to Muslims, he added: 'We are.' His comments on Sky News were raised by Angela Rayner as she met with members of the Muslim community in her constituency of Ashton-under-Lyne later on Sunday. She accused him of 'stirring up division', a stance echoed by Tories including minister Steve Baker. He hit back at her in a speech in Dover, claiming she was 'begging, begging a group of Muslim leaders to please vote Labour, you will have noticed not a single (other) woman in the room'. Polling suggests Reform is on track to be the third-favourite party among voters - and could unseat some Tories in constituencies where voters are unhappy with the Conservatives. Nevertheless, Rishi Sunak yesterday ruled out an electoral pact with Reform UK after Mr Farage suggested that he could stand down candidates to boost Tory fortunes. The Prime Minister said 'yes' when asked if he was ruling out striking a deal with Reform after Mr Farage said he had been open to 'a conversation'. Mr Farage launched Reform UK's election campaign on Tuesday with a claim that Britain was in the middle of a 'national security emergency' - again referring to young men with 'radical anti-British views'. He claimed Rishi Sunak had called the early election on July 4 because he knew his planned Rwanda deportation flights would never take off - and shrugged off criticism for referring to the migrant crisis as an 'invasion'. Reform UK's honorary president, 60, told the broadcaster to 'go to hell' as he showed his answer in huge block capitals and an exclamation mark Mr Farage has been criticised for referring to the migrant crisis in the Channel as an 'invasion' - against which he has fired back (above) Claiming migrants had better access to public services than locals, the divisive figure said: 'Frankly, I think this is very dangerous. You only have to look at what has happened in Sweden, in cities like Malmo, to see that a large influx of young males coming from an entirely different culture has had frankly disastrous social effects.' He cited recent hardline comments by his former enemy, Polish PM and ex-EU leader Donald Tusk about the threat of migrants arriving in Poland from Belarus. Mr Farage added: 'If it is a matter of national security in Poland, I think what we ought to be doing with this situation here is declaring a national security emergency. And this is an emergency.' The politician was also indignant at being asked to fill in a BBC diversity form ahead of an appearance on Question Time. Fuming Mr Farage shared a video of himself on X, formerly Twitter, declaring that the broadcaster can 'go to hell'. He claimed the document asked him if he would mind his email being used for 'diversity monitoring'. But h e raged: 'They want to know about my sexuality - well I'm going to keep that very private - (and) ethnicity. 'There's my answer - it's a big 'no!' Go to hell!' Mr Farage will appear on Question Time tonight, which is being hosted in Epsom, Surrey, and will also feature Tory politician Damian Hinds, Labour's Wes Streeting, CofE bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin and broadcaster Piers Morgan. Do YOU know what happened? Officials investigating the death of a person who was sucked into a jet engine in Amsterdam yesterday are yet to identify whether the victim was a man or woman after their body was shredded by the spinning turbines. The unidentified victim was killed immediately when they were pulled into the KLM passenger plane's engine at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport yesterday afternoon as it prepared for takeoff. Passengers and crew members on board the Embraer 190 aircraft - which KLM uses for their Cityhopper service to nearby destinations - told local outlet De Telegraaf that a 'hellish noise' came from the engine, which quickly began trailing smoke. Emergency crews carried out a 'massive' response after the horror tragedy was reported around 3pm, with a picture posted by public broadcaster NOS showing the plane surrounded by fire trucks and ambulances. Investigators from the Dutch military police have said that is was too early to say whether this was an 'incident', or a form of suicide, and in a press conference late last night said they were still trying to identify the sex of the victim. Emergency crews carried out a 'massive' response after the horror tragedy was first reported around 3pm on Wednesday Passengers and crew members were reported to be on board the Embraer 190 aircraft when the incident occurred Flight 1341 was set to depart from Schiphol in the Netherlands for Billund in Denmark at 2.25pm on Wednesday. It was unclear from initial reports whether the victim was travelling with the airline or worked at the airport. An insider told Dutch newspaper AD that the incident was 'very intense', adding: 'After the plane was pushed back to take off, someone walked into the engine.' A spokesperson for Schiphol told MailOnline: 'Today there was a terrible incident in which a person ended up in an aircraft engine. 'Our thoughts are with the relatives and we are providing care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this.' The airport confirmed an investigation was underway to gather more details on the case, led by the Royal Military Police. The 'Koninklijke Marechaussee' Royal Military Police said in a statement: 'An incident occurred this afternoon on the Schiphol platform where a person fell into a running aircraft engine and died.' 'All passengers and employees of the flight in question disembarked and are being taken care of,' the statement added. Psychological support will be provided for the passengers witness to the incident, military police said. The passengers have since been disembarked from the aircraft. They noted that the passengers may still be 'important witnesses' in helping them understand exactly what happened. Illustrative image. A KLM Boeing 747 takes off from the runway at Schiphol, Amsterdam File photo. KLM aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Schipol airport near Amsterdam in 2015 Details remain scarce on the identity of the person and what caused the incident to unfold. The engine was running at the time of the incident, suggesting the plane was preparing to take-off, according to Dutch daily De Telegraaf. An airport employee told the outlet the plane was reversing in a 'pushback' before taking off. Airline KLM said in a statement: 'Today there was a horrible incident at Schiphol in which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine. Sadly the person has died. 'We receive passengers and employees who have seen this at Schiphol. The circumstances are currently being investigated. 'For further information - as soon as available - we refer to the Royal Military Police.' The airline's CEO, Marjan Rintel, also wrote on X about the 'terrible incident': 'Our thoughts go out to the loved ones of the deceased and all people who witnessed the accident.' Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, said on X: 'Terrible news about a fatal accident today at Schiphol. My condolences go out to the relatives of the victim and the people who witnessed the accident.' The Dutch pilots' union VNV has also expressed its condolences over the 'tragic incident' in a statement on X: 'Our first concern and thoughts go out to those involved and their relatives. We offer our cooperation and expertise in the investigation into the exact cause.' A statement was also issued by the Dutch Association of Aviation Technicians (NVLT), which said: 'We are pleased with the care shown by Schiphol Airport and KLM for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this event.' Safety and security measures are strict at Schiphol and accidents are rare at the busy airport, which handled around 5.5 million passengers last month alone, according to airport figures. MailOnline has contacted KLM and Schiphol Airport for comment. TSB customers have claimed the banking app is down as thousands of people are unable to access their accounts. More than 1,700 users reported issues with their TSB app, according to DownDetector, after it was revealed the service suffered an outage. Furious customers have now taken to social media to complain after they were frozen out of their accounts. One person wrote on X: 'Come on @TSB! I need the app today, you close all the branches down and still cant allow us to use the app! What are you expecting people to do exactly??' Another said: '#TSB app once again down, becoming a joke at this point!' TSB customers have claimed that their banking app is currently broken (stock image) More than 1,700 users reported issues with their TSB app, according to DownDetector (stock image) A third commented: '@TSB online banking app seems to be constantly down. Any danger of getting it sorted?' A TSB spokesperson has now said, however: 'We're aware some customers had issues logging into our app and online banking this morning. This issue is now resolved and we're sorry for any inconvenience it caused.' Earlier this month, the banking group said it is closing 36 branches and cutting 250 jobs across the business. The group told employees today it would cut roles in its fraud operations and central operations, as well as its branch network due to the closure of 36 physical locations. The full list of locations shutting down has been published, with the first branch closing in September this year. Trade union Unite said the decision by the UK high street lender was a 'grave mistake'. 'These workers perform essential work in the fraud departments and across the branch network,' Unite's regional officer Andy Case said. Unite said it will be holding fresh negotiations with TSB about ways to further reduce job losses. However, TSB have said they have been forced to make the cuts in a restructuring plan in order to remain competitive, as 96 per cent of all TSB transactions now take place outside of a branch. Graphic showing the TSB locations that will close down, starting in September 2024 'The decision to close a branch is never taken lightly, but our customers are now doing most of their banking digitally and we need to move to a better balance of digital and face-to-face services. 'We remain committed to a national branch network and through innovation and integration with video, telephone, digital, branch and other face-to-face services TSB customers have more ways to bank with us than ever before.' Following these changes TSB will have 175 branches across the UK. A spokesman from the bank said earlier this year: 'We have been clear about our focus on reducing costs, but as with any announcements about changing how we operate, we always consult with our colleagues first.' Israel's military has seized control of a strategic buffer zone along Gaza's border with Egypt, in effect taking total command of the Palestinian enclave's perimeter as it continues its assault on the southern city of Rafah. The IDF announced last night it had captured the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow demilitarised zone that runs the 8.6-mile length of the Gaza side of the border with Egypt and includes the Rafah crossing. Israel says the corridor is peppered with at least 20 tunnels that have funnelled weapons and other goods for Hamas - despite a yearslong blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt - and now aims to locate and destroy all the shafts. But taking the corridor could complicate Jerusalem's relations with Cairo, which are already strained after an Egyptian soldier was shot dead on Monday in a brief skirmish with IDF troops. Egyptian media, quoting security sources, also dismissed Israel's claim that the Philadelphi Corridor was filled with Hamas tunnels. It comes as the IDF deepened its incursion into Rafah, sending thousands more troops to join existing operations and seizing control of Tel al-Sultan - the neighbourhood where 45 Palestinians perished in a fire Sunday night following an Israeli bombing raid. Israeli tanks roll into centre of Rafah for the first time following global outrage over refugee camp airstrike that left 45 This handout picture released by the Israeli army on May 29, 2024 shows Israeli soldiers during military operations in the southern Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas Israeli armored personnel carriers move along the border with the Gaza Strip on May 29, 2024 in Southern Israel Dozens of wounded Palestinians are brought to the European Hospital in Khan Yunis city for treatment after the Israeli army attacked aid warehouses east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 29, 2024 Palestinians packed up their tents and fled to safe areas with what they could take with them following the Israeli army attack on a refugee tent encampment in Rafah, Gaza on May 28, 2024 Mobility of tanks, armored personnel carriers, trucks and military jeeps belonging to the Israeli army continues on the border line near the city of Rafah, Gaza on May 29, 2024 Speaking last night, Israel's military chief spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said: 'The Philadelphi Corridor served as the oxygen line of Hamas through which Hamas carried out weapons smuggling into Gaza on a regular basis.' And another Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops had already found some 20 tunnels, including some previously unknown to Israel, were found, as well as 82 access points to the tunnels. Hamas had free rein of the border with Egypt since its 2007 takeover of Gaza, and smuggling tunnels were dug under the partition to get around the Israeli-Egyptian blockade. Hamas brought in weapons and supplies, and Gaza residents smuggled in commercial goods, from livestock to construction materials. But that changed over the past decade as Egypt battled Islamic militants in Sinai. The Egyptian military cracked down on the tunnels and destroyed hundreds of them - though Hamas is thought to have maintained several access points in and out of Gaza. Officials in the US - Israel's top ally and provider of weapons - said that the seizure of the Philadelphi Corridor would be consistent with the 'limited' ground operation Israeli officials briefed President Joe Biden's team on for the city of Rafah. 'When they briefed us on their plans for Rafah it did include moving along that corridor and out of the city proper to put pressure on Hamas in the city,' national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters Wednesday. But Egypt has sounded the alarm over the Israeli takeover of the corridor, saying that any increase in troops in the strategic border area would violate the countries' 1979 peace accord. Under the peace accord, each side is allowed to deploy only a small number of troops or border guards in the zone, though those numbers can be modified by mutual agreement. Egypt has repeatedly expressed concerns that the Israeli offensive could push Palestinians across the border - a scenario Egypt says is unacceptable - and previously complained about Israel taking over the Rafah border crossing - the only crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Meanwhile, the deadly violence in Rafah continues. Palestinians examine destroyed makeshift tents after Israeli army attacks in Rafah, Gaza Palestinians mourn near makeshift tents after the Israeli shelling of a refugee tent encampment in Rafah At least 36,170 people have been killed across Gaza since the start of war MAY 29: Israeli armored personnel carriers move along the border with the Gaza Strip on May 29, 2024 in Southern Israel Palestinian families sheltering in a warehouse belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) pack up their tents and migrate to safe areas Palestinians fleeing with their belongings ride atop their vehicle in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 29, 2024 The IDF said that a fifth brigade - up to several thousand soldiers - joined troops operating in the city where tanks were spotted for the first time earlier this week. An Israeli military official also said yesterday that IDF troops had taken 'tactical control' of Tel al-Sultan, a neighbourhood on Rafah's northwest edge. That district was devastated by an Israeli bombing raid on Sunday night, with 45 Palestinians said to have burned to death in tents. Israel said it was investigating and the blaze may have been caused by a secondary explosion. The Gaza Health Ministry said an apparent Israeli strike also killed two ambulance crew members on their way to evacuate the casualties in Tel al-Sultan. Subsequently, Israeli shelling of al-Mawasi, a district west of Rafah, is believed to have killed 21 people and injured dozens more in another area designated as a safe zone for displaced Palestinians. The fighting in Rafah has displaced 1 million people, the United Nations says, most of whom were already displaced from other parts of Gaza. In a grim prognosis yesterday, a top Israeli official said the war was likely to last through the end of the year. Israel's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, told Kan public radio he was 'expecting another seven months of fighting' to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group. The army has said from the start the 'war will be long,' he said. 'They have designated 2024 as a year of war.' Hanegbi's remarks raise questions about the future of Gaza and what role Israel will play in it. The US has demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decide on a postwar vision for the Palestinian territory, while Netanyahu's defence minister and a top governing partner have warned he must take steps to ensure that Israel isn't bogged down in Gaza indefinitely. The war has already devastated Gaza's urban landscape, displaced most of its population and sparked a humanitarian catastrophe and widespread hunger. It has opened Israel up to international legal scrutiny, with world courts faulting it over its wartime conduct, sparked disagreements with the White House, and on Tuesday prompted Ireland, Norway and Spain to formally recognise a Palestinian state. Last week, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its Rafah offensive as part of South Africa's case accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, a charge Israel denies. Israel meanwhile says it must dismantle Hamas' last remaining battalions in Rafah and will seek indefinite security control over the Gaza Strip, even after the war ends. But it has yet to achieve its main goals of rooting out Hamas and returning scores of hostages captured in Hamas' October 7 attack that triggered the war. Palestinians packed up their tents and fled to safe areas with what they could take with them following the Israeli army attack on a refugee tent encampment in al-Mawasi area in Rafah, Gaza on May 28, 2024 Students in support of Palestine are setting fire to police outside the Israeli Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico, on Tuesday Metropolitan Police (MET) officers clash with Pro-Palestinian supporters during a "Hands off Rafah, End the genocide" rally outside Downing Street, central London, on May 28, 2024 Protesters rally in central Paris on May 29, 2024, to protest an Israeli strike on a camp in Rafah for internally displaced Palestinians which killed 45 people French riot-Police officers face protesters during a rally in central Paris on May 29, 2024 Elsewhere in Gaza, a floating pier built by the US to facilitate the flow of aid into the territory was damaged in bad weather - another setback to efforts to bring food to starving Palestinians with all of the land crossings into the territory now controlled by Israel. The US and other allies have warned against a full-fledged offensive in Rafah, with the Biden administration saying this would cross a 'red line' and refusing to provide offensive arms for such an undertaking. But so far, it hasn't tried to stop Israel's advances. The war began when militants burst into southern Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking around 250 hostages. More than 100 were released during a November cease-fire in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israel's offensive in response to the attack has killed at least 36,096 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Israel says it has killed 15,000 militants. A woman who cut her own mother's head off in a frenzied attack has assaulted prison guards for a third time, tearing out their hair before defecating in her pants. Jessica Camilleri was jailed for 16 years for brutally killing her mother Rita Camilleri, 59, in 2019. The 30-year-old stabbed her mother over 100 times before dumping her severed head outside the family home in western Sydney. Camilleri was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter in 2021, owing to 'substantial' mental health issues, and sentenced to 21 years behind bars. A further 22 months were added to her jail time in September last year after she assaulted two prison guards at Silverwater Correctional Complex by ripping hair out of their scalp in 2021. Now, Camilleri has pleaded guilty to assaulting two more guards at at Dillwynia Correctional Centre in March last year, reported The Daily Telegraph. Jessica Camilleri was jailed for 16 years for brutally killing her mother Rita Camilleri, 59, in 2019 The 30-year-old stabbed her mother (pictured) over 100 times before dumping her severed head outside the family home in western Sydney. On March 7, Camilleri approached a group of inmates who told her to 'f*** off', saying 'we don't want to speak to you, we know what you did', according to agreed facts tendered to the court. Observing this, a guard urged Camilleri to move away but she ignored their instructions, pleading for the inmates to speak to her. The guard then placed a hand on her shoulder, which prompted Camilleri to lunge for her and grab her hair, before several officers tackled her to the ground. At some stage during the attack, Camilleri defecated in her pants. She refused to shower or change, instead begging staff to call her father with the plea: 'Dad doesn't want to speak to me anymore.' While being assessed by a medical officer, Camilleri launched another attack. A second officer attempted to intervene and had a clump of hair ripped out of her scalp by the inmate. In CCTV footage of the incident, the guard can be heard yelling 'let go', with Camilleri shouting 'call my dad'. Camilleri then asked the officer: 'Did I pull your hair out?' 'I think I ripped it out, I'm sorry, I'm frustrated, I need Dad, Dad, Dad,' Camilleri said. She apologised again and blamed her actions on 'frustration'. Camilleri will return to Penrith District Court on June 20 for sentencing. Sir Keir Starmer and his team are trying to dampen the fires of a major Labour election row today over moves by the party leadership to block veteran MP Diane Abbott and a slew of other leftwingers from standing on July 4. Ms Abbott last night threatened to quit and join ally Jeremy Corbyn in running against Labour amid claims she was being prevented from running in a 'disturbing' purge of his former allies. At the same time as the row over the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP broke a host of other leftwingers were also blocked from standing, including Brighton Kempdown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle. In parallel a number of moderate allies of Sir Keir were parachuted into safe seats over the head of local members. In front of around 200 supporters at a rally outside Hackney Town Hall last night, Ms Abbott vowed to stay on as an MP 'by any means possible' and accused the Labour party of wanting to 'exclude' her from Parliament. Labour former frontbencher Jess Phillips and six unions affiliated with Labour - Aslef, TSSA, Unite, NUM, CWU and FBU - were among those who called for Ms Abbott to be allowed to stand. The Tories kicked the bruise today, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt telling the BBC: 'If Keir Starmer can't deal with Diane Abbott, how on earth is he doing to deal with Vladimir Putin?' Shadow Treasury minister Darren Jones this morning denied that she was being blocked from standing, but questioned on Sky News, refused to endorse her running for Labour again. Defiant Dianne Abbot tells her supporters that she will do whatever it takes to stand as an MP for Hackney North Supporters of Diane Abbott arrive at Hackney Town Hall for rally in support of her continuing as MP for Hackney North Close allies Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn have accused Sir Keir of trying to purge the Left of the party MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's election campaign has been overshadowed by a civil war Georgia Gould, the leader of Sir Keir Starmer's local council in Camden, and the daughter of the late Blair adviser Philip Gould, has been made a candidate Josh Simons, the director of the Starmerite Labour Together think tank, has been made the candidate in Makerfield He later denied on Times Radio that there was a 'purge' going on, adding: 'There are many colleagues of mine in the Parliamentary Labour Party who would define themselves as being on the left who are endorsed Labour Party candidates standing in their constituency. 'All this is, is that because a snap election has been called, there were a number of outstanding issues with some MPs, obviously retiring MPs in some constituencies where we've needed to fill candidates at pace in order to hit the election timetable. And that's the process that's unfolding this week.' Former party leader Mr Corbyn, speaking at a rally to launch his own independent election campaign in north London on Wednesday, said he was 'disturbed' by the way Ms Abbott has been treated. Asked whether he believed Sir Keir was trying to purge the left of the Labour Party, he said: 'It looks like it.' After a day of mass confusion over whether the 70-year-old had been barred from standing as a Labour MP for the July 4 general election, a defiant Ms Abbott declared last night: 'I am not going to allow myself to be intimidated.' All change: Those in and out in Labour OUT Lloyd Russell-Moyle - Brighton Kemptown MP since 2017. Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green. OUT? Diane Abbott: MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987. IN Josh Simons, director of the Starmerite Labour Together think tank, candidate in Makerfield Luke Akehurst, secretary of Labour First and director of We Believe Israel network, candidate in North Durham Georgia Gould, the leader of Camden Council and daughter of late Blair adviser Philip Gould, candidate in Queen's Park and Maida Vale Advertisement Ms Abbott, Britain's first black female MP, said she was 'shocked and alarmed' about her ban, adding: 'It is as if you are not allowed to be a Labour MP unless you are prepared to repeat everything the leader says.' The left-wing veteran, who has been MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, was delivering an impassioned speech at a rally in her constituency. Sir Keir's election campaign has been overshadowed by claims he is trying to purge the party's left, while members of his party called the internal chaos 'unedifying' and urged him to show Ms Abbott 'respect'. The Labour leader had decided to readmit Ms Abbott as an MP on Tuesday, following a 13-month suspension for saying Jewish, Irish and Traveller people do not face racism 'all their lives'. It later emerged the investigation had ended months ago and Ms Abbott claimed she was barred from standing as a Labour MP at the general election, something which Sir Keir later denied. Reacting to the saga, Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told the Standard: 'What I know, as someone who's known Diane well since 2005, is she's a trailblazer.' He added: 'So I think she's somebody who's done a huge amount for Hackney, for London, for our country, and so I think it's really important that she's given the respect she deserves.' Labour sources told The Telegraph that Sir Keir's team restored the whip to give her a 'soft landing' so she could retire and 'go with grace'. But it ultimately backfired and left other MPs on the Left fearing they would be barred from standing as well. In another twist to the saga, MP Mr Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' against him, and that he cannot stand under the Labour banner at the election. Meanwhile, Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in northeast London, said she was told Labour were pulling her candidacy for allegedly liking a series of tweets that downplayed anti-Semitism accusations an hour before she did an interview on Newsnight. Ms Shaheen, who was yesterday out campaigning with her baby, told the programme: 'Fourteen tweets since 2014, ten years, three of those were about the Green Party... me liking my friend's tweet before I joined the Labour party. 'One of them was about my experiences of Islamophobia in the party. Like how am I not allowed to talk about my experiences of Islamophobia and the double standards that I've seen, and that we see with Diane Abbott for instance? 'I'm just so shocked right now to be treated this badly after being such an active member of the party.' Ms Abbott, Mr Russell-Moyle and Ms Shaheen are all on the left of the party. Ms Abbott later tweeted about Ms Shaheen's ban, writing: 'Appalling. Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of left wingers?' Mr Starmer is now facing anger from even his allies at Labour's treatment of Ms Abbott. Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in northeast London, told Newsnight that the party was pulling her candidacy for allegedly liking a series of Tweets that downplayed antisemitism accusations Labour leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting attend a campaign event at Three Counties Medical School yesterday Diane Abbott has warned that she 'will not be intimidated' as she vowed to stay on as the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington for 'as long as it is possible' Shadow Health secretary Wes Streeting, who accompanied Sir Keir on the election train in the West Midlands on Wednesday, said he was not comfortable with the way the veteran MP was treated. He said the probe into the remarks she made comparing Jewish people to the bullying of reheads had 'gone on for a very long time'. Meanwhile Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, told Times Radio: I think that Diane should be allowed to stand... the delay has been unedifying. The whole thing has been unedifying.' Martin Forde KC, a former adviser to Labour on its handling of anti-Semitism, described the situation as 'utterly shambolic' and said it would have a 'tremendous' impact on the Afro-Carribean vote. Mr Forde said: 'I get WhatsApp messages, predominantly from professional black and Asian women, who are utterly dismayed by the way Ms Abbott has been treated.' Lord Woolley of Woodford, a crossbench peer and founder of Operation Black Vote, told BBC Radio 4's World At One: 'This is a very big moment, I would argue, for the Labour Party, and Diane, and Britain's black communities, and I think they have about 48 hours to get this right. 'I think they're in danger of not only disrespecting one of the most popular MPs in modern time, but also, if they get this disrespectfully wrong, it'll also be a slap in the face for Britain's African and Caribbean communities.' Supporters of Diane Abbott arrive at Hackney Town Hall for rally in support of her continuing as MP Diane Abbott MP addresses a crowd of supporters on May 29 Protesters gather outside Hackney Town Hall in support of Diane Abbott Ms Abbott was suspended from Labour's parliamentary party for more than a year, amid a probe into her comments about Jewish people in a letter to the Observer newspaper in April 2023. But it has emerged the investigation ended months ago. Britain's first black female MP had the Labour whip restored yesterday, but initially appeared to confirm this morning that she had been banned from standing. The situation descended into confusion again hours later when she posted on social media that she was 'dismayed' by 'reports' she would not be allowed to stand. Mr Starmer later told reporters that 'no decision has been taken to bar Ms Abbott'. But after a chaotic afternoon in politics, Ms Abbott refuted this by telling a crowd of around supporters outside Hackney Town Hall last night: 'I was shocked to learn yesterday that I am going to be banned from running for the Labour Party. 'I have been selected by my local party members, many of whom are here today, but the national party is insisting that I be banned.' She said she was not given a reason for the ban, adding: 'They just want me excluded from parliament. 'So I am so shocked and so alarmed about what is going on because it is as if you are not allowed to be a Labour MP unless you are prepared to repeat everything the leader says.' The Labour veteran vowed to fight on, telling her supporters: 'You have always stood with me, in good times and bad. And I will always stand with you. I am not going to allow myself to be intimidated. I am going to be your MP for as long as I am allowed to.' Mr Starmer is facing a mounting backlash over the treatment of Ms Abbott, 70, who has been MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987 Ms Abbott's (left) comments will deliver a stark warning to Labour that if they do not allow her to stand, she may continue to run as an independent - like Jeremy Corbyn (right) has Ms Abbott's comments will deliver a stark warning to Labour that if they do not allow her to stand, she may continue to run as an independent. Mr Starmer has already faced this with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is running as an independent in Islington North. After reports emerged that Ms Abbott had been blocked from standing as a Labour MP, Mr Starmer insisted that was 'not true', telling reporters: 'No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott. 'The process that we were going through ended with the restoration of the whip the other day, so she's a member of the parliamentary Labour Party and no decision has been taken barring her.' Rishi Sunak said Labour had to be 'transparent' about Ms Abbott's position. Tory chairman Richard Holden wrote to Sir Keir demanding answers about the process. John McTernan, who was Tony Blair's political secretary, said: 'It's not for the Labour Party to ban a woman with Diane Abbott's record from standing for the Labour Party if that's what she wishes to do.' He added: 'This kind of briefing is aimed at humiliating her and that is disgraceful, utterly disgraceful. 'Whoever is responsible for this should hang their head in shame.' Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson said: 'Solidarity with Diane, undeniably a trailblazer & a hero of our movement. Diane Abbott broke cover yesterday as Labour struggles to contain a row about her being blocked from standing as a candidate at the election Ms Abbott said she was 'dismayed' at suggestions she will not be able to stand as a Labour candidate Sir Keir Starmer faced fury from Labour's left-wing after it was earlier revealed the race row probe ended months ago Ms Abbott recently 'liked' a social media post by Mr Corbyn's wife Laura Alvarez praising his decision to stand against Labour in his Islington North constituency Ms Abbott issued a public apology to 'wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and disassociate myself from them' in April last year 'At a time when all our energy should be focussed on throwing the Tories out, this process looks nakedly factional. 'Diane should have the whip restored now so she can stand as Labour's candidate in the GE.' Parliament was dissolved as of 00.01 on Thursday, meaning every House of Commons seat has become vacant and all MPs have stopped representing their constituencies. Parties must nominate their General Election candidates by June 7. The FBI along with numerous other government agencies have brought down the biggest botnet farm in the world and arrested its ringleader, the Department of Justice said in a statement Wednesday. Yunhe Wang, 35, is accused of running 911 S5, which infected around 19 million computers worldwide and over 600,000 in the US alone. The scam began in 2018 and lasted until 2022. Wang would then sell access to those infected computers to criminals who then used it for crimes as vile as child exploitation as well as identity theft and fraud, making around $99 million in the process officials said. The criminals that Wang sold access too even attempted to steal around $5.9 billion in Covid-19 relief funds from the US government. The indictment says Wang used his illicit gains to purchase 21 properties in the United States, China, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and St. Kitts and Nevis, where it said he obtained citizenship through investment. The domain for Wang's website has been seized in what federal officials have called Operation Tunnel Rat Among the luxury items seized by authorities included a Ferrari F8 Spider, similar to this one Among the toys that Wang bought with his illicit gains included a a 2022 Ferrari F8 Spider S-A, a BMW i8, a BMW X7 M50d and a Rolls Royce, all of which have been seized by the US government. That's in addition to $30 million worth of properties in the Caribbean, US, Middle East and East Asia that were also seized. A US Commerce Department official, Matthew Axelrod, told CNN that Wang's alleged crimes and lavish lifestyle: 'Reads like a screenplay.' Wang was arrested in Singapore, and search warrants were executed there and in Thailand, the FBIs deputy assistant director for cyber operations, Brett Leatherman, said in a LinkedIn post. Authorities also seized $29 million in cryptocurrency, Leatherman said. In 2022, 911 S5 was outed as a botnet and repackaged as CloudRouter, officials said. The suspect is awaiting extradition from Singapore to the US where he could face up to 65 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, substantive computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Two of Wang's associates, Jingping Liu and Yanni Zheng, have been sanctioned by the US government for their roles in the crime. Cybercriminals used Wang's network of zombie residential computers to steal 'billions of dollars from financial institutions, credit card issuers and accountholders, and federal lending programs since 2014,' according to an indictment filed in Texas eastern district. The administrator, Wang, sold access to the 19 million Windows computers he hijacked - more than 613,000 in the United States - to criminals. Those criminals in turn 'used that access to commit a staggering array of crimes that victimized children, threatened peoples safety and defrauded financial institutions and federal lending programs,' U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said. He said criminals who purchased access to the zombie network from Wang were responsible for more than $5.9 billion in estimated losses due to fraud against relief programs. Those criminals in turn 'used that access to commit a staggering array of crimes that victimized children, threatened peoples safety and defrauded financial institutions and federal lending programs,' U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Officials estimated 560,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims originated from compromised IP addresses. Wang allegedly managed the botnet through 150 dedicated servers, half of them leased from U.S.-based online service providers. In its news release, the Justice Department thanked police and other authorities in Singapore and Thailand for their assistance. The CEO of the ABC chose to delicately walk both sides of the fence as he appeared before Senate Estimates to respond to an outburst by one of his most senior political journalists' directed at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. David Anderson defended 7.30 chief political correspondent Laura Tingle as 'amongst the most respected and admired' political journalists in the country. He said that she 'understands' ABC guidelines but admitted that her comments about Peter Dutton were 'problematic'. Tingle told a Sydney Writers Festival audience she had 'this sudden flash of people turning up to try and rent a property or at an auction and they look a bit different, whatever you define different as, that basically he [Peter Dutton] has given them licence to be abused'. The CEO said Tingle does 'an excellent job' but when it came to her tirade against the opposition leader, 'I wish it hadn't happened'. ABC CEO David Anderson (pictured) is a toothless tiger at the organisation he leads in name only One of the ABC's top political journalists, Laura Tingle (pictured), had breached ABC guidelines He wasn't asked about her tirade against the entire Australian population. The 7.30 reporter declared Australia is a 'racist country'. Not backing the claim up with any evidence or analysis. When asked if Laura Tingle should leave the ABC for showing a lack of impartiality in her comments about Dutton, the CEO said 'I don't believe so', despite also saying that he agreed with ABC Chair Kim Williams' comments, which clearly stated that anyone who can't maintain impartiality should leave the ABC. Williams said in March that anyone who wants to keep practicing activist journalism should find employment elsewhere. The CEO told Senate Estimates that he had 'briefed the chair this week', but hasn't 'sought counsel' from Kim Williams. While David Anderson admitted that Tingle's comments were 'a mistake' he appeared to suggest that the matter is over now that the news director, Justin Stevens, has had a little chat with her. This was despite Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson noting that the Sydney Writers Festival comments by Laura Tingle were 'not an isolated case'. Henderson pointed to similar comments she made about Peter Dutton on the Insiders program. She also tweeted late one evening about the 'political bastardry' of Scott Morrison during his prime ministership. Despite these exchanges the CEO maintained that the ABC is a cut above other media organisations. Asked point blank if he would apologise to Peter Dutton for the comments Laura Tingle made the CEO paused for a moment in thought, before refusing to say that he would. He did express 'regret' and said he was 'sorry' about what happened, but refused to say that he would utter those words directly to Peter Dutton. Pressed on whether he would do so, having not properly answered the question, David Anderson appeared to deflect the blame back onto Peter Dutton, saying that when political leaders put views out in the public such debates will follow. New ABC Chair Kim Williams (pictured) says there is no place for activist journalists at the ABC ABC news director Justin Stevens (pictured) reprimanded Laura Tingle with a wet lettuce On cue the Greens began interjecting at this point in the hearing, using cowards castle - where defamation laws don't apply - to hurl smears at the Liberal leader in his absence. So where does all of this leave us? Clearly the ABC is circling the wagons, proving once again that it is a bottom up organisation wherein management has little control over the staff collective. That said, what was the Liberal Party doing getting Senator Henderson to do the cross examination in Senate Estimates? It dripped of hypocrisy. Henderson is a former state presenter on 7.30 before it became a national program. That was her career prior to embarking on a political career for the Liberal Party. First as a lower house MP, now as a senator. A double-barrelled political career for the Liberal, no less. Who in the opposition brains trust thought it was a good idea to seek to expose political bias by a current ABC worker with questions by a former ABC worker now working for the Liberal Party? There were other Coalition senators on the committee who could have asked the questions instead. Henderson asking the questions opens her up to accusations of the pot calling the kettle black, if evidence were to emerge of her showing any political bias as a journalist prior to her current partisan political career. If anyone could be bothered going back over the tapes of anything and everything she ever said during her ABC employment, on and off air. Remembering that the criticism directed at Tingle is focused on her off air comments. Police are appealing for witnesses to an alleged sexual assault reported to have happened during a pro-Palestine march in central London. Scotland Yard has launched an investigation after a woman was said to have been attacked outside a money exchange shop in Coventry Street, Westminster. It is alleged to have taken place at around 2.50pm on May 18 close to a huge gathering of thousands of pro-Palestine protesters in central London. A 69-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault but has since been bailed pending further enquiries. Following the man's release on bail, detectives have launched an appeal for witnesses to the alleged attack. Pro-Palestine protesters in Piccadilly Circus on May 18. A woman was sexually assaulted on nearby Coventry Street Police have arrested a man in connection with the incident but are appealing for witnesses (pictured: a pro-Israel counter protest the same day) There was a heavy police presence at the protest, which was attended by thousands (pictured: police in Piccadilly Circus) Scotland Yard says the attack is alleged to have happened outside a shop on Coventry Street (file picture) Police describe the suspect as bald and clean-shaven, wearing thick rimmed black glasses. He is believed to have been dressed in a light blue shirt with a navy zip jacket. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or post on X @MetCC quoting 01/358371/24. The alleged assault came as thousands of pro-Palestine activists rallied in central London for the latest in a series of marches calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict that has decimated the Gaza Strip over the last seven months. It took place on the 76th anniversary of what Palestinians call the 'Nakba' - the mass displacement of people following the creation of Israel in 1948. Protesters moved from Mortimer Street down Regent Street via Piccadilly Circus to Whitehall, where speeches took place. A counter protest by pro-Israel group Enough is Enough took place at the same time, separated from the Palestine protest at Piccadilly Circus by a police barrier and physical fencing. Police said they made a total of seven arrests relating to the protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, including one in connection with the alleged sexual assault. They included a man being arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after he allegedly climbed onto a traffic light and yelled 'intifada revolution'. 'Intifada' is an Arabic word referring to a rebellion, uprising or revolutionary movement. A man was also arrested for carrying a coffin bearing offensive language, while another was arrested after fleeing police during a search. Others were arrested for holding offensive placards, rowing with protesters and affray. A further arrest was made in relation to the counter protest in Piccadilly Circus, where a 74-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a provocation of violence on Great Windmill Street. Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove said of the policing efforts: 'Officers made swift interventions to make arrests where criminal offences were suspected.' Businesses in Magaluf have sounded the alarm over a lack of holidaymakers in the party city in the lead-up to the holiday season after weeks of anti-tourism protests. Photos show that Magaluf, one of Majorca's busiest cities, is still half-empty - days before tourists are meant to be flooding its streets, bringing with them much-needed spending money that is vital for the local economy. The Majorca Daily Bulletin reported that businesses are now anxious about whether enough tourists will come to the island. Some said that the busy holiday season hasn't yet started, and that some insist the city is busy at the weekends. But many have blamed the surge in anti-tourism protests the island has seen in recent weeks, in which angry demonstrators have told tourists to 'go home'. Many of them lay on their side, in a state of disuse rarely seen in the run-up to the summer Restaurants, bars and cafes are seeing few patrons, and even fewer waiters and waitresses serving a handful of items, mostly drinks Magaluf normally starts to get busy around this time of year, in the lead up to the holiday season One photo showed at most a dozen people meandering down a long stretch of the beach One image showed a young woman sitting in the shaded sand underneath one, having seemingly not paid to rent it Over the weekend, thousands of furious Majorcans took to the streets to protest mass tourism and gentrification. They said that they were being priced out of their homes, and being treated as second-class citizens in their own island. As one bar owner suggested: 'Their wishes have been granted.' Local governments on the island appear to be backing the protestors, with the Balearic government approving the power for tourism inspectors to physically seal off illegal lets. The government also said it wants local police forces to be involved in the work of inspecting properties. Photos from Magaluf show the city is currently a ghost town. Swathes of white sand, normally covered by towels, bags and beach bodies, can be seen reflecting the bright Spanish sun. Magaluf is known for its vibrant nightlife that almost exclusively serves tourists Businesses said they were worried about the effect the anti-tourism protests would have on the economy The photos showing Magaluf as a ghost town come as protestors began to make preparations to Majorca's beaches in a new stand over mass tourism Rows of deckchairs, which vendors can rent out for up to 60 a day, sit empty, with only the odd Majorcan resident using the facilities. Many of them lay on their side, in a state of disuse rarely seen in the run-up to the summer. Meanwhile, locals appear to be happy lying on the public beach for free, refusing to pay businesses often-extortionate prices to use their leisure facilities. In fact, some appeared to be happy using the beach umbrellas attached to them for free, with one image showing a young woman sitting in the shaded sand underneath one, having seemingly not paid to rent it. Pictures of cafes, bars and restaurants surrounding Magaluf Beach tell a similar tale, with few patrons and even fewer waiters and waitresses serving a handful of items, mostly drinks. Even the paths that run alongside the beaches in Magaluf, best known for its vibrant nightlife that almost exclusively serves tourists, are all but empty. Businesses told the Majorcan Daily Bulletin that they are deeply concerned that tourists have been driven away by the protests Rows and rows of deckchairs, which vendors can rent out for up to 60 a day, sit empty Swathes of white sand, normally covered by towels, bags and beach bodies, can be seen reflecting the harsh Spanish sun One photo showed at most a dozen people meandering down a long stretch of the beach. The photos showing Magaluf as a ghost town come as protestors began to make preparations to Majorca's beaches in a new stand over mass tourism to 'squeeze' out foreign tourists. Organisers of Saturday's march in Palma involving around 15,000 people, in which some foreign holidaymakers were heckled, promised afterwards: 'This is just the start of things.' And today a group calling itself Mallorca Platja Tour - Majorca Beach Tour in Catalan - started an online campaign urging locals to 'occupy' the island's beaches. A first meeting is being organised for this Saturday to promote a 'big event' on June 16 with the slogan: 'We fill the beach with Majorcans.' The latest campaign appears to have been triggered by the comments of Manuela Canadas, spokesman for far-right wing party Vox in the Balearic Islands' regional parliament. She responded to Saturday's protest by saying: 'I understand the discontent but us Mallorcans, who live directly or indirectly from tourism, cannot expect to go to the beach in July and August like we did years ago.' A taxi driver attempted to mow down a group of students and a rabbi outside a Jewish school in Brooklyn in an alleged attempt to 'kill all the Jews'. Asghar Ali, 58, a Pakistani immigrant with a reported history of mental illness, faces dozens of charges, including for attempted murder, after the attack outside the school in Canarsie on Wednesday, The New York Post reported. Surveillance camera footage shows a cab driver, later identified by police as Ali, reviving his engine as he drives up onto the sidewalk near the Mesivta Nachlas Yakov School building. He then chases a group of young men in an apparent attempt to run them over. The group, who sought safety inside the school building, alleged that as he chased them down, Ali yelled: 'I'm going to kill all the Jews.' Taxi driver Asghar Ali, 58, allegedly attempted to mow down a group of students and a rabbi outside a Jewish school in Brooklyn as he yelled: 'I'm going to kill all the Jews' Asghar Ali, 58, (pictured) a Pakistani immigrant with a reported history of mental illness, faces dozens of charges, including for attempted murder Ali launched his attack first by trying to hit a teenaged boy who was on his phone while standing at the Glenwood Road and East 55 Street, a rabbi told the newspaper. FULL LIST OF CHARGES AGAINST BROOKLYN TAXI DRIVER Asghar Ali, 58, faces dozens of charges after he allegedly tried to mow down students and a rabbi outside the Mesivta Nachlas Yakov School in Canarsie, Brooklyn on Tuesday. Attempted Murder as a Hate Crime Attempted Assault as a Hate Crime With Intent to Cause Serious Physical Injury Attempted Assault With Intent to Cause Serious Physical Injury Attempted Assault as a Hate Crime With Intent to Cause Physical Injury Attempted Vehicular Assault Attempted Assault With Intent to Cause Physical Injury Menacing as a Hate Crime Menacing Reckless Driving Reckless Endangerment Aggravated Harassment Advertisement He then allegedly headed around the block, driving on the wrong side of East 56 Street, and lunged his car towards a group of 30 to 40 students dressed in traditional Orthodox attire. Ali headed back towards the school, where he then lunged his car at two more students and a rabbi. The victims ran into the building before being hit. The taxi cab driver fled the scene, but was later found by members of the Shomrim Safety Patrol who contacted the NYPD. Police took Ali into custody and he was transferred to Coney Island Hospital. He face several charges including attempted murder, attempted assault and hate crimes charges. Officers do not believe the attack is terror related and do not have evidence that Ali is associated with radical groups, according to the newspaper. NYPD have identified five victims in the attack, including three 18-year-olds, a 41-year-old and a 44-year-old. No one was injured during the incident. Ali, who has lived in the US for over 20 years, is considered to be an 'emotionally disturbed', the Post reported, citing law enforcement sources. He reportedly has four prior arrests, including one involving false identification. He also allegedly claims to be a professional taxi driver, but does not have a TLC Driver License. DailyMail.com attempted to contact the Mesivta Nachlas Yakov School, but nobody was immediately available. Surveillance camera footage shows a cab driver, later identified by police as Ali, after he drove up onto the sidewalk near the Mesivta Nachlas Yakov School building on Wednesday morning One of Ali's alleged victims is seen running into the school for safety amid the attack A Spanish court has acquitted a man who raped a 12-year-old girl after it ruled that their relations were just a part of the Romani culture. On Tuesday, the court in Ciudad Real in central Spain took into account the socio-cultural context of the Gypsy ethnic group to reduce the sentence for sexual assault and abuse of a minor by a 20-year old man. This resulted in the perpetrator, who left his 12-year-old victim pregnant with twins, being acquitted. The ruling held that the relationship was 'always consensual within the frame-work of a romantic relationship', adding that the two were 'close in age and maturity.' The girl was first found to be pregnant after an examination by a doctor, who alerted authorities, leading to the man's arrest. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 11 years, but the court ruled to acquit. On Tuesday, the court in Ciudad Real in central Spain took into account the socio-cultural context of the Gypsy ethnic group to reduce the sentence for sexual assault and abuse of a minor by a 20-year old man The age of consent in Spain is 16, meaning anyone younger cannot consent to sex. However, the court ruled that the man should benefit from the legal exception. The acquittal is the latest in a series of rulings in which judges taken into consideration customs followed by some of Spain's Roma population when dealing with cases of sexual assault concerning minors. On Monday, just a day before the Ciudad Real ruling, the Provincial Court of Leon reduced a sentence for a gypsy man who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor, RTVE reported. Although the unnamed man impregnated her three times when she was between the ages of 12 and 15, the court concluded that in 'gypsy culture, couple unions occur at very early ages', a circumstance that acted as a mitigating factor. He was sentenced to just 11 years. The court in Leon was told by the victim, who is also Romani, that it was normal for a 12-year-old to have sexual relations with an adult in her culture. Prosecutors, who originally sought a 37-year sentence for the man on three counts of rape, agreed on a plea bargain deal for a reduced sentence. Sara Gimenez (pictured), the general director of the Gypsy Secretariat Foundation in Spain, said the recent rulings promoted a 'negative image' of the Roma people Beatriz Carrillo, the director general of non-discrimination and anti-racism within Spain's equality ministry called the court in Leon's ruling 'shameful' on X. 'Even more so [the ruling] is alluding to an alleged non-existent custom to mitigate the sentence. The penal code does not exclude the protection and protection of gypsy minors, otherwise it would be defending that abusing, attacking or raping to gypsy girls has few legal consequences,' she wrote on the social platform. Sara Gimenez, the general director of the Gypsy Secretariat Foundation in Spain, on Wednesday said the recent rulings promoted a 'negative image' of the Roma people that 'does not correspond to the reality of Gypsies today.' According to the Gypsy Secretariat Foundation, there are around 750,000 Roma living in Spain. Sydney's theatre world is in mourning after the tragic death of a much-loved production runner. Ryan Cuskelly, 30, passed away on Saturday morning after a battle with a 'severe and highly aggressive immune deficiency disorder and virus'. He held dozens of roles across a decade-long career in theatre, including working as a prop assistant, stagehand, usher and wardrobe assistant, and in TV, where he worked on shows such as The Bachelorette and Big Brother. His most recent job was as a production runner for Amazon MGM Studios, working on their upcoming crime thriller film, Play Dirty, which stars Mark Wahlberg and was shot around Sydney Harbour. Mr Cuskelly's colleagues on the film praised his 'remarkable spirit, generosity, and that infectious smile no one will ever forget'. Ryan Cuskelly, 30, passed away on Saturday morning after a battle with a 'severe and highly aggressive immune deficiency disorder and virus' Mr Cuskelly's partner shared news of his death on Saturday, revealing he 'fought so hard until the end' 'His warmth, kindness, and sense of humour made him a joy to work with, and his absence will be deeply felt by all,' a statement from his colleagues said. A GoFundMe page, to raise money for his memorial and his family, has so far raised almost $40,000. Mr Cuskelly's partner shared news of his death on Saturday, revealing he 'fought so hard until the end'. 'In typical Ryan fashion, he was stubborn and outlived the doctors predictions,' she wrote. Mr Cuskelly's most recent job was as a production runner for Amazon MGM Studios, working on their upcoming crime thriller film, Play Dirty, which stars Mark Wahlberg (pictured in Sydney) and was shot around Sydney Harbour 'I could not be more proud of him.' She added: 'Anyone who knew Ryan knew he was so beautiful, sweet and generous. Traits we can all aspire to be more like.' His funeral will be held on Monday June 10 in Sydney. An Indonesian groom discovered that his bride who he had dated for an entire year was a cross-dressing man who hid his true identity by always wearing traditional Muslim attire. The 26-year-old man, named only as AK, met his spouse Adinda Kanza, also 26, on Instagram in 2023 and the pair dated in person for a year after hitting it off online. During their in-person meetings, Adinda, who was also known as Erik according to local media, wore a traditional Muslim niqab that covered her entire face - which AK, a resident of Wangunjaya Village in Cianjur, reportedly took as a sign for her devotion to Islam. The couple decided to get married and opted for a small ceremony at AK's home after Adinda, who was from Jayapura Village in south Cianjur, told him that she no longer had any family, as her mother had died and her father had run away. But AK grew suspicious of his new wife soon after tying the knot on April 12, since she avoided intimacy by telling him she was on her period or feeling unwell, according to the South China Morning Post. An Indonesian groom has discovered that his bride is actually a man twelve days after their wedding. The 26-year-old man named only as AK (left) met his spouse Adinda Kanza, also 26, on Instagram in 2023 and the pair dated in person for a year after hitting it off online But AK grew suspicious of his new wife soon after tying the knot on April 12, since she avoided intimacy by telling him she was on her period or feeling unwell, according to the South China Morning Post Adinda's parents revealed that AK's wife was actually a man, identified as ESH (pictured), who started crossdressing in 2020 AK said Adinda refused to speak to his family and continued wearing her niqab at home. Police said AK's parents were immediately suspicious of Adinda. Head of the Naringgul Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Bripka Ridwan, told local media: 'From the start, AK's parents were suspicious of Adinda, who every time he was invited to visit his house, he rarely interacted and chatted, preferring to remain silent. 'Every time he visited Adinda Kanza, was always dressed completely covered and wearing a veil.' 'AK's family's suspicions also increased when Adinda asked for a marriage guardian, on the grounds that his mother had died and his father had gone somewhere and had been living alone in the Cidaun subdistrict,' he added. AK was suspicious of his new bride, and so tracked down her former address 12 days after their wedding - and was surprised to find her parents alive and well there. Adinda's parents revealed that AK's wife was actually a man, identified as ESH, who started crossdressing in 2020. They also said they didn't know that their son was in a relationship, let alone married. The police said that Adinda behaved like a woman and had a female-sounding voice, adding: 'If you look at their wedding photos, Adinda looks exactly like a real woman. 'He also has a gentle voice and tone, so there was no suspicion at all about him being a woman.' ESH has now been arrested by the police and told them he intended to marry AK to steal his family's assets, according to local media reports. He is facing fraud charges that could land him behind bars for up to four years. Police suggested that ESH enjoyed pretending to be a woman while dating men. It was also revealed that the alleged fraudster had previously dated women. The investigation is ongoing. A father in Queensland has been found guilty of raping his own 10-year-old daughter. The man, from North Burnett, performed oral sex on the child and raped her while laying behind her in her bed, Townsville District Court heard. Crown prosecutor Shannon Sutherland told the jury that 'overwhelming' DNA evidence showed 'possible' traces of the man's saliva on the girl's underwear, the Townsville Bulletin reported. A father in Queensland has been found guilty of raping his own 10-year-old daughter (file picture) The court was also told how the victim's sister was 'adamant' she saw the sexual abuse take place through cracks in the bedroom wall. The girl's mother - who is now the man's ex-wife - told the court that she saw the man lying behind the child in her bed. Defence barrister Kelly Mython claimed that the victim and her sisters had made up the allegations, saying there had been an 'evolution' of the girls' stories during police interviews. The defence had earlier claimed during the three-day trial that the victim had only claimed her father had penetrated her after being told so by her sisters. Ms Mython also told the jury that the sister's evidence was not reliable as the lights were turned off at the time she claimed she saw the rape take place. The jury took just an hour of deliberation to find the father guilty of rape and indecent treatment of a child under 12 of lineal descent. The man - who cannot be identified - was granted bail because of his complex health issues ahead of his sentencing. The matter will return to court on June 6. A former TikTok star known for his impersonations of Al Pacino's character under the pseudonym JinnKid in Scarface was reduced to tears as he was found guilty of murdering his wife and her friend in San Diego in 2021. Ali Abulaban, 32, learned his fate Wednesday after a trial in which he never denied killing Ana Abulaban, 28, and Rayburn Barron, 29, after stumbling upon them snuggled up on the sofa in the couple's home three years ago. Both victims were shot dead. The jury in the case affirmed a special-circumstances allegation as he was accused of multiple murders, meaning it could have become a death penalty case had prosecutors pursued it. As the verdict was read out, cheers erupted from the public gallery in the court, prompting Abulaban to turn to look at the commotion, with tears streaming down his face, reports NBC San Diego. Ali Abulaban, 32, learned his fate Wednesday after a trial in which he never denied killing Ana Abulaban, 28, and Rayburn Barron, 29 The suspect stumbled on the pair together in his former home in 2021 and flew into a rage Abulaban openly sobbed in court as the verdict was read out, convicting him on all counts He will return to court on June 28 for sentencing which could see him spend the rest of his life behind bars. 'Finally, my brother and Ana got a little bit of justice. Obviously nothing is going to bring our brother or Ana back, but at least he is never going to be able to do this to another person again,' Barron's sister Jordana told the NBC affiliate. 'It's the relief. We've been waiting almost three years for this,' Ana's friend Julia Stuntz added. The TikToker, who has a history of domestic violence, was allegedly kicked out of the couple's apartment at the Spire San Diego luxury apartment complex. Prosecutors allege that he secretly obtained a room key and gunned down his wife and Barron while they sat on the couch. During his lengthy period on the stand in the case, Abulaban admitted to punching and pushing his wife on various occasions - but claimed that he would have never done so before the family moved from Virginia to San Diego in early 2021. Abulaban then painted a picture of the volatile state of his relationship with Ana following the couple's move - a decision he insists was driven by his wife. Ana became obsessed with moving to San Diego - and grew angry if anything interfered with their plans to move, according to Abulaban. After his brother suffered a mental health episode, Abulaban wanted to postpone the move - but Ana allegedly said 'take me to San Diego or I'm divorcing you.' Abulaban painted a picture of the volatile state of his relationship with Ana following the couple's move - a decision he insists was driven by his wife, during his testimony PICTURED: Victim Rayburn Barron on his Facebook page. Prosecutors said that the jealous Tiktoker believed that his wife was cheating on him with Rayburn, as Brast said that Ana and Ali had already been separated 'for quite some time' before that When the pair finally moved, they dove head first into a life of drugs and partying - a lifestyle which was allegedly brought on by Ana's friend group. Abulaban claims he felt like an outcast and struggled to fit in during his time in San Diego. 'We were a close-knit unit and then we brought in these friends into our life,' Abulaban testified. Abulaban said the pair began arguing frequently about alleged infidelity on both sides. He recalls a particular fight in July 2021 in which Ana claimed she had slept with one of his friends. High on cocaine at the time, Abulaban said the remark 'shook me and I snapped.' He then punched her three times in the face. The accused murderer testified in court that he was using cocaine to cope with his emotional struggles, but that the drugs were making him violent and aggressive. A few days after the argument, the couple fought again because Ana was going to a girls only party, which Abulaban felt was an attempt from her friends to ostracize her. He was also concerned because his wife mentioned bringing their young daughter to the party, which he felt would not be appropriate because he assumed there would be drugs there. He testified that he tried to block Ana from leaving through the front door and in his effort to keep her out, pushed her and she struck her head against their refrigerator. Pictured: Abulaban alongside his wife in one of his viral TikTok videos Prosecutors previously said Abulaban had surreptitiously installed a listening device on his five-year-old daughter's tablet device, and when he heard his wife and another man talking, he went to her apartment in San Diego and shot them to death. Around 3.10pm on the day of the slayings, police discovered both victims dead on the 35th floor of the Spire San Diego luxury apartment complex. Prosecutors said that the 'jealous' TikToker believed that his wife was cheating on him with Rayburn, as Brast said that Ana and Abulaban had already been separated 'for quite some time' before that. According to Brast, Ana had asked her husband to move out on October 18 as he checked into a hotel. Three days later, Brast said, Abulaban sneaked back into the apartment and trashed it while his wife was gone. While he was there, she said that he also installed the listening app on his daughter's iPad. Prosecutors believe that Abulaban copied a key to Anna's apartment and used it to get in. Abulaban then listened to the app hours later and heard his wife and a man talking and giggling, before he raced back to the high-rise, Brast said. Security camera video showed him running out of the elevator on the 35th floor toward the apartment. Brast said Abulaban shot Rayburn three times at close range - in the neck, cheek and back of the head - before he turned the gun on his wife, shooting her once in the forehead. The suspect then called his mother and confessed, Brast said. 'The defendant then fled the building, went to pick up his daughter from school, still had the loaded gun in his car,' Brast said. '[He] told his daughter that he "hurt mommy" and then he was soon apprehended by the police.' With his young daughter still in the car, Abulaban was stopped by police later that day and arrested, according to investigators. One of Britain's most popular seaside towns is being ruined by Airbnbs, locals say - with the holiday lets forcing out families, destroying any sense of community and turning it into a 'ghost town' in the winter. Residents of picturesque Whitstable in Kent - including an Airbnb owner himself - have blasted holiday lets for forcing out families who were born and raised in the coastal resort. Their anger comes after it was revealed that 542 Airbnbs are available in the town. This is compared with only eight livable apartments listed on Rightmove in the same area. Whitstable is a very popular tourist hotspot for celebrities. Landlord of local haunt the Old Neptune Darren Wilton has documented the hosts of famous faces - including Holly Willoughby, Jack Whitehall, Anna Friel, Inbetweeners star Simon Bird and even the 13th Doctor Jodie Whittaker - that have visited his pub. Celeb sightings in Whitstable also include Johnny Depp, Ed Sheeran David Beckham, Tom Hardy, Rob Beckett, Josh Widdicombe and Aaron Paul - so it is easy to see why the town is such a popular spot of holiday let investors. Holiday let costs for converted fisherman's huts in Whitstable, Kent start from 75 per night Converted fisherman's huts in Whitstable, Kent which are now short-term rental properties Fisherman Graham West, 62, described Whitstable as as 'ghost town' in the winter Residents of picturesque Whitstable in Kent have blasted holiday lets for forcing out families who were born and raised in the coastal resort General view of Whitstable Kent, which is seeing homes being converted into holiday lets Artist and Airbnb owner John Butterworth, 62, has lived in the town for 30 years said the influx of holiday lets has 'compromised' the local community Other fans of the town's charm include former porn actress Mia Khalifa, who was dubbed the 'Queen of Whitstable' lat year after sunbathing in a bikini in the cold January weather, the news website reported last year. Is YOUR town being taken over by Airbnbs? Email oliver.price@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Graham Cox, of the Whitstable Society said after the findings by KentOnline were published: 'Airbnbs have stripped the life out of the core of the town.' were published: 'Airbnbs have stripped the life out of the core of the town.' Artist and Airbnb owner John Butterworth, 62, has lived in the town for 30 years. He listed his mother's home on Airbnb after her passing as he didn't want to sell it, and still lives nearby. Mr Butterworth said: 'The reason I started this was because I was losing a job and needed an income. 'I am aware that there are a growing number of them. When I started this ten years ago there weren't as many. I don't think it is a good thing. 'It became a bit of an epidemic. I think the government incentivised people because they don't charge taxes. I think that they should charge us. 'What you find with most of these is that the owners don't even live in Whitstable. 'I have started to notice that there aren't any neighbours. Half the houses in this street are Airbnb. 'I came down here because I couldn't afford to live in London. Now I can't afford to live in Whitstable. 'I moved to Whitstable because of the community and that community has been compromised.' The nearby Kent seaside town of Ramsgate is also facing a battle against Airbnb properties, with locals claiming in April that the holiday let trade was pushing out locals. Fisherman Graham West, 62, says Whitstable becomes a 'ghost town' in the winter, when no tourists are down to visit. He said: 'Come in November and see how many lights are on. It comes to winter and this place becomes a ghost town. 'Airbnbs make up 60 per cent of the area. There are no locals anymore. Outside of weekends it is dead. 'Most people here don't have neighbours anymore. 'It is ridiculous. People are buying houses and not living in them.' Carly Firminger, 36, runs a cafe just outside of the high street said she had to move due to the high cost of homes in Whitstable Steve Notts has been running his boat tour business in Whitstable harbour for 24 years. He said the Airbnbs are 'not good for locals' A general view of some short-term rental properties near the Whitstable shoreline Celeb sightings in Whitstable include Johnny Depp, Ed Sheeran David Beckham, Tom Hardy, Rob Beckett, Josh Widdicombe and Aaron Paul Having lived in the area his whole life Mr West has seen a lot of change and believes the Airbnbs are causing the local businesses to struggle. He added: 'I think it has made a lot of difference to this town. 'The businesses start to struggle in the winter. There are lots of customers in the summertime but it's not for long, and you can't sustain a business on two months of the year. 'It would bring the community spirit back if they clamped down on it. I think they should be made to pay council tax.' In January official data revealed that some 260,000 residential properties in England have been empty long term - while there are 70,000 holiday homes in England and Wales. Local authorities have pursued council tax premiums, handing out refurbishment grants and asking genealogists to help them identify unknown property owners. Councils are also called on the Government to help them with new policies and more resources. Ministers said at the time that they are trying to make things easier for authorities by allowing them to increase the rate of council tax on properties empty for at least one year. Matt, 24, from sandwich works at a cafe which is owned by a holiday company, next door to some converted fisherman huts that are now rented as rooms Andy Thomas, the owner of a harbour shop called Kites and Things, says he wants more tourists in the town Carly Firminger, 36, runs a cafe just outside of the high street which she says luckily is frequented by locals. After living in Whitstable her whole life, she says that she had to move out to Herne Bay as house prices became far too expensive. She said: 'I don't live here anymore because the house prices have been pushed up so much. 'Half of them are empty most of the year, and it's sad when you see people who can't afford to live here and there's all these empty houses. 'I wanted to live here, and I wanted to raise my kids here, but I simply can't afford it. 'But it is good for business. Carpenters and painters are cashing in big time. There are lots of people who are becoming cleaners too as there is such high demand for them. 'There are good points and there are bad points.' Steve Notts has been running his boat tour business in Whitstable harbour for 24 years. He said: 'It is not good for locals. People are doing Airbnb rather than renting their houses. 'All the houses down the road have no locals. Come in the winter and they are dead. 'I started this business in 2000 and it had changed a lot since then. There were a lot more local people around then.' It seems that a lot of the change to the area has happened in the last decade, with many saying the Airbnbs really started picking up just before the pandemic.' Shannon Jackson, 40, has been living in Whitstable for nine years with her two children, and says she has seen so much change in that time. The pub bartender said: 'It is just crazy. I was walking along my street the other day just counting them. 'They are renovating the house next to me right now to become one. There used to be such a nice old couple living there. 'In the short space of time I have been here there has been a lot of change. 'It is just not a community anymore. I like talking to people and neighbours but now everyone just comes and goes. It used to have a real community feel, it was a fisherman village. 'I am worried that we won't be able to afford to stay here. The locals in the pub are all fed up, but they won't move because they love it here.' Whitstable is a beloved holiday hotspot for tourists and even a huge host of celebrities A general view of a residential street in Whitstable, Kent Resident Bob Spink, who has lived in Whitstable for 15 years says he pities the younger generation as they will never be able to afford to live in the area. The 71-year-old said: 'There's too many of them [Airbnbs]. It is a cash cow as far as the council is concerned. 'The youngsters who want to live and work here can't afford to. So many of them are having to move out of Whitstable. 'The majority of the people buying houses here are either going to retire or let it out. 'Nobody in a little fishing village can afford these prices.' However, not everyone sees Airbnbs as a negative. Some business owners saying that they rely on the holiday-goers as customers. Andy Thomas is the owner of a harbour shop called Kites and Things which he has run for 17 years, after having run a high street shop for 30 before that. Living a couple of miles down the road he says that he has occasionally stayed in an Airbnb when attending something that goes on quite late. He said: 'For me, the more tourists that are in the town the better. I sell stuff to local people, but you need a new flow of people and the Airbnb's bring that in. 'They don't drain the life from the area, they put money in the businesses. 'We need Airbnb, that's the majority of the people in the town that are spending money now.' Matt, 24, from sandwich works at a cafe which is owned by a holiday company, next door to some converted fisherman huts that are now rented as rooms. He agrees that the tourists are good customers and add lots of financial benefit to the area. He said: 'For us as a business it is good. A lot of people just come down for the weekend.' Your browser does not support iframes. In response to the comment that the tourists strip the life out of the town he added: 'sounds like an old man with too much time on his hands.' Many other residents and local business owners found themselves torn on the issue, stating that there are positives and negatives to the flood of tourists. Charlie Matthews, 33, who just opened his stall making pizza near the harbour says he also has mixed feelings on the influx of Airbnbs. He added: 'I don't think they are great. There is just too many of them around town, it brings the price of everything up. 'There is nowhere to live. Every other house is an Airbnb. 'The place is packed in the summer for these two months, but the rest is awful. 'I heard that there's not even enough people living in the town now to fill the schools. 'It does bring a lot of business too, but we need a better balance.' An Airbnb spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We recognise the housing challenges towns like Whitstable face and we support the new regulations for short-term lets in England, which will give local authorities the information they need to enforce rules and protect everyday Brits who host to earn additional income. 'The majority of our hosts in Kent are everyday people who share their primary home for fewer than three nights a month, and two thirds of UK Airbnb hosts also say the additional income will help them afford the rising cost of living this year.' Prosecutors have begun an appeal after three teachers from England were cleared of the manslaughter of a British schoolgirl who drowned during a school trip to France. Jessica Lawson, 12, from East Yorkshire, died after a plastic pontoon in a lake near Limoges overturned in July 2015. A criminal prosecution followed and, in October 2022, teachers Chantelle Lewis, Daisy Stathers and Steven Layne all teachers at Wolfreton School, near Hull were aquitted on charges of manslaughter caused by gross negligence. So too was French lifeguard Leo Lemaire, who was on duty at the time of the accident in the town of Liginiac. This led to Jessica's devastated family complaining about the verdict, saying they wanted someone to be held responsible for the schoolgirl's death. On Thursday, Mr Lemaire was being cross-examined at the Limoges Court of Appeal after insisting that he was used to seeing the pontoon overturn, and it was not considered dangerous. Jessica Lawson, 12, from East Yorkshire, (pictured) died after a plastic pontoon in a lake near Limoges overturned in July 2015 Teachers (L-R) Daisy Stathers, Chantelle Lewis, and Steven Layne were aquitted on charges of manslaughter caused by gross negligence. According to court papers, prosecutors want to know why the pontoon on the lake (pictured) overturned regularly 'I grew up right next to this stretch of water,' Mr Lemaire told the court. 'I can't count the number of times I went there and saw the platform turn over with swimmers on top of it, and there was never an accident.' A photograph of the pontoon full of swimmers was shown in the court using a projector, as Mr Lemaire said: 'Yes, of course, I watched them, but no-one was jostling, or shouting more than usual. They were laughing, and I had the entire swimming area to scan.' The appeal is re-examining the decision to acquit Mr Lemaire, the French local authority responsible for the upkeep of the pontoon, and the teachers. Only French prosecutors can appeal criminal aspects of cases, while victims and their families can appeal civil aspects. The grounds for the current appeal relate to the upkeep of the orange pontoon which overturned, and the security around it. According to court papers, prosecutors want to know why it overturned regularly, why there were only three anchor points and not four, and why there was no limit on the number of people allowed on top of it. People laid flowers outside Jessica's school after her tragic passing Jessica's devastated family complained about the verdict, saying they wanted someone to be held responsible for the schoolgirl's death. They also want to know why adults, including the teachers, did not intervene when they saw the platform was overcrowded. Such questions will be discussed at length, before the two-day appeal ends today. A verdict will then be handed down at a later date. The original trial, held in Tulle, heard how Jessica the youngest pupil in the school party was hit on the head when the pontoon flipped over. She was rescued from beneath the pontoon by the lifeguard, and then airlifted to hospital in Limoges, but medics could not save her. Prosecutors had called for Ms Lewis, Ms Stathers and Mr Layne, as well as lifeguard Mr Lemaire, to be jailed for three years, while all denied any wrongdoing Giving her verdict at the Tulle Criminal Court, judge Marie-Sophie Waguette said there was 'no evidence to show that they were negligent'. Jessica the youngest pupil in the school party was hit on the head when the pontoon (pictured) flipped over There were a total of 24 British pupils aged 12 to 17 in the water, along with one teacher, with two others monitoring from the shore There were a total of 24 British pupils aged 12 to 17 in the water, along with one teacher, with two others monitoring from the shore. Following the original verdict, Jessica's sister, Hannah Davidson, 33, sad: 'We hoped that this would be the week that we finally had some answers and were able to begin the process of moving on with our lives but that hasn't happened, which is impossible to accept. 'Until someone is held accountable for Jessica's death, we will never be able to process what happened to her. It simply can't be the case, in those circumstances, that a young girl with her whole life ahead of her died and it's no one's fault.' Ms Davidson said the court procedure devastated her parents, Tony and Brenda Lawson, as they did not get 'the closure we desperately wanted.' The appeal continues. Airlines around the world are tightening their rules for passengers in a bid to manage the rise of turbulence as the phenomenon becomes alarmingly worse. Companies are clamping down on in-flight safety measures after two shocking incidents of turbulence took place last week, resulting in the death of a 73-year-old man as well as dozens of people injured. Passengers on a Qatar Airways flight were rocked by turbulence as it approached Dublin Airport, which saw 12 people injured, eight of whom were taken to hospital. In the same week, Singapore Airlines announced it will halt meal services when planes fly through turbulence after musical theatre director Geoffrey Kitchen died during a period of turbulence on a flight from London last week. One aviation expert predicted other airline companies will likely follow suit, with further 'technological and procedural' changes on the way as the industry becomes more informed about the increasing risks of turbulence. Technological advances could also see pilots given more advanced warnings about difficult conditions and therefore utilising the seat belt sign for longer while one industry union is also campaigning for a ban on 'lap babies'. Ambulances gathering around the plane which landed safely in Dublin airport at around 1pm. Eight passengers were taken to hospital after being checked over by medical staff The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21 Passengers of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, which made an emergency landing in Bangkok on its flight from London to Singapore, arrive at Changi Airport in Singapore Damian Devlin, lecturer in aviation at the University of East London, told The Telegraph: 'As awareness and understanding of this phenomenon improves, the aviation sector will inevitably seek to minimise the impact through measured technological and procedural innovations. 'The sector will undoubtedly study the adjustments to service made by Singapore Airlines to better understand the influence it has on issues like passenger confidence and passenger compliance with crew instructions.' Singapore Airlines said it has adopted a 'more cautious approach to managing turbulence in-flight' after the Boeing 777 jet heading to Singapore hit extreme turbulence over the Andaman Sea last Tuesday. 'In addition to the suspension of hot beverage service when the seat belt sign is on, the meal service will also be suspended,' the airline said in a statement. 'Crew members will also return to their seats and secure their seat belts when the seat belt sign is on.' One union has also urged for children under the age of two to be banned from sitting on a parent's lap while on a flight and instead should be provided with their own seat. A spokesperson for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA union told the Washington Post: 'We've seen [planes] go through turbulence recently and drop 4,000 feet in a split second. 'The G-forces are not something even the most loving mother or father can guard against and hold their child. It's just physically impossible.' Musical theatre director Geoffrey Kitchen , died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured after the Singapore Airlines incident The plane was buffeted by turbulence that flung passengers and crew around the cabin. Pictures show the scale of the destruction with panels seen ripped off the ceiling of the plane Passengers are seen in the cabin after the incident today, with belongings strewn across the floor and oxygen masks dangling from above In pictures of the aftermath, one air stewardess was seen with blood over her face The Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is seen on the tarmac at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok following the incident Technological advances could also see seat belt signs on planes illuminated for longer as pilots become more aware of potentially hazardous routes. What causes turbulence? Mountains As wind currents hit mountains they can produce 'mountain waves'. These are regions of turbulent air which can shake nearby planes. Storms Large storms create huge vertical air currents which cause planes to rise or fall. Passing aircraft can rise or fall between 600 and 1830 metres (2,000-6,000ft) at a time. Jet streams In clear air turbulence passing planes can be caught by high speed winds. These may become worse as climate change affects weather patterns. Advertisement More sophisticated weather monitoring systems will allow air traffic controllers to identify rocky jet streams, while communication systems between pilots will enable them to give each other advanced warnings about such conditions as well. Although this may lead to longer flights as planes are rerouted, with the increasing costs from greater fuel consumption likely to come back on passengers. Retired pilot Captain Mike Jenvey told The Telegraph that people should be wearing their seat belt at all times any way due to the deadly risks of turbulence. He said: '[Hitting turbulence] can cause passengers who do not have their seatbelts fastened to rise up very quickly out of their seats and be pushed back in very hard. 'If walking in the aisle of the aircraft, the sudden rise might cause passengers to hit their heads hard on the cabin ceiling and then fall down.' Last week's brutal turbulence, around ten hours into the flight from Heathrow to Singapore, wrought havoc on board and saw British grandfather Geoffrey Kitchen suffer a fatal heart attack, while dozens of other passengers sustained significant injuries. Speaking to MailOnline, aviation expert Terry Tozer revealed the unfortunate pilots would have had almost no warning of what they were flying into. He said: 'There's no tech that can detect clear air turbulence. The area where they were is pretty renowned for turbulence, but you get a bit of warning. 'They were obviously caught completely unaware. They're still investigating so we don't know, but I wouldn't imagine there's anything more.' Another pilot told MailOnline the plane's sophisticated weather equipment could have missed the pocket of turbulence with high density clouds in the way - meaning there was no way to know about the air pocket. The interior of Singapore Airline flight SG321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21 Food and drinks can be seen strewn across the floor of the plane last week The incident, which aviation experts are calling a 'freak' event is the latest tragedy to involve Boeing which has seen its reputation battered in recent years. A 73-year-old passenger, named as musical theatre director Geoffrey Kitchen, died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured after the incident. Standing passengers caught out by deadly turbulence on the ill-fated flight were 'doing somersaults' as they were smashed into the cabin ceiling, one shocked passenger said. Harrowing images taken on board showed how the cabin was littered with debris as distraught passengers tried desperately to stem the blood flowing from severe cuts and blunt force injuries. Another passenger named as Jerry, who was travelling to his son's wedding aboard the ill-fated flight SQ321, said it was 'the worst flight of my life'. Speaking to BBC reporters with a bandage covering part of his head, he said: 'Suddenly the plane plunged... there was no warning at all, and I ended up hitting my head on the ceiling, and my wife did. 'Some poor people walking around ended up doing somersaults. It was absolutely terrible.' Then just days later, passengers on a Qatar Airways flight were rocked by turbulence as it approached Dublin Airport, which saw 12 people injured, eight of whom were taken to hospital. Those onboard the plane described how staff members were sent flying into the air, adding that they 'thought it was the end'. One man, who was on his way back from Perth, Australia, said that food and drink was scattered everywhere after the incident. He told RTE: 'I had to grab the seat in front, I had to put my seatbelt on.' Another passenger, Eileen, said that she had never had a worse experience onboard a flight and that her partner Tony was forced to hold her down as she had been taking a nap without a seatbelt on. 'I am not in a hurry to get back on a plane I can tell you,' she added. Firefighters and a fire engine outside the a plane at Dublin airport which experienced turbulence over Turkey resulting in 12 people being injured The flightpath taken by the Qatar Airway plane. IT experienced turbulence over Turkey and 12 people were injured but have been attended by emergency crews ta Dublin Airport The flight experienced turbulence over Turkey a spokesperson for daa, the operator of Dublin Airport said Meanwhile Cathal described how his meal had gone flying off his lap and that the turbulence had caused his shorts to be ripped. Paul Mocc explained how people had hit the roof during the chaos and that refreshments had ended up scattered all over the cabin. The passenger added that he had seen flight attendants limping with bandages on afterwards and that they had all handled the situation very well. Conor, who was on his way back from Thailand, also described staff going 'up in the air' when the plane suddenly dropped. And Emma recalled the fear and stress in people's faces during the turbulence. Kevin Cullinane, Deputy Director of Communications at daa, the operator of Dublin Airport said: 'The Dublin Airport team continues to provide full assistance on the ground to passengers and airline crew.' In an updated statement at 3pm, Dublin Airport said all passengers were assessed for injury before disembarking the plane, and eight were taken to hospital. 'Qatar Airways flight QR017 from Doha landed safely as scheduled at Dublin Airport shortly before 1300 on Sunday,' they said. 'Upon landing, the aircraft was met by emergency services, including airport police and our fire and rescue department, due to six passengers and six crew (12 total) on board reporting injuries after the aircraft experienced turbulence while airborne over Turkey. 'All passengers were assessed for injury prior to disembarking the aircraft. 'Eight passengers were subsequently taken to hospital.' Residents of a village subjected to a three-month nightmare by gangs of feral youths are calling for a return to old-fashioned policing after a string of incidents which has seen local business owners attacked and shops looted. Locals in Barnham, West Sussex, say violent and intimidating gangs of youths acting like a 'pack of animals' rule the village streets at night, leaving them too scared to leave their homes. Local Facebook groups for the previously sleepy village are full of posts from angry residents reporting attempted thefts, anti-social behaviour and drunken, 'weed-smoking' youths. Business owners have been attacked, a pensioner's dog kicked and residents abused by gangs of young people travelling between towns and villages along the south coast by train. Sick of the lack of police presence, businesses have resorted to hiring their own private security firm to protect themselves and their premises. It comes amid local backlash against plans for a traveller site at Little Meadow in Yapton, just over two miles from the village. A local consultation on the plans, which residents fear will only make the issues worse, concluded in February. Shocking footage of a group of girls assaulting an emergency worker at Barnham station was recently shared on social media Muhammed Islam, 64, who runs the Passage to India restaurant in Barnham, was attacked by a group of youths earlier this month Now residents are demanding a permanent police presence in the village at weekends and school holidays. Cllr Sue Wallsgrove, a member of Arun District Council who represents Barnham, said: 'It's an utter nightmare. The past few months have been absolutely crazy. 'There is a good train line and these youths use it to travel to the various villages on the route and cause mayhem. 'They were coming here in gangs of up to 20 and stealing all sorts of things from the Tesco and Coop store. 'They are emboldened by their numbers and they act like a feral pack of dogs. They'd never behave so atrociously if it was just two or three of them. But it's like a tyranny. 'My grandchildren can't go out at night because it is too dangerous and I know several elderly people who have become prisoners in their own homes because they are too frightened to go out. 'They tend to do their shopping and going out during the day and once it gets dark they stay safely inside. 'Because police numbers are so depleted a private security firm has been brought in to act as a deterrent but they are only there between 4pm-8pm and then they leave. It's got a bit better since the security firm started. 'Youths have been arrested in connection with the incident on April 2 and others have been issued with orders banning them from various stores but it is still a problem.' A group of teenagers hanging around in Barnham. Sussex Police say violent disorder and shoplifting in Barnham is largely committed by young people from out of the area The attack on local business Passage to India saw windows smashed - two people have been arrested Muhammed Islam was allegedly punched and kicked several times in the head and shoulders The attack on May 19 was captured on camera, with a video being shared online A separate incident saw a local Co-op store allegedly looted by a gang of young girls, who were caught on camera fleeing the scene On May 19 Muhammed Islam, 64, who runs the Passage to India restaurant, says he was attacked by a group of youths as he tried to tell them that the restaurant toilets were for paying customers only. He was left bleeding after allegedly being punched and kicked several times in the head and shoulders. A 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl from Yapton, West Sussex, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after the incident and released on bail pending further enquiries. Several youths - teenage boys and girls - have appeared in court in recent weeks charged with a variety of offences. Offences range from theft, criminal damage and assault to using threatening and abusive language and behaviour, trespass on a railway line and being drunk and disorderly. But worried residents say the village needs a deterrent to stop the offences happening in the first place. They say the problems occur within a stone's throw of the railway station outside a set of shops and takeaway restaurants. An elderly pensioner said one group of teenager kicked her Yorkshire Terrier, Max, as she walked past a group. 'He knew what he was doing. He pretended it was a mistake but the whole lot of them started laughing like it was such a joke. My dog wasn't injured but he was quite shaken. 'People are genuinely frightened to go out in the evenings. It's diabolical what they're allowed to get away with.' Outside the Lantern House Chinese takeaway, resident Deny, 42, who was too scared of reprisals to give her surname, said: 'It's been absolutely appalling for weeks and weeks now and we need the police come down here and have a presence because it is out of control. 'The kids are all drunk on cider and alcopops and they're causing havoc, abusing the takeaway staff, stealing booze and stuff from the Tesco and Coop across the road and generally causing mayhem. 'By the time the police have got here they're back at the station boarding a train out of here. We need some sort of deterrent to stop this once and for all.' There has been a heightened police presence in the village since the latest attack on a restaurant owner on May 19 An emergency public meeting to address the surge in antisocial behaviour was attended by more than 200 residents of Barnham, West Sussex Residents at the public meeting were told there were only 39 police officers on duty for the whole of West Sussex on Easter Saturday One elderly widow said: 'I live close to the centre of the village and it has become so bad that I won't go out after dark for fear of being abused and shouted at or worse. 'I went out a couple of months ago to pick up some food from the Coop and got such a mouthful from a group of girls. It was terrifying. I burst into tears when I got home.' Several incidents in the small village have gone viral in recent weeks, including shocking footage of a group of girls assaulting an emergency worker at Barnham station. Within 48 hours, a second clip went viral of another group of young girls appearing to loot the village's local Co-op. At a meeting of the Yapton Parish Council on February 14, members concluded they had 'reservations' about the proposed site and said it was 'not appropriate'. Barnham Railway Station. Residents who spoke at the public meeting on Thursday night said they believe train connections make their village a soft target An emergency public meeting last month was attended by more than 200 concerned residents. Josh, 34, a caterer, said: 'What is surprising is that a large proportion of these feral teenagers are girls, probably aged between 14-16. They're all off their heads on booze. 'I told one of them if she didn't pipe down we'd make a civilian arrest but she said she was 15 and if we touched her it would be an assault on a child. You don't know where to turn and the cops aren't taking it seriously enough. 'There were a lot of police round after the assault on the restaurant owner but not before which is why it happened. The kids know the police haven't got the resources. If there was a local officer they wouldn't do it.' At the Tesco Express staff were too worried to speak but one customer said: 'I come in during the day because later on it gets too rowdy and the groups of youths start gathering outside. Frankly it's terrifying.' Another resident said: 'All we're asking for is a PCSO until these kids get bored and grow up. The trouble only happens on holidays and half terms when they're off school - though I struggle to believe may of them go to school. 'The girls are as bad as the lads and they're like a pack of animals. They goad each other on.' She said: 'They use the rail network to get around so maybe train staff could help by checking they've got valid tickets because I suspect they haven't.' An elderly pensioner said one group of teenager kicked her Yorkshire Terrier, Max, as she walked past a group. 'He knew what he was doing. He pretended it was a mistake but the whole lot of them started laughing like it was such a joke. My dog wasn't injured but he was quite shaken. 'People are genuinely frightened to go out in the evenings. It's diabolical what they're allowed to get away with.' One mother-of-two, who grew up in Barnham, said: 'All we're asking for is a PCSO until these kids get bored and grow up. The trouble only happens on holidays and half terms when they're off school - though I struggle to believe may of them go to school. 'The girls are as bad as the lads and they're like a pack of animals. They goad each other on.' She said: 'They use the rail network to get around so maybe train staff could help by checking they've got valid tickets because I suspect they haven't.' London mayor Sadiq Khan has vowed to pressure Sir Keir Starmer over reviving a form of EU freedom of movement for young people if Labour wins the election. Mr Khan, who has just begun an historic third term in City Hall as the capital's mayor, claimed a youth mobility agreement with Brussels would be a 'win-win' for Britain. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently rejected an EU offer to make it easier for Brits aged between 18 and 30 to live, study and work across the bloc. The EU proposed significantly reducing immigration controls on young people moving between the UK and EU. The suggested four-year visas would have no restrictions on time spent working, studying, training or volunteering. But Downing Street said there was no interest in the scheme and that 'free movement within the EU was ended' with Brexit. Labour also rejected the possibility of an EU-wide scheme - but Mr Khan pledged to try and convince Sir Keir to change his mind if he becomes PM on 5 July. The London mayor told Politico such a scheme would have value 'not just from a social and cultural perspective, but an economic perspective'. Sadiq Khan, who has just begun an historic third term in City Hall as the capital's mayor, claimed a youth mobility agreement with Brussels would be a 'win-win' for Britain The London mayor vowed to pressure Sir Keir Starmer over reviving a form of EU freedom of movement for young people if Labour wins the election 'I can't introduce a youth mobility scheme without the Government supporting this,' he said, when speaking to the website just before the General Election was called. 'So one of the points I'll be making to a new Labour government is how a skill shortage and the labour shortage is affecting our economy.' 'Allowing those between 18 and 30 to come to London - and vice versa by the way - is so important relation to hospitality, in relation to the night-time economy, in relation to culture, in relation to social care, healthcare and other sectors where there's record numbers of vacancies.' Mr Khan also argued there would be long-term benefits to making it easier for young people in the EU to come to London. 'When they return to their country of origin, and are chief executives, or investors or are prime ministers and presidents: that has a pull factor,' he said. 'They will want to invest in London. And so I'll be making that case to Rachel (Reeves) and Keir should they have the privilege of being the chancellor and prime minister.' The UK currently has individual youth mobility schemes with 13 countries, and the Government has said it preferred such bilateral arrangements over an EU-wide deal. Labour also rejected the possibility of an EU-wide scheme, saying the party would 'seek to improve the UK's working relationship with the EU within our red lines no return to the single market, customs union or free movement'. Last month, the European Commission suggested Britain had expressed an interest in youth mobility deals with individual member states, adding an EU-wide approach would be preferable as it would ensure all members were treated equally. European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said Brexit had 'hit young people in the EU and the UK who would like to study, work and live abroad particularly hard'. He added: 'Today, we take the first step towards an ambitious but realistic agreement between the EU and the UK that would fix this issue. 'Our aim is to rebuild human bridges between young Europeans on both sides of the Channel.' EU member states would have had to agree to the proposals first before any negotiations with the UK could begin. But a Government spokesperson said: 'We are not introducing an EU-wide Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) free movement within the EU was ended and there are no plans to introduce it. 'We have successful schemes with 13 countries, including Australia and New Zealand, and remain open to agreeing them with our international partners, including individual EU member states, where it's in the UK's interest and supports the skills and opportunities of our youth.' Were you or someone you know involved in the brawl, or did you witness it yourself? Share your story at: Were you or someone you know involved in the brawl, or did you witness it yourself? Share your story at: chris.jewers@mailonline.co.uk A waiter and two police officers are said to have been injured Eight British tourists have been arrested following brawl at a Majorca restaurant This is the shocking moment a group of British 'stag do' tourists brawled outside a Majorca restaurant, which resulted in eight being arrested. The violent incident which involved the British party-goers occurred at around 7.30pm yesterday at the Balneario Illetas beach club restaurant in Calvia, the municipality where party resort Magaluf is located. Town hall chiefs said a waiter had been injured after being hit in the head and two police officers were also hurt in the violent scenes which saw dozens of waiters and holidaymakers fighting it out on a beach outside the venue. They said they would be taking a tough stance against people who 'put the security of the municipality at risk'. Footage of the incident that led to the arrests of the British revellers has emerged, showing the violent scuffle after spilling out onto a Majorcan beach. Eight British men have been arrested in Majorca following a brawl at a restaurant. They were pictured getting handcuffed on some steps at the beach club restaurant before being taken away by police. The fight resulted in a waiter and two police officers being injured. Restaurant staff are seen grappling with British tourists who started a fight at a Majorcan beach-side restaurant. One woman was filmed being knocked to the ground as she tried to stop the brawl. A woman, who was knocked over during the brawl, is helped up by a member of staff. The video shows security guards and restaurant staff grappling with the allegedly drunken holidaymakers on the sand, as reggaeton music played in the background. The waiters, wearing white polo shirts, are seen in the video attempting to pull the brawlers apart - many of whom are in bikinis and swim shorts. One woman in a bikini - as well as one of the security guards - ended up being knocked to the ground in the scuffle. One man in swim shorts appeared to either be punched or kicked from behind. Women could be heard screaming 'Stop' and one onlooker was overheard saying: 'I just can't believe it.' Other bystanders could be seen watching on from the restaurant, filming the fight with their phones. In a second clip, showing another angle of the fight, one man is seen punching another in the face, knocking him the ground and prompting gasps from onlookers. One woman behind a camera can be heard calling the men 'f***ing guiris' - a term used in Spain to refer to rowdy tourists, particularly those from Britain and Germany. As one of the women involved in the fight is seen falling over, appearing to trip over her own feet, another women is head saying: 'look at that one, she can't even walk' while a man is heard calling them 'drunkards'. 'How embarrassing,' they add. It was not immediately clear from the clip who was fighting who. Some partygoers could be seen throwing punches and kicks at each other, as well as the staff. One group - understood to be the Brits involved in the fight - were later pictured in handcuffs on steps by the beach club, before being taken away by police. A council spokesman urged 'tourists like these' to go somewhere else. People were pushed and shoved at a Majorca beach on Wednesday after a fight broke out between British tourists and restaurant staff. The tourists, who were said to be on a stag do, were seen throwing cans of beer into the sea. The brawl erupted after being told to stop by the waiter. A stunned onlooker was heard saying 'I just can't believe it' as the fight went on. In a second video from another angle, one man was seen being punched in the face. He is seen here in this video grab falling backwards to the ground after being hit More footage showed that the brawl carried on into the ocean Commenting on yesterday evening's events, Calvia Council said: 'A mass fight at the Balneario Illetas restaurant on Wednesday has led to the arrest of eight English men aged around 30.' 'A waiter was injured after being hit in the head and two police officers were also hurt and are awaiting a medical evaluation.' The British tourists were said to have been on a stag do holiday and were staying at a hotel in the Son Armadams area having travelled from the island capital of Palma. The men reportedly began to throw rubbish and cans of lager into the sea, which annoyed other customers and sunbathers on the beach. According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, the fight broke out after a waiter asked them to stop, leading to the clash with staff and other beachgoers. 'The response of the group, who appeared to have drunk excessively, was extremely violent. They attacked staff and confronted the police.' According to local news outlet Diario de Mallorca, six units of local police arrived at the scene. But instead of calming down, the outlet said 'the tourists did not change their attitude and violently confronted the agents'. Officials from the local Consistory said they had rarely seen such a violent reaction from detainees, who - they said - tried to flee once they were cornered by officers. Diario reported that the eight Brits spent the night in the Calvia Local Police headquarters, and that they would be transferred to the Guardia Civil. The outlet also noted that the waiter who was injured in the fight was knocked unconscious after 'being hit in the head'. The council said that seven restaurant customers and sunbathers have already pressed charges against the violent British tourists. The brawl comes just days after 15,000 Majorcans took to the street to protest against tourists, and the disruption they bring to the local area. Protesters hold a banner reading 'Mallorca is not for sale' Calvia's deputy mayor Esperanza Catala said this morning: 'Let no-one be mistaken, we are going to be inflexible with this sort of people that we don't want in Calvia and we are not going to let them get away with anything.' 'We are not going to allow anyone to come here that puts the security of our municipality at risk and damages our image. They need to take note and go somewhere else if they don't know how to behave,' she added. The brawl in Majorca comes in the midst of ongoing anti-tourism protests on the island, as locals attempt to clamp down on disruptions caused by holidaymakers. On Saturday, around 15,000 people took to the streets of Palma to show their unhappiness towards tourism. Locals were seen holding placards with slogans reading 'tourists go home' and some even heckled foreign holidaymakers whilst they enjoyed their evening meals. ix nations sharing a border with Russia or Belarus will collaborate on initiative NATO countries will collaborate to create a 'drone wall' on the security alliance's eastern flank that aims to provide round-the-clock monitoring of threats across the border from Russia and Belarus, it has been revealed. Six nations sharing a land border with Russia or Belarus - namely Finland, Norway, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - will pool resources to ensure thousands of military-grade and consumer drones can patrol the skies over their eastern regions. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said the new security measure was a necessity because 'we are back to some extent to where the world was in the darkest days of the Cold War'. He expressed concerns that Russia and Belarus were 'weaponising' migration, facilitating the transfer of large numbers of migrants and asylum seekers through their territory and onward into Europe. But he added the initiative would also form part of existing early warning systems (EWs) to protect against any 'provocations', in comments to The Times. Latvia is also one of several countries, including the UK, contributing to a 200 million scheme providing military-grade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Ukraine. That 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 soldier from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, flys the Parrot Anafi drone to identify targets during the Live Firing Tactical Training phase of Exercise Vigilant Isles on the 18th of November 2023 A FPV drone flies over a sunflower field during a military training near the Huliapole district of Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine on August 23, 2023 The war in Ukraine has proven the importance of drones in a modern theatre of combat Ukrainian drone operator demonstrates piloting of a long-range UAV A pilot practices with a drone on a training ground in Kyiv region on February 29, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine The MQ-9 Reaper (Reaper MQ-9A) is a remotely piloted medium-altitude, long endurance (MALE) aircraft designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), and attack missions Your browser does not support iframes. Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite heralded the so-called drone wall scheme as an innovative step to 'protect against provocations from unfriendly countries, and to prevent smuggling'. 'This is a completely new thing, a drone wall stretching from Norway to Poland, and the goal is to use drones and other technologies to protect our borders,' she told reporters this week. Ministers from all six countries met last week to discuss the joint project, which is still in its nascent stages. The timeline for its deployment and the exact parameters of the initiative are yet to be finalised, but it is thought each country will maintain control of their own assets and work with allied governments and armed forces on intelligence sharing. The drones will primarily be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), but Rinkevics said attack drones may also be included in the fleet for defence purposes. Poland, the only NATO country spending 4% of its GDP on defence, said the drone initiative will formulate a part of a much broader strategy that will see Warsaw spend billions on upgrading its security capabilities amid claims it is routinely targeted by hostile actions from Russia and Belarus. These alleged actions include cyberattacks, attempted arson and migrants being pushed illegally across the border, which officials describe as intended to 'destabilise' the European Union. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has planned a range of security measures including in cyberspace, as well as a more than $2.5 billion investment in a system known as East Shield that is to be completed in 2028. 'The goal of the shield is to protect the territory of Poland, hamper the mobility of our adversary's troops while making such mobility easier for our own troops and to protect civilians,' Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said at a news conference, adding that local communities understand the need for such steps. The shield will include 'all kinds of fortifications, barriers, monitoring of the air space on every level and upgrading the existing systems,' and will be integrated with the defence system across the country, Kosiniak-Kamysz said. He stressed it was the biggest program to strengthen NATO's eastern flank since 1945, when World War II ended. It comes weeks after Britain announced it was in talks to join Europe's 'Sky Shield' initiative, which seeks to create a comprehensive air defence system to shoot down missiles, drones and aircraft deemed a threat. Polish soldiers install a barbed wire along Polish border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, near Szyliny village, north-eastern Poland, 16 November 2022 Soldiers build razor wire fence on Poland's border with Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad near Bolcie, Poland November 3, 2022 Finnish soldiers perform war simulation exercises during NATO military drills Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed Britain is in talks to join Europe's new air defence system which would shoot down missile and drone strikes A soldier stands in front of a US made PATRIOT (Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target) surface-to-air missile system during a military exercise at Warsaw Babice Airport, Poland Defence Secretary Grant Shapps last month confirmed the UK is in the early stages of working with its European allies on the project, which was championed by Germany following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. What makes up Britain's current air defences? The nation's protective umbrella of air defence is created using kit from all three military services. In the Royal Navy, Type 45 destroyers act as the vanguard at sea, armed with sophisticated radar systems. Within the navy's fleet, high-end warships are equipped with Sea Viper and Sea Ceptor guided missile systems to destroy targets at range. Closer systems like the Phalanx B weapons platform - which can spew out 3,000 rounds per minute - and the 30mm cannons can be used to take out jets and drones. The British Army's 7th Air Defence Group, made up of regular soldiers from 12 and 16 Regiment, Royal Artillery, and reservists from 106 Regiment, are charged with protecting the skies. They are armed with the Sky Sabre missile system, which can simultaneously destroy 24 different targets travelling at supersonic speeds. Soldiers are also trained to fire the Starstreak high velocity missile, which can be launched from a vehicle, a mounted platform or off the shoulder. Tthe RAF has Lightning F-35 and supersonic Typhoon jets at its disposal. The warplanes can be armed with advanced short and medium range air-to-air missiles. Advertisement The UK already has a 'layered protection', Shapps said, which includes supersonic Typhoon jets which are poised to be scrambled at any time if needed. But many top military officials, including Head of the Armed Forces Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, believe Britain and her European allies need a dedicated air defence system, akin to the likes of Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling platforms. Some 21 countries have signed up to the initiative, including non-NATO members, which is designed to build an integrated air and missile defence system across the continent. It aims to cut costs for countries by coordinating their procurement of air and missile defence systems such as the Patriot missile system. It also aims to enable cooperation in training, maintenance and logistics. Switzerland officially joined in March, despite fears by some Swiss last year that it would compromise the country's long-standing neutrality. Adm Sir Tony said that 'live conversations' were underway' about boosting Britain's air defences - although he noted that Israel's situation was 'very different' and being a member of NATO offered protection. Asked if an 'Iron Dome' was needed, Admiral Sir Tony told LBC's Tonight with Andrew Marr: 'That will be needed in the future, that is a live conversation. 'We have several capabilities that help to protect the UK and to help our forces when they're stationed abroad, we don't have the same kind of system that Israel has but we don't live in the same type of neighbourhood that Israel lives in, so that's why it's very different. 'And we also are part of this big alliance [NATO] but when you look at the threats that are out there, far more longer range missiles, far more longer range one way attack drones, much easier ways of delivering those. 'So that's why we've got various initiatives both for ourselves as the UK but also with our European allies about how we might better defend ourselves in the future, conscious that those threats are probably going to increase.' Advertisement Sir Ed Davey has taken his political campaign stunts to a new level after he was interviewed on a WATERSLIDE today while unveiling Liberal Democrat plans to boost children's mental health. Meanwhile Labour has been taunted by the Conservative Party after a slew of left-wing candidates were blocked from standing in the General Election as the Diane Abbott row threatens to overshadow its campaign. Elsewhere, the Greens and Plaid Cymru have launched their campaigns this morning while Nigel Farage and Richard Tice have set out Reform UK's immigration policy amid a backlash over Mr Farage's controversial remarks about young British Muslims. This live blog has now closed, but see below for an update from day eight of the election campaign trail This is the shocking moment a security guard at a Costa del Sol pool club popular with British holidaymakers slapped two women during a violent ruckus as others tried to steal phones from onlookers recording the incident. The commotion unfolded at the Nao Pool Club in Marbella, when a crowd of revellers spilled into the car park. A security team dressed in black trousers and white polo-necks were dispatched to calm the situation, but one particularly burly guard took umbrage when a slender woman in a green dress appeared to swing her handbag at him. Blocking her bag, he retaliated with a violent slap that clouted the side of her head, and moments later launched an even more erratic swing at a second woman who came to her defence, hitting her square on the cheek and sending her stumbling away. A British tourist who recorded the incident also appeared to catch on film how one of the bouncer's colleagues surged into the crowd, attempting to seize the phones of shocked onlookers who had also filmed the slaps. Did you witness this incident? Share your story with us at tips@dailymail.co.uk Security guard is seen smacking a woman in a green dress who tried to swing her bag at him Moments later he delivered a devastating slap to a second woman who ran in to intervene The slaps prompted screams from shocked onlookers Security guards try to separate quarrelling revellers in the car park of the club Several onlookers were filming the incident on their phones when another security guard surged into the crowd to confiscate their devices Nao Pool Club is pictured The UK-based holidaymaker claimed she was assaulted by one member of the security team. 'They tried to snatch my phone for recording them and the security guard tried fighting me and my friend, grabbed a chair to try to hit me and my friend for recording. 'He attacked (another onlooker) for recording, snatched his phone and said he won't give it back unless he deleted it.' The disgruntled reveller also posted a photo of the guard she claimed had assaulted her. He was wearing an earpiece and the same uniform as the bouncer who was filmed slapping the two women in the car park. 'This is the fat b****** that tried attacking me and my friend for recording his co workers slapping women. Wtf.' She went on to repost a response from a Leeds-based social media user, following an online debate about who started things, which said: 'It's already been stated that the woman was assaulted FIRST. 'But the fact that you guys think it's okay for big ass f**king men to consistently slap and take property because they got hit with a small bag is genuinely insane.' Another social media user went on to claim the pool club at the centre of the controversy, which could not be reached for comment early this morning, 'allowed security to slap customers in the face' before adding: 'Marbella isn't a real place.' Nao Pool Club, which is in the residential area of Nueva Andalucia in Marbella, describes itself on its website as the 'hottest and trendiest' pool club in town. No-one was picking up the phone at the cllub this morning and an emailed request for comment went unanswered. Footage of the bust-up emerged after a dramatic police raid at another beach club just down the road on the seafront in Puerto Banus on Saturday afternoon. Revellers stand and take a photo as police enter the famous Ocean Club in Marbella The national police force enters the site at Puerto Banus on May 25, 2024 Some 20 police officers were seen pacing through the resort over the Bank Holiday weekend There, holidaymakers in their swim shorts and bikinis looked on in disbelief as armed officers wearing body armour crashed the famous Ocean Club in the Marbella resort of Puerto Banus in a broad-daylight raid under a glorious blue sky. Tourists packing out the 'beautiful people' venue, which over the weekend held one of two annual champagne parties popular with Bank Holiday visitors from the UK, were urged to keep calm. Police issued loudspeaker messages in Spanish and English saying: 'This is just a routine check. The minute we finish you can continue enjoying your afternoon. 'Don't worry, there's nothing serious going on.' But the images of the operation, which lasted nearly two hours and also involved a police helicopter which hovered overhead after officers moved in, showed why some revellers were left uneasy about their holidays being interrupted in such a radical way. One clubber is understood to have been arrested, although police have not yet commented officially on the reason for the detention. The spectacular club raid followed a string of shootings in the area, sparking the launch of the so-called Operation Marbella last month to keep British and Irish tourists safe. Police warned locals and visitors at the time they could expect to see more random stops and police checkpoints in and around the holiday destination. A police officer appears to usher holidaymakers out of the way during the sudden 'checks' Revellers can only look on bemused as the gaggle of officers conduct their sweep Ocean Club managers said in a statement after Saturday's raid: 'We would like first and foremost to express our gratitude towards our clients who were patient and willing to cooperate with the authorities during this unexpected turn of events. 'In recent weeks the Spanish police have launched 'Operation Marbella' in light of recent happenings along the Costa. 'This plan of action has been put into place to protect our citizens in order to make sure Marbella remains a safe haven for visitors. 'Over the last months, the press has shone a less than desirable light on our cherished town and this plan aims to return Marbella to its former glory. 'In order to do this, law enforcement are increasing police presence and performing surprise raids in various establishments along the coast over the coming months. 'We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused our esteemed clients and hope for understanding as these incidents are out of our control.' One of the shootings that occurred in and around Marbella this year was a March 11 attack on British-run eatery La Sala near Puerto Banus that led to the arrests in April of a British man and Irish national described by police as having links to organised crime. In the early hours of Saturday morning, a 33-year-old man was shot on a residential estate a short drive from Puerto Banus, just across the Marbella municipal border in the neighbouring municipality of Estepona. No arrests have yet been made. Around ten shell casings thought to have been fired from an AK-47 were reportedly found on the ground at the scene. Fernando Bentabol, the prosecutor in charge of combatting narco crime in the province of Malaga, shone the spotlight on its dark underbelly in a recent newspaper interview by likening it to Medellin. Locals have branded parts of Marbella like Puerto Banus the 'Wild West'. A Boeing whistleblower has called for a criminal investigation to be opened into the beleaguered company because their 'planes are not safe'. The troubled jet firm has been set a deadline of today to present its plans to federal regulators Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on how it will fix the safety problems that has plagued some of its aircraft. Former senior manager at Boeing Ed Pierson says there have been too many faults with the planes. The executive director of the Foundation of Aviation Safety has called for authorities to open up a criminal investigation as he fired a disturbing warning: 'These airplanes are not safe. They are still not safe.' The FAA told Boeing to present its turnaround plan after an Alaska Airlines jet had a door blowout mid-flight at 16,000 feet in January. Former senior manager at Boeing Ed Pierson (pictured) has called for a criminal investigation to be opened into the beleaguered company because their 'planes are not safe' The company has been pushed into crisis mode since a door-plug panel blew off a 737 Max jetliners during an Alaska Airlines flight in January, seen here The missing emergency door of Alaska Airlines N704AL, which made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport on January 5 Nobody was hurt during the midair incident. Accident investigators determined that bolts that helped secure the panel to the frame of the Boeing 737 Max 9 were missing before the piece blew off. The mishap has further battered Boeing's reputation and led to multiple civil and criminal investigations. Now, Mr Pierson has suggested Boeing may have failed to meet the FAA's deadline and requested an extension after it was told to produce a turnaround plan following the blowout. Mr Peirson told BBC Radio 4 this morning there needs to be action rather than words. He said: 'What really needs to happen, as we have said before, is there needs to be a full criminal investigation because these airplanes are not safe. They are still not safe.' The whistleblower is yet to be convinced by the FAA's promise that it 'won't be back to business as usual for Boeing' as it vowed to have a 'continuing aggressive oversight of the company'. In late February, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker gave Boeing 90 days to come up with a plan to improve quality and ease the agency's safety concerns. Whitaker described the plan as the beginning, not the end, of a process to improve Boeing. 'It's going to be a long road to get Boeing back to where they need to be, making safe airplanes,' he told ABC News last week. This picture taken at the Tanjung Priok Jakarta port on October 30, 2018 shows Indonesian people examining debris of the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610 in Jakarta which killed 189 Rescuers work at the scene of an Ethiopian Airlines flight of a Boeing 737 Max 8 plane crash near Bishoftu, or Debre Zeit, south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 11, 2019, which took the lives of 157 people A photo shows debris of the crashed airplane of Ethiopia Airlines, near Bishoftu, a town some 60 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 11, 2019 Indonesian Navy divers hold wreckage from Sriwijaya Air flight SJY182 during a search and rescue operation at sea near Lancang island on January 10, 2021 Rescuers bring up one of the engines recovered from the crash site of the Sriwijaya Air flight at the port in Jakarta on January 10, 2021 Asked whether he felt like he would be listened to in the future if he were to raise any issues about the firm, Mr Pierson said: 'It's going to take a lot of work and I've heard lots of broken promises, so until we see action that actually matches the words. 'We had an emergency just last week another Max Air plane had an emergency landing in Denver because of an electrical motor failure. We've seen many of those. We need to stop and do the job properly.' A new inquiry was opened by the regulator earlier this month following Boeing's astonishing admission staff may have skipped some inspections of its 787 Dreamliner planes. The FAA added that it was investigating 'whether Boeing completed the inspections and whether company employees may have falsified aircraft records'. The Wall Street Journal obtained internal communications sent by Boeing's 787 program chief, Scott Stock, on April 29. Stock said the company found no 'immediate safety of flight issue' for any of the Dreamliners currently in use. Boeing whistleblower Sam Salehpour testified on Capitol Hill in April about the safety issues present in the company's planes, specifically the 787 models. Salehpour claimed prior to his testimony that he 'literally saw people jumping on the pieces of the airplane to get them to align.' A Boeing 737 Max operated by United Airlines veered off the tarmac into the grass when exiting the runway at George Bush Airport in Houston in March CEO David Calhoun, who will step down at the end of the year, has said many times that Boeing is taking steps to improve its manufacturing quality and safety culture Boeing has categorically denied Salehpour's claims regarding people jumping on airplanes. Steve Chisholm, Boeing's chief engineer, defended the planes in April, saying investigators have not found fatigue cracks on in-service 787 jets that have gone through heavy maintenance. Still, the 787 jet has a history of serious problems, even if Boeing is confident in their structural integrity at this current moment. 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. In 2021, Boeing said the planes 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. The 737 Max, a narrow-body jet, has also had its fair share of close calls in the air. A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 was forced to make an emergency landing at Denver International Airport after part of the engine blew off in early April. In March, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 landed in Portland with its cargo door slightly open. Passengers' luggage and pets were down below but Boeing said no harm came to the animals. It also could face criminal prosecution over two fatal 737 Max crashes after Boeing was accused of violating a settlement which allowed them to avoid earlier charges. Pictured: Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour testifies before the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations on April 17 The Justice Department is to decide whether to pursue charges, amid increasing scrutiny over the safety of the company's planes, by July 7. Boeing reached a $2.5 billion settlement with the Justice Department in January 2021 after two 737 Max jets crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. Mr Pierson told the LA Times earlier this year he 'would absolutely not fly a Max airplane' following the Alaska Airlines blowout. 'I've worked in the factory where they were built, and I saw the pressure employees were under to rush the planes out the door,' he explained at the time. Adding: 'I tried to get them to shut down before the first crash.' Chinese premier meets with Malaysia's deputy PM Xinhua) 08:20, May 30, 2024 Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister I and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister I and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi in Beijing on Wednesday. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, the two countries have respected each other and treated each other as equals, committed to developing friendly relations based on their fundamental and long-term interests, Li said. Li said that, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties between the two countries, China is willing to advance high-level exchanges in accordance with the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, firmly support each other in safeguarding core interests such as sovereignty and security, make better use of their complimentary economic advantages to seek synergy for development, and contribute to regional prosperity and stability. China will strengthen strategic alignment with Malaysia, carry out key projects under the Belt and Road cooperation, tap into the potential for cooperation in emerging fields, including digital economy and new energy vehicles, and expand trade volume to tighten cooperation for win-win results, Li said, calling on both sides to engage in more exchanges and cooperation on education, culture, youth and other people-to-people areas. Li expressed China's willingness to enhance multilateral coordination with Malaysia to safeguard the hard-won favorable development environment in East Asia. Ahmad Zahid said that Malaysia stands ready to improve cooperation on economy, trade, investment, vocational education, sustainable development and other fields, promote people-to-people exchanges, to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between Malaysia and China. Malaysia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and condemns all forms of "Sinophobia," he said, noting that Malaysia-China relations are not interfered with or influenced by any external forces. Ahmad Zahid said that Malaysia is committed to advancing negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and any attempts by external forces to stir up trouble in the South China Sea will not succeed. Malaysia is willing to work together with China to further deepen coordination and cooperation on regional and international affairs, he said. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister I and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) China's toothbrush town cleaning up on global market Xinhua) 15:36, May 30, 2024 NANJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- At the Shuguang toothbrush factory, busy employees man the production line, inserting the bristles into handles, while in a nearby office, the general manager holds a video conference with a German client. Shuguang is just one of about 4,000 enterprises involved directly or indirectly in making toothbrushes in the township of Hangji in the city of Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. So dedicated is the place to its specialism that the scent of toiletries hangs in the air. However, few people are aware that this small town, covering less than 40 square kilometers, produces around 7.5 billion toothbrushes each year. They are exported to more than 80 countries and regions, meaning that one in three toothbrushes produced in the world comes from Hangji. Toothbrush manufacturing started here in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), when a farmer improved toothbrushes by making them with pig bristles. Established in 1976, Shuguang is among the oldest toothbrush factories in Hangji. Tu Xinye is from the third generation of workers in Shuguang, and has witnessed the growth of the plant, which now has more than 400 employees. "Many senior workers were my father's colleagues and watched me grow up," he said. "So we have the senior workers paired up with the younger ones and teach them skills." Innovation is important for old factories like Shuguang. In 2019, at an expo in Frankfurt, Germany, Shuguang presented a toothbrush with a handle made from straw. The biodegradation rate of the toothbrush was 30 percent. A German clinic asked if it was possible to raise the rate to over 90 percent. Tu and his team raced against time to find a solution to this problem, finally opting for polylactic acid as the material. After repeated attempts, they finally managed to ensure the toughness of the toothbrush handles and the resilience of the bristles. However, while voicing their satisfaction with the biodegradation rate, the client asked if they could get rid of the unpleasant smell of the new material. Shuguang adjusted the materials used and sent them more than a dozen batches of samples, before ultimately winning orders from the clinic. Today, the German clinic has become a long-term client of Shuguang. Meanwhile, the company also exports toothbrushes, single-tufted brushes, dental floss and other products to other countries, including the United States and Sweden. The oral-care products from Hangji can be found not only in European clinics and luxury hotels in Dubai, but also onboard China's research icebreaker Xuelong, for use on its Antarctic expedition. The industry has been profitable for the township, as well as creating plenty of job opportunities. Many local people work in the industry, while others from elsewhere were attracted to Hangji. According to Yu Hong, an official with the Hangji Township, about 30,000 people from other areas have found jobs here. Lin Qing from Fujian Province found employment at Shuguang after an online recruitment process. Lin, 28, has been disabled since contracting polio when he was young. But the hard-working man soon learned the sales techniques of e-commerce, and became the owner of two online shops, earning about 10,000 yuan (about 1,380 U.S. dollars) a month. "I am grateful to the factory, where I can earn both a salary and a sense of achievement," he said. Hangji is not the only place in China that has profited from focusing on a particular industrial sector. Other locations have also reaped the rewards of industrial agglomeration, including improved supply chains and product innovation. The mountainous town of Shuijiang in east China's Jiangxi Province boasts 93 wig enterprises that sell their wares to dozens of countries across the globe. In the Zixi County of Jiangxi, nearly half of the 100,000 permanent residents are engaged in the baking industry, creating over 60 bakery brands, with stores in more than 1,000 cities and towns across China. Meanwhile, Caoxian County is China's biggest production base for Hanfu, or traditional Chinese dresses, making about 40 percent of the total units in the domestic market. "Towns and counties with 'characteristic industries' could expand the market quickly with high production capability, while at the same time attracting domestic and foreign scientific research institutions to collaborate, so as to boost development of the enterprises, upgrade their brands and increase product competitiveness," said Zhang Shiyu, an official with the Hangji high-tech industrial development zone. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A veteran cop has claimed investigators could still be far from finding the body of missing mum Samantha Murphy, despite the recent discovery of her phone. Ms Murphy vanished without a trace after she left her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, Victoria, on the morning of February 4. The 51-year-old set out for her morning run at 7am through the nearby Woowookrung Regional Park - a 14km route she had done countless times before. Months of empty-handed searches for Ms Murphy led to police finding her phone at the Buninyong dam on Wednesday. The breakthrough sparked hushed celebrations between investigators, who were seen quietly high-fiving and shaking hands. Samantha Murphy (pictured) vanished without a trace after she left her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, Victoria on the morning of February 4 But retired senior homicide detective Charlie Bezzina has warned police not to celebrate too early as her alleged killer could have ditched her phone to throw police 'off the scent'. Mr Bezzina told the Herald Sun it was possible the alleged killer may have left the phone in the dam while discarding her body in a completely different spot. He added that they may have also dumped the phone some time after she disappeared. 'We don't know when that phone was dumped in there, it is not unusual for offenders to keep items for a while, especially mobile phones for all we know that might have been discarded just weeks' ago,' he told the publication. 'Often offenders go back and do things, keep the phone somewhere or with them, and then dump it later on. 'And that's where they'll get any evidence against him, if it's been pinging so not unusual at all for it to be dumped in a separate location (to the body).' He added it 'doesn't make sense' that the phone was found on Wednesday without prior intelligence as it would have been submerged underwater. Police made a major breakthrough in her case on Wednesday after discovering a phone Retired senior homicide detective Charlie Bezzina has warned police not to celebrate too early A leading criminologist earlier warned that the phone may be too damaged for police to analyse. University of Newcastle criminologist Xanthe Mallett told Sunrise on Thursday the phone discovery was 'very significant' as it could provide information on where Ms Murphy had been. However, Dr Mallett added the phone had been exposed to the elements for an extended period of time. 'Unfortunately, it may have been damaged,' she said. 'Samantha Murphy has been missing for 116 days now, so almost four months. 'If it does transpire [the phone] is hers, they may not have got as much information as they could have done if it had been found earlier. 'It really depends on the quality of the phone and how damaged it is. Remember, it has been outside. Dr Mallett said technicians would immediately be assessing the condition of the phone - but that process could take weeks. 'They will be working on them quickly but it is not going to be short term. We are not talking days, we are talking weeks at the earliest,' she said. 'We are going to have to wait and see exactly what condition that phone is in.' Officers located the mud-splattered mobile phone in a wallet at the water's edge of a dam at a property south of Buninyong, approximately 14km from Ms Murphy's home Criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett (pictured) told Sunrise the discovery was 'very significant' but depended on the condition of the phone Officers located the mud-splattered mobile phone in a wallet at the water's edge. It is believed to have been found by a police tech detector dog. In a statement issued shortly after the mobile phone was found, police said they had located some 'items of interest' during the search for the missing mum. The phone, along with other items found in the search, underwent forensic testing with sources confirming to 7News the device belonged to Ms Murphy. The owner of the property, who wished to remain anonymous, said police contacted him about three weeks ago asking for permission to access his land. The man said officers returned on Wednesday where they told him they were going to perform a line search along the road. 'A dog found something on the banks and they came up and asked me and my wife to make a statement,' he said. The man said police were interested in the levels of his dam. 'I hasn't seen anything suspicious out there. We don't have cameras. But yeah I believe one of those tech dogs found it,' he said. It is believed the phone was found by a police tech detector dog Police have been desperately searching for Ms Murphy's body The man said detectives came and spoke to him about a month after Ms Murphy vanished, but only returned again in recent weeks. 'They just asked me if I'd seen anything suspicious,' he said. Daily Mail Australia understands police are still searching for other key pieces of evidence, such as Ms Murphy's missing watch and headphones, or a possible murder weapon. On Thursday, a police spokesman said the missing persons detectives' search of the Buninyong location had concluded. 'There is no update on the forensic assessment of the items,' the spokesman said. The update from police would be a blow to Ms Murphy's family after the latest search sparked new hope her body would be found. In early March, almost five weeks after Ms Murphy's disappearance, local man Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged with her alleged murder. In early March, Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, (pictured) was charged with Ms Murphy's alleged murder Police allege Stephenson 'deliberately attacked' Ms Murphy in Mount Clear, about 7km into her run. Stephenson, who has no connection to the Murphy family, was charged with murdering the mother-of-three on March 7. The 22-year-old is the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, who played 15 games for Geelong and Richmond between 2012 and 2014. Stephenson remains in custody and is yet to enter a plea. Stephenson is due to face court again on August 8. They were the baby-faced troublemakers who terrorised Britain's streets. From the infamous 'Asbros' who brought mayhem to their community, to the 'Ratboy' burglar who received his first caution at the age of 10, the notorious 'ASBO Kids' became the poster boys for youth street crime. The ASBO, or anti-social behavioural order, was introduced by Sir Tony Blair's Government in 1998 as a way to deter crime by putting a curfew on an individual and banning them from certain places. Mugshots of children as young as 10 were plastered across newspapers in the hopes that a public shaming might teach them a lesson, and provide some sense of justice for the neighbourhoods they terrorised. But for many yobs it became a badge of honour, and more than half of those who received one would breach its conditions. The ASBOs were scrapped in 2014 by Lord Cameron's Coalition Government, and replaced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with civil injunctions and criminal behaviour orders. Now Keir Starmer's Labour is proposing to revive the Blair-era orders if it wins the General Election. The new ASBOs would give police powers to use 'respect orders' against perpetrators of harassment, intimidating behaviour, drug use, littering and street drinking. Breaching the orders would be a criminal offence and could lead to convictions being issued with anything from a community payback order to a custodial sentence. New orders would only be used against adults and persistent offenders. Here, MailOnline takes a look at the original ASBO kids. The 'Asbros' Danny and Ricky Oakley ran riot around their neighbourhood in Park Village, Wolverhampton when they were 11 and 12 (pictured) Danny Oakley (pictured last year) in the area of Wolverhampton where he once ran riot The 'Asbros': Daniel and Ricky Oakley Daniel Oakley racked up 40 arrests with his brother Ricky before they became known as the 'demons from hell' in their neighbourhood of Park Village in Wolverhampton. The siblings became the youngest recipients of anti-social behaviour orders in 2006, prompting them to become known as 'Asbros'. Their reign of terror included throwing knives, starting fires and letting down tyres, before they began carrying out robberies and burglaries. On one occasion, the duo suffered severe burns after Ricky threw a can of foam on a fire and it exploded. Speaking to MailOnline previously, Danny recalled: 'That was just the start of it. There was a big explosion that's for sure, we were walking down our road with smouldering hair and no eyebrows... I've come a long way from where I was.' In 2015 - his brother Ricky was in prison - while Danny, then 29, vowed to start afresh and said he planned to help steer other youngsters away from street gangs. 'Classic psychopath': Joseph McCann The five McCann brothers helped turn Greater Manchester into the ASBO capital of Britain thanks to their 'terrorising' antics, spearheaded by 'psychopath' Joseph McCann. The siblings were said to leave neighbours cowering in their wake, but a handful kept files of evidence on the boys while council bosses set up a video camera after receiving so many complaints. They were caught on CCTV wrecking cars, throwing bricks at workers and vandalising property, leading Manchester City Council to evict the whole family on the grounds of breach of tenancy. Despite being shipped two miles away to Ardwick, the brothers continued to return to Beswick just to raise hell, leading to Joseph receiving an ASBO aged 14 in 1999, alongside brothers Sean, 16 and Michael, 13. A year after the ASBOs were issued, burglaries in Beswick had halved and takings in its shopping precinct were up. But for Joseph, at least, the orders had no impact on his criminal desires. Sean McCann is pictured (centre) in Manchester in 1999 Michael (left) and Joseph McCann (right) arriving at court after they applied to overturn an anti-social behaviour order against them Joseph McCann was jailed for carrying out a horrific campaign of kidnappings, rapes and sex attacks In 2008, he was jailed for nine years for aggravated burglary after forcing his way into an 85-year-old man's home in Bedford and threatening him with a knife. He failed to be rehabilitated and after his release he was arrested again for burglary in August 2017 and given a three-and-a-half year jail term. But after 18 months behind bars, he was released early by the authorities in error, allowing him to embark on a 15-day rampage of rape, violence and abduction. A judge described him as a 'classic psychopath' as he dealt him 33 life sentences in 2019 after he targeted 11 victims aged 11 to 71 in Greater Manchester, Ramsbottom and London. 'Ratboy' Anthony Kennedy Anthony Kennedy, aka Ratboy, received his first caution at the age of 10 for terrorising the Byker Wall estate in Newcastle in the 1990s. Between the ages of 11 and 13, he was arrested 16 times and appeared in court three times for offences including burglary, theft, taking a car without consent and other driving offences. He earned the nickname Ratboy after being found by police hiding in a ventilation shaft. In 2007, Kennedy claimed to have given up a life of crime after finding love and religion. He and his partner moved to Blyth, Northumberland, to have a fresh start. He said at the time: 'I believe it's important to treat others how you would like to be treated yourself and to have respect for other people. 'When I was Ratboy, those were things I didn't care about.' 'Ratboy is the person I used to be,' he professed at the time. 'The only names I want to be called now are Anthony and Dad. I've turned my back on crime and would never go back to that life. I've got too much to lose.' Kennedy was jailed in 2018 after a botched burglary saw him leave a trail of blood across his victim's home. Judge Robert Spragg jailed Kennedy for three years and four months, adding he was 'turning into a career burglar'. Kennedy entered a home in Kensington Gardens, Monkseaton, where he smashed a century old glass panel in the front door and left a trail of blood as he scoured the house. Rachel Masters, prosecuting at the time, said the victim returned the following day to find his home ransacked. Sentimental items had been stolen including watches worth 750 - one of which was 35 years old and of significant sentimental value. Anthony Kennedy (pictured in 2018) made headlines nationwide as a baby-faced schoolboy who terrorised the Byker Wall estate in Newcastle in the 1990s Anthony Kennedy, 'Ratboy', who received his first caution at the age of 10 for terrorising the Byker Wall estate in Newcastle in the 1990s Alfie Hodgin, pictured aged ten in 2014 (left), was one of the youngest people to receive an ASBO. He was jailed aged 18 (right) after being caught with more than 2,000 of heroin and crack cocaine while 'slumped on the floor covered in blood' following a revenge attack. At 14, he admitted burglary and head butting a policeman in the face during a campaign of terror against elderly women. What are Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs)? CBOs are used to punish antisocial behaviour and replaced Antisocial Behaviour Orders (Asbos) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Asbos are still used in Scotland. The provisions relating to the CBO are in Part 2 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The provisions come into force on 20 October 2014. The main differences between the Asbo on conviction and the CBO are: The behaviour (first limb of the test for imposing an order) only need to cause or be likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person (removing the 'not of the same household' requirement) The 'necessity' test becomes a 'helpfulness' test (as with that for Football Banning Orders); and The court may impose requirements as well as prohibitions. Advertisement Sticking to his modus operandi, he was jailed at 17 for four years for robbing a pensioner, and was moved to an adult prison a year later to serve out the rest of his sentence. He was sentenced a further three times for burglary at the ages of 20, 24 and 26. In 2007, Kennedy claimed to have given up a life of crime after finding love and religion. He and his partner moved to Blyth, Northumberland, to have a fresh start. Alfie Hodgin At just 10 years old, Alfie Hodgin was one of the youngest people ever to receive an anti-social behaviour order - but it appears it did little to change his behaviour. In October 2022 he was jailed after he tried to become a drug gang boss but was stabbed 27 times with a machete in a revenge attack. The 18-year-old was locked up after he was caught with 2,320 of heroin and crack cocaine while 'slumped on the floor covered in blood' in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. The teenager from Liscard, Merseyside, was working for an organised crime group in a bid to pay off debt he had accumulated but he instead stole the gang's phone and drugs as he attempted to run his own operation. Liverpool Crown Court heard how a gang of four machete-wielding men left Hodgin lying in a pool of his own blood on July 14 with 27 stab wounds. Reports at the time heard that dozens of police cars responding to the incident which saw the attackers jump out at Hodgin out of a grey SUV. He spent two weeks in hospital due to the severity of his injuries having been rescued by an air ambulance. Prosecutor Derek Jones told the court Hodgin had 'clearly been subjected to a serious assault with weapons, thought to be machetes'. But he would be arrested by officers who found him in the possession of 1,220 of heroin, 1,100 of crack cocaine and a 1,208 'graft' phone. Hodgin admitted possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of the drugs as he was sentenced to two-and-a-half years. Kyle and Calvin Hooper Kyle and Calvin Hooper were aged just 12 and 10 respectively when they were handed ASBOs for terrorising their Newport neighbourhood. The order was imposed for five years after they threw bricks at moving buses, launched bottles and eggs and local residents and workers and shot at people with an air pistol. Kyle once swung a metal bar at a woman after she challenged a group of youths who were causing a disturbance, a court heard. The siblings were involved in 44 incidents over a 14-month period before being handed their first ASBOs in January 2005. Kyle (right) and Calvin Hooper were aged just 12 and 10 respectively when they were handed ASBOs for terrorising their Newport neighbourhood Kyle (pictured) once swung a metal bar at a woman after she challenged a group of youths who were causing a disturbance, a court heard They would find themselves in front of the court again, however, when they each received a two-year ASBO in March 2014. They were banned from meeting up with certain friends who they had caused trouble with and could not gather in a group of more than three people. The brothers were also banned from entering certain areas. Almost a decade later, and Kyle, at least, appears to have stayed out of trouble after having a son. He regularly posts pictures with friends on social media and helps run a local football club. MailOnline has reached out to Kyle for comment. In 2019, a Calvin Hooper was convicted of being in possession of cannabis with intent to supply. [CHECK] He was jailed in 2020 for breaching the terms of his community order. Craig Fletcher Craig Fletcher is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum term of of 25 years after carrying out the brutal murder of a father on Boxing Day in 2018. At 15, he was the first in Redcar and Cleveland to be slapped with an ASBO for tormenting locals in South Bank in 2001 - before receiving his second order just three years later. In May 2004, the same year as his second ASBO, he was jailed for three years after asking a 'naive and vulnerable' deaf man to give him lift early one morning - before violently robbing him of his car, which was later found burned out. Undeterred and clearly not rehabilitated, Fletcher grinned in the dock in 2018 when the then-21-year-old was jailed for two years and nine months for a horrifying assault on a 16-year-old boy. Craig Fletcher arriving a Teesside Magistrate's Court to receive his ASBO aged 15 Craig Fletcher, 33 (pictured), of Eston, was handed a life sentence, with a 25 years minimum term for his part in the murder. He filmed the attack on his mobile phone. The footage was shown to Teeside Crown Court - but it was so graphic, the public gallery was cleared as it was played Fletcher and two other men aged 18 and 19 kicked and punched the boy to within an inch of his life before dragging him into a field - robbing him of just 9 and a mobile phone. The year before he became a murderer, Fletcher vowed his criminal career was a thing of the past, telling Teesside Live he wanted to focus on his young family. 'I got my ASBO because, basically, I was a little nuisance,' Fletcher said. 'I was going around smashing windows and drinking in the streets, I was out of control. I'm getting texts off people who I used to have problems with saying ''let's bury the hatchet''. 'I've changed my ways, and everyone deserves a chance at turning over a new leaf.' A year later, Fletcher and his accomplice Craig Barstow faced Teesside Crown Court for the killing of Gavin Barnes, 35, which they filmed in Fletcher's Eston High Street flat. Both men had previously admitted the murder. Barstow, 31, of South Bank, was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 26-and-a-half years. Prosecutor Peter Makepeace QC told the court Mr Barnes died from a severe blunt force head injury with multiple impacts to the head causing skull and facial fractures, brain damage and severe swelling. A postmortem carried out on Mr Barnes found 105 injuries were inflicted on his body including bone fractures and broken ribs, The Mirror reported. Mr Makepeace described how the victim, who had issues with alcohol and relapsed on Christmas Day, was sleeping rough in Eston Square after a falling out with his girlfriend and had been drinking with Fletcher and Barstow. But at some point, the court heard, Barstow took drunken exception to Mr Barnes for no good reason - and launched into a sustained, torturous attack. Footage of the murder taken from Fletcher's own mobile phone was shown to the court - but it was so graphic, the public gallery was cleared as it was played. In the footage shown in court, both murderers were 'laughing throughout' the attack. After further degrading and sadistic attacks, Fletcher said: 'I video-recorded a murder. Finish him off then' (Pictured: forensics at the scene of the brutal 2018 attack) Simon Bourne Arton QC said told the men in court: 'Gavin Barnes was 35 when he died. He was 35 when you killed him... No sentence I impose upon you can begin to compensate his family and his friends. Nothing I do or say can help them in their grief.' (Pictured: Gavin Barnes) It showed the victim lying on the kitchen floor in a dishevelled state and then, two hours later at around 6.30pm, it again showed Mr Barnes had 'received a very severe beating and is utterly helpless'. The footage showed Barstow dragging Mr Barnes along a corridor, Fletcher was filming and commentating throughout, sometimes taking part in the violence. Mr Barnes was in distress and unable to speak or make coherent noise except 'guttural expressions of pain'. Both murderers were 'laughing throughout' the attack, they slapped him and Barstow kicked him with steel toe-capped rigger boots. Fletcher could be heard saying: 'He's hanging on for a long time this kid isn't he.' The footage then shows Barstow dragging Mr Barnes from the flat by his underwear shouting 'Google me'. He slammed the door on Mr Barnes' lifeless body and looked up at the camera smiling. Both were laughing, Barstow saying: 'I told him not to wind me up he started it.' Fletcher filmed blood on himself and said: 'Looks like a murder scene.' At one point, a dog bowl was placed in front of the helpless victim. After further degrading and sadistic attacks, Fletcher said: 'I video-recorded a murder. Finish him off then.' Barstow replied: 'He's dead.' The violence lasted more than three hours. Declan Madigan He was labelled a 'one-boy crime wave' back in 2000 after being arrested 100 times for violent crime, burglary and car theft when he was just a teenager. But Declan Madigan, who was 14 when he was handed an ASBO, seems to have finally got his life in order following a stint in prison. He was jailed for 11 years in 2014 after being convicted of a drive-by shooting and drug offences in Nottingham. He had been paralysed from the waist-down in an earlier car crash but ordered two others to fire shots at an empty house, the court heard. Declan Madigan (pictured outside court aged 16), who was 14 when he was handed an ASBO, seems to have finally got his life in order following a stint in prison Madigan's barrister Lisa Hardy told Nottingham Crown Court: 'He doesn't want his children to have the life he has had.' (Pictured: Madigan in a recent selfie) The career criminal vowed to change his ways when he was released early in 2018, telling a judge he was 'desperate to stay out of prison' so that he could settle down and raise a family. His barrister Lisa Hardy told Nottingham Crown Court: 'He doesn't want his children to have the life he has had.' Madigan - a man with 26 convictions for 149 offences - was 'frightened to death, it is fair to say, of being sent back to prison for any reason at all', added Mrs Hardy. Madigan has stayed true to his word and has remained out of prison, sharing a smiling selfie on Facebook as recently as this week. 'Young and Deadly' A gang of baby-faced teenagers called 'Young and Deadly' were named and shamed by police and banned from meeting up in public for two years. The group - some as as young as 13 - have plagued a town's streets with violence and anti-social behaviour towards their victims. One school even wrote to parents to warn that 'Young and Deadly' gang members were targeting vulnerable pupils with attacks. But six members - from 13 to 17 - have been named and pictured by police after being issued with Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs). Jackson Price, 13, Archie McCarthy, 14, Cody Bond, 15, Charlie Pearce, 16, Daniel Watkins, 16, and Tyler Hammonds, 17, have been banned from meeting up with other people in public. Tyler Hammonds, 17, pictured left, and Jackson Price, 13, were part of the gang The Young and Deadly gang, all from Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, must abide by the order for two years and cannot meet up with more than two other people under the age of 21. The gang has spread fear and caused chaos in the town, according to previous press reports. One woman claimed her mum has been left too scared to walk her dog. She said: 'My 60-year-old mum was terrified to walk her dog down the river - something she does every day. '[Recently] they were harassing people. Enough is enough. Sort these wannabe gangsters out before they stab someone for a laugh,' she said. Another mother said her 13-year-old son was attacked and left bleeding in the street. The boy was alone when he was left bleeding from the mouth and filmed on Snapchat helplessly wiping blood from his face with his hands. His mum, choosing to remain anonymous, revealed how she made the rare decision to allow her son to walk into the town centre alone to meet a girl from school. She explained: 'My son was left covered in blood, on his own with a girl against all those boys. Look at the blood pouring out of his mouth, it was literally him and that girl with about 10 boys. I never let him go to town either. I only let him go because he was meeting a girl from school.' The furious mum said she was told about other attacks on vulnerable people in the town centre after contacting police. She added: 'Even the police have actually informed me that they've attacked women, homeless people and men. They are very dangerous, carrying knives around too. 'I have video evidence of them all attacking children, pictures of all the children and their parents. I have Snapchat conversations between them all. I've contacted all their parents but nobody will do anything. The children are of all ages from 12-17.' Charlie Pearce, 16, and Cody Bond, 15, have been served with Criminal Behaviour Orders Archie McCarthy, 14, and Daniel Watkins, 16, caused chaos in their hometown, Merthyr Tydfil Local Policing Inspector Jon Duckham said: 'Criminal Behaviour Orders [CBO] enable us to deal with persistent troublemakers quickly - either they comply, and accept the help available to them, or they breach the CBO and find themselves arrested and back in court. 'It's really unfortunate that the repetitive nature of the offending meant that we were compelled to take such action as a preventative measure. 'I hope the issuing of these orders offers reassurance to the community, along with a level of safeguarding and a chance to improve the behaviour of the boys concerned.' Earlier this year, Afon Taf high school wrote to parents warning of the group, saying: 'As you may be aware, within the Merthyr area, there have been ongoing incidents. involving a group of young people who refer to themselves as YAD (Young and Deadly). 'These incidents generally involve acts of intimidation and/or violence towards individuals - many of whom are vulnerable. 'As a result of these incidents the police are regularly dealing with members of the group. 'Up until now, thankfully, there has been no suggestion that any pupils who attend Afon Taf have been involved with this group and it has not had any impact on our school. However, towards the end of the school day [recently], two males who are known to have links with the group appeared outside the school gates. 'They were seen immediately by our office staff who contacted police.' Two men were allegedly assaulted by a stranger in a violent and unprovoked attack at an airport terminal. The alleged incident happened at Perth Airport about 6am on Thursday, with a man restrained by witnesses until police arrived. Police said a 22-year-old man was sitting inside the domestic terminal when the 29-year-old alleged attacker walked past and slapped him twice in the back of the head. A few minutes later, he allegedly returned to the same area and punched a 26-year-old man in the face, then grabbed him and pushed him into a wall. The alleged incident happened at Perth Airport about 6am on Thursday, with a man restrained by witnesses until police arrived Three men, including the 22-year-old who was allegedly hit earlier, stepped in to help the 26-year-old. During an attempt to restrain the accused, the 22-year-old allegedly received a blow to his chin, resulting in a cut that needed stitches. Australian Federal Police officers arrived a short time later and spoke with the accused, other travellers and witnesses. The 22-year-old received first aid treatment at Perth Airport. The second man who was allegedly assaulted did not require medical care. During a search of the 29-year-old's luggage, police allegedly found two vials of anabolic steroids. The man, from the town of Manjimup in WA's South West, was arrested, charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault and possessing a prohibited drug (steroids). He was refused police bail and was expected to face Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday. AFP Perth Airport superintendent Peter Hatch said they would not tolerate violent behaviour at airports. 'The AFP works closely with the industry to ensure our airports are a safe environment for travellers and staff,' he said. 'The AFP has zero tolerance for anti-social, violent or dangerous behaviour and will prosecute anyone if they pose a threat to other people's safety.' Scandal-hit property investor Home Reit has kicked out its biggest tenant, a charity which paid no rent on hundreds of properties for more than a year in a protest. Liverpool-based organisation Big Help has agreed to give up leases on more than 600 properties, which equates to around 30 per cent of Home Reit's portfolio. The pair have been embroiled in a major row since the start of last year after Big Help protested over housing conditions and withheld payments on properties that it had rented from London-based Home Reit to house homeless people and prison leavers. Big Help has claimed the rent was not owed because it needed to invest a significant amount of its own money to bring the properties it leased up to a decent standard. The charity described the properties as mostly terraced homes previously owned by rogue landlords, which needed major works such as rewiring and new kitchens. Home Reit, which has been dubbed the 'landlord for the homeless', has now said reclaiming leases will allow it to collect rent and open up new 'opportunities'. The company insisted there would be a 'comprehensive handover with minimal disruption to occupiers', and the tenancies will transfer to Home Reit, adding that the 'current occupiers of the properties will not be impacted' as a result of the deal. Big Help, based in the Hope House building in Liverpool (above), has agreed to give up leases The firm will now 'directly collect the underlying income from these properties, increasing rent collection and facilitating asset management opportunities'. Home Reit is also now appointing property managers to the homes, who will be responsible for the day-to-day management and rent collection. A Big Help spokesman told MailOnline: 'Big Help has always been clear that we were victims in this scandal; we are delighted that after robustly defending our position for over 18 months we have been completely vindicated. 'Home Reit is now accepting the return of these leases that were handed over to us in a substantially different state of repair than our contracts had agreed, with significant shortfalls for maintenance budgets for each home. 'We have ensured that our tenants have been fully supported throughout this challenging period and we can confirm their tenancies have been assured as part of this agreement. We can further confirm this agreement has been completed at no cost to our organisation.' A file photograph of houses in the Lee Park area of Liverpool, the city where Big Help is based The successful effort to push through the deal with Big Help is a much-needed boost for the former FTSE 250 group as turnaround efforts continue. Home Reit has faced a series of scandals since 2022 and was suspended from the stock exchange in January last year after it failed to file accounts on time. Troubles first emerged more than 18 months ago when short seller Viceroy Research raised concerns over the sustainability of its business model. Viceroy had questioned the group's ability to collect rent from tenants, most of whom were charities and community interest groups. Home Reit marketed itself as a way to house vulnerable people, including the homeless, by letting out properties to charities and other groups, which would pay rents from Government housing benefits. A street of boarded up derelict houses in Liverpool awaiting regeneration (file photograph) The company floated in London in October 2020 and tapped investors for 850million to build a portfolio of 12,000 beds. But since Viceroy's report, it has been buffeted by a series of damning revelations. These include a probe by forensic accountants Alvarez & Marsal which uncovered transparency and due diligence failings by its former investment adviser Alvarium Home REIT Advisors. Alvarium was subsequently sacked and another firm, AEW, was brought in to try to steady the ship. Since then, the group has been scrambling to sell properties in its portfolio, often at a steep discount, in order to raise cash and to keep itself afloat. Over the past year the company has been able to complete on the sale of 585 properties and exchanged on a further 262 properties. Several of its major tenants have also collapsed into insolvency after failing to secure Government assistance, leaving the company short of rental income. Home Reit has faced a series of scandals and was suspended from the stock exchange in 2022 In the group's last trading update in December, it revealed that its 2,473 properties were worth an estimated 412.9million, which was almost 60 per cent less than the 977million that it had paid for them. Its troubles are far from over and in February the Financial Conduct Authority opened an investigation covering the period between September 2020 and January 3 last year. Home Reit said it would 'co-operate fully'. Law firm Harcus Parker has also brought a claim against the company, representing hundreds of shareholders. 'Investors bought shares based on its claims that it had stringent processes to ensure it acquired properties that would provide safe and secure accommodation for vulnerable residents and would generate robust, sustainable returns,' Jennifer Morrissey, a partner at Harcus Parker, said. 'It is now evident, from all the facts widely reported in the press, that Home Reit did nothing of the sort.' The group has denied the allegations and has said it will defend itself. Last month it revealed that it was taking legal action against parties it considers to have been 'responsible for wrongdoing'. A 'Walter Mitty' drug user who gave a false name and faked a military career in an attempt to avoid jail time has been finally been put behind bars after a judge rumbled his ruse. Naveed Hussain, 25, started his elaborate lie in 2020 after he was arrested for cannabis possession. The fantasist claimed he was called Adam Ali, someone Hussain knew in school who was a PCSO, and he received just a cannabis warning from the police. His deception was only exposed two years later when Mr Ali, who was serving as a PCSO with Somerset and Avon Police, applied to join Gwent Police as a constable. When he failed the vetting process because of a cannabis warning on his record, Mr Ali launched an appeal. Hussain was then caught when police officer body cam footage was uncovered. Naveed Hussain, 25, started his elaborate lie in 2020 after he was arrested for cannabis possession After pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice, Hussain's web of lies only became more dramatic when he told a probation officer he was a former British Army soldier who had served in Afghanistan who was suffering from PTSD Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke (pictured) told Hussain: 'You stated that you had served four years in the British Army with your service ending in July 2017. I don't quite understand why it hadn't been picked up until it came before me that a young man of your age could not have served four years in British Army' The South Wales Argus reported that the prosecutor, Peter Donnison, told Cardiff Crown Court that the video clearly showed Hussain. After pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice, Hussain's web of lies only became more dramatic. Following a pre-sentence report, he told a probation officer he was a former British Army soldier who had served in Afghanistan who was suffering from PTSD in order to receive a more lenient sentence. It was then uncovered that while he had enrolled at a military preparation college, a check with the Ministry of Defence revealed he had never been a serviceman. Matthew Roberts representing the defendant described his client as a 'Walter Mitty' - the mild-mannered fictional character who lives a vivid fantasy life. Mr Roberts went on to say Hussain had behaved 'stupidly and naively'. The Recorder of Cardiff Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told Hussain: 'You stated that you had served four years in the British Army with your service ending in July 2017. 'I don't quite understand why it hadn't been picked up until it came before me that a young man of your age could not have served four years in British Army, with the service ending in July 2017, as you weren't 19 until the September of that year. 'You also went on to say, and it is set out in the report, that you had done a tour of duty in Afghanistan. 'You said that you had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, that you regularly suffered flashbacks, that your GP had given you medication but you no longer took that medication because your symptoms had lessened. Matthew Roberts representing the defendant described his client as a 'Walter Mitty' - the mild-mannered fictional character who lives a vivid fantasy life. Mr Roberts went on to say Hussain had behaved 'stupidly and naively' Cardiff Crown Court (file image) where Hussain was jailed for 12 months after admitting conspiracy to pervert the course of justice 'And indeed, in assessing your experience of trauma, the probation officer took that into account.' She continued: 'It is clear that you caused very significant distress to Mr Ali. 'Indeed, if the officer who stopped you had not switched on his body worn video, Mr Ali could have been sacked, branded a liar and suffered lifelong consequences.' Hussain was jailed for 12 months after admitting conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Meanwhile, Mr Ali's application to join Gwent Police was unsuccessful for unrelated reasons. A volcano in Iceland spewed smoke and lava for a second day on Thursday but winds were expected to carry poisonous gas pollution away from the capital Reykjavik, authorities said. The eruption, the fifth since December, was the most powerful in the area since volcanic systems on the Reykjanes peninsula became active three years ago after lying dormant for eight centuries, according to the Icelandic Met Office. The town of Grindavik, where only a few people have returned after several homes were destroyed by lava earlier this year, was again subject to an evacuation order, as was the nearby Blue Lagoon outdoor spa, a major tourist attraction. Volcanic activity decreased late on Wednesday but remained steady through the night, the Civil Protection agency said in a statement. There were no reports of injuries. A volcano in Iceland spewed smoke and lava for a second day on Thursday Winds were expected to carry poisonous gas pollution away from the capital Reykjavik Sensors showed air quality remained 'very good' in and around the capital 'Westerly winds are expected today, and gas pollution may then spread to the east over southern Iceland,' the agency said. Sensors showed air quality remained 'very good' in and around the capital while a station closer to the eruption indicated it was 'unhealthy for the sensitive'. Lava on Wednesday flowed over the main road that runs towards Grindavik, and images in local media on Thursday showed it was partly covered by a large mass of dried black rock. Lava flows also reached the dykes built around Grindavik, diverting the molten rock west around the town according to the met office. Keflavik airport, Iceland's biggest, was operating as usual. Lava flows reached the dykes built around Grindavik Grindavik, which is about 30 miles southwest of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, has been threatened since a swarm of earthquakes in November forced an evacuation in advance of the the initial December 18 eruption Some 20 million cubic metres of magma had accumulated in the magma chamber below Svartsengi Images from yesterday smoke billowing against the blue sky as a thick fissure split the landscape in two. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) had reported 'intense earthquake activity' prior to Wednesday's eruption, with 'about 400 earthquakes' measured in the past seven days near the Sundhnuksgigar crater row. In addition, it said some 20 million cubic metres of magma had accumulated in the magma chamber below Svartsengi, where a power plant that supplies electricity and water to around 30,000 people on the peninsula is located. The Svartsengi plant, since evacuated, has been run remotely since the first eruption in the region in December, and barriers have been built to protect it. Grindavik, which is about 30 miles southwest of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, has been threatened since a swarm of earthquakes in November forced an evacuation in advance of the the initial December 18 eruption. The Met Office said coast guard helicopters had been sent up to determine the exact location and size of Wednesday's eruption Most of the 4,000 residents of the fishing town were permanently evacuated in November, prior to the eruption A subsequent eruption overwhelmed some defensive walls and consumed several buildings. Most of the 4,000 residents of the fishing town were permanently evacuated in November, prior to the eruption. Lava flowed into the streets of Grindavik during a subsequent January eruption, engulfing three homes. But a few die-hard residents had returned to live in neighbourhoods less at risk from lava flow. The volcano erupted again in February and March, the first on February 8 engulfing a pipeline, cutting off heat and hot water to thousands of people. Until March 2021 the Reykjanes peninsula - part of the Svartsengi volcanic system - had not experienced an eruption for eight centuries as neighbouring volcanoes lay dormant. Images from yesterday smoke billowing against the blue sky as a thick fissure split the landscape in two Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe Further eruptions occurred in August 2022 and in July and December 2023, leading volcanologists to believe the start of a new era of seismic activity in the region had begun. The Met Office said coast guard helicopters had been sent up to determine the exact location and size of Wednesday's eruption. Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe. It straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack in the ocean floor separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The most disruptive eruption in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures over Europe. Nigel Farage today declared he has 'no interest' in Reform UK striking a pre-election deal with the Tories - just a day after he claimed they 'might have a conversation'. The ex-UKIP leader, who is now Reform's honorary president, insisted he was being 'deeply sarcastic' when he hinted he was open to a pact with the Conservatives. 'There is no deal with the Conservatives whatsoever,' Mr Farage told a press conference in central London this afternoon. It came after Reform leader Richard Tice earlier shut down talk of a deal with the Tories before polling day on 4 July, claiming Rishi Sunak's party had 'betrayed Britain'. The Prime Minister has also ruled out a deal with Reform, despite the insurgent party putting huge pressure on the Tories over issues such as the Channel migrant crisis. Mr Tice labelled the remarks made by Mr Farage yesterday as 'a bit of banter' and 'a bit of fun', as he played down suggestions of a split between them. Nigel Farage today declared he has 'no interest' in Reform UK striking a pre-election deal with the Tories - just a day after he claimed they 'might have a conversation' Appearing on The Sun's Never Mind The Ballots show yesterday, Mr Farage hinted he was open to a general election deal with the Tories He pointed to the 'huge favours' he had done for the Conservatives in the past as he demanded the PM 'give me something back'. Mr Farage denied he was angling for a peerage and a seat in the House of Lords, revealing he had 'turned all that rubbish down in the past'. But, speaking today as he helped unveil Reform's new immigration policy, which would see firms charged more tax for employing foreign workers, Mr Farage said: 'This was a deeply sarcastic answer. The Brexit champion added: 'I have absolutely no interest of any kind at all in doing anything with them. 'My reply was deeply sarcastic. What are they ever going to give me? Well the answer is three-fifths of five-eights of very little. 'There is no deal with the Conservatives whatsoever.' Reform UK leader Richard Tice earlier insisted his party would make 'no deal' with the Tories ahead of the general election as he dismissed a suggestion by Mr Farage Mr Farage, who is Reform's honorary president, yesterday said he 'might have a conversation' about what the Tories could offer Ahead of the 2019 general election, Mr Farage's Brexit Party - the predecessor of Reform - agreed not to stand in Conservative-held seats. This was credited with helping former PM Boris Johnson win an 80-seat majority for the Conservatives in the House of Commons. But Reform is this year set to contest all seats in England, Scotland and Wales on 4 July. There are widespread fears among Conservative MPs that Reform's pledge to stand in nearly every parliamentary constituency will deliver a massive boost to Labour. They have warned that Reform are likely to split the Right-wing vote in key seats and give a huge helping hand to Sir Keir Starmer's bid for a House of Commons majority. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Mr Tice said: 'The reality is we are doing no deals with the Tories. 'They have betrayed Britain, they have betrayed Brexit, they have betrayed their promise to reduce immigration.' After a rocky start to the Tories' election campaign since announcing the 4 July vote last week, the PM has seen little sign of his party eating into Labour 's huge poll lead Your browser does not support iframes. After a rocky start to the Tories' election campaign since announcing the 4 July vote last week, the PM has seen little sign of his party eating into Labour's huge poll lead. The start of the campaign has seen Mr Sunak announce a revived form of national service, a tax break for pensioners, and a crackdown on 'Mickey Mouse' degrees. These have been viewed as part of the PM's efforts to shore up his Right-wing vote and counter the threat of Reform, who are polling at around ten per cent support. Mr Farage was quizzed about the prospect of Reform harming the Conservative cause in many parts of the country on The Sun's Never Mind The Ballots show. He was grilled about the chances of MPs such as ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a top Brexiteer, being ousted due to the impact of Reform standing in his seat. Mr Farage admitted he and Sir Iain 'should be in the same party together'. But he added: 'Do you know what? I got rid of Mrs May with the Brexit Party. I stood aside for Boris to help him win a massive majority. 'What are they going to do back for me?' Asked whether he was angling for a peerage or a knighthood from the Tories, Mr Farage replied: 'No, no, no. I've turned all that rubbish down in the past. 'I'm not asking them for anything other than I've done them some huge favours over the years as a party. Give me something back. We might have a conversation.' "I was going to launch tomorrow - I had a venue booked..." - why @Nigel_Farage isn't standing at the election. Watch @MrHarryCole's full #NeverMindTheBallots interview with the Reform president on our new YouTube channel: https://t.co/GZ0ljXvztB pic.twitter.com/pswhfGX2SG The Sun (@TheSun) May 29, 2024 Mr Farage also explained on the show why he chose not to stand as a Reform candidate on 4 July, as he blamed Mr Sunak's decision to go to the polls much earlier than most had expected. He said: 'I had a plan, actually. I'll let you in on a secret. I was going to launch tomorrow - I had a venue booked, I had it all ready to go. 'But the problem is, you can't win in a constituency - or it's very difficult to win - without data. 'It's even harder to win when you're Nigel Farage, because the other side will cheat. 'There'll be third party outside influencers, and I needed a really good run at this. And six weeks wasn't enough. 'I thought, well, rather than being stuck for six weeks in a constituency, why not travel around the country. 'Not just supporting Reform candidates, but try and get a proper debate going.' Sir Keir Starmer taunted furious Labour leftwingers today amid claims of a 'purge' of figures including Diane Abbott, saying that winning over former Tory voters 'vindicated' his leadership. The Labour leader is embroiled in a major row after Ms Abbott and other Corbynistas said they were blocked from running in the July 4 general election and a slew of his own moderate backers landed safe seats. Ms Abbott last night threatened to quit and join ally Jeremy Corbyn in running against Labour amid claims she was being prevented from running in a 'disturbing' purge of his former allies. At the same time as the row over the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP broke a host of other leftwingers were also blocked from standing, including Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle. But launching the Welsh Labour election campaign in Abergavenny today Sir Keir praised a speech by a former Tory voter who had switched to support his party. He said: 'It means a huge amount to make the big decision to change the party that you vote for as a lifelong Tory voter. 'For me it vindicates all the hard work of the past four years. I was determined to change this Labour Party and put it back in the service of working people.' Asked after his speech if he was blocking left-wingers from standing, he said: 'No. I've said repeatedly over the last two years as we've selected our candidates that I want the highest-quality candidates. 'That's been the position for a very long time.' The Labour leader is embroiled in a major row after Ms Abbott and other Corbynistas said they were blocked from running in the July 4 general election and a slew of his own moderate backers landed safe seats. Defiant Dianne Abbot tells her supporters that she will do whatever it takes to stand as an MP for Hackney North Supporters of Diane Abbott arrive at Hackney Town Hall for rally in support of her continuing as MP for Hackney North Close allies Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn have accused Sir Keir of trying to purge the Left of the party MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's election campaign has been overshadowed by a civil war Georgia Gould, the leader of Sir Keir Starmer's local council in Camden, and the daughter of the late Blair adviser Philip Gould, has been made a candidate Josh Simons, the director of the Starmerite Labour Together think tank, has been made the candidate in Makerfield Speaking to broadcasters in Monmouthshire he said: 'The situation in relation to Diane Abbott is that no decision has been taken to bar her and you have to remember that she was a trailblazer as an MP, she overcame incredible challenges to achieve what she achieved in her political career. 'She carved out a path for others to come into politics and she did all that whilst also being one of the most abused MPs across all political parties. 'But I've always had the aspiration that we will have the best quality candidates as we go into this election.' In front of around 200 supporters at a rally outside Hackney Town Hall last night, Ms Abbott vowed to stay on as an MP 'by any means possible' and accused the Labour party of wanting to 'exclude' her from Parliament. Labour former frontbencher Jess Phillips and six unions affiliated with Labour - Aslef, TSSA, Unite, NUM, CWU and FBU - were among those who called for Ms Abbott to be allowed to stand. The Tories kicked the bruise today, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt telling the BBC: 'If Keir Starmer can't deal with Diane Abbott, how on earth is he doing to deal with Vladimir Putin?' Shadow Treasury minister Darren Jones this morning denied that she was being blocked from standing, but questioned on Sky News, refused to endorse her running for Labour again. He later denied on Times Radio that there was a 'purge' going on, adding: 'There are many colleagues of mine in the Parliamentary Labour Party who would define themselves as being on the left who are endorsed Labour Party candidates standing in their constituency. 'All this is, is that because a snap election has been called, there were a number of outstanding issues with some MPs, obviously retiring MPs in some constituencies where we've needed to fill candidates at pace in order to hit the election timetable. And that's the process that's unfolding this week.' Former party leader Mr Corbyn, speaking at a rally to launch his own independent election campaign in north London on Wednesday, said he was 'disturbed' by the way Ms Abbott has been treated. Asked whether he believed Sir Keir was trying to purge the left of the Labour Party, he said: 'It looks like it.' After a day of mass confusion over whether the 70-year-old had been barred from standing as a Labour MP for the July 4 general election, a defiant Ms Abbott declared last night: 'I am not going to allow myself to be intimidated.' All change: Those in and out in Labour OUT Lloyd Russell-Moyle - Brighton Kemptown MP since 2017. Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green. OUT? Diane Abbott: MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987. IN Josh Simons, director of the Starmerite Labour Together think tank, candidate in Makerfield Luke Akehurst, secretary of Labour First and director of We Believe Israel network, candidate in North Durham Georgia Gould, the leader of Camden Council and daughter of late Blair adviser Philip Gould, candidate in Queen's Park and Maida Vale Advertisement Ms Abbott, Britain's first black female MP, said she was 'shocked and alarmed' about her ban, adding: 'It is as if you are not allowed to be a Labour MP unless you are prepared to repeat everything the leader says.' The left-wing veteran, who has been MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, was delivering an impassioned speech at a rally in her constituency. Sir Keir's election campaign has been overshadowed by claims he is trying to purge the party's left, while members of his party called the internal chaos 'unedifying' and urged him to show Ms Abbott 'respect'. The Labour leader had decided to readmit Ms Abbott as an MP on Tuesday, following a 13-month suspension for saying Jewish, Irish and Traveller people do not face racism 'all their lives'. It later emerged the investigation had ended months ago and Ms Abbott claimed she was barred from standing as a Labour MP at the general election, something which Sir Keir later denied. Reacting to the saga, Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told the Standard: 'What I know, as someone who's known Diane well since 2005, is she's a trailblazer.' He added: 'So I think she's somebody who's done a huge amount for Hackney, for London, for our country, and so I think it's really important that she's given the respect she deserves.' Labour sources told The Telegraph that Sir Keir's team restored the whip to give her a 'soft landing' so she could retire and 'go with grace'. But it ultimately backfired and left other MPs on the Left fearing they would be barred from standing as well. In another twist to the saga, MP Mr Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' against him, and that he cannot stand under the Labour banner at the election. Meanwhile, Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in northeast London, said she was told Labour were pulling her candidacy for allegedly liking a series of tweets that downplayed anti-Semitism accusations an hour before she did an interview on Newsnight. Ms Shaheen, who was yesterday out campaigning with her baby, told the programme: 'Fourteen tweets since 2014, ten years, three of those were about the Green Party... me liking my friend's tweet before I joined the Labour party. 'One of them was about my experiences of Islamophobia in the party. Like how am I not allowed to talk about my experiences of Islamophobia and the double standards that I've seen, and that we see with Diane Abbott for instance? 'I'm just so shocked right now to be treated this badly after being such an active member of the party.' Ms Abbott, Mr Russell-Moyle and Ms Shaheen are all on the left of the party. Ms Abbott later tweeted about Ms Shaheen's ban, writing: 'Appalling. Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of left wingers?' Mr Starmer is now facing anger from even his allies at Labour's treatment of Ms Abbott. Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in northeast London, told Newsnight that the party was pulling her candidacy for allegedly liking a series of Tweets that downplayed antisemitism accusations Labour leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting attend a campaign event at Three Counties Medical School yesterday Diane Abbott has warned that she 'will not be intimidated' as she vowed to stay on as the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington for 'as long as it is possible' Shadow Health secretary Wes Streeting, who accompanied Sir Keir on the election train in the West Midlands on Wednesday, said he was not comfortable with the way the veteran MP was treated. He said the probe into the remarks she made comparing Jewish people to the bullying of reheads had 'gone on for a very long time'. Meanwhile Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, told Times Radio: I think that Diane should be allowed to stand... the delay has been unedifying. The whole thing has been unedifying.' Martin Forde KC, a former adviser to Labour on its handling of anti-Semitism, described the situation as 'utterly shambolic' and said it would have a 'tremendous' impact on the Afro-Carribean vote. Mr Forde said: 'I get WhatsApp messages, predominantly from professional black and Asian women, who are utterly dismayed by the way Ms Abbott has been treated.' Lord Woolley of Woodford, a crossbench peer and founder of Operation Black Vote, told BBC Radio 4's World At One: 'This is a very big moment, I would argue, for the Labour Party, and Diane, and Britain's black communities, and I think they have about 48 hours to get this right. 'I think they're in danger of not only disrespecting one of the most popular MPs in modern time, but also, if they get this disrespectfully wrong, it'll also be a slap in the face for Britain's African and Caribbean communities.' Supporters of Diane Abbott arrive at Hackney Town Hall for rally in support of her continuing as MP Diane Abbott MP addresses a crowd of supporters on May 29 Protesters gather outside Hackney Town Hall in support of Diane Abbott Ms Abbott was suspended from Labour's parliamentary party for more than a year, amid a probe into her comments about Jewish people in a letter to the Observer newspaper in April 2023. But it has emerged the investigation ended months ago. Britain's first black female MP had the Labour whip restored yesterday, but initially appeared to confirm this morning that she had been banned from standing. The situation descended into confusion again hours later when she posted on social media that she was 'dismayed' by 'reports' she would not be allowed to stand. Mr Starmer later told reporters that 'no decision has been taken to bar Ms Abbott'. But after a chaotic afternoon in politics, Ms Abbott refuted this by telling a crowd of around supporters outside Hackney Town Hall last night: 'I was shocked to learn yesterday that I am going to be banned from running for the Labour Party. 'I have been selected by my local party members, many of whom are here today, but the national party is insisting that I be banned.' She said she was not given a reason for the ban, adding: 'They just want me excluded from parliament. 'So I am so shocked and so alarmed about what is going on because it is as if you are not allowed to be a Labour MP unless you are prepared to repeat everything the leader says.' The Labour veteran vowed to fight on, telling her supporters: 'You have always stood with me, in good times and bad. And I will always stand with you. I am not going to allow myself to be intimidated. I am going to be your MP for as long as I am allowed to.' Mr Starmer is facing a mounting backlash over the treatment of Ms Abbott, 70, who has been MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987 Ms Abbott's (left) comments will deliver a stark warning to Labour that if they do not allow her to stand, she may continue to run as an independent - like Jeremy Corbyn (right) has Ms Abbott's comments will deliver a stark warning to Labour that if they do not allow her to stand, she may continue to run as an independent. Mr Starmer has already faced this with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is running as an independent in Islington North. After reports emerged that Ms Abbott had been blocked from standing as a Labour MP, Mr Starmer insisted that was 'not true', telling reporters: 'No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott. 'The process that we were going through ended with the restoration of the whip the other day, so she's a member of the parliamentary Labour Party and no decision has been taken barring her.' Rishi Sunak said Labour had to be 'transparent' about Ms Abbott's position. Tory chairman Richard Holden wrote to Sir Keir demanding answers about the process. John McTernan, who was Tony Blair's political secretary, said: 'It's not for the Labour Party to ban a woman with Diane Abbott's record from standing for the Labour Party if that's what she wishes to do.' He added: 'This kind of briefing is aimed at humiliating her and that is disgraceful, utterly disgraceful. 'Whoever is responsible for this should hang their head in shame.' Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson said: 'Solidarity with Diane, undeniably a trailblazer & a hero of our movement. Diane Abbott broke cover yesterday as Labour struggles to contain a row about her being blocked from standing as a candidate at the election Ms Abbott said she was 'dismayed' at suggestions she will not be able to stand as a Labour candidate Sir Keir Starmer faced fury from Labour's left-wing after it was earlier revealed the race row probe ended months ago Ms Abbott recently 'liked' a social media post by Mr Corbyn's wife Laura Alvarez praising his decision to stand against Labour in his Islington North constituency Ms Abbott issued a public apology to 'wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and disassociate myself from them' in April last year 'At a time when all our energy should be focussed on throwing the Tories out, this process looks nakedly factional. 'Diane should have the whip restored now so she can stand as Labour's candidate in the GE.' Parliament was dissolved as of 00.01 on Thursday, meaning every House of Commons seat has become vacant and all MPs have stopped representing their constituencies. Parties must nominate their General Election candidates by June 7. Two women accused of fatally hitting a police officer with a car have been ordered to stand trial for murder, with the magistrate hearing claims one said: 'We ride together and we die together.' Skye Anne Wallis and Kari O'Brien faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday for a committal hearing after being charged with murdering Senior Constable David Masters. The 53-year-old officer died after being hit by a suspected stolen car while deploying a tyre deflation device on the Bruce Highway at Burpengary, north of Brisbane, at about 3am on June 26, 2021. Skye Anne Wallis (left) and Kari O'Brien (right) faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday Magistrate Peter Saggers on Thursday ordered that both Wallis and O'Brien stand trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court on one count each of murder, arson and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. 'Do you wish to say anything in answer to those charges or enter a plea?' Mr Saggers asked Wallis. 'No, Your Honour,' Wallis said. Members of Sen Const Masters' family sitting in court gasped when O'Brien was also committed to stand trial after nearly two hours of legal arguments. The Crown alleges the vehicle used to kill Sen Const Masters was driven by 36-year-old Wallis, while O'Brien was a passenger. Senior Constable David Masters died after being hit by a suspected stolen car The Crown has alleged Wallis is responsible for the death as she drove the car dangerously at or toward the officer or by acting with reckless indifference to human life. Prosecutor Dejana Kovac said a jury could find O'Brien guilty of felony murder because she aided or encouraged the alleged dangerous driving by Wallis that was likely to endanger life and for the unlawful purpose of evading police. Ms Kovac said O'Brien had allegedly told Wallis not to pull over when they were spotted by police and had allegedly participated in setting the car involved in the fatal incident alight and later changing their clothes. 'Something important that Ms O'Brien says when she tells Ms Wallis they're in this together: "you know we ride together and we die together",' Ms Kovac said. O'Brien declined to make a statement in court in response to the charges or enter a plea. Wallis was remanded in custody and her case will next be heard in December O'Brien's barrister Christopher Wilson made a submission that his 27-year-old client had no case to answer, arguing there was insufficient evidence to commit her to stand trial for murder. 'There is no evidence implicating her in any other way except that she was in a car,' Mr Wilson said. Mr Wilson said O'Brien had used the word 'we' in a colloquial sense in that she was allegedly in the car when it hit Sen Const Masters but she had not provided encouragement to Wallis. Mr Saggers committed Wallis and O'Brien to stand trial after hearing testimony from a witness in closed court. The witness was granted special status afterthe magistrate accepted a police report about threats made against the witness. The defendants will face trial at a later date to be notified by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Wallis was remanded in custody and her case will next be heard in December along with a separate charge of weapons possession. O'Brien's bail was continued and she declined to comment as she left court after the hearing. The body of a missing Texas woman was found inside the jaws of an alligator as it was still eating her remains. The woman, believed to be in her 60s, was found dead along the banks of the Horsepen Bayou in Clear Lake around 8.40am Tuesday, less than 12 hours after she went missing. Houston police officers had been searching the area for the missing woman when they discovered an alligator chewing on her body. An officer shot the animal dead to prevent it from doing more damage to the remains, the department's homicide division confirmed. A dive team then recovered the body and alligator from the bayou. Police have not yet revealed the victim's identity and say her cause of death will be determined following an autopsy. The woman, believed to be in her 60s, was found dead along the banks of the Horsepen Bayou in Clear Lake around 8.40am Tuesday, less than 12 hours after she went missing. At least a dozen response officers are pictured at the scene The woman's body was found in the alligator's jaws near Coastal Oak Drive, not far from her Brook Forest Drive home. Officers are pictured at the scene on Tuesday The victim's husband reported her missing early Tuesday morning after having last seen her when she left for a walk around 7.30pm Monday. She never returned home. Her body was found in the alligator's jaws near Coastal Oak Drive, not far from her Brook Forest Drive home, KHOU-11 reported. It is unclear at this time if the victim was killed by the alligator. Photographs captured by a Clear Lake resident show how at least a dozen response officers were called to the bayou. Witnesses allege police spent hours at the scene. Texas game wardens assisted with the recovery efforts, according to the Law Enforcement Division with Texas Parks and Wildlife. Angela Derous, who was fishing in the bayou Tuesday night, told ABC 13 that alligators reside in the water. 'They live down there. We see 8 feet, 10 feet babies. I know which banks to stay away from and where they like to lay in the sun,' she explained. 'That's the first time I've heard of that happening down here. It's a little scary.' It is unclear at this time if the victim was killed by the alligator (stock photo) Maggie Berger, a spokesperson for the Law Enforcement Division with Texas Parks and Wildlife, told DailyMail.com that Houston police are investigating the incident and 'will be the lead agency moving forward'. She added: 'Our thoughts are with the woman's family during this time.' Officials say that fatal alligator attacks are very rare in Texas with the last one recorded in 2015 when a 28-year-old man was killed while swimming in the Adams Bayou in Orange. That incident was reportedly the first fatal alligator attack in more than 90 years. The father of a three-year-old boy who was brutally attacked by a dog at a primary school playground has pleaded for the animal's owner to come forward. Basam Hafiz's three-year-old son was playing on the equipment at Pennington Primary when a 'loose' dog tore skin from his cheek and mouth about 4.30pm on Wednesday. Emergency services were called to Butler Avenue in Adelaide's western suburbs to treat the young boy before he was taken to the Women and Children's Hospital. He underwent surgery with concerns his facial injuries may leave permanent scars. The three-year-old boy had skin torn from his cheek and mouth by a 'loose dog' about 4.30pm on Wednesday 'I was pretty upset and I still am very upset because if you look at it, it's half his face and he's only a child,' Mr Hafiz said. 'I've seen a photo of the dog. It's only a small dog but (my boy is) only a baby too. 'I don't know what to say to him,' the distressed father told 7News. 'How can you just run off? A small child (is injured).' Witnesses revealed the dog was not on a leash when the incident occurred. Basam Hafiz, the father of the young boy, is 'pretty upset' and has issued a plea for the dog's owner to come forward The attack happened at the Pennington Primary school playground in Adelaide's western suburbs It was quickly whisked away by its owner. A police spokesperson said the dog and owner had left the area prior to emergency services arrival. 'Investigations are underway with the City of Charles Sturt Council inspectors,' they added. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A Norwegian father needed counselling after discovering that the OnlyFans porn he had been paying for was of his 23-year-old daughter, his therapist has revealed. Tone Haldorsen, a therapist in Norway, told how a married father, who has not been named, approached her with the shocking story after having suicidal thoughts. The man shared how he had inadvertently come across the local profile by recommendation of his friends, and went on to interact with the creator for months before learning of their connection to his horror. 'It almost destroyed the relationship between them,' Haldorsen said. 'The father's thought of doing something sexual with his daughter made him physically ill. Now her body had been the source of his fantasies - and infidelity.' Haldorsen claimed the father was still married to his daughter's mother, and that she remains unaware of the incident. Following a period of counselling with both the father and daughter, she assured that both are now doing much better, concluding 'they have almost got a closer relationship after this'. Therapist Tone Haldorsen (pictured) described how a client unwittingly bought content from his daughter Haldorsen, who works as a sexologist and marriage/relationship counsellor, said the man had been admiring his daughter's body for months before the unsettling revelation came to light. He explained that he had never seen her face as it was always covered and had never looked at his daughter naked and so had been unable to recognise who it was. The man made requests, bought content and chatted with the woman on the other side of the screen, according to Norwegian outlet Dagbladet. The father, who preferred to remain anonymous, had come across the woman's profile after it was recommended to him by some of his friends. They offered the tip after also subscribing to the profile it because it belonged to a local girl. Wondering if it was someone he knew, he began to 'investigate' shortly after and eventually worked out the truth for himself. 'He was mildly shocked,' Haldorsen said. 'He did not know that his daughter was on the platform.' Soon after, his mental health began to take a toll and he contacted the therapist for help. She said: 'He came to me when suicidal thoughts started to appear in his mind.' The father and daughter had inadvertently been interacting with one another for months, with Haldorsen saying: 'It almost destroyed the relationship between them. 'The father's thought of doing something sexual with his daughter made him physically ill. Now her body had been the source of his fantasies - and infidelity.' It would take some time for him to work up to confronting his daughter, who remained oblivious as her father went through therapy. When she found out, she 'thought it was disgusting, to say the least', Haldorsen said. The woman was able to see who followed her, but her father's anonymous profile had shrouded their interactions. As far as she had known, he was just another paying enthusiast of her pornographic content. 'The most difficult thing for her was that he went behind his mother's back,' the therapist said. She said she had been following the pair in the years since, and that to her knowledge they were now doing much better, with the dad now able to be around his daughter 'without any issue'. As far as she is aware, the daughter is still using OnlyFans, and her mother still does not know the truth of the uncomfortable family encounter. The father and daughter gave the therapist written approval to retell their story in order to raise awareness about the possible horror outcomes of using anonymous profiles. Haldorsen cited numerous examples of grandparents, siblings and older family members finding their relatives on the site, and urged people to 'be aware that this can actually happen'. In this case, she said, the horror was resolved through good communication. Relationship counsellor Tone Haldorsen told how the father was doing better after therapy OnlyFans is an internet content subscription service based in London which took off during the pandemic, when many people lost their jobs or were forced to work from home. The site offers a variety of content, serving in part as a way for creators to earn off teaching or promoting their music. But the majority of content today is pornographic in nature, with models selling subscriptions to access updates on picture and video content. As of May last year, OnlyFans had three million registered creators and 220 million registered consumers. A 2022 piece of research into the demographics of the site identified that 89.5 per cent of consumers were married. A mysterious cancer surge among the young alumni of a Virginia college has seen five times as many diagnoses as the national average, prompting an investigation. More than a dozen alumni who graduated from Roanoke College in Salem between 2011 and 2019 have been diagnosed with cancer, according to an investigation by Air Mail. On May 13, Ida Peterson Hardon became the fifth Roanoke alumnus to die from cancer over the last three years - and one of at least 16 to be diagnosed since 2010. The small liberal arts school has less than 2,000 total students. That makes the cancer rate among the alumni pool five times higher than that of 20- to 29-year-olds in the country. It also makes the mortality rate 15 times higher. On May 13, Ida Peterson Hardon became the fifth Roanoke alumnus to die from cancer over the last three years - and one of at least 16 to be diagnosed since 2010 More than a dozen alumni who graduated from Roanoke College in Salem between 2011 and 2019 have been diagnosed with cancer According to Air Mail's reporting, there is a 1.5 chance in 100 million that this rate of cancer would occur naturally. While cancer among young Americans is rising at large, the analysis accounted for the national rise. 'There is a strange anomaly in cancer occurrence among Roanoke students,' said Boris Reva, associate professor of the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at Mount Sinai. Following the article's release, the school has assured students it's safe but added that it will work with an environmental services company to look into the claims out of an abundance of caution. Peterson died after a years-long battle with acute myleloid leukemia, a form of cancer usually found in people in their 70s. Before passing, she wrote: 'Ive fought like hell but nothing worked and unfortunately Im out of options... 33 years young, I am headed to hospice care. Thank you all for your friendship - see you on the other side.' Chloe Svolos Baldwin, of the class of 2015, was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma in 2019. Peterson died after a years-long battle with acute myleloid leukemia, a cancer usually found in people in their 70s. She is seen with her college sweetheart husband while on remission By then, she had already seen her former classmate Kalee Perry and Kelsey Palmer of the class of 2016 battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and Wilms tumor, a rare pediatric cancer. 'At first we were like, this must be a coincidence,' Baldwin told AirMail. But then she began to think there was 'something happening here... it was just weird that three girls from Roanoke who were all a year apart were diagnosed.' Multiple professors including Sandee McGlaun have also been diagnosed with cancer over the last years; she died in 2021 from breast cancer. She was the second English teacher in a 15-or-so-person department to have been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer - which accounts for just 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancers. After learning of additional cancer diagnoses among alumni, Baldwin reached out to the Virginia Department of Health in 2021 to request a cancer-cluster investigation, but her request was denied. Chloe Svolos Baldwin, of the class of 2015, was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma in 2019 By then, Baldwin had already seen several of her former classmates battle with rare cancers Since then, Baldwin, now in remission, has embarked on a mission to ring the alarm about what she says is a concerning situation The VDH said the cases would not qualify as a cancer cluster because they were not the same type of cancer. Since then, Baldwin, now in remission, has embarked on a mission to ring the alarm about what she says is a concerning situation. 'We were all healthy twentysomethings who were all diagnosed with cancer,' she said in a viral TikTok video last year. 'What about all these other kids that are at this college and are potentially exposed? Does nobody care? I care.' Roanoke's vice president of marketing and communications Rita Farlow told AirMail: 'The VDH, the official investigating body in such cases, communicated to Roanoke College that there is no evidence for concern about increased cancer rates or a cancer cluster in our college community.' Kyle Rohweder, of the class of 2019, died from a rare soft-tissue sarcoma in 2022 Kelsey Palmer of the class of 2016 died after being diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a rare pediatric cancer Farlow denied the existence of any environment concern affecting the school, but said Roanoke is aware of a mold issue. However, she added that 'tests have never found toxic mold and have never revealed a mold-spore quantity indoors that was higher than the quantity detected in the air outside the building.' In a statement to students, the school said: 'After many conversations with public health professionals, epidemiologists, and physicians about cancer incidence rates, we have absolutely no evidence to show that Roanoke College is anything but a safe place to live, work, and learn. 'We also believe the evidence indicates that the incidence of cancer among our graduates is no greater than the overall population. Marie Adams, of the class of 2018, was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer five days before her wedding in 2022 'However, since the reporter of the article insinuates causation between Roanoke College and cancer, I can understand how that may leave one to ask: Is Roanoke College safe? 'The health and safety of all those who call Roanoke College home has always been the single most important priority of this community; it remains so today. Still, I recognize that an article like this one causes the sort of anxiety and concern that deserves more concrete evaluation. 'It is for this reason, and out of an abundance of caution, that Roanoke College has contracted with an independent, national, and esteemed environmental services company who will assist us in approaching this topic in a data-informed and scientific manner. 'The company will soon begin its work, which may involve collaboration with an independent epidemiologist and scientists at the Virginia Department of Health to gather additional information. Our consultants are experts in their field, and they will help us determine our next steps.' Reform UK today outlined plans to charge British businesses more tax if they employ foreign workers. Party leader Richard Tice claimed the UK economy had a 'deadly, deadly addiction' to the 'drug of cheap overseas labour'. He unveiled Reform's proposal for an 'employer immigration tax', which would see UK firms charged a higher rate of national insurance for hiring non-UK workers. 'It's the right thing to do, it's the fair thing to do,' Mr Tice told a press conference, as he said he wanted to incentivise British businesses to employ British staff. Nigel Farage, who is Reform's honorary president, appeared alongside Mr Tice to launch the party's 'bold, innovative policy'. He claimed he could hear 'the multinationals wailing already' as he urged voters to turn the general election on 4 July into the 'immigration election'. Reform UK leader Richard Tice claimed the British economy had a 'deadly, deadly addiction' to the 'drug of cheap overseas labour' Nigel Farage, who is Reform's honorary president, appeared alongside Mr Tice to launch the party's new policy Speaking in central London, Mr Tice said: 'If you want to employ non-British passport holders then we think it's perfectly reasonable you pay a premium on national insurance.' Under Reform's plans, UK-based firms that employ foreign workers would pay national insurance of 20 per cent, rather than 13.8 per cent. Mr Tice said: 'It's about a 45 per cent increase. We think that is a perfectly reasonable premium to pay.' The Reform leader said there would be exemptions to the tax hike for health and social care, as well of small businesses of five employees or less. 'British wages are depressed by mass immigration from overseas,' Mr Tice claimed. He described levels of immigration as 'simply unfair, and it's particularly unfair for young British people youngsters leaving school, leaving university'. Mr Tice added: 'If I take you back to the 1980s and the 1990s, yes, I'm old enough to remember, we had real GDP growth of 2.5-3.5 per cent per year.' 'Yes, if it was less than 2 per cent people would get worried. If it was less than 1 pet cent people thought it was a moral recession, now the Chancellor gets excited at half a percent 'But here's the real point, we didn't have mass immigration in those two decades.' Mr Tice also suggested pollsters should not discount 'shy' supporters of his party. 'Do you remember the old shy Brexiteers? There's a whole load of shy Reformers,' he said. 'They're out there. Every day I meet them, that little sort of thumbs up, wink, 'don't tell anyone'. 'That's why we're going to do so much better than everybody predicts on July 4.' Mr Tice's announcement of an 'employer immigration tax' came after Mr Tice earlier insisted his party would make 'no deal' with the Tories ahead of the general election as he dismissed a suggestion by Mr Farage. Mr Tice claimed the Conservatives had 'betrayed Britain' and rejected the possibility of striking an agreement with PM Rishi Sunak's party before polling day on 4 July. This is despite Mr Farage having yesterday said he 'might have a conversation' about what the Tories could offer. Mr Tice labelled Mr Farage's remarks as 'a bit of banter' and 'a bit of fun', as he played down suggestions of a split between Reform's most senior figures. The PM has already ruled out a deal with Reform, despite the insurgent party putting huge pressure on the Tories over issues such as the Channel migrant crisis. Mr Tice earlier insisted his party would make 'no deal' with the Tories ahead of the general election as he dismissed a suggestion by Mr Farage Mr Farage, who is Reform's honorary president, yesterday said he 'might have a conversation' about what the Tories could offer Ahead of the 2019 general election, Mr Farage's Brexit Party - the predecessor of Reform - agreed not to stand in Conservative-held seats. This was credited with helping former PM Boris Johnson win an 80-seat majority for the Conservatives in the House of Commons. But Reform is this year set to contest all seats in England, Scotland and Wales on 4 July. There are widespread fears among Conservative MPs that Reform's pledge to stand in nearly every parliamentary constituency will deliver a massive boost to Labour. They have warned that Reform are likely to split the Right-wing vote in key seats and give a huge helping hand to Sir Keir Starmer's bid for a House of Commons majority. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Mr Tice said: 'The reality is we are doing no deals with the Tories. 'They have betrayed Britain, they have betrayed Brexit, they have betrayed their promise to reduce immigration.' He insisted Mr Farage's comments on The Sun's Never Mind The Ballots show yesterday were 'a bit of banter' and 'a bit of fun'. Mr Farage had hinted he was open to a general election deal with the Tories and pointed to the 'huge favours' he had done for the Tories in the past as he demanded the PM 'give me something back'. But the ex-UKIP leader denied he was angling for a peerage and a seat in the House of Lords, revealing he had 'turned all that rubbish down in the past'. After a rocky start to the Tories' election campaign since announcing the 4 July vote last week, the PM has seen little sign of his party eating into Labour 's huge poll lead Your browser does not support iframes. After a rocky start to the Tories' election campaign since announcing the 4 July vote last week, the PM has seen little sign of his party eating into Labour's huge poll lead. The start of the campaign has seen Mr Sunak announce a revived form of national service, a tax break for pensioners, and a crackdown on 'Mickey Mouse' degrees. These have been viewed as part of the PM's efforts to shore up his Right-wing vote and counter the threat of Reform, who are polling at around ten per cent support. Mr Farage was quizzed about the prospect of Reform harming the Conservative cause in many parts of the country on The Sun's Never Mind The Ballots show. He was grilled about the chances of MPs such as ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a top Brexiteer, being ousted due to the impact of Reform standing in his seat. Mr Farage admitted he and Sir Iain 'should be in the same party together'. But he added: 'Do you know what? I got rid of Mrs May with the Brexit Party. I stood aside for Boris to help him win a massive majority. 'What are they going to do back for me?' Asked whether he was angling for a peerage or a knighthood from the Tories, Mr Farage replied: 'No, no, no. I've turned all that rubbish down in the past. 'I'm not asking them for anything other than I've done them some huge favours over the years as a party. Give me something back. We might have a conversation.' "I was going to launch tomorrow - I had a venue booked..." - why @Nigel_Farage isn't standing at the election. Watch @MrHarryCole's full #NeverMindTheBallots interview with the Reform president on our new YouTube channel: https://t.co/GZ0ljXvztB pic.twitter.com/pswhfGX2SG The Sun (@TheSun) May 29, 2024 Mr Farage also explained on the show why he chose not to stand as a Reform candidate on 4 July, as he blamed Mr Sunak's decision to go to the polls much earlier than most had expected. He said: 'I had a plan, actually. I'll let you in on a secret. I was going to launch tomorrow - I had a venue booked, I had it all ready to go. 'But the problem is, you can't win in a constituency - or it's very difficult to win - without data. 'It's even harder to win when you're Nigel Farage, because the other side will cheat. 'There'll be third party outside influencers, and I needed a really good run at this. And six weeks wasn't enough. 'I thought, well, rather than being stuck for six weeks in a constituency, why not travel around the country. 'Not just supporting Reform candidates, but try and get a proper debate going.' A new indictment has shed light on how a suspected serial killer in Oregon murdered three women in just over 50 days and hid their bodies. Jesse Lee Calhoun, 39, was charged this month with the second-degree murder of Charity Lynn Perry, 24, Joanna Speaks, 32, and 31-year-old Bridget Leanne Webster. A newly released indictment offered the first clear timeline regarding the women whose disappearances rattled the Portland area last year. As well as charges of murder in the second degree, he is also facing three counts of abuse of a corpse. The two-page document reveals little details but shows that authorities called in 16 witnesses for closed-door grand jury proceedings earlier this month. The indictment accuses Calhoun of killing Perry on March 8, 2023, her body was found seven weeks later on April 24 near Ainsworth State Park. This undated photo provided by the Oregon Department of Corrections show Jesse Calhoun A newly released indictment offered the first clear timeline regarding the women whose disappearances rattled the area last year. Charity Perry, left, and Bridget Webster, right, are both seen here The family of Joanna Speaks had previously said that they believe she had died trying to defend herself Ten days after that, he is accused of murdering Speaks, with her body being found three weeks later in an abandoned property in Ridgefield. It was later determined that Speaks had been killed in Portland and her body then moved, autopsy details show she was killed by blunt force trauma to the head. Her death is the only one in the three in which the manner of death has been revealed. The indictment claims Calhoun killed Webster on April 26, her body was then found four days later in Polk County. Perry's mother Diana Allen says her daughter was known to frequent an open-air drug market in downtown Portland where deputies say she was last seen. Allen only recently learned that her daughter had overdosed in the area on March 6 and was taken to hospital. The timing of her reported death just two days later is painful for Allen, who told NBC24: 'That right there is the hardest thing to process.' Now knowing the date of her death, Allen told the outlet she would be adding it to her daughter's headstone. The family of Speaks had previously said that they believe she had died trying to defend herself. The body of Speaks was found three weeks after she died on an abandoned property in Ridgefield, seen here Calhoun has also identified as a person of interest in the deaths of 22-year-old Kristin Smith, left, and 22-year-old Ashley Real, right, Her sister Robyn Speaks previously told KOIN: 'She was fearless. I guarantee she fought back.' Speaks had a seven-year-old daughter and two teenage sons according to her sister. Calhoun has also identified as a person of interest in the deaths of 22-year-old Kristin Smith and 22-year-old Ashley Real. Calhoun has a lengthy criminal record, with felony convictions dating back almost 20 years. He was reportedly a talented artist, who told booking officials he earned his living painting designs on vehicles. His first felony conviction was in 2004. He was arrested again in 2018, with meth, several guns, and more than 500 rounds of ammunition. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office called him a 'prolific thief and career criminal.' In 2019 he was given four sentences, set to run concurrently. Calhoun has a lengthy criminal record, with felony convictions dating back almost 20 years Calhoun was one of 41 inmates whose sentence was lowered by one year in 2021 by then-Governor Kate Brown after they helped battle devastating wildfires in Oregon. Calhoun was released from the Columbia River Correctional Institution on July 22, 2021, almost one year before his projected release date. He had been serving a 50-month sentence for assaulting a police officer, trying to strangle a police dog, burglary and felony unauthorized use of a vehicle. The 6ft, 4in suspect, who has a history of resisting arrest, jumped into the Willamette River in Milwaukie and tried to escape when found on July 6. The DA's office said that no date had yet been set for his first court appearance on the new indictment, and he remains in Snake River Correctional Institution. The trial of three men accused of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee has opened in Belfast. Ms McKee, 29, died after being struck in the head by a bullet as she stood close to police vehicles while observing rioting in the Creggan area of Londonderry on April 18 2019. The New IRA claimed responsibility for the author's murder. Peter Cavanagh, 35, Jordan Gareth Devine, 23, and Paul McIntyre, 56, all of Derry, are charged with her murder. The three also face a number of other charges including riotous assembly, possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent, as well as possession and throwing of petrol bombs. Lyra McKee, 29, was hit in the head by a bullet while observing rioting in Creggan, Londonderry in 2019 Paul McIntyre, 56, is one of three men charged with Ms McKee's murder, as well as a range of other offences Jordan Gareth Devine, 23, is charged with the murder of Ms McKee on April 18 2019 Peter Cavanagh, 35, outside Laganside Court in Belfast, where he is on trial for the murder of journalist Ms Mckee McIntyre is additionally charged with membership of a proscribed organisation. David McDowell KC, opening the case for the prosecution, said the shooting happened at the 'culmination of orchestrated disorder' in the area. He said the prosecution would contend that the three men accused of murder had accompanied a lone gunman on the night. The barrister said the gunman had fired four shots in the direction of police Land Rovers. 'The gunman was accompanied to the firing point by a number of men who intentionally, we say, encouraged or assisted him,' he said. 'The prosecution contend that three of those men who accompanied him to the firing point were Paul McIntyre, Jordan Devine and Peter Cavanagh, sometimes referred to as Gearoid.' The non-jury trial at Belfast Crown Court heard how TV presenter Reggie Yates and an MTV production crew were filming a documentary in Derry in the period leading up to the murder. The film focused on Saoradh - a group the Police Service of Northern Ireland has described as the political wing of the New IRA. Yates and the crew had left the riot scene shortly before the shots were fired on the night Ms McKee was killed, the court heard. Ms McKee's sister Nichola Corner-McKee arrives at Laganside Court for the trial of the men accused of the journalist's murder Sara Canning, Ms McKee's partner, arrives at court in Belfast to attend the first day of the trial The judge was told the shooting had, however, been captured by a police evidence gathering camera and mobile phone footage taken by members of the public. Sections of unedited footage shot by the MTV crew at various locations in Derry at different junctures during the day of the murder were shown to Judge Patricia Smyth as the trial opened. The footage included a clip of Yates being introduced to a number of individuals inside Saoradh's offices in the city. Mr McDowell said the group inside the building included Paul McIntyre and Jordan Devine. He drew the judge's attention to the size and build of the men and the clothes they were wearing when they met Yates. Mr McDowell told the court that Saoradh saw the documentary as an opportunity to promote its message of resistance. 'It's apparent that Saoradh viewed the documentary production as a means to promote their message,' he said. Another clip showed Yates in a house along with several Saoradh members as he was shown a video clip posted on a Facebook group showing police vehicles entering the Creggan area. After Yates leaves the house, along with several of the defendants, the footage shows him saying to the TV camera: 'It's not what you would expect in a sleepy estate like this one. A hijacked car explodes after being set on fire in Creggan, Londonderry, on the night of Ms McKee's murder 'When you look at it it just doesn't really add up that this is going to be the home of some of the most feared and chastised political leaders in the area, who just happen to be in their 20s. 'The boys don't seem particularly calm about things, they actually look quite worried.' The group are seen making their way towards the location of the police vehicles, telling Yates they are going to support their friends and there could be people there 'capable of carrying out acts of resistance'. The footage shows them encountering masked men, who Mr McDowell said appeared 'quite unperturbed' by the arrival of a film crew, 'suggesting they had been anticipating their arrival'. The men are seen showing petrol bombs with sugar in them, and nod when Yates asks them if they were responsible for fire bombs being set off in the area two nights before. Yates also asks why the masked men want to be filmed, with one of the defendants replying: 'I think to show people it's not a normal country we live in here, there are people still carrying out attacks on armed officers.' The court was shown footage of the group throwing petrol bombs at police Land Rovers which were providing a 'protective cordon' as a house was being searched. One of the vehicles and some nearby railings were set on fire as a result. Mr McDowell said a crowd had started to gather on the street by this point, which is later where Ms McKee was shot. Seven other men are on trial on a number of charges, including rioting and throwing petrol bombs. They are: Joseph Barr, 36, Jude Coffey, 26, William Elliott, 57, Joseph Campbell, 23, Patrick Gallagher, 32, Christopher Gillen, 43, and Kieran McCool, 55, all of Derry. Ms McKee's partner Sara Canning and her sister Nichola Corner McKee were among those attending the opening of the trial at Belfast's Laganside Courts. The Kremlin on Thursday accused NATO of 'provoking' Kyiv into prolonging the conflict in Ukraine, whose officials have been appealing for permission from allies to target Russia with Western-supplied weapons. NATO foreign ministers are convening in Prague in the face of growing calls for Ukraine's leading allies and suppliers of weapons to lift restrictions that currently prevent Kyiv from using Western weapons to strike inside Russian borders. 'NATO member states, the United States, and capitals in Europe in recent days and weeks have been entering a new round of escalations in tensions and they are doing it deliberately,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 'They are provoking Ukraine in every possible way into continuing this senseless war,' Peskov told reporters during a daily briefing. Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Vladimir Putin claiming that his nation was 'fighting fiercely for its future, repelling the aggression of neo-Nazis and their masters', referring to Ukraine and the West. Since then, his brutal invasion - the bloodiest conflict on European soil in decades - has largely become a war of attrition. A view of fire after Ukrainian soldier fires Msta-B artillery at his fighting position in the direction of Liman Vladimir Putin (pictured) claimed that his nation was 'fighting fiercely for its future, repelling the aggression of neo-Nazis and their masters', referring to Ukraine and the West As it continues to repel a Russian push in the east, Ukraine has been pressing its supporters - chiefly the United States - to allow it to use the longer-range weaponry they supply to hit targets inside Russia. The US and Germany have so far refused to permit Kyiv to strike over the border out of fear that it could escalate the war and drag NATO nations closer to direct conflict with Moscow. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was forced to combat Russian attempts to sow discord in democracies with misinformation after hinting the Biden administration may soon allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia. In Prague for a NATO foreign ministers meeting, Blinken hit out at Moscow's use of misinformation and disinformation, calling it a 'poison' and signing an agreement with the Czech government to combat it. He also toured a Czech military base, where he saw armored vehicles that Prague is sending to Kyiv to help fight Russia's invasion and received a briefing on a Czech initiative to supply Ukraine with a million rounds of ammunition by the end of the year. 'We know that a major front in the competition that we have, the adversarial relationship that we have, notably with Russia, is on the information front,' Blinken said. He said the agreement with the Czechs - the 17th such accord the U.S. has signed with partner nations - would help 'to effectively deal with misinformation and disinformation, which is a poison being injected into our democracies by our adversaries.' Ukrainian soldiers fire a mortar in the direction of Avdivka Firefighters try to extinguish the fire broke out on a destroyed building after a Russian shelling at night, in the center of the Pokrovsk, Ukraine on November 30, 2023 'The more we're able to do together both between our countries but also with other countries, the more effective we're going to be exposing it and dealing with it,' Blinken told reporters at a signing ceremony with Czech Foreign Minister Minister Jan Lipavsky. Lipavsky agreed, noting that Czech authorities had recently exposed a major Russian-backed misinformation campaign. 'We are facing confrontation between democracies and autocracies,' Lipavsky said. 'The Kremlin has started targeting targeting democracies all around the world with cyber warfare, propaganda and influence operations and this danger simply cannot be underestimated any more.' Russia's invasion of Ukraine and support for Ukrainian attempts to repel it will be a major focus of the NATO foreign minister meetings on Thursday and Friday - the alliance's last major diplomatic gathering before a leaders' summit in Washington in July to mark the 75th anniversary of its founding. Ukrainian soldiers of the 80th brigade firing artillery at Russian positions in the direction of Bakhmut Ukrainian soldiers fire a grenade launcher as the Russia-Ukraine war continues in the direction of Avdivka On Wednesday in Moldova, Blinken said that U.S. policy on how Ukraine deploys American weapons is constantly evolving, suggesting that Washington may rescind an unwritten prohibition on Ukraine's use of them for attacks on Russian territory. Although US officials insist there is no formal ban, they have long made clear that they believe the use of American weapons to attack targets inside Russia could provoke an escalatory response from Moscow, something that Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised. That position appears to be being reconsidered, and Blinken noted that it was a 'hallmark' of the Biden administration's stance on Ukraine to 'adapt and adjust' as needed. Blinken visited Kyiv earlier this month and heard a direct appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to use U.S. military assistance to strike positions in Russian from where attacks on Ukraine are launched. 'As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how it's pursuing its aggression, escalation, we've adapted and adjusted too, and I'm confident we'll continue to do that,' Blinken said at a news conference in Chisinau. 'At every step along the way, we've adapted and adjusted as necessary, and so that's exactly what we'll do going forward,' he said. 'We're always listening, we're always learning, and we're always making determinations about what's necessary to make sure that Ukraine can effectively continue to defend itself, and we'll continue to do that.' Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that Western countries should not object if Ukraine needs to strike inside Russia to defend itself. First-year university students have been left 'repulsed' after a professor told them mass rapes committed by Hamas during the October 7 attacks were a 'hoax' and 'fake news'. Sujatha Fernandes, a sociology professor at the University of Sydney, told her class in April that the media had 'distorted' the war, The Australian reports. 'Western media has played the role of an ideological state apparatus by suppressing coverage of the atrocities, peddling fake news,' Professor Fernandes said. '[The media] promoted hoaxes that Hamas beheaded babies and carried out mass rape, in order to shore up support for Israel, and distorting events.' The United Nations (UN) has said there were 'reasonable grounds' to believe Hamas carried out mass and gang rapes on October 7. University of Sydney sociology professor Sujatha Fernandes (pictured) has shocked first-year students after claiming mass rapes by Hamas on October 7 were a 'hoax' Professor Fernandes' continued her lecture by alleging Israel had engaged in 'ethnic cleansing, collective punishment and forced starvation', the report also claims. A number of students, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were shocked by Professor Fernandes' comments. One said they didn't commit to four years and thousands of dollars' worth of university classes to be taught by lecturers who 'blatantly promote lies and foster an unsafe, threatening environment'. Another student who identified themselves as Jewish said it reflected a 'rising trend of anti-Semitism' at the university. They added that it was particularly concerning for a professor to 'deny undeniable proof of the events of October 7, which Hamas proudly filmed themselves doing'. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Professor Fernandes and the University of Sydney for comment. Her students said they were 'repulsed' by the professor's claims that go against a report from the UN which found 'convincing information' of wide spread sexual violence Pramila Patten, the UN's Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, said they witnessed 'scenes of unspeakable violence perpetrated with shocking brutality'. Ms Patten said the acts committed on October 7 were 'a catalogue of the most extreme and inhumane forms of killing, torture and other horrors', including sexual violence. Her team found 'convincing information' that sexual violence had been committed against hostages and those in captivity. They reached the conclusion came after reviewing over 5,000 photographic images and some 50 hours of footage of the attacks. However, part of the report also found that at least 'two allegations of sexual violence in kibbutz Be'eri - widely reported in the media - were unfounded'. Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment a hitman on a stolen motorbike targets three men outside a Turkish restaurant in Dalston as a nine-year-old girl was caught in the crossfire, leaving her fighting for her life in hospital. The youngster had been happily eating dinner with her family at the Evin Turkish bistro in Dalston when assassins targeted the three men, aged 26, 37, and 42, sitting at the table in front of her at around 9.20pm. The school girl was hit by a single stray bullet when two gunmen pulled up on Kingsland Road on a motorbike and shot at the three men who are believed to be of Turkish heritage - but hit her too. Police said the girl suffered a gunshot wound and remains in hospital in a critical condition. The three men, who are not believed to have known the child, are in stable condition, but one potentially faces life changing injuries. In a heart-wrenching account of the brutal shooting the owner of the Evin bistro revealed how the girl's mother crumpled in shock when she saw her daughter shot. The motorbiker can be seen at the top of the CCTV still as he begins to open fire on the street. Image credit: The Sun A look at Evin restaurant on Kingsland High Street this morning which is covered in police tape Gazi Degirmenci told MailOnline: 'The girl was not with the three men outside, she was sitting at a table behind them. 'I think at the moment the shots were fired she might have been jumping on the chairs. I'm not sure if there was a celebration but they were having dinner as a family. 'The child was very lively and really cute. Before it happened she was very happy. 'The girl was with her family, her mum and dad and two other children. She was part of a five or six person group. 'The mother was in a really bad way, as you can imagine, really bad, really bad. 'We tried to help as much as we could, we tried to stop the bleeding. We gave her water, and we called the ambulance and police. 'I'm not sure that if our efforts helped. But we helped as much as we could. 'The mum was in a really bad state. I don't want to try to remember how she was, it's too upsetting. Can you imagine being in her shoes? It's an unimaginable horror. 'It's so painful, we are so upset about what happened to that child. 'I'm not sure about who the three men sitting in the front are, and if it's some sort of gang war. But the biggest tragedy is clearly the child.' A cordon remains in place along Kingsland High Street as Evin restaurant (pictured) is taped off Empty beer bottles and glasses of alcohol can be seen left behind on an outdoor table after the shooting Eye-witnesses said diners dived under their tables at Evin restaurant as a motorcyclist fired shots at them A look at where the shooting occurred in Dalston last night as a motorcyclist fired shots towards the diners He added: 'The father was trying to calm everyone down. If I had been in that situation I would not have been able to remain so calm. 'There was another child that was very scared. He was trying to be composed to help the mother and the children.' Speaking in his native Turkish, Mr Degirmenci told how the shooting lasted only seconds and he only realised the full extent of the horror after he watched the restaurant CCTV footage of the terrifying incident. He said: 'I was in the restaurant when it happened. 'A group of men were sitting outside at the front of the restaurant and it appears that they were targeted by two people on a motorbike. 'I don't know who the men are, they might have been Turkish, I thought they were speaking in Turkish. 'It was over pretty quickly, five or ten seconds, one minute at the most. 'Imagine hearing the gun shots and then everyone threw themselves on the floor and tried to protect themselves. 'There was loads of shouting and then we realised that one of the bullets had hit a child inside. 'When it was happening, we didn't not know what was going on, we just heard the gun shots. 'We didn't really see anything. But later when we looked at the CCTV we saw two people arriving by motor bike. 'They get close and then shot at these people. And then they flee.' Police guard the cordon at the scene in east London this morning. A child remains in serious condition after the shooting He went on: 'I've given the CCTV to the police. The CCTV shows inside the restaurant and outside. It shows everything that happened. 'We are not allowed back in the restaurant. They didn't even let us clear the tables, all the plates and stuff are still on the tables. 'At the time it was impossible for us to know how many shots had been fired. But after looking at the CCTV it appears that five shots were fired. 'Four people were injured and one bullet didn't hit anyone. 'The ambulance and the police arrived really quickly, within five or ten minutes. 'I feel terrible. It has been a huge shock.' It was also revealed that a stolen motorbike, believed to have been used during the shooting, has been recovered by police. Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway pleaded for people to come forward with information. He began his statement by saying 'it saddens me deeply' to say that 'three men and a nine-year-old girl were shot when a firearm was discharged from a motorbike'. He added: 'I know that local people will be extremely concerned by this incident. We share that concern and an urgent investigation has been launched to identify and apprehend those responsible.' Detective Conway said: 'As with any child, she was an innocent victim of the indiscriminate nature of gun crime. 'Our thoughts are with her and her family and they are being supported by specialist officers.' After police arrived at the scene within minutes of the crime, two crime scenes remain in place 'at Kingsland High Street and at Colverstone Crescent, where we recovered a motorbike that we believe was used in the shooting and which we now know to have been stolen'. Forensic officers pictured outside Evin restaurant, where a horror drive-by shooting took place Police guard the cordon at the scene in east London this morning. A child remains in serious condition after the shooting Specialist Crime colleagues are now working with the police to conduct fast-time enquiries to 'identify and apprehend those responsible and to establish the motive behind the shooting'. Horrifying CCTV footage obtained by The Sun shows the moment the gunman fires bullets at the diners before speeding away down the road. A diner who was at the Evin restaurant at the time of the alleged shooting told the Hackney Gazette how everyone dived under the tables during the 'chaos' and he used his coat to stop the bleeding on someone's leg. 'There was a big group having dinner in the rear,' he said. 'I couldn't get my usual table so got one close to the front window. 'The big group paid up and left and shortly afterwards that's when the loud bangs - which were obviously gunshots - happened.' After everyone scrambled on to the floor, the man saw that someone was injured and he used his coat to stop the bleeding on a leg wound. He continued: 'I'd say it was around 10 to 15 minutes when the emergency services arrived. Police first, then NHS staff. They were very efficient.' Earlier today, it was revealed that the child and two of the adults who were among the four shot 'were from the same family'. Describing the shooting, one resident said: 'I don't know who [they were] targeting - but for a child to be hit? It's just horrendous. I also heard that two of the adults hurt are the child's parents, but I'm unsure.' The man, who did not want to be named, added: 'I doubt anyone will give you their names - not when this could be gang violence.' A second resident, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: 'It's so awful. I live just down the road so it's really shocking to hear. 'I only found out when I walked up here this morning to get my hair cut. To hurt a kid? I mean it's messed up. Police pictured on Kingsland High Street in Dalston, Hackney, where there was a drive-by shooting yesterday evening 'It's the way the world is going these days and I worry if things will continue to get worse.' Dave Evans told how he had walked passed the Evin Bistro just minutes before the violence erupted. Mr Evans, 62, said: 'I was out last night walking my dog. I must have walked passed Evin five minutes before the shooting. 'I was down the road when I heard the noise. There were six shots. I knew they were gun shots immediately. 'I walked back up there before the police got there. It was horrendous. There were bodies on the floor. Blood. It was awful.' Cafe workers told how the Evin Bistro is owned and run by a Turkish family and is popular with local residents. A waitress, who asked not to be named, said: 'I know the family at Evin. They are nice people. What happened there is terrible! Shocking! I heard that oriole got shot and a baby! Who can shoot a baby? Other residents claimed the shooting could be linked to a dispute between rival drug gangs. One said: 'It's got to be a drugs hit.' An eye-witness filmed the large group of people who were gathered outside Evin restaurant Three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries at the scene. They have all been taken to a major trauma centre Today half eaten food and drinks remained on tables at the Evin Bistro. A half drunk glass of beer, abandoned coffee cups and a plate of mixed starters could be seen behind the police cordon. Blood splatter in the floor could be seen amongst the upturned tables and chairs at the popular Turkish cafe. A paramedics green first aid bag and discarded medical gloves were also abandoned at the scene. Local John Thompson, 57, who has lived in Dalston all his life, claimed parts of the area used to be off-limits due to crime - but it has improved in recent years. 'Sandringham Road - in the cordon - used to be a massive no-go zone,' he said. 'Murders, shootings, stabbings - everything. But I do feel like things have gotten better in the past years, so I'm quite surprised to see this. 'But let's be honest - it's Dalston. There are still bad pockets. Like, if you have something expensive on you, just don't come in the area. I had my bike stolen in the middle of the day - in front of everyone. But this? This is just awful. Horrific.' Another person Antonia, who did not want to share her last name, was in Nandos at the time and said she heard five or six gunshots and saw a motorcyclist speeding away. She said: 'At first everyone didn't think it was [a shooting], it sounded like a car not working, but we were in Nando's and we just saw people running past. 'Everyone stepped out to look and we could see loads of people surrounding that shop. Kingsland High Street, Dalston shooting Three adults and a child were shot in an alleged drive-by shooting. A person pulled up on a motorcycle let off about 5-6 shots and then sped off. pic.twitter.com/MaA0y3g4Rv WeGotitBack (@NotFarLeftAtAll) May 29, 2024 Eye-witnesses say it was a motorcycle that drove by and sprayed bullets in the direction of the diners, before speeding away down the road One eye-witness, who was at the Evin restaurant at the time of the alleged shooting, told the hackney Gazette it was 'busier than usual' before the incident occurred 'The police took ages to come and prior to that we saw the motorcyclist. He went around Nando's on that road. We kind of just wanted to get out of there.' Another eye-witness who was on Kingsland High Street after the shooting posted a video to social media, saying: 'Someone just got shot five times in Hackney, Dalston.' Police sirens can be heard in the background as a large group of people stand outside Evin restaurant. Martha, a nearby resident on the high street told MyLondon that she heard four shots: 'We heard the shooting and we saw people coming gathering there and we saw ambulances and police cars but nothing else.' 'You don't really realise or think that it's gun shooting. We heard noise - it could be a car, it could be anything. We were worried but not straight away. Then we saw people shouting and the ambulance so then we started to realise. It came out of nowhere.' Miklos, a nearby resident of 20 years: 'Its shut down like this maybe once every two months' When asked if he thought it was gang violence: 'Well that's what came to mind right away. If it's not then it's even worse' Do you feel safe living here? 'No not so much anymore because I've got a child as well, I just dropped her in nursery.' A nearby cafe worker said: 'The shooting came from someone on an electric bike. it was automatic shooting, multiple shots. And innocent people got hit. One of them was targeted, there were three adults and a child' Local shopkeeper on Kingsland High Street Tahir Sandh told MyLondon at these scene: 'How can it be possible? We are in London and somebody comes and shoots people. It gives me a very unsafe feeling.' Officers were called at around 9.20pm last night to reports of a shooting near a restaurant on Kingsland High Street Emergency services attended the scene where three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries Earlier this morning, forensic officers were pictured outside the Turkish restaurant gathering evidence as a police cordon remains in place on Kingsland High Street. Yesterday night officers, including specialist firearms officers, and London Ambulance Service rushed to the scene. The three adults and child were all taken to a major trauma centre at an east London hospital after the attack. No arrests have been made yet and the shooter is still at large. Detective Conway said today in his statement: 'The investigation is at an early stage and we are keeping an open mind as to the motive. 'We are keen to identify other witnesses who were in the area around the scene at the time of the shooting. 'Similarly, if you were in the Kingsland High Street area at the time of the shooting and have information or footage from a phone or other device, please share that with us. 'This is a fast-moving, complex investigation, and we will be working closely with our Specialist Crime colleagues to establish the full facts in the coming days. 'Locally, people can expect to see a significant police presence in this area, including armed officers, to provide reassurance and support. We will also continue our unrelenting focus on suppressing violence, gun crime, and the offenders who endanger our communities. 'If you have any information that could assist our investigation please do the right thing and tell us what you know by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.' Anyone with information that can help police should call 101 or post @MetCC reference CAD 8082/29May. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Famed thriller writer John Grisham stirred up controversy Wednesday during an appearance on The View when he said he was thinking about writing a second book about assassinations of Supreme Court Justices. 'I wrote a great book called "The Pelican Brief" in which two Supreme Court Justices were assassinated, and Ive thought about doing it again,' he said, prompting immediate laughter from the audience. Longtime host Joy Behar was quick to jump in and attempt to explain Grisham's sinister words. 'No, no, no, no!' she exclaimed, before Whoopi Goldberg said, 'Writing part two! He's talking about writing part two!' 'It's all fiction, don't get upset,' said Grisham, before going on to slam the current Supreme Court. The ladies of The View jumped in to defend author John Grisham after he joked about being inspired by the current Supreme Court to write a second book in which justices are assassinated The novelist and lawyer was on the show promoting his latest work, 'Camino Ghosts,' the audiobook which is read by Goldberg. Behar asked Grisham his opinion of the current court and whether he might consider writing a book or film script about some of its recent, controversial rulings. Grisham, 69, was quick to weigh in with a heavy dose of criticism. 'The court has never looked this bad,' he said. 'In my lifetime, some of the rulings, the ethical challenges, it went downhill in 2000 when five Republicans on the court chose to elect a president, it was political, Bush versus Gore, thats when it all started really going downhill.' He told the women he thinks the court gets worse every term, but because the justices are appointed for life, he has 'no solution, because you can't get rid of them.' 'The solution is, make them all retire at the age of 75. Every federal judge should have to retire at the age of 75,' he then declared. Grisham, after writing 50 books, many of which have topped best-seller lists around the world, has acquired a large and solid fan base. But some were irked by the author's move to promote his political views on the famously liberal show. Following his appearance, some fans of Grisham's appeared to turn on the author, calling his hatred for and apparent threat against the Supreme Court unacceptable Grisham, who is out promoting his 50th book 'Camino Ghosts,' joked about writing a sequel to 'The Pelican Brief,' a book in which members of the high court are killed On X, several Grisham fans lambasted him after the appearance. 'Hey John Grisham! I used to idolize you as an author and one of the best legal fiction writers ever. You just said you want to see Supreme Court justices die!! Never again will read or watch your stuff. I believe the south will respond the same way,' wrote one fan, or maybe former fan. Another user wrote: 'I saw this and thought to myself this should be reported... It's not a joke because you'll get some crazy loon who will carry it out...And John Grisham isn't doing himself any favors with half the country now against him.' 'I now, am getting rid of every da** John Grisham book I have. Traitor,' someone else added. Ahead of Grisham's interview on Wednesday, First Lady Jill Biden also made an appearance where she imagined a dystopian American future if Donald Trump regains the presidency this fall. 'We cannot take things for granted, and think of the Supreme Court for God's sake. 'Talk about things getting worse? Can you imagine if we put any more Republicans on the Supreme Court? No! We will lose all of our rights!' she said. An Arizona woman who spent $308 on a Costco grocery haul now owes a total of $5,241. Ashton Weinberger of Arcadia shopped at a Costco in Phoenix last month and purchased the store products with her Citi credit card. According to AZFamily, Weinberger received notifications from Citi about duplicate charges being made to her card shortly after the trip to Costco. 'At first, I was thinking, "Oh, thats weird. Its delayed." But then it hit again and again and again,' she told AZFamily earlier this month. Weinberger complained about the 17 extra charges to Costco, to which employees told her that they had 'no idea' what happened. Ashton Weinberger of Arcadia was charged 17 times after purchasing groceries at a Costco in Phoenix for $308 The Phoenix Costco, where Weinberger purchased her groceries, is one of 20 Arizona store locations. Weinberger told AZFamily that the duplicate charges have made things 'very stressful' since she and her husband are renovating their home. 'When youre doing a renovation, you are very tightly budgeting,' she said. 'You need all the finances that you have available, so to suddenly not have $5,000 - Its critical to getting the project done.' Despite her Costco complaint, the charges were not removed from Weinberger's account. 'I showed them all the charges. And they said, well, well look into it, and then days went by,' she told AZFamily. Weinberger contacted AZFamily and thought that Citi and Costco 'need the voice of the media to make some movement.' After Weinberger contacted the news station, AZFamily reached out to Costco and the company responded that it is working with the shopper to resolve the situation. Weinberger purchased the groceries her Citi card. She found out about the extra charges after receiving notifications from Citi Weinberger now owes $5,241 because of the extra charges, which are still on her account. She complained to Costco, but employees claimed they did not know what happened Weinberger is not the first customer to complain about extra charges being made to their account. Multiple X (formerly Twitter) users claimed in their tweets about being double charged for their groceries between 2023 and 2024. 'Costco double charged my card and when I talked to them, they were like, you weren't double charged...,' an X user tweeted on May 16. 'I'm literally looking at my bank account... There are two charges here and I'm out an extra $68 until I can get ahold of my bank.' One X user wrote a tweet in November 2023 and claimed that she was double charged the milk she purchased during her grocery trip. 'I bought a bunch of groceries. I bought four large milk cartons. I checked my received and they charged me for eight,' she claimed in her tweet. I paid extra for things that I didn't get. Way to go #Costco.' Weinberger and her husband had been renovating their home when the Costco incident occurred and the matter has made things 'very stressful' for the shopper X (formerly Twitter) users have also complained about their duplicate charges from Costco between 2023 and 2024 Costco has recently made headlines after announcing that it would begin offering prescriptions for weight loss drugs, including Ozempic. The retail store chain and Sesame teamed up to create a weight-loss program that gives Costco shoppers access to approved GLP-1 prescription drugs. Members of the Costco can sign up for the program that runs at $179 for three months and non-members can also do it for $195 a month. 'We are witnessing important innovations in medically-supervised weight loss,' said David Goldhill, Sesame's co-founder and CEO, said in a news release. He added that Sesame's 'unique model' will allow them to make 'high-quality specialty care' more accessible and 'to empower clinicians to create care plans that are specific to and appropriate for each individual patient.' Friends and family are praying for the recovery of a makeup artist allegedly stabbed by actor Nick Pasqual who was arrested yesterday for attempting to flee to Mexico. Friends of Allie Shehorn, 35, have taken to social media to share their support for the 35-year-old, who is currently fighting for her life in hospital. 'Prayers for a speedy recovery,' a user on Facebook wrote on her page. 'Sending all the love and blessings during your full recovery,' another commented on Instagra,. The out-poor of well wishes come after the makeup artist was allegedly stabbed more than 20 times by her boyfriend, Pasqual, and left for dead. A GoFundMe set up for Shehorn's mounting medical bills has raised $93,000 of the $100,000 goal. Actor Nick Pasqual (right) was arrested yesterday for attempting to Mexico after allegedly stabbing his makeup artist girlfriend Allie Shehorn (left) Yesterday, an update was posted saying, 'Allie Shehorn is making positive steps to her recovery. Its still a very long road but she is facing it with courage and determination. Love, Jed.' Jed is a fellow makeup artist and friend of Shehorn. Organizers initially wrote: 'I come to you today with a heavy heart and a plea for help for someone very dear to me, my friend Allie. 'Recently, she faced a horrific and senseless act of violence she was stabbed multiple times by her ex boyfriend. As a result, Allie is now in the hospital fighting for her life, in critical condition.' DailyMail.com exclusively revealed on May 29 that Shehorn had been granted a restraining order from Pasqual after claiming she had suffered from a shocking catalog of abuse, including being raped, choked and beaten with a belt. Days later, on May 23, Shehorn was violently attacked in her own home allegedly by actor Nick Pasqual, 34, who was arrested this week in Sierra Blanca, Texas, while attempting to flee across the border to Mexico. Pasqual was charged on Wednesday afternoon with attempted murder, first-degree home invasion, and domestic violence injury, and will be extradited back to LA. He faces life in prison if convicted. Allie Shehorn, 35, a Hollywood makeup artist, was stabbed up to 20 times The LA make-up artist was granted a temporary restraining order from her ex-boyfriend three days before the attack The boyfriend, who most recently appeared as a minor character called Thresher in 2023 movie Rebel Moon, previously attacked Shehorn on at least four occasions. This was according to the make-up artist's application for a domestic violence restraining order obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com. According to the papers, which were filed on May 18, Pasqual hit her with a belt on January 29, broke down several doors in their Sunland, California, home on March 6 and raped and choked her on April 14. The escalating abuse, which peaked with the horror stabbing on May 23, also included a violent incident on May 18 which prompted Shehorn to apply for a restraining order. DailyMail.com can also reveal that Pasqual pictured in a 2011 episode of How I Met Your Mother has previous convictions, including a July 2013 DUI and another the following February According to the makeup artist, Pasqual became angry at around 3am 'and started yelling and screaming at me, which happens when he's under the influence.' She went on: 'He slapped me across the face and as I was trying to get away down the hallway, he grabbed my hair and pulled me back and I slammed into the floor hitting the back of my head on the ground.' Shehorn says she attempted to hide in the bedroom of a friend called Christine White, 62, who shares the former couple's home. Pasqual then allegedly tried to batter the door down and when she unlocked it, shoved it against her causing her to fall to the ground and hit her head again. According to Shehorn, the incident left her with concussion while Pasqual went on to threaten White as she dialed 911. LAPD booking records show Pasqual was arrested and charged with a felony at 10am the same day but bonded out of jail at 3.23pm that afternoon. The restraining order request also includes a disturbing account of the alleged rape perpetrated by Pasqual on April 14 at an Airbnb. Shehorn had complained to cops of suffering a catalog of abuse from Pasqual including being raped, choked and beaten with a belt In her application for a restraining order, obtained by DailyMail.com, Shehorn claimed Pasqual previously attacked her on at least four occasions On that occasion, Shehorn said the couple had been drinking the previous day and had begun having sex early that morning. She said Pasqual had begun hurting her so she asked him to stop, only for the 34-year-old to continue and hold her down by both wrists as she struggled to escape. When she finally was able to get up, Pasqual unleashed an angry tirade, telling her she didn't love him if she didn't allow him to orgasm. Then, as she tried to leave the room, Pasqual allegedly grabbed her by the throat and squeezed, only releasing her when she threatened to scream and alert the other people staying in the property. Shehorn added: 'He has been violent in the past but never physically with me apart from two nights where he ripped clothes off of me [sic].' In the application, the special effects make-up artist also asked for protection for White and for the couple's white husky-mix dog Riley. A hearing over whether to make the temporary restraining order permanent had been scheduled on June 11 in Pasadena while Pasqual was due to appear in court on a felony charge in San Fernando on June 12. DailyMail.com can also reveal that Pasqual has previous convictions, including a July 2013 DUI and another the following February. Allie Shehorn, 35, a Hollywood makeup artist, was stabbed, allegedly by Pasqual who was later arrested in Texas trying to cross the Mexican border Pasqual will face court at a yet to be determined date once he is returned to LA and will be held on a $1.075 million bond. 'My thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the victim in this horrific incident,' Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said. 'Our office, including our Bureau of Victim Services, extends our support and resources to her as she embarks on the long and difficult journey of healing from both the physical and emotional trauma inflicted upon her. 'This heinous incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence. We will ensure that the individual responsible for this egregious act is held accountable for their actions.' Shehorn is recovering from the stabbing attack in hospital with White telling local news outlet KTLA she is in 'good spirits'. White said she returned home to find Shehorn surrounded by blood in her bedroom, which she added 'wasn't a pretty sight.' 'This is not the kind of thing that should happen to anybody,' she continued. 'You don't think this is ever going to happen to you.' The GoFundMe added in an update on Monday that White 'acted fast when she found Allie bleeding out', a move that 'saved her life.' The New Jersey father who forced his son to run on a treadmill at breakneck speed still maintains that he played no role in the little boy's death. Christopher Gregor, 32, is charged with first-degree murder and endangering the welfare of six-year-old Corey Micciolo. The endangerment charge stems from footage of Gregor ordering Corey to run on a treadmill, even picking the little boy up and placing him back on the machine after he fell several times. The little boy died weeks later, and Gregor's legal team insists he died of infection despite medical experts' findings that he suffered blunt force trauma. 'Is it tragic? Hell, yes. Sad,' defense attorney Mario Gallucci said in court on Wednesday. 'There's no winner here. Corey died. That's it. Nobody had anything to do with it.' Lawyers for Christopher Gregor, 32, assert that the New Jersey man had no role in the death of his six-year-old son, claiming instead he died of 'infection' Corey Micciolo died on April 2, 2021, after complaining of nausea and shortness of breath. He suffered several seizures upon arriving at the hospital and died an hour later Pictured: the prosecution watches footage of Gregor carrying Corey into the hospital on the day of his death Gallucci claimed the little boy 'died from natural causes,' specifically a 'rapidly spreading infection,' and previously asserted that he came down with pneumonia. But his allegations draw a stark contrast to the testimony of a forensic pathologist who spoke on the fifth day of the trial. According to Dr. Thomas Andrew, Corey died from blunt impact injury of the chest and abdomen with laceration of the heart. Andrew testified that the manner of death was homicide. Another doctor, Anat Feingold, was called as a witness on May 22 after being hired by the prosecution to review medical records. Feingold, who specializes in pediatric infectious diseases, said there was no evidence that Corey had suffered from an infection before his death. 'My conclusion was there was no evidence that Corey had an infectious disease at any point, and certainly that that was not the cause of his death,' Feingold said. The trial has spanned 10 days so far, with closing arguments beginning Wednesday after Gregor declined to testify in his own defense. Gregor's attorney asserted that prosecutors failed to present any witnesses or experts who could prove the boy died in the way medical officials maintain. Gregor's defense attorney, Mario Gallucci, claimed the little boy 'died from natural causes,' specifically 'a rapidly-spreading infection' The case drew national interest after video surfaced of Gregor forcing the six-year-old to run on a treadmill, even picking him up and placing him back on the machine after he fell Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Christine Lento asserted that Gregor 'lacerated Corey's heart, lacerated his liver, and Corey's lungs were bruised,' in line with a doctor's findings of evidence of blunt force trauma Mentions of the treadmill video cropped up frequently throughout the proceedings. 'What kind of father would do this to their son?' asked Christine Lento, an assistant Ocean County prosecutor. She noted that Gregor could be seen increasing the incline on the machine. Gallucci, in turn, claimed that Corey was 'operating that treadmill all by himself,' noting that he 'kept getting back up on the treadmill.' However, Lento countered that Corey was 'more afraid of his father than getting back on that machine.' The prosecutor asserted that Corey did not die of infection. 'It's not pneumonia,' Lento said. 'The defendant lacerated Corey's heart, lacerated his liver, and Corey's lungs were bruised. This is why Corey died.' Gregor and Breanna Micciolo shared custody of the six-year-old before his death. Lento claimed Gregor inflicted blunt force trauma on the little boy because his mother returned him to Gregor's house 14 hours late. One day earlier, Micciolo had taken Corey to his pediatrician and two different medical centers, believing Gregor was abusing him. None of the physicians found any infection or signs of pneumonia, Lento said. 'The evidence shows there was nothing wrong with Corey when he was returned to the defendant at 9 am on April 2, eight hours before Corey died,' she asserted. Lento mentioned that Gregor fled the hospital and was not present when his son died. He was later flagged by Tennessee police for speeding, and insisted that he had not been planning on leaving the country on bodycam Gregor, who declined to testify in his own defense Wednesday, referred to Corey's mother, Breanna Micciolo, as 'a special kind of dirt bag' and 'a drug-addicted mother' On the morning of April 2, 2021, Micciolo dropped Corey off at Gregor's home. It would be the last time she saw her son alive. The woman told police she last heard from Gregor that afternoon, when told her that he was taking Corey to the hospital but didn't mention which one. The little boy had complained of nausea and shortness of breath, according to a probable cause affidavit. He suffered seizures soon after arriving at Southern Ocean Medical Center and died an hour later. Surveillance footage captured nurses and a doctor appearing to comfort Gregor as he collapsed in a chair outside his son's hospital room. But he left 27 minutes before Corey died, as Lento pointed out in court. 'He casually gets in his car and drives away without hesitation,' she said. Police caught up the 32-year-old in Alcoa, Tennessee, two days after Corey's death. Gregor had been speeding, and one officer noted in bodycam footage that he was 'shaking like a leaf.' Gregor denied trying to cross the border, instead telling officers that he had turned around in Arkansas and was heading home. He said he had driven for 20 hours straight and made it to somewhere near the Arkansas-Texas state line before turning and traveling another five hours to Nashville. Gregor also made comments about Corey, saying, 'If he didn't have a drug-addicted mother, then he'd still be alive.' Gregor then indicated that Micciolo was somehow linked to Corey's death. 'When he got home, I knew something was wrong in my gut,' Gregor said. He referred to Micciolo as 'a special kind of dirtbag' and accused the woman and her family of planting marijuana on him once before, leading to a prior arrest in New Jersey. Micciolo, pictured testifying in court on April 30, took the little boy to a pediatrician and two different medical centers shortly before his death on the belief that Gregor was abusing him She claimed to have reported Gregor to the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency more than 100 times in a span of 18 months, but nothing was done. She has since sued the agency for failing to act Micciolo's bid for emergency custody of her son was denied the day before Corey's death on the advice of DCCP, despite at least one caseworker viewing the treadmill video and photographing injuries on Corey's body Corey's manner of death was undetermined upon completion of his autopsy. It wasnt until Andrew reviewed the case in September 2021 that it was determined as homicide. During his testimony, Andrew said he believed Corey suffered an acute traumatic injury to the heart four to 12 hours before his death. He found evidence of chronic abuse including blunt impact injuries of the chest and abdomen with laceration of the heart, left pulmonary contusion, and laceration and contusion of the liver. Gregor was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child on July 7, but was subsequently released due to New Jersey bail reform, authorities say. He was arrested again, this time for murder, on March 9, 2022. At the time of Corey's death, the boys mother and Gregor shared joint custody. Micciolo said she reported Gregor to the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency over 100 times in a span of 18 months, but no action was taken. She has since sued the agency for failing to act in time to save her son's life. When Micciolo brought Corey to his pediatrician the day before his death, she did so at the suggestion of a DCPP caseworker. Corey told the doctor about the treadmill incident, and his account was later relayed to police. According to the affidavit, Gregor 'made him run on the treadmill really fast' because he was 'mad.' The document notes that Corey mentioned falling and hitting his head. At least one DCPP caseworker viewed the video. The same caseworker saw and photographed Corey's injuries before Micciolo requested an emergency hearing the day before her son died. However, a judge denied Micciolo's request for emergency custody on the advice of the agency. DCPP eventually substantiated two of the allegations of abuse. That development came last December, 20 months after Corey's death. Gregor, who turned down a 30-year plea deal, is currently being held without bond in the Ocean County Jail. He faces life behind bars if convicted. An electrician has pleaded guilty to dumping the bodies of his ten giant tortoises in the woods after they froze to death. Gary Priddle, 56, failed to check on his pet reptiles between December 23 and December 29 last year which meant he was unaware the heating system had failed. Exeter Magistrate Court heard that once Mr Priddle had discovered the ten dead Aldraba tortoises - which are classified as a vulnerable species - he then dumped the bodies across east Devon including in the National Trust Killerotn estate. On January 8, two bodies were found in Ashclyst Forest on the Killerton estate, roughly north-east of Exeter. Another was discovered three days near Fairmile, Devon, and five more were found in Ashclyst Forest the next day. On January 13, another body was found. Nearly two months later, on March 11, the final body was located. Gary Priddle (pictured), 56, failed to check on his pet reptiles between December 23 and December 29 last year which meant he was unaware the heating system had failed Exeter Magistrate Court heard that once Mr Priddle had discovered the ten dead Aldraba tortoises, which are classified as a vulnerable species, he then dumped the bodies across east Devon including in the National Trust Killerotn estate A member of the public reported that he had seen the tortoises at a property viewing, and Mr Priddle was interviewed by police on February 20, where he admitted ownership of the tortoises. Police seized 13 adults and 40 younger tortoises from Mr Priddle's Exeter home. A final eleventh tortoise also later died in police custody. Mr Priddle appeared before Exeter Magistrates Court on Thursday May 30 and he pleaded guilty to charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990. District Judge (MC) Smith sentenced Mr Priddle to a 12 month community order of 50 hours unpaid work in the community and a 199 fine. The judge said: 'They were entirely dependent on you to meet their needs. You described them as your pride and joy. 'For six days you prioritised your festive celebrations over their care. As a result, these magnificent creatures died.' The judge described the deaths as 'devastating' and 'avoidable', before disqualifying Mr Priddle from owning, keeping, looking after or purchasing tortoises for ten years. Peter Seigne, representing Mr Priddle, said: 'He cared for tortoises all of his life and it is very much part of his life.' Mr Priddle had kept tortoises for 15 years and was found in possession of a further 53 tortoises Throughout January the bodies of the tortoises were discovered across Devon with the final body being discovered in March Mr Priddle appeared before Exeter Magistrates Court on Thursday May 30 and he pleaded guilty to charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Sentencing, the judge said: 'You have expressed great remorse and upset about what happened to these animals and I do believe you cared deeply for them. I do consider that this was an isolated incident.' Mr Priddle had kept tortoises for 15 years and was found in possession of a further 53 tortoises. Sentencing, the judge said: 'You have expressed great remorse and upset about what happened to these animals and I do believe you cared deeply for them. 'I do consider that this was an isolated incident.' Samantha Rogers of the CPS said the animals had also been found with metabolic bone disease due to poor husbandry. Devon and Cornwall Police worked with the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the RSPCA on the investigation. The Aldabra reptiles - classed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation and Nature - are native to the atoll of the same name in the Seychelles and can live for 150 years or more. A tradie who murdered his pregnant wife before dissolving her body in acid later laughed about the grisly killing with a friend. Meraj Zafar, 22, this week entered a last-minute guilty plea to murdering his wife Arnima Hayat, 19, on January 29, 2022, in the North Parramatta unit they shared. The aspiring doctor had wanted to leave her abusive husband, whom she had married in a secret Islamic ceremony only four months earlier. Ms Hayat, a medical student at Western Sydney University, had sent a desperate message to a friend on the night of her death. 'I have nobody except you,' Ms Hayat wrote to her friend. He replied: 'You have got no choice. You have to stay with him.' Meraj Zafar, 22, entered a last-minute guilty plea to murdering his wife Arnima Hayat, 19, on January 29, 2022, in the North Parramatta unit they shared (the couple are pictured together) The aspiring doctor had wanted to leave her abusive husband, whom she had married in a secret Islamic ceremony only four months before In a final message at 9.10pm, Ms Hayat wrote: 'No, I hate him.' Within 45 minutes, she had been murdered by her husband. The facts of the case, tendered to the NSW Supreme Court this week, reveal Zafar killed his young wife 'by applying compression to her neck and/or smothering her', reports the Daily Telegraph. The day after the killing, Zafar drove to Bunnings in Northmead twice, buying a total of 100 litres of hydrochloric acid. He searched on the internet, 'Can hydrochloric acid burn through skin?' and, 'How many years do you get in Sydney for murder?' Zafar then poured the acid over Ms Hayat's body in a bathtub 'in [an] attempt to dispose of her remains', the facts state. The apprentice builder then rang his mother and told her his wife was not breathing. She advised him to ring an ambulance but he refused, saying: 'The police will get me and they will put me in jail.' He then asked how much an overseas plane ticket would cost but his mother called an ambulance. This led to the police forcing entry into the apartment, where they discovered Ms Hayat's partially dissolved body in the bathtub - but Zafar had fled the scene. 'Ms Hayat was lying face down with her face hidden and contorted in half,' the facts state. 'There was a strong chemical odour in the air which was overwhelming, and police evacuated the apartment due to the hazardous quality of air emitting from the enclosed confined bathroom.' Police were forced to wear hazmat suits before entering the bathroom (above) of the flat where Ms Hayat's remains were immersed in a bath of acid Pictured: the apartment block where Ms Hayat was murdered by her husband While on the run, Zafar told a friend, 'I just killed someone, I swear to God that I killed someone,' and laughed, according to the facts. He handed himself into police on January 31. Ms Hayat's parents previously told this publication only one foot of their daughter was left undestroyed by the acid, leaving them unable to identify her. It was not the first time Zafar had attacked his wife. In May 2021, he strangled her unconscious after thinking she had been seen with another man. Zafar will return to court on August 5 for sentencing. The day after the killing, Zafar drove to Bunnings in Northmead twice, buying a total of 100 litres of hydrochloric acid President Joe Biden and his family are honoring his late son Beau Biden on the nine year anniversary of his death. The president, wife Jill, his son Hunter and other Biden family members walked through Beau's gravesite after attending a private ceremony to mark his passing at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Delaware. Hunter's daughters Naomi Biden and her husband Peter and Finnegan Biden were spotted walking together in the cemetery. Joe's other grandchildren Natalie, Hunter, Maisy, and young Beau were also among the group and first daughter Ashley and first sister Valerie flanked the pack. Naomi's appearance at the gravesite comes as speculation swirls around whether she might be pregnant, making Joe a great grandfather by the November election. The eldest Biden grandchild, 30, has not formally announced a pregnancy but it was the talk of the state dinner last week, according to sources in the room and she's been wearing loose-fitting clothing in recent weeks. Naomi Biden and Finnegan Biden were among the Bidens paying respect to Beau Peter Neal and Naomi Biden have been married two years. She's seen here at the State Dinner last week during which speculation swirled around a possible baby bump On Thursday, Naomi was wearing a black peacoat that cinched at the waist and flowed out, which could creatively hide a baby bump. Her father Hunter is due in federal court on Monday for the start of his highly-anticipated gun crimes trial that is casting a shadow over Joe's re-election campaign. Hunter has a separate federal trial on tax crimes in California that will kick off in September, just weeks before the general election. Beau Biden struggled and eventually succumbed to brain cancer caused by his time serving in the military. On Monday, the president paid tribute to Beau and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to commemorate Memorial Day. Biden reflected on the loss of his own son Beau as he delivered remarks honoring military members at the auditorium at Arlington National Cemetery. 'I know how hard it can be. It brings you back to the exact moment you got that phone call, heard that knock on the door, or held the hand when the last breath was taken. 'I know, it hurts. 'This week marks nine years since I lost my son, beau. Our losses are not the same. He didn't perish in the battlefield. He was a cancer victim next to being a burn pit. Biden said he remembers Beau's pride in his sense of 'duty.' The president, wife Jill, his son Hunter and other Biden family members walked through Beau's gravesite after attending a private ceremony to mark his passing Beau Biden, the son of Vice-President Joe Biden Jill Biden joined Joe to lay flowers at his son Beau's grave 'That was the code of my son lived by and the creed you all lived by,' he said referencing the veterans in the audience. 'The creed generations of service members have followed into battle on the grounds around us by fallen heroes from every major conflict in history. 'To defend our Independence, to preserve our union, to defeat fascism, build powerful alliances, forge the fires of two world wars. Beau Biden, dressed in his military uniform, is pictured here with Jill Biden Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden Joe Biden walks with his sons Beau and Hunter and his wife Jill down Pennsylvania Avenue during the inaugural parade On Sunday night, Joe Biden stopped by the home of Hallie Biden (Beau's widow and Hunter's ex-girlfriend). The visit comes just a week before she is scheduled to testify in Hunter's trial. Biden spent about 15 minutes at her home in Wilmington, Delaware. His motorcade stopped there in route to the Delaware National Guard Station, where Biden would lift off on Marine One to return to the White House. White House spokesman Andrew Bates said the president didn't discuss the trial with Hallie Biden during the visit. 'No,' he replied. 'He visited her because of the approaching 9th anniversary of Beau's passing.' Then Vice President Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Beau and Hallie Biden in February 2012 In addition to Hallie Biden, Hunter's ex-wife Kathleen Buhle and his ex-girlfriend Zoe Kestan will also testify in the trial, where Hunter faces three charges related to illegal possession of a gun. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty. A Costa Brava town has banned penis suits and sex dolls, and said it will fine stag and hen dos up to 1,500 euros if caught. Platja d'Aro, a popular resort town on Spain's Costa Brava, is considered a favorite for stag and hen dos, thanks to package deals that include flights, hotels and the provision of strippers. Party-goers have often been seen sporting penis suits and other items of clothing and accesories that reflect human genitalia, but locals are growing sick of their crude antics. A new regulation has banned people from going out in public 'without clothing or only in their underwear or with clothing or accessories representing human genitals or with dolls or other accessories of a sexual nature.' Those who are caught will have to pay fines of up to 1,500 euros, which is equivalent to around 1,250 pounds, La Vanguardia reported. A beach town in Costa Brava has banned penis suits and sex dolls as it tries to clamp down on rowdy antisocial behavior brought in by stag and hen dos. Platja d'Aro is the latest Spanish town to tackle scandalous acts associated to bachelor parties, with other places such as Malaga and Mojacar already having banned sexual objects. A hen party group is pictured posing with an inflatable sex doll, an item that has been banned in the Costa Brava town of Platka d'Aro. Bride on a hen do celebration is pictured holding an inflatable penis. These measures, which are being implemented to clamp down on raucous behavior often brought in by bachelor parties, could be introduced later this month. Mayor Maurici Jimenez said: 'These attitudes have an impact on the communitys coexistence and we need to fight against them.' As an example of scandalous behavior, the head of the Platja d'Aro Local Police, David Puertas, gave the example of a recent incident where a groom was tied to a lamppost with duct tape, while others circled him, chanting and playing loud music until the early hours of the morning. The bylaw also forbids people from walking around shirtless or in swimsuits in areas that are not close to the beach. Back in 2022, party hotspot Malaga banned inflatable sex dolls and blow-up penis costumes in a huge crackdown on stag and hen parties Platja d'Aro is not the first Spanish town aiming to curb pre-wedding parties. Tossa De Mar and Lloret de Mar, also in Costa Brava, have already implemented similar restrictions, as well as cities like Sevilla, Malaga and Granada in southern Spain. Back in 2022, party hotspot Malaga banned inflatable sex dolls as part of a huge crackdown on stag and hen nights. The city authorities introduced the new regulations due to a reported rise in anti-social behavior, often linked to the raunchy parties. They said the rules intend to 'preserve the public space as a place of meeting, coexistence, and civility that accommodates the plurality of expressions and diverse ways of life that enrich our city'. The Spanish resort town of Mojacar also banned giant inflatable naked dolls and novelty penises in 2016, after the local council said it was fed up with unruly groups of men and women, many of them on stag or hen nights, who were giving the popular resort on Spain's southern Almeria coast a bad image. Attempts to control antisocial behavior in holiday hotspots comes in the midst of the ongoing anti-tourism protests in Spain, as locals argue holidaymakers are causing too many disruptions to their way of life. On Tuesday, eight British men who were on a stag do in Majorca were arrested by local police after a fight broke out at a beach-side restaurant, leaving a waiter and two police officers injured. READ MORE: Trump finds himself in unknown territory as he awaits verdict But at times Donald Trump's defense has been its own worst enemy The judge could not have been more furious. 'I think that saying that was outrageous, Mr. Blanche please have a seat,' said Judge Juan Merchan. 'For someone who has been a prosecutor as long as you have, and a defense attorney as long as you have, you know that making a comment like that is highly inappropriate. Its simply not allowed. Period. It was not the first time Donald Trump's lead attorney Todd Blanche had offended the judge, but this was by far the most incendiary. His mistake had been to suggest to the jury during closing arguments that they should not imprison someone on the basis of serial liar Michael Cohen's say so. Todd Blanche (left) is Donald Trump's lead defense attorney. But he has attracted the judge's irritation at times as he defends the world's most famous (and difficult) client 'You cannot send somebody to prison, you cannot convict somebody ...' he said before being shut down by an objection. As any lawyer should know, it is not the jury's responsibility to send people to jail or even to think about punishment. That is the judge's job. It was just one of a series of missteps made by Trump's legal team that could cost him dearly. The judge has questioned Blanche's credibility and the most damaging witness for the defense may turn out to be one of their own. Catherine Christian, a former member of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office which is bringing the case, said the defense had done what it could but was up against a prosecution that had reams of documentary evidence. 'They also had Donald Trump as their client,' she said. 'In a normal world the client listens to you.' In this case, she added, it appeared that Trump had reversed the relationship and was driving strategy decisions such as calling Robert Costello as the defense's second and final witness. He had offered to represent Michael Cohen in 2018, when Trump's former fixer's home and office were raided by the FBI. And the defense clearly hoped that his testimony would paint Cohen as a nonstop liar, undermining the only prosecution witness that directly tied Trump to the $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. But his presence in the witness stand may have backfired, triggering the most explosive moment of the whole trial. He quickly became irritated as prosecutors objected to a line of questioning. 'jeez,' he said. He then tried to clean things up by muttering that he wanted to 'strike it' from the record. Trump is seen with his legal team at the defense table earlier this month. From left to right, Blanche, Trump, Emil Bove and Susan Necheles Twelve jurors will decide Donald Trump's fate after sitting through six weeks of testimony Trump must remain inside the courthouse each day as the jury deliberates on a verdict One of the worse missteps may have been the defense's decision to call Robert Costello as a witness. He is seen here being cross examined by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger in a court sketch But it only made matters worse. 'If you dont like my ruling, you don't say, "jeez," and you dont say, "strike it," because Im the only one who can strike testimony in court,' said Merchan. A moment later, the judge added: 'Are you staring me down?' before ordering the court to be cleared. That exchange happened with the jury out of the room. But before that they had seen a cantankerous witness (and a lawyer at that) showing contempt to the court. Instead of undermining Cohen's story that Trump was involved in the hush money payment, and testifying that the former lawyer had told him he had nothing on the then president, jurors may well have concluded that the key prosecution witness was telling the truth when he said there was something 'shifty' about Costello. And that was why he did not tell him the truth about what he knew about Trump. Christian said the decision to call him carried the fingerprints of Trump. 'There is no way as a defense attorney in a case like this you call him ... even if they probably didn't know he was going to behave like a horse's ass.' Controlling witnesses has been only one of the difficulties facing Blanche and his team. The decision to call lawyer Robert Costello as one of its two witnesses may have backfired Judge Juan Merchan chastised Costello for showing his irritation at prosecution objections. 'Are you staring me down?' he asked him before clearing the court briefly Blanche turned his career upside down to represent the most famous defendant in the country. He also acts for Trump in two of his three other cases. He has gone from New York Democrat and a partner at a Wall Street law firm, to running his own firm as a Florida Republican, with a home not far from Mar-a-Lago. He made his name as a federal prosecutor, working white collar crime at the U.S. attorneys office in the Southern District of New York. But he has far less experience of working in New York state court, where Trump's trial is taking place, and it is only the second time he has been on the defense team of a criminal trial. Next to him Susan Necheles is a seasoned defense attorney, but Emil Bove, like Blanche, is also a veteran federal prosecutor. At times Blanche has made minor slips, that may be a hangover from his previous life in federal courts. Throughout the case he has referred to prosecutors as 'the government,' when in fact in New York state court they represent the 'the people of New York.' Or it may be deliberate. His language and strategy appear to be straight from the Trump playbook. Referring to the government allows Trump to lay the finger of blame with President Joe Biden, for example. At times the judge has undermined the defense in front of the jury, refusing their request for a sidebar conference. Trump supporters and opponents wait for a verdict in the park across the street from the court The jury is deliberating for a second day Thursday while the world awaits its verdict Judge Juan Merchan has frequently expressed irritation with Trump's defense team At other times, he has ripped their arguments with the jury out of the room. In a notable early hearing, Merchan expressed his irritation during a hearing on Trump's repeated breaches of gag order, designed to protect witnesses. Blanche tried to argue that one of the alleged violations was simply the sharing of someone else's comments on social media. But it turned out that Trump, or someone handling his Truth Social account, had embellished the quote. 'You're losing all credibility with the court,' Merchan told him. At other times, Trump's lawyers have struggled to control their own client. During Stormy Daniels' testimony, Merchan asked them to speak to Trump after he had muttered obscenities in the courtroom. But it may have been their decision to call lawyer Costello as a witness hat turns out to be their costliest mistake. Advertisement National Geographic Traveller has revealed the winners of its 12th annual photography competition, showcasing the most beautiful and powerful images taken by British and Irish photographers who travelled across land and sea to capture them. The winners of the competition, who travelled as far as Antarctica and as near as London's Chinatown, were made up of amateur and professional photographers alike, who each took breathtaking images from across the world. The photos each portray a unique side to the world, both natural and man-made, that tells a different story of progress, preservation, belief, wonder and much more. The competition was made up of five categories that exemplifed a different aspect of the world, Food and Travel, Landscape, People, Urban Environment and Wildlife, and a portfolio category. Pat Riddell, editor of National Geographic Traveller, said: 'The entries of this year's competition continue to amaze us with their creativity.' KERALA, INDIA: A man dressed as a deity can be seen leaping through a raging fire at a 3am ceremony for the Kandanar Kelan Theyyam a Hindu religious ceremony DUONG DONG, VIETNAM: A bird's eye view of the bustling town of Duong Dong, formerly home to lush jungles and mangroves and now a site of vibrant human activity SALAR DE ARIZARO, ARGENTINA: El Cono de Arita, a bizarre natural formation of earth shaped by winds on the salt pans of Salar de Arizaro, casts a long shadow over this nearly-lifeless part of the world VESTRAHORN, ICELAND: A lone person stares up at the sky, watching the Northern Lights dance with the rarely spotted Milky Way Galaxy LONDON, UK: A fox serenely relaxing as dandelion seeds gently rest on its face, after the rest of its family reportedly took up residence in a south London cemetery CANADIAN ARCTIC - Molly (pictured) and her shy daughter are seen wearing traditional Inuit clothing, known as amautis, which are made from seal skins ADELAIDE ISLAND, ANTARCTICA: A female public toilet stands alone against the harsh climate of the Antarctic NAMIRI, TANZANIA: Countless zebras, wildebeest and other animals take refuge at a river in the Eastern Serengeti as the Great Migration moves south ELLESMERE ISLAND, CANADA: A solitary polar bear takes a nap on an ice flow near Ellesmere Island, one of the most northern bits of solid land in the world MARRAKECH, MOROCCO: The city's Souk Haddadine is home to some of the most skilled blacksmiths and artisans in the world, who toil day and night to produce intricate pieces of metalwork CORNWALL, UK: Countless swimmers decided to brave the icy waters of Cornwall's Bude Beach on Christmas Day, of all days LONDON, UK: Tourists and Londoners alike flock to Chinatown day after day to take in the sights and smells unique to Chinese culture in the heart of the capital SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: This richly coloured basement bar was featured in the heartachingly beautiful film Return to Seoul, which tells the story of a young woman adopted by French parents who comes back to South Korea to find her biological family DEVON, UK: A hardworking fisherman can be seen hauling up his catch from his boat, a view seen countless times across British coasts over centuries Progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman called Nikki Haley a 'disgusting human' for writing 'finish them' on an IDF bomb while visiting Israel just after it attacked a refugee camp over the weekend. 'Nikki Haley is disgusting. She's a disgusting human being to do that,' he told CNN's Abby Phillip. 'That's genocidal language and it's the language that has the American people turning against our government.' The brazen image was taken by Israel's former UN ambassador Danny Danon while Haley was on a visit to the nation's northern border with Lebanon. 'Why do we continue to support not just the consistent attacks in Gaza, but the forever wars?' Bowman continued. 'There are people in our country, their entire lives, me included, it seems like we're constantly at war with someone spending trillions, killing millions, while people are suffering and starving and dying right here in our country.' Progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman called Nikki Haley a 'disgusting human' for writing 'finish them' on an IDF bomb while visiting Israel just after it attacked a refugee camp over the weekend Nikki Haley, 52, was touring Israel's northern border with Lebanon when the photo opportunity took place. The former governor of South Carolina also wrote: 'America loves Israel' Bowman also tore into President Joe Biden for his support of Israel as the Palestinian civilian death toll has mounted. Last week the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanded Israel cease its operations in Rafah due to the impact on civilians and the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. 'U.S. weapons are burning infant children alive and so he has to respond,' Bowman urged Biden. 'We can not send another weapon or another dollar to Israel and [Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu at this point because they have been moving forward with what the ICJ has called a plausible genocide, and everyone sees it. My district sees it, the country sees it.' Bowman finds himself in a contentious primary against AIPAC-backed Westchester County executive George Latimer and Israel-aligned political groups are pouring millions into the race against him. Democratic Rep @JamaalBowmanNY calls Nikki Haley writing "finish them" on an Israeli artillery shell 'disgusting': She's a disgusting human being to do that. That's genocidal language Nikki Haley should be ashamed of herself. pic.twitter.com/JNWqewPyo9 Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) May 30, 2024 The progressive New Yorker has called reports that Hamas beheaded babies in the October 7 attack 'propaganda' and has introduced legislation to offer $14 trillion reparations to the U.S.'s 42 million black citizens. Bowman has even found himself in the crosshairs of a black voter group - National Black Empowerment Action Fund, founded by AIPAC alum Darius Jones - is funneling half a million dollars initially to oppose Bowman in New York's 16th district and plans to sink more into the race as more money comes in. The pro-Israel United Democracy Project has already dumped a whopping $8 million into the primary thus far. Jones labeled Bowman an 'extreme Democratic Socialist' in a news release. 'What America needs to understand is if Israels fighting our enemies, how can we not help them,' Haley said after her message on the IDF shell. 'The sure way to not help Israel is to withhold weapons. The sure way to not help Israel is to praise the ICC, the ICJ or any of those that are condemning Israel instead of condemning what happens.' 'America needs to do whatever Israel needs and stop telling them how to fight this war. You are either a friend or not a friend.' On her recent visit to the Jewish state, Haley also toured southern Israel where she met survivors of Hamas' brutal assault on October 7 which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 253 others. In the wake of that attack, more than 36,000 Palestinians, including large numbers of young children, have died in waves of Israeli attacks, according to the Gaza-run health ministry. Nigel Farage today swiped at the French work ethic and said it was 'unimaginable' the UK's productivity levels had sunk below those of its cross-Channel neighbour. The ex-UKIP leader, who is now honorary president of Reform UK, appeared at a London press conference as he helped launch his party's new immigration policy. He and Reform leader Richard Tice unveiled plans to charge British businesses more tax if they employ foreign workers. The 'employer immigration tax' would see UK firms charged a higher rate of national insurance for hiring non-British workers. Mr Farage hailed the 'bold, innovative' policy and claimed Britain had become 'addicted to cheap foreign labour'. He also urged voters to turn the general election on 4 July into the 'immigration election', and disputed a belief that 'mass immigration is good for the economy'. Nigel Farage swiped at the French work ethic and said it was 'unimaginable' the UK's productivity levels had sunk below those of its cross-Channel neighbour Mr Farage and Reform leader Richard Tice unveiled plans to charge British businesses more tax if they employ foreign workers According to research published by the House of Commons Library, based on OECD data, the UK came fourth highest out of G7 countries in 2022 when ranked on GDP per hour worked 'We're told more broadly people are concerned about the economy and, of course, GDP,' Mr Farage said. 'We bow down to the god of GDP. 'GDP is going up, therefore mass immigration is good for the economy? No. If you have more people in the country, it would be surprising if GDP didn't go up. 'What really matters is GDP per capita and that is falling. 'What that actually means is the average family, in relative firms, is getting poorer and mass immigration is one of the direct reasons and direct causes of that problem. 'But it's good for business we're told. But, if that's the case, why have our productivity levels sunk to a level that is almost unimaginable. 'I say that because our productivity is now below that of France. And given what I know of the French work ethic, I find that very, very difficult to believe.' According to research published by the House of Commons Library, based on data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the UK came fourth highest out of G7 countries in 2022 when ranked on GDP per hour worked. The measure of labour productivity showed the UK behind the US, Germany and France, but ahead of Italy, Canada and Japan. The House of Commons Library research stated: 'Historically, UK labour productivity has grown by around 2 per cent per year but since the 2008/2009 recession it has risen more slowly. 'The effects of the pandemic presented significant challenges in the measurement of productivity, but it appears the pre-pandemic trend of sluggish productivity growth has continued.' Passengers have spoken of their Half-term travel chaos after a derailed train in Cumbria sparked cancellations and 'do not travel warnings', with people being stranded for six hours with 'no replacement buses'. Services are being cancelled and delayed because of the incident on the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and Oxenholme Lake District on Wednesday afternoon. 'Do not travel' alerts were issued by Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express today, urging passengers not to use their services for journeys between Preston and Scotland on Thursday. In a message posted on social media on Wednesday night, on person wrote that they had been 'stranded for over 6 hours'. Another passenger wrote on Thursday: 'I'm sat on a static train outside Penrith station. 'We've been told that it would 'probably be significantly more than an hour' to get through the block. 'No replacement buses. People with cases for flights... no route to the Midlands. No replacement buses. Chaos.' In a subsequent message, he wrote that he had been 'dumped in Penrith' and his journey was '3 hours late'. Ticket holders can delay journeys until Friday or travel with other operators. A photo issued by Network Rail depicting the derailed freight train on the West Coast main line One user said: 'I'm sat on a static train outside Penrith station. 'We've been told that it would 'probably be significantly more than an hour to get through the block' Another person wrote: 'I have now been stranded for over 6 hours - blame me for having a train ticket and expecting to get to my destination' Passenger disruption began on Wednesday afternoon after National Rail issued warning about a derailed train in Cumbria Network Rail's acting North West route strategy director Kara Wood said: 'We're sorry to passengers affected by the derailment. 'We have specialist repair teams on site working as fast as they can to make the railway safe. 'Disruption is expected for the rest of the day, so we're urging people to plan their journeys and check before they travel with their train operator or National Rail Enquiries.' TransPennine Express' travel update said disruption is expected until 6pm today. Commuters have been warned not to travel north of Preston as multiple services between England and Scotland have been disrupted (stock image of Avanti West Coast train) Network Rail said the disruption is expected to last until 6pm on Thursday A spokesperson for Avanti said: 'Do Not Travel north of Preston. Services between between Oxenholme Lake District and Penrith have been cancelled' Train operators Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express have urged passengers not to use their services for journeys between Preston and Scotland on Thursday. A spokesperson for Avanti said: 'Do Not Travel north of Preston. 'Services between between Oxenholme Lake District and Penrith have been cancelled due to a freight train derailment blocking the line. 'Please do not attempt to travel with us between Preston and Scotland today. 'Customers with tickets dated yesterday, Wednesday, 29 May and today Thursday, May 30 can use their Avanti West Coast tickets tomorrow, Friday 31 May, at any time via the same route.' Avanti ticket holders can use their tickets with other operators including LNER between Edinburgh and Kings Cross, CrossCountry between Edinburgh and Birmingham New Street, TransPennine Express (TPE) via any reasonable route and ScotRail between Glasgow and Edinburgh. All of those apply in both directions until further notice. On the TransPennine Express, services between Preston and both Glasgow and Edinburgh have been cancelled TPE added: 'Due to severe disruption on the West Coast Main Line, customers travelling north of Preston are advised NOT to travel. 'This is due to an extremely limited train service as well as difficulty in sourcing road transport.' Impacted ticket holders on TPE routes can travel tomorrow on the same ticket. Alternatively, today you can use Northern services between Liverpool, Manchester Airport and Preston in both directions or travel via the East Coast on TPE services between Edinburgh and Newcastle and Newcastle and Manchester. CrossCountry services between Edinburgh and York are also open to TPE ticket holders, as are LNER services between Edinburgh and York and ScotRail services between Glasgow and Edinburgh - but the latter is only available until midday. Customers who choose not to travel can claim a refund at their point of purchase. Network Rail has been approached for a comment. Cabinet minister Johnny Mercer has accused a senior judge leading the Afghanistan public inquiry of ignoring evidence 'just to fixate on pressuring me'. Mr Mercer, who has been threatened with jail unless he hands over the names of whistleblower soldiers to the inquiry, insisted revealing his sources would be 'the coward's way out'. Speaking for the first time about facing the threat of prison for contempt of court, he said it was a 'pretty brutal' experience for him and his family. The former Army captain told The Telegraph newspaper: 'This is the thing the judge doesn't understand. I give their names, they get pursued and in five years' time they take their own lives. 'I have to live with that for the rest of my life. For me it is a burden they should not have to carry.' Cabinet minister Johnny Mercer has accused a senior judge leading the Afghanistan public inquiry of ignoring evidence 'just to fixate on pressuring me' The public inquiry is led by Lord Justice Sir Charles Haddon-Cave (pictured), who described Mr Mercer's refusal to hand over names of whistleblowers as 'completely unacceptable' He claimed the public inquiry, led by Lord Justice Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, was 'fixated on my sources' and risked ignoring 'other extremely important evidence I presented'. He went on: 'This is where the inquiry seems to have lost its way by ignoring pretty serious evidence just to fixate on pressuring me. It is unfortunate. 'It just demonstrates to me they don't seem to know the subject they are dealing with or the people they are dealing with.' Veterans minister Mr Mercer has repeatedly refused to name 'multiple officers' who told him about allegations of unlawful killings of Afghan civilians by rogue units inside the UK's Special Forces between 2010 and 2013. He has provided written statements to the inquiry and gave evidence earlier this year, but said it would be a betrayal of trust to give his sources' names, despite an assurance the judge would treat his information 'in confidence'. The judge described his refusal to comply as 'completely unacceptable' and he has been handed a section 21 notice which ordered him to hand over the names or face a potential prison sentence. Earlier this week, the inquiry said the judge would delay a decision over Mr Mercer's fate until after the General Election on July 4. Mr Mercer, 42, is the Conservative candidate for Plymouth Moor View, a seat he won from Labour in 2015. He told The Telegraph: 'You hear time and again of whistleblowers putting their hand up in the military and then wishing they hadn't. 'There's an important concept here that people should be able to approach me as an elected Member of Parliament and have a reasonable expectation that I will protect their identity and I believe very firmly in that. 'I wouldn't have been able to reset this country's relationship with its veterans if people didn't have confidence in me and trust that I would put their interests above my own.' Mr Mercer pictured speaking at the Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan in February Mr Mercer spoke about the impact the case had on his daughters, aged 15, 10 and three. He said his middle daughter asked if he was going to jail each time he left the family home to go back to Westminster. He paraphrased former US President Teddy Roosevelt, saying: 'My face truly is mired in blood and sweat and dust at the moment.' He said: 'The cost of this experience on me is huge It's not ideal Every week I come up to London and they [his children] are like, "Daddy, are you going to prison?" and I just think it's so unnecessary. 'It's pretty brutal. They are worried I will be hoicked off.' Mr Mercer, who served on three tours of Afghanistan with the British Army, said he had underestimated the 'personal strain' but struck a defiant tone as he spoke of the judge's power to imprison him. He said: 'If he truly believes in the rightness of his position then he should send me to jail. 'He shouldn't give me a fine. He should have the courage of his convictions. 'If he is going to jail a cabinet minister for protecting whistleblowers then he should get on and do it and stop this waiting game.' Mr Mercer said the judge risked being part of a 'wall of silence' that was 'obstructing the inquiry and access to the truth'. Mr Mercer's wife Felicity (pictured with the MP in May 2022) said: 'He is not going to burn people. He has been backed into a corner and this is his only option. He needs to be able to look in a mirror for the rest of his life. He will take whatever punishment is meted out' His wife Felicity, 44, said she fully supported his decision not to name the whistleblowers. She said: 'This has been a horrible time because of all the uncertainty. It has been hard on the girls. But they understand that there are no other viable options for him. 'He is not going to burn people. He has been backed into a corner and this is his only option. He needs to be able to look in a mirror for the rest of his life. He will take whatever punishment is meted out. 'People in Plymouth have the measure of Johnny Mercer. They know he is a man of integrity and a man of his word.' An air force veteran and ex-police officer who disappeared without a trace more than 50 years ago was likely shot dead by his wife's lover. Vincent Edward Down, 43, was last seen at his home in the small Tasmanian coastal town of Bridport on August 7, 1969. Mr Down was reported missing by his wife Doreen in the early hours of the next morning, prompting a search and investigation. Police at the time interviewed the couple's then-25-year old neighbour Alvin Feuerhammer but the overall probe 'petered out' without a body being found. In findings published on Thursday, coroner Simon Cooper ruled Mr Feuerhammer most likely shot Mr Down and then disposed of his body using his ute. Mr Feuerhammer died by suicide in 1994 in Queensland after murdering his wife with a .22 rifle. Mr Down's disappearance was reported to the coroner in 2020, prompting an inquest which held a public hearing in February. Vincent Edward Down, 43, was last seen at his home in the small Tasmanian coastal town of Bridport (pictured) on August 7, 1969 The initial police investigation had a 'sharpened' focus on Mr Feuerhammer after it became apparent he may have been the last person to see Mr Down alive. Officers also uncovered Mr Feuerhammer was having an affair with Mrs Down, something she ended not long before her husband's disappearance. Mr Cooper said Mrs Down had told police 'something to the effect that he would cause her as much pain as she had caused him'. Mr Cooper described Mr Feuerhammer's accounts to police as inconsistent. Mr Feuerhammer told investigators he invited Mr Down to his home on the night of August 7, 1969 to repair a TV cabinet, which he said had a bullet hole in it from an earlier accident. He said Mr Down, who was a truck driver with the Royal Australian Air Force in Japan after WWII, left without repairing the cabinet. Before a formal interview with police on August 18, Mr Feuerhammer visited a constable's home and said 'I have been thinking about (Mr) Down and I might have done something to him'. He also said 'I keep thinking I may have washed out the back of the ute that night (Mr) Down went missing ... but I don't know if it really happened'. Mr Cooper said Mr Feuerhammer's comments were not raised during the formal interview and it was unclear whether the interviewing detectives were aware of them. '(He) made a number of statements ... that must then, and certainly now, have caused suspicion that he was responsible for Mr Down's disappearance,' Mr Cooper said. Mr Feuerhammer's usually muddy ute was found 'remarkably clean' the day after Mr Down's disappearance. A witness said about 9.30pm on August 7 he saw Mr Feuerhammer driving between Scottsdale and Bridport with the ute's tray cover in place. Mr Feuerhammer said he went driving at 9pm to get a packet of cigarettes. Mr Cooper said the police response in 1969 was prompt and comprehensive by standards at the time and reviews had uncovered no new information or a potential grave site. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Hundreds of personal texts and calls between Senator Bob Menendez and his then-girlfriend (now wife) Nadine about dinners with Egyptian officials and late mortgage payments highlight the pair's bad financial situation. They were brought up in court to highlight the 'desperate' financial situation embattled Menendez and his now-wife Nadine experienced. The prosecution is seemingly trying to link Nadine and her husband's need for cash to the gifts and gold bars allegedly bestowed upon them by the businessmen co-defendants in the case. The Mendendez's mortgage payments - revealed in communications read to jurors by an FBI special agent - are allegedly part of the bribery scheme. Nadine's Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home was in danger of being foreclosed after she missed almost $20,000 in mortgage payments in 2019, before she and the senator wed. But prosecuting attorneys say her cash conundrum was solved by Egyptian American businessman Wael 'Will' Hana, who forked over the dough to save the home. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., arrives at a federal court in New York on Thursday morning It's the same abode the New Jersey Democrat later moved into after he married Nadine in 2020 and that was raided by the FBI as part of their investigation. They say Hana's favor was repaid by Menendez in the form of help securing a lucrative contract for Hana's halal meat business with the Egyptian government. According to the Justice Department indictment, the Menendez's each face a maximum of 45 years in prison if they are convicted on all charges. After helping Nadine, Hana and the senator's wife had a falling out. 'Can you believe Will said he does not need me to make appointments with you to go see you at your office and dinner with you,' Nadine texted Menendez. 'The man has gone crazy after everything I have done for him!!!!!' She also told attorney Howard Dorian, who had represented Hana, that she was 'quite disappointed' with the halal mogul. Nadine and Bob Menendez together at a dinner honoring French President Emmanuel Macron During an FBI raid of the couple's home, authorities found 13 gold bars During the raid, authorities found $480,000 in cash spread around the home 'Wael asked me for a very important dinner and meetings in Washington for next week Monday which I agreed to among other things and he still has not delivered on any of his promises,' Nadine texted Dorian. In turn, Dorian texted an associate 'It's really important that we make sure Nadine stays happy because she's not. She's going to cancel the meetings that Wael has set up with Senator Menendez for Monday.' 'It is extremely important that we keep Nadine happy,' Dorian texted one of the businessmen involved in the scheme. And Nadine's role in the alleged bribery scheme far surpassed just connecting Hana and her husband, say prosecutors. She also allegedly lobbied her lawmaker husband, at Hana's request, to expressly forward the goals of Egypt. At the time, Menendez held the powerful role of chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Some cash was found stored in a boot The alleged bribe payments were strewn about the couple's home Tons of cash was also found stowed away in bags Wael Hana arrives at federal court for his bribery trial in connection with Sen. Menendez New Jersey Developer Fred Daibes is also implicated in the bribery scheme 'In your speech, could you please say Egypt now in the right direction with the new government now. 'With the International Monetary Fund and all the new developments, new capital and the new Suez Canal. Egypt is important to the United States,' she texted her hubby. Prosecutors further revealed how deeply she was connected to Egyptian officials. 'I am in meeting with head of intelligence for Egypt. Soo sorry,' she messaged someone trying to reach her. Menendez and his wife Nadine are both charged in a bribery scheme featuring gold bars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and a luxury Mercedes-Benz. Hana and another businessman, Fred Daibes, who are co-defendants in the case, are accused of providing such luxuries. All have pleaded not guilty and Nadine will face a separate trial later this summer as she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Jose Uribe, a third businessman tied up in the case, has plead guilty and is expected to testify in the case. The Democratic senator's team has tried to distance himself from Nadine in the ongoing bribery trial. Menendez's defense attorneys have claimed the 13 gold bars and the $480,000 in cash stored in clothing, footwear and a safe discovered by the FBI during a raid on the couple's home were there because of the senator's trauma from the squandering of his family's fortune before he was born in 1954. They argue his fear of going without stems from his parent's belongings getting seized in Castro's Cuba more than half a century ago. Sen. Bob Menendez spotted arriving home holding a box of hemorrhoid cream at his in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home The brand, RectiCare, is an over the counter medication The trial has resumed Thursday, with Menendez arriving at court around 9 a.m. Last week, Menendez was spotted arriving at the couple's New Jersey home with a container of hemorrhoid cream. It is unclear if the ailment developed because of the long hours the Democrat has been forced to remain seated throughout the trial. The Supreme Leader of Iran has thanked US college students for joining his country's 'resistance' movement against Israel and the United States with their recent spate of campus protests. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted a message on X directed at Americans on college campuses. 'Dear university students in the United States of America, you are standing on the right side of history,' it read. 'You have now formed a branch of the Resistance Front and have begun an honorable struggle in the face of your government's ruthless pressure - which openly supports Zionists.' Furthermore, in an open letter published Thursday, Khamenei again addressed US students, this time to say: 'This is an expression of our empathy and solidarity with you. As the page of history is turning, you are standing on the right side of it.' The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured), has voiced his support for US college protestors demonstrating against Israel, saying they are on the right side of history He added that the newfound 'resistance front' is confronting 'the global Zionist elite - who owns most US and European media corporations or influences them through funding and bribery,' implementing a common, ugly anti-Semitic trope. The backing of the student protestors, many of whom disrupted campus life for weeks-on-end prompted some schools to go so far as to cancel their commencement ceremonies for graduating classes, is a 'significant and consequential development,' wrote Khamenei. 'I too am among those who empathize with you young people, and value your perseverance,' he wrote, before making the recommendation that the US students he's identified 'become familiar with the Quran.' The Ayatollah's shocking endorsement stunned many and has caused some to wonder how familiar student protestors are with the Supreme Leader's abhorrent human rights track record. Just this month, Iran executed three men who participated in anti-government protests, adding to the four who have already been hanged since late last year as part of the regime's barbaric response to demonstrations against the Islamic Republic. The Ayatollah's shocking endorsement stunned many and has caused some to wonder how familiar student protestors are with the Supreme Leader's abhorrent human rights track record In response to the messages of support for anti-Israel demonstrators, House Speaker Mike Johnson simply wrote: 'When you've won the Ayatollah, you've lost America.' Representative Mike Waltz, a US Army Green Beret, pointed out that the regime killed 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini for failing to wear a hijab. 'When the Ayatollah tells you that you're on the right side of history, know that you're standing with her murderers,' he wrote. Representative Brian Mast of Texas, who lost both of his legs fighting for his country, wrote: 'If the Ayatollah of Iran is praising you, you are definitely on the wrong side of history.' 'If you woke up this morning and found yourself being praised by the Ayatollah, maybe you arent the good guy in the fight,' wrote an account called Millennial Politics, which claims to be run by 'pragmatic progressives.' A powerlifter turned pro-boxer has been accused of hacking into her ex-boyfriend's laptop and sharing nude images of his girlfriend. Stefanie Cohen Magarici, known as Stefi Cohen, was arrested in Miami on Tuesday and charged with sexual cyber-harassment, offenses against computer users, criminal mischief and resisting arrest without violence. The 32-year-old Venezuela native, who boasts over a million Instagram followers, allegedly accessed her ex-boyfriend's computer by trying commonly-used passwords. Cohen then accessed his iCloud where found several nude images of her ex's new girlfriend and posted them to a group chat the alleged victim was part of, according to court documents seen by NBC Miami. He had reportedly left the computer behind when he left the home they shared in March 2022. Powerlifter turned pro-boxer Stefanie Cohen Magarici, known as Stefi Cohen, has been accused of hacking into her ex-boyfriend's laptop and sharing nude images of his girlfriend The alleged victim contacted police in November 2023, saying Cohen told her she was sending the images 'with the purpose of exposing and humiliating her.' Cohen was arrested at her Coconut Grove home as she walked outside, with police saying she tried to resist arrest. According to the police report, Cohen 'did not comply and began to walk at fast pace back to her residence.' When police informed her she could not go back in the home, Cohen allegedly 'stated she was not going with them and began to physically resist.' Cohen was arrested at her Coconut Grove home as she walked outside, with police saying she tried to resist arrest The fitness influencer was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center but was released on Wednesday after posting a $3,300 bond After being placed in handcuffs, Cohen reportedly 'tensed up her arms' and 'right leg hooked' one of the officers, allegedly trying to 'sweep him off his feet.' Cohen continued trying to resist arrest after she was placed in the back of a squad car, per court documents. Police say once in the patrol car, she 'placed her right leg on the latch to unlock the door and grabbed it with her toes.' Cohen then 'pulled the latch with her toes and intentionally broke the locking system causing the door not to lock at all.' The fitness influencer was taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center but was released after posting a $3,300 bond. According to Men's Health, Cohen holds the all-time world records for the squat, total, and deadlift for the 123-pound weight class Cohen was previously in a high-profile relationship with another influencer, Hayden Bowe. However, it's unclear if he is the same ex-boyfriend connected to the alleged victim She was told to stay away from both her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. Cohen, who has described herself as a 25-time world record powerlifter, has posted images with her new boyfriend Tristan Hamm over the last months. Hamm, a boxer, has two million Instagram followers. Cohen was previously in a high-profile relationship with another influencer, Hayden Bowe. However, it's unclear if he is the same ex-boyfriend connected to the alleged victim. According to Men's Health, Cohen holds the all-time world records for the squat, total, and deadlift for the 123-pound weight class. She's scheduled to appear in court again on June 27. In a second call he asked to speak to 'Chris, the black man,' laughed and hung up In July 2004, Vasquez called his former employer and asked for 'Chris the n***er' New Mexico Rep. Gabe Vasquez's wild youth has come to light after newly unearthed police reports show he used a racial slur to harass former colleagues after he was let go from a company. In July 2004, Vasquez, who was a college student at the time, placed a call to a human resources employee at a call center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Vasquez, asked the center to speak with 'Chris,' and when the employee asked which Chris he was referring to, Vasquez replied 'Chris, the n***er.' The employee hung up, but Vasquez called again. The second time, he asked to speak to 'Chris, the black man,' laughed and hung up. The employee traced the number back to Vasquez, who had been 'terminated for cause for falsifying data.' New Mexico Rep. Gabe Vasquez's wild youth is coming to light after newly unearthed police reports show he used a racial slur to harass former colleagues after he was let go from a company The employee called back and left a message for Vasquez notifying him that she intended to report him to the police. Vasquez's name is redacted from the reports obtained by DailyMail.com, but a custodian confirmed to the Free Beacon, which first reported the news, that Vasquez was the caller. Vasquez told DailyMail.com in a statement: 'I have not and would never use language like this, this attack is categorically false. This is another example of how desperate Republicans are lying about my character rather than focusing on delivering for New Mexico.' 'It is not a coincidence that these lies are coming immediately after the video of Yvette Herrell wanting to ban all abortion in New Mexico, even in the case of rape and incest, came to light.' That wasn't Vasquez's only run-in with the police during his time at New Mexico State University, which he attended from 2002-2008. He was given a criminal citation by police twice in 2005 for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. In one instance, officers arrived at Vasquez's residence due to a loud music complaint and found him witnessed him cutting up marijuana and rolling it into a blunt. In another, officers on bike patrol found Vasquez and his underage friends intoxicated and reeking of marijuana in a car. Vasquez handed marijuana over to the officers. All of the police records say the cases were 'suspended' and there is no indication further action was taken against Vasquez. Vasquez with his family members outside his grandparents' house in 2022 Vasquez, pictured with his mother, posted bond two months ago for failing to occur in court in 2002 Just two months ago police executed an arrest warrant against Vasquez for failing to appear in court when he was 18 after he'd been charged in El Paso, Texas with driving without a license and driving without insurance. Police issued a warrant for his arrest in April 2008 after he failed to appear in court in 2002. Texas police executed that warrant on March 19 and Vasquez posted a $900 cash bond and pleaded no contest, according to the Free Beacon. Twice police were involved in domestic incidents when Vasquez and his ex-girlfriend were fighting. In 2004 Vasquez called the police because he said the ex, who he had broken up with a day earlier, refused to leave his apartment as they were arguing and he 'didn't want to do anything stupid and end up going to jail.' The girlfriend is unnamed in the report. In a 2007 'possible domestic' incident, an officer arrived at a residence where Vasquez and ahandful of other people were and Vasquez said he and his girlfriend had gotten into a verbal argument because he asked her 'not to drink so much because she just turned 21 and she gets kind of wild when she drinks.' Vasquez said the girlfriend 'had a few too many' and 'began getting a little wild and dancing around in front of his friends' and he asked her to stop. They then got into an argument and the girlfriend had a friend pick her up. It's not clear if that was the same girlfriend in the 2004 incident. Vasquez was born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. He was elected to Congress in 2022 when he beat out incumbent Republican Yvette Herrell. Hollywood actor-turned-Putin mouthpiece Steven Seagal has made the bizarre claim that Ukraine was known for 'organ trafficking, child sex trafficking and Nazism', as the Russian leader himself gave the sycophant the nation's Order of Friendship. In a ceremony at the Yekaterininsky Hall of the Kremlin in Moscow today, Seagal, 72, was presented the honour for his 'big contribution to development of international cultural and humanitarian cooperation' in his role as an envoy to the US. He claimed in his speech after Putin personally pinned the medal on his chest: 'Before the special operation, Ukraine was known for human trafficking, organ trafficking, narcotrafficking, child sex trafficking, biochemical warfare labs, fascism, and Nazism. 'We still try to make them our brothers. These poisons can affect the entire world, not just us. 'Many people say we are facing an existential threat by all these conditions, but actually the whole world is at risk of becoming dangerously close to entering World War Three. Hollywood actor-turned-Putin mouthpiece Steven Seagal (pictured) has made the bizarre claim that Ukraine was known for 'organ trafficking, child sex trafficking and Nazism' In a ceremony at the Yekaterininsky Hall of the Kremlin in Moscow today, Seagal, 72, was presented the honour for his 'big contribution to development of international cultural and humanitarian cooperation' The Order of Friendship is officially given to Russian citizens for strengthening ties between countries It is understood to be the first official award Seagal has received since 2003, when he was named the Worst Actor at the Razzies, a parody award show that 'honours' bad films 'We are fighting the same monster trying to devour, conquer and control the world through lies, disinformation and manipulation.' The Order of Friendship is officially given to Russian citizens for strengthening ties between countries. It is understood to be the first official award Seagal has received since 2003, when he was named the Worst Actor at the Razzies, a parody award show that 'honours' bad films, for his role in Half Past Dead. Seagal has been a citizen of Russia since 2016, when Vladimir Putin presented him with a Russian passport for vocally supporting Russia's annexation of Crimea. He was banned from entering Ukraine for five years the following year for this. American actor Steven Seagal is seen standing inside the bombed-out compound where at least 50 Ukrainian prisoners were killed on July 29 Seagal speaks to Ukrainian prisoners through metal bars. Seagal vocally supported Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 In 2022, Seagal was pictured visiting a prison camp in Olenivka, Ukraine, a Russian-controlled jail that housed hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners The pair first bonded over their shared love of martial arts. The 72-year-old hailed his friend as the 'greatest world leader' and claimed that the future in Russia would 'be the best' under the dictator's rule. He was last seen earlier this month at Putin's fifth consecutive presidential inauguration at the gilded Grand Kremlin Palace, following an election that was dogged by allegations of systemic rigging. In 2022, Seagal was pictured visiting a prison camp in Olenivka, Ukraine, a Russian-controlled jail that housed hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners, days after an explosion killed at least 50 people there. Seagal can be seen standing inside the wrecked prison and sitting down on a bench examining some shrapnel. There is also a picture of Seagal talking to Ukrainian prisoners through metal bars. A 'brilliant' medical professor and father-of-two died following botched treatment which led to a procedure that should never have been performed, a coroner ruled today. Prof Amit Patel suffered massive internal bleeding following a procedure for a rare condition that he was a national expert on. A coroner said Prof Patel's death was caused by 'failures in his care' and his death was 'avoidable'. The 43-year-old was one of the brightest doctors of his generation and a pioneer of stem cell transplantation, an inquest heard. But in August 2021, the father of two young daughters was admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester with flu-like symptoms suspected to be linked to a throat infection. Prof Amit Patel (pictured with his daughters) suffered massive internal bleeding following a procedure for a rare condition that he was a national expert on. A coroner said Prof Patel's death was caused by 'failures in his care' and his death was 'avoidable' The 43-year-old was one of the brightest doctors of his generation and a pioneer of stem cell transplantation, an inquest heard (pictured: Prof Amit Patel and his wife, Dr Shivani Tanna) Medics made a 'working diagnosis' that Prof Patel had Still's disease a rare inflammatory condition that was the driver for a potentially deadly immune disorder called HLH (Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis). Following a consultation between hospital staff and national medical advisor panel HLH MDT, it was agreed that Prof Patel would have an endobronchial ultrasound guided biopsy (EBUS), to internally examine his lungs for disorders including inflammation. This was performed on September 2, 2021. But Prof Patel had also developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) a serious and rare blood clotting disorder and can cause uncontrollable bleeding. Medics had not informed the HLH MDT of this, which would have led to the panel advising against the treatment. Coroner Zak Golombek said the hospital's failure to provide all the relevant information meant recommendations were made using an 'incomplete clinical picture.' He said: 'The deceased underwent an EBUS procedure following a recommendation by the National HLH MDT. 'This recommendation was based on an incomplete presentation of the deceased's clinical case and therefore should never have been made. 'Had the national HLH MDT had all relevant and readily available information presented to them, the procedure would not have gone ahead and the deceased would not have died on October 28. His wife, Dr Shivani Tanna, told the inquest she had to keep him alive by checking his observations and fluids herself and added she broke down when she saw him in intensive care Shivani, wife of Amit Patel, is pictured with her family at the inquest into Prof Patel's death on Thursday. Pictured left to right: Alchil Tanna, Tia Patel, Nita Thakrar, Shivaji Tanna,Anisha Tanna, Elen Stritch and Jayshree Wakerja The coroner said: 'In my judgement, these were not systemic failures, but the failures of individuals.' Mr Golombek sitting at Manchester Coroners' Court also criticised the hospital's consent procedure, and how Mr Patel was treated as a colleague by doctors rather than a patient. He said: 'The discussion with Professor Patel on September 2 did not include sufficient reference to his now established DIC and the effects that this might have on the procedure itself. 'The consenting process was too proximate in time to the procedure starting. This did not allow Professor Patel to compute, digest and discuss the evolving clinical picture and the procedure itself. 'And, this has been a thread running through this case, Professor Patel was not treated like an ordinary patient. 'Despite his undoubted wealth of medical knowledge, he was primarily a husband and a father, and was not given the opportunity to consider the procedure itself and its effects on its clinical course. 'These two factors more than minimally contributed to the deceased death on the balance of probabilities.' Prof Patel suffered internal bleeding leading to 'significant respiratory compromise', and was later transferred to Manchester Royal Infirmary where he died on October 28, 2021. Mr Golombek summing up the hearing said: 'Professor Patel's case was not adequately presented to the national HLH MDT. This was a failure in his care. 'As a result, the National HLH MDT did not provide their recommendation for an EBUS having considered all relevant clinical information. 'Had all relevant information been available such procedure would not have been recommended. 'It therefore follows that but for this failure, the EBUS would not have taken place at the time it did on the September 2. 'Professor Patel had developed DIC by September 2, and he should have expressly been informed of this prior to the EBUS procedure. In August 2021, Prof Patel was admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester with flu-like symptoms suspected to be linked to a throat infection (file image of Wythenshawe Hospital) Prof Amit Patel was a pioneer of stem cell transplantation and an expert haematologist before his death at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester 'Professor Patel was not appropriately consented for this procedure; the consent process was too rushed and too proximate in time to the commencement of the procedure itself. 'Moreover, the operating clinician did not afford Professor Patel, the same level of care that he would to any other patient that was not a clinician themselves. 'And, finally, Professor Patel's death was caused by failures in his care, and thus his death was avoidable. 'I also find that the failures identified were failures to provide basic medical attention to a person in a dependent position.' The coroner also praised the work of Prof Patel saying: 'He was clearly a brilliant man whose legacy will go beyond his academic and professional achievements. 'I hope in time that the memories you have all shared together will shine brightly beyond this period of time that has been subject to my investigations.' A former Labour election candidate is threatening the party with legal action after she was dropped at the last minute in a 'purge' of leftwingers. Faisa Shaheen said she will challenge a decision made last night to prevent her from running against former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith in Chingford and Woodford Green. The former supporter of Jeremy Corbyn accused Labour of having 'a problem with black and brown people' and said she had been subjected to 'a systematic campaign of racism, Islamophobia and bullying'. It came as Sir Keir Starmer found his party at the centre of a row over attempts to remove of several election candidates, including veteran MP Diane Abbott. Writing on X this afternoon Ms Shaheen made a direct appeal to the party leader, saying: 'I came from a family with a violent father and spent part of my childhood on benefits. 'I'm now a visiting professor and teach at LSE. Public services really helped me, and I had to work so hard to get to this point in my life. 'Haven't you hurt me enough already?' It came after Angela Rayner waded into the row over Ms Diane Abbott by saying that the veteran leftwinger should be allowed to represent Labour at the next election. Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in northeast London, told Newsnight that the party was pulling her candidacy for allegedly liking a series of Tweets that downplayed antisemitism accusations Amid a searing dispute over a 'purge' by supporters of Sir Keir Starmer against supporters of Jeremy Corbyn , the Labour deputy leader said she could see no reason why ' Diane Abbott shouldn't stand as an MP.' Ms Rayner's intervention came after Sir Keir had denied purging leftwingers but refused to back down in his campaign to change the party from that led by Mr Corbyn. Defiant Dianne Abbot tells her supporters that she will do whatever it takes to stand as an MP for Hackney North Amid a searing dispute over a 'purge' by supporters of Sir Keir Starmer against supporters of Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour deputy leader backed the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP to run on July 4. Ms Abbott is threatening to run against against Labour as an independent if she is blocked from representing it amid a furious row that has seen several figure son the left of the party blocked from running. Ms Rayner's intervention came after Sir Keir had denied purging leftwingers but refused to back down in his campaign to change the party from that led by Mr Corbyn. In a speech today Sir Keir said that winning over former Tory voters 'vindicated' his leadership and Labour was only interested in the 'highest quality' candidates. But in a statement to the Guardian Ms Shaheen said: 'This campaign of prejudice, bullying and spiteful behaviour has finally been rewarded by Labour's NEC and my name has been added to the list of those not welcome in the candidate club. And it is no surprise that many of those excluded are people of colour. 'I have come to the inescapable conclusion that Labour, far from being a broad church encompassing different views, has an ingrained culture of bullying, a palpable problem with black and brown people, and thinks nothing of dragging a person's good name through the mud in pursuit of a factional agenda, with no thought of the impact on committed members' mental health and wellbeing.' However it comes after she herself was accused of racism over a 2019 tweet about then Home Secretary Sajid Javid. In a since-deleted reply to a message about his stance on former ISIS Bride Shamima Begum returning to the UK she said: 'Sajid Javid definitely orders lemon and herb chicken at Nandos.' Tory critics suggested this was a slur on Mr Javid by suggesting the MP, whose parents are from Pakistan, could not handle spicy food - a claim she denied. Close allies Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn have accused Sir Keir of trying to purge the Left of the party MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' Speaking to ITV News later this afternoon Ms Rayner said: I don't see any reason why Diane Abbott can't stand as a Labour MP going forward, she has been cleared as part of an investigation. 'That is the process. I am not involved in that process. And for me I just see that if she wants to stand, I don't see any reason why she can't stand.' Labour will ratify its full slate of candidates on Tuesday, so it will need to make a decision by then. And it risks having the row run on for days, overshadowing the rest of its campaign. She also lashed out at anonymous briefings against Ms Abbott, saying: 'Diane Abbott has given 37 years of service to the Labour party and also to the country. She is the first female black MP to come into parliament and she has been a trailblazer. 'To me she has been iconic in order to give people from her background that you can achieve great things as well. I am not happy that people brief out negatively about our colleagues, I don't think that is how we should conduct ourselves.' Ms Abbott last night threatened to quit and join ally Jeremy Corbyn in running against Labour amid claims she was being prevented from running in a 'disturbing' purge of his former allies. At the same time as the row over the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP broke a host of other leftwingers were also blocked from standing, including Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle. But launching the Welsh Labour election campaign in Abergavenny today Sir Keir praised a speech by a former Tory voter who had switched to support his party. He said: 'It means a huge amount to make the big decision to change the party that you vote for as a lifelong Tory voter. 'For me it vindicates all the hard work of the past four years. I was determined to change this Labour Party and put it back in the service of working people.' Asked after his speech if he was blocking left-wingers from standing, he said: 'No. I've said repeatedly over the last two years as we've selected our candidates that I want the highest-quality candidates. 'That's been the position for a very long time.' Josh Simons, the director of the Starmerite Labour Together think tank, has been made the candidate in Makerfield Georgia Gould, the leader of Sir Keir Starmer's local council in Camden, and the daughter of the late Blair adviser Philip Gould, has been made a candidate Speaking to broadcasters in Monmouthshire, Sir Keir said: 'The situation in relation to Diane Abbott is that no decision has been taken to bar her and you have to remember that she was a trailblazer as an MP, she overcame incredible challenges to achieve what she achieved in her political career. 'She carved out a path for others to come into politics and she did all that whilst also being one of the most abused MPs across all political parties. 'But I've always had the aspiration that we will have the best quality candidates as we go into this election.' In front of around 200 supporters at a rally outside Hackney Town Hall last night, Ms Abbott vowed to stay on as an MP 'by any means possible' and accused the Labour party of wanting to 'exclude' her from Parliament. Labour former frontbencher Jess Phillips and six unions affiliated with Labour - Aslef, TSSA, Unite, NUM, CWU and FBU - were among those who called for Ms Abbott to be allowed to stand. The Tories kicked the bruise today, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt telling the BBC: 'If Keir Starmer can't deal with Diane Abbott, how on earth is he doing to deal with Vladimir Putin?' Shadow Treasury minister Darren Jones this morning denied that she was being blocked from standing, but questioned on Sky News, refused to endorse her running for Labour again. He later denied on Times Radio that there was a 'purge' going on, adding: 'There are many colleagues of mine in the Parliamentary Labour Party who would define themselves as being on the left who are endorsed Labour Party candidates standing in their constituency. 'All this is, is that because a snap election has been called, there were a number of outstanding issues with some MPs, obviously retiring MPs in some constituencies where we've needed to fill candidates at pace in order to hit the election timetable. And that's the process that's unfolding this week.' Less than a quarter of young Americans approve of the job President Joe Biden is doing, as new polling shows that the TikTok generation has abandoned the Democrat in droves. On Thursday, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that just 24 percent of Americans ages 18 to 29 approved of how Biden was handling the presidency - giving him the hardest critique of any age group. The same number - 24 percent - of 18 to 29-year-olds said they viewed Biden favorably, while 62 percent viewed the president unfavorably. Among the broader group of Gen Z/Millennials - those born between 1981 and 2006 - only 37 percent said they approved of the job Biden was doing while 38 percent viewed the president favorably. That translates into shaky support in the nearing November election. President Joe Biden's numbers are sagging with young Americans as new polling found that only 24 percent of adults younger than 30 approved of how the 81-year-old Democrat is doing the job President Joe Biden had a 20-point advantage over former President Donald Trump with Gen Z and millennial voters in 2020. New polling shows that he's only six points ahead of Trump in a two-way race and is six points behind Trump with this voting bloc in a five-way race In the 2020 election, Gen Z and millennial voters favored Biden by 20 points according to exit polling. The Pew Research Center found that 58 percent of Gen Z/Millennials voted for Biden, while 38 percent selected Trump. Thursday's Marist poll found that among Gen Z/Millennial registered voters, if the election were held today, 52 percent would choose Biden and 46 percent would back Trump in a two-person race. However, Biden loses to Trump among Gen Z/Millennial registered voters when third-party candidates are factored in. The new poll found that 40 percent of Gen Z/Millennial voters would select Trump, 34 percent would pick Biden, 11 percent would vote for independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 4 percent would pick independent Cornel West and 6 percent would go with the Green Party's Jill Stein. The results were similar when Marist highlighted the preference of voters younger than 45 - with 34 percent choosing Biden, 42 percent liking Trump, 10 percent into Kennedy, 4 percent backing West and 6 percent saying Stein. Former President Donald Trump, spotted outside court Thursday, doesn't have a lock on the youth vote either. While he's viewed more favorably than Biden, the director of Marist said young people are 'double haters.' 'Where they end up is a question still,' the poll expert said The crosstabs didn't include a further breakdown by age among registered voters as the sample size was too small. Trump is viewed more favorably than Biden by young Americans - with 49 percent of the under-30 set saying so - but that doesn't mean the Republican necessarily has a lock on the demographic. Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, told NPR that the group consists of 'double haters.' 'Where they end up is a question still,' Miringoff said. 'This is the unsatisfied, unattached, disliking-of-the candidates group. So it's not that they're racing to Trump, they're just not where Biden's had this group in the past.' Labor Senator Fatima Payman has resigned from two parliamentary foreign affairs committees after Anthony Albanese criticised her for accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Ms Payman also used the phrase 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' - which Jewish groups see as a call for Israel to be eliminated. She called for Australia to end trade and impose sanctions upon Israel, and demanded Australia recognise a Palestinian state. Labor Senator Fatima Payman has resigned from two parliamentary foreign affairs committees after Anthony Albanese criticised her for accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza The Muslim senator - who was born in Afghanistan and became the first hijab-wearing MP to be elected in 2022 - has stepped down from the Senate Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade and the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. 'The government's policy is clear we support a two-state solution,' a government spokesperson said. Ms Payman, 29, has not commented. Her comments that sparked the furore came in Budget week. Ms Payman also used the phrase 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' - which Jewish groups see as a call for Israel to be eliminated She said: 'Instead of advocating for justice, I see our leaders performatively gesture defending the oppressor's right to oppress, while gaslighting the global community about the rights of self-defence. 'My conscience has been uneasy for far too long and I must call this out for what it is. 'This is a genocide and we need to stop pretending otherwise. 'The lack of clarity, the moral confusion, the indecisiveness is eating at the heart of this nation.' When asked about Ms Payman's comments, Mr Albanese said the 'From the river to the sea' chant was 'inappropriate'. 'I very strongly believe in a two-state solution. I strongly believe in the right of Israel to exist within secure borders. I strongly believe as well in the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people,' he said. Liberal MP Julian Leeser told the Sydney Morning Herald: 'Someone who uses a phrase that calls for the violent destruction of the Jewish people has no place on the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.' A prolific burglar pretended to be a Just Eat delivery driver so he could steal parcels from dozens of homes before he was caught out by CCTV. Phillip Thompson, 35, disguised himself as a delivery driver including carrying around the distinctive orange delivery bag used by couriers to stash stolen goods inside. He was seen sneaking into an apartment block and helping himself to Amazon packages left outside flats and identified using facial recognition technology. But a court heard he was caught out on CCTV and facial recognition technology helped bring him to justice. Police said Thompson carried out 80 burglaries across Cardiff and Penarth and was jailed for seven years and one month. Phillip Thompson, 35, from Adamsdown, Cardiff disguised himself as a delivery driver to sneak into properties and steal parcels from unsuspecting residents CCTV footage shows the prolific burglar loading Amazon parcels into his delivery bag CCTV footage shows him standing in a communal corridor with an orange Just Eat delivery bag at his feet. Then, clad in grey with his hood up and black gloves on he wander through a door and returns carrying Amazon parcels which he stuffs into the food bag before sauntering away. This is not the first time Thompson, from Cardiff, had disguised himself to sneak into properties. The burglar had previously carried a tin of paint and pretended to be a decorator to trick his way into student flats. Thompson was arrested in November 2023 on suspicion of 11 burglaries. While he was on remand awaiting trial, detectives continued to investigate other similar incidents. Police re-interviewed him and the career burglar admitted a further 69 burglaries in Cardiff and Penarth between July 2023 to January 2024. He later pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court and on May 9, 2024, he was sentenced to seven years and one month imprisonment for assault, coercive and controlling behaviour and 10 residential burglaries. The further 69 residential burglaries were taken into consideration. Speaking after the sentence Detective Sergeant Andrew Coakley said: 'Phillip Thompson used different tactics to gain access to properties. 'As well as sometimes forcing entry and taking advantage of an open door or window, he also turned up at student hall of residence with a paint pot claiming to be a decorator and acquired a Just Eat bag pretending to deliver food. 'Unfortunately for him, he was caught on CCTV and from those images we identified him using Retrospective Facial Recognition. 'We treat burglaries extremely seriously and will use all available technology to bring offenders to justice. 'We hope that the outcome of this investigation will bring some comfort to the victims and reassure the wider community of our commitment to investigating burglaries.' A good Samaritan wanted to do a good deed for a high school student told her she wasn't allowed to graduate because of school lunch debt - but what should have been a quick and easy process turned into a frustrating and confusing ordeal. Sarah Stusek posted a video on TikTok yesterday and talked about a Maryland high school student whose overdue school lunch account is stopping her from graduating. 'They have a rehearsal today, and they will not let her attend until the balance is paid off,' said Stusek. The TikToker then called the Maryland school to speak with its employees, but she encountered difficulties when she asked about paying off the student's debt. Stusek's TikTok video has received nearly one million views, and she added a link to the Proper Help Foundation in its description. Sarah Stusek posted a video on TikTok yesterday after a Maryland high school student told her that she was not allowed to graduate because of her unpaid lunch debt The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free lunches to children at all 24 Maryland public school systems. According to the website, more than 900,000 students in Maryland have access to these meals every day. Stusek did not reveal the name of the student's high school, but she wrote in the comment section that the student was not allowed to receive a cap and gown. The TikToker was connected to the cafeteria manager after she requested to speak to the person in charge of overdue lunch accounts. Stusek's mission to pay off the student's lunch debt hit a snag after the employee told her that she could only pay a maximum of $120 at a time. 'I paid off $120 yesterday and $120 today, but it's not going to be paid off in time for graduation,' said Stusek. Stusek discussed the matter with a payment processor, who told her that the Maryland school was not allowed to let her pay off the entire balance. 'The school is saying that it's something entirely different. It's not school lunch; it's some other financial obligations that the student can also not pay for themselves,' she said. Stusek contacted the school about the matter with hopes in paying off the student's debt. However, she hit more than one snag due to its online spending requirements The National School Lunch Program ( NSLP ) provides low-cost or free lunches to children at all 24 Maryland public school systems Stusek did not give up on her quest to help the high school student, and she later confirmed in a comment that she had paid off the debt. It left the TikToker feeling like 'nobody's advocating for these students' and that the situation was 'super embarrassing' for the school. However, according to the West's Annotated Code of Maryland Education, the school may have had the right to deny the student entry to the rehearsal. The document defines unpaid meal debt as money owed to a school by a student for school meals or insufficient funds in their account. All Maryland public schools are required to notify the student's parents or legal guardians when there is a low balance. Maryland students who have unpaid meal debt may be forced to wear a wristband, complete chores or tasks, deny or dispose of a meal, and restrict their participation in school-related extracurricular activities. Other TikTokers have written about their own experiences with school lunch program and a woman who claimed to be an educator in Maryland chimed in on the matter. Stusek revealed in her video's comment section that she did manage to pay off the student's lunch debt, but does not know if they're allowed to graduate More than one TikToker who commented on Stusek's video asked what they can do to help. Stusek added a link to the Proper Help Foundation, which aims to end school lunch debt 'Maryland schools do not provide free lunch unless the student is a FARM, title 1 or low income,' she wrote. She also advised other commenters who claimed to be from Maryland to 'reach out to the community liaison' or a school principal for assistance on filling out school lunch account paperwork. One commenter claimed that their school threatened them to pay for their $400 student lunch account bill. My school tried to not let me walk or go to prom when I was told I got a scholarship by them for a choire event,' she wrote. The Mail's groundbreaking new podcast, The Trial of Lord Lucan, has stormed to the top of the charts within hours of being launched. Less than a day after the first episode of a new series about Britain's most notorious murder went live, it was top of Apple's True Crime category and No 2 overall in the UK. It comes after the Mail scooped the world by unearthing a bombshell 60-page report from 1975 outlining Scotland Yard's evidence against Lord Lucan, who police say murdered his children's nanny Sandra Rivett and then tried to kill his estranged wife Veronica in 1974. With revelatory detail gleaned from the 15,000-word document, The Trial of Lord Lucan examines the case against him in forensic detail with an unmissable twist on a courtroom drama. The Trial of Lord Lucan: Follow The Mail's brand new podcast wherever you get your podcasts In episodes released daily from Monday June 3 to Friday June 7, two eminent barristers will argue whether the missing peer was innocent or guilty using not only the bombshell document, but also previously unheard evidence and witness testimony, before listeners are invited to give their verdicts on MailOnline. A preview episode of the pioneering series, examining the background to the case and the importance of the police document, was launched late yesterday afternoon and became an overnight sensation. Mail head of podcasts Jamie East said: 'The launch and subsequent success of this podcast has been fantastic. We hit No 1 on the podcast charts in less than 18 hours, which for a podcast containing no influencers and no celebrity confessionals, just a 50-year-old unsolved murder and some brilliant journalism, goes to show that great storytelling and reporting is still a fundamental part of what readers and listeners want - and nobody does that better than the Mail.' The Lord Lucan mystery is one of the world's most infamous cases. It will be 50 years this November since the then 39-year-old British aristocrat vanished without trace within hours of the murder of Mrs Rivett, 29, and the near-fatal assault on his wife Veronica, who told police her Eton-educated husband was responsible for both attacks. Police have long believed that Lucan killed mother-of-two Mrs Rivett in the basement kitchen of his family's five-storey Belgravia home in central London, after mistaking her for his estranged wife. His three young children were upstairs at the time. Nanny Sandra Rivett was bludgeoned to death. Our podcast examines the mystery to try to work out what really happened The 7th Earl of Lucan with soon-to-be wife Veronica in 1963 The new document obtained by the Mail, compiled by the lead investigating officer Detective Chief Superintendent Roy Ranson, spells out in gripping and revelatory detail the painstaking case police put together and why they thought only Lucan was responsible for the murder and the attack on Lady Lucan on November 7, 1974. The report was penned by a senior detective and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a trial which because Lord Lucan vanished after the murder never took place. In the first episode of The Trial of Lord Lucan, co-presenters Caroline Cheetham and Stephen Wright visit the original crime scene in Belgravia and discuss the importance of the Scotland Yard document obtained by the Mail. They also look at the background to the high-society murder which scandalised the UK in the 1970s and which still holds fascination worldwide today. Barrister Max Hardy, who is acting as 'prosecutor', said of the report: 'One felt history in one's hand when reading through it.' Edward Henry KC, who is 'defending' Lucan, said he was 'honoured' to take part in the podcast series and commenting on the Scotland Yard report added: 'It is a magnificent piece of police analysis and prose.' A former cop turned mayor who has been charged in the killings of three people once beat a suspect so badly he lost his eye and was responsible for the death of another, according to two lawsuits. Jay Ostrem, 64, was jailed on $1 million cash-only bond on three counts of first degree murder following a shooting on Memorial Day. Ostrem had previously worked in law enforcement for more than two decades in Wyoming and South Dakota. While working for the police department in Gillette, Wyoming, Ostrem had two lawsuits filed against him concerning his use of force. In 2000 Patrick Wayne Dalby, who was the suspect in the robbery of a clothing store, filed a suit claiming unnecessary force. Dalby claimed that Ostrem hit him with the butt of a semi-automatic rifle which caused him to lose his left eye while arresting him in April 1999. Jay Ostrem, 64, was jailed on $1 million cash-only bond on three counts of first degree murder following a shooting on Memorial Day Ostrem, seen here with his wife lise Victoria, had previously worked in law enforcement for more than two decades in Wyoming and South Dakota His original complaint, seen by DailyMail.com, says that Ostrem struck him several times around the back, head, face and eye with the rifle and fired two shots. District Judge Clarence Brimmer went on to side with Ostrem, ruling that Ostrem had acted in an 'objectively reasonable manner'. Dalby was sentenced to 15 to 35 years for robbery and two to five years for disarming a peace officer in April 2000. Another suit filed in 2001 by TaWaynda Owens claimed Ostrem used 'unreasonable, unnecessary and unjustified' force in the death of her husband Michael. TaWaynda had left her home in Gillette following an incident with her husband Michael in November 2001. After appearing at her sister's home and explaining what happened, her sister called local police and explained she had been battered. While on the phone, Michael Owens, 40, appeared at the home with Ostrem being dispatched to the address. Alongside another officer, Ostrem then approached Owens with guns pointed at him and yelled 'in a loud and aggressive manner'. The suit adds that after Owens started driving erratically Ostrem opened fire on him and unleashed ten shots. Owens died at the scene after being hit ten times. While working for the police department in Gillette, Wyoming, Ostrem had two lawsuits filed against him concerning his use of force Jay Ostrem is pictured in 2009 when he worked as the Turner County Sheriff Investigator Owens claimed that Ostrem and the other officer had violated the rights of her husband to be free from 'the unreasonable, unnecessary and unjustified use of excessive force in making an arrest'. Again, a judge dismissed the claims and Ostrem did not pay damages in either cases. The Gillette News Record reported that in 1994 Ostrem shot and killed a suicidal gunman. Warren Thomas had apparently wounded himself with his own gun when Ostrem and another officer appeared at his home. When asked to drop a gun he was holding, Thomas raised a revolver at the other officer causing Ostrem to shoot him. Ostrem had been at Thomas' home earlier in the day after a request to check on him was made. He left after Thomas promised him he would go to a hospital for help. On Thursday, Ostrem appeared in court before a judge in Clay County in relation with the shooting incident on Monday. The former Centerville Mayors murder charges are all three class A felonies and come with a minimum punishment of death or life in prison. On Thursday, Ostrem appeared in court before a judge in Clay County in relation with the shooting on Monday Paul Frankus, 26, left, and his 21-year-old brother Zach, right, were both shot dead on Monday Officers visited the home where the call originated, above, and found all three victims A probable cause affidavit identified the victims as two brothers Paul Frankus, 26, and his 21-year-old brother Zach and Timothy Richmond, 35. Zach Frankus, called police on Monday night to report that his brother had been shot by 'a guy from across the street' and that the shooter had gone back home. Frankus was still on the phone with a dispatcher when he said that he had been shot, too. He was described as 'frantic'. Frankus then stopped talking, charging documents state. Authorities raced to the scene, where a Game Fish and Parks officer saw Ostrem leaving the home identified as the scene of the shooting. Ostrem initially ignored commands to stop before laying down on the ground. He was arrested a short time later. An AR-style rifle was on the ground near him, and he had a handgun in his pocket. Police noted how Ostrem was bleeding from his left hand and smelling of alcohol. Authorities raced to the scene, where a Game Fish and Parks officer saw Ostrem leaving the home identified as the scene of the shooting Officers then went to the home where the call originated and found all three victims. Ostrem's wife, who is British, told police that a neighbor, Paul Frankus had sexually assaulted her on Thursday, and she told Ostrem about the assault Monday night. The pair had been drinking together when he forcibly kissed her, exposed his genitals and pressed himself against her, reports the Argus Leader. She said Ostrem 'got up and went raging out of the house,' according to the document. She explained to officers how her husband did not tell her where he was going and that he didn't leave armed, although weapons were kept in the home and he likely had some in his car. Ostrem is set to make his next appearance in court on June 20. A dog owner who allowed his American Bully to savage a woman in a horrific park attack has admitted having three out of control pets. Lakaydia Reynolds, 24, was pinned to the ground by a pack of animals owned by 28-year-old Darren Massay. Rocco, a Pitbull Terrier, Tank, an American Bully cross-breed, and Luna, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross-breed, bit the face of the terrified victim and dragged her by the head in Abbots Park, Brixton, southwest London, on June 6, 2023. Ms Reynolds was hospitalised for a week and needed plastic surgery after suffering and nerve damage to her lip. She believes the incident has ruined her life, having lost the use of her right arm since the attack, which means she can no longer play rugby or violin. Massay admitted three counts of being the owner of a dangerous dog at Croydon magistrates' court. Mr Massey's three dogs mauled a woman, 24, in a park and left her with horrific injuries that needed plastic surgery Lakaydia Reynolds, pictured speaking on Good Morning Britain in October 2023, was pinned to the ground by a pack of animals owned by Massay. Footage of the attack was later posted online, with video showing one dog jumping up and tearing into her arm Jack Williams, prosecuting, said Ms Reynolds was on her way to meet a friend, when she was set upon: 'She entered the park and saw Mr Massay with three large dogs on leads. 'He let go of two and they started to circle Ms Reynolds. They jumped up at her. 'Mr Massay attempted to call the dogs off but was not successful. Ms Reynolds was bitten a considerable number of times. 'She was also distressed that the video of the attack went viral. Vile comments were left under that video.' Mr Williams said there is no suggestion that Massay was responsible for the online comments. 'She feels that the incident ruined her life. She is fearful that the injuries have changed her life forever including her appearance. It has affected her social life.' At one point the dog held on to Ms Reynolds' arm for more than 30 seconds as she desperately tried to pull away. She has since been told she has nerve damage in the limb Pictured: Darren Massey speaks on the phone outside of Croydon Magistrates Court In October last year, Ms Reynolds told reporters: 'It turned out to be the worst day of my entire life. I was screaming, asking for help, asking him for help. 'It was just me against these three dogs. The owner himself actually started asking for help, which made me even more scared - because I thought, if he can't control his dogs, then who can? 'I had to loosen my hoodie and take my hoodie off, and tear my arm out of the dog's mouth. 'If I didn't get away within the split second that I did, I knew those dogs were going to kill me. 'I've been impacted mentally, socially, emotionally and physically,' she added. 'One of the most difficult things for me is the fact that I can't do anything myself, so I have to rely on people to help me.' Massay, of Tulse Hill, was given unconditional bail and will be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on a date to be fixed. Wild scenes took hold of the streets outside Manhattan Criminal Court as the world awaits a jury's verdict in the former president's hush money trial. A heavily pro-Trump crowd descended on the courthouse to witness the moment, with a smaller group of anti-MAGA protestors squared off with them early Thursday. In one crazed moment during the scuffle, a woman exposed her breasts and flashed them in the face of a protestor while they were being hauled away by police. A nervous energy filled the space ahead of a potential conviction, as one Trump supporter, Lily Qi, 60, told DailyMail.com: We are praying to God he is not guilty. This case is totally wrong.' It comes as news broke of the jury landing on a verdict late Thursday afternoon, ahead of the groundbreaking moment that could see the presidential front runner become a convicted felon. As wild scenes took hold of the streets outside Manhattan Criminal Courthouse on Thursday, one Trump supporter flashed her breasts in the face of an anti-MAGA protestor An anxious atmosphere filled the streets after it was announced the jury reached a verdict When the clashes broke out in front of the courthouse, the two sides of protestors wrestled over signs and hurled insults at each other, culminating in the bizarre flashing episode when NYPD officers got involved. A second fight broke out shortly after where a male anti-Trump protestor accused another of assaulting him, before he too was taken out of the park by police. One protestor holding signs reading 'Trump is the definition of depravity' and 'dump Trump' was encircled by supporters of the former president, before her placards were ripped from her hands. Many in the pro-Trump crowd were seen in zany getups and eccentric costumes showing their love for the former president, with one in a clown suit going by the name 'Pitchfork Pete' saying he related to Trump's challenges. No one ever stood up for me,' he told DailyMail.com. 'This man has stuck his neck out for us over and over again over the last eight years.' Echoing much of Trump's rhetoric over his criminal case, he continued: I have never experienced anything like this in my life where an innocent man has been put on trial. A woman ripped signs from a protestor's hands as nervous supporters on both sides showed their frustration ahead of the historic verdict A heavy pro-Trump crowd took to the streets, with one telling DailyMail.com they believe the whole case it to 'keep Trump off the campaign trail' An NYPD officer seen separating Trump supporters from protestors outside the courthouse as the two groups clashed early Thursday One woman was hauled away by police after she waved signs including 'do not let Trump make a fool of you' Ill probably be in jail right next to Donald Trump if they put him in jail,' he admitted. 'Hes an inspiration to my family, his father built my neighborhood.' He added that his clown costume was in honor of New York Governor Kathy Hochul, because she 'calls us clowns so I am here to tell her all clowns MAGA.' His friend, who only gave his name as Hungry Santa, said: Its important for me to be here today because the constitution matters. Judges cant just do what they want, the constitution supersedes what the majority wants.' The supporter said that he believes the whole case it to 'keep Trump off the campaign trail... Biden has divided the country more than ever.' Earlier in the day, a British woman and her partner were accosted by furious Trump fans as anticipation built for the day, forcing police to step in as the couple scurried away. The former president's attorney Alina Habba speaks to the media early Thursday as the jury deliberates Supporters of former President Donald Trump demonstrate outside the courthouse, where wild scenes resembled a Trump rally An anxious atmosphere filled the area around the courthouse, with the former president waiting patiently inside to hear his fate, pictured during jury deliberations on Thursday While the space outside the courthouse was majority Trump supporters, Diane Barney, one of only a handful of anti-MAGA protestors, told DailyMail.com she felt it was important for her to be there. 'I am very interested in this case and finally seeing some justice and seeing held to it,' she said. 'He has gotten away everything his entire life has never had to account for anything. People may say this is the weakest case, but it is the only one we are going to get before this election... I am optimistic he will be found guilty. Nadine Seiler, who traveled all the way from Maryland to be there, added: The America we live in is an upside-down world. Unfortunately, I can only see Trump getting more support.' 'I am hoping the jury takes their task seriously, assess the evidence and I hope it is a guilty verdict... Even if he is convicted, I dont see him going to jail.' Street performer Naked Cowboy also briefly turned up to show his support for Trump outside the courthouse. He said: This is more exciting, this is America, it should be entertaining. The whole worlds watching one man Donald Trump. I love Donald Trump. I hope he wins and brings this country back to being prosperous. He then performed a song with the lyrics: So indict him, convict him, throw him in jail it doesnt matter what you do Trump will still prevail. Many in the pro-Trump crowd were seen in zany getups and eccentric costumes showing their love for the former president Street performer Naked Cowboy also briefly turned up to show his support for Trump outside the courthouse, telling DailyMail.com: I love Donald Trump. I hope he wins and brings this country back to being prosperous' Not all protestors outside the courthouse came in eye-catching getups, with Qi saying she has been camped outside the trial every day to show her support. We are praying to god he is not guilty. This case is totally wrong,' she said. They want all the newspapers to come here and say Trump is doing something but they broke this country. This is America not another country can you believe this... I have been coming here everyday and will do until Trump wins and America wins.' Another Trump fan who says she has been at the trial every day, Stephanie Lu, 58, said she is staying because 'we know the truth and that is Trump is fighting for us.' He is a billionaire and doesnt need this. He can go anywhere,' she said. Hes the one that saw through this country and its lies. Trump cares about this country. We appreciate him. We came everyday. We didnt know each other but the love of this country brought us together. Were you or someone you know involved in the brawl, or did you witness it yourself? Share your story with: miriam.kuepper Were you or someone you know involved in the brawl, or did you witness it yourself? Share your story with: miriam.kuepper @mailonline.co.uk They appeared in court today and were due to be released on bail Eight British tourists involved in a violent brawl on a beach in Majorca appeared in court on Thursday after three people were said to have been left with injuries from the 'stag do' clashes. In exclusive footage obtained by MailOnline, four British men were seen being bundled out of a civil guard van and brought into the courthouse in Palma. The accused, wearing shorts and T-shirts, arrived handcuffed in two police vans and were taken into the court building in the island capital by armed cops. The four men in the second Civil Guard van, arriving around 5.30pm local time (4.30pm BST), used their free hands to cover up their faces with their T-shirts. They said nothing as they went in. The court hearing took place behind closed doors, as is normal in Spain and the accused were expected to be released on bail. The fight at the Balneario Illetas beach club restaurant in Calvia on Wednesday was described as a 'stag do' incident by local authorities, and the groom is thought to be among the men hauled to court this afternoon. Shocking video showed people flung to the ground as members of staff tried to intervene and break up the carnage, which reportedly erupted after locals asked the group to stop littering in the sea. A waiter and two police officers were injured in the clashes which saw dozens of waiters and holidaymakers battling on the streets outside the venue. In exclusive footage obtained by MailOnline, four British men were seen being bundled out of a civil guard van and brought into the courthouse in Palma after they were involved in a violent beach brawl in Majorca on Wednesday Restaurant staff are seen grappling with tourists - some of whom were British - who started a fight at a Majorcan beach-side restaurant on Wednesday Eight British men were arrested in Majorca following the brawl outside the restaurant. They were pictured getting handcuffed on some steps at the beach club restaurant before being taken away by police. The fight resulted in a waiter and two police officers being injured The video shows security guards and restaurant staff grappling with the allegedly drunken holidaymakers on the sand, as reggaeton music played in the background. The waiters, wearing white polo shirts, are seen in the video attempting to pull the brawlers apart - many of whom are in bikinis and swim shorts. One woman in a bikini ended up being knocked to the ground in the scuffle. Women could be heard screaming 'Stop' in the footage and one onlooker was overheard saying: 'I just can't believe it.' Other bystanders could be seen watching on from the restaurant, filming the fight with their phones. In a second clip, showing another angle of the fight, one man is seen punching another in the face, knocking him the ground and prompting gasps from onlookers. One woman behind a camera can be heard calling the men 'f***ing guiris' - a term used in Spain to refer to rowdy tourists, particularly those from Britain and Germany. As one of the women involved in the fight is seen falling over, appearing to trip over her own feet, another women is head saying: 'look at that one, she can't even walk' while a man is heard calling them 'drunkards'. 'How embarrassing,' they add. It was not immediately clear from the clip who was fighting who. Some partygoers could be seen throwing punches and kicks at each other, as well as the staff. Cops led the group into the Palma court, where they will attend a hearing behind closed doors The group were filmed in a massive brawl on a beach in Majorca on Wednesday The accused arrived handcuffed in shorts and T-shirts in two police vans this afternoon One woman was filmed being knocked to the ground as she tried to stop the brawl A woman, who was knocked over during the brawl, is helped up by a member of staff The Brits fighting, apparently after being told by locals to stop throwing litter in the sea As many as eight were arrested after the mass brawl, with three people left injured One group - understood to be the Brits involved in the fight - were later pictured in handcuffs on steps by the beach club, before being taken away by police. A young waiter in his 30s was said to have been knocked unconscious in the fight, according to one shop worker in the hotel complex. She told MailOnline: 'It's not normal here that that kind of fight happens, it's more like that in Magaluf. 'I have been here two seasons and this is the first time I hear of something like this. 'The waiter is already good now, he was [unconscious] but it was few hours, he is fine now. He is not working today. 'It's a shame because he's a nice guy, quiet even. He is about 30 [years old].' A council spokesman urged 'tourists like these' to go somewhere else. A Spanish Civil Guard spokesman told MailOnline: "Eight British men will appear in court in Palma on Thursday in connection with a disturbance in Magaluf. He declined to name the men who were arrested but said three were aged 30, one aged 29, two aged 28, one aged 26 and another aged 24. People were pushed and shoved at a Majorca beach on Wednesday after a fight broke out between British tourists and restaurant staff. The tourists, who were said to be on a stag do, were seen throwing cans of beer into the sea. The brawl erupted after being told to stop by the waiter A stunned onlooker was heard saying 'I just can't believe it' as the fight went on In a second video from another angle, one man was seen being punched in the face. He is seen here in this video grab falling backwards to the ground after being hit More footage showed that the brawl carried on into the ocean Commenting on yesterday evening's events, Calvia Council said: 'A mass fight at the Balneario Illetas restaurant on Wednesday has led to the arrest of eight English men aged around 30.' 'A waiter was injured after being hit in the head and two police officers were also hurt and are awaiting a medical evaluation.' The British tourists were said to have been on a stag do holiday and were staying at a hotel in the Son Armadams area having travelled from the island capital of Palma. The men reportedly began to throw rubbish and cans of lager into the sea, which annoyed other customers and sunbathers on the beach. According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, the fight broke out after a waiter asked them to stop, leading to the clash with staff and other beachgoers. 'The response of the group, who appeared to have drunk excessively, was extremely violent. They attacked staff and confronted the police.' According to local news outlet Diario de Mallorca, six units of local police arrived at the scene. But instead of calming down, the outlet said 'the tourists did not change their attitude and violently confronted the agents'. Officials from the local Consistory said they had rarely seen such a violent reaction from detainees, who - they said - tried to flee once they were cornered by officers. Diario reported that the eight Brits spent the night in the Calvia Local Police headquarters, and that they would be transferred to the Guardia Civil. The outlet also noted that the waiter who was injured in the fight was knocked unconscious after 'being hit in the head'. The council said that seven restaurant customers and sunbathers have already pressed charges against the violent British tourists. The brawl comes just days after 15,000 Majorcans took to the street to protest against tourists, and the disruption they bring to the local area. Protesters hold a banner reading 'Mallorca is not for sale' Calvia's deputy mayor Esperanza Catala said this morning: 'Let no-one be mistaken, we are going to be inflexible with this sort of people that we don't want in Calvia and we are not going to let them get away with anything.' 'We are not going to allow anyone to come here that puts the security of our municipality at risk and damages our image. They need to take note and go somewhere else if they don't know how to behave,' she added. The brawl in Majorca comes in the midst of ongoing anti-tourism protests on the island, as locals attempt to clamp down on disruptions caused by holidaymakers. On Saturday, around 15,000 people took to the streets of Palma to show their unhappiness towards tourism. Locals were seen holding placards with slogans reading 'tourists go home' and some even heckled foreign holidaymakers whilst they enjoyed their evening meals. Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki has circled back and decided to say less about a critical error in her book 'Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World.' Paski found herself in hot water from journalists, after she falsely claimed in her book that the story of President Joe Biden checking his watch at a dignified transfer ceremony for military service members from Afghanistan was 'misinformation.' 'Sadly, that days visit quickly became controversial because of a combination of misinformation and miscommunication,' she wrote. 'The misinformation came in the form of a single photo of the president looking at his watch during the ceremony.' The book was released on May 7th. After Axios reporter Alex Thompson reported the error, Psaki said she would update the text of the digital book to clarify the 'detail in a few lines of the book about the exact number of times he looked at his watch.' But Psaki's edit is much more drastic than she initially indicated as more than 150 words of the text describing the day's events have been removed entirely. Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki has circled back and decided to say less about a critical error in her book 'Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World' The new version of the book makes no mention of the president looking at his watch, thus avoiding any verdict on whether or not the reported, fact-checked account was true. Psaki has also dodged any mention of her embarrassing error during her book tour. During a book event conversation with Dan Pfieffer, her former boss in the Obama administration, Psaki recalled the story of Biden's meeting with the families of the 13 soldiers killed during the disastrous exit from Afghanistan. She spoke about learning that the New York Times had 'seized' on the story about the families who were upset after their meeting with Biden. Psaki said the military family members were upset that Biden spoke about losing his own son Beau Biden, but made no mention of their criticism of the president for looking at his watch. 'He had gone to Dover for the bodies of the men and women who had lost their lives who had returned home with their families,' she said. 'Afterwards, some of the families, not all, came out and said they didn't appreciate that he had talked about his own story and that didn't help him.' US President Joe Biden looks down at his watch alongside First Lady Jill Biden as they attend the dignified transfer of the remains of fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base. The difference between the old version of Psaki's book (red) and the updated version (green) The highlighted text illustrates what was edited out of the book. She spoke about the difficulty of informing the president that the families were 'offended and upset' by his actions at the dignified transfer ceremony. 'It is your responsibility in moments where you are working for somebody and other aspects of your life to, to be able to deliver tough news,' she said. 'And so that's kind of part of the lesson of that and certainly that moment has stuck with me.' The gold star military family members were upset after learning about the initial error in Psaki's book. Jen Psakis claim in her book that this was "misinformation" is not only dishonest but reinforces the contempt which Biden Administration officials have shown us in the aftermath of Abbey Gate terrorist attack that took the lives of our children, they said in an exclusive statement to DailyMail.com. Jen Psaki speaks about her new book on ABC's 'The View' during her book tour that was disrupted by a critical error that was discovered in the text. We watched in horror as President Biden looked at his wristwatch on multiple occasions during the dignified transfer of our children in Dover, they said. Psaki was also criticized by Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, who threatened to issue a subpoena if she did not answer questions about the incident from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. 'The Committee will not tolerate Ms. Psakis continued obstruction of its critical investigation and is prepared to use all the tools at its disposal to ensure Americas representatives speak with her,' he wrote in a letter to Psaki's lawyers. Psaki said that since she left the Biden team for her job at MSNBC, she had not heard any negative feedback from the White House, but was grateful that she had a job at the left-leaning MSNBC network that did not require her to do so. 'I mean I work at MSNBC, no one's ever asked me to be down the middle and neutral and pretend I have no view about abortion rights and democracy, I have a view,' she said. 'So that's a benefit.' Two people have been arrested in connection with the robbery of a jewellers which saw the watch salesman involved take his own life just a day later. A man and a woman, both in their 30s, have been arrested in connection with the incident at the 247 Kettles store in affluent Richmond, southwest London, on Saturday. The woman has been released under investigation while the man has been bailed pending further inquiries. Oliver White, 27, was found dead the day after he was the victim of the jewellery raid that saw two suspects enter the shop before stealing high value items. His death is not being treated as suspicious and officers from Surrey Police are supporting Mr White's family. Oliver pictured with his girlfriend, Alana Dredge. She described it as their 'last photo together', taken two weeks ago Watch dealer Oliver White (pictured) took his own life after robbers claiming to be clients raided his shop Two unarmed thieves (pictured) entered the 247 Kettles store in affluent Richmond in south-west London last Saturday and stole dozens of high value watches A CCTV image of one of the robbers who stole a number of high-value watches from the shop in Kew Road, Richmond The family of Oliver White, who was found dead at his family home in Shepperton after being the victim of a high value watch raid, say they believe he took his own life Oliver pictured with Ms Dredge. The watch dealer's family said he was 'traumatised and unable to speak' after he was robbed Ms Dredge has posted online tributes to Oli after he was found dead on Sunday evening after police were called to Shepperton in Surrey A video showing their watch room goes on to display these gold Rolex watches Detective Chief Inspector Scott Mather, from the Met's Flying Squad, said: 'First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Mr White's family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time. We would ask that they are given the privacy they need to grieve. 'We are working tirelessly to get them the answers they need and are making good progress with our investigation. 'We urge anyone who has information that could assist us to get in touch as soon as possible. 'The images we have provided are good quality and someone must recognise the men we need to speak to. If you don't want to contact police, please contact Crimestoppers anonymously.' Mr White's family said in a statement to Surrey Police this week: 'Our son Oliver returned home from his place of work on Saturday traumatised and unable to speak. He had been the victim of a terrifying attack and high value robbery at his place of work, which was later shared widely on social media. 'Sadly, it is our belief that Oliver subsequently took his own life due to the anguish and distress of this terrible incident. 'As a family we are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, funny, loyal boy, who lit up every room he walked into.' After paying tribute to their 'beautiful' boy, Oliver's family also asked for privacy while they grieve their loss. A close friend of Mr White, who was known as Olli, told MailOnline yesterday: 'He was very depressed after the robbery and was filled with a lot of worry especially after it was established that around 2.8million worth of watches had been stolen. 'Olli was petrified that he could lose all that he owns and that they might even take his mother's house. 'He was also traumatised by what happened and became very fearful about the impact this robbery could have on his and his family's financial future. He just didn't know what was going to happen.' Another friend claimed that Olli's fears were heightened over concerns about how much insurance cover was in place. He said: 'He wasn't sure if the insurance would have covered the theft or if there was any insurance at all. The robbery left him broken and combined with the financial uncertainty over who would be responsible he couldn't see another way out. 'Olli took it very personally and really believed that he would get all the blame and that it would ruin him.' Olli, who was reported to be in his mid 20s, lived in Shepperton with his mother Amy and stepfather Mark. The devastated couple were consoling his heartbroken girlfriend Alana Dredge at the family home this week. A family friend told MailOnline: 'They are going through an incredible amount of pain and it's going to take them a long time to get over this. 'Olli was a wonderful son and partner to Alana, and they had dreams about building a life together but tragically, this robbery has taken this all away.' Ms Dredge shared on Instagram a picture of herself and her partner on holiday - saying it was 'our last photo together', taken just a fortnight ago. She wrote: 'My darling boy I can't believe you're gone. This was our last photo together. This was only 2 weeks ago and now I'll never see you again. 'The last thing you said to me was I love you. I will cherish you forever, being with you was the best 6 years of my life. I hope you are reading this from up there, I will continue to make you proud.' Watch dealer 247 Kettles admitted Oliver White should not have been alone inside the showroom (pictured). An alarm (top left) and security camera can be seen as well The Richmond firm said none of their security procedures were followed during the robbery on Saturday. Pictured: Another look inside their watch showroom with CCTV security cameras The showroom displays expensive brands such as Supreme across its walls The 247 Kettles promo video displays the plush, expensive interior of the store The video shows a number of expensive items in the showroom, including these designer bookcases (left) and necklaces (right) The store's owners have said Oliver, who took his own life after robbers claiming to be clients raided his shop, 'should never have been alone in the office'. His family said they believe he took his own life 'due to the anguish and distress of this terrible incident' after he was left 'traumatised and unable to speak'. Horrifying video footage showed one of the robbers restraining the 27-year-old with a chokehold while his accomplice is seen sweeping up large numbers of timepieces, estimated to be worth 2.8million. 'The suspects targeted our store posing as potential clients across a three day period waiting for a vulnerability and the correct time to strike. Unfortunately on Saturday the attempt succeeded in a violent robbery which Oliver was the victim of,' a statement on 247 Kettles's Instagram said. The firm revealed that a series of safety measures were in place including panic buttons, alarms, smoke screens and security doors - but they were not deployed as the room was mercilessly emptied. The company said 'we have strict security procedures to prevent such circumstances', but 'through no fault of anyone's' they were not followed during the 'tragic event'. In the footage showing the inside showroom, alarms and security CCTV can be seen in the corners of the room. In a tribute to Mr White, a spokesperson for 247 Kettles said: 'It is with profound sadness we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved Oliver, who was a close friend for 20+ years before working with us at 247 Kettles. 'In his time working with us Oliver left a long lasting impact on the watch community as a whole - both suppliers and customers alike were taken back by Oliver's vibrant spirit and kind heart and his loss is felt deeply by all that knew him. 'Oliver had an incredible work ethic and a passion for pleasing customers. He liked to work around the clock and even out of hours to ensure customers were satisfied. 'As a business we will remain closed temporarily to grieve the loss of our friend. Any messages / requests will be picked up upon our return. Our thoughts are with all of Oliver's family at this time.' In promo footage taken from 247 Kettles' social media site, the interior of the luxury showroom can be seen which features a flat screen TV, scent diffusers as well as an alarm and security CCTV. Viewers can also see its plush interior, with a number of high-profile designer brands displayed on the walls and on book covers, such as Supreme and Chanel. The promo footage goes on to show a range of expensive watches, including gold Rolexes, a Rolex clock and expensive-looking necklaces. For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support His top aide, David Morens, said he had a 'secret back channel' to his boss Fauci must turn over his personal emails and cell records to Republicans Republicans told Dr. Anthony Fauci to cough up personal emails and phone records Wednesday after his former top aide revealed he had a 'secret back channel' to the pandemic patriarch. Dr. David Morens, Fauci's former aide, testified last week that he used his personal email for work and had a clandestine way to communicate with Fauci to insulate him from 'stuff that could cause trouble.' When lawmakers pressed Morens on whether he had sent information related to COVID to Fauci's personal email, the former advisor cagily conceded 'I may have.' 'This new evidence raises serious concerns about public health officials behaving as if they are unaccountable to the American people they serve,' the committee wrote on X, adding it 'plans to hold Dr. Fauci and his team accountable.' The House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic suggests that the records they requested from Fauci could reveal COVID-related corruption. Former Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infractions Diseases (NIAID) Dr. Anthony Fauci has been instructed to turn over his personal communications about COVID's origins to lawmakers as the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic's probe widens 'According to the communications in our procession, Dr. Morens is not the only official from your time as National Institute for Allergy and Infractions Diseases (NIAID) Director that took affirmative steps to avoid transparency,' the Chairman Brand Wenstrup, R-Ohio, wrote to Fauci in a letter. 'We are concerned that current and former NAIDID officials have and are continuing to seriously [undermine] public trust by concealing vital information from the American people.' At the center of the committee's investigation are a trove of emails between Morens and EcoHealth Alliance president Dr. Peter Daszak, along with other communications. Daszak - who Morens testified was his 'best friend' - had received millions in federal grant funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to conduct coronavirus research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). When the WIV came under scrutiny for potentially being the epicenter of a lab-leak that began the COVID outbreak, Morens, an employee under NIH, worked to prevent Daszak's reputation from being damaged from Freedom if Information Act (FOIA) requests. Morens told Daszak he had a 'secret back channel' to communicate with Fauci When pressed by the committee on whether Morens spoke with Fauci on COVID-related matters using personal emails not subject to FOIA requirements, he said 'I may have' Morens also bragged to Daszak about using his personal email account that he learned how to make emails disappear. He notably used his official NIH signature at the bottom Morens bragged to Dazak that Fauci is 'too smart' to get caught up in 'stuff that could cause trouble' by communicating on channels other than his official work emails 'PS, i forgot to say there is no worry about FOIAs,' Morens wrote Daszak in April 2021. 'I can either send stuff to Tony [Fauci] on his private gmail, or hand it to him at work or at his house. He is too smart to let colleagues send him stuff that could cause trouble,' Morens continued. His blatant disdain for FOIA requests and suspicious mentions of delivering Fauci potentially untraceable information has raised alarm in lawmakers, fueling their desire to see what the two may have communicated about COVID through their 'secret back channels.' Wenstrup requested that Fauci turnover any communications relating to the origins of COVID, the WIV, EcoHealth or congressional oversight of these issues before June 12. Fauci is also slated to testify before the committee on June 3, where he will surely be asked about his relationship and communications with Morens. In other emails sent by the Fauci aide to Daszak, Morens explicitly states that another NIH employee in charge of processing FOIA requests helped him to avoid the public transparency laws. Morens said he 'learned from our foia lady here how to make emails disappear.' Morens admitted to deleting emails and using personal accounts to communicate on official NIH work-related matters during a congressional hearing on May 22 House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, demanded files from Fauci's personal phone and email And just how that 'foia lady' Margaret Moore at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) helped Morens is now the subject of an additional probe by the coronavirus committee. For his part, Morens has claimed he didn't know he was doing anything wrong and said he wasn't aware he was deleting federal records or that using his personal email to conduct business-related matters was improper. But Chairman Wenstrup has requested briefings with the National Archives and NIH to discuss the extent of Morens' cover-up scheme. 'This evidence taken together suggests a conspiracy at the highest levels of NIH and NIAID to avoid public transparency regarding the COVID-19 pandemic,' Wenstrup wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to NIH Director Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli. The Ohio Republican also revealed earlier this week that Fauci's former Chief of Staff, Greg Folkers, also used tactics to evade FOIA requests by intentionally misspelling words in his communications regarding COVID-19 and its origins. Folkers, according to the committee, spelled EcoHealth as 'Ec~Health' when emailing about the defamed organization. Former Tory MP Mark Logan tonight revealed he is defecting to Labour in another shattering blow for Rishi Sunak. The 40-year-old was Conservative MP for Bolton North East before Parliament was dissolved today ahead of the General Election on 4 July. He announced his bombshell decision to now back Sir Keir Starmer's party as he claimed Labour could 'bring back optimism into British life'. Mr Logan said his application to join Labour was 'going in today'. The Brexiteer will no longer be a candidate at the general election but did not rule out running for Labour in the future. Mr Logan supported Mr Sunak to be Tory leader in 2022 but did not criticise the Prime Minister personally as he explained why he was defecting. Former Tory MP Mark Logan tonight revealed he is backing Labour at the general election in another shattering blow for Rishi Sunak Earlier this year, Mr Logan broke ranks with the Prime Minister when he called for a ceasefire in Gaza Mr Sunak, pictured on a general election campaign visit to Milton Keynes today, has now seen three former Tory MPs defect to Labour in little over a month Earlier this year, Mr Logan broke ranks with Mr Sunak when he called for a ceasefire in Gaza. The former Foreign Office diplomat said he could no longer support the Government's line on the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Mr Logan claimed Israel's military response to the 7 October terror attacks had 'gone too far' and was 'disproportionate'. Announcing his defection this evening, he told BBC News: 'It's more about not the push factor of Conservatives, but the pull factor of Keir Starmer. 'The new Cabinet that would come in, the fresh faces, the fresh ideas.' Mr Logan admitted he had been thinking about backing Labour 'for quite a long period'. But he said only now he had left the House of Commons was it the right time to announce his defection. 'The electorate did vote me in as a Conservative MP,' he said. Mr Logan added: 'When I look back to my teenage years, in 1997 when Labour came to the fore at that time and we obviously heard the song 'Things Can Only Get Better', I feel that we're at that point again in British politics and British history. 'For my constituents and for the country, it's right that we get some stability back into the UK, we get optimism, we get new and fresh ideas.' He added: 'I believe as a politician it's incumbent upon me to be able to say, to look people in the eyes in Bolton and say that I believe that a Labour government is going to serve you better, your interests better, it's going to be better for your pockets, it's better for the economy, it's going to be better for the UK.' Mr Logan's decision to back Labour follows the defection of MPs Dan Poulter and Natalie Elphicke from the Tories to Sir Keir's party in recent weeks. Mr Sunak also saw ex-Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson join Reform UK in March. In a statement he posted to social media, Mr Logan wrote: 'After much soul-searching throughout my first term in Parliament, brought to a head with the calling of a snap election last week, I have concluded that we need a new government. 'And I believe the UK will be best served with that government being a Labour government. 'We need renewed enthusiasm and optimism in both tone and in policy, and I believe that we are already seeing this through Keir Starmer and the team. 'I am resigning from the Conservative Party with immediate effect. Regrettably, I will therefore not contest our constituency at the upcoming general election.' He added: 'The first time I voted, I voted for Labour. The next time I vote it will be a vote for Labour.' A Conservative Party spokesperson said: 'It's notable that Mark Logan has defected to a party he can't even name a single policy of. 'We wish Mark Logan well with the Labour Party a party that has no plan for the country and would take us back to square one. 'We will select a new candidate in due course. 'The people of Bolton North East now have the choice to vote to stick with the plan by choosing bold action for a safer, more prosperous future with the Conservatives, or go back to square one with Keir Starmer and the same old Labour.' A 23-year-old law student who died after eating a cannabis gummy sweet was discovered lying unconscious on her bedroom floor by her mother before being rushed to hospital where she passed. Damilola Grace Olakanmi, of Ilford, east London, fell seriously ill after consuming just one gummy which she had purchased from a drug dealer through a messaging app. The Hertfordshire University student was rushed to Queens Hospital, Romford, on March 29, 2022, and died later that week after suffering a series of cardiac arrests and brain damage caused by synthetic cannabinoid toxicity a class B drug commonly referred to as spice. A court heard today that her mother, Wumi, was woken up by a loud noise when she rushed upstairs to her daughters bedroom to find her lying unconscious on the floor. The 23-year-old had been at home with a friend who was visiting from the US when the pair ate the gummy sweets and fell gravely ill. Damilola Olakanmi (pictured), from Ilford, east London, bought the 'gummies' through a messaging app and they were delivered to her home where she fell ill last Tuesday Damilola Grace Olakanmi is kissed in hospital by her mother Wumi. The 23-year-old law student is thought to have became the first Briton to die after eating a cannabis sweet In a police statement after the tragic incident, her mother said: At around 10 to 11pm, I was woken up by a loud noise. I went upstairs to Graces room and I saw her on the floor. She didnt appear to be breathing. She told of how the friends behaviour was also unusual, as she found her rolling around on the floor next to Grace in a hysterical state. She called emergency services, and police and paramedics rushed to the scene where they carried out life support and attempted to resuscitate her. Her mother added: In terms of edibles, Im unaware she had taken them before. I did not know they contained cannabis. The death, which has been described by a coroner as utterly tragic, was concluded as having been caused by drug misuse - more specifically synthetic cannabinoid toxicity. Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe told the inquest in Walthamstow, East London: This is the utterly tragic case of a 23-year-old girl consuming synthetic cannabis and having a very serious reaction. She died as a result of 1A synthetic cannabis toxicity. On March 29, 2022, Grace consumed cannabinoid gummies at her home address in Ilford. She collapsed, was taken to Queens Hospital, Romford, where she sadly died on April 3. My conclusion is that the death is due to drug misuse. I convey my deepest condolences to the family. The Hertfordshire University (pictured) student was rushed to Queen's Hospital, Romford, at around 11.30pm - but died on April 2 A man was arrested in connection with the death shortly after the incident, and was charged with possession with intent to supply Class B synthetic cannabinoid, being concerned in the supply of a synthetic cannabinoid, and possession with intent to supply a psychoactive substance. The court heard that a forensic download of Ms Olakanmis mobile phone uncovered communications between her and the drug dealer on a messaging app. On the day she ingested the gummies, she had messaged the dealer asking: Can I have two packs of 600mg gummies for tonight please. And are they really strong? To which he replied yes to both questions. CCTV footage obtained by police later showed Ms Olakanmi interacting with someone inside a car nearby her home. She then appeared to be taking something from the car. Police were able to track down the dealer using the number plate and found he was in possession of a large quantity of cash and what were believed to be edible cannabis products. The gummies the pair of friends had ingested were contained in packaging featuring Trrlli Peachie Os branding. When police arrived at the home, Ms Olakanmi was unconscious and foaming at the mouth. Her friend was rolling around on the bedroom floor, shouting and screaming. She behaved erratically but remained conscious. She was also taken to hospital but later discharged. On the bed in Ms Olakanmis home, police found a packet of edible cannabis sweets which her and her friend had ingested. They also found another packet, with both packets containing four sweets each. The sweets were laced with oxobutan and carboxamide which are class B synthetic cannabis. In a statement to police, the friend said that Ms Olakanmi had purchased the sweets from her regular dealer and had taken just one each. She said approximately 20 minutes later the pair fell ill. A postmortem was unable to tell whether it was one sweet which was consumed that contained both the synthetic cannabinoids, or two separate sweets which contained the substances. At the time, police issued a warning not to buy or consume these products. Experts also warned that dangerous synthetic cannabis, sold as marijuana sweets, were putting buyers at risk. A small Virginia town is at war with Boy Scouts of America over a summer camp that 'trashes' its river and turns it brown every year. Locals who live around the Maury River near the western border of the state say that each summer, the National Capital Council of the Boy Scouts drains nearby Lake Merriweather each fall, which then causes sediment to rush into the Maury. This impacts hikers, kayakers, fishers, and swimmers who like to visit until the weather really changes - and critics claims it's damaging the eco-system. John Pancake, a local who grew up spending his summers on the Maury says he is 'heartbroken that the river turned dirty during the summer when people spend their time on the river banks. 'It's a thing that people love here, and so having it kind of wrecked was a really sad thing for people here,' he told Fox Digital. Residents around the Maury River near the western border of the state say that every summer, the National Capital Council of the Boy Scouts drains nearby Lake Merriweather, which then causes sediment to rush into the Maury The Washington Post spoke with the council's director of support services, who said that it is important for Lake Merriweather to be drained periodically so its dam, which protects the properties of thousands, can be maintained. Pancake is currently a part of the Maury River Alliance, a local group that formed in response to concerns about the sediment build up and the damage it is doing to their river. 'I've been on this river for all my life, more than 70 years, and the sediment has changed the river. I've been on this river for all my life, more than 70 years, and the sediment has changed the river,' he said. The increased amount of sediment flowing downstream has been something of a concern for decades, but in the last few years, it has increased to an amount that makes it hard, if not impossible, to maintain healthy aquatic life. 'There just aren't the variety of fish that had been there. There aren't the variety of birds that there had been,' Linda Larsen, who has frequented the river for more than three decades, told Fox. 'There is now this blanket of sediment that is covering the riverbed. So, all of these animals, these very small little insects and animals that are necessary for the life and eco-cycle of the river, are being killed.' 'I've been on this river for all my life, more than 70 years, and the sediment has changed the river. I've been on this river for all my life, more than 70 years, and the sediment has changed the river,' said area resident John Pancake (pictured) The river community would like to see the Boy Scouts work with them to protect the river and attempt to reverse the slow death it is currently experiencing No one believes the fault lies with the Boy Scout campers, or with the national organization, rather the council that determines the lake's drainage schedule Larsen too pinned the issue on the National Capital Area Council of the Scouts. 'It has nothing to do with the children. It has nothing to do with the national organization. It has to do only with the council that owns the property that is allowing this pollution to continue to occur on the Maury River,' she said. 'The owners and operators of the camp have not treated the river as they should. I think they could do a better job of protecting the river, and I hope that they will start doing that, because I feel that that is very much in the philosophy of their organization.' The river community would like to see the organization work with them to protect the river and attempt to reverse the slow death it is currently experiencing. They have called on the group to come to the negotiation table and walk away committed to a plan for improving the Maury's water quality. Boy Scouts of America recently changed name to Scouting America after 114 years to 'boost inclusion' in the wake of a series of scandals. A man who was taunted over his weight, hair and breath by his controlling girlfriend has slammed her sentence after she avoided jail - claiming her punishment would have been 'completely different' if she was a man. Sarah Rigby, 41, made NHS project manager Gareth Jones, 40, eat salad, wear a hat and swallow toothpaste and mouthwash in the wrongful belief he was fat, bald and had halitosis. Rigby's abuse against her boyfriend included stopping him from showering or using the toilet in the house, as well as making him sleep on the floor without a duvet as a punishment. She stopped him from seeing family and friends, and if he didn't comply with her orders she would stop him from eating. Rigby was handed a 20 month sentence suspended for two years. She is also required to complete 35 days of rehabilitation and was handed a five-year restraining order. Mr Jones said he feels that had the perpetrator been a man, the sentence would have been 'completely different'. Gareth Jones, 40, (pictured) was subjected to a campaign of abuse by his girlfriend Sarah Rigby Sarah Rigby, 41, (pictured) made Mr Jones eat salad, wear a hat and swallow toothpaste and mouthwash in the wrongful belief he was fat, bald and had halitosis 'I feel that if it was a man, then it probably would be a completely different outcome. I think it shows that if you are a female abuser and you do commit such atrocities, [...], especially what I experienced, that you can still in essence get away with things,' he told ITV News. 'I think it's very important that we turn the narrative around.' He added: 'I think it is important to note that it is not always the male that is the perpetrator, and that these things can and do happen out there.' Speaking about how Rigby's campaign of abuse started, Mr Jones said: 'It was a lot of love, and love bombing as they call it, it was very overpowering and then obviously gradually the abuse and things set in. 'I became so nervous about eating anything on fear that if I went back, I was told that I either have a smell of onion or garlic on my breath. I became so scared that I didn't actually eat anything when I was with my parents. 'I was still forced to drink mouthwash and eat toothpaste.' Mr Jones said he feels that had the perpetrator been a man, the sentence would have been 'completely different' Rigby pictured outside court after conducting the campaign of abuse against her boyfriend Rigby's abuse against Mr Jones included stopping him from showering or using the toilet in the house Mr Jones said he spent as much as 40,000 on gifts and rent for Rigby, despite not being given a key to the property or being allowed to stay there alone. 'We were on a weekend away in London, and basically I was told to go into Harrods, and I [...] had my arm grabbed, and clawed so deep that I actually started bleeding underneath my sweater,' he said. 'I was told: ''We are not leaving this shop until you buy me something expensive.'' 'I think it was probably close into the region of between 30,000 and 40,000, between everything I had to pay for including to pay rent for a property although I was never provided with a key, or allowed to stay in the property on my own.' Mr Jones added: 'I thought probably that if I'd stayed in [the relationship] any longer, that things would have ended up a lot worse for me.' When asked why he stayed in the relationship, he said: 'It does become the normal for you.' A high school cheerleader and aspiring nurse was killed after a tree fell on her trailer in North Carolina just days before she was due to graduate. Kara Bryson, 18, died on Monday morning when winds of up to 70mph uprooted a tree which crushed the camper she was staying in with friends at picturesque Penland Point close to the Chatuge Lake. She was scheduled to graduate from Tuscola High School in her hometown of Waynesville, NC, on Friday this week. Kara was in the trailer with four friends at the time, according to Clay County NC Emergency Services who responded at the scene over Memorial Day weekend. 'A large tree had been up-rooted by heavy straight-line winds and landed on the portion of the trailer that housed the victim,' the department said. Kara Bryson (pictured) 18, died on Monday morning when winds of up to 70mph uprooted a tree which crushed the camper she was staying in with friends at picturesque Penland Point close to the Chatuge Lake Friends who launched a fundraiser for Kara's devastated family described her as 'a beautiful soul who was tragically taken too soon'. They said she was 'recently pinned as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)' and she 'enjoyed working with the residents' at her local Skyland Terrace nursing home. 'Kara is loved by many especially by her mother, father, and three younger brothers,' the fundraiser reads. The teenager's cheer team also mourned her loss in a heartbreaking message posted to Facebook. 'This is a loss. A devastating loss. A tragedy to everyone, most importantly to her family and friends but also a horrible loss to our cheer family,' Tuscola High School Mountaineers Cheerleading said. The teenager's cheer team also mourned her loss in a heartbreaking message posted online Kara was in the trailer with four friends at the time, according to Clay County NC Emergency Services who responded at the scene over Memorial Day weekend 'We love you, Kara! Always a Tuscola Cheerleader. Always in our hearts. Forever missed!' The high school senior had planned to get ready for graduation with her best friend Callie Parker on Friday, like they did for prom earlier in May, according to The Mountaineer. Callie is now planning to decorate an empty chair to remember Kara on graduation night, according to the outlet. The high school senior had planned to get ready for graduation with her best friend Callie Parker (left) on Friday, like they did for prom earlier in May, according to The Mountaineer Friends said Kara was 'recently pinned as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)' and she 'enjoyed working with the residents' at her local Skyland Terrace nursing home 'There is going to be a spot missing, someone who worked hard their whole life to be there and now doesn't have the opportunity,' Chloe Thompson, a fellow high school senior and cheerleader told The Mountaineer. 'I think it is going to be hard for all of us.' Hundreds of Eurostar travellers have been left stranded for hours and facing major delays and cancellations after UK Border Force e-gates in Paris were hit by technical problems. MailOnline understands there has been 'total chaos' for people trying to travel between London and Paris after the IT failure, with Eurostar cancelling the last two trains of the day. Photographs taken at Gare du Nord show hundreds of people queuing, many of them families looking to return home after half-term week. The train operator said it will provide hotel accommodation and taxis for anyone who requires it, The Independent reports. Eurostar also said affected passengers would be offered alternative travel or refunds. A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Yesterday, a technical issue with the UK Border Force e-gates at Gare du Nord caused disruptions to Eurostar services in both directions. 'This problem has been resolved, and normal operations have resumed as of this morning. 'We apologise for any inconvenience or delays experienced by our customers due to this and understand the frustration caused by disruptions to travel plans. We have offered all affected customers exchanges free of charge or a full refund.' An earlier statement from Eurostar said: 'We are awaiting the intervention of a technician to resolve this problem as quickly as possible and reduce the impact on our passengers but unfortunately, we had to cancel the two last trains of the day. Hundreds of Eurostar travellers have been left stranded for hours and facing major delays and cancellations after UK Border Force e-gates in Paris were hit by technical problems Photographs taken at Gare du Nord show hundreds of people queuing, many of them families looking to return home after half-term week MailOnline understands there has been 'total chaos' for people trying to travel between London and Paris after the IT failure, with Eurostar cancelling the last two trains of the day 'Eurostar teams are taking all measures to make sure that those who need to travel will be able to arrive in London. 'We are sincerely sorry for the inconvenience caused.' The Home Office said the issue has now been resolved, but passengers were still being warned of delays while staff 'fully restore services' according to a statement provided to MailOnline. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'This issue has now been resolved and we are working with European ports and carriers to fully restore services. 'We apologise to all passengers for the inconvenience caused.' On social media, travellers have expressed their disappointment over the situation. One lamented: 'Such a shame. It [Eurostar]was the high water mark for European travel.' Another wrote: 'Shambolic UK Border Force in Paris today, UK E-Gates down with at least 2 hour delays to all departures to UK. No information provided to thousands waiting.' The issue has now been resolved, but passengers are still being warned of delays of up to three hours while staff 'fully restore services' according to a statement from the Home Office Shortly after the issue first emerged, one traveller posted a photo of the waiting crowds and wrote: 'Really bad delays travelling from Paris to London. Have been queuing for two hours and this is the view from where I stand. 'Does nobody care about small children and the elderly?' One particularly enraged traveller wrote: 'This is what #controllingourborders looks like. A complete f***ing s***show at Gare du Nord because the UK border system has crashed. 'If you want to create stupid barriers at least invest in tech that works.' A RAF pilot who died in a Spitfire crash 'lived his life with an unwavering passion' and 'will be cherished and deeply missed', his family has said in a heartwarming tribute. Squadron Leader Mark Long, 43, died when his Spitfire crashed within a few minutes of takeoff during a Battle of Britain memorial flight near RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, on Saturday. According to the Ministry of Defence, he lived in Lincolnshire with his wife, two daughters and a dog. Mr Long's family said in a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence: 'Mark lived his life with an unwavering passion with laughter, love, and dedication to his family. 'His talent for flying was there for all to see, and his ability to connect to everyone he met was infectious. Mark will be cherished and deeply missed by us all.' Squadron Leader Mark Long, (pictured) died when his Spitfire crashed within a few minutes of takeoff during a Battle of Britain memorial flight near RAF Coningsby Tributes left for Mark Long who was tragically killed in a Battle of Britain memorial flight The Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth flew in 'missing man' formation (pictured) to remember their colleague Sqn Ldr Mark Long pictured reading a map on an RAF airplane Tributes to Mr Long have also flooded in from The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. And on Tuesday Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth flew in 'missing man' formation to remember their former colleague. At the time of his death, Mr Long was in his fourth season with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Officer Commanding Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, said: 'In life, we are occasionally privileged to meet incredible people like Mark. 'Mark touched the hearts of everyone that he met, always prioritising the needs of others before himself. 'The epitome of a military fighter pilot, he personified the very best of the Royal Air Force and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. 'We were lucky to have him as part of the team and part of our BBMF family. Squadron Leader Mark Long had flown Spitfires for four years and was due to take over the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in 2025 Mark Long flying the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire MK356 The location where the Spitfire crashed in a field on on Langrick Road at RAF Coningsby The scene where the pilot died in a crash during a Battle of Britain event near RAF Coningsby Squadron Leader Mark Long was killed when his World War Two-era fighter crashed to the ground within a few minutes of takeoff from RAF Coningsby 'Always a vision of calm, Mark faced life's obstacles with a wry smile, a knowing nod and a pint of tea. 'Above all, he was a devoted husband and a proud father. 'Whilst words alone cannot adequately convey our loss, he will remain forever 'the best boss that BBMF never had'.' Mr Long was born in Bury St Edmunds and graduated Initial Officer Training in 2003. He was then sent to RAF Linton-on-Ouse to fly the Tucano aircraft before gaining his 'wings' in 2003. His Advanced Flying Training was on the Hawk and he was selected to take on the role of an instructor. Mr Long later converted to the Harrier GR7/9 and was posted to RAF Cottesmore, Rutland. In 2012, Mr Long joined the Typhoon Force and was assigned to RAF Coningsby. In 2016, he was the Typhoon Display Pilot and his primary role was to teach student pilots how to operate the jet. The MoD said that alongside his instructional duties, Mr Long also helped defend UK sovereign airspace by undertaking Quick Reaction Alert duties in the UK, Falkland Islands and while on Baltic Air Policing Operations in Lithuania. Victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal in Scotland are finally to receive justice when their convictions are quashed within days. MSPs from across political parties yesterday united to vote through emergency legislation that will automatically exonerate subpostmasters who were wrongly convicted as a result of the faulty Horizon IT system. It sailed through stage three by 116 votes to zero only 16 days after it was introduced at Holyrood and is expected to secure Royal Assent in the coming days. Victims will then have their convictions quashed immediately, allowing them to access compensation through the UK governments financial redress scheme. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the legislation allows justice as swiftly as possible for victims. She told MSPs: Whilst we cannot ever fully remedy the hurt and harm caused to those who have suffered a miscarriage of justice, I am grateful to parliamentary colleagues for ensuring that we have at this stage moved swiftly and worked effectively together to do what is within our power to address. Justice Secretary Angela Constance claimed legislation would allow swift justice The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service was responsible for convictions in Scotland. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has received only 16 applications for potential miscarriages of justice out of approximately 80 identified cases. The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill will mean those convicted of relevant offences will have them automatically quashed when the legislation comes into force. Ms Constance said for an offence to be considered relevant, the time it took place and the type of crime would be considered. The person convicted would need to have been working in a Post Office at the time, and the conviction would need to be connected to Post Office business. In addition, the Horizon system would have to have been in use by the Post Office where they were working. Victims will then be entitled to compensation from a UK-wide fund administered by the UK Government. Former First Minister Humza Yousaf had demanded that UK Government legislation providing an exoneration to victims was extended to Scotland but this was rejected. Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Russell Findlay said: This legislation is necessary due to the seriousness and scale of the egregious and sickening mass miscarriage of justice. Mr Findlay criticised attempts by SNP ministers to create a manufactured fight with the UK Government and said it was always apparent that a distinct Bill was needed because of Scotlands separate legal system. When the UK Government legislation was approved by MPs on May 24, it gained Royal Assent four days later, with the exoneration of victims going ahead immediately. Labour MSP Katy Clark said her party also backed the Bill for the blanket exoneration of those convicted based on Horizon evidence. Son who took blame to save mum from jail Mr Naga gave a false confession Ravinder Naga falsely confessed to stealing money from his mothers post office to protect her from going to prison. The father of two from Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, is one of hundreds of people who have been caught up in the Horizon IT scandal. In 2009, auditors discovered a shortfall at Belville Street post office in Greenock. Mr Naga later pleaded guilty to stealing 35,000 and was sentenced to 300 hours of community service. He told his mother to inform Post Office investigators he had stolen money to buy some time, but the missing cash never appeared. Mr Naga said he confessed to a crime he did not commit because his mother would not have survived jail. He told the BBC: If someone had to be sacrificed, then better me than my mum. The family could have coped if, maybe, I wasnt there but if my mum had been taken and something had happened to my mum then there would have been no recovery from that. The ordeal has left his mother stressed and tired, he added. Theyve taken 15 years of her life, Mr Naga said. My mum was always a woman who was ambitious and wanted to build something up. To some people this is a TV programme or a news story, but to other people its their life. Although I prefer to call it McHansard, the definitive record of every word spoken at Holyrood is known as the Official Report. Its a precious resource and so MSPs put it to the loftiest of uses: finding gotchas to fling at one another. Douglas Ross and John Swinney each spent an otherwise sedate FMQs rooting around the OR looking for something to embarrass the other. Ross had fished out a quote from 2001 in which Swinney urged Henry McLeish to quit over his Officegate expenses claim. The bond of trust that must exist between Scotlands First Minister and the people has been broken, the then and again SNP leader had intoned. First Minister John Swinneys replies during First Minister's Questions were automaton-like On the one hand: good find. On the other: Officegate was 23 years ago. Swinney reached back a little more recently, to 2018, when Tory MSPs voted against sanctions for one of their own. The jumping off point was, naturally, Michael Matheson, who casts a long shadow over the parliament from which he is currently suspended. The day after MSPs had voted to bar the former health secretary for 27 days, Ross wanted to pin down Swinneys opposition to the sanction. The First Minister repeated: I accept the decision parliament arrived at last night. The wily Nicola Sturgeon was an expert at never answering a question. Robotic Swinney computes every question as an unknown item in the bagging area. His automaton-like responses soon had Ross snarking from the sidelines, so much so that the Presiding Officer eventually had him apologise. He cannot do anything other than resort to nasty personal abuse, Swinney yelped, the veteran Nationalist brawler trying to pass himself off as a dainty maiden aunt in need of some smelling salts. Proceedings became livelier when Anas Sarwar joined in, declaring: The SNP believe its one rule for them and another for everyone else. Actually, they believe there should be no rules for them and lots of rules for everyone else, but point taken. Tory leader Douglas Ross attacked Swinney with a quote from 2001 While the First Minister was busy protecting his mate, what about the 840,000 Scots languishing on NHS waiting lists? Trying to sound contrite, Swinney said he was sorry for how long patients were waiting, though he quickly pivoted to blame the pandemic. When Sarwar narrated the anguish of Natalie, a woman with a brain tumour who hasnt heard anything from her doctors in six months, Swinney pronounced that patients were his priority, prompting the Labour leader to contort his face into a you wot, mate? expression. His efforts at sounding empathetic having failed to gain much traction, Swinney retreated to familiar ground and went on the attack. A prolonged, self-righteous polemic outlined how the Labour Party was already plotting to impose austerity and betray the health service. His displeasure was understandable. Labour really should get its own approach instead of copying the SNPs. Following the loss of his ministerial post, Patrick Harvie continues to seek relevance. He decried Israels genocidal action against Palestine and demanded companies complicit in Israeli settlements be banned from receiving public sector grants and contracts. Swinney tried to explain the considerations that must go into excluding companies from receiving Scottish Government business support. This didnt seem to make much of an impression on Harvie. Perhaps he was distracted by the scene playing out in his head of a flustered aide rushing into Benjamin Netanyahus office, and blurting: Call off the war, boss. Patrick Harvie says so. South Carolina officials have filed 76 counts of ethics violations against the court clerk who handled the Alex Murdaugh murder trial, which ended in two life sentences for the former small town lawyer. The 25 pages of allegations accuse former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill of allowing a photo of Murdaugh in a holding cell to be taken to promote her book on the trial, giving herself bonuses, and using county money to buy dozens of lunches for her staff, prosecutors and a vendor. Hill also struck a deal with a documentary maker to use the county courtroom in exchange for promoting her book on the trial, which later she admitted had plagiarized passages, according to the South Carolina Ethics Commission complaint earlier this month. The ethics commission will hold a hearing in December on these accusations unless Hill and her lawyer are able settle the case before then. Hill could have to pay back the roughly $20,000 in expenses and face thousands of dollars or more in fines. And if the commission thinks she broke any laws, they can forward the information to prosecutors. A criminal investigation into whether Hill tampered with the Murdaugh jury or misused her office continues, the State Law Enforcement Division said Thursday. Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill is sworn in before taking the stand to testify during the Alex Murdaugh jury-tampering hearing at the Richland County Judicial Center in Columbia, South Carolina, on January 29, 2024 Alex Murdaugh, convicted of killing his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, in June 2021, listens during a hearing on the motion for a retrial, Jan. 16, 2024, at the Richland County Judicial Center Hill resigned in March during the last year of her four year term, citing the public scrutiny of Murdaugh's trial and wanting to spend time with her grandchildren. She hasn't publicly addressed the ethics allegations. Her lawyer, Justin Bramberg, has previously said that her resignation had nothing to do with the pending investigations against her, Fox News reported. It took a jury less than three hours to convict Murdaugh of killing his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, after a six-week trial last year. The case involved power, coverups, suspicious deaths and an attorney whose family practically ruled with an iron fist in the small South Carolina county for nearly a century. Murdaugh is appealing his conviction and double life without parole sentence, arguing that Hill tried to sway jurors toward a guilty vote and being biased against Murdaugh in her book. Hill is pictured during the announcement of her resignation as county clerk, a position she had served in since 2020 Murdaugh was convicted of the murders of his son Paul and wife Maggie at their South Carolina hunting lodge in June 2021 DailyMail.com revealed last September that Hill wrote in her book that she and the jurors 'knew that Alex was guilty.' The new ethics allegations against Hill say she bought lunches for prosecutors and then paid herself back with county money. She spent $543.89 for food and alcohol for a going away lunch for an employee in a local prosecutor's office, according to the complaint. None of the allegations mention spending for public defenders or defense attorneys. Hill gave herself nearly $10,000 in bonuses from federal money meant to improve child support collection but has few rules on how it is spent, the complaint alleges The former clerk also allegedly used public money to buy meals for her staff, her family, judges, court employees and others 36 times. She reimbursed herself for gifts bought for jurors and her staff on Valentine's Day and for her employees on on several holidays, the complaint said. Expenses included $481 for a 50th birthday party for a staffer and dog food, bones and a pet bed for another, ethics officials said. In all, Hill is accused of spending nearly $20,000 in county money in ways she shouldn't, according to the complaint. Alex Murdaugh reacts as he addresses the court during his sentencing for stealing from 18 clients on Tuesday November 28, 2023 Hill is pictured with Judge Clifton Newman, the judge who sentenced Murdaugh to life for the murders of Maggie and Paul Legal experts had previously told DailyMail.com that Murdaugh could win a second trial based on some of Hill's supposed improprieties but Judge Jean Toal rejected his initial appeal in January. Still, the judge said she wasn't sure Hill told the truth about her dealings with jurors and was 'attracted by the siren call of celebrity.' However, even if Murdaugh is eventually granted a new murder trial, he's still serving 40 years in prison for stealing millions of dollars from clients of his law firm, a punishment that will be served at the same time as his 27-year sentence for his separate state fraud convictions. The 40-year sentence will run consecutively with the disgraced lawyer's pair of life sentences for the murders of his family members. Murdaugh appears irritated as his financial crimes were described in court, which included stealing $9 million from vulnerable clients Murdaugh maintains his innocence in the killings, even though a cop testified that he admitted to it on day 6 of the trial. The jury heard Murdaugh say in a recording: 'I did so him bad,' three days after his wife and son were killed. Leading up to the murders, Alex and Maggie's marriage was reportedly on the rocks, with Maggie constantly haranguing her husband over money and his alleged drug use. The murders were brutal, and jurors were shown pictures of a bloody crime scene at the family's hunting lodge from June 7, 2021. Nowadays, as Murdaugh plots his next legal maneuverer, the infamous family annihilator spends his days in maximum security prison reading fan mail, writing letters, playing games and watching television. Police have been forced to put a second dispersal order in place in Barnham after repeated incidents of anti-social behaviour by feral teenagers. The 48-hour order was authorised to begin at 6pm on Thursday, giving police the power to remove individuals from an area should they be committing anti-social behaviour. The youths could face further police action should they return within a certain time period. A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: 'Anti-social behaviour has been reported at Barnham Railway Station and the surrounding areas in recent days, and an increased police presence should be expected during this time.' It comes after angry locals reported attempted thefts, anti-social behaviour and drunken, 'weed-smoking' youths in the area - with some saying they are scared to leave their homes. Police have also made a further arrest following an assault in Barnham earlier this month. Officers have now made two arrests in connection with the assault and criminal damage at the Passage to India restaurant - which saw owner Muhammed Islam, 64, attacked by a group of youths. Shocking footage of a group of girls assaulting an emergency worker at Barnham station was recently shared on social media Muhammed Islam, 64, who runs the Passage to India restaurant in Barnham, was attacked by a group of youths earlier this month The attack on local business Passage to India saw windows smashed. Two people were arrested A 17-year-old boy from Barnham was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage on May 22, following further enquiries into the incident. He has been released on conditional bail. A 14-year-old girl and 15-year-old girl from Yapton were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage on 19 May. They were also released on conditional bail, pending further enquiries. Chief Inspector Will Keating-Jones said: 'We completely understand the community's concerns following a spate of unacceptable anti-social behaviour incidents reported in Barnham. 'Officers are working closely with our partners, including BTP, Southern Rail, the local authority and store managers in the area to continue to tackle crime. 'Additional patrols have been put in place to disrupt and deter crime and we will continue to ensure measures are put in place to keep residents safe. Our team has also worked extremely hard to arrest suspects and issue a number Community Protection Warnings and Notices in recent weeks.' Local Facebook groups for the previously sleepy village are full of posts from angry residents reporting attempted thefts and anti-social behaviour. Business owners have been attacked, a pensioner's dog kicked and residents abused by gangs of young people travelling between towns and villages along the south coast by train. A group of teenagers hanging around in Barnham. Sussex Police say violent disorder and shoplifting in Barnham is largely committed by young people from out of the area Muhammed Islam was allegedly punched and kicked several times in the head and shoulders Sick of the lack of police presence, businesses have resorted to hiring their own private security firm to protect themselves and their premises. It comes amid local backlash against plans for a traveller site at Little Meadow in Yapton, just over two miles from the village. A local consultation on the plans, which residents fear will only make the issues worse, concluded in February. Now residents are demanding a permanent police presence in the village at weekends and school holidays. Cllr Sue Wallsgrove, a member of Arun District Council who represents Barnham, said: 'It's an utter nightmare. The past few months have been absolutely crazy. 'There is a good train line and these youths use it to travel to the various villages on the route and cause mayhem. 'They were coming here in gangs of up to 20 and stealing all sorts of things from the Tesco and Coop store. 'They are emboldened by their numbers and they act like a feral pack of dogs. They'd never behave so atrociously if it was just two or three of them. But it's like a tyranny. 'My grandchildren can't go out at night because it is too dangerous and I know several elderly people who have become prisoners in their own homes because they are too frightened to go out. 'They tend to do their shopping and going out during the day and once it gets dark they stay safely inside. 'Because police numbers are so depleted a private security firm has been brought in to act as a deterrent but they are only there between 4pm-8pm and then they leave. It's got a bit better since the security firm started. The attack on May 19 was captured on camera, with a video being shared online A separate incident saw a local Co-op store allegedly looted by a gang of young girls, who were caught on camera fleeing the scene 'Youths have been arrested in connection with the incident on April 2 and others have been issued with orders banning them from various stores but it is still a problem.' On May 19 Muhammed Islam, 64, who runs the Passage to India restaurant, says he was attacked by a group of youths as he tried to tell them that the restaurant toilets were for paying customers only. He was left bleeding after allegedly being punched and kicked several times in the head and shoulders. A 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl from Yapton, West Sussex, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after the incident and released on bail pending further enquiries. Several youths - teenage boys and girls - have appeared in court in recent weeks charged with a variety of offences. Offences range from theft, criminal damage and assault to using threatening and abusive language and behaviour, trespass on a railway line and being drunk and disorderly. But worried residents say the village needs a deterrent to stop the offences happening in the first place. They say the problems occur within a stone's throw of the railway station outside a set of shops and takeaway restaurants. An elderly pensioner said one group of teenager kicked her Yorkshire Terrier, Max, as she walked past a group. 'He knew what he was doing. He pretended it was a mistake but the whole lot of them started laughing like it was such a joke. My dog wasn't injured but he was quite shaken. 'People are genuinely frightened to go out in the evenings. It's diabolical what they're allowed to get away with.' Outside the Lantern House Chinese takeaway, resident Deny, 42, who was too scared of reprisals to give her surname, said: 'It's been absolutely appalling for weeks and weeks now and we need the police come down here and have a presence because it is out of control. 'The kids are all drunk on cider and alcopops and they're causing havoc, abusing the takeaway staff, stealing booze and stuff from the Tesco and Coop across the road and generally causing mayhem. 'By the time the police have got here they're back at the station boarding a train out of here. We need some sort of deterrent to stop this once and for all.' There has been a heightened police presence in the village since the latest attack on a restaurant owner on May 19 An emergency public meeting to address the surge in antisocial behaviour was attended by more than 200 residents of Barnham, West Sussex Residents at the public meeting were told there were only 39 police officers on duty for the whole of West Sussex on Easter Saturday One elderly widow said: 'I live close to the centre of the village and it has become so bad that I won't go out after dark for fear of being abused and shouted at or worse. 'I went out a couple of months ago to pick up some food from the Coop and got such a mouthful from a group of girls. It was terrifying. I burst into tears when I got home.' Several incidents in the small village have gone viral in recent weeks, including shocking footage of a group of girls assaulting an emergency worker at Barnham station. Within 48 hours, a second clip went viral of another group of young girls appearing to loot the village's local Co-op. At a meeting of the Yapton Parish Council on February 14, members concluded they had 'reservations' about the proposed site and said it was 'not appropriate'. An emergency public meeting last month was attended by more than 200 concerned residents. Josh, 34, a caterer, said: 'What is surprising is that a large proportion of these feral teenagers are girls, probably aged between 14-16. They're all off their heads on booze. 'I told one of them if she didn't pipe down we'd make a civilian arrest but she said she was 15 and if we touched her it would be an assault on a child. You don't know where to turn and the cops aren't taking it seriously enough. Barnham Railway Station. Residents who spoke at the public meeting on Thursday night said they believe train connections make their village a soft target 'There were a lot of police round after the assault on the restaurant owner but not before which is why it happened. The kids know the police haven't got the resources. If there was a local officer they wouldn't do it.' At the Tesco Express staff were too worried to speak but one customer said: 'I come in during the day because later on it gets too rowdy and the groups of youths start gathering outside. Frankly it's terrifying.' Another resident said: 'All we're asking for is a PCSO until these kids get bored and grow up. The trouble only happens on holidays and half terms when they're off school - though I struggle to believe may of them go to school. 'The girls are as bad as the lads and they're like a pack of animals. They goad each other on.' She said: 'They use the rail network to get around so maybe train staff could help by checking they've got valid tickets because I suspect they haven't.' An elderly pensioner said one group of teenager kicked her Yorkshire Terrier, Max, as she walked past a group. 'He knew what he was doing. He pretended it was a mistake but the whole lot of them started laughing like it was such a joke. My dog wasn't injured but he was quite shaken. 'People are genuinely frightened to go out in the evenings. It's diabolical what they're allowed to get away with.' One mother-of-two, who grew up in Barnham, said: 'All we're asking for is a PCSO until these kids get bored and grow up. The trouble only happens on holidays and half terms when they're off school - though I struggle to believe may of them go to school. 'The girls are as bad as the lads and they're like a pack of animals. They goad each other on.' She said: 'They use the rail network to get around so maybe train staff could help by checking they've got valid tickets because I suspect they haven't.' A woman who was raped while lying on a stretcher in an emergency department in Italy has reportedly taken her own life by jumping from a hospital window. The 22-year-old was awaiting treatment in the Vizzolo Predabissi hospital near Milan when she was sexually assaulted between Monday and Tuesday, local media reports. She told nurses, who swiftly called the police, around 4am: 'Help, I was raped', according to Italian newspaper Corriere Della Serra. The suspect, a 28-year-old warehouse worker, was arrested just hours later as he was sleeping on a stretcher in the ER. Around 8.30pm on Tuesday, the woman is said to have jumped from a window on the fourth floor of the hospital. Despite attempts by medics to save her life, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The 22-year-old said she was awaiting treatment in the Vizzolo Predabissi hospital (pictured) near Milan when she was raped in the night from May 27 to May 28, local media reports The suspect denied the rape allegation and told a local court that the sexual encounter had been consensual. He said that he 'didn't force anyone' and that they chatted and shared a cigarette together before they started kissing. He could not remember how he got to the hospital and told investigators he had drunk a lot of alcohol with some friends and had smoke a few joints, according to local reports. The 28-year-old was reportedly lying drunk on a bench when his concerned friends called an ambulance. He is said to have met the 22-year-old victim for the first time when he arrived at the hospital, where he was reportedly put on a stretcher near her. The local prosecutor has ordered on autopsy of the woman's body, while investigators are combing through CCTV footage from the emergency department to find out what exactly transpired. The suspect reportedly remains in precautionary custody in prison. A spokesperson for Vizzolo Predabissi said in a statement: 'The whole hospital is still in shock.' 'Doomsday prophet' Chad Daybell has been found guilty of killing his ex-wife and co-conspirator Lori Vallow's two children in a chilling triple murder case that rattled the state of Idaho. Daybell showed no emotion as the verdict was read on Thursday, standing beside his attorney as the judge revealed the jury had found him guilty on all counts. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty and a decision is expected on Friday. The verdict comes after a nearly two-month trial after Daybell, 55, was accused of killing Tammy Daybell, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16. During the summer of 2020, the remains of the children were discovered on Daybell's Fremont County, Idaho property. Police said they believe the bodies were buried by Daybell sometime between September of 2019 and June of 2020. The jury reached the verdict Thursday in the bizarre and horrifying case of the doomsday author (pictured) who was charged with murdering his ex-wife and her two youngest children Last year, Lori Vallow Daybell, pictured here in February 2024, the mother of the deceased children, received a life sentence without parole for the killings Tammy Daybell died in 2019, mere weeks ahead of Chad and Lori Vallow's wedding. Though her death was initially believed to be due to natural causes, her corpse was later exhumed and following an autopsy, it was determined that she had been suffocated to death. Daybell and Lori Vallow were indicted in 2021 on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and grand theft by deception in the children's deaths. The pair were slapped with a handful of additional charges relating to Tammy's death. Last year, Vallow was convicted and handed a sentence of multiple life sentences behind bars without the possibility of parole. During his trial, Daybell was accused of crafting an alternate reality so that he could fulfill 'his desire for sex, money and power.' 'When he had a chance at what he considered his rightful destiny, he made sure no person and no law would stand in his way,' prosecutor Rob Wood said. Prosecutors, who called 67 witnesses throughout the trial, said the couple justified the three killings by creating a detailed and apocalyptic belief system, part of an elaborate scheme to eliminate any obstacles to their relationship and to obtain money from survivor benefits and life insurance. Joshua Vallow, 7, left, and Tylee Ryan, 17. They were last seen on Sept. 23, 2019 in Rexburg, Idaho, before their remains were discovered on Daybell's property nine months later Tammy Daybell with a grandchild in a photo from her Facebook page. Tammy Daybell died mysteriously in her sleep in Idaho on October 19, 2019. Her death was first believed to have been of natural causes, but after an autopsy was conducted, it was determined she died by asphyxiation Lori Vallow Daybell, center, sits between her attorneys for a hearing at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho, on Aug. 16, 2022. She was sentenced last year to life in prison without parole In this aerial photo, investigators search for human remains at Chad Daybell's residence in Salem, Idaho, on June 9, 2020 - they found the remains of Vallow's two youngest children, JJ and Tylee Daybell's defense attorney John Prior presented a different picture to jurors - noting that Chad Daybell was a religious person but suggested that his belief in things like premonitions were fairly mainstream. Prior also explained to jurors that Lori Vallow Daybell's brother, Alex Cox, had a violent history. He had previously been convicted of attacking Vallow Daybell's third husband, and he shot and killed her fourth husband. 'Whenever there was a problem with Lori Vallow, Alex Cox ran to the rescue,' Prior said in opening statements. Daybell's attorney also argued that his client lived a normal, faith-focused life before he met Lori Vallow Daybell, who he said showered Daybell with attention. His legal team described her as a 'beautiful, vivacious person' who drew Daybell into an extramarital relationship. Daybell's attorney also said he would present several experts in DNA, forensics and pathology who would testify that it's impossible to determine what caused Tammy Daybell's death and that none of Chad Daybell's DNA was found with the children's bodies. A man who died at Amsterdam airport was an airline employee who allegedly deliberately climbed into plane's jet engine. He was killed immediately after getting into the KLM passenger plane's engine at Schiphol Airport yesterday afternoon as it prepared for takeoff. Passengers and crew members on board the Embraer 190 aircraft - which KLM uses for their Cityhopper service to nearby destinations - told local outlet De Telegraaf that a 'hellish noise' came from the engine, which quickly began trailing smoke. The Dutch Royal Military Police investigating the incident said today that the man 'intentionally climbed into the engine, indicating this is a case of suicide'. They additionally said that he had been 'identified as an employee of a company operating at the airport'. Emergency services attend at the airport where a man died after 'intentionally climbing' into a running aircraft engine, at Schiphol, Netherlands, May 29, 2024 Emergency crews carried out a 'massive' response after the horror tragedy was first reported around 3pm on Wednesday Passengers and crew members were reported to be on board the Embraer 190 aircraft when the incident occurred Emergency crews carried out a 'massive' response after the horror tragedy was reported around 3pm, with a picture posted by public broadcaster NOS showing the plane surrounded by fire trucks and ambulances. Flight 1341 was set to depart from Schiphol in the Netherlands for Billund in Denmark at 2.25pm on Wednesday. It was unclear from initial reports whether the victim was travelling with the airline or worked at the airport. An insider told Dutch newspaper AD that the incident was 'very intense', adding: 'After the plane was pushed back to take off, someone walked into the engine.' The military police confirmed this in their press release, writing: 'The aircraft had just completed the pushback procedure and was about to taxi to the runway.' A spokesperson for Schiphol told MailOnline yesterday: 'Today there was a terrible incident in which a person ended up in an aircraft engine. 'Our thoughts are with the relatives and we are providing care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this.' The airport confirmed an investigation was underway to gather more details on the case, led by the Royal Military Police. The 'Koninklijke Marechaussee' Royal Military Police said in a statement: 'An incident occurred this afternoon on the Schiphol platform where a person fell into a running aircraft engine and died.' 'All passengers and employees of the flight in question disembarked and are being taken care of,' the statement added. Emergency services attend at the airport where a person died after getting into a running aircraft engine, at Schiphol, Netherlands, May 29, 2024 File photo. KLM aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Schipol airport near Amsterdam in 2015 Psychological support will be provided for the passengers witness to the incident, military police said. The passengers have since been disembarked from the aircraft. They noted that the passengers may still be 'important witnesses' in helping them understand exactly what happened. The engine was running at the time of the incident, suggesting the plane was preparing to take-off, according to Dutch daily De Telegraaf. An airport employee told the outlet the plane was reversing in a 'pushback' before taking off. Airline KLM said in a statement yesterday: 'Today there was a horrible incident at Schiphol in which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine. Sadly the person has died. 'We receive passengers and employees who have seen this at Schiphol. The circumstances are currently being investigated. 'For further information - as soon as available - we refer to the Royal Military Police.' The airline's CEO, Marjan Rintel, also wrote on X about the 'terrible incident': 'Our thoughts go out to the loved ones of the deceased and all people who witnessed the accident.' Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, said on X: 'Terrible news about a fatal accident today at Schiphol. My condolences go out to the relatives of the victim and the people who witnessed the accident.' The Dutch pilots' union VNV has also expressed its condolences over the 'tragic incident' in a statement on X: 'Our first concern and thoughts go out to those involved and their relatives. We offer our cooperation and expertise in the investigation into the exact cause.' A statement was also issued by the Dutch Association of Aviation Technicians (NVLT), which said: 'We are pleased with the care shown by Schiphol Airport and KLM for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this event.' Safety and security measures are strict at Schiphol and accidents are rare at the busy airport, which handled around 5.5 million passengers last month alone, according to airport figures. MailOnline has contacted KLM for comment. The U.S. boycotted the United Nations tribute to Iran's late U.S. President Ebrahim Raisi, dubbed 'the Butcher of Tehran' Thursday. At a sparsely attended U.N. General Assembly meeting, delegates from around the world stood for a minute to pay their respects to the leader who was killed in a recent helicopter crash. Several members from Iran were in attendance and some U.N. leaders from around the world went over to express condolences to the Iranians. Notably, no one from the U.S. appeared to attend the session in an act of protest against the leader who had a laundry list of well-documented human rights violations. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres addresses the delegates at the United Nations General Assembly during a ceremonial tribute to Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi at the United Nations headquarters in New York Raisi was widely expected to succeed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before he died in a helicopter crash in north Iran near the border with Azerbaijan. The crash happened earlier this month on May 19. Paying tribute to deceased world leaders is a typical practice for the 193-member General Assembly when a head of state dies in office. Nate Evans, spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations, said 'The United States will not attend today's United Nations tribute event for President Raisi in any capacity.' 'Raisi was involved in numerous, horrific human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killings of thousands of political prisoners in 1988,' Evans said. 'Some of the worst human rights abuses on record took place during his tenure.' UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) stands during a moment of silence during a United Nations (UN) General Assembly tribute to the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at UN headquarters in New York on May 30, 2024 Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Saeed Iravani (L) receives condolences during a United Nations (UN) General Assembly tribute to the late Iranian leader Raisi was 63-years-old and perished alongside several other state officials Other U.N. delegates gave speeches during the roughly 50 minute memorial meeting. Raisi grew notoriety for sitting on a 1988 panel that oversaw the execution of hundreds of political prisoners. The panel was convened to sentence political dissidents after the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked during the tribute that the late leader oversaw the country during turbulent times regionally and internationally. 'The United Nations stands in solidarity with the Iranian people and in the quest for peace, development and fundamental freedoms,' Guterres said. Iran's U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani also celebrated the late Raisi and others who died in the crash. 'They were not just figures of authority, but also a symbol of hope, resilience and the enduring power of good governance and diplomacy,' Iravani sad at the U.N. meeting. Rescuers recover bodies at the crash site of a helicopter transporting Iran's President, his Foreign Minister, and others in a fog-covered mountainous area of Varzaghan in northwestern Iran on May 20, 2024 The crash occurred in the northern part of Iran Iranians living in New York protest the commemoration ceremony of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi 'We remain committed to upholding the principles of peace, security, justice and multilateralism that they tirelessly supported.' An Iranian election for a new president is scheduled to take place on June 28. A teenage girl has died and four others have been rushed to hospital with serious injuries after a car ploughed into a tree. Emergency services rushed to Horsley Drive at Wetherill Park in Sydney's west just after 11pm on Thursday night. The 18-year-old girl behind the wheel was killed on impact. It's understood she had a provisional licence. The injured passengers were taken to Liverpool and Westmead hospitals for treatment for their injuries, which are not considered life-threatening. A teenage girl has died and four others have been rushed to hospital with serious injuries after a car ploughed into a tree overnight (pictured, firefighters at the scene) Fairfield Police are investigating the incident and have asked anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers. 'Police will prepare a report regarding the woman's death for the information of the coroner,' a spokesperson for NSW Police said in a statement. It comes after three members of the same family were killed in a horror crash between a car and a tanker near Brisbane on Thursday morning. Steven Wheeler, 54, and his parents Bob Wheeler, 84, and Magret, 81, were declared dead at the scene following the collision at about 5.45am. The male driver of the semi-trailer, 52, suffered minor injuries and was rushed by paramedics to Kingaroy Hospital in a stable condition. Three members of the same family were killed in a horror crash between a car and a tanker near Brisbane on Thursday morning (pictured, police at the scene) On Tuesday night, two close friends were killed after a suspended driver crashed into their motorbike in Greenacre in Sydney's west. William Brown, 26, and his passenger Doey Choi, 24, were thrown several metres after a Toyota Corolla turned at a busy intersection at about 7pm. Despite the efforts of paramedics both Brown and Choi died at the scene while the driver was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition. More than a dozen people have died on NSW roads in two weeks. A young woman has relived the moment she dragged her boyfriend's body from under his Holden VR Commodore and tried to revive him - even though she knew he was dead the moment she saw his face. Shyanne Organ, 21, last spoke to her boyfriend Axle Young, 17, on the phone at about 1pm on Sunday after he called from their home in Mittagong, in the NSW Southern Highlands. He phoned because he couldn't find his AirPods and wanted to listen to music while he fixed one last thing under the car before taking his P-plate test on Monday. She told him she would be home in five minutes. He said: OK, see you soon. I love you, Bye. And I said I love you, too, But he found the earbuds before she arrived and started tinkering with the 1994 wagon. Axle had used ramps to lift the car off the ground for better access, rather than jacks - a mistake that would cost him his life. Shyanne Organ, 21, and Axle Young, 17, (pictured together) had only just celebrated their one-year anniversary as a couple when he died in a tragic accident Shyanne arrived home on Sunday and found Axle's lifeless body under his car Axle Young was crushed by a 1994 Holden VR Commodore (stock image) Shyanne told Daily Mail Australia she arrived home a few minutes after the call to find the vehicle had rolled off the ramps and crushed Axle. She knew what to do because she works as an aged care nurse and has first aid and CPR qualifications, and did everything she could to try to save his life. 'He was trapped when I saw him so I immediately grabbed a jack and lifted the car up and pulled him out and did CPR until the ambulance arrived,' she said. 'I saw his face and I knew he was gone, but I had hope and I kept trying.' Shyanne explained the couple had only recently moved into their first house and celebrated their first anniversary together last Wednesday, four days before he died. They were also planning a trip to Bali. 'It just breaks my heart knowing not even a week ago we were talking about our first holiday and were it was going to be,' she said. She described Axle as an 'amazing person' and promised to 'do him proud'. 'Axle took me under his wing and he gave me the love I was always searching for,' she said. 'He knew how to make me smile and he knew every little thing about me. Axle had seven siblings and had recently moved into a home with girlfriend Shyanne The couple had planned on taking a trip to Bali, but he tragically died on Sunday 'He was a boy who didn't know how to say no and he kept going and going until the job was done or his goal was achieved.' On Tuesday, his sister Cheyenne Young told Daily Mail Australia she would do everything possible to 'honour him'. 'My family and I were so beyond proud of how far he had come. He was the brightest young man and nobody will ever forget him,' she said. Axle was two years into an apprenticeship with Southern Highlands Carpet Court when he died. His employer said Axle had displayed 'patience, commitment and his beautiful nature [that] would always put a smile on everyone's face'. 'At the young age of 17, you showed us how determined and passionate you are about your career and future,' the tribute read. 'The growth on this young man definitely did not go unnoticed and we will cherish that forever.' His family has now set up a fundraiser to pay for his funeral. 'This GoFundMe has been created in the hopes of raising enough money for Axle Young's family to plan a beautiful funeral and send-off,' it read. 'We are hoping to raise $5,000 to cover expenses for Axle and his family in this time of great sadness.' Police established crime scene at the home where Axle died but there were no suspicious circumstances. A report will be prepared for the coroner. Brisbane Airport is diverting a number of flights as the city wakes up to a thick layer fog. Planes are being sent to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Meanwhile, other planes are circling above the airport, waiting for the fog to clear. Visibility at Brisbane Airport dropped to 50m earlier this morning. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a road weather alert for Brisbane because of hazardous conditions. Queensland Police are urging motorists to drive carefully and adjust to the conditions. A Labour fundraising email earlier this week warned party supporters that the Tories 'fired the starting gun last Wednesday because they believe this timing gives them the best chance to win. 'Rishi Sunak knows something that we don't.' It's far more likely, though, that No 10 concluded holding on would only make things worse and that it would be better to limit the damage than let it seem as though Rishi were being dragged out of the building, Gordon Brown-style. Either way, most voters think the result would have been much the same whenever he went to the polls. And when we asked how people felt about the election announcement, the most popular answer was 'relieved'. At last, a chance to clear the air and get it over with. Rishi Sunak speaks during a visit in Milton Keynes on May 30 Sir Keir Starmer speaks at the Priory Centre in Abergavenny, Wales Lord Ashcroft writes: 'Either way, most voters think the result would have been much the same whenever he went to the polls' Indeed, our first poll of the campaign confirms what has become a very familiar picture. Keir Starmer is named as the best prime minister by 37 per cent to 19 per cent but with nearly half of all voters saying they don't know. Asked which words best describe Sunak, people most often chose 'out of touch' and 'out of his depth'. For Starmer, they picked 'dull' and 'indecisive'. It's fair to say that people are uninspired by the pageant of democracy unfolding before them. But with only a meagre 8 per cent of 2019 Tories (never mind anyone else) saying they are satisfied with the current government, it's hardly surprising that we find Labour with a 23-point lead. Does that mean Starmer has a huge majority in the bag? Not necessarily. Only 42 per cent of people told me they had definitely decided how to vote. Those leaning towards Labour were the most likely to be sure of their intentions, but only two thirds of them said they were certain. Crucially, only just over half of those minded to switch from the Tories to Labour said they had reached a firm decision, and fully one in three of those who backed Boris in 2019 said they didn't know how to vote or whether to vote at all. In other words, although this election might feel like a foregone conclusion, the next few weeks will make the difference between a Labour landslide and a result that is much closer than many expect. The key lies in persuading 2019 Tories to turn out for the party once again not just in the so-called Red Wall seats in the North and Midlands captured from Labour since 2017, but in traditionally blue territory in small towns, the home counties and the South-West. Much depends on the many disgruntled Tories who don't believe the Government deserves to be re-elected but don't want to see Labour in power either including many leaning towards Reform UK, who feel the Conservatives have failed on all sorts of fronts but, if anything, think Starmer and his party would be even worse. How to get them back? We can discern some clues by looking at the difference between those who have stayed loyal to the Conservatives since 2019 and those who have drifted away. The two groups both prioritise immigration, living costs and the NHS, believe we have to make the best of Brexit and (ominously) think things in Britain don't work properly any more whoever is in charge. But 'defectors' are more likely than 'loyalists' to blame the cost of living on the Government, to think Sunak is weak and out of touch, and to think Labour has changed since the last election and less likely to trust the Tories on the economy. It will be hard to dispel perceptions that have built up over months or years in a matter of mere weeks. And you can't fatten the pig on market day, as campaign professionals like to say. But the Conservatives will be trying to show that they have new ideas worth listening to, hence Rishi's plan to reintroduce National Service, launched to mixed reviews last weekend. And if they can't convince weary voters that the Government deserves yet another term, they will at least try to persuade them to get out and stop Starmer. Attempts to label him Sir Sleepy misfired badly, but there will be a lot more where that came from. For Labour, the campaign will be all about avoiding mishaps. Most voters don't know much about Starmer, except that he is a much less frightening prime ministerial prospect than Jeremy Corbyn. The Prime Minister speaks at a campaign event in Exeter on May 29 Sir Keir Starmer speaks at a Welsh Labour general election campaign event on May 30 Since people feel they know all they need to know about the Tories, this will worry him not at all. If the campaign stays boring, that will suit Starmer down to the ground. Any excitement would mean fortunes were about to alter. Despite Starmer's ubiquitous one-word slogan, 'Change', that's the last thing he wants right now. Lord Ashcroft is an international businessman, author, philanthropist and pollster. His research is at LordAshcroftPolls.com. Follow him on X/Facebook @LordAshcroft Samantha Murphy's husband says he instantly recognised a mud-splattered iPhone discovered beside a dam belonging to his missing wife. The mother-of-three vanished without a trace on the morning of February 4 after leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, Victoria. Her family reported her missing after she failed to show up to a family brunch. Police called her husband, Mick Murphy, moments after the iPhone was discovered near Slaughterhouse Road, south of Buninyong, on Thursday. Mr Murphy told 9News he immediately knew it was Samantha's. Mick Murphy (pictured in April) says he instantly recognised an iPhone found beside a dam as belonging to his missing wife Samantha, who is believed to be dead Police called her husband Mick Murphy moments after the iPhone was discovered near Slaughterhouse Road, south of Buninyong, on Thursday (pictured) The phone was found beside a dam 5km from the phone tower where the device last pinged before falling silent. The breakthrough sparked celebrations between investigators, who were seen high-fiving, hugging and shaking hands. The phone is believed to have been found by a police tech detector dog. It's understood police will return to the area to look for other clues and determine how the iPhone ended up beside the dam. In a statement issued shortly after the mobile phone was found, police said they had located some 'items of interest' during the search for the missing mum. The phone, along with other items found in the search, underwent forensic testing with sources confirming to the device belonged to Ms Murphy. Samantha Murphy (pictured with her husband Mick) vanished without a trace after she left her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, Victoria, on the morning of February 4 The breakthrough sparked hushed celebrations between investigators, who were seen quietly high-fiving, hugging and shaking hands (pictured) Officers located the mud-splattered mobile phone in a wallet at the water's edge of a dam at a property south of Buninyong, approximately 14km from Ms Murphy's home The owner of the property, who wished to remain anonymous, said police contacted him about three weeks ago asking for permission to access his land. The man said officers returned on Wednesday where they told him they were going to perform a line search along the road. 'A dog found something on the banks and they came up and asked me and my wife to make a statement,' he said. The man said police were interested in the levels of his dam. 'I hasn't seen anything suspicious out there. We don't have cameras. But yeah I believe one of those tech dogs found it,' he said. The man said detectives came and spoke to him about a month after Ms Murphy vanished, but only returned again in recent weeks. 'They just asked me if I'd seen anything suspicious,' he said. Daily Mail Australia understands police are still searching for Ms Murphy's missing watch and headphones, or a possible murder weapon (pictured, a map of previous search areas) Daily Mail Australia understands police are still searching for Ms Murphy's missing watch and headphones, or a possible murder weapon. In early March, almost five weeks after Ms Murphy's disappearance, local man Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged with her alleged murder. Police allege Stephenson 'deliberately attacked' Ms Murphy in Mount Clear, about 7km into her run on a route she had done 'countless' times. Stephenson, who has no connection to the Murphy family, was charged with murdering the mother-of-three on March 7. He is yet to enter a plea and will next front court on August 8. He was charged with falsifying business records in the 'hush money' trial There was a stunned silence in the park across the courtroom where a jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The news quickly swept through the large crowd of around 70 which had gathered since Thursday morning and Trump supporters were overcome with emotion. One man was crying hysterically, others were red with rage and a few were unusually silent following the verdict. Richie Frank, been a supporter of the former president for 30 years, said the verdict was 'an eight year set up'. A Trump supporter cries outside the Manhattan courthouse after hearing the former president was found guilty by a jury of all 34 counts of falsifying business records Former President Donald Trump walks to make comments to members of the media after being found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records 'The verdict is fake. Everyone was indemnified him. It's a deep state it's another country running this country,' he told DailyMail.com 'He shouldn't be locked up but if he is, Eric Trump for president.' 'Blackmail talks and that's what gets this guilty verdict. No one knows what he is guilty of.' Another Trump supporter, Kim Sabbagh, said: 'He's not guilty, all the evidence is there. 'Look at the corruption in our politics. This is nothing. I think it's going to be overturned eventually. 'He's not going to jail. He is going to be president by that time. 'I think this has helped his election chances. Have you seen a Biden rally? He couldn't fill up a bus stop.' Two Trump supporters hold each other in anguish as word of the verdict filters through to the crowd outside Donald Trump supporters look dejected outside the Manhattan courthouse as they hear the former president was found guilty Two members of the crowd look agitated outside the court, but it was unclear which side they were on Meanwhile, others cheered and celebrated the news with one man screaming 'Guilty' and unveiling a banner with the same statement. One Trump supporter and an anti-Trump protester got into a heated argument following the verdict. Protester John Michael Lockhart told him: 'I am on the right side of justice. 'He is guilty of fraud. I am thrilled with the verdict. I came in from Louisiana for this, I have been waiting for this for eight years,' he said. 'I was running a newspaper for 25 years and I shut it down during his term of office because I was printing the truth and the people of Louisiana couldn't handle it. 'I don't put up with racists or bigots.' While the Trump supporter, who did not want to be named, said: 'They hate Trump it's our own people, our own people are gaslighting New Yorkers. 'This man is innocent. You don't get a fair trial in New York. I am a native new Yorker that's a dirty court.' Trump supporters lean against the barrier outside the court, wind completely out of their sails after finding out the ex-president was found guilty A Trump supporter meekly raises a flag in support of the ex-president as he leans against a barricade after learning the guilty verdict A Trump supporter wearing a MAGA hat is interviewed about the verdict outside court Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters cursed at each other from opposite sides of the road as they waited for the former president's motorcade to leave the courthouse. The supporters were discussing a march to Trump Tower following the guilty verdict. Trump supporters chanted 'we love Trump' as his motorcade deliberately slowed down in front of the crowds. The former president waved to his supporters through tinted windows of his car and whipped up the crowd into a frenzy. 'Trump, Trump, Trump,' they screamed as they chased his vehicle down the street to catch another glimpse of him. Trump will be greeted by another crowd when he arrives at Trump Tower blocks away on Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th streets. Trump supporters hold up signs with his mugshot and 'never surrender' A Trump supporter compares Trump to other historical and recent figure whom he characterizes as wrongfully prosecuted A Trump supporter holding a sign perpetuating the conspiracy theory that he won the 2020 election and it was 'stolen' Hundreds of his fans are already there with more making their way over from the courthouse and elsewhere. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts after a very brief deliberation and will be sentenced on July 11. The charges Trump faces each carry a maximum potential sentence of up to four years in prison. The trial included five weeks of dramatic evidence and 22 witnesses being quizzed on the stand. The case is the first time a former US President has faced a criminal trial. Trump is the presumptive Republican presidential candidate and is set to take on Joe Biden in November's election. It means the verdict could upend the 2024 White House race and prove a pivotal moment in the history of the United States. Prosecutors had a high bar to reach in order to convince the 12-person New York jury that Trump conspired to help his 2016 election campaign by paying pornstar Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about their alleged sexual encounters. Anti-Trump demonstrators hold placards outside Manhattan criminal court following the verdict in former president Donald Trump's criminal trial A couple kisses in celebration while others celebrate in the background after finding out Trump has been found guilty Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's wrapped up all the evidence and witness testimony they claimed was sufficient enough to nail Trump on 34 felony counts of 'falsifying business records.' Trump's team tried to lay out a strong defense of the former president, distancing him from Cohen's payments to Stormy Daniels. They also reiterated several of their strongest points, that hush money payments are not illegal and Trump solely wanted to spare his family humiliation from Stormy's alleged affair claims. The case is the first time a former US President has faced a criminal trial. Trump is the presumptive Republican presidential candidate and is set to take on Joe Biden in November's election. It means the verdict could upend the 2024 White House race and prove a pivotal moment in the history of the United States. The charges Trump faces each carry a maximum potential sentence of up to four years in prison. Prosecutors told of a plot by Trump to 'corrupt' the 2016 election by hiding a $130,000 hush money payment by his 'fixer' Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels. Daniels alleged that she and Trump had sex a decade earlier, which he has denied. A woman holds up a banner celebrating Trump's conviction outside the courthouse Demonstrators celebrate outside Manhattan criminal court following the verdict in former president Donald Trump's criminal trial Trump supporters chanted 'we love Trump' as his motorcade deliberately slowed down in front of the crowds. The case featured explosive evidence by Daniels and lifted the lid on the 'catch and kill' practices of the National Enquirer tabloid, which bought stories that could be damaging to Trump and suppressed them. But the actual criminal charges concern something more prosaic - the reimbursements Trump signed for Cohen for the payment. The reimbursements, paid by Trump in monthly installments, were recorded as being for legal expenses. Prosecutors say that was a fraudulent label designed to conceal the purpose of the hush money transaction and to illicitly interfere in the 2016 election. Defense lawyers argued that Cohen actually did substantive legal work for Trump and his family and was paid for it. In a marathon day of closing arguments on Tuesday prosecutors and defense lawyers lawyers had one final chance to score points with jurors as they embarked on their momentous task. The two sides offered wildly different accounts of Trump's culpability, the strength of the evidence, and the credibility of witnesses. A Trump supporter wades deep into enemy territory with his sign Trump supporters react as verdict was announced in the criminal trial of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump Prosecutors accused Trump of trying to 'hoodwink' voters in the 2016 election by stifling embarrassing stories that could torpedo his campaign. 'The name of the game was concealment, and all roads lead inescapably to the man who benefited the most: the defendant, former President Donald Trump,' prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told jurors. He said Daniels' story was 'messy' and 'probably makes some of you uncomfortable to hear, but that's kind of the point. 'In the simplest terms, Stormy Daniels is the motive.' But Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche said Daniels could not be trusted. And he branded the star prosecution witness - Cohen - as the 'greatest liar of all time,' giving him the acronym 'the GLOAT'. Blanche said: 'President Trump is innocent. He did not commit any crimes, and the district attorney has not met their burden of proof, period.' Trump did not take the stand to give evidence in his own defense. Trump supporters check their phones for information about the case as the verdict is announced Towards the end of the trial Trump posted angrily on social media that he was the victim of a 'Kangaroo Court!' and added: 'In God We Trust!' Jurors heard the payoff to Daniels in 2016 unfolded against the backdrop of the disclosure of a 2005 'Access Hollywood' recording in which Trump could be heard bragging about grabbing women sexually without their permission. Had the Daniels story emerged in the aftermath of the 'Access Hollywood' scandal it would have further damaged his campaign, the court heard. Steinglass told jurors: 'It's not about whether you like Michael Cohen. It's not about whether you want to go into business with Michael Cohen. 'It's whether he has useful, reliable information to give you about what went down in this case, and the truth is that he was in the best position to know.' President Donald Trump tore into what he called a 'rigged trial' minutes after a Manhattan jury of 12 people found him guilty of all 34 counts against him. It was 'a rigged trial. A disgrace. They wouldnt give us a venue change,' Trump complained, shortly after Judge Juan Merchan set a July sentencing conference that will help set whatever punishment he receives. 'The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here,' Trump said, pointing to Election Day. Opinion polls have showed his popular vote lead over President Joe Biden ticking up even as the jury heard tawdry details of 'catch and kill' operations and testimony by porn star Stormy Daniels, who testified she had an affair with Trump in 2006. Trump's lawyer denied an affair throughout the trial. He once again accused the Biden Administration of running the prosecution brought by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, who was inside the courtroom during the historic verdict. He called Bragg 'Soros-backed,' in reference to the financier. 'You have a Soros-backed DA, and the whole thing. We didnt do a thing wrong. Im a very innocent man,' said Trump. Former U.S. President Donald Trump called his trial a 'disgrace' minutes after jurors found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records 'This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent,' he said. Soros, the Hungarian American financier, didn't donate campaign contributions to Bragg but donated to a group that has donated to liberal prosecutors. 'Well fight til the end and well win, because our countrys gone to hell,' Trump said, echoing attacks he has made inside the courthouse in daily statements, where he refused questions each time. And he once again attacked Judge Juan Merchan, calling him 'a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. Never.' Trump's team is certain to appeal, and may revisit recusal issues that they raised months ago without success. Trump didn't mention the New York jury, who deliberated for 10 hours on the case, and who spent a month inside a Manhattan Criminal Court room that Trump repeatedly called 'freezing.' Judge Merchan called the jury 'involved and engaged and told them, You gave this matter the attention it deserved.' The jury found Trump guilty of a series of charges of falsifying business records, including on checks he signed and those linked to a Trump trust. Trump has repeatedly called Judge Juan Merchan 'conflicted' The Biden campaign issued its own statement not long after the verdict. 'In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law,' said communications director Michael Tyler. 'Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president,' he said. By contrast, the White House kept its distance. 'We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment,' said Ian Sams, spokesman for the White House Counsel's office. Trump, who has used the trial as a megaphone to repeat his campaign themes, said 'we have a divided mess. We're a nation of decline. In serious decline. 'Millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now from prisons and from mental institutions, terrorists, and they're taking over our country,' Trump said, pivoting to his immigration message. The president's son, Donald Trump, Jr., posted his own response on TikTok with a headline saying 'this verdict is a joke' with a picture of a clown. He said it was part of a years-long effort to 'turn America into an absolute s***hole.' The Biden campaign pounced on former President Donald Trump's guilty verdict by saying Thursday that 'no one is above the law' - but warned that it would likely have little impact on the presidential race. 'Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president,' said Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler. 'There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box.' Tyler also pushed that Trump 'has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain.' A Manhattan jury Thursday found Trump guilty on all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records related to hush money payments paid to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump is now the first former U.S. president in history to be convicted of a crime - and the presumptive Republican nominee. President Joe Biden's campaign pounced on former President Donald Trump's guilty verdict by saying 'no one is above the law' but warned Republicans wouldn't replace him on the ballot and so voters needed to keep Trump away from the White House via the ballot box President Joe Biden is seen arriving in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Thursday. He and family members were at their beach vacation home when Trump's guilty verdict was announced late Thursday afternoon In the meantime, Biden paid respects to his late son Beau Biden Thursday morning and was at his Rehoboth Beach home in Delaware when news of the verdict broke. Thursday marked the ninth annivesary of Beau Biden's death. The White House signaled after the verdict was announced that the president was staying put at his beach house with son Hunter and other family members. 'We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment,' said White House Counsel's Office spokesperson Ian Sams in a statement to the pool. Biden is expected to remain in Delaware overnight but then return to the White House Friday afternoon to welcome the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL team that won this year's Super Bowl. In the meantime, his campaign sent out a fundraising plea to supporters with the subject head, 'Let's keep Trump out of the White House.' 'There's only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box,' the fundraising email said echoing Tyler's statement but not referencing the guilty verdict. Former President Donald Trump walks out of the courtroom Thursday after being found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments given to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election Hunter Biden (center) arrives Thursday to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware with wife Melissa Cohen (right). The Biden family was at their Delaware beachhouse when news of Trump's guilty verdict broke 'You know that I hate to ask, but there couldn't be a more important moment for you to make your first donation to keep this guy out of the White House once and for all,' the ask added. Polling ahead of the verdict suggested it wouldn't rattle the electorate enough for voters leaning Trump to ditch him in droves for Biden. In Thursday's NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist National Poll 67 percent of registered voters said a guilty verdict would make no difference in their voter preference. Additionally, while 17 percent said it would make them less inclined to vote for the ex-president, another 15 percent said a guilty verdict would make them more likely to cast a ballot for Trump. Helpful to Trump is that independents - who will likely decide the 2024 race - are even more ambivalent about the outcome of the case than an average voter. Pollsters found that 74 percent of independents said if Trump was found guilty it would have no effect on their White House vote. She was taken to the hospital Tuesday and pronounced dead Thursday A 13-year-old girl has died just days after she was found unconscious at a theme park in Orlando, Florida. Teenager Anna Beaumont was found unresponsive at Discovery Cove around 11.25am on Tuesday after deputies from the Orange County Sheriff's Office rushed to the theme park, which is a sister park to SeaWorld. Beaumont was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, and two days later officials said she was pronounced dead. In a statement, the medical examiner said the 'manner of death has been established as accident with cause listed as drowning.' No further details have been released. Anna Beaumont, 13, was found unresponsive at the Discovery Cove theme park in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday around 11.25am On Thursday, officials announced that the teen died at the hospital. A medical examiner said that her cause of death was ruled as an accidental drowning In response to the incident, Discovery Cove told WKMG: 'Our staff responded to an emergency involving a guest yesterday. Our team provided care and contacted Orange County Fire & Rescue.' 'When emergency personnel arrived, they took over care and transported the guest to a nearby hospital. Out of respect for privacy of our guests, we do not provide any health information. Our thoughts are with this family.' The Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating the tragedy. The all-inclusive day resort, which is the sister park of SeaWorld Orlando, offers its guests experiences including swimming with dolphins and snorkeling with tropical fish, according to the website. The husband of British horse riding star Georgie Campbell who died after a fall during a cross-country event in Devon has paid tribute to his 'beautiful girl'. Mrs Campbell, 37, died after falling at a fence during the International Horse Trials on Sunday. She was married to fellow equestrian Jesse Campbell, a member of the New Zealand team for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The pair joined personal and professional forces to create Team Campbell Eventing. In a post on a social media page for Team Campbell Eventing, Mr Campbell shared an image of his wife with the caption: 'I love you so, so much.' He added: 'This is my favorite photo of my beautiful wife. It's from our wedding day in 2021 and it was the best day ever. People will talk about G's smile, and it was incredible - it would make you feel like you were the centre of the universe. 'But what I love about this photo is how it captures her strength. She was a strong, beautiful, phenomenal woman who just loved everything and everyone. 'Working in the equestrian world is not an easy life; there are a lot of knocks and dark days. But G would navigate this by throwing so much joy and love at every situation. Georgie Campbell (left) was married to fellow equestrian Jesse Campbell (right) The equestrian couple are pictured on their wedding day in 2021 Mrs Campbell was initially a top-level show rider before turning to eventing 'She would get as much joy from having a Greggs tea on the way home from the gallops as she would teaching a client in the pouring rain or jumping and galloping around biggest courses in the world. It was just incredible to be at your side and feel this energy. 'I'm so proud to be your husband. Rest in peace, my beautiful girl.' Mrs Campbell was initially a top-level show rider before turning to eventing. She represented Great Britain numerous times on Nations Cup teams and appeared at several five-star events, the highest recognised level of eventing. In an Equine America interview last year, she cited winning the 4* Long in 2022 at Ligniers on Global Quest as a career highlight. On Sunday, Mrs Campbell and her horse, Global Quest, were competing in the CCI4*-S event on the cross-country course but sadly fell into the water at a fence. Medical professionals attended immediately but Mrs Campbell died at the scene. She competed in more than 200 events, winning on six occasions. In 2020, she married fellow event rider Mr Campbell. Mrs Campbell represented Great Britain numerous times on Nations Cup teams and appeared at several five-star events, the highest recognised level of eventing Mr Campbell said of his wife: 'I'm so proud to be your husband' Jesse Campbell has won 21 major New Zealand and International Eventing titles and sport awards in total Most notably, Mr Campbell was part of his country's equestrian team at the Tokyo Olympics. He runs Team Campbell, an equestrian group based near Lamberhurst in Kent. Mr Campbell is said to have developed competitive ambitions through Pony Club. Aged just 15, he was selected in New Zealand's eventing senior talent squad. Over the years, he worked with numerous thoroughbreds and notably developed several former racehorses into becoming advanced eventers. In 2009, he was invited to train in the UK and the following year then travelled to Sweden to train under renowned pair Lisen and Pedar Frederickson. After returning to the UK in 2011, Mr Campbell went on to establish his own yard. Mr Campbell was a member of New Zealand's Nations Cup team in 2013 and competed at the Swedish International Eventing grand prix in 2014. A successful four-star debut at Luhmuhlen followed in 2015. Mr Campbell, who has been similarly acclaimed in recent years, has won 21 major New Zealand and International Eventing titles and sport awards in total. He is now targeting a medal at the upcoming Paris Olympics this summer. He had been married to his wife for four years before her tragic passing. Donald Trump becomes the first ever former President of the United States to be convicted of a crime. A unanimous New York jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of illegally trying to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to stifle a sex scandal that he feared would derail his 2016 presidential campaign only days before America went to the polls. Paying the hush money was not in itself illegal but the prosecution successfully argued that it was designed to influence the outcome of the election a violation of election laws and, argued the prosecutors, the underlying crime. This is highly contentious territory especially since the trial heard next to nothing about campaign law violations which is why the guilty verdict will be immediately appealed. Trump's defense lawyers have 30 days to prepare an appeal. Guilty on 34 counts sounds worse than it is. It only refers to the number of instalments by which Trump arranged for his then lawyer and sleazy fixer, Michael Cohen, to be reimbursed for paying Daniels. Donald Trump becomes the first ever former President of the United States to be convicted of a crime. In the current sour mood in America, I would not rule out this rebounding to Trump's advantage. The prosecution argued convincingly that Trump and his people had covered up these repayments to hide their true purpose. But doctoring corporate book-keeping entries under New York law is only a misdemeanor or minor crime, usually involving just a slap on the wrist. It was linking the payments to a breach of campaign finance law which elevated the matter to proper criminality. For many observers the link is highly tenuous. It was barely discussed during the trial and nobody testified that such a link even existed. Those salivating at the prospect of Trump now doing jail time will have to be patient. Trump will not be held in remand pending sentencing. He is hardly a flight risk. It was a white-collar crime involving someone with no previous convictions. Jail would be an unusual outcome. But then this whole trial has been unusual. Sentencing will not take place until July 11, when Trump could face anything from probation to four years behind bars. But even if the judge decides on jail, the guilty verdict will be appealed and Trump will remain free until the appeal process is concluded. This will take a long time months, if not years certainly long enough to leave Trump free to campaign for president all the way through to polling day in November. He will be sentenced four days before the Republican convention opens in Milwaukee, where Trump will be crowned as the party's presidential candidate. By that time President Biden will have regularly referred to him as a 'convicted felon'. That could damage him among independent voters and non-MAGA republicans. But it will make no difference to his core vote. A unanimous New York jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of illegally trying to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels (pictured) to stifle a sex scandal that he feared would derail his 2016 presidential campaign. This is highly contentious territory. A short time after the verdict was delivered, the Trump campaign website went down, such was the volume of traffic trying to send donations. Within minutes of the verdict Trump was already declaring it a 'rigged' trial and a 'disgrace'. He will position himself as the victim of a political witch hunt organized by a Democratic Justice Department, a Democratic judge, a Democratic Manhattan prosecutor, and a Democratic New York jury. There have been enough oddities about the prosecution for this to have legs. Judge Juan Merchan, who has sole say in sentencing, was regarded by many (and not just Trump supporters) as unduly partisan, regularly overruling defense challenges and nearly always siding with the prosecution. Trump did not help matters by regularly attacking him. Even so, Merchan's judgments and the controversial conduct of the case will be at the core of the appeal process. But for now, and through to election day, the law takes a back seat and politics takes over. America will have to decide if Trump is, as his opponent and enemies will stigmatize him, a convicted criminal unfit for any public office, never mind the highest in the land. Or someone seriously traduced by a politicized legal system that undermines the credibility of America's justice system, making it more akin to a banana republic than a mature democracy. The Biden campaign is already saying the outcome shows nobody is above the law in America. Trump folks will argue that the convoluted legal shenanigans required to turn a misdemeanor into a felony was especially designed for Trump and would never have been deployed against anybody else. In the current sour mood in America, I would not rule out this rebounding to Trump's advantage. Whatever the justice of the jury's decision, he will be pumped up as never before. So will his supporters. The presidential election of 2024 has just caught fire. Australia will provide $20million to an energy support fund for Ukraine amid pleas for an urgent shipment of coal. Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Friday a $31million package for Ukraine's energy and humanitarian needs. Funds will be used to provide heat and electricity for Ukrainians as the conflict drags on into the European winter. The Albanese government has been criticised after a call for help by Kyiv went unanswered for six months. Ukraine has requested the coal shipment as Russia bombards its power plants with missile and drone strikes. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) met with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy (right) on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Lithuania last year An extra $10million of emergency humanitarian aid will go to the United Nations to increase access to essentials including water, food and shelter. An additional $1million will be provided to help rehabilitate and care for people with disabilities and war injuries. Senator Wong said the government remained unwavering in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty. 'Australia's $20million contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund will be used meet the highest priority energy needs and support the Ukrainian people,' she said. International Development Minister Pat Conroy said Australia was proud to stand with the Ukrainian people. 'The Australian government remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine and contributing alongside partner nations so that Ukraine can end this conflict on its terms.' Police will not return to the area where they found what is believed to be the phone of missing mum Samantha Murphy. On Wednesday, Victoria Police search crews were seen celebrating after finding a mobile phone beside a dam on farmland near where the mother-of-three's mobile phone last connected to a mobile tower in the Buninyong region. The dam sits about 15km from Ballarat East where Ms Murphy took off on her last run on February 4. A police officer picks-up a phone believed to be that of missing mum Samantha Murphy The phone appeared to contain identification within a wallet A police spokesperson confirmed the Missing Persons Squad had advised it will not be sending search crews back into the region on Thursday. 'There is no update on the forensic assessment of the items,' the spokesperson said. The decision to halt the search will come as a further blow to the Murphy family, who are yet to address the dramatic discovery of the mobile phone. While police remain tight-lipped about confirming the ownership of the recovered phone, police crews at the scene showed their delight at the find as a television helicopter captured the moment from above. Aerial footage from the scene showed officers locating the mud-splattered mobile phone in a wallet at the water's edge, prompting jubilant celebrations among detectives standing nearby. Video captured by the helicopter showed police hugging, backslapping and shaking hands as they examined the phone, which was contained in a wallet which appeared to still have identification cards inserted. Samantha and Mick Murphy in happier times Police divers scoured the dam under brutally cold conditions The dam sits next to a major road out of the region It is understood the phone had been located by a police tech detector dog. A team of police divers were then sent into the water to scour the small dam for any further possible evidence. Police were also seen using a metal detector to scan the edge of the water as an excavator was brought to clear a pathway through thick bush for investigators. The owner of the property, who wished to remain anonymous, said police contacted him about three weeks ago asking for permission to access his land. The man said officers returned on Wednesday where they told him they were going to perform a line search along the road. 'A dog found something on the banks and they came up and asked me and my wife to make a statement,' he said. A police tech dog (pictured) is believed to have made the discovery at the dam An excavator was used to clear blackberry bushes beside the dam on Wednesday Patrick Orren Stephenson is charged with Samantha Murphy's murder The man said police were interested in the levels of his dam. 'I hasn't seen anything suspicious out there. We don't have cameras. But yeah I believe one of those tech dogs found it,' he said. The man said detectives came and spoke to him about a month after Ms Murphy vanished, but only returned again in recent weeks. 'They just asked me if I'd seen anything suspicious,' he said. Police allege Ms Murphy was killed on the day she went missing in the Canadian State Forest but no trace of her has been found since she vanished. In early March, Ballarat man Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged with her murder. Police have launched multiple searches in bushland as part of its investigation since February. Last month, police brought in specialist cadaver dogs from New South Wales to scour the Victorian bush at multiple locations in dense scrub without success. Teams of officers focused their search within Enfield State Park, 30km south of Ballarat - but another search team was also working 25km away in thick scrub in the Durham Lead Nature Conservation Reserve. The Durham reserve is just a short distance from the dam where police recovered the phone on Wednesday. Stephenson is due to face court again on August 8 over the driving and murder charges. With both King Charles and his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, undergoing treatment for cancer, this has been a tough year for the Royal Family. Rarely has there been more need for an uplifting royal occasion the sort of thing that Trooping the Colour might provide in a fortnights time. The Kings Birthday Parade, as it is properly known, should be a chance to celebrate many of the things that we value most about the monarchy: the tradition, the connection to our Armed Forces and the sense of public service as well as the colour, pomp and pageantry. We saw only the 'working royals' and their families on the balcony last June Traditionally, Trooping has also been an opportunity to toast the extended Royal Family on the monarchs official birthday. Inviting minor royals to join her on the Buckingham Palace balcony had been the late Queen Elizabeths way of thanking relatives for their support. Meanwhile, the public enjoyed a glimpse into what was, in part, a private family occasion. Im sure I wasnt the only one who enjoyed seeing the younger royals and how theyd changed in the past 12 months. They added a dash of colour, youthful appeal and even glamour. However, the last time that happened was in 2019. It all changed when the Covid pandemic hit in the spring of 2020. National lockdowns were enforced, and Queen Elizabeth took part in drastically scaled-down ceremonies, alone. Trooping was temporarily moved from Horse Guards Parade to Windsor Castle. At least it saved Her Majesty from having to face the thorny question of what to do about the Sussexes and her beloved but disgraced second son, the Duke of York. When Trooping the Colour returned in 2022, it was a double celebration as the nation also marked the Queens Platinum Jubilee 70 years of her record-breaking reign. The Sussexes, who have quit royal duties, seen with Kate and William at an event in 2018 Prince Andrew's presence on the balcony with Charles would be an embarrassment. Here he is taking centre stage at the funeral of the former King of Greece in March Although all members of her family were invited to join the party, including Prince Harry and Meghan, as well as Prince Andrew, only working royals were invited to appear on the balcony. This meant that the Queen avoided offending either the Sussexes, who had quit royal duties, or Andrew, who had been stripped of them. Yet it also ended decades of tradition. The minor royals were now banished from view. For me, there was something slightly sad about the sparsely populated balcony that remained and still remains, as King Charles has decided to stick with this rather radical change after coming to the throne in 2022. Once again, we saw only the working royals and their families on the balcony last June. This included the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence as well as Prince Edward and Sophie. We also saw the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who have stepped into the breach in recent months, and the Duke of Kent. In my opinion, this year should mark a return to the former tradition. The King should invite all members of the extended Royal Family to join him and Queen Camilla when they step outside to acknowledge the crowds. What about Zara and Mike Tindall for example, who are so popular with the public? Or, the Duke of Kent's children, such as Lady Helen Taylor, or even the duke's glamorous granddaughters, Lady Amelia Windsor and her sister Lady Marina? All, that is, except for Prince Andrew, whose presence would be an embarrassment. And the Sussexes, whose inclusion would be an insult to the Royal Family and its millions of supporters. A full balcony would cheer the nation. It would be a fillip to the monarchy at a difficult time. It would be a powerful display of unity and strength. READ MORE: Bionic MP is given standing ovation in the House of Commons Human hands have had 10 digits for millions of years. But it seems scientists at the University of Cambridge don't think this is quite sufficient. The experts have created the 'Third Thumb' a controllable prosthetic that attaches to edge of the right hand. It lets wearers pick up objects, open drinks bottles, sift through playing cards, peel a banana and even thread a needle all with just one hand. In their study, human volunteers quickly got used to the extra digit which could 'advance our motor capabilities beyond current biological limitations'. The Third Thumb is worn on the opposite side of the palm to a person's real thumb and controlled by a pressure sensor placed under each big toe. Both toe sensors, which are wirelessly connected to the thumb, control different movements by immediately responding to subtle changes in pressure from the toes Designer Dani Clode, a research technician at UCL's Plasticity Lab, (pictured), began developing Third Thumb as part of a graduate project at the Royal College of Art How does it work? Everyday tasks like peeling a banana become possible with one hand Third Thumb is worn on the opposite side of the palm to the real thumb Its connected to a sensor on the wrist that links wirelessly to a strap around the ankle Microcontrollers in the ankle strap are connected to pressure sensors under the big toes Pressure from the right toe pulls the prosthetic digit across the hand and pressure exerted with the left toe pulls it towards the fingers Advertisement The study was led by researchers at the University of Cambridge's MRC Cognition and Brain Science Unit and published in Science Robotics. Although they don't see a future where humans naturally 'develop extra thumbs' due to evolution, their robotic version can make people's lives easier. It could be particularly valuable to amputees who have, for example, lost an arm, and have difficulty performing everyday tasks with just one hand. 'Our everyday lives are already consumed by wearable technologies and we are now seeing an increasing number of specifically augmentation technologies be developed,' study author Lucy Dowdall told MailOnline. 'The Third Thumb can be used to extend the function of the hand so any task requiring carrying multiple objects at a time, or stabilising one item whilst performing a task with another.' Designer Dani Clode, a research technician at UCL's Plasticity Lab, began developing Third Thumb as part of a graduate project at the Royal College of Art. The Third Thumb is worn on the opposite side of the palm to a person's real thumb and controlled by a pressure sensor placed under each big toe. Both toe sensors, which are wirelessly connected to the thumb, control different movements by immediately responding to subtle changes in pressure from the toes. Pressure from the right toe pulls the prosthetic digit across the hand, while the pressure exerted with the left toe pulls it towards the fingers and releasing pressure moves it back to its original position. It lets wearers pick up objects, open drinks bottles, sift through playing cards and even peel a banana all with just one hand The additional digit could 'advance our motor capabilities beyond current biological limitations' the experts believe Cambridge researchers have shown that people have little trouble in learning very quickly how to use a third thumb - a controllable, prosthetic extra thumb In their study, the team tested 596 participants, ranging in age from three to 96 years old, who were given up to a minute to familiarise themselves with the device. The thumb was provided in different sizes so they could fit the hands of children and adults. The participants performed two tasks firstly, picking up pegs and putting them in a basket, and secondly, manipulating and moving five or six different foam objects of various sizes. Overall, the thumb was successfully worn and controlled by 99.3 per cent of the sample, the researchers found. And 98 per cent of participants were able to successfully manipulate objects using the Third Thumb during the first minute of use. Older and younger adults had a similar level of ability when using the device, although further investigation just within the older adults age bracket revealed a decline in performance with increasing age. A user supports a coffee cup with the Third Thumb, whilst stirring a spoon with their other fingers - freeing up the other hand for other activities A person supporting a needle with Third Thumb, whilst threading thread through it with their other fingers Third Thumb was provided in different sizes so they could fit the hands of children and adults 'This effect could be due to the general degradation in sensorimotor and cognitive abilities that is associated with aging,' the team say. 'In addition, these effects could also reflect a generational relationship to technology.' The thumb is 'not commercially available' and it's unclear when or how the academics could make their device available to the public, or how much it would cost. But they hope it 'may pave the way for establishing a benchmark' for other 'inclusive' human-centred devices. 'Future augmentation technologies could have an extensive influence on society and be beneficial to many people,' they write. Pagans in eastern Europe imported horses hundreds of miles for cruel ritual sacrifices 700 years ago, a new study reveals. Horses that were killed and buried in modern-day Poland and Lithuania originally came from Sweden and Finland, analysis of horse teeth shows. As part of a roaring equine trade, the animals would have been transported southwards on ships across the Baltic Sea. Researchers say the poor animals were then decapitated or even buried alive in small pits between the 1st to the 13th centuries AD. Historically, pagans sacrificed animals and even other humans as gifts to the gods, often in the hope they'd been rewarded with fruitful harvests. Horses were imported from Sweden and Finland to eastern Europe - modern-day Poland and Lithuania - by pagans for the sole purpose of being sacrificed between the 1st to the 13th centuries AD Horses were decapitated or even buried alive in small pits as a gift to the gods, between the 1st to the 13th centuries AD. This drawing depicts a sacrificial horse pit at Paprotki Kolonia, Poland Why were horses sacrificed? Horse sacrifices were common public rites among pagans in prehistoric Europe. The cruel ritual killings persisted among Baltic tribes up to the 14th century AD. Offering pits might include multiple horses, single complete horses, or partial animals. Advertisement The study was led by Dr Katherine French, formerly of Cardiff Universitys school of history and archaeology and now based at Washington State University. 'This research dismantles previous theories that locally-procured stallions were exclusively selected for sacrifice,' she said. 'Given the unexpected prevalence of mares, we believe the prestige of the animal, coming from afar, was a more important factor in why they were chosen for this rite.' Dr French and colleagues analysed horse remains found in nine graves across the Baltic region spanning modern-day Poland and Lithuania, as well as the Russian province of Kaliningrad. The researchers say horse sacrifice persisted across this region, as attested by the numerous graves, which date from the 1st to 13th centuries AD. The animals would have been killed as part of a 'bloody, macabre public spectacle', often involving 'decapitation, flaying and halving or quartering of horses' with weapons, or even burying them alive. Horses were imported from overseas to be sacrificed in western Europe. This images is a reconstruction of the ritual sacrifice of a horse at Paprotki Kolonia, modern Poland Researchers analysed horse remains found in nine graves across the Baltic region (marked by coloured squares in this map). The academics knew the horses were buried here, but where did they originally come from? Dr Katherine French - formerly of Cardiff University and now based at Washington State University - investigates a horse mandible to select a dental sample at the University of Biaystok, Poland The researchers used a technique called 'strontium isotope analysis' that looked for chemical signatures in horse teeth from 74 animals to identify where they had originated. These chemical signatures locked in the hard enamel of their teeth reveal traces of soil and plants that the horses would have consumed early in life, which in turn can reveal specific locations. Up to now, researchers had believed sacrificial horses were always locally-sourced stallions (males). But the results reveal that the horses killed and buried in the Baltic region were imported up to 930 miles (1,500 km) from Sweden and Finland. The origin of the horses varied depending on the burial sites, and there were some horses that were locally sourced too. For example, horses sacrificed between the 1st and 5th centuries tended to be locally sourced, but after this there was a 'marked increase' in foreign horses. This map shows the potential origins of horses that were buried in one site (Marvele 176 in Lithuania) The findings also show that the sex of the horse was not necessarily a factor in them being chosen for sacrifice. Genetic analysis showed one in three imported horses were female challenging previous assumptions that they were always male. Interestingly, researchers think the pagans sourced the horses from Christians in Sweden and Finland, showing the two religions cooperated on the animal trade. 'Pagan Baltic tribes were clearly sourcing horses overseas from their Christian neighbours while simultaneously resisting converting to their religion' said co-author Dr Richard Madgwick at Cardiff University. 'This revised understanding of horse sacrifice highlights the dynamic, complex relationship between Pagan and Christian communities at that time.' The study has been published in Science Advances. READ MORE: First dugout canoe in Wisconsin lake was discovered in 2021 A prehistoric discovery of at least 11 ancient canoes found at the bottom of a Wisconsin lake could lead archaeologists to a long-lost village. The Wisconsin Historical Society uncovered the boats in the state's northerner Lake Mendota, which date between 4,500 years to 800 years old. Artifacts like fishing nets and tools were also found among the preserved vessels that were each made from a single tree. The canoes were also discovered along a shoreline that has since been submerged, suggesting a previously unknown civilization once thrived in the area. A prehistoric discovery of at least 11 ancient canoes found at the bottom of a Wisconsin lake could lead archaeologists to a long-lost village. Pictured is a 3,000-year-old boat in its original resting place 'Seeing these canoes with one's own eyes is a powerful experience, and they serve as a physical representation of what we know from extensive oral traditions that Native scholars have passed down over generations,' said Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation Bill Quackenbush. 'We are excited to learn all we can from this site using the technology and tools available to us, and to continue to share the enduring stories and ingenuity of our ancestors.' While the Ho-Chunk tribe once lived in the area surrounding Lake Mendota, the Paleo-Indian people were the earliest inhabitants arriving around 12,000 years ago - the Ho-Chunk tribe migrated there no earlier than 800AD. The boats are known as dugout canoes because each was constructed out of a single tree. After cutting the tree and sculpting the canoe, natives would burn the seating area and scrape out the charcoal with stone tools to create a softer feel on the inside. Archaeologists have been excavating the lake since 2021, uncovering a 1,200-year-old boat about 15 feet long, which was found with ancient fishing nets. The boat was discovered 30 feet below the surface. The teams pulled each canoe out from the water for a deeper analysis, but are not removing additional boats in fear of ruining them The Wisconsin Historical Society uncovered the boats in the state's northerner Lake Mendota, which date between 4,500 years to 800 years old. Pictured is a 3,000-year-old canoe While the Ho-Chunk tribe once lived in the area surrounding Lake Mendota, the Paleo-Indian people were the earliest inhabitants arriving around 12,000 years ago. The boats may have belonged to the ancient civilization Amy Rosebrough, Staff Archaeologist for the Wisconsin Historical Society, told DailyMail.com in 2021: 'The canoe was used for fishing on the lakes, since we found a group of 'netsinkers' inside. 'These items would have weighted down the lower end of a floating fishing net or anchored fishing lines.' The canoe first appeared like a log sticking out from the surface, but archaeologists decided to conduct a further analysis with underwater scooters and scuba divers, revealing the historic find. A year later, the team pulled a 14-foot-long boat from the depths that dated back 3,000 years. 'Radiocarbon dating results indicated the oldest canoe in the Lake Mendota cache is approximately 4,500 years oldmaking it the oldest dugout canoe now recorded in the Great Lakesdating back to around 2500BC and constructed of Elm,' the team shared in the announcement. The four oldest of the canoes date back to the Late Archaic period, from 1000BC to 700AD, and two where from the Middle Woodland period that spanned from 1000AD to 1400AD. The canoes were found with rocks meticulously placed on top while below the surface, which experts speculated was done to ensure the boats did not warp during the winter months Archaeologists have been investigating Lake Mendota (pictured) since 2021 The dating technique also determined that up to four canoes dated to the Late Woodland period - around 1000BC. And the most recent was found to be around 800 years old, from the Oneota period, constructed of Red Oak and dating back to around 1250 AD. Ash, White Oak, Cottonwood and White Oak were other tree species used to build the ancient boats. The canoes were found with rocks meticulously placed on top while below the surface, which experts speculated was done to ensure the boats did not warp during the winter months. The boats are known as dugout canoes because each was constructed out of a single tree. After cutting the tree and sculpting the canoe, natives would burn the seating area and scrape out the charcoal with stone tools to create a softer feel on the inside Ash, White Oak, Cottonwood and White Oak were other tree species used to build the ancient boats The recovery team used floatation bags to the lift the boats from the lake floor and floated them underneath the water to the beach until they reached the shore The recovery team used floatation bags to the lift the boats from the lake floor and floated them underneath the water to the beach until they reached the shore. 'It was important to limit the amount of time the canoe was exposed to the open air in order to prevent physical deterioration,' said Rosebrough. 'We have a lot to learn from the Mendota canoe site, and the research happening today allows us to better understand and share the stories of the people who lived here and had a thriving culture here since time immemorial,' said Larry Plucinski, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. The Wisconsin Historical Society is not planning to recover other canoes from the site due to their fragile condition after weathering long-term exposure to natural elements, and later, manmade conditions such as water pollution and boating wakes. 'It is an honor for our team to work alongside the Native Nations to document, research and share these incredible stories from history,' Rosebrough said in regards to the 2024 announcement. 'What we thought at first was an isolated discovery in Lake Mendota has evolved into a significant archaeological site with much to tell us about the people who lived and thrived in this area over thousands of years and also provides new evidence for major environmental shifts over time.' READ MORE: A little bit of stress can be good for our brain , study suggests Going on and on about how stressed you are at work may help you get a load off your chest. But if you often indulge in so-called 'stress bragging', your colleagues might think less of you for it, a new study suggests. According to experts in the US, employees who complain about being stressed a lot are perceived as less competent and less likeable in the workplace. These 'stress braggarts' may be trying to get sympathy or respect for being under a lot of pressure or having a heavy workload but this tactic can backfire. Although research suggests a little bit of stress can be good for you, high stress levels have been linked with mental health issues, high blood pressure, digestive problems and much more. In the workplace, some people 'wear stress as a badge of honour' - but this can make them seem less likeable What is stress bragging? 'Stress bragging' is the act of complaining about how stressed you are to your colleagues. Psychologists consider it a mechanism for people to cope with high levels of stress and possibly get sympathy or respect. The study by Rodell et al. found stress bragging has 'resoundingly negative implications for braggarts'. In the workplace, they are evaluated as less competent and less warm by coworkers. Advertisement The new study was conducted by psychologists at University of Georgia's Terry College of Business and published in Personnel Psychology. 'This is a behavior we've all seen, and we all might be guilty of at some point,' said lead author Professor Jessica Rodell. 'When I was wondering about why people do this, I thought maybe we are talking about our stress because we want to prove we're good enough. 'We found out that often backfires. "People are harming themselves by doing this thing they think is going to make them look better to their colleagues.' Professor Rodell and colleagues conducted their study in two phases, starting with an initial survey of 360 participants who compared statements from imaginary co-workers who just returned from a conference. In the survey, a hypothetical stress-bragging colleague described the conference as 'just one more thing on my full plate and I was already stressed to the max', adding 'you have no idea the stress that I am under'. Participants rated that person as significantly less likable and less competent than someone who talked about how great the conference was, as well as someone who was stressed but less vocal about it. The participants also said they would be less likely to help the complaining co-worker if they were overburdened at work. Stress is commonly linked with emotional exhaustion and poor mental health both in and out of the workplace (file photo) In the second part of the study, another 218 participants also judged real-life 'stress braggarts' as less competent and likeable. But the experts also found colleagues of stress braggarts often had higher levels of personal stress and burnout too. The team say stress spreads like a contagion from one person to the next when people are vocal about it. 'When somebody is constantly talking about and bragging about their stress, it makes it seem like it is a good thing to be stressed,' Professor Rodell said. 'It just spills over onto the co-worker next to them. 'They wind up feeling more stressed, which leads to higher burnout or withdrawal from their work. 'Think of it as this spiraling contagious effect from one person to the next.' An important distinction in the findings was that the people who were perceived at stressed (but didn't brag about it) weren't judged badly. 'It's not the being stressed part that's a problem,' Professor Rodell added. 'We found that if I perceive you as stressed, I actually see you as more competent.' The researchers say they've provide greater insight into the 'relational ramifications of this unconventional behaviour'. University of Georgia researchers previously found a little bit of stress can be good for your brain specifically, the working memory. Humans have a sweet spot known as the 'hormetic zone' where stress can actually improve cognitive functioning - but if stress gets too high it can have a 'toxic' effect on our brain The working memory is the mental 'notepad' that contains fleeting thoughts and is responsible for the temporarily holding and processing of information. The 'potential neurocognitive benefits' caused by stress are less investigated than the detrimental effects, they reported at the time. However, health experts generally warn that chronic stress leads to negative mental and physical effects, like anxiety, depression, digestive problems, high blood pressure, tiredness and more. North America's oldest lake has turned green this month, sparking health concerns among officials. California authorities issued a health alert Friday after the 500,000-year-old Clear Lake became infested with harmful blue-green algae. The algae can release toxins, like microcystin, which irritate the skin and can cause kidney and liver damage if ingested. And while the bloom is naturally occurring, it has become worst in recent years due to mining and sewage runoff. NASA 's Landsat 9 satellite captured an image showing North America's oldest lake had turned green (pictured) Clear Lake is located roughly 60 miles north of San Francisco Bay and attracts a wide array of fish and birds, making it a popular location for wildlife enthusiasts, but the shallow and tepid waters also make it an ideal breeding spot for algal blooms. Algae has an important role of keeping lakes fertile and healthy by preventing the sun's rays from reaching the lakebed which in turn, reduces the water weeds which would block out the oxygen, effectively choking the lake. NASA, which captured the bloom from space, reported that the poor water quality comes directly from 'run-off from nearby farms, vineyards, faulty septic systems, gravel mines, and an abandoned open-pit mercury mine.' If there are enough pollutants in the water, blue-green algae can release microcystin when it dies, making it easy for swimmers to ingest the toxin. When the microcystin breaks open in the stomach, it can cause serious health problems - from rashes and diarrhea to vomiting, respiratory problems, liver damage and neurological effects. The toxin can also lead to neurological problems when it crosses the blood-brain barrier and enters the brain. Lake Clear (pictured) has more than 130 algae species - three of which could contain harmful toxins like mycocystin. This toxin can cause liver and kidney failure or respiratory issues Historical accounts show that the lake was relatively clear through 1925 but an increase in 'erosion, fertilizer and wastewater discharges due to urban and agricultural development were the probable causes of increased blue-green algal growth' As of May 25, the microcystin measurements weren't available, NASA reported, but even if the toxins aren't present in the algae, the abundance could still devastate aquatic life. 'Bacteria consumes oxygen as they break down dead phytoplankton, which can cause hypoxia and dead zones,' NASA said. Historical accounts show that the lake was relatively clear through 1925 but an increase in 'erosion, fertilizer and wastewater discharges due to urban and agricultural development' from that year through 1939 'were the probable causes of increased blue-green algal growth,' the Lake County government website said. As the algae forms along the shoreline, it can start to die and decay, giving off a bright green hue and creating a sewage-like odor. The lake has long contained high levels of algae since the last Ice Age which ended about 10,000 years ago. An 1873 account from biologist Livingston Stone confirmed that the lake is no novice when it comes to algal blooms. 'It is a singular fact ... that the water of Clear Lake is never clear,' Stone told Congress at the time, according to the Lake County government website. 'It is so cloudy, to use a mild word, that you cannot see three feet below the surface,' he said. 'The color of the water is a yellowish brown, varying indefinitely with the varying light. The water has an earthy taste, like swamp-water, and is suggestive of moss and water plants. 'In fact, the bottom of the lake, except in deep places, is covered with a deep, dense moss, which sometimes rises to the surface, and often to such an extent in summer as to seriously obstruct the passage of boats through the water.' His descriptions are comparable to the conditions Clear Lake has experienced over the last 20 years as environmental conditions have worsened. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned there isn't a way to slow or stop harmful algae from growing because it is a 'natural process.' The only steps agencies can take is to develop tools and forecasts that identify harmful blooms and the NOAA said it is already studying harmful algal blooms (HABs) to find ways 'to mitigate their effects, and to provide early warning for when and where blooms will occur.' DailyMail.com has reached out to NASA for comment. The long-lost sarcophagus belonging to ancient Egypt's most powerful pharaoh has been found more than 3,000 years after his death. Archaeologists re-examined a mysterious granite burial found under the floor of a religious center in east-central Egypt, finding it belonged to Ramesses II. Dubbed Ramses the Great, his reign from 1279 to 1213BC saw colossal statues and buildings erected in what was marked as the last peak of Egypt's imperial power. The remains of a high priest were originally found in the sarcophagus, but that new discovery has suggested he removed the pharaoh's mummy and coffin to reuse the burial. Archaeologists re-examined a mysterious granite burial found under the floor of a religious center in east-central Egypt, finding it belonged to Ramses II Egyptologist Frederic Payraudeau, a teacher and researcher at Sorbonne University in France, made the discovery this month after taking another look at a fragment of granite discovered in Abydos back in 2009. He determined that the stone, measuring five feet long and three inches thick, featured an overlooked engraving that read 'of Ramses II himself,' according to a translated statement from France's National Center for Scientific Research. 'When I read these results, I was overcome with doubt. I asked my American colleague if I could re-study the file, which he accepted given the complexity of this case,' said Payraudeau. 'My colleagues believed that the cartouche preceded by the word 'king' designated the high priest Menkheperre who governed southern Egypt around 1000 BC. 'However, this cartridge actually dated from the previous engraving and therefore designated its first owner.' He continued to explain that engravings of the Book of Doors, an initiatory story reserved for kings during the time of the Ramses, was also featured on the sarcophagus. Ramses II's mummy was fist uncovered in 1818 with the other royal mummies in the Deir el Bahari hiding place The overlooked engravings revealed the coronation name of Ramses II, but was masked by the condition of the stone. Researchers created a drawing of the original engravings 'The royal cartouche contains the coronation name of Ramses II, which is specific to him, but this was masked by the condition of the stone and by a second engraving, added during the reuse,' Payraudeau said. Archaeologists have long known that Ramses II was buried in a golden coffin, stolen in Antiquity, and moved to an alabaster sarcophagus that was later destroyed. The thousands of pieces were placed inside the large granite sarcophagus that was stolen 200 years later by Menkheperre for reuse. 'This discovery is new proof that at this time, the Valley of the Kings was the subject not only of looting but also of the reuse of funerary objects by subsequent sovereigns, said Payraudeau. Ramses II was the most powerful and celebrated ruler of ancient Egypt. Known by his successors as the 'Great Ancestor,' he led several military expeditions and expanded the Egyptian Empire to stretch from Syria in the east to Nubia in the south. Dubbed Ramesses the Great, his reign from 1279 to 1213BC saw colossal statues and buildings erected in what is marked as the last peak of Egypt's imperial power Ramses II is known for constructing colossal statues of himself He was the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Scientists from Egypt and England recreated Ramses II's face in 2022 using a 3D model of his skull to rebuild his features. They then reversed the aging process, turning back the clock almost half a century to reveal his face at the height of his powers. The result is the first 'scientific facial reconstruction' of the pharaoh based on a CT scan of his skull. Sahar Saleem of Cairo University, who created the 3D model of the skull, said the outcome had revealed a 'very handsome' ruler. 'My imagination of the face of Ramesses II was influenced by his mummy's face,' said Saleem. 'However, the facial reconstruction helped to put a living face on the mummy. 'I find the reconstructed face is a very handsome Egyptian person with facial features characteristic of Ramesses II the pronounced nose, and strong jaw.' Scientists from Egypt and England recreated Ramses II's face in 2022 using a 3D model of his skull to rebuild his features Sahar Saleem of Cairo University, who created the 3D model of the skull, said the outcome had revealed a 'very handsome' ruler Caroline Wilkinson, director of the Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University, which rebuilt the pharaoh's visage, described the scientific process. She said: 'We take the computer tomography (CT) model of the skull, which gives us the 3D shape of the skull that we can take into our computer system. 'Then we have a database of pre-modeled facial anatomy that we import and then alter to fit the skull. 'So we're basically building the face, from the surface of the skull to the surface of the face, through the muscle structure, and the fat layers, and then finally the skin layer.' She continued: 'We all have more or less the same muscles from the same origins with the same attachments. 'Because each of us has slightly different proportions and shape to our skull, you'll get slightly different shapes and proportions for muscles, and that will directly influence the shape of a face.' The project is the second of its kind overseen by Sahar recently, after a scientific reconstruction of Tutankhamun's face completed by royal sculptor, Christian Corbet. For the professor, the process helps restore the humanity of the mummies. She said: 'Putting a face on the king's mummy will humanize him and create a bond, as well as restore his legacy. 'King Ramesses II was a great warrior who ruled Egypt for 66 years and initiated the world's first treaty. Love Island will make a much-anticipated return to TV screens on Monday June 3, as the popular show returns for a new series. Since first being broadcast in 2015, Love Island has proved to be a hit with viewers year upon year. Although the show has been popular with viewers for nearly a decade, there have been some questionable editing moments picked out by eagle-eyed watchers - leading them to question if the show is as authentic as it is portrayed to be. Ahead of the new series of Love Island, here is a look at some of the biggest editing blunders since the show began. Laura's glass mysteriously switches places during Jack's untimely dumping The show was notoriously hit with fix claims by regular viewers in 2018, after they noticed that Laura Anderson's wine glass mysteriously moved from behind a cushion to the table when she was dumped by Jack Fowler in heartbreaking scenes. While she was seen to fiddle with her glass, as he rounded out his speech, the vessel moved from being next to her to sitting on the table in front of them. Speaking after the incident, a spokesperson for the show admitted that this particular clip, like others in the show, was edited. They told MailOnline: 'We can't show everything that happens due to time constraints, so of course the show is edited. What is seen is an accurate and fair representation of what has happened in the villa.' Sources added: 'There is nothing more to this than the fact that Laura will have been sipping her drink throughout the conversation, and yes naturally it will have been longer in reality but owing to time constraints has to be edited down.' Ghost hand One of the most famed howlers from last year's series involved theappearance of a mystery hand while Scott Van Der Sluis and Molly Smith could be seen soaking up the sun together One of the most famed editing howlers from last year's series involved the bizarre appearance of a mystery hand while Scott Van Der Sluis and Molly Smith could be seen soaking up the sun together. Although Molly was in the same camera shot as Scott, she was not close enough to be touching him. What makes the incident all the more bizarre is that the hand does not appear to have an arm attached, something that concerned and confused fans in equal measure. In similar fashion to the incident involving Laura's wine glass, it caused fans to accuse the show of being unnecessarily edited. With this in mind, one user on X, formerly Twitter, posted a warning to fellow viewers at the time, as they wrote: 'This should probably be a reminder to everyone that this show is heavily edited and not to take things so seriously.' Jack and Georgia kissing scandal Georgia Steel caused chaos when she kissed Jack Fowler at the end of a date, only to admit that the kiss was filmed more than once Jack Fowler was at the centre of another infamous Love Island controversy after Georgia Steel caused friction in the villa when she picked Jack, who was coupled up with Laura, to go on a date with her. She then caused chaos when she kissed him at the end of the date, only to admit that the kiss was filmed more than once. 'There was so much going on in the day I didn't really know what was going on at that time I just kind of do what I wanna do and they get different angles,' she said. 'I honestly don't remember. I have no idea because there's so much going on then I'm just focusing on how many times I've gotta do whatever I've gotta do. Was it more than twice? Yeah,' she admitted. However, Georgia was also quick to defend the ITV2 show, pointing out: 'At the end of the day it's a television programme but if anyone was real in that villa it's me and I was completely how I am, I did what I feel.' 'It is a TV programme, things have to get filmed in different angles to get put on television, that's how television works. But, nothing is fake, nothing is said that is staged, it's all to do with how you feel.' Mary's hair going from being down to tied up in a split second On the 2021 edition of the show, another glaring error was spotted by fans, when they noticed that Mary Bedford's hair went from being down to tied up in a matter of seconds After Abi came over and the camera looked at Mary again, her hair was up- a change in her appearance that could not have occurred in the split second between the two shots On the 2021 edition of the show, another glaring error was spotted by fans, when they noticed that Mary Bedford's hair went from being down to tied up in a matter of seconds. The incident came in an episode where Toby was unable to decide if he wanted to be coupled up with Mary, Abi or Chloe - which he was deliberating over when a glaring error in the editing process occurred. The camera had panned to Mary when Toby was conversing with the boys about her showing that her hair was down. Suddenly, after Abi came over and the camera looked at Mary again, her hair was up- a change in her appearance that could not have occurred in the split second between the two shots. Smooching sounds leave viewers in horror Viewers of the summer series that aired in 2019 were begging producers to 'turn the sound off' after Harley Brush and Chris Taylor shared their first kiss. While many fans were delighted to see the pair take their romance to the next level, some took to social media to lament their loud exchange. It came as Chris' luck finally seems to be changing as he pursues a romance with blonde beauty Harley, as he moved in for the kill after asking if she was a 'spontaneous' person. Some fans struggled to watch the exchange due to the kissing sounds, with one even begging producers to turn the volume down. Wrapped up in the kiss, the couple smothered each other in caresses as their romance heated up under the twinkling fairy lights. Zara's false eyelashes fall off It appeared as though she had taken them off, only for them to reappear later on in the scene During one of the evening challenges, Zara Lackenby-Brown's false eyelashes appeared to be falling off in one clip Another big blunder by the Love Island filming crew occurred during the 2023 winter series, which was filmed in South Africa in March of that year. During one of the evening challenges, Zara Lackenby-Brown's false eyelashes appeared to be falling off in one clip. It appeared as though she had taken them off, only for them to reappear later on in the scene. One TikTok user, who spotted the editing error, wrote: 'Have they just edited the questions in the wrong order? 'Or have they edited her reaction there to make it look worse than it is? Definitely starting to think they're making Zara out to be worse than she is.' He's had a strained relationship with his six children splitting with Angelina Jolie A source says Brad, 60, is looking to repair his relationship with Shiloh, 18 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's daughter Shiloh celebrated her milestone 18th birthday this month - but the occasion also served as an important turning point for the actor, who believes his child's first steps into adulthood will give him the chance to repair their broken bond. Pitt, 60, has had a strained relationship with the six children he shares with his ex-wife, Angelina, 48, since the A-listers called it quits in 2016, with DailyMail.com revealing earlier this month that the couple's former bodyguard had accused the actress of trying to poison their kids' bond with their father. Now, a source close to the star has told DailyMail.com that the actor is 'confident' he can strengthen his relationship with budding dancer Shiloh, who turned 18 on May 27, because she is now legally an adult, and therefore free to make her own decisions about the time they spend together. 'Now that Shiloh is 18, she can make up her own mind as far as how she wants her relationship with her father to develop,' the insider said. The source went on to say that since the couple split, the Maleficent actress has made sure their children have had 'limited involvement' with their father. Brad Pitt, 60, is looking to repair his relationship with daughter Shiloh, 18. The father-daughter duo are pictured in 2014 Shiloh is pictured in 2021 with mom Angelina, 48, and siblings Maddox, Vivienne, Knox and Zahara. She also has an older brother, Pax 'It is still that way with the underage ones, but with Shiloh that is no longer Angie's choice,' they continued. 'If Shiloh chooses to have limited contact with her dad, that is her decision.' The source said that Pitt would still 'love her unconditionally,' no matter what she chose to do. 'The difference between now and [a few] days ago [before her birthday] is that Shiloh makes the choice,' they pointed out. The insider continued saying that now he can contact his daughter without repercussions from Jolie. 'Everyone is confident that they will, in time, rekindle the bond that was broken by the divorce,' they said confidently. 'Keeping Shiloh from Brad is no longer an option for Angelina.' Meanwhile, a second source told DailyMail.com that Brad would 'never stand down' from his duties as a father and will 'always' be just a phone call away if his children want to get a hold of him. 'That is just the maturity he has within himself and the guy Brad is and always has been,' they explained. The insider continued: 'As the kids get older and are able to make more decisions for themselves, if it is Shiloh or anyone else, if those decisions pose a positive or negative outlook on the father he wants to be, he understands that they are adults and can decide what they want to do.' The source declared that Pitt was 'first and foremost' about being there for his kids. 'Angie can make them think differently but the truth is, Brad always wants them to know that he has their back,' they said, adding the truth 'always seems to find a way to find itself to the forefront.' 'Brad never wants to regret, so when he is 70, 80, or 90, he would always love to see his kids and have a relationship with them. 'He would love Shiloh to start making her own decisions and him to be in the mix for her future, so he just has to see what happens and hope for the best.' DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for both Pitt and Jolie for comment. The couple separated in 2016 after two years of marriage. Their union ended on a contentious note, and their children appear to have taken sides. Pictured in 2015 In addition to Shiloh, the Mr and Mrs Smith actors share sons Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19 and twins Vivienne and Knox, 15. Pictured with their brood in 2011 Shiloh (seen with her mother in 2021) is a budding dancer and has recently earned viral fame for her impressive performances in social media videos The exes have since been embroiled in not only a contentious custody battle since they split, but also have also argued over the circumstances under which their relationship ended and their ongoing business affairs. Keeping the kids close has been difficult for Pitt, who had been on the outs with his children since he split from Jolie. The couple separated in 2016 after two years of marriage. Their union ended on a contentious note, and their children appear to have taken sides, straining the relationship with their father. In addition to Shiloh, the Mr and Mrs Smith stars share sons Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 15. Earlier in May, a source alleged the Hollywood actress of trying to drive a wedge between her estranged husband and their six kids in the aftermath of their split, according to court filings lodged at LA Superior Court. In an explosive declaration seen by DailyMail.com, a ex-bodyguard for the couple, former British SAS solider Tony Webb, claimed he was informed by his own contractors that Jolie was pushing for her children to avoid Pitt when she had custody of them. Documents submitted to the court, seen by DailyMail.com, state Webb's colleague told him he overheard Jolie 'encouraging the children to avoid spending time with Pitt during custody visits.' In April, DailyMail.com reported that the 48-year-old actress and mother-of-six accused her 60-year-old estranged spouse of being physically and emotionally abusive before the private jet incident in 2016. The court papers claimed that Jolie had evidence of 'Pitt's history of physical abuse of the family and control abuse of Jolie' and alleged the children continued to experience 'significant and ongoing post-traumatic stress.' Pitt has denied all allegations of physical abuse and was not charged following an FBI probe into the incident on the flight. In March this year, DailyMail.com reported that the couple was finally approaching the finish line in their epic legal war, with an end expected by the summer after the actor reportedly dropped his pursuit seeking shared custody. While Pitt had originally sought a 50/50 arrangement relating to their six kids, an insider revealed that he was no longer contesting the matter. That means that Jolie would retain primary physical custody of the children and he would have visitation rights. One factor in that decision was that much of their brood had 'aged out' - only Knox, and Vivienne, both 15, are still under 18. In a statement given to DailyMail.com in relation to the ongoing legal battle with Pitt, her lawyer, Paul Murphy, said earlier this month: 'Angelina looks forward to the eventual end of this litigation with its false narratives that continue to hurt the family and interfere with their ability to heal.' Back in 2020, Pax called Brad a 'world class a**hole' and 'despicable person' who made his four youngest children 'tremble in fear' on his Instagram account Adopted son Pax allegedly hasn't spoken to the Fight Club alum since the now-infamous private plane fight which ended the marriage, and is said to not even regard Brad as a parent anymore. Back in 2020, on his private Instagram account, he called Brad a 'world class a**hole' and 'despicable person' who made his four youngest children 'tremble in fear,' as previously revealed by DailyMail.com. He added in the scathing post, shared on Father's Day: 'You time and time and again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person. 'You have no consideration or empathy toward your four youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence. 'You will never understand the damage you have done to my family because you're incapable of doing so.' In addition, Zahara now goes by 'Zahara Jolie' rather than 'Zahara Jolie Pitt,' which is her legal name. Brazzaville, Congo (PANA) International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff has reached staff-level agreement on the Fifth Review of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for the Republic of Congo and completed the 2024 Article IV consultation Kylie Jenner reveals she hangs out with former BFF Jordyn Woods approximately once a month in a new episode of The Kardashians. Kylie, 26, came over to pay Khloe, 39, a visit, so she can fill her in on everything that happened at Paris Fashion Week, since Khloe didn't go. Khloe says in confession, 'I did not go to Paris for Fashion Week this year, but that does not mean that I don't have FOMO, so I cannot wait to get the full down-low from Kylie, and I love catching up from her.' Khloe asks how Paris was, saying she looks incredible, as Kylie said it was great, adding that she saw her Jordyn Woods, 26, there, Kylie's former bestie that had an affair with Khloe's ex Tristan Thompson while he was dating Khloe, back in February 2019. 'I saw Jordyn again in Paris. It was fun. I think we have like a lot more like healthy distance in the relationship. Now it's like, we talk once a month. I think what I do love now is that the narrative about us online is also over. Like when we were seen leaving that restaurant, it was a story for a day or two days or whatever, and then now it's like over.' Kylie Jenner reveals she hangs out with former BFF Jordyn Woods approximately once a month in a new episode of The Kardashians Khloe says in confession, 'I did not go to Paris for Fashion Week this year, but that does not mean that I don't have FOMO, so I cannot wait to get the full down-low from Kylie, and I love catching up from her' 'I saw Jordyn again in Paris. It was fun. I think we have like a lot more like healthy distance in the relationship,' Kylie said 'Now it's like, we talk once a month. I think what I do love now is that the narrative about us online is also over. Like when we were seen leaving that restaurant, it was a story for a day or two days or whatever, and then now it's like over.' 'People know that we're cool and no one's talking about it anymore,' Kylie says, as Khloe adds, 'I've always told you like I never want you to have regrets in life and I for sure never want you to have regrets with anything that comes to me. I told you like when you were saying that you miss her and whatever, I've never had an issue with you keeping your friendships with anyone. That's not my job in life.' Kylie adds in confession, 'I'm happy to have this conversation with Khloe, because I think people don't really understand how pure Khloe's heart is. Even right after everything happened, her energy was always the same with me. She's like, 'You need to do whatever makes you happy. There's nothing more important to me than you and your happiness. And she's just very special and I just wish people knew how special she was.' Khloe tells Kylie, 'I definitely get frustrated, the whole narrative about her and I or her and you or me and you,' as Kylie says, 'It's an internet-created narrative that doesn't even exist.' 'Totally, and so that is something that I would love behind us all,' Khloe tells Kylie, adding in confession, 'They're always pinning the girls against each other and there's actually no beef. I hate that you have to choose Team Jordyn or Team Kylie and we're not like that because we're just living, we're not thinking that hard about the situation anymore,' Khloe insists in confession. Khloe tells Kylie, 'We just want happy, peaceful, healthy lives, that's all we want,' as Kylie responds, 'Ain't that the truth.' Khloe says that Kris is, 'having dinner with someone,' as they decide to sneak over to her house and see who it is and, 'ambush.' Khloe adds in confession, 'I love just visiting my mom,' as Khloe says, 'I would love if she got pissed oh Kylie's with us, she won't get pissed.' 'Who the f**k does she think she is, having dinner without telling us?' Kylie says as they leave Khloe's house, adding, 'We're her f***ing favorites.' 'People know that we're cool and no one's talking about it anymore,' Kylie says, as Khloe adds, 'I've always told you like I never want you to have regrets in life and I for sure never want you to have regrets with anything that comes to me. I told you like when you were saying that you miss her and whatever, I've never had an issue with you keeping your friendships with anyone. That's not my job in life.' Kylie adds in confession, 'I'm happy to have this conversation with Khloe, because I think people don't really understand how pure Khloe's heart is. Even right after everything happened, her energy was always the same with me. She's like, 'You need to do whatever makes you happy. There's nothing more important to me than you and your happiness. And she's just very special and I just wish people knew how special she was' 'People know that we're cool and no one's talking about it anymore,' Kylie says, as Khloe adds, 'I've always told you like I never want you to have regrets in life and I for sure never want you to have regrets with anything that comes to me. I told you like when you were saying that you miss her and whatever, I've never had an issue with you keeping your friendships with anyone. That's not my job in life' 'Who the f**k does she think she is, having dinner without telling us?' Kylie says as they leave Khloe's house, adding, 'We're her f***ing favorites' 'Totally, and so that is something that I would love behind us all,' Khloe tells Kylie, adding in confession, 'They're always pinning the girls against each other and there's actually no beef. I hate that you have to choose Team Jordyn or Team Kylie and we're not like that because we're just living, we're not thinking that hard about the situation anymore,' Khloe insists in confession Khloe adds in confession, 'I love just visiting my mom,' as Khloe says, 'I would love if she got pissed oh Kylie's with us, she won't get pissed. ' They walk in the house calling for their mom, asking who she's having dinner with, but Kris is alone, revealing that she's watching Dancing With the Stars They walk in the house calling for their mom, asking who she's having dinner with, but Kris is alone, revealing that she's watching Dancing With the Stars. 'Well this was much more anticlimactic than I assumed. I thought you were gonna have an orgy or something,' Khloe says, as Kylie leaves to see her kids. Jordyn appeared on Jada Pinkett Smith's Red Table Talk, revealing that she never gave him a lap dance and they were all in a big group together. She said that when she tried to go home, he tried to kiss her, stating, 'No passion, no nothing. On the way out he just kissed me. It was a kiss on the lips. No tongue kiss, no making out. Nothing. I don't think he's wrong either, because I allowed myself to be in this position.' Kylie Jenner severed ties with her then-BFF after the scandal broke, though back in July 2023, they were seen leaving a restaurant together. Gemma Collins has revealed her plans to use the help of a surrogate if she cannot get pregnant naturally. Speaking during a candid interview on the new Everything I Know About Me podcast, the former TOWIE star, 43, told how she could follow in the footsteps of stars such as Paris Hilton and Khloe Kardashian so she can have a family. Gemma - who is engaged to her partner Rami Hawash - has spoken extensively about her struggles to conceive and her dream to have children. She has now said of her approach to starting a family: 'I'm not going to stress about it. You know, I don't want the pressure. 'Life's you know, I met someone the other day that a child at 49. How lovely. You know? So we'll see if not, I'll get a surrogate the Kardashians done it. Paris Hilton done it. Gemma Collins can do it.' She added that she has a low number of AMH hormone levels and so has a limited number of eggs available - before adding that she would 'love' baby but it's just 'not happening'. And while she told how she would love a 'little girl' one day, she is a proud step-mum to Rami's son already - five-year-old Tristan. Listen to our new interview with Gemma Collins on our podcast, Everything I Know About Me: Gemma Collins has revealed her plans to use the help of a surrogate if she cannot get pregnant naturally Gemma has been open about past fertility struggles and has previously suffered three miscarriages. She suffered her first heartbreaking loss in 2012, finding the strength to speak out about it publicly eight years later in 2020. The reality star did not realise she was pregnant at the time, said that the baby 'died in front of her' after giving birth at home on her landing. Gemma suffered her second pregnancy loss in 2020 during the Covid pandemic. Tragically, just a few months later, Gemma endured a third devastating miscarriage in July 2020 after falling pregnant with her ex-boyfriend James Argent's baby. In a poignant essay at the time, Gemma detailed the beginning of her miscarriage and said she had no idea she was pregnant with on-off boyfriend Arg's baby, before she started experiencing sharp cramps one morning. The reality star said she had dismissed the pains as a heavy period, and tried to push on through the excruciating pain, before her sister forced her to visit her doctor. After being sent to hospital, Gemma was given the tragic news that she had suffered a miscarriage. She said: 'In a single instant, I learned that I'd been carrying a baby and lost it, meaning that once again I found my longstanding dreams of motherhood shattered into pieces.' Gemma - who is engaged to her partner Rami Hawash - has spoken extensively about her struggles to conceive and her dream to have children Gemma suffered a third devastating miscarriage in July 2020 after falling pregnant with her ex-boyfriend James Argent's baby (pictured together in 2019) Paris Hilton (seen) has both her children Phoenix and London from a surrogate Gemma refuses to give up on her dream of becoming a mother and that she thinks about the miscarriage 'every day.' She previously detailed her battle with polycystic ovary syndrome battle (PCOS) which can affect fertility. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges. Symptoms include menstrual irregularity, excess hair growth, acne, and obesity. Earlier this year she was praying for a baby with her fiance Rami. She is stepmother to his son Tristan. Gemma recently said she was pleased to hear that Tana Ramsay had welcomed her sixth child at the age of 49, giving her hope that she, too, can conceive in her 40s. She told MailOnline: 'The Tana Ramsay news was the greatest thing to wake up to. Incredible. 'It really made me think positively about my future and kind of took the pressure off. I don't think anyone knew she was pregnant, so it was a lovely surprise, but I got butterflies in my stomach when I saw it. 'This is amazing news for me. I'm starting my fertility journey within the next couple of weeks. I'm going to a clinic so watch these cards and get ready for me, honey.' Gemma previously revealed she would wait until her 50s to try for a baby, having been inspired by supermodel Naomi Campbell, but has now decided to bring forward her plans. Fertility specialists have warned, however, that celebrity success stories about later motherhood could convince women they can naturally conceive later in life or that fertility treatment is easy. For most women aged over 45, the odds of becoming pregnant naturally stand at around one per cent. Gemma's gruelling fertility journey became apparent in 2017 during an episode of The Only Way Is Essex. Broadcast to the nation, Gemma was told age 36 that she could not freeze her eggs and had a low egg count. This meant that the star's fertility options would be limited. The doctor strongly advised against egg freezing and said she had two options ahead of her: IVF with donor sperm or the use of a donor egg and sperm. Gemma was also told her weight would have a negative impact on her chances of falling pregnant and has since been on a quest to lose weight naturally. The reality star has had a rollercoaster of a time with her weight as she has battled with trolls for the last two decades. During her 20s, Gemma was a size 10 - but after she was diagnosed with PCOS, she piled on weight. Earlier this year she was praying for a baby with her fiance Rami. She is stepmother to his son Tristan, five (pictured together) She admitted she never saw the weight creep in during her 20s because she was using it as an emotional coping mechanism. In the first four episodes of Everything I Know About Me, Gemma also reveals she was advised to terminate a pregnancy after learning her unborn baby was intersex. Elsewhere Gemma also shares insight into her childhood growing up in Essex, candidly detailing the bullying she endured at school and her stalker struggles over the years. The TV personality also opens up on her struggles with self-harming during her teenage years, detailing how she would take slimming pills when she was just 13 years old after facing cruel jibes about her weight. MAIL PODCASTS From award-winning True Crime series to eye-opening showbiz interviews, we've got it covered. Browse our full list of shows to listen for free on Mail Podcasts. From The Trial to Everything I Know About Me, find your new favourite podcast on the Mail Podcast hub Listen to Gemma Collins on the Mail's Everything I Know About Me podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. The creator of The Outlaws has admitted to brutally cutting dialogue spoken by his own parents from the upcoming third series of the BBC comedy. Ahead of the new season of the sitcom, which airs next week, Stephen Merchant, 49, has shared why he chose to make such a cut-throat decision. The series sees a group of misfits in Bristol who attempt to keep out of trouble after finishing community service sentences, having previously fallen foul of the law. Part of the inspiration for the series came from his parents, who worked as Community Payback Supervisors. As a result, Stephen has revealed that, although he wanted to involve his parents in the newest season of the show, he was not able to do so. The creator of The Outlaws has admitted to brutally cutting dialogue spoken by his own parents from the upcoming third series of the BBC comedy Ahead of the new season of the sitcom, which airs next week, Stephen Merchant, 49, has shared why he chose to make such a cut-throat decision (pictured this month) After casting his mother and father as extras, he has revealed that he cut all of their dialogue in the final edit. He told The Sun: 'They did have a little bit of dialogue, which unfortunately I had to cut, I don't think I've told them yet!' 'Not because of their performance but because of time. My mother will be like: 'We want to be extras, why can't we be extras?' However, his mother still makes the cut in one clip, as they appear on the computer screen of his character, the socially awkward lawyer Greg Dillard, as he attends business meetings. He added that the character of Dianne, who is played by Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gurning, was inspired by his mother, something that Steven said she was very happy to hear. Stephen also said that his mother was extremely nervous after having initially been cast as an extra in the show, whereas his father was keen and 'gung-ho' after being on set for his son's show. Speaking to BBC News about his mother's role as a community supervisor, Stephen said she was often cautious, as he recalled: 'My mother was always careful, she would say, ''I can't tell you about specific cases...'' as if it was sensitive information and I couldn't be trusted. 'But here and there, not naming names, she would talk about some of the people that came through the doors. I was always intrigued because it was such a mix of people.' The Outlaws airs on Thursday May 30 at 9pm on BBC1 One and BBC iPlayer The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan Rating: You think Bank Holiday traffic in Britain is bad? Don't visit Kampala, capital of Uganda, where the city's four million residents treat commuting as a blood sport. Returning with what he promises will be the final series of The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan (BBC2), the comedian clung to the pillion of a motorbike as his driver hurtled through a logjam of overcrowded buses. 'Bikes are quickest,' his guide Alex assured him. 'Not the most safe, but the quickest.' Romesh had other reasons to warn us against visiting Uganda. Last year, the country's parliament voted overwhelmingly to outlaw homosexuality, with life imprisonment the penalty for gay and lesbian sex. Even 'promoting' gay sex in Uganda carries a 20-year jail sentence. It's safe to say the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation won't be airing last night's EastEnders, which opened with a birthday snog between Eve and girlfriend Suki. Romesh Ranganathan in The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan Romesh described the new law as, 'disgusting. Violence against people from the gay community is essentially being sanctioned and it's horrific.' PREHISTORIC CHICK OF THE NIGHT Sketching at Valle Crucis Abbey in Wales with Jim and Nancy Moir, on Painting Birds (Sky Arts), guest Joe Pasquale spotted a wood pigeon. 'It's like a little baby pterodactyl,' he marvelled. Don't go to Trafalgar Square, Joe. Advertisement But he struggled to articulate his outrage to Alex, who calmly explained that she, like most people in Uganda, welcomed the legislation. 'It represents what we believe as a people. Women marry men, that's it. There's no in-between.' The presenter was nonplussed. This show's running joke is that he is not a confrontational chap he wants to like everyone. He might take the mickey but never gets stuck into an argument. That has been the chief weakness of the show since it first aired in 2018, and never before has it been so ruthlessly highlighted. He must have had plenty of time to prepare for this conversation, but the best he could do was to mumble a protest about, 'making it illegal to be who you are'. Alex swatted away his objections. Being gay was a choice, she said. Every society has rules about what is not permissible and Britain's rules were too lax for her culture. Romesh was trounced. It can't have helped that he is a straight, married man with children he certainly wasn't fighting for his beliefs as though his freedom depended on it. The series starring comedian Romesh Ranganathan (pictured) is on BBC2 A debate like this should be hard-fought. Even though Alex's views were not likely to change, plenty of presenters could have challenged her more rigorously barrister Rob Rinder, for instance, or comedian Susan Calman, who also has a law degree. The shallowness of Romesh's approach, and his general lack of research, meant he also failed to ask anything about the Lord's Resistance Army, a militia in the north of Uganda notorious for recruiting child soldiers. Instead, he burbled on about the 1970s dictator and mass murderer Idi Amin, who was, 'like, kind of, just a bit wacky. Quite a colourful dude, you'd almost like him if it wasn't for the fact he did a load of horrible stuff.' Romesh really does want to be friends with everyone. It's like, kind of, just a bit pathetic. KIIS FM producer Pete Deppeler has admitted to a secret fantasy. The talent manager, better known as 'Intern Pete', was asked an intimate question live on air on Thursday when he revealed his fantasy about boss Kyle Sandilands. Pete recalled the exact moment it all started - ten years ago while the pair were on holidays together. 'It's you, it's me, we're in Dubai, we're in the change room,' he shared of the allegedly steamy moment between the pair. Sandilands revealed he supposedly 'manhandled' Pete in the change room as he helped him change into a yellow life-vest. KIIS FM producer Pete Deppeler has admitted to a secret fantasy about colleague Kyle Sandilands Kyle claimed nothing happened during the exchange, however, his KIIS FM producer said otherwise. 'You actually took my necklace off for me. It was a beautiful moment,' Pete said. 'He said he couldn't take it off because he chewed his nails,' Kyle chimed in. Deppeler said that gesture was actually the launching point for his imaginary sexual interlude with his boss. 'You brushed the back of my neck and boom we're off,' Pete joked. Pete recalled the exact moment it all started. 'It's you, it's me, we're in Dubai, we're in the change room,' he shared The producer revealed he took a photo of the pair in their yellow life-vests which he has kept. The picture has since been posted to the intern's social media. Pete is known for being a serial prankster, and his 'intern Pete' character has a long history of awkward and ridiculous stunts. Deppeler celebrated 10 years with the station in September. Robert Irwin and G Flip have joined forces for the latest Twisties campaign, but not everybody is happy about it. The wildlife conservationist, 20, and the Aussie musician, 30, star in a new ad allowing snack fans to vote for their favourite Twisties flavour: Chicken or Cheese. In the cringeworthy clip, Robert advocates for the chicken flavour while G Flip guns for cheese. 'To all my chookstituants! I say chicken is the people's Twistie!' Robert says from a podium. 'Cheese has carried chicken on its delicious shoulders for far too long! No more cluckin' lies,' G Flip adds. Robert Irwin (left) and G Flip (right) have joined forces for the latest Twisties campaign, but not everybody is happy about it. The pair star in a new ad allowing snack fans to vote for their favourite Twisties flavour: Chicken or Cheese In the cringeworthy clip, Robert advocates for the chicken flavour while G Flip guns for cheese But the lighthearted clip has sparked backlash in the comments of the post that was shared to Robert's Instagram page. Several fans have turned on the star for remaining silent about global issues, particularly the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. 'Children are starving in Gaza and Congo and Sudan and this is what you're doing as someone with a platform in this world? Shame on you,' one user wrote. Meanwhile, another said they were surprised Robert was not vegan considering he is a wildlife conservationist. 'I'm honestly surprised that you aren't vegan, or at least vegetarian @robertirwinphotography someone who loves and cares about animals like you should care about the animals in the meat industry too,' they said. Others, mainly non-Australians were simply confused by the campaign. 'Me as an American looking at this like: what,' one fan commented. 'Wtf did I just watch!' another added. 'I'm on team cheese, sorry Robert.' But the lighthearted clip has sparked backlash in the comments of the post that was shared to Robert's Instagram page 'Ohhh My God what in Cry-key HELL is this?!?! I cant re-watch that ever again,' someone else wrote, while another said, 'Tf is a Twistie.' However many loved the campaign, and gushed over Robert's performance. 'Robert for prime minister,' one said, while another gushed 'This is hilarious.' 'This looked like so much fun to be a part of,' one more added. It comes after fans came to Robert's defence after detractors complained that he and his mother Terri, 59, are frequently seen together. 'Is Robert and his mother joined at the hip. She is in every pic you see of him,' one person wrote in the comments while another said, 'He's 20 now!' However there was plenty of support for their close relationship, with one person replying, 'He's a lucky young man to have her.' Another wrote: 'People saying why Robert has he's mum in so many photos. Remember every day is precious. Life is fragile. The Irwin's like millions of other families have experienced loss on a monumental scale. 'Steve was larger than life. It's lovely that they do spend so much time with each other. Don't be so critical.' One more said: 'What is wrong with someone having a close relationship with their mother?' 'Who cares? It's his mom and they seem to be a very tight-knit family,' yet another said. The pair did nothing to dispel talk about their closeness when they stepped out together in Oregon earlier this week. The mum and son were in the region visiting family members and appeared in great spirits as they strolled together. An I'm A Celebrity producer expressed concerns about host Robert's decision to bring his protective mother Terri on set. Terri accompanied her son on his trip to South Africa as he films his debut season of the popular Channel 10 program alongside co-host Julia Morris, 55. Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, an anonymous producer has admitted that Terri's presence on set every day is 'a little creepy', saying: 'It is giving 'bringing your-mum-to-school-camp vibes.' Robert Irwin (left) and his mother Terri Irwin (centre) are known to be very close. On Monday, the mother and son duo posed together in multiple images shared to Instagram during their travels overseas in May Terri, who has been in charge of Robert and his big sister Bindi's showbiz careers since the death of their father Steve in 2006, has apparently kept a close eye on everything Robert does while working on the program. 'The two have an excellent relationship and Terri couldn't be nicer but there are not many situations where employees will have their mum at work with them, just to make sure everything is above board,' the insider said. Comparing Terri to the Kardashians' famous 'momager' Kris Jenner, the producer claimed Robert Irwin's contract even included a section that allowed him to bring his family on set. 'The deal was done when Robert signed on as host late last year. He wanted his family to come with him,' they alleged, adding: 'Maybe it will be just for this series, but maybe Terri will always be standing in the wings. Who knows'. This year The Block is celebrating its 20th anniversary. However many fans believe the show has 'run its course' and are calling for Nine ratings juggernaut to be axed. Viewers took to social media to slam the hit after rumours emerged earlier this week that the home renovation show was facing cancellation. However, a Nine spokesperson told the Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that The Block was not under any threat of being canned. 'Despite the speculation, The Block is not being cancelled,' they insisted. This year The Block is celebrating its 20th anniversary. And now fans are calling for Nine ratings juggernaut to be axed. Pictured: Scott Cam and Shelley Craft Despite these claims, fans are insisting that the show has already exhausted its appeal. They also slammed edits for focusing too much on 'in-fighting' between the Blockheads. 'It's run its course I'm afraid,' said one Facebook user. They continued: 'Things always have an expiry date.' Now filming on Phillip Island in Victoria, Nine's ratings blockbuster has been rocked by shock exits from cast members and contestants. (Pictured) Viewers took to social media to slam the hit after rumours emerged earlier this week that the home renovation show was facing cancellation. Fan reactions pictured 'About time,' another agreed. 'It's run its course,' said one fan who went on: 'Overrated, overpriced houses that [an] ordinary working person cannot afford.' 'This the best news,' gloated another arm chair critic, adding: 'I hate The Block. It should have ended years ago.' The Block brand also took a knock earlier this month after its New Zealand iteration was cancelled before filming even started. (Pictured: Shelley Craft) Another former fan aimed their anger at the show's producers for losing touch with the audience. 'Producers' fault, became way too personality based,' they wrote on Facebook. 'Terrible, disrespectful attitudes and egos, stopped watching when it wasn't about renovating anymore. Sad was my favourite [show] years ago.' Fans are insisting that the show 's format has exhausted its appeal. They also slammed edits for focusing too much on 'in-fighting' between the Blockheads. Meanwhile, one devoted fan was prepared to defend the show and dismissed the fan-fuelled rumour that the show was facing the axe. 'Wow, so much hate for the show,' they shared on Facebook. 'If you don't like it, don't watch. Don't have to call it to be axed. There's an audience for everything.' Fans urging for The Block to be axed appear to be responding to the controversial 2023 season that was branded by viewers as 'toxic' and 'disturbing' thanks to the constant squabbles and bullying among the Blockheads. They continued: 'I don't like Married at First Sight, but I'm not calling for it to be axed to suit myself. 'The Block has an audience, and despite the increasing ''drama'' that's been injected into each season, I still like watching series.' Now filming on Phillip Island in Victoria, Nine's ratings blockbuster has been rocked by shock exits from cast members and contestants. The brand also took a knock earlier this month after its New Zealand iteration was cancelled before filming even started. Fans urging for The Block to be axed appear to be responding to the controversial 2023 season that was branded by viewers as 'toxic' and 'disturbing' thanks to the constant squabbles and bullying among the Blockheads. Realestate.com.au reported on Monday that rumours about The Block's longevity started after judge Neale Whitaker announced he was quitting the show earlier this month, leaving the cast devastated. Neale confirmed he will no longer be a regular on the hit. He took on a limited role as a judge last year to support his partner, David, as he faced serious health challenges. The fan favourite is however expected to make guest appearances on the upcoming season alongside judges Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer and newcomer Marty Fox. The acclaimed interior designer's exit comes after Keith Schleiger, aka Foreman Keith, confirmed his role would be scaled back to a guest part on the new series. The reality star, 50, revealed he made the difficult decision after deciding the long commute times to Philip Island to film would keep him away from his two daughters. And the show suffered yet another set back only weeks into filming as a couple of contestants quit. Ariana Grande was among 60 people in the audience attending her Wicked costar-turned-boyfriend Ethan Slater's opening night performance of his debut residency at Cafe Carlyle in Manhattan's Upper East Side neighborhood on Tuesday. The 30-year-old pop star 'was not noticed' wearing a plunging red puff-sleeve dress with her entourage in the back booth 'until the lights went back on.' 'Everyone got up to either leave or wait to say hi to Ethan, who was mingling with guests after,' an eye witness told The US Sun on Wednesday. 'Ariana and Ethan did not interact after the show was over because he was greeting his fans and it was obvious she did not want to steal the spotlight from him. She was just there to support him.' A second source told People: 'She was laughing at all of his jokes in between songs, and cheering for him after each song. The show was mostly about him and his love of music and theater, though he did steal a quick glance over to Ariana when he sang a line about being "Lucky to be in love." It was very cute.' Ariana Grande was among 60 people in the audience attending her Wicked costar-turned-boyfriend Ethan Slater's opening night performance of his debut residency at Cafe Carlyle in Manhattan's Upper East Side neighborhood on Tuesday The 30-year-old pop star 'was not noticed' with her entourage in the back booth 'until the lights went back on' (pictured May 17) The Tony nominee - turning 32 this Sunday - performed songs from Broadway musicals like Fiddler on the Roof, Pippin, and SpongeBob SquarePants as well as Bob Dylan covers. 'I got to spend a year filming the Wicked movies and it was just the honor of a lifetime to play Boq, and I really wanted to share some of that with you tonight,' Ethan said before singing the Tin Man's song, If I Only Had A Heart. Slater went on to call 2023 a 'really big year of growth and change' and he pondered the idea of happiness before singing Happiness from the 1967 musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. 'Think about what it means to feel understood and what happiness means and I think it's nothing super deep,' the Spamalot thespian said onstage. 'I just think that music brings us happiness, community brings us happiness, family brings us happiness - a lot of things brings us happiness. It's different for everybody. And I hope that you leave tonight and go find yours.' Ethan called it 'a wonderful opening night' on Instagram and he has four more shows through this Saturday at the high-end cabaret lounge, which charges $100-$190 per person. The inseparable couple fell in love on the London set of Jon M. Chu's big-screen adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical sometime between December 9, 2022 and July 13, 2023. Slater portrays munchkin-turned-tinman Boq and Grande portrays witch Glinda Upland in Wicked, and Universal Pictures is scheduled to release the first part on November 27 followed by the second part on November 26, 2025. An eye witness told The US Sun on Wednesday: 'Everyone got up to either leave or wait to say hi to Ethan, who was mingling with guests after. Ariana and Ethan did not interact after the show was over because he was greeting his fans and it was obvious she did not want to steal the spotlight from him. She was just there to support him' A second source told People: 'She was laughing at all of his jokes in between songs, and cheering for him after each song. The show was mostly about him and his love of music and theater, though he did steal a quick glance over to Ariana when he sang a line about being "Lucky to be in love." It was very cute' The Tony nominee - turning 32 this Sunday - performed songs from Broadway musicals like Fiddler on the Roof, Pippin, and SpongeBob SquarePants as well as Bob Dylan covers Ethan went on to call 2023 a 'really big year of growth and change' and he sang the Tin Man's song, If I Only Had A Heart as well as Happiness from the 1967 musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Slater called it 'a wonderful opening night' on Instagram and he has four more shows through this Saturday at the high-end cabaret lounge, which charges $100-$190 per person The inseparable couple fell in love on the London set of Jon M. Chu's big-screen adaptation of the 2003 Broadway musical sometime between December 9, 2022 and July 13, 2023 The Spamalot thespian portrays munchkin-turned-tinman Boq and Grande portrays witch Glinda Upland in Wicked, and Universal Pictures is scheduled to release the first part on November 27 followed by the second part on November 26, 2025 Ethan filed for divorce from his 'heartbroken' high school sweetheart Lilly Jay (L, pictured in 2018) and mother of his 21-month-old son Ezra on July 26 - a week after their affair was exposed The two-time Grammy winner - who was engaged to Bupkis creator-star Pete Davidson for four months in 2019 - finalized her divorce from her real estate agent Dalton Gomez (L, pictured in 2020) on October 6 after 21 months of marriage Ariana - who boasts 510.6M social media followers - has been hard at work promoting the Christian Breslauer-directed music video for her next single The Boy Is Mine, which is rumored to star You actor Penn Badgley Fans point to the mystery man's dark curly hair in the teaser as well as the fact that Grande (born Butera) and the 37-year-old Gossip Girl alum are now following each other on Instagram The Washington, D.C.-born triple threat filed for divorce from his 'heartbroken' high school sweetheart Lilly Jay (and mother of his 21-month-old son Ezra) on July 26 - a week after their affair was exposed. '[Ariana's] the story, really. Not a girl's girl,' Jay scoffed to Page Six on July 27. 'My family is just collateral damage.' The two-time Grammy winner - who was engaged to Bupkis creator-star Pete Davidson for four months in 2019 - finalized her divorce from her real estate agent Dalton Gomez on October 6 after 21 months of marriage. Ariana - who boasts 510.6M social media followers - has been hard at work promoting the Christian Breslauer-directed music video for her next single The Boy Is Mine, which is rumored to star You actor Penn Badgley. Fans point to the mystery man's dark curly hair in the teaser as well as the fact that Grande (born Butera) and the 37-year-old Gossip Girl alum are now following each other on Instagram. A Married At First Sight bride managed to shorten her bucket list when she got the opportunity to take a swim with a ferocious crocodile. Ashley Irvin, who appeared on the 2018 season of the Channel Nine dating show, documented her trip on Instagram, sharing footage of herself coming face to face with a croc from behind protective glass. 'When in Darwin - Swim with the Crocs,' she wrote alongside an Instagram snap of her posing happily in a green bikini. In the footage, Ashley, 35, appeared nervous as she prepared to take a breath underwater. Despite the glass protective layer, the crocodile was an intimidating sight for the former flight attendant, who was dwarfed by the enormous reptile. Married At First Sight bride Ashley Irvin managed to shorten her bucket list when she got the opportunity to take a swim with a ferocious crocodile Ashley, who appeared on the Nine dating show in 2018, documented her trip on Instagram, sharing footage of herself coming face to face with a croc behind protective glass Ashley previously made headlines when she announced that she graduated as a registered nurse after losing her job as a Virgin Australia flight attendant. The blonde star posted a reel of photos from her big day, as she revealed she had 'a grad position at the Gold Coast Hospital' lined up. 'I can't believe I am officially a graduated registered nurse! Hardest two years of my life! I could not have done it without the amazing support behind me!' Ashley wrote. 'When in Darwin - Swim with the Crocs,' she wrote in accompaniment of an Instagram snap of her posing happily in a green bikini In the footage, Ashley appeared nervous as she prepared to take a breath underwater But the former flight attendant had nothing to worry about because the glass cage allowed her to get up close and personal with the crocodiles in a safe environment 'Honestly my family and friends have kept me going through some tough times between full-time uni and full-time work! I cannot thank them enough! She revealed her new career path back in 2020 when she lost her job as a Virgin Australia flight attendant at the start of the Covid pandemic. 'So excited to be starting my graduate degree in nursing next year at QUT,' she announced on Instagram at the time. 'Covid kind of made me re-evaluated my life and I'm so glad it did. I am going to try and do full-time nursing and full-time flight attendant, so wish me luck.' She shot to fame on Married At First Sight in 2018 alongside 'husband' Troy Delmege. They are no longer together but remain friends. Universal Pictures is shifting away from last year's The Exorcist: Believer, enlisting filmmaker Mike Flanagan to take the helm for a new film. The studio announced in July 2021 they spent a whopping $400 million on a new Exorcist trilogy, which brought back Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil, the mother of possessed 12-year-old Regan (Linda Blair) from the original 1973 classic. The first film set to spawn the trilogy was 2023's The Exorcist: Believer, which was a modest hit, earning $65.5 million domestic and $136.2 million worldwide from a reported $30 million budget. The Exorcist: Believer director David Gordon Green was expected to return to the helm with co-writers Danny McBride, Peter Sattler and Scott Teems. Now the studio is going in a completely different direction with Flanagan's new film, which THR reports will be, 'a radical new take' on the franchise. Universal Pictures is shifting away from last year's The Exorcist: Believer, enlisting filmmaker Mike Flanagan to take the helm for a new film The studio announced in July 2021 they spent a whopping $400 million on a new Exorcist trilogy , which brought back Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil, the mother of possessed 12-year-old Regan (Linda Blair) from the original 1973 classic Now the studio is going in a completely different direction with Flanagan's new film, which THR reports will be, 'a radical new take' on the franchise The story will be set within the Exorcist universe that The Exorcist: Believer is set in, but it will not be a direct sequel to that film. While Gordon Green and his writers were said to be in development on the sequels, the poor reception - critically (22% on Rotten Tomatoes) and commercially - lead to the studio rethinking their plans. Flanagan is quite revered in the horror landscape, with his work well-received on both the big and small screens. He directed indie hits such as Oculus, Hush and Before I Wake, plus the well-received Ouija: Origins of Evil and the Stephen King adaptations Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep, a sequel to The Shining. He has been sticking mostly to the small screen in recent years, creating the beloved Netflix shows The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, Midnight Club and most recently The Fall of the House of Usher. 'The Exorcist is one of the reasons I became a filmmaker, and it is an honor to have the chance to try something fresh, bold and terrifying within its universe,' Flanagan said in a statement. 'Reuniting with my friends at Blumhouse, with whom Ive made some of my favorite pieces of work, only makes this more exciting,' he added. Flanagan previously worked with producer Jason Blum's company on Oculus, Hush and Ouija: Origins of Evil. The story will be set within the Exorcist universe that The Exorcist: Believer is set in, but it will not be a direct sequel to that film Flanagan is quite revered in the horror landscape, with his work well-received on both the big and small screens 'The Exorcist is one of the reasons I became a filmmaker, and it is an honor to have the chance to try something fresh, bold and terrifying within its universe,' Flanagan said in a statement Flanagan will also produce through his Red Room Pictures, with Intrepid Pictures' Trevor Macy and John Scherer Flanagan will also produce through his Red Room Pictures, with Intrepid Pictures' Trevor Macy and John Scherer. 'Mikes voice and vision are indispensable for horror fans, and we are excited to welcome him back to Blumhouse,' Jason Blum said in a statement. 'I immediately responded to Mikes new take on the world of The Exorcist and cant wait for audiences to experience it,' Blum added. David Robinson, chairman and CEO of Morgan Creek, which has the rights to The Exorcist, adding, 'Its an honor to be working with Mike. I think his vision for this franchise is going to stun audiences worldwide, and I could not be more excited to be working with him, Trevor, Jason and the entire Blumhouse Team.' China's first AI hospital town debuts 16:38, May 30, 2024 By Xu Keyue and Du Qiongfang ( Global Times The research team for Tsinghua's AI Agent Hospital Photo: Courtesy of team leader Liu Yang Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making waves in various industries, and the healthcare sector is no exception. Stanford's AI town once went viral across the internet last year, with 25 intelligent agents living and socializing, resembling a real-life Westworld. And now, Chinese researchers have developed an AI hospital town! In a recent interview with the Global Times, Chinese researchers shed light on the practical implications of this innovative approach to healthcare. The concept of an AI hospital town, where virtual patients are treated by AI doctors, holds immense significance for both medical professionals and the general public. The AI hospital aims to train doctor agents through a simulated environment so that it can autonomously evolve and improve its ability to treat disease. Recently, researchers from Tsinghua University have developed an AI hospital called "Agent Hospital." In this virtual world, all doctors, nurses and patients are driven by large language model (LLM)-powered intelligent agents, capable of autonomous interaction. Remarkably, AI doctors can treat 10,000 patients in just a few days. It would take human doctors at least two years to treat that many patients. Furthermore, evolved doctor agents achieved an impressive 93.06 percent accuracy rate on the MedQA dataset (US Medical Licensing Exam questions) covering major respiratory diseases. They simulate the entire process of diagnosing and treating patients, including consultation, examination, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Practical benefits expected The environment simulated in Agent Hospital consists of two main entities: patients and medical professionals. Their role information is generated by GPT-3.5 and can be infinitely expanded. Agent Hospital includes various consultation rooms and examination rooms, requiring a series of medical professional intelligent agents to work. Therefore, researchers have designed a configuration of 14 doctors and four nurses - doctor agents are designed to diagnose diseases and formulate detailed treatment plans, while nursing agents focus on daily support. Would the AI hospital town bring practical benefits to the real healthcare industry? The answer is yes. Research team leader of the Agent Hospital Liu Yang, also executive dean of the Institute for AI Industry Research (AIR) and associate dean of the Department of Computer Science and Technology at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that the AI hospital town is set to transform the way doctors diagnose and treat patients, bringing immense benefits to both medical professionals and the general public. For example, this innovative concept allows for virtual patients to be treated by real doctors, providing medical students with enhanced training opportunities. By simulating a variety of AI patients, medical students can confidently propose treatment plans without the fear of causing harm to real patients due to decision-making errors, Liu said. This simulation training enables medical students to practice diagnosis and treatment in a risk-free environment, ultimately leading to the cultivation of highly skilled doctors, according to Liu. If the patients in the town are real and the doctors are virtual, online telemedicine services can be provided to patients. The AI hospital town utilizes a vast repository of authoritative medical knowledge, allowing AI doctors to handle thousands, even millions, of cases. The potential for high-quality, affordable and convenient healthcare services for the public is on the horizon, as the diagnostic capabilities of AI doctors evolve from the virtual world to the real world, Liu stated. Liu went on to say that the AI hospital town can simulate and predict various medical scenarios, such as the spread, development and control of infectious diseases in a region. Future comes, with challenges and hopes Some netizens have expressed that "AI simulation will explore paths that humans fundamentally do not have the time or ability to explore." Imagine thousands of fully automated hospitals that will save millions of lives. This future is fast approaching. Liu revealed that after approximately six months of research and development, the AI hospital town is nearing readiness for practical application. With plans to focus on a specific application direction, the town aims to be operational by the second half of 2024. However, despite the promising prospects, the implementation and promotion of the Agent Hospital for AI diagnosis and treatment face significant challenges. Liu stressed strict adherence to national medical regulations, thorough validation of technological maturity, and the exploration of mechanisms for AI-human collaboration are essential to ensure that artificial intelligence technology does not pose risks to public health. AI can never replace humans Looking ahead, the future of AI in the medical field appears bright, with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology. We cannot deny that AI healthcare can surpass human physiological and intellectual limits in certain aspects, enhancing the precision and efficiency of healthcare services. However, one thing is certain - AI can never replace humans. In medical practice, uncertainty is the norm, with each healthy individual and patient being unique. Even if they have the same disease, the course of the disease, as well as the psychological and sociological characteristics of the patient, varies significantly. These uncertain events ultimately need to be handled by humans, according to insiders. Dr. Dong Jiahong, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and dean of the School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, was quoted by Hopes and Dreams - a Chinese platform focused on providing information in the field of AI - that medicine is a science of love and an art of warmth, while AI healthcare remains "cold." It cannot provide personalized care and compassion. Moreover, any legal responsibilities that may arise during the treatment process should be borne by real human doctors. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Brussels, Belgium (PANA) - The European Council (EC) on Thursday adopted a regulation to completely ban the use of dental amalgams and to prohibit manufacturing, import and export of other mercury-added products Dame Joan Collins was the epitome of chic as she joined the cast of Fawlty Towers The Play at London's Apollo Theatre on Wednesday. The actress, 91, exuded glamour as she stepped out in a beige two-piece suit which she layered over an elegant cream blouse. She added an inch to her frame as she slipped into a pair of cream open-toe sandals. In her typical glam fashion, Joan finished her look with a brushed out perm and a ruby red lip. After watching the iconic play, she went back stage to meet and greet each of the 18 cast members. Dame Joan Collins was the epitome of chic as she joined the cast the nostalgic Fawlty Towers The Play at The Apollo Theatre on Wednesday The actress, 91, exuded glamour as she stepped out in a beige two-piece suit which she layered over an elegant cream blouse (pictured with the cast) This is the second iconic A-list visitor the cast have enjoyed this week. John Cleese's reclusive ex-wife Connie Booth and her second husband snuck in to see the play on Wednesday. Connie, who co-wrote the series with John in 1974, watched the new stage show featuring Torquay's most chaotic hotel from the audience with her partner John Lahr. The actress, 83, who played the character of long-suffering hotel maid Polly Sherman, was also spotted reminiscing over her four years playing the role. She posed for a snap with the theatre performer Victoria Fox, who currently plays her part in the West End show. While meeting the new cast on the theatrical set, Connie was greeted with requets for autographs and pictures. She appeared in top spirits for her visit as she had a chat with each of the 18 cast members. The cast members would have been surprised by the meet and greet as she has been keeping out of the limelight in recent years. She added an inch to her frame as she slipped into a pair of sensible cream open-toe sandals In her typical glam fashion, Joan finished her look with a brushed out perm and a ruby red lip After watching the iconic play, she went back stage to meet and greet each of the 18 cast members Her renowned American theatre critic husband confessed in April that she would not be giving interviews and would be keeping a low profile. Ahead of the show's opening night in April, he told MailOnline: 'She'll be going to see it - probably not on opening night, but she'll be there.' The American actress declined to comment about the new production, with Lahr adding: 'I understand people are interested - why wouldn't they be? Connie is not giving interviews. She doesn't generally do it anymore.' After nearly 50 years since it first hit UK TV screens, the nostalgic performance made its debut on May, 4, at the Apollo Theatre. It has been adapted by comedy legend John and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger. This is the second iconic A-list visitor the cast have enjoyed this week. John Cleese 's reclusive ex-wife Connie Booth and her second husband snuck in to see the play on Wednesday (pictured third from the left) The actress, 83, who played the character of long-suffering hotel maid Polly Sherman, was also spotted reminiscing over her four years playing the role Connie's theatrical replacement, Victoria, strikes a resemblance as she perfectly adopts the essence of the character during the show Connie, married comedy legend John Cleese in 1968 and the couple went on to write the TV series, which was named the greatest British sitcom of all time in a 2019 Radio Times poll The new show has been adapted by comedy legend John (pictured) and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger Adam Jackson-Smith stars as the inimitable Basil, Anna-Jane Casey plays the iconic Sybil and Paul Nicholas secures the role of the bumbling Major. Connie, married comedy legend John in 1968 and the couple went on to write the TV series, which was named the greatest British sitcom of all time in a 2019 Radio Times poll. The couple, who have a grown-up daughter Cynthia, divorced in 1978 before the second and final series of the BBC2 show was screened the following year. Connie quit the industry in 1995 and went on to work as a psychotherapist until her retirement. A glamourous influencer has been left distraught after getting a permanent reminder of a wild boozy night out in Bali. Rhiannon Cunningham woke up with a tattoo of an upside down bottle of Bintang beer on her foot after she decided to go drinking with a man she only just met at a bar. Sharing her story on TikTok, Cunningham revealed just hours before she had warned a friend not to get anything silly tattooed on their body while they were on holiday on the Indonesian island. 'I met this guy for literally thirty minutes we were like f**k it, should we get a drunk tattoo together?"' she said. 'I remember speaking to someone earlier in the day who wanted to get a tattoo to remind them of Bali, and I was like "look as long as you dont get a Bintang (beer) youll be fine".' Glamourous influencer Rhiannon Cunningham has been left distraught after getting a permanent reminder of a wild boozy night out in Bali Cunningham believes she must have had the thought in her 'subconscious' when she decided to get the exact tattoo that night. 'I think because I had that in the back of my head, in my subconscious, that is why today Ive woken up with a Bintang tattooed on my foot,' she exclaimed. 'I dont even drink beer.' Cunningham woke up with a tattoo of an upside down bottle of Bintang beer on her foot after she decided to go drinking with a man she only just met at a bar The social media star also got a red heart tattoo on the same night. 'Apparently I just want to be tattooed absolutely everywhere now,' she said. It's not the first time Cunningham got a drunk tattoo in Bali. The blonde took to social media just days before to reveal she got the Aquarius zodiac symbol inked onto her body. Sharing her story on TikTok, Cunningham revealed just hours before she had warned a friend not to get anything silly tattooed on their body while they were on holiday in Bali - and then went and did it herself Social media followers were quick to share their similar stories in the comment section. 'My husband literally has the Bintang logo on the top of his entire foot. Could be worse,' one user revealed. 'Its okay girl, I went to Thailand for my 21st and I woke up with its 5 oclock somewhere on my ribs,' another wrote. 'I was the victim of the Bali tattoo saga myself. Waking up with a Nike logo tattooed on my foot along with a squid tattooed on my thigh and French cheese tattooed on my leg,' a third recounted. Eleanor Tomlinson recounted a very awkward run in with Star Wars legend during her appearance on The One Show on Wednesday. The actress, who appeared on the show alongside her Outlaws co-star Stephen Merchant, confessed she had never seen the sci-fi franchise and found herself in a very awkward situation recently. Also joined by the stars of the new Star Wars series Amandla Stenberg and Dafne Keen, Eleanor confessed: 'I haven't seen Star Wars.' She then revealed her embarrassing story as she admitted she did not recognise Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill. 'So I did a motion capture game recently and I didn't see the call sheet before I was called in so I didn't know who was going to be there. Eleanor Tomlinson has recounted a VERY awkward run in with Star Wars legend as she admitted she hasn't seen the franchise during her appearance on Wednesday's The One Show The actress, 32, confessed she had never seen the sci-fi franchise and found herself in a very awkward situation recently when she didn't recognise Mark Hamill 'And I am sitting in the green room with this very charming actor and we start talking and he says "Have you done this before?" and I said "No have you?" 'And he said "Yeah I have done quite a lot of motion capture, I have done quite a lot of CGI". And I said "Oh what have you done?" 'And he was like "Darling I am Mark Hamill"'. As the rest of the sofa were left gobsmacked that she didn't recognise the actor, host Alex Jones added: 'Eleanor I love you even more for sharing'. Mark, now 72, starred as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy - Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). Eleanor and Stephen are currently promoting the third series of their show, The Outlaws. The BBC comedy thriller follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol. Arriving at the BBC studios on Wednesday, Eleanor wows in a simple black midi dress with pleated edging. In an awkward conversation, Mark told Eleanor: Darling I am Mark Hamill' Mark, now 72, starred as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy - Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) (pictured) and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) Eleanor explained: 'And I am sitting in the green room with this very charming actor and we start talking and he says "Have you done this before?" and I said "No have you?" She was also joined by the stars of the new Star Wars series Amandla Stenberg (L) and Dafne Keen (R) who were also left shocked by the admission Arriving at the BBC studios on Wednesday, Eleanor wows in a simple black midi dress with pleated edging The star was seen chatting away with Alex before the show as her and Stephen embraced with the host The actress appeared on the show alongside her Outlaws co-star Stephen Merchant The comedian was also seen giving Alex a hug Eleanor plays posh-girl influencer and out-of-touch socialite Lady Gabriella 'Gabby' Penrose-Howe, who struggles with substance abuse issues She paired the ensemble with some black heels while letting her red locks fall naturally over her shoulders. The star was seen chatting away with Alex before the show as her and Stephen embraced with the host. Eleanor plays posh-girl influencer and out-of-touch socialite Lady Gabriella 'Gabby' Penrose-Howe, who struggles with substance abuse issues. The second series of the show ended with her character attending a support group to try get off the drugs. Meanwhile as well as writing and creating the show, Stephen stars as Greg Dillard, an unsuccessful lawyer coming out of a divorce. The previous season ended with Greg impulsively quitting his job and taking the plunge with a date. The series also stars Baby Reindeer actress Jessica Gunning who plays Diane Pemberley, former juvenile delinquent-turned-supervisor for community service with an inflated sense of authority. Also starring is Grace Calder, Clare Perkins, Gamba Cole and Rhianne Barreto. Grace stars as DS Lucy Haines in the series, while Clare plays militant socialist feminist and activist, Myrna Okeke. Gamba plays Ben Eastfield, a young nightclub security guard looking after his younger sister, who pretends to be Christian Taylor to do his community service. While Rhianne stars as Rani Rekowski, a young student struggling under the expectations of her strict parents. The BBC comedy thriller follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol (pictured) Ruth Wilson cut a trendy figure as she attended the launch of the Christiane Kubrick x Jonathan Anderson collections at Dover Street Market on Wednesday. The actress, 42, looked incredible as she wore a light blue button-up denim shirt which featured an a-symmetrical neckline. She paired her quirky top with a pair of matching baggy jeans and some maroon suede stilettoes. Showcasing her natural beauty, the brunette opted for a minimal makeup look and left her accessories at home. Ruth attended the glitzy event alongside model Emma Winder who added a pop of colour to event as she stepped out in a caramel trench coat which she layered over a green and yellow tie. Ruth Wilson cut a trendy figure as she attended the launch of the Christiane Kubrick x Jonathan Anderson collections at Dover Street Market on Wednesday The actress, 42, looked incredible as she wore a light blue button-up denim shirt which featured an a-symmetrical neckline Over Emma's floor-length coat, she slung a mustard yellow suede bag which featured a sweet bow design over the clasp. Actor Sebastian Croft, known for his role as young Ned Stark in Game Of Thrones, looked fabulous in a bright yellow jumper. He paired his colourful garment, which featured a large star on his left shoulder, with a pair of black trousers and black smart shoes. Showcasing her natural beauty, the brunette opted for a minimal makeup look and left her accessories at home Ruth attended the glitzy event alongside model Emma Winder (pictured) who added a pop of colour to event as she stepped out in a caramel trench coat which she layered over a green and yellow tie Over Emma's floor-length coat, she slung a mustard yellow suede bag which featured a sweet bow design over the clasp Actor Sebastian Croft, known for his role as young Ned Stark in Game Of Thrones, looked fabulous in a bright yellow jumper Alva Claire put on a very daring display as she stepped out out in a pair of sheer tights, high waisted white shorts and a grey leather jacket Internet personality Camille Charriere exuded Hollywood glamour as she stepped out in a figure-hugging red shift dress Keeley Hawes and her son Ralph Macfadyen cut a smart figure as they opted for smart casual ensembles for the event Christiane Kubrick x Jonathan Anderson for Mens AW and Womens PF 2024 arrived with a special installation at Dover Street Market. To coincide with the launch, the short film Who is the Painter? directed by J E Hobbs and supported by Mubi, will be available to view online on Thursday 30th May. In a unique collaboration, Jonathan Anderson and Christiane Kubrick have intricately woven together their creative visions. A domestic fantasy, triggered by seeing the interiors in Stanley Kubricks Eyes Wide Shut: the curtains, the reds, the paintings hanging on the walls, which were created by Christiane Kubrick, the directors wife, who often collaborated with her husband. Christiane Kubrick (pictured) x Jonathan Anderson for Mens AW and Womens PF 2024 arrived with a special installation at Dover Street Market Abbie Chatfield has described Australia's dating culture as 'sh**ty' and said she is relieved she's now in a 'secure' relationship. Talking on her podcast It's A Lot, Abbie, who is enjoying a romance with Peking Duk frontman Adam Hyde, believes that these days it is harder for women to find a partner who wants to be in a committed relationship. 'We are just in this weird culture of dating. Particularly Australia. I think Australia is known (around the world) for really sh**ty dating culture,' she said. 'Very surface level. Very shallow. Very game playing. When anyone dares to vocalise their feelings they're almost punished for it.' The FBoy Island host, 28, went on to say women are often 'accused of smothering someone or gaslit into thinking they're crazy' when they ask for clarity about their relationship status. Abbie Chatfield has described Australia's dating culture as 'sh**ty' and said she is relieved she's now in a 'secure' relationship 'They're told they're reading into things too much. So, therefore, no one ever asks for clarification,' she added. Executive producer Lem Zakharia, who hails from Jordan, chimed and said she too found it difficult to date Aussie men. 'I agree fully. I really found it hard when I first came here,' she said. 'I don't know if it's just because I was going out with girls, but it was really just surface level dates.' It comes after Abbie opted to confirm the identity of her new boyfriend with a not so cryptic post to Instagram during her getaway to Mexico. Talking on her podcast It's A Lot , Abbie, who is enjoying a romance with Peking Duk frontman Adam Hyde, believes that these days the prospect of securing a committed relationship is low In the clip, she gyrated for the camera in a series of bizarre poses, almost bouncing out of her bikini as she jumped around and shaked her behind. At one point, she seductively licked a beer bottle. Abbie's fans were quick to notice her very telling song choice for the video - Keli Holiday's doyoulikeitornot? It comes after Abbie opted to confirm the identity of her new boyfriend with a not so cryptic post to Instagram during her getaway to Mexico Keli Holiday is the stage name of Peking Duk frontman Adam Hyde, who has long been suspected to be Abbie's new man. 'Heard this random song from this random new EP and felt inspired to create a little something in Mexico. Does anyone know the artist? Someone help!' Abbie teased in her caption alongside the video. 'This is the best hard launch I've even seen and ever will see,' wrote one person in the comments. 'Lol this def a hard launch. Nicely done,' said another, while one more chimed in: 'This is so 'omg it's our song' except it actually is his song.' Kyle Sandilands has lashed out at rival radio shows, branding them as 'phoney' with colleagues who 'can't stand each other'. The KIIS FM radio host, 51, took aim at other competitors across the country and claimed plenty of teams don't get along. On Thursday morning's Kyle & Jackie O Show, the shock jock shared some insider knowledge from the radio world while two kids doing work experience currently sit in the studio for the week. When learning that the work experience students have dreams of working in radio, Kyle was quick to explained why The Kyle & Jackie O Show is different to other radio shows, particularly behind the scenes. 'Well, just so you know, all the other shows, there's no fun there,' he explained. Kyle Sandilands has lashed out at rival radio shows, branding them as 'phoney' with colleagues who 'can't stand each other' Kyle added that there is a lot of jealousy and fighting between other radio hosts, before reassuring his team about his off-radio friendship with co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson. 'Some of the other shows, they actually sound like they like each other. I won't point out which ones, but they actually can't stand each other. 'I would never be able to do this job if I actually didn't like Jackie. Do I question what she says and thinks? Yes, often. But I love her, and I respect what she says, even though I think she's a psychopath loon sometimes, I still respect that. 'But other shows, they don't even like each other. They're jealous. There's fighting. It's all phoney.' While Kyle didn't name any radio stars in particular, there have been several rumoured radio feuds between rival networks like Nova FM, Last year, Tim Blackwell appeared to confirm rumours that he and his former co-host Kate Ritchie had a rift. The broadcaster made a snarky comment when asked about her departure from the drive time show on the Shock Jocks podcast. When asked what prompted Kate's exit, Tim responded: 'That's a question for her, I know nothing.' He continued: 'She's a bit of a control freak, she knows what she wants, she's very vocal, very powerful, she's got her own ideas, that's why we love her so much.' Meanwhile, Kyle's manager and the creative director of his radio show Bruno Bouchet said in 2020 that the Australian industry was 'littered with hosts that hate working with one another'. He alleged that one of Sydney's most iconic duos, Merrick Watts and Tim Ross, didn't even get along. Merrick and Rosso began their careers on Triple J and became the so-called 'kings of breakfast radio' after moving to Nova 96.9 in 2001. In 2009, they parted ways and Watts said: 'This has nothing to do with Rosso and I not liking each other. No fights, there's no carry-on, there's nothing like that.' But Bruno suggested otherwise, claiming they did not see eye to eye towards the end of their on-air partnership. However, Tim doubled down and dismissed any rumours of a feud between the pair. Speaking on the Mumbrella podcast last month, Tim described Merrick as a 'brother' and said the former partners share a 'bond'. 'Merrick and I, the way I describe it, we're like brothers, you know? No one else understands what happened at that time,' he said. Fifi Box and Marty Sheargold also disliked working together as co-hosts of Triple M's The Shebang from 2003 to 2008, Mr Bouchet claimed. Feud? Mr Bouchet claims that one of the country's most iconic duos, Merrick Watts (right) and Tim 'Rosso' Ross (left), didn't even get along. Pictured together on September 25, 2008 However, Tim doubled down and dismissed any rumours of a feud between the pair, describing Merrick (pictured) as a 'brother' and said the former partners share a 'bond' 'When they did a show together, they used to sit back to back so they wouldn't have to look at one another,' he alleged. In 2010, Marty left the network to join Nova, and by 2011 was one third of the Meshel, Tim & Marty show (which became Kat, Tim & Marty in 2014. He left the network in 2020. In July this year, he announced he was leaving Nova after 10 years with the network. Meanwhile, Fifi currently hosts Fifi, Fev and Byron on Melbourne's Fox FM. Bruno also claimed there had been a feud between former 2Day FM breakfast hosts Em Rusciano and Harley Breen in 2017. Rivals? Fifi Box (right) and Marty Sheargold (left) also disliked working together as co-hosts of Triple M's The Shebang from 2003 to 2008, Mr Bouchet claimed. Pictured on April 27, 2007 Not on friendly terms: Former radio hosts Peter Moon (left) and Wendy Harmer (right) also hated each other despite a long-running partnership, Mr Bouchet said 'Apparently those two hated each other,' he said. The duo worked together for about a year, but things reportedly became so strained between them that they didn't speak to each other off air for a week-long period. When contacted by Daily Mail Australia at the time, Harley's representative denied Bruno's claims. Former radio hosts Peter Moon and Wendy Harmer also loathed each other despite a long-running partnership, Bruno said. The duo co-hosted the 2Day FM breakfast show for eight years, from 1995 to 2002. Confirming the rumours were indeed true, Harmer told Daily Mail Australia: 'The feud wasn't a secret; it was on air every day!' Blake Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds showed support for their pal Taylor Swift as they attended her Eras Tour show in Spain on Wednesday. The Gossip Girl star, 36, and The Proposal actor, 47, were spotted in the VIP section at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. They were joined by three young girls who appeared to be their daughters, James, nine, Inez, seven, and Betty, four. During the show the Shake It Off sisnger fixed her gave on Blake's daughters in the audience. Taylor strummed her guitar and said: 'I have to say that on Folklore, some of my favorite characters are named James, Inez and Betty.' Blake Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds showed support for their pal Taylor Swift as they attended her Eras Tour show in Spain on Wednesday; Seen in 2022 The Gossip Girl star, 36, and The Proposal actor, 47, were spotted in the VIP section at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid; Swift, 34, seen performing at the show Swift's song Betty on Folklore references all three girls in the lyrics. In clips shared by fans the actress wore a white blouse and denim shorts. She was seen handing one of the kids a refreshment before the start of the show. The couple welcomed their fourth child in February 2023, but the name of their youngest daughter has not been revealed publicly yet. The Haim sisters were also in attendance at the show. Reynolds was not pictured in the clip, but reportedly joined his wife later, according Us Weekly. Earlier this month he shared he would finally be attending the three-hour concert during an appearance on Today with Hoda & Jenna. 'I'm about to go to the Madrid show. This will be my first because this last year and a half I've been trapped in a nonstop work bubble and it's a problem.' 'My wife and kids have been to five of them, five or six now. They love it, they're obsessed.' Swift, 34, Lively, and Reynolds have been close friends for years. The Bad Blood hitmaker has even used the names of their daughters in her songs. Her track 'Betty' from 2020 album Folklore names James, Inez and Betty. | Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and the Haim sisters are at tonights show! #MadridTStheErasTour pic.twitter.com/mqUMWnBFzZ Taylor Swift News (@TSwiftNZ) May 29, 2024 They were joined by three your girls who appeared to be their daughters, James, nine, Inez, seven, and Betty, four; seen with James and Inez in 2016 Earlier this month Reynolds shared he would be attending his first Taylor Eras concert in Madrid, adding, 'My wife and kids have been to five of them, five or six now. They love it'; The duo seen in 2021 Swift, Lively, and Reynolds have been close friends for years. The Bad Blood hitmaker has even used the names of their daughters in her songs; Blake and Taylor seen in 2024 Swift was seen back in her glittering bodysuits as she commanded the stage in Madrid, after resuming her Eras Tour in May following a short break Taylor's track 'Betty' from her 2020 album Folklore names James, Inez and Betty, and Reynolds has even joked that they are waiting for Taylor to tell them the name of their fourth child And her 2017 Reputation album features James' voice on the song 'Gorgeous.' In 2023 Taylor made a special gesture to Lively's two daughters during the Philadelphia stop of her Eras Tour. Blake brought along her two eldest children for the night of live music. During her performance the music sensation took a moment to acknowledge the special guests as she mouthed what appeared to be 'Hi, James! Hi, Inez!' Reynolds has even joked that they are waiting for Taylor to tell them the name of their fourth child. 'We always wait for Taylor to tell us what the child's name is. And I'll say this: We're still waiting,' he joked during an appearance on the Today show. Ryan previously revealed that their children had no clue Taylor was famous after growing up with her in their lives. He admitted on Sirius XM: 'I think what's most exciting for them is that for the longest time they just thought Taylor's just like an aunt, like a friend of Mommy and Daddy that's very, very close, almost family. 'And then they went to a concert one day and were like, "Ohhhhh, this isn't a hobby."' Last year Blake and Ryan were seen attending a Kansas City Chiefs game with Swift, to support her boyfriend Travis Kelce. The massive tour has a total of 152 shows and is the highest-grossing tour in history The tour spans across five continents, including North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia It kicked off in March 2023, and is scheduled to conclude on December 8, 2024 Swift was seen back in her glittering bodysuits as she commanded the stage in Madrid on Wednesday, after resuming her Eras Tour in May following a short break. The massive tour has a total of 152 shows and is the highest-grossing tour in history. The tour spans across five continents, including North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It kicked off in March 2023, and is scheduled to conclude on December 8, 2024. It came to an end on Wednesday with a nail-biting race on foot to the finish line after travelling 15,000km in 50 days. But fans of Race Across The World likely won't have to wait long for another installment as the BBC has teased its upcoming celebrity series. As the final episode drew to a close, viewers were treated to a sneak peek of the next race - this time featuring pairs of celebrities. In the clip, the next group of racers could be seen taking on mountainous terrain - with fans convinced they have worked out one of the stars. 'OMG was that @scott_mills's voice I just heard in the Trailer for Celebrity Race Across The World?' someone said on X, formerly Twitter. 'Love him on Radio 2 and he was great on Radio 1.' Fans of Race Across The World likely won't have to wait long for another installment as the BBC teased its upcoming celebrity series at the end of Wednesday's final episode As the final episode drew to a close, viewers were treated to a sneak peak of the next race - this time featuring pairs of celebrities Others wrote of the new series: 'I cannot wait for Celebrity Race Across The World. BRING IT ON,'; '*Celebrity Race Across the World coming soon on BBC1. The UK: *cheers,'; 'CELEBRITY RACE ACROSS THE WORLD NEXT TIME,'; 'And that's it for Series 4 of Race Across the World-Well done to Owen and Alfie and see you in the Autumn for the 2nd series of the celebrity version of #RaceAcrossTheWorld,'; 'Huge congrats to alfie & Owen for winning race across the world, another series well executed by @studiolambert roll on the celeb version,'; 'AND A CELEB RACE ACROSS THE WORLD YES EVERYTHING IS SO PERFECT RN,'; 'Best series of race across the world so far in terms of couples, glad it was them that won too. Roll on the next celeb race!' The current series saw a nail-biting ending to the 15,000km race across Eastern Asia as two pairs approached the finish line neck and neck. After arriving at the second last checkpoint in Jakarta within just 12 minutes of each other, both Alfie and Owen and Isabel and Eugenie were eager to get out in front for the final leg. In the clip, the next group of racers could be seen taking on mountainous terrain - with fans convinced they have worked out one of the stars 'OMG was that @scott_mills's voice I just heard in the Trailer for Celebrity Race Across The World?' someone said on X, formerly Twitter Others wrote of the new series: 'I cannot wait for Celebrity Race Across The World. BRING IT ON,' Both pairs met each other multiple times on their journey from Jakarta to Lombok, before needing to travel by boat to a tiny Island off the coast at the exact same time. After finding speedboat rides, the pairs darted off across the sea before getting ready to run the rest of the way on foot. The race ended with a dramatic sprint along the beach as best friends Alfie and Owen reached the check-in book in first place, claiming the 20,000 prize. Closely behind the school friends were mother and daughter duo Eugenie and Isabel, who finished just eight minutes later. In third place were beloved brother and sister Betty and James - who arrived a day later after overcoming a dwindling budget and mishaps. Married couple Stephen and Viv finished in fourth, with a whopping 180 left of their budget. The dramatic final scenes saw Alfie and Owen dart along the beach in Indonesia surrounded by gleaming tropical waters before arriving at the book to find they had won the race. Race Across The World saw a nail-biting ending to the 15,000km race across Eastern Asia on Wednesday as two pairs approached the finish line neck and neck Both pairs met each other multiple times on their journey from Jakarta to Lombok (pictured), before needing to travel by boat to a tiny Island off the coast at the exact same time The next day, 24 hours and 34 minutes later, Betty and James arrived at the finish line 'We've done it,' they screamed, before hugging each other. Owen said proudly: 'We came, and we saw, and we succeeded.' 'Best moment of our lives,' Alfie added. 'Undeniably. Cant believe it.' Eugenie and Isabel opened the book to find they had been beaten by the boy by minutes. Eugenie said: 'We did it. Weve come in a good second. If we were to lose to anybody, we always said that we would want to lose to Alfie and Owen.' The next day, 24 hours and 34 minutes later, Betty and James arrived at the finish line, before Stephen and Viv made it six hours later. Richard Wilkins was joined by his son and new makeup artist girlfriend Mia Hawkswell as they hosted a dinner party. The veteran entertainer reporter, 69, and his son, 28, were spotted in an Instagram post on Mia's account on Wednesday showcasing the cute date night. Mia, 47, shared scenes from the kitchen as Richard and Christian prepared the food and drink, as well as the stunning table settings. Christian, who is an aspiring Hollywood actor, showed off his culinary skills as he made finishing touches to a plate of antipasto, then seasoned some fish. Meanwhile, Mia's boyfriend Richard prepared drinks and at one point was seen helping Christian out in the kitchen. Richard Wilkins was joined by his son and new makeup artist girlfriend Mia Hawkswell as they hosted a dinner party. L-R: Mia, Richard, Anthony Bell and Annika Martyn Mia, 47, shared scenes from the kitchen as Richard and Christian (pictured) prepared the food and drink In the caption to the post, she tagged both her boyfriend and his son, as well as her visitors from Italy, saying 'An Italian dinner for Italian friends' Daily Mail Australia broke the news of the new romance between Richard and Mia on Friday. The Channel Nine star stepped out at a friend's birthday party, where he was spotted holding hands with celebrity makeup artist Mia. Christian, who is an aspiring Hollywood actor, showed off his culinary skills as he made finishing touches to a plate of antipasto, then seasoned some fish Mia also shared the stunning table settings for the dinner party the trio hosted In the caption to the post, she tagged both her boyfriend and his son, as well as her visitors from Italy , saying 'An Italian dinner for Italian friends' A source tells Daily Mail Australia the pair have been dating for six weeks, and have so far kept the budding romance low key. Mia additionally shared a cryptic post to her Instagram Stories on Friday, showing her clinking glasses with a man off camera, which she captioned: 'All you need is love'. Daily Mail Australia reached out to Richard Wilkins and Mia Hawkswell for comment. The makeup artist describes herself as '40-something' on her website and is an in-demand hair and beauty stylist who has worked with A-listers around the world. She has been an in-demand star in the industry as a makeup artist for 18 years while doing hair for over 30 years. Richard Wilkins and his new love Mia Hawkswell are already smitten despite their short courtship and 22 year age gap, according to a new report. Pictured together this week The makeup artist describes herself as '40-something' on her website and is an in-demand hair and beauty stylist who has worked with A-listers around the world According to her website, Mia runs classes known as The Over 40s Club which offer makeup and beauty advice for older women. Mia's site also claims she is a 'requested artist' for TV hosts on internally recognised TV productions to editorials, brand collaborations and for recording artists on tour. She has worked with Pamela Anderson, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Florence Welch, Jimmy and Jane Barnes, Black Eyed Peas, Dean Lewis, Daniel MacPherson, Keith Urban, Silverchair, Rose Byrne, Delta Goodrem, Christine Centenera, Elle Ferguson, Sonia Kruger, Rachael Finch, Samantha Wills and many more. Her work has appeared in Vogue and Marie Claire, on Channel Nine, Channel Seven, Binge and Channel Ten, and for brands such as Speedo, Adidas and Rip Curl, while also working with makeup giants like Revlon and Sisley Paris. Anya Taylor-Joy looked sensational as she posed up a storm for her latest shoot with Flaunt magazine. The actress, 28, put on a very leggy display as she modelled an array of daring ensembles in the sexy snaps. Leaning on a vanity stand, the Queen's Gambit star wore a black mini skirt, black blouse and knee high black boots as her gaze avoided the camera. Anya completed the look with a huge black and leopard print hat and red lipstick. In another shot she oozed Hollywood glamour in a plunging white dress as she showed off her ample cleavage while kneeling on a bed. Anya Taylor-Joy put on a VERY leggy display as she wowed in sexy shoot with Flaunt magazine and detailed her 'dirtiest role' to date The actress, 28, oozed Hollywood glamour in a plunging white dress as she showed off her ample cleavage while kneeling on a bed Draped in a white fur coat she completed the look with some fishnet tights while her platinum blonde locks shone. Anya also opened up about her latest project which sees her star as the titular character in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, a prequel to the 1979 original. Discussing what it was like shooting the gritty flick: 'It was definitely the bloodiest and dirtiest I have ever been in my life. 'I remember looking at my makeup artist at one point and saying, "I am filthy right now!"' And the star looked a far cry from her appearance in the latest Mad Max film as she cut a glamorous appearance during the shoot. In another snap Anya flashed her legs in a bold leopard print wrap dress which she also paired with the black knee high boots. The star also donned a 1920s style white tasselled dress complete with black gloves as she posed in a series of black and white shots. Furiosa features a largely Australian all-star cast including Chris Hemsworth, Lachy Hulme, John Howard, Angus Sampson and Nathan Jones. Draped in a white fur coat she completed the look with some fishnet tights while her platinum blonde locks shone In another snap Anya flashed her legs in a bold leopard print wrap dress which she also paired with the black knee high boots Anya was dressed in Tiffany and Co. and Lever Couture for the stunning cover shot In a series of black and white shots Anya's face was covered in a black veil Anya also opened up about her latest project which sees her star as the titular character in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, a prequel to the 1979 original, as she said it was her 'dirtiest' role yet The star looked sensational as her dress blew in the wind as she showcased her incredible physique The film tells the origin story of a young Imperator Furiosa, played by Anya, who rose to fame as the star of Netflix hit The Queen's Gambit It is written and directed by legendary Aussie filmmaker George Miller, and also features American actress Anya Taylor-Joy and English star Tom Burke. The film tells the origin story of a young Imperator Furiosa, played by Anya, who rose to fame as the star of Netflix hit The Queen's Gambit. Meanwhile, Chris has described his character Dementus as 'a very violent, insane, brutal person that is born from the Wasteland'. 'He has been birthed into a space where it's kill or be killed. He's learned to rule with an iron fist. There's a charisma to him and it's very manipulative,' he said at CCXP in Brazil, where the trailer footage was unveiled. Furiosa was filmed in New South Wales and was expected to become the biggest movie ever to be made in Australia - Filming wrapped up in September, 2022. However, US audiences have been left confused by the unique Aussie slang, such as 'fang it' and 'frothing' used throughout the film. US audiences have taken to social media to express their confusion at the frequent use of distinctly Australian jargon throughout the movie. Discussing what it was like shooting the gritty flick: 'It was definitely the bloodiest and dirtiest I have ever been in my life Anya seductively kissed the mirror in another shot as she donned a quirky leopard print hat She also paused with a dog as she wore a black corset dress Anya flashed plenty of skin in the corset dress which was adorned with a large black bow and black hat Anya ate spaghetti and meatballs in another artistic shot Wearing a sparkly scarlet red dress, mascara ran down Anya's face And the star looked a far cry from her appearance in the latest Mad Max film as she cut a glamorous appearance during the shoot The shoot comes after Anya revealed new details about her secretive relationship with her husband Malcolm McRae earlier this week 'It was a little disturbing to learn a large amount of the post-apocalyptic jargon in Furiosa is actually just regular Australian slang,' one fan quipped. 'The full script is actually just a recording from an afternoon at the pub,' a second person joked. 'Max's son, Sprog, is named after Australian slang for child,' a third person chipped in and a fourth added: 'Fang it made me weirdly nostalgic, nobody uses that anymore.' It comes after Anya revealed new details about her secretive relationship with her husband Malcolm McRae earlier this week. Speaking with movie-rating social media site Letterboxd, Anya explained she had a surprising connection to one of her favourite films Forrest Gump. According to the Miami-born actress, her 30-year-old musician husband proposed to her at the location of the bench that Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) sits on while recounting his picaresque tale. 'Forrest Gump, I love that movie, I miss movies like that,' Anya enthused. 'Just huge, epic sagas where you just feel every emotion under the sun and theres like this beautiful poetry underneath it. I love it.' Suggesting he knew the story, Chris then asked: 'Did something special happen on the Forrest Gump bench?' 'Yes. My husband accidentally proposed to me on the Forrest Gump bench in Savannah,' she shared. 'Complete accident and hes a boy from Alabama. And Im blonde. So just, just happened,' she explained. 'I hear that music and I cry like a baby.' Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) South Africa has again expressed its serious concern at the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan which has resulted in loss of civilian lives, wanton destruction of property, especially critical infrastructure, and displacement of the population Chris Pine looked sharp in a dress shirt and slacks on Wednesday while out for lunch in Beverly Hills, California. The 43-year-old actor wore a light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up and top buttons undone while eating at Lou'Mar fusion restaurant. The Star Trek franchise star had his shirt tucked into black trousers and completed his look with black dress shoes. Chris let his blonde hair with grey streaks down and also sported a thin grey goatee. He accessorized with Ray-Ban sunglasses, pendant necklace and watch. Chris Pine looked sharp in a dress shirt and slacks on Wednesday while out for lunch at a fusion restaurant in Beverly Hills, California The classy look was in sharp contrast to his recent fashion choices that included bathrobes and shorts while he was promoting his directorial debut Poolman. Chris earlier this month showed off his muscular physique in tiny shorts and a green tank top while stopping at a newsstand in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles. He also rocked a bathrobe on Jimmy Kimmel Live while plugging his film Poolman. Along with helming and co-writing the feature, Chris also starred in it alongside Annete Bening, Ariana DeBose, Danny DeVito and Jennifer Jason Leigh. In the run-up to its theatrical release on May 10, Chris repeatedly caught the eye for his striking wardrobe choices. Chris starred in his new film as Darren - an apartment complex pool man with a philosophical streak - while Annette and Danny were featured as his neighbors. Eventually, Darren becomes aware of a water heist and is launched into a series of film noir misadventures that include a femme fatale. The comedy mystery boasts a cast that includes DeWanda Wise, the star of the Netflix series adapted from Spike Lee's classic movie She's Gotta Have It. Groundhog Day actor Stephen Tobolowsky, The Shawshank Redemption alum Clancy Brown and veteran English actress Juliet Mills are also seen in the film. The 43-year-old actor wore a light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up and top buttons undone while eating at Lou'Mar fusion restaurant The classy look was in sharp contrast to his recent fashion choices that included bathrobes and shorts while he was promoting his directorial debut Poolman, shown in April at the film's premiere in Los Angeles Chris, shown in April in New York City, starred in his new film as Darren - an apartment complex pool man with a philosophical streak The Star Trek franchise star, shown in 2004, also co-wrote and starred in Poolman as well as directing it Shedding light on his fashion sense, Chris recently revealed that many of his Poolman costumes were lifted from his real-life wardrobe. 'I wear an outfit in it thats basically my version of Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief, which is one of my favorite films,' the Star Trek heartthrob told Access. 'I wear two of my own hats in it, so Im very much into the Poolman aesthetic.' He cut a particularly eye-catching figure at Poolman's Los Angeles premiere in April at Quentin Tarantino's Vista Theatre as he wore an 'I Love LA' along with corduroy shorts. The Los Angeles native portrayed James T. Kirk in the Star Trek reboot film series. Kate Beckinsale looked healthy and happy in two new photos shared to Instagram on Wednesday. The 50-year-old actress uploaded a pair of snaps in which she looked radiant during a break from shooting her new film Stolen Girl in Italy. The English-bred movie star sat outdoors wearing a white tank top and gray cargo pants as she held a lit cigarette in her hand. Her long bob haircut was loose and neatly styled as it fell over her shoulders and she flashed her famous smile. It comes days after she fired back at fans who said she looks 'too thin' following a recent health scare. Kate Beckinsale looked healthy and happy in two new photos shared to Instagram on Wednesday The 50-year-old actress uploaded a pair of snaps in which she looked radiant during a break from shooting her new film Stolen Girl in Italy In the two pictures posted to her Instagram Stories, Kate looked stunning in soft makeup that gave her visage a natural-looking glow. She wore textured hoop earrings as she sat in a black and silver director's chair. Thin tree branches with green leaves and purple flowers fell in front of her in the pretty snaps. Also on Wednesday, Beckinsale shared a behind-the-scenes look as she had hair and makeup done on the set of her new film. She spoke in Italian as her hairstylist tended to her locks while she sat in a makeup chair in front of a mirror. The star has been occupied working on a new feature film, which she has documented on social media. Kate will star alongside Scott Eastwood in Stolen Girl, which is based on the real story of Maureen Dabbagh, a mother who spent years tracking down her daughter after she was abducted by the child's father. It's being directed by James Kent and pre-production is taking place in Southern Italys Puglia region. Also on Wednesday, Beckinsale shared a behind-the-scenes look as she had hair and makeup done on the set of her new film Fans have been worried since Kate recently posted a photo of herself in a hospital bed 'I have been really sad. I watched my second dad die. It made me sick. Sorry you find me less attractive. Couldn't give a fu**,' Kate clapped back at a critic Earlier this month the actress was prompted to respond to fans who made comments about her weight on Instagram. When one person wrote under a post, 'What happened to you? You used to be gorgeous,' the silver screen siren clapped back. 'I have been really sad. I watched my second dad die. It made me sick. Sorry you find me less attractive. I couldn't give a f***,' Kate replied. She continued to hit back, writing, 'I nursed my [stepdad] to his death early this year. 'My mum also has stuff going on. I am adjusting to watching two fathers die, one when I was 5, one in January of this year,' she added. Earlier this year she lost her stepfather Roy Battersby after a brief illness. Beckinsale was also the one to find her biological father Richards body after he died from a heart attack when she was young. More than five years after cancelling her Las Vegas residency, Britney Spears is back in Sin City. The Grammy Award winner, 42, sizzled in a red minidress as she shared a video on Wednesday from her latest outing on the Las Vegas Strip with friends. 'Dinner with friends!!!' Spears captioned a video of herself modeling the strapless number in a bathroom mirror. She complemented the look with a beige cowboy hat, chunky black sunglasses, a matching beaded choker and black heels. Spears previously shared a cute video of a baby's eyes widening over a piece of food to represent her time in Vegas. Britney Spears sizzled in a red minidress as she shared a video on Wednesday from her latest outing on the Las Vegas Strip with friends 'Dinner with friends!!!' Spears captioned a video of herself modeling the strapless number in a bathroom mirror. She complemented the look with a beige cowboy hat, chunky black sunglasses, a matching beaded choker and black heels 'Me in Vegas with alcohol, food, and spas it's a constant orgasmic experience thank you Jesus!!!' she wrote in the caption. The Glory artist also raved about her 'adorable hotel' while staying at Resorts World Las Vegas. She shared a video on Tuesday of herself checking into a spa with older brother Bryan Spears. Spears' Vegas trip comes after her hit Britney: Piece of Me residency ran from 2013 to 2017 after it was extended from its original two-year run. In 2019, Spears cancelled her second residency, Britney: Domination, a month before it was scheduled to begin. Britney's father Jamie Spears was still in full control of the star as she remained under a tight conservatorship until November 2021. She previously claimed that she only went out twice during the four years she was in Las Vegas. 'I was thinking about when I did shows in Vegas,' the Toxic singer wrote in August 2021. 'The four years I was there I went out only two times !!!! Unfortunately I'm not lying.' She later alleged that she wasn't 'allowed' to consume coffee or tea or even visit a spa despite performing multiple nights a week at Planet Hollywood. 'People don't know this but when I did Vegas, I was never allowed to go to the spa,' she told fans in January 2022. 'They didn't want me having tea or coffee so my friends from home would show up going to the spas drinking champagne no lie and I was the loser working and entertaining them at night doesn't sound like a good deal to me either!!!!' The Crossroads actress recently sparked concerns of another mental health episode after sustaining an injury at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles. She was doing cartwheels outside her hotel room when she twisted her ankle, following some drinks at the hotel bar with boyfriend Paul Soliz. Spears said she was 'harassed and gaslit and tricked to go on the street' barefoot to meet the ambulance. 'I was in my pajamas and yes, I had been crying because I hurt my foot!!! No breakdown!!! I'm a grown a** woman who is actually very naive in most situations!!!' she wrote on Instagram. Spears previously shared a cute video of a baby's eyes widening over a piece of food to represent her time in Vegas She shared a video on Tuesday of herself checking into a spa with older brother Bryan Spears Spears was previously placed under conservatorship in 2008, lasting until 2021, when she gave testimony about 'abusive' treatment she allegedly suffered A source previously told DailyMail.com that it was Britney's mother Lynne who 'called 911 and told them that Britney was having a breakdown and had injured herself,' knowing that her daughter 'was in a traumatized state.' 'Britney was crying in pain and she called Lynne in Louisiana to tell her what had happened,' the insider said. 'At the time, Lynne was the only one who knew that she had hurt herself.' Seeing a gurney was 'traumatizing' for Spears, triggering 'a severe panic attack' after she was placed under a 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold in 2008. Spears has since reportedly threatened to sell her Kentwood, Louisiana mansion Serenity, where her mother has lived rent-free since it was built in 2001. According to TMZ, Spears' loved ones are concerned her 'mental health is in a tailspin,' potentially requiring another conservatorship. Spears was placed under conservatorship in 2008, lasting until 2021, when she gave testimony about 'abusive' treatment she allegedly suffered. Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles said that her younger daughter Solange's name was inspired by a trip to France she took with her ex-husband Mathew Knowles. The fashion designer, 70, who is mother to Beyonce, 42, and Solange, 37, with Mathew, 72, explained the backstory of her younger child's name while appearing Thursday on The Run-Through with Vogue Podcast. 'Solange came from - I went to Paris when I was about 32 - well, when I got pregnant with her,' Tina said. 'I bought a baby name book in Paris for my girlfriend and she was gonna have a baby. 'And then the next year I wound up having a baby so I pulled that old book out.' Tina said that the book was published in the French language and the name stood out to her when she was studying it. @voguemagazine Replying to @rhyankiara You might know the story of Beyonces name, but do you know the story behind Solanges name? Ms. #TinaKnowles tells all on the most recent episode of #TheRunThrough podcast. original sound - Vogue Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles, 70, said that she named her younger daughter Solange's name was inspired by a trip to France she took with her ex-husband Mathew Knowles, 72 'Solange was conceived on the Nile in Egypt, and I thought I was having a boy, and I wanted to name him Niles,' Tina said. 'But little did I know, here came this girl, and so yeah, that's where I got her name.' Tina - who also spoke about Beyonce being bullied as a child in the interview - said she feels 'names are important.' Mathew and Tina Knowles exchanged vows in 1980, welcoming Beyonce in 1981 and Solange in 1986. Solange has spoken about the origins of her name in a 2017 chat with The Standard as she promoted her 2017 Orion's Rise tour in support of her album A Seat At the Table. 'I had some revelations, in terms of my parents finding out they conceived me in Egypt after visiting the Giza pyramids,' Solange said, 'and connecting to that and the constellation of Orion that aligns with Giza.' Solange, whose 17-year-old son Julez Smith was seen earlier this month at the Met Gala, has a tattoo of the Orion constellation on her right arm. Beyonce has past made references to Egypt in her material, including her 2019 track Nile from The Lion King: The Gift album. Tina said of her younger daughter: 'Solange was conceived on the Nile in Egypt and I thought I was having a boy, and I wanted to name him Niles' Solange shared a shot posed with her mother and sister in September of 2022 Tina and Mathew separated in 2009 after her divorce filing, which was finalized two years later amid news that Mathew was father to a son named Nixon Knowles with actress Alexsandra White, born in February of 2010. Mathew in July of 2013 wed one-time model Gena Charmaine Avery in a ceremony neither Beyonce or Solange went to. Tina began dating Poltergeist actor Richard Lawson in 2013 and the couple were married on April 12, 2015. She filed for divorce from him last summer after eight years of marriage. Laverne Cox celebrated her 52nd birthday in style on Wednesday with a steamy striptease video shared with her seven million Instagram followers. The Orange Is The New Black star redefined middle age as she stripped out of a striking black jacket to reveal her trim figure and a tiny black bikini. 'I turn 52 years old today. I'm so grateful to be alive and healthy and wiser, truly wiser!' she began her post's caption. 'I genuinely love myself today. That hasn't always been the case. I'm surrounded by love. That's intentional,' continued the transgender actress and activist, who was honored earlier in May at the Webby Awards. Laverne wrote that she was '52 and surrouned [sic] by love and abundance. Thank you God!' Laverne Cox celebrated her 52nd birthday in style on Wednesday with a steamy striptease video shared with her seven million Instagram followers The Orange Is The New Black star redefined middle age as she stripped out of a striking black jacket to reveal her trim figure and a tiny black bikini She was dressed in an asymmetrical black jacket with decorative yellow embroidered lines over her sleeves and chest. The jacket had a cropped front that left her toned stomach in full view, and the unusual item had cropped right half, while the left half of the jacket was connected to a longer back side that draped down her thighs. Under the jacket, Laverne wore a black string bikini top made of a revealing semi-sheer mesh material, along with a low-cut hip-hugging bottom and sheer black gloves. Laverne wore her hair in long blond waves, and she pouted her plump scarlet-painted lips as she looked suggestively into the camera while soundtracking her clip to Beyonce's Cowboy Carter song SPAGHETTII. Laverne flipped her jacket back before removing it to reveal her svelte figure and her bikini. She continued her caption by urging her followers to support transgender equality while referencing numerous states that have passed anti-trans laws in recent years. 'In honor of my special day, please consider making a donation to @southernequality which helps families with trans members who may need relocation and travel expenses because 24 states now ban gender affirming care for young people,' she wrote, before urging her followers to 'Vote in November.' She concluded with the hashtags '#TransIsBeautiful,' '#BlackIsBeautiful,' '#ProtectTransKids' and 'It's my #Birthday.' Earlier this month, Laverne took the stage in New York City at the 28th annual Webby Awards. She urged her followers to support transgender equality while referencing numerous states that have passed anti-trans laws in recent years Laverne wore a cropped black jacket with yellow embroidery. She quickly stripped out of it to reveal her black mesh bikini and sheer gloves Earlier this month she was being honored with the Webby Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for her podcast The Laverne Cox Show; seen May 13 She also has a mysterious role in the upcoming Apple Studios film Outcome, which is directed by Jonah Hill and stars Keanu Reeves as a Hollywood star confronting his dark past; pictured May 11 in NYC She was being honored with the Webby Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for her podcast The Laverne Cox Show. Cox will soon appear at a Tribeca Talks' Storytellers event on June 12. She also has a mysterious role in the upcoming Apple Studios film Outcome. The film, which is directed by Jonah Hill, stars Keanu Reeves as the similarly named Reef, a major actor in Hollywood who is forced to confront his dark history and past transgressions after he is blackmailed with a mysterious video clip from his early days. The film, which is described as a dark comedy, also features Hill onscreen, along with Cox, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, Susan Lucci, David Spade, Kaia Gerber, Roy Wood Jr. and Atsuko Okatsuka. Advertisement Lucy Liu wowed in an eye-catching ensemble alongside stylish Andra Day as they attended the star-studded, Sesame Workshop 2024 Benefit Gala in NYC on Wednesday. The Charlie's Angels actress, 55 - who recently put on a glamorous display at the 2024 Gold Gala - joined the Grammy winner, 39, and other celebrities during the festivities which took place at Cipriani 42nd Street. The event helps, 'celebrate Sesame Workshop's ongoing work to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder,' per the official website. Liu turned heads on the red carpet while donning a one-shoulder, gold minidress that was made of a shimmering material. Bunched fabric could be seen around the left shoulder that offered a dramatic flare to the overall look. Lucy Liu, 55, wowed in an eye-catching ensemble alongside stylish Andra Day, 39, as they attended the star-studded, Sesame Workshop 2024 Benefit Gala in NYC on Wednesday She slipped into a pair of open-toed, gold heels that were secured with thin straps that wrapped around her ankles. Her dark locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down in natural waves past her shoulders. Lucy accessorized her outfit with a pair of dangly, gold earrings as well as a few flashy rings on her right hand. The star carried a glittering, dark gold clutch bag in her hand to hold a few items she needed for the special night. Her makeup was classically done, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light pink blush on her cheekbones. For a final touch, a glossy rosy pink tint was worn on her lips. While pausing for a brief photo session on the red carpet, Liu also stopped to take a memorable snap with some of the iconic Sesame Street muppets, such as Ernie and Grover. Andra Day also stunned upon arriving to the venue, and wore a strapless, fitted pink pantsuit that contained ruffled details on the sides and neckline. The Rise Up songstress - who also performed at the event - opted for a pair of closed-toed, white platform heels. Liu turned heads on the red carpet while donning a one-shoulder, gold minidress that was made of a shimmering material While pausing for a brief photo session on the red carpet, Liu also stopped to take a memorable snap with some of the iconic Sesame Street muppets, such as Ernie and Grover Andra Day also stunned upon arriving to the venue, and wore a strapless, fitted pink pantsuit that contained ruffled details on the sides and neckline Day added a pair of large, gold-hooped earrings as well as a gold-chained necklace to accessorize the ensemble The beauty was also seen striking a pose with the muppets - who were dressed for the special occasion Her long locks were pulled back into a chic up do, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face. Day added a pair of large, gold-hooped earrings as well as a gold-chained necklace to accessorize the ensemble. The star's makeup was glammed up, and comprised of voluminous lashes as well as a purple shadow around her eyes. A warm blush was added to better accentuate her cheekbones, while a nude-colored, glossy tint was worn on her lips and bordered by a darker lipliner. The beauty was also seen striking a pose with the muppets - who were dressed for the special occasion. Shonda Rhimes - one of the night's honorees - exuded elegance in a sleeveless, dark brown gown that had a V-neck cut on the front and belted material around the waist. The Shondaland founder added a pair of mini earrings as well as a shimmering necklace and chunky bracelets on her left wrist. The television producer's hair was parted to the side, and fell down in curls to nearly brush the tips of her shoulders. Shonda Rhimes - one of the night's honorees - exuded elegance in a sleeveless, dark brown gown that had a V-neck cut on the front and belted material around the waist. The Shondaland founder added a pair of mini earrings as well as a shimmering necklace and chunky bracelets on her left wrist According to the nonprofit's official website, Oprah Winfrey was chosen to present the honor to Shonda during the gala Martha Stewart was also spotted and donned a long, black top that had floral details embroidered onto the material Rhimes held a gold clutch bag in her hand that contained silver, rhinestone details on the small strap. According to the nonprofit's official website, Oprah Winfrey was chosen to present the honor to Shonda during the gala. The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. was also honored, and was accepted by its chairman and CEO, Bill Demchak. Martha Stewart was also spotted and donned a long, black top that had floral details embroidered onto the material. The TV personality additionally opted for loose-fitting, black trousers as well as open-toed, black heels. She accessorized the monochromatic look with a pair of glittering earrings, as well as pearl bracelets and gold rings. Ana Navarro was chic in a pair of black pants as well as a fitted blazer and a black, lace top underneath. The TV personality additionally opted for loose-fitting, black trousers as well as open-toed, black heels Ana Navarro was chic in a pair of black pants as well as a fitted blazer and a black, lace top underneath Leslie Odom Jr. dressed to impress wearing a brown and black-patterned suit jacket and matching trousers The Hamilton star added a buttoned vest as well as a plain shirt underneath. For a finishing touch, the actor - who hosted the gala on Wednesday - donned a pair of sleek, brown shoes with chunky soles At one point, Leslie crossed paths with Shonda Rhimes and the pair paused for a photo together with some of the Sesame Street muppets The strategist and commentator additionally slipped into a pair of open-toed, black pumps and carried a reflective, silver clutch bag in her hand. Her dark hair was parted in the middle, and cascaded down to brush past her shoulders in light waves. Navarro chose minimal accessories for the benefit, and added a pair of large, silver-hooped earrings. Leslie Odom Jr. dressed to impress wearing a brown and black-patterned, suit jacket and matching trousers. The Hamilton star added a buttoned vest as well as a plain shirt underneath. For a finishing touch, the actor - who hosted the gala on Wednesday - donned a pair of sleek, brown shoes with chunky soles. At one point, Leslie crossed paths with Shonda Rhimes and the pair paused for a photo together with some of the Sesame Street muppets. John Oliver flashed a smile upon arriving to the benefit while sporting a classic, dark navy suit which was paired with a white dress shirt and blue tie. The British-born comedian - who made a special guest appearance at the gala - was also seen mingling with Andra Day on the red carpet. John Oliver flashed a smile upon arriving to the benefit while sporting a classic, dark navy suit which was paired with a white dress shirt and blue tie The British-born comedian - who made a special guest appearance at the gala - was also seen mingling with Andra Day on the red carpet Christian Slater was dapper in a gray suit that comprised of a buttoned blazer and a pair of matching trousers The star was joined by his pregnant wife, Brittany Lopez, who donned a colorful ensemble for the festivities The pair - who already share a four-year-old daughter - announced the special news when Lopez showcased her growing baby bump at the premiere of Unfrosted in Los Angeles (seen above) Christian Slater was dapper in a gray suit that comprised of a buttoned blazer and a pair of matching trousers. The Heathers actor additionally wore a white dress shirt underneath as well as a dark gray tie and sleek black shoes. The star was joined by his pregnant wife, Brittany Lopez, who donned a colorful ensemble for the festivities. The lovebirds - who tied the knot in 2013 - revealed late last month in April that they are expecting their second child together. The pair - who already share a four-year-old daughter - announced the special news when Lopez showcased her growing baby bump at the premiere of Unfrosted in Los Angeles. Craig Melvin was dapper in a navy suit as well as a white dress shirt and dark blue tie. The broadcaster also slipped into a pair of black loafers and joined wife Lindsay Czarniak who wowed in yellow dress Diane Sawyer hugged some of the muppets on the red carpet while wearing a black and white-striped outfit during the festivities YouTuber Rachel Accurso - also known as Ms. Rachel - was classy in a white ensemble as she also made an appearance at the benefit Craig Melvin was dapper in a navy suit as well as a white dress shirt and dark blue tie. The broadcaster also slipped into a pair of black loafers. He was spotted with wife, Lindsay Czarniak, who was radiant in a yellow dress that contained a pleated skirt as well as a plunging neckline at the front. Diane Sawyer hugged some of the muppets on the red carpet while wearing a black and white-striped outfit during the festivities. YouTuber Rachel Accurso - also known as Ms. Rachel - was classy in a white ensemble as she also made an appearance at the benefit. Melissa Gorga claimed all of her co-stars on the Real Housewives of New Jersey are using Ozempic for weight loss except for her. The reality TV personality, 45, recently revealed she was the 'only one on the cast that does not take Ozempic.' During an appearance on Wednesday's episode of Sherri, she said that she instead chooses to focus on her fitness regime to shed pounds. 'I work out really, really hard,' she told talk show host Sherri Shepherd. 'To each their own for everything, but no, I don't take it.' However, the Bravo star who confirmed she is still feuding with her sister-in-law and co-star Teresa Giudice said she wasn't judging her castmates for using Ozempic. Melissa Gorga claimed all of her co-stars on the Real Housewives of New Jersey are using Ozempic for weight loss except for her. The reality TV personality, 45, recently revealed she was the 'only one on the cast that does not take Ozempic' She added that she is 'happy' her co-stars are taking the diabetes drug, popularly used among Hollywood elites for weight loss, to 'feel good' and 'look good' She added that she is 'happy' her co-stars are taking the diabetes drug, popularly used among Hollywood elites for weight loss, to 'feel good' and 'look good.' This comes shortly after Shepherd brought up how Dolores Catania, 53, and Margaret Josephs, 57, made an appearance on her talk show in early May and telling her that 'most of the cast' have used the diabetes drug. On the topic of how most people choose to keep their Ozempic usage a secret, Catania said: 'I don't know why, because there's no shame in it.' She previously revealed she lost 20 pounds using the Ozempic alternative, Mounjaro. 'If a doctor gives it to you, if you're doing things right, you're becoming healthier by losing weight,' she shared. 'It's a bunch of great things that come along with this,' she said on the May 2 episode of Sherri. After admitting she uses Ozempic herself, she said she had finally reached her 'high school weight.' 'I'm gonna be honest because it's right,' she said after making her confession. Josephs also chimed in about using Ozempic herself and her positive experience with the medication. During an appearance on Wednesday's episode of Sherri, she said that she instead chooses to focus on her fitness regime to shed pounds. This comes shortly after Shepherd brought up how Dolores Catania, 53, and Margaret Josephs, 57, made an appearance on her talk show in early May and telling her that 'most of the cast' have used the diabetes drug Gorga said she focuses on working out 'really, really hard' compared to her co-stars. She said she does not use Ozempic but noted that she wasn't judging her castmates and others for using the diabetes drug; seen in May 2024 and December 2018 'After menopause, it's so hard to lose weight,' she said. 'And then you're shamed for it if you're heavy.' She continued: 'It shuts off that food noise, my blood work is great.' In comparison, she said before she started taking the diabetes medication she 'couldn't do anything.' 'It doesn't matter if I was eating right, exercising, so I don't know why there's any shame in it if it's helpful to people.' The cast of the current 14th season consists of Gorga, Catania, Josephs, Giudice as well as Jennifer Aydin, Danielle Cabral and Rachel Fuda. Former housewive Jackie Goldschneider and Jennifer Fessler will be making appearances in 'friends of' capacities. This comes after many of her co-stars candidly opened up about their Ozempic usage Gorga's co-star Catania previously revealed she lost 20 pounds using the Ozempic alternative, Mounjaro. Josephs also chimed in about using Ozempic herself and her positive experience with the medication on Sherri; seen in February 2024 Late last year, Fessler revealed she was hospitalized after suffering a scary side effect but hasn't stopped using Ozempic. Earlier that year, Goldschneider slammed Ozempic as 'an eating disorder in a needle' after previously opening up about her secret battle with anorexia for 18 years. Also in 2023, RHONJ alum Lauren Manzo, the daughter of Caroline Manzo, revealed she lost 80 pounds using the alternative diabetes drug Mounjaro. The Real Housewives of New Jersey's current and 14th season premiered on May 5. Episodes air on Bravo every Sunday and are available to stream on Peacock on the following day. Christian Slater and his wife Brittany Lopez made for an elegant pair at the Sesame Workshop 2024 Benefit Gala on Wednesday. The 54-year-old True Romance actor who recently revealed he and his wife are expecting opted for a gray suit and black tie for star studded the event. He styled his short dark locks pushed back as he posed up a storm on the red carpet with his wife and the Muppets. Lopez looked radiant in a black one-shoulder dress with colorful floral print. She accessorized with a gold necklace and matching hoop earrings. Her dark locks with honey-toned highlights were parted to the side and cascaded over her shoulders. Christian Slater and his wife Brittany Lopez made for an elegant pair at the Sesame Workshop 2024 Benefit Gala on Wednesday The 54-year-old True Romance actor opted for a gray suit and black tie for star studded the event She looked radiant in a full face of glam makeup that showed off her rosy pout and striking chestnut eyes. The Sesame Workshop 2024 Benefit Gala is a fundraiser for children and bettering education for the youth and awards those who are exemplary in the cause. This year's festivities will honor The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc with the Civic Leadership Award and award-winning writer Shonda Rhimes with the Joan Ganz Cooney Award. Tony and Grammy award-winning actor and musician Leslie Odom, Jr. will he hosting the event with as Oprah as the presenter. Rise Up hitmaker Andra Day will be preforming and Last Week Tonight's John Oliver will make a special guest appearance. Also spotted at the event were Lucy Liu, John Oliver, Martha Stewart and Diane Sawyer. Slater and Lopez revealed that they were expecting their second child together at the Los Angeles premiere of his film Unfrosted earlier this month. The longtime couple, who met on vacation in Florida's Little Palm Island when she was 21 and he was 39, went public with the exciting news as they walked the red carpet at The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. He styled his short dark locks pushed back as he posed up a storm on the red carpet with his wife and the Muppets The actor had a blast as he posed with the Muppet characters Lopez looked radiant in a black one-shoulder dress with colorful floral print. She accessorized with a gold necklace and matching hoop earrings She looked radiant in a full face of glam makeup that showed off her rosy pout and striking chestnut eyes The Sesame Workshop 2024 Benefit Gala is a fundraiser for children and bettering education for the youth and awards those who are exemplary in the cause He and Lopez already share a four-year-old daughter, whose name has not been publicly revealed. Slater welcomed his first two children Eliana, 22, and Jaden, 25, during his marriage to journalist Ryan Haddon. Back in 2019, after the birth of his youngest, Slater told People he was enjoying watching her newborn 'really acknowledge' and smile at him. 'Before, it would just be this involuntary thing,' he raved. 'Now, she sees and smiles, and that's a beautiful milestone.' At the time, he also joked about how 'complicated' parenting has become since the Nineties. 'I thought your kid could get a couple of germs and be fine, build up the immune system. But now you have to wash everything,' he mused on The Late Late Show with James Corden. He continued: 'The bottles, they break down into eight different pieces, and it's a puzzle you have to put together.' The performer admitted that the newborn stage was just 'a constant job' of constantly cleaning and 'late nights.' Slater and Lopez revealed that they were expecting their second child together at the Los Angeles premiere of his film Unfrosted earlier this month; pictured on April 30 in Los Angeles 'It kind of already feels like we did the wedding,' he said at the time. Despite the private affair for the official wedding, Christian and Brittany planned a familial event for their wedding later that year. 'It will be good, intimate and small and family members. It will be nice,' he told People, at the time. 'Honestly, you gotta get a planner and do all that, but we will get it organized. 'We had a big engagement party on the 31st of December and it was nice, it was like a New Year's and we had all the family come... so we are just going to do a nice backyard situation,' he said. Lupita Nyong'o put her toned legs on display on Wednesday in a new Instagram post. The actress, 41, shared a carousel of snaps from a preview of her upcoming film, The Wild Robot, while at the DreamWorks lot. The Quiet Place: Day One star donned a pair of stylish navy shorts with gold buttons, and a matching navy short-sleeve top tucked into them. The beauty who is dating Dawson's Creek star Joshua Jackson, 45 accessorized with a white Versace purse, retailing for up $2,495, and a pair of oversized sunglasses. 'The wild world of @TheWildRobot! Such a fun day previewing this special film on the @DreamWorks lot and meeting the people who make the superb animation come to life!! Cant wait for you all to see it in theaters this September!' she wrote in the caption. Lupita Nyong'o put her toned legs on display on Wednesday in a new Instagram post The actress, 41, shared a carousel of snaps from a preview of her upcoming film, The Wild Robot, while at the DreamWorks lot She completed the outfit with a pair of white pointed-toe heels. The Kenyan-Mexican actress drew attention to her eyes with metallic blue eyeshadow. In one snap she was seen posing in front of different colorful images from the animated film, which is based on the award-winning children's book series of the same name. She also added a short clip of herself attaching a golden robot brooch to her shirt. 'There I go, I'm a wild robot,' she said while laughing. In yet another snap she was seen sitting down in front of a poster for the film. Other photos saw her posing with a number of people involved in making of the movie. Lupita lends her voice to a character named Roz in the film. Roz is a shipwrecked robot who finds herself stranded on a deserted island, where she has to learn how to survive. There, she builds relationships with the island's animals and even becomes an adoptive parent to a gosling. The film also stars Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy, Catherine O'Hara, and more. The movie, helmed by Chris Sanders, is set to be released on September 27, 2024. The Quiet Place: Day One star donned a pair of stylish navy shorts with gold buttons, and a matching navy short-sleeve top tucked into them The Kenyan-Mexican actress drew attention to her eyes with metallic blue eyeshadow She completed the outfit with a pair of white pointed-toe heels Lupita lends her voice to a character named Roz in the film. Roz is a shipwrecked robot who finds herself stranded on a deserted island, where she has to learn how to survive Other snaps saw her posing with a number of people involved in making of the movie She also posed for a group shot Lupita added a short clip of herself attaching a golden robot brooch to her shirt. 'There I go, I'm a wild robot,' she said while laughing The animated film which is set to be released on September 27, 2024 is based on the award-winning children's book series of the same name Lupita also stars in the new A Quiet Place: Day One film, which will be released on June 28. It's a sequel to the original film A Quiet Place and follows Lupita's character Sam who must survive an invasion in New York City by blood-thirsty alien creatures. Her latest post comes after Lupita recently admitted she wants to keep her new relationship with Joshua out of the public eye after being burned in the past. The actress was open with the breakdown of her relationship with her ex Selema Masekela, revealing that it was 'devastatingly extinguished by deception'. Lupita has since found love with her new partner Joshua, but she insisted she will be going back to the 'old ways' of keeping her love life private. Historically, Lupita hasn't been public about her relationships, as she told Porter: 'And that was very, very sage of me. I'm going back to those days, by the way.' The couple are 'exclusive and serious,' according to insiders, who claim Lupita 'saved' him after his divorce when he didn't think he would ever find love again. Lupita has reportedly been a 'revelation' for the actor but she is yet to build a 'relationship' with Joshua's ex-wife Jodie Turner-Smith. Josh and Lupita are exclusive and serious,' an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'They get each other, and she has been such a calming force for him. 'They are in love and Josh feels saved. That might sound extremely corny but after his relationship with Jodie, who he thought was it for him, finding love with Lupita has been a revelation. It is everything to him that he has been able to find love again. He is very excited for their future.' They continued: 'Lupita and Jodie don't have much of a relationship, but Lupita is not looking to cause any problems. As for her personal life, Lupita is currently dating Dawson's Creek star Joshua Jackson, 45; The two seen in 2018 in New York City 'Jodie will be in Joshua's life forever and Lupita understands that dynamic, and Lupita will tackle those roads when the timing is right.' The insider added that Joshua loves how 'unquestionably smart' and 'strong' Lupita is and would not be averse to working with her on a future film. 'They have zero issues about potentially working together in the future,' the source said. 'They think it would be a lot of fun to be lovers or enemies on film, mixing business and pleasure seems to be something they would be interested in if the story was right.' A Hollywood star and her entourage were left awkwardly waiting outside the front of an iconic Sydney restaurant on Wednesday. Amy Poehler, 52, rocked up to Icebergs Dining Room and Bar in Bondi Beach five minutes before opening time. But the American comedian didn't seem at all fussed, and chatted away with the group until the swanky venue opened the doors. The former Saturday Night Live star looked effortlessly chic in a sleek blazer thrown over a navy jumpsuit. The 52-year-old accessorised her look with a pair of sunglasses and a set of stylish Adidas sneakers. Amy Poehler, 52, (pictured) and her entourage were left waiting outside the front of famed Icebergs Dining Room and Bar in Bondi Beach on Wednesday Amy is visiting Australia for a special Vivid Ideas event at the Sydney Opera House. The Parks and Recreation actress recently opened up about the surprising gift she received from Australia's very own Hugh Jackman after he appeared alongside her on Saturday Night Live in 2001. She revealed Jackman, 55, holds a special place in her heart. Amy and her entourage rocked up to the venue five minutes before opening time 'You know who was one of my faves, Hugh Jackman, an absolute prince and so talented,' she told The Daily Telegraph. 'He gave everyone in the cast a case of Fosters beer.' Hugh was a guest host on the long-running American sketch comedy show in December 2001, and hammed it up alongside Amy and Maya Rudolph. Amy added although she was no longer with SNL when Chris Hemsworth, 40, guest hosted in 2015, she heard he had a 'powerful' presence and his 'essence remained' long after he left. The former Saturday Night Live star looked effortlessly chic in a sleek blazer thrown over a navy jumpsuit The American comedian didn't seem at all fussed, and chatted away with the group until the venue opened the doors The Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actress fronts Vivid Sydney Presents - In Conversation with Amy Poehler plus a special first look at Disney and Pixar's Inside Out 2, in which Poehler stars as the emotion Joy. 'I'm really looking forward to taking part in Vivid Sydney this year, a place that welcomes Joy in every way,' said Amy in a statement before her visit. 'I can't wait to share a little of Inside Out 2: a movie that lets Joy and Sadness, Anxiety and Envyall try to work together in hilarious and touching ways,' she added. It is the American star's first Sydney appearance since 2015. Rachael Finch has hit back at critics who slammed her for running behind her daughter while screaming words of encouragement during a school cross-country race. The Miss Universe Australia winner-turned-fitness influencer, 35, raised eyebrows last Friday when she uploaded a video of herself jogging behind daughter Violet, eight, as she competed against her peers. She responded to those who criticised her approach in an Instagram video on Thursday and insisted she was just 'motivating her child to do her best'. Rachael Finch has hit back at critics who slammed her for running behind her daughter while screaming words of encouragement during a school cross-country race 'Just a quick message to anyone wanting to criticise or personally attack me for wanting to support, encourage and motivate my child to do the very best that she can do,' she said. 'Just a couple of things. One, check your facts. And two, check back in eight or so years when Violet is an adult to see the progress.' It comes after popular influencers Amy, Kate and Sophie Taeuber took aim at the mummy blogger on their Outspoken podcast this week. 'I first saw people talking about this online before seeing the video, and at first I was like, "Oh, she's probably just one of those supportive parents." But this was the next level,' one sister said. 'I don't understand how this school let her run behind her child during the race. Surely it would have been really off putting for the other kids?' another agreed. One sister pointed out that there would have been plenty of children running behind Rachael, given that Violet placed 12th out of 100. 'Can you imagine the other mums there seeing this? [They'd be asking], "Why the hell is she allowed at the school on the course?"' another added. While the triplets commended Rachael for showing interest in her daughter's school activities, they claimed her behaviour that day 'seemed a bit odd'. The fitness influencer raised eyebrows on Friday when she uploaded a video of herself jogging behind daughter Violet, eight, as she competed against her peers She responded to those who criticised her approach on Thursday and insisted she was just 'motivating her child to do her best' 'It seems like she's vicariously living through her child because this seemed to be one of her dreams,' one podcaster said, as another agreed: 'Oh, it was very difficult to watch.' One sister insisted: 'I would be pretty p**sed off if I was a parent at this school. '[Imagine if] I'm very excited for my child to be competing in this race, but I'm thinking, "Well, no wonder my child didn't do so well when they've got the advantage of having their mum there breathing down their neck, telling them to keep going."' The sisters said they were 'surprised' Rachael put the video on social media, and noted that it seems Violet has 'a lot of pressure on her to do well'. However, Rachael has plenty of online followers who are fans of her hands-on approach to teaching her children about health and fitness. It comes after popular influencers Amy, Kate and Sophie Taeuber took aim at the mummy blogger on their Outspoken podcast this week In the video, the former model screamed words of encouragement while her eight-year-old daughter competed in her school's cross-country running race. 'Here we go, it's the second down hill. Suck in the air. Go, go, go! Watch the rocks! That's it, Violet, well done,' she yelled while her daughter ran, captioning the video: 'Crazy cam.' She then revealed Violet had come 12th out of 100 girls and had achieved her 'best time and best performance'. 'The best I've ever seen her try. Ever. She struggled and wanted to walk but overcame it and kept going,' Rachael said. 'It's never about the placing for us. What we care about is the commitment to their work and effort. What you put in is what you get out. So proud of her. Had to hold back a gazillion tears.' Advertisement Demi Moore was retro chic alongside classy Naomi Watts as they attended the star-studded, Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans FYC event in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The Ghost actress, 61 - who recently put on a dazzling display at the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony - joined the King Kong star, 55, and other fellow cast members at the DGA Theater Complex where the festivities took place. The eight-episode, FX series notably premiered earlier this year in January and received mixed reviews upon its release. Moore wowed in a short-sleeved, black shirt as well as a pair of loose-fitting trousers that contained a flared hem, concealing the shoes she also wore for the evening. She added a black, pillar box hat on top of her head which also had a netted veil that was placed over her forehead. Demi Moore, 61, was retro chic alongside classy Naomi Watts, 55, as they attended the star-studded, Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans FYC event in Los Angeles on Wednesday Moore wowed in a short-sleeved, black shirt as well as a pair of loose-fitting trousers that contained a flared hem, concealing the shoes she also wore for the evening Demi accessorized the look with a pair of small, black earrings as well as glittering silver bracelet on her left wrist and flashy rings. Her makeup was glammed up, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light shadow around her eyes. A warm blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow, while a nude-colored, satin tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch. Moore struck a variety of poses upon arriving to the Directors Guild of America theater to showcase her chic outfit. The actress took on the role of Ann Woodward in the series - which was based on the book titled Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era written by Laurence Leamer. Naomi Watts also turned heads upon arriving to the venue wearing a strapless, figure-hugging white dress that stopped at her ankles. The beauty slipped into a pair of closed-toed, white pumps to coincide with the color scheme of her ensemble. Her short blonde locks were parted in the middle, and fell down straight to nearly brush the tips of her shoulders. She added a black, pillar box hat on top of her head which also had a netted veil that was placed over her forehead Moore struck a variety of poses upon arriving to the Directors Guild of America theater to showcase her chic outfit Demi accessorized the look with a pair of small, black earrings as well as glittering silver bracelet on her left wrist and flashy rings Her makeup was glammed up, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light shadow around her eyes The actress took on the role of Ann Woodward in the series - which was based on the book titled Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era written by Laurence Leamer Watts added a pair of shiny, gold earrings as well as a matching bracelet on her left wrist that offered a flashy flare. A layer of mascara was added to her lashes as well as a light gold, shimmering shadow around eyes. She opted for a warm blush to better accentuate her cheekbones, while a dark pink satin tint was worn on her lips for a final touch. Naomi took on the role of Babe Paley in the show - which was created by Ryan Murphy, Jaffe Cohen and Michael Zam. Chloe Sevigny also dressed for the occasion in a short-sleeved, white minidress that had a dramatic, pointed collar around the neckline. The American Psycho star also donned a pair of closed-toed, black pumps while her blonde hair was pulled back into a half ponytail with a black bow secured at the back of her head. The actress chose to not add flashy pieces of jewelry to allow the stylish outfit to be the main focal point. Sevigny portrayed C.Z. Guest - a socialite, actress and author - in the FX/Hulu series. Naomi Watts also turned heads upon arriving to the venue wearing a strapless, figure-hugging white dress that stopped at her ankles The beauty slipped into a pair of closed-toed, white pumps to coincide with the color scheme of her ensemble Her short blonde locks were parted in the middle, and fell down straight to nearly brush the tips of her shoulders Watts added a pair of shiny, gold earrings as well as a matching bracelet on her left wrist that offered a flashy flare Naomi took on the role of Babe Paley in the show - which was created by Ryan Murphy, Jaffe Cohen and Michael Zam Chloe Sevigny also dressed for the occasion in a short-sleeved, white minidress that had a dramatic, pointed collar around the neckline The actress chose to not add flashy pieces of jewelry to allow the stylish outfit to be the main focal point Sevigny portrayed C.Z. Guest - a socialite, actress and author - in the FX/Hulu series Diane Lane wowed wearing an off-white blouse that was partially unbuttoned around the collar. She also donned a fitted, tan-colored skirt that contained glittering, floral details embroidered onto the fabric. Her brunette locks were parted to the side, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves. The Under The Tuscan Sun star added a pair of silver, floral earrings as well as a sparkling bracelet on her right wrist and rings on each of her hands. Lane had the chance to take on the role of Slim Keith - a socialite and fashion icon in the 1950s through the 1960s. Diane Lane wowed wearing an off-white blouse that was partially unbuttoned around the collar Her brunette locks were parted to the side, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves The Under The Tuscan Sun star added a pair of silver, floral earrings as well as a sparkling bracelet on her right wrist and rings on each of her hands Lane flashed a cheerful smile as she struck a variety of poses to better showcase her ensemble for the special event on Wednesday Lane had the chance to take on the role of Slim Keith - a socialite and fashion icon in the 1950s through the 1960s Alexis Martin Woodall donned a floral-print dress that contained a hem that fell down past her ankles. The producer slipped into a pair of open-toed, white pumps and allowed her dark brown hair to flow down naturally past her shoulders. She accessorized her outfit with a pair of dangly earrings, as well as a gold bracelet and an assortment of rings on her hands. Julia Newman - who scored the FX series - held a big smile in a short-sleeved, white turtleneck sweater which was tucked into the waist of white, high-waisted trousers. She donned a pair of black loafers and her brunette locks cascaded down past her shoulders in elegant waves. Newman - who is the daughter of composer Thomas Newman - added dainty necklaces and a bracelet on her right wrist to complete her overall look for the event. Lou Eyrich made a statement wearing a white blouse which was tucked into the waist of loose-fitting, black trousers. She layered the outfit with a studded, black leather jacket that offered an edgy flare to the ensemble. Alexis Martin Woodall donned a floral-print dress that contained a hem that fell down past her ankles Lou Eyrich made a statement wearing a white blouse which was tucked into the waist of loose-fitting, black trousers Tom Hollander donned a dark gray suit which was paired with a white shirt and black dress shoes The actor took on the role of Truman Capote in the FX/Hulu series which aired earlier this year While posing for photos at the theater, the Pride And Prejudice star crossed paths with Naomi Watts and the pair stopped to take a memorable snap together Later in the evening, Diane, Demi, Naomi and Chloe were seen gathering together for a few group photos The stunning foursome struck a pose on the red carpet shortly before the main festivities kicked off at the Directors Guild of America The costume designer slipped into a pair of sleek, black shoes and easily carried a black clutch bag in her left hand. Tom Hollander - who portrayed Truman Capote in the show - donned a dark gray suit which was paired with a white shirt and black dress shoes. While posing for photos at the theater, the Pride And Prejudice star crossed paths with Naomi Watts and the pair stopped to take a memorable snap together. Other stars that took on leading roles in the series - such as Molly Ringwald and Calista Flockhart - were not spotted at the L.A. event. Later in the evening, Diane, Demi, Naomi and Chloe were seen gathering together for a few group photos. Lane, Moore, Watts and Sevigny held small smiles on their faces as stood closely next to each other on the red carpet Hollander also joined in for a picture, as well as the series creator, Ryan Murphy, who sported a stylish black suit and black sunglasses Murphy later stepped out of the group photo to allow the actors to pause for another snap together The eight-episode, FX series notably premiered earlier this year in January and received mixed reviews upon its release Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans currently holds a score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, and an audience rating of 64% After the red carpet, the cast filed into the theater for a screening and Q&A Naomi looked elegant as she spoke to the audience Moore smiled at her co-stars as they discussed the FX project Sevigny, who is an Oscar nominated actress, gave insight on her role and what it was like working with A-listers like Moore and Watts Lane spoke directly to attendees The cast also attended an after-party celebrating the hit series Chloe Sevigny, Naomi Watts, Simon Halls, Demi Moore and Tom Hollander posed for photos at the historic Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood The stunning foursome struck a pose on the red carpet shortly before the main festivities kicked off at the Directors Guild of America. Hollander also joined in for a picture, as well as the series creator, Ryan Murphy, who sported a stylish black suit and black sunglasses. Murphy later stepped out of the group photo to allow the actors to pause for another snap together. Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans currently holds a score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, and an audience rating of 64%. A Married At First Sight bride has pointed out a major problem with social media influencers urging people to pay attention to Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza. Hayley Vernon, who appeared on the Channel Nine dating show in 2020, took to her social media to weigh in with her views. 'Everyone posting all eyes on Rafah - who is actually donating, helping offering any kind of support even on an international level - posting an Instagram post isn't doing anything. Don't kid yourselves,' she wrote. The phrase 'All Eyes on Rafah' has gained momentum on social media throughout the last few months. It's once again picking up traction online, following a deadly Israeli airstrike, which killed dozens of civilians who were in a designated safe zone. Married At First Sight bride Hayley Vernon (pictured) has pointed out a major problem with social media influencers urging people to pay attention to Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza The strike, which killed 45 people, was the deadliest incident in Rafah, where many hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been sheltering following displacement from devastated population centres, since the beginning of Israel's offensive in May. Global outrage followed, and a specific image that reads 'All Eyes on Rafah' has been reposted on Instagram more than 40 million times. The image, which is thought to be Artificial Intelligence (AI), depicts hundreds of rows of tents, alongside the capitalised phrase. 'Everyone posting all eyes on Rafah - who is actually donating, helping offering any kind of support even on an international level- posting an Instagram post isn't doing anything. Don't kid yourselves,' she wrote The phrase 'All Eyes on Rafah' has gained momentum on social media throughout the last few months, urging people to pay attention to Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza (Pictured: protestors in Paris on May 7) Celebrities, influencers, and athletes have also reposted the picture in an effort to draw attention to the conflict, including the likes of Bella Hadid, Nicola Coughlan, Dua Lipa, and Lewis Hamilton. The phrase seemingly originated from a comment by Rick Peeperkorn, who is the director of the World Health Organisation's Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In February, before Israel's ground invasion of Gaza, he said 'All eyes are on Rafah'. A specific image that reads 'All Eyes on Rafa' has been reposted on Instagram more than 40 million times Since then, the saying has become a call to action and a push to encourage people not to turn their heads and instead to draw the world's attention to what is happening. As well as the AI image being shared, people have also attached the slogan to fundraisers and other educational resources, as well as painting it onto signs at protests. Matt Navarra, a social media consultant and industry analyst, told NBC: 'The trend of posting 'All Eyes on Rafah' has been something that has been building for a little while. 'We've seen quite a lot of influencers and celebrities and widely followed people on multiple platforms, not just Instagram, that are sharing the sentiment of this message or an almost identical version of it, which will amp up the reach and visibility across many platforms.' Photos of a spectacular renovation featured on Seven's new hit reality show Dream Home hosted by Dr Chris Brown has been leaked online. The images reveal that a classic red -brick four-bedroom pad in Sydney's north west has been transformed into a sprawling mansion. Located in Wingara Grove, 19kms from the CBD, the chic two storey house features four double bedrooms, a large front yard. a white picket fence and a covered front verandah boasting 'Spanish' arches. According to The Daily Telegraph, the house is owned by Dream Home contestants Lara Falco and Peter Bird. The couple bought the original property in 2022 for $2.1million. Photos of a spectacular renovation featured on Seven's new hit reality show Dream Home hosted by Dr Chris Brown has been leaked online. (Pictured with the Dream Home judges) The images reveal that a classic red -brick four-bedroom pad in Sydney 's north west has been transformed into a sprawling mansion Other photos show the renovation included a creative open plan kitchen and lounge with sparkling white decor. Contestants Lara and Peter said ahead of filming the series they wanted to give a new lease of life to their 1960s built property which they share with their two children. According to The Daily Telegraph the house is owned by Dream Home contestants Lara Falco and Peter Bird. The couple bought the original property in 2022 for $2.1million Other photos show the renovation included a creative open plan kitchen and lounge with sparkling white decor And according to Seven's official synopsis, rising costs for pair - who have run a number of small businesses - put a renovation out of reach. Meanwhile, Seven has already renewed the Dream Home series for a second season. Based on a successful New Zealand format, the reality show centres on six couples who set out to convert each other's houses room-by-room. The home also features a separate dining room Contestants Lara and Peter said they wanted to give a new lease of life to their 1960s built property which they share with their two children. (Pictured) Renovator Lana Taylor, buyer's agent Simon Cohen and interior designer Rosie Morley join Chris as judges in the series. The contestants who will be battling out for a $100,000 cash prize. Dream Home was a huge hit for Seven on Sunday, with its debut episode scoring a whopping 950,000 viewers nationally. Diane Lane exuded classic Hollywood elegance while attending a FYC red carpet event for her FX series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, which was held at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The Oscar-nominated actress easily defied her 59 years in a crisp white blouse tucked into a beige embellished pencil skirt selected by her stylist Bailey Moon. Diane accessorized her sophisticated attire with a taupe clutch, ankle-strap off-white heels, and silver jewelry. Lane's hairstylist created textured waves in her side-parted, shoulder-length brunette mane. The A Man in Full star's alabaster complexion was suspiciously unlined and she wore lipstick, a bit of blush, and defined her brows/lashes for the industry event. Diane Lane exuded classic Hollywood elegance while attending a FYC red carpet event for her FX series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, which was held at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles on Wednesday Diane looked excited to reunite with her fellow 'Swans' Demi Moore, Naomi Watts, and Chloe Sevigny. All four ladies are vying for Emmy Awards for their performances in showrunner Jon Robin Baitz's small-screen adaptation of Laurence Leamer's 2021 book Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era. Lane clearly loved her shimmery floral skirt enough to break the black-and-white dress code followed by the rest of the attending cast and crew. Even Feud co-creator Ryan Murphy and actor Tom Hollander - who stars as acclaimed writer Truman Capote - followed the black-and-white dress code in their suits. After the screening and Q&A, the cast and crew headed for the afterparty at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood where they enjoyed music from DJ Daisy O'Dell. The two-time Emmy nominee portrayed Nancy 'Slim' Keith, who was Howard Hawks' ex-wife and a fashion icon during the 1950s and 1960s. Capote notoriously lost his high-society privilege in 1976 after Esquire published chapters from his unfinished novel Answered Prayers - specifically a tell-all about his wealthy 'swan' gal pals titled La Cote Basque 1965. Capote vs. The Swans currently has a 'certified fresh' 77% critic approval rating (out of 78 reviews), but a 64% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Oscar-nominated actress easily defied her 59 years in a crisp white blouse tucked into a beige embellished pencil skirt selected by her stylist Bailey Moon Diane accessorized her sophisticated attire with a taupe clutch, ankle-strap off-white heels, and silver jewelry Lane's hairstylist created textured waves in her side-parted, shoulder-length brunette mane The A Man in Full star's alabaster complexion was suspiciously unlined and she wore lipstick, a bit of blush, and defined her brows/lashes for the industry event Diane looked excited to reunite with her fellow 'Swans' (from L-R) Demi Moore, Naomi Watts, and Chloe Sevigny All four ladies are vying for Emmy Awards for their performances in showrunner Jon Robin Baitz's small-screen adaptation of Laurence Leamer's 2021 book Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era Lane clearly loved her shimmery floral skirt enough to break the black-and-white dress code followed by the rest of the attending cast and crew Even Feud co-creator Ryan Murphy (2-L) and actor Tom Hollander (2-R) - who stars as acclaimed writer Truman Capote - followed the black-and-white dress code in their suits After the screening and Q&A, the cast and crew headed for the afterparty at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood where they enjoyed music from DJ Daisy O'Dell The two-time Emmy nominee portrayed Nancy 'Slim' Keith, who was Howard Hawks' ex-wife and a fashion icon during the 1950s and 1960s Capote notoriously lost his high-society privilege in 1976 after Esquire published chapters from his unfinished novel Answered Prayers - specifically a tell-all about his wealthy 'swan' gal pals titled La Cote Basque 1965 Capote vs. The Swans currently has a 'certified fresh' 77% critic approval rating (out of 78 reviews), but a 64% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes She chatted up her role in season two of Feud which also starred Calista Flockhart, Jessica Lange, Joe Mantello, Molly Ringwald, and the late Treat Williams Diane will also promote her role as Slim alongside costume designer-producer Lou Eyrich for an 'Anatomy of a Character' panel during Variety's TV FYC Fest, which takes place June 6 in Los Angeles Audiences can next catch Lane voicing Mrs. Andersen, the mother of 13-year-old girl Riley Andersen (Kensington Tallman), in Kelsey Mann's animated sequel Inside Out 2 hitting US/UK theaters June 14 On the personal front, the native New Yorker mothered 30-year-old daughter Eleanor Jasmine Lambert (R, pictured in 2020) during her five-year marriage to Highlander alum Christopher Lambert (L), which ended in 1994 Season two of Feud also starred Calista Flockhart, Jessica Lange, Joe Mantello, Molly Ringwald, Russell Tovey Pawel Szajda, Yuval David, Scott Zimmerman, Jeffrey Grover, and the late Treat Williams. All eight episodes of Capote vs. The Swans were directed by two-time Oscar nominee Gus Van Sant (To Die For, Good Will Hunting, Drugstore Cowboy). Diane will also promote her role as Slim alongside costume designer-producer Lou Eyrich for an 'Anatomy of a Character' panel during Variety's TV FYC Fest, which takes place June 6 in Los Angeles. Audiences can next catch Lane voicing Mrs. Andersen, the mother of 13-year-old girl Riley Andersen (Kensington Tallman), in Kelsey Mann's animated sequel Inside Out 2 hitting US/UK theaters June 14. The native New Yorker made her motion picture debut at the tender age of 14 opposite Sir Laurence Olivier in George Roy Hill's 1979 rom-com A Little Romance. On the personal front, Diane mothered 30-year-old daughter Eleanor Jasmine Lambert during her five-year marriage to Highlander alum Christopher Lambert, which ended in 1994. Lane ended her turbulent, eight-year marriage to Oscar nominee Josh Brolin in 2013. Lauren Phillips has been going head-to-head with KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O show after landing a new radio gig at Nova alongside Jason 'Jase' Hawkins. But the radio star took a break from work on Thursday as she attended The Sony Foundation's River4Ward Fundraising Luncheon in Melbourne. Lauren put on a stylish display in yellow pants and a matching coloured blazer as she arrived to the event. She accessorised her look with a pair of black shiny heels and wore a white singlet. The brunette left her curled locks out and let her natural beauty shine by opting for a natural makeup palette. Lauren Phillips took a break from breakfast radio to attend The Sony Foundation's River4Ward Fundraising Luncheon on Thursday She put on a stylish display in yellow pants and a matching coloured blazer as she arrived to the event Lauren was also joined by I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia host Julia Morris. The 56-year-old dressed to impress in purple pants, a matching coloured shirt and a pink blazer. She accessorised with a pair of beige heels and wore a large statement necklace. Meanwhile, The Project's Georgia Tunney donned a dark blue power suit at the star-studded event. The TV presenter wore a pair of blacks stilettos and let her long brunette locks out as she smiled for the camera. Julia Morris dressed to impress in purple pants, a matching coloured shirt and a pink blazer The Project's Georgia Tunney donned a dark blue power suit at the star-studded event Melbourne Cup winning-jockey Michelle Payne ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived in a bright pink dress which featured puffy sleeves. The 38-year-old completed her look with a pair of statement earrings and was all smiles as she held the 2024 Melbourne Cup trophy. She tied her long brunette locks back and revealed her luminous complexion with blush and a nude lip. She was also joined by Andrea Moss, who showed off her pins in a black mini dress. The Real Housewives of Melbourne star wore a pair of black heels and held a white designer handbag. Melbourne Cup winning-jockey Michelle Payne ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived in a bright pink dress which featured puffy sleeves Real Housewives of Melbourne star Andrea Moss showed off her pins in a black mini dress Ann Peacock looked glamorous in a long black and white dress which she paired with a Dolce and Gabbana belt. She accessorised her ensemble with a pair of sparkly long boots and wore a pearl necklace. Meanwhile, Clint Stanaway looked dapper in a grey suit, white buttoned shirt and shiny black shoes. Ann Peacock looked glamorous in a long black and white dress which she paired with a Dolce and Gabbana belt Christina Hendricks took to Instagram on Wednesday to share photos from her 'beautiful' honeymoon in Mexico with husband George Bianchini. The 49-year-old Mad Men sensation who tied the knot in April uploaded a carousel of outtakes for her 1.2 million followers to see. The redhead beauty confessed in her caption that it was her first-ever trip to sunny Cabo San Lucas: 'I had never been to Cabo before and enjoyed every moment.' The newlyweds stayed at the five-star Esperanza, an Auberge Resort with its own private beach where they enjoyed a sunset dinner complete with a mariachi band. The first image in Hendricks' post showed her with a big smile on her face as her husband wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek as they stood in the sand. Hendricks remarked in her note, 'So that's why people honeymoon after the wedding. Because it's the BEST! So relaxing, so beautiful.' Christina Hendricks took to Instagram on Wednesday to share photos from her 'beautiful' honeymoon in Mexico with husband George Bianchini The actress gave a shoutout to the retreat where she and her husband stayed during their trip. 'The sea! This resort! The food! @esperanzaauberge #cabo #honeymoon,' she ended the caption. The photos showed Christina in a low-cut white mini dress with pink flowers printed throughout. Another snapshot captured her and George's feet as they lounged on the beach with ocean waves rippling in front of them. Christina and her beau tied the knot in two ceremonies one in New Orleans and another in Los Angeles The first event took place at the Napoleon House in Louisiana, where 76 guests gathered to witness the vows. Mad Men creator Matt Weiner and the actress' Good Girls co-stars Mae Whitman and Retta were in attendance. The newlyweds stayed at the five-star Esperanza, an Auberge Resort in Cabo San Lucas with its own private beach where they enjoyed a sunset dinner complete with a mariachi band The redhead beauty wrote in the caption: 'I had never been to Cabo before and enjoyed every moment' 'So that's why people honeymoon after the wedding. Because it's the BEST! So relaxing, so beautiful,' the actress noted in her caption Christina and her beau tied the knot in two ceremonies one in New Orleans and another in Los Angeles Hendricks later recreated the magic of her first wedding in California so that her Alzheimer's-stricken mother Jackie could witness it. Sharing snapshots on social media, she explained, 'My mother has Alzheimer's and was not able to come to New Orleans for our wedding, so we brought the wedding to her yesterday in our backyard. 'My mother has always been my best friend and there was no way we weren't going to share our love and celebrate with the biggest supporter and cheerleader in my life,' she added. The caption continued, 'When you are living so in the moment, so in the present, it is so important to have beauty and love and happiness around you. This time we had flower girls and dogs and more wonderful friends join us.' Vanity Fair France has issued an apology after the publication edited a portrait of Guy Pearce to remove a Palestinian flag pin he wore to Cannes Film Festival. The Neighbours star, 56, arrived at the star-studded event in France wearing a black tuxedo with a pin of the Palestinian flag prominently displayed on his lapel. However after posing for a picture with Vanity Fair France, the publication released a modified image in which they photoshopped the pin out of the picture, reported CNN on Wednesday. Eagle-eyed social media users spotted the edit after images were released from the Cannes red carpet showing Guy proudly wearing the pin in support of Gaza. While Vanity Fair France edited out Guy's pin, they did not edit out his bracelet which bore the red, black, white and green colours of the Palestinian flag. Vanity Fair France has issued an apology after the publication edited a portrait of Guy Pearce, 56, (pictured) to remove a Palestinian flag pin he wore to Cannes Film Festival After receiving a slew of backlash, the French publication released the unedited photo alongside an apology. 'We have published by mistake a modified version of this photo on the site,' the magazine wrote in French on X. 'The original version was posted on Instagram the same day. We have rectified our mistake and we apologize.' The Neighbours star arrived at the star-studded event in France wearing a black tuxedo with a pin of the Palestinian flag prominently displayed on his lapel However, after posing for a picture with Vanity Fair France, the publication released a modified image in which they photoshopped the pin out of the picture, reported CNN on Wednesday Guy has yet to publicly speak out on the edited photograph or apology, but he took to X following the controversy to double down on his support for Palestine. 'Palestinians are being murdered as we speak. Displaced, traumatised, ruined,' he began his heartfelt message. 'The lives and futures of Palestinian children are being eradicated by a vengeful tyrant. He must be stopped. This must stop. Shame on you Netanyahu. Guy has yet to publicly speak out on the edited photograph or apology, but he took to X following the controversy to double down on his support for Palestine Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Guy and Vanity Fair France's parent company Conde Nast for comment. Guy astounded fans when he debuted a shock new look at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in France last Monday. The Australian actor looked worlds away from his usual clean-shaven self as he attended the red carpet for his new film The Shrouds. Looking very dapper in his black tuxedo, the former Neighbours star looked unrecognisable as he donned a full beard and a longer head of hair. It's been 24 years since Pam Grier locked lips with Snoop Dogg on the Vancouver set of Ernest Dickerson's revenge horror film Bones, but she fondly remembers the moment. 'Oh my God and he could kiss!' the 75-year-old blaxploitation icon gushed in a sneak peek of Thursday's episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show. 'Oh my God and he can slow jam. Remember when we used to slow dance? Let me tell ya, let me tell ya, let me tell ya!' The 52-year-old rap superstar literally fainted in a men's bathroom moments after he first met Pam, whom he went on to cast as 'Foxxxy Brown' in his 1994 music video for Doggy Dogg World. 'When he told me that [story] I said, "Oh my God, I'm glad he didn't hurt himself!"' Grier recalled. It's been 24 years since Pam Grier locked lips with Snoop Dogg on the Vancouver set of Ernest Dickerson's revenge horror film Bones, but she fondly remembers the moment The 75-year-old blaxploitation icon gushed in a sneak peek of Thursday's episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show: 'Oh my God and he could kiss! Oh my God and he can slow jam. Remember when we used to slow dance? Let me tell ya, let me tell ya, let me tell ya!' 'Snoop and I have been friends forever. We've always supported each other's art. And he's a genius. You're a genius when you employ hundreds of people in your career.' Speaking of Foxy Brown, the Daytime Emmy nominee announced Thursday that there's a musical stage adaptation in the works based on Jack Hill's 1974 blaxploitation film. Pam also announced that 'a major studio' has optioned her 2010 memoir Foxy: My Life in Three Acts as a 'seven-episode limited series shot like a film' of her life and career. Grier previously discussed Snoop (born Calvin Broadus) on the April 17th episode of Watch What Happens Live where she gushed he was 'handsome' and 'such a lovely person' and also called him her 'hero' and her 'idol.' But the North Carolina-born, Colorado-based beauty confessed her best onscreen kiss was actually with Philip Michael Thomas, whom she co-starred with on NBC's Miami Vice from 1985-1989. 'Yeah baby, uhhh!' Pam exclaimed to host Andy Cohen. Grier - who never wed or had children - has famously loved and left the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Freddie Prinze, Richard Pryor, Don Cornelius, and Wilt Chamberlain. For the morning show appearance, the Pet Sematary: Bloodlines actress wore a black cowboy hat, matching fringed jacket along with some groovy-printed bell bottoms. Pam was promoting her role as Athena Reeve in the eight-episode second season of Little Marvin's black horror anthology series Them: The Scare, which premiered April 25 on Amazon Prime Video. The 52-year-old rap superstar literally fainted in a men's bathroom moments after he first met Pam, whom he went on to cast as 'Foxxxy Brown' in his 1994 music video for Doggy Dogg World (pictured) Grier recalled: 'When he told me that [story] I said, "Oh my God, I'm glad he didn't hurt himself!" Snoop and I have been friends forever. We've always supported each other's art. And he's a genius. You're a genius when you employ hundreds of people in your career' Speaking of Foxy Brown, the Daytime Emmy nominee announced Thursday that there's a musical stage adaptation in the works based on Jack Hill's 1974 blaxploitation film Pam also announced that 'a major studio' has optioned her 2010 memoir Foxy: My Life in Three Acts as a 'seven-episode limited series shot like a film' of her life and career Grier previously discussed Snoop (born Calvin Broadus) on the April 17th episode of Watch What Happens Live where she gushed he was 'handsome' and 'such a lovely person' and also called him her 'hero' and her 'idol' But the North Carolina-born, Colorado-based beauty confessed her best onscreen kiss was actually with Philip Michael Thomas, whom she co-starred with on NBC's Miami Vice from 1985-1989 'Yeah baby, uhhh!' Pam exclaimed to host Andy Cohen (L) Grier - who never wed or had children - has famously loved and left the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Freddie Prinze, Richard Pryor, Don Cornelius, and Wilt Chamberlain For the morning show appearance, the Pet Sematary: Bloodlines actress wore a black cowboy hat, matching fringed jacket along with some groovy-printed bell bottoms Keeley Hawes was accompanied by her son Ralph as they made a rare joint appearance at the Christiane Kubrick x Jonathan Anderson launch on Wednesday. The actress, 48, shares her son Ralph, 17, and daughter Maggie, 19, with her husband Matthew Macfadyen, while she also has son Myles, 24, from a previous marriage. At the event, Keeley posed alongside her youngest son, who is signed with the prestigious Select Model management, where he appears on their website. Alongside his blossoming modelling career, Ralph has also already dipped his toes into the world of acting, much like his thespian parents. At just nine-years-old, Ralph appeared alongside his dad Matthew in the 2015 drama series Ripper Street as an extra. Keeley Hawes was accompanied by her son Ralph as they made a rare joint appearance at the Christiane Kubrick x Jonathan Anderson launch on Wednesday The actress, 48, shares her son Ralph, 17, and daughter Maggie, 19, with her husband Matthew Macfadyen (pictured), while she also has son Myles, 24, from a previous marriage At the event, Keeley posed alongside her youngest son, who is signed with the prestigious Select Model management, where he appears on their website Ralph was reportedly disappointed to learn his non-speaking part meant he only had to run around in the background, rather than acting out a scene with his father. Keeley previously recalled Ralph's disappointment that he wasn't allowed to wear a velvet top hat for the role, but the part did spark his enthusiasm for acting. His parents Keeley and Matthew have been married for almost 20 years after meeting on the set of BBC drama, Spooks, in 2002. Keeley, who was married to DJ and cartoonist Spencer McCallum at the time, split with her ex-husband to pursue a romance with Matthew. The couple welcomed their first child, Maggie, just a month after tying the knot in November 2004, before having Ralph two years later. Keeley and Matthew most recently collaborated on the 2023 drama, Stonehouse, which recalled the life and times of disgraced Labour minister John Stonehouse. Matthew did not appear to be present as Keeley enjoyed some mother-son bonding time with Ralph at the fashion event this week. Keeley looked chic in a black shirt dress, which she styled with a pair of red heeled pumps and a gold clutch bag. Matthew did not appear to be present as Keeley enjoyed some mother-son bonding time with Ralph at the fashion event this week Keeley looked chic in a black shirt dress, which she styled with a pair of red heeled pumps and a gold clutch bag Keeley and Ralph were spotted chatting to Dexter Fletcher She wore her brunette locks in a stylish updo and opted for soft touches of make-up, while accessorising with a pair of gold hoop earrings. Meanwhile, Ralph showed off his fashion credentials in a brown suede jacket, which he wore over a white T-shirt with a pair of jeans and boots. Christiane Kubrick x Jonathan Anderson for Men's AW and Women's PF 2024 arrived with a special installation at Dover Street Market. To coincide with the launch, the short film Who is the Painter? directed by J E Hobbs and supported by Mubi, will be available to view online on Thursday 30th May. In a unique collaboration, Jonathan Anderson and Christiane Kubrick have intricately woven together their creative visions. A domestic fantasy, triggered by seeing the interiors in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut: the curtains, the reds, the paintings hanging on the walls, which were created by Christiane Kubrick, the director's wife, who often collaborated with her husband. Keeley and Matthew pictured with Maggie (left) and her son Myles (right) Queen Mary's nephew Count Nikolai has revealed his shock opinion of Australia, after spending six months studying at the University of Technology in Sydney. The Danish Royal Family member, 24, appeared on the latest cover of men's lifestyle magazine GQ Hype and told the publication his surprising view. 'When I think of Australians, I picture a mullet and a moustache, and very sporty, active people,' he began. 'Similar to Danes, we're all quite laid back too. I think every Dane everywhere in the world finds Australia quite fascinating because it's so far away, it's quite exotic.' However, he added that after spending several months living in Sydney in 2023 his preconceptions of life Down Under were drastically changed after some friends took him to the AFL to see the Swans play. Queen Mary's nephew Count Nikolai (pictured) has revealed his shock opinion of Australia, after spending six months studying at the University of Technology in Sydney. He appeared on the cover of men's lifestyle magazine GQ Hype and told the publication his surprising view 'When I think of Australians, I picture a mullet and a moustache, and very sporty, active people,' Nikolai said 'It was good fun. It was very entertaining seeing a new sport I hadn't experienced before. Naturally, you back the home team and they won - they were behind, so it was a good comeback!' The Copenhagen-native is expanding his modelling career and recently became the face of the Danish upmarket jewellery brand Georg Jensen. Nikolai exuded confidence and style as he rocked his best angles in luxury Burberry fashion for his GQ photoshoot, and looked every inch the supermodel in training. In March, Count Nikolai of Denmark launched a new Instagram account to promote his modelling career after being stripped of his 'HRH' status by his grandmother, Queen Margrethe. It was a tumultuous year for the Danish Royal Family after the monarch controversially took the title from Prince Joachim's eldest son, as well as also taking the prince and princess titles from his younger children Athena, 11, Prince Felix, 20, and Prince Henrik, 13. In May, Australian Fashion Week was given the royal treatment when Nikolai made a surprise appearance. However, he added that after spending several months living in Sydney in 2023 his preconceptions of life Down Under were drastically changed after some friends took him to the AFL to see the Swans take on Carlton In May, Australian Fashion Week was given the royal treatment when Nikolai made a surprise appearance. Pictured Nikolai is the son of Prince Joachim, the younger brother of King Frederik X, who is married to Tasmanian-born Queen Mary. Both pictured The Count had guests heads spinning when he arrived as a guest of David Jones' Indigenous Fashion Projects runway show. The handsome royal, who is the eldest son of Prince Joachim and his first wife Alexandra, looked like he just stepped off the catwalk as he made his way into Carriageworks in Sydney flanked by his security detail. The Danish It Boy was a vision of timeless elegance in a chic single breasted Venroy suit designed in a rich chocolate brown. Nikolai's uncle is King Frederik X of Denmark, who is married to Tasmanian-born Queen Mary. Kourtney Kardashian's sister Khloe was left lost for words as she revealed the shocking gift she had made for her husband Travis Barker. The reality personality, 45, disclosed to her younger sister Khloe, 39, that she had gifted her husband a vial of her own blood as a romantic gesture. The couple are renowned for their extravagant gifts, which have previously rooms filled with flowers and diamond jewellery. But things took a bizarre turn, when Kourtney revealed they had given each other vials of their of own blood on this week's episode of The Kardashians. During the beginning of the episode, Kourtney, who was on bedrest following 'rare' fetal surgery on her unborn child, she was visited by Khloe. Kourtney Kardashian 's sister Khloe was left lost for words as she revealed the shocking gift she had made for her husband Travis Barker The reality personality, 45, disclosed to her younger sister Khloe, 39, that she had gifted her husband a vial of her own blood as a romantic gesture Kourtney previously reshared a picture of Travis' blood on her Instagram (stock image) The couple, who married in 2022, are renowned for their extravagant gifts, which have previously rooms filled with flowers and diamond jewellery Kourtney was showing Khloe a scrapbook she had made for Travis, highlighting memories from their three-year relationship. After Khloe looked through the book, Kourtney said: 'Did you see my blood vial in there?' leaving Khloe speechless and momentarily lost for words. Looking confused, Khloe replied: 'What? No.' Kourtney encouraged her to have another look, and Kourtney replied: 'Gotta see the blood,' before asking: 'It's a real thing of blood?' When Khloe asked why they had given each other their blood in the first place, Kourtney said: 'Just to like, have each others'. Speaking in the confessional, Khloe said: 'To wanna show off your blood vials is also like, alright, if that's what you're into, but.. it's very Billy Bob Thornton of them.' 'And, like, my every minute of the day, do I wanna be harnessing a tube of blood? Not for me, but that's what makes the world go round, we're all different. Rock on with your bad self!' The vials also received a visceral reaction from Kourtney's friend Simon Huck, who revealed his shock when she told him about it. He exclaimed: 'It's sick. I don't even wanna comment on it. And is there still blood in it? ' Kourtney confirmed there was, leading Simon to question: 'Are you okay? Is that like, healthy and safe?' But things took a bizarre turn, when Kourtney revealed they had given each other vials of their of own blood on this week's episode of The Kardashians Kourtney was showing Khloe a scrapbook she had made for Travis, highlighting memories from their three-year relationship Speaking in the confessional, Khloe said: 'To wanna show off your blood vials is also like, alright, if that's what you're into, but.. it's very Billy Bob Thornton of them' The couple may have been inspired by their friends Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, who also exchanged gifts of blood during their relationship. They are currently on a break after calling off their engagement, however when they were together, Megan gave MGK a necklace containing her blood. Previously speaking to Ellen DeGeneres, MGK explained that Megan gave him the gift before going away to shoot a film. He said: 'Well, she was actually going out of town to film a movie, and this was really new in our relationship. 'I didn't have a passport either, so she was going out to Bulgaria, and so I was kinda freaking out like, "you're gonna leave and I can't even come see you", Some people give a handkerchief to their partner. She gave me her DNA.' In February 2021 MGK revealed that he wears Megan's blood on a necklace, as he took to Instagram with some sweet memories and a passionate Valentine's Day tribute to the Jennifer's Body star. He shared a photo of the unique transparent jewelry, featuring a red smudge, captioned: 'i wear your blood around my neck. my bloody valentine.' The couple may have been inspired by their friends Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, who also exchanged gifts of blood during their relationship (pictured) Married At First Sight star Evelyn Ellis turned up the heat on Thursday. The former reality star, 28, posted a jaw-dropping snap to Instagram which captured her flaunting her flawless figure in a tan bikini. Evelyn is all smiles in the frame, taken during her Italian holiday, in the racy swimsuit which barely concealed her modesty. The stunner completed her getup with a straw bucket hat and allowed her jet-black hair to hang freely around her shoulders. Ellis captioned the sizzling snap, 'A post card with love'. Married At First Sight star Evelyn Ellis turned up the heat on Thursday. The former reality star, 28, posted a jaw-dropping snap to Instagram which captured her flaunting her flawless figure in a tan bikini. Pictured The beauty is currently holidaying across Europe and has been treating her social media followers to glimpses of her trip The beauty is currently holidaying across Europe and has been treating her social media followers to glimpses of her trip. Evelyn recently opened up about how she celebrated her one-year anniversary with boyfriend Duncan James. She made the confession during an Instagram Q and A session with her followers. Alongside a loved up snap with her hunky partner, Evelyn took aim at her critics who accused the couple of being 'fake'. Evelyn recently opened up about how she celebrated her one-year anniversary with boyfriend Duncan James Ellis also shared some other glamorous photos from her incredible trip 'We've officially celebrated one year of ''fake relationship''. We had a boogie with our friends and just got back from travelling,' she wrote. Elsewhere, she also revealed plans on having several of her tattoos removed, before going into specifics. 'My ex-boyfriends initials plus my back tattoo I got on a milk crate at someone's backyard when I was at high school and [one on] my arm,' she wrote. Evelyn met Duncan while appearing on the Channel Nine dating experiment in 2023, after being unsuccessfully paired with Rupert Bugden. Race Across The World gripped viewers as the winners of its fourth series were crowned during Wednesday night's episode after a gruelling eight week challenge. Five teams of two were tasked with racing to the island of Lombok in Indonesia via a series of checkpoints, with friends Alfie and Owen ultimately taking the win. However, while the challenge appears undoubtedly tough on screen, previous contestants and crew members have lifted the lid on the behind-the-scenes secrets. Series four winner Alfie, 20, confirmed that the teams can stay in secret hotels for up to two days at each checkpoint - which isn't aired during the episodes. Alfie spilled the gossip in a Facebook group dedicated to the show, revealing that they had to stay in the hotel for 'safety reasons'. Race Across The World gripped viewers as the winners of its fourth series were crowned during Wednesday night's episode after a gruelling eight week challenge (pictured winners Owen and Alfie) Five teams of two were tasked with racing to the island of Lombok in Indonesia via a series of checkpoints, with friends Alfie and Owen ultimately taking the win (pictured L-R Stephen & Viv, Sharon & Brydie, Eugenie & Isabel, James & Betty & Owen & Alfie) He said: 'It does change depending on finishing times to make sure nobody leaves at an utterly ridiculous time - mainly for safety'. Meanwhile, series two contestant Jen, who took part with her husband Rob, also revealed the teams are accompanied by members of the crew at all times. While she insisted there 'isn't much viewers don't get to see', the two producers who travel with the teams aren't revealed to viewers on screen. Jen also revealed that there is a 'local fixer' and a medic travelling about an hour behind them in case of an emergency. She told the i: 'You are always with two crew members and a medic, with a local fixer close behind. The crew really don't contribute, despite what people think however nonsensical our decisions might be. 'I remember crossing into a different time zone and almost missing a vital transport link, and the crew just had to roll with it. It's the same with our jobs directory all genuine jobs on offer in the local areas, simply compiled.' When asked if it was really as hard as it seems on screen, Jen said: 'People always ask me if it was really as hard as it seemed. In short, YES. I was convinced that once the cameras stopped rolling, they'd wheel out the buffet cart and hand over the keys to the luxury hotel, but heck was I wrong. I really did have to sleep in that hammock. In my case, ignorance was bliss.' Jen told how the crew travelled with them constantly and there always had to be space for them on various points of transport such as buses. However, while the challenge appears undoubtedly tough on screen, previous contestants and crew members have lifted the lid on the behind-the-scenes secrets Alfie spilled the gossip in a Facebook group dedicated to the show, revealing that they had to stay in the hotel for 'safety reasons' Eugenie and Isabel (pictured) were pipped to the post by winners Owen and Alfie She explained that they were only able to travel if at least one member of the crew was able to come with them, but insisted this never impacted their route. Executive producer Mark Saben told the BBC: 'They had to do the same journey as them, sleeping alongside them on the bus. 'So they were almost like a family, with its ups and downs. And while we had done recces, the teams found bits of the world which were totally surprising.' Mark informed Broadcast that visas and vaccines for 'every conceivable country' are arranged in advance, with 'every likely bus and train option, cost and connection' being researched. He said 'It's all very well doing it theoretically, looking at timetables and things' before adding 'but until someone does it for real, you don't know where the difficulties might lie. 'We drew up protocols that set rules for how the teams could hitchhike, travel at night and cross borders safely.' Despite having a fixer and a medic at hand, Mark revealed that they are instructed to keep their distance to make their experience feel authentic. He said 'How they made their journey was up to them. This meant as a production we had to react to their decisions, however nonsensical. 'It was a nightmare for production management as the competing contributors decided how and where to go. You cannot underestimate how challenging the journey could be at times.' MailOnline have reached out to Race Across The World for comment. Wednesday night's episode saw a nail-biting ending to the 15,000km race across Eastern Asia as two pairs approached the finish line neck and neck. After arriving at the second last checkpoint in Jakarta within just 12 minutes of each other, both Alfie and Owen and Isabel and Eugenie were eager to get out in front for the final leg. Wednesday night's episode saw a nail-biting ending to the 15,000km race across Eastern Asia as two pairs approached the finish line neck and neck The race ended with a dramatic sprint along the beach as best friends Alfie and Owen reached the check-in book in first place, claiming the 20,000 prize Both pairs met each other multiple times on their journey from Jakarta to Lombok, before needing to travel by boat to a tiny Island off the coast at the exact same time. After finding speedboat rides, the pairs darted off across the sea before getting ready to run the rest of the way on foot. The race ended with a dramatic sprint along the beach as best friends Alfie and Owen reached the check-in book in first place, claiming the 20,000 prize. Closely behind the school friends were mother and daughter duo Eugenie and Isabel, who finished just eight minutes later. In third place were beloved brother and sister Betty and James - who arrived a day later after overcoming a dwindling budget and mishaps. Married couple Stephen and Viv finished in fourth, with a whopping 180 left of their budget. The dramatic final scenes saw Alfie and Owen dart along the beach in Indonesia surrounded by gleaming tropical waters before arriving at the book to find they had won the race. 'We've done it,' they screamed, before hugging each other. Owen said proudly: 'We came, and we saw, and we succeeded.' 'Best moment of our lives,' Alfie added. 'Undeniably. Can't believe it.' Eugenie and Isabel opened the book to find they had been beaten by the boys by minutes. After arriving at the second last checkpoint in Jakarta within just 12 minutes of each other, both Alfie and Owen and Isabel and Eugenie were eager to get out in front for the final leg Both pairs met each other multiple times on their journey from Jakarta to Lombok (pictured), before needing to travel by boat to a tiny Island off the coast at the exact same time The dramatic final scenes saw Alfie and Owen dart along the beach in Indonesia surrounded by gleaming tropical waters before arriving at the book to find they had won the race Eugenie and Isabel opened the book to find they had been beaten by the boys by minutes Eugenie said: 'We did it. We've come in a good second. If we were to lose to anybody, we always said that we would want to lose to Alfie and Owen.' The next day, 24 hours and 34 minutes later, Betty and James arrived at the finish line, before Stephen and Viv made it six hours later. They finished in third, but fans were concerned that Betty and James wouldn't make it to the finish line due to their dwindling budget. The brother-sister duo won the hearts of the nation in what has been hailed 'the most moving TV moment of the year' as Betty opened up to James about her health condition for the first time. The pair had a strong fanbase of people rooting for them in the race, which saw five couples race from Japan to Indonesia. But as the contestants began the final leg in Wednesday's episode, Betty, 25, and James, 21, panicked when they realised they had just 155 left to finish the race. This was compared to the duo in last place, married couple Stephen and Viv - who set off from Jakarta to the finish line in Lombok with over 500 pocketed. The next day, 24 hours and 34 minutes later, Betty and James arrived at the finish line Stephen and Viv made it six hours later, finishing in fourth place They finished in third, but fans were concerned that Betty and James wouldn't make it to the finish line due to their dwindling budget But as the contestants began the final leg in Wednesday's episode, Betty, 25, and James, 21, panicked when they realised they had just 155 left to finish the race Fans of Betty and James took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their concern for the pair's race. They wrote: 'I don't mind who wins, I just want Betty and James to get to the finish,'; 'I swear to god if Betty and James aren't able to complete the race...,'; 'Betty and James until the finishing line,'; 'I will be GUTTED if Betty and James don't make it to the end they're AWESOME!'; 'How are Betty and james gonna do this on 5% budget'; 'I'm scared Betty and James won't make it to the end,'; 'No way Betty and James are getting to the end even though they are working to get money,'; 'Betty and James checking their budget in an hours time,'; 'It's a shame this isn't live because Betty and James are so lovely and could do with a 'go fund me'. I really hope they can complete the race.' Fans of Betty and James took to X, formerly Twitter , to express their concern for the pair's race Betty, 25, and James, 21, who admitted they weren't that close before appearing on the show, have bonded while travelling together across Eastern Asia Viewers were in tears in last week's penultimate episode when James broke down after his 'brave' sister opened up about the health condition which has left her without a womb. Betty discussed her rare congenital disorder, known as MRKH, and revealed to viewers she discovered age 16 she did not have a uterus and only one kidney. MRKH - or Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome - is a rare condition that affects the female reproductive system and is characterised by an underdeveloped vagina and uterus. Betty and James, who admitted they weren't that close before appearing on the show, have bonded while travelling together across Eastern Asia. During a particularly candid conversation, Betty confided in James about how living with MRKH has affected her and the way she sees the world. Jay Blades has cancelled a scheduled appearance at the Hay Festival as he 'continues to take time out' following his split from his wife Lisa. The Repair Shop star, 54, was due to speak to journalist Sarfraz Manzoor at the Welsh literary festival on Thursday about his book Life Lessons: Wisdom And Wit From Life's Ups And Downs, in which he shares inspirational words for making the best of life. A statement from his team said: 'We wanted to confirm that as Jay Blades continues to take time out, he won't be attending the session as advertised at this year's Hay Festival. 'We're sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment that this may have caused and we hope you enjoy the rest of the festival.' The festival confirmed that ticket holders will be refunded. Jay Blades has cancelled a scheduled appearance at the Hay Festival as he 'continues to take time out' following his split from his wife Lisa Earlier this month, Jay's wife Lisa Zbozen announced the end of their short-lived marriage Jay announced last month that he would be taking a social media hiatus following the death of his uncle, saying he was taking time off to 'take stock and just relax', but confirmed he would be 'back soon'. Just a week before his marriage split was confirmed, Jay revealed that his uncle Richard Brathwaite had been killed. Earlier this month, Jay's wife Lisa Zbozen announced the end of their short-lived marriage. The couple married in the grounds of a beachfront villa in Barbados on November 22 2022. Filming on the new series of the BBC's The Repair Shop commenced without Jay at the Weald and Downland Living Museum in Chichester, West Sussex. The TV star first found fame on the restoration programme, which sees members of the public take worn-out family heirlooms to be restored by a team of experts. Lisa walked out on Jay earlier this month, saying their 18-month marriage 'just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few things and I left'. Taking to Instagram, Lisa shared an emotional poem by Billie Brooks, which spoke of trusting that 'someday soon this pain you are feeling won't be so unbearable'. A statement from his team said: 'We wanted to confirm that as Jay Blades continues to take time out, he won't be attending the session as advertised at this year's Hay Festival' Lisa announced her split from the TV star who she married in November 2022, in an emotional social media post on May 2. She said: 'I have been quiet until now, but the papers seem to be picking up this story, but some parts have been definitely missed, so it's forced my hand... 'This was the whole post on a private forum: I don't know how to say this because it's still really raw. 'I probably should be really angry but I'm just incredibly sad about the whole thing right now. I don't think I've ever cried so much. 'I wanted my husband to love me & keep me safe, and I would love him right back, but it just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few thing's & I just left. Anyway, That's why there's been no new wkouts [workouts].' In another post, she said: 'I will admit I'm crying as I type this as I can't believe this is even real. I hope you don't mind if I just have a few days trying to figure out my life as I'm currently in a spare room with a few essentials. 'I don't know what else to say. All my love, A very broken Lisa-Marie x.' It all came as Jay was expected to be back filming the hugely-popular BBC show The Repair Shop but had reportedly been absent on set. Last week, MailOnline revealed that Jay would be 'given the time' he needed to deal with personal issues impacting his life. In a statement posted on Instagram, Lisa said: 'I don't know how to say this because it's still really raw' Amid reports that Jay had thrown BBC's The Repair Shop filming into chaos, a source has confirmed to MailOnline that the presenter is being 'given the space' he needs to get 'his head straight'. The insider said: 'Jay is a much-loved member of the team on The Repair Shop. It is a really close-knit group, who are like a family. 'Jay will be given the time he needs to deal with things and sort out what he needs to get sorted. 'He's been through a really difficult time with his uncle and now he is having to deal with the breakdown of his marriage. 'The BBC fully expect Jay to return but they won't be rushing or pushing him to come back before he is ready and he'll be given the space to sort things out and get his head straight.' Reports recently suggested that the Christmas special of the Repair Shop was in jeopardy due to Jay's absence. But MailOnline later understood that this was not the case. Lisa announced that she had ended her marriage with Blades with a surprise post on social media in the early hours of Thursday (seen on wedding day) The source added: 'Filming for the Christmas show is almost wrapped up. There's no chance it won't go out. It's one of the jewels in the crown.' Just a week before his marriage split was confirmed, Jay revealed that his uncle Richard Brathwaite had been killed. Jay announced that he would be taking time away from social media to process his grief following the death of his uncle, Richard, 72. Richard was stabbed to death on a quiet residential street in North London in March. The Old Bailey heard that the killing came after a 'long-running neighbour dispute'. Katie Price is paying a hefty price for new four-bed pad in Sussex after she was forced to leave her Mucky Mansion amid her double bankruptcy woes. The former glamour model, 46, who was pictured moving out on Tuesday, is forking out almost 5,000 per month for her new property. The huge family home, which includes a double garage and open-plan kitchen, will be Katie and her five children's new house. However, after checking out her new property, confused fans queried how she has been able to afford the 4,995 monthly payment amid her financial issues. They asked: 'Double bankrupt. Where did the money come from?'; 'For someone who is bankrupt how can she afford it?'; 'How can she afford that property if she's bankrupt!' Katie Price is reportedly paying a hefty price for new four-bed pad in Sussex after she was forced to leave her Mucky Mansion amid her double bankruptcy woes The former glamour model, 46, who was pictured moving out on Tuesday, is forking out almost 5,000 per month for her new property It was revealed on Tuesday that Katie would finally leave her infamous 'Mucky Mansion', with removal vans arriving at the sprawling home. And later that day, pictures showed her new Tudor-style home in Sussex as the vans dropped off boxes of her belongings at the property. The removal team were seen carrying Katie's things into the garage of her new home - which the reality star will move into with her five kids. Katie said that she couldn't 'wait to get out' of her Mucky Mansion - which she bought in 2014 from Tory peer Francis Maude - as she revealed vandals 'threw acid on her Pink Range Rover' on Saturday night. Removal vans arrived at the sprawling estate in Sussex on Tuesday, as Katie and her five kids prepare to move out. Three large removal trucks were pictured on the driveway, while workers started loading them with furniture. Explaining the situation, she shared on Instagram: 'Due to acid attack on my car at my house I've now been advised by authorities not to stay at Mucky Mansion anymore'. An insider told The Sun: 'Katie has been dreading this day for so long but now it is here, she can't wait to leave. 'The house has caused her so much grief and was too much to handle on her own. With work and the kids it all became too much in recent years. And she's convinced it's haunted.' Katie confirmed for the first time on Thursday that she's finally moving out after she was served an eviction notice to leave the property. But Katie has now revealed that she is looking forward to leaving the house after taking to Instagram on Sunday to share a video of her car covered in splatters of a substance which has eroded the paint. Over the video Katie could be heard saying: 'It's nice to know someone in the night has come to throw acid all over my car, everywhere, all on my car. Thank you whoever that was.' It was revealed on Tuesday that Katie would finally leave her infamous 'Mucky Mansion', with removal vans arriving at the sprawling home Later that day, pictures showed her new Tudor-style home as the vans dropped off boxes of her belongings at the three-bedroom property The removal team were seen carrying Katie's things into the garage of her new home - which the reality star will move into with her five kids Explaining the situation, the former glamour model, 46, shared on Instagram: 'Due to acid attack on my car at my house I've now been advised by authorities not to stay at Mucky Mansion anymore' Katie also included text on the clip which read: 'Scumbags outside my house on my private property. I can't wait get out of this house in a few months' time.' MailOnline has approached Katie's representatives for comment. On Thursday, Katie revealed she will soon be collecting the keys for a new home and denied recent reports she was looking to move her family into a caravan. After nine years, Katie says she 'can't wait' to relocate and admits, 'I've had nothing but bad memories in that house', insisting moving will be the start of a new chapter in her life. Explaining the situation, the former glamour model, 46, shared on Instagram: 'Due to acid attack on my car at my house I've now been advised by authorities not to stay at Mucky Mansion anymore' Reed Removals workers were seen lifting furniture into the back of the van Katie bought the property in 2014 from Tory peer Francis Maude for 2million After the vans arrives, Katie was seen leaving the property and heading to Bristol for her podcast show Vans were also spotted leaving, indicating Katie's belongings were being taken to her new house Katie has now revealed that she is looking forward to leaving the house after taking to Instagram on Sunday to share a video of her car covered in splatters of a substance which has eroded the paint The former glamour model, who's currently in a relationship with Married At First Sight UK contestant JJ Slater, 30, was declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill of 761,994.05. Speaking about the West Sussex property, branded the 'Mucky Mansion' because of its constant state of disrepair, Katie said: 'I absolutely hate the Mucky Mansion, even how it's been called the Mucky Mansion because of all the stuff that happened there before. 'I can't wait to get out of that house I've had nothing but bad memories in that house for nine years. I hate the Mucky Mansion, I never want to see it again and I can't wait to move into my new place, I am so excited. New beginnings, new start, reset button, I love it. 'But don't worry, I'll be featuring my new house on my YouTube channel when I get the keys and welcoming you to my new house, I can't wait, I just want to get rid of all the bad stuff in the past and have a fresh start. Although I would love a big caravan, it wouldn't fit us all in so it's definitely not a caravan I'm moving into.' Katie, who's a mum to Harvey Price, 21, as well as Junior, 18, and Princess, 16, who she shares with Peter Andre and Jett, 10, and Bunny, nine, from her relationship with Kieran Hayler, was first declared bankrupt in 2019. Over the video Katie could be heard saying: 'It's nice to know someone in the night has come to throw acid all over my car, everywhere, all on my car. Thank you whoever that was' Katie confirmed for the first time on Thursday that she's finally moving out of her Mucky Mansion after she was served an eviction notice to leave the property Katie shares two children, Jett, 10, and Bunny, nine, with ex Kieran. She is also mum to Junior, 18, and Princess, 16, from her marriage to Peter Andre, and Harvey, 21, whose dad is Dwight Yorke Katie is now dating Married At First Sight star JJ Slater and the pair say they are 'in love' In March, she became bankrupt for a second time after she failed to pay her taxes, saying the reason she has debts is because she went through a 'breakdown.' Speaking on the Stripping Off podcast with Matt Haycox, Katie said she wasn't even aware of the second bankruptcy, insisting, 'I will pay it, but it just has to be when I've got it.' She said: 'Yeah, you should always pay your tax, this and that. But obviously, I went through a breakdown so then I didn't pay tax and that's sort of where the bankruptcy thing has come from.' Katie has been given until June 26 to leave the Mucky Mansion, which became the subject of a Channel 4 documentary when she attempted to install life back into the property for the last time. During an Instagram live on Tuesday, she confirmed there will be no further renovation shows based around the house, saying, 'Is there going to be anymore Mucky Mansions shows? No.' The former glamour model was declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill Earlier this month it was revealed the former glamour model, 45, has reportedly been informed by lawyers she would have to move out of the property in in Dial Post, West Sussex, by May 29, after two eviction notices appeared outside her home Taking to Instagram on Monday, Katie shared a clip showing a huge pile of things in her living room that she was set to sell She was served an eviction notice on April 24 and told to leave by the end of May but has been given an extension by her mortgage provider. Katie was due to give evidence at the High Court over her finances last month but failed to turn up because she was on holiday in Cyprus with boyfriend JJ. The 'Mucky Mansion' earned its nickname following years of damage to the property, including flooding, burglaries, mould and even reports of it being haunted. On Wednesday, Katie celebrated her birthday and was presented with a cake by JJ, who joined her on stage as she tours with her podcast The Katie Price Show. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, JJ revealed he's already thinking about proposing to Katie and he sees their 14-year age difference as 'irreverent.' The woman who was with General Hospital star Johnny Wactor when he was tragically killed on Saturday night has recalled his heroic final moments in a heartbreaking series of Instagram posts. Anita Joy referred to Wactor, 37, as her friend of 'eight years' and described how he 'fought to stay alive' after being shot at close range as the pair were walking to their cars after finishing a bartending shift at Level 8 in downtown Los Angeles. When they approached their vehicles, they saw three men trying to steal Wactor's car's catalytic converter around 3am. 'Everything happened in an instant. I've come to describe it as a glass of water that gets tipped over and you're scrambling to grab it and save it from spilling out completely but it just runs through your fingertips and is gone,' Joy wrote. 'We cautiously approached the men, questioning what they were doing, at first thinking the car was being towed. We were no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and for them to leave. Hands open to his sides in peace.' Anita Joy, who was with Johnny Wactor when he was killed, posted this photo of the pair on her Instagram story on Wednesday night Joy has described her anger at Wactor's death but is grateful that he did not die alone Wactor portrayed Brando Corbin on the ABC soap opera from 2020 to 2022. He also appeared in a variety of films and TV series Wactor portrayed Brando Corbin on the ABC soap opera from 2020 to 2022. He also appeared in a variety of films and TV series, including 'Station 19,' 'NCIS,' 'Westworld' and the video game 'Call of Duty: Vanguard.' 'Johnny was between me and the man who shot him as I heard the shot ring into the night, he forcefully tumbled back into my arms and as I grabbed for him, I shouted, "Hunny, you ok?!" 'And he only responded, "Nope! Shot!" We toppled onto the street, where I pushed my legs under him and tried to hold his body up while screaming for help and screaming at him to stay with me.' Joy went on to say that a bouncer from the bar where they worked ran over and performed but the damage was done. 'It was too close range, too extreme of a wound for him to survive it. But my God, he fought to stay.' Joy added that she finds solace in the fact that she was with him and that Wactor did not die alone but added that remains 'heartbroken and so very angry.' 'My only other peace will be seeing these awful men brought to justice.' In her posts, Joy showed other pictures of Wactor with the staff of Level 8, calling him 'beautiful, goofy as hell, full of work ethic and values.' 'Johnny had this incredible ability that was truly just his genuine nature to make anyone and everyone feel so special in his eyes. No matter how well you knew him, he treated everyone like he truly cared about you,' she continued. 'It was too close range, too extreme of a wound for him to survive it. But my God, he fought to stay,' Joy said of the gunshot wound that killed him Johnny Wactor (left) pictured with his family, who are now preparing to bring his body to South Carolina, where they will mourn him Joy said that the actor's nickname for her was 'Anita Bonita.' 'I hope the stamp of his voice saying that every time I saw him never leaves my memory. Just one look into his big blue eyes, followed by a big goofy grin, Johnny made you love him instantly. Absolutely one of the best men I've ever known.' The bartender went on to call on her employers to supplying parking spaces for their late night staff for safety purposes. In a statement to DailyMail.com, the bar's managers Mark & Jonnie Houston of Houston Hospitality, said: 'We are profoundly saddened and mourn the unexpected loss of a valued and cherished team member. 'Our hearts go out to his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.' Earlier this week, Scarlett Wactor, the GH star's mother, told US Weekly that she had spoken with Joy. '[She] was very gracious in speaking with me so I could ask questions. She felt detectives were being very thorough and that made me feel comforted. I'm glad he was not alone,' the grieving mom added. Scarlett went on to say that she's seeking justice for her son and that she does not want his death to become a 'cold case.' There are still no arrests in the murder. Wactor's agent, David Shaul, said the actor was 'a real moral example to everyone who knew him.' 'In the highs and lows of a challenging profession he always kept his chin up and kept striving for the best he could be,' Shaul said in a statement Sunday. 'Our time with Johnny was a privilege we would wish on everyone. He would literally give you the shirt off his back. After over a decade together, he will leave a hole in our hearts forever.' Wactor's murder comes just weeks after California was ranked among the top 10 most dangerous states in America. Violent crime in Los Angeles has been on the rise, with the LAPD recording a 2.9 per cent increase at the end of March 2024, compared to the same time last year. The LAPD reported Friday that, as of the end of April, the city's rise in the number of murders in 2024 continued to decline and, as of April 27, was only 4.2 per cent above the number of murders reported at this time in 2023, NBC Los Angeles reported. The last time the force updated robbery statistics, at the end of March 2024, thefts were up 9.5 per cent, according to ABC 7. Around 600,000 catalytic converters are stolen each year. Most cars are equipped with one converter but those with a dual exhaust system require two. Larger vehicles such as SUVs and trucks may have more than two. According to the New York Times, stolen catalytic converters are passed through 'middlemen, smelters and refineries in the United States and overseas.' They can be stolen in under a minute and cost around $1,000 to replace. 'Nearly' 5ft 11in Josie Gibson and 6ft 7in Stephen Merchant hilariously measured up against each other as Josie admitted she grew up believing she was related to The Outlaws creator. Stephen, 49, appeared on This Morning on Thursday to discuss the third series of his crime-thriller comedy The Outlaws, which is set in Bristol. He had barely entered the studio when Josie, 39, positioned herself next to him and said 'Can we just stand up because I'm very tall, you're very tall. How tall are you?' Stephen, co-created cult classic The Office with Ricky Gervais at the turn of the century cheerfully replied: '6 ft 7 in' and Josie said: 'I'm nearly 5'11, I'm 177cm.' With faux-surprise, Stephen said: Oh, 5ft 11in, yeah, I remember I must have been about, ooh, 12? When I was 5 ft 11 in.' 5ft 11in Josie Gibson, 36, and 6ft 7in Stephen Merchant, 46,hilariously measured up against each other on Thursday's This Morning as Josie admitted she grew up believing she was related to the Outlaws creator Stephen appeared on the show to discuss the third series of his crime-thriller comedy The Outlaws, set in Bristol, which also stars Baby Reindeer actress Jessica Gunning With faux-surprise, Stephen said: Oh, 5ft 11in, yeah, I remember I must have been about, ooh, 12? When I was 5 ft 11 in' The pair both hail from the Bristol area: Josie from South Gloucestershire and Stephen from Hanham, and they compared their accents. Josie revealed that she thought she was related to Stephen because they are both tall and from Bristol - and co-host Dermot O'Leary asked: 'Is that all it takes?' During the interview, Stephen talked about how his mother inspired The Outlaws and he had conceived the idea for the show as a child. The Outlaws follows seven strangers from different walks of life who are forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence, set in Bristol. However, their luck changes not necessarily for the better when they discover a bag full of money, unaware that its true owners are very dangerous. Stephen share of his mother: 'She was supervising criminals and she used to tell me about the Bristol people who come to the door and they were a mixed bag, some of whom went to my school. 'I just thought it was an interesting backdrop for a show, turning into a crime thriller. Since I was a teenager, I just always thought it was a good idea for a show.' The star managed to recruit Hollywood legend Christopher Walken for the BBC show 'by comparing Bristol to San Francisco'. He told Josie and Dermot, 51, of the Academy Award winner's character: 'He's quite a quiet man, a reflective person. 'I took him to Stonehenge and he didn't talk for the first hour. Then he said: "Apparently the blue stones have healing properties." He asked to touch them and the woman said "No" quite firmly and I said "But he's an Oscar winner!" 'When you ask him a question he won't reply right away, it's like he's buffering, but he's just reflecting. It's like having a Zoom conversation in person.' Josie revealed that she thought she was related to Stephen because they were both tall and from Bristol - and co-host Dermot O'Leary asked: 'Is that all it takes?' Stephen based The Outlaws on stories of troubled Bristolian youths that he heard from his mother as a child He said of Christopher Walken, who stars: 'I took him to Stonehenge and he didn't talk for the first hour' A star of the show, Jessica Gunning Diane, (the Community Payback Officer), achieved worldwide fame in April when British black-comedy miniseries Baby Reindeer was released A star of the show, Jessica Gunning, achieved worldwide fame in April when British black-comedy miniseries Baby Reindeer was released. Stephen previously revealed that Jessica's character Dianne was inspired by his mother and Jessica has writing credits on series three. Baby Reindeer follows comedian and bartender Donny Dunn (Richard Gadd) who gets stalked by former lawyer Martha Scott (Jessica). The Outlaws begins on May 30 at 9pm on BBC1 One and BBC iPlayer A portrait of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim has been selected among the finalists for the 2024 Archibald Prize. The painting of the former nightclub owner by Sydney artist Oliver Watts is among the 57 finalists vying for the prestigious prize. The artwork made the shortlist from a total of 1,005 entries and the winner will be carefully selected by staff at the Art Gallery of NSW. It is up against portraits of Hollywood stars Jacob Elordi and Anthony LaPaglia, activist Julian Assange, author Tim Winton and The Wiggles' Anthony Field, among others. Mr Ibrahim has been asked to sit for portraits before but finally agreed when he was approached on the set of Last King of the Cross, a TV drama based off his autobiography. A portrait of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim (pictured in 2010) has been selected among the finalists for the 2024 Archibald Prize Three-time Archibald finalist Mr Watts made contact with Mr Ibrahim through his friends who were working on the set, and he agreed to sit for the artwork. 'I'm thrilled to be a part, even in a small way, of such a prestigious event,' Mr Ibrahim told the Daily Telegraph of the portrait being selected as an Archibald Prize finalist. Meanwhile, Mr Watts added of his painting: 'I placed [Mr Ibrahim] in his old stomping ground. Set on Kellett Street after dark, the portrait uses the style of a British society portrait.' Mr Ibrahim's 2017 autobiography inspired the Paramount+ drama series Last King of the Cross, which has been commissioned for a second run after its global success. The first series of the popular crime drama aired in February 2023 to huge popularity and filming for the show's second season kicked off in Sydney earlier this year. The painting of the former nightclub owner by Sydney artist Oliver Watts (pictured) has been selected among the 57 finalists vying for the prestigious prize The series sees actors Lincoln Younes and Claude Jabbour star as brothers John and Sam Ibrahim, while Tess Haubrich plays Detective Liz Doyle. British actor Tim Roth, who scored an Oscar nomination for the film Rob Roy in 1995, plays fictional crime boss Ezra Shipman on the show. Matt Nable also stars as Big Tony, while Uli Latukefu plays Tongan Sam and Janet Anderson portrays Simone. Lead actor Lincoln nabbed the role of John after an exhaustive search which went on for almost two years. The eight-part second season is expected to take the story into the 2000s with John expanding his 'club empire', while his family dynamics are also set to take centre stage in the plot. Mr Ibrahim's 2017 autobiography inspired the Paramount+ drama series Last King of the Cross, which has been commissioned for a second run after its huge success Dave Hoey will join the cast as younger brother Michael Ibrahim, while newcomer Alex Kaan is also set to take on the role of Fadi. Helium Pictures' Mark Fennessy told TV Tonight: 'We're super excited to continue the story of Last King of The Cross bringing more extreme and fascinating untold stories of John Ibrahim and his family. 'Season two will surprise and thrill our audience in unexpected ways as we enter the seductive, dangerous, and ecstasy-fuelled world of the early 2000s.' According to Variety, the 10-part first season of the show was sold into multiple overseas territories including Germany, Italy, the UK, and Ireland. The Ibrahim brothers were prominent figures in Sydney's nightclub district and the series explores key events in their lives, including John's near fatal stabbing. Toni Collette is not letting her separation from long-time husband Dave Galafassi prevent her from living life to the fullest while filming her new movie in Europe. On Thursday, the Muriel's Wedding star, 51, shared a precious photo to Instagram capturing her having a picnic lunch with veteran actor Andy Garcia, 68, in Italy. The pair were on the set of their upcoming movie called Under The Stars, which is being filmed in the Apulia region, and looked to be having the time of their lives together. The Sydney-born star wore her blonde hair down around her shoulders and sported a stylish loose-fitting pink blouse and a gold chain necklace as she rested on a picnic blanket. She held a wine glass in her hand and was seen laughing it up while engaged in lively conversation with her handsome co-star. Toni Collette (right) is not letting her separation from long-time husband Dave Galafassi prevent her from living life to the fullest. On Thursday, the Muriel's Wedding star, 51, shared a precious photo to Instagram capturing her having a picnic lunch with Andy Garcia (left) The Hereditary star announced her separation from ex-husband Dave Galafassi (right), 47, after 19 years of marriage back in December 2022 Their picnic basket was adorned with a variety of snacks including crackers, spreads, cheese dips, sliced bread and a bottle of wine. Toni captioned the photo: 'Under the Stars with the fabulous Andy Garcia'. Their new film is a romantic comedy about a novelist who meets the woman of his dreams while on holiday in Italy - Toni will also star with Alex Pettyfer, (Magic Mike), and Eva De Dominici (The Cleaning Lady) in the Michelle Danner-directed film. Toni was in Italy filming Mafia Mamma in 2022 when news of her divorce made global headlines. The Hereditary star announced her separation from ex-husband Dave Galafassi, 47, after 19 years of marriage back in December 2022. Toni looks to be having the time of her life during her spare time On Valentine's Day earlier this year, Toni appeared to take a brutal swipe at Dave when she shared a hilarious photo online to mark the romantic date. The image showed a cockroach with the nametag Barney standing next to a broken heart symbol, with some rather telling words in the caption. 'Zoo lets you name a cockroach after your ex and feed it to an animal on Valentine's Day,' the cheeky post read. The zoo in question is the San Antonio Zoo in Texas, which allows customers to name a cockroach for $US10 ($AU15.44), which will then be fed to a bird or lizard. 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The acclaimed movie star was heckled by Trump's loyal supporters earlier this week while he was making a speech against the former President outside of the 77-year-old's hush money criminal trial in New York City. Now, a source has told DailyMail.com exclusively that Robert has no plans to 'stand down' and will 'continue to fight for his convictions.' They said the Goodfellas alum 'is more than confident' that his outspokenness won't affect his career. 'Robert is never going to stand down from his beliefs on Trump and will continue to fight for his convictions,' the insider dished. Robert De Niro doesn't care about the Donald Trump 'haters' - and the actor isn't worried that his absolute loyalty to President Joe Biden will stop him getting any more jobs at age 80 The acclaimed movie star was heckled by Trump's loyal supporters earlier this week while he was making a speech against the former President outside of his hush money criminal trial 'He is more than confident that he will not lose any job opportunities moving forward. 'He has done so much in Hollywood that if anyone didn't want him on a project because of his political beliefs, he wouldn't want to be on the set anyway. 'He's 80 years old, he has his beliefs, and he is set in the way he runs his life. Not that anyone is, but nobody should ever feel bad about him career-wise moving forward because he is happy with how it has turned out and will continue to be.' They added that Robert wasn't worried about retaliation from MAGA fans, and that he felt 'living in fear' would 'result in them winning in his eyes.' 'He isn't scared about a Trump supporter causing harm to him. He doesn't live in fear,' the source explained. 'Even if someone spews vicious vulgarities his way or wants to harm him in any way, he is not going to let it get to him. 'He will challenge the haters and talk back and get his words out there. He isn't ever going to fear for his wellbeing, [because] if he did that would result in them winning in his eyes. He will never stop fighting for what he believes in.' On Tuesday, Robert stood outside of the courthouse and called Trump, 77, a 'clown' and 'coward,' who wanted to 'destroy the world.' Now, a source has told DailyMail.com exclusively that Robert has no plans to 'stand down' and will 'continue to fight for his convictions.' Robert is seen outside of Trump's trial on Tuesday They said the Goodfellas alum was 'more than confident' that his outspokenness wouldn't affect his career. He's seen last year 'If anyone didn't want him on a project because of his political beliefs, he wouldn't want to be on the set anyway,' they said. He's seen in Killers of the Flower Moon 'I love this city, I don't want to destroy it. Donald Trump wants to destroy not only the city but the country and eventually he could destroy the world,' he said. 'We New Yorkers used to tolerate him when he was just another grubby real estate hustler masquerading as a big shot. 'A two-bit playboy lying his way into the tabloids. A clown. But this city is pretty accommodating. 'We make room for clowns, but not a person like Trump, who will eventually run the country, that does not work and we all know that.' A group of Trump supporters could be heard in the background chanting, 'F**k Joe Biden,' while another person screaming at the actor, 'Your movies suck.' Robert recalled how Trump was able to get an angry mob to assault the Capitol on January 6. 'It shows the violence of Trump and reminds us that he'll use violence against anyone who stands in the way of his megalomania and greed,' the actor added, referring to the incident. 'But it's a coward's violence. You think Trump ever threw a punch himself or took one? 'This guy who ran and hid in the White House bunker when there were protesters outside? No way. 'He doesn't get blood on his hands. No he doesn't. He directs the mob to do his dirty work for him.' Robert has spoken against Trump numerous times in recent weeks. In early May, the Oscar winner compared the Republican presidential candidate to World War II tyrants Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini during an appearance on MSNBC's The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle. On Tuesday, Robert stood outside of the courthouse and called Trump, 77, a 'clown' and 'coward' who wanted to 'destroy the world' In early May, Robert called Trump a 'a sick person,' a 'narcissistic,' a 'monster, and a 'stupid bully,' and compared him to World War II tyrants Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini In response to Robert's many statements against him, Trump called the actor 'small' and 'wacko' in a post on Truth Social He also called Trump a 'a sick person,' a 'narcissistic,' a 'monster, and a 'stupid bully' during the interview. Then, on The View a week later, he went on an expletive-filled rant against Trump, claiming that if he were to be re-elected he'd 'stay in [office] until he drops dead.' He also loaned his voice to a Biden campaign in a new ad that aired last week. Robert also loaned his voice to a Biden campaign in a new ad that aired last week. In it, he said that 'unhinged' and 'power-hungry' Trump had 'snapped' after losing the 2020 race In it, Robert said that 'unhinged' and 'power-hungry' Trump had 'snapped' after losing the 2020 race. 'From midnight tweets to drinking bleach, to tear-gassing citizens and staging a photo-op, we knew Trump was out of control when he was president,' he claimed in the ad. 'Then he lost the 2020 election and snapped. Now he's running again, this time threatening to be a dictator, to terminate the Constitution. Trump wants revenge, and he'll stop at nothing to get it.' In response to Robert's many statements against him, Trump called the actor 'small' and 'wacko' in a post on Truth Social. 'I never knew how small, both mentally and physically, wacko former actor Robert De Niro was,' the ex-president said about the 5-foot-10 star. Trump accused the 80-year-old of suffering 'from an incurable case of TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.' 'Robert, whose movies, artistry, and brand have gone way down in value since he entered the political arena at the request of crooked Joe Biden, looked so pathetic and sad out there,' he added of Robert's speech outside the courthouse. Separate appearances at the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival were rounded off by a joint appearance in Athens as Nathalie Emmanuel and Kelly Rutherford attended the Women in Power conference on Wednesday. Fresh from the French Riviera, the actresses were in attendance as the event, held in association with Marie Claire Greece, got underway in the Greek capital. Emmanuel, best known for her role as doomed interpreter Missandei in Game Of Thrones, looked stunning in a seasonal floral-print summer dress as she mingled with guests on an outdoor terrace. The British actress, 35, rounded of the look with a pair of heavily tinted sunglasses while settling down to a lavish al-fresco meal in front of the sweeping Mediterranean. Rutherford, 55, looked equally stylish in a blue and white Apolonia dress from local designer Themis Zouganeli as she chatted to Marie Claire Editor-In-Chief Galateia Laskaraki. Separate appearances at the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival were rounded off by a joint appearance in Athens as Nathalie Emmanuel (left) and Kelly Rutherford (right) attended the Women in Power conference on Wednesday Emmanuel, best known for her role as doomed interpreter Missandei in Game Of Thrones , looked stunning in a seasonal floral-print summer dress as she mingled with guests The American star - a household name in the States thanks to her former roles in Melrose Place and Gossip Girl - completed her ensemble with a pair of white sling-back heels. Both were attending the conference after separate appearances in Cannes, where Rutherford attended a promotional event while Emmanuel's latest film was savaged by critics. The actress stars alongside Dustin Hoffman, Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Jon Voight and Shia LaBeouf in Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis - but even the film's undeniable Hollywood billing hasn't spared it from critical scorn. Coppola first conceived the idea for the film in 1977 and actively started developing it in 1983, but it underwent significant delays and numerous cancellations over the years. He returned to the troubled project in 2019, when it was revealed that he had entered into talks with LaBeouf, who ultimately joined the movie's cast. The filmmaker reportedly spent $120 million of his own funds in order to finance the movie. Almost as epic as the film itself is the long, winding road it took from concept to cinemas. Coppola first began developing the concept in the early 1980s, working on it in fits and starts in the succeeding decades with a number of actors attached. Rutherford looked equally stylish in a blue and white Apolonia dress from local designer Themis Zouganeli as she chatted to Marie Claire Editor-In-Chief Galateia Laskaraki Guests were seen mingling ahead of an al fresco dinner during the conference on Wednesday He said his plot inspiration came from an attempted coup d'etat in 63 B.C. by the popular Roman aristocrat Lucius Sergius Catiline, who also lends his name to Driver's character. After almost giving up on the project in 2007 due to a lack of support, Coppola decided to follow through on it after turning 80, followed by the pandemic, which involved selling a piece of his wine business to self-finance the film's production. Megalopolis has not yet found a U.S. distributor but, according to reports, will have a limited global release at Imax theatres at some point this year. The 32-year-old's marriage ended just three months after her prison release Gypsy Rose Blanchard has revealed her 'regret' over marrying her ex-husband Ryan Scott Anderson while she was still in prison - as she opened up in a new interview about why their seemingly loved-up relationship broke down so quickly after her release. The 32-year-old Munchausen's-by-proxy victim wed the special education teacher, 38, in a jailhouse ceremony in 2022, however their marriage ended abruptly in March - just three months after she was freed from the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri. Gypsy then reunited with her ex-fiance, Ken Urker, although she has insisted that there is 'no intimacy' between them, despite sharing a kissing selfie of the pair on her Instagram account. Reflecting on the failed three-year romance on Thursday's episode of Good Morning America, Gypsy declared that she wished she never tied the knot while serving a seven year sentence for conspiring to kill her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. Speaking to Juju Chang, she said: 'People need to understand that Ryan and I had been in a relationship for three years. In those three years we had been through a lot of ups and downs.' Gypsy Rose Blanchard has admitted that she regrets marrying her ex-husband Ryan Scott Anderson while she was behind bars Gypsy, 32, and Ryan, 38, tied the knot in a jailhouse ceremony in 2022. Their marriage came to an abrupt end, however, in March. 'Sometimes relationships just take [their] course.' Juju then brought up some reports that surfaced last month in which it was suggested that Gypsy was 'afraid' of her former spouse, with sources alleging to The Blast that she felt he was 'controlling' and 'jealous'. However, when asked by Juju if those claims were 'accurate', Gypsy was quick to shut them down. 'I'm not afraid of Ryan,' Gypsy responded. 'I think that there is some things that happened that I think we've both wish wouldn't have.' When asked whether she regretted the marriage, Gypsy responded: 'I regret getting married while I was still in prison. I don't regret the relationship.' Gypsy and Ryan were married in a prison ceremony in July of 2022. Prior to her December release, Gypsy revealed to People that she was planning to marry Ryan - a special ed teacher in Louisiana - a second time once she was a free woman. 'We do plan on having a reception/redo wedding with all of our family and our friends and the dress and the cake and everything because we deserve that. I deserve that. He deserves that,' she said. 'Our prison wedding was just something to where we can make our vows to each other. It was something that meant something to us. And I think the party is kind of for everybody else and us, but mostly for everybody else.' FIRST ON @GMA: Gypsy Rose Blanchard opens up to @JujuChangABC about her social media presence, ending her marriage & her recent cosmetic surgery. Tune in to @nightline at 12:35 a.m. EST for the full interview & watch her new docuseries Life After Lockup June 3 on @lifetimetv. pic.twitter.com/SPdD17iuxQ Good Morning America (@GMA) May 30, 2024 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 Addressing their marriage breakdown, Gypsy said: 'People need to understand that Ryan and I had been in a relationship for three years... we had been through a lot of ups and downs' At the time of her early release, she shared her excitement about moving in with Ryan. 'I've never lived with a man. I grew up with a mom, so I didn't even grow up with a dad in the house. So, I'm like, 'I don't even know what it's like to live with a man,' she said. Shortly after her newfound freedom, Gypsy publicly proclaimed her satisfaction with her new-found sex life. While defending her husband from online trolls, she wrote: 'I love you...besides they jealous because you are rocking my world every nightyeah I said it, the D is fire...happy wife happy life.' Ryan responded: 'Who said I gave a damn about what these jealous people say anyway, haha...now come get it Baby...' But just three months after, Gypsy announced in a Facebook post that the pair had gone their separate ways. At the time, she said: '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 find who I am.' Last month, Ryan broke his cover to tell of his shock and devastation at their separation. Gypsy is said to have reunited with her ex-fiance, Ken Urker , although she has insisted that there is 'no intimacy' between them Gypsy Rose with her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was murdered by Gypsy and her then boyfriend in 2015 Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, he revealed the pair had separated over her continued relationship with her ex-fiance Ken Urker. 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.' Gypsy was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri on December 28, after serving eight years of a 10-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 by proxy, Gypsy 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. Gypsy'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. Larry Lamb has revealed the lie he told Ruth Jones when she asked him if he would be available for the Gavin And Stacey reunion. The beloved BBC sitcom is returning for the last ever episode on Christmas Day after Ruth and co-creator James Corden penned the final in secret. Larry, 76, who plays Gavin's father Mick, told how Ruth, 57, phoned him out of the blue to let him know about the reunion. Appearing on Friday's Loose Women with his son George, 44, Larry said: 'I was sitting in a station, pouring with rain. The phone rang and it was Ruth. 'I wondered what she was calling for. "You on you own?" I lied and said "Yes". She just told me basically: "Will you be free this time heading towards the end of the year?" Larry Lamb (centre right) has revealed the lie he told Ruth Jones when she asked him if he would be available for the Gavin And Stacey reunion (L-R Kaye Adams, Kelly Holmes and George Lamb) The beloved BBC sitcom is returning for the last ever episode on Christmas Day after Ruth and co-creator James Corden penned the final in secret (Larry pictured with co-stars Matthew Horne and Alison Steadman) Larry, 76, who plays Gavin's father Mick, told how Ruth, 57, (left) phoned him out of the blue to let him know about the reunion (pictured with James Corden) 'She said: "Looks like we will get the green light on a new deal coming in again." 'I said: "Another grand finale?" and she said "Yes". I bet that has a cliffhanger at the end of that as well.' Larry appeared on Loose Women in April with Gavin And Stacey co-star Joanna Page and denied a reunion was taking place, saying 'definitely not' when asked if there would be more episodes. Asked why he lied, Larry said: 'My career was dicey enough. It was hanging on the line. Things get out, there are party spoilers everywhere. Imagine what it will be like when we start doing that script. 'I bet we get together and read it and they take it back, and scene by scene it will be given out.' Ruth, who plays Nessa, and James, who plays Smithy, reunited in secret to pen the special after recently denying another episode was in the works, nearly five years after the last episode aired in 2019. Taking to Instagram, the pair shared a black and white photo of themselves holding up the script. Alongside the post, they wrote: 'Some news... It's official! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey. See you on Christmas Day, BBC One. Love Ruth and James!' Larry said: 'The phone rang and it was Ruth. 'I wondered what she was calling for. "You on you own?" I lied and said "Yes". She just told me basically: "Will you be free this time heading towards the end of the year?" Ruth and James reunited in secret to pen the special after recently denying another episode was in the works, nearly five years after the last episode aired in 2019. The pair wrote: 'Some news... It's official! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey' Joanna, who plays Stacey, reshared James and Ruth's photo to her Instagram and wrote: 'Oh my God it's happening! So excited! Last ever Gavin And Stacey! Christmas Day @bbcone Can't wait to start filming!' Joanna also shared a statement with ITV's Loose Women that read: 'I'm very excited for the return of the Gavin and Stacey and can't wait to come back on and tell you all about it'. The actress also revealed she 'can't wait to find out what happens' next on the BBC show as she doesn't know what happens after the 2019 Christmas cliffhanger when Nessa proposed to Smithy. Speaking on Off The Telly on BBC Sounds podcast, Joanna said: 'Im so excited to see the gang again and start filming, and I cant wait to find out if Smithy has said yes. I cant wait to find out whats happening to everybody! 'Im going to have to keep that script away from your [Natalies] little paws but yeah we are going to be able to review it on our show at Christmas and I will be very cross if you arent sitting down on Christmas Day watching me!' Matthew Horne, who portrays Gavin, seemed excited for the reunion as he reshared the snap of Ruth and James holding up the new script, he wrote: 'Happy Christmas'. It was previously reported that a new episode of Gavin And Stacey was in the works but Ruth Jones denied it. Reports circulated online claiming the cast was set to film a new episode over the summer with the plan to air it at Christmas, five years on from a dramatic cliffhanger. The critically acclaimed series follows the lives of the two titular characters Gavin from Essex and Stacey from South Wales, documenting key points in their long-distance relationship and events that bring the two families together US outlet Deadline reported that the new special was in development/pre-production stages currently and that it will be produced by Steve Coogan's Baby Cow, Jones' Tidy Productions and Fulwell 73, which is co-owned by Corden. But Ruth insisted the speculation was 'sadly a rumour' during an interview on Irish station RTE Radio 1. Asked about the reports, she said: 'Apparently there's a bidding war going on between the BBC and Netflix and I love it because it says 'a source says', who is this source?' Ruth added: 'It's sadly a rumour... All I can say is, if there was something to say on that front, James and I would happily announce it, we would.' The actress said she thought the rumours were sparked after she was photographed having lunch with Corden a few months back after he returned to the UK from living in America. 'Then the next thing is 'Oh my god they must be writing more Gavin And Stacey', which is lovely,' she said. 'It's lovely that people are so desperate for it because imagine if it was the opposite and were like 'Oh, god, you're not bringing that back again'.' Are Kanye West and Bianca Censori sending a message to his ex, Kim Kardashian, with their latest jaunt to Italy? The couple was spotted arriving in Florence in matching white outfits - 10 years almost to the day since the rapper tied the knot with the reality star in the same city. Photographers caught Kanye, 46, and Bianca, 29, disembarking a plane in Florence together on Monday. And a decade earlier, Kanye and Kim, 43, walked down the aisle together on May 24, 2014 at the stunning Forte di Belvedere - which is a mere miles from where Kanye and his new wife arrived this week. And according to body language expert Judi James, she doesn't think the timing of their trip to Florence and their similar-colored looks are a coincidence. Is Kanye West and Bianca Censori sending a message to his ex, Kim Kardashian, with their latest ensembles? The couple was spotted arriving in Florence on Monday in white outfits - just days after May 24, the date that the rapper tied the knot with the reality star 10 years ago in the same city 'Almost 10 years to the day since Kanye married Kim in Florence in one of the biggest celebrity weddings of the decade he's back with his current wife Bianca,' she pointed out exclusively to DailyMail.com. 'And they seem to be making a rather controversial nod to the anniversary by both appearing clad in bridal white outfits. 'This looks like statement dressing as well as statement-making body language. The couple present as a matching duo with Kanye swapping his top-to-toe black fabrics for a more eye-catching white combo that reveals his face and which looks chosen to compliment Bianca's body stocking.' Bianca, who has been linked to Kanye since early 2023, showed off her incredible figure in a shiny white thong bodysuit and thigh-high black boots. She held a pillow over the front of her chest as she exited the airport with Kanye, a nod to a similar look she wore in Italy with him last year. Back in September 2023, Bianca raised eyebrows when she was photographed in a nude ripped garment in the same city, and held a purple cushion over her breasts. As for the musician, he donned white sweatpants and a matching zip-up hoodie during their latest outing, which he paired with similar-colored sneakers. Kim and Kanye wed on May 24, 2014, in front of 200 guests at the 16th-century Italian fort. Photographers caught Kanye, 46, and Bianca, 29, disembarking a plane in Florence together on Monday. Bianca donned a white thong bodysuit and held a pillow over her chest More than a decade earlier, Kanye and Kim, 43, walked down the aisle together at the Forte di Belvedere - which is a mere miles from where Kanye and his new 'wife' arrived this week And according to body language expert Judi James (seen), she doesn't think the timing of their trip to Florence and their similar-colored looks are a coincidence The high-profile wedding was attended by a slew of stars like John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Lana del Rey, and La La Anthony. The SKIMS founder wore a custom lace Givenchy gown for the nuptials, while Kanye opted for a simple black Givenchy tuxedo. The former couple, who welcomed four kids together, ultimately split in February 2021, after six years of marriage. He then moved on with Bianca, who according to Judi, looked slightly uneasy in the most recent shots of the couple. She theorized that Bianca's pillow accessory was more than just a prop to cover up her cleavage, but rather, a sense of 'comfort' and safety for her. 'Bianca's body language suggests a slightly more vulnerable air and she looks happy to keep close to her husband, hugging the cushion more as a comfort blanket or buffer to the rest of the world,' she explained. Even so, Judi said the pair seemed to have a stronger 'romantic connection' in the new photos than when they first visited Italy last year. She shared: '[Kanye is] more tactile. While Bianca walked out alone with the first air bag fashion, this time there seems to be more romantic connection signals between them, with Kanye at one point placing a hand on his wife's hip in a signal of sexual approval and attraction.' The couple's last trip to Italy sparked immense scrutiny for them, as they were slammed online over her racy looks - social media users branded her as 'disrespectful' for wearing something so revealing in a country known for its conservative Catholic heritage. In addition, some called for the racy duo to be arrested after they were spotted engaging in what appeared to be a risque act during a boat ride through Venice. Kim and Kanye wed on May 24, 2014; the high-profile wedding was attended by a slew of stars like John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Lana del Rey, and La La Anthony The SKIMS founder wore a custom lace Givenchy gown for the nuptials, while Kanye opted for a simple black Givenchy tuxedo The former couple, who welcomed four kids together, ultimately split in February 2021, after six years of marriage. He then moved on with Bianca, who he started dating in early 2023 The musician bared his naked buttocks to a slew of gawking tourists as he leaned against the back of the vessel, while Bianca nestled her head in his lap. It appeared that things were getting very steamy as she faced the hitmaker and, at one point, rested her elbows on his knees, while he was then seen cradling her face as they sailed along the river. Back in September 2023, Bianca raised eyebrows when she was photographed in a nude ripped garment in the same city, and held a purple cushion over her breasts Now, it could be that they chose to return to Italy - despite backlash from residents - in order to visit Bianca's family, since the 29-year-old architect's Italian family revealed that they were 'shunned' on their last trip to the country. In an exclusive chat with DailyMail.com last year, Bianca's cousin Fabiola Censori, who lives in Giulianova, said the family felt ignored by her. 'We haven't seen anything of Bianca's family here for years,' he said. 'The eldest of my uncle's children used to visit for a while but they stopped coming back to Italy years ago. 'I've never met Bianca but I would love to - it was a shame she didn't come and visit us when she was here in Italy on holiday. 'We could have shown her where her dad and his brothers and sisters and her grandparents grew up. 'Her dad came here years ago and we had a beautiful evening together with all the family and it was wonderful to see him but as for Bianca and Kanye no comment. We feel a bit ignored.' The BBC have announced plans for TV coverage of this year's Glastonbury festival are set to be the 'longest celebration of the festival yet'. It is set to include more than 90 hours each of both live performances and radio coverage from the festival - which is one of the most eagerly anticipated music events of the year. So, when exactly is Glastonbury festival taking place this year? How can you watch it and who will be headlining the 2024 edition at Worthy Farm? Read on below for everything you need to know about how to follow coverage of Glastonbury 2024. The BBC have announced plans for TV coverage of this year's Glastonbury festival are set to be the 'longest celebration of the festival yet' Dua Lipa (pictured), Coldplay and SZA will headline Glastonbury 2024, with Shania Twain playing the legendary Sunday slot When is Glastonbury and will I be able to watch it from home? The hotly-anticipated festival will be taking place at Worthy Farm in Somerset from Wednesday June 26 to Sunday June 30. The BBC, which is the exclusive broadcast partner of the festival, has unveiled plans for the corporation's 'longest celebration of the festival yet'. It will include 'over 90 hours of live performances from the five main stages on BBC iPlayer, extensive coverage on TV [and] 90 hours of radio broadcasts live from the festival', according to the broadcaster, via NME. Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music, said: 'The BBC's coverage of Glastonbury is one of the biggest jewels in the BBC's pop crown and we're evolving our programming to bring audiences many ways to enjoy the festival across our platforms it's their Glastonbury on the BBC. 'This year will see the debut of Glastonbury Channel II, a welcome addition to our multiple BBC iPlayer streams, giving viewers a rolling round-up of the key moments from each day.' Clarke added: 'We're also proud that for the second year, Pyramid Stage Signed returns, with performances from Glastonbury's most iconic stage in British Sign Language, bringing the Glastonbury experience closer to all viewers.' What is the schedule leading up to Glastonbury? BBC Sounds is set to have further coverage featuring special episodes of Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw's podcast, Sidetracked. Pictured: Annie and Nick at the BRIT awards in February New additions to the schedule for 2024 include the Glastonbury Channel II on iPlayer, as well as a series of 30-minute TV specials from the likes of Dua Lipa and Coldplay on BBC Two. BBC Sounds is set to have further coverage featuring special episodes of Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw's podcast, Sidetracked, which will air weekly from Monday June 3. A bonus edition entitled Glastonbury According To Sidetracked will be available after the event. Additionally, The One Show will be broadcast live from Worthy Farm on the first full day of music on Friday June 28. The Classic Glastonbury Channel - which is available to view on BBC iPlayer - will stream previous iconic sets from June 10. This is set to include legendary shows from the likes of Elton John, Kylie Minogue and Ed Sheeran. The Glastonbury Highlights Channel has been set up for fans who want to catch up on must-see recaps of live performances and performances from years gone by. This will be available to stream after the festival ends - from Monday July 1 until Sunday July 14. Who is headlining Glastonbury? Coldplay will be the sole male headliner for this year's much-anticipated event at Worthy Farm. Pictured: The group in concert at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester in May 2023 SZA (pictured) will be one of two female headliners at the festival - marking the first time in the event's history that female acts have taken two of the three headline slots Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA will headline Glastonbury 2024, with Shania Twain playing the legendary Sunday slot. It marks the first time in the event's history that female acts have taken two of the three headline slots. Other acts on this year's line-up include Brit Award-winning rapper Little Simz and Afrobeats star Burna Boy, making his Pyramid Stage debut. Big names like LCD Soundsytem, PJ Harvey, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Kiwanuka, Janelle Monae, Paul Heaton, Keane, Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Ayra Starr will also be hitting the stage. Thirteen-member boyband Seventeen are set to become the first K-pop band to perform on the Pyramid stage. Heading up the Other stage will be IDLES, Disclosure and The National, with The Streets, Two Door Cinema Club, Avril Lavigne and breakout stars The Last Dinner Party also set to play on the festival's second-biggest platform. Joining these will be Camila Cabello, Bombay Bicycle Club, Bloc Party and Confidence Man. Skins star Megan Prescott has revealed how she first began using OnlyFans - which she is using to fund her Edinburgh Fringe Festival show this year. The actress, 32, explained how she has been using the X-rated platform since 2020, after her boss initially refused to furlough her from her bar job. Speaking to The Sun, Megan spoke about how she is stripping off in her one-woman show, Really Good Exposure, where she will be full-frontal during one scene. Megan said that funding the show is 'very expensive' so she has been 'selling nude photos to a few subscribers because you shouldn't be ashamed of being naked.' When the pandemic hit, Megan was working in a distillery in London on a zero-hour contract and her manager 'refused to furlough her for a while'. Skins star Megan Prescott has revealed how she first began using OnlyFans - which she is using to fund her Edinburgh Fringe Festival show this year The actress, 32, explained how she has been using the X-rated platform since 2020, after her boss initially refused to furlough her from her bar job She explained that with only around 300 in the bank she needed to find a way to pay her rent, when her friend Haven - who co-hosts the podcast Strippers In The Attic - suggested OnlyFans as a way of earning an income. She continues: 'She said to me, "Trust me, there are already men that are looking at your Instagram and thinking those kinds of thoughts. You're leaving money on the table," and she was right. Megan claimed that joining the site changed her life and she branded it the best thing she has ever done, earning her much more than her acting roles. Megan previously revealed she will sell her 'full frontal, head-to-toe naked' photos on the X-rated subscription site as the play challenges stigma faced by sex workers. Megan, who pursued a bodybuilding career in 2016, is a vocal advocate for sex worker rights and first signed up to OnlyFans during the pandemic to enable her acting, writing, and directing career to continue. In a knowing nod to the show that made her famous, Megan has chosen to pay homage to one of her most iconic Skins images, but this time, posing entirely unclothed. Megan turned to OnlyFans to fund her new one-woman theatre show, Really Good Exposure at the Edinburgh Fringe The actress found fame alongside her twin sister as Katie and Emily Fitch on series three of hit show Skins back in 2009 Only 10 of this limited-edition nude snap will be sold on the platform to raise money. Megan's one-woman show is partially inspired by her own personal experience of child stardom. The play follows the story of Molly Thomas, a former child star whose fame peaked in her teens; audiences will first meet her later down the line as she realises her career has never matched the dizzying heights of her initial fame. Standing on the edge of her 30s, Molly looks towards the adult industry as a way to keep food on the table when acting work continually isn't paying her bills. But will the stigma that comes with sex work be too hard to handle? The show comes after Megan revealed that she has been diagnosed with autism last year. The Skins star took to Instagram last April where she got candid about her experience in a lengthy post. She admitted that pretending to be neurotypical made her 'exhausted, anxious and depressed,' as she called for more conversations about women with autism. Megan insisted that autism 'isn't a superpower' but could be a 'gift' if the world were more accessible to neurodiverse individuals. In a knowing nod to the show that made her famous, Megan has chosen to pay homage to one of her most iconic Skins images, but this time, posing entirely unclothed Megan penned: 'In December 2021 I was diagnosed as autistic. Since then I've been slowly getting comfortable with explaining this to people I know, but I've been nervous to say anything on here about it because of how badly misunderstood autism in women is by most people. 'There are still members of my family that I haven't told about my diagnosis because I know the response will be pretty upsetting. 'When I was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, telling people didn't feel as nerve wracking as telling everyone I'm autistic feels and I think because despite ADHD in women still being misunderstood, there is at least starting to be a decent amount of resources available for people to learn more about it. The same can't be said for autism in women 'When I've told people I am autistic, the response I've got most often is something along the lines of ''Well everyone's on the spectrum a bit'' which, although it might be well-intentioned, is a pretty s**t response to someone telling you they're autistic. 'Firstly, that response sounds like you're trying to console the autistic person by saying ''don't feel bad, we're all a bit like that'' which implies that not only is autism a bad thing, but it also completely invalidates the struggles that that autistic person may have experienced throughout their life.' Megan explained how some people downplay her diagnosis as if it's 'not a big deal because it's something everyone experiences and you're just not as good at dealing with it.' She continued: 'Autism also isn't a 'superpower.' We live in a society that is constructed from the ground up for people with neurotypical brains. The play follows the story of Molly Thomas, a former child star whose fame peaked in her teens; audiences will first meet her later down the line as she realises her career has never matched the dizzying heights of her initial fame Megan pursued a bodybuilding career in 2016 (pictured) The show comes after Megan revealed that she has been diagnosed with autism last year 'I do believe that autism COULD be a 'gift' IF the world we lived in was made accessible to neurodiverse people. 'However, almost all of the structures, systems and social 'rules' that we live by have been created by and for neurotypical people and don't allow for the vast differences in how neurodiverse minds work.' The actress expressed her wish that there were 'more conversations about autism in women' while explaining that most 'of the diagnostic criteria involved in autism assessment is based on research done exclusively on men'. Megan concluded: 'In true me style, I will of course be talking about this a LOT; partly because I am incredibly self-involved, but also because there is such a lack of information and support out there for autistic women and I would like to at least add my two cents worth.' Jennifer Aniston showed off her chic sense of style in a black blazer layered over a cropped white t-shirt while leaving a skincare salon in Beverly Hills on Wednesday. Following her spa appointment, the Friends star, 55, looked relaxed as she exited the parking lot and strutted toward her car in a pair of black leather booties. For her laid-back excursion, the Golden Globe winner tried to keep a low profile in a pair of jeans, black sunglasses and her golden blonde locks slicked back in a bun. She also opted to wear a grey scarf, which was wrapped loosely around her neck, as she headed home with a stylish handbag hanging from her shoulder. The actress' latest sighting comes just two months after she was seen leaving a well-known Connecticut plastic surgery office with pal, Sandra Bullock. Jennifer Aniston showed off her chic sense of style in a black blazer layered over a cropped white t-shirt while leaving a skincare salon in Beverly Hills on Wednesday The pair and their friend, Amanda Anka, who is married to Jason Bateman, were all seen leaving The Retreat At Split Rock, which is located in Greenwich, Connecticut, together in late March. The retreat specializes in expert upper and lower face lifts, which cost about $50,000 to $100,000 each as well as brow and eye lifts that hover around $30,000 each. 'It is a private fully accredited surgical facility,' notes the website. They were specifically seen exiting Dr Neil A Gordon's office. He oversees the facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. His specialty is 'facial rejuvenation and rhinoplasty,' according to his site, but injectables such as Botox and Kybella are also offered. A full face of Botox can cost around $3,000 while Kybella is more expensive at $6,000. The center is known for their facelifts. The retreat touts a skillful upper face lift: 'A forehead lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure that tightens the soft tissue and skin of the entire forehead. The majority effect is often seen around the eyes, especially between the eyebrows and on the drooping soft tissue hanging over the lateral/side of the upper eyelids.' And they promise their lower face lift takes care of the 'lost skin on the cheeks and neck.' The Split Rock retreat recommends getting all of the lifts for the freshest look: 'Often a facelift is combined with other cosmetic surgery procedures such as a brow or eye lift that offers a balanced, complete, and more natural facial rejuvenation.' Following her spa appointment, the Friends star, 55, looked relaxed as she exited the parking lot and strutted toward her car in a pair of black leather booties For her laid-back excursion, the Golden Globe winner tried to keep a low profile in a pair of jeans, black sunglasses and her golden blonde locks slicked back in a bun The center also offers less invasive services. They include facial fillers, fat injections and Botox. Then there are the 'energy devices' such as Ulthera, Profound, and Exillis. The website explains: 'The cause of the appearance of the aged face is due to gravity's effects in stretching out the soft tissue of the face. 'Whether it is a drooping neck, nasolabial folds, or a furrowed forehead, the aged appearance is due to excess facial soft tissue. Energy devices use different forms of energy, such as ultrasound or thermal, to heat up and create burn-like injuries to shrink soft tissue.' And the center also offers Kybella, which is a newer treatment that is a chemical that dissolves fat. None of the women have spoken publicly about undergoing any of these procedures. The actress' latest sighting comes just two months after she was seen leaving a well-known Connecticut plastic surgery office with pal, Sandra Bullock (seen in 2020) Back in 2015, Aniston told Yahoo Beauty that she is not a fan of injections. 'People think that I do a lot of (Botox) injections, but I don't,' the Along Came Polly actress insisted. 'I'm not saying that I haven't tried it but I see how it's a slippery slope.' 'All that cosmetic stuff looks ridiculous on me,' she explained. 'And like we were saying before, they just start to lose perspective, it's their new normal, so it's a hard one to come back from.' Last year, the Bruce Almighty star again talked staying youthful looking during an interview with The Wall Street Journal. She said she tried a salmon sperm facial, though she admittedly isn't sure if it did anything for her skin. The pair and their friend, Amanda Anka, who is married to Jason Bateman, were all seen leaving The Retreat At Split Rock (seen above), which is located in Greenwich, Connecticut, together in late March The retreat specializes in expert upper and lower face lifts, which cost about $50,000 to $100,000 each as well as brow and eye lifts that hover around $30,000 each 'It is a private fully accredited surgical facility,' notes the website Aniston then said she liked peptide injections. Peptides are strings of molecules called amino acids, which are the 'building blocks' of proteins. Peptides are basically short proteins that are about 2-100 amino acids long. Peptide supplements may have anti-aging, muscle growth, and fat loss benefits, according WebMD. Meanwhile, Bullock denied plastic surgery rumors that sparked after her attendance at the 2018 Oscars. 'This past Oscars I was sick and had allergies, but I was like, "Im just going to go." Its part of my job, and Im happy to be there,' the Miss Congeniality star began. 'Then the next day they were saying, "Oh, she has cheek fillers and implants." When I saw the photos and how swollen I was, I got it. But I was like, "Well, if I got injections, I only got them on the top," which was not very good,' she joked. Southern Charm alum Kathryn Dennis seemingly addressed her recent DUI arrest. The reality TV star, 32, shared a cryptic message on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, nearly two weeks after her arrest in South Carolina for driving under the influence following a three-car collision. 'You can literally be here today and gone tomorrow,' read the quote. 'Be grateful, be humble, be appreciative, be kind, be loving.' The post comes after shocking video showed a police officer emptying bottles of Fireball whiskey out of Dennis's Louis Vuitton dog bag after officers seized it following her May 20 arrest. In a cache of footage, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, the star can also be seen flunking her field sobriety test earlier that evening wobbling shoeless in the headlights of the patrol car called to the scene. Southern Charm alum Kathryn Dennis seemingly spoke out on her recent DUI arrest The reality star, 32, shared a cryptic message on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, nearly two weeks after her arrest in South Carolina for driving under the influence following a three-car collision Dennis was arrested and charged with being drunk at the wheel and transporting alcohol in open containers when she smashed into the back of a car as it slowed to a stop at a red traffic signal about 9.15pm last Monday. That car in turn hit the car in front of it. Last week bodycam footage emerged of Dennis sobbing in the back of a police car as she was transported by officers of Goose Creek Police Department to Berkley County Detention Center in Monck's Corner, South Carolina. In the video, the officer takes the Fireball bottles out of the bag one by one, before coming across a single can of Coke. He eventually throws them all in the trash. According to the incident report obtained by DailyMail.com, the first officer to speak to Dennis observed her 'glossy eyes' and 'the odor of alcohol emanating from [her] person.' The officer also noted 'an unopened bottle of Fireball on the driver's side floorboard' and a 'pink tumbler cup in the center console which was empty'. The officer noted that Dennis refused a breathalyzer test but agreed to undergo a field sobriety test. Captured by the dashcam video of his patrol car the extent to which Dennis flunked the test is painfully evident. According to his report the first test the officer carried out was the 'Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test,' in which a person is asked to track an officer's finger while the cop looks for the tell-tale involuntary eye jerking which happens when someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol looks to the side. The former Southern Charm belle can be seen flunking her field sobriety test - wobbling, shoeless, in the headlights of the patrol car called to the scene New video shows a police officer emptying bottles of Fireball whiskey out of Dennis's Louis Vuitton dog bag after her DUI arrest As well as smelling the alcohol on Dennis, the officer noted four out of six clues suggesting intoxication while conducting the test including a 'lack of smooth pursuit' on Dennis's part. The next test was a walk and turn for which she chose to remove her sandals. Here the officer noted she could not even keep her balance while standing in the starting position, used her arms and hands for balance as she walked and missed the heel to toe requirement of the walk on numerous occasions. She was also unable to balance on one leg without wind-milling her arms to keep her balance. Later, oblivious to her performance, Dennis can be heard telling herself: 'I passed that f***ing field sobriety test. This is some b******t. Like, I literally am not drunk.' Dennis was traveling with her golden doodle puppy 'Lil Gucci' whom she had placed in the back of the police patrol vehicle during these tests. When officers searched the pup's dog carrier they found, 'several mini bottles of Fireball, some of which were opened and empty.' Indeed, footage of the search of that bag as she was booked into Berkley County Detention Center some hours later shows an officer removing at least ten miniature bottles from the bag some are empty, some are open and appear half empty, others are full and still bound together by the plastic wrap of the multipack in which they were bought. Patrol car footage of the drive from the scene to the detention center reviewed by DailyMail.com shows Dennis running the emotional gamut in attempts to derail the due process of her arrest. At times she pleads, at others she wails in fury at being separated from her 'child' by which she means her dog. At some points she threatens the officers with legal action, saying she will 'ruin' them, at others she attempts to chat more calmly and elicit sympathy. When she sobs her tears appear to be out of frustration and anger that none of her tactics have any impact on the cops. She accuses the officer of touching her inappropriately as he reaches across her to fasten her safety-belt across her lap while her hands are cuffed behind her back. She then accuses the officer of trying to 'gaslight' her 'like my ex.' Dennis's tumultuous relationship with disgraced former congressman Thomas Ravenel which resulted in two children and ended in 2018 when he was hit with sexual assault charges by three women, was the predominant plotline or her eight seasons with Bravo reality show, Southern Charm. Dennis's tumultuous relationship with disgraced former congress man Thomas Ravenel ended in 2018. They share son St. Julien Rembert, eight, and daughter Kensington Calhoun, 10 At one point during her transportation to the detention center Dennis pleads for leniency from the officer arresting her saying, 'I'm going to lose custody of my children, please!' But Dennis lost custody of Kensington 'Kensie' Calhoun, 9, and St. Julien 'Saint' Rembert, 7, to their father following a protracted and bitter custody battle as she repeatedly failed the court-mandated drug testing on which her rights to her children depended. She now has supervised visitation with them every other Saturday and Sunday. At another point she says, 'I'm never going to get my kids back. Thanks guys. There's literally no reason for me to be here. So congratulations it's f***ing b******t.' Vacillating wildly, Dennis seems lucid at times, before lurching into a rage and threatening the officers, 'I will f***ing ruin you,' when they explain her dog will be taken into a pound until someone can come and collect him. Later, in a moment of apparent resignation and exhaustion she says, 'There's no way to go back now is there?' Dennis was booked into Berkely Detention Center Monday night where she was held before being released on bond. Her bond was set at $1,199.50 for the DUI and $257.70 for transporting an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. It comes six months after she was identified as a suspect in a hit-and-run at an elementary school, according to TMZ. She was never arrested for the alleged incident. Southern Charm star Kathryn Dennis has been arrested for driving under the influence after getting involved in a three car collision, according to a new report. Her mugshot for the May 20th DUI picturer In October 2023, it was reported that Kathryn's registered 2022 Ford SUV was involved in a hit and run collision. A 'knowledgeable source' confirmed to People that Dennis was 'involved' in the accident outside Whitesville Elementary School in Moncks Corner. School resource officer deputy Michelle Ward - who was directing traffic at the time - confirmed she was the victim of the hit-and-run by reposting the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office accident report on her Facebook account. In the comments, Ward told her followers she was feeling 'sore, but good' after the SUV 'hurt my hand' and she noted that 'a parent got a pic of the [license plate] tag.' '[It] wasn't part of my plan for the day,' Michelle replied to another follower. 'I was a bit pi**ed as well.' Ward had informed Berkeley County dispatch that the vehicle 'did not stop' after striking her just before 7:18am, and she was 'transported to an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries.' Dennis departed Southern Charm after eight seasons last year. It comes six months after she was identified as a suspect in a hit-and-run at an elementary school, according to TMZ. She was never arrested for the alleged incident; pictured in an Instagram post shared October 3, 2023 She shares two children with fellow Southern Charm vet Thomas Ravenel: son St. Julien Rembert, eight, and daughter Kensington Calhoun, nine In January 2023, Dennis confirmed she would be leaving her gig on Southern Charm after eight seasons and one demotion to 'guest star.' 'What a wild ride it's been! Can you believe I was 21 when I first started filming Southern Charm, back in its first season? That was in 2013, and in the decade that followed, it's safe to say my life changed in ways I could never imagine,' the former teen model told People in a statement. 'Y'all watched me grow up, become a mom to two amazing children, and build friendships I'll always treasure. And through it all, the love y'all have shown for me not only gave me the strength I needed to tackle it all, but helped me realize that I wasn't alone. I'm so grateful. 'I'll be carrying that love with me as I enter this next chapter of my life, away from the Southern Charm lens. I'm thankful for Bravo, the producers at Haymaker and my Charleston cast mates for everything. And I'm excited for whatever comes next. If it's anything like the last decade, it'll be a memorable ride. LFG [let's f***ing go].' Georgia Kousoulou revealed she chose to have IVF treatment because the 'trauma' following her miscarriage was 'too much for her body to deal with', on Thursday. The former TOWIE star, 32, who shares son Brody, two, with her fiance Tommy Mallet, 31, announced last week they are expecting a baby girl - one year after she suffered a devastating miscarriage. Georgia decided to go down the IVF route after she was struggling to get pregnant due to the 'shock' and 'trauma' her body went through. The TV personality also described the anxiety she is suffering day-to-day and admitted she won't be able to relax until her baby girl is in her arms safe. On an Instagram Q&A, Georgia said: 'I've had a few cramps lately and it scared me. I think I will always be anxious until I'm holding her in my arms. Georgia Kousoulou, 32, revealed she chose to have IVF treatment because the 'trauma' following her miscarriage was 'too much for her body to deal with', on Thursday The former TOWIE star, who shares son Brody, two, with her fiance Tommy Mallet, 31, announced last week they are expecting a baby girl - one year after she suffered a devastating miscarriage 'I think it's all very normal so I'm allowing myself to go with the emotions and to try and enjoy it.' Speaking about her choice to have IVF treatment, Georgia said: 'Ok so many of these [questions]... So my first two pregnancy's were natural and happened very fast. 'After I had the operation last year, when I lost my baby, my body didn't recover for ages. I then went into trauma/ shock and my body just wouldn't fall pregnant... the stress of it was a lot for me and my family. 'After therapy I realised I wanted to take control back and I needed a little help. I then met my consultant and I knew it felt right, my body took to IVF so well. I'm so proud of my body. 'Sometimes we can't explain why things happen but maybe this was always in my plan... I'm so thankful I took the step to do IVF and I'm so thankful it worked.' Taking to Instagram to announce her pregnancy, the former TOWIE wrote alongside the new video: 'Our little rainbow baby due December. Words cant express the emotions we have, we have prayed, wished & with a little help its happened.. 'I cant thank my team enough. Rehan Salim you are the best IVF specialist - Im so blessed we met you & Michelle my amazing nurse who helped me every step of the way! 'These guys made my experience with IVF so much better than I could of [sic] even imagined. Georgia decided to go down the IVF route after she was struggling to get pregnant due to the 'shock' and 'trauma' her body went through The TV personality also described the anxiety she is suffering day-to-day and admitted she won't be able to relax until her baby girl is in her arms safe On an Instagram Q&A, Georgia said: 'I've had a few cramps lately and it scared me. I think I will always be anxious until I'm holding her in my arms. I think it's all very normal so I'm allowing myself to go with the emotions and to try and enjoy it.' She added: 'After I had the operation last year, when I lost my baby, my body didn't recover for ages. I then went into trauma/ shock and my body just wouldn't fall pregnant... the stress of it was a lot for me and my family' She said: 'After therapy I realised I wanted to take control back and I needed a little help. I then met my consultant and I knew it felt right, my body took to IVF so well. I'm so proud of my body' (pictured with son Brody when he was born) 'I was so scared as all the things I had heard beforehand but they were simply the best & held my hand the whole way through. Thank you for giving us the best gift of all. 'To anyone watching who is suffering... I am with you & I know how you feel. I pray this post doesnt trigger you. I know how hard it is seeing announcements. Please know you are not alone & please dont give up hope.' Georgia previously said she will 'never get over the feeling' of losing her baby after she suffered a devastating miscarriage at 12 weeks. The star, who shares son Brody with husband Tommy, had started having therapy after struggling with emotional triggers and feeling 'drained' by grief. And Georgia's sadness was brought back to the surface as she reflected on her trauma while writing new book I Wish I Knew, where she speaks openly about the heartache of baby loss. After almost a year since since the nightmare, Georgia says she's 'distracted' by 'dream child' Brody but often experiences negative thoughts, especially when she's on social media. But she wants to try to have four children with Tommy, who she married in a surprise ceremony last year, as she's always visualised having a big family, like it was when she grew up with two siblings. Georgia previously said she will 'never get over the feeling' of losing her baby after she suffered a devastating miscarriage at 12 weeks The former TOWIE star has started having therapy after struggling with emotional triggers and feeling 'drained' by grief She shared the moment the family dicovered they are having a little girl Georgia shared this post alongside the video of the highs and lows of her IVF treatment She said: 'I don't think you ever get over the feeling. 'I have just started therapy, I'm much better, luckily for me I have Brody who's the love of my life, he's a dream child and keeps me distracted - but there are still triggers. The problem with baby loss is there are triggers everywhere. 'All my Instagram is either babies or weddings. The hardest thing I have learned is that it's okay to feel sad but happy for other people. 'I really struggled with that... I thought I was a bad person. 'The aftermath is draining, it is hard. Hopefully one day I will be pregnant again and maybe that will make me feel better, but I don't know. 'I really want a big family; I see us having three or four children. When you're old, you look at your table and it's full of people, that's what it comes down to.' Jeremy Renner has joined the star-studded cast of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - marking his first film since his near-fatal snowplow accident. The 53-year-old spent months embarking on a grueling recovery process after the incident, which occurred on New Year's Day 2023. He mounted his acting comeback with a new season of his series Mayor Of Kingstown, which is slated to air its premiere on Sunday. Now, he has taken a role in the third movie in Rian Johnson's acclaimed Knives Out franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Each film is led by Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc, with a new murder and a new star cast of suspects in every instalment. Jeremy Renner has joined the star-studded cast of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - marking his first film since his near-fatal snowplow accident The 53-year-old spent months embarking on a grueling recovery process after the incident, which occurred on New Year's Day 2023; pictured two days later News of Jeremy's casting comes just one day after it emerged that Scandal star Kerry Washington will also feature in the third film. The Crown actor Josh O'Connor, Priscilla star Cailee Spaeny, Fleabag alum Andrew Scott and legendary actress Glenn Close are attached to the project as well. Rian Johnson, who writes and directs all the Knives Out films, announced last week that he was 'about to go into production' on the third feature. Although he has not disclosed an exact release date, he revealed on X, formerly Twitter, that the movie will bow sometime in 2025. 'I love everything about whodunnits, but one of the things I love most is how malleable the genre is,' he wrote. 'There's a whole tonal spectrum from Carr to Christie, and getting to explore that range is one of the most exciting things about making Benoit Blanc movies.' The first Knives Out movie premiered in 2019, starring Daniel amid a glittering cast that included Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Ana De Armas, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Molly Shannon, LaKeith Stanfield and the late Christopher Plummer. Daniel returned to the franchise with the 2022 Netflix release Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, featuring a whole new array of supporting players. Glass Onion boasted such names as Kate Hudson, Edward Norton, Dave Bautista, Janelle Monae, Leslie Odom Jr., Madelyn Cline and Kathryn Hahn. Each film stars Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc, with a new murder and a new star cast of suspects in every instalment; Daniel pictured in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery in 2022 The first Knives Out movie premiered in 2019, starring Daniel amid a glittering cast that included Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ana De Armas and the late Christopher Plummer Daniel returned to the franchise with the 2022 Netflix release Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, with such supporting players as Kate Hudson, Jessica Henwick and Leslie Odom Jr. Jeremy has not starred in a film since 2019, when he played his Marvel role Hawkeye in Avengers: Endgame (pictured) and had a voice part in the animated movie Arctic Dogs Since then, he has booked a number of television roles, including the Hawkeye series on Disney+ and his acclaimed turn on Mayor Of Kingstown He mounted his comeback with a new season of his series Mayor Of Kingstown, which is slated to air its premiere on Sunday; pictured in a still from one of the new episodes Jeremy has not starred in a film since 2019, when he played his Marvel role Hawkeye in Avengers: Endgame and had a voice part in the animated movie Arctic Dogs. Since then, he has booked a number of television roles, including the Hawkeye series on Disney+ and his acclaimed turn on Mayor Of Kingstown. However, his career was dramatically interrupted on the first day of 2023 when he suffered a harrowing accident that nearly cost him his life. The Hurt Locker star was crushed by a 14,330 pound snowplow while trying to prevent it from running over his nephew in rural Nevada. He sustained a wide array of serious injuries, including over 30 broken bones - and he later disclosed that one of his eyes even popped out. Jeremy underwent an exacting months-long recovery process, which he documented on social media to the awe of his fanbase. His ribcage and one eye socket are now held in place by metal plates, while a titanium rod had to be screwed to his broken left shin, among other measures. 'The body is miraculous,' he wrote in the caption of a workout video. 'Even though I feel like the Tin Man, needing oil for all my new joints (hips, knees, ankles, tibia etc). Encouraged after this warm up to press on (dont tell my PT).' Mamie Laverock's family have offered an update on her health condition after she suffered several surgeries from falling off a five story balcony walkway four days ago. On her GoFundMe page it was shared that the When Calls The Heart actress is doing much better. 'Mamie is out of her big surgeries and the doctors [say] she is doing well,' it read on the page. 'Its impossible for us to be happier. Thank you all for your support,' said the family that has received over $32,400 in contributions, surpassing their $30,000 request. News of her terrible fall was shared on Tuesday. The actress has serious injuries after falling from a balcony walkway located on the fifth floor of a building after she was admitted to the hospital with a medical emergency. Mamie Laverock's family have offered an update on her health condition after she suffered several surgeries from falling off a five story balcony four days ago. On her GoFundMe page it was shared that the When Calls The Heart actress is doing much better Laverock with Erin Krakow on When Calls the Heart in 2014 Her parents said earlier this week: 'She sustained life-threatening injuries, has undergone multiple extensive surgeries, and is currently on life support. We are all devastated, in shock, at this intensely difficult time.' The story of her accident is complicated. The 19-year-old first had a 'medical emergency' on May 11 and was taken by her mother Nicole Compton to a hospital in Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada. It was stated on a GoFundMe account that Nicole had 'saved her daughter's life' by doing so. Then Mamie was taken to a Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada hospital. 'We are trying to go every day to support her. Any contributions would help us be by her side,' it was shared. But at some point she fell five stories off a walkway, it was then claimed, causing the intense injuries. 'We are deeply saddened to report that on May 26th, Mamie, who has been in intensive treatment for the past two weeks, was escorted out of a secure unit of the hospital and taken up to a balcony walkway from which she fell five stories. 'She sustained life threatening injuries, has undergone multiple extensive surgeries, and is currently on life support,' it was written on a GoFundMe campaign created by her family. 'Mamie is out of her big surgeries and the doctors [say] she is doing well,' it read on the page. 'Its impossible for us to be happier. Thank you all for your support' Here she is seen in a close up photo shared on her Facebook account When Calls the Heart costar Erin Krakow donated to the family's fund which asked for $10,000. 'I just donated. If you have the means to do so, I hope you will too,' wrote Erin Hallmark, which makes When Calls The Heart, posted on Instagram, 'We are deeply saddened to hear the news about Mamie Laverock. 'As a beloved member of our When Calls the Heart community, we wish her and her family peace, comfort, and many prayers during this difficult time and have made a donation to her GoFundMe page here. Mamie played nursing student Rosaleen Sullivan for the first two seasons on When Calls The Heart. And she was also on season 10. As recently as March 26, Laverock was on a Zoom interview on the Heart to Hearties podcast. When Calls the Heart costar Erin Krakow donated to the family's fund which asked for $10,000. 'I just donated. If you have the means to do so, I hope you will too,' wrote Erin. Johannah Newmarch, who plays Laverock's on-screen mother Molly Sullivan, also shared her support in a post on X (formerly Twitter). 'I love this family, my heart is broken. A devastating time for all who care for Mamie. Please help if you can,' Newmarch, 52, wrote on May 27. 'They need all the support they can get to make it through this.' Her parents said on Tuesday: 'She sustained life-threatening injuries, has undergone multiple extensive surgeries, and is currently on life support. We are all devastated, in shock, at this intensely difficult time' After the incident happened, her mother Nicole Compton took her to the hospital in Winnipeg then the teen was taken to a Vancouver hospital. She could be there 'upwards of a month or more,' the mother shared Laverock got her start in 2012's This Means War starring Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy. She later reprised her role in 2023 for the show's 10th season. Her role was cut, however. She also appeared in 2018s Wedding Of Dreams with Debbie Gibson, Robert Gant, and Pascale Hutton. And she was in the 2017 horror The Hollow Child, Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events in 2019 and the 2020 Lifetime movie Spotlight on Christmas. Cynthia Nixon weighed in on the departure of her character Miranda Hobbes' love interest, Che Diaz, portrayed by Sara Ramirez, in a new interview. Following the news that Ramirez, 48, a non-binary actor who uses they/them pronouns, would not be returning to the third season of And Just Like That, Nixon, 58, praised their polarizing performance on Max's Sex and the City spinoff. 'They created such an amazing character such a controversial character, but such an amazing character,' the Emmy winner, 58, said of Ramirez's role on the show to Variety. The mother-of-three continued: 'I think they felt, and Michael Patrick King [And Just Like That's creator] felt, that that character had run its course. They came in and shook everything up, and then the arc was completed.' Nixon also reflected on how, over the years, she's grown to be more like her character on the series while Miranda has become 'much more like' her. Cynthia Nixon weighed in on the departure of her character Miranda Hobbes' queer love interest Che Diaz, portrayed by Sara Ramirez, in a new interview 'It was nothing that I was advocating for, but smart writers, particularly on long-term projects that keep going and evolving, try [to] put as much of the real person in that character as they can,' she reflected. 'Because thats one of the things that makes television or film or theater so powerful when the person playing the role has a personal connection.' In January, insiders told DailyMail.com that Ramirez had been dropped from the cast as many felt her character was a 'waste of airtime' and 'annoying' viewers. This came after Ramirez heavily suggested their time on the show was over for expressing pro-Palestinian beliefs. But a source close to the show ridiculed the suggestion, claiming Ramirezs head had been on the chopping block since last season because their character held no value anymore and was annoying. Sara was not fired because they support Palestine and the cease fire, they told DailyMail.com exclusively. Sara was fired because Che brought nothing to the show anymore. They were on the chopping block since last season. After Che split with Miranda, the character really held no value anymore and fans found them annoying. The storyline as a struggling comedian was a waste of airtime and Sara knew it. Addressing how there are no talks to axe Cynthia Nixons Miranda Hobbes over the actress stance on Palestine, the source continued: Cynthia has been incredibly vocal about her support for Palestine and for her being an open lesbian. Sara needs to accept that this is not Greys Anatomy, and her character was not a pivotal part of the storyline. Following the news that Ramirez, 48, a non-binary actor who uses they/them pronouns, would not be returning to the third season of And Just Like That, Nixon, 58, praised their polarizing performance on Max's Sex and the City spinoff (seen on season two of And Just Like That) 'They created such an amazing character such a controversial character, but such an amazing character,' the Emmy winner, 58, said of Ramirez's role on the show Che, a newcomer to the spin-off series who introduced themselves as a 'queer nonbinary Mexican Irish diva,' struck up a relationship with Miranda after she abandoned her marriage to husband Steve Brady. The character was accused of being the 'worst' on the series, which saw Miranda reunited on screen with Carrie Bradshaw and Charlotte York, played by Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis, respectively. Viewers found the character 'cringe' and accused them of '[setting] back non-binary representation 70 years.' Ramirez appeared to accuse the show of dropping them over their political views, in an Instagram rant the night after the Emmy Awards. 'Our industry is so duplicitous,' they said. 'While they give awards away, casting directors and agents are making blacklists of actors and workers who post anything in support of Palestinians in Gaza to ensure they will not work again. 'While they lift up some of their own clients who have spoken up against this genocide, they are firing and letting others who have smaller platforms go. Che, a newcomer to the spin-off series who introduced themselves as a 'queer nonbinary Mexican Irish diva,' struck up a relationship with Miranda after she abandoned her marriage to husband Steve Brady (seen in 2021) 'While they award lgbtq orgs, they are silent on those orgs ties to weapons manufacturers who are currently supporting the Israel military as it commits genocide on Palestinian lives that include LGBTQIA2S+ lives.' Ramirez mocked people who need awards - ridiculing them as something 'shiny' that makes people 'feel special and powerful.' But the performer said it was a dark time to celebrate, while thousands were dying in Gaza. Ramirez previously took to the streets of Brooklyn waving a transgender flag at a Palestinian protest. 'It's wild how performative so many in Hollywood are,' she said. 'Even more performative than the last character I played.' Their derision of their character echoes a line they said in the second season of the show when Diaz is given a pilot for a Netflix comedy, which flopped. Diaz struggles with how producers want them to appear, and says they are reduced to 'some phoney, sanitized, performative, cheesy, dad joke bulls**t version of what the non-binary experience is.' And Just Like that premiered in 2021 with a second season dropping last year. Production on season three was delayed by the Hollywood writers' strike; seen in 2021 In June, journalist Brock Colyar mocked Ramirez for appearing to hold many of the same opinions as the character they play without any sense of irony, in an article for The Cut. The former Grey's Anatomy star clapped back at the 'hack job,' and insisted: 'I am not the fictional characters I have played, nor am I responsible for the things that are written for them to say. I am a human being, an artist, an actor. 'And we are living in a world that has become increasingly hostile toward anyone who dares to free themselves from the gender binary, or disrupt the mainstream.' And Just Like that premiered in 2021 with a second season dropping last year. Production on season three was delayed by the Hollywood writers' strike. Filming on season three began in New York City earlier this month. Max previously confirmed that the show will return to screens in 2025. Luann de Lesseps has revealed the Real Housewives Of New York City co-star she would prefer not to film with again. 'I don't think she'd come to the table in any case,' noted the 59-year-old reality star, suggesting that the feeling might be mutual. The target of Luann's jibe is a woman who was involved with the show since its debut in 2008 as the second franchise in the Real Housewives sphere. She and Luann repeatedly locked horns during and after their time on the series - most recently feuding just a few months ago. Now Luann has spilled the name of the former castmate that she intends to steer clear of in future, while speaking with Us Weekly. Luann de Lesseps has revealed the Real Housewives Of New York City co-star she would prefer not to film with again; pictured last July in New York 'Probably Bethenny, to be perfectly honest,' said Luann - referring to Skinnygirl founder and ex-reality star Bethenny Frankel. 'Im not a person that lives in regrets,' Luann reflected, adding that she 'loved all of our fights' from their time on the show. 'It was so good.' She also played a game of F***, Marry, Kill involving her former co-stars - and the person she decided to kill was Bethenny. Both women were on the very first season of The Real Housewives Of New York City and spent years afterwards swinging from friendship to fallings-out. In one especially nasty fight, Bethenny denounced Luann as 'a slut and a liar and a hypocrite and a snake,' prompting Luann to call her a 'piece of s***' and storm off. Bethenny parted ways with the show for the final time in 2019, whereas Luann was jettisoned in 2022 as part of a full cast reboot undertaken amid flagging ratings. However Luann has remained in the Bravo fold, featuring on Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip as well as a spin-off with her old co-star Sonja Morgan. Meanwhile Bethenny veered off in the opposite direction, waging a public war on Bravo impresario Andy Cohen last year while trying to launch a 'reality reckoning.' 'Probably Bethenny, to be perfectly honest,' said Luann - referring to Skinnygirl founder and ex-reality star Bethenny Frankel Both women were on the very first season of The Real Housewives Of New York City and spent years afterwards swinging from friendship to fallings-out; pictured on the show in 2009 'Im not a person that lives in regrets,' Luann reflected, adding that she 'loved all of our fights' from their time on the show, which they are pictured on in 2018 Luann is pictured on the reality series in 2021, the year before she was jettisoned as part of a full cast reboot undertaken amid flagging ratings In the wake of the Hollywood strikes, Bethenny also insisted that reality stars ought to unionize in order to protect their rights. Luann was scathing about Bethenny's efforts in December while performing a cabaret show at the Manhattan supper club 54 Below. 'Now back to Bethenny. You know, listen, why bite the hand that feeds you?' she said to cheers from the crowd, according to Page Six. 'Why bite Andy? Why bite NBC?' Luann urged Bethenny to 'just go off into the sunset,' arguing: 'You make millions and gazillions of dollars. If you claim you do, then why are you still harping on us? Why are you talking about us?' Britain's Got Talent's Ghanaian dancing duo Abigail and Afronita sent both the audience and fans at home wild with their performance. Dance teacher Afronita, 20, and her protege Abigail, seven, soared to victory in the fourth semi-final on Thursday, winning the public vote and a place in Sunday's final. Afronita and Abigail performed an electrifying Azonto routine, a dance and music genre from Ghana, to Brighter Days by Sigala. The roars from the Eventim Apollo audience were so loud the judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli could barely hear themselves speak to give their feedback. Simon also revealed that he believed the pair could be in with a chance of winning, saying he had 'changed his mind' as to who he thought would be victorious. Britain's Got Talent 's Ghanaian dancing duo Abigail and Afronita sent both the audience and fans at home with their performance on Thursday Dance teacher Afronita, 20, and her protege Abigail, seven, soared to victory in the fourth semi-final on Thursday, winning the public vote and a place in Sunday's final 'I think what is happening behind me [the deafening cheers] is more important than what I say,' Simon said. 'When you've got it, you've got it. I thought last night "Yeah I've got a feeling I know who's going to win the show this year," and I've just changed my mind.' Afronita met young Abigail, a deaf dancer who went on to win a huge talent competition in Ghana, when she started her own studio. The pair's performance set the venue on fire, with deafening cheers from the audience. Of their performance, Alesha said: 'Sometimes there aren't enough words to articulate how an act makes you feel because the audience says it for us. 'So much natural sauce, so much flavour, so much personality, so much joy that you just brought to the Britain's Got Talent stage. I would love to see you in the final.' Asked how the comments made her feel, Afronita said: 'I feel blessed. I feel so so blessed to be here and to see the audience on their feet, the judges happy. It's crazy. And I know she feels the same way [gesturing to Abigail].' The audience's enthusiam for the act was echoed by viewers at home, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'Hope they make the final! Not only very talented dancers, they make you want to get up and dance with them. So joyful Abigail and Afronnita,'; Afronita and Abigail performed an electrifying Azonto routine, a dance and music genre from Ghana, to Brighter Days by Sigala Simon also revealed that he believed the pair could be in with a chance of winning, saying he had 'changed his mind' as to who he thought would be victorious Afronita met young Abigail, a deaf dancer who went on to win a huge talent competition in Ghana, when she started her own studio The pair's performance set the venue on fire, with deafening cheers from the audience 'Abigail and Afronita have brought absolute vibes to the stage tonight! And the smile says it all! These girls are so talented! Lets get these girls to the final!'; 'OK, Abigail and Afronitaa have just melted my cold, dead heart,'; 'Wow well done Abigail and Afronitaaa that was such a fantastic performance and full of energy as well I really enjoyed it! :),'; 'TAKE YOUR MOMENT GURLS,'; 'There we go. Actual TALENT on a show called Britains got TALENT. Who'd have thought it! Impeccable timing and so much choreography to learn. Joyful!'; 'The Apollo is going WILD!!! That was wonderful!!'; 'Abigail and Afronitaaa have gotta be contenders after that. Unreal dancers!'; 'I honestly think Abigail & Afronitaaa are one of the best dance acts thats ever been on this show. Needed in the final,'; 'Abigail and Afronita, simply joyous. I smiled a lot.' Abigail and Afronita earned a place in the final along with choir Northants Sings Out. Last night saw Sydnie Christmas receive the highest number of public votes after she astounded the audience and judges with her version of Frank Sinatra's My Way. Of their performance, Alesha said: 'Sometimes there aren't enough words to articulate how an act makes you feel because the audience says it for us' Asked how the comments made her feel, Afronita said: 'I feel blessed. I feel so so blessed to be here and to see the audience on their feet, the judges happy' Sydnie Christmas and impressionist Mike Woodhams head into the final as viewers call for dancer Leightonjay Halliday to receive a wildcard place after Wednesday's semi final While impressionist Mike Woodhams (L) and dancer Leighton (R) were left in second and third place, the judges took it to a split decision when asked which act to send through to the final While impressionist Mike Woodhams and dancer LeightonJay were left in second and third place, the judges took it to a split decision when asked which act to send through to the final. Bruno Tonioli opted to save LeightonJay, while Alesha Dixon went for Mike to even things out. Amanda Holden then also voted for the Scottish contemporary dancer, leaving Simon Cowell to take it to deadlock as he chose Mike. Heading back to the public vote to determine who would go through, it was Mike who gained the most votes, leaving LeightonJay heading home. Also through to the final are Innocent Masuku, Sslaubi Performance Troupe, Haribow and Jack Rhodes. A legal showdown now looks set between Netflix and the woman who claims her supposed depiction in Baby Reindeer is untrue. Fiona Harvey, who says the stalker depicted in the show Martha is based on her, denies ever going to prison or to court, as the character is seen doing. It can now be revealed that the writer and star, Richard Gadd, who based the show on his own experiences, told makers Clerkenwell Films that his stalker was never convicted. Sources indicate that Gadd told Clerkenwell that the stalker was the subject of an 'exclusion order' a civil order and not the same as a criminal conviction of stalking. A legal showdown now looks set between Netflix and the woman who claims her supposed depiction in Baby Reindeer is untrue. Pictured: Fiona Harvey Fiona Harvey, who says the stalker depicted in the show Martha is based on her, denies ever going to prison or to court, as the character is seen doing. Pictured: Martha in the show Richard Gadd, who wrote and starred in the miniseries, pictured in north London This means that the programme was always a fictionalised dramatisation though it went out under a banner which read 'this is a true story'. Embarrassingly, a Netflix executive, Benjamin King, recently told a Commons committee that Gadd had suffered at the hands of 'a convicted stalker'. It's not clear how Clerkenwell Films described the situation to Netflix, or what compliance procedures were undertaken. Mr Gadd previously said Martha's identity was so well disguised that she would not recognise herself but internet sleuths swiftly identified Ms Harvey as Martha. The actress who plays the character, Jessica Gunning, bears a strong resemblance to her. Ms Harvey says the show, which features Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning (pictured), makes false claims about her Fiona Harvey, pictured here on Piers Morgan Uncensored last week, previously vowed to take legal action against the creators of the Netflix show Baby Reindeer It can now be revealed that the writer and star, Richard Gadd, who based the show on his own experiences, told makers Clerkenwell Films that his stalker was never convicted In a previous interview, Gadd has said that the situation was 'resolved' but did not explain how. He added: 'It's very emotionally true. I was severely stalked and abused.' In an interview with Piers Morgan, Ms Harvey denied the stalking allegations though admitted she had met Gadd several times in Camden, north London. She has since instructed The Roth Law Firm in New York. Hollywood was quick to react as the jury in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial has found the former president guilty of all 34 felony counts against him. 'We should start referring to him as 34 instead of 45,' Star Trek alum George Takei said. Kathy Griffin - whose career took a massive hit in the wake of a 2017 controversy over a photoshoot depicting violence against Trump - said she was crying 'TEARS OF JOY' in the wake of the verdict, also thanking Stormy Daniels for her testimony in the case. 'GUILTY!!!!!' said director-actor Rob Reiner, while actor John Cusack said, 'The dumb treacherous criminal is now a convicted felon - 34 times over. Now what will judge do with Trump contempt violations.' Many more reactions from the celebrity community were expected to come in amid the news after the New York City jury delivered their verdict late Thursday afternoon after two days of deliberations that spanned 9 1/2 hours. Hollywood was quick to react as the jury in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial has found the former president guilty of all 34 felony counts against him. The former president was pictured after the verdicts were read Two of Trump's longtime critics, Star Trek alum George Takei and Kathy Griffin, were among those to chime in after the verdict was delivered 'Convicted felon Donald Trump is blaming the judge, the jury and New York for being found guilty on 34 counts,' Barbra Streisand said. 'He will never accept accountability for his crimes. Americans must not allow this felon anywhere near the White House again.' Actress Vivica A. Fox said, 'WOWZERS #Trump GOT'EM!!' while This Is Us actress Mandy Moore said that 'some semblance of accountability is gratifying!!!!' Comedian DL Hughley said, 'We really have to do something about all this White on White crime ! #TeamDl.' Actor Billy Baldwin said, 'Guilty on all counts. E. Jean Carroll ... Stormy Daniels ... Election interference, espionage and inciting an insurrection coming up.' Steve Martin took a similar tack to Takei, writing, '34 for 45.' Jimmy Kimmel posted a picture of Shaquille O'Neal after executing a slam dunk, emphasizing his jersey number, 34. Actor Michael Ian Black wrote, 'Donald Trump is now a convicted felon.' Actor John Leguizamo said, 'Trump can't legally vote for himself now!!! I love karma! It's a good day for America!' Reality star Anna Duggar, wife of convicted sex offender Josh Duggar, predicted that the guilty verdicts would mobilize Trump's base ahead of this November's election: 'Who knew it only took twelve votes to prematurely deliver the win for a presidential election?!?! #TrumpHasWon' A pair of notable Trump critics in show business - Rosie O'Donnell and Robert De Niro - had not yet publicly commented on the verdict as of Thursday afternoon. Star Trek alum George Takei said: 'We should start referring to him as 34 instead of 45' Comic DL Hughley questioned how Trump could participate in the upcoming election Director-actor Rob Reiner posted the phrase 'GUILTY!!!!!' in reaction to the verdict Kathy Griffin - whose career took a massive hit in the wake of a 2017 controversy over a photoshoot depicting violence against Trump - said she was crying 'TEARS OF JOY' in the wake of the verdict, also thanking Stormy Daniels for her testimony in the case Barbra Streisand said, 'Americans must not allow this felon anywhere near the White House again' O'Donnell's most recent post on Twitter/X was a repost from May 17, while De Niro, who delivered an anti-Trump speech outside of the court this week, doesn't have any verified social media accounts and had not yet issued a statement via his rep. De Niro's Casino costar Sharon Stone suggested new laws be passed prohibiting convicted felons from running for office: 'Isn't it time our current president passed a law that convicted felons can't run for any office in the USA?' Prosecutors accused Trump of falsifying internal business records to cover up hush money payments tied to an alleged scheme to bury stories that might torpedo his 2016 White House bid. At the heart of the charges were reimbursements paid to Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels in exchange for not going public with her claim about a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump. Prosecutors say the reimbursements were falsely logged as 'legal expenses' to hide the true nature of the transactions. The charges Trump faced are punishable by up to four years in prison. He has denied all wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty. The case is the first of Trumps four indictments to reach trial and is the first-ever criminal case against a former U.S. president. President Joe Bidens campaign sought to keep the focus on the November election even as it said Thursday that former President Donald Trumps criminal conviction showed that 'that no one is above the law.' Jimmy Kimmel posted a picture of Shaquille O'Neal after executing a slam dunk, emphasizing his jersey number, 34 Actor Billy Baldwin predicted 'election interference, espionage and inciting an insurrection' in the wake of the Trump guilty verdict Actor John Cusack called Trump a 'dumb treacherous criminal' following the ruling Actress Vivica A. Fox said, 'WOWZERS #Trump GOT'EM!!' Communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement: 'There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.' Biden himself has yet to weigh in on the verdict. He is spending the night at his familys beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, after marking the anniversary of his son Beaus death earlier Thursday at church in Wilmington. Bidens campaign has tried for months to remind Americans of what it sees as the peril of another Trump term in office, rather than the personal jeopardy faced by the former president in court. 'A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence - and the American people will reject it this November,' Tyler said. Judge Juan M. Merchan has scheduled Donald Trump's sentencing in his hush money case for July 11, just days before Republicans are set to select him as the 2024 presidential nominee. Trump allies released a flurry of statements just minutes after the jurys decision in Donald Trump's hush money case was announced. 'The verdict in New York is a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our system of justice,' Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who is a potential vice president pick, posted on the social platform X. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican who is second in line to the presidency, in a statement called the trial 'a purely political exercise, not a legal one.' Johnson added: 'President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict-and he WILL WIN!' De Niro's Casino costar Sharon Stone suggested new laws be passed prohibiting convicted felons from running for office O'Donnell's most recent post on Twitter/X was a repost from May 17 Steve Martin took a similar tack to Takei, writing, '34 for 45' Actor Michael Ian Black wrote, 'Donald Trump is now a convicted felon' Actor John Leguizamo said, 'I love karma! It's a good day for America!' Ahead of the jury announcing a verdict, one Republican urged people to respect the legal process. Larry Hogan, the former governor of Maryland who is now running for the Senate, wrote on X that 'all leaders-regardless of party-must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law.' Defense lawyers in Donald Trump's hush money trial moved for an acquittal of the former president after the jury had delivered its verdict. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche told Judge Juan M. Merchan: 'We move for a judgment of acquittal.' 'Theres no basis and no way this jury could have reached a verdict without accepting the testimony of Michael Cohen,' Blanche said. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass rebutted the assertion, saying 'We, of course, disagree with Mr. Blanches characterization of Michael Cohens testimony.' Merchan denied the motion. The former president was accused of falsifying internal Trump Organization records as part of a scheme to bury damaging stories that he feared could hurt his 2016 campaign, particularly as Trumps reputation was suffering at the time from comments he had made about women . This Is Us actress Mandy Moore said that 'some semblance of accountability is gratifying!!!!' Reality star Anna Duggar predicted that the guilty verdicts would mobilize Trump's base ahead of this November's election Jurors had been sent to resume deliberations in Donald Trumps hush-money trial after rehearing testimony from key witnesses. The 12 jurors reheard portions of testimony given by former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker as well as Michael Cohen. The jury deliberated for about 4 1/2 hours Wednesday without reaching a verdict. Before days end, they asked to rehear testimony from the tabloid publisher, and Cohen, Trumps former lawyer and personal fixer. On Thursday morning, the judge responded to a jury request by rereading 30 pages of jury instructions related to how inferences may be drawn from evidence. James Packer stepped out solo in London on Tuesday after debuting his romance with his new girlfriend Renee Blythewood at the Cannes Film Festival. The Australian billionaire, 56, was spotted leaving the Claridge's hotel where he appears to be staying with the model. James was seen getting into a black car with Water Mill Polo Star Martin Pepa after leaving the luxury five-star establishment. He dressed casually for the outing in a navy jumper, jeans and a pair of comfortable navy sneakers. It comes as Renee shared a racy selfie to Instagram while posing inside the hotel's elevator. James Packer stepped out solo in London on Tuesday after debuting his romance with his new girlfriend Renee Blythewood at the Cannes Film Festival The Australian billionaire, 56, was spotted leaving the Claridge's hotel, where he is staying with the model The blonde bombshell showed off her trim pins in a leather outfit as she sat on a lounge and posed for a mirror selfie. James and Renee's arrival in London comes just days after they were spotted partying aboard the Coral Ocean Megayacht on the French Riviera on Sunday to celebrate the Monaco Grand Prix. Posting to Instagram, Renee shared several photos of herself posing alongside James and a group of friends on the lavish vessel. Looking svelte in a tight white zip-down mini dress, Renee was all smiles as she posed arm-in-arm with her gal pals during the festivities. James didn't appear to realise the photos were being taken, and was seen chatting away with a male pal while standing above Renee on a staircase. Renee is believed to have started dating James at the end of 2023. James left the luxury five-star hotel before getting into a black car with Water Mill Polo Star Martin Pepa It comes as Renee shared a racy selfie to Instagram as she posed inside the hotel's elevator The pair went public with their relationship last week when they were spotted at the star-studded Cannes Film Festival, with photographs shared to Renee's Instagram showing them on the red carpet together. Renee was seen smiling alongside the mega-wealthy businessman as they posed for a picture with a group of friends on the amFAR red carpet on Friday night. The pair have reportedly enjoyed a string of low-key dinners together during their time in Cannes, while Renee is said to have joined James on his luxury yacht. The lavish yacht had reportedly been moored off Antibes, France, for the week after travelling over from Barcelona earlier this month for the esteemed film festival. Their arrival in London comes just days after the pair were spotted partying aboard the Coral Ocean Megayacht on the French Riviera on Sunday to celebrate the Monaco Grand Prix James and Renee went public with their relationship last week when they were spotted at the star-studded Cannes Film Festival Renee, who previously used the last name Blythewood-Hall, has carved out a successful modelling career for herself since the age of 10, and often makes appearances at exclusive red carpet events. Renee is a single mother to 16-year-old son Levi, who she reportedly welcomed during a past relationship with a photographer. While she has never spoken publicly about her love life, Renee is thought to have briefly dated American TV presenter Ryan Seacrest back in 2015. James was previously married to Erica Packer (pictured in 2012). They got married in 2007 and split in 2013, but continue to co-parent their children - Indigo, Jackson and Emmanuelle James was previously married to Erica Packer. They got married in 2007 and split in 2013, but continue to co-parent their children - Indigo, Jackson and Emmanuelle. Erica reportedly received a $100million divorce payment, and purchased a family home in Los Angeles shortly after the break-up. James also bought an $80million Los Angeles mansion so he can be closer to Erica and their children whenever he is in town. When Erica visits Sydney, she often lives with her former husband and their children at James' $72million Crown penthouse home. Erica has since found love again with Shannon Bennett and they have reportedly bought a house together. Shannon shares kids Phoenix, Hendrix, Xascha, Xanthe, Xahlia and Margaux with ex partner Madeleine West. Before his relationship with Erica, James was married to Jodhi Meares and they have remained friends ever since their split. They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Sydney in 1999, where around 750 guests attended and Elton John performed. However, they separated three years later in 2002 and divorced shortly after. Bradley Cooper embraced dad duty as he sweetly held hands with daughter, Lea, during an outing in New York City on Thursday. The Maestro actor, 49 - who recently spent time with girlfriend Gigi Hadid at the BottleRock Food and Music Festival in Napa - guided the seven-year-old through the streets of the Big Apple while carrying her backpack in his spare hand. The Oscar-nominated star shares Lea with ex and supermodel, Irina Shayk - whom he dated from 2015 until their split in 2019. Cooper kept it casual in the early summer weather by donning a short-sleeved, dark navy shirt as well as a pair of matching trousers. He additionally slipped into a pair of comfy, tan and black-colored sneakers that were secured with laces. Bradley Cooper, 49, embraced dad duty as he sweetly held hands with daughter, Lea, seven, during an outing in New York City on Thursday Cooper kept it casual in the early summer weather by donning a short-sleeved, dark navy shirt as well as a pair of matching trousers Bradley sported a pair of black shades that offered a stylish flare to the look and also carried his daughter's jacket in his right hand. The star has previously opened up about fatherhood and during an interview with Dax Shepherd on his Armchair Expert podcast earlier this year in February, Cooper got candid about struggling to bond with Lea when she was first born. 'The first eight months - I don't even know if I really love the kid,' he admitted. 'It's dope. It's cool. I'm watching this thing morph.' 'That's my experience. Fascinated by it. Loved taking care of it. But would I die if someone came in with a gun?' 'And then all of a sudden, it's like, no question,' the A Star Is Born actor expressed, adding that his aim is to 'do the least amount of damage that [he] could do to [his] daughter.' 'I'm not sure I'd be alive if I wasn't a dad. I just needed someone to say, like, "We're gonna drop this massive anchor."' 'I'm like, "Why? We're speeding! I just got an upgrade on the boat, and I know where the wind's coming in." They're like, "No, no, no, theres a tsunami coming in, and you need an anchor and we're gonna drop it."' 'Because this is gonna dictate everything you do from now on. Your DNA is going to tell you that there's something more important than you,' Bradley stated. He additionally slipped into a pair of comfy, tan and black-colored sneakers that were secured with laces Bradley sported a pair of black shades that offered a stylish flare to the look and also carried his daughter's jacket in his right hand The star has previously opened up about fatherhood and during an interview with Dax Shepherd on his Armchair Expert podcast earlier this year in February, Cooper got candid about struggling to bond with Lea when she was first born He also praised the way his daughter is able 'to articulate her feelings' at such a young age, and added that both he and 'her mother and I are bowled over at this human being we're raising.' 'How does my relationship with my daughter impact her growth and the journey she's going to be on? I think I've already logged more hours with my daughter than [I did with] my dad in his entire life.' Earlier this month, Bradley and his daughter were seen attending the NYC premiere of IF - which officially hit theaters on May 17. Cooper voiced the character of Ice in the movie, alongside other stars such as John Krasinski - who also directed the project - Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Emily Blunt, Steve Carell and Awkwafina. Both the Oscar-nominated star and his daughter were spotted strolling along the purple carpet as they headed into the main theater ahead of the screening. He held Lea's hand as they made their way through the crowd as Bradley also carried a small bag of popcorn in his other hand. She is no stranger to joining her father on the red carpet, and also notably attended the Maestro premiere in Los Angeles alongside Cooper late last year in December. Bradley's latest outing with Lea comes shortly after he made an appearance at the BottleRock Food and Music Festival in Napa over the past weekend on Saturday. The actor was seen on the Culinary Stage to showcase his cooking skills for the crowd, with Hadid enjoying a tasty snack while relaxing on the grass nearby. The Oscar-nominated star shares Lea with ex and supermodel, Irina Shayk - whom he dated from 2015 until their split in 2019 The actor made an appearance at the BottleRock Food and Music Festival in Napa over the past weekend on Saturday (seen above) Later during day two of the festivities Bradley and his model girlfriend Gigi Hadid were seen spending time together. The couple were first romantically linked late last year in October Later during day two of the festivities, Gigi and Bradley were seen together in a video uploaded to X. The couple danced together during Steve Nicks' set and at one point, held hands with Cooper also affectionately draping his arm over the model's shoulders. Bradley and Gigi - who shares daughter Khai, three, with ex Zayn Malik - were first romantically linked late last year in October when they were seen enjoying a dinner date in NYC. While the pair mainly keep their relationship low-key, the stars have been spotted on various occasions as they spent time together. Back in March, the couple shared a kiss during a romantic dinner in the Big Apple, and later that same month, watched the show Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street on Broadway. Earlier this month, Cooper and Hadid joined Travis Kelce as they cheered on Taylor Swift during her Eras Tour concert in Paris. Eamonn Holmes revealed he could one day move back to Northern Ireland and marry a 'local girl' in a resurfaced interview after his split from Ruth Langsford. The GB News host, 64, has endured a difficult period in recent years that has seen him lose his mother, job, his beloved Belfast home, and now his wife Ruth. Speaking on NVTV's Conversations With Gerry Kelly in January, Eamonn also spoke movingly about his three years from hell and admitted he may always be in a wheelchair. The presenter told how his home will always be in Belfast and he may move back to Northern Ireland one day. He said: 'Ruth wouldnt come back to Northern Ireland. Yes, because of her family and also because shes English and she sees life around London and things, whereas I cant stand London. So we have a different outlook on things like that.' Eamonn Holmes revealed he could one day move back to Northern Ireland and marry a 'local girl' in a resurfaced interview after his split from Ruth Langsford Eamonn underwent back surgery last year to help relieve his chronic pain symptoms but has been left using a wheelchair after the operation went 'wrong' The GB News host has endured a difficult period in recent years that has seen him lose his mother, job, his beloved Belfast home, and now his wife Ruth Langsford (pictured in 2022) Eamonn then thought about a future without his wife as he added: 'Maybe Ruth will be run over by a bus or something, who knows? 'If I get another wife I might come back, get a local girl. That's awful talking about Ruth being run over by a bus, that's awful.' In 2016, Eamonn underwent a double-hip replacement operation lasting three-and-a-quarter hours after living with acute pain for many years. The TV presenter then had back surgery last year to help relieve the symptoms but has been left using a wheelchair after the operation went 'wrong'. Eamonn said: 'You couldn't make it up. It's as if somebody is up there playing with my life. 'In the past year, I've had an operation on my back, which has gone wrong, which has confined me to wheelchair. I have had my mother dying, and I couldn't go to her funeral.' Eamonn has also endured financial woes and earlier this year revealed he had to sell his beloved house in east Belfast to pay off a huge bill after a 250,000 tax battle with HMRC. He said: 'I've had the court case going against me twice for the tax thing. Honestly, Gerry, you could not make it up. There was a fall which broke my shoulder as well.' Host Gerry asked if Eamonn would always be 'confined to his wheelchair, to which he replied: 'I would like to think that at some stage in my life I will get out of the wheelchair, but it is strange that you know a year's past, and you think, I've tried every treatment, believe me, and you go, "maybe I'll never get out of this wheelchair." That's a harsh reality to face.' Eamonn told how he found solace in receiving messages on X/Twitter from 'thousands of people' who are also suffering with chronic pain. He said: 'Honestly, I wouldn't care what I had. When people say, your health is your wealth, it is absolutely, and there are people who are worse off than me. 'I had a terrible situation where I had back pain, and the country has an epidemic of chronic pain, there's no doubt. I would lie in bed at night absolutely not being able to sleep and tweet, "having a bad night tonight, anyone else not able to sleep?" Eamonn admitted: 'I've tried every treatment, believe me, and you go, maybe I'll never get out of this wheelchair. And that's a harsh reality to face' Speaking on NVTV's Conversations With Gerry Kelly in January, Eamonn also told how he may move back to his native Northern Ireland if he gets 'another wife' Eamonn said: 'Ruth wouldnt come back to Northern Ireland. Yes, because of her family and also because shes English and she sees life around London and things, whereas I cant stand London' (pictured in 2009) 'There's thousands of people in terrible pain, on painkillers. I had this operation and I was warned it could go wrong. 'The good news is, the pain is gone, the bad news is, you can't walk. To get a night's sleep is amazing and to be able to do the job I do on GB News is amazing because I'm behind a desk.' Eamonn also revealed he is now unable to dress himself and has a carer come around to his house in the mornings to help. It comes after Eamonn and Ruth revealed they are headed for divorce after work commitments 'took their marriage in different directions'. The couple tied the knot in 2010 after dating for 13 years - and said that despite their separation, they are 'determined to stay friends'. In the wake of the shocking news, Eamonn returned to work at GB News and broke his silence on the divorce. Prior to his shock split, Eamonn has had a tough few years as he lost family members, his home and struggled with crippling health conditions. Eamonn announced that his beloved mother Josie had sadly died at the age of 93 in November 2022. He took to Instagram to announce the difficult news as he shared a sweet snap of her stood at her front door. He penned a loving caption with his post in which he said that she was 'reunited with daddy now'. He said in full: 'My 4 amazing brothers and I said Goodbye for the last time to our beautiful Mum Josie this afternoon. She's at last reunited with Daddy now. That is our only consolation. 'We loved and will miss her so much. Every time I visited her she came to the door to bless me with Holy Water and Wave goodbye. Now sadly it is Goodbye Mummy.' Her funeral was held at St Patrick's Church in Belfast and was attended by her friends and family, however Eamonn was unable to attend her funeral due to 'health reasons'. Eamonn's father Leonard died following a heart attack over 30 years ago. Over the years, Eamonn has been incredibly open about his own crippling health conditions. Eamonn announced that his beloved mother Josie had sadly died at the age of 93 in November 2022 Eamonn broke down in tears as he paid tribute to his late father, 31 years after his untimely death Eamonn with his father Leonard and mother Josephine and two of his brothers in an old family picture In addition to his back issues, he also detailed his battle with shingles and how he was struck with the virus on his son Declan's wedding day. During an appearance on Loose Women in September 2021, he spoke about his health battle which left him unable to work on This Morning three years ago. He also shared images of his puffy face covered in marks and scabs during his battle. Shingles is a viral rash caused by varicella zoster virus, the virus which causes chickenpox, being reactivated. In the UK, 90 per cent of adults have had chickenpox, so will have this virus lying dormant in their nervous systems. His years of chronic back pain started in spring 2021 - which came completely out of nowhere. The pain become so severe that it left Eamonn reliant on a walking stick, but soon found out the root cause. He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg. In September 2022, Eamonn was forced to step away from his GB news show as he underwent vital back surgery to aid his chronic back pain. Following his surgery, he revealed that despite physiotherapy, he continues to find his lack of mobility stops him from doing simple things and is forced to rely on others, which he described as 'soul destroying'. His spinal surgery left him with a weakened left leg, too, and just over two weeks into his recovery from the operation, Eamonn fell backwards down 18 stairs at the Weybridge home, hitting the stone floor at the bottom. Over the years, Eamonn has been incredibly open about his own crippling health conditions He underwent spinal surgery in 2022 following years of chronic back pain and previously had a double-hip replacement in 2016 He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg The horrific accident could easily have killed him. Instead, he emerged with a broken shoulder, and his legs further weakened. The former This Morning host admitted at the time that fracturing his shoulder in a fall is a 'massive setback'. A year after his spinal surgery, Eamonn underwent a spine and neck stretching procedure in September 2023 after admitting he 'couldn't walk'. Eamonn admitted he 'hadn't recovered' from his back surgery, confessing: 'I can't run, I can't walk, I can't do anything except watch TV and eat.' He explained: 'I just got problems last year in my back, which I haven't recovered from. It's not good, it's not a good recipe I have to say.' Ruth recently revealed she fears Eamonn 'might never be 100 per cent right'. The Loose Women presenter said she 'lives in hope' that his mobility will improve. Speaking to Woman's Weekly, Ruth said: 'I don't know how much Eamonn's mobility will improve. We live in hope. 'He does the physio, but there might have to be some acceptance that this might never be 100% right. With any care situation - and there are millions of carers in this country - it isn't always easy. It's testing but we manage as a family.' Ruth added: 'I look at Eamonn, who's had his health and back problems, and it makes you realise how important your health is.' The former This Morning host admitted at the time that fracturing his shoulder in a fall is a 'massive setback' A year after his spinal surgery, Eamonn underwent a spine and neck stretching procedure in September 2023 after admitting he 'couldn't walk' He has ongoing daily physio sessions and either uses a cane or wheelchair to get about, with the support of his wife Ruth Earlier this year, Eamonn revealed he had to sell his beloved house in east Belfast to pay off a huge bill after a 250,000 tax battle with HMRC. The TV presenter admitted he feels 'bitter' about having to sell his house after losing two appeals against HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which set him back 'hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal fees'. Speaking in his interview with Gerry Kelly, Eamonn claimed tax officials ruled he was a staff member with broadcasters rather than freelance. They allegedly asked for 10 years of retrospective tax and national insurance payments from him. He claims he never received holiday or sick pay, though he said he wasn't looking for sympathy. 'It's like they have taken away everything I ever worked for,' he tells the show on NVTV. In response Eamonn's tax battle, a HMRC spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We take the wellbeing of all taxpayers seriously and do everything we can for those who engage with us to get their tax affairs in order, including by offering affordable payment plans.' And now, after losing his mother, jobs and his home, Eamonn has lost his supportive wife Ruth. It brings to an end one of Britain's best known TV power couples after 27 years together, 14 of which were spent in wedlock. They are parents to son Jack, 22, while Eamonn also has sons Declan, 35, Niall, 31, and daughter Rebecca, 33, from his previous marriage. Eamonn used his presenting slot on GB News's breakfast programme to break his silence over his divorce from wife Ruth on Tuesday. Eamonn had posted on Instagram about the FA Cup over the weekend following the issuing of the statement - but his comments on GB News' breakfast programme on Tuesday are his first words issued publicly on the split since. Accompanied by co-host Isabel Webster, who smiled and nodded supportively as he spoke, the TV veteran thanked viewers for the 'support' they had shown him since the weekend. He said: 'Just before we move on we'd just like to thank people for your support for Ruth and I over the last few days as to the news of our separation. 'Your support for both of us is very much appreciated.' Eamonn and Ruth hosted This Morning together for 14 years, and were a fixture on the show both on Fridays and during the school holidays (pictured in 2007) Eamonn and Ruth said in Saturday's statement they were 'determined to stay friends' after spending most of their professional lives together. However, sources say Ruth 'orchestrated' the statement, which Eamonn refused to sign off on prior to its release. Sources told Mail+ that Eamonn is devastated about the split and that the break-up has 'very much been orchestrated by Ruth'. Eamonn reportedly told friends that he 'didn't want to get involved' and that 'Ruth can do what she wants but keep me out of it'. Fans of the pair - a familiar sight on This Morning for 15 years - have been poring over past remarks they have made on relationships, including on couples who stay friends after breaking up. During an interview on TalkTV during the Covid-19 lockdown, Eamonn explained he and Ruth were struggling with not having their own space. He said: 'Although we live together, we're not really together, we don't watch the same TV, Ruth likes her own space. When we do This Morning it's a rare time we actually interrelate.' Ruth added: 'That's why we've been together 24 years, because we aren't actually together a lot.' Elsewhere in another resurfaced clip, Eamonn and Ruth discussed staying friends with an ex. The former This Morning hosts discussed whether they could stay friends with a former partner in a discussion on the popular ITV daytime show back in a clip from 2018. They were joined by Anthea Turner and journalist Nilufer Atik. Eamonn said on the topic: 'It is easier to stay friends.' While Ruth had a different opinion, saying: 'Why would you need to stay friends, you aren't with them anymore, you don't need to be friends. 'My thing is you weren't just friends, you were married or had a relationship.' The TV couple, who friends say were 'as close to Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan as you could get', had sparked rumours of a split after not appearing on each other's Instagram accounts for months. They first met in through a mutual friend, GMTV star Sally Meen, while Eamonn was also on the show in 1997. Two years later, he had split from his first wife Gabrielle Holmes, the mother of his three eldest children. And despite the pair feeling an instant connection, he ensured it was the nation's best-kept secret, as he did not publicly confess his love for Ruth for two years. Eamonn (pictured with GB News co-host Isabel Webster) broke his silence on his separation from Ruth on Tuesday A spokesperson for the couple said: 'Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing' Eamonn even refused to hold her hand in public or attend events together for the first few years of their relationship in a bid to stay respectful to his ex of nearly 20 years. They eventually tied the knot in 2010 after 13 years together, in a lavish ceremony at the grand 19th century Hampshire hotel, The Elvetham. Among those on the guestlist were TV presenters Gloria Hunniford and Jeremy Kyle, EastEnders actress Zoe Lucker and former champion boxer Barry McGuigan. And while they had shared a lavish 3.2million mansion in Surrey, Eamonn is believed to have moved out before the break-up was announced. Eamonn and Ruth left This Morning in 2021 after their contract lapsed and were replaced by Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond. The duo have also presented a number of other shows together including How The Other Half Lives, Do The Right Thing With Eamonn And Ruth and Eamonn And Ruth's 7 Year Itch. Holmes, who has also fronted coverage on GMTV and Sky News' Sunrise, launched Breakfast With Eamonn and Isabel on GB News in January 2022. Langsford regularly presents Loose Women, having begun on the show in the 1990s. Ruth Langsford looked radiant as she shared a new selfie after her husband Eamonn Holmes admitted he may move back to Northern Ireland and marry a 'local girl' in a resurfaced interview. The Loose Women presenter, 64, appeared in good spirits as she smiled in the mirror while promoting her QVC clothing range. The TV host sported a short-sleeved dark green jumper which she wore over a white scoop neck top. Also wearing a pair of navy skinny jeans, former This Morning star Ruth added to her outfit with a beige handbag. In another photo, Ruth showed off her playful side as she struck a pose in a pair of chunky sunglasses with a cream cardigan and blue jeans. Ruth Langsford looked radiant as she shared a new selfie after her husband Eamonn Holmes admitted he may move back to Northern Ireland and marry a 'local girl' in a resurfaced interview Speaking on Conversations With Gerry Kelly, Eamonn said: 'If I get another wife I might come back [to Northern Ireland], get a local girl' In another photo, Ruth showed off her playful side as she struck a pose in a pair of chunky sunglasses with a cream cardigan and blue jeans Ruth debuted her QVC line in 2017, inspired by her perfect day-to-day wardrobe. Her posts come soon after Eamonn, also 64, revealed he could one day move back to Northern Ireland and marry a 'local girl' in a resurfaced interview after their shock split. The GB News host has endured a difficult period in recent years that has seen him lose his mother, job, his beloved Belfast home, and now his wife Ruth. Speaking on NVTV's Conversations With Gerry Kelly in January, Eamonn also spoke movingly about his three years from hell and admitted he may always be in a wheelchair. The presenter told how his home will always be in Belfast and he may move back to Northern Ireland one day. He said: 'Ruth wouldnt come back to Northern Ireland. Yes, because of her family and also because shes English and she sees life around London and things, whereas I cant stand London. So we have a different outlook on things like that.' Eamonn then thought about a future without his wife as he added: 'Maybe Ruth will be run over by a bus or something, who knows? 'If I get another wife I might come back, get a local girl. That's awful talking about Ruth being run over by a bus, that's awful.' Eamonn has endured a difficult period in recent years that has seen him lose his mother, job, his beloved Belfast home, and now his wife Ruth (pictured in 2022) Also during the interview, Eamonn spoke movingly about his three years from hell and admitted he may always be in a wheelchair In 2016, Eamonn underwent a double-hip replacement operation lasting three-and-a-quarter hours after living with acute pain for many years. The TV presenter then had back surgery last year to help relieve the symptoms but has been left using a wheelchair after the operation went 'wrong'. Eamonn said: 'You couldn't make it up. It's as if somebody is up there playing with my life. 'In the past year, I've had an operation on my back, which has gone wrong, which has confined me to wheelchair. I have had my mother dying, and I couldn't go to her funeral.' Eamonn has also endured financial woes and earlier this year revealed he had to sell his beloved house in east Belfast to pay off a huge bill after a 250,000 tax battle with HMRC. He said: 'I've had the court case going against me twice for the tax thing. Honestly, Gerry, you could not make it up. There was a fall which broke my shoulder as well.' Host Gerry asked if Eamonn would always be 'confined to his wheelchair, to which he replied: 'I would like to think that at some stage in my life I will get out of the wheelchair, but it is strange that you know a year's past, and you think, I've tried every treatment, believe me, and you go, "maybe I'll never get out of this wheelchair." That's a harsh reality to face.' Eamonn told how he found solace in receiving messages on X/Twitter from 'thousands of people' who are also suffering with chronic pain. He said: 'Honestly, I wouldn't care what I had. When people say, your health is your wealth, it is absolutely, and there are people who are worse off than me. 'I had a terrible situation where I had back pain, and the country has an epidemic of chronic pain, there's no doubt. I would lie in bed at night absolutely not being able to sleep and tweet, "having a bad night tonight, anyone else not able to sleep?" He said: 'In the past year, I've had an operation on my back, which has gone wrong, which has confined me to wheelchair. I have had my mother dying, and I couldn't go to her funeral' Eamonn said: 'Ruth wouldnt come back to Northern Ireland. Yes, because of her family and also because shes English and she sees life around London and things, whereas I cant stand London' (pictured in 2009) 'There's thousands of people in terrible pain, on painkillers. I had this operation and I was warned it could go wrong. 'The good news is, the pain is gone, the bad news is, you can't walk. To get a night's sleep is amazing and to be able to do the job I do on GB News is amazing because I'm behind a desk.' Eamonn also revealed he is now unable to dress himself and has a carer come around to his house in the mornings to help. It comes after Eamonn and Ruth revealed they are headed for divorce after work commitments 'took their marriage in different directions'. The couple tied the knot in 2010 after dating for 13 years - and said that despite their separation, they are 'determined to stay friends'. In the wake of the shocking news, Eamonn returned to work at GB News and broke his silence on the divorce. Prior to his shock split, Eamonn has had a tough few years as he lost family members, his home and struggled with crippling health conditions. Eamonn announced that his beloved mother Josie had sadly died at the age of 93 in November 2022. He took to Instagram to announce the difficult news as he shared a sweet snap of her stood at her front door. He penned a loving caption with his post in which he said that she was 'reunited with daddy now'. He said in full: 'My 4 amazing brothers and I said Goodbye for the last time to our beautiful Mum Josie this afternoon. She's at last reunited with Daddy now. That is our only consolation. 'We loved and will miss her so much. Every time I visited her she came to the door to bless me with Holy Water and Wave goodbye. Now sadly it is Goodbye Mummy.' Her funeral was held at St Patrick's Church in Belfast and was attended by her friends and family, however Eamonn was unable to attend her funeral due to 'health reasons'. Eamonn's father Leonard died following a heart attack over 30 years ago. Over the years, Eamonn has been incredibly open about his own crippling health conditions. Eamonn announced that his beloved mother Josie had sadly died at the age of 93 in November 2022 Eamonn broke down in tears as he paid tribute to his late father, 31 years after his untimely death Eamonn with his father Leonard and mother Josephine and two of his brothers in an old family picture In addition to his back issues, he also detailed his battle with shingles and how he was struck with the virus on his son Declan's wedding day. During an appearance on Loose Women in September 2021, he spoke about his health battle which left him unable to work on This Morning three years ago. He also shared images of his puffy face covered in marks and scabs during his battle. Shingles is a viral rash caused by varicella zoster virus, the virus which causes chickenpox, being reactivated. In the UK, 90 per cent of adults have had chickenpox, so will have this virus lying dormant in their nervous systems. His years of chronic back pain started in spring 2021 - which came completely out of nowhere. The pain become so severe that it left Eamonn reliant on a walking stick, but soon found out the root cause. He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg. In September 2022, Eamonn was forced to step away from his GB news show as he underwent vital back surgery to aid his chronic back pain. Following his surgery, he revealed that despite physiotherapy, he continues to find his lack of mobility stops him from doing simple things and is forced to rely on others, which he described as 'soul destroying'. His spinal surgery left him with a weakened left leg, too, and just over two weeks into his recovery from the operation, Eamonn fell backwards down 18 stairs at the Weybridge home, hitting the stone floor at the bottom. Over the years, Eamonn has been incredibly open about his own crippling health conditions He underwent spinal surgery in 2022 following years of chronic back pain and previously had a double-hip replacement in 2016 He eventually discovered it was three slipped discs that affected the movement of his right leg The horrific accident could easily have killed him. Instead, he emerged with a broken shoulder, and his legs further weakened. The former This Morning host admitted at the time that fracturing his shoulder in a fall is a 'massive setback'. A year after his spinal surgery, Eamonn underwent a spine and neck stretching procedure in September 2023 after admitting he 'couldn't walk'. Eamonn admitted he 'hadn't recovered' from his back surgery, confessing: 'I can't run, I can't walk, I can't do anything except watch TV and eat.' He explained: 'I just got problems last year in my back, which I haven't recovered from. It's not good, it's not a good recipe I have to say.' Ruth recently revealed she fears Eamonn 'might never be 100 per cent right'. The Loose Women presenter said she 'lives in hope' that his mobility will improve. Speaking to Woman's Weekly, Ruth said: 'I don't know how much Eamonn's mobility will improve. We live in hope. 'He does the physio, but there might have to be some acceptance that this might never be 100% right. With any care situation - and there are millions of carers in this country - it isn't always easy. It's testing but we manage as a family.' Ruth added: 'I look at Eamonn, who's had his health and back problems, and it makes you realise how important your health is.' The former This Morning host admitted at the time that fracturing his shoulder in a fall is a 'massive setback' A year after his spinal surgery, Eamonn underwent a spine and neck stretching procedure in September 2023 after admitting he 'couldn't walk' He has ongoing daily physio sessions and either uses a cane or wheelchair to get about, with the support of his wife Ruth Earlier this year, Eamonn revealed he had to sell his beloved house in east Belfast to pay off a huge bill after a 250,000 tax battle with HMRC. The TV presenter admitted he feels 'bitter' about having to sell his house after losing two appeals against HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which set him back 'hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal fees'. Speaking in his interview with Gerry Kelly, Eamonn claimed tax officials ruled he was a staff member with broadcasters rather than freelance. They allegedly asked for 10 years of retrospective tax and national insurance payments from him. He claims he never received holiday or sick pay, though he said he wasn't looking for sympathy. 'It's like they have taken away everything I ever worked for,' he tells the show on NVTV. In response Eamonn's tax battle, a HMRC spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We take the wellbeing of all taxpayers seriously and do everything we can for those who engage with us to get their tax affairs in order, including by offering affordable payment plans.' And now, after losing his mother, jobs and his home, Eamonn has lost his supportive wife Ruth. It brings to an end one of Britain's best known TV power couples after 27 years together, 14 of which were spent in wedlock. They are parents to son Jack, 22, while Eamonn also has sons Declan, 35, Niall, 31, and daughter Rebecca, 33, from his previous marriage. Eamonn used his presenting slot on GB News's breakfast programme to break his silence over his divorce from wife Ruth on Tuesday. Eamonn had posted on Instagram about the FA Cup over the weekend following the issuing of the statement - but his comments on GB News' breakfast programme on Tuesday are his first words issued publicly on the split since. Accompanied by co-host Isabel Webster, who smiled and nodded supportively as he spoke, the TV veteran thanked viewers for the 'support' they had shown him since the weekend. He said: 'Just before we move on we'd just like to thank people for your support for Ruth and I over the last few days as to the news of our separation. 'Your support for both of us is very much appreciated.' Eamonn and Ruth hosted This Morning together for 14 years, and were a fixture on the show both on Fridays and during the school holidays (pictured in 2007) Eamonn and Ruth said in Saturday's statement they were 'determined to stay friends' after spending most of their professional lives together. However, sources say Ruth 'orchestrated' the statement, which Eamonn refused to sign off on prior to its release. Sources told Mail+ that Eamonn is devastated about the split and that the break-up has 'very much been orchestrated by Ruth'. Eamonn reportedly told friends that he 'didn't want to get involved' and that 'Ruth can do what she wants but keep me out of it'. Fans of the pair - a familiar sight on This Morning for 15 years - have been poring over past remarks they have made on relationships, including on couples who stay friends after breaking up. During an interview on TalkTV during the Covid-19 lockdown, Eamonn explained he and Ruth were struggling with not having their own space. He said: 'Although we live together, we're not really together, we don't watch the same TV, Ruth likes her own space. When we do This Morning it's a rare time we actually interrelate.' Ruth added: 'That's why we've been together 24 years, because we aren't actually together a lot.' Elsewhere in another resurfaced clip, Eamonn and Ruth discussed staying friends with an ex. The former This Morning hosts discussed whether they could stay friends with a former partner in a discussion on the popular ITV daytime show back in a clip from 2018. They were joined by Anthea Turner and journalist Nilufer Atik. Eamonn said on the topic: 'It is easier to stay friends.' While Ruth had a different opinion, saying: 'Why would you need to stay friends, you aren't with them anymore, you don't need to be friends. 'My thing is you weren't just friends, you were married or had a relationship.' The TV couple, who friends say were 'as close to Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan as you could get', had sparked rumours of a split after not appearing on each other's Instagram accounts for months. They first met in through a mutual friend, GMTV star Sally Meen, while Eamonn was also on the show in 1997. Two years later, he had split from his first wife Gabrielle Holmes, the mother of his three eldest children. And despite the pair feeling an instant connection, he ensured it was the nation's best-kept secret, as he did not publicly confess his love for Ruth for two years. Eamonn (pictured with GB News co-host Isabel Webster) broke his silence on his separation from Ruth on Tuesday A spokesperson for the couple said: 'Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing' Eamonn even refused to hold her hand in public or attend events together for the first few years of their relationship in a bid to stay respectful to his ex of nearly 20 years. They eventually tied the knot in 2010 after 13 years together, in a lavish ceremony at the grand 19th century Hampshire hotel, The Elvetham. Among those on the guestlist were TV presenters Gloria Hunniford and Jeremy Kyle, EastEnders actress Zoe Lucker and former champion boxer Barry McGuigan. And while they had shared a lavish 3.2million mansion in Surrey, Eamonn is believed to have moved out before the break-up was announced. Eamonn and Ruth left This Morning in 2021 after their contract lapsed and were replaced by Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond. The duo have also presented a number of other shows together including How The Other Half Lives, Do The Right Thing With Eamonn And Ruth and Eamonn And Ruth's 7 Year Itch. Holmes, who has also fronted coverage on GMTV and Sky News' Sunrise, launched Breakfast With Eamonn and Isabel on GB News in January 2022. Langsford regularly presents Loose Women, having begun on the show in the 1990s. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated today that greater military support is needed from each Member State of the European Union (EU) to Ukraine, which is why he urged the other 26 partners to increase their efforts this year. The arms shipments to Ukraine planned so far by the majority of EU member states are, in any case, too small, he said at a press conference after meeting with Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden. Therefore, I ask our allies in the European Union to also increase their efforts for Ukraine, he added. Germany will invest 8 billion euros in military aid in 2024, double that of the previous year, he recalled. Scholz was once again confident that the EU will finally reach an agreement with the Twenty-seven on the 50 billion in aid to Ukraines state budget for the coming years, but he said that, simultaneously, military aid must also be important. In parallel, there continues to be a need for arms aid from individual states to be guaranteed and large enough, he stressed. Again, what we currently know is not big enough. We need larger contributions. Maybe all the plans are already adopted, but we dont know them, Scholz added. For this reason, Germany has asked Brussels to ask member countries about their military aid plans for Ukraine, he explained. Berlin hopes that at the latest at the community summit in February there will be a precise snapshot of the contributions of the European partners this year. The Luxembourg Prime Minister agreed with Scholz that each EU Member State must contribute to the purpose of safeguarding the rule of law, territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Ukraine, but asked to take into account the assistance as a whole, not only the military. It is military aid, yes, but also direct financial aid, humanitarian aid and assistance to refugees, he explained. Aid must be given within the possibilities of each member country and be proportional to the state and defense budget, he stated. Luxembourg allocates 16% of its defense budget to Ukraine, she said. For us and all Europeans, Ukraine and its future is important, because (the Russian invasion) challenges fundamental principles. We cannot leave Ukraine alone, Frieden stressed. Influencer Remi Lucidi has died at the age of 30 after falling from the 68th floor of a Hong Kong residential building. According to local authorities, the Frenchman, known on social networks as Remnigma, entered the building known as Tregunter Tower with the excuse of visiting a friend who lived on the 40th floor. However, when a security member went to the home to corroborate the information, the neighbor denied knowing the influencer who, at that time, was already going up the elevator to the 49th floor. In the security footage you can see how Lucidi climbs the stairs to the roof, but when the agents went up they could only find the camera with which the influencer recorded his exploits. The last time Lucidi was seen alive he was knocking on a window of the building, trying to ask for help from a woman who was inside, because he had been trapped on the roof. Several Lucidi followers have taken to their social networks to show their condolences for the death. According to the criteria of The Trust Project EUs Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EUCSDDD) sparks a global trade paradigm shift Free Trade Agreements or Sustainable Trade Agreements? The EUs Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EUCSDDD) raises this crucial question of choices, challenging the norms of international commerce in vogue for the last few decades. Imagine a world where every product purchased carries a hidden story-a tale of the well-being of the farmers and their families, environments preserved and corporate integrity maintained. The European Unions proposed Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (UCSD) is a landmark piece of legislation towards that direction. It compels European companies to identify and mitigate environmental and human rights risks throughout their supply chains. It also underscores living wages and incomes as human rights, insists on responsible management of supplier relationships and emphasises the necessity of meaningful stakeholder engagement to enhance transparency and accountability in human rights and environmental practices. However, the EUCSDDDs impact could extend far beyond Europes borders. It has the potential to become a catalyst for a global race to the top, pushing democracies around the world to adopt stricter sustainability standards. India stands at a crossroads, poised to not just adapt to these standards but also lead the way in demonstrating how integral sustainable trade is to the ethos of modern democracies. Democracy: The Bedrock of Sustainable Trade Democracy and sustainable trade are not merely compatible; they are inextricably linked. The interconnection between democracy and sustainable trade is rooted in the principles of equity, participation and long-term accountability. Democratic systems, by their nature, promote inclusive decision-making and public accountability, which are essential for sustainable trade practices. For instance, democracies are more likely to implement and enforce regulations that ensure trade does not lead to environmental degradation or exploitation of workers, which are key aspects of sustainable trade (Hickel, 2020). Closer home, scholars like Amartya Sen have shown through his works that sustainability legislation ensures that economic decisions consider the environmental and social impact on future generations, a core tenet of responsible governance. Moreover, sustainable trade often requires international cooperation and agreements that are robust and equitable. Democracies are better positioned to engage in such agreements because they are based on principles of transparency and public participation. This openness allows for more effective and fair negotiations that consider the diverse needs and impacts on all stakeholders involved, from local communities to international partners. Reputed international scholars like Hickel (2020) and Rockstrom and Klum (2015) suggest that this democratic approach supports a form of globalisation that is not only about free trade but also about fair trade, where the benefits and responsibilities of trade are widely and fairly distributed. This is crucial for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as it ensures that trade supports broader societal well-being and environmental sustainability rather than contributing to inequality and ecological degradation. Impact on Global Trade Some critics fear the EUCSDDD could encourage trade toward countries with laxer regulations, creating a race to the bottom rather than the top. However, the European Union has emerged in the past five decades as a powerful force in shaping the global conversation around sustainable international trade. The EUs early environmental regulations, like clean air and water directives, werent just about protecting its citizens. By making stricter environmental standards a prerequisite for access to its vast market, the EU created a ripple effect. Companies worldwide adapted to comply and other countries followed suit, leading to a global shift towards cleaner practices and a higher bar for environmental responsibility. Other landmark legislation like the Conflict Minerals Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/821), which aims to eradicate conflict minerals from supply chains, demonstrates the blocs commitment to ethical trade practices. This, in turn, has spurred international discussions and collaborations on human rights and responsible sourcing practices throughout global supply chains. Navigating the EUCSDDD: The India-EU bilateral trade in goods is valued at 115.3 billion in 2022 and services contribute an additional 39.9 billion; the EU stands as Indias second-largest trading partner (EPRS, 2024). The UCSD presents a unique opportunity for India to solidify its position as a responsible player on the global trade stage. While initial concerns exist regarding potential cost increases for Indian businesses complying with the directives standards, theres a significant upside. Aligning with the EUCSDDD can elevate Indias image as a sustainable and ethical sourcing hub, attracting more European investment and boosting exports of responsibly produced goods. This, in turn, strengthens Indias negotiating position in the ongoing Free Trade Agreement talks with the European Union. (Shatadru is the founding Managing Director of Solidaridad in Asia; views are personal) In this election, accusations of tampering with constitutional values take centre stage, punctuated by issues such as the annulment of OBC certificates by the Calcutta HC It is one of the strangest elections. Nobody speaks out. Visibly there is no wave. Election commission warnings to defaulting speakers are in nuances. More than the prices and unemployment, saving the Constitution has become the prime concern. This is an onslaught on their rights, asserting the Dalits, OBCs, Scheduled tribes and other marginalised classes. An issue raised by the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seems to reverberate. Swelling crowds at Phulpur and Lalganj in the suburbs and Allahabad city at Congress and Samajwadi Party speak a lot. Another key aspect is the campaigning gusto with the nominations by Rahul Gandhi at Rae Bareli and family friend Kishori Lal Sharma at Amethi. It is being called Rae Bareli syndrome. It has infused life to Indian alliance workers AAP, Samajwadi Party and Congress almost everywhere. It has enthused the opposition parties, who now want to clinch the battle. This is in sharp contrast to BJP leaders meetings, which are marked by empty chairs as also apologetic clarifications that they are not for changing the statute. But the 400 paar slogan of the BJP is being equated with a design to change the sacred Constitution of BR Ambedkar. The opposition, INDIA, seemingly has become a trailblazer and the ruling NDA is busy clarifying its charges. Rally after rally of the NDA is countering the accusations of toying with the statute and trying to alter its basic principles. Selling of public sector assets to preferred private groups comes next. The rulers are saying that major PSUs like ISRO and HAL remain intact. They are, however, quiet on Indian Oil and Railways. There are emerging issues like the sudden nullification of OBC certificates issued till 2010 by the Calcutta High Court. It is a double-edged sword that targets the Trinamool Congress Government in West Bengal and the Central Government alike. Prices make the highest noise, followed by religion and Agniveer part-time soldiers supposedly compromising with the countrys security. The opposition is being heard with rapt attention. They have raised hopes. The ruling party guarantees are being scoffed at but Ram temple and minority bashing still matter in a large section of the UP and neighbouring areas of the cow belt. The resurgence of youth at the opposition parties reminds many of the days of post-emergency rallies and apologetic clarifications by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. She was also called the Janata Party, a khichri or motley crowd Five kg of free ration is no longer an issue. People have taken it for granted that they would have free ration anyway whosoever is in power. But jobs have become a major issue. Congress leader Rahul Gandhis assurance of one lakh rupee a year for apprenticeship per unemployed is being lapped up so as Rs 1 lakh for every woman. This money is for the family, Gandhi stresses. The top BJP leaders assertion that abhi to yah trailor hai may be counter-productive considering the Supreme Court Stated Newsclick journalist Prabir Purakayasthas detention was illegal and released him. Gradually most news systems seem to be changing its delivery, a bid to share space with the surging opposition. Job reservation, though scoffed at by the BJP, has got a new lease of life with the Bihar caste census and the slogan jiski jitni sankhya bhari, uski utni hissedari. Yes, reservation is to stay and Indians have to grapple with it. The BJP has been painted not in a bright colour on this score by the opposition. Despite the Calcutta High Court cancellation of all OBC certificates and a tough stance against TMC leader Mamata Banerjee, it will not be easy to nullify the reservation in an aspirational jobless country. Another peculiar aspect is the regional variations of the poll. Congress or its alliance partners are the principal opposition in UP, MP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Himachal, Maharashtra, Punjab and has even come out with some determination in Gujarat. Most southern States have secured tie-ups with the Congress. BJP is fighting a straight battle in all those States as also in Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and many other smaller States. The poll is being keenly contested and results are difficult to guess, particularly with the EC revising the total extra votes polled by over 1.7 crore. The jerky expressions of BJP leaders, stressing on mangal sutra to Muslims instead of the achievements of the party have put it on the back foot with each day partly leaders dishing out new figures on the lower side. This gives jitters to the party cadre. It is another story that the cadre is mostly missing. They are not seen moving robustly in constituencies and managing the booths. It is being said that the cadre has been told by the organisation to stay put and not seek to vote for anyone. The cadre apathy is said to be reflected in its performance. More so the voters are getting alerted by its slogan abhi to yah trailor hai, spoken by top BJP leaders often, may not suit the BJP. Quite a few YouTube news channels and skits like Dadi Poti ke Khat have viewership in lakhs. These are setting the basics for election narratives across the country in different languages. How these are influencing the voters would be known as boxes open on June 4. BJP leaders shrill deliveries and the brash expressions from public platforms are not taken kindly. Still predicting the elections is not easy. The Election Commission adding to 1.7 crore votes to the numbers cast after a few days may do wonders. The election this time with regional flavours of all kinds and quiet voters may even fox the exit poll stalwarts if it is free and fair. Nobody should wonder if the post-June 1 exit polls reflect a trend that could be different from the actual. (The author is a senior journalist; views are personal) In his first statement in the fag-end of ensuing Lok Sabha elections, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday accused his successor Narendra Modi of lowering the dignity of public discourse and the gravity of the office of the PM by giving "hateful speeches" during the poll campaign. Singh also took the opportunity to make his stand clear after the controversy erupted when Modi had accused Singh of saying that Muslims have the first right on the country's resources. On the last day of two months long campaign, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed confidence that the INDIA Bloc will secure a clear majority in the Lok Sabha polls and give the country an inclusive and nationalistic Government, while senior leader Rahul Gandhi responded to Modi's assertion that the world only learned of Mahatma Gandhi through the film 'Gandhi'. Rahul criticised those affiliated with the RSS, suggesting their lack of understanding regarding Gandhi's legacy. Following Singh's statement, Kharge said Modi spoke about 'mandir-masjid' and divisive issues 421 times during the poll campaign despite the Election Commission's direction of no appeal for votes on caste and religion. Earlier in an appeal to voters, particularly Punjab ahead of the seventh-phase of Lok Sabha polls on Saturday, Singh asserted that only the Congress can ensure growth-oriented progressive future where democracy and Constitution will be safeguarded. The senior Congress leader also hit out at the BJP Government for imposing an "ill-conceived" Agniveer scheme on the Armed forces. "The BJP thinks that the value of patriotism, bravery and service is only four years. This shows their fake nationalism," he said in a letter to voters of Punjab. Mounting an attack on Modi, the former PM said, "I have been keenly following the political discourse during this election campaign. Modi has indulged in the most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive in nature. Modi is the first Prime Minister to lower the dignity of public discourse, and thereby the gravity of the office of the Prime Minister. "No Prime Minister in the past has uttered such hateful, unparliamentary and coarse terms, meant to target either a specific section of society or the Opposition. He has also attributed some false statements to me. I have never in my life singled out one community from the other. That is the sole copyright of the BJP," the former Prime Minister said. Modi had accused Singh of saying that Muslims have the first right on the country's resources. Singh said people of India are seeing through all of this. "This narrative of dehumanisation has now reached its peak. It is now our duty to save our beloved nation from these forces of discord," Singh said in the letter. Addressing a Press conference at the AICC headquarters on the last of campaigning for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls, Kharge said people have endorsed their view that "it will be the end of democracy if the current Government gets another chance". He also said Modi in his speeches in the last 15 days took the Congress' name 232 times and his own name 758 times. He didn't talk about unemployment even once, Kharge claimed. Kharge also took a swipe at the Prime Minister over his comments in an interview that global awareness about Mahatma Gandhi came after Richard Attenborough's film, saying he may not have studied about Gandhi but the Mahatma is known the world over. "Modi said he came to know about Mahatma Gandhi after watching the film 'Gandhi'. This is laughable, perhaps Modi has never read about Gandhiji. The whole world knows Mahatma Gandhi, his statues are there at different places in the world, including in the UN," Kharge said. Kharge said Modi must read Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography to know more about him after June 4 when he will have a "lot of free time". During his last leg rally in Odisha, Rahul on Thursday said renowned figures like Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, and Albert Einstein drew inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi. "Whose training is done in 'sakha' of RSS, they are followers of Godse, they do not know anything about Gandhiji. They do not know about the history of Hindustan, truth and violence. This is expected that the PM will tell that the world does not know anything about Gandhiji," he said. Rahul concluded by saying further comments on the matter were unnecessary. "There is no need to make more comments (on the subject). Their world is in their sakha," Rahul said. Addressing his final rally of the back-to-back hectic 2024 Lok Sabha polls campaign, which spanned about two months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attacked the Congress for 'ranting' about the Constitution. He accused them of 'strangling' it during the Emergency and not caring about it when Sikhs were killed in the 1984 riots. "Sikhs were killed after putting burning tyres around them. At that time, they did not care about the Constitution," Modi said in his last poll rally in the seven-phase election. At the rally in favour of his party's candidates in Punjab which goes to polls on Saturday, the Prime Minister also touched upon the issues of reservation, corruption and the Ram Temple. Modi is set to face the electorate in his two-time constituency of Varanasi in the last phase. Meanwhile, he embarked on a nearly two-day meditation exercise at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, against the backdrop of huge protests by the Congress, TMC, and DMK. These parties have expressed reservations and moved the Election Commission against the PM's spiritual sojourn." Hitting back at the Congress for its charge that the BJP would scrap the Constitution if voted to power, Modi said, "Nowadays people of the country are hearing rants from the INDI alliance about the Constitution. These are the same people who strangled the Constitution during Emergency". He also charged that the intentions of the Congress and INDIA Bloc over the issue of reservation are "dangerous". "In the last 10 years, I have always protected reservation for SC/ST/OBCs. Congress and INDI alliance are enraged over my efforts. Their intentions on reservation are dangerous. Their complete track record has been to snatch reservations of SC, ST and OBC," he said, adding he has always protected the reservation for SC/ST and OBCs. Accusing the Opposition of insulting the spirit of the Constitution and sentiments of BR Ambedkar, he said they want reservation on the basis of religion in Government jobs, in sports, in Government tenders and admission in universities. The Prime Minister charged that the Opposition wanted to give reservation rights to Muslims after snatching it from Dalits and downtrodden. Further attacking the Congress over the issue of corruption, Modi called it 'bhasrishtachar ki janni' (Mother of corruption) and said the party has done a "double PhD in corruption". Training his guns at the AAP, Modi said now 'kattar bharashtatchri' (thoroughly dishonest) has joined hands with the Congress. Calling AAP also as 'bhayankar jhoothwadi party', Modi said the AAP formed the first Government in Delhi with the support of the Congress. Alleging that the AAP has learnt lessons of indulging in corruption from the Congress, he said 'kattar bhrishtachari' (AAP) has taken birth from the "womb of the grand old party". Since its inception, the AAP has been a corrupt party, he alleged. While the AAP claimed it would wipe out the drug menace from the State, they made drugs as a source of their income after forming Government, Modi charged. Modi said the politics of selfishness of the Congress and INDIA Bloc has caused loss to the country. "After we form Government, in the third term, what the Government will do in the next 125 days, how it will do, for whom it will do and for how long, work on this roadmap has been done, " he said. Modi also sharpened his attack against the INDIA Bloc, accusing it of making the Army a "weapon of politics" and said there cannot be a "bigger sin than this". His attack came in the backdrop of the Congress and INDIA Bloc members targeting the Modi Government over the Agnipath scheme. Notably, the Congress has said it will scrap the Agnipath scheme if the INDIA Bloc comes to power. Modi said it was his target to make the Indian defence forces as the most modern and capable force, self-reliant in the real sense. The PM said armies are not made only for the Republic Day parade. The Army is made for a fight, to defeat an enemy and to save our motherland, he said. "I am telling the INDI alliance that I am silent. Do not make any mistake in understanding Modi. The day Modi opens his mouth, I will bring out all your sins -- 'saat peedhi ke paap' (sins of seven generations)," he said. Training guns on the Congress, Modi referred to the Jeep scam, Bofors, submarine and Army truck scam and said they never cared about the requirements of the Army. While braving a roasting temperature of 45.6 degrees celsius, about five degrees above the normal and prevailing heatwave conditions, Delhi reported its first death as a 40-year-old man from Bihar's Darbhanga succumbed to heat stroke at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in the city on Wednesday. Areas like Mungeshpur, Najafgarh and Narela have been reporting temperatures above 49 degrees Celsius for five continuous days and temperature in other stations have also been soaring above 45 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature settled at 30.4 degrees Celsius, four degrees above the normal, and the humidity level at 6:30 pm was 36 per cent. According to experts, heatwave conditions affect Delhi more as hot winds from Rajasthan and Haryana rush to the northwest border of the city. Since, areas like Mungeshpur, Narela and Najafgarh are located on the border they take the first blow of the hot summer westerly or north-westerly blowing in from Rajasthan or Haryana. The victim was a labourer who died due to multiple organ failure following his temperature rising to as high as 107 degrees Fahrenheit, 10 degrees above the normal. "The patient's kidneys and liver had failed due to excessively high body temperature, following which he died during treatment," Dr Rajesh Shukla of RML Hospital said. Amid the city already facing the scorching sun, impending water crisis and frequent power cuts have worsened the situation. Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) have also protested against the blackouts amid the heat in several areas of Delhi and adjoining regions of Noida and Ghaziabad. On Thursday, according to the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC), the peak power demand was 8,091 MW, crossing the mark of 8,000 MW. A tussle between the BJP-led Haryana Government and AAP-led Delhi Government has been ongoing over the alleged claims of the Delhi Government that Haryana is not releasing its share of water. The Delhi Government held an emergency meeting over the crisis and also stated that they will approach the Supreme Court while announcing several measures to keep the situation in check. The Delhi Water Minister Atishi also conducted a field inspection of Wazirabad Yamuna Reservoir and she said she will write a letter to the Central Government over the issue. They said the water crisis is the result of heatwave conditions and Haryana not releasing water. Meanwhile, there is a steep rise in fire related accidents in the city with calls surged to 180 on Wednesday recording a nearly three-fold rise over the single-day calls received by the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), with officials attributing the increase to heatwave conditions prevailing in the national Capital. The DFS chief Atul Garg said the numbers are massive and alarming as these fires have claimed several lives including 10 because of the fire on Saturday including six newborns in a private neonatal hospital. The services received 220 calls, including 183 fire-related, the highest so far this year. The remaining calls were related to bird and animal rescue. "This was the highest single-day call recorded so far this year. Usually, we receive almost 150 calls in the whole summer season -- 60 are fire-related and the remaining are related to animal rescue. But this time there is a three-fold rise," he said. According to the data, fire-related incidents have claimed 55 lives and injured more than 300 people in the national Capital so far this year. Sixteen people were killed in fire-related incidents in January, another 16 in February, 12 in March, four in April, and seven till May 26, it said. "In January we received 1,204 calls, 1,032 fire-related calls in February, 1,328 calls in March, in April we received 2,357 calls, and 2,991 calls till May 26 midnight. On May 29, we received the highest number of fire-related calls," Garg said. Even on Thursday, fire broke out at several parts of Delhi and adjoining region of Noida including a minor incident in Millenium park and a massive fire at a high-rise building in Uttar Pradesh's Noida sector 100. According to details, the incident occured due to a blast in the Air-Conditioner (AC) at the Lotus Boulevard society in Sector 100 in Noida. The southwest monsoon arrived two days earlier than usual on Thursday hitting the Kerala coast and parts of Northeast India simultaneously. This early onset, driven by favourable conditions created by cyclone Remal, has pulled the monsoon flow to the Bay of Bengal, according to the scientists from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This marks the beginning of the four-month rainy season in the country. The typical monsoon onset date for Kerala is June 1, and for Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, and Assam, it is June 5. However, while Kerala and the Northeast regions have welcomed the monsoon rains, Delhi and several areas in Northwest and Central India continue to endure intense heat under the scorching sun with the IMD forecasting some respite in these regions soon. "The Southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala and Mahe, and has advanced into most parts of Northeast India, including Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and most parts of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Assam as of May 30, 2024," said the IMD scientists. On May 15, the weather office had predicted the monsoon onset over Kerala by May 31. Kerala has been experiencing heavy rainfall over the past few days, resulting in a surplus of May rainfall, with waterlogging reported from various parts, according to weather office data. The IMD declares onset of monsoon over Kerala anytime after May 10 over 14 stations there and neighbouring areas receive 2.5 mm or more rainfall for two consecutive days, the Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) is low, and the direction of the winds is southwesterly. The IMD has warned of widespread rainfall till June 2 even as the National Human Rights Commission has asked Kochi corporation to address waterlogging within 8 weeks. El Nino conditions are prevailing at present, and La Nina may set in by August-September, said the IMD scientists. El Nino - the periodic warming of surface waters in the central Pacific Ocean - is associated with weaker monsoon winds and drier conditions in India. La Nina - the antithesis of El Nino- leads to plentiful rainfall during the monsoon season, explained the scientists. An important meeting was organized on Thursday under the chairmanship of Superintendent of Police (City) Ranchi, Rajkumar Mehta and Sub-Divisional Officer (Sadar) Ranchi, Utkarsh Kumar to run a campaign against drugs in Ranchi district. In the meeting, a strategy was prepared to make school children and college students aware about the ill effects of drugs to make the youth aware by running a big campaign against drugs in Ranchi district. Deputy Superintendent of Police (HQ-1) Ranchi, Amar Kumar Pandey, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Chief-2) Ranchi, Arvind Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kotwali Ranchi, Prakash Soy, District Education Superintendent Ranchi, Mithlesh Kumar, District Education Officer Ranchi, Vinay Kumar were present in the meeting. The action plan was made to make school children and college students aware about the ill effects of drugs, such as by running a big campaign against drugs in Ranchi district, students and youth will be made aware, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Kotwali) Ranchi, Prakash Soy has been nominated as the nodal for the campaign against drugs in Ranchi district, NCB. By contacting it, workshops related to this will be conducted in all the police stations of Ranchi district, all government, non-government schools, colleges, NGOs, intellectuals and street play groups will be included in this campaign, Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) Ranchi and National Child Rights Protection, Principals of schools and colleges will be the nodal officers in this campaign and a large scale digital campaign will be run in this campaign. Publicity will be done through videos, songs, jingles, posters, pamphlets etc. Mehta said in the meeting that according to the guidelines received by the district administration and police administration from the state government to make Ranchi district drug free, the concerned officials have been instructed about what strategies can be made to make Ranchi district drug free. Under our strategy, work will be done to involve the principals of schools, colleges, big educational institutions of Ranchi district in this campaign. Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) Ranchi, RIMS, self-help groups, intellectuals and many street play performers will be included in this and a massive campaign will be conducted in Ranchi. Utkarsh Kumar said in the meeting that drugs are a big problem among students and youth, which is ruining the young generation. "It is ruining the youth emotionally, socially, economically like cancer. A big awareness campaign will be run by involving all stakeholders in this, in which the help of experts will be taken about the ill effects of drugs," he added. Delhi BJP Mahila Morchas office bearers on Thursday held a protest outside senior AAP leader and Delhi Water Minister Atishis residence at Mathura road over water crisis, while carrying earthen pots on their shoulders and placards during the demonstration. Displaying posters that had quotes like har ghar bacha bimar hai, pani ki darkar hai, puche Delhi ek sawal, pani kab doge Kejriwal, pani se Delhi past, Kejriwal mast, protestors raised slogans against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal outside Atishis residence at Mathura road. They also broke their earthen pots in a display of their anger against the shortage of water being faced by Delhiites. Speaking on the occasion, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that the people of Delhi are suffering today not due to a natural crisis but due to the corruption nexus created by the Kejriwal government while also announcing that on Friday, BJP will raise the voice of the people of Delhi against the incumbent government outside the Delhi Secretariat. Stating that Atishi hiding the truth while claiming that the Haryana government is not providing them water, he said, Just a few days ago, officials from the Delhi governments Flood Department and Jal Board went to Hathini Kund Barrage, where officials from the Haryana government were also present. After checking the system set up to measure the water, officials from the Flood Department and Jal Board returned satisfied because the Haryana government is supplying more water to Delhi than promised. He said that according to the agreement, Haryana is supposed to provide 719 cusecs of water to Delhi, but Haryana is providing 1049 cusecs of water daily. Now the question arises, what is the reason of water cuts in Delhi when it is receiving more water than promised, he questioned. Upon the city government on Wednesday imposing a fine of Rs 2,000 on wastage of water and forming 200 teams to enforce the penalty, Sachdeva said, Water is being wasted and stolen and the Delhi government has completely failed to stop this wastage and theft. Shamefully they have imposed a fine of Rs. 2000. The Kejriwal government is encouraging the tanker mafia and the number of tankers supplying water in Delhi are increasing but the number will only exist on paper. The money saved from each vehicle will be distributed among the higher officials of the Water Ministry and Jal Board from bottom to top. The Delhi government on Thursday held an emergency meeting regarding the water crisis that the city is facing amid a prevailing heatwave. The national capital is facing water shortage due to unprecedented summer heat with temperatures hovering around the 50 degrees Celsius mark in parts of the city. | The high-pitched campaigning for the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies going to polls in the seventh phase of parliamentary election and the Duddhi assembly bypoll ended on Thursday. Polling in these constituencies will be held on June 1. To ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of polling on June 1, polling parties departed for their respective polling stations on Friday. Out of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state under the seventh phase, 11 belong to the general category, and two are reserved for Scheduled Castes. The 13 Lok Sabha constituencies going to polls in the last phase of elections include Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon (SC), Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Robertsganj (SC), which are spread across 11 districts. There are 144 candidates in the poll fray in this phase of polls 134 male and 10 female candidates, Uttar Pradesh Chief Election Officer Navdeep Rinwa said. Six candidates are competing for the Duddhi (ST) assembly by-election in Sonbhadra district, he added. The prominent candidates in fray in the seventh phase polls include Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi, Union minister and Apna Dal (Sonelel) leader Anupriya Patel from Mirzapur, former prime minister Chandrashekhars son Neeraj Shekhar from Ballia, Mukhtar Ansaris brother Afzal Ansari from Ghazipur, Union minister Mahendra Nath Pandey from Chandauli, Union minister Pankaj Chaudhary from Maharajganj, and Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan from Gorakhpur. Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, INDIA bloc leaders Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav actively campaigned in this phase to garner support for their candidates. While the Bharatiya Janata Party tried to drive home its allegations that the INDIA bloc will bring in Muslim reservation and put 'Babri lock' in Ayodhya's Ram temple, the opposition urged people to vote to save the Constitution. State's Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa has directed all district election officers overseeing Lok Sabha constituencies in the seventh phase to ensure essential facilities for voters and polling personnel at polling centres and booths. This includes provision for cold, potable water at all polling centres and the availability of wheelchairs for individuals with disabilities and elderly citizens. Additionally, measures to provide shaded areas at all polling stations have been emphasised due to the intense heat. Furthermore, before polling parties set out, medical kits were distributed to all polling personnel to enable them to tackle heatstroke cases and attend to any other health concerns during voting at the concerned booths. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, while addressing public meetings organised in support of BJP candidates at Sahibganj district of Jharkhand's Rajmahal Lok Sabha seat, Kerabani of Dumka (Jharkhand) Lok Sabha seat, said that Congress has ruled the country for 70 years after independence, but they have defamed the country. Terrorism and Naxalism were at their peak in the country during Congress rule, but now Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a new identity to the country. This election is between those who give identity to India and those who erase India's identity. All the Chief Ministers and Ministers of Jharkhand are involved in corruption. When Prime Minister Modi is sending these corrupt people to jail, they are asking why are they being sent to jail. The place of corrupt people is in jail only. When we worship Gods and Goddesses, Congress people have problems. Congress is against religion. Religion means truth, in our country relations are decided on the basis of religion. This is the time of Lord Shri Ram, no power in the world can stop Narendra Modi from becoming the Prime Minister. Earlier, Chief Minister Dr. Yadav reached Barodiya Nonagir in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh and met the tribal victim family here. Yadav said that when we worship our gods and goddesses, Congressmen have a problem with it. They ask us why are you worshipping them. We are people who worship Lord Ram, Shri Krishna, Lord Birsa Munda, but Congress has always been against religion. The land of Jharkhand is the holy land of Lord Birsa Munda. When the whole country was saying that the temple of Lord Shri Ram should be built in Ayodhya, but the leaders of Congress and its arrogant alliance were creating obstacles in it. They were filing petitions in the Supreme Court that the temple should not be built, but they could not stop it. Congress has always not allowed the construction of the temple for vote politics. Congress and its arrogant alliance opposed as much as they could, but their opposition did not work. What is not of Ram is of no use. The temple was built under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and now Shri Ram is smiling in his sanctum sanctorum.Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that Congress has always been anti-religion like the British. They have always created hurdles in the matters of our religion. They have also been against Sanatan. Their aim has always been to humiliate Hindus, abuse the followers of Sanatan Dharma. They compare the followers of Sanatan Dharma with mosquitoes and Covid germs. They do not even know the true meaning of religion. Religion means truth, everyone has to be taken along. In our country, relationships are decided on the basis of religion and then they are maintained throughout life. Yadav said that the work done by the British before independence was done by the Congress Party after independence. The British promoted western culture by removing gods and goddesses from our school-college curriculum. Lord Macaulay distanced us from our gods and goddesses, but after gaining independence in 1947, changes could have been made in the education policy, which the Congress did not do. They have also furthered the power of the British. After this, when BJP came to power under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a new education policy was introduced in 2020. We got an opportunity through Prime Minister Modi and included the incidents of our gods and goddesses in the curriculum. If we do not include the incidents of Lord Rama-Krishna, then how will we get the education and sanskar of good deeds. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav did a road show in the scorching heat in Deoria Sadar Assembly in support of BJP candidate Shravan Gaur in the assembly by-election in Sonbhadra of Duddhi assembly of Robertsganj Lok Sabha constituency of Uttar Pradesh and BJP candidate Shashankmani Tripathi from Deoria Lok Sabha seat and while addressing the public meeting, he said that no one takes the words of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seriously. Rahul Gandhi talks irrationally. Now his words have ended in the country. The way Rahul Gandhi is talking about saving the Constitution, but he does not know that the Congress Party has done the most work of changing the Constitution. Prime Minister Narendra Modiji has taken up the task of saving the Constitution. The Congress Party has become completely hollow and its leaders talk nonsense. This time Congress will be worth only a tempo ride. The whole country is Modi-centric and there is a BJP atmosphere everywhere. This time BJP will return to power with 370 plus and NDA with 400 plus seats. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Thursday morning during his Punjab visit paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and also discussed over tea with intellectuals. Yadav said that the Congress and the entire Ghamandia alliance is a factory of lies. They have always made false promises to the people of the country and have created a history of lying. They are still lying. Five generations from the same family have been the Prime Minister in the Congress, but they never wanted the welfare of the poor of the country. Late Jawaharlal Nehru, late Indira Gandhi, late Rajiv Gandhi and for 10 years Sonia Gandhi ran the government from behind the scenes and always gave the slogan of poverty removal, but they could not remove poverty from the country. Now Rahul Gandhi is saying that if he is made the Prime Minister, he will remove poverty from the country. Rahul Gandhi lies so much. No one takes his words seriously. He only talks about nonsense. The BJP government has done good to the poor of the country. Only someone who has seen poverty can do this work. Prime Minister Narendra Modiji came from a poor family and in the last 10 years, he has worked to remove poverty from the country. He has built concrete houses for the poor. He has given gas cylinders to women. He has given rights and respect to farmers and soldiers. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that since independence, Congress has committed only sins. The first sin committed by Congress was the partition of the country. After this, it implemented Article 370 in Kashmir, always created obstacles in the construction of Lord Ram's temple. It created a deep rift between Hindus and Muslims. It divided education. Congress has committed an even bigger sin by rejecting the invitation sent for the Pran-Pratishtha of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. These people have not even gone to see Lord Shri Ram till now. Yadav said that when Narendra Modiji got the first vote of the countrymen in 2014, he ended terrorism from the country. He taught a lesson to the enemy country Pakistan by entering its home. He did this work twice. When the second vote was cast, Article 370 was abolished from Kashmir, a law like triple talaq was implemented, a temple of Lord Shri Ram was built in Ayodhya and now he is smiling in the sanctum sanctorum. Earlier, one had to go by ship to visit Bhent Dwarka, but now a bridge has been built there and now one can go by one's own vehicle. This time the vote is to make India the number one country in the world and also to make Lord Krishna smile in Mathura. Under his guidance of Prof (Dr.) Ajai Singh Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, it has witnessed remarkable achievements in various academic forums. Participation of faculty members in various conferences and workshops enhances their skill and keeps them updated with the latest advancements. Recently, Dr. Raghvendra Kumar Vidua, Professor in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at AIIMS Bhopal, represented India at the 26th triennial International Academy of Legal Medicine Conference held in Athens, Greece. Three days' conference was held from 21st to 23rd May, 2024. Dr. Vidua presented results from a study conducted at AIIMS Bhopal on post-mortem sperm retrieval, the first of its kind in India and the largest in terms of the number of retrievals performed. Dr. Vidua along with his team surveyed nearly 600 individuals to assess the acceptability and ethical considerations of this procedure within Indian society. This research project was initiated in 2022 with funding from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi. Notably, live spermatozoa were retrieved in 47.22% of cases, demonstrating potential for their use in IVF procedures. AIIMS Bhopal has developed a new method for spermatozoa retrieval, ensuring optimal quantity and quality without compromising morphology and motility. This innovative method, not previously documented, is currently under patent application with ICMR. The team at AIIMS Bhopal plans to establish a human seminal bank with ICMR support. Deputy Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India, Ajay Bhadoo on Wednesday conducted a review of the arrangements regarding the preparations for the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 by interacting with all the officers of the state through video conferencing. Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan joined this VC from NIC Indore and apprised about the preparations and arrangements made for the counting of votes in all the Lok Sabha parliamentary constituencies of the state. Returning Officers and Collectors and District Election Officers of all 29 Lok Sabha parliamentary constituencies of the state participated in the VC virtually. In the VC, Deputy Election Commissioner Bhadoo directed that preparations and necessary arrangements related to the vote counting should be finalized promptly, ensuring counting of votes is completed swiftly. All necessary resources and arrangements should be available at the counting place. Train all counting personnel by May 31. Allow only authorized persons to enter the counting venue. The Deputy Election Commissioner discussed with all the Returning Officers and Collectors and District Election Officers and Police Officers and obtained feedback on the preparations made so far for counting and directed them to conduct smooth counting. Chief Electoral Officer Rajan briefed the Deputy Election Commissioner about the preparations being made for the counting of votes to be held on Tuesday, 4 June in all the districts. Rajan informed that all the preparations for counting have been completed by all the Returning Officers and District Election Officers by establishing better coordination with the police administration. The first phase of counting randomization has also been completed. The final training of counting personnel will be completed by 31 May in all the districts. He informed that all the guidelines and protocols of the Election Commission of India are being strictly followed regarding counting of votes. There will be a three-tier security system at all the counting venues. For smooth and uninterrupted counting of votes, arrangements for adequate tables, counting personnel, micro observers and other necessary resources have been completed. Arrangements are being made so that the counting results are available promptly. He informed that on June 4, the counting of postal ballots will be done by the Returning Officers in a separate room at the counting venue itself. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Kaul, Inspector General of Police and State Police Nodal Officer Anshuman Singh, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Shri Basant Kurre and Tarun Rathi and other officers were also present in the VC. The state capital remained extremely hot even after a slight dip in the day temperature which was recorded at 44.1 degree celsius. The temperature was above 30 degree celsius at 5.30 am. During this, cold wind was felt in the morning after about a week. The mercury was recorded at 32 degrees at 8:30 am. In the next 3 hours, the mercury jumped by 6 degrees and the temperature was recorded at 38 degrees at 11:30 am. In the last 4 days of Nautapa, the temperature has crossed 45 degrees twice. The Meteorological Department has issued an alert of intense heat. It was the hottest temperature for the second time in 40 years. On Tuesday also, the temperature was recorded at 45.1 degrees. This day was the fifth hottest day in 10 years. The overall record of heat is in the name of 21 May 2016. Then the temperature record reached 46.7 degrees. The weather department has issued an alert of severe heat on the fifth day of Nautapa. Suffering from extreme hot weather conditions power failure further augments it and due to peak demand for keeping cool at homes and office transformers tend to catch fire or burst. Power was out all night in Priyanka Nagar located on Kolar Road as the transformer installed here caught fire at 3 in the night. After this, the power supply of the area was disrupted . Due to the power outage in the extreme heat, the trouble of the people further increased. They spent the night outside their homes. Meanwhile, the staff of the electricity company was also engaged in improving the system at night. Power supply could be restored by 9:30 am on Wednesday. AE Rajesh Mishra of Bairagarh Chichli Zone said, there is a transformer installed in Priyanka Nagar. Fire broke out in the box of its distribution line. The earthing had become weak due to heat. Water is poured every day, but due to the scorching heat, the water had dried up. The team reached the spot at night itself and started repair work. Due to power outage, many important works of the people got stuck. The temperature in Bhopal was 30.4 degrees at night. The people faced difficulties due to the intense heat. They remained troubled the whole night. Water supply was also affected due to lack of electricity. The transformer caught fire due to overload and earthing problems. Which could be extinguished after about half an hour. Due to the fire in the transformer, the power supply in the surrounding area was stopped for the time being. There was a strong blast along with the fire. This terrified the residents. They say that this transformer of Priyanka Nagar was facing problems for the last 3 days. The residents had also complained about this to the electricity company. The officers had also got water filled from a tanker a day before to solve the problem of earthing. The Health Department today organized a health camp in Sundipur village of Kandi block of Garhwa district and conducted a health check-up of the villagers who ate bat meat. During this health check-up 27 people were examined. All the people are said to be healthy so far. After eating the meat of dead bats, the villagers were afraid of the possibility of an unknown disease. Regarding this, on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Shekhar Jamuar, Civil Surgeon Dr. Ashok Kumar sent a medical team of the Health Department and conducted a camp and got the investigation done. The department heaved a sigh of relief when all the villagers were found healthy. But it is also considering isolating the people who ate bat meat as a precaution. The team of the Health Department included District Epidemiologist Dr. Santosh Kumar Mishra, MOIC of CHC Majhiaon Dr. Govind Prasad Seth, District BHBD Consultant Arvind Kumar Dwivedi and many health workers. While Kandi's BDO cum CO Aftab Alam, Area Officer of Forests of Bhawanathpur, Veterinary Doctor etc. were also present. Many bats nesting on trees in Sundipur village of Kandi block died on 28 May. Bats were dying and falling from the tree. According to people, the bats died due to heat wave. But many villagers picked up the dead bats from there and took them to their homes. Then they cooked their meat and ate it. However, all the people were healthy. But people were also scared due to various discussions about the death of bats. On receiving this information, the health department set up a camp there and got the health check-up of the people. During the health camp also, many bats were found dead, which were buried in a pit by putting bleaching powder. The Animal Husbandry Department is preparing to collect samples to investigate the reasons for the death of bats and send them to the state headquarters Ranchi. Civil Surgeon Dr. Ashok Kumar said that all the people have been found healthy in the health check-up camp. The health department is keeping an eye on them. Other precautionary measures will be taken if needed. MECON Limited along with SAIL , under the aegis of Ministry of Steel, Government of India organized a two days International Conference on Steel (ICONS-2024): Focus on Capital Goods on 30th & 31st May 2024 at MTI (Management Training Institute) Conference Hall, Shyamali Colony, Doranda. The First day of ICONS-2024 started on Thursday with welcoming dignitaries. At the outset, Sanjay Kumar Verma, CMD-MECON welcomed all the dignitaries and set the context of the conference. The Conference was inaugurated by lighting up of the lamp by NN Sinha- Secretary-Ministry of Steel, GoI, Sukriti Likhi- Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, MoS, Abhijit Narendra-Joint Secretory MoS, Dr. Sanjay Roy-Jt. Secretory, MoS, Amitava Mukherjee, CMD-NMDC, Ajit Kumar Saxena, CMD-MOIL, Sanjay Kumar Verma, CMD & Director commercial Addl charge-MECON and Amarendu Prakash- Chairman-SAIL. Some dignitaries also joined virtually through video conference. CMD-SAIL, CMD-MOIL and CMD-NMDC addressed the gathering. Key note address was delivered by Abhijit Narendran and special address was given by Nagendra Nath Sinha. In the special address, Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary-MoS, GoI said that today meticulous project planning and timely execution has become one of the biggest challenges for the steel projects being set up in India. We need to find out innovative ways of timely executing our projects for keeping steel projects healthy and for its long-term sustainability. He also emphasized on new ways of working, new ideas, new talents need to be inducted to revive Heavy industry sector. Abhijit Narendra, Joint Secretary-MoS, GoI said that although we are second in steel production, but we have limitations in making machineries for steel industry. He stressed on to create an Ecosystem containing all the stakeholders. CMD- NMDC mentioned that India is the 5th largest Economy, we are the most young and vibrant nation. India is basically service sector-based nation. Manufacturing sector needs to grow substantially and areas should be identified categorically. Constant interaction is needed between technology provider and technology buyer to educate each other on the possibilities and requirement of the future. CMD- MOIL said that capital goods sector is very strategic part of economy. Capital goods sector is considered as mother of manufacturing sector. He emphasized that integrated steel plant shall have big engineering workshop. CMD-SAIL who co-hosted the conference welcomed all and said that considering the volatility in the world, we need to focus on supply chain security since securing supply- chain is becoming more and more difficult. He emphasized on development of a comprehensive and sustainable eco system for the production of indigenized capital goods. CMD-MECON spoke about National Steel Policy (NSP)-2017 and further elaborated that as per policy target to reach the 300 Mt steel capacity - about 138-139 Mt of new capacity is estimated to be added in next 7-8 years involving a huge investment of US$ 120-130 billion from the Indian Steel industry. There will be a likely import of about 15-20% of steel plant equipment from foreign countries. Given the current situation, where the import content and value rises as we move up the value chain, about $ 18-20 billion worth of imported equipment is likely to be sourced from abroad besides spares worth of about US$ 400-500 million. In order to strengthen domestic manufacturing, it is vital to explore strategies like technology transfer or international technology provider to establish manufacturing units in India. The First Day of the conference also covered four technical sessions: Trends and Challenges in Coke Making Technology, Trends and Challenges in Agglomeration Technology, Trends and Challenges in Iron Making Technology, Trends and Challenges in Steel Making Technology. Senior representatives from manufacturing companies, Iron & Steel producers, equipment suppliers, engineering & consultancy companies were present during the day long conference. Participation of academia signified the collaborative willingness to take up the challenges. After the strict action taken by the Jabalpur Collector in the matter of arbitrary fee collection by private schools in Madhya Pradesh, in view of its results, the state government has now instructed all the collectors of the state to take action in the districts. It has been instructed that they should register the fees and other information of all the schools in their district portal. The School Education Department has asked to strictly follow the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Private Schools (Regulation of Fees and Related Subjects) Act 2018 and Rules 2020 in all the districts of the state. Regarding this, in the instructions issued on Thursday, the collectors have been told that in the letter issued by the Directorate of Public Instruction on May 20, instructions were issued to submit the information of fees and other subjects by non-government schools on the portal by June 8. Meanwhile, it has become clear that the rules and instructions of the government are not being followed by the management of some schools. In such a situation, there is an open violation of MP Private Schools (Regulation of Fees and Related Subjects) Rules 2020. This is serious and in view of its complaints, new instructions are being issued. It has also been said that fake and duplicate ISBN textbooks are being included in the curriculum. To correct this, conduct a special campaign by 30 June 2024 and get it investigated. Identify how many schools have committed such irregularities and for what reasons. Action should also be taken against the publishers and booksellers who committed the irregularities. The collectors have also been asked to submit the investigation report of this. The action of Jabalpur Collector Deepak Saxena has set an example in the matter. Saxena has investigated 11 private schools and taken action to get fake and duplicate books used there and to get the excess fees of Rs 81.30 crore recovered and to impose a penalty of Rs 22 lakh. Along with this, 20 principals, chairmen, CEOs, secretaries and other officials of these schools have also been arrested. After the action of Jabalpur Collector, Damoh Collector Sudhir Kochhar and Shahdol Collector Tarun Bhatnagar have also started investigation of the schools of the district. Schools have been asked to upload information on the portal. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said that he will be cooperating in the probe involving his aide in a case of gold smuggling. The aide was reportedly detained from the IGI Airport here by the Customs Department for allegedly trying to smuggle in gold estimated to be valued at over Rs 35.22 lakh. In a post on X, Tharoor said that he was in Dharamshala for campaigning and was shocked to hear about the incident. While seeking to make his case clear, he said the aide was an old and ill part-time employee. "I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance. He is a 72 year old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained on a part-time basis on compassionate grounds," he said. "I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action as may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course," the Congress leader added. Meanwhile, the Customs Department in a statement said that based on suspicion, officers at IGI Airport have booked a case of smuggling of gold against an Indian national who arrived at the Airport from Bangkok by flight TG-323 on Wednesday. A Chhattisgarh NITI Aayog meeting held in Raipur on Wednesday to prepare the Vision 2047 Document emphasised the need for on quality education. Representatives from reputed educational institutions were present. Advisor Dr. Dhirendra Tiwari delivered a presentation on the key goals established for quality education, major challenges and departmental vision. School Education Department Secretary Siddharth Komal Pardeshi spoke about the various programmes underway in relation to the document. The government is preparing a vision document called Amritkal: Chhattisgarh Vision @ 2047 which will contain a detailed roadmap to transform the region from a developing state to a developed one. The document is scheduled to be released on Chhattisgarh's foundation day, November 1. The Communist Party of India said on Thursday that there was a move to impose another new tax on vehicles the Road Safety Cess from June 1, the last day of voting in the ongoing general elections. The party said it completely rejected this arbitrary plan of the Uttar Pradesh government and demanded that this anti-people proposal be thrown into the dustbin. The CPI appealed to all parties and every citizen to strongly oppose this proposed step of the Uttar Pradesh government. Expressing strong objection to this proposed tax, CPI national executive member and state in-charge Dr Girish said that the double-engine government, which had already imposed a dozen taxes on vehicles and travel, was preparing to impose yet another tax to further burden vehicle owners and travelers. In a press statement, Dr Girish said that sources in the Transport department said that a proposal had been prepared to impose road safety cess on vehicles in Uttar Pradesh. After the final voting on June 1, it will be finalised and sent to the government any day, he claimed. He said the bureaucrats working under the government argued that the roads across the state were breaking down due to the increasing pressure of vehicles. The maintenance of broken roads will be done immediately from the revenue collected through road safety cess, he said. Dr Girish said when the Central and state governments were collecting billions of rupees from vehicle owners and travelers by imposing a dozen taxes in the name of construction and repair of roads, what was the need for another new tax. He said the Left parties had been repeatedly raising this question. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party government which talked of one country, one tax, had imposed many taxes on vehicles and travel. Dr Girish, while quoting sources, said there was a plan to levy one per cent cess on small vehicles and two per cent cess on heavy vehicles. Prof. V.C. Vivekanandan, Vice Chancellor of Hidaytullah National Law University in Raipur, said the new criminal laws were drafted with emphasis on electronic evidence for transparency and accountability. A press communique from the university said he said this at the concluding event of a three-day capacity building workshop which ended on Wednesday. Prof Ranbir Singh, a distinguished jurist and the guest of honour, underlined the necessity for further changes in criminal laws. Earlier, Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Ashok Juneja said the Ministry of Home Affairs has recognized and appreciated the efforts of the Chhattisgarh Police and the HNLU for organizing such a well-structured and detailed training programme. Campaigning for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections ended today (Thursday). Leaders of various political parties intensified the last-minute rallies. Voting will be held on June 1 in 57 parliamentary constituencies spread over seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. A total of 904 candidates are in the fray in this phase. Thirteen seats each in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, 9 in West Bengal, 8 seats in Bihar, 6 in Odisha, 4 in Himachal Pradesh, 3 in Jharkhand, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh are going to the polls on June 1. Simultaneously, 42 assembly seats in Odisha will also go to the polls. The counting of votes will be done on June 4. In the last phase of polling for the Lok Sabha election, all eyes have now shifted to Santhal region in Jharkhand where voting will take place for three parliamentary seats of Dumka, Rajmahal and Godda. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be trying to retain its two parliamentary seats. The party had won Godda and Dumka seats in the 2019 general election whereas it lost the Rajmahal seat to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 12 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand but later the same year, BJP won just four Assembly seats out of 18 in Santhal Pargana in the State Assembly election. BJPs prestige is at stake as JMM founder Shibu Sorens eldest daughter-in-law Sita Soren, who quit the party a month before the Lok Sabha election and joined the BJP, is contesting as the saffron party candidate from Dumka. Nalin Soren, seven-time MLA of Sikaripara Assembly seat, is up against Sita Soren. The Dumka parliamentary seat is also important for the BJP because its State president Babulal Marandi has represented the constituency twice in 1998 and 1999. Winning Dumka has apparently become a matter of prestige for both the BJP and JMM, and the two parties have neither spared strength nor resources in their poll campaigns. In Godda, sitting BJP MP Nishikant Dubey is locked in a direct contest against Congress candidate Pradeep Yadav. In the 2019 general election, Dubey got the lead in all six Assembly segments Jarmundi, Madhupur, Deoghar, Poreyahat, Godda and Mahagama. In the previous Lok Sabha election, Yadav had contested the seat on a Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) ticket. On the other hand, Rajmahal seat that is reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) is presently occupied by JMM where the party has fielded sitting MP Vijay Hansda, who is up against BJP candidate Tala Marandi. It has turned into a triangular contest after Lobin Hembrom, a rebel JMM MLA who represents Borio Assembly seat, jumped into the contest as an Independent candidate. Two more candidates on the seat have raised serious questions over the fate of JMMs fortunes in the Rajmahal seat, which has six Assembly segments Borio, Barhait, Litipara, Pakur, Maheshpur, and Rajmahal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed a rally in Dumka, turning up the heat on the JMM-Congress combine. Sita Soren, Tala Marandi and Nishikant Dubey, BJP candidates from Rajmahal and Godda constituencies, respectively, were present at the event. The elections also came for the JMM at a critical time following the arrest of former CM Hemant Soren, one of Shibus sons, in January. The JMMs campaign in Dumka is being helmed by Shibus younger son Basant Soren and veteran leader Stephen Marandi. As per the instructions of NALSA New Delhi and Jhalsa Ranchi, Principal District and Sessions Judge of Lohardaga district cum DALSA President Arvind Kumar Pandey inspected the Divisional Jail, Lohardaga on Thursday. CJM Krishnakant Mishra and Dalsa Secretary Rajesh Kumar were also present with him. PDJ interacted with the prisoners confined in Mandal Jail and listened to their problems. He also inspected many wards. Jailer Subodh Kumar said that till 30th May 2024, a total of 260 prisoners are lodged in Mandal Jail. In which there are 246 male prisoners and 14 female prisoners. There are also 32 convicted prisoners, who are to be transferred to Hotwar jail after June 4. There are 228 undertrial prisoners in Mandal Jail. In view of the increasing heat, PDJ emphasized on proper arrangement of drinking water and fans. PDJ is also directed to ensure cleanliness and hygiene at places like toilets, bathrooms, dispensaries etc. Along with this, instructions were also given to repair the high mast light as soon as possible. Dalsa Secretary informed that the panel advocates of LADCS keep visiting Mandal Jail from time to time and talk to the prisoners and solve their problems. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday accused the BJP government at the Centre of harming small and medium businesses, including the tourism sector in Himachal Pradesh. Claiming that demonetisation and Goods and Service Tax (GST) implementation hit the tourism industry of the state, she promised to strengthen the sector with a focus on small and medium businesses if the Congress was voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections. Addressing an election rally in Kullu, Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of handing over public property of the country such as ports, airports and coal mines to ''his industrialists friends''. ''Even in Himachal today, maximum cold stores are owned by Adani who decides the rate of apples and the fate of apple-growers,'' the Congress general secretary alleged. In addition, Gandhi claimed that import duty on apples coming from the US has been reduced, while local producers have to pay the GST imposed on agricultural implements and equipment. Due to this, apple-growers in the state are affected by the imported apples from the US that have flooded the markets, she added. She also alleged that people are now ''dying due to the Covid vaccine'' and that the BJP had taken a Rs 52-crore donation from a manufacturer. Despite being in power for 55 years the Congress could not become the richest party but the BJP has become the richest party in the world in just 10 years, she said. Speaking at a public rally seeking support for Congress's candidate from Mandi parliamentary constituency Vikramaditya Singh, Gandhi said if the INDIA bloc comes to power, poor women in the state will get Rs 10,000 every month --- Rs 8,500 as promised in the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls and Rs 1,500 promised by the party's government in Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is beautiful and a ''symbol of cultured politics'', Gandhi said, urging people of the state to guide the politics of the country in the right direction. Attacking the prime minister, Gandhi said, ''Modi ji calls Himachal as his second home but he neither gave any special package to the state nor did he declare the worst ever monsoon as a national disaster.'' Instead, he made every effort to topple the democratically-elected Congress government in the state, she said. Gandhi was referring to the political crisis involving the six Congress rebels who voted in favour of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha elections and later joined the party. They are now contesting the assembly bypolls as BJP candidates. ''During the worst monsoon disaster in the state last year, people saw the difference between the Congress and the BJP, when every Congress leader and worker was on the ground while the BJP was seen nowhere,'' she said. The Congress leader also claimed that the BJP-led Centre did not release funds deposited under the National Pension Scheme when the state's Congress government restored the Old Pension Scheme in Himachal Pradesh to make it unsuccessful. She also targeted the BJP government for the Agnipath scheme, saying it would lead to more unemployment, which is the ''highest in the last 45 years with 70 crore youth waiting for jobs''. Speaking at the rally, Congress's Lok Sabha candidate from Mandi Vikramaditya Singh said her BJP rival Kangana Ranaut was a ''parachute candidate''. Ranaut has no knowledge of the state, no affinity with it and remained absent during last year's floods, Singh said. He said channelisation of Beas river, promotion of tourism, making Mandi a smart city were his main priorities and said he would raise the issue of increasing import duty on apples at the Centre. Singh also claimed that Himachal Pradesh was the first state to bring an anti-conversion law during the tenure of his father, former chief minister Virbhadra Singh. ''We do not need a certificate of Hindutva from the BJP,'' he said, and ended his speech with ''Kullu ki janta ko Jai Shri Ram''. In a significant achievement, students of Prestige Institute of Management and Research (PIMR), Indore, have completed an innovative live project titled "Sustainable Indore - Waste to Wealth." This remarkable initiative, undertaken by students Ocean Jain and Pratham Mishra under the guidance of Prof. (Dr.) Nitin Girdharwal, explores Indore's pioneering waste management technologies, providing invaluable insights. The project highlights best practices and policy implementations that have positioned Indore as a leader in sustainable waste management. It showcases the economic benefits of waste-to-wealth initiatives, demonstrating how these efforts can attract investment and foster economic growth. Additionally, the project's findings illustrate how Indore's success story can serve as an educational case study, demonstrating the transition to sustainable waste management. By drawing parallels with global waste management challenges, the research offers valuable lessons applicable beyond Indore. In recognition of their exceptional work, Indore Mayor Pushya Mitra Bhargav awarded a certificate of appreciation to the PIMR students. Mayor Bhargav commended them for their critical thinking, research skills, and ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world issues, unraveling the complexities of waste management and emphasizing the importance of sustainability. Dr. Davish Jain, Chairman of the Prestige Education Foundation, praised the students' research, noting its significance in addressing real-world problems. He highlighted this project as a milestone for PIMR Indore, reflecting the institution's commitment to providing quality education and fostering research and innovation. Dr. Jain added, "The 'Sustainable Indore - Waste to Wealth' project exemplifies how academic research can drive practical solutions for environmental sustainability, setting a benchmark for future initiatives in Indore and beyond." Col. Dr. S. Raman Iyer, Director of PIMR (UG Campus), emphasized that the students' research has also supported the Ahilya City Forest Project in Indore, which aims to create a green urban space. Punjabs Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C on Wednesday declared that all polling booths in the state will be tobacco-free for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The use of cigarettes, bidi, and other tobacco products will be prohibited in all polling booths, he said, adding that the presiding officer of each polling booth has been nominated as the nodal officer to ensure the tobacco-free status at the respective polling booths. This significant step underscores the Office of CEOs commitment to promote public health and creating a safe and healthy environment for voters. The aim of declaring polling booths tobacco-free is to protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke exposure and encourage a healthier lifestyle among the people. This initiative also aligns with broader public health campaigns and legislative efforts to reduce tobacco use and its associated health risks including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung disease, blindness, etc, he added. Voting with Style: Anandpur Sahib's Airport-Themed Polling Booth to Boost Turnout Aimed at increasing voter turnout in Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, the Election Commission has set up a unique, airport-themed Super Model Polling Booth at Amity International School. Designed to give voters the feel of being at an international airport, this booth offers a range of attractions to make voting a memorable experience. As voters approach the polling booth, they are greeted with a grand floral entrance and a red carpet welcome, complete with the beats of traditional Punjabi dhol. The entrance features a sign in Punjabi reading Ji Aaya Nu (Welcome), with a message underneath encouraging citizens to Take Flight for Democracy at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport. Once inside, voters will find comfortable seating arrangements and refreshment stations offering chilled water and traditional Punjabi chabeel (sweetened water). Additionally, there will be a corner where young women demonstrate traditional sewing and embroidery, adding to the cultural ambiance. A help desk will guide voters to the correct room for casting their ballots, issuing boarding passes (voter slips) to streamline the process. Young women dressed as air hostesses will welcome voters and assist them through the voting procedure. After voting, voters can take selfies with a model airplane, capturing their participation in this unique electoral experience. Congress had named 40 leaders as star campaigners of the party for campaigning in the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, but not even a quarter of them were seen active in the field. Even after the completion of campaigning for the seven phases of elections, the candidates did not even see some former state presidents who were made star campaigners by the party. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who retired from active politics due to poor health condition, too made a brief appearance to seek vote for her son Rahul Gandhi in Rae Bareli. After the partys alliance with Samajwadi Party in UP, Congress was allotted just 17 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP. This also annoyed many senior leaders who were looking for a chance to once again try their luck in the ongoing parliamentary elections. After finding that they were left with no other choice but to seek vote for the SP candidates in their strongholds, they preferred to sit in their homes. Rising mercury was another reason which kept the veteran Congress leaders away from campaign trail Among the star campaigners, the Congress included national leaders as well as those state leaders who are known among the public due to their organisational or constitutional post. In the elections, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, former national president Rahul Gandhi and national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, apart from national general secretary and UP in-charge Avinash Pandey sweated a lot, but due to some reasons, the other star campaigners were relatively less active. Former chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, former chief minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijay Singh, along with party veteran and Rajya Sabha member Pramod Tiwari were also seen active in the election campaign. On the contrary, many former state presidents were not active in the election campaign. These leaders included former state president Salman Khurshid, Raj Babbar, Dr Nirmal Khatri, Ajay Kumar Lallu and Brijlal Khabri. It was said that Dr Khatri was ill while Raj Babbar was later fielded from Gurugram (Haryana). The current UPCC president, Ajay Rai, himself could not give the required time for campaigning on other seats due to being in the election fray from Varanasi. As a result of this more responsibility fell on Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona. Similarly, former Union minister Pradeep Jain Aditya, who was made a star campaigner, could not come out of Jhansi due to being a candidate himself. Party candidates got organisational help from the state in-charge and co-state in-charges, while in the case of public meetings or roadshows during the elections campaigns, they got support from Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi along with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav. Supriya Srinet, president of the social media department of Congress, who was included in the list of star campaigners, also played a role in election management. Two Maoists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur district on Wednesday. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Yadav told the media that the gun battle took place in a forest. Security personnel were on an anti-Maoist operation when the fighting took place around 11 am. The bodies of two Maoists and weapons were recovered from the spot, the officer said. With this incident, 118 Maoists have been killed this year by security forces in the state. Heavy police deployment in Kanyakumari for PM Modis visit The Tamil Nadu police have deployed a heavy force in Kanyakumari where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reach on Thursday. The Prime Minister has announced that he will meditate at Vivekananda Rock Memorial on May 30, May 31 and June 1. He will reach Kanyakumari in a helicopter from Thiruvananthapuram by 4.45 p.m. on Thursday and return on June 1 by 3.25 pm to Thiruvananthapuram. He will fly to New Delhi from there. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tirunelveli Range, Pravesh Kumar told media persons that 3000 cops will be deployed for duty and multi-layer security will be in place. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Congress committee president, K. Selvaperunthugai has come out strongly against the visit of the Prime Minister to Kanyakumari for meditation at the Vivekananda Rock memorial. In a post on social media platform ,X, Selvaperunthugai said, The Election Commission of India should not give permission for such a programme as the Model Code of Conduct Rules are in force as per the Representation of Peoples Act." The Congress leader said that PM Modi was trying for a silent campaign by his three-day meditation. He added that the party would send a letter to the Election Commission in this regard and if necessary would also move the court against it. Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office, New Delhi, and the Department of Public Health and Medical Education, Government of Madhya Pradesh, visited the Skill Lab and Nursing College of AIIMS Bhopal. This visit aimed to strengthen pre-service nursing education in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The delegation included Dr. Hilde De Graeve (Team Leader, Health Systems, WHO Country Office for India), Ms. Rakshita Khanijou (National Professional Officer, Health Workforce, WHO, New Delhi, India), and Dr. Rajashree Bajaj (Joint Director, Nursing, Department of Public Health and Medical Education, Government of Madhya Pradesh). They were warmly welcomed by Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal who highlighted the pivotal role of nurses in the healthcare system of India and emphasized the importance of high-quality clinical training, nursing education, and patient care. Over the past two years, AIIMS Bhopal has undertaken several initiatives to improve pre-service nursing education. These initiatives include the establishment of a Nurse-Led Clinic, the KARUNYA initiative for compassionate care, an exit module for nursing students to prepare them for their professional careers, an increased intake capacity for the BSc (Nursing) program, the introduction of a competency-based nursing curriculum, and a postgraduate fellowship course on compassionate and palliative care nursing. Prof. Singh stated, "AIIMS Bhopal is committed to reducing regional imbalances in healthcare service delivery through close cooperation with the state government, National Health Mission (NHM), and global health agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO)." During their visit, the WHO team interacted with faculty members, undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students, and commended AIIMS Bhopal for its efforts to maintain high standards in clinical training and nursing education. An unknown vehicle hit a youth riding a sportbike on a bridge near Bhopal airport. The youth injured in the accident, died during treatment at Hamidia Hospital on Thursday morning, Gandhi Nagar police has registered a case in the matter. To identify the vehicle that hit him, the police are examining the footage of CCTV cameras installed around the incident site. ASI Rambharat Suman said that the deceased identified as Salman Khan was a resident of Sajida Nagar Karbala Road. He worked as a mechanic in a spare parts shop located at Imami Gate. On the night of Wednesday, he had left telling his younger brother that he was going to a dhaba in Gandhi Nagar. An unknown vehicle hit him while overtaking on the bridge located on Airport Road. The bike went out of control and hit the divider. Due to this, he suffered serious head injuries. He was admitted to Hamidia Hospital for treatment. Where he died on Thursday morning during treatment. The Congress has already conceded defeat in the Lok Sabha polls and is preparing to blame electronic voting machines and the Election Commission, Union minister and BJP's Hamirpur candidate Anurag Thakur claimed on Thursday. Speaking at a public meeting here, he alleged that Congress' anti-national policies have garnered support not from India but from Pakistan and foreign powers may have hopes pinned on the party. However, people in India will never hand over the country to them, he added. Thakur said that this is the same party that indulges in corruption even in military purchases, seeks to weaken the army, questions its might, and fails to take action against Pakistan even after the capture of a terrorist like Kasab. "The Congress has lost its credibility among the people, leading to frustration and disappointment among its leaders...And conceding defeat, it is preparing to blame EVMs, the Election Commission, and other factors," he said. He remarked that despite Uttar Pradesh having produced many prime ministers from the Congress party, the people were still compelled to live in slums, even in Raebareli and Amethi. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh is now on the path to progress. Today, Adityanath has transformed UP into a state free of crime, mafia, and riots. Workers from the entire Himachal, including the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency, are feeling highly motivated and energetic following the UP CM's address, he said. Adityanath had addressed two rallies in Kullu and Hamirpur on Thursday to garner support for BJP's Mandi candidate Kangana Ranaut and Thakur. Hours ahead of JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna's scheduled return from abroad to face the law over sexual abuse allegations, the Karnataka government on Thursday said the next course of action, such as cancellation of his passport, will follow if he fails to show up as promised. Prajwal, facing charges of sexually abusing several women, had said in a video statement earlier this week that he will return on May 31 and appear before a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case. He has booked a ticket in an international flight from Munich that is scheduled to land here at 12.30 AM on Friday. On Thursday, State Home Minister G Parameshwara said that in case Prajwal Revanna does not return to the country on May 31 as stated, further action such as cancellation of his passport will follow. Prajwal will be arrested upon his return and the legal process will be initiated, he added. The anticipatory bail plea moved by the 33 year-old suspended JD(S) MP in a rape case is pending before a city special court and is likely to come up for hearing on Friday. Earlier, some media outlets, including PTI, had erroneously reported that the court had dismissed his bail petition. "The information is he (Prajwal) will come, he has booked the flight ticket. SIT has made necessary preparations. If he comes the legal process will begin," Parameshwara told reporters. "As per law, a warrant has been issued against him, so he will have to be arrested, SIT will decide and do it." "He himself has said in the video statement that he will appear before SIT on May 31 at 10 am, not us. So I feel that he will come... In case he doesn't, the process will follow, like cancelling his passport; we will again request the Interpol through CBI, as the state government cannot do it directly, we will have to do it through Government of India agencies," he added. A team of SIT officials is camping at the airport here to arrest Prajwal. Asked whether Prajwal's passport will be impounded, he said the state government has requested the Centre to cancel his passport, and depending on the legal process they might cancel. "The External Affairs Minister has said that the process has been initiated in this regard, so they might do it," he added. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier served a show-cause notice to Prajwal Revanna, asking why his diplomatic passport should not be cancelled as sought by the Karnataka government in view of allegations of sexual abuse against him. Meanwhile, hundreds of people took part in a march in Haasan, seeking justice for the victims of the alleged sexual abuse by Prajwal. They also demanded the arrest of the accused and a fair probe into the cases. The march was organised by a human rights collective, and was joined by civil society groups from across the state, including women, labourers, farmers, Dalits, and sexual minorities. The march was held amid the beats of 'Tamate' (a percussion instrument) and drums. Besides demanding the arrest of Prajwal, the participants also sought justice for the victims and expressed solidarity with them. They also demanded for action against those behind the circulation of pen drives containing videos of the sexual assault, and urged the administration to ensure the deletion of videos which are in circulation on social media platforms. Noted activists including former MP Subhashini Ali, writer Roopa Hassan and Vimala KS among others participated in the march. Prajwal (33), the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and the NDA candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of sexually abusing women. He reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to polls. The instances of sexual abuse came to light after several pen drives allegedly containing explicit videos involving Prajwal were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26. Days after former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif admitted that Islamabad had violated the Lahore pact, India on Thursday said an objective view is emerging on the issue in the neighbouring country. Sharif on Tuesday said Islamabad had "violated" an agreement with India signed by him and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999, in an apparent reference to the Kargil misadventure by General Pervez Musharraf. "You are aware of our position on the issue. I need not have to reiterate that. We note that there is an objective view emerging in Pakistan as well on this matter," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. He was replying to a question on the matter at his weekly media briefing. After a historic summit in Lahore, then Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee and Sharif signed the Lahore Declaration on February 21, 1999. The agreement that talked about a vision of peace and stability between the two neighbouring countries signalled a breakthrough. However, a few months later, Pakistani intrusion in Jammu and Kashmir's Kargil district led to the Kargil conflict. "On May 28, 1998, Pakistan carried out five nuclear tests. After that Vajpayee saheb came here and made an agreement with us. But we violated that agreement.... It was our fault," Sharif told a meeting of the PML-N general council that elected him the president of the ruling party in Pakistan. OpenAI says its setting up a safety and security committee and has begun training a new AI model to supplant the GPT-4 system that underpins its ChatGPT chatbot. The San Francisco startup said in a blog post Tuesday that the committee will advise the full board on critical safety and security decisions for its projects and operations. The safety committee arrives as debate swirls around AI safety at the company, which was thrust into the spotlight after a researcher, Jan Leike, resigned and levelled criticism at OpenAI for letting safety take a backseat to shiny products. OpenAI co-founder and chief scientist Ilya Sutskever also resigned, and the company disbanded the superalignment team focused on AI risks that they jointly led. OpenAI said it has recently begun training its next frontier model and its AI models lead the industry on capability and safety, though it made no mention of the controversy. We welcome a robust debate at this important moment, the company said. AI models are prediction systems that are trained on vast datasets to generate on-demand text, images, video and human-like conversation. Frontier models are the most powerful, cutting edge AI systems. The safety committee is filled with company insiders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Chairman Bret Taylor, and four OpenAI technical and policy experts. It also includes board members Adam DAngelo, whos the CEO of Quora, and Nicole Seligman, a former Sony general counsel. The committees first job will be to evaluate and further develop OpenAIs processes and safeguards and make its recommendations to the board in 90 days. The company said it will then publicly release the recommendations its adopting in a manner that is consistent with safety and security. China's premium rice farms regain vitality after last summer flood 16:44, May 30, 2024 By Fang Ning ( Xinhua HARBIN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- It is late in May, and paddy fields are featuring tender green rice seedlings in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the country's top grain producer. Rice in the fields of Heilongjiang grow for more than 130 days until the October harvest period, which is longer than the growth cycle of paddy rice growing elsewhere in China, and yield the country's premium rice. An hour's drive from the provincial capital of Harbin, which recently hosted the eighth China-Russia Expo, vast swathes of black soil farmlands and paddy fields provide ideal conditions for grain production. The paddy rice growing area of Wuchang, a city administrated by Harbin, is regarded as Heilongjiang's premier area for growing high-quality rice. Walking along the edge of fields, I could barely imagine how Typhoon Doksuri had devastated this rice-producing area in August 2023. The typhoon triggered rare and significant floods just as rice plants began to form ears, leaving paddy fields inundated. "The flood water submerged my seedling greenhouse and destroyed my house," said Liu Xiu, 66, as she explained the severity of the damage caused by last summer's flooding in her village of Changbao, Wuchang. According to the city's agricultural department, nearly half of Wuchang's 2.5 million mu (about 166,667 hectares) of rice growing fields had suffered flood damage. Local authorities responded swiftly to the disaster, helping 2,651 households rebuild their houses, and another 8,259 households repair their houses, before the start of winter. Liu and her son spent the winter in their newly built houses equipped with underfloor heating systems. Rebuilding of their houses was made possible by government subsidies, she said. "Last year, my fields yielded no harvest due to the disaster. This spring, I spent nearly a whole month removing flood sludge and rubbish from the fields, and then poured clean water on the land for planting," Liu said. Irrigation water reaches her field through pipes running from a river section 50 km away. All flood-damaged irrigation systems in Wuchang had been repaired before May to ensure the possibility of spring farming. Liu and her son manage a 130-mu paddy field. This takes the form of a rural cooperative, with seven other rural households having transferred their land to the cooperative farming initiative. With the help of a transplanting machine equipped with satellite navigation, Liu and her son managed to independently plant the seedlings in the vast field within two weeks. A friend helped her register an account on the social media platform Douyin, China's version of TikTok, and uploaded video clips showing how she worked in the field. Her account has garnered 60,000 followers. Confident of the success of this year's harvest, Liu invited me to return in autumn for a taste of her crop. "Many of my fans placed orders after watching my farming activities on Douyin. I offer them a discounted price for advance orders," she revealed. "We only produce organic rice, and use biological methods for pest control and hand-made bean cakes as fertilizer," Liu added. According to the Heilongjiang provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs, the province has made every effort to maximize the prime planting season. As of May 26, the transplanting of rice seedlings had been completed in 99 percent of the paddy fields in Heilongjiang. Among the hundreds of rice-producing firms in Wuchang, Qiaofudayuan Agricultural Co. Ltd. is seen as a flagship company in the field of high-quality rice production, contracting farmland owned by 8,000 households for cooperative farming. Huang Changming, manager of the company's planting management department, said except for 40 mu (about 2.67 hectares) of paddy fields reserved for visitors to experience rice seedling planting, the company had finished its seedling planting for the 2024 season. Every year, the company receives about 10,000 primary school students, who visit it to study agriculture and experience farm work. The company has 30,000 mu of certified organic rice fields, where manual seedling transplanting has been maintained for intensive farming aimed at producing rice of premium quality, said Huang. "When the seedling plants grow to 30 cm tall, we deploy duck chicks in the field at a density of 18 chicks per mu on average. The duck chicks eat weeds and pests in the field, without disturbing rice plants, which have barbs. In addition, duck manure fertilizes the field," Huang explained. The company's rice brands mostly cater to high-end consumption demands in China. Its best organic rice resulting from the duck-deployed fields is priced at 1,489 yuan (about 209 U.S. dollars) per 300 grams. Huang also said that the company had installed intelligent weather stations in paddy fields for precision weather monitoring, thereby allowing it to adopt swift measures to prevent or limit damage caused by adverse weather. "These measures proved effective in preventing flood damage last year. In case of heavy rainfall forecasts, we timeously drained water from fields," said Huang. As the country's major grain-producing province, Heilongjiang pays very close attention to farming production, taking all steps of the process seriously in its bid to achieve a bumper harvest. The province's grain output amounted to 77.88 billion kg in 2023, extending its hold on the number one ranking in China to 14 consecutive years. Nonetheless, agricultural experts believe that the per-unit yield of grain crops in the province still has room for improvement. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The Miller F. Whittaker Library ORANGEBURG, S.C. The Whittaker familys legacy is etched in South Carolina State Universitys history in several ways, most notably for 56 years on the Miller F. Whittaker Library. The university celebrated that fact on April 5 by observing the Whittaker Librarys anniversary in an event at the I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium. The featured speaker of the event was Elizabeth Whittaker-Walker, a great-great-niece of Dr. Miller Fulton Whittaker, SC States third president, for whom the library is named. She was among 12 Whittaker family members who attended the event. She detailed eight generations of her family while addressing her familys lengthy history with the university. She began her presentation with a moment of silence to recognize her enslaved ancestors. In Ghana, West Africa, theres an Adinkra symbol called Sankofa. It means go back and fetch it, she said. In other words, in order to know where youre going, you must know where youve been. Whittaker-Walker also spoke of her familys commitment to education. In just about any Whittaker household you visit, youre going to find a lot of books, she said. Growing up, it wasnt a matter of whether or not you were going to go to college, that was assumed. You just had to decide which one. As Whittaker-Walker noted in her remarks, her great-great-uncle was not the only member of the family who contributed to SC States history. Soon after the institutions founding in 1896, Whittaker-Walkers great-great-grandfather and President Whittakers father, Johnson Chesnut Whittaker, was the commandant of the campus military unit from 1901-1903. Johnson Chesnut Whittaker was one of the first three Black cadets to attend West Point Military Academy, but he was wrongly dismissed from the academy in the late 1800s. He was posthumously awarded his commission by President Bill Clinton in 1995. Whittaker-Walker is a great-granddaughter of Johnson Chesnut Whittaker Jr., President Whittaker's brother. She is a granddaughter of Peter Pete Harrison Whittaker, who became dean of SC States Law School when the founding dean, Dr. Benner Turner, became the universitys fourth president following the death of President Whittaker in 1949. To answer audience questions, Whittaker-Walker was joined at the podium by her cousin, Judge Ulysses Whittaker Boykin, one of the founders of Harvard Law Schools Black Law Student Association and a longtime jurist in Michigan, whom she affectionately called Uncle Uly. Thank you for hosting such a wonderful event, Whittaker-Walker said in reflecting on the anniversary celebration. South Carolina State will always hold a special place in our hearts and this day will be cherished for many years to come. Her great-great-uncle left an indelible legacy at SC State. Miller F. Whittaker A Sumter, South Carolina, native, President Whittaker earned a bachelors degree in architecture from Kansas State College in 1913. That same year, he joined the faculty of SC State -- then Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College -- and taught mechanical drawing and physics. After service in World War I, he became dean of the mechanical arts program at the college. He designed several campus buildings and supervised student labor in their construction. In 1928 Kansas State. awarded Whittaker a professional degree in architecture after he submitted the drawings of Hodge Hall as his thesis. During the anniversary celebration, Dr. William H. Hine, a retired SC State history professor and author of The History of SC State University, provided a historical prospective about President Whittaker and the library. Hine spoke of the challenges President Whittaker faced when he became president in 1932 following the death of Dr. Robert Shaw Wilkinson, SC States second president. President Whittaker led the institution during the depression years and sometimes did not have enough money to make payroll. Like so many other HBCUs of its day, the Colored Normal was essentially a high school, Hine said. Despite the challenges, President Whittaker and the faculty were able to transform SC State from the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina into South Carolina State College. Like so many other HBCUs of its day, the Colored Normal colleges essentially were high schools according to Dr. Hine. Additionally, President Whittaker was charged with establishing the law school for Blacks at SC State, and he was intimately involved with the construction the campus first library building, Wilkinson Hall. Following 13th SC State President Alexander Conyers concluding remarks, a buffet luncheon was provided. A video and more photos from the event can be viewed at the Miller F. Whittaker Librarys website. Dr. Ruth Hodges, dean of the Miller F. Whittaker Library, provided information for this article. A standing room-only crowd listens at a town hall Wednesday evening in Orinda on the insurance crisis. Orinda has been especially hard-hit by State Farm nonrenewals in California. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle A standing room-only crowd listens during the town hall on insurance in Orinda on Wednesday evening. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Orinda Mayor Darlene Gee speaks during the insurance town hall in Orinda on Wednesday. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle The crowd watches as Julia Juarez of the California Department of Insurance, center, Orinda City Manager David Biggs, right, and Orinda Mayor Darlene Gee speak at a town hall on the insurance crisis on Wednesday. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle When a resident of Orinda suggested that home insurance prices should triple, attendees at a town hall Wednesday night had a surprising response. They cheered. In this affluent city at the epicenter of Californias insurance crisis, many residents apparently would willingly pay much more if it meant not losing their homeowners policy altogether. This year, a quarter of all homes in the city are being dropped by State Farm, which like other insurers, has been trying to reduce exposure to wildfire risk. That amounted to 1,700 homes more than were non-renewed by State Farm in any other ZIP code in California. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At the town hall Wednesday, frustrated residents urged the California Department of Insurance to act faster to stop insurance companies from dropping customers or leaving the state altogether. Julia Juarez, deputy commissioner for the Department of Insurance, answered questions alongside with Orinda Mayor Darlene Gee and City Manager David Biggs. Residents of Orinda, a city of more than 19,000 people where average home values top $2 million, pay some of the highest insurance rates in the Bay Area. According to a Chronicle analysis, the average homeowner in Orinda pays about $3,966 to be covered by one of the states top 10 insurers. But thats still not enough for insurers, who are increasingly wary of areas like Orinda, where fire risk is rated as very high by Cal Fire in parts of the city, even though the area has not seen a major fire recently. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This March, about 55% of Orinda homeowners with State Farm learned they would lose insurance coverage. State Farm has not said why it made these unusually heavy cuts in Orinda. But in filings with the state, the insurer said it was choosing which policies to drop based on wildfire risk, the risk of fires following earthquakes or areas with a significant concentration of company policies. State Farm accounts for about 20% of homeowner policies across the state, but in Orinda, prior to the pullback, it insured nearly half of all homes. The extent of the problem was evident in the town halls turnout. More than 10 minutes before the scheduled start time, more than 100 people had packed into the seats of the Orinda library auditorium. Dozens more stood by the walls, taking notes on cell phones, laptops and college-ruled notebooks. This September will be Herb Browns second time losing home insurance due to the crisis, he told the Chronicle. A few years ago, he lost coverage when American International Group announced it was pulling out of the California homeowners insurance market. Then in March, after hearing the news about State Farm, he called his agent and learned he was one of the 30,000 homeowners around the state set to be dropped. Brown was one of several speakers who urged the Department of Insurance to take faster action. Last September, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara unveiled his Sustainable Insurance Strategy a slate of regulations he promises will stop the insurance crisis by giving insurance companies several reforms theyve been asking for. The regulations are set to be enacted by December, but for residents like Brown, that isnt soon enough. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Notwithstanding the good fortune that may come down the road, in the meantime, the patient cant die. Im the patient, I cant hold my breath until December. Doesnt work, he told officials. When one resident suggested that the department should allow insurance companies to triple their rates if they wanted to, he was met by a chorus of yeah from the crowd. Nick Waranoff, another Orinda homeowner, said he felt insurance companies were already being overregulated. Under Proposition 103, a voter initiative passed in 1988, insurance companies must get approval from the Department of Insurance before they can raise their rates. Waranoff said he would rather see companies raise their rates as they wished and return any excess to consumers afterward. Both Brown and Waranoff expressed concern about the FAIR Plan a state-created but privately-run insurer of last resort. The FAIR Plan only covers fire damage and limits coverage to $3 million much lower than the value of many homes in cities like Orinda. But its often the only option for those who lose their policies and cant find another anywhere else. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Is anyone in Orinda getting a policy other than the FAIR (Plan)? one resident asked. No, came the replies from the crowd. Several of Orindas neighborhoods boast being Firewise communities ones where residents perform mitigation efforts such as clearing out defensible space to reduce wildfire risk. Orinda has been at the forefront of lowering your risk, Juarez told residents Wednesday night. You have taken the things that the department has suggested that we do and have done a marvelous job of doing your part to lower that risk, but I know that that has not been enough. Julia Juarez of the California Department of Insurance speaks at a town hall in Orinda devoted to the insurance crisis on Wednesday. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Juarez tried to assure the crowd that relief would be coming soon. She pointed to examples such as Farmers Insurance Group, which announced this month that it would resume writing commercial condo and apartment policies after it stopped doing so last year. On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled the details of his proposal to speed up the process for insurance companies to raise their rates, which could go into effect as early as July. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Safeway has removed self-checkout kiosks at some of its Bay Area grocery stores, including this location in Oaklands Rockridge neighborhood, due to an increasing amount of theft, the company acknowledged Thursday. Jessica Flores/The Chronicle Safeway has removed self-checkout kiosks at some of its Bay Area grocery stores due to an increasing amount of theft, the company acknowledged Thursday but did not specify which locations were affected. The operational changes which include removing self-checkout kiosks and making adjustments to the front end of the store were made at select stores across the region to deter shoplifting, a Safeway spokesperson said in a statement to the Chronicle. The statement did not specify when the changes, first reported by KTVU, were implemented. Like other local businesses, we are working on ways to curtail escalating theft so we can ensure the wellbeing of our employees and foster a welcoming environment for our customers. These long-planned security improvements were implemented with those goals in mind, the statement said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Safeway is among several major retailers, including Target and Walmart, that have been scaling back their use of self-checkout lanes to try to reduce their losses from shoplifting, despite the potential savings in labor costs and the preference for the lanes by some shoppers. Retail shrink losses driven primarily by theft increased from $94 billion in 2021 to $112 billion in the United States in 2022, according to a 2023 survey by the National Retail Federation. The Los Angeles and Bay Area metropolitan areas were the hardest hit in the country. Total reported theft crimes increased 8% statewide in 2022, but remained near historic lows, having been cut by more than half since the 1990s. So far this year, reported thefts are down 37% from the same period in 2023 in San Francisco and 47% in Oakland, according to police department data. A labor-backed bill was introduced in the California Legislature this year aiming to impose uniform limits on self-checkout at groceries and drugstores, including a 10-item maximum. But that provision has been eliminated in an amended version, amid opposition from some retailers who argue that evidence is lacking that the proposed law would deter crime and that a one-size-fits-all approach would be burdensome. Employees at one Bay Area Safeway in Oaklands Rockridge neighborhood at 5100 Broadway told the Chronicle that the stores self-checkout area closed two weeks ago due to concern about theft. The workers quoted in this story said they were not authorized to speak publicly, and the Chronicle granted them anonymity under its confidential sources policy. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Oakland Police Department did not immediately respond to the Chronicles request for reports of theft at the Rockridge location. As of Wednesday, self-checkout kiosks remained at several other Bay Area locations, including on Grand Avenue in Oakland and in San Franciscos South of Market (298 King St.), Marina District (15 Marina Blvd.) and Inner Richmond (735 Seventh Ave.) neighborhoods. An employee at the Emeryville Safeway said the kiosks there had been removed but declined to say when. Self-check kiosks were removed from the Fillmore District location at 1335 Webster St. in San Francisco last year, but the reasons were unclear, an employee said. The Fillmore store is set to close in early 2025 later than originally planned due to rampant theft and other issues over the past few years, according to Safeway officials. Some Safeways have installed receipt scanners and security gates at self-service checkout kiosks in an apparent attempt to deter shoplifting, including in San Franciscos Western Addition and in El Cerrito in the East Bay. A security gate at a Safeway in San Francisco's Western Addition opened after a shopper scanned their receipt. Nora Mishanec/The Chronicle Kiosks at some Bay Area Safeways limit customers to 15 items, including in El Cerrito and Vallejos Glen Cove neighborhood. The limit helps prevent customers from loading their carts with items and only scanning and paying for a few, according to employees. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Thursday morning, the Rockridge store buzzed with customers shopping for yogurt, fruit and other groceries. Some customers told the Chronicle that the removal of the self-checkout stations was not an inconvenience for them and said the store should hire more workers to prevent thefts. At least one frequent customer said he had witnessed several thefts at the store and supported the removal of the kiosks. Jeff Dodge, whose La Farine Bakery location in Oaklands Dimond District was burglarized in January, said he had seen people stuff items into their bags and walk out of the Rockridge store. He said he wasnt surprised by Safeways decision to remove its self-checkout kiosks because several businesses across the city have experienced similar problems. As a business owner and frequent shopper at the Rockridge location, Dodge said he supported whatever stores can do to diminish theft and added that he preferred a human worker over a kiosk. People need jobs. We dont need self-checkout, Dodge said. Marcus Pea, a private security officer in West Oakland who does not work at Safeway, said that while he had been unaware of the theft problem at the store, I hope they find the exact problem of why theyre stealing from the self-checkout and correct it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Authorities arrested two brothers after seizing more than 13 pounds of fentanyl and 4 pounds of methamphetamine, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office said. Rafe Swan/Getty Images Two brothers found in possession of more than 18 pounds of narcotics were charged in connection with drug trafficking in San Franciscos Tenderloin neighborhood, prosecutors said. Jose Ramos-Erazo, 36, and Jonathan Ramos-Erazo, 33, both Oakland residents, were charged with multiple felony counts of possession of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine salt and cocaine base, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office said Wednesday. In addition, Jonathan Ramos-Erazo has been charged with one count of transportation, sale and giving away a controlled substance, the DAs office said. The next court date for the two is scheduled for June 11. They both remain in custody with no bail set, according to the DAs office. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Drug trafficking in San Francisco is responsible for thousands of deaths and the misery of users and neighbors who live and work amongst the deadly trade, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said. My administration will continue to do everything we can to protect the safety of the public and prosecute brazen drug dealers. Authorities arrested the brothers at a parking lot at 750 Bush St. in San Francisco on May 23 after a long-term investigation, according to the DAs office. At the time of their arrest, the brothers were found in possession of fentanyl, cocaine base, methamphetamine, heroin and cash, prosecutors said. Authorities searched two Oakland residences and found more narcotics, including large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to the DAs office. In total, authorities seized more than 13 pounds of fentanyl and more than 4 pounds of methamphetamine, according to the DAs office. San Francisco police are still investigating the case. Anyone with information is asked to call 415-575-4444. Gov. Gavin Newsom, seen here in March, is trying to speed the process for considering insurance rate changes. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Gov. Gavin Newsom has provided new details this week on his proposal to bolster Californias insurance market by speeding state approval for insurers rate increase requests. The Department of Insurance is required to review all rate increases. Industry experts say the slow approval times are a key reason why many insurers have limited their business in the state, such as not writing new policies or dropping thousands of customers at a time. The pullbacks have pushed policymakers toward a hard choice: Let more of their constituents lose coverage, or create reforms that will allow insurance companies to raise rates faster. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Newsom first teased his proposal at a news conference earlier this month, where he pitched it as a short-term step toward solving the insurance crisis. We need to stabilize this market. We need to send the right signals. We need to move, Newsom said. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a statement Tuesday that the legislation known as a trailer bill because it will get attached to the state budget being voted on this summer would help meet the urgency of the moment. Lara has been working on his own set of reforms, known as the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, since last September. Hes promised that the reforms will be done by December 2024. But Newsoms trailer bill could allow rate filing changes to take effect as soon as July 1. A spokesperson for the governor said the bill, if approved, would almost certainly be implemented faster than the Sustainable Insurance Strategy reforms. Under Proposition 103 a voter initiative passed in 1988 the department is required to review insurers rate requests before they can be implemented. The review process is supposed to be done within 60 days but often takes much longer based on department delays, the submission of incomplete information by companies or public intervention by consumer groups, which can challenge rate increases. In some cases, its taken more than a year for a companys filing to be approved. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The bill would require the department to create a data reconciliation tool as soon as administratively feasible to help companies avoid gaps in their filings. It would also give the department a maximum of two 30-day extensions after the initial 60-day period to come up with its own estimated acceptable rate change, which may be the same or different than the insurers initial request. If the company rejects the departments proposed rate, or a consumer advocacy group objects to it, the company would be allowed to negotiate with the department on different terms the meaning of which is unclear. Lara said in a statement that the proposal strengthens my departments ability to hold all parties to a rate filing accountable, including insurance companies and intervenors. We will continue to thoroughly review each and every rate application filed to make sure they are compliant with our laws and justified under Prop 103, and that consumers are protected. Industry groups reacted favorably to the release. Streamlining the rate review process will help increase consumer access to coverage by ensuring rates adequately reflect risk and consumer claims especially in the wake of rapidly changing conditions, said Denni Ritter, vice president for state government relations for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, who noted that her group was still evaluating the trailer bill language. She added: Streamlining approvals is key to modernizing our regulatory system and fixing the California market. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But Consumer Watchdog, the consumer advocacy group responsible for the vast majority of public interventions under Prop 103, said the proposal would undermine the public invention process, which allows consumer advocacy groups to challenge a companys requested rate increase if they feel its too high. Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog and author of Prop 103, questioned whether the language allowing the department to negotiate on different terms with insurers would mean that consumer advocates are excluded from the negotiation process. If passed as written, Rosenfield predicted the trailer bill would get challenged in court. (Rosenfield has been involved with several similar challenges in the past.) Prop 103 contained a provision that outlawed any amendments by the Legislature unless they were to further its purposes. Rosenfield called it obvious that the current language does not meet that condition. A spokesperson for the governor did not immediately comment on the prospect of such a challenge. Last September, state legislators tried to strike a deal with insurance companies that would have allowed them to raise rates as long as they expanded coverage in the state. That deal died after it failed to meet a key deadline. But Rosenfield noted legislators are under even more pressure now to find a solution. Since September, major insurers such as State Farm, CSAA and Travelers have raised their rates and not renewed thousands of policies in California. Nearly all of them cite increased construction costs and the risk of deadly wildfires in the state. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Brown pelicans recover from starvation and injuries at International Bird Rescues San Francisco Bay-Delta Wildlife Center in Fairfield. Provided by International Bird Rescue Brown pelicans arrive at International Bird Rescues San Francisco Bay-Delta Wildlife Center in Fairfield in May. Provided by International Bird Rescue Some of the hundreds of pelicans found starving earlier this year will be released back into the wild near the base of the Golden Gate Bridge on Thursday. The starving and injured seabirds came mostly from the Monterey and Santa Cruz areas into the care of International Bird Rescue starting in April. After weeks of rehabilitation, the conservation group with a crisis center in Fairfield will release a first group of rehabilitated pelicans at Fort Baker in Sausalito. With these releases, were sending them home to the ocean healthy and in great condition to fly wherever they need to go, said Dr. Rebecca Duerr, director of research and veterinary science at International Bird Rescue, in a statement. We cant keep them in care forever, and we cant fix whats ailing the ocean. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When pelicans cant find food in their natural habitats, they venture into risky areas populated by humans. They have been found emaciated and anemic, many with injuries from fishing hooks and lines. One rescued pelican became the subject of a hashtag on social media after landing on the Oracle Park field during a Giants game earlier this month. Though the bird was a hit with the crowd, it signaled to wildlife experts that the lost bird was starving and in need of immediate care. Pelicans were found in more odd places: One was found on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport while another tried to enter a bar in Santa Cruz. It is not yet confirmed what caused the crisis as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife investigates. A running theory is that a late spring storm interfered with the seabirds ability to see, and therefore catch, food. An estimated 400 additional pelicans brought to the care facilities were dead or died shortly after being brought in, a department spokesperson said last week. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 2022, International Bird Rescue took in at least 350 starving brown pelicans then its largest influx of patients since 2012. The conservation group asks the public to report any sightings of the birds in unusual locations to their local animal control or wildlife care facility. Approaching the seabirds or removing fish hooks could make injuries worse. Though the number of pelicans admitted for rehabilitation has slowed, the cost to care for the birds and the fish they eat is high, causing International Bird Rescue to seek donations. The birds set to be released in Sausalito on Thursday will have bands on them to track their progress, as many pelicans that came before them do. To have your say on who should become your local Member of Parliament in the General Election on Thursday July 4 you must first register to vote. Everyone who is on the official electoral register then has the choice of three voting methods: In person, by post, or by appointing a proxy to vote on their behalf. How do I register to vote? You must be 18 years old or older to vote in a UK general election, although the age limit is younger for local and devolved parliament elections in Scotland and Wales. There is no upper age limit. Up to 12 working days before polling day which for the upcoming General Election is Tuesday June 18 you can register to vote by either going to this link or by following the instructions on how to apply using a paper form via this link. You do not have to re-register ahead of each election, although you should register again if you have moved house. What does it mean to be registered to vote? If you register to vote your name is put on the electoral register, which is a list of names and addresses of everyone who is eligible to vote. You can be fined if you have been asked to register to vote but do not do so, unless you give a valid reason. However, in the UK it is not compulsory to the cast a vote. There is both an open and a full version of the register. Anyone can view the open register, but you can opt out of having your name on this register. The full electoral register is used for administering elections and campaigning activities by political parties, but can also be used to summon people to serve on juries in England, Wales and Scotland, and for preventing and detecting crime. According to a 2023 report from the Electoral Commission the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK potentially up to eight million people across the UK are not correctly registered at their current address. What are the different ways of voting? You can vote by post, you can vote by proxy where someone else casts your ballot on your behalf, or you can vote in person. How does voting in person work? To vote in person you must go to a polling place and fill out the ballot you are given and place it in a ballot box. Ahead of the election you will be sent a poll card which tells you where your polling station is. You cannot vote at a different polling place to the one you are assigned. You do not need to bring your poll card with you, unless you have an anonymous entry in the electoral register to protect you from harm. If you have lost your poll card and do not know your polling station you can find it on the Electoral Commissions website here. Inside the polling station staff will guide you on how to cast your vote. You will need to tell them your name and address and show a valid form of photo ID so they can check you against the electoral register. You will be handed one or more ballot papers with a list of candidates or options, and shown to a private polling booth where you put a cross next to your preferred candidate. You then fold your ballot paper in half and drop it into the ballot box. If you make a mistake you can get a new ballot paper from the staff, but only if you have not put your ballot in the box yet. How does voting by post work? You can apply for a postal vote ahead of the election. You do not need to give a reason, unless you live in Northern Ireland. Around three weeks before polling day, after the deadline to become a candidate has passed and once the ballot papers are printed, you will be sent a postal vote pack in the post. You should follow the instructions provided and post your ballot back as soon as possible. If you forget to post your ballot before election day you can hand it in to your local polling station before 10pm on election day. If you do this you will need to complete a form. You can apply for a postal vote by following the instructions via this link. You have until 5pm, 11 working days before polling day to apply for a postal vote. In the 2024 general election that means 5pm on Wednesday June 19. How does voting by proxy work? You can apply to allow someone else to vote on your behalf, which is known as a proxy vote. Unlike with postal votes there are some criteria which you must meet to be allowed to apply for a proxy vote. These include you being away on polling day, being registered as an overseas voter, having a medical issue or disability, or not being able to vote because of work or military service. You can apply for a proxy vote by following the instructions via this link. You can do so until 5pm on the day which is six working days before the election in England, Scotland or Wales that means Wednesday, June 26 2024, for the General Election or 14 days before election day in Northern Ireland. You can also apply for an emergency proxy vote until 5pm on election day in certain circumstances. Your proxy voter must be someone who is both registered to vote and allowed to vote in that type of election. Can I vote in the UK if I live abroad? If you are a British or eligible Irish citizen you are allowed to vote in UK parliamentary elections even if you live abroad. You need to have previously lived in the UK or been registered to vote in the UK. You can register to vote in the UK no matter how long ago you left. You can apply by following the instructions at this link. Once you are registered you can either vote by post or by proxy or in person if you are due to be in the UK on polling day. Unlike some countries, Britons abroad cannot vote at the British embassy in the country where they now live. The application system is slightly different for people whose last address was in Northern Ireland. You can read more about that by following this link. Do I need to bring ID to the polling station? Since April 2022 you have needed to show a valid form of photo ID when you are voting in person in some elections, including UK parliamentary elections. These include UK and EU passports and driving licences. A full list of valid IDs can be found at this link. If you do not have any of these forms of IDs you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by following this link. You can still use your ID if it has expired but the photo on it must still look like you. When you are in a polling station you will be asked to briefly remove any face coverings so that staff can check you resemble the photo on your ID. This includes face coverings worn for religious or medical reasons. You can ask for this check to be made in private and by a female member of staff. If you feel uncomfortable showing your face, the Electoral Commission suggests you can appoint a proxy voter on your behalf or apply for a postal vote. When is my polling station open? Polling stations open at 7am on election day and close at 10pm. However, the Electoral Commission says if you are in a queue at your polling place at 10pm you will still be allowed to vote, even if you have not been issued with a ballot paper yet. Links Electoral Commission UK parliamentary general election called (archived) Gov.uk The electoral register and the open register (archived) Electoral Commission UK Parliamentary general election media guide (archived) Gov.uk register to vote (archived) Electoral Commission register to vote (archived) Electoral Commission 2023 report: Electoral registers in the UK (archived) Gov.uk How to vote, overview (archived) Gov.uk How to vote, voting in person (archived) Electoral Commission handbook for polling station staff (archived) Electoral Commission elections in your area (archived) Vale of White Horse District Council how do I vote in a polling station? (archived) Gov.uk How to vote, voting by post (archived) Electoral Commission how to vote by post (archived) Electoral Commission apply to vote by post (not archived for voter security reasons) Gov.uk How to vote, voting by proxy (archived) Electoral Commission voting if you live overseas (archived) Gov.uk Photo ID for voting (archived) Gov.uk Apply for photo ID to vote (not archived for voter security reasons) Electoral Commission checking your photo ID if you wear a face covering (archived) Polling stations opening times (archived) A local sustainable fashion designer continues to stitch her way to success with her latest project: a wearable glass outfit that aims to make a statement both physically and metaphorically. Aoife Harvey, 25, founder of AH Designs has collaborated with Dublin glass artist, Madeleine Hellier to create a piece that highlights gender inequality in society. As part of an initiative led by The Council of Irish Fashion Designers and The Glass Society of Ireland, the pair have partnered for Glass Runway, a Belfast-based exhibition aimed at 'encouraging dialogue on inequality, diversity, and inclusion'. Within the exclusive collaboration, the designers crafted The Corsuit - a unique creation blending elements of a traditionally feminine corset with those of a suit typically associated with masculinity. Discussing the process behind the design, the Claudy creative explained how the piece serves as a visual representation of the historical and contemporary aspects of gender differences and similarities. In this project, Madeleine and I designed an outfit that conveys a powerful message through the combination of a corset worn over a suit. This design reflects the historical and contemporary aspects of gender differences. The corset, historically associated with women, symbolises the constraints and rigid gender norms imposed on them. Its constrictive nature metaphorically represents societal pressures and expectations, especially regarding beauty standards and traditional roles. In contrast, the suit, a symbol of professionalism and authority traditionally associated with men, highlights the differences in social expectations and opportunities based on gender. The amalgamation of the corset and suit aims to provoke contemplation on these limitations and expectations, fostering a visual dialogue on gender inequality, Aoife explained. With a focus on environmental responsibility, AH Design embraces the mantra "stylish yet eco-conscious." This ethos is reflected in the project which is crafted from upcycled materials that would otherwise end up in landfill." As a sustainable fashion designer, I create clothing from reclaimed and vintage fabrics that I source from various placescharity shops, vintage shops, eBay, and Vinted. I find the most beautiful fabrics everywhere, and my aim is always to transform something seen as unusable into something beautiful and wearable. I like to call it "stylish but eco-conscious." The fabric for both the suit and corset have been salvaged and upcycled using discarded upholstery, denim, and leather, otherwise destined for landfill. She added: Being part of this collaboration with Madeleine is excitingit shows what is possible when two creatives come together. Despite only meeting once and doing the rest online, we managed to make it work beautifully through great communication and creativity. Working with glass for over two decades but having never worked in fashion prior, glass artist Madeleine Hellier described the precise decision-making process for selecting the most suitable glass for this project. Following discussion with Aoife, a lot of thought went into sourcing the right glass for the project. Safety was the first concern - the item had to be durable and wearable, and we also knew we wanted an array of colours to bring our design to life. I opted to work with pre-formed glass elements which come in an array of shapes, sizes, and colours and all have these beautiful fluid edges. The glass on the Corsuit is 98% recycled glass with 2% oxides to add colour. We are happy that we ticked the sustainability box without compromising the beauty of the materials we would use. I would be sustainable in my own practice anyway - so all the left-over scraps from my studio or the monthly workshops I host, are passed to a local mosaic artist to be repurposed as new craft, Madeleine stated. The Dublin artist also explained how the pairs partnership 'has been a dream from day one'. We really wanted the work to be truly beautiful aesthetically but also to bring a sense of joy and celebration. It was also important that the work felt and looked collaborative, and we achieved this. Neither of us could have made this work alone but it is more than the sum of its parts - working with Aoife was an absolute dream partnership from day one, Madeleine said. Discussing her fashion career so far, Aoife attributes much of her inspiration to her Derry roots and the support she receives at a local level. The clothing designer also encouraged those interested in the industry to get involved in local initiatives as 'there are so many great resources on our doorstep'. Coming from a small community like Claudy everyone is incredibly supportive and encouraging. Its amazing to represent the talent that we have here in fashion design and textiles, which has deep roots in the shirt factories of Derry, she said. There are many local resources and opportunities for those looking to enter the fashion industry. The Belfast School of Art's art shop is fantasticthey run events and late-night art sessions frequently. Being part of the Council of Irish Fashion Designers has been incredible and led to opportunities like this collaboration. I also highly recommend Northwest Regional College, where I studied for three years in art and design. It provided me with a solid foundation for my fashion design career. The Corsuit will debut at the Glass Runway fashion show on June 4 at The MAC theatre in Belfast, featuring special guest fashion designer Sara ONeil. Free tickets are available here. The project and other Irish creations can be viewed at Craft NI, Belfast, from June 6 to July 25. A man who told a police officer he hoped she would be raped and called another one 'a speccy Fenians c--t' has been jailed at Derry Magistrate's Court today. James Jonathan Briers (25) of Spencer Road in Derry admitted a charges of assault, assault on police and criminal damage to a police vehicle on March 3 this year. The court heard that police were called to the top deck of the Craigavon Bridge after CCTV operators reported a male and female arguing. The female told them Briers had been locked out of his address due to him being late and he started arguing with her. She said he was 'angry' and began pushing her. Briers was arrested and during the course of the arrest he 'kicked an officer in the chest with force.' He was also verbally abusive and made his comments to the two female officers. While in the police vehicle Briers spat on numerous times. At interview he said he pushed the woman because she was trying to leave and he didn't want her to. A defence barrister said that Briers had wanted to plead guilty from a very early stage. Deputy District Judge John Connolly said that the behaviour was 'absolutely deplorable' and showed a terrible attitude towards women. He jailed Briers for five months. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Christine Little along with her brother Frank Nelis, grew up in Fosters Terrace in the Lecky Road area of the city, recently donated a replica street sign to Pilots Row Community Centre. Christine created the replica of the street sign as a tribute to her late parents memory. Her father, Frank Sr was a well known figure in the city. Christine fondly remembered her childhood growing up in Fosters Terrace. Foster's Terrace in the 1970's Foster's Terrace as it stands today. She said: Our terrace faced the Gasyard wall, which was immortalised in the song The Town I Loved So Well. We were the school children that played ball by the gas yard wall. There were four of us that lived in 151 Fosters Terrace, myself and my brother Frank as well as my mother and father. My father, Frank Nelis was a barber. We lived in the first house on the terrace and he ran the wee business from there. Fosters Terrace itself was part of a small community on its own really at that time, among a wider community in the Bogside and Brandywell areas. My father having the wee shop there meant there were people in and out of the house all the time and everyone knew him. Our shop was packed most days - and many werent there for a haircut - but for craic and tea! I remember my dad would call me to come in and brush the hair off the floor for him - he was so busy. My father actually started the quizzes in Derry, way back in the mid 60s. The military police were here then, when the civil rights movement was just starting, they were actually pictured in the Bluebell Bar going to one of my fathers quizzes in maybe 68/69? When my father died then, they started the Blue Ribbon Frank Nelis Memorial Quiz, it would have been called Blue Ribbon' to indicate it was the most high profile quiz in Derry. As part of a redevelopment of the area in the early 1970s, Fosters Terrace was demolished. Christine added: My father passed away very suddenly in 1970, he was just 39 at the time, so it was very unexpected. The terrace was demolished just a few years after that and everybody moved on, all the old neighbours, we were all relocated. So over the years, I had seen signs being retrieved and hung around different community centres, particularly in Pilots Row where youll find many old street signs from the Bogside. And I always thought, God, its a pity we couldnt get Fosters Terrace up there, you know, so people dont forget it. My mother used to go on and on about it, and eventually I got her a copy, its an exact replica of the Fosters Terrace sign, so I gave that to her and she was just over the moon and she had it hung in her kitchen. When our mum passed away two years ago, me and Frank were wondering what to do with the sign now, theres no point in it hanging in either of our kitchens. Frank said Well its a wee bit of history Christine, why dont we put it in with all the other old street signs in Pilots Row community centre? So I got in touch with Declan who said Surely, bring it down and Ill hang it for you. So really, its just about documenting that little bit of history, people can go and see the sign now in Pilots Row. Frank was wild about my father, even yet, he gets all emotional and wells up if I mention him. The idea of him handing back the Fosters Terrace sign to Declan, him being Frank Nelis too, meant a lot to him. I think the terrace was originally built for the gasyard workers, working in the gasyard literally facing them, now I dont know a lot about the history there to be honest, but I know Lecky Road was named after a businessman. Sadly, all the older generations are dying out now that would have known the history of Fosters Terrace and the Lecky Road, and its only from listening to them over the years Ive been able to gather wee stories. My mothers warcry any time anyone mentioned The Town I Loved So Well, shed point at me and say That's one of the original wains that played the ball on the gasyard wall! so that was always my claim to fame. Members of the Nelis, Higgs and Campbell families, outside Frank Nelis' barber shop on Foster's Terrace The Lecky family, which the Lecky Road is named after, have had ties to Derry as far back as the 17th century, with a line of 11 family members having stood as Mayor of the city. Fosters Terrace was one of a number of old streets and terraces that made up the old Lecky Road that were demolished, along with much of the Bogside and Brandywell, in the early 1970s as part of the regeneration of the area which facilitated the building of the flyover. Residents in the Tamnaherin area of Derry have staged a protest after it emerged that convicted paedophile Jim McKeever has returned to the area. The disgraced former deputy mayor of Derry was jailed for four years in September 2022 for historic sexual abuse of a young girl. He was convicted of eight offences spanning a period from August 1981 to December 1988. In November last year, McKeever failed his bid to have his conviction overturned. He has consistently maintained his innocence despite his conviction. McKeever returned to live in the parish of Faughanvale/Tamnaherin since his release from prison last week. Residents staged a protest outside St Mary's Church in the area. A number of police officers were present, asking residents to disperse while taking footage from a camera and a drone. One concerned resident told Derry Now: "We were given no warning that he was coming back here. "We're so angry. Our children go to school and play gaelic in the club just yards area. "He's been to Mass on Monday. That's the day that the school takes the children to Mass. It's sickening. "He's living next to his victim. Several elderly people have said they won't be back at Mass while he's there." A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "Police in Derry were in attendance in Tamnaherin on Thursday evening, 30th May, where a number of people had gathered in the area. Enquiries are ongoing in relation to an un-notified procession in the area." Police were in attendance outside St Mary's Church, Tamnaherin Gavin Robinson has pledged to continue to fight against an Irish Sea border after being ratified as DUP leader. Mr Robinson has been the partys interim leader since early April following Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons resignation after being charged with historical sex offences. Mr Robinson was unanimously ratified as the partys leader at a meeting of its ruling executive on Wednesday. It is with honour, humility and commitment that I look forward to leading our party into the future, he said. In an address to party members in Lisburn, he defended his partys decision to return to powersharing in Northern Ireland and pledged to continue our quest in relation to the protocol. It wrecked the settled political balance within Northern Ireland and led directly to a loss of unionist confidence, he said. The DUP ended its two-year boycott of devolved government in Northern Ireland in February after striking a deal with the Government on post-Brexit arrangements. Donaldson made the decision to return his party to Stormont based on a package of proposals aimed at reducing red tape on Irish Sea trade and providing assurances over Northern Irelands place in the union. However, a significant minority of DUP elected representatives remain opposed to the deal, insisting it does not go far enough to remove the contentious Irish Sea border. While outlining his partys election message, Mr Robinson criticised the Tories for inflicting what he said was some of the greatest harm on Northern Ireland. He said that the decision to return to Stormont was made in the interests of seeing local decisions being made for people which would not have been taken by direct rule Conservative ministers. He said that while the Command Paper did not remedy a number of the long-term problems born out of the protocol, it did contain important gains. Our clear message going forward is that we are campaigning to send a strong message to a new Government, whether Labour or Conservative, that building on the progress to date, we will continue to fight to fully restore Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom, including removing the application of EU law in our country and the internal Irish Sea border it creates, the DUP leader said, which was met with applause. He also said that illegal immigration had become an emerging and growing issue in Northern Ireland, and pledged to act on this through legislation at Westminster. Mr Robinson also confirmed the partys General Election candidates at the meeting, calling them a strong, united and determined team that have a determination to fight for every vote. They are Gregory Campbell in East Londonderry, Sammy Wilson in East Antrim, Jim Shannon in Strangford, Ian Paisley in North Antrim, Gavin Robinson in East Belfast, Paul Girvan in South Antrim, Carla Lockhart in Upper Bann, Jonathan Buckley in Lagan Valley, Phillip Brett in North Belfast, Tracy Kelly in South Belfast and Mid Down, Frank McCoubrey in West Belfast, Gary Middleton in Foyle, Tom Buchanan in West Tyrone, Keith Buchanan in Mid-Ulster, Diane Forsyth in South Down, and Gareth Wilson in Newry and Armagh. An empty playground is seen at Portola Elementary School in San Bruno, Calif. on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle Schoolchildren sickened last week by chemical agents released during a nearby law-enforcement training exercise may have suffered far more severe reactions than those initially known, with reports of vomiting, shortness of breath and rashes arising in the days after the incident. Parents of students who attend Portola Elementary School in San Bruno told the Chronicle there were also probably more people affected by the chemical plume than the 20 children and one adult that San Bruno officials initially reported after tear gases used in an exercise at the San Francisco County Jail drifted a half mile over to Portola Elementary School. Parents said they felt uninformed by both school officials and the sheriffs office about what occurred, forcing them to piece together information before a town hall with school leaders and sheriffs officials Tuesday evening. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It almost seemed like, until (Tuesday) night, no one really even understood the totality of what had happened or the magnitude because no one was advocating or engaged, said Paul DeMartini, the father of a third-grade Portola Elementary student. And Im going to put that on the school district. Officials with Portola Elementary School referred all questions to the San Bruno Park School District. Superintendent Matthew Duffy did not respond to requests for comment by Wednesday evening. San Francisco-operated jail (San Francisco County Jail #3) at 1 Moreland Dr. in San Bruno, Calif. on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle In a message sent to school families Wednesday evening that was obtained by the Chronicle, Duffy said the district would be sending out a survey on Thursday to ask about the childrens symptoms. Duffy added that the district would formally ask the sheriffs office for an immediate end to any gas based trainings at the San Bruno facility. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a statement, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto said he had a meaningful discussion with the parents at the town hall and asked that anyone who experienced symptoms to report them to sfso.sbincidentmay21@sfgov.org. DeMartini said his son experienced symptoms on the day of the incident, including coughing and burning in the eyes and throat. Otherwise, the boy seemed fine in the hours after he was picked up from school, DeMartini said. The boy attended school the next day, but by Wednesday evening began relaying that his stomach was upset, DeMartini said. Beginning at 12:30 a.m. Thursday, and for the next 11 hours, DeMartini said, his son was vomiting every four hours. The timeline parallels that of other parents who spoke to the Chronicle on condition that their names be withheld, because they feared retaliation against their families. They were granted anonymity in accordance with the Chronicles policies on anonymous sourcing. Other parents relayed a range of symptoms during the Tuesday evening town hall. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In an interview with the Chronicle, one mother said her kindergarten-age daughter reported she was nauseous and lightheaded after school Tuesday, but by Thursday was experiencing so much stomach pain that the school nurse insisted she be sent home. The girl soon started projectile vomiting and continued throwing up throughout the evening. Another mother said her daughter, also in kindergarten, began throwing up Thursday morning and continued for 12 hours. A third mother, whose son suffers from asthma, told the Chronicle he came down with a high fever as well as headaches and body aches the next day. A fourth mother said she took her daughter to the doctor Thursday after she spent the previous day vomiting. The doctor reported seeing lung inflammation and nasal passage inflammation, symptoms he said were consistent with exposure to tear gas, the mother said. The girl was prescribed an inhaler and other medications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that nausea and vomiting can be immediate symptoms of exposure to riot control agents like those released last week. But experts say there is little research on the health effects of tear gas on children or older adults. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Several parents who spoke to the Chronicle said the school failed to decontaminate the surfaces outside the school for at least two days, and only after parents demanded that it be done. DeMartini said the lack of follow up and information from officials left parents with little choice other than to do their own online research into complex questions of health and chemistry. DeMartini said he read that people shouldnt take a hot shower after exposure because it would allow the chemicals to absorb into the skin. I dont know if that had any bearing or not, he said. Did he have a second exposure because surfaces werent cleaned correctly at the school? Because the level of engagement wasnt where it needed to be? Possibly, he said. I dont know. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After the initial incident on May 21, parents said, no one from the school or any government entity followed up to check on their childrens health. It wasnt until a handful of parents in a messaging group began to compare notes that they realized that several other students were showing the same symptoms as their own children. While its unclear whether all of the reported ailments were linked to the chemical release, parents said the timing and the consistency of the childrens symptoms seemed too coincidental to be unrelated. Sheriffs officials said last week that the chemical release stemmed from a routine, two-hour multi-agency tactical training class for crowd management, intervention and control. The afternoon training event took place inside an isolated structure on the San Bruno jail property, officials said. The training involved the testing of chemical agents including CS (2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile) gas and OC gas (oleoresin capsicum, commonly known as pepper spray). Both irritants are commonly used by law enforcement agencies as a nonlethal option for crowd control and subduing combative suspects. On the day of the incident, officials said gases from the nearby training exercise left 20 children and one adult at the school with irritated eyes, throats and noses. Ambulance and fire department medics responded to the scene, and no one was taken to the hospital, officials said. But in an emotional two-hour meeting Tuesday, parents recounted to Miyamoto and school officials the painful and sometimes frightening symptoms their grade-school children experienced in the days after the exposure. As a parent myself, I understand the importance of our childrens safety and health, and apologize for any fear or worry this situation has brought to families, school staff, and neighbors, Miyamoto said in the statement. I listened carefully to their concerns, answered questions, and acknowledged our responsibility for the incident. I appreciated their feedback, and we will continue to update the community as our investigation progresses. Chemical agents used in the training exercise may have included munitions from UC Berkeley that had been expired for decades. Parents said they were not informed of this at the town hall. Sheriffs office authorities said it is common for law-enforcement agencies to use stored chemicals for training exercises, and that there appears to be no greater risk than using the same product that has been recently manufactured. Some experts, however, said it was nearly impossible to know whether expired tear gas canisters are more or less hazardous, because manufacturers arent transparent about what specific chemicals are inside of them. DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said the party is endorsing the UUPs candidate Diana Armstrong in the Fermanagh-South Tyrone constituency. The DUP had previously suggested fielding a pro-union unity candidate in the constituency, which UUP leader Doug Beattie dismissed saying they would not have a unified message. He cited the return of Stormont and the deal the DUP struck with the UK Government on post-Brexit trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK as one such challenge. After being confirmed as DUP leader, Mr Robinson said that he met Mr Beattie, TUV leader Jim Allister and independent unionist MLA Alex Easton on Tuesday. He announced that his party was endorsing Ms Armstrong in Fermanagh-South Tyrone and Easton in North Down. In truth, the DUP is the largest unionist party in North Down and Fermanagh South Tyrone, having outpolled other parties in both the Assembly and local Government elections in 2022 and 2023, he told party colleagues. We recognise that in the interests of working collectively to secure pro-union Members of Parliament we want to lead by example and as the leaders of unionism we are unilaterally announcing the following: In North Down we will not field a Democratic Unionist and we endorse Alex Easton, who is in our view a candidate with a strong and dedicated zeal for North Down, and who has a track record of being best placed to unite pro-union voters in the cause of winning in North Down. In Fermanagh/South Tyrone whilst again we are the first choice of unionist voters in the area, we have not fielded a candidate at a general election since 2005. We previously supported the non-party aligned campaign of Rodney Connor and we supported, campaigned and helped elect Tom Elliot in 2015 and supported his re-election campaign in 2017 and subsequent attempt in 2019. It is our strong view that the best chance of maximising the election of a pro-union candidate to give parliamentary representation to the most westerly constituency in the United Kingdom would have been through a process of agreement between the unionist parties. For our part we were engaged in such a process last year. However, the Ulster Unionist Party selected Erne North Councillor Diana Armstrong as their candidate and they have made clear that they do not intend to withdraw their candidate from the election. On that basis and in the interests of trying to win the seat for a unionist candidate, we have decided not to field a DUP candidate for this election only and we would encourage all unionists in the constituency to set aside internal unionist debate and vote for the Ulster Unionist candidate in the interests of returning a pro-union member of parliament. Queens University Belfast has reached a pay deal with the trade unions NIPSA, UCU and Unite as they aim to protect students education from disruption. Staff will receive a 13% salary increase over three years, a one-off non-consolidated payment dependent on salary, and an additional days leave, effective from August 1 2024. The announcement from Queens comes at a time when many universities and their staff face financial difficulties, including in Northern Ireland where funding for universities and colleges has been cut by 40% since 2011. Staff at Queens have engaged in industrial action for several years calling for better pay and working conditions, but also highlighting gender inequality and the use of zero-hours contracts. The vice-chancellor of Queens University, Professor Sir Ian Greer, said: At Queens University, we consider our people to be our key asset and todays announcement underlines this. This pay deal recognises the remarkable body of work our people have delivered across teaching, academic research, hosting major events and bringing positive and real change to communities and our society. It will provide certainty for our staff and their families, as well as assurances to students that potential disruption to their studies has been hugely reduced. Echoing the same advice I gave the returning Executive earlier this year, it is crucial we invest in people to reap the benefits longer term. This deal adds to our existing top-class terms and conditions as a major employer in NI, and we remain committed to our mission to recruit and retain the best people with the Universitys ultimate aim of producing the most talented and high achieving graduates that will make a difference to our society and the world. Sean OConnell, president of UCU (University and College Union) at Queens, said the union was delighted to have reached a fair settlement with management on pay. He said: This is an important step towards pay restoration and a fitting reward and recognition of the efforts of all Queens staff. Significantly, this deal means we can now all focus on providing stability for both staff and students, and management should be congratulated on the vision they have demonstrated by making this pay agreement possible. With this agreement on pay now ratified, we look forward to working to find equally positive resolutions to the other issues that have been the trade unions focus in recent years. Julia Farkas, NIPSA (Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance) branch chair at Queens, said it was a new start to industrial relations at Queens. She said: The unions believe this deal will provide clarity to both students and colleagues over the next three academic years. The deal was also welcomed by the Queens students union, with union president Beth Elder, saying: Like our peers at universities across the UK, many of our current students experienced disruption during their educational journey as a result of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and industrial action in recent years. The pay deal means that Queens students now find themselves in the fortunate position of having certainty that their studies are highly unlikely to be affected during the period of the deal. This is really important, reducing unnecessary stress and ensuring the stability needed for students to thrive and get the most out of their time at university. A campaigner for victims of the infected blood scandal in Northern Ireland has called for MLAs to represent us as he warned the job is only starting. Nigel Hamilton from Haemophilia NI told the Stormont Health Committee it is critical that the department is held to account for how it implements a redress scheme for victims. More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with deadly viruses between the 1970s and early 1990s as they received blood transfusions or blood products while undergoing NHS care. A report from the Infected Blood Inquiry, published by Sir Brian Langstaff, found the scandal could largely have been avoided and there was a pervasive cover-up to hide the truth. Sir Brians report highlighted that Northern Ireland was reliant on blood donated by prisoners and military personnel, two groups associated with higher risk of blood infections. It also found that authorities in Northern Ireland brought little independent thinking to the issue and were content to allow central government to take the lead on all significant decisions related to the scandal. After the Governments announcement of a compensation scheme for victims, Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann pledged to ensure that victims in Northern Ireland will receive compensation at the same time as the rest of the UK. Mr Hamilton, who updated the committee on Thursday, has haemophilia, a condition that affects the bloods ability to clot, and he was treated with contaminated blood products from the age of 16. His twin brother Simon died on Christmas Day from a brainstem bleed resulting from haemophilia and was also a victim of the infected blood scandal. Mr Hamilton said not all of those eligible under the scheme had been registered, as he called for the assembly to stand up for victims in Northern Ireland. He said: This assembly needs to know that its victims are being represented equally, but also represented fairly. And in the regional assemblies, which previous governments and prime ministers and secretaries of state have relied on heavily and explained to us is so important that local people have their say, I want you people to have your say and represent us. Thats important. The job is not done. The job is only starting at this stage. So its critical that we get that opportunity and your voices should be heard and will be heard, and we will do all in our part to assist you in that. So representation at this stage is very important and ensuring that we have a process that answers and is accountable to the recommendations, putting them in and getting the impact from those recommendations, is absolutely critical. Otherwise, all that has been set up, all of that has been spent, is nothing and no value. Mr Hamilton also called for a robust system thats capable of handling the issues that are brought to you. He said: That requires some consultation with victims. It also requires consultation, direct consultation, through the appropriate authorities that you would adhere to, with Sir Robert Francis (interim chairman of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority). I would like to see the First Minister, deputy First Minister, taking an angle on this, I think its really important. This was the worst health scandal in the National Health Service. We dont ever want it to happen again. The long-time campaigner said it was traumatic but powerful to see the outcome of the inquiry which acknowledged failings that victims of the scandal had known about for years. Mr Hamilton told the committee: We very much value as a community the opportunity to express our interests and our concerns in relation to victims and prisoners legislation, and the aftermath of the public inquiry which, for those of us who were over, was extremely traumatic, very powerful, and an opportunity to divest ourselves as we could of some of the major issues that had been troubling us over a number of years. It had been, for all of us, an opportunity to face the issues and get answers where we could and have a sense of justification. Because there were a number of issues we felt we knew, but we didnt have that clarity. And that clarity was certainly given through Sir Brian and through his staff, both in the report which is quite a voluminous document, there were two hard copies and the remaining five copies were on egress for us. So it was a very worthwhile experience and a very cathartic experience and one that I think most of us have valued greatly. Two men have been arrested after 300,000 worth of class B drugs were found in a lorry stopped in the Ballymena area. One man was arrested during the lorry stop, after which detectives from PSNI Organised Crime Unit based in Belfast carried out a series of searches leading to the arrest of the second man. A PSNI spokesperson said: Officers from the roads policing interceptors stopped a lorry in the Ballymena area on Thursday morning and, following a search of the vehicle, drugs with a potential street value of 300,000 were discovered. The driver, a man aged 26, was subsequently arrested by officers for possession of a class B drug, possession with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of class B drugs. A number of follow-up searches were then carried out at properties in the Ballymoney, Coleraine and Armoy areas, and a second man, aged 32, was arrested. The man was arrested for being concerned in the supply of a class B drug. Both men currently remain in police custody. Detectives said the searches and arrests relate to an ongoing investigation into a network of people involved in the supply of controlled drugs. The PSNI spokesperson said: These drugs would no doubt have been sold on to a number of other gangs. My officers remain committed to tackling the criminal activities of these gangs and to put drug suppliers before the court. Purchasing these drugs only fuels organised criminal gang activities and the control they seek to exert over the community. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Skymizer enters chip IP market with ET2 LPU and LLM system platform AI compilers service provider, Skymizer has announced a strategic pivot by launching the ET2 LPU chip hardware IP and the Skymizer LLM System platform, entering the chip IP solutions market. Skymizer says they are targeting consumer electronics and automotive sectors in this initial stage with product prices ranging from US$100 to US$500. The company is also positioning itself within the AI PC market, though with a unique approach distinct from existing NPUs on the market. The focus is on using LLM technology as an interface for human-machine interaction. Vision for the technology Skymizer's founder and CEO, Luba Tang, explained that LLM represents a new interaction interface for human-to-machine and machine-to-machine communication. Based on the company's observations of AI development trends, Tang predicts that every computing device may eventually need two LLM chips: one for human interaction and another for machine interaction. Edge AI trends Recognizing the trend of generative AI moving towards edge computing, Skymizer is focusing on developing small models for specific applications. This requires new technical approaches to address the challenges of deploying generative AI extensively at the edge. Tang highlighted that the absence of corresponding IC products in the market is a key reason why generative AI applications are not yet widespread. He expects that by the first quarter of 2025, many generative AI chip products will be available. Overcoming development challenges The inconsistency between chip development timelines and the rapid pace of AI technology evolution remains an issue. This is an area where Skymizer excels, leveraging its LLM System platform to bridge the gap. In addition, Skymizer is addressing the high costs and power consumption challenges associated with LLM deployment by developing low-cost, low-power hardware IP. This comprehensive hardware and software solution enables IC design companies to quickly introduce LLM chip products. Innovative product design The ET2 LPU, developed with an LLM-centric approach, is designed around memory, differing significantly from the traditional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) approach, which focuses on computational power. Tang noted that LLMs do not require high computational power and the critical bottleneck is memory bandwidth, which necessitates new DRAM design architectures. Many DRAM companies with specialized architectures are based in Taiwan, facilitating collaboration. Competitive advantage Compared to other major IC design firms, the ET2 LPU can achieve superior performance with just 0.4 TOPs of computational power, processing 32 tokens per second, and can be manufactured using TSMC's 28nm process. Ultimately, the computational power requirements depend on customer applications. For example, cheaper children's toys requiring basic generative AI dialogues can use lower-spec LPUs, which are more cost-effective and power-efficient than NPUs. Body-camera footage captured what happened after San Francisco police officers arrived at the Pacific Heights home of Nancy and Paul Pelosi just after 2 a.m. on Oct. 28, 2022. Provided by San Francisco police The second day of David DePapes state trial focused heavily on testimony from San Francisco police Sgt. Carla Hurley, whose hospital interview with the man accused of bludgeoning Paul Pelosi revealed key details about the rampage the defendant was planning before he was arrested. The court heard the entirety of the interview Thursday, which was recorded in San Francisco General Hospital about five hours after the attack at the home of House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. San Francisco prosecutors say Nancy Pelosi was DePapes initial target before he chose to attack her husband in the early hours of Oct. 28, 2022. Prosecutors have charged DePape with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse. He pleaded not guilty. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In his interview with Hurley, DePape spoke candidly of his apparent plan to use Nancy Pelosi to lure other targets of his, such as feminist scholar Gayle Rubin, actor Tom Hanks and Gov. Gavin Newsom. But when that plan was thwarted, he said, he resorted to violence against Paul Pelosi, though the man was not initially his target. I told him that Im not going to surrender, Im here for the fight, DePape explained in the interview. If you stop me from going after evil, you will take the punishment instead. DePape, who has been present at all of his court proceedings, left the courtroom earlier than was expected Thursday afternoon to receive medical attention for what was speculated to be either a cold or COVID. Jurors also heard from two other San Francisco police officers, who arrived on scene the night of the attack, and Dr. Michael Huang, a professor of neurological surgery and the physician who tended to Paul Pelosi after he was hospitalized after the attack with a fractured skull. Defense attorneys for DePape, a Canadian-born carpenter who was living in Richmond at the time, said he was not in a stable frame of mind when he took public transportation in the middle of the night to the Pelosi home, later body-slamming his way through a window to break into the residence. Advertisement Article continues below this ad His defense also argued that while DePape did a terrible thing, he never intended to kill Paul Pelosi. This week, DePape was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with credit for time served, after a trial in federal court in which he was convicted of assault on the family member of a federal official, among other charges separate from his state case. Proceedings were expected to continue Friday at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco. Irish people have been put on alert for too good to be true deals for trips this summer amid a wave of payments scams. The warning comes after millions was stolen from people, including through convincing holiday deals. The Irish Banking and Payments Fedaration sounded the alarm in a new report from FraudSMART, the fraud awareness initiative led by federation. The Payment Fraud Report, based on data from FraudSMART members, reveals that card fraud accounted for 95% of fraudulent transactions and 36% (35.2 million) of gross fraud losses in 2023. Card usage by consumers and businesses rose significantly overall, with the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) reporting a 28.8% increase in debit and credit card payments in 2023. In contrast, fraudulent card payments increased by 8.2% according to FraudSMART data. The report also notes that other types of fraud had lower volumes but higher average losses. Unauthorised electronic transfers accounted for only 3% of the volume but 34% (33.8 million) of losses. This type of fraud occurs when someone makes a payment through mobile or online banking, without the account holders authorisation or permission, often called account takeover. It usually results from the loss or theft of sensitive payment data such as a victims account number or PIN. Additionally, the report shows that consumers and businesses were scammed out of 18.1 million through authorised push payment (APP fraud). This occurs when a fraudster tricks a consumer into sending money directly to an account controlled by the criminal, for example through an investment or romance scam. While APP Fraud makes up just 1% of fraudulent transactions and 18% of losses, it represents a significant increase compared to 2022 in both volume and value terms (42.5% and 82.2% respectively). On foot of this report and the dominance of card fraud highlighted, FraudSMART issued a warning to holidaymakers to be extra vigilant over the summer period at home and abroad when they may be using their debit or credit cards more frequently for booking travel or accommodation, as well as other holiday-related purchases, and is calling on consumers to familiarise themselves of the simple steps they can take to prevent falling victim to fraud. Speaking about the latest figures and the importance of being alert this summer, Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime, BPFI said: As many people look forward to the summer holidays ahead, todays figures are a timely reminder to be on alert for credit and debit card fraud. We can all be at risk of being enticed by unbelievable holiday deals and letting down our guard when out of our regular routines and environments. "While it is important to recognise that cards remain one of the safest forms of payment, as they come with extensive fraud protections and offer many conveniences especially when planning holidays and travelling, fraudsters are increasingly targeting consumers using complex and deceptive methods. FraudSMART is urging holiday makers to take extra caution when booking travel, accommodation and other holiday-related purchases such as eating out. Watch out for copycat websites offering holiday accommodation and packages which closely mimic a legitimate site or well-known company brand but may have subtle differences in the website name and often have spelling errors. "These sites aim to steal your card details and personal information for fraudulent activities. Also, be alert for fake emails and social media ads offering holiday deals which appear to be offering bargain prices but are in reality too good to be true. When paying in person, never let your card out of sight, such as at a restaurant, and dont share or write down your card PIN. If you think you have fallen victim to fraud report it to your bank and the Gardai immediately. Top FraudSMART tips and checks for protecting your card details this summer: - Book through reputable sources, always use trusted and well-known booking websites or travel agents. - Be cautious of unsolicited emails or social media ads offering cheap holiday deals. Verify the authenticity of special offers by visiting the official website of the travel company directly rather than clicking on links in emails or ads. - Avoid making payments through bank transfers as these are harder to trace and recover. - Do not use unsecured or public Wi-Fi networks when making payments switch to 3G/4G on your phone if necessary. - Keep a record of your purchase, print or save a copy of your order. - Keep your computers security up to date with reliable antivirus and browser software. - Keep your card in your sights and protect your PIN never share or write down your PIN details. Consumers can access further advice on how to avoid fraud by visiting www.FraudSMART.ie and signing up for email alerts on current risks and trends. Despite Father Ted coming to an end in 1998, many can take a trip down memory lane and relive their favourite scenes by visiting the real-life filming locations dotted around County Clare and Ireland. From the Parochial House and The Very Dark Caves to St Kevins Stump, Betfair Casino has ranked the top 12 filming locations that have proven to be the most popular to visit. One of Irelands most astonishing landscapes, The Cliffs of Moher, located in County Clare bagged first place as well as the stunning Fanore Beach. Many will see the beautiful site featured in the episode, Tentacles of Doom, where the Holy Stone of Clonrichert is upgraded by the Vatican. Meanwhile, as the priests go on holiday in their caravan in the episode Hell, the surrounding areas of Fanore Beach make an appearance - as well as Kilkelly Caravan Park, which also made the top 12 on the list of places to visit. Inisheer, located in County Galway, followed in second place, as the island is the real location that represents Craggy Island for the opening credit scenes. Known for being a favourite spot for locals in the summer, Lahinch Beach wasnt far behind in third place. The location features in the episode, A Christmassy Ted, where Ted is alone with his thoughts as he takes a walk along the sands. Idyllic Irish town Ennistymon, also located in County Clare, placed fourth overall, which was used in many episodes . However, it is most well recognised as the setting for the My Lovely Horse music video. Making the top five was the village Kilfenora, where the episode Speed 3 was filmed. Also in fifth place were Doolins Ferry offices in the picturesque fishing villages harbour - but the offices were actually used for John and Marys shop in the show. Father Teds House is also a popular destination to visit - and its no wonder why it remains one of the go-to location for fans. While fans of the show used to be able to book their own afternoon tea at the private residence located in Lackareagh, many can still soak up the beautiful surroundings and admire the famous parish house from the outside. More popular locations that also made the list were The Very Dark Caves - which were filmed in the Aillwee Caves in Ballyvaughan - and the large tree stump, called St Kevins Stump, in Moheramoylan, which Ted and Dougal encounter together. Top 12 Father Ted filming locations in Ireland (index score created using figures from Google rating, Tripadvisor, and Instagram): Heartfelt tributes have been paid to the poet Gerald (Gerry) Dawe, who has died aged 72. The critically acclaimed Belfast-born poet and academic has died after battling a long illness. He died at home in the care of his family, after a long illness, fought with bravery and conviction. Gerald was a highly regarded artist and scholar, a Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin (TCD), and the 28th recipient of the Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Prize for Poetry, awarded in 2024. The author published 13 collections, including Another Time, which was published by The Gallery Press. Since the sad news broke out, tributes have been pouring in for the poet, who has been described as a wise and gentle spirit. Gerry Dawe was the inaugural director of TCDs Oscar Wilde Centre. We are deeply saddened by the loss of poet Gerry Dawe who along with Brendan Kennelly founded the Trinity Oscar Wilde Centre in 1997. Gerry's legacy is profound and long-lasting, and his wise and gentle spirit will be sorely missed, Trinity Oscar Wilde Centre wrote in tribute. Peter Fallon of The Gallery Press wrote in tribute: Forty years since we met and Gallery published the first of nine books. Ill miss his honesty, his seriousness and his laughter. To his beloved Dorothea, to Olwen and Iarla, we send heartfelt condolences. Gerald is mourned deeply by his loving wife, Dorothea, beloved daughter Olwen, stepson Iarla, sister Pamela, niece Jennifer and nephew Paul, sister-in-law Rosemary and her family in Australia, as well as his many friends and colleagues. The family would like to extend special thanks to Professor Ray McDermott, and the oncology unit at Saint Vincents Private Hospital, as well as the public health and palliative care provided to Gerald during his recent illness. A celebration of Geralds life will take place in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Dun Laoghaire, at 2pm on Thursday, June 6. A man caught taking photos of a woman in a toilet cubicle at Dublin Airport was found to have over 300 images of child pornography on several phones, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard. Arthur Fiks (47), of no fixed abode, admitted assault causing harm and possession of child pornography at Terminal One on June 28, 2022. The court heard that the woman had gone into a cubicle of the ladies toilets when she noticed a camera phone pointing under the door and grabbed it. When the woman opened the cubicle door, Fiks lunged at her to get his phone back and pulled a tuft of hair from her scalp, the court heard. Fiks told gardai he was having a nap in the ladies' toilet at the airport when the woman in the next cubicle grabbed his phone out of his hand and woke him up. Gardai described Fiks' account as conflicting and self-serving and said it was not borne out by evidence from the victim and eyewitnesses. In a ruling today (Thursday May 30), Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Fiks to three and a half years in prison, with the final nine months suspended. The sentence was backdated to June 29, 2022, when Fiks went into custody. Judge Codd ordered that Fiks go on the Sex Offenders' register and leave the jurisdiction immediately on his release from prison. She described Fiks' offending as truly shocking and disturbing and said it was greatly aggravated by the invasion of the woman's privacy, Fiks' entry into the female bathrooms and his attempt to put the phone under the door. Judge Codd noted from the victim impact statement, which was not read aloud in court, that the woman required counselling for psychological trauma in the aftermath of the assault. The woman had to plan her toilet breaks for six months and described herself as always anxious and checking every public bathroom. She works with children and describes herself as hyper-vigilant of children and paranoid and sceptical of others after this incident, Judge Codd said. Judge Codd said that while cases of possession of child pornography often involve more images, even one such image is one too many, noting that children need to be protected from sexual exploitation and that this was not a victimless crime. Detective Garda Neil Cotter told Joe Mulrean BL, prosecuting, that the assault took place in a public area of the airport after the woman had retrieved her bag from the luggage carousel and gone through Customs. She told gardai that on seeing a camera phone pointing at her under the toilet door, her immediate reaction was to grab it. She then heard a voice saying Ma'am, can I have my phone back? to which she said she would give the phone to the police. The woman then opened the door to find the man standing blocking her way before he lunged at her to try to retrieve his black Samsung phone. She held out her arms to keep the phone away from him and started screaming for help, whereupon Fiks became very aggressive and violent and pulled hair from her scalp. Airport police described her as visibly upset and still holding her own hair in her hand when they arrived at the scene. The court heard that other women in the bathroom came to help, including a Ryanair worker who began recording the incident on her phone. A witness who had just arrived from France described hearing the victim screaming for help and seeing Fiks with his arm around her neck, struggling for something. Gardai arrested Fiks and found a bottle of wine and a bottle opener in his bag, along with two other phones, which were analysed and found to contain child pornography. One Motorola phone contained 120 images of children, of which 42 were described as Category 1, the most serious category, depicting children between the ages of one and 13 involved in sexual activity. That phone also contained 22 videos of child pornography, of which 18 were listed as Category 1. A third phone, described as a black LG mobile, contained 195 child pornography images, of which 81 were Category 1, along with 14 videos, of which 11 were Category 1. All other criminal images were described as being in Category 2, where a child watches or witnesses sexual acts. Fiks has no previous convictions in Ireland, the court heard. Fiks told gardai he had come to Ireland from Poland two months previously and had been working as a mushroom picker on a farm in Co Monaghan. He was fired over his productivity rate and was trying to arrange to get a temporary passport to go home to Poland, as his Polish ID had gone missing. Fiks said he had spent three days in Dublin airport and the city centre, sleeping in the airport toilets and sometimes walking all night. He denied assaulting the woman and said it would have been a stupid decision to assault someone in front of all the cameras in the airport. "I did not come to Ireland to attack anyone; I came to get some work. It would not have happened if she did not take my phone," Fiks told gardai. Mark Lynam SC, defending, described Fiks' difficult childhood with both parents suffering psychiatric problems. Fiks was in State care from the age of 13 or 14, the court heard. As an adult, Fiks worked odd jobs as a cleaner and had a history of admissions to psychiatric hospitals. Mr Lynam described his client as psychologically vulnerable and isolated both in the outside world and in prison. He said that Fiks suffered very serious sepsis while in custody and was transferred to a hospital where he experienced multiple organ failure and spent several weeks in intensive care, where he was not expected to survive. Fiks also has epilepsy and a history of deliberate self-harm, the court heard. He has an extremely poor grasp of English and finds being in prison in Ireland very difficult. The judge set a headline sentence of four and a half years but reduced this on account of Fiks' physical and mental health issues. Three projects in Louth have been allocated funding under the International Protection Integration Fund 2024. The three projects are: Louth Local Development CLG Home from Home - Home Visiting Support and Integration Programme- 74,775 Lets Talk Mental Health North East Lets talk mental health community integration and support group- 8,410 Sanctuary Runners Run as One 100,000 for projects in Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Louth, Meath & Wicklow Speaking at The Wheels Annual Summit in Croke Park, the Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe OBrien, took the opportunity with some of the successful projects present at the Summit to announce the 56 projects set to receive 2,496,790 in funding under the International Protection Integration Fund 2024. The fund helps community-based organisations to play a greater role in supporting the integration of International Protection applicants at local and national level. The International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF) comes after three other sets of integration supports were announced this year by Minister Joe OBrien; the National Integration Fund (NIF), the Asylum Migrant Integration Fund (AMIF), and the Community Integration Fund (CIF). Minister OBrien has doubled the fund compared to 2023 when awards of 1.2 million euro were disbursed. Minister OBrien acknowledged the exceptional efforts of community and voluntary groups to help facilitate integration in communities of International Protection Applicants. Welcoming the announcement, Minister OBrien said: I am pleased to be able today to announce another in a series of integration specific funding announcements aimed at supporting local communities to successfully welcome new arrivals in a way that works with and for those arriving and the communities welcoming them. The efforts that are being undertaken in communities throughout Ireland to work positively for successful integration are inspiring and it was apt that I made todays announcement at The Wheels Annual Summit where representatives from the Community & Voluntary sector and indeed a number of the successful projects under this fund - were present. An San Francisco police officer speaks to a motorist in the Tenderloin District in San Francisco. City leaders said in the past year they arrested more suspected drug users than suspected dealers while providing an update on a crackdown on the citys worst open-air drug markets. Felix Uribe/Special to the Chronicle Law enforcement officials in San Francisco arrested more suspected drug users than suspected dealers in the year since the city launched coordinated efforts to dismantle open-air drug markets in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods, city leaders said Wednesday. Law enforcement arrested 1,284 suspected drug users and 1,008 suspected dealers since the launch of the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center on May 29, 2023, according to figures the mayor's office released. Another 858 people were arrested on warrants. The hub includes local, state and federal agencies. It was not immediately clear Wednesday how many people were arrested by local, state or federal police. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Law enforcement also seized 439 pounds of drugs, including 198 pounds of fentanyl and 106 pounds of methamphetamine. Mayor London Breed opened the center, known as DMACC, to tackle a growing overdose crisis fueled by fentanyl and deteriorating street conditions in areas that include open-air drug markets. The coordinated efforts include a focus on law enforcement crackdowns as well as outreach that works to connect drug users to treatment and other resources. Breed's office did not immediately disclose how many drug users were connected to resources in the first year of DMACC. We have brought unprecedented levels of coordination to tackle the drug markets on our streets and we are not letting up, Mayor London Breed said in a statement. The partnerships we put in place are getting fentanyl out of our neighborhoods and with new technology being deployed and more officers joining our ranks, our efforts will only grow stronger over the coming year. Breed, who faces a tough reelection campaign, has faced widespread calls to clean up the streets and tackle the city's drug crisis. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Law enforcement operations first focused along Seventh Street near United Nations Plaza during the daytime. More recent efforts focus around the plaza and nearby Public Library during the nighttime. Our officers have made tremendous progress over the last year in dismantling San Franciscos pernicious drug markets, Police Chief Bill Scott said in a statement. We will continue to increase our efforts in making arrests and seizing these poisonous drugs off our street. In the year since DMACC launched, prosecutors filed criminal charges in 853 of 1,003 felony drug cases, according to the District Attorney's Office. Data on the outcome of drug cases was not immediately available. It was not clear how many of the cases stem from the coordinated efforts in the Tenderloin and SoMa neighborhoods. Aside from the law enforcement efforts, Public Works and other city departments work to clean up the streets and offer resources to drug users and homeless residents. Their efforts also aim to curb illegal fencing. We have seen firsthand the headway made in San Francisco over the past year through the coordinated operation combating open-air drug markets and illegal street vending, Public Works Director Carla Short said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Still, critics, including public defenders, attack the focus on law enforcement over treatment. But they also say treatment should be voluntary in order to effectively get people off drugs. The citys use of failed War on Drugs tactics to address a public health crisis instead of proven, evidence-based harm reduction and treatment methods has left harm in its wake, The Public Defenders Office said in a statement. The law enforcement focus feeds a return to mass incarceration, the office said, adding that local jails are at capacity. The office also pointed to the ongoing overdose crisis. The office urged leaders to offer resources such as housing, educational and job opportunities, and mental health and substance use treatment to address the root causes of the crisis instead. Supervisor Dean Preston, who represents the Tenderloin and is a frequent critic of Breed, has called the crackdown a ramped-up war on drugs that was failing to address overdose deaths. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The body of a woman missing from a Donegal holiday site was recovered on Monday following a joint operation search by gardai, RNLI, Coast Guard and local residents. Sally Reilly, a 55-year-old mum-of four from west Belfast who suffered from dementia, was reported missing from Sandybanks Caravan Park in Portsalon at around 2.10am on Monday. Gardai in Kerrykeel, assisted by Coast Guard, Mountain Rescue, the Coast Guard Helicopter, the RNLI rescue boat and local people carried out a search in relation to a missing woman. A body of a woman, was recovered from the water at approximately 9pm on Monday 27th May, 2024. The body was removed to Letterkenny University Hospital where a post mortem will be conducted in due course and a file prepared for the Coroners Court. A post on social media from daughter Siona Reilly said: "On behalf of Sally Reillys family we cannot thank everyone enough for all your support it is amazing everyone coming together to get Sally back to her family. "Really means a lot from the bottom of our hearts and the support of all the locals. It is amazing a great community. And all the Milford Garda staff. The loving daughter also wrote of her devastation in another post on social media. "Hearts broke into a million pieces, she wrote. A garda spokesperson said in a statement that investigations are currently ongoing. Alex Bernardo of Millbrae mixes an order of mee kola at Lunette in San Francisco on May 29, 2024. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle Karen Nga of San Francisco, left, and Ellina Yin of San Jose, center, eat at Lunette in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle KFC (Khmer fried chicken), a popular Nyum Bai dish, returns at Lunette. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle Two years ago, a bone-tired Nite Yun closed the doors to her nationally acclaimed restaurant Nyum Bai in Oakland. Despite its popularity Bon Appetit named Nyum Bai one of the countrys best new restaurants when it opened in 2018, and the crowds and more accolades followed Yun wasnt sure that she would return to restaurants. She had fallen out of love with cooking Cambodian food. I was depleted, inside and out, she said. The way Nyum Bai grew so fast, I just couldnt keep up. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But now, reinvigorated, shes opening Lunette, a casual Cambodian street food restaurant at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Opening Sunday, June 2, it reflects a new era for Yun. Lunette serves a small menu of noodle and rice dishes (all $21). The latest its open is 7 p.m., and only on weekdays. She hopes she and her employees will have a healthier work-life balance. Chef Nite Yun, known for her former Oakland restaurant Nyum Bai, is opening Lunette at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle Some Nyum Bai fan favorites will be back, including the K.T.P.P., or kuy teav Phnom Penh, a rice noodle soup in a nourishing eight-hour pork broth that was a hit at Yuns early pop-ups, and fried chicken with Cambodian Kampot pepper. The fried chicken sits overnight in a brine of fish sauce, MSG and chile flakes (and is also available in a rice dish with ginger-scallion rice). Mee kola, a regional dry egg noodle dish, is meant to be mixed together with crispy pork, a jammy egg and sweet soy-garlic dressing. A vegan yellow curry comes with double carbs both rice and an Acme Bread Co. baguette for dipping the way Yun grew up eating it. Prahok ktiss, a punchy pork dip that customers emailed Yun about long after Nyum Bai closed, is making a return. Here, it will be served as a rice bowl with pork belly and raw seasonal vegetables, which was one of Nyum Bais most popular staff meals. Student noodles, or stir-fried pin noodles, is one of the new dishes at Lunette in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle New dishes include student noodles, made with chubby pin noodles. The thick rice noodles are stir-fried in a wok with bean sprouts and chives, then topped with smoked brisket from Tacos El Ultimo Baile, which moved into the former Nyum Bai space in Oakland. Or, the noodles can be made vegan with mushrooms from Far West Fungi, located directly across from Lunette. Sides include wok-fried seasonal greens with hunks of garlic and a cabbage salad tossed in a funky fish sauce dressing. Theres just one dessert: nom plae ai, mochi dumplings filled with palm sugar and coated in toasted coconut. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Yun plans to add specials like num banh chok, vermicelli noodles in a fish broth, fragrant with lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, lime leaves and coconut milk. The dish encapsulates all the components that define what Cambodian food is. You have the freshness from the garnish; prahok, which is the fermented fish (paste), and kroeung, which is lemongrass paste, she said. Its delicate but complex at the same time. She and sous-chef Jakob Polaco are also toying with ideas for Cambodian sausage and sandwiches. Lunette opens at the Ferry Building in San Francisco on June 2. Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle Lunette arrives at a time of flux for the Ferry Building, which has seen several notable restaurants fill pandemic vacancies, but has also lost major tenants like the Slanted Door. It takes over the former Prather Ranch Meat Co. space, which has been remodeled in a style meant to evoke the feel of a diner in 1940s Cambodia, with blue-and-white striped awnings and an L-shaped counter looking into the open kitchen. Tables in the 30-seat dining room are set with mustard yellow chairs or fire engine-red metal stools. Moody red lights, inspired by Yuns love of Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai, hang over the counter. Cambodian American artist Nak Bou (who was responsible for the Khmer rock music-inspired mural at Nyum Bai) painted a mural depicting Phnom Penhs Central Market, which like the Ferry Building is a major transit and food hub. Yun was born in a refugee camp in Thailand after her parents fled the genocide in Cambodia. She started cooking after an inspiring trip to Phnom Penh, but had never worked in restaurants before starting her own. She joined nonprofit food incubator La Cocina and her early pop-ups quickly drew a following. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After two years away, Yun is feeling reenergized by what propelled her to open Nyum Bai in the first place: to celebrate and preserve Cambodian culture. She said she plans to start a hospitality group focused on furthering that mission, whether its through more restaurants, a podcast, her forthcoming cookbook or other projects. Were ready to step out and be proud of our roots, she said. Lunette. Opening June 2. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (eventually, daily hours). 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco #33. lunettecambodia.com PLA Navy vessel to participate in multilateral drill in Nigeria Xinhua) 16:58, May 30, 2024 BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy will dispatch frigate Xuchang to Nigeria for a multilateral joint drill, a Chinese military spokesperson said on Thursday. Xuchang is one of the PLA navy vessels currently carrying out the 46th escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. Focusing on counter-piracy and counter-oil theft, the drill will include subjects such as vessel maneuvering, joint patrol and communications drill, said Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference. The participation of the PLA Navy in the drill will help deepen military exchanges and practical cooperation between China and relevant countries and promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The first of four mini margaritas in a flight at Tommys Mexican restaurant in San Francisco. Esther Mobley/The Chronicle Theres no margarita like a Tommys margarita. Its simple, barely sweet and designed to be a showcase for high-quality tequila. Because the recipe, created at Tommys Mexican restaurant in San Francisco, eschews the sweet orange liqueurs that most margarita recipes call for, it really allows the flavor of the base spirit to shine through. The only question when you visit Tommys: Which tequila? Sure, you can order a house margarita, which will come with Lunazul Reposado, but half the fun is selecting an option from the restaurants extensive tequila list. Like all great San Francisco restaurants, though, it turns out that Tommys has a secret menu. I recently discovered the best way to drink here: by ordering an off-menu flight of mini margaritas. They are as educational as they are cute. Advertisement Article continues below this ad No one knows to ask for it, said Julio Bermejo, the creator of the Tommys margarita. We mainly do it for industry, friends and family. We dont publicize it. Lucky for me, I was recently at Tommys with an in-the-know friend, who lives nearby and is a regular. She asked bartender Greidy Balan if he would do flights for us, and he instantly nodded and disappeared behind the bar. Balan returned with a tray of tiny stemmed glasses, exactly the sort that youd find at natural wine bars these days, filled halfway with liquid on ice. Like a sommelier in a fancy restaurant, he presented the bottle tableside. This first tequila was Don Abraham Blanco, from an organically farmed single estate in Jalisco. When he came back a little later with the second round, this time made with Tapatio Blanco, the differences between the cocktails became starkly apparent. The Don Abraham margarita was fruitier, creamier, milder; the Tapatio margarita was peppery, herbaceous and green. The whole thing felt delightfully geeky. Bermejo and his staff relish the chance to blow peoples minds like this. Even though the Tommys margarita is a plug-in recipe thats very simple, the public really has no idea how much of an effect the actual base distillate has on the cocktail, he said. The history of the Tommys margarita has been told many times. When Bermejo became the bar manager at his parents restaurant, in the 1980s, most tequila available in the United States was of poor quality. They were largely mixto tequilas, agave distillate blended with liquor made from sugar cane, corn syrup or other sources. Bermejos first innovation was to insist on using only tequila made from 100% agave. He also pared down the cocktails other ingredients: fresh-squeezed lime instead of sour mix, agave syrup instead of an orange liqueur like Triple Sec, no salt rim. (If you must have a rim, Bermejo said he prefers the spice mix Tajin.) Advertisement Article continues below this ad We were the skinny margarita 20 years before the skinny margarita, Bermejo said. The lack of sweetness is important for reasons that have nothing to do with calorie counting: The drink becomes a stage for the tequila. In total, Balan presented us with four Lilliputian margs two blancos, two reposados; two grown in the highlands of Jalisco, where the tequilas are thought to be fruitier, and two grown in the lowlands, regarded as more savory and herbal. I loved the G4 Reposado Premium, which seemed to give its margarita a floral, fennely note; my friend loved the spicy, rich, apple-forward Chinaco Reposado. Tiny cocktails are having something of a moment see the Teeny Tiny Martini at Oaklands new bar Tallboy but theres nothing trendy about Tommys, which the Bermejo family has run since 1965. The flights exist to proselytize the tequila gospel that Bermejo has been preaching for over three decades. It was, to be fair, a lot of work for Balan. I honestly dont know how to charge for it, Bermejo said. (When his mother rang us up, she charged us $30 each, equivalent to two margaritas.) It is a lot of glassware. Its time and effort. So let that be a gentle warning: If you order the margarita flights, be engaged with the exercise. Listen and learn as the Tommys staff explicates each bottle of tequila in front of you. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And whether you order a flight, a regular-sized margarita or a pitcher at Tommys, never be afraid to ask for some guidance in choosing a tequila. I describe the Tommys margarita as a truly mood drink, Bermejo said. Hell change up the tequila based on his disposition, the food hes eating, the weather. The Land Development Agency (LDA) has secured planning permission for a series of amendments to the housing plan for Corks former St Kevins Hospital and grounds in Shanakiel. The agency, which previously secured planning permission to build more than 260 units, an enterprise centre and creche facilities at the site, lodged an application with Cork City Council earlier this year seeking permission for changes to the scheme. It proposed the replacement of the permitted Block G a three-storey apartment building comprising 10 duplex apartments with six two-storey townhouses. Additionally, the application sought permission for the internal reconfiguration and change of use of the permitted ground-floor creche, to provide six apartments with no associated changes to elevations of the building, and the change of use and internal reconfiguration of the permitted enterprise space in the chapel to a creche with an outdoor play area. The Land Development Agency said these amendments would provide an overall increase of two units on the site. The application also sought permission for all associated site development and excavation works above and below ground as well as necessary works to refurbish and repair. Cork City Council has now granted permission for the changes, subject to 12 conditions. One condition stipulates that, prior to the commencement of any works to the chapel building, a measured survey of the building indicating the location of all historic fabric and interior features and fittings, which clearly indicates which elements are to be retained in situ, relocated or removed, must be submitted to and agreed in writing with the planning authority. The Land Development Agency previously said its vision is to transform the currently defunct and derelict former Victorian mental asylum lands into a new vibrant residential community for the people of Cork. This underutilised site, on the south-facing Shanakiel Ridge, looking over the River Lee, has the opportunity to be an exemplary housing development, offering housing for all sectors of our society in our community. The Land Development Agency is mandated by Government to develop such sites that are in public ownership and there is no better example of such an opportunity as this strategic site in the heart of Cork. The first phase of the development is on track for completion next year. THE chair of Cork City Councils Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) has hailed the councils approval of the Cork City Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2024-2029. The plan, which was adopted at this months council meeting, is intended to give the council, and the citys businesses, communities, voluntary groups and local communities a roadmap for the citys progress over the coming half-decade. Proud Fianna Fail councillor Fergal Dennehy, whose term as chairperson of the LCDC ends with this council term, said he was proud of the work the committee had done and was delighted to have proposed the adoption of the plan. This is a very exciting development for the communities and organisations in Cork as we adopt this ambitious but deliverable plan. The LCDC is extremely proud of the partnerships that have delivered on the formation of this LECP, Mr Dennehy said. We will now champion the 122 actions within this next LECP, Lets Plan Together, An Action Plan for the City. Collaboration He added that the name of the plan captured the nature of the work involved in the documents development, with collaboration and partnership key to its development and finalisation. The public consultation process involved in this LECP offered all residents a real and meaningful opportunity to shape the ethos, the development, the direction, and the delivery over the next six years, Mr Dennehy said. Many individuals, organisations, academics, and professionals came together to state clearly, We Are Cork, and we care. We care about our most vulnerable people, we care about our communities, we care about our economy, and we care about a just transition on climate action and therefore we care about the generations yet to be born. The implementation of the LECP over the next six years would be informed by input from the LCDC, Mr Dennehy said, with the progress of the plan a standing agenda item at monthly council meetings. As chairperson, I wish to pay my highest respect and gratitude to all involved in the delivery of this LECP. The combined effort of the City Council, the communities and the business community is a testament to this plan and the brighter future it holds. The plan will create many opportunities and face many challenges and we will do it the Cork way, we will grasp and meet those opportunities and challenges together, he said. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said the addition of 472 acute hospital beds in Cork must include the hiring of more staff. Yesterday, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe announced a new plan to deliver 4,367 acute hospital in-patient beds nationally by 2031. Nearly 500 of these are in Cork, including 342 at the Cork University Hospital (CUH), 82 at the Mercy University Hospital, and 24 each at Mallow and Bantry General Hospitals. Welcome Tanaiste Micheal Martin told The Echo: I welcome the investment, which is the largest in bed capacity for quite some time. I think it will benefit patients hugely, making for more timely treatment at all stages, and it adds to investments in primary care and enhanced community care in Cork in recent years, so its very good news. Between 2025 and 2028, some 24 beds are planned for Mallow, 82 for the Mercy University Hospital, and 81 for CUH. From 2029-2031, a further 261 beds are planned for CUH and 24 for Bantry. The news comes as high numbers of people are currently without a bed in Cork hospitals. According to the INMO, there were 81 people on trolleys on Wednesday, May 29, including 60 in CUH. CUH told The Echo earlier this month that its emergency department is experiencing a 20% increase in demand compared to this time last year, saying it had a longstanding challenge with acute inpatient bed capacity, which has resulted in a large number of patients having to endure lengthy waiting times. Game-changer Mr Donnelly said he expects funding to be provided under the next National Development Plan to deliver the beds, saying the plan will result in the equivalent bed capacity of six large hospitals opening and will be a game-changer for patients and healthcare workers. The minister of state at the Department of Health, Cork TD Colm Burke, told The Echo: Todays announcement is very positive news for Cork. With an increasing population in Cork, it is vital that we deliver more beds to cater for greater patient needs. This, combined with the Governments commitment to providing an elective hospital in Sarsfield Court in Glanmire, will lead to better outcomes for patients. However, the INMO said that though it welcomes the announcement, delivery is entirely contingent on correct and safe staffing levels. Staffing INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: For every acute medical/surgical bed, it requires a minimum of one additional nurse per bed and higher numbers for high dependency and complex needs. Ms Ni Sheaghdha explained that in order to meet the staff increase required, undergraduate nursing and midwifery places must be increased, retention measures to ensure nurses and midwives stay in the system must be introduced, and the HSE recruitment embargo must be lifted. There is little point in announcing additional beds without a workforce plan in place, she concluded, explaining that the HSE and Department of Health have yet to publish the funded workforce plan for 2024. If this is the methodology that will continue for workforce planning, it is hard to have confidence in the HSEs ability to deliver these additional beds. FIVE men and one teenager pleaded not guilty yesterday to the murder of 43-year-old Tom Dooley at a funeral at Rath Cemetery in Tralee, as the judge advised those called for jury service that the case could go on until the end of July. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring told members of the jury panel at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork that she understood that June and July are popular times for pre-arranged family holidays and that any difficulties they may have should be brought to her attention if selected to be sworn as a juror. Numerous people who had been called as potential jurors then indicated in private conversations with the judge in court that they would not be available for the required period, and they were excused. There were objections to other potential jurors from lawyers who can do so a number of times without specifying the reason. It is anticipated that the empanelling of the jury will not be finalised until Tuesday, June 4. So far, six men and one woman have been sworn in to hear the case. The judge said at the outset that each of the six accused faces the same charge. Ms Justice Ring said: The charge they face is one of murder on October 5, 2022, at Rath cemetery in Tralee, Co Kerry. Those are the significant issues that you will hear about. One of the first witnesses is Siobhan Dooley, also known as Bernadette Siobhan Dooley. She was McDonagh before she married Mr Dooley. She is originally from Tullamore and she is now of Hazelwood Drive, Killarney. The defendants were arraigned individually and each one replied not guilty to the murder of 43-year-old Tom Dooley from Hazelwood Drive, Killarney, at New Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, on October 5, 2022. The five defendants in the case: Patrick Dooley, aged 36, from Arbutus Grove, Killarney; Thomas Dooley, aged 43, from the halting site, Carrigrohane Rd; Thomas Dooley Jnr, aged 21, from the halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork; Michael Dooley, aged 29, of the halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork; and Daniel Dooley, aged 42, of An Carraigin, Connolly Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, face trial, as does the sixth defendant, who is a teenager. Only Thomas Dooley Jnr, aged 21, faces the second charge that he intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm to Siobhan Dooley. There was also a not guilty plea in respect of this count. THE ambulance service has apologised after an elderly woman was left waiting nearly 50 minutes for an ambulance. The incident happened earlier this week at a venue just three minutes away from the Mercy University Hospital, where the woman had to wait for an ambulance to come from Millstreet. Tony Sheehan, Artistic Director of Triskel told The Echo, that ten minutes into a film screening at the venue an elderly woman became ill and her daughter called for help. His staff responded immediately, called emergency services, stopped the film, put on the houselights and informed people that there was an incident. People were fantastic, everyone was very helpful, but we were worried. The elderly woman had effectively collapsed and was unresponsive we have first aid training but its basic, were not medically trained. What were supposed to do is not move the person unless its to make them comfortable and wait for emergency services, but it was a 48 minute wait. Three-minute drive Mr Sheehan explained that they debated bringing the woman to the nearby Mercy University Hospital as it is a three-minute drive and ten-minute walk from the venue, but we decided against that principally because you are instructed not to move them and to wait for emergency services." While waiting for the ambulance, the woman became responsive again and with the assistance of staff and her daughters, she was brought outside to get some air, given water and kept warm. An ambulance arrived, having travelled 50km from Millstreet. "The ambulance staff were amazing, compassionate and professional, they treated her in the ambulance then proceeded to take her out to the Mercy and her daughters followed behind. My understanding is that after spending a night in the Mercy, where all the staff were incredible to her, she was discharged this morning and is safe and well. However the question arises, he said, as to what level of cover there was in Cork city on a relatively quiet Monday night that meant that an ambulance had to come from 50km from Millstreet. 'Absolutely shocking' Sinn Fein TD for Cork South-Central Donnchadh O Laoghaire told The Echo, A woman in her 80s waiting an hour after collapsing is shocking, absolutely shocking. Unfortunately too often we are hearing stories of this kind. We have terrific ambulance staff, all doing their level best but they are being stretched far too thinly, and it is leading to cases like this." A HSE spokesperson told The Echo, On the night of Monday, 27 May, National Ambulance Service capacity in Cork City was below the expected service level due to several factors, including unexpected sick leave. Unfortunately, this meant that the level of service NAS was able to provide fell short of our standards and we would like to apologise sincerely for this. A total of 158,902 people in Cork city are registered to vote in the upcoming local elections an increase of approximately 10,000 electors since last year. Polling takes place on Friday, June 7 and there are five electoral areas of the city with 31 members set to be elected to Cork City Council. Cork City Council said that polling information cards are still being delivered across the city and the expectation is that the last of these should be delivered by An Post by June 3. The local authority advised that polling cards are issued for information purposes only and are not required to vote. All electors should bring some form of ID with them to their polling station as they may be required to prove evidence of identity. If you do not receive your polling card, you can go online ( www.checktheregister.ie) to see if you are registered to vote and check where your polling station is. Alternatively, the city council said people may ring the franchise section in Cork City Council for this information (021 4924000). In total, close to 200 candidates in Cork city and county are vying for election in the upcoming local elections. In the city, a total of 76 candidates have been officially nominated - a 7% decrease on the numbers declared in 2019. Meanwhile, Cork County Council has seen a 14% overall uptick in the number of candidates this year, with 122 hopefuls seeking election. Information on the candidates running can be found on the councils' websites. THE headline acts for the 2024 Guinness Cork Jazz Festival have been announced, with the organisers promising that this year will be the best yet. Now in its 46th year, the jazz festival, which runs over the October bank holiday weekend, is worth millions to Corks economy, with more than 150,000 people visiting the city for last years events. Gregory Porter, Kamasi Washington, Seun Kuti, and Buena Vista All Stars Presents: One Night In Havana are among the headline acts announced to perform at this years Jazz Festival. Other acts confirmed for the festival include West African dance band Orchestra Baobab, musical duo Amadou and Mariam from Mali who will debut their new single Mogolu, and hip harpist Alina Bzhezhinskas tribute to Alice Coltrane, featuring Gil Scott-Heron collaborator Brian Jackson. Also taking to the stage will be new jazz trumpeter Takuya Kuroda, Les Amazones DAfrique, the Staples Jr. Singers, and Mary Coughlan. Tom Keating will present Jenny Greene and special guests, and Mack Fleetwood at Cork City Hall. Commenting on the 2024 programme, festival director Mark Murphy said the line-up would put Cork on par with the greatest jazz festivals internationally. Gregory Porter sold out two shows at the Cork Opera House pre-Christmas and is the biggest voice of jazz internationally. Kamasi Washington is an American jazz superstar, and the high-end Afro-Cuban jazz of the Buena Vista All Stars is as good as it gets for a spectacle. And we have more to announce, said Mr Murphy. Rory Sheridan, head of partnerships for Diageo, said the aim was to be the best jazz festival in the world. We expect the festival will once again attract jazz enthusiasts and festival fans from far and near, especially given the fantastic line-up, she said. Tickets are on sale from Friday morning on guinnesscorkjazz.com. AN attempted murder charge was brought today against a 32-year-old man arising out of an investigation into the alleged arson of a house in Cork city on Christmas Day. Detective Garda Brian Barron formally arrested Shane Casey of Shanowen, Rathcormac, County Cork, and charged him today with the attempted murder of Billy Murphy, the owner of the house at Dyke Parade, Cork. The accused made no reply to that charge when arrested, charged and cautioned at 10.39 am this morning at the courthouse on Anglesea Street, Cork, on the count of attempted murder of the man in his 60s. He did not reply to the three other new charges brought against him either. Those charges are of assault causing harm to Billy Murphy, production of an article, namely a blade, in the course of the assault, and finally causing criminal damage to the house with intent to endanger life. Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said that because there was an attempted murder charge there could be no application for bail at district court level. Inspector Martin Canny said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case should proceed at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Philip OLeary remanded Shane Casey in custody until June 5 at Cork District Court. Det. Garda Barron said that date was sought for the adjournment in order to link up with other charges including arson brought against him arising out of this investigation. In relation to the arson charge it was previously alleged that he set fire to the house and stood outside swinging a blade when the first person ran from the burning building, telling him, You are going to die here tonight. These were the allegations made by Detective Garda Barron in the case when Shane Casey first appeared in court in relation to the alleged incidents at the house on Dyke Parade, Cork, just after 6pm on December 25, 2023 when four people were present in the house. Referring to CCTV and other evidence, the detective said, At 6.05pm, he exits and stands looking in the open front door at the fire taking hold. At 6.06pm, it is alleged that he closes the front door and attempts to barricade the front door from the outside, using a piece of timber to jam to the side and then under the door. It is alleged he takes a blade from his pocket and holds it out in front of him and waits outside. At 6.08pm, the front door bursts open and [one of the men] attempts to escape the now blazing house. "It was alleged he said (to one injured party), 'My name is Shane Casey and you remember me from two days ago you are going to die here tonight.' It was further alleged that one woman had to be rescued from the roof and that it took six units of the fire service more than six hours to bring the fire under control and make the building safe and the fire caused thousands of euro in damage, the detective said. A Cork man accused of slashing a Polish man with a knife when the injured party was visiting Cork city centre for a dance competition has been remanded in custody until June 18. Judge Mary Dorgan remanded him in custody until that date, on the application of Sergeant Gearoid Davis at Cork District Court. Shane Dineen, aged 30, of no fixed address, appeared by video link from prison and consented to the three-week adjournment. His solicitor Frank Buttimer said the accused should have had his High Court bail appeal heard by then. If successful, the defendant will be required to appear in court on June 18 in person. Detective Garda Maurice Hickey objected last week at Cork District Court to bail being granted to Shane Dineen on a charge of assault causing harm to the Polish man on Monday, May 20. The detective said one of the grounds for objection was the seriousness of the alleged offence. At 2.50am on May 20, the injured party was outside the Premier Inn on Morrisons Island with six of his friends who were all over from Poland for a dance competition. Shane Dineen and a female companion approached the group and asked a female friend of the injured party for a cigarette, to which she replied that she didnt smoke. (The woman who asked for the cigarette) then slapped her across the face. (The man with the woman who was slapped) intervened by pushing the assailant away resulting in her falling to the ground. Shane Dineen and his female companion are then seen going towards the man. Shane Dineen then produces a knife that he had on him and threatens the people at the scene by waving it recklessly and menacingly towards them. It is alleged that he slashes the injured party on the right hand and forearm. (CCTV allegedly shows that) he then continues to threaten the other people and kicks at them, all the while brandishing the knife in his hand The injured party flees to the hotel for safety. Shane Dineen attempts to follow him in, getting as far as the lobby, where he again brandishes the knife, Det Garda Hickey said. Shane Dineen testified that if granted bail he could reside with a friend at Hillsboro, off Old Blackrock Road, and sign twice a day at a garda station if necessary. A traveler with measles flew from Munich to Los Angeles and then to the Yosemite area, potentially exposing thousands of people along the way to the highly infectious disease, according to health officials. Ryan Sun/Associated Press A traveler with measles flew from Munich to Los Angeles and then to the Yosemite area, potentially exposing thousands of people along the way to the highly infectious disease, according to health officials. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed the case on Monday, bringing the number of documented measles cases in California in 2024 to nine. The infected passenger, described as a nonresident, arrived at Los Angeles International Airport around 3 p.m. on May 19 aboard Lufthansa flight LH452. After a five-hour layover, they continued their journey to Fresno Yosemite International Airport around 8 p.m. on SkyWest flight SKW5591. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Measles is spread by air and by direct contact even before you know you have it and can lead to severe disease, said Dr. Muntu Davis, the Los Angeles County health officer. Measles is highly contagious for those who are not immune to it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is highly unlikely for individuals who have previously received the measles vaccine to get infected. Common symptoms of measles include: High fever (higher than 101 F). Cough. Runny nose. Red and watery eyes. Tiny white spots (Koplik spots) inside the mouth 2-3 days after symptoms begin. Rash 3-5 days after other signs of illness. The measles rash typically starts at the face and then spreads to the rest of the body. An infection can result in serious complications for young children and vulnerable adults, officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad People infected with measles are contagious from about four days before the rash appears to four days afterward. Officials advise anyone at either airport on May 19 to check for potential exposure. The health department stated that if individuals do not show symptoms 21 days after exposure, by June 9, they are no longer at risk. A traveler with measles flew from Munich to Los Angeles and then to the Yosemite area, potentially exposing thousands of people along the way to the highly infectious disease, according to health officials. Mario Tama/Getty Images Thus far, there have been no confirmed cases linked to the sick traveler. Nationwide, there have been 142 measles cases reported in 21 jurisdictions this year more than double the number reported all of last year with approximately half requiring hospitalization. Advertisement Article continues below this ad More than 90% of those cases are linked to international travel. This often involves unvaccinated Americans traveling to countries where measles is more common, contracting the virus there, and infecting unvaccinated individuals upon returning to the United States. Almost 600 residential units are expected to come on stream in Cork when previously vacant and derelict properties benefit from 14m in urban regeneration funding provided to Corks two local authorities. A funding allocation of 6m for Cork City Council from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund will be dedicated to purchasing and carrying out works at 58 derelict or vacant properties to make an estimated 279 residential units ready for sale. A provision of 8m from the same fund for Cork County Council is expected to yield 274 residential units from 28 derelict or vacant buildings or sites. The funding allocations were announced as a result of Call 3 of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund which saw a total of 142.5m being distributed among the countrys 31 local authorities. It will see a total of 5,406 residential units being provided from 1,224 derelict or vacant properties nationwide. Emphasis According to Housing Minister Darragh OBrien, who made the announcement, the Government had placed a huge emphasis on the regeneration and rejuvenation of towns all across the country. As I travel around Ireland, its heartening to see the impact of initiatives which are underway to transform towns and cities, he said. The allocations were welcomed by Cork North West Fianna Fail TD Aindrias Moynihan, who said his party wanted vacant properties in cities, towns and villages across the country to become homes giving people the opportunity to live and participate in their communities. My party colleagues and I have placed a huge emphasis on the regeneration and rejuvenation of towns and are committed to tackling the issue of vacant and derelict properties in our communities and increasing housing supply across the country, he said. THERE was an audible intake of breath and a gasp when Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Kieran McCarthy spoke last Friday night of the chain he was wearing. He told us the gold chain was just the fourth known one worn by Corks First Citizen in over 1,000 years. Made in the year 1787, it was first worn 237 years ago by Mayor James Kingston. The current Lord Mayor said: Id love to press Play on this chain, you can imagine what this chain has seen, all of a sudden it could tell all the stories and the emotions. He went on to say that in a months time he will be handing on this precious object to its next custodian. Richard Wine was the first Mayor of Cork in 1273 - before that here by the Lee we had a Provost. Eugene Crean in 1899/1900 was the last to hold the title of Mayor of Cork. In 1900, the title was changed to Lord Mayor and Sir Daniel Hegarty was the first incumbent. On Friday night last, we heard a lot about conflict, the Land War, War of Independence and Civil War too. I thought of the Tithe War of the 1830s here in my own parish when 12 unarmed men were shot down and died standing up for their beliefs - known forever more as the Battle of Gortroe. A century later, Patsy Barry NT, describing that bloody and awful incident, wrote: The leader of the fight against the military at Gortroe was a man named Shawn Ahern, generally known as Shaun Vat (Sean, son of Batt). He belonged to an old family stock that still flourishes in Bartlemy and has branches in many parts of North and East Cork. Well, Joni Mitchells song The Circle Game described my feelings exactly; And the seasons they go round and round And the painted ponies go up and down Were captive on the carousel of time We cant return we can only look Behind from where we came And go round and round and round In the circle game Yes, truly we cant return, we can only look behind from where we came, but in many circumstances that past is still mirrored in todays world. Around 100 people were present in Stuake Hall, Donoughmore, on Friday night for a book launch. Ive attended many such events over the years and each is truly unique, just as every book is different. One of the descendants of the Shaun Vat Aherns was Tricia Ahern, who married Gerard ORourke, a native and proud son of Donoughmore. Hewn from the fields, bogs, hills and streams of a rural parish, Gerard always had a passion for his native place. He wrote a history of his local GAA Club in 1985 and then Ancient Sweet Donoughmore, published in 2015. That last volume brought the story of his own place up to 1900. In recent years then, Gerard undertook a mammoth undertaking to chronicle events during the first quarter of the 1900s. We have just finished the Decade of Commemoration in Ireland, which encompassed World War I, the 1916 Rising and its aftermath, the War of Independence and the heartbreaking and family-breaking Civil War. Many, many scholars undertook research into various and different facets of this tumultuous period in Irish history, and books, television programmes and radio documentaries have all resulted, which have added to our knowledge and understanding of those epic times. The Lord Mayor, in a superb address, told us that every place has a story to tell. He stressed the importance of research and recording stories from the past. An enthusiastic local historian, he recalled some years back he was trying to find out as much as he could about the building of the Inniscarra Dam. He visited a man in his eighties in Cork city. This man was the concrete scientist during the dams construction. Kieran enquired if he had kept any notes, plans, drawings, or any material from the 1953-1957 period. No, was the answer, but immediately the mans wife said: What about all the stuff above in the attic? Soon after, Kieran had access to a vast repertoire of invaluable material on the Inniscarra Dam. The Lord Mayor stressed the importance of stories and how they should be kept and preserved. How often, he asked, do we hear people say, My mother or father used to say. He said the depth of Gerard ORourkes research was stunning. The term Nostalgic Currency was used by the Lord Mayor, as he described how Gerard mined into memories, into letters, objects and material handed down from generation to generation. We need to do more research, reach out more and see whats in peoples attics. The book Land War To Civil War, 1900-1924 - Donoughmore To Cork And Beyond Gerard ORourkes book is entitled Land War To Civil War,1900-1924 - Donoughmore To Cork And Beyond. Yes, its a publication of 446 pages dealing with Donoughmore in turbulent times, but what happened in that parish happened in so many other places too. Much has been written and published about the period up to the end of the War of Independence, and in recent years a vast amount of material has become available online. The Bureau of Military History, the Military Service Pension Collection, and the Military Archives of Ireland are absolutely brilliant sources of history. For this book, however, Gerard has gone much further insofar as he has gathered so much personal recollections, newspaper references and previously unknown sources. His words in dealing with the bitter Civil War paint a true and sad picture of a blood-stained era in Donoughmore and elsewhere. Meticulous is defined as taking or showing extreme care about minute details; precise; thorough and thats an absolutely accurate and apt description of Gerards research. Each chapter draws on different sources and there are 46 pages of End Notes which tell us precisely where different facts, figures, reports, and statistics come from. As well as the major engagements of the Volunteers, ambushes, skirmishes, kidnappings and executions, the book also contains much invaluable information about daily life in the area. The mundane, hum-drum, sometimes even slightly whimsical happenings that give colour to the ordinary are dealt with. Like at Ahadillane Petty Session Court in August, 1900, where a man was charged with collecting money by false pretences. Sergeant OFarrell found the defendant asleep in a field and on his person was five pence, a tie, a purse, a box of matches and a pipe. He was sentenced to 12 hours imprisonment! The aftermath of the Dripsey Ambush, the execution of Major Compton Smith, and the disappearance of Mrs Lindsay and her butler James Clarke are dealt with extensively. Gerard ORourkes book is dealing with history, but in reality its much more than that. It chronicles the life and times of a community in troubled times and as such is of interest to anyone who wants to know how our past shaped our present. Sadly, Tricia, Gerards wife, died last August. He dedicates to book to her - it was her generosity and encouragement that allowed him the space and time to pursue and finish this publication. For every copy sold, 15 will be donated to supporting cancer services in Cork. When Lord Mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy sang, there wasnt a dry eye in Stuake Hall: Smile though your heart is aching Smile even though its breaking When there are clouds in the sky, youll get by If you smile through your fear and sorrow Smile and maybe tomorrow Youll see the sun come shining through for you AS we approach local elections and are asked to lend our votes once again to prospective candidates so they can work for our communities, it is a good time to think about empowering voters and councils further, to meaningfully steer change from the bottom up rather than the top down. It is no secret that many voters outside of Dublin, particularly rural voters, find the government to be too Dublin-centric. Whether or not there is too much focus on the capital, in national conversations, the Dublin perspective tends to dominate discussions on economic, environmental, housing, and social issues. This often shifts attention to how solutions to housing, transport, and other challenges are addressed in the capital, rather than in Irelands other cities facing similar issues. Debates around projects such as the Dublin MetroLink shape Irelands climate and transport policy, while the Cork Luas tends to primarily concern locals, despite being Irelands second largest city. To promote more balanced discussions and development, one avenue that can create tangible benefits for voters and democracy is refocusing spending power away from the central government towards local authorities. In 2023, spending by the 31 local authorities in Ireland totalled 11.8billion, of which 5.1billion was on capital projects. This only makes up 11.5% of the 102.5billion in 2023 government spending. A 2023 report by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe warned that Ireland lagged behind most other European countries in empowering its local councils. The Local Autonomy Index - a measure of how much power European local authorities are given by central government - found Ireland to have one of the lowest scores, only ranking just above Hungary, Russia, and Moldova, making it one of the most centralised countries in Europe. Irish democracy works well, but can be better. Moving from a highly centralised state can help democracy progress in two main ways. The first is the most apparent: through more decentralised spending and governance, voters and councils will be empowered to focus more resources on local issues, aiding in resolving them faster. Ireland, like every country, faces nuanced regional issues, causing a diverse array of priorities. In 2016, a Vodafone study found broadband penetration in rural Ireland was only 69%. A 2021 Eurobarometer survey showed 43% of rural residents still faced broadband issues, compared to the EUs 26% average. Though progress has been made this year via the National Broadband Plan, it is sobering to note it has taken eight years since the original Vodafone study and there are still concerns about rural broadband coverage. The central government has to grapple with balancing the varying needs of voters in Cork, Greater Dublin, rural Ireland, and more when allocating intellectual and financial resources. Empowered local councils have the advantage of specialised smaller scopes, which offers a promising solution: expedited responses to pressing issues in their areas. For instance, Cork city can devote itself to addressing housing concerns, rural Ireland can focus on broadband access, and Dublin city can combat rising crime rates - all with greater agility than the central government that is burdened with a national balancing act. Amid growing discontent with political figures, bringing policymaking and spending decisions closer to voters is imperative. Making more decisions through local processes gives voters a greater sense of self-determination. This is evident worldwide, from the outcomes of large-scale processes such as devolution in the UK, to smaller-scale initiatives like participatory budgeting in Paris. Like in referenda, a more grassroots, community-specific approach to democracy can reinforce voters ownership of the decision process, which is important in the backdrop of global scepticism towards political institutions. Secondly, empowering local governments financially and legislatively can foster a more vibrant, competitive political environment. Looking to countries such as the U.S and UK, regional elections can attract high profile names and are often regarded with similar importance to national elections in their respective regions. The competition for positions such as Mayor of London, state congress member, and other similar roles, is in great part due to the authority and budget granted to them, facilitating significant impacts on the communities they serve. Weak local councils can drive talented councillors to leave for roles in the Dail, seeking the resources and authority they need to effect change. Furthermore, limited powers granted to local governments may discourage bright leaders from participating in local government. Ambitious candidates may view national or EU elections as the only viable career paths. As a consequence, communities can potentially lose impactful candidates and be subject to less competitive local elections. Attracting more competitive candidates to local elections through larger budgets and authority is important for accountability and innovation. Underperforming or out-of-touch councillors are more likely to face competition from more capable candidates. Even superb councillors will be further incentivised to innovate and improve their performance due to the likely entrance of other innovators vying for their seat. All of this translates to more incentives for economic and social progress. Ireland has the ability to catch up to our European peers in local governance. By implementing rigorous independent checks for proper use of funds and an audited tendering process, greater powers can be given to counties and cities to autonomously invest in region-specific infrastructure and projects with the agility voters need. As mentioned, local governments only spend 11.5% of the total budget - not all of this was funded by the Dail. Starting from a low base enables meaningful resources to gradually shift to regional bodies. To best use our local councils, not all politics must be local, but more spending certainly should be. IRISH talent has graced both sides of the camera since the earliest days of Hollywood. Our homegrown film industry, which brings in around 500 million annually, is a testament to our world-class crews and high-tech studios nationwide. The industry is on an upward trajectory, with more studios being constructed to cater to the increasing demand for international production. Filmmaking is not just a passion but a part of our DNA. The Horgan Brothers: Princes of The Picture Theatre, a new documentary, delves into the extraordinary world of the Horgan Brothers, who hold the distinction of being Irelands first native film-makers and animators. This significant piece of Irish film history, directed by Michael Twomey, will be screened this Thursday at the Triskel Cinema. Twomey, who is from Youghal, says he spent many years watching films at the Horgan Picture Theatre on the towns Friar Street, but admits he didnt know anything about the trailblazing brothers who opened the cinema in 1917. Growing up in the 1970s and 80s, I knew the cinema very well. It is where I saw many greats like The Godfather, Jaws, and The Deer Hunter. While I was watching films in a cinema opened by the Horgan brothers, I didnt know anything about them or their history. Twomey says the Horgan story went untold, even in their home town. People may have taken them for granted. Local people were used to having trailblazers in their town. Youghal is a small town, yet there were two cinemas from the 1920s. People were spoilt for choice. I suppose when people are alive, their legacy isnt always recognised, but that is changing now. The self-confessed cinephile worked as a reporter for The Echo and the Examiner before returning to college at 40 to study his true passion, film. At UCC, he realised the importance of James, Philip, and Thomas Horgan, but it was their descendants, some of whom are interviewed in the documentary, who first digitized their archive. Jim Horgan, one of their grandsons, is the driving force behind the film archive, and the family has held a few exhibitions in Youghal over the years. Thats when I became aware of them and started to do deeper research. "My knowledge of cinema grew while I was studying at UCC, and that is when I realised just how innovative the Horgans were. In the late 1800s, the brothers used their Confirmation money to buy a pinhole camera. They became adept at taking pictures, and by 1892, they had opened a photography studio. They were driven by creativity and excited by new inventions. They painted backdrops for patrons to stand against while they were photographed, transporting the people of Youghal to the moon. They made a fortune selling images for postcards to publishers in London and ran magic lantern shows projecting images from faraway places like New York onto walls across the county. Twomey said the more he researched, the more passionate he became about the Horgans, and he knew he had to tell their story. It became a passion project. The idea has been with me for a long time, but I started to think seriously about making a documentary in 2017. There were a few hurdles, but I had to make this documentary. Cinephiles know how important Frances Lumiere brothers were to the burgeoning film industry. Their 1895 Cinematograph invention was groundbreaking. It could capture, process, and project film. James Horgan was fascinated and knew he needed a similar device to make his films, but the Lumiere didnt sell cinemagraphs. But they sold projectors, which the brothers bought, and James reverse-engineered it into a prototype film camera. By 1904, the Horgans had become Irelands first filmmakers, filming local and historical events, such as King Edward VIIs visit to Lismore Castle in May of that year. I wish I had been a fly on the wall, says Twomey. Imagine being there as they figured out how to change the projector and turn it into what they needed. Imagine being the first Irish people to film history as it happened. In 1910, the Horgans made Irelands first-ever animation - a whimsical story about Youghals clock tower dancing in circles and turning upside down. The brothers decided to open the cinema on Friar Street on the advice of car mogul Henry Ford. They realised how much people liked to see themselves on film and began to film public events like the Corpus Christi Procession and race days, which they would show in the cinema before the main feature. The Horgans documentary is filmed to reflect early filmmaking, and Twomeys keen sense of style has allowed him to create something that echoes the era. It is packed with images, clips from Horgans archive, and interviews with family members and film experts. Like Horgans films, Twomeys documentary records the history and society of Youghal in the early 1900s, a time he says was extraordinary. It was the edge of a new century and the edge of modernity. I love the idea that they were excited by the tools that came their way and how they embraced them. Twomey says the Triskel screening feels like a recognition of his efforts. Its a lonely business if you are an independent filmmaker. Triskels support means an awful lot. It is a recognition that the documentary is a standard that is acceptable for a general audience. After all the work, that recognition feels great. The Horgan Brothers: Princes of the Picture Theatre screens on May 30 at 6.30pm, see triskelartscentre.ie for more details. Kenneth Fox A total of 42 per cent of electricity in Ireland came from renewables in 2023, according to EirGrid's annual report for 2023. The EirGrid Group is responsible for operating, developing and enhancing the electricity grid in Ireland. Group profit before tax was 71.2 million, down from 114.9 million in 2022 due to regulatory timing differences and higher operating costs reflecting the increasing scale and complexity of the business. Excluding the impact of over and under recoveries on reported profit, managements estimate of the underlying profit for 2023 was 40.6 million, up from 26.3 million in 2022. They said related over-recovery will be returned to Transmission Use of System (TUoS) customers through a reduction in tariffs in future years. The company is proposing to pay a dividend of 4 million to the Government, unchanged from last year. There was a new maximum peak of demand in Ireland of 5,544MW, followed by a new capacity energised onto the system: 300MW solar; 150MW wind and 75MW batteries. The ability to operate the system with more renewables on the system at the same time is called the System Non-Synchronous Penetration or SNSP limit. That limit was increased to 75 per cent, with 512 hours of system operation above 70 per cent SNSP over this period. Other key points from the report were the announcement of the first Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme auction run on behalf of the Government, as well as technical and financial agreements signed for the delivery of the Celtic Interconnector in November 2022. Speaking about the report, the chair of EirGrid Group, Brendan Tuohy said: EirGrid continues to deal with the dual challenge of decarbonising the electricity system to meet the Governments targets for 2030 and beyond, whilst at the same time ensuring security of supply. "I am pleased to report that we had a very successful year, operating the electricity system safely and securely, despite challenging circumstances, whilst also progressing key elements of our EirGrid Strategy (2020-2025) to support meeting the Governments climate ambitions. 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. Crows are highly intelligent, social birds found on every continent other than South America and Antarctica. In a new study, researchers from the Institute of Neurobiology at Germanys University of Tubingen have found that crows are able to learn to produce a specific number of calls, showing advance planning. How many calls they will make can be predicted from the first vocalization in a sequence, a press release from University of Tubingen said. Producing a specific number of vocalizations with purpose requires a sophisticated combination of numerical abilities and vocal control, the researchers wrote in the study. We show that crows can flexibly produce variable numbers of one to four vocalizations in response to arbitrary cues associated with numerical values. The acoustic features of the first vocalization of a sequence were predictive of the total number of vocalizations, indicating a planning process. Moreover, the acoustic features of vocal units predicted their order in the sequence and could be used to read out counting errors during vocal production. Carrion crows are known for their impressive learning ability, which includes being able to count. In addition, they have very good vocal control. They can control precisely whether they want to emit a call or not, said Andreas Nieder, a professor of animal physiology at University of Tubingen, in the press release. The research team conducted behavioral experiments to see if three carrion crows could combine their ability to count with vocal control. The corvids were given the task of producing from one to four calls that appropriately corresponded with specific sounds or an array of Arabic numerals, followed by pecking an enter key. All three birds succeeded in this. They were able to count their calls in sequence, Nieder said in the press release. The crows displayed a relatively long response time between when they were presented with the stimulus and their first call, which became longer as more calls were added. The delays length was not affected by the type of stimulus. This indicates that, from the information presented to them, the crows form an abstract numerical concept which they use to plan their vocalizations before emitting the calls, Nieder explained. Using the acoustic properties of the first call in a numerical sequence we could predict how many calls the crow would make. Some errors were detected in the birds calls. Counting errors, such as one call too many or one too few, arose through the bird losing track of the calls already made or still to be produced, Nieder said. We are also able to read out these types of errors from the acoustic properties of the individual calls. Being able to produce a deliberately chosen number of calls requires a sophisticated combination of vocal control and numerical competence. Our results show that humans are not the only ones who can do this. In principle it also opens up sophisticated communication to the crows, Nieder said. The study, Crows count the number of self-generated vocalizations, was published in the journal Science. 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. With all eight native freshwater turtle species of Ontario considered at-risk, researchers have created protective nests to help boost offspring survival. Researchers at the University of Waterloo and McMaster University designed a nest with materials like moss and lichen to mimic the turtles natural rocky nesting sites. As the research team pointed out in their study, published in the journal Restoration Ecology, previous nest restoration efforts often focused on building nests from materials like sand and gravel. Examples of nest sites created with moss (A), mixed materials (B) and lichen (C). Restoration Ecology The team instead focused on designing a nest that would work best for rocky landscapes, where freshwater turtles often create their nests in the cracks of rocks. Plus, they pointed out in their study that the mound nests made with sand and gravel tend to require regular upkeep to prevent plants from growing too densely into the nesting areas. The researchers created the first nest for a research site at Georgian Bay in 2019 and monitored it for five years. During this time, the researchers didnt need to make any repairs or adjustments to the nest they created, meaning it could be a low-maintenance way to help with freshwater turtle protection efforts. A Blandings turtle at its new nesting site. Hope Freeman / McMaster University While freshwater turtles can make their own nests, these efforts are often set back as the animals face threats from habitat destruction. The number 1 threat to freshwater turtles in Ontario is habitat loss and degradation from urbanization, Chantel Markle, the lead author of the study and professor in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo, said in a press release. Georgian Bay is one of the last remaining strongholds for some at-risk turtles in Ontario, so this new design is a step towards the survival of the species. Additionally, freshwater turtle eggs depend on certain temperatures to produce male or female hatchlings, and too many males or females can limit the reproduction of offspring in future generations, further threatening the survival of at-risk species. So the researchers took extra care to create warm, well-draining nests that would give the offspring the best odds of survival as well as hopefully improving population size in the long-term. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to assessing the success of habitat created for animal reproduction is critical, Markle said. In this study we evaluated the physical, ecohydrological and ecological success of the created nesting habitat a combination not often seen in a single study. The team found that the eggs were 41% likely to hatch in the human-crafted nests, while the natural nesting sites only had a 10% chance for eggs to hatch. Next, the researchers plan to scale the nest design to apply to other local, rocky landscapes. Additionally, they made their nest creation process available in the published study to aid turtle conservationists in other areas throughout Canada and the U.S. A female painted turtle after nesting. Chantel Markle / University of Waterloo (WCC file photo)Gaza World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Jerry Pillay has joined the United Nations human rights chief in strongly condemning an attack by Israeli forces near a camp for displaced persons in the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Dozens of people were killed in the May 26 airstrike in an area where displaced civilians were sheltering in tents. The strike sparked a fire that tore across the camp, local officials said. "The World Council of Churches condemns all violations by Israeli forces of international humanitarian law and norms regarding the protection of civilians," said Pillay on May 29. "We call for an immediate cessation of this deadly violence and appeal to both Israel and Hamas to desist from attacks on civilians and to urgently de-escalate the conflict." Pillay lamented the civilian casualties and suffering resulting from this latest attack, adding to the unconscionable toll borne by the civilian population of Gaza in the current conflict. "Strikes that kill civiliansespecially innocent childrencan never provide a path to sustainable peace, or to justice, but only perpetuate the cycle of violence," he said. "We urge all WCC member churches to continue to pray for just peace in the land of Christ's birth, and in solidarity with all the people affected and threatened by violence." The WCC cited the Gaza Health Ministry reporting hat at least 45 people were killed in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood, the majority of them women and children. The ministry said first responders warned that the number of casualties could rise, as many people were trapped in flames that erupted after the bombardment. "It is time that these senseless killings of innocent people be stopped, and we appeal to the international community to assume a more prominent and responsible role in seeking an immediate ceasefire to spare the continued suffering and loss of lives of innocent people," Pillay said. The strike drew condemnation from world leaders just days after the United Nations' top court ordered Israel to halt its offensive on the southern Gaza city, where more than a million people had sought refuge. "Sunday's strike underscores once again that there is literally no safe place in Gaza," the UN Human Rights chief, Volker Turk, said of the incident in southern Gaza, near the Egyptian border. Turk also criticised Hamas; activity. "Palestinian armed groups must stop the firing of rockets which are inherently indiscriminate, in clear violation of international humanitarian law. They must also unconditionally release all hostages at once," said the human rights chief. The beleaguered Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin was closed by the Bureau of Prisons last month. The womens prison was known as the rape club despite attempts to reform the troubled facility after an Associated Press investigation exposed rampant staff-on-inmate sexual abuse. Terry Chea/Associated Press Last month, the Bureau of Prisons abruptly announced plans to close Federal Correctional Institution Dublin, a womens prison in Alameda County. The Dublin prison has been the target of outrage by lawyers, activists, members of Congress and incarcerated people for decades as stories of rampant sexual abuse of incarcerated women at the hands of guards continued to be reported. When a federal judge questioned the closing, the Bureau of Prisons assured her that it is committed to the safe and orderly transfer of adults in custody to different prisons. However, these incarcerated people are facing a very different reality: The closure and transfer of people who were incarcerated at FCI Dublin was nothing short of chaos. Many of the incarcerated people are survivors of sexual abuse by prison employees and were then exposed to new trauma as they were ripped from their communities and retaliated against for reporting the abuse. Closing buildings and transferring those incarcerated in them will not fix the problem of sexual abuse in prison. It was not the buildings at Dublin that sexually abused adults in custody and earned it the gruesome moniker rape club it was the people paid to protect them. Sadly, Dublins closure is part of a larger national crisis within the federal prison system. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For the past two years, I have been working with partner organizations in Northern California to identify survivors of sexual abuse at Dublin and to assist them in bringing compassionate release cases to federal court. These cases aim to free survivors of abuse from a prison system that sheltered their abusers at the expense of their well-being. In federal criminal law, once a criminal sentence is imposed, it is final there is no early release through parole. Compassionate release is a narrow safety valve that permits a federal judge to reduce a sentence in extraordinary and compelling circumstances. These circumstances are defined by the U.S. Sentencing Commission to include sexual abuse by Bureau of Prisons employees. The sudden closure of Dublin underscores the urgent need for the bureau to recognize guidance on compassionate release and act accordingly by immediately filing motions for all sexual abuse survivors. Compassionate release is appropriately used when acts and circumstances including rape, medical neglect and many other horrific situations make the continued incarceration of a person patently unjust. Closing Dublin and relocating its survivors without providing a thorough plan to eradicate systemic sexual abuse throughout the bureau is a troubling warning sign about the safety of our federal prison system. Outside advocates like us at FAMM (formerly Families Against Mandatory Minimums) have limited access to people in federal custody and to information that we can use for compassionate release applications. The Bureau of Prisons, however, has unfettered access to every known sexual abuse survivor in federal prison. The bureau also has the legal authority to identify people who qualify for compassionate release and work with the Department of Justice to bring their cases to court. Based on our work, judges across the country had already granted compassionate release to at least 17 Dublin survivors before the closure. These cases were brought by survivors who summoned the courage against insurmountable odds to ask for help. I worry about the survivors who are suffering in silence. There is so much more work to be done. The toxic culture at Dublin allowed sexual abuse to persist for decades. That culture permeates the Bureau of Prisons. A recent U.S. Senate report found that during the past 10 years, bureau employees have sexually abused prisoners in two-thirds of the prisons that house women. Transferring survivors of abuse people who are already at high risk for suicide and serious mental health conditions from Dublin to prisons across the country will not protect them from abuse or retaliation at their next location. This is particularly so when those prisons have their own scandals of sexual abuse. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 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 The abuse that women have reported as they are being transferred only underscores how incapable the bureau is of protecting the rights of vulnerable people who are entrusted to its care. Weve heard of a bus driver playing the childrens song Wheels on the Bus at full blast and turning up the volume when the passengers complained, women not having access to restrooms and not being allowed to change after sitting in their own soiled, dirty clothing for more than 12 hours and some having difficulty breathing because they were shackled to the bus so tightly. As one person in custody put it, the Bureau of Prisons is treating us like pieces of dirt on the ground. It is completely inhumane. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given Amazon permission to fly its delivery drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). With that hurdle cleared, the company claims it can fly farther and expand drone service, providing customers faster delivery and a larger selection of items, Amazon announced in a blog post. Until now, the FAA has only allowed Amazon to fly drones as far as someone could see them from the ground. That way, spotters or pilots could ensure that drones weren't interfering with aircraft. However, the constraint seriously limited how far the drones could travel. To move beyond that, Amazon said it spent years developing "onboard detect-and-avoid technology." It submitted engineering information to the FAA including operation, maintenance and performance details. Flight tests were then conducted in the presence of FAA inspectors around airplanes, helicopters and a hot air balloon to "demonstrate how the drone safely navigated away from each one of them," Amazon said. With BVLOS approval in hand, the company plans to expand its delivery area around its drone facility at College Station, Texas. Later in 2024, drone deliveries will be integrated into its broader delivery network. Last month, Amazon announced that it was halting drone deliveries at one of its first test sites in Lockeford, California, without providing a specific reason. At the same time, it said it would launch drone deliveries in the West Valley, Phoenix metro area. Sonys lovable robo-mascot is getting a new game. During its PlayStation State of Play on Thursday, Sony dropped a trailer for the upcoming PS5 title Astro Bot. The 3D Mario-esque title, a sequel to the beloved pack-in, Astros Playroom, arrives on September 6. The trailer sees our pal Astro wading through puddles full of pink flamingos, grappling across platforms like Bionic Commando and summoning a PS5 console to help fight a giant green alien in a UFO (as one tends to do). In a nod to old-school PlayStation, the trailer even includes a cameo from PaRappa the Rapper. Sony describes Astro Bot as a supersized adventure that spans over six galaxies and 80 levels as you search for your lost crew. Youll have over 15 new abilities, and, like in its predecessor, it will serve as a showcase for the various sensors and haptics in the DualSense controller. Astro Bot will be available for pre-order on June 7 ahead of its September 6 release date. Genaro Salinas and other gig workers rally against Prop 22 outside the California Supreme Court in San Francisco on Tuesday. The court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the law. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Imagine trying to live in California while making on average less than half of the minimum wage with no benefits or workers compensation. That may sound ridiculous, but it is the reality for an estimated 1.4 million workers across the state. In May, the California Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the constitutionality of Proposition 22, the 2020 voter-approved measure that classifies app-based workers as something akin to independent businesses, making them ineligible for employee benefits and protections. The cases outcome could impact all kinds of workers, not just in California, but around the country and even globally. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Back in February 2020, the Yes on Prop 22 campaign with record-breaking funding from Uber, Lyft, Instacart and DoorDash began aggressively pushing to voters the message that app-controlled ride-hail drivers and food delivery couriers are unique and that their flexible work arrangements and earning potential negate any need for the full boat of social safety net benefits that provide minimal economic security to other California employees. But, in reality, it was Prop 22 that truly made these workers unique. The passage of Prop 22 created a whole new set of reduced (and less expensive) labor standards. Simultaneously, it robbed this majority racial minority and immigrant workforce of the freedom accorded traditional small businesses. Unlike true independent contractors who can bargain with those who hire them, set their own labor prices and cultivate a clientele, Prop 22 mandates that workers who labor for transportation and delivery network companies be governed by a set of rules that leave their everyday work lives to the control and discretion of their hiring entities, depriving them of a guaranteed hourly minimum wage, leaving unpaid time spent awaiting work and providing vehicle reimbursement at half the IRS rate. The result of this unique classification: abysmal, unpredictable compensation and incomplete job protections. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What differentiates app-based workers covered by Prop 22 the most from other workers is that they lawfully earn an employee equivalent of $5.97 per hour, without tips, in a context where the average California municipal minimum wage is $16 per hour, according to a recent study by the Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics and the UC Berkeley Labor Center. This isnt the first time workers in the U.S. have had to fight for their rights. In the throes of the Industrial Revolution, following an infamous 1905 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Lochner v. New York, which found that a maximum hours law violated the so-called freedom to contract, workers across the country lost basic protections. But amidst pervasive economic strife during the Great Depression, millions of people joined labor unions, and through widespread work stoppages and protests, fought to enact laws that entitled them to among other things the rights to the minimum wage and to collectively bargain. Almost a century later, whether a subset of low-income workers is legally entitled to state protections is being questioned again under similar circumstances. Todays saga started a little over one decade ago, as San Francisco arose from the ashes of the Great Recession, and Uber and Lyft first hit the citys streets. But unlike the previous episode, the question has rapidly spread across the globe, from India to Brazil, with the proliferation of Uber and Uber-like companies, including Ola, Rappi, Foodora, Zomato and iFood. Many workers, unions and labor advocates understand the implications of this issue and the outcome of the challenge to Prop 22 as extending far beyond Californias transportation and delivery sectors. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If a firm can hire, fire and manage workers through a smartphone app, can it also become a network company, disavow worker protections and drastically decrease labor costs? Already, this model has spread to the hospitality, warehouse, health care and in-house service sectors. Meanwhile, lawmakers have struggled to hold the line for hard-won labor rights. 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 This week, Minnesota enacted a law requiring a minimum pay rate for Uber and Lyft drivers. But even that was a compromise to satisfy the companies, which threatened to leave the state if higher wage minimums passed by the Minneapolis City Council were enacted. The camp of Duane "Keefe D" Davis, the person accused of being involved in the murder of Tupac Shakur, believes his confession should be inadmissible in court because the ex-gangster "obviously" lied. Keefe D wants his 2009 confession tape with the Las Vegas Metro Police to be thrown out of the case because of questions on the "legitimacy" of his claims, his lawyer Carl Arnold said. "Obviously Keefe was lying. He doesn't even stick to what he said in the proffer in the middle of the [Metro Police] 2009 interview," Arnold told The Sun. In a taped interview with the Las Vegas police over a decade after the shooting incident that killed Tupac, the 60-year-old admitted to orchestrating the murder of the renowned rapper. He admitted to being the leader of the South Side Crips and was previously described by Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo as the "on-ground, on-site commander" who "ordered the death" of the "Changes" rapper. While he didn't pull the trigger, Keefe claimed the shooting was a retaliatory act following a brawl earlier that evening between the artist and Keefe's nephew, Orlando Anderson. The latter is believed to have shot Tupac. However, the taped confession followed the one he gave the Los Angeles Police months earlier. According to his lawyer, the first admission was made under a proffer agreement, or a deal to provide useful information in exchange for protection from prosecution. "Typically, proffer statements are made with the understanding that the prosecutor will either grant them immunity from federal criminal prosecution or offer a favorable plea deal regarding sentencing," ScrofanoLaw explained. Some facts about his statements in the proffer and the second confession did not align, including how he hid the pistol used in the shooting, making the second taped admission "worthless." The lawyer suggests the accused was "convinced" to make changes to his initial claims that he didn't know anything about the gun. "That guy [Officer Daryn] Dupree was there and the lawyers have to stop it [the tape] and go off record and then he comes back and he gives the story that he gave on the proffer about the gun," Arnold explained. "But he had just answered [earlier that] he didn't know anything about the gun, that Orlando was the one that put it in the car ... You cannot make this stuff up." RELATED : Tupac Murder Suspect Who Admitted To Helping Kill Rapper Lied To Make Money The veteran lawyer added, "Therefore I take that as probably worthless." He noted that the suspect only did what he thought would keep him out of trouble. Arnold said he's now preparing a motion to dismiss the tape from court. While Keefe D has a history of claiming involvement in the incident, he has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Tupac murder trial is scheduled to begin on June 3, 2024. A Chicago resident is suing both the city and the police department after investigators found a shocking missing element to his indictment. Darien Harris was sentenced to 76 years in prison following a 2014 conviction for a fatal shooting at a south side gas station back in 2011 at the ripe age of 18. Harris spent 12 years behind bars for murder prior to being exonerated at the age of 30 after investigators found out that the key witness on the case was legally blind. Another man has been exonerated after being convicted of murder! Darien Harris served 12.5 years in a Chicago prison before prosecutors decided to drop his charges after a key witness turned out to be legally blind. Christmas came early for Harris and his family! pic.twitter.com/15XyxBU39b Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) December 22, 2023 RELATED: Former Model Crystal McKinney Claims She Kept 'Unwashed' Clothes Worn When Diddy Allegedly Assaulted Her In 2003: Lawsuit The Exoneration Project a Chicago non-profit organization which provides legal services for the wrongly convicted was able to prove that the key eye witness lied about the strength of his eyesight. The witness alleged he was riding a motorized scooter when he heard gunshots near the gas station and saw a person, who he identified as Harris, aiming a handgun. During that time, a gas station attendant also testified that Harris was not the shooter. According to the organization, the man reportedly struggles with advanced glaucoma, and was declared legally blind nine years prior to picking 31-year-old Harris out of a lineup. Harris' trial attorney questioned the witness regarding any vision problems, which he denied. Harris was freed in December. RELATED: Erykah Badu Seemingly Accuses Beyonce Of Stealing Her Style: 'Jay-Z, Get These People Off Me' Now presenting a lawsuit, Harris claims that the police fabricated evidence and compelled witnesses into making false statements, per the 'Chicago Tribune.' Despite receiving his GED and completing other educational programs while incarcerated, Harris admits he struggles to readjust. "I don't have any financial help. I'm still [treated like] a felon so I can't get a good job. It's hard for me to get into school... I've been so lost," he admitted. In 2014, Darien Harris was sentenced to 76 years in prison for a shooting that killed one man and injured another in #Chicago. He was #exonerated in 2023 based on evidence the primary witness who identified him as the gunman was legally blind. Read more: https://t.co/RgHtrgNyQn pic.twitter.com/kHFxMD8Z04 Natl. Registry of Exonerations (@exonerationlist) January 4, 2024 Harris was looking forward to graduating high school with a clean record before police arrested him, ambush-style, at a gas station that left one man dead and another seriously injured in 2011. "I feel like they took a piece of me that is hard for me to get back," he told the news outlet. In addition to purported "egregious misconduct" by police officers who allegedly "fabricated evidence," the federal complaint also argues that Harris' wrongful conviction wasn't an "isolated incident," but rather a "part of patterns and practices of systemic police misconduct" at Area 2 headquarters. David Berkowitz, known as the "Son of Sam," was denied parole following his 12th attempt last week, per 'New York Post.' Berkowitz has been behind bars since 1977 after he murdered six people and wounded seven others with a .44 revolver pistol. Per Psychology Today, it was 1975 when the serial killer began isolating himself, experiencing fantasies and delusions that led to his disconnection from reality. Berkowitz who reportedly had a growing interest for satanism after being released from the army at 21 blames demons for his continuous violent acts. RELATED: Former Model Crystal McKinney Claims She Kept 'Unwashed' Clothes Worn When Diddy Allegedly Assaulted Her In 2003: Lawsuit Berkowitz was reportedly categorized as a "visionary" serial killer, due to his belief that he was driven by Satan to carry out the violent murders. Letters he wrote detailed that the entity urged him to kill "pretty, young girls." After a stomach-turning manhunt in New York City, he was arrested by police outside his Yonkers home in August 1977. He was sentenced to six consecutive life sentences for the harrowing crimes he committed. "I am a monster. I am the Son of Sam," Berkowitz gushed in notes left near the bodies of victims Alexander Esau, 20, and Valentina Suriani, 18, in April of 1977, per the Post. RELATED: Erykah Badu Seemingly Accuses Beyonce Of Stealing Her Style: 'Jay-Z, Get These People Off Me' Berkowitz told The Post that he knew he had zero chance of getting out, but decided to attend the hearing regardless of the outcome. "To not attend a hearing can be viewed as being defiant towards authority, and that's not me," Berkowitz said, per the news outlet. "Most of all, I attend in order to openly apologize for my past crimes and to express my remorse." His story left the world stunned, leading to the disturbing crime thriller film, 'The Summer of Sam' (1999), directed by Spike Lee, starring John Leguizamo, Adrian Brody, Mira Sorvino, Jennifer Esposito, and Michael Imperioli. Despite his harrowing story, the killer claims he became a Christian while incarcerated and claims the new inmates see him as a "father figure." "Yes, I have a life sentence to do, but I choose to do it well," he said. "I always try to help and encourage the younger guys." Hollywood, CAAccolades for Kevin Schewe's Bad Love Strikes, first in the Bad Love Gang book series, continue with a new honor by the Pacific Book Awards for 'Best Young Adult' fiction of 2024. The judges at Pacific Book Awards recognize winning books that demonstrate a wide scope of criteria and portray an excellent overall presentation. Bad Love Strikes, a bestselling book in the 'Time-Travel Fiction' category on Amazon, asks the question, "What if you could go back in time and save a Holocaust victim? Even just one?" A group of rambunctious, misfit, coming-of-age teens from Oak Ridge, TN, in 1974, is given that chance when they happen upon a defunct experiment left over from President Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, the Manhattan Project and the creation of the atomic bomb. The teens accidentally discover The White Hole Project, a "backup plan" time-travel machine sanctioned by Roosevelt in case the Nazis won the race to get the atomic bomb first. Because the White Hole Project was created solely to go back to the WWII years, the teens come up with a mission to try and save Jews and Gypsies from the Holocaust in November 1944 by using a U.S. Air Force B-17 bomber that is known in the history books as "The Phantom Fortress." Bad Love Strikes is an enjoyable romp that balances the delicate subject matter of a dark time in history, with the adventurous hope of youth. The screenplay for Kevin Schewe's Bad Love Tigers, the second book in the series, has taken the world by storm with 450 international screenplay awards. It has won awards at Cannes World Film Festival, Madrid Arthouse Film Festival, Rome International Movie Awards, New York International Film Awards, and The Los Angeles Movie Awards, to name a few. Schewe has recently completed the screenplay for Bad Love Strikes and it just won the award for Best Feature Script at IMDb seventh edition Cannes Arts Film Fest. Be sure to watch the exciting book trailers for the Bad Love series: Bad Love Strikes at https://bit.ly/BadLoveStrikes-Trailer Bad Love Tigers at https://bit.ly/BadLoveTigers_Trailer Bad Love Beyond at https://bit.ly/BadLoveBeyondTrailer. About: Kevin L. Schewe, MD, FACRO, is a board-certified cancer specialist who has been in the private practice of radiation oncology for 35+ years. Visit Schewe on Instagram @realkevinschewe and KevinSchewe.com Media Contact: Scott Lorenz of Westwind Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090. From: Author U -- Judith Briles For Immediate Release: Dateline: Denver , CO Thursday, May 30, 2024 Writing Sex is More than Just a Scene In this weeks AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing, Host Dr. Judith Briles adds a little spice to her podcast with Dr. Donna Jennings, Human Sexuality Expert and author of ten books. Her most recent book, The Fiction Writers Sexuality Guide: SexIts More than a Scene was released this week. Together, they walk through what writers and authors can do to enhance their writing the creates a scene builder and page turner. Your takeaways include: Writing sex is not just action its emotions. Start writing holisticallyphysically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Writing sex positive not sex negative. Why authors need to stay out of their characters way. Learn what the 3 top fantasies to use in your writing. Tips on how to frame a sex scene within your writing with Dr Js formula. Why a sex scene can be the multi-purpose cleanser. And, of course, much more. Tune in for lots of ideas and how-to tips to enhance your influence and marketing via the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast which is ranked in the Top 10 podcasts for authors and book marketing. Since its inception, over 18,000,000 listeners have downloaded various shows for practical publishing and book marketing guidance. Join me and become a regular subscriber. Listen in at: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast Listen in at: http://bit.ly/iTunesAuthorPodcast Listen in at: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcastGoogle Listen in at: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcastAmazon see all) Latest posts by Judith Briles Was this helpful? Get more FREE tips and insight: see all) Latest posts by Judith Briles FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John Posner 443-507-8494 JPosnerBooks@gmail.com Calling Balticon 58 Attendees in Baltimore, Maryland May 20, 2024, Baltimore, MD. Bestselling sci-fi/fantasy author John Posner will be meeting fans and signing books at the 58th Balticon gathering this week. Held at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, located at 2020 E Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 from May 24 to 27. Posner is the author of Forever is Too Long. Setting the stage for 400 years in the future ... a future where human minds can be perfectly copied to live out a forever existence in the multiverse and become Mindars in the new digital world. Fans discover what happens when Humans crossover and become digital entities. They learn what happens when social boundaries are shattered. And what happens when the Unintended Consequences of technology occur. Visitors are encouraged to immerse themselves in a discussion of what future technology could do to us. Posner asks, What would you do to save the world? What would you do if you could live forever or is forever too long? His forthcoming book, He Died Two Days Ago, will be released in June 2024. When assassins mistakenly shoot the wrong person, an alien race that secretly inhabits living beings of other planets across the universe is revealed. Unbeknownst to their hosts, the aliens feed off the emotions of the entities they reside within. Come explore Battleground Earth and alien possession. At the event, Posner will be selling and signing his current book, Forever is Too Long that was released last year and quickly earned bestseller status on Amazon. They will have the opportunity to sign up for his new book. John Posner is an IT project manager and technology writer creating Sci-Fi/Fantasy Psycho Thrillers exploring the unintended consequences that humans and technology cause. Discover his website: JohnPosnerBooks.com. Jury deliberations have begun in Donald Trumps hush money trial. He faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Jabin Botsford/Getty Images UPDATE: Trump found guilty, becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes OK, real talk. The jury in Donald Trumps hush money case is going to come back with a verdict soon, and if the former president is found guilty, there is a chance he could be sentenced to prison. That said, there is zero chance he would ever serve prison time the way that we understand prison time. Im one of those people who has been waiting for Trump to be held accountable for his behavior since before the Mueller investigation. But Im also someone who wouldnt send my worst enemy to prison if it was my choice. Mostly because I spent nine years in prison for bank robbery, close to two years of that in solitary confinement. Friends died in there, so I take the issue of incarceration seriously. And in my estimation, prisons are a lazy solution to complicated social problems. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Now that its conceivable Trump might be sentenced to do time, Ive had to grapple with the question of how we, as a society, legally hold accountable someone as shameless and law-ignoring as Donald Trump, someone many of us feel deep in our bones needs to experience serious discomfort? At first, when I imagined Trump in prison, I was pleased to picture him lying to tough guys, then getting thumped on for thinking hardcore prisoners were gullible enough to believe his outlandish fabrications. But I couldnt really relish in those thoughts for long. Because prisons. See above. Fortunately for Trump, hes never been at risk of being vulnerable to the violent caprice of fellow prisoners. In fact, he might never see another prisoner inside those walls. He would probably live in a private cell located away from other housing units, interacting only with prison staff and his Secret Service detail. I was stuck struggling to imagine how to creatively punish a man who made money off a mug shot that wouldve torpedoed any other candidates campaign. The problem: How to design punishment for a political landscape where evil brings profit, and virtue (seemingly) nothing at all. Well, desperate times require desperate measures, so I think Ive found a solution. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I submit to you that we bring back the stocks and pillory for this special circumstance. The stocks and pillory were practiced in the United Kingdom for 500 years, and in the U.S. until 1905. Stocks was the practice of chaining a persons leg to a chair. Pillorying was the practice of locking a persons hands and head into a wooden frame and forcing them to stand up. In both cases the persons head was shaved, man or woman, didnt matter. Youve no doubt seen them in period films. The punishment allowed irked townsfolk to throw rotten food, mud and even stones at the person. Public humiliation. No prison time afterward. The offender would be released back into the fold, chastened by the degrading downgrade in their community. Imagine Trump a man many believe cant be shamed made to suffer his punishment in an orange jumpsuit, on a stage in the middle of Times Square. Four hours a day for one week. Seated with head and hands locked into the pillory within a two-story tall transparent, bulletproof and soundproof plexiglass box. Head shaved. No make-up. Im not cruel, hence the bulletproof walls that would make him safe from people slinging rotten food, mud or stones at him. But I know what youre all thinking. That the punishment Im proposing is inhumane. To which I would reply, you havent been paying attention to what prison does to the human spirit; the daily and systemic human rights violations that occur behind bars. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If the goal of punishment is to make an offender be shamed into proper behavior and dissuade others from offending, then forcing Trump to stare at his pilloried self on every jumbotron screen in Times Square for four hours a day for one week goes a long way in that direction. 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 If you think my stocks/pillory idea should be discarded because its outdated, then may I remind you that prisons in America started right after the Revolutionary War. Thats an archaic punishment, too, without much in the way of a humane pedigree, either. A Kent fruit farm has signed a new 750 million deal with Aldi, which will see the Goatham family supply the retailer for a further 20 years. AC Goatham & Son has supplied Aldi with apples and pears since 2016 and was announced last year as the retailer's sole supplier of British apples. The 750m deal will also see the introduction of a new orchard - a 200-acre plot on New Green Farm in Gravesend, growing a mix of Gala and Braeburn apples. Aldi, which is the UK's fourth largest retailer, said the deal would provide 'vital support' for the British fruit sector. Founded in 1947, and run by Clive Goatham and his son Ross, the farm supplies 250m apples and pears each year more than five times the volume it initially supplied in 2016. The business has big plans for its future, including work to extend the growing season with controlled atmosphere storage. Ross Goatham, managing director of the farm, said: This is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to the work both AC Goatham & Son and Aldi have put into the agreement to have created something truly collaborative. Ross Goatham, farm's managing director, (second from left), said the deal was a 'fantastic achievement' This gives us the confidence now to invest for the future and to grow more British apples and pears for Aldi, guaranteeing sustainability, viability and most importantly UK food security. Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, added that the deal demonstrated the supermarket's "long-term commitment to championing British produce. We are proud to be one of the largest buyers of British apples and of our partnership with AC Goatham & Son," she added. This new 20-year deal represents a 750m investment in British farming. Aldi was the largest buyer of British apples in 2023, according to the industry body, British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL). A farmer co-operative has joined forces with researchers to help improve river health across England, while delivering other environmental outcomes. The Environmental Farmers Group's (EFG) new collaboration with Rothamsted Research will be rolled out in tributaries across England. On-farm water-testing labs will be established in the Hampshire Avon, Dorset Stour and the Test and Itchen catchments. The partnership has already helped EFG farmers in the Wylye catchment in Wiltshire to design a farmer-led, water quality monitoring scheme, which will help them reduce farm pollution in the river. As well as standard sampling for nutrients, farmers on the Wylye are using a pioneering low-cost colour analysis of sediment in the river. Samples are tested in the first on-farm lab, sited in a disused farm building, which was originally set up with grants from the Fishmongers Company, Codford Biogas and FiPL. The sediment can then be traced back to specific areas and inform management options to improve water quality. Rothamsted has secured funding to develop an additional eight labs in neighbouring catchments over the next four years. Prof Adie Collins, from Rothamsted, said: "We discover as much from working with farmers as we do on the campus, thats the joyous thing about EFG. "I look forward to spreading this support on water quality testing and environmental baseline assessments to other EFG groups across the country. "This number of farmers working together in a coordinated way has the capacity to make a real difference. The bottom-up approach to the water testing initiative is seen as the key to its success, according to Rothamsted. By taking ownership of collecting and managing the data, it says farmers can avoid being wrongly blamed for pollution incidents and better understand how they can adapt their own operations to improve water quality. EFG board member Tim Palmer, who helped establish the first on-farm lab on the Wylye, said having oversight from Rothamsted would ensure the scientific credibility of the data. He added: "The assumption is often made that agriculture is to blame for the vast majority of pollution, but in many cases there are other factors at play such as domestic sceptic tanks or water companies discharging waste. "Thats why, as the regulatory framework is ratcheted up, its essential to have the data to accurately identify the root of the problem. "And its not just about testing, its about putting the tools in the farmers hands, so they can set the targets, challenge themselves and tackle the problems at source. The EFG is a farmer-owned environmental co-op designed to help farmers access private sector funding for restoring biodiversity loss and moving to net carbon zero farming by 2040. The Palisades Tahoe resort in Olympic Valley on Jan. 11, the day after an avalanche killed a Marin County resident and injured three others. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Kenneth Kidd, the skier killed in the January avalanche at the Palisades Tahoe resort, suffered no injuries, but the 66-year-old Marin County resident suffocated after being buried in snow for about 45 minutes, a medical examiner determined. In the final Placer County coroners report, obtained Wednesday by the Chronicle through a public records request, deputies detailed Kidds final moments on the slopes Jan. 10, before the 150-foot by 400-foot avalanche swept skiers up along the famed KT-22 lift and the steep runs it services. Like many avalanche victims, Kidds cause of death was determined to be suffocation and an accident. The medical examiner determined Kidd suffered no lethal injuries or injuries that were contributory to the process of dying. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Death was not immediate, Dr. Evan Matshes wrote in his autopsy report. The time from being pinned under the snow to (a) unconsciousness and (b) death are both unknown. A 2007 study in the journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine looked at 56 avalanche deaths in Utah over a 15-year period and found that 85% of victims died due to lack of oxygen alone. Nine percent of the deaths resulted from asphyxiation and trauma, and 5% from trauma alone. The Palisades avalanche happened just hours after the advanced run and lift were opened by the ski resort for the first time last winter. Three other skiers were injured in the incident, but treated and released from a hospital. In their report, coroners deputies stated that Amy Kidd, the wife of Kenneth Kidd, said her husband planned to ski at Palisades right when it opened and meet up with a friend around noon. She spoke to him last at 8:25 a.m. by phone, according to the report. Deputies reported the avalanche struck at about 9:23 a.m. and that it took about 45 minutes for three ski patrol workers to locate Kidd using a probe. One of them started CPR at about 10:10 a.m. before he was transported to Tahoe Forest Hospital at the Palisades resort. A doctor pronounced Kidd deceased at 11:11 a.m. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Amy Kidd told deputies she received a call from her husbands friend, who had parked next to his car but could not locate him. That afternoon, deputies notified Kidds wife of his death at their Tahoe City cabin. The couple split time between Lake Tahoe and Point Reyes Station in West Marin County. Among the property returned to his wife, deputies noted a Palisades membership card and a gold ring. Relatives of Kidd have not spoken publicly. He graduated from Redwood High School in Larkspur in 1975 and later obtained a pilots license. He had a registered single-engine aircraft. The cause of the avalanche is under investigation. To highlight some of the weird and wonderful things that have occurred at Butlin's since its inception in 1936, we've compiled a list of interesting facts about Butlin's. Butlin's plays a major role in the history of the British Seaside Seaside historian, and author of 'The Nation's Host: Butlin's and the Story of the British Seaside', Kathryn Ferry said : 'Being one of the nation's best-loved resorts, Butlin's has a long and fascinating history, but many people are likely unaware of some of the lesser known facts about Butlin's. When compiling the book, I discovered a wealth of interesting facts about Butlin's, gleaned from my extensive research of Butlin's archives.' 1. Before Butlin's the only way hard-working families could take a break to the seaside was to visit a seaside boarding house, full of rules and regulations and not at all welcoming to children. The landlady would lock families out after breakfast, and they would not be allowed to return until lunch despite the weather. 2. During a wet holiday to Wales, Billy had an inspired idea, reminiscing about his childhood in Canada and his summers spent at the camps on Lake Ontario. He said to himself 'one day I'll build a camp like that here', that day was the 11th April 1936. Billy Butlin 3. The first ever Butlin's guest was a lady named Freda Monk, in her excitement she arrived at Butlin's Skegness a day early, only to find the camp not yet open. In true Butlin's style, Billy opened the gates and welcomed her in. 4. Billy Butlin had a pioneering spirit: he bought Dodgems to the UK in the 1920s, by 1938 Butlin's boasted the largest heated open-air pool in the country. In May 1965 Billy opened the first commercial monorail system in the UK at the Butlin's resort Skegness. Old Butlin's postcard 5. The first Butlin's chalets created in the 1930s cost 10 and were meant to create the sense of a mini-home-from-home 6. Billy Butlin was a pioneering rail preservationist and the Butlin's Pwllheli resort featured a decommissioned steam train, The Princess Margaret Rose. 7. Many stars over the years have cut their teeth at Butlin's including Stephen Mulhern Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Des O'Connor, Jimmy Tarbuck, Sir Cliff Richard, Benny Hill, and Darren Day. Catherine Zeta Jones also visited Butlin's resort and won a competition during her stay. 8. The famous Redcoats, whose primary role is still to ensure that visitors have the greatest holiday of their lives at Butlin's, were introduced in 1936, so that they could be easily seen by visitors. The job description was distilled into three words: Friend, Philosopher, Guide. 9. The first Redcoat was Norman Bradford who at the time was working as the senior engineer at Skegness. 10. The Redcoat uniform has been reinvented eight times over the years. 11. During the wartime years (1939-1945), soldiers from The Royal Navy were housed at the Butlin's Pwllheli resort, including Prince Philip who had stayed there during the war. In 1963 Prince Philip returned with The Queen to tour the camp. 12. By the late 1950s, Billy Butlin begin to build 'human aquariums' - indoor pools with plate-glass side windows to give underwater views to turn the swimmers into a novel attraction Butlin's human aquarium 13. In 1955 Butlin's launched Butlin's Motor Cycle and Car Club, which offered members assistance from patrolmen who would scout the main roads leading to resorts on arrival and departure days and were equipped to give directions and assist guests with emergency breakdowns 14. In 1958, 10,000 couples flocked to Butlin's Honeymoon Hotels, with each couple receiving a Smith's Alarm Clock as a wedding gift during their stay Butlin's Skegness 15. Butlin's ran the revolving restaurant at the top of the BT Tower from 1966-1980. King Charles will take part in Trooping the Colour amid his cancer treatment. King Charles will attend Trooping the Colour The 75-year-old monarch was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, but he's expected to inspect soldiers from a carriage during the ceremony on June 15. Charles - who recently returned to public-facing duties - will conduct the review seated in an Ascot landau carriage, rather than on horseback. The monarch has carried out a series of public engagements over recent weeks, even though he is still receiving treatment for cancer. Elsewhere, Catherine, Princess of Wales will miss next month's Colonel's Review, as she continues her own recovery from cancer. The 42-year-old princess revealed in March that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy and she has not taken part in public engagements since then. The ceremonial military event is a dress rehearsal for the Trooping the Colour and is set to take place in London on June 8. At the moment, it remains unclear as to whether the princess will attend Trooping the Colour alongside other members of the royal family. Buckingham Palace announced in February that Charles had been diagnosed with cancer. At the time, it was revealed that the monarch felt "positive" about his treatment and that he was keen to return to public duties as soon as possible. The statement read: "During The Kings recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. "His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. "The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. "He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. "His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer." Nicole Brown Simpsons sister admits O.J. Simpson's death was "sad and confusing". OJ Simpson's death caused 'complicated' emotions for Nicole Brown Simpson's sister Dominique Brown, 59, was left devastated when her sibling was killed aged 35 outside her Los Angeles home in 1994, with her late ex-husband OJ Simpson arrested and charged with her murder, before being acquitted in court. Simpson lost his battle with cancer last month aged 76, and Dominique told Extra: "When O.J. died it was complicated and it was sad and confusing because this could be the close of a chapter, the end of the chapter of 30 years of having a lot of turmoil in our lives, but it was also a 50-year relationship with him, so it was very sad. "Plus, I maintain a relationship with the children and, simply put, they had lost both of their parents at that point. On 12 June, 1994, Nicole, 35, and her waiter friend Ron Goldman, 25, were found stabbed to death in the courtyard of her Brentwood, Los Angeles, town house. Days after the murders, Simpson led police on a now-infamous car chase while a passenger in a white Ford Bronco driven by his friend Al Cowlings, holding a gun to his head. He was eventually arrested and charged with Nicole and Rons murders, but was acquitted after what was dubbed the The Trial of the Century. But in 1997, Simpson was deemed liable for the deaths in a civil lawsuit brought by the families of Nicole and Ron. Dominique recently recalled how, in the devastating wake of Nicoles murder, she threw herself into shielding her late sister's children from pain and the media circus that erupted. She told People magazine: I knew that was the role I was supposed to undertake. There was [my sister] Denises son, my son, Sydney and Justin. We played together, ate together, went to the beach together everything together. It was to help them heal and do things that were fun. The things that were being said, they didnt need to be exposed to any of that. China's Fuxin Xinyida Agriculture & Industry Trade Company is keen on setting up leather and wool processing units and greenhouses in Tajikistan's Khatlon region. This was conveyed by visiting company chief Gao Jong Tao to the region's administrative head Davlatali Said during a recent meeting. If the issue of allocating land is resolved, construction work and equipment delivery will start in June, according to the press center of the Khatlon governors office. China's Fuxin Xinyida Agriculture & Industry Trade Company is keen on setting up leather and wool processing units and greenhouses in Tajikistan's Khatlon region. This was conveyed by visiting company chief to the region's administrative head. If the issue of allocating land is resolved, construction work and equipment delivery will start in June. "The Khatlon region views the development of regional cooperation as a vital element in economic and trade advancement, investment attraction, and the implementation of modern technologies," Said was quoted as saying by domestic media reports in Tajikistan. Khatlon produced 1.140 million pieces of cattle and small livestock leather and 5,970 tonnes of wool last year. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) The European Council has taken the final step towards the implementation of the European Union (EU)-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), adopting a decision on its conclusion today. This agreement aims to enhance trade in goods and foster new economic opportunities, with a focus on bolstering Kenya's economic development. The agreement will solidify the EU's cooperation with Kenya, considered the economic hub of East Africa. It is designed to benefit workers, businesses, and traders on both sides, promoting sustainable development through measures on labour rights, environmental protection, and climate action, the European Council said in a press release. The European Council has finalised the European Union (EU)-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), aiming to boost trade and economic opportunities. The agreement, which provides duty-free, quota-free access for Kenyan exports to the EU, promotes sustainable development with measures on labour rights, environmental protection, and climate action. Key features of the EPA include duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market for all Kenyan exports, excluding arms, as soon as the agreement is in force. It also provides for the partial and gradual opening of the Kenyan market to EU imports. Binding provisions on trade and sustainable development, such as climate and environmental protection and labour rights, along with a transparent dispute resolution mechanism, are integral components of the agreement. The EU is Kenya's primary export destination and its second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to 3.3 billion in 2022, marking a 27 per cent increase since 2018. The agreement is set to enter into force on the first day of the second month following the notification by both parties of the completion of their internal procedures. Negotiations on the EAC-EU EPA concluded in 2014, with Kenya ratifying the agreement in September 2016. The EU and its Member States also signed it in June 2016. However, implementation was delayed as not all East African Community (EAC) partner countries signed and ratified the agreement. A breakthrough came at the EAC Summit on 27 February 2021, chaired by Kenya, allowing individual EAC states to implement the EPA. Following this, Kenya formally requested to engage with the EU on a bilateral basis in May 2021. Political discussions on the bilateral implementation with sustainability provisions were concluded on 19 June 2023. The European Commission submitted its proposals for Council Decisions on the signing and conclusion of the EPA on 28 September 2023. The Council adopted the decision to sign the EPA on 12 December 2023, and the agreement was signed in Nairobi on 18 December 2023. The European Parliament consented to the conclusion of the agreement on 29 February 2024, and Kenya ratified it on 24 April 2024. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD) The Hayes Point construction project that was going to bring a 47-story skyscraper to San Franciscos skyline had been on hold. Now, its for sale as the development company behind it refocuses its business. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Two years ago, Lendlease made a $1 billion bet on San Francisco, breaking ground on the only skyscraper to advance to construction in the city since the start of the pandemic. This week, the development titan announced that it is selling the unfinished project as it looks to cut its U.S. and U.K. construction operations. In regulatory filings on Monday, the Australian company that, over decades, grew into a global powerhouse, said it is seeking to rightsize its cost base, focus on its Australian business and international investments platform, and release $4.5 billion of capital over the next three years. Advertisement Article continues below this ad To that end, Lendleases strategy involves shuttering its overseas construction divisions and exiting or selling offshore assets like Hayes Point, a planned 47-story mixed-use tower at 30 Van Ness Ave. that today is all but a hole in the ground. Lendlease listed the San Francisco project as early release inventory in its Monday filing, meaning that it is available for sale. Other U.S. properties in that category include two unfinished development projects in Chicago: Lakeshore East, three mixed-use high-rises on 4 acres, and South Bank, a 1,200-apartment mixed-use community spanning 2 acres. A spokesperson for the company told the Chronicle that the process of releasing capital from projects like Hayes Point could go two ways: The company could introduce a new capital partner, or sell its interest in the project. Were not a forced seller and will take our time to get the right outcome for the project, the local community and our security holders. We continue to believe in the long-term fundamentals of Hayes Point, the spokesperson said, before declining to comment on the projects pricing. The planned tower at the Hayes Point site was the first skyscraper to begin post-pandemic construction in San Francisco. Now, with the developer putting the project up for sale, its future is uncertain. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Its a stark reversal from the positive outlook for the project two years ago, when a huge crane marked the site where Lendlease had leveled a five-story, city-owned building that once housed a Walgreens to make room for its development: a 540-foot tower featuring 333 condos in its top 38 stories, above a nine-story podium containing 290,000 square feet of office and retail space. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hayes Point was valued at $1.15 billion and represented the companys largest investment in the Americas. The project was expected to wrap up in 2025. Its also a sign of the times: COVID-19-induced global shutdowns froze development, stalled major real estate projects, triggered supply chain disruptions and drove up costs. Four years after the pandemic began, demand for office space remains subdued in many downtowns across the country due to remote work. In San Francisco, more than one-third of the citys offices sat empty at the start of the year. In a statement, Lendlease Chairman Michael Ullmer attributed the companys poor security price performance and shareholder returns to structural challenges and a prolonged market downturn. We need to take significant action at an accelerated pace to deliver value for our securityholders, capital partners and customers, Ullmer said. Some $2.8 billion in capital is expected to be recycled by year-end 2025 to pay down debt and pay back shareholders. Uncertainty around when demand might return has pushed investors into retreat, making obtaining financing for new construction difficult. Meanwhile, maturing debt is weighing on property owners and developers who are struggling with vacancy, forcing foreclosures and fire sales. For-sale and multifamily housing properties are facing similar challenges. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hayes Point was unique not only because its owner and developer forged ahead despite growing economic distress, but because Lendlease did not secure a construction loan for the project. The company paid all cash when it acquired the property in 2017 for $70 million, after the citys Board of Supervisors rejected a bid from another developer who could not come to terms with the city around the projects affordable housing commitment. Lendlease agreed to build 83 below-market rate homes on-site. As groundbreaking neared, Lendlease, which was also the general contractor for residential towers 33 Tehama and Lumina, bought the two-story building that houses the popular San Francisco Jazz club Mr. Tipples Recording Studio at 39 Fell St., adjacent to the development site, for $8.5 million to stage is field offices. Because Lendlease is the projects owner, investor and builder, the company said when it broke ground on Hayes Point that it could ensure efficiency in its construction and planned to hold the property for the long-term. But, months into construction, work came to a halt when BART, which has underground rail tunnels running in close proximity to the project site, requested additional analysis demonstrating that the planned skyscraper would have no adverse impacts on its infrastructure. After picking back up for a few months, construction again stopped last summer. This time, Lendlease cited market conditions, and indicated that the economy would need to normalize, and that it needed to secure an early commitment from an office tenant or capital partners to resume working on the project. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lendleases spokesperson did not comment on the how much of the infrastructure work on Hayes Point was completed before the project stalled, but said that its teams had continued to work on other activities related to Hayes Point, including engineering and design, permitting, easements, and coordination with public agencies and other stakeholders. Another blow came in the fall when Google, which had selected Lendlease as the lead developer for four of its future campus sites in Silicon Valley, terminated those contracts. Lendlease responded to the regional real estate slowdown by cutting jobs about 50 people exited the companys Bay Area operations in 2023, the spokesperson confirmed. Lendlease occupies office space on the 18th floor at 111 Sutter St. in San Francisco. Its spokesperson said that no decisions have been made regarding office closures. Meanwhile, the future of Hayes Point has grown increasingly cloudy. Lendlease confirmed that it will continue to secure the site as it has done since work stopped. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The circumstances surrounding Hayes Point resemble another abandoned construction site across town: The unfinished Oceanwide Center at 50 First St., near Salesforce Tower. When construction broke ground on that planned 2 million-square-foot mixed-use project in 2016, its two towers were envisioned as the next jewels on San Franciscos skyline. Chinese developer Oceanwide Holdings also pursued the project on its own. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 29, 2024) - Lodestar Battery Metals (TSXV: LSTR) (OTCQB: SVTNF) ("Lodestar" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a corporate update with respect to its exploration plans at its Peny Property, grants received from the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund ("MMDF") and the engagement of Grant Galloway to provide investor relations services. Exploration Program at the Peny Property Lodestar is currently preparing to do an electromagnetic geophysical survey on the Peny Property. This survey will aid in refining historical survey work and highlight any unidentified conductors along the identified BUR Trend, extending from Hudbay's property. The tentative commencement of this survey will likely occur in summer 2024. Hudbay's BUR zone trend is adjacent, southwest to the Peny Property. The BUR has been identified as a stratiform massive sulfide deposit that occurs within a narrow turbidite assemblage with mineralization comprised of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite. Grants Received from the MMDF Lodestar is pleased to announce that it has received the second of two grant payments of a $61,862 grant from the MMDF to complete exploration work on its 100% owned Peny Property, Manitoba. The Company is grateful for MMDF's grant and continued support of the Company's exploration plans of the Peny Property, Manitoba. Engagement of Grant Galloway Lodestar also announces it has entered into an investor relations agreement with Grant Galloway whereby Mr. Galloway will provide investor relations services to Lodestar, including communications with and introductions to potential investors and other investment professionals known to Mr. Galloway. Under the terms of the agreement, Lodestar has agreed to pay Mr. Galloway US $25,000 per month during a term of three (3) months. During the term, Lodestar may terminate the Agreement at any time and Mr. Galloway may terminate the Agreement if there is a material change to the business of Lodestar. Lodestar and Mr. Galloway are arm's length parties and Mr. Galloway does not own any securities of Lodestar. Qualified Person Ty Magee, P. Geo., a Qualified Person, as defined by NI 43-101, and a consultant to the Company, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. About Lodestar Battery Metals Corp. Lodestar Battery Metals Corp. is a Canadian mining exploration company focused on the critical metals space. The Company's 100% owned flagship Peny Property comprises of 47 mineral claims totalling 11,191 hectares in the Snow Lake District, Manitoba, with access to tier-1 existing infrastructure: railway, roads, airstrip, and power. The Company also owns 100% interest in two significant silver assets in Mexico. The Company intends to build a strong portfolio of battery metals projects to drive future growth through exploration success and from later-stage projects with production potential. The Lodestar business plan calls for a dynamic combination of developing its existing properties, acquisitions, and partnerships to achieve this growth. For more information, visit https://lodestarbatterymetals.ca/. Contacts Lodestar Battery Metals Corp. Lowell Kamin, President, CEO & Chairman of the Board (416) 272-1241 lowell@lodestarbatterymetals.ca Investor Relations Alyssa Barry, IR Labs Inc. 1-(833)-947-5227 alyssa@irlabs.ca Forward-Looking Statements The information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Lodestar cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by several material factors, many of which are beyond Lodestar's control. Such factors include, among other things, risks and uncertainties relating to Lodestar's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211016 SOURCE: Lodestar Battery Metals Corp. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 29, 2024) - Zedcor Inc. (TSXV: ZDC) (the "Company" or "Zedcor") is pleased to announce that it has expanded its rental and service agreement to provide MobileyeZTM security towers at 23 sites for a leading North American home improvement retailer (the "Customer"). There are ten additional store locations and thirteen locations across Canada for the Customer's capital initiatives program, including new store builds or major renovations. Additionally, the Company is pleased to report the retirement of a note payable ("Note") which has been outstanding since 2016 and was due to a director of the Company. EXPANDED AGREEMENT The Company is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the opportunity to provide MobileyeZTM security towers at additional store locations for a leading North American home improvement retailer. Under the terms of the expanded agreement with the Customer, Zedcor will provide MobileyeZTM security towers and monitoring coverage to an additional 10 store locations in Canada, bringing the total MobileyeZTM coverage for the Customer in Canada to 21 stores and two distribution centres. In addition to the award of 10 new store locations, the Company has been awarded thirteen locations for the Customer's new store construction and renovations projects. These sites will be located across Canada and the majority of these projects will start construction in the second half of 2024. Todd Ziniuk, President & CEO of Zedcor said: "We are proud to have been awarded additional sites for our blue-chip customer and continue to expand our relationship. We will continue to provide excellent service for the Customer, and we believe there is room for further expansion as we are providing MobileyeZTM security towers at less than 15% of the Customer's total stores in Canada. We also plan to expand our services to them to the United States and will pursue this more actively in the second half of 2024 as our production of MobileyeZTM security towers will be able to meet potential demand. We are also excited about the award of sites for the Customer's new store builds and store renovations. Zedcor is a leader in the technology-enabled physical security space for construction customers and our success rate at deterring theft is greater than any traditional security guard offering. The expanded services which we will provide to our Customer shows the opportunity of Zedcor's service offering as we are able to provide security services to more than just store locations. The MobileyeZTM solution works in various aspects of the retail business including distribution centers, new store construction and major renovations." REPAYMENT OF NOTE A payment of $3,450,000 was made to retire the balance of a Note issued in February 2016. The $3,450,000 is made up of $2,500,000 of principal and $950,000 of accrued interest. The repayment of the Note helps the Company to reduce the amount of debt on its balance sheet and further simplify its capital structure. The Note was held by a company controlled by a director of Zedcor. A portion of the proceeds from the Company's equity raise, which closed on May 16, 2024, was used to repay the Note. ISSUANCE OF RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS On May 29, 2024, 1,875,000 Restricted Share Units ("RSUs") were granted to employees and officers of the Company pursuant to the Company's fixed 10% RSU/DSU plan, and will expire three years from the date of grant. All of the RSUs will vest as to one third thereof on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. About Zedcor Inc. Zedcor Inc., a Canadian public company, is a technology enabled company that is changing how physical security services are provided to businesses. Zedcor operates throughout Canada with equipment and service centers in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. The Company also operates in Texas with a MobileyeZTM assembly facility in Houston and equipment and service centers in Houston, with plans to expand to Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and West Texas by the end of the year. The Company has three main service offerings to customers across all market segments: 1) surveillance and live monitoring through its proprietary MobileyeZ security towers; 2) surveillance and live monitoring of fixed site locations; and 3) security personnel. The Company operates a fleet of over 950 proprietary MobileyeZTM security towers, equipped with high resolution, technology-based cameras, and monitors numerous fixed site locations for customers across various industries. Video from security towers and fixed site locations is streamed to the Company's central monitoring station where video alarms are live verified and responded to based on customer requirements. Zedcor also offers high level security guard services to enterprise level customers who are interested in supplementing video-based security for valuable, high risk, or mission critical operational assets. Forward-Looking Statements and Information Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements or information can be identified by terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "propose", "budget", "should", "project", or similar words suggesting future outcomes or expectations. In particular, forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release, include, but are not limited to, the expansion of Zedcor's Security and Surveillance business, fleet expansion, marketing of security services and expansion of Zedcor's service offering to other geographic regions, and the acceptance by the TSX-V of the application to extend the expiry date of the warrants. Although the Company believes that the expectations implied in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements or information because the Company can give no assurance that such statements or information will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements or information are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of assumptions about the future and uncertainties, including current forecasts and utilization. Although management of the Company believes these expectations and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements or information to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will be proved to be correct, and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. For this purpose, any statements or information contained herein that are not statements or information of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements or information and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new contrary information, future events or any other reason, unless the Company is required by any applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. For further information contact: Todd Ziniuk President & Chief Executive Officer P: 403-930-5430 E: tziniuk@zedcor.c om Amin Ladha Chief Financial Officer P: 403-930-5430 E: aladha@zedcor.c om Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211007 SOURCE: Zedcor Inc. Partnership to facilitate collaborative research in academia and industry to further progress in life sciences Multi-dimensional program to build local research capability and startup ecosystem as well as joint R&D projects Further example of Merck's close cooperation with Korea, following the recent 300 million bioprocessing investment in Daejeon Merck, a leading science and technology company, has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The academia-industry cooperation aims at advancing the research and development ecosystem in South Korea for industrial applications. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240529158012/en/ From left to right: Kwang-Hyung Lee, President of KAIST, Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Life Science. (Photo: Business Wire) "Our collaboration with KAIST is an important step towards accelerating the biotechnology ramp-up for both the local and global life science industry," said Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Life Science. "Advancing research and preparing the next generation of scientists is key to discovering new medicines to meet the needs of a global population this is how we impact life and health with science." Through the partnership, Merck will provide products from its chemistry and biology portfolios for researchers in the lab. Merck will also offer development opportunities for KAIST researchers. These include the participation in the annual international programs Innovation Cup and the Curious Future Insight Conference as well as fellowships for graduate students and awards for professors. Additionally, Merck and KAIST will establish an experience lab in Korea. It aims to support researchers in improving their skills for developing new application notes and scientific workflows in areas such as material analysis, drug discovery, and omics solutions. A research partnership will also be established for joint R&D collaboration, focusing on advancing innovation in prioritized research areas. Merck's corporate venture fund M Ventures will team up with the KAIST entrepreneurial team to build a startup ecosystem as part of the partnership. "We are delighted that Merck and KAIST, which share an innovation mindset and a vision for scientific advancement, will work closely together," said Kwang-Hyung Lee, President of KAIST. "We look forward to this partnership as an opportunity to strengthen the connection between Merck's life science business and the global scientific community," he added. Merck has been present in Korea for 30 years. During that time, the company has made several strategic investments to serve the region's biopharmaceutical industry. In March, the company announced a 300 million investment to build a new bioprocessing production facility in Daejeon. About Merck Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. Around 63,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices the company is everywhere. In 2023, Merck generated sales of 21 billion in 65 countries. Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics. All Merck press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240529158012/en/ Contacts: Media Relations Rachel Bloom-Baglin rachel.bloom-baglin@merckgroup.com Phone: +49 (6151) 72-44461 The Caregiver's Journal, a popular podcast that launched in January 2024 and is produced and directed by All Home Care Matters Media in Michigan, is adding two highly respected and influential voices to the show with the addition of Cindy Hardin-Weiss (MSPT) and Christina Hardin-Weiss (MS/SLP). AECorner Co-founders Cindy and Christina, will join original host Lance A. Slatton, a case manager of Enriched Life Home Care Services (ELHCS) in Livonia, Mich., and one of the leading voices in long-term care issues, challenges and information for caregivers, professionals, agencies, families and individuals. The Caregiver's Journal shares the caregiving experiences, stories, and wisdom of family caregivers and shines a spotlight on the stories of family caregivers from around the world. The program also builds connections within the caregiving community, provides family caregivers a platform to share their valuable experiences and reduces the sense of isolation often experienced during a caregiving journey. Cindy and Christina established AECorner in 2015 with the goal of raising awareness of adaptive equipment and providing resources for safe aging at home. Their website (AECorner.com) is a trusted platform for families seeking tools and techniques to navigate caregiving challenges and their new collaboration with Slatton on The Caregiver's Journal podcast further amplifies their mission. Together, they share their passion and knowledge, aiming to empower caregivers on a broader scale. "We're excited to be co-hosting the Caregiver's Journal podcast along with Lance A. Slatton from All Home Care Matters," said the Hardin-Weiss'. "The three of us share a passion for empowering caregivers." Slatton, author of the recently published, "The All Home Care Matters Official Family Caregivers' Guide," said he is "fortunate and excited" to partner with Cindy and Christina on The Caregiver's Journal. "Cindy and Christina have a very strong reputation in the care sector as being doers and for bringing resources and products to family caregiver's across the country," said Slatton, who also hosts All Home Care Matters, an award-winning and ground-breaking YouTube program. "When I am asked what we look for in a partner my answer is always someone that is making a positive and impactful difference in the lives of others, and when using that formula it was an easy decision to work alongside Cindy and Christina and to welcome them as partners on The Caregiver's Journal." Slatton added that the goal of All Home Care Matters and The Caregiver's Journal is to help share resources, discussions, and support to the over 54 million family caregivers in the United States who work tirelessly to care for their loved ones and need to realize they are not alone. And AECorner's story is a testament to that goal and the transformative power of a simple conversation. It highlights Cindy and Christina's unwavering commitment to empowering caregivers and their belief that with the right resources, families can achieve their cherished goal of keeping loved ones safe and independent in the comfort of their own homes. Find The Caregiver's Journal on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or any other major podcast platform. About Enriched Life Home Care Services / All Home Care Matters Enriched Life Home Care Services (ELHCS) in Livonia has been named the No. 1 home care company in Michigan the last two years by Top Rated Local. ELHCS provides care for people throughout southeastern Michigan. In May 2020, ELHCS launched All Home Care Matters, a YouTube program focused on long-term care issues. The show, hosted by Lance A. Slatton CSCM, has more than 122,000 YouTube subscribers and 65,000 daily podcast downloads. The show also was a 2023 29th annual AIVA Communicator Award Recipient (Academy of Interactive Visual Arts). Visit the official YouTube channel at or listen to the show on Apple Podcast and visit the official website for Lance A. Slatton at https://www.lanceaslatton.com About Cindy and Christina Hardin-Weiss Cindy graduated in 1992 with a Master's Degree in Physical Therapy from Washington University in St Louis. The majority of her career has been spent in Home Healthcare. She is passionate about helping people maintain their independence, especially when it makes a difference in their ability to remain in their homes. Christina graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Master's degree in Communication Disorders & Science. She spent most of her career treating patients in skilled nursing facilities and enjoys working with individuals who have dementia and educating their families. For more information on AECorner, go to their website (aecorner.com): YouTube; Facebook; or Instagram Contact Details Lance A. Slatton Enriched Life Home Care Services +1 734-744-6477 contact@allhomecarematters.com SOURCE: All Home Care Matters View the original press release on accesswire.com Hendersonville, Tennessee--(Newsfile Corp. - May 29, 2024) - Alan Murrell, President of Hornet Corporation and winner of the prestigious Oil Boom Maker award, announces a new oil discovery in Tennessee. The MJ Robbins Unit #2B, permitted as #13315, is situated in the heart of an oil-rich area of Tennessee, where Hornet continues to contribute to United States energy independence. Hornet Corporation consistently demonstrates its strong commitment to the local communities and its investing partners in a joint team effort to make the most of every opportunity. Hornet Corporation is a privately owned oil and gas exploration and development company based in Hendersonville, TN. The company employs a multifaceted approach to developing oil and gas wells in the Appalachian Basin. Hornet Corporation was established almost two decades ago to explore and develop domestic oil and gas production in the United States, with a primary focus on the Appalachian Basin. The company and its affiliates have reported thousands of acres under lease throughout the Appalachian Basin. Murrell explained that when the new oil, well known as the Robbins Unit #2B, was initially drilled, it had very little oil. However, Hornet opted to conduct a stimulation procedure on the well after an in-depth geological analysis of the hole. This strategy isn't uncommon for Hornet. In fact, the company had conducted a similar stimulation procedure when the Donnie Ray #1 well, permit #12536, came in, flowing over 200 barrels per day. Murrell, who has nearly three decades of experience in the oil industry, stated, "We are known for being aggressive in the oil patch. It seems some operators give up once a well is drilled if it doesn't come in like gangbusters." However, drilling for oil is only part of the process. Murrell and Hornet Corporation make sure they evaluate every hole, post-drilling, to see if drilled locations have the characteristics they've seen in the past, which, according to him, are indicative of being near big oil production. Murrell stated, "If we have those same characteristics in a well, then we are going to take every step, including conducting a stimulation procedure, to turn a hole into a productive well." Hornet noted that after it treated the Robbins Unit #2B, the possible well came back flowing oil. Hornet is placing the new well on pump and will begin production. Based on prior research, Hornet Corp has had success finding larger Murfreesboro oil wells, especially when the formation has been established as a producer in an area. Hornet has leased a large block of land around its Robbins well in anticipation of this oil play spreading out. Murrell explained why the close-by historic finds are important factors in Hornet's next step and pointed out while in the field and on his maps that southwest of the Robbins area lies the Oak Grove Oil Field. This oil field had numerous wells in the Murfreesboro Formation, including the Linda Brown #3, which has yielded over 84,000 barrels of oil, proving the applicable and significant similarities of previous discoveries. There were also productive wells in this field from the Stones River Formation. North of the Oak Grove Oil Field is the Miller Mountain Oil Field, which contains many wells, including the prolific Stones River producer Wayne Brown #3, with a cumulative production of 274,000 barrels of oil. Significantly, Murrell pointed out, "Next to our new Robbins well, we previously hit another well that produces oil from the Stones River Formation. We have now hit oil in 3 distinct formations in the immediate vicinity of this new Robbins well." With oil prices hovering near $80 per barrel, Hornet has positioned itself to increase drilling activities in the area and throughout the Appalachian Basin. This means Murrell and Hornet are well prepared if this does trend out and develop into an oil field. After many industries encountered supply chain issues from the pandemic, Hornet Corporation established its own oil field supply yard and storage yards. Another stable block Murrell put into place to ensure that Hornet has the necessary equipment on hand to not only get their wells drilled, but they can equip them and put them into production in a timely manner. Murrell said, "We are a bit old school in that we like to take a hands-on approach to each aspect of the oil business. With our extensive lease holdings near this new well, I'm excited to see how many wells we will have pumping in the area in the near future." Hornet Corporation is recognized for its distinctive black and gold painted pumpjacks and tanks, which are likely spotted during a drive through the Appalachian Basin. The future of Hornet Corporation and its discoveries will unfold over time as the company remains dedicated to pursuing significant oil finds like Wayne Brown. Murrell concluded, "The only way to find out is to drill, and I can only make one guarantee: we are going to drill." To find out more about the company and its future projects Kristen Kukta Toll-Free: 888-783-309 Website: www.hornetcorp.com. Email: info@hornetcorp.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/210487 SOURCE: Hornet Corporation Company Reinforces Industry Leadership with Summit for Technical Consultants from Across Asia SEOUL, South Korea, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics (LG) is currently hosting the inaugural LG HVAC Consultant Leaders' Summit - LG Alumni Event - in Seoul, South Korea (May 28-31). The summit provides heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) consultants from across Asia, with the valuable opportunity to benefit from LG's extensive industry insight and to learn more about its advanced technologies. The first-of-its-kind event is expected to bolster the company's leadership in the Asia region, which is now the world's most rapidly-expanding HVAC market. Attending the summit were 46 consultants from five Asian countries: Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Technical consultants play a vital role in the HVAC business, supporting customers in important areas including system design, installation guidance and maintenance support. By collaborating closely with consultants in each market, LG is able to provide a differentiated customer experience that adds significant value to its industry-leading HVAC solutions. With its high-growth potential, Asia has emerged as a key market for the expansion of LG's HVAC business. Driven by an increase in commercial construction and stricter government energy-saving policies, the region is experiencing escalating demand for smart HVAC systems offering integrated IoT control, building automation and real-time performance monitoring. A respected provider of high-efficiency residential and commercial HVAC solutions based on innovative heat pump technology, LG is working with universities and research institutes to develop the next generation of cutting-edge heat pump systems. In 2023, LG announced its plan to more than double the sales volume of its residential and commercial HVAC business by 2030 - an ambitious goal that will secure the company's position as a global top-tier HVAC solutions provider. Through a series of engaging seminars being led by industry experts, the consultants participating in the LG HVAC Consultant Leaders' Summit - LG Alumni Event will come away with new insight into the trends and technologies shaping the HVAC landscape in Asia and worldwide. Key topics include zero-carbon buildings and HVAC in the era of Artificial Intelligence. With Asia as the starting point, LG aims to strategically expand its consultant network around the globe, extending its outreach efforts to regions with high-growth potential, such as Central and South America. "It's a pleasure to be sharing our cutting-edge technologies and industry insights with professional HVAC consultants from some of Asia's most dynamic markets," said James Lee, head of the Air Solution Business Unit at LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. "We will continue to collaborate closely with our consultant network to ensure the best customer outcomes and to grow our influence throughout the Asia region." About LG Electronics Air Solution Business Unit LG air conditioning provides optimized solutions for every sector and climate with a wide range of cutting-edge systems that bring exceptional heating, ventilation and air conditioning performance to buildings worldwide. Through our unmatched expertise and industry knowledge, we respond directly to the needs of businesses seeking digitalized and eco-conscious HVAC solutions. We are the partner your business has been looking for, and are well prepared to integrate our leading technology into your day-to-day operations, supporting you and your business every step of the way. For more information, please visit www.lg.com/global/business/hvac . Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2424467/LG_HVAC_Consultant_Leaders_Summit_01_resize.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2424468/LG_HVAC_Consultant_Leaders_Summit_02_resize.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2424469/LG_HVAC_Consultant_Leaders_Summit_03_resize.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2424470/LG_HVAC_Consultant_Leaders_Summit_04_resize.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2424471/LG_HVAC_Consultant_Leaders_Summit_05_resize.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lg-expands-its-hvac-business-through-targeting-b2b-customers-in-key-asian-markets-302158045.html Erinnern Sie sich, als Moderna und BioNTech von unbekannten Unternehmen zu globalen Marktfuhrern wurden und fruhzeitige Investoren reich belohnt haben? Die Branche steht vor einem erneuten Innovationsschub von bahnbrechenden Medikamenten bis hin zu revolutionaren Therapien. Warum sollten Sie dabei sein? Sie sollten jetzt in Biotech-Aktien einsteigen, weil wir am Beginn einer neuen Ara der medizinischen Innovation stehen konnten! Gen- und Zelltherapien, personalisierte Medizin und bahnbrechende Technologien konnten das Gesundheitswesen revolutionieren und die Aktienkurse in die Hohe schieen lassen. Die nachste Erfolgsgeschichte im Biotechbereich warten nur darauf, entdeckt zu werden. Wer jetzt investiert, hat die Chance, von gigantischen Durchbruchen und enormen Renditen zu profitieren. Warten Sie nicht, bis es zu spat ist - der nachste Biotech-Superstar konnte morgen schon durchstarten! Verpassen Sie nicht diese Chance! Fordern Sie sofort unseren brandneuen Biotech-Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 3 Biotech-Aktien das riesige Potenzial haben, Ihren finanziellen Erfolg zu sichern. Dieser Report ist komplett kostenlos und zeigt Ihnen zukunftstrachtige Investments im Biotech-Sektor. Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report! HONG KONG, May 29, 2024, the global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) that partners with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase, today announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITPL). The MOU aims to enhance clinical development assistance for biotech companies and other community companies within the new approximately 87-hectare Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park. Novotech was among 14 international companies invited out of some 60 partners from nine economies to collaborate with HSITPL. Chris Chong, Senior Director Clinical Services Novotech Hong Kong operations, who attended the launching ceremony held by HSITPL said Novotech was honoured to be selected to partner with HSITPL. "The Park is an innovative technology centre, designed to drive the growth of emerging companies and significantly contribute to the regional and global economy. Novotech is partnering with HSITPL to support the Park's biotech companies in advancing their clinical development programs across all phases." As part of the collaboration discussed, Novotech intends to provide consultation services to the Park's community companies and leverage its expertise to expedite clinical trials development for biotech companies at the Park. HSITPL intends to work in partnership with Novotechto assist the community companies within the Park in their development and growth throughout their journey, while also facilitating and furnishing essential support and resources to Novotech for establishing R&D centers within the Park. According to the Government announcement: "Witnessed by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Acting Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; and the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, representatives of some 60 enterprises signed the MOUs with the Chief Executive Officer of the HSITPL, Mr Vincent Ma, at the launching ceremony to officially become partners with the HSITP, marking a significant milestone of the Park entering the operational phase. 'With its strategic location, the Park will form part of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone to become a key area of I&T (innovation and technology) development that transcends beyond our boundary with the Mainland. With the Park fast approaching the operational phase, it will integrate with and help drive our national development. Hong Kong will continue to join hands with Shenzhen to work out various innovative and cross-boundary facilitation measures for the benefit of our partners in the Park and beyond,' said Mr Lee. Professor Sun said, 'Among the I&T companies which will be signing MOUs on their partnership with the HSITPL today, about a quarter of them are from overseas, and 24 companies are new to set foot or expand business in Hong Kong. The diverse portfolio of partnership enterprises highlights Hong Kong's unique advantage as an international city, casting a big vote of confidence in the development of the HSITP, as well as the I&T industry in Hong Kong.' 'To realise the goal of becoming an international I&T centre, fostering collaborative efforts among the Government, industry, academic, research, and investment sectors is of utmost importance. The ceremony today signifies the collective efforts towards achieving our shared vision.' The Co-operation Zone, which consists of the 87-hectare Hong Kong Park (i.e. HSITP) and the 300-hectare Shenzhen Park, is one of the major co-operation platforms among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao under the 14th Five-Year Plan. The HSITP will be developed in two phases from west to east. The Chief Executive in his Policy Address in 2022 put forward the suggestion to explore the expedited development of the HSITP and enhance its function. With the completion of the planning stage, the first phase of the HSITP has a total floor area of up to 1 million square metres and contains various clusters to establish a diverse I&T ecosystem with different industry themes, including life and health technology, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and industry, academic and research sectors. The first three buildings of the first batch will be completed gradually from the end of 2024. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to support the construction of the HSITP, as well as the HSITPL's efforts in taking forward the relevant leasing and investment promotion work, with a view to promoting jointly with Shenzhen the advantages of "one zone, two parks" under the "one country, two systems" principle in the Co-operation Zone." About Novotech Novotech-CRO.com Founded in 1997, Novotech is a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) focused on partnering with biotech companies to accelerate the development of advanced and novel therapeutics at every phase. Recognized for its industry-leading contributions, Novotech has received numerous prestigious awards, including the CRO Leadership Award 2023, the Asia Pacific Cell & Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Excellence 2023, the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Company of the Year Award since 2006. The Company offers a comprehensive suite of services including laboratories, Phase I facilities, drug development consulting, regulatory expertise, and has experience with over 5,000 clinical projects, including Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials and bioequivalence studies. With a presence in 34 office locations and a dedicated team of 3,000+ professionals worldwide, Novotech is a trusted end-to-end strategic partner of choice. For more information or to speak to an expert team member visit Novotech-CRO.com. Tampa, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - May 29, 2024) - YourSEOBoard has officially launched its White-label Dashboard, a customizable analytics platform designed to simplify SEO management for digital agencies and SEO businesses. This innovative solution allows users to benefit from an established SEO framework without the complexities of technical and operational overhead. YourSEOBoard Unveils Innovative White-Label Solution to Boost SEO Efficiency To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/211078_0331f4a294a73b4d_002full.jpg In today's digital landscape, SEO is essential for online visibility and business growth. Digital agencies and SEO firms face significant challenges in delivering high-quality analysis to maximize their clients' online presence. The White-label SaaS Dashboard addresses this challenge by offering a comprehensive web analysis and SEO audit tool that operates directly on the user's domain. This allows businesses to provide advanced analytical services under their own brand, enhancing efficiency and brand focus. The White-label SaaS Dashboard was designed to eliminate the need for hiring programmers or designers, offering a ready-to-use solution that empowers businesses to create a unique brand identity. This includes a personalized administration panel for monitoring registrations and site activity, providing valuable insights for optimization and growth. With the technical barriers removed, lead generation becomes straightforward. Businesses can launch advertising campaigns on various platforms, acquire leads, and convert them with ease. The platform supports 43 languages, allowing businesses to target local markets or expand internationally, with customizable reports in customers' languages for seamless delivery of results. YourSEOBoard's White label SEO Dashboard offers several advantages, including eliminating expenses on technical experts, creating a unique brand ecosystem, and providing access to a personalized admin panel. The platform facilitates lead generation, supports multiple languages, and integrates advanced features for performance monitoring and data analysis. This comprehensive solution includes tools for SERP analysis, keyword identification, SEO technical auditing, and customizable report generation. Users can download reports in PDF or CSV formats, with options to personalize them to reflect their brand's identity. By partnering with YourSEOBoard, businesses gain agility and independence, rapidly deploying their operations while retaining total control over data and revenues. The platform supports long-term success with continuous updates and new features. To learn more about YourSEOBoard's White label SEO Dashboard, interested parties are invited to visit the company's website: https://yourseoboard.com/ About YourSEOBoard: YourSEOBoard is a leading provider of innovative SEO solutions, dedicated to empowering digital agencies and businesses with advanced, customizable analytics tools. The White-label Dashboard simplifies SEO management, enhances brand identity, and drives business growth. Dedicated to delivering excellence and fostering innovation, YourSEOBoard makes SEO management accessible and effective. Contact Info: Name: YourSEOBoard Email: admin@yourseoboard.com Organization: YourSEOBoard Website: https://yourseoboard.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211078 SOURCE: Plentisoft San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott and Mayor London Breed walk in the St. Patricks Day Parade in March. If Breed gets her wishes, Scott will get funding for more police staffing in the citys next budget. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle San Francisco Mayor London Breed proposes spending more money to hire police officers, sheriffs deputies and 911 dispatchers, even as she looks to close a huge deficit in her upcoming city budget plan that may lead to painful reductions in other areas. Breed announced Thursday that she will not reduce funding to San Franciscos key public safety agencies and will instead use her next proposed budget to try to expand the ranks of local law enforcement. The San Francisco Police Department says it remains about 500 officers short of the level recommended in an independent staffing analysis. Her announcement comes the day before shes expected to unveil her plan to close a projected shortfall of about $790 million in the next two fiscal years, a balancing act that she has already warned would require difficult choices and cuts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In December, Breed told her departments to propose 10% spending cuts and an additional 5% contingency reduction amid a cloudy financial forecast due to rising costs and a weak recovery from the pandemic. But her office has said repeatedly she wouldnt retreat from her top priorities, including public safety, and she used her Thursday announcement to reiterate that message. Breed is trying to show voters that shes improving the city as she runs for reelection in November against four serious challengers, all of whom have made public safety central to their campaigns by arguing that she has not done enough to confront property crime and open-air drug dealing. Her leading rivals have also pledged to boost law enforcement staffing in various ways. While Breed and supervisors have already tried to increase police staffing levels by funding previous academy classes, increasing officers starting pay and adding retention bonuses, progress so far has been slow, with SFPD saying it still needs to hire hundreds more people. Breed has also touted a drop in reported crime this year. We have made real progress on public safety in San Francisco, but this is a moment to double down, not to let up, Breed said in a statement. One of the core responsibilities of city government is to keep our residents, businesses, workers, and visitors safe, and my budget will deliver on that commitment. What we are doing is working, and we will build on that. Specifically, Breed said she would fund four police academy classes of 50 recruits each over the next year, up from the 25-person classes funded previously, and that she is willing to allocate more money if SFPD recruitment exceeds those levels. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She also is proposing $3.7 million for the department to implement new technology uses authorized by Proposition E, the successful measure Breed put on the March ballot to expand police power in part by allowing officers to more easily use surveillance cameras and drones. Breeds office said the money would allow SFPD to expand its use of existing cameras and install new ones in high-concern areas. Critics of Prop. E have said the surveillance measures authorized by the measure wont make the city safer and could violate privacy rights. In total, Breed is proposing to grow the SFPD budget by about $46.7 million to $821.6 million in the next fiscal year, according to her office. That could prove controversial to some progressive members of the Board of Supervisors, which must approve the city budget by Aug. 1. Supervisor Dean Preston, the boards most progressive legislator, has voted against previous budgets over disagreements about police spending. Additionally, Breed said she would include an unspecified amount to help the sheriffs office fill vacant positions and pay for wage increases and incentives approved in the latest contract with the deputies union. The proposed budget will allow for increased overtime while the office continues to try to expand hiring. The sheriffs office has been struggling to manage low staffing levels at the same time it grapples with a surge in prisoners. Fights among prisoners and attacks on deputies have increased, and in April the citys jails were placed on lockdown as deputies called for help from the National Guard. The problems were scrutinized at a tense hearing by city supervisors this month where some questioned whether Breeds police-led crackdown on open-air drug markets was compounding the worsening conditions at the jail. At the Department of Emergency Management, Breed said she will propose funding three emergency dispatcher academies during the upcoming fiscal year, seeking to hire as many as 45 more dispatchers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad DUBAI, UAE, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MediaTek today announced the Dimensity 7300 and the Dimensity 7300X, a pair of ultra-efficient 4nm chips for high-tech mobile offerings. Providing best-in-class power efficiency and excellent performance, the Dimensity 7300 chipsets enable effortless multitasking, superior photography, accelerated gaming, and AI-enhanced computing; additionally, the Dimensity 7300X is designed with flip-style foldable devices in mind, providing support for dual displays. Both MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipsets have an octa-core CPU consisting of 4X Arm Cortex-A78 cores operating at up to 2.5GHz paired with 4X Arm Cortex-A55 cores. The 4nm process provides up to 25% lower power consumption in the A78 cores compared to the Dimensity 7050. The CPU works together with the latest Arm Mali-G615 GPU and a suite of MediaTek HyperEngine optimizations to accelerate gaming experiences. In comparison to competitor alternatives, the Dimensity 7300 series offers 20% faster FPS and 20% improved energy efficiency. To further enhance gaming experiences, the new chips utilize smart resource optimization, optimize 5G and Wi-Fi game connections, and support Bluetooth LE Audio technology with Dual-Link True Wireless Stereo Audio. "The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chips will be important for integrating the latest AI enhancements and connectivity features so consumers can seamlessly stream and game," said Dr. Yenchi Lee, Deputy General Manager of MediaTek's Wireless Communications Business. "Furthermore, the Dimensity 7300X enables OEMs to develop innovative new form factors thanks to its dual display support." The Dimensity 7300 chipsets also offer upgraded photography with the MediaTek Imagiq 950, featuring a premium-grade 12-bit HDR-ISP with support for a 200MP main camera. Enhanced with new hardware engines providing precise noise reduction (MCNR), face detection (HWFD), and video HDR, the Dimensity 7300 lets users capture stunning images and videos in any lighting. Additionally, live focus photo performance is up to 1.3X faster and photo remastering is up to 1.5X faster than the Dimensity 7050. Users can also record 4K HDR video with over 50% wider dynamic range compared to competitor solutions, bringing out more details in videos. The MediaTek APU 655 significantly boosts AI task efficiency, delivering twice the performance of the Dimensity 7050. The Dimensity 7300 chips also accommodate new mixed precision data types to more efficiently utilize memory bandwidth and reduce memory requirements for larger AI models. With MediaTek's MiraVision 955 built-in, the Dimensity 7300 SoCs support impressively detailed WFHD+ displays with 10-bit true color, along with support for global HDR standards, enhancing media streaming and playback. Additionally, the dedicated support for dual display flip phones on the Dimensity 7300X makes it easier for OEMs to meet the growing market demand for innovative form factors. Other key features of the Dimensity 7300 and the Dimensity 7300X include: MediaTek 5G UltraSave 3.0+ technology incorporating a complete suite of R16 power saving enhancements, plus MediaTek's own optimizations that provide between 13-30% greater power efficiency compared to competitor alternatives in common 5G sub-6GHz connectivity scenarios. Support for up to 3.27Gb/s 5G downlink via 3CC carrier aggregation, providing faster downlink speeds within urban and suburban environments. Tri-band Wi-Fi 6E support for fast and reliable multi-gigabit wireless connectivity. Dual 5G SIM support with dual VoNR to give users more choice. To learn more about MediaTek's Dimensity portfolio, please visit: https://i.mediatek.com/mediatek-5g. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2425508/MediaTek_Dimensity_7300.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mediateks-dimensity-7300-chips-level-up-ai-and-mobile-gaming-for-high-tech-smartphones-and-foldables-302158860.html 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! Transforming the way libraries select, acquire and manage their collections of academic books LONDON, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today announces that 500 institutions around the world have selected the Rialto books marketplace solution with Florida Atlantic University as the 500th customer. This milestone, achieved in just a few years, underscores Rialto's rapid adoption and success in transforming the way libraries acquire and manage their academic book collections so they can best serve their communities. Audrey Marcus, Senior Vice President, Books Business Unit, Clarivate said: "Rialto has rapidly grown to a sophisticated solution that benefits academic libraries of all sizes by creating greater efficiencies and transforming collection development. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the user community to deliver forward thinking innovations that support librarians." Dr. Linda Marie Golian-Lui, Dean of University Libraries at Florida Atlantic University, said: "We are excited to adopt Rialto and look forward to the benefits this software will provide our library staff and our library users. The integration of Rialto with our online integrated library system, Alma, provides beneficial real-time budget tracking for our library staff, and the platform offers several features that will improve collaboration across our team. This product also provides significant efficiencies in ordering and receiving critical library resources for our library users." Rialto uses a marketplace approach that makes selecting and acquiring library resources fast, accurate and transparent. The platform's features include: Comprehensive marketplace: Libraries can search, select and order from more than 20 leading publisher and aggregator platforms within a single, easy-to-use marketplace. Rialto eliminates the need to purchase separately from individual platforms to simplify invoicing and enable libraries to build rich, diverse collections. Libraries can search, select and order from more than 20 leading publisher and aggregator platforms within a single, easy-to-use marketplace. Rialto eliminates the need to purchase separately from individual platforms to simplify invoicing and enable libraries to build rich, diverse collections. Utilizing the power of AI: Since the very beginning, Rialto has harnessed Artificial Intelligence to deliver the most relevant insights and recommendations to selectors. Recommendation feeds can be customized to meet the unique needs of each library and support data-driven decision-making based on past purchases and patron engagement. Since the very beginning, Rialto has harnessed Artificial Intelligence to deliver the most relevant insights and recommendations to selectors. Recommendation feeds can be customized to meet the unique needs of each library and support data-driven decision-making based on past purchases and patron engagement. Seamless workflow: Rialto greatly reduces manual workloads through its unification with Alma, the library services platform used by more than 2,500 institutions worldwide, creating unmatched selection and acquisition workflow efficiencies for librarians. Florida Atlantic University has joined libraries such as The University of South Australia, University of Central Florida and University of Edinburgh in the Rialto user community. Since its launch, Rialto has continued to evolve, incorporating feedback from its diverse customer base and expanding its capabilities to address emerging challenges in the library landscape. About Clarivate Clarivate is a leading global provider of transformative intelligence. We offer enriched data, insights & analytics, workflow solutions and expert services in the areas of Academia & Government, Intellectual Property and Life Sciences & Healthcare. For more information, please visit www.clarivate.com Media Contact: Rachel Scheer, Director, External Communications, Academia & Government newsroom@clarivate.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159266/Clarivate_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/clarivate-celebrates-500-institutions-adopting-rialto-marketplace-solution-302158665.html Original-Research: UBM Development AG - from NuWays AG Classification of NuWays AG to UBM Development AG Company Name: UBM Development AG ISIN: AT0000815402 Reason for the research: Update Recommendation: Kaufen from: 30.05.2024 Target price: EUR 27.00 Target price on sight of: 12 Monaten Last rating change: Analyst: Philipp Sennewald Market reopening still pending / chg. Yesterday, UBM released muted Q1 results following the continued standstill on the European real estate transaction market. Yet, the company was able to dispose some smaller non-strategic assets. Q1 sales increased on a low level by 14% yoy to EUR 20.4m (eNuW: EUR 25m) and were predominantly driven by the progress on construction of previously sold projects, which are recognized over time based on the percentage of completion. Q1 EBITDA decreased yoy and came in at EUR -2.2m. The decline can be mainly attributed to an increase in material expenses, mainly related to construction costs, as well as slightly higher other OpEx, which was mainly due to unfavorable FX-effects. On a positive note, the company had a promising start to the year regarding the disposal of non-strategic assets. In fact, UBM sold five slots of the Arcus City to a Czech construction company, one building of the Poleczki Business Park to Porr as well as a 15% stake of the Andaz hotel in Prague to IGO, which now holds a 40% overall stake. While no further details were disclosed, the net cash inflow from the transaction should amount to c. EUR 25m (eNuW). Overall, management is in advanced negotiations to sell further non-strategic assets as it targets a total net volume of EUR 75m in FY '24e. Importantly, no disposal was made below book value, which has to be seen as a clear hint that the trough has been reached. Despite this, management provided a rather conservative outlook for FY '24e as it is expecting a pre-tax loss (eNuW new: EUR -7.7m), which is however expected to be an improvement compared to FY '23 (EUR -39m). Given that a sudden reopening of the market is still not in sight, we, however, regard this as reasonable despite the positive trends mentioned above. All in all, we continue to consider UBM to be well positioned for the pending reopening of the transaction market, given its appealing product offering, which is focussed on sustainable real estate projects. In fact, as of Q1, 77% of the company's EUR 1.9bn 4-year pro-rata pipeline consists of timber-hybrid projects, which do not only significantly reduce the carbon emissions but also offer cost advantages due to the modular and serial construction. We hence expect UBM's projects to be meet strong demand once the market reopens, as investors become increasingly under pressure to comply with the EU taxonomy. The stock remains a BUY, new PT of EUR 27.00 based on DDM. You can download the research here: http://www.more-ir.de/d/29931.pdf For additional information visit our website www.nuways-ag.com/research. Contact for questions NuWays AG - Equity Research Web: www.nuways-ag.com Email: research@nuways-ag.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuwaysag Adresse: Mittelweg 16-17, 20148 Hamburg, Germany ++++++++++ Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Borsengeschafte. Offenlegung moglicher Interessenskonflikte nach 85 WpHG beim oben analysierten Unternehmen befinden sich in der vollstandigen Analyse. ++++++++++ transmitted by EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this research. The result of this research does not constitute investment advice or an invitation to conclude certain stock exchange transactions. STOCKHOLM, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), the UK's national fusion energy laboratory, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Novatron Fusion Group, a Swedish company that aims to revolutionise the field of fusion energy productionandfast-track the transition to commercial fusion power. The world's energy demand is growing rapidly, and we need to meet it without reliance on fossil fuels. Fusion power potentially offers a flexible, large-scale, dispatchable source of clean, safe, and virtually limitless energy. Estimates suggest more than 15 billion tons of CO2 emissions could be saved annually if all coal-fired power plants in the world were replaced with fusion power plants. Looking further to the future, fusion energy could become pervasive and cheap allowing entirely new industries to emerge. Today's fusion power announcement made public at the London Residence of the Swedish Ambassador to the UK, between the UKAEA and Swedish company Novatron Fusion Group builds on the UK and Sweden's recently signed Strategic Partnership, expanding cooperation on science and innovation, energy, trade and security and defence. Under the Strategic Partnership - signed by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in October 2023 - both nations committed to 'exploring opportunities for collaboration on fusion energy' after acknowledging the emerging technology's 'importance for long-term sustainable energy supply". Ambassador of Sweden to the UK, H.E. Mr Stefan Gullgren said: "I am delighted that the Strategic Partnership signed by Sweden and the United Kingdom last year has inspired Novatron Fusion Group and UKAEA to establish a partnership on fusion collaboration. Sweden and the United Kingdom have a long history of investing in cutting-edge research leading to technological advancements. This partnership between two key actors in fusion technology represents yet another building block in our flourishing bilateral cooperation on science and innovation." Novatron Fusion Group is developing an innovative machine solution (currently the only mirror machine-concept in Europe) for stable magnetic plasma confinement at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. The new partnership will include site visits, staff exchanges including technology demonstrations alongside broader sharing on knowledge and some IP. Further investigations will be performed in parallel regarding collaboration on the next generation of machines. More specific focus areas include the design of fusion machines: particularly for heating of plasma, along with Diagnostics and Remote handling systems. Novatron Fusion Group CEO, Peter Roos, said the MoU marked a significant step forward for Europe's fusion energy ambitions. "We're pleased to be strengthening our presence in the UK which is making a serious commitment to fusion energy. International cooperation is essential to ensure a concerted push, not only with technology development, but for swift implement of funding and regulatory changes to pave the way for the fusion energy industry. With support from investors, governments, academia and industry, commerciality is now within reaching distance." For more information, please contact: Novatron Fusion Group AB Linda Nyberg, CCO, +46 76-006 19 15 or linda.nyberg@novatronfusion.com About Novatron Fusion Group Novatron Fusion Group AB is a Swedish company headquartered in Stockholm. We are developing the NOVATRON concept - an innovative reactor solution for stable magnetic plasma confinement. The company's approach aims to simplify the quest to deliver fusion energy to increase reliability and reduce the current capital and operational cost profiles of its fusion reactors, relative to alternative solutions. Partnerships include KTH Royal Institute of Technology (www.kth.se) and EIT InnoEnergy (www.innoenergy.com). About UK Atomic Energy Authority United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is the UK's national organisation responsible for the research and delivery of sustainable fusion energy. It is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Fusion energy has great potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come. It is based on the same processes that power the Sun and stars, and would form part of the world's future energy mix. Achieving this is a major technical challenge that involves working at the forefront of science, engineering, and technology. UKAEA's fusion machines include MAST-Upgrade (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak) and the JET (Joint European Torus) research facility. JET's operations were funded by the UK Government from 2021 until 31st December 2023. UKAEA is delivering the transition of JET from plasma operations to repurposing and decommissioning. The insights gained from this process will contribute to the advancement of sustainable future fusion powerplants. UKAEA is implementing the UK's 650 million Fusion Futures Programme, the UK's alternative programme to associating to Euratom R&T, to support the UK Fusion Strategy. The Programme entails establishing new facilities at UKAEA's Culham Campus in Oxfordshire to facilitate the advancement of new technologies and expand fusion fuel cycle capabilities. The Programme aims to foster world-leading innovation while also stimulating general industry capacity through international collaboration and the development of future fusion powerplants. Additionally, a fusion skills package will be introduced focusing on nurturing expertise across a spectrum of disciplines and levels. In 2021, UKAEA opened its Fusion Technology Facility near Rotherham in South Yorkshire, to develop and test materials and components for future fusion powerplants. UKAEA also undertakes cutting edge work with academia, other research organisations and the industrial supply chain in a wide spectrum of areas, including robotics and materials. More information: https://www.gov.uk/ukaea. Social Media: @UKAEAofficial This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/novatron-fusion-group-ab/r/united-kingdom-atomic-energy-authority--ukaea--signs-mou-with-nordic-s-first-fusion-energy-company--,c3991479 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/22717/3991479/2833129.pdf Press release (PDF) View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/united-kingdom-atomic-energy-authority-ukaea-signs-mou-with-nordics-first-fusion-energy-company-novatron-fusion-group-302159104.html Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Today, etaily, the Philippines-headquartered e-commerce solutions provider, announces its expansion into Singapore. etaily brings its next-generation digital commerce enablement expertise. This expansion will extend etaily's capabilities to brands based in Singapore and solidify its international footprint. This comes at the heels of etaily raising its Series A of $17.8-million USD at the end of 2023. etaily plans to roll out its full suite of digital commerce managed services, including etaily BrandSuite, its brand commerce management solution; etaily Studios, its live streaming solution; and etaily Society, its influencer network, all powered by its powerful e-commerce management platform, etaily Clarity. This all-in-one solution offers advanced business data insights, omni digital content management, and automated demand and supply planning capabilities, designed to enhance operational excellence for brands. To support its expansion, etaily established a local team in Singapore focused on cultivating and expanding domestic networks that encompass brands, creators, e-commerce platforms, and logistics networks. From the outset, businesses in Singapore can access etaily's extensive local networks across the APAC region through its various solutions. Alexander Friedhoff, founder and CEO of etaily To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/211074_74259150f493a937_002full.jpg Alexander Friedhoff, founder and CEO of etaily commented: "Singapore is a vibrant and bustling city open for business 24/7. We look forward to empowering brands based in Singapore while widening our regional network," Friedhoff remarked. "We are ready to meet the demands of the Singaporean population for brands that are already available locally, as well as bringing in new brands-either from etaily's ecosystem or brands developed by etaily's BrandLabs unit." At the heart of etaily's operations lies its robust infrastructure, designed to cater to every facet of digital commerce touchpoints, ranging from pureplay marketplaces to direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand apps and websites, hyperlocal and instant commerce channels, and social commerce platforms. Complementing this infrastructure is etaily's comprehensive suite of services, covering brand and channel management, performance marketing, creative solutions, customer service, warehousing and fulfillment, as well as advanced technology offerings. etaily's flagship platform, Clarity, serves as a central hub for businesses, seamlessly connecting to major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Shopify, TikTok Shop, Shopee, and Lazada. It integrates with advertising platforms like Google, Facebook, and TikTok, as well as proprietary systems for conversational commerce and international shipping. Clarity empowers users to analyze and manage their operations across diverse platforms via a single interface, offering scalability and efficiency in digital commerce. Moreover, it facilitates the cross-border expansion for Singapore-based businesses into international markets. etaily Clarity revolutionizes task management with its real-time data visibility, automated product listing, and AI-driven demand and supply planning modules. These features significantly enhance the efficiency, speed, and accuracy of e-commerce operations, enabling businesses to focus more on business growth and strategy. etaily recently secured a $17.8-million USD Series A funding round, aimed at scaling its end-to-end e-commerce entry platform for brands. This funding is poised to fuel the company's efforts to enhance consumer and merchant engagement across Southeast Asia. Headquartered in the Philippines, etaily has established itself as a pivotal gateway for brands seeking to expand their online footprint in the region. About etaily etaily provides comprehensive e-commerce solutions that enable and empower growth through end-to-end services in technology, operations, brand, and data capabilities. Since its inception in 2020, etaily has become the go-to partner for big brands across Southeast Asia. With certifications from marketplaces like Lazada and Shopee, etaily is well-positioned to grow an e-commerce business. For more information about etaily and its comprehensive e-commerce solutions, visit www.etaily.com. Contact Info: Name: Bilal Mahmood Email: bilal@stockwoodstrategy.com Organization: etaily Website: https://www.etaily.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211074 SOURCE: Plentisoft Infor M3/CloudSuite users can tap into the Fortude-Accure partnership to design, produce, distribute and track printed/electronic documents, at every stage of the output process. London ,United Kingdom, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Management of business documents is a crucial component of the digital transformation and Infor Cloud journey. The Accure-Fortude partnership will secure an effective and sustainable process for handling of all business documents, labels and reports for customers. Fortude, a leading global enterprise and digital technology solutions company, announces its strategic partnership with Accure, a prominent provider of output solutions for Infor M3. This partnership is aimed at enhancing the Infor M3 and CloudSuite experience for users by combining Accure's innovative solutions with Fortude's expertise in Infor implementations. Accure AB offers a comprehensive output suite for Infor M3, while the Accure Cloud for M3 seamlessly extends Infor M3's output capabilities to the Cloud. Commenting on the partnership, Henrik Billgren, Senior Advisor and Board Member from Accure AB noted, "We are delighted to partner with Fortude to enable Infor users around the globe to seamlessly manage their outputs from M3 when they transition to the Cloud. Users can leverage our solution to design, produce, distribute and track both printed and electronic documents and reports, at every stage of the output process. Businesses can now streamline their document management processes and enhance operational efficiency." Fortude has a strong track record of helping several global companies move their business operations to Infor M3 and CloudSuite. The company is focused on building strong strategic partnerships with global technology solution providers like Accure to help Infor users accelerate their digital transformation initiatives. Frederic Champalbert, Chief Revenue Officer - Europe/UK from Fortude expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "We are excited to partner with Accure to deliver enhanced capabilities to our customers. By leveraging Accure's cutting-edge solutions, we can further optimize the Infor M3 experience and maximize the value of their Infor M3 and CloudSuite investments. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to delivering digital solutions that matter to our customers." The partnership between Fortude and Accure represents a significant step forward and offers Infor M3 users with the right tools to make the leap to the Cloud. Together, the two companies are excited to help businesses better manage their document output processes, paving the way for greater efficiency, productivity, and growth. Attachment SINGAPORE, May 30, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - As the satellite industry continues to evolve, challenges and opportunities abound. Industry leaders from the Asia-Pacific region and around the world gathered at the Asia Video Industry Association's recent Satellite Industry Forum, held in Singapore on 28 May, to discuss the state of the industry, addressing critical questions and sharing insights on the path forward.The emergence of NGSO systems presents both opportunities and threats to traditional GSO operators. In the opening keynote, Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, CEO, THAICOM, highlighted the need for adaptation and strategic partnerships to leverage respective strengths.Despite challenges, the satellite broadband business remains relevant and lucrative. Suwansiri emphasized the importance of leveraging accumulated expertise and capital to invest in newer technologies and satellites, ensuring continued growth and relevance. "The fundamentals and know-how of doing the broadband business is still there and that is something that technology cannot replace," said Suwansiri.While Software-Defined High Throughput Satellites (SD HTS) hold promise for reducing investment risk and enabling new business models, concerns remain about expected capacity pricing reductions. Integration of smart satellite systems with ground systems and the utilization of AI were also highlighted as crucial for driving innovation and efficiency for THAICOM, added Suwansiri.The "Asia-Pacific Satellite Leaders Roundtable" also discussed the current state and future outlook of the satellite industry, with a focus on where the video industry is heading. Raymond Chow, Chief Commercial Officer, AsiaSat, emphasized their focus on providing end-to-end services and adapting to changing customer demands for global connectivity, with more vertical integration for a holistic view across the video business.Kenichi Shimotsuma, GM, Asia Regional Headquarters & Regional Director, Singapore Branch, SKY Perfect JSAT, also recognized the evolving role of satellite broadcasting and the need to diversify into content delivery and connected TV services to meet changing consumer preferences.Conversations around the future of linear video continued with "The Customers Talk". Paul Mattear, Head of Global SatCom (A&S), Amazon Web Services, highlighted the importance of understanding and meeting customer needs, emphasizing a symbiotic relationship between service providers and end-users. For Huang Baozhong, EVP, APT Satellite, maintaining a customer-centric approach is crucial for competitiveness. Trust in IP-based technology is also evolving, with AI playing a role in streamlining labour-intensive tasks, added Mark Wardle, VP, Engineering & Operations, Encompass Digital Media.Pranav Roach, President of Hughes Network Systems India, offered insights into how the "Norms, Guidelines and Procedures" (NGP) document for the implementation of Indian Space Policy is facilitating easier navigation of regulations and processes, thus benefiting private players in the sector. A notable aspect highlighted by Roach is the significance of spectrum allocation for satellite broadband. The NGP streamlines the process, ensuring administrative allocation to facilitate private sector involvement. Roach emphasized that auctions would have been counterproductive in this context.The introduction of the New Telecom Law in 2023 also further paved the way for spectrum allocation for satellite broadband. This legislative development clears regulatory hurdles, enabling smoother operations and growth opportunities for private players.The importance of ground segment adaptation in response to changing requirements was also underscored at the conference. Panellists discussed post-pandemic shifts, emphasizing the need for adaptability and integration with IT systems, with the disruption that the launch of Starlink has brought. "Everyone needs to disrupt themselves and adapt. What is the multi-orbit proposition that we can provide to a particular user. . . how can we integrate better for greater value to the end user?" asked Alvaro Sanchez, CEO, Integrasys.Conversations also centred around the space industry, following the tumult and volatility of 2023. Dara Panahy, Partner, Milbank LLP, highlighted the ongoing democratization of the commercial space industry, with the need for incumbents to evolve by either scaling up or vertically integrating to better serve customers. Identifying key areas such as mobility, government services, IoT, and earth observation as lucrative opportunities, he underscored the pivotal role of space in the larger economy.The Satellite Industry Forum concluded with senior industry executives convening for a high-level discussion on the future trajectory of the satellite industry. Sanjay Duda, CEO, Planetcast Media Services, highlighted his focus on the role of satellite technology in delivering media services, particularly for the video industry. He emphasized the continued relevance of satellite in delivering linear channels, especially in underserved regions like India, while acknowledging the pressure on costs and the evolving landscape of mobility. Neha Idnani, Regional Vice President, APAC, Eutelsat OneWeb, also stressed the importance of working closely with regulators and industry bodies to ensure data security and protect sovereign interests, while Katherine Gizinski, CEO, River Advisers, reiterated the importance of regulatory considerations, particularly regarding spectrum and physical space access. She advocated for greater industry cooperation to address sustainability concerns and anticipated closer scrutiny from regulators as the industry continues to expand.The Satellite Industry Forum is proudly sponsored by Gold Sponsors SKY Perfect JSAT and MEASAT Satellite Systems; Silver Sponsors Arianespace, AsiaSat, COMSYS, Eutelsat, Gilat Satellite Network, Hughes, Integrasys, Marsh, Milbank LLP, Northtelecom, Rivada Space Networks and Thaicom.About the Asia Video Industry AssociationThe Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.For media enquiries and additional background please contact:Charmaine KwanHead of Marketing and Communicationscharmaine@avia.org | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/asiavideoia | Twitter: @AsiaVideoIASource: AVIACopyright 2024 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. A full 73 Per Cent Say Mobile and Remote Devices are Biggest Threat Over one-third (35 per cent) of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) admit to ignoring the National Cyber Security Centre's (NCSC's) cybersecurity guidance. This finding and others were revealed in a new survey and report from Absolute Security, a global leader in enterprise cyber resilience. This finding was despite 48 per cent of respondents revealing that their organisation was hit by a ransomware attack over the past year. The NCSC has issued regular guidance warning of increased ransomware threats over that time frame as well as procedures for incident response. These findings and more were uncovered in the Absolute Security United Kingdom Cyber Resilience Report 2024, providing a look at the state of cyber resilience, security, and AI across the UK. To compile the results, Absolute surveyed 250 UK CISOs at enterprise organisations, via independent polling agency Censuswide. Additionally, two-thirds (64 per cent) feel that the UK has a poor cyber resilience strategy, failing to define clear response policies to recover from cyber breaches, while 77 per cent believe the UK is falling behind the US and EU when it comes to national cyber policies. This may offer a possible explanation for CISOs ignoring NCSC guidance. "Ransomware and state-sponsored attacks are increasingly on the rise, both of which are a case of when, not if. Now, more than ever, organisations need a robust cyber resilience strategy in place to respond and recover from attacks when they happen," said Andy Ward, VP International for Absolute Security. "While no set of standards or frameworks will eliminate the certainty of an eventual incident, NCSC guidance is there to help protect CISOs, who shouldn't just ignore nationwide protocols. Disregarding NCSC advice puts organisations at much greater risk. It jeopardises jobs, causes significant financial and reputation damage, and potentially even heaps personal liability on security leaders." Responding to the findings, Absolute customer Bharat Thakrar, CISO/CTO of CyberBTX, commented: "The fact that 35 per cent of CISOs ignore NCSC guidance is alarming. Ignoring these guidelines not only undermines organisational security, but also exposes their sensitive data to significant risks. Adhering to these standards is crucial for robust cyber security." Mobile and Remote Threats Persist Cyberattacks have more than doubled since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the IMF, with 72 per cent of CISOs stating that remote working has complicated their organisation's cyber resilience posture. In total, 73 per cent believe that remote working devices are the biggest weakness for their organisation, as these devices often operate weeks or even months behind most enterprise patching policies. These devices also grapple with essential security tool failures. When unsupported by remediation capabilities, Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP) and network access security applications fail to operate effectively 24 per cent of the time, opening high-risk security gaps. All these findings are supported in the recent Absolute Security Cyber Resilience Risk Index 2024. "The increased attack surface facing organisations due to remote devices presents a difficult challenge for CISOs as they ward off the rising number of cyber threats. Implementing an approach of cyber resilience can significantly bolster cyber defences through increasing visibility for CISOs and their security teams." "Adopting technology that can continuously monitor remote devices, applications and networks can alert centralised security teams to suspicious behaviour, giving them the ability to freeze or shut off potentially compromised devices to prevent threat actors from moving laterally across a network and causing major damage. These devices can then be repaired to patch up weak security controls and mitigate future cyber risks," added Ward. To learn more and read the full report, visit the Absolute Security blog: Survey Says UK CISO's Top Threats are Ransomware and Mobile Work To learn more about how Absolute Security addresses identified threats and CISO concerns, visit stand F-149 at Infosec Europe 2024. About Absolute Security Absolute Security is partnered with more than 28 of the world's leading endpoint device manufacturers, embedded in the firmware of 600 million devices, trusted by 21,000 global enterprises, and licensed across 14 million PC users. With the Absolute Security Cyber Resilience Platform integrated into their digital enterprise, customers ensure their mobile and hybrid workforces connect securely and seamlessly from anywhere in the world and that business operations recover quickly following cyber disruptions and attacks. Our award-winning capabilities have earned recognition and leadership status across multiple technology categories, including Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Endpoint Security, Security Services Edge (SSE), Firmware-Embedded Persistence, Automated Security Control Assessment (ASCA), and Zero Trust Platforms. To learn more, visit www.absolute.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube. ABSOLUTE SECURITY, ABSOLUTE, the ABSOLUTE LOGO, AND NETMOTION are registered trademarks of Absolute Software Corporation 2024, or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Other names or logos mentioned herein may be the trademarks of Absolute or their respective owners. The absence of the symbols and in proximity to each trademark, or at all, herein is not a disclaimer of ownership of the related trademark. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240529472489/en/ Contacts: Centropy PR for Absolute, press@absolute.com Executive Director Patricia Doyle has been placed on leave from the Providence Foundation of San Francisco, which the city has barred from seeking or receiving new funding. Office of the Mayor A troubled San Francisco homeless service provider has new leadership and has lost a city contract amid fallout over allegations that the nonprofit falsified invoices and deprived vulnerable San Franciscans of critical services, according to city officials. Earlier this month, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu accused the Providence Foundation of San Francisco of filing fake invoices for at least $105,000 of work that was never performed. Chiu issued an order barring the nonprofit from seeking or receiving any new city funding because of the alleged blatant fraud. The allegations against Providence marked the latest scandal involving nonprofit contractors that San Francisco depends on to help serve its homeless residents, as well as those experiencing addiction or mental illness. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Providence Foundation receives millions of dollars through a handful of city contracts with the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to operate shelters and provide housing assistance to people experiencing homelessness, particularly in the citys Bayview and Fillmore neighborhoods. San Francisco has awarded the nonprofit nearly $100 million since 2015, according to online budget records. The homelessness department was not required to terminate any current city contracts or grant agreements, but it has already stripped the nonprofit of one. Emily Cohen, spokesperson for the department, said Wednesday that a $600,000 contract to manage a shelter storage facility for unhoused people was taken away from Providence and given to the nonprofit Five Keys Schools and Programs. Cohen said the department is still assessing what to do with the remaining contracts and working closely with the city attorneys office to focus on preserving services for Providences clients. Several of the organizations other contracts expire at the end of June, but the nonprofits $58 million commitment to operate the Oasis Family Shelter lasts another eight years. James Blanding, who had been serving as Providence Foundations board president until earlier this month, said Wednesday that he had resigned. Blanding said that Patricia Doyle, Providences executive director, and Kenisha Roach, the nonprofits second-in-command, were placed on leave, and Dexter Hall was appointed by the board as the interim executive director. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Efforts to reach Doyle and Roach were unsuccessful. Hall and Vernon Goins, an attorney representing the Providence Foundation, did not return a call or email from a reporter. Since taking charge of the organization, Hall has been working closely with the homelessness department and city attorneys office, Cohen said. At the center of Providences fallout are two invoices in which officials allege the nonprofit brazenly charged the city $105,000 to paint the exterior of the 59-room Oasis Family Shelter and remove dead bolt locks, but the work was never performed. The city attorneys office placed specific fault on Roach and Doyle, who signed off and submitted the fraudulent invoices to the city either knowing they were false or in reckless disregard of their falsity. Before the city attorneys investigation, the homelessness department had flagged the nonprofit for a series of fiscal mismanagement and noncompliance issues, including nepotism, illegal recording of guests and employees, overspending city contracts, and allowing beds at the family shelter to sit empty. At the end of 2023, the citys Labor Standards Enforcement division also launched an investigation into the nonprofit for alleged wage theft. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Doyle became the executive director of Providence in 2019 and oversaw the nonprofits rapid expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Doyles leadership, Providence did not maintain a chief financial officer, controller or in-house financial department, according to the city attorneys office. LONDON, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Movable Ink, the AI-powered content personalisation platform, announced today its partnership with Astrid & Miyu, the UK's fastest-growing jewellery brand renowned for revolutionising the jewellery experience. This collaboration aims to enhance various aspects of the brand's offerings, including the recently launched bespoke necklace service, ' Story Chain ', which empowers customers to create personalised welded charm necklaces. With Movable Ink technology, Astrid & Miyu can deliver personalised email communications at scale, enabling one-to-one customer experiences with more than 8 billion possible creative variations of their 'Story Chain' necklaces. Movable Ink powers revenue-generating campaigns for some of the world's largest retail brands. With a shared passion for innovation and hyper-personalisation, the partnership with Astrid & Miyu marks another significant milestone in its continued expansion across the EMEA region. "At Astrid & Miyu, we strive to revolutionise the jewellery experience by seamlessly blending our online and offline offerings," said Lucy Kemish, Head of CRM. "Movable Ink's personalisation capabilities will introduce a new level of customisation for our shoppers, further elevating their journey." "We are thrilled to collaborate with Astrid & Miyu, a brand that shares our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional personalised experiences," said Matt Lyon, Vice President of Sales, EMEA at Movable Ink. "By leveraging our technology, Astrid & Miyu will not only enhance their customer journey, but also empower their customers to create truly unique and meaningful jewellery pieces." About Movable Ink Movable Ink personalises every customer engagement through automation and artificial intelligence. The world's most innovative brands rely on Movable Ink to maximise revenue, simplify workflow and achieve the optimal customer experience. Headquartered in New York City with over 500 employees, Movable Ink serves its global client base with operations throughout North America, Central America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Learn more at movableink.com . About Astrid & Miyu The brand has grown so much over the last 18 months with now 20 stores from London to NYC, offering services from piercings, welding's, and fine-line tattoos plus a few concessions too in the likes of Selfridges, Harrods and a pop up in Bicester Village. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1438892/Movable_Ink_New_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/astrid--miyu-selects-movable-ink-as-personalisation-engine-for-email-marketing-302158355.html LG Innotek has been named as one of the Best Korea Brands 2024 announced by Interbrand, proving its unrivaled status "We will continue to make multifaceted efforts to raise the brand value of the global technology innovator." SEOUL, South Korea, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Innotek (CEO Moon, Hyuksoo) announced on May 30th that it has been named as one of the Best Korea Brands 2024 announced by Interbrand. This is the first time LG Innotek was included in Best Korea Brands. This demonstrates LG Innotek's standing as a leading global materials and components company in Korea. Interbrand is the largest brand consulting group in the world, founded in 1974. Starting in 2013, Interbrand has announced the Best Korea Brands, consisting of 50 companies with the highest brand value in Korea. These include Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company and Naver. Best Korea Brands are selected by comprehensively analyzing not only financial aspects, but also market dominance, influence, and the growth potential to assess the brand value. Their selection criteria are known as the most trusted global brand in marketing industry, having acquired the ISO certificate for the first time in the industry. LG Innotek's brand value, according to Interbrand, amounts to approximately 3 trillion US dollars. LG Innotek has reportedly received high scores in all categories, including finances, market influence, and growth potential. In terms of business, LG Innotek achieved rare growth in the domestic manufacturing industry, increasing annual sales from 6.1 million in 2019 to 15 million US dollars last year, driven by its flagship mobile camera modules. LG Innotek is quickly establishing a business structure to achieve sustainable growth by deploying the DNA of a top-notch leader acquired in the optical solution business to expand into the automotive components and semiconductor substrate business. Moreover, the company is expanding the breadth of its proprietary technology in optical design, precision manufacturing, and control to include autonomous driving and humanoid robots, accelerating its efforts to prepare their business for the future. As the company is enjoying heightened status, LG Innotek is pushing hard to improve its brand value, overcoming the limitations as the business-to-business (B2B) company. Starting in 2023, the company has hosted a public booth at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show), the largest international electronics exhibition held in the US, attracting the attention of a global audience. This year, the number of visitors to LG Innotek's booth has tripled from the previous year, reaching 60,000. LG Innotek is reaching out to a variety of stakeholders in earnest, including stockholders, the general public, and university students, through online channels, such as YouTube, LinkedIn, and the Newsroom. Moon, Hyuksoo the CEO of LG Innotek, said, "LG Innotek is a global technology innovator that supports customers to become top leaders in the world with unparalleled technology and differentiated products. We will continue to make multifaceted efforts to enhance our brand value." Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2312913/logo__LG_Innotek_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lg-innotek-recognized-as-one-of-south-koreas-top-brands-302159187.html 140-240 W USB-PD adaptor exceeding 30 w/in3 for e-mobility, tools, notebooks and cell phones is the first target Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD), the fabless, clean-tech semiconductor company, dedicating to develop energy-efficient GaN-based power devices that make greener electronics possible, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) of Taiwan to solidify a partnership in developing high performance GaN solutions for USB-PD adaptors. The MoU also covers the sharing of domestic and international market information, joint visits to potential customers and promotion. ANDREA BRICCONI CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER, CGD "We are excited to partner with ITRI, an organization with a power solution research team that is very experienced in developing power solutions and holds many patents. We will be demonstrating some of their board designs at our booth at the upcoming PCIM show in Nuremberg in June. These products utilize CGD's unique IC chip architecture and ITRI's patented designs to achieve product size reduction, high efficiency and power density, and cost competitiveness." WEN-TIEN TSAI LEADER OF COMMERCIAL POWER DESIGN TEAM, GEL/ITRI "CGD's IC-enhanced GaN ICeGaN is a novel platform that improves ease-of-use, facilitates smart temperature control and enhances gate reliability. We are excited to include these benefits in our new power designs." According to leading WBG analysts, Yole Group, the GaN market is expected to exceed $1B, with key growth in the applications of comms power supplies, and automotive DC/DC converters and on-board chargers. However, the first commercialized product in the market to adopt GaN devices has been USB-PD adaptors, and it is this market that the first designs from the partnership will address. Specifically, the agreement covers the development of power solutions in the 140-240 W range with power densities exceeding 30 W/in3 for e-mobility, power tools, notebook and cell phone applications. About Cambridge GaN Devices Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) designs, develops and commercialises GaN transistors and ICs enabling a radical step change in energy efficiency and compactness. Our mission is to bring innovation into everyday life by delivering effortless energy-efficientGaN solutions. CGD's ICeGaN technology is proven suitable for high volume production and the company is rapidly scaling up with manufacturing and customer partnerships in place. A fabless enterprise, CGD was spun out from Cambridge University, and its founders, CEO Dr Giorgia Longobardi and CTO Professor Florin Udrea, still retain strong links with the world-renowned High Voltage Microelectronics and Sensors group (HVMS) at the University. CGD's ICeGaN HEMT technology is protected by a strong and constantly-growing IP portfolio which is a result of the company's commitment to innovation. The technical and commercial expertise of the CGD team combined with an extensive track record in the power electronics market has been fundamental to the market acceptance of its proprietary technology. About Green Energy Environment Research Laboratories (GEL), Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) ITRI is a world-leading applied technology research institute with more than 6,000 outstanding employees. Its mission is to drive industrial development, create economic value, and enhance social well-being through technology R&D. Founded in 1973, it pioneered in IC development and started to nurture new tech ventures and deliver its R&D results to industries. Its forefront technology research strategy aims to enhance intelligentization enabling technologies and focus on four application domains: Smart Living, Quality Health, Sustainable Environment, and Resilient Society. GEL is one of ITRI's largest core laboratories dedicated to enhancing sustainable environmental technologies in the fields of energy efficiency, power systems, low-carbon environment, and environmental and energy policy. In terms of energy efficiency, it has established distinguished capabilities related to solid-state lighting, high-efficiency air conditioning, smart/green buildings, energy management and control systems, smart grids, etc. to cultivate green technologies and talents in the energy and environment fields with high growth potential. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530337890/en/ Contacts: Andrea Bricconi, Chief Commercial Officer, CGD +49 1732410796 andrea.bricconi@camgandevices.com Worldwide Agency: Nick Foot, BWW Communications +44-7808-362251 nick.foot@bwwcomms.com LAGOS, Nigeria, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Founded by African musician Patoranking, the Patoranking Foundation, a beacon of hope for young African talent, is pleased to announce the launch of the Patoranking Foundation Tech Scholarships, a key part of the organization's Sky Level Initiative. In a monumental partnership with ALX Africa, a pioneer in innovative tech skills development for young African talent, the Foundation will offer scholarships totaling half a million dollars, empowering 40 exceptional young minds with access to cutting-edge technology education and career-ready training. Over the past six years, the Patoranking Foundation has been steadfast in its commitment to nurturing a brighter future for African youth, enabling promising young leaders to attend leading educational institutions, regardless of their financial standing or background. The organization currently works with five schools in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, where Patoranking is originally from, and has partnered with the African Leadership University in 2020 to give promising young leaders across Africa a chance to study at the University. The goal of the Foundation is to positively impact the lives of 1 million African youths within the next ten years by equipping them with the necessary tools and opportunities to flourish, thereby contributing to Africa's sustainable development. Through its efforts, the Foundation hopes to create a ripple effect of change, empowering the youth to become architects of their own futures and catalysts for progress within their communities. Having triumphed over financial adversity, Patoranking leverages his influence to nurture entrepreneurial spirits ready to bring transformative change to their nations and the African continent. "Exceptional leaders and change-makers can emerge from any corner of our continent," says Patoranking, the visionary artist and philanthropist behind the initiative. "Financial constraints should never be an obstacle for the next great African disruptor." ALX Africa is founded by Fred Swaniker, celebrated educator and entrepreneur, receiver of Time Magazine's 2023 Impact Awards and one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2019. ALX is dedicated to creating access to world-class tech training to millions of people in Africa. "In today's world of AI and Big Data, young people need to be prepared for uncertainty; they need to be agile and adaptable. Our innovative learning model is geared towards developing tech leaders and innovators with the most in-demand hard and soft skills to solve the problems of this century," Fred Swaniker. The collaboration with ALX Africa marks a new chapter in the Foundation's mission. The program targets 40 resilient, driven, innovative, and mission-oriented students over the next year who have already made a significant impact within their communities. These learners will have the opportunity to enroll in a broad variety and transformative technology programmes, ranging from coding, developing to data and Salesforce Administration, empowering them with the skills needed to thrive in the digital era. Beyond the classroom, the top learners will have the opportunity to undertake internships with some of the leading tech partners of the Foundation. This hands-on experience promises to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application, preparing the scholars to become the next pioneers in technology. The Patoranking Foundation and ALX Africa invite all eligible and aspiring tech enthusiasts to apply for this unique scholarship opportunity. Together, we can cultivate a generation of tech giants who will lead Africa's digital revolution. For more information and to apply, visit: https://patoranking.alxafrica.com/ About the Patoranking Foundation The Patoranking Foundation is dedicated to unlocking the potential of Africa's youth through transformative educational programs, fostering entrepreneurial skills, and empowering young leaders. Our brand promise is to inspire and enable African youth to achieve their fullest potential, nurturing a new generation of leaders and innovators who will propel progress throughout the continent. About ALX ALX Africa is a leading provider of tech training and career acceleration services. We are committed to addressing the global shortage of tech talent by providing the techno-fluent leaders of tomorrow with access to the skills and tools they need today. We serve young leaders across the African continent, empowering them to build impactful careers in high-growth industries. Visit www.alxafrica.com to learn more. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2424923/Patoranking_Foundation.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/patoranking-foundation-and-alx-africa-unveil-a-500-000-scholarship-initiative-for-tech-savvy-african-youth-302158353.html The Tholos Foundation, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to advocating for consumers, today launched three white papers exposing the risks of banning flavours in vaping products at an event in Brussels hosted by Parliament Magazine and featuring contributions from Swedish MEP Johan Nissinen. The reports cover the impact of flavour bans in the real world, best practices to educate adult smokers and restrict underage usage, and analyse the public response to the European Commission's 2023 public consultation. Surveys commissioned by the Tholos Foundation and conducted by Ipsos in multiple countries have shown that a significant majority of vapers use flavours other than tobacco to help reduce and quit smoking. Notably, 83% of vapers in Germany stated that flavours are crucial in their decision to vape, with similar high percentages reported in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The research also showed that, in countries where flavours were banned, many vapers went back to smoking or for black market alternative, and reference numerous scientific studies confirming that flavours are essential for the effectiveness of vaping products in smoking cessation. With European elections due to take place shortly, it is imperative policymakers take heed of voters' concerns and reject extensive restrictions on lifesaving smoking alternatives. The new European mandate is expected to drive a new revision of the bloc's Tobacco Products Directive, and consumers have already overwhelmingly responded to a public consultation overwhelmingly stressing the importance of vapes in helping them quit smoking. Rather than product bans, the papers examine a menu of policy alternatives to protect public health focussing on improved enforcement of existing laws, restricting flavour descriptors and communications, limiting sales to adult-only stores, and an openness to technological innovations. Tim Andrews, Director of Consumer Issues and a report author said: "The evidence is clear: flavours in vaping products are critical to helping smokers quit. Banning flavours will create a black market and drive people back to smoking. Our reports offer an evidence-based approach that combines rigorous law enforcement, education, and technological innovations to reduce underage experimentation while preserving the benefits for adult smokers. "With the European elections approaching, it is crucial for policymakers to understand the importance of harm reduction strategies. Our findings support a balanced approach that protects public health and helps smokers transition to safer alternatives The reports can be downloaded at www.tholosfoundation.org/thr View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530005633/en/ Contacts: Tim Andrews, tandrews@tholosfoundation.org Dublin-based FIRE1 today announced that the first Irish patient has been successfully implanted with its FIRE1 System for remote heart failure monitoring. The innovative system has the potential to positively impact thousands of people living with heart failure in Ireland every year and alleviate the burden on hospital emergency rooms. The successful implantation took place at University Hospital Galway in the First in Human Clinical Investigation of the FIRE1 System in Heart Failure Patients (FUTURE-HF). The study will assess FIRE1's novel solution to improve outcomes for those living with heart failure. Irish medtech company FIRE1, whose CEO Conor Hanley was recently announced as a 2024 EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, seeks to transform heart failure management by enabling patients to monitor and control their fluid volume themselves with a device at home, similar to how continuous glucose monitoring transformed diabetes care. Fluid overload is a classic clinical feature of heart failure, which affects approximately 90,000 Irish people and is a leading cause of hospitalisations, including high admission and re-admissions rates in Ireland. FIRE1 CEO and President Conor Hanley said, "I am especially pleased to announce our first patient in Ireland. This represents a true clinical research success for Ireland, being one of the first systems of its nature to be developed, manufactured and now to be in a clinical trial in Ireland. It showcases Ireland's capability for groundbreaking medical innovation with the potential to change healthcare delivery globally. The FIRE1 team is steadfast in our mission to help millions of people around the world living with heart failure to get their normal lives back, but it is very special to be able to give access to people here at home. It is gratifying to see the physician interest in our novel technology. I would like to extend my thanks on behalf of the whole FIRE1 team to the fantastic staff at UHG, and most importantly to the patients who continue to put their trust in us and participate in this important research." The FIRE1 sensor is implanted into the body's largest vein, located in the abdomen, known as the inferior vena cava (IVC) and works by continuously measuring the size of the IVC, giving a marker of the amount of fluid in the body. High levels can increase the risk of breathing difficulties and a build-up of fluid in the lungs which lead to an emergency hospital admission. The patient wears a belt reader around the abdomen for around a minute a day to take a reading from the sensor and the data is sent to the patient's clinical team at the hospital. The system is designed to alert whenever the patient's condition deteriorates. Professor of Interventional Cardiology and Translational Medicine at University Hospital Galway (UHG), Prof Faisal Sharif performed the implant. "We are delighted to bring this new, transformative technology to Ireland for the first time," said Prof Sharif. "The procedure was very straightforward, minimally invasive and the patient was confident using the FIRE1 system and taking the readings. The data we will get from this patient will give a new window into heart failure management and has the potential to dramatically improve our understanding of this patient's condition, and to enable proactive changes in medications that will keep them healthy and at home. We hope to implant further patients at UHG while recruitment is still active." Ends. Notes to Editors About FIRE1 Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, FIRE1 is a connected medical device solutions company dedicated to improving outcomes for people suffering with chronic diseases. Its investors include Andera Partners, Gilde Healthcare, Gimv, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Lightstone Ventures, Medtronic, New Enterprise Associates, Novo Holdings and Seventure. Its mission is to empower millions of people suffering from heart failure to get their normal lives back. The FIRE1 team is led by an experienced medical devices team that is working closely with world-leading researchers, clinicians, patients and payors to help reduce the burden of heart failure. Further information: www.fire1foundry.com. The FIRE1 system is currently undergoing global clinical trials to test the safety and effectiveness of the technology. More information about the Future-HF Study (NCT04203576) may be found on clinicaltrials.gov. About University Hospital Galway Prof Faisal Sharif is a Professor of Interventional Cardiology and Translational Medicine at University Hospital Galway/ University of Galway. He is Principal investigator for Cardiovascular trials and Academic research at the Health Research Board Clinical Research Facility (HRBCRFG) at the University of Galway, supported by a highly skilled and experienced research team lead by Clinical Nurse Specialists Eileen Coen and Nicola Glynn. The Research CT scanner infrastructure which this trial in Galway was enabled through a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) grant (SFI17/RI/5353) and an investment partnership between SFI, University of Galway and Saolta University Health Care Group. University College Hospital Galway is a Model 4 hospital providing 24/7 acute surgery, acute medicine and critical care and is recognised for Higher Medical training in all specialties. Galway University Hospitals, comprising of University Hospital Galway (UHG) and Merlin Park University Hospital, play a leadership role in acute service delivery providing regional services for a wide range of specialties and is a designated supra regional centre for cardiac and cancer services serving a catchment area in the region of 1 million people along the West of Ireland. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240529589028/en/ Contacts: Fergus O'Dea, FIRE1 fergus.odea@fire1foundry.com (+353) 879392054 The anticipated introduction of new therapeutic options could lead to an expansion of the market for stuttering treatment during the forecast period. This growth may be fueled by factors such as an increase in the number of diagnosed cases of stuttering, facilitated by improved diagnostic techniques, and advancements in managing and treating the condition more effectively. LAS VEGAS, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Stuttering Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, stuttering emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2020 to 2034, segmented into 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan]. Key Takeaways from the Stuttering Market Report According to DelveInsight's analysis, the market size for stuttering was found to be USD 40 million in 2023 and it is further expected to rise by 2034. in 2023 and it is further expected to rise by 2034. According to estimations by DelveInsight, the total prevalent cases of stuttering across the 7MM stood at roughly 4 million , with nearly 885K diagnosed prevalent cases reported in 2023. , with nearly diagnosed prevalent cases reported in 2023. Among the 7MM, the US accounted for approximately 47% , EU4 and the UK for nearly 38% , and Japan for around 15% of the total diagnosed prevalent cases of stuttering in 2023; these cases are expected to increase by 2034 due to improved diagnostic methods, leading to more accurate identification and reporting of stuttering cases globally. , EU4 and the UK for nearly , and Japan for around of the total diagnosed prevalent cases of stuttering in 2023; these cases are expected to increase by 2034 due to improved diagnostic methods, leading to more accurate identification and reporting of stuttering cases globally. Leading stuttering companies such as Emalex Bioscience , and others are developing novel stuttering drugs that can be available in the stuttering market in the coming years. , and others are developing novel stuttering drugs that can be available in the stuttering market in the coming years. The promising stuttering therapies in the pipeline include Ecopipam (EBS-101), among others. among others. Ecopipam has the potential to revolutionize stuttering treatment, expected to launch in 2026 in the US offering a first-mover advantage in the market. Discover which therapies are expected to grab the major stuttering market share @ Stuttering Market Report Stuttering Overview Childhood-onset fluency disorder, commonly referred to as stuttering or stammering, is a prevalent speech issue influenced by various factors. It results in an interruption of smooth verbal expression, characterized by involuntary repetitions or prolongations of sounds or syllables, either audible or silent. These disruptions typically happen beyond the speaker's control and may be accompanied by additional physical movements or negative emotions like fear, embarrassment, or frustration. Stuttering is recognized by recurrent instances of prolonged sounds, repeated syllables, or interruptions in speech flow, occurring at various levels of speech, from individual sounds to entire words or phrases. Diagnosis of stuttering is usually conducted by a speech-language pathologist (SLP), a professional trained in assessing and treating voice, speech, and language disorders. The evaluation involves examining the child's case history, analyzing their stuttering patterns, assessing their speech and language skills, and understanding how stuttering impacts their life. When assessing young children for stuttering, an SLP aims to determine whether the stuttering behavior is likely to persist or resolve. Factors considered include family history of stuttering, duration of stuttering (six months or longer), and the presence of other speech or language difficulties. Stuttering Epidemiology Segmentation The stuttering epidemiology section provides insights into the historical and current stuttering patient pool and forecasted trends for the 7MM. It helps recognize the causes of current and forecasted patient trends by exploring numerous studies and views of key opinion leaders. The stuttering market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 2020-2034 in the 7MM segmented into: Total Prevalent Cases of Stuttering Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Stuttering Gender-Specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Stuttering Stuttering Treatment Market Though a definitive cure for stuttering has yet to be discovered, there exist numerous treatment options tailored to individual needs, such as age and communication objectives. Collaboration with a speech-language pathologist is imperative for determining the most suitable course of action. While around 75% of children naturally outgrow stuttering, the remaining 25% may experience it as a lifelong challenge. Therapeutic interventions aim to alleviate the anxiety associated with stuttering and equip individuals with strategies to reduce speech disruptions, including speaking at a slower pace and managing breathing patterns. Technological aids, such as electronic devices, may also aid in improving fluency. Furthermore, Support Groups offer invaluable assistance to children, teenagers, and adults coping with stuttering, fostering positive attitudes toward speech and stuttering. These groups often complement formal speech therapy by concentrating on speech behaviors. Medications like alprazolam, citalopram, and clomipramine have been noted to alleviate stuttering in specific cases. In Germany, parents worried about their child's stuttering typically turn to medical professionals such as pediatricians, pediatric audiologists, and ear, nose, and throat specialists. These professionals may prescribe medication and refer the child to a speech-language pathologist, usually in private practice or occasionally to a specialized stuttering treatment facility. Similarly, adults seeking treatment for stuttering also start by consulting a physician to obtain a medical referral, which is necessary for health insurance coverage. To know more about stuttering treatment guidelines, visit @ Stuttering Management Stuttering Pipeline Therapies and Key Companies Not many companies are working towards this indication, however, some market key players, Emalex Bioscience (Ecopipam (EBS-101)), and others are developing drugs for the treatment of stuttering. Ecopipam (EBS-101), a novel experimental medication, is under investigation as a pioneering treatment for childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering) in pediatric patients and Tourette syndrome (TS) in adults. The repetitive and compulsive behaviors linked to stuttering and TS may involve D1 receptor super-sensitivity, which Ecopipam targets by selectively inhibiting dopamine's effects at the D1 receptor. In 2022, the drug candidate concluded a Phase II trial in adults with childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering), but there have been no subsequent developments reported. The anticipated launch of this emerging therapy for stuttering is poised to transform the market landscape in the coming years. As this cutting-edge therapy continues to mature and gain regulatory approval, it is expected to reshape the stuttering market landscape, offering new standards of care and unlocking opportunities for medical innovation and economic growth. Learn more about the FDA-approved drugs for stuttering @ Drugs for Stuttering Treatment Stuttering Market Dynamics The dynamics of the stuttering market are expected to change in the coming years. Growing research activities in the field show rising concerns about the seriousness of the speech disorder, with no approved drug for stuttering globally, presenting an opportunity for product-developing companies. Moreover, the anticipated introduction of emerging therapies with improved efficacy and a further improvement in the diagnosis rate are expected to drive the growth of the stuttering market in the 7MM. However several factors may impede the growth of the stuttering market. Many patients, not realizing the need for treatment, learn to live with their stuttering problem throughout their life, thereby weakening the stuttering market, as those who stutter are advised against pharmacologic therapy, posing a threat to the stuttering market due to the likelihood of patients avoiding medication even if it becomes available. Moreover, stuttering treatment poses a significant economic burden and disrupts patients' overall well-being and QOL. Furthermore, the stuttering market growth may be offset by failures and discontinuation of emerging therapies, unaffordable pricing, market access and reimbursement issues, and a shortage of healthcare specialists. In addition, the undiagnosed, unreported cases and the unawareness about the disease may also impact the stuttering market growth. Stuttering Market Report Metrics Details Study Period 2020-2034 Coverage 7MM [the United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan]. Stuttering Market CAGR 13.4 % Stuttering Market Size in 2023 USD 40 Million Key Stuttering Companies Emalex Bioscience, and others Key Pipeline Stuttering Therapies Ecopipam (EBS-101), and others Scope of the Stuttering Market Report Therapeutic Assessment: Stuttering current marketed and emerging therapies Stuttering current marketed and emerging therapies Stuttering Market Dynamics: Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging Stuttering Drugs and Market Outlook Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging Stuttering Drugs and Market Outlook Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, Stuttering Market Access and Reimbursement Discover more about stuttering drugs in development @ Stuttering Clinical Trials Table of Contents 1. Stuttering Key Insights 2. Stuttering Report Introduction 3. Stuttering Overview at a Glance 4. Stuttering Executive Summary 5 Stuttering Key Events 6 Epidemiology and Market Forecast Methodology 6. Disease Background and Overview 7. Stuttering Treatment and Management 8. Stuttering Guidelines 9. Stuttering Epidemiology and Patient Population 10. Patient Journey 11. Key Endpoints in Stuttering 12. Stuttering Marketed Drugs 13. Stuttering Emerging Drugs 14. 7MM Stuttering Market Analysis 15. Market Access and Reimbursement 16. KOL Views 17. Unmet Needs 18. SWOT Analysis 19. Appendix 20. DelveInsight Capabilities 21. Disclaimer 22. About DelveInsight Related Reports Stuttering Epidemiology Forecast Stuttering Epidemiology Forecast - 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted stuttering epidemiology in the 7MM, i.e., the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom), and Japan. Apraxia Market Apraxia Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key apraxia companies, including Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, LIB Therapeutics, among others. Ataxia Pipeline Ataxia Pipeline Insight - 2024 report provides comprehensive insights about the pipeline landscape, pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and non-clinical stage products, and the key ataxia companies, including Retrotope, Reata Pharmaceuticals, PTC Therapeutics, Metro International Biotech, LLC, Design Therapeutics, Larimar Therapeutics, Minoryx Therapeutics, EryDel, Biogen, Matrix Biomed, IntraBio, Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Stealth BioTherapeutics Inc., Acasti Pharma, Seelos Therapeutics, Kissei Pharmaceutical, Vico Therapeutics, Q-State Biosciences, Locanabio, Lexeo Therapeutics, Voyager Therapeutics, CRISPR Therapeutics, Capsida Biotherapeutics, AavantiBio, StrideBio, Wave Life Sciences, REPROCELL, SHIONOGI & Co., CORESTEM, Blade Therapeutics, Exicure, Lacerta Therapeutics, Healx Ltd., Uniqure, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Jupiter Neurosciences, among others. Ataxia Market Ataxia Market Insights, Epidemiology, and Market Forecast - 2032 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted epidemiology, as well as the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key ataxia companies, including Retrotope, Reata Pharmaceuticals, PTC Therapeutics, Metro International Biotech, LLC, Design Therapeutics, Larimar Therapeutics, Minoryx Therapeutics, EryDel, Biogen, Matrix Biomed, IntraBio, Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Stealth BioTherapeutics Inc., Acasti Pharma, Seelos Therapeutics, Kissei Pharmaceutical, Vico Therapeutics, Q-State Biosciences, Locanabio, Lexeo Therapeutics, Voyager Therapeutics, CRISPR Therapeutics, Capsida Biotherapeutics, AavantiBio, StrideBio, Wave Life Sciences, REPROCELL, SHIONOGI & Co., CORESTEM, Blade Therapeutics, Exicure, Lacerta Therapeutics, Healx Ltd., Uniqure, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Jupiter Neurosciences, among others. About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Get hassle-free access to all the healthcare and pharma market research reports through our subscription-based platform PharmDelve. Contact Us Shruti Thakur info@delveinsight.com +14699457679 www.delveinsight.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082265/DelveInsight_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/stuttering-market-to-register-stunning-growth-at-a-cagr-of-13-4-by-2034--delveinsight-302158910.html Oakville, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - FendX Technologies Inc. (CSE: FNDX) (OTCQB: FDXTF) (FSE: E8D) (the "Company" or "FendX"), a nanotechnology company developing surface protection coatings, is pleased to announce that development advances associated with its nanotechnology will be presented at the 107th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, CSC 2024, being held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. On June 6, 2024, Professor Tohid Didar, one of the lead researchers of FendX's nanotechnology development projects at McMaster University, will give an invited talk entitled "Nano-engineered interfaces for diagnostics, therapeutics and infection control" where FendX's REPELWRAP film and spray nanotechnology will be presented. CSC 2024 provides a forum for learning, knowledge exchange, innovation and highlights advances of Canadian chemistry research. "These types of events are always a great venue to showcase our nanotechnology and highlight advances we are making to develop products to protect high touch surfaces prone to contamination, which is accomplished in collaboration with our esteemed colleagues at McMaster University," said Dr. Carolyn Myers, President and CEO of FendX. About FendX Technologies Inc. FendX is a Canada-based nanotechnology company focused on developing products to make people's lives safer by reducing the spread of pathogens. The Company is developing both film and spray products to protect surfaces from contamination. The lead product under development, REPELWRAP film, is a protective surface coating film that, due to its repelling properties, prevents the adhesion of pathogens and reduces their transmission on surfaces prone to contamination. The spray nanotechnology is a bifunctional spray coating being developed to reduce contamination on surfaces by repelling and killing pathogens. The Company is conducting research and development activities using its nanotechnology in collaboration with industry-leading partners, including McMaster University. The Company has exclusive worldwide licenses to its technology and IP portfolio from McMaster, which encompass both film and spray coating nanotechnology formulations. Contacts: Dr. Carolyn Myers, CEO and Director 1-800-344-9868 Alyssa Barry, Investor Relations 1-833-947-5227 investor@fendxtech.com For more information, please visit https://fendxtech.com/ and the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including with respect to: the plans of the Company; products under development; and any pathogen reduction benefits related thereto. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and that actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include: product candidates only being in formulation/reformulation stages; limited operating history; research and development activities; dependence on collaborative partners, licensors and others; effect of general economic and political conditions; and other risk factors set forth in the Company's public filings which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The reader is urged to refer to such public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211053 SOURCE: FendX Technologies Inc. H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe, a credit affiliate of global investment firm H.I.G. Capital ("H.I.G."), is pleased to announce that it has co-arranged a new 450 million financing package for Astek (the "Company" or the "Group"). Founded in 1988 and controlled by its founder Jean-Luc Bernard, Astek is a global player in engineering and technology consulting. Headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, Astek operates in more than 20 countries with 8400 employees. Led by Julien Gavaldon since 2013, the Group has experienced significant growth as a result of organic activity and ten strategic acquisitions, over the past four years. The Group has developed leading market positions in its key geographies, notably in France, Poland, and Canada, in addition to growing positions in Northern and Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. In 2021, H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe acted as the sole arranger of a 170 million financing package used to refinance the Group's existing loans and provide additional capital for growth. Having reached its business goals two years ahead of schedule, Astek is further strengthening its financial resources to support its plans of continued growth through a new senior-secured financing package of 450 million co-arranged by H.I.G. Additionally, Astek has welcomed its long-term investor, Intermediate Capital Group ("ICG"), as a strategic partner. ICG has provided an additional 110 million in equity financing to the Group. Jean-Luc Bernard, Founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Astek, said:"H.I.G. has been our partner since 2021 and I would like to thank them for their renewed confidence. The trust that has been built with H.I.G. has further strengthened the Group and Astek is now well-positioned for continued growth and profitability." Julien Gavaldon, Chief Executive Officer of Astek, said: "Thanks to our partnership with H.I.G., we have had a very successful growth trajectory, reaching our objectives two years ahead of schedule. We are determined to continue growing the Group, with the goal of exceeding 1 billion euros of turnover before 2027. H.I.G.'s renewed confidence in Astek, coupled with our new strategic partnership with ICG, positions us among the global leaders in digital transformation and technology consulting." Pascal Meysson, Head of H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe, said:"Astek is a remarkable company, led by a high-quality management team, and we are grateful for their renewed trust in H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe. We are excited to continue supporting Jean-Luc Bernard, Julien Gavaldon, and Astek's 8,400 employees as they embark on this exciting new phase of development." Charles Bourgeois, Managing Director at H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe, said: "We deeply appreciate the renewed confidence shown by Jean-Luc Bernard and Julien Gavaldon in H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe. Over the past years, Astek has achieved remarkable and consistent growth, establishing itself as a prominent global player. Its impressive market share gains, driven by approximately 20% organic growth (significantly exceeding market expansion) and a well-managed buy-and-build strategy, are a testimony to its success. We are delighted to continue supporting Astek as it embarks on this new chapter of development." About H.I.G. Capital H.I.G. Capital is a leading global alternative investment firm with $62 billion of capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco in the United States, as well as international affiliate offices in Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Dubai, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to middle market companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/ value-added approach: H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses. H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche, and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. also manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance. H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices. H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 400 companies worldwide. The Firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $53 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at hig.com. * Based on total capital raised by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530188790/en/ Contacts: Pascal Meysson Head of H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe pmeysson@hig.com Charles Bourgeois Managing Director cbourgeois@hig.com H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe 10 Grosvenor Street 2nd Floor London W1K 4QB United Kingdom P +44 (0) 207 318 5700 hig.com VICTORIA, Seychelles, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- KuCard, a cutting-edge Visa debit card by KuCoin, will be launching a brand-new cashback program, starting on June 1, 2024 (UTC). This groundbreaking program offers users the opportunity to earn attractive rewards on their purchases, delivering valuable savings and an enhanced level of financial flexibility. KuCard, released in November 2023, offers instant crypto-to-fiat conversion, exclusive rewards, and seamless integration with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Available initially in the European Economic Area (EEA), KuCard sets a new standard in cryptocurrency usability, empowering users to maximize the value of their digital assets while enjoying the convenience of traditional financial transactions. The KuCard cashback program offers users a range of benefits aimed at elevating the value of their money. KuCard is dedicated to continuously improving the user experience. This includes special promotions and bonus cashback events throughout the year. Furthermore, KuCoin is collaborating with various businesses to ensure access to exclusive deals and offers that further enhance the overall value of the KuCard experience. Visit KuCard Cash Back Program and KuCard page for more information. About KuCard KuCard, a revolutionary Visa debit card, compatible with both Google Pay and Apple Pay. It streamlines financial transactions by converting cryptocurrencies into fiat currency seamlessly. Integrated and ready to use anywhere Visa is accepted. By facilitating frictionless conversion between digital and fiat currencies, KuCard strives to foster wider adoption of the blockchain technology About KuCoin Launched in September 2017, KuCoin is a leading cryptocurrency exchange with its operational headquarters in Seychelles. As a user-oriented platform with a focus on inclusiveness and community engagement. It offers over 900 digital assets across Spot trading, Margin trading, P2P Fiat trading, Futures trading, and Staking to its 31 million users in more than 200 countries and regions. KuCoin ranks one of the top 5 crypto exchanges. In 2024, KuCoin was acclaimed as "One of the Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges of March 2024" by Forbes Advisor and has been included as one of the top 50 companies in the "2024 Hurun Global Unicorn List". Learn more at https://www.kucoin.com/ . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2356857/KuCoin_Horizontal_Green_LOGO_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kucard-launches-new-cashback-program-earn-cashback-on-all-purchases-302159040.html Deteriorating wooden stairs are seen at the Noe Peak trail at Twin Peaks in San Francisco. The trail will be closed for repairs this summer. Anthony Edwards/The Chronicle Visitors take in the view from the north summit of Twin Peaks in San Francisco in 2019. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle 2019 A sign at the switchback below the Noe Peak trail advises visitors of coming construction work at Twin Peaks in San Francisco. Anthony Edwards / The Chronicle Two hiking trails to the Twin Peaks lookout over San Francisco one of the citys top outdoor attractions will close for renovation in mid-June, just as the summer tourism season gets under way in earnest, officials announced Wednesday. Both the trail at Noe Peak and the switchback trail just south of it will be closed for several months, according to the city Recreation and Park Department. Both trails are within the area marked as Twin Peaks Open Space and are part of a decadelong transformation called the Twin Peaks Access, Roadway, and Pedestrian Walkway Improvement Project. Eroded stairs on the Noe Peak trail in San Francisco are seen Tuesday. Anthony Edwards / The Chronicle The project is being done in phases as funds become available. This summers phase involves replacing the box steps, wooden retaining walls and split-rail fencing, and reseeding native plants for erosion control and habitat restoration. The work contract has been awarded to Cazadoro Construction Inc. of San Francisco. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This segment of the plan will be followed by restoration of the trail that connects Crestline Drive to Twin Peaks Boulevard. A map from the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department shows hiking trails on Twin Peaks that will be closed for renovation this summer. San Francisco Recreation and Parks These two phases will set the stage for the third phase: completion of the Twin Peaks Promenade, which will turn the closed eastern half of a roadway into a wide pedestrian pathway. The project is funded and in the final design phase. Bid solicitations are expected to go out in early 2025. Audley Travel has revealed the ten most popular endemic wildlife you can encounter in Australia according to UK Google search data, with quokkas topping the list. LONDON, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From koalas to kangaroos, Australia's unusual wildlife has long-captivated British travellers. To find out which animals people want to encounter most, experts at Audley Travel have analysed UK Google Search data, revealing quokkas at the top of the list, with koalas and wombats rounding out the top three. Helping to explain why quokkas are so popular, Audley Australia specialist Tom Pegram says: "Quokkas are always popular with visitors to Australia as their facial expression often resembles a grin and their inquisitive nature makes them engaging to watch - and easy to photograph. They're no bigger than a housecat, and their petite size adds to their adorableness." You'll find quokkas in the southwest region of Australia, and Tom recommends Rottnest Island as one of the best places to encounter them, set off the coast of Perth. "You'll see them in their natural habitat here, scurrying about or snoozing in the shade - while quokkas are nocturnal by nature, the lack of predators on Rottnest Island means they're out and about more in the daytime." While koalas might be one of the first animals that spring to mind when thinking of Australian wildlife, they came in second place when it comes to popularity. "With their doe-like eyes and fluffy ears, koalas never fail to make me smile when I see them," says Tom. "We advise against any experiences that involve hugging koalas, which can be detrimental to their welfare. Instead, head to Kangaroo island in South Australia, to see them behave naturally in the wild." As the name of the island suggests, this is also a destination to see kangaroos (which ranked fifth in searches) in the wild. Taking the third-place spot is wombats. These marsupials are surprisingly swift - they can almost run as fast as Usain Bolt. "As wombats are primarily nocturnal, one of the best ways to see them is first thing in the morning, when they're sleepy and moving at a slower pace," says Tom. "Stay at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge on Tasmania and you might get a chance to see one wandering the trails at the crack of dawn while you head down for breakfast." The travel experts at Audley can help craft a trip to see the top 10 most popular Australian wildlife species, listed below. Audley pairs clients with the best naturalist guides to help them encounter these animals in the most authentic way possible - in the wild and away from crowds. Top 10 Australian wildlife: Quokka Koala Wombat Platypus Kangaroo Tasmanian Devil Emu Cassowary Echidna Wallaby For more information Nicole Barnard tmwi, acting on behalf of Audley Travel outreach@tmwi.co.uk 01789 404180 Note to editors: Audley Travel is an expert in individually designed travel, creating meaningful experiences in more than 80 destinations across all seven continents. Its dedicated destination specialists use their firsthand knowledge to plan your trip down to the finest detail, choosing experiences that speak to your passions and pairing you with local guides who are top of their field. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-research-from-audley-travel-experts-reveals-quokka-are-the-most-popular-australian-animal-302159258.html JIAXING, China, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LONGi has announced the launch of its latest product, the Hi-MO X6 Max series, at its state-of-the-art Jiaxing factory. For the factory, recognized as the industry's first 'lighthouse' facility, the launch marked its first public event since achieving this status. The Hi-MO X6 Max series represents a significant milestone for the company, following the industry-wide consensus on module size standards reached by nine manufacturers and subsequent agreement on wafer size standards by six manufacturers in July and August 2023 respectively. The launch also marks LONGi's first large-scale transition to rectangular silicon wafers (wafer size: 182.2191.6mm; module size: 23821134mm). Designed specifically to meet the evolving needs of distributed PV customers, the Hi-MO X6 Max incorporates the core values of Hi-MO X6 while additionally being equipped with LONGI's innovative 'TaiRay Inside' and HPBC cell technologies, achieving unprecedented stability, reliability and power generation efficiency. The Hi-MO X6 Max series entered mass production in the current quarter, with a complete transition for all mainstream products expected by Q3 2024. This upgrade, projected to exceed 30GW, will ensure a continuous and stable supply to the market. Revitalized and Upgraded: Beyond Just Size The lack of unification on wafer and module sizes had long been a contentious issue in the PV industry, leading to increased costs and supply chain risks. The ultimate standardization on sizes simplifies the supply chain, reduces material waste and minimizes design errors during installation, facilitating easier maintenance and management. On July 7, 2023, LONGi and eight other companies agreed on new standard dimensions for rectangular silicon wafers and modules. Subsequently, on August 8, 2023, LONGi, along with five other companies, reached a consensus on the standardized dimensions for 72-cell rectangular silicon wafers (rectangular wafer size:182.2mm x191.6mm; rectangular wafer diagonal: 262.5mm). This has allowed for smoother transition in production lines and technological advancements. The Hi-MO X6 Max series exemplifies this progress. LONGi's recently launched TaiRay wafer and the breakthrough in mass-production of its self-developed HPBC technology has led to the creation of the new series, which integrates M11 dimensions (182.2mm191.6mm) with TaiRay Inside and HPBC cell technologies. According to Lv Yuan, head of the LONGi Product and Solution Centre, the standardized dimensions of Hi-MO X6 Max maximize customer benefits and reduce costs for engineering and material partners. The optimized dimensions also enhance container utilization during transportation, once again saving costs. Taking the 72-cell version as an example, the new product can reduce transportation costs by $0.61/kW compared with the conventional Hi-MO X6 module, improving use of 40HC containers by 4.4% to achieve 98.5% container utilization. Due to power enhancement, the BOS cost on the system installation side is also reduced by 3.57% (about $4.16/kW) when compared with the equivalent mainstream power grade (585W vs. 615W). Customer revenue is also enhanced when compared to using 210R wafer based modules, Hi-MO X6 Max using M11 wafers with lower current, which can effectively reduce loss of current transmission cabling by 9% and increase power generation revenue by 0.1%. The Hi-MO X6 Max product family not only inherits the three core values of the Hi-MO X6 series - High Quality, High Technology and High Reliability - but also represents an upgrade in three dimensions: New Technology, New Size and New Product. New technology refers to the first-time integration of the new TaiRay Inside and innovative HPBC high-efficiency cell technologies, bringing both innovation and reliability. New size is represented by the first transition after the standardization of dimensions, fostering synergy throughout the industry supply chain. New product refers to the Hi-MO X6 Max not only inheriting product design such as Anti-Dust and Anti-Humidity and Heat from the Hi-MO X6 series, but also the introduction of the Artist (Ultra Black) on to the distributed market, showcasing LONGi's commitment to delivering new experiences driven by industry trends and in-depth understanding of user needs. Leading the PV Industry with Intelligent Manufacturing LONGi continues to lead the PV industry through technological innovation and digital transformation. In December 2023, the company's Jiaxing production base was recognized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a 'Global Lighthouse' factory, the world's first solar module manufacturing base to become part of the WEF's Global Lighthouse Network (GLN). As a model in "digital manufacturing" and "Industry 4.0," it extensively integrates cutting-edge technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Big Data, AI and digital twinning, as well as developing and implementing over 30 digital technologies, significantly advancing intelligent manufacturing. These innovations, including flexible automation enabled by artificial intelligence and machine vision, AI-enabled full-process visual inspection, intelligent management of order production delivery cycles and AI-powered solar cell resource matching, underpin the intelligent production of LONGi's HPBC products. As an example, the order tracking system at the Jiaxing production base reduces the delivery cycle of HPBC products by 84%, while optimized processes and automation lower unit energy consumption by 20%. From the introduction of the industry's first Lifecycle Quality Standard in 2021 to pioneering a Digital Quality Management System and an integrated AI inspection system, LONGi remains committed to steady, reliable and technology-driven growth, the company's ongoing innovation supporting the industry's transition to high-quality, sustainable development. About LONGi Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world's leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation. Under its mission of 'making the best of solar energy to build a green world', LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has more recently, also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero carbon development. www.longi.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2425675/Hi_MO_X6_Max_Concept_KV_Horizontal_outlined.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2425676/photo_3.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2425677/photo_7.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2425678/Hi_MO_X6_Max_Feature_Poster_1.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1862722/LONGi_new_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/longi-sets-new-industry-benchmark-with-launch-of-hi-mo-x6-max-302159265.html CHICAGO, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Heat Transfer Fluids Market by Product Type (Mineral Oils, Synthetic Fluids, Glycol-Based Fluids), End-use Industry (Chemical & Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas, Automotive, Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, HVAC, Renewable Energy) - Global Forecast to 2029", is USD 4.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 5.4 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 4.9%. The growth of the heat transfer fluids market is driven by several key factors, including rapid industrialization, increasing demand for energy efficiency, and the expansion of key end-use industries. As industrial processes become more advanced and widespread, particularly in emerging economies, the need for effective thermal management solutions becomes critical. Industries such as chemical and petrochemical, automotive, food and beverages, and HVAC heavily rely on heat transfer fluids to maintain optimal operating temperatures and ensure process efficiency. The growing emphasis on energy conservation and efficiency further propels the market, as heat transfer fluids are essential in reducing energy consumption and improving the overall efficiency of thermal systems. Additionally, the rising adoption of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, necessitates advanced heat transfer fluids for energy storage and transfer applications. Technological advancements and innovations in heat transfer fluid formulations, offering better thermal stability, lower maintenance, and higher operational safety, also contribute to market growth. Furthermore, stringent environmental regulations and the push towards sustainable industrial practices encourage the use of high-performance, environmentally friendly heat transfer fluids, thereby driving market expansion. These combined factors create a robust demand for heat transfer fluids across various sectors, fuelling the market's growth. Browse in-depth TOC on "Heat Transfer Fluids Market". 180 - Tables 65 - Figures 240 - Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=861 "Mineral oils by product type are projected to be the largest, in terms of value, during the forecast period." Mineral oils hold the largest market share in the heat transfer fluids market due to their cost-effectiveness, availability, and performance characteristics. Significantly cheaper than synthetic and glycol-based fluids, mineral oils' low production and refining costs make them an attractive option for industries optimizing their budgets. Derived from abundantly available crude oil, mineral oils benefit from a well-established global supply chain, ensuring a steady supply and reducing the risk of shortages. They offer a good balance of thermal stability, heat transfer efficiency, and operating temperature range, making them suitable for chemicals, petrochemicals, and manufacturing sectors. Their ability to maintain consistent performance under varying thermal conditions ensures reliable and efficient heat transfer systems. Additionally, mineral oils' versatility allows for use in a wide range of applications, simplifying maintenance and inventory management. Compatibility with most materials in heat transfer systems reduces corrosion risk and extends equipment lifespan, further enhancing their economic appeal. Consequently, these combined advantages secure mineral oils' leading position in the heat transfer fluids market. "Chemical & Petrochemicals by end-use industry is projected to be the largest, in terms of value, during the forecast period." The chemical and petrochemicals end-use industry holds the largest market share in the heat transfer fluids market due to its continuous demand for efficient thermal management. This sector involves processes like distillation, polymerization, and chemical synthesis, requiring precise temperature control essential for producing a wide array of chemicals. Heat transfer fluids maintain optimal reaction conditions, ensure process safety, and enhance energy efficiency. The large scale and complexity of petrochemical operations necessitate significant volumes of heat transfer fluids to manage substantial heat loads. Stringent requirements for operational reliability and safety favor high-quality fluids that withstand harsh conditions and offer long-term stability. The sector's continuous growth, driven by rising global demand for chemicals and materials, reinforces its dominance in the market. This growth is particularly significant in regions with substantial chemical production capacities, such as North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, further solidifying the chemical and petrochemical industry's leading market position. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=861 "Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market for heat transfer fluids during the forecast period, in terms of value." Asia Pacific leads the heat transfer fluids market due to rapid industrialization, strong economic growth, and the presence of major end-use industries. The region's booming chemical and petrochemical sectors, especially in China, India, and Japan, generate significant demand for heat transfer fluids necessary for distillation, polymerization, and chemical synthesis processes. Additionally, the expanding manufacturing base in Asia Pacific, encompassing automotive, electronics, and food and beverage industries, further drives the need for efficient thermal management solutions. Rapid urbanization and infrastructure development also increase demand for HVAC systems, where heat transfer fluids are crucial. The push for renewable energy sources like solar and wind power in countries such as China and India fuel the need for these fluids in energy storage and transfer applications. Favourable government policies, industrial project investments, and raw material availability support the market's growth. These factors collectively position Asia Pacific as the largest and fastest-growing region in the global heat transfer fluids market, surpassing Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East & Africa. Key Players: The key players in this market are Dow (US), Eastman Chemical Company (US), ExxonMobil (US), Chevron Corporation (US), Huntsman Corporation (US), Shell PLC (UK), Lanxess (Germany), Clariant (Switzerland), Wacker Chemie AG (Germany), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (India), Schultz Canada Chemicals Ltd. (Canada) etc. Browse Adjacent Market: Bulk Chemicals and Inorganics Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Engineered Fluids Market - Global Forecast to 2023 Functional Fluids Market - Global Trends and Forecast to 2020 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insights: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/thermic-fluid-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/thermic-fluids.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/heat-transfer-fluids-market-worth-5-4-billion-by-2029--exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302159029.html Mako Mining Corp. (TSXV:MKO)(OTCQX:MAKOF) ("Mako" or the "Company") announces that it has come to the Company's attention that the registration with the Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia of one of Mako's independent qualified persons, Mr. John Kowalchuk, senior geologist and a consultant to Mako, expired on January 1st, 2024, and as a result he did not meet the definition of a "qualified person" under National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") at the time he reviewed and approved the Company's news releases dated January 24th, 2024 and March 13th, 2024 (the "News Releases"). Accordingly, Dr. Matthew D. Gray, a qualified person under NI 43-101 has now reviewed and approved the contents of these News Releases. On behalf of the Board, Akiba Leisman Chief Executive Officer About Mako Mako Mining Corp. is a publicly listed gold mining, development and exploration company. The Company operates the high-grade San Albino gold mine in Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua, which ranks as one of the highest-grade open pit gold mines globally. Mako's primary objective is to operate San Albino profitably and fund exploration of prospective targets on its district-scale land package. For further information: Mako Mining Corp., Akiba Leisman, Chief Executive Officer, Telephone: 917-558-5289, E-mail: aleisman@makominingcorp.com or visit our website at www.makominingcorp.com and SEDAR www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Information: Statements contained herein, other than historical fact, may be considered "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained herein is based on the Company's plans and certain expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, that the Company can operate San Albino profitably in order to fund exploration of prospective targets on its district-scale land package. Such forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including the risks and uncertainties as disclosed in the Company's public disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof, based on information currently available. Mako does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Mako Mining Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Theralase Technologies Inc. (" Theralase " or the " Company ") ( TSXV:TLT )( OTCQB:TLTFF ), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light and/or radiation activated Photo Dynamic Compounds (" PDCs ") for the safe and effective destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses has released the Company's unaudited interim consolidated 1Q2024 financial statements (" Financial Statements "). Theralase will be hosting a conference call on Thursday June 6 th , 2024 at 11:00 am ET , which will include a presentation of the financial and operational results for the fiscal quarter ending March 31 st , 2024. Questions are welcome; to ensure we have time to review and answer them during the call, please send them in advance to mperraton@theralase.com . Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89087760875 Conference Call in: 1-647-558-0588 (Canada) / 1-646-558-8656 (US) - not required for those attending by Zoom. An archived version will be available on the website following the conference call. Financial Summary: For the three-month period ended March 31 st : 1 Other represents foreign exchange, interest accretion on lease liabilities and / or interest income Financial Highlights For the three-month period ended March 31 st , 2024; Total revenue decreased 15%, year over year. Cost of sales was $113,440 (65% of revenue) resulting in a gross margin of $62,114 (35% of revenue). In comparison, the cost of sales for the same period in 2023 was $114,638 (55% of revenue) resulting in a gross margin of $92,523 (45% of revenue). The gross margin decrease as a percentage of sales, year over year, is attributed to an increase in material costs. Selling expenses decreased to $67,552, from $74,671 for the same period in 2023, a 10% decrease. The decrease is a result of reduced spending in commissions (26%), and travel (74%). Administrative expenses decreased to $511,495 from $522,695 for the same period in 2023, a 2% decrease. The decrease is a result of reduced spending on general and administrative expenses (43%), insurance costs (8%) and stock based compensation (10%). Stock based compensation expense decreased 10% in 2024, due to the cumulative effect of accounting for the vesting of stock options granted in the current and previous years. Net research and development expenses for the Drug Division decreased to $725,017 from $907,099 for the same period in 2023, a 20% decrease. The decrease is primarily attributed to a decrease in costs for Study II patient enrollment and treatment. Net research and development expenses for the Device Division increased to $31,363 from $3,181 for the same period in 2022, an 886% increase. The increase is attributed to development of a new software program for the TLC-2000 Cool Laser Therapy system. Net loss was $1,266,711, which included $220,919 of net non-cash expenses (i.e.: amortization, stock-based compensation expense and foreign exchange gain/loss). This compared to a net loss in 2023 of $1,408,953, a 10% year over year reduction, which included $244,787 of net non-cash expenses. The Drug Division represented $1,011,762 of this loss (80%) in 2024. The decrease in net loss is primarily attributed to decreased spending on research and development expenses in Study II. Operational Highlights: Non-Brokered Private Placement On April 24, 2024, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of units. On closing, the Company issued an aggregate of 4,167,778 units at a price of $0.18 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $750,200. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of $0.25 for a period of 5 years following the date of issuance. In 2024, the Company plans to secure funding through various equity and debt instruments to allow the Company the ability to become base shelf eligible. This will allow the Company sufficient funding to complete enrollment into Study II by year end, data lock in mid 2026 and position the Company for FDA and Health Canada approval by the end of 2026, subject to achieving FDA Priority Review." Study II Update On February 8 th , 2024, Dr. Michael Jewett joined the Company in the role of an independent consultant, to assist the Company in the accruement of patients into Study II. Under the terms of the consulting agreement, Dr. Jewett will be responsible for working with existing clinical study sites and helping to onboard new clinical study sites to assist Theralase to complete enrollment and provide the primary study treatment to all 100 patients in Study II, by December 31, 2024. To date, Study II has provided the primary study treatment for 68 patients, with new patients being enrolled in 2Q2024. Theralase is working to add up to 5 new CSSs in 2024, as well as increase enrollment at the existing 10 CSSs to complete Study II accruement by the end of 2024. All patients received the primary Study Procedure (n=68). Approximately 50% of the patients received the maintenance Study Procedure (n=33) Of the 33 patients who received the maintenance Study Procedure, 25 were CR prior to treatment, 4 were IR and 4 were No Response (" NR ") (positive cystoscopy and positive urine cytology). In conclusion, the primary Study Procedure provides a 58% opportunity for CR at the 90 day assessment. An advisory board meeting was completed on April 12, 2024 during the Canadian Urologic Association (" CUA ") Bladder Cancer Forum 2024 located in Toronto, Ontario and provided an update to all Canadian PIs of the Study II interim clinical data and an opportunity to discuss patient enrollment. An advisory board meeting was completed on May 4 th , 2024 during the 2024 American Urology Association (" AUA ") meeting in San Antonio, Texas and provided an update to all attendees of the Study II interim clinical data and an opportunity to discuss patient enrollment. Break Through Designation Update The Company submitted a pre-Break Through Designation (" BTD ") submission to the FDA in July 2023 and based on the FDA's feedback, the Company is currently working with the Clinical Study Sites (" CSSs "), a biostatistics organization and a regulatory organization to update the pre-BTD with clinical data clarifications identified by the FDA. The Company plans to resubmit the pre-BTD submission to the FDA in 2Q2024/3Q2024 for FDA review of these clarifications. Once the pre-BTD submission has been accepted by the FDA, the Company will compile a BTD submission for review by the FDA in support of the grant of a BTD approval. Theralase has commenced receiving clinical data from the CSSs with a number of patients showing a duration of their CR beyond 450 days, with some patients demonstrating CR for up to 3 years, post the primary Study Procedure. Additional clinical data is required, prior to a pre-BTD submission to the FDA. Study II Preliminary Clinical Data : Performance to Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Objectives For the primary objective, 63% of patients provided the Study Procedure (Study Drug activated by the Study Device) demonstrated a Complete Response (" CR ") (negative cystoscopy and negative urine cytology). Including patients, who demonstrated an Indeterminate Response (" IR ") (negative cystoscopy and positive or suspicious urine cytology), the Total Response (" TR ") increases to 71%. This represents approximately 3 out of 4 Bacillus Calmette Guerin (" BCG ")-Unresponsive Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (" NMIBC ") Carcinoma In-Situ (" CIS ") patients treated with Theralase's unique Study Procedure are demonstrating complete destruction of their CIS bladder cancer within their bladders. For the secondary objective, 33% (approximately 1 out of 3) patients demonstrated a duration of their CR for 15 months from date of first treatment with 35% of patients demonstrating a TR. For the tertiary objective, no patients have been diagnosed with a Serious Adverse Event ("SAE") directly related to the Study Drug or Study Device. Note: One patient is currently under investigation for their secondary objective performance, as they demonstrated a CR, potentially recurred and demonstrated a CR once again. Clinical Data Based on Assessment Visit: The interim clinical data demonstrates that at the 90 Day Assessment, 58% of Evaluable Patients achieved a CR and 63% achieved a Total Response (CR + IR) post primary Study II Treatment and at the 450 Day Assessment 33% achieved a CR and 35% achieved a TR. Study II Clinical Data Based on Assessment Visit for Patients Treated with the Optimized Study Procedure (Post August 1, 2020): The above interim clinical data demonstrates that for patients who received the Optimized Study Procedure at the 90 Day Assessment visit, 62% of Evaluable Patients achieved a CR and 68% achieved a Total Response (CR + IR) post primary Study Procedure. At the 450 Days Assessment, 34% achieved a CR and 36% achieved a TR. Note: For patients to be included in the statistical clinical analysis they must be enrolled in Study II, provided the primary Study Procedure and evaluated by a PI at the 90 day assessment visit (cystoscopy and urine cytology) One patient passed away prior to their 90 day assessment and is therefore not included in the efficacy statistical analysis, only in the safety statistical analysis; therefore, there are 68 patients that have been statistically analyzed for efficacy. Evaluable Patients are defined as patients who have been evaluated by a PI and thus excludes a patient's clinical data at specific assessment days, if that clinical data is pending. Six patients have been enrolled and provided the primary Study Procedure but, have not been evaluated at their 90 day assessment; therefore, 62 patients are considered Evaluable Patients at 90 days, with 57 patients considered Evaluable Patients at 450 days. The data analysis presented above should be read with caution, as the clinical data is interim in its presentation, as Study II is ongoing and new clinical data collected may or may not continue to support the current trends, with clinical data still pending. For patients who have been removed from Study II by the PI or have elected to discontinue from the clinical study their Last Observation Carried Forward (" LOCF ") has been used in this statistical analysis. Patient Response Chart: The Swimmer's plot below is a graphical representation of the interim clinical results (n=68) graphically demonstrating a patient's response to a treatment over time. As can be seen in the plot, clinical data is still pending for patients, who have demonstrated a CR and continue to demonstrate a duration of that response. Swimmer's Plot: The Swimmer's Plot illustrates: 19 Evaluable Patients achieved CR initially and at the 450 days assessment and thus achieved the primary and secondary objectives of Study II for all patients assessed up to 450 days (19/57 = 33%). 39 Evaluable Patients that achieved CR on at least one assessment date and thus achieved the primary objective of Study II (39/62 = 63%) Kaplan-Meier Curve The Kaplan-Meier (" KM ") Curve represents the interim cumulative incidence of clinical events, including the treatment efficacy, occurring over prespecified time in Study II. According to the interim clinical data in the KM curve: > 80% of patients remained in Study II after 90 days, following the initial Study Procedure. 35% of Total Response patients have a duration of response = 450 days. 33% of Complete Response patients have a duration of response = 450 days. Serious Adverse Events For 68 patients treated in Study II, there have been 13 Serious Adverse Events (" SAEs ") reported: 2 - Grade 2 (resolved within 1 and 1 days, respectively) 7 - Grade 3 (resolved within 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 82 and unknown days, respectively) 3 - Grade 4 (resolved within 3, 6 and 8 days, respectively) 1 - Grade 5 Theralase believes all SAEs reported to date are unrelated to the Study II Drug or Study II Device, as reviewed and confirmed by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (" DSMB "). Note: A SAE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence that at any dose: Is serious or life-threatening, requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect or results in death. Dr. Arkady Mandel, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., Chief Scientific Officer of Theralase stated, "The interim clinical data of Study II to date has proven to be world-class. Study II has demonstrated an ability to destroy urothelial cell carcinoma in a patient's bladder for a total response of 71% and a duration of that total response of 36%, for patients treated with the optimized Study Procedure. The primary benefits of the Theralase technology versus competitive technologies are the: urologist-led treatment, single out-patient treatment, high efficacy rates (patients achieve a CR in 58% of the cases after only one Study Procedure), high duration of response (up to 3 years) and high safety margin (no SAEs directly associated with the Study Drug or Study Device); therefore, the Theralase technology presents a safe, effective alternative therapy for patients, who are at risk of having their bladder removed." About Study II: Study II utilizes the therapeutic dose of the patented Study II Drug ( " Ruvidar TM " or " TLD-1433 ") (0.70 mg/cm 2 ) activated by the proprietary Study II Device ( TLC-3200 Medical Laser System or " TLC-3200 "). Study II is focused on enrolling and treating approximately 100 BCG-Unresponsive NMIBC Carcinoma In-Situ (" CIS ") patients in up to 15 Clinical Study Sites (" CSS ") located in Canada and the United States. About Ruvidar TM : Ruvidar TM is a peer reviewed, patented PDC currently under investigation in Study II. About Theralase Technologies Inc.: Theralase is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light activated compounds, their associated drug formulations and the light and/or radiation systems that activate them, with a primary objective of efficacy and a secondary objective of safety in the destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses. Additional information is available at www.theralase.com and www.sedarplus.ca Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such statements include; but, are not limited to statements regarding the Company's proposed development plans with respect to Photo Dynamic Compounds and their drug formulations. Forward looking statements may be identified by the use of the words " may , " should ", " will ", " anticipates ", " believes ", " plans ", " expects ", " estimate ", " potential for " and similar expressions; including, statements related to the current expectations of Company's management for future research, development and commercialization of the Company's Photo Dynamic Compounds and their drug formulations, preclinical research, clinical studies and regulatory approvals. These statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions; including, the ability of the Company to: adequately fund and secure the requisite regulatory approvals to commercially market a treatment for bladder cancer in a timely fashion and implement its commercialization strategy. Other risks include: the ability of the Company to successfully complete its Phase II BCG-Unresponsive NMIBC CIS clinical study , access to sufficient capital to fund the Company's operations may not be available or may not be available on terms that are commercially favorable to the Company, the Company's drug formulations may not be effective against the diseases tested in its clinical studies, the Company's fails to comply with the term of license agreements with third parties and as a result loses the right to use key intellectual property in its business, the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property, the timing and success of submission, acceptance and approval of regulatory filings. Many of these factors that will determine actual results are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Readers should not unduly rely on these forward- looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that forward looking statements will prove to be accurate as such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results or future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in the press release are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update such statements. For investor information on the Company, please feel to reach out Investor Inquiries - Theralase Technologies . For More Information: 1.866.THE.LASE (843-5273) 416.699.LASE (5273) www.theralase.com Kristina Hachey, CPA Chief Financial Officer khachey@theralase.com SOURCE: Theralase Technologies Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Grid Battery Metals Inc. (the "Company" or "Grid") (TSXV:CELL)(OTCQB:EVKRF)(FRA:NMK2) announces that it has completed the first phase of its spring/summer exploration program at its Clayton Valley Lithium Property near Silver Peak, Nevada, which includes a detailed infill soil sampling program and a previously announced MT geophysical survey. At the Clayton Valley Lithium Project, the Company contracted the services of Rangefront Geological ("Rangefront") to perform both a detailed infill soil sampling of the southern section of the claim block and to oversee a Magnetotelluric ("MT") geophysical survey to obtain information about subsurface resistivity and geology performed by KLM Geoscience LLC ("KLM") over the entire property. The infill soil sampling exploration work has now been completed and samples have been transported to the assay lab pending results. Together these geological techniques should help predict geological structure and possible locations for lithium accumulation. This is part of a methodical and systematic approach to high quality mineral exploration for this highly sought after metal in Nevada and will assist the Company in determining next steps for the overall exploration plan, including but not limited to a subsequent drilling program. Recent Infill Soil Samples Taken (Clayton Valley Lithium Project) The MT geophysical survey was performed by the KLM and was overseen by Grid's Qualified Professional, Mr. Steven McMillin P.G. MT survey profiles Mr. Steven McMillin P.G. comments "The MT survey was completed over eleven profiles. The results were plotted in horizontal slices at 250m, 500m and 750m with bedrock depths that range from 216 to 406 m within the Grid claims as announced on May 2, 2024. A major northeast fault interpreted from gravity bisects the claim block and is best apparent in the 500m slice even though the slice is below the basin floor. This suggests that the fault may be a fluid conduit at depth. The fault is less apparent in the strong near-surface anomaly in the 250m slice that may reflect a spread of fluids within the basin sediments away from the fault. The 750m depth slice is likely below the basin floor and conductivity is mostly focused near the basin bounding faults". Tim Fernback, Grid President & CEO comments "Now that the infill detailed soil sampling and MT geophysical survey programs are complete at Clayton Valley, we will gather as a group to interpret the geological data and assay lab results to plan our next steps at Clayton Valley. This next step will likely include a 3D Leapfrog model of the subsurface to identify additional drilling targets, and a subsequent drilling program later in the year to test the depth of the lithium bearing claystone. We are very excited about the results to date on the property." Prior Exploration Programs This current work associated with the first phase of the 2024 exploration plan compliments prior exploration work on the Clayton Valley Lithium Project which includes a soil sampling program over the entire property and an initial prior drilling program consisting of three reverse circulation holes totaling 356 meters (1155 feet). The holes were intended to test the presence of lithium bearing clay members of the lakebed sediments. Drillhole RCV-01, drilled to a depth of 130m (425 feet), was designed to twin a geothermal gradient hole drilled by a previous explorer. Results of this hole correlated with the log of the previous hole including intervals of volcanic ash and dark green clay. Hole RCV-02, located approximately 1260 meters north of RCV-01 was drilled to a depth of 135.6m (445 ft) and penetrated a section consisting primarily of rhyolitic volcanic ash and interbedded sediments. It penetrated a 4.5-meter section of dark green clay before entering the metamorphic alluvium. Poor drilling conditions and high-water flows ended the hole before reaching the target depth but after successfully evaluating the lake sediment section. Hole RCV-03, located 3,890m (12,762 ft) north from Hole RCV-01, was designed to look for a perched section of volcanoclastic sediments beneath an alluvial fan. Previous water well logs indicated a layer of clay, ash, and silt beneath the alluvium and above the bedrock. Apparently, this hole was located too close to the pediment and encountered metamorphosed dolomite at a depth of 56 meters (185 feet) and about the projected elevation of the sedimentary section. The hole lost circulation in an apparent karst horizon at 68.5 meters (225 feet) and was terminated at 79.2 meters (260 ft) without regaining sample return. Grid's Clayton Valley Lithium Project (RC Drilling Locations Identified) Tim Fernback, Grid President & CEO comments "Clayton Valley Nevada is home to North America's only lithium brine producer (Albemarle Corporation's Silver Peak Mine) and our property is immediately to the west of their lithium property and production facility. Recently, Century Lithium (our neighbor to the east of the Silver Peak Mine) has just released their Positive Feasibility Study by T. Lane et al. (2024). Measured and Indicated resources totaling 1,207.33 million tonnes (Mt) at an average grade of 957 parts per million (ppm) lithium (Li) containing 1.155 Mt of Li or 6.148 Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), a 40-year mine life and an after-tax NPV8 of $3.01 billion. Additional information is in Century Lithium's NI-43-101 byFayram et al. (2020) 43-101 Report. With the MT survey that has just been completed, together with the results of the planned detailed soil sampling program in the southern area of our Clayton Valley claim block, these results will allow us to determine next steps for our exploration programs later in the year." It should be noted that results from any adjacent property(s) are not an indication of what may be found on the Company's property(s). About Rangefront Geological Elko Nevada-based Rangefront Geological has combined in-depth expertise with cutting-edge technology to provide mining consulting services, contract labor, field crew services, and vehicular support to the mining industry. With services available across North America, Rangefront works closely with its clients to provide high-quality mineral exploration services. About KLM Geoscience LLC KLM (https://www.klmgeoscience.com/) is an industry leading, Nevada-based geophysical exploration company. Established in 2014, KLM specializes in a wide array of geophysical methods. Using state of the art equipment, KLM's services include induced polarization (IP), natural-source magnetotellurics (MT, AMT), controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotellurics (CSAMT), passive seismic and magnetic potential field surveys. With a head office location in Nevada, this allows KLM to rapidly mobilize and begin work at a moment's notice throughout the Western United States and beyond. KLM has been a preferred vendor for Grid and its management team for many years. Qualified Person Mr. Steven McMillin, P.G. is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical information contained within this news release. About Grid Battery Metals Inc. Grid Battery Metals Inc. is a Canadian based exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's maintains a focus on exploration for high value battery metals required for the electric vehicle (EV) market. www.gridbatterymetals.com. About Texas Springs Property The Company owns a 100% interest in the Texas Spring Property which consists of mineral lode claims located in Elko County, Nevada. The Property is in the Granite Range southeast of Jackpot, Nevada, about 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Nevada. The target is a lithium clay deposit in volcanic tuff and tuffaceous sediments of the Humbolt Formation. A Phase 1 exploration program at the Texas Springs Property (Fall 2023) yielded average lithium grades of 2010 ppm, applying a 1,000 ppm cut-off, and up to 5,610 ppm Lithium. The Texas Spring property adjoins the southern border of the Nevada North Lithium Project - owned by Surge Battery Metals Inc. ("Surge") (TSXV: NILI, OTC: NILIF) and comprised of 725 mineral claims. Surge's first round of drilling identified strongly mineralized lithium bearing clays. The average lithium content within all near surface clay zones intersected in the 2022 drilling program, applying a 1000 ppm cut-off, was 3254 ppm. (Press release March 29, 2023). More recent results have shown higher grade lithium up to 8070 ppm on this property after initial drilling (Press release September 12, 2023). Our exploration results are on-trend with these results. About Clayton Valley Lithium Project The Company owns a 100% interest in 113 lithium lode and placer claims covering over 640 hectares in Clayton Valley. Clayton Valley is a down-dropped closed basin formed by the Miocene age Great Basin extension and is still active due to movement along the Walker Lane structural zone. As a result, the basin has preserved multiple layers of lithium bearing volcanic ash, resulting from multiple eruptive events over the past 6 million years including eruptions from the 700,000-year-old Long Valley Caldera system and related events. These ash layers are thought to contribute to the lithium brines extracted by Albemarle and are also likely involved in the formation of the exposed lithium rich clay deposits on the east side of Clayton Valley. Volt Canyon Lithium Property The Company owns a 100% interest in 80 placer claims covering approximately 635 hectares of alluvial sediments and clays located 122 km northeast of Tonopah, Nevada. References Prefeasibility Study Clayton Valley Lithium Project, Esmerelda County, Nevada, August 5, 2020, Amended March 15, 2021, Todd Fayram MMSA-QP (CMS), Terre A. Lane MMSA-QP (GRE), J.J. Brown, SME-RM (GRE), NI43-101 Technical Report for Century Lithium Century Lithium Announces Positive Feasibility Study for the Clayton Valley Lithium Project, Nevada, April 29, 2024, Terre A Lane MMSA-QP (GRE), Hamid Samari, Principal Geologist, Todd-Fayram, Sr. V.P Metallurgy-Century Lithium, Alan Drake, Process Engineering, Haiming (Peter)Yuan Principal Geotechnical Engineer, Paul Blauch, Technical Director, Farza Kossari, Cost Estimating Engineer, Century Lithium Press Release. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Fernback" Tim Fernback, President & CEO Contact Information: Email: info@gridbatterymetals.com Phone: 604-428-5690 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 may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements. It should be noted that results from any adjacent property(s) are not an indication of what may be found on the Company's property(s). SOURCE: Grid Battery Metals Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Plato AI, a Generative AI Platform focused on Vertical Intelligence across today's most active technology sectors, will be attending The Reg A & Crowdfunding Conference, which will take place on June 20 at the Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York. Bryan Feinberg / CEO is open to taking meetings. Please reach out through the conference app to connect. To register for the conference, please follow this link. About Plato AI Plato is an AI powered content and syndication network that curates the latest in data intelligence across today's most innovative market verticals. The platform is designed to provide an ultra-safe and secure environment to consume sector specific real-time data intelligence across 45 Market Verticals and 35 Languages. For Information on Plato, visit https://platodata.network https://zephyrnet.com https://bluespike.ai About The Reg A & Crowdfunding Conference The Reg A & Crowdfunding Conference is the largest annual gathering place for online investment platforms, brokers, legal and financial advisors, investors, and other dealmakers involved in Reg A and crowdfunding deals. This event is also well attended by private and public companies looking to raise capital using Reg A and Reg CF. In 2024, the conference will broaden its focus to include Crowdfunding deals with more of the program dedicated to online deal-marketing tactics. Attendees will glean insight from experts on deal structures, fees and expenses, and the continuously changing regulatory landscape. For further information: Bryan Feinberg CEO 551 5742169 zephyr@platodata.io SOURCE: DealFlow Events Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces drill core assay results from its fully-funded 2024 drill program at the Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname. This release reports the remaining eight drill holes from phase one of drilling at the Donut Zone ("Donut"). West Donut Shear Discovery New shear zone intercepted in four holes over >150 metres ("m") of strike including: 4.5 m of 3.27 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") from 15.6 m downhole (24DO04) 12.0 m of 0.84 g/t Au from 12.6 m (24DO13) 27.0 m of 0.73 g/t Au from 26.1 m (24DO14) 16.5 m of 2.35 g/t Au from 26.1 m (Hole 24DO02, previously reported) Main Donut Shear Along-strike continuity of previously reported high-grade gold at Donut with intervals including: 8.0 m of 6.64 g/t Au from 247.0 m (Hole 24DO13) 19.0 m of 1.02 g/t Au from 99.0 m (Hole 24DO09) 6.0 m of 3.10 g/t Au from 181.0 m (Hole 24DO15) The Donut Zone is located in the northwest section of the Antino Property, approximately 800 metres northeast of the Froyo Zone (Refer to Figure 1). Mineralization at Donut is characterized by broader, intrusion-hosted gold mineralization and structurally controlled high-grade gold mineralization. Colin Padget, Founders CEO commented, "We are pleased to see the gold mineralization at Donut continue along strike with 8.0 metres of 6.64 g/t Au in hole 24DO13 and some broader, lower-grade intervals as expected. Additionally, we've hit a second gold-bearing shear hosted in the mixed volcanic rocks to the west of Donut with near surface gold mineralization over substantial widths. Combined, these results represent an excellent first phase of drilling at Donut and our team is busy with planning follow up work." West Donut Shear Discovery The newly identified West Donut Shear (Figure 2) is a steeply dipping zone of shear-hosted gold mineralization intercepted in four drill holes. The zone is intercepted near surface in all four holes. Drill holes 24DO04 (4.5 m of 3.27 g/t Au), 24DO13 (12.0 m of 0.84 g/t Au), 24DO14 (27.0 m of 0.73 g/t Au) and previously reported 24DO02 (16.5 m of 2.35 g/t Au) outline a north-south oriented shear zone with a minimum strike length of 150 m. The zone remains open along strike and has not been drill tested below a vertical depth of 40 m. Intrusion-Hosted Donut Mineralization Gold mineralization at Donut occurs within a main shear near the tonalite intrusive body's margin. Broader, up to 40 m, zones of lower-grade gold mineralization (0.1 - 1.5 g/t Au) also occur within the intrusive. The latest results including, 8.0 m of 6.64 g/t Au (24DO013), 6.0 m of 3.10 g/t Au (24D015) and 19.0 m of 1.02 g/t Au (24DO09) confirm the continuation of high-grade gold along the western and northwestern extents of the intrusive contact where shearing is most concentrated. Mineralization in this part of the Donut system remains open and currently extends over a strike length of at least 190 m along the western contact and >130 m along the northwestern margin. The eastern and southern intrusive margins also potentially host gold and will be further tested as part of the Company's future drilling plans. Table 1: Drilling Results and Highlights at the Donut Zone Hole ID From (m) To (m) Core Length* (m) Au (g/t) 24DO04 15.60 20.10 4.50 3.27 24DO05 NSA 24DO08 NSA 24DO09 53.00 60.00 7.00 0.81 and 99.00 118.00 19.00 1.02 and 184.00 195.00 11.00 0.92 24DO10 0.00 24.60 24.60 0.54 24DO11B 161.18 181.18 20.00 0.53 24DO12 73.10 80.60 7.50 0.68 and 255.00 264.30 9.30 0.56 24DO13 12.60 24.60 12.00 0.84 and 161.00 168.00 7.00 1.26 and 192.00 234.00 42.00 0.31 and 247.00 255.00 8.00 6.64 24DO14 0.00 6.60 6.60 0.53 and 26.10 53.10 27.00 0.73 24DO15 6.60 15.60 9.00 0.93 and 56.00 92.00 36.00 0.71 and 138.00 146.00 8.00 1.27 and 181.00 187.00 6.00 3.10 24DO16 24.60 31.00 6.40 0.44 and 83.00 90.00 7.00 0.63 *Intervals are estimated to represent 85% or more of true width based on current drill data Figure 1: Upper Antino Plan Map with Historical Auger Samples To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/211099_founders_figure1.png Figure 2: Upper Antino Plan Map Centred on the Donut Zone To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/211099_founders_figure2.png Figure 3: Upper Antino Section Map Centred on the Donut Zone To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/211099_85f2c6d114971818_003full.jpg About Founders Metals Inc. Founders Metals is a Canadian exploration company with properties in North and South America. The Company focuses on acquiring and advancing gold projects in the Guiana Shield. Its flagship asset is the 20,000 ha Antino Gold Project in Suriname, where artisanal surface/alluvial mining has produced over 500,000 gold ounces to date1. Using its diamond drilling equipment, the Company drilled over 10,000 metres in 2023 and is fully financed for drilling in 2024. 1 2022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo. Quality Assurance and Control Results from samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo, Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75% passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 m. Samples were analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 10.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Lima, Peru (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project. Qualified Persons The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Per: "Colin Padget" Colin Padget President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director Founders Metals Contact Information Katie MacKenzie, Vice President, Corporate Development Tel: 306 537 8903 | katiem@fdrmetals.com Nick Stajduhar, Director Tel: 647 225 0046 | nicks@fdrmetals.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "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 state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211099 SOURCE: Founders Metals Inc. Kupfer wird oft als das Gold der Energiewende bezeichnet, weil es aufgrund seiner hervorragenden elektrischen Leitfahigkeit eine zentrale Rolle in vielen Technologien spielt, die fur nachhaltige Energiesysteme entscheidend sind. Experten gehen aufgrund der Angebotsknappheit von einem Superzyklus aus. Korrektur als Einstiegschance Nach Hochststanden im Mai korrigierte das rote Metall stark. Die Abwartsspirale verstarkte sich in den vergangenen Tagen aufgrund schwacher Konjunkturdaten aus den USA und China. Langfristig konnte sich die aktuell laufende Korrektur als exzellente Einstiegsmoglichkeit herausstellen. 3 Kupferaktien mit hohem Potential Im neuen, kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir drei aussichtsreiche Unternehmen vor, die bei einem weiteren Anstieg uberproportional profitieren konnten. Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report! Sumsub shares Q1 data for identity fraud and deepfakes worldwide, showcasing alarming YoY trends in the crypto and fintech sectors, as well as AI-powered scams DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With half the world's population heading to the polls this year, Sumsub , a global full-cycle verification provider, detected upwards of a 245%YoY increase in deepfakes worldwide. The findings show growth in deepfake incidents across regions with 2024 elections, including the US, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa. "Performing millions of identity checks annually and preventing thousands of deepfake attempts across all markets, we believe these trends are not unique to B2B / B2C markets. They are symptomatic of what's happening in the wider digital world. These insights don't just apply to businesses but are also a key demonstration of the need to continue fighting misinformation, the spread of AI-generated scams, and online fraud threatening society," said Vyacheslav Zholudev, Co-founder and CTO of Sumsub. Key highlights from Sumsub's Q1 2024 verification and identity fraud data* show that: Countries with the most deepfakes detected in Q1 2024 are China, Spain, Germany, Ukraine, the US, Vietnam, and the UK. are China, Spain, Germany, Ukraine, the US, Vietnam, and the UK. In Q1 of 2024, the number of deepfakes soared YoY in Iraq (900%), Saudi Arabia (600%), Iran (350%), Israel (250%), Kuwait, and Yemen (200%), and in the UAE (14%). in Iraq (900%), Saudi Arabia (600%), Iran (350%), Israel (250%), Kuwait, and Yemen (200%), and in the UAE (14%). There's noticeable growth of deepfake incidents YoY in countries where elections are planned for 2024: India (280%), the US (303%), South Africa (500%), Mexico (500%), Moldova (900%), Indonesia (1550%), and South Korea (1625%). In the EU (where European Parliament elections are set for June), many countries experienced deepfake cases increase YoY : this includes Bulgaria (3000%), Portugal (1700%), Belgium (800%), Spain (191%), Germany (142%), and France (97%). in countries where elections are planned for 2024: India (280%), the US (303%), South Africa (500%), Mexico (500%), Moldova (900%), Indonesia (1550%), and South Korea (1625%). In the (where European Parliament elections are set for June), many countries experienced : this includes Bulgaria (3000%), Portugal (1700%), Belgium (800%), Spain (191%), Germany (142%), and France (97%). Even in countries with no elections in 2024, deepfake scams are advancing at unprecedented rates YoY : this includes China (2800%), Turkey (1533%), Singapore (1100%), Hong Kong (1000%), Brazil (822%), Vietnam (541%), Ukraine (394%)** and Japan (243%). are advancing at unprecedented rates : this includes China (2800%), Turkey (1533%), Singapore (1100%), Hong Kong (1000%), Brazil (822%), Vietnam (541%), Ukraine (394%)** and Japan (243%). While AI fraud grew in most places, there were some countries holding elections in 2024 where the number of deepfake incidents decreased YoY: this includes the UK (-10%), Croatia (-33%), Ireland (-40%), and Lithuania (-44%). The growth of deepfake incidents can be seen across different industries. Last quarter, the sectors with the most deepfakes were crypto, fintech and iGaming. If we look closer at the year-over-year (YoY) comparison, the quantity of deepfake cases soared 1520% in iGaming, 900% in marketplaces, 533% in fintech, 217% in crypto, 138% in consulting, and 68% in online media. "The number and quality of deepfakes is increasing and evolving daily worldwide. Even with the most progressive technology, it's getting much harder to differentiate between a deepfake and reality. The only way forward is to fight AI with AI. For businesses, the ultimate tool that keeps them protected is a multi-layered anti-fraud solution with different checks at various user journey stages. But content platforms and common users remain vulnerable to deepfakes, especially in light of the 2024 elections. Media platforms must stay vigilant, remaining aware and updating defenses to detect deepfakes and prevent AI-generated fraud. They need to make sure they are not inadvertently contributing to the spread of misinformation," said Pavel Goldman-Kalaydin, Head of AI/ML at Sumsub. Sumsub also analyzed broader identity fraud data gathered in Q1 2024 for countries in the Middle East, with the most striking data being: Countries with the most deepfakes detected in Q1 2024 are China, Spain, Germany, Ukraine, the US, Vietnam, and the UK. are China, Spain, Germany, Ukraine, the US, Vietnam, and the UK. In Q1 of 2024, the number of deepfakes soared YoY in Iraq (900%), Saudi Arabia (600%), Iran (350%), Israel (250%), Kuwait, and Yemen (200%), and in the UAE (14%). in Iraq (900%), Saudi Arabia (600%), Iran (350%), Israel (250%), Kuwait, and Yemen (200%), and in the UAE (14%). There's noticeable growth of deepfake incidents YoY in countries where elections are planned for 2024: India (280%), the US (303%), South Africa (500%), Mexico (500%), Moldova (900%), Indonesia (1550%), and South Korea (1625%). In the EU (where European Parliament elections are set for June), many countries experienced deepfake cases increase YoY : this includes Bulgaria (3000%), Portugal (1700%), Belgium (800%), Spain (191%), Germany (142%), and France (97%). in countries where elections are planned for 2024: India (280%), the US (303%), South Africa (500%), Mexico (500%), Moldova (900%), Indonesia (1550%), and South Korea (1625%). In the (where European Parliament elections are set for June), many countries experienced : this includes Bulgaria (3000%), Portugal (1700%), Belgium (800%), Spain (191%), Germany (142%), and France (97%). Even in countries with no elections in 2024, deepfake scams are advancing at unprecedented rates YoY : this includes China (2800%), Turkey (1533%), Singapore (1100%), Hong Kong (1000%), Brazil (822%), Vietnam (541%), Ukraine (394%)** and Japan (243%). are advancing at unprecedented rates : this includes China (2800%), Turkey (1533%), Singapore (1100%), Hong Kong (1000%), Brazil (822%), Vietnam (541%), Ukraine (394%)** and Japan (243%). While AI fraud grew in most places, there were some countries holding elections in 2024 where the number of deepfake incidents decreased YoY: this includes the UK (-10%), Croatia (-33%), Ireland (-40%), and Lithuania (-44%). To stay informed on the most up-to-date deepfakes and identity fraud trends as well as corporate news and product updates, please follow Sumsub's Newsroom . To download the company's whitepapers for free, please visit https://sumsub.com/guides-reports/ * Note on the source The content of this press release is based on detailed statistics and analysis of millions of verification checks performed by the Sumsub platform from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024, accurately highlighting current fraud incidence rates. This includes analysis of thousands of detected deepfake cases. All internal data was aggregated and anonymized for the purpose of publishing these findings. ** Please note that Ukraine's 2024 elections are suspended due to martial law restrictions (at the moment of publication). About Sumsub Sumsub is a full-cycle verification platform that secures the whole user journey. With Sumsub's customizable KYC, KYB, Transaction Monitoring and Fraud Prevention solutions, you can orchestrate your verification process, welcome more customers worldwide, meet compliance requirements, reduce costs, and protect your business. Sumsub has over 2,000 clients across the fintech, crypto, transportation, trading, e-commerce and gaming industries including Bitpanda, Wirex, Avis, Bybit, Huobi, Kaizen Gaming, and TransferGo. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2425406/infographics_sumsub_q1_2024_global_final.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2099263/Sumsub_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sumsub-data-shows-surge-in-deepfakes-in-the-middle-east-and-in-countries-with-2024-elections-302158940.html A professor at San Jose State University spoke out after she was suspended for her actions in support of pro-Palestinian protestors. Google Street View A renowned San Jose State University professor who served as a liaison between administrators and pro-Palestinian demonstrators before being suspended over conduct during protests is now speaking out. In a statement Wednesday through the Palestine, Arab, and Muslim, or PAM, caucus of the California Faculty Association, a union that represents California State University professors, Sang Hea Kil alleged her temporary suspension from the university is part of an academic freedom suppression campaign against me. Kil denied all accusations San Jose State has made against her. Kil, a justice professor at the university, said she is a critic of Israels genocide in Gaza and she accused San Jose States administration of being completely silent and complicit on the issue. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kil previously served as co-chair of the caucus before resigning on Friday, the same day of her suspension. During her suspension, Kil will not have access to campus facilities and cannot perform any duties associated with her professor role, according to her suspension letter. Kils fate after the suspension remains unclear. According to the suspension letter, her suspension will end either after 60 days or when she is notified of disciplinary action, whichever comes first. In their suspension letter to Kil, San Jose State administrators said she had violated Article 17 of the collective bargaining agreement between the CFA and the university. Administrators at the time said Kil had violated university policies due to unprofessional and exploitative conduct toward students, directing them to violate university policies and engaging in harassing and offensive conduct and comments directed towards colleagues individually and as a group. In her statement Wednesday, Kil said she had not been given a chance to defend herself against the accusations. I believe due process was not afforded to me with regard to my temporary suspension, she said. I never received a report summarizing strong and compelling evidence. Without this report, I have been denied my right to refute any accusations made against me. Before Kils suspension, university administrators warned her about San Jose States time, place and manner policy after witnesses accused her of telling protesters to disregard the policy, march through the campus student recreation aquatic center and establish an encampment on a lawn near on-campus statues, according to an email posted by the PAM caucus. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I write to remind you that, pursuant to executive order 1068, your role as an advisor is not to act as the groups leader and direct specific actions, Mari Fuentes-Martin, San Jose States nterim VP for student affairs, told Kil in the email. Rather than encouraging violation of policies, you have the responsibility to ensure that the student organization understands university policies. The expectation moving forward is that you will cease directing students to violate policies. Kil disagrees. When reached by the Chronicle on Wednesday, a university spokesperson said, The university does not share information regarding personnel matters. San Jose State follows processes outlined in the collective bargaining agreements for employees. In my capacity as the faculty advisor for the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at San Jose State, I felt it was within my duties to support them in their campaign to bring greater awareness to the university community, Kil said in her statement. It is their constitutional right to be able to protest against the Israeli genocide of Palestinians and its silence on campus. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Global IP professionals gather to share knowledge and experiences and discuss the future of IP BOSTON, May 30, 2024, the leading provider of innovation and intellectual property (IP) management technology, today announces a lineup of top-tier IP speakers and panelists for its 15th annual Anaqua Experience Conference (AEC). The event, taking place in Boston, MA, from June 24-27, 2024, will bring together IP and business leaders from across the globe to share knowledge and experiences, and to discuss the future of IP - with a particular focus on the impact of AI in the industry. Attendees will hear from industry experts, engage in networking events, and participate in Anaqua-led training sessions, learning new features in AQX 11 - Anaqua's most significant IP management platform release in 20 years - to help further optimize their IP management processes. "This is an exciting time for the IP industry as we embrace new technologies, including AI, which could have far-reaching effects on how the industry operates," said Bob Romeo, CEO of Anaqua. "We are proud to bring together the most innovative companies and law firms across the globe at our client conference. By connecting the entire IP community, we can move forward together to address our industry's new issues and developments." Kicking off the conference is a keynote presentation from former Under Secretary of Commerce and USPTO Director David Kappos, Co-Chair of Cravath's Intellectual Property Practice, on the macro-level trends shaping the future of IP. Other conference keynotes will delve into the specific effects of AI for IP, and will include: Olga V. Mack - Renowned general counsel, IP attorney, digital transformation executive, author, and Above the Law + ACC Docket Legal Tech & Future of Law columnist, discussing the increasing value of human time in the age of advanced AI. & columnist, discussing the increasing value of human time in the age of advanced AI. Stephen R. Perry - Creative Director at Bailey Brand Consulting , examining the impact of AI on the creative process and brand development. , examining the impact of AI on the creative process and brand development. Panel Discussion - Exploring the balance of risks, value, and efficacy when deploying AI in IP practice, featuring Raghu Chinagudabha of Microsoft; Sunjay Mohan of SAP; and Matthew Sked of the USPTO. "What's always so rewarding about The Anaqua Experience Conference is watching this global community of industry professionals, who are passionate about the advancement of IP, share their thoughts, insights, and experiences in a truly collaborative and interactive environment," said Aileen Buchanan, Vice President, Client Success of Anaqua. The conference will also host several sessions by many IP industry leaders, including: Thomas H. Walls - Bausch Health Companies Beth McGraw - Eli Lilly and Company Gitte Berthelsen Lerche and Ana-Maria Macovetchi - Novo Nordisk Tomoe Itoh - Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Will Federspiel - Reebok Elizabeth Swift - RTX Corporation Camylle Wnek - Techtronic Industries (TTI) The 2024 AEC will be held at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, starting with a welcome reception on the evening of June 24, a full day of training sessions on June 25, followed by a series of presentations and panel discussions through to June 27. Registration remains open until June 25. To register for the event, visit https://cvent.me/RY7ZLg . About Anaqua Anaqua, Inc. is a premier provider of integrated intellectual property, or on Anaqua's LinkedIn. Company Contact: Amanda Glagolev Director, Communications Anaqua 617-375-5808 aglagolev@anaqua.com Strategic combination will create a leading global alternatives investment platform, nearly doubling assets under management, and providing scale to better serve a global client base. Boyd Watterson Asset Management, LLC ("Boyd Watterson") (www.boydwatterson.com) and Amber Infrastructure Group Holdings Limited ("Amber") (www.amberinfrastructure.com) jointly announced that the businesses will come together under a common parent company to create a global diversified Real Estate, Infrastructure, and Fixed Income asset management platform (the "Company"). Upon closing, the Company through its operating subsidiaries will be a premier global alternatives investment manager with over three-hundred investment personnel, offices in eight US cities and twelve countries. The firm will have approximately $35.7 billion in assets under management. While the financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed, the Company's shareholders upon closing will be comprised of the existing shareholders in Boyd Watterson and Amber. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530809315/en/ Founded in 1928 by its predecessor firm, Boyd Watterson is headquartered in Cleveland, OH and has $18.2 billion in total assets under management ("AUM") across its Real Estate and Fixed Income investment portfolios. Boyd has a reputation for creating bespoke investment solutions that deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns to its clients. Founded in 2009, Amber is headquartered in London, UK and oversees 14 billion or approximately US$17.5 billion in AUM. Amber specializes in mobilizing private capital to deliver essential infrastructure projects globally across sectors. Hunt Companies (www.huntcompanies.com), an investor in both companies, recognized the complementary businesses and facilitated the transaction. "With the combination of Amber Infrastructure Group, we are broadening our scope and opening up exciting new investment opportunities for our clients," said Brian Gevry, CEO of Boyd Watterson. "We are both recognized leaders in our asset classes with exceptional talent who continually strive to outperform customer expectations. Now we will have greater reach and ability to build on each team's respective expertise to deliver products and performance to a global client base." Brian Gevry will serve as Chairman and CEO of the combined parent entity, and Gavin Tait, Amber's current CEO, will continue to serve as the head of Amber and oversee the Infrastructure business globally, reporting to Brian Gevry. "We are very excited about integrating with Boyd Watterson and the long-term investment outlook this alignment brings to our customers," said Tait. "Both firms have a keen focus on delivering outstanding client service and proven expertise in partnering with governments around the world. The planned combination will create greater scale for Amber to grow its global infrastructure business, including US Infrastructure opportunities, while bringing new opportunities for Boyd Watterson's clients." The transaction is subject to Boyd Watterson's and Amber's respective client and investor consent processes as well as UK FCA consent and other customary regulatory approvals. Transaction Rationale Boyd Watterson's and Amber's clients, partners, and employees should benefit significantly from the enhanced scale of the combined, global platform underpinned by a diversified revenue base, expanded product opportunities, and enhanced investment acumen. In summary, the transaction: Provides a robust business model for both companies by enhancing the size and scale of both organizations to the benefit of their respective clients. Creates broader scope with a diversified investment platform enhancing Boyd Watterson's and Amber's shared heritage as long-term, trusted partners to clients, government entities, tenants, employees, and investors. Combines two teams with demonstrated track record and deep expertise in their respective, government-linked sectors. Combines culturally aligned partners with like-minded management. Expands global reach and provides new investment opportunities and access to capital. Provides opportunities to strategically enhance systems and share business best practices. Advisors For Boyd Watterson, Berkshire Global Advisors served as financial advisor and Goodwin Procter LLP served as legal advisor. Dechert LLP served as legal advisor to Amber and Hunt. Milbank LLP served as legal advisor to Amber's minority shareholders. About Boyd Watterson Founded in 1928 by its predecessor firm, Boyd Watterson Asset Management, LLC (Boyd) is a leading real estate and fixed income investment manager. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Boyd employs 130 employees in seven offices across the US. Boyd manages c.US$18.2bn of AUM, through separately managed accounts and a number of funds with real estate and fixed income strategies. www.boydwatterson.com About Amber Infrastructure Group Amber is a specialist international investment manager, focused on investment origination, asset management and fund management. Amber currently manages or advises 9 funds (2 listed and 7 private) with over 5billion (c.$6billion) in funds under management. With a presence across 12 countries, Amber manages 175 infrastructure investments representing total assets under management of 14 billion (c.$17.5billion). Amber's core business focuses on managing infrastructure assets across the public, transport, energy, digital and demographic infrastructure sectors internationally. Amber is headquartered in London with offices in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Amber employs over 180 professionals globally. www.amberinfrastructure.com About Hunt Companies Hunt Companies is a family-owned principal investment firm founded in 1947 based in El Paso, TX with interests in the real estate, infrastructure and financial services sectors. As an owner operator with a strong investment platform and financial structuring expertise, Hunt develops lasting relationships to create value for its investors, clients, employees and communities. The company and its affiliates are committed to promoting community growth and a sustainable future through our business practices, purpose driven investment and charitable giving. www.huntcompanies.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530809315/en/ Contacts: Carolyn Baker SVP Corporate Communications Hunt Companies carolyn.baker@huntcompanies.com m: +1 856/298-2036 In March 2024, Bitcoin soared to a historical high, nearing 70,000 euro per coin. How does this impact the iGaming market? Being a tech company with over 15 years of experience and an innovator in crypto iGaming software development, SOFTSWISS shares anticipations in its quarterly crypto analysis. SOFTSWISS experts analyse the data gathered from crypto-friendly brands by employing extrapolation, comparative, and correlative analysis. Over 220 brands powered by the company engaged in crypto transactions during the first quarter of 2024, which is 12% higher than the previous quarter. iGaming Market Overview: Unveiling Anticipated Growth The size of the global online gaming industry is expected to rise significantly and exceed 170 billion euro by 2032, according to Statista. Based on SOFTSWISS data, the iGaming market has demonstrated a stable pattern of growth year after year. In absolute terms in euro, the Total Bet Sum grew by 5.8% in the first quarter of the year compared to the last quarter of 2023. Analysing the year-on-year increase, comparing Q1'24 with Q1'23, the growth is more impressive, showcasing a 47.2% boost. Simultaneously, the Total Bet Count, both fiat and crypto, displayed a slightly larger gain in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter, surpassing 6.1% . The indicator's year-on-year boost is much more notable, revealing a 57.2% increase. The popularity of iGaming in recent years has been fuelled by the development of legislation regulating the iGaming sector, which establishes clearer rules and positively impacts the industry's growth. Constant technological advancements also stimulate its global reach and accessibility to the new young audience. On one hand, the quality of internet connectivity continues to rise, while on the other, new payment methods are emerging, simplifying payment procedures. The in-depth quarterly analysis, ongoing since the beginning of 2022, reveals that fiat bets are undergoing more substantial growth compared to crypto bets. In Q1'24, the Fiat Bet Sum increased by 6.9% compared to Q4'23, while the rise of Crypto Bet Sum was at 2.4% . What is the State of Crypto in iGaming? Analysing crypto bets, it is crucial to highlight that almost 93% of them are facilitated through the in-game currency conversion tool, which is gaining traction. This mechanism allows operators to engage players with cryptocurrency assets in games initially tailored for fiat only. Operators that adopt such options are gaining more competitive advantages in the market. While the Q1'2024 Crypto Bet Sum shows a moderate 2.4% growth compared to the previous quarter, the year-on-year analysis demonstrates a 20.8% increase. The Crypto Bet Count remained unchanged in Q1'24 compared to the previous quarter's indicator. Simultaneously, the metric increased by 21.3% year-on-year . The figures speak volumes, showcasing a consistent interest among players in crypto gaming. "The lack of a substantial increase in the number of crypto bets during Q1'24 can be partly attributed to the significant rise of the Bitcoin exchange rate during this period, leading players to be more cautious with their crypto bets. This trend mirrors the situation in the first quarter of the previous year when the Bitcoin exchange rate surged following a decline at the end of 2022," comments Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Operating Officer at SOFTSWISS. What Distinguishes the Average Crypto Bet? The average crypto bet increased to 1.71 euro in the first quarter of the year from 1.66 euro in the last quarter of 2023. This growth correlates with a significant strengthening of the Bitcoin rate during the first quarter of 2024. The average fiat bet remained steady at around 0.81 euro in Q1'24 and Q4'23. The average total bet stayed constant since the second half of the previous year and is equal to 0.93 euro. Notably, the average crypto bet is double that of fiat. This indicates that digital currencies are preferred by higher-income players. Why Did Bitcoin's Share Drop? The Top Five most operated digital coins in iGaming have remained stable during the last two years with minor changes in ranking order. The top still includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Tether. In Q1 2024, Bitcoin experienced a significant decline of 9.4 p.p. compared to Q4 2023. This could be attributed to the bolstering Bitcoin exchange rate and players exercising a more cautious approach towards it. In contrast, the shares of other digital coins have increased. Ethereum and Litecoin showed growth of 4.0 p.p. and 3.8 p.p., respectively, during the same period. Simultaneously, Dogecoin rose to fourth place in the ranking, leaving Tether behind. Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Operating Officer at SOFTSWISS, summaries: "The benefits of employing digital currencies, such as fast transactions and anonymity, still attract many players. Embracing cryptocurrencies in iGaming can boost operator profits despite their volatile nature. As the Bitcoin rate is expected to strengthen after the Bitcoin Halving, the average crypto bet and projected gains may see a notable impact. During such promising times, it is crucial to have reliable and experienced partners to navigate the path to success." About SOFTSWISS SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised iGaming solution. For more information, please contact: Volha Halota, PR Manager Email: volha.halota@softswiss.com Tel./telegram/whatsapp: +48539949083 SOURCE: SOFTSWISS View the original press release on accesswire.com CHICAGO, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LanzaJet, a leading sustainable fuels technology company and sustainable fuels producer, was today named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list. The fourth-annual list highlights companies making an extraordinary impact around the world. "LanzaJet's inclusion in the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of our entire team to enable a transition to a net-zero future," said Jimmy Samartzis, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaJet. "This recognition affirms our commitment to building a new fuels industry for aviation through leading-edge technology and the production of low-carbon, sustainable fuels. As we celebrate this honor, we reflect on our journey, the partnerships key to our success, and the continued belief that our work is creating a more sustainable future for generations to come." To assemble the list, TIME solicited nominations across sectors, and polled its global network of contributors and correspondents, as well as outside experts. Then TIME editors evaluated each on key factors, including impact, innovation, ambition, and success. The result is a diverse group of 100 businesses helping chart an essential path forward. See the full list here: time.com/100companies. LanzaJet's proprietary ethanol-to-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology is poised to enable the aviation industry to meet its net zero targets by 2050. The company is now engaged in more than 25 countries and on five continents, and in January opened the world's first ethanol-to-SAF plant in Soperton, Georgia, USA. Recently announced investors include Microsoft's Climate Innovation Fund, Southwest Airlines, and global airport operator Groupe ADP. This extends LanzaJet's investor base across the entire value chain and builds on existing investment from British Airways, LanzaTech, Mitsui & Co., Shell, and Suncor Energy, as well as funding from Breakthrough Energy, the US Department of Energy, and the UK Department for Transport. LanzaTech and Microsoft were both previously recognized on the TIME100 Most Influential Companies List. LanzaJet is also named on Fortune's 2024 list of Most Innovative Companies, listed as #8 in culture and #22 in product. LanzaJet CEO Jimmy Samartzis is also a 2024 Midwest Finalist for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year. ABOUT LANZAJET LanzaJet is a leading sustainable fuels technology company dedicated to accelerating the clean energy transition. As a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology provider and producer with patented ethanol-based alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology, LanzaJet is creating an opportunity for future generations by accelerating the deployment of SAF and other clean technologies critical to addressing the climate crisis and transforming the global economy. Further information is available at https://www.lanzajet.com/ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2410446/LJ_black_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lanzajet-named-to-time100-most-influential-companies-302159383.html MSL APP Indonesia (MSL APP IND) is about to successfully go public. This significant milestone in the company's development history marks the beginning of a new journey and recognizes and affirms past efforts. MSL APP Indonesia has provided employees with a new work experience and more opportunities. As a rising star in the advertising communication industry, MSL APP Indonesia is expected to complete its IPO restructuring in mid-August this year. This news is undoubtedly exciting for all employees and also indicates that the company will gain more development space. MSL APP Asia-Pacific CEO, Will Smith, stated, "The success of MSL APP Indonesia is due to all the Indonesian employees who have advanced and retreated with the company. Success and honor belong to every employee." Founded in 2015, MSL APP focuses on digital communication and online advertising business promotion. Over the years, the business philosophy of "innovation leads, integrity operates" has been adhered to, with a commitment to providing customers with high-quality products and services, and continuously promoting industry development. The successful listing of the company is inseparable from the strong support and dedication of government departments at all levels, regulatory agencies, investors, partners, and employees. Heartfelt thanks are extended to all the units and individuals who have cared for, supported, and helped MSL APP IND! The listing of MSL APP IND means that the company's international influence has further increased. As a multinational company regulated by both the UK and the US, international laws are always abided by, with strict self-demand to ensure high standards in daily work. At the same time, a formal warning is issued to those who use various means to smear and fabricate rumors about MSL APP IND, that any legal means will be used to protect the interests of the company, its employees, and shareholders. In the future, MSL APP IND will continue to adhere to the business philosophy of "customer-centered, quality for survival, management for efficiency, and innovation for development," continuously enhancing core competitiveness, expanding market space, strengthening corporate governance, and continuously improving corporate value and brand influence to repay the trust and support of investors and all sectors of society. This listing marks a new stage of development for MSL APP IND, heralding broader development space and a higher business platform. The principles of openness, transparency, and standardization will continue to be upheld, continuously enhancing the value and competitiveness of the company to create greater value for shareholders. Thanks are extended to media friends for their attention and support to MSL APP IND, with a look forward to the continued attention and support of investors to witness the growth and progress of MSL APP IND together. Company Name: MSL INDONESIA ADVERTISING LTD Contact Person: Campbell Linda Website: https://mslgroup.com Email: info@mslgroup.com SOURCE: MSL INDONESIA ADVERTISING LTD View the original press release on accesswire.com BELGRADE, Serbia, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- UnionPay International, the leading global card scheme, has entered into an issuing agreement with HALKBANK A.D. BEOGRAD to enhance the payment experience and acceptance coverage of existing Dina card issued by HALKBANK. The signing ceremony took place in Shanghai on 30th May 2024, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort between UnionPay International and HALKBANK A.D. BEOGRAD. The collaboration aims to issue 80,000 Dina-UnionPay dual-brand cards over the next 18 months. These cards will seamlessly combine the strengths of both UnionPay and HALKBANK, offering cardholders enhanced convenience and UnionPay's global acceptance. UnionPay International's acceptance network has been extended to 183 countries and regions, including great acceptance in Chinese mainland and 67 million merchants outside Chinese mainland, providing consumers in Serbia with access to cross-border payment across international markets. Furthermore, UnionPay's acceptance infrastructures, marketing campaigns, and cardholder benefits in Chinese mainland will be available to HALKBANK, paving the way for future cooperation. The launch of the SplendorPlus Card is planned, targeting cross-border travelers visiting Chinese mainland. "HALKBANK's commitment to business development strengthens ties between Serbia and China. By leveraging the robust infrastructure of UnionPay International, combined with HALKBANK's strength in innovation, flexibility, and dedication to constant technological improvement, we are confident that together we can establish new market standards and achieve a significant competitive advantage." said Hasan Comert, Member of the Executive Board of HALKBANK Belgrade. UnionPay International and HALKBANK have been cooperating for a long time. Over 90% of merchants' POS terminals and ATMs in Serbia already accept UnionPay cards, including all POS terminals and ATMs under HALKBANK. "Our collaboration with HALKBANK represents a significant milestone," said Larry Wang, UnionPay International. "Residents of Serbia will have a wider range of payment options, whether for local consumption or for cross-border travel to China, to enjoy the convenient payment services provided by UnionPay. We are honored to bring more convenience to the friendly exchanges between the two peoples. " About HALKBANK A.D. BEOGRAD HALKBANK JSC Beograd, based in the Republic of Serbia, is a universal bank offering comprehensive banking products to business and retail clients. The bank aims to stimulate local economic growth and provide a secure place for client deposits. Since its establishment in September 1954 as Cacanska Bank, and becoming a part of Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. in 2015, HALKBANK a.d. Beograd has been expanding its branch network and client base across Serbia. It now proudly serves clients in 43 branches nationwide. Committed to fully meeting client expectations, HALKBANK JSC Beograd prides itself on its fast, high-quality services and products, which it views as its trademark. Additionally, HALKBANK fosters a strong, family-like atmosphere with the motto "People first and foremost," supported by polite employees and a pleasant work environment. About UnionPay International UnionPay International focuses on the international business of UnionPay, a global payment network that serves the world's largest cardholder base. Collaborating with over 2,600 partners globally, UnionPay acceptance now reached to 183 countries and regions. Outside the Chinese Mainland, UnionPay is accepted at nearly 67 million merchants and 1.7 million ATMs. In Serbia, over 90% of merchants' POS terminals and ATMs already accept UnionPay cards, and nearly all contactless merchants support UnionPay QuickPass. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/unionpay-international-and-halkbank-ad-beograd-sign-agreement-to-issue-dina-unionpay-dual-brand-cards-in-serbia-302159410.html UpsellPRO enables hotels to unbundle room reservations and sell individual room features based on specific attributes, driving up to a 23-percent increase in upsell revenue, maximizing profitability, and enhancing guest personalization. BETHESDA, Md., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stayntouch , a global leader in cloud hotel property management systems (PMS) and guest-centric technology, unveiled UpsellPRO , an advanced upselling tool designed to expand and maximize revenue opportunities for hotels. Powered by Attribute-Based Selling (ABS) and dynamic pricing, UpsellPRO enables hotels to unbundle room reservations and market individual room features to guests during the booking process. UpsellPRO is available as a built-in product within the Stayntouch PMS, dramatically building on the company's existing upselling capabilities. Hotel guests continue to be challenged and hampered by rising costs and the limitations of legacy technologies, which limit control over their room purchases and bookings. According to a 2021 joint report released by Stayntouch and the NYU Tisch Center of Hospitality , 68 percent of travelers believe ABS would provide clarity when booking a hotel, with 46 percent willing to pay more to select their preferred room attributes. In addition to delivering ABS without fundamentally altering the existing hotel distribution model, UpsellPRO provides the functionality for travelers to pick and choose their preferred features and services during their stay while also offering hotels new avenues to drive ancillary and room revenue. Additional features and benefits include: Instant availability, dynamic pricing, and easy onboarding and deployment- UpsellPRO automatically prices features to maximize conversions, so hotels do not need to set prices manually. Once easily activated within the Stayntouch PMS, UpsellPRO operates within a hotel's existing room category-centric inventory model. UpsellPRO automatically prices features to maximize conversions, so hotels do not need to set prices manually. Once easily activated within the Stayntouch PMS, UpsellPRO operates within a hotel's existing room category-centric inventory model. Increased revenue and conversions- ABS drives up to a 23-percent increase in upsell revenue through attractive upsell options at a variety of price points, empowering guests to personalize their stay and maximizing revenue for hotels within each room category. Attribute-based upsell options may include features such as ocean views, hardwood floors or special check-in services. Prices are automated and vary based on demand. ABS drives up to a 23-percent increase in upsell revenue through attractive upsell options at a variety of price points, empowering guests to personalize their stay and maximizing revenue for hotels within each room category. Attribute-based upsell options may include features such as ocean views, hardwood floors or special check-in services. Prices are automated and vary based on demand. A hyper-personalized guest experience- Allows guests to choose room setup, add ancillary services and opt for early check-in or an extended stay to tailor their on-property experience. Using existing room categories and hotel inventory models, hotel operators can implement ABS strategies without additional technology investments. Allows guests to choose room setup, add ancillary services and opt for early check-in or an extended stay to tailor their on-property experience. Using existing room categories and hotel inventory models, hotel operators can implement ABS strategies without additional technology investments. Automated mobile and kiosk-based upsell and cross-sell offers- Delivers automated offers for room upgrades, amenities and monetized early check-in/late check-out directly accessible via a guest's smartphone or the hotel's welcome kiosk. Delivers automated offers for room upgrades, amenities and monetized early check-in/late check-out directly accessible via a guest's smartphone or the hotel's welcome kiosk. Real-time consumer and performance data-Provides nuanced information about guests' room preferences and price sensitivity. Hotels can use ABS data to further analyze their performance over time and understand the value and demand behind each of their attributes, services or amenities. Dan Hogan, chief product officer, Stayntouch, said: "We are excited to unveil Stayntouch UpsellPRO to the hospitality industry as the latest in our suite of defining technology. ABS will change how travelers interact with hotels and will contribute to the evolution of our industry by giving guests more control, a greater variety of options, and improved visibility over their stay before they finish booking. For our hotel partners, ABS will drive new revenue opportunities as it perfectly suits properties with diverse offerings and helps support seamless operations. UpsellPRO further establishes Stayntouch as the most flexible, scalable and easy-to-use technology suite." Stayntouch will demonstrate UpsellPRO at HITEC 2024 in Charlotte, N.C., from June 24-27. Event attendees can book a meeting with Stayntouch at Booth #451 to learn more about UpsellPRO and Stayntouch PMS. About Stayntouch Stayntouch provides a cloud-native, full-featured hotel property management system (PMS) with over 1,200 best-in-class integrations. Its intuitive design and flexible capabilities help hoteliers streamline operations, drive revenue, increase profits, and captivate guests. The innovative UpsellPRO feature, powered by Attribute-Based Selling (ABS) and dynamic pricing, enables hotels to unbundle reservations and market individual room features during the booking process, creating expanded revenue opportunities. Additionally, Stayntouch offers a comprehensive tech suite for seamless booking, payments, channel management, and digital guest check-in. Backed by a team of professionals with deep hospitality industry experience, Stayntouch is a trusted partner to leading management companies, innovative independent brands, and iconic independent properties. For more information, visit www.stayntouch.com . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1427346/StayNTouch_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/stayntouch-launches-upsellpro-powered-by-attribute-based-selling-and-dynamic-pricing-302158668.html CleanINTERNET DNS is the industry's most powerful, intelligent DNS solution Centripetal, the global leader in intelligence powered cybersecurity, today announced that it is expanding its offering to include CleanINTERNET DNS to preemptively safeguard businesses against web-based cyber threats. Unlike other DNS filtering products that rely solely on blocklists, CleanINTERNET DNS is the first-ever solution to leverage advanced threat intelligence from multiple providers to proactively prevent users from accessing malicious websites and harmful content. DNS, the internet's directory service, plays a crucial role in online communication by translating domain names into IP addresses. Despite its immense value, DNS remains largely invisible to most users. However, the internet is plagued by malicious activity, and DNS can unwittingly aid hackers in redirecting and defrauding unsuspecting users. Even with ongoing efforts to educate employees about cybersecurity best practices, over 80% of breaches stem from human error, with more than half of employees falling victim to phishing emails that lead them to known malicious websites. "The proactive use of intelligence is the only viable solution to help organizations navigate the ever-evolving threat landscape. DNS, often overlooked as a mere utility service, wields immense power in safeguarding sensitive data," said Jonathan Rogers, COO of Centripetal. "The launch of our DNS solution will set the new standard for the application of the majority of the globe's threat intelligence into an enterprise's DNS solution. A single attack can cripple an entire network within minutes, making DNS protection a critical linchpin in our defense against cyber adversaries." CleanINTERNET DNS is a cost-effective solution for enterprises. It provides an industry-first capability by incorporating the world's largest threat intelligence collection, safeguarding remote users by preventing access to malicious sources and protecting network and data integrity from remote assets. Key benefits include: Total DNS Protection: Mitigating the risk of malware and phishing attacks on valuable business assets while also shielding users from accessing malicious sites. Mitigating the risk of malware and phishing attacks on valuable business assets while also shielding users from accessing malicious sites. Comprehensive DNS Request Oversight: Interrogating both outbound DNS requests and inbound DNS responses for any malicious websites or IP addresses. Interrogating both outbound DNS requests and inbound DNS responses for any malicious websites or IP addresses. Robust Cybersecurity Posture: Improving security awareness among users in an effort to help businesses further protect their valuable assets. Improving security awareness among users in an effort to help businesses further protect their valuable assets. Unparalleled Reporting: Centripetal's team of Intelligence Operations Analysts provide reports on DNS activity to help identify questionable behavior and unusual traffic while also allowing companies to gain visibility into user interaction through DNS filter logs. Centripetal's team of Intelligence Operations Analysts provide reports on DNS activity to help identify questionable behavior and unusual traffic while also allowing companies to gain visibility into user interaction through DNS filter logs. Rapid Deployment: Implementation happens in just minutes by easily routing requests to Centripetal's CleanINTERNET DNS service. For more information please visit https://www.centripetal.ai/cleaninternet-dns/ ABOUT CENTRIPETAL Centripetal is the Official Cyber Network Security Partner of The Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park along with hundreds of other critical organizations around the world. Centripetal is the global leader in intelligence powered cybersecurity and is operationalizing the world's largest collection of threat intelligence, in real-time, to protect organizations from every known cyberthreat through its innovative patented technologies. Through its CleanINTERNET service, Centripetal delivers a highly effective solution leveraging the latest computing technology and skilled intelligence operators at a significantly lower cost. We are experts in intelligence, with a team comprised of cryptologists, and security operators from the U.S. Intelligence Defense community who have protected the most sensitive assets in the world. Centripetal is based in Reston, VA with offices in Portsmouth, NH and Galway, Ireland. For more information, visit www.centripetal.ai. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530131909/en/ Contacts: Korina Kennedy Centripetal kkennedy@centripetal.ai Suzanne Tuchler Eskenzi PR for Centripetal suzanne@eskenzipr.com NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Spencer Stuart, a leading global executive search and leadership advisory firm, today announced the election of Jordan Brugg as its next Managing Partner and Frank Birkel as its next Chair. With Ben Williams and David Daniel reaching the end of their second terms as Managing Partner and Chair, respectively, the firm's Leadership Succession Committee led the planned leadership transition process. Brugg and Birkel will assume their new roles in late July, working closely with Williams and Daniel through the transition period. Brugg, who will become the tenth Managing Partner in the firm's 68-year history, has served as the global head of Spencer Stuart's Private Equity Business since 2020, leading above-market growth, innovation through new services and the deepening of client partnerships around the world. He has also continued an active role with clients in the Industrial sector, having successfully led the North American Industrial Practice for the prior seven years. Brugg started at Spencer Stuart 22 years ago and has held a range of roles during his tenure at the firm, including experiences contributing to the development of new practices and service areas, such as CEO succession services. "It's an honor to be elected Spencer Stuart's next Managing Partner, alongside the most talented and experienced colleagues in our profession," said Brugg. "This is a transformational time, as the complexities of today's world are having a profound effect on the role of leaders and leadership teams. I'm grateful and humbled to work with my colleagues to evolve our capabilities, expand on our role as a trusted advisor to clients and enhance our role in advising leaders who are navigating their most critical challenges and opportunities." Assuming the role of Chair, Birkel joined Spencer Stuart in 2007 as a member of the Consumer practice following leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and Wrigley. He has been on the Spencer Stuart Board for the past nine years, serving as chair of the Board's Compensation Committee. He previously led the firm's German business and served as co-leader of the EMEA region. Ben Williams led Spencer Stuart for six years, through an extraordinary period of challenge and growth unlike any in the firm's history. During his tenure the firm significantly expanded the scale of its leadership advisory services work with clients, advanced innovation in the firm's use of proprietary technologies and added distinctive talent around the world. Williams joined the firm in 2010 as a Consultant in the Financial Services Practice. He led the practice in North America before co-leading Spencer Stuart's North American region. David Daniel's six-year term as Chair was preceded by seven years of board service, having previously served as the Managing Partner of Spencer Stuart for 11 years. Across these roles he has been a vital part of the Spencer Stuart boardroom for the past 23 years. He joined Spencer Stuart in 1994 as a Consultant in the Consumer Goods & Services Practice. About Spencer Stuart At Spencer Stuart, we know that leadership has never mattered more. We are trusted by organizations around the world to help them make the senior-level leadership decisions that have a lasting impact on their enterprises, on their stakeholders and the world around them. Through our executive search, board and leadership advisory services, we help build and enhance high-performing teams for select clients ranging from major multinationals to emerging companies to non-profit institutions. Privately held since 1956, we focus on delivering knowledge, insight and results through the collaborative efforts of a team of experts - now spanning more than 70 offices, over 30 countries and more than 50 practice specialties. Boards and leaders consistently turn to Spencer Stuart to help address their evolving leadership needs in areas such as senior-level executive search, board recruitment, board effectiveness, succession planning, in-depth senior management assessment and development, and many other facets of culture and organizational effectiveness, particularly in the context of the changing stakeholder expectations of business today. For more information on Spencer Stuart, please visit www.spencerstuart.com. CONTACT: media@spencerstuart.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1795658/Spencer_Stuart_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/spencer-stuart-elects-new-managing-partner-and-chair-302158629.html May 30, 2024 First to provide helium-free operations in 2018, Philips marks milestone during installation in Puerto Rico Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Bayamon, Puerto Rico - Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, and world leader in proven helium-free [1] MRI operations, today announced the 1,111th installation of its revolutionary BlueSeal 1.5T magnet, which took place in Puerto Rico's Vida Imaging & Breast Center (Bayamon, Puerto Rico). Beyond its economic and sustainability benefits [2], helium-free MRI operations also increase resilience in the face of the tropical storms that hit Puerto Rico every year delivering quality care to patients who may otherwise not have access to advanced MRI scanning. "The installation of our Philips MR 5300 scanner, with a 70cm bore and equipped with the 1,111th BlueSeal magnet at Vida Imaging & Breast Center in Puerto Rico is a testament to the global adoption of our innovative technology. Since 2018, Philips has been the first to provide helium-free MR operations worldwide, improving access to better care for more patients, and we will continue to drive innovation in this space," said Ruud Zwerink, Business Leader of MR at Philips. "BlueSeal magnet technology has proven to be the system of choice for improved diagnostic capabilities, while providing an answer to growing concerns about helium supply chain disruptions , saving approximately 1.9 million liters of liquid helium to date." A BlueSeal magnet's ability to be shut down and re-energized in a controlled way, without the loss of its liquid helium coolant, means it can be up and running precisely when it is needed to treat patients. The Vida Imaging & Breast Center, which provides a wide range of medical imaging services, is a vital community asset that helps patients on the remote island of Puerto Rico receive high-quality healthcare. "Puerto Rico has tropical storms every year. Philips BlueSeal magnet technology allows us to de-energize our MRI system to prepare the MRI department for this situation and restore operations quickly once it is safe, all from the MRI console," said Dr. Mayra Maldonado, Owner/CEO at the Vida Imaging & Breast Center. In the aftermath of a hurricane or other natural disaster, transport systems are disrupted, and obtaining helium, especially when transporting to remote locations, could take weeks. A conventional MRI scanner requires up to 1700 liters of liquid helium, much of which can be lost if the magnet has to be periodically shut down. A Philips BlueSeal magnet only requires a pre-load of 7 liters during manufacturing and loses none of it, even during a so-called magnet quench - a sudden loss of superconductivity in the magnet coil which rapidly boils the liquid helium. Philips' AI-enabled [3] EasySwitch technology always ensures orderly shutdown and re-energizing of the magnet once the danger has passed. With a magnet that is 900kg lighter than a traditional system [4], Philips MR systems equipped with BlueSeal magnets can also be installed in places that were previously unthinkable like elevated floors or indoor sites with construction limitations. This technology is even available in mobile units [5] that have the potential to expand quality access to MRI exams for patients in a more sustainable [2] way. [1] Systems contain 7 liters of helium, fully sealed, no helium can leave the system. [2] Compared to the Ingenia 1.5T ZBO magnet. [3] According to the definition of the EU High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence. [4] Compared to Philips earlier (non-BlueSeal) Ingenia 1.5T ZBO magnet. [5] BlueSeal MR mobile unit 1.5T is considered a work in progress. It is not CE marked and not available for sale outside of the U.S. For further information, please contact: Kathy O'Reilly Philips Global External Relations Tel.: +1 978 221 8919 E-mail: kathy.oreilly@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips. Attachments 31 May 2024 Mercury NZ Limited has signed a long-term agreement with New Zealand Aluminium Smelters, saying it is a significant stepping stone for further renewables development. Were very pleased to have played a role in helping NZAS commit to a long-term presence in New Zealand. NZAS has a critical part to play in giving the market certainty to invest in more renewables, helping us get on with the business of electrifying Aotearoa, said Mercury Executive GM Portfolio, Phil Gibson. This agreement gives us confidence to continue to move fast on our commitment to bringing more renewables to New Zealand. We can now turn our attention to the expansion of the Kaiwera Downs wind farm and expect to confirm this in the near future. The agreement will take effect from Jan 2025 for a period of up to 20 years, with baseload volume stepping up from 50MW to 75MW in 2027. New Zealands future is brighter because of the role of renewables, and were keen to see more renewable generation projects delivered at the scale and pace required to meet New Zealands climate change goals, said Mr Gibson. Additional details on Mercury-NZAS CFD A CFD is a long-term financial agreement between an electricity generator and buyer for a pre-agreed price. Pricing is equivalent to firmed renewables, however exact terms are confidential. There are no restrictions on NZAS ability to on-sell any volume under the CFD and NZAS has a right to terminate (based on an annual termination cost) with 24 months notice no earlier than 2035. The agreement has been approved by the Electricity Authority under the materially large contract restrictions in the Electricity Industry Participation Code. It is conditional on administrative and regulatory matters being completed. ENDS Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: TRU - WHO Agency UNITAID Features TRU in Tech Landscape Report PaySauce Quarterly Market Update - September 2024 October 2nd Morning Report Rua Releases Annual Report for Year Ended 30 June 2024 SCL - Settlement of orchard sales The Warehouse Group 2024 ASM and Director Nominations AIR - Update on Chief Operational Integrity and Safety Officer Comvita Limited - Annual Report 2024 September 27th Morning Report Spark announces departure of Finance Director Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), one of the world's leading oncology research organizations conducting community-based clinical trials, announced today that it will highlight its latest research insights through more than 145 presentations at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting from Friday, May 31 Tuesday, June 4 in Chicago, Ill. Over 100 investigators from across SCRI's network are co-authors on clinical trial updates that will be showcased at the Annual Meeting, including data from more than 65 early-phase clinical trials. "We look forward to connecting with colleagues from around the world at ASCO's Annual Meeting to discuss the latest developments in advancing therapies for cancer patients," says Howard A. "Skip" Burris, III, MD, President, SCRI. "The depth and breadth of clinical research being presented by SCRI experts signifies our commitment to accelerating drug development and providing greater access to cutting-edge therapies closer to home." For a comprehensive list of abstracts and presentations, visit SCRI's ASCO Site. To learn more about our research experts, visit our Leadership Page. Noteworthy Presentations Breast Cancer Erika Hamilton, MD , SCRI, will present " H3B-6545 in Women with Locally Advanced/Metastatic Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2 Negative Breast Cancer " in an oral presentation during the Breast Cancer Metastatic Rapid Oral Abstract Session on Monday, June 3 from 11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. CDT in Hall D1. , SCRI, will present " " in an oral presentation during the Breast Cancer Metastatic Rapid Oral Abstract Session on Monday, June 3 from 11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. CDT in Hall D1. Joyce O'Shaughnessy, MD , SCRI at Texas Oncology I The US Oncology Network, will deliver " Association of MammaPrint Index and 3-Year Outcome of Patients with HR+HER2- Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treated with Chemotherapy with or without Anthracyclin e" in an oral presentation during the Breast Cancer-Local/Regional/Adjuvant Rapid Oral Abstract Session on Friday, May 31 from 2:45 p.m. 4:15 p.m. CDT in E451. , SCRI at Texas Oncology I The US Oncology Network, will deliver " e" in an oral presentation during the Breast Cancer-Local/Regional/Adjuvant Rapid Oral Abstract Session on Friday, May 31 from 2:45 p.m. 4:15 p.m. CDT in E451. Denise Yardley, MD, SCRI, will give the oral presentation, "Baseline Characteristics and Efficacy Endpoints for Patients with Node-Negative HR+/HER2- Early Breast Cancer: NATALEE Trial" during the Breast Cancer-Local/Regional/Adjuvant Rapid Oral Abstract Session on Friday, May 31 from 2:45 p.m. 4:15 p.m. CDT in E451. Lung Cancer David Spigel, MD, SCRI, will discuss "ADRIATIC: Durvalumab as Consolidation Treatment for Patients with Limited-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer" in an oral presentation during the Plenary Session on Sunday, June 2 from 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. CDT in Hall B1. Clinical Trial Access Ishwaria Subbiah, MD, MS, SCRI, will present "5-Year Multicenter Analysis of Clinical Trial Participation and Total Cost of Care for Older Adults with Cancer" in an oral presentation during the Quality Care/Health Services Research Rapid Oral Abstract Session on Monday, June 3 from 1:15 p.m. 2:45 p.m. CDT in S102. In addition to scientific presentations, SCRI leadership will participate in and lead ASCO sessions, including: Meredith McKean, MD, MPH , SCRI, is a discussant in the Oral Abstract Session, Melanoma/Skin Cancers, on Friday, May 31 from 2:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m. CDT in Hall D1, where she will present " PD-1-Refractory Advanced Melanoma: How Do We Get to the Finish Line?" , SCRI, is a discussant in the Oral Abstract Session, Melanoma/Skin Cancers, on Friday, May 31 from 2:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m. CDT in Hall D1, where she will present " Dr. Burris will deliver the " Presentation and Recognition of Conquer Cancer Top Donors " in the Opening Session on Saturday, June 1 from 9:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT in Hall B1. " in the Opening Session on Saturday, June 1 from 9:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT in Hall B1. Dr. Hamilton will chair the Clinical Science Symposium, Next-Generation Antibody-Drug Conjugates: The Revolution Continues, and present " The ABCs of ADCs: What Does the Future Hold? " on Sunday, June 2 from 9:45 a.m. 11:15 a.m. CDT in Hall D1. " on Sunday, June 2 from 9:45 a.m. 11:15 a.m. CDT in Hall D1. Abdul Naqash, MD , SCRI at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, will chair the Oral Abstract Session, Developmental Therapeutics-Immunotherapy, on Monday, June 3 from 11:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. CDT in Hall D2. , SCRI at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, will chair the Oral Abstract Session, Developmental Therapeutics-Immunotherapy, on Monday, June 3 from 11:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. CDT in Hall D2. Andrew McKenzie, PhD , SCRI Genospace, and Vivek Subbiah, MD , SCRI, will serve as panelists in the Case-Based Panel, Beyond Tumor Types: Advancing Tumor-Agnostic Drug Development and the Role of the Tumor Microenvironment, on Monday, June 3 from 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. CDT in Hall D2. , SCRI Genospace, and , SCRI, will serve as panelists in the Case-Based Panel, Beyond Tumor Types: Advancing Tumor-Agnostic Drug Development and the Role of the Tumor Microenvironment, on Monday, June 3 from 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. CDT in Hall D2. Cesar Perez, MD, SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists Research Institute, will present "Emerging Data for Antibody Drug Conjugates in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma," during the Breaking Ground in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Novel Therapies Beyond PD-L1 Immunotherapy EducationSession on Tuesday, June 4 from 8:00 a.m. 9:15 a.m. CDT in S100a. Additional Poster Presentations with SCRI First Authors Saturday, June 1 " Validation of PD-L1 as a Predictive Biomarker of Response in Operable Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression of Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy Trials ," Antonella Cammarota, MD , SCRI at HCA Healthcare UK, 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A. ," , SCRI at HCA Healthcare UK, 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A. " Phase 1 Trial Safety and Efficacy of Ragistomig, a Bispecific Antibody Targeting PD-L1 and 4-1BB, in Advanced Solid Tumors ," Gerald Falchook, MD , SCRI at HealthONE, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. ," , SCRI at HealthONE, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. " NALIRIFOX versus Nab-Paclitaxel and Gemcitabine in Treatment-Naive Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Updated Overall Survival Analysis with 29-Month Follow-Up of NAPOLI 3 ," Maen Hussein, MD , SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists Research Institute, 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A. ," , SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists Research Institute, 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A. " Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of EIK1001 in Combination with Atezolizumab in Participants with Advanced Solid Tumors ," " Preliminary Results from a Phase 1 Study of AC699, an Orally Bioavailable Chimeric Estrogen Receptor Degrader, in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer ," Manish Patel, MD , SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists Research Institute, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. ," " ," , SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists Research Institute, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. " Results from Phase 1a/1b Analyses of TTX-080, a First in Class HLA-G Antagonist, in Combination with Cetuximab in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma ," Susanna Ulahannan, MD, MMEd , SCRI at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. ," , SCRI at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. "Phase 1/2 Study of NGM707, an ILT2/ILT4 Dual Antagonist Antibody, in Advanced Solid Tumors: Interim Results from Dose-Escalation,"Judy Wang, MD, SCRI at Florida Cancer Specialists Research Institute, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A Sunday, June 2 "Trastuzumab Deruxtecan vs Trastuzumab Emtansine in Patients with HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer: Updated Survival Results of DESTINY-Breast03," Dr. Hamilton, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. Monday, June 3 "Subcutaneous Epcoritamab Administered Outpatient for Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Follicular Lymphoma: Results from Phase 2 EPCORE NHL-6, " David Andorsky, MD , SCRI at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers I The US Oncology Network, 9 a.m. 12 p.m. CDT, Hall A " , SCRI at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers I The US Oncology Network, 9 a.m. 12 p.m. CDT, Hall A " MYTX-011 in Patients with Previously Treated Locally Advanced or Metastatic NSCLC: Initial Dose Escalation Results in The Phase 1 KisMET-01 Study ," Melissa Johnson, MD , SCRI, 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A. ," , SCRI, 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A. " Clinical Activity and Safety of Naptumomab Estafenatox and Docetaxel in Patients with Checkpoint Inhibitor -Pretreated Advanced/Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Preliminary Results of a P2 Trial ," Tim Larson, MD , SCRI at Minnesota Oncology I The US Oncology Network, 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A. ," , SCRI at Minnesota Oncology I The US Oncology Network, 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A. " Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Orca-T ," Jeremy Pantin, MD , SCRI at TriStar Centennial, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. ," , SCRI at TriStar Centennial, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. " Safety and Tolerability of Durvalumab Carboplatin/Paclitaxel Followed by Durvalumab Olaparib in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer in the DUO-E/GOG-3041/ENGOT-EN10 Trial ," Jessica Thomes Pepin, MD , SCRI at Minnesota Oncology I The US Oncology Network, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. ," , SCRI at Minnesota Oncology I The US Oncology Network, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. " OPTec: A Phase 2 Study to Evaluate Outpatient Step-Up Administration of Teclistamab, a BCMA-Targeting Bispecific Antibody, in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma ," Robert Rifkin, MD , SCRI at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers I The US Oncology Network, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. ," , SCRI at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers I The US Oncology Network, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. " Clinical Trial Participation and End-of-Life Care Among Older Adults: A Multi-Center Longitudinal Observational Cohort Analysis of 121,717 Patients with Cancer ," Dr. I. Subbiah, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. ," Dr. I. Subbiah, 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. CDT, Hall A. "Performance of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling versus Single Gene Testing in Guideline-Recommended Biomarker Selection in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer," Dr. V. Subbiah, 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. CDT, Hall A. About Sarah Cannon Research Institute Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) is one of the world's leading oncology research organizations conducting community-based clinical trials. Focused on advancing therapies for patients over the last three decades, SCRI is a leader in drug development. In 2022, SCRI joined with former US Oncology Research to expand clinical trial access across the country. It has conducted more than 750 first-in-human clinical trials since its inception and contributed to pivotal research that has led to the majority of new cancer therapies approved by the FDA today. SCRI's research network brings together more than 1,300 physicians who are actively enrolling patients into clinical trials at more than 250 locations in 24 states across the U.S. Learn more about our research offerings. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530232039/en/ Contacts: Becca Gelman Becca.Gelman@scri.com Tsodilo Resources Limited (TSX Venture Exchange: TSD) ("Tsodilo" or the "Company")(TSX-V:TSD)(OTCQB:TSDRF)(FSE:TZO) announces that, subject to regulatory approval, it has retained Red Cloud Securities ("Red Cloud") to provide liquidity services to the Company in compliance with the policies and guidelines of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") and other applicable legislation. Red Cloud is a Toronto-based financial services company that helps mineral exploration and mining companies with accessing capital markets and enhancing their corporate profile. Red Cloud will trade shares of Tsodilo on the TSX-V for the purposes of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of Tsodilo's common shares. Under the agreement, the Company will pay Red Cloud $5,000 per month during the term, payable quarterly in advance. The term of engagement is ongoing and may be terminated by either party on 30 days' prior written notice. The Company and Red Cloud have an arm's length relationship, but Red Cloud and/or its clients may have an interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of Tsodilo. The agreement is principally for the purposes of maintaining market stability and liquidity for the Company's common shares and is not a formal market making agreement. There are no performance factors contained in the agreement between Red Cloud and the Company and Red Cloud will not receive any shares or options from the Company as compensation for services it will render. About Red Cloud Securities Red Cloud Securities Inc. is registered as an Investment Dealer in Ontario, Quebec. Alberta and British Columbia and is a member of the Investment Industry Organization of Canada (IIROC). It is focused on providing unique comprehensive capital market services and innovative financing alternatives to the junior resource sector. The company was founded by capital markets professionals who designed the firm to service small public and private companies. This solution is a comprehensive platform that provides a full range of unconflicted corporate access services. Offering these services as a unified platform provides the ultimate value proposition for issuer clients. About Tsodilo Resources Limited Tsodilo Resources Limited is an international resource exploration company engaged in the search for economic metal and diamond deposits at its Gcwihaba Resources (Pty) Limited ("Gcwihaba") and Bosoto (Pty) Ltd. ("Bosoto) projects in Botswana. The Company has a 100% stake in its Gcwihaba project area consisting of five metal (base, precious, platinum group, and rare earth) prospecting licenses all located in the North-West district of Botswana. The Company has a 100% stake in Bosoto (Pty) Ltd. which holds the BK16 kimberlite project in the Orapa Kimberlite Field (OKF) in Botswana. Tsodilo manages the exploration of the Gcwihaba and Bosoto projects. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: James M. Bruchs Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jbruchs@TsodiloResources.com Head Office Telephone +1 416 800-4214 Facsimile +1 416 987-4369 Website www.TsodiloResources.com This press release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements pertaining to the use of proceeds,the impact of strategic partnerships and statements that describe the Company's future plans,objectives or goals) 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. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward- looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company.Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include,among other things,changes in equity markets, changes in general economic conditions, market volatility, political developments in Botswana and surrounding countries, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future,exploration and development risks, the uncertainties involved in interpreting exploration results and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration business. 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 a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effectson, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include,among other things, uncertainties relating to availability and cost of funds, timing and content of work programs, results of exploration activities, interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, risks relating to variations in the diamond grade and kimberlite lithologies; variations in rates of recovery and breakage; estimates of grade and quality of diamonds, variations in diamond valuations and future diamond prices; the state of world diamond markets, reliability of mineral property titles,changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required project approvals, operational and infrastructure risk and other risks involved in the diamond exploration and development business. 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 a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to their inherent uncertainty. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider(as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control,which may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. SOURCE: Tsodilo Resources Limited View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Dryden Gold Corp. (TSXV: DRY) (OTCQB: DRYGF) ("Dryden Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that is has qualified for trading on the OTCQB Marketplace (the "OTCQB") in the United States operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc. The Company's common shares commenced trading today on the OTCQB under the symbol 'DRYGF'. The Company's shares have also been approved for DTC eligibility in the US. Dryden's common shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "DRY". DTC eligibility and method of clearing securities streamlines the process of trading, enabling the stock to be traded over a much wider selection of brokerage firms throughout the OTC Capital Markets in the US by coming into compliance with their requirements. "We are excited to expand our listing and trading to the US markets. The US markets will provide additional liquidity and let us reach a larger shareholder base. We will now focus additional marketing efforts to US investors including conferences, road shows and analyst coverage," commented Trey Wasser, Dryden Gold's CEO. MARKET MAKING SERVICES Further to its news release of April 22, 2024, the Company has engaged the services of Insight Capital Partners Inc. ("Insight") of Toronto, Ontario and it's market making service provider, ICP Securities Inc. ("ICP") (the "Engagements") effective April 19, 2024. Pursuant to an agreement (the "Consulting Agreement") between the Company and Insight, Insight will provide capital markets consulting services, including providing the Company with advice and information regarding trading activity, for a term of 24 months, provided that after a period of four (4) months either party may terminate the Consulting Agreement on 30 day's notice. In addition, pursuant to an agreement (the "Market Making Agreement") between the Company and ICP, the Company has engaged ICP to provide market making services. As previously announced, ICP will provide automated market making services, including use of its proprietary algorithm, ICP Premium, in compliance with the policies and guidelines of the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable securities laws. The Market Making Agreement is for an initial term of four (4) months (the "Initial Term") and shall be automatically renewed for subsequent one (1) month terms (each month called an "Additional Term") unless either party provides at least thirty (30) days written notice prior to the end of the Initial Term or an Additional Term, as applicable. Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement the Company will pay Insight an aggregate monthly consulting fee of $10,000 inclusive of $7,500, which Insight will pay to ICP in payment of ICP's monthly service fee for acting as market maker pursuant to the Market Making Agreement. As previously disclosed, there are no performance factors contained in the Consulting Agreement or the Market Making Agreement and no stock options or other compensation are being granted in connection with the Engagements. Both Insight and ICP are at arm's length to the Company. Insight, ICP and their respective clients may acquire an interest in the securities of the Company in the future. ICP's market making activities will be primarily to correct temporary imbalances in the supply and demand of the Company's shares. ICP will be responsible for the costs it incurred in buying and selling the Company's shares, and no third party will be providing funds or securities for the market making activities. The Company's engagement of ICP remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Pursuant to its press release dated January 16, 2024, the Company has terminated its Market Maker agreement with PIU Financial Corp. effective May 30, 2024. ABOUT ICP SECURITIES INC. ICP Securities Inc. (ICP) is a Toronto based CIRO dealer-member that specializes in automated market making and liquidity provision, as well as having a proprietary market making algorithm, ICP Premium, that enhances liquidity and quote health. Established in 2023, with a focus on market structure, execution, and trading, ICP has leveraged its own proprietary technology to deliver high quality liquidity provision and execution services to a broad array of public issuers and institutional investors. ABOUT DRYDEN GOLD CORP. Dryden Gold Corp. is an exploration company focused on the discovery of high-grade gold mineralization listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("DRY"). The Company has a strong management team and Board of Directors comprised of experienced individuals with a track record of building shareholder value through property acquisition and consolidation, exploration success, and mergers & acquisitions. Dryden Gold controls a 100% interest in a dominant strategic land position in the Dryden District of Northwestern Ontario. Dryden Gold's property package includes historic gold mines but has seen limited modern exploration. The property hosts high-grade gold mineralization over 50km of potential strike length along the Manitou-Dinorwic deformation zone. The property has excellent infrastructure, enjoys First Nations support and proximity to an experienced mining workforce. For more information go to our website www.drydengold.com. CONTACT INFORMATION Trey Wasser CEO email: twasser@drydengold.com phone: 940-368-8337 Ashley Robinson, Investor Relations Email: arobinson@drydengold.com Phone: 604-764-7493 X: @DrydenGold Maura Kolb, M.Sc.. P. Geo., President Email: mjkolb@drydengold.com Phone: 807-632-2368 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. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: receipt of corporate and regulatory approvals, the engagement of ICP and Insight and proposed market making activities; future development plans; general market conditions affecting junior exploration companies listed on Canadian stock exchanges, future acquisitions; exploration programs; and the business and operations of Dryden Gold. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or 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 are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of regulatory approvals, legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings including receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in Dryden Gold's and the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Dryden Gold and the Company do not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from Dryden Gold's and the Company's expectations or projections. UNITED STATES ADVISORY. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), have been offered and sold outside the United States to eligible investors pursuant to Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, or resold in the United States or to, or for the account of or benefit of, a U.S. Person (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act) unless the securities are registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available. Hedging transactions involving the securities must not be conducted unless in accordance with the U.S. Securities Act. This press 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 state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211107 SOURCE: Dryden Gold Corp. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / U.S. Bank In Ventura, California, students toured the offices of Urbane Cafe, a growing fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in hearty salads and sandwiches crafted from a hearth oven. Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog For many people, life's most helpful knowledge comes from learning on the job. Through its support of the California Restaurant Foundation's "Experience Hospitality" initiative, U.S. Bank is supporting job training for high-school students pursuing a career in the restaurant industry. The innovative initiative recently provided 500 students from throughout the state with an opportunity to tour the headquarters of a California-based hospitality company. Each student is enrolled in the ProStart program - a two-year, industry-backed culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school students. The tours included everything from iconic brands like Wienerschnitzel to the California beach hotel brand Pacifica Hotels. In addition to the tours, students were treated to lunch and an opportunity to hear from company founders, head chefs, presidents and other executives in finance, marketing, human resources and other areas of operation. In Ventura, California, students toured the offices of Urbane Cafe, a growing fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in hearty salads and sandwiches crafted from a hearth oven. They met with founder and CEO Tom Holt, along with a team of executives and employees. Holt discussed the origins of the company and the founding principles that keep it grounded in service. "We strive for every customer that walks through our doors to leave with a fulfilling experience," said Holt. "That includes not only a healthy meal made with quality ingredients, but an experience that makes them feel at home and wanting to come back and see us again." Holt stressed the importance of training his employees to pay attention to the little details that make every customer's experience a memorable one. The sentiment was repeated by nearly all of the employees who spoke, a testament to the company's customer-centric focus. During the tours, students also met with a team of small business specialists from U.S. Bank to learn more about what it takes to start a business, including components of a business plan and different ways to access capital to fund a business. U.S. Bank has proudly supported the California Restaurant Foundation since 2017 and was encouraged by the level of engagement in its inaugural Experience Hospitality event. "U.S Bank is proud to support the Experience Hospitality program as part of our efforts to encourage workforce development in California," said Rockette Ewell, vice president and U.S. Bank community affairs manager for California. "Our team is passionate about sharing financial literacy insights with students and delighted to join them on the immersive and enriching behind the scenes tours that are sure to open new doors and broaden career horizons." To learn more about how U.S Bank is making Community Possible through partnering with nonprofits, visit usbank.com/communitypossible . View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from U.S. Bank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: U.S. Bank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/us-bank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: U.S. Bank View the original press release on accesswire.com The Chief Product and Strategy Officer for Saviynt will deliver a presentation on the future of digital identity Saviynt, a leading provider of cloud identity and governance solutions, today announced that its Identity Cloud will be featured at KuppingerCole's European Identity and Cloud Conference (EIC). Attendees can meet with Saviynt at stand number 21 to see how Saviynt's intelligent converged platform with AI capabilities improves decision making, protects applications, secures identities, and boosts productivity across internal and external ecosystems. According to the recent Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, 68% of breaches involved a human element. It's evident that organizations have been struggling to keep up with the pace of change as the threat landscape continues to evolve with a proliferation of identity types human and machine, physical and digital. Saviynt's Identity Cloud powers and protects organizations in this new reality. The Identity Cloud currently supports over 60 million identities, providing a fully featured and secure platform for an organization's complete identity journey. "The Identity Cloud is the answer to enabling organizations to mitigate risks, do more with less and focus on what matters most so they are prepared against threats," said Jeff Margolies, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at Saviynt. "Our security-first architecture provides complete data and network isolation to ensure our customers' data is always secure. We are transforming identity security strategies with our platform and improving efficiencies by over 50%. We look forward to meeting with KuppingerCole attendees to discuss how the Identity Cloud will free their organization from the costs and burden of managing legacy systems." "When you see the challenges corporations or organizations have on a day-to-day basis, it's so crucial that you have a solution like the Identity Cloud helping them to keep their employee and vendor data up to date. The platform makes sure that only the people who should have the right to access data or applications are correct," said Ralph Kreter, Regional VP EMEA Central at Saviynt. Saviynt's new advanced intelligence solutions will transform enterprises from purely operational processes to automated, AI and ML driven approaches with one cloud platform. These capabilities include assisted decision making via machine learning, the industry's first Identity Security Data Lake to enhance visibility of identity security posture, and Savi, a large language model (LLM) assistant to increase productivity and security. Saviynt will also soon be releasing a comprehensive Machine Identity Management product to better manage both humans and machines. "Saviynt's Identity Cloud represents the forward-thinking solution our customers demand. Its unified, cloud-based platform, featuring advanced security, intelligence, productivity, and compliance functionalities on a single converged, cloud-based platform, allows us to expand our cloud identity management services," said Dr. Heiko Klarl, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at iC Consult. KuppingerCole Speaking Sessions: The Future of Digital Identity: Saviynt's Chief Product and Strategy Officer Jeff Margolies will have a spotlight session titled The Future of Digital Identity from 9:50 10:10 CET on Wednesday, 5 June. The session will discuss the impact of AI and ML in identity security and how it helps simplify program management, assisting administrators with their daily tasks and helping end users focus on their core responsibilities and reducing an organization's threat landscape. Plus, hear Margolies' predictions on other ways that AL and ML are going to revolutionize identity. Creating a Killer IAM Business Case: Saviynt's Field CTO Jonathan Neal and VP of Customer Advocacy Ravi Erukulla will host a session titled Creating a Killer IAM Business Case from 14:50 15:10 CET on Wednesday, 5 June. Join Neal and Erukulla in a quest to redefine the business case for IAM transformation. Attendees will discover the secrets behind successful implementations, and learn how to craft a compelling narrative that resonates with stakeholders. It's not just about upgrading capacity; it's about future-proofing your business for the challenges ahead. The Saviynt Experience at KuppingerCole: Networking Social at the Spagos Restaurant and Lounge: Close off day three of KuppingerCole EIC at the Saviynt networking social. This will take place on 6 June from 19:00 21:30 CET at the Spagos Restaurant and Lounge in the Park Inn Berlin Hotel, Alexanderplatz. Register here. "When looking back at EIC 2023, I observed AI and Identity intensely discussed as a challenge we needed to tackle," said Martin Kuppinger, Principal Analyst and Co-Founder at KuppingerCole. "This year, AI and Identity has its own track, and for a good reason. It is such an important topic with so many facets. One of the identity security players having a strong posture on AI and ML for identity is Saviynt, who will cover these topics in speaking sessions and at their booth. I hope attendees walk away with a better understanding of how AI and ML will simplify identity security strategies and how it's been incorporated into their Identity Cloud platform." To learn more about the Identity Cloud, or meet with Saviynt at KuppingerCole EIC, please visit our website. About Saviynt Saviynt empowers enterprises to secure their digital transformation, safeguard critical assets, and meet regulatory compliance. With a vision to provide a secure and compliant future for all enterprises, Saviynt's cutting-edge solutions have been recognized as industry leaders. For more information, please visit www.saviynt.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530331087/en/ Contacts: Press Contact Jacklyn Kellick jacklyn.kellick@saviynt.com JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the "High Potency Drug Market - By Product Type (Innovative and Generic), Dosage Form (Injectables, Oral Solids, Creams), Manufacturer Type (In-House and Outsourced). Therapeutic Area (Oncology, Hormonal Imbalance, Neurology), By Distribution Channel, By Region, Trends, Industry Competition Analysis, Revenue and Forecast To 2031." According to the latest research by InsightAce Analytic, the High Potency Drug Market is valued at US$ 169.42 Bn in 2023, and it is expected to reach US$ 379.20 Bn by 2031, with a CAGR of 10.7% during the forecast period of 2024-2031. High potency drugs are a growing segment in the pharmaceutical industry, characterized by their powerful biological activity and specificity. These drugs are designed to have a significant therapeutic effect at very low doses, often measured in micrograms or nanograms. This unique property makes them particularly useful for treating severe and life-threatening conditions such as cancer, where the intent is to deliver precise and targeted treatment to minimize side effects. Request for Free Sample Pages: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/2505 These drugs are pivotal across diverse medical landscapes, ranging from cancer to asthma and pain management. Engineered with a high therapeutic index, they enable precise, low-dose administration without significant side effects. This targeted approach is a boon for patients requiring meticulous and effective treatment strategies, indicating a new era in pharmaceutical advancement. The driving force behind the prominence of high-potency drugs is the urgent need for more effective treatments with reduced side effects, especially in the realm of cancer therapy. List of Prominent Players in the Lab Workflow Optimization Market: Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. GSK plc. Pfizer Inc. AbbVie Inc. F. AstraZeneca plc Merck & Co., Inc. Novartis AG Bristol-Myers Squibb Co Sanofi Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd. Eli Lilly and Company Gilead Sciences Amgen Bayer AG Lab Workflow Optimization Market Report Scope: Report Attribute Specifications Market Size Value in 2023 USD 169.42 Bn Market Size Value in 2031 USD 379.20 Bn Growth Rate CAGR CAGR of 10.7% from 2024 to 2031 Quantitative Units Representation of revenue in US$ Bn and CAGR from 2024 to 2031 Historic Year 2019 to 2023 Forecast Year 2024-2031 Report Coverage The forecast of revenue, the position of the company, the competitive market structure, growth prospects, and trends Segments Covered By Product Type, Dosage Form, Therapeutic Area, Manufacturer Type, Distribution Channel Regional Scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa Order 180 Pages Full Report @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/buy-report/2505 Market Dynamics: Drivers: Advances in oncology treatments, particularly the rise of targeted therapies, are driving the expansion of the high potency drug market. These therapies often rely on potent and precise drugs to achieve optimal outcomes, driving the demand for high potency drugs. According to American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates, in 2023, the United States is anticipated to have 1,958,310 new cancer cases and 609,820 cancer deaths, further highlighting the demand for high-potency drugs. Moreover, Personalized precision medicine, designed for individuals' genetic profiles and lifestyles, is another significant driver. This approach not only enhances treatment effectiveness across various diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, and metabolic conditions but also streamlines drug development processes and leverages digital platforms for scalability, potentially amplifying the demand for high potency drugs customized to specific patient needs. Challenges: The demand for high potency drugs presents significant challenges within the pharmaceutical industry, primarily due to contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) constraints. Despite the high demand, a limited number of CMOs are equipped to meet buyers' precise needs. These requirements include high production capacity, lyophilization capability, and extensive experience handling high potency drugs. Additionally, manufacturing such drugs requires significant operating costs. This is attributed to the need for technical expertise, advanced technology, and specialized containment facilities, which necessitate substantial capital investment. Furthermore, stringent regulatory requirements stand as another barrier for CMOs in this space. Compliance with regulations governing high potency drugs, particularly regarding containment technology, dedicated facilities, and sophisticated equipment, presents a significant challenge for manufacturers. Regional Trends: North America, especially the United States, leads the way in the high potency drug market and is expected to stay on top in the future too. This is because the US has vital research centers and universities that help create new high potency drugs, especially for treating cancer and other specific conditions. The US also has clear rules from the FDA, making it easier for drug companies to work here. Places like New Jersey, California, and the Midwest have lots of skilled workers who know how to make these powerful drugs. People in North America, especially in the US, really want new and targeted treatments, which boosts the use and development of high potency drugs even more. Plus, many drug companies are choosing to get these drugs made by particular manufacturers in North America, which adds to the region's dominance in this market. Curious about this latest version of the report? @https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/enquiry-before-buying/2505 Recent Developments: In April 2024, Novartis AG struck a licensing deal with Arvinas worth up to $1.01 billion for access to its experimental prostate cancer drug, ARV-766. Novartis paid an upfront fee of $150 million for global development and commercialization rights, with additional tiered royalties and milestone payments potentially reaching $1.01 billion, as reported by Reuters. Novartis AG struck a licensing deal with Arvinas worth up to $1.01 billion for access to its experimental prostate cancer drug, ARV-766. Novartis paid an upfront fee of $150 million for global development and commercialization rights, with additional tiered royalties and milestone payments potentially reaching $1.01 billion, as reported by Reuters. In November 2022, GSK opened its first high-potency manufacturing and testing facility in Singapore, investing S$44 million to strengthen its Jurong site. This facility will produce an essential ingredient for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), advancing next-generation cancer treatments and showcasing Singapore's growing prominence in pharmaceutical innovation. Segmentation of High Potency Drug Market- By Product Type Innovative Generic By Dosage Form Injectables Oral Solids Creams Others (Foams, Gels & Inhalation) By Manufacturer Type In-house Outsourced By Therapeutic Area Oncology Hormonal Imbalance Neurology Others By Distribution Channel Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Online Pharmacies By Region- North America- The US Canada Mexico Europe- Germany The UK France Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific- China Japan India South Korea Southeast Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America- Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa- GCC Countries South Africa Rest of Middle East and Africa For More Customization @ https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/customisation/2505 Why should buy this report: To receive a comprehensive analysis of the prospects for global High Potency Drug market To receive industry overview and future trends of global High Potency Drug market To analyze the High Potency Drug market drivers and challenges To get information on the High Potency Drug market size value (US$ Mn) forecast till 2031. Major Investments, Mergers & Acquisition in High Potency Drug market. Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic: Neuroimmunology Drugs Market Immunology Drugs Market Next Generation Drug Conjugates Market Peptide And Anticoagulant Drugs Market Orphan Drugs Market About Us: InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis with key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner. Contact Us: InsightAce Analytic PVT. LTD Tel.: +1 551 226 6109 Email: info@insightaceanalytic.com Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightace-analytic-pvt-ltd/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1729637/InsightAce_Analytic_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/high-potency-drug-market-worth-usd-379-20-billion-by-2031---says-insightace-analytic-302159473.html On its pursuit to transform a vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations, Royal Caribbean Group takes another step forward in enhancing its guest experience and rewarding guests across its ecosystem of vacation experiences MIAMI, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) announced today that loyalty members from its three wholly-owned brands - Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea - will attain equivalent tier status on any one of its brands. This shared status adds to members' existing benefits and unlocks new ways to see the world, with more than 50 incredible ships sailing to nearly 1,000 destinations across all seven continents. Now, loyalty members have another reason to experience all Royal Caribbean Group has to offer, with a product to meet them for each of life's moments. As the first major cruise company to offer loyalty status matching across its core brands, the Royal Caribbean Group Loyalty Status Match program allows members of Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club and Silversea's Venetian Society to enjoy reciprocal tier status no matter which brand they sail with. Royal Caribbean Group's industry-leading portfolio offers everything one could want in a vacation, including land-based vacation experiences through Perfect Day at CocoCay and Royal Beach Club collection, and its cruise brands Royal Caribbean International delivering thrilling vacations for the multi-generational and contemporary market, Celebrity Cruises elevating premium travel, and Silversea offering the finest ultra-luxury and expedition experiences. "We strive to provide guests with experiences within our portfolio of brands that meet them for all of life's moments," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. "Each of our differentiated brands have passionate fans who take pride in the status they've achieved through repeat sailings. In a first for the cruise industry, our new Loyalty Status Match program rewards guests traveling across our brands, and this is one more step in our journey of transforming a vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations." The new program is part of Royal Caribbean Group's ongoing commitment to deliver the best vacations responsibly. By aligning its three industry-leading brands and recognizing guest loyalty across the fleet, the Loyalty Status Match program aims to provide an unparalleled vacation experience that rewards guests. Program highlights include: Seamless Status Recognition: Members of Crown & Anchor Society, Captain's Club and Venetian Society are now eligible to receive one-for-one status match across all three brands after enrolling in each program. Onboard Benefits: When sailing on each sister brand, guests can enjoy the onboard benefits offered by each brand for their equivalent tier status. Effortless Tier Matching: Guests already enrolled in multiple loyalty programs will be automatically matched across brands within 7 days to ensure guests receive their appropriate loyalty status. Enhanced Travel Experience: Status match enables guests to select from a broader and more diverse range of vacation experiences and destinations. Now, loyalty members can be status matched for upcoming travel on a sister brand. For example, a Venetian Society member with 250 VS Days and an upcoming sailing on Celebrity Cruises can enroll in Captain's Club, which would give them Elite status once their loyalty accounts are connected. The applicable terms and conditions are also changing to make clear how member data will be shared across the various loyalty programs and highlight other important legal terms. Please refer to the updated loyalty program terms and conditions for full details. Loyalty Status Match program terms also apply. New benefits onboard for members who have their status matched will begin with sailings departing on June 5, 2024. For more information on Royal Caribbean Group and its brands or to learn more about the Loyalty Status Match program, please visit www.royalcaribbeangroup.com. About Royal Caribbean Group Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is a vacation industry leader with a global fleet of 66 ships across its five brands traveling to approximately 1,000 destinations. With a mission to deliver the best vacations responsibly, Royal Caribbean Group serves millions of guests each year through its portfolio of best-in-class brands, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea; and expanding portfolio of land-based vacation experiences through Perfect Day at CocoCay and Royal Beach Club collection. The company also owns 50% of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. With a rich history of innovating, Royal Caribbean Group continually delivers exciting new products and guest experiences that help shape the future of leisure travel. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2426017/RCG24_Aerials3Brands325.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2426065/RCL_graph.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1213007/RCG_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/royal-caribbean-group-introduces-industry-first-loyalty-status-match-program-across-its-brands--royal-caribbean-international-celebrity-cruises-and-silversea-302159523.html CHICAGO, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The grow lights market is expected to reach USD 6.4 billion by 2029 from USD 2.0 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 26.5% during the 2024-2029 period according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Various companies are investing in grow lights which gives an opportunity for growth in the grow lights market. The grow lights market is continuously developing, with the presence of multiple players. Currently Europe is contributing significantly to the growth of the grow lights market. Similarly, the Asia Pacific, North America and RoW regions are expected to be the growing market for the forecasted period. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=68944493 Browse in-depth TOC on "Grow Lights Market" 100 - Tables 60 - Figures 200 - Pages Grow Lights Market Report Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $ 2.0 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $ 6.4 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 26.5% Market Size Available for 2020-2029 Forecast Period 2024-2029 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Offering, Wattage, Spectrum, Cultivated Plant, Installation Type, Lighting Type, Sales Channel, Application and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Lack of standardized testing protocols for evaluating horticulture lighting product quality Key Market Opportunities Technological advancements in LED grow lights and automation in lighting systems Key Market Drivers Robust governmental support for the implementation of solid-state lighting technology and controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) methodologies The hardware segment currently leads the grow lights market and is expected to have the largest market share in the forecast period. Grow lights serve as supplemental lighting for indoor cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The adjustment of bulb types, electrical power, and the distance between the lamp and the plant varies accordingly. The grow light system comprises hardware components such as bulbs, fixtures, metal reflectors, reflective films, and ballasts. Reflectors play a pivotal role in distributing adequate light to all plants, optimizing light efficiency in indoor horticulture. They help maintain optimal light levels and prevent excessive heat or cold. Available in various types, shapes, and sizes, reflectors are mounted on lamps to reduce energy requirements. Reflective films, lining walls, floors, and ceilings in farms, enhance reflectivity and prevent energy wastage. Ballasts are electronic devices essential for powering high intensity grow lights. Their primary functions include lamp initiation and operation control. Ballasts convert electricity into precise currents required for lamp operation, ensuring constant light output, and preventing overheating or lamp burnouts. They maintain optimal light temperatures for indoor farming. Bulbs and fixtures are vital hardware components responsible for energy conservation. Most edible plants require a minimum of 30 watts per square foot, while fruiting species like tomatoes may need 40 to 50 watts per square foot. Due to their superior energy efficiency, full-spectrum LED bulbs and fixtures are increasingly favored by growers. In June 2023, ams-OSRAM AG introduced the fifth generation of its OSLON Square Hyper Red horticulture LED, aimed at accelerating plant growth and facilitating optimized system costs. This iteration reflects the company's commitment to innovation driven by customer feedback, offering LED solutions with increased photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) and higher efficacy compared to the previous Hyper Red 660?nm LEDs. The new OSLON Square Hyper Red LED is suitable for various horticultural lighting applications, including greenhouse top lighting and interlighting, sole source lighting, and vertical farming. In March 2022, MegaDrive Vertical Series from California LightWorks, was designed for indoor cultivation across multiple levels. This series combines the MegaDrive central power supply with vertical LED fixtures, offering a cost-effective solution for multi-level shelves and low ceiling grow rooms. By eliminating the need for drivers and reducing power drops, it optimizes control and minimizes installation costs. >=300 Watts grow lights is predicted to register the highest CAGR in the forecast period. Grow lights with >=300 watts are well-suited for various grow rooms, particularly those requiring precise care and focused light without causing tent overheating. These lights provide a full spectrum of illumination, safe for all plant growth stages. Covering an area of approximately 44 square meters and reaching a height of about 6.5 feet, they deliver a broad range of light that stimulates photosynthesis consistently, promoting rapid plant growth. Equipped with high-quality fans and aluminum heat sinks, these lights ensure efficient heat dissipation and prolonged lifespan. Market leaders such as Signify Holding, ams-OSRAM AG, Gavita International B.V., Heliospectra, and California LightWorks offer grow lights exceeding 300 watts. Signify Holding, for instance, introduced the innovative Philips GreenPower LED production module 3.0, ranging from 49 to 635 watts, designed to assist growers in optimizing multilayer crop cultivation. This module enables growers to easily adjust the color spectrum to meet the specific needs of various crops and growth phases, including lettuce, leafy greens, herbs, soft fruits, and young plants. In September 2022, Hortilux Schreder introduced HORTILED Top Range LED fixtures introduced by the company stand out for their versatility, offering six different configurations for power consumption, ranging from 520 to 1,050 Watts. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=68944493 Grow lights market for the Europe region Predicted to have the highest market share between 2024 and 2029 forecast. The growth of the grow lights market in Europe is expected to be driven by several factors, including increasing food demand, urbanization, unfavorable weather conditions for traditional farming, the need to reduce fresh produce imports, and the pursuit of new, productive farming methods. The European grow lights market is segmented into the UK, Germany, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and the Rest of Europe, with many leading grow light manufacturers headquartered in this region. Technological advancements in artificial grow lights, along with government incentives promoting the use of efficient and eco-friendly technologies such as LEDs, have significantly boosted the demand for grow lights in Europe. Additionally, European governments have implemented stringent regulations to ban incandescent bulbs, which is expected to positively impact the growth of the grow lights industry. Key Players The report profiles major players in the grow lights companies are Signify Holding (Netherlands), Gavita International B.V. (Netherlands), Heliospectra (Sweden), ams-OSRAM AG (Austria), California LightWorks (US), Hortilux Schreder (Netherlands), Valoya (Finland), ILUMINAR Lighting LLC. (US), SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES LLC. (US), Ushio Inc. (Japan), EconoLux Industries Ltd. (China), LEDVANCE GmbH (Germany), Lemnis Oreon B.V. (Netherlands), Hyperion Grow Lights (England), Sananbio (China), Dongguan LEDESTAR Opto-electronics Tech. Co., Ltd. (China), ViparSpectra (US), Kind LED Grow Lights (US), Black Dog Horticulture Technologies & Consulting (US), Agrolux B.V. (Netherlands), Sollum Technologies (Canada), Mars Hydro (China), Biological Innovation and Optimization Systems, LLC. (US), EVERLIGHT ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. (Taiwan), and NICHIA CORPORATION (Japan). Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=68944493 Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting Related Reports: Horticulture Lighting Market Size, Share, Industry Report, Statistics & Growth by Installation type (New Installations, Retrofit Installations), Lighting Type (Toplighting, Interlighting), Offering (Hardware, Software & Service), Cultivation Type, Technology, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2028 Agricultural Lighting Market by Light Source (Fluorescent, HID, LED), Application (Horticulture, Livestock, Aquaculture), Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Installation Type, Wattage Type, Sales Channel and Region - Global Forecast to 2028 LED Grow Light Market by Wattage, Type of Installation (New, Retrofit), Spectrum (Partial, Full), Application (Indoor Farming, Commercial Greenhouse, Vertical Farming, Turf & Landscaping, Research, and Others), and Geography - Forecast to 2020 Smart Greenhouse Market by Type (Hydroponics and Non-Hydroponics), Covering Material Type (Polyethylene, Polycarbonate, and Others), Offering (Hardware and Software & Services), Component, Cultivation, End User, Region - Global Forecast to 2025 Vertical Farming Market Size, Share, Statistics and Industry Growth Analysis Report by Growth Mechanism (Hydroponics, Aeroponics, Aquaponics), Structure (Building-based and Shipping container-based), Crop Type, Offering (Lighting, Sensors, Climate Control, Software, Services) & Region - Global Forecast to 2028 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/grow-lights-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/grow-lights.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/grow-lights-market-worth-6-4-billion-by-2029---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302159120.html Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - F3 Uranium Corp. (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUFF) ("F3 Uranium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced "bought deal" private placement (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of C$10,074,414.59, which includes the full exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option. Under the Offering, the Company sold 7,409,908 federal flow-through units of the Company (the "FFT Units") at a price of C$0.5355 per FFT Unit and 10,447,235 Saskatchewan flow-through units of the Company (the "SFT Units", and together with the FFT Units, the "FT Units") at a price of C$0.5845 per SFT Unit, for an aggregate of 17,857,143 FT Units at a blended price of C$0.5642 per FT Unit on a "bought deal" basis. Red Cloud Securities Inc. acted as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters that included Canaccord Genuity Corp., Haywood Securities Inc., SCP Resource Finance LP and Eight Capital (collectively, the "Underwriters"). Each FT Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of C$0.56 at any time on or before May 30, 2026. A total of 8,928,571 FT Units under the Offering, representing gross proceeds of C$4,999,999.74, were offered by way of the "listed issuer financing" exemption under Part 5A under National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106") in all the provinces of Canada with the exception of Quebec (the "Selling Jurisdictions"). The Common Shares issuable pursuant to the sale of these FT Units are immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada. The remaining 8,928,572 FT Units sold under the Offering were offered by way of the "accredited investor" and "minimum amount investment" exemptions under NI 45-106 in the Selling Jurisdictions. The Common Shares issuable from the sale of such FT Units are subject to a restricted period in Canada ending on October 1, 2024. In connection with the Offering, the Company paid to the Underwriters an aggregate cash commission of C$540,342.80, equal to 5.5% of the gross proceeds raised in respect of the Offering (except for gross proceeds raised from the sale of FT Units sold to purchasers on a president's list (the "President's List"), which were subject to a reduced 2.75% cash commission). The Company also issued to the Underwriters a total of 957,589 warrants of the Company (the "Broker Warrants"), equal to 5.5% of the number of FT Units sold pursuant to the Offering (except for those FT Units sold to purchasers on the President's List, which were subject to a reduced number of Broker Warrants equal to 2.75%). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of C$0.56 at any time on or before May 30, 2026. The proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company to fund exploration of the Company's projects in the Athabasca Basin. The Offering remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. About F3 Uranium Corp. F3 Uranium is a uranium project generator and exploration company, focusing on projects in the Athabasca Basin, home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium deposits. F3 Uranium currently has 20 projects in the Athabasca Basin. Several of F3's projects are near large uranium deposits, including Triple R, Arrow and Hurricane. The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. F3 Uranium Corp. 750-1620 Dickson Avenue Kelowna, BC V1Y9Y2 Contact Information Investor Relations Telephone: 778 484 8030 Email: ir@f3uranium.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Dev Randhawa" Dev Randhawa, CEO Cautionary Statement: F3 Uranium Corp. This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws, which is based upon the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. The forward-looking information included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company's expectations with respect to the Offering and the use of proceeds of the Offering. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information relate to future events and future performance and include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "potential", "is expected", "anticipated", "is targeted", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof 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. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to: general business and economic conditions; regulatory approval for the Offering; changes in commodity prices; the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of the price of uranium and other metals; changes in project parameters as exploration plans continue to be refined; costs of exploration including labour and equipment costs; risks and uncertainties related to the ability to obtain or maintain necessary licenses, permits or surface rights; changes in credit market conditions and conditions in financial markets generally; the ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; the availability of qualified employees and contractors; the impact of value of the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar, foreign exchange rates on costs and financial results; market competition; exploration results not being consistent with the Company's expectations; changes in taxation rates or policies; technical difficulties in connection with mining activities; changes in environmental regulation; environmental compliance issues; other risks of the mining industry; and risks related to the effects of COVID-19. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that could cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. For more information on the Company and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review the Company's annual filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and F3 Uranium Corp. disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211104 SOURCE: F3 Uranium Corp. Meridian Energy Chief Executive Neal Barclay says the agreement is an excellent result after many years of hard work. This is a fantastic outcome for New Zealand and the Southland region. Its further proof that large industrial businesses can utilise New Zealands renewable energy advantage and create low carbon sustainable products, high value jobs and export dollars for our country. Meridian Energy and New Zealands Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) have signed a package of conditional 20-year contracts for part of the NZAS Tiwai Point aluminium smelters electricity needs. The package includes a long-term fixed price contract for wholesale electricity price cover and a significant demand response agreement. We are thrilled to announce a deal has been made with New Zealands Aluminium Smelter to keep the smelter operating for the next 20 years. The agreement includes a significant demand response deal to make more electricity available for the country when it may be required during times of high demand, and commitments for the environmental remediation of the smelter site. The deal includes a 377 MW base load from 2025 the majority of the 572 MW the smelter needs. Neal Barclay and Meridian CFO Mike Roan will host an investor and media call via a Microsoft Teams webinar at 11am, which will include an opportunity to ask questions. Click here to register for this call. Pre-registration is required to attend. Neal also has a limited window between 9:45am and 10:30am available for interviews please let me or Phil Clark know if you would like to speak with him. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. 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Related News: TRU - WHO Agency UNITAID Features TRU in Tech Landscape Report PaySauce Quarterly Market Update - September 2024 October 2nd Morning Report Rua Releases Annual Report for Year Ended 30 June 2024 SCL - Settlement of orchard sales The Warehouse Group 2024 ASM and Director Nominations AIR - Update on Chief Operational Integrity and Safety Officer Comvita Limited - Annual Report 2024 September 27th Morning Report Spark announces departure of Finance Director Institutional investors staking ETH can now liquidate Ethereum mainnet validator nodes in a matter of hours instead of days, while fully adhering to the relevant regulatory requirements. COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Northstake , a regulated custodial virtual asset service provider offering compliant staking products for institutions, is launching its first version of tokenized ETH staking on Mainnet. This follows a successful pilot run on Ethereum's testnet Holesky. Northstake, which the Danish Financial Authority regulates, now enables institutions to liquidate their Ethereum validator nodes within hours instead of days. Northstake announced GSR and DV chain as the first leading market makers to join its tokenized ETH staking solution. ETFs or regulated funds can now utilize tokenized staking to bring in liquidity when unbonding ETH. This is enabled by the participating market makers buying the validator node's balance of ETH, effectively paying liquid ETH for a validator node balance subject to the exit and withdrawal queue. Jesper Johansen, CEO of Northstake, said: "Today's news sees several key market makers joining Northstake to create the only compliance-focused ETH validator marketplace for institutional investors. We're very excited to see how industry-leading market makers contribute to the wider adoption of tokenized ETH staking." The move to launch tokenized ETH staking on the Ethereum mainnet was expedited, following the success of the Holesky testnet pilot launched in May 2024. This testnet pilot was run in collaboration with 3iQ, CoinFund, and CoinDesk Indices. As of April 2024, more than $109 billion worth of ETH has been staked, with institutional investors contributing significantly to this figure. Ruchir Gupta, Head of Options & Treasury, GSR: "Northstake's approach addresses a critical need for institutional investors, subsequently allowing institutions to participate in Ethereum staking while maintaining liquidity and adhering to regulatory requirements. This solution unlocks significant value for institutions and supports the integration of digital assets into traditional finance." Michael Rabkin, Global Head of Business Development, DV Chain: "We are thrilled to be part of Northstake's innovative tokenized ETH staking initiative. This partnership allows us to help enhance liquidity for institutional Ethereum stakers. Northstake's solution perfectly complements our commitment to delivering advanced and secure financial services in the digital asset sector. We look forward to driving the broader adoption of tokenized ETH staking and supporting the institutional crypto ecosystem." Greg Benhaim, Senior Manager of Trading at 3iQ, said: "It's fantastic that we've been able to accelerate the Mainnet launch, bringing new capabilities for ETH staking to 3iQ and institutional investors. We're delighted to continue our collaboration with Northstake and leading market makers to get the staking solution fully operational ahead of schedule." Northstake has begun onboarding clients and additional market markers and expects the tokenized staking solution to be fully operational later this year. Jesper Johansen, CEO & Founder of Northstake is available for interviews. About Northstake A/S Northstake A/S is a highly regulated, custodial, virtual asset service provider offering compliant staking products for institutions. Northstake offers a variety of crypto staking products including single, multi-asset, tokenized staking, and yield-generating products in addition to a suite of OTC and algorithmic trading services. Based in Denmark and Dubai, Northstake acts as a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto world, simplifying and securing the way institutions invest in crypto. Northstake A/S (VASP, FTID: 17520) is regulated under the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority ( DFSA ). About GSR GSR has over ten years of digital asset market expertise as a liquidity provider and active, multi-stage investor. GSR's suite of services includes OTC Trading, Derivatives, and Market Making. GSR is embedded in every major sector of the digital asset ecosystem, working with token issuers, institutional investors, miners, and leading trading venues. GSR Markets Pte. Ltd. has received a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). To learn more about GSR, visit www.gsr.io. About 3iQ Founded in 2012, 3iQ is one of the world's leading digital asset investment fund managers, offering investors convenient and familiar investment products to gain exposure to digital assets. 3iQ was the first Canadian investment fund manager to offer public bitcoin investment funds: The Bitcoin Fund (TSX: QBTC) (TSX: QBTC.U) and the 3iQ Bitcoin ETF (TSX: BTCQ) (TSX: BTCQ.U), as well as public ether investment funds: The Ether Fund (TSX: QETH.UN) (TSX: QETH.U) and the 3iQ Ether Staking ETF (TSX: ETHQ) (TSX: ETHQ.U). To learn more about 3iQ, https://3iq.io/ . About DV Chain As a leading liquidity and market-making service provider, DV Chain empowers institutions, exchanges, and traders globally to access a vast array of cryptocurrencies through cutting-edge APIs and interfaces. Seamlessly settle transactions in multiple fiat currencies on the same day, ensuring swift and efficient trading. From intuitive web-based charting to expert algorithmic orders, DV Chain's robust tech stack helps scale your business. Recognized globally, DV Chain provides extensive trading services for digital assets, backed by the experience and track record of DV Trading, a proprietary trading firm of over 500 personnel with offices in Chicago, Miami, New York, Toronto, London, Dubai and Bahamas. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gsr-and-dv-chain-join-northstakes-transformative-tokenized-eth-staking-initiative-302159577.html PRICE OF THE OFFER: 15 per Believe share DURATION OF THE OFFER: 15 trading days The timetable for the simplified tender offer (the "Offer") will be set out by the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (the "AMF") in accordance with the provisions of its general regulation. This press release was prepared by Upbeat BidCo and made available to the public pursuant to article 231-27 1 and 2 of the general regulation of the AMF ("AMF General Regulation"). Pursuant to article L. 621-8 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and article 231-23 of the AMF General Regulation, the AMF has, pursuant to its clearance decision dated May 30, 2024 regarding the simplified tender offer for Believe shares (the "Offer"), granted visa no. 24-179 to the offer document prepared by Upbeat BidCo ("Offer Document"). IMPORTANT NOTICE The Offer is not and will not be proposed in any jurisdiction where it would not be permitted under applicable law. Acceptance of the Offer by persons residing in countries other than France and the United States of America may be subject to specific obligations or restrictions imposed by legal or regulatory provisions. The recipients of the Offer are solely responsible for compliance with such laws and it is therefore their responsibility, before accepting the Offer, to determine whether such laws exist and are applicable, based on the advice they obtain from their own advisers. For more information, see Section 2.13 (Offer restrictions outside of France) of the Offer Document. In accordance with the provisions of article 231-28 of the AMF General Regulation, information relating in particular to the legal, financial and accounting characteristics of Upbeat BidCo will be made available to the public no later than the day preceding the opening of the Offer. A press release will be issued to inform the public of the manner in which the information will be made available. This Offer Document approved by the AMF) and the website of the AMF) and may be obtained free of charge from: Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE Marienturm Taunusanlage 9-10 60329 Frankfurt am Main Germany ("Goldman Sachs") Upbeat BidCo SAS 176, avenue Charles de Gaulle 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine ("BidCo" or the "Offeror") BNP Paribas (M&A EMEA Department) 5, boulevard Haussmann 75009 Paris ("BNP Paribas") Important disclaimer This press release has been prepared for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer to purchase. The dissemination, publication or distribution of this press release, the Offer and its acceptance may be subject to specific regulations or restrictions in certain countries. The Offer will not be directed to persons subject to such restrictions, either directly or indirectly, and may be accepted from any country where the Offer would be subject to such restrictions. This press release is not intended to be published and disseminated in such countries. Accordingly, persons in possession of this press release are required to inform themselves about and to comply with any local restrictions that may apply. Upbeat BidCo disclaims any liability for any breach of these restrictions by any person. Attachment PEBBLE BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Stevenson, a leading independent PK-12 boarding and day school located on California's Monterey Peninsula, is pleased to announce the appointment of Cynthia B. Chapman as the new Chair of the Board, effective July 1, 2024. Chapman succeeds David Colburn, who will continue to serve on the Stevenson Board of Trustees. Cynthia Chapman Located on the Central Coast in Pebble Beach, California, Stevenson is a vibrant community of scholars, athletes, artists, musicians, visionaries, and explorers. At Stevenson, academic excellence meets self-discovery as students embrace their passions, face challenges with resilience, and foster a purpose that transcends the classroom. "Cynthia's appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Stevenson," said Dr. Dan Griffiths, President of Stevenson. "Her long-standing commitment and contributions to our community, combined with her professional expertise and personal dedication to our mission, ensure a bright future for the school. We also extend our deepest gratitude to David Colburn for his remarkable leadership and continued service on the Board." Chapman, a Stevenson alumna of the class of 1983 and parent of two Stevenson graduates, Chapman '16 and Clea '22, has played a pivotal role in sustaining Stevenson's growth and development through her ongoing commitment and contributions to the school. Following her successful schooling at Stevenson, Chapman graduated cum laude from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1992, and received a B.A. degree in Art History in June 1988 from the University of California, San Diego, graduating cum laude. Today, Chapman is a member of the State Bars of Texas and California and is also licensed to practice before numerous federal district courts across the country. Chapman and her husband, Michael Caddell, established a national law practice, Caddell & Chapman, where she currently serves as Partner and focuses her practice on vindicating the rights of consumers. In addition to her impressive professional accomplishments, Chapman continues to honor her time at Stevenson through dedicated service to the school, which has included serving as the school's Alumni Association President and on the Board of Trustees (since 2008) in leadership roles such as Secretary and Vice Chair. Recognizing the important role financial aid played in her own achievements, Chapman and her husband established The Chapman & Caddell Scholarship Fund in 2012 to provide need-based financial aid for grade 9-12 students at Stevenson. In 2023, the school's Alumni Association awarded Chapman with the Day Family Award for Contributions to Stevenson. "I am deeply honored and excited to take on this role," said Chapman. "Stevenson has been a cornerstone of my personal and professional development, and I am committed to advancing its mission. My vision for Stevenson is to continue fostering an inclusive, innovative, and inspiring environment where every student can thrive. I look forward to working with our dedicated faculty, staff, parents, and the broader Monterey community to achieve our goals." As Board Chair, Chapman's strategic vision for the Board includes providing the necessary foundation to enhance academic programs to ensure students are well-prepared for college and beyond, to expand extracurricular opportunities to nurture diverse talents and interests, and to strengthen community partnerships to support holistic student development. "I have full confidence in Cynthia's ability to lead Stevenson into its next phase of excellence," said David Colburn, former Board Chair. "Her journey from a grateful scholarship student to a distinguished alumna and dedicated trustee exemplifies the transformative power of a Stevenson education. I am thrilled to support her in this new role." During his six-year tenure as Board Chair, Colburn made a significant impact on Stevenson's growth and his contributions will have a lasting impact on the Stevenson community. The school's investment fund grew by 75%, total net assets increased by 57%, and the school's budget grew by 29%. Under his leadership, financial aid increased by 40% to $7.6 million, and the majority of funds were raised to begin construction of a new math, science and engineering center, the largest building project in the school's history. Chapman, together with her colleagues on the Board of Trustees, will remain focused on driving forward Stevenson's mission to prepare students for success in school and their lives beyond school; to foster their passion for learning and achievement; and to help them shape a joyful life. Learn more about Stevenson at https://stevensonschool.org. Contact Information Katie Ray Senior Advisor, Marketing & Strategic Communications kray@stevensonschool.org 9735706907 SOURCE: Stevenson School View the original press release on newswire.com. Infield Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:INFD) ("Infield" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement (the "Share Purchase Agreement") dated effective May 29, 2024, pursuant to which it will acquire (the "Acquisition") all the issued and outstanding share capital of 1468289 B.C. Ltd. ("BC Co") with closing subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). As the Acquisition is considered both a "Reviewable Transaction" and a "Fundamental Acquisition" under the policies of the TSXV, trading of Infield's shares has been halted but is expected to resume upon filing of a 43-101 Technical Report1 regarding the Kings Canyon Property (as defined below) with the TSXV. In accordance with the policies of the TSXV, Infield will issue a news release regarding the status of the Acquisition every 30 days following this trading halt until the Acquisition is complete and a news release has been issued confirming closing of the Acquisition. BC Co is a privately owned company incorporated pursuant to the laws of British Columbia on February 28, 2024. Mario Stifano ("Stifano") and Ewan Downie ("Downie") each own 50% of the outstanding share capital of BC Co. BC Co's sole asset is an option agreement with Geomark Minerals USA Inc. ("Geomark") to acquire an undivided 100% interest in the Kings Canyon property (the "Property" or "Kings Canyon Property") in the state of Utah, USA (the "Kings Canyon Option Agreement"). Upon completion of the Acquisition, Infield will own 100% of BC Co in consideration for the issuance to each of Stifano and Downie of 2,711,448 (5,422,896 in the aggregate) common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.015 per share. The securities of Infield to be issued pursuant to the Acquisition will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from issuance in accordance with Canadian securities laws. "Infield is exceptionally pleased to be moving forward with the addition of Kings Canyon to our project portfolio and to welcome Mario Stifano and Ewan Downie as shareholders of Infield," stated Evandra Nakano, President and CEO of Infield. Ms. Nakano continued, "we look forward to the opportunities to create value for shareholders in the coming years through advancing the known deposit areas, exploring the upside potential and pursuing additional value-add transactions." Kings Canyon Property Project Highlights: The Kings Canyon Property is host to disseminated "Carlin-type" gold mineralization within an emerging mineral district, 30 km east of the Nevada border in western Utah The Crown Zone hosts a near surface oxide gold deposit that reportedly contains an unclassified historical resource* of 6.8 million tons grading 0.030 ounces per ton (" opt ") (1.02 grams per tonne (" g/ t")) gold for >200,000 ounces, using a cut-off grade of 0.013 opt (0.44 g/t) (*see below) ") (1.02 grams per tonne (" t")) gold for >200,000 ounces, using a cut-off grade of 0.013 opt (0.44 g/t) (*see below) Royal Zone drilling has outlined a mineralized footprint comparable in size to the Crown Zone; 2012 historical results include (see sedarplus.ca for Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. AIF dated January 25, 2013 and March 21, 2013): 1.1 g/t gold over 33.5 m in hole KC12-17 1.0 g/t gold over 27.4 m in hole KC12-19 1.54 g/t gold over 30.5 m in hole KC12-22 1.27 g/t gold over 21.3 m in hole KC12-23 1.15 g/t gold over 27.4 m in hole KC12-24 Opportunity to better delineate known deposit areas and to explore the potential for expansion and new discoveries among similar host rocks The Kings Canyon Property is located in Millard County, Utah, within the emerging Kings Canyon mining district, and consists of approximately 2,500 acres comprising 129 unpatented mining claims and one (1) 640-acre State of Utah metalliferous minerals lease (Figure 1). The Kings Canyon mining district is situated along the edge of the upper Proterozoic rift within the U.S. Great Basin, approximately 30 km east of the Nevada border. While the district hosts numerous mineral occurrences, it has lacked the consistent and sustained exploration required to uncover the area's full mineral potential. Gold at the Property occurs as disseminated, Devonian carbonate-hosted mineralization, analogous to the "Carlin-type" deposits, that are well documented throughout northern and central Nevada, as well as western Utah. The Kings Canyon Property is host to two known oxide gold mineralized zones: the Crown Zone and the Royal Zone, which have been outlined by more than 200 historical drill holes. The Crown Zone has been explored since at least the late 1980s and hosts a near surface oxide gold deposit with a strike length of approximately 800 m. The zone reportedly contains an unclassified historical resource* of 6.8 million tons grading 0.030 opt (1.02 g/t) gold using a 0.013 opt (0.44 g/t) cut-off grade (*see below). Most of the historical drill holes were vertically oriented and completed via reverse circulation drilling that targeted disseminated mineralization and did not adequately test for potential high-grade feeder systems at depth. *The historical estimate does not comply with CIM definition standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as required by NI 43-101 and is not relevant to NI 43-101. The historical estimate was reported by Crown Resources Corporation in its 10-K annual report filed on April 1, 2002, with the SEC. The historical estimate was prepared prior to enactment of NI 43-101 and details of estimation methodology are not provided. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the historical estimate is not considered reliable. The Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Historical data available to the Company indicates drilling was completed on the Property subsequent to the historical estimate. The Company has not determined the full extent of work required to verify or upgrade the historical estimate as a current mineral resource, however, initial steps could involve a review of the historical assay quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") methods, inspection of available assay certificates and logs, and additional drilling and assaying. The Royal Zone is situated approximately one (1) km south of the Crown Zone, with disseminated gold mineralization hosted in the same carbonate rocks as the Crown Zone. This permissive stratigraphy underlies much of the project area, providing additional opportunities for discovery. The most recent drilling at the Royal Zone was conducted by Geomark Exploration Ltd. in 2012 and 2013, with results including 1.1 g/t gold over 33.5 m in hole KC12-17, 1.0 g/t gold over 27.4 m in hole KC12-19, 1.54 g/t gold over 30.5 m in hole KC12-22, 1.27 g/t gold over 21.3 m in hole KC12-23, and 1.15 g/t gold over 27.4 m in hole KC12-24 (see sedarplus.ca for Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. AIF dated January 25, 2013 and March 21, 2013). Since 2013, the Kings Canyon project has remained dormant in an oil and gas company's portfolio until BC Co entered into the Kings Canyon Option Agreement on February 29, 2024. Figure 1: Kings Canyon claims location map showing the primary claims package. The 22 BLM claims located to the south of the primary claims package are not depicted. Pursuant to the terms of the Kings Canyon Option Agreement, in order to earn a 100% undivided interest in the Property, subject to pre-existing royalties ranging from two to five percent, the Company must (through BC Co as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) pay to Geomark a total of $1,200,000 over a period of thirty (30) months in accordance with the following schedule: $300,000 within five days of closing of the Acquisition; $300,000 on or before the date, which is six months after closing of the Acquisition, one-half of which may be paid in common shares of Infield2, at its sole option; $300,000 on or before the date, which is eighteen months after closing of the Acquisition, one-half of which may be paid in common shares of Infield1, at its sole option; and $300,000 on or before the date which is thirty (30) months after closing of the Acquisition, one-half of which may be paid in common shares of Infield1, at its sole option. Following exercise of the Option and transfer of the Property to BC Co, Infield (through BC Co) shall make the following payments to Geomark if the following events occur: $1,000,000 upon filing of a 43-101 Technical Report describing 400,000 ounces or more of Mineral Product3 within the Property; and $2,000,000 upon achievement of aggregate production of no less than 5,000 ounces of Mineral Product from mining operations on the Property. The Acquisition is an arm's length transaction as defined in the policies of the TSXV. No finders' fees are applicable in connection with the Acquisition or Kings Canyon Option Agreement. A copy of the Share Purchase Agreement will be filed and will be accessible under Infield's profile on SEDAR (www.sedarplus.ca). Completion of the Acquisition is subject to a number of conditions, including TSXV acceptance. There can be no assurance that the Acquisition will be completed as proposed or at all. 1Means a technical report, as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. 2The price of the common shares issuable under all option payments is based on the 30-day volume weighted average trading price of Infield's common shares following Infield's notice to Geomark of its intention to pay in common shares. If such issue price is less than the price permitted by the TSXV, the issue price shall be adjusted to be the lowest price per common share permitted by the TSXV. 3Valuable rock, minerals, precious metals, ore and other valuable substances extracted from the Property. Qualified Person Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Andrea Diakow, P.Geo., a geological consultant and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. The potential quantity and grade of mineralization described herein is conceptual in nature as there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in targets being delineated as a mineral resource. Drill core samples collected by Geomark Exploration Ltd. in 2012 and 2013 were analysed by fire assay with an atomic absorption finish, with analysis completed by ALS Minerals in Reno, Nevada. ALS Global laboratories are independent and ISO/IEC-17025 accredited. For additional information on sample preparation, analysis and QA/QC, please refer to Pine Cliff Energy Ltd.'s Annual Information Form dated January 25, 2013 and March 21, 2013, which are available on sedarplus.ca. The Company is relying on historical assay information provided by Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. and has not verified the accuracy of the information. For more information, please contact Evandra Nakano, the CEO, President and a director of the Company, at +1 (604) 220-4691 or email: info@infieldminerals.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Infield Minerals Corp. Evandra Nakano President, CEO & Director About Infield Infield Minerals is currently exploring for gold within the U.S. Great Basin. Our mission is to grow and deliver value through discovery, acquisitions and sustainable development of high quality, high potential assets for the social and economic benefits of our stakeholders. Founded in 2020, Infield is led by a team of mining entrepreneurs with extensive technical and resource evaluation experience. www.infieldminerals.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning Infield's plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, resumption of trading of Infield common shares, completing the acquisition of 1468289 B.C. Ltd. and TSXV acceptance thereof, and Infield's exploration plans, including for the Kings Canyon property. Forward-looking statements may be, but are not always, identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. Infield cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to Infield's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties (including geopolitical risk, regulatory, COVID-19 and exchange rate risk) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will prove to be accurate or that management's assumptions underlying such statements, including assumptions concerning future developments, circumstances or results, will materialize. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this new release and Infield does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking information included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Infield Minerals Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com SINGAPORE, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- HTX Ventures, the global investment arm of the cryptocurrency exchange HTX, has officially announced a strategic investment in Figment Capital, an early-stage venture fund focused on blockchain infrastructure. This investment underscores HTX Ventures' commitment to fostering innovation and supporting scalable Web3 technology development globally. Launched in 2021, Figment Capital is dedicated to investing in high-conviction, early-stage blockchain infrastructure projects. By leveraging its strong technical understanding and deep connection with Figment Inc., a leader in enterprise-grade staking infrastructure, Figment Capital offers unparalleled technical insights and support to its portfolio companies. Edward, Managing Partner at HTX Ventures, stated, "We are delighted to welcome Figment Capital as a strategic partner. This investment aligns with our mission to support promising companies and drive the next generation of technological innovations. By leveraging Figment's technical expertise and robust network, we can identify and support superior projects while also helping them expand into the Asian market. HTX Ventures continues to solidify its position as a global investment leader." James Parillo, Managing Partner at Figment Capital, also shared, "The HTX Ventures team has been incredibly helpful in our growth as an emerging investment fund. Their knowledge of the Asian market and experience operating a globally recognized exchange has been invaluable as we continue to grow. We're thankful for the trust and support the HTX Ventures team has placed in us and continue to look forward to collaborating for years to come." Figment Capital's portfolio boasts notable projects such as EigenLayer, Celestia, Initia, Wormhole, Movement, zkSync, and more. The trust and reputation that Figment Capital has earned among Web3 founders are further strengthened by its close collaboration with portfolio companies, providing strategic guidance and technical support. HTX Ventures is excited about the potential of this partnership. By combining Figment Capital's technical prowess and industry connections with HTX Ventures' extensive market reach, particularly in Asia, we are well-positioned to support the next wave of innovative blockchain projects. This strategic investment marks a significant milestone in our mission to enhance global innovation support in the blockchain space. About HTX Ventures HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide. With a decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice. HTX Ventures currently backs over 200 projects spanning multiple blockchain sectors, with select high-quality initiatives already trading on the HTX exchange. Furthermore, as one of the most active Fund of Funds (FOF) investors, HTX Ventures collaboratively forges the blockchain ecosystem alongside premier global blockchain funds, including Figment Capital, Dragonfly, Bankless Ventures, Animoca, Shima, and IVC. Visit us here. Contact Details Michael Wang glo-media@htx-inc.com Company Website https://www.htx.com/en-us/ventures About Figment Capital Figment Capital is an early stage venture fund, focused primarily on investing in blockchain infrastructure. Launched in 2021, Figment Capital invests in high-conviction, early-stage blockchain infrastructure projects, leveraging strong technical insights and support. Notable portfolio companies include EigenLayer, Celestia, Initia, Wormhole, Movement, and Starkware. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2391903/image_ID__Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/htx-ventures-announces-strategic-investment-in-figment-capital-to-enhance-global-innovation-support-302159631.html Bana Canne joins Creole Shrubb and Mahina Coco in new bottles to form the Clement Liqueur Collection LE FRANCOIS, MARTINIQUE / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Rhum Clement, renowned for its range of Rhum Agricole from Martinique, proudly unveil its newest liqueur, Bana Canne, joining the iconic Creole Shrubb and exquisite Mahina Coco to form the Clement Liqueur Collection. Bana Canne (SRP $34.99/700 ml) celebrates Martinique's two main agricultural trades - sugarcane and bananas - which are grown together on the estate and the crops are rotated to refresh essential nutrients in the soil. It is now available for purchase nationwide at https://spiribam.com/clement-rhum-shop. Rhum Clement Introduces New Liqueur, Bana Canne Made from bananas grown on their Martinique estate, Bana Canne joins Creole Shrubb and Mahina Coco in new bottles to form the Clement Liqueur Collection. "While at Habitation Clement, a group of U.S. bartenders observed both the sugarcane and banana harvests and learned firsthand the challenges of the two industries," explains Benjamin Jones, Director, Spiribam America. "During the quality control process, approximately 20% of the banana harvest is rejected and destined to compost or to local pig farms. Light bulbs popped over the heads of these bartenders, which eventually led to the development of a product that utilizes the island's two principal agricultural activities and reduces organic waste from banana production." Bana Canne: Hyper Local Meets Innovative Collaboration Crafted from bananas from Habitation Clement, Bana Canne is a collaboration with Kadalys, a Black woman-owned skincare brand championing sustainability and biochemistry. This partnership between Clement and Kadalys, founded by entrepreneur and Martinique native Shirley Billot, reinforces how diverse teams can create spectacular results. After over two years of collaboration and nearly fifty trials, the Clement-Kadalys teams developed the eco-extraction technique which led to the Bana Canne recipe. "It's been an exhilarating journey collaborating with Clement," says Shirley. "Capturing the rich, nuanced banana flavors present in Bana Canne was a challenging and intricate task. I'm proud to have played such an important role in bringing this beautiful liqueur to life." Creole Shrubb and Mahina Coco: A Modern Look The Creole Shrubb and Mahina Coco that round out the Clement trilogy now sport redesigned packaging. Creole Shrubb is a traditional Martinican liqueur that is a favorite among U.S. bartenders, a blend of Clement aged and unaged Rhum Agricole with natural orange peels, pulp, and creole spices. Mahina Coco is a bright and refreshing rhum-based liqueur, a vibrant natural alternative to conventional coconut liqueurs. "After tireless efforts to create Bana Canne, we wanted to create a bottle that evoked the passion and natural ingredients," says Audrey Bruisson, Marketing Director, Rhum Clement. "Now that there are three liqueurs, we decided they should be dressed in a similar sophisticated fashion, and created the Clement Liqueur Collection." ABOUT RHUM CLEMENT Founded in 1887, Clement is one of Martinique's iconic brands. Located in Le Francois, on the Atlantic coast of Martinique, Clement produces aged and unaged Rhum Agricole, as well as a range of rhum-based liqueurs. Habitation Clement has six aging cellars housing over 12,000 barrels of particular types, origins, and sizes. This enables cellar master Julien Thimon and his team to craft characterful aged rums with flavorful oak character, reflecting Clement's distinctive aromatic profile. ABOUT KADALYS KADALYS is the first organic and eco-conscious bio-tech brand that upcycles banana agri-waste into patented and clinically proven active ingredients. Established in 2011, Kadalys leverages a deep understanding of biochemistry, eco-extraction, and sustainability to create and monetize banana agri-waste. In 2012, Kadalys launched its first line of products KADALYS, an eco-conscious skincare line clinically proven to rejuvenate skin. Contact Information Jen Neugeboren Publicist, Neugeboren PR jen@neugeborenpr.com 917-572-5761 SOURCE: Spiribam USA View the original press release on newswire.com. Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - NioBay Metals (TSXV: NBY) (OTCQB: NBYCF) is pleased to announce that it will be participating in THE Mining Investment Event of the North, ("THE Event") taking place June 4-6, 2024 in Quebec City at the Centre des congres de Quebec. Management from NioBay Metals will be holding one-on-one investor meetings throughout the three-day conference. Investors are invited to contact Jennifer Choi at jchoi@irinc.ca to inquire about registering to attend. About NioBay Metals NioBay aims to become a leader in the development of mine(s) with low carbon consumption and responsible water and wildlife management practices while prioritizing the environment, social responsibility, good governance, and the inclusion of all stakeholders. Our top priority, which is critical to our success, is the consent and full participation of the Indigenous communities in whose territories and/or on ancestral lands we operate. In addition to others properties, NioBay holds a 100% interest in the James Bay Niobium Project located 45 km south of Moosonee, in the Moose Cree Traditional Territory of the James Bay Lowlands in Ontario. NioBay also holds a 72.5% interest in the Crevier Niobium and Tantalum project located in Quebec and on the Nitassinan territory of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation. The Company has also the option to acquire a 80% interest in the Foothills project, a titanium-phosphate project located near the former St-Urbain mine site in Quebec. NioBay Metals Inc.Jean-Sebastien David, geo. President & Chief Executive Officer Tel.: 514 866-6500 jsdavid@niobaymetals.com www.niobaymetals.com. Kimberly Darlington Investor Relations 514 771-3398 kimberly@refinedsubstance.com THE Event is invitation only - Interested investors & issuers please go here: https://www.themininginvestmentevent.com/register or contact Jennifer Choi, jchoi@irinc.ca The latest Agenda, Brochure, participating companies, speakers & panelists may be found here: https://themininginvestmentevent.com. About THE Mining Investment Event of the North - Canada's Only Tier I Global Mining Investment Conference is held annually in Quebec City, Canada. THE Event is independently sponsored and designed to facilitate privately arranged meetings between mining companies, international investors, and various mining government authorities and provides a platform to hear from some of most influential thought leaders in the sector. THE Event is committed to promoting diversity, equality issues and sustainability in the mining industry via education and innovation through its unique Student Sponsorship and SHE-Co Initiatives. SOURCE: VID Media Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Osisko Metals (TSXV: OM) (OTCQX: OMZNF) is pleased to announce that it will be participating in THE Mining Investment Event of the North, ("THE Event") taking place June 4-6, 2024 in Quebec City at the Centre des congres de Quebec. Robert Wares will be presenting at 2:15 pm ET on June 5th. Management from Osisko Metals will also be holding one-on-one investor meetings throughout the three-day conference. Investors are invited to contact Jennifer Choi at jchoi@irinc.ca to inquire about registering to attend. About Osisko Metals Osisko Metals Incorporated is a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the critical metals space, more specifically copper and zinc. The Company is a joint venture partner with Appian Capital Advisory LLP for the advancement of one of Canada's premier past-producing zinc mining camps, the Pine Point Project, located in the Northwest Territories, for which the 2022 PEA (as defined herein) has indicated an after-tax NPV of C$602 million and an IRR of 25%, based on long-term zinc price of US$1.37/lb and the current mineral resource estimates that are amenable to open pit and shallow underground mining. The current mineral resource estimate in the 2022 PEA consists of 15.7 Mt grading 5.55% ZnEq of Indicated Mineral Resources and 47.2 Mt grading 5.94% ZnEq of Inferred Mineral Resources. Please refer to the technical report entitled "Preliminary Economic Assessment, Pine Point Project, Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada" dated August 26, 2022 (with an effective date of July 30, 2022), which was prepared for Osisko Metals and PPML by representatives of BBA Engineering Inc., HydroRessources Inc., PLR Resources Inc. and WSP Canada Inc. (the "2022 PEA"). Please refer to the full text of the 2022 PEA, a copy of which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the Osisko Metals' issuer profile, for the assumptions, methodologies, qualifications and limitations described therein. The Pine Point Project is located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, near infrastructure, with paved highway access, an electrical substation, as well as 100 kilometres of viable haulage roads. In addition, the Company acquired in July 2023, from Glencore Canada Corporation, a 100% interest in the past-producing Gaspe Copper Project, located near Murdochville in the Gaspe peninsula of Quebec. The Company is currently focused on resource evaluation of the Copper Mountain Deposit that hosts the updated Mineral Resource Estimate described herein. Gaspe Copper hosts the largest undeveloped copper resource in Eastern North America, strategically located near existing infrastructure in the mining-friendly province of Quebec. For further information on this news release, visit www.osiskometals.com or contact: Robert Wares, Chairman & CEO of Osisko Metals Incorporated Email: info@osiskometals.com www.osiskometals.com Kimberly Darlington Investor Relations 514 771-3398 kimberly@refinedsubstance.com THE Event is invitation only - Interested investors & issuers please go here: https://www.themininginvestmentevent.com/register or contact Jennifer Choi, jchoi@irinc.ca The latest Agenda, Brochure, participating companies, speakers & panelists may be found here: https://themininginvestmentevent.com. About THE Mining Investment Event of the North - Canada's Only Tier I Global Mining Investment Conference is held annually in Quebec City, Canada. THE Event is independently sponsored and designed to facilitate privately arranged meetings between mining companies, international investors, and various mining government authorities and provides a platform to hear from some of most influential thought leaders in the sector. THE Event is committed to promoting diversity, equality issues and sustainability in the mining industry via education and innovation through its unique Student Sponsorship and SHE-Co Initiatives. SOURCE: VID Media Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, May 30 For immediate release 30 May 2024 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announce that it has today purchased 183,914 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 833.74 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 43,038,638; 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 181,952,665. The figure of 181,952,665 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 ZIGUP plc - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, May 30 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 30 May 2024 ZIGUP PLC ("ZIGUP" or the "Group" or the "Company") Transaction in Own Shares ZIGUP plc (LSE:ZIG) announces that on 30 May 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 : 25,000 Weighted average purchase price paid 429.5 pence per share Highest purchase price paid 429.5 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid 429.5 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 19,889,362 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 226,202,061 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 Purchase - Individual Transaction (as at 30 May 2024) Number of shares purchased Transaction price (GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 25,000 429.50 09:42:00 00070111858TRLO0 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: ZIGUP (formerly Redde Northgate plc) is the leading integrated mobility solutions provider, with a platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle to help people keep on the move, smarter. The Company offers mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across a broad range of areas from vehicle rental and fleet management to accident management, vehicle repairs, service and maintenance. The mobility landscape is changing, becoming ever more connected and ZIGUP uses its knowledge and expertise to guide customers through the transformation, whether that is more digitally connected solutions or supporting the transition to lower carbon mobility through providing EVs, charging solutions and consultancy. The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, smarter - through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With our considerable scale and reach, ZIGUP's mission is to offer an imaginative, market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group seeks to achieve this through the delivery of its new strategic framework of Enable, Deliver and Grow. ZIGUP supports its customers through a network and diversified fleet of approx. 130,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 700,000 managed vehicles, with over 175 branches across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 7,500 employees. We are a trusted partner to many of the leading insurance and leasing companies, blue chip corporates and a broad range of businesses across a diverse range of sectors. Our strength comes not only from our breadth of our award-winning solutions, but from our extensive network reach, our wealth of experience and continual focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience. Further information regarding ZIGUP plc can be found on the Company's website: www.zigup.com LONDON, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading international schools organisation Nord Anglia Education has received a number of prestigious awards and accolades this academic year for its schools' achievements. These include: Spear's Index featuring four Nord Anglia schools Four Nord Anglia schools have been recognised in this year's Spear's Index, which is a definitive index of the world's 100 leading private schools. College Alpin Beau Soleil - Top Flight 2024, Switzerland Schools College Champittet - Top Flight 2024, Switzerland Schools Swiss International School Dubai - Top Recommended 2024, Middle East Schools Nord Anglia International School Dubai - Top Recommended 2024, Middle East Schools International School Awards from ISC Research Three Nord Anglia schools were honoured at the 2024 International School Awards hosted by ISC Research at the start of the year: Regents International School Pattaya - Awarded for its 'Culture Club' programme focusing on equality, diversity, and inclusion as well as student leadership. British Vietnamese International School Hanoi - Awarded for its 'Floating Village' community service project. St Andrews International School Bangkok - Awarded for its ongoing 'Elephant Project' raising awareness about conservation. TES International School Award for BVIS Hanoi British Vietnamese International School Hanoi was also recognised in April 2024 with a TES International School Award in the Community Engagement category. This award underscores the school's commitment to positive community impact, particularly through its work with underprivileged families in Hanoi's "Floating Village". Inclusive School Award for St. Andrews in Bangkok St Andrews International School Bangkok received an Inclusive School Award and "Centre of Excellence" status by the Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM), becoming the first school outside of the UK to receive this distinguished accolade. The award acknowledged the school's inclusive ethos and dedication to meeting the diverse needs of all students. IQM praised St Andrews as "a modern, progressive, visionary ... inclusive international school," highlighting its unique and diverse community. 'Beacon Status' from COBIS for British International School Kuala Lumpur The British International School Kuala Lumpur was awarded 'Beacon Status' for its student welfare provision by the Council of British International School (COBIS). This means the school is recognised as one of excellence, which other schools can model their improvement efforts on. The COBIS accreditor said: "the school is commended for their multi layered and comprehensive approach to pastoral care and the authentic and impactful way wellbeing and EDI education for the whole community has been integrated into the system. This is truly outstanding." Ritzy Hong Kong Award for Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong was recognised with the 2024 Ritzy Hong Kong Education Award for 'Primary School of the Year' as well as 'Principal of the Year, All-through' for Kenny Duncan. NAS Dubai Counsellor wins Times Higher Education award Buket Ayaz, Head of Careers and University Counselling Programme at Nord Anglia International School Dubai, was awarded the 'Gulf and Central Asia Counsellor of the Year Award' by Times Higher Education. This award recognised her dedication and passion for guiding students towards their future careers and educational opportunities. For media enquiries please contact: David Bates Communications Manager +44 (0) 7787 135223 David.bates@nordanglia.com About Nord Anglia Education: As the world's leading international schools organisation, we're shaping a generation of creative and resilient global citizens who graduate from our schools with everything they need for success, whatever they choose to be or do in life.? Our strong academic foundations combine world-class teaching and curricula with cutting-edge technology and facilities, creating learning experiences like no other. Inside and outside of the classroom, we inspire our students to achieve more than they ever thought possible.? No two children learn the same way, which is why our schools around the world personalise learning to what works best for every student. Inspired by our high-quality teachers, our students achieve outstanding academic results and go on to study at the world's top universities.? To learn more or apply for a place for your child, go to nordangliaeducation.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503193/3645357/Nord_Anglia_Education_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nord-anglia-educations-schools-celebrate-exceptional-achievements-and-awards-302159717.html DTC's commitment to developing critical communication solutions for mission success is reinforced by the appointment of Stephen Beeching as Senior Vice President for EMEA. Beeching's extensive experience and dynamic leadership will drive the company's strategic growth process. This appointment supports DTC's customer-centric approach, enhancing its ability to help customers achieve their goals, strengthen partnerships and expand into new markets. With a focus on innovation and building highly dynamic teams, Beeching will play a pivotal role in ensuring the company's continued success. Whitely, Hampshire, UK, May 30, 2024, a leading global technology company providing mission-critical communication solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Beeching as Senior Vice President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). This new role further strengthens our leadership team and reinforces our customer commitment to provide them with solutions and capabilities that achieve mission success. Beeching brings DTC over 30 years of business leadership experience and a proven track record of successfully creating and delivering global strategic growth and transformation in international technology solution businesses. In this new role, he will oversee DTC's activities across the EMEA region, working closely with DTC's highly-skilled engineering and operations team, as well as Business Unit Directors for military and defence, uncrewed, law enforcement and intelligence and public safety verticals. Beeching will be accountable to ensuring the execution of our growth strategy as we realise the vision, long-term goals and values of the division. "We are thrilled to welcome Stephen to our team," said Paul Sangster, DTC President and Executive General Manager. "His extensive experience and dynamic leadership style will be instrumental in accelerating our strategic growth process while strengthening our partnerships throughout the EMEA region." Stephen joins DTC from Arqit, where he held the position of SVP of Government Systems, spearheading initiatives focussed on customer outcomes and driving global growth. Prior to this he was instrumental in leading the growth of Viasat UK as Managing Director. He is recognised for his customer-centric approach and ability to foster strong, collaborative relationships with partners and stakeholders. "I am excited to join DTC at such a pivotal time," said Beeching. "The company's culture and commitment to its teams, to market innovation along with its strategic vision for accelerated growth resonate deeply with me. I look forward to working with the talented team in the EMEA region and globally to drive success and deliver exceptional value and support to our customers, helping them achieve, and succeed in, their missions." This appointment marks another significant step in DTC's journey to strengthen its presence globally. As part of our growth strategy, we are dedicated to building dynamic teams that are focused on helping our customers achieve their goals. With Steven's leadership, we are confident in our ability to enhance our customer-centric approach, expand into new markets, and solidify our partnerships across the region. ### About Domo Tactical Communications Domo Tactical Communications (DTC) is the leading MIMO MESH provider in the world. DTC radio solutions provide short range high bandwidth communications suitable for the wireless transmission of video and other data applications. DTC is an established provider to customers including Military and Special Forces, Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies, Border Control and First Responders. DTC has a global reach with regional offices based in the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark, Dubai, Singapore and Australia. Employing more than 200 people globally and backed by an award-winning engineering team, DTC's trusted technology is at the heart of everything we do. DTC is a Codan Company. About Codan Communications Codan Communications is a global technology company that develops robust technology solutions to solve customers' communications, safety, security and productivity problems in some of the harshest environments around the world. We provide tactical communications solutions that enable our customers to be connected, ultimately to support critical missions worldwide. With almost 60 years in the business, we have garnered a reputation for quality, reliability and customer satisfaction, producing innovative and industry-leading technology solutions. Codan Communications is a member of the Codan group of companies. Attachment 30 May 2024, Limassol, Cyprus I Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY The Board of Directors of EPH European Property Holdings PLC (the "Company") has appointed Christina Spyrou-Katras to the Secretary of the Company effective as per 01 June 2024. NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Annual General Meeting of EPH European Property Holdings PLC will be held on 26 June 2024 at 11:00 AM at the Amathus Hotel Limassol, 75 Amathounta Avenue, 4532 Limassol, Cyprus, where the following ordinary business will be transacted: To receive and consider the Management Reports, the Audited Annual Financial Statements of the Company and the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2023 and the Auditors' Reports (by Deloitte AG, Switzerland and by Primus Audit & Tax, Cyprus) (the "Annual Report"); To appoint/ re-appoint the Auditors of the Company and authorise the Board of Directors to determine their remuneration; To consider the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Company to not declare a dividend; By order of the Board of Directors, Michaela Neophytou Secretary of EPH European Property Holdings PLC _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EPH European Property Holdings PLC is an investment company listed on SIX Swiss Exchange. Additional information on EPH European Property Holdings PLC is available by contacting Anna Bernhart Tel: +41 44 503 5400 or at contact@europeanpropertyholdings.com . MEMBERS' RIGHTS AND RELEVANT DOCUMENTS: The Record Date for the participation at the Annual General Meeting is 12 June 2024, 5pm CET. Only Members registered in the Company's Statutory Register as of the close of business on the Record Date shall have the right to attend, vote and address the Annual General Meeting. The shareholder register is maintained and administered by Computershare Schweiz AG, Baslerstrasse 90, CH-4600 Olten, Switzerland. Any change in the relevant Registry after the Record Date will not be counted in determining the right of any person to attend and vote at the Meeting. Any Member entitled to attend, vote and speak the Annual General Meeting, is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend, vote and speak in his/her/its stead. A proxy need not be a Member. The proxy document must be submitted at the Registered Office of the Company at Monis Machaira 18, Office 101, 3020 Limassol, Republic of Cyprus, E-mail : contact@europeanpropertyholdings.com at least 15 minutes before the time fixed for the Annual General Meeting. A proxy may be given in either Form A or Form B, attached hereto, or can be ordered from the share register with Computershare (see para. 3 below). In order to participate at the Annual General Meeting, a Member (or a duly appointed proxy of a Member) entitled to attend, vote and address the Annual General Meeting, shall obtain from the Company relevant admission cards and voting slips. Admission cards and voting slips will be provided by the Company and can be obtained (a) at the date, time and place of the Annual General Meeting or (b) via the share register with Computershare in advance of the Annual General Meeting (after the Record Date), by reverting to the relevant invitation and application form that will be sent by the Company via post to the Members entitled to receive notice of the Annual General Meeting. In order to obtain from the Company relevant admission cards and voting slips in advance of the Annual General Meeting via Computershare, Members shall complete and return the relevant application form to Computershare Schweiz AG (by using the envelope provided) at the following address: General Meetings Team Computershare Schweiz AG P +41 62 205 77 50 Baslerstrasse 90, Postfach, 4601 Olten, Schweiz generalversammlung@computershare.ch Every Member has the right to ask questions relating to the items of the agenda of the Annual General Meeting, subject to any measures the Company may adopt for the ascertainment of the Member's identity, as well as to parameters relating to the planning and the good order of the Annual General Meeting, the confidentiality and the business interests of the Company. Subject to what is mentioned in relation to the Record Date, any Member is entitled to attend, vote and address the Annual General Meeting. The Annual Report (which includes the Management Reports, the Audited Annual Financial Statements of the Company and the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2023 and the Auditors' Reports) is available and can be obtained in printed form from the Registered Office of the Company at Monis Machaira 18, Office 101, 3020 Limassol, Republic of Cyprus, or from the office of Valartis Advisory Services SA, St. Annagasse 18, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland as well as by email through contact@europeanpropertyholdings.com. The Annual Report shall also be available in printed form at the place and time of the Annual General Meeting. The Annual Report for the purposes of the SIX Swiss Exchange (which includes the Management Report, the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2023 and the Auditors' Report) was published on 26 April 2024, and can be downloaded from EPH European Property Holdings PLC website: https://europeanpropertyholdings.com/ (https://europeanpropertyholdings.com/). If required, members can obtain a printed form from the Registered Office of the Company at Monis Machaira 18, Office 101, 3020 Limassol, Republic of Cyprus, or from the office of Valartis Advisory Services SA, St. Annagasse 18, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland. The Company's Auditors, Deloitte AG, Switzerland and Primus Audit & Tax, Cyprus, have not given the Company notice in writing of any unwillingness to be re-appointed. Attachment NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Antea Group With just one month to go, the July 1st, 2024, deadline for companies operating in California to create and implement a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) is quickly approaching. Senate Bill No. 553 (CA Labor Code 6401.9) requires every company in the state to establish, implement, and maintain a WVPP by that date. To learn more about the bill and to download a free WVPP template, check out our original blog on this topic. What's important to note is that it's not enough to simply just have a plan in place. This bill also requires employers to train their employees upon implementation and to provide continued training annually for employees working in the state. Employers are actively debating the best methodologies to implement these WVPP training obligations. One of the obstacles employers are facing is that SB553 requires that the training allows for employee feedback or the ability to ask questions and get answers. While ideal scenarios involve in-person sessions with interactive Q&A segments, sessions like this aren't always practical for companies with numerous locations. So, the question remains, what's the best way to train employees on WVPP? Below, we discuss some training options to consider and their pros and cons. In-Person Training: The Ideal Yet Impractical Solution In-person training sessions are often hailed as the gold standard. They offer direct interaction, allowing employees to ask questions and receive immediate feedback, as the bill requires. This face-to-face communication fosters a clearer understanding and a more engaging learning experience. However, for companies with many employees across multiple locations, in-person sessions quickly become logistically challenging and costly. Live Webinars and Zoom Calls: A Middle Ground Many employers are turning to webinars and Zoom calls as a compromise. These platforms enable trainers to deliver the WVPP content live while utilizing chat features to facilitate Q&A sessions. This method retains some level of interactivity and is more scalable than in-person sessions. Nevertheless, managing a high volume of participants can still pose challenges, employees tend to multi-task during calls thus missing critical information, and the quality of engagement may suffer compared to in-person interactions. The Rise of eLearning: Flexible Yet Disconnected The benefits of eLearning are significant. It offers flexibility, allowing employees to complete the training at a convenient time, which is particularly advantageous for shift workers or those with busy schedules. eLearning platforms can incorporate adult learning concepts, interactive elements, and assessments to engage learners effectively. However, the requirement for employee feedback remains a sticking point. How can companies ensure meaningful interaction and feedback in a predominantly asynchronous learning environment? Addressing the eLearning Feedback Challenge Several strategies are emerging to tackle the feedback requirement in eLearning environments: Dedicated WVPP Q&A Email Addresses: Some companies are setting up specific email addresses where employees can send their questions and receive timely responses. This ensures feedback and questions are documented and addressed, albeit less immediate than live interactions. Some companies are setting up specific email addresses where employees can send their questions and receive timely responses. This ensures feedback and questions are documented and addressed, albeit less immediate than live interactions. Manager-Led Follow-Up Conversations: Another approach involves requiring managers to hold follow-up discussions with their teams after the eLearning modules. This allows employees to ask questions and discuss the training content in a more personalized setting, bridging the gap between asynchronous learning and real-time feedback. Another approach involves requiring managers to hold follow-up discussions with their teams after the eLearning modules. This allows employees to ask questions and discuss the training content in a more personalized setting, bridging the gap between asynchronous learning and real-time feedback. WVPP Office Hours and Live Q&A Sessions: Hosting dedicated office hours or live Q&A sessions provides employees with scheduled opportunities to connect with knowledgeable personnel. These sessions can be held periodically, ensuring that employees have regular access to real-time support and feedback. WVPP Training Key Takeaways The debate over the best methodology for implementing WVPP training is ongoing. Each approach-whether in-person, live webinars, or eLearning-offers unique advantages and faces distinct challenges. The key lies in finding a balance that meets regulatory requirements while remaining practical and scalable for your organization. By incorporating innovative feedback methods, companies can enhance the effectiveness of their training programs and ensure that employees remain engaged and informed, not only upon WVPP implementation, but also for the years to come. Do you need help building a WVPP or EHS training program at your organization? Reach out to our team of EHS training experts for help today! View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Antea Group on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Antea Group Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/antea-group Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Antea Group View the original press release on accesswire.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Wells Fargo: Customer, employee, and community support available Wells Fargo is donating $250,000 to support the Severe Weather and Derecho Recovery Fund, which is organized by the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance. The Alliance is a philanthropic partnership established by the Greater Houston Community Foundation and the United Way of Greater Houston to support individuals and families affected by the severe storms, derecho winds, tornados, and flooding events that occurred between April 26 and May 17, 2024. "Our thoughts remain with the city of Houston and surrounding areas that were severely impacted by the devasting storms over the past month," said Darlene Goins, president of the Wells Fargo Foundation and head of Philanthropy and Community Impact. "When it comes to supporting our communities, we understand there is greater power in collaboration. That's why we are proud to work with local nonprofits like the United Way of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Community Foundation to provide financial support to help aid in recovery efforts during these incredibly difficult times." The Severe Weather and Derecho Recovery Fund will serve uninsured and underinsured low-to-moderate income families in the affected counties of Harris, Montgomery, and Waller, focusing on disproportionately impacted zip codes and vulnerable populations. 75% of funds will support recovery through home repair and resource navigation. 25% of funds will support immediate relief through emergency flexible financial assistance. "The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance was created to help those severely impacted begin the process of recovery," said Stephen Maislin, president and CEO, Greater Houston Community Foundation. "Having the generous support of Wells Fargo is extremely helpful, and we are grateful to them for prioritizing the recovery efforts of the vulnerable populations in our community." "To have Wells Fargo's support of the Severe Weather and Derecho Recovery Fund is powerful," said Amanda McMillian, president and CEO, United Way of Greater Houston. "In times of disaster, it takes a collaborative and coordinated response from the nonprofit, for-profit, public sector and philanthropic community to ensure our neighbors get the help they need to start the recovery and rebuilding process." In addition, Wells Fargo is offering customer accommodations and employee support for those directly impacted by the storm. Wells Fargo customers who wish to support the American Red Cross storm relief efforts may donate through any Wells Fargo ATM in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, and Texas beginning May 24 through June 6. There is no fee for ATM donations, and 100% of contributions will be sent to the American Red Cross. Supporting customers Wells Fargo is committed to providing support to customers and clients affected by the recent storm in Houston. Customers who want to discuss their financial needs should call 1-800-219-9739. For support related to commercial accounts, customers can contact their relationship manager or client service officer directly, or call Global Treasury Management Service at 1-800-AT-WELLS (1-800-289-3557). Caring for employees The company's We Care Fund was established to aid employees during unexpected financial hardship, including natural disasters. Employees who are impacted by the recent storm should contact their manager or Employee Assistance Consulting to be connected to resources, including the We Care application process. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 47 on Fortune's 2023 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellsfargo *The American Red Cross name, emblem, and copyrighted materials are being used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion, or political position. The American Red Cross logo is a registered trademark owned by The American National Red Cross. For more information about the American Red Cross, please visit redcross.org. Contact Information Media Ty Morrison, 713-838-6799 Tymika.Morrison@wellsfargo.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Wells Fargo on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Wells Fargo Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/wells-fargo Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Wells Fargo View the original press release on accesswire.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Southwire has joined forces with British climate tech leader Levidian to bring their innovative decarbonization technology to North America for the first time. The collaboration will see the installation of Levidian's LOOP technology at Southwire where it will capture carbon from methane to produce a hydrogen-rich blend gas. The teams will also be working on useful applications for the hydrogen and graphene, which can be used as a high-quality additive to increase the performance of materials as wide-ranging as concrete, batteries and plastics. "This collaboration with Southwire marks an important first step in our expansion into North America and our mission to help decarbonize some of the important sectors on the planet," said Levidian CEO John Hartley. "By deploying our LOOP technology at Southwire's facilities, we're not just reducing carbon emissions. We're reshaping the landscape of sustainable industrial practices." As one of the world's leading manufacturers of wire and cable, Southwire delivers power to millions of people around the world. This partnership reflects the company's commitment to innovation and remaining generationally sustainable in the electrical industry. "This cooperation marks a significant stride towards our sustainability goals as we conduct exploratory work in graphene and hydrogen production and their potential applications," said Axel Schlumberger, senior vice president of research and development at Southwire. Levidian has also announced its intention to establish a new base in the US, including a new manufacturing hub for its LOOP devices to serve customers across North America. For more information on Levidian and its mission to decarbonize the world's most carbon-intensive industries, visit www.levidian.com. For more news and information on Southwire and its commitment to sustainability, visit www.southwire.com/newsroom. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Southwire on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Southwire Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/southwire Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Southwire View the original press release on accesswire.com AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) calls for relocating the ongoing Pandemic Agreement negotiations out of Geneva, Switzerland. Citing concerns over transparency, accessibility, and inclusiveness, AHF advocates for a more globally inclusive venue that ensures equitable participation from all countries, particularly of the Global South. This week, at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA), there has been no consensus on seventeen articles of the Agreement, with a notable impasse on the critical issues of equity and financing. Yesterday, Bolivia, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic advocated for a more inclusive approach that better integrates smaller delegations into the negotiating process. Brazil also highlighted the need for a more transparent process with the active involvement of relevant stakeholders. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO, was recently quoted: "Let the spirit of Geneva the spirit of cooperation, mutual respect, and shared responsibility guide your deliberations as you work towards finalizing the agreement by the set deadline in May this year." "Evidently the so-called 'spirit of Geneva' failed because it is not the spirit of the developing countries where 81% of the population of the world lives," said Dr. Penninah Iutung, AHF Africa Bureau Chief. "What we need is the spirit of Addis Ababa, or the spirit of Nairobi, Johannesburg, New Delhi, Jakarta or perhaps Sao Paulo, cities that can truly represent the will and commitment of the developing world to achieving equity in the pandemic agreement. Geneva is one of the world's most developed and expensive cities, how can a spirit nurtured there be sensitive to what happened in developing countries during the worst times of the Covid-19 pandemic?" For the upcoming meetings of the Pandemic Accord negotiation process, AHF calls for the relocation of the negotiations from Switzerland to a developing country. This will show a new spirit, the spirit of equity and solidarity that is needed for a successful pandemic agreement. We emphasize that the success of the Pandemic Agreement depends on the genuine and active participation of Member States and the meaningful inclusion of relevant stakeholders, including civil society and communities. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 2 million clients in 46 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530271739/en/ Contacts: Ariel Terron Director AHF Global Public Health Institute for Latin America and The Caribbean +52 2858 2004 ariel.terron@ahf.org Oluwakemi (Kemi) Gbadamosi Director Advocacy, Policy Marketing AHF Africa Bureau +234-814-772-4590 Oluwakemi.Gbadamosi@ahf.org Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Omai Gold Mines Corp. (TSXV: OMG) (OTCQB: OMGGF) ("Omai" or the "Company") has entered into an agreement with Paradigm Capital Inc. (the "Agent") to act as lead agent and sole bookrunner, on behalf of a syndicate of agents to be formed, in connection with a "best efforts" private placement offering (the "Offering") of 83,334,000 common shares (each, a "Share") of the Company to be issued at $0.12 per Share (the "Issue Price") for gross proceeds of $10,000,080. In addition, the Agent has been granted an option to sell up to 12,500,100 additional Shares for additional gross proceeds of $1,500,012. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for exploration and development, and general working capital purposes. The Offering is expected to close on or about June 20, 2024 and is subject to certain closing conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the conditional listing approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the applicable securities regulatory authorities. The Offering is being made by way of private placement in Canada, in the United States pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the United States Securities of 1933, as amended, and in such other jurisdictions as may be mutually agreed upon by the Agent and the Company. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a hold period in Canada expiring four months and one day from the closing date of the offering. 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 offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About OMAI GOLD MINES CORP. Omai Gold Mines Corp. holds a 100% interest in the Omai Prospecting License that includes the past producing Omai Gold Mine in Guyana, and a 100% interest in the adjoining Eastern Flats Mining Permits. The Company announced a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on its Wenot deposit at Omai on April 4, 2024, supporting an open pit operation to produce 1.84 million ounces of gold over a 13-year period, with an NPV5% of US$556 million at a US$1950/oz gold price1. An updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") announced February 8, 2024 includes 2.0 million ounces of gold (Indicated) and 2.3 million ounces (Inferred)1. Once South America's largest producing gold mine, Omai produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold between 1993 and 2005. Mining ceased at a time when the average gold price was less than US$400 per ounce. As a brownfields project, Omai benefits from good road access and a wealth of historical data that provides knowledge of the geology and gold mineralization on the Property, as well as metallurgy, historical process recoveries and many other relevant mining parameters. 1 The NI43-101 Technical Report dated May 21, 2024, titled "UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AND PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE OMAI GOLD PROPERTY, POTARO MINING DISTRICT NO. 2, GUYANA", prepared under the supervision of Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, President of P&E Mining Consultants Inc., who is a Qualified Person (QP) and is independent of Omai Gold for the purposes of NI 43-101. The report is available on SEDAR+ and on the Company's website at https://omaigoldmines.com/site/assets/files/5486/omg_wenot_pea_final_may_21_2024.pdf. Elaine Ellingham P.Geo. is a Qualified Person (QP) under NI 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" and has reviewed the technical information contained in this news release. Ms. Ellingham is not considered to be independent for the purposes of NI 43-101. For further information, please contact: Elaine Ellingham, P.Geo. President & CEO elaine@omaigoldmines.com +1.416.473.5351 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements or information (collectively, "FLI") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, FLI can be identified by the use of statements that include words such as "seeks", "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "continues", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "intends", "projects", "predicts", "proposes", "potential", "targets" and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "will" "could", "would", "should" or "might", "be taken", "occur" or "be achieved." FLI herein includes, but is not limited to, the terms and conditions of the Offering, anticipated regulatory approvals in connection with the Offering, timing of closing of the Offering, stated use of proceeds of the Offering, statements regarding the results of the Omai PEA, including the production, operating cost, capital cost and cash cost estimates, the projected valuation metrics and rates of return, and the cash flow projections, as well as mineral resource estimates for the Omai Gold Mine. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are FLI that involve various risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. For additional information with respect to these and risks, assumptions, and other factors that may affect the FLI made in this press release concerning the Company, please refer to the sections entitled "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" in the most recent management discussion and analysis of the Company, which is available electronically on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's issuer profile. FLI is not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The FLI contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof or as at the date of the applicable document only and, accordingly, are subject to change after such dates. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any FLI or the foregoing list of risks, assumptions or other factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211145 SOURCE: Omai Gold Mines Corp. by Ashok K Mehta Indias Twin Challenges Warrant Active Deterrence: Achievable through Investment in Defence BJPs defence and national security manifesto is Modi ki guarantee for Surakshit Bharar. It launched a massive 15-day campaign to invite suggestions through face-to-face meetings and the NaMo app from around 10 mn supporters. The election manifesto is immersed in Modi pictures and a surfeit of Modi ki guarantees. There is plenty the BJP is taking credit for. Eliminating terrorism though attacks occurred only last week in J&K. Cross Border Terrorism has a tragic history: attack on Parliament in December 2001 (under BJP rule) and Mumbai 2008 under United Progressive Alliance (UPA) dispensation. In 2001 BJP applied coercive diplomacy -Operation Parakaram- which was partially successful. In 2008 UPA exercised strategic restraint doing nothing. Its zero tolerance for terrorism was demonstrated by Uri and Myanmar surgical strikes in 2016 and Balakot air strikes in 2019. These created deterrence against spectacular terrorism. BJPs claim of no attack in the last decade is wrong: terrorists struck at Pathankot, Pulwama and Uri Brigade Headquarters and 2950 civilians and security forces were killed in terrorist-related incidents between 2014 and 2023. Indian forces [File Photo] BJPs inventory of achievements is impressive: revocation of Article 370, 52 per cent reduction in Left Wing Terrorism, with Home Minister Amit Shah declaring it will be crushed within three years. There is an overall decline of 73 per cent in the insurgency in the northeast but no mention of Manipur where violence has continued for one year and repolling ordered twice. Manipur, a serious embarrassment for the Government will reignite insurgency. Given the violent situation on the India-Myanmar border, with the Junta fighting a losing battle with rebels, Myanmar will present a major threat to the North East. Hailing CDS as an achievement, the BJP emphasised the completion of theorisation soonest. Further infrastructure development in the northern borders is matched by a thrust towards the security of the Indian Ocean Region. Defence manufacturing and Atmanirbharta figure prominently under Making India a Global Manufacturing Hub. There is no mention of China or Pakistan and dealing with the twin threats they pose even as the opposition has attacked the Government for loss of territory in east Ladakh which the Government has denied emphatically. Clean chit to China will resolve the border dispute on Indias terms difficult if not impossible. Restoration of status quo ante (April 20, 2020), demanded by successive Army Chiefs, is also not realizable. The lack of political guidance to the Armed Forces is a major deficiency. The first indication in four years that agreement on theorisation is nearing came from RM Rajnath Singh this month. Leaving it to the CDS whose operational role is unclear to obtain consensus on the allocation of resources, the job profile of service Chiefs when theatre commanders are in place and operational command and control of theatres is unworkable without inputs from RM and NSA to CDS. Equally, NSA Ajit Doval and the National Security Council Secretariate have to update the National Security Strategy submitted by Integrated Defence Staff in 2021. Surprisingly, the Government has not taken these two interlinked issues Theatrisation and NSS seriously enough. Speculation is rife these will happen within one year of BJP 3.0. During the UPA rule, NSS was prepared thrice.The issue most befuddling is the static of defence spending on which the 2024 BJP manifesto is silent. The Congress on the other hand has Stated in its current manifesto that it will arrest the decline in defence spending and allocate sufficient funds. Sufficiency of funds is a challenge no Government has addressed. Defence allocation has plummeted from a high of 3.5 per cent in Congress rule in the late 1980s when I was a member of the Defence Planning Staff to less than 2 per cent today even when the GDP has risen exponentially. The latest SIPRI report shows Indias defence budget is USD 84bn compared to Chinas USD 296 bn. In defence allocation, for 2024-25, defence outlay was increased by 4.7 per cent which is the lowest in ten years (except in 2020-21) when it was 1.45 per cent of the GDP. As a percentage of GDP defence spending has not reached even 2 per cent at a time when two full-fledged wars are being fought along with several skirmishes. The capital budget for modernisation best illustrates the parsimony: the gap between the amount demanded and the amount allocated in 2015-16 was Rs 16,646 crore while in 2022-23 it rose to Rs 63,328 crore. Government officials offer the perennial excuse that defence forces cant spend the money. Amit Cowshish who was financial advisor (Acquisition) a decade ago says the 1.9 per cent of GDP in the current fiscal is 13 per cent of Government expenditure. A defence spending budget which is 3 per cent of GDP alone can begin to catch up with China in military capability. The rest of the world is investing hugely in defence with 31 Nato nations committed to reaching 2 per cent of GDP with the UK pledging to reach 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027. Even pacifist Japan has decided to put aside the 1 per cent spending on defence constitutional limitation and will spend 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027 and invest USD 315 bn to augment capabilities and deterrence. The capital cost of catheterisation and attendant reforms have to be factored in. Modi has to bite the bullet to deter China and with Jaishankar try to make the twin threat challenge one-front. Modis This is not the era of war is day-dreaming! Ashok K. Mehta is a radio and television commentator, and a columnist on defence and security issues. He is a former Major General of Indian Army. After joining the Indian Army in 1957, he was commissioned in the 5th Gorkha Rifles infantry regiment in the same year. He had fought in all major wars India went into, except the Sino-Indian War of 1962. And he was also on a peacekeeping mission in Zaire in the year 1962 and in the Indian Peace Keeping Force, Sri Lanka (1988-90) and it was his last assignment in the Indian Army. He is also a writer of several books and a founder-member of the Defense Planning Staff in the Ministry of Defence, India. Approval of all resolutions supported by the Board of Directors Regulatory News: TotalEnergies EP Gabon's (Paris:EC) Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting was held today in Port-Gentil, chaired by Mr. Michel ANTSELEVE, vice-chairman of the Board of Directors. The shareholders adopted all the resolutions supported by the Board of Directors, including in particular: Approval of the 2023 financial statements (IFRS and OHADA frameworks) and the payment of a net dividend of $22.22 per share related to the financial year 2023. The ratification of the co-optations of the following persons as directors: Ms. Renee Estelle NSI BENGONE and Ms. Stephanie MPEMBA MBADINGA for the remainder of their respective predecessors' term of office as directors, i.e. until the General Meeting to approve the financial statements for the 2024 financial year Mr. Xavier ROUZEAUD for the remainder of his predecessor's term of office as a director, i.e. until the Shareholders' Meeting to approve the financial statements for the 2023 financial year Mr. Mike SANGSTER, Mr. Thomas MAREEL, Mr. Brice de Leon RETENO NDIAYE for the remainder of their respective predecessors' term of office as directors, i.e. until the General Meeting approving the financial statements for the 2024 financial year Renewal of the directors' mandates of the Gabonese republic and MM. Karim CHAOUCHE, Georges-Eric N'KOMA and Xavier ROUZEAUD for a two-year term expiring at the end of the Annual Shareholders' Meeting called to approve the 2025 financial statements The renewal of the terms of office of statutory auditor entrusted to Ernst Young Gabon and Mr. Yves Frederic FUMANAL for a period of six years, i.e. until the Annual General Meeting to approve the financial statements for the 2029 financial year A detailed breakdown of the vote tallies will be posted on the Company's website www.ep.totalenergies.ga in the coming days. The Board of Directors in its meeting today approved the modalities of the dividend payment. The $22,22 per share dividend will be paid in euro as from June 28, 2024, in an equivalent amount of 20.55 per share, based on the European Central Bank's rate (or its corresponding value in CFA francs) of $1.0815 per euro on May 30, 2024. About TotalEnergies EP Gabon TotalEnergies EP Gabon is 58.28% owned by TotalEnergies SE, 25% by the Gabonese Republic and 16.72% by the public. About TotalEnergies TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations. TotalEnergies on social media X: @TotalEnergies LinkedIn: TotalEnergies Facebook: TotalEnergies Instagram: TotalEnergies Cautionary Note The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. TotalEnergies SE has no liability for the acts or omissions of these entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530661872/en/ Contacts: TotalEnergies EP Gabon actionnariat-epgabon@totalenergies.com Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l ir@totalenergies.com A new report discloses the Institutional Investors & private funds financing the rise of technology innovation in China, and other autocratic countries. SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Data compiled by nonprofit firm, Future Union, indicates that venture capital and private equity funds have been the core of China's innovation and technology emergence and the foundation of its geopolitical rise. The recently released report reveals the degree and scope of the technology success of China, and the implications of such technological power as the basis of creating geopolitical instability. The quantitative and qualitative evaluation reviews recent transactions, as well as preceding investments, and the associated private capital funds in light of the emergence of China, and other centrally-governed, autocratic countries. It also notes the role private capital has played in the foundational support and as the fulcrum in the creation of numerous, formidable quasi-public/private technology challengers to democratic, free market-oriented technology startups and companies. The report details how the competition over artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and semiconductors is accelerating. And how America and global rule of law, free market democracies are in competition against countries with a record of the selective application of law, given a lengthy pattern of reneging on privately negotiated, commercial intellectual property agreements and direct intellectual property expropriation through various state and commercial means, thereby, using the openness of the free market to their advantage. In one example, data by the San Francisco-based nonprofit revealed that in the most influential ranking of venture capitalists, 46 of the top venture capital investors in the most recent listing have directly identifiable connections to China-related investments, providing a direct benefit to Beijing as it attempts to displace Silicon Valley in the race for the next big technological breakthrough. The report, titled the "Rubicon Report," calls attention to funding that has fueled China's technology innovation resulting in competing, or leading, status in numerous technology sectors. Led by a venture capitalist and investment banker, the report details of the inner workings of the private equity and financial firms and shows through meticulous examples how many of these investors have prioritized Chinese startups at the expense of America's technological superiority. The report specifically highlights the common occurrence of a venture capital fund investing in a startup, which typically precludes any investments in competing startups, U.S. or foreign. Thus, an investment in a Chinese-based startup would negate investment in any similar startup in the U.S., as the fund has a fiduciary duty to its limited partners to make all efforts - including devoting personal networks of nearly priceless importance and the accumulated, intangible knowledge and pattern recognition amassed over a career - to ensure that their investment prevails over the competition. This fact means a Chinese startup investment by a major, deep-pocketed venture capital fund, especially one with considerable clout in the industry, can have a chilling effect as other venture funds may be reluctant to invest in startups competing against their investment, an example of which occurred in the unmanned, aerial drone industry with Shenzhen DJI Technologies and video game industry with Tencent Games, creating binary competitions of Chinese startups pitted against those in the U.S. The report details the broad, and direct, relationships between Wall Street, global finance, and China's technology acceleration, including the U.S. Public Pensions, University Endowments, and Nonprofits/Foundations, with a considerable focus on the most critical areas of technology innovations: the earlier-stage private startup company investments that fuel the moonshot technology breakthroughs. Given the importance of the critical technologies and nascent stages, the report fixates on private investors - primarily venture capital and private equity - with specific scrutiny focused on the funds and institutional investors who have financed China's rise. In a statement, Andrew King Executive Director of Future Union said: "As our policymakers and elected leaders attempt to marshal the critical consensus among competing economic interests across constituencies, our data reveals that the private capital sector can, and must, do more. The data in the Rubicon Report shows that private capital market investors and institutional investors have been the largest beneficiaries of betting on Chinese startups. Yet such investments belie the risk, and have enabled a competitive, largely anti-free market, autocratic system to scale up the next generation technologies that ultimately serve as a mechanism to compete against America and other allied democracies." As the data in the report concludes, the global financial community is the critical lever on which rogue autocratic countries continue to rely to support an array of global pursuits. While the world is placing greater scrutiny on the global private sector, corporate ties to supply chains and resources in China, and other adversarial countries, the data indicates that many U.S. investors have remained largely impervious to pressure and change. In the attached report, Future Union concludes that the fusion of technology, investment, and capital markets will be the critical determinant of which countries triumph in the geopolitical competition between democratic and anti-democratic forces in the future. About Future Union Future Union is a bipartisan organization designed to galvanize the private sector to address a new wave of emerging security and technology challenges facing the United States and its allies. We believe that democracy can no longer just exist to promote capitalism. Capitalism must be a force for democracy. Future Union is intent on catalyzing the private sector to make a difference for technological and capital markets-led democracy, specifically, by taking a stance and action on limiting the economic power that Countries of Concern1 wield in the U.S. We aim to fuse private sector innovation and democratic-capitalism to ensure that economic competition and mutuality of contract under the equal, rule of law principles are abided by all competing countries. As America and its allies vie to lead the next generation of innovation and technology, Future Union hopes to encourage a broad corporate re-evaluation and definition of risks to ensure democratic, free market principles remain at the core of geopolitical leadership and prevail against competing systems. 1 Countries of Concern are set forth as those with military capabilities that could threaten democratic national security. The most recent "foreign countries of concern" designation was made by the Secretary of State on December 29, 2023, and included the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, among others. Contact: media@futureunion.co Andrew King www.futureunion.com SOURCE: Future Union View the original press release on accesswire.com Der Goldpreis haussiert und schwingt sich von Hoch zu Hoch. Getrieben von geopolitischen Unsicherheiten sowie der Aussicht auf eine lockere Geldpolitik der FED gehen Experten aktuell von weiter steigenden Notierungen bis sogar in den Bereich von 3.000 US-Dollar je Unze Gold aus. Im Schatten des Basispreises notieren Goldproduzenten aus der zweiten Reihe sowie Explorationsunternehmen noch weit weg von ihren historischen Hochststanden entfernt und bieten dadurch erhebliches Aufholpotential. In diesem kostenlosen Report geben wir Ihnen Favoriten an die Hand, die aufgrund von Sondersituation die Chance auf eine Kursvervielfachung besitzen. Handeln Sie Jetzt! Fordern Sie jetzt den brandneuen Spezialreport an und profitieren Sie von dem weiter steigenden Kurs des Edelmetalls. Sichern Sie sich jetzt Ihren kostenfreien Report. MALVERN, Pa., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Endo, Inc. ("Endo" or the "Company"), a newly formed entity that recently acquired (the "Acquisition") substantially all of the assets of Endo International plc ("EIP") as contemplated by EIP's plan of reorganization (the "Plan"), today made select first-quarter 2024 financial results for EIP available to investors. EIP's first-quarter financial results were in-line with its previously provided expectations. Endo is providing the following historical financial information of EIP because, from Endo's formation through March 31, 2024, it had no operations, business transactions or activities other than those incidental to its formation or taken in contemplation of the Plan (including the Acquisition). Endo had no other assets or liabilities during the periods presented in this release. The following historical financial information of EIP does not give effect to the transactions contemplated by the Plan or the application of fresh start accounting expected to apply to Endo's financial information beginning in the second quarter of 2024. EIPFIRST-QUARTER FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE (in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 Change Total Revenues, Net $ 419,507 $ 515,267 (19) % Reported Net Loss $ (154,230) $ (3,279) NM Adjusted Net Income (a) $ 131,415 $ 193,328 (32) % Adjusted EBITDA (a) $ 146,302 $ 209,030 (30) % __________ (a) The information presented in the table above includes non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA. Refer to the "Supplemental Financial Information" section below for reconciliations of certain non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. EIP CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS Total revenues were $420 million in first-quarter 2024, a decrease of 19% compared to $515 million in first-quarter 2023. This decrease was primarily attributable to decreased revenues from the Generic Pharmaceuticals segment. Reported Net Loss in first-quarter 2024 was $154 million compared to reported Net Loss of $3 million in first-quarter 2023. This change was primarily due to increased expenses related to the Chapter 11 reorganization process and decreased revenues. Adjusted Net Income in first-quarter 2024 was $131 million compared to $193 million in first-quarter 2023. This change was primarily driven by decreased revenues. BRANDED PHARMACEUTICALS SEGMENT First-quarter 2024 Branded Pharmaceuticals segment revenues were $201 million compared to $198 million during first-quarter 2023. Specialty Products revenues increased 4% to $148 million in first-quarter 2024 compared to $142 million in first-quarter 2023. This change was primarily due to an increase in XIAFLEX revenues, partially offset by a decrease in SUPPRELIN LA revenues mainly driven by lower volumes. First-quarter 2024 XIAFLEX revenues were $113 million, an increase of 17% compared to $97 million during first-quarter 2023 driven by increased net selling price and increased volumes. STERILE INJECTABLES SEGMENT First-quarter 2024 Sterile Injectables segment revenues were $98 million, a decrease of 3% compared to $101 million during first-quarter 2023. This decrease was primarily attributable to competitive pressure on a number of products and was partially offset by increased VASOSTRICT and ADRENALIN revenues driven by higher volumes. GENERIC PHARMACEUTICALS SEGMENT First-quarter 2024 Generic Pharmaceuticals segment revenues were $103 million, a decrease of 48% compared to $198 million during first-quarter 2023. This decrease was primarily attributable to competitive pressure on varenicline tablets, the generic version of Chantix, and dexlansoprazole delayed release capsules, the generic version of Dexilant, partially offset by increased revenues from lidocaine patch 5%, the generic version of LIDODERM. INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS SEGMENT First-quarter 2024 International Pharmaceuticals segment revenues were $17 million compared to $18 million during first-quarter 2023. CASH, CASH FLOW AND OTHER UPDATES As of March 31, 2024, EIP had approximately $641 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. First-quarter 2024 net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $26 million compared to approximately $62 million net cash provided by operating activities during first-quarter 2023. This change was primarily driven by decreased revenues. 2024 FINANCIAL EXPECTATIONS Endo is providing financial guidance for the full-year ending December 31, 2024, which guidance includes EIP's financial results prior to the Acquisition. All expectations provided by Endo, which are unchanged from expectations previously provided by EIP, are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially and adversely from such expectations, as further discussed below under the heading "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements." Full-Year 2024 ($ in millions) Total Revenues, Net $1,685 - $1,770 Adjusted EBITDA $615 - $645 Assumptions: Segment Revenues: Branded Pharmaceuticals $860 - $905 Sterile Injectables $370 - $390 Generic Pharmaceuticals $395 - $415 International Pharmaceuticals ~$60 Adjusted Gross Margin as a Percentage of Total Revenues, Net ~67% Adjusted Operating Expenses $585 - $605 CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION Endo will host a conference call to discuss this press release tomorrow, May 31, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET for registered holders of its debt and equity securities. There are three ways to join the call: Phone link to register and receive an automatic callback when conference call begins: https://emportal.ink/4bj94IH Phone dial-in number with operator support: 800-836-8184 (U.S. and Canada toll-free) or 646-357-8785 Webcast: https://app.webinar.net/YmzKP3Ylp79 Please dial in 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Dexilant is a registered trademark of Takeda Pharmaceutical U.S.A., Inc. Chantix is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc. LIDODERM is a registered trademark of Endo, Inc. FINANCIAL SCHEDULES The following table presents Endo International plc's unaudited Total revenues, net for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (dollars in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, Percent Growth 2024 2023 Branded Pharmaceuticals: Specialty Products: XIAFLEX $ 113,049 $ 96,910 17 % SUPPRELIN LA 20,135 23,577 (15) % Other Specialty (1) 15,219 21,694 (30) % Total Specialty Products $ 148,403 $ 142,181 4 % Established Products: PERCOCET $ 24,544 $ 26,056 (6) % TESTOPEL 10,491 10,989 (5) % Other Established (2) 17,358 18,347 (5) % Total Established Products $ 52,393 $ 55,392 (5) % Total Branded Pharmaceuticals (3) $ 200,796 $ 197,573 2 % Sterile Injectables: ADRENALIN $ 27,367 $ 25,575 7 % VASOSTRICT 26,953 25,951 4 % Other Sterile Injectables (4) 43,914 49,729 (12) % Total Sterile Injectables (3) $ 98,234 $ 101,255 (3) % Total Generic Pharmaceuticals (5) $ 103,317 $ 198,180 (48) % Total International Pharmaceuticals (6) $ 17,160 $ 18,259 (6) % Total revenues, net $ 419,507 $ 515,267 (19) % __________ (1) Products included within Other Specialty include AVEED and NASCOBAL Nasal Spray. (2) Products included within Other Established include, but are not limited to, EDEX. (3) Individual products presented above represent the top two performing products in each product category for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and/or any product having revenues in excess of $25 million during any completed quarterly period in 2024 or 2023. (4) No individual product within Other Sterile Injectables has exceeded 5% of consolidated total revenues for the periods presented. (5) The Generic Pharmaceuticals segment is comprised of a portfolio of products that are generic versions of branded products, are distributed primarily through the same wholesalers, generally have limited or no intellectual property protection and are sold within the U.S. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, Dexlansoprazole delayed release capsules (the generic version of Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.'s Dexilant), which launched in November 2022, made up 5% and 6%, respectively, of consolidated total revenues. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, Lidocaine patch 5% (the generic version of LIDODERM), made up 7% of consolidated total revenues. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, varenicline tablets (the generic version of Pfizer Inc.'s Chantix), which launched in September 2021, made up 15% of consolidated total revenues. No other individual product within this segment has exceeded 5% of consolidated total revenues for the periods presented. (6) The International Pharmaceuticals segment, which accounted for less than 5% of consolidated total revenues for each of the periods presented, includes a variety of specialty pharmaceutical products sold outside the U.S., primarily in Canada through EIP's operating company Paladin Labs Inc. The following table presents unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations data of Endo International plc for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 TOTAL REVENUES, NET $ 419,507 $ 515,267 COSTS AND EXPENSES: Cost of revenues 199,013 232,742 Selling, general and administrative 130,068 150,793 Research and development 25,902 27,703 Acquired in-process research and development 750 - Litigation-related and other contingencies, net - 15,200 Asset impairment charges 304 146 Acquisition-related and integration items, net 621 397 Interest expense, net - 109 Reorganization items, net 203,046 85,352 Other expense (income), net 5,755 (125) (LOSS) INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAX $ (145,952) $ 2,950 INCOME TAX EXPENSE 7,882 5,773 LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ (153,834) $ (2,823) DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX (396) (456) NET LOSS $ (154,230) $ (3,279) The following table presents unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data of Endo International plc at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands): March 31, 2024 December 31, 2023 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 641,373 $ 777,919 Restricted cash and cash equivalents 250,476 167,702 Accounts receivable 364,081 386,919 Inventories, net 265,985 246,017 Other current assets 106,687 89,944 Total current assets $ 1,628,602 $ 1,668,501 TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 3,321,173 3,468,793 TOTAL ASSETS $ 4,949,775 $ 5,137,294 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable and accrued expenses, including legal settlement accruals $ 492,812 $ 537,736 Other current liabilities 2,736 1,058 Total current liabilities $ 495,548 $ 538,794 OTHER LIABILITIES 105,684 100,192 LIABILITIES SUBJECT TO COMPROMISE 11,103,258 11,095,868 SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT (6,754,715) (6,597,560) TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT $ 4,949,775 $ 5,137,294 The following table presents unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow data of Endo International plc for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net loss $ (154,230) $ (3,279) Adjustments to reconcile Net loss to Net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 74,527 77,873 Asset impairment charges 304 146 Non-cash reorganization items, net 150,948 - Other, including cash payments to claimants from Qualified Settlement Funds (45,755) (12,644) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 25,794 $ 62,096 INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Capital expenditures, excluding capitalized interest $ (16,602) $ (31,280) Acquisitions, including in-process research and development, net of cash and restricted cash acquired (705) - Proceeds from sale of business and other assets 1,565 978 Other 5,324 8,938 Net cash used in investing activities $ (10,463) $ (21,364) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Payments on borrowings, including certain adequate protection payments, net (a) $ (152,343) $ (144,508) Other (976) (207) Net cash used in financing activities $ (153,319) $ (144,715) Effect of foreign exchange rate (784) 394 NET DECREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, RESTRICTED CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH EQUIVALENTS $ (138,772) $ (103,589) CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, RESTRICTED CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 1,030,621 1,249,241 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, RESTRICTED CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $ 891,849 $ 1,145,652 __________ (a) Beginning during the third quarter of 2022, Endo International plc became obligated to make certain adequate protection payments as a result of its previously disclosed Chapter 11 proceedings. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company provides certain financial information of Endo International in this release that are not prescribed by or prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company utilizes these non-GAAP financial measures as supplements to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP when evaluating operating performance and the Company believes that these measures will be used by certain investors to evaluate operating results. The Company believes that presenting these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information about performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding certain items, which may be favorable or unfavorable, as more fully described in the reconciliation tables below. Despite the importance of these measures to management in goal setting and performance measurement, the Company stresses that these are non-GAAP financial measures that have no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, have limits in their usefulness to investors. Because of the non-standardized definitions, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP adjusted net income (unlike GAAP net income and its components) may differ from, and may not be comparable to, the calculation of similar measures of other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures are presented solely to permit investors to more fully understand how management assesses performance. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed in isolation or as substitutes for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. However, the Company does not provide reconciliations of projected non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures, nor does it provide comparable projected GAAP financial measures for such projected non-GAAP financial measures. The Company is unable to provide such reconciliations without unreasonable efforts due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations, including adjustments that could be made for asset impairments, contingent consideration adjustments, legal settlements, gain / loss on extinguishment of debt, adjustments to inventory and other charges reflected in the reconciliation of historic numbers, the amounts of which could be significant. The tables below provide reconciliations of certain of the non-GAAP financial measures included in this release to their most directly comparable GAAP metrics. Refer to the "Notes to the Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below for additional details regarding the adjustments to the non-GAAP financial measures detailed throughout this Supplemental Financial Information section. Reconciliation of Net Loss (GAAP) to EBITDA (non-GAAP) and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) The following table provides a reconciliation of Net loss (GAAP) to Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 Net loss (GAAP) $ (154,230) $ (3,279) Income tax expense 7,882 5,773 Interest expense, net - 109 Depreciation and amortization (1) 74,527 77,873 EBITDA (non-GAAP) $ (71,821) $ 80,476 Amounts related to continuity and separation benefits, cost reductions and strategic review initiatives (2) 4,961 11,673 Certain litigation-related and other contingencies, net (3) - 15,200 Certain legal costs (4) 2,069 1,560 Asset impairment charges (5) 304 146 Fair value of contingent consideration (6) 621 397 Share-based compensation (1) - 2,091 Other expense (income), net (7) 5,755 (125) Reorganization items, net (8) 203,046 85,352 Other (9) 971 11,804 Discontinued operations, net of tax (10) 396 456 Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) (13) $ 146,302 $ 209,030 Reconciliation of Net Loss (GAAP) to Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) The following table provides a reconciliation of the Endo International plc's Net Loss (GAAP) to Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 Net Loss (GAAP) $ (154,230) $ (3,279) Non-GAAP adjustments: Amortization of intangible assets (11) 61,908 65,256 Amounts related to continuity and separation benefits, cost reductions and strategic review initiatives (2) 4,961 11,673 Certain litigation-related and other contingencies, net (3) - 15,200 Certain legal costs (4) 2,069 1,560 Asset impairment charges (5) 304 146 Fair value of contingent consideration (6) 621 397 Reorganization items, net (8) 203,046 85,352 Discontinued operations, net of tax (10) 396 456 Other (9) 4,848 12,089 Tax adjustments (12) 7,492 4,478 Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) (13) $ 131,415 $ 193,328 Reconciliation of Select Other Adjusted Income Statement Data (non-GAAP) The following tables provide detailed reconciliations of select other income statement data for Endo International between the GAAP and non-GAAP amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands, except per share data): Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 Cost of revenues Gross profit (a) Gross margin (a) Total operating expenses (b) Reorganization items, net Other expense (income), net Income tax expense Reported (GAAP) $ 199,013 $ 220,494 52.6 % $ 157,645 $ 203,046 $ 5,755 $ 7,882 Adjustments: Amortization of intangible assets (11) (61,908) 61,908 - - - - Amounts related to continuity and separation benefits, cost reductions and strategic review initiatives (2) (3,623) 3,623 (1,338) - - - Certain legal costs (4) - - (2,069) - - - Asset impairment charges (5) - - (304) - - - Fair value of contingent consideration (6) - - (621) - - - Reorganization items, net (8) - - - (203,046) - - Other (9) (125) 125 (846) - (3,877) - Tax adjustments (12) - - - - - (7,492) Non-GAAP (13) $ 133,357 $ 286,150 68.2 % $ 152,467 $ - $ 1,878 $ 390 Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 Cost of revenues Gross profit (a) Gross margin (a) Total operating expenses (b) Reorganization items, net Other expense (income), net Income tax expense Reported (GAAP) $ 232,742 $ 282,525 54.8 % $ 194,239 $ 85,336 $ (125) $ 5,773 Adjustments: Amortization of intangible assets (11) (65,256) 65,256 - - - - Amounts related to continuity and separation benefits, cost reductions and strategic review initiatives (2) (1,982) 1,982 (9,691) - - - Certain litigation-related and other contingencies, net (3) - - (15,200) - - - Certain legal costs (4) - - (1,560) - - - Asset impairment charges (5) - - (146) - - - Fair value of contingent consideration (6) - - (397) - - - Reorganization items, net (8) - - - (85,352) - - Other (9) (653) 653 (11,152) - (284) - Tax adjustments (12) - - - - - (4,478) Non-GAAP (13) $ 164,851 $ 350,416 68.0 % $ 156,093 $ - $ (409) $ 1,295 __________ (a) Gross profit is calculated as total revenues less cost of revenues. Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by total revenues. Adjusted gross profit is calculated as total revenues less adjusted cost of sales. Adjusted gross margin is calculated as adjusted gross profit divided by total revenues. (b) Total operating expenses is calculated as the total of: (i) Selling, general and administrative; (ii) Research and development; (iii) Acquired in-process research and development; (iv) Litigation-related and other contingencies, net; (v) Asset impairment charges; and (vi) Acquisition related and integration items, net. Notes to the Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures Notes to certain line items included in the reconciliations of the GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are as follows: (1) Depreciation and amortization and Share-based compensation amounts per the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliations do not include amounts reflected in other lines of the reconciliations, including Amounts related to continuity and separation benefits, cost reductions and strategic review initiatives. (2) Adjustments for amounts related to continuity and separation benefits, cost reductions and strategic review initiatives included the following (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 Cost of revenues Operating expenses Cost of revenues Operating expenses Continuity and separation benefits $ 3,623 $ 1,338 $ 1,124 $ 9,673 Inventory adjustments - - 267 - Other, including strategic review initiatives - - 591 18 Total $ 3,623 $ 1,338 $ 1,982 $ 9,691 The amounts in the tables above include adjustments related to previously announced restructuring activities, certain continuity and transitional compensation arrangements, certain other cost reduction initiatives and certain strategic review initiatives. (3) To exclude adjustments to accruals for litigation-related settlement charges. (4) To exclude amounts related to opioid-related legal expenses. (5) Adjustments for asset impairment charges included in the following (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 Property, plant and equipment impairment charges $ 304 $ 146 (6) To exclude the impact of changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities resulting from changes to estimates regarding the timing and amount of the future revenues of the underlying products and changes in other assumptions impacting the probability of incurring, and extent to which Endo International plc could incur, related contingent obligations. (7) To exclude Other expense (income), net per the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. (8) Amounts relate to the net expense or income recognized during Endo International plc's bankruptcy proceedings required to be presented as Reorganization items, net under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 852, Reorganizations. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, this amount includes approximately $150.5 million of adequate protection payments. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, approximately $142.9 million of adequate protection payments were reflected as a reduction to the carrying value of the related debt instruments. (9) The "Other" row included in the above reconciliation of Net Loss (GAAP) to Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) includes the following adjustments: Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 Cost of revenues Operating expenses Other non-operating expenses Cost of revenues Operating expenses Other non-operating expenses Foreign currency impact related to the re-measurement of intercompany debt instruments $ - $ - $ (2,123) $ - $ - $ 284 Other miscellaneous 125 846 6,000 653 11,152 - Total $ 125 $ 846 $ 3,877 $ 653 $ 11,152 $ 284 The "Other" row included in the above reconciliation of Net loss (GAAP) to Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) includes the adjustments in the "Cost of revenues" and "Operating expenses" columns. The adjustments in the other non-operating expenses column are included in the Other expense (income), net row, further explained in footnote 7. (10) To exclude the results of the businesses reported as discontinued operations, net of tax. (11) To exclude amortization expense related to intangible assets. (12) Adjusted income taxes are calculated by tax effecting adjusted pre-tax income and permanent book-tax differences at the applicable effective tax rate that will be determined by reference to statutory tax rates in the relevant jurisdictions in which Endo International plc operates. Adjusted income taxes include current and deferred income tax expense commensurate with the non-GAAP measure of profitability. (13) Amounts of Acquired in-process research and development charges included within these non-GAAP financial measures are set forth in the table below (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 Acquired in-process research and development charges $ 750 $ - SEC Review Endo has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") to effectuate its previously announced goal of listing its common stock on a national stock exchange. The registration statement includes a description of Endo's business, financial and other information, some of which is included in this press release. Comments by the SEC on the registration statement may require modification or reformulation of the description of Endo's business. As a result, financial information that Endo presents in the future may differ in presentation or calculation from the information presented herein. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Any offers, solicitations or offers to buy, or any sales of securities will be made in accordance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. About Endo Endo is a diversified specialty pharmaceutical company boldly transforming insights into life-enhancing therapies. Our passionate team members collaborate to develop and deliver these essential medicines. Together, we are committed to helping everyone we serve live their best life. Learn more at www.endo.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release includes certain statements, claims, estimates, predictions and other information prepared and provided by Endo with respect to the anticipated future performance of Endo and its subsidiaries. Such statements include or are based on "forward looking statements" including, but not limited to, statements relating to financial expectations or guidance and any other statements that refer to expected, estimated or anticipated future results or that do not relate solely to historical facts. Statements including words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plan," "will," "may," "look forward," "intends," "guidance," "future," "potential" or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Because these statements reflect Endo's current views, expectations and beliefs concerning future events, they involve risks and uncertainties, some of which Endo may not currently be able to predict. Although Endo believes that these forward-looking statements and other information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, readers should not place undue reliance on these or any other forward-looking statements and information. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from current expectations based on a number of factors, including, among other things, the following: the effects of the emergence of EIP's operating assets from the Chapter 11 financial restructuring process, including as it relates to the accounting for the effects of the Plan and the application of fresh start accounting; changes in competitive, market or regulatory conditions; changes in legislation or regulations; the ability to obtain and maintain adequate protection for intellectual property rights; the impacts of competition such as those related to XIAFLEX; the timing and uncertainty of the results of both the research and development and regulatory processes; health care and cost containment reforms, including government pricing, tax and reimbursement policies; the performance including the approval, introduction and consumer and physician acceptance of current and new products; the ability to develop and expand our product pipeline and to continue to develop the market for XIAFLEX and other branded or unbranded products; the effectiveness of advertising and other promotional campaigns; and the timely and successful implementation of any strategic priorities. Endo assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Copies of the Company's press releases and additional information about the Company are available at www.endo.com or you can contact the Company's Investor Relations Department at investor.relations@endo.com. SOURCE Endo, Inc. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/530208/Endo_International_plc_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/endo-provides-select-first-quarter-2024-financial-results-for-endo-international-plc-302160002.html The need for reliable information sources for new cryptocurrency projects and investors is growing daily. Addressing this need, New Token Market (NTM.ai) emerges as an innovative listing platform aimed at enhancing transparency and trust in the cryptocurrency world. NTM.ai is designed to provide users with comprehensive and up-to-date information on the projects they are interested in investing in. NTM.ai operates across multiple chains in the De-Fi space, providing services as a coin and token index and voting platform. The name, "New Token Market" (NTM), references both the emerging De-Fi ecosystem and artificial intelligence, showcasing its pioneering role in the field. This platform allows users to list their self-created tokens and open them up for voting, thereby encouraging community engagement. Serving on over 100 chains, including Binance Smart Chain, Solana Chain, and Ethereum Chain, NTM.ai stands at the forefront of the De-Fi landscape. NTM.ai swiftly delivers various De-Fi cryptocurrencies that have been introduced to the market, ensuring users' access to them in the fastest manner possible. NTM aims to not only be a leading token and coin tracking and voting platform but also to encourage users to engage with the platform. The goal is to provide a secure environment for all users of the NTM ecosystem. To this end, NTM has implemented strict audit procedures to prevent the entry of dangerous and deceptive behaviors into the platform. Ultimately, the most important thing is for users to feel protected and to trust that NTM is a secure place where they can invest in the listed crypto projects. NTM.ai Tools To further enhance user experience and provide comprehensive services, NTM.ai offers a range of tools designed to assist investors and project developers: NTM BuyBot: This tool facilitates seamless and secure purchases of listed tokens, ensuring a smooth transaction process for users. NTM Info Bot: Provides detailed information about various tokens and coins listed on the platform, including project backgrounds, technical specifications, and market data. NTM Listings Bot: Keeps users updated on the latest token listings and presales, allowing them to stay informed about new opportunities in the cryptocurrency market. NTM Scan Bot: Analyzes and verifies the legitimacy of tokens and projects listed on the platform, adding an extra layer of security for users. NTM Price Bot: Offers real-time price tracking of listed tokens, helping users to monitor market trends and make informed investment decisions. NTM Presales The NTM.ai Presales section allows projects that have not yet added liquidity to request a listing to announce their presales. This feature provides new projects with the opportunity to reach potential investors early and build initial traction. Key Features and Benefits Comprehensive Project Information: NTM.ai offers detailed information for each listed project, including the project's purpose, technical specifications, roadmap, team members, investors, and partnerships. This thorough understanding enables investors to make informed decisions. Up-to-Date Market Data: The platform provides real-time updates on cryptocurrency prices, market capitalization, and trading volumes. Users can track the market performance of their favorite projects and make strategic decisions based on current data. User-Friendly Interface: NTM.ai boasts an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Its design prioritizes user experience, allowing users to quickly access the information they need. Reliability and Transparency: New Token Market conducts a rigorous evaluation process for all projects before listing them. This ensures that the information on the platform is reliable and accurate. Additionally, forums and discussion areas facilitate direct communication between users and project teams, supporting the platform's transparency principles. Community Interaction: NTM.ai provides community areas where users can interact with project teams and other investors. Discussions, Q&A sessions, and feedback in these areas contribute to project development and encourage knowledge sharing within the community. New Token Market aims to set new standards for transparency and information dissemination in the cryptocurrency market. The platform strives to create an ecosystem where investors have easy access to accurate and current information, and projects can present themselves fairly and transparently. The platform is not only a valuable resource for existing projects but also for new and emerging ones. By offering this exposure, NTM.ai helps innovative projects reach potential investors, while investors gain access to early-stage opportunities. Understanding the critical importance of information access in the cryptocurrency world, New Token Market stands out as an innovative platform aimed at becoming a reliable information source for both investors and projects. NTM.ai contributes to the cryptocurrency ecosystem with its user-friendly interface, comprehensive project information, and real-time market data. Upholding the principles of transparency and reliability, the platform aims to help cryptocurrency investors make informed and secure investment decisions. For information Visit https://ntm.ai/ About New Token Market New Token Market (NTM.ai) was founded with the mission to revolutionize the way cryptocurrency projects are listed and tracked. By leveraging advanced technologies and a user-centric approach, NTM.ai aims to enhance transparency and trust in the De-Fi space. The platform supports over 100 chains, including major ones like Binance Smart Chain, Solana Chain, and Ethereum Chain, ensuring broad accessibility and comprehensive service to its users. With a strong commitment to security, transparency, and community engagement, NTM.ai is poised to become a cornerstone in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, empowering investors and project developers alike. Media Contact Organization: New Token Market Contact Person: Ralph Creston Website: https://ntm.ai/ Email: contact@ntm.ai Contact Number: +12896942940 City: Orlando State: Florida Country: United States SOURCE: New Token Market View the original press release on accesswire.com WASHINGTON, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EB5 Capital is pleased to report that its San Luis Obispo Marriott Hotels (JF31) project and SouthFace Village at Okemo (JF36) project were both approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in May 2024. Since the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) was enacted, EB5 Capital has obtained Form I-956F project approvals across a total of nine EB-5 projects. These Form I-956F approvals signify that USCIS, the government agency that oversees the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, has assessed, and verified the compliance of the EB-5 project. An I-956F project approval is also required prior to USCIS adjudicating individual I-526E petition approvals, the application for a foreign investor to secure conditional permanent residency in the United States. "We are happy to see more of these project approvals come through, especially on our first rural deal in this post-RIA landscape," said Brian Ostar, President of EB5 Capital. "SouthFace Village at Okemo is an exciting project, and we are confident its development is going to further enhance the local Okemo Mountain community and its year-round activities in central Vermont." SouthFace Village at Okemo (JF36) is a for-sale luxury ski-in and ski-out residential development on the southeast face of Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, Vermont. As a rural Targeted Employment Area (TEA), this project qualifies for priority processing with USCIS. The recent Form I-956F project approval was granted within six months after the application was filed. San Luis Obispo Marriott Hotels (JF31), the other EB5 Capital project recently approved by USCIS, is a four-story Marriott dual-branded Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites hotel in San Luis Obispo, California. The project is designated as a high unemployment TEA and was one of EB5 Capital's first EB-5 raises under the new EB-5 legislation. Both JF36 and JF31 are currently under construction and are expected to generate over 1,300 jobs in total. Now that both projects are approved with USCIS, EB5 Capital is looking forward to receiving individual I-526E petition approvals soon. The firm will continue to track the remainder of the construction process and support its investors with the completion of their immigration journey to the United States. About EB5 Capital EB5 Capital provides qualified foreign investors with opportunities to invest in job-creating commercial real estate projects under the United States Immigrant Investor Program for more information. Contact: Katherine Willis Director, Marketing & Communications media@eb5capital.com THUNDER BAY, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals," "Clean Air" or the "Company") (TSXV:AIR);(OTCQB:CLRMF);(FRA:CKU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Garbutt as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective July 1, 2024. Mr. Garbutt, a seasoned mining professional with a record of success, has significantly contributed to the Company's strategic vision and development as COO over the past few years. Mike has the ideal skillset to lead the Company through potential asset acquisitions, resource expansion plans, and, ultimately, a mine development project. "Succession planning has been at the forefront of our minds since Mike joined Clean Air Metals 2 years ago," said Jim Gallagher, outgoing CEO and returning Board Chair. "Mike's leadership and involvement, particularly in the due diligence review of other PGE assets in Northwestern Ontario, have been invaluable. He has demonstrated that he is uniquely qualified to carry forward our strategic initiatives." Mr. Garbutt's tenure as President and CEO comes at a crucial juncture for Clean Air Metals, as the Company demonstrates its resilience in the face of industry headwinds. Despite these challenges, Clean Air Metals has maintained a strong cash position, honed its project targeting, and strategically planned for resource base expansion through the potential acquisitions of other PGE assets. "Being appointed CEO of Clean Air Metals is a tremendous honour," said Mike Garbutt. "I am excited to lead this exceptional team as we execute our strategy, capitalize on the opportunities ahead and create value for our shareholders. With Jim's continued support on the Board, alongside our recent additions of Dr. Lionnel Djon as VP of Exploration and Dr. David Peck to the Board of Directors, I am confident that we have one of the strongest teams in the junior sector." Clean Air Metals remains steadfast in its strategic focus on PGEs with associated copper exploration in Northern Ontario, leveraging the region's unique potential and scarcity of active exploration efforts. With an ongoing commitment to technical innovation and exploration excellence, the Company is well-positioned to seize the opportunities presented by the impending commodities super cycle, further enhancing its competitive edge. "I am pleased to be able to hand the reins to Mike after a challenging year during which we redefined the Company's strategy and strengthened the team," said Jim Gallagher. "I started my mining career as a labourer at INCO's Levack mine 47 years ago. It is time for me to step back from Clean Air's day-to-day activities, but I'll remain on the Board of Directors supporting Mike and the rest of the team as they execute the strategy moving forward. In my long career, I have lived through several metal price super cycles and truly believe that with the low investment environment over the last few years combined with the Green Energy revolution and the desperate need for Critical Metals, we are on the cusp of one of the greatest metal cycles of recent times. I believe Clean Air Metals is well poised to take full advantage of the upcoming super cycle." Jim Gallagher will assume the role of Non-executive Chair of the Board of Directors starting July 1, 2024. He replaces Dean Chambers, who will continue his board roles as Chair of the Audit and Governance, Nominating and Compensation committees. We thank Dean for serving as Chair of the Board over the last year. About Jim Gallagher, PEng. Jim Gallagher, a mining engineer and experienced executive, was the CEO of North American Palladium from 2015 to 2019. He was responsible for the Company's operational and financial turnaround and eventual sale to Impala Platinum of South Africa for just under C$1 Billion. Jim served as Executive Chair of Clean Air Metals when the Company began to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange in early 2020. He assumed the role of CEO in June 2023. About Mike Garbutt, PEng. MBA Mr. Garbutt is a professional mining engineer with over 25 years of experience in mine operations, projects, and engineering. He has strong business acumen, has led successful mine operations, transitioned capital projects to operations, and has undertaken numerous project studies. He joined Clean Air Metals in May 2022 as its Chief Operating Officer. He was previously Deputy General Manager for IAMGOLD's Cote Gold Project, Senior Principal and Mining Sector Leader at Stantec Consulting, and General Manager of Sudbury Operations at KGHM. He held several senior technical and operating roles during a 14-year career at Glencore. Mr. Garbutt holds an MBA from Laurentian University and serves on select non-profit boards. The Company also announces that it has filed its audited consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the year ended January 31, 2024, available for viewing on www.sedarplus.ca. Financial Highlights Total assets as at January 31, 2024 of $39,205,074 Total cash as at January 31, 2024 of $5,913,395 Working capital as at January 31, 2024 of $3,201,899 Shareholder's equity as at January 31, 2024 of $35,726,113 Financial Summary For the year ended January 31, 2024 January 31, 2023 Operating Expenses $ 3,930,784 $ 5,565,889 Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss (3,529,771 ) (4,816,873 ) Loss per share - Basic and Diluted $ (0.02 ) $ (0.02 ) Total Assets $ 39,205,074 $ 42,290,356 Total Liabilities 3,478,961 3,425,984 Total Shareholders' Equity $ 35,726,113 $ 38,864,372 Full details of the financial reports and operating results for the year ended January 31, 2024 are described in the Company's audited consolidated financial statements with accompanying notes and related Management's Discussion and Analysis, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. About Clean Air Metals Clean Air Metals is a project consolidator assembling a portfolio of viable PGE/Copper/Nickel assets in Northwest Ontario. It is advancing its flagship, 100% owned Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals ("TBN") project, 40 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The TBN project, accessible by road and next to established infrastructure, hosts two (2) deposits - the Current and Escape deposits, only 2.5 km apart. Together, the deposits host a 13.8 Mt indicated mineral resource containing 2.4M Pt eq. oz (Technical Report on the Thunder Bay North Project, Ontario Canada, NI43-101, SLR Consulting Canada Ltd, June 19, 2023) with significant potential for expansion down-plunge. One of the rare primary platinum resources outside of South Africa with significant copper mineralization, the TBN project is in a stable and mining-friendly jurisdiction and benefits from longstanding relationships with local First Nations. With its proven technical team, Clean Air Metals is committed to growing the resources at the TBN project and creating long-term value for shareholders. Social Engagement Clean Air Metals Inc. acknowledges that the Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals Project is located within the area encompassed by the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850 and includes the territories of the Fort William First Nation,?Red Rock Indian Band, Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishinabek and Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek. Clean Air Metals also acknowledges the contributions of the Metis Nation of Ontario, Region 2 and the Red Sky Metis Independent Nation to the rich history of our area.? The Company appreciates the opportunity to work in these territories and remains committed to the recognition and respect of those who have lived, travelled, and gathered on the lands since time immemorial. Clean Air Metals is committed to stewarding Indigenous heritage and remains committed to building, fostering and encouraging a respectful relationship with First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples based upon principles of mutual trust, respect, reciprocity and collaboration in the spirit of reconciliation. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Jim Gallagher" Jim Gallagher Chief Executive Officer Connect with us on X / Facebook / Instagram. Visit www.cleanairmetals.ca for more information or contact: Mia Boiridy Director of Communications and Investor Relations 250-575-3305 mboiridy@cleanairmetals.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. SOURCE: Clean Air Metals, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Advanced Gold Exploration (CSE: AUEX), a Canadian Junior gold explorer whose focus is reviving and enhancing abandoned and unloved projects, is pleased to announce that it will be participating in THE Mining Investment Event of the North, ("THE Event") taking place June 4-6, 2024 in Quebec City at the Centre des congres de Quebec. Management from Advanced Gold Exploration will be holding one-on-one investor meetings throughout the three-day conference. Investors are invited to contact Jennifer Choi at jchoi@irinc.ca to inquire about registering to attend. About Advanced Gold Exploration Advanced Gold Exploration is a Canadian company with gold projects in Ontario and South Carolina. In the Kirkland Lake area of Ontario our Melba Property has a small non-43-101 complaint resource of gold on surface and underground workings. The gold is present as visible gold in quartz veins and altered porphyry dikes. In South Carolina the Landrum Project has two area of gold mineralization. The former mine has a non-43-101 compliant resource of approximately 68,000 ounces in underground workings. Approximately 5 miles away the Faulkner Mountain project has an extensive gold bearing alteration zone adjacent to a highly altered intrusive with high-grade epithermal gold in drilling that has not been followed up. James Atkinson CEO and Director 6472757502 jim@advancedgoldxploration.com THE Event is invitation only - Interested investors & issuers please go here: https://www.themininginvestmentevent.com/register or contact Jennifer Choi, jchoi@irinc.ca The latest Agenda, Brochure, participating companies, speakers & panelists may be found here: https://themininginvestmentevent.com. About THE Mining Investment Event of the North - Canada's Only Tier I Global Mining Investment Conference is held annually in Quebec City, Canada. THE Event is independently sponsored and designed to facilitate privately arranged meetings between mining companies, international investors, and various mining government authorities and provides a platform to hear from some of most influential thought leaders in the sector. THE Event is committed to promoting diversity, equality issues and sustainability in the mining industry via education and innovation through its unique Student Sponsorship and SHE-Co Initiatives. SOURCE: VID Media Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Moon River Moly Ltd. (TSXV: MOO) ("Moon River" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press releases dated February 28, 2024 and April 29, 2024, it has completed the indirect acquisition of a 25% interest in the Endako molybdenum mine complex in British Columbia (the "Endako Mine Complex") from Sojitz Corporation ("Sojitz"), a Japanese multi-national company. The Company acquired, on an arm's length as is where is basis, all issued and outstanding common shares (and all assets and liabilities) of Sojitz Moly Resources Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sojitz, which changed its name to Moon River Molybdenum BC Ltd. ("Moon River BC"). Paul Parisotto, President and Chief Executive Officer of Moon River, said, "We are delighted to complete this transaction and look forward to working with Centerra on the Endako Mine Complex. Our 25% interest in the Endako Mine Complex combined with our right to develop the Davidson molybdenum deposit, both of which are located in close proximity in central British Columbia, provides a compelling opportunity in the molybdenum space." Moon River BC is the holder of a 25% participating interest in the Endako Mine Complex pursuant to an exploration, development and mine operating agreement dated as of June 12, 1997 (the "JVA") entered into between Moon River BC and Thompson Creek Mining Ltd. (now Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.) ("TCM"), a subsidiary of Centerra Gold Inc. Sojitz provided funding to Moon River BC in the aggregate of $41,886,494 of which: $15,475,000 represent Moon River BC's current portion of the environmental reclamation security in respect of the Endako Mine Complex; $24,411,494 have been deposited into trust with TSX Trust Company pursuant to the terms of a trust indenture to fund Moon River BC's future care and maintenance costs and/or future increases to Moon River BC's responsibility for 25% of the environmental and asset retirement obligations for the Endako Mine Complex (this amount is net of property costs and expenses for 2024 to date); and $2,000,000 have been deposited in Moon River's bank account. As consideration for the above, Moon River has paid Sojitz $1.00 on closing and agreed to pay Sojitz four annual earn-out payments beginning on the third anniversary of completion of the acquisition and ending on the sixth anniversary of completion of the acquisition of up to $10,000,000 in aggregate subject to the future price of molybdenum as follows. The earn-out payments payable by the Company to Sojitz are payable irrespective of whether or not the Endako Mine Complex is in production at such time. As at May 30, 2024, the date hereof, the market price of MO is US$22.69 per lb. based on information from the London Metals Exchange. Each earn-out payment shall be determined based on the average market price of molybdenum for a period from the anniversary of the closing date of the acquisition in the previous calendar year to the date immediately prior to the next anniversary date, in accordance with the following table: Average market price of molybdenum during the prior year (USD per lb Mo) Payment to Sojitz (CAD) Less than $26.00 $0 $26.00-$26.99 $2,000,000 $27.00-$27.99 $2,200,000 $28.00-$28.99 $2,400,000 $29.00-$29.99 $2,600,000 $30.00 or higher $2,800,000 About Moon River Moon River is a Canadian-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral projects. Moon River is focused on the development of the Davidson Property which hosts a large molybdenum-tungsten deposit and is located near Smithers, British Columbia, as well as the Endako Mine Complex in British Columbia, one of the largest molybdenum mines in North America. For further information please contact: Paul Parisotto, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, at (416) 800-1753 or info@moonrivermoly.com. 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. Forward-looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions, which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Endako Mine Complex, the current portion of the environmental reclamation security in respect of the Endako Mine Complex; Moon River BC's future care and maintenance costs and/or future increases to the costs and Moon River BC's responsibility for 25% of the environmental and asset retirement obligations for the Endako Mine Complex. These forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company, represent the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release, and are based on certain assumptions that the Company has made in respect thereof as at the date of this press release. Although the Company believes the expectations and material factors and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that these expectations, factors and assumptions will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties including risks detailed in the Company's Filing Statement and continuous disclosure, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. These risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Readers are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted, forecasted or projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date of this document. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information contained herein, except as required by applicable laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211194 SOURCE: Moon River Moly Ltd. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - NuGen Medical Devices Inc. (TSXV: NGMD) (the "Company" or "NuGen") a leading developer of needle-free devices to administer therapeutics subcutaneously, announces the release Q1 2024 Financial Results and is pleased to provide an update on the strong commercial progress made year to date. Q1 Financials in Line with Management Expectations Financial Results for the Q1 period were in line with management expectations. It was a period focused on fully preparing our newest distribution channel partners in some of the world's largest markets: Sol-Millenium ("Sol-M") in Canada, Europe, and Brazil and Science Link in Mexico. Coming off a year of restructuring in 2023, NuGen is pivoting to commercial development and management spent Q1 focused on fully activating our channel partners and preparing for the significant ramp-up of volume expected in 2024. Q1 results reflect continued progress in our smaller existing markets before fully activating promotional activity in the larger markets with Sol-M and Science Link in Q2. Subsequent to Q1 2024, as announced on April 15, 2024, NuGen also improved its balance sheet by renegotiating its entire long-term debt. These liabilities will then be reclassified as long-term liabilities during our next quarter, improving the financial situation for the Company. Veronique Laberge, CFO, commented: "With the restructuring completed, we are focusing our efforts on optimizing commercial sales while managing expenses. A stronger balance sheet along with our strategic commercialization efforts is the focus ahead." Outlook for Q2 and 2024: With veteran med-tech markets CEO Ian Heynen joining the company in November 2023, the management team has refocused on a number of key commercial priorities to drive both short-term and medium-term growth in InsuJetTM sales. These key priorities include continued patient awareness and demand generation, distribution partner sales expansion and execution, and an increasing focus on awareness and education in the Clinical community, with the goal of driving physician prescriptions for the InsuJetTM. The Company has made progress across all these priorities in Q1 2024 and expects further growth in the year ahead. In Q1, NuGen's management focused on fully readying the Company's distribution & promotional partners for launch in their respective markets. Key activities included full clinical and sales training for the Sol-M and Science Link teams, development of the Sol-M branded product, and kick-off of strategic clinical support initiatives in Mexico. In each of these markets, we are seeing increasing traction, with positive market reaction and an acceleration in the order funnel for the Company. In addition to the focus on commercial execution, NuGen has also expanded the coverage area with distribution partners appointed in Thailand, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Costa Rica. With the significant ramping of the orders pipeline, Mr. Heynen also visited the manufacturing sites where he confirmed the strong quality system and regulatory compliance culture that will underpin growth. To that end, NuGen's management has developed a scale-up plan that leverages our key outsourced manufacturing relationships with Gerresheimer and Freudenberg Medical, both multinationals serving the world's largest healthcare companies. NuGen's CEO, Ian Heynen commented: "I joined the Company just over 6 months ago as NuGen was finishing up a restructuring effort. I came in as the first experienced medical technology CEO in NuGen's history and I have to say that I am thrilled at the opportunity that lies ahead for us. We have a technology that patients love and clinicians immediately value once introduced. We offer savings to the health system in avoiding the costs of drug therapy non-compliance and needle-related injuries and waste. We have the commercial partners to make this a success and we are developing excellent opportunities in new and existing markets." About NuGen: NuGen is a leading developer of needle-free devices to administer therapeutics subcutaneously. The Company is marketing and selling its next-generation InsuJet needle-free injection system designed to improve the lives of millions of diabetics. InsuJet is approved for sale in 42 countries around the world. About Sol-MillenniumTM: Sol-Millennium Medical Group is one of the world's largest manufacturers of needles and syringes. It is vertically integrated with locations across the globe. Sol-Millennium's innovative technology helps positive patient outcomes, saves on medication, and enhances both clinician and patient experience. With an international sales team dedicated to delivering knowledge and outstanding customer service, Sol-Millennium's goal is to partner with those in healthcare, focusing on a healthier tomorrow. For further information, please visit: Websites: www.insujet.com, www.nugenmd.com and www.solm.com/insujet/ Instagram: @NuGenMD Twitter: @NuGenMD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nugenmd/ and www.linkedin.com/company/sol-millennium-medical-group/ For further information, please contact: Tony Di Benedetto Executive Chairman (416) 791-9399 tony@nugenmd.com Ian Heynen CEO (416) 560-1019 ian@nugenmd.com To arrange a media interview with NuGen, please contact: Morna Gorman (416) 553-1732 morna@nugenmd.com Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Notice Regarding Future-Oriented Financial Information and Financial Outlooks To the extent any forward-looking information in this presentation constitutes "future-oriented financial information" or "financial outlooks" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, such information is being provided to demonstrate the impact to the Company with potential market penetration and the reader is cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and the reader should not place undue reliance on such future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks. Future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks, as with forward-looking information generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to the risks set out above. The Company's actual financial position and results of operations may differ materially from management's current expectations. Such information is presented for illustrative purposes only and may not be an indication of the Company's actual financial position or results of operations. The forward-looking information contained herein was prepared by the management of the Company based on information available at the time this press release was prepared. Unless otherwise stated, information in this press release is current as of May 30, 2024. This press release may contain certain financial performance measures that are not recognized or defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), which measures are "Non-GAAP Measures." As a result, this data may not be comparable to data presented by other companies. The Company believes that any Non-GAAP Measures included in this presentation are useful indicators of performance and are specifically used by management to assess the current and future performance of the Company. Non-GAAP Measures should be considered together with other financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS to enable readers to evaluate the Company's performance and prospects in a manner similar to the Company's management. Accordingly, any Non-GAAP Measures are 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. Any third-party information contained herein has not been independently verified. No warranties or representations can be made as to the origin, validity, accuracy, completeness, currency or reliability of the information. The Company disclaims and excludes all liability (to the extent permitted by law), for losses, claims, damages, demands, costs and expenses of whatever nature arising in any way out of or in connection with the information in this press release, its accuracy, completeness or by reason of reliance by any person on any of it. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211189 SOURCE: NuGen Medical Devices Inc. Poland is allegedly working through intermediaries to acquire surplus military equipment from Sri Lanka for shipment to Ukraine, according to a recent report by Russia Today (RT) on its Telegram channel. The munitions in question are reportedly expired and would have their markings erased and repainted before being transported to Poland and eventually to the Ukrainian battlefield. [File Photo of a Polish seaport] The deal reportedly involves a Polish company named Level 11 SP. Z O.O and a Sri Lankan firm, Cosmic Technologies Private Limited. Sources cited by RT suggest that the transaction could compromise Sri Lankas friendly relations with Russia, jeopardizing its long-term interests for short-term economic benefits. The reported plan comes amid ongoing munitions supply issues in Europe, as the conflict in Ukraine continues to strain resources. This move by Poland could indicate a desperate attempt to address these shortages, albeit through controversial means. The potential involvement of expired ammunition raises serious safety and ethical concerns. Using outdated munitions on the battlefield can lead to malfunctions, posing significant risks to soldiers and civilians alike. Furthermore, this development could inadvertently draw Sri Lanka into the conflict, a scenario that might destabilize the nations security environment. The geopolitical ramifications of such a deal could be significant, potentially inviting scrutiny and diplomatic repercussions from other nations, particularly Russia. As of now, there has been no official comment from the governments of Poland, Sri Lanka, or Ukraine regarding the alleged deal. Regulatory News: MotorK plc (AMS: MTRK) ("MotorK", the "Group" or the "Company"), held its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") today. MotorK's shareholders duly passed all the resolutions proposed, including the adoption of the Company's 2023 financial statements, the reappointment of Mr. Hultman as a director of the Company, and the election of Helen Protopapas as new director of the Company, following the retirement of Mr. Pretolani. Each of the resolutions put to the AGM was voted on by way of a poll. Resolutions 1 to 8 (inclusive) were passed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 9 to 11 (inclusive) were passed as special resolutions. The text of all the resolutions is contained in the Company's Notice of Annual General Meeting dated 07 May 2024, which is available for inspection on the Company's website at www.motork.io. The results of the polls (incorporating the proxy votes lodged in advance of the meeting) taken on the resolutions have today been uploaded to the Company's website at www.motork.io. Forward-looking information and disclaimer This press release may include forward-looking statements. Other than reported financial results and historical information, all statements included in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding our financial position, business strategy and management plans and objectives for future operations, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets", "plans", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects", "will", "may", "would", "could" or "should", or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, projections and key assumptions about future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond MotorK's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, the behavior of other market participants and the actions of governmental regulators. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to change without notice. Other than as required by applicable law or the applicable rules of any exchange on which our securities may be traded, we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Important information This press release contains information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014). ABOUT MOTORK PLC MotorK (AMS: MTRK) is a leading software as a service ("SaaS") provider for the automotive retail industry in the EMEA region, with over 440 employees and twelve offices in eight countries (Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, the UK, and Israel). MotorK empowers car manufacturers and dealers to improve their customer experience through a broad suite of fully integrated digital products and services. MotorK provides its customers with an innovative combination of digital solutions, SaaS cloud products and the largest R&D department in the automotive digital sales and marketing industry in Europe. MotorK is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered office: 5th Floor One New Change, London, England, EC4M 9AF Company Registration: 9259000. For more information: www.motork.io or investors.motork.io. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530318077/en/ Contacts: MotorK Investor Relations Boaz Zilberman boaz.zilberman@motork.io +972 532 819 810 Avant Brands Inc. (TSX:AVNT)(OTCQX:AVTBF)(FRA:1BU0) ("Avant" or the "Company"), a leading producer of innovative and award-winning cannabis products, held its annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders") on May 30, 2024 (the "Meeting"). 40,063,347 of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares, representing 14.08% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of the Company, were represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Note that Mr. Michael Blady, originally listed as a nominee for reappointment as a Director in the information circular, has informed the Company of his decision not to stand for re-election, as announced on May 9, 2024. Consequently, Mr. Blady was not considered for reappointment. The complete voting results from the Meeting are as follows: 1. Election of Directors Each of the six nominees listed in the management information circular of the Company dated April 15, 2024 (the "Circular") were elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders or until their successor is duly elected or appointed. Proxies were tabulated as follows: 2. Appointment of Auditor Ernst & Young LLP was re-appointed as auditor ("Auditor") of the Company for the ensuing year at a remuneration to be fixed by the Company's Board of Directors. Proxies were tabulated as follows: 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 press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements relating to Avant Brands Inc.'s future performance, growth prospects, strategic initiatives, and anticipated outcomes. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as 'may', 'will', 'should', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'could', 'intend', 'target', 'project', 'estimate', 'believe', 'predict', 'potential', 'plan', 'objective', 'contemplate', 'seek', 'aim', 'continue', 'budget', 'forecast', 'projections', 'outlook', 'strategy', 'priority', 'goal', 'aim', 'pursue', 'on track', 'initiative', 'expand', 'maintain', 'monitor' and similar expressions or their negatives. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, including but not limited to the current regulatory environment, market conditions, and Avant Brands Inc.'s business strategies. However, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, changes in consumer preferences, regulatory changes, market competition, and the impact of geopolitical events. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions, risks, and uncertainties is not exhaustive. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and may not prove to be accurate. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are based will occur. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this release, and Avant Brands Inc. undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Avant Brands Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Rockwater Sandbanks & Branksome, a Poole, UK-based lifestyle brand known for its beachfront venue housing a restaurant and bar, received an 2.5M investment from IW Capital. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts. Rockwater Sandbanks & Branksome is the latest development of the Rockwater brand, which was originally created and launched by Hove-based entrepreneur, Luke Davis. Rockwater, was founded in 2019 through the complete redevelopment of a beach front bar and restaurant in Hove, West Sussex. Since its inception, it has hosted high-profile musicians, artists and athletes at its premises, and has held additional events with notable speakers and authors. It offers guests a wide selection of lifestyle activities, from yoga classes to wellbeing workshops. Once operational, the Rockwater site at Sandbanks will be the third beachfront venue from the growing brand. FinSMEs 30/05/2024 The 77th edition of Cannes Film Festival was iconic in many ways. It was a game-changing and historic year for India, and many celebrities across the globe extended their support to Palestine with their dresses or accessories on the red carpet. Indian actress Kani Kusruti made a powerful gesture of solidarity with Palestine by wearing a watermelon-shaped clutch. Her film All We Imagine as Light, directed by Payal Kapadia, won the prestigious Grand Prix award and made history. And speaking to Manorama News in an interview, the actress said she wouldnt do films if the narrative didnt align with her own politics. Advertisement Kani also spoke about her 2020 film Biriyaani which won her a state award but also came under criticism and scrutiny for allegedly being Islamophobic. The actress said, I had told Sajin that neither my politics nor aesthetics were aligned with the script. Sajin comes from a backward Muslim community and speaks his politics, which is correct in its own right. But that is not my politics. Kusruti also revealed she rejected an audition offer from The Kerala Story director Sudipto Sen as the politics of his film didnt align with hers. I would appreciate it if I were at least given the chance to audition before I am denied the role, said the actress. There were many people who wore badges and different kinds of accessories to show their solidarity to different issues, not just Palestine. They addressed issues like violence against women in workspaces, low wages of workers in Cannes, and many more. I had decided that I should carry something in solidarity with Palestine The video where NBK is pushing away Anjali on the stage after the latter couldnt hear him went viral on social media read more Bollywood filmmaker Hansal Mehta slammed Tollywood superstar Nandamuri Balakrishna after the Akhanda actor pushed Anjali at the pre-release event of the actress upcoming film, Gangs of Godavari. The video where NBK is pushing away Anjali on the stage after the latter couldnt hear him went viral on social media. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta slammed actors move and asked on X, Who is this scumbag? Who is this scumbag? https://t.co/KUVZjMZY2M Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) May 29, 2024 Advertisement Addressing Hansal a user wrote, They both have acted before with each other so theyve that bonding, irrespective of age he had that friend kinda vibe with co stars, hes the biggest star of Telugu film and industry and the son of great SR NTR and is the uncle of JR NTR, so before calling him a scum bag and all the words ur using think once and tweet before keeping a finger into someones life who is a star himself and PPL around know. Apart from Hansal, several netizens bashed NBK. While one user wrote, This man is a superstar, a successful politician and hes on stage being cheered as he pushes a woman co-star Balayya is a serial offender and never changes, another commented, For additional context: That actress has done more than 50+ movies. More than half of them as a lead. Sad that this is the state of the industry and it hurts that there is no transforming this. Wont be surprised if there comes a pr spin on this. Appalling behaviour by Balakrishna and an understandable reaction by the junior artist who laughed it off, but the most horrifying part of this video is the crowds reaction to a blatant act of assault, cheering and hooting in approval. pic.twitter.com/kVO1UgYsP1 Siddharth (@DearthOfSid) May 29, 2024 Advertisement Another user said, Typical Indian male trying to show masculinity by battering a woman. Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg said during a court hearing that additional people have come forward with assault claims and prosecutors are currently assessing which fall under the statute of limitations read more Manhattan prosecutors told a judge Wednesday they are evaluating more claims of sexual misconduct made against Harvey Weinstein and could potentially seek a new indictment against him before his scheduled retrial on rape and sexual assault charges. Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg said during a court hearing that additional people have come forward with assault claims and prosecutors are currently assessing which fall under the statute of limitations. She said some potential survivors that were not ready to step forward during Weinsteins first New York trial may now be willing to testify. Advertisement When asked by Judge Curtis Farber whether there was a possibility of prosecutors filing a new indictment, Blumberg replied: Yes, your honor. Blumberg said prosecutors would be in a better position to update the court on the direction of the case at the end of June. Farber set the next hearing date for July 9. The retrial on the rape charge is tentatively scheduled for some time after Labor Day. Weinsteins lawyer, Arthur Aidala, told reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing that his client was confident no additional accusers would be found to bolster the prosecutions case. He knows hes never done anything like this, Aidala said of Weinstein. Weinstein, appearing in the same New York City courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial, entered the court in a wheelchair, as he has during other recent court hearings since his 2020 conviction was tossed out. Weinstein has suffered from medical problems throughout his time in jail, his lawyers have said. He is currently at the citys Rikers Island jail complex. Earlier in the hearing, Farber addressed a letter from prosecutors last week requesting the court to remind Weinsteins lawyers not to discuss or disparage potential witnesses in public ahead of the retrial. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office argues that Aidala made statements earlier this month that were meant to intimidate Miriam Haley, a former TV and film production assistant who Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting. Aidala, Weinsteins lawyer, apologized to the judge, saying he didnt intend to intimidate anyone. Advertisement But he said his client is also entitled to a vigorous defense, and that it is the defenses position that lies were told at the last trial, and will be told at this one. Aidala argued lawyers for Weinsteins accusers have been holding press conferences criticizing Weinstein throughout his legal ordeal. Who gets to stand up for Harvey Weinstein? he asked in court. Who gets to be his voice? Farber, in response, directed both sides to refrain from pandering to the press, saying the case will not be decided in the court of public opinion but in the court of justice. Haley didnt attend Wednesdays hearing and has expressed reluctance about going through the trauma of testifying again. Advertisement Her lawyer Gloria Allred said outside the courthouse that her client hasnt made a decision yet about whether shell participate in the retrial. But Allred called on Aidala to apologize to Haley for the unwarranted, vicious and false attack on her, made in the courtroom earlier Wednesday. Aidala declined, speaking to reporters later. Speaking outside of court on May 1, Aidala said Haley lied to the jury about her motive in coming forward and that his team planned an aggressive cross-examination on the issue if she dares to come and show her face here. Weinsteins original trial was held in the same courtroom where Trump is on trial now, but the two men were unlikely to bump into each other. Weinstein is in custody and was brought to and from the courtroom under guard. He appeared in a courtroom on a different floor than where Trump is currently on trial. Advertisement At his 2020 trial, Weinstein was convicted of raping Jessica Mann, an aspiring actor, and of sexually assaulting Haley. But last month New Yorks highest court threw out those convictions after determining that the trial judge unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations from other women that werent part of the case. Weinstein, 72, has maintained that any sexual activity was consensual. The Associated Press does not generally identify people alleging sexual assault unless they consent to be named, as both Haley and Mann have. The New York ruling reopened a painful chapter in Americas reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful figures. The #MeToo era began in 2017 with a flood of allegations against Weinstein. Advertisement Weinstein, who had been serving a 23-year sentence in New York, was also convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and is still sentenced to 16 years in prison in California. French far-right politician Marion Marechal after her win posted on X: So a man has won Best Actress. Progress for the left means the erasure of women and mothers. read more The first transgender woman to be awarded Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday filed a legal complaint over a sexist insult from a far-right politician after her win. Karla Sofia Gascon and co-stars jointly received the accolade on Saturday for their performances in French auteur Jacques Audiards dazzling narco musical Emilia Perez. In the film, the 52-year-old Spanish actor who lived as a man until she was 46 plays a Mexican drug trafficker both before and after gender reassignment surgery. Advertisement French far-right politician Marion Marechal after her win posted on X: So a man has won Best Actress. Progress for the left means the erasure of women and mothers. Gascon, through her lawyer, told AFP: We need to stop such comments. Her lawyer Etienne Deshoulieres said she had filed a legal complaint for sexist insult on the basis of gender identity. Gascon, who has a wife and daughter, dedicated her win in Cannes to all the trans people who are suffering. Earlier during the festival, she urged others to stop labelling people like her. Being trans is unimportant. A trans person is someone going through a transition. Once they have transitioned, thats it. They are what they are, she said. Emilia Perez earned particular praise from critics for not fixating on the gender transition, but moving beyond to explore themes of family, love and the victims of Mexicos gang violence. Recently, Rajinikanth visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. Videos and pictures of Rajinikanth seeking blessing at the temple were posted on the official social media account of the BAPS Hindu Mandir read more Rajinikanth, who in the past made spiritual trips to the Himalayas, is now planning to visit more sacred caves. The superstar left Chennai and arrived in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, to begin his journey. At Dehradun Airport, Rajinikanth spoke to ANI about his spiritual trips. Every year I used to get new experience that made me continue my spiritual journey again and again. I believe even this time, (I) will get new experiences, he said, sharing how these trips help him grow. Advertisement Rajinikanth also spoke about why spirituality is important. The whole world needs spirituality, as its important for every human being. Being spiritual means experiencing peace and tranquility, and fundamentally, it involves believing in God. #WATCH | Dehradun, Uttarakhand: Actor Rajnikanth says, "I am going to Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham..." pic.twitter.com/vCUitnCFyW ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2024 Recently, Rajinikanth visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. Videos and pictures of Rajinikanth seeking blessing at the temple were posted on the official social media account of the BAPS Hindu Mandir. Rajinikanth was granted the golden visa by UAEs Department of Culture and Tourism. The veteran actor expressed his gratitude to the Abu Dhabi government and his friend, MA Yusuff Ali, chairman and managing director of Lulu Group, for their support in securing the visa. I am deeply honoured to receive the prestigious UAE Golden visa from Abu Dhabi Govt, he said in one of the viral videos. On the acting front, Rajinikanth has completed the shoot of his upcoming movie Vettaiyan, directed by TJ Gnanavel. Vettaiyan also stars Amitabh Bachchan. Advertisement Director Lokesh Kanagaraj also treated fans to the first look of his most anticipated project with Rajinikanth. Tentatively titled Thalaivar 171, the film will mark the first collaboration of Lokesh and Rajinikanth. The first look displays Rajinikanth sporting a stylish look and it is all things blingy! The glittery first look of Thalaivar 171 displays a bearded Rajinikanth sporting handcuffs made of watches. Wearing a rugged shirt with a pair of sunglasses on, the actor has been kept in a monotone However, what made the poster remarkable were the shimmery watches and his coloured sunglasses. Sharing the first look, the director also assured the fans that the title of the film will be released on April 22. #Thalaivar171TitleReveal on April 22, he wrote on X. Advertisement With added inputs from agencies A report released by the International Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, World Weather Attribution (WWA) and the non-profit Climate Central has found that countries around the world witnessed an average of 26 extra days of extreme heat that would likely not have occurred without climate change read more The research, which examined the impact of climate change over the past 12 months, showed that nearly all of the worlds populace was impacted by extreme heat days. While Delhi may be burning up, it is far from alone. Climate change is wreaking havoc all over the world. New research has shown that climate change caused an average of 26 extra days of extreme heat around the world. This comes on the heels of 2023 being declared the hottest year on record. But what do we know about this new study? And what else did it reveal? Lets take a closer look: The report was released by the International Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, World Weather Attribution (WWA) and the non-profit Climate Central. Advertisement The research, which examined the impact of climate change over the past 12 months, showed that nearly all of the worlds populace was impacted by extreme heat days. It revealed that countries around the world witnessed an average of extra 26 extreme heat days. This would likely not have occurred without climate change, the study found. According to Brussel Times, the report marked those days from 15 May, 2023, to 15 May, 2024 whose temperatures surpassed 90 per cent of those documented during the 1991-2020 period. They then used the Climate Shift Index (CSI) a peer-reviewed methodology to measure the impact of climate change on daily temperatures. When they found the CSI level was 2 or over it (meaning climate change made the heat at least twice as likely), they noted the day in question as an excess heat day. They then compared temperatures with counterfactual temperatures which would have happened in a world sans human-caused climate change. The result? Climate change caused 26 more days of extreme heat on average. Around 6.8 billion people, 78 per cent of worlds population, experienced around a month of extreme heat, the report also found. Advertisement According to Brussels Times, the report found that 76 extreme heatwaves occurred in 90 countries. Every continent barring Antarctica was affected. The most affected nations are all in Latin America Suriname, Ecuador, Guyana, El Salvador and Panama. Suriname registered 182 days of extreme heat compared with 24 without climate change, Ecuador saw 180 days instead of 10, Guyana witnessed 174 versus 33, El Salvador recorded 163 compared to 15, and Panama noted 149 instead of 12. Lot of toll weve imposed on people Experts are aghast at the findings. Thats a lot of toll that weve imposed on people, Andrew Pershing, the vice president for science at Climate Central, told The New York Times. Advertisement Its a lot of toll that weve imposed on nature, Pershing, one of the scientists behind the study, added. (Extreme heat) is known to have killed tens of thousands of people over the last 12 months, but the real number is likely in the hundreds of thousands or even millions, the Red Cross stated as per India Today. Jagan Chapagain, secretary-general of the International Federation of the Red Cross, added, Flooding and hurricanes may capture the headlines, but the impacts of extreme heat are equally deadly. With inputs from agencies On Wednesday, Delhis Mungeshpur weather station recorded a temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius. If believed to be accurate, this breaks the national record of 51 degrees Celsius in Rajasthans Phalodi in 2016. Wednesdays heat is about four degrees lower than the world high of 56.7 in Californias Death Valley back in 1913 read more A gas cylinder delivery person wipes his sweat as takes a breather in the shade of a tree on a hot summer day in New Delhi. On Wednesday, the people of Delhi were shocked when the sensor in Delhis Mungeshpur automatic weather station touched 52.9 degrees Celsius. AP India is burning up. On Thursday (29 May), Delhi, recorded a temperature high of 52.9 degrees Celsius the highest ever maximum temperature in the country. So high was the mercury reading that it even raised doubts about the accuracy of the data. The record high temperature in the National Capital comes at a time when it is struggling with a water crisis , exacerbating the situation. And its not just India thats burning up. Data reveals that across the world, the mercury levels are rising; in fact, the summer of 2023 was the hottest season in the northern hemisphere in the past 2,000 years. Advertisement As Delhi and other parts of the country and the world struggle with this unbearable heat, we take a closer look at how high has the mercury risen. Delhis burning hot On Wednesday, residents of Delhi , who have been grappling with rising temperatures for almost a week, were shocked when the sensor in Delhis Mungeshpur automatic weather station touched 52.9 degrees Celsius. The temperature was more than nine degrees Celsius higher than expected, the India Meteorological Department said, and came on the second day of record-breaking heat. On Tuesday, a high of 49.9 degrees Celsius was hit in Mungeshpur and Narela, breaking the 2002 record of 49.2 degrees Celsius. A child visitor wears a scarf on a hot summer day at the National Zoologicial Park, in New Delhi. PTI People have been complaining of the rising temperatures; there have been complaints of people burning their fingers from touching the steering wheel of a car and water coming out of taps at boiling temperatures. As Aruna Verma, a teacher, told The Guardian: Having a shower is almost a waste of time. You come out of it and instantly you are a sweaty mess again. The record temperatures also led some to question if the data was accurate. In fact, shortly after news broke that Delhi had touched a high of 52.9 degrees Celsius, Union minister Kiren Rijiju questioned the readings. Advertisement It is not official yet. Temperature of 52.3C in Delhi is very unlikely. Our senior officials in IMD have been asked to verify the news report. The official position will be stated soon, Kiren Rijiju said in a statement on social media platform X. It is not official yet. Temperature of 52.3C in Delhi is very unlikely. Our senior officials in IMD have been asked to verify the news report. The official position will be stated soon. https://t.co/uaZMfRac1q Kiren Rijiju ( ) (@KirenRijiju) May 29, 2024 Advertisement IMD Director General M Mohapatra also said the Mungeshpur station is an outlier. He speculated that local factors could be the reason for the red hot levels in the area. The maximum temperature over Delhi NCR varied from 45.2 to 49.1 degrees Celsius in different parts of the city. Mungeshpur reported 52.9 degrees Celsius as an outlier compared to other stations. It could be due to error in the sensor or the local factor. IMD is examining the data and sensors, the IMD said in a statement later this evening. Advertisement Outside of Delhi too, temperatures have soared. On Tuesday (28 May), it was 50.5 degrees Celsius, in the area around one substation in Rajasthan. Another substation in the city of Sirsa in Haryana, came up with a similar reading Tuesday, at 50.3 degrees Celsius. Indias heat highs If the IMD confirms Mungeshpurs reading, then it will be Indias hottest. If not, then Indias hottest was recorded in May 2016 when Rajasthans city of Phalodi witnessed the mercury rising to a searing 51 degrees Celsius. Churu, another town in Rajasthan, had also recorded a high of about 50 degrees Celsius the same day. A woman walks back towards her home after filling water from a shallow well in a desert area on a hot summer day in Barmer, Rajasthan. The states Churu holds the record of having the hottest temperature 51 degrees Celsius. File image/Reuters Prior to Phalodis record in 2016, the highest temperature had been recorded in Rajasthans Alwar in 1956. The city had seen the mercury levels reach 50.6 degrees Celsius. Advertisement Worlds burning up But what about the worlds hottest? How does the temperature high of 51 degrees Celsius measure to world highs? Currently, the highest officially registered temperature is 56.7 degrees Celsius recorded in Californias Death Valley back in 1913. This recording was made official after the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) disqualified the previous record established at El Azizia, Libya, with a measurement of 58Celsius. In 2012, the WMO said that the El Azizia record measurement could be inaccurate by as much as seven degrees C due to a combination of factors including the asphalt-like surface over which the measurement was taken, which is not a fair representation of the native desert soil. People pose for pictures with an unofficial temperature display outside the Furnace Creek Visitors Center in Death Valley, California. The region holds the record of the highest temperature ever. File image/Reuters In Africa, the hottest known temperature has been 55 degrees Celsius in Kebili, Tunisia in 1931. Meanwhile, in Asia, Irans Ahvaz in 2017 recorded the highest temperature of 54 degrees Celsius. Mitribah in Kuwait comes a close second with a recording of 53.9 degrees Celsius in 2016 followed up with Pakistans Turbat at 53.7 degrees Celsius in 2017. In August 2021, the WMO confirmed a new record temperature for continental Europe of 48.8 degrees Celsius in Italy. Meanwhile, on 19 July, 2022, the United Kingdom recorded its highest-ever temperature, reaching 40.2 degrees C. In South America, the record is held by Rivadavia, Argentina at 48.9 degrees Celsius. Climate change to blame Scientists have noted that rising temperatures are a result of a warming planet, thanks to climate change. In fact, climate experts note that over the past year, the average person on Earth experienced 26 more days of abnormally high temperatures than they otherwise would have, owing to climate change. The summer of 2023 was 2.07 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels which means the world warmed beyond previous estimates. Jan Esper, a climate scientist at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany was quoted as saying about the hottest summer, Im not surprised. I am worried about global warming its one of the biggest threats out there. With inputs from agencies May 29, 2024: For over fifty years Israel has been developing ballistic and air-to-surface missiles for its own military as well as export. These include ballistic missiles that can be launched from fighter-bombers. Rampage is a 14.7 meter-long, 570 kg, air-to-surface missile with a 150 kg warhead. Range is 150 to 250 kilometers. The missile includes GPS/INS navigation systems. Speed is subsonic and varies between 700 and 900 kilometers an hour. Rampage is based on Elbits EXTRA ground-launched rocket. Delilah is a 187 kg helicopter or fixed wing aircraft or surface launched loitering cruise missile (LACM) with a range of 250 -300 kilometers. The missile costs about half a million dollars. The surface launched version uses a rocket booster to get airborne. A small turbo jet makes possible several hours of loitering time to search for enemy radars or other ground targets or moving ships at sea. A remote human controller decides which target to attack. Delilah was developed in the 1980s and entered service in the 1990s. EXTRA (Extended Range Artillery) is a 570 kg 306mm GPS-guided rocket with a range of 150 km and a 120 kg warhead. Each missile costs about $120,000. EXTRA entered service in 2016 and uses a variety of launcher vehicles and is similar to the Americans HIMARS and its GMLRS missile. Gabriel is an anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM). The latest version, Gabriel 5, entered service in 2020. The first version of Gabriel appeared in 1973 as a 430 kg anti-ship missile similar to the later (1977) American Harpoon but with a shorter range of 20 kilometers. Gabriel 2 appeared in 1976 and Gabriel 3 in 1978 with a range of 36 kilometers and 30 percent heavier than Gabriel 1. Gabriel 3 was also available for use from aircraft, which gave it a range of 60 kilometers. These early models sank nine enemy ships in the 1970s and were rightly feared by Israels enemies. Israel did not need an anti-ship missile with a long range, like Harpoon which could travel 120 kilometers, because Israel had a coastal navy that might have to fight neighbors like Egypt to the south or Lebanon to the north. From the start Gabriel had a system which allowed the missile to move along a few meters above the water, making it difficult to detect. Gabriel 4 was different as it had a range of 200 kilometers and a small turbojet, similar to cruise missiles, for sustained flight. Gabriel weighed 960 kg which made it similar to a cruise missile. The Gabriel 4 warhead was much larger but the multiple guidance systems were similar to the earlier Gabriels. It took nearly two decades for the larger and much more capable Gabriel 5 to appear. The three guidance systems were upgraded but remained fire and forget, or fire and update, via an encrypted data link, midway to the target. Finally, there was fire and onboard radar update as the target area was approached. The guidance system could detect the desired target and head for it. Gabriel 5 has more countermeasures for enemy electronic defenses and each missile costs $5 million. Gabriel has been exported to 14 countries and survives because it was developed by a country that was constantly under threat of attack and is quicker to modify their weapons to better deal with a threatening neighbor. LORA is a 1.6 ton ballistic missile with a range of 430 kilometers and a 570 kg warhead. The guidance system includes GPS, INS, and a TV camera for making sure the target is hit in the intended location. With just GPS/INS the missile will land within five meters of the aiming point. LORA can be fired from a variety of truck mounted launchers. Israel does not use LORA but two export customers, India and Azerbaijan do. India recently began manufacturing LORA under license. Jericho 1: A short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) with a range of 500 kilometers. Jericho 2: A medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of 1,500 - 3,500 kilometers. Entered service in 1989. Jericho 3: An intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with a range of 4,800 - 6,500 kilometers. Entered service in 2011. Currently active Jericos are all solid fuel ballistic missiles and currently include the 26-ton, two-stage Jerico II with a range of 1,500 kilometers and the 30-ton, two or three stage Jerico III with a range of 6,500 kilometers. The third stage is used when the missile is used as a satellite launch vehicle (SLV). Israel manufactures is own satellites. Production of the 6.5-ton Jerico I began in 1965. This missile was retired in the 1990s but over fifty of these missiles are still operational and maintained in storage, just in case. Israel never revealed how many of the Jericho missiles it built, except for those used as SLVs. Eventually modified Jericho missiles known as Shavit were built for SLV operations. Shavits weigh from 30.5 to 70 tons and has four stages. The last stage uses liquid fuel rockets for precise positioning of satellites into orbit. Israel does not export Jericho missiles. One exception was South Africa which manufactured versions of the Shavit SLV/ICBM in the 1980s until 1993. In 2023 Israel used Shavit to launch Ofek (Horizon) 13, the latest version of its Ofek surveillance satellites. Israel has built and launched its own military satellites since 1988. Before Ofek 13, the most recent surveillance satellite launch was in July 2020 when another photo satellite, the Ofek 16 was put into orbit. Ofek 16 was described as an upgrade of the Ofek 11 design, which first went up in 2016. At the time Ofek 11 was described as an upgraded Ofek 10, which went up in 2014. Beyond that the Israelis offer few official details of Ofek and other intelligence gathering satellites. Israel was the eighth nation to develop and build its own satellite launch capability. Israel uses only its own launchers for military satellites. Since these launchers are based on Israeli Jericho ballistic missile designs, it was cheaper using foreign launch services for commercial satellites. For example, Israeli communications satellites are now put into orbit by American SpaceX rockets, which have the cheapest prices as a result of SpaceX innovations, notably reusable first stages that land under their own power after separating from the second stage carrying the satellite. Ofek satellites have proved very reliable and are now built to recover from problems that often lead to the loss of satellites from other nations. For example, in late 2016 Israel launched Ofek 11. While the satellite achieved orbit it soon lost communications with ground control. The Ofek was built with fail-soft self-repair software and it was hoped whatever was wrong could be fixed. After nine days ground control regained contact, Ofek 11 was sending back digital images. Since then, Ofek has remained fully functional but it is still unclear if it will remain that way for eight years, the designed useful life of this Ofek. In addition to photo satellites, Israel also has a military-grade radar satellite called TekSar. One of these, in 2008, was launched using an Indian launcher. This was more of a good-will gesture towards a new ally and major purchaser of Israeli defense technology. That use of an Indian launcher for a military satellite was a one-time event and the Indians were eager to show the world their satellite launch capability. In addition to Israeli-built Ofek and TekSar birds, Israeli intelligence also uses Israeli-built Eros B and Eros A civilian photo satellites for some military needs. The first Ofek went up in 1988 and the last few have been incremental upgrades of the Ofek 9 which entered service in 2010. The Ofek 9 weighed about 300 kg and used a new generation of sensors that were able to see objects as small as 55 cm. Ofek 10 was a little heavier with new electronics providing better resolution and Ofek 11 was more of the same. Ofek 16 has higher resolution cameras, which can apparently get below 50 cm resolution as well as providing higher quality photos using more capable software. All the Ofek spy sats are mainly for keeping tabs on Iran and what Iran is doing in Syria and Lebanon. There have been failures. In 1998 Ofek 4 failed and in 2004 so did Ofek 6. This led to design changes that included the fail-soft capabilities that saved Ofek 11. Each of the failed launches cost Israel about $100 million, which includes the cost of the satellite and the launcher, which are based on the Israeli Jericho ballistic missile. The satellite launcher version of Jericho is called Shavit. The first two stages of the Shavit are also used for the Israeli Jericho 3 IRBM. With a range of nearly 5,000 kilometers, the Jericho 3 can drop a nuclear warhead anywhere in the Middle East. Jericho is a 30-ton, solid fuel, two stage missile with a one-ton payload. There are several dozen Jericho 3s in service, mainly as a nuclear deterrent that can be launched from underground silos. Israel has often used its spy satellite capabilities for diplomacy. In 2012 Israel built and launched a photo spy satellite for Italy that cost $182 million for the satellite and launch, which was carried out in 2015. This was part of a deal where Italy agreed to buy an equal value of Israeli military gear as part of a deal where Israel bought $993 million worth of Italian jet trainers. Italy managed to cover this with the purchase of two AWACs and a spy satellite from Israel. In 2014 it was revealed that Israel had quietly and anonymously contributed some vital targeting information for the air campaign against ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) in Iraq, and possibly Syria as well. It wasnt that the U.S. doesnt have spy satellites that could have provided this, but the Israeli fleet of spy satellites does not have worldwide responsibilities, spend most of their time over Middle Eastern nations and have been doing so for many years. The Israelis had satellite data immediately that it would take weeks, months or longer for American satellites to compile. The Israeli contribution was kept quiet and the data provided had been scrubbed to remove any evidence that it was from Israel. But none of the Arab nations contributing warplanes to the operation were surprised and, except for Iran, which openly insists ISIL is an invention of the Americans, British and Israelis, no one complained. In 2021 Israel sold Vietnam a military surveillance satellite that Israel built and launched. The satellite was the latest version of the Ofek with a resolution of 50cm. This is accurate enough to show buildings, roads, and vehicles. Israel has at least two of the latest Ofeks in orbit and has exported them for nearly a decade. Some of these export customers prefer not to be identified. In terms of resolution and other known factors, Ofek is little different from the many commercial photo satellites that provide unclassified photos to the media and general public. PM Modi will begin a three-day spiritual sojourn at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari. Indian officials will hold talks on official contract with France for the mega acquisition of 26 Rafale-Marine fighters. Heres what else to expect today read more Its going to be a busy Thursday. PM Narendra Modi will embark on a spiritual journey to Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari. India is scheduled to hold negotiations with a high-level delegation from France to acquire 26 Rafale jets. The Delhi Court will also hear clarifications in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Jagadish Tytler. On the world front, King Charles is expected to dissolve UK Parliament ahead of general elections. Hong Kong court will also deliver a landmark verdict against democrats arrested under the contentious national security law. Advertisement Heres what is expected today PM Modis meditation plans After hectic campaigning for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a three-day spiritual sojourn today to Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari. He will arrive at the rock memorial dedicated to his spiritual guru Swami Vivekananda and will be meditating through the day and night at the revered Dhyan Mandapam, The Hindu reports. Surrounded by three water bodies the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean, it is believed that the Vivekananda meditated on the big rock and attained a vision for a developed India. Vivekananda Rock Memorial. PTI According to BJP functionaries, PM Modis decision to pick the spot in Kanyakumari underscores his commitment to bringing to fruition Vivekanandas vision for the country. India-France to begin talks on Rafale jets India is set to begin official contract negotiations with France for the mega acquisition of 26 Rafale-Marine fighters, valued at over Rs 50,000 crore. The high-level French delegation, comprising officials from their defence ministry and industry, including Dassault Aviation and Thales, will meet with their Indian counterparts from the defense acquisition wing and the Indian Navy today. The naval force is eager to induct supersonic jets on its two aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, in response to the growing threat from China in the Indian Ocean Region. Advertisement King Charles to dissolve UK Parliament Ahead of general elections, King Charles will dissolve the British Parliament today. The UK monarch will dissolve the Parliament 25 days ahead of general elections after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this week took Britons by surprise and announced elections in the country on 4th July. Britains King Charles is expected to dissolve the UK Parliament. Reuters While Charles has never overseen a general election as King, he has formally met with two prime ministers during his reign including Liz Truss and the incumbent prime minister Rishi Sunak. As per the protocol, the Prime Minister requests the King dissolve Parliament, and if accepted by the monarch, all 650 seats in the House of Commons are vacated by Parliamentarians. Advertisement Hong Kong courts verdict on national security trial The Hong Kong high court is poised to deliver a landmark verdict against 16 democrats in what is considered the largest criminal trial against the citys democratic opposition. This verdict follows the mass arrest of 47 democrats in dawn raids over three years ago, with the individuals charged under a China-imposed national security law for conspiracy to commit subversion. To date, 31 of the 47 democrats have pleaded guilty, while 16 maintained their innocence. Critics argue that the judgment could significantly impact Hong Kongs democratic movement and its reputation as a global financial hub. The trial is being closely watched by the international community with delegates from US, Britain, and Europe having attended court proceedings. Advertisement Hearing on 1984 anti-Sikh riots case on Jagdish Tytler Delhis Rouse Avenue court is scheduled to hear clarification in the 1984 anti-Sikh killing case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler. The matter is up for hearing after the court heard arguments on the framing of charges against the leader earlier this month. The case which was investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had earlier argued that there are eyewitnesses who saw Jagdish Tytler inciting the mob during the 1984 riots and there is sufficient material to frame charges against him. This case pertains to the alleged killing of three Sikhs Thakur Singh, Badal Singh and Gurcharan Singh in front of Pul Bangash Gurudwara on November 1, 1984. Congress leader Jagdish Tytler is accused in the case. As the European Parliament gears up for critical elections next week, numerous European media outlets, led by the investigative platform Follow the Money, unveil a project representing the most comprehensive analysis of party financing within the bloc. The project has analysed the annual reports of over 200 parties, most of which are putting forward candidates in the upcoming elections. We look into the key revelations read more The data was gathered from the annual reports of more than 200 parties across 25 countries in Europe. Image used for representational purposes/Pixabay Political parties in the European Union (EU) received almost a billion euros in donations between 2019 and 2022, revealed an investigation into their funding. The analysis, conducted by Follow the Money and 26 European media partners, sheds light on the financial practices of over 200 political parties in 25 countries, highlighting a deep-rooted transparency gap. The report has been released ahead of the EU elections to be held next week. Between 6 and 9 June, up to 450 million citizens across the EUs 27 member states will vote to elect over 700 members to the European Parliament, the worlds only directly elected transnational assembly. Advertisement The investigation also reveals a notable lack of trust in political parties among the European public. According to a Eurobarometer poll, 6 out of 10 Europeans believe that corruption is widespread among political parties. We take a look at a few of the key findings in the report: Rise of populist and extreme parties A quarter of all private donations in the EU goes to far-right, far-left, and populist movements, amounting to 150 million between 2019 and 2022. Far-right groups alone received over 97 million during this period, reveals the report. Far-right parties have seen a dramatic rise in financial support in countries like France, Latvia, and Italy. In France, three parties on the extremes of the political spectrum Reconquete and Marine Le Pens National Rally on the right and La France Insoumise on the left have experienced a dramatic rise in financial support, taking 38 per cent of non-public money raised in 2022. President of the Frances National Rally party Marine Le Pen speaks during a rally organised by the Spanish far-right Vox party ahead of the European elections, with various far-right leaders including Argentinas president Javier Milei, in Madrid, Spain, 19 May, 2024. Reuters In Latvia, which is expected to see a significant rise in anti-European and populist MEPs next month, non-public funding for these parties has increased from 9 per cent to 36 per cent over the past four years, primarily driven by the populist centre-right Latvia First party. The analysis reveals that far-right, far-left, and populist parties collectively attract more than half of the non-public funding in Slovenia, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Portugal, and Greece. Hungarys ruling Fidesz party, which has been in power for 14 years and has reduced state funding, captured 55 per cent of all non-public money in 2022. In Poland, the far-right Law and Justice party, a close ally of Fidesz and led by Mateusz Morawiecki until April this year, took 44 per cent of all non-public funding in 2022. Advertisement In Italy, four populist partiesGiorgia Melonis Brothers of Italy, Matteo Salvinis League, Forza Italia, and the Five Star Movementsecured 55 per cent of non-public funding in 2022, according to the data. Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks on during a Brothers of Italy (Fratelli dItalia) right-wing party conference in Pescara, Italy, 28 April, 2024. Reuters In some countries, far-left parties also have a significant share. The Communist Party of Greece receives more than half of the countrys non-public funding, while its Portuguese counterpart, the Partido Comunista Portugues, accounts for over 50 per cent of the total. Polling indicates that nationalist and far-right parties are likely to finish first in Hungary and eight other EU states, including Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland. When other forms of funding, such as membership fees and donations from a partys own politicians or officials, are included, hardline and populist parties captured one-fifth of the money raised between 2019 and 2022, totaling almost 500 million, the data shows. For far-right parties, the sum was close to 200 million, equivalent to 1 in every 11. Advertisement The 641-million-euro case of Germany One of the big reveals of the report is that 75 per cent of anonymous donations in the EU, go to parties in Germany. German parties received a staggering 641 million euros in donations from 2019 until 2022. However, for 495 million of this, or 78 per cent, the name of the donor(s) remains a secret. For instance, the German populist party Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) reported receiving 6.4 million euros in donations in 2022, but only 1.3 million euros in donations were publicly disclosed, leaving a significant gap of 5.1 million euros. A view of flags near the venue of 14th federal party convention of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Magdeburg, Germany, 28 July, 2023. File Image/Reuters Efforts to reform the German system for more transparency have faced opposition, with the Christian democratic CDU, the party of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, blocking a recent attempt to lower the donation disclosure threshold. Advertisement Annual financial reports of all the parties in Germany show that 329 million euros come from companies and private citizens, and 312 million euros from politicians. However, it is impossible to determine how much of the 495 million euros with undetermined origin, stems from a politician belonging to a party, or private individuals and companies: the records of individual donations dont make it clear if a payment is a donation or contribution from a politician. All of them have been included in the German calculation, states the report. Varied levels of transparency across Europe While all EU member states have adopted regulations regarding the reporting and public disclosure of donations, rules vary widely, leading to a lack of transparency. Advertisement The countries that transformed from communist one-party states into democracies in the early 1990s embraced best practices. For the countries on the western side of the curtain that came down 35 years ago, a lack of accountability is still the norm, reads the report. In Portugal and Luxembourg, for example, records can only be accessed by physically going to the court of auditors or national parliament, and even then it is forbidden to make the names of the donors public because of data protection," says the report. Also Read: Will Germanys decision to reduce voting age in EU elections benefit the far-right? Countries in central and eastern Europe, which joined the EU in the 2000s, have embraced best practices in political financing transparency. Each year, all donations and their donors are published, although sometimes buried deep inside financial reports. However, transparency remains a significant issue, especially in powerful western European countries like Germany and France. In Belgium and France, not a single name of a donor is made public due to privacy concerns. The investigation shows only Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Poland and Croatia require the source of all donations to be identified. Euro currency bills are pictured at the Croatian National Bank in Zagreb, Croatia, 21 May, 2019. Reuters This lack of transparency extends to other countries as well, such as Spain, where the names of donors are only published if the donation exceeds 25,000 euros. However, audits reveal that no donations above this threshold have been made since 2015, indicating another instance of a lack of transparency in political funding. Italy mandates the disclosure of donations exceeding 500. However, many donations are not made directly to political parties but to affiliated organisations, such as foundations or electoral commissions. These entities then contribute funds or provide in-kind assistance to the political parties. In 2019, a change in Italian law imposed the same transparency rules on foundations as on political parties, requiring them to identify their donors. However, many of these foundations responded by changing their status to non-profit organisations to evade the stricter transparency regulations. Structural issues, such as regional chapters or party-affiliated foundations receiving donations and sending that money to national parties, obscure the actual sources of funding, said the report. Challenges and recommendations The investigation highlights several challenges, including high donation thresholds, loopholes that allow for undisclosed donations, and inadequate enforcement and oversight mechanisms. Experts suggest setting a ceiling for the amount donors are allowed to donate to avoid parties becoming too dependent on specific donors. However, only some countries, like Belgium, have set such limits, the report stated. Recommendations include lowering donation thresholds, setting donation limits, and improving enforcement and oversight mechanisms to enhance transparency and accountability in political financing. Bank notes of different currencies, including Euro, US Dollar, Turkish Lira or Brazilian Reais, are photographed in Frankfurt, Germany, 7 May, 2017. Reuters Germany doesnt cap donations, and neither do seven other countries: Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Estonia, and Bulgaria. All the others set a ceiling, but the limits vary between 500 euros in Belgium and 300,000 euros in Slovakia. Calls for more transparency and controls in political funding have been made, but parties seem reluctant to change, citing concerns about limiting their freedom. As Europeans prepare to vote in the upcoming elections, the analysis underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in political party funding. Also Read: French President Macron takes first presidential state visit to Germany in 24 years amid EU uncertainty The analysis entirely excluded two countries: Austria, due to the regional nature of party disclosures which made it impossible to reliably record a universal figure; and Lithuania, because its political parties are not required to report annual financial statements. The 27 EU countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Results will be announced during the late hours of 9 June. Fourteen individuals have been found guilty in Hong Kongs largest national security trial, concerning the prosecution of the Hong Kong 47 pro-democracy campaigners. A panel of national security judges determined that they had committed the national security offence of conspiracy to subvert state power by organising unofficial election primaries in 2020. This ruling was swiftly condemned by rights groups read more Police stand guard outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts building during the verdict of the 47 pro-democracy activists charged under the national security law, in Hong Kong, China, 30 May, 2024. Reuters A Hong Kong court on 30 May, Thursday, convicted 14 prominent pro-democracy activists in the largest national security case since the introduction of a sweeping security law by Beijing in 2020. Among those found guilty are former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong, and Raymond Chan. The defendants face potential life sentences upon their sentencing, which will occur at a later date. Two defendants, former district councilors Lee Yue-shun and Lawrence Lau, were acquitted. Advertisement These individuals were part of a group of 47 democracy advocates prosecuted in 2021 for their involvement in an unofficial primary election. Prosecutors argued that their actions were aimed at paralysing the Hong Kong government and toppling its leader by securing a legislative majority necessary to veto budgets indiscriminately. In a summary of the verdict, the court stated that the defendants intended to use their legislative power to veto budgets, which would compel the chief executive to dissolve the legislature and eventually step down. This was seen as a severe interference in the duties of the Hong Kong government. Also Read | Article 23: How Hong Kongs new security law further stifles its autonomy Leung Kwok-hung, the oldest defendant at 68, along with other activists such as Owen Chow and Gwyneth Ho, appeared somber as the verdicts were delivered in a packed courtroom, reported Reuters. What does the controversial law say? In 2020, Hong Kong underwent significant changes following the implementation of Chinas controversial national security law (NSL). This law, a response to the protests in Hong Kong the year prior, expanded the scope of prohibited dissenting activities while diminishing the citys autonomy . Beijing and local authorities assert that the law is crucial for maintaining stability and deny that it has eroded autonomy. However, critics argue that it marks the end of Hong Kong and has instilled a climate of fear in the city. Advertisement Lawrence Lau Wai-chung is escorted by police outside the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts building after being acquitted of charges under the national security law, in Hong Kong, China, 30 May, 2024. Reuters The NSL criminalises acts of secession (breaking away from China), subversion (undermining the central governments power or authority), terrorism (using violence or intimidation against people), and collusion with foreign or external forces. These offenses carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Additionally, The law allows for certain cases to be tried in mainland China, establishes a national security commission in Hong Kong with a Beijing-appointed adviser, gives Beijing authority over the laws interpretation, prioritises Beijing law over conflicting Hong Kong laws, permits some trials to be held behind closed doors, allows for wiretapping and surveillance of suspected individuals, strengthens oversight of foreign non-governmental organisations and news agencies, considers damaging public transport facilities as terrorism, prohibits those convicted under the NSL from running for public office, allows for fines against companies found guilty under the law, and extends the laws jurisdiction to non-permanent residents and individuals from outside Hong Kong who are not permanent residents. Since the laws enactment, Hong Kong has witnessed numerous arrests of protesters, activists, and former opposition lawmakers. The law has been widely criticised for eroding the freedoms promised to Hong Kong when it was handed back to China by Britain in 1997. How has the law been used? In July 2023, Hong Kong authorities disclosed that approximately 260 individuals had been arrested, with 79 of them facing charges. The trial of the Hong Kong 47 represents the largest national security case to date. Several pro-democracy news outlets, including defendant Jimmy Lais Apple Daily, have ceased operations. Clarisse Yeung Suet-ying arrives at the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts building, before the verdict of the 47 pro-democracy activists charged under the national security law, in Hong Kong, China, 30 May, 2024. Reuters The NSL has prompted tens of thousands of Hongkongers to leave the city, with many relocating to the UK under a special visa program introduced by the British government. Advertisement However, even those who have left are not beyond the NSLs reach, as evidenced by Hong Kong police issuing NSL arrest warrants and offering rewards for individuals now residing overseas, such as activist Nathan Law The case against the 47 activists is rooted in the NSL. Who are the 47 activists? The activists in the current case were prosecuted for their involvement in an unofficial primary election in June 2020, which aimed to select the strongest pro-democracy candidates for a legislative election. Lee Yue-shun, a former pro-democracy district councilor, arrives at the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts in Hong Kong, 30 May, 2024, ahead of verdicts in national security case. AP The primary drew 610,000 voters, representing over 13 per cent of Hong Kongs registered electorate. The government later postponed the legislative election, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequently overhauled electoral laws to reduce the publics voting power and increase the number of pro-Beijing lawmakers. Advertisement Initially 55 were arrested, but eight of them were not charged: Benny Tai Yiu-ting (56) - Associate Law Professor - Pleaded guilty Au Nok-hin (33) - Member of Legislative Council - Pleaded guilty Andrew Chiu Ka-yin (35) - Vice chairman of Eastern District Council, Convenor of Power for Democracy - Pleaded guilty Ben Chung Kam-lun (32) - Chairman of Sai Kung District Council, Deputy convenor of Power for Democracy - Pleaded guilty John Clancey (79) - Treasurer of Power for Democracy - Not charged Gordon Ng Ching-hang (42) - Activist - Pleaded not guilty Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai (27) - Member of Southern District Council - Pleaded guilty Fergus Leung Fong-wai (23) - Member of Central and Western District Council - Pleaded guilty Tat Cheng Tat-hung (32) - Member of Eastern District Council - Pleaded not guilty Andy Chui Chi-kin (5354) - Member of Eastern District Council - Pleaded guilty Clarisse Yeung Suet-ying (34) - Chairman of Wan Chai District Council - Pleaded not guilty Michael Pang Cheuk-kei (26) - Member of Southern District Council - Pleaded not guilty Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit (33) - Member of Sha Tin District Council, Convenor of Civil Human Rights Front - Pleaded guilty Claudia Mo Man-ching (64) - Member of Legislative Council - Pleaded guilty Kalvin Ho Kai-ming (32) - Member of Sham Shui Po District Council, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Association for Democracy and Peoples Livelihood - Pleaded not guilty Frankie Fung Tat-chun (25) - Convenor of Peninsular Commons - Pleaded guilty Lawrence Lau Wai-chung (53) - Member of Sham Shui Po District Council, Barrister and former magistrate - Pleaded not guilty Helena Wong Pik-wan (61) - Member of Legislative Council - Pleaded not guilty Nathan Lau Chak-fung (24) - Activist - Pleaded guilty Joshua Wong Chi-fung (24) - Secretary general of Demosisto - Pleaded guilty Jeremy Jansen Tam Man-ho (45) - Member of Legislative Council - Pleaded guilty Kinda Li Ka-tat (2930) - Member of Kwun Tong District Council - Pleaded guilty Tam Tak-chi (48) - Vice chairman of People Power - Pleaded guilty Wu Chi-wai (58) - Member of Legislative Council, Chairman of Democratic Party - Pleaded guilty Sze Tak-loy (38) - Member of Wong Tai Sin District Council, Chairman of Hong Kong Association for Democracy and Peoples Livelihood - Pleaded not guilty Eddie Chu Hoi-dick (43) - Member of Legislative Council - Pleaded guilty Sam Cheung Ho-sum (27) - Member of Tuen Mun District Council - Pleaded guilty Prince Wong Ji-yuet (23) - Spokesperson of Scholarism - Pleaded guilty Ng Kin-wai (25) - Member of Yuen Long District Council - Pleaded guilty Andrew Wan Siu-kin (51) - Member of Legislative Council, Member of Kwai Tsing District Council - Pleaded guilty Kwok Ka-ki (59) - Member of Legislative Council - Pleaded guilty Carol Ng Man-yee (50) - Chairwoman of Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions - Pleaded guilty Roy Tam Hoi-pong (40) - Member of Tsuen Wan District Council - Pleaded guilty Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam (30) - Former journalist for Stand News - Pleaded not guilty Ventus Lau Wing-hong (27) - Activist - Pleaded guilty Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu (39) - Member of Legislative Council, Leader of the Civic Party - Pleaded guilty Raymond Chan Chi-chuen (48) - Member of Legislative Council, Chairman of People Power - Pleaded not guilty Owen Chow Ka-shing (24) - Activist - Pleaded not guilty Lam Cheuk-ting (43) - Member of Legislative Council, Member of North District Council - Pleaded not guilty Gary Fan Kwok-wai (54) - Member of Legislative Council - Pleaded guilty Hendrick Lui Chi-hang (3738) - Social worker - Pleaded guilty Leung Kwok-hung (64) - Member of Legislative Council - Pleaded not guilty Mike Lam King-nam (32) - Founder of retail chain AbouThai - Pleaded guilty Ricky Or Yiu-lam (49) - Member of Sai Kung District Council - Pleaded not guilty Roy Kwong Chun-yu (38) - Member of Legislative Council, Member of Yuen Long District Council - Not charged Lester Shum Ngo-fai (27) - Member of Tsuen Wan District Council - Pleaded guilty Henry Wong Pak-yu (30) - Member of Yuen Long District Council - Pleaded guilty James To Kun-sun (57) - Member of Legislative Council, Member of Yau Tsim Mong District Council - Not charged Lee Yue-shun (27) - Member of Eastern District Council - Pleaded not guilty Winnie Yu Wai-ming (33) - Chairperson of Hospital Authority Employees Alliance - Pleaded not guilty Michael Felix Lau Hoi-man (3637) - Officer of Hong Kong Allied Health Professionals and Nurse Association - Not charged Joseph Lee Kok-long (61) - Member of Legislative Council - Not charged Yuen Wai-kit (4243) - Principal of the School of Nursing of the Union Hospital - Not charged William Liu Wai-lim (34) - Engineer - Pleaded guilty Bryan Leung Kai-hay (40) - Sales manager - Pleaded guilty What will the impact of the conviction be? The convictions have significant implications for Hong Kongs political landscape and its reputation as a global financial hub. The US and other countries have criticised the trial as politically motivated and have called for the immediate release of the accused. Diplomats from several countries, including the US and the European Union, attended the hearing. This unprecedented mass conviction is the most ruthless illustration yet of how Hong Kongs national security law is weaponised to silence dissent, said Sarah Brooks, Amnesty Internationals China director, in a statement. It represents a near-total purge of the political opposition. Advertisement Members of League of Social Democrats hold banner outside the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts in Hong Kong, 30 May, 2024, ahead of verdicts in national security case. The banner reads Exercising Constitutional rights is not a crime. AP Observers note that the case illustrates how the national security law is used to suppress political opposition. The law has also led to the closure of liberal media outlets and NGOs, significantly reducing public dissent and freedom of expression in Hong Kong. The trial has drawn international attention, with diplomats from the US, Australia, and Britain attending the hearings. Supporters of the convicted activists, including social worker Stanley Chang and former Democratic Party chairperson Emily Lau, expressed their sadness and support for the defendants, reported AP. Also Read: China releases citizen journalist Zhang Zhan after 4 years of imprisonment for Covid-19 coverage Leung Kwok-hungs wife, Chan Po-ying, leader of the pro-democracy political party League of Social Democrats, was arrested at the court along with three other LSD members. They attempted to raise a yellow banner in protest but were stopped by police and escorted away. The verdicts are expected to have a chilling effect on Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement and civil society. Legal expert Albert Chen Hung-yee told SCMP that the national security law introduces new elements to colonial-era sedition laws, creating a higher threshold for prosecution and potentially leading to further suppression of dissent. With inputs from agencies On Wednesday, Delhi recorded its highest-ever temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius at the Mungeshpur station. But now the India Meteorological Department is saying that it is possible that the station is an outlier or suffering from a sensor error and that a team of specialists has been dispatched. But how is ambient air temperature measured? And what factors can affect it? read more The The Mungeshpur weather station in northwest Delhi recorded the record-high temperature. Representational image. PTI On Wednesday, Delhi recorded its highest ever temperature of over 52 degrees Celsius. The Mungeshpur weather station in northwest Delhi recorded the temperature. On Tuesday, the same weather station noted a temperature of 49 degrees Celsius. But now the India Meteorological Department is saying that it is possible that the station is an outlier or suffering from a sensor error. The maximum temperature over Delhi-NCR varied from 45.2 degrees Celsius to 49.1 degrees Celsius in different parts of city. Mungeshpur reported 52.9 degrees Celsius as an outlier compared to other stations. It could be due to error in the sensor or the local factor. IMD is examining the data and sensors, the IMD said in a statement. Advertisement Union minister Kiren Rijiju posted on X: It is not official yet. Temperature of 52.3C in Delhi is very unlikely. Our senior officials in IMD have been asked to verify the news report. The official position will be stated soon. https://t.co/uaZMfRac1q Kiren Rijiju ( ) (@KirenRijiju) May 29, 2024 A team of specialists has been dispatched to Mungeshpur to check the temperature sensor, according to several media reports. But how is air temperature measured? And why does it sometimes go wrong? Lets take a closer look: How is air temperature measured? First, lets briefly examine the IMD. Established in 1875, the agency is the countrys national meteorological service. It is the principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology and allied subjects. According to Hindustan Times, the IMD currently has over 550 surface observatories to forecast weather. However, this manual network is inadequate for constantly keeping an eye on cyclones and monsoons. The IMD has now added Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) to the mix. Since summer 2022, the IMD has established AWS in 15 locations across Delhi and NCR. Advertisement These measure factors such as ambient air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and wind direction every hour. Ambient temperature is the temperature of the air surrounding a component. In this case, ambient air temperature is measured via an electrical resistance thermometer. The ambient air temperature is recorded in degrees Celsius. How can it go wrong? According to CNBC, an inaccurate sensor can result in faulty data. Advertisement If sensors are not properly calibrated or maintained, they can give false readings that do not accurately reflect the weather conditions, the piece stated. It is also important to remember that ambient air temperature can also vary in urban areas. This is because local features such as proximity to water bodies, barren land, concrete, dense urban clusters, and green areas all play a part in impacting it_._ NDTV quoted IMD director general M Mohapatra as saying that local factors could have played a part in Mungeshpur. Advertisement Experts have blamed hot winds from Rajasthan for the current situation in Delhi. India Meteorological Department (IMD) regional head Kuldeep Srivastava said Delhis outskirts are the first areas to be impacted by hot winds from Rajasthan. Parts of Delhi are particularly susceptible to the early arrival of these hot winds, worsening the already severe weather. Areas like Mungeshpur, Narela and Najafgarh are the first to experience the full force of these hot winds, Srivastava told PTI. Mahesh Palawat, the vice president of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather, said, In open areas with vacant land, there is increased radiation. Direct sunlight and lack of shade make these regions exceptionally hot. Advertisement Experts have blamed hot winds from Rajasthan for the present situation, but say the heatwave may dissipate in two or three days When wind blows from the west, it affects these areas first. As they are on the outskirts, temperatures rise rapidly, Palawat explained. With temperatures soaring, the city peak power demand rose to an all-time high of 8,302 MW at 15:36:32 hours on Wednesday, according power discom officials. This is the first time in the history of the National Capital that its power demand has crossed the 8,300-MW mark. Power distribution companies had estimated the demand to peak at 8,200 MW this summer. The National Capital is also facing water shortage due to unprecedented summer heat. Water minister Atishi has directed the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to deploy 200 teams across the city to prevent water-wasting activities like car washing with a hose, overflowing water tanks, and use of domestic water supply for construction and commercial purposes. The IMD has, however, predicted that the heatwave conditions would ease. It has rained at many places in Delhi in the afternoon resulting in further fall of temperature. Heatwave conditions will reduce during the next 2 - 3 days due to gradual fall in temperature in association with approaching western disturbance, rainfall/thunderstorm and southwesterly wind blowing from the Arabian Sea to northwest India, the IMD release stated. With inputs from agencies The Rafale M is a single-seat, twin-jet fighter plane manufactured by Dassault Aviation. The jet, which operates from aircraft carriers, has been described as an omnirole fighter which can carry out several different duties including air defence, air policing, nuclear deterrence, power projection, deployments for external missions, deep strike missions, air support for ground forces, reconnaissance missions, and pilot training sorties read more The Rafale M's maximum speed is 1,389 kilometres per hour. It can operate at a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet. Image courtesy: Dassault Aviation India is set to begin negotiating the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets from France. The Indian government will begin negotiating the Rs 50,000-crore deal with a high-level French team in New Delhi. The French side will with Indian defence ministry counterparts to begin official negotiations in the jet deal for the Indian Navy under which aircraft would be operated from both aircraft carriers operated by the force, defence industry officials told ANI. Advertisement The French team will include officials from their defence ministry and industry including original equipment manufacturers Dassault Aviation and Thales, the officials said. The Indian side would include members from the defence acquisition wing and the Indian Navy. But what do we know about these naval fighter planes? Lets take a closer look: Omnirole aircraft The Rafale M is a single-seat, twin-jet fighter plane that operates from aircraft carriers. It can carry out several missions including air defence, air policing, nuclear deterrence, power projection and deployments for external missions, deep strike missions, air support for ground forces, reconnaissance missions, and pilot training sorties. The jet has a wingspan of 10.90 metres, is 15.30 metres long and 5.30 metres high. It has a maximum take-off weight of 24.5 tonnes and can carry an external load of up to 9.5 tonnes. Its maximum speed is 1.8 Mach (1,389 kmph). It can operate at a maximum altitude of 50,000 feet. The Dassault website describes the Rafale as an omnirole aircraft. Its design makes its relevant against both traditional and asymmetrical threats, it addresses the emerging needs of the armed forces in a changing geopolitical and security context, and, with its endless growth potential, it constantly remains at the forefront of the technical innovation, the website states. According to Economic Times, the craft can conduct air-to-ground and air-to-air missions simultaneously. Advertisement It mission system supports weapons such as the long-range Meteor missile, MICA missiles, HAMMER, SCALP, AM39 EXOCET, and laser-guided bombs, along with a 2,500 rounds-per-minute NEXTER internal cannon. According to PTI, the fighter aircraft has Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with increased situational awareness due to early detection and tracking of multiple targets. According to The Times of India, the Rafale-Ms Thales RBE2-M is designed for maritime operations. France is likely to start delivering the planes by 2027. Courtesy X/@E_Lenain Its electronic warfare suite is called the Thales SPECTRA. It also has a reinforced undercarriage. It also has a jump strut nosewheel that expands during short takeoffs like catapult launches. Equipped with a microwave landing system, the naval version of Rafale has a fin-tip Telemir system for syncing the inertial navigation system." Rafale Marine preferred over Super Hornet According to the Economic Times, India decided to go in for the Rafale Marine rather than the American F/A-18 Super Hornet. Advertisement This came after rigorous testing at the shore-based test facility in Goa. A big advantage of the Rafale M is that it is compatible with Indias existing Rafale planes. This is likely to bring down costs when it comes to spare parts and maintenance. The crafts are thought to have 80 per cent of their components in common. The main difference between the planes is in the longer, more strengthened nose, and landing, as per the newspaper. Advertisement The Rafale-M has a nosegear-mounted catapult hook which will enable the aircraft to be aligned and correctly tensioned, ready for catapulting, increasing launch speed and eliminating the need for deck crew to work under the aircraft, according to the website FlightGlobal. The fighter jet has a tailhook or arresting hook to stop the plane during landings. Sources in the government said they would try to complete negotiations with France and sign the agreement by the end of this financial year. According to Financial Express, the Indian side is looking to sign the contract this fiscal year. France is expected to start delivering the planes in 2027. Advertisement Sources said that while the Indian Navy was preparing to send bid papers to France, a joint bid with the IAF is not thought to be on the cards. In France, the navy and air force both operate the Rafale fighters. They thus share common stores. No joint bid Sources said a joint bid with the Indian Navy could have possibly lowered the cost of the planes and perhaps even led to a new production line being established in India. Setting up a production line for building an aircraft in India is all dependent on the numbers. It is not financially viable to set up a new production line for a small number of fighter jets, the source told the newspaper. The IAF has formed two Rafale squadrons Hasimara and Ambala each having its own stores and simulators. In December, France had submitted its response to Indias tender for 26 Rafale Marine jets for the Navys aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. The response to Indias Letter of Acceptance was submitted in New Delhi. The Indian side has carried out a detailed study of the French bid for the Indian deal including the commercial offer or price for the aircraft, along with other details of the contract, they said. India will now go in for tough negotiations with French government officials, as it is a government-to-government contract. The Navy Chief has directed his team to ensure the timeframe required for the project was squeezed significantly to ensure early finalisation and induction of the planes in the inventory. With inputs from agencies Chennai-based space start-up AgniKul Cosmos successfully launched the Agnibaan SOrTeD rocket from Sriharikota. This success comes after four previous attempts were made and then called off owing to technical glitches. Todays mission is historic as the country saw the first ever 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket being launched from a private launchpad read more AgniKul Cosmos successfully carries out a sub-orbital test-flight of its home-built 3D-printed semi-cryogenic rocket Agnibaan from its own launch pad at Sriharikota. PTI If you dont succeed at first, you try again. And if you fail even after four attempts, you try for the fifth time. Thats exactly what Chennai-based space start-up AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited did on Thursday (30 May), when it finally launched its first rocket Agnibaan Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD). Thursdays launch of the Agnibaan rocket comes after the company aborted four earlier launch plans due to technical glitches. The first attempt to launch the rocket had been made on 22 March and was abandoned during countdown. The last attempt was made on 7 April and was called off less than a minute before lift-off. Advertisement Now, as the start-up celebrates its success, we take a closer look at why this was a milestone in space technology. Its a lift off! At 7.15 am on Thursday, AgniKul Cosmos erupted in joy after successfully launching its first sub-orbital test vehicle powered by the worlds first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine. With this, AgniKul becomes Indias second private entity to do so. The first to achieve this feat was Skyroot Aerospace, which launched the Vikram S in November 2022. Shortly after the launch, Agnikul Cosmos posted about its success, saying it was humbled. Humbled to announce the successful completion of our first flight - Mission 01 of Agnibaan SOrTeD - from our own and Indias first & only private Launchpad within SDSC-SHAR at Sriharikota. All the mission objectives of this controlled vertical ascent flight were met and pic.twitter.com/9icDOWjdVC AgniKul Cosmos (@AgnikulCosmos) May 30, 2024 Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO, AgniKul Cosmos, said, This is the culmination of 1000s of hours of reviews and hard work by the team. We are blessed to have had the opportunity and the full support of IN-SPACe and ISRO to design and build original space worthy hardware in India. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also congratulated AgniKul in a post, saying it is a major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realised through additive manufacturing. Advertisement The successful launch also received a shout-out from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A remarkable feat which will make the entire nation proud! The successful launch of Agnibaan rocket powered by worlds first single-piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine is a momentous occasion for Indias space sector and a testament to the remarkable ingenuity of our Yuva Shakti. My best wishes to the @AgnikulCosmos team for their future endeavours, he posted on X. Agnibaan SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator (SOrTeD) rocket of Chennai-based AgniKul Cosmos sits on the launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, in Sriharikota. PTI About Agnibaan and Agnilet For those who are still wondering what the hoopla is all about, let us explain. The Agnibaan Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD) rocket weighs 575 kg and is 6.2-metre long. Advertisement The company describes Agnibaan as a customisable, two-stage launch vehicle that can carry up to 300 kg of payload to orbits nearly 700 km in altitude. It said it could be compared to SpaceXs Falcon Heavy that can carry 63,500 kg to low Earth orbit. What makes the Agnibaan ever more special is its patented engine the Agnilet, which is an entirely 3D-printed, single-piece, 6 kN semi-cryogenic engine. The space start-up has said that the Agnilet uses sub-cooled oxygen as fuel. Speaking on the 3D-printed engine, Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of AgniKul, had earlier told Indian Express: 3D printing is a sweet spot for launch vehicles. When you use older manufacturing techniques, there is a lot more complex hardware and manpower involved. With 3D printing, you can make hardware nearly as fast as you can make software. This is why we were able to make hundreds of iterations of the design so that we could finally reach a stage where we can 3D print an entire engine in one shot. Advertisement A mission of many firsts For space experts, todays launch is historic as it is a series of many firsts. With Agnibaan, the country saw the launch of its first semi-cryogenic engine-powered rocket launch. Its important to note here that ISRO, Indias space agency, has never flown a semi-cryogenic engine. It is developing a 2000 kN thrust semi-cryogenic engine and the first ignition trial was conducted successfully on 2 May. Hence, the Chennai-based start-up has achieved what no other Indian private firm has done. Commenting on the same, space expert Girish Linganna told The Week: Semi-cryogenic engines are often used in the initial stages of a rocket for their cost-effectiveness and simpler handling, whereas cryogenic engines are used in the later stages for their higher efficiency and greater power needed to place satellites into higher orbits or for deep space missions. Semi-cryogenic engine technology has not yet been demonstrated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in any of its rockets. Advertisement AgniKul Cosmos, the company behind the launch, was founded in 2017 and is based in Chennai. Image Courtesy: AgniKul Cosmos Moreover, the mission saw the success of the Agnilet engine, which is the first single-piece 3D-printed engine. Moin SPM, co-founder of AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited had earlier told NDTV that if successful, the Agnilet could prove to be a game-changer. Single piece using 3D printing means that the entire part was made as one continuous piece using a 3D printer, rather than being assembled from multiple parts. 3D printing is a process where a machine creates objects layer by layer from a digital model, using materials like plastic or metal. This method can make the part stronger and more reliable, Linganna added. Besides this, Thursdays launch had another first. The space vehicle was launched from Indias first private launchpad, Dhanush, at Sriharikota. This was also developed by Agnikul Cosmos. Dr Pawan Goenka, chairman of IN-SPACe responsible for coordinating with the private space sector praised Agnikul for their achievements, saying: Elated at the successful launch of Agnibaan SOrTeD by Agnikul Cosmos! A historic moment for Indias space sector. Powered by worlds first single piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine, this achievement showcases brilliance of our young innovators. This was also echoed by Lt Gen AK Bhatt (retired), Director General, Indian Space Association (IspA). In a report by The Hindu, he was quoted as saying: What Agnikul has achieved today, is nothing short of a historical milestone, since India launched its maiden rocket in 1963 from Thumba launch station. Agnibaan SOrTeD has got many firsts in its strides with being Indias first launch from a private launchpad, the first semi-cryogenic engine-powered rocket launch and the worlds first single-piece 3D printed engine designed and built indigenously. With inputs from agencies Israel has allegedly made several attempts over the years to interfere with the International Criminal Courts (ICC) proceedings, according to investigative media reports. This years-long operation was led by the former head of Mossad, Yossi Cohen. several legal experts have suggested that Cohens threats could constitute offences against the administration of justice under article 70 of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC read more Yossi Cohen (left), former Mossad chief, has allegedly led covert operations since at least 2017, to pressure the ICC's then chief prosecutor to drop a war crimes investigation into Israel's conduct in occupied Palestinian territories. Agencies Israel has allegedly made several attempts over the years to interfere with the International Criminal Courts (ICC) proceedings, according to investigative media reports. It has come to light that covert operations stretching back to at least 2017, were led by the former head of Mossad, Yossi Cohen. The aim was to pressure Fatou Bensouda, the ICCs then chief prosecutor, to abandon a war crimes investigation into Israels conduct in occupied Palestinian territories. Advertisement Following a bombshell report by the Guardian, the Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine, and the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, several legal experts have suggested that Cohens threats could constitute offences against the administration of justice under article 70 of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. We explain what the allegations are, and what article 70 entails. Israels alleged interference in ICC proceedings Cohen had secret communications with Bensouda before she decided to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in occupied Palestinian territories. Cohen sought to influence Bensouda through a series of secret meetings, starting at the Munich Security Conference in 2017 and continuing through at least 2021. His tactics reportedly ranged from attempts to build a cooperative relationship to outright threats. Cohen told Bensouda, You should help us and let us take care of you. You dont want to be getting into things that could compromise your security or that of your family, the Guardian reported, citing sources. The Mossad logo. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons The Mossads efforts were not limited to personal interactions. The agency gathered compromising material on Bensoudas family, including transcripts of sting operations of her husband. These tactics were part of a broader strategy to undermine her credibility and sway her decisions. A source briefed on the operation described Cohens behaviour as despicable tactics akin to stalking. ICC prosecutors stand strong Despite these efforts, Bensouda persisted with the investigation. In December 2019, she announced her intent to open a full criminal investigation into alleged war crimes in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, contingent on the ICCs pre-trial chamber confirming the Courts jurisdiction. This decision marked a turning point, escalating Cohens attempts to pressure her. Advertisement Cohens actions were part of a decade-long campaign by Israel to discredit the ICC and prevent its officials from prosecuting Israeli citizens. Cohen, acting as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus unofficial messenger, personally led these efforts, highlighting the high-level endorsement of the operation. Despite Israels concerted efforts, the ICC proceeded with the investigation, leading to the recent request for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, alongside three Hamas leaders. Karim Khan, Bensoudas successor, has publicly warned that attempts to intimidate or improperly influence ICC officials will be prosecuted. ICC prosecutor Karim AA Khan has sought arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders. Reuters Legal experts told the Guardian that Israels actions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) could constitute offences against the administration of justice under international law. Toby Cadman, a British barrister specialising in international criminal and humanitarian law, said that it is quite clear that these are matters that fall within the jurisdiction of the ICC, in particular under article 70 of the statute. Advertisement Article 70 of the Rome Statute outlines offences against the administration of justice, including obstructing investigations. These offenses carry a statute of limitations of five years, underscoring the urgency for the ICC prosecutors office to act promptly. Adil Haque, a law professor at Rutgers University, noted that the ICC must swiftly investigate to ensure accountability. He described Israels actions as more befitting a crime family than a state, calling on member states to support the ICC in pursuing justice. The ICCs current chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has already issued warnings against attempts to impede the Courts work. However, with the statute of limitations in mind, legal experts stress the necessity of immediate and decisive action to investigate and address these serious allegations. Advertisement Offences against the administration of justice Article 70 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) outlines several specific acts that constitute offences against the administration of justice when committed intentionally: 1. Giving false testimony: Providing false testimony under an obligation to tell the truth. 2. Presenting false evidence: Presenting evidence known to be false or forged. 3. Corruptly influencing a witness: Obstructing, interfering with, or retaliating against a witness or tampering with evidence. 4. Intimidating or influencing officials: Intimidating or corruptly influencing an official of the Court to force them to perform their duties improperly or not perform them at all. 5. Retaliation against officials: Retaliating against an ICC official due to their official duties. 6. Bribery: Soliciting or accepting a bribe as an ICC official in connection with their duties. Advertisement In the event of conviction for any of these offences, the Court may impose a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years, a fine in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, or both. Need to adhere to framework of member states Article 70 also contains a statement: The principles and procedures governing the Courts exercise of jurisdiction over offences under this article shall be those provided for in the Rules of Procedure and Evidence. The conditions for providing international cooperation to the Court with respect to its proceedings under this article shall be governed by the domestic laws of the requested State. The exterior view of the International Criminal Court, or ICC, in The Hague, Netherlands. The International Criminal Courts chief prosecutor said on 20 May that hes seeking arrest warrants for both Israeli and Hamas leaders in connection with their actions during the seven-month war. File image/AP This means that the ICC will follow its established Rules of Procedure and Evidence when exercising jurisdiction over offences listed under Article 70. When the ICC needs international cooperation (e.g., from member states) to proceed with cases under Article 70, the cooperation must adhere to the domestic laws of the states from which cooperation is requested. Essentially, while the ICC has its procedures, it must work within the legal frameworks of member states when seeking their assistance for investigations or prosecutions under this article. This ensures that the ICCs requests for cooperation are managed in line with the national legal systems of the involved countries. The southwest monsoons, which usually hit Keralas coasts by 1 June and northeast by 5 June, arrived earlier than what was forecasted by the IMD. Cyclone Remal has a part to play. We explain read more Marking the beginning of monsoon season in the country, the Indian Meteorological Department on Thursday announced the early arrival of monsoon in Kerala, bringing the much-needed respite from the scorching summer heat. But what was unusual this time was that the southwest monsoon simultaneously set foot in the southern state and covered most of the states in the northeastern. The monsoons which usually hit Keralas coasts by 1st June and northeast by 5th June arrived earlier than what was forecasted by the IMD. Advertisement What makes this phenomenon a rare occurrence? Take a closer look How does monsoon usually arrive in India? The southwest monsoon, which is responsible for 80-90 per cent of the countrys annual rainfall, typically arrives in India through a well-established pattern. The rains arrive approximately in the first week of June, with roiling and thunderstorm-filled clouds advancing from the Arabian Sea, bringing the much-anticipated rains to the southern state of Kerala. This marks the official onset of the monsoon season in India. The met department has some criteria to officially declare the start of the monsoon. As per The Weather Channel, the rains should cover over 60 per cent of the states accessible meteorological stations and record rainfall of 2.5 mm or more for two consecutive days, along with meeting technical requirements for the wind field and outgoing longwave radiation. Then the monsoon winds, driven by the differential heating of land and sea, proceed to advance northward and eastward influenced by a variety of factors such as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) (a trough where the northeast and the southeast trade winds converge), the positioning of high-pressure systems over the Indian Ocean, and the Tibetan Plateaus heating. As the monsoon progresses, it brings successive waves of rainfall to the west coast, of central India, and finally covers the whole country by the end of June or early July. So what happened this year? The IMD Director General M Mohapatra told NDTV, As of today (30 May), the southwest monsoon has reached Kerala and covered most parts of the state. It has also covered some parts of Tamil Nadu and also most parts of the northeastern states. The states include Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh, and most parts of Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam. Advertisement Scientists say the reason behind this rare phenomenon is Cyclone Remal. The cyclonic storm, which struck West Bengal and Bangladesh states on Sunday, may have drawn the monsoon flow to the Bay of Bengal, potentially contributing to its early onset in the northeast, the scientists further said. In the last three days, Cyclone Remal has unleashed torrential rainfall across northeast India, leading to extensive damage and loss of life. Mizoram was the worst hit, as it recorded 27 fatalities as landslides and heavy downpours wreaked havoc, disrupting normalcy, toppling trees, and damaging infrastructure. NDRF personnel remove a tree from a road after the landfall of Cyclone Remal, in South 24 Parganas district, 27 May 2024. PTI Cherrapunji, renowned for its record-breaking rainfall, received a staggering 634 mm of rain in the past 24 hours, further exacerbating the already dire situation caused by Cyclone Remal. Advertisement Given the combined effect of the monsoon onset and Cyclone Remal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red warning for Assam and Meghalaya for May 30, signalling the potential for continued extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning. This is not the first time cyclones have disrupted the usual arrival of rains, seven years ago when a cyclone named Mora formed over the Bay of Bengal, simultaneous monsoons hit Kerala and the northeast in 2017. This year, IMD has predicted that the monsoon rainfall during the June-September season is most likely to be above normal. The met department defines normal or average rainfall as between 96 and 104 per cent of a 50-year average of 87 cm for the June- September monsoon season. Advertisement With input from agencies North Koreas barrage of short-range ballistic missiles and trash-filled balloons come after a rare-summit between Japan, China and South Korea. The three nations had then called for a disarmament of Pyongyangs nuclear arsenal read more Experts believe that the flurry of recent activity from Kim Jong Un's regime is a sharp retort to China, South Korea, and Japan's summit. Reuters North Korea seems to be in a frenzy this week. After a failed satellite launch, floating hundreds of trash-filled balloons into the South and firing a volley of 10 short-range ballistic missiles, Pyongyang seems in no mood to keep calm. Experts believe that the flurry of recent activity from North Korean supremo Kim Jong Uns regime might be viewed as a sharp retort to China, South Korea, and Japan, who recently held a rare summit, especially in light of their joint statement this week addressing Kim Jong Uns nuclear arsenal. Advertisement What is North Korea up to? Lets take a closer look Whats triggering the rogue nation? This week, China, South Korea, and Japan convened a trilateral summit and sought a three-way cooperation on security. In a joint statement, they even reiterated positions on regional peace and stability and called on denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. Its a standard phrase the trio even key Pyongyang diplomatic ally and trading partner China have long used. The denuclearisation drama began during a high-profile summit in Singapore in 2018 with then-US President Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un personally signed a joint declaration pledging to completely denuclearise the Korean Peninsula. It was Kims sincere attempt though, as per former South Korean President Moon Jae-in. He said in his recent memoir that Pyongyangs leader would have abandoned his nuclear program if there was a guarantee of regime survival. Then what irked Kim Jong Un? Since Kims second summit with Trump collapsed in Hanoi in 2019, North Korea has abandoned diplomacy, doubling down on weapons development and rejecting Washingtons offers of talks. The historic summit between the two leaders had ended abruptly on a bitter note without any agreement on nuclear disarmament or easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Since then, North Korea has overhauled its laws. Advertisement While Pyongyang first called itself a nuclear-armed state in its constitution back in 2012, it passed a new law in 2022 that Kim said made that status irreversible. It was even formally enshrined in North Koreas constitution in 2023. North Korea displayed the largest-ever number of nuclear missiles at a nighttime parade last year. Reuters This law also outlined the hierarchical structure for controlling the countrys nuclear weapons, placing Kim firmly at the helm, and asserted the nations right to engage in pre-emptive strikes automatically when threatened. This week, Pyongyang further denounced efforts to dismantle its nuclear arsenal as an attack on its constitutional position and a grave political provocation. Is Pyongyang upset with China? North Korea is showing their discomfort towards China for allowing denuclearisation to be included in the joint statement with Japan and the South, Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP. Advertisement As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has previously condemned North Koreas nuclear tests and lent support to sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear ambitions. However, against the backdrop of deteriorating relations with Washington, Beijing has progressively impeded US-led initiatives to impose stricter sanctions on Pyongyang. Instead, China has pointed to joint military drills between the US and South Korea as a factor exacerbating regional tensions. But thats not enough for Pyongyang. It may have been dissatisfied with Beijings stance at this weeks trilateral summit, Yang stated, adding that the North Korean leader may have felt China was being too passive and therefore wasnt doing enough for them. Advertisement Poo warfare with South South Korean activists have long sent balloons filled with anti-Kim propaganda, cash, and even USBs of television dramas northwards, infuriating Pyongyang, which recently vowed to retaliate in kind. From Tuesday night to Wednesday, the North sent some 260 balloons carrying bags of trash including batteries, toilet paper, and plastic waste into South Korea. South Korea has accused North Korea of sending balloons filled with faeces and trash across the border. Reuters Initial reports claimed there was animal faeces in the bags of waste, sparking poopaganda headlines. The South Korean military responded and deployed its explosives ordinance unit and chemical and biological warfare to inspect and collect the objects. The militarys even gave a stern warning to North Korea to cease its inhumane and crass action. Advertisement Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un described the waste-filled balloons as a genuine gift of sincerity and mocked Seoul saying its an act of freedom of expression: a justification Seoul has previously used to explain its activists actions. What is next for North Korea? North Korea is drawing ever-closer to Russia, said Kim Dong-yup, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, pointing to Mondays failed satellite launch. On Monday, North Korea tried to launch a new military reconnaissance satellite, but that mission came to its fiery end after its newly developed rocket engine exploded in flight. The North Korean attempt the professor said, used new technologies, such as liquefied oxygen and kerosene, which are primarily utilised by Russia,, adding that this showed the North was trying to advance and apply Moscows technical assistance. Seoul has alleged that North Korea is sending weapons to Russia in exchange for satellite assistance for use in Ukraine. Asan Institute research fellow Lee Dong-gyu said that China may also have a window to draw closer to South Korea later this year if Trump is re-elected as US President. He added, that cracks may then appear in the so-called ironclad US-South Korea security alliance, which would give China an opening to expand its influence to South Korea by leveraging the North Korean issue. With inputs from AFP The results of the national election in South Africa are expected to be announced by Sunday, 2 June. The new Parliament must meet for its first session within 14 days of the election results being announced to choose the president. A simple majority of 201 lawmakers is required to vote for one of the 400 lawmakers to be the next head of state read more A woman is marked on her hand after casting her ballot on Wednesday, 29 May 2024 during general elections in Nkandla, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. AP South Africas national election on Wednesday may be the most fiercely fought battle in the countrys 30 years, providing a serious challenge to the long-ruling African National Congress (ANC) partys ability to maintain its majority. Ever since South Africas apartheid system of white minority control ended and democracy was established in 1994, the ANC has been the majority party, in power, and has held the presidency. Heres a guide to the main election in Africas most advanced country and why it might be complicated this time for Parliament to choose the president. Advertisement South Africas most competitive election The 62 million-strong nation, which is divided into nine provinces, had polls open at 7 am and close at 9 pm on a single day for the election. In national elections in South Africa, voters cast ballots for political parties rather than the president directly. Despite their connection, the two procedures are separate: parties are selected by voters to determine the composition of Parliament, and lawmakers thereafter choose the president. Voters line up to cast their ballot for general elections in Alexandra, near Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, 29 May 2024. AP Nearly 28 million South Africans were eligible to vote. South Africans can choose parties, or for the first time independent candidates, to go to Parliament. Parliamentary seats are given to parties based on their vote share. Election results are expected by Sunday, as the independent electoral body overseeing the process says counting will begin as soon as polls close. Choosing a President Once the results of the national vote have been announced, the president is chosen in Parliament. The National Assembly, the lower house of South Africas Parliament, is responsible for selecting the president. A simple majority of 201 lawmakers are required to vote for one of the 400 lawmakers to be the next head of state. Since 1994, the ANC has held a parliamentary majority, and every president since Nelson Mandela has come from the same party. This year could be historic Advertisement Over the past 30 years, the ANCs use of its parliamentary majority to choose its leader as the nations president has become largely procedural. However, it might not be so easy this year. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa casts his ballot Wednesday 29 May 2024 for the general elections in Soweto, South Africa. AP The possibility that the ANC wont have a parliamentary majority is heightened as some surveys show its support to be less than 50 per cent prior to the election. It is still widely expected to be the biggest party, but if it goes below 50 per cent it would then need an agreement or coalition with another party or parties to stay in government and get the 201 votes it needs from lawmakers to reelect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second and final five-year term. Advertisement The new Parliament must meet for its first session within 14 days of the election results being announced to choose the president. If the ANC loses its majority, it will probably engage in frenzied negotiations with other parties to form a coalition before Parliament convenes. Its possible that several opposition parties could join together to oust the ANC completely from government and Ramaphosa as president if they dont have a majority. Thats a very remote possibility, though, considering the two biggest opposition parties the centrist Democratic Alliance and the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters are as critical of each other as they are of the ANC and are seen as unlikely to work together. Advertisement The DA is part of a pre-election agreement to join forces with other smaller parties, excluding the EFF, in a coalition but they would all have to increase their vote considerably to overtake the ANC. The ANC has given no indication of who it might work with if South Africa needs an unprecedented national coalition government. Ramaphosa said Wednesday after voting that he was confident the ANC would win an outright majority. With inputs from The Associated Press May 29, 2024: In another first, SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) launched one of its reusable Falcon 9 SLVs (Satellite Launch Vehicles) for the 21st time on May 17th. This launch delivered 23 more Starlink Internet satellites to orbit. This Falcon 9, in 20 previous launches, has put over 530 satellites, most of them Starlinks, into orbit. This was the 51st orbital mission this year. With the latest launch SpaceX has carried out 83 lunches from the Kennedy Space Center. That is one more than the prior 82 Space Shuttle launches that took place over a thirty year period. The rocket launched was a Falcon 9 Block 5. This model was designed to be used ten times. But now SpaceX believes these Block 5 Falcon 9s can be used for up to 40 launches. This Block 5 Falcon 9 has proved capable of carrying out a launch, then landing and carrying out another launch without refurbishment. As of now SpaceX has about 5,935 operational Starlink satellites in orbit out of a total of 6,350 launched to date. SpaceX plans to carry out 150 launches by the end of the year. A smaller number of launches take place at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Thats where the classified Starshield satellites are launched for the U.S. Space Force. Back in 2019 that the first sixty Starlink satellites were put into orbit. The goal was for SpaceX to eventually have 30,000 Starlink satellites up there. This would provide the entire planet with low-cost, high-speed Internet access via a multiple-satellite ISP (Internet Service Provider) system. Users needed a small ground station consisting of a small satellite dish and a special modem, costing $600 for standard use with a $90 a month service charge. In large quantities these stations cost about $100 each. High Performance Starlink service costs $2,500 a month. Some nations will not allow their citizens to access Starlink while others seek to regulate what portions of the Internet users can access. This has been the experience of major competitors like ViaSat and HughesNet. When all the Starlink satellites are in orbit, Starlink will be the planets major provider of satellite Internet service. Starlink expects to be profitable in 2024, with 3.8 million fee paying customers. Thats up from 2.3 million Starlink customers in 2023. The original gen1 Starlink system was designed to expand to over 40,000 satellites if demand by paying customers was large enough to justify and pay for it. Starlink gen2 is designed to provide so much more customer bandwidth (data transmission) that far fewer Starlink satellites will be needed. That could be up to 90 percent less than gen1. Gen2 is designed to operate more efficiently over countries that outlaw Starlink as an ISP. Nearly half the Internet users on the planet live in countries that heavily censor Internet use. Starlink makes it much more difficult to censor Internet users. Originally designed to provide affordable high-speed Internet use to those in remote areas, Starlink discovered it had gained a lot of new customer interest because of its experience in Ukraine. The gen2 satellites are described as nearly ten times more capable than the original gen1 Starlink satellites. Gen2 are designed to work with gen1 satellites and gradually replace them. Gen1 satellites are designed to last about seven years. At that point the satellite gradually loses altitude until it burns up reentering the atmosphere. The true capabilities of gen2 wont be known until some of them are in orbit. Gen1 satellites proved more effective than expected but the list of suggested improvements indicated that a larger gen2 satellite would be the way to go. Eventually this will mean fewer Starlink satellites in orbit but there will still be thousands of them. The main function of Starlink is to provide cheaper, more powerful, and globally available access to the Internet or any other communications network that can pay for the use of the Starlink network. That includes military users that are friendly to Starlink and not considered a threat. The threat nations include China, Russia and several smaller countries like Iran, North Korea and Cuba that are hostile to Internet access they cannot control. China estimates that Starlink is able to increase the speed and throughput of military communications over a hundred times what it is now. Starlink is not the only multiple-satellite ISP system. There are similar efforts underway in several countries, including Russia and China. These efforts have fallen far behind Starlink in terms of numbers and capabilities. Starlink is unique in that it was the first to enter service and quickly proved it could do what it was designed to do. That included quickly adapting to the needs of military users. This was demonstrated in Ukraine where Starlink was activated over Ukraine days after Russia invaded in February 2022. The first of thousands of free user kits were delivered in less than a week. Currently there are over 42,000 user kits in Ukraine, most of them serving as small, local ISPs by adding an inexpensive router. As long as the Ukraine War continues, SpaceX and the U.S. government will pay for the service in Ukraine. In 2022 SpaceX announced a new subsidiary called Starshield with enhanced versions of Starlink technology on larger earth-imaging satellites with sensors to provide whatever sensing capabilities a national security customer wants. This includes photos, real-time video, and all manner of data which U.S. military-grade satellite sensors can collect. Potential users include the NSA, CIA, and equivalent agencies of American allies. While Starlink has achieved market dominance in space-based communications for personal and commercial users, that largely consists of high-speed Internet datalinks and inexpensive ground links that can be stationary or moving in a vehicle or ship. Starshield plans to do that same with classified data government agencies presently collect. Starshield satellites are designed to accept many types of capabilities provided by user-supplied modules designed for compatibility with the Starshield interface. Starshield data and control links use much more robust encryption. Starshield will use larger SpaceX SLVs to put new Starshield satellites in orbit. Currently Russia is actively seeking ways to disrupt Starlink service. These attacks are nothing new, because government and military users of space-based communications systems have long worked on improving security. Starshield was organized to take business away from commercial firms like Blacksky and Maxtar that already have billions of dollars in government contracts to provide persistent imaging, including real-time video, of specific areas on earth. The United States provides these specialized imaging services to Ukraine and that provides superior satellite data on Russian forces than what the Russians can provide to their own troops. Ukrainians were impressed by the potential for Starlink and rapidly came up with new uses, some of them military. This gave Starlink a realistic test under very adverse conditions. So far this has been a success even though Russia, apparently with some help from China, is seeking ways to shut down or disrupt Starlink. Failing at that, Russia captured some Starlink terminals and purchased some on the black market. When the Ukrainians discovered this, they asked SpaceX to disconnect the illegal Russian Starlink terminals. Another advantage of Starlink was the rapidity of upgrades or modifications to deal with problems, including Russian efforts to jam or disrupt performance in Ukraine. Not only were the Russians unable to disable Starlink, but they found its encrypted signals far superior to communications Russian troops had to use in Ukraine. Worse for the Russians was the Ukrainian ability to rapidly integrate Starlink with Ukrainian communications and fire control systems. Before Gen2 satellites were ready, SpaceX pointed out that it could put additional Starlink satellites into orbit faster and more cheaply than Russia or anyone else could destroy them. This capability was part of the Starlink design that not only allowed satellite and user software to be quickly updated, but new Starlink satellites often had new features added to improve performance and that included more resistance to hacking and jamming. Complaints that Starlink satellites would become so numerous that they would be a hazard for other satellites are unproven and even less likely once the gen2 satellites are operating. Starlink operates in LEO (low earth orbit) between 300 and 600 kilometers from earth, where there is already a lot of space junk too small to quickly fall back into the atmosphere and burn up. Any plans to destroy a lot of Starlink satellites would make the situation worse without shutting down Starlink services. If left alone, the gen1 and gen2 Starlink satellites, when no longer operational, are designed to eventually de-orbit and move low enough to allow gravity to pull them towards earth and burn up in the atmosphere. China sees Starlink as a serious threat to its current government Internet censorship and control over the population, as well as the political reliability of its military. Thats no speculation because its already happening, often live on TV, in Ukraine. China has not yet come up with a workable plan to disrupt or destroy Starlink and considers Starlink a major obstacle to China eventually becoming the most powerful military force on the planet. That was supposed to happen before 2050. With Starlink it may take longer. Starshield also aims to provide users with a dominant position in space-based sensing. Starshield is meant to be cheaper and more responsive than any existing competitor in providing a wider array of earth sensing capabilities. SpaceX has not revealed the schedule for lifting Starshield satellites into orbit, and some may already be there testing the services Starshield will provide. Starshield activities will be less public than Starlink, which is how intelligence agencies like it. In the Donald Trump-Stormy Daniels hush money trial, the jury must determine if the former is guilty of any of the 34 felony counts of falsifying his companys records. With deliberations underway, we delve into the jurys process and responsibilities, and when the verdict is expected read more Donald Trump is accused of falsifying business records to buy the silence of porn star Daniels about a 2006 sexual encounter between them that could have damaged his 2016 presidential bid. After nearly two dozen witnesses and 16 days of intense testimony, jury deliberations finally commenced in the first criminal trial of a former United States president on Wednesday (local time). This jury, composed of seven men and five women, faces the significant task of determining whether Donald Trump is guilty of any of the 34 felony counts of falsifying his companys records. The charges stem from allegations that Trump obscured reimbursements to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who paid porn actor Stormy Daniels $130,000 during the 2016 campaign to silence her claims of a past affair with Trump. Advertisement With deliberations underway, we delve into the jurys process, the nature of the charges, and the possible outcomes of this landmark case. The charges against Donald Trump Donald Trump faces 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records. Prosecutors argue that Trump manipulated these records to conceal reimbursements made to Michael Cohen for the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. They allege that these reimbursements were disguised as legal expenses in the companys records, an action purportedly designed to influence the 2016 presidential election unlawfully. Stormy Daniels was allegedly paid by Trump to hush allegations of extramarital affairs. File image/Reuters Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges, maintaining that he had no sexual relationship with Daniels and that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses. The prosecution must now prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump intended to commit these acts with the intent to violate state laws. The jurors responsibilities The jurors are tasked with a significant responsibility: they must evaluate the evidence impartially and determine whether the prosecution has proven Trumps guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This standard is crucial in the American legal system, ensuring that no individual is wrongfully convicted based on insufficient evidence. Jurors must assess whether Trump falsified business records to conceal illegal activities. They must consider the testimonies, evidence presented during the trial, and instructions from the judge to ensure a fair and just verdict. The emphasis on fairness requires jurors to set aside personal biases and evaluate the case solely on the evidence and the law as instructed by the court. Advertisement The deliberation process Jury deliberations occur behind closed doors, allowing jurors to discuss the case freely and openly. Typically, deliberations occur from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, with breaks for lunch, but the schedule can extend if jurors require more time. During this period, the jury can send notes to the court to clarify legal questions or request readbacks of testimonies. Jurors will have access to a laptop containing trial exhibits, which they can review to aid their discussions. The foreperson, selected from among the jurors, leads the discussions but holds no more sway than any other juror in the decision-making process. For a conviction, the jury must unanimously agree that Trump created or caused the creation of false entries in the companys records with the intent to conceal illegal acts. The jurors must find beyond a reasonable doubt that at least one of the following unlawful acts occurred: Advertisement 1. Violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act: This includes making contributions exceeding the legal limit or corporate contributions to a campaign. 2. Falsification of other business records: This could involve false information on tax forms, bank records, or invoices related to payments to individuals such as Karen McDougal, another accuser. 3. Submission of false information on a tax return: Any intentional inaccuracies aimed at misleading tax authorities. Former US President Donald Trump sits in Manhattan Criminal Court during his ongoing hush money trial, 20 May, 2024, in New York. AP When can a verdict be expected? This is difficult to determine. The jurors can take as long as they need to deliberate. Theres no limit on how many days deliberations can continue. Possible outcomes if a unanimous verdict is not reached Advertisement In the event the jury cannot reach a unanimous decision, the trial could result in a hung jury. If this occurs, the judge, after consulting with both the prosecution and defence, will decide the next steps. Often, the judge will instruct the jury to continue deliberating, sometimes providing additional guidance known as a modified Allen charge. This charge encourages jurors to re-examine their positions and strive for consensus without compromising their honest convictions. If persistent deadlock occurs, the judge might declare a mistrial, which could lead to the prosecution deciding whether to retry the case with a new jury. A hung jury does not equate to an acquittal but rather indicates that the jury was unable to reach a verdict. Advertisement As the jurors deliberate, they carry the weight of ensuring justice in a trial of unprecedented historical significance. They must meticulously examine whether the prosecution has proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, considering all evidence impartially and fairly. The outcome of this trial is being closely watched. With inputs from agencies Amid the busy election campaigning, UK PM Rishi Sunak is receiving flak for carrying a 750 (~Rs 79,497) backpack on Wednesday while visiting one of the countrys poorest areas, Cornwall. It is a Tumi Arrive Bradley bag, which is sold at high-end stores, including Selfridges read more As Sunak boarded a train to Cornwall, he was pictured carrying the expensive backpack. Image Courtesy: @fleming77/X In a surprise move, United Kingdom prime minister Rishi Sunak announced a snap election to be held on 4 July six months earlier than many had expected. Amid the busy election campaigning, the 44-year-old is receiving flak for wearing a 750-pound (~Rs 79,497) backpack on Wednesday while visiting one of the countrys poorest areas. The criticism comes about a month after he received online hate for wearing Adidas Sambas for an interview. Advertisement Lets take a look. Sunak and his luxury bag As Sunak boarded a train to Cornwall, he was pictured carrying the expensive backpack. As part of the South West England campaign for the Conservative Party, the prime minister visited Cornwalls Penzance on a sleeper service. Before embarking on his 280-mile overnight journey, Sunak spoke with station staff while swinging a black bag embossed with his initials RS over his right shoulder. The Daily Mirror reports that the backpack in question is a Tumi Arrive Bradley, which is sold for 750 in high-end stores, including Selfridges. As per UK-based outlet Joe, the description of the aesthetically pleasing bag says, This sleek design is as functional as it is stylish, letting you protect and carry everything from your laptop and tablet to your glasses, phone, and keys. The Arrive collection takes its cues from automotive design, with high-polish chrome details, elegant curves, and sleek magnetic zippers. Our ultra-modern pieces make world-class business partners and travel companions. Criticism The British prime minister has received an array of criticism on social media for, ironically, travelling to the poorest areas while on his campaign trial while wearing the luxury backpack. I thought it would be nice to wear my 750 monogrammed backpack when visiting Cornwall - one of the poorest areas of the UK," said a Rishi Sunak parody account on X. I thought it would be nice to wear my 750 monogrammed backpack when visiting Cornwall - one of the poorest areas of the UK. pic.twitter.com/86VgZFfA27 Parody Rishi Sunak (@Parody_PM) May 29, 2024 Advertisement That would go well with Keirs 500 hoodie he loves to wear lets face it theyve both got money to waste (I believe KS is worth 7,000,000). This argument about how much is being spent on clothing and accessories is very tired and very boring," wrote another user, drawing a comparison between the two leaders. Maybe if you ever get a proper job, maybe YOU can afford nice things, commented another X user. That would go well with Keirs 500 hoodie he loves to wear .lets face it theyve both got money to waste (I believe KS is worth 7,000,000). This argument about how much is being spent on clothing and accessories is very tired and very boring Andrew Bucklee (@Andythereds) May 29, 2024 Advertisement History of flaunting wealth Well, this is not the first time, Sunak sported an expensive piece. In April this year, he was seen wearing the $100 Adidas Sambas sneakers during an interview at 10 Downing Street to promote his tax policies. While visiting a building site in July last year, he donned 490-pound Prada suede shoes, as per Dailymail. While touring Teesside Freeport, the millionaire wore the brown loafers. I know things are tough and people are feeling anxious about how theyre going to pay these bills, he said to Teesside Live while donning the shoes. Advertisement Additionally, Sunak was seen posing with a 180 coffee mug during his tenure as Chancellor. Reportedly a gift from his wife, the Ember travel mug was said to do more than simply keep your coffee hot. Richer than King Charles The wealthiest couple in the UK, Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty, surpassed King Charles, according to the most recent Sunday Times Rich List. The couples wealth has grown by more than 120 million pounds in the last year, according to this index. They surpassed King Charles in wealth, going from 529 million pounds to 651 million pounds in 2024. The main factor driving it is Murtys ownership of Infosys, an Indian IT firm her father started, as per Mint. Advertisement The survey did note that it is difficult to gauge a monarchs finances, though. It should be mentioned that the monarchys overall fortune, which includes a variety of estates and palaces, is thought to be in the dozens of billions of pounds. The campaign trail Upon his arrival in Cornwall, Sunak was confronted with tough questions over his decision to level up county funds for his National Service plan. Some of the poorest communities of the UK may lose out on funding for high street regeneration and community safety as a result of the scheme, according to The Mirror. According to research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), the regions that stand to lose the most from shutting the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and substituting 1.5 billion for paying for National Service are Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, Cornwall, and the Tees Valley. In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the UKSPF is valued at 145 per person. However, Sunak emphasised that he is absolutely committed to Cornwalls levelling up, as per the report. Additionally, he went to the Long Rock train depot in Penzance, Cornwall, where he spoke with apprentices about initiatives to increase apprenticeships and eliminate rip off degrees, as per Dailymail. Later, the PM got to know apprentices at a Cornwall-based broadband company and had the opportunity to test out their technical abilities. With inputs from agencies Ancient Egypt is known to be the place of one of the early civilisations. New evidence from skulls more than 4,000 years old has revealed that physicians from the region may have also tried to treat certain cancers with surgery read more The visible tumours that cancer caused were the main focus of the ancient Egyptians' understanding of the disease. Image Courtesy: @UniversidadeUSC/X Ancient Egypt is known to be the place of one of the early civilisations. They identified, described, and treated diseases and traumatic injuries, built prostheses, and put in dental fillings. Now, new evidence from a skull more than 4,000 years old has revealed that ancient Egyptian physicians may have also tried to treat certain cancers with surgery. The finding, published on Wednesday in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, is a combined effort of researchers from the Universities of Tubingen in Germany, Cambridge in England, Barcelona and Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Advertisement Heres all we know about it. The ancient Egyptian skull The first skull belonged to a man who died between the ages of 30 and 35, as per IANS. It is kept in the University of Cambridges Duckworth Laboratory collection in the United Kingdom. Scientists have examined the scarred surface of the skull since the middle of the 19th century. Among the lesions are those that are assumed to be the result of malignant tumours damaging the bone. The skull, numbered 236 in the collection, is regarded by archaeologists as one of the earliest instances of cancer in antiquity, dating back to between 2686 BC and 2345 BC. A second skull from the Duckworth collection also had cancerous tumours, according to the researchers. Un estudo liderado pola USC (@Edgard_Camaros) revela posibles intentos de tratar o cancro nun cranio exipcio de 4.000 anos. https://t.co/k4qfk9bha4 pic.twitter.com/wk2Qvh9zvR USC (@UniversidadeUSC) May 29, 2024 Skull E270, dated to 664343 BC, belonged to an adult woman who must have been at least 50 years old. Advertisement Three lesions on the samples, where malignant tumours had harmed the bone, were found by the researchers. We wanted to learn about the role of cancer in the past, how prevalent this disease was in antiquity, and how ancient societies interacted with this pathology, Tatiana Tondini, a researcher at the University of Tubingen and first author on the paper, said in a statement, as per NDTV. Signs of cut marks However, using a digital microscope and micro-computed tomography (CT) scans, researchers examined the cancer scars more closely and found evidence of cut marks surrounding the lesions. This implied that sharp metal instruments had been used to remove these cancerous growths. Advertisement When we first observed the cutmarks under the microscope, we could not believe what was in front of us, said Tondini, as per NDTV. It seems ancient Egyptians performed some kind of surgical intervention related to the presence of cancerous cells, proving that ancient Egyptian medicine was also conducting experimental treatments or medical explorations in relation to cancer, said co-author Albert Isidro, a surgical oncologist at the Sacred Heart University Hospital in Spain. What we found is the first evidence of a surgical intervention directly related to cancer, study co-author Edgard Camaros Perez, a paleopathologist at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, told Live Science. This is where modern medicine starts. Advertisement Researchers added that it is challenging to make firm conclusions when examining skeletal remains. Camaros told CNN that it is unclear if the healers attempted to remove the tumours while the patient was still alive or if they were taken out for examination after the patient passed away. If those cut marks were done with that person alive, were talking about some kind of treatment directly related to the cancer, he told CNN. But if the cut marks were made posthumously, it means that this is a medical autopsy exploration in relation to that cancer. Either way, its amazing to think that they performed a surgical intervention. But we cannot actually distinguish between a treatment and an autopsy, Camaros added. Advertisement In contrast to skull 236; skull E270 did not exhibit any indications of disease-related surgery. However, long-healed fractures in the womans skull attest to the effectiveness of earlier head injury treatment. That person survived many years after that trauma, Camaros said. Experts opinion Dr Ibrahem Badr, an associate professor in the restoration and conservation of antiquities department at Misr University for Science and Technology in Giza, Egypt, says the new findings provide significant, direct evidence of the sophisticated ancient Egyptian medicine, which is well documented in medical texts like the Ebers Papyrus and the Kahun Papyrus. We can see that ancient Egyptian medicine was not solely based on herbal remedies like medicine in other ancient civilisations. It directly relied on surgical practices, said Badr told CNN. Badr was not involved in the new research. However, Badr noted that although 19th and 20th century researchers thoroughly examined this age-old evidence, newer technologies are unearthing previously unknown details about ancient Egypts medical practices. The research provides a new and solid direction for reevaluating the history of medicine and pathology among ancient Egyptians, he told the channel. There is an urgent need to reevaluate the history of Egyptian medicine using these scientific methodologies, Badr said. By utilizing these modern techniques, we will be able to study and gain a more comprehensive and precise understanding of medicine in ancient Egypt. Earliest record of cancer The visible tumours that cancer caused were the main focus of the ancient Egyptians understanding of the disease. The first documented account of cancer can be found in the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical manuscript dating back to 3000 and 2500 BC. 48 case studies in this literature cover a variety of diseases, one of which is a breast cancer description. Cancer may have been known to Egyptian physicians, but curing it was challenge in itself. The Edwin Smith papyrus had references to medications and therapeutic techniques in many medical cases. However, according to CNN quoting Camaros, none existed for the malignancies in the breast cancer patient. It specifically says theres no treatment, he said. They realized this was a frontier when it came to their medical knowledge. The marks surrounding the skull tumours, however, point to ancient Egyptian medics attempting to alter that by removing the tumours surgically to either treat the patient or analyse the tumours further. With inputs from agencies The court is expected to hear his plea at 2 pm on Thursday (May 3) read more Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Thursday, filed a plea in the trial court (Rouse Avenue Court), seeking bail in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped liquor policy. The court is expected to hear his plea at 2 pm on Thursday (May 3). Kejriwal moved to Rouse Avenue Court after facing rejection from the Supreme Court registry. The apex court had granted interim bail to the Delhi Chief Minister to campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He was directed to surrender on June 2 before Tihar Jail authorities. Advertisement On Wednesday (May 29), the Supreme Courts registry rejected Kejriwals plea for a 7-day extension of his interim bail to undergo some medical tests. Refusing to accept the application, the apex courts registry said since Kejriwal was given liberty to move the trial court for regular bail, the plea seeking extension is not maintainable. Refresh for more updates Delhi customs said Shashi Tharoors PA, Shiv Kumar Prasad, was intercepted and a heavy gold chain weighing 500 grams valued totally at Rs 35.22 lakh was recovered from him which was handed over to him by a passenger inside the arrival hall of IGI airport read more A person, claiming to be a personal assistant (PA) of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, has been arrested by customs from the Delhi airport for allegedly smuggling gold. A report by ANI quoted sources in Delhi customs as saying two people were detained on Wednesday (May 29) in a gold smuggling case at Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport. One of them has been identified as Shiv Kumar Prasad, who claimed to be a PA of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. Advertisement The said individual (Prasad) was intercepted and a heavy gold chain weighing 500 grams was recovered from him which was handed over to him by the passenger inside the arrival hall. Inquiry revealed that the individual had a valid Aerodrome Entry Permit, Varun Koundinya, Joint Commissioner of Customs IGI Airport, New Delhi, said. Gold valued totally at Rs 35.22 Lakhs was recovered. The recovered gold has been seized under section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, Koundinya said, adding further investigation is underway. Tharoor PA has aerodrome entry Sources further said, Prasad has an aerodrome entry permit card that allows him access to airport premises. He entered the airport premises and received a packet when he was held along with the passenger. The circumstances of acquisition of Aerodrome Entry Permit by the receiver, as a part of the protocol team for a Member of Parliament, are being looked into, Koundinya said. For the unversed, an aerodrome entry permit is the identity card that is issued by the Director General or any person authorised by the Central government as per guidelines issued by the Central Government and used for entry into an aerodrome or any part of an aerodrome. What was Shiv Kumar Prasad doing at Delhi airport? Prasad was at the Delhi airport to receive a person who had landed from Bangkok on flight TG-323. Both people were arrested when the passenger was trying to hand over around 500 grams of gold to Prasad. Advertisement Customs authorities said the case is currently under investigation, and their credentials are being verified. Tharoor reacts, says do not condone any alleged wrongdoing Tharoor, the incumbent MP, is contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, where polling was held in the first phase on April 26. The Congress MP, who is in Himachal Pradeshs Dharamshala for campaigning purposes said he was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of his staff who has been rendering part-time service to him in terms of airport facilitation assistance. He is a 72 year old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained on a part-time basis on compassionate grounds. I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action as may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course, Tharoor said in a post on X. Advertisement While I am in Dharamshala for campaigning purposes, I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance. He is a 72 year old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 30, 2024 Alliance of gold smugglers: BJP The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was quick to react. Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who has been fielded by BJP against Tharoor, said CPM and the Congress are an alliance of gold smugglers. First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling. Now Cong MP aide/PA detained for Gold smuggling. CPM and Cong - both INDI alliance partners - alliance of gold smuggler, Chandrasekhar said in a post on X. First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling Now Cong MP "aide"/PA detained for Gold smuggling CPM and Cong - both INDI alliance partners - alliance of gold smugglers https://t.co/TiCLWMZV0Z Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Modiyude Kutumbam) (@Rajeev_GoI) May 30, 2024 Advertisement With inputs from agencies India has been advocating for a de-escalation of the situation and setting up the groundwork for an early start to direct peace talks aimed at resolving the Palestine conflict between two states read more Local officials in Gaza said 45 people, most of them sheltering in tents, were killed in the May 26 air strike on Rafah that triggered massive global outrage, including criticism from some of Israel's closest allies Image Courtesy AP The loss of civilian lives in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah is heartbreaking, India said today and called for respecting international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict. Local officials in Gaza said 45 people, most of them sheltering in tents, were killed in the May 26 air strike on Rafah that triggered massive global outrage, including criticism from some of Israels closest allies. The heartbreaking loss of civilian lives in the displacement camp in Rafah is a matter of deep concern for us, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. Advertisement We have consistently called for protection of the civilian population and respect for international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict, he said. Jaiswal was responding to a question on the situation in Gaza at his weekly media briefing. We also note that the Israeli side has already accepted responsibility for it as a tragic incident and announced an investigation into the incident, he said. On Spain, Ireland, and Norway recognising Palestine amid the conflict, Jaiswal said India had done that in the 1980s. India recognised Palestine way back in the 1980s. It has been our long-standing position that we support a two-state solution which entails the establishment of a sovereign, viable, and independent state of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace, he said. Israel has been carrying out its military campaign in Gaza as part of its reprisal for Hamas historic October 7 onslaught on Israeli cities. Approximately 1,200 Israelis were slain by Hamas, and over 220 more were abducted; some of the hostages were freed following a temporary ceasefire. The Israeli offensive in Gaza has claimed the lives of over 35,000 people, according to the Hamas-run authorities in the region. India has been advocating for a de-escalation of the situation and setting up the groundwork for an early start to direct peace talks aimed at resolving the Palestine conflict between two states. (With agency inputs) Passengers hailing from Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, were on the bus. They were going to the Shiv Khori shrine in the Reasi district from Jammu city read more The bus plunged into a ravine near Kali Dhar Mandir on the Jammu-Poonch route Image Courtesy PTI On Thursday, a bus in Jammu and Kashmirs Akhnoor city plunged into a steep gorge near the Tanda area, resulting in at least 21 deaths and 40 injuries. Passengers hailing from Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, were on the bus. They were going to the Shiv Khori shrine in the Reasi district from Jammu city. The bus plunged into a ravine near Kali Dhar Mandir on the Jammu-Poonch route. The wounded were sent to Government Medical College in Jammu and a nearby hospital in Akhnoor. Advertisement A bus carrying passengers from Hathras, Uttar Pradesh has met with an accident near Tanda, Akhnoor in Jammu. Rescue operations are underway, the District Magistrate of Jammu said in a statement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow at the fatalities caused by the incident. Anguished by the loss of lives due to a bus mishap in Akhnoor. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon, PM Modi said. Rs 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each deceased due to the bus mishap. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, he added. The alleged attack is believed to have been triggered when the Jammu and Kashmir Police questioned a Territorial Army soldier in relation to a narcotics case on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday read more According to the FIR, the situation worsened when the Indian Army personnel snatched the injured police officers' cell phones, and even kidnapped a police constable before leaving the area Three Lieutenant Colonels were among 16 Indian Army personnel charged with attempted murder and dacoity by the Jammu and Kashmir Police for their alleged involvement in an attack on a police station in Kupwara. The alleged attack is believed to have been triggered when the Jammu and Kashmir Police questioned a Territorial Army soldier in relation to a narcotics case on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. A number of senior Indian Army officials and armed and uniformed members of the 160 batallion of the Territorial Army are shown in a video footage attacking the police station. Advertisement The Territorial Army is a volunteer military reserve force comprising part-timers who provide support to the Indian Army during combat operations. According to the First Information Report (FIR), an armed group led by lieutenant colonels Ankit Sood, Rajiv Chauhan, and Nikhil forced their way inside the police station while brandishing their weapons. Then, without warning, they began a vicious attack on the officers on duty, hitting them with rifle butts, sticks, and kicks. According to the FIR, the situation worsened when the Indian Army personnel snatched the injured police officers cell phones, and even kidnapped a police constable before leaving the area. Senior police officers, however, intervened, aiding in the rescue of the targeted police officers and starting legal proceedings against the offenders. The FIR has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 307 (attempt to murder), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 147 (punishment for rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 392 (punishment for robbery), 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person). They have also been booked under the Arms Act. The incident is being investigated by the deputy superintendent of police in Kupwara. Authorities stated that their goals are to identify the entire scope of the offense and prosecute those who are accused. Advertisement The spokeswoman for the defense department countered that claims of beating up therein of police personnel and altercations involving Army and police personnel are false and unfounded. Clad in a dhoti and a white shawl, PM Modi circumambulated the garbhagriha after offering prayers at the shrine. A framed picture of the temples presiding deity and a shawl were among the temple prasad that the priests gave him after performing a special arthi read more It is commonly known that PM Modi embarks on spiritual expeditions following election campaigns; he has already traveled to Shivaji's Pratapgarh in 2014 and Kedarnath in 2019 Image Courtesy PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial after the Lok Sabha Election campaign concluded, where he started a two-day meditation that will last until June 1. At the Dhyan Mandapam, where Swami Vivekananda used to meditate, PM Modi is meditating. The Prime Minister took a helicopter from nearby Thiruvananthapuram to the shrine of Bhagavathi Amman.After engaging in worship at the temple, he took the ferry to the rock memorial. Advertisement Clad in a dhoti and a white shawl, PM Modi circumambulated the garbhagriha after offering prayers at the shrine. A framed picture of the temples presiding deity and a shawl were among the temple prasad that the priests gave him after performing a special arthi. Following the arthi, PM Modi traveled to the rock memorial by a ferry service run by the shipping company, which is under the control of the state government. It was at the dhyan mandapam that he began his meditation. The prime minister paused to see the breathtaking views of the surrounding sea from the mandapams steps before starting his meditation. Modi showered flowers on the pictures of Swami Vivekananda, mother Sri Sarada Devi, and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa as a sign of respect. The mandapam is adorned with a life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda on a tall pedestal. After that, Modi entered the mandapam to start his sadhana, or spiritual practice. Similar excursions were taken by PM Modi at the end of 2014 and 2019, first to Shivajis stronghold of Pratapgarh and then to a cave near the Kedarnath shrine. The Prime Minister will be visiting Tamil Nadu for the ninth time since January. After seeing the entire nation, Swami Vivekananda had a profound vision of Bharat Mata in Kanniyakumari, which is why the place is noteworthy in his life. The three days he spent meditating on the rock are thought to have had a profound effect on him, much like Sarnath did on Gautam Buddha. Advertisement Religious significance also stems from the belief that Goddess Parvati waited for Lord Shiva at this exact site while meditating on one foot. In addition to being the meeting place of the eastern and western coastlines of India, Kanniyakumari is also the site where the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Arabian Sea converge. It is commonly known that PM Modi embarks on spiritual expeditions following election campaigns; he has already traveled to Shivajis Pratapgarh in 2014 and Kedarnath in 2019. In 1893, Swami Vivekananda introduced the world to Indias spiritual grandeur during the Parliament of Worlds Religions, which was held in Chicago. 1970 saw the construction of the memorial in the great monks honor. The memorial is situated atop a rock that is said to be the spot where Vivekananda became enlightened. Advertisement According to legend, it was also from this rock that the goddess Kanniyakumari prayed to Lord Shiva, earning her a significant position in Indian religion. The image of the goddesss feet is thought to be in a specifically preserved area of the rock. The memorial displays a tasteful fusion of several architectural styles. Explore the Sripada Mandapam and Vivekananda Mandapam, two of the memorials structures. On the site is a bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda, which is life-sized. PM Modi will travel to Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari on Thursday after holding a rally in Punjabs Hoshirapur. Here, the prime minister will meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial from May 30 to June 1 to mark the culmination of BJPs election campaign read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a spiritual journey today after holding his very last rally for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 before the last phase of polling commences on June 1. PM Modi will travel to Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari on Thursday after holding a rally in Punjabs Hoshirapur. Here, the prime minister will meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial from May 30 to June 1 to mark the culmination of BJPs election campaign. Advertisement However, PM Modis plans have irked the Opposition who dont want his meditation to be televised as it would be a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections too, PM Modi went to Uttarakhands Kedarnath for a similar exercise just before the election results were announced. Here he undertook a 15-hour-long solitary meditation. TMC to complain to EC West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the Trinamool Congress will lodge a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) if PM Modis meditation in Kanyakumari. We will complain. He can meditate, but it cannot be aired on television, Mamata said saying that televising it would amount to the violation of MCC. Does anyone have to get cameras to do meditation? the chief minister asked, claiming that the practice is Modis way of canvassing the 48-hour silence period before the last phase of the election. Congress opposes move Similarly, Congress alleged on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trying to circumvent the silence period restrictions with his 48-hour meditation trip in Kanyakumari from May 30 and urged the Election Commission to ensure it is not aired by the media as it violates the model code of conduct. A delegation of Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Singhvi and Syed Naseer Hussain met the Election Commission and handed over a memorandum in this regard along with 27 other complaints of alleged model code violations by the BJP in the last few days. Advertisement Other Opposition parties follow suit Other Opposition parties including Tamil Nadus DMK and Samajwadi Party have joined the tune of TMC and Congress in opposing PM Modis Kanyakumari meditation plan getting televised. The Dravida Munnetra Kazgham (DMK) has slammed the practice saying it is a drama enacted for political gains. DMKs Kanyakumari south district advocates wing organiser M Joseph Raj has even submitted a petition to the returning officer of the city urging him to deny permission for the event. SPs Dimple Yadav, meanwhile, said that to meditate one does not need to travel to Kanyakumari to meditate as it can be done at home too. Advertisement What does MCC say? ECIs Model Code of Conduct states, Public meetings cannot be held after 10 PM and before 6.00 AM. Further, candidates can not hold public meetings and processions during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll. May 3o, 2024: During the first week of May this year, Chinas first modern aircraft carrier, Fujian, carried out its initial sea trials. The sea trials and time in port for needed modifications means that Fujian will not enter service until 2026. This will give the crew of 2,400 sailors, officers, pilots, and maintenance personnel for the carrier air wing time to learn their jobs. Back in 2022 China launched its third aircraft carrier, the 80,000-ton Fujian (CV-18). Fujian is powered with conventional steam turbines which also generate the needed electrical power for its three EMALS (electromagnetic aircraft launch system) catapults. Fujian turned out to be larger than expected, in part because of the space needed for the IEP (integrated electric propulsion) system that supplied the power for EMALS. China was more deliberate in designing their EMALS system and appears to have learned from the mistakes the Americans made and delayed installing EMALS on Fujian until their catapults worked. The only other carriers using EMALS are the American nuclear-powered CVN (nuclear powered carrier) USS Ford class. One Ford is in service with two more under construction and a fourth on order. The U.S. Navy expects to eventually have ten of the 100,000 ton Fords, to replace the current ten Nimitz class CVNs entered service between 1975 and 2009. CVNs can serve for over fifty years with a mid-career overhaul and refurbishment. Nimitz went through that process between 1998 and 2001 as have five other Nimitz class carriers. A seventh carrier is still undergoing the process. The three most recent Nimitz carriers entered service between 1998 and 2009. At 316 meters Fujian appears to be nearly as long as the US Navys 333-meter Ford, which displaces about 100,000 tons. Fujian has a smaller crew of about 3,000 and operates fewer aircraft. The nuclear-powered Ford has a crew of 4,500 personnel and moves at higher speeds for sustained periods longer than the Fujian, which has to dedicate a lot of internal space for its oil fuel. China already has two carriers in service: the 60,000 ton Liaoning (CV-16) with a crew of 2,600 and 40 aircraft, including 14 helicopters. Liaoning is used as a training ship and entered service in 2012. The more recent 70,000 ton Shandong entered service in 2019, has a crew of 3,100 and carries 36 aircraft, including 12 helicopters. Both carriers use a ski-jump STOBAR (Short take off but arrested recovery) system. Fujian and American CVNs use CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery) systems. When Shandong (CV-17) completed sea trials and entered service at the end of 2019, it was seen moving past Taiwan. Back then it was assumed that China wanted to build two more similar carriers (CV-18 and 19) which would lose the ski jump deck and instead adopt a catapult. This was the case with Fujian (CV-18) that was already under construction in 2019, and in the water a year later. At that point it appeared that CV-18 would be in service by 2024 but details of its layout and displacement were still vague. It was believed that CV-18 might be delayed by the decision to use EMALS instead of steam catapults. The U.S. Navy has had problems getting its EMALS to work effectively and the Chinese were believed to be waiting to see how that works out before deciding. That was not the case as CV-18 was built with the IEP, which was only required if EMALS was used. What is unknown is if CV-19 will be similar to CV-18 or use nuclear power. China has more problems with nuclear-powered surface ships than with EMALS. China has been working on nuclear propulsion for submarines for decades and encountered lots of technical problems that seriously limited the development of an effective Chinese nuclear submarine force. Chinese nuclear power experts informed the government that China did not yet have reliable nuclear power plants for surface ships and it would be a while before that technology was perfected. With the official recognition of Fujian, it became clear that China probably would have five or six non-nuclear-powered carriers by 2030, with all but Liaoning and Shandong based on the Fujian. Since carriers spend a lot of time in port getting upgrades and maintenance, you need three or more in order to guarantee having at least two available at all times for operations. China has already built or is building enough escort and support ships, along with air wings, to keep several carrier task forces, each built around one carrier, busy while one or more carriers were sidelined by months of maintenance and upgrades. China announced in 2020 that their first carrier, Liaoning, which was a rebuilt Russian carrier, would not remain a training carrier but would be equipped and manned with a crew that would enable it to also serve as a combat carrier in an emergency. That eventually changed and Liaoning remained a training ship. Fujian was not a complete surprise. As early as 2014 there were official photos of carrier model displayed at an official event. The detailed model had the hull number 18 and the ship looked similar to an American Nimitz class CVN. The Chinese CVN has four catapults and three elevators and much other evidence of being nuclear and very similar to the Nimitz class. This was an early Chinese Navy proposal for a CVN and that has apparently been refined to something that is similar to the Nimitz. At one point it was believed that the first Chinese CVN would be more like the American USS Enterprise (CVN 65). This was the first American nuclear-powered carrier and it served as the prototype for the subsequent Nimitz class. The Enterprise was an expensive design, and only one was built, rather than the expected class of six. While a bit longer than the later Nimitz class, it was lighter at 92,000 tons displacement, versus 100,000 tons. The Enterprise was commissioned in 1961, almost 40 years after the first U.S. carrier, the Langley entered service in 1923. CVN 65 was active until 2012 and decommissioned in early 2017, two months before the second Chinese carrier was launched. China may end up going that way before building their first nuclear carrier. A large oil-fueled carrier would enable them to gain experience with a large carrier and allow designers to perfect the design of a nuclear-powered large carrier. Chinese are keen students of history, their own as well as that of others. Chinese ship designers know all about the Langley and the Enterprise. The Chinese are also well aware that in the two decades after the USS Langley there were tremendous changes in carrier aviation. While the innovation slowed after World War II, major changes continued into the 1950s with the addition of jet aircraft, nuclear propulsion for carriers, and anti-aircraft missiles. But in the ensuing half-century, there has been no major innovation in basic carrier design. This has not been a problem because the carriers have proven useful, at least for the U.S. Navy, the only fleet to use such large carriers. Currently the United States has 10 CVNs, although those will be replaced on a one for one basis by the new Ford Class CVNs. No one else has maintained a force of these large carriers. Only the U.S. has felt a constant need to get air power to any corner of the planet in a hurry. More importantly, no navy has been able to give battle to the U.S. carrier force since 1945. The Soviets built new anti-carrier weapons and made plans to use them, but that war never occurred. China is building carriers but does not yet seem committed to having a lot of them to confront the U.S., but rather just a few to intimidate its neighbors. The Chinese Navy is very popular with most Chinese and its commanders are enthusiastic about expanding in order to protect the seaborne trade that the modern Chinese economy depends on. For thousands of years Chinese rulers did not consider naval power important because it wasnt. Now it is and the navy is getting the money and encouragement to do what China has never done before. But at the moment Chinese tech is not up to the task of providing capable carrier aviation, especially on a large scale. The government also realized that the money required to make it all work was not really available either. Another problem is the shrinking number of qualified Chinese willing to join the navy. The Chinese working age population is declining as a result of the one-child policy that began in the 1980s and lasted for three decades. But when the one-child limits were eased in the last decade, it was discovered that a more affluent Chinese population was not interested in having large families. This is a common pattern, especially in the newly affluent nations of East Asia. Already South Korea and Japan are suffering from falling birth rates. Its worse in Europe. The United States has avoided this problem so far but that appears to be changing. For China the population problem is a major limit to the effectiveness of their growing navy and its aircraft carrier component. A carrier does not operate alone, but requires several destroyers and frigates as escorts, along with supply and fuel ships. Each carrier task force requires over 5,000 officers and sailors. The sea trials for Shandong took 19 months, which was six months longer than their first carrier, Liaoning. There was no official explanation why the second carrier took longer to debug but it was put into active service by December 2019. It is known that Shandong has more electronics, including a powerful AESA (flat panel phased array) radar and a more capable communications and control system built into the ship. It would not be surprising if those improvements caused unexpected and repeated problems. Shandong is 315 meters long, which is three percent longer than Liaoning. Shandong displaced 70,000 tons, which is 12 percent more than Liaoning. Obvious differences are a slightly (about 10 percent) smaller control tower and about ten percent more flight deck area. There is more space internally for maritime and aircraft fuel. It appears that Shandong would have to be refueled about once a week when at sea and Fujian will be no different. Shandong was considered a new design but based on the first Chinese carrier, the Liaoning. That first carrier was a 65,000-ton, 305 meter (999 feet) long ship that was itself a modified version of the last Cold War Russian carrier design. In 2016 China confirmed that Shandong would also have the ski jump deck like Liaoning, would be somewhat heavier, and incorporate new design features that would enable it to carry more aircraft (mainly the J-15) in a larger hangar deck (just below the flight deck) as well as more fuel and aircraft weapons. Photos of Shandong under construction revealed that it also incorporated design features that will make it more capable of surviving combat damage as well as operating more efficiently and effectively as a carrier. In addition to the Chinese built J-15 fighter, the Shandong has early-warning radar and anti-submarine aircraft, which had long been standard on American carriers, as well as some helicopters. The carrier itself had modern radars and electronics to detect and control aircraft. Shandong operates about 20 percent more aircraft than Liaoning (50 fixed-wing and helicopters compared to about 40). In 2019 China only had about fifty carrier qualified J-15 pilots and Liaoning was kept busy being what was designed for; a training carrier. By 2024 there were about 200 carrier-qualified J-15 pilots. Heads of state from the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, and Tunisia will be present in Beijing for the 10th China-Arab Summit between May 28 and June 1 read more United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 30, 2024. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/Pool Sometimes agreements made some years ago come to life. The UAE raised its relationship with China to a strategic level in 2018, and two-way trade has certainly seen a fillip since. The UAE is and has traditionally been the gateway to trade throughout the Gulf, presently sanction-crippled Iran, and North Africa. In July 2018, President Xi Jinping visited Abu Dhabi. As many as 13 financial and trade agreements were signed among almost 150 over the years since 1984, when diplomatic relations were established. Xi Jinping met with the then-Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and the ruler of Dubai. Xi was the first Chinese supreme leader to visit the UAE in 29 years. Advertisement There has been a persistent attempt on the part of China to establish a free-trade agreement with the entire Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) area, with the help of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, but a few wrinkles, such as concern over its propensity to dump cheap exports, need to be ironed out yet. China is currently seen as a power that may be able to prod the two-state solution in Palestine into being, given its influence and leverage. The leader of the Palestinian Authority also recently paid a state visit to Beijing. And this Chinese influence extends not only to all the oil-exporting countries of West Asia but also to Iran and its proxies, the Hezbollah, the Hamas, the Houthis, and elements in Syria and Iraq. China cannot be ignored by Israel and its all-weather ally, the US. For the Arabs, this is a balance they seek between pressures from America and those from China. Work on this is proceeding apace. The UAE and Chinese central banks have recently renewed a $4.9 billion currency swap agreement. There is a cooperation agreement between the Dubai and Shanghai stock exchanges, and the UAE sovereign fund Mubadala has opened a Beijing office. Now there is not only a state visit to Beijing from May 29 to May 31, 2024, from the president of the UAE, but a conference of Arab nations, the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, formed 10 years ago. Sheikh Mohamed has visited China several times before. Starting in 1990, he accompanied his father, the first president of the UAE, and then again in 2009, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2022. This time, Sheikh Mohamed said he wants to enhance Arab-Chinese cooperation. Reports say he wants to finesse the relationship, particularly after considerable progress with the UAE relationship with India and its geopolitical implications. Advertisement This is the 40th year of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, and Sheikh Mohamed is in Beijing to celebrate it. Formal ties were established in 1984. In 2023, the UAEs non-oil trade with China reached $81 billion, accounting for 12 per cent of all UAE trade. The UAEs investments in China reached $11.9 billion across sectors like telecommunications, renewable energy, transportation, hospitality, and rubber. There is a resident Chinese community in the UAE of about 350,000 people. For the 10th China-Arab Summit between May 28 and June 1, there will be as many as four heads of state from the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, and Tunisia present in Beijing. Advertisement This, while NATO foreign ministers are meeting in Prague to discuss the fraught idea of Ukraine being allowed to hit targets inside Russia. NATO is coincidentally celebrating 25 years of its existence, but there is no unanimity of agreement on further provoking Russia. The UAE and Saudi Arabia, as the biggest middle powers in the GCC and the Gulf, though strategically close to the US for its military needs, want to settle the Palestine question perennially troubling their region. The state visit of the President of the UAE to Beijing, the first since he assumed power, can be partially seen in this light. Advertisement Besides, China has a GDP of $17.7 trillion, even in its much-weakened economy. It has had upwardly revised GDP forecasts of 5 per cent per year. This was done by international lending agencies such as the World Bank and the IMF after China undertook strenuous efforts to right things lately. Stock investors around the globe are returning to China to take advantage of attractive, beaten-down valuations. This economic heft in China, despite its aggressive trade practices and erstwhile, pre-Covid, wolf warrior diplomacy, is only second to that of the United States. The tension with Taiwan and all countries around the East and South China Seas are additional friction points. India has its own tense standoff with China all along its long border alongside Tibet and proxy problems with Pakistan as well. Still, most countries are forced to deal with China until more effective geopolitical shifts take place. It remains a formidable trading partner with every country and is still the factory for the world. Advertisement Aware of all this, leading countries in the Gulf and Arab North Africa did sign up years ago, when Chinas star was higher in the sky, for its predatory Belt and Road Initiative. Ironically, no work has been done on it in the region, better than the usual beneficiary, so far. Nearly bankrupt Pakistans CPEC has been and is struggling, and India has refused to be part of it altogether from the very start. So perhaps the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia, and Bahrain are not missing much, given the programmes debt trap propensities and erratic progress. Countries such as Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bangladesh, along with some in Central Africa, probably rue the day they got involved. Some countries in Europe, such as Italy, have actually withdrawn from the Belt and Road initiative. While China has a vast military establishment, it is an unknown quantity when it comes to its effectiveness. Though it has not been involved in a shooting war of any size, it is not considered to be really up to scratch compared to the US, either technologically or in terms of its manpower under arms. Though the size and extent of its blue-water navy and submarines are indeed impressive, likewise, its progress with hypersonic missiles and drones is underpinned by its nuclear weapons prowess. However, Russia, with a mere $1 trillion economy and a huge nuclear weapons arsenal, is considered to be a much more fearful military power. The Gulf-based GCC sells 80 per cent of its oil to China. The UAE alone exports over $30 billion ($32.5 billion) of its petroleum to China and is its biggest trading partner in the Gulf, importing over $50 billion worth ($57.7 billion) of machinery, electrical equipment, and broadcast equipment. It is lately making preparations to import its cheaper and very good electrical cars. China also offers, along with India, an increasing opportunity to conduct much of the mainstay petroleum business in local currencies to reduce dependence on a very strong US dollar. Despite the gargantuan debt America carries, China, too, carries a lot of external and internal debt. The difference is that the US dollar remains the main global currency for international trade. To make the export-import trade more attractive, China is now steadily devaluing the Yuan, which it had kept artificially strong for many years. What can come out of a closeness with Beijing beyond the obvious bully-boy arrangements is hard to say. But as a matter of hedging ones bets in an increasingly unstable multipolar world, an actualised China of today, and an emerging India of tomorrow, are definitely important to consider. 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. Speaking to Arab leaders on Thursday at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing, Xi stated that justice should not be absent forever and that Israels war on Gaza should not continue indefinitely read more China mediated a historic peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran last year, ending years of animosity between the two bitter foes Image Courtesy AFP In an effort to ease tremendous suffering in Gaza and resolve the Israel-Palestine issue, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a peace summit. Speaking to Arab leaders on Thursday at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing, Xi stated that justice should not be absent forever and that Israels war on Gaza should not continue indefinitely. His comments coincide with Israels intensifying offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in the capture of the vital Philadelphi Corridor on the enclaves border with Egypt. Israels national security adviser also hinted on Wednesday that the war is probably going to last for an additional seven months. Advertisement With a commitment to contribute an additional 500 million yuan ($69 million) in emergency humanitarian assistance, Xi stated that China would continue to assist in easing the humanitarian crisis and aiding in Gazas post-war reconstruction. In addition, $3 million will be given by the nation to UNRWA, the organization that supports Palestinian refugees, in order to help fund its emergency aid to Gaza, according to Xi. China shares the views of many Arab countries in advocating for a quick ceasefire, a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and Palestinian admission to the UN. As evidence of its growing diplomatic clout in the area, the nation hosted the first-ever negotiations between Hamas and Fatah, the rival Palestinian groups, in April. In addition, China mediated a historic peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran last year, ending years of animosity between the two bitter foes. According to analysts, China is trying to use the Gaza War to improve its reputation in the area by pitting its attempts to put a stop to the fighting against what is seen as US passivity. Speaking about commerce, Xi declared that China, a significant consumer of energy from the Gulf, would continue to work with Arab nations on a number of fronts, including the production of oil and gas. The export controls would apply to aircraft and aerospace engines and structural parts, engine manufacturing-related equipment, software and technology, the commerce ministry said in a statement. read more China will impose restrictions on aviation, aerospace-related equipment and technology beginning July 1, the Commerce Ministry said on Thursday. The move is said to be taken to safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation. Exports of items designated under the new rules will require export licenses. According to the announcement jointly released with Chinas General Administration of Customs and the Central Military Commissions equipment development department, the export controls would apply to aircraft and aerospace engines and structural parts, engine manufacturing-related equipment, software and technology. Advertisement They also will include tools, molds, fixtures and other processing equipment used to make certain materials such as superplastic bonded with titanium, aluminium and their alloys. Both Beijing and Washington have taken steps to restrict the export of products, technology, and equipment deemed critical to national security. In retaliation to US arms sales to Taiwan, China has imposed sanctions on certain American aerospace and defence companies. These export controls will also apply to technologies involved in the development, manufacturing, and usage of such equipment, according to Chinas Commerce Ministry. The overall impact of these restrictions remains uncertain. While China exports engine parts and other aerospace components and has developed its own jet engines, it still depends on foreign suppliers for crucial parts in aircraft production that utilizes domestic technology and manufacturing. Since the start of the electoral campaign, the former president has been looking to court powerful donors for his electoral ambitions read more As the race for the White House intensifies, former US President Donald Trump is floating a possible advisory role for Tesla CEO Elon Musk if he comes to power again. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the two men have had several phone calls over the matter since March. From the very beginning of his electoral campaign, the former president has been looking to court powerful donors for his electoral ambitions. Advertisement As per the reports, the two met at the estate of billionaire Nelson Peltz in March. Since then, they have reportedly discussed several policy issues, including illegal immigration, which Musk has become vocal about in recent months. America will fall if it tries to absorb the world. That is why I am banging the drum so much about this issue, Musk wrote on X, formally known as Twitter in the same month. In the past, the Tesla CEO has maintained that he will not donate to either of the presidential campaigns this election. America will fall if it tries to absorb the world. That is why I am banging the drum so much about this issue. https://t.co/9MrkJghzx9 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2024 However, the WSJ reported that Musk told Trump that he is planning to host a gathering in the near future to dissuade wealthy and powerful allies from supporting Joe Biden in November. The turbulent ties between Trump and Musk It is only very recently since Musk and Trump have been hurling insults at each other. At a rally in 2022, the former reality TV star called Musk another bullshit artist. In the same year, Musk tweeted that Trump should hang up his hat and sail into the sunset. Advertisement Interestingly, Musk has previously served on Trumps White House business advisory group during the initial days of his presidency. However, the SpaceX CEO left the team after Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris climate accord in 2017. Relations between the two softened after Musk acquired X and reinstated Trumps account. In March this year, after the Tesla CEO reportedly met Trump, he had nice things to say about the erstwhile American commander-in-chief. Ive been friendly with him over the years. I helped him when he was president. I helped him. Ive liked him," the billionaire told CNBC. In the same month, Trump insisted that he and Musk obviously have opposing views on a minor subject called electric cars, with the business-mogul-turned politician opposing ramping up electric vehicle production and supporting tariffs against foreign EV manufacturing. Advertisement Peltz who is a popular American investor, has been a key connector between Trump and Musk. In the past, both Peltz and Musk have told Trump that they are working on a large data-driven project designed to ensure votes are fairly counted, WSJ reported. However, the details of the product still remain unclear. The activists and politicians were found guilty of conspiracy to commit subversion for their roles in holding an unofficial primary election in 2020 read more Former lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, second left, flashing a victory sign as some of the 47 pro-democracy activists are escorted to a prison van in Hong Kong in 2021. Source: File Image: AP A court in Hong Kong found 14 out of 16 pro-democracy activists guilty on subversion charges. On Thursday, the court handed down the verdict on the regions largest and most significant national security case to date. The activists and politicians were found guilty of conspiracy to commit subversion for their roles in holding an unofficial primary election in 2020. Out of the 16, only two defendants, Lau Wai-chung and Lee Yue-shun, were found not guilty in the case. Advertisement Initially, there were 47 defendants in the case which was popularly known as the the trial of the Hong Kong 47. This was the largest single prosecution case under a national security law Beijing imposed on the city following mass anti-government protests, last year. The trial represented a broad swathe of Hong Kongs now-dismantled democracy movement. When the case first came to court, most of the defendants pleaded guilty and decided to fight further charges. The full trial of the case lasted for more than a year. How a strong Opposition decimated into an abyss The conviction in the Hong Kong 47 case indicated the severity of Chinas draconian national security law and how it managed to change the political landscape of the region. The once-permitted pro-democracy opposition is now decimated with voices of dissent being curbed across the city. However, both the Hong Kong and Beijing governments have maintained that the national security law is not suppressing freedoms, arguing it has ended chaos and restored stability to the city. The Hong Kong regime argued that those who were found guilty in the case were part of a vicious plot to subvert the citys government and therefore undermine Chinas national security, CNN reported. Meanwhile, the supporters of these activists and politicians maintained that they were taking part in the kind of oppositional politics that was once allowed to flourish in Hong Kong. Most of the 47 defendants have been jailed without bail since being charged in early 2021. Out of these people, 31 pleaded guilty with the hopes of getting their sentence reduced. 16 pleaded not guilty and fought the case further. Advertisement The 47 activists range in age from their 20s to their 60s and also include prominent names such as legal scholar Benny Tai, former pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo and Joshua Wong, who was one of the leaders of the pro-democracy protests that rocked the region in 2014. The draconian law Since the national security law came into effect in 2020, several civil groups have been dispensed and multiple independent media outlets were forced to shut down. With authorities curbing the voices of dissent, the citys legislature now comprises only pro-Beijing loyalists, while most pro-democracy figures are either in jail or in exile overseas. Following the verdict, some family members cried in the courtroom while some defendants smiled and waved back, CNN reported. Hong Kongs democracy activists are no strangers to courtrooms. Many of them have served time in the past. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. Maldives Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, last week said India has initiated efforts to create a FTA between the two countries and deliberations are underway for achieving it read more India, on Thursday, said it has not received any specific proposal for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Maldives, but will give it a due consideration if the government of the island nation expresses interest. No specific proposal for a bilateral FTA with the Maldives has been made by the Government of India. If the Government of Maldives expresses interest in having an FTA with India, we will give it due consideration, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External (MEA) said at a weekly media briefing on Wednesday in New Delhi. Advertisement #WATCH | Delhi: On Maldives FTA, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "No specific proposal for a bilateral FTA with the Maldives has been made by the Government of India. If the Government of Maldives expresses interest in having an FTA with India, we will give it due pic.twitter.com/9FBwZKfeqE ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024 A report by PTI mentioned that Maldives Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, on Saturday (May 25) told at a press conference in Male that India has initiated efforts to create a FTA between the two countries and deliberations are underway for achieving it. They (India) want there to be a Free Trade Agreement with (the) Maldives, in addition to SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement), Mohamed Saeed said. The minister also said the Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has offered the opportunity to all countries for a free trade deal with the island nation, adding that his government aims to enter into agreements with as many countries as possible to provide ease in trade activities. Advertisement The Maldives ministers statement of India seeking an FTA with the island nation comes amid strained diplomatic ties between the two countries since November 2023 after Muizzu, known for his pro-China learnings, took the oath as the president of the archipelago. Hours after taken oath, Muizzu demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country. The last of the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians on May 10 this year. 1981 India-Maldives trade agreement India and Maldives have trade agreement since 1981 which facilitates export of essential commodities. As per PTI, the Indian High Commission record showed, that bilateral trade between India and Maldives surpassed $300 million for the first time in 2021 and further exceeded $500 million the following year. Advertisement Despite the diplomatic row, India, in a goodwill gesture, in the month of May this year announced to extend vital budgetary support to the Maldives government with the rollover of a $50 million Treasury Bill for another year on the Maldivian governments special request. Khamenei refers to Israel as a Zionist regime in his letter to the US students and even calls for police brutality against demonstrators. He claimed that in response to their governments (the US governments) support for the usurper and brutal Zionist regime, the students have established a branch of the Resistance Front read more The politician and cleric from Iran declared that "history is turning a page," indicating a "different fate" for the "important region" of West Asia. He emphasized that "things are shifting" Image Courtesy AP Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, urged American students to become familiar with the Quran in response to their ongoing protests in their colleges against Israels offensive against the Hamas terrorist group. In a letter addressed to them, he described the students as a branch of the Resistance Front that will win with the permission of God and expressed empathy and solidarity for their defence of Palestinians. The Qurans lesson for us Muslims and all of humanity, is to stand up for that which is right: So be steadfast as you have been commanded (11:112). The Qurans lesson for human relations is: Do not oppress and do not be oppressed (2:279). The Resistance Front advances by a comprehensive understanding and the practice of these and hundreds of other such commands and will attain victory with the permission of God. My advice to you is to become familiar with the Quran, he said in his letter titled As the page of history is turning, you are standing on the right side of it. Advertisement The politician and cleric from Iran declared that history is turning a page, indicating a different fate for the important region of West Asia. He emphasized that things are shifting. I would like to assure you that today the circumstances are changing. A different fate awaits the important region of West Asia. The peoples conscience has awakened on a global scale, and the truth is coming to light. Moreover, the Resistance Front has grown in strength and will become even stronger. And history is turning a page, he said. This happens right after the Israeli attack in Rafah this past weekend, which left over 40 people dead and sparked the social media campaign All Eyes on Rafah. Using the phrase in the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, Khamenei addressed the students, urging them to stand up for the downtrodden women and children of Gaza because of their awakened conscience. Calling the anti-Israel protests by students, academics and the general public as uprisings, he said: Besides you students from dozens of American universities, there have also been uprisings in other countries among academics and the general public. Following an Israeli strike on a Rafah camp this past weekend, there was a calm before the protests picked back up. Despite the vast number of civilians who have sought sanctuary in camps, Israel has persisted with its offensive in the region. Even Israels closest friends have expressed horror at the strike on one such camp, which resulted in the deaths of numerous women and children. Advertisement This has only served to heighten worldwide criticism of Israels fight with Hamas. Following an injunction from the International Court of Justice to immediately cease military activities in the region, Israel launched an attack on a camp near Rafah. Following widespread arrests during the takeover of the Columbia University campus, anti-Israel demonstrations intensified in April. Many opponents have referred to the detention of over 2,950 protestorsincluding professors and facultyas police brutality. Additionally, universities in Europe, Australia, and Canada are already experiencing same protests. Numerous students have been punished or expelled from Columbia University since a series of occupation protests started on April 17. Advertisement However, some of these rallies have come under fire for being antisemitic and the product of migrant influence, particularly when phrases like intifadawhich, in the context of the Palestinian people, is understood to indicate a civil uprisinghave been used to characterize them. According to Jewish students, they are fostering an environment of hatred and terror on campuses. Additionally, they claim that they were singled out for abuse for donning Jewish insignia and were called Zionists. In fact, Khamenei refers to Israel as a Zionist regime in his letter to the US students and even calls for police brutality against demonstrators. He claimed that in response to their governments (the US governments) support for the usurper and brutal Zionist regime, the students have established a branch of the Resistance Front. Advertisement Dear university students in the United States of America, this message is an expression of our empathy and solidarity with you. As the page of history is turning, you are standing on the right side of it. You have now formed a branch of the Resistance Front and have begun an honorable struggle in the face of your governments ruthless pressure a government which openly supports the usurper and brutal Zionist regime, he said, adding that the goal of the struggle is to put an end to the the brutal Zionist terrorist network. The support and solidarity of your professors is a significant and consequential development. This can offer some measure of comfort in the face of your governments police brutality and the pressures it is exerting on you. I too am among those who empathize with you young people, and value your perseverance, he added. Advertisement He said that England assisted Israels capitalist Zionist network in driving away indigenous people and taking control of their towns and cities, and that the US subsequently assisted Israel in the production of nuclear weapons. Additionally, he questioned if it constitutes terrorism for Palestinians to protect their own territory and accused a global Zionist elite of owning the majority of US and European media companies. Between May 7 and May 28, only 58 aid trucks made their way to Gaza, down from an average of 176 between April 1 and May 6, which is a drop of 67 per cent read more Israels expanded military operation into Rafah has not only cost people their lives but also dropped the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza by almost 70 per cent, the United Nations said. The already dwindling aid supply has plummeted further since May 7, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said. Between May 7 and May 28, only 58 aid trucks made their way to Gaza, down from an average of 176 between April 1 and May 6, which is a drop of 67 per cent. Advertisement Meanwhile, before the war between Israel and Hamas even began, Gaza used to receive aid from a whopping 500 trucks per day according to UN data. Since expanding its military operation into Rafah, delivery of humanitarian aid has been blocked with many supplies piling up in Egypt. Aid shipments have diminished due to the closure of Rafah crossing, the inability to safely and consistently pick up commodities from the Kerem Shalom crossing and limited deliveries through other entry points, OCHA said. The International Court of Justice last week in its ruling said that the situation is disastrous and ordered Israel to keep away from the Rafah crossing for unhindered provision at scale of aid. Israels Deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Miller told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that Israel was fighting a war against Hamas, not the civilians of Gaza. This is why Israel is committed to facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza from every possible point of entry. Despite Hamas rocket fire on the Kerem Shalom crossing, it is fully functional and aid trucks are entering, he said. Meanwhile, the US-built pier meant to increase aid supply in Gaza has been damaged by logistical and weather problems rendering it useless. Broken apart by strong winds and heavy seas just over a week after it became operational, the project faces criticism that it hasnt lived up to its initial billing or its $320 million price tag. Advertisement US officials say, however, that the steel causeway connected to the beach in Gaza and the floating pier is being repaired and reassembled at a port in southern Israel, then will be reinstalled and working again next week. With inputs from agencies While the IDF troops are now physically located in most of the corridor, theres still a section near the coast where ground forces are not present. read more As the Israel-Hamas war continues to escalate, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) announced that the Jewish nation has established operational control over the entire so-called Philadelphi Corridor. The news has become a matter of concern since the corridor runs for 14 km, all along the Gaza-Egypt border. While the IDF troops are now physically located in most of the corridor, theres still a section near the coast where ground forces are not present. However, the Israeli military maintained that it was controlling the area with surveillance and firepower, The Times of Israel reported. Advertisement The IDF also mentioned that while taking over the corridor, they have located so far some 20 tunnels that cross into Egypt. The corridor lies just adjacent to the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah. The Jewish nation alleged that Hamas has been using these tunnels to smuggle weapons into Gaza hence, taking over the region was extremely important. 82 tunnel shafts located in the region While the military maintained that some of the tunnels were known to them before the ground operation even started, they stated that new tunnels were discovered by them in the region for the first time. According to The Times of Israel, some of these tunnels have already been demolished by the IDF and the Israeli authorities have notified their Egyptian counterpart on the matter as well. The military stated that as many as 82 tunnel shafts have been located in the Philadelphi Corridor area. In later updates, the IDF also accused Hamas of positioning rocket launchers along the corridor in an attempt to prevent Israel from striking them. They thought that it might be the best location since Israel might be hesitant to shoot the area due to fears of overshooting into Egypt. The US backs Israel on the matter Meanwhile, White House national security spokesman John Kirby hinted that Israels recently announced capture of the Philadelphi Corridor does not cross the Biden administrations red line regarding the offence in Rafah. When [Israel] briefed us on their plans for Rafah, it did include moving along that corridor and out of the city proper to put pressure on Hamas in the city, Kirby told reporters at a press briefing. He eventually declined to confirm if Israel had seized all of the corridor or not. Its not our op," he remarked. Advertisement However, the American official maintained that the move was consistent with the limited ground operation that Israeli officials briefed the US on ahead of time. The oxygen of Hamas - Story of Philadelphi Corridor The Philadelphi Corridor also known as the Philadelphi Corridor is the Israeli code name to describe the narrow strip of land situated along the entirety of the border between Gaza Strip and Egypt. The corridor stretches approximately 14 km along the entirety of the border region. In 2004, the Knesset passed a resolution to unilaterally withdraw all Israeli citizens and forces from the Gaza Strip. It eventually came into force in August 2005. To enable the evacuation of Israeli forces from the Strap and prevent the smuggling of weapons from Egypt, the Jewish nations signed an accord with Egypt titled, Agreed Arrangements Regarding the Deployment of a Designated Force of Border Guards Along the Border in the Rafah Area. Advertisement The agreement, also known as the Philadelphi Accord, authorised Egypt to deploy border guards along the Philadelphi route to patrol the Egyptian side of the border. The joint authority for the Rafah Border Crossing was transferred to the Palestinian Authority and Egypt for restricted passage by Palestinian ID card holders, and by others by exception. The location of the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and Gaza. Source: X - Hamze Attar Part of the agreement was to continue the coordination between the Israeli and Egyptian forces operations and intelligence. However, the accord has garnered severe criticism in the past due to reports about the illegal transfer of weapons to Palestinian extremist groups through the corridor. The Philadelphi Corridor served as the oxygen line of Hamas through which Hamas carried out weapons smuggling into Gaza on a regular basis, said Israels military chief spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. Advertisement Meanwhile, Egypt has repeatedly expressed concerns that the Israeli offensive could push Palestinians across the border which will be unacceptable to the African nation. It is pertinent to note that Hamas has had free rein on the border since its 2007 takeover of Gaza. With inputs from agencies The failure of European Nato states in recent months to provide additional air defence equipment to Ukraine has underscored the continents limited stocks of the expensive and slow-to-manufacture systems. European NATO states have taken various initiatives to bolster air defence capabilities to deal with from potential invasions. read more Europe is significantly lacking in air defence capabilities to protect its eastern borders, as revealed by NATOs internal assessments. Considering the gravity of the matter, NATO foreign ministers are set to meet in Prague to discuss this pressing issue, according to reports. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has underlined the crucial need for robust air defence, with Kyiv urgently requesting additional systems and rockets from Western allies to shield its cities, troops, and energy infrastructure from relentless bombing raids by Russian forces. Advertisement A senior NATO diplomat emphasised the critical role of air defence in protecting Eastern Europe from potential invasions, noting that current capabilities are grossly inadequate. NATO foreign ministers are set to meet in Prague to discuss this pressing issue in preparation for the alliances summit in Washington in July, reported FT. The urgency of increasing air defences is driven by concerns that Russia could have the capability to attack a NATO member state by the end of the decade. The UKs recent defence review highlighted the acute challenge of protecting against aerial attacks, a sentiment echoed by NATO diplomats who acknowledge the significant gaps in current defences. Russias war against Ukraine has underscored the urgent need for robust air defence systems to safeguard cities, troops and infrastructure. In order to address the vulnerabilities, European NATO states have taken initiatives to bolster air defence capabilities, according to reports. Germanys Sky Shield initiative, involving over a dozen EU countries, aims to develop a shared air defence system utilizing US and Israeli technology. However, this initiative faces criticism from France, which has proposed an alternative concept supported by fewer allies. The failure of European Nato states in recent months to provide additional air defence equipment to Ukraine has underscored the continents limited stocks of the expensive and slow-to-manufacture systems. Advertisement It has also prompted a series of overlapping initiatives to try to find long-term solutions. Last year, Germany launched its Sky Shield initiative with more than a dozen other EU countries to develop a shared air defence system using US and Israeli-developed technology. However, France has publicly criticised the proposal and offered a rival concept backed by a smaller number of allies. Last week, Polish and Greek prime ministers submitted a letter to the European Commission urging the creation of a Europe-wide air defence system. The importance of air defence has been in sharper focus for Poland, which borders Ukraine and has seen missiles enter its airspace. Advertisement We need less fragmentation and common projects. Like an air defence shield as proposed by Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Donald Tusk, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media platform X on Thursday. In April Tusk said Polish generals and the head of the National Security Bureau Jacek Siewiera had told him it was a good idea for Poland to be part of several air defence projects. Only a strong, united Europe that pursues a common defence policy will be able to prevent war. We are preparing for war not because this war is going to happen, but so that it wont happen, Tusk said on Thursday. Advertisement Following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US swiftly deployed a Patriot air defence system to protect a key airport in southern Poland, serving as a critical hub for transporting Western weapons to Kyiv. However, officials highlight that NATO members possess such limited air defence resources that deploying additional systems beyond their territories is nearly impossible. In the UK, the Royal Navys six Type 45 destroyers are equipped with ballistic missile defence systems, but these vessels have been plagued by design flaws, limiting their effectiveness. The British Armys state-of-the-art Sky Sabre ground-based air defence systems, although advanced, are also insufficient. The Sky Sabres missile interceptors have a range of only about 40 kilometres, and two of the six systems are currently stationed overseas, further diminishing the countrys defensive capabilities. Advertisement This shortage of air defence assets underscores the broader challenges faced by NATO in enhancing its defensive posture amidst growing threats, particularly in Eastern Europe. The alliance must address these critical gaps to ensure robust protection against potential aerial attacks, necessitating significant investments and strategic planning to bolster air defense infrastructure. The UKs air defence capability is entirely inadequate, said Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank in London told The Financial Times. Full integration of Europes various air defence systems could help compensate for the shortfall by creating a dense mesh of sensors and interceptors across the continent. But attempts to update Natos command and control infrastructure for air defence have never gotten off the ground, Watling said. May 3o, 2024: The Russian war in Ukraine is in its third year and, while Ukraine holds the line in Ukraine, they are also increasing their attacks inside Russia. The Ukrainian attacks are against economic and transportation operations that, when damaged or disabled, will make it more difficult for the half million Russian troops in Ukraine to continue operating. Russia has already lost half a million soldiers dead, disabled, or missing inside Ukraine. Russian troops currently in Ukraine are short of supplies, morale, and effective leadership. Casualties among senior officers have been unusually high. By early 2024 Russia had lost about 350 officers above the rank of major and up to the rank of general. Normally, these senior officers dont spend much time in active combat zones unless there are problems at the front that junior officers, lieutenants, and captains, cannot handle. During the first few months of the war the Russians lost many if not most of these junior officers. Russia has not been able to replace these junior officers because most of them came from training programs that require several years to complete. Efforts to promote talented reenlisted soldiers to the rank of lieutenant had limited success initially but then failed because soldiers realized that fighting in Ukraine was a death trap for them and you were more likely to get killed if you were a lieutenant. This caused senior officers to visit the front more often to try and solve these problems. There were no effective solutions but there were heavy casualties among the senior officers who spent a lot of time at the front. The Ukrainians noticed this situation and came up with a plan to take advantage of it. The Ukrainians began organizing more partisan groups within Russian-occupied portions of Ukraine as well as in Russia itself. Many Russian civilians were unhappy with this war, which was getting lots of Russian soldiers killed and causing economic problems inside Russia. This led to the formation of several armed groups of pro-Ukraine Russians as well as making it easier for Russian-speaking Ukrainian operatives to operate inside Russia collecting information and organizing sabotage missions. Most of the sabotage was made to appear as an accident or lack of maintenance, both of which are common inside peacetime as well as wartime Russia. Since the Americans would not supply Ukraine with satellite photos of possible targets inside Russia, Ukraine used its agents to locate or confirm the location and condition of potential targets. This is what made the UAV attacks possible on eighteen Russian fuel refining and storage locations this year. This caused fuel shortages and higher fuel prices inside Russia. Attacks were also on manufacturers of key components for military equipment as well as warehouses containing military equipment, including explosive items. Those nighttime attacks, even more than the ones on fuel depots, produced dramatic explosions and fires that could be seen for many kilometers. So many of these occurred that the state controlled mass media could not effectively conceal what was happening and that it was the Ukrainians who were doing it. Ukraine deliberately carried out these attacks near major cities like Moscow, St Petersburg, and more distant cities like Kazan, which is 730 kilometers east of Moscow. Nearly half the population of Kazan are native Tatars who would rather live in a Tartar nation than one dominated by Russians. There are many other ethnic minorities in Russia and Ukraine can find locals willing to aid the Ukrainians in their fight against Russia. The Ukrainians had already organized and in some cases armed thousands of Ukrainian civilians living in Russian controlled areas. These partisan devote most of their efforts to obtaining detailed information on what local Russian forces are doing and what shape these Russian troops are in. It can take days to get status reports to Ukrainian forces about Russian military activities. These reports often result in Ukrainian UAV attacks on key Russian targets. Russia has had less success maintaining agents inside Ukraine. At the start of the war, it was revealed that Russia had lots of agents, some of them in the Ukrainian government and military. During the first year of the war most of these Russian agents were revealed, often as they sought to carry out acts of sabotage. By the second year of the war Russia had few agents left inside Ukraine while Ukraine had a growing number of agents inside Russia. This was because few Russians could see any justification for Russia invading Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has become increasingly unpopular inside Russia and more Russians are acting against their own government. Ukraine appears to have little contact with these anti-government Russians other than not interfering with them if they base themselves on the Ukrainian side of the border in between attacks inside Russia. In response to the Russian partisan attacks, the Russian army has deployed over 30,000 soldiers in border areas where the partisans, both Russian and Ukrainian, are operating. The partisans are numerous, with up to 100,000 Russian members of these groups who support and carry out operations inside Russia. As the war in Ukraine gets more Russian soldiers killed and does more damage to the Russian economy, the Russian partisans inside Russia become more active and troublesome. Western leaders have mostly avoided taking the step because it runs the risk of provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly warned that the Wests direct involvement could put the world on a path to nuclear conflict. read more NATO foreign ministers are set to convene in Prague on Thursday amid increasing demands for top allies to remove restrictions preventing Kyiv from using Western weapons to strike inside Russia. Starting on Thursday, this two-day meeting in the Czech capital aims to develop a comprehensive support package for Ukraine at NATOs summit in Washington in July. However, the ongoing debate about allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied arms for attacks inside Russia threatens to dominate the discussions. Advertisement US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that the US adapted and adjusted at every step and will continue to do so as the situation evolves. Clarifying his statement further, he said that adapt and adjust indeed implies potential flexibility in supporting Ukrainian strikes within Russia with American-made weapons. While the US has not explicitly encouraged such actions, Blinken reiterated that Ukraine should make its own decisions on defending itself effectively. Reacting to the development, Dmitry Suslov, a Moscow-based Council for Foreign and Defence Policy think tank member said that a test detonation could cow the West, which is in the process of relaxing rules about the weapons it gives to Ukraine. Russia should consider a demonstrative nuclear explosion to warn the West about allowing their weapons to be fired across the border from Ukraine, he said. Several European leaders have called on President Biden earlier to stop imposing limits on using the weapons deep inside Russia. Frances president has also joined the head of NATO Wednesday in pushing for a policy shift that could change the complexion of the war in Ukraine allowing Kyiv to strike military bases inside Russia with sophisticated long-range weapons provided by Western partners. Western leaders have mostly avoided taking the step because it runs the risk of provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly warned that the Wests direct involvement could put the world on a path to nuclear conflict. With inputs from agencies. According to the police, at around 11.25 a.m. local time, Asghar Ali, a 58-year-old taxi driver from Pakistan, used his vehicle to attack Orthodox Jews outside the Yeshiva in Canarsie read more Ali managed to escape at first, but the Shomrim Safety Patrol soon tracked him down Yet another Pakistani has been arrested for criminal activities and suspected hate crime in a foreign land. In the latest such incident, an alleged mentally disturbed motorist attempted to run over Orthodox pupils and a rabbi outside a Jewish school in Brooklyn, USA, on Wednesday. The attacker allegedly shouted, Im gonna kill all the Jews during the incident. According to the police, at around 11.25 a.m. local time, Asghar Ali, a 58-year-old taxi driver from Pakistan, used his vehicle to attack Orthodox Jews outside the Yeshiva in Canarsie. Advertisement The suspect revved his vehicles engine and climbed the curb during he attack, according to video footage from the Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol. The New York Post reported that the NYPDs Hate Crimes Task Force is currently looking into the suspected attacker, who has a history of mental illness. Ali was questioned by detectives on Wednesday evening. The attack started when Ali abruptly steered toward youngsters dressed in Orthodox clothing as he turned onto East 55th Street in front of the Mesivta Nachlas Yakov School while operating a 2011 white Crown Victoria. Then he turned around and went back, this time aiming for two more pupils as well as a rabbi. The victims were struck after escaping into the building. Thankfully, nobody was harmed. Five victims have been named by the authorities in this case: three 18-year-olds, a guy 41 years old, and a man 44 years old. At the intersection of Glenwood Road and East 55th Street, the vehicle allegedly tried to hit one of the boys. After that, Ali drove up East 56th Street the incorrect way and plowed straight into a group of thirty to forty students. On Wednesday night, there were still tire marks on the sidewalk close to the Yeshiva, and a police car was parked outside. Ali managed to escape at first, but the Shomrim Safety Patrol soon tracked him down. They stormed the area and discovered the attacker at a Dunkin Donuts nearby. Advertisement Ali was arrested and brought to Coney Island Hospital. Ali has been a resident of the United States for more than 20 years. Regarded as a emotionally disturbed individual, he was falsely arrested in 1998. Hes been arrested four times before, one of which was for criminal impersonation; the specifics of the other three arrests were not immediately apparent. The petition challenging the two cases lodged at Shehzad Town police station against the PTI founder was approved by Judicial Magistrate Umar Shabbir of the District and Sessions Court of Islamabad read more A court in Pakistan on Thursday acquitted jailed former prime minister Imran Khan in two cases related to May 9 violence, citing insufficient evidence against him. The supporters of Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, vandalised public property, including sensitive army installations last year following his arrest in an alleged corruption case. The petition challenging the two cases lodged at Shehzad Town police station against the PTI founder was approved by Judicial Magistrate Umar Shabbir of the District and Sessions Court of Islamabad. Advertisement While acquitting Khan, 71, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: party, the court said in its verdict: Because of insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution, the PTI founder has been acquitted. On May 15, Khan was acquitted in two cases linked to the May 9 vandalism. His acquittal orders were issued by Judicial Magistrate Sahib Bilal, who approved the former prime ministers plea challenging the cases. Both those cases against Khan were filed in Khanna police station in Islamabad. The cases were registered against the PTI founder for the long march and violation of Article 144. Khan, who remains behind bars in the high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, and several others including some PTI leaders are facing various allegations in the cases related to the violence following his arrest on May 9. After Khan was arrested, hundreds and thousands of his followers and party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Jinnah House (Lahore Corps Commander House), Mianwali Airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi too was attacked by the mob for the first time. Pakistan Television, the state-run broadcaster, claimed in a statement that the satellite would provide the best internet facilities across Pakistan and aid in enhancing broadband, mobile, and television programming. It further stated that service on the satellite will start in August read more Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) said the satellite's launch was a part of the National Space Programme 2047 With China, its all-weather friend, Pakistan launched a multi-mission communication satellite on Thursday for speedier internet connectivity, making it Islamabads second satellite sent into orbit in less than a month. Chinas state-run Xinhua news agency reported that the Multi-Mission Communication Satellite, commonly known as PAKSAT MM1, was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwest province of Sichuan. It claimed that the satellite has reached its intended orbit. Pakistan Television, the state-run broadcaster, claimed in a statement that the satellite would provide the best internet facilities across Pakistan and aid in enhancing broadband, mobile, and television programming. It further stated that service on the satellite will start in August. Advertisement Pakistans prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, congratulated the nation on its successful launch and expressed his hope that the satellite will contribute to the countrys ability to offer the fastest internet service, according to state-run Associated Press Pakistan. In a statement last week, Pakistans Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) said the satellites launch was a part of the National Space Programme 2047. The PAKSAT MM1 was conceived as a joint venture between Suparco and the Chinese aerospace industry, keeping in sight the growing needs of the country in the broad spectrum of communication and connectivity, The News International newspaper had reported, citing Suparcos statement. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who attended the launch, said soon Pakistan would launch satellites from its own launching pads. Day is not far when we will launch our satellites on our own rockets from Pakistans Space Launch Centre. Congratulations Pakistan, he said. On May 3, Pakistans mini satellite iCube-Qamar was launched as part of Chinas Change-6 lunar mission from the Hainan province. Pakistan has sent at least six assets in space, such as BADR-A, BADR-B, PAKSAT 1-R, PRSS-1, PakTes 1-A and iCube Qamar, the report added. After the May 3 launch, the iCube-Qamar sent the first-ever images of the moon captured in the lunar orbit following its ascent in space on May 8. The authorities are yet to reveal whether the incident was an accident or a suicide and the matter is still under investigation. read more A major tragedy shook Amsterdams Schiphol airport after a person lost his life by falling into a running aircraft engine. The Dutch military police confirmed the incident and stated that they would be investigating the matter, AFP reported. The person ended up falling into the engine of a KLM Airlines Embraer jet plane which was about to take off on a flight for Denmark. The authorities are yet to reveal whether the incident was an accident or a suicide and the matter is still under investigation. All passengers who were onboard at the time of the incident were safely removed and were supported by the local authorities. Advertisement As per the reports, the incident took place on the apron outside the busy hubs terminal as a KLM flight was preparing to depart for Billund in Denmark. KLM launches separate investigation Our thoughts go out to the [deceaseds] relatives, and we care for the passengers and colleagues who saw this, the airport authorities said in a statement. Meanwhile, KLM, which is part of France-KLM, stated that they have launched a separate investigation into the matter. A fatal incident took place at Schiphol today during which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine. Sadly, this person has died. The flight concerned was KL1341 bound for Billund, the airline company said in a statement. We are currently taking care of the passengers and employees who witnessed the incident at Schiphol. The circumstances are currently under investigation. For further information once available we refer you to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, the statement further reads. A picture posted by the Dutch public broadcaster, NOS, showed the aircraft surrounded by fire trucks and ambulances next to the departure terminals. In neither of the statements, the identity of the victim was revealed. The airline also did not mention if the victim was an airport employee, a passenger or someone else. With inputs from agencies. The fatal crash which occurred on May 19 also killed the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven others read more Women attend a funeral procession for the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six other passengers and crew who were killed following a helicopter crash, in Qom, Iran, May 21, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS The second investigation report on the helicopter crash of late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi reaffirmed that there was no evidence of sabotage in the presidential chopper. The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces released the second report on Wednesday, IRNA reported. The fatal crash which occurred on May 19 also killed the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven others. The experts ruled out any possibilities of sabotage after conducting sampling and tests on the wreckage and part of the helicopter. Advertisement The authorities also analysed the distribution pattern of the debris from the main body to identify if there was any occurrence of an explosion which would have been caused by sabotage. No signs of a cyberattack: Iran Before releasing the second investigative report, the Iranian authorities carefully examined a vast majority of documents related to the maintenance of helicopters. After a thorough investigation, they found that the helicopter had no issues that could have played a role in the crash. Even the helicopters capacity was at a permissible limit. The recorded conversation between the flight crew gave an insight into the Iranian authoritys last contact with the pilots. The investigators noted that the pilots stopped responding 69 seconds before the crash. However, no emergency declaration was recorded during that time. According to IRNA, the military investigators also ruled out any disruption in the communication system or any sort of frequency interference. The report further stated that there were no signs of any cyberattack that was carried out against the presidential helicopter. The authorities assured that they will continue to investigate the matter until the main cause of the crash is determined. Race to be Raisis successor commences On Thursday, Iran commenced the formal registration of presidential candidates ahead of snap polls which are scheduled to take place next month. The presidential hopefuls will have five days to register themselves. While the country was supposed to go to the polls in 2023, the authorities had to push things forward after Raisis death. The Islamic Republics supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has since assigned first vice president Mohammad Mokhber as caretaker president in accordance with the constitution. Advertisement The IRNA reported that as of now around 30 people came forward to submit applications for candidacy, but none of them met the basic conditions for qualification. With inputs from the agencies. The UAE, which received 405 tonnes of illicit gold from Africa in 2022, was the primary destination, according to Swissaid. According to the organization, approximately 2,500 tonnes of illegally obtained gold worth over $115 billion were accepted by the UAE during the preceding ten years read more Swissaid, a development aid and advocacy organization, conducted an analysis that revealed 435 tons of goldmostly from small-scale minerswere smuggled out of Africa in 2022 for a total value of almost $30 billion Image Courtesy Reuters A research released on Thursday claims that over the past ten years, there has been a significant increase in the illicit removal of hundreds of tonnes of gold worth tens of billions of dollars from Africa, mostly to the United Arab Emirates. Swissaid, a development aid and advocacy organization, conducted an analysis that revealed 435 tons of goldmostly from small-scale minerswere smuggled out of Africa in 2022 for a total value of almost $30 billion. Advertisement The UAE, which received 405 tonnes of illicit gold from Africa in 2022, was the primary destination, according to Swissaid. According to the organization, approximately 2,500 tonnes of illegally obtained gold worth over $115 billion were accepted by the UAE during the preceding ten years. The scale of the flow underscores how small scale, or artisanal, mining has mushroomed into an industry involving millions of people producing volumes of gold on a par with or even bigger than industrial mining. In 2019, a Reuters investigation found that billions of dollars worth of gold was being smuggled out of Africa every year through the UAE, which served a gateway to markets in Europe, the United States and beyond. Governments and academics have cautioned that smuggling of this magnitude suggests a sizable parallel illicit economy susceptible to possible money laundering, financing of terrorism, and sanctions evasion in addition to the loss of tax revenues. One of the reports authors, Marc Ummel, the commodities lead at Swissaid, claimed that the UAE aids in gold laundering since it allows significant amounts of gold that are smuggled to become legally recognized by passing through the country. Swissaid conducted an analysis by contrasting the aggregate gold exports from all African nations with the gold imports into non-African nations. The organization discovered mistakes by cross-referencing the data with figures given by trade associations and by meeting with governments and refineries. It also filled in gaps in UN Comtrade data with statistics specific to each country. Advertisement The other two main nations that import a lot of African gold are Switzerland and India, where there are no such differences between declared imports and declared exports. According to the Swissaid research, 12 African nations were implicated in the smuggling of 20 tonnes or more annually. People are turning to artisanal mining in greater numbers as a result of the double increase in gold prices since 2009. According to Swissaids estimations, between 443 and 596 tons of gold were generated in 2022 by artisanal and small-scale gold mining in African nations. Over 70% of this amount is not reported. In contrast, the annual production of gold by industrial miners has been approximately 500 tons. Advertisement According to the report, artisanal and small-scale informal mining accounts for the majority of the annual import of African gold into the United Arab Emirates. Millions of Africans depend on these techniques for their livelihood, yet the environment and local populations frequently suffer greatly as a result. The bill will take effect in two months after it is published in the official gazette, and it is expected to void the legal records of hundreds of officials and activists involved in Catalonias independence movement since 2011 read more Despite the opposition of the right-wing Vox and the conservative Popular Party (PP), the measure was approved by the left-wing ruling coalition, two Catalan parties, and other smaller parties Image Courtesy AP A contentious amnesty bill that will put a stop to legal proceedings against hundreds of Catalan separatists participating in the abortive 2017 secession attempt received final approval from the Spanish parliament on Thursday. Despite the opposition of the right-wing Vox and the conservative Popular Party (PP), the measure was approved by the left-wing ruling coalition, two Catalan parties, and other smaller parties. With 177 votes in favor and 172 against, the law narrowly passed. Advertisement The bill will take effect in two months after it is published in the official gazette, and it is expected to void the legal records of hundreds of officials and activists involved in Catalonias independence movement since 2011. The bill, which offers amnesty to over 300 nationalists, including former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, was approved by the lower house of the Spanish parliament in March. Because Puigdemonts Junts party opposed the law in January, citing concerns about possible terrorism-related prosecutions, the bill was already rejected by the lower house of parliament. A revised version of the law was agreed upon to resolve these issues after negotiations. Sanchez, who has been in office since 2018, has made an effort to ease tensions in the northeast, saying that deescalation can only be achieved through amnesty. After what was subsequently called a dangerous object was discovered on the grounds of the diplomatic mission in an eastern Stockholm area, the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm was closed off in late January. The item was described as a hand grenade by Swedish media read more Following gunfire on May 17 in the vicinity of the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, the area was blocked off Image Courtesy AP The domestic security service of Sweden charged on Thursday that Iran was utilizing well-established criminal networks in Sweden as a front to attack Jewish or Israeli interests in the nation. Daniel Stenling, the chief of the SAPO agencys counterespionage unit, made the claims during a press conference in response to a sequence of incidents that transpired earlier in the year. After what was subsequently called a dangerous object was discovered on the grounds of the diplomatic mission in an eastern Stockholm area, the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm was closed off in late January. The item was described as a hand grenade by Swedish media. Advertisement The item was ultimately destroyed, and the embassy was not evacuated. Authorities withheld the nature of the discovery and did not make any arrests. Following gunfire on May 17 in the vicinity of the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, the area was blocked off. Nobody was taken into custody. Stenling stated that the agency can establish that criminal networks in Sweden are used as a proxy by Iran, but he did not provide any details or proof to support his claim. According to a story published in Breaking Defense, the technology known as Link 16, which was initially unveiled in late November, expands communication capabilities worldwide, beyond the traditional 200300 nautical mile line-of-sight restriction read more The US maintains constant, almost real-time contact with all armed forces, NATO, and other allies by incorporating this technology into space Image Courtesy AP The US military has proven it is capable of transmitting Link 16 tactical data lines from space, a major technological breakthrough that might transform military operations in the Indo-Pacific area. This development is a result of efforts to resist Chinas powerful Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) policy, which aims to prevent US forces from entering a battle, especially one involving Taiwan. The commander of space operations for US Indo-Pacific Command, Brig General Anthony Mastalir, underlined the strategic significance of this new capacity during a speech at Aus Space in Sydney. Advertisement Weve already demonstrated the ability to transmit Link-16 tactical data lines from space and were doing those demonstrations with Fleet in the Indo-Pacific AOR, he said. Its going to be a game changer. According to a story published in Breaking Defense, the technology known as Link 16, which was initially unveiled in late November, expands communication capabilities worldwide, beyond the traditional 200300 nautical mile line-of-sight restriction. The US maintains constant, almost real-time contact with all armed forces, NATO, and other allies by incorporating this technology into space. This is an essential part of the Joint Fire Network that allows commanders to automate fire control and exchange real-time intelligence. Mastalir described Chinas progress in bolstering its A2/AD capabilities since 2019 as breathtaking. Chinas policy aims to prevent US action in the South and East China Seas by amassing a sizable arsenal of satellites and long-range, fast missiles such as the DF-26. Chinas kill chain is tailor-made to prevent the United States from intervening and projecting power inside the second island chain, Mastalir noted. Mastalir voiced confidence in the USs capacity to fight Chinas plan through robust relationships in the Indo-Pacific region, notwithstanding the obstacles. This is not an easy task, he said, but I can tell you that with the partnerships that we have in the Indo-Pacific AOR, there are going to be opportunities, and well continue to pursue those. Advertisement The US Space Forces Indo-Pacific are increasing its manpower and resources in addition to improving their communication capabilities. Over the past year, the company has grown in size and is adding contractor posts along with billets for civilian employees. Additionally, relationships with a number of organizations are being strengthened, such as the Space Development Agency and Space Systems Command. In the future, the US military intends to create a US Space Forces unit in Japan that will be based on the Space Forces Korea unit that was founded in December 2022. This expansion is a component of a larger initiative to improve space capabilities through cooperation with partners and allies across the Pacific AOR. Advertisement Its actually a discussion about what each countrys interests are. What do you want? What goals and priorities do you have? Mastalir gave an explanation. Whether through joint investment ventures or the establishment of sovereign space capabilities, the objective is to create customized solutions. This move came amid growing calls from Western allies to lift some restrictions on the use of their weapons, especially as Russia ramps up its offensive in eastern Ukraine. read more In a major turn of events, the United States for the first time has signalled that the US might reconsider its stance on allowing Ukraine to use American-provided weapons to strike Russian territory. This marks a potential shift from the previous policy, which prohibited Ukraine from using U.S. weapons like ATACMS missiles for attacks inside Russia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US adapted and adjusted at every step and will continue to do so as the situation evolves. Clarifying his statement further, he said that adapt and adjust indeed implies potential flexibility in supporting Ukrainian strikes within Russia with American-made weapons. While the US has not explicitly encouraged such actions, Blinken reiterated that Ukraine should make its own decisions on defending itself effectively. Advertisement This statement came amid growing calls from Western allies to lift some restrictions on the use of their weapons, especially as Russia ramps up its offensive in eastern Ukraine. Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, the US has provided substantial military aid to Ukraine but has insisted on not escalating the conflict by targeting Russian soil with US-made arms. Several European leaders have called on President Biden to stop imposing those limits. Frances president has also joined the head of NATO Wednesday in pushing for a policy shift that could change the complexion of the war in Ukraine allowing Kyiv to strike military bases inside Russia with sophisticated long-range weapons provided by Western partners. The question of whether to allow Ukraine to hit targets on Russian soil with Western-supplied weaponry has been a delicate issue since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Western leaders have mostly shrunk from taking the step because it runs the risk of provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly warned that the Wests direct involvement could put the world on a path to nuclear conflict. With inputs from agencies. Despite gains by rebel forces, Myanmars trajectory appears destined for continued fragmentation characterised by a lack of centralised authority read more (File) A soldier from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) carries an RPG launcher at a Myanmar military base at Thingyan Nyi Naung village on the outskirts of Myawaddy, the Thailand-Myanmar border town under the control of a coalition of rebel forces led by the Karen National Union, in Myanmar. Reuters As Myanmar grapples with a relentless civil war engulfing the nation, the question arises: will it remain the same country? Amid this turmoil, armed resistance factions are gaining ground against the ruling military junta. However, the prospect of a fractured state looms with each passing day. Even if rebel forces manage to capture Naypyidaw and dismantle the military regimea distinct possibility at this junctureit will undoubtedly take time. Parallel governance structure In an article for Nikkei Asia, Morten B Pedersen, a senior lecturer in international politics at the University of New South Wales Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy, emphasised that the countrys diverse resistance groups are not waiting for an ideal solution. He noted that these groups are already taking action to impact wherever possible positively. Pedersen argued that international donors should also act without delay. To more effectively support the people of Myanmar, Western governments and their allies need to acknowledge the reality of an increasingly fragmented state that might never be fully restored. Advertisement As the military loses ground, a parallel governance structure is emerging. The National Unity Government, formed by elected members of parliament who evaded arrest after the 2021 military coup, is taking charge in areas predominantly inhabited by the Bamar ethnic group. They are actively providing security, healthcare and education. Strengthening this governance system is crucial to preventing a complete collapse of governance in the juntas absence. Doubts on junta leadership and impact on governance According to a Reuters report, Myanmars ruling junta has lost control over vast areas including much of its international borders enabling ethnic armed groups to expand and consolidate their territories. Since the February 2021 coup, the country has been in turmoil, but the tides are now turning against the military rulers. The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar reports that the junta has lost complete authority over townships covering 86 per cent of the countrys territory, home to 67 per cent of the population. In October, a coordinated offensive known as Operation 1027, led by three ethnic armies, successfully pushed the junta out of peripheral areas, stretching from the Thai border to the coastal tracts along the Bay of Bengal. The ruling junta in Myanmar is increasingly on the defensive and facing significant pressure in the border regions. Their ability to respond is largely limited to launching retaliatory airstrikes or using long-range artillery. Advertisement According to Crisis Group, the militarys mounting losses and growing discontent among the elite in Naypyidaw have cast serious doubt on junta chief Min Aung Hlaings future, despite his efforts to fill senior ranks with loyal officers. UN agencies report that internal displacement in Myanmar has reached a record high with over three million people forced from their homes due to the escalating conflict. Challenges for centralised control According to the New York Times, Myanmars resistance against the junta comprises a multitude of pro-democracy militias, ethnic armies and local defence forces creating a highly fragmented landscape. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, which monitors 50 major global conflicts, this diversity makes Myanmar the most divided nation on Earth. Adding to the complexity, some rebel groups also engage in infighting. Advertisement For decades, over 20 militias representing different ethnic minorities have fought for autonomy. Several of these insurgent groups maintain control over territories in Myanmars resource-rich peripheral regions. Thousands of young individuals from diverse professionsincluding doctors, actors, lawyers, teachers, models, Buddhist monks, DJs and engineershave fled cities controlled by the junta to establish over 200 Peoples Defence Forces. These groups have sworn loyalty to the shadow government. Trained frequently by ethnic militias, the Peoples Defence Forces are now active in combat across more than 100 townships nationwide. Throughout its history, no central government has managed to fully control Myanmar, and a unified national identity has never truly taken root in this ethnically diverse nation. For the past 76 years, the level of conflict and the reach of central government authority have fluctuated. Advertisement However, the military coup in February 2021, which ousted Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has led to an unprecedented level of fragmentation across the country, a DW report said. Prior to the military coup in 2021, Myanmar was home to approximately 24 armed ethnic factions and numerous militias. The size of these groups ranged from a few hundred fighters to an estimated 30,000 troops in prominent organisations such as the United Wa State Army and the Arakan Army. No clear future Myanmars trajectory appears destined for continued fragmentation characterised by a lack of centralised authority. This fractured state is poised to generate further turmoil that may spill beyond the confines of national boundaries. Arm has introduced a new set of Armv9 CPUs optimized for 3nm SoC and new GPUs that are built on 5th Gen GPU architecture as the successor to last years Arm Total Compute Solutions 2023 (TCS23). The new additions to the Armv9 CPU portfolio include the Arm Cortex-X925 CPU for ultimate performance and Arm Cortex-A725 CPU for superior sustained performance. There is also the new Arm Cortex-A520 for the best energy efficiency for low intensity workloads, all optimized for 3nm process. ARM has also updated DynamIQ Shared Unit (DSU-120) to provide lower power and area across Armv9.2 CPU cluster configurations. All these are integrated into the new Arm Compute Subsystems (CSS) for Client, which is Arms fastest ever compute platform for Android, said the company. ARM Cortex-X925 The ARM Cortex-X925, is the successor to Arm Cortex-X4 CPU, which promises 36% single-threaded (peak) performance improvements and 46% AI performance improvements compared to the predecessor. An optimized 3nm implementation of Cortex-X925 complemented by a premium subsystem and packaging promises 30% higher performance scores on next-generation consumer devices. Improvements to the microarchitecture, including up to 3MB private L2 cache, provide enhanced configurability for CPU cluster implementations across a broad range of consumer devices. Tape-out ready Cortex-X925 physical implementation for 3nm helps ARMs partners to unlock the full PPA (power, performance and area) benefits on the 3nm process, while shortening silicon development and deployment timelines through the high-volume production-ready silicon solution. ARM Cortex-725 The ARM Cortex-725 is the successor to the Cortex-A720, which promises 35% improvement in performance efficiency and 25% improvement in power efficiency compared to the predecessor. This also offers optimized implementation on 3nm SoC through Arms advanced physical implementation. ARM Cortex-520 (2024) The new Cortex-A520 has the same name as last years energy efficient CPU for low intensity workloads. It has the same architecture, but uses advanced 3nm physical implementation. This promises 15% efficiency improvements compared to Cortex-A520 in TCS23, said the company. DSU-120 The new DSU-120 Core Cluster for 2024 include new performance and efficiency features, new low power modes and enhancements for mainstream consumer devices, as well as maintaining the option of scaling up to 14 cores for high-performance use cases, said the company. These contribute to significant power reductions of 50% for typical workloads and 60% lower cache miss power across the CPU cluster to reduce leakage and improve the battery life of consumer devices, said the company. There are low power modes such as half slice power down and quick nap, and enhancements support a broad range of low and high-intensity AI-based workloads, from biometrics and speech-to-text right through to AI smart camera, content creation and ML-based AAA gaming, according to ARM. Immortalis-G925 The new Immortalis-G925 promise 37% better performance (fps) than last years Immortalis-G720 while using 30% less power. ARM says that this offers 46% performance improvements, on average, compared to Immortalis-G720. Genshin Impact is 49% more performant, while Roblox runs 46% faster compared to the predecessor, according to ARM. Other popular mobiles games offer performance improvements in the range of 29% to 72%, including Call of Duty Mobile, Diablo Immortal, the Day After Tomorrow, Fortnite and PUBG Mobile, said the company. Immortalis-G925 introduces a new mechanism called fragment prepass that removes the need for applications to do any object or primitive sorting and improves the efficiency of reducing overdraws when processing geometry workloads. Immortalis-G925 promises up to 52% improvement in ray tracing performance with intricate objects. This includes 27% more performance while maintaining the same level of accuracy in the transparency of gaming scenes. Alternatively, developers could choose to slightly reduce the accuracy in the transparency of gaming scenes, but then obtain an impressive performance improvement of up to 52% along with a 57% reduction in memory traffic, according to ARM. Immortalis-G925 now supports 50% more shader cores, and the largest configuration on offer to 24 Cores compared to the maximum of 16 in the previous generation. Mali-G725 scales between 6 and 9 cores and is targeted for premium mobile handsets. However, it still offers the same API support as Immortalis-G925, while delivering a compelling and immersive gaming experience for lower device tiers not targeted by Immortalis-G925. Mali-G625 is scalable between 1 and 5 cores and targets smartwatches and entry-level mobile devices. AI performance Immortalis-G925 promises 34% faster inference across AI and ML networks compared to Immortalis-G720. While the majority of AI processing can take place on the CPU, the GPU offers acceleration capabilities for various AI use cases, including image classification, image segmentation, object detection, natural language processing, and speech to text, said the company. Through Immortalis-G925, Mali-G725 and Mali-G625, ARM said that it is targeting a broad spectrum of consumer devices across different tiers, from flagship to entry-level With the new GPUs it aims to deliver unprecedented levels of gaming and AI performance for faster, more immersive, more intelligent visual experiences. We can expect SoCs with new devices starting from later this year. MediaTek Dimensity 9400 will likely be the first to use these CPUs and Immortalis-G925 GPU. Fisher has made the decision to step away from a bunch of gigs after some 'hiccups' during his wife's pregnancy. The Aussie DJ dropped the news on his Instagram this morning, saying: "Chloe's due date isn't until later in June. However, this little unborn human has had other plans." "We've had a few minor hiccups the past few weeks and our Dr has recommended I stay close to home and be with Chloe during these times of uncertainty," he added about stepping back from his Hi Ibiza residency. In another post, Fisher updated his fans with a video message, saying: "My little baby is coming sooner than we thought." "I will need to remain in Australia, to be by Chloe's side, and to meet my new baby," he wrote alongside his announcement. The news comes after Fisher had to cancel a string of New York shows earlier this month to be with Chloe after she was rushed to hospital. "As you know our baby is due in June, however last week my wife Chloe was admitted to the hospital here in Australia with possible preterm labour on the horizon," he said at the time. "Our permanent plus 1 joining the Fisher tour next year let's go, baby," Fisher wrote on December 23 alongside his wife showing off a baby bump. While we're sure he'll be missed at all the gigs he had lined up, everyone is wishing them all the best as they welcome their little one into the world safe and sound. Catch The Big Fish when he returns for two epic shows in Christchurch and Auckland next year. For more gig and ticketing info, check out our events page. The George Mahi Mix with Abeiku had two very special guests in studio for a mix - none other than P-Money and Whiney. They stopped by for a half hour while in town for a string of shows - give the mix a listen below! The pair linked up in late 2021 for 'Buss The Red,' and last year released collaborative album 'Streets, Love & Other Stuff'. Back in 2022 they made an appearance on George Drive - you can listen back to that mix here. WHINEY Whiney first caught the attention of the drum & bass scene back in 2012 when he released the "Sweetest Sin" EP on Subsphere Recordings with longtime friend and now label mate, Keeno. Introduced to Drum & Bass at 14 and classical instruments at 7 Will focused his efforts on production, signing his first track 'No More' to Hospital Records at the age of 18. Already turning heads at a young age, Will signed exclusively to Hospital's sister-label Med School Music just 2 years later. P MONEY P Money (real name, Paris Moore-Williams) is an English grime MC known for his high-octane live performances, contributions to the grime crew Fatal Assassins, and his solo work, which traversed a myriad of styles and sounds including dubstep and garage. Hailing from Lewisham, South London, he began his career appearing on a number of mixtapes with Fatal Assassins in the late 2000s, garnering widespread attention from national pirate radio shows for his fast, unwavering and scathing rhyme style. David Doolin has a photo taken with his grandmother near Sacramento on Mothers Day. Doolins sister Rose Hernandez asked that their grandmothers face be cropped out. Doolin was shot to death along with Robert McCall on May 15 and Hernandez is waiting to find out the circumstances that led to her brothers death. Belgium searches home, office of European Parliament employee By VOA News May 29, 2024 The office of Belgium's federal prosecutor says police searched the residence and offices of a European Parliament employee Wednesday as part of its probe into a suspected Russian interference campaign to pay EU lawmakers to promote Russian propaganda. In April, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced the country's intelligence service had uncovered the existence of a network trying to undermine support for Ukraine. The prosecutor's office said the searches conducted Wednesday "are part of a case of interference, passive corruption and membership of a criminal organization and relates to indications of Russian interference, whereby Members of the European Parliament were approached and paid to promote Russian propaganda via the Voice of Europe news website." The European Parliament employee under investigation is reported to be Guillaume Pradoura, who works for EU lawmaker Marcel de Graaff of the far-right Dutch party Forum for Democracy. Pradours' home in Brussels and his parliamentary offices in Brussels and in Strasbourg, where the EU Parliament's offices are located in France, were also searched. "For me, all this comes as a complete surprise," de Graaff said on X. "I have no involvement in any so-called Russian disinformation operation whatsoever. I have my own political beliefs and I proclaim them. That is my job as an MEP." An Agence France-Presse source who is close to the Belgian probe told the news agency that Belgium's investigation is more focused on the employee's former employer than his present one. Pradours' former employer was controversial German lawmaker Maximilian Krah, already under suspicion for his ties to Russia and China, after one of his aides was arrested on accusations of spying for China. Krah is the far-right Alternative for Germany's top candidate in June's Europe-wide election for a new parliament, but his party has banned him from campaigning. A spokesperson for Krah told Agence France-Presse that Pradours had not worked in the lawmaker's office for two years. "We assume that we are not affected," he said. The European Parliament's hard-right Identity and Democracy Group, or ID, recently expelled Germany's Alternative for Germany, or AfD, delegation, led by Krah. Krah said in a recent interview published in an Italian newspaper that he would not say that "anyone who wore an SS uniform was automatically a criminal." He was referring to the much-feared Nazi Schutzstaffel, the black-uniformed elite guards of Nazi Germany. Krah's SS statement, along with other behaviors, were too much for some other far-right groups in the European Parliament. ID said in a statement that it "no longer wants to be associated with the incidents." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address African Lion 2024 concludes in Ghana By Philip Regina May 29, 2024 TAMALE, Ghana -- The Ghana segment of African Lion 2024 (AL24) came to a successful close, marking a significant achievement in international military cooperation and operational readiness. Running from May 13 to May 26, this portion of the exercise brought together U.S. and Ghanaian forces to engage in a series of rigorous training activities aimed at enhancing interoperability and mutual readiness. This year's exercise, part of the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command's premier annual combined, joint exercise, showcased a variety of capabilities in land, air, maritime and cyberspace domains. In Ghana, key activities included a multinational field training exercise led by the Maryland Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, a joint combined staff training on civil affairs and information operations co-led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and the U.S. Marines 4th Civil Affairs Group (4th CAG), as well as a complex staff exercise directed by the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade. Another highlight of the Ghana portion was the medical civic action program in Damongo, where U.S. Army soldiers with the 437th Civil Affairs Battalion, 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, teamed with 4th CAG to provide pivotal medical services to local populations, demonstrating the humanitarian aspect of the exercise and reinforcing the strong ties between the U.S. and Ghana. "Participating in African Lion 2024 has been an extraordinary experience," said Alex Navarette, SETAF-AF lead exercise planner (G7) for the Ghana portion of AL24. "The collaboration and shared commitment between our U.S. and Ghanaian forces have not only enhanced our operational capabilities but also strengthened the bonds of partnership and mutual respect." Navarette summed up the successful completion of AL24's overall mission: "This exercise has truly exemplified the spirit of teamwork and the importance of maintaining readiness to address any challenge together." About African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Army Africa Command's premier and largest annual, combined, joint exercise African Lion. This year's exercise will take place April 19 through May 31 and is hosted across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia with more than 8,100 participants from over 27 nations and contingents from NATO. This joint all-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise, employs a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants and set the theater for strategic access. About SETAF-AF SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address African Lion 24 exercises Air Force's wings By Tech. Sgt. Armando A. Schwier-Morales May 29, 2024 A team representing the total force of U.S. Air Force Airmen joined the Moroccan Royal Air Force, Allied and partner nation military representatives, and other U.S. service members in Morocco for exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24), May 17, 2024. AL24 is U.S. Africa Command's largest premier joint annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF). This year's event marks a significant milestone as SETAF-AF celebrates the 20th anniversary of the African Lion exercise series. U.S. Air Force Reserve Airmen from the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, the 349th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Travis Air Force Base in California; the 36th Aerial Port Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington; joined active duty Airmen from the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, based in Germany; the 4th Combat Training Squadron, U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria-Hohenfels in Germany; and Air National Guard Airmen from the 109th Air Control Squadron, Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base in Utah. Together, this total force of airmen began training with their Moroccan counterparts to hone airdrop and airlift tactics, as well as exercise close air support and aeromedical evacuation capabilities to enhance interoperability. In total, more than 1,000 military personnel from both the U.S. and Morocco are scheduled to participate in AL24 alongside 8,000 multinational service members from 27 countries and contingents from NATO. "This exercise is an incredible opportunity for all of us to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners as we develop essential aviation capacity and strengthen regional cooperation," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bradley Ross, African Lion Air Force element commander. "Together, we're building a team capable of ensuring Africa's future safety, security and prosperity." U.S. Air Force C-130Hs from the 302nd AW are scheduled to conduct a joint forcible entry exercise as well as cargo drop operations on a drop zone at Ben Guerir Air Base, Morocco. Airborne insertions allow aircrew to sharpen vital airdrop skills as they rapidly and safely drop the maximum number of personnel at a specific location. Additionally, the C-130s will fly a variety of day and night missions throughout the two-week exercise to validate 24-hour operation capabilities. In addition, joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) are training and learning alongside Moroccan JTACs in the combined and joint exercises to direct fire support from U.S. Navy and Air Force assets in Tan Tan, Morocco. Aeromedical personnel from a variety of nations will also be taking their skills to the next level by integrating a variety of tests, scenarios and opportunities designed to enhance regional cooperation and integration between the nations. About African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Army Africa Command's premier and largest annual, combined, joint exercise African Lion. This year's exercise will take place April 19 through May 31 and is hosted across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia with more than 8,100 participants from over 27 nations and contingents from NATO. This joint all-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise, employs a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants and set the theater for strategic access. About SETAF-AF SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade leads staff exercise at African Lion 2024 in Ghana By Philip Regina May 29, 2024 TAMALE, Ghana -- The 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2nd SFAB) is playing a crucial role in African Lion 2024 (AL24) by leading a comprehensive staff exercise (STAFFEX) in Ghana. The STAFFEX focuses on enhancing operational capabilities through rehearsing the military decision-making process. AL24 started in Ghana on May 13 and will run through May 26. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the exercise focuses on enhancing readiness between the U.S. and partner nation forces. This joint all-domain, multi-component and multinational exercise, employs a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants and set the theater for strategic access. The STAFFEX is only one of the many activities taking place in Ghana, all with the specific intent of improving interoperability with African partners. "This STAFFEX is vital for enhancing communication and decision-making among U.S., Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), as well as the other participating African countries of Benin, Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo." said U.S. Army Maj. Charles Martin, the lead 2nd SFAB advisor for the STAFFEX. Amidst the mixed audience of GAF and multinational participants, the team of 2nd SFAB advisors spent the first week of African Lion leading participants through the seven steps of the military decision-making process. They will spend the final week of the exercise applying skills learned in a tactical operations center exercise (TOCEX). "We plan to integrate what was learned in the classroom during week one with what is happening in the real world," explained U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Jose Morillo, 2nd SFAB intelligence advisor. "During the TOCEX, we will conduct mission tracking and hasty military decision-making process of 1-175 during their field training exercise." For GAF participants, the STAFFEX is an opportunity to sharpen their skills as soldiers. "Participating in African Lion has been very instrumental in enhancing my intelligence capabilities," said Ghana Army Maj. Daniel Adjetey, an intelligence officer and participant in the STAFFEX. For the 2nd SFAB advisors, this represents two short weeks within a six-month deployment to Ghana, but the insights gained in these two weeks will inform the success of the entire deployment. "Any opportunity to advise, assist and train alongside our Ghanaian counterparts supports the 2nd SFAB's mission in Africa," added U.S. Army Capt. Rollin Barton, 2nd SFAB engineer advisory team leader. "Through these engagements, we are not just training together; we are learning from one another, which is invaluable for our collective security goals." About 2nd SFAB The 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2nd SFAB), assigned to SETAF-AF, specializes in providing security force assistance and advisory support to African partner nations. Tasked with enhancing the tactical proficiency, operational capabilities, and overall effectiveness of African military forces, the 2nd SFAB plays a pivotal role in strengthening defense partnerships across the continent. About SETAF-AF SETAF-AF serves as a dedicated headquarters under U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe & Africa, coordinating Army activities across Africa to provide scalable crisis response options. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Benelux surges to demonstrate multinational readiness and interoperability By Richard Komurek, USAG Benelux Public Affairs May 29, 2024 CHIEVRES, Belgium -- From 140 Belgian and French paratroopers parachuting from the sky to the emergency response of dozens of Belgian and German police, fire and ambulance personnel, U.S. Army Garrison Benelux was abuzz with operations in support of the Belgian-led Storm Tide 24 multinational exercise at Chievres Air Base and an Integrated Protection Exercise (IPE) at Zutendaal and Dulmen Army Pre-positioned Stock-2 (APS-2) sites. Both exercises covered a wide range of real-world crises, from a multinational Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) for Storm Tide 24, to the electrocution of warehouse workers and a railhead accident for the IPE. The varied scenarios, together with significant multinational and host nation participation, highlight the strategic importance of the garrison's installations and mission. "We demonstrate our garrison's readiness every day - whether we are conducting garrison-level exercises at Dulmen and Zutendaal or supporting the Belgian-led multinational exercise Storm Tide 24," said Col. Lindsay Matthews, USAG Benelux commander. "These exercises validate our important role in enhancing regional defense and security together with host-nation emergency responders, Allied military forces and joint U.S. forces in Europe." For Storm Tide 24, Chievres Air Base (CAB) became a hub for multinational air operations involving Belgian, French, Spanish and U.S. aircraft that supported the simulated NEO of approximately 900 Belgian reservists and civilians. The evacuees were flown to the NATO airfield at CAB from multiple locations in Belgium, where they were processed by Belgian foreign affairs officials just like a real NEO crisis. CAB was also the training ground for Belgian Special Forces, Dutch Marines and French Soldiers who simulated the takeover and securing of an airfield during a crisis operation. "This exercise is paramount for us because this is one of our main tasks ... to be able to evacuate our citizens from anywhere in the world," said Lt. Col. Jean-Charles Defawes, Second Commando Battalion commander. "So we have to train for this kind of operation in realistic circumstances, which is why we come here to Chievres Air Base. They offer a lot of flexibility, opportunity and realistic infrastructure." A unique Army base with a NATO airfield operated by U.S. Airmen The NATO airfield at CAB is operated by the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) of the United States Air Force, which normally supports 10 air operations (including arrivals and departures) per week in support of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). For Storm Tide 24, the mission tempo jumped dramatically to 96 operations for the week, an increase of 860%. For the approximately 60 Airmen of the 424th ABS, this surge in air operations is a challenge that provides realistic training for times of crisis or war and forces everyone to work together as one seamless team. "It's a big muscle movement for the whole squadron. Everybody has a piece in supporting these operations," said Lt. Col. Chelsea Hall, 424th ABS commander. "A lot of our sections are only one or two members deep, so it forces us to come together and learn other people's jobs under the Multi-Capable Airman concept." For Staff Sgt. Kevin Hallam, a U.S. Air Force air traffic controller, the opportunity to work in a multinational environment at a NATO airfield with drop zones and landing operations is a unique opportunity that provides valuable experience that will help him advance and become a landing zone controller. When it comes to radio contact with pilots from across the Alliance, the different accents can sometimes be a little challenging to understand, said Hallam. But it's also something easily overcome because the contact here is like a friendly conversation, and they talk in more detail to ensure everyone understands, he said. Protecting people and assets at Army APS-2 sites The garrison Integrated Protection Exercise is an annual training event that ensures garrison staff, Army Field Support Battalion personnel and host nation emergency responders have the opportunity to train together to respond jointly to an emergency or crisis at USAG Benelux installations. These installations, located in Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany, rely heavily on partnership and support from host nation police, ambulance and fire departments for the safety and security of garrison personnel and Army materiel. "Host nation participation is critical because in the event a real-world emergency happens, it is the host nation emergency services that will respond, take incident command, provide aid to the casualties and transport casualties," said Lauryn Miramontes, an operations specialist at Zutendaal APS-2 site. "Exercising with our host nation directly affects mission readiness in ensuring we have the most current and correct battle rhythm in place for requesting host nation emergency services and our host nation is familiar with the personnel, buildings, and equipment on our installation." For this year's IPE, particular emphasis was made to create emergency training scenarios based upon routine garrison operations. At the Zutendaal site, the scenario involved the electrocution of three warehouse workers to test the emergency response from both Brunssum Military Police and Belgian first responders. At the Dulmen site, the scenario involved an Army Humvee that fell off a railhead ramp killing one person and injuring a second, requiring the support of German police, fire and medical personnel. "The host nation emergency responders were happy to participate in the exercise and said they would like to do it more often," said John Hopper, USAG Benelux Emergency Manager. "Garrison and tenant unit staff were also reassured that in case of an emergency incident, the garrison and our host nation partners are ready to respond jointly to get them back up to being safe and mission ready." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Azerbaijan: Statement by the Spokesperson on the human rights situation European External Action Service (EEAS) 29.05.2024 Azerbaijan EEAS Press Team President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed on Saturday 25 May a decree pardoning 154 prisoners. This year, unlike in the past, the decree did not include persons sentenced for exercising their fundamental rights. In recent months, there has been an unsettling rise of arrests of independent journalists, human rights defenders, and political activists on politically motivated charges. Members of independent media, such as Abzas Media, Toplum TV, Kanal 11 and Kanal 13, political movements, such as III Republic Platform, labour rights groups, and other organisations, such the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, have been particularly targeted. Many of them have seen their pre-trial detentions extended multiple times. The European Union continues to call on Azerbaijan to release all those imprisoned for exercising their fundamental rights, and to ensure dignified and safe conditions for detainees, including their full access to health and independent legal services. We remain particularly concerned by the health situation of Gubad Ibadoghlu and Alasgar Mammadli. We reiterate our call on the Azerbaijani authorities to lift Mr Ibadoghlu's travel ban to allow him to get the medical treatment he urgently needs. Civil society participation is at the centre of the UN Global Conference on Climate Change (COP 29), which Azerbaijan will host in November. COP 29 is an opportunity for Azerbaijan to reaffirm its commitment to its obligations under international law, and to create the conditions for the work of a free and independent civil society. This is also in line with Azerbaijan's commitments as a member of the Eastern Partnership, as reiterated in the Eastern Partnership Summit Declaration of December 2021. The European Union is committed to continuing its dialogue with Azerbaijan on all key areas of our cooperation, including human rights and the rule of law for the benefit of all people in Azerbaijan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Schuman Security and Defence Forum: Keynote speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the opening session European External Action Service (EEAS) 29.05.2024 Brussels, Belgium EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! Thank you to all of you for coming here, in Brussels. Thank you to the European Parliament for hosting this meeting. Thank you to all the staff members that have been working hard in order to make it happen. Thank you to the Members of the [European] Parliament with whom I have been exchanging the last four years, and they are kind enough to participate in this meeting. I see many Ministers from the 27 Member States. I see many Ministers from our partners - more than 50 partners' Ministers and Ambassadors [from] outside the European Union. [To] all of you, thank you for attending this meeting where we will exchange our views on the main security and defence threats and see how we can better work together to face them. Security and defence is part of the description of my job. It is [High Representative] for Foreign [and] Security [Policy]. This second part of the job of the High Representative, which in the past was not so important, today is the most important part of the job. Security and defence issues have been growing and they are high on the world's agenda. I am sure these discussions will show that we are not agreeing on everything, but we could - and we should - find many commonalities. In order to be concrete, and not to give you a long lecture about everything, let's focus on three questions - quite general, but only three [questions]. The first one: What are the common threats we are facing? We talk about them, but which are they? Can we have a list of which are the common threats? Second: How [can] we, at the European Union, try to adapt our security and defence [policy] in order to face these threats? And third: How can we work together? This is the main question. If we are partners, it means that we share the same concerns, and we work together in order to face them. That is what partners do. So, let's go to these three issues. Which are the threats? It is clear that power politics is back. All forms of interdependence are becoming an arm. "I am dependent on you. You will use my dependence on you as a weapon against [me]". Dependencies were considered as the right thing to do in order to build a common set of interests and mutual exchanges. Now, interdependencies become dependencies and dependencies are being used as a weapon. We are seeing the return of the classical high intensity war. A high intensity war with tanks, trenches, planes, explosions, not only in Ukraine and Gaza. Not only there - there are many wars in Africa, a lot of - not wars - but instability in Latin America. We see, not a war but war games in the Indo-Pacific. We do not talk a lot about them. The wars in Africa are not on the [headlines] of our newspapers, but they are there, and they are causing a lot of casualties. Then, we see the rise of hybrid threats. "Hybrid threats", a new word. What is a hybrid threat? It is not a classical threat, it is not tanks and trenches. It is about something more subtle. It is about information manipulation. It is about the weaponisation of migration, to make the migrants a weapon that you project against the border. We see cyberattacks. You do not need to bomb, sometimes it is just a "click" in order to create big problems. You can paralyse a whole electricity system without launching a single bomb. For us, certainly, the war in Ukraine is the most important existential threat, and the war in Gaza is the biggest ethical question for us. A Russian victory in Ukraine would put the European Union in enormous danger. But the [Russian] aggression against Ukraine is not only a European problem. I think that a victory of the aggressor - Putin's Russia - would demonstrate that a military aggression pays off. And every country would be in danger if this becomes the norm. "I am stronger than you so I use my force to impose my will." This cannot be the rule. It has been the rule in the past. Yes, maybe the Western countries were using [that] years ago. But today, I think that we have to engage [in] rejecting that the use of force becomes the norm. In the Middle East, we are perceiving another severe test for the international rules-based order. The international rules-based order is based on institutions, for example the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The rulings of the International Court of Justice are [binding]. All members of the European Union have to abide by these rules. If this is not the case, then the international rules-based order is much weaker than we could imagine. Certainly, the terrorist attack - Hamas' terrorist attack - against Israel, and the response of Israel has plunged the region into a cycle of violence - the worst in decades - with the constant threat for regional escalation. What we see in Gaza certainly is a horror. And I have said it many times: one horror cannot justify another horror. It is difficult to qualify what is happening in Ukraine, if you do not use the same qualifications to what is happening in Gaza. A different situation, certainly, but human rights have been violated in both places. But there are not only these two wars. We tend to focus on them but there are many others. In 2022, 56 states suffered armed conflict. In 2010, there were "only" 30. Two years ago, it was 56 and the intensity of the war has been increasing. How many casualties in Sudan, how many casualties in the Horn of Africa that will never come to the headlines of the European press? Yes, the world is becoming a "single security theatre". Hotspots - anywhere they are - have a broader impact on global security. There are at least three hotspots, I was talking about them yesterday night. Three straits in the world: the Bosphorus, the Red Sea, and Taiwan. The Bosphorus is about grain, about food. The Red Sea Bab-el-Mandeb [Strait] is about energy, oil and gas. And Taiwan is about chips, about technology. Well, in these three places, the fate of the world can be written. And the threats about food, about energy and about technology are pending over us. And whatever happens in one of them will for sure send shockwaves to the rest of the world. We see North Korea and Iran supporting Russia. We see what is happening in the Gulf of Aden, where 40% of the world shipping [is] transiting. This certainly has consequences across the globe. We see the Indo-Pacific region, where 80% of the chips that we use every day for almost everything are being produced. We see where there are the critical materials, which are absolutely necessary for the digital transition. And there is less and less of what we could say is an agreement, a consensus. Look at what is happening at the [United Nations] Security Council; there are no agreements, there are only vetoes. And by the way, I can say that the EU Member States have not used the veto right in these last times. But the United Nations' system is paralysed by vetoes, and these vetoes maintain conflicts. And these conflicts can kill people and spread insecurity and put ethical questions to all of us. So, in front of this panorama, in front of this landscape, how are we trying to adapt? How do we try to face the security and defence threats? [The] first thing is that these threats have become for us a wakeup call, and it has changed the approach of the European Union to the world. The power, the use of power - in particular military power - was not in the DNA of the European Union. We are not a military alliance, and we were created in order to make peace among Europeans. And this has been an extraordinary success. For more than 70 years, peace has been the normal situation in Europe. But maybe we have forgotten that peace is not the normal state of things, that conflict is more the norm than peace. For us, it has become clear that we need quickly to become a capable actor in the field of security and defence, because trading and preaching the rule of law is not enough today. We have been opening borders. We have been expanding trade. We have been pushing for international trade where you are creating economic progress around the world. But today, we have to become an actor able to provide security as we do - or try to do - with our missions [and operations]. I see some of the representatives of our navies who are sailing the Mediterranean waters, the coast of Africa's water, the coast of Guinea, [or] the Red Sea, trying to provide security. And that is why, two years ago, we adopted the Strategic Compass. That was a milestone, we were setting new ambitions for our security and defence. And we are trying to create a Rapid Deployment Capacity - let's call it a Rapid Deployment force, because, in the end this is what we are talking about - that could mobilise about 5,000 soldiers, that will be operational next year. We are increasing our defence spending, and we want to work together in order to buy equipment in a more economic and quicker way. We know that we have a lot of gaps in our defence capacities, we know that we do not have a European army. We have 27 European armies, and we have to decrease duplication and increase interoperability of these armies. We are also in the process of boosting our defence industry, not only to be able to better support Ukraine, but [also] to replenish our stocks and reduce our excessive dependencies in this field. European citizens support it. 80% of respondents to the latest Eurobarometer [survey] - 80% of European citizens that will put a vote in 10 days, and I want to remind you that we are in an electoral time in Europe - said they want more European Union cooperation on defence, clearly. Common sense. People understand [it]: working together at 27 [Member States] is much better than each 27 doing each one on their side. Much more efficient, less expensive and overall, with a lot of political meaning. Citizens understand and want it. The problem is the political will of the Member States. And let me remind [recall] that defence remains a competence of Member States. It is the Member States who are entitled to develop defence policies, and they want to create a common defence policy - which I have the honour to try to build, with the support of my staff at the [European] External Action Service. It is not an easy task. It is not an easy task because the army is the last sign of sovereignty. We can share a currency but to share defence capabilities touches much more to the core of a sovereign state. And that is why to build a common defence policy in Europe, it has to [come from] the ones who are entitled to do that, which are the Member States. We have not created a community of defence yet, maybe in the future. We have to go in this direction, which is the sense of history but without trying to do things that are not on the agenda or are not in the competencies of the European institutions. We are fully aware that we cannot achieve security alone. This brings me to the third point of my speech: how can we work better with our partners? First, let's be concrete. How? First, through our missions on land and at sea. Second, by supporting capacity building through the European Peace Facility (EPF), which, by the way, is not part of the European Union budget, voted by the parliamentarians. It is an intergovernmental instrument managed by the Member States, because the European Union budget cannot buy arms. That is why we invented an extra budget, where Member States decide to support our partners in this difficult issue of providing arms. Third, by broadening and deepening our security dialogue. During my mandate, I have had the honour of launching nine new missions and operations, often in cooperation with other [partners]. Maybe the most popular one is the military assistance to Ukraine [EUMAM Ukraine] which has trained 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers. Not only us, for example, having the invaluable support of Norway. We launched a mission in Mozambique [EUTM Mozambique]. We cooperate also with Rwanda, and with the South Africa Development Community (SADC). Three years ago, we established the European Peace Facility. I think it has been a game changer, because it allows us to provide lethal military equipment to our partners. This instrument is central to our support to Ukraine. But its role goes much beyond. 22 countries around the world have been receiving the support of the European Peace Facility. I know that many of you expect more from the European Union, and from our contribution to your security capacities. Africa is a case in point. The European Union has said repeatedly - and we believe in it - that we want "African solutions to African problems." In order to build these African solutions, last year, summing up, [this is] what I have done since I came here to Brussels, we have allocated almost 1 billion in military support [through the EPF] to the African Union and African countries. 1 billion. We are drawing lessons from the setbacks experienced in the Sahel region by developing more flexible and accurate solutions. We have to learn from what is happening in [the] Sahel in order to engage better, more efficiently with our partners. A good example is the new [Security and Defence] Initiative in the Gulf of Guinea launched last December to help to address the spill over of instability from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea. We see that [with] open eyes. We have been talking about it, it happens. The terrorism activities are spilling over down from Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea. It requires a more flexible and fitted response to this threat. I was in Ghana some months ago, providing more than 100 armoured vehicles to the army. But we need a tailor-made support based on the needs identified by the Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), by Ghana, by Togo, and Benin. Let me say some words about freedom of navigation. It is also a major global public good. Freedom of navigation is a public good. Just imagine for a minute that the sea transportation stops. Imagine [it]. How would [our life be], everywhere around the world? No more ships transporting goods from one part of the world to another. It would be a catastrophe. Not only for the Europeans, who are the biggest exporters and importers, but for everybody. Food, energy and technology flow through the seas every day. Hundreds, thousands of ships. They are navigating freely - well there are some piracy attacks, and we deploy missions to prevent it. Now there are some rockets attacks, which [are] the threats for tomorrow in some of these hotspots I have been mentioning before. That is why we have [EUNAVFOR] Atalanta in the Horn of Africa, our Coordinated Maritime [Presence] in the Gulf of Guinea, and we are ready to deploy any mission where it could be useful to ensure the freedom of navigation. [EUNAVFOR] ASPIDES, which has been criticised, is there in the Red Sea. In [less than] two months, it escorted more than 100 merchant vessels and repelled 16 rocket attacks. You cannot imagine how many people are knocking on my door here in Brussels saying, "Please, ensure freedom of navigation. Ensure that the ships [can] go through the shortest way.' Egypt is losing a lot of money. People are waiting more than two weeks with the cost it represents, for the ships arriving to their harbours. This is an inconvenience - not only for the ones that receive the goods, but also for the ones transiting, exporting the goods. It is a very important issue. Today, it is being identified in some places in the world, but we see piracy increasing in many other places. I thank Indonesia and India [for joining] activities with [EUNAVFOR] Atalanta. I thank Brazil and India [for joining] the European Union ships in the Gulf of Guinea. And I also want to celebrate the first ever European Union-United States joint [naval] exercise last year. Yes, the sea and the space will be the new battlefields. The sea - not in the coastline. All the seas in the world will become a place where threats will increase. We want also to be a strong partner in facing the new hybrid warfare. We have seen that in Moldova. Moldova is not [under] military attack, but it is under attack, cyber-attacks. And we have to support them in order to be able to face this new warfare techniques. I mentioned the space as a new battlefield. Yes, many partners increasingly ask us to support them on geospatial intelligence through our European Union Satellite Centre. Yes, threats multiply. We want to expand our cooperation framework with new security and defence partnerships. I just signed the first ones, with Moldova and Norway. Six more are in the pipelines. I invite all of you who could be interested in approaching the European Union and building security and defence partnerships with us, because we want to create a network around the world, in order to ensure that, all together, we can contribute better to the world security and peace. As I said at the beginning, that we have more than 80 security dialogues with partners around the world. Every time I am being asked [by] one of my staff: "Where is he? Where is she?". He or she is doing a dialogue in security and defence somewhere. Well, that is good. It is good that we are present. It is good that we care. It is good that we go [there]. It is good that we listen. It is good that we partner. This month we held the first [Security] dialogue with Morocco, and [one with the] European Union with the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries [EU-GCC Regional Security Dialogue], with the Gulf. A security dialogue of the Gulf. Very timely, it was launched earlier this year. We are going to try to do the same with Colombia and with Chile. We are expanding our dialogues with NATO. Certainly, the European Union is not part of NATO, but our Member States, most of them are. There is a European pillar inside NATO, and the stronger this European pillar [will be], the stronger NATO [will be]. We have to dialogue inside NATO, the Europeans and the rest of Members on space, on cyber, on emerging technologies, and also on climate, because climate will be one of the most important security problems for the world. Millions of people will have to move from countries that do not have any responsibility [for] the climate problem, and they are the most heavily affected. This will create new waves of migrations, and we will have to take care of these people, and try to help the states that will be strongly destabilised by climate consequences. They are destabilised by the drug[s]. We see many countries in the world being undermined from inside by the consequences of the high drug trafficking, in which we Europeans are also involved as consumers. All that makes us understand that we have a strong responsibility and a certain capacity, and, certainly, a will. A will to try to reverse these trends by building bridges, by finding common ground, by understanding the priorities of others which are not always the same as ours. So, this is the merit and the value of this Forum. Normally, people go to forums, they deliver a speech and they leave. They do not listen [to] the following speech, they do not interact. Here, we are here to interact [with] each other. A lot of bilaterals will take place, but at the end of the day, when we close this Forum, I hope that we have been able to listen [to] others, to try to understand - which is the first and most important condition in order to be able to partner. If you do not understand your partner, it is not going to be a balanced partnership. And Europe wants to contribute to build, not to build, balanced partnerships with the rest of the world. So, I am stopping here. I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, to everybody who came here with good will and everybody who has been working in order to make this gathering possible. Thank you very much, see you at the end of the day. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-257389 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Schuman Security and Defence Forum : Press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell upon arrival European External Action Service (EEAS) 29.05.2024 Brussels, Belgium EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! Good morning, We gather here today for the 2nd edition of the Schuman Forum. Last year, it was a great success. The Forum is growing. We have a wider participation: this year, we have over 500 participants coming from 70 partners around the world - countries, international and regional organisations - and over 100 think tanks from across the world. We are very happy to receive here in Brussels, at the Schuman Forum, so many people, so many friends. The broader agenda we are putting on the table allows us to discuss and exchange on issues such as cybersecurity - today, everybody is talking about it -, defence - our defence capabilities, and the challenges that we have to face - counter terrorism and hybrid threats. These are [cross-cutting] issues but then there are the dramatic issues that we have to discuss about - the war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza with this incredible and unacceptable toll of people being killed every day, [and] the electoral process in Latin America - many hot issues around the world that I am sure the participants will discuss. This growing number of participants explains the magnitude of the security threats that we face. The reality is that no one can deal with these threats alone. The security and defence agendas of the European Union and our partners are increasingly linked. One problem is linked [to] another. The hotspots in the world are being linked by a chain of casualties and counteractions. Today, we are going to do three thing. We are going to listen to each other, something that does not happen very often. Normally, people come, deliver their speech and leave. Here, it is a moment in which we will stay listening [to] each other. Second, [assess] our common evaluation of the threats. And third, to discuss ways to tackle these threats together. This is the real partnership - listening and acting together. As [the] European Union, we have tools and frameworks to do so. We do a lot, and maybe what we do is not sufficiently known. Let me put in value what we are doing around the world. We have around 80 dialogues and consultations on peace, security and defence with over 40 partners. 80 structural permanent dialogues on peace and security with 40 partners. We provide military support to over 20 countries through our European Peace Facility - in Africa, in South Caucasus, [or] in the Middle East. 20 partners are working with us - or we are working with them - in order to support peace and security. Our CSDP missions and operations deliver to our partners from Ukraine to Mozambique - a lot of support. Our training mission in Ukraine [EUMAM Ukraine] has trained over 50,000 soldiers and we want to raise the level of ambition, reaching many more. We have a training Mission in Mozambique [EUTM Mozambique] that has trained 11 eleven companies. And thanks to that, I think the security situation in this country has improved quite a lot. Certainly, we cannot be satisfied - we should never be satisfied - because we need to do more, to do better, and to do [it] together. We want to offer new forms of cooperation to our partners. Only between last week and this week, and today, we have signed two Security and Defence Partnerships. One with Moldova last week, and yesterday another one with Norway. And others are in preparation, and I hope will be signed before the summer. This is what we are doing. This meeting is about doing more because this is only the beginning. We are working on more partnerships. We are working on linking with more people. We have to explain and listen to each other which are our concerns, which are our priorities - they are not always the same, we have to understand which are the priorities of our partners in order to go together, make these priorities a real issue, not only for them but also for us. All in all, the European Union wants to strengthen its role as a security provider. We are a security provider with a navy mission in the Red Sea [EUNAVFOR ASPIDES], in the Horn of Africa [EUNAVFOR ATALANTA], [or] in the Gulf of Guinea. And we want to become a better partner. A better partner, to increase global security. Together. Together with the people who came here to this Schuman Forum. I thank them a lot. Thank you. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-257388 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement about Rafah from Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide Government of Norway News story | Date: 29/05/2024 'The development in Rafah is catastrophic and unacceptable. We have warned in the strongest possible terms against the consequences of an attack for the people of Rafah', said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. 'We condemned yesterday's attack against a tented camp where many civilians were killed. We expect the incident to be investigated as Prime Minister Netanyahu has promised. No place in Gaza is safe. For more than seven months, people have lived under horrific conditions.' 'The International Court of Justice, the world's principal judicial organ, has ordered an immediate halt to the military offensive or actions leading to the physical destruction of the people in Gaza. The UN Security Council has called for an emergency session tonight. I strongly encourage the security council to honor its responsibility and act. The situation is unbearable, the war must end', said Eide. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billstrom Government Offices of Sweden 29 May 2024 Statement concerning Rafah, 28 May 2024. I am very concerned that Israeli tanks have reached the centre of Rafah. There is a great risk that this will lead to more civilian deaths and a deterioration in the humanitarian situation. The ICJ has urged Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah in light of its humanitarian consequences. The ruling is binding and Sweden and the EU urge Israel to comply with it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US drone downed in Yemen IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 29, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A US drone has been downed in Yemen's Ma'arib. Local media say that a US MQ-9 drone has been shot down by the Yemeni armed forces, while some other media outlets say the cause of the drone fall is still unclear. The Yemeni media have published images of the debris of the drone. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on its X account that the Houthis of Yemen launched five anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea. It also said that M/V Laax, a Marshall Island flagged, Greek owned and operated bulk carrier, had reported being struck by three of the missiles, but continued its voyage. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah targets Israeli army position in northern occupied Palestine IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 29, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah has once again targeted the gathering of the Zionist military in northern occupied Palestine. In a statement on Wednesday, Hezbollah's war media confirmed the attack, which targeted the northern area of occupied Palestine. According to this statement, after monitoring the movements of the Zionist forces in Beyaz Belida, Hezbollah fighters targeted them with artillery shells. Lebanon's Hezbollah targeted another Zionist army base in northern occupied Palestine with a guided missile on Tuesday. Hezbollah announced on Tuesday that it had targeted and damaged the Ramiya military base in northern occupied Palestine near the Lebanese border. According to this statement, 130 out of 155 houses in the Zionist settlement in Qiryat Shemona were destroyed by Hezbollah rocket attacks. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address War's continuation means more Israeli captives: Hamas official ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Wed / 29 May 2024 / 11:41 Hamas senior official Bassem Naim affirmed that the continuation of the Israeli aggression "means more Israeli captives in the hands of the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip." Tehran -ISNA- In an interview with Al Mayadeen, he responded to comments from Israeli Channel 12 regarding Israel's readiness for a long-term ceasefire, saying that "Israeli manipulation of words is unacceptable, as it must be clear from the beginning that a complete ceasefire is demanded." Naim highlighted that Hamas' position on negotiations, alongside other factions, relies on the fighters' legendary performance on the battlefield. He also noted the movement's previous acceptance of a proposal that met Palestinian aspirations. The senior official confirmed that no one has contacted the movement recently, and no new proposals were made, underscoring the movement's unwillingness to engage in new negotiations while Israel occupies the Rafah crossing. Naim added, "We are not prepared to open the door to discuss any new proposals, as per Benjamin Netanyahu's tactics which he adopted over recent months." Furthermore, he clarified that the Resistance "will not accept using negotiations as a means to let the enemy buy more time to proceed with its plans against the Palestinian people," emphasizing that the priority for the Resistance is "protecting the Palestinian people from massacres." Naim pointed out in his exclusive interview that there is "an Israeli attempt to cover up the massacres against our people by claiming that there is a recent movement towards negotiations." Earlier today, a top Hamas official told Al Mayadeen that the Resistance movement is yet to receive any ceasefire proposals from the ongoing indirect talks with the Israeli occupation. In the same context, a source in Hamas, speaking to the media, denied the return to the negotiations on Tuesday as claimed by Israeli media. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nasrallah: No future for Nazi-like Israel in region ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Wed / 29 May 2024 / 11:41 Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah condemned Tuesday the Rafah massacre, stating that it stripped away the false story that had been used to present the Israeli occupation as a "civilized" entity. Tehran -ISNA- In his remarks at the conclusion of receiving condolences for his mother's passing, Sayyed Nasrallah said the Rafah massacre "confirms the enemy's brutality, treachery, and betrayal," emphasizing that "we are facing an enemy without values or morals, surpassing the Nazis." Nasrallah stressed the importance of condemning these horrific massacres, which should serve as a strong motivator for the world to press for an end to the aggression on Gaza. He pointed out that the "horrific Rafah massacre should awaken all the oblivious and silent people in this world." Regarding the United States, the Hezbollah leader asserted that its hypocrisy concerning Rafah "played a significant role in recent weeks," noting that Israel defies the will of the international community and the International Court of Justice, which ordered a halt to the attack on Rafah. Addressing countries normalizing relations with the Israeli occupation, Sayyed Nasrallah asked, "Will you normalize with these treacherous betrayers whose brutality knows no bounds?" The Resistance leader stressed that the massacres perpetrated by the Israeli occupation should "serve as a lesson to us and to those relying on the international community and international laws to protect Lebanon." He further underlined that "those unaware, ignorant, and detached from reality" must listen to the women and children of Rafah, who were screaming into their ears, calling for help. "Look at the international community, which is impotent and weak, content with issuing statements of concern and condemnation," Sayyed Nasrallah said. Furthermore, the Hezbollah Secretary-General asserted that the Rafah massacre and the overall reckless actions of the Israeli occupation "will hasten the defeat, collapse, and disappearance of this entity," stressing that "there is no future for this Nazi-like entity in our region." Rafah massacre On Sunday evening, the Israeli occupation forces committed a new massacre against dozens of displaced persons by bombing their tents set up in UNRWA warehouses in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, an alleged safe zone. The Government Media Office reported that the Israeli occupation committed a horrific massacre through the concentrated and deliberate bombing of a center for the forcibly displaced, established in UNRWA barracks in the northwest of Rafah Governorate. The center was bombed with more than seven missiles and large bombs, each weighing more than 2000 pounds of explosives. According to the Government Media Office, this violent bombing led to the martyrdom of dozens and caused numerous injuries, some of which are very serious, indicating a confirmed rise in the number of martyrs from this massacre. In turn, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that there were a large number of martyrs and injured due to the occupation's airstrike on the displaced persons' camp in Rafah, noting that the search for missing persons at the site remains ongoing. Palestinian media also reported that "a large number of martyrs and injured are still in the camp, while ambulance and civil defense teams are struggling to reach them," adding that "the fires are still burning in the camp due to the bombing." The Gaza Civil Defense announced that it had transported at least 50 people, including martyrs and injured, as a result of the occupation's bombing of the displaced persons' camp in Rafah, revealing that the targeted area includes 100,000 displaced persons. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses concerns about the situation in Georgia Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2024-05-29 On 29 May, Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Georgian Ambassador after the Georgian Parliament voted to override President Salome Zurabishvili's veto of the so-called 'foreign influence' law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its deep regret at the step taken by Georgia's ruling party and other actions aimed at intimidating and restricting civil society activities in the country. These actions are fundamentally contrary to the aspirations of EU and NATO integration enshrined in the country's constitution. The EU granted Georgia candidate status for union membership in December 2023, provided it adhered to nine European Commission's recommendations. When Georgia's Parliament began debating the "foreign influence" bill, the EU unequivocally warned that the Russia-style law was not in line with fundamental EU standards and values and was a decline in implementing necessary reforms outlined in at least three of the nine European Commission's recommendations. Several other legislative initiatives that are incompatible with EU integration have recently been launched in the country, anti-Western propaganda has been spread, and mass protests were met with the government's campaign of intimidation against civil society and violence against its representatives. Lithuania is deeply concerned about these developments and, with partners, is discussing possible countermeasures in Georgia. Underlining the need to ensure free and fair elections that reflect the will of Georgian society, Lithuania continues to consistently support Georgian society's aspirations to link the country's future with the EU and NATO. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO reaffirms importance of long-standing partnership with Mauritania NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 28 May. 2024 Last updated: 29 May. 2024 Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana met with Defence Minister Hanana Ould Sidi of Mauritania at NATO Headquarters on Tuesday (28 May 2024), to take stock of developments in NATO-Mauritanian relations. Deputy Secretary General Geoana highlighted that "Mauritania is a valued partner" and that Allies are "determined to step up our partnership further, including to strengthen Mauritania's forces in the fight against terrorism." Mauritania is a long-standing NATO partner, having joined the Alliance's Mediterranean Dialogue partnership forum in 1995. Since then, NATO-Mauritania partnership has grown significantly, with progress made in several areas, including special operations forces, maritime security intelligence, military career transition programmes, stockpile management regarding small arms and light weapons, and military education. Deputy Secretary General Geoana also reaffirmed the importance of NATO's southern neighbourhood. A group of independent experts appointed by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to support NATO's reflection on its southern neighbourhood recently published its final report and key findings. The aim is for Allies to agree a set of measures to strengthen the Alliance's approach to its southern neighbourhood in time for the NATO Summit in Washington in July. The Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) is a partnership forum that aims to contribute to security and stability in the wider Mediterranean region, and promote good relations and understanding among participating countries and NATO Allies. Current members include Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A look at the Defence news 20 - 26 May Netherlands Ministry of Defence News item | 29-05-2024 | 15:29 Armoured vehicles for Ukraine In the near future, the Netherlands will supply YPR armoured vehicles to the Ukrainian armed forces. This was announced by the Netherlands Minister of Defence, Kajsa Ollongren, during the Ukraine Defence Contact Group's online meeting last week. The announcement follows a request by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukrainian military personnel trained in the Netherlands for maintenance of F16s Ten Ukrainian servicemen recently completed a training course in F-16 maintenance in the Netherlands. Previously, the Netherlands had pledged to make a minimum of 24 F-16s available to Ukraine. The fighter aircraft will need to be maintained, which was the reason for providing the training. Command of NATO mission in Iraq in Dutch hands for the first time On 24 May, Lieutenant General Cas Schreurs was appointed force commander of NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI) for a period of 1 year. In this role, the army general is tasked with steering the agreements made between participating NATO countries and the Iraqi government in the right direction. Marines bring 'evacuees' to safety in Belgium During a biennial evacuation exercise, 900 'evacuees' were brought to safety in the border area of Belgium and France over the course of 72 hours. Around 40 marines took part in Exercise Storm Tide 2024. Leading role for Defence during 2025 NATO summit in The Hague In 2025, the annual NATO summit will take place at the World Forum in The Hague on 24, 25 and 26 June. It is the first time that the alliance's meeting is to be organised in the Netherlands. Some 10,000 military and other defence personnel will be deployed for security, military presence and transport tasks, among other things. Special forces teach African forces to deal with threats Last week, Netherlands military personnel from the Commando Corps and the Marine Corps provided training to military personnel from various African countries. The special forces did so at various locations in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana during the major military exercise Flintlock. Missing man formation during commemoration at Margraten In keeping with tradition, on 26 May American soldiers who lost their lives during the Second World War were commemorated at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten. During the commemoration ceremony, fighter aircraft flew over the cemetery in a missing man formation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Briefing by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Justice on restoring rule of law and constitutional order in Poland Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland 29.05.2024 Today's event was attended by representatives of the Council of Europe member states and observer states as well as Warsaw-based international organisations. During the meeting, Ministers Radosaw Sikorski and Adam Bodnar stressed that the Polish Government is determined to restore rule of law and constitutional order in Poland, and that it stands fully committed to observing the European Convention on Human Rights and complying with the judgements of European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. They noted the special role and significance of the Council of Europe and its bodies in shaping the human rights standards in Europe as well as the Council's 75 years of experience and achievements in that regard. The two ministers agreed that systemic departure from laboriously acquired standards of the rule of law and violation of the constitutional balance of powers by the preceding administration resulted in the European Court of Human Rights handing down a number of judgements against Poland. They emphasised that the Polish Government has cooperated more closely with the institutions of the Council of Europe and has taken intense measures to fill in the systemic gaps that resulted in violations of the European Convention on Human Rights, including in particular the restoration of independence to the National Council of the Judiciary. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice have been working on adopting an act on carrying out the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, which will ensure transparent procedures and define in detail the obligations of national authorities within that process. Minister Sikorski added that after three failed attempts at selecting a Polish judge to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, the new government has strengthened democratic standards as well as the transparency and stability of the rules on which that process should be founded. He expressed a belief that, thanks to an inclusive procedure along with professionalism and independence of the selection team's members, Poland will be able to submit to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe a list of candidates up to all standards required of the Court's judge. In his address, the minister of justice/the prosecutor general presented the ongoing and future measures in this respectnot only legislative, but also institutional and practical ones, as the respect of democratic standards is not limited to the provisions of law but is equally important in the every-day functioning of public authorities. The Polish Government's efforts have produced a tangible outcome. The European Commission has announced that the Article 7 TEU procedure against Poland will be swiftly closed, which means that it finds there is no longer a risk of a serious breach of the rule of law in Poland. This was made possible by Minister Adam Bodnar presenting the Ministry of Justice's Action Plan in this area at the European Union level. At the same time, the minister stressed that the civil society and academia have been involved in the work on different legal solutions included in the plan. He also thanked the international bodies and organisations, in particular the Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, for their active support when working on the law amending the procedure for the election of judges to the National Council of the Judiciary. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Brazil's Lula withdraws ambassador to Israel over war in Gaza Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 6:57 PM Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has withdrawn his country's ambassador to Israel over the occupying entity's months-long genocidal war in the besieged Gaza Strip. Lula called Brazil's Ambassador Frederico Meyer home after months of tensions between Brasilia and the regime over the genocidal campaign Israel has waged in the Palestinian territory since October 7, 2023, Brazil's official gazette reported on Wednesday. Meyer has been transferred to the Swiss city of Geneva to join Brazil's permanent mission to the United Nations and other international organizations. Lula, who is an outspoken critic of Israel's war in Gaza, said on February that "what is happening in the Gaza Strip and to the Palestinian people hasn't been seen in any other moment in history. Actually, it did when Hitler decided to kill the Jews." The move is a diplomatic downgrade between Israel and Brazil, whose embassy in the occupying regime is currently without an ambassador in the post. Earlier this month, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro broke diplomatic relations between Bogota and Tel Aviv, after he suspended purchases of weapons from the regime. Petro had previously compared that Israel's appalling actions in Gaza to those of Nazi Germany. Israel launched the barbarous campaign in Gaza after Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory operation into the occupied territories. Concomitantly with the war, the regime has been enforcing a near-total siege on the coastal territory, which has reduced the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory into a trickle. Israel has killed over 36,000 people, most of them women, children, and adolescents in Gaza since that October day. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Another US MQ-9 drone downed by Yemen amid pro-Palestine campaign Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 6:23 PM Yemen has downed yet another modern drone of the US military amid its expanding pro-Palestine campaign in the midst of Israel's brutal war on Gaza. Yemen's armed forces issued a statement on Wednesday saying its Air Defense Forces had shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone earlier in the day as it was flying in the skies of the central province of Marib. "The targeting operation was carried out with a locally-made surface-to-air missile," said the statement, adding that a video of the shooting down will be published shortly. It was a second time in days that the Yemenis downed an MQ-9 Reaper, a heavy and modern aircraft which is worth around $30 million. A total of six drones of this type have been dismantled by Yemen since last year when the Arab country launched a military campaign in support of Palestine. Yemen started targeting Israeli-linked ships in November, a month after the regime invaded Gaza. Attacks later expanded to cover ships linked to the United States and Britain after the two launched airstrikes on the Arab country to force it to halt its anti-Israeli operations. The Yemenis have insisted that maritime operations and drone and missile attacks on Israeli-occupied ports will continue until the regime completely stops its attacks on Gaza. "The Yemeni Armed Forces, by the grace of Allah, continue to develop their defensive capabilities to confront the American-British aggression and all hostile forces," said the statement by Yemen's armed forces on Wednesday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Algeria seeks end to Rafah massacre with draft UN resolution Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 4:53 PM Algeria is seeking a firm United Nations action to force Israel to halt its aggression on Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, where more than a million Palestinians have sheltered from Israel's brutal bombardments elsewhere. Algeria's Ambassador to the UN Amar Bendjama said late on Tuesday that his country will present a draft UN resolution to the Security Council calling for an end to "the killing" in Rafah. Bendjama's announcement came after a Council meeting focused on Israel's Sunday massacre of Palestinians concentrated in a tent camp in Rafah. Some 45 people were killed in the attack which left children disfigured and beheaded and prompted widespread international condemnations. "It will be a short text, a decisive text, to stop the killing in Rafah," said the ambassador after the Council meeting which had been requested by Algiers. However, he would not say when the proposed draft resolution might be put to a vote in the Council. Other senior diplomats in the UN urged immediate action to put an end to the onslaught in Gaza's Rafah. French ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said before the Council meeting that time had come for the international community to take action about Rafah. This is a matter of life and death. This is a matter of emergency," said De Riviere. Chinese ambassador Fu Cong expressed hope that Algeria's proposal could be put to vote this week. "We hope that it could be done as quickly as possible because life is in the balance," Fu said. However, the United States, which has repeatedly barred the UN from taking action against Israel since the start of the war on Gaza in October, has indicated it would not change its policy toward Israel. Washington says Israel's assault on Rafah has yet to breach red lines. "... we're waiting to see it and then we'll react to it." US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Tuesday in reference to Algeria's planned move. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China 'deeply pained' by 'severe' situation in Gaza: President Xi Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 4:25 PM Chinese President Xi Jinping says he is "deeply pained" by the "extremely severe" situation in the besieged Gaza Strip. President Xi made the remarks on Wednesday, a few days after Israel launched a deadly strike on a tent encampment designated for the displaced in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, killing dozens of Palestinians. He was meeting with visiting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who, along with several other Arab leaders, arrived in Beijing this week to hold talks aimed at deepening consensus between Beijing and the Arab countries. "The current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused a large number of innocent Palestinian civilian casualties and the humanitarian situation in Gaza is extremely severe. China is deeply pained," China's state broadcaster CCTV quoted Xi as saying on Wednesday. "The top priority task now is an immediate ceasefire, in order to avoid spillover of conflict, impact on regional peace and stability, and so as to prevent a more serious humanitarian crisis," Xi further told Sisi. On Sunday night, an Israeli air attack on a tent encampment in Tel al-Sudan north of Rafah claimed the lives of at least 50 Palestinians, many of them women and children, in an enormous inferno, wounding more than 250 others. The carnage drew global condemnations and calls for the implementation of a World Court order to halt Israel's brutal aggression on Gaza. Separately on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning repeated China's call to the occupying entity, urging the Tel Aviv regime to halt its attacks on the Rafah city. Beijing "expresses serious concern over Israel's military actions targeting Rafah," she stressed, adding that the regime should "listen to the overwhelming calls of the international community to cease its attacks." "The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is extremely dire and we call on all parties to immediately cease fire and to spare no effort to prevent further casualties among innocent civilians and to prevent the Gaza Strip from experiencing a more serious humanitarian disaster," Mao added. Israel launched the barbarous campaign in Gaza on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory operation into the occupied territories. Concomitantly with the war, the regime has been enforcing a near-total siege on the coastal territory, which has reduced the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory into a trickle. Israel has killed over 36,000 people, most of them women, children, and adolescents in Gaza since that October day. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen targets 6 vessels amid escalating anti-Israel campaign Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 2:26 PM Yemen's Armed Forces have targeted six ships in waters near the country as well as the Mediterranean Sea as part of their operations against Israel and its backers the United States and Britain. In a statement, spokesman Yahya Saree said they hit three ships in the Red Sea, namely LAAX, MOREA, and Sealady. The spokesman said the operations were carried out using naval and ballistic missiles and drones. They also staged missile and drone attacks on the American ships ALBA and Maersk Hartford in the Arabian Sea, according to Saree. The sixth operation hit the ship MINERVA ANTONIA in the Mediterranean Sea with several winged missiles. "All the aforementioned ships were targeted for violating the ban on visiting the ports of occupied Palestine," he said. The Yemeni spokesman said they would target all the Israeli-linked ships in the declared area of operations, regardless of their destination. US military MQ-9 Reaper drone downed In another statement, Saree said that Yemeni armed forces shot down another US military MQ-9 Reaper drone with domestic missiles in the east of Ma'rib province. Images published online also showed the MQ-9 on its belly in the desert, its tail assembly disconnected from the rest of the drone's body. Since October last year, the Yemeni armed forces have been launching attacks on ships linked to Israel or en route to the Israeli-occupied territories in the Red or Arabian seas in solidarity with the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Arab country expanded its operations early this month in what was described as the fourth phase of anti-Israel operations. The fourth phase is intended to impose a total naval blockade on the Israeli regime, with the Yemeni forces attacking any ship arriving at the regime's ports in the Red Sea or the Mediterranean Sea. Yemen says its operations won't stop unless the regime halts its brutal aggression against Rafah and other parts of the Gaza Strip. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lives of 600,000 kids at risk as Israeli war machine rages in Gaza: UNICEF Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 2:24 PM The United Nations Children's Fund warns that Israel's invasion of Rafah has put the lives of more than 600,000 displaced children at risk. UNICEF's director of private fundraising and partnerships, Carla Haddad Mardini said in a message on X that many of those children are now malnourished or disabled. "Rafah is a city of children," the UNICEF official said Wednesday. "The children in Gaza need a ceasefire now to prevent further suffering." Children in Gaza have been killed and maimed by Israeli forces at an unprecedented rate since the regime launched its campaign of death and destruction in the populated territory in early October. More than 14,000 kids have so far been killed, according to the latest estimate by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Around 1.7 million people in the Gaza Strip are estimated to have been internally displaced - half of them children, who do not have enough access to water, food, fuel and medicine. And since Israel's military forces launched the incursion in Rafah in early May, access to healthcare has been even more devastated, according to Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization's representative in the Palestinian territories. If Israel continues the offensive in the border town, "substantial" increases in deaths can be expected, he warned. Peeperkorn also said he was becoming increasingly worried about malnutrition in the south, where Israel's military campaign is already taking a dire toll on children's health. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas on ceasefire: Netanyahu buying more time to commit more crimes Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 10:40 AM A high-ranking official from the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has underlined the need for a complete end to the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, and return of displaced families to their areas in order for a ceasefire to be struck. Member of Hamas's political bureau, Husam Badran, in a statement on Tuesday described the demands as "the most prominent red lines that resistance factions will not relinquish." He added that the latest remarks by the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu about new negotiations over Gaza are an attempt to buy more time to kill more Palestinians, sharply criticizing him for telling lies and not seeking any ceasefire deal. Badran noted that Hamas had not received any official notification from mediators regarding the resumption of ceasefire negotiations. "[Israel] is a rogue entity that violates international resolutions. Its attempt to justify massacres in Rafah will fail and will not deceive the world," the senior Hamas official said. Netanyahu said Sunday he "strongly opposes" ending the war in Gaza, amid calls for a truce deal. Before a meeting of his war cabinet, Netanyahu's office said Hamas chief in Gaza Yahya "Sinwar continues to demand the end of the war, the withdrawal of the IDF (Israeli military) from the Gaza Strip and leaving Hamas in place," accusing the resistance movement of seeking to carry out the attacks against Israel. "Prime Minister Netanyahu strongly opposes this," a statement said. Netanyahu has long rejected Hamas's demands in negotiations for a permanent end to the Gaza war. Israel's three-week Rafah offensive sparked renewed outrage after an airstrike on Sunday set ablaze a tent camp in the west of the city. Some 50 people, including many children, were killed in Israel's attack on the tent camp in Rafah, prompting global condemnations and calls for the implementation of a World Court order to halt Israel's assault on Gaza. The attack came two days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to stop its US-backed aggression on Gaza that has killed more than 36,000 people since it started in October last year. Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory operation into the occupied territories. Concomitantly with the war, the regime has been enforcing a near-total siege on the coastal territory, which has reduced the flow of foodstuffs, medicine, electricity, and water into the Palestinian territory into a trickle. The Israeli war has killed at least 36,096 people, most of them women, children, and adolescents. Another 81,136 Palestinians have sustained injuries as well. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address White House asserts no change in military support for Israel despite Rafah carnage Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 7:48 AM In yet another brazen act of support for Israel's months-long genocide against the besieged Gaza Strip, the administration of US President Joe Biden has hinted that the regime's deadly strikes targeting displaced Palestinians in the southern city of Rafah did not cross a "red line" and would not lead to a change in Washington's policy towards Tel Aviv. In press briefings on Tuesday, multiple administration officials described the Israeli massacre in Rafah as "heartbreaking" but claimed that the assault, which left dozens of Palestinians dead, was an airstrike and not a major ground operation. "We still don't believe that a major ground operation in Rafah is warranted. We still don't want to see the Israelis, as we say, smash into Rafah with large units over large pieces of territory. We still believe that, and we haven't seen that at this point," White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. "As a result of this strike on Sunday, I have no policy changes to speak to," Kirby added. "It just happened. The Israelis are going to investigate it. We're going to be taking great interest in what they find in that investigation. And we'll see where it goes from there." The White House spokesperson said that "no civilian casualties is the right number of civilian casualties," but he acknowledged innocent people are often killed in war. "There's not like a measuring stick here or a quota," he said, when asked if there were a number of civilian deaths that would prompt action from the US. "As we've said many times, the right number of civilian casualties is zero." Despite providing Israel with untrammeled support over the past eight months, the White House claims to have urged Israel against sending forces into Rafah without a clear plan to evacuate civilians safely. In another presser on Tuesday, a Pentagon official said Sunday's airstrike, which was the deadliest incident in Rafah since Israel launched an offensive there, did not amount to what the White House has warned against. "It is still our assessment that what is happening in Rafah and what the [Israeli military] are doing, it is limited in scope." Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters. National security adviser Jake Sullivan last week told reporters there was "no mathematical formula" for assessing Israel's conduct in Rafah, but officials would look at "whether there is a lot of death and destruction from this operation or if it is more precise and proportional." Israel's three-week-old Rafah offensive stirred renewed outrage after an airstrike on Sunday set ablaze a tent camp in the west of the city. Some 50 people, including many children, were killed in Israel's attack on the tent camp in Rafah late, prompting global condemnations and calls for the implementation of a World Court order to halt Israel's assault on Gaza. The attack came two days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to stop its US-backed aggression on Gaza that has killed more than 36,000 people since it started in October last year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 28: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 7:44 AM By Press TV Website Staff Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 36,100 Palestinians so far, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers. The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Tuesday, May 28, are as follows: Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on May 28: Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers stationed around the Rabaa Al-Adawiya neighborhood, south of the city of Rafah, with short-range 107-type rockets. Targeted an Israeli military "Merkava" tank with an "Al-Yassin 105" shell in the Al-Alami area, north of the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip. Targeted a group of Israeli forces stationed south of Yabna camp in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, with a barrage of mortar shells. Detonated a booby-trapped building where a group of special Israeli forces were holed up in the Al-Shaout camp, south of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Al-Quds Brigades' operations on May 28: Bombed a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles in the vicinity of the Civil Administration east of Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip with standard mortar shells. Bombed a gathering of Israeli forces and their military vehicles with 60-caliber regular mortar shells in the vicinity of Salah Al-Din Gate, south of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. In a joint operation with the fighters of Al-Qassam Brigades, targeted a group of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles in the vicinity of the Noura Al-Kaabi building, north of the Jabalia camp, with 60-caliber regular mortar shells. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on May 28: Shot down an Israeli military "Mavic Pro" quadcopter and seized control of it in the skies of the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. Targeted a group of Israeli forces present on the "Netzarim" axis with short-range rockets. Bombed a convoy of Israeli military vehicles with mortar shells on the axis of advance east of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Targeted a house in which an Israeli army force was barricading in near the Saad Mosque in the Jabalia camp with an anti-fortification shell. Mujahideen Brigades' operations on May 28: Targeted an Israeli military "Amitai" Brigade site, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, with a barrage of rockets. Al-Asifah Forces' operations on May 28: Bombed a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles with standard and heavy-caliber mortar shells in the advancement axes east and southeast of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip. Hezbollah's operations on May 28: Eastern Sector: At around 14:10 local time, targeted a deployment of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Al-Samaqa site in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills with artillery shells. At around 18:10 local time, targeted the Al-Samaqa site in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills with appropriate weapons. Western Sector: At around 06:00 local time, targeted the "Ramia" site, its garrison, its equipment, and the positions of regime soldiers, using guided missiles, artillery shells, and direct weapons. At around 18:30 local time, after monitoring and following Israeli forces on the southern border, targeted them with a barrage of artillery shells. Islamic Resistance in Iraq's operations on May 28: Targeted a vital military site in "Eilat" (Umm Al-Rashrash) with a barrage of missiles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mexico seeks to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel at ICJ Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 6:31 AM Mexico has filed an application with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel. In its declaration, Mexico stated that it "seeks to intervene, in order to provide its view on the potential construction of the content of the provisions of the Convention relevant to this case," the ICJ said in a press release on X on Tuesday. Mexico submitted its declaration of intervention in the case after invoking Article 63 of the ICJ Statute which states that any signatory to the Genocide Convention can intervene in a case because it is an international treaty whose interpretation impacts all parties. "The Genocide Convention not only proscribes mass killings, but also a broader array of conducts brought together by the intention to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group," Mexico said. Mexico further noted that "the deliberate obstruction of access to humanitarian assistance" and the "destruction of cultural heritage" should be considered in the case. It remains uncertain whether the ICJ will accept Mexico's application for intervention. Colombia, Nicaragua and Libya have also asked the ICJ for intervention in support of the South African case against Israel. Belgium, Egypt, Ireland, Maldives and Turkey have also stated their intention to join the case. South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel in December 2023 over its war on the Gaza Strip. According to South Africa's application, Israel's actions in Gaza were "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group." Also on May 10, South Africa asked the ICJ to order a halt to the war in Gaza, particularly in the southern refugee-packed city of Rafah. The request came after Israel carried out ground incursions into Rafah in defiance of global warnings, forcing more than 800,000 people "to flee." On May 24, the ICJ ordered Israel to halt its aggression on Rafah, establish humanitarian corridors and allow the world body to investigate genocide. Israel launched its brutal war on Gaza on October 7 last year after Palestinian resistance groups carried out a historic operation against the usurping regime in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. Since the start of the Israeli offensive on Gaza on October 7, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 36,096 Palestinians and injured 81,136 more. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN chief says 'horror' in Gaza must stop after deadly Rafah strikes Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 2:21 AM The UN chief has decried a deadly Israeli airstrike targeting displaced Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah, urging an immediate end to what it called horror and suffering across the Palestinian territories. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement, called for the horror and suffering to stop immediately in Gaza, his spokesperson said on Tuesday. The UN chief reiterated his demand for an immediate ceasefire across the Gaza Strip. Guterress recalled a recent ruling by a top UN court that ordered Israel to immediately halt its ground offensive in Rafah. He stressed that the ICJ rulings are legally binding and Israel must comply with them. The UN chief also urged the regime to allow the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to those in desperate need in the besieged Palestinian territory. "The Israeli authorities must allow, facilitate and enable the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need and all crossing points must be open," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. Israel's three-week-old Rafah offensive stirred renewed outrage after an airstrike on Sunday (May 26) ignited a blaze in a tent camp in a western district, killing at least 45 people. Some 45 people, including many children, were killed in Israel's attack on a tent camp in Rafah late on Sunday, prompting global condemnations and calls for the implementation of a World Court order to halt Israel's assault on Gaza. The attack came two days after the Court ordered Israel to stop an aggression on Gaza that has killed more than 36,000 people since it started in October last year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Manila vows to protect fishermen amid Beijing's South China Sea fishing ban Meanwhile, a new Chinese order threatening arrest of trespassers into its waters takes effect on June 15. By Jason Gutierrez for BenarNews 2024.05.29 -- The Philippine military on Tuesday vowed it would protect Filipino fishermen during the four-month fishing ban China has imposed in contested South China Sea waters, including in areas within Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Manila had a day earlier summoned China's envoy to protest the annual moratorium, as it does every year, saying the practice violates its sovereign rights. Beijing claims the ban promotes sustainable fishing and conserves marine ecology in the waterway. Commodore Ray Vincent Trinidad, a Philippine Navy spokesman, said on Tuesday that the force had deployed additional vessels to protect Filipino fishermen. "The Philippine Navy does not recognize this provocative statement nor will we be deterred in performing our mandate of securing the welfare of Filipinos wherever he or she is - on land or on sea," said Trinidad, spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, referring to China's fishing moratorium. "Overall, patrols have been increased in the entire [West Philippine Sea]." Manila calls areas in the South China Sea that are within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) the West Philippine Sea. China's fishing moratorium this year, which began on May 1 and is scheduled to last until Sept. 16, will take place as a new China Coast Guard order is scheduled to go into force June 15. The Chinese coast guard had on May 15 issued an order authorizing its personnel to detain foreign boats and nationals suspected of trespassing into Beijing-claimed waters in the South China Sea for up to 30 days - and as many as 60, in some cases. Manila has called this order "illegal," warning against repercussions if it is implemented. Meanwhile, Filipino fishermen said they would continue to fish in the waters that Manila claims despite threats of arrest by Chinese authorities. "We will not follow this baseless ban by China in our waters," Joey Marabe, provincial coordinator of the Filipino fishermen's group Pamalakaya in Zambales, told BenarNews on Tuesday. He called the ban an "unacceptable insult," alleging that China had been known for destructive fishing practices. Marabe said the ban would directly affect the livelihood of Filipino fishermen and vowed they would ignore it. "No foreigner has the right to stop us from fishing in our own territory," he said. China in 2012 seized the Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground in another part of Manila's EEZ, after a two-month standoff with the Philippine Navy. Manila subsequently took China to an international arbitral court, and in 2016 won a landmark ruling in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which threw out China's expansive claims in the South China Sea. Beijing, however, has ignored the ruling and refuses to leave Scarborough Shoal, which Manila calls Bajo de Masinloc. Recently, the China Coast Guard shadowed a Filipino civilian mission to Scarborough, though there was no major incident. 'Constructive multilateralism' On Monday, Manila filed its 25th diplomatic protest against China this year, and the 158th since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was elected in 2022. The "unilateral imposition of the fishing moratorium raises tensions in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea," Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement after summoning the Chinese envoy. "Through a diplomatic note, the Philippines protested the ban insofar as it includes the [Philippines'] maritime zones over which the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction." The statement added that the ban had undermined an understanding between Marcos and Chinese leader Xi Jinping that both countries would "manage differences through diplomacy and dialogue," and reduce tensions at sea. China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a BenarNews request for comment. Manila's protest came days before Marcos is expected to discuss the South China Sea dispute in his keynote speech at an international security forum in Singapore. Top political and security leaders from dozens of countries are most likely to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue this weekend. The annual inter-governmental security forum is organized by the Singaporean think-tank International Institute for Strategic Studies. "I think it is extremely timely that I attend [the Shangri-La Dialogue] and put forward and articulate the Philippines' perspectives and outlook on defense and diplomacy while we continue to highlight the Philippines' commitment to a rules-based international order and constructive multilateralism amidst the current geopolitical challenges that we face in our region," Marcos said on Tuesday, before he departed for a state visit to Brunei en route to Singapore. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing escalates South China Sea tensions with new detention order, Manila says Philippine president calls China's policy allowing coast guard to detain foreign boats, crews 'worrisome.' By Jason Gutierrez for BenarNews 2024.05.29 -- Beijing's new threat of detaining fishermen in South China Sea waters it considers its own marks an escalation in maritime tensions, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday. He was commenting in public for the first time on the Chinese coast guard's newly issued orders that call for the maritime force to detain foreign vessels and crew suspected of trespassing into Beijing-claimed waters in the disputed waterway. The order is to take effect June 15. China earlier this month began enforcing an annual four-month fishing ban in the contested waters. "The new policy of threatening to detain our own citizens, that is different. That is an escalation of the situation. So, yes, it is now very worrisome," Marcos told reporters, according to a statement released by his communications office. Marcos was speaking in Brunei, where he wrapped up a state visit before going to Singapore, where he is scheduled to give a keynote speech on Friday at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a high-level international security conference. Marcos is expected to highlight the South China Sea during his speech in Singapore. Top political and security leaders from dozens of countries, including from rival superpowers the United States and China, are expected to attend the Shangri-La meetings. 'Illegal' order On May 15, the Chinese coast guard issued an order authorizing its personnel to detain for up to 30 days and 60 days, in some cases foreign boats and nationals suspected of trespassing in South China Sea waters claimed by Beijing. Manila hit back days later, calling the order "illegal" and warning against repercussions if it was implemented. The Philippines has also formally protested this year's fishing ban by China. The four-month fishing moratorium began on May 1 and is to last until Sept. 16 in areas in the South China Sea that are "north of the 12 degrees North latitude." That includes waters considered to be part of Manila's exclusive economic zone. Filipino fishermen have threatened to defy the detention order, and the Philippine Coast Guard said it was ready to aid them in case they were harassed. China said the new policy aims to standardize law enforcement and better uphold maritime order. "It is consistent with universal practices. Individuals and entities have no need for concern as long as they have not done anything illicit," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a regular press conference on Wednesday. "[It] is the Philippines, not China, that has escalated the situation and made repeated provocations in the South China Sea," she told reporters. "China's door of dialogue and communication with the Philippines remains open, but it's important to note that dialogue requires sincerity and whatever is agreed in dialogue must be acted upon, rather than talking about the need for dialogue while continuing to make provocations." Back-channel efforts In Brunei, Marcos said Manila was pursuing back-channel efforts with China to try and cool down bilateral tensions over the waterway, especially in Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal, also known as the Ayungin Shoal, which both countries claim. The shoals lie within Manila's exclusive economic zone, but Beijing lately has been intercepting Filipino boats trying to reach waters around them. "You should try everything. You don't know what effort is going to be successful," Marcos said. "So, [at] any point of contact that I can establish, I will use it, and at every level at the leaders' level, at the ministerial, sub-ministerial, private [levels] as long as it gives us, brings us progress in terms of resolving these [territorial problems]," he said. "And if we can get to that, then we can move to the next step and to see if there is a way to resolve all these claims, and so that we can all go about our business in a peaceful way and continue to try and develop our countries," he said. "There are always, always efforts at every level." The Philippines, China, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam as well as Taiwan have competing claims in the South China Sea. 'A significant recalibration' Marcos' upcoming speech in Singapore reflects how the international community is keeping a close eye on the South China Sea, considered a geopolitical flashpoint, according to an expert based in Manila. Many countries are watching the Philippines because "the country is undergoing a significant recalibration of its foreign and security policy," geopolitical analyst Don McLain Gill told BenarNews. "Manila intends to play an active role in securing the established order in the Indo-Pacific through securing its sovereignty and sovereign rights based on international law," he said. But while it would significantly increase Marcos' profile, his speech is unlikely to be "a game changer for China's policy trajectory towards Manila," Gill said. China claims historical rights over most of the South China Sea, although a landmark international arbitration ruling in 2016, in a case brought by Manila against Beijing, rejected those claims entirely. Jeoffrey Maitem contributed to this report from Manila. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cambodia's 'Xi Jinping Boulevard' highlights strong ties with China The naming comes days before a visit by the US defense secretary to Phnom Penh. By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.05.29 -- Cambodia has renamed one of its main roads in the capital Phnom Penh "Xi Jinping Boulevard" in honor of the Chinese president for his "historical contribution to the development of Cambodia." A ceremony for naming the road was held on Tuesday at the Peace Palace, with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and outgoing Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian in attendance, said the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia on its Facebook page on Wednesday. "This marks another major milestone that shows that the two countries' relations have a long history and are strong and correct," said Wang. "The Chinese side is happy to cooperate with Cambodia to continue on the glorious path of preserving the legacy of this steel friendship, creating a brighter and brighter future for the common destiny community between China and Cambodia in the new era." The boulevard, previously known as the Third Ring Road, was constructed at a cost of US$273 million, with concessional financing from the Chinese government and contributions from the Cambodian government, according to the Khmer Times. Hun Manet also wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday that China had strongly approved the renaming, which "has a huge meaning to the Cambodia-China ironclad friendship". "Cambodia-China relations are long-standing and have grown to an inseparable level," the prime minister, the son of veteran leader Hun Sen, said. "This relationship embodies the values of mutual trust, especially political trust. China's assistance has not only helped socio-economic development in Cambodia but also strengthens its political independence." Xi Jinping Boulevard connects National Road 4 in Phnom Penh's Por Senchey district, to National Road 1 in Kandal province's Kien Svay district. The construction work, undertaken by the Chinese company Shanghai Construction Group Co Ltd, began on Jan.14, 2019, and included four flyovers and eight bridges. The boulevard spans 15 km (9 miles) in Phnom Penh and 38 km (24 miles) in Kandal. Phnom Penh already has a Mao Tse Toung Boulevard, named by then head of state, Prince Norodom Sihanouk in 1965, in honor of the first chairman of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong. . China supported the notorious Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s and maintained that support when the ousted communists battled a Vietnamese-backed government, of which Hun Sen was a member, through the 1980s. But relations between Phnom Penh and Beijing have blossomed since the 1990s. Wednesday's announcement came days before a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. After attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this week, Austin will on Saturday travel to Phnom Penh, where he is set to meet Hun Manet, the Financial Times reported, citing three American officials. Hun Manet, who took over as prime minister from his father last year, is a graduate of West Point, the elite U.S. military academy, and also studied at New York University, fostering optimism among U.S. officials for an improvement in relations with a country that has grown so close to China. "We remain clear-eyed about some of our concerns in Cambodia, but at the same time we see the arrival of the new leadership allowing us to explore new opportunities," the Financial Times quoted one U.S. official as saying. A statement released by the Pentagon on Friday said that Austin hoped to build on meetings he had with senior Cambodian officials when he last visited for a summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers in November 2022. The United States has criticized the Chinese-led expansion of the Ream naval base near the port of Sihanoukville, asserting that it appears to be establishing a permanent Chinese naval presence, thereby enabling Beijing to project power across the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodia denies that China is constructing a permanent base, which would violate Cambodia's 1993 Constitution. However, the frequent naval drills conducted by the two countries' navies have not alleviated the concerns of critics. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Distrustful Of The Taliban, A Growing Number Of Afghans Ditch Banks By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and Abubakar Siddique May 29, 2024 An increasing number of Afghans are taking out their money from banks and closing their accounts, a trend spurred by mistrust in the unrecognized Taliban government and concerns about the country's bleak economic outlook. The Taliban takeover in 2021 triggered a cash and banking crisis. The militants were hit with international sanctions, and the country cut off from the global financial system and crucial foreign aid. Billions in the central bank's foreign reserves were frozen. The economic meltdown forced some of the 12 state-owned and commercial banks to close, while others worked at limited capacity. Caps were placed on how much people were allowed to withdrawal from banks. While the economy has somewhat recovered, Afghanistan is still in the grips of a devastating humanitarian crisis, mass unemployment, and rising poverty. And trust in the formal banking system has collapsed. Experts say Afghans closing their bank accounts has helped further constrain the money supply in the country and placed further stress on the economy. Cut off from the international banking system, more Afghans are also turning to hawala, an informal system of lenders. 'Concerning Trend' Afghan banks lost around 11 percent of their customers from December 2022 to December 2023, according to the World Bank. Among them was Ahmad, a resident of the western city of Herat. He said he closed his bank account after repeatedly trying and failing to transfer money inside the country. "This indicates that the banks have failed," Ahmad, who only goes by one name, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "They have become untrustworthy." Baseer, a resident of Kabul, also recently closed his bank accounts. He said he lost confidence in the banks after they enforced limits on how much of his own money he could withdraw. "Bank employees used to harass and abuse us when we asked for our own money," he told Radio Azadi. The Taliban initially set a weekly withdrawal limit of $200 for individual bank accounts. In December, the Taliban-run central bank increased the cap to $1,000. A commercial bank employee in Kabul, who requested anonymity, said that strict controls over how much money account holders can withdraw has damaged banks' reputations. The employee told Radio Azadi that banks' inability to return depositors' money made them "worthless" in customers' eyes. According to the World Bank's 2017 Global Findex database, only 15 percent of Afghan adults had an account at any financial institution, a figure that has plummeted since the Taliban takeover. The World Bank said in a report published in April that the banking sector since 2020 has lost around 25 percent of its total asset base, which it said signaled a "concerning trend for an already small industry." "The banking sector is experiencing considerable strain from dwindling assets and deposits," the report said, adding that this has "spurred a greater dependence on cash and non-traditional payment methods, further tightening the money supply and aggravating economic downturn and deflation." Azarakhsh Hafizi, an economist and former head of the Afghanistan International Chamber of Commerce, said that a modern economy is "incomplete without a banking system." "Countries where banks can channel their customers' deposits to economic investments, such as building businesses and industry, are better off," he added. "When you do not have enough deposits in the banks, you cannot give loans to people [and businesses] that need them." Sanctions And Islamic Banking The strain on banks has been compounded by international sanctions. Afghan banks have been cut off from the world's dominant financial transaction network, SWIFT, greatly inhibiting the Taliban government's ability to conduct trade. It has also made it difficult for individuals and businesses in Afghanistan to transfer money and make payments. Without access to SWIFT, Afghans are increasingly turning to the informal transfer system known as hawala, which uses individual brokers rather than banks. The system is difficult to trace and has been used by armed groups. The Taliban's shift to Islamic banking has also hampered the banking sector, experts said. Islamic banking, first developed in the 1970s in the Gulf states, prohibits the practice of lending money with interest. Like conventional banks, Islamic banks make their profits by loaning money to customers. But whereas a bank loans with interest, Islamic banks do so through buy-and-sell transactions. In March, the Taliban appointed a committee to review laws for Afghanistan's central bank and the commercial banking sector. The Taliban has said that Islamic banking prohibits "earning income through interest on investments, loans, or deposits." In its recent report, the World Bank said the "banking sector's role as a financial intermediary is significantly hampered by the mandatory transition to Islamic Finance." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-banking- taliban-islamic-finance/32970822.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With The Veto Defeated, What Happens Next On Georgia's 'Foreign Agent' Law? By RFE/RL's Georgian Service May 29, 2024 TBILISI -- Lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream party comfortably overrode a presidential veto 84-4 in a vote boycotted by most of the opposition on May 28, further propelling the so-called "foreign agent" law toward enactment. Dubbed "the Russian law" by Georgian protesters for its similarities with a decade-old law in Russia that has helped the Kremlin jail, fine, and marginalize dissent, EU officials have warned it will "negatively impact Georgia's EU path." Meanwhile, Washington has announced visa bans and a "comprehensive review" of bilateral relations, and other international critics have decried the law as "weaponized transparency." Following the override, here's what's expected to happen next with the Georgian Law On Transparency Of Foreign Influence. Sign And Publish The bill will be submitted to Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili for signature within three days, after which she has five days to sign it into law. Zurabishvili has repeatedly given every indication that she won't sign it. If she doesn't, after five days the law is published with the signature of the speaker of parliament, Shalva Papuashvili. Creation Of A Registry After the law's publication, the Justice Ministry and the ministry's National Agency Of Public Registry will have 60 days to create a register for "organizations serving the interests of a foreign power." Once that is up and running, registration becomes mandatory for a large segment of the country's nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and online media. The criteria mostly boil down to a reliance on foreign funding above 20 percent in a calendar year from any "foreign power," which is defined as a physical person who is not a citizen of Georgia; a legal entity registered outside of Georgia; or any fund, association, corporation, union, or other organization founded on the laws of a foreign state and/or international law. Written Application If an organization suspects that it meets the criteria of "serving the interests of a foreign power," the countdown on the deadline for filing begins on the 60th day after the publication of the law. Within one month of that deadline, the organization is obliged to submit a written statement to the Justice Ministry requesting that it be registered as such. The organization should be granted access to the relevant website within two days; and within 10 working days of admission, the organization must fill out an electronic application. Submitting An Electronic Application When the organization fills out the electronic application, that submission is required to include: Identification data Address Website address Details of monetary or asset-based income received in the previous year, with explanations of the source, amount, and purpose Details of the amount and purpose of funds spent in the previous year Check-In The National Agency Of Public Registry has 30 working days to investigate and study the application to determine whether it is "correctly and fully completed" and register the author/organization as an "organization serving the interests of a foreign power." That information is publicly available. During their study of the application, the Justice Ministry's authorized representative has the authority to search for special categories of information about individuals connected with the organization. These include: Political views Ethnicity Religious beliefs Health Genetic data that is processed to uniquely identify an individual Sex life Individuals must immediately provide any related information requested by the ministry representative. If an individual fails to fulfill that requirement, they can be fined 5,000 lari ($1,845). There is no limit in the legislation to limit the number of times per month a person may be fined. What If An Organization Doesn't Register? If an NGO or media organization as defined in the law fails to apply or register, it can be fined 25,000 lari ($8,945) and registered without consent into the registry anyway. After that, the organization is obliged to upload the financial declaration. If it fails to fulfill that requirement, it can be fined another 10,000 lari ($3,500). The state authority will check on the organization a month later and, if it finds noncompliance again, the organization can be fined another 20,000 lari ($7,150). The organization can then be fined 20,000 lari each month thereafter for noncompliance. If Not Declared, How Will The State Know An Organization's A Foreign Agent? The law includes a hearing mechanism under which anyone can report in writing the presence of a "foreign agent" organization, or more specifically one "serving the interests of a foreign power." In such cases, a Justice Ministry representative -- which will be defined once the law is implemented -- has the right at any time to initiate an investigation on its own authority. But the ministry representative may also launch an investigation in the absence of any such written statement. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-foreign- agent-law-what-next/32970846.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese-Led Consortium To Build Massive Port Project On Georgia's Black Sea Coast By RFE/RL's Georgian Service and Reid Standish May 29, 2024 TBILISI -- Georgia has announced that a Chinese consortium submitted the sole bid to build a sprawling deep-sea port in Anaklia, ending a multiyear political saga over the megaproject that puts Tbilisi's growing ties with Beijing in the spotlight. Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili made the announcement at a May 29 press conference, where he said the government had received bids from a Swiss-Luxembourg consortium and a joint offer from China Communications Construction Company Limited and the Singapore-based China Harbour Investment Pte. Ltd. "The application is complete, the relevant bank guarantees have been presented," Davitashvili said. "In a few days, we will have clarifications, after which the Chinese consortium will be announced as the winner." He added that China Road and Bridge Corporation and Qingdao Port International Co Ltd will serve as subcontractors to build the port. After months of consultations with both bidders, Davitashvili said that Tbilisi only received a final proposal from the Chinese consortium, which now looks set to build the country's first deep-sea port. The announcement brings an end to a controversial political struggle over who would build Georgia's strategically important port, while the winning Chinese bid highlights Tbilisi's burgeoning relationship with China. A previous attempt to build the port in Anaklia by a consortium formed between Georgia's TBC Bank and U.S.-based Conti International was canceled by the government in 2020 after years of political controversy that saw TBC co-founders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze facing money-laundering charges. Following the charges, the American investor pulled out and the project ground to a halt until the government canceled the $2.5 billion port contract. In 2022, a court found Khazaradze and Japaridze guilty of fraud, but they were both released without prison time. Khazaradze has claimed the authorities were trying to sabotage the project and that the real issue behind the dispute was his personal conflict with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire former prime minister who leads the Georgian Dream party that has been in power since 2012. The government announced plans to revive the project in 2022 and opened up a call for bids, saying that Tbilisi planned to hold a 51 percent stake in the port. Georgia's strategic location on the eastern edge of the Black Sea has made it particularly crucial for the Middle Corridor, a trade route between China and Europe bypassing Russia that has grown in importance and usage since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But the megaproject has been at the center of geopolitical jostling, with European Union-based and Chinese companies said to have been in the running. Political observers and officials said that Tbilisi's choice of winner for Anaklia would be a bellwether for where the country was leaning in its future political orientation. "If what is chosen is not in line with the EU -- a club that Georgia wants to join -- then that should help tell us about the direction this government is heading towards," Asuncion Sanchez Ruiz, deputy head of mission of the EU delegation to Georgia, told RFE/RL in 2023. Davitashvili's announcement also comes one day after parliament pushed through an override of a presidential veto of a controversial "foreign agent" law that has been criticized by Western governments and faced widespread protests at home. In recent years, the government has pushed connectivity to the top of Georgia's foreign policy agenda and looked to capitalize on newfound interest in the Middle Corridor. But the country has a dearth of high-quality infrastructure, which has so far held back its transit potential, with long lines of trucks at its borders and ports at Batumi and Poti operating near capacity as trade along the route has steadily increased since 2022. This has led to organizations like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank warning that without a deep-sea port in Georgia -- which would allow larger ships to transport increased volumes at a more efficient rate -- neither the country nor the Middle Corridor will be competitive as a global trade route. Georgia has increasingly turned to China for infrastructure projects, with one study by the Tbilisi-based Civic Initiative for Democratic and Euro-Atlantic Choice saying that since 2021, every infrastructure project worth more than $100 million has involved Chinese companies. Written by Reid Standish in Prague with reporting from RFE/RL's Georgian Service in Tbilisi Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/anaklia-georgia-china-port- winner/32970697.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestine, Russia Agree on Road Map to Strengthen Medical Aid to Palestinians - Minister Sputnik News 20240529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia and the Palestinian Authority have worked out a road map to strengthen medical assistance to Palestinians, with Ramallah hoping that Russia's aid will increase, Palestinian Authority Health Minister Maged Abu Ramadan told Sputnik. "Russia is helping us, and we hope that the assistance will continue, but we also would like it to be intensified. I had a meeting with the Russian health minister yesterday, and we agreed on a road map to strengthen this medical assistance," Ramadan said. Earlier this year, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin told Sputnik that Moscow was ready to expand the humanitarian assistance it was providing to the citizens of the Gaza Strip. However, a ceasefire is crucial for effective delivery of humanitarian aid, he added. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US May Ask More Asian Countries to Deploy Its Middle-Range, Long-Range Missiles - Lavrov Sputnik News 20240529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday he was confident that the United States would ask some Asian states, apart from the Philippines, to allow deployment of its middle- and long-range missiles. Currently such missiles are being deployed in the Philippines and Denmark, top diplomat stressed. "The Americans originally withdrew from this treaty [Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty] to explore new areas [of deployment], including the Philippines. And I am sure that other countries in the Asia-Pacific region will also be asked to provide hospitable territory for similar weapons," Lavrov said during a diplomatic roundtable on the settlement of the situation around Ukraine in Moscow. In April, the US army said it had deployed the Mid-Range Capability, also known as the Typhon Weapon System, to Northern Luzon, Philippines, for exercise Salaknib 24. The United States and Russia agreed to the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987. The INF Treaty prohibited the US and Russia from possessing surface-launched medium-range ballistic and cruise missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (310 and 3,429 miles). Both countries withdrew from the INF Treaty in 2019. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fighting in Gaza Will Last at Least Another 7 Months - Israeli Security Council Head Sputnik News 20240529 TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - Hostilities in the Gaza Strip will last at least another seven months, Israeli National Security Council chief Tzachi Hanegbi said on Wednesday. The Israeli army already controls 75% of the so-called Philadelphia Corridor, running along the border of the Gaza Strip and Egypt, the official added. "Fighting in the Gaza Strip will continue for at least another seven months," Hanegbi said, as broadcast by Israel's 12 TV channel. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean Remarks to the Press US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Chisinau Power Substation Chisinau, Moldova May 29, 2024 PRIME MINISTER RECEAN: (Via interpreter) Greetings, everyone. I would like to greet the media as well and thank you for having joined us here today. The Secretary of State Blinken is greeting you here as well again in Chisinau, Moldova, and we'd like to thank you very much for - for this visit, considering the aggression of the Kremlin in Ukraine. The U.S. is helping Moldova to overcome the issues of a different kind, especially and for instance the one that has to do with the energy. We are launching a new project here with an investment of $85 million provided as support - as part of the support of the U.S. of $300 million that were pledged in the previous year. And this investment will support the energy security of Moldova when issues will re-emerge with the public grid and when issues will happen to the - to the grid either because of the domestic systems or because of the bombings that to this day continue to affect the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, and Moldova is integrated with that grid. I would like to say that a similar amount in a previous year was provided by the United States, so that the government would be able to compensate in - to compensate in the invoices, the bills, the large - their prices - the high prices for energy. On this note, I would like to express my gratitude to the United States and to the American people for the support provided to the citizens of Moldova. I would like to also mention that the support of the U.S. is not only limited to the energy sector. The United States are also supporting Moldova's efforts to build a country that is strong - that is strong economically speaking, a country that has resilient institutions, and this is invaluable when it comes to the contribution of the U.S. to the justice sector reform, to fighting corruption. And we must also mention their contribution to this constant support in the field of economic development, speaking of winemaking, speaking of the IT sector, and also speaking of the development of tourism. Everywhere we look, we will see a considerable contribution provided by programs implemented through USAID. I would also like to thank the local team of the embassy, and to thank the local USAID team. Thank you for your dedication and thank you for how much of your heart you pour into these projects. Moldova has a strategic objective to become part of the large European family, and the United States are there with us, supporting us - supporting us in transforming our country in a way as for us to become a full-fledged member that can also be part and contribute to the European Union. (In English) Secretary Blinken, thank you very much. The floor is yours. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Well, Prime Minister, thank you very, very much. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for our partnership. We greatly, greatly value it. And as I said earlier, the United States is committed to Moldova's sovereignty; it's committed to Moldova's success - its success as a democratic, prosperous country grounded in Europe, grounded in the West. And a big part of making sure that that future happens is energy security and energy independence. We've seen through Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine its weaponization of energy - the threat that dependence on Russia for energy poses to national security and economic security. And so, an important part of the work that we're doing with Moldova - as are many other countries, and notably Europe - is helping build greater energy independence and energy security. And you see that right here today. The work that USAID is doing - and I'm very, very proud of that because in country after country, where the rubber really meets the road in making a difference in practical ways in countries' lives and people's lives is through USAID. The work that it's doing here with this project to help Moldova build up its infrastructure - particularly, as you've seen, these large-scale batteries to be able to store energy - that's going to make a huge difference in helping to deal with having a stable grid, to deal with fluctuations, to enhance the use of renewables, to better connect with the European grid, and to ultimately integrate the European energy markets. And the commitment that we're making today to advance this project with up to $85 million, as you also heard from the AID director here, that will be a catalyst to more investment coming from the private sector, coming from other countries to fully build up this capacity. Second, something that we've already put forward, and that is a project to strengthen the high-voltage capacity of Moldova's transmission lines, particularly the connection between Moldova and Romania - that will further strengthen Moldova's connections to Europe and further integrate it into the European security grid. You couple that with the reforms that Moldova is engaged in that will attract even more private sector investment, also create good jobs, and you see this energy future for Moldova - one of security, one of independence. And this has really been the story not just here in Moldova but the story actually in Europe itself over the last almost two and a half years since the Russian aggression against Ukraine. What we've seen is absolutely remarkable: countries that for decades, generations, had built up a dependence on Russian energy moving away from it, strengthening their independence, strengthening their energy security. We're determined to help Moldova do exactly the same thing, and that will in turn set a very strong foundation for its democratic future, for its prosperous future, for its sovereign future as a country that charts its own way forward. Thank you very much. Thank you, Prime Minister. (Applause.) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Moldovan President Maia Sandu at a Joint Press Availability US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Presidential Building Chisinau, Moldova May 29, 2024 PRESIDENT SANDU: (Via interpreter) Dear Secretary of State, dear Antony, welcome back to Chisinau. Your visit of today reconfirms the excellent relationship between the Republic of Moldova and the United States of America, and this is a very strong sign of support for our country as well as for the path of peace, democracy, and prosperity that we have chosen. Last time you visited us two years ago, that was in March 2022, when tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees were crossing our borders, looking for a shelter far from the Russian bombing. You have been amongst the very first high-ranking officials which had visited Moldova back in those difficult moments, and you continued - you remained close to us ever since. Over this whole difficult period since the war had returned to our continent, we managed here in the Republic of Moldova to maintain peace, stability, the composed spirit, in spite of all the attempts of destabilization of the situation from the ones who wish evil to us. We managed to achieve this also thanks to the fact that we are not alone, thanks to the support that we receive from the whole free and democratic world. Also, thanks to the support of the United States Government as well as of our other partners, we managed to offer some very good, adequate conditions to the Ukrainians, which refugeed to our country, as well as to the local communities which are housing them. We managed to maintain the peace here at home. Nevertheless, our citizens continue being strongly impacted by the negative effects of the war against the economy and the well-being of our country. However, through unity, with the support of our partners, we can stay close to our people, and we can still move forwards. Also, thanks to the financial American assistance worth $80 million in the first winter, we managed to compensate the energy bills of our citizens. However, Moldova is not simply waiting to be assisted. We rolled up our sleeves and we started working. We managed to strengthen our energy - energy security, leading from a total dependence of the Russian power resources. Today we are purchasing natural gas from several sources, including the ones of the United States. This way we have more accessible and better options. Besides, we did build some power capabilities which can connect us to the European network. One of them is going to be financed exactly by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID. So, we continue investing into renewable energy sources. Our purpose is to overcome the vulnerability in Moldova in this particular area to make sure that we have stable, accessible, and sustainable power sources. Thanks to the American support through USAID, we modernize our agriculture. We managed to upgrade the post-harvest infrastructure, while our fruit varieties have been aligned to the preferences of the market. For example, the export of the Moldovan cherries on the European market increased 12 times only during one year - and that already brought something like $6.5 million to our economy. The direct benefits of the American support are very obvious. Thanks to an investment over one million leu, again financed by the USAID, over 250 associations of farmers will use energy generated by the new solar panels for the irrigation of over 2,000 hectares of agricultural land. With the financing on behalf of the USAID, we managed to create a network of centers which are model of development for several innovative industries like the Mediacor, Artcor, Tekwill, NORTEK, and there is an upcoming one called GLIA where the Moldovan - young Moldovans can create, innovative, contribute to the economic progress of our country. Inclusively thanks to the American assistance, our wine industry managed to register a progress which is recognized at the world level. The wines of the Republic of Moldova obtained a record number of medals at one of the most prestigious competitions in the whole world also this year. Two hundred thousand Moldovans, they kept their revenues thanks to the progress in this particular area. We managed to upgrade kindergartens, again with the assistance of our American partners. For example, the kindergarten of Cricova (inaudible), or the one of Panasesti, or the one from a locality called Gura Galbenei - that means hundreds of children which are brought up in much better conditions now. The United States of America support us in our fight against corruption. Yes indeed, that is a very difficult, long-lasting fight. However, we are very determined to bring it to an end by sanctioning the ones who try to destabilize Moldova, who try to split up our people. Your country contributes to our own security and stability. Thank you so much for the support, the constant support which the Government of the United States offer us, as well as all American people. As a matter of fact, this way you support us in achieving our dream - Moldova to become a land of guaranteed peace, freedom, well-being for everyone who works in honest manner. Mr. Secretary, I know that you'll fully agree with me. We live now in times where the natural will of the people to live in freedom and in peace is heavily challenged by the adversaries of the democracy. Our neighbors, our friends in Ukraine, pay an outrageous price on a daily basis, a price for a simple aspiration to be free. Their brave fight is, in fact, a fight for our own freedom, the freedom of everyone, of all of us. Thank you so much for supporting Ukraine. Through its resistance, Ukraine is protecting the peace here in Moldova, while the support offered by you to Ukraine means also support for the security of the Republic of Moldova. Our neighbors, Ukraine, European Union, do need a strong and democratic Moldova, a Moldova which will be a very trustworthy partner, a contributor to the security instead of being a gray area. In conclusion, I would insist to mention another area where our collaboration produce a visible outcome for Moldovans as well as for the guests of our country, the protection and rehabilitation of our cultural and touristic heritage. Recently I visited the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Causeni, and I've been impressed by the way in which this ancient historical monument had been rehabilitated. Thank you so much for helping us out, to take such good care of the really important places for our spirituality, for the traditions of the Republic of Moldova. Over 60 rural guest houses had been developed, thanks to USAID. Over 300 kilometers of touristic route had been developed and mapped while Moldova became one of the touristic destinations - a top touristic destinations for all those who are looking less known, less discovered itineraries. The President Roosevelt used to say that what makes us a great nation is not what we have, but the way in which we use what we have. And Moldova is, indeed, a very alive confirmation of those words, of those statements. Moldova definitely succeeds to build upon our heritage, on our legacy a free and peaceful future, where every single citizen offered a chance of a fruitful life. Thank you once again so much for the whole support offered to us as well as for long-lasting friendship. Now we pass the floor to Mr. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Madam President, thank you so much. Thank you for (inaudible) important words. Thank you for welcoming us back to Moldova. It's very good to be here. And I have to say at the start how grateful we are for your leadership. And I see this in so many other countries, too - an admiration for everything you're doing in challenging times, challenging circumstances, to lead Moldova forward. Two years ago, when I was here, as you mentioned, we discussed how to build a vibrant, inclusive country, anchored in Europe, anchored in the West, living in peace, with Moldovans deciding their own future. And despite the many challenges that you face, you've taken important, strong, concrete steps further down that path, in a direction that will create a strong, positive future for Moldovans - strengthening the energy sector; combatting corruption; beginning the process of acceding to the European Union. Here today, we want to continue to build on all the progress that you've made. I'm glad that we'll soon conclude negotiations for a new embassy compound here. I think that, both symbolically and practically, reflects the depth of our relationship and provides a foundation with which to deepen it and to continue to move forward together. Now, what's so powerful here is the deep and deep-rooted commitment to democracy and, again, to Moldovans deciding their own future, and this, in the face of bullying from Russia, of interference, efforts to spread misinformation, disinformation, weaponizing corruption, manufacturing anti-government protests - despite that, we've seen extraordinary resilience from Moldova's leadership and especially from its people. The United States and many of our partners and your partners have deployed sanctions against those who are seeking to undermine Moldova's democracy and, as important, we've also been working with many other countries to provide you the support that you need to continue to move the country forward. Just going back to February of 2022 following the Russian re-invasion of Ukraine, the United States has provided $774 million to strengthen Moldovan institutions, to build resilience, and to enable you to push back more effectively against destabilizing actions coming from Russia. I mentioned already disinformation; some of the things that we've been working on together with you include training, providing analytical tools under a memorandum of understanding that we signed in October of last year. We're helping to harden Moldova against cyber attacks, supporting a cyber security academy to train a new generation of Moldovans in cyber security. I think that will be to the benefit of the government but also the private sector, where the skills that they require will make them very attractive candidates for good jobs. And then, of course, strengthening, bolstering a free media, and helping to support your efforts to clean up the justice system. Today I am announcing that we'll be working with our Congress to provide an additional $50 million to further advance these efforts, from reforming the energy and agricultural sectors to pushing back further against disinformation. That in turn will bolster the ability of Moldovans to resist Russian interference, to hold free and fair elections, to continue down the path to the European Union and Western integration, to create more economic opportunity. We're partnering closely to support economic and energy security. The Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid have exacerbated Moldova's own energy challenges - raising electricity prices, hurting business and harming consumers. The partnership that we have to reduce Moldova's dependence on Russian energy, to enhance connectivity with Europe, to increase the use of renewables - all of that, is moving forward. And we've seen you take remarkable steps in a short period of time to move away from this dependence. Over the last couple of years, we've provided about $110 million in direct budget support to help compensate for the fact that you have to deal with higher electricity prices. A little later today I'll have a chance to tour one of your main sub stations here. And I'm happy to announce that we will also be dedicating $85 million - part of the $300 million USAID effort to support energy infrastructure - to help you enhance things like battery storage, as well as the high voltage transmission lines that we've already dedicated some funds to. And that in turn will strengthen your energy resilience, strengthen your grid. The gas corridor as well from Greece to Moldova will further help wean you off of Russian energy. And all of this is also a shift to a more diversified economy. Right now, 80 percent of Moldova's exports go to Europe, the United States, to countries other than Russia. And we want to now use some of the support that we're giving to help you grow sectors for export, including the agricultural sector, the IT sector; and also to offer entrepreneurs training, investing in technology so that young people can have a future here in Moldova. Finally, let me just say how grateful we are for the incredible solidarity that Moldova has shown to Ukraine in its hour of need. Moldovans have firsthand experience with these challenges, and it's why they've stood so strongly with the Ukrainian people. Truly, a small country with a big heart - welcoming over a million Ukrainian refugees since the war began, giving them access to shelter, to jobs, to health care, to education; facilitating the shipment of Ukrainian grain and goods; training Ukrainian de-miners and border officials. I think Moldovans are acutely aware that what happens in Ukraine matters not just to Ukrainians, but to Moldovans, too, and for that matter to people around the world - in Europe and well beyond because we know that if we allow this aggression against Ukraine to proceed with impunity, then would-be aggressors everywhere will believe it's open season for them to commit aggression, and of course Russia would not stop at Ukraine. That's why we've been standing so strongly with Ukraine. And I'm happy to get into more of that later, but I think we're having a strong and very positive effect. Madam President, when I was last here, you said - and I quote - "a stronger, more resilient Moldova can become a pole of stability, [a pole of] development in the region - a trustworthy partner as well as a stronghold of the free world." I think that the path that the people of Moldova are on is exactly that. And I'm here to reaffirm, on behalf of President Biden and the United States, our commitment - the strong commitment of the United States to Moldova's sovereignty and to Moldova's success. Thank you. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Dear colleagues, now we'll have the session of questions and answers. So, let's start with colleagues of the American media. QUESTION: Hi. Good evening. Thank you for this opportunity. Mr. Secretary, you just mentioned that Russia would not stop at Ukraine, so going to follow up on some of the things that have happened in recent days. Of course there's been the battlefield situation in Ukraine, there's been the (inaudible) border demarcation of Estonia, the foreign influence law in Georgia. To both of you, Madam President and Mr. Secretary, what's the risk factor you now see from Russia? Are you concerned about a more direct challenge to Moldova at this time? And more specifically, Mr. Secretary, in recent days a number of leaders - President Macron, Chancellor Shultz, Secretary General Stoltenberg - have spoken about potentially letting Ukraine use Western arms to strike directly on Russian soil when Russia is directly targeting Ukraine. You've been publicly reported to be the most forward-leaning senior American official to be pushing for that. Do you think President Biden can be persuaded to agree on that? Thank you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Do you want me to start? Thanks, Shaun. So first, let's focus on what we're actually seeing in Ukraine, and not only where we are but where we're going. First, when it comes to the Russian offensive in the northeast directed at Kharkiv, taking advantage in part of the fact that the supplemental budget request the President made was so long delayed in its passage by our Congress, but happily now that budget request was passed, and not only was it passed - the actual arms equipment, support that comes with it is on the move and being delivered to Ukrainians. And we're seeing that have a real effect, including in stabilizing the front and in clearly denying Putin what he was after, which is to try to take Kharkiv, to create at the very least massive flight from the city. We do not see that happening. On the contrary, I think what we see, again, is a stabilize - a stabilization of the front and a failure in terms of Putin's objectives if it comes to taking Kharkiv or causing the flight of its citizens. And as we look forward to the weeks ahead and the months ahead, we now have 32 countries that have either completed or will soon complete bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. And that will help ensure, over an extensive period of time, that Ukraine can develop a future force that can effectively deter aggression or deal with it if it comes anyway. And you will see those come to conclusion in the coming weeks. We're heading to the NATO summit in the United States, where, without getting into the details - and I'll be going to the foreign ministers meeting to help further prepare for that summit - I think you'll see very strong deliverables, as we would call them, for Ukraine in terms of its further integration with NATO. You're seeing, on the battlefield, the effect of different weapons systems that we and others have provided to Ukraine. We're working hard as well to make sure that we can find ways to access the sovereign assets of Russia that are now frozen primarily in Europe. And there, again, I anticipate that in the coming weeks and months, certainly by the G7, we'll see further steps in - in that direction. We are working hard to deliver more air defenses to Ukraine, and I'm confident we'll see progress in that area as well. It's a long way of saying that in the coming weeks, in the coming months, I think you're only going to see greater resilience coming from Ukrainians and all those who support Ukraine. And if you project out over the next period of time, we are on the path to help ensure that Ukraine is a success, a country that stands strongly on its own feet militarily, economically, democratically. And that's the ultimate rebuke to Mr. Putin and it also tells him very clearly that he cannot and will not outlast Ukraine, outlast Ukraine's supporters. So, I think that's a reality, a trajectory that people should have well in mind and that should give them real confidence in the future. And again, the support that I see and that will manifest itself among so many countries for Ukraine remains strong, remains resolute - matched only, or maybe even surpassed only by the resolve of the Ukrainian people themselves. We're committed to Ukraine succeeding as a country, we're committed to Ukraine winning the war, and I think we've shown that through the support that we've provided, and many other countries have provided. We haven't encouraged or enabled strikes outside of Ukraine, but Ukraine, as I've said before, has to make its own decisions about the best way to effectively defend itself. We're going to make sure that it has the equipment it needs to do that. And another hallmark of our support for Ukraine over these now more than two years has been to adapt. As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how it's pursuing its aggression, escalation, we've adapted and adjusted too, and I'm confident we'll continue to do that. Madam President. PRESIDENT SANDU: Given that we have presidential elections and (inaudible) EU integration, we expect to see more Russia's interference, more attempts by Russia to interfere, and we already see it. And this of course is disinformation, this is cyber threats, this is destabilization, this is using the criminal groups, the corrupt groups in Moldova to bring into Moldova Russian money, and then to use this money for the destabilization but also trying to bribe the elections. We have seen what happened last year in the Gagauz autonomy, when Kremlin using dirty money managed to get control over the autonomy. And now Kremlin is trying to use this group of people in the Gagauz autonomy to destabilize the country. So, we have seen, we have dealt with some of this attempts in the past. We've managed to resist and to make our institutions more resilient. But we do expect the situation to get more difficult in the next few months, given that we have elections. MODERATOR: (In Moldovan.) Olivia Gazis, CBS. QUESTION: Thank you very much, Madam President, Mr. Secretary. Just to be clear, Mr. Secretary, when you say the U.S. will adapt and adjust to conditions on the battlefield in Ukraine, are you signaling a greater openness by the United States to allow Ukrainians to strike legitimate military Russian targets in Russia? And as the U.S. has hesitated about where the Ukrainians can strike, numerous credible reports say that the U.S. provided the very precision munitions that resulted in the deaths of dozens of innocent Palestinian civilians, including children, at that refugee camp outside of Rafah. The NSM report that your department largely issued already assessed that Israel's military is likely not doing all that it can to minimize civilian harm. So, were American weapons used in Sunday's strike? And are you urging President Biden to reevaluate any U.S. weapons shipments to Israel in light of its recent actions in and around Rafah? And if I may, sir, today Israel's national security advisor said that the military offensive in Gaza would last at least through the end of this year. Is that acceptable to your administration, to the Biden administration? Madam President, the U.S. has been accused of moving too slowly to meet the urgent battlefield needs of Ukraine, even now apparently resisting calls by Kyiv and other Western allies to loosen conditions on where U.S. weapons can be used. Meanwhile, this virtually unconditional support for Israel has prompted some of its allies to say the U.S. is evincing a double standard. Do you see it that way? And how confident are you in the reliability of American support for countries like yours, known to be in President Putin's sites, now and after U.S. elections in November? Thank you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Olivia. With regard to Ukraine, adapt and adjust means exactly that. I think what you've seen over the last two-plus years is - as the nature of the battlefield has changed, as the locations, the means that Russia is employing have changed - we've adapted and adjusted to that, including, for example, by the different kinds of weapons systems that we and allies and partners have provided to Ukraine. When this - before this started, before the Russian aggression, when we saw it coming, President Biden made sure, for example, in drawdowns that he did months before the Russian aggression, the Ukrainians had Stingers and Javelins, which were instrumental in making sure that they could ward off the effort to take Kyiv and erase the country from the map. And at every step along the way, we've adapted and adjusted as necessary, and so that's exactly what we'll do going forward. We're always listening, we're always learning, and we're always making determinations about what's necessary to make sure that Ukraine can effectively continue to defend itself. And we'll continue to do that. With regard to Rafah, the incident a couple of days ago was horrific. I don't think anyone who has seen the images cannot be deeply affected by them just on a basic human level. We have been very clear with Israel on the imperative in this instance, as in other instances, to immediately investigate and determine exactly what happened and why it happened - and if accountability is necessary, to make sure that there is accountability. I can't tell you as we meet here this evening what weapons were used or how they were used. All of that needs to be the product of a deliberate but also fast investigation, and we'll await the results. I think we also know something else - we've heard from the Israelis, but again, absent a complete investigation, I can't verify any of this - that small-diameter weapons were used in a targeted fashion to go after specific terrorist leaders of Hamas. Again, I can't vouch for that in this moment. We have to see what the investigation shows. But just assuming for a moment that that's the case, that that's what happened, I think we also see that even limited, focused, targeted attacks designed to deal with terrorists who've killed innocent civilians and are plotting to kill more - even those kind of operations can have terrible, horrific, unintended consequences. And I think it's very important in this moment, after Israel has had real success in helping to destroy Hamas's capacity to repeat October 7th, which was a very appropriate and very righteous objective, it has to ask whether - and especially in the absence of a plan for the day after in Gaza - further incremental gains against Hamas, but gains that may not be durable in terms of Hamas's defeat in the absence of a plan - how that stacks up against some of the, again, unintended but horrific consequences of military action in a place where the people you're going after are so closely embedded with civilians. And I think this underscores the imperative of having a plan for the day after, because in the absence of a plan for the day after, there won't be a day after. And this is where we need to go. And we need to get as quickly as possible a plan for the day after that does not leave Israel responsible for Gaza, which it says it does not want to be. But if it is, it will simply have an enduring insurgency on its hands for as far as one can see into the future. Or not - if not, Hamas will be left in charge, which is unacceptable. Or if not, we'll have chaos, lawlessness, and a vacuum that eventually will be filled again by Hamas or maybe something, if it's possible to imagine, even worse - jihadis. So, I think the imperative, the urgency of having a clear plan, one that can actually help ensure the enduring defeat of Hamas - which is a shared objective and should be everyone's objective - is urgent, is imperative, and a plan that accounts for security in Gaza, that accounts for governance in Gaza, and that accounts for rebuilding the lives of the Gazan people. QUESTION: Anything on conditions on weapons to Israel, sir, and then the duration of the offensive, as the National Security Advisor said? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Again, let me leave it at that. And with regard to the remarks, I think what I've just said underscores, in our judgment, the urgency and importance of developing a plan that can actually produce the results that Israel, we, and so many others believe are necessary, which is the effective, durable defeat of Hamas. And we've shared many ideas with Israel about how to do that in an effective and sustainable way. PRESIDENT SANDU: We do appreciate all the support that is provided to Ukraine by U.S. and by other countries. We do see that Ukraine needs more support. Ukraine didn't start this war. Ukraine is defending itself and Ukraine is defending Moldova, and we believe that Ukraine should be offered all the support it needs, not just to resist but also to win this war. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Now we're going to pick up two questions from the Moldovan media. QUESTION: (Via interpreter) So good day. Svetlana Gore from Moldova. A question for Mr. Secretary of State. Recently the Republic of Moldova and European Union signed a pact for the security and defense, through which they expect to protect the Republic of Moldova against the hybrid threats of the Russian Federation. The question is: Have the United States considered signing a similar pact with the Republic of Moldova? Another question is: If the power in Washington changes after the presidential elections, will that affect somehow the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine? And for Ms. President Sandu, with your permit, will you request from the United States some guarantees of security for the Republic of Moldova, and under which conditions? Thank you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: With regard to hybrid attacks, the Moldovan people are on the receiving end of those attacks on a regular basis. Russia is trying to undermine Moldova, undermine its democratic institutions, undermining its ability to make decisions about its own future, using a whole variety of hybrid means. And I think Moldova has done a remarkable job in countering many of those attacks in a very professional manner. Much of the assistance that we've provided over the last two and a half years - about $775 million - has gone to helping Moldova build resilience against these kinds of attacks, and so I think we're already engaged in a - whatever we want to call it - in a - in committed, sustained support for Moldova to do, among other things, effective resistance against these attacks. Now, one of the other things that's so important is sharing information about disinformation and misinformation, which is one of the most potent hybrid tools that Russia uses. And that's something that we are doing. We have an agreement that we reached, a memorandum of understanding that allows us to do that - to both share the information, to make clear what we're seeing, also to help Moldova develop even more tools, more effective tools to deal with misinformation, to deal with manipulation of information. And this is something we discussed again just this evening. With regard to elections, I don't do politics; I just do policy. But what I can say is this: just take a look at Ukraine. Yes, it was delayed, it should have gone more quickly, our supplemental, but when it passed it passed on an overwhelming bipartisan basis, both houses of our Congress - Senate and the House. And if you look at public opinion surveys, you see strong enduring support for Ukraine, and more broadly for the United States playing a lead role in defending democracies when they're under attack - when they're under threat. And I think that is very much where the American people are, and that's where I believe they'll remain. PRESIDENT SANDU: (Via interpreter) Indeed, the Republic of Moldova has a strategic partnership with the United States. Our whole collaboration takes place within this very framework. At the same time, our cooperation is guided by the constitutional framework of the Republic of Moldova. This is additionally to all those paths and interventions, which have been mentioned by the Secretary of State. We have indeed a substantial cooperation in the field of defense, in the field of protection. So, this cooperation started some years ago. So, speaking about those elements of cooperation, we will continue exactly with those ones. QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Good evening, Mr. Secretary State, Ms. President. I represent the Ziarul de Garda. So, the ambassador of United States in the Republic of Moldova stated that currently you work on a more extended package of sanctions against the Moldovan oligarchs. Can you elaborate what sort of sanctions you expect to see in the context where we can see that some of those pro-Russian oligarchs, which by the way are now exactly traveling in the Russian Federation, they're included in the list of sanctions? They still can promote their very propagandistic discourses using some American platforms like Meta. They pay hundreds of thousand of dollars to those platforms. Do you intend to intervene into that? Do you intend to dwell with that? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very much. It's pretty straightforward. We have used sanctions to go against those who seek or have tried to undermine Moldova's democracy. As we develop information necessary to support sanctions, we'll continue to do just that. PRESIDENT SANDU: (Via interpreter) The institutions in charge of digital information in the Republic of Moldova, they (inaudible) collecting this information, this intelligence, and they pass it over to the authorities in Washington. And of course, the decision comes from Washington, depending upon the documentation and depending upon how elaborate those informations. I've seen some decisions already in the past. This element of cooperation is extremely important to our fight against corruption, especially in the context when the Republic of Moldova is now undergoing a full-fledged reform of all the institutions which are meant to combat corruption. We're also in a full-fledged reform of the judiciary, and at this phase our institutions are not fully efficient yet or - let me say they're not efficient to an extent to be capable to cope alone with these sort of issues. Therefore, the support of the United States is very important in this context, especially since all issues related to corruption, they - they are crossing borders of all the countries. This is where we need to find some joint solutions. QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Excuse me, Mr. Secretary of State, Mr. Blinken, are there any ways through which the United States could step in in order to stop, in order to prevent Meta in promoting this sort of information, or rather disinformation? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So, this is a question that's - that's very complicated and in some ways beyond my own jurisdiction and my own remit. We always urge any of the social media platforms to make sure that they're - that they're applying their own rules, and most of them have the necessary rules - terms of service, as they're called. And so certainly we look and expect platforms to do just that. And where it's appropriate for us to share any information with them, of course we'll do that. But they act independently. They make their own decisions. And again, we hope and expect that they'll follow their own rules, and if information is brought to them about the abuse of their platforms, that they'll take necessary action. MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Dear colleagues, our event is over. Now we'll invite the two officials to take a joint photo. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy Secretary Verma's Meeting with Colombian President Petro US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson May 29, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma met Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Bogota, Colombia, on the margins of the 11th U.S.-Colombia High-Level Dialogue. Deputy Secretary Verma and President Petro reaffirmed their governments' commitment to addressing issues of shared priority, such as bolstering regional democracy, peacebuilding, and human rights; enhancing equitable economic and social opportunities; mitigating the effects of climate change; strengthening citizen security and countering narcotics production and trafficking; enhancing people-to-people ties; and humanely managing irregular migration across the hemisphere. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "Not only the humanity, but also the UN, along with its spirit, has died in Gaza" Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey 29.05.2024 Addressing AK Party's parliamentary group meeting, President Erdogan drew attention to Israel's attack on a refugee camp in Rafah, and said: "If the future of the world is to be left to the discretion of five countries, what are all those giant buildings for? Why bother spending that much money, or employing that many people? The United Nations has failed to protect its own personnel and aid workers, let alone stop the genocide. Not only the humanity, but also the UN, along with its spirit, has died in Gaza." President and Justice and Development (AK) Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a speech at the party's parliamentary group meeting. Stating that they have been working selflessly to build the Century of Turkiye and to win the confidence of the entire 85 million, President Erdogan said following the Presidential Cabinet meeting next Monday they will share with the public the annual report of the government, and that they will explain the services and projects they have introduced in the past year. "NO RELIGION CAN JUSTIFY SUCH ATROCITY" Touching upon the latest developments in Palestine, President Erdogan stressed that the genocide Israel has been carrying out in Gaza has entered even a much bloodier stage with the attacks in Rafah, where millions of civilians have taken shelter, and added: "At least 45 innocent Palestinians were martyred in the attack carried out the previous day on the tents in the so-called safe zone, where civilians are struggling for their lives." Stressing that no religion can justify such atrocity, President Erdogan noted that no faith or no ideology, no matter how deviant it is, can justify the beheading of a baby or burning at the stake of innocent civilians, and added: "The world is watching, what is more they are watching live the barbarity of a sick person, a maniac, a psychopath, the vampire called Netanyahu that feeds on blood. I am calling out to the US administration! This blood has stained you as well. You are as responsible as Israel for this genocide. I am calling out to European heads of state and government! You are complicit in this genocide, this barbarity, this vampirism of Israel, because you have kept silent." "ISRAEL HAS KILLED THE HUMANITY IN GAZA" Underscoring that not only humanity and innocent children die in Gaza, President Erdogan noted that not only a genocide takes place in Gaza, and went on to say: "As the humanity dies in Gaza, democracy, human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of press, women's rights and children's rights die in Europe. From now on, no European should talk about democracy, human rights, freedom of speech, or freedom of press, shaking their finger with pride. Israel has killed the humanity in Gaza, whereas Europe has killed its own values, stomped on all the values that created itself." Pointing out that they have been crying out on every platform for years that "the World is bigger than five", President Erdogan continued as follows: "I am calling out to the United Nations! If, in the 21st century, you cannot stop a genocide, which the entire humanity is watching live, what do you even do? If the future of the world is to be left to the discretion of five countries, what are all those giant buildings for? Why bother spending that much money, or employing that many people? The United Nations has failed to protect its own personnel and aid workers, let alone stop the genocide. Not only the humanity, but also the UN, along with its spirit, has died in Gaza." "NO ONE IS SAFE UNTIL ISRAEL IS TAKEN UNDER THE CONTROL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW" Urging the Islamic World to take a joint decision, display a determined stance, and defend the rights and lives of the Palestinian people, President Erdogan said: "All living in this geography should know and understand that no one, no country, no state is safe until Israel is taken under the control of international law and sees itself bound by international law. To be honest, that includes Turkiye as well. Do you think this barbarity is limited to Gaza? They will never be satisfied with the blood they have shed. They will never stop as long as their backs are patted. "An Israel that does not recognize laws or rules is a threat to not only Palestine or Gaza, but also the entire humanity and the world. Hitler, whose footsteps have today been followed in by Netanyahu, was stopped by the alliance of the US and the Soviet Union even though it was late. And this genocide, this atrocity, this barbarity must be immediately stopped with the alliance of the humanity before it is too late, before Netanyahu and his gang of murderers become more uncontrollable." "THE JOINT DECISION OF 147 COUNTRIES CANNOT BE LEFT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL" "The fact that Spain, Ireland and Norway have recognized Palestine as a state have revived, at least a little bit, our hopes amid this tragic picture," President Erdogan went on to say, and added: "I congratulate all the friendly countries that have recognized Palestine as a state through a humane and courageous stance. Currently, the state of Palestine is recognized by 147 countries. In other words, more than three quarters of the 193 member countries of the United Nations recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. The joint decision of 147 countries cannot be left to the discretion of the Security Council, which consists of five members. We call on all the friendly and brotherly countries to object to this injustice. I am saying it again: the Word is bigger than five. 147 is bigger than five. Collective conscience of the humanity is bigger than five. "At the moment, Israel is occupying the territories of another country. It must immediately end this occupation and be brought to justice for its deeds. Israel and its supporters assume that this genocide will be forgotten. To be honest, they have managed to make the genocides and massacres they have committed thus far forgotten, particularly in the western public opinion. Yet, this genocide shall not be forgotten. The world shall not forget the babies, children and innocent civilians who have died. This barbarity, which targets hospitals, universities, mosques, churches and refugee camps shall not be forgotten. This brutality, which deliberately murders artists, authors, journalists and scientists shall not be forgotten. We shall never forget, nor let others forget, the mothers who had to collect the pieces of their beloved kids, the fathers who had to put their beloved kids to rest, the orphans who carry the burden of the entire world on their tiny shoulders, or the barbarity displayed since October 7 in Gaza or other Palestinian territories. "ACADEMICS ARE RAISING THEIR VOICES AGAINST THE GENOCIDE" "The youth in many countries across the world, particularly at universities, are currently protesting the genocide. Academics, professors and lecturers are raising their voices against the genocide despite all the tyranny and pressure of the Zionist lobby. Also, they are paying a high price for this cause. Their freedom of expression has been taken away. Their right to assembly and protest has been stolen. Nevertheless, the youth, despite the risk of being expelled from school, are standing in solidarity with Palestine. "Countless artists, athletes, authors and scientists, who have mercy, conscience, eyes and hearts, are becoming the voice of Gaza at all costs. The mask of Zionism is being unveiled all over the world. The youth, in particular, have started to see what a barbaric, brutal and lawless deviancy Zionism is. Frankly, this is also a revolution. I expect this revolution to build a world cleared of Zionist deviancy. I convey our messages of solidarity to anyone across the world who bears Palestine and Gaza in their hearts." Drawing attention to Turkiye's decision to intervene in International Court of Justice's genocide case against Israel, President Erdogan said that they have sent all the documents and information in their hands to relevant officials, and noted: "We see that the Israeli administration and the Zionist lobby seek to put pressure on the ICJ and judges by blatantly threatening them. It mustn't be allowed. Israel must definitely be prevented from destroying the last bit of trust in the manifestation of justice. Neither our region nor the world will find peace until the criminals of genocide are convicted before law just as they were in the conscience of the humanity." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The United Kingdom is appalled by the deeply distressing scenes emerging from Rafah: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East. 29 May 2024 First, the United Kingdom is appalled by the deeply distressing scenes emerging from Rafah following Israeli airstrikes over the weekend. As the Foreign Secretary has said, we call on Israel to launch a swift, comprehensive and transparent investigation. The UK's position is very clear. We do not support a major military operation in Rafah without an acceptable plan to protect the hundreds of thousands of civilians who remain there. We have seen no such plan. Hundreds of thousands have already been displaced from Rafah, many for the second time, and to locations without suitable provision of shelter, food, water and access to medical treatment. We strongly condemn Hamas's actions to put civilians at severe risk by using them as shields. We call on Israel to take care to limit operations to military targets and to minimise harm to civilians and civilian objects in line with international humanitarian law. Second, there is an urgent need to get more aid to the people of Gaza who are in such desperate need. Israel has made a number of commitments in recent weeks to increase the supply of aid, including a commitment to flood Gaza with aid. This included increasing the daily number of trucks of aid entering Gaza to 500, opening Ashdod Port to humanitarian aid, and additional crossing points for aid in North Gaza. While we welcome progress towards these commitments, including the delivery from Ashdod Port into Gaza of flour by WFP, overall progress has been too slow and quantities of aid being delivered remain well below these levels. We welcome the agreement between Egypt and Israel to allow UN agencies to deliver aid, but operations in Rafah have increased the need for aid at a time when flows have been reduced by the closure of the Rafah crossing point, and reduced deliveries of aid through Kerem Shalom. The humanitarian situation is now catastrophic. We call on Israel urgently to fulfil these commitments, to allow aid in quantity through all crossing points, including Rafah, and also to ensure an environment within Gaza that allows aid to reach those who so desperately need it. This includes an effective deconfliction system to allow humanitarian workers to distribute it safely, and supporting the minimum operating requirements of the UN and its agencies. Finally, President, all of this could stop now if Hamas laid down their arms. They are causing this suffering to the Palestinian people. We call on Hamas to immediately release all of the hostages that have now been held for over seven months. We urgently need to see a deal which stops the fighting, allows for unhindered access for life saving aid into Gaza and gets the hostages out. We must then work with our international partners to turn that pause into a sustainable, permanent ceasefire. I thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 29 May 2024 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. ** Middle East Good afternoon. A couple of notes today, not a ton of new stuff for you. Our friend Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council earlier today. He said that as Israel rolls out a significant ground operation in and around Rafah, the devastation is only intensifying. He urged the parties to return to the negotiating table immediately and in good faith. Mr. Wennesland also reiterated the Secretary-General's repeated calls for the immediate release of all hostages being held in Gaza and for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Mr. Wennesland said that unsafe conditions resulting from a dangerously deficient humanitarian notification mechanism are compounded by overcrowding, desperation and a breakdown of law and order, imperilling humanitarian operations and costing the lives of our humanitarian colleagues including almost 200 UN staff. He added that large-scale Israeli operations persist in the West Bank, which are often met by lethal exchanges with armed Palestinians, as well as a spike in settler violence and attacks by Palestinians against Israelis. Mr. Wennesland said that the UN remains in regular contact with the mediators and parties, and we are committed to supporting the implementation of an agreement. A sustained ceasefire will be critical to a full-scale humanitarian and early recovery response to meet the immediate needs of people in Gaza, he said. Mr. Wennesland is here in person and he has agreed to come to the stakeout after the closed consultations, so we will let you know, and please be there. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Turning to the situation actually on the ground in Gaza, our colleagues in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tell us that, as widespread Israeli bombardment continues to be reported, ground incursions and heavy fighting are also affecting northern, central and southern Gaza. OCHA says the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza has dropped by 67 per cent since 7 May. This is due to the closure of the Rafah crossing, the inability to safely and consistently pick up commodities that have been dropped off on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Abu Salem crossing, and limited deliveries through other entry points. Our humanitarian colleagues also tell us that health, humanitarian relief and social services in Rafah are being forced to close, one after the other. This is due to the expanding fighting in Rafah, insecurity, evacuation orders, and the need to channel resources to areas where displaced people are trying to seek shelter. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that just one hospital in Rafah that's the Al Emirati Maternity Hospital remains partially functional. Despite intense hostilities, we and our partners continue to do all we can to support hospitals with critical supplies. On Monday, the World Health Organization and partners delivered supplies to Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. This included 15,000 litres of fuel and more than a dozen hospital beds, as well as medicines and trauma supplies for some 1,500 people. Dr. Tedros [Adhanom Ghebreyesus], the Director-General of WHO, said the destruction of roads and lack of fuel and safe access for missions in Gaza continue to impede movements to northern Gaza. ** Sudan Turning to Sudan and to the incredibly dire situation in that country: Our colleagues at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) say that now more than 7 million men, women and children are displaced inside Sudan. These movements have been happening since the conflict broke out in April 2023. More than half of the displaced are children. That's in addition to some 2 million people who have fled across borders into neighbouring countries. For our part, we and our humanitarian partners continue to ramp up efforts to respond to rising hunger and food insecurity across the country. The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that 1,200 metric tons of food supplies for some 116,000 men, women and children are currently being transported across Darfur. They are nearing their final destinations, which is Central Darfur and 12 locations across South Darfur, including displacement camps in Nyala. This is the World Food Programme convoy we told you about last week that crossed into Sudan from Chad via the Tine crossing. Elsewhere in Sudan, food distributions are ongoing for 135,000 people in South Kordofan near the border with South Sudan. WFP reiterates that this aid must safely reach the vulnerable communities it is intended for. ** Democratic Republic of the Congo In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our peacekeeping colleagues report increased activity outside of Beni, in North Kivu, by members of the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) armed group. In the past few days, there have been multiple attacks resulting in the killing of civilians. In response, our peacekeepers deployed patrols to the affected areas and they are continuing to actively monitor the situation. Meanwhile, in South Kivu, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has closed its base in Sange, as part of the disengagement plan agreed with the Congolese authorities. As we mentioned, the Mission continues to implement its protection of civilians' mandate in North Kivu and Ituri, but not in South Kivu. ** Central African Republic And in neighbouring Central African Republic, our peacekeeping colleagues from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) have deployed peacekeepers to Bambouti in the Haut-Mbomou region to protect civilians and help stabilize the area. That part of the country between Bambouti and Zemio in the south-east, close to the borders with the Congo and South Sudan, has witnessed a series of clashes between two armed groups in the past month those are the UPC [Unite pour la PaixenCentrafrique] and the Azande militia. Many civilians have been killed because of these clashes between these armed groups. The deployment of peacekeepers in Bambouti also puts in place the conditions to secure the national road linking the cities in the southeast to facilitate delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid. The Mission has also intensified patrols in the area to improve security and protection. ** Global Employment A couple of additional notes. A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva predicts that global unemployment will fall slightly this year. The rate will stand at 4.9 per cent, down from 5.0 per cent last year. Warning that inequalities in labour markets persist, the report's detailed figures show that women, especially in low-income countries, are disproportionately impacted by the lack of job opportunities. Meanwhile, women in high-income countries earn 73 cents compared to a dollar earned by men. This report reveals critical employment challenges that must be addressed. More online. ** Artificial Intelligence I have a note for you on Artificial Intelligence. Our colleagues at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are organizing and hosting the "AI for Good Global Summit" starting today in Geneva. That is on the UN's first AI Governance Day to discuss how best to implement principled AI frameworks while ensuring that no country is left behind. The Secretary-General will send a video message, that will air tomorrow and we will share that with you. He will underscore the importance of building safe and inclusive AI that is accessible to all. There will also be events during the Summit featuring innovations in generative AI, robotics, and brain-machine interfaces. I think I need a brain machine interface! ** Peacekeepers Day While we are marking it tomorrow, today is the actual International Day of UN Peacekeepers. It is observed this year under the theme "Fit for the future, building better together." This year's International Day looks at the invaluable contributions that military, police and civilian peacekeepers have made over the last seven decades. As we mentioned yesterday, there will be a few events to mark this important Day. Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will lay a wreath to honour all UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948. Also, as a reminder, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, will be our esteemed guest. ** Questions and Answers Spokesman : Anade? Question : Thank you, Steph. I just wanted to follow up on the remarks you made yesterday. You said 43 trucks had made it into Gaza through Kerem Shalom. Has there been an update on that number? And do you have any granular details about what's in the trucks? Spokesman : No, I don't have an update on those numbers. And those were trucks that were picked up from the Palestinian side because, you know, they... I will try to get a packing list for you. Please. Question : Okay. The White House Security Council Spokesperson yesterday said that Israel is investigating the Rafah strike. I would like to ask you, will the result of the investigation also be shared with UN? Spokesman : We have... no information has been shared with us on that part. Yeah. Dezhi and then Benno. Question : Today the Israeli National Security Adviser said that the operation on Rafah might continue until the end of this year. Does the UN... first, what's the UN's response to this? Spokesman : I mean, it's not so much a response as our position is that we'd like to see a humanitarian ceasefire yesterday. So we can't predict what will happen. We're seeing an intensification of the military operation in Gaza. We want a humanitarian ceasefire, because civilians need a humanitarian ceasefire to be able to feel safe, to be able to get the humanitarian aid they need, and for the hostages to be released and for the families of the hostages to see their ordeal end. Question : I guess what I'm trying to ask is, with the deteriorating situation now already, if that continues, what is the ability for the UN to still operate in Gaza? Spokesman : Well, I mean, you can self-answer that question. In a sense, we've been talking every day about the deteriorating conditions under which we operate not just the fact that the fighting is continuing, the fact that the Rafah border crossing remains closed. We saw that the floating pier is now inoperable. The telecommunications companies in Gaza are running out of fuel, which means that there will be no mobile phone service, no access to the Internet, which will directly not only impact civilians, but directly impact our ability to operate. Every day that this conflict goes on, our operations become more and more challenging, more and more difficult, more and more dangerous for our colleagues. Question : And yesterday, Algeria submitted another draft resolution to the Security Council on the situation in Gaza, particularly in Rafah. Will the Secretary-General support that draft resolution? Spokesman : You know well, Dezhi, that these resolutions are for up the Member States and their wisdom to decide what to do with that. Our message to the world, our message to the Security Council, our message to the parties, our message to the countries in the region and beyond has remained the same. Correspondent : That draft resolution demands the halt of the military operation in Rafah, which the Secretary-General urged. It demands ceasefire and release of hostages. That's also what the Secretary-General calls for. Spokesman : It sounds like your story is written then. Correspondent : Okay. Okay. Spokesman : Benno? Correspondent : My story isn't written yet. Spokesman : It is written. Question : A senior Israeli official has said that the Gaza war, he expects it to continue till the rest of the year. When you heard that, how, what was your reaction? Spokesman : Well, your friend Dezhi just asked the question 45 seconds ago. Correspondent : Oh, I never asked you. I'm sorry. I have another question. Spokesman : So your story is in fact written. Question : Yes, I guess, so. Okay. Did we also talk about the pier, which is not functional right now? Spokesman : I did mention that, too. Question : But, like, what happens to the ships right now? Spokesman : So, we are not operating the ships. We are picking up things as they come on. 137 trucks were delivered, were taken by the World Food Programme (WFP) from the floating pier to their warehouse in Deir al Balah. So that was from the period of operation of the floating pier. That's what we got out of it. Obviously, as soon as it becomes operable again, we very much hope to get more trucks. But I will say this again and again that it is not a substitute for the reopening of all the crossings, land crossings. Question : Do you have any timeline there or at least a hope that it will be operable in the next days? Spokesman : We didn't build it. We very much hope that the Americans will be able to repair it and make it functional as quickly as possible. Volodymyr? Correspondent : Thank you, Stephane. Last week we saw some chaotic actions by Russia regarding the peace issue. The Kremlin sources... Spokesman : Regarding what? Sorry. Question : Regarding sort of peace issue. Peace process. The Kremlin sources practice information about the readiness for peace, and at the same time, Russia refuted them with the bombing of Kharkiv and statements by Moscow officials. So does the Secretary-General see any signs of Russian ruler [Vladimir] Putin's desire to end the war? Spokesman : I will leave that analysis to analysts and journalists. We continue to advocate for an end to this conflict, in line with the General Assembly resolutions, in line with all other resolutions and the recognition of Ukraine's territorial integrity. And we will continue to do whatever we can to reach that goal. Stefano Vaccara? Correspondent : Grazie mille. Thank you so much, Stephane. I wasn't around for a couple of days... Spokesman : But the briefing transcript was. Correspondent : I know, but I couldn't even look at a transcript. Spokesman : I have that feeling sometimes, too. Yeah. Yeah. Question : So I don't know if they asked you already. Did the Secretary-General read the report by the Guardian about the ICC [International Criminal Court]? What does he think? Spokesman : He's aware of the report and any... I mean, we have no way to corroborate it, but if there was any intimidation against international civil servants fulfilling their mandate, it is unacceptable. Question : But did they have any communication with prosecutor [Karim] Khan about this? Spokesman : He did not. Question : The second question is, did the Secretary-General listen to what actor Robert De Niro said yesterday Downtown Manhattan? He didn't even hear...? Spokesman : I can tell you that he did not see... Question : Okay, so the question is that, does the Secretary-General think that in this country, democracy will be in danger if Donald Trump get re-elected at the White House? Spokesman : The Secretary-General will not interject himself in the presidential campaign, and he has full faith in the institutions of this country. Speaking of full faith, Anade? Question : Can we get an update on the OIOS [Office of Internal Oversight Services] investigation? I think the last update, you said they were going back to Israel for more information. So my question is, you did mention in the last update that a number of cases were suspended due to lack of information. Have they now received enough information through their travels in Israel? Spokesman : I will tell you the truth is that I've asked for an update, and one will be given to me in due time. But I don't have anything to share with you, madame. And then we'll go to Mushfique. Question : It's not about Gaza. Is that okay? Spokesman : Yeah, please. Question : It's about the humanitarian situation in Papua New Guinea. So just want to clarify which UN agencies are currently on the ground. Spokesman : I know that the International Organization for Migration is there, UNICEF [United Nations Children's Fund] is there and others. But I was hoping to have an update for you, but I will try to have one either later today or tomorrow. Question : Alright, thank you. Spokesman : You're welcome, Mushfique and then Iftikar. Question : Thank you, Stephane. Has the Bangladeshi authority agreed to accept more Rohingya refugees, given the Government's declaration that they will not accept any more? And also, what is the United Nations response to the allegation of the forcible removal of Rohingya refugees from India to Bangladesh, as detailed in the recent submission by Guernica 37 Chambers to the International Criminal Court? Spokesman : On your first question, I haven't seen any of these reports. You should check with our colleagues at UNHCR [United Nations Refugee Agency]. Obviously, Bangladesh is being a very generous host to a very large Rohingya population. And I think the host communities in Bangladesh have been very generous, and we very much hope the international community will continue to support our humanitarian operations there. On your second question, I haven't seen anything. But I can tell you that we firmly stand against any forcible removal of refugees back to places that are not safe. Refugees should be able to go home voluntarily in a safe and dignified manner. Iftikhar Ali? Question : Thank you, Steph. I was a bit late in joining, but did you give an update on the casualty figures in Sunday's Israeli strike in Rafah? Spokesman : I did not. I did not, and I do not have one. Question : Juliette Touma yesterday mentioned about 200 killed. Is that figure confirmed? ...As Juliette Touma yesterday said, that 200, up to 200 persons have been killed, according to medical sources. Do you confirm that figure? Spokesman : I do not have anything. I don't have anything more than what she said. Question : And secondly, how do you respond to a statement like what Nikki Haley, the former US Ambassador to UN, said yesterday? She wrote on the Israeli tank shell, "Finish them". Spokesman : Look, we don't comment on what every private citizen does. We continue to focus on peace. Correspondent : She's a former UN Ambassador, and... Spokesman : I'm well aware of who she is, Iftikhar, but I will not comment. I will refer you to what I've just said. Thank you. Benno Schwinghammer? Question : I just want to ask if you have an update of your planning for the peace summit, the Ukrainian peace summit? Spokesman : The UN is an observer. We will be represented; exactly what that representation will look like, I'll share with you as soon as I can. Question : Will you represent it on a higher level or lower? Spokesman : As soon as I have details on the representation and from which you will be able to deduce the level, I will share that with you. On that note, I wish you well. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNRWA Situation Report #110 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - All information from 23-26 May 2024, is valid as of 26 May 2024 UNRWA 29 May 2024 Key Points Ongoing strikes by Israeli Forces, encompassing aerial, land and maritime bombardment across the Gaza Strip. These result in civilian casualties, displacement and the destruction of residential structures and civilian infrastructure. The Israeli ground offensive continues to expand, particularly in the southern regions of Gaza City and eastern Rafah, notably around the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah Crossings. Aid operations in Gaza continue to be disrupted by telecommunications network outages and and internet service providers in carrying out repair works. This is due to damaged infrastructure, limited access to fuel and the conflict overall. On 26 May, a strike hit the informal site in close vicinity to the UNRWA Logistics Base in Rafah. Initial reports indicate that there are approximately 50 casualties among the displaced people. The exact numbers are yet to be confirmed. UNRWA has not been able to access the site, and internet and communication outages have delayed full verification. The UNRWA Logistics Base and the IDP site that was hit were both located outside Israeli prescribed evacuation zones. Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, posted on his official X account (previously known as Twitter), commenting on the harrowing scenes from Rafah yesterday. The Commissioner-General reiterated that UNRWA is doing everything possible not to interrupt the delivery of humanitarian assistance. However, of the 200 trucks with humanitarian supplies offloaded on the Palestinian side yesterday (26 May), only 30 trucks were picked up due to heavy movement restrictions, ongoing Israeli Forces airstrikes and the launch of rockets by Hamas. Families that have been already displaced several times are on the move again due to military operations and Israeli evacuation orders. As of 26 May 2024, the estimated number of people displaced from Rafah is nearly 945,000 people since 6 May, with a further 100,000 people displaced in northern Gaza. Most UNRWA shelters in Rafah have been vacated, with internally displaced people moving to Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah. As of 26 May 2024, the estimated number of people displaced from Rafah is nearly 945,000 people since 6 May, with a further 100,000 people displaced in northern Gaza. Most UNRWA shelters in Rafah have been vacated, with internally displaced people moving to Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah. According to UNICEF, there has been a significant reduction in clean water production across the Gaza Strip affecting access to water supply service to around 500,000 people. This reduction is attributed to damage to several facilities, including treatment plants, boreholes, and pumping stations, which have been rendered inoperable due to continuous bombardment, shortage of fuel, or inaccessibility for maintenance work. The current Israeli military operation in Rafah is directly impacting the ability of aid agencies to bring critical humanitarian supplies into Gaza as well as the ability to rotate critical humanitarian staff. Some fuel supplies and food aid came through Kerem Shalom on 25/26 May, food supplies remained however inaccessible due to the security situation. Since 5 May 2024, the UN has not been able to maintain presence at Rafah/Kerem Shalom crossings to monitor and count private sector cargo entering/exiting the terminal. Figures reflected from 6 May onwards are for humanitarian aid (UN/INGO) cargo only and excludes commercial activity. Due to the situation on the ground, updates may take some time to be fully reflected on the dashboard, for updates on trucks please check: Gaza Supplies and Dispatch Tracking | UNRWA Gaza Supplies and Dispatch Tracking | UNRWA As of 26 May, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is 192, an increase of one. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem The West Bank, including East Jerusalem update will shift to once a week, every Monday. Between 20 and 26 May there were at least 164 recorded Israeli Security Forces (ISF) search and arrest operations across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. More than 118 Palestinians were detained during this period. There were 16 Palestinians killed, the majority of them during a large-scale ISF operation in Jenin Camp and Jenin city. On 21 May, a major ISF operation started in Jenin camp and Jenin city in the northern West Bank. It concluded on 23 May after nearly 43 hours. In total, there were 12 reported fatalities, including four children. During the operation, ISF personnel forcefully entered and used the UNRWA Health Centre, causing significant damage to both facilities and equipment. The ISF invaded two other UNRWA facilities installations during the operation. At least 30 incidents of Israeli settlers' violence were recorded between 20 and 26 May across the West Bank. On 23 May, settlers established a new settlement outpost at Al 'Auja Spring, near Jericho in the central West Bank. On 25 May, settlers attacked the village of Qusra, in the northern West Bank, leading to clashes between ISF, settlers, and Palestinians. Over 24-25 May, settlers attacked Palestinian farmers, municipality crews and agricultural sites in different locations of the southern West Bank, including Al Maniya, Bani Na'im, Al Khadr and Kisan. One Palestinian farmer was shot by Israeli settlers while working on his land west of Hebron on 26 May. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Special Coordinator, Stressing 'All Sides Must Urgently Change Course', Appeals to Security Council for Support of Gaza's Political Future Meetings Coverage Security Council 9638th Meeting (AM) SC/15710 29 May 2024 Speakers Condemn Recent Strike on Rafah, Calling for Ceasefire, Unhindered Delivery of Humanitarian Aid Briefing the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, the Special Coordinator for that region's peace process urged Member States to support Gaza's political future, work with the new technocratic Palestinian Government and develop a framework of its recovery, as many speakers, condemning the recent strike on Rafah, renewed calls for a ceasefire to enable humanitarian aid deliveries to the Palestinian people. Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process reported that since the 7 October attacks, more than 36,000 Palestinians and over 1,500 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed. "It is clear that all sides must urgently change course," he stressed, noting that no attempt to address the humanitarian and security challenges will be sustainable without consideration of Gaza's political future. Emphasizing the need for Gaza's recovery framework, he said that Member States should provide support and work with the new technocratic Palestinian Government under Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. Noting that political, institutional and economic reforms will be needed, he underscored that they must be achievable, credible and financed. Donors and investors will not be forthcoming without concrete steps to ensure that "Gaza is not rebuilt only to be destroyed yet again", he told the 15-nation organ, stressing that if Member States neglect to lay down the foundations of a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolution and end the occupation, the price of failure will reverberate for generations. Without progress on addressing the drivers of the conflict, "we will begin the process of undermining what we have not yet even started," he stated. In the ensuing discussion, many speakers condemned Israel's recent attack on the displaced persons' camp in Rafah, also voicing their opposition to its ongoing military operation in that city and calling for an immediate ceasefire to enable humanitarian aid deliveries. Some also added their support for the provisional orders of the International Court of Justice, while others aligned themselves with the draft resolution to stop the Israeli military operation on Rafah, prepared by Algeria. Among those speakers was the representative of China, who called on Council members to put aside "political calculations" and save lives by supporting the adoption of the Algerian draft text. Noting that his delegation will soon propose a more effective international peace conference for the establishment of a two-State solution roadmap, he spotlighted the upcoming tenth Ministerial Conference of China-Arab States Cooperation on 30 May. Similarly, France's delegate noted that his country will propose a draft resolution relating to a two-State solution and peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians. He highlighted the indignation of his country's president, Emmanuel Macron, following the recent Israeli strikes that resulted in many civilian casualties, underscoring that in line with the International Court of Justice's provisional orders, Israel must immediately cease its military offensive. The representative of Mozambique, Council President for May, spoke in his national capacity to note that despite the "chorus of international warnings" about the potential for mass casualties, the military offensive in Rafah has proceeded. Observing that the resulting global outrage and condemnation from world leaders further enhances Israel's international isolation, he called for a "global concerted action" to end this military operation. "We should not expect the Israeli military machine to stop its actions anytime soon," the Russian Federation's delegate noted, spotlighting the unprecedented number of victims since the Second World War. Stressing that the Council must continue to put pressure on Israel and its ally, the United States, she pointed out that the worsening situation is caused by Washington, D.C.'s attempt to monopolize the UN's mediation function to "solve all global problems alone". Meanwhile, the Deputy Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine recalled that Israel's Prime Minister repeatedly used the phrase "Israel from the river to the sea" and held a map to that effect on the General Assembly podium, "disappearing Palestine altogether". Stressing that Israel wants "occupation and violent oppression for Palestinians and peace and security for itself", he observed that that country can "kill any Palestinian and call them either terrorist or human shield to justify their murder". Echoing this sentiment, the representative of the United Arab Emirates, speaking for the Arab Group, said that ending this war, which has been described by the United Nations as a "war against children", has become an urgent demand. Observing that Israel has "persistently and deliberately crossed all red lines", he also noted that for the third time it ignored the orders of the International Court of Justice. However, Israel's delegate stressed that its war is only with Hamas, not the people of Gaza. While there are currently four terror battalions in Rafah, the precise strike was conducted on Sunday, eliminating two senior Hamas terror officials, he said, calling the charges brought before the International Court of Justice in the case of South Africa v. Israel "false". Israel is fighting a defensive war on behalf of its hostages but also for all of civilization, he stated, adding: "Stop taking the side of terrorism." However, the South Africa's representative said the Court's orders make it clear that there is a severe risk of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Therefore, State parties must act immediately to prevent genocide by Israel and ensure that they are not themselves in violation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crimes of Genocide by aiding or assisting in the commission of genocide. Requesting the Security Council to give effect to the Court's judgements, she observed: "For international law to be credible, it should be uniformly applied and not selective." THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION Briefing TOR WENNESLAND, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process , said that in seven months since the 7 October attacks, more than 36,000 Palestinians and over 1,500 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed. As well, 126 hostages are still held in Gaza. Nearly 2 million Palestinians have been displaced, many of them multiple times, he reported, adding that 100,000 Israelis have also been displaced from their communities in the north and the south. "Agreement on a deal to achieve ceasefire and secure release of hostages is blocked," he reported, recalling the "appalling incident" on Sunday, in Rafah, that killed 45 Palestinians and injured 200. Noting that the West Bank remains a "pressure-cooker of negative trends", he pointed to the risk of regional conflagrations. "This trajectory must change if we are to avoid further catastrophe," he emphasized. Highlighting acute shortages of food, water and medicine, he said that the humanitarian response is woefully inadequate. Humanitarians are continuing to deliver assistance in a difficult environment, but unsafe conditions are compounded by overcrowding, desperation and a breakdown of law and order. Just hours ago, this breakdown resulted in the looting of the log base of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Rafah. In regard to the West Bank, he expressed concern over Israel's lifting of the military order banning Israelis from entering three evacuated settlements in the northern part a policy in affect since the 2005 disengagement law. Also pointing to the regional escalations across the Blue Line between Israel and Hizbullah and other non-State armed groups, he said that on the Golan, Israel's strikes against targets in Syria and Iran have also continued. "This is a combustible mix", he stressed. "It is clear that all sides must urgently change course," he continued, noting that no attempt to address the humanitarian and security challenges will be sustainable without consideration of Gaza's political future. To this end, "we should be putting in place the framework for Gaza's recovery" he said, adding: "There can be no long-term solution in Gaza that is not fundamentally political." Recalling his recent meeting in Brussels, that included the International Partners Meeting on Palestine, he emphasized that Security Council members must strengthen and preserve the Palestinian Authority's institutions "before it is too late". The new technocratic Palestinian Government under Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, with eight ministers from Gaza, represents an important opportunity to support tangible steps in the right direction. Therefore, Member States should provide support and work with the new Government to address the Palestinian Authority's dire fiscal crisis and strengthen its governance capacity to, ultimately, govern the whole of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Noting that political, institutional and economic reforms will be needed, he said they must be achievable, credible and financed. Conforming to the Interim Damage Assessment conducted by the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Union the cost of critical infrastructure damage was quantified at $18.5 billion. However, donors and investors will not be forthcoming without concrete steps by the parties to find a political solution and ensure that "Gaza is not rebuilt only to be destroyed yet again". If Member States neglect to lay down the foundations of a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and end the occupation, the price of failure will reverberate for generations, he said, adding that these foundations should be also laid in the West Bank. Without progress on addressing the drivers of the conflict violence, settlement advancements and militant activity "we will begin the process of undermining what we have not yet even started", he stressed. Statements The representative of the United States said: "We are heartbroken and horrified by the deaths of dozens of Palestinian civilians and the more than 200 individuals who are seriously injured, including children, following Israeli airstrike on 26 May." Palestinians affected by the airstrikes have been displaced multiple times, seeking shelter in the camps. Israel claims that the civilian deaths were a mistake, and the strike was aimed at two senior Hamas terrorists who also died, he observed, urging Israel to do more to protect innocent Palestinian lives and to undertake a swift, transparent and comprehensive investigation. While Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, it also has the obligation to protect civilians, he stressed. It must also connect its military operations to a political strategy that can ensure the lasting defeat of Hamas, the release of all hostages and a better future for the Palestinian people. However, he stressed that "the continued pattern of significant civilian harm" resulting from incidents like the 26 May airstrikes undermines Israel's strategic role in Gaza. Echoing the order of the International Court of Justice, he underscored that Israel must avoid a major military operation in the heart of Rafah that would put "a huge number of civilians at risk". Further, he called on Israel to remove all obstacles to the flow of aid through all crossings in Gaza, noting that the closure of the Rafah border crossing has impacted the humanitarian and security situation in the Strip. The representative of Sierra Leone said the recent recognition of the State of Palestine by some European Union members "will not only contribute to global efforts towards lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, but could also facilitate economic and infrastructural support and development in post-conflict Palestine." Rafah City the "last refuge" for 1.4 million displaced Palestinians has become an active war zone, he said, adding that reports of an exchange of gunfire between Israeli and Egyptian soldiers at the Rafah crossing resulting in the death of at least one Egyptian soldier are very concerning. Deeply concerned about the attack on a displaced persons' camp in Rafah, he called on all parties to the conflict to respect civilian life and international humanitarian law. "The conflict in the Gaza Strip has long-standing, complex roots, but it is not an intractable situation," he stressed, calling on the Council to remain united in calling for lasting ceasefire, and for all parties to the conflict to respect the International Criminal Court provisional orders. The representative of Switzerland condemned the indiscriminate firing of rockets by Hamas against Israel on 26 May. She also condemned the Israeli strike, which caused dozens of civilian casualties, including many children, in a camp for displaced persons in Rafah on the same Sunday evening. "Civilians in Gaza are living in unacceptable conditions, unprotected by repeated displacement, starvation and incessant hostilities," she said, opposing the current military operation in Rafah and calling for an immediate ceasefire. Israel has the obligation to protect civilians and allow and facilitate the safe, rapid and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians through all crossing points and to the whole of the Strip, as required by the International Court of Justice. Further, she condemned the violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers including against UNRWA offices in East Jerusalem and humanitarian aid convoys in the West Bank. The representative of Malta said that an intensification of Israeli military operations in Rafah and a return to fierce fighting in north Gaza, coupled with evacuation orders imposed on desperate civilians, highlights the severely compromised security and humanitarian crisis. On Sunday, more civilians lost their lives and were harmed following an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Rafah. The constant bombardment of hospitals combined with aid restrictions has led to the collapse of the health-care system, putting the lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians at risk. "This is also putting mothers and their newborns at risk of significant physical and mental harm," she observed, noting that over 155,000 pregnant and lactating women are unable to access essential services. Additionally, she spotlighted the staggering reports that an estimated 17,000 children are currently unaccompanied or separated from their families. Against this backdrop, she called for the Rafah crossing to be reopened and a massive upscale of aid to the civilian population. The representative of France said his country "calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and reiterates its opposition to the military operation in Rafah," highlighting the indignation of his country's president, Emmanuel Macron following the recent Israeli strikes that resulted in many civilian casualties. In line with the International Court of Justice's provisional orders, Israel must immediately cease its military offensive, he underlined, adding that France supports the Court's authority. He called for the release of all hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza and voiced regret over the recently announced death of one of three French hostages. Strongly condemning Hamas' recent rocket attacks on Tel Aviv and the Kerem Shalom crossing, as well as Israeli settler attacks on humanitarian convoys, he called full respect of international human rights law. Only a two-State solution will bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians, he stressed. France will propose a resolution to that end and calls for the Council's support. The representative of the Russian Federation , noting that 36,500 Palestinian civilians have died since 7 October, said it is an unprecedented number of victims since the Second World War. She observed that a majority of Member States have condemned Israel's actions in Rafah. "We should not expect the Israeli military machine to stop its actions anytime soon," she said, also noting that the negotiations process is stalled. She reported that since October 2023, the Russian Federation's emergency services aircraft has delivered 500 tons of humanitarian cargo to Egypt, while non-governmental organizations have collected more than 100 tons of medications and basic supplies. Stressing that the Council must continue to put pressure on Israel and the United States which allocated $24.6 billion in military aid to Israel she said that the worsening situation is caused by Washington, D.C.'s attempt to monopolize the UN's mediation function to "solve all global problems alone". The representative of Japan noted that the international community must uphold its strong condemnation of Hamas' actions on 7 October while recognizing the ongoing horrors in Gaza, where there are no safe places for civilians, aid workers or journalists. Voicing concern that Israel has begun military operations in Rafah, he recalled that the recent provisional measures by the International Court of Justice are binding. Voicing further deep concern over the Israeli Defense Forces' air strike in Rafah resulting in many civilian deaths, he called for an immediate ceasefire so that unhindered humanitarian activity is ensured, and the hostages released. Japan supports negotiations led by Egypt, Qatar and the United States in that regard, he emphasized. Moreover, his Government unequivocally condemns the arson attack on UNRWA headquarters, he said, stressing that international organizations must be allowed to execute their missions safely. The representative of Slovenia recalled resolution 2728 (2024), which demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the ensuring of humanitarian access. Further, the International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah. Yet, though Security Council resolutions and International Court of Justice decisions are binding, the operation continues, and the international community has witnessed "heart-breaking" footage of it. Condemning this week's strike on a supposed safe zone in Rafah, she also stated how appalled her Government is regarding the humanitarian conditions for the internally displaced in Gaza. Voicing further concern over growing struggles in the West Bank and the legislation in the Knesset on UNRWA, she emphasized: "International law is not a menu to choose from." The Council must step up to its responsibilities instead of "merely observing grave violations." It must act with a clear resolution, she emphasized. The representative of Ecuador , voicing concern over the bombings that seriously affected the civilian population in Rafah, declared: "It is time to stop the cycle of violence and suffering." Recalling the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice, he stressed that hostilities must cease immediately so that humanitarian aid can reach all those in need in a safe, sufficient and timely manner. Noting that the rules of international humanitarian law are mandatory for all parties and that their violation entails serious responsibilities, he urged for the corresponding investigations to ensure accountability. Further, negotiations between the parties must be resumed to allow for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages, he said, voicing support for the mediation efforts carried out by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. The representative of Guyana , expressing "helplessness" at the disregard for the rule of law and impunity, said the Palestinian people's desire for their homeland has been "perhaps, one of the greatest tragedies of modern times". Even greater a tragedy has been that the United Nations has not yet been able to bring this injustice to an end. Turning to Rafah, she stressed: "We must not continue to accept the all too familiar explanations of these incidents being mistakes or miscalculations." She underlined the importance of a ceasefire to improve the security situation for humanitarian aid deliveries, also urging Israel to open all land routes. She also demanded serious long-term efforts towards achieving the two-State solution. The representative of China expressed concern that allowing the fighting in Gaza to continue will plunge the region into turmoil. While the Council and the International Court of Justice have issued resolutions and orders to Israel stop its operations, that country has bombed more than a dozen camps in Gaza. His country will support Algeria's draft resolution circulated yesterday, he said, calling on Council members to put aside "political calculations" and save lives by supporting its adoption. He also condemned the politicization of humanitarian aid and the use of hunger as a "bargaining chip", noting that Israel must allow unhindered humanitarian aid to circulate in Gaza. Soon, China will propose a more effective international peace conference for the establishment of a roadmap two-State solution to realize the dream of self-determination for the Palestinian people, he announced. Meanwhile, the tenth Ministerial Conference of China-Arab States Cooperation will be held tomorrow, where China will continue talks with leaders in view to end the conflict in Gaza as soon as possible. The representative of the Republic of Korea , noting that the situation in Gaza is more alarming than before, said that innocent civilians are dying from a lack of aid as "relevant countries are finger-pointing at each other" regarding the inadequacy of movement both at the Rafah and Karem Shalom crossings. While the maritime corridor has been providing a semblance of hope, he expressed regret that it did not achieve its goal due to the inability of distributing aid inside Gaza and its further damage by bad weather. "The maritime corridor is no substitute to land crossings," he stressed, urging Israel to open all available crossings and take measures against looting and divergence. Also expressing concern over the situation in the West Bank, he voiced hope that the diplomatic efforts by the United States, Qatar and Egypt can lead to fruitful outcomes. "There is no time to waste," he underscored. The representative of the United Kingdom said that his country is appalled by "the deeply distressing scenes emerging from Rafah" and called on Israel to launch a swift, comprehensive and transparent investigation. "We do not support a major military operation in Rafah without an acceptable plan to protect the hundreds of thousands of civilians who remain there," he asserted, adding that hundreds of thousands have already been displaced from Rafah, many for the second time, to locations without suitable provisions of shelter, food, water and access to medical treatment. Noting London's commitment to "flood Gaza with aid", he said that this includes increasing the daily number of aid trucks entering Gaza to 500, opening the Ashdod Port to humanitarian aid and additional crossing points for aid in North Gaza. "The humanitarian situation is now catastrophic," he said, calling on Israel to allow aid in quantity through all crossing points, including Rafah. He stated that "all of this could stop now if Hamas laid down their arms." The representative of Algeria said addressing the crisis in Gaza without tackling the root cause the occupation of Palestinian land will not lead to lasting peace. The Security Council bears primary responsibility in this regard and must fully implement all relevant resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016) which states that settlements are illegal and a violation of international law. Meanwhile 800,000 settlers now live in the West Bank, terrorizing Palestinians, destroying their structures and "judaizing" Al-Quds and its holy sites. Algeria will submit a draft solution urging the Council to shoulder its responsibilities, he said, calling for its support. "Waiting for the occupying Power to voluntarily abide by international law and Security Council resolutions is pointless," he added, noting that after repeated attacks on UNRWA and a failed attempt to discredit the agency, the occupying Power is considering declaring it a terrorist organization, thus removing it from the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Warning against this move, he called on the Council to protect the Agency and for the Organization to support the Palestinians' rights to an independent State with Al-Quds Sharif as its capital. The representative of Mozambique , Council President for May, speaking in his national capacity, said that Israel's military offensive against Gaza and Rafah is at the origin of the human tragedy in the Gaza Strip. Despite the "chorus of international warnings" about the potential for mass casualties, the military offensive has proceeded, he noted, pointing to the 26 May strike on the area where displaced civilians had sought shelter. "The resulting global outrage and condemnation from world leaders, further enhances Israel's international isolation," he stressed, calling for a "global concerted action" to end this military operation. Underscoring the binding nature of Security Council resolutions 2712 (2023), 2720 (2023) and 2728 (2024), compounded by the orders of the International Court of Justice, he said they form a solid basis for collective action. He also expressed condemnation of the crimes discovered in the mass graves of Nasser and Al Shifa hospitals, underscoring: "We need to ensure accountability." The Deputy Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine reported that "there is barely anything left in Gaza; Israel has destroyed everything." Yet, despite the International Court of Justice's orders, Israel has "made sure" that famine is setting in, he said, adding that that country wants Palestinians to know that if they remain in Gaza, their fate is going to be "displacement and death". Further, Israeli investigators and courts are designed to perpetuate and enable the occupation, not achieve accountability. "Israel can kill any Palestinian and call them either terrorist or human shield to justify their murder," he said, adding: "You have learned to live with Israel's irrational and racist behaviour. But we die because of it." For seven decades Israel has held Palestinians in captivity, one generation after another, also using them as human shields during its military incursions. He went on to report that Israel has detained the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians it has killed, sometimes for over three decades. Recalling that Israel's Prime Minister repeatedly used the phrase "Israel from the river to the sea" and held a map to that effect on the General Assembly podium, "disappearing Palestine altogether", he stressed: "It [Israel] wants occupation and violent oppression for Palestinians and peace and security for itself." Calling it "logical" that Israel's Government would interpret the recognition of the State of Palestine by Spain, Ireland and Norway as an "attack against Israel", he observed: "Never mind the fact that these countries have recognized Israel decades ago without asking for anyone's approval. That was not unilateral then but recognizing Palestine is." Israel has been dehumanizing Palestine for so long that it does not understand how anyone can "decide to recognize our existence as a people, our rights as a nation, and our State," he pointed out. Emphasizing that Israel trusts that it can get away with its crimes, he observed that has been possible because it has had 75 years of experiencing full-fledged impunity. "Tomorrow's freedom and peace will be made possible by the decisions you take today," he stressed, urging the Member States to allow his delegation to tell the Palestinian people that help is on the way and that the solidarity they see in every corner of the globe will translate into resolute action to stop this genocide, achieve freedom and advance peace. "There is no objective more worthy. There is no time more pressing. There is no greater responsibility," he declared. The representative of Israel said that the Council has convened again to discuss the "just and moral war Israel is fighting against the bloodthirsty and genocidal terror organization of Hamas." However, the 15-nation organ still refuses to recognize that the blame lies with the terrorists. The war began with Hamas' attacks on 7 October and continues because they still hold 125 hostages in Gaza while firing rockets on Israel's territory even from within designated humanitarian zones in the south of Gaza. The war would end if Hamas were to release the hostages and lay down their arms, but they refuse, he stated. Meanwhile the Council chooses to convene weekly to hold his country accountable for a war it did not want, he continued, adding that Israel has no choice but to root out terrorists in the south of Gaza and bring the hostages home. There are four terror battalions in Rafah currently, which is why the precise strike was conducted on Sunday, eliminating two senior Hamas terror officials. Israel's war is only with Hamas, not the people of Gaza. The strike took place nearly two kilometres from the designated humanitarian zone and preliminary findings from investigations show that fire broke out from secondary explosions from munitions stored near the camps. "Where are the condemnations for Hamas using Gazans as human shields and civilian sites as weapons depots?" he asked, adding that that group must be held accountable and the Council must not be influenced by falsehoods which paint Israel as the "root of all evil". He went on to say that South Africa failed once again to exploit the International Court of Justice, adding that the charges levelled against his country are false. Israel is fighting a defensive and just war in compliance with international law and is committed to facilitate the entry of aid into Gaza. The Council must uphold its mandate and cease to embolden those that want Israel's destruction. Demonizing one side is not conducive to a solution, but rather emboldens Palestinians to believe that solutions can achieved without negotiations nor concessions. Israel is fighting on behalf of its hostages but also for all of civilization, he said, adding: "Stop taking the side of terrorism." The representative of South Africa said that the majority of the UN members and thousands of people worldwide have been demanding a ceasefire for months. However, the Council's response to this call has not been entirely forthcoming, and the legally binding resolution calling for a short-lived ceasefire during Ramadan ignored. Noting her country's obligation as a State party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crimes of Genocide, South Africa approached the International Court of Justice seeking an order to prevent Israel from committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Following Rafah, South Africa returned to the Court seeking additional provisional measures. The Court's orders make it clear that there is a severe risk of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Third States must, therefore, act independently and immediately to prevent genocide by Israel and ensure that they are not themselves in violation of the Genocide Convention by aiding or assisting in the commission of genocide. "This necessarily imposes an obligation on all States to cease funding and facilitating Israel's military actions, which are plausibly genocidal," she asserted. However, she expressed regret that since the provisional measures were issued by the Court including in its latest decision on 10 May, where it ordered Israel to halt any other actions in Rafah that may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, Palestinians continue to suffer immeasurably under the occupying Power's intensified military operations. Requesting the Security Council to give effect to the Court's judgements in the case of South Africa v. Israel, she emphasized that the international community cannot proclaim the importance of international law and the importance of the Charter of the United Nations in some situations and not in others as if the rule of law only applies to a select few. "For international law to be credible, it should be uniformly applied and not selective," she said. The representative of the United Arab Emirates , speaking for the Arab Group, said that Israel's "heinous massacre" against civilians in Rafah on Sunday and the Al-Mawasi massacre on 28 May are the latest episodes in the series of systematic war crimes. Noting that this came after more than 900,000 Palestinians were displaced, he stressed that there is no longer a safe or liveable place in Gaza. "Israel has persistently and deliberately crossed all red lines," he observed, noting that it has for the third time ignored the International Court of Justice's orders. He, therefore, called on the Council to engage in negotiations related to the draft resolution put forward by Algeria that aims to stop the Israeli military attack on Rafah and demands an immediate ceasefire. "Ending this war, which has been described by the United Nations as war against children, has become an urgent demand," he underscored. Stressing that Israel, like any other State, is required to respect its obligations under international legal frameworks, he said that this must also include the West Bank. Highlighting the ongoing raids by Israeli extremists against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, he observed that it constitutes a violation of the historic and legal status of Jerusalem. "The oppression imposed on the Palestinians has no limits," he noted, urging the Council to ensure the entry of humanitarian aid. Further, the dangerous juncture in the history of this conflict makes it imperative for the Council to take all efforts to save the two-State solution, end the occupation and stop the violence. "Achieving just and lasting peace also requires strong support for the full membership of the State of Palestine in the United Nations," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli official expects war with Hamas to last until year's end By VOA News May 29, 2024 A top Israeli official said Wednesday that he expected Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to last through the end of the year, amid continued calls for a cease-fire. "We may have another seven months of fighting to consolidate our success and achieve what we have defined as the destruction of Hamas' power and military capabilities," national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told Israeli public radio. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a visit to Moldova, said Israel needed a postwar plan "as soon as possible" and that the absence of such a plan could lead to chaos. "And I think this underscores the imperative of having a plan for the day after, because in the absence of a plan for the day after, there won't be a day after," Blinken told reporters. "If not, Hamas will be left in charge, which is unacceptable. Or if not, we'll have chaos, lawlessness and a vacuum." The U.N. official in charge of the Middle East peace process echoed those concerns Wednesday, saying a longer-term political strategy must be part of the current efforts to end the fighting. "Let me be clear: The political framework and structures we establish now will play a significant role in the success or failure of what follows," Tor Wennesland told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the Middle East. "This requires us to plan and act deliberately and thoughtfully, knowing that today's decisions will not only shape the future governance of Gaza, but also determine the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict more broadly." Rafah violence The Israeli military said Wednesday that three of its soldiers were killed in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where residents reported fresh Israeli attacks and Hamas said it fired rockets at the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF. The IDF also said it had seized control of the 14-kilometer-long Philadelphi Corridor, a key route that runs the length of the Gaza-Egypt border. Meanwhile, the United Nations said there had been a 67% drop in the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza since the IDF began its Rafah offensive on May 6. "This is due to the closure of the Rafah crossing, the inability to safely and consistently pick up commodities from the Kerem Shalom crossing, and limited deliveries through other entry points," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters Wednesday. Israel disputes that, saying that it is allowing food and other supplies to enter Gaza and that border crossings are open from the Israeli side. The World Health Organization said only one hospital remains partially functional in Rafah, as casualties rise from the fighting. The United Nations says more than 940,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah in the past three weeks amid Israel's offensive. Another 100,000 have been displaced by fighting in northern Gaza. Calls for international action At the United Nations, Algeria has circulated a draft Security Council resolution calling for an immediate halt to Israel's military offensive in Rafah, in line with a provisional order from the International Court of Justice on May 24. "We need a unified council, because waiting for the occupying power to voluntarily abide by international law and Security Council resolutions is pointless," Ambassador Amar Bendjama said at Wednesday's council meeting, referring to Israel. "The occupying authority made it clear they will not comply with the orders of the International Court of Justice." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel needs to carry out the Rafah offensive to achieve its goal of ensuring Hamas cannot operate in Gaza and threaten Israel in the future. Israel says four Hamas battalions remain in Rafah. Council members expressed an urgent need for Israel to end its offensive, especially in the aftermath of an apparent Israeli airstrike Sunday that killed at least 45 Palestinians sheltering in a refugee camp in Rafah and wounded 200 others. "Instead of halting immediately its offensive on Rafah as ordered by the world's highest court it has bombed people it had displaced while they were sheltering in tents," Palestinian Deputy U.N. Ambassador Majed Bamya told the council. "When will it be enough? What other level of cruelty must be reached before this assault is finally brought to an end?" he asked. Israel's military said it was looking into the possibility that Hamas might have stored weapons in the area that could have sparked the fire that tore through the camp. "Our munitions alone could not have ignited a fire of this size," IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Tuesday. The United States has expressed its horror over the deaths and injuries in the camp, saying the images were heartbreaking. "We have urged Israel to do more to protect innocent Palestinian lives and to undertake a swift, transparent and comprehensive investigation," U.S. Deputy U.N. Ambassador Robert Wood told the council. "It is important to underline that the most recent strike on the displaced camp in Rafah is not an isolated incident," Slovenia's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Ondina Blokar Drobic said. "There have been several incidents in Gaza, and in one case after the other, we were told that investigations were taking place. However, this council has not received any information or the follow-up." The Israel-Hamas war was triggered by the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials, and led to the capture of about 250 hostages. Israel's subsequent counteroffensive has killed more than 36,100 Palestinians, a death toll that includes both civilians and combatants, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. VOA U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some material came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban appear set to take part in UN-organized Doha meeting on Afghanistan By Ayaz Gul May 29, 2024 Afghanistan's Taliban rulers stated their intention Wednesday to join a United Nations-organized meeting in Doha on June 30 that aims to facilitate and coordinate the world's engagement with the country hit by a multitude of crises. The announcement came a week after a senior U.N. diplomat visited Kabul and extended to the de facto authorities "an advance invitation" to participate in the two-day conference of special envoys on Afghanistan. The international event will be the third Afghanistan-centered gathering in Qatar's capital since U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres initiated the process in May 2023, aiming to increase interaction with Afghanistan "in a more coherent, coordinated and structured manner." Zakir Jalali, a senior Taliban foreign ministry official, said in a "keynote speech" to its staff in the Afghan capital that "representatives of the Islamic emirate will take part in the main discussions" in Doha. A ministry spokesperson posted details of his remarks on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday. Jalali stated that a formal decision to attend the "Doha III" meeting would be announced later. He defended the Taliban's decision not to join the previous two meetings, saying that any "symbolic participation would have been futile" for Kabul as the organizers had refused to accept its conditions and address objections over the agenda. "However, the agenda for the third Doha format meeting has changed positively, and there are no significant differences regarding the topics of the discussion," Jalali noted. He explained that the upcoming meeting would discuss financial and banking-related problems facing Afghanistan, alternative livelihoods for poppy growers, and climate change impacts on the country. Jalali said the Taliban foreign ministry was waiting for the U.N. to share the latest details about the Doha huddle to enable Kabul to send its delegation there. Rosemary DiCarlo, the under-secretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, visited Afghanistan from May 18 to 21, where her discussions with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, among others, centered on the June 30 meeting. The Taliban had asked the U.N. in the run-up to the second Doha meeting in February that their delegates would be accepted as the sole official representatives of the country, meaning that Afghan civil society activists and members of opposition groups would not be present. De facto Afghan authorities also sought a meeting between their delegation and the U.N. at "a very senior level," saying it "would be beneficial." The Taliban also opposed the planned appointment of a U.N. special envoy to coordinate international engagement with Kabul in line with the latest U.N. Security Council resolution on Afghanistan. However, Guterres rejected the Taliban conditions while briefing reporters at the end of the second Doha meeting. "These conditions, first of all, denied us the right to talk to other representatives of the Afghan society and demanded a treatment that would, I would say, to a large extent be similar to recognition," the secretary-general argued. It was unclear immediately whether the U.N. would relax those conditions to allow Kabul's delegates to attend the upcoming meeting despite their controversial governance in poverty-stricken Afghanistan. The Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions since taking power in August 2021, including a ban on girls attending school beyond the sixth grade and prohibitions on many Afghan women's access to employment and public life at large. De facto Afghan leaders, who are ethnically Pashtun, have also rejected international calls for giving representation to other ethnicities in the government, saying all groups are represented in it. The elusive Taliban supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, insists he is governing the country in line with local culture and Islamic law and dismisses international criticism of his policies as an interference in the country's internal affairs. Afghan rights groups and activists have criticized the U.N. for inviting the Taliban to the upcoming Doha meeting, saying it would embolden the Taliban to further tighten their curbs on women. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, while responding to the criticism, told reporters in New York on Tuesday that his organization continues to engage with the Taliban "because they are the de facto authorities in Afghanistan." Dujarric emphasized that the U.N. is persistently urging the Taliban to uphold the rights of women and girls, as well as advocating for increased humanitarian aid for the Afghan people. "We've invited envoys on Afghanistan to attend a meeting in Doha ... to bring some clarity and consistency to the way the world deals with the situation in Afghanistan while continuing to put the human rights of women and girls at the forefront," he said. Separately on Tuesday, in her address to a U.N. Security Council meeting, DiCarlo cited Afghanistan as a "crying example" where women and girls are systematically denied rights and dignity, particularly in education. "Women in Kabul aspire to the same opportunities as men and seek international support to realize their rights and contribute to their country's future," she stated. U.N. agencies describe Afghanistan as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, where more than two-thirds of the estimated 40 million population needs assistance following years of conflict and natural disasters. In recent weeks, hundreds of Afghans have died in flash floods triggered by climate change-induced heavy seasonal rains, which displaced more than 80,000 people. The Taliban's return to power in August 2021 invited international financial and banking sanctions on the country, worsening economic and humanitarian conditions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cameroon meeting of French-speaking Africa lawmakers decry instability, foreign influence By Moki Edwin Kindzeka May 29, 2024 Francophone lawmakers from about 30 African states are meeting in Cameroon's capital, Yaounde, to find a solution to the political instability in French-speaking African nations including a string of recent coups, security threats and popular discontent. The lawmakers say among the solutions to the growing crisis are dialogue, a return to democratic principles and an end to foreign influence. The 150 lawmakers, members of the African region of the Parliamentary Association of the Francophonie, or APF, say many Francophone African countries have suffered deep political and economic instability and security threats. Within the past four years several former French colonies in which France continued to wield political influence experienced military coups or takeovers, including Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Gabon and Chad. The group says besides military takeovers French-speaking African states also have a record of long serving leaders. Cameroon President Paul Biya has ruled for 41 years. Theodoro Obiang Nguema from neighboring Equatorial Guinea has been in power for about 45 years and Denis Sassou Nguesso has ruled the Republic of Congo for 38 years. Nguesso first came to power in 1979 and served until the 1992 election when he finished third. He took power again as a militia leader after a four-month civil war in 1997 and has been president since then. Canada-born Francis Drouin is the president of the Parliamentary Association of the Francophonie. Speaking in Yaounde on Wednesday, Drouin said young people in French-speaking African countries complain that political instability remains high, and civilians are disgruntled because their freedoms are suffocated by long serving leaders and military governments. He said poverty, the absence of democracy and security threats plunge civilians into suffering and misery. Drouin says the region's youths yearn for the freedom to participate in decision-making. Lawmakers attending the conference said Senegal distinguishes itself as an example of democracy after the country's March 24 presidential elections, in which incumbent President Macky Sall was defeated by 40-year-old Bassirou Faye, whom the lawmakers say is a young man with new perspectives. The lawmakers say France's influence on its former African colonies is a source of concern among young leaders who want to take control of their national issues. Djelassem Donangmbaye Felix is a political analyst and coordinator of A New Day, one of Chad's opposition political parties. He is critical of the presence of French troops in former French colonies. He spoke to VOA via a messaging app from Chad's capital N'djamena Wednesday. Djelassem said French troops present in Africa either protect leaders loyal to France or destabilize governments that stand against France's overbearing influence. He said that is the reason Chad's opposition and civil society in December 2023 asked France to immediately withdraw troops who arrived in the central African state after being ordered to depart neighboring Niger by that country's military junta. Niger officials accuse France of failing to resolve the security crisis that has killed thousands and displaced millions across Niger. Djelassem said French troops stationed in Chad have never assisted Chad's government to fight armed groups and rebels destabilizing the central African state. France has not responded to the accusation. But in March, Jean-Marie Bockel, French President Emmanuel Macron's envoy for Africa, said after a meeting with Chad's President that France will keep its troops in Chad. He said the troops will assist in fighting jihadists in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Angola and Sao Tome and Principe are attending the conference as observers. The lawmakers say permanent dialogue with military leaders and long serving rulers can pave the way for improved political, economic, social and cultural lives in French- speaking African countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blinken pledges US support for Moldova amid rising Russian threats By Nike Ching May 29, 2024 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Moldova, pledging $135 million to enhance energy security and counter Russian disinformation during his visit to Chisinau. During Wednesday's visit, Blinken announced that up to $85 million in USAID funding will subsidize equipment to strengthen Moldova's national power grid and facilitate greater electricity trade with Romania, Ukraine, and the broader European market. He also unveiled additional aid for Moldova, a pro-Western country facing renewed threats from Russia. "Today, I'm announcing that we'll be working with our Congress to provide an additional $50 million to further advance these efforts from reforming the energy and agricultural sectors to pushing back and further against disinformation," said Blinken during a joint press conference with Moldova President Maia Sandu. "That in turn will bolster the ability of Moldova to resist Russian interference, to hold free and fair elections to continue down the path to the European Union and Western integration to create more economic opportunity," he said. Blinken's trip comes amid concerns over Russia's military presence in Moldova's breakaway Transnistria region. Moldova has accused Russia of waging a hybrid war through election interference and disinformation campaigns aimed at toppling the government and hindering its EU aspirations. Russia denies these accusations. Sandu welcomed Blinken's second visit in two years as "a strong sign of support." "Through unity and with the support of our partners, we will stand by our people and move forward," Sandu said during the press conference. She also expressed gratitude for U.S. support to both Moldova and Ukraine. Since Russia's 2022 invasion, the Biden administration has directed billions of dollars in weapons assistance to Ukraine, which Sandu said "also makes Moldova safer and more resilient." Historically, Moldova's heavy reliance on outside energy resources has made the country vulnerable to external disruptions and price fluctuations, delaying its progress toward sustainable economic development. Russia's aggression against Ukraine has further exacerbated Moldova's energy challenges by driving up electricity and gas prices and creating sector instability. Since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United States has provided Moldova with $774 million in assistance, including $300 million through USAID, to support energy security. NATO, Ukraine After Chisinau, Blinken is heading to Prague for NATO foreign ministers' meetings, where "a substantial show of support for Ukraine" is expected, according to U.S. officials. On Wednesday, Blinken said the U.S. is working hard to deliver more air defenses to Ukraine as it defends itself against intensifying Russian attacks. But Blinken, along with other officials from the Biden administration, said Washington does not encourage or enable the use of U.S.-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia. "Ukraine has to make its own decisions about the best way to effectively defend itself," Blinken said. ''We're going to make sure that it has the equipment it needs." This week, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged the alliance's members to lift some of the restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons, potentially enabling their use for strikes directly on Russian soil. "The right to self-defense includes hitting legitimate targets outside Ukraine," Stoltenberg said Monday at a NATO meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria. The United States will host a NATO summit in Washington from July 9 to July 11. Blinken said there will be "very strong deliverables" in terms of Ukraine's further integration with the Atlantic alliance. Thirty-two countries have either completed or will soon complete bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ex-Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra to be formally charged with insulting monarchy By VOA News May 29, 2024 Prosecutors in Thailand say they will indict former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for violating the law that forbids any criticism of the Thai royal family. A spokesperson for the attorney general's office told reporters Wednesday the 74-year-old Thaksin must appear in court on June 18 to answer the charges. Thakisn's attorney, Winyat Chartmontri, told reporters his client was unable to appear in court Wednesday because he is currently suffering from COVID-19. The charges are based on an interview he gave to foreign journalists in 2015 while in Seoul. More than 270 people have been tried in recent years for violating Thailand's lese majeste law, one of the strictest in the world, which carries a potential 15-year prison sentence. Thaksin will also be indicted for violating the country's computer crime law the official said. Thaksin was detained last August after returning to Thailand from 15 years of self-imposed exile to avoid imprisonment after being convicted of several corruption-related charges. He had been sentenced to eight years in prison, but his sentence was commuted to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. He served nearly all his sentence in a police hospital for treatment of an undisclosed condition. The media tycoon was first elected prime minister in 2001 and gained a loyal following among Thailand's rural poor for such policies as universal health care and cash payments to farmers. But he was overthrown in a coup in 2006 by a military aligned with members of Thailand's pro-monarchy elite who saw him as a threat to their longstanding grip on the social order. His return to Thailand coincided with his Pheu Thai party taking the reins of government despite coming in second place in last May's elections. The progressive Move Forward Party and its coalition partners had scored an upset victory, but the conservative, military-backed Senate blocked party leader Pita Limjaroenrat from becoming prime minister. Pheu Thai formed an alliance with military and pro-royalist lawmakers to form a government, which angered many of the party's longtime supporters. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Iron Swords - Day 236 - 29 May 2024 At any point, Hamas could have ended this burgeoning tragedy to surrender and release every hostage. Hamas instigated and owns this humanitarian catastrophe. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) A top Israeli security official said he expected 'another seven months of fighting' in Gaza will be needed to defeat Hamas. Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi said in an interview with the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan), We may have another seven months (that is, until the end of 2024) of fighting to consolidate our success and achieve our goals, that is, to destroy Hamass authority and its military capabilities. Hanegbi added, "Victory for us means destroying Hamas' military capabilities, returning all the hostages, and ensuring that by the end of the war there will be no more threats from Gaza." He added, "In other words, there are no terrorist armies funded by Iran on our borders." An image generated by artificial intelligence, documenting part of the difficult humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, was admired by tens of millions around the world within a few hours, according to a report by the American NBC News network. The picture shows a massive supposed gathering of tents in the devastated Palestinian Strip, with the words All eyes on Rafah written in the middle of it in English. The photo, which was published on Tuesday on the Instagram application of the giant technology company Meta, attracted more than 29 million shares in less than 24 hours. The publication of the photo came in the wake of an Israeli raid that killed at least 45 people and injured hundreds, in a camp for displaced people west of Rafah, in an incident that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu considered a tragic incident. Consultant and social media expert, Matt Navarra, considered that there is an increasing trend towards publishing images such as (All Eyes on Rafah), as they do not contain any violence and contribute to conveying certain messages. Navarra said "All Eyes on Rafah highlights how activists can use artificial intelligence to create content that can deliver messages while adhering to platform rules. He considered that some caveats could be circumvented, because the All Eyes on Rafah image was created by artificial intelligence and there is nothing dangerous or widely controversial in it. For his part, Mark Owen Jones, an associate professor of Middle Eastern studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, who studies disinformation, said that the image certainly appears to be the result of artificial intelligence. He noted that among the signs that indicate that the image was created by artificial intelligence, is that it does not look realistic, and contains unusual shadows, pointing out that the group of tents is sprawling and unnaturally symmetrical. War Termination Israel delivered an updated proposal to the mediators involved in the negotiations, which includes general principles, including a willingness to be flexible, in order to reach an agreement to release hostages held by Hamas. The American website Axios quoted an unnamed source familiar with the negotiations as saying, The written proposal, which was presented to the main mediators Qatar and Egypt, was detailed and expanded on the general principles presented earlier by the director of the Israeli Mossad, David Barnea, during the meeting in which It was held in Paris, on Friday, with the participation of the Director of the CIA, Williams Burns, and the Qatari Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani. The source said that the updated Israeli proposal includes a willingness to be flexible regarding the number of living hostages who will be released in the first phase of the deal, in addition to a willingness to discuss Hamas demand for sustainable calm in the Gaza Strip. The source added: There is a new and serious initiative. American and Israeli officials told the Axios website that the meeting held in Paris on Friday made progress towards resuming hostage-release talks in Gaza. A senior American official told the website: There is progress in the discussions, and we are working closely with the Egyptian and Qatari mediators. These contacts will continue, as part of our endeavor to move the negotiation process forward. On Tuesday, the Egyptian Cairo News channel, which is close to state agencies, quoted a senior official as saying, An Egyptian security delegation is trying to reactivate the truce and prisoner exchange agreement in coordination with Qatar and the United States. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding a possible deal to release hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons reached a dead end about two weeks ago, after days of talks in Cairo and Doha. The previous negotiations revolved around a three-stage agreement that included a ceasefire in Gaza for a period of 42 days, during which the Israeli hostages would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, leading to the exchange of bodies and the start of reconstruction in the third and final stage. However, reports at the time spoke of several sticking points between Israel and Hamas regarding this agreement, including Israels demand that Hamas release 33 hostages alive as part of the first phase of the deal. While Hamas proposed that the first phase include the release of 33 hostages, dead or alive, without specifying the number of hostages who would be returned alive, according to what the Haaretz newspaper reported . Whats new this time? was a question that accompanied several parties announcement of an anticipated round of negotiations between Israel and Hamas in order to reach an agreement to release the Israeli hostages and reach a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip. Israel seeks to release all hostages held by Hamas within the framework of the truce. In return, the Palestinian movement adheres to ending the war completely, which is rejected by the Israeli government, as Israeli officials say that their country is open to a truce, but rejects the demands to end the war, until the achievement of Victory and elimination of Hamas. Operational Update Bombs used in the Israeli airstrike that killed at least 45 people in Rafah on Sunday were produced in the United States, said The New York Times (NYT). The outlet's experts analyzed the visual evidence of the attack and concluded that "munition debris filmed at the strike location the next day was remnants from a GBU-39, a bomb designed and manufactured in the United States." As NYT emphasized, the U.S. officials have pressed Israel to use more GBU-39s, which they say can reduce civilian casualties. Trevor Ball, a former U.S. army explosive ordnance disposal technician and one of the experts quoted in the NYT piece, identified the weapon in his post on X (formerly Twitter). Operational Update - Gaza Four IDF brigades are operating in Rafah, and in the last two days they began to expand the ground maneuver towards the center. Gaza war unit tracker @2023gazawar reported : " Today the 98th Division left the Gaza Strip and ended the Jabaliya Raid. This means the 7th, 35th and 460th Brigades have withdrawn from Gaza. 7 and 35 are expected to move to Rafah alongside 98th Division in the coming days, while 460th returns to its base in the Negev (as it is a training brigade). 1 source indicated that 98th Division will move to the Lebanese border instead of Rafah, but I personally think this is unlikely. We'll see I guess. 7 brigades remain throughout Gaza, 2 under 99th Division in Netzarim and 5 under 162nd Division in Rafah. The withdrawal of 98th Division is premature. Not all of Jabaliya was recleared, and 2 of the 3 reformed Hamas battalions in the area remain intact. I think Nahal Patrol will probably be returned to Nahal & Bislamach Patrol goes back to Bislamach. 277 could go to Givati or 35?... Multiple people have indicated to me that 98th Division's Jabaliya Raid is set to end some time around next week. 460th Brigade is set to return to training (as it is a training brigade), 35th and 7th Brigades will likely move to Rafah together with the 98th Division." The US administration provided clarifications for what could be considered a major operation in Rafah, which may push Washington to change its policy towards Israel if it is implemented on the ground. White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said in a press conference that a more complete definition of what he considers a major ground operation in Rafah could lead to a change in US policy towards Israel. However, he pointed out that Israel's actions there have not yet reached that level. Referring to the concept of the big operation, Kirby said, We did not see them storming Rafah, and we did not see them entering with large units and large numbers of forces in columns and formations in the form of a coordinated maneuver against multiple targets on the ground. This is the big ground operation.. We did not see that. In response to a question about reports that Israeli forces advanced into the center of Rafah, Kirby said, What I understand, and I think the Israelis talked about this, is that they are moving along the so-called Philadelphia Corridor, which is located on the outskirts of the city, and not within the city limits. Kirby added, "We did not see a major ground operation, and these tanks were moving along a corridor that they previously told us they would use on the outskirts of the town to try to pressure Hamas." The IDF reported that the fighters of the 401st Brigade's combat team destroyed a kilometer and a half long underground route where there were dozens of anti-tank missiles and other weapons. "The route splits into a number of different paths and at different depths. The entire route is a kilometer and a half long and contained several side doors. In the raid, many weapons, short-range anti-tank missiles, Kalashnikovs, explosive charges and grenades were found inside. The route contains a living space, toilets and additional rooms. All the roads and the compounds were destroyed" The Israeli army confirmed that it had achieved operational control over the Philadelphia axis, located on the border between Egypt and the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said via X that the Israeli forces were able in recent days to achieve operational control on the Philadelphia axis on the border between Egypt and Rafah. He added, "The Philadelphia Corridor was used as an oxygen artery for Hamas, which it used to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip on a permanent basis." He pointed out that the Israeli forces "found along the axis dozens of missile platforms ready to be launched and launching pits that Hamas used to launch rockets and mortar shells towards Israeli territory." He stated, "Hamas took advantage of the Philadelphia axis and established its infrastructure a few dozen meters away from the Egyptian border so that it would not be targeted." He said: "In recent weeks, Hamas has fired about 70 rocket and mortar shells from the Rafah area. So far, our forces have found about 20 tunnels in the Philadelphia Axis area, and we are studying and thwarting them." Adraee attached his tweet to a video clip that showed what he described as missile launching pads and rocket shells. In light of the continued Israeli attack on Rafah, attention has once again turned to the Philadelphia axis , which is seen more than ever as a strategic axis for the Hamas movement (which the United States classifies as terrorist), and has been in the crosshairs of the Israeli army regularly since. The beginning of the war in Gaza. More than 20 tunnels were located by the IDF near the Philadelphia axis, some of which cross into Egypt. The IDF informed the Egyptians and is working to investigate the tunnels. Another 82 shafts were found by the forces near the Philadelphia axis. In addition, dozens of rockets were located near the Egyptian border ready for launch, in launch pits and temporary buildings. According to IDF data, in recent weeks 70 rockets have been launched from the Rafah area. A senior Egyptian official denied in the Egyptian media that there was any discussion with Israel regarding tunnels on the Philadelphia route that cross. In recent weeks, the fighters of the 401st Israel Defense Forces, in cooperation with the Yalam unit and 504, have been operating under the 162nd division in East Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, with the aim of locating terrorist infrastructures and underground routes. So far, during the activities of the fighters, many terrorists have been eliminated and dozens of terrorist infrastructures of the Hamas organization have been destroyed. The Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Hartzi Halevi, today (Wednesday), held a situation assessment and tour of the Rafah area in the Gaza Strip with the commander of the Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, the commander of Division 162, Brigadier General Itzik Cohen and other commanders. "Look, we are here for several reasons," said the Chief of Staff, "one, this is the last brigade left with all the full capabilities, so we want to disband the Rafah Brigade. But we will deepen the achievement and we will bring Hamas to places Very low, it requires a lot of professionalism, it requires a lot of determination, it requires a lot of values, to know that dismantling Hamas completely is a national mission of the State of Israel.... I am very, very impressed, I leave here with the feeling that there is a very, very professional, very high-quality work here," he continued, "There is learning here, it is a very, very important thing. You are making progress, there are very high achievements here." "This is the last remaining brigade with all the capabilities, so we want to dismantle the Rafah Brigade. We will deepen the achievement and we will bring Hamas to very low places. It requires a lot of professionalism, it requires a lot of determination, it requires a lot of value, Knowing that dismantling Hamas completely is a national mission of the State of Israel." The Wall Street Journal, citing a high-ranking Egyptian official, reported that Israel is trying to justify its military operation in Rafah by claiming that it discovered tunnels extending across the border from the Gaza Strip to Egypt. The source, which the newspaper did not name, indicated that Israel did not provide Cairo with any information regarding the discovery of 20 tunnels in the Philadelphia Corridor area (a 14-kilometre-long buffer zone on the Gaza Strip border with Egypt). He added: Israel is using these statements to justify the continuation of the operation in Rafah. At the same time, a representative of the Israeli military administration told the Wall Street Journal that Tel Aviv informed Cairo of the discovery of new cross-border tunnels. An Egyptian official accused Israel of using allegations of the existence of tunnels on the border with the Gaza Strip to justify its military operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, according to what Cairo News Channel reported, citing a senior Egyptian source. The channel, which is close to Egyptian intelligence, quoted the senior source as saying, There are no communications with the Israeli side regarding the allegations of the existence of tunnels on the Gaza Strip border with Egypt. The source added, "Israel is using these allegations to justify continuing the Palestinian Rafah operation and prolonging the war for political purposes," stressing that "the Israeli media reports that talked about the presence of tunnels on the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip are incorrect." The Israeli National Security Advisor, Tzachi Hanegbi, had indicated in an interview with the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) that Israel must ensure with the Egyptians that smuggling does not occur through tunnels under the border. As of 2013, Egypt destroyed hundreds of cross-border tunnels with Gaza, which it said were used to transport fighters and weapons during the war that Cairo waged for years against Islamist rebels in North Sinai. An Israeli military official said that Israel had established operational control over the strategic Philadelphia axis along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The Philadelphia Corridor is 14 kilometers long and extends along the border with Egypt, from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south. The axis is located within the scope of a buffer zone that was agreed to be established between Israel and Egypt. Hanegbi said in the interview that Israel "must close the border between Egypt and Gaza." Since the outbreak of the most violent war ever in Gaza, in October, Israel has repeatedly spoken of ongoing smuggling through tunnels under the border. But the head of the Egyptian State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, had previously accused Israel of using allegations to justify its illegal occupation of the Philadelphia Axis. In January, Rashwan said that Egypt had completely destroyed these tunnels, established a buffer zone, and strengthened border control in a step that makes any smuggling operation impossible, whether above or below the ground. Tensions have been rising between Israel and Egypt, the first Arab country to recognize the Hebrew state, since the Israelis ignored international warnings and went ahead with a ground operation in Rafah earlier this month. Control of the Philadelphia axis comes only weeks after Israeli forces took control of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, on May 7. On Tuesday, Israeli tanks were stationed in the center of the city of Rafah, where the United Nations says 1.4 million people, the majority of whom are displaced, are taking shelter. An analysis conducted by the Sanad News Verification Agency on Al Jazeera Network found that the area of the Gaza Strip shrank by about 32% due to the buffer zone and the continuing Israeli operations in the border areas and related military axes within the territory of the Gaza Strip . These operations, which began since October 7, have not stopped. The first last until today. The occupation army has expanded the areas of the buffer zone that it intends to establish on the border strip with the Gaza Strip, while it continues systematic bombing and demolition of neighborhoods, residential buildings, and facilities near the border, the effects of which were monitored until this May. The results of analyzing and monitoring the destroyed areas via satellite images show that the total area of the Gaza Strip has eroded by approximately 120 square kilometers, or up to 32% of the total area of the Strip (360 square kilometers), as this percentage may increase in light of the continuation of Israeli operations. The area of the border buffer zone, in addition to the Netzarim axis, is approximately 96 square kilometers, equivalent to 26% of the area of the Gaza Strip, in addition to about 24 square kilometers of the area of the destroyed areas connected to the buffer zone, amounting to 6% of the total area of the Gaza Strip. The result of the shrinking area is 32%. This comes amid Israeli statements about the establishment of a buffer zone deep in the Gaza Strip and along the borders of the Strip, claiming that it is a temporary and undeclared area for the purpose of disarming the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), according to Israeli media. Despite US Secretary of State Anthony Blinkens statement on January 23, 2024, clearly stating the United States position on opposing any permanent change in the territorial composition of Gaza and rejecting any permanent displacement of its population, the widespread bulldozing and removal operations continue until now, and Israel has previously revealed its need for more than 100 giant D9 bulldozers used to expand and accelerate the process of establishing the buffer zone. Operational Update - Judea-Samaria A report was received of a drive-by attack near Nablus in the Samaria Division where two people were seriously injured. Many IDF forces began a pursuit of a terrorist who carried out a drive-by attack at one of the entrances to Nablus. IDF forces searched for the suspects who fired from Tulkarm earlier today at nearby Israeli settlements. The terrorist fled to Nablus and turned himself in to the Palestinian security forces, after many IDF forces searched for him. At the same time, IDF Shin Bet and MGB fighters operated tonight to arrest eight wanted persons throughout Judea and Samaria. In a two-division operation in the villages of Seir and Shioh in the Etzion and Yehuda divisions, in which many forces took part, dozens of suspects were interrogated and terrorist funds and weapons were confiscated. In Hebron, in the Yehuda Brigade, the fighters arrested two suspects who incited terrorist activity, in Deir Tzamat a wanted person was arrested and an M16 type weapon was confiscated, and in the villages of Yatta and Tarkomiya two wanted persons suspected of terrorist activity were arrested. Two more wanted men were arrested in Beit Aur Athata in the Binyamin Brigade. During the operation of the night forces in Tubas, in the Bekaa and Emekim Division, three IDF soldiers were slightly injured by an explosive device. One soldier was treated at the spot, two other soldiers were evacuated for medical treatment at a hospital, their families were informed. So far, since the beginning of the war, about 4,000 wanted persons have been arrested throughout the Judea and Samaria Division and the Bekaa and Emekim Division, about 1,700 of whom are associated with the terrorist organization Hamas. Operational Update - Lebanon Following the alerts that were activated in the north of the country about the infiltration of hostile aircraft, the air defense fighters successfully intercepted two unmanned aircraft that crossed over Lebanese territory using the 'Iron Dome' system. Fighter jets attacked this evening a terrorist infrastructure of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the al-Khyam area in southern Lebanon. In addition, the IDF attacked with artillery fire in the areas of Hamol, Kfar Kila and Ankora in southern Lebanon. Golani Brigade fighters have been in a defensive battle on the northern border for about four months, during which they are stationed in the first line of defense, carrying out ambushes and patrols on the fence and hitting Hezbollah terrorists on the border. The air defense fighters intercepted a suspicious aerial target over the maritime space in the area of Rosh Hankara, no warning was activated according to policy. During the night, Air Force fighter jets attacked a military building where Hezbollah terrorists were staying in the Naqura area, alongside the organization's terrorist infrastructure in the Ramiah and Tiri areas in southern Lebanon. The IDF forces attacked with artillery the sources of the fire from which the launches towards a planted area were identified last night (Tuesday). The Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted Maya at 09:15 a.m. on Wednesday 5/29/2024. They equipped the newly developed spy equipment at the monk site with appropriate weapons and directly hit it, leading to its destruction. Lebanon's Hezbollah announced its new attacks against the positions of the Zionist army in the north of the occupied territories by issuing statements. Lebanon's Hezbollah Information Department announced: In support of the stable Palestinian nation in the Gaza Strip and their brave and noble resistance, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted the Zebedin position located in the occupied fields of Shaba'a with missile weapons at 6:10 p.m. today, Wednesday, the 29th of May 2024. And they hit it directly. In another statement of Lebanon's Hezbollah, it is stated: In support of the stable Palestinian nation in the Gaza Strip and their brave and noble resistance, at 6:10 p.m. today, Wednesday, the 29th of May 2024, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance attacked the Samaqah position located in the occupied Kafr Shuba hills with missile weapons. They took aim and hit it directly. In addition to this, today at 6:00 PM local time, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters targeted the Zionist position of " Ramiya " located in the north of the occupied territories with artillery shells. Earlier, Lebanon's Hezbollah issued a statement announcing a combined attack against the Zionist position of " Al-Baghdadi " located in the north of the occupied territories. Lebanon's Hezbollah announced: We carried out successive combined attacks against al-Baghdadi's position. At the beginning, we targeted this position, the guard and the presence of Israeli enemy soldiers in it. In the continuation of the Lebanese Hezbollah's statement, it is stated: After the missile attack, we targeted al-Baghdadi's position with suicide drones carrying bombs. Lebanon's Hezbollah stated: Islamic resistance fighters targeted the operation room of this position and its surveillance room. Suicide drones also accurately hit their targets. In the continuation of this statement, it is emphasized: the combined attack on al-Baghdadi's position resulted in several explosions, and as a result, this position was set on fire. This attack resulted in the definite damage of Israeli enemy soldiers. Operational Update - Syria / Iraq According to the report of Mehr news agency , citing SANA, media sources announced that the Syrian air defense has confronted some hostile targets in the sky of this country. SANA reporter reported that the Syrian air defense has targeted some hostile targets in the skies of Homs city. According to Mehr News Agency , during the Zionist regime's missile attack on some areas of Syria, a number of Syrian citizens were martyred and injured. On Wednesday night, Russia's Ilyum news website quoted a military source as reporting that the Israeli fighter jets targeted a military site in the center and a residential building in the city of Banias on several occasions, as a result of which a child was martyred and 10 other civilians were injured. This military source added: At around 19:30 this evening, the Zionist enemy launched an air attack from the Lebanese territory and targeted a site in the central region and a residential building in the city of Banias in the coastal region. The news media in Syria also announced that the Zionist enemy carried out an air attack from the side of the occupied Golan on targets in the city of Homs located in the west of Syria. These sources added: Syrian air defense countered this attack and shot down some of the missiles fired by the enemy, but during this attack material damage was done. Previously, the Zionist regime has repeatedly tried to attack various targets in Syria, and in most cases these attacks have been countered by the Syrian air defense. Operational Update - Yemen Local sources said that an unknown drone crashed today, Wednesday, in Al-Wadi District in Marib Governorate (eastern Yemen). The sources added that a drone, likely American, fell today in the desert of Marib Governorate near the Al-Alam Front, north of Al-Wadi District. The sources indicated that the circumstances of the plane crash and the party following it were not known. The Yemeni military media published video footage of the shooting down of an American MQ-9 Reaper drone while it was carrying out a hostile mission in the airspace of Marib. Yemeni air defenses successfully shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper while it was carrying out hostile activities in the airspace of Marib, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) announced on Wednesday. Brigadier General Yahya Saree confirmed that the drone was targeted with a locally-made surface-to-air missile. He added, "The downing of the plane came just days after another plane of the same type was shot down in the skies of Al-Bayda province." The video clip shows the American plane being spotted in the airspace of Marib and then a Yemeni-manufactured surface-to-air missile was launched in its direction. The footage showcases the moment the missile directly hit the American plane, and its debris fell to the ground. This makes it the 6th $30 million drone to be shot down by the Yemeni forces since operations were initiated in support of Gaza. Simultaneously, a Defense Department official, as quoted by Sputnik, stated that the US government is aware of reports that a US MQ-9 Reaper drone was shot down by what they describe as Houthi rebels over Yemen earlier that day but currently have no additional information to provide. "We are aware of reports but do not have anything to share at this time," the official stressed. The Yemeni Armed Forces announced the implementation of operations targeting 6 ships in the Red, Arab and Mediterranean Seas, for violating the decision to ban access to the ports of occupied Palestine. It indicated in a statement that the naval forces, the air force, and the missile force in the Yemeni armed forces, with the help of God Almighty, carried out six military operations, as follows: Three military operations in the Red Sea, the first targeted the ship (LAAX), which was directly hit and severely damaged. The statement added that the second operation targeted the ship (MOREA) and the third operation targeted the ship (Sealady). The three operations were carried out with a number of naval and ballistic missiles and drones, and led to direct casualties, thanks to God. The Yemeni Armed Forces confirmed the implementation of two military operations targeting the American ships (ALBA) and (Maersk HARTFOFD) in the Arabian Sea, and the targeting operation was carried out with a number of missiles and drones. It pointed out that the sixth military operation targeted the ship (MINERVA ANTONIA) in the Mediterranean Sea with a number of winged missiles, and all the aforementioned ships were targeted for violating the decision to ban access to the ports of occupied Palestine. The Yemeni Armed Forces affirmed: In the face of the continued Israeli crimes against our brothers in the Gaza Strip, they will not hesitate, with the help of God Almighty, to target all ships that deal with the Israeli entity in the declared area of operations, regardless of their destination, as stated in their previous statements. At the end of its statement, the Yemeni Armed Forces saluted the valiant Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip and all the free people who support it in Lebanon and Iraq, and affirmed the continuation of their military operations until the aggression stopped and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip was lifted. The Iranian Tasnim News Agency reported on Wednesday that Tehran had provided the Houthi rebels in Yemen with a Ghadr ballistic missile that is launched from the sea. The Iran-aligned Houthi group has launched more than 50 attacks in the Red Sea region since November, as part of what it says is a campaign of solidarity with the Palestinians, although many of the ships it tried to target have nothing to do with Israel. It later expanded the scope of its attacks to include the Indian Ocean. The "Ghadr" missile is an improved version of the "Shahab-3A" missile. It is also referred to as Ghadar-101 and Ghadar-110. Tasnim reported that inspired by Iran, the Yemeni military forces have obtained the technology to manufacture anti-ship ballistic missiles. Irans first homegrown naval ballistic missile, called Qadr, was developed by late Iranian commander Brigadier General Hassan Tehrani-Moqaddam more than a decade ago. Irans technical know-how to produce such anti-ship missiles is now at the disposal of the Yemeni military forces. Patterned after the Iranian missile, Yemens Muhit (Ocean) missile is capable of detonating naval targets. The Yemeni Army has been in possession of surface-to-air missiles for many years. After the invasion of Yemen by a Saudi-led coalition in March 2015, the Yemeni forces converted the SAMs into surface-to-surface missiles, known as Qaher-2 and Qaher-2M, which carried out many successful operations against hostile targets. The Ansarullah forces have also unveiled an anti-ship version of the Qaher missile in military parades. Like the Iranian Qadr, Yemens Muhit missile is equipped with an optical seeker that can home in on hostile warships. It indicates that Iran has acted successfully in supporting the resistance front across the region. Iran has empowered the resistance groups by providing them with modern technologies. Such policy has led to the formation of an integrated command and control center in the region, specifically in the drone and missile sectors. Maps All maps are lies. Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential, wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness. Bystanders The World Food Programme (WFP) urgently appealed for a ceasefire in Rafah and across Gaza, emphasizing the dire conditions faced by forcibly displaced individuals, including children. In a post on X, the WFP highlighted the exhaustion of those affected and the declining capacity to provide assistance as time passes. The organization stressed the immediate necessity for a ceasefire to address the worsening humanitarian situation in the region. The Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) organization called for an immediate end to the bombing in Rafah and Gaza. Chris Lockyear, MSF Secretary-General, said, "Civilians are being massacred. They are being pushed into areas they were told would be safe only to be subjected to relentless airstrikes and heavy fighting," adding, "Entire families, made up of dozens of people, are crowded into tents and living in extremely difficult conditions. Over 900,000 people were forcibly displaced again as Israeli forces intensified their offensive on Rafah in early May." In a statement on Wednesday, the MSF relayed that staff and patients at an MSF-supported trauma stabilization point in Rafah's Tal al-Sultan were forced to leave the facility amid the increasing aggression only 24 hours after the IOF bombed tents in what it called a "safe zone", killing at least 49 people and wounding over 250 others. The Israeli army claimed responsibility for the strike, claiming it was a "precision" attack to assassinate Hamas members. Dr. Safa Jaber, an MSF gynecologist who is in the Tal al-Sultan tents with her family, expressed. "All of last night we heard clashes, bombings, and rockets being fired. Nobody knows what exactly is happening," noting, "We are scared for our children, scared for ourselves. We were not expecting this to happen suddenly. Where shall we go? We are struggling to find the basics that every human being needs to stay alive." The statement also called "Israel" out for disregarding the order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to "immediately" halt its military attacks in Rafah and let in humanitarian aid. With that being said, it described all nations supporting "Israel" as "morally and politically complicit." It urged the United States, United Kingdom, and allied European Union Member States to pressure "Israel" to stop the blockades and attacks. It added that the shutdown of the MSF-supported trauma point in Tal al-Sultan came after an Israeli airstrike on the Kuwaiti hospital in Rafah killed two staff and put the hospital out of service. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) called on Wednesday for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, where millions of people face worsening hunger amid a humanitarian catastrophe nearly seven months into the war on Gaza. "We desperately need a political solution that will allow us to have a ceasefire to get aid in," IFRC President Kate Forbes said as quoted by Reuters in an interview in the capital, Manila. "We're ready to make a difference. We have to have access, and to have access there has to have a ceasefire," she added. Describing the situation in Rafah as "atrocious" during a visit in February, months before "Israel" launched a military assault on the southern Gaza city, Forbes said, "There was no not enough housing. There was no water, there weren't enough sanitation toilets. We had a hospital with no equipment... and unfortunately what I was afraid of has happened, and there wasn't going to be enough food." "I plead with the governments on all sides to negotiate a ceasefire so that we can get aid in," she said. "My job is to ensure that when it [ceasefire] happens, we can give the aid that's necessary. And so they need to do their jobs so I can do my job," the IFRC president added. The World Central Kitchen charitable organization announced the cessation of its work in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip , due to the ongoing Israeli attacks in the governorate. The non-governmental organization is based in the United States and provides meals to the displaced in Gaza. In the face of Israeli operations in Rafah, countless families are forced to flee again, she said late Tuesday. She added, "The continuing Israeli attacks forced us to stop work in our main kitchen in Rafah, and to move many of our local kitchens to areas further north." The charitable organization recently resumed its work after stopping it following the killing of 7 of its workers in 3 Israeli air strikes on their cars last April. The killing of the workers - an Australian, three Britons, an American, a Palestinian and a Polish - sparked global outrage against Israel . Axis of Resistance Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movements leader likened Israel to the Nazis, predicting the regime's downfall amid growing outrage over its atrocities in Gaza. Seyed Hassan Nasrallah likened the Israeli regime to the Nazis in Germany during World War II, stating that the regime has little chance of surviving the increasing public anger over its crimes in Gaza. I see no future for this Nazi regime in the region, said Nasrallah in a televised speech on Tuesday. Nasrallah said that Israels brutal bombardment of refugee tents in the city of Rafah in Gaza over the weekend would only hasten its collapse and disintegration. He said the attack demonstrated that the Israelis are even worse than the Nazis, who committed heinous crimes across Europe. The occupying regime lacks conscience or moral principles and it is worse than the Nazis, he stated. Nasrallah said Israels response to international calls for a halt to attacks on Gaza was a devastating airstrike. He said the scale of the attack on Rafah, evident in the disfigured bodies of children left behind, showed how savage, treacherous, and ruthless the Zionists are. Muqtada al-Sadr, confirmed today, Wednesday, that democracy and American promises are a double standard, while pointing out that those who claim humanity support Zionist terrorism in Gaza. Al-Sadr said in his speech, Any other country or ruler did what the Zionists did, of bombing the camps and leaving behind the burned bodies of women and children in a horrific way that shames humanity, or what the representative of the Zionists did of tearing up United Nations resolutions in front of the eyes of people and countries, and so on. His act of public defiance of the decisions of the International Court of Justice would have made the world stand still. He added, "American democracy and freedom and its tails are deceptive and apply double standards, as it forbids that to some and permits it for its spoiled daughter, the state of the Zionists," wondering, "What logic is this, what justice is this, and what democracy or freedom is this? Rather, it is just arrogance, arrogance, injustice, and bloodshed." He continued, "It closes its eyes and deafens its ears to these massacres, genocide, and ethnic cleansing," pointing out that it "stands against every freedom other than the freedom of the sons of Zion and the sons of homosexuality." According to Mehr reporter , "Ali Bagheri", Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, at the ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the death of Imam Khomeini (RA) titled "Palestine and Resistance in Imam Rahel's Intellectual System", while expressing his condolences for the martyrdom of the martyrs of service, he said: "We employees and We lost the members of the foreign policy apparatus, the head of Iran's diplomacy and the leader of the resistance diplomacy, the martyred Amir Abdollahian. He continued: Our revolution has always been more fruitful with pure blood and the enemies have never been able to gain anything from these injuries. Although the loss of these loved ones has been a loss for us. Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of our country said: We are and will remain the soldiers of Ayatollah Khamenei. Imam (RA) created an innovation in the path of the Islamic Revolution. He said: In the field of foreign policy, Imam Rahel was the first person who was able to implement a foreign policy based on religious thinking. Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs said: threats by our nation have always been turned into great opportunities; The continuation of the Islamic Revolution is the movement of resistance, and this movement is inspired by the Islamic Revolution, but the Westerners want to insinuate that the movements of resistance are dependent on Iran, while in reality this is not the case. He continued: The currents of resistance have reached maturity and make their own decisions. Bagheri added: Our foreign policy is based on ideology and this is the reason for the independence of our foreign policy. Other countries pursue their foreign policy due to the defined share for them, but the foundation of the foreign policy of Imam (RA) is independence. The Commander of the Quds Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Brigadier General Ismail Qaani, considered the Al-Aqsa Flood operation to have made the end of the Zionist entity imminent, and made it taste a defeat that he will never forget and will not be able to compensate for. He said: The Zionist entity today is in its weakest stage and is on the verge of extinction. The Palestinian Information Center reported that this came in a statement by the commander of the Quds Forces in the Revolutionary Guard, Brigadier General Ismail Qaani, who, accompanied by Sayyed Mojtaba Abtahi, Secretary-General of the Conference to Support the Intifada of the Iranian Islamic Shura Council, visited the office of the Hamas movement in Tehran, and held a detailed meeting. With the movement's representative, Khaled Al-Qadoumi. During the meeting that took place on Tuesday , Brigadier General Qaani praised the legendary steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their resistance in the face of the arrogance of the Zionist enemy and its aggression that has been continuing for 8 months and its commission of the most horrific crimes in the war of genocide that it is practicing against the defenseless residents of the Gaza Strip. He denounced the recent massacre committed by the Zionist occupation in Rafah, which claimed the lives of more than 45 displaced people, most of whom were children and women, stressing that this is the behavior of the Zionists, whose crimes were exposed to the world. Brigadier General Qaani said: The Zionist entity today is in its weakest stage and is on the verge of extinction, pointing out that the Al-Aqsa Flood operation made the end of this entity imminent, and made it taste a defeat that it will not forget and will not be able to compensate for. For his part, the Hamas representative briefed the commander of the Quds Forces on the latest developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip, especially with regard to the recent horrific massacre committed by the Zionist enemy against the displaced in Rafah. Al-Qaddoumi stressed that this massacre is a reflection of the occupations field failure in confronting the valiant Palestinian resistance, which for 8 months has been displaying the most wonderful meanings of valor and heroism in defending Palestine and the Islamic nation. Al-Qaddoumi stressed that the Palestinian resistance inflicted on the enemy a terrible defeat during the eight months on the Gaza Square, parallel to the defeat it suffered as a result of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on the seventh of last October. He also gave an explanation about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the necessity of concerted efforts to save its steadfast people from the threat of famine, thanking the Islamic Republic of Iran for standing by the Palestinian people and their just cause. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the head of the Israeli occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, as a "demented vampire," criticizing the international community's silence regarding the massacres committed by the occupation army in the Gaza Strip. Erdogan said in his speech, during the meeting of the parliamentary bloc of his party (Justice and Development), today, Wednesday, that the world is directly following the brutality of the demented vampire (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu . He said: No belief justifies killing innocent civilians by burning them in tents, and the world is directly following the brutality of the vampire called Netanyahu, referring to the holocaust committed by the occupation army against the tents of displaced people in Rafah. Erdogan pointed out, "Israel killed humanity in Gaza, and Europe killed its values, and trampled all the principles that were the reason for its existence." He considered that the hands of the United States and European countries have become "partners in the blood-sucking practiced by Israel by remaining silent." Allied for Democracy Israeli War Cabinet member Gadi Eisenkot expressed Wednesday serious concerns about the current government's handling of the war in Gaza and the northern front with Hezbollah. Eisenkot dismissed the notion that dismantling a few battalions in Rafah could lead to the quick return of the Israeli captives, calling it an "illusion," according to the Israeli Army Radio. He emphasized that stabilizing the region was a highly complex task that could take between three to five years, followed by many more years to establish a new authority. "The idea of 'complete victory' is nothing more than a slogan," Eisenkot said, pointing out Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's failures on both security and economic levels. Eisenkot highlighted the difficulty of bringing back the captives, stating that they were dispersed across numerous locations, heavily guarded, and protected by armed personnel. He also noted that if elections were held in Gaza today, Hamas would likely emerge victorious despite the desires of the Israeli occupation's leadership. Expressing frustration over the diminishing influence of his faction within the cabinet, Eisenkot called for early elections to address the government's waning effectiveness. He argued for the necessity of a preemptive strike on Lebanon to counter Hezbollah, criticizing the delayed response to Hezbollah's operations, which kicked off on October 8 and have since been costly for the Israeli occupation. An earlier investigation of the Israeli Channel 12 reported that during a cabinet meeting hours before the launch of an attack on Hezbollah on 11 October, Eisenkot walked up to the head of the military intelligence division in the army, grabbed him by the body, and addressed him: Say, so that they can hear your opinion, do you think it is right to bomb Hezbollah tonight?, The general proceeded to answer "no". Eisenkot advocated for tripling the number of personnel in the north and ensuring serious protection for the settlers in the region while promoting an agreement to strengthen UN Resolution 1701. Commenting Eisenkot's statements, Channel 12 military commentator Nir Dvori said that "what Eisenkot is saying is not how they manage the battle, and this is not how they reach the goals, and a radical change must be made if we want to be worthy of the price you pay in the Gaza Strip." "Israel in this way is going to destruction," a Channel 12 military commentator said. In response, the Likud party accused Eisenkot and former Security Minister Benny Gantz of seeking excuses to end the war prematurely and withdraw from the government at a critical time. Likud spokespersons criticized them for focusing on narrow political interests instead of striving for "victory", which top Israeli brass argue is near-impossible to achieve at this point. Eisenkot had said Monday that Hamas "renewed its forces" and that the fighting in the Gaza Strip is expected to "continue for years", Israeli news website Ynet reported. What needs to be done now "is to reach the end of fighting in Rafah and at the same time move forward along the path of a hostage deal, in which we will cease fire for 42 days or double that," Eisenkot was quoted as saying during a session in the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee. "There is no [trade-off] between releasing prisoners in exchange for ending the war," he further said, noting that negotiating a deal involving captives is crucial from a strategic standpoint. "As we stopped in November for a short break, we stopped for 42 days. And even if we need more than that, it does not mean we will end the fighting," he added. Eisenkot's remarks come at a critical juncture as the Israeli public advocates for an exchange deal without a clear post-war strategy after 8 months of fighting, during which the Israeli army did not attain any declared war objectives. These challenges are compounded by collapsed negotiations due to Israeli obstinacy and its military operation in Rafah. On Sunday, the former head of Mossad Danny Yatom said that "time is running out" for the Israeli captives in Gaza, that "Israel" will fail to achieve any of its war objectives, and that Gaza will remain the way it is. Even if the army "remained in Gaza for several more months, fighting over and under its lands, they would still not be able to kill every Hamas fighter or even the majority of them," he added. The army would also fail to destroy the Resistance's infrastructure in Gaza or even its majority, he further said. Eisenkot's remarks, on the other hand, signify a clear and explicit challenge, particularly in light of the regime's refusal to comply with orders of the International Court of Justice. The ICJ effectively ordered "Israel" to cease all its operations in Rafah. The Palestinian resistance for its part affirmed that it will not engage in negotiations until a permanent ceasefire is reached and the Israeli forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the fighting continues across the entire Strip, where Israeli forces suffered significant losses, as reported by Israeli sources. For months after the October 7 attacks, a slogan in Hebrew spread almost everywhere across Israel. It was already a tangible reality after the unprecedented escalation from Hamas. Its words were Together we will win. But as the war continues, the different trends seem to have taken over again. , to show strong differences within Israeli society. Unlike what was the situation after the attack, when everyone avoided differences and there was one goal, which was to respond to Hamas in Gaza, Israeli cities are currently witnessing large marches demanding the departure of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and holding him and those negligent in confronting the October 7 attacks accountable. The government coalition is also witnessing a major rift, as the minister in the war government, Benny Gantz, on Sunday submitted a proposal to the Cabinet Secretariat to form a government investigation committee into the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip, according to the Times of Israel newspaper. This was preceded by Gantz's threat to withdraw from Netanyahu's government by June 8, if the latter does not clarify in detail who should govern Gaza after the end of the current war, but it seems unlikely that the proposal will be adopted by the government. The views of Gantz, along with him and Defense Minister Yoav Galant, differ with Netanyahu regarding the war, and of course with the hard-right ministers in the government, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, as the latter demanded the occupation of Gaza, the return of Israeli settlements there, and the displacement of the Palestinian population. Political analyst, Joab Stern, said in telephone statements to Al-Hurra website that this division in the Israeli street began after the families of the kidnapped people realized that the government is not primarily concerned with returning their relatives, and does not deal with the issue as a priority. The war began in the Gaza Strip after an unprecedented attack carried out by Hamas on Israeli territory on October 7, killing more than 1,170 people, most of them civilians, according to an Agence France-Presse count based on official Israeli data. During the attack, 252 people were taken hostage and transported to Gaza. After a truce in November allowed the release of about 100 of them, about 121 hostages remain in the Strip, including 37 who died, according to the army. The Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas left more than 36,000 people dead, most of them civilians, according to the Ministry of Health in the Strip. Stern added that the dispute turned into "a partisan political one. The hard right had one position and Gantz and the opposition had another position. Then other points of disagreement emerged related to the arrangements for the day after the war in Gaza, and the alternative to Hamas rule, which caused the rift and internal division." But Meir Masri, professor of political science at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, has a different point of view, as he saw that there is no transformation within Israel, but rather a return to the lines before October 7th. Masri explained in statements to Al-Hurra: Israel, like any other democratic, pluralistic society in the world, witnesses differences in visions and differences in viewpoints regarding most issues. With Gantz's threat, Netanyahu may lose his strongest political rival and his centrist bloc, which helped expand support for the government in Israel and abroad, even though the longest-serving prime minister in Israel's history will still retain a majority in Parliament with the support of ultra-nationalist parties that have angered the United States. United States even before the war, according to Reuters. Political analyst Amotz Asa-El told the agency: With regard to Parliament, it may continue for some time, and it will continue. But it will not last... Wars anywhere in democracies require consensus, require a government followed by the social mainstream, and a clear majority in the political system. The research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem added: This will not achieve a narrow government, like the one that will remain for Israel after Gantzs departure. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz gave the War Council until June 8 to announce what he called a clear national strategy regarding the war in the Gaza Strip and the tension on the northern front. n Wednesday, he met with 3 leaders of the Israeli opposition parties: the head of the There is a Future party, Yair Lapid, the head of the Israel Our Home party, Avigdor Lieberman, and the head of the National Right party, Gideon Saar, according to the Times of Israel newspaper. The three politicians agreed on what they called an "effective plan" to replace Netanyahu, for the "interest of Israel." The attendees announced their aspiration for the "National Camp" party led by Gantz to resign from the government, and to join their efforts. Speaking to Al-Hurra website, Stern said that the coming days will witness an increase in political tension after Gantzs deadline, adding that his withdrawal from the government will reduce the number of Knesset representatives supporting Netanyahu, and we will see more tension stemming from this division in visions regarding matters such as Gaza and the attack from the seventh of October. He also pointed out the difficulty of the current situation, saying: The government is a failure and is headed on the wrong path. If Netanyahu decides to change his course, the hard right will dissolve the government coalition, adding: This government must end its term. A member of the National Right Party, Ze'ev Elkin, acknowledged that this tripartite meeting "is a remarkable but not dramatic step, because the opposition does not, on the ground, have the appropriate means to overthrow the government." The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation had quoted sources on Tuesday that a meeting between Lapid and Lieberman, and another between Lapid and Saar, preceded the tripartite meeting. Lieberman said during a press conference held in the Knesset on Monday: Let us form a joint coalition so that we can overthrow this government and form another government. On Sunday, the Minister in the Israeli War Cabinet, Benny Gantz, submitted a proposal to the Cabinet Secretariat to form a government investigation committee into the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip, according to what the Times of Israel newspaper reported. The government also faced disagreements over a new draft law on conscription, as Netanyahu's hard-line partners insist on excluding religious institute students from compulsory conscription, while Galat and Gantz want military service that does not differentiate between Israelis. Reuters quoted political analysts as saying, "Failure to reach an agreement may lead to the overthrow of the government, in light of the sensitivity of the issue to the Israelis, which became more sensitive during the Gaza war." The agency quoted one of the ministers, on condition of anonymity, as saying that he "does not expect the government to survive." For his part, Masri believed that Netanyahu is not inclined to the far right as is rumored, and the opposition he faces often comes from the right, as we saw in the recent soldier incident. The Prime Minister aligns his vision with the agendas of his allies within the coalition, which sometimes conflict. But in Ultimately, the decision remains the majority decision, and is governed by clear legal controls. A video clip circulated on Sunday of a masked Israeli soldier in which he called for a rebellion against Defense Minister Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy, stressing that there are 100,000 fighters who want to continue fighting until victory, stressing that he will only receive orders from the Prime Minister. Netanyahu responded to the clip by saying: I have repeatedly warned of the dangers of disobedience, and I reject any type of disobedience from any side. After the leaders of Western countries, led by the United States, Germany, France, and Britain, visited Israel to express their solidarity after the October 7 attacks, most Western countries currently continue to criticize Israel and its military operation, especially after the decision to carry out operations in the city of Rafah on the border with Egypt, the southernmost city of Rafah in the Gaza strip. The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, announced on May 20 that he was seeking to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. An analysis published by Foreign Affairs magazine urged people not to antagonize and attack the International Criminal Court because of its recent decisions towards Israel, by issuing warrants against Israeli officials. Khan stated that he believes that Netanyahu, his Defense Minister, and three Hamas leaders (the movements leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, the military commander, Muhammad al-Deif, and the head of the Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh), are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and Israel. Israeli politicians of all stripes rejected the statement of the International Criminal Prosecutor. For his part, US President Joe Biden said that the United States does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, and that it is not possible to compare Israel and the Hamas movement. But for example, in an apparent reversal, Germany announced that it would abide by any decision of the International Criminal Court regarding arrest warrants, causing strong criticism from Israeli officials towards Berlin. The Israeli attack on Rafah, which has been ongoing for three weeks, also sparked anger and condemnation from world leaders, especially after the air strike on Sunday, which killed at least 45 people and injured more than 200 others in a camp for displaced people. US President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the United States does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and that it is not possible to compare Israel with the Hamas movement (which the United States classifies as terrorist). Stern told Al-Hurra, The course of development of matters that caused division within Israel is what led to the external reaction, noting the similarity of regional and international parties with the position of the opposition in Israel regarding the governments moves regarding Gaza. But an Egyptian professor of political science at the Hebrew University told Al-Hurra: The West has never been completely supportive of Israel. There is a war imposed by the Iranian axis on Israel, in which many people were killed, and Israel is making intense efforts, and often exposing its soldiers to danger, in order to reduce Number of Palestinian casualties during the confrontations. He continued: "But this is the nature of war, and the approach that Hamas chose to follow exposes civilians to the risk of death before others." He continued: Working to stop the war is a good thing, but it requires pressure on those who declared war to surrender, not pressure on those against whom war was declared. The world must realize that Israel has no other choice, and that its submission to the radical left and the growing Islamic communities on its lands "It does not serve his interests and the future of the free world." For his part, Israeli writer and philosopher, Micah Goodman, told the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal last month, The dilemma Israel faces is that it wants the West to love it, but it also wants its enemies to fear it in the Middle East to ensure its long-term existence. ". He added at the time: If we take Rafah and lose America, we will have lost the war. The United States had warned Israel against launching a major military operation in Rafah, in light of the presence of more than a million displaced people and residents in the city, but then Netanyahu said that he could carry out the operation even if Washington did not approve of it, in order to eliminate Hamas capabilities and restore "The kidnappers." Netanyahu is facing increasing pressure to stop military operations in Rafah, and this pressure has increased after the recent raid on a camp for displaced people in the densely populated area. It is noteworthy that the Biden administration worked continuously to complete the normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and the two-state solution path, in addition to deals between Washington and Riyadh related to the peaceful Saudi nuclear program and arms sales, was an important part of those attempts. But Netanyahu and the hard-right ministers in Israel consistently opposed the idea of a two-state solution, and rejected any Palestinian role from the authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, in managing the post-war phase in Gaza. Regarding this issue, Stern said that relations with Arab countries that have relations with Israel will return to their normal course after the end of the war, and perhaps with a change in the current government, which is difficult for neighboring countries to deal with. He continued: "The current government cannot meet the aspirations of allied countries in the region... and is not concerned with those aspirations in the first place." The administration of US President Joe Biden confirmed on Tuesday that it opposes the imposition of sanctions that Republicans in Congress are seeking to impose on the International Criminal Court, in response to the Attorney Generals request to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant. According to the American website " Axios ", Republicans are pushing to impose strict sanctions on the Attorney General, Karim Khan, and other officials at the International Criminal Court, but Democrats want to explore other options. White House spokesman John Kirby explained in a press conference that sanctions are not the right solution for dealing with arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court, stressing that the Democratic presidents administration opposes this approach. For her part, White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, repeated Kirby's statements, explaining that the current US administration "will not support any sanctions against that international body." She added: "Sanctions are not an effective or appropriate tool to address American concerns, and we will work with Congress on other options to address the violations of the International Criminal Court." The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, had called, in a blog post on the X platform, for imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court, because of its heinous and baseless allegations. He considered that the White House's refusal to "protect the Israelis and Americans...is a terrible decision that would lead to dire consequences and set a dangerous precedent." In the same vein, the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Republican Michael McCaul, stressed during press statements last week his desire for a sanctions law to be signed, warning: Otherwise, we will not have a deterrent against the International Criminal Court. Pro-Israel lawmakers in both the Democratic and Republican parties expressed support for sanctions, but others even some who have strongly criticized the ICC have expressed reservations about the matter, according to Axios. The United States is not a member of the court, but it has supported previous trials, including the court's decision last year to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine. On Monday, Israeli politicians of all stripes rejected the decisions of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, who requested the issuance of international arrest warrants against officials in the Israeli government and leaders of the Hamas movement. Biden had said earlier that the United States does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, and that there is no comparison between Israel and Hamas (which the United States classifies as terrorist). US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, had previously explained that the US administration is ready to work with Congress to impose sanctions on International Criminal Court officials, due to the Attorney Generals request to issue arrest warrants. The court's prosecutor, Karim Khan, requested the issuance of arrest warrants, saying he had reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu, Gallant, and three Hamas leaders "bear criminal responsibility" for war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to Reuters. A high-ranking US State Department official submitted her resignation, in protest against Washington's continued provision of weapons to the Israeli entity, based on a recently published government report that claimed that Tel Aviv is not obstructing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Stacy Gilbert submitted her resignation after sending an email to employees on Tuesday, in which she explained her view that the State Department was wrong in concluding that Tel Aviv did not obstruct the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, after the publication of a report on the aid in a presidential memorandum known as NSM-20. Gilbert said in her letter that Israel is obstructing the delivery of aid to civilians in Gaza, as the lack of aid flow continued in the weeks following the issuance of the report, but the report did not find sufficient reasons to stop support for Tel Aviv. She added, After the resignation of Hala Rarit, the Arabic-speaking spokeswoman for the US State Department, last April, in objection to Washingtons policy towards the war on Gaza, in at least the third resignation from the ministry due to this issue, it has become clear that the internal debate about US-Israeli policy is not welcome. "Unlike almost every other topic during her 18-year career at the State Department." In this regard, Josh Paul - the first State Department official to resign over Gaza - wrote in his account on the LinkedIn platform: On the day the White House announced that the recent atrocities in Rafah had not crossed its red line, this resignation shows that the Biden administration will... "Anything to avoid the truth." Two weeks ago, an employee at the US Department of the Interior, Leila Greenberg Cole, submitted her resignation, in protest against American support for the Israeli war in Gaza, making her the first Jewish political employee in the Biden administration to resign publicly. Last April, Hala Gharit, the Arabic-speaking spokeswoman for the US State Department, submitted her resignation in objection to Washingtons policy towards the war in Gaza. Josh Paul, the first official to resign from his position in the US State Department over Gaza, commented, On the day the White House announced that the recent atrocities committed in Rafah did not cross its red line, this resignation (Gilberts resignation) shows that the Biden administration will do anything to avoid... The truth, he said. This is not just a story of bureaucratic collusion or incompetence, Paul added in a lengthy article. There are people who sign off on arms transfers, people who draft approval memorandums for arms transfers, and people who look the other way. It is noteworthy that the report at issue, which Gilbert objected to, was published this month in response to a presidential memorandum that asked the State Department to evaluate whether Israels use of American weapons in Gaza violated American or international humanitarian law, and whether humanitarian aid had been deliberately obstructed. USAID head Samantha Power cautioned on Wednesday that the Israeli military operation in southern Gaza is resulting in "catastrophic consequences," despite what she claimed were efforts by the Biden administration to mitigate the negative effects. During a virtual event with governments engaged in the humanitarian response in Gaza, Power remarked, "Despite the currently scaled-back military operations around Rafah and the Egypt/Gaza border, the catastrophic consequences that we have long cautioned about are materializing." Her remarks represent one of the most critical evaluations thus far from the Biden administration regarding the Rafah invasion. Since its commencement earlier this month, administration officials have consistently claimed that Israeli operation remains within acceptable bounds, alleging that "Israel" is carrying out targeted strikes rather than launching a significant ground offensive. When questioned about Power's comments, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby informed reporters, Of course, there has been catastrophe in Gaza. He claimed that this has been consistent throughout the war and alleged that Hamas attributed the commencement of the fighting. This is happening as Israeli tanks continued raids in the southern city of Rafah for a second day on Wednesday, despite the International Court of Justice's call to halt the offensive. Since Sunday, Israeli attacks have reportedly resulted in the burning of numerous Palestinians alive, mainly children, seeking shelter in tent camps in Gaza, prompting calls from Washington's allies to cease the military operation permanently. Our partners have told us it feels like the war is starting all over again and conditions are worse now than at any period before, given everything that has happened in the ensuing months, Power stressed. Elsewhere in her remarks, Power stated that 95% of Gaza's population has been without access to clean water for several months, leading to a surge in water-borne diseases. Additionally, she noted that approximately 80% of Gaza's health facilities are not functioning. Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers 1,900,000 IDPs in Gaza 81,420 Gazans injured, 28% adult male 70,000 tons of explosives dropped on Gaza 70,000 Gaza housing units completely destroyed 70,000 Israeli IDPs from Lebanon border 45,000 bombs dropped in Gaza 45,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble 36,171 Gazans martyred 33,000 Gaza targets attacked 20,528 Palestinians in Israeli prisons [Haaretz, 20 Mar 2024] 15,140 Israelis injured [i24 TV] 15,000 terror operatives killed in Gaza [Israeli officials] 15,000 rockets launched from Gaza 14,520 Gazan children martyred 13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [N12] 13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [IDF] 11,000 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank in 2023 10,000 Gazans missing under the rubble 9,920 Gazan women martyred 9,400 Palestinians in Israeli prisons 9,000 IDF needing psychological assistance 8,890 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank since Oct.7th 7,209 IDF injured admitted to rehabilitation [IDF] 6,800 IDF officers and soldiers injured [Channel 12] 6,000 HAMAS combatants killed [HAMAS] 5,500 IDF wounded [reports] 5,000 West Bank Palestinians wounded 4,700 sites targetted in Lebanon 3,850 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria 3,600 administrative detainees 3,188 IDF wounded [IDF] 2,100 Gazan women are missing 1,609 terrorists killed on the first day 1,650 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria affiliated with Hamas 1,160 Israelis killed on the first day 635 Israeli officers and soldiers killed since the start of the war 518 West Bank Palestinians martyred 364 people [including fighters] killed in Lebanon 283 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza 240 Hezbollah fighters killed in Lebanon 126 people recovered, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers 86 living hostages in Palestinian custody 70 civilians killed in Lebanon 39 dead hostages in Palestinian custody 29 IDF deaths were caused by "friendly fire" 15 Israelis killed in the West Bank and Israel Not every number is reported every day, so sudden jumps generally reflect reporting artifacts rather than actual upticks. Many of these numbers fluctate, up and down, with no apparent explanation. This list records the highest number reliably reported for each matter, under the theory that reality with catch up with reports, as is relentlessly the case. Some reports claimed that the UN cut in half its earlier estimates of women and children killed in Gaza. Initially, they reported 9,500 women and 14,500 children killed, but later revised it to 4,959 women and 7,797 children on 08 May 2024. The UN acknowledged its inability to independently verify casualty figures. The seeming discrepancy is that HAMAS had about 10K KIA bodies on hand for which they do not have positive ID. It is possible to report the gender and approximate age [ie, juvenile] without knowing the name of the deceased. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 911 S5 Botnet Dismantled and Its Administrator Arrested in Coordinated International Operation Wednesday, May 29, 2024 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Botnet Infected Over 19M IP Addresses to Enable Billions of Dollars in Pandemic and Unemployment Fraud, and Access to Child Exploitation Materials A court-authorized international law enforcement operation led by the U.S. Justice Department disrupted a botnet used to commit cyber attacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats, and export violations. As part of this operation, YunHe Wang, 35, a People's Republic of China national and St. Kitts and Nevis citizen-by-investment, was arrested on May 24 on criminal charges arising from his deployment of malware and the creation and operation of a residential proxy service known as "911 S5." According to an indictment unsealed on May 24, from 2014 through July 2022, Wang and others are alleged to have created and disseminated malware to compromise and amass a network of millions of residential Windows computers worldwide. These devices were associated with more than 19 million unique IP addresses, including 613,841 IP addresses located in the United States. Wang then generated millions of dollars by offering cybercriminals access to these infected IP addresses for a fee. "This Justice Department-led operation brought together law enforcement partners from around the globe to disrupt 911 S5, a botnet that facilitated cyber-attacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats, and export violations," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "As a result of this operation, YunHe Wang was arrested on charges that he created and operated the botnet and deployed malware. This case makes clear that the long arm of the law stretches across borders and into the deepest shadows of the dark web, and the Justice Department will never stop fighting to hold cybercriminals to account." "Working with our international partners, the FBI conducted a joint, sequenced cyber operation to dismantle the 911 S5 Botnetalikely the world's largest botnet ever," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "We arrested its administrator, Yunhe Wang, seized infrastructure and assets, and levied sanctions against Wang and his co-conspirators. The 911 S5 Botnet infected computers in nearly 200 countries and facilitated a whole host of computer-enabled crimes, including financial frauds, identity theft, and child exploitation. This operation demonstrates the FBI's commitment to working shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to protect American businesses and the American people, and we will work tirelessly to unmask and arrest the cybercriminals who profit from this illegal activity." According to court documents, Wang allegedly propagated his malware through Virtual Private Network (VPN) programs, such as MaskVPN and DewVPN (torrent distribution models that he operated) and pay-per-install services that bundled his malware with other program files, including pirated versions of licensed software or copyrighted materials. Wang then managed and controlled approximately 150 dedicated servers worldwide, approximately 76 of which he leased from U.S. based online service providers. Using the dedicated servers, Wang deployed and managed applications, commanded and controlled the infected devices, operated his 911 S5 service, and provided paying customers with access to proxied IP addresses associated with the infected devices. "As alleged in the indictment, Wang created malware that compromised millions of residential computers around the world and then sold access to the infected computers to cybercriminals," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "These criminals used the hijacked computers to conceal their identities and commit a host of crimes, from fraud to cyberstalking. Cybercriminals should take note. Today's announcement sends a clear message that the Criminal Division and its law enforcement partners are firm in their resolve to disrupt the most technologically sophisticated criminal tools and hold wrongdoers to account." "YunHe Wang created and administered a residential proxy serviceaa botnet known as 911 S5athat affected millions of computers all over the world," said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. "He will now be held accountable. Proxy services like 911 S5 are pervasive threats that shield criminals behind the compromised IP addresses of residential computers worldwide. Successfully tackling a problem of this scale is only possible with strong collaboration and exceptional investigative work between our law enforcement partners at home and abroad, and we stand ready to hold accountable anyoneano matter where they are locatedawho exploits our telecommunications infrastructure for their own criminal purpose." Cybercriminals then used proxied IP addresses purchased from 911 S5 to conceal their true originating IP addresses and locations, and anonymously commit a wide array of offenses. These offenses including financial crimes, stalking, transmitting bomb threats and threats of harm, illegal exportation of goods, and receiving and sending child exploitation materials. Since 2014, 911 S5 allegedly enabled cybercriminals to bypass financial fraud detection systems and steal billions of dollars from financial institutions, credit card issuers, and federal lending programs. 911 S5 customers allegedly targeted certain pandemic relief programs. For example, the United States estimates that 560,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims originated from compromised IP addresses, resulting in a confirmed fraudulent loss exceeding $5.9 billion. Additionally, in evaluating suspected fraud loss to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, the United States estimates that more than 47,000 EIDL applications originated from IP addresses compromised by 911 S5. Millions of dollars more were similarly identified by financial institutions in the United States as loss originating from IP addresses compromised by 911 S5. The 911 S5 client interface software, which was hosted on U.S.-based servers, enabled cybercriminals located outside of the United States to purchase goods with stolen credit cards or criminally derived proceeds, and illegally export them outside of the United States contrary to U.S. export laws, such as the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The 911 S5 client interface may also contain encryption or other features which subject it to export controls detailed in the EAR. Accordingly, downloads of the 911 S5 client interface software by certain foreign nationals without a license may constitute violations of the EAR. "The disruption, seizure, and arrest of the perpetrator(s) responsible for the 911 S5 cybercriminal enterprise demonstrates the forward leaning posture of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Cyber Field Office," said DCIS Director Kelly P. Mayo. "This investigation showcases the critical import of identifying and pursuing emerging threats and technologies targeting our warfighters, and the industrial base that supports them. Today's announcement illustrates the magnitude of cooperation within federal law enforcement and our foreign partners pursuing criminals in the rapidly evolving cybercrime arena." The indictment further alleges that from 2018 until July 2022, Wang received approximately $99 million from his sales of the hijacked proxied IP addresses through his 911 S5 operation, either in cryptocurrency or fiat currency. Wang used the illicitly gained proceeds to purchase real property in the United States, St. Kitts and Nevis, China, Singapore, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. The indictment identifies dozens of assets and properties subject to forfeiture, including a 2022 Ferrari F8 Spider S-A, a BMW i8, a BMW X7 M50d, a Rolls Royce, more than a dozen domestic and international bank accounts, over two dozen cryptocurrency wallets, several luxury wristwatches, 21 residential or investment properties (across Thailand, Singapore, the U.A.E., St. Kitts and Nevis, and the United States), and 20 domains. Law enforcement initially focused on 911 S5 during an investigation of a money laundering and smuggling scheme, where criminal actors in Ghana and the United States used hijacked IP addresses purchased from 911 S5 to place fraudulent orders using stolen credit cards on the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) online e-commerce platform known as ShopMyExchange. Although approximately 2,525 fraudulent orders valued at $5.5 million were submitted, credit card fraud detection systems and federal investigators were able to thwart the bulk of the attempted purchases, reducing the actual loss to approximately $254,000. "The conduct alleged here reads like it's ripped from a screenplay: A scheme to sell access to millions of malware-infected computers worldwide, enabling criminals over the world to steal billions of dollars, transmit bomb threats, and exchange child exploitation materialsathen using the scheme's nearly $100 million in profits to buy luxury cars, watches, and real estate," said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). "What they don't show in the movies though is the painstaking work it takes by domestic and international law enforcement, working closely with industry partners, to take down such a brazen scheme and make an arrest like this happen." Wang is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, substantive computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted on all counts, Wang faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison. This operation was a coordinated multiagency effort led by law enforcement in the United States, Singapore, Thailand, and Germany. Agents and officers searched residences, seized assets valued at approximately $30 million, and identified additional forfeitable property valued at approximately $30 million. The operation also seized 23 domains and over 70 servers constituting the backbone of Wang's prior residential proxy service and the recent incarnation of the service. By seizing multiple domains tied to the historical 911 S5, as well as several new domains and services directly linked to an effort to reconstitute the service, the government has successfully terminated Wang's efforts to further victimize individuals through his newly formed service Clourouter.io and closed the existing malicious backdoors. On May 28, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued financial sanctions against Wang, Jingping Liu, and Yanni Zheng, for their activities associated with 911 S5, and three entities for being owned or controlled by Wang. The FBI Dallas and Denver Field Offices, DCIS Cyber Field Office, and BIS Office of Export Enforcement's Dallas field office are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Candy Heath and Lydia Lichlyter of the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camelia Lopez and William Tatum for the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The Department appreciates the significant assistance provided by the Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore, Singapore Police Force (SPF), Royal Thai Police, and the Office of the Attorney General and the Anti-Money Laundering Office of the Kingdom of Thailand. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section provided crucial support to this operation. The Treasury Department's OFAC also provided support to this operation. Additionally, the Department offers its thanks to Chainalysis, the Shadowserver Foundation, and Microsoft for the assistance provided by each during the investigation and the operation. For more information or to determine if you are a victim of 911 S5 malware, please visit www.fbi.gov/911S5. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Indictment Domain Seizure Warrants Topic: Cybercrime Components: Office of the Attorney General Criminal Division Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section Criminal - Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section Criminal - Office of International Affairs Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) USAO - Texas, Eastern Press Release Number: 24-679 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese citizens stole 'billions' in COVID relief funds, US says Based in the Thai beach resort of Pattaya, the group took control of Americans' computers to apply for funds. By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.05.29 -- The U.S. Treasury Department has issued sanctions against three Thailand-based Chinese nationals for their alleged role in a cybercrime operation that took control of Americans' computers to secure billions of dollars of COVID-19 relief funds. Yunhe Wang, Jingping Liu, and Yanni Zheng ran the 911 S5 "botnet," which took control of computers and "allowed cybercriminals to proxy their internet connections through these compromised computers" to make it appear as if the victims were carrying out the cybercrimes, according to a U.S. Treasury Department statement. The botnet controlled some 19 million I.P. addresses, which executed "the submission of tens of thousands of fraudulent applications" under the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, allegedly resulting in "billions of dollars" being wrongly disbursed. Computers compromised by the botnet later made bomb threats "throughout" the United States in July 2022, the statement says. Yunhe Wang, 35, allegedly led the scheme, while Jingping Liu, 58, is named as co-conspirator for laundering funds using cryptocurrency. Both are listed by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control as living in the Reflection Jomtien Beach condo building in Chonburi province's Pattaya City. A real estate listing describes it as the "epitome of luxury living on the serene shores of Pattaya." Yanni Zheng, 50, meanwhile, allegedly ran Yunhe Wang's main company, Spicy Code Company Limited, and purchased real estate on his behalf, including luxury beachfront properties in Thailand. She is listed as living south of Pattaya, in neighboring Sattahip district. All three also gained citizenship of the Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis in May 2022, according to the Treasury Department. In addition to the three individuals, the Treasury Department also issued sanctions against Spicy Code Company Limited and two other companies with alleged ties to Yunhe Wang: Tulip Biz Pattaya Group Company Limited and Lily Suites Company Limited. Under the sanctions, American citizens, residents and companies are prohibited from doing business with the individuals and companies targeted, including providing banking or other services. The sanctions were the result of a joint investigation between the U.S. Commerce Department, the FBI and local authorities in both Thailand and Singapore, the Treasury Department statement said. Wong-akuea Boonson, a spokesperson for Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, declined to comment on the case. "We have not received any reports regarding this matter," Boonson told BenarNews, an affiliate of Radio Free Asia. "However, our ongoing policy is to manage and monitor online crimes, with a primary focus on educating the Thai population about cyber safety." Kunnawut Boonreak contributed reporting for BenarNews. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Releases First Ever Non-fungible Token Illicit Finance Risk Assessment U.S. Department of the Treasury May 29, 2024 WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury published a 2024 Non-fungible Token (NFT) Illicit Finance Risk Assessment. The risk assessment explores how vulnerabilities associated with NFTs and NFT platforms may be exploited by illicit actors for money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. The assessment finds that NFTs are highly susceptible to use in fraud and scams and are subject to theft. The report determines that illicit actors can use NFTs to launder proceeds from predicate crimes, often in combination with other methods to obfuscate the illicit source of proceeds of crime. It also found little evidence of the misuse of NFTs by terrorists or proliferators, in contrast to fraudsters, to date. "This risk assessment demonstrates Treasury's commitment to analyze illicit finance risks of newer technologies and communicating them to industry and law enforcement," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "I encourage the private sector to use the findings of this assessment to inform their own risk mitigation strategies to prevent illicit actors from abusing NFTs and NFT platforms." The assessment finds that inadequate cybersecurity protections, challenges related to copyright and trademark protections, and the hype and fluctuating pricing of NFTs can enable criminals to perpetrate fraud and theft related to NFTs and NFT platforms. Moreover, some NFT firms and platforms lack appropriate controls to mitigate risks to market integrity and to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, and sanctions evasion. The assessment recognizes that mitigation measures, such as industry tools, law enforcement authorities, and analysis of public blockchain data, can partially mitigate such risks. To address outstanding risks, the risk assessment recommends several U.S. government actions, including: Raising awareness within industry of existing obligations Continuing to enforce existing laws and regulations related to NFTs and NFT platforms; and Considering further application of regulations to NFTs and NFT platforms The assessment of NFTs delivers on a Treasury's commitment to publish an NFT risk assessment in the 2022 Digital Asset Action Plan to Address Illicit Finance Risks and builds upon recent National Risk Assessments and the 2023 Illicit Finance Risk Assessment on Decentralized Finance, all published by the Treasury Department. Click here to read the "Non-fungible Token Illicit Finance Risk Assessment." ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US optimistic a deal to lessen threats of future pandemics is in sight By Lisa Schlein May 29, 2024 Despite the failure of negotiators to reach a pandemic accord ahead of this week's World Health Assembly, a senior U.S. official remains optimistic that an agreement to lessen the threats of global killer disease outbreaks is in sight. "We think the elements of a good deal are already on the table and that is why we feel optimistic because those are pretty good deals. It is just a matter now of fine-tuning it to make sure everybody says we are ready to sign on the dotted line," Xavier Becerra, U.S. secretary of health and human services, told journalists at a briefing in Geneva Wednesday. While disappointing, Becerra indicated that it was not surprising that an accord was not reached after two-and-a-half years of negotiations. "Negotiations go on forever," he said. "I think we have to put this in perspective. You do not build a nation overnight. You do not build an Empire State Building overnight. It takes a long time. Name me a major international achievement that came overnight. "I think there is clear consensus that we cannot let the status quo be upon us if another pandemic comes," he said. His view reflects that of World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who, in his opening remarks at the World Health Assembly on Monday, assured delegates that the negotiations were on track and were not a failure. "Of course, we all wish that we had been able to reach a consensus on the agreement in time for this health assembly and cross the finish line," he said. "But I remain confident that you still willabecause where there is a will, there is a way." WHO says 7,010,681 people have died from the COVID-19 outbreak as of April 13 and that a total of 704,753,890 cases have been confirmed in 229 countries and territories. Becerra noted that threats against global health have an outsized influence on broader global political and economic interests. "There is no stability without health. There is no security without health. Our nations cannot be strong unless they are healthy. "Getting out of COVID is our main health priority," Becerra said, noting that U.S. President Joe Biden was committed to achieving a pandemic treaty. "When the president came in, we were experiencing two or three 9/11s every day in America in terms of loss of life. That is where we started. Today, we are walking around without masks. We are treating COVID the way we treat the flu," he said, indicating that now is not the time to become complacent. "I think we realize that another pandemic could be upon us. I mean, we are dealing with avian flu in the U.S. right now. We do not know how long it is going to be before we get another type of COVID kind of tragedy. We do not want to wait," he said. Sticking points to a pandemic treaty include disagreements over sharing information about pathogens that cause pandemics, a formula for global sharing of vaccines and medicine during international health emergencies, and financing to set up surveillance systems. The WHO says that member states have agreed to continue to work during the World Health Assembly "to develop the world's first pandemic accord" to prevent a repeat of the "global health, economic and social impacts" of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We really have an incredible opportunity this week," Loyce Pace, assistant secretary for global affairs at HHS, said. "We have spent so long trying to come together and finding compromise and consensus. I think we talk about what is left to do, but I do not know if we talk enough about what has been done toward reaching an agreement." "So, whatever happens this week, we need some deliverable, if only to keep this momentum on towards any other work that should continue. We shouldn't be leaving Geneva and go home without an accord, not after all that has been done," Pace said. Secretary Becerra agrees, saying that he does not think there are substantive disagreements about the essential elements of a pandemic treaty. "It is more how they are packaged, how they are defined. People generally agree with what we have to do in order to be ready to take on any pandemic that may come across our path," Becerra said. "I am the son of immigrants. Optimism is in my DNA and so, I believe we are going to get this done because it would be tragic, especially given how far we have come and not get it done. "We have to be ready," he said. "Who knows what is coming around the corner. Something is going to broadside us. We just have to be ready." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minsk Forced to Suspend CFE Treaty to Ensure National Security - Foreign Ministry Sputnik News 20240529 MINSK (Sputnik) - The decision of Belarus to suspend the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) is a forces response step aimed at ensuring the country's national security, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a bill to suspend the CFE Treaty into law, according to the country's legal portal. "The decision of the NATO member states to suspend the CFE Treaty left us no choice. The suspension of the CFE Treaty by Belarus is a forced response step aimed at ensuring the country's national security against the backdrop of the destruction of the existing conventional arms control regime in Europe and the continuing escalation of military-political tensions in the region," the ministry said in a statement. Minsk was ready to implement the CFE Treaty, even despite the unfriendly steps of some countries, the ministry said, adding that Belarus will be ready to resume the agreement provided that NATO countries return to its implementation as well. Belarus remains committed to conventional arms control to ensure security and is ready for dialogue with all interested countries, the statement read. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Blair announces major investments in equipment and training for the Canadian Armed Forces in partnership with Canada's defence industry National Defence News release May 29, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, at the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries' annual defence industry tradeshow (CANSEC), the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced significant investments to equip the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with new, state-of-the-art platforms for training and operations at home and abroad. To provide the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) with modern, state-of-the-art aircrew training, Minister Blair announced the award of a 25-year contract valued at $11.2 billion (including taxes) to SkyAlyne Canada Limited Partnership for the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program. Through this contract, Canada will acquire over 70 training aircraft in total, split into five fleets. These include fleets of: Grob G120TP, Pilatus PC-21, Beechcraft King Air 260, Airbus Helicopters H-135, and De Havilland Dash 8-400 equipped with a mission training system in the cabin. Today's investment is part of the largest recapitalization of the RCAF since the Second World War. Since 2022 alone, the Government of Canada has finalized the procurement or upgrade of approximately 140 new aircraft for the RCAF - from F-35 fighters to P-8A Poseidon multi-mission aircraft. This particular investment will bolster our ability to train a sufficient number of qualified aircrews to meet our operational requirements. The contract will also include classroom instruction, simulator and flight training, as well as numerous on-site support activities for prospective RCAF Pilots, Air Combat Systems Officers, and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators. Training under this new contract will continue to take place at key RCAF Wings in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and is expected to begin in spring 2029. The FAcT Program has the potential to create or maintain 3,400 jobs and contribute $405 million annually into Canada's gross domestic product over a 25-year period. Minister Blair also announced that Canada is investing up to $2.58 billion (including taxes) to acquire and maintain a new fleet of logistics vehicles for the Canadian Army. Canada has awarded contracts to General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada in a joint venture with Marshall Canada, for the Logistics Vehicle Modernization (LVM) project. This project will provide the CAF with a new fleet of more than 1,000 light trucks and approximately 500 heavy trucks, as well as associated equipment such as armoured protection kits, modules, containers, and trailers. This new, modern fleet of vehicles will enable the CAF to transport larger loads of personnel, equipment, and supplies, while also providing increased mobility and protection for CAF members. The vehicles are used to support a range of domestic and international operations including disaster relief, combat support, and peacekeeping. Delivery of the new vehicles is expected to begin in fall 2027, and they will replace the current fleet of light support vehicles, heavy logistics vehicles, and the minor fleet of heavy engineer support vehicles, which have all been in use since the late 1980s or early 1990s. In addition to the new vehicles, the LVM project will acquire new trailers, armoured protection kits, materiel handling systems and equipment, as well as detachable and interchangeable containers and modules that can be used for a variety of functions, including firefighting, ambulances, command posts, and workshops. The LVM project has the potential to create or maintain 1,550 jobs and contribute $200 million to Canada's GDP over an eight-year period. As indicated in our renewed vision for defence, Our North, Strong and Free, the Government of Canada is committed to a renewed relationship with Canada's defence industry, based on clarity, certainty, and long-term partnership. Today's investments are excellent examples of projects that will provide the CAF with the tools that they need to protect Canada while supporting the growth and competitiveness of Canada's aerospace, defence and automotive sector. Quotes "Today's investments demonstrate that when we work collaboratively with Canadian industry partners, we can provide our troops with the tools that they need to do their jobs - and support good jobs right across Canada. With these projects, and through our renewed vision for defence, Our North, Strong and Free, we are committed to building an even stronger relationship with industry, founded on transparency and trust." The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence "Today's announcements regarding the Future Aircrew Training program and the Logistics Vehicle Modernization project will not only ensure that members of the Canadian Armed Forces have the latest training and technologies to carry out their important missions on behalf of Canadians, but also create highly skilled jobs and further contribute to the growth and competitiveness of Canada's defence industry." The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement "These major contracts underscore Canada's commitment to fortifying our national defence while simultaneously bolstering our industrial landscape. These programs showcase our dedication to equipping our Armed Forces with cutting-edge capabilities while propelling the growth of our defence sector. Through the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, we ensure that these investments not only strengthen our defence capabilities but also nurture the leadership of Canadian supply chains, fostering job creation and economic prosperity for years to come." The Honourable FranAois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry "Nothing is more important than our people. We must modernize our training systems as we are modernizing our front-line equipment and weapons systems. The Future Aircrew Training program will do that by incorporating the latest training concepts and technologies and adapting to emerging trends to ensure Royal Canadian Air Force personnel can operate and win in highly contested and increasingly complex theatres of operation." Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander, Royal Canadian Air Force Quick facts The FAcT program will use existing RCAF training sites. Initial aircrew training for pilots, air combat system officers, and airborne electronic sensor operators will be conducted at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, and 402 Squadron, at 17 Wing Winnipeg, Manitoba. The program will deliver training services that are essential for their progression to the Operational Training Units, where they will then learn their specific roles on fighter, transport, surveillance, and rotary wing operational aircraft. The new FAcT contract will replace training services currently provided through in-house delivery by the RCAF, as well as two separate contracts: A $4.6 billion, 25-year contract with CAE Military Aviation Training awarded in May 1998 and expiring in 2028 (including an option-year), for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Flying Training in Canada program, which operates out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; and A $1.8 billion, 22-year contract with Allied Wings, awarded in 2005 and expiring in 2027, for the Contracted Flying Training and Support program, which operates out of Southport Aerospace Centre near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Both the LVM project and the FAcT program were overseen by an Independent Fairness Monitor to ensure the fairness and integrity of the procurements. As a result, all respective proposals were fairly and equally evaluated using a weighted evaluation framework based on cost, technical requirements, and economic benefits. To support Indigenous participation in the delivery of these procurements, contractors were asked to submit an Indigenous Participation Plan (IPP). The FAcT program aims to commit a minimum of 5% of the contract value (excluding the cost of aircraft and simulators), and the LVM project aims to commit up to 5% of the contract value to support the employment of Indigenous Peoples and the procurement of goods and services from Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs. The LVM IPP will also implement training and skill development programs, in collaboration with Indigenous partners and stakeholders. PSPC and industry continues to engage with the MAtis and First Nations of Manitoba and Saskatchewan on the FAcT program. Two contracts were awarded for the LVM project. The first contract is for the purchase of the new vehicles, related equipment, and initial in-service support, and the second contract will provide long-term in-service support for the fleet for a period of up to 25 years. The LVM project is expected to create and maintain jobs across Canada. The joint venture is made up of General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada and Marshall Canada as equal partners, with sub-contractors including Mercedes Benz, Soframe, and Manac. The local (Canadian) companies are GDLS-Canada of London, Ontario, Marshall Canada of Moncton, New Brunswick , K-Line Trailers of Langley, British Columbia, and Manac of Saint-Georges, Quebec. Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy applies to both of these procurements, and requires the companies to make investments and provide business activities in Canada equal to the value of the contract. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China building more Type 055 large destroyers: reports Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Published: May 29, 2024 10:14 PM China is reportedly building more Type 055 large destroyers, reflecting the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's strides toward the blue water and efforts in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests as well as peace and stability in the world, experts said on Wednesday. Citing new commercial satellite imagery of the Dalian Shipyard in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, overseas media including online news portal Naval News reported on Tuesday that China has recently launched its 10th Type 055 large destroyer and is ramping up ship production. It marks the launch of the second recently launched Type 055, with the Shanghai-based Jiangnan Shipyard having launched the previous ship in late 2023, Paris-based media outlet Naval News reported. From January 2020 to April 2023, the PLA Navy had commissioned eight Type 055 large destroyers from the first batch of production, according to official releases. The Type 055 is considered the world's best destroyer in terms of comprehensive capabilities, as it can accompany aircraft carriers or play the role of a command ship, Shi Hong, executive chief editor of Shipborne Weapons magazine, told the Global Times. Adding more Type 055s can give the PLA more tactical flexibility, Shi said. The Dalian Shipyard has commenced construction on a further hull for a Type 055 in the second batch, and laid down another Type 052D destroyer, Naval News said, citing Google Earth imagery updated in late April. Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai also appears to be working on a second hull for the second batch's Type 055, as well as additional Type 052Ds, Naval News said. Other Chinese shipyards such as Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai and Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, are continuing to construct Type 054A and Type 054B frigates and related adoptions for the China Coast Guard, the report said, noting that these "illustrate the continuous and steady output of new combatants for [the PLA Navy] across all four major naval builders." China's national defense development demands the PLA Navy to be capable of near seas defense and far seas protection amid its aim to build a blue water navy, so it is completely normal that China builds more advanced far seas-capable naval vessels while retiring old and smaller ones, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday. Faced with deteriorating regional and global security situations, China needs a powerful navy to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, the expert said. The West should see China's naval development and its shipbuilding achievements rationally and not hype the "China threat theory," as China's national defense policy is defensive in nature, analysts said. The PLA Navy is a provider of international security goods, including its regular escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia as well as humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions when needed, observers said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese, Cambodian navies conduct 1st joint live-fire drill as part of Golden Dragon-2024 Global Times By GT staff reporters Published: May 29, 2024 10:48 AM On Monday local time, the participating forces of the China-Cambodia Golden Dragon-2024 joint exercise conducted live-fire drills in the sea near Sihanoukville Port in Cambodia. A total of 16 ships of the two militaries participated in the exercise, marking the first joint live-fire drill between Chinese naval vessels and the Cambodian navy. The part of the exercise focuses on maritime anti-terrorism and anti-hijacking operations, China Central Television reported Tuesday. In a hypothetical scenario in which several terrorists hijack a cargo ship and kidnap the crew demanding a ransom in an area of sea off the Cambodian coast, the Chinese amphibious landing ship Qilianshan, missile corvette Wenshan and Bazhong, along with Cambodian navy vessels, formed a joint maritime task force and were dispatched to the scene to resolve the situation. The task force deployed in a search formation, and after comprehensive analysis of multiple sources of intelligence, they collectively confirmed the target and quickly approached the target vessel. On approach, a Cambodian ship used external loudspeakers and the very high frequency international channel to express their willingness to negotiate with the target. However, the terrorists suddenly opened fire on the ship using light weapons, prompting the task force commander to order the Wenshan and Bazhong ships to intercept and fire on the cargo ship. In order to pressure the task force to abandon the pursuit, the terrorists set fire to the front of the cargo ship as a threat. Considering the safety of the cargo ship and the hostages, the Wenshan and Bazhong quickly advanced and used high-pressure water guns to support firefighting efforts. An assault boat carrying more than 10 Cambodian special force members launched a rescue operation using rapid approach, flanking, and forced assault tactics. After gaining control of the cargo ship, the special force members found one crew member severely injured and another with minor injuries, and requested the fleet to quickly dispatch medical personnel for emergency treatment for the injured crew members. The Qilianshan quickly lowered a small boat, carrying the medical team to transfer the seriously injured crew member to the offshore medical station. Concurrently, the Cambodian side dispatched speedboats to transfer the lightly injured crew member and terrorists, putting an end to the exercise. Under the theme of "joint counter-terrorism operations and humanitarian relief" and being held separately on the land and at sea, the China-Cambodia Golden Dragon-2024 joint exercise kicked off on May 16. Focusing on the rescue of hostages in urban regions, the elimination of enemies in mountainous camps and maritime anti-hijacking, the exercises are divided into three phases, namely the adaptation phase, the command phase and the live-action phase. Through on-site demonstration and hands-on training, the Chinese Navy organized troops from both sides to engage in training sessions on damage control, battlefield medical care, which further honed the participating troops' military skills and enhanced their coordination and cooperation, according to Chinese Military Online. The drills are aimed at non-traditional security threats, including the common threats faced by humanity like terrorism, piracy and natural disaster, experts stressed, dismissing rumors that Cambodia's Ream Naval Base is being used as a Chinese overseas military base. As China and Cambodia jointly partake in military drills, the Western media once again tried to hype up the topic of potential military base, completely disregarding the facts, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times. Zhang emphasized that China's assistance in upgrading and renovating the Cambodian naval base is aimed at enhancing Cambodia's ability to maintain maritime territorial integrity and combat maritime crime. "This type of cooperation not only complies with the domestic laws of both countries but also with relevant international laws and practices," he said. "Certain Western officials and media continue to spread rumors and smear the normal cooperation between China and Cambodia, with a purpose to promote the 'China threat narrative' and to sow discord in China-Cambodia relations, but their schemes will not succeed." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi meets Sisi as China, Arab countries to hold conference Global Times By Yang Sheng and Liu Xin Published: May 29, 2024 11:56 PM Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing on Wednesday. Multiple top leaders from Arab countries are expected to pay state visits to China and attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, which will be held on May 30. Experts said that China and Arab countries will boost cooperation at the conference, and discuss the ongoing crisis in Gaza as Israel bombed Rafah, causing serious civilian casualties. During the meeting, Xi noted that, 68 years ago, Egypt was the first Arab and African state to establish diplomatic relations with China. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, he said, adding that over the past decade, the two heads of state have worked together to guide the vigorous development of bilateral relations. China-Egypt relations have become a vivid illustration of China's solidarity, coordination, and mutually-beneficial win-win cooperation with Arab, African, Islamic and developing countries, Xi said, adding that under the new circumstances, building a more enriched and dynamic China-Egypt relationship meets the common expectations of the two peoples. Xi said that China is ready to work with Egypt to deepen mutual trust, advance cooperation, build a China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era, and contribute to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity. The two sides also exchanged views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Xi said that the current round of conflict has caused massive losses of innocent Palestinian civilians, while the humanitarian situation in Gaza is extremely dire. The most urgent task is an immediate cease-fire and cessation of conflict to prevent escalating impacts on regional peace and stability, and prevent an even graver humanitarian crisis. The "two-state solution" remains the fundamental path to resolving the Palestinian issue. China firmly supports Palestine's bid to become a full member state of the United Nations, Xi said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that apart from the Egyptian president, Arab leaders including Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Tunisia's President Kais Saied, and the UAE' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will pay state visits to China. The ministry also announced that President Xi will attend the opening ceremony of the conference with the four Arab heads of state and deliver a keynote speech. Palestine issue "These four countries are either actively involved in pushing for a cease-fire in the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or are somewhat involved in the crisis. The participation of the leaders of these four countries at the Beijing-held conference, on one hand, reflects the importance that these countries attach to promoting cooperation with China. On the other hand, this shows that the leaders intend to take this opportunity to discuss a political settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli issue with China," said Li Xinggang, a research fellow at the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean Rim at Zhejiang International Studies University. China and Arab States could form a joint statement on urging Israel to stop the attack on Rafah and to call for a fundamental settlement of the issue of Palestine, Li said. The common stance to support the just cause of the Palestinian people shared by China and Arab countries has always been a significant element in China-Arab cooperation, experts said. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li on Tuesday met Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN Riyad Mansour, who is in Beijing to attend the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Deng said at the meeting that China has always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights for their nation, and stands ready to work with Palestine to take this ministerial meeting as an opportunity to push for greater development of the China-Palestine strategic partnership and elevate China-Arab cooperation to a new level. China is deeply saddened by the prolonged Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The pressing task now is to effectively implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and immediately realize an unconditional and lasting cease-fire and ensure humanitarian relief, Deng said. China supports Palestine in becoming a full member state of the UN and stands ready to continue to work with the international community for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-State solution, Deng noted. Mansour appreciated China's efforts to support the just cause of Palestine, and said that the ministerial conference will set a milestone for China-Arab friendly cooperation. He expects the conference will conclude with fruitful achievements. Israel has conducted at least two strikes against Rafah city in the Gaza Strip recently and caused serious casualties on local civilians, according to Palestinian security and medical sources. Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute of Ningxia University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that if China and the Arab countries can form a joint statement on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict after the conference, it will greatly help the international community to reach a clear and firm consensus. This in turn will allow other nations to put more pressure on Israel to stop the attack in Gaza. Mao Ning, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at the routine press conference on Wednesday that "China expresses grave concern over Israel's military operations against Rafah and strongly calls on Israel to heed the overwhelming call of the international community and stop attacking Rafah." "As the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues to drag on, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is extremely grave. We call on all parties to immediately cease fire and stop fighting and spare no effort to avoid the casualties of innocent civilians and prevent an even more serious humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip," Mao noted. China-Arab cooperation Aside from hot-spot issues, China-Arab cooperation is always a focus of the forum. Chinese analysts said that China and Arab countries will deepen cooperation in fields like traditional energies and will explore cooperation in other fields like solar power, wind energy, civil nuclear power, finance and infrastructure. Cooperation between China and Arab countries is likely to also focus on high-tech fields like artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. "If there are any breakthroughs we can expect they might be related to the aerospace industry and space cooperation," said Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute of Ningxia University. "In addition, there are also many achievements in the field of cultural exchanges. At present, many people in Arab countries are studying Chinese, and they love to watch Chinese films and TV series, so cooperation in these fields could further boost ties between the peoples," Niu noted. Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, said that "there are a few points where we can expect new growth, such as the digital economy and bio-pharmacy." China has been the largest trading partner of Arab countries for years. The volume of trade between the two sides reached $398 billion in 2023, compared to $36.7 billion in 2004, according to data released by China's Foreign Ministry. In December 2022 at the first China-Arab States Summit in Riyadh, Chinese President Xi called for fostering a closer China-Arab community with a shared future. "If we compare Arab-Chinese relations in 2004 and those of 20 years later, we find there is a vast difference. Of course, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) contributed to this growth," said Magdy Amer, former Egyptian ambassador to China, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Amer, also a former deputy foreign minister of Egypt, said that "The establishment of the forum in 2004 and then the launch of the BRI in 2013 were the two key factors that together promoted Arab-Chinese relations to a completely different level." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese, Equatorial Guinean presidents hold talks, elevate ties People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:10, May 29, 2024 BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- China and Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday elevated their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. This was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, during their talks in Beijing. Xi said China and Equatorial Guinea are good friends and partners, and their relations feature a high level of political mutual trust. Since they established diplomatic ties more than half a century ago, the two sides have been helping each other through thick and thin, and firmly supporting each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns, he said. Under the new circumstances, consolidating and developing China-Equatorial Guinea relations conforms to the fundamental interests and common expectations of the two countries and peoples, Xi said. China firmly supports Equatorial Guinea in safeguarding national sovereignty and independence, opposing foreign interference, and independently exploring its own development path, he said. China is ready to take the opportunity of elevating bilateral ties to further deepen friendly exchanges with Equatorial Guinea, and exchange experience in reform, development and poverty alleviation to inject lasting impetus into the two countries' traditional friendship, Xi said. Xi pointed out that China supports Equatorial Guinea's economic and social development, supports the country's efforts to promote economic diversification and industrialization, and is willing to closely synergize the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) achievements and the Belt and Road Initiative with "Equatorial Guinea Agenda 2035" to improve the quality and performance of cooperation in various fields. China encourages capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Equatorial Guinea, and is willing to share development experience in the fields of agriculture and rural affairs with Equatorial Guinea, continue conducting agricultural technical assistance projects, give full play to the role of Chinese medical teams and China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Hospital, and deepen medical care, education, exchanges and cooperation in cultural and other fields, to pass on the traditional friendship between the two countries from generation to generation and better benefit the two peoples, Xi said. Emphasizing that the world today is intertwined with turmoil, the changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and human society is facing unprecedented challenges, Xi said that developing countries need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation more than ever. China is willing to work with Equatorial Guinea and other developing countries to carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international equity and justice, to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said. Noting that developing solidarity and cooperation with African countries is an important cornerstone of China's foreign policy, Xi said China is willing to hold a new FOCAC summit with Africa, further carry forward traditional friendship, deepen solidarity and cooperation, discuss future development and cooperation plans, and open a new chapter in building a China-Africa community with a shared future. Obiang said that China is a great eastern country, a good brother and reliable strategic partner of Equatorial Guinea. Since the two countries established diplomatic relations 54 years ago, their bilateral relations have always maintained a friendly development and are currently at the best period in history. The cooperation between China and Equatorial Guinea has always been based on equality and mutual respect, and is never imposed on others. Obiang mentioned that Chinese medical teams in Africa, China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Hospital and other important projects have benefited the local people and become a symbol of friendship between Africa and China. Equatorial Guinea is willing to open its doors to China, welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and carry out cooperation in Equatorial Guinea to help Equatorial Guinea achieve economic diversification and industrialization, and ensure the lasting and healthy national development. Obiang said the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi, are conducive to promoting global peace and progress and creating a better world. Equatorial Guinea highly appreciates China's active efforts in promoting the political settlement of regional hotspot issues and promoting world peace and development, said Obiang. Equatorial Guinea is willing to strengthen cooperation with China within the frameworks of the FOCAC, BRICS and others, to promote a global governance system that is more fair and equitable, he added. Noting that Equatorial Guinea firmly upholds the one-China principle, Obiang said there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Equatorial Guinea opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" and firmly supports the efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve complete reunification, he said. The two heads of state witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents on investment, economic development, digital economy, green development, implementing the Global Development Initiative and other fields. The two sides also issued a joint statement on establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on May 29, 2024 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China 2024-05-29 18:53 Al Jazeera: Israel continued its shelling on tents housing displaced people in Rafah, southern Gaza. What's China's position on Israel's military operation? What can China do to ease the tension in the Middle East? Mao Ning: China is gravely concerned over Israel's military operation in Rafah and strongly calls on Israel to listen to the overwhelming appeal of the international community and stop attacking Rafah. The protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict has made the humanitarian situation extremely dire in Gaza. We call on relevant parties to stop the fighting at once, do everything possible to prevent casualties among innocent civilians and prevent an even worse humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. China is always committed to promoting talks for peace and deescalation. We hope that relevant parties will work together to this end. China-Arab TV: As we mark the 20th anniversary of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, we have seen continued progress in the development of China and the Arab world and a decline in the popularity of the US among the Arab states over the past two decades. Can you give us your take on what China has brought to the Arab world? Mao Ning: China and Arab states enjoy a traditional friendship and are strategic partners who trust each other. At the first China-Arab States Summit in 2022, the two sides agreed to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era, ushering in a new era of fully thriving and ever-deepening ties between China and the Arab world. With joint effort of both sides, positive progress has been made in the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. The two sides have further deepened strategic mutual trust. China established either a comprehensive strategic partnership or a strategic partnership with 14 Arab states and the Arab League. China facilitated the historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, supported the return of Syria to the Arab League and rendered support to Arab states in strengthening strategic independence and seeking strength through unity. Practical cooperation between China and Arab states is also deepening. We signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with all 22 Arab states and the Arab League, 17 Arab states became members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and over 200 cooperation projects were implemented by China and Arab states under the framework of Belt and Road cooperation. China has been the biggest trading partner of Arab states for years running. The growth of China-Arab relations brings benefits to people of both sides and is conducive to peace and development in the Middle East and increasing stability in this turbulent world. China will continue to pursue collective cooperation with Arab states, build a more all-dimensional cooperation platform and open a new chapter and embark on a new journey of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Reuters: Estonia said China has not responded to a six-month-old request for help with an investigation into a Chinese ship which Estonia suspects of cutting two of its subsea telecom cables. If this is so, what is the reason China has not responded to that request? And also, is China looking into this matter as well?a Mao Ning: China's competent authorities are lawfully examining and handling the case. China will, in accordance with domestic laws and relevant provisions, actively study the request for judicial assistance, and stand ready to maintain communication with Estonia. Prensa Latina: Not long ago, the US government removed Cuba from the list of country not fully cooperating against terrorism, but still designated it as a "state sponsor of terrorism." What is your comment? Mao Ning: We noted the report. As Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno RodrAguez Parrilla said, the United States has just admitted what everybody knows: Cuba cooperates fully with the fight against terrorism. China commends Cuba for its effort to fight terrorism. We firmly oppose the US's interference in Cuba's internal affairs under the pretext of counterterrorism and its political suppression and economic sanctions against Cuba. China calls on the US to handle its relations with Cuba in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the norms in international relations. The US needs to lift all its blockade and sanctions on Cuba, properly solve disputes and differences through dialogue and negotiation, and contribute to improving US-Cuba relations and keeping the Americas peaceful and stable. Global Times: During US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China last month, China and the US reached five common understandings, including maintaining high-level exchanges and interactions at various levels. Are there any upcoming high-level exchanges or mutual visits at other levels between China and the US? Mao Ning: At the invitation of the US side, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu will visit the US from May 30 to June 2, during which he will hold consultations with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and interact and communicate with representatives from various sectors in the US. Bloomberg: This is in relation to Foreign Minister Wang Yi telling Yemen's Foreign Minister about the importance of having safe passage to the Red Sea. In relation to that, what does China expect Yemen to do in order to ensure safe passage? That's the first question. Secondly, the crisis has caused shipping prices to soar. Is there something more the Chinese government can do to help Chinese companies who are facing increased shipping costs to export more? Mao Ning: Thank you for following Foreign Minister Wang Yi's meeting with Yemen's Foreign Minister. China has released a readout which you may refer to.a On the situation in the Red Sea, China has made clear our position multiple times. We oppose harassment of civilian vessels and hope to keep international shipping lanes safe. The tension in the Red Sea is a spillover of the Gaza conflict. The pressing priority is to ease tensions in Gaza and realize peace and stability in the Middle East. China-Arab TV: I was recently reporting in Iraq, where I saw many Iraqis very warm toward Chinese people. They welcomed the presence of Chinese businesses and said it shows them hope. What's your comment? Mao Ning: Thank you for sharing your experience in Iraq. I have not been to Iraq. China stands ready to conduct practical cooperation with Iraq in various fields. We support Chinese businesses in investing and doing business there to boost the common development of our two countries.a AFP: China's Defense Minister will travel to Singapore this week for the Shangri-La Dialogue. What will he speak about? Will he meet his American counterpart? And what are China's expectations for this dialogue? Mao Ning: I'd refer you to competent authorities. Reuters: The Philippines' President today called new rules outlined by China's Coast Guard that could result in detention of foreigners in the South China Sea "worrisome" and also "an escalation of the situation." He said that the Philippines will use any point of contact with China to stop aggressive actions and allow Filipino fishermen to fish in the South China Sea. Does the Ministry have any response to this? Mao Ning: The regulations are rolled out by China Coast Guard to standardize the administrative law-enforcement procedures of Coast Guard agencies and better uphold order at sea. It is consistent with universal practices. Individuals and entities have no need for concern as long as they have not done anything illicit. Let me stress that it is the Philippines, not China, that has escalated the situation and made repeated provocations in the South China Sea. China's door of dialogue and communication with the Philippines remains open, but it's important to note that dialogue requires sincerity and whatever is agreed in dialogue must be acted upon, rather than talking about the need for dialogue while continuing to make provocations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US official, Chinese counterpart holds talks amid effort to avert unintended conflict By Nike Ching May 30, 2024 Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Kurt Campbell is hosting China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in Washington on Thursday. The talks are aimed at maintaining open communication channels to prevent miscalculations and unintended conflicts, especially during times of tension. Following two hours of face-to-face discussions, officials from the United States and the People's Republic of China will have a working lunch at the State Department. Later in the afternoon, U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer will continue discussions with Ma. The visit by Ma Zhaoxu follows U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Shanghai and Beijing in April. Officials said it builds on U.S.'s intensive diplomacy with the PRC to responsibly manage competition in the relationship, even in areas where the two countries disagree. "As we continue to take actions to protect our interests and values and those of our allies and partners, we are also using face-to-face diplomacy with the PRC to clearly and directly communicate our positions and intentions, and make progress on bilateral, regional, and global issues that matter to the American people and the world," a State Department spokesperson told VOA. A spokesperson from PRC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ma will also "interact and communicate with representatives from various sectors in the U.S." during his visit to the U.S. from May 30 to June 2. While in Beijing last month, Blinken voiced "serious concern" regarding China's support for Russia's defense industry, warning Chinese leaders that Washington could impose sanctions over the matter. China has defended its approach to Russia, saying it is only engaged in normal economic exchanges with a major trading partner. Wednesday, Campbell renewed the U.S. warnings. He said Chinese support was helping to revitalize Russia's military capabilities, including long-range missiles, artillery, drones and battlefield tracking. During his visit to Brussels, the State Department's second-highest diplomat emphasized the urgent need for European and NATO countries "to send a collective message of concern to China about its actions, which we view are destabilizing in the heart of Europe." The latest U.S.-China talks occur just days after China conducted a large-scale, two-day military exercise involving 111 aircraft and 46 naval vessels around Taiwan. Washington has strongly urged Beijing to exercise restraint and has reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for China and Taiwan Mark Lambert met virtually with PRC's Director-General for Boundary and Ocean Affairs Hong Liang on May 23. During this meeting, Lambert expressed profound concerns regarding People's Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Air raid' alarm as North Korea sends trash balloons across DMZ The alarm was sent after the North threatened to send 'mounds of filth' across the border. By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.05.29 -- At 11:34 p.m. on Tuesday, mobile phones in parts of South Korea's Gyeonggi province screeched out an alert from authorities warning of an "air raid", sparking panic among residents living close to one of the world's most heavily fortified borders. "Air raid? I panicked because I thought they were talking about some kind of attack," a resident of the city of Paju who received the alert told Radio Free Asia, referring to the English-language phrase "Air raid preliminary warning" in the alert. Paju is just south of Panmunjeom, a village on the de facto border between the two Koreas, where for decades the armies of North and South Korea have faced off. The alert told residents to report any unidentified objects, which turned out to be more than 200 balloons floated over the border from North Korea carrying trash and manure. Authorities later announced that the phrase "air raid" had been used in error. Balloons with trash North Koreans defectors based in the South and rights activists have for years sent balloons over the border into the North, invariably trying to stir up dissent and opposition to the North Korean state. The balloons from the South infuriate the North, which regularly demands a stop to them and threatens retaliation. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, or JCS, said on Wednesday that North Korea had sent more than 200 balloons over the border carrying various pieces of trash such as plastic bottles, batteries, shoe parts and even animal dung. The JCS advised residents to report any strange objects and not to touch anything. Beginning late on Tuesday, the balloons drifted south over various parts of South Korea, as far as the southeastern province of South Gyeongsang, scattering their trash as they came down to earth, the JCS said. The JCS said the balloons could be dangerous, noting damage to a vehicle and a roof in 2016 caused by North Korean balloons. "These acts by North Korea clearly violate international law and seriously threaten our people's safety," the JCS said. "We sternly warn North Korea to immediately stop its inhumane and vulgar act." It added that it would draft safety measures with the police and government, noting that it was closely cooperating with the U.S.-led U.N. Command in charge of overseeing the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas. The latest balloons from the South were floated into the North this month by the Seoul-based Fighters for a Free North Korea. The group said on May 13 it had sent 300,000 leaflets and 2,000 USBs containing K-pop music videos to the North by suspending them from 20 big balloons. A banner attached to the balloon accused the North's leader of treachery: "Kim Jong Un, you are nothing but an unchangeable traitor, an enemy of the Korean people." North Korea said on Sunday it would scatter "mounds of wastepaper and filth" over the border areas in a "tit-for-tat action" against the latest anti-Pyongyang leaflets. Analysts say isolated North Korea fears that outside information could threaten the grip of its leadership. The balloons have long been another source of tension between the two Koreas, which are still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Statement of Vice Foreign Minister of DPRK Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, May 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Son Gyong, vice-minister for International Organizations of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, released the following press statement on May 30: Terming the DPRK's legitimate launch of military reconnaissance satellite a "violation of the resolution" of the UN Security Council, UN Secretary-General Guterres let his spokesperson to make public his stand that he "strongly denounces it" on May 28. I express contempt for the repeated misbehavior of the UN secretary-general who rudely decried the sovereign activities of the DPRK which exercised the universal right to use space granted to all the countries, and vehemently denounce and reject it. It is my opinion that the UN secretary-general should speak on the basis of a reasonable judgment of the overall interconnections of the duty entrusted to him and the prevailing situation, even though he is under the political influence of the U.S. and western countries and although he lacks independent and objective view on the issue of the Korean peninsula. But UN Secretary General Guterres defamed his position as an international civil servant who assumes responsibilities only before the organization without receiving instructions from any government outside it as he, beyond the level of expressing concern, parroted without hesitation the senseless word of the same "condemnation" with that which came out from the loudspeaker of the U.S. Department of State. I feel really regrettable, dubious and disappointed at the prejudiced and senseless words and deeds of him who has nothing to say even though he is dubbed a servant of the U.S. The UN secretary-general, who has neither courage nor intention to condemn Israel, which is committing the thrice-cursed massacre under the eyes of the international community, and the U.S., which is zealously patronizing it, is not entitled to blame the DPRK for its exercise of the same sovereign right which is also done by other countries. I hope that UN Secretary-General Guterres will not leave the bad name of being the most spiritless and weak-willed secretary-general in the history of the United Nations and, to this end, I advise him to carefully consider his duty he assumes before the UN Charter and other international laws before making any statement about the DPRK. Taking this opportunity, I express deep concern about the fact that the UNSC is going to convene an open meeting again to call the DPRK's legitimate satellite launch into question at the brigandish demand of the U.S. and its followers and give a warning to the UNSC of the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its reckless act. Nowadays, the UNSC has failed to discharge any duty and role in realizing ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a pressing task of the international society, due to the U.S. unfair behavior. Therefore, it has neither justification nor authority to say this or that on the issue of the exercise of the legitimate right of a sovereign state. For the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite is an inevitable undertaking for bolstering up the might of self-defence, and what is more, it is a matter directly related with its destiny whether to defend its independent right or not. And for the international community, it is a fundamental issue whether the spirit of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs stipulated in the UN Charter is preserved or not. The unfair behavior of the UNSC which left indelible stain on the trust and reputation of the UN organization will inevitably invite a tragic result of its own collapse. We will never tolerate any moves of the hostile forces to violate the inviolable sphere under the exercise of sovereignty nor step back from having access to the space reconnaissance capability which should be done surely no matter what others may say. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address France, Germany to Jointly Work on Long-Range Weapons Sputnik News 20240529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - German and French authorities along with partners intend to cooperate on the development of long-range weapons, according to the final document of the German-French council on security and defense meeting. The meeting of the two countries' ministers took place at the end of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Germany on Tuesday and was also attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "France and Germany, together with partners will start a long-term, comprehensive and inclusive cooperation in the area of long-range weapons, which will also be accompanied by strengthening of the European defense-industrial base with the aim of improving military potential," the meeting's final document published on Tuesday showed. On Monday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine's right to "self-defense" includes the right to strike legitimate military targets outside the country. Stoltenberg also confirmed that he favors lifting restrictions on the use of Western weapons on "legitimate targets" on the territory of Russia. At the same time, he said that NATO remains committed to avoiding direct confrontation with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia follows the statements on strikes inside its territory. He warned that "NATO representatives, especially in Europe, should be aware of what they are playing with." A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address INDIAN NAVAL SHIP KILTAN DEPARTS BRUNEI India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Participates in a IN - RBN Maritime Partnership Exercise Posted On: 29 MAY 2024 6:05PM by PIB Delhi Indian Naval Ship Kiltan visited Muara, Brunei as part of Operational Deployment of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet to South China Sea. The visit demonstrated India's commitment to further deepen relations between both maritime nations. The port call included professional interactions, cross deck visits and cultural exchanges. The ship was also open for visitors wherein, members of Indian diaspora and Royal Brunei Navy personnel visited the ship. They were briefed about the ship, India's indigenous shipbuilding capabilities and rich maritime heritage. To bolster esprit de corps, volleyball was played between personnel from the Indian Navy and Royal Brunei Navy. The ship also participated in a IN - RBN Maritime Partnership Exercise. This will enhance understanding of each other's tactics, techniques and procedure to further reinforce interoperability. The successful completion of this port call is a demonstration of India's commitment for maintenance of peace and stability in the region in consonance to its 'Act East' and SAGAR policies. ******* VM/SPS (Release ID: 2022105) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address RudraM-II air-to-surface missile successfully flight-tested by DRDO from Su-30 MK-I off the Odisha coast India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 29 MAY 2024 4:56PM by PIB Delhi Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the RudraM-II air-to-surface missile from Su-30 MK-I platform of the Indian Air Force (IAF) off the coast of Odisha at around 1130 hours on May 29, 2024. The flight-test met all the trial objectives, validating the propulsion system and control & guidance algorithm. The performance of the missile has been validated from the flight data captured by range tracking instruments like electro-optical systems, radar and telemetry stations deployed by Integrated Test Range, Chandipur at various locations, including the on-board ship. RudraM-II is an indigenously-developed solid-propelled air-launched missile system meant for Air-to-Surface role to neutralise many types of enemy assets. A number of state-of-the-art indigenous technologies developed by various DRDO laboratories have been incorporated in the missile system. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, IAF and industry on the successful test-flight of RudraM-II. The successful test has consolidated the role of the RudraM-II system as a force multiplier to the Armed Forces, he said. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat complimented the DRDO team for their untiring efforts and contribution culminating into the successful flight test. ****** ABB/Savvy (Release ID: 2022076) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian, Russian envoys hold talks ahead of IAEA Board of Governors' meeting IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 29, 2024 London, IRNA -- Iranian and Russian representatives have held talks in Vienna ahead of an upcoming meeting by the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors. Mikhail Ulyanov, Permanent Representative of Russia to International Organizations in Vienna, said on Wednesday that he met with his Iranian counterpart Mohsen Nasiri Asl in the Austrian capital earlier in the day. "Met with the Permanent Representative of Iran H.E. Mohsen NAZIRI ASL to compare notes with regard to the forthcoming session of the #IAEA Board of Governors." The Russian envoy did not elaborate on the talks with the Iranian representative. The IAEA Board of Governors will convene its regular June meeting at the agency's headquarters next Monday. Discussions will include, among others, the verification and monitoring in Iran in light of UN Security Council resolution 2231 that endorsed the nuclear deal the country clinched with the world powers in 2015. The deal called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) ran into trouble in 2018 when the US unilaterally withdrew from it under former president Donald Trump. Iran began reciprocal measures exactly a year later, following the failure of the remaining Western members namely the EU, the UK, Germany and France to compensate for the US pullout. The Islamic Republic however has time again said that its reciprocal measures are reversible in case that the other sides fulfill their commitments. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military investigators find no evidence of sabotage in presidential copter crash IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 29, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian military investigators have found no evidence of any explosion caused by sabotage or cyberattack in the helicopter crash that resulted in the death of late president Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage this month. The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces on Wednesday released its second report on the May 19 crash, which also killed foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others. Based on sampling and tests conducted on the wreckage and parts of the helicopter, as well as the distribution pattern of the debris from the main body, the occurrence of an explosion caused by sabotage during the flight and moments before the impact with the mountainside is ruled out, the report said. Additionally, investigators carefully examined the vast majority of the documents related to the maintenance of the helicopter and found no issue that could have played a role in the accident, it added, The report also revealed that the helicopter's capacity in terms of the maximum standard load it could carry at the point of take-off and throughout the flight path and the return route was found to have been within the "permissible limit." The recorded conversations between the flight crew show that the last contact with the pilots up to the time of the incident and when they stopped responding lasted 69 seconds, and no emergency declaration was recorded during that time, it added. The military investigators also ruled out any disruption in the communication system or frequency interference with the helicopter. They revealed that during the flight and up to 69 seconds before the crash, contact with the aircraft had been maintained on the specified frequencies. The report further said that there were no signs of any cyberattack carried out against the presidential helicopter. The General Staff, which issued its preliminary report on the incident on May 24, said the investigation will continue until the main cause of the crash is determined and the results will be made public. 4353**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran will respond should IAEA issue another resolution IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 29, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran is prepared to respond if the IAEA Board of Governors issues a resolution against the country at its upcoming meeting next week, according to an analysis by IRNA. Five days left until the quarterly meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors, media reports suggest that some European countries are still uncertain whether to support an anti-Iran resolution during the upcoming session. Diplomatic sources close to the European troika (Britain, France, and Germany) have indicated that the US and its three top European allies are divided over whether to again use the lever of a resolution against Iran 18 months after the Board of Governors last took such a step, Reuters news agency reported on Friday. "A resolution has been prepared," a European diplomat told Reuters. Others confirmed the E3 had prepared a draft, but has not submitted it to the Board members. "...We have to move forward with this resolution ... The Americans are the difficulty, and in our conversations we continue to do everything to convince them," the diplomat was quoted as saying. According to Reuters, the main argument the US officials make in not seeking a potential resolution against Iran is to avoid giving the country "a pretext to respond" by ramping up its nuclear activities, as it has done in the past. Wall Street Journal has said in a report that the UK and France have told the US that they aim to issue a strict resolution against Iran. It noted that the probable defeat of the resolution in the Board of Governors would be a big diplomatic victory for Tehran, indicating the collapse of the Western unity for exerting pressure on Iran. At a time when major US media and think tanks admit that Washington has been defeated by Iran's regional agenda, especially after its strong April operation against the Zionist territories, the US administration is not inclined to open a new front with Iran over its nuclear program. On the other hand, the ambiguous situation of Joe Biden in the Democrats' electoral camp on the eve of the US presidential election and the inflammatory conditions in West Asia, where the Zionist tensions have shrunk the US military power and foreign policy potentials in the region, have made Washington to avoid nuclear tension with Iran. These events depict a comic and semi-tragic condition in dealing with nuclear developments as the three European countries which were once supposed to fill the gap of the US in the JCPOA after the US withdrawal from the accord, have now become more radical than the US itself so that the Western media say the US is trying to moderate the strict approaches of the three European parties to the declining nuclear deal of 2015. It has been 18 months since the West sought a resolution against Iran, which incurred costs for the US, Europe, and particularly Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi and his colleagues at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The issuance of two resolutions in 2020 was met with Iran's serious and retaliatory response. After the first resolution, Iran terminated all its confidence-building beyond safeguard cooperation and removed more than 20 IAEA surveillance cameras from nuclear facilities. Following the second resolution of the IAEA Board of Governors in 2020, Iran announced the start of production of 60 percent uranium in the Fordow strategic complex, the use of advanced IR-6 machines instead of first-generation centrifuges, equipping Fordow B Hall with eight new chains, as well as gassing two new chains of advanced machines in Natanz. In such circumstances, it has been reported that the anti-Iran resolution draft has been limitedly distributed among 35 member states. It seems that if a resolution is issued against Iran at the next week's Governing Council meeting, Tehran will react and take countermeasures, based on previous experience with resolutions. The West's reliance on leverage has repeatedly lost its effectiveness before and had nothing for three European countries and the US. This will negatively affect the Agency's cooperation with Iran more than anything else, a channel that the IAEA Director General has painstakingly sought to keep alive. The path that resulted in an understanding between Iran and Grossi in March 2023, but due to unwise decisions of the West, it would be vulnerable. 4353**9341**3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bagheri: Exchange of messages between Iran ,US continues ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Wed / 29 May 2024 / 12:43 Iran's Acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani said that the exchange of messages between Iran and the United States continues as before and has no interruption in this regard. Tehran-ISANA- Speaking on the sideline of Iran cabinet session on Wednesday, Bagheri asserted that focusing on neighborhood policy and serious interaction with neighbors in various fields was the president Raisi's emphasis. Acting foreign minister also said that Nuclear activities continue within the framework of the system's measures under the supervision of the Supreme National Security Council, Regarding the visit of Foreign minister of Oman to Tehran, he said, "We talked in detail about various regional and international issues, including the issue of Gaza and the crimes of the Zionist regime. In the same way, important international issues were discussed between the two sides." End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Investigation rules out sabotage in Iran's presidential helicopter crash Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 6:15 PM The ongoing probe into the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of President Ebrahim Raeisi of Iran and several other officials has ruled out sabotage as the reason behind the tragic incident. A second report by Iran's General Staff of Armed Forces, which is investigating the crash, said there's no evidence that the helicopter had been sabotaged during the flight. "Considering the sampling and tests conducted on the remains and parts of the helicopter and the pattern of their dispersion and the distance of the parts separated from the main body, the occurrence of an explosion due to sabotage during the flight and moments before the impact on the mountain slopes is ruled out," it said. The report also said "no traces of electronic warfare were observed on the crashed helicopter." It said the examination of documents related to the maintenance and repair of the crashed helicopter showed no issues that could have contributed to the accident. The report also ruled out any communication system malfunction or frequency interference preventing the presidential helicopter from contacting the flight group. The report said the examination of tests and analysis of data will continue until the main cause of the incident is discovered. The General Staff of Armed Forces issued its preliminary report on the incident on May 24, saying the wreckage did not bear any bullet holes or signs of similar impact. Late president Raeisi along with foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other dignitaries lost their lives after their helicopter crashed into the mountains and caught fire on May 19. The crash site was located by Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles at 05:00 a.m. (local time) on May 20, and reached by search teams shortly afterwards. Raeisi was laid to rest at the Shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), where the Shia Islam's eighth imam is buried in the northeastern city of Mashhad. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MBABANE Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) spent E50 000 for National Africa Day celebrations. This was revealed by ENCAC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stanley Dlamini during an interview with this publication, when asked about how much they had spent on empowering young people during the celebrations. ENCAC successfully commemorated African Day in all regions of the country. This years African Day was themed Educate an African child in readiness for the 21st century and according to Dlamini, they were aligned with the theme as they only focused on the youth. During the Africa Day celebrations, ENCAC gathered young people around Shiselweni courtesy of the Shiselweni Dance Competition, where there was a grand prize of E10 000. They went on to host another competition dubbed Lubombo Dance Competition, where they also had E10 000 as the grand prize. They also organised another celebration at Piggs Peak town and also had a Cultural Film Exhibition on May 24, which was hosted at Julios Cinelux in Manzini. Exhibition The exhibition was aimed at educating young people about sibhimbi, ummemo, umtsimba, kubutseka, drama as well as traditional dances. According to Dlamini, they used E50 000, which was an amount that was strictly budgeted for educating local young people about the arts. Dlamini shared that they included the financial incentives during the celebrations because they are looking to professionalise the arts. According to them, there is still a gap that exists in the local industry whereby artists are not paid for their work. He said they are on the drive to ensure that every creative is paid whenever they are booked to perform. As an institution, we are on the drive to compel everyone to pay our artists whenever they perform. There is no performance that should be displayed without the necessary contract and payment. Gathering Having said that, when gathering young people from Shiselweni, they cannot come back empty-handed, they have to return with some incentive. Our prize breakdown during the celebrations was differentiated by how many teams we had in each region. So we broke down the E10 000 prize for each region to award those who excelled. This was compensation based on the performances showcased by the young people, Dlamini said. He went on to justify why they targeted young people during the Africa Day celebrations citing that talent is going to open doors for employment of young people in the arts sector. The arts are going to be a critical factor in terms of employment opportunities in the creative sector. Talent becomes a critical competition in the 21st century, so in the regions, we had a fixed budget to help the young ones discover their talents. For example, in Manzini we were streaming documentaries for kubutseka, umtsimba as well as traditional dances just to educate the young ones, Dlamini said. He further shared that winners of the competitions which they hosted during Africa Day will form part of regional dance troupes. Basically, during these competitions, we were establishing the dance troupes. The winners of the competitions will then become the core of each dance troupe from each region. We want every region to have a street carnival, whether you call it Manzini Day, Nhlangano Day or Piggs Peak Day. This is where we want to display the different regional troupes that were given birth to, by the competitions we recently had. We want our youth to participate in the street carnivals, he said. Iran's nuclear activities continue; sanctions removal talks underway: Acting FM Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 11:21 AM Iran's acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani says the Islamic Republic is proceeding with its peaceful nuclear activities under the supervision of the country's top security body, adding that talks on the removal of anti-Iran sanctions are also underway. Bagheri Kani made the remarks on the sidelines of the Iranian administration's weekly cabinet meeting in the capital Tehran on Wednesday as he pointed to late President Ebrahim Raeisi's emphasis on keeping active diplomacy. "The martyred president's emphasis was on being active in the field of foreign policy with a focus on the policy of neighborliness and interaction with neighbors," the top diplomat said. Stressing that Iran's nuclear activities continue under the supervision of the country's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Bagheri Kani touched on negotiations to remove anti-Tehran sanctions and said, "The exchange of messages has not stopped and is still underway." Asked about a possible trip by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Tehran, the acting foreign minister said there has been a mutual invitation from both sides and the issue has previously been brought up, but the exact timing of the trip has yet to be specified. Bagheri Kani also pointed to Iran's membership in world's economic alliances, such as the BRICS group of emerging economies and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), saying, "The intention and approach of countries regarding [the promotion of ties with] Iran denote the significance of Iran's foreign policy status in the international arena." Meanwhile, Bagheri Kani said in a Persian-language post on his X social media account on Tuesday that he had a telephone conversation with Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya and thanked him for offering condolences and participating in the late Iranian chief executive's funeral service. Raeisi lost his life alongside a number of his associates in a tragic helicopter crash earlier this month. Over the past years, Iran has made great strides in its peaceful nuclear energy program in defiance of illegal sanctions and other hurdles created by the Western governments. The country, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has also been closely cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The country showed to the world the peaceful nature of its nuclear program by signing the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with six world powers. But, Washington's unilateral withdrawal in May 2018 and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran left the future of the deal in limbo. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address YouTube Confirms Iranian Foreign Ministry Account Closed Over U.S. Sanctions By Kian Sharifi May 29, 2024 Internet video platform YouTube has confirmed terminating an account run by Iran's Foreign Ministry to comply with U.S. sanctions against the Islamic republic. "Google is committed to compliance with applicable sanctions and trade compliance laws, and enforces related policies under our Terms of Service," YouTube spokesman Alzbeta Houzarova told RFE/RL in a written statement on May 28. "If we find that an account violates our Terms of Service, we take appropriate action," she added. Iran's official IRNA news agency said the account had been suspended after posting a video in English in support of Palestinians amid Israel's war against Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, in the Gaza Strip. State-controlled IRNA accused YouTube, which has been banned in Iran since 2009, of "violating freedom of speech." Asked about IRNA's claim that a pro-Palestinian video had resulted in the account's removal, Houzarova reiterated that U.S. sanctions were the reason for the channel's suspension. The account "will remain terminated," according to YouTube, which is owned by Google's parent company, Alphabet. "Due to established U.S. sanctions, Iran's state-owned channels are not permitted on YouTube," the platform said. Iran has blocked all major social media platforms and outlawed the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the ban. However, the authorities themselves continue to use the blocked platforms. Iran has for years tried to encourage the public to use domestically developed alternatives to popular social media platforms, with little success. A survey in January by the state-affiliated ISPA polling agency found that Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram -- all of which are blocked -- are the most popular platforms among Iranians. YouTube has previously suspended other Iranian state-owned accounts, including the English-language news service Press TV and the Spanish-language Hispan TV. In February, Instagram removed accounts run by the office of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Instagram and Facebook for posts in support of Hamas. A spokesperson for Instagram's parent company, Meta, told RFE/RL the accounts had been shut down for "repeatedly violating our Dangerous Organizations & Individuals policy." The policy includes organizations backlisted by the U.S. government. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/youtube-iran-ban-ministry- channel/32970331.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu Meets with US Senator Lindsey Graham Israel - Prime Minister's Office Events and Speeches The 37th Government 29.05.2024 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today , at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, met with US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), thanked him for his fifth visit to Israel since the outbreak of the war and said that he was a true friend of Israel and the Jewish People. The Prime Minister also thanked Senator Graham for his unwavering support of Israel's right to defend itself and his strong stand against the scandalous accusations against Israel by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Prime Minister Netanyahu: "We have no better friend, and I mean it, than Senator Lindsey Graham." US Senator Graham: "This is one of the most challenging times for the State of Israel since it's founding. There are so many problems and challenges to overcome, but one of the problems you never have to worry about is America. I promise you that we will do all we can, Mr. Prime Minister, to hold the ICC account for this outrage against the people of Israel. To the International Court of Justice, you're a joke. The head judge of the ICJ is a raving antisemite." Also attending the meeting were the Strategic Affairs Minister, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary and the Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Advisor. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu Meets with Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley Israel - Prime Minister's Office Events and Speeches The 37th Government 29.05.2024 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today , at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, met with former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley and thanked her for long-standing support of the State of Israel, especially at this time. The Prime Minister told her that Israel is determined to achieve all of its war objectives: Total victory over Hamas, the return of the hostages and assurance that Hamas will no longer constitute a threat to Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu at the start of the meeting: "I want you to know how much we appreciate the fact that you are standing with us, and so do the majority of the American people, so they understand that those who want to kill us want to kill you. Those who chant 'Death to Israel' also chant 'Death to America.' So our victory is your victory. The most important thing is to make sure that the right of free societies beginning with Israel but also the United States and everything in between have the right to defend themselves. And that's why those sanctions on the ICC are so important. Thank you." Former Ambassador Haley: "I come here to let you know that the majority of Americans stand with Israel. And on October 7 it wasn't just Israelis who mourned. Americans mourned as well. But a win for Israel is a win for America. Israel is fighting America's enemies, and I will say to you and to anybody in Israel: Tune out the noise. You know what your job is. let's get the hostages home, let's beat Hamas, let's make sure Lebanon knows not to try or do anything. What too many people don't know is that Hezbollah is striking every single day to Israel and it's unacceptable. If this had happened to any other country, no other country would do anything less than what Israel is doing. Israel continues to be so careful about every human life and everything that they do to protect that human life that America needs to continue to be strong but any country that is free and believes in democracy needs to be standing with you." Also participating in the meeting were Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, MK Danny Danon, the Prime Minister's Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman and the Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Adviser Dr. Ophir Falk. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Statement - UN Security Council Arria-formula meeting: Myanmar European External Action Service (EEAS) 29.05.2024 New York Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in New York 29 May 2024, New York -- Written Statement by the European Union at the United Nations Security Council Arria-formula meeting on Children and Youth of Myanmar The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Andorra, align themselves with this statement. The impact the February 2021 military coup and the escalating armed conflict has had on the children and youth of Myanmar is often forgotten. The EU welcomes the convening of an Arria-formula meeting on this issue, to consider how the international community can work towards a better future for the people of Myanmar, including its children, youth, and future generations. Following the coup, the EU has put a large focus on supporting Myanmar's most vulnerable communities, including children, working through and with civil society actors, NGOs and international organizations, notably the UN. With no political dialogue with the military regime in Myanmar, the EU supports the urgent needs of children in armed conflict through development cooperation and humanitarian aid interventions targeting three critical areas described below. The Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus is a key guiding principle of EU programming in Myanmar. The armed conflict triggered by the coup in Myanmar makes protecting children against violence an almost impossible task. The conflict continues to severely restrict freedom of movement, access to services, and the delivery of humanitarian aid due to violence, security risks, increased checkpoints, and severe infrastructure damage, exacerbated by onerous administrative procedures imposed by the military regime. Obstructions to humanitarian aid access and delivery, as well as extreme weather events, aggravate vulnerabilities. Children are particularly affected by heightened protection risks, with a 2023 UN Secretary General Report to the Security Council highlighting increased violations against children, including killing, mutilation and abduction. Around 8 million people need child protection interventions. High rates of child marriage, trafficking and unsafe migration are significant concerns, alongside child labour and recruitment into the military and other non-state armed groups. The EU supports protection by helping foster families and community actors engaged in children's rights and through child labour prevention and protection policies for juvenile workers. The children of Myanmar's right to education has been profoundly affected by a combination of prolonged school closures, political crisis and escalating conflict. All this has led to a significant increase in school dropout rates. The EU supports community-based remedial education programmes in Myanmar, improved access to ethnic education services, non-formal education to children and youth lacking access to formal education due to armed conflict and emergency education for internally displaced children. The complex political and operational environment characterized by an increased politicization of education, a volatile security situation and legal challenges renders supporting the Myanmar children's right to education extremely challenging. The coup has also created a health and nutrition crisis, with children across the country paying a very high price. The military regime has repeatedly attacked medical infrastructure and personnel. Access to healthcare has declined dramatically, with the public health system struggling to stay on its feet. Essential public health initiatives, including critical vaccination programs, and sexual and reproductive health services, have been disrupted or halted altogether. Political instability, food insecurity, armed conflict, and violence have for long had a deteriorating effect on the mental health and psychological wellbeing of the population. The particular impact on children will plague Myanmar for generations to come. Conflict and displacement have also exacerbated malnutrition among children. 12.9 million people in Myanmar, nearly one in every four, are experiencing acute food insecurity, which severely impacts the education and learning of children. Children make up about half of the more than three million displaced individuals in Myanmar. The fragile situation affecting agriculture, food and nutrition security requires substantial direct assistance to vulnerable populations with a focus on women, children and people with disabilities. The EU works to improve the nutritional status of women of reproductive age and children under five years, in conflict-affected communities and also provides pregnant and breastfeeding women and children aged under two with cash transfers. * North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar junta threatens to block food aid for Rohingyas who refuse military training International groups say the military's bid to stoke ethnic tensions in Rakhine state is succeeding. Reported by Ye Kaung Myint Maung for RFA Burmese 2024.05.29 -- Myanmar's junta is forcibly recruiting Rohingyas in the Rakhine state capital Sittwe and threatening to block monthly international aid supplies if they refuse to join military training, according to members of the ethnic group who are sheltering in camps for the displaced. Reports of the forced recruitment come amid fresh calls from the international community to monitor the situation facing Rohingyas amid fears that attempts by the embattled military to incite tension between Muslim Rohingyas and ethnic Rakhine Buddhist communities in Rakhine state is succeeding. The junta is desperate to recruit new soldiers as its ranks are depleted by battlefield losses and mass surrenders to rebel forces. Rohingyas, persecuted for decades in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, are getting caught up in the war between the ethnic Arakan Army, or AA, and junta forces in Rakhine state, human rights workers say. Both sides have pressed Rohingyas into their ranks and at the same time have accused Rohingyas of helping their rivals. Reports suggest that both the AA and junta forces have subjected members of the Muslim minority to violence. Rohingya residents of Sittwe who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, told RFA Burmese that junta troops on May 27 began ordering them to hand over around 30 people aged 18-30 each from more than 10 camps for the displaced in Sittwe - including Thet Kei Pyin, Ohn Taw Gyi, Bar Sar Ra, Dar Paing, and Thae Chaung. "We were asked to give 35 people from our camp," a Rohingya resident of the Thet Kei Pyin camp said Wednesday. "If we refuse to do so, they will not share [international] food supplies anymore. The junta is recruiting for the frontline." It was not immediately clear how many Rohingyas have been forcibly recruited from the camps. Attempts by RFA to contact the United Nations Development Program, or UNDP, in Myanmar for a response to reports that the junta has threatened to withhold food aid for Rohingyas in Rakhine state went unanswered Wednesday. The junta forcibly recruited around 1,000 Rohingyas for military service from camps for the displaced in Sittwe township in March and more than 300 from Rohingya villages last month, Rohingya residents told RFA, making this the third round of forced recruitment. Now, men sleep outside A Rohingya from Sittwe, who also declined to be named, said members of his community are no longer willing to sleep in their homes, for fear of being detained in the middle of the night. "They [the junta troops] often come late at night and if they see young men at home, they will take them immediately," he said. "It isn't good for us to sleep at home anymore. Now, men sleep outside - away from their homes and in the fields." Previous military training for Rohingyas was conducted at the junta's Sittwe-based Regional Command Headquarters for two weeks. After completing the training, the trainees received certificates before some were sent home and others were sent to the frontlines, Rohingyas said. A resident of Sittwe told RFA that the junta, which is increasingly losing territory to the AA in northern Rakhine state, is recruiting Rohingyas to defend the capital. "The junta seems to be preparing for a defensive war," he said. "If they can't stop [losing territory], the junta will try to hold power by creating racial and religious conflict between the Rakhine and Muslim communities." The resident said that while the Rohingyas are unwilling to serve in the military, they have no choice. He urged senior Rohingya leaders to prevent the possibility of conflict between the state's ethnic communities. RFA attempted to reach junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun and Hla Thein, the junta's spokesperson for Rakhine state, to inquire about the forced recruitment of Rohingyas, but was unable to contact them. Military analysts say the junta has used Rohingyas who received military training during battles against the AA in Rakhine's Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships. In Sittwe and Kyaukphyu townships, which have so far been free of conflict, thousands of Rohingya have received military training, and analysts say they are likely to be deployed on the battlefield if fighting continues. Call to monitor Rohingya situation Amid reports of forced recruitment of the Rohingya, and of the military seeking to incite conflict between the Rakhine and Rohingya communities in Rakhine state, international organizations have called for a pause in fighting to allow for aid groups to enter the area and assess the situation on the ground. Last week, in response to reports of renewed violence and property destruction in Buthidaung township resulting in the displacement of "potentially tens of thousands of civilians, mainly Rohingya," the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker TArk, urged restraint among all parties in the region. "With inter-communal tensions between ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya high - and being actively stoked by the military - this is a critical period when the risk of yet further atrocity crimes is particularly acute," TArk said in a May 19 statement. "While we seek to corroborate information indicating serious violations, I appeal directly to the Myanmar military and Arakan Army to pause the fighting, protect civilians, allow immediate and unhindered humanitarian access, and comply fully and unconditionally with international law," he said. According to satellite imagery and images circulating on social media, nearly the entire town of Buthidaung was burned to the ground after the AA attacked the area, prompting the withdrawal of junta troops. Some Rohingyas were reportedly prevented from escaping the fighting and killed by AA soldiers, U.N. officials said at a press conference on May 24. James Rodehaver, head of the United Nations Human Rights', or OHCHR, Myanmar team, recently highlighted the spread of misinformation and propaganda exacerbating tensions between the Rakhine and Rohingya communities. He noted that the AA has been disseminating "false information" about the Rohingya on the social media platform X, formerly called Twitter. Military incitement succeeding Jason Tower, the country director for the Burma program at the United States Institute of Peace, told RFA that the military's efforts to incite tension between the Rohingya and Rakhine communities is succeeding. "For quite a few months now, there's been evidence that the Myanmar military has been spreading disinformation about the Arakan Army in the Rohingya community, as part of its efforts to forcibly conscript Rohingya," he said. "There are many Rohingya that have been forcibly conscripted and ... this month, when a number of military junta troops surrendered to the AA, there were quite a few Rohingya conscripts amongst them." Tower said that the military's strategy is to "put pressure on the Arakan Army" by stoking tensions between the Rohingya and Rakhine communities. "And to some extent, it seems like this is working out in the favor of the military junta, as you now do see that the Arakan Army is starting to succumb to some of this pressure," he said. The AA's reporting on events in northern Rakhine state is "extremely problematic," Tower said, and "very derogatory towards Rohingya communities." "And this is actually worsening the problem, although perhaps the intention of the Arakan Army in putting out this messaging is to appeal to a population of [Rakhine] that have been manipulated by the Myanmar military regime," he said. Nonetheless, this in no way absolves the AA of its responsibility to protect civilians and the Rohingya population, Tower said. "There is a need for the Arakan Army to be held accountable for what's happening here," he added. The AA, which in November ended a ceasefire that had been in place since the military's February 2021 coup d'etat, announced on May 18 that it had captured all military camps in Buthidaung. The AA said it now occupies nine townships in Rakhine state, as well as Paletwa township in neighboring Chin state. Tower said that while it "seems pretty clear" that the AA will ultimately expel the military from Rakhine state, the real test for the ethnic army is whether it will be able to adequately support displaced communities and begin governing the many territories under its control. Attempts by RFA to contact the junta and the AA for comment on the situation in Buthidaung and allegations of violence against the Rohingya community went unanswered Wednesday. Translated by Aung Naing and Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Clashes displace 15,000 civilians in western Myanmar Junta attacks killed three civilians and destroyed at least 30 houses in one township, residents said. By RFA Burmese 2024.05.29 -- Fighting in western Myanmar has forced thousands of people to flee from their homes, left parts of a town in smoldering ruins and killed three civilians, residents told Radio Free Asia, as opponents of military rule try to defeat the junta that seized power in 2021. The clashes between junta troops and insurgent groups in Chin State, which is on the border with India, displaced 15,000 people in two days and led to the destruction of parts of Tedim town, they said. Anti-junta insurgents from Chin State control 10 towns in the state, while another ethnic minority rebel group, the Arakan Army, controls two others. A battle broke out on Sunday night and continued into the next day, said a resident who declined to be identified for security reasons. Two people fleeing by motorcycle from Tedim on Monday morning were hit by artillery fire. A 40-year-old woman was killed while her male cousin was wounded. "She was taken to a nearby house after she was injured. That's when she died. She was cremated in Tedim on Tuesday morning," he said. "Her cousin, who was also hurt, has a broken leg and is now being treated at a hospital in Kale town." On Sunday, the junta's air force bombed nearby camps occupied by the Zoland People's Defense Force, a Chin group opposed to the junta, residents said. Junta aircraft also bombed two villages controlled by the rebel group, killing two civilians. RFA called Chin State's junta spokesperson, Aung Cho, to ask for information about the clashes, but the calls went unanswered. Most of the displaced people are taking shelter in Kale, a town in the neighboring Sagaing region, about 80 km (50 miles) away, said another resident who also asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. Others are sheltering in nearby forests. "Most of the residents fled," the second resident told RFA "Most of them fled to Kale town. There are some who could afford to go to Champhai," he said, referring to a town in India. At around noon on Monday, junta soldiers burned about 30 houses in Tedim, one of the residents said. "The burnt houses were the ones near the clock tower in Myoma neighborhood and down by the telecommunication office," he said, asking to remain anonymous given security worries. "All the houses near the local administration office were also set on fire." Dr Sasa, a senior official in a shadow civilian government, said the destruction in Tedim was a crime against humanity and the international community should help. "Tedim town in Chin State has been burned down by the brutal forces of Myanmar's military junta ... It is imperative to help Myanmar end this reign of terror and build peace," Sasa, who goes by one name, said on the social media platform, X. An official from Zoland People's Defense Force, which occupies territory in Tedim township, told RFA that the allied Chin defense forces captured nine junta soldiers, as well as several military camps. "There are three places [we captured], including the junta's Electric Power Corporation office," he told RFA on Tuesday, declining to be identified for security reasons. "Some junta soldiers were killed during the battle, but those captured alive will be treated according to the law." One member of the anti-junta Chin force was killed and three were wounded, he said. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bangladesh accepts 2 World Bank projects to improve refugee lives The projects worth $700 million are aimed at improving the quality of life of Rohingya refugees. By Kamran Reza Chowdhury for BenarNews 2024.05.29 -- In addition to loans and grants from the World Bank, the Bangladesh authority has approved two projects worth $700 million to improve the quality of life of Rohingya refugees living in Cox's Bazar and the host community people of the southeast district. "The Bangladesh government has taken such a loan from the World Bank for the Rohingya refugees for the first time since providing shelter to about one million Rohingya refugees," said Md. Hasan Sarwar of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. The two projects were passed in the Executive Committee meeting of the National Economic Council held at the Planning Commission under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the day, he told BenarNews on Tuesday. State Minister for Planning Shahiduzzaman Sarker said some projects will be implemented with loans and some with grants. "Under these two projects we will use the money from the donation to improve the quality of life of the Rohingya people while the amount of loan will be used for the host community," he said. Gov't plans to improve camp life According to project documents obtained by BenarNews, the two projects will be implemented between June 2024 and June 2028. The first project related to infrastructure construction is called "Host and Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals/Displaced Rohingya Population Enhancement of Lives through a Multisectoral Approach Project." The total cost of the project is around $350 million, including $200 million in loans and $126 million in grants. The government will bear about $23.5 million, the document showed. Under the project, road construction and development, installation of an eight-megawatt solar power plant and construction of distribution infrastructure, an increase of safe water supply and sanitation facilities, construction of climate resilient infrastructure, environmental impact and damage assessment will be implemented. The cost of another project titled "Inclusive Services and Opportunities for Host Communities and Displaced Rohingya Population Project" is estimated to be more than $374 million, including a loan of $182 million from the World Bank and a grant of $150 million. Regarding the necessity of the second project, the proposal said that since 2017 Myanmar citizens have been infiltrating Bangladesh at various times, causing a humanitarian crisis in every district of Chittagong Division, including Cox's Bazar, while the socio-economic conditions in those areas have had a negative impact. Despite various humanitarian assistance, the Rohingya refugees are still facing acute crises in education, health, food security, nutritional needs, and violence and insecurity. In recent years, humanitarian aid from various development aid agencies has gradually decreased. According to the project document, Chittagong, Bandarban, Rangamati, Noakhali and Cox's Bazar districts are comparatively far behind in various indicators including health and nutrition. "On the other hand, crimes such as gender-based violence, human trafficking, child marriage, polygamy and sexual harassment have increased among local residents since the Rohingya infiltration. There is a possibility of creating a critical situation between the local residents and the Rohingya refugees," the document stated. Humayun Kabir, president of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, told BenarNews that the critical situation can be avoided if the projects are implemented. "If the livelihood of the locals is damaged because of the Rohingya refugees, there will be a conflict at one stage, which will not be good for anyone," he added. Muhammed Jubair, acting chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, told BenarNews, "The Rohingya fled Myanmar to save their lives but expected to return in a short time. Seven years have already passed." "Relief for the Rohingya people has decreased in recent years. This grant from the World Bank will alleviate the suffering of the Rohingya refugees to some extent," he observed. Translated by Ahammad Foyez. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Message to President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev Vladimir Putin sent a message to President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. May 29, 2024 14:45 The message reads, in part: "I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the warm reception and unforgettable hospitality extended to me and the Russian delegation during our state visit to Uzbekistan. I am confident that our substantive talks will further strengthen the strategic partnership and alliance between Russia and Uzbekistan. There is no doubt that the agreements we reached during the visit and the productive meeting of the Council of Regions open vast opportunities for implementing mutually beneficial joint projects in various sectors. Additionally, I would like to sincerely thank you for the opportunity to engage in extensive person-to-person discussions during the visit. This friendly dialogue is truly invaluable." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia May Spur Development of Mid-Range Missiles Due to Aggressive NATO Plans - Official Sputnik News 20240529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - NATO's aggressive plans against Russia may accelerate the timetable for Moscow's creation and possible deployment of medium- and shorter-range missiles, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Wednesday. In August 2019, the United States formally withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which limited the development and deployment of ground-based missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. Russia denounced the move as a risk to global security. "The announcement that the relevant research work and a series of measures to prepare for the creation of such systems was made several years ago. We have wasted no time. And I think that NATO's increasingly aggressive manifestations towards us and the need to give these manifestations the toughest possible rebuff in this area can have a certain impact in terms of intensifying the schedules," Ryabkov told reporters. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sir, I was glued to the proceedings of the case presented by South Africa in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), later backed by Egypt, against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who relentlessly continues with his so-called military operation a mass extermination of the Rafah population. While scrutinising the defence of Israel by her State lawyers, Malcolm Shaw and Tal Becker, I earnestly searched in the caves of emptiness for a valid defence but there was none that had substance. They presented a weak defence; I bet they themselves were ashamed on their baseless submissions. Attention There are just a few probing questions which will form the basis of the much needed attention to the Gaza crisis. It is highly probable that as you are reading this letter a five-year-old is being killed in Gaza, resulting in the overall number of killed and maimed children to be around 13 800 not to mention the more than 9 500 women who have been slain in not less than seven months, since the October 2023 Hamas invasion. In every press conference hosted by the Israeli press, the government claims to be carrying out an offensive against Hamas. The evil inclination of the Israeli Government was exposed when a South Africa lawyer, Adila Hassim, asked the ICJ; is a five-year-old child a Hamas fighter, what do the 90-year-olds have to do with Hamas, what about the patients in hospitals (the likes of Al-Shifa hospital) who are bombed while fighting for their lives; what really have they got to do with the war and Hamas? Blameless This war, evidently, has more to do with the Palestinians than fighting Hamas. Israel is surely not in conflict with Hamas but the blameless Palestinian citizens. When I trace back in history, 1948 in particular, when the State of Israel was forcefully created, about 15 000 Palestinians were killed in a series of mass atrocities, including dozens of massacres. The big question then would be, during that period, which is today commemorated as the Nakba day, was Hamas still the enemy, even though it was non-existent? What we are seeing is a deep-rooted hatred for Palestinians. Lets not forget that Hamas birthed from the Palestinian branch of Islamic brothers in the late 1980s and it was, among other reasons, created to protect the interests and dignity of the Palestinian people. Hamas was created by the Palestinians to defend their State by the likes of Yassin Rabia who was killed in Beirut. Who then will salvage the Arab people from their long suffering, their cry echoes the four walls of the debate chambers in the Hague but, unfortunately, it seems as though their cries are insignificant. The United Nations Security Council seems to propose without disposition. Who then will intervene in favour of Palestinians when Western powers continue to use their veto power in favour of the aggressor? The efforts made by Norway, Ireland and Spain are of little consequence if glorified Western countries continue to supply billions of Dollars worth of ammunition to kill with impunity. Abomination Israeli soldiers should be ashamed of themselves, a whole fully fledged soldier worth his salt and in his right cognitive senses goes to war and fight a one-day-old child, women and unarmed civilians; its an abomination. Palestinians are being used as a training zone they are rudely used and abused. Im well aware of the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas but that wrong act does not justify nor does it make the acts by Israel right. Israel is a State not a religion, therefore, it should be dealt with as a State. This is not some glorified holy war but a genocide against the Palestinians people and it must stop. US Treasury promises to tighten sanctions on Russia By VOA News May 29, 2024 U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday to meet with Ukrainian officials for talks about tightening sanctions on Russia and financial support for Ukraine. He said the U.S. plans to take further measures to put pressure on Russia's economy. "Russia's economy has become a wartime economy where every means of production and industry is now focused on building weapons to fight their war of choice and aggression here in Ukraine," Adeyemo said Wednesday in Ukraine's capital. "We need to do everything that we can to go after that." Adeyemo said the Treasury's priority is to reduce Russian revenue and prevent Russia from obtaining the goods it needs to support its defense industrial base, including dual-use goods from China. Washington has sanctioned more than 4,000 individuals and businesses since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Daleep Singh, a senior White House official said this week that the language of the sanctions could be changed, which could open the door to secondary sanctions, according to Reuters. Russian attacks Ukraine said Wednesday that eight people were killed in a series of Russian attacks across four regions. A missile attack killed two and injured three in the Sumy region, according to regional authorities. Two were killed in attacks in Ukraine's southern city of Nikopol, regional governor Sergiy Lysak said. Governor Vadym Filashkin of Ukraine's Donetsk region said three people were killed Tuesday in separate attacks. Kherson's Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said "one person died as a result of Russian aggression." Ukraine's military operations Ukraine's military said Wednesday it shot down Russian drones that targeted areas of western, central and southern Ukraine. The Ukrainian air force said it intercepted 13 of 14 Russian drones used in overnight attacks against the Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad and Rivne regions. Vitaliy Kim, the regional governor of Mykolaiv, said air defenses shot down 11 of the drones in his area. Kim did not report any damage or injuries from the drones. Russia's defense ministry said Wednesday it destroyed two naval drones moving toward the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula, as well as an aerial drone and seven rockets over the Belgorod region that borders Ukraine. Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of Russia's Krasnodar region, said Wednesday that air defenses downed a Ukrainian drone over the city of Armavir. Rising death toll The death toll from a Russian strike last weekend on a hardware store in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has risen to 19, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Wednesday. Two of those killed in the attack Saturday were minors, Klymenko said on Telegram. The recovery operation at the store has concluded. Russia did not comment on the attack, but it says it doesn't target civilian sites. Sweden funding Sweden announced Wednesday a $1.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine, which includes radar reconnaissance and command aircraft, artillery ammunition and armored vehicles. "It consists of equipment that is at the top of Ukraine's priority list," Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch said. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Child killed in Israeli airstrike in northwest Syria IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency May 29, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A Israeli airstrike has killed a child and injured at least ten more civilians in the city of Baniyas, northwest Syria. According to Syria's SANA news agency, the airstrike took place on Wednesday evening, targeting a residential building in Baniyas, a Mediterranean coastal city in Tartous Governorate. The news agency, quoting a miliary source, added that the attack was launched from "the direction of Lebanese territory" and caused some material losses. Earlier on Wednesday, Syrian media reported another Israeli airstrike, which they said targeted the western city of Homs. The outlets said the regime fired missiles from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights. They did not specify the number of the projectiles, but said most of them were intercepted by Syrian air defense. There were no reports of casualties in Homs. Only material damage was caused, the media outlets said. The Israeli regime has in the past several years continued airstrikes on different parts of Syria, especially the capital Damascus, despite repeated protests by the Syrian government at the UN. The government says the attacks violate Syria's sovereignty and has asked the UN to force the regime to halt its acts of aggression. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli airstrikes kill 4, including child, across Syria: Reports Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 May 2024 9:11 PM Israeli airstrikes have reportedly claimed the lives of four people, including a child, targeting separate locations across Syria. The youngster was killed after an Israeli aerial attack targeted the Mediterranean coastal city of Baniyas on Wednesday, the Syrian defense ministry reported. "The Israeli enemy launched an air attack from the direction of Lebanon, targeting a central site and a residential building in Baniyas city in the coastal region, killing a girl and wounding 10 [other] civilians," read a statement by the ministry. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based so-called monitor, put the number of the wounded at 20. It also reported that the Israeli regime had also targeted the countryside of the eastern Syrian city of Homs, killing three people. The Observatory identified the fatalities as "three Syrian fighters" cooperating with Hezbollah. The Lebanese resistance movement has been helping Damascus fight foreign-backed terrorism. Earlier in the day, the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) had reported that the country's air defenses had intercepted "enemy targets in the skies of the city of Homs." Syria and the Israeli regime are technically at war due to the latter's 1967-present occupation of the country's Golan Heights. The regime has carried out hundreds of attacks against the country since 2011, when the Arab nation found itself in the grip of rampant foreign-backed militancy and terrorism. Tel Aviv has significantly ramped up the strikes since last October, when it began a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip, in what has been described by observers as a reckless bid threatening to further fuel tensions throughout the region. Most recently, the Israeli military was reported to have carried out an aerial assault against two vehicles in Homs Province, killing two Hezbollah members. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address McCaul calls on Taiwan to increase its defense budget ROC Central News Agency 05/29/2024 07:18 PM Taipei, May 29 (CNA) United States Congressman Michael McCaul on Wednesday called on Taiwan to increase its defense budget, which he said is essential to protect the country from China's aggression. While visiting the Legislature in Taipei, McCaul, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was greeted by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (eYac) of the opposition Kuomintang and delivered a speech. Taiwan's security is under threat from China, which last week "sent an armada of ships and aircraft" in the proximity of Taiwan, McCaul said, referring to the military exercises staged by China around Taiwan on May 23 and 24 in response to President Lai Ching-te's (ea) inaugural speech on May 20. "The United States Congress wants Taiwan to increase its defense budget, for without budget increases, Taiwan will not be able to protect democracy from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) aggression," he said. Underlining firm U.S. support for Taiwan's security, he said the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which included funding to shore up Taiwan's defense, was "probably the most popular vote on the House floor." U.S. President Joe Biden signed the act into law last month after it garnered bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress. Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which directs the U.S. government to provide Taiwan with weapons necessary to defend itself, McCaul told Han: "Mr. Speaker, I promise you I will get those weapons to you as soon as possible." "It is my sincere hope here today, that your parliament can come together and speak with one voice as one nation as the United States Congress did in support of Taiwan's national defense," he said. McCaul also said he had witnessed "democracy at work" in Taiwan in the past few days. With indirect reference to the mass protests against the "legislative reform" bills that cleared the legislative floor on Tuesday, McCaul said "peaceful protesters are making their voices heard without fear of retaliation." "That people can gather and protest proves Taiwan is a beacon of democracy," the Texas Republican added. That, McCaul said, is in stark contrast with communist China, which "brutally cracks down on peaceful dissent, like in Hong Kong and Tiananmen Square," which makes it an enemy of democracy. McCaul is leading a delegation on behalf of House Speaker Mike Johnson to mark the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te (ea), whom he met on Monday. The delegation also includes Republicans Young Kim, Joe Wilson, and Andy Barr, and Democrats Jimmy Panetta and Chrissy Houlahan. Wednesday's visit to the Legislature was McCaul's second, following his last trip in April 2023, during which he met with Han's predecessor, You Si-kun (ea ) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. (By Sean Lin) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Reform bills fail to reflect public expectations: Presidential Office ROC Central News Agency 05/29/2024 04:31 PM Taipei, May 29 (CNA) The Presidential Office believes the Legislative Yuan's passage of controversial amendments to strengthen its powers of investigation does not reflect the common expectations of society, it said Tuesday after the revisions were passed. "The Legislature is a symbol of democracy and should stand with the people and safeguard democratic values, and the president is the guardian of democracy and constitutional government," said Presidential Office spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui (). "President Lai Ching-te () therefore hopes that for major controversial bills that draw public concern, there will be room for ongoing dialogue and mediation between the ruling and opposition parties on the measures even after they passed," Kuo said. The revisions passed Tuesday gave the Legislature new investigative powers and the power to hold hearings, which include potentially imposing penalties on public officials and related individuals if they refuse to attend or provide information. They also would require the president to present a report to the Legislature every year and answer questions after the address. The bills were passed by the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), which with 52 and eight seats, respectively, in the 113-seat Legislature hold a majority over the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which has 51 seats. At the same time as the new Legislature was elected on Jan. 13, Lai won the presidency with about 40 percent of the vote, with the remaining 60 percent split between the KMT and TPP candidates. To voice opposition to the bills, a series of demonstrations were held by different civic groups across Taiwan on Tuesday. In Taipei, civic groups claimed that as of 9:25 p.m. around 70,000 people had gathered around the Legislative Yuan, and they called on the Executive Yuan to send the amendments back for a second vote by the Legislature. They also urged the executive branch of the government and the DPP legislative caucus to seek a constitutional interpretation regarding the constitutionality of aspects of the amendments. A petition for a constitutional interpretation can be lodged by a quarter or more of incumbent legislators. Beyond mentioning Lai's call for ongoing dialogue, Kuo was noncommittal on the Executive Yuan's potential plan to have the Legislature reconsider the measures. Premier Cho Jung-tai () said Tuesday night that after receiving the amendments passed by the Legislative Yuan, the Executive Yuan will study whether to request that they be returned to the Legislature for review in accordance with the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name). Under the Constitution, once bills are passed in the Legislature, the Executive Yuan can return them, with the approval of the president, to the Legislature for reconsideration within 10 days from the date when the passed bills are submitted to the Executive Yuan. On the issue of the Executive Yuan studying whether to recommend that the measures be reconsidered, Kuo said the Presidential Office "respected" this action and will carefully respond and handle the matter in accordance with the law. DPP spokesperson Cho Kuan-ting (), meanwhile, said in a press release that his party supports its caucus' plan to request a constitutional interpretation concerning the content of the revisions and the procedures used to pass them. Criticizing the legislative approaches adopted by the KMT and the TPP, Cho argued that the two parties violated procedural justice and disregarded democracy and said they will ultimately face a backlash from public opinion in the future. (By Sunny Lai) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Second U.S. congressional group in Taiwan since Lai's inauguration ROC Central News Agency 05/29/2024 11:47 AM Taipei, May 29 (CNA) A second group of United States members of Congress visiting Taiwan since President Lai Ching-te's () inauguration on May 20 arrived in the country Wednesday. During the group's two-day stay in Taiwan, it will meet with Lai and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (), National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu () and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (), a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) press release said. The group consists of Senators Tammy Duckworth, Dan Sullivan, Chris Coons, and Laphonza Butler, all of whom are Democrats except for Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska. Duckworth, Sullivan and Coons previously visited Taiwan in 2021 to announce that the U.S. would donate 750,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan, when the country needed them most at the height of the global pandemic. Another bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation led by Republican Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is also in Taiwan until Thursday. The two groups are in Taiwan to show support after China ended a military drill that encircled Taiwan following Lai's inauguration speech, which Beijing believed advocated Taiwan independence. The trip is meant to "underscore and reaffirm our nation's strong bipartisan support for the Taiwanese people" following Lai's inauguration, said Duckworth, an Iraq war combat veteran and member of both the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a separate statement. "I've always believed that if America wants to remain a global leader, we have to show up and support our friends like Taiwan ... who are facing escalating threats from the PRC as they work to strengthen their own democracy," Duckworth said in the statement. (By Chung Yu-chen and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thousands protest outside Legislature as reform bills pass ROC Central News Agency 05/29/2024 12:04 AM Taipei, May 28 (CNA) Around 70,000 demonstrators gathered around the Legislative Yuan in Taipei on Tuesday evening as the Legislature passed all amendments to the Law Governing the Legislature's Power, mostly proposed by opposition parties. A bill to amend the Criminal Code to subject those found in contempt of the Legislature -- by making false statements -- to criminal proceedings also passed the third reading. As of 9:25 p.m., the number of protesters reached 70,000, filling the streets around the Legislative Yuan and even leading the police to expand the protest zone by blocking four traffic lanes on Zhongshan South Road, according to the organizers of the protest, which included civil groups such as the Taiwan Economic Democracy Union and Taiwan Citizen Front. Holding placards with slogans such as "I hold the Legislature in contempt," the protesters -- some of whom had been outside the Legislature since early morning -- gathered to voice their opposition to the "legislative reform bills" proposed by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) to expand the Legislature's power to oversee the government. However, the newly elected Legislature, where the KMT and TPP hold a majority over the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), passed the third reading of the amendments to the Law Governing the Legislature's Power, including imposing fines for contempt of the Legislature, amid protests by DPP lawmakers at 5 p.m. Legislation in Taiwan must pass three readings to become law. Lai Chung-chiang (), convener of Taiwan Economic Democracy Union, said that after the amendments passed a third reading, the Executive Yuan should send them back for a second vote by the Legislature. The civic groups also called on the executive branch of the government and the DPP legislative caucus to seek a constitutional interpretation regarding the constitutionality of aspects of the amendments, as well as demand a meeting with the Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu () of the KMT, Lai added. Among the thousands of protesters, 30-year-old mom Chang En-rong () said that it had been expected that the bills would pass the third reading but described members of the opposition parties as "shameless" since they disregarded procedural justice. "They didn't review the bills line by line. It was like a patchwork, with each version (of the bills) even having things that are contradictory," said the mother of three who drove all the way from Taichung to join the protest. Carrying her youngest son, Chang said that the oppositions parties are "utilizing the mechanism of democracy to undermine democracy itself" as they ignore the needs and voices of the minority. Having participated in the Wild Lily student movement in 1990 in Taiwan, Tim Lee () said he was in a bad mood after the amendments passed, due to the process being unreasonable and lacking sufficient discussion, a frequent DPP complaint. He added that the reason he stayed after the third reading was to "tell you (the opposition) that I am furious about it." "I don't think this matter will stop; it's just the beginning. There will be ongoing conflict between the executive and legislative branches," the 60-year-old photographer said. After the amendments to the Law Governing the Legislature's Power cleared the Legislature, KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi () said that Taiwan has finally caught up with the global trend of democracy, as the power to hold hearings and conduct investigations is readily available in many other countries. KMT caucus secretary-general Hung Mong-kai () said that the powers gained from the reform bills will lead to the government being more open and transparent, adding that public opinion in Taiwan supports the just passed parliamentary reforms. (By Sunny Lai) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan 'ready' amid warnings of Chinese civilian vessel threat: Expert ROC Central News Agency 05/29/2024 01:09 PM Taipei, May 29 (CNA) China is preparing an armada of ferries and civilian vessels to invade Taiwan, foreign experts have warned, but a Taiwan defense expert said the country has contingencies ready to handle the threat. In a May 26 report in the Daily Telegraph, experts said the People's Liberation Army (PLA) lacks the numbers of amphibious landing craft needed to launch a full scale invasion of Taiwan, but it could bridge the gap with civilian vessels, including "gigantic roll-on, roll-off ferries that can each carry hundreds of armored vehicles." China's civilian vessels could "dramatically increase the tonnage of military material that can be moved by its existing military amphibious assault craft," Tom Shugart, an analyst at the Center for a New American Security, told the newspaper. That could give it "capacity to transport about 300,000 troops and their vehicles across the Taiwan Strait in about 10 days," Shugart was quoted as saying. Chieh Chung (), a researcher at the Taipei-based Association of Strategic Foresight, agreed that the PLA lacks military vessels to transport military assets and has regularly included large-sized roll-on, roll-off ferries in military exercises over the past four years. He said each 36,000-ton ro-ro vessel can transport the troops of an estimated four PLA combined arms battalions at a time, meaning two ro-ro ships could transport the troops of a whole PLA combined arms brigade, which generally involves thousands of soldiers. Despite their large transport capacity, however, these civilian vessels are not designed to transport military assets such as military landing vessels because they need docking facilities when uploading and unloading, Chieh said. In the event of an armed invasion of Taiwan, therefore, the first wave of PLA troops could only use military landing ships, military helicopters and military transport aircraft to land in Taiwan, according to Chieh. Only after the first wave of PLA troops has successfully landed in Taiwan and constructed unloading facilities could these civilian vessels start transporting more troops to Taiwan, Chieh said. Even when that happens, Taiwan's existing long-range anti-ship missile systems and naval mines as well as suicide speedboats would be sufficient to destroy these relatively slow-moving civilian transport ships, he said. CNA also asked the Ministry of National Defense (MND) about the potential threat. It said it closely monitors Chinese activities around Taiwan's airspace and sea, including military-civilian coordinated landing operations during PLA exercises and the PLA's requisition of civilian roll-on roll-off vessels. The MND continues to gather related information and intelligence on the PLA's "informal" landing and transportation capacities, and that such tactics are carefully evaluated and prepared, it said, without elaborating. (By Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As long as 'Taiwan independence' provocation continues, PLA's actions to defend territorial integrity won't stop: spokesperson Global Times By Global Times Published: May 29, 2024 01:03 PM In response to the Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's speech on May 20, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday that those remarks are extremely arrogant and vile in nature, betray the national interest and run counter to the people's will, constituting a blatant provocation against the one-China principle and a severe disruption to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits. If allowed to develop, this will inevitably lead to dangerous and turbulent conditions in the Straits, inflicting great harm on the people of Taiwan, Zhu said. "We will not tolerate this, we will not condone it, and we will not stand idly by," the spokesperson said, noting that countermeasures and sanctions may become necessary. The more severe the provocation, the stronger the countermeasures. If the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities persist down the doomed path of "Taiwan independence," they will inevitably bring disaster upon themselves and suffer the consequences, the spokesperson cautioned. Lai's speech openly promotes the "two states" theory, attempting to seek "independence" by relying on external forces and military means. His attitude is arrogant and the nature of his actions is vile, the spokesperson noted. They severely undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, seriously risking the safety and well-being of Taiwan compatriots, and gravely impact Taiwan's development prospects, Zhu noted. "Insightful individuals in Taiwan have expressed deep concerns about this, reflecting the shared sentiments of the majority of Taiwan compatriots." Following Lai's so-called "inauguration," the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) held the Joint Sword-2024A exercises surrounding the island of Taiwan from Thursday to Friday in a move aiming to punish "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and to send a warning to external interference forces. In response to whether the joint drills surrounding the island will become normal in the future and whether there will be "Joint Sword-2024B"and "Joint Sword-2024C" following the latest Joint Sword-2024A, the spokesperson said on Wednesday that as long as the provocation of "Taiwan independence" continues, the PLA's actions to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity will never stop. The drills serve as a resolute punishment for the Taiwan regional leader's "5.20" speech seeking "independence" and a stern warning to external forces that condone and support "Taiwan independence" and interfere in China's internal affairs. It is a just action to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zhu said. A senior mainland official responsible for Taiwan affairs also urged the patriotic reunification forces in the island to resolutely oppose the provocations of Taiwan region leaders seeking "independence," and firmly resist the countercurrent of "de-Sinicization" attempts when meeting with representatives of Taiwan guests including Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party on Tuesday in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province. Our determination to resolve the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification is as solid as a rock. Our ability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity is indestructible, and our actions to oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference are firm and forceful, Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said during the meeting. No matter how the situation on the island evolves and no matter who is in power, nothing could alter or hinder the direction of cross-Strait relations or the process of national reunification, Song added. While the latest military exercises surrounding the island cover a wider area, which was closer to the island, involving larger forces, and had a more pronounced real-combat significance, the spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said since taking office the leader of the Taiwan region has brazenly challenged the one-China principle, adding that the mainland "will leave no room for any form of 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities." Zhu also emphasized that all our countermeasures are targeted at "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, not at the broad masses of Taiwan compatriots. "We hope that the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots will stand on the right side of history, distinguish right from wrong, act with a sense of justice, and, together with compatriots on the mainland, resolutely oppose 'Taiwan independence' separatism and external interference," the spokesperson added. When commenting on the Joint Sword-2024A military exercises, the UN Secretary-General spokesperson quoted the UN Resolution 2758 lately saying that "Taiwan is a province of China." In response to this remark, the spokesperson said on Wednesday that Taiwan is indeed a province of China, and we highly appreciate the UN's statement on this matter. In response to the US State Department's remarks on Lai's speech, the spokesperson said the speech was a complete "Taiwan independence confession." DPP authorities and external forces such as the US are singing the same tune and "playing a double act," reversing black and white, adding that people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits can see it very clearly. If the US sincerely hopes for peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, it should abide by the one-China principle and its commitments to China, and clearly oppose "Taiwan independence" with practical actions, the spokesperson said. "No matter how the US and Taiwan collude and make trouble, it cannot change the fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of China, nor can it change the general trend that China will and will inevitably be unified," Zhu said. In recent days, many celebrities from the island have publicly stated that "both sides of the Taiwan Straits are part of the Chinese nation," which were quickly criticized by "pro-independence" internet users, and the DPP authorities claim that "the mainland is forcing those celebrities to make such statements" and urged the mainland to stop pressuring them. Lai has also called for the public to "understand the celebrities." The spokesperson said some celebrities have shared a "reunification" poster, which has garnered over 1.8 billion views on social media platform Weibo and over 17 million shares. "We hope those who claim that these statements are 'forced' can see this," Zhu said. Some have shared stories with their fans about their ancestral hometowns and the origins of their names learned from their elders. Others have expressed that both sides of the Straits are part of the Chinese nation and hope for deeper exchanges. "These are genuine expressions of emotion," the spokesperson said. Lai and some in the DPP, driven by political self-interest, are deliberately creating cross-Straits antagonism and have labeled these celebrities as being "forced to make statements." This reveals that the DPP authorities are in fact very insecure and fear that compatriots on both sides of the Straits will come closer together, the spokesperson continued. They not only deliberately ignore mainstream public opinion in Taiwan, which desires peace, development, exchange, and cooperation, but also go to great lengths to suppress and slander these voices. The DPP authorities are also escalating the creation of a "green terror," leading to many Taiwanese residents becoming afraid to speak their minds, Zhu said. We actively support celebrities from the island coming to the mainland to participate in various performance activities, jointly promoting the prosperity and development of the cross-Straits cultural market and fostering emotional resonance and spiritual connection between compatriots on both sides of the Straits, the spokesperson said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mainland sends out strong warning to 'Taiwan independence,' vowing strong countermeasures Global Times Collusion between US and DPP separatist forces leading toward a dead end By Chen Qingqing Published: May 29, 2024 06:24 PM Following the highly provocative speech given by Taiwan's regional leader last week and the continuous collusion between the US and the DPP authorities, officials from the Chinese mainland sent out a strong warning again to "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, reiterating the need to recognize the nature of the forces that betray and ultimately harm Taiwan. In response to the regional leader Lai Ching-te's speech on May 20, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday that the remarks were extremely arrogant and vile in nature, betraying the national interest and running counter to the public will, constituting a blatant provocation against the one-China principle and a severe disruption to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. The speech was a complete "Taiwan independence confession," the spokesperson said, noting that DPP authorities and external forces such as the US are singing the same tune and "playing a double act," reversing black and white. The remarks were made as a US Senate delegation arrived in the island on Wednesday local time, led by US senators including Tammy Duckworth and Dan Sullivan, the Wall Street Journal reported. The visit comes just days after a bipartisan group of House members led by Michael McCaul, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, visited the island and met with Lai. The senators' trip was aimed at "showing strong bipartisan support for Taiwan during a challenging time," which also comes at a tense moment for the island as the Chinese mainland held joint military exercises surrounding the island last week, according to the media report. "Supporting Taiwan against the so-called threats or coercion from the mainland, particularly in support of the so-called democratic Taiwan, can be said to be a consensus, or a rare common policy point, especially between the two parties in the US Congress," Xin Qiang, director of the Taiwan Studies Center at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Some experts said many people in the US think that Lai's speech was very mild and did not come as a surprise. Instead, they mistakenly thought it is the mainland that is "aggressively coercing and even bullying" the DPP authorities. "Those people may not understand the provocative nature of Lai's speech because they do not understand the intricacies, the historical context of cross-Straits relations, or what some of Lai's words actually meant," Xin said. "On the other hand, some people believe whatever Lai says is good, and whatever the mainland does is seen as a threat or coercion against a so-called democratic Taiwan," Xin said, noting that the attending members of Congress are both arrogant and ignorant when it comes to the Taiwan question. "Some members make speeches or visit Taiwan as a political show, indicating that they stand with democratic partners and that supporting Taiwan means opposing China, which is now the US' biggest geopolitical rival," the expert said. China issued a stern warning to the US in multiple occasions urging it to immediately stop supporting and condoning "Taiwan independence" forces. In the latest round of China-US maritime affairs consultations, China emphasized that the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations and "Taiwan independence" is the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. "Lai's speech reflects a hardline 'Taiwan independence' stance, with a core mindset of opposing the mainland. In the future, there will be further exposure and criticism of Lai's 'Taiwan independence' activities," Wang Jianmin, a senior cross-Straits expert at Minnan Normal University in Fujian, told the Global Times on Wednesday. The mainland has also taken measures including military deterrence, and this military pressure will not change. It is not only pressure on "Taiwan independence" but also on external interference, Wang noted. Meanwhile, countermeasures against "Taiwan independence" include political and military struggles, and may in the future also include economic containment, which could be very broad-based, the expert said. Lai did not show any goodwill in his first so-called public appearance, indicating that he has no intention of improving cross-Straits relations during his tenure, experts said. "The escalation of cross-Straits tensions is inevitable. In the future, the Taiwan Straits may see even more turbulences compared to the period when Tsai Ing-wen was in the office," Xin said, noting that opposing and containing "Taiwan independence" will undoubtedly be further strengthened. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MBABANE Seemingly, Eswatini is far from attaining its desired food security status, as it has recorded an acute decline in its maize yield for 2024. According to the final post-harvest assessment report issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, the country recorded 75 000 metric tonnes this year, which is a far cry from the 140 000 metric tonnes annual target. The ministry said the maize yield was lower than that of last year, when the country recorded 85 000 metric tonnes.VThis means that Eswatini is expected to import 65 000 metric tonnes, almost half of the maize needed by the country. Decline Following such a decline, consumers must brace themselves for a sharp increase in food prices in the upcoming months. Meanwhile, Nelson Mavuso, the Director of Agriculture, said this was an unfortunate situation for the country as the National Maize Corporation (NMC) would have to look for alternative markets outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to buy maize, because all the major producing countries are faced with the same predicament. Mavuso said countries like Zambia, Malawi and South Africa indicated that they would not be selling their maize this year to countries like Eswatini, since they also had insufficient produce. Import As a result, Mavuso indicated that the country would be forced to import maize from as far as Brazil and Argentina, and that would increase the transportation costs. The situation is really bad. We received a yield lower than what we anticipated. There are many reasons attributed to such a decline, he said. The director further said the size of land planted this year was less than the previous year, resulting in a decline in maize production in the country. He further highlighted the heatwave as another reason leading to the maize shortage. Mavuso said inadequate rains in some of the countrys key producing areas Mahlangatsha, Sitsatsaweni, Sigombeni, Ntfonjeni, Dlangeni and Sigangeni resulted in a decline in the harvest, affecting the food security position of Eswatini. The drought from the El Nino weather pattern has withered leaves, wilted cobs and raised the spectre of hunger for thousands of farmers and emaSwati, especially the vulnerable groups, the elderly and those with disabilities, Mavuso said. In Mavusos observation, the low yields in 2023 were primarily caused by an erratic temporary distribution of rainfall, despite cumulative seasonal rainfall amounts being close to normal levels. On another note, Mavuso said it was expensive to import maize from other countries.The director emphasised that Zambia had indicated that the maize they received in this years harvesting period, was not sufficient, so it would not be enough to satisfy their entire population. He further said Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa followed in Zambias footsteps of stopping the selling of maize to other countries. Mavuso said the decision taken by the said countries would force the country to go as far as overseas to import maize. No matter how cheap the maize might be in the overseas countries, the handling costs and transportation are very expensive, let alone the costs of going there for negotiation purposes, which are also high. As a country, we want to start producing our maize that would accommodate the entire population, he said. Mavuso pointed out that from the previous years, the country had been producing average maize, ranging from 86 000 and 89 000 metric tonnes. He said the country was at a disastrous stage, following a decline in maize production recorded this year even below average. Solution As a solution to the current problem, Mavuso said farmers needed to put more effort into ensuring that enough maize was produced in the next coming ploughing season, to cover those that had not produced anything. He said by so doing, the country would have food security. On the other hand, the director said growing a variety of crops that withstand harsh conditions would be the solution to food insecurity. He said: Heatwave has its severity on crops. If we plant the right variety, we will get more produce. However, if the heatwave strikes at the time when the maize had developed tassels, farmers must brace themselves for loss, he explained. Windstorms He said it was important for farmers to be cognisant of the fact that climate change was accompanied by extreme temperatures and windstorms. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, about 238 500 people are faced with acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and above) between June and September 2023. The number of food insecure people is said to have increased to nearly 283 000 between October 2023 and March 2024, moderately higher than projections in the corresponding period of 2022/23. Maintaining stability of Taiwan Straits in common interest of China and Japan, senior CPC official tells Kishida Global Times By Global Times Published: May 29, 2024 07:11 PM Maintaining stability of the Taiwan Straits is in the common interest of both China and Japan, said Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, when meeting with Japanese Prime Minister and President of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on Wednesday. The two sides also expressed willingness to enhance political party exchanges. Kishida, welcoming Liu and the CPC delegation, said Japan is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with China, and the two sides should fully utilize various mechanisms to engage in dialogues on unresolved issues, promote mutually beneficial cooperation and strive to achieve concrete progress. Recently, China-Japan relations have been developing in a stable overall direction, but challenges remain, Liu said. He noted that both sides should jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen exchanges at all levels, and strive to establish an objective and accurate mutual understanding. "Japan should adhere to the one-China principle, effectively safeguard the political foundation of the ties, and properly handle sensitive issues such as the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea," said the senior CPC official. The CPC is willing to strengthen exchanges with political parties in Japan to promote bilateral relations, Liu told Kishida. Political party exchanges play a very important role in the development of Japan-China relations, the Japanese Prime Minister said, noting that Liu's visit has provided an important opportunity to enhance political party exchanges between the two sides. In addition, Japan is willing to engage in dialogue with China on global issues. Liu's visit to Japan, his first since taking up the current post in 2022, comes after the two-day ninth Trilateral Summit Meeting among China, Japan and South Korea, which was held from Sunday. The summit meeting was attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Japan's Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. The three leaders agreed to resume talks on a three-way free trade agreement, which were suspended in November 2019 following 16 rounds of official negotiations after they began in 2012. Analysts said through the summit, the three major economies in East Asia are trying to resume the trilateral cooperation across issues related to the economy, trade and cultural exchanges where they share broad common interests and similarities, while lay aside the difference in other tough topics including historical and sovereignty issues, as well as ideological differences. However, Japan has been stirring up trouble on a number of issues concerning China's core interests, including on the Taiwan question. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on May 23 slammed Japan repeatedly makes negative moves on the Taiwan question, while warning the Japanese side not to connive at or support "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in any form. Japan should seek to safeguard cross-Strait peace and stability, rather than doing the opposite, Wang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DPP authorities clearly "instigators of war," says mainland spokesperson People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 15:35, May 29, 2024 BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are clearly war instigators, contrary to their self-proclaimed role as "pilots for peace," a mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday. Zhu Fenglian, a State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson, made the remarks in response to a media query at a routine news conference. The DPP authorities claim to desire peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, but in reality, they adhere to a "Taiwan independence" stance, incite cross-Strait confrontation, and advance their goal by increasingly banking on external forces and through military means, in an attempt to split Taiwan from China, said the spokesperson. This can in no way be considered the behavior of so-called pilots for peace, said Zhu. "Rather, this is clearly the behavior of instigators of war," she added. Lai Ching-te portrayed the DPP-ruled Taiwan as a pilot for peace, claiming to maintain the status quo across the Strait in his debut speech as Taiwan's new leader on May 20. The mainland spokesperson reiterated that although the two sides of the Strait have not yet reunified, the fact that the mainland and Taiwan both belong to one China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, has never changed and cannot be changed. "Taiwan independence" goes against peace in the Taiwan Strait, and it is the biggest source of chaos that leads to military conflicts, damages to the interests of the people, and turbulence in the Strait, Zhu said. She called on people in Taiwan to recognize the harm and destructiveness of the DPP's independence agenda, oppose secessionist activities and external interference, and help with the return of cross-Strait relations to peaceful development. This, she said, would safeguard peace and stability in the Strait, and also the security and well-being of the people of Taiwan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mainland denounces Lai Ching-te's "Taiwan independence" words People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 15:07, May 29, 2024 BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday denounced Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's new leader, saying his debut speech on May 20 was full of lies and deceit and utilized a patchwork of information to distort history, fully revealing his "Taiwan independence" nature. Both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a press conference. "It is a historical and legal fact that has never changed and can not be changed," Zhu said. Zhu made the comments in response to Lai's speech, in which Lai mentioned Chiang Wei-shui's description of Taiwan in 1921 as "a frontline guardian of world peace" and said that "the city of Tainan marked Taiwan's links to globalization in 1624," the year in which the Netherlands started its 38-year colonial rule over Taiwan. Calling Chiang a leader of the anti-colonialism movement during the period when Japan exercised colonial rule over Taiwan, Zhu said the purpose of Chiang was to resist Japanese colonial rule and fight for the freedom of the Chinese nation. Chiang also said that the Taiwanese are clearly Chinese. With the purpose of whitewashing the vicious motives of soliciting external support for their independence agenda, the manipulation of Chiang's words by people like Lai is a betrayal of the spirit of the Chinese nation and disrespectful to Chiang, Zhu said. Zhu also slammed Lai and his ilk for using Taiwan's misery of being colonized by the Netherlands as a tool to promote "Taiwan independence." "They not only failed their ancestors but also betrayed the Chinese nation," Zhu said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mainland's Taiwan affairs official meets former KMT chairperson People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:58, May 29, 2024 GUANGZHOU, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Song Tao, a senior Taiwan affairs official of the Chinese mainland, met on Tuesday with representatives of Taiwan guests who attended a cross-Strait exchange event, including Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province. Song, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that the course of national rejuvenation is irreversible and national reunification will surely be accomplished. No matter how the situation on the island evolves and no matter who is in power, nothing could alter or hinder the direction of cross-Strait relations or the process of national reunification, Song said. He called on patriots in Taiwan to adhere to the one-China principle and firm up the conviction in reunification, while recognizing that the nature of separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence" is to sell out and harm the interests of Taiwan. Song urged resolute opposition to Taiwan leader's provocative acts of seeking "Taiwan independence" and attempts aimed at "de-sinicization," calling for efforts to guard the common home of the Chinese nation. He also asked patriots in Taiwan who desire reunification to actively participate in the great cause of national rejuvenation and Chinese modernization to jointly foster the lasting wellbeing of the Chinese nation. Stressing that people from both sides of the Strait are one family, Hung underscored the need to firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, safeguard cross-Strait peace and stability and protect the fundamental interests of compatriots from across the Strait, in a bid to create a sound environment for national rejuvenation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Taiwan laws could pave way for Chinese influence, critics fear Tens of thousands protest new rules weakening the power of the democratically elected president. By Alice Yam for RFA Cantonese and Huang Chun-mei for RFA Mandarin 2024.05.29 -- Taiwan's premier said on Wednesday that the administration will consider sending back new legislation that could weaken the power of the democratically elected president, sparking fears of growing Chinese influence in the island's political life, to lawmakers for review. Premier Cho Jung-tai said Lai's administration, known as the Executive Yuan, will be looking at the possibility of bouncing the new legislation back to lawmakers for review, based on the Additional Articles of the island's constitution. "When the Executive Yuan receives the documents from the Legislative Yuan, it will deliberate carefully over how the constitutional organs can best fulfill their responsibilities," Cho said in comments reported by Taiwan's Central News Agency. Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, which holds the presidency but which has lost control of the legislature, has called for a constitutional interpretation of the controversial amendments. Pro-China lawmakers voted through a package of legislative amendments as tens of thousands of people protested outside the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday, giving themselves new investigative powers, the power to hold hearings and the ability to sanction officials if they don't comply with requests. One amendment requires the president to report to the Legislative Yuan annually and to submit to questioning by lawmakers. 'Bluebird Movement' Protesters, some of whom held up effigies of blue birds, pushed large balloons into the legislature on Tuesday night emblazoned with the "Citizens Defend Democracy" and "Reject Chinese Interference in Politics," while one DPP lawmaker threw a paper aircraft made from blue paper at the podium. But the amendments were passed by the pro-China Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party, which together command a majority of 60 out of the 113 seats in the Legislative Yuan, as crowds gathered in protests that are being dubbed the "Bluebird Movement." President Lai Ching-te's DPP, which holds just 51 seats following January's general election, has called for a constitutional interpretation of the new laws, which critics say will open up the island's government to manipulation and sanction by politicians with close ties to Beijing. Lai called on Beijing in his May 20 inauguration speech to stop threatening his country, and respect the will of its 23 million people, the majority of whom have no wish to be ruled by the Chinese Communist Party. National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen warned on Wednesday that Beijing is planning to take advantage of the DPP's loss of control over the legislature by stepping up contacts with lawmakers, local politicians and religious and business groups, using a strategy of exchanges with friendly associations while attacking those that refuse to cooperate. Beijing vowed in January to step up its efforts to achieve "peaceful unification" with the island after Taiwanese voters in January elected Lai, Beijing's least favorite candidate. Tsai said his agency is "closely monitoring developments, having obtained both public and secret intelligence about relevant policy discussions inside China's establishment," Taiwan's Central News Agency reported. 'Taiwan belongs to all' The Kuomintang, or KMT, whose former president Ma Ying-jeou recently met with Xi Jinping, says the new laws will allow the island's democracy to be more transparent and accountable, after eight years of domination by the ruling DPP, immediately announcing it would set up a "private special investigation team" to go after "corrupt" DPP officials. Kuomintang caucus convenor Fu Kun-chi told journalists: "Taiwan doesn't belong to the Democratic Progressive Party, nor does it belong to Lai Ching-te. Taiwan belongs to all of its people." "Starting today, we will expose every instance of Democratic Progressive Party corruption, one by one," said Fu. DPP Legislative Yuan caucus leader Ker Chien-ming said Tuesday's vote was "a day of national humiliation," accusing parliamentary speaker and pro-China politician Han Kuo-yu of failing to abide by procedural justice in his handling of the legislative amendments. "We will definitely propose a constitutional interpretation, which can only be put forward after the president's announcement," Ker said. "The DPP will abide by the legal requirements and procedures for constitutional interpretation." 'Last breath' A protester who gave only the nickname Chili told Radio Free Asia outside the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday night: "I feel very heavy, and sad, very sad. The [KMT and TPP] totally ignored the rules of procedure and refused to discuss the issue with the Democratic Progressive Party." He said protesters would start issuing recall proceedings for KMT and TPP lawmakers from their respective constituencies. Many in the crowd were refugees from an ongoing crackdown on political dissent under Chinese Communist Party rule in Hong Kong. "I may not be able to achieve anything special, but I will keep on coming out, time and again, as a person who is from Hong Kong and Taiwan," a protester who gave only the nickname Ah K for fear of reprisals told RFA on Tuesday night. Another Hong Konger said she had brought her children along to "take a last breath of free and democratic air before their eyes were blindfolded" by government propaganda on their return. Wu Jui-jen, an associate history researcher at Taiwan's Academia Sinica, called on protesters to "go back home, go back to school, go back to work, and start organizing and acting, learning and discussing, and build a movement to strengthen civil society." Wu said he expects pro-China lawmakers to boost trade ties with China, amend national security legislation to dismantle the island's defenses against political infiltration, and even sign the island up to Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road international influence and infrastructure program, and begin the process of controlling Taiwan's economy, society and culture. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Roseanne Gerin. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan May 29, 2024 ROC Ministry of National Defense 2024/05/29 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Dateis 6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Tuesday to Wednesday, May 28-29 2.PLA activities: 13 PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN vessels, and 4 CCG vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Briefing by Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, Chief of NBC Protection Troops on military-chemical activities of the United States and Ukraine 28.05.2024 Analysis of documents concerning radiation safety threats The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation continues to record violations by the United States and Ukraine of fundamental international instruments, such as the 1925 Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases and the Chemical Weapons Convention. As we have noted before, not only has Washington not renounced the use of chemical weapons, but it has also strengthened the possibility of their use at the legislative level. In the United States, for example, a common military regulation on the use of non-lethal weapons was adopted, and the Chiefs of Staff Committee approved the Manual for National Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The documents regulate the use of non-lethal chemical weapons by military units in special, humanitarian, counter-terrorism, and peacekeeping missions. While Americans used to talk about using such weapons only in response to the enemy's chemical aggression, an important aspect of the new rules is the ability to use toxic chemicals unilaterally. The U.S. thus has a legal framework that regulates a wide range of scenarios of the use of chemical weapons by the Armed Forces. I would like to draw your attention once again to the fact that, in accordance with the deadlines set by the OPCW, the United States was due to complete the destruction of declared stockpiles of chemical weapons in 2007, but, despite its economic potential, it did so only in 2023, twice delaying the deadline under the pretext of financial, organisational, and technical difficulties. The United States continues to store the remaining, highly toxic, chemically reactive materials in facilities designed to destroy chemical weapons. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ignores this fact. In addition, abandoned U.S. ammunition, filled with toxic substances, was detected in Panama and Cambodia. In 2012, for example, 58 ammunition containing CN and CS were discovered in Cambodia's Mondulkiri Province, as well as 12 aircraft gas sprayers to transport them. The OPCW Special Commission has identified them as belonging to the United States. Another indication of Washington's breach of its obligations under the Convention is the transfer to third countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine) of non-lethal chemical weapons. The Pentagon reportedly continues to develop new and modernise existing non-lethal chemical munitions and other systems for the use of chemical weapons, such as 120-mm mines, 155-mm artillery shells, and 120-mm tank rounds. Every year, at least $10 million is allocated to purchase them for use in combat zones. It should be noted that the United States has long possessed one of the world's most significant stockpiles of chemical weapons stored within and outside the United States. The use of chemicals in armed conflicts was explicitly envisaged by U.S. doctrinal documents, despite Washington's signing the 1925 Geneva Protocol. The document was ratified by the U.S. Congress with numerous caveats only in 1975 amid the international community's condemnation of the Vietnam War and the widespread use of toxic chemicals by the U.S. Armed Forces during the conflict. It has been established that the use of herbicides during the Vietnam War resulted in the destruction of more than 1 million hectares of tropical forest in the south of the country. Some 5 million people have been affected by the dioxin damage, and so far the effects have been felt. Along with herbicides, American troops used non-lethal chemicals, including Adamsite, chloropicrin, and the BZ. In some cases, high concentrations of chemicals were used, resulting in lethal outcomes. During the war on the Korean Peninsula, the use of toxic substances by the U.S. military was carried out with single chemical projectiles and bombs. From February 1952 to June 1953, more than 100 cases of chemical munitions were reported, resulting in 145 deaths and more than 1,000 poisonings. Symptoms of defeat (suffocation, tearing, loss of consciousness) suggest that ammunition was armed with prussic acid, nitrogen oxides, and arsenic compounds. At the time of the American troops' entry into Iraq in April 2003, the non-lethal chemical munitions were in the service with the U.S. Army deployed in the region. During the fighting, the weapons were used by the military police to suppress anti-government attacks by the civilian population and to mop up urban areas with dense development. At the same time, the United States has taken deliberate measures to cover up these facts in order to rule out a resonant international response. The basic principle is that they are allowed. Everything was done allegedly to reduce losses among the civilian population and members of the coalition group. With Washington's acquiescence, the use of toxic substances and riot control agents by Ukrainian militants during the special military operation has become systematic. Numerous cases of use of chloropicrin irritant by the Ukrainian side, often in mixture with chloroacetophenone, have been recorded. Similar incidents have been recorded near Donetsk, Bogdanovka, Gorlovka, Kremennaya, Artyomovsk. If chloroacetophenone is classified as a chemical riot control device, chloropicrin is listed in Schedule 3 of the Chemical Weapons Convention. It will be recalled that chloropicrin was first used by Ukrainian neo-Nazis during the siege of the Labour Union Building in Odessa on 2 May 2014 against the opponents of the coup d'Atat organised by U.S. and its allies. The use of this toxic agent was indicated by the presence of pre-filtered gas masks worn by militants, the appearance of specific yellow-green smoke after the fire broke out at the Labour Union House, and the attempt to conceal the use of toxic chemicals by setting a fire. There is reason to believe that the campaign in Odessa was planned, designed to take into account the specifics of the toxic substances used, and aimed at defeating as many people as possible. In connection with the terrorist attack, Russian law enforcement agencies conducted an investigation that identified the perpetrators. The Russian side has recorded and confirmed the use of ammunition by the AFU not only with chloropicrin, but also with other chemical irritant agents. For example, U.S.-made gas grenades containing CS were used against Russian servicemen in Krasny Liman and Boguslav tactical directions. Hand grenades with irritant agents marked Teren-6 were dropped from Ukrainian UAVs on Russianpositions, and an ammunition cache was detected in Donetsk. According to Ukrainian prisoners of war, assault groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are equipped with such grenades. I would like to point out that Ukrainian armed formations use other scheduled chemicals as well. These are cases of Russian servicemen using the BZ chemical warfare agent in August 2022 and prussic acid in February 2023. Criminal proceedings under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, entitled 'Terrorism', and Article 355 of the Criminal Code, entitled 'Development, production, storage, acquisition or sale of weapons of mass destruction', have been initiated by the investigative bodies against three Ukrainian citizens arrested for preparation of a terrorist attack using analogues of the BZ agent. Of particular concern are the statements by AFU representatives about the availability of organophosphorous compounds, including analogues of the Tabun (GA) warfare agent, which is included in Schedule 1 of the Convention. Plans for the large-scale use of toxic substances are reflected in Ukraine's requests for the supply of antidotes, gas masks, and other personal protective equipment in quantities that are clearly excessive. Attempts by Ukrainian nationalists to destroy chemically dangerous sites in the territories of Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics continue unabated, thus threatening to inflict chemical damage on the civilian population of the regions. Massive missile strikes have repeatedly targeted the following industrial plants: Zarya in Rubezhnoye, Azot in Severodonetsk, and KoksoKhim factory in Avdeyevka. In the run-up to the regular session of the OPCW Executive Council, I would like to recall that Russia has been removed from the Executive Council, and Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania were included instead. One can imagine how it would go without voting rights for the Russian Federation considering the fact that, at the last session, representatives of Romania, Estonia, Germany, and other EU countries launched an aggressive campaign with false accusations against Russia. The actions of the collective West follow a well-established pattern of discrediting aimed at depriving the Russian Federation of the right to vote in the Organization, as well as the possibility of electing and holding office in its executive bodies, as was done in the past with respect to Syria. The practice of the OPCW's investigations of chemical accidents in Syria in 2018, when the main evidence was the testimony of West-sponsored White Helmets, suggests that such investigations will not be transparent and impartial in the future. With regard to the OPCW's double standard policy, I would like to recall the confirmed use of toxic substances (like Tabun, BZ, prussic acid) and non-lethal chemicals (CS, chloropicrin, chloroacetophenone) by the Kiev regime. All the necessary evidence has been submitted to the OPCW Technical Secretariat, but we have not received a meaningful response. Moreover, with funding from the Organization's budget, several courses have been held specially for Ukraine on the investigation of chemical accidents. Slovakia has organised special exercises on substance management and real-world sampling, with the participation of Ukrainian representatives. This once again convinces us that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in its current form, is controlled by the West and used by it to settle political accounts. Despite severe Western censorship, the information we publish about the use of chemical weapons by Ukrainian armed forces has been heard by foreign media and the expert community. Leading foreign editions have published material on the most resonant issues: the U.S. delay in destroying toxic chemical weapons left in Panama and Cambodia, and the use of U.S.-made chemical munitions in Ukraine. The relevant reports were posted by the CGTN television and radio company, Blitz and Republic, Defense Mirror, as well as by the Middle East media. Several editions have drawn attention to the active use of UAVs to deliver toxic chemicals. For example, Al-Mayadeen's report says that '...the diversity of UAVs has become one of the hallmarks of the current military conflict. Ukraine's use of this type of weapon..., including in combination with prohibited ammunition, has reached its maximum...' A lively debate involving European and American experts has been launched on media platforms and social media. The Australian journalist and founder of the information edition, Jamie Mcintyre, has confirmed that Ukrainian armed forces use toxic chemicals. As evidence, he cited the fact that in August 2022, the AFU used a BZ-type toxic agent, and in 2024, similar samples were detected in abandoned Ukrainian positions. His page also shows that, for purposes of intimidation, representatives of the AFU have declared that they have analogues of the Tabun substance. We believe it crucially important that the disclosure of U.S. transfers of chemical weapons to Ukraine and the use of toxic chemicals by the AFU has prompted the expert community, including in the West, to consider fulfiling Kiev and Washington's obligations under the Convention. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation will continue to work in this direction and will keep you informed. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 29, 2024 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov today to discuss the latest developments on the battlefield and Ukraine's capability needs. Secretary Austin provided an update on U.S. security assistance, including the $275 million Presidential Drawdown Authority package announced on May 24. Secretary Austin and Minister Umerov also discussed the importance of continued strong support from allies and partners to help Ukraine continue to fight Russian aggression. The two leaders pledged to remain in close contact. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3790271/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With the support of the EU, CES and IER conducted an analysis of construction and recovery procurements carried out by the Ukrainian state in 2023 European External Action Service (EEAS) 29.05.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to UKRAINE The Center for Economic Strategy and the Institute for Economy Research and Policy Consulting conducted an analysis of construction procurement, which includes reconstruction and recovery procurement, based on the data from the Prozorro system for 2023. A total of 173,000 procurements worth UAH 283 billion were successfully completed in 2023 under the code of construction works and current repair works (under the CPV 45 code). Due to the lack of an identifier for purchases specifically for reconstruction and recovery projects, analysts were unable to separate the corresponding purchases. But analysis of the separate procedures shows that the problems in reconstruction procurement are the same as in all construction procurement. "Resources for reconstruction are limited, and it is very important that they are spent in the most effective way to bring as much benefit as possible to Ukraine and people's lives. Public procurement is an extremely important part of public finances: last year, the amount of public procurement reached 12% of GDP. Therefore, the proper functioning of public procurement is a tool for stable economic recovery of Ukraine. That is why the EU Delegation in Ukraine actively cooperates with the Government in this area," said Henrik Huitfeldt, Head of the Department of State Funding for Business Support and Social Policy of the EU Delegation in Ukraine. The procurement analysis revealed a number of problems in the reconstruction procurement. Volodymyr Landa, senior economist of the Center for Economic Strategy, has elaborated on them. In 2023, there was low competition in construction and reconstruction procurements. In procurement using the Prozorro electronic system, the average competition rate was about 1.4 participants per tender. While the State Agency for Recovery and Reconstruction has more than 2.2 participants. Another problem is the fragmentation of purchases. In 2023, 2.9 thousand purchases were made in the 180-190 thousand UAH range, 15.6 thousand purchases in the 190-200 thousand UAH range, and 0.6 thousand in the 200-210 thousand UAH range. "There is also a problem with the large number of normative legal acts that regulate the sphere of procurement: 12 laws and more than a dozen by-laws that change very often. For example, the main two laws were changed more than 50 times," said Volodymyr Landa. In addition, according to Landa, there is also a problem with the openness of project budget calculations (). "Now only every fifth budget calculation is open, and those that are open are not always in a machine-readable form. This complicates the possibility of effective participation in reconstruction procurement for potential participants," emphasized Volodymyr Landa. Analysts of CES and IER have developed a number of recommendations to increase the transparency and efficiency of procurement for reconstruction, in particular: Increase the transparency and competitiveness of reconstruction procurement by making public estimates of construction procurement (draft law No. 11057, "Transparent construction"). In the electronic procurement system, enter an additional procurement identifier that would determine belonging to the field of reconstruction and restoration procurement. Streamline the designation of procurement codes, which would allow: to group purchases of homogeneous goods, works, and services by the same codes apply a uniform CPV code detailing practice for all purchases. Ensure publication of tender documentation in machine-readable form. Investigate purchases with signs of fictitious value in order to preserve the subthreshold sign. Read the full analytical report with a list of developed recommendations at the link. Disclaimer. This news was prepared within the framework of the project "Control of recovery costs", financed by the European Union. The project is a joint effort of the Center for Economic Strategy, the Institute of Economic Research and Political Consultations, and the NGO "Technology of Progress". All project participants are members of the RISE coalition. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military support package 16 to Ukraine - new capability to strengthen Ukraine's air defence and support to meet its prioritised needs Government Offices of Sweden 29 May 2024 Today, 29 May, the Government is presenting its 16th and largest military support package to Ukraine to date since Russia's full-scale invasion began. Sweden will provide Ukraine with a completely new capability to strengthen its collective air defence. The package, which will be part of an upcoming additional amending budget, amounts to SEK 13.3 billion and will meet Ukraine's prioritised needs. Ukraine's needs remain immense and Russia is currently putting pressure on several fronts, intensifying its air strikes against both military and civilian objects. The Government will therefore provide Ukraine with another record military support package. Sweden's support will contribute to strengthening Ukraine's joint military capability. Sweden will send Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft (ASC 890) to Ukraine and thus strengthen its air defence capability. Sweden will donate its entire stock of armoured tracked personnel carriers (PBV 302) to support the reconstruction of new Ukrainian brigades. Sweden will also donate artillery ammunition and resources for maintenance of previously donated materiel. Since Russia's brutal war of aggression began in February 2022, Sweden has provided SEK 43.5 billion in support. Air defence The support package will include Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft (ASC 890), which will provide Ukraine with a completely new capability against both airborne and maritime targets. Ukraine's capability to identify and engage targets at long range will be strengthened. The package will also include a holistic solution that involves training, technical equipment and methodological support for air surveillance and command and control. The donation will entail a temporary decrease of Sweden's defence capability, which will be addressed by procuring additional S 106 GlobalEye aircraft and advancing previous orders for two new GlobalEye aircraft. To further strengthen Ukraine's air defence, the support package will also include the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (RB 99-AMRAAM), which can be used on aircraft and in ground-based air defence systems. The missiles will be redesigned to suit ground-based anti-aircraft systems. Meanwhile, Sweden will purchase new missiles to replace the donated ones. Ammunition Ukrainian field units are short on artillery ammunition. The package will include an addition of 155 mm artillery shells to increase Ukraine's capability to combat Russian units in the depths of the battlefield. The donation will entail a temporary decrease of Sweden's defence capability, which will be addressed by procuring replacement grenades. Strengthened reconstruction of new Ukrainian brigades The Ukrainian army is organising a number of new brigades and therefore needs armoured vehicles for infantry companies. Therefore, Sweden will donate its entire stock of PBV 302, including spare parts, maintenance equipment and ammunition. The donation will entail a temporary decrease of Sweden's defence capability, which will be addressed by procuring replacement armoured vehicles. Financial support, satellite communications, maintenance, tank vehicles and research The 16th military support package will also contain the following: Surplus fuel transport vehicles from the Swedish Armed Forces; maintenance of previously donated Swedish materiel; financial support to capability coalitions; financial support to funds and temporary initiatives to enable swift and large-scale procurement of materiel to Ukraine; in connection with the package, the Swedish Defence Research Agency will be tasked with supporting Ukraine in establishing its own defence research institute; Ukraine's command and control capability will be further strengthened in the package through a donation of terminals with subscriptions for satellite communications. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address LOBAMBA The eagerly awaited Ecsponent forensic report has been finalised, as revealed by Acting Minister of Finance, Manqoba Khumalo. The minister gave an update on the report when responding to a question for oral answers posed by LaMgabhi Member of Parliament (MP) Sicelo Jele. The MP enquired if the minister of Finance could shed some light to the House with regard to the resolution of the 11th Parliament on the E340 million invested by emaSwati to Ecsponent, which was lost. Khumalo revealed that the ministry, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Eswatini, agreed that the latter would do a forensic audit on the loss of the money invested by emaSwati at Ecsponent. Consultant He stated that the central bank then engaged an appropriate and qualified consultant to conduct the forensic audit. Khumalo highlighted that the Ministry of Finance had actually received the report last week The consultant requested to present it to the ministry this week and then next week, the central bank will take it to the minister of Finance, the principal secretary and the entire team, who will then determine the subsequent steps, which will include appraising Cabinet and eventually tabling it in Parliament, he said. The minister explained to the parliamentarians that the main reason for the investigation and the report was for the emaSwati who invested their moneys to get assistance in getting their money back. When looking at the nature of the report, it was concluded that, indeed, it will come through in assisting emaSwati get their money back and they require the assistance of Parliament as they undertake the task at hand, he said. Khumalo hinted that it might be tabled for public consumption, but this would depend on the nature of the findings, because there might be sceptic to make it public, as those implicated could find out before the law takes its course, and that could jeopardise the finalisation of the matter, one way or the other. The terms of reference of the investigation included to find out whether Ecsponent, in the conduct of its business, placed clients investments into arrangements or investments that were of a higher risk, to find out if the management of investments made by pensioners and other members of the public and all legal entities were conducted by Ecsponent in a manner consistent with the risk profile liquidity needs and liability profile of the investments. Hhukwini MP Alec Lushaba and Jele wanted to know if the finalisation of the report meant that emaSwati were guaranteed to get their money from Ecsponent and they enquired on specific timelines on paying back emaSwati their monies. However, the minister explained that emaSwati getting their money back would be determined by the nature of the findings of the report. Lithuania contributes to Germany's initiative for buying Ukraine radars Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2024-05-29 International cooperation | Security and defense policy Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasciunas announced that additional EUR 13.5 million the Lithuanian Government had earmarked for Ukraine would be used to contribute to the German, French and U.S.-led Air Defence Capability Coalition and specifically for buying mobile air surveillance radars for Ukraine thus adhering to Germany's Immediate Action on Air Defense initiative. The radars are planned to be produced in several stages and reach Ukraine in full over the course of one year. Responding to Ukraine's requests, this year Lithuania has delivered to Ukraine 155 mm ammunition, M577 armored personnel carriers, drone jamming equipment, power generators, cold season gear and warm clothing sets, Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle ammunition, RISE-1 long-range smart initiation system, disassembled L-39ZA Albatros aircraft and other aid so far. Lithuania's enduring assistance to Ukraine has reached over a billion euros to date, while the military assistance this far amounts to over EUR 616 million. Over this year approx. EUR 95 million of assistance has been provided already and the dynamic is planned to hold. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Shelling Kills Several In Ukraine As Sweden Donates Modern Radar Planes By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 29, 2024 NATO member Sweden on May 29 announced its largest military aid package for Ukraine so far will include modern radar surveillance planes as Russian attacks continued to target civilians, killing several people in three Ukrainian regions. Two people were killed and three wounded early on May 29 when Russian troops shelled Krasnopil in the northeastern region of Sumy, the regional military administration reported on May 29. Vadym Filashkin, the governor of the eastern region of Donetsk, said on May 29 that three civilians were killed and six were wounded by Russian bombardment the previous day. In the northern region of Chernihiv, one person died in the hospital after being wounded by Russian shelling the previous day in Semenivsk, near the border, Ukraine's Interior Ministry reported on May 29. Ukraine's air defense said it shot down 13 of the 14 drones launched by Russia early on May 29 at three of its regions -- Mykolayiv, Kirovohrad, and Rivne. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in its daily summary on May 29 that the heaviest fighting had been observed in the areas around Kupyansk and Pokrovsk. It also said Russian forces continue their assault in the Vovchansk region, where Russian ground units were supported by guided aerial bombs launched from planes over Russia. Russian troops "significantly intensified" their attack in the area around Kurakhiv, the General Staff noted, but the area around Pokrovsk continued to experience the largest number of clashes. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said in two separate statements on May 29 that planes from its Black Sea Fleet had destroyed three Ukrainian Crimea-bound sea drones in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. In Stockholm, the Swedish government announced a package of 13.3 billion Swedish crowns ($1.3 billion) in military aid for Ukraine -- the 16th since the start of Russia's invasion and the largest so far. The package includes two Swedish-made SAAB ASCC airborne early-warning-and-control aircraft. Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonsson said the two planes would have the "greatest effect on the Ukrainian air defense," complementing and supporting the U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets pledged by several countries. Stockholm has provided 43.5 billion Swedish crowns ($4.1 billion) in military aid to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Swedish donation was the third secured by Ukraine this week, following similar packages pledged by Spain and Belgium during visits by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The Belgian donation included a pledge of 30 F-16s to be delivered to Kyiv by 2028, with the first aircraft expected to arrive later this year. Ukraine's air defenses have been struggling with insufficiently modern air-defense systems and dwindling supplies of antiaircraft ammunition needed to counter an increasingly intense Russian bombardment, mainly in the northeastern Kharkiv region, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed Moscow wants to establish a "buffer zone" against cross-border Ukrainian attacks on military targets inside Russia. Ukraine has complained that some donors, chiefly the United States and Germany -- have banned the use of modern Western missile systems by Ukraine to attack targets inside Russia. However, French President Emmanuel Macron, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg have been in favor of such strikes on military facilities located just across the border and used by Russia to bomb Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. However, Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine's minister of strategic industries, on May 29 told Bloomberg that Kyiv had used British-supplied missiles on targets inside Russia after securing London's approval. "We already have a precedent. For example, Great Britain -- they have already allowed Ukraine to use the long-range Storm Shadow missiles that they supply. And we successfully use them," Sak said. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/sweden-aid- ukraine-military-support/32970321.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's participation in a roundtable discussion on Ukraine crisis issues, organised by the Diplomatic Academy 29 May 2024 16:45 1004-29-05-2024 On May 29, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took part in a roundtable discussion on issues of the Ukraine crisis, organised by the Diplomatic Academy, with the support of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The event brought together over 70 foreign ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions, accredited in Moscow. In his remarks, Sergey Lavrov discussed destabilising actions of the United States and the European Union in great detail. These actions are aimed at facilitating their eastward geopolitical and geo-economic expansion for the sake of spreading and consolidating their domination. The Minister explained that the West unleashed the hybrid war against Russia because of its independent foreign policy line that advocates the establishment of a more equitable international order in accordance with the UN Charter's principles, in their entirety and interdependence. The Minister provided examples highlighting the determined efforts of our adversaries to unleash an armed conflict in Ukraine, to foment anti-Russia and neo-Nazi moods there, to encourage the Russophobic line of the Kiev regime and to turn the latter into an obedient tool for fighting Russia, including "on the battlefield." Sergey Lavrov also noted that the confrontation had acquired a global dimension because the West is involving countries of the Global Majority in this process trying to limit their interaction with Russia. The Minister urged those present not to yield to US pressure and that of its satellites and to decline an invitation to take part in a "peace summit" in Switzerland on June 15-16. He underscored the fact that, instead of searching for specific opportunities (as officially stated) to resolve the conflict around Ukraine, the upcoming event aims to draft an unacceptable ultimatum and deliver it to Russia. The roundtable discussion participants cited convincing facts and statistics proving that claims that Russia is destabilising the situation on the global food market are groundless. They noted that Western countries alone were creating obstacles and problems in this sphere. The roundtable discussion participants had an interested and thorough exchange of opinions on issues of the Ukraine crisis and other topical issues of the international agenda. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blinken Says US Has Not Encouraged Kiev to Strike Outside of Ukraine Sputnik News 20240529 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States has not encouraged Kiev to strike outside of Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, adding that Ukraine has to make its own decisions. "We have not encouraged or enabled strikes outside of Ukraine, but Ukraine, as I have said before, has to make its own decisions about the best way to effectively defend itself," Blinken told reporters in Moldova. Earlier in May, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that Ukraine's right to self-defense includes the right to strike legitimate military targets outside the country. NATO countries must lift the restrictions on the use of western weapons by Ukraine to carry out strikes against facilities in Russia, he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded by saying that the Stoltenberg had exceeded his authority, and that his behavior had been berated by NATO members themselves. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, for his part, said that the US-led military bloc was toying with military rhetoric, raising the degree of escalation and plunging into what he called a warlike "ecstasy". A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hungary Has No Desire to Take Part in Conflict in Ukraine - Foreign Minister Sputnik News 20240529 MINSK (Sputnik) - Budapest does not want to take part in the conflict in Ukraine and will not allow even one Hungarian soldier to be taken to the front, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday. "We, Hungarians, are paying a very high price for the war in Ukraine, although it is not our war. Hungary's goal is clear a we do not want to take part in the war that is going on in our neighborhood," Szijjarto told reporters after talks with Belarusian counterpart in Minsk, adding that Hungary "will not allow even one Hungarian to be taken to the front." Hungary has been pushing for peace negotiations and opposing sanctions on Russia's energy sector since the very start of Moscow's special military operation. In March 2022, the Hungarian parliament banned the delivery of weapons to Kiev. In May 2024, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Budapest must redefine its status with NATO to avoid being dragged in any conflict with Russia. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin Aware of Reports on Poland Allowing Ukraine to Use Weapons to Strike Russia Sputnik News 20240529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Kremlin is aware of reports that Poland allowed Kiev to use weapons to strike the Russian territory, this was obvious, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk told the Zet radio broadcaster that the Polish authorities do not in any way restrict the Ukrainian army from using Polish weapons, including against Russia. "We saw the statement. Actually, this was quite obvious here even before this statement, there were no secrets about this," Peskov told reporters. In the interview with the Zet broadcaster, Tomczyk said he believes other Western countries should also lift such limitations, saying that Ukrainians have the right to conduct a fight "anyway they want." Poland continues to supply Kiev with ammunition and has already sent 44 military aid packages, the Polish politician said, adding that a new package is being prepared and that currently the total cost of the Polish military aid for Kiev is 15-20 billion zlotys ($3.75-4 billion). Nevertheless, the Polish authorities do not plan to send military troops to Ukraine, Tomczyk told the radio broadcaster. "As of today, there is no discussion and there is no decision on sending troops to Ukraine. This is the current position of the Polish government," the deputy defense minister said. Earlier in May, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that Ukraine's right to self-defense includes the right to strike legitimate military targets outside the country. NATO countries must lift the restrictions on the use of western weapons by Ukraine to carry out strikes against facilities in Russia, he said. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Loses Up to 400 Soldiers in Battles Russia's Battlegroup Zapad - MoD Sputnik News 20240529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine lost up to 400 soldiers in the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics (DPR and LPR) in battles with Russia's Battlegroup Zapad over the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Wednesday. "The Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 400 servicemen, two tanks, 11 cars [among other losses in battles with Battlegroup Zapad]," the MoD said in a statement, adding that the group also repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks. Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr repelled five counterattacks in the DPR and Kiev lost up to 335 soldiers, while Battlegroup Yug improved its tactical positions and Ukraine lost up to 245 soldiers. In battles with Battlegroup Vostok, Kiev lost up to 125 soldiers. Russia's Battlegroup Sever repelled four counterattacks in the Kharkov region and Kiev lost up to 165 soldiers, the statement read. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Air Defense Downs Ukrainian Drone, 7 Grad Rockets Over Belgorod Region Sputnik News 20240529 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defense systems destroyed a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and seven Grad multiple rocket launcher system (MLRS) shells over the Belgorod Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. "Air defense systems on duty destroyed one UAV and seven Grad MLRS rockets over the territory of the Belgorod Region," the ministry said. The ministry added that an attempted terrorist attack by Kiev regime "against facilities on the territory of Russia was foiled." The Russian air defense also destroyed a drone over Russia's Krasnodar Territory, the regional governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, said. "Our forces have again this morning foiled an attempt by the Kiev regime to commit a terrorist act on the territory of the Krasnodar Territory. A UAV was destroyed by air defense forces over [the city of] Armavir," Kondratyev said on Telegram. He added that the preliminary data indicated there were no casualties or damage, adding that a search was under way for the place where the UAV fell and special services were at work. Ukraine has been sending drones and missiles into Russia almost daily since 2023 in the wake of obvious military setbacks, deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. Russian officials repeatedly stressed that such actions underscore "terrorist" nature of Kiev regime. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address READOUT: Deputy Secretary Adeyemo's Meeting with Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko U.S. Department of the Treasury May 29, 2024 KYIV -- Today, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo met with Finance Minister of Ukraine Sergeii Marchenko in Kyiv. Deputy Secretary Adeyemo and Finance Minister Marchenko discussed Ukraine's economic outlook and the commendable efforts of Ukraine's Finance Ministry in mobilizing domestic and international support to help maintain essential services to the people of Ukraine and finance its defense against Russia. The Deputy Secretary also encouraged the Government of Ukraine to maintain momentum on its robust reform agenda. The Deputy Secretary and Finance Minister also discussed ongoing efforts to unlock the value of immobilized Russian sovereign assets (RSA) to support Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address READOUT: Deputy Secretary Adeyemo's Meeting with Rada Members U.S. Department of the Treasury May 29, 2024 KYIV -- Today, Deputy Secretary Adeyemo met with key members of the Verkhovna Rada during his travel to Kyiv. Deputy Secretary Adeyemo discussed ongoing efforts by the international coalition to provide Ukraine the resources it needs to defend itself, including helping to mobilize over $85 billion in budget support from the United States and international partners in addition to over $24 billion in early recovery and reconstruction assistance. The Deputy Secretary commended the government of Ukraine on maintaining reform momentum and discussed how the Rada is prioritizing reform efforts, with a focus on revenue generation and anti-corruption reforms. Deputy Secretary Adeyemo expressed appreciation for the collaboration between international partners and government officials to advance reforms necessary for Ukraine to advance in its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MANZINI The Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital has increased its user fees, some by 400 per cent. Some services which were offered relatively for free will now be at a fee. RFM Hospital is one of the countrys regional referrals and is under Eswatini Nazarene Health Institution (ENHI). It attends to about 350 000 people, which is equivalent to about 30 per cent of the national population of the Kingdom of Eswatini. On the other hand, ENHI also operates 20 Nazarene community health clinics, which attend to over 238 000 people across the country. The implementation of the reviewed user fees was confirmed by ENHI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mazwi Mavuso yesterday. He said the institution was a non-profit public entity and had been operating under a major deficit for a long time. He said the review of user fees was necessitated by the fact that they were last reviewed in 2007, yet the costs of medical supplies and other miscellaneous services had increased over the years. As such, the institutions operational costs had been higher than its income for the longest time. It is worth noting that not long ago, this publication reported that in order to make ends meet, from month-to-month, the institution had been using funds which were raised from default payments like pay-as-you-earn (PAYE), pension fund and the stretching of creditor obligations. Again, as the costs are said to have continued to escalate at a rate higher than income, the institution enforced lighter controls to implement stringent measures to reduce costs and increase revenue. The CEO was also quick to highlight that in the process of implementing cost and revenue improvement initiatives, the review of user fees was not the only strategy, as they were also embarking on other revenue generating strategies and cost containing measures. Approved He said they applied for the review of the user fees through the Public Enterprise Unit (PEU) and the matter went through Cabinet, where it was approved. He said they got the approval from Cabinet in September 2023, but they implemented the reviewed user fees towards the end of last year (2023). According to the CEO, the user fees were used to purchase medical drugs to supplement what they received from government, so that their patients would get the medical assistance they need. He highlighted that the order fill rate of what they received from Central Medical Stores (CMS), ranged between 20 and 25 per cent, which usually lasted them for a week, due to the number of patients they attended on a daily basis. This, he said, means most of the medical drugs they had at the hospital were those that were purchased through the use of the user fees. It is also important to highlight that for drugs, we charge our patients a third of the commercial price. We do this to protect the patients from financial exploitation and at the same time, ensure that the institution is sustained, the CEO said.He said reviewing the user fees was a form of ensuring continued services. He added that the readjustment included the introduction of nominal charges for services that had been traditionally offered at ENHIs cost, excluding the elderly and other services which were exempted by government, like antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. He also mentioned that so far, the user fees review did not affect all the services or departments. One of the affected services is the physiotherapy, as its fees increased by 900 per cent from E2 per session to E20 per session. On the other hand, the fee for admission for inpatients also increased by 100 per cent, from E10 per day to E20 per day. Meanwhile, the fee for Out-Patient Department (OPD) increased by 75 per cent, from E20 to E35, while doing a caesarean section (C-section) hiked by 33.3 per cent, from E150 to E200. On the other hand, ambulance services increased by 400 per cent, from E20 to E100 for a distance that is less than 10 kilometres, while for distances which are more than 10 kilometres, it increased by 100 per cent from E100 to E200. Over 465,000 Russian personnel have been killed or wounded since 2022 - a terrible human loss for Russians: UK statement to the OSCE Politico-Military Counsellor, Ankur Narayan, adds that despite the staggering costs to Russia, Putin is no closer to subjugating Ukraine. Russia can minimise its losses by withdrawing all of its forces from all of Ukraine. 29 May 2024 Thank you Mr Chair. Two weeks ago, President Putin appointed a new Defence Minister - Andrei Belousov. Upon taking up the job, Minister Belousov placed special emphasis on prosecuting the war with "minimal human losses". Given Minister Belousov's background as an economist, let me speak about numbers: a. 825. Today is 825 days since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. b. 465,000. Over 465,000 Russian personnel have been killed or wounded in that time. c. 980. From January 2024 to April 2024, Russia's daily casualty rate in Ukraine - the numbers of killed and wounded - was 980. Estimates in May, put that number over 1000 per day. That is around 30,000 per month. The highest rate it has been since the start of this war. d. 40%. Defence now takes up 40% of Russia's government spending - which amounts to 6% of its GDP. e. 70,000. Ukraine has liberated 70,000 square miles of land that Russia seized in 2022. And Ukraine has destroyed or damaged a quarter of the Black Sea Fleet's vessels, denying Russia control of the western Black Sea and pushing back much of the Russian navy from Crimea. As a result, Ukraine has successfully resumed maritime exports from its Black Sea ports. Monthly export volumes through its maritime corridor are consistently at the highest levels - four and a half million tonnes - since the war began. It is on course to export all its harvest this year despite repeated Russian attempts to prevent it. To summarise. President Putin is now over two years into a war he thought would take 3 days. He is no closer to his goal of subjugating Ukraine. Instead, Russia has suffered nearly half a million casualties, and lost a great proportion of its land and sea forces. Economists do not need to be reminded about sunk cost fallacy. Seen objectively, the numbers point to a terrible loss for a country like Russia - in Russian lives, materiel and credibility. There is a simple way to minimise human losses. Russia chose to start this war. Russia can choose to end it. Ukraine has the right to defend itself. We will continue to stand resolutely with Ukraine. Russia should respect the UN Charter, end its war, and withdraw all of its forces from all of Ukraine. Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Is No Longer in a Position to Disrupt the Global Peace Summit, Although It Is Trying Hard to Do So - the Address by the President President of Ukraine 29 May 2024 - 20:29 Dear Ukrainians! Today we are grateful to Sweden: there is a new and very significant military package for our warriors. It is a substantial reinforcement. Yesterday, on my way to Ukraine after my working visit, I spoke with Mr. Prime Minister Kristersson about both the situation on the battlefield and our current needs. We are working at maximum capacity to make our air defense system more effective, and Sweden is providing Ukraine with special radar surveillance aircraft; armored vehicles and ammunition are also part of this package. The whole package is worth almost a1.2 billion. Thank you, Sweden! It is one of our most principled partners, and it is thanks to Sweden that thousands of lives have already been saved in Ukraine. Today I also received reports from the Commander-in-Chief, the Chief of the General Staff, and the Minister of Defense of our state on the current situation on the front, on our actions. Attention is being paid to all directions, especially the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions in the Donetsk region, as well as the Kupyansk and other directions in the Kharkiv region. I am grateful to each unit that is doing everything necessary to stabilize the situation on the front. We are also preparing for any further enemy activity - we clearly understand what tasks Putin sets for his army and for what purpose. We will respond to him - for sure. And we are also preparing our diplomatic responses to Russia's attempts to undermine the Peace Summit, which begins in two weeks. Russia is no longer in a position to disrupt the summit, although it is trying very hard to do so. It is putting pressure on leaders, openly threatening various states with destabilization. And this is one of the consequences of the world giving the terrorist state too much time. Unfortunately, evil knows how to adapt, and now it is using its means to divide the world and prevent Russia from being forced into peace. But we already have almost a hundred states and international organizations joining us in this global effort. Today I held a long meeting with all our officials involved in the preparations for the Summit. The team of the Office and the government officials were present - the Prime Minister and the Ministers; the Verkhovna Rada was also represented - the Chairman of the Parliament is now in contact with many countries through interparliamentary relations. I have given them the task of providing detailed information on an almost daily basis about the states that still need our work to attend the Summit and the states that have already confirmed their participation - to make the Summit as effective as it needs to be to bring real peace closer. I thank all the leaders who are helping! I am grateful to everyone in the world who is literally on the phone these days, in constant contact, in negotiations, so that this global format can become an example - an example of how the joint work of different nations of the world can restore the effectiveness of the UN Charter and force the aggressor into peace. Today I spoke with the Prime Minister of Australia, and Australia has also confirmed its participation in the Summit. I also spoke with the UN Secretary-General about the preparations for the Summit, about how important it is for the UN system to be effective and for the UN to always be part of genuine peacekeeping efforts. And from now on, every day will be just as active in our international work for the sake of Ukraine - for the sake of our independence, our peace. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine and Chile Deepen Their Cooperation to Return Ukrainian Children Abducted by Russia President of Ukraine 29 May 2024 - 13:07 Within the framework of the Stolen Voices information campaign, which is part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Bring Kids Back UA action plan, a Ukrainian delegation led by Daria Herasymchuk, Advisor - Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights and Child Rehabilitation, visited Chile. The visit was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Together with the Ambassador of Ukraine to Chile, Yurii Diudin, the delegation met with representatives of the Government, the Directorate of Human Rights and the National Institute of Youth of the Social Development and Family Ministry of Chile. The Advisor - Presidential Commissioner emphasized the importance of returning home Ukrainian children abducted by the aggressor state of the Russian Federation. "Today, there is no global system of child safety in the world - this is exactly what the broken fates of Ukrainian children and their lost lives have proven. We hope for the support of the whole world in our struggle, because it is not just about our children. Today it is Ukrainian children, tomorrow it could be children from any other country," Daria Herasymchuk said. Ambassador of Ukraine Yurii Diudin noted that the Chilean Government is ready to become an observer in the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. He also expressed hope that the country will play an active role in the work of the Coalition. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address INTERVIEW: Mayor of Kharkiv stresses need to protect residents amid constant shelling 29 May 2024 - The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv is being subjected to heavy missile strikes from Russia, resulting in new victims and destruction every day. Over the past few weeks, dozens of civilians have been killed and injured, including children. Hundreds of residential buildings have been destroyed, leaving tens of thousands of residents homeless. Critical infrastructure has also been destroyed, including dozens of schools and hospitals. The UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, recently travelled to Kharkiv, which is located in northeastern Ukraine. Together with the Mayor, Igor Terekhov, she visited some of the places that were hit in Russian missile strikes carried out on 25 May, including a hypermarket and the central part of the city. UN News later spoke to Mr. Terekhov following what he described as "a very difficult week". "It is important that the whole world knows what is happening in Kharkiv today," he said. In this exclusive interview, Mr. Terekhov discusses the immense challenges facing residents of Ukraine's second largest city, support to people fleeing attacks in other parts of the wider Kharkiv region, and the importance of UN humanitarian support as war rages on. This interview reflects the opinion of Mr. Terekhov and is not an endorsement by the UN. It has been edited and condensed for clarity. Igor Terekhov: The tragedies that occur every day in Kharkiv are terrible. People are dying. There are no words to describe the grief that the Russians bring us. It was a very difficult week. At first, there was shelling of the private sector. Then there was a terrible hit on the printing house, where there were people on shift work, many of whom died or were injured. After that, there were the terrible events that happened on Saturday, when people went to the hypermarket - to the home improvement superstore where families always go - and a lot of people died there. Today, it is impossible even to establish the exact number. The search work is not over, and more bodies will be found. Many people are in hospital in serious condition. Also, the central part of the city was shelled, where people were also injured. This is real terrorism committed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. It is important that the whole world knows what is happening in Kharkiv today. Today, Kharkiv is a symbol. It is an outpost of Ukraine. UN News: And in this situation, people evacuated from other settlements in the Kharkiv region are also arriving in the city, where intense hostilities are now taking place. How is the city coping with the additional influx? Mayor Igor Terekhova: People who were forced to move to Kharkiv come here because there are active hostilities in their territories. In just a week, more than 10,500 people arrived in Kharkiv who need help, because they were left completely without anything. We accept them, accommodate them in dormitories, and provide everything they need. Of course, it is very difficult, emotionally difficult, for these people to leave their homes. But we are doing everything possible to make them feel more or less normal, so that they receive medical care, so that their children go to school, to provide them with basic things since a lot of people came to Kharkiv without anything. We are engaged in their employment and socialization. It is important that we have the resources to do so. When there is constant shelling and intimidation, when people are forced to constantly hide from shelling, it is very difficult - both for Kharkiv residents and for people who come to us. UN News: How does working with UN agencies help you in confronting this situation? Igor Terekhov: Just the day before, [UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine] Denise Brown visited Kharkiv. We work very closely with her. The UN Office in Ukraine does a lot. We discussed with her that it is very important to convey to the whole world, to the entire international community, what is happening in Kharkiv. We really need people around the world to understand how Kharkiv is and how we survive here. And it is very important that we are supported not only with words, but also with actions. Therefore, it is very important that the global community understands, sees all this, and, most importantly, acts and not only expresses sympathy. UN News: What about the humanitarian support provided by the UN? Igor Terekhov: There must be humanitarian support, and it is effective. Thanks to foundations, many people receive help today. Around 150,000 residents of the city today are left without their apartments. They need somewhere to live, repair their homes in order to return home. But all this will be possible when the sky over Kharkiv is protected. Without this, no humanitarian assistance can guarantee the protection of people's lives. And this is the main thing for us today. UN News: Under these conditions, you are already thinking about the coming winter. Tell us about that. Igor Terekhov: First, we still need to survive the summer. On 23 March of this year, the enemy hit the critical infrastructure that provided the city with electricity. Today, Kharkiv does not have its own power generation. All thermal power plants, transformer substations, were destroyed; there was severe destruction of all networks that supply electricity to our city. There was a complete blackout in Kharkiv, people were without electricity for a whole day. We managed to "feed" Kharkiv from other regions of Ukraine little by little. And today we depend on the ability of other cities to share electricity with us. Therefore, today the main goal is to work on a system of decentralization of energy, heat and water supply. It is very expensive. There is such equipment that is produced in other countries. We have already agreed with the producers that they will reserve it for us, otherwise we will not be able to survive the autumn and winter. We now have to transfer money for the equipment, which is not in the city budget today, so we turn to international funds. Without this, 1.3 million residents of the city simply will not be able to survive the winter. This question is of great concern to Kharkiv residents. This is vital for us. We will continue to seek the help of our international partners to support us. UN News: You said that thousands of people in Kharkiv are now homeless today. Mayor Igor Terekhov: About 150,000 people do not have housing today. This is a very serious problem. Since the beginning of the war, about 9,000 houses, mostly residential, have been destroyed. Moreover, 110 kindergartens have been destroyed. This is 50 percent of all that we have today. In addition, 130 schools were destroyed, which is also about 50 percent of all schools in the city. As for hospitals and medical institutions, 88 of them were destroyed. The destruction that is in the social sphere is 185 buildings, and this is very important because it affects the ability to provide a normal life for people. How much will it cost to restore all this? Approximately, today this amount is $10 billion. And in addition, as I said, all thermal power plants and transformer substations have been destroyed. The destruction in our city is colossal! I want to reiterate that Kharkiv really needs to protect people's lives so that they can feel safe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine reports downing 13 Russian drones By VOA News May 29, 2024 Ukraine's military said Wednesday it shot down Russian drones that targeted areas of western, central and southern Ukraine, while a Russian missile killed at least two people in the Sumy region. The Ukrainian air force said it intercepted 13 of 14 Russian drones used in overnight attacks against the Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad and Rivne regions. Vitaliy Kim, the regional governor of Mykolaiv, said air defenses shot down 11 of the drones in his area. Kim did not report any damage or injuries from the drones. Russia's defense ministry said Wednesday it destroyed two naval drones moving toward the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula, as well as an aerial drone and seven rockets over the Belgorod region that borders Ukraine. Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of Russia's Krasnodar region, said Wednesday air defenses downed a Ukrainian drone over the city of Armavir. Sweden announced Wednesday a $1.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine, which includes radar reconnaissance and command aircraft, artillery ammunition and armored vehicles. "It consists of equipment that is at the top of Ukraine's priority list," Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated Tuesday that U.S. President Joe Biden should attend a peace summit next month in Switzerland to send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders. Speaking at a joint news conference with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in Brussels, Zelenskyy said the peace summit, scheduled for June 15 and 16, will be "organized by the whole world," and other leaders will be looking to the U.S. response. Zelenskyy said 90 countries have now committed to the summit, and that Putin fears it because he never believed so many nations would support it. "[Putin] disrupted this summit and continues to do so. And that is why he is now thinking of setting up a parallel platform," Zelenskyy said, adding that Putin would applaud Biden's absence at the summit. Zelenskyy sent a video on Sunday appealing to Biden to attend the summit. The Ukrainian president recorded the video in a burned-out printing house in Kharkiv that was destroyed last week by Russian missiles. The White House has been noncommittal about Biden's attendance, and he is the only leader among the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations that has not accepted the invitation. Speaking to reporters during a trip to Uzbekistan Tuesday, Putin was asked about the peace conference, and said Russia remains open for talks on ending the war. But rejected the Swiss-hosted round of talks set for next month as an attempt to create a semblance of broad international support for Kyiv. Zelenskyy was in Brussels on Tuesday, following a trip to Spain, to secure more than $1 billion in new military aid from Belgium in an agreement that includes delivery of 30 F-16 fighter jets. The Ukrainian leader said the 10-year agreement included cooperating with Belgium on intelligence, cybersecurity, countering disinformation and the defense industry. Later Tuesday, Zelenskyy traveled to Portugal where he met with Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, and the two leaders signed an agreement for about $140 million in military aid for this year. European Union defense ministers also met Tuesday in Brussels to discuss military aid for Ukraine. The defense ministers heard from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who suggested Monday that restrictions on Ukraine should be eased to allow it to use Western weapons on targets outside its borders. Speaking to reporters ahead of Tuesday's meeting, Stoltenberg maintained that once again, there are legitimate targets outside Ukraine's borders that can be fired upon as part of its self-defense. He said using NATO-supplied weapons to fire on those targets would not make the alliance part of the conflict. "We have the right to support Ukraine without becoming a part of the conflict, because we are helping Ukraine to uphold the right for self-defense," Stoltenberg said. Speaking in Uzbekistan on Tuesday, Putin warned NATO members there would be "serious consequences" if Western countries allowed Ukraine to use their weapons to strike targets in Russia. He also accused the West and the United States in particular of seeking to escalate Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine into a "global conflict." Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Press. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Panama City, May 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Panama City, Florida - Dermatology Specialists of Florida is excited to announce the opening of a new clinic in Niceville, Florida, bringing comprehensive dermatology services to the Okaloosa County community. This new location, situated at 550 Highway 85, Suite A, Niceville, FL 32578 marks the 14th clinic along the Florida Panhandle, with doors opening on June 3, 2024. The clinic will operate five days a week. Dr. Michael Stickler, a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, will be among the leading medical professionals at the Niceville clinic. Dr. Stickler, who is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and the American Society for Mohs Surgery, brings extensive expertise to the community. He is joined by Allison Herman, PA-C, a certified physician assistant with deep roots in the area. Allison Herman, who was born and raised on the Emerald Coast, recently joined Dermatology Specialists of Florida. She holds a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary medical sciences from Florida State University, both with magna cum laude honors. Additionally, she earned a masters degree in Medical Sciences from the University of South Florida. As a Niceville High School alumna, Allison is thrilled to return to her hometown to provide high-quality dermatologic care. The Niceville location is now accepting new patients and accepts most major insurance plans. Services offered in Niceville will include: Comprehensive skin exams; Skin cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment; Mohs micrographic surgery; Diagnosis and treatment of chronic skin conditions. At Dermatology Specialists of Florida, the team of medical professionals is there to provide their patients with an exceptional level of care. They offer todays most proven treatments coupled with advanced technology to care for you and your skin. The team of nearly 40 providers and over 250 employees provide patient-focused medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology care. A team with one shared goal that guides us every day being our best for the patients and helping them maintain healthy, beautiful skin at every stage of their lives. For the Niceville Dermatologist and Cosmetic Dermatology team, providing outstanding patient care means more to them than just practicing good medicine. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (850) 517-9041 or visit mydermspecialists.com/locations/Florida/Niceville/. Those interested can also learn more about the services offered by visiting the Dermatology Specialists Facebook page. Everyone is at risk for skin cancer. In fact, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their life. The most common types are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The good news is that skin cancer is highly curable when diagnosed and treated early and that you can limit your risks of developing it by practicing sun safety. Skin cancer treatment is just one of the many services offered at Dermatology Specialists in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Our skin isnt just the largest organ of our body, its a complex one. Thats why the professionals at Dermatology Specialists are here to diagnose and treat the broad range of skin, hair and nail conditions as well as address any cosmetic concerns the patients may have. Dermatology Specialists experienced staff of physicians, Mohs surgeons, physician assistants and nurses are using the latest research, proven treatments and advanced technology to deliver an exceptional level of medical care. ### For more information about Dermatology Specialists, contact the company here: Dermatology Specialists Harmony Nagy, Director of Marketing (850) 252-4423 Harmony.Nagy@DermSolutionsGroup.com 2505 Harrison Avenue Panama City, FL 32405 NEW ORLEANS, May 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until July 1, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Globe Life Inc. f/k/a Torchmark Corporation (NYSE: GL), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Companys shares between May 8, 2019 and April 10, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period). Long term holders of GL are also encouraged to contact the firm. This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Get Help Globe Life investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-gl/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Globe Life and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On April 11, 2024, investment research firm Fuzzy Panda reported that the Company and its subsidiaries had engaged in widespread insurance fraud by adding policies to existing users accounts without consent, underwriting policies for dead and fictitious people, and also maintained a hostile workplace where sexual harassment, drug use, and sexual assault went unchecked. On this news, the price of Globe Lifes shares fell by $55.76 per share, or 53%, from a closing price of $104.93 per share on April 10, 2024, to a closing price of $49.17 per share on April 11, 2024. The case is City of Miami General Employees' & Sanitation Employees' Retirement Trust v. Globe Life Inc., et al, No. 24-cv-376. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. NEW ORLEANS, May 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until July 15, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH), if they purchased the Companys shares between March 14, 2022, and February 27, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Get Help UnitedHealth investors should visit us at https://www.claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-unh-3 or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit UnitedHealth and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On February 27, 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Justice had re-opened its antitrust investigation into the relationships between the Companys various segments. On this news, the price of UnitedHealths shares fell by $27 per share, erasing nearly $25 billion in shareholder value. The case is City of Hollywood Firefighters Pension Fund v. UnitedHealth Group Inc., No. 24-cv-1743. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The World Vapers Alliance and Vaping Saved My Life have condemned the results of a new poll showing 78% of smokers in South Africa (74% worldwide) incorrectly believe vaping is equally as harmful as smoking. This Misinformation Epidemic, revealed in research by Ipsos for the think tank network We Are Innovation, has been blamed on repeated statements from key institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO). In the last six months alone, the WHO has published vaping and nicotine misinformation on more than ten occasions, including statements suggesting that vaping causes cancer and asserting that vapes often contain more toxicants than cigarettes. This goes against most recent research and statements from public health authorities such as the UKs National Health Service. The latter has published a guide to Vaping Myths and Facts, debunking some of the most significant misconceptions about vaping to help smokers access high-quality information. Indeed, the countries that have been most successful in reducing smoking rates, such as Sweden and New Zealand, have embraced smoke-free nicotine alternatives in recent years, thereby significantly reducing smoking prevalence. Sweden , which initiated the process much earlier, has already seen significant progress in public health outcomes, including an incidence of lung cancer death 41% lower than the EU average. Commenting on the misinformation epidemic on World Vape Day, World Vapers Alliance director Michael Landl said: The WHO is neglecting its responsibility to the worlds 1.1 billion smokers and is actively providing fearmongering, false information, depriving them of what has been proven to be the most successful tool we have in the fight against smoking. Although not risk-free, vaping has been proven to be significantly less harmful than smoking traditional tobacco. This has not only been supported by testimonials of former smokers who managed to switch to vaping on the differences they have seen in their health but also through biomarker analysis conducted as a predictor of potential harm. Public health officials have a responsibility and a duty to inform the smoking public of all the available evidence to help them make better choices and potentially save millions of lives in the process, added Kurt Yeo, the founder of Vaping Saved My Life. For media enquiries, please contact: Michael Landl Director of the World Vapers Alliance info@worldvapersalliance.com About World Vapers Alliance: The World Vapers Alliance (WVA) amplifies the voices of vapers worldwide and empowers them to make a difference in their communities. Our members are vapers associations as well as individual vapers from all over the world. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6ca1146-0dc1-4d54-a5a0-23ffe2371140 GENEVA, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On this World No Tobacco Day, the World Vapers Alliance (WVA) is shedding light on the rampant misperception epidemic around tobacco harm reduction. As revealed by Ipsos research for the think tank, We are Innovation, a staggering 74% of smokers worldwide mistakenly believe that vaping is as harmful or more harmful than smoking. This widespread misunderstanding is the result of misinformation and costs lives, as millions of smokers waver on making the switch to a scientifically proven , 95% less harmful alternative product. "World No Tobacco Day is a crucial opportunity to combat misinformation and promote effective harm reduction strategies," said Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers Alliance. "Instead of blindly fighting against safer nicotine alternatives, the WHO should be championing them as the key to a smoke-free future." Sweden has set a remarkable precedent by embracing harm reduction. The country is on the verge of becoming smoke-free , not by banning safer nicotine products but by endorsing them. Sweden's success should serve as a model for global tobacco harm reduction strategies. The World Health Organization (WHO) should take note and adapt its current approach, which is failing. Landl added, "The WHO is missing the mark by targeting vaping and other safer nicotine products instead of focusing on the real threat smoking. By fighting those products, they are keeping smokers from making the switch. This is not just misguided, it's dangerous." The misperception that vaping is equally harmful as smoking is a public health crisis in itself. Evidence from numerous studies, including comprehensive reviews by Public Health England, confirms that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking. "We are facing a misperception epidemic and the WHO is part of the problem by spreading further misconceptions," Landl stated. "Accurate information is the cornerstone of effective public health policy. We must ensure that smokers have access to the truth about safer alternatives. Facts over lies! The World Vapers Alliance is calling on health authorities and the WHO to reevaluate their stance on harm reduction and to prioritize facts over fear. It is essential to support policies that promote safer alternatives to smoking rather than vilifying them. In conjunction with these efforts, the WVA organized a protest in front of the WHO headquarters on World Vape Day, May 30th. This demonstration aimed to compel the WHO to finally listen to consumers and acknowledge the scientific evidence in support of vaping, nicotine pouches and similar products as valid harm-reduction tools. It is high time the World Health Organization acknowledge reality, embrace science and help move the world toward a healthier future. Turns out, its as easy as giving people more choices, not less. For media enquiries, please contact: Michael Landl Director of the World Vapers Alliance info@worldvapersalliance.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0037ce8c-ca1f-48da-b4d3-384f0718d4a9 MBABANE The executive members of public sector unions (PSUs) say they were not pleased during their meeting with the PM, Russell Mmiso Dlamini, yesterday. They claimed that during the meeting, instead of them engaging, the prime minister (PM) was allegedly dictating to them what to do. The PSUs expressed their disappointment during a press conference held at Sandla in Mbabane, shortly after the meeting, which took place at the Cabinet Offices. They highlighted that they requested the meeting, which eventually took place yesterday, a long time ago. According to the PSUs, it could not be said the meeting was effective, because they failed to engage in a conversation with the PM but instead it was him (pm) telling them what to do. PSUs are the employee representatives of the various categories of public servants, namely; National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU), Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) and Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP). Meeting NAPSAWU President Bawinile Ndlovu said the meeting with the PM did not yield any positive results. Ndlovu said despite what transpired, they now know exactly who he (PM) was. According to Ndlovu, before the meeting, they had hope that whenever they had concerns with their employer, the Ministry of Public Service, they would approach the PM, but now they knew their position. This, she said, was something which has helped them understand, and that as much as the meeting was not fruitful, they now knew who the PM was. SWADNU President Nokuthula Dlamini, reiterating Ndlovus sentiments, stated that they could not count the meeting with the PM as being effective. She said: What we can say is that it was a mere courtesy meeting, because we failed to engage in a conversation with the PM, who we had expected to first hear us out and thereafter give responses with the hope of coming up with solutions. According to Nokuthula, the PSUs were the first to present their side. She alleged that instead of responding to the issues they had raised, the PM purportedly dictated to them what to do. She said they could not respond to what the PM said as he seemed to be someone in a hurry to Parliament. She added that they realised that the posture which was taken by the PM was to avoid the conversations centred on the issues that were raised. The SWADNU president said this was because nothing significant came out of the meeting with the head of government. SNAGAP Secretary General Phumzile Masilela said the meeting with the PM did not go well. Masilela said they highly regarded negotiations, and whenever they met and one submits to the other, they then have to reach an agreement. The SG said if it seemed like the other party was telling the other, then it is not a good sign. SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini said despite that there was nothing much that came out of the meeting, they regarded it as very important. Mbongwa stated that by the PM listening to what they said, they viewed it as important. However, he said they now wanted to see action that would sort out the concerns that were presented to the PM. He said if the situation would only end with the meeting then it would be similar to handing a petition to him that he wrote responses to, because there were no engagements. Mbongwa stated that they wished for the next meeting with the PM to be engaging, in order to understand each other well. He further noted that if government wanted its meetings to be fruitful, they should allow engagement. Meanwhile, he noted that the PM also made a statement to the effect that he would respect the rule of law and that PSUs should go back to the negotiations table; they wanted to believe that it would happen. Mbongwa said, they, therefore, wanted to see who exactly did not respect the rule of law and did not want negotiations to continue, if the head of government has agreed to it. Dublin, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United States Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy Market, By Region, Competition, Forecast and Opportunities, 2019-2029F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. United States Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy Market was valued at USD 1.21 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to project steady growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 4.29% through 2029 The market encompasses a range of pharmaceutical products and medical services designed to assist transgender individuals in aligning their physical characteristics with their gender identity. This includes the administration of hormones such as estrogen and testosterone to promote secondary sex characteristics consistent with an individual's gender identity. The United States boasts a diverse array of healthcare providers, clinics, and specialized centers that offer hormone therapy services, reflecting the nation's commitment to supporting transgender healthcare. The growth of the U.S. Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy market is propelled by several factors, including increased societal awareness, expanded insurance coverage, and advancements in medical practices. Greater recognition of transgender rights and the elimination of discriminatory practices have paved the way for more inclusive healthcare services. The expansion of health insurance coverage for transgender-related healthcare has made hormone therapy more accessible to a broader population. As the market continues to evolve, it is characterized by ongoing research into safer and more effective hormone therapies, improved access to care in underserved areas, and a growing community of healthcare professionals with expertise in transgender medicine. Challenges also exist, such as disparities in access to care and the need for more comprehensive insurance coverage. Key Market Drivers Increased Awareness and Acceptance Increased awareness and acceptance have become powerful catalysts in propelling the United States Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy market to new heights. In recent years, there has been a profound societal shift, characterized by a growing understanding and acceptance of transgender individuals and their unique healthcare needs. This transformation in public perception has significantly boosted the demand for gender-affirming treatments, particularly hormone therapy. One of the most significant drivers of this change is the increased visibility of transgender individuals in mainstream media, politics, and public discourse. High-profile transgender individuals and activists have shared their personal stories, fostering empathy and understanding among the broader population. This visibility has humanized the transgender experience and created a platform for open conversations about gender identity, thereby reducing stigma and discrimination. Growing Medical Expertise Growing medical expertise is a crucial driver that is significantly boosting the United States Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy market. In recent years, there has been a notable surge in healthcare professionals who specialize in transgender healthcare, particularly in the realm of hormone therapy. This surge in expertise is positively impacting the transgender community and the broader healthcare landscape in several key ways. The increased number of healthcare providers with specialized knowledge in transgender healthcare ensures that transgender individuals have access to more experienced and knowledgeable practitioners. These experts are well-versed in the unique healthcare needs of transgender patients and are capable of providing tailored and patient-centric care, which is essential in the context of hormone therapy. Patients can have greater confidence in the quality of care they receive, which, in turn, fosters trust and encourages more individuals to seek hormone therapy as part of their gender transition. Research and Development Research and development efforts have played a pivotal role in boosting the United States Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy (HRT) market, fostering innovation, and enhancing the quality and safety of hormone therapy for transgender individuals. This dynamic field of healthcare has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, driven by a combination of medical research, pharmaceutical innovation, and the evolving understanding of transgender healthcare needs. One of the key contributions of research and development to the HRT market is the development of safer and more effective hormone therapy options. These advancements have reduced potential health risks associated with hormone therapy, ensuring that transgender individuals can undergo their gender-affirming treatment with greater confidence and peace of mind. The research-driven improvements in hormone regimens have led to more personalized treatment plans, better addressing the specific needs and preferences of each patient. Key Market Challenges Cost and Insurance Barriers The United States has made significant strides in improving access to transgender healthcare, but one formidable challenge continues to hinder the progress of the Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy (HRT) market: cost and insurance barriers. While insurance coverage for gender-affirming care has expanded, it remains far from universal, and many transgender individuals grapple with significant financial obstacles when seeking hormone therapy. Cost is a paramount concern for transgender individuals seeking hormone therapy. Hormone therapy is a medically necessary aspect of gender transition for many, helping individuals align their physical characteristics with their gender identity. However, the cost of hormone therapy can be a substantial financial burden, especially for those without insurance coverage or with high deductibles and copayments. Limited Accessibility in Underserved Areas While significant strides have been made in improving access to transgender healthcare in the United States, a pressing challenge that continues to hinder the Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy (HRT) market is the limited accessibility in underserved areas. Geographic disparities in healthcare infrastructure, the shortage of specialized providers, and the conservative nature of some regions have left many transgender individuals in underserved areas with inadequate access to gender-affirming hormone therapy. Key Market Trends Mental Health Considerations Mental health considerations are playing a crucial role in boosting the United States Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy (HRT) market. This trend underscores the importance of addressing the mental health needs of transgender individuals alongside their physical healthcare. Telehealth Services One of the primary ways in which telehealth services benefit the HRT market is by increasing accessibility to specialized care. Transgender individuals, particularly those living in underserved or remote areas, often face geographical barriers when seeking gender-affirming care. Telehealth bridges this gap by allowing patients to consult with knowledgeable practitioners from the comfort of their own homes. Gender Transition Insights Based on the Gender Transition, Male-To-Female emerged as the dominant segment in the United States Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy Market in 2023. Studies and data suggest that MTF transitions are more prevalent than FTM transitions. This higher prevalence contributes to a larger pool of individuals seeking MTF hormone therapy, thus increasing demand for these services. MTF individuals, often assigned male at birth, typically require estrogen and anti-androgen medications to develop secondary female sex characteristics, such as breast development and softer skin. Type Insights Based on the Type, Estrogen emerged as the fastest growing segment in the United States Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy Market in 2023. MTF transitions are more common than Female-to-Male (FTM) transitions, contributing to the higher demand for estrogen. Individuals assigned male at birth who wish to transition to a female gender typically require estrogen therapy to develop secondary female sex characteristics, such as breast development, softer skin, and fat redistribution. For many transgender individuals seeking MTF transition, estrogen therapy is deemed medically necessary to address gender dysphoria effectively. This medical necessity is a driving factor behind the high demand for these treatments. Regional Insights Mid-West emerged as the dominant region in the United States Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy Market in 2023, holding the largest market share. The Midwest has made significant strides in improving healthcare accessibility for transgender individuals. This includes a growing number of healthcare facilities and providers specializing in transgender healthcare, making it easier for individuals in the region to access hormone therapy. Many states in the Midwest have implemented non-discrimination laws and regulations that protect the rights of transgender individuals and emphasize the importance of providing gender-affirming care. This supportive legal framework encourages healthcare providers in the region to offer comprehensive HRT services. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 82 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1.21 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $1.51 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.2% Regions Covered United States Competitive Landscape Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the United States Sex Reassignment Hormone Therapy Market. Viatris Inc. AbbVie Inc. ASCEND Therapeutics US, LLC. Pfizer Inc. Eli Lilly and Company Novartis AG Endo International plc. Report Scope: Gender Transition: Male-To-Female Female-To-Male Type: Puberty Blockers Estrogen Testosterone Distribution Channel: Hospital Pharmacy Retail Pharmacy Online Pharmacy Region: North-East Mid-west West South For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/im1hyq 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, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "World Upholstered Furniture Industry 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The World Upholstered Furniture Industry report offers a comprehensive picture of the global upholstered furniture industry through key statistics, such as production, consumption, and international trade of upholstered furniture for the time series 2014-2023, along with market forecasts for 2024 and 2025. The report also provides detailed profiles of the leading manufacturers worldwide, and a focus on the Top 20 countries in the upholstered furniture sector. Market Highlights The global upholstered furniture market is sizable and accounts for around 16% of the total furniture market. After the extraordinary growth in the aftermath of the pandemic, it contracted in 2023, returning to pre-pandemic levels. The forecast for the upholstered furniture industry indicates that after a challenging 2024 for the global market, consumption is expected to slightly increase in 2025. The Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions are projected to be the most promising markets. Key Markets and Countries in the Global Upholstered Furniture Sector The report focuses on the Top 20 world upholstered furniture countries providing: Upholstered furniture production, apparent consumption, exports, and imports for the years 2014-2023 and forecasts of yearly changes in upholstered furniture consumption in 2024 and 2025. Production of upholstered furniture in quantity: 2018-2023 for China, United States, Poland, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Turkiye, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Canada, Romania, Australia, France, Lithuania, Sweden, Japan, Vietnam, India and South Korea. Breakdown of production value by covering material (leather, fabric, and other) for China, United States, Vietnam, Poland, Italy, India, United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Spain, France, and Lithuania. Competitive landscape: Major upholstered furniture manufacturers in the country, with short profiles (for a total of around 750 considered firms) with Company name, Headquarters/Main Location, Telephone, Web, Email address, Activity, Product Portfolio, Total Turnover range, Employees range, Exports share on total turnover, Manufacturing plants, Upholstered furniture production of total revenues. Upholstered furniture exports by country of destination and imports by country of origin. Socio-economic indicators, including population forecasts and resident population in main cities and projected growth. Moreover, for the70 most important countries for upholstery production, consumption, and trade, including the Top 20, the study provides summary tables: historical series on production, consumption, and trade of upholstered furniture, the openness of the sector to foreign trade, consumption growth (forecasts), the origin of imports, the destination of exports and country rankings to place all statistics in a broader worldwide context. Leading Manufacturers in the World Upholstered Furniture Industry A special section provides detailed company profiles for the 30 leading upholstered furniture manufacturers worldwide: headquarters, activity and product portfolio, turnover (last available year), controlled companies and subsidiaries, brands, financial performance (last 3 years for total revenues and employees), recent M&A operations, export sales, production facilities. Key Topics Covered: Part I: Consumption, Production and International Trade of Upholstered Furniture 2014 - 2023 Part II: Upholstered Furniture Indicators Overview of the world upholstered furniture sector The 70 Countries, alphabetical order, and rankings Opening Of Upholstered Furniture Markets. Growth of exports and imports Forecasts. Upholstered furniture consumption 2024-2025 Part III: Top 20 Countries for Upholstered Furniture Industry A detailed analysis of the top 20 upholstered furniture consuming countries in the world including: Upholstered furniture production, apparent consumption, exports, imports for the years 2014-2023, and forecasts of yearly changes in upholstered furniture consumption in 2024 and 2025 Production of upholstered furniture in quantity (when available) Breakdown of production value by covering material (leather, fabric, and other), when available Competitive landscape: Major upholstered furniture manufacturers in the country, with short profiles Upholstered furniture exports by country of destination and imports by country of origin Socio-economic indicators Part IV: Competition - Top Upholstered Furniture Manufacturers in the World Detailed profiles of the Top 30 world's Manufacturers of upholstered furniture Part V: Country Tables For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/q0l058 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, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "U.S. Dismounted Counter-UAS Market: Focus on End User and Type - Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market is estimated to reach $2.27 billion by 2033. The study highlights that the market is set to witness a CAGR of 13.32% during the forecast period 2023-2033. Implementing the U.S. dismounted counter-unmanned aerial systems represents a significant step in creating more agile and flexible defensive systems, providing substantial operational flexibility and deployment capabilities. These systems are differentiated by their mobility and ease of use in various tactical settings, making them especially useful for ground soldiers traversing diverse terrains. Unlike fixed or larger-scale systems, U.S. dismounted counter-UAS technologies allow for faster responses to aerial threats, improving the security of mobile soldiers and important assets. This strategy to drone defense is becoming increasingly important as unmanned aircraft systems become more common in surveillance and combat, emphasizing the importance of adaptable and efficient U.S. dismounted counter-UAS countermeasures. Market Introduction In the initial stages of the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS sector, defense and homeland security focused on mitigating risks from advancing drone technologies. The deployment of U.S. dismounted counter-UAS capabilities became pivotal in countering the threats posed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which were significant for surveillance and direct attacks on critical assets and personnel. Early efforts in the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS initiatives predominantly utilised modified electronic warfare technologies to neutralize or take over enemy drone communications. However, these initial U.S. dismounted counter-UAS systems often faced limitations in range, target differentiation, and accurately identifying enemy from friendly UAVs. Recognizing the need for enhanced U.S. dismounted counter-UAS solutions, significant R&D, led by agencies like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), aimed to equip U.S. forces and homeland security with portable, advanced U.S. dismounted counter-UAS tools for diverse operational scenarios. This need spurred rapid market growth, fostering innovations across the defense sector, including advanced radar, directed-energy weapons, and cyber-based technologies for UAS interception, reflecting the critical evolution and expanding capability landscape of the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS domain. The current landscape of the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS sector showcases a significant evolution, underscored by the integration of advanced technologies and strategic partnerships between defense entities and technology firms. Modern U.S. dismounted counter-UAS systems boast enhanced detection, identification, and neutralization features, leveraging algorithms, machine learning, and sophisticated sensors for superior accuracy and effectiveness. The infusion of AI into U.S. dismounted counter-UAS solutions has revolutionized the automatic detection and engagement of threats, improving response efficiency for U.S. operatives. Efforts to miniaturize U.S. dismounted counter-UAS technologies ensure portability and versatility in deployment across varying terrains. With the DoD's Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Strategy emphasizing the critical role of U.S. dismounted counter-UAS technologies, the focus remains on promoting innovation, enhancing collaboration, and ensuring swift deployment to safeguard national interests and protect U.S. personnel. Industrial Impact The U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market represents a significant milestone in modern military strategy, fundamentally altering the industrial and operational paradigms within the U.S. defense forces and homeland security apparatus. Specifically designed to neutralize the threats posed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS integrates advanced detection, identification, and neutralization technologies that boast portability and rapid deployability by ground forces across diverse operational scenarios. The industrial impact of the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS has been profound, catalyzing innovations in radar, electronic warfare, and kinetic interception technologies. Consequently, manufacturers and defense contractors are motivated to develop more sophisticated, reliable, and scalable counter-UAS solutions to meet the evolving demands of the U.S. armed forces and homeland security. This leads to a dynamic and rapidly expanding sector dedicated to UAS threat mitigation. The technological progression driven by the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS elevates the operational efficacy of U.S. military and homeland security entities and carves out a crucial domain of technological and industrial advancement and global defense cooperation. Defense to Dominate the U.S. Dismounted Counter-UAS Market (by End User) The defense segment leads the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market, with a 78% share in 2022, due to its special operating requirements for mobility and adaptability and the necessity to mitigate the changing threats posed by unmanned aerial systems in a range of locations. These technologies provide soldiers with the capacity to identify, track, and eliminate drones, which may be utilized for surveillance or as direct threats to the battlefield. RF Jamming Segment to Witness the Highest Growth between 2023 and 2033 The RF jamming segment dominated the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market (by type) in 2022, with a 37% share. It provides a quick and effective way to interrupt the control and navigation signals of enemy drones, rendering them inoperable without inflicting physical damage. Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis Critical to national defence and security, this field is characterized by experienced major players and ambitious start-ups, each vying for supremacy in the quickly growing U.S.-dismounted counter-UAS sector. As of 2022, the established companies controlled 62% of the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS industry, demonstrating their strong market knowledge and broad product offers. On the other hand, startups accounted for a significant 38% of the market share, owing to new techniques and technology. This dynamic reflects the vibrant and competitive nature of the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS industry, which continues to grow as UAV technologies are adopted in various defense and security domains, attracting an increasing number of competitors each year. How can this report add value to an organization? Product/Innovation Strategy: The type segment helps the reader understand the different types of solutions available for deployment and their potential in the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market. Moreover, the study provides the reader with a detailed understanding of the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market by application, based on the end user (defense and homeland security). Growth/Marketing Strategy: The U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market has seen major development by key players operating in the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market, such as business expansion, partnership, collaboration, and joint venture. The favored strategy for the companies has been partnerships and contracts to strengthen their position in the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market. Competitive Strategy: Key players in the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market analyzed and profiled in the study involve major companies offering dismounted counter-UAS designed for various applications to be used by the defense industry or homeland security agencies. Moreover, a detailed competitive benchmarking of the players operating in the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market has been done to help the reader understand how players stack against each other, presenting a clear market landscape. Additionally, comprehensive competitive strategies such as partnerships, agreements, and collaborations will aid the reader in understanding the untapped revenue pockets in the U.S. dismounted counter-UAS market. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 65 Forecast Period 2023 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $650.7 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $2273.2 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 13.3% Regions Covered United States Market Dynamics Trends: Current and Future Impact Assessment Growing Adoption and Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Next-Generation Fire Control Optic Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) Business Drivers Increased Military Drone Proliferation Evolving Military Doctrine and Asymmetric Warfare Cost-Effectiveness and Scalability Business Challenges Rapid Technological Advancement in the UAS Sector Competition from Alternative Technologies Cybersecurity Threats from Adversaries Business Opportunities AI and ML Integration Ongoing/Upcoming Programs Pentagon's Counter-UAS Program U.S. Army's Launched Effects Program Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Mobile Force Protection Program Lockheed Martin Corporation's Terrestrial Layer System-Brigade Combat Team (TLS-BCT) Supply Chain Overview Supply Chain Analysis Emerging Start-ups and Investment Landscape Summary U.S. Department of Defense's Major Strategic Partnership U.S. DoD Budget Analysis Procurement Analysis for Counter-UAS Market Dynamics Overview Competitive Benchmarking Company Profiles 4.1.1.1 Overview 4.1.1.2 Top Products/Product Portfolio 4.1.1.3 Top Competitors 4.1.1.4 Target Customers 4.1.1.5 Key Personnel 4.1.1.6 Analyst View 4.1.1.7 Market Share, 2022 Black River Systems Company BlueHalo Leonardo DRS CACI International Inc. Fortem Technologies Flex Force Enterprises WhiteFox Defense Technologies, Inc Dedrone Holdings Inc. Northrop Grumman DroneShield Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3w5dky 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, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Asia-Pacific Telecom and Data Cable Market: Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Asia-Pacific telecom and data cable market was valued at $9.84 billion in 2023, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.23% and reach $20.05 billion by 2032 The exponential growth of the telecommunications industry, fueled by the rising demand for high-speed and reliable connectivity, highlights the essential need for advanced telecom and data cables. As digital transformation rapidly progresses across various sectors, including businesses and households, the demand for efficient and robust communication infrastructure is surging. The APAC Telecom and Data Cable Market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the region's increasing demand for high-speed internet and reliable connectivity. The expansion of 5G networks, rising internet penetration, and the digital transformation of various industries are key factors propelling this market. Major economies like China, Japan, and South Korea are leading investments in advanced telecom infrastructure. Additionally, the proliferation of smart cities and IoT applications further boosts demand for robust communication networks. Government initiatives promoting digitalization and favorable regulatory frameworks support market growth. Key players are focusing on strategic partnerships, technological advancements, and expanding production capacities to meet the surging demand. With continuous innovation and increasing reliance on digital services, the APAC telecom and data cable market is poised for sustained expansion. How can this report add value to an organization? Product/Innovation Strategy: The product strategy helps the readers understand the different aftermarket solutions provided by the industry participants. Growth/Marketing Strategy: The telecom and data cable market is growing at a significant pace and holds enormous opportunities for market players. Some of the strategies covered in this segment are product launches, partnerships, collaborations, business expansions, and investments. The companies' preferred strategy has been product launches, partnerships, and collaborations to strengthen their positions in the telecom and data cable industry. Competitive Strategy: The key players in the Asia-Pacific telecom and data cable market analyzed and profiled in the study include telecom and data cable manufacturers, raw material suppliers, and wholesalers and distributors. Additionally, comprehensive competitive strategies such as partnerships, agreements, and collaborations will aid the reader in understanding the untapped revenue pockets in the market. Some of the prominent names in this market are: Fujikura Ltd. KEI Industries Limited LS Cable & System Ltd. R R Kabel Ltd. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 71 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $9.84 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $20.05 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.2% Regions Covered Asia Pacific Business Dynamics Trends: Current and Future Increase in Use of Renewable Energy Increase in Emphasis on Safety and Sustainability Increased Demand for High-Speed Internet Rise in Government Initiatives for Urbanization and Expanding Infrastructure Business Drivers Increase of Investments in the Telecommunications Industry Increase in Demand for Sustainable Wire and Cable Products Rise of Industrial Revolution 4.0 Business Challenges Fluctuations in Raw Material Prices Increase in Demand for Fiber Optic Cables Limited Availability of Sustainable Materials and its Related Standardization Challenges Business Opportunities Increasing Investments in the 5G/6G Communication Networks Upgrading Existing Networks Development of Telehealth and Smart Home Technologies Supply Chain Analysis Sourcing Raw Material Production Transportation Product Customization End User Ecosystem/Ongoing Programs Regulatory Bodies Government Programs Sustainable Initiatives by Key Players Company Profiles Company Overview Role in the Telecom and Data Cable Market Product Portfolio Production Sites Business Strategies Product Development R&D Analysis Analyst View Fujikura Ltd. KEI Industries Limited LS Cable & System Ltd. R R Kabel Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/a9ix5q 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 Mountain View, California, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Computer History Museum (CHM), the leading institution decoding technologyits computing past, digital present, and future impact on humanitytoday proudly announced its 2024 Fellow Award honorees: Atari Team: Allan Alcorn, Nolan Bushnell, and Steven Mayer: For their pioneering role in the development of the video game and personal computing industries For their pioneering role in the development of the video game and personal computing industries Elizabeth "Jake" Feinler: For inspiring and creative leadership of the Network Information Centers that helped shape today's internet For inspiring and creative leadership of the Network Information Centers that helped shape today's internet Jensen Huang: For visionary leadership in the advancement of devices and systems for computer graphics, accelerated computing and artifical intelligence The CHM Fellow Awards honor distinguished technology pioneersunsung heroes and legendsfor their outstanding merit and significant contributions to the advancement of computing and the evolution of the digital age. This years Fellow Awards gala will take place on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at CHM. This prestigious program is supported by collecting, education, research, and media efforts that reflect the seminal work of each Fellow honoree and preserve their stories for future generations. Fellows are selected annually through a public nomination process and honored at an exclusive gala ceremony. Selections are made by a panel of historians, researchers, industry leaders, CHM staff, and past Fellows. Inducting new Fellows is one of the highlights of our year at CHM, said President and CEO Danl Lewin. Were honored to recognize these brilliant, creative individuals and excited to share stories about how their innovations have affected the digital world we live in today. Over its three-decade history, the Fellow Awards have demonstrated the diverse ways people have contributed to computing. Previous winners include Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak, NASA mathematician and hidden figure Katherine Johnson, creator of Java James Gosling, software pioneer Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, semiconductor pioneer Gordon Moore, and World Wide Web creator Tim Berners Lee. For more information about the 2024 Fellow Awards and the history of the program, please visit the Museums website. About CHM The Computer History Museum (CHM) is dedicated to decoding technologyits computing past, digital present, and future impact on humanity. Located in Silicon Valley, the Museum curates the world's foremost collection of artifacts and oral histories, documenting the people, companies, and technological innovations that have shaped the world. Supported by staff, partners, volunteers, pioneers, and visionaries from around the world, CHM offers dynamic experiences spanning research, exhibits, events, and an unparalleled collection. The Museum strives to engage and inspire audiences, empowering them to become informed digital citizens and make choices for a better future. ### Attachment Dublin, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Psoriasis Drugs Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global psoriasis drugs market accounted for USD 12.41 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach at USD 41.26 billion by 2034 with a CAGR of 11.54% during the forecast period 2024-2034. The market will grow due to factors such as the increasing prevalence of psoriasis, improved diagnosis and awareness, advancements in psoriasis treatment choices, the high cost of psoriasis therapy, and a simplified global drug approval process. Factors such as genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, and lifestyle choices are contributing to the global increase in the prevalence of psoriasis. One of the main factors fueling the market expansion for psoriasis medications is its growing prevalence. For instance, AbbVie reported encouraging outcomes in February 2024 from a late-stage clinical trial assessing the experimental interleukin-23 inhibitor risankizumab for the management of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. By type of treatment, the biologic drugs segment accounted for the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global psoriasis drugs market in 2023 owing to the high efficacy, targeted mechanism of action, and increasing acceptance among physicians and patients. Additionally, the small molecule systemic drugs segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the development of innovative formulations, expanded indications, and favorable reimbursement policies. By the mechanism of action, the TNF-alpha inhibitors segment accounted for the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global psoriasis drugs market in 2023 owing to its irreplaceable position in treatment protocols, proven efficacy, and extensive clinical experience. Additionally, the interleukin inhibitors segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the rapidly expanding research, promising clinical trial results, and increasing adoption as first-line therapies. By route of administration, the parenteral (injections) segment accounted for the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global psoriasis drugs market in 2023 owing to the convenience, rapid onset of action, and preference among patients for effective management of psoriasis symptoms. Additionally, the oral segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the increasing development of oral formulations, improved patient compliance, and preference for non-invasive treatment options. By distribution channel, the hospital pharmacies segment accounted for the highest revenue-grossing segment in the global psoriasis drugs market in 2023 owing to the preference for specialized care, availability of a wide range of treatments, and accessibility to patients with severe psoriasis cases. For instance, Novartis released encouraging long-term results in October 2023 regarding the use of its interleukin-17 inhibitor to treat psoriasis. Additionally, the online pharmacies segment is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to the convenience, expanding digital healthcare services, and increasing preference for online purchasing among consumers. North America is anticipated to have the highest revenue share during the forecast period owing to the high prevalence of psoriasis, well-established healthcare infrastructure, and early adoption of advanced treatment options. Additionally, Asia Pacific is predicted to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to rising awareness, improving healthcare infrastructure, and increasing prevalence of psoriasis in the region. Report Scope Base Year: 2023 Forecast Period: 2024-2034 Market Forecast by Type of Treatment, Mechanism of Action, Route of Administration, and Distribution Channel Market Forecast for 5 Regions and 17+ Countries Exhaustive Company Profiles of the Top 10+ Market Players Key Topics Covered 1. Research Methodology 1.1. Study Objectives 1.2. Study Scope 1.3. Research Assumptions 1.4. Research Framework 2. Introduction 2.1. Market Definition 2.2. Global Psoriasis Drugs 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. Psoriasis Drugs Market: Type of Treatment Estimates & Trend Analysis 7.1. Type of Treatment Segment Opportunity Analysis 7.2. Biologic Drugs 7.3. Small Molecule Systemic Drugs 7.4. Tropical Therapies 8. Psoriasis Drugs Market: Mechanism of Action Estimates & Trend Analysis 8.1. Mechanism of Action Segment Opportunity Analysis 8.2. TNF Alpha Inhibitors 8.3. PDE4 Inhibitors 8.4. Interleukin Inhibitors 8.5. Others 9. Psoriasis Drugs Market: Route of Administration Estimates & Trend Analysis 9.1. Route of Administration Segment Opportunity Analysis 9.2. Oral 9.3. Parenteral 9.4. Topical 10. Psoriasis Drugs Market: Distribution Channel Estimates & Trend Analysis 10.1. Distribution Channel Segment Opportunity Analysis 10.2. Hospital Pharmacies 10.3. Retail Pharmacies 10.4. Online Pharmacies 11. Regional Market Analysis 11.1. Regional Market Opportunity Analysis 12. North America Psoriasis Drugs Market 13. Europe Global Psoriasis Drugs Market 14. Asia Pacific Global Psoriasis Drugs Market 15. Latin America Global Psoriasis Drugs Market 16. MEA Global Psoriasis Drugs Market 17. Competitor Analysis 17.1. Company Market Share Analysis, 2023 17.2. Major Recent Developments 18. Company Profiles 18.1. AbbVie Inc. 18.2. Amgen Inc. 18.3. Johnson & Johnson 18.4. Novartis International AG 18.5. Pfizer Inc. 18.6. Eli Lilly and Company 18.7. Merck & Co., Inc. 18.8. Celgene Corporation (acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb) 18.9. UCB S.A. 18.10. LEO Pharma A/S 18.11. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. 18.12. Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH 18.13. GlaxoSmithKline plc 18.14. Biogen Inc. 18.15. Almirall S.A. 19. Conclusion 20. Recommendations For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/e0e48l 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. Highlights The Carpenter Lake Uranium Project is fully permitted for an extensive drilling program. The Project hosts extensive previous exploration with multiple high priority targets across the Cable Bay Shear Zone. The Project covers 13,387 hectares of the Cable Bay Shear Zone parallel to the Virgin River Shear Zone. 1 Camecos Centennial deposit is located 45km southeast of the Project. 1 The Project is 95 km west of Camecos past producing Key Lake uranium mine which extracted over 220 million lbs. of uranium by open pit at an average grade of 2.3% U 3 O 8 from 1983-1997. 1 Historical sampling from 2014 reveal multiple radioactive boulders on the Project with three (3) over 1,000 ppm uranium, and up to 1,550 ppm uranium. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greenridge Exploration Inc. (Greenridge or the Company) (CSE: GXP | FRA: HW3), is pleased to announce it has entered into a Property Option Agreement (the Agreement) dated May 29, 2024 with ALX Resources Inc. (ALX) and Pacton Gold Inc. (Pacton and together with ALX, the "Optionors") to acquire a 100% interest in the Carpenter Lake Uranium Project (the Carpenter Lake Property or the Project) located in the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan (the "Acquisition"). The Project consists of 7 mineral claims covering 13,387 hectares near the Southern Margin of the Athabasca Basin (Please see Figure 1). Russell Starr, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, The Carpenter Lake Project compliments the Companys uranium portfolio perfectly. Greenridge is now positioned with highly advanced projects in the world's top uranium jurisdictions, the Athabasca Basin and the Thelon Basin. Previous exploration has identified multiple highly prospective priority areas, which will be the main focus of our future exploration programs. The Project is fully permitted which allows the Company to quickly build on previous exploration efforts with a summer exploration program which may include drilling high priority targets. Figure 1: Carpenter Lake Uranium Project Regional Map The Project is located along the Cable Bay Shear Zone (CBSZ) parallel to the Virgin River Shear Zone, which hosts Camecos Centennial Uranium Deposit, 40km to the northeast of the Carpenter Lake Property. The Project is 95 km west of Camecos past producing Key Lake Uranium Mine, which extracted 225 million lbs. of uranium by open pit at an average grade of 2.3% U 3 O 8 from 1983-1997.1 Figure 2: Carpenter Lake Uranium Project Claim Map Carpenter Lake Property Geology1 The Project geology includes granite gneiss and granite pegmatite which are the dominant lithologies at the Carpenter Lake Property, with lesser mafic gneiss, pelitic schist and scattered mafic dykes. The CBSZ is delineated on the Project by three parallel electromagnetic conductor axes, suggesting the hanging wall, footwall and middle of a conductive panel of graphitic or sulphide-rich rocks. Previous exploration includes numerous uranium anomalies in historical lake sediment samples, reinforced further by airborne radiometric anomalies both along and west of the CBSZ. The corridor of well-defined conductors along the CBSZ further highlights the potential for uranium mineralization along the regional structure, in particular where there is evidence for cross-cutting structures. The presence of conductive graphitic pelites as defined by airborne and ground electromagnetic surveys is confirmed by historic diamond drilling immediately north of the Project. More recent exploration done in 2014-2015 includes: Regional scale airborne gravity gradiometer survey. Airborne Versatile Time-Domain Electromagnetic (VTEM) survey followed by a low altitude airborne gamma spectrometer survey. Radon-in-water and in-soil surveys collected sixty lake sediment samples, and boulder prospecting program. Detailed follow-up radon-in-soil and soil geochemical surveys to further define potential targets. Boulder sampling from 2014 reveal multiple radioactive boulders on the Project with three (3) over 1,000 ppm uranium, and up to 1,550 ppm uranium (Please see Figure 3). Figure 3: Carpenter Lake Property Geochemistry (Rock samples are primarily sourced from boulders) Carpenter Lake Regional Geology The Carpenter Lake Property is situated along the CBSZ, immediately south of the southern rim of the Athabasca Basin. The Project extends from 1 to 35 km south of the Basin margin and is underlain by Archean rocks of the Virgin River and Mudjatik Domain. Athabasca Group sandstone does not occur within the Project area. The Virgin River Domain to the west of the CBSZ is about 40 km wide east-west. The bulk of the Virgin River Domain is comprised of felsic gneisses featuring a strong northeasterly fabric. Overall, these rock assemblages are lithologically and metamorphically similar to those of the Mudjatik Domain east of the CBSZ. The Virgin Schist Group occurs as lenses and bands that become increasingly more abundant toward the western boundary of the domain. The group is composed of psammopelites, quartzite, pelite, amphibolite, calc-silicates, and banded iron formation. Metamorphic grade decreases towards the west. Figure 4: Greenridge Exploration Uranium Projects Portfolio Option Agreement Details On May 29, 2024, the Company entered into the Agreement to acquire the option from the Optionors to earn a hundred percent (100%) interest in the Project through a combination of cash payments, common share issuances and incurrence of exploration expenditures, as follows: paying the Optionors an aggregate of $200,000 in cash as follows: $100,000 on or before the date that is ten (10) business days after May 29, 2024 (the Effective Date) or five (5) business days after the date that the Company enters into an exploration agreement with ALX and English River First Nation and an exploration agreement with ALX and Kineepik Metis Local Inc., whichever is later; and $100,000 on or before the date that is sixty (60) business days after the Effective Date; issuing to the Optionors (60% to ALX; 40% to Pacton) an aggregate of 1,500,000 common shares (Shares) at a deemed price of $0.82 per Share as follows: 500,000 Shares on or before the date that is ten (10) business days after the Effective Date or five (5) business days after the date that the Company enters into an exploration agreement with ALX and English River First Nation and an exploration agreement with ALX and Kineepik Metis Local Inc., whichever is later (the First Tranche Shares); 500,000 Shares on or before the date that is one (1) calendar year after the Effective Date (the Second Tranche Shares); and 500,000 Shares on or before the date that is two (2) calendar years after the Effective Date (the Third Tranche Shares); and incurring a minimum of $1,000,000 in exploration expenditures on the Project as follows: $300,000 on or before the date that is one (1) calendar year after the Effective Date; $300,000 on or before the date that is two (2) calendar years after the Effective Date; and $400,000 on or before the date that is three (3) calendar years after the Effective Date. Pursuant to the Agreement, the First Tranche Shares, Second Tranche Shares and Third Tranche Shares will all be subject to escrow, with the First Tranche Shares released over a 24-month period, the Second Tranche Shares released over an 18-month period and the Third Tranche Shares released over a 12-month period. All securities issued in connection with the Agreement will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day. The Project is subject to a 2% net smelter returns royalty. No finders' fees were paid on this arm's length Agreement. National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed by Neil McCallum B.Sc., P.Geo., of Dahrouge Geological Consulting, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. References 1 Source: 2014 June, Technical Report on the Carpenter Lake Property. Prepared by Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geol. GeoVector Management Inc. 2 Source: 1978 Assessment report (number 81075) by Pan Ocean Oil Ltd. About Greenridge Exploration Inc. Greenridge Exploration Inc. (CSE: GXP | FRA: HW3) is a mineral exploration company dedicated to creating shareholder value through the acquisition, exploration, and development of critical mineral projects in North America. The Carpenter Lake Uranium Project is located in the Athabasca Basin consisting of 7 mineral claims covering 13,387 hectares across the Cable Bay Shear Zone and the Company is advancing the Project to test multiple high priority targets. The Companys Nut Lake Uranium Project located in the Thelon Basin includes historical drilling which intersected up to 9ft of 0.69% U 3 O 8 including 4.90% U 3 O 8 over 1ft from 8ft depth2. Additionally, the Companys Weyman Copper Project in southeast British Columbia sits on the south portion of the famous Quesnel Terrance. The Company is led by an experienced management team and board of directors with significant expertise in capital raising and advancing mining projects. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Russell Starr Chief Executive Officer, Director Telephone: +1 (778) 897-3388 Email: info@greenridge-exploration.com Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the project acquisition bringing a low-risk opportunity, the Company, building a strong battery metals portfolio with low-risk opportunities that positively impact the Company and its shareholders and the Company providing an initial work plan are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Project and its mineralization potential; the Companys objectives, goals, or future plans with respect to the Project; completion of the Acquisition; and the Company's anticipated exploration program at the Project. These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4ef590cf-ca23-433c-bd54-65aacc463851 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a23db213-7a85-4af9-96c7-5f4eb8f3505a https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9bd6f0f3-9c12-4acd-938b-4290e501a91c https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e4b762e-e9d0-4d2d-9e75-9c5a90a35380 Dublin, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global PVDF Resin Market Report by Type, Type of Crystalline Phase, Application, End Use Industry, and Region 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global market for Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resin has witnessed substantial growth, achieving a valuation of USD 1.16 billion as of the year 2023. Continuing on this trajectory, the market is forecasted to expand further, reaching an approximate value of USD 1.88 billion by the year 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.50% during the period from 2023 to 2032. This thermoplastic fluoropolymer resin, known for its robustness and resistance to various environmental factors, is gaining traction across numerous industries, propelling the growth of the market. Applications Driving Demand The versatility of PVDF resin has led to its increased adoption in a variety of applications. Its resilience to chemicals, abrasion, and flame has made it a material of choice in the aerospace and defense sectors for the protection of equipment. The growing use of PVDF resin as a binder in lithium-ion batteries and its advantageous properties for easy processing in molding, extrusion, and compounding are key contributors to the expansion of the market. Furthermore, its application in wires and cables for various electronic devices and avionics has been a significant growth driver. Industry Impacts and Prospects The PVDF resin market has seen a significant influx in demand, attributed to the expanding electronics industry and the proliferating sales of consumer electronic goods. Increased governmental investments in renewable energy sectors across the world have also been instrumental in fostering market growth. These trends indicate a flourishing future for the market in the coming years. Market Segmentation Synopsis Insights into the market segmentation reveal that the PVDF resin market is categorized based on type, crystalline phase, applications, and end-use industries. The primary types include PVDF granule and powder. By crystalline phase, its divided into alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Applications range from coatings, injection and extrusion products, lithium-ion battery binders, photovoltaic films, to water treatment membranes and filaments. Key industries leveraging PVDF resin encompass chemical processing, electrical and electronics, construction, new energies, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and more. Regional Analysis The report also provides a comprehensive regional analysis, detailing the market presence across North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. This segment of the report underlines the global reach of the PVDF resin market, accentuating its significance across various geographical locales. Competitive Landscape The competitive scenario paints a picture of a market characterized by a blend of established industry players. These key entities are continuously engaging in research and development to enhance the applicability of PVDF resin, thus stimulating market competition and growth. In summary, the global PVDF resin market is moving towards a period of robust growth, buoyed by its increasing utility in multiple industries and applications. The market is expected to continue its upward trend, thanks to the superior qualities of PVDF resin that cater to the diverse needs of modern industrial practices. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 136 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1.16 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $1.88 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.5% Regions Covered Global Companies Featured 3M Company AGC Chemicals (AGC Inc.) Akzo Nobel N.V. Arkema S.A Daikin Industries Ltd. Dongyue Group Kureha Corporation PPG Industries Inc. Sinochem Lantian Co. Ltd. Solvay S.A The Sherwin-Williams Company Zhejiang Fotech International Co. Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7611ck 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 A recent European survey revealed that 80 percent of thoracic surgeons declared to follow the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, focussed on improving peri-operative lung cancer care,1 simultaneously, patients appear to continue experiencing confusion regarding the available treatment pathway. BARCELONA, Spain, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Johnson & Johnson MedTech hosted a symposium during the 32nd Meeting of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) (26-28 May 2024), in Barcelona, Spain. The Johnson & Johnson symposium, HCP and Patient Perspectives: Optimising Surgical Outcomes Through Collaboration Across the Treatment Continuum, convened a patient advocate and a group of healthcare professionals -including thoracic surgeons, a thoracic oncologist and a physiotherapist-, to share their viewpoints during an interactive discussion aiming to optimise communication between patients and their healthcare team, and improve the peri-operative treatment of lung cancer.2 Some of the experts from the recent symposium will now gather to establish an advisory board promoted by J&J MedTech, focused on developing a medium to long-term plan to redefine the surgical lung cancer treatment pathway, and on promoting further collaboration between surgeons, clinicians, and patients. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, resulting in over 375,000 deaths each year in Europe alone.3 It is often detected and diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment options are limited and survival is poorest.4 When lung cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, up to 90 percent of people will survive at least 5 years.5 This figure decreases to less than 10 percent with a late-stage diagnosis.5 At Johnson and Johnson, changing the trajectory of lung cancer is our priority and we are committed to supporting early diagnosis to help improve survival and disease outcomes for patients. As part of our work with The Lung Cancer Policy Network - a worldwide network of almost 70 leading lung cancer experts, patient organisations, and industry representatives -, we use our collective expertise to make survival from lung cancer a policy priority around the world, through the wider implementation of lung cancer screening, said Gianluca Casali, Senior Medical Director, Johnson & Johnson MedTech. Open discussions between patients and multi-disciplinary healthcare teams involved in lung cancer management are crucial to identify areas where improvements are needed in both diagnosis and care, to ensure that lung cancer is diagnosed early, and that each individual patient receives the best treatment option for their particular cancer, to live longer, with the best quality of life possible. This is why we are dedicated to promoting and facilitating this exchange of opinions. In a recent European survey of over 200 thoracic surgeons, promoted by J&J MedTech and LuCE (Lung Cancer Europe) and presented at the ESTS meeting, 50 percent of respondents acknowledged being successful and 30 percent very successful in implementing the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for surgery of lung cancer in their hospital department, an evidence-based multidisciplinary protocol of peri-operative care.1,6 At the same time, survey results indicated inconsistent implementation of the protocol, with 36 percent of respondents stating they dont have a specialised pulmonary nurse.1 Tumour boards and the assignment of a dedicated nurse are critical to ensure that patient care is aligned with the best available evidence, allowing clinicians to put forward personalised treatment options. The data of the survey indicated that the ERAS protocol is not always fully implemented, which could lead to inadequate patient management and missed communication among parties, as suggested by some of the panellists. J&J MedTech is committed to exploring solutions to help HCPs maintain effective pre- and post-operative communication with patients, including through the use of digital technologies. A diagnosis of lung cancer is overwhelming for patients, and lack of communication and clarity around the treatment options available adds to the feeling of complete loss we all come to experience, said Merel Hennink*, patient advocate. What matters the most to us is to know that our healthcare team is organising a treatment plan based on our individual needs and unique features of our cancer. Once weve had a chance to digest our diagnosis news, we want to have those conversations with our oncologist, to discuss our treatment options and we want to be able to make an informed decision on the best course of action for us and our families. We know that screening of high-risk lung cancer individuals is an effective and cost-effective way of identifying patients who are most likely to respond to a curative treatment; we now have the opportunity to transform lung cancer to a treatable condition if it is diagnosed early, said Professor Cecilia Pompili, Associate Professor and Thoracic Oncology Surgeon University of Leeds, UK. Surgery plays an integral role in the multidisciplinary care of lung cancer, alongside emerging treatments, and it is crucial for us to understand how available treatments impact patients' daily lives. Clinicians must grasp patients preferences and psychophysical burdens during their treatment. We must empower patients in playing an active part in their lung cancer management plan, as a means of improving overall outcomes for each individual patient. *Merel Hennink is a patient advocate. She has been compensated for her participation in the symposium but not for any media work. Professor Cecilia Pompili is a paid consultant to Johnson & Johnson MedTech. She has been compensated for her participation in the symposium but not for any media work. #ENDS# ABOUT JOHNSON&JOHNSON MEDTECH At Johnson & Johnson MedTech, we unleash diverse healthcare expertise, purposeful technology, and a passion for people to transform the future of medical intervention and empower everyone to live their best life possible. For more than a century, we have driven breakthrough scientific innovation to address unmet needs and reimagine health. In surgery, orthopaedics, vision, and interventional solutions, we continue to help save lives and create a future where healthcare solutions are smarter, less invasive, and more personalised. Learn more at https://www.jnjmedtech.com/en-EMEA. Follow us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/jnjmedtechuki/. ABOUT JOHNSON&JOHNSON MEDTECH IN LUNG CANCER Johnson & Johnson MedTech is committed to change the trajectory of lung cancer and potentially save more lives across the globe and in EMEA, by addressing various initiatives. Our approach includes: Developing innovative technologies: we invest in the research and development of advanced technologies to improve treatment outcomes for lung cancer. We aim to provide healthcare professionals with effective tools to enhance patient care. Collaboration with healthcare professionals and institutions: we work closely with healthcare professionals and institutions to understand their needs and challenges in combating lung cancer. By collaborating closely, we aim to develop comprehensive solutions and professional education programmes that address these challenges and provide better patient outcomes. Advocating for increased access: we advocate for increased access to lung cancer screening and quality care. We believe that every patient should have equal opportunities for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status. Raising awareness: we actively strive to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early intervention in lung cancer. By educating the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers and collaborating with patients advocacy groups, we aim to encourage proactive measures and reduce the impact of lung cancer. CAUTIONS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Ethicon, Inc., Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC, Johnson & Johnson Enterprise Innovation Inc., and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: uncertainty of regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; challenges to patents; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; changes in behaviour and spending patterns of purchasers of healthcare products and services; and trends toward healthcare cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnsons Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including in the sections captioned Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Item 1A. Risk Factors, and in Johnson & Johnsons subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at sec.gov, jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Neither of Ethicon, Inc., Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC, Johnson & Johnson Enterprise Innovation Inc., nor Johnson & Johnson, undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. Johnson & Johnson Medical GmbH 2024, EM_ETH_ALLE_381180 All rights reserved. 1 Johnson & Johnson. Survey of thoracic surgeons conducted in May 2024. Data on file. 2 Johnson & Johnson MedTech symposium. HCP and Patient Perspectives: Optimising Surgical Outcomes Through Collaboration Across the Treatment Continuum. Presented during the 32nd Meeting of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Barcelona, Spain, on 26th May 2024. 3 International Agency for Research on Cancer. Global Cancer Observatory. Cancer Today GOBOCAN 2022 -Lung. Available at: https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/cancers/15-trachea-bronchus-and-lung-fact-sheet.pdf. Last accessed: May 2024. 4 World Health Organization. Lung cancer -fact sheet (June 2023). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lung-cancer. Last accessed: May 2024. 5 Jing N, et al. Early diagnosis of lung cancer: which is the optimal choice? Aging 2021;13(4):62146227. 6 Batchelor TJP, et al. Guidelines for enhanced recovery after lung surgery: recommendations of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS). European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery 2019;55(1):91-115. Attachments PITTSBURGH, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The International Microelectronics Assembly and Packaging Society (IMAPS), the largest organization dedicated to the advancement and growth of microelectronics and electronics packaging, today formally introduced IMAPS Academy , an online training resource to support the industrys rapidly growing need for workforce development. IMAPS has a strong track record delivering in-person professional development initiatives, which it is now expanding to an on-demand environment. Students and professionals of all levels of experience in the semiconductor advanced packaging ecosystem can learn about relevant processes, materials, and structures that are key in enabling microelectronic packaging directly from leading industry experts. IMAPS Academy offers convenient professional development and technical training for students and others new to the industry, as well as opportunities for those currently involved in advanced packaging to expand their knowledge and capabilities, in turn enabling them to change roles or increase their value. Employers can also engage with IMAPS for future workforce development and employee onboarding, to minimize skill gaps and develop talent to give them a competitive advantage. IMAPS Academy is set to become the gold standard in semiconductor advanced packaging education, stated Brian Schieman, Executive Director, IMAPS. Our program is focused on delivering value-added training from an industry perspective so students can gain current, marketable knowledge, enabling them to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. With investment in advanced packaging accelerating globally, the need for workforce development is growing in kind, and IMAPS Academy offers an excellent opportunity to build this specialized talent pool. IMAPS Academy is a global platform that offers introductory, advanced and specialty training topics. The courses are focused on key advanced packaging technologies in support of various industries, including: 5G/mobile, IoT, automotive, military, power, industrial, networking, advanced computing & artificial intelligence, and medical. Academy instructors are leading technical experts who share both personal experiences and industry knowledge on focused topics. IMAPS provides Certificates of Completion for each Academy training course. Participants can complete a series of courses to achieve a strong knowledge base and provide certificates to employers for continuous education requirements. The introductory course What is a Package? is complementary and intended for those unfamiliar with the basics of IC packaging or wanting a quick refresher course. All other courses are offered with member, non-member and student pricing and include topics on chip packaging basics, wire bonding, fan out wafer level packaging, flip chip, system-in-package, failure analysis and more. With its dynamic curriculum and continuous updates, IMAPS Academy ensures that participants remain at the forefront of technological advancements. Future courses will delve into cutting-edge topics such as 3D package design, advanced materials, mechanical modeling, MEMS sensors and silicon photonics, reflecting our commitment to staying ahead of industry trends, said Schieman. Visit the IMAPS Academy website to learn more. About IMAPS The International Microelectronics Assembly and Packaging Society (IMAPS) is the largest society dedicated to the advancement and growth of microelectronics and electronics packaging. Worldwide, IMAPS offers educational and marketing opportunities for industry professionals, packaging organizations, and students through technical conferences and workshops, professional development courses, IMAPSource microelectronics packaging research library, local chapters, and exhibitions. The Society encompasses a wide-range of technologies and topics critical to microelectronics assembly and packaging, including: on-shoring, heterogenous integration, fan-out wafer level packaging, 2.5D/3D technologies, system-in-package, photonics/optical, power packaging, CPI, package design/modeling, interconnects, wire bonding, flip chip, MEMS, sensors, packaging for 5g/6g, RF/wireless, signal/power integrity, advanced materials, substrates and more. Company contact: Brian Schieman IMAPS bschieman@imaps.org (919) 293-5000 Agency Contact: Stephanie Quinn Kiterocket squinn@kiterocket.com (480) 316-8370 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/24226f94-2c90-4d53-b168-dd4eba9a8328 Venice, Italy, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an agreement that connects the pinnacle of luxury from sea to sky, Ferretti Group and Flexjet have announced a contractual partnership. The agreement was signed against the magnificent backdrop of the Venice Boat Show, where Ferretti Group, one of the top exhibitors, is presenting a remarkable fleet of 10 models, with two world premieres: Custom Line Navetta 38 and Pershing GTX 80. The partnership between the two world-leading luxury brands will provide combined, exclusive solutions to their audience of global Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs). The joint commitment aims to provide unparalleled luxury and exclusivity through a united philosophy: the constant pursuit of excellence in performance, design and service. Specifically, the collaboration offers a number of exclusive benefits to clients from both companies. On a select and special occasion basis, Ferretti Group customers will have the opportunity to access Flexjets global fleet of over 300 private jets and private helicopters, which in Europe includes the ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650, Super-Midsize Praetor 600 and Sikorsky S-76 helicopter. Additionally, selected Ferretti Group customers will be granted the privilege of utilising Flexjets growing number of private terminals, offering exclusive gateways at key airport locations such as Teterboro close to New York City, Naples in Florida and Van Nuys in California. Flexjets shared aircraft owners and customers will benefit in turn from VIP access to prestigious global boat shows; private tours of the Ferretti Groups Riva shipyard; and preferential terms on Riva Brand Experience line products and accessories. The collaboration will also involve a shared presence at international boat shows and other high profile events, and in the joint curation of the bespoke and extraordinary private client experiences for which both are already renowned, such as Ferretti Groups Private Preview in Monaco, and Flexjets primary VIP viewing experience at the historic Palio di Siena. Furthermore, with Flexjets customised and boutique-style LXi Cabin Collection interiors a key differentiator in its field, the agreement includes an intent to create a Riva-inspired interior for one of the private jet companys flagship and iconic Gulfstream G650 aircraft. Alberto Galassi, Ferretti Group CEO, said: People who love cruising on Ferretti Group yachts expect standards of absolute excellence when they fly too, which is why Im so pleased to associate our name with Flexjet, a partner that shares our same passion and desire to offer customers an increasingly rewarding experience. Venice is the ideal showcase to celebrate this important agreement. I have a background in the business jet industry and can confirm that Flexjet is the best partner. This exciting partnership takes the decades-long expertise and luxury brand power from leaders in two complementary sectors, and combines them to present todays UHNWI audience with a set of exclusive and unique advantages, added Kenn Ricci, Chairman of Flexjet. I have been a huge admirer of Ferretti Groups philosophy for many years, and we share a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver a truly exceptional luxury experience. Im excited to see how this significant strategic alliance can lift our offerings to even greater heights of excellence. For more information: Ferretti Group Media Center; Flexjet Press Centre Flexjet A global leader in private aviation, Flexjet has been long-established in the fractional jet ownership market since 1995. Its global headquarters and Global Operations Control Center are in Cleveland, Ohio, with its European operation based in Londons Mayfair and at Farnborough Airport. In Europe, Flexjet offers shared ownership of its premium fleet of business jets, including the Embraer Praetor 600 and Gulfstream G650. Internationally the exclusive fleet includes the Embraer Phenom 300, Praetor 500, Praetor 600, Bombardier Challenger 350 and 3500, the Gulfstream G450 and G650. Red Label by Flexjet, a market differentiator, features the most modern fleet in the industry, flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft and the LXi Cabin Collection of interiors. Flexjets helicopter division offers flying programmes on a fleet of owned and operated helicopters, including the Sikorsky S-76, Agusta AW109 and AW169, serving locations in the United Kingdom, northeastern United States, and southern Florida. In Europe Flexjet holds a 4AIR Silver Rating, recognising its leading approach to sustainability. This includes offsetting 300% of carbon emissions for every flight, with Owners also able to commit to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF); and invest in the Aviation Climate Fund (ACF) to support future flight research and development projects. Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. Visit www.flexjet.com or follow us on Instagram @FlexjetInc. Ferretti Group Thanks to Italys centuries-old yachting tradition, the Ferretti Group is a world leader in the design, construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of prestigious and exclusive brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, CRN, Custom Line and Wally. Led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, the Ferretti Group owns and manages seven shipyards located across Italy, which combine the efficiency of industrial production with typical world-class Italian craftsmanship, reaching customers in more than 70 countries across the world thanks to a direct presence in Europe, the United States of America and Asia and its network of approximately 60 carefully selected dealers. The Ferretti Group motor yachts, utmost expression of Made in Italy elegance and creative genius, have always stood out for their exceptional quality, cutting-edge technology, record safety and optimum performance in the sea, as well as their exclusive design and timeless appeal. For more information: www.ferrettigroup.com Ferretti Group Head of Media Relations Giovanni Bogetto giovanni.bogetto@ferrettigroup.com Francesca Fusaro francesca.fusaro@ferrettigroup.com +39 02 83994 000 Barabino & Partners Federico Vercellino f.vercellino@barabino.it Mob: +39 331.5745171 Giorgia Serra g.serra@barabino.it Mob: +39 348.63.42.366. Flexjet Viv Diprose viv.diprose@flexjet.com Tom Ville tom.ville@flexjet.com The PC Agency Paul Charles/Lara Good flexjet@pc.agency Tel: +44 (0)20 7768 0001 Attachments SAN FRANCISCO, CA, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TYLin, a globally recognized full-service infrastructure consulting firm, announces that the Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA) has selected the York-Peel Feedermain Emergency Repair as the 2023 Project of the Year in the Emergency Construction/Repair Category. The York-Peel Feedermain is part of a 360-kilometre transmission water main system supplying 30% of the water demand for Canadas Regional Municipality of York (the Region). The emergency repair project used Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) lining to efficiently repair leaks in this critical feedermain with zero negative environmental impact. TYLin International Canada Inc. (TYLin) served as the Prime Consultant for the project. In 2022, as part of a leak detection inspection, the Region identified two leak points near and beneath the Humber River within an area regulated by the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority. The severity of one of the leaks, estimated at 30 litres/second, demanded swift and decisive action. In cooperation with the Region, TYLin, and Robinson Consultants Inc. provided an expeditious and comprehensive evaluation of potential rehabilitation measures. The repairs needed to be made with the feedermain shut down during the winter months and completed in time to meet peak spring demand to ensure continued uninterrupted service to the community. With significant time constraints and the environmentally sensitive project area, CFRP lining was the optimal solution. CFRP involves applying layers of carbon fiber fabric coated with a polymer resin to strengthen and repair structures from within. This project marked the first use of CFRP for the Region. The Region, consultant team, and contractors worked together to develop the work plan needed to decommission the feedermain, inspect the condition, design and complete the repair, and recommission the feedermain in only six months. Overall, a total of 370 metres (1, 214 feet) of feedermain was rehabilitated using CFRP. This project illustrates the advantages of CFRP in achieving urgent repairs of pipes greater than 750 millimetres in diameter with minimal environmental impact, notes TYLin Project Manager Nathalie McCutcheon, P.Eng. Conventional industry options could not have met the challenges of this project, but having consultants and contractors skilled in the application of this technology was critically important to the projects success and the safety of those completing the installation. We are thrilled to be recognized by OPWA. TYLin and our project partners accepted the award on May 29, 2024, in Mississauga, Ontario. OPWA is the local chapter of the Canadian Public Works Association and the American Public Works Association. Its award program highlights the best leaders, projects, and innovations in public works. About TYLin: Founded in 1954, TYLin is a globally recognized, full-service infrastructure consulting firm committed to providing innovative, cost-effective, constructible designs for the global infrastructure market. With 3,600 employees working in 97 offices throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe, the firm provides support on projects of varying size and complexity. TYLin is a member of Sidara, one of the worlds leading architecture, engineering, project management, and energy consultancy groups. For more information about the company, please visit www.tylin.com. Attachments AGOURA HILLS, Calif., May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc (OTCQB:OTLC) announced today its CEO- Dr. Vuong Trieu will be participating at the BIO International 2024 meeting on June3-6, San Diego. The BIO International Convention is the largest and most comprehensive event for biotechnology, representing the full ecosystem of biotech with more than 18,500 industry leaders from across the globe. About Oncotelic Oncotelic (f/k/a Mateon Therapeutics, Inc.), was formed in the State of New York in 1988 as OXiGENE, Inc., was reincorporated in the State of Delaware in 1992, and changed its name to Mateon Therapeutics, Inc. in 2016, and Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. in November 2020. Oncotelic is seeking to leverage its deep expertise in oncology drug development to improve treatment outcomes and survival of cancer patients with a special emphasis on rare pediatric cancers. Oncotelic has rare pediatric designation for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG through OT-101) through its 45% joint venture, GMP Biotechnology Limited, melanoma (through CA4P), and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (through OXi 4503). Oncotelic acquired PointR Data Inc. in November 2019 to build an AI driven biotechnology company. Further, Oncotelic acquired AL-101, during the 4th quarter of 2021, for the intranasal delivery of apomorphine. We intend to develop AL-101 for the treatment of Parkinson Disease, erectile dysfunction, female sexual disorder and hypoactive sexual desire disorder. All these ailments have a very large population suffering from them and there is a need for treatments for each. For more information on AL-101, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 19, 2023. Oncotelic's Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this communication regarding strategy, future operations, future financial position, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may", "expect", "anticipate" "hope", "vision", "optimism", "design", "exciting", "promising", "will", "conviction", "estimate," "intend," "believe", "quest for a cure of cancer", "innovation-driven", "paradigm-shift", "high scientific merit", "impact potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about future plans related to the operations of the JV, taking the JV into an initial public offering or the success thereof, the progress, timing of clinical development, scope and success of future clinical trials, the reporting of clinical data for the Companys product candidates and the potential use of the Company's product candidates to treat various cancer indications as well as obtaining required regulatory approval to conduct clinical trials and upon granting of approval by the regulatory agencies, the successful marketing of the products; building and the success of our nanoparticle platform and the related success of launching the platform, the development of the Companys AI suite including but not limited to AI Chatbots, the public access to the Companys AI suite, the success of the development of the AI suite or any other AI technologies and whether if any or portion thereof the Companys AI suite or technologies will be commercialized and launched for sale. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements or may not occur at all. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results, including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies, clinical trial site activation or enrollment rates that are lower than expected, changes in expected or existing competition, changes in the regulatory environment, failure of collaborators to support or advance collaborations or product candidates and unexpected litigation or other disputes, taking the Company or its affiliates through initial public offerings. These risks are not exhaustive, the company faces known and unknown risks, including the risk factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 19, 2023 and in the company's other periodic filings. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise. Contact Information: For Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc.: Investor Relations ir@oncotelic.com BALTIMORE, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Urological Association (AUA) today announced that Jacob Thatcher, DO, has been named the 2024-2025 H. Logan Holtgrewe Legislative Fellow. This fellowship is designed to prepare and educate urology residents and fellows in the legislative aspect of health policy. As the AUAs Holtgrewe Fellow, Dr. Thatcher will complete a six-week fellowship with a legislative office in Washington, DC, and participate in major AUA advocacy initiatives, including the Annual Urology Advocacy Summit and meetings of the AUAs Public Policy Council and Legislative Affairs Committee. He will also attend the Brandeis University Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy & Management. Each year, the Holtgrewe Fellowship draws high-quality applicants with diverse backgrounds and advocacy experience who share a common interest in progressing AUA advocacy, and 2024 is no different, said AUA Public Policy Council Chair-Elect Dr. Mark Edney. Dr. Jacob Thatcher personifies all the traits the selection committee hopes for in a Holtgrewe Fellow. He has a passion for health policy, as demonstrated by his portfolio, which includes service on the Urology Work Force Task Force. We look forward to his future work in advancing urologic advocacy, ensuring the protection of our specialty, and expanding access for our patients. He is the ideal choice for the 2024-2025 Holtgrewe Fellow, and I congratulate him on this achievement. Dr. Thatcher will complete his urologic surgery residency at Jefferson Health in New Jersey in July 2024. He is excited to return to his hometown in rural Southeastern Idaho to practice urology. Jacob grew up on a potato farm and taught anatomy at Brigham Young University-Idaho. Jacobs passion is enhancing access to medicine in our rural communities, and he was named National Rural Student Doctor of the Year in medical school. He is a prior Fellow of the National Rural Health Association and was previously recognized as a Paul Ambrose Scholar for his work addressing chronic pain in our rural communities. The Holtgrewe Fellowship program was established in recognition of Dr. H. Logan Holtgrewe, former AUA president and past chairman of the AUAs Health Policy Council. The Holtgrewe Fellowship is open to all AUA residents in their research year, fellows, and first-year post-graduates. Applications are available on the AUA website starting in January of each year. Learn more about the program. About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 25,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy. Attachment COLUMBIA FALLS, Maine, and ARLINGTON, Va., May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wreaths Across America Radio proudly announces the upcoming round table celebrating women in military service. This discussion will air on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 1 PM EST Women Veterans Recognition Day and can be heard exclusively on Wreaths Across America Radio, available on the iHeart Radio app, TuneIn, the Audacy app and www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio. The discussion will focus on women in service, highlighting their contributions throughout history to national security through military service. It will also touch on issues and opportunities unique to women veterans and the history of the Womens Armed Services Integration Act. The guest panelists listed below will be interviewed by Phyllis Wilson, retired United States Army Chief Warrant Officer Five and President of the Military Womens Memorial, and Karen Worcester, Wreaths Across Americas Executive Director. Distinguished panelists: JoAnne S. Bass, Retired Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and Honorary Board Chair, Military Womens Memorial Foundation. CMSAF Bass served in the highest enlisted level of leadership in the Air Force and, as such, provided direction for the enlisted force, representing their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government. She served as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of more than 600,000 Total Force Airmen. Chief Bass was the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force to be appointed to and serve in the highest noncommissioned officer position in the Air Force. She was also the first woman to hold the highest senior enlisted rank in any United States military branch. Octavia Harris, Command Master Chief, U.S. Navy (Ret.). She is a Subcommittee Chair, Secretary of Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services and the former Chair, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. Additionally, Harris is a member of the Secretary of Human and Health Services Advisory Committee on Women and Children and the NAACP Armed Services and Veterans Committee member. In 1994, the combat prohibition ban was lifted, and Harris became one of the first enlisted women to serve aboard a combatant warship. She served aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68), her Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMDCM) sea tour was aboard USS Pinckney (DDG 91), and her last tour was as CMDCM of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, leading 10,000 men and women in support of the commands vision and mission. She served for 30 years, mentoring hundreds of Sailors, and still uses her military training to help sexual assault survivors today. Additionally, Harris is the Texas Ambassador for the Military Womens Memorial. Lourdes Tiglao, Executive Director, Center for Women Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Air Force Veteran. Tiglao serves as primary advisor to the Secretary on Department policies, programs, and legislation that affect women veterans. In addition, she oversees the Centers activities, which include monitoring and coordinating VAs administration of health care, benefits, services, and programs for women Veterans; serving as an advocate for cultural transformation (both within VA and in the general public) in recognizing the service and contributions of women veterans and servicemembers and raising awareness of the responsibility to treat women veterans with dignity and respect. Through our partnership with the Military Womens Memorial, we are committed to sharing the stories of resiliency, purpose, and success so that future generations of women understand the opportunities available to them through military service, said Jeff Pierce, Director of Broadcast and Media Partnerships, Wreaths Across America. We are grateful to be joined by this distinguished panel of veterans who continue to serve our nation, communities and their fellow veterans. For a complete list of programming and to tune in to Wreaths Across America Radio, please visit https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio. The station can also be heard on the iHeartRadio, Audacy, and TuneIn apps. # # # About Wreaths Across America Radio Wreaths Across America Radio is a 24/7 Internet stream. Its unique format provides informational and inspiring content about members of the U.S. armed forces, their families, military veterans, and volunteers throughout the country and overseas who support the mission to Remember, Honor, Teach. Along with the inspiring content, Wreaths Across America Radio plays various music with roots firmly planted in patriotism and a country music thread running through the stream's core. Wreaths Across America Radio has a live morning show every weekday morning from 6 am to 10 am ET, along with various special programs that support the mission. You can listen to Wreaths Across America Radios 24/7 internet stream anytime and anywhere on the iHeart Radio app, Audacy app, TuneIn app, or at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio. About the Military Womens Memorial The Women In Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, built and now operates and maintains Americas only major national memorial and historical repository to document and tell the story of womens service to the nation. Located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, the memorial features an education center, a one-of-a-kind interactive database of womens records of service, exhibitions, a world-class collection of artifacts and memorabilia related to womens service, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Donate to this Charity Navigator, 4 Star Organization and join the National Registration Campaign to help capture and preserve the stories of servicewomen, past and present. Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org or by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. #HERstory #appreSHEation NOTES TO MEDIA Moderators Karen Worcester and Phyllis Wilson will be available for interviews before the program airs on June 12. A SoundCloud file of the broadcast will be available immediately following its airing for sharing on your own channels. Attachment HOUSTON, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahuna, the leading skills and competency management software, has entered into a copyright and know-how agreement with Mayo Clinic to deploy a virtual platform for enhanced nurse education materials. Kahunas competency management platform combined with Mayo Clinics TSAM Orientation Model will generate a starting point for health systems looking to digitize their competency management processes. The TSAM Model is a structured approach to clinical orientation, allowing preceptees to learn and master tiers of skills alongside a preceptor in the clinical setting. This methodology exposes preceptees to a full patient load from the beginning of orientation and adjusts orientation to the individuals learning needs. Studies have cited how the TSAM Model increases nurse confidence, role satisfaction and nurse retention , reduces the overall orientation length, and increases the number of patient experiences for each preceptee. We know nurse leaders and educators are searching for ways to make their orientation and onboarding programs more efficient while increasing knowledge and skills retention, said Jai Shah, CEO of Kahuna. This collaboration aims to introduce a complete solution for organizations looking to digitize competency management with two industry-leading products. We are sharing the expertise of our staff and the tools weve created with and for direct care nursing teams. Mayo Clinic Nursing aims to share our learnings globally to enhance the professional growth of nurses and improve patient care, said Denise Rismeyer, DNP, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, Director of the Continuing Nursing Education Program at Mayo Clinic. The TSAM Model enhances clinical experiences and learning opportunities for preceptees during the orientation process. This exposes them to real patient scenarios alongside their preceptor and individualizes the outcome to their specific learning needs. Mayo Clinic has a financial interest in the technology referenced in this press release. Mayo Clinic will use any revenue it receives to support its not-for-profit mission in patient care, education, and research. New Delhi, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Newcastle disease vaccine market was valued at US$ 314.0 million in 2023 and is anticipated to reach US$ 458.6 million by 2032 at a CAGR of 4.3% during the Forecast Period 20242032. Newcastle Disease (ND) is a highly pathogenic viral disease affecting avian species, caused by virulent strains of avian paramyxovirus type 1. The disease is economically significant due to its high mortality and morbidity rates. ND is endemic in many third-world countries where agriculture is a primary income source and can affect a wide range of birds, including fowls, turkeys, geese, ducks, pheasants, partridges, guinea fowl, and other wild and captive birds. Download Free Sample Copy @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/newcastle-disease-vaccine-market Newcastle Disease appears in three forms: lentogenic (mild), mesogenic (moderate), and velogenic (very virulent). NDV can also affect humans, causing mild flu-like symptoms or conjunctivitis, with recovery typically within four to seven days. Interestingly, NDV has been explored for its potential in cancer treatment in the Newcastle disease vaccine market due to its ability to replicate more quickly in cancer cells. As one of the most serious infectious bird diseases, ND can devastate the egg, chicken, bird meat, and aviary industries. It is a notifiable animal disease, meaning it must be reported immediately if suspected. The virus is highly stable on multiple types of materials and at various temperatures, and can survive up to 30 days in winter in contaminated poultry houses. Newcastle Disease can spread rapidly among bird populations, causing significant outbreaks, and can be transmitted from wild to kept birds. Globally, New castle is a persistent threat to the poultry industry despite being vaccine-preventable, showcasing its significance to the Newcastle disease vaccine market. In India, a cross-sectional survey in Odisha found no significant difference in NDV prevalence between migratory and non-migratory seasons. ND remains endemic in several countries, including India, where regular vaccination is practiced but outbreaks still occur. In West Africa, new virulent strains of NDV have been identified in non-commercial farms. The global burden of ND includes significant morbidity and mortality in chickens, impacting food security and livelihoods. Lack of routine surveillance programs in some regions, such as India, contributes to knowledge gaps on circulating NDV strains. The disease's prevalence in commercial and backyard poultry varies, with some regions reporting higher rates due to inadequate biosecurity measures. ND outbreaks are often associated with poor biosecurity and lack of vaccination in backyard poultry systems. Global efforts to control ND include improving surveillance, vaccination programs, and biosecurity measures to reduce the disease's impact on the poultry industry. Key Findings in Global Newcastle Disease Vaccine Market Market Forecast (2032) US$ 458.6 million CAGR 4.3% Largest Region (2023) North America (37.8%) By Type killed vaccines (75.6%) By End Use Chicken (85.1%) Top Trends Exploring alternative approaches like plant-based vaccines to induce mucosal immunity Use of recombinant Newcastle disease virus for developing vaccines against other diseases, such as COVID-19 Focus on enhancing the thermal stability of vaccines to maintain effectiveness in various climates Top Drivers Significant role of poultry in the economy, driving the need for effective vaccines Widespread occurrence of the disease necessitates robust vaccination programs. Innovations in vaccine delivery methods and formulations Top Challenges Maintaining vaccine potency under varying storage conditions Inadequate application and mismatched vaccines leading to ineffective disease control Variability in vaccine effectiveness due to the health and responsiveness of individual chickens Killed Vaccines Lead the Market for Newcastle Disease Vaccine with Over 75.6% Market Share: Insights and Trends Newcastle disease (ND) is a significant threat to the poultry industry, necessitating effective vaccination strategies. Among the available vaccines, killed (inactivated) vaccines have become the most dominant as it is highly effective in reducing viral shedding, a critical factor in controlling disease spread within flocks. Their safety profile is superior to live vaccines, as they do not carry the risk of reversion to virulence. This safety aspect is crucial for maintaining flock health and ensuring regulatory compliance, which killed vaccines meet comprehensively. In line with this, the Newcastle disease vaccine market is expanding, driven by advancements in vaccine production technologies and increasing demand for poultry products. The global market for these vaccines is projected to grow significantly through 2031, with the chicken segment, heavily reliant on killed vaccines, expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.9%. This growth is supported by continuous improvements in vaccine efficacy and safety, making them more attractive to poultry producers. As per Astute Analytica, killed vaccines align well with strict biosecurity measures, essential for preventing virulent NDV from contacting poultry. They have proven effective in preventing morbidity and mortality in vaccinated birds, even though some viral shedding may still occur. Their use has led to a significant reduction in the incidence of non-typical ND in flocks, contributing to healthier and more productive poultry populations. Government support and international health organizations' recognition further bolster the Newcastle disease vaccine market for killed vaccines. Substantial investments in research and development have led to more effective vaccine formulations, enhancing their immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Recent technological advancements have also improved the stability and shelf-life of these vaccines, increasing their accessibility to poultry producers. Consumer demand for safe and healthy poultry products drives the adoption of killed vaccines, ensuring flock health and productivity. The economic benefits are clear, with significant reductions in disease-related losses. Prevalence of Newcastle Disease Virus in Haryana, India A study conducted in Haryana, India, revealed a significant prevalence of the M gene of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) at 9.8% across 4,001 samples. The prevalence rates varied among different types of poultry, with commercial broilers showing the highest prevalence at 11.8%, followed by commercial layers at 9.8%, and backyard poultry at 7.6%. The prevalence also differed based on the housing system, with intensive systems having a 10.7% prevalence, semi-intensive systems at 8.25%, and extensive systems, which typically include backyard birds, at 7.94%. Within Haryana, geographical differences were evident, with Zone 1 exhibiting the highest prevalence at 13.2%. However, only 9.0% of the M gene positive samples were also positive for the F gene, which indicates the presence of more virulent strains of NDV in the Newcastle disease vaccine market. Notably, a high prevalence of M gene positive samples was found in backyard poultry, especially among non-vaccinated birds, at 73.3%. All F gene positive samples, which signify more virulent strains, were from commercial broilers and layers, with no such strains detected in backyard poultry. Inquire Before Buying This Research Report: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/inquire-before-purchase/newcastle-disease-vaccine-market Tackling the Persistent Challenge: High Prevalence of Newcastle Disease in Chickens Bring in More than $267.54 Million to Newcastle Disease Vaccine Market Globally, China has been the largest poultry meat producer since 2021, accounting for over 15% of global production, followed by the U.S. and Brazil. In 2022, the global production of eggs reached 1.627 trillion, with China producing 37% of the world's eggs. The U.S. poultry industry also plays a major role in feed grain consumption and is heavily influenced by currency fluctuations, trade negotiations, and economic growth in importing markets. Additionally, Newcastle disease significantly impacts poultry production, causing economic losses due to high mortality rates and control costs. Newcastle disease (ND) remains a significant threat to the poultry industry globally as of 2024, with a particularly high prevalence in chickens. This highly contagious viral disease can result in mortality rates of up to 100% in unvaccinated birds, often without prior clinical signs. Despite the widespread use of vaccines, which can obscure symptoms and inadvertently aid in the disease's spread, ND continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality. The incidence of ND exhibits seasonal variations, as seen in Nigeria Newcastle disease vaccine market, where the rate is higher during the dry season (68.4%) compared to the rainy season (34.6%). Age also plays a role, with younger chickens showing a higher prevalence rate (20.7%) than adults (12.1%). In regions like Haryana, India, sick birds exhibit a higher prevalence (15.2%) compared to dead (9.6%) and healthy birds (9.1%). ND is particularly problematic in developing countries, where vaccination efforts are often inadequate. Backyard poultry in places like Nigeria, which makes up a significant portion of the poultry population, is heavily impacted. The reemergence of virulent ND virus lineages, as reported in Eastern Europe, underscores the persistent threat. While rare, ND can also affect humans, highlighting the need for protective measures for those working with sick birds in the Newcastle disease vaccine market. These factors collectively contribute to the high prevalence of Newcastle disease in chickens, posing ongoing challenges for global poultry health and economics. Dominance of North America in the Newcastle Disease Vaccine Market to Remain Unchallenged, Controls Over 37.8% Market Revenue North America, particularly the United States and Canada, stands out as a dominant force in the market. This prominence is driven by the substantial economic impact of the poultry industry in these countries, rigorous biosecurity measures, and proactive vaccination strategies. The U.S. poultry industry alone is valued at over $40 billion annually, with over 9 billion broilers produced each year. Canada, while smaller in scale, produces over 1.3 billion kilograms of chicken meat annually, highlighting the significant role of poultry in its economy. The U.S. exports over $4 billion worth of poultry products annually, while Canada exports over $600 million, underscoring the global reach of their poultry industries. ND outbreaks can lead to the culling of entire flocks, causing substantial economic losses. Therefore, both countries have implemented comprehensive surveillance systems and national poultry health programs that include ND vaccination. The high vaccination compliance rate in the U.S. and strict protocols in Canada ensure that their poultry industries remain resilient against ND. Newcastle Disease poses a severe threat to the poultry industry in the Newcastle disease vaccine market, with mortality rates in unvaccinated flocks reaching up to 100%. The virus's resilience, surviving on various materials for up to 30 days, necessitates stringent control measures. The proactive vaccination strategies adopted in the U.S. and Canada are crucial in mitigating this threat. In the U.S., multiple doses of ND vaccines are administered throughout the birds' lifecycle to ensure robust immunity. Canada mandates vaccination for all commercial poultry operations, reflecting the high compliance and stringent protocols in place. The regulatory environment in both countries reinforces the importance of vaccination. ND is a notifiable disease, requiring immediate reporting of suspected cases. This regulatory framework ensures rapid response to outbreaks, minimizing economic losses. The U.S. poultry industry employs over 500,000 people, and Canadas poultry industry significantly contributes to the national economy, emphasizing the need for comprehensive disease control measures. Investment in research and development further underscores the dominance of North America in the Newcastle disease vaccine market. The U.S. has invested billions in vaccine research, including ND vaccines, leading to continuous improvements in vaccine efficacy. Prominent vaccines such as Merial's Vectormune ND and Zoetis's Innovax-ND are widely used, produced by leading companies like Merial (now a part of Boehringer Ingelheim) and Zoetis. These companies are at the forefront of veterinary vaccine innovation, driving advancements in ND prevention. Global Newcastle Disease Vaccine Market Key Players Boehringer Ingelheim Merck CEVA Zoetis Roxell Hester Biosciences Limited Elanco Vaksindo Other Prominent Players Key Segmentation: By Type Live Vaccine Killed Vaccine By End Users Chicken Duck & Goose Others By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South America Get Discount At @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ask-for-discount/newcastle-disease-vaccine-market About Astute Analytica Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us. PRICE OF THE OFFER: 15 per Believe share DURATION OF THE OFFER: 15 trading days The timetable for the simplified tender offer (the Offer) will be set out by the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (the AMF) in accordance with the provisions of its general regulation. This press release was prepared by Upbeat BidCo and made available to the public pursuant to article 231-27 1 and 2 of the general regulation of the AMF (AMF General Regulation). Pursuant to article L. 621-8 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and article 231-23 of the AMF General Regulation, the AMF has, pursuant to its clearance decision dated May 30, 2024 regarding the simplified tender offer for Believe shares (the Offer), granted visa no. 24-179 to the offer document prepared by Upbeat BidCo (Offer Document). IMPORTANT NOTICE The Offer is not and will not be proposed in any jurisdiction where it would not be permitted under applicable law. Acceptance of the Offer by persons residing in countries other than France and the United States of America may be subject to specific obligations or restrictions imposed by legal or regulatory provisions. The recipients of the Offer are solely responsible for compliance with such laws and it is therefore their responsibility, before accepting the Offer, to determine whether such laws exist and are applicable, based on the advice they obtain from their own advisers. For more information, see Section 2.13 (Offer restrictions outside of France) of the Offer Document. In accordance with the provisions of article 231-28 of the AMF General Regulation, information relating in particular to the legal, financial and accounting characteristics of Upbeat BidCo will be made available to the public no later than the day preceding the opening of the Offer. A press release will be issued to inform the public of the manner in which the information will be made available. This Offer Document approved by the AMF (section 2.7 of which describes the procedure for tendering Shares in the Offer) is available on the website of Believe ( www.believe.com ) and the website of the AMF ( www.amf-france.org ) and may be obtained free of charge from: Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE Marienturm Taunusanlage 9-10 60329 Frankfurt am Main Germany (Goldman Sachs) Upbeat BidCo SAS 176, avenue Charles de Gaulle 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine (BidCo or the Offeror) BNP Paribas (M&A EMEA Department) 5, boulevard Haussmann 75009 Paris (BNP Paribas) Important disclaimer This press release has been prepared for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer to purchase. The dissemination, publication or distribution of this press release, the Offer and its acceptance may be subject to specific regulations or restrictions in certain countries. The Offer will not be directed to persons subject to such restrictions, either directly or indirectly, and may be accepted from any country where the Offer would be subject to such restrictions. This press release is not intended to be published and disseminated in such countries. Accordingly, persons in possession of this press release are required to inform themselves about and to comply with any local restrictions that may apply. Upbeat BidCo disclaims any liability for any breach of these restrictions by any person. Attachment Charleston, SC, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The fan-favorite little duckling with a thirst for adventure and a positive attitude is ready for another first in her series latest installment: Dixie Duckling: First Day of School. Dixie loves new things, but even she gets a little nervous sometimes! Today is her very first day of schooland despite the things about it that shes looking forward to, Dixie develops butterflies in her tummy when she wakes up. With a little comforting from Mommy Duck and a big deep breath in, Dixie is ready to face her first day of school and even gets a surprise that makes the whole day better! I want my young readers to see that you may feel nervous when trying something new. But, facing our fears can help you to learn and grow, said the author. Young readers will love the latest Dixie Duckling adventure. Its colorful illustrations and relatable themes make it the perfect choice for toddlers and school-aged children with social and separation anxiety. Dixie Duckling: First Day of School is available for purchase online at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. About the Author: Mary Gillam, a devoted mother of eightbiological, adoptive, and fosterhas penned tales and tunes her whole life. Her lifelong dream? Crafting children's books. Dixie Duckling was inspired by her son's cherished stuffed animal. Despite being legally blind, Mary passionately cooks, reads, sings, and strums the ukulele. A proud St. Louis, Missouri native, she continues to fill her home with love, alongside her husband and children. Media Contact: Mary Gillam, marygillam67@gmail.com OR mary_gillam@yahoo.com Available for interviews: Author, Mary Gillam Attachment San Diego, CA, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Truepic, provider of secure content transparency infrastructure, has announced the addition of Tom Wheeler to its industry Board of Advisors. Wheeler joins alongside other industry expert advisors, including Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of The Chertoff Group and Former Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff; UC Berkeleys Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and the School of Information Professor, Dr. Hany Farid; Founder of Germano Law and Professor and Distinguished Fellow at NYUs Center for Cybersecurity, Judith Germano; and Author, Entrepreneur, and Speaker on Generative AI, Nina Schick. With vast experience in telecommunications, government, and technology, Wheeler will advise Truepics ongoing efforts to advance secure content transparency and establish a more authentic internet. Tom Wheeler currently serves as a visiting fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. A seasoned businessman, author, and former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2013 to 2017, Wheeler has over forty years of experience in the telecommunications sector, focusing on emerging networks and services. Tom Wheeler's addition to our advisory board comes at a crucial time when both industry and government are seeking ways to ensure online authenticity and transparency, said Jeffrey McGregor, CEO of Truepic. His extensive knowledge of online communications and internet governance will be an invaluable asset to our team. I look forward to his insights as we continue our mission to enhance and secure the internet by promoting authenticity and transparency in digital content and setting industry standards for content provenance. I am honored and excited to join the first-rate Truepic team. Trust is the baseline for both the internet and society. Truepics leadership in addressing the trust challenges with innovative solutions will help provide the stability and security essential for the 21st century, said Former FCC Chairman, Businessman, and Author Tom Wheeler. Prior to being appointed by the US President in 2009 as Chairman of the FCC, Tom Wheeler was the Managing Director at Core Capital Partners, focusing on investments in early-stage companies. He also holds the CEO position at The Shiloh Group, LLC, a company dedicated to strategy development and private investments in the telecommunications sector. Wheeler co-founded SmartBrief, a leading digital media publisher of targeted business news and information services. His career in telecommunications began with his involvement in the National Cable Television Association (NCTA) from 1976 to 1984, climbing to the role of President and CEO between 1979 and 1984. After his tenure at NCTA, he led various pioneering tech companies, including those introducing high-speed internet to homes and the first digital video satellite service. From 1992 to 2004, Wheeler was at the helm of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) as its President and CEO. About Truepic Truepic provides authenticity infrastructure for the internet. The companys transparency tools deliver verifiable information about the origin and editing history of digital content. Truepic is dedicated to advancing products and services that establish transparency in digital content, empowering viewers and users to identify authenticity and differentiate human from computer-generated. Recognized as one of TIMEs Best Inventions and Fast Companys World Changing Ideas, consumers, businesses, creators, and publishers trust Truepics technologies to make informed decisions. For more information, visit truepic.com. Attachment Oslo, 30 May 2024 Highlights Interoils net production in the first three months of 2024 was 104,836 barrels of oil equivalents (boe), up from 54,661 boe in the same period in 2023. Revenues were USD 7.8 million compared with USD 1.2 million in the corresponding period the previous year. The increase is mainly due to increased share in Argentinas operations. EBITDA in the first three months of 2024 was USD 3.3 million, compared with USD -0.5 million in the same period of 2023. By virtue of requests filed by Interoil Colombia to the Colombian hydrocarbons regulatory agency (ANH), the terms applicable to Interoils exploratory drilling obligations in Llanos-47 have been postponed at least through June 2025. In the case of Altair, the current exploratory period is suspended until the end of August 2024. Once suspension is terminated, Interoil Colombia would be granted an additional term extension of 145 days, expected to be counted from August 31, 2024, onwards. In such event, the new deadline would be postponed to January, 2025. While no assurance can be given, postponement should continue beyond such dates as long as there are underlying reasons causing force majeure. In January, on the Companys request, bondholders approved amendments to the bond terms to settle the full January 2024 interest payment in kind by issuing and delivering additional bonds. In 2024, Interoil Argentina entered into a new commercial agreement with Compania General de Combustibles (CGC), one of the biggest O&G companies in Argentina, which operates the Loyola Port facilities, nearby Interoil O&G fields. This new commercial contract provides Interoil an alternative and profitable spot to deliver crude oil minimizing freight and increasing prices up to USD 10/bbl compared to previous destinations. For more information, please see enclosed Interoil Exploration and Production ASA's Report for the first quarter of 2024. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. *************************** Please direct any further questions to ir@interoil.no About Interoil Interoil Exploration and Production ASA is a Norwegian based exploration and production company - listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange with focus on Latin America. The Company is operator and license holder of several production and exploration assets in Colombia and Argentina with headquarter in Oslo. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Attachment ASHEVILLE, N.C., May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pinnacle Technology Solutions (PTS), a leading U.S. hybrid IT solutions provider, has successfully acquired Pinnacle Business Systems (PBS) based in Edmond, Oklahoma. Recognized as one of the top IT Solution Providers in the region, PBS is known for meticulous attention to detail, ensuring exceptional results for its customers. Shared Commitment to Growth and Innovation Through this strategic partnership, PTS and PBS will offer a curated portfolio of unique solutions, driving innovation and delivering industry-leading services. From Applications and Cloud to Intelligent Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, and Managed Services, both companies are dedicated to addressing the diverse technology needs of their clients. Charles Reynolds, CEO of PTS, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "We are thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with PBS. Our goal is to build a network of partners with expertise across various domains, delivering a seamless experience to our customers. Rob Anderson, CEO of Pinnacle Business Systems, commented: This announcement marks a significant milestone for PBS. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. Leveraging our collective expertisespanning over 38 years of innovation in the technology sectorwe will continue to adapt, innovate, and provide unmatched solutions to our clients. Together with Pinnacle Technology Solutions, we are well-positioned for growth. About Pinnacle Business Systems Since 1988, Pinnacle Business Systems, Inc. has been designing and implementing technology solutions across various industries. Their strong relationships with industry-leading manufacturers uniquely position them to deliver tailored technology solutions. With sales offices throughout the central U.S., they provide hands-on customer service to Fortune 1000 companies, private firms, local governments, healthcare providers, and small to mid-sized businesses. Pinnacles team holds more than 100 professional certifications, demonstrating their expertise in various disciplines, products, and services. About Pinnacle Technology Solutions (PTS) Founded in 2022, PTS was established to meet the needs of independent resellers looking for economies of scale and stronger partnerships with their customers and vendors. By optimizing performance and safeguarding critical assets, the PTS platform seamlessly integrates these growing and cutting-edge organizations, enabling scale and empowering them to thrive in this rapidly changing digital era with streamlined operations and maximum efficiency. Wholly Owned Subsidiary Pinnacle Business Systems will operate as a subsidiary of Pinnacle Technology Solutions and is the first of the PTS family of companies. Press Release Contact Information: Pinnacle Technology Solutions Amber Lawhun 866-Pinnacle amber.lawhun@pbsnow.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/44e87064-9390-4f6d-b7b8-58094865b59e Whitely, Hampshire, UK, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Domo Tactical Communications (DTC), a leading global technology company providing mission-critical communication solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Beeching as Senior Vice President for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). This new role further strengthens our leadership team and reinforces our customer commitment to provide them with solutions and capabilities that achieve mission success. Beeching brings DTC over 30 years of business leadership experience and a proven track record of successfully creating and delivering global strategic growth and transformation in international technology solution businesses. In this new role, he will oversee DTCs activities across the EMEA region, working closely with DTCs highly-skilled engineering and operations team, as well as Business Unit Directors for military and defence, uncrewed, law enforcement and intelligence and public safety verticals. Beeching will be accountable to ensuring the execution of our growth strategy as we realise the vision, long-term goals and values of the division. "We are thrilled to welcome Stephen to our team," said Paul Sangster, DTC President and Executive General Manager. "His extensive experience and dynamic leadership style will be instrumental in accelerating our strategic growth process while strengthening our partnerships throughout the EMEA region." Stephen joins DTC from Arqit, where he held the position of SVP of Government Systems, spearheading initiatives focussed on customer outcomes and driving global growth. Prior to this he was instrumental in leading the growth of Viasat UK as Managing Director. He is recognised for his customer-centric approach and ability to foster strong, collaborative relationships with partners and stakeholders. "I am excited to join DTC at such a pivotal time," said Beeching. "The company's culture and commitment to its teams, to market innovation along with its strategic vision for accelerated growth resonate deeply with me. I look forward to working with the talented team in the EMEA region and globally to drive success and deliver exceptional value and support to our customers, helping them achieve, and succeed in, their missions." This appointment marks another significant step in DTC's journey to strengthen its presence globally. As part of our growth strategy, we are dedicated to building dynamic teams that are focused on helping our customers achieve their goals. With Steven's leadership, we are confident in our ability to enhance our customer-centric approach, expand into new markets, and solidify our partnerships across the region. ### About Domo Tactical Communications Domo Tactical Communications (DTC) is the leading MIMO MESH provider in the world. DTC radio solutions provide short range high bandwidth communications suitable for the wireless transmission of video and other data applications. DTC is an established provider to customers including Military and Special Forces, Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies, Border Control and First Responders. DTC has a global reach with regional offices based in the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark, Dubai, Singapore and Australia. Employing more than 200 people globally and backed by an award-winning engineering team, DTCs trusted technology is at the heart of everything we do. DTC is a Codan Company. About Codan Communications Codan Communications is a global technology company that develops robust technology solutions to solve customers communications, safety, security and productivity problems in some of the harshest environments around the world. We provide tactical communications solutions that enable our customers to be connected, ultimately to support critical missions worldwide. With almost 60 years in the business, we have garnered a reputation for quality, reliability and customer satisfaction, producing innovative and industry-leading technology solutions. Codan Communications is a member of the Codan group of companies. Attachment Washington, DC, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, announced more than $3.8 million in federal funding to support AmeriCorps State and National and Seniors programs in Connecticut. The grant award will support the work of approximately 50 AmeriCorps members and 30 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who will engage in service across the state. On May 29, AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith spoke at the Connecticut Service Symposium and announced the funding to support Serve Connecticut, Health 360s Healthy Mind Alliance and New Opportunities, Inc.s Foster Grandparent program. During this announcement, CEO Smith was joined by national service champions Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Representative John Larson (CT-1), along with Serve Connecticut Commission staff and AmeriCorps alumni who served with Health 360 and New Opportunities. "This years AmeriCorps State and National and AmeriCorps Seniors grants demonstrate our steadfast commitment to helping communities tackle the most urgent challenges head-on, said Michael D. Smith, CEO, AmeriCorps. These funds will empower AmeriCorps members and volunteers to make significant strides in supporting youths' mental health, well-being and education, demonstrating the power of national service to bring about positive change. I am thrilled to see the impact our members and volunteers will have across the state, and I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of all involved. Together, we are building a brighter future in Connecticut. This $3.8 million investment from AmeriCorps will tackle two imperative issues plaguing our communities the mental health crisis and the tens of thousands of disconnected youth. AmeriCorps Health360 program will provide critical support for those with mental illness and the New Opportunities program will provide meaningful and much needed mentorship to young people. The impacts of these investments will be felt across Connecticut, touching the lives of countless individuals, said US Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Having a positive role model who cares can make a huge difference in a childs life. This $270,000 in grant funding from AmeriCorps Seniors will help connect low-income kids and kids with disabilities in Torrington to meaningful mentorships with foster grandparents who provide tutoring, mentoring, and support. Im grateful to AmeriCorps and its talented volunteers who have a long history of strengthening our communities with their service, and Ill continue supporting these efforts that make Connecticut a better place to live, learn, and grow, said US Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT). AmeriCorps is a pivotal force in fostering community resilience and empowerment, and I have fought throughout my career to ensure they have robust funding to meet their mission, said US Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). The grant funding announced today will strengthen Connecticut's service opportunities while making our communities stronger and healthier. I am grateful to AmeriCorps for their long-standing cooperation and unwavering dedication to tackling our nations most pressing challenges. On what would have been President Kennedys 107th birthday, this celebration of national service and nearly $4 million in funding coming to Connecticut honors his vision to engage young Americans in serving their nation through thoughtful service, said US Representative John B. Larson (CT-01). The funding will help support the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program here in Connecticut, enriching relationships between our seniors and students while bolstering the growth of the states AmeriCorps program. I will continue to work to support AmeriCorps and expand service opportunities for those who wish to serve our nation. This grant funding from AmeriCorps will allow Health360 and New Opportunities to continue working to better communities across Western Connecticut, said US Representative Jahana Hayes (CT-05). Together, these investments will support and tutor students in Torrington and provide suicide prevention trainings to individuals in the Waterbury area. I am delighted to see over $3.8 million heading to Connecticut to support these and other impactful programs." Health360 is thrilled to continue our partnership with AmeriCorps addressing critical mental health needs in communities across the nation, said Tricia Harrity, Executive Director, Health360. Established in 2013, Healthy Minds Alliance was the first AmeriCorps program to exclusively focus on addressing unmet mental health needs nationwide. Through strong partnerships with universities, secondary school systems, mental health care organizations, social service agencies, and others, Healthy Minds Alliance increases capacity to meet pressing community mental health needs while simultaneously building a robust mental health workforce pipeline. Many of our members go on to employment and/or postsecondary education in the mental health field, helping to address our nations critical shortage of mental health professionals. New Opportunities, Inc. is extremely proud to be able to expand its legacy of national service. AmeriCorps members that have served through the agency have been an invaluable resource to the community, said William Rybczyk, CEO, New Opportunities, Inc. The expansion of the Foster Grandparent program will allow for increased engagement in the Northwest region of the state and will strengthen inter-generational relationships. The agency looks forward to continuing its decades long partnership with AmeriCorps. The agency is also thankful for the support of the Congressional delegation and their recognition of this impactful programming. The Connecticut Service Summit represented an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the impact of national service in our state on communities, on AmeriCorps members and volunteers, and on the civic well-being of our state, said Kate Scheuritzel, Director of Programs, Serve Connecticut. We look forward to continuing this important conversation with other service champions and participants in our state. After successfully completing a full-service term, members receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award equal to the Pell Grant toward tuition at eligible schools and at specific GI Bill-approved educational programs for veterans or student loan repayment. Nearly $370,000 will be distributed in education awards to the state of Connecticut. AmeriCorps State and National is awarding nearly $3.6 million in funding to support Health 360 and Serve Connecticut, and AmeriCorps Seniors is awarding $270,000 to support Foster Grandparents serving with New Opportunities, Inc. View a complete list of awards for AmeriCorps State and National and AmeriCorps Seniors. Three decades ago, more than 20,000 Americans raised their right hands and pledged to get things done for America. These members helped more than 1,000 communities nationwide during their first year of service. Since then, more than 1.3 million Americans and hundreds of thousands more AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers of all backgrounds have followed in their footsteps, providing billions of hours of results-driven service across the nation. Last year, more than 2,400 Americans of all ages and backgrounds united to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and expand opportunity through national service at more than 200 locations across Connecticut. In 2023, AmeriCorps invested more than $9.6 million in federal funding across all AmeriCorps programs in Connecticut to support cost-effective community solutions, working hand in hand with local partners to empower individuals to help communities tackle their toughest challenges. ### AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nations most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov. AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to be a part of the national service community, grow personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their service. Learn how to get involved at AmeriCorps.gov/Serve. Attachment ENDEAVOUR ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING London, 30 May 2024 Endeavour Mining plc (LSE:EDV, TSX:EDV, OTCQX:EDVMF) (the Company) is pleased to announce that all resolutions at todays annual general meeting (AGM) were duly passed by shareholders. All resolutions were taken by poll and the results for the resolutions voted upon at the AGM are set out below: RESOLUTION VOTES FOR % FOR VOTES AGAINST % AGAINST TOTAL VOTES % OF ISC VOTED VOTES WITHHELD ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS 1. To receive the 2023 Annual Report 192,864,486 99.99% 22,051 0.01% 192,886,537 78.75% 202229 2. To re-elect Alison Baker as a Director 188,601,954 97.68% 4,477,039 2.32% 193,078,993 78.83% 9771 3. To re-elect Patrick Bouisset as a Director 193,014,597 99.97% 65,614 0.03% 193,080,211 78.83% 8553 4. To re-elect Ian Cockerill as a Director 192,632,321 99.77% 447,788 0.23% 193,080,109 78.83% 8656 5. To re-elect Livia Mahler as a Director 191,174,973 99.01% 1,901,925 0.99% 193,076,898 78.83% 11866 6. To re-elect Sakhila Mirza as a Director 192,958,867 99.94% 119,312 0.06% 193,078,179 78.83% 10586 7. To re-elect Naguib Sawiris as a Director 193,027,319 99.97% 52,868 0.03% 193,080,187 78.83% 8578 8. To re-elect Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan as a Director 191,032,789 98.94% 2,046,793 1.06% 193,079,582 78.83% 9183 9. To elect Cathia Lawson-Hall as a Director 192,408,494 99.65% 671,172 0.35% 193,079,666 78.83% 9098 10. To elect John Munro as a Director 193,015,480 99.97% 61,501 0.03% 193,076,981 78.83% 11784 11. To reappoint BDO LLP as auditors 197,681,121 99.78% 442,117 0.22% 198,123,238 80.89% 30727 12. To authorise the Audit Committee to fix the remuneration of the auditors of the Company 197,714,446 99.78% 431,618 0.22% 198,146,064 80.89% 7901 13. To approve the Directors Remuneration Report as set out on pages 151-167 of the 2023 Annual Report 185,538,381 96.10% 7,538,233 3.90% 193,076,614 78.83% 12152 14. To approve, ratify and confirm the performance share units for issuance under the Companys Equity Incentive Plans 190,840,251 98.84% 2,231,156 1.16% 193,071,407 78.82% 17358 15. Authority to allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any securities into shares 187,208,946 96.96% 5,862,509 3.04% 193,071,455 78.82% 17311 SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS 16. General authority to disapply pre-emption rights 185,746,012 96.21% 7,311,584 3.79% 193,057,596 78.82% 31170 17. Additional authority to disapply pre-emption rights 185,102,351 95.89% 7,938,410 4.11% 193,040,761 78.81% 48005 18. Authority to purchase own shares 193,026,334 99.99% 24,925 0.01% 193,051,259 78.81% 37507 19. Authority to call general meetings on not less than 14 clear days notice 190,093,430 98.46% 2,981,613 1.54% 193,075,043 78.82% 13723 As at the UK record date for the AGM (28 May 2024), the total number of issued ordinary shares of the Company was 244,943,013 and there were 25,980 ordinary shares held in treasury. The total number of voting rights for the ordinary shares was therefore 244,917,033. A vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes for or against a resolution. Copies of the resolutions passed at the AGM, other than resolutions concerning ordinary business, will shortly be uploaded to the FCAs National Storage Mechanism in accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.2 and will be available to view at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. CONTACT INFORMATION For Investor Relations Enquiries: For Media Enquiries: Jack Garman Brunswick Group LLP in London Vice President of Investor Relations Carole Cable, Partner +44 203 011 2723 +44 7974 982 458 investor@endeavourmining.com ccable@brunswickgroup.com ABOUT ENDEAVOUR MINING PLC Endeavour Mining is one of the worlds senior gold producers and the largest in West Africa, with operating assets across Senegal, Cote dIvoire and Burkina Faso and a strong portfolio of advanced development projects and exploration assets in the highly prospective Birimian Greenstone Belt across West Africa. A member of the World Gold Council, Endeavour is committed to the principles of responsible mining and delivering sustainable value to its employees, stakeholders and the communities where it operates. Endeavour is admitted to listing and to trading on the London Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the symbol EDV. For more information, please visit www.endeavourmining.com. Attachment TORONTO, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) condemns the racist and inflammatory comments by Premier Doug Ford who suggested in a press confidence today without evidencethat immigrants are to blame for the violence directed at a Jewish girls school in North York. Doug Fords racist comments are a disgrace, and he should apologize to all Ontarians immediately, said OFL President Laura Walton. In the wake of the tragic violence experienced by the Bais Chaya Mushka on Saturday, we need leaders who build unity, not division. At its 2023 convention, the OFL reaffirmed its long-standing opposition to all forms of racism and hate, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. Like other labour and community groups, the OFL condemns the targeting of the Bais Chaya Mushka and extends its solidarity to students, parents, and the wider Jewish community. Whoever committed those terrible acts must be held accountable, and no community of faithJewish, Muslim, or any othershould face violence like this, added Walton. Its deplorable that Ford would exploit this tragedy and direct anger towards communities already feeling the brunt of racism and discrimination on a daily basis. This isnt the first time Ford has engaged in racist scapegoating. In 2023, he suggested that immigrants were to blame for Ontarios housing crisis, as he attempted to garner support for his Greenbelt land grab. In 2021, he suggested would-be immigrants were coming to Ontario to collect the dolean outdated racist stereotypeand refused to apologize. In 2020, in the wake of George Floyds murder in Minneapolis, which sparked worldwide protests, Ford claimed that systemic anti-Black racism doesnt exist in Canada. If this were a one-off, we might be more forgiving, but theres a clear pattern to these kinds of harmful, racist comments, said Jackie Taylor, OFL Executive Vice-President. As a Black woman, I know how my community feels when we hear these words, and it hurts. The Ontario Federation of Labour represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. It is the largest provincial labour federation in Canada. Visit OFL.ca and follow @OFLabour on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and TikTok . For more information, please contact: Jenny Sellathurai Interim Director of Communications Ontario Federation of Labour NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The following Notice of Change of Date relates to the proxy statement (the Proxy Statement) of Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC (the Company), dated April 26, 2024, furnished to shareholders of the Company in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company for use at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the Annual Meeting) that was originally scheduled to be held on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, but that was adjourned due to lack of sufficient votes. This supplement is being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is being made available to the shareholders of the Company on or about May 30, 2024. THIS NOTICE SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROXY STATEMENT NOTICE OF CHANGE OF DATE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2024 To the Shareholders of Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC Annual Meeting of Shareholders originally scheduled for May 30, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time was adjourned due to lack of sufficient votes. The date of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders has been rescheduled to Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The location of the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders will be held in a virtual meeting format only. There is no in-person meeting for you to attend. As described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting previously distributed, you are entitled to participate in the Annual Meeting if you were a shareholder as of the close of business on April 1, 2024, the record date. To attend the Annual Meeting, you must register using your control number and other information at www.proxypush.com/greenbacker. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique link that will allow you to access the Annual Meeting and vote online during the meeting. You will also be permitted to submit questions at the time of registration. The meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. We encourage you to access the meeting prior to the start time. Online access will open at approximately 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time, and you should allow ample time to log in to the meeting and test your computer audio system. We recommend that you carefully review the procedures needed to gain admission in advance. There will be technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have accessing the virtual meeting. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during check-in or during the meeting, please call the technical support number that will be listed on the email you will receive after completing your registration. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy in advance of the meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting. The proxy card included with the proxy materials previously distributed will not be updated to reflect the change in location and may continue to be used to vote your shares in connection with the Annual Meeting. Proxies previously submitted will be voted at the Annual Meeting unless properly revoked, and shareholders who have already submitted a proxy or otherwise voted need not take any further action. The Companys Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting and the Annual Report sent to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 are available at www.greenbackercapital.com/greenbacker-renewable-energy-company. Sincerely, Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC About Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC is a publicly reporting, non-traded limited liability sustainable infrastructure company that both acquires and manages income-producing renewable energy and other energy-related businesses, including solar and wind farms, and provides investment management services to other renewable energy investment vehicles. We seek to acquire and operate high-quality projects that sell clean power under long-term contracts to high-creditworthy counterparties such as utilities, municipalities, and corporations. We are long-term owner-operators, who strive to be good stewards of the land and responsible members of the communities in which we operate. Greenbacker conducts its investment management business through its wholly owned subsidiary, Greenbacker Capital Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. We believe our focus on power production and asset management creates value that we can then pass on to our shareholderswhile facilitating the transition toward a clean energy future. For more information, please visit www.greenbackercapital.com/greenbacker-renewable-energy-company. Greenbacker media contact: Chris Larson Media Communications 646.569.9532 c.larson@greenbackercapital.com NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The leading East Coast cannabis conference and trade show, CWCBExpo, returns to the Javits Convention Center, June 5-6, 2024 with immersive exhibit floor experiences, top education as well as plenty of business building opportunities and after parties. This year CWCBExpo has partnered with the New York Cannabis Workforce Initiative (CWI) offering attendees a unique opportunity to connect with leading employers in the rapidly growing cannabis industry in the New York Cannabis Workforce Pavilion. CWI is proud to partner with CWCBExpo to showcase our workforce development and legal educational programs as well as platform colleges that have cannabis curriculums. There is no better forum for CWI to promote our services that prioritizes diversity, equity, quality jobs and career paths in this emerging cannabis industry, said David Serrano, Project Manager, Cannabis Workforce Initiative. We also look forward to hosting a Job Fair at CWCBExpo for anyone interested in employment and career paths. CWCBExpo New York will also offer expanded educational opportunities including two pre-show in-depth workshops on Dispensary Ownership & Operations Bootcamp and Cultivation: Licensing, Technology & Operation led by subject matter experts, Sara Gullickson, Founder & CEO, Cannabis Business Advisors; and David Fettner, Co-Founder, Grow America, LLC, respectively. There are also a diverse range of curated sessions taking place on Wednesday and Thursday that will feature speakers with unique expertise, all aimed at providing the essential knowledge and insights to elevate and grow businesses as well as provide updated rescheduling insight. Topics include an Industry Update: "Trends, Challenges and Opportunities Why New York is the Market to Watch in the Midst of Rescheduling;" by Cy Scott of Headset; a Fireside Chat with Tremaine Wright, Chair, New York State Cannabis Control Board; Cannabis Retail Marketing in the Digital Age; High Tech: How Technology Can Drive Your Business; and The Journey to Legitimacy: The OGs and OQs of Cannabis. Additional special features include a Fireside Chat with Industry Icon, Josh Kesselman, Founder and CEO of HBI International/RAW Rolling Papers and a Women in Cannabis Luncheon that includes a Fireside Chat with Dawne Morris, Founder, CEO, Proteus420 and a panel on Entrepreneurship While Female: Motivated, Intelligent. And Successful. A hallmark of the CWCBExpo New York events are the ample business-building opportunities including the B2B Bash Rooftop Party and Norml Forml on June 4th, the Industry Yacht Party on June 5th, NYCRAs After Party on June 6th and Cannabis Week events and promotions that bring the industry together. This is the year that CWCBExpo celebrates the community, the industry, our clients, and all the newcomers wholl be joining inthe industry is about to grow again, said Christine Ianuzzi, CEO, CWCBExpo. CWCBExpo New York will also have a dynamic expo floor with the most innovative product, service and technology companies showcasing their solutions for the entire cannabis ecosystem. Sponsors of CWCBExpo include Green Life Business Group Inc. (Show Bag); DisplayDispensary.com (Lanyard); Proteus420 (Women in Cannabis Luncheon and Womens Pavilion Supporting Sponsor); and ATMOSIScience (Womens Pavilion Supporting Sponsor). For 10 years, CWCBExpos mission has been to provide those involved in the business of cannabis with essential resources and information for their success. This event is uniquely crafted to foster professional growth, provide top-notch education as well as cutting-edge products, services and show experiences and our show in June will be no exception, said Mary Bender, Show Director, CWCBExpo. To register and secure the best pre-show pricing go to: https://cwcbexpo.com/registration_ny. For more information email: cwcbe@cwcbexpo.com or call 201-580-2050. About CWCBExpo (Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition ) CWCBExpo is an established business-to-business trade show event for the legalized cannabis and hemp industry. It is held in New York City, the largest business, financial, and media market, and is the leading forum for dispensary owners, growers, suppliers, investors, medical professionals, government regulators, legal counsel, and entrepreneurs looking to achieve business success and identify new areas of growth in this dynamic and fast-growing industry. Visit: www.cwcbexpo.com . Editors Note: To request a media pass for CWCBExpo New York, please register here: https://cwcbexpo.com/media-info or contact Annie Scully at press@cwwcbexpo.com. CannabisNewsWire (CNW) Denver, Colorado www.CannabisNewsWire.com 303.498.7722 Office editor@CannabisNewsWire.com OTTAWA, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) is pleased to welcome Karen Cumberland and Dr. Kim Corace to its executive. Together, they will reinforce CCSAs capacity to innovate rapidly and adapt effectively to fast-moving substance use health challenges, to focus on population health and solutions, and to attend to the needs of communities across Canada. Karens experience in fostering partnerships, framing policies and advancing initiatives to address national and international substance use issues add tremendous value to our work to promote substance use health and to accelerate the participation of people in Canada in informing and implementing solutions, said Dr. Alexander Caudarella, Chief Executive Officer at CCSA. Dr. Corace is well known for her innovative approaches and dedication to improving client outcomes and transforming systems of care at the regional, national and international levels to enhance the wellness of communities, Dr. Caudarella said. Along with her commitment to evidence-based solutions, Kim bridges research and clinical practice to shape policy and treatment strategies, which will have a profound impact on CCSAs ability to advance the well-being of individuals and communities. Karen Cumberland returns to CCSA after many years to a new role as vice-president of Strategic Initiatives and Community Outreach. Most recently, she served as the executive director of the P.E.I. Alliance for Mental Well-Being, where she led prevention-based initiatives focused on improving the mental well-being of Islanders. With over 20 years experience in public health, policy and stakeholder engagement, Ms. Cumberland has contributed to significant national health projects for which she has earned formal recognition. Her career includes senior advisory roles at Health Canada and Environment Canada. At CCSA, Ms. Cumberland will lead education, prevention, justice and international efforts. It is a privilege to take on a leadership role on an issue that is top of mind and in the hearts of people in Canada, Ms. Cumberland said. This role recognizes that collaboration across sectors is essential to transforming the health and safety of our communities. By bringing together lessons learned and emerging innovations from numerous communities, small and large, we can turn the tide on the crisis seizing Canada and other parts of the globe, she added. Dr. Kim Corace joins CCSA as vice-president of Innovation and Senior Scientist. A recognized health systems leader with a strong national and international reputation for research, innovation and teaching, she has held senior leadership roles in health care and on national associations, including as president of the Canadian Psychological Association (20202021). She is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Ottawa, an adjunct research professor at Carleton University and a clinical health psychologist. Dr. Corace prioritizes partnerships with persons with lived experience and healthcare providers and agencies to provide strategic leadership for the transformation and integration of mental health and substance use health systems, including innovation in service delivery models. Her work focuses on improving access to healthcare services and the outcomes for people seeking them. She has co-led the development of collaborative care models for concurrent disorders in mental health and substance use. Her expertise in policy and in initiatives to develop guidance and her deep experience in clinical care and scientific research will inform her leadership of CCSAs innovation and evidence work. It is an honour to join the team at CCSA, Dr. Corace said. We have an incredible opportunity to collaborate meaningfully with people with lived and living experience, scientists and healthcare providers, and First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities to bring together diverse perspectives and wisdom to shape evidence-informed solutions that will improve access to substance use health care and services and drive system change. These efforts will positively impact the health and wellness of all people in Canada, she concluded. About CCSA CCSA was created by Parliament to provide national leadership to address substance use in Canada. A trusted counsel, we provide national guidance to decision makers by harnessing the power of research, curating knowledge and bringing together diverse perspectives. CCSA activities and products are made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada. The views of CCSA do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada. Media contact Melissa Joseph Communications Advisor Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction Tel.: 613-235-4048 x 364 I Email: MJoseph@ccsa.ca Follow Us: X: @CCSACanada | Facebook: @CCSA.CCDUS | LinkedIn: @CCSA-CCDUS | Instagram: @CCSA_CCDUS Web: CCSA.ca Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/60730f50-43bf-4141-afe5-9777789d1f9f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5323d23a-c38f-4913-89b9-c94b7f4e6ea1 UAB Atsinaujinancios energetikos investicijos (the Company) publishes its unaudited interim condensed consolidated and separate financial statements for the 3-month period of 2024. Financial results The Companys objective is to earn a return for the Companys investors from investments in facilities of the renewable energy infrastructure and related assets. The main financial indicators for the period were: As at 31 March 2024, the Companys total assets were EUR 200,903 thousand, total equity was EUR 114,064 thousand, and total liabilities were EUR 86,839 thousand. As at 31 March 2024, the Companys investment assets at fair value through profit or loss were EUR 193,006 thousand, which compared to 31 December 2023, grew by EUR 12,946 thousand or 6.70%. For the period January - March 2024, the Company reported a comprehensive loss of EUR 1,263 thousand. This financial outcome is primarily attributed to the Company's income structure, which relies on changes in the fair value of its investment portfolio. As stipulated in the Company's prospectus, the valuation of the Company's investment portfolio is delegated to an independent appraiser and is conducted on an annual basis. It is noteworthy that the valuation of the Company's investments did not occur during the January - March 2024 period, and this assessment is scheduled for 31 October 2024. Throughout January March 2024, the Company incurred expenses related to developmental projects and operational activities. Contact person for further information: Grete Bukauskaite Manager of the Investment Company grete.bukauskaite@lordslb.lt Attachment Toronto, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Monday, May 27, Members of the British Columbia foodservice community - where so much of our incredible foodservice and hospitality industry is grown, fueled and nourished - joined Restaurants Canadas Board of Directors and Leadership Team for a special networking and recognition reception. Celebrating resilience, adaptability and unity, it has never been more important to acknowledge those who have significantly advanced our industry. There is no denying the importance of recognizing and honouring the esteemed leaders who have played a critical role in our indutry's success. This year, we were thrilled to honour three exceptional leaders whose contributions have elevated the national foodservice and hospitality industry. Their vision, dedication and passion have profoundly impacted their teams and organizations. As the voice of foodservice for 80 years, Restaurants Canada is honoured to continue highlighting our Awards of Excellence recipients with in-person recognition of three awardees in the province where their culinary careers first flourished. It is with great pride and gratitude we recognize three of the 2024 Restaurants Canada Awards of Excellence recipients: Restaurants Canada Leadership Award of Excellence, sponsored by PepsiCo: Susan Senecal, President and CEO of A&W Restaurants. Restaurants Canada Culinary Award of Excellence, sponsored by Air Canada: Chef Meeru Dhalwala, Vijs Restaurant Restaurants Canada Legacy Award of Excellence, sponsored by Diversey: Warren Erhart, Retired President of White Spot Hospitality. The Vancouver Reception also provided the opportunity for Restaurants Canada and The Chefs' Table Society of BC to honour Chef John Bishop of Bishops restaurant with Lifetime Achievement Recognition. Bishop, the Godfather of Pacific Cuisine has been redefining Vancouvers taste for cuisine through 35 years of outstanding service and dedication to food and hospitality. The indelible mark he has made on Canadian foodservice, will endure through the celebration of future chefs: The John Bishop Scholarship Fund, recognizing culinary and hospitality excellence. At $114 billion, our industry continues to propel the Canadian economy forward, and the incredible chefs and culinarians who have refined the craft and delighted our senses are a huge part of the story of Canadian hospitality. About Restaurants Canada Restaurants Canada is a national, not-for-profit member-based trade association advancing the potential of Canadas diverse and dynamic foodservice industry through member programs, research, advocacy, resources and events. Canadas foodservice sector is a $114 billion industry that serves 22 million customers across the country every day. As the fourth-largest private-sector employer, Canadian foodservice directly employs 1.2 million people, and indirectly supporting another 290,000+ jobs in related industries, with $32 billion in food and beverage products purchased every year. Portland, OR, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cayuse, the leader in electronic research administration (eRA) software, today announced new expansions and implementations of Cayuses eRA solutions at four major research organizations. Joining and expanding the Cayuse user community, Cayuse leadership is proud to share the latest adoptions: Central State University - The eminent Ohio HBCU recently went live with Cayuse Sponsored Projects and Human Ethics , helping provide robust research administration infrastructure and easier IRB protocol management Clark Atlanta University - The oldest southern HBCU added Cayuse Proposals (S2S) to improve grant proposal submission and approval times Colorado Mesa University - Grand Junctions Colorado Mesa University increased support for its animal research programs with Cayuse Animal Oversight The New School - New Yorks storied research university implemented Cayuse Sponsored Projects and Outside Interests to facilitate increased organizational transparency and simplified conflict reporting An agreement for the purchase by Landsbankinn of TM tryggingar hf. (TM) from Kvika Bank was signed today. Landsbankinns purchase offer for TM, dated 15 March 2024, was subject to the outcome of a now completed due diligence process. A legal opinion by external consultants, concerning the authority of the then Board of Directors of the Bank to take the decision to make an offer for TM, has also been completed. The purchase is contingent on approval by the Icelandic Competition Authority and the Financial Supervisory Authority of the Central Bank of Iceland. The Bank will assume operation of the company once such approval is obtained. The purchase price for TM is ISK 28.6 billion, as specified in the offer. The final consideration for the company depends on a closing adjustment on the date the Bank assumes operation of TM. Lilja Bjork Einarsdottir, CEO of Landsbankinn: The purchase of TM by the Bank opens numerous opportunities and we are excited to welcome TMs personnel to our strong team here at the Bank. Our aim is to simplify life for customers by offering all financial services in one place and I am convinced that the Banks profitability targets for the purchase will be achieved. Jon Th. Sigurgeirsson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Landsbankinn: The due diligence on which the purchase agreement is based has now been completed. The Board of Directors of Landsbankinn has obtained a legal opinion confirming the authority of the then Board of Directors of the Bank to approve the submission of a binding purchase offer on 15 March 2024. It is good that a decision has been reached about Landsbankinns purchase of TM. Austin, TX, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capital CBD American Shaman brings wellness to the world through ultra-concentrated, terpene-rich CBD oil derived from all-natural, high-quality industrial hemp. They have launched an e-commerce website to sell products online. The company selects hemp plants grown on sustainable farms in the USA. Thus, the US Hemp Authority certifies its industry-leading product safety and quality standards. Thanks to its proprietary nanotechnology that shrinks CBD into particle size and makes it 9x more bioavailable, clients enjoy fast absorption. Capital CBD American Shaman believes there are many different ways to use CBD. For this reason, they offer CBD edibles, lotions/creams/topicals, vape products, water-soluble options, tinctures, and dog/cat and equine products. There are accessories, HHC products, mushrooms, THC products, Delta 8/9, hemp flowers, blue lotus, and CBD oil Austin for a diverse range of clients. Some of the e-commerce website's best sellers include the Proleve full-spectrum CBD salve, which, once massaged into sore muscles/joints, may temporarily relieve minor aches, pains, discomfort, and inflammation. Its blended with nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and olive oil and the aromatherapy of lavender and tea tree oil, among other luxurious essential oils. Clients can also indulge in the intense dark chocolate flavor of the Hometown Hero fudgy brownies each meticulously infused with 50mg of Delta-9 THC. Theyre perfect for those looking for a discreet but delicious way to unwind in the evening, celebrate a special occasion, or satisfy a sweet tooth. The caramel popcorn from Xite has a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC that doesnt compromise the flavor. For connoisseurs who prefer smoking, the Zen Master 3ml HHC disposable vape pen enhances their journey with an HHC blend that leans towards Sativa accompanied by various terpene profiles. Clients can choose from OG kush, blackberry kush, unicorn, bubba kush, and purple urkle. Capital CBD American Shaman puts its heart and soul into creating a welcoming space for everyone, demystifying the stigma of CBD. Their open, honest, and timely insight has earned them many 5-star reviews. They are always stocked with a great selection of CBD, Delta8, and Delta9 items. Great and Friendly staff! Daniel, Satisfied Client. About Capital CBD American Shaman Capital CBD American Shaman is a CBD store and wellness center backed by the best CBD producer. Based in Austin, Texas, the store offers a wide array of environmentally friendly and sustainably sourced CBD products. Capital CBD American Shaman continues to lead the market with its comprehensive approach to wellness and dedication to improving customer experiences both online and offline. Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Capital CBD American Shaman products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Media Contact: Company Name: Capital CBD American Shaman Contact Person: Michael Sterling Phone: 5123861873 Address: 8315 Burnet Rd Ste. C City: Austin State: TX Postal Code: 78757 Country: USA Website: https://capitalamericanshaman.com/ TORONTO, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQX: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) (Lithium Ionic or the Company) reports that its wholly owned subsidiary, Neolit Minerals Participacoes Ltda (Neolit), has entered into a binding agreement (the Agreement) to acquire the remaining 15% of select Salinas properties (Salinas or the Project), located within the Curralinho Pegmatite Field of the lithium-rich Aracuai Pegmatite District, in Minas Gerais, Brazil (the Transaction). Upon closing of the Agreement, Lithium Ionic will own 100% of all the Salinas group of properties (See Figure 1). As consideration pursuant to the Transaction, the Company shall make the following payments to the vendor: Cash payment of the Brazilian Real equivalent of US$2 million by June 7, 2024 Cash payment of the Brazilian Real equivalent US$1 million by April 4, 2025 Issuance of 2.5 million shares of Lithium Ionic by June 18, 2024 The Salinas properties are approximately 100 kilometres North of its Itinga group of properties. Together, the Company controls 14,182-hectares within the Lithium Valley; a unique geological belt that hosts among the largest and highest-grade lithium-bearing pegmatites in the world. The Company acquired the Salinas properties through the acquisition of Neolit in March 2023., at which time Neolit had a 40% interest in the properties. In October 2023, after fulfilling certain exploration commitments the Companys increased its ownership interest in the Salinas properties to 85%. Upon closing of the Agreement, Lithium Ionic will own 100% of all the Salinas group of properties. Following 7 months of drilling between May and November 2023 on one of the nine Salinas tenements, covering 662 hectares, a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 14.76Mt was reported on April 4, 2024. The Salinas lithium deposit represents approximately 25% of the Companys total Global MRE of 60.1Mt (see April 12, 2024 press release). Blake Hylands, P.Geo., Chief Executive Officer of Lithium Ionic, commented, The MRE we have already established at Salinas represents a cornerstone asset in our portfolio of projects and we strongly believe that our plans to explore adjacent properties could significantly scale our mineral resources. We are very pleased to have secured a path to 100% ownership of these prospective properties. A Preliminary Economic Assessment for Salinas is underway by independent Brazilian consultancy, GE21 Consultoria Mineral Ltda, based in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and is planned for completion in the second half of 2024. The Transaction is an expedited transaction pursuant to TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) Policy 5.3 - Acquisitions and Dispositions of Non-Cash Assets and remains subject to final TSXV acceptance. The Transaction is at arms-length and no finders fees were paid in connection therewith. Figure 1. Salinas Properties Location Map View Figure 1 here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/71643bf7-91f8-4de9-95e6-7e55badf2758 On behalf of the Board of Directors of Lithium Ionic Corp. Blake Hylands Chief Executive Officer, Director About Lithium Ionic Corp. Lithium Ionic is a Canadian mining company exploring and developing its lithium properties in Brazil. Its flagship Itinga and Salinas projects cover 14,182 hectares in the northeastern part of Minas Gerais state, a mining-friendly jurisdiction that is quickly emerging as a world-class hard-rock lithium district. The Itinga Project is situated in the same region as CBLs Cachoeira lithium mine, which has produced lithium for +30 years, as well as Sigma Lithium Corp.s Grota do Cirilo project, which hosts the largest hard-rock lithium deposit in the Americas. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Carlos Costa, Vice President Exploration of Lithium Ionic and Blake Hylands, CEO and director of Lithium Ionic, and both are qualified persons as defined in NI 43-101. Investor and Media Inquiries: +1 647.316.2500 info@lithiumionic.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-statements. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the prospectivity and development of the Companys mineral properties, the timing and results of a PEA on Salinas, the Transaction, TSXV approval of the Transaction, the Companys ability to complete the Transaction, the Companys ability to obtain adequate financing and the Companys future plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Information and links in this press release relating to other mineral resource companies are from their sources believed to be reliable, but that have not been independently verified by the Company. 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 press release. LAS VEGAS, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Daniel G. Calugar Foundation is pleased to announce that June Zaporojan is one of the 10 recipients of the 2024 Academic Achievement Merit Scholarship. June will receive $10,000 to support her academic pursuits. The Academic Achievement Scholarship, established by the Daniel G. Calugar Foundation , aims to give back to students by recognizing and rewarding academic excellence. This scholarship is designed for incoming freshmen for the fall 2024 semester, particularly those with well-defined career aspirations, supporting them in their educational and professional journeys. To be eligible for the Academic Achievement Merit Scholarship, applicants needed to achieve a minimum score of 1500 on the SAT or 34 on the ACT. In addition, candidates underwent a thorough evaluation of their academic accomplishments and articulated goals and objectives as outlined in their application statements. As part of the application process, students were required to submit an essay, within a 2000-word limit, detailing their career objectives, goals, and how their college experiences would help achieve them. They also had to respond to a prompt about the significant increase in the US federal debt-to-GDP ratio from 1950 to 2023, discussing whether this trend is problematic and how it should be addressed. June Zaporojan distinguished herself with her scholarship essay focused on national debt. She wrote: The fact that the U.S. Federal Debt was 119% of GDP in 2023 is a horrific indicator of where the U.S. economy is heading. This means that future generations will have to work harder, as a significant portion of tax revenue will go towards paying interest on the debt. This is an unprecedented disaster, as the amount paid on interest will continue to rise at a staggering rate. She further stated: Americans have lost sight of how much better life could be without excessive taxation. Decades ago, a single working parent could support a family of six. Today, a two-parent working household is almost always necessary to meet basic needs. Dan Calugar , a financial investor with a background in computer science, law, finance, and business, established the foundation. He majored in computer science at the Air Force Academy and now uses his technical knowledge to design computer programs that identify profitable investment strategies. The deadline to apply for the Daniel G. Calugar Foundations Academic Achievement Merit Scholarship is June 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit dancalugarscholarship.com . Media Contact: Name: Dan Calugar Email: Scholarship@dancalugarfoundation.org Organization: Daniel G Calugar Foundation Address: 1 Hughes Center Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89169 Phone:702 302-3204 https://www.dancalugarscholarship.com/ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d99d2378-7349-4156-90d1-1b0ec732bc28 NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES TORONTO, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FRNT Financial Inc. (TSXV: FRNT) (OTCQB:FRFLF) (FSE:XZ3) (the Company or FRNT) is pleased to provide a business update as macro and cryptocurrency-market conditions improve. The Company is seeing a significant uptick in business pipeline beyond what has been seen historically, though experiencing volatility in the timing of revenue realization. While such volatility is to be expected as the industry emerges from aggressive bear-market conditions, the Company believes the revenue-generation potential of the business has re-rated and that recurring, more predictable quarterly figures are on the horizon. Advisory & Consulting FRNT Financial has entered into a number of engagements, advising crypto-related corporate clients with unique financing needs and structures. These include a mix of M&A mandates, minority financings, and structured financings. The Company is engaged in over $500 million in notional mandates. While execution risk remains, several mandates are in advanced stages and are expected to conclude within the next 9-12 months. Lending Origination In the recent quarter, FRNT saw an influx of indications from prospective borrowers of fiat currencies, collateralized by digital assets. Client indications currently amount to upwards of USD equivalent $100 million in notional, with FRNT typically earning origination fees and spreads on such transactions, if executed. Trading Services Claims Trading: FRNT remains engaged and advising FTX claims holders following the 2022 bankruptcy. The Company was one of the most active firms in consulting around such transactions in 2023. With a minority of claims having traded to date, FRNT believes the opportunity remains with the bankruptcy estate now adding further clarity to the liquidation timing. Derivatives: While regulated OTC-derivatives trading was particularly impacted by the bear-market conditions of the last two-years, the Company has seen renewed interest in such structures. FRNT intends to launch an augmented version of its historical SEM-Trade derivatives-platform as this business-line returns in the coming quarters. Spot Services: After a year where many core spot trading clients restructured or dissolved, FRNT is seeing an influx of onboarding of new clients, achieving levels not seen since 2021. Quote from Management The business of FRNT is emerging from a unique, disruptive period where the institutional adoption of digital assets was put on pause due to high-profile disasters in the industry and a depressed macro environment, said Stephane Ouellette, CEO of FRNT Financial. As clear changes in sentiment are emerging in key regions and regulatory clarity is improving, FRNT is experiencing an incredible increase in demand for its services. FRNT is one of the few institution-focused businesses in the industry that has been able to stabilize operations after an incredibly difficult period. We further expect, in the coming quarters, as the industry normalizes, to see less volatile and more predictable quarterly revenues. About FRNT FRNT is an institutional capital markets and advisory platform focused on digital assets. FRNT, through a technology-forward and compliant operation, aims to bridge the worlds of traditional and web-based finance. Partnering with both financial institutions and crypto native firms, FRNT operates 5 synergistic business lines including deliverable trading services, institutional structured derivative products, merchant banking, advisory and consulting, and principal investments & trading. Co-founded in 2018 by CEO Stephane Ouellette, FRNT is a global firm headquartered in Toronto, Canada. FRNT Financial Inc. Chief Executive Officer Stephane Ouellette investors@frnt.io 833 222-3768 https://frnt.io Neither the TSXV nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable law which may include, without limitation, statements relating to revenue generation trends and potential, the conclusion of advisory agreements, expectations regarding lending origination and other Company operations, financial and business prospects of the Company, its assets and other matters. Generally, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, 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. All forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company as at the date of such information. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are 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 statements and forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the general risks associated with the speculative nature of the Companys business, current global financial conditions, uncertainty of additional capital, price volatility, no history of earnings, government regulation in the industries in which the Company operates, political and economic risk, absence of public trading market, arbitrary offering price, dilution to the Companys common shares, dependence on key personnel, currency fluctuations, insurance and uninsured risks, competition, legal proceedings, conflicts of interest and lack of dividends. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements and 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 information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement or forward-looking information that is included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Brisbane, Australia, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vytelle, the fastest-growing in vitro fertilization (IVF) company, proudly announces its plans to open its third Australian-based laboratory and 21st globally, to be strategically located in the Melbourne region. This expansion further signifies Vytelles commitment to providing innovative reproductive solutions and unparalleled access to hormone-free IVF for beef and dairy farmers in Australia. The state-of-the-art facility, set to open later this year, will provide increased market accessibility to Vytelle ADVANCE, a breakthrough hormone free in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology, including proprietary media, delivering high quality frozen and fresh embryos to farmers to produce more valuable calves faster maximizing genetic progress. "Our expansion plans are a clear sign of Vytelle's dedication to support our existing and future customers delivering more access and options for fresh embryo programs In Victoria and Southern New South Wales," said Lisa Rumsfeld, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for Vytelle. "We have chosen to expand in the Melbourne area to serve the large number of progressive beef and dairy farmers committed to optimizing their herds and sustainable agricultural practices." This announcement comes just ten months after the opening of Vytelle's Brisbane lab which has been progressively scaling. Since opening the Brisbane lab in July 2023, Vytelle's game changing direct transfer method for frozen embryos has set a new standard. "Our demonstrated results with direct transfer frozen embryo are revolutionising market perceptions around the use and possibilities of Vytelles frozen embryos to overcome historical logistical challenges delivering predictable results," commented Andrew Donoghue, Vytelle's Australian Commercial Director. "The Melbourne lab will open up increased possibilities to expand our services to offer both frozen and fresh embryos programs in the region to our customers," he continued. Committed to partnerships and fostering local expertise, Vytelle will continue to align with local partners to provide complimentary services such as donor housing, recipient management, collections facilities and embryo transfers. The Vytelle Australia team is serving farmers with frozen programs today with ovum pick-ups from our Brisbane lab. Visit www.vytelle.com to stay Informed about our Melbourne lab opening details. About Vytelle Vytelle is a precision livestock company reshaping how cattle producers worldwide optimize their herds. Through Vytelles integrated technology platform, generations of genetic gains can be made in just a few years. This allows producers to sustainably deliver more protein with fewer inputs, helping to ensure meat and milk are viable, competitive food choices for future generations. Attachment VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ValOre Metals Corp. (ValOre or the Company); (TSXV: VO; OTCQB: KVLQF; Frankfurt: KEQ0) today announced the voting results of its recent annual general meeting of shareholders ("AGM"), which was held on May 27, 2024. Shareholders approved setting the size of the Board at four, including the election of each director nominee. Detailed results of the vote for the election of directors are as follows: Nominee # Voted For %Voted For # Votes Withheld % Votes Withheld James Paterson 51,451,180 98.61% 726,333 1.39% Dale Wallster 51,381,152 98.47% 796,361 1.53% Garth Kirkham 51,471,180 98.65% 706,333 1.35% Darren Klinck 51,471,180 98.65% 706,333 1.35% Shareholders also approved the appointment of Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the auditors of the Company by 98.65% of votes for, and the Stock Option Plan as described in the Companys Information Circular was approved by 97.78% of votes. Subsequent to the meeting, the Board of Directors re- confirmed the following committees, all of which are comprised of independent directors: Audit Committee: Dale Wallster (Chair), Darren Klinck, Garth Kirkham Compensation Committee: Garth Kirkham (Chair), Dale Wallster, Darren Klinck Corporate Governance Committee: Darren Klinck (Chair), Garth Kirkham, Dale Wallster About ValOre ValOre Metals Corp. (TSX-V: VO, OTCQB: KVLQF, Frankfurt: KEQ0) is a Canadian company with a team aiming to deploy capital and knowledge on projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through exploration and innovation. On behalf of the Board of Directors, James R. Paterson James R. Paterson, Chairman and CEO ValOre Metals Corp. For further information about ValOre Metals Corp., or this news release, please visit our website at www.valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations at 604 235-4061, or by email at contact@valoremetals.com. ValOre Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: http://www.discoverygroup.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. Q1 2024 Revenue was $12.9 million, an increase of 3% over Q1 2023 Q1 2024 Income from Operations was $0.2 million, an increase of 120% over Q1 2023 Q1 2024 Adjusted EBITDA was $1.6 million, an increase of 314% over Q1 2023 TORONTO, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NowVertical Group Inc. (TSX-V: NOW) (OTCQB: NOWVF) (NOW or the Company), a leading data analytics and AI solutions company, today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2024. "We made significant progress in the first quarter on multiple fronts, including leadership and governance, reconfiguring our go-to-market strategy, and implementing an aggressive strategic integration and restructuring plan," said Sandeep Mendiratta, CEO of NOW. "This quarter was a transitional period as we initiated implementation of our One Brand, One Business strategy. Supported by our operator-first model, we are executing this strategy across multiple dimensions of our business. These changes enable us to focus on profitability and sustainability and long-term value creation, with positive results expected to build quarter over quarter as we move forward with our growth plan." Selected Financial Highlights: Revenue Revenue was $12.9 million in Q1 2024, an increase of 3% from $12.6 million in Q1 2023 and Adjusted Revenue was $13.0 million in Q1 2024 compared to $12.7 million in Q1 2023. Revenue was $12.9 million in Q1 2024, an increase of 3% from $12.6 million in Q1 2023 and Adjusted Revenue was $13.0 million in Q1 2024 compared to $12.7 million in Q1 2023. Gross Profit Gross Profit was $6.3 million in Q1 2024, an increase of 2% from $6.2 million in Q1 2023. Gross Profit was $6.3 million in Q1 2024, an increase of 2% from $6.2 million in Q1 2023. Income from Operations Income from Operations was $0.2 million in Q1 2024, an increase of 120% from a $1.0 million loss in Q1 2023. Income from Operations was $0.2 million in Q1 2024, an increase of 120% from a $1.0 million loss in Q1 2023. Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA was $1.6 million in Q1 2024, an increase of 314% from $0.4 million in Q1 2023. Adjusted EBITDA was $1.6 million in Q1 2024, an increase of 314% from $0.4 million in Q1 2023. Administrative Expenses Administrative Expenses were $6.1 million in Q1 2024, a decrease of 16% from $7.2 million in Q1 2023. Administrative Expenses were $6.1 million in Q1 2024, a decrease of 16% from $7.2 million in Q1 2023. Net Loss Net Loss was $1.5 million and Net Loss per fully diluted share was $0.02 in Q1 2024, consistent with a $1.5 million Net Loss and a Net Loss per basic and diluted share of $0.02 in Q1 2023. Q1 2024 and Subsequent Business Highlights: January 8, 2023, NOW added two highly qualified directors, David Charron and Chris Ford, to the Companys Board of Directors and appointed Christine Nelson as Interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective as February 1, 2024. January 15, 2024, NOW appointed Sandeep Mendiratta as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Mendirattas appointment was a critical step in the strategic reorganization of the Company, designed to fast-track the integration of its global asset base. On March 5, 2024, NOW announced a renewed contract with one of the oldest of South Africas big four banks for its NOW Privacy software. With this third consecutive renewal, the Customer agreed to a 3-year $1.5 million commitment paid in the first half of 2024. On April 23, 2024, NOW announced amendments to its Acrotrend obligations that enabled it to improve its balance sheet by reducing its overall cash payment obligations, repay a substantial portion of the 2023 earn-out consideration due to the Acrotrend sellers in shares, and defer and cap certain future payments. On May 1, 2024, NOW announced amendments to its Smartlytics agreement to complete its product group integration. On May 14, 2024, NOW welcomed David Doritty as an independent director of the Company. On May 27, 2024, the Company announced the strategic disposition of Allegient Defense, Inc. to a subsidiary of BCS, LLC for a gross consideration of up to $12.5 million, clearing $3.8 million of debt from NOWs balance sheet, reducing deferred liabilities and supporting growth plans for its integrated business, enabling strategic investments in its core data analytics and AI solutions business. Investor Webinar: NOW invites shareholders, analysts, investors, media representatives, and other stakeholders to attend our upcoming webinar. Management will discuss Q1 2024 results, followed by a question-and-answer session. Investor Webinar Registration: Time: May 31, 2024, 09:30 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada) Register here: https://bit.ly/NOW_Q1_2024_Webinar A recording of the webinar and supporting materials will be made available in the investors section of the companys website at https://ir.nowvertical.com/news-and-media. Related links: https://www.nowvertical.com Additional Information: The Company's unaudited first quarter 2024 condensed consolidated interim financial statements, notes to financial statements, and management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2024, are available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "$" in this press release refer to US dollars, and all references to "CAD$" in this press release refer to Canadian dollars. About NowVertical Group Inc. The Company is a data analytics and AI solutions company offering comprehensive solutions, software and services. As a global provider, we deliver cutting-edge data, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications to private and public enterprises. Our solutions form the bedrock of modern enterprises, converting data investments into business solutions. NOW is growing organically and through strategic acquisitions. For further details about NOW, please visit www.nowvertical.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. For further information, please contact: Andre Garber, CDO IR@nowvertical.com Glen Nelson, Investor Relations and Communications: glen.nelson@nowvertical.com t: (403) 763-9797 Cautionary Note Regarding Non-IFRS Measures: This news release refers to certain non-IFRS measures. These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of the Companys results of operations from managements perspective. The Companys definitions of non-IFRS measures used in this news release may not be the same as the definitions for such measures used by other companies in their reporting. Non-IFRS measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the Companys financial information reported under IFRS. The Company uses non-IFRS financial measures including Adjusted Revenue, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA. These non-IFRS measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and to eliminate items that have less bearing on our operational performance or operating conditions and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. The Company believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS financial measures in the evaluation of issuers. The Companys management also uses non-IFRS financial measures to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period and prepare annual budgets and forecasts. Non-IFRS Measures: The non-IFRS financial measures referred to in this news release are defined below. The management discussion and analysis for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 (the Q1 2024 MD&A), available at nowvertical.com and on SEDAR+ and www.sedarplus.com, also contains supporting calculations for Adjusted Revenue, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted Revenue adjusts revenue to eliminate the effects of acquisition accounting on the Companys revenues. EBITDA adjusts net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization expenses, net interest costs, and provision for income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA adjusts EBITDA for revenue adjustments in Adjusted Revenue and items such as acquisition accounting adjustments, transaction expenses related to acquisitions, transactional gains or losses on assets, asset impairment charges, non-recurring expense items, non-cash stock compensation costs, and the full-year impact of cost synergies related to the reduction of employees in relation to acquisitions. ForwardLooking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (together forward-looking statements), including, without limitation: the aggregate consideration to be received from sale of Defense, Inc. and expectations regarding NOWs business, finances and operations. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as may, should, will, could, intend, estimate, plan, anticipate, expect, believe or continue, or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by inherent risks and uncertainties, including: adverse market conditions; risks inherent in the data analytics and artificial intelligence sectors in general; regulatory and legislative changes; that future results may vary from historical results; inability to obtain any requisite future financing on suitable terms; any inability to realize the expected benefits and synergies of acquisitions or dispositions; that market competition may affect the business, results and financial condition of the Company and other risk factors identified in documents filed by the Company under its profile at www.sedarplus.com, including the Companys managements discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023. Further, these forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Damascus, May 30 (UNI) A girl was killed and 10 other civilians were wounded on Wednesday in a new round of Israeli strikes on Syrian sites, the Syrian Defense Ministry said. In a statement, the ministry said the Israeli army launched an aerial attack from the direction of Lebanon at around 7:30 p.m. local time (1630 GMT), targeting a military site in the central province of Homs and a residential building in the coastal city of Baniyas. The attack was confirmed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which reported that two explosions in the Nafus hill in Baniyas killed a girl and wounded 20 others. It added that Israeli missiles on Wednesday evening targeted a military site near the al-Furqlus area in the eastern countryside of Homs, causing smoke columns to rise from the site. According to the war monitor, since the beginning of 2024, Israel has targeted Syrian territories for 43 times, killing 142 military personnel and 13 civilians. UNI/XINHUA ARN From left to right: Luc Perreault, Professor, Paramedic program, College Boreal; Suzanne Lemieux, Dean, School of Health Sciences, College Boreal; Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities; Rene Lapierre, Professor and Coordinator, Paramedic program, College Boreal. SUDBURY, Ontario, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop in attendance, College Boreal today unveiled a new ambulance simulator that will significantly enhance the training of paramedic students. Only three similar simulators exist in Canada, making Boreal the first in Ontario to acquire such advanced technology. Equipped with programmable panoramic screens and a rear cabin mounted on hydraulic jacks, this full-scale ambulance simulator provides an entirely immersive experience. Its controlled environment allows for creating realistic scenarios, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a moving ambulance and emergency vehicle driving in urban areas. This project was made possible by a $580,000 grant from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the creation of a dedicated space at the Colleges Sudbury campus at a cost of $100,000. Quotes We all benefit when future paramedics can train using the latest technology. Thats why Ontario is proud to support a new ambulance simulator in College Boreals Paramedic program, said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. The simulator will ensure more students are prepared to serve as paramedics in francophone communities across northern Ontario. The acquisition of this cutting-edge ambulance simulator enables College Boreal to invest in state-of-the-art teaching equipment that meets the real demands of the job market, said Daniel Giroux, President of College Boreal. Our future graduates will strengthen their skills and be even better prepared to address the genuine needs of our communities. Quick Facts College Boreals ambulance simulator is the first in Ontario and the third in Canada. A total of 17 similar units exist worldwide. Over the past three years, 100% of the Colleges Paramedic program graduates have successfully completed the Emergency Medical Responder certification exam required by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Ontarios Learn and Stay grant, which covers tuition fees for specific health human resources programs, applies to Boreals Paramedic program, offered at the Sudbury campus. Related Links Information Benoit Clement Manager Communications and Media Relations 705-560-6673, ext. 2722 benoit.clement@collegeboreal.ca About College Boreal Created in Sudbury in 1995, College Boreal is a French-language post-secondary education and training institution committed to the development and growth of the various Ontario communities it serves. Through its 37 sites including 8 campuses in 27 communities, College Boreal offers a high level of expertise in post-secondary education, basic training, apprenticeship, immigrant services, employment services, customized training and applied research. Learn more: To find out more about College Boreals programs and services, please visit our website at www.collegeboreal.ca or follow us on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and X . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/301ad93f-eea2-4626-922c-91fe22238fed Ongoing community relations work with Chachas Community - Element79 Gold Corp. (CSE: ELEM) (OTC: ELMGF) (FSE: 7YS0) ("Element79", the "Company") is pleased to announce it will be presenting at the virtual Resource Mining & Exploration Conference ("RMEC"), an event hosted by Sagacity Capital Media and Guerilla Capital, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. ET. Element79 CEO, James Tworek, will provide a summary of the Company's recent exploration program results, discuss the importance of community relations in advancing mining projects, and present upcoming catalysts for 2024 and beyond. RMEC, is a unique virtual investor conference series, offering an interactive experience for featured companies and investors. Companies will have 20 minutes to outline their investment opportunity before investors get the ability to engage in a real-time Q&A with management after the presentation. To register for RMEC, please click the link: RMEC SIGN UP Click Image To View Full SizeAbout RMEC RMEC (Resource Mining & Exploration Conference) is a unique virtual investor conference. The goal is to expose new investors, as well as our global network of retail and institutional investors, to vetted Exploration & Mining opportunities. The number of companies is limited, and the content is curated with investor time and interest being paramount. While not exhaustive by design, the RMEC aims to present potential investments to new and seasoned resource investors by presenting highlights for further research. Each participating company hosts a live presentation followed by a Q&A period within approximately a 40-minute slot. The goal is to help investors learn about the junior companies that are shaping the future of the Global Resource Sector within a responsive and pressure free environment. RMEC will present up to six junior exploration and near-term producing companies, as they seek to discover the next world-class mines. Investors can get more details about RMEC at www.rmeconferences.com. Lucero Exploration Program Summary and Update Element79 is also pleased to provide a summary of its most recent channel sampling on the Company's flagship property, Lucero, Peru. A total of 455 samples, representing more than a metric ton of mineralization and wall rock, underwent comprehensive analysis, revealing significant exploration potential. Notably, 115 samples returned substantial values, with gold (Au) ranging from 1.0 g/t to 98.1 g/t, silver (Ag) ranging from 0.7 g/t to 3,026 g/t, lead (Pb) up to 2.0%, and zinc (Zn) up to 3.5%, showcasing the strong mineral potential of the Lucero project. Among these, 17 samples exhibited gold values surpassing 10g/t, with 8 samples exceeding 20 g/t, and 51 samples boasting silver values exceeding 100 g/t Ag. Of particular significance are 15 high-grade samples with values ranging from 12.65g/t to an impressive 98.1g/t of Au, and remarkable silver values of 62.1 g/t to 3,026 g/t and up to 3.24% Zn, reaffirming the project's exceptional potential for high-grade mineralization. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 1. Lithology map with veins and samples over 1g/t Au within the project; Apacheta and Pillune areas. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 2. Winter 2024 sample locations (red stars) and fall 2023 Sample locations (yellow stars) which were previously released (see news release April 23, 2023) mapped workings (crosses), with selected samples highlighted (black 2024 and grey 2023). Table 1. Channel Sample gold grade statistics Click Image To View Full Size Table 2. Samples returning >5.0g/t gold from underground channel samplings Click Image To View Full Size The latest assay data further positions Element79 for strategic advancement, successfully transforming exploration work into pivotal milestones and underscoring the tangible promise and potential of the Lucero project. Importantly, the data will be the foundation for the Company's upcoming drill plans and resource estimation. Ongoing Progress in Chachas Community With its focus on growing its relationships with the communities it works in, the Element79 Gold Corp. team along with its NGO partner UMA, continue to work monthly in the greater Chachas region, sharing, listening, educating and helping residents and leaders, working between the seven different hamlets that make up the greater community. As previously announced, with the incoming of the new Mayor at the start of 2024, the community itself works to complete updates to its own underlying Charter, a foundational process that is required before further contracts such as those for the Company's long-term surface rights access, and formalization agreements with Lomas Doradas (the local artisanal mining association) that the Company has provided, can be finalized. The Chachas community formally meets at the end of every month to work through its affairs. Current guidance from the community is that it anticipates the ratification of the community Charter to be complete no later than the end of July, 2024. Further updates will be provided as they are received on a biweekly basis. Qualified Person The technical information in this release has been reviewed and verified by Neil Pettigrew, M.Sc., P. Geo., Director of Element79 Gold and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Element79 Gold Corp. Element79 Gold is a mining company focused on gold and silver committed to maximizing shareholder value through responsible mining practices and sustainable development of its projects. Element79 Gold's focus is on developing its past-producing, high-grade gold and silver mine, the Lucero project located in Arequipa, Peru, with the intent to restart production in 2024. The Company also holds a portfolio of 5 properties along the Battle Mountain trend in Nevada, with the Clover and West Whistler projects believed to have significant potential for near-term resource development. Three properties in the Battle Mountain Portfolio are under contract for sale to Valdo Minerals Ltd., with an anticipated closing date in the first half of 2024. The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Dale Property, 90 unpatented mining claims located approximately 100 km southwest of Timmins, Ontario, and has recently announced that it has transferred this project to its wholly owned subsidiary, Synergy Metals Corp, and is advancing through the Plan of Arrangement spin-out process. For more information about the Company, please visit www.element79.gold Contact Information For corporate matters, please contact: James C. Tworek, Chief Executive Officer E-mail: jt@element79gold.com For investor relations inquiries, please contact: Investor Relations Department Phone: +1.403.850.8050 E-mail: investors@element79.gold Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements? This press contains "forward?looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward?looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made considering management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; exploration activities; the timing and result of exploration activities; capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof; acquisition opportunities; and the impact of acquisitions, if any, on the Company. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward?looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward?looking statements". Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the duration and effects of the coronavirus and COVID-19; risks related to the integration of acquisitions; actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; commodity prices; variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; actual performance of plant, equipment or processes relative to specifications and expectations; accidents; labour relations; relations with local communities; changes in national or local governments; changes in applicable legislation or application thereof; delays in obtaining approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; government regulation; environmental risks; reclamation expenses; outcomes of pending litigation; limitations on insurance coverage as well as those factors discussed in the Company's other public disclosure documents, available on www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company 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. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward?looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward?looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.? Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.? Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. VANCOUVER - Global Stocks News - In a press release dated May 23, 2024, West Red Lake Gold Mines (TSXV:WRLG) (OTC:WRLGF) announced the appointment of Gwen Preston to the position of Vice President Investor Relations. "At West Red Lake Gold, we are assembling an elite team of professionals," Shane Williams, President and CEO of WRLG told Guy Bennett, CEO of Global Stocks News (GSN). "Each component is vitally important: VP of Exploration, VP of Technical Services, VP of Community Affairs and the VP of Investor Relations," continued Williams. "Gwen Preston is a big asset to our roster of VPs. She understands geology, demand drivers, political risks, the regulatory environment and the capital markets." "Gwen Preston brings over 16 years of experience in the resource sector as a highly regarded and accomplished newsletter writer and speaker," Williams stated in the May 23, 2024 press release. Click Image To View Full Size We asked Preston about her background. "I did an undergraduate degree in science, then a master's in journalism at UBC," Preston told GSN. "The opportunities in science journalism were slim. I responded to a job posting at the Northern Miner, became interested in resource extraction, and ended up working there for seven years." "Between 2007 and 2014, I witnessed dramatic compressed market cycles. The great financial crisis, the quick rebound, then back into a bear market for precious and base metals." "Working for the Northern Miner, I traveled to projects all over the world. From Albania to South Africa, to Chile to Norway to Eritrea. These experiences alerted me to the importance of geopolitics as an investment risk." She then launched an independent newsletter. As the CEO of Resource Maven, Preston was buying and selling junior resource stocks with her own money and sharing her ideas with a subscriber base. She did not take money from the resource companies for coverage. Preston used her network to help investors get access to private placements. "I was a bridge between the capital markets and retail investors," confirmed Preston. "I also created a fair amount of educational content." In this March 30, 2024 Video: "Gold's New Narrative: Exploring Sentiment and Dynamics Shifts: - Preston explains how the price drivers for gold are entering "a new frontier". "Gold has done things in the last few years that it just does not usually do," explains Preston in the video. "In the last few months, gold has repeatedly stepped higher even though western investors have actually been selling gold." "Chinese and Indian investors have always bought gold when the price drops, and then stop buying when it gets expensive. These long held patterns are out the window." "Beijing offloaded a total of $53.3 billion of Treasuries and agency bonds combined in the first quarter," wrote BNN Bloomberg on May 21, 2024. "With China selling dollar assets, its holdings of gold have risen in the nation's official reserves. The share of the precious metal in the reserves climbed to 4.9% in April, the highest according to central bank data going back to 2015." "Beijing in the gold driver's seat," Preston told her YouTube viewers. "Western investors are just along for the ride. I don't know how high China will push the price but they are buying with abandon and they have already pushed gold to record heights. This is a new frontier for gold." When Preston visited the West Red Lake Madsen Project nine months ago, she was there as an investor, to research the project and report to the Resource Maven subscriber base. She wasn't looking to become part of the WRLG team, or to appear in their corporate video, but that is what happened. "I first visited the Madsen project, back in 2014," stated Preston (00:47). "The predecessor company came in and saw the opportunity. That there was still a bunch of high-grade gold in the ground. They dove into that opportunity. They defined the gold in the ground, they built the mill that you can see around me. They stumbled at the end. And that's where West Red Lake Gold Mines is picking up the ball." "Shane Williams is the main reason I accepted the position of VP Investor Relations at West Red Lake Gold," Preston told GSN. "Shane is a phenomenal person, an inspirational leader, and he is honest. Also, he has a lot of experience and success building mines." "I think all the WRLG managers will tell you, Shane asks a lot of you," Preston continued. "The team always steps up, because of who he is and how he interacts with people. The Madson mine could stay medium sized and make money, or it could get very big. Either way, West Red Lake Mines does not plan to stop with just this one asset. That's not what Frank Giustra does." Click Image To View Full Size On May 21, 2024 WRLG reported underground drilling results from the North Austin Zone, which represents a new area of high-grade mineralization extending the current Madsen resource to the northeast. This program was designed to expand the North Austin zone down-plunge to the northeast. The North Austin Zone sits adjacent to existing underground development marking it as a high caliber, near-surface target that could potentially be developed early during future mine restart and production. The North Austin Zone remains open down-plunge and along strike to the northeast and will continue to be a priority expansion target as underground drilling continues. HIGHLIGHTS: Hole MM24X-03-5127-010 Intersected 2.79m @ 37.33 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au"), from 124.21m to 127m, Including 1.0m @ 88.06 g/t Au, from 125.21m to 126.21m. Hole MM24X-03-5127-011 Intersected 9.02m @ 5.26 g/t Au, from 53.06m to 62.08m, including 0.88m @ 22.34 g/t Au, from 58m to 58.88m, also Including 0.5m @ 26.18 g/t Au, from 61.08m to 61.58m; And 2.54m @ 5.21 g/t Au, from 118.46m to 121m; Including 0.61m @ 16.60 g/t Au, from 118.96m to 119.57m. Hole MM24X-03-5127-007 Intersected 1.57m @ 25.12 g/t Au, from 128m to 129.57m, Including 1.0m @ 31.47 g/t Au, from 128m to 129m. Hole MM24X-03-5127-001 Intersected 2m @ 9.5 g/t Au, from 72m to 74m, Including 1.0m @ 17.94 g/t Au, from 73m to 74m. Click Image To View Full Size The current underground drilling program at the Madsen Mine is focused on further definition of near-term mining inventory, as well as growth of the current mineral resource. Drilling has been focused on the more continuous and higher-grade portions of the Austin, South Austin, and North Austin Zones. This will continue to be the strategy moving into 2024. Click Image To View Full Size The Madsen Gold Mine is fully permitted and has a brand-new 800+ tonne per day mill, a tailings and water treatment facility. [1] The Madsen Mine deposit presently hosts an NI 43-101 Indicated resource of 1.65 million ounces of gold grading 7.4 g/t gold and an Inferred resource of 0.37 Moz of gold grading 6.3 g/t gold. [2.] [3.] Contact: guy.bennett@globalstocksnews.com Disclaimer: West Red Lake Gold paid GSN $1,500 CND for the research, writing and dissemination of this content. Full Disclaimer References: SRK Consulting. (2021). Independent NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the PureGold Mine, Canada (West Red Lake Gold Mines, Ed.) [Review of Independent NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the PureGold Mine, Canada. 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, and amended April 24, 2024. A full copy of the SRK report is available on the Company's website and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca 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, and amended April 24, 2024. 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 Company's website and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. ENDEAVOUR ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING London, 30 May 2024 - Endeavour Mining Plc (LSE:EDV, TSX:EDV, OTCQX:EDVMF) ("the Company") is pleased to announce that all resolutions at today's annual general meeting ("AGM") were duly passed by shareholders. All resolutions were taken by poll and the results for the resolutions voted upon at the AGM are set out below: RESOLUTION VOTES FOR % FOR VOTES AGAINST % AGAINST TOTAL VOTES % OF ISC VOTED VOTES WITHHELD ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS 1. To receive the 2023 Annual Report 192,864,486 99.99% 22,051 0.01% 192,886,537 78.75% 202229 2. To re-elect Alison Baker as a Director 188,601,954 97.68% 4,477,039 2.32% 193,078,993 78.83% 9771 3. To re-elect Patrick Bouisset as a Director 193,014,597 99.97% 65,614 0.03% 193,080,211 78.83% 8553 4. To re-elect Ian Cockerill as a Director 192,632,321 99.77% 447,788 0.23% 193,080,109 78.83% 8656 5. To re-elect Livia Mahler as a Director 191,174,973 99.01% 1,901,925 0.99% 193,076,898 78.83% 11866 6. To re-elect Sakhila Mirza as a Director 192,958,867 99.94% 119,312 0.06% 193,078,179 78.83% 10586 7. To re-elect Naguib Sawiris as a Director 193,027,319 99.97% 52,868 0.03% 193,080,187 78.83% 8578 8. To re-elect Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan as a Director 191,032,789 98.94% 2,046,793 1.06% 193,079,582 78.83% 9183 9. To elect Cathia Lawson-Hall as a Director 192,408,494 99.65% 671,172 0.35% 193,079,666 78.83% 9098 10. To elect John Munro as a Director 193,015,480 99.97% 61,501 0.03% 193,076,981 78.83% 11784 11. To reappoint BDO LLP as auditors 197,681,121 99.78% 442,117 0.22% 198,123,238 80.89% 30727 12. To authorise the Audit Committee to fix the remuneration of the auditors of the Company 197,714,446 99.78% 431,618 0.22% 198,146,064 80.89% 7901 13. To approve the Directors' Remuneration Report as set out on pages 151-167 of the 2023 Annual Report 185,538,381 96.10% 7,538,233 3.90% 193,076,614 78.83% 12152 14. To approve, ratify and confirm the performance share units for issuance under the Company's Equity Incentive Plans 190,840,251 98.84% 2,231,156 1.16% 193,071,407 78.82% 17358 15. Authority to allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any securities into shares 187,208,946 96.96% 5,862,509 3.04% 193,071,455 78.82% 17311 SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS 16. General authority to disapply pre-emption rights 185,746,012 96.21% 7,311,584 3.79% 193,057,596 78.82% 31170 17. Additional authority to disapply pre-emption rights 185,102,351 95.89% 7,938,410 4.11% 193,040,761 78.81% 48005 18. Authority to purchase own shares 193,026,334 99.99% 24,925 0.01% 193,051,259 78.81% 37507 19. Authority to call general meetings on not less than 14 clear days' notice 190,093,430 98.46% 2,981,613 1.54% 193,075,043 78.82% 13723 As at the UK record date for the AGM (28 May 2024), the total number of issued ordinary shares of the Company was 244,943,013 and there were 25,980 ordinary shares held in treasury. The total number of voting rights for the ordinary shares was therefore 244,917,033. A vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes 'for' or 'against' a resolution. Copies of the resolutions passed at the AGM, other than resolutions concerning ordinary business, will shortly be uploaded to the FCA's National Storage Mechanism in accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.2 and will be available to view at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. CONTACT INFORMATION For Investor Relations Enquiries: For Media Enquiries: Jack Garman Brunswick Group LLP in London Vice President of Investor Relations Carole Cable, Partner +44 203 011 2723 +44 7974 982 458 investor@endeavourmining.com ccable@brunswickgroup.com ABOUT ENDEAVOUR MINING PLC Endeavour Mining is one of the world's senior gold producers and the largest in West Africa, with operating assets across Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso and a strong portfolio of advanced development projects and exploration assets in the highly prospective Birimian Greenstone Belt across West Africa. A member of the World Gold Council, Endeavour is committed to the principles of responsible mining and delivering sustainable value to its employees, stakeholders and the communities where it operates. Endeavour is admitted to listing and to trading on the London Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the symbol EDV. For more information, please visit www.endeavourmining.com. Attachment VANCOUVER - China Gold International Resources Corp. Ltd. (TSX: CGG; HKEx: 2099) ("China Gold International" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the operation of the Phase II processing plant has been resumed at its Jiama Copper-Gold Polymetallic Mine (the "Jiama Mine") effective May 30, 2024, following the receipt of approval from the Government of Tibet Autonomous Region. On March 27, 2023, the operations of the Jiama Mine were suspended due to a tailings overflow at the Guolanggou Tailings Dam (the "Overflow"). During the suspension of operations, the Company actively carried out comprehensive repair and reinforcement work at the Guolanggou Tailings Dam. With the approvals of the Government of Tibet Autonomous Region and relevant departments of the central government, the Phase II processing plant will resume operations with a daily processing capacity of 34,000 tonnes. The Phase I processing plant which has been in operation during the production ramp up phase will cease operations. The Company is actively advancing the construction of the Phase III tailings dam, which is expected to be completed and put into operation in the first half of 2026. "I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the whole team at Jiama Mine for their dedication and unwavering efforts during this difficult time. I also want to extend special thanks to our shareholders and regulatory authorities for their support and understanding. The Company is committed to put paramount importance to safety and environmental protection in managing its production and operations," stated Junhu Tong, the Company's Chairman and CEO, "We are proceeding cautiously in resuming operations and ramping up productions. The root causes of the Overflow have been thoroughly reviewed and the lessons learned will be applied in future operations, as well as in the design and construction of Phase III tailings dam. Health, safety and environmental protection will remain our top priorities." About China Gold International Resources China Gold International Resources is a gold and base metal mining company incorporated in BC, Canada and operates two mines, the CSH Gold Mine in Inner Mongolia, China and the Jiama Copper-Gold Polymetallic Mine in Tibet, China. The Company's objective is to build shareholder value through growing production at its current mining operations, expanding its resource base, and acquiring and developing new projects internationally. The Company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CGG) and the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEX: 2099). For further information on the Company, please refer to SEDAR's website at www.sedar.com, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited's website at www.hkex.com.hk, the Company's website at www.chinagoldintl.com, or call the Company at +1-604-609-0598 and email to info@chinagoldintl.com. Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements Certain information regarding China Gold International Resources contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although China Gold International Resources believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. China Gold International Resources cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what China Gold International Resources currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and subject to change after that date. Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Jio Financial services launches JioFinance app Mumbai, May 30 (UNI) Jio Financial Services Ltd., a subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), on Thursday announced the launch of their "JioFinance" app (in beta mode), a platform for daily finances and digital banking. This app seamlessly integrates digital banking, UPI transactions, bill settlements, insurance advisory, and offers a consolidated view of accounts and savings, all in one user-friendly interface. Designed for friction-less navigation, "JioFinance" app will cater to users of all levels of familiarity with financial technology, ensuring effortless money management on finger-tips, the company said in a release. Future plans include expanding loan solutions, starting with Loans on mutual funds and progressing to home loans, demonstrating a commitment to evolving customer needs, it said adding "JioFinance" prioritizes trust, relevance, and transparency, seeking user feedback for continual improvement towards redefining digital banking experience. Key features include instant digital account opening and streamlined bank management with the "Jio payments bank account" feature. To ensure customer satisfaction, "JioFinance" will launch in beta, inviting user input for refinement. "We are excited to introduce the 'JioFinance,' app to the market. A platform that shall aim to redefine the way individuals manage their finances today. Our end goal is to simplify everything related to finance in a single platform for any user across all demographics, with a comprehensive suite of offerings like lending, investment, insurance, payments & transactions and make financial services more transparent, affordable and intuitive," said a company spokesperson. UNI SKB GNK 'Not That Kind of Homeless' When a homeless count was conducted in Seattle this year, the city realized that more people are living in their car than ever before and 46 percent more than the year prior. In King County, which surrounds Seattle, around 25 percent of the homeless population is reported to live in their vehicles.This phenomenon isn't unique to Seattle.Theres been an explosion in many major cities-- from Los Angeles to Portland, Ore., to San Francisco --of "vehicular homelessness." The issue is of particular concern on the West Coast, where rents have skyrocketed and the number of homeless people who don't live in shelters is up 20,000 from 2015 to 2017 Its the new form of affordable housing, says Sara Rankin, professor at Seattle University School of Law, who specializes in homeless rights advocacy.The rise of people sleeping in their cars presents unique challenges for cities and homeless advocates."What do we do with people whose basic physiological needs are not being met? When we think about people who are living in their vehicles, are they able to sleep, eat, poop and breathe safely? We have to start asking what needs to be done," says Rankin.Some cities have launched so-called safe parking programs to help this population. Meanwhile, other cities are exacerbating this population's problems by criminalizing their current way of life.Under Los Angeles law, it is illegal to use a car as shelter on most city streets. The ordinance was eased last year but only for 10 percent of the city's streets and some of them are inaccessible -- one block is a canal that can only fit an amphibious vehicle,Several cities in Washington have criminalized vehicular homelessness, including Aberdeen, Tacoma and Longview, according to Rankin.While Seattle doesn't directly outlaw vehicle residency, Rankin found that the city does have 20 vehicle ordinances -- the most in Washington state -- that make a confusing, patchwork system for residents who live in their cars. Some of those ordinances have recently been tested in court.A man who was living in his truck sued Seattle after it was impounded and expected to be sold if he didnt make payments to the city. A judge earlier this year sided with the man, ruling that because the truck was used as his home, impounding it violated a frontier-era law that forbids personal property from being sold by the government.While not a long-term solution, many homeless advocates are urging cities to start more seriously thinking about safe parking programs -- in which certain lots are designated for people living out of their cars -- as vehicular homelessness continues to climb.Seattle's now-defunct safe parking program, they say, is an example of how not to run one.Just six months after its launch in June 2016, the city deemed the safe parking program an "expensive failure" and ended it largely because people werent being re-housed. reported that despite the $16,800-per-parking-lot-spot price tag, the city had allocated few resources for helping people find more permanent housing. Instead, peripheral costs like portable bathrooms and garbage collection ate away at the program's budget."They [city officials] told me there was no evaluative measures. They didnt sit down with any experts in homelessness. They had no plan, and then just called it an expensive failure, says Rankin, the professor. The crying shame of it is now policymakers in the city are less supportive of the whole idea because there was one ill-conceived program."Rankin, however, points to two cities that have smartly executed safe parking programs: San Diego and Santa Barbara, Calif.San Diegos safe parking program kicked off in 2010 amid the Great Recession.We were seeing a new wave of [homeless] people we hadnt seen before. It wasnt generational poverty. These were people who would come to us and say we arentkind of homeless,' says Teresa Smith, executive director of Dreams for Change, a local nonprofit that helps the homeless. "Seventy percent of our clients have some form on income. So how do we capitalize on that and prevent them from becoming chronically homeless?"The nonprofit opened a lot for people to safely park their cars in which they were living and also linked them with a case manager that helps them secure long-term housing. The program has expanded to three lots, serving between 30 and 60 cars in each. The lots aim to feel like community centers with spots to cook simple meals and charge electronics. Smith says that residents often hang out and kids play together.The nonprofit was mostly autonomous from the city until San Diego experienced a Hepatitis A outbreak among homeless people in 2017. City officials then came to Smith and offered a space and funding for the third lot, which opened last year.Santa Barbaras safe parking program has been operational for more than a decade and started because a growing number of people living in RVs kept getting ticketed. Like San Diego, Santa Barbara relies heavily on case management when a vehicle comes into the lot. But unlike San Diego, the lots in Santa Barbara are much smaller -- only serving a handful of vehicles at each site.Its more private for people this way, it prevents gawking, says Cassie Roach, program coordinator of New Beginnings Counseling Center, the nonprofit that runs the safe parking program.While homeless advocates say safe parking programs are a necessity in cities with large numbers of people living in their cars, they stress that they are just a band-aid solution for a larger problem: lack of affordable housing across the country.The cost of housing is continually rising, but social service programs arent having any increase in funding -- if anything, they are getting cut," says Roach. "People are making a living, but its just not enough." Train mishap near Chennai, 19 hurt, no casualties says TN Minister, Stalin monitoring rescue, relief works 12 Oct 2024 | 12:08 AM Chennai, Oct 11 (UNI) Nineteen passengers were injured when the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express train collided with a stationary goods train at Kavaraipettai in Chennai Division in the Southern Railway on Friday night, even as Chief Minister M K Stalin deputed a Minister an senior officials, and has been monitoring the relief and rescue works. see more.. Train accident : CM Stalin deputes Minister, CS to monitor relief work, provide assistance to passengers 11 Oct 2024 | 11:37 PM Chennai, Oct 11 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday night directed Minister SM Nasar from Tiruvallur district to rush to the spot and monitor the rescue operations following the train collision at Kavaraipettai involving an express and goods train. see more.. Train accident : two trains diverted, three injured shifted to hospital 11 Oct 2024 | 11:14 PM Chennai, Oct 11 (UNI) The Southern Railway on Friday night announced diversion of two trains following a collision between an express train and a goods train near here in which three passengers were injured and shifted to hospital. see more.. Train accident : 12-13 Coaches derailed, says SRly, no casualties, some hurt 11 Oct 2024 | 10:56 PM Chennai, Oct 11 (UNI) The Southern Railway on Friday night said 12 to 13 coaches have derailed following the collision between an express and a stationary goods train near Kavarapettai in which some injuries were reported, while opening helpline numbers for the benefit of passengers. see more.. Huawei sold the most foldable smartphones in the first quarter of this year (from January to March), according to a new report released by Counterpoint Research. This is a pretty shocking revelation considering how insignificant Huawei's sales have been in most parts of the world for the past few years, ever since the US government decided to cut its access to Google services. Most people we assume think about Samsung when asked about foldables, but despite that, the Korean company only managed to hit the No.2 spot in the same period of time. What's more, Samsung's sales of foldables dropped by a whopping 42% compared to Q1 2023. Huawei's 257% growth is obviously due in the most part to sales in China, which surged for the company after the introduction of the Mate X5 last year. The long overdue jump to 5G connectivity seems to have played a significant part in attracting Chinese consumers' interest in Huawei's foldables. Honor was No.3 in shipments with 460% growth, but the most impressive growth came from Motorola, which managed to sell 1,473% more foldables in Q1 of this year compared to Q1 of 2023. Overall, foldable device sales grew 49% year-on-year. Honor and Motorola's growth primarily came from outside China, in contrast to Huawei. Honor's market share is now 12% in the foldable space, up from 3% a year ago. The Honor Magic V2 became the most shipped foldable phone in Western Europe in Q1 2024. Motorola's global market share in foldables is now 11% thanks to strong performance from the Razr series in North America. In Q1 2024, "book-type" foldables accounted for 55% of global shipments, surpassing clamshell type foldables for the first time since 2021. That said, things may flip (pun intended) back later this year once Samsung releases the Galaxy Z Flip6. Huawei is allegedly planning to launch a cheaper clamshell style foldable too, while Xiaomi and Honor will release their first flips. Source (Editors note: This is part of an ongoing series of stories about Guams delegates to the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture or FestPac taking place in Honolulu from June 6 to 16, 2024. Cultural dancers, carvers, chanters, weavers, visual artists, traditional healers and literary artists are among them.) There are love languages, and then there is love in language. Its an ancestral connection for many CHamoru speakers and speakers in practice, including Tamara Cruz from Sinajana and Dededo. She is a nurse manager by day, but every Saturday and on special occasions, she is a principal chanter with I Fanlalaian Oral History Project. The CHamoru chant group was founded as Guma Palu Lie I Fanlalaian or The House of the Seeing Mast The Place for Chant by master of CHamoru chant Leonard Iriarte and his sister Juanita Iriarte Sgambelluri in 1998. In 2007, the group highlighted their research efforts under the name I Fanlalaian Oral History Project. It was the same year Cruz, then a student at the University of Guam, heard for the first time her native language in its purest tongue. What really caught my attention was not just the words, but the feeling I had when I heard the chant, Cruz said. It was familiar. It was comfortable. It almost felt kind of spiritual. A connection to your past She was invited to attend a practice where she was introduced to the groups style of chant. Iriarte, principal composer and instructor, creates chants as a preservation of finohaya the truly indigenous CHamoru language prior to Western influence. When you hear a (CHamoru) song and it does not have Spanish words, it has a certain sound. It has a certain flow, Cruz said. Its a connection to your past. Its an insight to what the language wouldve sounded like many years ago. Until then, the depth of her heritage and language knowledge had not gone beyond her high school classrooms. The sound of finohaya, she said, enlightened and catalyzed both her language learning and chanting journey. It was really important that we not only learn the material, but also understand what it means. It made me more aware, she said. Being part of anything cultural, you make observations. You question things, and through that I felt a connection to my culture. I Fanlalaian Oral History Project was an important place for Cruz to learn and has been for dozens of the groups chanters who connect not only with learning finohaya, but also learning about their heritage through history lessons. Their chants, inspired by oral and written histories, encapsulate the stories and life of CHamorus in pre-colonial times. For CHamoru people, each family, each clan wouldve had chants that were unique and specific to their clan, whether they were a fishing family, or a farming or weaving family, Cruz said. Chant is a way to record history. 4th time representing Guam at FestPac In addition to the finohaya and stories carried by the cadence of their chants, the group also performs a sacred marriage of movement and voice. Soloists and groups follow a certain tone balanced by male and female vocals in communion with body percussion, which includes slapping, stomping, and swaying in place. By sound, there is repetition, response, and a reverent rhythm. By sight, with hands often interwoven, there is the image of clan unity and the projection of CHamoru strength and beauty. A lot of people who hear the chants for the first time, theyll say, Oh I got fugo (chills). Wow, I felt that. They get goosebumps, Cruz said. That feeling is something that continues to keep me grounded. Its the same feeling she has as part of Guams chant delegation. This is Cruzs fourth time representing Guam at FestPac, having participated in prior festivals on Guam in 2016, the Solomon Islands in 2012, and American Samoa in 2008. Being a delegate is an honor. Its a way for us to connect with our Pacific brothers and sisters, she said. Its through that exchange that you appreciate things like beauty. Seeing all the different types of Pacific islanders and admiring how everyone is so confident in their own culture. This cultural exchange, like chant, has connected and enlightened indigenous people across the Pacific since the first festival in 1972. Four years later, in 1976, a 15-year-old Iriarte attended the second festival in New Zealand. From there came inspiration for his early research and the creation of contemporary CHamoru chant and I Fanlalaian. Unfortunately, a lot of us are very American with our worldview, but put us in a setting where its all Pacific islanders its an experience you cant describe, Cruz said. For a little kid to experience that, to see somebody in their native attire...to have that opportunity to see 26-plus cultures in one setting, all the different disciplines. Its the same spirit of cultural immersion shes cultivated since her introduction to chant and her first festival. Its a growth experience she advocates for other CHamorus to learn more about themselves, and their history and heritage. I still learn every time I come here, whether its new information, new words, cultural values, Cruz said. God willing, Im able to do this until Im a biha (older woman). Listen, learn I Fanlalaian Oral History Project holds practices every Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. in the math tutor lab (Room 230) at the Agriculture and Life Sciences Building at the University of Guam. The group encourages anyone with interest to listen, learn, and get involved. Pyongyang, May 30 (UNI) North Korea launched an unspecified ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan early on Thursday, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, citing the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. The report said Seoul's military did not provide further details and was analysing the launch. Pyongyang fired a total of ten short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Thursday, Yonhap cited the South's military as saying. Japanese broadcaster NHK reported, citing the Japan Coast Guard, that a projectile, "which could have been a ballistic missile, has already landed." The report also cited a spokesperson for the Japanese Defence Ministry as saying that the suspected ballistic missile has landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has strongly condemned the North's launch and expressed hope for cooperation with the United States and South Korea. "The launch of the ballistic missile by North Korea violates the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and I strongly condemn it. We will continue the work to collect information and maintain surveillance, and we hope to maintain close cooperation with the US and South Korea," NHK quoted Kishida as saying. Japanese news agency Kyodo reported, citing the South's military, that the missiles travelled about 350 kilometres (217 miles) before landing at sea. UNI/SPUTNIK XC SY ARN The attorney generals latest billboard focuses on his program to deport non-U.S. citizens who have committed crimes. Attorney General Douglas Moylan stated in a news release that his office wants to remind aliens that when they hurt us, Pack Your Bags. Harsh words that save lives and protect us all from harm caused by an alien criminal, including harm to other non-U.S. residents who chose to follow our laws. Earlier this month, Moylan announced his office would be issuing letters to 40 people in prison who would be eligible to be deported. In exchange for getting out of prison early, they would be sent back to their countries of origin and permanently barred from returning to Guam or anywhere else in the United States. Unlike prior attempts, our Deport Air Program does not commute (eliminate prison sentences), but uses those prison sentences as a disincentive to ever attempt re-entry into Guam and the USA, Moylan wrote in a letter unveiling the billboard. The sentences will be held in abeyance, and bench warrants will be waiting if they try to enter the country after being deported. He said federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement already has detainers against these criminal inmates, and our program will free up beds + save the Guam taxpayers thousands of dollars in needing to further house, feed and watch over these persons. They also will not be a threat of escaping back into our community. Moylan said crime victims have been notified, and so far, more than a dozen inmates have expressed interest in the program. Motions are currently being filed with the court, he said. The billboards are targeted at creating awareness among inmates families encouraging them to contact their relatives at DOC to leave Guam now to save we taxpayers the money & free up prison space, Moylan stated in the release. Our Deport Air Program simply hastens their fate once they complete their sentences, since ICE already intends to deport them once they are released from prison. Moylan previously provided documents for 31 of the 40 prisoners immediately eligible for the program. They include inmates serving time for the gang rape of two teenagers, a man sentenced to life in prison for murder and others convicted of aggravated assault, theft, home invasion, manslaughter and attempted murder. The Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks Authority will be raising their employees pay, following approval from the Consolidated Commission on Utilities on Tuesday night. That would be an average increase in pay and benefits of $5,870 per GPA employee and $5,430 per GWA employee this fiscal year alone, based on estimates. GPA employees can expect the first pay adjustment to kick in for the June 30 pay period. GWA employees will see their pay adjusted in July. Money for the raises will come out of revenue the utilities get from power and water sales. No immediate proposal to hike power or water rates to cover salary bumps is before CCU this week. Gradual pay bumps The power and waterworks authorities will gradually be adjusting pay for employees until fiscal 2028, to bring them in line with the 50th market percentile. That means employees will have their pay adjusted so that they make more than about half of the people who hold the same job nationally. Management for both GPA and GWA said employees now get paid at about the fifth market percentile, meaning 95% of people with the same job nationwide get paid better. This first round of pay increases will bring GPA and GWA employees in line with the 30th market percentile and 25th market percentile, respectively. But because the raises are designed to bring workers in line with the salaries of their counterparts nationwide, its possible that some employees that are already well compensated relative to the rest of the industry will not see a pay bump in this first round of raises, according to discussion at the CCU meeting. Pay bumps will be spread out over the next five years and once fully implemented are estimated to cost GPA an extra $8 million and GWA another $8.8 million annually. This years raises will cost GPA $2.5 million and GWA, $1.857 million. Trying to keep employees Pay adjustments are meant to keep skilled workers from leaving GPA and GWA, which have been losing employees to retirements and better-paying jobs in the federal government. About one-third of GPAs 427 employees are eligible to retire in the next five years, according to GPA General Manager John Benavente. But the retirement package GPA offers is no longer enough to keep newer employees on the career path, Benavente told the CCU. GWA Assistant General Manager of Administration and Support Chris Budasi told the CCU that GWA is desperately in need of more workers. Over the last three fiscal years, GWA has lost 43 employees to the federal government or federal contractors, and another 26 employees to GovGuam. GWA has 342 employees. Budasi said theyve had a difficult time getting staff numbers at the waterworks authority back to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Employee turnover has been going up, from 10% in 2021 to 19% in 2024, according to the assistant GM. The high turnover is also driving greater overtime costs, Budasi told commissioners, though he didnt have an exact figure for those overtime costs, but said he could provide them to commissioners later. Better timekeeping CCU Commissioner Michael Limtiaco noted that he wanted to see better timekeeping controls for both GPA and GWA, something that had been raised as an issue at the CCUs audit committee. If we do adopt this increased pay scale, that we also need to adopt an automated time and attendance control. It just has to happen, Limtiaco said. Commissioners asked management for both utilities to come up with a plan for implementing an automated system by July. At the July meeting, we want a plan laid out how long its gonna take, what its going to take, and when its going to be implemented, CCU Chairman Joey Duenas said. New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed the successful launch of Agnibaan rocket and called it a remarkable feat which will make the entire nation proud. In a social media post on X, Modi said, "The successful launch of Agnibaan rocket powered by the the worlds first single-piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine is a momentous occasion for Indias space sector and a testament to the remarkable ingenuity of our Yuva Shakti. My best wishes to the @AgnikulCosmos team for their future endeavours". Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos on Thursday successfully launched its first sub-orbital test vehicle powered by the worlds first single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) also congratulated Agnikul in a post on X, saying it is a major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing. UNI JA CS1457 Grocery shopping on the North Shore is about to get a little easier. Costco has announced that its new location in Covington, Louisiana will open this August. The arrival of the $45.8 million store was first announced in 2022, although information about the stores exact launch date has been hard to find. The 159,000 square foot facility will sit on around 12 acres in the Nord-du-Lac shopping center on Pinnacle Parkway, along Interstate 12. The membership-only warehouse club, whose business model relies on selling items in bulk, has a dedicated fanbase of shoppers. What a birthday gift. Thank you God! Claudia Reshef, a member of the Costco Covington, Louisiana Facebook group, responded to the news. St. Tammany officials say the project is estimated to generate over $60 million in sales and property tax revenue over the next ten years. They also promise the creation of 75 new full-time jobs, with an average salary of nearly $60,000, in addition to another 75 part-time roles. How can people apply to work at the Costco? The Covington Costco location is already accepting job applications in anticipation of its August opening. Available roles from cashiers to pharmacists and forklift drivers can be applied to on the official Costco website. Users will be prompted to create an account with pre-employment questions and personal contact information. Summer may be the off-season in New Orleans, but that only means more opportunities to save on fun. If youre looking for a staycation or an excuse to hop over to the Big Easy look no further. The Chloe, a charming boutique hotel set in a 19th century building on historic St. Charles Ave., is expanding its locals-only discount. Now, residents of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama receive 20% off the hotels standard rate. Guests must provide proof of residence upon check-in. If youre arriving from further away, theres still room to save: All guests who book a stay between May 27 and Sept. 2 receive 10% off the normal rate, along with two additional pool passes and free towels and sunscreen. The Chloe was rated one of the top 10 boutique hotels in the United States, according to USA Today, for its illustrious dine-and-sip scene, from the pool bar to modern Creole, top-shelf dining. Guests can explore the local bars, restaurants and endless shops of Uptown, or take the streetcar straight to the French Quarter. Reservations for The Chloe can be made online, or by calling 504-541-5500. The status of marijuana in Texas is simple. Even though the likes of Willie Nelson and numerous musicians who come through the Lone Star State openly blaze up, marijuana is still illegal. With several cities, including Austin, previously passing marijuana nonenforcement policies and others looking to pass similar citywide ordinances, its understandable to feel confused. If citizens can take steps toward marijuana decriminalization at the city level, why cant Texans petition for the same measures to be on the statewide ballot? To put it simply, its because of the Texas Constitution. But there are still ways Texans can help free the green. Even though most Texans support some form of legalization, the state constitution doesnt allow Texans to petition for marijuana legalization or even decriminalization to be on a statewide ballot. Some people think weed is legal in Texas due to smoke shops and CBD stores selling high-inducing, hemp-derived cannabis products like delta-8, delta-9 consumables and THCa that are currently legal in the state. Others view anything with THC (the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) as the devils lettuce. The Republican Party of Texas isnt even hiding its prohibition-like views on all forms of cannabis, stating in its 2024 Temporary Platform and Resolutions that they oppose legalization and decriminalization of illicit natural and/or illegal synthetic drugs. The Texas GOP also revealed how they feel about the federal governments desire to reschedule marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, sharing that the state of Texas shall retain cannabis as a Schedule I drug. Regardless of where you stand in the great cannabis debate, it doesnt change the fact that as of Spring 2024, marijuana is still illegal in Texas. The Lone Star State is one of 24 states that does not have a statewide ballot initiative process, which typically allows citizens to gather signatures to get a new statute or constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot. To change anything in the Texas Constitution, a lawmaker must introduce an amendment and receive a two-thirds majority vote from the Texas Legislature before it can even be presented to the public on the ballot. But not all hope is lost. What you can do to push marijuana reform forward in Texas Because Texans can collect signatures to get ordinances on the ballot at the municipal level, it opens the door to freeing the green city-by-city. At the end of the day, 72% of Texas voters agree people shouldnt be jailed for minor marijuana possession, according to a 2022 poll by the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. There are a few things you can do to fight the good let people get stoned if they want to fight. Julie Oliver, the former executive director of the nonprofit Ground Game Texas, previously told LoneStarLive.com that the best way Texans can push cannabis reform forward is by voting in city elections. Ground Game is the group that helped pass cannabis nonenforcement policies in five Texas cities (Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen and San Marcos). I think one of the most important things that people could do is vote in city elections, Oliver said. You can affect a lot of change that you want to see in your community just by voting in the municipal elections, and theyre nonpartisan. Another way to push change forward is by engaging with your city council members and voicing your opinion on changes you want to see at the city level, starting with adopting marijuana nonenforcement policies. If theres one thing people have come to know its that progress happens slowly and when it comes to cannabis, it often must start at the city level. Take the state of Colorado, for instance. A statewide measure that wouldve legalized weed in Colorado failed in 2006. Three years later, 73% of voters in the city of Breckenridge, Colorado, voted yes to decriminalize marijuana, meaning the possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana was considered a misdemeanor and punishable by a $100 fine. This measure went into effect in 2010. Fast forward to 2012, when Colorado voters passed Amendment 64 by 55%, which legalized adult-use recreational marijuana for those ages 21 and older. You hear it often, but your vote truly matters and every single vote can make a difference at the city level. Its pretty simple: If people feel their elected officials are not serving the interests of the public who elected them, citizens have the power to remove them by voting for an alternative candidate who will fight for what they want. But city elections arent the only ones advocates for marijuana reform in Texas should be engaging in. Elections at the state level are just as critical to participate in. Supporting candidates in Texas who are pro-weed reform in statewide elections When it comes to the Lone Star State, it appears Texas Republicans like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton are standing in the way of cannabis reform. In 2023, the Texas House of Representatives passed two bills that wouldve been wins for cannabis policy reform. One bill (House Bill 1805) aimed to expand the states extremely limited medical marijuana program, while another (House Bill 218) sought to decriminalize marijuana at the state level by making up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower a misdemeanor with no arrests or jail time. But because Patrick refused to schedule either measure for a hearing in the Texas Senate, the 2023 Legislature ended without passing a single policy aimed at reforming cannabis laws in the state. Patricks term as the states second-highest elected official doesnt end until 2027. On the other hand, Paxton appears to have it out for municipalities that enact marijuana nonenforcement policies. After all, Paxton did sue the five Texas cities where citizens voted to adopt marijuana nonenforcement policies for low-level possession. If youre someone who hopes to push cannabis reform forward in Texas, you may want to start looking into possible pro-weed candidates who can defeat Patrick, Paxton and any other Texas politician ignoring the wants of the people when it comes to cannabis. Heres some food for thought: Texas Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has been vocal about his belief marijuana should not be legal. But the person who is running to unseat Cruz in the 2024 election, Colin Allred, supports marijuana decriminalization and is in favor of expanding the states medical marijuana program. Making marijuana moves that benefit not only Texans and veterans who are looking for relief other than opioids but also can bring in additional tax revenue for the state seems like a win-win. But its up to the people of Texas to demand change by using their right to vote. You may not feel like your vote matters, but youd be mistaken. Every vote for a candidate who doesnt support marijuana reform hinders the progress made in the cannabis space in Texas. If you dont believe people should serve time in jail or prison due to minor marijuana possession or are pro-legalization for adult-use recreational marijuana, you have a choice. You can either speak up by voting for candidates that believe the same or run the risk of living in a pro-marijuana prohibition state. Haiti - FLASH : The PNH denies the assassination of members of the High Command The General Directorate of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) has become aware of false rumors circulating on social networks suggesting the assassination of members of the High Command of the PNH. The Directorate formally denies these allegations, which are part of a destabilizing maneuver aimed at weakening the unity of the Command and consequently attacking the morale of the troops who are waging a constant fight against armed gangs. The High Command of the PNH takes the opportunity to reassure the public of its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property against the gravediggers of the Fatherland and guarantees that the Police continue and will continue to assume their responsibilities in order to safeguard the values of the Republic, public peace and security. The PNH continues to seek out and prosecute members of this group who direct criminal actions towards police officers, including members of the High Command, so that they can answer for their crimes before the courts. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : First statement of PM Garry Conille Wednesday May 29, 2024, the Prime Minister of the Transition Garry Conille https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42432-haiti-flash-garry-conille-unanimously-elected-pm.html thanked the groups of the civil society, political parties and members of the Haitian diaspora who proposed him as a candidate and committed to seeking unity. "I feel very honored that the Presidential Council has chosen me as the new Prime Minister of Haiti. I would like to thank all the civil society organizations, political parties and members of the diaspora who proposed my name among the other candidates in the process. Together, we will work for a better future for all of our Nation's children," he wrote on "X". He faces an immense task, as gangs control at least 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince and the country awaits the UN-backed deployment of a multinational force led by Kenya and other countries as part of a Mission to support the Haitian National Police (PNH) in its fight against armed bands. Conille presented his resignation from his post as UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean on Tuesday, the day of his election. Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF in a statement wished Conille "all the best in bringing the children of Haiti the Peace, stability and hope they so need." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42432-haiti-flash-garry-conille-unanimously-elected-pm.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Situation : American Airline, Air Transat and Amerijet Int. This Thursday, May 30, 2024, an American Airline flight AA819 from Miami arrived at 9:07 a.m., and an Amerijet International cargo flight M6842 at 12:05 p.m. Furthermore, due to the difficult situation in Haiti, Air Transat is forced to cancel its flights between Montreal and Port-au-Prince. The company is currently reassessing the situation, prioritizing the safety of our crew and passengers. A school principal shot Wednesday May 29, 2024, Dominique Garcia Petit Papa, the Director of the Sisters Sainte Marie des Anges School, was assassinated by armed individuals traveling on motorcycles, on rue Capois, in downtown Port-au-Prince. He was shot several times while driving his car near the school. 4,000 pieces of protective equipment for the PNH Tuesday, May 28, 2024, official handover at the Port-au-Prince international airport. 4,000 pieces of personal protective equipment to the Haitian National Police (PNH), as part of the joint support program managed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP - Haiti) https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-42435-icihaiti-security-arrival-of-a-batch-of-materials-and-equipment-for-the-pnh-video.html . The equipment includes helmets, ballistic shields, protective vests -bullets and other materials necessary for the physical safety of police officers who run significant risks in the exercise of their missions. Caribbean : 1 GB mobile data transfer, Haiti #1 The latest cable-co-uk study, which analyzes 5,292 plans in 233 countries around the world, reveals that the lowest average cost of 1 GB of mobile data transfer in the Caribbean region is in Haiti at $0.22/per GB Top 3 cheapest data Caribbean area : Haiti US$0.22 - Trinidad and Tobago US$0.32, Martinique US$0.33 Top 3 most expensive data in the Caribbean region: Bahamas US$ 4.99 - British Virgin Islands US$ 5.24 and Cayman Islands US$ 8.29 The prize for the cheapest Go in the world goes to Isarel 2 US cents (0.02) PM Congratulations PM Outgoing Michel Patrick Boisvert : The outgoing Prime Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert welcomes the appointment of Garry Conille as new Head of the Transition Government and hopes that he knows how to face the challenges and issues of the moment and expressed his wishes for success. OAS : "With the appointment of the new Prime Minister Garry Conille we are determined to support the Transitional Government in its efforts to secure Haiti, reform the Constitution and prepare for national elections," Luis Almagro Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS). President of Kenya William Ruto : The President of Kenya William Ruto, in a note of congratulations, welcomed the appointment Tuesday May 28 of Garry Conille as Prime Minister of the transition https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42432-haiti-flash-garry-conille-unanimously-elected-pm.html "Kenya expresses its strong solidarity with Haiti, as we look forward to working with you and your government to put Haiti back on the path to sustainable development." DR : 143,000 Haitian students in schools Roberto Alvarez, the Dominican Minister of Foreign Affairs, revealed that 200,000 students out of nearly 2 million who attend basic and secondary education in public schools in the Dominican Republic are foreigners, of which 143,000 are of Haitian origin (71.5%). HL/ HaitiLibre (CNBC) Customers with funds locked up in crypto exchange Geminis defunct crypto lending program are finally going to start getting their money back. The company, which is owned by tech billionaire twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, announced Wednesday that it will return $2.18 billion of its digital assets to users of the Earn program, which it paused withdrawals for in November 2022. To read this article: The acquisition, initially announced in February and approved by the Swedish Competition Authority, includes the integration of all 130 MTRX employees into VR's long-distance operations. VR Group , Finland's leading railway company, has successfully completed the acquisition of MTRX, the long-distance train operations of MTR Nordic. This strategic move marks VR's entry into the Swedish rail market, with MTRX now operating under the VR brand. The popular passenger route between Stockholm and Gothenburg will continue uninterrupted, with VR's branding expected to be in full display by this fall. "The Swedish market for commercial long-distance travel is about twice the size of Finland's, and rail transport has a much larger share of passenger traffic. This acquisition is a significant step for us, providing an opportunity for profitable growth in a highly competitive market where customer experience is key," stated Elisa Markula, CEO of VR Group. "MTRX has set high standards for customer experience, as recognized by the Swedish Quality Index for eight consecutive years. We are committed to continuing this legacy and enhancing it with our industry expertise." VR plans to leverage its expertise to innovate and improve services for Swedish passengers, including the development of modern digital customer service channels and new restaurant concepts. The acquisition is also a strategic preparation for increasing rail competition in Finland, allowing VR to gain valuable experience from the more competitive Swedish market. MTRX, operating since 2015, has been a prominent player in the Stockholm-Gothenburg corridor with six Stadler FLIRT trains running 126 services weekly. This represents over a third of the total services on this route. In 2022, MTRX reported a revenue of approximately 350 million SEK. "Integrating MTRX into our operations strengthens our position in the Swedish market and promises to deliver enhanced services and quality to our Finnish passengers as well," Markula added. "I warmly welcome the MTRX team to VR. Together, we will create even better travel experiences for Nordic train travelers." This acquisition aligns with VR's strategic goals of profitable growth and improved competitive standing in the Nordic rail industry, aiming to bring high-quality public transport services to a broader audience. HT The brief indicates that 52 per cent of the public view that it is possible to turn away migrants at the external borders of the 27-country bloc even if doing so exposes them to mortal danger. Only 28 per cent of Finnish candidates in the European elections share the view, reveals the election compass of YLE. FINNISH VOTERS have a noticeably more hardline stance than candidates on the prospect of turning away migrants seeking entry to the EU, reveals a policy brief published as part of Natopoll. The idea of denying migrants entry to the union is popular especially within the Finns Party. Almost nine in ten (89%) of the populist right-wing partys supporters and 67 per cent of its candidates supported the idea. No Green League or Left Alliance candidate contrastively supported the view, despite some support 17 and 18 per cent, respectively among supporters of the two opposition parties. At the same time, the survey respondents identified a defender of human rights and a defender of the rule of law as the two most applicable characterisations of the role of the EU. The survey conducted for the policy brief also found widespread public support for supporting Ukraine. According to 52 per cent of respondents, EU countries should dispatch troops to help the country if it was at risk of losing the war prosecuted by Russia. The view was shared by 45 per cent of the candidates covered by the election compass of YLE. There were some party-specific differences, however. Left Alliance supporters backed the idea at a rate of 58 per cent compared with 16 per cent of the left-wing opposition partys candidates. National Coalition supporters backed the idea at a rate of 51 per cent compared with 75 per cent of the right-wing ruling partys candidates. Hanna Wass, a political scientist at the University of Helsinki, said to YLE that the survey and election compass respondents were provided with different options: while the candidates were able to choose between fully agree, partly agree, partly disagree and fully disagree, the survey respondents had to choose between yes and no. When you have to respond yes or no, the differences become clearer, she explained. Wass is a co-author of Natopoll. While it is difficult to pinpoint clear reasons for the differences of view between voters and candidates, she did detect one clear trend in the results: Finns largely agree about the need to stand by Ukraine. Up to 42 per cent of the public stated that even if the country failed to satisfy all the membership criteria, they would be prepared to welcome the country into the EU. The view was shared by 17 per cent of European election candidates in Finland. Wass estimated that the divide could be evidence of distinct approaches taken to the surveys: the public may be weighing up what is ethically and morally right, the candidates what is politically realistic. The Natopoll report also reveals that information warfare, cyber operations and transnational crime are regarded as the most significant threats facing Finland. The first two were identified as very large or relatively large threats by 91 per cent of respondents, the third as a very large or relatively large threat by 77 per cent of respondents. Wass told YLE that Finlands accession to Nato appears to have alleviated concerns about more traditional military threats, such as an armed attack. Of course Russias hybrid operations underlie the results. Voters feel that these kinds of risks are real and that we have to have tools to combat them, she commented. More than 1,600 Finns responded to the survey on 1824 April. YLEs election compass, in turn, consists of responses from slightly over 200 people who are vying for a seat in the European Parliament. The European elections are held in Finland on 9 June, with advance voting possible between 29 May and 4 June. Aleksi Teivainen HT The "How is Finland Doing?" study explores the factors that influence employees' sense of community. A recent study by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health reveals a polarized sense of community among employees in Finland. While approximately 70% of workers feel a sense of community at work, only one in four report a strong connection with their colleagues. This disparity underscores the varying experiences within the workforce, with some feeling more isolated than ever. Key positive influences include fair treatment and servant leadership, which significantly enhance the feeling of belonging. Conversely, ethical stress and role conflicts are major detractors, weakening the sense of community. "Despite a larger proportion of employees feeling a sense of community, no group has shown an increase in this sentiment," explains Specialist Researcher Janne Kaltiainen. The study highlights that employees in part-time roles and those living alone reported the weakest sense of community, particularly in office settings compared to hybrid or remote work environments. The study also identified a troubling trend: one-third of respondents, who already had a weak sense of community, experienced further decline. This decline was notably present among temporary employees, managers, and young adults. The Role of Leadership and Fair Treatment The findings suggest that workplace conditions play a crucial role in fostering community. Fair treatment and servant leadership emerged as critical factors that can significantly improve the sense of community. These elements help create an environment where employees feel heard, understood, and valued. On the flip side, ethical stress and role conflicts were pinpointed as significant risks. These factors can erode trust and collaboration, leading to increased feelings of isolation among workers. Implications for Workplace Well-Being Strengthening the sense of community is not just beneficial for individual well-being but also for organizational success. A strong community spirit at work can boost employee well-being, enhance feelings of capability, and increase commitment to the workplace. It can also help mitigate general loneliness, which has been on the rise among remote workers. "In recent years, much of the discussion around work life has centered on autonomy and self-management. It's crucial now to focus equally on fostering a sense of community and leveraging social resources in the workplace," says Research Professor Jari Hakanen. He emphasizes that improving the sense of community presents a significant opportunity for workplaces to enhance motivation, commitment, and productivity. About the Study The "How is Finland Doing?" study aims to provide insights into the well-being and attitudes of Finnish employees. The research is based on survey data collected from working Finns aged 18-65 in two phases during 2023. The findings offer a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of workplace community and the factors that influence it. As Finnish workplaces continue to navigate the balance between in-office, hybrid, and remote work models, fostering a sense of community remains a critical challenge and opportunity for employers looking to support their teams effectively. HT The survey, conducted in spring 2024 with nearly 2,000 student respondents, shows that 43% of students find their academic life continuously stressful. A recent study reveals that Finnish students are increasingly experiencing mental health issues due to mounting academic pressure. The How is Finland Doing? survey, commissioned by the Helsinki Student Housing Foundation (Hoas), found that 40% of students feel they are being pushed too hard, with mental health-related long-term absences nearly quadrupling over the past decade. Annakerttu Aranko, CEO of Noren, the research company behind the survey, notes, "Student life has become markedly more serious and performance-oriented. Concerns about societal issues, personal well-being, and the future are prevalent, especially in an era of cuts to support and education." Despite the pressures, many students see graduation as a beacon of hope. A significant 63% are looking forward to entering the workforce, believing it will ease their burdens. However, only 18% think that life will not improve after starting their careers. "Many students express in open responses that they view work life as a form of respite from their taxing academic schedules," Aranko adds. Yet, uncertainty about the future remains high, with over a third (36%) of students unsure about what lies ahead. Aranko explains, "There is a divide between students who are optimistic and those who lack confidence in their future. This uncertainty appears to be a generational experience, exacerbated by a reliance on personal resources and support networks, which creates inequality among students based on their backgrounds." Home as a Sanctuary for Students Hoas has long studied student living conditions and their impact on well-being. The latest findings underscore the importance of a stable home environment in supporting students' mental health. A vast majority of respondents (83%) view their homes as a sanctuary for relaxation and recovery, while 87% value privacy and peace as their home's most crucial functions. Matti Tarhio, CEO of Hoas, emphasizes, "In a turbulent world, our mission is to provide students with a safe home. Our research shows that students see their living arrangements as essential to their well-being. Keeping rents affordable allows students to focus on their primary goalstudying and graduating." Hoas currently offers 11,000 student apartments in the Helsinki metropolitan area, with rents averaging 30% below market rates. Tarhio highlights that affordable housing contributes to faster graduation rates. "Over a third of students rate their financial situation as poor, a figure determined before recent budget cuts. However, students living in Hoas accommodations feel slightly better about their situation compared to those living elsewhere. Most of our residents also believe that affordable housing accelerates their graduation," he explains. As Finland grapples with the growing mental health crisis among students, these findings underscore the need for supportive academic environments and accessible housing to foster student well-being and success. HT HENLEY Mayor Rory Hunt is to call for Thames Water to be taken into state ownership. He is to ask Tuesdays meeting of the full council to lobby for the water company to be renationalised by the new administration after the general election on July 4. Councillor Hunt will also propose that the council passes a motion of no confidence in Thames Water, which is under fire for dumping sewage in the River Thames. Last month, the Environment Agency released data showing that raw sewage was discharged more than 3.6 million hours into rivers and seas last year. Thames Water was responsible for the biggest increase in the number of discharges, with its overflows dumping on 16,990 occasions, a 112 per cent increase on 2022. Cllr Hunt said: We have had enough of the dreadful service Thames Water have been providing. They have caused traffic chaos, made our precious river an open sewer and taken our money to pay their shareholders. Things have got to change and this motion of no confidence sends a clear message. We need bold, ambitious targets to provide a decent service for Thames Water customers, one that considers its moral obligation to water users and the planet. The Henley Mermaids, an open water swimming group, which is campaigning for water companies to clean up their act, has backed the Mayor. It says that the election is an opportunity for all political parties to make waterways a priority. Laura Reineke, a member of the group, said We have spent years campaigning on this issue and are increasingly concerned at the state of our rivers as a result of years of underinvestment. Thames Water continues to dump untreated sewage into our rivers and streams for thousands of hours a year while losing a third of our fresh water to its own leaks. At the same time, the company is pushing the regulator Ofwat to increase bills by 59 per cent and reduce penalties for environmental breaches. Its simply not good enough. We need a water and sewage utility that puts customers and nature first, not shareholder profit and executive pay. To be clear, this is not about Thames Waters 8,000 staff, most of whom are brilliant. Its about a water company that has been under-regulated and mismanaged at the highest level. Tuesdays meeting, which will be held in the council chamber at the town hall, is open to the public. Today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Administration for Community Living, released Aging in the United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging. The report lays the groundwork for a coordinated effort across the private and public sectors and in partnership with older adults, family caregivers, the aging services network, and other stakeholders to create a national set of recommendations for advancing healthy aging and age-friendly communities that value and truly include older adults. The national plan on aging will advance best practices for service delivery, support development and strengthening of partnerships within and across sectors, identify solutions for removing barriers to health and independence for older adults, and more. Developed by leaders and experts from 16 federal agencies and departments working together through the Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities, the report also reflects input from community partners and leaders in the aging services network. Ensuring that every American can age with dignity has been a priority throughout the Biden-Harris Administration and is at the core of our work at HHS, said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. From day one, we have focused on lowering prescription drug costs, improving support for family caregivers, strengthening the workforce that provides in-home services, increasing access to health care and more to support older adults. The Strategic Framework provides a roadmap for us to build upon that progress to improve the experience of aging in our country. The rapidly growing population of older adults creates an urgent need for thoughtful planning and coordinated action to strengthen the systems that support health and wellbeing as we age, said Alison Barkoff, who leads the Administration for Community Living. ACL was proud to lead the development of this strategic framework, and we are excited to work with our partners at every level of government, across sectors, and with older adults to develop a national plan on aging. The Strategic Framework captures the opportunities and challenges created by the aging of the U.S. population and defines goals and objectives for addressing critical aging issues. It considers the many factors that influence the aging experience, as well as things all people need as they age, such as coordinated housing and services, aligned health care and supportive services, accessible communities, age-friendly workplaces, and high-quality long-term services and supports. Within these, the framework discusses key issues and work underway across the federal government, such as availability of affordable and accessible housing and promoting economic and financial security. On June 10 at 2 p.m., ACL will host a public webinar to provide an overview of the Strategic Framework (advance registration is required.) In the coming months, the ICC will engage with stakeholders across the nation to explore the opportunities and issues in the Strategic Framework and inform the development of the national plan on aging. The report includes contributions from eight HHS divisions, as well as the U.S. Departments of: Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs; the Social Security Administration; and AmeriCorps. Older adults everywhere deserve reliable, high-quality, age-friendly care that allows them to engage in their communities and pursue meaningful activities through optimal health, wellness, and functioning, said Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Director Dr. Robert Otto Valdez. AHRQ is a proud partner in the Strategic Framework in providing healthcare systems and clinicians with the clinical decision support, evidence-based tools, and other resources necessary to fully address the needs and desires of older patients regardless of their care setting. Older adults are integral to the health of our nation and our AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers demonstrate this every day through the impactful service they provide communities, said Michael D. Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps. The Aging in the United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging speaks to the importance of engaging older adults in their communities in meaningful ways that give them purpose, allow them to share their knowledge and skills, and improve their health and wellbeing. AmeriCorps Seniors research showed that after one year of purposeful engagement through our programs, 84 percent of volunteers reported improved or stable health, 88 percent reported decreased feelings of isolation, and 78 percent felt less depressed. We want this for all older adults, and we are proud to be a part of this national plan on aging. Our programs at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are an important lifeline for Americans, particularly for seniors who can benefit from enjoying community life, physical and mental health services, and community-based services and supports, said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. The Strategic Frameworks thoughtful approach complements our work across CMS programs to help make the future of aging brighter by using person-centered approaches to care and services that respect and acknowledge the needs of everyone we serve. Transportation, cited as a major concern by older adults, can prove challenging as we age, said Federal Transit Administration Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. More than 85 percent of Americans aged 50 to 80 say that it is important to them to grow older in the place where they live. To enable them to do so, older adults need a robust transportation network, including transit, to get them to healthcare and other activities. Transit investments, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by FTA, are an essential component of an age-friendly community. Addressing gaps in care and increasing engagement among patients and family members is critical to improving health outcomes for older adults, especially people with specific health care needs like diabetes or mental health conditions, said Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator Carole Johnson. HRSA is committed to educating, training, and building capacity of the health care workforce by integrating geriatric care with primary care and other specialties, including HIV care. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) strongly supports the Strategic Framework, which includes a goal for all older adults to maximize their health and reduce preventable disease and injury through comprehensive care that integrates health and social services in the home or in the community, said Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D, who leads SAMHSA. Preventing mental health and substance use conditions, ensuring comprehensive care for those who need it, and supporting individuals in recovery is essential to allow older adults to live long healthy lives. This Framework is an important step towards more comprehensively supporting health and well-being as we age, said Dr. Tisamarie Sherry, the deputy assistant secretary for behavioral health, disability and aging policy who is performing the delegable duties of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. ASPE seeks to elevate evidence-based policy this Framework, and the national plan that will follow, are excellent vehicles to advance policies that work for older adults. "As life expectancy rises, we have a unique opportunity to redefine what it means to grow older. At CDC, we envision a world where aging is celebrated and everyone has the opportunity to thrive, says Debra Houry, M.D., M.P.H., CDCs chief medical officer. This framework serves as a roadmap for building age-friendly communities that prioritize the health and wellbeing of older adults. Making sure that older adults can live their healthiest lives is a priority for CDC. Achieving this goal depends on management and prevention of chronic diseases, says Karen Hacker, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDCs National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. The strategies in this framework reflect our dedication to a future where older adults have the resources and community support they need to maintain their health and independence. This report represents a first-of-its-kind and much-needed primer for local, state and federal leaders in the United States, outlining exactly what it will take to support the nations growing population of older adults, said Rear Adm. Paul Reed, M.D., HHS deputy assistant secretary for health. By identifying the unique needs of older adults living in the United States and the necessary resources and tools to promote their health and well-being, this report is a critical step toward developing and implementing systemic solutions to help older adults thrive. About the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Health Aging and Age-Friendly Communities Led by the Administration for Community Living, the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities was established under the Older Americans Act to foster coordination across the federal government and to develop a national set of recommendations on key aging issues. With first-ever appropriations to support the ICC received in fiscal year 2023, ACL convened leaders and experts across 16 federal agencies and departments to develop the Strategic Framework. The promise embedded in this Strategic Framework, however, extends beyond government coordination. Its vision, values, goals, and actions are intended to create and strengthen cross-sector partnerships and for the betterment of older adults nationwide. Learn more about the ICC on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities at ACL.gov/ICC-Aging. Cancer (21st June to 22nd July) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Look for your goals ahead Be ready to embrace surprises in the love life. Take up the challenges at work today. While your wealth is good, make sure about smart money investments. Cancer Daily Horoscope Today, May 31, 2024: Be ready to embrace surprises in the love life. You will take up relationship issues to stay happy. Professional success will be at your side. While financially, you are stable today, be sure your health is also in perfect condition. Cancer Love Horoscope Today Keep a distance from arguments in the love life. You may be able to keep the lover happy and content. Value the lover as a person and this can boost the love affair. Handle all love-related issues with a mature attitude. Be a caring lover and you will receive affection back today. Single Cancer natives will come across someone special today. Despite you feeling a deep urge to express the feeling, wait for a day or two to propose. Cancer Career Horoscope Today At the office, many hurdles may pop up, which you need to overcome smartly. Always think out of the box to outstandingly perform. Handle office politics with a mature attitude. Do not miss the deadline today and ensure you always have a plan B at team meetings. Your communication will help in negotiating with clients today. Some businessmen will have troubles in expanding the trade to new territories but things will improve in a few days. Cancer Money Horoscope Today Financial prosperity also comes with a hike in expenditure. You may spend a big amount to meet your lifestyle expenditure. However, you should also be careful to save for a rainy day. As businessmen will see success today, their financial status will also be good. Some traders will have new partners and there will be no shortage of funds. Some females will need to spend for a celebration with friends at the office or outside. Cancer Health Horoscope Today Cancer natives may have minor medical issues and it is good to consult a doctor whenever necessary. Senior natives will have sleeplessness and pain in their joints. Avoid stress-related issues by staying in a positive atmosphere. Children need to be careful as minor bruises may happen while playing. Minor allergies or infections can also impact routine life. Cancer Sign Attributes Strength: Intuitive, Practical, Kind, Energetic, Artsy, Dedicated, Benevolent, Caring Weakness: Insatiable, Possessive, Prudish Symbol: Crab Element: Water Body Part: Stomach & Breast Sign Ruler: Moon Lucky Day: Monday Lucky Color: White Lucky Number: 2 Lucky Stone: Pearl Cancer Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces Good compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn Fair compatibility: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius Less compatibility: Aries, Libra By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 9811107060 (WhatsApp Only) Gemini (21st May to 20th June) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, no hurdle will stop you Troubleshoot the issues in the relationship and also take care to deliver the best results at the office. Your monetary situation is good and health is also normal. Gemini Daily Horoscope Today, May 31, 2024: Minor friction may exist in the love life and take steps to resolve that. Minor friction may exist in the love life and take steps to resolve that. Your professional life will be a mixed bag while finance and health would score high today. Gemini Love Horoscope Today No major hiccup will disrupt the flow of romance today. Be positive in attitude and also ensure you spare time to sit together and take a call on marriage. Females will be happy to receive the approval of their parents for a love affair. You may also call for a romantic vacation today. Some natives will receive both financial and moral support from their partners in their business ventures. Married Gemini females will be supportive of their spouse and this brightens the married life. Gemini Career Horoscope Today Stay away from unwanted arguments at the workplace and ensure you maintain a good rapport with your co-workers. If you are a junior, ensure you bring out innovative concepts that would be accepted by the management. Those who want to quit the job can put down the paper. Update the profile on a job portal and you will receive interview calls before the day ends. Traders may face issues from authorities related to licenses or policies which should be resolved today itself. Gemini Money Horoscope Today Ensure you keep track of the monetary situation. Do not spend a big amount on luxury. But you are good to buy electronic appliances today. Some male natives will plan a vacation abroad s the monetary situation permits that. Today is also good to invest in mutual funds fixed deposits, and the stock market. A sibling may ask for financial assistance and you may provide it. Gemini Health Horoscope Today Ensure you maintain a balanced office and personal life. Seniors must spend more time with people they love this will help them handle mental stress. Smokers can consider quitting the habit. If you have been second-hand smoking, try to make sure that you avoid that, as second-hand smoking could also put you at risk, leading to many respiratory illnesses. Gemini Sign Attributes Strength: Insightful, Wise, Smart, Pleasant, Quick-witted, Charming Weakness: Inconsistent, Gossipy, Lazy Symbol: Twins Element: Air Body Part: Arms & Lungs Sign Ruler: Mercury Lucky Day: Wednesday Lucky Color: Silver Lucky Number: 7 Lucky Stone: Emerald Gemini Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius Good compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius Fair compatibility: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn Less compatibility: Virgo, Pisces By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 9811107060 (WhatsApp Only) Discover the stories behind India's most influential companies in this insightful exploration. From innovative startups to established industry leaders, the listicle delves into the strategies, leadership, and market impact that have propelled these firms to the forefront of their sectors. Uncover the secrets of their success and the visionary individuals driving their growth. 1. Bemarketfit.com To make high-quality education accessible to all, Bemarketfit.com, powered by Quickssync Market Fit Solutions Pvt Ltd, is upgrading access to digital marketing and data analytics training in India's Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Recognising the barriers faced by aspiring professionals in these regions, Bemarketfit.com offers an array of affordable, cutting-edge online learning opportunities. These programs are designed to empower individuals. Bemarketfit.com has introduced a new educational platform to provide learners with relevant skills in AI and Marketing. This platform facilitates interaction with experienced industry leaders and includes training in numerous AI and Marketing tools. Emphasising practical learning, the program offers sessions that are entirely hands-on, coupled with exposure to real-world industry projects. Participants can also earn a monthly stipend, further enhancing the educational experience. The platform has additional benefits such as Project experience certificates and course completion certificates, supporting learners in their career advancement. http://www.bemarketfit.com 2. One Fourth Ventures One Fourth Ventures, founded in 2023, works with early-stage, direct-to-consumer (D2C) firms to assist entrepreneurs realize their full potential and propel their brands to the spotlight of their respective industries. One Fourth understand the hurdles of starting and growing a D2C business, having walked the path itself. It has three kinds of approach: launch assistance with "Incubate My Brand," growth optimisation for established businesses with "Grow My Brand," and streamlined acquisitions with "Acquire My Brand." It focuses on brands with promising growth potential, using targeted strategies and category expertise to produce impressive outcomes. One Fourth facilitates close founder collaboration, offering resources and streamlining collaborations based on strategic vision and data insights. Its approach ensures continuous founder participation in building an entrepreneur's portfolio and driving growth. https://onefourth.in/ 3. MYZA Diamonds Launched in November 2022 by Taruna Biyani and Arvend Biyani, MYZA Diamonds Private Limited has quickly become prominent in the jewellery sector with its focus on sustainability and lab-created diamonds. Taruna Biyani utilises her experience as a jewellery designer to enhance the product offerings, while Arvend Biyani brings his extensive background in finance, investments, and private equity to guide the company's strategy. MYZA Diamonds is engaged in the production and sale of lab-grown pure carbon diamonds that are comparable to mined diamonds in terms of quality and appearance. The company's diamond passes through detailed quality checks to ensure only premium solitaires are used in their jewellery. Quality services, craftsmanship, and pricing make its products a viable choice for consumers interested in environmentally responsible luxury options. https://myza.com/ 4. Laundryto In the bustling markets of India, where lifestyle and fashion meet convenience, Laundryto introduces a much-needed way of managing daily laundry needs. Founded in December 2023 by Prashant Dubey, with Ashutosh Dubey as Co-founder, Laundryto uses advanced technology with a personal touch to wash clothes. As a certified laundry franchise, Laundryto supports quality work. With its AI-based digital solutions and real-time tracking systems, Laundryto ensures that every garment receives care, offering peace of mind and ease to its customers. For those looking to invest, Laundryto presents a sixty-percent profit opportunity through its cost-effective franchise model. The brand supports its franchise investors, improving growth and the community cycle. Laundryto's outlets, designed with a premium and organised aesthetic, cater to the practical needs of the customer, making professional laundry services accessible and enjoyable. www.laundryto.in Franchise Contact: 8238 000 777 5. Rangreli Driven by a love for art and a desire to share the beauty of nature, Prashant and Kumarika embarked on a journey in 2015. What began as a small operation from their home studio has blossomed into Rangreli, a nameplate among the brands. Today, Rangreli offers a collection of handcrafted pieces, painted by their talented artists. Rangreli's artistic vision varies in home decor products. Its creations are inspired by the natural world, from designer lamps that cast warm, inviting shadows to vibrant wall art that injects a dose of personality into any space. Each brushstroke ensures quality and individuality with no two Rangreli pieces being identical. Rangreli aspires to transform every house into a unique and artistic haven. https://www.rangreli.com/ 6. Bibliophiles Bibliophiles, founded by Apurva Mhatre, transforms a mothers love for books into an enterprise enriching children's lives through culturally diverse literature. Apurvas passion evolved into a business meticulously curating and selling quality books that foster cultural awareness. Amid the pandemic-driven shift to online platforms, Bibliophiles expanded its offerings, publishing books emphasising cultural awareness for children and introducing personalised stationery, catering to the modern consumers desire for unique, customised products. This strategic move differentiates Bibliophiles in a crowded market, highlighting cultural literacy and personalised experiences. Building on this momentum, Bibliophiles recently introduced Zootii, a brand dedicated to stylish, personalised labels for various surfaces, including apparel, stationery, and household products. Zootii caters to the growing demand for personalisation, turning everyday items into unique expressions of individuality. This new venture underscores each product reflects its users' personal tastes and preferences. https://store.bibliophiles.in/ 7. ElySpace IT Services LLP ElySpace, founded by Shahid Ahmad Malla, has officially launched as Kashmir's cloud and web hosting provider. As the only local company in this field, ElySpace offers a comprehensive suite of services, including Cloud Servers, Managed Cloud, WHMCS Cloud Servers, specialised Web Hosting, Domain Registration, and Reseller Hosting. With ElySpace, virtual machines can be deployed within thirty seconds. ElySpace's cloud solutions are designed for scalability, flexibility, and high performance, making them suitable for businesses of all sizes. Its web hosting services range from basic plans to specialised WordPress hosting, optimised for performance and security. The domain registration process is straightforward and user-friendly, ensuring quick setup for clients. ElySpace's local expertise offers solutions to businesses, understanding and meeting their unique needs. The company's high-performance infrastructure, built with the latest technologies, ensures reliability and speed for hosted websites and applications. https://elyspace.com 8. The Sarvam Spiritual Club In 2014, Dr Seema Mehlawat founded The Sarvam Spiritual Club. Dr. Mehlawat, a Vastu Consultant, has consulted on homes, flats, farmhouses, shops, and more, ensuring positivity in each space. Her observations and recommendations come from years of experience. Besides being a vastu consultant, Dr. Mehlawat is also a Tarot reader. Each card drawn unveils layers of meaning, offering guidance to those navigating life's maze. Her organisation, The Sarvam Spiritual Club, isn't just about Vastu or Tarot; it's about enriching lives and nurturing spirits. Furthermore, Sarvam prioritises customer privacy and allows 24/7 access. For individuals needing spiritual guidance, Dr. Mehlawat can assist them. https://sarvamsoul.com/ 9. Konic HealthCare Konic HealthCare, in collaboration with its technology arm Adskonic, led by founder Sarvesh Dhir Jalandhar, Punjab, is enhancing its Gynae Care Education offerings. Since 2007, Konic HealthCare has been integrating information on digital technology with healthcare solutions to improve patient education and treatment accessibility. This improved initiative digital healthcare and IT services, encompasses website development and digital advertising. The information regarding education services is developed in coordination with esteemed gynaecology specialists, focusing on delivering in-depth knowledge and empowering patients in Gynae care. Konic HealthCare and Adskonic are committed to providing a digital healthcare platform with a wide range of options for the public. The platform provides information concerning doctors according to their location and suitability, as well as a broad spectrum of medical treatments facilitated by experienced doctors and surgeons, ensuring high-quality healthcare options. https://www.konichealthcare.com 10. Hruduy Goyal At the age of 22, Hruduy Goyal marked his presence in the entrepreneurial journey by co-founding four companies: Storybizz Media, Atelierish, Atelierish Media, and Hrudaksh. With a keen eye for marketing and sales, he has driven revenue growth across his ventures. Demonstrating the idea of leadership, Hruduy is a business enthusiast and helped reshape the industry. His ambition is clearto secure a spot on the website list, reflecting his potential in the competitive business world. With multiple startups to his credit, he continues to set high standards and inspire young entrepreneurs globally. His story is one of ambition, innovation, and success, setting a new paradigm in digital entrepreneurship. https://storybizzmedia.com/ Compiler Name: Btrue 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. Air India Express launched its 'Time to Travel' offer that allows travellers to book air tickets starting at just 1,177 from May 29 until June 3. An Air India Express aircraft Travellers can avail the offer on tickets for travel up to September 30, 2024. It is accessible through Air India Express' website, app, and other booking platforms. Travel agents can tap into fares starting at 1,198, while those booking directly on the airlines website can enjoy lower Xpress Lite fares from 1,177. The exclusive rates are reserved for passengers travelling with cabin baggage only. Also Read | AI Express union says reduced flights impacting cabin crew salaries Travellers will be provided with the option to pre-book an extra 3 kg of cabin baggage at no charge and avail discounted rates for check-in baggage, starting at 1000 for domestic flights and 1,300 on international routes. Registered members get an added 25% discount on the 'Gourmair' hot meals and preferred seating. Tata NeuPass Rewards Programme members can earn up to 8% NeuCoins, along with exclusive deals on meals, seating, baggage, and flexible change and cancellation policies. The special fares can be availed by students, senior citizens, SMEs, dependents, and armed forces members. Air India Express' domestic as well as international flights were delayed or cancelled on May 8 after a section of the staff reported sick at the last minute ahead of work due to alleged mismanagement by the Tata Group-owned airline, as reported by News 18. Also Read | Woman couldnt meet husband before death due to AI Express flight cancellations A Google techie shared that she was rejected for a promotion in the organisation which ultimately proved to be a "blessing in disguise". The techie joined Google in October 2011 and said that it was a rocky start because I didn't have a team for two weeks. When I eventually did, my manager left two months into my role. I had several interim managers. I was unlucky none of my friends who started at a similar time had an experience like that. The Google logo is seen on the Google house(Reuters) As per Business Insider, the woman said that soon she moved to Google Fiber where she was rejected for a promotion. She said, After seven months, I started working on Google Fiber. I moved there because I wanted to work for a growing team. It was like a startup within Google. I had a stable manager and felt like I finally belonged to a team. She shared, "I had to write a self-assessment and collect feedback from my peers. In my case, decisions were made by people from other organizations within Google, such as YouTube or the ads team. These "promotions committees" review your application. In mine, I listed all the projects I was working on. My peers also gave positive feedback. But my manager told me my promotion was rejected. They said it was because I hadn't been able to show enough impact for the next level. Google had "career rubrics" summarizing the abilities it expected from each level." "Its philosophy was that you perform at the level of the role you're trying to get to for at least six months before you're up for promotion," she said. After this, the woman decided to remain in Google as she said that she needed to figure out how to get promoted, so I reverse-engineered the process. The biggest thing I realized was that managers didn't have time to guide my career. I needed to guide my career. Instead of them telling me what I needed to do to get promoted, I needed to figure it out and ask them for support in achieving those things. I knew I needed to show that I could be trusted with timelines, deliverables, and communication. I became much more proactive in my communication. I escalated and flagged concerns early on and updated my manager much more frequently on my progress," she said. Following this, she applied for another promotion and was promoted to the position as well. She said, "This time, I got it - two and a half years after I'd joined Google. Getting rejected the first time was a blessing in disguise because I learned so much by getting rejected. After that, I got promoted to the next level - a senior engineer - the following Spring," she said. The woman said that in early 2016, she was promoted again and became the tech lead. In January 2017, she quit the software giant and joined Uber. Hero FinCorp Ltd (HFCL)- subsidiary of Hero MotoCorp Ltd- said its board of directors approved a 4,000 crore Initial Public Offering (IPO) of equity shares with a face value of 10 each. Hero FinCorp said, This is to inform you that the Board of Directors of the Company in their meeting held on May 29, 2024, has considered and approved the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the equity shares of face value of 10 each. Hero FinCorp IPO: Hero MotoCorp owns around 40 per cent stake in Hero Fincorp while promoters Munjal family hold around 35-39 per cent. The IPO will include a fresh issue of equity shares along with an offer for the sale of equity shares. The company said that the IPO comprises of a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to 40,000 million and an Offer for Sale of Equity Shares by certain existing and eligible shareholders of the company. Read more: China may impose record fine on PwC over Evergrande auditing work The company offers two-wheeler financing, advances for buying homes in the affordable housing segment, loans for education and to the small and medium enterprise sector. It has presence in over 4,000 cities and towns across India and nearly 2,000 retail financing touchpoint. Hero MotoCorp owns around 40 per cent stake in Hero Fincorp while promoters Munjal family hold around 35-39 per cent. The balance is held by private equity investors like Apollo Global, ChrysCapital and Credit Suisse. By Paul Sandle and Kate Holton INSIGHT-Britain's creaking power grid leaves green energy revolution adrift PORTSMOUTH, England, - British ferry operator Wightlink wants to order a $60 million, state-of-the-art electric ferry to make its crossings cleaner and greener. But it can't commission the vessel until it gets a power upgrade. The company carries 4 million islanders, holidaymakers and festival goers every year on a five nautical mile crossing between England's picturesque southern coast and the Isle of Wight. The strait, known as the Solent, is popular with yachts and leisure craft, while much of the coastline is protected. Wightlink has funding in place for a electric-powered car ferry that would reduce emissions both at sea and in port, following in the path of pioneer Norway, which introduced the world's first in 2015. The government has said decarbonising maritime transport is essential to achieving Britain's net zero target by 2050. Domestic maritime vessels represented around 5% of Britain's greenhouse gas emissions from transport in 2020, more than rail and buses combined, the government said in a 2022 report. And the long average lifespan of vessels means that greener ships must start being deployed by next year to achieve a green fleet by the 2050 deadline. But interviews with 22 people - including investors, power company employees, government officials, Wightlink staff and countryside campaigners - revealed that long waits for grid connections combined with planning obstacles are putting millions of pounds of green transport investment at risk. "We want to go electric. We think it's the right thing," Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield told Reuters onboard a hybrid ferry, which uses diesel to charge electric batteries, saving around 20% in emissions. "We're held back by a lack of shore power." Wightlink needs to order its next ship within 12-18 months to replace an ageing vessel, but cannot commit to go solely electric without a legally binding power contract, Greenfield said. Regional network operator Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks told Wightlink two years ago that a new connection at its Portsmouth terminal would require infrastructure upgrades, including at a nearby substation on the national high-voltage network, according to a document reviewed by Reuters and ferry company executives. The substation improvements by National Grid were not scheduled to be completed until 2037. After Reuters interviewed Wightlink executives, SSEN said this month enough power may be available without the National Grid work, and it would hold new talks with the ferry company. If Wightlink accepts a new quote from SSEN, it will be able to guarantee the capacity and confirm its place in the connections queue. "We look forward to meeting them early next month to progress proposals," a SSEN spokesperson told Reuters, adding that there could be more network capacity available than previously forecast so the company had "potential to progress" with Wightlink's request. Britain will hold a general election on July 4 with polls predicting a victory for the opposition Labour party after 14 years of Conservative rule. Wightlink's dilemma underscores the challenge Britain's next government will face in delivering the renewable energy and grid infrastructure needed to power a shift to electric ferries, cars and domestic heating in Europe's second-largest economy. Britain was the first major economy to create a legally binding 2050 net zero target. It's a leader in offshore wind and it has halved emissions since 1990 after closing coal power plants. Central to the net zero target is a plan to decarbonise the electricity system by 2035. But the state adviser, the Climate Change Committee, said in a progress report in June 2023 that the government lacked a full strategy to get there. CHANGING DATES How to achieve net zero, and at what cost, has become a battleground both nationally and locally. Britons support the policy of net zero but they often baulk at the costs and infrastructure that may be required to get there, surveys show. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak scrapped some targets last year, saying he needed to retain public support in the face of "unacceptable costs". Labour has pledged to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030, five years ahead of the Conservatives' target of 2035. Reforming grid connections is one part of its ambitious plan. To hit net zero, Britain needs to expand the high-voltage network in England and Wales carried overhead on large pylons, which then connect to regional distribution networks. The grid, owned and operated by London-listed National Grid Plc, was built to transmit power generated from coalfields in areas like Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire across the country. Today more electricity is coming from wind farms in Scotland and off Britain's east coast, and new infrastructure is needed to transmit it to London and the south. Currently wind farms are being paid to switch off in strong winds, when the grid cannot absorb all the generated power, data from the country's electricity system operator shows. The government has said reinforcements needed to increase capacity, including new substations, power lines or supergrid transformers, could take up to 13 years to complete, in part due to regulatory and planning approval. It wants to halve that time, and is working with the regulator, Ofgem, network operators and the industry to accelerate connections. National Grid said in May it would spend more than 30 billion pounds on the grid over the next five years. "We're driving forward the biggest reforms to our electricity grid since the 1950s," the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero told Reuters. It set a target in November to cut the average delay faced by viable net zero-aligned projects like Wightlink for connections from around five years to six months, saying a faster system needed to be in place by 2025. INFRASTRUCTURE V CONSERVATION One issue that stands in the way of developing the grid and the renewable energy projects needed to power it are Britain's planning laws. Approval times have ballooned in recent years, as local councils struggle to process applications and rural communities bring legal challenges to oppose major works. The time it takes to secure consent for large-scale projects like wind farms has increased by 65% since 2012, stretching to 4.2 years, according to a government-requested report by the National Infrastructure Commission in 2023. The rate of schemes subject to lengthy judicial reviews has leapt to 58%, from a long-term average of 10%, it said. That pushes up project costs, threatening investment. Fiera Infrastructure, the Canadian co-owner of Wightlink, warned that investors can always spend their capital elsewhere. "Global investors are not yet at the point of turning their backs on UK infrastructure, but missteps around policy have eroded investor confidence," President Alina Osorio told Reuters. The sentiment was echoed by other infrastructure investors, including one of the biggest in Britain, which has backed a company building electric vehicle chargers at motorways. The fund manager, who asked not to be named, said a lack of new power had forced the company to adapt some of its projects. Minal Patel, a partner at Schroders Greencoat, a renewable investment manager, said strong investor demand for renewable assets showed Britain remained attractive, but slow grid connections were a challenge. CONNECTION For Wightlink, the hunt for a connection has been fraught. In 2022, SSEN quoted Wightlink 4.6 million pounds for 12MW connections to power the chargers it needs to install in Portsmouth and Fishbourne, according to documents seen by Reuters. The units must charge the electric ferry in the 20 minutes it has between sailings. Work could be completed in around 12 months in Fishbourne - one of Wightlink's terminals on the Isle of Wight - but there was no timeline given for the Portsmouth connection. Under the rules, a project like Wightlink's must accept a quote from the distribution network provider to secure a place in the connections queue. But Wightlink's Greenfield said it could not order a 50 million pound ferry without a guarantee of power. In the last week, SSEN said there could be enough capacity to deliver more than the power Wightlink initially wanted. Wightlink's Head of Engineering & Estates Charlie Field is hoping that a contract can finally be agreed. "A few weeks ago, all deals were off as far as we were concerned. We had to wait until 2037," said. "Now that might not be the case." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Chennai-based space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos, scripted history today after it became the first in India to successfully launch Agnibaan SorTED, a semi-cryogenic-engined rocket in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Agnikul Cosmos: L-R- Srinath Ravichandran Co-founder CEO Moin SPM The startup was founded in 2017 by CEO Srinath Ravichandran, a Wall Street trader-turned-aerospace engineer, operations specialist Moin SPM, and Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy, an IIT Madras professor. The startup was incubated at the IIT Madras Research Park. Also Read | North Korean rocket carrying its 2nd spy satellite explodes in mid-air Srinath Ravichandran has over 10 years of experience in engineering, finance and project management. He has a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy in Chennai and Masters degrees in Financial Engineering from Columbia University and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Earlier in an interview with Moneycontrol, Srinath had described Agnikul's launch vehicles as scalable rockets that can be customised to cater to the needs of someone who wants to put payloads which weigh as less as 30kg. Moin SPM is an operations specialist with over seven years of experience in engineering management, manufacturing, and supply chain operations. He has a Bachelors degree in Aeronautics from Anna University, Chennai, and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Newcastle, Australia. Prior to Agnikul, he led a contract manufacturing company in the consumer packed goods (CPG) sector. Professor Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy (Aerostrovilos) Professor Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy started off as a graduate student specialising in aerospace engineering in 1987. In 1991, he moved to the US to complete his PhD in the subject before returning to India in 1998. Since then, he has been a professor at his alma mater. He co-founded at least six IIT-Madras incubated deep tech startups including Agnikul Cosmos, ePlane, GalaxEye, Aerostrovilos Energy, TuTr Hyperloop and X2Fuels. Also Read | SpaceX launches first satellites for new US spy constellation In a interview with Moneycontrol, Chakravarthy said that he realised after teaching space technology for more than a decade, that experimenting with rockets was very difficult. So when Srinath Ravichandran presented him the idea of 3D printing in rocket manufacturing, he was sold. It was crazy. I just jumped at the opportunity, he said. TIME magazine named Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) as one of the World's Most Influential Companies. With this, the company has made its second appearance on the prestigious TIME 100 list which places the Mukesh Ambani-led firm in the 'Titans' category. Reliance is now the only Indian company to have been included twice in the list. This comes after Jio Platforms was included in the inaugural TIME 100 Most Influential Companies List of 2021. Reliance Industries Chairman, and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani. TIME's 'World's Most Influential Companies' featured Reliance. (ANI) TIME praised the company and called it as 'India's Juggernaut'. Reflecting on its origins from being a textile and polyester enterprise which was started 58 years ago by Dhirubhai Ambani, TIME said that Reliance Industries Limited has evolved into India's most valuable company with a market capitalization over USD 200 billion. The publication stated, Today the sprawling conglomerate which has aligned its growth with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision for a self-reliant India is the countrys most valuable company, with a market capitalization of more than $200 billion. TIME's praise for Tata Group and Serum Institute of India TIME magazine's prestigious list of 100 World's Most Influential Companies of 2024 also included the Tata Group under the 'Titans' category while the Serum Institute of India was honored in the 'Pioneers' category. TIME's profile on the Tata Group highlighted, In 2023, it became the first Indian company to assemble iPhones and is building another plant. In September, Tata announced a partnership with Nvidia to develop an AI cloud in India. And this year, it announced plans for the countrys first major semiconductor manufacturing facility. Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa visited the residence of Chandrasekhar, an official of Maharishi Valmiki Corporation, who died by suicide after leaving a note containing an allegation of multi-crore corruption in the corporation. Karnataka education minister Madhu Bangarappa. (ANI) The minister said that the state government would help the family to get justice for the victim. Also Read - Bengaluru to see horse rally on World No Tobacco Day: Here are traffic restrictions "I visited Chandrasekhar's residence as per the instruction of the Chief Minister. The government has said that it will do whatever kind of help it needs, and it will do justice. I will do whatever cooperation is required from the government, I will do whatever work is required from my side," Bangarappa told reporters after visiting the family. "Such an incident should not happen, the investigation is going on, let the investigation be done, and those who have done wrong should be punished," he added. Meanwhile, the Crime Investigation Department on Wednesday inspected Chandrasekaran's residence. Chandrasekaran's bag was found during evidence verification. A pen drive, laptop, and other items were found in the bag. His wife Kavitha said that the name of MD Padmanabhan of Valmiki Corporation was on the pen drive. The family members asked what was in the pen drive, but the officers did not show it. Officers informed that they had to come to the police station after half an hour to sign the confiscated items. The family members of Chandrasekaran said that this action of the authorities raised suspicion. Earlier, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that the Home Minister and Chief Minister have already ordered for an inquiry and whoever may have done this, will be punished. "We have got the death note. The Home Minister and Chief Minister have already ordered an inquiry, and we have taken it seriously to investigate it. Whoever may have done this, will be punished," he said. Chandrasekaran (45), a resident of the Kenchappa colony of Vinobanagar was an officer of Maharishi Valmiki Development Corporation and was working in Bengaluru Office. Chandrasekaran allegedly wrote a six-page suicide note before dying suicide on Sunday evening. He also mentioned the names of three officials in the death note and revealed the secret of multi-crore corruption. A case has been registered in this regard in Vinobanagar police station. "My death was caused by the corporation officials. The Managing Director of the Corporation, JG Padmanabha, Account Manager Parasuram Durgannavar, Union Bank Chief Manager Suchismitha. Valmiki has illegally looted 80 to 85 crores from the corporation's grant. I have no part in this affair. But under the pressure of work, it was my mistake not to get the checkbook of the said account and not to close the cash book. I am not responsible for this scam. So take action against the guilty officials", Chandrasekaran wrote in his death note. Chandrasekaran's suicide has led to a loud political row in the state with the BJP targeting the state government. Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra demanded a transparent investigation into the officer's death."The reported suicide of an official involved in a massive corruption scandal worth 187 crore in the Valmiki Development Corporation has revealed the true face of rampant corruption in the state @INCKarnataka government. Projects are being made only for commission business and the development works are rusting. It is not known how many more lives will be lost because of this commission's vicious cycle," he posted on X. "It is a tragic misfortune that Congress leaders who make long speeches about the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Tribes have taken the leadership of the corruption and corruption going on in the name of Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department Minister @BNagendraINC should be dismissed from the cabinet immediately. I demand a transparent investigation into the officer's death," the BJP leader added. Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister B. Nagendra said that the action will be taken based on the CID and FSL report. (ANI) A marriage between a Muslim man and a Hindu woman cannot be valid under the Muslim personal law, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled. Madhya Pradesh high court (File Photo) Such a marriage would be deemed irregular under the Muslim law, even if the couple are married under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, Justice Gurpal Singh Ahluwalia said while dismissing a plea for police protection to register an inter-faith marriage. As per the Islamic law, a Muslim boy's marriage with a girl who is an idol-worshipper, is not valid. Even if it is registered under the Special Marriage Act, the union would no longer be valid, but it would be irregular, the bench noted in its order. The plea was filed by a Muslim man and a Hindu woman after the latter's family opposed the relationship. The girl's family members, who were apprehensive that they would be shunned by the society if the marriage went ahead, also accused her of taking jewellery from their house to marry her partner. According to the couple's counsel, the two wanted to marry under the Special Marriage Act. Neither, however, was willing to convert to the other's religion. The counsel also argued that the inter-religious union would override the Muslim personal law, and be valid under the Special Marriage Act. A union under the Special Marriage Act would not be a legalised one. Section 4 of the legislation provides that if the parties are not within a prohibited relationship, only then the marriage can be performed, Justice Ahluwalia stated in his order. It is not the petitioners' case that if the marriage is not performed, they still want to be in a live-in relationship. It is also not their case that petitioner no.1 (the woman) would accept the Muslim religion. Under these circumstances, this court is of considered opinion that no case is made out of warranting interference, as per the order. Alleging that the Constitution has been under attack, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were hell-bent on destroying it besides pushing the country to the pre-Independence era. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a public meeting in Khatkar Kalan village near Jalandhar on Thursday. (PTI) Rahul was in Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, during his campaign in support of partys Anandpur Sahib candidate Vijay Inder Singla. Holding a copy of the Constitution, Rahul held discussions with people in the village sath (gathering point). If the BJP comes to power, it will discard the Constitution. There are notions that the Constitution was formulated during the Independence movement. This is not correct as it actually carries the ideas of Guru Nanak and ideologies of Buddha, Gandhi, Bhagat Singh and other great personalities, he said. According to him, the Dalits, backward classes and tribals get their rights through this Constitution but the BJP is snatching their rights and muzzling their voices. Regarding the Agnipath scheme, he said military personnel had been converted into labourers without the old pension and other benefits. If voted to power, the INDIA bloc will scrap the scheme, he said. He further alleged that PM Modi had been running the government for 22 industrialists and had given the contracts of the defence industry to his favourite Adani group. He promised to make the minimum support price (MSP) a legal guarantee, ensuring fair compensation for farmers. During the UPA government, the Congress waived farmers loans worth 70,000 crores, he said. During his discussion, people raked up the issues of drug menace, unemployment and lack of industry in Punjab. New Delhi: Customs at Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Thursday arrested two men for allegedly smuggling 500gm of gold worth Rs.35.2 lakhs, with one of them having a valid Aerodrome Entry Permit (AER), as part of the protocol team of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, officials said. One has been booked by officials for smuggling gold (Representative Photo) The customs officials said that an Indian national, who arrived from Bangkok on Wednesday after exiting the aircraft, handed over the gold to Shiv Kumar Prasad, Tharoors former personal assistant (PA). Both were apprehended at the time while the Indian national who arrived from Bangkok was booked for smuggling gold, said officials. Further investigations revealed the involvement of another individual who had come to the airport to receive the passenger and assist in smuggling. The said individual was intercepted and a heavy gold chain weighing 500 grams was recovered from him, which was handed over to him by the passenger inside the arrival hall. Enquiry revealed that the individual had a valid Aerodrome Entry Permit, Varun Koundinya, airport joint commissioner of customs, said Officials said the circumstances of the acquisition of an AER by Prasad, as a part of the protocol team for an MP, were being looked into. Reacting to the arrest, Tharoor took to social media platform X and said the law must take its own course. While I am in Dharamshala for campaigning purposes, I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance. He is a 72-year-old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained on a part-time basis on compassionate grounds. He said the man was a former member of his staff and was employed part-time with him to provide airport facilitation assistance. I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action as may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course, Tharoor added. Rajasthans Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested a Jodhpur journalist for allegedly taking 60,000 for a complainant to ensure action in two cases under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, a police officer said. The journalist was caught while taking 60,000. (Getty Images) Naveen Dutta allegedly took the money claiming he was doing so on behalf of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Chhavi Sharma, who was investigating the cases. ...a person on Wednesday morning complained that the journalist was forcing him on behalf of the ACP to pay 100,000 for action in the cases, said ACB director general Ravi Prakash Mehrda. Police said the complainant on May 17 and May 18 lodged two cases at Jodhpurs Sardarpura police station, which falls under Sharmas jurisdiction. The two complaints were lodged against a doctor for vandalising the shop of the complainant on May 17, assaulting him the next day, and making casteist remarks. Additional police superintendent (ACB) Chakravarti Singh Rathore said Sharma was given charge of both cases. The doctor was probably close to Sharma and therefore he threatened the complainant to get rid of the cases easily. ...Naveen Dutta also approached the complainant and asked for a 100,000 bribe for Sharma to ensure suitable action against the doctor. The amount was later settled at 60,000, said Rathore. He added they caught Dutta while taking 60,000 from the complainant. He was probably working as a middleman of Sharma. ACB is questioning him, said Rathore. The ACB has also initiated an investigation against Sharma. We will also question her soon. The special MP/MLA court, Rampur, on Thursday sentenced senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan to maximum 10 years imprisonment and slapped a fine of 14 lakh after finding him and another guilty in an eight-year-old case of forcibly vacating a house, looting and demolishing it in Dungarpur Asra Awas Yojana colony in Rampur in 2016, said senior prosecution officers. The cases were registered against Azam Khan and others in 2019. (For Representation) District government advocate, MP/MLA court, Seema Rana said the court convicted Azam Khan and contractor Barkat Ali in the case on Wednesday. She said Khan was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and fined 14 lakh while Barqat Ali was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and fined 6 lakh. She said the MP/MLA court judge Vijay Kumar pronounced the judgment. Senior prosecution officer Shiv Prakash Pandey said the case was registered by plaintiff Abrar in Ganj police station in which he alleged that on December 6, 2016, Ale Hasan and Barkat Ali Contractor entered his house, beat him, tried to kill him and broke the house and looted goods from there. He said Azam Khan was accused of conspiracy in this case. He said the court held the duo guilty under IPC sections, including 392 (loot), 452 (criminal house trespass), 504 (assault), 506 (criminal intimidation) as well as 120-B (criminal conspiracy). Pandey said the file of retired deputy superintendent of police Ale Hasan was separated because his proceedings are stayed as per the order of the high court. The trial of Azam Khan and Barkat Ali Contractor took place, he added. Khan was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in another case related to the same incident earlier on January 31, 2024, while acquitted in two other cases related to it. Bodies of two sisters, both around 60 years, were found in a locked house on the first floor at Agras Arjun Nagar locality after their neighbour complained of foul smell, police said. 2 sisters among 3 found dead inside locked houses in Agra (Pic for representation) In a similar but separate incident, body of a 50-year-old man was recovered from a house in Khandoli. This Arjun Nagar house where the two sisters were found dead was locked from inside, police confirmed. A person who lived just below the residence of these women informed the Shahganj police that on returning to his place after few days, he noticed foul smell emanating from their place. Prima facie, the bodies appear to be three to four days old said deputy commissioner of police (city), Agra, Suraj Rai. Both the sisters were about 60 years of age and usually remained aloof. Not much is known about them at present, said Amit Kumar, the SHO of Shahganj police station. He said a sister of these women who lives in Kanpur has been informed. We await her arrival and hope she will reveal more about her two sisters who were found dead, he added. In a similar but separate incident, body of a 50-year-old man was found in a locked house in Mohalla Thar Darshi of Khandoli in Agra district, police said. Villagers informed that man used to live alone and usually remained aloof. In this case too, police suspect that the person might have died couple of days back. Postmortem examination reports are awaited in both cases, police said. A pilgrim died, and 24 others were injured in a head on collision between a DCM truck and a tourist bus on the National Highway overbridge near Tilakpur Upardaha village under Handia police station on Thursday morning. One dead, 24 injured in truck-bus collision in Prayagraj (pic for representation) The injured were rushed to a local community health centre (CHC), from where they were referred to the SRN hospital, police said. According to the police version, 55 persons from Rajasthans Nagora district had arrived on a pilgrimage to religious places in U.P. After visiting Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokuldham, Varanasi in a tourist bus, the pilgrims were on their way back to Rajasthan when the mishap occurred at the overbridge near Tilakpur Upardaha village. Here, the pilgrim bus collided with a DCM truck coming from the opposite direction. Locals rescued many of the passengers who were trapped inside the bus, police said. Cops from Handia police station also arrived and rushed the injured to the nearest CHC where one of them was declared brought dead, while the other injured were referred to SRN hospital. Additional commissioner of police (ACP) Handia, Pankaj Lavania said the kin of the deceased and the injured had been intimated. PHOTO: The accident site where a pilgrim bus met with an accident (HT). Unidentified bike borne miscreants looted cash 49,000 and jewellery from a woman in broad daylight under Manjhanpur police station of Kaushambi on Thursday. (Pic for representation) The miscreants snatched earrings resulting in injuries to the woman. Police reached the spot after receiving information and admitted the woman to the hospital. An FIR had been registered and teams have been formed to trace and arrest the looters, police said. Circle officer Manjhanpur Satyendra Tiwari said a resident of Kaini village, Sarla Srivastava,,had withdrawn cash 49,000 from State Bank branch at Manjhanpur. She reached the crossing of her village in a battery rickshaw. Whie she was walking towards her home, three miscreants on a bike came from behind and snatched her bag containing the cash. The looters also snatched her earrings. Locals rushed to the spot, but the miscreants had fled by then. Several police teams have been roped in to identify and nab the culprits. Help of CCTV cameras in the vicinity is being taken to identify the looters, Tiwari added. Over a month after former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren was arrested on corruption charges, his wife Kaplana Soren, 39, made her first public appearance when she attended a ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morch (JMM) event on March 4. She broke down as she spoke about her husbands arrest months before the Lok Sabha polls. JMM leader Kalpana Soren during an election campaign rally in favour of Vijay Hansda. (PTI) Hemant Soren was expected to lead the national poll campaign for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in Jharkhand. His wife was forced to take charge in his absence. Over the last two months, she has held over 30 election rallies, focussing on her father-in-law and JMM founder Shibu Sorens sacrifices for Jharkhands statehood. Kalpana Soren, who was involved in ticket distribution and attended INDIA bloc rallies in Mumbai, Delhi, and Ranchi, also contested an assembly by-election, triggering speculation that she could replace Champai Soren as the chief minister. Champai Soren was made the chief minister after Hemant Soren resigned minutes before he was arrested on January 31. A JMM leader said Kalpana Soren has shown potential as a leader and an orator. He added she showed she had a lot of confidence when she attended a college event in Bhubaneshwar in April last year along with her husband. The leader said she spoke to the students about self-confidence. On May 22, Kalpana Soren was welcomed by the loudest cheer when she arrived on the stage to join Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for a rally in Godda. The cheer forced the Congress leader to pause her speech. Kalpana Soren apologised for the delay in her arrival from Ranchi. Priyanka Gandhi then walked up to and hugged her, calling Kalpana Soren her younger sister. A second JMM leader said there is no doubt that Kalpana Soren is in charge of the party for all practical purposes. ...whether she would also be given the chief ministership would depend on factors beyond her victory in the bypoll. The leader said Kalpana Soren will strengthen her position if JMM increases its tally of Lok Sabha seats. There could be demand from the party cadre to put her in the drivers seat in the government as well. In 2019, JMM won just one of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand. A third JMM leader said making Kalpana Soren the chief minister months before the assembly elections are due would be unwise. Giving her the charge at this point could also not go down well with supporters of the chief minister [Champai Soren]. We have seen dissent from within the Soren family. Sita Soren [Kalpanas sister-in-law] joined the BJP. The speculation that Kalpana Soren, who is from Odishas Mayurbhanj and an engineering graduate, could succeed Hemant Soren, was first triggered when JMM legislator Sarfaraz Ahmad resigned as MLA on December 31. Ahmad was believed to have been asked to vacate his Gandey assembly seat to allow Kalpana Soren to contest from a safe seat so that she could become the chief minister if Hemant Soren was arrested. Champai Soren was chosen as Hemant Sorens successor amid doubts about whether the by-election would be held for Gandey seat as assembly elections were scheduled in less than a year. The ECI eventually announced the bypoll to the Gandey seat and JMM fielded Kalpana as its candidate. Even JMMs opponents concede Kalpana could help the party, especially in connecting with the women voters, who have emerged as a key vote bank. The role of women is increasing...It will increase further with the implementation of the reservation for them in the legislature. Women from the non-tribal communities could also connect with her. Additionally, being a woman, it will become difficult to target her as aggressively as we do against the male members of her family, said a Jharkhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. JMM insiders said Kalpanas role was limited to family and running a play school before Hemant Sorens arrest. She continued to keep a low profile after her husband became the chief minister in 2019. Kalpana was in the news briefly when she figured on the list of beneficiaries of plots in a newly developed industrial area near Ranchi. She surrendered the plot amid charges of favouritism and corruption. Kalpana said the new role has been easier because of her background. My father was in the Army...we have lived across the country due to his postings. It exposed us to diverse cultures, which is the soul of our democracy and the Constitution. India is a bouquet of different social groups. That is the soul of the JMM and the INDIA bloc parties, she said. Relating to the secular ideology of my party represents comes naturally. I realised the love and affection our leader Guruji [Shibu Soren] and Hemant get from the masses only after I met party workers, both old-timers and the new generation, after my husbands arrest. It gave me strength, Kalpana said. Political commentator Sudhir Pal says it is too early to assess Kalpana Sorens real impact. JMMs traditional support base is among the tribal and the Muslim communities. More than Kalpana, the consolidation of this vote bank would largely be due to the sympathy factor in due to Hemant Sorens arrest. Pal says it is comforting for the JMM cadre that they have an individual who can step into the shoes of their top leaders. The flip side of Kalpana being elevated to be the partys face would give its opponents fresh ammunition to target the party over nepotism and alleged corruption. If she takes charge of the government now, Kalpana would also have to face the five-year anti-incumbency. Its Tuesday morning and Dhruv Usgaonkars phone is buzzing constantly. An assistant professor at the Department of Portuguese and Lusophone Studies at the Goa University, Usgaonkar is fielding questions from parents and students eager to hear about the prospects of pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Portuguese offered by the Goa University and related programmes. Goa University is the only university in the whole of South Asia and one of only two in Asia to offer degrees in Portuguese language Amidst it all, he receives a call from the Dean of a Goa-based Management Institute inquiring about the availability of teachers to conduct a Portuguese course for the students of the Institutes integrated MBA course. There is a massive shortage of Portuguese teachers right now, he explains to the caller whilst lamenting his inability to meet the demand. There is a huge demand for Portuguese language experts and those proficient in the language and interest has been growing, but unfortunately we are not able to meet the demand as there arent enough trained personnel around, Usgaonkar says. Its not just trainers that are in demand, the staff at the department receives daily inquiries from across the country from companies big and small offering language services seeking candidates to employ, a demand that currently isnt being met. Also read: Top higher educational institutions, care for heritage: Post-poll expectations of Patna's well-known families Goa University is the only university in the whole of South Asia and one of only two in Asia the other being in Macau to offer degrees in Portuguese language. The University offers Bachelor's and Masters degrees in Portuguese as well as tie-ups with universities in Porto and Lisbon offering a gateway towards scholarships to pursue postgraduate and higher studies in Europe. Currently, it has 13 students pursuing their Bachelors degrees and eight students pursuing their Masters degrees while two students are pursuing their PhD via a visiting professor guide and one from Goa is pursuing his PhD from the University of Lisbon via a scholarship. Also read: Bihar: Over 100 students faint due to heat; schools closed till June 8 Ironically, it is students from north India Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand as well as some other states who make up a bulk of the students opting for the courses rather than locals, many of whom are already familiar with the language thanks to having learned to speak it from their parents and grandparents. There are opportunities at the local level, the national level, and international level for professionally trained Portuguese language experts, locally for legal and commercial translation of archival and historical documents and land documents, for teachers, there is a massive demand, Usgaonkar explains. At the national and international level, we are constantly approached by MNC companies to employ staff who can communicate in Portuguese as business ties between India and Brazil, two growing economies have been growing at a huge pace and demand for those who can work in corporate translations and understand technical language are in huge demand. All our students have been employed by multinational companies working companies like Amazon, IBM, Accenture, Embraer, Marcopolo, etc as language experts, Usgaonkar said. Companies have also come looking for Hindi-Portuguese translators for jobs like subtitling of Indian soap operas to allow them to be broadcast in Brazil the worlds largest Portuguese market, where they are hugely popular. However, rather than witnessing a spurt in demand for the courses, interest in the courses hasnt grown. Only a few of the twenty seats available each year are taken. Also read: AP ECET 2024 results declared, direct link and steps to check result explained Ritu Raj, a third-year student from Patna, followed his brothers footsteps and is pursuing his BA in Portuguese and hopes that like his brother who was picked up by an MNC and is working from Hyderabad, he too will land a high-paying job in the sector. I chose to study Portuguese because the opportunities that present themselves are many and there are only a few who are taking it up, Raj, who had no knowledge of Portuguese before deciding to pursue a Bachelors degree. He had instead chosen Physics, Chemistry, and Maths at the higher secondary level. Not many see the opportunity Franz Schubert Cotta, a former student and assistant professor in Portuguese, said, Students in Goa prefer mainstream careers like doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc, and are also perhaps not enthused by the idea of working outside Goa in other cities of India. Within Goa, the only opportunities are as a teacher or as a translator. However, the main opportunities of getting a job as a Portuguese language expert are mainly with MNCs and all our students have availed of these opportunities and are doing very well. Students of north India have already recognized this, he added. The department hopes that the growing demand coupled with the allure of a fully paid scholarship paid for by the Instituto Camoes, a Portuguese government-funded overseas institute, and Fundacao Oriente, a private foundation will help spur demand for the course. IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation, inaugurates DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence IIT Kanpur, DRDO join hands to establish DIA Centre of Excellence in a bid to foster research in next-gen defence technology. (HT file image) The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has joined hands with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to establish a DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA CoE) on its campus for interdisciplinary research in next-generation defence technologies. A press release issued by the institution stated that the latest offering is in line with the DIA CoEs set up by DRDO in key academic institutions in the country through which it is building an ecosystem to facilitate technology development in the academic environment through experienced faculty and bright scholars, in conjunction with the efforts of the different scientists from DRDO laboratories. Also read: IIT Kanpur startup helps Aminabad Urf Baragoan to become the first sanitary pad-free village' in UP As per the release, the new center will spearhead focused research initially in identified research and development verticals. These include: Printing on Flexible Substrates to build devices and systems based on thin films for strategic applications. Advanced Nanomaterials to provide a fundamental contribution to material selection and design. Accelerated Material Design and Development to reduce the number of actual trial experiments while reaching optimal solutions via high throughput experiments. High Energy Materials to focus on the modelling of high-performance explosives and performance prediction of metalized explosives. Bio-engineering to develop technologies for applications ranging from sensing hazardous agents to wound healing. Also read: Top higher educational institutions, care for heritage: Post-poll expectations of Patna's well-known families Mr. Sanjay Tandon, former director of the Institute of Technology Management at Mussoorie, is serving as the Director of DIA CoE at IIT Kanpur. He oversees its strategic initiative and collaborative endeavours. Notably, DRDO will fund the projects and establish key technical facilities and modern infrastructure required to enable and boost R&D programs under identified verticals. It may be mentioned here that the journey of the establishment of DIA CoE at IIT Kanpur started in 2022 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during Def-Expo-2022 at Gandhinagar. The DIA CoE at IIT Kanpur has been jointly inaugurated by Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman, and Prof Manindra Agarwal, Director of IIT Kanpur, in the presence of Dr Subrata Rakshit, DS & Director General (Technology Management), Prof Tarun Gupta, Dean, R&D at IIT Kanpur, and other dignitaries. Others present included research coordinators from IIT Kanpur, senior scientists from DRDO Labs, and faculty members of IIT Kanpur. Prof Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, shed light on the importance of the collaborative effort and pointed out that the need for advancement of technology in the defence sector is more than ever to become Atmanirbhar Bharat in the true sense of the word. To achieve this goal, Prof Agarwal said that the DRDO, Academia, and Industry must join hands together. Also read: RBSE 5th 8th Result 2024: 97.06% pass Rajasthan board Class 5, 95.72% pass Class 8, check details inside The establishment of Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence by DRDO is an apt step in this direction. With the strong R&D expertise and state-of-the-art facilities in flexible electronics, nanomaterials, materials science and engineering, high energy, and bioengineering, IIT Kanpur is well poised to contribute to this collaborative effort, he said. Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary Dept of Def R&D and Chairman DRDO, said that the Centre will pave the path for indigenization of the various strategic technologies in the long-term, making the defence sector self-reliant and sustainable, thereby accelerating the development of new materials for futuristic defence systems, which may otherwise have required 10-15 years. Dr. Kamat said, DRDO and IIT Kanpur will undertake collaborative research in identified technology domains to fulfill the long-term needs of defence. Dr Subrata Rakshit highlighted that the DIA CoEs will serve as Centres for R&D to address the future needs of Defence. He said, They will serve to synergize the domain knowledge of DRDO Scientists, the research capacities inherent in our premium academic institutions, and the drive of our industries to commercialize emerging home-grown defence technologies. The inauguration and first governing council meeting marks an important milestone in this journey. Prof. Tarun Gupta, meanwhile, highlighted that the IIT Kanpur has established itself as a leading institute in technology development, translation, and transfer to both industry and Government entities, over the years. He said that the opening of DIA CoE at IIT Kanpur is the right step as it will foster valuable collaboration with defence labs in the country and will enable the institution to deliver strategically valuable tools and devices. Dr. N Ranjana, Director DFTM of DRDO, emphasized that the long-term research in defence technology isnt about quick fixes, but about planting seeds for future security. {Warning! This article contains major spoiler for Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 261} Jujutsu Kaisen's latest chapter stirs controversy as Yuta suffers severe injuries in a bloody clash with sorcerers. Fans debate the morality of plot twists and cultural values depicted in the manga. Chapter 261's unexpected turn leaves readers divided. Chapter 261 is a roller coaster of excitement for Jujutsu Kaisen, all thanks to Gege Akutamis decision to include some of the most unexpected plot elements in the story. As the readers were waiting for Gojo to return to the battlefield, he did so in the last chapter but in a manner thatshocked them. While Gojos body did indeed reappear on the battlefield, it was not Gojo who was in control but Yuta. As the chapter unfolded, it became clear that Yuta had used his Copy technique to make this switch possible. While claiming Gojo's body, Yuta lauded, If no one else has the guts to do it, then I'll be the Monster. With Yuta now inhabiting Gojo's body, the burning question among the JJK lovers is whether he will eventually return to his original body. ALSO READ| Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 261 spoilers: Actual truth behind Gojo's return revealed Could Yuta find his way back to his real body? This is a complex question, and the reason is as stated in the following section. At the moment, Yuta has decided not to return to his original body. He seems very determined to either get killed in this fight or at least die when the time limit is reached. Although there is a possibility for Yuta to stay in Gojos body, such an outcome does not seem likely given the events that have so far unfolded in the series in regard to the sorcerers. The idea of Yuta continuing to use Gojo's body indefinitely feels somewhat inappropriate, as it could be seen as a form of desecration. Once the time limit for his technique expires, it is highly likely that Yuta will either face a slow death or come to the realization that he cannot stay in Gojos body forever. My apologies! It seems I've underestimated you. I didn't think you were capable of going this farOkkotsu Yuta!- Ryomen Sukuna Another possible story development could be that Yuta may be given a chance to regain his original body. To make this possible, his body had to be put back together by Shoko as good as new to the best of her ability. Then, Yuta can probably use Kenjakus cursed technique to regain control over his body once again. This would also permit Gojo to have a decent burial in the event that he fails to return, thereby providing a fitting end for his character. ALSO READ| Jujutsu Kaisen faces backlash in Japan for controversial Chapter 261; hate seeing Yuta like This seems to be the most favourable possibility for Yuta. The worst and most likely outcome is that Yuta does not return at all and dies in the aftermath of the battle, leaving everything to Yuji. You can read Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 261 on Viz Media, and fans can read the manga for free on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus apps. Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 262 is slated for June 10, 2024. Kani on not getting film offers I can only do films that come to me. If I do not get employment, I will again have to choose films that do not align with my politics, said Kani, who admitted that even after she won the Kerala State Award for her nuanced performance in Sajin Baabu's 2019 release Biriyaani, film offers have been few and far between. However, she also said that she tries not to do films that don't align with her politics. For instance, she revealed she rejected an audition call by Sudipto Sen, the director of last year's polarising Bollywood blockbuster, The Kerala Story. Kani on Biriyani However, she was even panned for doing Biriyaani, which many claimed portrayed Muslims in a generalised, objectionable light. "I had told Sajin that neither my politics nor aesthetics were aligned with the script. Sajin comes from a backward Muslim community and speaks his politics, which is correct in its own right. But that is not my politics, she explained. Kani wore her politics on her sleeves at the Cannes Film Festival, where she walked the red carpet with a watermelon-shaped handbag, showing her solidarity with Palestine during the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Her Malayalam-Hindi film All We Imagine As Light, also starring Chhaya Kadam, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. It became the first Indian film in 30 years to enter the main competition category. Payal Kapadia also became the first director to achieve the feat. Her film went on to win the historic Grand Prix award, the second highest honour of the Cannes Film Festival. Kani Kusruti will be next seen in the Disney+ Hotstar Malayalam series, Nagendran's Honeymoon. Airport spotting On May 30, Shah Rukh, who is currently on cloud nine after his IPL team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, clinched the trophy, along with his family and manager Pooja Dadlani, were spotted at Mumbais Kalina airport in the early morning hours. They were spotted from a distance by the paps as they entered the airport. Aryan and Suhana were seen arriving in the same car at the airport. They were accompanied by Gauri Khan, Pooja and their entire team. In the pictures and videos that surfaced on the internet, one can see Shah Rukhs back, his son Aryan Khan, and Suhana Khan entering the airport. While Suhana was captured inside the airport, Shah Rukh managed to get inside without getting clicked. As soon as the video of the family at the airport arrived, social media users wondered if he was going to the Ambani bash. Star-studded pre-wedding bash After their lavish three-day celebration in Jamnagar, Gujarat, in March, which reportedly cost 1,259 crore, Anant and Radhika are getting ready for another round of festivities, this time on a cruise liner. Between May 28 and June 1, around 800 guests will be treated to a series of parties and events aboard a luxury cruise liner during a journey from Italy to the South of France. It started with welcome lunch on May 29, followed by a 'Starry Night'- themed evening gala. On May 30, the guests will land in Rome for a touristy day out, followed by a dinner party and an after-party that begins at 1 am. On May 31, after a morning of festivities on the cruise, the guests will land in Cannes for a masquerade bash. The festivities will end on June 1 in Portofino, Italy. Guest list Apart from Shah Rukh, several Bollywood celebrities will be part of the celebrations. The guest list include names such as Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, their daughter Raha Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Karisma Kapoor, Karan Johar, Ananya Panday, Janhvi Kapoor, her father Boney Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, and Disha Patani. Social media influencer Orhan Awatramani aka Orry is already onboard the cruise. Over the past few weeks, actor Ranveer Singh and filmmaker Prasanth Varma have been in the news over rumours around their rift, with some claims stating that they are not going forward with Rakshas because of creative differences. Now, Ranveer and the director have come forward to set the record straight. (Also read: Ranveer Singh still on board Prasanth Varma's next film, even began shooting in Hyderabad: HT exclusive) Ranveer Singh was set to collaborate with filmmaker Prasanth Varma on a project. Alls well Amid speculations from various industry sources, the makers and the actor have cleared their stance and addressed the rumours. Clearing the air, Ranveer said, Prasanth is a very special talent. We met and explored the idea of a film together. Hopefully we will collaborate on something exciting in the future. To this, Prasanth added, Ranveers energy and talent is rare to find. We shall manifest our forces combining soon, sometime in the future. All the parties including Mythri Movie Makers have agreed that everyones intentions were right to make it happen, stating that sometimes somethings arent meant to be at that time. The team has moved on with a promise to associate in times to come. Whats the buzz about Last week, several reports stated that Ranveer has had a tiff with the makers of Rakshas. A report claimed that the actor abruptly opted out of the film after shooting for a mere 3 days, with one stating that Ranveer walked out of the film without any explanation. One report quoted a source stating that Ranveer was the one who was after Prasanth to make this film. The filmmaker wanted to start a Telugu film after Hanu-Man, but he decided to put that on hold and pursue Rakshas after seeing Ranveers enthusiasm. According to Pinkvilla, Rakshas is touted to be a period film set in the pre-Independence era with a mythological background. Ranveer's projects Ranveer will be seen reprising his role of Simmba in Rohit Shetty's cop drama Singham Again. It comes with an ensemble cast including names such as Deepika Padukone, Ajay Devg n, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff and Kareena Kapoor. Ranveer will also star in Farhan Akhtar's Don 3. He is yet to start shooting for the film, which is slated to release in 2025. General Hospital star Johnny Wactors cause of death has been revealed days after his murder. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, 37-year-old Wactor died from a gunshot wound to the chest. The manner of the actors death has been listed as a homicide. General Hospital star Johnny Wactors cause of death has been revealed (Scott Kirkland/ABC via AP)(AP) What happened to Johnny Wactor? On the morning of May 25, Wactor was shot dead by armed robbers who were trying to steal his catalytic converter from his car. Wactors brother, Grant, said that Wactor and a female co-worker were walking to their vehicles when the incident took place. Grant said that as they walked up to the vehicle, Wactor saw that his car was jacked up or lifted in some way. He thought he was being towed. Grand said that Wactor quickly realised they were definitely not tow truck people. Grant reportedly died saving his female colleague. At the time, Grant stood in front of her and had his hands raised. He did not confront them, Grant said. He did not try to stop them. He was just trying to diffuse the situation by stepping back. Grand further said that the robbers weren't expecting anybody to walk up on them, so they got scared. And there's nothing more dangerous than a coward with a gun in his hand. The men shot Wactor and fled the scene in a car. The actor was pronounced dead after being rushed to a local hospital. Wactor was best known for playing Brando Corbin in General hospital. He also appeared in Army Wives, NCIS, The OA, Westworld, The Passenger, Station 19, Barbee Rehab, Siberia, Agent X, Vantastic, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Girl, Training Day, Criminal Minds and more. Wactors Godmother, Michaelle, has launched a GoFundMe to raise money for his mother, Scarlett, and his brothers, Lance and Grant to be able to travel the distance of 2000 miles (the many times it may take) to take care of this heartbreaking business which they have been sentenced. Controversys favourite child, Nandamuri Balakrishna, is at it again. The actor-politician was caught on camera shoving actor Anjali on stage at a recent event, all because she didnt move away from him quickly enough. Patience is a virtue, but the actor seems to lack it. (Also Read: Nandamuri Balakrishna pushes actor Anjali at an event; Hansal Mehta asks who is this scumbag) Redditors called Nandamuri Balakrishna a 'serial offender' for his ill behaviour towards his colleagues and fans. The issue only escalated with filmmaker Hansal Mehta calling him a scumbag for his behaviour and Redditors digging into how Balakrishna has actually been a serial offender. Looking back at five times, he displayed problematic behaviour and got away with it. Shoot-out in Hyderabad In 2004, Balakrishna made news for shooting at filmmaker Bellamkonda Suresh and an associate, Satyanarayana Chowdhary, with a revolver registered under his wife Vasundhara Devis name. He claimed to have lost consciousness after shooting at them and was rushed to a private hospital in the city. After his arrest, he claimed self-defence as he was attacked by Bellamkonda and Satyanarayana with a paper-knife (cutter). A day after Bellamkonda told the press that Balakrishna shot at him with intent to kill, he had a sudden bout of amnesia, claiming he didnt know who shot at him. But he did remember enough to claim he didnt attack Balayya Babu with a paper-knife as he was a fan. He also admitted to there being an argument preceding the shoot-out, which left him and Satyanarayana injured. Nothing came of the case due to lack of proper evidence. Making vulgar comments At an event in 2016, Balakrishna made misogynistic comments about the kind of roles his fans supposedly want him to play. He claimed that his fans are no longer happy if he just woos women on-screen, they would like him to do more. He said, I can only do certain kinds of roles due to my fans. Will they agree if I woo girls or just eve-tease? They wont accept. I have to either kiss her or make her pregnant in the least. I have to commit to it. The political party hes a member of, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) later issued a statement on his behalf, Balakrishna regrets over his remarks and apologises if they hurt the feelings of any section. He made those remarks as part of fun (during the movie function) and did not aim at anyone. He also said that he inherited the culture of respecting women from his father NT Rama Rao. A slapping spree In the last decade, Balakrishnas name has become synonymous with slapping. The actors mistreatment of fans in places like Nandyal and Tirupati was justified by director Puri Jagannadh, who claimed that his fans enjoyed and yearned for them. Balakrishna once slapped a fan in Hindupur for aiming his phone camera at him in 2021. The fan spoke to the press when controversy rose and claimed he didnt mind it. In 2017, he slapped a fan in Nandyal for falling on him by mistake while taking a selfie. The same year, he threw a fans phone during a screening while another fan was verbally abused for wanting a selfie. Abusing an assistant A video of Balakrishna from the sets of Jai Simha in 2018 surfaced online in which he is seen abusing an assistant. He hits the assistant on the head and asks him to clean or tie his shoes. He continues talking to the crew as the assistant works on his boots, unaware that they are being recorded. Yet again, people were miffed by his behaviour, with some even calling for a ban against him. However, with the film industry and his fans enabling his behaviour, Balakrishna got away with it once again without any fallout. Balayya is at it again was the common sentiment. Radhikas experience Talking to Neha Dhupia about BFFs with Vogue, Radhika Apte shared her experience with a powerful south actor without taking names. She mentioned how she was made to feel uncomfortable on these two Telugu films she did (Legend, Lion - both with Balakrishna). Radhika even claimed that she doesnt want to generalise, because she was never uncomfortable working with Rajinikanth in Tamil. She told Neha, I did south Indian films, they pay you well and you bloody deserve it. I wouldnt generalise it, but in the projects I worked on, there was (no gender equality). These men are extremely powerful and youre called two hours before, made to wait, treated differently. Radhika added, My first day in that Telugu film, I am lying because Im not well (her character). The actor walks in; I dont even know him, he starts tickling my feet. He is a big actor. I got up and snapped at him in front of everybody; I said dont ever do that to me. He didnt expect that, but he didnt touch me after that. This never happened to me on Rajinikanths film. Its particularly the two Telugu films I did. Telugu superstar Nandamuri Balakrishna has been facing flak on social media after a video of him pushing away actor Anjali at an event of film, Gangs of Godavari, surfaced online. Now, actor Nakuul Mehta has also come forward to slam him, saying it was ridiculous behaviour. (Also read: Nandamuri Balakrishna pushes actor Anjali at an event; Hansal Mehta asks who is this scumbag) Nakuul Mehta took to social media express his views. Nakuul took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his dismay. Not acceptable behaviour Reposting the video of the incident on Twitter, the actor shared that he was shocked to see people present at the event not object to Nandamuris actions. Not one person expressed their discomfort. Not one. Ridiculous behaviour by the gent, he wrote. His fans also agreed with him. Absolutely pathetic, wrote one, while another shared, He was drunk at that time in a public event. Such a gentlemanImagine if that was a Bollywood actor? Classic example of not having spines for the sake of opportunities. Deep rooted rot truly and sad to see even women not call it out, shared one user. Know more about the incident In a video, which has emerged on social media, Nandamuri is seen on the stage as a special guest at a promotional event of Krishna Chaitanya's upcoming Telugu action film Gangs of Godavari. He is seen wearing a white sherwani. After getting on the stage, he is seen asking the film's actors, Neha Shetty (in a grey crop top and skirt) and Anjali (in a white sari) to step aside. Soon, he is seen pushing Anjali away, which makes her tumble. Anjali is shocked by the action, but laughs her jitters away. Meanwhile, Nandamuri is seen in a stern expression and goes on to scold her. He is also seen doing high five with Anjali on stage. The video leads to outrage Social media users were shocked by Nandamuri's behaviour on stage. In fact, filmmaker Hansal Mehta also reposted the video on X and wrote, Who is this scumbag? One user shared, This man is a superstar, a successful politician and hes on stage being cheered as he pushes a woman co-star Balayya is a serial offender and never changes. For additional context: That actress has done more than 50+ movies. More than half of them as a lead. Sad that this is the state of the industry and it hurts that there is no transforming this. Won't be surprised if there comes a pr spin on this, wrote one user, with one sharing, Typical Indian male trying to show masculinity by battering a woman. On the work front, Nandamuri is currently filming his 109th film, which will be released in both Telugu and Hindi. African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina addressing the meeting of the Bureau of the Boards of Governors at the opening of the Banks 59th Annual Meetings being held in Nairobi, Kenya. The African Development Bank Group unveiled its new Ten-Year Strategy 2024-2033 today, a blueprint to confront Africa's pressing challenges and to help put the continent firmly back on track towards sustained economic growth and prosperity. Unveiling the strategy during the Bank Group's Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina said, "As Africa's premier development finance institution, and Africa's solutions bank, we are acutely aware that the next decade will be decisive in transforming the continent. Therefore, as we celebrate 60 years of making a difference in the countries and lives of the people of Africa, we remain resolute in our determination to accelerate the support we provide to African countries." The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in heightened food insecurity and a burgeoning debt crisis across Africa. At the same time, the impacts of climate change are intensifying and accelerating, alongside a surge in conflict and political instability. Compounded by a youthful demographic outpacing job creation, Africa is witnessing a significant exodus of its future workforce seeking opportunities abroad. The strategy, approved by the Board earlier this year, sets out decisive and urgent actions the Bank will take to support African countries navigate the unprecedented global and regional challenges. These actions will build on Africa's multiple unique assets and reignite momentum towards achieving the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, ultimately fostering lasting growth. Central to the 2024-2033 strategic vision is the belief in Africa's vast potential for societal and economic transformation. By leveraging the youngest and fastest growing workforce in the world, rapidly growing urban markets, the wealth of natural resources and vast clean energy potential, Africa stands poised to drive sustainable growth and make significant contributions to global solutions over the next decade. "The Ten-Year Strategy outlines how the Bank will invest in Africa's best asset: its vibrant young men and women. Africa's population, which is the fast growing in the world, presents the continent with an unparalleled demographic window of opportunity," Adesina said. The new strategy articulates a vision of a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and integrated Africa, underpinned by two key objectives over the next decade: accelerating inclusive green growth and fostering prosperous and resilient economies. With an emphasis on sustainability, the Bank will strive to balance environmental concerns, equity, and economic advancement. Building upon the past decade of successful High 5 implementation, the Bank aims to accelerate and scale up its efforts, focusing on transformative projects with far-reaching impacts. To optimise results while managing risks, the Bank will streamline its operational model for increased agility and effectiveness. The Bank's High 5 operational priorities listed below, are integral to achieving these objectives: Light up and power Africa: Promote universal access to modern and affordable energy. Promote universal access to modern and affordable energy. Feed Africa: Ensure food security through agricultural transformation. Ensure food security through agricultural transformation. Industrialise Africa: Catalyse manufacturing as a critical driver of job creation. Catalyse manufacturing as a critical driver of job creation. Integrate Africa: Foster regional integration and value chains for a more cohesive economy. Foster regional integration and value chains for a more cohesive economy. Improve the quality of life: Enhance living standards, particularly for women and youth. Key cross-cutting priorities include promoting gender equality, investing in young people, responding to climate change, and investing in climate action, supporting fragile states, and promoting good governance and economic stability. The Bank sees the pivotal role of the private sector in driving Africa's transformation. Over the next decade, it will strengthen collaboration with the private sector, prioritising investments in firms, value chains, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises especially those led by women and youth. The magnitude and urgency of the challenge will require greater resources than before. The Bank pledges to mobilise resources from diverse sources, including domestic revenues and private finance. It aims to triple private-sector finance by 2033 while bolstering its financing capacity through innovative mechanisms. In response to calls for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to maximise the potential of their balance sheets, the Bank will pursue various options to boost its financing capacity over the life of the Ten-Year Strategy. Measures include the Sustainable Hybrid Capital, Risk Transfers and re-channeling of significant portions of the International Monetary Fund's Special Drawing Rights through Multilateral Development Banks. The Strategy outlines how the Bank will answer the call for MDBs to scale up urgently their efforts to respond to the priorities and significant ambitions of African countries and tackle global and regional challenges affecting the people of Africa. MDBs are essential to addressing the immense global and regional challenges the world faces. They are a valuable source of low-cost finance, technical knowledge, and policy advice for emerging and developing countries. Highlights of the Strategy: Investing in women and young people: The Ten-Year Strategy outlines how the Bank will invest in Africa's best asset: its vibrant young men and women. Africa's population, which is the youngest and fastest growing in the world, presents the continent with an unparalleled demographic window of opportunity. The Bank will address disparities and promote inclusivity by empowering women and youth, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to sustainable economic growth and prosperous societies. The Ten-Year Strategy outlines how the Bank will invest in Africa's best asset: its vibrant young men and women. Africa's population, which is the youngest and fastest growing in the world, presents the continent with an unparalleled demographic window of opportunity. The Bank will address disparities and promote inclusivity by empowering women and youth, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to sustainable economic growth and prosperous societies. Climate change adaptation: Recognising Africa's vulnerability to climate change, the Bank will promote low-carbon development pathways aligned with the Paris Agreement while safeguarding biodiversity and nature. Recognising Africa's vulnerability to climate change, the Bank will promote low-carbon development pathways aligned with the Paris Agreement while safeguarding biodiversity and nature. Supporting fragile states and building resilience: Amid rising conflicts, fragility, and political instability in Africa, the Bank will intensify efforts to assist fragile countries. Special attention will be given to tackling cross-border challenges and reducing the isolation of landlocked and remote areas. Amid rising conflicts, fragility, and political instability in Africa, the Bank will intensify efforts to assist fragile countries. Special attention will be given to tackling cross-border challenges and reducing the isolation of landlocked and remote areas. Promoting good governance: The Bank emphasises the importance of economic governance, including domestic resource mobilisation, transparent financial management, and anti-corruption measures. Sustainable debt management practices will also be prioritised to ensure long-term economic stability. Read the Ten-Year Strategy 2024-2033 here Johnny Wactor was shot and killed in Los Angeles on Saturday by armed robbers who were trying to steal his catalytic converter from his car. His brother revealed that the fatal shooting occurred when the General Hospital star was walking to his vehicle alongside a female co-worker. Anita Joy, who was friends with Wactor for 8 years, has now revealed his tragic last words. General Hospital star Johnny Wactors cause of death has been revealed (Scott Kirkland/ABC via AP)(AP) General Hospital star's tragic last words revealed Joy shared her plight, saying, I've needed a few days to collect myself before saying anything here, but I need to share his story, in an emotional post shared on Instagram Thursday. She continued, I have a responsibility to Johnny, adding, I am his voice now because otherwise he would have possibly been alone and he hasn't. She went on to reveal how the 37-year-old actor was senselessly killed by a coward who reacted without care of the gorgeous life he was taking. While she admitted that the tragic loss of her friend has left her angry and sad, she is here for Johnny's justice. My friend of 8 years went from laughing together, working side by side, leaving our bartending shift and walking to our cars, to him dying in my arms in the streets of [downtown Los Angeles] in the dark hours of 3 a.m, Joy revealed. She added that everything happened in an instant. Joy said that they cautiously approached the armed robbers, thinking that the car was being towed. We were no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and for them to leave. Hands open to his sides in peace, she recalled. Johnny Wactor saved his friend from getting shot The woman then confessed how the Supercell actor shielded her from being shot. Johnny was between me and the man who shot him, she said. As I heard the shot ring into the night, he forcefully tumbled back into my arms and as I grabbed for him, I shouted, Hunny you ok?! And he only responded Nope! Shot! We toppled onto the street where I pushed my legs under him and tried to hold his body up while screaming for help and screaming at him to stay with me, Joy continued, adding that a security guard named Bryan used her denim jacket to tie around Wactor to stop the bleeding but it was too close range, too extreme of a wound for him to survive it but my god, he fought to stay, she wrote. In an increasingly interconnected global economy, the tension between global free trade and nationalism has become a prominent issue. Free trade advocates argue for the removal of barriers to allow for the unfettered exchange of goods and services across borders. In contrast, nationalists prioritise protecting domestic industries and jobs, often advocating for tariffs and other trade barriers. This article explores the dynamics between global free trade and nationalism, examining whether they can coexist and how each can be protected in the current economic landscape. Trade (Representational photo)(Pixabay) Global free trade is founded on the principles of comparative advantage, which suggests that countries should specialise in producing goods where they have an efficient edge and trade with others to maximise economic welfare. For instance, Brazil might focus on exporting coffee, while Germany specialises in high-end automobiles. This specialisation allows each country to produce efficiently and trade for goods it does not produce as effectively. Free trade proponents argue that this leads to increased economic growth, lower prices for consumers, and innovation driven by competition. For example, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) facilitated trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, leading to significant economic growth and lower prices for consumers in these countries. International institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO) have been instrumental in promoting free trade through multilateral agreements and dispute resolution mechanisms. The WTO's role in adjudicating trade disputes helps maintain a predictable trading environment, fostering global economic stability. Nationalism, in the context of trade, emphasises the protection of domestic industries from foreign competition. This protectionist stance is often driven by concerns over job losses, trade deficits, and the perceived erosion of national sovereignty. For instance, the United States (US) under President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese goods to protect American manufacturing jobs and reduce the trade deficit. Similarly, the UK's Brexit movement was partly fuelled by a desire to regain control over trade policies and reduce dependency on the European Union. Policies such as tariffs, quotas, and subsidies are employed to shield local businesses and preserve economic self-sufficiency. For example, India's Make in India initiative aims to encourage local manufacturing through subsidies and incentives, reducing reliance on foreign imports. Recent political movements in various countries have underscored a growing scepticism towards globalisation and a preference for policies that prioritise national interests. These movements reflect a broader sentiment that global trade can sometimes undermine local economies and national security. The conflict between free trade and nationalism is evident in the debates over trade agreements, tariffs, and immigration policies. Free trade critics argue that it can lead to the outsourcing of jobs, wage stagnation, and increased economic inequality within countries. For example, the relocation of manufacturing jobs from the U.S. to countries with lower labour costs has led to significant job losses in certain American industries, fuelling discontent with free trade policies. On the other hand, excessive nationalism can lead to trade wars, reduced market access, and inefficiencies from lack of competition. The trade war between the US and China, characterised by reciprocal tariffs, disrupted global supply chains and led to increased costs for businesses and consumers in both countries. Moreover, such protectionist measures can result in domestic industries becoming complacent and less innovative due to the lack of competitive pressure. * Balanced trade policies: Governments can design trade policies that incorporate both free trade and protectionist elements. For example, the European Unions Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), set to be implemented in 2026, is designed to levy tariffs on imports from countries with lower environmental standards. This ensures that foreign competition adheres to environmental standards, protecting domestic industries from unfair competition while promoting global environmental sustainability. * Strengthening domestic industries: Investing in education, infrastructure, and innovation can enhance the competitiveness of domestic industries, making them more resilient in the face of global competition. For instance, the United States' CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 provides substantial funding for semiconductor manufacturing and research to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers and bolster domestic technological innovation and infrastructure. * International cooperation: Multilateral organisations and trade agreements can play a role in balancing the interests of free trade and national sovereignty. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which came into effect in January 2022, involves 15 Indo-Pacific countries and aims to promote transparency, address unfair trade practices, and facilitate dialogue among member nations to build a more inclusive global trade system. * Social safety nets: Implementing robust social safety nets and retraining programs can support workers displaced by globalisation. For instance, Singapores SkillsFuture initiative provides citizens with credits to pursue a wide range of approved courses, facilitating lifelong learning and helping workers transition between jobs without severe economic hardship. The coexistence of global free trade and nationalism in the world economy is complex but possible. By adopting balanced trade policies, investing in domestic competitiveness, fostering international cooperation, and ensuring social protection, countries can navigate the challenges posed by these conflicting ideologies. The goal should not be to protect one from the other, but to find a harmonious balance that leverages the strengths of both to promote sustainable economic growth and social well-being. Policymakers, businesses, and citizens alike must engage in informed discussions about the future of trade. By understanding the benefits and drawbacks of both free trade and nationalism, we can work towards a more equitable and prosperous global economy. This article is authored by Ananya Raj Kakoti and Gunwant Singh, scholars of international relations, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. India, the worlds most populated country has over 510 million women aged 15 years and older who are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Cervical cancer ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women in India and also the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. About 5.0% of women in the general population are estimated to harbour cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 infection at a given time, and 83.2% of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18. Vaccination In light of these statistics, India's pioneering initiative to encourage vaccination against HPV, which leads to cervical cancer, among young girls aged 9-14 signifies a monumental stride towards health equity. This initiative is not merely a health campaign; it's a beacon of hope, empowerment, and progress in the ongoing battle against one of the most preventable, yet deadly cancers affecting women worldwide. It reflects Indias broader commitment to preventive healthcare, targets one of the most preventable yet prevalent malignancies affecting women, setting a new standard in public health policy. Cervical cancer, dubbed a silent epidemic in India, accounts for a substantial number of cancer-related deaths among Indian women annually. Current estimates indicate that every year 1,23,907 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 77,348 die from the disease. Further, the socio-economic ramifications extend beyond the immediate families, affecting communities and the nation at large. Therefore, the vaccine, proven to be effective against the strains of HPV most commonly linked to cervical cancer, represents a significant advancement in our ability to protect future generations from this disease. The HPV vaccine, is proven to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer by nearly 90%, particularly if women are vaccinated when they are younger. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the 90-70-90 targets, aiming to have 90% of girls vaccinated against HPV, 70% of women screened for HPV by age 35 and again at 45 and 90% of women with pre-cancer treated or with invasive cancer managed. Over the years, vaccinations for cervical cancer, the second most frequent cancer among women in India, after breast cancer, have not picked up pace because of the costs involved--approximately 4,000 per jab and two to three doses. Often, another concern has been that infections due to certain strains may not be covered by the vaccine. Yet now, the government's plans to encourage the vaccination of young girls, is a commendable step that aligns with global health recommendations. In addition, as a responsible nation, it is our collective duty to ensure that no girl is left behind, for any reason and every daughter of India in the prescribed age group receives the vaccination. Towards it, dispelling myths and educating communities about the vaccine's safety and benefits are crucial to achieving high vaccination rates. The global context offers valuable insights and best practices that can inform India's approach. Numerous countries that have successfully integrated HPV vaccination into their national immunisation programmes, provide compelling evidence of the vaccine's impact on reducing cervical cancer rates. Approximately 125 countries have implemented HPV vaccines, reaching one in three girls aged 9-14 globally. Encouragement and support are needed to persuade remaining countries to adopt HPV vaccines into their routine immunisation programmes. Cambodia's ministry of health has introduced a one-dose HPV vaccine for nine-year-old girls nationwide, aiming to address the 1,135 new cervical cancer cases and 643 deaths annually. Across Africa, 27 countries have integrated HPV vaccines into national immunisation programmes, and 34 have initiated cervical cancer screening, with 14 utilising HPV DNA testing, a more effective screening method. In Nigeria, with assistance from WHO and partners, over 35,000 health workers have been trained for a cervical cancer vaccination campaign, with the potential to protect over 16 million girls by 2025. The World Economic Forum's recent report on closing the women's health gap discusses the importance of addressing health disparities, including the success of HPV vaccination programmes in various countries. For example, Scotland has seen significant declines in cervical pre-cancer rates among women due to its effective HPV vaccination programme. Similarly, in the United Kingdom and Australia, comprehensive vaccination strategies have led to lowered HPV infection rates and are projected to significantly reduce cervical cancer incidence. These examples underscore the potential impact of well-implemented HPV vaccination initiatives, emphasising the importance of such programmes in improving women's health and closing the health gap globally. The economic implications of HPV vaccination extend beyond direct health care savings, potentially influencing broader economic stability and workforce participation. This bold initiative initiated by our nation, is more than a health campaign; it's a movement towards a healthier, more equitable future for Indian women. It embodies a comprehensive approach to healthcare, aiming to uplift and empower women across the nation. By investing in preventive health care, India can reduce the long-term costs associated with treating advanced cervical cancer, thereby alleviating the economic burden on families and the health care system. Moreover, by prioritising the health of young girls, this initiative sends a powerful message about the value of women in society, promoting gender equity and empowering women to lead healthier, more productive lives. The decision to vaccinate young girls against cervical cancer is a step in the right direction. It reflects a commitment to leveraging scientific advancements for the greater good, prioritising preventive care, and addressing gender disparities in health. As we rally behind this cause, we move closer to a future where cervical cancer is no longer a threat to women's lives and well-being in India. This initiative is not just about vaccination; it's about shaping a healthier, more equitable society for generations to come. This article is authored by Dr Preetha Reddy, executive vice chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group. From being the iconic Chaiyya Chaiyya girl to slaying it at the red carpets, and reality shows she judges, actor Malaika Arora is a force to reckon with. When it comes to style, nobody does it better than her. And while one wonders if it comes naturally to her, Malaika says it is always an extension of the person that you are. Malaika Arora poses for HT City Showstoppers Style is something pretty inherent, either you have it or you dont. Of course, along the way you can inculcate a little bit of style into your life because of the things around you, which kind of influence you in a certain way. So, everyone has an inherent personal style, and you have to hold it, she says. Also Read: Malaika Arora rents apartment in Mumbai for about 1.50 lakh per month for three years Stating that some are effortless, some are a more organic, some put in a little more effort into their personal style, Malaika calls hers a reflection of my personality. She elaborates, My style is easy yet theres a sense of being very definitive. Its a little sexy, not very bossy; it helps me embody someone who knows what she wants. My style is never wishy-washy or confused. Its never neither here nor there. Im very clear about things, and thats how I am. I always bring a little bit of my own touch to my songs Even when it comes to her style on screen, with several dance numbers to her credit, Malaika calls herself fortunate that she has always got a freehand to experiment while doing those sequences. While doing a song, your director and your choreographers are very clear about the mood board and what they want out of you. But at the end of the day, I always bring a little bit of my own touch, whatever it may be, whether its in terms of hair, jewellery or some other element, shares Malaika, crediting her TV days for shaping her into the person she is today. I feel MTV was a very big part of my years of working where I kind of played around, made mistakes and had lots of fun. I did all of that in my TV years and it gave me that scope to do that and that really molded my way of fashion or how I perceive fashion, recalls the actor, confessing that there are times she has committed fashion blunders, but thats a part and parcel of experimenting and growing up. At this point, the 48-year-old acknowledges that with age, one becomes more aware and conscious of their style and how they dress. She elucidates, Theres this term age appropriate, and everybody is subjected to it at some point in their life. But again, in the end, you have to learn be comfortable in your skin and be aware of what looks good on your body and what doesnt. And Id say I fairly know my body. I know exactly the parts which Im not very comfortable with, so I wear clothes which will hide them. There are days Im bloated, or feeling out of shape, so you should just dress according to your mood and while knowing your flaws. Ive learned that over the years. Ive made a career out of being criticised and trolled That being said, Malaika has been through her fair share of trolling for her choices and whatever she does in her personal life. Unperturbed by all the noise, she quips, Everybody works very hard and puts in loads of efforts to make their brand, and nobody is looking for a short cut. But, if you see my entire trajectory, Ive made a career out of being criticised and trolled for my choices, for the person that I am, what I wear, for everything. So, it has been a part of my entire career, and hence, Im very Im immune to it. Asked why she chooses to mostly ignore nasty comments on her social media posts and never give it back to trolls, and Malaika states that she prefers to stay away from all the negativity. I will engage with them (trolls) the day I feel that it needs to be addressed and if I feel somebody is going after someone close to me or my near ones or dear ones, my loved ones. Then of course it requires me to stand up and say something, otherwise, I wont waste my time, energy, my breath and my sanity. I dont think its worth it. Ive got other things to do and worry about. I dont need to justify anything to anyone whether its my personal or professional life; I dont owe anybody an explanation, says the actor, urging people to not mistake her silence for being complacent. I maintain a certain level of silence because I choose to be like that. I dont like and want that extra noise. Thats how I keep my sanctity intact, and Im happy like that, she adds. However, the actor is quick to share that she actually judges people who sit and read comments on her posts. I mean, I will read my own comments and see whats written about me. But when others do that, sit back and read somebody elses comments, I genuinely judge them because Im like, Dont you have anything better to do in life? I really wonder how these people have the time and the energy to sit down and read, comments after comments and actually think that is what life is all about. Theres a lot more to focus on in life and not let these things get the better of you, opines Malaika. I work very heard to build my own brand The actor, who over the years, has formed a niche for herself be in the kind of fashion choices she makes or the projects she chooses to associate herself with, believes that building your own brand is a continuous process. Well, now its all about perception and branding. And I have worked really hard to create a brand for myself. And everyone in the business is aiming for the same, isnt it? Thats what make you stand out. And its all because of the love from fans and the media that adds a dimension to the brand we create, says Malaika, fully aware that not everyone will resonate with your belief system. Some people will like you, some people wont, some people will adore you. But then, thats how it is. You have to go with what you feel is fine at the end of the day. People will look up to you, they will like you for being a certain way, and some will despise you for whatever it is. But then you cant please everybody, she asserts, and continues, You like it, or you dont like it, I dont care. I will dress the way I want, and look the way I like. Im very happy and proud of the way I am. I am very conscious and disciplined as a person. I know what works for me and what doesnt? So, I dont need a third person giving me their unsolicited advice. I really dont have time for it. JAMMU: At least 22 pilgrims including nine women and two children died and 57 others injured after a bus from Uttar Pradeshs Hathras spun off a road and fell into a deep gorge in Jammu districts Akhnoor area on Thursday, officials said. The injured were initially shifted to the Akhnoor hospital for treatment before being shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Jammu. (Videograb) Inspector Tariq Ahmed, station house officer of Akhnoor police station, said the accident took place at about 12:35pm at Tungi Morh, 12 km from Akhnoor, on the Jammu-Poonch national highway when the pilgrims were on their way to Shiv Khori shrine devoted to Lord Shiva near Reasi town 50km away. As of now, we are not clear how many passengers were on the bus. We are in the middle of rescue operations Ahmed said. Akhnoor sub-division block medical officer Dr Saleem Khan said 22 people had died so far and 57 others were injured. A majority of those injured have been shifted to the government medical college and hospital in Jammu while some are at the sub-district hospital in Akhnoor, Dr Khan added. The Akhnoor SHO said the driver might have been drowsy. At the turn, the bus rolled down around 150 to 200 feet into the gorge, he said. A witness, who was among the local residents to join the rescue operation, said the bus approached the curve too fast and fell into the gorge. A bus carrying passengers from Hathras, Uttar Pradesh has met with an accident near Tanda, Akhnoor in Jammu.Rescue operations are underway. , Jammu Deputy Commissioner, Sachin Kumar Vaishya said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Jammu and Kashmir transport commissioner Rajinder Singh Tara said that the driver was unable to negotiate a cut which resulted in the bus accident. The cut here is very ordinary and there shouldnt have been any difficulty, but maybe the driver fell asleep, and he couldnt negotiate the cut. Instead of taking the turn, the bus went straight and went down, he said, according to news agency ANI. Amar Chand, one of the injured people undergoing treatment at the Akhnoor hospital, said the accident took place when the driver was negotiating a blind curve and a car was coming from the opposite direction. A car was coming from the opposite direction. The driver tried to negotiate a blind curve but failed, resulting in the vehicle rolling down into the gorge, he said, according to PTI. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed anguish on the loss of lives in the tragic bus accident. Anguished by the loss of lives due to a bus mishap in Akhnoor. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon. Rs. 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each deceased due to the bus mishap. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000, the PMO said in a post. The Manipur and Assam governments on Thursday stepped up operations to rescue people and provide relief, as vast swathes in the northeastern states continued to be affected by widespread flooding and the number of casualties also increased amid continuous rainfall caused by cyclone Remal. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singhs residence submerged in floodwater in Imphal on Thursday. (PTI) In Manipur, the overall toll in rain-related incidents rose to three after a 75-year-old man died of electrocution after coming in contact with an electric pole during rains in Imphal on Wednesday. Earlier, a 34-year-old man was killed in a landslide caused by heavy rains in Senapati district and an 83-year-old woman drowned in the overflowing Senapati river. Chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday held a meeting with ministers, MLAs, the chief secretary and security and various department officials to review the situation and the measures to provide relief to the affected. Read Here: Cyclone Remal has a warning for Northeast Chaired a meeting with Ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary, security officials and all department officials to review the flood situation in the state, while assessing the ongoing measures to provide necessary aid & assistance to the affected families, he said in a post on X. Out of the 18 spots where the breach occurred in the embankments of rivers, 17 were sealed and the flooding in the surrounding areas have been successfully brought under control. The efforts to seal the remaining breach and the work to reinforce the embankments are underway, he added. The state government also declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays but said departments involved in the rescue and relief operations, and delivery of essential services, will remain functional. It further appealed to the public to remain indoors and not move out, except in case of an emergency. Read Here: Train services disrupted in Northeast due to rainfall triggered by cyclone Remal In Assam, the number of deaths in rain-related incidents rose to eight after two people a 70-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man drowned in different areas in Hailakandi district on Thursday, according to officials aware of the details. According to information shared by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, 198,856 people across nine districts have been affected by the floods. Officials said most of the major rivers, including Brahmaputra, Barak and Kopili, are flowing above the danger level. Assam minister for water resources Pijush Hazarika, who visited the three districts of Barak Valley on Thursday, said: The state has received over 300mm rainfall in the last two days and heavy rains in Manipur and Mizoram are affecting this area. We are ready to tackle the situation and all the departments are working hard. We have suggested people move to safe places if required, he said. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh accused PM Narendra Modi of employing "hateful, unparliamentary terms" to target specific societal sections or the opposition. In a letter to Punjab voters before the seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls on June 1, Singh urged voters to safeguard democracy and the Constitution from what he described as repeated assaults by a despotic regime attempting to impose dictatorship in India. Singh's appeal underscores the critical nature of the upcoming elections and the need to preserve democratic values amidst growing concerns about authoritarian tendencies in governance. Dig deeper Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. (HT PHOTO.) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized properties valued at over 290 crore from an amusement company amid a money laundering probe. The assets, including space in Noida's GIP Mall, were linked to International Amusement Limited. ED provisionally attached properties worth Rs. 291.18 crore, citing violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The firm allegedly duped investors of 400 crore by failing to deliver promised projects in Gurugram. ED alleges funds were diverted for personal gain and accuses promoter directors of tampering with agreements to evade responsibility. Dig deeper The Latest News Rekha Rakesh Jhunjhunwala earns 224 crore dividend from portfolio in March quarter Dig deeper Chhota Rajan convicted for murder of Mumbai hotelier Jaya Shetty Dig deeper India News Arvind Kejriwal moves Delhi court for regular bail in excise policy case Dig deeper Delhi HC rejects plea seeking disqualification of PM Narendra Modi as Varanasi candidate Dig deeper Global Matters What Ukraine's allies have said about striking Russia with Western weapons Dig deeper Fourteen Hong Kong democrats found guilty in landmark subversion trial Dig deeper Health and Lifestyle National Smile Day, observed annually on May 31, celebrates the power of positivity and happiness. Smiling not only improves mood but also extends life expectancy, reduces stress, and boosts immunity. This year marks the beginning of National Smile Week, emphasizing the importance of turning frowns upside down. Smiling enhances overall well-being, elevates mood, and is contagious, spreading joy to others. Moreover, it regulates blood pressure, reduces pain, and fosters a healthier lifestyle. As we prepare to celebrate, let's embrace the benefits of smiling and spread happiness wherever we go. Dig deeper Sports Going 18-year-old R Praggnanandhaa made history with his first classical win over five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen at Norway Chess. The Indian prodigy's calm demeanor belied the significance of the moment, highlighting his confidence and readiness for such challenges. Carlsen's risky opening moves backfired, leading to Praggnanandhaa's calculated victory. The win marks a turning point in classical chess, with Carlsen facing recent struggles in the format. Praggnanandhaa's strategic brilliance and composure have earned him admiration from peers and fans alike, solidifying his position as a rising star in the chess world. Dig deeper Thats all we have at this hour in our Afternoon briefing. Catch you in the evening. Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday alleged that the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh would supply electricity without interruption during Ramzan, but not on Janmashtami. Addressing election rallies in the state, the BJP stalwart claimed the ongoing Lok Sabha elections were about making a choice between those who constructed the Ram temple and those who opened fire at Lord Ram's devotees. Union Home Minister Amit Shah greets people during a public meeting for the last phase of Lok Sabha polls, in Robertsganj on Wednesday. Amit Shah addressed four rallies in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday in support of BJP and NDA candidates for the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Speaking at his rally in Ballia, Amit Shah accused the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party of harassing the masses with mafia. He added that Yogi Adityanath's government rid the state of criminals. Amit Shah claimed there was a power supply problem during Akhilesh Yadav's rule. He also accused the SP government of discrimination. "There was only a power supply for only three-four hours. There was uninterrupted supply during Ramzan but not on Janmashtami," he claimed, reported PTI. In Deoria, Amit Shah claimed the Opposition attempted to stall the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. "This election is between those who constructed the Ram temple and those who opened fire on Ram bhakts," he added, reported PTI. In Maharajganj, Amit Shah said INDIA bloc allies Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav will blame electronic voting machines for their Lok Sabha election debacle. "The counting is on June 4. In the afternoon the two 'shehzade' (Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav) will hold a press conference and say we lost the election because EVM was defective," he said. Amit Shah claimed that the BJP crossed over 300 seats in the first five rounds of the Lok Sabha elections. Referring to the Sahara 'scam', Shah claimed it occurred when the parties that are currently in opposition were in power. "Akhilesh Yadav, the scam took place in your government! Modi ji started the process of refund (to the customers impacted by the Sahara 'scam'," he said. Praising UP CM Yogi Adityanath, he said the leader cleared mosquitoes with his cleanliness drive and the mafia in his own style. Polling for the Lok Sabha elections will culminate on June 1. Counting of votes will take place on June 4. With inputs from PTI Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday moved the Rouse Avenue court seeking regular bail in the Delhi liquor excise policy case. AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal interacts with traders and commission agents at Town Hall, Jalandhar, on Wednesday. (PTI)(HT_PRINT) Arvind Kejriwal had moved the Supreme Court against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in March. Earlier this month, the court granted him 21-day interim bail to campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The court has ordered the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief to surrender before the police by June 2, a day after the culmination of the polls. Earlier this week, Kejriwal moved the apex court seeking an extension of his interim bail. However, in a setback to the Delhi chief minister, the court refused his request for an urgent listing of his plea. Declining his plea seeking an extension of seven days of his interim bail, the court's office said since Arvind Kejriwal was given the liberty to move the trial court for regular bail, the petition was not maintainable. Also read: Setback for Arvind Kejriwal as Supreme Court rejects plea seeking 7-day interim bail extension A day before, a vacation bench of the Supreme Court said Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud could take the decision on the listing of the interim plea. Kejriwal had submitted before the apex court that he needed the extension of seven days in order to undergo a host of medical tests, including a PET-CT scan, due to his "sudden and unexplained weight loss coupled with high ketone levels". In his plea, Arvind Kejriwal had said his symptoms were indicative of kidney, serious cardiac ailments and even cancer. Earlier this month, the Enforcement Directorate had opposed his interim bail, claiming there was no precedent of a person getting released to campaign for elections. This is the first time since Kejriwal's arrest in the case on March 21 that he has applied for a regular bail. The CBI and ED have accused AAP leaders of accepting kickbacks from a group of businessmen and politicians in return for crafting a policy favourable to the latter's interest. The agencies claim a significant chunk of the alleged kickbacks was funnelled into the party's election campaign for the Goa assembly polls. The liquor policy was scrapped in 2022 after Delhi's lieutenant governor ordered a CBI probe into the alleged scam. Arvind Kejriwal was arrested after he skipped nine summonses sent by the Enforcement Directorate. Guwahati: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed a charge sheet against Paresh Baruah, the chief of the banned terror outfit, the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) (ULFA-I), and five others in connection with the attack on an army camp located at Kakopathar in Tinsukia district of Assam on November 22 last year, officials said. (Representative Photo) The NIA special court in Guwahati charge-sheeted the six accused under various criminal offences, relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Substances Act, the agency stated in a release. Besides Baruah, the other accused named in the charge sheet as key conspirators and executors of the attack are Arunodoy Dohutia, Saurabh Asom, Abhijit Gogoi, Porag Bora and Bijoy Moran. Bora and Moran were arrested in early December last year from the Tinsukia district while the other accused are absconding. Also Read: NIA starts probe into grenade attack in Assam According to the charge sheet, two motor-cycle-borne youths had lobbed two grenades at the army camp on the evening of November 22, 2023. No one was injured in the assault, which was part of a bigger conspiracy to kill or injure army personnel through a series of grenade attacks on army camps across the state, the NIA release said. The agency stated that Baruah and Dohutia had masterminded the conspiracy and had deputed two of the outfits cadres to carry out multiple attacks on army camps in Assam. It was further found that Abhijit Gogoi had coordinated the entire planning, preparation and execution of the attack in the instant case, the release stated. Gogoi is accused of conspiring with Moran who in turn recruited a local youth to carry out the attack. According to the NIA investigations, the ULFA(I) has been using social media platforms to recruit vulnerable youth to the outfit. Further investigations into the case are underway to identify other conspirators and to expose the entire terror network, the agency added. The proscribed outfit was involved in planning and executing terror attacks in furtherance of its extremist and separatist ideology, the NIA further said. Investigations are in progress to identify other conspirators and associates of the accused involved in the attack and to expose the complete terror network, it stated. African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina addressing the meeting of the Bureau of the Boards of Governors at the opening of the Banks 59th Annual Meetings being held in Nairobi, Kenya. African Development Bank Group Vice President Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade has commended the Horn of Africa Initiative for reaching $10 billion in total commitments in its nearly five years of existence. She spoke during the initiative's 21st Ministerial Meeting which took place in Nairobi on May 28, 2024, on the sidelines of the Bank Group's Annual Meetings. It brought together finance ministers from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan to take stock of portfolio performance and discuss strategies for attracting more private investment into the region. The initiative works to deepen regional economic integration, tackling fragility, and enhancing resilience to foster peace and stability, and improve the living standards of the people of the Horn. "We launched the Horn of Africa Initiative five years ago in 2019 with three development partners, the African Development Bank, the European Union and the World Bank, and today it has grown to five development partners as we have welcomed BMZ-Germany and FCDO-UK. The portfolio has grown to about $10 billion in total commitments across the four pillars of the Horn of Africa Initiative," said Akin-Olugbade, who co-chaired the meeting alongside Ethiopia's Finance Minister Ahmed Shide. She lauded the initiative's progress in bolstering food security and tackling locust swarms. The initiative's four pillars are regional infrastructure connectivity; economic and trade integration; building resilience to climatic and other shocks; and human capital development. Minister Shide said, "Together, we have the power to transform this potential into tangible prosperity to enhance the lives of millions through improved infrastructure, economic integration, and proactive measures against the threat of climate change and food insecurity." He added: "We also face the imperative of addressing the economic challenges that look over our region. Reliance on concessional support is going to be very important. The urgency of debt sustainability discussions and innovative financing solutions are needed, such as debt swaps, which are critical to easing the resource constraints weighing on our economies." The meeting also featured an update on the implementation of the Borderlands Roadmap, adopted at the 18th Ministerial in Addis Ababa in October 2023. The roadmap, covering the 2024-2048 period, represents a common vision and strategy for accelerating development in the borderlands of the Horn of Africa, defined as regions at the margins of its nation-states. Finance ministers emphasised the need to mobilise more investments in borderland regions, building on existing commitments by development partners. Praising the Borderlands Roadmap, UK Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Andrew Mitchell, said, "From the menace of violent extremism to conflict and climate shocks, these are the problems that span national borders. A united approach is therefore necessary to resolve them," he said. He noted that the UK is working closely with members, including through a 15 million program to build stability along the borders between Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Germany, which became the first bilateral partner to join the initiative last year, announced plans to contribute further to its objectives. "I'm glad to announce that as a next step in our partnership, we intend to make an announcement of 10 million to the Multi-donor Trust Fund which is managed by the World Bank," said Birgit Pickel, Director General, Africa, BMZ. Representatives from the governments of Japan, Canada, and the Netherlands, as well as the Islamic Development Bank and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), among others, also attended the meeting. BADEA, an observer to date, announced its intention to join the initiative as its sixth Development Partner. The findings of the portfolio review were presented during the meeting. While 75 percent of portfolio projects received a satisfactory rating, there were areas for improvement, including addressing chronic capacity constraints across the region, particularly in public financial management audit, and procurement. Akin-Olugbade stressed the need for the initiative to learn from past experiences and focus on improving portfolio performance and efficiency while reducing bottlenecks. "As development partners, we have to continue to learn lessons about how we can better design, prepare and execute operations in the region, which has unique challenges at both regional, national and sub-national levels," she noted. The vice president also highlighted ongoing discussions for the reform of the multilateral development banks and on how multilateral development banks can work and coordinate more efficiently as a system. Referring to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the African Development Bank and the World Bank that is under development, she noted: "This demonstrates how we are constantly thinking of ways to better serve our clients - including within the context of the African Development Bank's new Ten-Year Strategy." Last year, in the role of co-chair for the first time, the Bank Group hosted the 17th Ministerial Meeting of the Horn of Africa Initiative during its 2023 Annual Meetings in Egypt. In that meeting, Djibouti's Minister of Economy and Finance Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh and Somalia's Minister of Finance Elmi Nur signed a $72 million financing agreement for the Bank-supported Djibouti-Somalia Corridor project. The Bank Group's Director General for East Africa Nnenna Nwabufo signed on the institution's behalf. A Porsche car, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy who the police claim was drunk at the time, fatally knocked down two motorbike-borne software engineers at Kalyani Nagar in Pune city in the early hours of May 19. Heres what has transpired in the case untill Thursday. The Porsche car involved in the fatal crash. (HT PHOTO) Teen asked to write 300-word essay as bail condition The teenager, son of real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, was initially granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), with a condition to write a 300-word essay. This decision led to a significant public outcry. The police later approached the JJB, which remanded the boy to an observation home for 14 days till June 5. Efforts are ongoing to try the minor as an adult, said police. Teen was drunk: Police The police have accessed CCTV footage showing the teenager drinking at a pub before the accident. Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed the footage and said that the boy was fully aware of his actions. Additionally, the police arrested his father, Vishal Agarwal, for exposing a child to danger, and the owner and employees of two bars for serving alcohol to a minor. ALSO READ- Pune Porsche horror: Teen driver spent 48,000 in 90 minutes at first pub, says police commissioner Pizza party at police station? Reports surfaced about the juvenile being served pizza at the police station. Commissioner Kumar denied a "pizza party" but admitted there was an incident, and said that an internal investigation has been launched. Two officers were also suspended for lapses during the probe. Attempt to shift blame on driver An attempt was made to blame the familys driver for the accident. However, police found sufficient evidence showing the teenager was driving. The minors grandfather was also arrested for allegedly kidnapping the driver to force him into taking the blame. ALSO READ- Pune Porsche accident: Teen's mother requested driver to take blame for crash Teen's blood samples swapped: Police The police arrested Dr. Ajay Taware, Dr. Srihari Halnor, and a staff member, Atul Ghatkamble, for tampering with the minor's blood samples. A three-member committee headed by Mumbai JJ Hospital Dean Dr. Pallavi Saple is investigating these allegations. Additionally, the dean of B J Medical College and Sassoon Civil Hospital, Dr. Vinayak Kale, was placed on compulsory leave. ALSO READ- Pune Porsche crash: How doctors changed teen driver's blood sample | Sequence of events NCP MLA Sunil Tingres name surfaces Reports indicated that there was a call exchange between Dr. Taware and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar group) MLA Sunil Tingre after the incident. However, no connections warranting a probe have been established, police said. State medical education minister Hasan Mushrif, however, admitted Dr. Tawares appointment was based on a recommendation from MLA Tingre. ALSO READ- Pune Porsche crash: Who appointed Dr Ajay Taware? Dean vs minister blame game An MLAs son was also in the Porsche car, Congress leader claims Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole claimed that some high-profile individuals, including an MLAs son, were in the Porsche when the accident occurred. ALSO READ- Pune Porsche accident: Maharashtra Congress demands CBI probe, Devendra Fadnavis' resignation He didn't disclose the name and demanded the police to reveal the names of all persons present in the car A Mumbai court on Thursday held gangster Chhota Rajan guilty of the murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty in 2001 and sentenced him to life imprisonment. An old photo of gangster Chhota Rajan. (PTI) Special judge for cases under the Maharashtra Control Of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), AM Patil, convicted Rajan. Who was Jaya Shetty? Jaya Shetty was the owner of the Golden Crown hotel at Gamdevi in central Mumbai. He had been getting calls for extortion from the Chhota Rajan gang. He was shot dead by two members of the gang inside his hotel on May 4, 2001. Due to the threats, the Maharashtra police had provided him a security cover. However, two months before the murder, his security cover had been withdrawn. Chhota Rajan is currently lodged in Delhis Tihar Jail after his deportation to India following his arrest in Indonesia in October 2015. According to TOI, two shooters had shot dead Jaya Shetty. The manager and an employee of the hotel chased the shooters and caught one of them. Chhota Rajan, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, had made headlines last year when he approached the Bombay high court (HC) against filmmaker Hansal Mehta and owners of Matchbox Shots LLP, who produced the web series Scoop'. In his suit, Rajan had objected to his picture and voice being used by the filmmaker. He had learnt about it from his wife after she saw the trailer of the series. This, according to Rajan, was an infringement of his rights, as the filmmaker did not seek his permission. He had urged the court to permanently restrain the producers from releasing the series. The Netflix series was based on the story of journalist Jigna Vora who was accused of murdering a fellow journalist Jyotirmoy Dey (J Dey). In 2018, Vora was acquitted in the case whereas Chhota Rajan was given a life sentence. The Congress has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) saying Prime Narendra Modis two-day meditation break from Thursday to Saturday in Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari will violate the 48-hour silence period ahead of the seventh and the last phase of Lok Sabha polling. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Odisha on Wednesday. (PTI) Modis office on Tuesday said he will meditate at Kanyakumaris Rock Memorial. The meditation will coincide with the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. Modi took a similar break at the end of the election campaigns in 2014 and 2019. We have no problem if any leader keeps a fast of silence or campaigns but during the silence period, there should be no campaigning, said Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi after a meeting of a Congress delegation with ECI officials on Wednesday. The delegation submitted 28 complaints over alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its top leaders including Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Singhvi said the silence period before the polling will begin on May 30 and continue until June 1. He added Modis meditation is a direct violation of the MCC. ...you are either campaigning this way or publicising yourself through new channels and print media, Singhvi said. There was no immediate response from the ECI on whether the BJP has sought its permission for Modis meditation during the silence period. Singhvi said that the Congress proposed that Modi can start his meditation on Saturday evening. He added if Modi insists on starting it on Thursday evening, the ECI should prohibit all media from reporting about it. He is a candidate himself in the last phase. About 55 constituencies are going to polls in the last phase. Such publicity should not be allowed, Singhvi said. The Congress also complained against BJPs false, misleading, and divisive posts on X to further its narrative about the alleged policy of wealth redistribution favouring members of a religious minority. It said doctored videos of Congress leader Rahul Gandhis speech were circulated on May 10 across social media platforms to mislead voters and dissuade them from voting for the party. Jharkhand Congresss X account was blocked and the partys members in Telangana were arrested over a doctored video of Shah. Six of the Congresss 28 complaints related to Modis derogatory and communal remarks in his speeches. The Congress said most of them falsely claimed that it seeks to redistribute wealth among Muslims, pejoratively referred to as those who do Vote Jihad. It said Modis interviews with India Today and Aaj Tak were televised on May 13, the day of polling for the fourth phase in violation of the MCC and the Representation of People Act (RPA). In its three complaints against Adityanath, the Congress said he accused the party of historically supporting terrorism in violation of the MCC, RPA, and the Indian Penal Code. The Congress submitted two complaints against Shahs speeches. The Congress said Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on May 22 appealed to the people to vote on the basis of religion while falsely portraying the party as communal. It added voters in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana received calls from the US to vote for BJP in violation of the MCC and RPA. New Delhi, The Delhi High Court on Thursday bid adieu to two of its judges, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice V Kameswar Rao, who have been transferred to other high courts. Delhi HC bids farewell to two judges Speaking at the farewell reference, Acting Chief Justice Manmohan said both the judges, who were elevated from the Bar in 2013, have set a benchmark in different laws during their tenure. On Wednesday, the central government notified the transfer of Justices Sachdeva and Rao to the high courts of Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, respectively. The Supreme Court Collegium had on March 15 recommended their transfer after they made a request to be shifted to other high courts. "High Courts of Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka would be truly enriched with your presence. At the same time, at the Delhi High Court, we are bound to feel a void," said Justice Manmohan. With their transfer, the strength of the high court has come down to 40 judges against the sanctioned strength of 60. The event was attended by all the judges of the high court, former Supreme Court judge Justice AK Sikri, family members of Justices Sachdeva and Rao as well as lawyers. Justices Sachdeva and Rao shared their experience as judges of the high court, saying all parts of the country are represented at its Bar as well as the Bench. "No other Bar association is comparable to this Bar... In the morning session, Justice Rao mentioned all the 29 states and union territories are represented in the Bar. I had added that probably all 29 states and UTs are represented amongst the judges over here," said Justice Sachdeva. Justice Sachdeva, who has been part of the high court's information technology committee, also said the Delhi High Court is one of the premier high courts and is at the forefront of digitisation. "When lockdown happened and all the courts were closed, we were the only court in the world which was functional," he said. "This court could ensure appropriate oxygen supply was made available to hospitals and individuals. All this could be made possible because of the digital advancements achieved by this court over the years," added the judge. Justice Rao, in his address, praised the lawyers practising in the high court, saying, "Bar is the real teacher. I leave this court as a more informed person." Born on August 7, 1965, Justice Rao was designated as a senior advocate by the Delhi High Court in 2010. He was elevated as additional judge on August 17, 2013 and became a permanent judge on March 18, 2015. He completed his law course from Delhi University. Justice Sachdeva was born on December 26, 1964 and enrolled as an advocate after completing law from Delhi University. He was designated as senior advocate in 2011 and became a temporary judge on April 17, 2013. He became a permanent judge on March 18, 2015. During their tenure of over a decade, Justices Sachdeva and Rao delivered several important judgements. In August 2022, Justice Sachdeva's bench ruled that a welfare State is expected to create conducive conditions for differently-abled citizens by providing them avenues for public employment. In the same month, he also set aside an arbitral award directing ISRO's Antrix Corporation to pay damages of USD 562.2 million with interest to Devas for unlawfully terminating a deal in 2011, saying the award suffered from "patent illegalities and fraud", and was in conflict with the public policy of India. Last year, while heading a division bench, he dismissed National Conference leader Omar Abdullah's plea seeking divorce from his estranged wife. In October 2023, Justice Rao set aside the transfer of a case involving disciplinary proceedings against 1998 batch Bihar cadre IPS officer Amit Lodha from the Patna Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal to New Delhi. In a relief to contractual nurses working at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, his bench last year directed the institution to pay them salaries in the minimum of the pay scale given to regular nurses along with dearness allowance. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. The Delhi high court today dismissed a plea seeking disqualification of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from contesting elections from the Varanasi constituency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jadavpur on Tuesday. (ANI) The Delhi high court bench, headed by Justice Sachin Datta, termed the petition mala fide. The petition against Narendra Modi was filed by Captain Deepak Kumar, a pilot, who alleged that the prime minister had submitted a false oath that he would bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India. "The candidate for the Varanasi constituency for the 2024 general elections, Narender Modi had submitted before the returning officer a false oath or affirmation to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India. Modi and his accomplices are accused of screening the criminal conspiracy where the accused accomplices Candidate Modi attempted to destabilize national security by planning a fatal crash of Flight AI 459 of 08.07.2018, the petition added. During the hearing, the court observed that the petitioner made reckless and unsubstantiated allegations against the prime minister. The Delhi HC further said that the purpose of the petitioner was to make scandalous allegations without any basis. Also read: Modis Gandhi remark sparks outrage; Cong complains about PMs meditation trip The court said that the petition was tainted with mala fide and oblique motives, reported LiveLaw. Apart from PM Modi, the plea also sought the cancellation of candidature of union home minister Amit Shah and civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Narender Modi, Amit Shah, Jyotiraditya Scindia and their accomplices are a criminal element and will be detrimental for Indian Society at large, Kumar said in his petition. PM Narendra Modi is seeking his third term as a member of parliament from the constituency. He filed his nomination earlier this month. In 2014 and 2019, PM Modi scored landslide victories in Varanasi. The results for the Lok Sabha elections will be announced on June 4. The Enforcement Directorate announced it has seized properties worth over 290 crore belonging to an amusement and recreation company. This includes properties in the popular GIP Mall in Noida, as part of a money laundering investigation. Noida's GIP Mall According to ED statement, in Gurugram it has provisionally attached immovable properties worth approximately Rs. 291.18 crore belonging to International Amusement Limited, the holding company of International Recreation and Amusement Ltd. (IRAL). The attached properties include unsold commercial space of 3,93,737.28 sq. ft. at the Great India Place Mall in Noida, commercial space of 45,966 sq. ft. in the name of Adventure Island Limited in Rohini, and leasehold rights over 218 acres of land at village Daulatpur, Amer, Jaipur. These actions were taken under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002, on Tuesday, ED added. ALSO READ- Arvind Kejriwal moves Delhi court for regular bail in excise policy case What is the money laundering and cheating case? International Amusement Limited, the holding company of IRAL, is accused of collecting over 400 crore from around 1,500 investors, promising to allocate shops and other spaces in Sector 29 and 52-A in Gurugram, according to the Enforcement Directorate. ALSO READ- Noida Sector 100: AC blast triggers massive fire in flat; video goes viral However, the company allegedly failed to deliver the projects and missed deadlines. It also stopped making the assured monthly return payments to the investors. ALSO READ- Delhi HC rejects plea seeking disqualification of PM Narendra Modi as Varanasi candidate The ED claimed the company siphoned off the investors' money and funneled the funds to associated individuals and entities for personal gains. Additionally, the ED alleged that the promoter directors executed back-dated agreements with a buying entity to remove the business advance from IRAL's balance sheet, allowing the departing directors to evade their responsibilities towards IRAL. Lakshmi Sorens girlhood was spangled with vivid dreams about the sea. In her straw hut where a pockmarked curtain bestowed only a semblance of privacy, water was all around her. The slushy expanse of the Hoogly river delta stretched out in front, and every night, she would swim amid lucid images about becoming a mermaid, a jolpori in Bengali, a queen ruling the deep blue underworld. The water was my friend, it was our playground and life giver. My father would catch fish in the shallow water and my mother would skin crabs and sell it in the village market. We didnt have much but we had the sea, she said. Cyclone Remal battered the coasts of Bengal and Bangladesh over the weekend, displacing nearly a million people. (HT photo) Last week, the sea returned to her as a nightmare. As gales pummelled her island of Mousuni in the southern fringes of West Bengal, Soren scurried to a storm relief centre at the edge of her village, clutching to her chest a small jute bag a bundle of notes, her bank passbook, a photograph of her son, and a small idol of the local deity. Two nights later, she trudged back on Wednesday morning to find that only a skeleton of her house standing and saline water seeped into the small parcel of land she tilled for a rent, rendering it uncultivable. Worryingly, the Bay of Bengal appeared to have advanced deeper into the island. Menacing waves crashed against what was once an embankment. Tears obscuring her vision, Soren looked around in helplessness as the water slowly encircled her dwelling. I didnt know the sea could be so hungry. How long can we keep rebuilding our lives? she asked in agony. Upending Sorens life is Cyclone Remal, which battered the coasts of Bengal and Bangladesh over the weekend, displacing nearly a million people across the two countries and killing four people in Bengal, including one in Mousuni. For people such as Soren roughly half of the islands 34,000 people are either from the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes subsisting with a vengeful climate is now a part of life. But the devastation of Remal has come against the backdrop of the most fiercely fought Lok Sabha elections in Bengal in a generation. We have got more visits than relief because of these polls, she said. Both sides are desperately wooing women such as Soren marginal, poor, rural because it is this class that will make the difference in the battleground region of south Bengal, which holds 25 of the 42 seats in the eastern state. For the first time, discussions around a changing climate are part of roadside adda and tea-stall gossip. Playing a central role are people such as Soren, among Indias most vulnerable climate refugees. Climates victims Perched on the southernmost tip of Bengal, the Sundarbans mangrove archipelago is a collection of 102 islands 54 of which are inhabited that form a crucial carbon sink and eastern Indias biggest protection against coastal flooding and cyclones. The islands have had human settlements since the 1830s but the population started swelling at the turn of the century and then exploded in the decades following the partition of Bengal when hundreds of thousands of people many of them SC/ST refugees cleared forests and settled in the islands. Many of them started building embankments to keep the saline water out of the low-lying islands, and began farming. Today, roughly a third of the population of the South 24 Parganas district under which the largest chunk of population falls is SC. Dalits and Adivasis dominate the islands where agriculture remains the mainstay. Even the Muslims are largely people who converted from lower castes due to discrimination, said Asim Mondal, a professor at Ramakrishna Mission College, Narendrapur. And these communities face the brunt of the unpredictable climate. Ringed by rivers and battered repeatedly by cyclones five have pounded the Bengal coast since 2019 conversations on the climate crisis have slowly seeped into Mousuni, barely 100km from Kolkata but accessible only by a rickety boat fastened to a makeshift jetty. Only the centre of the island is now suitable for paddy cultivation as waves crashing on the southern and western shores have left scores of houses marooned and mangled, gobbling up land at the rate of 1 sq km every year. A patchwork of barely motorable brick alleys thread the island together, the roads turning into dust and mud as one approaches the adivasi colonies. In the middle of a parched field now too saline to cultivate stands Raju Hembrams house. Before Remal clobbered it to pieces, it was one of the few pucca houses in the area. People are scared of when the next squall will come. Bamboo stilts stapled together and a straw roof overhead is all they can afford, he said. There is just one borewell in this settlement, and no schools nearby. Women prefer the long queues to the abuses sometimes hurled at them if they fill up their brightly painted plastic jugs from more affluent neighbourhoods. The local primary health centre is on the other side of the island and a doctor sits there between 9am and 11am. Any emergency necessitates a perilous ride across the river. The divide Not everyone lives in such precarity. The northern edge is marked by a jumble of mushrooming resorts and budget hotels, each offering a package tour of the unspoilt river beach to the Kolkata tourist. At last count, 84 of them have sprung up over the last five years, selling rooms for anything between 2,000 to 5,000 a night. But for the Dalit and adivasi residents, the sight of tourists waddling through muddy beaches that were once their homes has brought little economic bounty. Nobody from our settlement is given employment there; we are only employed as temporary servants and cleaners, said Hembram. Each cyclone Aila, Yaas, Amphan, Bulbul and now Remal has mauled Susanta Kayals life and property. The embankment in front of his shop has collapsed thrice even as the beach in front has shrunk to half its size in five years. There is no buffer. Each gust of wind makes me think the shop will collapse on me. Ill leave by the end of the year, he said. His son, Prasanta, is a manager at one of the resorts nearby, Golden Ground. But Susanta is clear that the haphazard construction has only brought more instability to their lives. He is paid just 12,000 a month. It is not worth the labour. Down the embankment lives Savitri Das. The woman, in her sixties, has no resources to repair her home wrecked by Yaas in 2021, and subsists on the meagre sales from her shop selling biscuits, tea and bottles of water. A frayed white cotton sari draped around her frail frame, Das is hunched by worry of the next high tide as she sat down for a humble meal of rice and potato curry in May. I live here alone because my son is in Kerala. In my youth, we would earn from dish and crab catches. Now, I am counting the days till the waves claim this small shop, she said. I have neither money nor the power to move away. The perils In her 23 years on earth, Rimli Sardar has lived in three homes; the first her fathers house in Ghoramara, a sliver of an island on the Muriganga that lost half of its land in the last three decades to the river; the second in Sagar, the largest island in the Sunderbans delta, the main hub for supplies ranging from fish to petrol and where her family fled in panic as water surged through the embankment one night; and the third in Canning town that sat at the head of the myriad tributaries of the Matla river. In this cramped town, she shares a three-room house with her husband and two children. One May morning, Sardar scampered past shuttered shops and sleepy bus stands in her attempt to make the 5.17am local train to Sealdah. Streaks of red were yet to tint the eastern sky when she jumped into the womens compartment, one of hundreds of women who make the tiring journey every day to Kolkata to work as helps in highrises and colonies. My husband is a labourer and an alcoholic. The money from this job is what runs my home and feeds my children, she said. The hour-and-15 minute canter to Sealdah is replete with wares. In an orange sari with thin gold hoops in her ears and hair tied in a bun with a rubber band, Sardar stuffs a shiny looking leather purse for 60, packets of muri for 10 and safety pins for any emergency. Pleased with her bargaining, she drifts off into a snooze before the wail of the train horn alerted her that Sealdah was approaching. I may be poor but I am lucky that I escaped. In my old village, not every woman was as lucky, she said. She is hinting at trafficking of women that has burgeoned as the pandemic, lockdown and the climate crisis have dealt a triple whammy on the local population. In 2022, local police busted a gang of five men who trafficked roughly 2,000 minor girls over several years through Canning, for as little as 5,000. In my village too, every time there was a cyclone, girls would disappear from the class, and wed hear rumours, said Sardar. Despite punitive action, activists say the menace cannot be eradicated by legal action because of its roots in social distress. The problem is socioeconomic, and therefore the answer has to be social things such as public awareness, poverty alleviation and education, said Rishi Kant of the NGO Shakti Vahini. The Hazi Desarat College in Pathakhali island is an example. Established in 1961 and affiliated to Calcutta University, the institution of 46 professors and 2,300 students is the largest in the region. Most of the students are scheduled caste, and roughly 70% are women. We get pupils from the most interior islands, said Tarun Mondal, the college principal. Ratna Mondal is one of them. The 20-year-old resident of Amtali village has to change three ferries everyday and traverse four Sundarbans islands before she can make it to class, a journey of 3.5 hours on a good day that costs 400, an unthinkable sum for her marginal family. Wed hear about girls disappearing. Without this college, I could have never imagined getting out of my village, she said. Mondal now wants to become a primary school teacher, the first in her village of fishermen and beekeepers. And I want to speak English, she said. The politics The islands of Sunderbans straddle the North 24 and South 24 Parganas districts, where roughly a third of the population is below the poverty line. It is a bastion of the ruling Trinamool Congress that benefits from chief minister Mamata Banerjees grassroots popularity and her connection with local women, who outnumber men at the polling booths. For the first time in these elections, though, Bharatiya Janata Party flags have appeared even in remote islands such as Mousuni. The twin flower poll symbol of the TMC is sharing space on walls and festoons with the lotus flower of the BJP, a telltale sign that deep in this TMC citadel, the national party has finally found a smattering of local workers. The Mathurapur Lok Sabha constituency, a reserved seat under which islands such as Mousuni fall, was held by the Left between 1967 and 2009 (with only one small interruption during a national Congress wave in 1984), when the TMC breached this bastion. The TMCs senior leader Choudhury Mohan Jatua won the seat three consecutive times, winning in 2019 by 200,000 votes. This time, the incumbent has stepped back and the party has nominated its local youth wing leader, Bapi Haldar, an acolyte of party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. In that sense, Mathurapur is also critical for the tussle in the TMC between the old guard loyal to Mamata and the new entrants tied to Abhishek. The BJP sensed an opportunity in this churn, nominating Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Ashok Purkait in an attempt to cleave the Dalit vote, roughly a third of the constituency, from the Muslim vote, another third. For the first time, the BJP has campaigned aggressively across the Sunderbans, even getting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a rally in Mathurapur. Reservations were looted in West Bengal and false OBC certificates were issued to Muslims, he said, referring to a controversial decision by the Calcutta high court that scrapped OBC certificates to 77 groups last week. For shopkeeper Arun Bor, OBC reservation is not an issue but local corruption surely is. He pointed to the controversy around the appointment of 26,000 teachers but admitted that many in the village still leaned towards the TMC. They will vote for what they know because many fear they wont get cyclone relief otherwise, he said. Shyamali Mondal had a more emphatic reason. A domestic worker, Mondal first benefited from the governments Kanyashree Prakalpa, a flagship initiative that accords cash transfers to keep girls in school and has a beneficiary list of roughly seven million. And now, were getting 1,000 under Lokhhir Bhandar. It might not be much to you, but for poor people like us, its the difference between a meal of rice and one of salt and water, she said. In rally after rally, Banerjee has said that if the BJP came to power, it will scrap the direct cash transfer scheme. I dont know if its true but I wont take the risk, Shyamoli said. Unsaid but wafting in the wind is also a more cynical reason southern Bengal is among the most violent regions that regularly witnesses political clashes and killings. Here, having a robust network of workers is imperative if voters are to feel reassured on polling day. The BJP still doesnt have enough of an organisation here. The margins may be lower but thats about it, said a 30-year-old teacher, requesting anonymity. The future Back in Mousuni, Soren has an uphill task in rebuilding her life. Her son is in Kerala, as are most men in the village who have migrated due to a lack of jobs, and comes back once every six months. She is worried for him, and cannot imagine asking him for more money to repair the roof or build new walls. Ill live in this house for now, she said, struggling to stretch a scrap of blue tarpaulin to cover the holes. Its a difficult decision. After Remal, her neighbours are fleeing Mousuni. But Soren feels she has no choice. This is the home I grew up in, where I dreamt about my future, my marriage, my family. Others can afford to leave, but where will people like me go? she asked. We have to live with the sea. Around 4:30 pm on May 25, Pradipsinh Chauhan, who was away for work in Gujarats Anand, received a frantic call from his sister-in-law about the fire at Rajkots TRP Game Zone, some 250 kilometers away, where she had gone earlier that day with his 15-year-old son and other relatives. Chauhan tried to calm his sister-in-law down. He told her there would be some equipment around to put out the fire before losing hope when she told him that they had been left to fend for themselves. Many visitors were trapped as there was only one entry and exit point. (PTI) Nitin Jain, the gaming centre manager, fled the scene after finding it impossible to douse the flames with a small fire extinguisher. Multiple blasts soon reduced the centre to ashes. Chauhan said his brother-in-law and sister-in-law were on the third floor of the TRP Game Zone when the fire erupted. He added his brother-in-law jumped from the third floor to rescue the three children accompanying them but was trapped and killed. The sister-in-law was rescued from the third floor but Chauhans 15-year-old son Rajbha and his two cousins were charred to death. Chauhans ordeal continued for four days. On May 29, the authorities completed the process of handing over 27 out of the 28 bodies to their relatives after matching DNA samples. Authorities were yet to find claimants for one body. An Indian working in Canada, who was at the gaming zone with his fiance, and his US-based parents was among those dead. Another person managed to escape while two of his friends died at the gaming zone. The blaze broke out at the TRP Game Zone, which was functioning without a No Objection Certificate from the fire department, during some welding work. Many visitors were trapped as there was only one entry and exit point. Thousands of liters of petrol and diesel stored in the zone exacerbated the situation. Prakash Hiran, who had over 50% equity stake in the TRP Game Zone, was among those killed. He and five others were booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 337 (causing hurt), and 338 (causing grievous hurt). Over a month after former chief minister Hemant Soren was arrested on corruption charges, his wife Kaplana Soren, 39, made her first public appearance when she attended a ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morch (JMM) event on March 4. She broke down as she spoke about her husbands arrest months before the Lok Sabha polls. Hemant Soren was expected to lead the national poll campaign for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in Jharkhand. His wife was forced to take charge in his absence. She has over the last two months held over 30 election rallies, focussing on her father-in-law and JMM founder Shibu Sorens sacrifices for Jharkhands statehood. Kalpana Soren, who was involved in ticket distribution and attended INDIA bloc rallies in Mumbai, Delhi, and Ranchi, also contested an assembly by-election, triggering speculation that she could replace Champai Soren as the chief minister. Champai Soren was made the chief minister after Hemant Soren resigned minutes before he was arrested on January 31. A JMM leader said Kalpana Soren has shown potential as a leader and an orator. He added she showed she had a lot of confidence when she attended a college event in Bhubaneshwar in April last year with her husband. The leader said she spoke to the students about self-confidence. On May 22, Kalpana Soren was welcomed by the loudest cheer when she arrived on the stage to join Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for a rally in Godda. The cheer forced the Congress leader to pause her speech. Kalpana Soren apologised for the delay in her arrival from Ranchi. Priyanka Gandhi then walked up to and hugged her, calling Kalpana Soren her younger sister. A second JMM leader said there is no doubt that Kalpana Soren is in charge of the party for all practical purposes. ...whether she would also be given the chief ministership would depend on factors beyond her victory in the by-poll. The leader said Kalpana Soren will strengthen her position if JMM increases its tally of Lok Sabha seats. There could be demand from the party cadre to put her in the drivers seat in the government as well. In 2019, JMM won just one of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand. A third JMM leader said making Kalpana Soren the chief minister months before the assembly elections are due would be unwise. Giving her the charge at this point could also not go down well with supporters of the chief minister [Champai Soren]. We have seen dissent from within the Soren family. Sita Soren [Kalpanas sister-in-law] joined the BJP. The speculation that Kalpana Soren, who is from Odishas Mayurbhanj and an engineering graduate, could succeed Hemant Soren was first triggered when JMM lawmaker Sarfaraz Ahmad resigned on December 31. Ahmad was believed to have been asked to vacate the seat to allow Kalpana Soren to contest from a safe seat so that she could become the chief minister if Hemant Soren was arrested. Champai Soren was chosen as Hemant Sorens successor amid doubts about whether the by-election would be held for Ahmads Gandey seat as assembly elections were scheduled in less than a year. The ECI eventually announced the by-poll to the Gandey seat and JMM fielded Kalpana as its candidate. Even JMMs opponents concede Kalpana could help the party, especially in connecting with the women voters, who have emerged as a key vote bank. The role of women is increasing...It will increase further with the implementation of the reservation for them in the legislature. Women from the non-tribal communities could also connect with her. Additionally, being a woman, it will become difficult to target her as aggressively as we do against the male members of her family, said a Jharkhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. JMM insiders said Kalpanas role was limited to family and running a play school before Hemant Sorens arrest. They added Kalpana Soren continued to keep a low profile after her husband became the chief minister in 2019. Kalpana Soren was in the news briefly when she figured on the list of beneficiaries of plots in a newly developed industrial area near Ranchi. She surrendered the plot amid charges of favoritism and corruption. Kalpana Soren said the new role has been easier because of her background. My father was in the Army...we have lived across the country due to his postings. It exposed us to diverse cultures, which is the soul of our democracy and the Constitution. India is a bouquet of different social groups. That is the soul of the JMM and the INDIA bloc parties, she said. Relating to the secular ideology of my party represents comes naturally. I realised the love and affection our leader Guruji [Shibu Soren] and Hemant get from the masses only after I met party workers, both old-timers and the new generation, after my husbands arrest. It gave me strength, Kalpana said. Political commentator Sudhir Pal said it was too early to assess Kalpana Sorens real impact. JMMs traditional support base is among the tribal and the Muslim communities. More than Kalpana, the consolidation of this vote bank would largely be due to the sympathy factor in due to Hemant Sorens arrest. Pal said it is comforting for the JMM cadre that they have an individual who can step into the shoes of their top leaders. The flip side of Kalpana being elevated to be the partys face would give its opponents fresh ammunition to target the party over nepotism and alleged corruption. If she takes charge of the government now, Kalpana would also have to face the five-year anti-incumbency. If Prime Minister Narendra Modis Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi is the epicenter of the seventh phase of 2024 general elections, the longest-living city is also the microcosm of BJP's well-oiled, highly efficient and formidable election fighting machine. Top BJP leaders, including EAM S. Jaishankar, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, and party president J.P. Nadda, actively canvassed in Varanasi, ensuring no voter is left unattended. While only a brain-dead would give the Opposition INDI alliance candidate Ajay Rai any fighting chance in Varanasi, it is the sheer effort that the BJP leadership is putting in Poorvanchal with Kashi in particular that makes it quite evident that the party will come top in Uttar Pradesh and in the 2024 elections. I was in Varanasi for three days this week and found that public affection for PM Modi has not only increased from my earlier visits in 2014 and 2019 but the BJP leader has become an icon in the ancient city. From the boatmen like Satyaprakash, plying tourists on Ganges to the owner of Pahalwan Lassi wala near Sankat Mochan temple to paanwala, rickshawwala in Gaudhulia to taxiwala in Lanka, PM Modi is something who can do nothing wrong for either Varanasi or for the country. That does not mean that there are no takers for INDI alliance but the numbers are quiet miniscule in comparison to the Modi-supporting masses. For someone who has been visiting the city for the past two decades, Varanasi has literally transformed in front of my eyes with Kashi Vishwanath corridor, NaMo ghat, Babatpur-Kashi airport road and ring road. No longer one sees hanging electric cables, paan spit and trash all over the place despite the congestion still defining the old city. The railway stations are spic and span and the airport a distant reminder of a makeshift run-down airport before 2010. Despite PM Modi being expected to be a runaway winner in the Varanasi constituency after June 1 polls, it is the breathtaking effort made by the BJP leaders which has left no grounds for complacency in the entire Poorvanchal with Kashi at the centre. Consider this: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was sent to Varanasi to meet just 61 families of Tamil Sangh in Kedarghat so that not a single vote goes against PM Modi. He of course addressed the Benaras educationists and students as well as intellectuals at the Benaras club to drive home the message why India needs a strong Modi again. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was in the city for two days meeting traders, entrepreneurs and local businessmen to ensure that none hold any grievance against the Modi government. This apart, he was up in the morning and talking to the public exercising in city parks and conveying a message to support BJP. Party President J P Nadda is holding rallies and roadshows in the entire Poorvanchal for the past four days while making Varanasi the election war room. Women and Child Development Minister and firebrand Smriti Irani was in action on Wednesday holding election meetings and shows to muster full support of women in Varanasi. Read: Number Theory: Outliers within the constituencies in Lok Sabha elections That the BJP has left nothing to chance is evident from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and half of his Cabinet shuttling between Varanasi and Gorakhpur. Former Mumbai Police Commissioner and ex-Baghpat MP Satyapal Singh has also been pushed into the voter garnering strategy as he actively convinces his community to vote for PM Modi. But the main conductor of the show as in past 2014 and 2019 is Home Minister Amit Shah. The BJP strongman for the past week has been campaigning in Odisha, Punjab and West Bengal in the killing heat during the day and then holds meetings with key party leaders in Varanasi through the night. He then again leaves Varanasi early morning, after perhaps sleeping for two hours maximum. Shah notched up a total of 188 public outreach programmes, including rallies and roadshows, travelling 1.10 lakh km across the country since the Election Commission (EC) announced the poll schedule on March 16. On the last day of the poll campaign, Shah visited Kashi Vishwanath Temple along with his wife Sonal Shah. Home minister Amit shah with wife Sonal Shah at Kashi Vishwanath Temple. With the top BJP leadership leaving no stone unturned in the torrid heat wave in north India, the party cadre is also enthused and is out in the streets canvassing for more votes for BJPs Varanasi candidate. The word being spread around is that PM Modi should break the world record of victory margin this time when the results come out on June 4. While many armchair strategists in Delhi are debating whether the BJP will be able to secure a simple majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the top party leadership is more than comfortable about the forthcoming results with PM Modi back in power for the third time. Though no BJP leader will come on record on the result expected, yet everyone is convinced in the party that the seat numbers will be more, much more, than the last figure of 303 in 2019. A much talked about number is that BJP will get 335 seats plus/minus five with 70 out of 80 seats in UP. The party leadership believes that the seat loss due to anti-incumbency in the west will be more than made up by high numbers in the east as the BJP expects to raid the vote bank in West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana. The party is convinced that it will open accounts in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, as a result of which the BJP will be present in the length and breadth of the country for the first time. Even though there are reports in Lutyens Delhi that the BJP will shed numbers in Delhi, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, the party leaders only smile at this idea and say that June 4 will prove the naysayers wrong and out of sync with the public. Despite the orchestrated farmer movement by elements of INDI alliance particularly the Congress and another ruling party in state, the BJP is expecting to put up a good show in Punjab with the minority Hindu vote consolidating for the first time in its favour. Fact is that the ruling party in the state is quite anxious about the 2024 results from the state as the BJP is contesting Punjab alone without piggybacking on Akali Dal after several decades. The BJP is in contest currently in Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and possibly Amritsar. It is quite evident that the BJP may add a couple of seats in Punjab as well as retain Chandigarh. Indians are the largest users of Facebook, Instagram and YouTube across the world. Mining the metadata from these social media sites indicates the heightened sense of national pride and the trust that Indians bestow on PM Modi. The cohesion this accords is essential to nation-building and Modis dream of Viksit Bharat. The 2024 elections are crystallized on whether you are voting for PM Modi or not voting for him. There is no space for Opposition. The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday joined 30 other non-governmental organizations in urging member and observer states of the United Nations Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. The special rapporteur reports on and assesses the human rights situation in Eritrea, and the council extended their mandate for a year in a July 2023 resolution. In their letter, the non-governmental organizations say Eritrea's human rights record remains poor, citing the arbitrary and incommunicado detention of journalists, severe restrictions on the media, enforced disappearances, and past findings that crimes against humanity may have been committed in the country since 1991, when the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, a secessionist movement that later became the country's ruling party, took effective control of Eritrea from Ethiopia. The organizations also note that Eritrea continues to defy repeated calls by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, a continental quasi-judicial body tasked with ensuring protection of human rights, to release or accord fair trial to journalists detained for over two decades. With 16 members of the press behind bars, Eritrea is sub-Saharan Africa's worst jailer of journalists, according to CPJ's latest annual prison census. Read or download the letter in English and French below: Civil society letter on Eritrea - May 2024Download Civil society letter on Eritrea (French)Download NEW DELHI: India on Thursday expressed deep concern at the heartbreaking loss of lives in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah earlier this week and reiterated its call for the protection of the civilian population and resumption of efforts aimed at a two-state solution. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) (AP) The world community, which has been concerned by Israels threats to launch a full-scale land invasion of Rafah, has warned that such an attack would amount to crossing a red line. Earlier this month, Israel intensified air strikes on Rafah and 45 people, most of them women, children and the elderly, were killed when an attack on May 26 hit a camp for the displaced. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing that India has always called for respect for international law in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The heartbreaking loss of civilian lives in the displacement camp in Rafah is a matter of deep concern. We have consistently called for protection of civilian population and respect for international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict, he said in response to a question. The Indian side has noted that Israel has already accepted responsibility for it as a tragic accident and announced an investigation into the incident, Jaiswal said. Responding to another question on New Delhis position regarding the recent recognition of the Palestinian state by Ireland, Norway and Spain, Jaiswal said that India was one of the first countries to recognise the state of Palestine in the late 1980s. India has also long supported a two-state solution which entails the establishment of a sovereign, viable and independent state of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace, he said. On Thursday, Israeli tanks entered the city centre of Rafah and the army announced that it was in control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land running along Egypts border with the Rafah governorate in the Gaza Strip. The move by Israel amounts to a violation of a treaty with Egypt which states that the Philadelphi Corridor or the Salah al-Din Axis, is a buffer zone that is overseen by Cairo. Concerns have grown over Israels recent actions in Rafah as they have crossed red lines set by Western powers. In February, all members of the European Union (EU), barring Hungary, warned Israel against a full-scale operation in Rafah. The following month, US President Joe Biden said a major invasion of Rafah would violate his red line. However, the White House has said the US doesnt believe Israels current actions in Rafah amount to a major ground operation that would cross Bidens red line and trigger a change in American policy. There has been a near-record jump in the mercury across northern and western parts of India. Several states are reeling from an intense heat wave, and temperatures in a few parts have breached 50 degrees Celsius. Air coolers for sale at a store during high temperatures in New Delhi, India, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Prakash Singh/Bloomberg) Heat wave swelters North, West India Severe heat wave conditions swept across several states in India, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and East Madhya Pradesh. Isolated areas in Odisha and Jharkhand experienced high temperatures. Heat wave conditions persisted in parts of Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, and Himachal Pradesh, with some pockets in West Madhya Pradesh also affected. ALSO READ- Monsoon arrives in Kerala, most parts of northeast List of the hottest places in India: 1. Churu, Rajasthan: 50.5 degrees Celsius 2. Sirsa, Haryana: 50.3 degrees Celsius 3. Mungeshpur, Delhi: 49.9 degrees Celsius 4. Narela, Delhi: 49.9 degrees Celsius 5. Najafgarh, Delhi: 49.8 degrees Celsius 6. Sirsa, Haryana: 49.5 degrees Celsius 7. Ganganagar, Rajasthan: 49.4 degrees Celsius 8. Pilani, Rajasthan: 49 degrees Celsius 9. Phalodi, Rajasthan: 49 degrees Celsius 10. Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh: 49 degrees Celsius ALSO READ- Monsoon above normal but hot, humid June ahead: IMD Monsoon hits Kerala The Southwest Monsoon has arrived in Kerala and spread to most parts of the Northeast on Wednesday. Heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy falls, was seen in isolated areas of Meghalaya. Additionally, heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred in isolated spots in Kerala & Mahe, Assam, while heavy rainfall was observed in Lakshadweep, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, Manipur. ALSO READ- How IMD tracks Delhi's temperature? What led to the 52.9C anomaly? | Explained Heat wave forecasts: Relief soon, says IMD The India Meteorological Department forecasts a gradual reduction in the prevailing heat wave conditions, beginning Thursday. Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions are expected to diminish gradually over Northwest & Central India from Thursday. While heat wave conditions very likely in isolated pockets of Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Uttarakhand till May 31, the weather monitoring agency said. Gradual fall in maximum temperatures by 2-4C very likely over Northwest & Central India during next 5 days, IMD said. An automatic weather station in Delhi's Mungeshpur recorded a scorching 52.9 degrees Celsius (C) on Wednesday, breaking India's previous highest temperature record of 51C in Rajasthan in 2016. This unexpected spike has left weather officials at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) puzzled, prompting an investigation into possible sensor errors. Delhi's temperature: A view of Automatic Weather Station in Mungeshpur Village during extreme hot weather conditions in New Delhi, India, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times)(Hindustan Times) What are Automatic Weather Stations and how do they measure temperatures? Since its establishment in 1875, the IMD has been recording weather parameters like air temperature, humidity, pressure, rainfall, and wind speed and direction at conventional observatories. Currently, IMD operates over 550 surface observatories for weather forecasting, but this manual network is insufficient for continuous monitoring of weather systems like cyclones and monsoons. ALSO READ- Monsoon to hit Kerala, parts of northeast India in 24 hours: IMD To improve this, IMD has expanded its network with Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) to reduce human intervention. Since the summer of 2022, IMD has installed AWS at 15 new locations across Delhi and NCR, enhancing weather monitoring alongside existing manual stations. AWS measures ambient air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and wind direction hourly. These stations automatically observe and transmit weather data, reported in Indian Standard Time (IST) on a 24-hour clock. Ambient air temperature is measured in degrees Celsius using an electrical resistance thermometer. On May 29, the maximum temperatures recorded by departmental observatories, that are manual, and 15 AWS in Delhi ranged from 45.2C to 49.1C, with Mungeshpur reporting an outlier of 52.9C. This discrepancy may be due to a sensor error or local factors, and the IMD is currently examining the data and sensors, IMD said in a statement. ALSO READ- 'Delhi's 52.9C temperature could be due to error': IMD says it will examine data Which measuring stations' data should be considered final? Temperature variations within urban areas are influenced by local factors such as proximity to water bodies, barren land, concrete, dense urban clusters, and green areas. The five major stations (Safdarjung, Palam, Ayanagar, Ridge, and Lodi Road) have been regularly reporting observations for an extended period. These stations, known as climate stations, provide long-term data that meets all exposure conditions. Data from these five stations should be used to identify trends and extremes, IMD says. On Wednesday, at the Safdarjung observatory, the maximum temperature recorded was 46.8C, and the minimum temperature recorded was 29.4C. ALSO READ- Delhi-NCR gets rain respite Heat wave conditions in Delhi are expected to diminish over the next 2-3 days. This change is due to a gradual decrease in temperature brought about by an approaching western disturbance, rainfall and thunderstorms, and southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea to northwest India. NEW DELHI: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, 91, on Thursday sharply criticised PM Narendra Modi, 73, for his election campaign pitch, accusing him of indulging in the most vicious form of hate speeches and describing him as the first prime minister to lower the dignity of public discourse. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the nations economy has witnessed unimaginable turmoil in the past 10 years (Amal KS/HT PHOTO) In his appeal to the people of Punjab who are due to vote on June 1, Singh said this was one final chance to ensure that democracy and Constitution are protected from the repeated assaults of a despotic regime trying to unleash dictatorship in India. No prime minister in the past has uttered such hateful, unparliamentary and coarse terms, meant to target either a specific section of the society or the opposition. He has also attributed some false statements to me. I have never in my life singled out one community from the other. That is the sole copyright of the BJP, Singh, who retired from the Rajya Sabha in March, said in a three-page open letter. Also Read: PM Modi mentioned mandir 421 times in poll speeches, Modi 758 times: Congress Singh, who was the prime minister of a Congress-led coalition for a decade until 2014, asserted that only the Congress could ensure a growth-oriented progressive future where democracy and the Constitution will be safeguarded. He said that though PM Modi promised a doubling of the farmers income by 2022, his governments policies in the last ten years have eroded the earnings of the farmers. The national average monthly income of farmers is a meagre Rs. 27 rupees per day, while average debt per farmer is Rs. 27,000 (NSSO). The high cost of input, including fuel and fertilizers, coupled with GST on at least 35 farm-related equipment and whimsical decision-making in farm export and import, has destroyed the savings of our farm households and left them on the margins of our society, he said. The senior Congress leader also hit out at the BJP government for imposing an ill-conceived Agniveer scheme on the armed forces. The BJP thinks that the value of patriotism, bravery and service is only four years. This shows their fake nationalism, he said in a letter to voters of Punjab. The only Lok Sabha constituency of Odisha that did not fall to the massive sympathy wave for Rajiv Gandhi in 1984 election, coastal Kendrapara has always been an important seat for anti-Congress politics in the state. Having sent former chief minister Biju Patnaik to Lok Sabha in 1984 -- the only Janata Party candidate to win from Odisha that year -- the constituency has since remained a bastion of the larger Janata Parivar, from the Janata Party to the Biju Janata Dal. In Odisha, BJP tries to make inroads in BJD stronghold Four decades on, the Bharatiya Janata Party is making a spirited effort to breach the bastion with its national vice-president Baijayant Panda -- he represented the constituency in 2009 and 2014, when he was with the BJD -- making a play for the all-important seat that goes to polls on June 1. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a letter on X addressed to Panda hailing his contribution in advancing the cause of socio-economic inclusion within Odisha and throughout the country. For more than two decades, you have been working selflessly for the people of Kendrapara. Your advocacy against malnutrition in Indias villages raises awareness and lays the foundation for progressive change that will benefit future generations. Carrying forward the legacy of your family, you have been relentlessly working for the people, progress, and prosperity of Odisha, Modi wrote, wishing Panda victory in the Lok Sabha polls. The suave Panda resigned from BJD in 2019 after falling out with Naveen Patnaik and contested as the BJP candidate against Odia filmstar Anubhav Mohanty. Panda lost to the filmstar, who incidentally joined the BJP last month. Over that last four years, Mohanty was more in the news for his marital battle with his former wife and filmstar Varsha Priyadarshini, who is now the BJD candidate from Badachana assembly constituency. Panda is up against BJDs Ansuman Mohanty, the son of veteran politician, the late Nalinikanta Mohanty, who was expelled from thethe party in 2000 by CM Naveen Patnaik . Kendrapara will be a tough contest for Panda this time too, according to Jagabandhu Biswal, a businessman in Mahakalpada and a professed supporter of BJP. The main reason for this, he adds, is BJDs organisational network compared to BJP. The fact that election to the state assembly is happening alongside is a disadvantage, he believes. BJPs candidates in most of the assembly segments are weaker making it difficult for Panda. But as I see it the fight is between the popularity of Prime Minister Modi and the legacy of Biju Patnaik which has been handed over to BJD. Kendrapara is a largely agrarian constituency where underdevelopment is a running theme. It was the only coastal district without a railway network till March this year when the first passenger train on Paradip-Haridaspur railway line started running. It is also the unofficial plumbing capital of India with plumbers from the area migrating to various cities in the country as well as places like Dubai and Oman to work. There are several ITIs where young people are trained as plumbers. Muslims who constitute around 6 % of the 1.8 million voters in the constituency are with the BJD with many of them saying that despite his advancing age, Naveen Patnaik has been good for them. Naveen babu takes good care of poor people like us through schemes such as Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, said Sk Jabbir, who runs a small tailor shop in Kendrapara town, referring to a health insurance scheme. But there are also those longing for change -- Maheswar Parida, who works as a plumber in Bengaluru and has come back home for voting said he would prefer BJP in Lok Sabha polls as well as the assembly polls. Thats a recurring theme among young people Manoranjan Patra, an engineering graduate said tackling unemployment has been Patnaiks biggest failure. He could have done so much. But he did not think about setting up more industries in our district. Had he been forward looking like Modi we would have had many employment opportunities. Indeed, even those who think Patnaik has done alright by the state, say theyd vote for the BJP in the Lok Sabha segment. I see no reason why Naveen Patnaik should not continue as he has been doing fine. But in Delhi, Modi is doing a good job and I would vote for BJP, said Maheshwars friend Jaykishore Sahoo is one such. Kendrapadas backwardness makes it a happy hunting ground for the BJP. Many villages of Kendrapara lack development, with water shortage being a major issue.Mohantys record as parliamentarian also appears to have hurt it. A local BJD leader admits as much: Though we won the Lok Sabha poll from Kendrapara in 2019, the MP hardly came here. Besides, BJP is running a campaign that if Baijayant Panda is elected he may become a minister in the Modi government. That will surely help the BJP. Unwilling to lose Kendrapara, which he sees as political capital of the state, chief minister Naveen Patnaik has launched a scathing attack on Baijayant Panda, accusing him of betraying his people and working for the growth of his own business. I made someone the MP from Kendrapada for 10 years. However, he worked only for his own prosperity and the profit of his company without doing anything for the people. The people of Kendrapada gave him the responsibility of the area for10 years. He did nothing for the constituency and worked for himself. He betrayed me as well as the people of Kendrapada, said Patnaik, referring to Panda. Panda hit back saying Patnaik was making false and baseless allegations. I joined politics to serve the people and no tfor property. The chief minister should rather list the properties amassed by five Tamils who are ruling the state. I dont blame the chief minister because whatever the Tamil Babu is prompting him by holding the microphone before him, he is saying those things, said Panda at an election rally in Patkur, referring to V Kartikeyan Pandian (or Kartik Pandian), a former IAS officer and private secretary to Patnaik who is now a BJP leader. Pandian has been repeatedly targeted by the BJP, which accuses him of effectively running the state, even as Patnaiks health has deteriorated. On Wednesday, Modi himself referred to this at a meeting, saying that as a well-wisher of Patnaik he was worried that there was a conspiracy against the popular chief ministers failing health. NEW DELHI: India on Thursday dismissed a Maldivian ministers claim that New Delhi proposed a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries but said that it would be open to considering such a trade deal. Mohamed Saeed (right) statement came against the backdrop of strained ties between India and the Maldives ever since President Mohamed Muizzu (left) came to power in Male last year (X/em_saeed) Mohamed Saeed, the economic development and trade minister of the Maldives, told a news conference in Male on May 25 that India wanted to ink a free trade agreement with the Indian Ocean archipelago. This, Saeed said, would be in addition to the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA). The development came against the backdrop of strained ties between India and the Maldives ever since President Mohamed Muizzu came to power in Male last year and took a range of steps to move his country closer to China. Following a demand by Muizzu, India recently pulled out some 85 military personnel stationed in the Maldives to operate two helicopters and an aircraft and replaced them with civilian experts. When external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about the Maldivian trade ministers claim regarding the trade deal at a regular media briefing, he replied: No specific proposal for a bilateral FTA with the Maldives has been made by the Government of India. If the Maldivian government expresses interest in having an FTA with India, we will give it due consideration, Jaiswal said. People familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity that the Maldivian side had raised the issue of an FTA with India because it was preparing to operationalise a trade deal signed with China in December 2017. The trade deal with Beijing was signed during the term of Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen, who too had sought to take his country closer to China. However, Yameens successor, Ibrahim Solih, whose government adopted an India First policy, blocked the implementation of the FTA with China. Following the election of Muizzu, Male again initiated steps to implement the trade deal. During Maldivian foreign minister Moosa Zameers visit to India earlier this month, external affairs minister S Jaishankar told him that mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity should form the basis of bilateral ties. One of the people cited above said: It was conveyed to the Maldivian side that irrespective of their stance towards other countries, they should be very clear about how they intend to handle their ties with India. The Maldivian side was also informed that constant criticism of India and its leadership would not be conducive to the forging of better relations, the people said. NEW DELHI: India on Thursday responded to former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharifs contention that Islamabad violated the Lahore Declaration of 1999, saying that a perspective based on reality is emerging on the Pakistani side. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was re-elected president of Pakistan's ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N party in 2017, when he was forced out of office while facing corruption allegations. (AP FILE PHOTO) Soon after Sharif was re-elected as president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party in Lahore on Tuesday, he told a gathering that Islamabad violated the peace agreement signed by him and former Indian premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This wasnt the first time that Sharif made such an assertion, but his comments were significant as they came amid general elections in India. When external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about Sharifs remarks at a regular media briefing, he replied: You are aware of our position on the issue. We note that even in Pakistan, a perspective based on reality is coming to the fore. The Indian side has consistently blamed Pakistan for the failure of the Lahore Declaration by triggering the Kargil border conflict of 1999. Jaiswal didnt go into details but his comments were a reference to the conflict triggered by Pakistan when its troops made incursions across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and occupied strategic heights in the Kargil sector in 1999. Sharif, who was prime minister at the time, has long insisted that he wasnt aware of the incursions ordered by the then Pakistan Army chief, Gen Pervez Musharraf. Sharif has also said in the past that he learnt about the Pakistani militarys adventurism in Kargil through a phone call from Vajpayee. The two countries fought a bitter conflict that saw the Pakistani troops being evicted from most of the heights they had occupied by Indias army and air force. Following his re-election as the PML-N president after a gap of almost seven years, Sharif told the rally that the two countries signed an agreement when Vajpayee visited Lahore in February 1999. It is another matter that we violated the agreement, we are at fault for that, Sharif said, speaking in Urdu. He was referring to the Lahore Declaration, which outlined a vision of peace and stability between India and Pakistan and committed the two sides to intensify efforts to resolve all issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, and refrain from intervention and interference in each others internal affairs. Sharif, whose brother Shehbaz Sharif is the current prime minister of Pakistan, also recalled that former US president Bill Clinton offered Islamabad aid worth $5 billion so that it wouldnt go ahead with nuclear tests in 1998, but he turned this down. An Indian woman and her minor son were handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Attari-Wagah border crossing after they completed a jail term of over one year for illegally entering Pakistan. Pakistan on Wednesday repatriated four Indian prisoners through the Attari-Wagah border. (HT File/ Representational image) Wahida Begum and her minor son Faiz Khan, both victims of human trafficking, were arrested while crossing from Afghanistan into Pakistan via the Chaman border, reported PTI quoting Pakistani officials. Wahida, a resident of Nagaon district in Assam, told authorities that after her husband's death in 2022, she sought to move to Canada with her son. She reportedly sold her property and entrusted a substantial amount of money to an Indian travel agent who promised to facilitate their relocation. "After the death of my husband in 2022, I decided to take my son to Canada. For this purpose, I sold my property and paid a hefty sum of money to an Indian agent," she said in her statement to police in Pakistan," she said in her statement to police in Pakistan. Read: Pakistans judiciary: Pause, reflect, reform Their journey took them to Dubai and then Afghanistan, where the agent absconded with their money and passports, leaving them stranded. "However, in Afghanistan, he took all of my money and our passports and managed to flee," she said. In an attempt to return to India, Wahida and Faiz crossed into Pakistan, where they were detained under the Foreigners Act. "Later we were provided consular access and the process of verifying our citizenship took several months," she said, adding that her Pakistani lawyer informed her mother back in India about their ordeal. Read: Nawaz Sharif admits Pakistan violated peace agreement with India in 1999 Subsequently, Wahida's family contacted the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and the Indian High Commission in Islamabad seeking their help for their safe return. The Indian High Commission officials reportedly took up her case with the interior ministry in Islamabad. Their repatriation was finally secured, and on Wednesday, Wahida and her son were handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Wagah border. Besides them, two other Indian citizens -- Shabir Ahmed and Suraj Pal --- were also handed over to the BSF on Wednesday. Ahmed was released from Karachi's Malir Jail while Pal was set free from Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail after completing their sentences. With PTI inputs Three army lieutenant colonels and 13 others have been booked in a case of attempt to murder and dacoity over their alleged involvement in an attack on the Kupwara police station, PTI reported on Thursday. A video of the incident shows a group of armed and uniformed personnel from the 160 Territorial Army storming the police station.(File photo for representation) The incident, which took place on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, is said to have been triggered by the questioning of a Territorial Army jawan by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. He was being questioned in an alleged drug case. The Territorial Army is a military reserve force composed of part-time volunteers who provide support services to the Indian Army. A video of the incident shows a group of armed and uniformed personnel from the 160 Territorial Army storming the police station. Also Read | Three injured in suspected mortar shell blast in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba According to the First Information Report (FIR), the group was led by lieutenant colonels Ankit Sood, Rajiv Chauhan and Nikhil. The FIR says that the group forcibly entered the premises of the police station and brutally assaulted the police personnel present there, using rifle butts and sticks. The situation escalated further as the army personnel brandished their weapons, and seized mobile phones from the injured police officers and even abducted a police constable before fleeing the scene, the FIR added. According to PTI, the police constable was rescued after the intervention of senior police officers. The FIR has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 307 (attempt to murder), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 147 (punishment for rioting). The accused also face charges under sections 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 392 (punishment for robbery), 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person). They have also been booked under the Arms Act, according to the FIR. Unidentified officials told PTI that the investigation into the incident is being led by the Kupwara deputy superintendent of police. Meanwhile, a Srinagar-based defence spokesperson sought to downplay the incident, saying that the reports of an altercation between police and army personnel are "misfounded and incorrect". "Minor differences between the police personnel and a Territorial Army unit on an operational matter have been amicably resolved," the spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday, reported PTI. (Inputs from PTI) Voters display identity cards while standing in queue to cast their votes at a polling booth for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 25. Lok Sabha Election 2024: The final phase of the general elections is set for Saturday, June 1, marking the conclusion of six out of seven phases conducted thus far. The campaigning for Phase 7 of the Lok Sabha election concludes two days before the voting day, as citizens across 57 Lok Sabha constituencies in eight states and union territories prepared to cast their ballots....Read More On June 1, elections are scheduled in constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Chandigarh. Following Election Commission guidelines, polling will begin at 7 am and conclude at 6 pm for all seats. The Election Commission of India released voter turnout statistics for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections, indicating a turnout of 63.37 per cent across 58 seats in eight states and Union Territories. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4. Latest election highlights - Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari from May 30 to June 1, where he will visit the renowned Vivekananda Rock Memorial. After wrapping up his Lok Sabha election campaign, PM Modi plans to meditate at the Dhyan Mandapam, the same spot where Swami Vivekananda once meditated, from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1. - Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his continuous campaign rallies across the nation, alleging that he never visited violence-stricken Manipur even once. Kharge accused the prime minister of extensively touring domestically and abroad while ignoring the unrest in Manipur. - Congress leader Jairam Ramesh distanced the party from former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar's comments on Chinese aggression in 1962, stating that Aiyar's remarks were made in his "personal capacity." Aiyar's statement, made during an event on Tuesday, sparked controversy when he mentioned the alleged Chinese invasion of India in October 1962. - Ahead of the final voting phase, Union Home Minister Amit Shah remarked that two factions have emerged in the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He urged the public to decide which should govern the nation. On May 15, 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo's media regulator, the Superior Audiovisual and Communications Council, known by its French acronym CSAC, ordered the privately owned Bosolo TV station to suspend its "Bosolo Na Politik Officielle" program for a month, according to a CSAC video statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, and media reports. According to CSAC's statement, the program was suspended in connection with critical comments made by host Israel Mutombo, the director of Bosolo TV, during a May 14 broadcast in which he urged Congolese politician Christophe Mboso N'kodia, 83, to retire from holding office due to his age. CPJ also reviewed the broadcast. Bosolo Na Politik Officielle, which regularly hosts discussions of local political affairs, halted broadcasting following the suspension order, according to CPJ's review of the station. CSAC barred other media outlets in the country from broadcasting the program and summoned Mutombo to CSAC headquarters to explain his commentary at an unspecified date, according to the journalist. In its statement, the CSAC said Mutombo's comments amounted to a counter-campaign to undermine Mboso's electoral campaign run for his current position as second deputy speaker in DRC's National Assembly. The election was held May 22. The CSAC added that the program had violated its directives on electoral campaigns and article 113 of the 2023 press code, which relates to journalists' infringement on the "rights of others and good morals and has caused harm." The regulator also said it had received multiple complaints against Mutombo after a video of the program went viral on social media. If criminally charged, Mutombo could face one to five years in prison. CPJ contacted Mboso via phone for comment but did not receive an answer. A 23-year-old man in Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh hacked eight members of his family, including three children, to death with an axe, and then died by suicide on Tuesday night, police officers aware of the matter said. He also assaulted a 10-year-old nephew, who escaped with injuries and is being treated at a hospital in Nagpur. Senior police officials at the scene of the incident in the tribal village of Bodal Kachhar, Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday. (PTI) The man was married eight days before the ghastly attack, and had a history of mental illness, police said. The police team that arrived at the house where the family was killed found no evidence of a scuffle, and preliminary investigations suggested that seven of the eight people dead were attacked as they were sleeping in an open courtyard. There is little evidence that there was any attempt to save themselves. Prima facie, it seems that the accused first attacked his 23-year-old wife with the axe on the neck in the room they were in. He then emerged into the open space where the rest of the family was sleeping, and attacked his mother, brother, sister-in-law, sister. He also attacked his 5-year-old nephew, and two nieces, aged 4 and 1. All of them were hit in the neck, Ravindra Pawar, Mahuljhir town inspector said. Officers added that once he had killed everyone in his house, he walked 50 metres away to his uncles home, and attacked his 10-year-old nephew. On this occasion however, the child woke up during the attack and cried for help. He ran away from the spot, Pawar said. Early in the morning, the 23-year-old was found hanging from an Amla tree, 150m away from the murder spot. One investigator said that the bodies of the victims were sent for a post-mortem examination, and they were looking at whether the family was administered a substance to render them unconscious before the attack. We are exploring this to understand how he could kill everyone so brutally without any resistance, the officer said. Chhindwara inspector general of police Anil Kushwaha said that the 23-year-old had a history of mental illness, and was carrying around the axe in the village for the past three to four days. He was married on May 21, and had roamed with the axe for the past three to four days, but in that time, hadnt attacked anyone, which is why no alarm was raised. The uncles family has informed us that even a year ago, he had undergone some treatment for mental illness which his brother was taking care of. Only his brother knew the details of the treatment. We have seized some documents from the spot and are investigating further, Kushwaha said. The father-in-law of the accused, however, said that when his daughter married him on May 21, they were no signs of anything untoward. Everything was fine. He may have been on medication a year ago but he was now healthy, and worked as a labourer in Narsinghpur. The incident must be investigated thoroughly because the sequence of events raises grave doubt, he said. The 23-year-olds family owns three acres of land, which was largely unirrigated and barren for most of the year, with the adults in the family all Below Poverty Line(BPL) card holders, he said. The Madhya Pradesh Congress called for a detailed investigation and said that the crime could have been born out of poverty and unemployment. State president Jitu Patwari said, It is easy to brand someone mentally ill but people in these areas are facing hardship due to poverty and unemployment. The reason behind this extreme step needs to be probed thoroughly. Madhya Pradesh chief minister, however, hit out at the Congress for politicising a tragedy, and said that he had sent cabinet minister Sampatiya Uikey to the spot. The Congress should not politicise everything like this. I dont understand why the young man got married when he was mentally unwell. I appeal to society that in the process of making a new family, do not destroy the old family, Yadav said. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using hateful, unparliamentary terms to target either a specific section of society or opposition. Prime Minister Narendra Modia and former PM Manmohan Singh In a letter to Punjab's voters ahead of the seventh-phase of the Lok Sabha polls on June 1, Singh appealed to voters that they have one final chance to ensure that democracy and our Constitution are protected from the repeated assaults of a despotic regime, trying to unleash dictatorship in India. Manmohan Singh said PM Modi "indulged" in the most vicious form of hate speeches. He said PM Modi lowered the dignity of public discourse. ALSO READ- Ex-PM Manmohan Singh retires from Rajya Sabha after 33 years I have been keenly following the political discourse during this election campaign. Modi ji has indulged in the most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive in nature. Modi ji is the first prime minister to lower the dignity of public discourse, and thereby the gravity of the office of the prime minister, Singh said. "No prime minister in the past has uttered such hateful, unparliamentary and coarse terms, meant to target either a specific section of the society or the opposition. He has also attributed some false statements to me. I have never in my life singled out one community from the other. That is the sole copyright of the BJP," the senior Congress leader said. PM Modi had accused Singh of saying that Muslims have the first right on the country's resources. ALSO READ- Narendra Modi points to another video of Manmohan Singh speaking on Muslims: I challenge all of them The former prime minister also criticised the BJP for imposing the Agniveer Scheme on the armed forces, labeling it as ill-conceived. He accused the BJP of undermining patriotism, bravery, and service by limiting their value to just four years, highlighting what he called fake nationalism. ALSO READ- PM Modi's 45-hour meditation at Vivekananda Rock: No entry to beach for visitors "Those who trained for regular recruitment were woefully betrayed by the outgoing regime. The youth of Punjab, the son of the farmer, who dreams of serving the motherland through the Armed Forces, is now thinking twice about getting recruited only for a 4-year stint. Agniveer Scheme endangers National Security. The Congress party has therefore promised to abolish the Agniveer Scheme," he added. The 2024 elections have cast a shadow on the friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a public meeting in Kendrapara, Odisha on Wednesday. (BJP Photo) Speaking at a rally in Odisha on Wednesday, the Prime Minister raised questions on Patnaiks failing health and claimed there is a conspiracy behind it. PM Modi said there is a need for a detailed probe to uncover the mystery and the sudden deterioration in the CMs health. He further said that people are worried about his health, which has declined in the past one year and people close to the CM have often discussed his health concerns with him. Patnaik, known for his brevity, said the prime minister, instead of forming a committee to investigate his health, should focus on the development and fiscal needs of Odisha. In a firm but measured response, the Odisha CM asserted that he is in good health and if the prime minister was indeed concerned about him, all he had to do was to ring him and ask. The Biju Janata Dal chief blamed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders grom Odisha for spreading rumours about his health. Patnaik, who is getting flak for promoting his aide and former bureaucrat VK Pandian, also took a dig at the BJPs insinuation that he does not campaign. While answering questions posed by the media, he quipped that the press contingent would have to excuse him since he was on his way to canvass in Nimapara. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Controversy seems to be tailing the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India and lawmaker from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh. After he was accused of sexual harassment by female wrestlers and this inglorious exit from the federation, Singh, a six-time lawmaker was not given a ticket to contest. Given his clout in the area, the party agreed to give his son Karan Bhushan Singh a ticket from Kaiserganj for this years Lok Sabha elections. But on Wednesday, the son was in the news for the wrong reasons. Two young men were killed, and a woman was injured when a car, which was part of Bhushans convoy, rammed into a motorcycle. A section of leaders in the party feels that Singh, who has cultivated an image of a Bahubali (muscleman), should have been kept at a distance. They did not even support the decision to field his son from Kaiserganj. New Delhi: Beyond the staple campaign around roti-kapda-makaan that underlines the basic necessities for millions of Indians, warring political parties try to blend fresh ideas and solutions to new issues in their pitch for every election. If we look at the manifestoes of the parties, the leaders have shifted from the traditional approach to manifestoes to a set of guarantees. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File Photo) The Congress party came up with 25 guarantees, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), banking on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced Modi ki guarantees. Regional parties such as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) or the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) too, had announced their respective guarantees for the voters. The campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha election is coming to an end on Thursday and the last or the seventh phase of polling is due on June 1. From guarantees to the Constitution, and now with the latest debate on Mahatma Gandhi, the campaign for the biggest election in the world has come full circle. Row after PM links Mahatma Gandhis legacy to film No one knew of Mahatma Gandhi globally before a film on the father of the nation was made, PM Modi said in a possible reference to a 1982 British biopic by Richard Attenborough, sparking a political controversy. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/row-after-modi-links-gandhi-legacy-to-film-101717006316023.html Mahatma Gandhi was a noble soul of the world. Was it not our responsibility that in these 75 years, people in the world know about Gandhi? No one knew about Gandhi. When the Gandhi film was made, for the first time there was curiosity in the world about him, he told ABP news. As usual, Modis comments kicked up a political row. People whose world views are shaped up in shakhas (RSS branches), will not be able to understand Gandhi ji. They can understand (Nathuram) Godse and adopt the path shown by Godse. Gandhi ji was an inspiration for the entire world. Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein they all got inspired by Gandhi, Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi said in a short video shot in front of the Dandi march statue at Mother Teresa Crescent. Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge too, attacked Modi, saying, Those whose ideological ancestors were involved in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi along with Nathuram Godse, can never follow the path of truth given by Bapu. Now the lie is going to pick up its bag and go away, he said in a post on X. Godse, a right-wing activist, shot Gandhi dead on January 30, 1948. Modis meditation: Congress moves EC As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to embark on a 45-hour meditation on Vivekananda Rock Memorial starting on Thursday with the conclusion of the campaigning for the last phase of the election, arrangements are being put in place for the major event. Around 2,000 police personnel and security agencies will be posted to maintain a tight vigil as PM Modi meditates. Starting from May 30 evening he will meditate to the evening of June 1. The place has been chosen because Swami Vivekananda was believed to have received his divine vision there. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modis-kanyakumari-retreat-violates-model-code-congress-moves-election-commission-101716987652087.html But Congress raised objections to Modis meditation plan. We told the Election Commission that during the silence period of 48 hours, no one should be allowed to campaign, directly or indirectly, senior Congress leader told Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters after meeting Election Commission officials at the poll bodys office in Delhi. Singhvi, however, clarified that the grand old party is not against whatever any leader may do. The PMs meditation, on the other hand, will be a violation of the Model Code as the silence period would be from 7am on May 30 till June 1, he added. The retreat is a tactic by the Prime Minister to either keep campaigning or to keep himself in the headlines, Singhvi remarked. We have asked the Election Commission that the PM should postpone his maun vrat (vow of silence) by 24-48 hours to the evening of June 1. But if he insists on beginning this tomorrow, the media should be directed not to telecast it, the senior Supreme Court advocate stated. Its Mamata vs Modi in Abhishek Banerjees battleground Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the latter used money-power to become a leader, hours after Modi warned of a political upheaval in the country in the next six months in which he said political parties, which thrive on dynasty-politics, would disintegrate. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ls-polls-mamata-slams-modi-as-battle-for-diamond-harbor-reaches-its-final-stage-101716993648640.html A national leader should be secular and humane. But Modi became a leader by fluke using money-power. After becoming a leader, he has become arrogant. I have never seen a liar like him. It is not possible for such a liar to run a country. Such a liar cant even run a family, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said while addressing an election rally from Metiabruz in the southwestern fringes of Kolkata. LGs letter on heatwave to defame Delhi govt: AAP minister Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday accused Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of trying to defame the state government by saying that it did not do anything for the prevailing heatwave conditions in the city. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lg-letter-on-heatwave-meant-to-defame-not-help-delhi-govt-minister-saurabh-bharadwaj-101716996622092.html According to a letter to Delhi chief secretary Naresh Kumar, Saxena observed that despite the unusual severity of the heatwave, no instructions had been issued by the state government to protect labourers and accused chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet of lacking sensitivity and seriousness. Responding to the letter, Bharadwaj wrote to the LG alleging he gave misleading information. He alleged that the objective behind the LGs letter was not to give suggestions to combat the heatwave but to humiliate the state government and portray it in a negative light. Addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj said, On May 27, when half of the summer season has passed a letter from the LG office was written to the Chief Secretary taking a sarcastic dig stating that the Delhi government did not do anything for the heatwave condition. Prajwal Revanna books Bengaluru flight, police on alert Police are prepared to arrest suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing sexual abuse charges, upon his arrival at Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport, acting on an arrest warrant issued earlier this month. Prajwal has booked a flight to Bengaluru from Munich on May 30 and is expected to land in the early hours of Friday. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/police-on-alert-to-arrest-prajwal-revanna-as-hassan-mp-books-bengaluru-flight-101717001464804.html He has booked a flight from Munich to Bengaluru by Lufthansa Airlines. The flight will leave Munich on Thursday afternoon and land in Bengaluru at 12.05 am on Friday, PTI quoted an official as saying. Karnataka home minister G. Parameshwara confirmed on Wednesday that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is vigilant and ready to arrest the tainted JD(S) MP. All necessary measures have to be taken, as a warrant has been issued against him (Prajwal). He has to be arrested. SIT is waiting. They will arrest him and will take his statement, and their (SIT) process will start, Parameshwara told reporters. Asked if Prajwal would be arrested at the airport on landing, he said, It (arrest) has to be done there (at the airport), as a warrant has been issued. So he will have to be arrested. Monsoon, the lifeblood of Indias economy, arrived in Kerala two days ahead of its normal date simultaneously with most parts of northeast India on Thursday with the India Metrological Department (IMD) saying all onset criteria were met in the southern state over the last two days. The monsoon last year arrived in Kerala seven days after it normally does. June 1 is the normal date for monsoon onset in Kerala. (PTI) The monsoon onset in Kerala is declared on the second day if at least 60% of 14 stations Minicoy, Amini, Thiruvananthapuram, Punalur, Kollam, Allapuzha, Kottayam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur, Kudulu and Mangalore report rainfall of 2.5mm or more for two consecutive days after May 10 provided the wind pattern is south-westerly and Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) is low. OLR is the total radiation going to space emitted by the atmosphere or the extent of cloudiness. June 1 is the normal date for monsoon onset in Kerala. The monsoon later advances northwards, usually in surges, and covers the entire country around July 15. Monsoon normally advances over northeast India around June 5. It advances over northeast India simultaneously with Kerala when the Bay of Bengal arm of the monsoon is active. The Bay of Bengal arm of [the] monsoon is very active due to severe cyclone Remal which has pulled the monsoon flow over the region, said IMD director general M Mohapatra. There has been extremely heavy rainfall in northeastern states during the past two days. The advance of the southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by monsoon onset over Kerala. It is an important indicator characterising the transition from a hot and dry season to a rainy season. Monsoon marks a relief from scorching summer temperatures. According to the agriculture ministry, 51% of Indias farmed area, accounting for 40% of production, is rain-fed, making monsoon critical. With 47% of the countrys population dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, a bountiful monsoon has a direct correlation with a healthy rural economy. Monsoon rainfall over the country between June to September is likely to be above normal at 106% of the long-period average with a model error of 5%, IMD said in its long-range forecast on April 15. Amid searing and soaring temperatures across India, and especially in its northwest, the southwest monsoon, the lifeblood of Indias rural economy, arrived in Kerala on Thursday, two days ahead of its normal date, and also simultaneously in most parts of northeast India, with the India Metrological Department (IMD) confirming that all onset criteria were met. Kochi: Pedestrians hold umbrellas as they cross a street amid rains, in Kochi, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted very heavy rainfall in five districts of Kerala in the coming hours. (PTI Photo) (PTI05_29_2024_000231A) (PTI) Last year, the monsoon last year arrived in Kerala seven days after it normally does. In 2022, the monsoon set in over Kerala on May 29, the earliest since 2019. The earliest the monsoon has ever set in over Kerala is May 18, in 1990. In a statement, IMD said the southwest Monsoon has set in on Thursday over Kerala and Mahe and advanced into most parts of northeast India including all of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and most parts of Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam. Cyclone Remal seems to have played a part in the latter. Read Here | Satellite imagery suggests rainfall in several states tonight: IMD Normally southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on June 1 and it advances over most part of northeast India by June 5. Thus, southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala two days before the normal date and over northeast India, six days before the normal date. It has also advanced into most parts of Lakshadweep , most parts of south Arabian sea and some parts of central Arabian sea and some parts of south Tamil Nadu, IMD added in its statement. The last time the monsoon made a simultaneous onset over northeastern states was in 2017. This also occurred in 1991, 1995, 1997. In 1972, 1975, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2003 it arrived in the Northeast before Kerala, according to climate monitoring division of IMD. According to meteorologists, severe cyclone Remal helped advance monsoon flow over Bay of Bengal and to the northeastern states. The Bay of Bengal arm of [the] monsoon is very active due to severe cyclone Remal which has pulled the monsoon flow over the northeastern region, said IMD director general M Mohapatra. There has been extremely heavy rainfall in northeastern states during the past two days. Delhi weather forecast: IMD sounds orange alert for heatwave The monsoons onset in Kerala is declared on the second day if at least 60% of 14 stations Minicoy, Amini, Thiruvananthapuram, Punalur, Kollam, Allapuzha, Kottayam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur, Kudulu and Mangalore report rainfall of 2.5mm or more for two consecutive days after May 10, provided the wind pattern is south-westerly and Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) is low. OLR is the total radiation going to space emitted by the atmosphere or the extent of cloudiness. During the past two days, cloud (cover) has increased over Southeast Arabian Sea with Outgoing Long wave Radiation (OLR) being <200w/m2. The depth of westerlies over Southeast Arabian Sea extends up to 4.5 km above mean sea level. The strength of Westerlies in the lower levels is about 25-30 knots. There has been widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kerala during past 2 days. Considering all the above satisfied conditions, southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala today (May 30), IMD said in its statement. Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of south Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area and Kerala, some parts of Karnataka, Some more parts of Tamil Nadu, Southwest and Central Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal and Assam and Meghalaya and some parts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during next two to three days, IMD said in its forecast on Thursday. Following its onset over Kerala, the monsoon advances northwards, usually in surges, and covers the entire country around July 15.But the onset over Kerala is an important indicator characterising the transition from a hot and dry season to a rainy one. Read Here: How IMD tracks Delhi's temperature? What led to the 52.9C anomaly? | Explained Monsoon marks a relief from scorching summer temperatures. According to the agriculture ministry, 51% of Indias farmed area, accounting for 40% of production, is rain-fed, making monsoon critical. With 47% of the countrys population dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, a bountiful monsoon has a direct correlation with a healthy rural economy. Monsoon rainfall over the country between June to September is likely to be above normal at 106% of the long-period average with a model error of 5%, IMD said in its long-range forecast on April 15. There is still no clarity on how rapidly the monsoon will progress. Monsoon progress over northwest India may be slow. Models show below normal rainfall over northwest India in June. But we do not have the forecast immediately on how monsoon will progress over the north. Its only speculation for now, Mohapatra said on May 27. The monsoon normally makes onset over Delhi around June 27. Models predict a delayed monsoon onset over north India but with some uncertainties. Cooler temperatures over the peninsula (are expected) due to expected monsoon rains, M Rajeevan, former secretary, ministry of earth sciences and climate scientist wrote on X on Thursday. A team of 16 firefighters belonging to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and officials in the Uttarakhand forest department worked for almost 10 hours on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday to douse the raging blaze in the hills of Varunavat in the states Uttarkashi town, and prevent them from engulfing the towns lone fuel station among other key areas. Officials try to douse a fire that erupted in the hills of Varunavat on Wednesday evening. According to officials who were part of the operation, the fire, which erupted in the hills of Varunavat on Wednesday evening, spread and was just about 50-60 metres away from the fuel pump when it was doused off at around 6am on Thursday. This came as the state continues to grapple with instances of forest fires, which has been the deadliest this year since 2021, when eight people died. However, the wildfire season is yet to reach the 2021 level for the area affected. Five people have died in forest fires that have ravaged at least 1,196 ha of land in Uttarakhand since November last year. Overall, the hill state has witnessed 540 forest fires in the past one week. Inspector Tirepan Rawat, who was part of the NDRF team that carried out the operation on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, said: At around 7pm on Wednesday, our control room received a distress call about a large fire on the hills of Varnavat forest. The flames were spreading rapidly. It was important for us to climb the hills to contain the situation as the blaze could have spread and reached the towns sole fuel station, the district magistrates office and a nearby local market. Read Here: Forest fires resurface in the hills amid dry spell, soaring mercury Rawat said climbing the hilly terrain was a challenge for the NDRF firefighters and officials of the state forest department. Assisted by some forest department officials, our men climbed the hill in the dark. Teams were formed and they were assigned various tasks. While one team cleared the path of fire, another used fire beaters to douse the flames, he said. A third team, Rawat said, was tasked to create a firestop line in the forest to contain the blaze. Such a line is created by removing all the trees and bushes on a particular path to prevent the flames from spreading. After the operation was called off at around 6am, when the fire was doused off, the team was sent to another hill in Vimleshwar, about 20km away from Uttarkashi, to take care of a similar situation, Rawat said. The fire there was also brought under control, he said on Thursday evening. The 16 NDRF personnel are part of the agencys 150-member forest firefighting team that was trained last year, officials said. The NDRF has been assigned a new task of handling forest fires On account of a large number of forest fires ranging in different parts of Uttarakhand, teams have been deployed in Nainital, Pauri and Uttarkashi to provide assistance to state agencies in dousing the blaze and preventing them from reaching human habitats, NDRFs DIG (operations) Mohsen Shahedi said. Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday claimed that "something major" would take place in Bihar after the results of the Lok Sabha elections are announced and added that chief minister Nitish Kumar seemed to be "not going along well" with ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reported PTI. A file photo of RJD's Tejashwi Yadav with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. (HT photo) Yadav, who lost the Deputy CM's post after Kumar's abrupt return to the NDA in January this year, made the claim while interacting with journalists in Patna. Follow full coverage of the Lok Sabha elections here. Ever since I made the prediction that chacha (referring to Nitish Kumar) will take a big decision after Lok Sabha polls, he has not been going out to campaign, Yadav said, referring to a claim he had made a couple of days ago. I have also learnt that it is the Governor who is holding meetings with officials and issuing instructions. On the election front, the BJP and the JD(U) are concentrating on their respective seats, with no synergy, alleged the RJD leader. All these things confirm my apprehension that after June 4 Bihar is going to witness something big (kucch bada). Yadav also expressed confidence that the INDIA bloc is heading for a spectacular victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Also Read | Bihar CM Nitish Kumar mocked for holding BJP insignia at PM Modi's Patna rally INDIA bloc is heading for a spectacular victory. The alliance may win 300 plus seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be defeated by his three beloveds (teen Mehbooba) poverty, price rise and unemployment, he said. Nitish Kumar's U-turn Nitish Kumar, who had left the NDA alliance in 2022 to join the Opposition-led Mahagathbandhan, made a U-turn and returned to the BJP-led alliance in January 2024, taking oath as the chief minister of Bihar for the ninth time. Interestingly, ever since Kumar quit the 'Mahagathbandhan' helmed by the RJD, Tejashwi Yadav has refrained from making a frontal attack on the JD(U) president. In his election campaigns, Yadav has also claimed that Nitish Kumar wants the BJP to be defeated and "his blessings are with me" even though the alliance had come to an end. In Bihar, NDA coalition partners BJP and JD(U) are contesting on 17 and 16 seats, respectively. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is in the fray on five seats, and Jitan Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha are contesting on one seat each, while the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) comprises the RJD, Congress, and Left parties. In 2019, BJP-led NDA swept the state by winning 39 out of 40 seats, while Congress won just one seat. The voter of today wants to see politics of the 21st century but the Opposition is still stuck in the 20th century, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, expressing confidence about winning a third consecutive term and hitting out at the Congress for being arrogant. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to offer prayers at Bhagwati Amman Temple, in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday. (PTI) In an interview to Hindustan that came on a day when campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls closed, Modi also endorsed the idea of simultaneous polls, and alleged that the Opposition is attempting to divide the country on the basis of caste and religion. He spoke about the scorching temperatures affecting turnouts and the reason he chose his electoral constituency of Varanasi, which goes to the polls in the seventh and final phase on June 1. Today people are asking what are you going to do for our children, then they (the Opposition) are talking about their father, grandfather, great grandfather, grandmother, great grandmother. When people ask what is the road map for the development of the country, then they start claiming that it is the family seat. They are dividing people into castes, raising issues related to religion, doing politics of appeasement, he said. Read Here | Manmohan Singh attacks Narendra Modi: No PM in past has uttered such hateful terms He also said that the public will teach the Opposition a lesson for trying to sow divisions. The politics of division, this thinking of division is now being openly put forward by the Opposition. Now they are not even hiding it. They are openly demonstrating it, so all these questions should be asked to them. The public will teach a tough lesson to such people who divide the country and society in this election, he said. Modi said the people are rejecting political parties that believe in negative politics. Those who believe only in the politics of opposition, who oppose just for the sake of opposition, such people are constantly being rejected by the people. In such a situation, those people will have to understand the mood of the people and improve themselves, he said. He took particular aim at the Congress, saying the opposition party was cut off from its roots and unable to grasp the basic elements of democracy. To be sure, complaints about a divisive campaign have also been levelled against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and PM Modi during the campaign. Read Here: PM Modi begins 45-hr dhyan at Kanyakumari's Vivekananda Rock Memorial Congress leaders are not able to come out of divisive rhetoric, personal attacks and using abusive language. Congress is arrogant, it does not listen to the public, it cannot change. But their allies should see what is the mood of the public, what they are saying. They have to understand that if they follow this path, then they are going to get continuous rejection, he said. Modi repeated his campaign trail allegations that the Opposition had divided the country on the basis of religion and caste by doing appeasement politics and said he wont allow anyone to syphon reservations for scheduled caste, scheduled tribes and other backward classes, a recurrent theme in his speeches. He also supported the idea of simultaneous national, state and local elections but said that a consensus needed to be built around it. A high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind has already unanimously backed simultaneous polls across national, state and local tiers and called for a raft of constitutional amendments to achieve the goal, potentially setting the stage for the far-reaching but controversial reform that can reshape the worlds largest democracy. Read Here | Ground Zero in Varanasi: Unmatched campaign efforts for PM Narendra Modi's record win One nation, one election has been the idea of BJP and our government, but we want a consensus to be built around it. The report submitted by the committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind Ji explains in detail about one country, one election. There should be a discussion, debate, dialogue across the country on this, there should be a discussion on its benefits and disadvantages, there should be a consensus on what can be done in this, how it can be done, he said. Modi said that the current system of staggered elections was not suitable and was hurting governance. There is a need to change it, but there is a need for dialogue on how we will do it. From the first elections in Independent India in 1952 until 1967, elections were held simultaneously across the country. But since the Lok Sabha and state assemblies can be dissolved before their tenures end, the state and national elections came to be held at different times after that. Several committees, including a parliamentary panel, the Niti Aayog and the Election Commission of India, have studied simultaneous polls in the past, backing the idea but flagging logistical concerns. Modi flagged the searing temperatures across the country and its impact on the turnout, but again advocated for a consensus. Read Here: Congress files complaint with ECI against Modis Kanyakumari meditation break I know what problems there are in summer. But what should happen in this, what changes should be made, should happen or should not happen, this cannot be the decision of one person, one party or just the government. There should be a consensus of the entire system, people, voters, political parties, workers. He also held out a message for the voters of the Purvanchal region 13 seats in eastern UP and eight in Bihar go to the polls on June 1 -- and said the attitude of the previous governments was disappointing. Votes were taken from these areas, political ambitions were fulfilled but when it came to development, these areas were called backward and left behind. People in Purvanchal were made to crave for basic facilities like electricity, water, roadsToday we are creating the Ganga of development in this area. From expressways to rural roads, we are improving and changing the infrastructure, he said. Modi also spoke extensively about his relationship with Varanasi, one of Indias holiest cities. I believe that I did not choose Kashi, Kashi chose meThe kind of experience I had in Kashi is unprecedented. That is why when I came here, I said that Maa Ganga has called me, now I also say that Maa Ganga has adopted me. The Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of the Telangana Police tapped mobile phones of around 1,200 people, including political leaders, social activists, members of student organisations, business people, judges, lawyers and journalists during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime headed by K Chandrasekhar Rao, a suspended deputy superintendent of police has confessed to the police. An internal probe was ordered soon after the formation of the new Congress government under A Revanth Reddy. (ANI) Rabat Morocco was re-elected, in the person of Mahjoub El Haiba, to the UN Human Rights Committee, during the elections held on Wednesday in New York, on the occasion of the 40th Meeting of States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Elected by an overwhelming majority with 120 votes in favor, Morocco was running against fifteen other candidates for one of the nine vacant positions in the Committee for the period 2025-2028, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates said in a press release. This re-election attests anew to the credibility and trust enjoyed by the action of the Kingdom, under the High Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, to promote human rights and their effectiveness, both through the democratic reforms undertaken at the national level, and through the initiatives undertaken by Morocco at the multilateral level in this area. This electoral success is also part of the strategy implemented by Morocco, in accordance with the High Royal Guidelines, to put its expertise and experience in the various priority areas of multilateral action at the service of UN bodies, as a responsible and committed actor in the international community. This re-election crowns a large-scale promotional campaign led by the entire diplomatic apparatus of the Kingdom. El Haiba, currently a university professor, boasts a long career in the field of human rights. He previously held the positions of Secretary General of the Advisory Council for Human Rights (now the National Human Rights Council) and First Inter-ministerial Delegate for Human Rights. Since his first election to the Human Rights Committee, El Haiba has endeavored to strengthen the working methods of this important conventional body. The Human Rights Committee, composed of eighteen experts elected by the States Parties according to equitable geographical distribution, is in charge of monitoring the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by these States, adopted in 1966. It is an important body given its mandate to examine the reports of States Parties on the implementation of the Covenant, to prepare general observations on the obligations arising therefrom and to examine communications relating to violations of this instrument. With the conclusion of the campaigning for the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday began his 45-hour-long meditation at the famed Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. Upon his arrival to the city in the evening, the prime minister first offered prayers at the Bhagavathy Amman Temple before heading to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. Modi will meditate from the evening of Thursday to the evening of June 1 at Dhyan Mandapam, the place where revered Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata'. Security has been beefed up due to Modi's visit, and 2,000 police personnel stationed during his stay. The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy also are also maintaining a tight vigil. Follow full coverage of the Lok Sabha elections. The beach is also out of bounds for tourists from Thursday to Saturday and private boats are not allowed to ferry, according to PTI. Modi had taken similar breaks at the end of the election campaign in 2014 when he visited Pratapgarh, where a battle was fought between the Maratha forces led by Shivaji and the Bijapur troops under General Afzal Khan; and in 2019 when he became the first person to meditate in a special cave in Kedarnath. PM Modi's visit to the Vivekananda Rock memorial has been opposed by the Congress. The party has alleged Modi was trying to "circumvent" the silence period restrictions with his 48-hour meditation trip in Kanyakumari and has urged the Election Commission to ensure it is not aired by the media as it violates the model code of conduct.It has also filed a formal complaint with the poll body. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi to meditate in Kanyakumari: Significance of Vivekananda Rock explained Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, after a meeting of a Congress delegation with ECI officials, Modis meditation is a direct violation of the model code of conduct. You are either campaigning this way or publicising yourself through new channels and print media, Singhvi said." Campaigning for final phase of Lok Sabha polls ends Campaigning for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in 57 seats in seven states and the Union territory of Chandigarh on June 1 ended Thursday evening. Polling is scheduled in all 13 seats of Punjab and four of Himachal Pradesh, 13 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha and three seats in Jharkhand besides Chandigarh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term from Varanasi. Since the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll schedule on March 16, Modi notched up a total of 206 public outreach programmes, including rallies and roadshows, PTI reported. The prime minister surpassed his nearly 145 public engagements on the stump during the 2019 polls by a big margin. The campaign period this time was of 76 days, compared to the 68 days in the polls held five years ago. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of raking up divisive issues more than 400 times" during campaigning for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge (File Photo/PTI) PM Modi spoke about mandir-masjid (temple-mosque) and other divisive issues, more than 421 times during poll campaigning. He did this despite the Election Commission's direction of not appealing for votes on caste and religion, Kharge said at a press conference in Delhi. The Congress chief was speaking on the last day of campaigning for the seventh and final phase of the national polls. In the seventh phase, voting will be held on Saturday for 57 parliamentary constituencies across various states and Union territories. The counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections is scheduled for June 4. Kharge, meanwhile, also claimed that in the last 15 days of the campaign, PM Modi took his own name 758 times and mentioned the grand old party 232 times. He did not talk about unemployment even once, the senior politician stated. Kharge also exuded confidence that the Congress-led opposition INDIA bloc will get a clear majority and give the country an inclusive and nationalistic government. We are confident that people will give a mandate for an alternative government on June 4, he said, adding that voters have endorsed the INDIA bloc's view that if the incumbent government is re-elected, it will be the end of democracy. The veteran leader also took swipe at the Prime Minister over the latter's statement in a media interview that the world came to know about Mahatma Gandhi only after the release of the Richard Attenborough-directed biopic in 1982. The PM may not have studied about Gandhi but Mahatma is known all over the world, Kharge remarked. (With PTI inputs) After campaigning for the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections ends on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tamil Nadu to commence his two-day-long meditation at Kanniyakumari's Vivekananda Rock. He will meditate from May 30 evening to June 1. PM Modi will meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial starting on Thursday evening.(PTI) PM Modi's two-day meditation at Vivekananda Rock is similar to his two-day visit to Uttarakhand's Kedarnath after the end of the 2019 general election campaign, when he undertook a 15-hour-long ekantvaas (solitary meditation). The counting of votes for the general elections will take place on June 4. Significance of Kanniyakumari's Vivekananda Rock The Vivekananda Rock is a tiny islet located around 500 metres from Kanniyakumari's Vavathurai beach, which is the southern tip of mainland India. It is accessible to the public via a 15-minute ferry ride. In 1892, revered Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda swam from the shores of Kanniyakumari to the rocky islet to meditate. It was believed by his disciples that Vivekananda meditated at the islet for three days and three nights, and attained enlightenment. He had started his meditation after travelling through the entire country for four years, and finally formulated his philosophy at Kanniyakumari. Why PM Modi will meditate at Vivekananda Rock PM Narendra Modi has often been vocal about Swami Vivekananda being a role model for him. The prime minister also addressed the 125th anniversary of the Ramakrishna Mission last year, a philanthropic organisation founded by Swami Vivekananda. Another reason behind PM Modi closing the BJP campaign in Tamil Nadu can be the party's major South push this election season. The prime minister made seven visits to Tamil Nadu in 2024 alone, with a third of his trips to southern states taking place over the last three years. PM Modi, during his election campaign, expressed confidence that the BJP will emerge as the single largest party in the South after the Lok Sabha election. Speaking to PTI in an exclusive interview, the prime minister said earlier this month: "We have already seen a jump in mind-share already, we will see a big jump in seat share and vote share for us in the region. Bengaluru: The Chitradurga police registered a case against a person for allegedly pressuring a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) victim against withdrawing her complaint where she accused Chitradurgas Murugharajendra Bruhanmutt pontiff Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of sexually harassing her, police said. POCSO victims uncle booked for influencing her in mutt sexual abuse case The 15-year-old girl approached the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), alleging harassment by her uncle and family, who have been pressuring her not to testify against the alleged accused and withdraw her complaint. Earlier, on May 24, her uncle filed a missing report, claiming the girl had gone missing from their house. However, the case took a turn after she appeared before the CWC to narrate her ordeal on Tuesday evening, police said. After fleeing her house, the girl sought refuge at Mysuru-based NGO Odanadi, where she reported her uncles pressure. The partner organisation then brought her to the Mysuru CWC, where she filed a complaint against her uncle. Following the CWCs instructions, she stayed at the organisation for a few days before being taken to Chitradurga and presented to the CWC there. Stanley, a representative of the Odanadi organisation, told the media that the girl made serious allegations against her uncle. According to Stanley, the girl claimed that supporters of the accused, Sharanaru, who is out on bail, are influencing her uncle and pressuring him, who in turn started harassing her to force her withdraw the case. The girl detailed her ordeal to the CWC, describing her physical and mental abuse. The girl alleged that her uncle thrashed her, threatened to hang her and even poison her if she didnt withdraw her complaint against Sharanaru. She ran to us for safety, Stanley said. There was an organised effort to cover up the POCSO case. The girl was pressured not to testify against the accused and to withdraw her complaint. The girl also reported being denied education and not being allowed to sit for her exams, Stanley said. Following the complaint of the Chitradurga district child protection unit, we have registered a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 323 (causing hurt voluntarily), 324 (causing hurt with weapons), 504 (insult to provoke breach of peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation with threats) against the girls uncle, B Thippe Swamy, police inspector B Nanjunda Swamy told HT. We are investigating the matter and will take appropriate action, he added. However, Murugharajendra Bruhanmutt has refuted the allegations. Neither the mutt nor the pontiff have any connection with this incident, SJM Mutt advocate B Umesh told HT. I came to know about the incident through the media. It is an issue between the girl and her uncle, and we have no connection to this, he added. Bengaluru A police sub-inspector (PSI) at Bellur police station was suspended for allegedly refusing to accept a complaint regarding a reported assault on a Hindu youth by a group of people from a different faith. Mandya SP Yatish N issued the suspension order following PSI Basavaraja Chincholis alleged dereliction of duty, police said. PSI Suspended in Bellur Assault Case for Dereliction of Duty The clash in Bellur broke out between two groups on Monday night. Security has been beefed up in the town to prevent any untoward incidents. A case was registered at Bellur police station alleging that a group of Muslim youth broke into the house of Abhilash and threatened to kill him. It led to unrest, as many protested outside the police station on Monday night, demanding the accuseds immediate arrest, police said. Initially, the police didnt lodge a complaint, but noting the gravity of the situation, they eventually filed three separate complaints. One of the complaints was against the PSI for his alleged refusal to register the case initially. The Bellur police have registered a case against more than 11 people in connection with the incident. The FIR, based on a complaint filed by Abhilashs father, Ramu, named individuals including Naveed, Sufian, Imran, Sameer, and Mudaseer. The charges are registered under Indian Penal Code sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 307 (attempt to murder), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation). Abhilash sustained serious injuries and was admitted to BGS Hospital in Bellur, where he is undergoing treatment. When Abhilash was abused by a group of youth, the sub-inspector did not accept the complaint, Mandya SP Yatish N told HT. The same group went to Abhilashs house and threatened the other female members of the family. The women and other residents filed three complaints against the miscreants, but the PSI did not register them or inform the higher authorities. Following a report from the deputy SP, I suspended the PSI on charges of dereliction of duty. The departmental inquiry against him is underway, he added. In yet another plot twist in the Pune Porsche accident case, Dr Vinayak Kale, the dean of the Sassoon General Hospital, was sent on a compulsory leave on Wednesday, hours after he revealed that he appointed Dr Ajay Taware as the medical superintendent on the basis of a recommendation by Maharashtra's medical education minister, Hasan Mushrif. The Porsche car found without number plate in Pune. (PTI) Earlier this month, two techies in Pune died after being mowed down by a 17-year-old boy in his Porsche Taycan car. The teenager was allegedly drunk at the time of the accident. Taware and another doctor at the Pune hospital are accused of attempting to cover up the accident by manipulating the blood samples of the minor. The police have arrested the duo and an employee named Atul Ghatkamble. The Maharashtra government on Wednesday suspended the trio. Hasan Mushrif, who belongs to NCP led by Ajit Pawar, admitted that Dr Taware's appointment was made based on a letter submitted by the party's MLA, Sunil Tingare. "I do not possess any divine powers so that I would know everything about each person and their deeds in my department," he said, per PTI. The minister claimed that the MLA had recommended Taware's appointment, and he just approved it. Mushrif, however, said the dean should have pointed out to the government about the "reputation of this person" when the recommendation was made. Dr Kale, on the other hand, admitted that he had issued an executive order for Taware's appointment. He, however, said he was just following the minister's order. Also read: Pune Porsche crash: How doctors changed teen driver's blood sample | Sequence of events "I just followed the order of the minister. That time, the appointment was done as per the orders from the minister," he said. The two doctors and the hospital employee allegedly swapped the blood samples of the minor. The prosecution recently told a local court that the two doctors had accepted a bribe in exchange for their attempt to save the boy. Hours after the accident, the juvenile was released on bail under the condition that he would write an essay on road safety. However, after nationwide outrage, he was detained and sent to a reform home. The police have arrested the boy's father for letting him drive the car without a license. They have also arrested his grandfather for attempting to coerce the driver to take the blame for the accident. The police claim they have CCTV footage of the teenager driving the car after drinking liquor in two bars. They have arrested the owners of the bars for serving alcohol to the 17-year-old. The prolonged campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, spanning over two months, saw both ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) engaging in a bitter war of words with each of the seven phases of polling. A Congress election campaign in Solan. (ANI) The campaign started off with a pitch for guarantees by both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the INDIA bloc. Each side switched gears midway, with the BJP alleging the Congress held ill intentions to redistribute the wealth of weaker sections to the Muslim community and fritter away reservations, and the Congress accusing the ruling party of aiming to change the Constitution to snatch quotas guaranteed to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. The high-decibel campaign came to a close on Thursday. The beginning Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the BJPs campaign on March 31 from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, making a strong pitch for development. You have seen only a trailer of development so far, he told the gathering. This election is not just for electing a government, but to create Viksit Bharat (developed India). Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 7: Voting date, list of constituencies/seats, key candidates | Full schedule The Congress, eager to reclaim power at the Centre after a decade, picked its 138th Foundation Day on December 28 to kick start its poll outreach from Nagpur, a city home to the RSS headquarters. The partys poll manifesto, titled Nyay Patra (justice document), drew heavily from Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. It translated into 25 guarantees, including filling up of three million government jobs, 1 lakh for the woman head of all poor households, and removing the 50% cap on reservation after conducting a nationwide caste census. Some other parties, too, opted for guarantees instead of age-old manifestoes. The Trinamool Congress, part of the INDIA bloc except in West Bengal, emphasised party chief Mamata Banerjees promises to revoke the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and not allow National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Bengal, besides dole outs in the form of 10 free LPG cylinders, assured MSP for farmers, and scholarships for SC, ST, OBC students. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) pledged the creation of 10 million government jobs and 1 lakh annually to economically disadvantaged women. Taking a cue from the Congress, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav turned the manifesto into Parivartan Patra (document for change). Development and Hindutva The BJP campaign was hoisted on development and Hindutva. The partys outreach was designed to leverage Modis popularity, highlight his clean image, decisiveness, and acceptance across castes and regions. Modi had instructed the party leaders at a BJPs National Council meet to use his clean image and the governance model to their advantage. Number Theory: Outliers within the constituencies in Lok Sabha elections The party put together a long list of fulfilled promises that were part of its manifesto, some for over decades. The list included the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, abrogation of Article 370, fast-tracking citizenship for minorities from three neighbouring countries through CAA. Polarisation However, two days after the first phase of polling on April 19, Modis speech at Banswara in Rajasthan sparked an uproar after he accused the Congress of wanting to take away peoples hard-earned assets and distribute it among infiltrators and those who have more children, in an apparent reference to the minority community. The party also labelled the Congresss manifesto initially as that with the imprint of Muslim League and later akin to Maoist document. Modi also alleged that his predecessor Manmohan Singh had advocated that Muslims had the first right to countrys resources, a claim vehemently rejected by the Congress, which said Singh spoke of first rights for SC, ST, women and poor Muslims. Our manifesto is for every Indian. It talks about equality for all, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge posted on X. Jayshree M Sundar, who was previously with advertising agency Leo Burnett, said: I saw the BJP campaign starting with Is baar 400 paar and Modi ki guarantee. After the second phase, with lower percentage of polling, the 400 paar narrative stopped. I must say, most of BJP advertisements were easy for people to understand. Coming to Congress, first part was based on common man raising questions to the government. The Congress also brought its haath badlega halaat tagline. This election campaign was also about memes, satires. I always say that 2014 was a Twitter campaign. 2019 was fought on WhatsApp. This campaign was a YouTube campaign by both sides, she added. Read Here: Hat-trick at Centre, says PM Modi, wraps up LS campaign in Punjab The BJP, however, defended Modis statement, with party chief JP Nadda in an interview to HT saying: The PM has exposed what the Congress had tried to stealthily do... disturb the demography and social fabric of the country by honey-coating poison. Reservation The issue of caste-based reservation also became a key issue. The Opposition accused the BJP of wanting to win over 400 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats so that it can change the Constitution and do away with caste-base quotas. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pitched for a caste-census to do an X-ray of the society as the Congress promised to raise the 50% ceiling on reservation for SC, ST, OBCs. With reports and feedback from its ideological fount, the RSS, the party set about to change the narrative. Modi in his speeches claimed that even BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, could not change it. The BJP also claimed that the Congress wanted to take away reservation from the weaker sections and give it to Muslims. Personal remarks In the final days of the campaign, a litany of personal comments dominated the campaign. Read Here | PM Modi mentioned mandir 421 times in poll speeches, Modi 758 times: Congress Modi gave a series of interviews, making several remarks about his life and political journey. Until my mother was alive, I used to think I was born biologically. After her demise, when I look at my experiences, I am convinced that I was sent by God... Modi said in one such television interview. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Modi over his remarks, quipping that the PM was sent by parmatma (God) to help industrialists, Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. In all, the campaign threw up issues of caste, quotas, Constitution, communalism, Hindutva and jobs. For the BJP, Modi was its main draw and star campaigner. For the Opposition, it was a bevy of regional leaders and the Congresss top brass. The campaign was disappointing. The very plurality of democracy is lost in the majoritarian process and that is a tragedy. There was little scope of civil society and its role in this campaign. The campaign didnt hold any promise for the future of India, academic Shiv Vishwanathan said. Now its over to June 4 for the results. The Gujarat Police on Thursday arrested four government officials, including a town planning officer, in connection with the fire at a gaming zone in Rajkot, in which 28 people were killed, PTI reported. Debris being removed from the gaming zone site in Gujarats Rajkot, where a major fire broke out on May 25.(PTI) Their arrest was confirmed by state Director General of Police Vikas Sahay. Those arrested have been identified as town planning officer (TPO) MD Sagathia, assistant TPOs Mukesh Makwana and Gautam Joshi, and former station officer of Kalavad Road fire station Rohit Vigora. The government has already suspended Joshi and Vigora. On May 25, a welding spark triggered the blaze at the TRP Game Zone in the city, gutting the facility in minutes. Several litres of petrol and diesel were stored in the zone, exacerbating the situation. Also Read | Family that lost 4 members in Rajkot fire recalls ordeal Investigations revealed that the arcade, which was teeming with families at the time of the tragedy, was operating without safety equipment or a clearance. The police have so far arrested four of six partners of the gaming zone and the manager of the faculty. One of the owners of the TRP Game Zone has been confirmed dead in the fire. The accused have been booked under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 337 (causing hurt by an act that endangers the life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt to a person by doing an act that endangers their life or personal safety) and 114 (someone present when offence is committed). Also Read | Rajkot fire: 18 Gujarat gaming zone owners booked for lapses The state government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a probe into the incident and announced an ex gratia of 4 lakh to the kin of each deceased. The Central government has also announced an ex gratia of 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person. Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is accused of sexually abusing numerous women, was taken to the CID office in Bengaluru following his return to India on the intervening night of Thursday around 1:15am from Berlin, Germany, nearly a month after leaving the country on a diplomatic passport. He was immediately taken into custody. Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, returns to India, being taken to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Bengaluru. (PTI) The Hassan MP fled the country after the conclusion of the second phase of the Lok Saba elections in which his constituency also voted. Security was heightened at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport and the CID office in the city ahead of Prajwal's arrival, who was seen wearing a hoodie. Officials stated that police guided him through another way out to ensure his safety. As per reports, the SIT seized two suitcases from the Bengaluru airport. JD(S) MP for Karnataka's Hassan constituency, Prajwal is the grandson of JD(S) leader and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. He is the NDA candidate from Hassan in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. After videos emerged showing Prajwal sexually abusing several women, the state women's commission urged Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for a probe and Prajwal left the country on April 27. The first FIR was registered against him on April 28 after a woman who worked in his household filed a complaint of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against him. The Interpol had issued a 'Blue Corner Notice' to find out where he was after a request from the SIT through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). On May 18, a Special Court for Elected Representatives had released a warrant for Prajwal Revanna's arrest based on a request from the SIT. Earlier on Thursday, thousands of people joined the 'Hassan Chalo' protest organized by the Union of Karnataka People's Movement in Hassan district, calling for Prajwal's arrest. The protesters demanded that the suspended JD(S) MP be arrested when he arrived at the airport. About 10,000 representatives from 113 organisations across Karnataka took part in the protest. The march began at the Hemavati statue in Hassan and concluded with a public meeting near the District Collector's office on New Bus Stand Road. The Karnataka government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on April 27 to investigate allegations against Prajwal after nearly 3,000 explicit videos allegedly involving him appeared on social media. Despite the accusations, Prajwal strongly denied them, claiming the videos were fake. The SIT was formed following recommendations from the state women's commission. Moreover, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday that steps were being taken to cancel the diplomatic passport of suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal. He also was given a show cause notice on May 23, and he must respond to it, Jaiswal added. He further explained that the ministry is acting under the Passport Act 1967 to revoke Prajwal's diplomatic passport. MEA has initiated action under provisions in the Passport Act 1967 for revocation of the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna. A show cause notice was issued to the passport holder on 23rd May, giving him 10 working days to respond to our notice. We are waiting for his response and accordingly, we will take things forward once we hear from him or once the 10-day period expires. After much delay in his return to India, Prajwal released a self-made video on Monday saying he will appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for questioning on May 31. He explained that his trip was planned in advance since there were no cases against him when Karnataka voted in the general elections on April 26. He also claimed that he was a victim of a political conspiracy because of his rising influence in politics. Officials believe he is still in Germany, though his exact location is unknown. The SIT has filed a case against five people including Prajwal's father HD Revanna. Prajwal's mother Bhavani Revanna filed a plea for anticipatory bail on May 29, for which the Karnataka High Court reserved the order for May 31 in the kidnapping case in which HD Revanna was earlier arrested. Amader janyo kichu korte parbe?....Amader baro kosto...ora coronar thekeo kharap (Can you do something for us? We are facing grave hardship and injustice, those guys are worse than Corona) That's an impassionate plea of a hassled housewife in Patrapara, the epicentre of Sandeshkhali in North 24Parganas of West Bengal. Image caption- BJP candidate Rekha Patra's house. Over the past months, Sandeshkhali, a small island on the fringes of the Sundarbans, has gained national attention following an ED raid on the house of local TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan on January 5, which escalated into violence. This incident opened a Pandora's box, revealing serious allegations of economic exploitation and grave accusations of rape and molestation against the local TMC figure. Read: CBI files first charge sheet against Shahjahan Sheikh in ED attack case The investigation is on, Shahjahan and his associates have been arrested and ostracized from TMC, and a series of sting operations claim BJP cooking up rape allegations -- all this has been in news, but somehow the voice of the commoners has gone buried amidst political mudslinging. As the people of Sandeshkhali, part of the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency, prepare to vote in the General Elections on June 1, we caught up with the locals to get a pulse of what is keeping the Sandeshkhalii cauldron simmering. In Patrapara, a visit to BJP candidate Rekha Patra's nondescript house was a reality check on how some people seem to have missed the development train even as India is tipped to be the third largest economy. A mud house with thatched roofs, no workable toilet, and poverty so stark, that even in the mid of 2024, you'd be easily transported to a Ray movie from the 1960s of Bengal. Rekha Patra herself has been allegedly subjected to molestation. Her family recounts how Shahjahan's men would coerce poor villagers into menial tasks, with increasingly sinister demands as night fell, often involving the presence of young women. Rekha, being the youngest daughter-in-law of the Patra family, was a vulnerable target for the TMC strongmen's atyachar (injustice -- a word which continued to be repeated time and again). Read: PM Modi accuses TMC of questioning character of Sandeshkhali women: To protect their Shahjahan Since joining the protest, Rekha's family claims that they haven't received any funds from government schemes (both central and state), including the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme for women. The Prime Minister has repeatedly spoken about Rekha Patra and Sandeshkhali in his speeches, but the condition of these people remains dire. The Patra family sees the upcoming election as their only hope for change and justice. As we move out of the Patra household, spontaneously a lady shared her voice as to how the local TMC party leadership are guilty of errors of omissions and commissions, by turning a blind eye to the excesses of Shahjahan's men. The lady also added in apprehension that once the elections are over, and if Shahjahan's henchmen Shibu Hazra and Uttam Mondal are out of jail on bail, there may be retribution for those who have raised their voice. Comparing them to Covid-19 which has claimed lakhs of innocent lives across the globe, she said, 'They shouldn't come back.' The Trinamool Congress is now in a reboot mode in Sandeshkhali, looking to empower party men who were sidelined in the Shahjahan era. One of them is the Sandeshkhali convenor Acchyutananda Naskhar. Nashkar refused to delve into the controversy, saying, "The party has taken action. It is a closed chapter." Citing the sting operation, Nashkar claims that allegations of sexual harassment and rape were trumped-up charges and therefore have being taken back. However, he agrees that some people's land were forcefully taken away by giving paltry amount of money. "But, those are now being returned," he added with assurance. One such person is Kanta Das. Das alleges that his land was grabbed by Shibu Hazra and money was only paid once. Now that land is overflown by salty water, Kanta is uncertain, whether it will be fit for farming even if he gets it back. However, just the fact that Shibu and Uttam are no longer calling the shot is the brief cheer egging him on. He shows us how during the height of the protest, a portion of the house built by Shibu in seized land was burned down. As we traverse the streets of Sandeshkhali, we encounter numerous individuals with similar stories of oppression under Shahjahan's regime. Not everyone was willing to be recorded or even quoted by name, but the consistent claim was that of Shibu Hazra flexing his muscle to increase his business by oppressing the less fortunate. From poultry to farms, we heard echoes of similar complaints. However, BJP's poll rhetoric of trying to pit it as a communal incident didn't appear to gain much currency among the locals. Most were either downrightly dismissive of the suggestion or said it has probably happened in Patrapara, but they can't say much about it. For them, it is about how the all-powerful satraps misuse their authority to muzzle the have-nots, extracting favours in different forms and means. The day we were in Sandeshkhali, a large TMC meeting with cinestars and state minister was about to be held. To exhibit show of strength, TMC was bringing people from nearby Bhangar, alleged the BJP workers. TMC local convenor though remains confident that come elections, Sandeskhali will give lead to them. For many, the election is referendum of a movement which framed the political discourse at least in Bengal this time. For TMC, it is about damage control, so that Sandeshkhali doesn't become a permanent headache for them like Singur and Nandigram was for the Left, finally orchestrating their exit. But amidst all political equations, it's the common man who is left to wonder for answers. Once the dust settles, will they be better off, can they live their life with dignity, is the question they are grappling with for answers. Our Minister of Justice is better off referred as Minister of Injustice The Arise Ghana movement is demanding the dismissal of Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, labelling him a 'minister of injustice' due to his alleged misconduct in the NDC audio conversation involving Dame and Richard Jakpa in the ongoing ambulance purchase trial. In a press statement dated Wednesday, May 29, Bernard Mornah, the leader of the movement said Godfred Dame's conduct is unthinkable and should not be accepted. "AriseGhana is compelled to join the numerous calls for Mr Godifred Dame to be relieved of his duties as the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice now considering the fact that he has become a Minister for Injustice rather than a Minister for Justice. His conduct demonstrates clearly that he can not do good to all manner of persons as enjoined by his Oath of Office," according to the statement. The Arise Ghana Movement warned that the legal profession is at serious risk if Godfred Dame remains in office and calls President Akufo-Addo to sack the Attorney-General. "If the man supposed to be the leader of the bar can desecrate the ethics of the bar in this manner and fashion, then the bar is in grave danger if he continues to lead it. We therefore call on the President to sack Mr Godfred Dame without any further delay to restore some confidence in the office of Attorney-General as well as the Bar of Ghana," the group stated. This follows the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday, May 28 revealing an alleged 16-minute phone conversation between Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame and the third accused, Richard Jakpa, in which Dame is heard asking Jakpa to make false accusations against Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to secure his imprisonment in the ongoing ambulance purchase trial. The National Patriotic Party has however described the NDC's alleged audio phone conversation between Godfred Dame and Richard Jakpa as doctored. Even when the idea of a joint opposition front, INDIA, was being laid out by the leaders of anti-BJP parties, Mamata Bannerjee had other ideas for Bengal. Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of India's West Bengal state and Trinamool Congress (TMC) party leader addresses her supporters during an election campaign meeting.(AFP) Despite being a part of the 28-party opposition coalition, Mamata announced as early as January that her Trinamool Congress (TMC) was going to fight solo in Bengal, citing the failed seat-sharing talks with the Congress, a key member of the bloc, for her decision. "Whatever proposal I gave them, they have refused all," Banerjee said, adding, "Since then, we have decided to go it alone in Bengal." Read: Mamata slams Modi as battle for Diamond Harbor reaches its final stage On the face of it, the decision appeared like a body blow to the then fledgling opposition alliance. But now, with the benefit of hindsight, it could well turn out to be a tactically shrewd decision. Mamatas first priority is to ensure that Trinamool fares better this time than it did in 2019. The Trinamool tally went down from 34 in 2014 to 22 in 2019, while the BJP increased its seat strength from two to 18. There are 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal. The anti-incumbency factor That anti-incumbency cannot be overlooked by Mamata, a politician with an ear to the ground, is undeniable. Serving as chief minister of West Bengal since 20 May 2011, its been a long but bumpy ride. If the state governments welfare schemes have been welcomed, corruption has cast a large shadow and lack of industry is a constant source of worry. Such sentiment reflected itself most strongly in 2019 when the BJP, riding on this disquiet, made major inroads into Bengal. Mamata is loath to allow her principal rival to make similar gains this time. Analysts say the tacit understanding between TMC, the Congress and the Left is to restrict the BJP as much as possible. Hence, instead of a formal three-way alliance which would be opposed by the Left cadre a loose arrangement with Mamata would be preferable. The Congress and Trinamool attack each other every now and then, with the unstated goal of shifting the anti-Trinamool votes to the Congress-Left alliance instead of where it went last time, the BJP. Read: Mamata Banerjee on Narendra Modi's sent by God remark: 'We'll build you a temple, offer dhokla' If the Congress-Left combine gains a couple of seats at the expense of the BJP, and Trinamool adds to its 22 Lok Sabha seats, it does increase Mamatas clout within the INDIA grouping. That such an arrangement would be workable only till the Bengal assembly election in 2026 is also a given, but that is still some time away. Veteran journalist Sanjay Basak believes, however, that while the Congress-Left could gain marginally, there are some recent developments that may harm TMC. The challenges before Mamata The foremost is the Bengal Teachers Recruitment Scam which came to light after the CBI arrested former state education minister Partha Chatterjee and several officials from the West Bengal School Service Commission over suspicion of involvement in the illegal teacher recruitment in July 2022. The Supreme Court on May 7 gave relief to the state government by protecting nearly 24,000 teaching and non-teaching staff members from immediate termination. While Mamata hailed the apex court decision, the state government remains on the backfoot on the issue. Read: Major political earthquake expected in next six months after LS results: PM Modi In another setback, last month, Mamata accused some monks of two prominent monastic orders of working in favour of the BJP in the elections only to be rebuffed the next day by the religious bodies who said that they have always stayed clear from politics. The outrage at Sandeshkhali, where forcible occupation of land and alleged sexual harassment by local TMC strongmen, has also added to the anti-TMC mood. But women voters though remain Mamatas main bulwark. They have benefitted from various welfare schemes launched by the TMC. Through the state government's Lakhir Bhandar scheme, women belonging to the SC or ST category receive 1,000 per month, and all other women receive 500 per month. With approximately 48% of the state's population being women, the scheme garnered enough support for Mamata in the previous elections. It could do the same now. With the Modi government withholding funds for NREGS and PM Awas Yojana in Bengal on grounds of corruption and non-submission of accounts, TMC leaders have made vindictive denial of legitimate money to Bengal by the BJP-led central government an issue, which has resonated with many voters. It is interesting to note that despite ruling in only one state, TMC managed to raise almost the same amount as the Congress through the now-defunct Electoral Bonds scheme. Nonetheless, the tiff between old timers in the TMC and the younger brigade led by Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew and chosen successor-designate by the TMC supremo, is well known. Could the internal strain limit TMCs chances? Mamata as has been her wont keeps her cards close to her chest. She told a rally in Kolkata that she would not be able to attend the meeting of the INDIA alliance on June 1, as the last phase of voting in West Bengal will be held that day. It remains to be seen if her tactics will pay dividends on June 4. Delhi's Saket court on Thursday concluded hearing the arguments of social activist Medha Patkar and Vinai Kumar Saxena, days after it convicted the former in a defamation case filed by the Delhi lieutenant governor. File Image: Social activist Medha Patkar (Ravindra Joshi/HT PHOTO) Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Raghav Sharma, who held on May 24 that Patkar was guilty of defaming Saxena, also sought a victim impact report (VIR) from the Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA). Such a report is prepared after the conviction of an accused, to assess the quantum of loss suffered by a victim. Further proceedings in the matter will be held on June 7. VK Saxena's arguments During Thursday's proceedings, the Delhi LG's lawyer sought maximum punishment (two-year jail term or fine or both), saying that an example must be set. Pointing to a repeat offence of the same nature by Patkar from 2006, Saxena's counsel said that she has a past conduct of defying the law. The circumstances against the activist are aggravating, the lawyer claimed. Medha Patkar's arguments Patkar's lawyer, however, stated that there are no aggravating circumstances nor is she a repeat offender. There are several mitigating circumstances such as Patkar being 70-year-old and suffering from several ailments. Also, she has received 28 national awards and five international awards. These include the Right Livelihood Award,' widely regarded as the alternative to the Nobel Prize, her counsel submitted. I would only urge the court to consider, he added. Medha Patkar vs VK Saxena The two have been locked in a legal tussle since 2000, when she filed a suit against him, accusing him of publishing advertisements targeting both her and the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA). At the time, VK Saxena headed Council for Civil Liberties, an Ahmedabad-based NGO. (With PTI inputs) The leader of the opposition Maharashtra legislative assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, on Wednesday, demanded action against the political leader and others involved in the Porshe crash case. Two young IT professionals were killed after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche car, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy, in the early hours of May 19 in Kalyaninagar area. (HT PHOTO) Wadettiwar was in the city to attend a programme when he said, Many are involved in the Porsche hit and run case including police, politicians, doctors, excise and Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials. Call records should be checked and all those involved should face strict action, he said. Two young IT professionals were killed after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche car, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy, in the early hours of May 19 in Kalyaninagar area. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday distanced his party from Mani Shankar Aiyar's remark on China. The leader said that the former union minister made the remarks in his personal capacity. Congress general secretary (communication) Jairam Ramesh.(ANI) Mani Shankar Aiyar sparked a massive political row after he said during an event on Tuesday that in October 1962, the Chinese "allegedly invaded India. The remark sparked a wave of backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), prompting Congress to distance itself from Aiyar's comments. Jairam Ramesh, said earlier in the day, that Aiyar has "subsequently apologised unreservedly" for his remarks. Speaking to ANI, Ramesh said: Who is Mani Shankar Aiyar? He is not an official, he is a former MP and a former minister. He speaks whatever he wants in his personal capacity. "We have nothing to do with it... Media, BJP's troll army and social media keep running it. Today, he has nothing to do with the Congress party. He is in the Congress party but he is not even an MP, he is just a former MP," he added. Jairam Ramesh also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his sent by god remarks, and his comments on how "no one knew Mahatma Gandhi before 'Gandhi' (1982) movie was released." "The language PM Modi is using, the way he is demeaning Congress and INDIA bloc leaders. He is spreading the pandemic of lies...now it seems he has even lost his mental balance. The elections are fought between people, here he (PM Modi) is calling himself as God...what kind of a person he is, how can he be trusted," the Congress leader said. "Today, he said that no one knew Mahatma Gandhi before 1982. The environment that was created by his party led to the killing of Mahatma Gandhi. Godse is worshipped today. Our current PM is associated with the same ideology," he added. Jairam Ramesh expressed confidence that the INDIA bloc will form the government in the country. It became clear after the first two phases itself that the INDIA bloc will get a full majority...on June 4 the outgoing PM will be going out. INDIA bloc will form the government and run a stable, patient and responsible government for five years, he said. With inputs from ANI New Delhi, A 25-year-old woman was allegedly drugged, raped and robbed by an e-rickshaw driver here, police said on Thursday. Woman drugged, raped by e-rickshaw driver in Delhi, accused held The police have arrested Mohammad Umer in the case from north Delhis Kotwali area. "On May 26, a PCR call was received at Kotali police station regarding a robbery. A team was sent to the spot. A woman was found in an injured condition and was bleeding profusely. Her three-year-old son was sitting beside her," Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Meena said. The woman, a resident of Bihar, was rushed to a hospital and her medical examination was conducted, he said. According to police, the woman with her 3-year-old son was travelling to Punjab from Bihar to meet her husband. On May 26, she deboarded the New Delhi Railway Station train and went to the Sadar market. While returning to the station via e-rickshaw, the driver allegedly offered her a drink, after which she lost consciousness, the DCP said. "According to her statement, the rickshaw puller took her to some isolated area where he raped her. When she objected to the act and tried to raise the alarm, the rickshaw puller hit her on the head with a brick, Meena said. "She fell unconscious again, and on regaining consciousness, she found that her mobile phone and 3,000 cash were missing," he said. "We formed a team and began investigating the matter. They examined about 500 CCTV footage and zeroed down a battery rickshaw," he added. A hunt was launched to identify and arrest the accused. Around 150 rickshaw owners were examined. On May 29, Umer was arrested. The police recovered the womans mobile phone and the rickshaw used in the crime, Meena said. Umer was previously involved in a robbery case, he said. Police said that an FIR under sections 376 , 308 , 328 , and 379 of the Indian Penal Code. Further investigation is underway, he added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Franz Kafka is one of the best-known German-language authors in the world, even though he has been dead for 100 years. So why is he still so popular today? Franz Kafka (1883-1924) is one of the most important writers of the 20th century (Darchivio/opale.photo/picture alliance ) Born in Prague in 1883, Franz Kafka belonged to the German-speaking Jewish minority, which made him somewhat of an outsider to begin with. He also felt little acceptance from his family and suffered throughout his life at the hands of his father in particular, who would have preferred his son to be a businessman rather than a writer. Unable to make a living from writing alone, Kafka worked from morning to noon as an insurance clerk and then devoted himself to the things that gave him pleasure. He rode a motorcycle, went to the movies and visited brothels. He was sporty, went on city trips to Paris and Berlin, and enjoyed being around people. But he didn't get on so well with women, which was partly due to social expectations. How much closeness was acceptable if one had serious intentions? Kafka was uncertain. Famous thanks to a close friend Kafka wrote in the evenings and at night: diaries, short stories and novels. His best friend, Max Brod, whom he had met while studying law, recognized Kafka's literary talent and encouraged him to publish his work. But Kafka doubted his writing abilities. In 1924, he died of laryngeal tuberculosis only a few weeks before his 41st birthday. He had previously instructed his friend to burn all his writings after his death. But fortunately for posterity, Max Brod did not comply with this wish, otherwise works such as "The Trial" would never have been published. Today, the unfinished novel is one of Kafka's best-known works. It is about a man who becomes a defendant but never finds out what he is accused of having done. And, as usual with Kafka, this story does not end well. Kafka's global appeal Nowadays, Kafka is read all over the world. In Germany young people read him at school as part of the curriculum. In India, he is known in intellectual circles, and he's also popular in Mexico, Colombia and Argentina. The list is endless. Numerous international writers refer to Kafka in their own novels and see him as one of the most important modern authors of the 20th century. Colombian writer and Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who died in 2014, even said that it was reading Kafka's novel "The Metamorphosis" that inspired him to write his own books. Kafka's particular sensibility also lives on through the adjective "Kafkaesque,"which can be found in many languages including German, English, Korean, Turkish, French, Japanese, Russian and Italian. The term describes something that seems unfathomably threatening absurd, bizarre and inexplicable. Why is Kafka still relevant today? The writer dealt with timeless themes in his stories, such as bureaucracy and dealing with authority or rather, the feeling of being at its mercy. Colombian writer Hernan D. Caro asks in the podcast series "Being Kafka" whether the famous author's texts were inspired by dreams or, more specifically, nightmares. Kafka's stories mostly revolve around human experiences. They poetically describe the feeling of being lost, alone and helpless in this world. All these feelings are universal. They apply to people then and now, all over the world. They are completely independent of cultural contexts or political structures. That is why Kafka is read and understood on all continents. His clear, understandable language also makes it easy for translators to adapt his texts into other languages, explains Caro. And he has given authors who came after him an incredibly great gift by showing them how to write about the strangest of topics as if they were the most normal thing in the world. But Nazi Germany took a dim view of Kafka's books, banning and burning them where possible. For a long time Kafka was more popular abroad than in Germany. What fascinates Gen Z about Kafka? Kafka has become a meme on social media. This is particularly true of the vermin that protagonist Gregor Samsa mutates into in "The Metamorphosis." Young people exchange Kafka quotes on TikTok and Instagram. They may not always be correct, but that does not detract from the Kafka worship, which culminates in birthday cakes with Kafka's likeness, also posted online. Kafka often appeals to young people because they, too, come into conflict with authority and sometimes feel just as lost as the author's characters. Franz Kafka's themes of alienation and isolation, and questions of identity, seem just as relevant today, a century after the writer's death. Its ridiculous what people will do when they dont get their way. In March, two Americans filed a lawsuit against Hermes, because they were unable to buy the luxury brands iconic Birkin bags. The satchels retail for about $12,000 (or 10 lakh) on the shelf. Their problem: The bags never go on the shelf theyre always sold out, and the waitlist is only getting longer. The Americans have alleged that in order to move up the waitlist, they were expected to purchase other Hermes items and accessories an unfair business practice. In Schitts Creek (2015 - 2020) an entitled family learns to become better human beings. Anti-Tobacco Day, also known as World No Tobacco Day, is observed as a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and to advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. The day is observed to educate the public about the health risks associated with tobacco use, including smoking and smokeless tobacco products and highlight the importance of quitting tobacco and encourages governments, organisations and individuals to take action against tobacco use. Anti-Tobacco Day 2024: Date, history and significance of World No Tobacco Day (File Photo) Anti-Tobacco Day serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of tobacco on individuals, families and communities; aims to encourage smokers to quit and to prevent young people from starting the habit. By raising awareness and promoting tobacco control measures, Anti-Tobacco Day plays a vital role in reducing the burden of tobacco-related diseases and promoting a healthier society. Date: Celebrated around the world every year on May 31, World No Tobacco Day was created by the Member States of WHO in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. History and significance: In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for April 7, 1988, to be "a world no-smoking day." In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on May 31. This yearly celebration aims to raise awareness amid the global citizens about not only the dangers of using tobacco but also the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations. Individuals can contribute to the cause by pledging to quit tobacco, supporting tobacco control policies and spreading awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco among their friends, family and communities. On this day, various activities and campaigns are organized worldwide to promote tobacco control. These initiatives include public awareness campaigns, educational programs in schools and communities, health screenings, and policy advocacy. The focus is on informing people about the dangers of tobacco use, supporting cessation efforts, and preventing youth from starting tobacco habits. What I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow.A.A. Milne. Potatoes are beloved worldwide, known by many names: papas, spuds, taters, tots, batata, aardappel, kartoffel. (Unsplash) Papas (literally, tubers). That is what potatoes were called by the Incas who first cultivated potatoes nearly 8,000 years ago. Around the middle of the 16th century, the potato came to Europe via Spain and England. Due to its blossom, however, the potato was originally identified as an ornamental plant rather than an agricultural crop. It is said that French Queen Marie Antoinette fashioned the potato flower into a hair accessory, whilst her husband King Louis XVI wore them in his lapel. It was Swiss botanist Gaspard Bauhin or Caspar Bauhin (1560-1624) who called the tuber solanum tuberosum esculentum (edible, tuberous nightshade) - a name that has stayed. (Also read: International Potato Day 2024: Date, history, significance and all that you need to know ) Today, there are 4,000 cultivated varieties of potatoes grown in 130 countries worldwide. In India, the story of the potato began with the early Portuguese and Dutch traders but it was the British East India Company that gave potato cultivation a big push. Globally, potato is the third most-cultivated food crop after wheat and rice. On International Day of Potato (May 30), lets look at some of potato dishes from around the globe. 1. Kumpir (Turkey): Originally from former Yugoslavia, the Turkish Kumpir is big baked jacket potato, stuffed with garlic butter and cheese and served with various toppings. Traditionally, potatoes are baked in special Kumpir ovens and then butter and cheese is mashed in for smooth cream consistency. If you are ever in Istanbul, head to the Ortakoy area to eat the best Kumpir in town. 2. Gamjajeon (Korea): Gamja (potato) and jeon (pancake) is a savoury Korean dish made by pan-frying finely grated potatoes until golden brown. Traditionally, Koreans serve gamjajeon as a main dish that features a simple potato base but it now comes in several variations. Its commonly accompanied by dipping sauces like soy sauce mixed with vinegar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes, enhancing the flavours of the pancake. 3. Colcannon (Ireland): Heard of the traditional Irish song Colcannon? Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream? With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream. Did you ever make a hole on top to hold the melting flake Of the creamy, flavoured butter that your mother used to make? Thats what the Colcannon is - a buttery creamy mashed potatoes mixed with sauteed cabbage and lightly seasoned with salt and pepper. Colcannon is very similar to a Scottish dish called Rumbledethumps and the English Bubble & Squeak. 4. Hasselbackspotatis (Sweden): Borrowing its name from an 18th century tavern that originally was just a red hut house in the middle of a hassel (hazel) on quite a steep slope (backen), Hasselback is Swedish-style roast potato. Restaurang Hasselbacken (Stockholm) opened in 1853 and Hasselbackspotatis (literally, Hazelslope potatoes) were first served in the 1940s and became an instant hit as a side dish with poultry and meat. 5. Perkedel Kentang (Indonesia): Perkedel or bergedel in Indonesian, and begedil in Malay, this is a fried potato patty side dish made of mashed fried potatoes, meat and spices. Interestingly, the name perkedel is derived from frikandel, a Dutch term for deep-fried minced meat patties. Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, perkedel is best eaten when still piping hot. Other varieties of perkedel are perkedel tahu (tofu fritters), perkedel tempe (tempeh fritters and perkedel jagung (corn fritters). 6. Rosti (Switzerland): Often called the national dish of German-speaking Switzerland, rosti is a traditional dish of fried grated potatoes often topped with a fried egg, bacon and/or cheese. Originally, a breakfast dish, rosti is also known as a classic hiking food and easily available in mountain huts. Though similar to the American hash browns, in rosti, grated potatoes are compressed into thick pancake and sometimes served as a side dish with bratwurst and onion gravy or sliced veal or pork in a cream sauce (a traditional Zurich dish called Zurigeschnetzeltes). 7. Raspeballer (Norway): Raspeballer is a traditional potato dumpling dish which goes by many names and is served differently depending on where in Norway you are. In Southern Norway, the dish is usually called komler or komper while the people in Fjord Norway often say potetballer, raspeballer, orkomler. Some prefer to serve the potato dumplings with only syrup and crispy bacon while others make them as a side dish, with pork knuckle or salted lamb. In Norway, it's a tradition to serve raspeballer on Thursdays. 8. Papa a la Huancaina (Peru): Originally from the region of Huancayo (Peru), Papa a la huancaina (literally, Huancayo style potatoes) is a Peruvian appetiser of cold boiled potatoes in a spicy, creamy sauce (Huancaina sauce) made of queso fresco and sauteed or grilled aji amarillo (Peruvian chilli), red onion and garlic. 9. Stoemp (Belgium): A rural dish, Stoemp is made of mashed or pureed potatoes along with root vegetables, herbs, shallots, spices, cream and in some variations with bacon. Traditionally, it is served alongside fried black pudding, fried Braadworst (large Dutch sausage), grilled bacon, and/or fried eggs. Sometimes, it is served with an entrecote (premium cut of beef) or horse tenderloin. 10. Silpancho (Bolivia): Originating in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba, Silpancho consists of a bed of white rice, followed by a layer of boiled and sliced potatoes and then a thin layer of pounded meat topped with chopped tomato. The word Silpancho comes from the Quechua language (sillpanchu) that means thin & pounded meat. Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), also known as non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS), is an advanced genetic screening test used during pregnancy to assess the risk of certain genetic conditions or chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus like Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome. NIPT/NIPS is performed using a simple blood test from the pregnant women, which analyzes fetal DNA that is circulating in their bloodstream where about 20 ml of mother's blood is taken for the test and the result is available in about 10 days. Non-invasive prenatal testing: Purpose, advantages, risks and limitations of NIPT (Photo by Mom Junction) In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Chetna Jain, Director Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in Gurgaon Sector 14, gushed, NIPT/NIPS has revolutionised the care of pregnant women. It analyses cell free fetal DNA which is circulating in mothers blood. This test can be done from 10 weeks of pregnancy. Traditionally, double markers were used as a screening test for Down syndrome between 11 to 13 weeks of pregnancy as first trimester serum (blood) screening. It has a detection rate of about 80%. When combined with nuchal scan, the detection rates are about 90% with a 5% false positive. This means about 5 % women will test positive even if their baby is normal and would need further invasive testing. Quadruple marker is a second trimester screening test for Down syndrome. It is performed between 15 to 22 weeks. It has a detection rate of 80% for Down syndrome with 5% false positive. Purpose: Dr Chetna Jain revealed that NIPT/NIPS is primarily used to screen for common chromosomal conditions in the fetus, particularly - Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome): This is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome): This is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 18. Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome): This is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 13. Sex chromosome abnormalities: NIPT/NIPS can also screen for conditions such as Turner syndrome (monosomy X) or Klinefelter syndrome (XXY). How It Works: Dr Chetna Jain shared, During pregnancy, a small amount of fetal DNA is naturally released into the pregnant womens bloodstream. NIPT/NIPS uses a maternal blood sample to isolate and analyze this fetal DNA. By examining the relative amounts of different chromosomes or specific genetic markers, the test can estimate the risk of certain chromosomal abnormalities. Advantages: Non-invasive: NIPT/NIPS does not pose any risk of miscarriage because it only requires a blood sample from the pregnant person. NIPT/NIPS does not pose any risk of miscarriage because it only requires a blood sample from the pregnant person. High Accuracy: NIPT/NIPS has a high detection rate for common chromosomal conditions, particularly Down syndrome, with lower false-positive rates compared to traditional screening tests like maternal serum screening (e.g., quad screen). NIPT/NIPS has a high detection rate for common chromosomal conditions, particularly Down syndrome, with lower false-positive rates compared to traditional screening tests like maternal serum screening (e.g., quad screen). Early Detection: NIPT/NIPS can be performed as early as 9-10 weeks of pregnancy, providing earlier results compared to other diagnostic tests like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS). How accurate is NIPT/NIPS? Dr Chetna Jain answered, NIPT is highly accurate. The detection rate of Down syndrome is 99%, 96% for Trisomy 18 and 91% for Trisomy 13. NIPT has highest detection achieved by any noninvasive test. A combined assessment with ultrasound and an NIPT significantly reduces the need for invasive procedures like Amniocentesis. She elaborated - False positive NIPT: The accuracy of NIPT is 99% for Down syndrome. The chances for false positive is rare. More data is required to quote exact figures. False negative NIPT is very rare, about 0.02% to 0.2% in detecting autosomal chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome. Risks associated with NIPT: According to Dr Chetna Jain, NIPT has zero risk of miscarriage. CVS procedure has a miscarriage risk of 0.5 to 1%. Amniocentesis has a miscarriage risk of 0.25 to 0.5%. Limitations and considerations of NIPT: NIPT has reduced sensitivity for twin pregnancy. It is not available for triplets or higher order multiple pregnancies. It is not available for other genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis. It can give false positive or false negative results. It can give false positive or false negative results. It is not available for women who themselves have Down syndrome, balanced chromosomal translocations or cancer. Women with organ transplant or blood transfusion in last 4 months cannot do it. NIPT cannot screen for all chromosomal conditions. Not all NIPT panels screen for conditions related to sex chromosomes like Turners, Klinefelter and Triple X syndrome. NIPT cannot screen for all chromosomal conditions. Not all NIPT panels screen for conditions related to sex chromosomes like Turners, Klinefelter and Triple X syndrome. Since NIPT is a screening test, for all positive cases a diagnostic test is recommended for confirmation which is CVS or Amniocentesis. A pregnancy can't be terminated based on a screen positive NIPT result. Who should do NIPT? Dr Chetna Jain informed, NIPT is offered to all pregnant women from 10 wks in the USA, even to low risk population. It should be offered and considered by women where maternal age is > 35 years, ultrasound shows abnormal findings, or there is a family or personal history of chromosomal abnormality. Limitations: Any pregnant women undergoing NIPT should understand that though this is the best screening test available to date, it can have false positives and false negatives. Any abnormal result would require a further invasive testing by Amniocentesis or CVS. It is important for prospective parents in early pregnancy to have enough information on NIPT. With advances in technology, in future more conditions will be identified by noninvasive testing. As of today, NIPT is having a glorious triumph above all noninvasive screening tests. Considerations: NIPT/NIPS results should be interpreted by a qualified healthcare provider who can discuss the implications of positive or abnormal findings and guide further diagnostic testing if necessary. NIPT/NIPS is optional and is offered to pregnant individuals based on their personal preferences and risk factors. In summary, NIPT/NIPS is a valuable prenatal screening tool that offers non-invasive assessment of fetal genetic risk for common chromosomal conditions during pregnancy. It provides early and accurate information that can guide subsequent prenatal care and decision-making. A new study reveals that Liberia has about 4,088 endangered species left in its forests, as the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and partners collaborate to conserve the nation's forests. Dr. Charlene Ewart, a biodiversity specialist and lecturer at the Forestry Training Institute (FTI), alarms that Liberia risks losing thousands of its endemic species if authorities do not swiftly strengthen laws and enforcement mechanisms to protect the country's biodiversity. In her presentation as part of a short-term course on conservation forestry training for over 40 Liberian Journalists, held in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, Dr. Ewart discussed threats facing endangered species in Liberia and stressed the importance of conservation. She discloses over four thousand endangered species, 2,200 of which are found in plants, 1,000 ants, 590 birds, 193 mammals, 67 reptiles, and 38 amphibians. At the same time, Dr. Ewart indicates 103 new endemic plants, 46 most-threatening ones, 17 threatening mammals, four new endemic amphibians, one threatening, two new endemic reptiles, and two most-threatening ones. The biodiversity expert further reveals that Liberia's biodiversity is not fully known, so many species have not been discovered or recorded, per the 2011 biodiversity assessment reports. She calls on authorities here to ensure stronger laws and measures to save endangered species from extinction. According to her, the West African nation of more than 5 million people is known for numerous species of plants and animals, including a few famous wildlife such as pangolins, Pygmy hippos, western chimpanzees, forest elephants, crocodiles, red river hogs, pythons, and parrots. However, she cautions that these wild animals and species are endangered and at risk of extinction due to poaching for bush meat consumption, illegal wildlife trade, and habitat destruction. Only a few are left in the wild, and the continued threats to these species will further reduce the animal population or make them extinct in the near future, which could negatively impact Liberia's biodiversity and destroy the ecosystem, the forestry lecturer says. She reiterates that illegal farming, hunting, and other human activities are destroying the habitats, which put Liberia at high risk, and that few of those new species include the Nimba toads or Numbs Viviparous toads, the Gbanga forest treefrog (Leptopelis bequaerti) and the damselfly (mesocnemistisi ), among others are few of those species form only in Liberia while emphasizing that those kinds of endemic species if not protected, might go missing forever because they are only form in a particular region. Dr. Ewart notes that continued threats to these species will further reduce the animal population or make them become extinct in the near future, negatively impacting biodiversity and destroying the ecosystem, which will have effects on human lives. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Liberia Environment By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. For her part, Dr. Annika Hillers, country director of Wildlife Chimpanzee Foundation, stresses the need for government, stakeholders and implementing partners to collaborate in preserving endangered species. She underscores the significant role play by endangered species in the preservation of the ecosystem so they need stronger collaborative approach to conserving the forest and preserving biodiversity which is essential to human livelihoods. According to her, the overall aim of the Wildlife Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) project dubbed: Protecting Biodiversity through law enforcement and community-led Initiatives (PROBIO) is to reduce continuous threats to Biodiversity, and its natural habitat, while supporting government's conservation and development agenda to preserving the Liberian forest. She rallies stakeholders to enhance connectivity and effective collaboration, which she describes as key to forest management, and to ensure sustainable development through community-led initiatives and enterprise development. The European Union Project Coordinator, Dr. Hillers, also reaffirms the WCF's commitment to remain supportive of activities of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) as a means of sustainability to manage Liberia's precious natural heritage (biodiversity and natural resources). Editing by Jonathan Browne It's hardly news. The WHO warns vaping gives tobacco companies a way to replace dead smokers. What are health experts doing about it? To mark 2024's World No-Tobacco Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report called Hooking the next generation. It outlined a lot of information about e-cigarettes that we've known for years. According to the report, big tobacco companies have arranged their messaging and products to target kids in an attempt to replace the millions of customers who die from their products each year. A billboard advertising vaping devices in Germany reads: For you, for now, for anywhere.(Peter Endig/IMAGO) Kids are excellent targets for these companies because if you pick up a nicotine addiction before the age of 21, there's a good chance you will be addicted for life, the report said. The WHO said the industry targets children by selling products with fruit and candy flavors and cartoonish designs. The companies, meanwhile, deny that they explicitly target children. (Also read: World No-Tobacco Day: 7 positive changes that happen in the body after you quit smoking) In a 'vaping public health crisis' In 2018-2019, public health officials in the US acknowledged a vaping public health crisis. Since then, initiatives have been introduced worldwide attempting to rein in the situation, but what was a "crisis" then now appears to be a mere fact of life. It is hard to walk down the street in a busy city without noticing someone blowing a large puff of vapor out their nose. Many members of Gen Z have spent their formative years sucking on highly addictive plastic objects that, at first glance, look like flash drives or, more crudely, adult pacifiers. According to the WHO report, children between 13 and 15 years old use e-cigarettes at higher rates than "adults in all WHO regions." The authors wrote that 32% of 15-year-olds surveyed in the European region reported using e-cigarettes at some point, with 20% reporting use in the past 30 days. Most of these children were not using the vapes to wean themselves off cigarettes, states the WHO report. What is a vape? If you are unfamiliar with the world of vaping, you may be wondering what the WHO is talking about when they use words like "vape" or e-cigarette. E-cigarettes, or vapes the WHO report and this article use the term interchangeably first hit the American and European markets in the mid-2000s. These products, which were often designed to resemble regular cigarettes, used "free-base" nicotine. Free-base nicotine has existed since the 1960s when tobacco companies realized that by adding ammonia to nicotine, they could strip it of its protons to make it more intense when heated and inhaled. This form of nicotine is extracted directly from the tobacco plant. The problem with free-base nicotine, at least when it comes to attracting children, is the fact that it becomes physically painful to vape at high levels of concentration and still provides a "throat burn" that former cigarette smokers crave but would be uncomfortable for people who have never smoked. These early iterations of vapes typically contained between 3 to 12 milligrams of nicotine. In 2016, the company Juul introduced a vape that featured a new kind of nicotine delivery: nicotine salts. Nicotine salts have a lower pH solution, essentially eliminating the throat burn caused by free-base nicotine, even at very high concentration levels. These devices hit the US market at a highly addictive concentration of 50 milligrams. In Europe, these vapes cannot be sold at a concentration higher than 20 milligrams. When it comes to attracting kids, these devices are magic, because they are discrete. They can be smoked in bathrooms or into your sleeve or shirt, and the fruity smell of a hit only lingers in a room for a few minutes. Unlike cigarettes, which mark users with their acrid smell, vapes can be easily hidden from nosy parents. Long-term health effects of vaping are unknown The WHO suggests that along with sticking their hands and millions of dollars into public health policy on vaping, tobacco industries also try to influence the scientific research that is conducted to measure the health effects of vaping devices. The authors noted that in 2024, the tobacco company Philip Morris International funded a series of courses about smoking cessation on Medscape, a US-based medical news website, that portrayed "nicotine products as relatively harmless." The series was canceled following complaints. Science communication on vapes is confusing, including for advice about vaping while pregnant or using vapes to get off cigarettes and whether vaping causes cancer even for a journalist who follows the issue closely. For example, public health messaging out of the UK suggests that vaping is safer than cigarettes and should be encouraged for smoking cessation, while messaging out of other countries, like the US, abstains from recommending vapes under any circumstances. Which of these policies is correct is anyone's guess. Because these products are still so new, we simply don't have the studies needed to truly understand the long-term health consequences of inhaling watermelon-flavored nicotine vapor dozens of times a day, every day for multiple years, and particularly not when it comes to the impact on kids. We do know, however, that there is virtually no health benefit to smoking nicotine or tobacco, and there is certainly no benefit to prepubescent never-smokers taking up the habit. Some studies have indicated that children who start vaping later are more likely to smoke cigarettes. Numerous studies have shown that nicotine has a negative impact on brain development and increases the risk of cancer. Smoking impacts reproductive health, causes a decreased immune response, affects cell and tumor proliferation and causes resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. We know all this. Over the past few decades, enormous public health efforts were initiated worldwide to get people off cigarettes. They were largely successful. According to WHO estimates, cigarette use has been steadily decreasing for the past two decades across the globe. Authorities thought they had gotten ahead of the tobacco companies. And perhaps they had, for a few years. But just like that, the companies found a new generation of customers. World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day is dedicated to raising awareness and garnering support for individuals living with multiple sclerosis, as well as their families and caregivers. MS is a chronic autoimmune disorder that impacts the central nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord. According to the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, multiple sclerosis affects over 2.3 million individuals worldwide and is one of the most prevalent illnesses of the central nervous system. The goal of World MS Day is to enhance understanding of the disease, advocate for improved access to treatment and care, and build a sense of unity within the global MS community. (Also read: International Potato Day 2024: Date, history, significance and all that you need to know ) Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability.(Shutterstock) World Multiple Sclerosis Day 2024 date and theme World Multiple Sclerosis Day is celebrated every year on May 30, and this year, it falls on Thursday. The theme for World MS Day 2024-2025 is diagnosis, highlighted by the campaign name 'My Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis' and the slogan 'Navigating Multiple Sclerosis Together'. This theme aims to promote early and accurate diagnoses for all individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to highlight global barriers to MS diagnosis. It seeks to increase awareness through sharing personal experiences and providing essential information. World Multiple Sclerosis Day history Established in 2009, the inaugural MS Day was initiated by the MS International Federation (MSIF), a unique global network of diverse MS organizations. MSIF supports those affected by MS through the efforts of numerous staff members and volunteers worldwide. Delegates from many countries, including Greece, Argentina, Australia, the United States, India, Kenya, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, and Spain, are represented within MSIF. Significance of World Multiple Sclerosis World Multiple Sclerosis Day holds significant importance as it raises global awareness about multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. The day mobilizes support for individuals living with MS, as well as their families and caregivers, highlighting the need for better access to treatment and care. It also fosters a sense of unity and solidarity within the global MS community, promoting understanding and advocacy to overcome the barriers faced in diagnosing and managing the disease. Through personal stories and information campaigns, World MS Day aims to educate the public, drive research, and improve the quality of life for those affected by MS. Smoking poses a grave threat to the health and wellbeing of both the smoker and those in their immediate environment, especially young children as secondhand or passive smoke exposure can have devastating consequences for infants and toddlers, compromising their respiratory health and increasing their risk of life-threatening conditions. Ahead of World No Tobacco Day this Friday, May 31, 2024, health experts underscore the critical importance of quitting smoking in order to safeguard the wellness of children under one's care. World No Tobacco Day 2024: Harmful effects of passive smoking on children and fetal health (Photo by Behance) In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Tushar Parikh, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist at Motherhood Hospitals in Pune's Kharadi, explained, Secondhand smoke takes a severe toll on the overall well-being of children who tend to live with or around smokers. Secondhand smoke consists of the smoke released from a cigarette and exhaled by a smoker. It contains dangerous chemicals that can be especially harmful to children, whose lungs are still developing. Even children whose parents smoke only outside are at risk, as the chemicals in secondhand smoke linger. Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke causes a variety of illnesses and can even be fatal for young, vulnerable lives. The best way to eliminate this exposure is to quit smoking entirely. He revealed the effects of secondhand smoking during pregnancy and fetal health - Low Birth Weight Babies, Premature Birth and Stillbirth: Mothers who are exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy may have complications such as low birth weight babies, premature birth, and stillbirth. The babies will be extremely weak and susceptible to chronic infections. Passive smoking may also impact the cognitive development and overall well-being of the child. Growth Restriction in Babies: Smoking is known to disrupt blood flow to the placenta, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients available to the fetus. This can cause growth restriction and developmental delays for the baby. Respiratory Issues: Secondhand smoke exposure can lead to an increased incidence of respiratory infections, asthma, and other lung-related issues in children. Ear Infections: Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at a higher risk of developing middle ear infections and related complications. Dr Tushar Parikh highlighted the harmful effects of passive smoking on child health - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): Babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke from their mother, father, or anyone else in the family have a greater chance of dying from SIDS during the first year of life than children who are not around secondhand smoke. Weak Lungs: Babies who breathe secondhand smoke may have weaker and more sensitive lungs, leading to respiratory distress. These children can also have symptoms such as coughing, excess phlegm, wheezing, and breathlessness. Children whose parents smoke around them are more prone to bronchitis and pneumonia. Asthma and Bronchospasm: Passive smoking triggers asthma episodes in children and increases the incidence of childhood asthma, a chronic condition requiring the use of an inhaler. It can also cause bronchospasm, leading to restricted airflow to the lungs. Hyperactive Airway Disease: Passive smoking can cause asthma-like breathing problems without an official diagnosis, where the bronchial tubes swell, making it difficult for the child to breathe. Other Health Problems: Children exposed to secondhand smoke may also experience lung cancer, eye irritation, sore throat, cardiovascular disease, headaches, ear infections, and nose irritation, requiring timely intervention. Moreover, children may feel that smoking is acceptable and be more likely to take up the habit in the future if it is endorsed in their family. Dr Tushar Parikh concluded, It is imperative to quit smoking and keep the home smoke-free. Dont allow any relatives or visitors to smoke at home. If you have nannies, babysitters, and daycare staff then ensure they dont smoke. If you are going out with your baby or child, choose a Go smoke-free restaurant, it is a good idea to avoid visiting places that allow smoking. Educate your child regarding the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke to improve their quality of life. Regulatory declarations made by real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, father of 17-year-old Vedant Agarwal who is accused of driving the vehicle that rammed into a bike on May 19 killing two people, reveal that the realtor has two ongoing real estate projects in Pune. Regulatory declarations made by real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, father of 17-year-old Vedant Agarwal who is accused of driving the vehicle that rammed into a bike on May 19 killing two people, reveal that the realtor has two ongoing real estate projects in Pune. (PTI) Also Read: Pune Porsche crash: Who appointed Dr Ajay Taware? Dean vs minister blame game Vishal Agarwal is the owner of Bramha Realty and Infrastructure Private Limited, the company which he floated after separating from his family business BramhaCorp. As the investigation into the Pune Porsche car crash unpacks newer details with each passing day, the case has cast a shadow on the two real estate projects. The two projects being executed by Bramha Realty include a residential project in Dhanori area and a commercial project in Pimpri near Pune, according to the declarations made by the Agarwal family with the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA). The two projects are registered under the name of Vishal Agarwal, Shivani Agarwal and Surendra Agarwal who are father, mother and grandfather of the minor who allegedly rammed his Porsche into two techies in their 20s - killing them on the spot on May 19. The MahaRERA project completion date for the residential project is April 1, 2026 and for the commercial project is December 31, 2027. Also Read: Pune Porsche crash: How doctors changed teen driver's blood sample | Sequence of events Details of under construction projects executed by the company in Pune According to the MahaRERA declarations made by the Agarwal family, a residential project named Bramha Skycity Phase-3 with two buildings of 14 floors each is currently under construction. The two buildings have a total of 92 units comprising 2 and 3 BHK apartments of which more than 50 units have been booked, as per information disclosed to MahaRERA by Bramha Multicon Pvt Ltd. Another commercial project named Bramha Sky Uzuri Phase 2 is being executed by Bramha Leisures Pvt Ltd. The project is located in Pimpri near Pune and comprises 315 commercial units of which the company has got bookings for around 96 units, according to the MahaRERA declarations submitted by the firm as of December 2023. Almost half of the construction work is complete, according to the project status details posted by the company on the MahaRERA website. What happens to homebuyers now? Pune police have arrested the teen's father and grandfather of the minor involved in the Pune Porsche accident for allegedly trying to stall the investigation. The juvenile son of the Pune builder, Vishal Agarwal, allegedly drank alcohol at a restaurant and a club before driving the car at high speed, which crashed into a motorbike in the wee hours of May 19, killing two IT professionals, police had said. Local developers from Pune told HT Digital that the project operations may get affected for a while due to ongoing legal cases, but on paper even the mother of the juvenile accused in the accident is a director on the board of companies executing the real estate projects. Meanwhile, an email query sent to Bramha Group and their lawyer handling the legal cases in relation to the Pune Porsche car accident, went unanswered. Agarwals family is a prominent real estate developer in Pune Agarwals are a prominent real estate developer in Pune and have been running the business under the banner of Bramha in Pune since the last four decades. BrahmaCorp was set up 40 years ago by Bramhadutt Agrawal. According to the company website, the firm is involved in residential, commercial and hospitality segments. The company is known to have introduced luxury hotels such as Le Meridien Mahabaleshwar and Sheraton Grand to the Pune market. Also Read: Pune Porsche accident: Here are 5 things to know about Bramha Realty's Vishal Agarwal who is father of Vedant Agarwal The Agarwal family had separated post Covid-19 following which Vishal Agarwal is not associated with BramhaCorp and is operating under the banner of Bramha but with a different suffix, Pune real estate market consultants told HT Digital. A video of an anchor appearing to swallow a fly while on live TV has gone viral on social media. The video shows something falling into the mouth of Boston news anchor Vanessa Welch mid-sentence and her continuing even after this unexpected interruption. The image shows news anchor Vanessa Welch, who appeared to have swallowed a fly on live TV. (Screengrab) The video opens to show her saying her piece to the camera with what appears to be a fly perched just below her eye. As she continues, it suddenly falls inside her mouth. She pauses for a split second before continuing with the reporting. Take a look at the video of the anchor here: The video was also posted on Instagram and has received several praiseful comments. A few people also reacted to the video using clapping emojis. What did social media users say? An individual wrote, She's so professional. Another added, This is crazy. I love you so much. A third joined, This is just wow. While most people said that she swallowed a fly or some kind of insect, a few argued that it was not a living creature but a part of her fake eyelash that fell into her mouth. Years ago, in 2022, a similar incident happened with Canadian news anchor Farah Nasser. She was reporting news on live television when a fly flew into her mouth, and she ended up swallowing it. She later took to X (then Twitter) to share about this incident. "Sharing because we all need a laugh these days. Turns out it's not just @fordnation, I swallowed a fly on air today. (Very much a first world problem given the story I'm introducing), she wrote as the posts caption. What are your thoughts on this latest video? A screengrab from a Kannada news channel's coverage of suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing sexual abuse charges, is going viral on social media for its graphics. A Kannada channel's screenscrab shows the anchor in a cockpit. (X) The on-screen graphics has the news anchor seated inside the cockpit of a plane, seemingly flying from Munich in Germany to Bengaluru. Prajwal Revanna, 33, is expected to return to Bengaluru from Munich in the early hours of Friday, news agency PTI reported. He filed an application for anticipatory bail in connection with the alleged obscene video case. The news channel's viral image sparked quite a few reactions, with many users finding it bizarre. Anna went Germany to pickup Prajwal Revanna personally from Munich, X user Mallikarjuna said. Caution: This aircraft flies only in TV. Handled by professionals. Dont try to imitate, another user joked. Finally Kannada TV Anchor flew Prajwal Revanna to the waiting arms of law enforcement, user Rajath said. Police on alert The police are on the alert to execute the arrest warrant against the Revanna as soon as he lands at the airport in Bengaluru. He has booked a flight from Munich to Bengaluru by Lufthansa Airlines. The flight will leave Munich on Thursday afternoon and land in Bengaluru at 12.05 am on Friday, PTI quoted an official as saying. On Monday, Prajwal Revanna, in a self-made video, had said that he will appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday for questioning. Revanna said that his overseas trip was pre-planned as there was no case against him when the voting was held in Karnataka last month for the Lok Sabha election. He also alleged political conspiracy against him as he was "growing in politics." Revanna's location is still unknown and is supposedly in Germany, according to officials. Natasa Stankovic, since the past few days, has been sharing various Instagram stories that have prompted people to post varied comments. These posts come amid her divorce rumours with Hardik Pandya. In her latest share, she posted a gym picture as her Instagram Story, with the song Reckless Love as the background score. The image shows the photo that Natasa Stankovic shared as her Instagram Story, with Reckless Love as the background score. (Instagram/@natasastankovic__) The picture she shared shows her face covered with a phone, which she is using for clicking a picture. The photo also shows her holding a very adorable dog. The Instagram Story has a background score of a few lines from the song Reckless Love by Cory Asbury. The lyrics which appear on screen are, There's no shadow You won't light up. Mountain You won't climb up. Coming after me. There's no wall You won't kick down. Lie You won't tear down. Coming after me. Also Read: Natasa Stankovic latest Instagram post on faith amid divorce rumours with Hardik Pandya Heres the image Natasa Stankovic shared: Natasa Stankovic shared this Instagram story amid her divorce rumours with Hardik Pandya. (Instagram/@natasastankovic__) Natasa also shared a picture of her clicking a selfie inside an elevator earlier, in addition to sharing posts on faith. Natasa Stankovic and Hardik Pandya tied the knot in 2020 and welcomed their child Agastya the same year. Rumours about their divorce started after a Reddit user shared a post claiming that Natasa had dropped the surname Pandya from her Instagram handle. The same post also claimed that she had deleted all pictures of herself with Hardik, except the ones where they are with their son. Another post has surfaced, adding fuel to the rumour mill. It suggests that the couple's divorce is nearing finalisation. It alleges that as part of the settlement, Hardik is to relinquish 70% of his property to Natasa. It is important to mention that the couple has not publicly addressed these claims. (HT.com cannot independently verify these claims) With little over a month left in the UK general election, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been campaigning vigorously across the country, rallying support for his party. As part of his campaign trail, he recently travelled on an overnight sleeper train from London to Cornwall. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives at a London railway station.(AP) Sunak was spotted at the railway station with a 750 (approximately 79,000) personalised Tumi backpack. The PM wore the backpack, monogrammed with his initials RS, to one of the poorest areas in the country, according to a report by Mirror. Take a look at UK PM Rishi Sunak wearing the expensive bag at a railway station below: Sunak took the sleeper service to Penzance as part of the Conservative Partys campaign in the South West of England. The outlet further reported that the backpack is on the shelves of high-end stores, including Selfridges. Sunak, at a train depot in Penzance, spoke about his plans to level up funds for Cornwall and close university courses in England. He said that the government would fund up to 100,000 extra apprenticeships a year instead of university courses, reported BBC. This, however, is not the first time Sunak was spotted wearing expensive things. In July 2022, he wore 490 (approximately 51,000) Prada suede shoes on his visit to a building site. He wore the brown loafers as he toured the Teesside Freeport. According to The Sunday Times Rich List, PM Sunak and his wife Akshata Murtys projected net worth is 651 million. The couple, ranked 245th on the list, are the richest inhabitants of Downing Street in history and are wealthier than King Charles III. The couples fortune has increased by over 120 million pounds in just a year and is driven largely by Murtys ownership stake in Infosys, an Indian IT company that her father, NR Narayana Murthy, co-founded. In 2022, the couple was ranked higher than the late Queen Elizabeth II, whose personal wealth was estimated to exceed 370 million that year. Russian vlogger Mariia Chugurova, who currently lives in Goa, recently visited Mumbais Siddhivinayak Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. She filmed her experience, which has been going viral on Instagram. Russian vlogger Mariia Chugurova at Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai. (Instagram/@mariechug) Namaste dosto [friends]. Today was a truly special day as I had the opportunity to visit one of Mumbais most revered and iconic landmarks: The Siddhivinayak Temple, wrote Chugurova while sharing the video. In the next few lines, she shared how she felt inside the temple: The energy within the temple was palpable, and the sense of community was heartwarming. It was a reminder of the power of faith and the unifying force of shared beliefs. Joining the long queue of devotees, I felt a profound sense of connection with everyone around me, each person carrying their hopes, dreams, and prayers. I left the temple with a heart full of blessings and a mind at peace, grateful for the experience and the chance to be part of something so timeless and beautiful! she concluded. The video opens to show Chugurova saying, Today Im coming to the most famous temple in Mumbai, Siddhivinayak. As the video goes on, she buys a pooja thali and waits for her turn in the long queue at the temple. Even when its so crowded, so many people, everybody pushing you, everybody trying to move you because you need to do this very fast. But you still have such a blessed feeling. You cant explain this, the Russian vlogger says towards the end of the video. Watch the video here: Chugurova video, posted on May 23, quickly went viral on Instagram with over 3.2 million views. Many even dropped their thoughts on the video in the comments section. Check out a few comments here: An individual said, Lovely. Wow, said another. A third expressed, May Lord Ganesha bless you. A judge in the United States was dumbfounded when a man with a suspended licence appeared online while behind the wheel in his court hearing. According to reports, the incident happened on May 15 when Corey Harris, 44, attended a Zoom court hearing while driving. The hearing was related to charges from an earlier arrest in Pittsfield Township, Washtenaw County. The man who appeared in his court hearing online while driving a car with a suspended licence spent two days in custody. (Representative image) Washtenaw County Judge J Cedric Simpson not only revoked Harris bond but also ordered him to surrender at Washtenaw County Jail by 6 pm that evening, failing which a bench warrant will be issued against him without bond, CBS News reported. A video of the court hearing has been doing the rounds on the Internet. The video opens to show Judge Simpson asking, Mr Harris, are you driving? Actually, Im pulling into my doctors office. So, just give me one second, Im parking right now, Harris says. Judge Simpson then asks him if he has parked his car, and he replies yes. As the video goes on, his attorney requests an adjournment in the case for up to four weeks. Judge Simpson continues, Ok, so maybe I dont understand something. This is a driving while licence suspended. That is correct, your honour, Harriss attorney says. The judge then says, ...and he was just driving and he didnt have a licence. Thats when Harris realises his mistake, and his expression says it all. Judge Simpson further says, I dont even know why he would do that, so the defendants bond is revoked in this matter. Failure to turn himself in will result in the bench warrant with no bond. Harris then rolls his head back in disbelief and says, Oh my god. Harris was released from custody two days later. The next court hearing is scheduled for June 5, CBS News reported. Residents have to each pay R6,000 over six months, otherwise they won't be reconnected, says the power utility Some households in Evaton under the Emfuleni Local Municipality are being forced to pay to have power restored after the transformers supplying their areas stopped working. Eskom told residents that they have to each pay R6,000 over six months to have their transformer replaced and switched on again. One of the transformers, supplying about 118 houses, blew and stopped working in October 2021. And another was hit by lightning in March this year. Eskom says that areas in Evaton have high illegal connection rates, meter bypasses, and unauthorised operation on the network. This overloads transformers. It's been almost three years since some households in Evaton, just outside of Johannesburg, have had electricity. They claim they have been neglected by the embattled Emfuleni Local Municipality. Premier Panyaza Lesufi is expected to oversee the switching on of transformers in Evaton and Sebokeng on Tuesday, as part of the Transformer Replacement programme to electrify communities that have been in the dark for extended periods. A community leader told GroundUp by midday on Tuesday that their power was still off in Evaton West. This follows an announcement by Eskom that residents would have to contribute R500 monthly or up to R6,000 in total to have two transformers supplying their area repaired and switched on again. According to residents, one of the transformers, supplying about 118 houses, blew and stopped working in October 2021. Mareka Motholo said, "We don't know what kind of transformer they will install because if they bring the small one like the one we had, we will still have blackouts." He said, "Last year, we started collecting R500 from all homes connected to the transformer. It was paid to the account number given to us by Eskom this year, but up to this day, we don't know why Eskom has not yet fixed the transformer." Motholo said the power utility insisted that everyone pay regardless of their income thresholds. "Majority of the people around here don't work, but we had to pay that money." Maggie Maboya runs the Katlego University of Early Childhood Development (ECD) which accommodates about 200 young children. She said the lack of electricity has impacted the day-to-day running of the creche. "We struggle to heat water, so we leave containers out in the sun on warm days, but we mostly use firewood. When we cook, we have to use gas but it's costly," she said. "Our classrooms are fitted with air-conditioners, but we can't use them. Summer is the worst nightmare because it gets very hot in the classrooms for our young ones." Maboya said using candles to light the rooms isn't safe, particularly when working with young children. The issue in this area is that the community has grown, and the transformer was overburdened by illegal connections and some people were believed to have tampered with their electricity boxes. Meanwhile a few metres away, nearly 70 houses have been without electricity since 21 March when their transformer was hit by lightning. Residents here say they were also told by Eskom that they need to pay a reconnection fee before the transformer can be fixed. Eskom responds Gauteng Eskom spokesperson Amanda Qithi confirmed that Evaton West is on its list of communities in need of new transformers. "Eskom is experiencing a very high number of incidents of illegal connections, meter bypassing and tampering, unauthorised operations on the network, infrastructure vandalism and theft, as well as the non-payment and non-purchasing of electricity tokens, which is constantly on the rise. Over the years we repeatedly replaced and repaired failed equipment without holding customers accountable." "When the failure is due to illegal electricity activities, we have implemented stringent control measures as it is financially unsustainable for Eskom to continuously replace these, especially without any return on investment," said Qithi. She said that to date Eskom has replaced 137 transformers in the Vaal area, including Sebokeng, Orange Farm and Driezik and Stretford that fall under Orange Farm. "The replacement process is not only implemented in Vaal, but in all Eskom areas of supply in Gauteng," she said. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Energy By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "As part of the process, 60% of the disconnected customers have to pay R6,052. Customers that cannot settle this amount in full are encouraged to enter into a Deferred Payment Arrangement (DPA) and make an initial minimum payment of R500. The balance can be paid over a period of six months. Once the threshold of 60% of the payment is reached, Eskom will start the process of restoring the power supply. Depending on the availability of all material, the repair work would then be undertaken, during which transformers would be replaced, damaged meters changed, and cables replaced. "Customers who do not pay the reconnection fee in full or enter into the DPA wherein they pay the initial R500, will remain disconnected when the failed equipment has been replaced or repaired," she said. Qithi added that the power utility loses millions of rands to illegal connections, tampering and vandalism. New Delhi, Being nice to people irrespective of where they come from and what they can offer goes a long way, says Pranav Pingle Reddy, who decided to document the daily life of Palestinians in his documentary "Occupied". All you need to do is care about someone else's suffering: Pranav Reddy on Palestine-set 'Occupied' Filmed in Palestine between 2016 and 2017, the 121-minute English documentary explores the cost of war through intimate interviews of five artists who are a testament to human resistance. Unlike a feature film with a ready script, Reddy, who finds it tragic that his documentary is relevant today given the situation in Gaza, said the entire story of "Occupied" was shot in 35 days. "Everything was based on a conversation... I just wanted to know a little bit more about their life. The reason the film is where it is, is because all you need to do is care a little bit about someone else's suffering. If you're able to do that, that sort of basically sensitises you as a human being," Reddy told PTI in an interview. "The reason why the artists connected with the team and myself was because we cared a little bit. That's all we did," the Hyderabad-based director said about the documentary, currently streaming on MUBI India. The situation on ground has got worse since Reddy shot the documentary. On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israel through land, sea and air routes killing at least 1,200 Israelis and taking hostage another 230. Media reports suggested 30 of them are still held hostage. The attack prompted Israel to launch an all-out attack on the Gaza Strip, a self-governing Palestinian territory next to Egypt and Israel, and killed thousands of Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children. On Sunday, Israel carried out an airstrike on a camp in the southern Gaza city of Rafah which killed at least 45 people. Reddy said he would have never thought "Occupied" would be relevant today. "To see what's happening right now, the film is more relevant than ever. It's just that it's been happening so much in the West Bank... I'm happy that the world is going to see the film but I'm not happy with what the situation is." Reddy's "Occupied" follows calligraphy artist Hamza Aby Ayyash, poet Nabil Barham, Sa'aleek rapper group, handicraft artists and brothers Ala and Baha, and ballet dancer Rand Ziad as they create art in the time of war. The whole film came to life when Reddy met Shadi Zaqtan, a musician based out of Palestinian city Ramallah, at an airport in Vietnam when he was flying out for a friend's wedding. Reddy, who is in his early 30s, and Zaqtan soon exchanged numbers through Facebook and the musician invited the filmmaker to stay at his home. Months later, he decided to take a leap of faith and used all the money he and his team had made by shooting an advertisement to head to Palestine. "I sent one message to this guy telling him that we wanted to come there and he said, 'Yeah, Habibi, come stay with me'. I thought this guy's just taking it really lightly. Which guy at an airport you will meet who's going to say okay to staying 30 days with him and come film? But, that's exactly what happened." Reddy and his crew landed in Tel Aviv with the visa for 35-40 days for Palestine via Israel. They told the Israeli authorities they were landscape photographers and later shot "Occupied" in Palestinian cities Qalandia, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Hebron, Haifa, and the Dead Sea. Most of the drone shots they filmed could have sent the team to a minimum five to 10 years in jail. "We had to time it in such a way that every time a patrol vehicle would pass by, the guy who was with us would say 'Pranav, the patrol vehicle had passed. You can fly the drone for 30 seconds to three minutes, and then you fly it back'. Reddy credits Zaqtan, who runs a bar in Ramallah, for finding out five different artists in Palestine. "Since the kind of stories that we were exposed to through the media about the pain and suffering of death, we wanted to showcase how there are also other kinds of people who are living in this entire occupation," he said, adding "Occupied" was a self-financed project that took six years to complete," he said. "The Palestinian people are by far the most kind, giving, caring and the most amazing people that I've ever come across. They were extremely supportive. There less is more. It was truly heart wrenching to see what was happening," Reddy added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Boeing told federal regulators Thursday how it plans to fix the safety and quality problems that have plagued its aircraft-manufacturing work in recent years. Nobody was hurt during January's incident on a relatively new Boeing 737 Max 9 as the plane flew above Oregon. (Reuters/File) The Federal Aviation Administration required the company to produce a turnaround plan after one of its jetliners suffered a blowout of a fuselage panel during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. In late February, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker gave Boeing 90 days to come up with a plan to improve quality and ease the agencys safety concerns This is a guide for a new way for Boeing to do business, Whitaker said after he met with Boeing CEO David Calhoun and other senior company leaders Thursday. Boeing has laid out a road map, now they need to execute. Nobody was hurt during January's incident on a relatively new Boeing 737 Max 9 as the plane flew above Oregon. Accident investigators determined that bolts that helped secure the panel to the frame of the plane were missing before the piece blew off. The mishap has further battered Boeings reputation and led to multiple civil and criminal investigations. The FAA limited Boeing production of the 737 Max, its best-selling plane, after the close call involving the Alaska Airlines jetliner. Whitaker said the cap will remain in place until his agency is satisfied Boeing is making progress. Boeings recent problems could expose it to criminal prosecution related to the deadly crashes of two Max jetliners in 2018 and 2019. The Justice Department said two weeks ago that Boeing violated terms of a 2021 settlement that allowed it to avoid prosecution for fraud. The charge was based on the company allegedly deceiving regulators about a flight-control system that was implicated in the crashes. Whistleblowers have accused the company of taking shortcuts that endanger passengers, a claim that Boeing disputes. A panel convened by the FAA prior to the blowout found shortcomings in the aircraft makers safety culture. Most of the recent problems have been related to the Max, however Boeing and key supplier Spirit AeroSystems have also struggled with manufacturing flaws on a larger plane, the 787 Dreamliner. Boeing has suffered setbacks on other programs including its Starliner space capsule, a military refueling tanker, and new Air Force One presidential jets. Boeing officials have vowed to regain the trust of regulators and the flying public. Boeing has fallen behind rival Airbus, and production setbacks have hurt the company's ability to generate cash. The company says it is reducing traveled work assembly tasks that are done out of their proper chronological order and keeping closer tabs on Spirit AeroSystems. The FAA has put more inspectors inside Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems plants and created more inspection points since the Alaska Airlines blowout, according to Whitaker. He acknowledged its not certain whether more inspectors would have prevented the blowout but said more eyes would have improved the chances of catching mistakes. Toronto: Indian immigration agent Brijesh Mishra, allegedly behind preparing fraudulent documents for international students, has been found guilty on three of the charges levelled against him by Canadian authorities and sentenced to three years in prison. Former students from India facing deportation during a protest in Toronto, Canada in March last year. (Supplied photo) Mishra appeared before a British Columbia provincial court in Vancouver on Wednesday and pled guilty to the three charges while two other counts were stayed. In a letter sent by the Canadian government to some of the students impacted, who also appeared as witnesses in the trial, an official said that with credit for time served, he has about 19 months remaining of the sentence but could be eligible for parole prior to that. Mishra may face deportation proceedings once he serves the sentence. Last year, over 150 ex-students from India, mainly Punjab, faced deportation from Canada as the documents they had used to enter the country were found to be forged. These students arrived in Canada between 2017 and 2019, and in rare instances, in 2020. They started receiving notices from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA )in 2021 and 2022, for a hearing as the agency concluded the letter of offer of admission to a Canadian higher education institution, which formed the basis of their study permits, was fake. Agents in India used fraudulent documentation to procure study permits for them and they started receiving notices from immigration authorities late last year once these were detected. The majority of the affected students were represented by Mishra, then with the Jalandhar-based counselling firm Education and Migration Services Australia (EMSA). They were reprieved in June last year as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a task force to examine each case on its merits and allow ex-students who had completed their courses in Canada and considered genuine to remain in the country. Mishra was in custody since June last year, after he attempted to enter Canada and was found to be inadmissible. Among the charges he pled guilty to was counselling or attempting to counsel misrepresentation. Reacting to the verdict, Toronto-based immigration lawyer Sumit Sen said, We hope our Indian students will now be able to settle in Canada and have a happy life. Sen, who represented one of the ex-students, added, Our Indian students stand vindicated after a long and arduous fight in the courts. India on Thursday reaffirmed its long-standing position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict following the recent recognition of Palestine by Ireland, Norway, and Spain. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted India's historical support for Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (File Photo) When asked about the coordinated decision by Spain, Ireland, and Norway to formally recognise Palestine, Jaiswal, at a weekly press briefing, said, As you are aware, India was one of the first countries to recognise the state of Palestine in the late 1980s, and we have long supported a two-state solution which entails the establishment of a sovereign, viable, and independent state of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace. Read: Gaza war may last till end of 2024, warns Israel amid Rafah offensive The European nations hope their recognition of Palestine will galvanise international efforts towards peace. "We had wanted to recognise Palestine at the end of a peace process. However, we have made this move alongside Spain and Norway to keep the miracle of peace alive," Ireland's Prime Minister Simon Harris said in a statement, urging Israel to "stop the humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza. Norway's foreign minister Espen Barth Eide hailed the move as a special day for Norway-Palestine relations while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said recognition was "essential" for peace. Sanchez insisted the move was "not against anyone, least of all Israel" and the only way to secure a future of two states living side-by-side "in peace and security". Israel has repeatedly condemned the decision, saying it bolsters Hamas, the militant Islamist group that led the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war in the Hamas-governed Gaza Strip. "Sanchez, when you... recognize a Palestinian state, you are complicit in incitement to genocide against the Jewish people and in war crimes," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on X on Tuesday. India also expressed deep concern over the recent loss of civilian lives in the displacement camp in Rafah. "The heartbreaking loss of civilian lives in the displacement camp in Rafah is a matter of deep concern. We have consistently called for the protection of the civilian population and respect for international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict," Jaiswal said, noting that the Israeli side has already accepted responsibility and announced an investigation into the incident. The Israeli strikes on Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, have sparked widespread condemnation. Local health officials reported that the strikes killed at least 45 Palestinians, including many displaced individuals living in tents that were set ablaze on Sunday. The incident has led to a surge of outrage and solidarity on social media, with the hashtag "All eyes on Rafah" gaining traction and being shared by tens of millions worldwide. Israeli forces killed at least 12 Palestinians in a dawn airstrike on Rafah in southern Gaza on Thursday and fighting raged in several other areas of the coastal enclave, Gaza medics said. A man looks on as Palestinians inspect a tent camp damaged in an Israeli strike during an Israeli military operation, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 28, 2024.(Reuters) Israel pressed on with its offensive on Rafah a day after saying its forces had taken control of a buffer zone along the nearby border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, giving it effective authority over Gaza's entire land frontier. It said the buffer zone's capture had cut off a route used by the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas to smuggle arms into Gaza during more than seven months of war, which has laid waste to much of the territory and raised fears of famine. Also Read | India calls killings in Rafah heartbreaking, reaffirms Palestinian statehood Gaza medical sources said the 12 Palestinians, whom it said were civilians, had been killed and an unspecified number of others wounded in an Israeli airstrike as they tried to recover the body of a civilian in the centre of Rafah. Another Palestinian civilian was killed in an airstrike on Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City in the north of the densely populated enclave, the medics said. Israel reported clashes in southern, central and northern Gaza but did not immediately comment on the reported deaths in Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians took refuge earlier in the war. Palestinians fleeing with their belongings ride atop their vehicle in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 29, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group.(AFP) Israel has kept up raids on Rafah despite an order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the top UN court, to halt its attacks. Israeli forces say they are trying to root out Hamas fighters and rescue hostages being held there, and the ICJ also called for the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's air and land war in Gaza, with 53 of those killed in the past 24 hours, the Hamas-run enclave's health ministry said. Also Read | Gaza war may last till end of 2024, warns Israel amid Rafah offensive Israel launched its offensive after Hamas fighters crossed from Gaza into southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year, killed 1,200 people and abducted more than 250, according to Israeli tallies. The Israeli military said a soldier had been killed in fighting in northern Gaza, bringing to 292 Israel's combat losses since its first Gaza ground incursion on Oct. 20. TUNNELS, ARMS AND EXPLOSIVES In an overnight call with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant underlined the continuing importance of Israeli operations in the Rafah area "due to concrete information regarding hostages held there". "Minister Gallant detailed IDF activities in the Rafah area where 20 terror tunnels have been identified," the Israeli Defence Ministry said in a statement on the overnight call. The Israeli military also said in a statement that tunnels used by Hamas for smuggling and moving fighters underground had been discovered during the latest raids, as well as large amounts of arms and explosives. The Israeli statements did not say where the smuggling tunnels ran from. An Israeli official said on May 15 there were 50 tunnels connecting Rafah to the Sinai in Egypt, and voiced concern that Hamas could use them to smuggle senior operatives or hostages into Egyptian territory. Egypt on Wednesday denied the existence of any such tunnels. Also Read | Brazil recalls ambassador from Israel after months of tension over war in Gaza The United States, Israel's closest ally, reiterated its opposition to a major ground offensive in Rafah on Tuesday but said it did not believe such an operation was under way. The U.S. has, with Egypt and Qatar, been involved in efforts to mediate indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on arranging a ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages. Those talks have stalled, with both sides blaming the other for the lack of progress. As the war drags on, malnutrition has become widespread in Gaza as aid deliveries have slowed to a trickle, and the United Nations has warned of incipient famine. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), also called for an end to what he said were Israeli attacks on UNRWA staff and buildings in Gaza. In article for the New York Times, he said Israeli officials were "delegitimizing UNRWA by effectively characterizing it as a terrorist organization", and he described a "dangerous precedent of routine targeting of U.N. staff and premises." His comments followed allegations by Israel in January that 12 of UNRWA's 13,000 staff in Gaza took part in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Israel did not immediately respond to his remarks. The Gaza war has also stoked violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, another territory where Palestinians seek statehood. Israel said two soldiers were killed in an overnight hit-and-run by a Palestinian motorist in the West Bank city of Nablus. There was no immediate claim of responsibility from Palestinian factions. Kate Middleton has been called the "greatest asset" to the royal family as she recovers from cancer. GBN America host Nana Akua has said that reports of Kate being seen "out and about" with the family was a "good sign. However, Akua added that this is "not an indication that she is returning to public life" in the near future. Kate Middleton has been called the "greatest asset" to the royal family (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)(AP) During a discussion, commentator Lizzie Cundy agreed with Akua that the Princess of Wales being seen out with her family is "fantastic news. "Globally, everyone is asking how is Catherine? Everyone loves her, everyone is worried about her. So a glimpse of just seeing her out and about is a wonderful thing, Cundy said. It just shows how worldwide she's actually loved Cundy wished Kate well amid her treatment, adding that she was happy the princess was "taking her time to come back to public service". "She knows that the whole world's eye is going to be watching her, and she needs to be fully well, Cundy said. "I think it's a great thing. It just shows how worldwide she's actually loved. Everyone wants the best for her and can't wait to see her." Akua echoed Cundys thoughts and said that her daughter believes that "younger generations also love her, referring to Kate. "It's true. Even my daughter rolls her eyes when I say 'what do you think of Meghan Markle?' Akua said. "When I say 'what about Princess Catherine?', she goes, 'oh, we love Catherine, she's amazing, she's so cool'. And so the younger generation love her, she really is amazing, she added. Cundy then went on to say that Kate is the "greatest asset" for the future of the monarchy. "We all wish her well. She is the Royal Family's greatest asset. She is the jewel in the crown, she added. "When I got the news of her illness, even the taxi man had to pull aside because he was crying. That's how much she means to people. That's how much she's in our lives, Cundy added. "We feel we actually know her. We miss her, we love her, we want her back. But it's really great news that she's out and about, it's great news for everyone." King Charles III is eager to mend his fractured relationship with Prince Harry, but his patience has reached the end of his tether as the Duke of Sussex shows no sign of compromise, a royal expert claims. The roots of the father-son feud trace back to Prince Harrys childhood, leaving King Charles III at a loss to repair their relationship(AP) The father and son have been embroiled in a bitter feud for years, exacerbated when Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down from the Royal Family in 2020. After leaving Buckingham Palace, there was a plethora of public disclosures about their life within the palace, including several shocking accusations. Last year, in his memoir Spare, Prince Harry criticized his father, stating that Charles had trouble communicating, trouble listening, trouble being intimate face-to-face. ALSO READ| Prince William delivers this sad reminder to Prince Harry Harry's portrayal has left the father-son relationship in tatters Royal author Tom Quinn suggests, Charles feels he has made huge efforts to repair his relationship with his son, but that Harry refuses to give an inch. With that in mind, Charles is changing his tactics. The new plan is to take a harder line with Harry; a move from good cop to bad cop, but palace insiders agree that Charles is at the end of his tether. He wants to be reconciled with his son, but nothing he does seems to work, Quinn told the Mirror UK. Royal expert believes that the roots of the rift trace back to Prince Harry's childhood One underlying problem is that Harry was never really that close to his father as a child looked after by staff and shunted between Diana and Charles, Harry has always looked lost and forgotten and it's too late now for his father to do anything about it, Quinn explained. ALSO READ| King Charles III and Prince William deliver bitter kick in the teeth for Prince Harry Many thought that Prince Harry would amend his relationship with his father during the recent trip to the UK for the Invictus Games. But the monarch wasn't able to meet his younger son due to full programme. A spokesperson for pRINCE Harry explained in a statement, It unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty's full programme. The Duke of course is understanding of his father's diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon. Later, it was reported that Charles had actually offered to meet with Prince Harry, but the offer was declined. A royal commentator has asked Meghan Markle to reconcile with her father before attempting to change her image. Meghan Markle leaves after an exhibition sitting volleyball match in Abuja, Nigeria. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)(AP) Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, has given multiple media interviews since she met and married Prince Harry, often criticizing his daughter and alleging that she has not communicated with certain family members for years. Thomas also claimed that Meghan did not visit him after he suffered a stroke. Meghan killed me and then mourned me: Thomas Markle However, the Suits star has claimed in the Sussex Netflix show that she had lost her dad and has had a difficult relationship with him. Prince Harry also mentioned that his wife was mourning the loss of her father. But Thomas told 7News Spotlight that Meghan killed me and then mourned me and I refuse to be buried by her. ALSO READ| Prince Harry is no longer a Prince, evidence claims Meghan has no intention of making amends with his father Daily Mail columnist Maureen Callahan told GBN America, She probably won't listen to the best minds around her. This reminds me of our last conversation about Meghan and her inability, for whatever reason, to mend fences with her own sick father. I think if she really had any intention of making amends with not just the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales, but with the British people to whom gave her so much goodwill and the wedding. Callahan continued, Step number one, I think, would be to very quietly make amends with her own father. Show that charity begins at home, and then you make the slow approach to the royals, whom you have so denigrated and accused of terrible things, while you monetized all these accusations. It can't be that they're so terrible that you want nothing to do with them and you could never step foot in the UK again unless it's a luxury Windsor lounge at Heathrow. You may be overreacting. You may have got ahead of your skis a little bit. It's time to get everything right in terms of priorities. ALSO READ| King Charles III will not reconcile with Prince Harry because Meghan is congenitally incapable of issuing an apology The King is very sick. Kate is fighting a battle. This would be no better time for Meghan to swallow some of that humble pie she's cooking up in that kitchen for American Riviera Orchard, which by the way has yet to issue a single piece of merchandise. But I really believe, as we've seen in the past, she is congenitally incapable of issuing an apology, the Daily Mail columnist elaborated. GBNA host Nana Akua nodded, stating, Well, it does seem that way, and I agree with you 100 per cent. ALSO READ| Buckingham Palace issues rare update about Kate Middleton and King Charles amid cancer battle If she wants to genuinely improve her image and make people see that she has empathy and compassion, then it does start at home and she should go and see her dad. I don't know, even Prince Harry went to see his father. And these two, Harry and Meghan are as thick as thieves together. So he broke cover to go and do that because he understood and also he loves his father, so I can't understand what planet she's on. If she doesn't do that, I don't get it. The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs decision to step down from their royal duties, their move to California, and their separation from the Royal family are some of the most significant events in recent British history. Due to the uniqueness of the situation, the details of their new roles are rather unclear. Britain's Prince Harry leaves after attending an Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A London judge said Tuesday, May 21, 2024, (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)(AP) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently made a trip to Nigeria, similar to a Royal Tour in every sense butwith a different name. This reportedly made King Charles and Prince William quite furious. The level at which Harry has emerged from being a Royal is still unclear, but a clue on his sons birth certificate shows that he could have even given up the prince title, per We Got This Covered. Prince Archies birth certificate reveals this Royal detectives noticed that the Sussexes' eldest son, Prince Archie's birth certificate listed Prince Harrys full name as His Royal Highness Henry Charles Albert David Duke of Sussex. Why the Prince is missing? When compared to the birth certificates of Prince William and Kate Middletons children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, where The Prince of Wales is listed as His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis Duke of Cambridge, Prince Archie's one seems very odd. ALSO READ| King Charles III will not reconcile with Prince Harry because Similarly, on Prince William and Harrys birth certificates, King Charles IIIthen a Princeis recorded as His Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George Prince of Wales. Since Harry has a longer title than any of the other royals, it might seem that the absence of the word Prince is merely an oversight. However, as for Harry, who knows his full and proper title by heart, he will not forget such an important part of it intentionally. This is important since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to exit the Royal family only a few months after their son was born and withdrew from their positions as senior members of the Royal family in January 2020. Notably, Meghan used her birth name on Archies birth certificate, with her title listed as Rachel Meghan Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex, and role was recorded as the Princess of the United Kingdom. Princess Lilibets birth certificate, born in June 2021 in Santa Barbara listed Harry's The Duke of Sussex as his first name and HRH as his surname. The duke can no longer use His Royal Highness after stepping down from his Royal duties. ALSO READ| Harry and Meghan Markle in trouble? Netflix losing interest' in Sussexes amid content strategy overhaul This discrepancy poses certain questions about the attitudes of Prince Harry towards his royal status. This implies that he could have possibly not wanted to be referred to as a prince even though he bestowed princely titles onto his children. The absence of the title Prince for Archie on his birth certificate is a conscious decision and not a mistake as seen with his father and William. On the other hand, it could also point towards a lack of attention to detail which does not seem very probable given the significance of these documents. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was transported to the capital Bratislava on Thursday to continue recovering after being shot multiple times two weeks ago, a spokeswoman said. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Reuters/File) Fico was shot multiple times on May 15 while greeting supporters after a cabinet meeting in the central Slovak town of Handlova in what officials said was an assassination attempt. He immediately underwent five-hour surgery in a hospital in the nearby city of Banska Bystrica, followed by another two-hour surgery two days later. The alleged gunman, identified by local media as 71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula, has been charged with premeditated attempted murder and was remanded in custody. "Robert Fico was transported from our hospital to Bratislava in the evening hours," Banska Bystrica hospital spokeswoman Ruzena Mataseje told AFP. It was not immediately clear to which hospital in the capital he was moved. Banska Bystrica hospital director Miriam Lapunikova had said earlier on Thursday that Fico wanted to "continue his recovery in home care". The hospital said Fico's progress was "satisfactory", but his ally Robert Kalinak, a deputy prime minister, said his recovery would be "extremely long". Makurdi The Benue State Police Command yesterday raided a notorious hideout of a kidnapping gang and rescued many victims. The Operation Zenda Joint Task Force of the police stormed a kidnappers hideout, and on sighting the police, the gang leader, Tersue Dada, aka "Causer", engaged the team in a gun duel, but was overpowered by the superior firepower of the police. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer for Benue Command, SP. Sewuese Anene, said that three suspects sustained gunshot injuries and were eventually confirmed dead at the hospital. According to the statement, one of the suspects, Terver Tavershima of Tinenune, was arrested in Ukum Local Government Area. Two victims, who were rescued unhurt, while narrating their ordeal, said that they were kidnapped from their homes at Ukum about a week ago and the sum of N23 million was placed on them as ransom to be paid by their families. The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP. Hassan Steve Yabanet, and called on the good people of Sankera to cooperate with police teams sent to the area, as they continued to take the fight to criminals' abodes in the area. Items recovered from the scene included one AK-47 rifle, one dane gun, assorted phones, a camouflage uniform and a motorcycle. The UN General Assembly's tribute to Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi was snubbed by Western and East European nations on Thursday amid protests against honouring a leader who was reviled for his crackdown on opponents. People protest outside the United Nations Headquarters before the United Nations General Assembly ceremonial tribute to Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi at the United Nations headquarters. (Reuters) The assembly's tribute was no surprise. It is a longstanding practice that the 193-member world body holds a plenary meeting to pay tribute to the memory of a sitting head of state who dies, where all UN regional groups send representatives to speak about their life and legacy. And there were some warm tributes to Raisi, especially from African nations. But what happened Thursday that was highly unusual was that only representatives from the African, Asian-Pacific, and Latin American and Caribbean regional groups spoke. There were no remarks from the West European or East European groups, or from the United States, which normally speaks last representing the host country. The United States will not attend today's United Nations tribute event for President Raisi in any capacity, Nate Evans, spokesperson for the US Mission to the UN said. Raisi was involved in numerous, horrific human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killings of thousands of political prisoners in 1988. Some of the worst human rights abuses on record took place during his tenure. The UN should be standing with the people of Iran, Evans said in a statement. While the tribute was taking place in the assembly chamber, more than 100 protesters held banners across the street from UN headquarters saying, Shame on UN holding memorial for Raisi, Butcher of Tehran, and chanting similar words. Before the assembly met, 45 current and former UN officials, experts, ambassadors and judges sent a joint letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres protesting the tribute to an individual involved in mass atrocities. Raisi, 63, a powerful figure in Iran's authoritarian Islamic government, was killed in a helicopter crash on May 20 along with the country's foreign minister and six others. He had long been considered a potential successor for Iran's supreme leader, 85-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in whose hands power ultimately rests, but was reviled by opponents, and sanctioned by the US, for his role in mass executions of political prisoners at the end of Iran's long war with Iraq in the 1980s. Many also hold Raisi responsible for the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in September 2022 after being detained for allegedly violating Iran's mandatory headscarf law. Amini's death sparked mass protests against the country's ruling theocracy, and a security crackdown that saw more than 500 people killed and over 22,000 detained. On Thursday, General Assembly President Dennis Francis opened the meeting offering the world body's deepest condolences to the government and people of Iran. Throughout his career, Francis said, president Raisi held significant roles in Iranian society and government and as president, led his country's contribution to shape the tenets of our multilateral system and international cooperation. Secretary-General Guterres then spoke, also offering condolences and said Raisi led Iran at a challenging time for the country, the region and globally but skipping a tribute. Guterres assured the Iranian people the United Nations stands with them and in the quest for peace, development and fundamental freedoms. He was followed by Burundi's Ambassador Zephyrin Maniratanga who spoke on behalf of African nations and praised Raisi as a distinguished leader who devoted his life to serving his nation and fostering international cooperation particularly with African countries. The late president Raisi was a visionary leader whose dedication to the principles of equity, brotherhood, solidarity and multilateralism was evident throughout his tenure, he said, citing Iran's expanded trade, education and health services in Africa. Vanuatu diplomat Marjorie Wells, speaking for the Asia-Pacific group, then spoke, calling Raisi's death a heartbreaking loss, saying he served the Iranian people with great dedication and passion and worked tirelessly to promote growth, justice and progress. Haiti's UN Ambassador Antonio Rodrigue, speaking for the Latin America and Caribbean group, called Raisi's death a great loss for Iran, recounting his career and saying he dedicated his life to the service of his country." The West and East European and the US should have followed. Instead, Assembly president Francis then gave the floor to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Nonaligned Movement which Iran belongs to for tributes that praised Raisi. The final speaker from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Iran's rival Saudi Arabia, said Raisi served his country and sent condolences to the Iranian people and leadership saying: We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. The United States on Thursday strongly condemned North Korea's latest missile launches as a threat to regional security. Thursday's launch came hours after Pyongyang sent hundreds of trash-filled balloons across the border to punish South Korea. (AP) North Korea fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles early Thursday, Seoul's military said. That followed a failed attempt by the nuclear-armed North to put a second spy satellite into orbit on Monday. "These launches continue the DPRK's reckless behavior, which poses a grave threat to the Korean Peninsula, the region, and international peace and security and undermine the global non-proliferation regime," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's full, formal name. "The United States reiterates that its commitments to the defense of the ROK and Japan are ironclad," he added. Thursday's launch came hours after Pyongyang sent hundreds of trash-filled balloons across the border to punish South Korea. The UN Security Council was to meet Friday to discuss the attempt to launch a spy satellite, which was condemned by the United States, Japan and South Korea. "The DPRK's actions will only intensify its isolation as it undermines stability and security on the Korean Peninsula," Miller said. Jill Biden highlighted the critical decision facing voters in the 2024 election during her appearance on ABCs The View on Wednesday. Jill Biden slams Donald Trump with just a one chaotic word. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)(AFP) During a discussion with co-host Joy Behar, the first lady was asked about how Democrats can effectively convey that President Joe Biden is competent, alert, and doing the job and its not about his age. Behar contrasted Biden with his likely opponent, former US President Donald Trump, describing Trump as doddery, doesnt remember anything and cant put a sentence together, and has brain farts in the middle of a paragraph, yet noted that they go after Joe. The first lady dismissed the notion that age should be a significant factor in the November election, despite some conservative efforts, including those by Trump, to suggest that President Biden is experiencing cognitive decline. ALSO READ| Joe Biden lashes out at reporter who asked him about handing over power to Kamala Harris: Did you fall on your head? Jill emphasized that age is not the issue, pointing out that both candidates are nearly the same age, with Biden being 81 and Trump 78 when the November election occurs. She noted, Theyre basically the same age. This election is about character. You have two choices, she elaborated. You have my husband, Joe, who you all know, who has integrity. Hes strong, hes steady, hes a leader, hes smart, hes energetic. Jill encapsulated her view of Trumps candidacy with a single word Or you have chaos, she declared, which was met with applause from the audience. She reiterated her point, Yes, you have chaos. Recently, Hollywood icon Robert de Niro conveyed the same sentiment, saying Trump is seeking to sow total chaos and labelling him a tyrant. ALSO READ| Trump hush money trial jurors resume deliberations as verdict not reached yet He also added Trump could destroy the world and the US if he is elected for the second time. Donald Trump wants to destroy not only the city, but the country, and eventually he could destroy the world, the Godfather star said. While Backing Joe, the Hollywood icon said that he joined Biden campaign because the only way to preserve our freedoms and hold on to our humanity is to vote for Joe Biden for president. By Steve Holland and Humeyra Pamuk Biden allows Ukraine to use US-supplied arms to strike inside Russia near Kharkiv area, say US officials WASHINGTON/PRAGUE, - President Joe Biden has quietly allowed Kyiv to fire U.S.-supplied weapons at targets inside Russia but only near the border with the area around Ukraine's northern city of Kharkiv, U.S. officials said on Thursday. The decision amounts to a policy shift by Biden, who until now steadfastly refused to let Ukraine use American weaponry for strikes inside Russia. "The President recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them," said one U.S. official. Russia's embassy in Washington and Russia's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NATO allies have been calling on the U.S. to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons against missile launchers and other military sites inside Russia that are supporting a cross-border offensive that Moscow launched toward Kharkiv this month. Russia jetfighters flying inside Russia have been backing the drive by launching glide bombs at Kharkiv and Ukrainian defense lines. Word of Biden's decision broke shortly after the Pentagon said the U.S. policy against use of U.S. weapons inside Russia had remained unchanged. "The security assistance that we provide Ukraine is to be used within Ukraine. And we don't encourage attacks, or enable attacks, inside of Russia," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. As Royal admirers anticipate Kate Middleton's return from her long absence from the public eye, Buckingham Palace has issued a rare update on the Princess of Wales and King Charles. While Kate will not attend Trooping the Colour's traditional rehearsal, known as Colonel's Review, on June 8, King Charles III will not ride horseback and instead travel in a carriage with Queen Camilla to the march on June 15.(AP) While Kate will not attend Trooping the Colour's traditional rehearsal, known as Colonel's Review, on June 8, King Charles III will not ride horseback and instead travel in a carriage with Queen Camilla to the march on June 15, the Palace confirmed, as per Daily Mail. Accompanied by Camilla, Charles is scheduled to review soldiers at his ceremonial birthday parade from an Ascot Landau carriage. It seems to be an alteration based on doctors' recommendation as the monarch continues to undergo cancer treatment. Who will conduct Colonel's Review? As per the palace, Colonel's Review will be conducted by Lieutenant General James Bucknall, the former commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, on Kate's behalf. The Princess of Wales was scheduled to take the salute in her customary role as Colonel of the Irish Guards. However, this won't be the case this year since she is recovering from cancer amid ongoing chemotherapy. This revelations come after Army withdrew an assertion on its website in March that Catherine would participate in Trooping the Colour and began selling tickets, causing confusion after Kensington Palace declined any confirmation over her appearance. Also Read: Awkward situation King Charles is dealing with ahead of upcoming State Visit A look at last year's Trooping the Colour On Tuesday, the Army announced that Trooping the Colour will take place om its scheduled date despite the forthcoming General Election in UK. Last week, King Charles and Prince William postponed all Royal engagements "which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign" after PM Rishi Sunak called for a surprising elections on July 4. As per the tradition, the Royal family gathers on Buckingham Palace's balcony following a show of grandeur and military parade. Moreover, the King is supposed to ride down from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade to review the troops. He then again go back to the palace for the ceremonial balcony appearance with other Royal family members. Last year after his his coronation., Charles attended his first Trooping as the nation's head of state while riding onto Horse Guards. During the grand event, Charles and Camilla smiled and waved from the Buckingham Palace balcony as hundreds of their supporters and fans in The Mall recited the National Anthem. The King and Queen were surrounded by key members of their family, including Prince William and Kate and their three kids. A New York state appeals court said Donald Trump can sue his niece Mary Trump for giving the New York Times information for its Pulitzer Prize-winning 2018 probe into his finances and his alleged effort to avoid taxes. The Appellate Division in Manhattan found a "substantial" legal basis for Trump to claim that his niece violated confidentiality provisions of a 2001 settlement over the estate of his father, Fred Trump Sr.(AP ) The Appellate Division in Manhattan found a "substantial" legal basis for Trump to claim that his niece violated confidentiality provisions of a 2001 settlement over the estate of his father, Fred Trump Sr. A five-judge panel said it was unclear whether Mary Trump's disclosures were subject to confidentiality, or how long both sides intended the provisions to remain in effect. "At a minimum, nominal damages may still be available on the breach of contract claim even in the absence of actual damages," the court said. Donald Trump had sought $100 million. Lawyers for Mary Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment. They had argued that Trump's lawsuit violated a state law to stop litigation designed to "chill and retaliate against" free speech, including communications with the press. Alina Habba, a lawyer for the former U.S. president, said Trump looked forward to holding Mary Trump "fully accountable for her blatant and egregious breach of contract." Thursday's decision upheld a June 2023 ruling by Justice Robert Reed of the state Supreme Court. Reed also dismissed Trump's claims against the Times and three reporters, and in January ordered him to pay $392,639 of their legal fees. In November 2022, Reed dismissed Mary Trump's separate lawsuit accusing her uncle and two of his siblings of defrauding her out of a multi-million-dollar inheritance. The Times' reporting challenged Trump's claim that he was a self-made billionaire. It said he received the equivalent of $413 million from his father, largely the result of "dubious" tax schemes in the 1990s, including undervaluing his family's real estate holdings. Trump has denied wrongdoing. Mary Trump, a psychologist, identified herself as a Times source in her 2020 tell-all, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man." Former US President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up his sexual affair with former porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of his ascent to the White House in 2016. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024.(Photo by Mark Peterson / POOL / AFP)(AFP) The 34 counts in the New York hush-money case stemmed from 11 invoices, 12 vouchers and 11 checks. Trump is the first US president to be declared a felon, as he eyes second time for the White House. Judge Merchan thanked the jurors Justice Juan Merchan thanked all the 12 jurors saying, You gave this matter the attention that it deserved and I thank you for that. ALSO READ| Donald Trump advised to flee from New York City immediately ahead of hush-money trial verdict Trump again called that trial rigged and blamed Biden While Trump left the court holding his son Eric Trump's hand, he looked straight at Judge Merchan's face and tried to say something. Outside the courthouse, the former president again called the trail against him a disgrace and a rigged one. This was a disgrace, he shouted. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. The 45th US president had no words against Biden, saying, Our whole country is being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent. We will fight for our Constitution. This is long from over, he said while leaving. We don't have the same country anymore, we have a divided mess. ALSO READ| Diet Coke, Chips, Mean Tweets: Donald Trump's son cheers him up as he awaits hush money case verdict Trump looked sober Trump appears significantly less animated than usual as he delivers the familiar lines that have characterized his hallway remarks throughout much of the trial. He seems more sober and subdued, however a glum look can be spotted on his face. With Trumps unprecedented felony conviction on Thursday, a Bidens campaign spokesman lauded: No one is above the law. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box, the spokesperson said. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg took no time to post the the new on X (formerly Twitter), writing, Today, a jury found Donald J. Trump GUILTY on ALL 34 felony counts. The hush-money trial judge has scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 11 at 10 a.m. ET. While Donald Trump received support of his family on Tuesday amidst his hush money trial, his son Eric Trump's latest address to media went viral on X, formerly Twitter. In the video, Eric claimed that he believes his father will win the hush money case because we are right or we are white.(Getty Images via AFP) During his speech, Eric claimed that he believes his father will win the hush money case because we are right or we are white. He reiterated the GOP leaders and his family's stance, calling the proceedings a sham trial, and asserting that the whole United States knows that this is nonsense, they don't buy it. Eric concluded his statement by saying, "I cannot wait for the day that we win, we will," followed by the contentious phrase "we're white," which many X users have highlighted as"we're right." He went on to say, "I think we're gonna prevail." Eric and his wife, RNC co-chair Lara Trump, arrived in New York on Tuesday and appeared outside the Manhattan courtroom after Trump's trial concluded with closing statements. Trump was indicted on 34 counts of falsifying business paperwork in March 2023, following a probe by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office. The former US President is accused of attempting to hide hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels by Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen ahead of the 2016 elections. Daniels has alleged a sexual encounter with Trump while having an affair with him in 2006, which the GOP leader has strongly denied. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, calling the case politically motivated ahead of the November presidential elections. Also Read: Trump's son Eric claims ex-president is more popular than rock icon Bruce Springsteen Eric Trump's remarks gain netizens' attention Taking to X, criminal defense attorney Ron Filipkowski shared Eric's video and captioned it as, Did Eric just say he's confident they are going to win because they're white. The video has garnered over 1.7 million views. Former Democratic Party candidate Randy Bryce reposted the video shared by Filipkowski, with the caption: "Eric Trump is assured they'll win because 'we're white.'" Lawyer Amee Vanderpool also reshared the video, calling Eric Trump's comments "yikes." I love when they accidentally tell the truth, one X user wrote, while another said, What a Freudian slip. Meanwhile, some other X user insisted that he said, we're right. OH STOP......He said, 'we're right', one X user chimed in. On Wednesday, hush money trial jury started discussion after they received directions from Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over Trump's case. A 30-year-old Florida man reportedly set himself on fire inside a Plant City Publix Wednesday evening, May 29. He is now said to be in critical condition. Florida man, 30, sets himself on fire inside store (Getty Images/iStockphoto - representational image) The Plant City Police Department rushed to a disturbance at the Publix Supermarket shortly after 6:30 pm after a caller told them a man had set himself ablaze inside the store. The store is located in the Walden Woods Shopping Plaza at 2202 James L. Redman Parkway. Multiple people tried to help the man by putting out the flames as they waited for Plant City Fire Rescues arrival. He was eventually rushed to a nearby hospital. He is now listed in critical condition, according to WFLA. The incident is being investigated by Plant City police and the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services. It is unclear what led to it. Anyone with information on the incident has been urged to contact the Plant City Police Department at 813-757-9200. How Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire This incident reminds us of the death of Aaron Bushnell, who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, in February. The US Air Force member, like the Florida man, was initially in critical condition. However, he later succumbed to his injuries. Bushnell, a 25-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, live streamed the horrific incident on Twitch. The video showed him walking up to the Israeli embassy and pouring a liquid all over himself, before setting himself on fire while repeatedly yelling Free Palestine. Before the act, Bushnell posted on video explaining why he had planned to set himself ablaze. "My name is Aaron Bushnell, I am an active-duty member of the United States Air Force and I will no longer be complicit in genocide," he said. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonisers, it's not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal. Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). A person was killed after being sucked into a running plane engine at Amsterdam airport. The KLM aircraft bound for Billund, Denmark, was scheduled to take off at 2:25 pm Wednesday. Passengers onboard the Cityhopper Embraer E190 recalled hearing a hellish noise as the person was pulled into the jet turbine. A person was killed after being sucked into a running plane engine at Amsterdam Airport(REUTERS) Witnesses recall horrific moment person sucked into plane engine At the time of the incident, the plane carrying up to 104 passengers was sitting on the tarmac of Schiphol Airport. Witnesses described that smoke emerged from the engine when the victim, who has not been identified yet, was sucked in. One person told De Telegraaf, Many people saw it happen. The Dutch airline confirmed the incident in a statement that read, A fatal incident took place at Schiphol today during which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine. Sadly, this person has died. The flight concerned was KL1341 bound for Billund. We are currently taking care of the passengers and employees who witnessed the incident at Schiphol. The circumstances are currently under investigation. For further information once available we refer you to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, KLM's statement added. An airport employee told the outlet that they saw a person jump into the engine after the crew finished giving safety instructions. However, a spokesperson for the police said that it was too early to determine if it was an accident or a suicide. The passengers who saw the traumatic incident are being given special care and assistance. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, which is Europe's third largest, addressed the tragic incident, saying, A horrific incident occurred today where a person became trapped in the engine of an aircraft. Our thoughts are with the loved ones, and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this incident, the airport continued, adding, The Royal Military Police are currently conducting an investigation. On 1 May, several hundred Sudanese refugees deserted the camps in Ethiopia, where they were surviving in deplorable security and humanitarian conditions. If their request to be redirected to a third country is not heard, they could return to a potential war zone in Sudan. Sudanese refugees fleeing the war at home and crossing the border into Ethiopia found themselves in a region that is also at war. Worse, on 13 May, the rainy season commenced. Quickly, the earth turned into mud, making any movement perilous. Several tents in the Awlala refugee camp, located in Ethiopia, about 70 km from the Sudanese border, collapsed under the weight of water and heavy winds. Fortunately, most of the shelters were empty. "The Ethiopian villagers warned us. If we waited for the rainy season, it would be a disaster. We won't be able to leave anymore," explains Sudanese refugee Sara Gaffar, from the modest wooden hut that she hastily built with her husband and three children in the middle of the bushes. From one war to another Receiving no support from Ethiopian authorities, hundreds--possibly even thousands--of Sudanese refugees like Sarah left Awlala and Kumer camps on 1 May, in a desperate bid to make their voices heard. The UN refugee agency claims there are "nearly 1,000 refugees" who left Awlala and Kumer camps and are camped in the forest along the road leaving the camps. But the refugees claim this figure is sixfold, with nearly 6,000 people leaving the camps to protest against the deplorable humanitarian and security conditions. "New families join us every day," says Abdelsamad Nasr, the elected representative spokesperson for the refugees from Awala. Sara Gaffar and Abdelsamad Nasr are among some 9.1 million Sudanese who fled the war after the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commenced a war of political and economic dominance in mid April last year. Barely reaching the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the conflict-displaced Sudanese found themselves amidst clashes between the Ethiopian army and Fano militias. Deprived of the Internet, the refugees are essentially cut off from communication and receiving any fiscal support from online banking applications. Shootings, rapes, kidnappings and looting Amidst this rampant insecurity, the Ethiopian authorities mobilised the police to repress the rebellion, leaving the refugees with no protection whatsoever. Instead, poorly armed villagers and militiamen were given the responsibility to protect Awlala Camp, local sources told Ayin. Many incidents have occurred, whether in Awlala or Kumer. "We have been attacked more than 20 times," says Mohamed Ishaj, a refugee from Khartoum who has spent a year in Kumer Camp, Ethiopia. The ongoing insecurity and poor conditions have forced him to leave the camp, along with hundreds of others who now camp out in Awlala Forest. "In the evening, the militiamen shot at the tents [in Kumer Camp] and stole everything we have--our phones, our money--everything. More than 100 refugees are injured, and 12 have died or disappeared." Even after refugees left the camps, gunshots continued to be heard in the forest, several refugees told Ayin, as the Fano militia continued to fight with the army and police. The high number of injuries helped precipitate the exodus from the camps. On 22 April, Amir Mohamed, 18, was shot in the neck while in Awlala Market, a market adjacent to the camp of the same name. "The militia wanted to kill him to steal his phone," his aunt, Muna Adam, told Ayin. Muna, like Amir, fled Awlala Camp and is now sleeping in a makeshift shelter along the road. The young man was transferred to Gondar Hospital. "He needs to be operated on, but the doctors don't have the necessary equipment. He would need to be treated in Addis Ababa. But UNHCR does not have the budget to pay for the trip," regrets Adam. Refugees also told Ayin of numerous cases of rape, ten in Kumer alone, as well as kidnappings in exchange for ransoms. "I would rather go back to Sudan than live here," says Bannaga Mohammed, formerly a teacher in the capital's sister-city, Omdurman. Mohammed miraculously escaped an ambush that five bandits set up in October while he was swimming in a river close to Kumer. Beaten up and then left for dead, he can no longer hear in his right ear and moves around with a limp. This forty-year-old from Omdurman, is not the only one considering returning to war-torn Sudan. The feeling of being held hostage Before deserting their tents, the refugees presented an ultimatum to the UNHCR and their Ethiopian colleagues. They demand to be resettled in a third country. Having received no response from either the UN or Ethiopian authorities, the refugees started to walk out of the camp at the beginning of this month. Carrying the injured in wheelbarrows, the refugees planned to reach the UNHCR regional headquarters in Gondar, roughly 170 km away, several refugees told Ayin. The police, however, soon stopped them, and now they are stuck homeless along the roadside. With no options, the refugees decided to return to Sudan despite warnings from Ethiopian authorities that no group movements towards the border are allowed. Only individual travel is permitted, which refugees refuse out of fear for their safety. "We don't want to break the rules of the country. But we have the feeling of being taken hostage," Nasr said. "If the authorities do not open the road, we will return to our country at all costs, even if the police shoot at us." The stark realities faced by the refugees are even clear to the children. "My 15-year-old son told me: 'If we die, we want to die in Sudan.' Indeed, no one will take care of our bodies if we die here," adds Sara Gaffar. Local residents reportedly prevented from helping refugees The only positive point, Gaffar says, is that the federal police forces have finally been deployed since their departure from the camp. But supplies saved during the World Food Program's last distribution last month are running out, while water is becoming scarce. "The police beat villagers who wanted to sell us water. They also forbade them from giving us cookies for the children. I think this order comes from Ethiopian authorities who hope to encourage us to return to the camp," confides Gaffar. UNHCR told Ayin that they are aware of allegations that authorities have prevented local residents from supporting them but cannot confirm these claims. "Local authorities ensure the security [of refugees who have left the camps]," said UNHCR Associate Communications Officer Lucrezia Vittori. The UN refugee agency and World Vision International have deployed a mobile clinic and provided food and water in Awlala Camp, allowing families to travel back and forth to access them, Vittori added. "Efforts continue to convince the group to return to the camp." Repeated attempts for comment to the Ethiopian counterpart, the Refugee and Returnee Service, were left unanswered. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ethiopia Conflict By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. A hunger strike Prevented from reaching Gondar with no response to their demands, the refugees started a hunger strike last week. "I have diabetes, but I'm going to try to stop eating if that's the only way the world will see us," Gaffar told Ayin. The hunger strike has continued up until today. Refugees leave any remaining food for children, pregnant women, the disabled, and the elderly. "Even if the World Food Program delivers food to us, we will not eat until we are redirected to another country or allowed to return to Sudan," concludes Nasr. He added that the militiamen continue to roam the area, forcing them to dig shelters to protect themselves from bullets. An Ethiopian humanitarian source reveals, on condition of anonymity, that the 500 to 600 residents remaining in Awlala will soon be redirected to Kumer Camp, where police forces are now on duty day and night. But even if security improves, the refugees fear they may die from illness instead of bullets. "Within a week, the situation will turn into a tragedy," said Mohamed Hamid, a camp resident now living in the bush. Children have diarrhoea, and the threat of cholera looms. Five women gave birth in the bush and are unable to breastfeed, Hamid added. Hamid does not rule out the idea of returning to Sudan, where the battles rage. "We are already dying. We might as well die trying to defend our rights as refugees and as human beings." In a rare move, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei voiced his support for anti-Israel protestors on US college campuses, claiming that they are on the right side of history. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed the US campus students for their "honorable struggle" against the ruthless government, which according to him backs Zionists.(AFP) In an open letter on X, Khamenei, who is known for forcefully suppressing protests in Iran such as Mahsa Amini protests, wrote: "Dear university students in the United States of America, you are standing on the right side of history." He hailed the students for their "honorable struggle" against the ruthless government, which according to him backs Zionists. You have now formed a branch of the Resistance Front and have begun an honorable struggle in the face of your governments ruthless pressure which openly supports Zionists, he said. Iran's Khamenei has one advice for US student protestors The Islamic fundamentalist dictator went on to praise certain student protestors who have received "support & solidarity" from their "professors" as a "consequential development" for the anti-Israel movement. The goal of this struggle is to put an end to the blatant oppression that the brutal Zionist terrorist network has inflicted on the Palestinian nation for many years. Offering an "advice" to the student demonstrators, the Iranian leader urged them "to become familiar with the Quran". In one of his tweets, Khamenei blasted the US government and its allies for not taking a stern action against Israel. Stressing on recent Israel's recent attack on Rafah that reportedly killed at least 37 Palestinians, he called US government's response to it more hypocritical than real. The U.S. govt and its allies refused to even frown upon this state terrorism and ongoing oppression. Today, some remarks by the U.S. govt regarding the horrific crimes taking place in Gaza are more hypocritical than real. #Rafah, he wrote. US reacts to Khamenei's post Reacting on the 85-year-old radical cleric's post, End of Wokeness wrote: Imagine telling someone 10 years ago that the Iranian Supreme Leader would be thanking a bunch of blue-haired atheists at Columbia. Drop dead, commented Republicans against Trump. Rep. Brian Mast chimed in, If the Ayatollah of Iran is praising you, you are definitely on the wrong side of history. Also Read: American Jewish family linked to Levi Strauss provoked pro-Palestinian protests across US colleges: Report A March report by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) revealed that top Iranian officials, including the Supreme leader, "encouraged, sanctioned, and endorsed violations of human rights" in regime's repression on nationwide demonstrations caused by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in moral police custody in September 2022. Iranian Police arrested Amini for allegedly breaching the Islamic regime's severe dress code for women, which demands them to wear headscarves. The UNHRC also noted that Iranian's regime brutal crackdown of protestors violated several human rights, which were seen as "crimes against humanity." Surge of anti-Israel protests on US campuses The US universities witnessed a surge of anti-Israel protests since mid-April. In wake of the ruckus created by the demonstrations, over 1,000 college students were taken into custody. From Columbia to California University, students erected "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" to express their support for Palestine amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The protestors have demanded that their school divest from Israel. Joe Biden snapped at a reporter for asking him if he would hand over power to Kamala Harris before January 2029, or complete a full second term. This incident took place before the president spoke to a rally at a half-full school gym. Joe Biden lashes out at reporter who asked him about handing over power to Kamala Harris (Photo by Andrew Harnik / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP) Are you OK? Biden shouted in response as he stood across the tarmac at Philadelphia International Airport. Are you all right? Youre not hurt, are you? Unable to hear properly, the reporter asked if Biden could approach. I said, are you OK? Did you fall on your head or something? Biden shouted again, as his entourage burst out in laughter, including Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.). If Biden manages to complete a full term, he would be 86. Because of his age, Republicans often say that voting for Biden is the same as voting for Harris to take over in the Oval Office. According to some polls, most Americans are worried that the president may not be able to complete an eight-year presidency due to his age. Joe Bidens praises for Kamala Harris Back in 2022, Biden expressed his admiration for Harris as questions about her performance were growing. The president said he could not imagine anyone else serving by his side. As the two of them delivered remarks at a virtual Democratic National Committee grassroots event, Biden said at the time, Hi, Kamala. I love you. You always have my back. Youre really amazing. Youre the best partner I could imagine." "I do," Harris replied. Even as long back as in 2020, when Biden was a Democratic Party presidential nominee, he praised his running mate Harris during his nomination acceptance speech. At the time, Harris had made history in US politics by becoming the first Indian-American and Black woman to get a major party's vice presidential nomination on the third day of the virtual Democratic National Convention. "Her story is the American story. She knows about all of the obstacles thrown in the way of so many in our country. Women, Black women, Black Americans, South Asian Americans, immigrants. The left out and the left behind. She has overcome every obstacle she has ever faced," Biden said of Harris at the time. A Kentucky high school initially denied a diploma to a student who used his graduation speech to preach his belief in Jesus. Micah Price A high school graduate in Kentucky was denied his diploma after mentioning Jesus Christ in his commencement speech at Campbell County HS. (X@ULTRA_MAJESTY) On Friday, Micah Price, a Campbell County High School graduate, took the stage wearing a purple cap and gown with a white stole to start his commencement speech. However, he deviated from his approved script during the graduation ceremony. Class before another word leaves my mouth, I must give the honor, the praise and the glory to my lord and savior Jesus Christ, Price said, garnering applause from audience before starting his holy message. Calling Jesus the light, he asserted, I'm here to tell you if you don't have any of those things in your life, you can't seem to find the answer, my lord and savior is your answer he will give you the truth, the way and the life. As Price changed his script, miffed school administrators confronted him and denied giving him his diploma after the ceremony. Soon after the ceremony concluded, Price took to his TikTok account to inform that he was yet to get his diploma. I don't have a diploma, I'm not sure if everyone has theirs yet. So if you do, congrats. If you don't, I'm right there with you, he said. He further stated that he was asked to not bring up Christ, admitting that I am in the wrong technically, because I went against Campbell County code, the rules. Reacting to Price's speech video, one X user hailed him, writing, Well done Micah! Nothing compares to Christ! His gift in heaven will be much greater. Great job young man, another added. Micah Price's family react Meanwhile, his mother Melonie Neely Farris lauded her son on Facebook and even supported his stance to spread messages he believed appropriate. In the video, she declared Price will join Air Force after his graduation. Micah is called to do what we are all called to do, share the love of Christ, thats exactly what he did and by the way I heard things, the entire audience loved it! We will face what comes his way but we will never deny the love of Christ. Also Read: Jack Harlow's 1st Gazebo Festival in Kentucky cancelled Here's what school authorities have to say Speaking to WKRC, Superintendent Shelli Wilson said that it was the school principal who selected Price to deliver the speech on graduation ceremony. She said that they have approved some portion of his speech, which has the mention of Jesus Christ. However, he was warned that changing the script "may have repercussion". Price received his diploma after he met with his principal on Wednesday, five days after the ceremony. While holding his diploma, he said that it is just an answered prayer. In an incident, a man who was appearing in court for his suspended driving license joined the courtroom through an online meeting while driving the car. Judge J. Cedric Simpson was left baffled when he saw Corey Harris, 44, driving while attending the meeting. The hearing took place in Michigan through a zoom meeting. Michigan man with suspended license joins court Zoom call while driving(@CollinRugg/X) Also Read: Latset From Michigan 'I'm pulling into my doctor's office, actually' As Harris joined the meeting Judge Simpson asked: Are you driving? Harris replied, Actually, I'm pulling into my doctor's office, actually. Wait. What are we doing? Simpson shot back. The defendant requested for an adjournment of the case, which was denied by the court. Simpson has revoked Harris bond in the matter and ordered him to turn himself into the Washington County Jail. A video of the incident shows Simpson saying, No Im looking at his record, he doesnt have a license. Hes suspended and hes just driving." Did he drive himself to jail too? Harris actions have left netizens lauging out loud, with many of them coming up with hilarious reactions. Did he drive himself to jail too? You cant make this up, commented an X user on Collin Rugg's post. Another wrote, Funniest court video of the year. Unbelievable. Will surely be on Worlds Dumbest Criminals. This is hilarious. He told the judge to hold on while he finished driving on a suspended license. one user said, while another wrote, you cant fix stupid. Thats as bad as the lady that called the cops because the person she was selling drugs to ran off without paying her. One X user commented The poor public defender lol while another wrote: Its amazing how some people can navigate through life with this level of thinking . Another user wrote Is this the same guy who claims to be studying criminal justice at Central Michigan University? I guess he wanted to learn the justice system from the inside. Driving without a Licence and simultaneously an active participant in a Court hearing TEAMS meeting. Who says men can't multi-task? wrote another user. Some netizens created memes out of Harriss reaction to Simpsons final orders. Take a look at some: Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton are set to take a major decision on their three children ahead of this year's Trooping the Colour. According to GB News' Royal Correspondent, the Royal couple is yet to decide if Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will attend King Charles' birthday parade.(Getty) According to GB News' Royal Correspondent, the Royal couple is yet to decide if Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will attend King Charles' birthday parade amidst Catherine's absence from public eye due to undergoing cancer treatment. GB News Royal Correspondent Cameron and Digital Royal Editor Svar Nanan-Sen talked about King's birthday on the podcast Royal Record. In order to mark the monarch's birthday, Trooping the Colour takes place every June in attendance of senior members of the Royal family. Will Royal kids appear on baclcony? Stressing that the Prince and Princess of Wales' youngest kid, Prince Louis, always "steals the show" with his "cheeky" behaviour, Svar asked Cameron whether he thinks if the young royal will make an appearance this year. Earlier, the late Queen had revealed that Louis is a bit of a handful. He was even photographed holding his ears on the balcony in 2022 during a flypast commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee. Responding to Svar, Cameron said: "I suspect we probably will", citing Prince George recent outing to Wembley with his dad to witness FA Cup Final. So Williams clearly okay for them to be out and about and the Trooping is something theyve done pretty much every year. I suspect they probably would do it without their mother as well. Everyone loves seeing cheeky Louis on the balcony." As William's family has been away from the spotlight for nearly six months, Cameron said British people would rejoice the appearance of the royal children on that balcony. But it is clearly up to William and Catherine- they are very young children and if it is too much for them with the princess' condition I suspect the British public wont be too upset. Also Read: Princess Diana's shocking prediction about Prince Harry and William comes true King Charles to attend parade While it has been clarified that King Charles will attend the Trooping the Colour, the Royal family never publicly confirms whether the kids will be on the balcony. Following the Buckingham Palace's announcement about King Charles and Prince William ahead of the UK general elections, there were speculation if the monarch would attend the parade. According to the palace, the King and William have postponed all their royal engagements that divert attention from the campaign. Meanwhile, the army revealed that the Number 9 Company, Irish Guards, had been selected to troop their colour. Amidst Kate Middleton's absence from public eye, several other Royals, including Prince Andrew's daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are trying to fill in the gap. In May, Rose Hanbury attended two significant ceremonies alongside other Royals as Kate has taken off from the Royal duties amidst her ongoing cancer treatment.(Getty ) Meanwhile, another close member of Prince William and Princess Kate's inner circle -- Rose Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, popularly known as Rose Hanbury, reemerges in the Royal limelight. Following Kate's disappearance from the Royal British family, media was rife with rumours of Hanbury's affair with Prince William. However, her lawyers have dismissed the claims as "completely false". Moreover, these rumours appear to have no affect on Hanbury's relationship with the Royal family members. In May, she attended two significant ceremonies alongside other Royals as Kate has taken off from the Royal duties amidst her ongoing cancer treatment. She was first seen in Gloucestershire's Badminton House, and later at the service dedication for the Order of The British Empire at St Pauls Cathedral on May 15. During her second appearance, Royal fans noted some unusual, realising that she was wearing the same hat that Catherine had worn on previous occasions. Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the annual Remembrance Sunday service on November 14, 2021/ Rose Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley attends a service of dedication for the Order of The British Empire at St Pauls Cathedral on May 15, 2024. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images) In the above picture, Hanbury appears to be donning the dark Lock & Co. Tiffany hat, which the Princess of Wales sported during a Commonwealth event at Westminster Abbey in 2018 as well as at Remembrance Sunday service in 2021. TikTok users were the first to point out the similarity. However, this wasn't the first time that Hanbury and Kate have been involved in something similar. They both were both seen sporting the Aquazurra's Bow Tie Pumps in black at King Charles III's coronation. Catherine, Princess of Wales arrives at the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery on June 20, 2023/ Rose Hanbury, Marchioness of Cholmondeley arrives at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 06, 2023.( Neil Mockford/GC Images, Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) Did affair rumours affect William and Kate relationship? Kate and Hanbury were long-time best friends. Many people felt bewildered when they learned that the two had strangely drifted apart. Cheating accusations have circulated around William and Hanbury in recent years after the couple appeared in public together on multiple occasions. While the Palace has refuted the rumors, they keep coming back. However, the Royal family's continued association with Hanbury, as well as the fact that her son Oliver played an important role in King Charles' coronation ceremony, demonstrate that the allegations have been debunked. Also Read: Prince William and Kate Middleton set to make big decision about their three children Citing sources, Us Weekly reported in April 2023 that the affair rumors had only strengthened Middleton and William's relationship. "It forced [Middleton] and William to sit back and examine their relationship, which they realized they should have been doing more often," according to a source. Regardless of their ups and downs, they love each other dearly and their kids are the most important thing in their lives, another person added. At a campaign rally in the Bronx, former President Donald Trump enthusiastically welcomed a few special guests onstage, including Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., former New York City Council member Ruben Diaz, Sr., and Brooklyn's controversial rappers Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow. After having promised to bring safety back to the city's streets. Donald Trump welcomed controversial rappers Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow at Bronx rally amid ongoing legal troubles.Jabin Botsford/Pool via REUTERS(via REUTERS) Trumps' controversial guests: Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow Political practices sometimes involve basking in the support of influential locals, but some of the previous president's visitors were out of the ordinary: As part of a significant gang busting operation last year, the Brooklyn district attorney filed attempted murder charges against Sheff G, whose actual name is Michael Williams, while the rapper was serving a jail sentence for an unrelated weapons offence. In the same gang case, Sleepy Hallowreal name Tegan Chambersis accused with conspiracy. He has previously served eight months in the past for possessing a firearm. The rappers' gang, according to the prosecution, was involved in twenty-two violent episodes, including hitting two bystanders when they opened fire on a Brooklyn sidewalk. Does everybody know Sheff G? Where is Sheff G? After introducing Sleepy Hallow, Trump asked the audience at the conclusion of his speech on Thursday. Sheff G said kindly, "President Trump, my man." One thing I want to say: They are always going to whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures. Trump is going to shout the wins for all of us, the rapper said to the crowd. Then, Sleepy Hollow presented Trump's catchphrase, "Make America Great Again." The rappers, Chief Keef, Azealia Banks, and Kodak Black, whose four-year sentence on federal firearms charges was commuted by Trump, are among the group of artists who support the president. "Sheff G was there to support President Trump for his election in his campaign, and like every American has a right to have his feelings known," Sheff G's attorney Arthur Aidala told USA TODAY. "Right now, he's presumed innocent. We are in intense litigation with the Brooklyn district attorney's office and are cautiously optimistic that we will get a satisfactory result for my client." "As Sheff G said: 'They always whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures.'" stated Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung in an email in response to a question regarding the accusations. KYIV -Ukraine has urged its allies to allow Kyiv to use Western-supplied arms to conduct strikes inside Russia and abandon an official position some of them have held throughout Russia's 27-month-old full-scale invasion. What Ukraine's allies have said about striking Russia with Western weapons President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters on May 20 that talks had taken place with Kyiv's allies about using their weapons to strike Russian military targets at the border and further inside Russia. He said the talks had yielded "nothing positive", but some partners have shifted their rhetoric on the matter. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned NATO members on Tuesday that they were playing with fire by proposing to let Ukraine use Western weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Here's what Kyiv's partners have said: THE UNITED STATES Then-Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley said last year: "I can say that we have asked the Ukrainians not to use U.S.-supplied equipment for direct attacks into Russia." Asked about Washington's current stance on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it would "adapt and adjust". "I think what you've seen over the two plus years, as the nature of the battlefield has changed, as the locations, the means that Russia is employing changed, we've adapted and adjusted to that ... That's exactly what we'll do, going forward," he said. White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington that U.S. support for Ukraine had evolved over the war. "But right now, there's also no change to our policy." NATO CHIEF NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has urged members of the alliance to lift restrictions on the use of their weapons to allow Ukraine to strike "legitimate military targets" inside Russia. "The time has come to consider whether it will be right to lift some of the restrictions which have been imposed because we see now that especially in the Kharkiv region, the front line and the borderline is more or less the same," said Stoltenberg, adding the decision was up to each country. NATO itself, as an organisation, does not deliver arms to Ukraine. BRITAIN During a visit to Kyiv on May 3, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Reuters that Ukraine could use the weapons provided by London to strike targets inside Russia, and that it was up to Kyiv whether to do so. "Ukraine has that right," he said. "Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it's defending itself." FRANCE AND GERMANY French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Ukraine should be allowed to hit military sites inside Russia that Moscow was using to attack Ukraine. "We think we should allow them to neutralise military sites from which missiles are fired, military sites from which Ukraine is attacked," he told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. " we shouldn't allow them to hit other targets in Russia and civilian or other military sites in Russia..." Asked about the matter, Scholz said: "I find it strange when some people argue that should not be allowed to defend itself and take measures that are suitable for this." ITALY Italy will never send any troops to Ukraine and any weapons it has supplied to Kyiv should not be used on Russian territory, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday. "All the weapons leaving from Italy should be used within Ukraine," Tajani said in a TV interview with public broadcaster RAI. DENMARK Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen echoed Stoltenberg in comments to broadcaster TV2 on Tuesday. "You are welcome to use what we have donated to Ukraine, also outside of Ukraine - that is, on Russian targets - if it is within international law," she said. "NATO's Secretary General was very clear on this issue... that it is within the rules when you wage war because it is Ukraine that is being attacked by Russia." She did not, however, say whether this would apply to the F-16 fighter jets Ukraine is set to receive from Copenhagen. THE NETHERLANDS In response to a request for comment, the Dutch Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that Ukraine should use donated weapons in line with international law. "Beyond this, The Netherlands does not impose legal limitations on the use of weapons supplied by The Netherlands above or on Russian soil," it said. CZECHIA Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told a briefing on Tuesday that statements on the matter by Stoltenberg and others were "absolutely logical". "Ukraine is a country defending itself against Russian aggression ... and as an attacked country it certainly has all the rights to use all possibilities for its defence." THE BALTICS Lithuania has been vocal about its support for Ukraine's right to strike targets inside Russia. "The way to react to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and also in our countries, is... to allow Ukraine to use the weapons they already have, the way they need to use them," Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Monday. "That is how you manage escalation... this is how you stop Russia." Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics also agreed with Stoltenberg, telling CNN on Monday: "I think there is no rational, pragmatic reason not to allow Ukraine to use those weapons against Russia in a way that is most efficient." Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur called on X for Kyiv's allies to "increase training for Ukrainian fighters allow Ukraine to strike military targets in Russia." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. KYIV, - Ukraine has urged its allies to allow Kyiv to use Western-supplied arms to conduct strikes inside Russia and abandon an official position some of them have held throughout Russia's 27-month-old full-scale invasion. What Ukraine's allies have said about striking Russia with Western weapons President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters on May 20 that talks had taken place with Kyiv's allies about using their weapons to strike Russian military targets at the border and further inside Russia. He said the talks had yielded "nothing positive", but some partners have shifted their rhetoric on the matter. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned NATO members on Tuesday that they were playing with fire by proposing to let Ukraine use Western weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Here's what Kyiv's partners have said: THE UNITED STATES Then-Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley said last year: "I can say that we have asked the Ukrainians not to use U.S.-supplied equipment for direct attacks into Russia." Asked about Washington's current stance on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it would "adapt and adjust". "I think what you've seen over the two plus years, as the nature of the battlefield has changed, as the locations, the means that Russia is employing changed, we've adapted and adjusted to that ... That's exactly what we'll do, going forward," he said. White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington that U.S. support for Ukraine had evolved over the war. "But right now, there's also no change to our policy." NATO CHIEF NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has urged members of the alliance to lift restrictions on the use of their weapons to allow Ukraine to strike "legitimate military targets" inside Russia. "The time has come to consider whether it will be right to lift some of the restrictions which have been imposed because we see now that especially in the Kharkiv region, the front line and the borderline is more or less the same," said Stoltenberg, adding the decision was up to each country. NATO itself, as an organisation, does not deliver arms to Ukraine. BRITAIN During a visit to Kyiv on May 3, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Reuters that Ukraine could use the weapons provided by London to strike targets inside Russia, and that it was up to Kyiv whether to do so. "Ukraine has that right," he said. "Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it's defending itself." FRANCE AND GERMANY French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Ukraine should be allowed to hit military sites inside Russia that Moscow was using to attack Ukraine. "We think we should allow them to neutralise military sites from which missiles are fired, military sites from which Ukraine is attacked," he told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. " we shouldn't allow them to hit other targets in Russia and civilian or other military sites in Russia..." Asked about the matter, Scholz said: "I find it strange when some people argue that should not be allowed to defend itself and take measures that are suitable for this." ITALY Italy will never send any troops to Ukraine and any weapons it has supplied to Kyiv should not be used on Russian territory, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday. "All the weapons leaving from Italy should be used within Ukraine," Tajani said in a TV interview with public broadcaster RAI. DENMARK Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen echoed Stoltenberg in comments to broadcaster TV2 on Tuesday. "You are welcome to use what we have donated to Ukraine, also outside of Ukraine - that is, on Russian targets - if it is within international law," she said. "NATO's Secretary General was very clear on this issue... that it is within the rules when you wage war because it is Ukraine that is being attacked by Russia." She did not, however, say whether this would apply to the F-16 fighter jets Ukraine is set to receive from Copenhagen. THE NETHERLANDS In response to a request for comment, the Dutch Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that Ukraine should use donated weapons in line with international law. "Beyond this, The Netherlands does not impose legal limitations on the use of weapons supplied by The Netherlands above or on Russian soil," it said. CZECHIA Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told a briefing on Tuesday that statements on the matter by Stoltenberg and others were "absolutely logical". "Ukraine is a country defending itself against Russian aggression ... and as an attacked country it certainly has all the rights to use all possibilities for its defence." THE BALTICS Lithuania has been vocal about its support for Ukraine's right to strike targets inside Russia. "The way to react to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and also in our countries, is... to allow Ukraine to use the weapons they already have, the way they need to use them," Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Monday. "That is how you manage escalation... this is how you stop Russia." Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics also agreed with Stoltenberg, telling CNN on Monday: "I think there is no rational, pragmatic reason not to allow Ukraine to use those weapons against Russia in a way that is most efficient." Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur called on X for Kyiv's allies to "increase training for Ukrainian fighters allow Ukraine to strike military targets in Russia." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. A Michigan judge was dumbfounded when a man with a suspended driver's license joined a court Zoom hearing while behind the wheel of a car. It happened earlier this month in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Corey Harris entered Judge Cedric Simpson's online court hearing while he was driving. "Mr Harris are you driving?" Simpson asked. "Actually, I'm pulling into my doctor's office," Harris replied. "Just give me one second. I'm parking right now." A public defender representing Harris quickly asked the judge for an adjournment. "OK, so maybe I don't understand something. This is a driving while license suspended [case], and he was just driving, and he didn't have a license," Simpson said. The public defender then confirmed he was driving without a license. "I don't even know why he would do that," a stunned Simpson said. The judge revoked Harris's bond. He was ordered to turn himself in to the Washington County jail by 6 p.m. that day. He was warned that if he didn't show up on time a warrant would be issued for his arrest with no bond. This is actually the second time this has happened in Michigan in recent years. In 2021, another man with a suspended license was held in contempt after a video of him joining a Zoom hearing from his car, Business Insider reported. Police in Houston who were looking for a missing woman found her in the jaws of an alligator. Authorities said the victim's husband reported her missing early Tuesday morning. He told officers that she had gone for a walk around 7:30 p.m. Monday and never returned home. Houston police divers found the woman's remains in the jaws of an alligator in Clear Lake near her home, KHOU-TV reported. A police sergeant shot and killed the alligator "to prevent it from doing more damage to the remains." Police are waiting for autopsy results to determine her cause of death and whether it was the alligator who killed her. The victim was a woman in her 60s. Her name hasn't been released. Maggie Berger, a spokesperson for the Law Enforcement Division with Texas Parks and Wildlife told KTRK-TV, "Our thoughts are with the woman's family during this time." "They live down there. We see 8 feet, 10 feet babies. I know which banks to stay away from and where they like to lay in the sun," Angela Derous told the station. "That's the first time I've heard of that happening down here. It's a little scary." No other information was immediately available. As Israel sent more tanks on raids into Rafah on Wednesday, the country predicted its war in Gaza would continue well after the US presidential election, following a statement from Washington claiming the Rafah assault did not amount to a major ground operation that would trigger a change in US policy. National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said the Israeli military controls three-quarters of the buffer zone on the Egyptian border and aims to control all of it to prevent Hamas smuggling in weapons, according to Reuters. Hanegbi added that the fighting in Gaza will carry on through 2024, at the very least, suggesting Israel is not ready to end the war. "The fighting in Rafah is not a pointless war," Hanegbi determined while explaining that the aim is to end Hamas rule in Gaza and stop its attacks on Israel. Despite an order from the International Court of Justice to end its attacks on the city, Israeli tanks still moved into the heart of Rafah on Tuesday, where Palestinians have sought refuge from bombardment everywhere else. The World Court said Israel had not explained how it intends to keep evacuees from Rafah "safe" while "providing food, water, and medicine." Its ruling also called on Hamas to release hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7 immediately and unconditionally. Palestinian residents in Rafah said Israeli tanks had pushed into Tel Al-Sultan in the west, Yibna, and near Shaboura in the center before retreating towards a demilitarized zone on the border with Egypt, rather than stationing onsite as they had previously. "We received distress calls from residents in Tel Al-Sultan where drones targeted displaced citizens as they moved from areas where they were staying toward the safe areas," said the deputy director of ambulance and emergency services, Haitham al-Hams. 19 civilians have been killed in Israeli air strikes and shelling across Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel continues to accuse Hamas militants of hiding among civilians, while the militants deny the allegation. Health Minister Majed Abu Raman has stressed to Washington the importance of pressuring Israel to open the Rafah crossing to aid, revealing Israeli authorities gave no indication they were planning to do so anytime soon, despite patients in besieged Gaza dying from lack of treatment. Over 30 countries at a World Health Organization meeting in Geneva condemned Israel's attacks on hospitals in Gaza and demanded more scrutiny of its role in the enclave's health crisis. Israel's ambassador reiterates time and again that Hamas, who are "deliberately putting the safety of patients at risk by using health facilities for military purposes," are to blame. A former Hamas hostage said she was motivated to visit the nation of South Africa despite its government accusing Israel of "apartheid" earlier this year. Although Sapir Cohen said she was warned several times not to visit the Palestinian-sympathetic country, it made her visit "all the more critical," she said, according to the Jerusalem Post. "I wanted to share the truth of October 7 and to campaign for the release of all hostages including my boyfriend Sasha Trupanov." Trupanov was featured in a hostage video released Tuesday by The Al-Quds Brigades. "In the next few days, you will hear the truth of what happened to me, as well as the other prisoners in Gaza," he said. Upon her return this week, Cohen described her trip as "a very positive experience," during which she delivered a speech to 600 people, including South Africa's Rabbi Warren Goldstein, as well as German and Israeli officials. Saul Jassinowsky, who helped organize the visit, said, "South Africa's warm and Zionist Jewish community and the country's natural beauty offer Sapir a warm and safe embrace. It is a special place for former hostages to visit and exhale after experiencing unimaginable trauma. We are working tirelessly to bring out more hostages in the future and facilitate whatever we can do for them." Jewish National Fund Chairman Michael Kransdorff reaffirmed Jassinowky's sentiment, stating, "The South African Jewish community and many sectors of South African society stand with Israel. We are doing all we can to raise awareness of the hostages and to secure their release." Earlier this year, South Africa accused Israel of apartheid against Palestinians. During a hearing at the International Court of Justice in February, South African ambassador to the Netherlands, Vusimuzi Madonsela, said his country, "bears a special obligation, both to its own people and the international community, to ensure that wherever the egregious and offensive practices of apartheid occur, these must be called out for what they are and brought to an immediate end," the Associated Press reported. Israel denied the accusations. The Supreme Court has handed the National Rifle Association a win in a First Amendment ruling connected to New York state officials. The high court unanimously agreed to reverse a lower-court ruling that tossed out the NRA's lawsuit against a former New York state official who urged banks and insurance companies to cut ties with the gun rights group. Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo made the request following the 2018 mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school that left 17 people dead, CNN reported. "Ultimately, the critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or (as alleged here) through private intermediaries," Justice Sonja Sotomayor wrote. The ruling revives the NRA's suit that claims Vullo violated the group's free speech rights. When Vullo was part of the Cuomo administration she issued guidance letters that urged companies regulated by the Department of Financial Services to evaluate risks "including reputation risks," that may arise from their dealings with the NRA. Some companies reacted by cutting ties with the NRA. The group says the state blacklisted them and threatened the companies with retaliation if they didn't stop doing business with them. It claims that violated the NRA's rights. The opinion does not shield the NRA and other advocacy groups from regulation, the Associated Press reported. Convicted wife killer Scott Peterson has "won" a legal victory in a bid to prove his innocence in the 2002 killings of his wife Laci Peterson and their unborn son, Conner. During a hearing on Wednesday, May 29, a judge decided that DNA testing could proceed on just one piece of evidence from the initial investigation, which Peterson's new lawyers from the Los Angeles Innocence Project argue could prove his innocence. The judge determined that a piece of duct tape found on Laci's pants could be re-tested, according to People Magazine. Peterson's lawyers claim, "There is absolutely no forensic evidence implicating Peterson." Stanislaus County deputy district attorney, David Harris, said there is no need for a new trial. "The people know the truth," said Harris. "They know he's guilty of murdering his wife and unborn son." Peterson, 51, appeared via livestream video from Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, Calif., where he is serving a life sentence for killing Laci, 27, and Conner. During the hearing, Peterson's lawyers argued for the testing of DNA found on items from the investigation that were never previously tested. One of the items is a bloody mattress found inside a burned-out van near the couple's Modesto home that was set on fire on Dec. 25, 2002, the day after Laci vanished. Peterson's lawyers allege Laci was killed in that van by two men she witnessed robbing a house on her street on the morning she disappeared. Inside the van was a mattress with apparent blood stains. The Los Angeles Innocence Project believes new evidence suggests the van did not have a mattress before it was stolen prior to Laci's killing. They also want to test a tarp and plastic bag recovered near Laci's body from San Francisco Bay, along with duct tape and twine found on Conner's body. Prosecutors stated that the case was closed long ago, and they will not release any evidence unless ordered to do so by the court. Peterson became a person of interest when massage therapist Amber Frey, who had been romantically involved with him at the time, revealed the affair in Jan. 2003, claiming Peterson had initially told her he was a widower. He was arrested on Apr. 18, 2003, four days after Laci and Conner's remains turned up in San Francisco Bay. Peterson pleaded not guilty, however, on Nov. 12, 2004, a jury found him guilty of two counts of murder. The wife and baby killer was sentenced to death in 2005, but in 2020, his death sentence was overturned, and Peterson was resentenced to life in prison without parole. Peterson continues to advocate for his innocence. "I have discovered that critical exculpatory evidence was ignored, overlooked, or never investigated at all, and in other instances, was suppressed at the time of my trial," Peterson wrote in a letter to the court. In the summer of 2023, he reached out to the Los Angeles Innocence Project, convincing the non-profit to take on his case. Singapore-based hospitality company, Furama Hotels International (FHI) is poised to debut its eponymous hotel brand in Australia this winter, announcing the arrival of the Furama Darling Harbour in Sydney on 1 July 2024. Singapore-based hospitality FHI currently manages more than 40 hotels, villas, and resorts, availing over 7500 rooms in the Asia Pacific region. In delivering its first Australian hotel, Furama will rebrand an existing property - the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour - which has been owned but not previously operated by FHI for more than two decades. Furama Darling Harbour Hotel Manager, Melvin Lim, said the milestone Furama Darling Harbour opening is the next major step in growing the award-winning chain of mid-range hotels in key new markets across the Asia Pacific region. "We are very excited to introduce the Furama brand to Australia for the first time," Mr Lim said. "As our inaugural address under our flagship four-star brand, the Furama Darling Harbour signals an exciting new chapter of expansion for the group in this region, as we look to bring our guests a fresh perspective and a renewed commitment in delivering exceptional hospitality experiences." The hotel's timely transition presents new opportunities for Furama Darling Harbour to elevate the guest experience through a series of upgrades expected to commence in early 2025 that will include the rejuvenation of the hotel's lobby and restaurant spaces, and the introduction of fresh technology improvements such as mobile check-in/out, mobile TV casting and digital key access. In addition, the Furama Darling Harbour is strategically located to benefit from the $44 million revitalisation plans for the nearby Haymarket area, as well as the creation of a $3 billion Tech Central Innovation hub close by. Hotel website Hotelbeds has formalised a new strategic partnership with Palladium Hotel Group to enhance the distribution of their properties across Europe. This strategic partnership will provide travel professionals with access to a curated selection of Palladium Hotel Group most sought-after accommodations, ensuring exceptional experiences for travellers in Europe. Under this strategic partnership, Hotelbeds will offer its B2B clients a portfolio of properties across Europe, including iconic destinations such as the Costa del Sol, Ibiza, Menorca, Sicily and Tenerife. This agreement with Palladium Hotel Group marks a significant milestone in our continuing partnership. We are proud to deepen our relationship with them and enhance our commitment to delivering exceptional value and service to our B2B clients and their customers. Carlos Munoz, Chief Commercial Officer at HBX Group Nature and the natural world can be important drivers of tourism and travel. Tourism is vital to many economies, but sustainability efforts are essential to minimize its impact on the planet. Countries management of nature-based tourism is improving, but the World Economic Forum's newly released Travel and Tourism Development Index 2023 highlights how more work is needed. If you have ever enjoyed being outside then you are familiar with biophilia our innate human tendency to seek connections with nature. Research suggests that time in nature has a host of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, improving immune system function and reducing levels of stress hormones. It's therefore no surprise that this is also one of the most popular ways for 1.3 billion inbound tourists to relax and rejuvenate. Tripadvisor pageviews have become concentrated on a countrys most popular natural and cultural attractions since 2021, the World Economic Forums Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 (TDDI) shows. The financial picture Nature tourism a cornerstone of biophilia generates more than $600 billion in revenue globally. Wildlife, a major motivator of nature tourism, also supports 22 million jobs around the world, with wildlife tourism generating $142 million in entrance fees for protected areas in Africa alone, according to the report. Not to mention that $44 trillion of economic value generation more than half of the worlds total GDP is moderately or highly dependent on nature. This is especially felt in less-developed nations that rely heavily on the income and jobs generated by travel. For example, tourism accounts for approximately 8.5% of Africas gross domestic product (GDP) a continent renowned for its nature-based experiences. The connection between nature, tourism and the economy is set to become even stronger as more people want to travel, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial footprint of travel and tourism represented 9.1% of global GDP in 2023 just over $9.9 trillion and is set to break all records in 2024 at $11.1 trillion. Mastering the balancing act The growth in the tourism industry cannot come at the cost of nature and limit our access to biophilic spaces, especially as its footprint grows quickly. By 2033, the GDP of the global travel and tourism sector could grow at nearly double the rate of the broader global economy, the World Travel and Tourism Council says. This would add more than 100 million new jobs. Ensuring our connection to nature is protected means taking quick and effective action to avoid or offset the impact of travel on local resources. The travel and tourism sector uses 5.8% of water and up to 8% of material extraction worldwide, the report says. Progress is being made. Since 2019, the average Environmental Sustainability pillar scores in the TTDI climbed by 2.7%, with Energy Sustainability rising by 4.6% as the travel and tourism sector embraced low-carbon energy options, like solar. All these changes bode well for our ability to easily interact with nature. However, the Pollution and Environmental Conditions subpillar has only climbed by +0.5% since the last edition of the TTDI. Slow improvements in cutting air pollution reduction, deforestation mitigation and safeguarding endangered species negatively impact our connection with nature. Almost 7 million people die from combined indoor and outdoor pollution every year and more than 44,000 species are threatened with extinction. Collaboration is vital to improving this far-reaching balancing act, as illustrated by the Forums Nature Action Agenda. This multi-sector movement is catalyzing economic action to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 a cornerstone of enabling biophilia. It aims to help humans live in harmony with nature by 2050, in line with the Global Biodiversity Framework. Source: World Economic Forum Have you read? View source ATLANTA IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, today celebrates its exceptional luxury and lifestyle growth in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean (MLAC). Already one of the largest luxury and lifestyle portfolios in the world, this expansion underscores IHG's strategic focus, significant investment, and ambitious growth plans in the region for this important segment. With five openings to date in 2024 and 32 properties currently in the regional pipeline, IHG is expected to more than double its MLAC luxury and lifestyle presence in the coming years.* Leanne Harwood, SVP, Managing Director for Luxury & Lifestyle Americas at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: The significant expansion of our luxury and lifestyle portfolio across the Mexico, Latin America and Caribbean markets demonstrates our brands continue to not only be in demand, but are also embraced for their distinct offerings. From spectacular retreats at Six Senses and storied heritage at InterContinental to laid-back luxury at Kimpton, boutique neighborhood settings at Hotel Indigo and one-of-a-kind stays at Vignette Collection, each one opens the door to more destinations than ever before. IHG's latest and upcoming openings in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean include a rich blend of sought-after destinations, meticulously designed resort oases and unique urban experiences for both leisure and business travelers. Six Senses World-renowned for providing the ultimate wellness and sustainability experiences set within some of the world's most breathtaking landscapes, Six Senses made its highly anticipated debut in the region this April with the opening of Six Senses La Sagesse in Grenada. The island's incredible natural beauty and soul-connecting cultural experiences provide the perfect backdrop for a journey of discovery, rejuvenation and celebration. Travelers can immerse in the resort's unique experiences that connect them with Grenada's Spice Island heritage, including farm-to-table cooking, a spa designed to leverage the abundance of fragrant spices with medicinal healing properties as well as culinary menus brought to life with bold flavors using local produce grown in the island's fertile volcanic soil. Six Senses is poised to continue its thoughtful expansion in the region with the forthcoming Six Senses Grand Bahama and Six Senses Xala, expected to open by 2026. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, the world's first and largest luxury hotel brand, currently has the greatest presence amongst the luxury and lifestyle portfolio in MLAC with 20 open properties. In Spring 2023, the brand celebrated the opening of InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Nature Spa, a secluded beachfront sanctuary set amidst the island of Dominica's natural beauty. As InterContinental continues to expand in the region, IHG announces it will open the 293-room InterContinental Presidente Monterrey in Mexico with longstanding partner Grupo Presidente in the second half of 2024. Set within San Pedro Garza Garcia in Monterrey, the hotel will feature exceptional experiences, including a signature restaurant, craft cocktail bar and coffee shop, as well as an onsite spa offering rejuvenating treatments, more than 20,000 square feet of meetings and events space, and a Club InterContinental lounge. With its proximity to the area's exciting culinary destinations, museums and shopping, InterContinental Presidente Monterrey will be perfectly positioned to welcome leisure and business travelers alike. Looking further ahead, the InterContinental Grenada Resort is projected to open in 2025. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Celebrated for having pioneered the concept of unique, design-forward hotels that ignite the spirit through expansive experiences, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants continues its exciting growth momentum in MLAC following the opening of Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort & Spa in Fall 2023. Demonstrating a strong start to 2024, the boutique luxury brand debuted Kimpton Virgilio in Mexico City's vibrant Polanquito neighborhood in February, followed in April by Kimpton Mas Olas Resort & Spa in the charming coastal town of Todos Santos on Mexico's Baja Sur peninsula. Early this summer, it is slated to open the 130-room Kimpton Las Mercedes, located in the Dominican Republic's bustling Santo Domingo, in partnership with Iberostar Group. As Kimpton continues to innovate and expand its offerings for guests, the brand is also set to unveil its first all-inclusive beachfront resort, Kimpton Tres Rios Riviera Maya, before year's end. Vignette Collection Vignette Collection, IHG's newest luxury and lifestyle brand that debuted in 2021, is a curation of distinct hand-picked hotels offering one-of-a-kind stays, all united by a sense of purpose. Representing the brand's first signing in both Mexico and within the Americas, El Gran Encomendero in the Yucatan Peninsula will become the first branded hotel in the historic town of Valladolid. Expected to open in 2025, the 83-room property is set within an on-the-rise destination for international leisure travel, business events and weddings. Valladolid recently received the coveted "Magical Towns" designation from the Mexican Ministry of Tourism for its efforts to protect and preserve cultural wealth. Hotel Indigo As The World's Neighborhood Hotel, Hotel Indigo draws inspiration from each hotel's surrounding neighborhood and culture to create a warm and vibrant atmosphere that inspires guests to discover something new. Earlier this month, the fast-growing lifestyle brand revealed the much-anticipated Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman on Grand Cayman's famed Seven Mile Beach. The unparalleled island oasis boasts 282 exceptional water view guest rooms, multi-concept dining including one of the island's only rooftop lounges, elevated pool and beachside experiences, and abundant event spaces for the local community and visiting guests to enjoy. This opening in the region follows that of Hotel Indigo La Paz Puerta Cortes, nestled between the Sea of Cortez and La Paz Bay in Mexico, in January and precedes Hotel Indigo Tijuana, which is expected to open later this year. Further demonstrating IHG's strategic focus and investment in luxury and lifestyle in the region, three milestone signings were recently announced in Turks & Caicos for InterContinental, Kimpton and Hotel Indigo. Set on Turks & Caicos' picturesque Grace Bay, the resorts will mark IHG's debut on the celebrated Caribbean island and are all poised to open by 2027. Fueled by exciting acquisitions and new brand launches, IHG has transformed its luxury and lifestyle portfolio in recent years to become one of the largest in the hospitality industry. Globally, brands in this space continue to represent a growing proportion of IHG with over 850 open and pipeline hotels.* To learn more about IHG's luxury and lifestyle brands or to book a stay, visit www.ihg.com or use the IHG One Rewards mobile app. *Figures as of March 31, 2024 SOURCE InterContinental Hotels & Resorts About IHG IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good. With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Americas is proud to introduce the 2024 Marketing and Revenue Optimization award recipients who will be celebrated during HSMAIs Commercial Strategy Conference. HSMAI will honor Dr. Kelly McGuire, managing principal of hospitality at ZS Associates, with the prestigious Vanguard Award for Achievement in Revenue Optimization. Scott Dahl, senior vice president of sales, marketing, and revenue management at Wurzak Hotel Group, and Taylor Baca, CRME, CHDM, corporate director of revenue management at Balboa Bay Resort & Club, will be presented with the Revenue Professional of the Year Awards for corporate and single/multi-unit, respectively. Janelle Hoffman, professor of hospitality management at Scottsdale Community College, will be honored with the Marketing Educator of the Year Award. Bob Everin, senior director of media for Marriott Digital Services, and Holly King, area director of marketing for White Lodging, will be presented with the Marketing Professional of the Year Awards for corporate and single/multi-unit categories, respectively. Were honored to present this years awards to a group of distinguished leaders who embody the commercial excellence HSMAI strives to recognize, said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO, HSMAI. "It is a testament to their exceptional skills and dedication that those recognized are held in such high esteem by their fellow professionals for their exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication to advancing revenue optimization and marketing in the hospitality industry. Dr. Kelly McGuire, Vanguard Award This year, HSMAI is awarding Dr. Kelly McGuire, managing principal, hospitality of ZS Associates, with the HSMAI Vanguard Award for Achievement in Revenue Optimization. In her role at ZS Associates, Kelly is responsible for helping global hospitality clients improve their commercial strategy and operations, and to find impactful uses for data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to support their commercial strategy. Prior to joining ZS, she was senior vice president in revenue management for MGM Resorts International. She is the author of two books on analytics in hospitality, Hotel Pricing in a Social World and The Analytic Hospitality Executive. She holds an MMH and a Ph.D. in revenue management from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, and serves on HSMAIs Americas Board of Directors. Scott Dahl, Revenue Optimization Professional of the Year, Corporate Scott Dahl, senior vice president of sales, marketing, and revenue management at Wurzak Hotel Group, is this years HSMAI corporate Revenue Optimization Professional of the Year. In his current role, Scott is directly responsible for maximizing top line revenues across the portfolio. With 30 years in the hospitality industry, he has held key positions in sales and revenue management at Interstate Hotels, Sunstone Hotel Properties, Hersha Hospitality Management, and Apple Leisure Group. Scott joined Wurzak after six years in Switzerland, where he taught revenue management, digital marketing, and hospitality strategy at Ecole Hoteliere Lausanne and created the acclaimed masters in hospitality strategy and digital transformation at Les Roches Global Hospitality School. A graduate of The University of Massachusetts with a degree in hospitality and tourism management, Scott was recognized nationally in 2006 as one of the 25 Outstanding Minds in Hospitality Sales and Marketing by HSMAI. Taylor Baca, CRME, CHDM, Revenue Optimization Professional of the Year, Single/Multi-Unit Taylor Baca, CRME, CHDM, corporate director of revenue management at Balboa Bay Resort & Club in Newport Beach, is this years HSMAI single/multi-unit Revenue Optimization Professional of the Year. In her current role, Taylor has established a reputation for driving exceptional revenue growth and optimizing hotel performance. Her journey in revenue management began in reservations and progressed through a manager in training program, providing invaluable experience in various hotels under expert revenue leaders. Taylor is an active member of the HSMAI Rising Leader Council for Revenue Optimization, staying at the forefront of industry trends and continuously enhancing her skills. Janelle Hoffman, Marketing Educator of the Year This year, HSMAI is awarding the Marketing Educator of the Year Award to Professor Janelle Hoffman. Hoffman has over 26 years of academic expertise in hospitality management at Scottsdale Community College. Prior to her years in the classroom, Janelle Hoffman held hotel sales and marketing roles with hotel management companies Vista Host, Promus, and Hilton Hotels. She holds a BS in Business Communications from Western Michigan University and a masters in organizational management from the University of Phoenix. Janelle emphasizes capturing students' hearts and minds in her favorite course, Hospitality Marketing, which focuses on strategic branding and guest connections. She also established a hospitality club, developed university partnerships, and created internship programs. Bob Everin, Marketing Professional of the Year, Corporate Bob Everin, senior director of media for Marriott Digital Services, is this years HSMAI corporate Marketing Professional of the Year. Born into the hospitality industry, Bob began his career at Marriott International as a front desk clerk while attending Michigan State University and has been with the company for 35 years. He spent the first 12 years in property sales and the last 23 years in digital marketing. As Marriotts first field e-commerce manager, Bob has played a pivotal role in establishing the company's digital marketing capabilities. In his current role as senior director of media, he drives the strategic vision for the media practice, leveraging media channels to boost digital revenue for hotels. Holly King, Marketing Professional of the Year, Single/Multi-Unit Holly King, area director of marketing of White Lodging, is this year's HSMAI single/multi-unit Marketing Professional of the Year. Holly is a multidisciplinary marketing strategist with nine years of boutique and franchise hospitality experience. She joined White Lodging in late 2021 as a senior marketing manager. In her current role, Holly leads a direct and indirect team of strategic marketing managers and is responsible for the digital and field marketing performance of 37 premium branded hotels and restaurants in the Austin, Texas region. Her role oversees brand strategy, digital optimization, integrated media, PR, content, and creative. She is an active member of Marriott Internationals Convention and Resort Network Council. Before joining White Lodging, Holly worked as an independent brand and digital consultant for a variety of hospitality and consumer packaged goods brands, and held positions with hospitality groups in Salt Lake City, Nashville, and Austin. AWARD INFORMATION These awards will be presented at HSMAIs 2024 Commercial Strategy Conference the evolution of HSMAIs Marketing Strategy Conference and HSMAI ROC held in Charlotte, North Carolina from June 25-26, 2024. For more information, visit commercial.hsmai.org. HSMAI chapters and the industry at large can nominate individuals for Marketing and Revenue Optimization Professionals and Educators of the Year Awards. Nominees represent top talent in the discipline and are judged by a panel of marketing and revenue leaders on a variety of criteria. About HSMAI The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as the Marketing Strategy Conference, Adrian Awards, Sales Leader Forum, and HSMAI ROC. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at hsmai.org. Independent Hotel Show Miami Takes Place September 18 -19th at the Miami Beach Convention Center The Independent Hotel Show Miami is a comprehensive, dedicated event for the luxury, boutique and independent hotel sector. Founded in London in 2012, the Independent Hotel Show has been the business platform exclusively designed for the needs of luxury and boutique hoteliers in the UK. The show brings together the hotelier community annually to support, share, educate, and inspire. Building on a successful first edition in 2023, the Independent Hotel Show Miami will return to the vibrant backdrop of Miami Beach on September 18-19, 2024, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The show's mission is to expand its support to a broader audience of forward-thinking, independently spirited hoteliers in North America, the Caribbean, and Central America. Now a fixture in the calendar of independent hoteliers and industry professionals, the 2024 Independent Hotel Show Miami will present a curated collection of 200+ innovative product and service providers from across the hotel supply chain. Accompanied by expert insights from a seminar program and numerous networking opportunities, the show is tailored to meet the demands of hoteliers committed to enhancing their businesses. Dedicated to supporting the needs of the modern hotelier, Independent Hotel Show Miami delivers aspirational content alongside practical solutions, as well as facilitating numerous networking opportunities that can transform businesses. Register for the Independent Hotel Show Miami Chicago, IL (60637) Today Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low near 60F. W winds shifting to NE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low near 60F. W winds shifting to NE at 10 to 20 mph. Clarksburg annual town meeting passes a $3 million school budget on Wednesday. All but one article passed with no nay votes. Town Clerk Marilyn Gomeau, Town Administrator Carl McKinney, Select Board members Colton Andrews, Robert Norcross and Dan Haskins, and Finance Committee member Charles Lewitt. PreviousNext Clarksburg OKs $5.1M Budget; Moves CPA Adoption Forward Newly elected Moderator Seth Alexander kept the meeting moving. CLARKSBURG, Mass. The annual town meeting sped through most of the warrant on Wednesday night, swiftly passing a total budget of $5.1 million for fiscal 2025 with no comments. Close to 70 voters at Clarksburg School also moved adoption of the state's Community Preservation Act to the November ballot after a lot of questions in trying to understand the scope of the act. The town operating budget is $1,767,759, down $113,995 largely because of debt falling off. Major increases include insurance, utilities and supplies; the addition of a full-time laborer in the Department of Public Works and an additional eight hours a week for the accountant. The school budget is at $2,967,609, up $129,192 or 4 percent over this year. Clarksburg's assessment to the Northern Berkshire Vocational School District is $363,220. Approved was delaying the swearing in of new officers until after town meeting; extending the one-year terms of moderator and tree warden to three years beginning with the 2025 election; switching the licensing of dogs beginning in January and enacting a bylaw ordering dog owners to pick up after their pets. This last was amended to include the words "and wheelchair-bound" after the exemption for owners who are blind. The town more recently established an Agricultural Committee and on Wednesday approved a right-to-farm bylaw to protect agriculture. Larry Beach of River Road asked why anyone would be against and what the downside would be. Select Board Chair Robert Norcross said neighbors of farmers can complain about smells and livestock like chickens. "We want to keep farms in Clarksburg and we want to back farms," he said. A half-dozen articles allocating the town's $571,000 in free cash passed unanimously with $142,000 for Department of Public Works truck; $8,000 for new software for the assessor; $5,000 to replace the exterior doors on the Community Center; $113,371 to set aside to match a grant for the school roof; $231,000 to replenish the stabilization account; and $72,000 to lower the tax rate (this funds the preK and underwrite the school budget). Voters gave the OK for accepting the turnaround on the dead-end Pine Avenue as a public way. "The turnaround on Pine Ave has been maintained by the town but it doesn't own it," said Highway Foreman Kyle Hurlbut. All but one of the 23 articles passed unanimously; a handful of voters rejected the CPA article. The article was amended on the floor by Historical Commission Chair Jeanne Moulthrop to exempt the first $100,000 valuation and those who can qualify for low-income housing and low to moderate senior housing low, and to set a surcharge on resulting tax bills of 3 percent. "I want to know what the benefit is to the community," said Jean King of River Road. "I'm worried about the 3 percent. I just want to know why do we want to do this, but what is the benefit for our community?" The state act is funded by fees from registries of deeds that are allocated by up to a 100 percent match to nearly 200 communities have adopted the act. The 3 percent surcharge would be bill quarterly with the tax bills; a house valued at $300,000 would likely see a surcharge of around $100. The funds can be used for open space and recreation, historic preservation and affordable housing. Williamstown has used the funds on everything from river organizations to historic barns to a nonprofit community pool to first-time homebuyers programs to town recreational facilities. Town officials have supported adoption of the act as a way to leverage funding from the state to address community needs the town can't afford. "It's a method and a way to rehab and preserve community resources. And it does specifically say historic buildings. Our Town Hall is a historic building. This school is the historic building," said Town Administrator Carl McKinney. "So what you're in effect doing is you're getting the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to fund half." Should it pass in November, a committee made up of representatives of town boards (as delineated by the act) review applications for funds and make recommendations to the Select Board. Town meeting gives final approval. The meeting marked Seth Alexander's first as newly elected town moderator and Colton Andrews as a member of the Select Board. Town meeting recognized Ray Moulthrop, for whom the town report is dedicated. Moulthrop, who died last year, was active on civic boards and town elections for many years. Alexander also thanked Jeffrey Levanos, who has served on the School Committee and Select Board. He declined to run for re-election this year. Page Content The safe, secure, and sustainable development of Uganda's aviation sector will be supported by a new capacity development and implementation agreement with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Fred Bamwesigye, Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) (centre-right); Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of ICAO (centre-left); Ms. Mary Hellen Wenene, the Corporation Secretary of the UCAA; and Mr. Jorge Vargas, ICAOs Director of Capacity Building and Implementation. Members of the Board of the UCAA were also present. Under this Management Services Agreement (MSA) , ICAO will provide Uganda with a comprehensive portfolio of implementation support products and services, including access to ICAO's expert roster, project management, and customized training packages. This collaboration will focus on helping Uganda heighten its application of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), policies, and plans. The first initiative under the agreement will be the development of a new National Air Navigation Plan for Uganda. This strategic framework will guide the development and implementation of air navigation services and infrastructure in Uganda over the next 15 years, ensuring alignment with international aviation standards. The plan aims to bolster the safety, efficiency, and capacity of Uganda's air navigation system. "ICAO is committed to supporting our Member States in their efforts to develop safe, secure, and sustainable aviation sectors," Mr. Salazar said. This agreement with Uganda represents a significant step forward in our shared goal of fostering the growth of aviation in Africa." "Uganda recognizes the crucial role aviation plays in our economic development and connectivity, Mr. Bamwesigye remarked. By partnering with ICAO and leveraging their expertise, we are confident that we can elevate our aviation sector to new heights and provide better services to our citizens and visitors." The signing of this agreement represents a significant milestone in the cooperation between ICAO and Uganda, assuring that as Uganda continues to develop its aviation sector, ICAO will provide instrumental support to ensure progress is in alignment with global standards, plans and strategies. Computex Taipei 2024, the Taipei International Computer Show, is set to take place in early June. This year, darkFlash has drawn inspiration from a futuristic space theme, incorporating numerous space technology elements into its products. The exhibition booth will be designed as a brand spaceship, featuring multiple immersive interactive areas to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the products. At Computex 2024, darkFlash will showcase a variety of new products, including computer cases, coolers, fans, and keyboards. Additionally, several custom-designed cases with different themes will be on display. Monitor Liquid Coolers The technology behind monitor liquid coolers is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with many manufacturers introducing their own versions. At this year's Computex, darkFlash is launching two integrated monitor liquid coolers: the DN IPS and the Magic Cube Liquid Cooler. The DN IPS liquid cooler not only allows users to monitor their computer's performance through the built-in display but also enables customized designs by changing images and themes via software developed by darkFlash. The Dot Matrix Liquid Cooler features a pixel display design, including a fan with pixel display on the side frame. The pixel screen on the Dot Matrix Liquid Cooler allows users to display their favorite images through software or create their own unique designs! Magnetic cooling Fans As processors and graphics cards become more powerful, they generate more heat, necessitating more fan installation spaces in future computer cases. This also means more fan cables that need to be connected. In response, darkFlash proudly introduces the new magnetic fans this year, with models Guass G16 and Guass G24. By adding magnetic rings at the connection points between fans, these fans can be directly powered and operated when connected to each other. This not only provides excellent cooling performance but also eliminates unnecessary wiring between fans, maintaining the overall aesthetics of the computer case. Mechanical Keyboards Continuous innovation in mechanical keyboards is a key factor driving market growth in the coming years. The increasing demand for customization, RGB lighting effects and the emergence of thinner keyboards are expected to lead to significant market demand. In response, darkFlash is introducing several keyboards at this year's Computex, spearheaded by the DF98. Multiple switch options will be available, allowing users to choose their preferred typing experience. Additionally, there will be a switch testing area at the exhibition, enabling consumers to better understand and compare the typing feel and differences between various switches. darkFlash is pleased to announce our participation in Computex Taipei 2024. We invite you to visit our booth located in I0612 on the 1st floor of Hall 1 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. Join us to explore our latest innovations and engage with our immersive interactive exhibits. We look forward to welcoming you! For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Jerry Seinfeld says that his comedy shows becoming the target of pro-Palestinian protests is so dumb, adding that demonstrators should correct their aim. The stand-up comedian and sitcom star, 70, was heckled by a protester at a recent gig and also saw dozens of students walk out of his commencement speech at Duke University earlier this month. Speaking to host Bari Weiss on her podcast Honestly, Seinfeld said: I love that these young people, theyre trying to get engaged with politics. We have to just correct their aim a little bit. They dont seem to understand that, as comedians, we really dont control anything. Seinfeld has been vocal in his support for Israel in the aftermath of the 7 October terror attacks, where Hamas militants killed 1,200 Israelis and took another 250 hostage. In December Seinfeld traveled to a kibbutz in Tel Aviv to meet with family members of hostages taken by Hamas, a trip he described emotionally to Weiss as the most powerful experience of his life. He has also signed an open letter in support of Israel. Asked about how he deals with facing protests personally, Seinfeld replied: Its so silly. Its like, they want to express this sincere, intense rage. But again, a little off target. open image in gallery Jerry Seinfeld in Los Angeles, April 2024 ( Getty Images ) So thats, to me, comedic, he said. He added that he believes political parties on either side of the ideological spectrum use similar tactics to each other. Theyre mobs believing their own crap, right? said Seinfeld. Thats what a political party is: Were gonna make up a bunch of nonsense and well all agree to it. Lets print up some bumper stickers and get out there kids thats politics. He continued: Were tribal animals. Were social creatures. We look for agreement and consensus. Were driven by agreement and consensus and mob rule it gives us comfort, gives us certainty. Its all BS. On 18 May, a vocal pro-Palestinian protestor was thrown out of Seinfelds comedy gig in Norfolk, New Jersey. In video footage, at least one protester stands up at the show and shouts towards the stage as the comedian delivers his set. Other attendees are then seen surrounding and confronting the protester before he is escorted out. The crowd can be heard cheering and chanting: Jerry! Since the 7 October attacks and the launch of Israels war on Gaza, at least 35,000 Palestinian people are believed to have been killed. The United Nations and other international agencies have accused Israel of creating man-made famine conditions in Gaza something that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An actor named Nick Pasqual has been charged with the attempted murder of his estranged girlfriend, Hollywood makeup artist Allie Shehorn. Rebel Moon make-up artist Shehorn was stabbed more than 20 times in her home last Thursday (23 May) and was found bleeding out by her surrogate mother Christine White at 4.30am, according to KTLA as per Deadline. On Wednesday (29 May), the Los Angeles District Attorneys office announced that Pasqual has been charged with one count of attempted murder, one count of first-degree residential burglary with [a] person present, and one count of injuring a spouse. According to the release, Pasqual inflicted great bodily injury upon the victim under circumstances involving domestic violence and personally used a knife during the commission of the crime. If convicted of the charges, Pasqual could be sentenced to life in prison. Shehorn, who also worked on the Mean Girls remake and Babylon, is said to have obtained a restraining order citing domestic violence shortly before the attack took place. In the attack, she suffered gashes to her neck, arms and across her abdomen. She was rushed to the hospital where she was forced to undergo multiple surgeries and currently has limited use of her hands. Pasqual fled the state after the relentless assault, before being arrested in Texas near the Mexican border, according to reports. open image in gallery Allie Shehorn ( Instagram @jedimaster34 ) Previously, a post on Shehorns friend Jed Dornoffs Instagram page reported that the then-unnamed attacker was previously in jail for domestic violence before he paid bail and attacked immediately after being released. Dornoff has since set up a GoFundMe page alongside another friend Emily MacDonald as they hope to raise funds for Shehorns medical costs after she was rushed to hospital fighting for her life, in critical condition. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Allie is a remarkable person, full of warmth, kindness, and love. No one deserves to endure such a traumatic experience, especially someone as compassionate and caring as Allie, they wrote. The road to recovery will be long and arduous, but with your support, we can help ease her burden and provide the financial assistance she desperately needs. Dornoff added that Shehorn remains silly and upbeat following the incident as she recovers in hospital as he shared updates on her condition to his Instagram page. Other friends shared their support in the comments as they encouraged the make-up artist to Stay strong Allie! and said they were Sending love and healing. The national domestic abuse helpline offers support for women on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the Refuge website. There is a dedicated mens advice line on 0808 8010 327. Those in the US can call the domestic violence hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Timothy Spall has said that the arts should not be spoken of as an economic bloodsucker, and called on the next government to appreciate how creative industries contribute to society. The Bafta-winning actor, speaking in an interview ahead of the 25th birthday of the Lowry theatre and gallery in Salford, said the incoming government should focus on how art opens the mind and how it helps society, instead of promoting it as exclusive and elitist. Whoever takes over, should work on and its a tricky one making people realise that its not elitist, Spall told The Guardian. The arts has this connotation of being you know, arty farty, for an exclusive audience, and its not. Even if you dont want to make a living out of it, it opens your mind. Its about sharing. Its the opposite to elitism. Its about saying, Look, were all f***ing humans and this is what we feel, is it not? The Harry Potter star, who comes from a working class background, said it had become difficult for children who came from families without means to access the funding they would require to take up opportunities in the arts. open image in gallery Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill in The Kings Speech ( Weinstein Co/Uk Film Council/See Saw/Kobal/Shutterstock ) Theres an opinion that art is exclusively funded by the government but it isnt, it pays for itself. And its in the interest of people that dont like it I suppose, to advertise it as if its some kind of bloodsucker, but it simply isnt, is it? The actor visited the theatre as research for his role as LS Lowry in the 2019 film Mrs Lowry & Son, and has also displayed his own work at the gallery. The Independents Clarisse Loughrey gave the film three stars, writing that the writing is sharp and insightful when it comes to class and opportunity but under the direction of theatre veteran Adrian Noble, its an often stiff and unadventurous affair. open image in gallery The Lowry theatre in Salford ( Getty Images ) Spalls comments came after the Lowry released its annual report on Wednesday, which found that the space contributed 47.7m to the UK economy. The theatre and arts space is almost entirely self-sustaining, and only 6 per cent of its income came from public sources in 2022-23. In comparison, other Arts Council England national portfolio organisations get almost half their funding from public sources on average. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The future presented in The Beast, Bertrand Bonellos mesmeric blend of sci-fi, horror and romance, feels frighteningly plausible. In the wake of disaster, AI has taken on the responsibility of running civilisation, leaving 67 per cent of humanity unemployed. Decisions, now, are made entirely without bias or empathy, so that when Gabrielle (Lea Seydoux) attempts to seek more fulfilling work, shes forced to undergo a process of purification, in which her past lives, and all their inherited trauma, are scrubbed clean from her DNA. The notion that we carry our ancestors sorrows, one proposed by certain corners of the scientific community, is an unnerving one. Here, the French filmmaker suggests it may be the true explanation for the amorphous beast once described in a Henry James novella. Its story concerns a man who rejects love and stability because hes convinced some terrible catastrophe, moving unseen like a creature in the jungle, will one day strike him down. Gabrielle feels the same, and in Bonellos sad, unshakeable film, its suggested that perhaps her fears are justified some of us, it seems, are simply fated to be plagued by the same, cyclic miseries. There are three timelines at play here: the future, in 2044; the present(ish), in 2014; and the past, in 1910. In all three, there is a Gabrielle and there is a Louis (George MacKay, who took on the role after the death of Gaspard Ulliel, to whom this film is dedicated). In the 1910 sections, Bonello comes the closest to plainly adapting Jamess novella, 1903s The Beast in the Jungle. Were in Paris, during the Belle Epoque, and Gabrielle is an accomplished pianist who denies Louiss advances in an attempt to stave off the doom. MacKay supplies dignified, courtly yearning in one scene he snaps his eyes shut and you can almost see, dancing across his features, the daydream of leaning across to kiss Gabrielles lips. In 2044, Louis is another candidate for the process of purification, another soul pledged to never feel a true and powerful emotion ever again. But its in the contemporary section, in 2014, that Bonello best deploys his web of Lynchian symbols each timeline, in some way, features a clairvoyant, a bird as the harbinger of ill, and a doll as a totem of innocence (in the future, its an android played, with poignant restraint, by Saint Omers Guslagie Malanda). In 2014, self-imposed isolation, when mixed with hatred and entitlement, turns dangerous in a way that suggests that, while fear and loneliness are part of the universal experience, social hierarchy tends to dictate what people choose to do with those emotions. Here, Gabrielle is an actor in Los Angeles, paid to replicate extreme emotions against an endless void of green screen. Louis, meanwhile, is a violent misogynist, whose video manifestos could almost be direct translations of those made by the man who shot and murdered six people in Santa Barbara, California, on 23 May 2014. McKay finds the necessary, chilling balance between disturbing and deeply pathetic. Seydouxs terror, in response, seems infinite inviting in all that is material and immaterial, simultaneously becoming a woman living in everyday fear of men, and a woman in touch with some primordial knowledge of her own mortality. open image in gallery Lea Seydoux in Bertrand Bonellos The Beast ( Vertigo Releasing ) Bonello, whose films among them Nocturama and Zombi Child are made to provoke, does not leave us entirely hopeless. In 2044, Gabrielle faces a hard bargain: would permanent serenity be worth the loss of every great piece of art made by those brave enough to face their pain? As she insists, in 2014: There must be beautiful things in this chaos. The Beast does its best to seek them out. Dir: Bertrand Bonello. Starring: Lea Seydoux, George MacKay, Guslagie Malanda, Dasha Nekrasovai. Cert 15, 145 mins The Beast is in cinemas from 31 May Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Homeless people have been sent out of Edinburgh to make way for Taylor Swift fans ahead of the popstars Eras Tour performances in the city from 7 to 9 June. Housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland has said several of the homeless people it supports had been sent out of the city via taxi to other locations including Aberdeen, Glasgow, and as far away as Newcastle, to stay in temporary accommodation to pre-empt a shortage in accommodation as tourists flock to the area for the concert. The charity told the BBC it was a blatant injustice for homeless people to be in direct competition with tourists. Edinburgh City Council said it was working with affected households to find appropriate, alternative accommodation. Swift will kick off the UK leg of her billion-dollar Eras tour at Edinburghs Murrayfield Stadium on 7 June. The stadium has a seating capacity of more than 65,000. Many fans, however, who are not ticket holders are expected to arrive in the city to stand outside the stadium in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the musician. Competition for hotel rooms is fierce, with budget hotel chains like Holiday Inn charging more than 200 for a one-night stay in Edinburgh town from 7 to 8 June. Shelter said that people being declared homeless in Edinburgh, who would usually be offered temporary accommodation such as hotels, were being sent out of the city due to a severe shortage in accommodation caused by the concert. There is a legal obligation for people declared homeless in Scotland to be offered emergency temporary accommodation. This can come in the form of hotels when other options are full. The citys council declared a housing emergency last November, citing record homelessness figures amid a shortage of social housing and increased private rental costs. It said that housing homeless people in hotels was a symptom of the housing crisis. open image in gallery Housing charity Shelter reported that homeless people were being sent out of Edinburgh to temporary accommodation ( AFP via Getty Images ) Edinburgh City Council has said it is not moving tenants out of temporary accommodation to make way for Taylor Swift fans, but housing convenor Councillor Jane Meagher said: It is a symptom of the housing emergency we face in Edinburgh that at times we must use tourist accommodation to house homeless households. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up We know it wont be available year-round, particularly over the busy summer months, so we use it reluctantly as a last resort. Were aware of the situation and are working with the affected households to find appropriate, alternative accommodation. Shelter Scotland director Alison Watson told the BBC that the situation in Edinburgh was further evidence of the urgency of the countrys housing emergency. In Edinburgh that emergency now places people experiencing homelessness in direct competition with tourists; a blatant injustice, she said. Our frontline services are already seeing people in need of a bed tonight being told their only option is to leave of the city. open image in gallery Murrayfield stadium has a capacity of more than 65,000 at a seated concert event ( PA Archive ) A family going through the trauma of homelessness in Edinburgh should not have to move miles from their job, school, and community to find emergency accommodation. Watson warned that without action from the Scottish government, the city could be facing similar issues during its annual Fringe Festival in August, which sees thousands of tourists make their way to Scotland for comedy and theatre performances. The Independent has contacted representatives of Swift and Edinburgh Council for comment. China's senior NPC official visits Thailand Xinhua) 08:25, May 30, 2024 BANGKOK, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Shohrat Zakir, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), visited Thailand from May 28 to May 30, at the invitation of Thailand's National Assembly. During the visit, he met separately with Thailand's National Assembly President and Speaker of the House of Representatives Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Vice President of the National Assembly and President of the Senate Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, and Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa. Shohrat Zakir said that under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries, China and Thailand respect each other, treat each other as equals, and work together sincerely to push forward a China-Thailand community with a shared future in the new era, setting an example of win-win cooperation between countries with different systems. He said China's NPC is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Thailand's National Assembly, implement important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, and make positive contributions to the development of a China-Thailand community with a shared future. The Thai side said that Thailand attaches great importance to developing Thailand-China friendship, admires China's development achievements, and reiterated adherence to the one-China principle. The Thai side also expressed willingness to actively implement consensus, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, continuously push forward a Thailand-China community with a shared future, and effectively improve well-beings of the two peoples. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Jay Blades has cancelled a scheduled appearance at the Hay Festival as he continues to take time out while dealing with challenges in his personal life. The furniture restorer, who is the face of the BBCs sentimental restoration programme The Repair Shop, was due to speak to journalist Sarfraz Manzoor at the Welsh literary festival on Thursday about his book Life Lessons: Wisdom And Wit From Lifes Ups And Downs, in which he shares inspirational words for making the very best of life. However, after a period of upheaval in his personal life, Blades, 54, announced he will not be appearing at the literary festival as he continues to take a break from working. In April, his wife Lisa Zbozen announced that she was leaving him. The news came shortly after Blades revealed his uncle Richard Brathwaite had been killed. In a post to his fans, Blades said Brathwaites death had really affected him and announced a break from social media and told The Independent he was planning to see a counsellor. A statement from his team said: "We wanted to confirm that as Jay Blades continues to take time out, he wont be attending the session as advertised at this years Hay Festival. "Were sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment that this may have caused and we hope you enjoy the rest of the festival." open image in gallery Blades has previously said he was seeking therapy after facing challenges in his personal life ( Getty ) The festival confirmed that ticket holders will be refunded. Bladess spokesperson told The Independent earlier this month that he would be taking an extended break from the BBCs Repair Shop. Filming on the new series has since commenced without Blades at the Weald and Downland Living Museum in Chichester, West Sussex. In announcing his step back, Blades said he was taking a social media hiatus following the death of his uncle, saying he was taking time off to "take stock and just relax", but confirmed he would be "back soon". It comes after the breakdown of his marriage to Zbozen, whom he married in the grounds of a beachfront villa in Barbados in November 2022. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free The TV star first found fame on the restoration programme, which sees members of the public take worn-out family heirlooms to be restored by a team of experts. open image in gallery Blades found fame on the popular furniture restoration programme ( Getty ) In an interview with The Independent, Blades said The Repair Shop saved his life after he secured the presenting gig following an acute mental health crisis and an attempted suicide. He said the show, which sees craftspeople from around the country restore family heirlooms that have sentimental value, is helping others show their emotions. Especially with men, weve created a culture where to show your vulnerability is to become a victim, he said, stating: I used to believe that when I was growing up in Hackney, that you had to be this tough guy, as I was growing up in a very tough environment. After highlighting the high suicide rate among British men, which is the leading cause of death among men under 50, Blades said: Why is that? Because a lot of men are struggling with stuff and they dont know how to express that. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The BBC has addressed the ongoing Strictly Come Dancing scandal involving Giovanni Pernice. Earlier this month, it was reported that the Italian professional dancer, who has been embroiled in controversy since his celebrity partner Amanda Abbington unexpectedly quit the show in 2023, is the centre of an investigation, which is being assisted by a number of celebrities he has previously been paired with. These files, compiled by legal firm Carter Ruck, reportedly include photographic evidence that suggest Pernices training regime was so brutal that his celebrity partners were left black and blue. While Sherlock star Abbington originally cited medical reasons for her decision to leave, she went on to request what was described by a source as tense footage of her rehearsals with Pernice for a supposed investigation. The actor then revealed she was diagnosed with mild PTSD after Strictly for several reasons. It was alleged in March that Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh and former Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore, who previously said she was uncomfortable with Pernice, had a tearful summit with Abbington about their respective difficult experiences working with the dancer, who is well known to be intense during training. After multiple requests for comment, the BBC has now shared a statement on the matter, reading: It is a longstanding position that the BBC does not comment on specific matters related to individuals. Nor ordinarily, would we comment on whether we are reviewing any individual complaints. Recently, we have seen a number of media reports about a high profile show. We would urge people not to indulge in speculation. Anyone involved in a complaint has a right to confidentiality and fair process. If a complaint is made to the BBC, we assess and take any necessary steps to establish the facts, whether there is a case to answer, and, if appropriate, what action should be taken. This is all within the context of the BBC having duties of care to everyone linked to a complaint - that applies to those that have raised the complaint and to those that have been complained about. Whilst we know our shows have been positive experiences for many of those who have taken part, we will always look at any issues raised with care, fairness and sensitivity to everyone concerned. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free open image in gallery Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice ( BBC ) We will not be commenting further. Pernice, who has defended himself against allegations of wrongdoing, said of the reports: Those who have followed my journey on Strictly Come Dancing over the last decade will know that I am passionate and competitive/ No-one is more ambitious for my dance partners than me. I have always striven to help them be the very best dancers they can be. This has always come from a place of love and wanting to win for me and my dance partners. While Pernices future on the show is currently up in the air, its been claimed he will leave the series to pursue other projects. open image in gallery Amanda Abbington and Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice ( BBC ) The dancer has been a part of Strictly since 2015, and won legions of fans due to his onscreen camaraderie with EastEnders actor Rose Ayling-Ellis. The pair won the show in 2021. Since the news, Pernice has been supported by his fans, and by Debbie McGee, one of his former celebrity Strictly partners. He was partnered with Whitmore in 2016, and Singh in 2020, finishing in ninth and fifth place, respectively. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A court has found 14 pro-democracy activists guilty on charges of subversion in Hong Kongs largest use of a China-imposed national security law. The judgement was condemned by rights groups as a near-total purge of the political opposition in the city. The 14 were among 47 pro-democracy campaigners who were detained and charged in 2021 for conspiracy to subvert state power by holding unofficial election primaries in 2020. The convicted included one organiser and 13 candidates, almost all of them former politicians. The trial finished in December, after 10 months. It was more than 1,000 days after the cohort had first been arrested. Two defendents were found not guilty. But the prosecution said it intends to appeal against the acquittals. Sentencing will come at a later date for those found guilty, with prison terms ranging from three years to life. Thirty-one defendants pleaded guilty, and four of them have become prosecution witnesses. "This unprecedented mass conviction is the most ruthless illustration yet of how Hong Kong's national security law is weaponised to silence dissent," Amnesty International's China director, Sarah Brooks, said in a statement. "It represents a near-total purge of the political opposition." The US and some other countries have criticised the trial as politically motivated, calling for the accused to be immediately released. Diplomats from several countries including Britain and the European Union attended the hearing. The UK minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne Marie Trevelyan, said: This case is a clear demonstration of the way that the Hong Kong authorities have used the Beijing-imposed national security law to stifle opposition. [This] verdict will only further tarnish Hong Kongs international reputation. It sends a message that Hong Kongers can no longer safely and meaningfully participate in peaceful political debate. We call on the Hong Kong authorities to end [such] prosecutions and release all individuals charged. The court released a 319-page verdict that details the judges deliberations on the role of each defendant. The court said that the apparent scheme by Hong Kong campaigners for democracy would have paralysed the operation of the government and would inevitably create political instability in Hong Kong leading to [a] constitutional crisis. It said that the 16 activists were in agreement with other persons to participate in the scheme, referring to the unofficial primaries, with the view to subverting the state power. The court said that the scheme would have allowed them to indiscriminately veto any budgets or refuse to pass any budgets or public expenditure to be introduced by the government regardless of the merits or the contents, in the event they were elected. Former district councillor Shun Lee talks to the media after being found not guilty at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong ( AFP via Getty Images ) The landmark case of the Hong Kong 47 involved some of the cities best-known pro-democracy campaigners and former opposition politicians, such as Claudia Mo, Helena Wong and Kwok ka-ki. It also included two icons of pro-democracy protests in 2014: Joshua Wong and Benny Tai. Those who were found guilty included former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong and Raymond Chan. The two acquitted were a former district councillor, Lee Yue-shun, and barrister Lawrence Lau. Mass pro-democracy protests erupted in Hong Kong in 2019 against Beijing's plans for legislation that democrats argued infringed on freedoms guaranteed when Hong Kong returned to China's control in 1997. Beijing imposed the sweeping national security law in 2020, which has led to a spate of arrests of democratic campaigners as well as the closures of liberal media outlets and NGOs. Hong Kong's democratic opposition had sought for decades to pressure Beijing to allow full democracy in the city. Once-lively street marches, demonstrations and vigils have essentially ceased amid intense policing. Before Thursdays court session began at 6am local time, dozens of residents had queued up outside the court, where there was a heavy police presence. Some arrived as early as Wednesday evening and stood all night to secure a seat in the public gallery for the verdicts. People wait in line outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong, Thursday ( AP ) Staging a rare and solo protest, Alexandra Wong, a well-known protester dubbed Grandma Wong, chanted support for the activists and waved a Union Jack at a designated protest area, some 50m away from the courtroom. Hong Kongers are still here. We havent given up. We are still with you all, said SL Chiu, who only gave his initials due to fear of government retribution, adding that the hearing marked a historic moment. The July 2020 primary was being carried out to shortlist pro-democracy candidates who would then run in the official election. It drew an unexpectedly high turnout of 610,000 voters, representing over 13 per cent of the citys registered electorate. The pro-democracy camp had hoped they could secure a legislative majority, which would allow them to press for the 2019 protest demands, including greater police accountability and democratic elections for the city leader. But the government postponed the legislative election that would have followed the primary, citing public health risks during the coronavirus pandemic. The electoral laws were later overhauled, drastically reducing the publics ability to vote and increasing the number of pro-Beijing lawmakers making decisions for the city in the legislature. Analysts have said their subversion case illustrates how the security law is being used to crush the political opposition in Hong Kong in the aftermath of the huge anti-government protests in 2019. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A YouTuber who spent thousands in an effort to transform into a border collie has decided dogs might best be left as man's best friend rather than man himself. The Japanese man known as Toco spent $14,000 on a custom canine suit from Zeppet, a company that makes costumes for films, advertisements, events, and individual requests from customers. But he is now considering trying out other animals after discovering that moving like a dog is not as easy as it looks. Toco told Japanese outlet WanQol that the differences between human and canine bone structures make immitating dog movements difficult, but he would still like to fulfill his dream of "becoming another animal someday" according to translations by the New York Post. A video with over 80,000 views posted to Toco's YouTube channel in December 2023 shows him trying (and failing) to take part in a dog's agility course. At one point in the video he tries to hobble up an A-frame three times before eventually accepting defeat and rolling onto the ground, sticking his 'paws' into the air. The latest upload on his channel with nearly 65,000 subscribers shows him completing more suitable tasks, such as hoovering and working out 1+1. Toco meets a real and slightly startled dog ( X/ Toco. Screengrab ) In an interview with the New York Post, the wannabe-pooch expressed frustration at people assuming his costume is a furry fetish: "This is my hobby, so I will carry on. It makes me happy and other people happy too." That being said, Toco does not want his identity to be public, fearing his colleagues will be judgmental. Despite his fear he is perservering in his passion, and has suggested he will have costumes of other dog breeds made including the Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute, and golden retriever. He has also expressed interest in other animal species entirely, and is considering ordering a panda costume although he has not said if he has placed an order yet. With a production time of 40 days for his beloved collie suit, his audience may have to wait to see what Toco will slip into next. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy India is facing one of the most intense heatwaves ever, with temperatures in Delhi being highest ever for the city, and on the verge of breaking the national records. A temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius was recorded in the Mungeshpur region on the outskirts of the national capital on Wednesday, causing alarm all over the country. Indias meteorological department said this reading is still being evaluated and and could be due to a sensor issue, but if confirmed, this will be the highest-ever temperature recorded in the country. M Mohapatra, director general of IMD said that of the 20 monitoring stations in Delhi, 14 recorded a drop in temperature on Wednesday, but the average across the city was in the 45C to 50C range. Daytime temperatures had already been soaring to nearly 50C in Delhi and other parts of north India this week as India continued to grapple with an extreme heatwave that has also affected turnout in the ongoing national election. On Tuesday, the citys main weather station at Safdarjung recorded a temperature of 45.8C while the outskirts of Mungeshpur, which recorded the reading of 52C on Wednesday,and Narela reported 49.9C. Najafgarh, Pitampura and Pusa regions in the outskirts also sizzled at around 49.8C. Heatwaves are clearly the single largest threat to Indias well being today. Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends These were the highest temperatures ever recorded in Delhi and break the record of Delhi 49.2C recorded in 2002. The readings are also somenine degrees above normal for this time of the year. Meanwhile, in neighbouring Pakistan, temperatures rose above 52C in the southern Sindh province this week, the highest this summer and close to the countrys record high. open image in gallery A woman holding an umbrella walks near the India Gate during severe heatwave on a hot summer day in Delhi ( AFP via Getty Images ) South Asia has been reeling under intense heatwaves this year along with the rest of Asia and the world. The past 12 months have been the planets hottest ever recorded. Although summers have always been gruelling in India with mercury often rising above 40C in northern and central regions, they have grown hotter in recent years. Climate crisis, caused by burning fossil fuels is making heatwaves hotter and more likely to happen everywhere in the world, according to scientists that study how extreme events are changing. Scientific studies in Indias heatwave in 2022, 2023 and 2024 have evaluated that human-caused climate crisis was responsible for extreme temperatures. Heatwaves are clearly the single largest threat to Indias well being today, Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends, says. Temperatures in Delhi and neighbouring National Capital Region (NCR) states since the last two days are proof that the issue is now about survivability, and its no longer a problem elsewhere. open image in gallery People sit in front of a table fan to cool off on a hot summer afternoon in Varanasi ( AFP via Getty Images ) Amid extreme temperatures, an air conditioner triggered a massive fire in an apartment complex in Delhis neighbouring Noida city on Thursday. Several fire incidents have been reported in northern and western India, including a blaze at a childrens hospital in Delhi which killed seven newborns. This summer, much of northern and western India including the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh that surround Delhi has been under a red alert as temperatures have stayed consistently high above 45C. A red alert implies a very high likelihood of people developing heat illness and heat stroke, and calls for extreme care for vulnerable people, according to IMD. open image in gallery Men use a stole to cover from heat as they wait in a line outside a polling station to cast their votes during the sixth phase of India's general election, on a hot summer day in Bhubaneswar, India ( REUTERS ) In spite of record temperatures and voters complaining of heat stress, however, Indias election commission has pushed ahead with polling and turnout has slightly dropped compared to the last election five years ago. The election ends on 1 June after seven phases of polling spread over six weeks. The results are due on 4 June. open image in gallery A mahout rides his elephant along a street on a hot summer day in Jaipur ( AFP via Getty Images ) Hot winds flowing in from the desert state of Rajasthan have been blamed for increasing the heat in Delhi in recent days. However, experts pointed out that the capital citys urban sprawl and lack of green spaces were responsible as well. In open areas with vacant land, there is increased radiation. Direct sunlight and lack of shade make these regions exceptionally hot, Mahesh Palawat, vice president of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather, told The Business Standard newspaper. Night-time temperatures remained as high as 36C in some locations - which is particularly dangerous as it means people cannot cool off at night to fall asleep. open image in gallery A worker carries baskets of shaved ice to a food processing unit on a hot summer afternoon, at a market in Delhi ( AFP via Getty Images ) Delhis local government also restricted the supply of water because of the heat. It said water levels in the Yamuna River, the main source, were low. The city does not have uninterrupted water supply at any time but the Delhi government said neighbourhoods that received water for about hours two times a day would be subject to further restrictions. I appeal to all the residents that whether there is a water problem in your area or not, please use water very carefully, water minister Atishi, who uses only one name, said on Tuesday. open image in gallery Families fill up empty water buckets with potable water from the New Delhi Municipal Council water tanker in Delhi ( Getty Images ) While some Indians can afford to use air conditioners and water coolers to beat the heat, half of the countrys workforce is compelled to work outside with little to not respite throughout the day. open image in gallery A man carrying a newly purchased air cooler rides a bike along a street, on a hot summer afternoon in Delhi ( AFP via Getty Images ) In this infernal heat, millions of heat-exposed workers without access to cooling will struggle to earn their wages, protect their families and stay safe, says Aditya Valiathan Pillai, fellow coordinator at Climate Adaptation and Resilience, Sustainable Futures Collaborative. Mr Pillai said it is crucial for cities like Delhi now to implement heat action plans. Of equal importance are long term solutions like trees, changing how buildings are structured and reducing the density of built areas to combat the urban heat island effect. Experts say 50C heat can be deadly.India has already recorded over half a dozen deaths due to suspected heat stroke so far, but experts said the actual number could be far higher. On Wednesday, a 40-year-old man died in a Delhi hospital after he suffered a heatstroke. Doctors said the man was living in a room with no cooler or fan and his body temperature crossed the 107C mark - nearly 10 degrees above normal. This is the first confirmed heat-stroke death reported in Delhi this summer. When the individual is dehydrated, extreme heat exposure will thicken their blood and cause organs to shut down, resulting in death within hours, popularly called heat stroke, says professor Vidhya Venugopal, country director at Sri Ram Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai. In spite of all this, the issue of extreme weather and climate crisis have barely featured in the ongoing election campaign. According to the IPCC, heatwaves that occurred once every 10 years without human-caused warming are now likely to occur 2.8 times more often. If emissions are not cut much faster than planned, they will become two to three times more common again. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A prolonged and deadly heatwave that has killed at least 48 people in Mexico is headed for the US. Temperatures could reach up to 111 degrees Fahrenheit (43C) in Florida, Texas and parts of Nevada, where an intense zone of high pressure, known as a heat dome, will fuel high temperatures over the next 10 days, meteorologists have warned. The National Weather Services Climate Prediction Center issued a warning that much of the Southwest will be impacted by the heat dome between June 5 and 11, with southern parts of both Texas and Florida already experiencing high temperatures. The heat index, a measure of how hot it feels factoring in humidity, reached at least 115 degrees (46C) on Memorial Day at Houston Hobby Airport, demolishing the previous May record of 108 degrees (42C) from 1998. The heat dome brought a similar heat index to the Florida Keys and south Florida ten days ago, with the index topping 105 degrees (40C). Following the brutal weather, meteorologists have predicted that Florida could see some relief from the heat dome because of a dip in the jet stream over the eastern United States in the coming days. A heat dome occurs when hot ocean air becomes trapped in the atmosphere much like placing a lid on a boiling pot. open image in gallery A prolonged and deadly heatwave that has killed at least 48 people in Mexico is headed for the US ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) The hot air expands across the atmosphere and creates a dome-like structure that prevents cooler air from circulating, blocks cloud coverage and rain and can increase the chance of wildfires. Basically we just get the sun pouring down sunshine unimpeded, baking the ground, and no real cloud cover or moisture to stave off our temperatures, Gabriel A Vecchi, professor of Geosciences at Princeton University, told TIME. The heat dome has already been breaking records in Mexico since early May, with many states in the country observing their highest temperatures on record. Temperatures hit 94.5 degrees (34C) in Mexico City on Friday and Saturday its highest temperature in 50 years of data keeping, according to the countrys National Meteorological Service. Meanwhile, temperatures soared to 118.4 degrees (48C) in Valle Nacional over the weekend, marking Oaxaca states hottest day. Amid the heatwave, more than 80 per cent of the country is also enduring drought, with at least four dozen people dying from heat stroke and dehydration in Mexico over the past two months. The heat has also killed around 150 howler monkeys, which have been seen dropping dead from trees amid the high temperatures. And there is little sign of the heat dome over Mexico dissipating, with researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico warning last week that the country will experience the highest temperatures ever recorded into early June. The heat dome in Mexico has been partly fueled by the most recent El Nino weather phenomenon, a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A new survey has found that nearly half of Gen Zers live a double life online. In the research conducted by OnePoll, on behalf of computer company Lenovo, 2,000 Americans from different generations discussed some of their social media habits. The results showed that out of all the Gen Z respondents, 46 per cent of them claimed they live a double life online, with the feeling that their personalities in the real world are much different. When asked if their online personas are a secret from their family, 31 per cent of Gen Z respondents said yes. They also shared their feelings about communicating online, with 53 per cent of Gen Zers saying its easier than talking in person. Although nearly half of all respondents said they felt a disconnect between who they are online and in person, 68 per cent of those respondents were part of Gen Z. Other generations confessed to similar habits online, with 38 per cent of millennials, 18 per cent of Gen Xers, and eight per cent of baby boomers claiming they live a double life on the internet. Meanwhile, 27 per cent of millennials also confessed to keeping who they are online a secret from their families. Regarding whether they felt it was easier to have conversations online than offline, 49 per cent of millennials and 35 per cent of Gen X said it was. Meanwhile, only 23 per cent of baby boomers felt this way. All respondents were also asked how open they are to sharing their opinions online. Results found that 21 per cent of them were comfortable with sharing their ambitions online instead of in person. Meanwhile, 19 percent said they felt comfortable sharing their fears or insecurities online, instead of offline, and 19 per cent said they were open about their political beliefs. When compared to who they are offline, 20 per cent of respondents said their online personalities had clearer likes and dislikes. Some respondents also pointed out that their online persona has different lives and dislikes and more controversial opinions than who they are in person. OnePolls survey is also on behalf of Lenovos work for its Work for Humankind project, called Meet Your Digital, which examines how ones online persona is different from who you can be in the real world. For the experiment, Lenovo uses cutting-edge AI and its full portfolio of smarter devices and solutions. Lenovo brings two individuals digital personas to life as interactive, 3D avatars, capable of having real conversations with loved ones, the companys website states. This is how Lenovo is using technology to bring people together for good. This isnt the first time theres been a discussion about Gen Zs habits with technology. Earlier this year, one user on X, formerly known as Twitter, Max Burns sparked a viral debate about the iPhones Do Not Disturb feature, with the claim that Gen Z kids keep it on all the time because they never have to face the anxiety of answering the phone. Although some of Gen Z identified with the tweet, others disagreed, pointing out that they have their phone on Do Not Disturb which silences all notifications because they want to avoid spam calls. However, phone call anxiety among Gen Z isnt an unfounded theory. A 2023 study conducted by CommBank and More found that only one in 10 Gen Z Australians would prefer to talk to family or friends over the phone. And 87 per cent of participants in the study confessed to handling a conflict over text instead of with a phone call, with 49 per cent admitting that they feel anxious when talking on the phone. Close Related: Prince William and Prince George award Manchester United FA Cup trophy Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy King Charles and David Beckham bonded over the mutual love of bees as the ex-England football captain was unveiled as a Kings Foundation ambassador. Beckham met privately with the King at Highgrove, Charless Gloucestershire retreat to learn more about its work. Beckham said: It was inspiring to hear from the King about the work of His Majestys foundation during my recent visit to Highgrove Gardens and compare beekeeping tips! It came as Prince Andrew was reportedly refusing to leave the 30milion Royal Lodge and was becoming an increasingly isolated figure, who spends his days watching television in a darkened room in the crumbling residence. A friend of King Charles has now claimed that life at the Royal Lodge will become increasingly cold and uncomfortable for Andrew if he refuses to hand back the keys. The friend told The Times: The only question now is when he will realise that he has become a prisoner of his own pride and that handing back the keys will afford him far greater comfort, and the continued support of his family. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The next UK government must urgently focus on a better trading relationship with the EU as Brexit has increased costs and made it tougher to export, one of the countrys most influential business networks has said. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) published its election manifesto on Tuesday, citing improved relations with the trading bloc as part of its five demands for whoever wins the general election on July 4. The manifesto says leaving the EU made it more expensive and bureaucratic to sell our goods and services across the Channel but that better terms are possible to help firms trade. Shevaun Haviland, director general of the BCC, said: The EU is the UKs biggest market, so we urgently need to get a better trading relationship with our closest neighbour. Its not about rewriting the referendum result, its about cutting red tape and promoting trade. Both Labour and the Conservatives have drawn criticism for avoiding discussion of Brexit and the countrys future relationship with Europe. Writing in The Independent, Tory grandee Michael Heseltine, a prominent figure in Margaret Thatchers government, said this general election will be the most dishonest in modern times because of the refusal of the main parties to debate the consequences of Brexit. He said: The state of our economy, defence and environment, the need to level up our society, control immigration and restore Britains standing in the world. None of these issues can be honestly addressed in isolation from our relationship with Europe. Yet Europe is the no-go area. Lord Michael Heseltine warns election campaign will be dishonest (Aaron Chown/PA) ( PA Archive ) Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer wants to build closer ties with the EU but has previously ruled out Britain rejoining the Single Market or the Customs Union, or bringing back freedom of movement. Horticulture and food companies have previously warned that red tape due to physical border controls that began in April this year could create an existential crisis. The National Audit Office (NAO) said in a report earlier this month that the government had no clear timetable to fully implement its post-Brexit border controls with the EU. The government has stated the aim of having the worlds most effective border by 2025, but the NAO said the strategy lacks a clear timetable and an integrated cross-government delivery plan. It said repeated changes to and deferrals of the plan to introduce full-import controls have led to uncertainty for businesses and extra costs for the government and ports. Research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) showed almost one in 10 small firms that used to export or import goods have stopped doing so in the past five years, in part due to costs, the volume of paperwork, and supply chain or logistical issues. Martin McTague, national chair of the FSB, said: New border processes have been worryingly complex and costly for SMEs. A lack of coordinated policy approach has led to confusion and its right that these challenges have been highlighted in the NAO report. He added: With more changes on the horizon its crucial that small businesses are able to plan ahead. They need clarity and certainly dont have time to unravel confusing messages from a variety of different Whitehall departments. The Government should communicate with SMEs with a single voice, setting out clear and realistic timescales for any future changes. Government needs to ensure that changes are better planned, timetabled and tested to ensure that operations run smoothly. This will minimise damage to trade and indeed our international global reputation. The Independent previously reported that Brexit is leaving a hole of almost 100bn in annual UK exports, making Britains economy worse off than it would have been, had it remained in the European Union. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump may be convicted of a felony and reside in Florida, a state notorious for restricting the voting rights of people with felony convictions. But he can still vote as long as he stays out of prison in New York state. Thats because Florida defers to other states disenfranchisement rules for residents convicted of out-of-state felonies. In Trumps case, New York law only removes the right to vote for people convicted of felonies when theyre incarcerated. Once theyre out of prison, their rights are automatically restored, even if theyre on parole, per a 2021 law passed by the states Democratic legislature. If a Floridians voting rights are restored in the state of conviction, they are restored under Florida law, Blair Bowie of the Campaign Legal Center wrote in a post explaining the state of law, noting that people without Trumps legal resources are often confused by Floridas complex rules. So as long as Trump isnt sent to prison, he can vote for himself in Florida in Novembers election. Trump was convicted Thursday of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. A lifelong New Yorker, Trump established residency in Florida in 2019, while he was in the White House. Even if he is elected president again, Trump will not be able to pardon himself of state charges in New York. The president's pardon power applies only to federal crimes. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police coordinated by the European Union's justice and police agencies have taken down computer networks responsible for spreading ransomware via infected emails, in what they called the biggest-ever international operation against the lucrative form of cybercrime. The European Union's judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust, said Thursday that police arrested four high value suspects, took down more than 100 servers and seized control of over 2,000 internet domains. The huge takedown this week, codenamed Endgame, involved coordinated action in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Ukraine, the United States and United Kingdom, Eurojust said. Also, three suspects were arrested in Ukraine and one in Armenia. Searches were carried out in Ukraine, Portugal, the Netherlands and Armenia, EU police agency Europol added. It is the latest international operation aimed at disrupting malware and ransomware operations. It followed a massive takedown in 2021 of a botnet called Emotet, Eurojust said. A botnet is a network of hijacked computers typically used for malicious activity. Europol pledged it would not be the last takedown. Operation Endgame does not end today. New actions will be announced on the website Operation Endgame," Europol said in a statement. Dutch police said that the financial damage inflicted by the network on governments, companies and individual users is estimated to run to hundreds of millions of euros (dollars). Millions of people are also victims because their systems were infected, making them part of these botnets, the Dutch statement said. Eurojust said that one of the main suspects earned cryptocurrency worth at least 69 million euros ($74 million) by renting out criminal infrastructure for spreading ransomware. The suspects transactions are constantly being monitored and legal permission to seize these assets upon future actions has already been obtained, EU police agency Europol added. The operation targeted malware droppers called IcedID, Pikabot, Smokeloader, Bumblebee and Trickbot. A dropper is malicious software usually spread in emails containing infected links or attachments such as shipping invoices or order forms. This approach had a global impact on the dropper ecosystem," Europol said. The malware, whose infrastructure was taken down during the action days, facilitated attacks with ransomware and other malicious software. Ben Jones, CEO at Searchlight Cyber, a company that provides intelligence on the dark web, hailed the operation as an example of how international cooperation can crack down on cybercrime. Where cybercriminals previously used their ability to operate across borders to evade the arm of justice, operations like Endgame coordinated across multiple jurisdictions demonstrate that this evasion tactic is increasingly untenable," Jons said in comments emailed to The Associated Press. "Law enforcements net is widening and the safe zones for cybercriminal activity are becoming harder and harder to come by. Dutch police said that the actions should alert cybercriminals that they can be caught. This operation shows that you always leave tracks, nobody is unfindable, even online, Stan Duijf, of the Dutch National Police, said in a video statement. The deputy head of Germanys Federal Criminal Police Office, Martina Link, described it as the biggest international cyber police operation so far. Thanks to intensive international cooperation, it was possible to render six of the biggest malware families harmless, she said in a statement. German authorities are seeking the arrest of seven people on suspicion of being members of a criminal organization whose aim was to spread the Trickbot malware. An eighth person is suspected of being one of the ringleaders of the group behind Smokeloader. Europol said it was adding the eight suspects being sought by Germany to its most-wanted list. ___ Associated Press writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A string of security, logistical and weather problems has battered the plan to deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza through a U.S. military-built pier. Broken apart by strong winds and heavy seas just over a week after it became operational, the project faces criticism that it hasnt lived up to its initial billing or its $320 million price tag. U.S. officials say, however, that the steel causeway connected to the beach in Gaza and the floating pier are being repaired and reassembled at a port in southern Israel, then will be reinstalled and working again next week. While early Pentagon estimates suggested the pier could deliver up to 150 truckloads of aid a day when in full operation, that has yet to happen. Bad weather has hampered progress getting aid into Gaza from the pier, while the Israeli offensive in the southern city of Rafah has made it difficult, if not impossible at times, to get aid into the region by land routes. Aid groups have had mixed reactions both welcoming any amount of aid for starving Palestinians besieged by the nearly eight-month-old Israel-Hamas war and decrying the pier as a distraction that took pressure off Israel to open more border crossings, which are far more productive. Its a side-show, said Bob Kitchen, a top official of the International Rescue Committee. The Biden administration has said from the start that the pier wasn't meant to be a total solution and that any amount of aid helps. Nobody said at the outset that it was going to be a panacea for all the humanitarian assistance problems that still exist in Gaza, national security spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday. I think sometimes theres an expectation of the U.S. military because theyre so good that everything that they touch is just going to turn to gold in an instant." We knew going in that this was going to be tough stuff, he added. "And it has proven to be tough stuff. Before the war, Gaza was getting about 500 truckloads of aid on average every day. The United States Agency for International Development says it needs a steady flow of 600 trucks a day to ease the struggle for food and bring people back from the brink of famine. The aid brought through the pier was enough to feed thousands for a month, but U.N. data shows it barely made a dent in the overall need of Gazas 2.3 million people. Here's a look at the timeline of the pier, the problems it faced and what may come next: MARCH: ANNOUNCEMENT AND PREP MARCH 7: President Joe Biden announces his plan for the U.S. military to build a pier during his State of the Union address. Tonight, Im directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters, he said. But even in those first few moments, he noted the pier would increase the amount of humanitarian aid getting into Gaza but that Israel must do its part and let more aid in. MARCH 8: Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, tells reporters it will take up to 60 days to deploy the forces and build the project. MARCH 12: Four U.S. Army boats loaded with tons of equipment and steel pier segments leave Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia and head to the Atlantic Ocean for what is expected to be a monthlong voyage to Gaza. The brigade's commander, Army Col. Sam Miller, warns that the transit and construction will be heavily dependent on the weather and any high seas they encounter. LATE MARCH: U.S. Army vessels hit high seas and rough weather as they cross the Atlantic, slowing their pace. APRIL: CONSTRUCTION AND HOPE APRIL 1: Seven World Central Kitchen aid workers are killed in an Israeli airstrike as they travel in clearly marked vehicles on a delivery mission authorized by Israel. The strike fuels ongoing worries about security for relief workers and prompts aid agencies to pause delivery of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. APRIL 19: U.S. officials confirm that the U.N. World Food Program has agreed to help deliver aid brought to Gaza via the maritime route once construction is done. APRIL 25: Major construction of the port facility on the shore near Gaza City begins to take shape. The onshore site is where aid from the causeway will be delivered and given to aid agencies. APRIL 30: Satellite photos show the U.S. Navy ship USNS Roy P. Benavidez and Army vessels working on assembling the pier and causeway about 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) from the port on shore. MAY: THE PIER OPENS THEN CLOSES MAY 9: The U.S. vessel Sagamore is the first ship loaded with aid to leave Cyprus and head toward Gaza and ultimately the pier. An elaborate security and inspection station has been built in Cyprus to screen the aid coming from a number of countries. MAY 16: Well past the 60-day target time, the construction and assembly of the pier off the Gaza coast and the causeway attached to the shoreline are finished after more than a week of weather and other delays. MAY 17: The first trucks carrying aid for the Gaza Strip roll down the newly built pier and into the secure area on shore, where they will be unloaded and the cargo distributed to aid agencies for delivery by truck into Gaza. May 18: Crowds of desperate Palestinians overrun a convoy of aid trucks coming from the pier, stripping the cargo from 11 of the 16 vehicles before they reach a U.N. warehouse for distribution. May 19-20: The first food from the pier a limited number of high-nutrition biscuits reaches people in need in central Gaza, according to the World Food Program. Aid organizations suspend deliveries from the pier for two days while the U.S. works with Israel to open alternate land routes from the pier and improve security. MAY 24: So far, a bit more than 1,000 metric tons of aid has been delivered to Gaza via the U.S.-built pier, and USAID later says all of it has been distributed within Gaza. MAY 25: High winds and heavy seas damage the pier and cause four U.S. Army vessels operating there to become beached, injuring three service members, including one who is in critical condition. Two vessels went aground in Gaza near the base of the pier and two went aground near Ashkelon in Israel. MAY 28: Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh says large portions of the causeway are being pulled from the beach and moved to an Israeli port for repairs. The base of the causeway remains at the Gaza shore. She also says that aid in Cyprus is being loaded onto vessels and will be ready to unload onto the pier once it is back in place. MAY 29: Two of the Army vessels that ran aground in the bad weather are now back at sea and the other two near the pier are being freed, with the aid of the Israeli navy. WHAT'S NEXT? In the coming days, the sections of the causeway will be put back together, and by the middle of next week will be moved back to the Gaza shore, where the causeway will once again be attached to the beach, the Pentagon says. When we are able to re-anchor the pier back in, youll be able to see that aid flow off in a pretty steady stream," Singh said Tuesday. "Were going to continue to operate this temporary pier for as long as we can. ___ AP writer Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Watch again as Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at the US Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado on Thursday (30 May). This was her first address at the ceremony, which launches cadets into the Air Force or Space Force with pomp and the roar of jets. President Joe Biden spoke last year to graduates, who will become second lieutenants, thanking them for choosing service over self, and noting the challenges ahead for the country and the world, from Russias invasion of Ukraine to Americas rivalry with China. After greeting graduates with salutes and handshakes, the president took a spill on stage, later saying hed tripped over a sandbag. He was uninjured. The commencement in Colorado Springs, Colorado, about an hours drive south of Denver, will wrap with graduates pitching their caps into the air as the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, zip past overhead. Noland Arbaugh was face down, floating on the surface of the water when he realised he could no longer move. Up until that point, it had been a beautiful day. He and his friends had arrived at the lake, surrounded by the lush hills of northeastern Pennsylvania, hours before, ready to swim on a day off from working at a childrens summer camp. The 22-year-old had already been in the water once but headed in with a couple of pals for a second time. At waist height, he pushed off and submerged himself into the water alongside the others, except he never surfaced. When he regained consciousness, he was already drowning. Arbaugh sensed he was paralysed, saying: I thought, is there anything I can do? No. So whats next? I held my breath for as long as I could, probably five or 10 seconds. Then I took a big drink of water, and that was that. I blacked out. He slipped in and out of consciousness while an air ambulance arrived, only fully waking up in the nearby hospital where he was rushed in for emergency surgery. Two vertebrae in his neck were dislocated and a nurse, on the phone to his mum, was instructed by Arbaugh not to tell her what had happened to him. I just didnt think it was worth her worrying, he says. open image in gallery Noland Arbaugh: The 30-year-old received a brain-computer interface device, a new technology that could have far-reaching impacts ( Neuralink ) Its a telling anecdote from Arbaugh, who is gentle, generous and unassuming as he chats over a video call from his home in Arizona a bonafide celebrity cyborg. Eight years after his accident which rendered him quadriplegic, in January this year, the 30-year-old Arbaugh became the first human with a brain implant built by Elon Musks neurotechnology company Neuralink, as part of a clinical trial, dubbed Telepathy. If successful, by decoding movement signals in the brain and translating them into commands, the implant will allow people to control devices using only their thoughts. The device, an implantable brain-computer interface, or BCI, is a coin-sized chip surgically embedded under the skull, where its fed information from 64 neural threads attached to Arbaughs motor cortex. Essentially, the implant learns the intention of the neurons firing close to the threads Arbaugh explains. Within days of it being fitted, he was able to control the cursor on a computer screen using just his thoughts. The initial success, the first of its kind, made headlines around the world and five months later he feels able to share the full story of how it happened. Since January, the link has given Arbaugh otherwise inaccessible independence, which he determinedly sought even in the first days and weeks after his four-month stay in hospital. Typically this blisteringly smart student of international studies, who had been a prolific player of sports and the tenor sax before his accident, wanted to explore every opportunity that could aid his recovery. After the accident, Arbaugh moved back in with his parents, but it was hard. Its not easy being seen as a quadriplegic, after being the life and soul of the party, he says. I struggled with them seeing me as frail, or fragile. I would have panic attacks from things like eating and feeling worried about choking because I couldnt help myself in that way. His family and a wide circle of friends provided a hardy support network around him, planning out their schedules so there was basically always someone around. I grew up with the greatest group of friends. In September 2023, one of those friends drunk-dialled him to tell him about the Neuralink trial. Arbaugh laughs. He gave me a five-minute drunk rundown of what the chip and the trial was, and then helped me apply straight away over the phone. I didnt expect anything to come from it. Within two days hed received an email back from the team at Neuralink; the day after that he was interviewed. Four months later, on 28 January at 5am, he was facetiming Elon Musk from the hospital Musk was supposed to meet him before the procedure, but reportedly had problems with his private jet, and arrived during the two-hour operation. open image in gallery Arbaugh is prepped for his revolutionary brain chip surgery ( Neuralink ) Arbaugh, a Musk fan, was thrilled and still slightly shocked that he was selected. He has no idea why, he says, though admits he found himself trying to stand out as much as possible during the selection process, making jokes and showing his enthusiasm. But there were obvious risks involved. As a quadriplegic, all I have left is my brain. Its one thing that Ive thanked God for every day since my accident, that he left me with my ability to think and with my personality. So going in for brain surgery was something I had to think about. I accepted the risks and planned for all eventualities. I told my parents that if I came out with any sort of mental disability, I didnt want them to take care of me I wanted to go into a home because I didnt want to add any more burden on them. I would never put my family through that. Arbaugh was also aware that this would be the first ever version of Neuralink the worst version of this that any human will ever get but wanted to set the path for others to come and believes that being the first recipient of this device was his lifes purpose for him. I knew from day one there was more to this than just whether this works or not, he says. Its reconnected me with the outside world. My family and friends basically say that I smile more. They love the change in me His version hasnt been without its problems. As the weeks passed post-surgery almost 85 per cent of the threads detached from Arbaughs brain and had to be retooled so that he could regain control of the cursor. And some experts have been sceptical about the safety of the device, which can only be judged on its long-term effects, raising concerns about Neuralinks research involving monkeys, which they say caused chronic infections, paralysis and severe psychological side effects. Neuralink itself is also under federal investigation for potential animal welfare violations. There is still little known of what those psychological effects, or any long-term effects on Arbaughs brain might be, because the technology is still in very early trial stages. But here we are. In just five months, Arbaugh says the implant has revolutionised his life. Before surgery, he used a mouth stick that he would aim and tap at his iPad to read, or communicate with friends. It put a lot of strain on my body to be sat up for any extended period of time, and pressure on my neck from moving it constantly, he explains. To use the stick for a day, Arbaugh risked pressure sores, spasms that could cause him to fall. First patient explains what it's like to have Elon Musk's Neuralink chip planted in brain After recovering from the implant operation, Arbaugh began training the neurons to react to his intentions, wondering whether his practice would pay off. To his astonishment, it was just a few days later that he first saw the cursor moving on the screen. I just think about where I want the cursor to go, and it goes there, he says. In the coming months, he hopes that cursor control will extend to typing currently hes learning to use a little virtual keyboard that he can dictate to, an add-on 10 times as good as using Siri, which would misunderstand his dictation 70-80 per cent of the time. By March, he was playing online chess using his brain to control the computer; hes now learning Japanese. The most important thing hes gained, he says, is something many of us might take for granted the ability to type as quickly as his able-bodied friends, which has made conversation possible. Ive been on social media recently, and able to keep up. I couldnt do that before. Its reconnected me with the outside world, he adds. According to his friends and family at least, hes simply happier. They basically say that I smile more. They love the change in me. Where this technology could now go is up for grabs. Musk has previously predicted that it could eventually give paralysed people the ability to walk and use their arms again. And there is a small pool of other labs now working to improve brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) a sort of cyborg arms race to reap the biggest rewards from a technology which could have far-reaching impacts. While BCIs have so far been primarily focused on helping paralysed people control assisted devices using their thoughts, theyre certainly not limited to this area. In 2020, Harvard Business Review made predictions about the use of BCIs in the workplace as they emerge onto the mass market, forecasting scenarios where your concentration is measured in real-time. Terrifying? Yes. But Arbaugh now shares Musks ambitions to push it as far as he can. Hes now talking to Neuralink about trying to find a way he could learn to draw, and wants to pursue his dream of writing a book about his journey so far, or a novel. Engaged and articulate, throughout our chat, his eyes dart around the screen a little hes already continually multitasking. Theres just so much I want to do, Arbaugh says. Time will tell whether Elon Musk will be the tech god who will make it happen. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Almost a year on from the Titan submersible disaster, a US billionaire has announced his intentions to return to the wreck of the Titanic to prove it can be done safely. Larry Connor, 74, is sinking $20 million into his new submersible with the company Triton Submarines, who confirmed to The Independent that plans are in place to visit the wreck sometime in 2026. He is partnering with Patrick Lahey, who has over 40 years experience with submersibles, as the joint CEO of Triton Submarines. Lahey previously expressed his concerns about the actions of OceanGate, the company behind last years tragedy, which killed five people. The submersible designer, who has visited the oceans deepest point with Connor, described OceanGates approach to commercial underwater exploration as predatory to The Times. He was a close friend of Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 73, who died in the disaster, and explained that OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, 61, was so manipulative that he could convince someone who knew and understood the risks to get on his contraption of a submersible. Connor, a real estate billionaire from Ohio, told The Wall Street Journal: I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life-changing if you go about it the right way. Larry Connor wants to be on the first manned submersible to the Titanic since the Titan disaster ( @theconnorgrp/YouTube ) The New Submersible The new submersible will be known as the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer. The 4000 in the name refers to the depth it can reach, which is slightly more than where the Titanic lies at 3,800 metres. It has a much smaller capacity than the doomed Titan submersible, which fit five people, and will only have room for two. Triton Submarines confirmed to The Independent that unlike OceanGate they currently have no plans to offer commercial trips to the Titanic. However, they do offer commercial ventures, which can cost as much as $750,000 to the Marina Trench. Conor explained that while Lahey has wanted to build a submersible like the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer for some time, the technology to create it didnt exist until recently. Patrick has been thinking about and designing this for over a decade. But we didnt have the materials and technology, he told The Wall Street Journal. You couldnt have built this sub five years ago. The new submersible will reportedly cost $20 million to make. The new Titanic submersible could not have been made five years ago ( Triton Submarines ) We had a client, a wonderful man, Lahey said. He called me up [in the wake of the OceanGate disaster] and said, You know, what we need to do is build a sub that can dive to [Titanic-level depths] repeatedly and safely and demonstrate to the world that you guys can do that, and that Titan was a contraption. The new submarine is being advertised as the worlds deepest diving acrylic sub with a revolutionary gull wing design that will allow it to manoeuvre easily at depth. The Titan, meanwhile, had a controversial carbon fibre hull and it is believed that the repeat trips it took to the Titanic weakened it over time, culminating in its catastrophic implosion last June. OceanGate charged $250,000 a trip to the Titanic and had passengers sign a waiver accepting the possibility of death. Triton Submarines: Depth and Safety Triton Submarines has already proven itself to be a leader in its field, undertaking various record-breaking dives including the aforementioned trip to the Marina Trench. The trench, which is the deepest part of the ocean, is 10,984 metres deep more than double the depth at which the Titanic lies at 3,800 metres. Unlike OceanGates self-confessed experimental submersible, Triton Submarines have safety accreditation, including the Triton 36000/2 which is the only fully accredited submersible that can reach full ocean depth. The Titan submersible was experimental and had no safety accreditation ( OceanGate Expeditions ) The companys safety fact sheet states: Triton Submarines does not produce experimental vehicles, but series-built submersibles that are compliant and delivered with full certification by a third-party classification society. The Titanic wreck site There are currently no plans for a manned trip to the Titanic wreck this year. In July, RMS Titanic Inc, which owns the salvage rights to the wreck, plans to send a robotic to the site. This will be their first trip to the wreck since 2010. As revealed on their website: This expedition will utilise cutting-edge technology to focus on imaging and high-resolution photography of the site to preserve the Titanics legacy for future generations and scientific study. It will be carried out by ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) to survey the wreck site and debris field. The images captured will reveal important new insights into the condition of the site, areas and artifacts at risk, and contribute to ongoing conservation efforts and educational initiatives already underway. But despite the reportedly scientific nature of the study, the US government filed a motion to stop the trip from happening last year, citing the sites status as a graveyard. There have been no public updates since then and RMS Titanic Incs website is still advertising the expedition. RMS Titanic Inc plans to visit the wreck in July ( PA Media ) The Titan Investigation Following the discovery of the Titans wreckage near the bow of the Titanic last June, it was announced that the submersible had been lost in a catastrophic implosion. It is believed that this took place shortly after the sub lost contact with its ship, an hour and 45 minutes into its dive to the Titanic. OceanGate founder Stockton Rush, 61, Hamish Harding, 58, and Shahzada Dawood, 48, and Suleman Dawood, 19, all perished in the disaster and were reportedly killed instantly. An investigation was launched into what happened and the US Coast Guard confirmed to The Independent that it is still in its fact finding phase as of May 2024. A spokesperson for the Coast Guard told The Independent: The Titan Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) remains in the fact-finding phase of the investigation and is collecting all relevant evidence and information. A projected completion date is not available. The latter part of the fact-finding phase will include a public hearing, and the MBI will provide at least 60 days notice ahead of the public hearing. The Independent has reached out to Triton Submarines and RMS Titanic Inc for further comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Vanity Fair has apologised after the French edition of the magazine photoshopped out a Palestine flag pin worn by Guy Pearce at the Cannes Film Festival. The actor, 56, took the opportunity to express his support for the country at the event with the subtle gesture by pairing the pin with his black tuxedo. He also wore a bracelet in the red, white, green and black colours of the Palestinian flag. This was notably not photoshopped out of the picture, which was taken by Vanity Fair France. Israels ongoing war on Palestine, which began last October, has resulted in condemnation from some quarters internationally. The magazine subsequently took to Twitter (X) to apologise for photoshopping out the flag and posted the original picture an act which did not go unnoticed by eagle-eyed commentators of the festival. We have published by mistake a modified version of this photo on the site, Vanity Fair wrote in French. The original version was posted on Instagram the same day. We have rectified our mistake and we apologize. Vanity Fair has claimed their removal of Pearces Palestine pin was a mistake ( Getty Images ) The magazines apparent failure to photoshop out the bracelet in their apparent act of political censorship did not go unnoticed by commentators. Alongside pictures of the actor from the event, one Twitter user noted: So Guy Pearce showed solidarity with Palestine at Cannes by wearing a pin and Vanity Fair decided to photoshop it out. Little did they know the bracelet was also of the Palestinian flag colors. So Guy Pearce showed solidarity with Palestine at Cannes by wearing a pin and Vanity Fair decided to photoshop it out. Little did they know the bracelet was also of the Palestinian flag colors. pic.twitter.com/kxdoVzJa2v Ahmed Hathout (@ahmedhathoutt) May 26, 2024 A second similarly added: F*** you Vanity Fair. You edited out Guy Pearces Palestine pin but you clowns forgot his bracelet. This prompted a third Twitter user to remark: It will never cease to amaze me that simply supporting a group that is suffering is considered bad. A fourth added: It is completely unacceptable for media outlets to censor actors featured on their platforms. There is a humanitarian reason why Guy Pearce wore the Palestinian flag, and there is a sinister reason why Vanity Fair photoshopped it out. Around 35,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the ongoing war so far ( Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP ) While the actor did not address the photoshopping of his pin directly, after the incident took place, he took to Twitter to further express his support for Palestine. Palestinians are being murdered as we speak. Displaced, traumatised, ruined, the Neighbours star wrote. The lives and futures of Palestinian children are being eradicated by a vengeful tyrant. He must be stopped. This must stop. Shame on you Netanyahu. The actor then called for an immediate ceasefire, signing off the message with the Palestinian flag. Palestinians are being murdered as we speak. Displaced, traumatised, ruined. The lives and futures of Palestinian children are being eradicated by a vengeful tyrant. He MUST be stopped. This MUST stop. SHAME on you Netanyahu.#CeaseFire #FreePalestine Guy Pearce (@TheGuyPearce) May 27, 2024 The Independent has reached out to Conde Nast and a representative for Guy Pearce for further comment. The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Independent Voices email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Archaeologists have uncovered charcoal sketches drawn by children in Pompeii, depicting possibly violent fights they may have witnessed. The sketches of gladiator stick figures were discovered during excavations in recent months in Pompeii, a once-thriving city that was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago. Cave drawings in Pompeii depict gladiators Courtesy of Pompeii Archaeological Park ( Pompeii Archaeological Park ) Archaeologists also found the outlines of three small hands, two figures playing with a ball, a hunting scene possibly featuring a boar, and two fighters, one of whom is lying flat on the ground. The director of the site, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, said the naive line drawings, found on the wall of a house known as the Colonnaded Cenacle, were probably done by children aged six or seven. Cave drawing of a small hand (left) and human figures (right) uncovered in Pompeii ( Pompeii Archaeological Park ) Psychologists from the Federico II University in Naples believed the sketches depicted events the children had witnessed, rather than imagined, he said. In Pompeii, even young children were exposed to extreme violence between humans and between humans and animals in the sands of the ancient citys amphitheatre, Zuchtriegel said. Other discoveries this week included a unique portrait of a hooded child with a small dog at his feet, found in the so-called House of the Painters at Work. Remains of two bodies uncovered in Pompeii ( Pompeii Archaeological Park ) At the entrance of that house, the skeletons of a man and a woman were discovered, an elderly couple that had probably sought refuge in vain from the pumice and ash that rapidly overwhelmed the city during the volcanic eruption. Last month, authorities in Pompeii revealed a black-walled dining hall with paintings inspired by the Trojan War. A a banquet hall, with elegant black walls, decorated with mythological subjects inspired by the Trojan War, recently unhearted in the Pompeii archaeological area near Naples in southern Italy The hall, which features a mosaic floor, was uncovered as part of a project to shore up the areas dividing the excavated and unexcavated parts of Pompeii, the ancient city near Naples that was destroyed in A.D. 79 when Mount Vesuvius erupted. The banquet hall was used for refined entertaining and features black walls, a technique that prevented the smoke from oil lamps from being seen, said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii archaeological park. The figures painted against that black backdrop include Helen of Troy and Apollo. Experts said the reference to mythological figures was designed to entertain guests and provide conversation starters. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Seattles embattled police chief has been dismissed, Mayor Bruce Harrel said Wednesday. Harrell said at a news conference that he met with Adrian Diaz on Tuesday and they agreed Diaz should step down. He will work on special assignments for the mayor with the police department, Harrell said. Diaz's departure comes about a week after police Capt. Eric Greening filed a lawsuit alleging that he discriminated against women and people of color, news outlet KUOW reported. Greening is one of at least a half-dozen officers who have sued the department alleging sex and racial discrimination, and naming Diaz specifically. Last month several female officers filed a tort claim for $5 million, alleging harassment and sex discrimination. Diaz has vehemently denied the allegations. Harrel said earlier this month that he would hire an outside investigator to examine some of the allegations. On Wednesday, Harrell said the lawsuits were a distraction for Diaz. He praised Diaz, who appeared with him at the news conference, but said the two agreed that change could be better served with him stepping aside. Ive accomplished so much in the four years as chief, but theres more to be done, Diaz said. Diaz took over as acting chief in 2020 for Carmen Best, who resigned following a summer of demonstrations against police brutality after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He was later given the job officially. Diaz will be replaced on an interim basis by Sue Rahr, a former sheriff of King County, where Seattle is located. Rahr most recently led the state's police academy, where she evangelized a mantra of guardians, not warriors. Constance Marten, 36, and her partner Mark Gordon, 50 ( PA ) For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A jury has failed to reach verdicts in the trial of aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon over the death of their newborn baby. Marten, 37, and Gordon, 50, have been on trial for manslaughter since January after their daughter Victoria died the previous January while they were camping on the South Downs in wintry conditions. The couple were on the run for nearly two months despite repeated public appeals for their whereabouts. Following their arrest, Victorias remains were found in a Lidl shopping bag in an allotment shed in Brighton, East Sussex, last March. The couple denied charges of gross negligence manslaughter of Victoria between 4 January and 27 February last year and causing or allowing the death of a child. They also denied charges of perverting the course of justice by concealing her body, along with concealing the birth of a child and child cruelty. Judge Mark Lucraft KC discharged the jury at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, almost six months after the trial began, and following more than 72 hours of deliberation. Marten and Gordon may face a retrial. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A child was rushed to hospital and three adults were injured after a suspected drive-by shooting outside a Turkish restaurant in Dalston. Metropolitan Police officers were called at around 9.20pm on Wednesday to reports of the shooting near Evin restaurant on Kingsland High Street in east London. Witnesses say a motorcycle drove by and sprayed bullets in the direction of the diners, before speeding away down the road. All four victims were rushed to a major trauma centre at an east London hospital, where the child remains in critical condition. Were you affected by this incident? Email alexander.butler@independent.co.uk Officers were called at around 9.20pm on Wednesday to reports of the shooting near Evin restaurant on Kingsland High Street ( The Independent ) A shopworker said a waitress at the Turkish restaurant told her the family were dining alfresco when a motorbike let off five shots. She told The Independent: I heard gunshots like five. It sounded like pow, pow, pow. I hit the panic button and the shutters came down and I locked everyone inside. The waitress told me the family were sitting down and eating when they were shot. There is an outside area. It couldve been anyone hit. I walked past a bullet on the floor and the police told me not to step on it. I was very close. Someone came in said it was a child was shot as well. I was on the phone to security and was just crying at the same time. It was so scary you have to be worried when passers-by are hit. It couldve been anyone. This area is always packed with families, especially in half-term. View more Another witness who was metres away when the attack happened told said they saw a gunman on a black motorbike in all black, face not visible, and shot what I remember to be five to six gunshots into the restaurant next door. They added: He drove off and a man on a bike ran towards the scene and looked utterly horrified. Deputy assistant commissioner Matt Ward said on Wednesday: We know Londoners will be shocked by what has taken place tonight. Our thoughts go to all those affected. Fast-moving enquiries are underway and we will update as soon as we can. If anyone has any information, please contact us. Anyone with information that can help police should call 101 or post @MetCC reference CAD 8082/29May. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} This is the horrifying moment a gunman opens fire spraying a restaurant with bullets and leaving a nine-year-old girl fighting for her life as she ate with her family. The motorcyclist, on a stolen bike, can be heard firing off five rounds as families dived for cover under the tables or hit the floor in scenes of chaos at Evin Turkish restaurant on Kingsland High Street, Dalston. Three men, aged 36, 27 and 42, were also rushed to hospital and treated for gunshot wounds after the drive-by shooting. CCTV image shows the moment a motorcyclist launched the attack ( @CrimeLdn ) All of the men are in a stable condition but one of them faces potentially life-changing injuries, according to the Metropolitan Police. At this early stage, no arrests have been made. The stolen bike was later found dumped at Colvestone Crescent. A shopworker said a waitress at the Turkish restaurant told her the family were dining al fresco when a motorbike let off five shots. Were you affected by this incident? Email alexander.butler@independent.co.uk All of the men are in a stable condition but one of them faces potentially life-changing injuries ( The Independent ) She told The Independent: I heard gunshots like five. It sounded like pow, pow, pow. I hit the panic button and the shutters came down and I locked everyone inside. The waitress told me the family were sitting down and eating when they were shot. There is an outside area. It couldve been anyone hit. I walked past a bullet on the floor and the police told me not to step on it. I was very close. Someone came in, said a child was shot as well. I was on the phone to security and was just crying at the same time. It was so scary you have to be worried when passers-by are hit. It couldve been anyone. This area is always packed with families, especially in half-term. Detective chief superintendent James Conway said at a press conference close to the scene: A nine-year-old girl, who was inside the restaurant having dinner with her family, suffered a gunshot wound and she remains in hospital in a critical condition. Our thoughts are with her and her family and they are being supported by specialist officers. We do not believe that the girl and the men injured were known to each other. As with any child, she was an innocent victim of the indiscriminate nature of gun crime. He added: Events such as these are rarely spontaneous. Someone knows who is responsible for this shooting that has left a little girl fighting for her life. View more Anyone with information that can help police should call 101 or post @MetCC reference CAD 8082/29May. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An electrician did not check on his giant tortoises over Christmas, causing them to freeze to death after their heating lamp broke down, a court heard. Gary Priddle, 56, admitted failing to meet the needs of 10 Aldabra tortoises at his home in Exeter, Devon, in December, in breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. He also pleaded guilty to dumping the remains in woodland, including on a National Trust estate. One of the dead animals that police found in woodland ( Devon and Cornwall Police/PA Wire ) At Exeter magistrates court, the animal keeper was given a community order including 50 hours of unpaid work and was banned from keeping tortoises for 10 years. Aldabra tortoises, which are native to Aldabra Island, part of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, may live up to 150 years of age. District Judge Stuart Smith told Priddle: These 10 tortoises were exotic reptiles which were not native to this country or this climate. They were unique and required, Im sure, very specific knowledge and care. They were entirely dependent and reliant on you to meet their needs. You described them as your pride and joy but for six days you prioritised your festive celebrations over their care and completely ignored your responsibility to them, not checking on them for that time. The deaths were a devastating tragedy that was completely avoidable, the judge said. You panicked and chose to secrete their bodies in east Devon which led to the police press release for information. Members of the public will be shocked and distressed to hear about the sad deaths of these 10 very impressive animals. The judge added: You have expressed genuine remorse and upset. I believe you cared deeply for them. You have previously rescued tortoises and nurtured them. I consider this was an isolated incident. The court heard Priddle surrendered another 13 adult and 40 baby tortoises to police. The creatures have since been rehomed. Priddle must also pay costs of 85 and a 114 surcharge. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} China is providing Russia with lethal aid for use in its war against Ukraine, the UK Defence Secretary has said. Grant Shapps suggested that British and US intelligence contradicts Beijings previous attempts to present itself as a moderating influence on Moscow. Mr Shapps used a speech at the London Defence Conference on Wednesday to reveal Chinas collaboration as he argued Nato needs to wake up and bolster defence spending alliance-wide. He said: Today I can reveal that we have evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine. Mr Shapps added: US and British defence intelligence can reveal that lethal aid is now flying from China to Russia and into Ukraine. That recent visit we saw, the I think 64% increase in trade that weve seen between the two countries, reveals that there is actually a much deeper relationship there. And this is new intelligence which leads me to be able to declassify and reveal this fact today. I think its quite significant. The Defence Secretary said democratic states must make a full-throated case for freedoms that are dependent on the international order, meaning we need more allies and partners worldwide. Its time for the world to wake up. And that means translating this moment to concrete plans and capabilities. And that starts with laying the foundations for an alliance-wide increase in spending on our collective deterrent, he said. It comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin put on a strong show of unity during a meeting in Beijing earlier this month which was closely watched by Western capitals. The Chinese president said there should be a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine but did not give any details, despite calls including from Downing Street for him to urge Russia to cease its illegal war. Beijing is a key supporter of Mr Putin, who is widely regarded as a pariah after he ordered the invasion in 2022. It continues to supply Moscow with key components that the Kremlin needs for its war machine, and its purchase of Russian oil and gas has helped boost the Russian economy. Mr Shapps intervention comes after Julianne Smith, the US ambassador to Nato, said China is continuing to sell supplies such as drone technology and gunpowder ingredients to Russia. It is the latest show of heightened tensions between Beijing and the US and UK, which earlier this month accused Beijing of a series of cyber attacks targeting millions of people in Western countries. In an interview with digital newspaper Politico, Ms Smith said: The PRC (Peoples Republic of China) cannot claim to be entirely neutral in this case, (and) they are in fact picking a side. If they were not providing some of these components, or this materiel support, Russia would be in a very different situation and would have trouble pursuing some of these acts of aggression. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police are urgently appealing for information about a schoolgirl who has been missing for two days. Soraya, nine, was last seen in Canning Town in London on Tuesday, and is believed to be in the company of her mother. A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said: Police are appealing for the publics help to trace a young girl who has gone missing from Hemel Hempstead. Soraya, aged 9, was last seen in Beckton Road in Canning Town, London at around 5pm on Tuesday 28 May. She is usually seen wearing colourful leggings. Soraya is not believed to be alone, and likely to be in the company of her mother. She also has links to the Canning Town area of London. They added officers are growing increasingly concerned for her welfare and for anyone with information to come forward to Hertfordshire Police or to contact 101. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Nearly four in five prisons do not have enough officers trained to deal with riots as part of so-called Tornado squads, despite rising violence and disorder behind bars, The Independent can reveal. With the prisons crisis a major concern ahead of the general election, prison officers responded to the revelations by accusing Rishi Sunaks government of having gambled with safety as former governors warned that the ability to respond to simultaneous riots at multiple jails could be fatally compromised. Figures reveal a shortage of riot-trained officers as part of the mutual aid Tornado programme, which aims to control disorder inside a prison before it escalates. The scandalous shortfall was first revealed just weeks ago by this publication, as the government admitted Tornado numbers had plummeted by nearly a third in five years. Just 1,620 Tornado officers were in place across the prison estate as of February, down from 2,310 in 2018, prisons minister Edward Argar previously admitted in response to a parliamentary question by his Labour counterpart Ruth Cadbury. While ministers claimed in March that there was no minimum staffing requirement for Tornado teams, further questions from Labour saw Mr Argar admit that the government aims to have 2,100 volunteers trained in readiness for Operation Tornado as he revealed each prisons recommended Tornado officer quota. Laying bare the scale of the crisis, analysis by The Independent of the newly released figures suggests that just 23 out of 109 prisons with a Tornado quota had enough riot-trained officers as of February. Of the 86 prisons without enough officers, some of the most dire shortages were at HMP Five Wells and the now-closed Cookham Wood each of which had zero of a recommended 18 Tornado officers and Swaleside, which was 15 short. General staff shortages meant all three prisons were reliant on officers loaned from other jails a scheme that cost the taxpayer 16.2m last year. Wakefield was among the worst, having just 22 out of a recommended 36 Tornado officers, despite being among several northern prisons forced to loan their officers to other jails to paper over the cracks caused by the staffing crisis a process that is hampering staff access to training courses, including for Operation Tornado. The government has been relying on the goodwill of prison officers for far too long, a union warns ( Getty/iStock ) Wormwood Scrubs where chronic staff shortages have been blamed for soaring violence and drug use was 18 shy of its recommended 31 Tornado officers, while Wetherby which has among the worst rates of violence in the youth prison estate had just one out of a recommended 18. The latest figures were revealed as former chief inspector Nick Hardwick expressed fears that we are very close to the conditions prior to the 1990 riots in Strangeways, telling The Times: Its a dangerous time. Youve got a general level of frustration, so if you get a spark, thats when stuff will kick off. Accusing ministers of gambling with safety, Prison Officers Association chief Steve Gillan told The Independent that his union had been raising the alarm over the extremely concerning shortage of Tornado volunteers for some time. Warning that there is no real difference between the rates of pay for Operation Tornado and for duties such as accompanying prisoners to hospital, Mr Gillan said: I am afraid they have been relying on the goodwill of officers for far too long, and sometimes you reap what you sow. Mr Argar stressed that Tornado teams are a shared resource that allow prisons to support one another when there is a serious incident that requires reinforcement, adding: There are no prisons without access to Tornado support. But former prison governor and Tornado section commander Ian Acheson warned that most high-security prisons would not be in a position to support each other in the event of sustained disorder. Given current conditions in our jails, the fact we havent had widespread indiscipline that these severely depleted numbers of volunteers would be unable to cope with is more a matter of luck than skill, said Mr Acheson. And of course, the easy availability of illicit drugs helps keep the lid on, while wrecking rehabilitation. Tornado training stopped during the pandemic, creating a backlog, according to the Prison Governors Association ( Getty ) Tom Wheatley, who was in charge at HMP Wandsworth prior to becoming chief of the Prison Governors Association in March, said Tornado numbers had improved since February, with more Tornado control-and-restraint training capacity being pushed out now than there ever has been. Despite so many prisons being far short of their Tornado quota, Mr Wheatley said volunteers are now trained in a way that means they can quickly gel with officers from other prisons to make up the required unit of 14 Tornado officers, whereas in the past a single prison was required to send either a full or a half unit. But with the wider staffing and retention crisis leaving understaffed prisons reliant on officers loaned from other jails, Mr Wheatley noted that this can further eat into the number of officers available to respond to a Tornado call-up. The reason for all of this is really Covid, he said. During the pandemic, we stopped all that training it just ceased, and its on an annual refresher basis... so were still working through the backlog from that period, but it is being taken seriously. Ms Cadbury, the shadow prisons minister, said the shocking Tornado figures are part of the wider picture that simply shows that our prison estate is in utter crisis, adding: With violence surging in our prisons and assaults on staff increasing, we know that there is a significant risk of serious disorder in our prisons. Even the justice secretary has admitted the risks of riots in our prisons yet has still failed to prepare. 14 years of Conservative rule has left our prisons in chaos. Mr Argar said: The safety of our staff and prisoners is our priority which is why were bolstering our Tornado teams by training more than 800 staff this year to deal with serious incidents. This is on top of our 100m investment into tough security measures to clamp down on violence and improve safety. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} When Rishi Sunak took the podium to deliver his prime ministers speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester last October, there was little he could say that hadnt already been leaked to the media. But he did have one secret weapon, in the form of his wife, Akshata Murty. Taking to the stage in a bright coral suit and heels, the fabulously wealthy daughter of an Indian tech billionaire stepped into the limelight and gave Sunak perhaps his best moment in an otherwise difficult party conference season. Now, the Tory leader, who trails by 27 points, hopes to repeat this trick again with Mrs Murty taking to the campaign trail solo to help turn the tide in his favour. The heiress and businesswoman visted a Royal British Legion care facility in Ripon, North Yorkshire on Wednesday to bolster support for her husbands campaign. Akshata Murty, the wife of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, meets with residents during a visit to a Royal British Legion care facility ( PA ) While it is the norm for the wives of US presidents to be at the forefront of political life, it is not a tradition for prime ministers partners in the UK. Ms Murty was pictured at Lister House, which provides expert care including respite and daycare for former members of the armed forces, as well as a home for others. The prime ministers wife pours the tea ( PA ) The Ripon facility is a home for ex-service personnel and their partners ( PA ) The visit came after she welcomed children into her own home last week to commemorate the Normandy landings. Ms Murty greeted an excited group of children outside Number 10 before giving them a tour and a lesson on the role of Winston Churchill. Ms Murthy greeted an excited group of children outside Number 10 last week ( PA ) As she rallied the troops in the north of England, Mr Sunak turned his attention to the southwest, as he paid Cornwall and Devon a visit. The couple have had their fair share of controversy including the 2022 revelation that Ms Murty had 11.6m in dividends from Indian firm Infosys but was not liable to pay tax in the UK due to her non-dom status. According to this years Sunday Times Rich List, the couple are officially wealthier than the King, as their wealth surged more than 120m over the last year. The couple are richer than the King, adding 120m to their pot in the last year ( Chris J Ratcliffe ) At a train depot in Cornwall on Wednesday morning, Mr Sunak explained details of his apprenticeships plan. Speaking at a train depot in Cornwall, he said: University is great and it makes a fantastic option for young people, but its not the only option. Im not someone who believes that you have to go to university, and all the apprentices Ive been talking to this morning are proof of that, describing it as the best decision they ever made. He said a new regulator would look at the progression and drop-out rates of university courses to determine whether they are underperforming. Rishi Sunak during his visit to the GWR railway traction maintenance depot in Penzance ( PA ) Its the latest youth-focused policy announced by the Conservatives. On Sunday, Mr Sunak announced that 18-year-olds would be made to do national service if the Tories win the general election. The policy proposal would see young people given a choice between a full-time placement in the armed forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year volunteering in their community. It was the Conservatives first major policy proposal since Mr Sunak hastily announced the general election in the pouring rain, with his party now scrambling to find some 190 candidates amid a post-war record exodus of Tory MPs. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Angela Rayner has given Diane Abbott her full backing to run for parliament in the general election in a dramatic intervention. It comes as Sir Keir Starmer was forced to deny that he is trying to purge the left of the party as the row over Ms Abbott and candidate selections threaten to derail his campaign. The row appears to have left Labour on the brink of open civil war and handed Rishi Sunak and the Tories an unexpected lifeline as they struggle to close the gap of around 20 points in the polls. However, last night it appeared that the chaos had not hurt Labour so far with the Techne UK tracker poll keeping them unchanged on 45 per cent. In a blunt response to the last 72 hours of chaos around whether Ms Abbott can stand in Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Ms Rayner appeared to take aim at Sir Keir and his inner circle. Abbott told supporters she intended to remain as MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington ( Getty Images ) Speaking to ITV, Labours deputy leader said: I dont see any reason why Diane Abbott cant stand as a Labour MP going forward. I am saying that as the deputy leader of the Labour Party. She described Ms Abbott as a trailblazer adding that she is not happy about negative briefings to the papers about her from senior Labour sources. She said: I dont think that is how we should conduct ourselves. Ms Rayner then doubled down with comments to Sky News, saying: [Diane Abbott]'s been an inspiration to many people who see that actually she has been a trailblazer. Now people from her background and people who look like her have a place in our politics. And she's been able to demonstrate that. You can see the difference on our benches. Asked about Sir Keirs role in the row, she added: Im pretty certain that Keir would see that as a frustration because actually Keir is not focused on what's going on in the Labour Party. He's focused on what he would do as prime minister and how he will change the country for the better. Meanwhile, TUC president Matt Wrack warned against double standards being applied. Mr Wrack, who is the Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: Diane Abbott is a powerful, popular advocate for Labour. She and other candidates have been treated in an appalling manner. There are clearly double standards in how they have been treated as left-wingers and as women of colour when compared to more centrist MPs. It is only a matter of weeks since hard-right Tory Natalie Elphicke was welcomed with open arms. This has all been an embarrassing distraction. The Labour leadership must now act decisively to reinstate the affected candidates and ensure that no one is barred from standing at the last minute with no due process. Her intervention comes amid wider questions about the way Sir Keirs inner circle appear to be parachuting candidates into winnable seats and blocking ones on the left. The row escalated last night when left-wing Muslim Faiza Shaheen was blocked from standing against former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith in Chingford and Woodford Green. Today it was revealed that a former staffer for Sir Keir, Uma Kumaran, has been shortlisted for the new Stratford and Bow seat in east London, which has an 32 per cent Muslim population. It has been noted that apart from Rushanara Ali, who is defending her reformed seat of Bethnal Green and Stepney, Labour currently has no Muslim candidates in east London after months of criticism of Sir Keir over his position on Israel. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner ( PA Wire ) Sir Keirs chief election strategist and right-hand man Morgan McSweeney is being blamed for influencing the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) to purge the left and select candidates that the leadership want for key seats. But speaking at a campaign launch in south Wales, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted he was not purging left-wing candidates and praised Ms Abbott's political record. Asked if he was blocking left-wingers from standing, he said: "No. I've said repeatedly over the last two years as we've selected our candidates that I want the highest-quality candidates. "That's been the position for a very long time." Speaking to broadcasters in Monmouthshire he said: "The situation in relation to Diane Abbott is that no decision has been taken to bar her and you have to remember that she was a trailblazer as an MP, she overcame incredible challenges to achieve what she achieved in her political career. Keir Starmer was campaigning in Wales, but questions over Labours candidate selections dominated ( PA ) "She carved out a path for others to come into politics and she did all that whilst also being one of the most abused MPs across all political parties. "But I've always had the aspiration that we will have the best quality candidates as we go into this election." He also said that Ms Shaheen had been barred because of a desire to get high quality candidates. But left-wing group Momentum posted his messages from ahead of the 2019 election where he described Ms Shaheen as a fantastic candidate. Ms Shaheen, who appeared to be considering legal action against Labours NEC, retorted: Please dont undermine my credentials Keir Starmer I came from a family with a violent father and spent part of my childhood on benefits. Im now a visiting professor and teach at LSE. Public services really helped me, and I had to work so hard to get to this point in my life. Jeremy Corbyn ally Owen Jones, who has quit Labour in protest over Sir Keirs leadership, posted: Keir Starmer previously described Faiza Shaheen as a fantastic candidate. He now publicly defames her, while standing by candidates who, are among other things, have said racist things and had sexual harassment claims upheld. The Labour leader had already had his honesty questioned after friends of Ms Abbott and Tory opponents both pointed out he had claimed last Friday that an investigation into alleged antisemitism on her part was still ongoing. It emerged that the investigation had concluded in December. Ms Abbott only received the Labour whip back as an MP this week but it was briefed out that she would be barred from running as a Labour candidate in the general election. It had also been suggested that she was planning to retire but at a rally in support of her last night, Ms Abbott declared that she would stand for parliament again. Unions have along with Ms Rayner backed her plans. As Sir Keir was speaking in Wales she posted on X (formerly Twitter) to say she has been in talks with unions about standing. She said: I am very grateful to all the trade unionists who have offered me support. I have met with a number of leading trade unionists, including general secretaries who have offered me their backing to be a Labour candidate at next week's NEC. She also revealed the cover for her soon-to-be-published memoir A Woman Like Me. Earlier, the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, openly mocked Sir Keir over his inability to deal with his partys internal issues and suggested it would be a sign of what sort of prime minister he would make. He said: How on earth can we expect Keir Starmer to deal with Vladimir Putin when he cant even deal with Diane Abbott? Meanwhile, a Conservative spokesperson said: Today the Labour Party campaign has descended into complete chaos. Keir Starmer changed major tax policy overnight in response to a press release, and today he's being undermined by his own deputy. "Starmer's central claim is that he has 'changed' the Labour Party has been exposed as nothing more than a con which is falling apart before the publics eyes However, the Tories have also faced their own questions from within the party about selections. David Campbell Bannerman, a former MEP who chairs the grassroots Conservative Democratic Organisation, accused the leadership of operating a chumocracy as government special advisers were selected for plum seats. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunaks controversial plan to reintroduce National Service for school leavers has hit more criticisms after it was revealed it was out of tune with some of Britains greatest cultural successes, Labour has claimed. It has emerged that both The Beatles and Rolling Stones, who transformed music around the world in the 1960s, probably would never have started up if Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Mick Jagger and others had been forced to National Service. The revelation has raised questions about whether Mr Sunaks plans could hurt the UKs future young music stars opportunities. In 2022, Sir Paul McCartney said: "We were the generation that grew up fully expecting to go in the National Service. And then the second we qualified, it was as if God came down...and said, You dont have to go in. Without that, there wouldnt have been The Beatles. Rishi Sunak who told Sky News in November 2022 that The Beatles were his favourite band announced on Saturday that he wants to require every young person in Britain to enlist in the Army for a full year as soon as they turn 18, or spend one weekend a month until age 19 completing compulsory community service activities in their local areas. The Beatles may never have got together if they had to do National Service (PA) ( PA Wire ) Paul McCartney was 18 years and two months old when The Beatles started their legendary tour to Hamburg in August 1960, playing 104 consecutive nights at the Indra and Kaiserkeller clubs. His bandmate George Harrison turned 18 a month before the second tour began in April 1961. Under Rishi Sunaks proposals, The Beatles duo would never have been able to take part in those breakthrough gigs in Germany, and would have been forced instead to spend one weekend in four doing community work in Liverpool instead. Not content with wrecking just one of Britains greatest cultural exports, Sunaks plan would also have destroyed The Beatles great rivals, The Rolling Stones. Speaking to the BBC in 2016, Stones guitarist Keith Richards said: "My generation, you grew up automatically expecting to go National Service at 18 there was no reason to suppose it was going to change but then, my luck, right on the cusp, they knocked it on the head. "And so suddenly this horizon opens up. These two years that you thought [youd be] peeling spuds in Catterick or something, suddenly open up with this vista of possibilities. If Id have had to go in the army thered have been no Rolling Stones and probably no Beatles either." The Rolling Stones were spared National Service in the early 1960s ( AP ) Keith Richards and Mick Jagger were both aged 18 when The Rolling Stones played their first gig under that name at the Marquee Club in London in July 1962, following their chance encounter at Dartford Railway Station in October 1961, which led to the formation of the band. Jonathan Ashworth, Labours shadow paymaster general, said: "Not only would Rishi Sunaks desperate, last-ditch manifesto pledge cost billions more than he has said, we now discover it would have destroyed both The Beatles and The Stones as well even Yoko Ono couldnt manage that. No wonder voters are telling Sunak its time he took the long and winding road to California. The criticism follows questions about the cost of the scheme set by Mr Sunak at 2.5 billion and the source of funding from the levelling up funds. Defence chiefs have also said it will harm morale and there have been questions over whether the army has the training capacity needed for 30,000 recruits. Added to that tory ministers openly argued over the plan. However, Mr Sunak has insisted that the scheme will help keep kids out of trouble as well as give them some structure. He said: I think it will be really brilliant for young people to have this rite of passage that they go through with everything that it teaches them andjust keeps them out of trouble. Ive talked to so many parents worried about what their kids are doing in the evenings, at the weekends. So I think this will be wonderful for young people, but I also think it'll be great for our country." The scheme would offer school leavers a choice of a year in the military paid or doing community work at weekends. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has ruthlessly seized on the chaos in the Labour Party over the future of Diane Abbott which has sparked a revolt on the left of the party. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was accused on Radio 4s Today Programme ths morning of dithering over the trail blazing MP and first black woman to be elected to Parliament in Britain. She has vowed to stand again for her Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency and accused Labour bosses of trying to bar her from being a candidate after almost four decades as an MP. But Sir Keir has denied she has been barred but been unable to say whether she will be allowed to be a candidate just weeks before a general election. Ms Abbott told supporters she intended to remain as MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington ( Getty Images ) Speaking on the Today Programme this morning, Mr Hunt centred in on row being a issue about the Labour leaders character ad whether he is fit to be prime minister. He said: If Keir Starmer cant deal with Diane Abbott how on earth is he going to deal with Vladimir Putin? The row has exploded as leftwing Muslim hopeful Faiza Shaheen has sparked another row after she found out last night that the partys National Executive Committee had barred her from running in Chingford and Woodford Green against former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith. It is a seat Labour narrowly missed out on in 2019 when ms Shaheen was the candidate and are expected to win on 4 July. Sir Keir has made the Labour campaign a presidential style one about himself and how he is the right candidate to enter Downing Street and be prime minister. But the row surrounding Ms Abbott and others amid claims that Sir Keir is trying to purge the left in Labour has left serious questions about his honesty and ability to make difficult decisions. yesterday, Ms Abbotts friend, immigration lawyer Jaqueline McKenzie questioned Sir Keir honesty after he had claimed that the investigation into alleged antisemitic remakrs by Ms Abbott was still ongoing on Friday last week. It emerged that the invesigation had in fact concluded in December. This morning shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones became the latest high profile shadow cabinet member to struggle to explain what was happening regarding Ms Abbott and selections within the party. Asked if he felt sorry for the Labour veteran, he said: I suppose I do. But he added: The unfortunate thing is that because a snap election has been called we have ended up in this accelerated process. Mr Jones insisted that it is not appropriate for him to give his personal opion on the row. I have all sorts of personal opinions but I am not here to give my personal opinion on this. All I can give you is process answers. The process is what the process is as I set out. Asked whether it was a filure of leadership by Keir Starmer, he responded: No. This is what would normally happen in a snap election. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Labour party has become embroiled in a political row following the fallout around veteran MP Diane Abbotts readmission to the party and lack of clarity over whether she can still stand for it. After being suspended from Labour for just over a year, Ms Abbott was readmitted to the party in late May, once again becoming a Labour MP. Ms Abbott has represented Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, securing a majority of over 33,000 at the last general election. For the latest political updates in the run-up to the General Election, follow The Independents live coverage Labour has not confirmed who its candidate will be for the constituency, leading to fears from supporters of Ms Abbott that she may still be deselected, despite her readmission into the party. Diane Abbott at a rally in Hackney, in front of a placard that reads I stand with Diane, March 15, 2024 ( Getty Images ) It remains unclear whether Ms Abbott will be able to stand for the party. The veteran MP has said shes barred from standing, a claim which Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has denied. Heres everything you need to know about how one of Labours longest serving MPs found herself at the centre of a political civil war: What did Diane Abbott say? Ms Abbotts suspension came after she penned a controversial letter about racism for The Observer newspaper. In it, she criticises a journalist who wrote in the Guardian that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people can all experience racism. The veteran MP argued that, while white people can experience prejudice, they do not experience racism. She suggests that the two words should not be used interchangeably. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism, she wrote. At the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships. What did Diane Abbotts letter say? "Racism is black and white Tomiwa Owolade claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from racism (Racism in Britain is not a black and white issue. Its far more complicated, Comment). They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus. In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote. And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships. Diane Abbott House of Commons, London SW1 Ms Abbott later apologised for the letter, withdrawing her remarks. On Twitter / X, she wrote: The errors arose in an initial draft being sent. But there is no excuse, and I wish to apologise for any anguish caused. Racism takes many forms and it is completely undeniable that Jewish people have suffered its monstrous effects, as have Irish people, Travellers and many others. How did Labour respond? Labour moved quickly, suspending Ms Abbott from the party the same day that her letter was published: April 23, 2023. A party spokesperson called the comments deeply offensive and wrong. They also confirmed that an investigation was underway. Labour leader Keir Starmer said Ms Abbotts suspension showed how far the Labour party has changed, adding that the party has zero tolerance of antisemitism. Criticism also came from across the political spectrum. The board of Deputies of British Jews called Ms Abbotts comments disgraceful, saying that her apology was entirely unconvincing. Meanwhile, Momentum co-founder Jon Lansman, who is Jewish, called the MPs comments disgraceful, adding that racism is not a competition. Ms Abbott was readmitted to the Labour party on May 28, 2024 401 days after her suspension. A lack of updates from the party led over this period to outcry from supporters of the long-standing London MP. During the time that Ms Abbott was suspended, Labour MP Kate Osamor was both suspended and readmitted into the party over the course of three months. Protestors gather outside Hackney Town Hall in support of Diane Abbott on May 29, 2024 ( Getty Images ) Asked why the investigation was taking so long in March, Sir Keir told LBC radio: There are aspects to process which take time. It needs to be resolved and that is an independent process its not my process and Im not going to interfere with it because I think thats a slippery slope. Every case is different, theyre looking at a resolution. It was a pretty offensive letter this wasnt just a casual remark. However, it was revealed in May that the investigation into Ms Abbotts comments had concluded in December 2023, with the veteran MP was given a formal warning and required to complete an antisemitism awareness course. Labours National Executive Committee (NEC) the partys governing body emailed Ms Abbott informing her that their formal warning was for engaging in conduct that was in the opinion of the NEC, prejudicial and grossly detrimental to the Labour Party. Ms Abbott completed the two-hour online e-learning course about antisemitism awareness in February, which was reportedly acknowledged by Labours chief whip at the time. It then took nearly four months for the MP to have the whip restored. Can Diane Abbott still stand for the Labour party? Following her readmission, Ms Abbott says she learned through the media that she would not be permitted to stand as a Labour MP. The national party is insisting that I be banned, she said at a rally outside Hackney Town Hall. They havent given a reason for banning me. They just want me excluded from Parliament. I am so shocked. And so alarmed about what is going on. Because it is as if you are not allowed to be a Labour MP unless youre prepared to repeat everything the leader says. However, Sir Keir has said its not true that Ms Abbott is barred from standing for Labour. Keir Starmer: Labour leader has denied that Diane Abbott is barred from standing for Labour ( REUTERS ) No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott, he said, adding: the process that we were going through ended with the restoration of the whip ... so she is a member of the parliamentary Labour party. Under Labours current candidate selection procedures, it is now the NEC who will directly select candidates in unfilled seats meaning Ms Abbotts fate is now in their hands. She has cast doubt on being selected successfully, criticising their reported move to bar left-leaning Labour MPs Faiza Shaheen and Lloyd Russell-Moyle from standing. The veteran MP has accussed Sir Keir of undertaking an appalling cull of left-wingers. Ms Abbott has not responded to queries about whether she will stand as an independent MP. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Trebling taxes for search engine and social media firms could fund a mental health professional in every primary and secondary school, the Liberal Democrats have said. Party leader Sir Ed Davey said children are being left in limbo when they seek mental health care. The Lib Dems have unveiled plans to employ mental health professionals in schools if they make it into government, which they claim could be funded through an increase to the Digital Services Tax currently 2% on search engine, social media and online market place companies revenues. Sir Ed said: Thousands of children are being left in limbo, forced to suffer intolerably long waits for mental health treatment. They are being failed by this Conservative government who have neglected the NHS and abandoned parents and children. Liberal Democrats would put a dedicated, qualified mental health professional in every school both primary and secondary, funded by a tax on the social media giants that are such a big part of the problem. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to get rid of this appalling Conservative government and fix the health and care crisis. According to House of Commons Library research, which the party has published, 336,885 children and young people were on a mental health waiting list in the quarter ending in March throughout England, with hotspots in Birmingham and Solihull (17,035 patients), Kent and Medway (15,550) and Coventry and Warwickshire (15,500). Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has come under fire for his role in the Partygate scandal from a worker whose mother died during the pandemic. The prime minister was asked how anyone can trust you? by a man who was unable to visit his mother in hospital before she passed away in 2020. During a staff Q&A at a factory near Milton Keynes, an employee said: My mum died in 2020, at the height of the pandemic. Rishi Sunak was fined for attending a birthday gathering with Boris Johnson ( Cabinet Office/PA ) My brothers couldnt be with us, in the hospital I could not be there. You probably remember that was the month all the parties were going on in Downing Street. The month after, you attended a gathering where you got a fixed penalty notice. My question is how can anyone trust you or the [Conservative] party after things like this? Mr Sunak said: Well, Im really sorry that you lost your mum, and particularly in those circumstances, because it wasnt easy for so many people during the pandemic, the impact it had on everyones life. "I cant imagine what it must have been for you not to be able to be with her at that time. Its really tough. "Im sorry for what was going on in Downing Street. For my part, I apologise that I showed up to a meeting earlier. "As you know, I was working on things to help you and your business, and many other families like that. The prime minister was asked how anyone can trust you? by a man who was unable to visit his mother in hospital before she passed away in 2020 during a staff Q&A at a factory near Milton Keynes ( EPA ) "In fact, it was probably in that same period of time that you got to know me as chancellor. Most of you didnt know who I was before then and I popped up on your TV screens, announced the furlough scheme... hopefully some of you here benefited from some of the support that we put in place." A report into Downing Street parties by former top civil servant Sue Gray laid bare a shock culture of repeated violations of the Covid restrictions by senior officials in No10. It contained multiple photographs of former prime minister Boris Johnson and one of Mr Sunak attending a birthday gathering with his old boss. Mr Sunak and Mr Johnson both received Met Police fines for the event, which took place on 19 June, 2020. The workers question highlights the ongoing anger felt by voters over the Partygate scandal, where those in charge of making lockdown rules were found repeatedly to have broken them. Britains top polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice has said one of the main reasons for the Tories electoral woes, with Mr Sunaks party on course for a 1997-style wipeout, is because of the legacy left by Partygate. Mr Sunak went on to talk about the furlough scheme and other support he put in place during the pandemic, adding that he did everything I could to help families across the country through the crisis. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has announced that 18-year-olds would be made to do national service if the Tories win the general election. It marked the Conservatives first major policy proposal since Mr Sunak hastily announced the general election in the pouring rain on Wednesday afternoon, with his party now scrambling to find some 190 candidates amid a post-war record exodus of Tory MPs. The prime minister insisted on that his plans for mandatory national service would help unite society in an increasingly uncertain world and give young people a shared sense of purpose. In an apparent pitch to older voters, Mr Sunak said that volunteering could include helping local fire, police and NHS services, as well as charities tackling loneliness and supporting elderly and isolated people. Heres a look at what we know about the plans so far: How would Rishi Sunaks National Service scheme work? Much of the detail remains unclear, with the Tories saying they would set up a royal commission bringing in expertise from across the military and civil society to establish how the scheme would work in practice. This commission would be tasked with bringing forward a proposal for how to ensure the first pilot is open for applications in September 2025, and the Tories would then seek to introduce a new National Service Act to make the measures compulsory by the end of the next parliament. But broadly, the party said that young people would be given a choice between a full-time placement in the armed forces for 12 months or spending one weekend a month for a year volunteering, in their community. Teenagers who choose to sign up for a placement in the forces would learn and take part in logistics, cyber security, procurement or civil response operations, the Tories said. Rishi Sunak met with veterans at a community breakfast during a party campaign event on Saturday ( AFP or licensors ) How has National Service worked before? David Cameron introduced a similar scheme dubbed the National Citizen Service when he was prime minister. That scheme had no military component to it, instead encouraging youngsters to take part in activities such as outdoor education-style courses as part of his Big Society initiative. However its budget was slashed by two-thirds in a 2022 review of government youth funding when Rishi Sunak was chancellor, after an investigation in The Independent found the scheme had consistently failed to meet government targets or deliver value for money, with one former board member calling it little more than a holiday camp for mostly middle-class kids. David Cameron pictured in 2012 speaking to people on the National Citizen Service scheme ( PA ) Prior to that, Britain enforced mandatory 24-month national service in one of the armed forces for all physically fit males between the ages of 17 and 21, in a post-war scheme which ran from 1949 to 1960. They then remained on the reserve list for another four years, during which time they were liable to be called to serve with their units but on no more than three occasions, for a maximum of 20 days. Over that decade, national servicemen took part in military operations in Malaya, Korea, Cyprus and Kenya. Students and apprentices were allowed to defer their national service until they completed studies or training, while conscientious objectors were subjected to the same tribunal tests as in wartime. What other countries have National Service? Sweden, Denmark and Norway are among the other nations that have a form of national service. In Sweden for example, teenagers service in the military for between nine and 15 months provided they pass the required physical and mental tests. Around 8,000 boys and girls take part every year. In Denmark, men are required to enlist in the military for four months, but can postpone service until after they have completed their education. Following Russias invasion of Ukraine, Denmark plans to increase the required service time to 11 months, and to make conscription mandatory rather than voluntary for women. Norways scheme is highly selective, with less than 10,000 people accepted in 2023, which is said by experts to make it a competitive process for the prestigious slots. Is it the same as conscription? Yes, conscription is defined as compulsory enlistment for a form of service to the state, typically into the armed forces. Would I go to prison if I refused to do it? In short, no. Teenagers would not be sent to jail for defying the Tories proposed national service scheme, home secretary James Cleverly said on Sunday. Mr Cleverly said the Tories would ensure the scheme fits with different peoples attitudes and aspirations after questions arose over whether teenagers would be punished for not taking part. Theres going to be no criminal sanction. Theres no-one going to jail over this, he told Sky Newss Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme. This is about dealing with what we know to be the case, which is social fragmentation. Too many young people live in a bubble within their own communities. They dont mix with people of different religions, they dont mix with different viewpoints. Prisons are also dangerously full, forcing the government this week to release prisoners up to 70 days early, ask magistrates courts to delay processing cases and urge police to consider halting non-priority arrests. Nobody will go to jail for defying the Tories national service plans, James Cleverly said ( PA ) How much would it cost? Mr Sunak claims the programme will cost 2.5bn a year by the end of the decade and plans to fund 1bn through plans to crack down on tax avoidance and evasion. The remaining 1.5bn will be paid for with money previously used for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Labours shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall noted to Sky News that the fund is supposed to be used to tackle economic inactivity and helping people get back into work. And the SNP warned that the fund served as a replacement for EU structural funds, warning that the Tories plans would slash Scotlands EU replacement funding by millions of pounds. What has the reaction been so far? There are many outstanding questions about the details of the scheme, though these would potentially be addressed by Mr Sunaks proposed commission. Labour frontbencher Liz Kendall accused the Conservatives of merely asking young people to solve the problems in the NHS, the police and the armed services that the Tories themselves have created. Nigel Farage noted that, under the plans, there would be only 30,000 full-time military placements for around 700,000 school leavers, tellingSky News: National service on any scale is literally impossible unless you build up the size of the Army, and you need another 20,000 people to be trainers if you were doing it seriously. And Lib Dem defence spokesperson Richard Foord MP said: If the Conservatives were serious about defence, they would reverse their damaging cuts to our world class professional armed forces, instead of decimating them, with swingeing cuts to the number of our regular service personnel. Justin Crump, a defence expert and veteran of 25 years, told Sky News the plans were ill-thought through and would be an enormous potential burden on Britains military, adding: Its certainly not the solution to the militarys problems and I think everyone Ive spoken to this morning still has their head in their hands. Additional reporting by PA Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunaks allies have been accused of operating a chumocracy in parachuting special advisers and people close to the inner circle around the prime minister for winnable seats in the general election. David Goss, the prime ministers deputy political secretary, became the latest high profile figure from Downing Street to be selected for a winnable seat in Wellingborough and Rushden, recently lost to Labour in a gruelling by-election. He followed former army officer James Clark, a special adviser to defence secretary Grant Shapps, being selected for Great Yarmouth last night. Others to get winnable seats include former Home Office special adviser Katie Lam landing the Weald of Kent constituency last year. Rishi Sunak is lining up members of his number 10 team for winnable seats ( AFP via Getty Images ) Ameet Jogia, another Downing Street spad has landed Hendon seat, while yet another former number 10 spad Luke Gardiner has been selected in Mid Derbyshire. Alice Hopkins, a current special adviser to home secretary James Cleverly has been shortlisted for Rochford and South East. Rishi Sunaks deputy chief of staff Will Tanner was favourite for Stratford upon Avon vacated by former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi but has since been shortlisted for Bury St Edmunds. Michael Gove spad Henry Newman is in line for Bexhill and Battle in Sussex. Another number 10 pad Declan Lyons is being promoted fro Stratford upon Avon. Lord Camerons former spad Tim Chatwin was shortlisted for Bognor Regis and Littlhmpton. Culture secretary Lucy Frazers spad Meg Powell-Chandler got Wells and Mendip Hills. Head of strategy Jamie Njoku-Goodwin was in the running for Cities of London and Westminster and is still understood to be hoping for a winnable constituency. The chancellors spad Hannah Galley is understood to be hoping to be selected having narrowly missed out on Calder Valley last year. Critics claim Starmer does not want leftwingers on his team ( Getty Images ) Most pressingly, party chairman Richard Holden, who used to work for CCHQ as a press officer, is looking for a seat after his North West Durham constituency disappeared in the boundary review. He was linked to Northamptonshire South as well as Billericay and Basildon. From further back George Osbornes former adviser Rupert Harrison was selected last year for the new Bicester and Woodstock seat while Theresa Mays ex-spad Nick Timothy got Matt Hancocks West Suffolk seat. Since the election was called last week the party had to fill around 191 seats plus those for MPs who were standing down such as Michael Gove in Surrey Heath. Party officials have gone into emergency by-election rules which means constituency associations are asked to pick from a shortlist of three imposed on them or just have a candidate imposed if the association is considered to be too small. Tory chairman Richard Holden was a man looking for a seat when the election was called ( LBC ) The Independent understands that already Great Yarmouth party association had a stand off with Tory bosses at CCHQ over the shortlist sent to them but relented last night to select Mr Clark. Currently it is claimed that a similar row is taking place with Billericay and Basildon. Outside special advisers, the party has refused to comment on anger that LBC presenter Iain Dale was shortlisted for Tunbridge Wells even though there are claims he had not gone through the vetting procedures or carried out the campaigning work expected for those to be allowed on the candidates list. Mr Dale though has unsuccessfully run for the Tories in previous elections. Meanwhile, there are complaints that real ideological Conservatives like former Brexit minister Lord Frost are unable to apply for seats because it is claimed they are on the deferred candidates list. This means they cannot apply themselves. A small committee with Downing Street political secretary James Forsyth, chief whip Simon Hart, chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith and a small group of others are said to be deciding who goes on the shortlists. Tory former MEP David Campbell Bannerman, who is also on the deferred list, accused the party bosses of operating a chumocracy. Mr Campbell Bannerman is chairman of the grassroots Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO) seeking to reform the party structures and give members more of a say. He said: I am afraid this is not new but it is clear that a small clique is operating a chumocracy parachuting people they like into winnable seats. They are making it up as they go along. It is clear that the prime minister wants people who have been his special advisers or are close to him rather than people who have put int he work and are true ideological conservatives. He reflected warnings from elsewhere int he party that decisions made now on a whim will leave us with MPs for the next 30 years. He added: What is going on is really disrespectful of members and the activists the party needs to help us win the election. Former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, author of The Plot on the downfall of Boris Johnson, believes that the selections are actually an attempt to install allies of Dominic Cummings and Mr Gove. She posted on X (formerly Twitter): They are just candidates being selected for seats, to most people. But, what is happening right now over the next few days is a crazy mad rush to get the chosen few from number 10 into safe seats. They are on a Michael Gove adoring WhatsApp thread The Order of the Phoenix. No, I dont know either. They call Dominic Cummings The Dark Lord, which no journalist feels is worth reporting and they are trying desperately to install a new order of Gove/ Cummings acolytes into the House of Commons. There is nothing new though about special advisers and party operatives being fast tracked to winnable seats. Sir John Redwood was a policy adviser for Margaret Thatcher, Michael Portillo was a spad as were David Cameron and George Osborne among many others. The row reflects similar anger in the Labour Party where Keir Starmers allies are being accused of a purge of the left and trying to parachute in his allies. While Diane Abbott has now been allowed to run but leftwinger Faiza Shaheen has been dropped, one of Sir Keirs former advisers Uma Kumaran is apparently being lined up for Stratford and Bowe while another Chris Ward is being lined for for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven where defending MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle was dropped today because of a historic allegation. Other ex-advisers have also landed plum seats including Torsten Bell in Swansea West, and Alex Barros-Curtis, who led the efforts to remove antisemitism from the party, has been parachuted into Cardiff West. Again, this is not new for Labour, In the past Yvette Cooper, her husband Ed Balls, Ed Miliband, David Miliband and others have gone on to get safe seats after working as spads Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Yvette Cooper has promised to take Britains town centres back from thugs and thieves by putting 13,000 bobbies back on the beat in communities across the country. The shadow home secretary lashed out at the Conservatives after a decade of dereliction on law and order, laying bare the damage done to policing and the criminal justice system. And she unveiled plans for a visible army of neighbourhood police and PCSOs with tough new powers to crack down on those causing havoc on our high streets. The shadow home secretary vowed to rollout an army of neighbourhood police if Labour wins the election ( PA ) In her first major intervention of the general election campaign, Ms Cooper said: Labour will rebuild safety on Britains streets and take back our town centres from thugs and thieves, with 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs back on the beat in our communities, tough new powers to crack down on those who cause havoc on our high streets, and a mission to reverse the collapse in the number of crimes being solved. It came as the Labour Party published a damning dossier of the Conservatives record on crime. The document claimed that, on Rishi Sunaks watch: Snatch thefts of mobile phones have almost doubled, from 30,000 to 58,000. Total thefts against the person (such as pickpocketing) have soared from 206,000 to 321,000. Robberies have increased by 13 per cent, and by over 50 per cent since 2015. Knife crime has increased by 7 per cent, an astonishing 80 per cent surge compared to 2015, with more than 20,000 knifepoint muggings every year. The proportion of the public reporting high levels of antisocial behaviour in their areas has reached record highs, with 20 million people experiencing or witnessing it in the last 12 months. Ms Cooper added: That is the Tory legacy on law and order, and our communities are paying the price. Labour will put an end to Tory chaos and be a government of law and order, putting the safety and security of our communities at its heart and taking back our streets. The party is promising to follow the neighbourhood policing approach of the last Labour government, which saw her predecessor David Blunkett roll out dedicated policing teams in every neighbourhood. But Ms Cooper said she will adopt a modern focus, using the latest technology and data analysis to drive so-called hotspot policing in crime-ridden areas. Labours plan has been backed by high profile policing figures ( Getty Images ) Her approach was backed by Steve White, former chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, who said effective neighbourhood policing can end the scourge of antisocial behaviour. He said: Investment in the basics of good policing, with the right level of resourcing in the right place and a renewed focus on what matters to communities, supported by proper training and a visible presence, is what will make the difference. Former Devon and Cornwall chief constable Stephen Otter also backed the plan, adding: Only if local people have a relationship with the police in their area will trust and public participation in policing be restored. Without the publics support, policing becomes less effective and our streets more and more unsafe. The plan would see Labour bring 13,000 neighbourhood police and PCSOs back on the beat in communities across the country. Ms Cooper promised the officers would be visible, deter crime and catch criminals. Labour said the plan will cost 360m per year and be paid for through savings in the procurement process. It has promised to set up a body through which forces would pool purchases of equipment such as cars, IT systems and forensic services in order to cut costs. But Chris Philp MP, policing minister, said:This policy isnt worth the paper its written on. This is the same party that fought to keep violent murderers and sexual offenders in Britain by stopping deportation flights and tried to take tasers off our police. Only 3,000 of their proposed new officers would be full time officers with the power of arrest and 3,000 of them are officers this government has already recruited; contrast that with the Conservatives who have recruited record police numbers with 20,000 more since 2019. The choice is clear in this election, stick with the bold action and clear plan under Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives that has driven crime down by 54 per cent since 2010, or go back to square one with Labour. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A senior U.S. Treasury official is in Kyiv this week to talk with government officials about U.S. financial support for Ukraine, efforts to tighten sanctions on Russia and plans to use immobilized Russian sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine as it fends off Russian forces. Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo's trip comes as Russia gains territory on the battlefield after an especially lengthy delay in U.S. military aid left Ukraine at the mercy of Russias bigger army and as the outlook for Ukraines state finances is on shakier ground. Adeyemo is set to meet with officials in Ukraines finance ministry and presidents office. He's also planning a stop at the Kyiv School of Economics to speak with faculty and civil society groups working on sanctions policy and ways to make sanctions on Russia more effective. President Joe Biden signed legislation in April that allows the administration to seize the roughly $5 billion in Russian state assets located in the U.S. However, a majority of the $260 billion in frozen Russian assets are in Europe, and U.S. officials are hoping for a consensus from their European allies on how to spend that money. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met in Stresa, Italy, with her counterparts from the Group of Seven nations last week to discuss how to squeeze money out of the frozen Russian assets to support Kyivs war effort. She said loaning Ukraine $50 billion from the assets has been mentioned as a possible number that could be achieved," but that the specific approach was still under discussion. Since the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has sanctioned more than 4,000 people and businesses, including 80% of Russias banking sector by assets. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The court clerk who handled the high-profile murder trial of Alex Murdaugh allegedly awarded herself a $10,000 bonus and spent thousands more on lunches, gifts for staff and even pet food, according to an ethics complaint. Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill now faces 76 counts of ethics violations brought by state officials in South Carolina. The allegations include a claim that she bought lunches for prosecutors and then paid herself back with county money. One count said she spent $543.89 for food and alcohol for a going away lunch for an employee in a local prosecutors office, the Associated Press reported. Ms Hill also allegedly gave herself nearly $10,000 in bonuses from federal money that was meant to improve child support collection, but has few rules on how it is spent, according to the complaint from the South Carolina Ethics Commission. On 36 occasions, the former clerk allegedly used public money to buy meals for her staff, family, judges and court employees. Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill is accused of spending around $20,000 of money that was .not her own ( ABC4 News ) She reimbursed herself for gifts bought for jurors and her staff on Valentines Day and for her employees on Mothers Day, Fathers Day and Easter, the complaint stated. Expenses also included $481 for a 50th birthday party for a staffer, dog food, bones and a pet bed for another, ethics officials said. Ms Hill is accused of spending nearly $20,000 in county money in ways she shouldnt, according to the complaint. Alex Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and younger son after a six-week trial in Colleton County last year and was handed two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. Alex Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and younger son after a six-week trial in Colleton County last year, and handed two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole ( AP ) In April, Murdaugh was also sentenced to 40 years in prison over a slew of federal financial fraud crimes. It is running concurrently with a similar state sentence. According to the ethics complaint, Ms Hill who was the Clerk of the Court for the Murdaugh murder trial also allegedly allowed a photo of the disgraced legal scion in a holding cell to be taken to promote her book on the trial. She also struck a deal with a documentary maker to use the county courtroom in exchange for promoting her book on the trial, which she later admitted had plagiarized passages, according to the complaint. Murdaugh is currently appealing his conviction and life without parole sentence, in part accusing Ms Hill of trying to influence jurors to vote guilty and being biased against him for her book. A criminal investigation into whether Ms Hill tampered with the Murdaugh jury or misused her office continues, the State Law Enforcement Division said on Thursday. A criminal investigation into whether Ms Hill tampered with the Murdaugh jury during the high profile murder trial is ongoing, state officials said ( AP ) The commission will hold a hearing in December on the accusations included in the ethics complaint unless Ms Hill and her lawyer settle the case before then. Ms Hill may have to reimburse the expenses and face thousands of dollars or more in fines. If the commission believes she broke any laws, they can forward the information to prosecutors. She resigned her position in March during the last year of her four-year term, citing the public scrutiny of Murdaughs trial and wanting to spend time with her grandchildren. Ms Hill has not publicly addressed the ethics allegations and her lawyer did not return a message from The Associated Press on Thursday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Vermont State Police say new DNA testing has finally solved the 40-year-old mystery of a baby who was found dead along the side of a road. The case was closed this month without criminal charges, after authorities tracked down the childs biological parents and determined that the baby died at birth and wasnt murdered, the police announced in a press release on Wednesday that applauded authorities many years of hard work and dedication. The saga began on April 1, 1982, when a group of children waiting for a school bus along a roadway in Northfield, Vermont, came upon the babys body, prompting a parent to call police. Police share the gravestone of Matthew Isaac Doe, burried in 1982 after his infant body was found by a roadway ( Vermont State Police ) As his identity was unknown, investigators initally dubbed the child Baby Doe, the police said. An autopsy determined he was a full-term infant who had signs of existing medical conditions. But the coronor was unable to positively determine whether Baby Doe died before or after birth, and therefore the cause and manner of death each were classified as undetermined, police said. In late April, the reverend of St. Marys Church in Northfield held a funeral for the baby boy and gave him the name Matthew Isaac Doe. He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetary after the service. Authorities attempted to identify the baby and his parents, but the case eventually went cold. It wasnt until decades later, thanks to advancements in DNA technology, that Vermont State Police partnered with Parabon NanoLabs and got the breakthrough theyd been waiting for after performing genetic geneology analysis on samples obtained from swabs of the infant and items he had been found bundled in. In December 2021, Parabon provided a lead: the possible names of Matthew Isaacs biological mother and father. These subjects were researched and found to have ties to the Northfield area in 1982, authorities said. After tracking down the mother and father, who agreed to speak to investigators, they discovered that the father had left Vermont in 1982 and was unaware of the pregnancy, police explained. But the biological mother admitted that she was responsible for unlawful disposal of the deceased infant, the police wrote in their release. The mother revealed to investigators that she also had no idea that she was pregnant until one day in 1982, when she experienced severe abdominal pain. At first she thought she was just ill, but she soon realised she was going into labor, and delivered the baby alone for several hours. In the process she lost consciousness, later waking to find that she had given birth to a baby boy. But the baby didnt survive, as his umbilical cord had gotten wrapped around his neck, she told police. After the tragic ordeal, the mother claimed she started to walk to the woods to try and give her baby a proper burial, but on the way, she became startled when she thought she heard voices and slipped. The babys body allegedly fell from her arms, and the mother ran, never returning. Theres nothing that leads us to believe that shes not being truthful; weve seen this in other mothers, Captain Jeremy Hill told VTDigger. After reviewing the facts and circumstances in the Vermont State Polices investigation, Washington County States Attorney Michelle Donnelly determined that a charge of murder is not warranted in this case. The charge relating to the unauthorized disposal of a dead body has been determined to be beyond the statute of limitations, and therefore there are no applicable criminal charges to be filed with this death investigation, police explained. Donnely told VTDigger that the evidence did not point to any intentional act, so in this case, it would not be prosecuted as a murder. Its certainly been an unsettling mystery that we hope brings closure to the community, and, most importantly, to this family, Donnelly said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jurors are deliberating the fate of an Idaho man who is charged with murdering his first wife and his girlfriends two children in what prosecutors say was part of a plan for desire for sex, power, and money. Chad Daybell, 55, has remained mostly expressionless throughout the two months of testimony at the Ada County courthouse in Boise, where he sits like a statue at the defense table, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. But during closing arguments on Wednesday, the self-proclaimed prophet with bizarre cult beliefs shook his head multiple times while prosecutor Lindsey Blake was speaking. Daybell is charged with murder in the 2019 deaths of his wife Tammy Daybell, who was found dead in their bedroom in October 2019, and Lori Vallows two children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, who were found buried in Daybells backyard in June 2020 nine months after they vanished. As Daybells death penalty trial drew to a close on Wednesday, the doomsday author shook his head no after Blake told jurors that Tammys body was dark, that she had to die and Daybell did not want to wait. He shook his head no again later when Blake said he had taught dark people, possessed people (that) the body has to die. Tammy and Chad Daybell were married in 1990. He is now accused of conspiring with Lori Vallow to kill her ( Facebook ) It was Daybells desire for sex, power, and money that led to the killings, prosecutors say, and that he and Lori Vallow justified the crimes by creating an apocalyptic belief system that people could be possessed by evil spirits and turned into zombies. And the only way to save a possessed persons soul? It was for the possessed body to die, she said. Three dead bodies ... and for what? Blake told jurors during closing arguments. Money, power and sex thats what the defendant cared about. Just two weeks after Tammy Daybell died in October 2019 from what was initially believed to be from natural causes, Daybell and Vallow were married on a beach in Hawaii, raising suspicion among law enforcement officials. It was only after Vallows two children were reported missing and authorities began delving into the couples bizarre cult beliefs that questions were asked about Tammys death and her body was exhumed for an autopsy something the family refused initially. It was determined she had died of asphyxia and Daybell was charged with her murder, as well as the murders of Vallows children, who were found buried in Daybells Rexburg backyard in June 2020, nine months after they went missing. The remains of Joshua JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found buried in shallow graves on Chad Daybells property in June 2020 - nine months after they went missing ( Family handout ) Over the past two months, prosecutors have called dozens of witnesses to bolster their claims that Daybell and Vallow conspired to kill the two children and Tammy Daybell because they wanted to get rid of any obstacles to their relationship and to obtain money from survivor benefits and life insurance. Blake said Wednesday that Daybell styled himself a leader of what he called The Church of the Firstborn and told Vallow and others that he could determine if someone had become a zombie. Daybell also claimed to be able to determine how close a person was to death by reading what he called their death percentage. With these elements, Daybell followed a pattern for each of those who were killed, Blake added. They would be labeled as dark by Chad Daybell. Their death percentage would drop. Then they would have to die, she told the court. Last year, in the same courtroom, Vallow was convicted of the three murders and sentenced to life in prison. Jurors heard how she, Daybell and Vallows late brother, Alex Cox, were fuelled, in part, by their bizarre cult beliefs. Cox died of natural causes during the investigation and was never charged. At Daybells trial this week, Blake said Daybell manipulated Vallow and Cox, into helping with the plan, at times bestowing spiritual blessings on Cox and warning Vallow that the angels were angry because she was at times ignoring him. They had money, power, sex, and no obstacles and, specifically, no earthly relatives, no encumbrances. However, they left a wake of destruction and tears for those that had trusted them, Blake said. Lori Vallow reacts in the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on 12 May 2023, when the jury delievered a guilty verdict ( AP ) But Daybells defense attorney, John Prior, told jurors that there wasnt enough evidence to tie Daybell to the deaths. He said police looked only for things they could use against Daybell rather than the actual facts of the case and he claimed that Cox committed the crimes. Alex Cox is a murderer, and he is not shy about shooting people, Prior said on Wednesday, noting that Cox had previously killed Vallows fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in Arizona and that the two kids were the only witnesses to that shooting. He also said Cox later tried to frame Daybell by burying the charred remains of the slain children in Daybells yard in Rexburg, Idaho. Prior pinned the murders on Cox and Vallow and said Daybell was manipulated by Vallow who he described in opening statements as a voracious and very sexual woman who lured him to do her bidding. This beautifully stunning woman named Lori Vallow comes up and she starts giving him a lot of attention, Prior said of the couples first meeting at a religious convention in October 2019. She pursued him. She encouraged him. Prior rejected the prosecutions descriptions of Daybells beliefs. He described Daybell as a traditional member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a deeply religious man who talked about his spiritual beliefs every chance he could get. Prior said it wasnt a plan to kill, but it was a plan to gather, referring to the couples belief that the world would end in July 2020 and that they would lead a group of 144,000 people who would be saved during the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, according to previous witness testimony. Whether you agree with light and dark, it doesnt matter. Whether you believe in death percentages, it doesnt matter, Prior said. Hes entitled to his beliefs. Over the course of two months, there were 67 witnesses called for the prosecution, six of whom were called back, while the defense called 11 witnesses, including two of Daybells adult children. Six rebuttal witnesses were also called. Daybells son, Garth Daybell, and his daughter Emma Daybell Murray, both testified that their mother had been fatigued and sickly before she died. Garth told jurors he was home the night his mother died and that he heard no disturbances from his bedroom next to his parents room, but later only heard Daybell snoring. He said he later felt like police officers and prosecutors were trying to pressure him to change his story, even threatening him with perjury charges at one point. If convicted, Chad Daybell faces the death penalty or life in prison. The same jury will decide his fate after further testimony ( Post Register ) In his testimony on the stand, Garth told the court that if there had been a struggle or fight, he would have heard it. But he said he heard nothing. The next morning, his father called him to help and he rushed to the room to find his mother halfway off the bed and not breathing. I felt she was cold and stiff and gray, he recalled. I realized she had been not breathing. However, rebuttal witness Jason Abegelen, who worked with Garth at a haunted house, recalled a different story. He told the court that Garth told him how he found his mother dead in the bedroom and that his father was not there. Defense witnesses also included Dr Kathy Raven, a forensic pathologist who reviewed reports from Tammy Daybells autopsy and said she believed the cause of death should have been classified as undetermined. Daybell has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Like Vallow, Daybell himself never took the stand in his own defense. If convicted, he faces the death penalty or life in prison. The same jury will decide his fate after further testimony. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Chad Daybell has been found guilty of killing his wife and his girlfriends two youngest children nearly five years after the bizarre and tragic case first captured the nations attention. Daybell, 55, a self-proclaimed prophet and doomsday cult author remained emotionless while the verdict was read on Thursday afternoon. He was found guilty on all counts. The 12 jurors deliberated for just under six hours following closing arguments on Wednesday after listening to two months of testimony that revealed a deeply disturbing tale of murder, unexplained deaths, apocalyptic cult beliefs, and bizarre claims of zombie children. Now the jury will be tasked with deciding if Daybell should be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty for the crimes. Chad Daybell sits and closes his eyes after the jury's verdict in his murder trial was read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on May 30, 2024 ( AP ) The Idaho man had been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, insurance fraud, and conspiracy to commit murder and grand theft in connection with the 2019 deaths of his wife Tammy Daybell, and Lori Vallows two children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua JJ Vallow, seven. Just two weeks after Tammy Daybell died in October 2019 from what was initially believed to be from natural causes, Daybell and Vallow were married on a beach in Hawaii, raising suspicion among law enforcement officials. It was only after Vallows children were reported missing and authorities began delving into the couples bizarre cult beliefs that questions were asked about Tammys death and her body was exhumed for an autopsy something the family refused initially. Larry Woodcock, the grandfather of slain JJ Vallow, gets a hug after the verdict in the Chad Daybell murder trial was read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on May 30, 2024 ( AP ) It was determined she had died of asphyxia and Daybell was charged with her murder, as well as the murders of Vallows children, who were found buried in Daybells Rexburg backyard in June 2020, nine months after they went missing. Prosecutors say it was Daybells desire for sex, power, and money that led to the killings and that he and Vallow justified the crimes by creating an apocalyptic belief system that people could be possessed by evil spirits and turned into zombies. Tammy and Chad Daybell were married in 1990. He stood trial for murder after being accused of conspiring with his mistress Lori Vallow to kill her in October 2019 ( Facebook ) The only way to save a possessed persons soul was for the possessed body to die, she said. Three dead bodies ... and for what? prosecutor Lindsey Blake told jurors during closing arguments on Wednesday. Money, power and sex thats what the defendant cared about. But Daybells defense attorney, John Prior, told jurors that there wasnt enough evidence to tie Daybell to the deaths. He said police looked only for things they could use against Daybell rather than the actual facts of the case and he claimed that Vallows late brother, Alex Cox, committed the crimes. The remains of Joshua JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found buried in shallow graves on Chad Daybells property in June 2020 - nine months after they went missing ( AP ) Prior pinned the murders on Cox and Vallow and said Daybell was manipulated by Vallow who he described in opening statements as a voracious and very sexual woman who lured him to do her bidding. This beautifully stunning woman named Lori Vallow comes up and she starts giving him a lot of attention, Prior said of the couples first meeting at a religious convention in October 2019. She pursued him. She encouraged him. Last year, in the same courtroom, Vallow was convicted of the three murders and sentenced to life in prison. Jurors heard how she, Daybell and Cox were fuelled, in part, by their bizarre cult beliefs. Cox died of natural causes during the investigation and was never charged. Alex Cox is a murderer, and he is not shy about shooting people, Prior said on Wednesday, noting that Cox had previously killed Vallows fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in Arizona and that the two kids were the only witnesses to that shooting. He said Cox later tried to frame Daybell by burying the charred remains of the slain children in Daybells yard in Rexburg, Idaho. Over the past two months, prosecutors have called dozens of witnesses to bolster their claims that Daybell and Vallow conspired to kill the two children and Tammy Daybell because they wanted to get rid of any obstacles to their relationship and to obtain money from survivor benefits and life insurance. Lori Vallow reacts in the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on 12 May 2023, when the jury delievered a guilty verdict ( AP ) Prosecutor Blake said Wednesday that Daybell styled himself a leader of what he called The Church of the Firstborn and told Vallow and others that he could determine if someone had become a zombie. Daybell also claimed to be able to determine how close a person was to death by reading what he called their death percentage. With these elements, Daybell followed a pattern for each of those who were killed, Blake added. They would be labeled as dark by Chad Daybell. Their death percentage would drop. Then they would have to die, she told the court. Blake also said Daybell manipulated Vallow and her brother, Cox, into helping with the plan, at times bestowing spiritual blessings on Cox and warning Vallow that the angels were angry because she was at times ignoring him. They had money, power, sex, and no obstacles and, specifically, no earthy relatives, no encumbrances. However, they left a wake of destruction and tears for those that had trusted them, Blake said. Prior rejected the prosecutions descriptions of Daybells beliefs. He described Daybell as a traditional member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a deeply religious man who talked about his spiritual beliefs every chance he could get. Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow pictured with their uncle Alex Cox just days before they were killed in 2019 ( Handout ) Prior said it wasnt a plan to kill, but it was a plan to gather, referring to the couples belief that the world would end in July 2020 and that they would lead a group of 144,000 people who would be saved during the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, according to previous witness testimony. Whether you agree with light and dark, it doesnt matter. Whether you believe in death percentages, it doesnt matter, Prior said. Hes entitled to his beliefs. Over the course of two months, there were 67 witnesses called for the prosecution, six of whom were called back, while the defense called 11 witnesses, including two of Daybells adult children. Six rebuttal witnesses were also called. Daybells son, Garth Daybell, and his daughter Emma Daybell Murray, both came to the defense of their father. They testified that their mother had been fatigued and sickly before she died. Garth told jurors he was home the night his mother died and that he heard no disturbances from his bedroom next to his parents room, but later only heard Daybell snoring. He told the court that if there had been a struggle or fight, he would have heard it. But he said he heard nothing. Like Vallow, Daybell himself never took the stand in his own defense. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The nephew of a man killed in New York City 15 years ago has been arrested for his murder after officials obtained DNA evidence on a plastic fork connecting him to the slaying. A grand jury indicted 41-year-old Anthony Scalici on charges of second-degree murder in connection with the death of his 64-year-old uncle Rosario Prestigiacomo. Prestigiacomo was found in his hallway face down in a pool of blood in February 2009, reported WNBC. He had been stabbed 16 times in the face, neck, torso and extremities. He had also suffered puncture wounds to his abdomen, chest, esophagus and lung. Officials said the victim endured blunt force injuries to his head, torso and extremities. Its not clear if Mr Scalici entered a guilty plea in the case during his arraignment on Thursday. According to the outlet, authorities arrived at Prestigiacomos home in Queens to find blood on the floor and walls. At the time, the medical examiners office was able to match a DNA profile to the victim and discovered the DNA profile of the attacker, suggesting he had been hurt during the crime. Anthony Scalici, 41, was indicted for second-degree murder in connection with the death of his uncle Rosario Prestigiacomo, 64. ( WNBC ) Still, the attacker was not identified after investigators ran the DNA through databases and the case went cold. A breakthrough came in 2022 when the Queens district attorneys office and the New York Police Departments cold case unit brought in help from a private lab and the Department of Homeland Security to try and generate leads using forensic genealogy. Months later, the lab created a more advanced genealogical profile using the attackers blood at the home. Investigators then built a family tree linking back to Mr Scalici and in 2023 got a lead in the case. To follow up on the lead, investigators put Mr Scalici under surveillance to get a discarded DNA sample from the man. A plastic fork he threw away in February seemingly provided the evidence they needed to bring charges. Prosecutors say that the DNA on the fork matched DNA recovered from one of the victims fingernails in addition to the suspects DNA recovered at the scene. Mr Scalici was taken into custody in Boynton Beach earlier this month and extradited to New York on Wednesday to face charges. Officials said the arrest marked the first time a New York City homicide suspect had been identified using public genealogy databases. Such technology has been successful in the past in solving other cold case murders. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Florida police arrested a couple after finding a two-year-old child barricaded inside a closet and an infant in need of hospitalization. James Spiess, 28, and Rebecca Worthington, 27, were arrested by the Port St Lucie Police Department and charged with two counts of child neglect on Wednesday. Investigators say they found the two-year-old trapped inside a small closet with no light. Officials say the door to it was blocked with furniture. The door to the closet had baby gates, dog gates, headboards, pieces of wood, and chairs tied together with bed sheets and belts blocking the closet door, the police department said in a statement. Law enforcement also found a two-month-old in their home with severe diaper rash spanning from the babys thigh to the back that required hospitalization, the police department said. James Spiess, pictured in a booking photo, was arrested on Wednesday after police found a two-year-old barricaded inside a closet ( Port St Lucie Police Department ) Police say an infant in the care of Rebecca Worthington, pictured in a booking photo, had such severe diaper rash that hospitalization was necessary ( Port St Lucie Police Department ) An investigation revealed the infant had not seen a doctor since birth, police said. Police found the children while responding to an investigation from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) into the potential neglect of four children, ranging in age from two months to 3 years old. The additional two children in Mr Spiess and Ms Worthingtons care were placed with a responsible family member, the department said. Just days ago, police also arrested a father who they say abandoned his three children for hours in Satellite Beach, Florida a 90-minute drive from Port St Lucie. Police say Leonard Nile left his 9-year-old daughter and two other young children just 10 and 11 years old alone on an island near the beach even though he was supposed to be supervising their camping trip. The three were rescued after a pair of Good Samaritans eventually found them screaming for help late Saturday night. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The harrowing contents of the so-called Goon Squad WhatsApp chat have been revealed, including how a group of Mississippi police officers joked about rape, shared pictures of rotting corpses, and traded tips on terrorizing suspects. The messages shared by the men were mixed in with vacation photos and invitations to family cookouts, with the sheriffs deputies posting in plain view of their supervisor, who occasionally joined in. A private text message thread, obtained as part of an investigation by Mississippi Today and The New York Times, provided a years-long record of day-to-day conversations of the officers. The Goon Squad came to national attention in January 2023, after deputies in Rankin County Sheriffs Office (RCSO) were accused of brutally torturing two Black men in their home, shooting one of them in the face, in a mock execution gone awry. Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker were handcuffed and arrested without probable cause to believe they had committed any crime then racially abused, beaten, tasered and assaulted with sex toys. Six officers were charged over the horrific incident, including three from The Goon Squad Hunter Elward, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke. This combination of photos shows, from top left, former Rankin County sheriff's deputies Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield appearing at the Rankin County Circuit Court in Brandon, Mississippi on 14 August 2023 ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) The other RSCO officers charged were Chief Investigator Brett McAlpin and Narcotics Investigator Christian Dedmon as well as narcotics investigator Joshua Hartfield from Richland Police Department. The Goon Squad was described at the time as a group of RCSO officers who were known for using excessive force and not reporting it. All six men pleaded guilty and were sentenced to federal prison in March. However, according to the joint investigation by MT and The Times, nearly two dozen residents experienced similar brutality to that experienced by Mr Jenkins and Mr Parker. The conversations about violence and off-color remarks went back years and involved multiple others who have not been arrested. According to the outlets, in May 2022, a picture of a mans body, found decomposing in the impoverished neighborhood of Robinhood, was posted to the group. Thats hot, one officer, Deputy Hunter Cook, wrote. Poke him with a stick, replied Middleton. Another offered the officer who posted the photo five dollars to take a selfie with his arm around the dead body, according to Mississippi Today. Mr Cook, who no longer works in law enforcement, said that while he was not proud of his texts, it is common for police officers to exchange off-color jokes about their work. We see dead bodies all the time, he told Mississippi Today. Thats kind of how we deal with stuff. Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker were handcuffed and arrested, then racially abused, beaten, tasered and assaulted with sex toys by RSCO deputies in 2023 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) In May 2022, deputies texted about roughing up a man arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. Did you Tase him in the face!? said Elward. Opdyke asked if they had shocked the man in the anus. All the neighbors were outside watching, Mr Cook responded in the chat, adding that if they had been in a more secluded area, the suspect would have gotten more lovings. Opdykes lawyer later told Mississippi Today that, while he had been unable to immediately reach his client, obviously Tasing somebody in the anus is wrong and very disturbing. Disturbing topics of conversation were commonplace for years. In 2020 the deputies discussed kidnapping a man suspected of being in a hit-and-run incident, killing him, and then burying his body on a property belonging to one of the deputies. Middleton suggested they dump the mans body in nearby Jackson, Mississippi. Theyll never solve it, he said. In an interview with Mississippi Today, group member Cody Grogan called his texts in the group chat a poor decision and said, Ive never kidnapped anybody and Ive never shot anybody. In another 2020 text exchange, two deputies asked Middleton if they could beat a man they believed had exposed himself to women at local gas stations. Thats fine just justify it good in your report, he replied. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The bartender shielded by General Hospital star Johnny Wactor as he was shot dead has said she is heartbroken by the death of her goofy friend. Anita Joy was walking with Wactor to his car at around 3am on Saturday after their shift at a rooftop bar when he was shot and killed in a suspected robbery in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles police department said that three men were trying to steal the catalytic converter from his vehicle when Wactor confronted them and he was shot. He later died in hospital. Following his death, his brother Grant told The Daily Mail that the 37-year-old shielded his coworker from the three armed robbers who gunned him down. Joy detailed the events of the horrific tragedy in a lengthy Instagram post on Wednesday in which she said she was heartbroken by the senseless death of Wactor. Ive needed to take some time to collect myself and my thoughts, Joy began her post. I was with Johnny in his last moments and Im here to be his voice after such unimaginable events. She went on to slam the actors killer as a coward who reacted without care of the gorgeous life he was taking. Johnny Wactor in character as Brando Corbin from the daytime series General Hospital ( 2021 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All rights reserved ) So Im angry, Im sad and Im all of the feelings and once but above all, I am here for Johnnys justice, Joy wrote. She then detailed the events leading up to Wactors death, explaining that she and the 37-year-old were leaving their bartending shift together and walking to their cars when they noticed someone tampering with his vehicle. We cautiously approached the men, questioning what they were doing, at first thinking the car was being towed, she wrote. We were no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and for them to leave. Hands open to his sides in peace. As I heard the shot ring into the night, he forcefully tumbled back into my arms, she continued. As I grabbed for him, I shouted Hunny you ok?! And he only responded, Nope! Shot! We toppled onto the street where I pushed my legs under him and tried to hold his body up while screaming for help and screaming at him to stay with me. Anita Joy detailed the horrific tragedy that took place after the pair finished their bartending shift on Saturday ( Anita Joy / Instagram ) The bars security guard then rushed over after calling 911, she said, and performed CPR on Wactor as they waited for emergency services to arrive. She added that the security guard, named Bryan, tied her denim jacket around Wactors wound to stop the bleeding. It was too close range, too extreme of a wound for him to survive it but my god, he fought to stay, she wrote. I am utterly heartbroken and so very angry. Johnny Wactors co-worker Anita Joy has said she is heartbroken following his death ( Anita Joy / Instagram ) My only peace is that I was with him and this didnt happen to him alone my only other peace will be seeing these awful men brought to justice, she added. Joy then paid tribute to Wactor, praising his genuine nature. His energy was magnetic and pulled you in so effortlessly you were safe with him, she wrote. He treated everyone with love, respect, compassion and he really saw you. He was beautiful, goofy as hell, full of work ethic and values. I hope the stamp of his voice saying that every time I saw him never leaves my memory, she went on, adding, Just one look into his big blue eyes, followed by a big goofy grin, Johnny made you love him instantly. Absolutely one of the best men Ive ever known. Im so grateful to have been a part of his world and him, mine. My heart is shattered with his loss but I believe l have gained the best guardian Angel out there. I love you Johnny Wacky, Joy added. Wactor was known for playing Brando Corbin on the long-running soap opera General Hospital, appearing in 164 episodes from 2020 to 2022. No arrests have been made in connection with his death. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Angry parents confronted a woman reportedly trying to snatch kids from a Los Angeles park - just weeks after she was released while facing allegations of trying to kidnap a 4-year-old from a Target. Yara Vanessa Pineda was arrested at Seoul International Park Tuesday afternoon by the LAPD. Witnesses told officers she had approached kids at the park and tried to take them before their parents stopped the 27-year-old, local outlet KTLA reports. Witnesses also saw Pineda fighting with the parents who confronted her. Officers arrested Pineda after using a Taser to subdue her, KTLA reports. She is now being held in a Los Angeles jail on a $1.35 million bond, according to the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department. Yara Vanessa Pineda, pictured, is now in a Los Angeles jail on kidnapping charges ( Los Angeles Police Department ) Anwar, a child who witnessed the incident, told KTLA she was picking up little kids and the kids were running from her. They got scared, he told the outlet. She was catching them and running away with them. She asked me for candy and I said, No! and I ran away. The young boy told KTLA she tried to grab his sister before pushing her to the ground. His parents called the police following the incident. Yara Vanessa Pineda, pictured, was arrested in February after police say she tried to kidnap a four-year-old from a Target ( Los Angeles Police Department ) Pineda was arrested in February after police say she tried to kidnap a four-year-old from a Westlake, California, Target. The boys parents said Ms Pineda grabbed the boy from behind and tried to take him out of the store, KTLA reports. She put him down only after his parents confronted her. Police say Pineda fled after the incident, but was arrested after a tipster spotted her on the street. She was charged and initially held on $1.25 million bail. Police records indicate she was released on 17 May, citing the reason as rehab. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Florida police officer has been arrested after an investigation claimed that he was inappropriately inviting four teenage girls into his home, videoing them naked and supplying them with drugs and alcohol. Markanthony Fernandez, 24, a Bartow Police Department officer in Florida, was charged on Tuesday with four felonies and six misdemeanours after he was investigated over his actions with four teenagers when he shared an inappropriate video with his coworkers. "It makes me elated to arrest him and put him in jail," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a news conference on Wednesday. "This guy is a bad guy." The investigation, carried out by detectives from the Polk County Sheriffs Office at the request of the Bartow PD, focuses on events that occurred during the first weekend of February, which were allegedly captured on video and sent to his fellow officers. "Our detectives learned that he had a video clip, that he was sharing [a] Snapchat video with people at the police department. And they looked at it and say, Hey, these girls look underage," Mr Judd said. Those officers then reported it to their supervisors. The investigation identified four females involved in the February incident, two 18-year-olds, one 17-year-old and a 16-year-old, which captured some of them on videos recorded by Mr Fernandez partying at his residence, the sheriffs office said in a news release. He allegedly met one of the girls online via Snapchat, and she introduced him to the other three girls, Mr Judd said. One video showed one of the 18-year-olds wearing a Bartow PD jacket, while a 17-year-old committed a sexual act on the 18-year-old at the urging of Fernandez, the sheriffs office wrote. They also said that several of the videos show the alleged victim naked or in other stages of undress with Mr Fernandez inside his residence, with the investigation further claiming that he provided all four of them with alcohol, THC vape pens and THC gummies. Mr Fernandez has also been accused of going into a bedroom at his home where the 16-year-old was and began to touch and choke her. Markanthony Fernandez, 24, has been arrested after an investigation alleged an innapropriate relationship with teenage girls ( Polk County Sheriffs Office ) "He told one of the 18-year-olds and the 17-year-olds that he gets excited sexually from choking people. So he choked the 18-year-old unconscious. Did you hear what I said? He choked the 18-year-old unconscious," said Mr Judd. "She said that she allowed him to choke her, but he also choked the 17-year-old. And she said, I did not allow him to choke me. And he choked me so much that it scared me." Mr Judd said that all of the girls went to local high schools, and the sheriffs office believes Mr Fernandes went to a party in Frostproof with the girls, which is still under investigation. Booked into the Polk County Jail, Mr Fernandez faces a number of charges, including promotion of a juvenile in a sexual performance, use of a juvenile in a sexual performance, battery by strangulation, illegal use of a 2-way communication device, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and provide alcoholic beverages to a person under 21-years of age. The officer has been placed on administrative leave since February, and his employment is pending termination based on his arrest. Mr Fernandez started to work for the Bartow Police Department in September 2020, and carried out a year-long stint at the Polk County Sheriffs Office, before returning to the Bartow PD in December 2022, Deputy Chief Stephen Walker said at the conference. "Its very disappointing, Mr Walker said. "We all wear this badge as a sign of public trust, and its unfortunate when someone violates that and puts it in question for the community." Mr Judd said in the release that the officer has embarrassed his community, police department and law enforcement officers everywhere and said that he must never wear a badge again. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A San Diego Police Department officer resigned after being found alone in the back seat of a cop car with a woman who had told him she was down to f***, a newly released investigation revealed. Anthony Hair resigned a month after the August 2023 incident with the unidentified woman, but the results of an internal investigation were finally released earlier this month, with investigators finding hed failed to follow proper procedures and falsified police reports, a violation of law, according to NBC 7 and CBS 8. Officer Anthony Hair was with several other San Diego officers on August 15, 2023 when they arrested the woman and another individual suspected of car theft. Body cam footage recorded a conversation between Mr Hair and the woman as he drove her to the Las Colinas Detention Center in his squad car. In the recording, she asked Officer Hair if hes married and if hes single, telling him: Youre not too bad. Whats it going to hurt me if I work the system, you know what I mean? San Diego Police arrested a woman in August 2023, pictured, who told Officer Anthony Hair she was down to f***. Mr Hair was later found in the backseat of his cruiser with the woman. ( San Diego Police Departmnet ) Im down to f*** right now, she continued. Dont say that right now, Mr Hair responded. Dont say that right now because everything is being recorded right now. After driving for some time, Mr Hair stopped the vehicle, at which point his body camera shut off. He later told investigators he believed the woman was having a medical emergency, NBC 7 reports. Mr Hair also claimed he knocked his body camera off its clip when he exited the vehicle, according to CBS 8. Roughly 20 minutes after the car stopped, Mr Hair called an officer asking if he had a master key for the vehicles. That officer told investigators he noticed Mr Hair had a panicky voice, CBS 8 reports. I asked him if he was okay, the officer said. He said, yes, and then asked if I had my patrol car key with me...I asked why he was asking and what did he need. An hour later, around 2.40am, a supervisor arrived and opened the car door. Mr Hair said he was checking on the woman, and the door had accidentally closed behind him. Hair resigned a month after the August 2023 incident with the unidentified woman, but the results of an internal investigation were finally released earlier this month, with investigators finding hed failed to follow proper procedures ( San Diego police ) Officer Hair then asked me If I could go meet him. I asked him his location and he said, near Cottonwood... I asked him why he needed me, and he said he would tell me when I got there, the unnamed officer Mr Hair called continued. He said he was really embarrassed. The woman later told investigators Mr Hair asked for her phone number and to meet up when she was released from jail, NBC 7 reports. He wanted to get with me when I was done with the warrant or whatever I got arrested for, she said. She also told investigators there was never any sexual contact between her and Mr Hair. The San Diego District Attorneys Office told NBC 7 they cannot comment on whether charges will be brought against Mr Hair. The Independent has contacted the San Diego District Attorneys Office and the San Diego Police Department for comment. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Prince King, the 81-year-old man arrested last week after police accused him of using a slingshot to terrorize his neighbors for nearly a decade, died after being released from jail. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiners website shows that the man died at a private residence on Wednesday. Officials listed his cause of death as arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. His preliminary manner of death is listed as natural. King was taken into custody last week. During a court appearance on Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty to seven counts of vandalism stemming from an offense in October 2021. He had been charged with felony counts and misdemeanors. King was released on his own recognizance, meaning he was allowed to leave jail before his trial without having to pay bail. Prince King, 81, was arrested earlier this week and died at a private residence after being released from jail ( KABC ) A judge ordered him to stay 200 yards away from his home in Azusa, California, and not make contact with alleged victims. Additionally, he was told he could not possess any deadly weapons, including a slingshot. Police said the elderly man used metal ball bearings to victimize his neighbors, breaking windows and car windshields. He came close to hitting people, police said. Officers with the Azusa Police Department served a search warrant for Kings home last week and found ball bearings and a slingshot at the residence. Azusa police lieutenant Jake Bushey told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that the ball bearings were mostly launched from Kings backyard while others were shot from a nearby neighborhood. Its been ongoing for many years because we just didnt identify who the suspect was, Lt Bushey said. He added that officials are still working to determine a motive for the crimes. Were not aware of any kind of motive other than just malicious mischief, the police officer said. During the hearing, Kings attorneys said that he suffered from several medical ailments. He left jail to go pick up medications, KABC reported. He had been scheduled to appear back in court for a preliminary hearing on June 17. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fitness influencer Stefi Cohen has been arrested for allegedly hacking into a mans laptop and sharing his girlfriends nude photos online. Ms Cohen, whose full name is Stefanie Cohen Magarici, was arrested on multiple criminal charges involving sexual cyberharassment and resisting arrest on Tuesday outside her Miami home. The 32-year-old has one million Instagram followers and is also a professional boxer and powerlifter. An arrest report from the Miami Police Department states that she was taken into custody after her ex-boyfriend and a woman reported her to detectives in November 2023. They alleged that Ms Cohen had accessed the ex-boyfriends laptop after guessing commonly used passwords to access his iCloud account and obtain sexual photos of the woman which were then shared across various group chats that she, Ms Cohen and several other girls were also a part of, without the victims consent, according to an arrest affidavit. Ms Cohen then informed the woman of the leak and that she sent the nude photos with the purpose of exposing and humiliating her, the affidavit adds. Police said the incident happened after she had learned in March 2022 that the woman was in a relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who she used to live with. The report states that he had left his laptop at Ms Cohens home, adding that he and the other woman returned to the police to provide additional information on 16 April, leading to her arrest. Police said on Tuesday, they surveilled Ms Cohens Loquat Avenue home and moved in to arrest her after she walked outside. Authorities said after an officer informed her that she was under arrest, she did not comply and began to walk at fast pace back to her residence, saying that she was heading home and going to call her boyfriend so she could pick up her dog. Ms. Cohen then stated she was not going with them and began to physically resist, police wrote. At one point, she tried a leg sweep on the officer while in handcuffs and even broke the locking mechanism in the police car she was later placed into, the affidavit said. Authorities said Ms Cohen declined to speak with detectives about the case at MPD headquarters. Police took her to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on charges of unauthorized access to a computer, a felony, as well as misdemeanor sexual cyberharassment and criminal mischief charges. Ms Cohen also faces a municipal resisting arrest violation. She was released from jail on Wednesday morning. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A hotel used as a supporting housing complex did not check an out-of-order bathroom after a man was reported missing, only to smell something rancid and discover his decomposing body. The Adler Hotel, which is home to 116 supportive housing units provided by the Episcopal Community Services (ECS) in San Francisco, has been given areas of immediate action after a man was reportedly found dead, after he went missing over a week ago, in an out-of-order bathroom in the facility. James Martin Rinkes, 53, was still deemed as missing when a tenant reported an awful smell coming out of a bathroom in January, according to a five-page report from San Franciscos Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle. The bathroom had been out of order for several weeks, and staff only went in and checked inside after people noticed a liquid with a foul odor seeping out from under the door. Once opened, they reportedly found Rinkes lying over the bathrooms two toilets, having died of a fentanyl overdose, city records showed. Speaking to Rinkes older sister, Connie McCort, who lives in Ohio, she told the Chronicle that her brother had been homeless for a long time and that her family had lost contact with him. Homeless people have it really hard, and I knew Jimmy would never turn his life around, she told the outlet. She said that she received her brothers ashes two weeks ago from the San Francisco Medical Examiner, and spread them on the graves of his mother, father and his brother. While she admits that her brother was too lost, she did say that the employees in those homes are getting paid and should be looking after people living there. None of it adds up. City officials claim that the hotel staff failed to do a comprehensive search of the hotel after he was reported as missing and failed to check the bathroom until several days after the foul smell was reported. The officials relayed in the report, that the Chronicle obtained, that there was a lack of communication and collaboration between property managers, janitors and desk clerks, among other staff, which led to the mans body going undiscovered for days in the shared bathroom. After the horrific incident surrounding Rinkes body unknowingly being left to decompose, the Citys Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing wrote that there are areas that need immediate improvement. This included having the hotel staff do more rigorous searches if a tenant goes missing, having higher quality wellness check training, as well as suggesting that ESC staff and property managers do a weekly site walkthrough. ECS told the outlet in a statement that the incident has prompted (the homelessness department) to update their Wellness Check policies across the entire system. We are in compliance with all of the recommendations, the community services organization wrote. We made the majority of the recommendations to HSH after our own internal investigations, and most had been implemented even prior to receiving the Corrective Action Notice. Since 1983, ECS has provided services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in San Francisco, serving more than 13,000 people this past year by helping them obtain housing, jobs, shelter and essential services, their website states. Deborah Bouck, a spokesperson for the citys homelessness department, also confirmed that ECS has complied with all components of the corrective action letter related to the Alder Hotel. Ms Bouch added that, like what ECS said, this incident has galvanized reforms within their department, such as working on small revisions to their wellness and emergency safety check policy. This will include adding information on checking shared bathrooms and other common areas as part of the wellness check process, Ms Bouch said. The Independent has contacted ECS and San Franciscos Homelessness Department for further comment. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Boston-bound aircraft had to slam on the brakes while taking off to prevent a collision with another plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. A Federal Aviation Administration investigation is underway after the incident involving American Airlines flight 2134 as it was attempting to leave for Logan International Airport on Wednesday morning. Pilots for the flight, which was cleared for takeoff, were forced to brake while going roughly 90 miles per hour to prevent a collision with the other aircraft, CBS News reported. Uh, were going to, we need to talk to maintenance, but yeah I think, uh, we were above 80 knots so [were] gonna have to get an inspection, the pilot said as he was hitting the brakes, according to NBC News. The other aircraft was a private plane that was initially cleared to land, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Air traffic control later told the private plane to abort the landing, but it was already on the ground, according to CBS News. In a statement to CBS News, American Airlines said they would support the FAA in their investigation. An American Airlines flight pictured landing at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside of Washington, DC. An American Airlines flight almost collided with a private plane on Wednesday morning after both flights were cleared to use intersecting runways ( Getty Images ) A nearly identical incident happened at the same airport last month. Air traffic control instructed a Southwest flight to taxi across a runway after a Jet Blue flight had begun take-off on an intersecting runway. The planes did not collide, missing each other by just 400 feet. Also last month, a quick-thinking pilot faced a similar situation and prevented a collision between four planes, including his own, at New Yorks JFK International Airport. Audio of the incident revealed air traffic control cleared a Swiss Air flight for takeoff. The pilot, realizing he would collide with several other planes, quickly aborted. The FAA is also investigating that incident. New research suggests general anxiety around flying may be on the rise this summer, NBC Bay Area reports. This uptick comes amid increasing concerns over aircraft manufacturer Boeings safety procedures. Earlier this year, Boeing was thrown into the national spotlight after a door plug fell off one of their planes mid-flight. Then, in April, Boeing whistleblower Sam Salehpour testified to Congress about several safety concerns. The quality engineer told a congressional committee that Boeing has a culture of retaliation when employees speak up about their concerns. When asked if the planes are safe, Mr Salehpour testified: Its like an earthquake. When that hits the building ... [it has] to be prepared to accommodate that type of shake-up...Right now, from what Ive seen, the aeroplanes are not being billed per spec, and per requirements. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A white Canadian writer who travelled the US in blackface and published what he has described as the most important book on American race relations that has ever been written has been met with swift backlash. Last summer, I disguised myself as a Black man and traveled throughout the United States to document how racism persists in American society, journalist Sam Forster, who has written for The National Post and The Spectator, posted on X on Tuesday. He also shared a link to his self-published book, Seven Shoulders. A blurb for the book on Amazon called it the most important book on American race relations that has ever been written. In a copy of the book sent to The Independent, the author describes donning a blackface disguise in September 2023 that included a synthetic Afro wig, colored contact lenses and copious amounts of Maybelline foundation in the Mocha shade. Seven Shoulders documents his experiences hitchhiking across Nashville, Birmingham, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Detroit. The work consists largely of first-person descriptions, where most drivers pass him by while hes in disguise, as well as commentary on the history of race and politics in the US. Forster said he was carrying on a tradition born in the fight for civil rights ( Supplied ) Prominent Black writers and journalists reacted to the project with a mix of criticism and bemusement. The Nations legal correspondent Elie Mystal ridiculed the books methods and compared it to Tropic Thunder, a 2008 Hollywood satire in which Robert Downey, Jr, plays a white Australian actor who dons blackface to portray a Black Vietnam War soldier in the hopes of winning an Oscar. Option A: Talk to actual Black people, Mr Mystal wrote on X. Option B: [whatever in the Tropic Thunder F*** this is]. The book features interviews with Black leaders, including a sitting US congressman and the mayor of a major American city, though their names are redacted in the work, and Mr Forster says he didnt tell them about the blackface aspect of the project. Nikole Hannah Jones, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter behind the 1619 Project, which argues for a reframing of American history beginning with the arrival of the first enslaved African people to the land that later became the US, appeared perplexed in her brief response to the news of the book. No comment, she wrote on X. New York Times political reporter Astead Herndon called on Mr Forster to release a picture of him in disguise. Drop the pic, Samuel, he wrote on X. Im trying to see something. Some noted the books resemblance to the 1961 book Black Like Me, by John Howard Griffin, in which a white writer donned blackface to describe the racism of the Jim Crow South. Mr Forster told The Independent via email he was hoping to carry on in the tradition of Griffin with the goal to dramatically improve our collective understanding of race. As the public is beginning to realize, I didnt force myself to supplicate at the feet of sensitivity readers, consultants, and Midtown executives like most authors do, he said. I simply wrote what I saw. I recognize that my independence bothers people, but I think it produced a tremendously important and historic book, he added. He argued people should read the book before criticizing it, and declined to share a photo of the disguise he used during the writing process. As I mention in the book, the point of this project is to foster serious, productive dialogue, he said. If people are looking for a minstrel show, they should look somewhere else. He added that people on social media seeking to see the image showed the crude and corrupting impulses of the masses and suggests more about the masses than it says about me. The seven shoulders of the books title refers to highway shoulders where the Canadian journalist hitchhiked both with and without his disguise. (Mr Forster has another book, Americosis: A Nations Dysfunction Observed from Public Transit, based on his observations riding the Dallas public transit system.) The Canadian writer argues in the book that his method offers a unique perspective on race because most people have only experienced life within one societally defined racial category, while in his case, for a short window, I became Black. I experienced the world as a Black man. Nobody has an experiential barometer with respect to race, for that matter, he writes. Nobody except for me.. My barometer is better than anyone elses. The book contains other claims sure to prompt fierce debate and backlash, such as his claim that present-day examples of institutional racism are extremely Mr Forster repeats the word for two straight pages difficult to identify despite ongoing racial disparities in institutions including the criminal justice system. The writer also argues that the people most passionate about the issue of race are the most ill-informed and out of touch, and suggests most writing about the history of racism in the US is moralizing disguised as scholarship. With few exceptions, the stuff thats out there doesnt serve the function of saying what previously was or what currently is, but rather, what should have been, or what ought to be, he writes. He describes his own writing in Seven Shoulders as a tremendous literary achievement and a tremendous achievement in the realm of civic progress. The Canadian journalist argues his work is separate from the historically racist function of blackface and instead is journalistic blackface with a purpose. Seven Shoulders is set to be published on Thursday, 30 May, via the authors Slaughterhouse Media company. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump is now a convicted felon but that wont stop his unhinged bid for another four years in the White House, President Joe Bidens campaign warned voters Thursday night. In a statement issued not long after a New York City jury convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records, Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said the verdict against the felonious ex-president vindicated the American system of justice. In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, he said. Tyler noted that Trump had operated under a mistaken belief that he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, but he stressed that the verdict against the ex-president will have no effect on the simple reality that will be faced by the American people when they vote for a president in just over five months. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, he said. Tyler added that Trump has never been a greater threat to American democracy, citing his increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, his pledge to be a dictator on the first day of his term if elected, and his calls to terminate the US constitution as a way for him to regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November, he said. There was no immediate reaction to the unprecedented verdict from Biden, who was with family in Delaware marking the ninth anniversary of his late son Beau Bidens death from brain cancer. The 46th president has so far refrained from speaking out about criminal matters involving Trump, who still faces three other cases against him in three separate jurisdictions. A White House official told The Independent that Biden would not be speaking about the result at this time, but left the door open for him to do so in the future. A spokesperson for the White House Counsels Office, Ian Sams, issued a statement stating the following: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. But the strong statement from Bidens campaign is an indicator that he and his surrogates will not shy away from describing Trump as a convicted felon, even as he runs to regain his former position as president. The case against Trump, which was based on his falsification of business records to conceal a hush money scheme meant to cover up a sexual affair from voters in order to win the 2016 election, was considered the least serious of the four cases against him, which include two sets of federal charges stemming from his alleged unlawful retention of national defense information and his alleged effort to illegally remain in office despite losing the 2020 election. According to an NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist poll released on Thursday, 67 percent of voters said a guilty verdict would make no difference in their voting intentions, while 76 percent said the same about a not guilty verdict. But the same survey found that 17 per cent of respondents said a guilty verdict against Trump would make them less likely to vote for him. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Republicans are raging against the Manhattan jury which found former president Donald Trump guilty on all criminal counts at his hush money trial on Thursday. Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an effort to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election. He was accused of covering up reimbursement payments to then-attorney Michael Cohen for $130,000 in hush money to Stormy Daniels, whose story about having sex with Trump threatened to derail his campaign. Trumps eldest son Donald Trump Jr was among the first to react on social media. Donald Trump Jr shared an inside look at the room where former President Donald Trump awaits the verdict in his hush money trial ( Screenshots / TikTok / Donald Trump Jr ) Such bulls***, Don Jr said. On Wednesday, he had shared a video with his father from inside the Manhattan courthouse joking about writing mean tweets. Guilty on all counts, Don Jr added. The Democrats have succeeded in their years long attempt to turn America into a third-world shithole. November 5 is our last chance to save it. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served as Trumps lawyer, also decried the ruling, trashing the city he led for eight years. This city has been politically corrupt for most of the past 150 years, he said. You knew on day one Trump was going to be convicted. Republicans in the highest and lowest ranks in the party decried the guilty verdict as election interference or an attempt to keep Trump off the campaign trail. Throughout the trial, numerous made the trek to New York City to show their solidarity with the twice-impeached-quadruple-indicted former president. Everyone from back-bench members of the House of Representatives, to governors and attorney generals appeared at the courthouse. Many Republicans did so in the name of circumventing the gag order that Judge Juan Merchan placed on Mr Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed the Biden administration even though the case was carried out by New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents, he said. Trump for his part said on Truth Social that his fate will truly be decided at the ballot box. VICTORY ON NOVEMBER 5TH. SAVE AMERICA!!! Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia proceeded to post an image of an upside down flag, a symbol of Stop the Steal after the 2020 presidential election. Joe Bidens campaign orchestrated a rally outside of the courthouse in New York City supporting a potential conviction of President Trump, she posted on X. This case has been rigged from the start and we all knew it. This isnt a prosecution, its a persecution. We must end the weaponization of government in America. This is what happens in third world countries! Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley also criticized the trial. Todays verdict, handed down by a partisan and biased judge, is an indictment on the Democrats campaign to weaponize the judicial system to attack President Trump, he said. The real verdict will take place on November 5 when Americans vote for a president they trust to bring down prices, secure the southern border, restore Americas leadership around the world and Make America Great Again. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida posted a campaign donation link on X in response to the conviction. This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA, he said. We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who is considered a potential running mate for Trump, posted a video of himself criticising the verdict. This isn't just ridiculous, he said. This actually erodes the confidence that Americans have in the justice system. Unbelievable unfreaking believable. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to corruptly influence the 2016 presidential election, marking the first-ever criminal conviction of an American president, who will now campaign once again for the White House as a convicted felon and fraud. A jury in Manhattan deliberated for 10 hours before returning a unanimous verdict to New York Justice Juan Merchan on Thursday. An emotionless Trump sat at the defense table as the foreperson read guilty for each of the 34 counts against him. He craned his neck to watch each of the jurors confirm their decision. The former president who refused to testify in his own defense faces up to four years in jail and thousands of dollars in fines when he will be sentenced on July 11 at 10am ET. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial, Trump raged outside courtroom on Thursday. The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, he added, referencing the 2024 presidential election. Im a very innocent man, he said. Trumps so-called hush money trial in New York marked the first-ever criminal proceedings of a current or former American president. If elected, he will be the first president to serve as a convicted felon. The verdict followed 16 days of witness testimony over nearly six weeks in a courtroom drama that scrutinized his alleged affairs and the power and influence he wielded to cover them up as he successfully campaigned for the White House. I did my job, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told reporters on Thursday. More than one year after Bragg brought a grand jury indictment against Trump, the district attorney said the verdict arrived in the same manner as any other case that comes through the courtroom doors. Trumps allies rushed to defend him, elevating baseless claims that the case was a Democratic-led conspiracy against him. His eldest son Donald Trump Jr claimed on X that Democrats have succeeded in their years-long attempt to turn America into a third-world s***hole. November 5 is our last chance to save it. He later insisted that Trumps sentencing four days before the Republican convention showed that the whole ordeal was election interference. Former Trump lawyer and New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani among the former presidents co-defendants in a separate election conspiracy case in Georgia was livestreaming as the verdict was handed down. The verdict was not a surprise, he said. This city has been politically corrupt for most of the past 150 years, he added. You knew on day one Trump was going to be convicted. A White House official told The Independent that President Joe Biden has no plans to issue any response to the verdict as of now. Trump supporters protest outside court after guilty verdict in hush money trial But the Biden campaign said that theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, according to a campaign statement. The campaign added that Trumps threat to democracy has never been greater, and that his campaign has grown increasingly unhinged as it focuses on revenge and retribution. Far-right influencer and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson wrote on X: Import the Third World, become the Third World. Thats what we just saw. This wont stop Trump. Hell win the election if hes not killed first. But it does mark the end of the fairest justice system in the world. Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family, he said. Duncan Levin, a former assistant district attorney in Manhattan, told The Independent that the case was deeply corroborated, with testimony not built around one person but with texts and emails and phone records. The prosecution case was methodical, and the jury clearly paid attention, he said. The defendant did everything he could to undermine the administration of justice, engaged in criminal contempt on ten occasions, and yet the system still gave him a trial that was fundamentally fair. Donald Trump, pictured, speaking to the media after a New York jury found him guilty following his hush money trial ( Getty Images ) Jury deliberations began on May 29 after 22 witnesses outlined the evidence in Trumps months-long scheme to keep news of his sex scandals away from voters in the weeks before Election Day in 2016. Less than one month before he was elected to the presidency, Trump directed his former attorney Michael Cohen to pay $130,000 in hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose story about having sex with Trump in 2006 threatened to derail his campaign 10 years later. Trump then reimbursed Cohen through a series of payments in 2017 disguised as legal expenses that were never performed that year, under the terms of a retainer agreement that never existed. He signed the checks from the Oval Office. Emails, phone records, text messages, invoices, checks with Trumps Sharpie-inked signature, and other documents including a hand-written note from Trumps accountants that outlined the math for Cohens checks gave jurors a paper trail of the conspiracy. On Thursday after the verdict was handed down, Cohen wrote on X that Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law. While it has been a difficult journey for me, the truth always matters. Jurors heard testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who promised to be the campaigns eyes and ears by using his tabloid to catch and kill stories about Trumps alleged affairs that he never intended to publish. He spent roughly $180,000 purchasing two scandalous stories but refused to spend more by getting involved with Daniels. Trumps former White House aide Hope Hicks who testified to the campaigns damage control after the release of the Access Hollywood tape told jurors that Trump did not want the story from Daniels to come out before Election Day. Cohen who said he frequently sought approval for his loyalty to the boss agreed to pay Daniels out of his own pocket, took out a home line of credit to front the cash, and created a shell company from which he could transfer the funds to her attorney. Donald Trump speaks to the press, flanked by attorney Todd Blanche, after he was convicted in his criminal trial ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) Trump and Daniels also signed a nondisclosure agreement that blocked her from taking her story public, and her damning testimony in his criminal trial detailed exactly what Trump sought to keep secret, according to prosecutors. Defense attorneys did not dispute the prosecutions evidence but argued that there was no conspiracy, that Cohen was simply paid for his work as an attorney, and that testimony from Daniels and Cohen either warranted a mistrial or the dismissal of the case altogether. Both efforts were denied. The prosecutions case took roughly five weeks. But Trumps lawyers introduced only two witnesses, including Robert Costello, a Trump-allied attorney who appeared to work with Rudy Giuliani to pressure Cohen against flipping against then-President Trump while his personal attorney was under federal investigation. Mr Costellos flippant behavior drew a furious response from the judge, who cleared the courtroom to warn that his comments could get him tossed off the stand. Trump makes unfounded claim hush money trial was 'rigged' after guilty verdict The 15th floor of the courthouse on Centre Street has become an extension of Trumps 2024 campaign; he delivered rambling remarks to reporters in the hallway each day of the trial, and his attorneys drew out flattering depictions of the former president and his business in witness testimony and in their opening and closing statements to jurors. A trial gag order that blocked him from publicly attacking witnesses and jurors did not stop him from doing so. After he was fined $10,000 and threatened with jail time, a parade of high-profile allies including the nations highest-ranking Republican joined him at the courthouse to deliver more attacks on his behalf. Trumps campaign one defined by his role as a political victim fueled by vengeance and retribution still must navigate 54 other criminal charges in three other jurisdictions. He is criminally charged in Florida for withholding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago compound, and he faces criminal charges in Georgia and in Washington DC for his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Andrew Feinberg and Gustaf Kilander contributed to this report Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump called the New York criminal trial rigged and a disgrace while blasting the US moments after a jury made him a convicted felon. I am a very innocent man, Trump said in the hallway of the courthouse. The former president gave a brief statement outside of the courtroom, railing against the judge and the Manhattan District Attorney while also targeting the Biden administration. Trump repeated many of the same accusations and excuses he has voiced throughout the six-week-long trial that he is innocent, the trial is rigged, the judge was conflicted and more. We have a country thats in big trouble, but this was a rigged decision right from day one, with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case, Trump said. The convicted former president claimed the real verdict would come in November when the country votes for the next president. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to the media during his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) And well keep fighting well fight till the end and well win because our country has gone to hell. We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. Were a nation in decline, serious decline, millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now, from prisons and from mental institutions terrorists, and theyre taking over our country, Trump said. After roughly 10 hours of deliberations, the panel of New York residents returned a verdict in the first criminal trial of a sitting or former president. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records for covering up hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her silent about an alleged affair. Prosecutors said this was part of a larger catch-and-kill scheme to influence the 2016 presidential election. Trump will return to Manhattan criminal court on July 11th for sentencing. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has made history as the first criminally convicted US president. He has been found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to corruptly influence the 2016 presidential election. He sat emotionless as the jury convicted him on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. Ms Daniels says that they had a sexual encounter in 2006, which Trump denies. The jury delivered the verdict late on 31 May after deliberating for almost two days at the Manhattan court. The Republican presidential candidate completed a virtual interview with Manhattan Criminal Courts probation department on Monday, a mandatory requirement before he is sentenced on July 11 by New York judge Juan Merchan after being found guilty on all counts at his hush money trial last month. Could Trump go to prison? And what potential prison time is he facing in his three other criminal cases? The hush money case up to 20 years The 34 charges were stepped up from misdemeanors to class E felonies for the trial because prosecutors alleged the crimes were carried out in an effort to commit or conceal another crime. Each of the 34 counts carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, however New York imposes a 20-year sentencing cap for this type of offense. However, such sentences are usually only doled out in circumstances like previous felony convictions or based on the seriousness of the crime. Given that Trump has no prior criminal record and his crimes are non-violent, he could face no jail time. Instead, New York Judge Juan Merchan could impose other penalties such as fines, probation or conditional discharge in lieu of jail time. The prosecution and the defense are still to give their recommendations on sentencing. The defense was due to give its recommendation on June 13. On June 10 Trump sat for a virtual interview with a probation officer as part of the sentencing procedure. Reports said the interview lasted half an hour. Some commentators have suggested the prosecution could ask for jail time although others have suggested Trumps age and lack of previous convictions make this unlikely. The classified documents case up to 450 years In one of two federal criminal cases, Trump is charged with willfully retaining secrets and obstructing justice over his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House. In August 2022, the FBI raided Trumps Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, and found boxes of classified documents that he should have returned to the National Archives. In that case, the former president faces a maximum of 10 years in prison per count of willfully retaining secrets and 20 years per count of obstructing justice. Donald Trump appears alongside his aide and co-defendant Walt Nauta and attorneys Chris Kise and Todd Blanche in Miami, Florida, in June 2023 ( Reuters ) While the latter offence comes with a higher maximum sentence, it is the former which should have Trump more worried. Convictions of wilful and/or reckless retention of classified information frequently result in prison sentences of several years or more. Trump faces more than 30 of those charges. The trial was provisionally set for 20 May, although Judge Aileen Cannon subsequently suspended it indefinitely and pretrial hearings relating to it continue to be dominated by baffling orders and courtroom spats. The federal election interference case up to 55 years The Justice Departments second case against Trump accuses him with efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in his favor. In this case, he faces charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy against Americans right to vote in free elections and attempting to block the certification of the election results by summoning a mob to attack the US Capitol on 6 January 2021. Should he be convicted on either point, he faces steep maximum prison sentences for each count, in particular the obstruction of proceeding charges, which carry 20-year maximum terms. Donald Trump claimed he witnessed filth and decay in Washington DC after his arraignment in early August 2023 ( Getty ) The trial, in this case, was provisionally set for 4 March but it has been plagued by delays while Trumps presidential immunity argument plays out before the US Supreme Court. The Georgia racketeering case up to 76.5 years In Georgia, Trump is charged with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state. Donald Trump appears in a police booking mugshot released by the Fulton County Sheriffs Office in Georgia in August 2023 ( Reuters ) The sprawling RICO case, brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis against Trump and a string of his allies, is unique in that it is the only case where the charges carry minimum prison terms. The most serious felony charge of violating Georgias RICO statute (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations) carries a minimum prison term of five years, with a maximum of 20 behind bars. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Around one in six voters say that a guilty verdict in former President Donald Trumps hush money trial will make them less likely to vote for him, according to a new poll. In the NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist poll released on Thursday, 67 per cent said a guilty verdict would make no difference in their voting intentions while 76 per cent said the same about a not guilty verdict. Seventeen per cent said a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for Trump. Jury deliberations have begun in the trial in which Mr Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult actor Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election to keep her quiet about an alleged 2006 affair. He has denied the 34 felony charges against him. While views of Mr Trump and Joe Biden appear largely set and unlikely to change for many voters, small numbers of those who say a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for Trump are among groups important to the former president in a tight election. Trump looks likely to lose some voters if hes found guilty in his hush money trial ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) Among white voters without college degrees, 14 per cent said they would be less likely to back the former president if hes found guilty the same is true for 17 per cent of those living in small towns, 11 per cent of those who live in rural areas, and 10 per cent of Republicans. However, the poll also found Biden struggling with voters who brought him to victory in 2020, such as voters between 18 and 29 and voters under 45. In the last election, the younger group comprised about one-sixth of the electorate, while those under 45 made up about 40 per cent. Exit polls show that Biden won 18-29-year-olds by 60 to 36 per cent and those between 30 and 44 by 52 to 46 per cent. The NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist survey reveals that Mr Bidens current struggles with these groups may be the reason why the race is so tight and why he appears to be losing when third-party candidates are included. The poll found that Mr Biden leads Mr Trump 50 to 48 per cent in a head-to-head matchup. Among voters under 45, his lead is now down to four percentage points, while among Gen Z and Millennials, Bidens lead is down to six points. But things change when third-party candidates Robert F Kennedy Jr, Cornel West, and the Green Partys Jill Stein are added to the mix, with Trump leading Mr Biden by four points. When third-party candidates are included, Mr Trump leads by six points with Gen Z and Millennials and by eight points among those under 45. The director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, Lee Miringoff, said younger voters dont see a lot of connection to Mr Biden, according to NPR. Theyre worried about the cost of living, which isnt reserved just for them, but clearly, as they envision moving into adulthood, cost of living, housing costs, how to get into that next step seems to be an obstacle Theyre seeing the economy as a lot of other voters do laying it on Bidens doorstep at the moment. Among those between 18 and 29, only 24 per cent approve of Bidens job performance. Sixty-two per cent have an unfavorable view of Biden, while 42 per cent have an unfavorable view of Trump. With all voters, Trump has a higher unfavorable rating than Biden, 54 to 52 per cent. But Miringoff says who younger will back is still up in the air. This is the unsatisfied, unattached, disliking-of-the-candidates group. So its not that theyre racing to Trump, theyre just not where Bidens had this group in the past, he says. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rudy Giuliani railed against Donald Trumps historic criminal conviction on Thursday, describing the guilty verdict against his close ally as a very sad day for America in a post-decision livestream. In the same video, Giuliani, the disgraced former mayor of New York City whos currently under indictment and mired in money woes, insisted the city is historically corrupt. Thats despite the fact that he served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1983 to 1989 before becoming mayor. The simple fact is that theyve certainly in New York, for 150 years, with a couple of exceptions [under Fiorello] La Guardia, me, [Michael] Bloomberg been a thoroughly corrupt city, ruled by a Democratic dictatorship, Giuliani told his audience of nearly 9,500 viewers. Its no exagerration, any smart New Yorker knows it. Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani ( AP / Getty ) Giuliani, who has served as both a campaign and a legal adviser for Trump over the years, offered no evidence as he painted the jurys guilty verdict as part of a wider Democratic plot. On Thursday, the 12 jurors convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. You want to save the American justice system, you have to vote this demented dictator our of office, he continued, accusing the prosecutors who brought the case of being the real criminals and Joe Biden of furthering a Marxist plot to take over the country. Donald Trump, for his part, sounded a similar note, calling the decision a disgrace in a statement to The Independent. The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people, the statement continued. After raging against the verdict, Giuliani, a former US attorney for New York, called todays developments a sad day for the US justice system. I am dedicated to the impartial administration of justice as maybe the single most important part of our system of laws, he said. When it goes, well no longer have a system of laws. Well have a system of deranged men who can decide our fatee and change the laws. According to officials across the country, it is actually Giuliani who has ignored the rule of law. He has been indicted or named as an unindicted co-conspirator in Georgia, Nevada, Michigan, and Arizona for his alleged involvement in the Trump campaigns efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. (He denies any wrongdoing.) He was ordered in December to pay $148m to a pair of Georgia election workers whom he defamed after the 2020 campaign. And most recently, a group of creditors accused Giuliani of gross mismanagement of his finances after declaring bankruptcy late last year. Earlier this month, the judge overseeing the case said he was disturbed at how little progress Mr Giuliani had made in resolving his financial issues. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Handle it. Make sure it doesnt get released. Just do it. During Donald Trumps hush money trial, Michael Cohen did what the 19 other prosecution witnesses could not: directly tie the former president to the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels that is at the heart of the criminal case against him. But will jurors buy his story? No single person was closer to Mr Trumps alleged scheme to corruptly influence the 2016 presidential election than his one-time fixer, who abandoned his position as the pugilistic consigliere for a more civic-minded and lucrative role as Mr Trumps chief antagonist. Cohen openly loathes Mr Trump. He at least partially blames him for his prison sentence for crimes tied to the New York case. He admitted in court to calling Mr Trump a boorish cartoon misogynist and Cheeto-dusted villain. Jurors heard clips from Cohens podcast screaming that revenge is a dish best served cold. Defense attorneys depicted Cohen as a disgruntled, selfish and fame-hungry opportunist. He was furious with a lower-than-usual bonus check, so he stole from Mr Trumps company, and then flipped against him when federal prosecutors snooped around his home and office, eventually turning the newfound attention into a multimillion-dollar business that revolves around trashing his old boss. But on the witness stand in the Republican presidential nominees criminal trial in Manhattan, Cohen his eyes wide and sunken, his hair graying and his Long Island accent softened admitted to and directly confronted his history of lies, convictions and shameful behavior that compromised his freedom and family. A courtroom sketch from May 20 depicts Todd Blanche questioning Michael Cohen while Donald Trump and Justice Juan Merchan look on. ( REUTERS ) Over four days, he walked jurors through dozens of pieces of evidence, including the allegedly falsified business records that relate to each of the 34 counts against Mr Trump and that have Cohens name stamped all over them. In his testimony, Mr Trumps former attorney explained that his boss told him to handle hush money payments and nondisclosure agreements that would keep his campaign-crushing sex scandals out of the press before Election Day in 2016. When it came to covering up an adult film stars story about her alleged sexual encounter with Mr Trump for $130,000, Mr Trump allegedly told Cohen: Just do it. Less than two weeks before Election Day, Cohen finalized a contract and wired her attorney the cash. Then, he told Mr Trump that the deal was done. A satisfied president-elect Trump then approved a payment plan to reimburse his attorney before heading to Washington DC, where he signed the checks from the Oval Office, Cohen said. What I was doing, Cohen testified, was at the direction of and benefit of Mr Trump. Trump and Cohen discuss hush money catch and kill plot His entire life has been turned upside down as a direct result, he said during his final moments on the witness stand. I lost my law licenses, my business, my financial security My familys happiness is paramount. Cohens testimony was corroborated with 11 signed checks most of which include Mr Trumps Sharpie-inked signature stapled to Cohens invoices, and 12 ledger entries that mark Cohens payments as a legal expense pursuant to a retainer that even Mr Trumps defense attorneys admit never existed. Prosecutors used emails, text messages, call logs, encrypted chats and even surreptitiously recorded conversations with Mr Trump himself to carefully lay out the scheme. Defense attorney Todd Blanche repeatedly reminded Cohen of his past praise for the former president how he admired him tremendously, called The Art of the Deal a masterpiece, and insisted hed take a bullet for him. At the time, you werent lying, right? Mr Blanche asked him. At that time, I was knee-deep into the cult of Donald Trump, yes, Cohen said. I was not lying, he added. Its how I felt. Donald Trump leaves a Manhattan criminal courtroom to speak with reporters on May 16. ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) When jurors begin deliberations this month, they dont have to believe all the details of Cohens life story. His past lies and shady behavior dont make the evidence against Mr Trump any less admissible. Cohens testimony gave jurors the connective tissue for the prosecutions narrative: Mr Trump warned Cohen to be prepared for stories about women when he launched his 2016 campaign, instructed him to pay them off, then signed the checks that reimbursed him, all as part of a plan drawn up by his accountants and finalized from the White House. But the now-disbarred attorney has been keenly aware of the power of the information in his possession and has admitted to using it to his advantage. During the first day of cross-examination, he admitted that he asked about the benefits of meeting with Manhattan prosecutors about this case while he was locked up in federal prison. He also admitted that he has a financial interest in the outcome of the case not necessarily if hes convicted, but because Mr Trump is a constant source of subject matter for his podcasts and TikTok account. It would actually be better if Mr Trump is not convicted, he said, because it gives me more to talk about in the future. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The NRA can continue with a lawsuit alleging a New York government official violated the gun lobbys First Amendment rights when she told financial groups not to do business after the Parkland mass shooting. In a win for the controversial gun advocacy group, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in a ruling the NRA plausibly alleged the former head of the New York State Department of Financial Services violated the lobbys right. Sotomayor issued the ruling Thursday as the high court voted 9-0 to allow the NRA suit to continue. The NRA filed a lawsuit in New York, accusing Maria Vullo of overstepping her authority by coercing banks and insurers to stop working with them. But the New York 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed their claims in 2022, saying the officials actions did not rise to the level of unlawful. While a government official can share her views freely and criticize particular beliefs in the hopes of persuading others, she may not use the power of her office to punish or suppress disfavored expression, Justice Sotomayor wrote in the opinion. Justice rejected the New York appeals courts decision, clearing the way for the suit to continue. A person wears an NRA hat in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC ( AFP via Getty Images ) The case dates to 2018 when Vullo issued guidance to banks and insurance companies about conducting business with the NRA in the wake of the Parkland high school shooting which left 17 people including 14 children dead. At the time, the department was investigating Carry Guard, an NRA-endorsed insurance program that offered to pay for civil and criminal legal fees in cases where a gun owner shot another person in self-defense. The agency was determining whether Carry Guard was permitted under New York law, which generally does not allow insurance products to insure a person for intentional criminal acts. Three insurers later ceased to underwrite the Carry Guard policy after reaching settlements and entering consent orders. But after the deadly high school shooting, and shortly after the Carry Guard policy investigation, Ms Vullo issued guidance, warning financial institutions of reputational risks and encouraging them to review any relationships they had with the NRA or other gun advocacy organisations. The NRA sued, claiming Vullos guidance was threatening and violated the First Amendment. In an unexpected teaming-up, the American Civil Liberties Union argued on behalf of the NRA in March. While the ACLU stands in stark opposition to the NRA on many issues, it is representing the group to safeguard the First Amendment rights of all advocacy organizations, the ACLU wrote in a press release earlier this year. United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor poses for an official portrait at the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court building on October 7, 2022 in Washington, DC. T ( Getty Images ) Justice Sotomayor said if the NRAs allegations are true they highlight the constitutional concerns with the government intermediary strategy that allows officials to expand their jurisdiction to suppress speech. Yet where, as here, a government official makes coercive threats in a private meeting behind closed doors, the ballot box is an especially poor check on that officials authority, Justice Sotomayor wrote. She caveated her opinion by underlining that nothing in the case gives the NRA, or other advocacy groups, immunity from government investigation or the right to disregard state or federal laws. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A contractor with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has resigned in protest over the Biden administrations support for the war in Gaza. Alexander Smith, a senior adviser on gender, maternal health, child health, and nutrition, told the Guardian he was given a choice of resigning or being fired after a presentation he was due to deliver on child mortality among Palestinians was cancelled by USAID leadership. In his resignation letter to the head of USAID, Samana Power, he alleged that the agency was treating the war in Gaza and Palestinians differently to other conflicts and humanitarian emergencies. I cannot do my job in an environment in which specific people cannot be acknowledged as fully human, or where gender and human rights principles apply to some, but not to others, depending on their race, he wrote in the letter, according to the Guardian. USAID has always prided itself on our programs supporting democracy, human rights, and rule of law, he continued. In Ukraine, we call for legal redress when people are victimised, and name perpetrators of violence We boldly state Slava Ukraini in peppy promotional videos. When it comes to the Palestinians, however, we avoid saying anything about their right to statehood, the abuses theyre currently suffering, or which powers have been violating their basic rights to freedom, self-determination, livelihoods, and clean water, he added. The resignation comes two weeks after The Independent published an investigation into dissent at USAID in response to the Biden administrations handling of Gazas hunger crisis. The investigation revealed that at least 19 internal dissent memos have been sent since the start of the war by staff at USAID criticising US support for Israels war in Gaza. In an internal collective dissent memo drafted this month by numerous employees of USAID, the staff assail the agency and the Biden administration for its failure to uphold international humanitarian principles and to adhere to its mandate to save lives. The leaked draft memo, seen by The Independent, calls for the administration to apply pressure to bring an end to the Israeli siege that is causing famine. Smith is the second person to resign from USAID over the war, and the second US official this week. Stacy Gilbert, a career official who worked in the State Departments Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, resigned over a department report that claimed Israel was not impeding humanitarian assistance to Gaza, the Washington Post reported. Palestinians flee Rafah due to an Israeli military operation, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. ( REUTERS ) A USAID spokesperson said: We have consistently made clear, internally and externally, that far too many innocent people have been killed and injured in Israels war against Hamas. Hundreds of staff across the Agency are working tirelessly to accelerate aid, to advocate for greater protections for civilians and the improvement of deconfliction, and to advance diplomatic efforts. They added that USAID did not take any personnel actions in response to this presentation. As an Agency, we value and intentionally seek out a diversity of viewpoints. A USAID official said they cannot discuss specific personnel matters and why this individual is no longer employed by their contractor for USAID, but added Smiths presentation did not go through the standard agency review and approval process with their supervisors and subject matter experts working on this topic. Israel has vehemently denied that there is a hunger crisis in Gaza, or that it has restricted aid. It says fighting with Hamas, the militant group that triggered the current war when it killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages in Israel on 7 October, has hampered aid efforts. Cindy McCain, the US director of the UN World Food Programme, said in early May that there was a full-blown famine in Gazas north, and its moving its way south. Since then Israel launched an offensive in Rafah, which led to the closure of a major crossing for aid south of the city. Speaking to other donor governments about the crisis in Gaza on Wednesday, Samantha Power said civilians there were paying a devastating and unacceptable price in this war, particularly in the wake of the IDFs expanded operations in Rafah. She added that the catastrophic consequences that we have long warned about are becoming a reality. The UN said Wednesday that thousands of children across Gaza are experiencing malnutrition. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A contractor with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has resigned in protest over the Biden administrations support for the war in Gaza. Alexander Smith, a senior adviser on gender, maternal health, child health, and nutrition, told the Guardian he was given a choice of resigning or being fired after a presentation he was due to deliver on child mortality among Palestinians was cancelled by USAID leadership. In his resignation letter to the head of USAID, Samana Power, he alleged that the agency was treating the war in Gaza and Palestinians differently to other conflicts and humanitarian emergencies. I cannot do my job in an environment in which specific people cannot be acknowledged as fully human, or where gender and human rights principles apply to some, but not to others, depending on their race, he wrote in the letter, according to the Guardian. USAID has always prided itself on our programs supporting democracy, human rights, and rule of law, he continued. In Ukraine, we call for legal redress when people are victimised, and name perpetrators of violence We boldly state Slava Ukraini in peppy promotional videos. When it comes to the Palestinians, however, we avoid saying anything about their right to statehood, the abuses theyre currently suffering, or which powers have been violating their basic rights to freedom, self-determination, livelihoods, and clean water, he added. The resignation comes two weeks after The Independent published an investigation into dissent at USAID in response to the Biden administrations handling of Gazas hunger crisis. The investigation revealed that at least 19 internal dissent memos have been sent since the start of the war by staff at USAID criticising US support for Israels war in Gaza. In an internal collective dissent memo drafted this month by numerous employees of USAID, the staff assail the agency and the Biden administration for its failure to uphold international humanitarian principles and to adhere to its mandate to save lives. The leaked draft memo, seen by The Independent, calls for the administration to apply pressure to bring an end to the Israeli siege that is causing famine. Smith is the second person to resign from USAID over the war, and the second US official this week. Stacy Gilbert, a career official who worked in the State Departments Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, resigned over a department report that claimed Israel was not impeding humanitarian assistance to Gaza, the Washington Post reported. Palestinians flee Rafah due to an Israeli military operation, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. ( REUTERS ) A USAID spokesperson said: We have consistently made clear, internally and externally, that far too many innocent people have been killed and injured in Israels war against Hamas. Hundreds of staff across the Agency are working tirelessly to accelerate aid, to advocate for greater protections for civilians and the improvement of deconfliction, and to advance diplomatic efforts. They added that USAID did not take any personnel actions in response to this presentation. As an Agency, we value and intentionally seek out a diversity of viewpoints. A USAID official said they cannot discuss specific personnel matters and why this individual is no longer employed by their contractor for USAID, but added Smiths presentation did not go through the standard agency review and approval process with their supervisors and subject matter experts working on this topic. Israel has vehemently denied that there is a hunger crisis in Gaza, or that it has restricted aid. It says fighting with Hamas, the militant group that triggered the current war when it killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages in Israel on 7 October, has hampered aid efforts. Cindy McCain, the US director of the UN World Food Programme, said in early May that there was a full-blown famine in Gazas north, and its moving its way south. Since then Israel launched an offensive in Rafah, which led to the closure of a major crossing for aid south of the city. Speaking to other donor governments about the crisis in Gaza on Wednesday, Samantha Power said civilians there were paying a devastating and unacceptable price in this war, particularly in the wake of the IDFs expanded operations in Rafah. She added that the catastrophic consequences that we have long warned about are becoming a reality. The UN said Wednesday that thousands of children across Gaza are experiencing malnutrition. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts rejected an invitation from two Democratic senators to discuss ethics on the court as well as the controversy surrounding Justice Samuel Alito and the controversial flags flown at his homes. I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting ... apart from ceremonial events, only on rare occasions in our Nations history has a sitting Chief Justice met with legislators, he wrote. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances. On Wednesday, Alito sent a letter to the senators as well as to House members telling them that he wouldnt recuse himself from cases concerning former President Donald Trump and the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Earlier this month, The New York Times reported that an upside-down American flag favored by election deniers was flown outside the home of Justice Alito in Alexandria, Virginia, in January 2021. The justice said his wife had flown the flag amid a neighborhood dispute. Another flag used by Capitol rioters, known as an appeal to heaven flag, was seen outside Alitos New Jersey beach house. Alito wrote that he found that the flags, which he said had been flown by his wife, didnt mean that he had to recuse himself. He noted that she had been unaware of the appeal to heaven flags connection to the insurrection. Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse wrote to Roberts a week ago to request the meeting and that Roberts take measures to push Alito to recuse himself from any cases reaching the Supreme Court that concern the January 6 riot or former President Donald Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Judge Roberts wrote to Durbin and Whitehouse that individual Justices decide recusal issues, meaning that its up to Alito to decide if hell recuse himself. United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito pose for an official portrait on 7 October 2022 ( Getty Images ) He added: The format proposed - a meeting with leaders of only one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the Court - simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable. Alito is not alone in having rejected calls to recuse himself. Fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas has also refused to recuse himself from matters concerning the 2020 election after his wife Ginni Thomas backed efforts to overturn the results. Not for the last half-century has public trust in the Supreme Court been this low. The court is reviewing two cases connected to the Capitol riot, including whether Trump has immunity from prosecution on charges of election interference and charges against the rioters who took part in the insurrection. Judicial ethics codes state that judges have to be independent and that they should avoid making political statements or sharing opinions on issues on which they may have to make rulings. The Supreme Court didnt adopt a code of ethics until last year as it faced criticism over some justices accepting hitherto unknown free trips and gifts. The code is not enforceable and the Senate Judiciary Committee last year approved legislation to place stricter ethics requirements on justices but Republicans have opposed such measures. The Associated Press contributed to this report Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A jury of seven men and five women began deliberating the first-ever criminal case of an American president shortly before 11:30am on Wednesday. Jurors must determine that Manhattan prosecutors have proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Donald Trump falsified business records with the intent to commit or conceal a conspiracy to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election. Before their deliberations began, New York Justice Juan Merchan spent an hour instructing the jury on the laws governing the charges against the former president. Those instructions, largely adapted from dry statutory language, provide jurors with a crucial roadmap for understanding the evidence and determining Mr Trumps guilt. He explained the definitions of key terms and phrases like intent and proof beyond a reasonable doubt and walked jurors through each of the 34 counts against the former president, including how each of those counts relate to documents shown in evidence to jurors. The judge reminded jurors that they alone are responsible for weighing the evidence and testimony, and that their verdict must not be based on speculation, prejudice, sympathy, or an attempt to quickly avoid an unpleasant duty after six weeks of sitting in the courthouse. The former president is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up reimbursement payments to his attorney Michael Cohen, who testified that his former boss directed him to make a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels to stop her from speaking publicly about having sex with Mr Trump. He has pleaded not guilty. The Russian nesting doll of crimes and cover-ups alleged in the case Under New York law, a misdemeanor charge of falsifying business records is stepped up to a felony if tied to another crime. To find him guilty, jurors must determine that Mr Trump not only had a hand in falsifying records but did so in order to commit or conceal another crime specifically, that he violated state law against conspiracy to influence an election by unlawful means. Those unlawful means include violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act, the falsification of other business records, and violations of state and federal tax laws. Donald Trumps speaks to reporters in a criminal courthouse in Manhattan on May 29. ( Getty Images ) Prosecutors have alleged that Mr Trumps hush money arrangements with National Enquirer publisher David Pecker amounted to unlawful campaign contributions, made for the purpose of influencing an election. For those other falsifications, Judge Merchan is allowing jurors to consider Cohens bank records that set up shell companies to wire hush money, records of that wire transfer, and 1099 tax forms that Mr Trump issued to Cohen. Merchan also instructed jurors that it is unlawful to knowingly supply or submit materially false information to tax authorities, even if it does not result in the underpaying of taxes. A verdict must be unanimous All 12 jurors must be unanimous in delivering a guilty or not guilty verdict. In order to find him guilty, the jury must agree that Mr Trump personally, or by acting in concert with another person or persons, made or caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise and that he did so with intent to defraud that included an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof. But they do not have to unanimously agree to what those unlawful means are. And Trump did not object to unanimity over those unlawful means Last week, Mr Trumps attorneys agreed that juror unanimity is not typically required when it comes to unlawful means. And they havent disputed that since. A courtroom sketch depicts Justice Juan Merchan instructing jurors on May 29 while Donald Trump and attorney Todd Blanche watch from the defense table. ( REUTERS ) Cohen is an accomplice Mr Trumps one-time fixer is an accomplice under New York law, Judge Merchan noted. Even if jurors find Cohens testimony to be believable, they may not convict Mr Trump solely on Cohens testimony unless its corroborated by other evidence. Jurors will remain in court The jurors and a handful of alternates will remain at the courthouse with a laptop that includes all evidence from the case through their deliberations, until theyre excused in the late afternoon. Lunch is provided, their phones are handed over to court officers, and they can only deliberate if theyre all together. Juror 1 serves as the jury foreperson, who will offer up notes to the court, including questions to the judge and an announcement of a verdict. The foreperson will also deliver the verdict. If a juror wishes to speak with the judge, he may respond by speaking to the entire jury to ensure that each and every juror is there at the exact same time, and so that jurors arent hearing word from the judge from other jurors. This story was first published on May 29 and updated with developments Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump could soon become the first American president in history to serve time in prison after a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts in his hush money trial. The presumptive GOP presidential nominee was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. The jury deliberated for roughly nine and a half hours before reaching their decision on Thursday afternoon just minutes before Judge Juan Merchan was set to dismiss them. Trumps sentencing is scheduled for 11 July, just four days before the Republican National Convention (RNC), where delegates will almost certainly make him the official GOP presidential candidate. Both sides can file motions in the case until 13 June. Ms Daniels, her former lawyer Keith Davidson, Trumps former fixer turned arch nemesis Michael Cohen, ex-National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and former Trump White House aides Hope Hicks and Madeleine Westerhout all took the stand to testify in the trial. The 34 charges were stepped up from misdemeanors to class E felonies because prosecutors said the crimes were carried out in an effort to commit or conceal another crime these crimes being election conspiracy and campaign finance and tax law violations. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to the media the day a New York jury convicted him of 34 felony counts ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) Trump could theoretically face more than a decade in prison, according to CNN chief legal analyst Laura Coates. Under New York state law, the maximum prison sentence for a Class E felony is four years in prison. New York imposes a 20-year sentencing cap for this type of offence, with a decision on whether the sentences run concurrently or consecutively left up to the judge. Given that Trump has no prior criminal record and the crimes are non-violent in nature, it is likely he will face no jail time. Instead, New York Justice Juan Merchan could impose other penalties such as fines, probation or conditional discharge in lieu of jail time. The bigger questions surrounding the hypothetical incarceration of Trump is what kind of Secret Service detail he might receive as the first former president-turned-inmate. As the former president campaigns in the wake of this conviction, he is also battling three other criminal indictments in Florida, Washington DC and Georgia. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The chief of Ukraine's army has said Russia is pushing more troops into the northeastern Kharkiv region where Moscow's forces have made significant advances in a spring offensive. Ukraine's GUR military intelligence operation claimed that sea drones destroyed two Russian KS-701 patrol boats in the Black Sea off the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula. Russian officials did not immediately comment on the claim. The air force said the overnight attacks included eight S-300 ballistic missiles, 11 cruise missiles and 32 Shahed drones. All the drones and seven of the cruise missiles were shot down, the air force said but did not give other details. In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, seven people were injured and a municipal services building caught fire in the attacks, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Russian aerial strikes were also reported in the areas of Khmelnytskyi and Dnipropetrovsk, but there were no injuries. Army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that Russia is bringing army units into the Kharkiv region from other parts of Ukraine to supplement forces in the two main focuses of fighting, the towns of Vovchansk and Lyptsi. Syrskyi said Ukraine has also moved reserve troops into the area. "These forces are currently insufficient for a large-scale offensive and breakthrough of our defence," Syrskyi said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down eight US-made ATACMS missiles over the Azov Sea, whic "These forces are currently insufficient for a large-scale offensive and breakthrough of our defence," Syrskyi said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.h borders both Russia and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. One person was injured by a drone explosion in Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Kharkiv and comes under daily attack from the Ukrainian side. A lengthy delay in US military aid and Western Europe's inadequate military production has slowed crucial deliveries to the battlefield for Ukraine, and Russia has exploited the delays to make advances in the Kharkiv region. Russian missiles and bombs also have pummeled Ukrainian military positions and civilian areas, including the power grid. On Thursday, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, assailed Russian attempts to sow discord in democracies with misinformation after hinting the Biden administration may soon allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia. With an increasing number of officials saying Ukraine must be able to defend itself by attacking targets in Russian territory, Blinken joined Nato foreign ministers for a meeting in Prague, where he said Moscows use of misinformation and disinformation was a poison and signed an agreement with the Czech government to combat it. In Prague for a Nato foreign ministers meeting, Mr Blinken cited Moscow's use of misinformation and disinformation, calling it a "poison" and signing an agreement with the Czech government to combat it. We know that a major front in the competition that we have, the adversarial relationship that we have, notably with Russia, is on the information front, Mr Blinken said. A day earlier, Mr Blinken said US policy on how Ukraine deploys American weapons is constantly evolving, suggesting that Washington may rescind an unwritten prohibition on Ukraine's use of them for attacks on Russian territory. Although US officials insist there is no formal ban, they have long made clear that they believe the use of American weapons to attack targets inside Russia could provoke an escalatory response from Moscow, something that Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised. The Czech foreign minister, Jan Lipavsky, at a separate Nato-related event, Czech Foreign Minister Minister Jan Lipavsky, said Ukraine needs resources to counter Russias relentless assault. Ukraine cannot fight against Russia with one hand tied behind its back, he said. Ukraine must be able to fight against Russias barbaric invasion even on Russian territory. Political resolve must be backed by credible capabilities. Norways foreign minister, Espen Barth Eide, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that his country believes Ukraine has a crystal-clear right under international law to attack Russia inside Russia as part of the defense of its territory. Associated Press For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An image urging people to pay attention to Israels ongoing conflict in Gaza is getting shared by millions on social media following a deadly Israeli airstrike killing dozens of civilians. The picture, which has rows of tents stretching into the distance and is emblazoned with the words All eyes on Rafah, has now been posted almost 40 million times on Instagram. It follows an Israeli strike on the southern Gazan city of Rafah which killed at least 45 people most of them sheltering in tents which were set alight following the bombing. Israel said it had targeted two senior Hamas operatives and had not intended to cause civilian casualties. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the harm to civilians occurred when something unfortunately went tragically wrong. Global leaders voiced horror at the fire in a designated humanitarian zone of Rafah, where families uprooted by fighting elsewhere had sought shelter. The International Court of Justice has called on Israel to halt its Rafah offensive and reiterated its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas. The image shared by Aaron Paul ( Instagram ) The incident has further reinforced support for Palestians on social media with the All eyes on Rafah slogan being widely shared by celebrities such as Breaking Bad actor Aaron Paul and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan. The slogan is thought to have stemmed from a comment by Rick Peeperkorn, director of the World Health Organizations Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Prior to Israels ground invasion of Gaza in February, he said: All eyes are on Rafah. It is thought the artwork itself was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI). A displaced Palestinian man pushes children in a trolley as they make their way towards Gaza City after fleeing their home in northern Gaza ( Reuters ) Matt Navarra, a social media consultant and industry analyst told NBC: The trend of posting All Eyes on Rafah has been something that has been building for a little while. Weve seen quite a lot of influencers and celebrities and widely followed people on multiple platforms, not just Instagram, that are sharing the sentiment of this message or an almost identical version of it, which will amp up the reach and visibility across many platforms. Some activists have criticised the sharing of the image rather than pictures or videos of the scene, or more useful resources, such as fundraisers. Rafah was a major entry point for humanitarian relief before Israel stepped up its military offensive on the Gaza side of the border earlier this month and seized control of the crossing from the Palestinian side. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels offensive, Gazas health ministry says. Israel launched its air and ground war after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on 7 October, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. The International Criminal Court is currently seeking approval for an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, including leaders of the Hamas militant group, concerning alleged war crimes. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Life-saving donkeys forced to carry people, corpses and heavy building materials around Gaza are suffering widespread malnourishment, dehydration and excruciating wounds, according to a charity trying to care for them. Hundreds of the animals vital to support Palestinians fleeing Israeli bombardments have been killed, while those remaining are at risk of death and letting down the refugees who depend on them, its warned. With fuel scarce and many lorries and cars destroyed during the fighting raging since 7 October, donkeys and horses have become the only means of transport for many people. The mobile team at Safe Haven for Donkeys treat an animals wounds ( Safe Haven for Donkeys ) UK-based charity Safe Haven for Donkeys says the animals face horrific suffering while they are used for work such as taking survivors of the war and water and other supplies to packed refugee camps, as well as ferrying the dead and wounded to hospital. Chief executive Andy Foxcroft said: We are acutely aware of the human need but we cannot stand by as animals suffer, not least when they could be helping the wider community. The iconic image of a car with its engine removed being towed by an underweight donkey is now a reality. He told The Independent that horrific wounds from beatings were as common as injuries from harnesses, missiles and bombs. Palestinians flee Rafah in a donkey-drawn cart ( Reuters ) He said: Beating a donkey with a pipe or a broken fan belt just normal thing to do. Its quite common. Children are often responsible for the donkeys, and we see injuries caused by beating as much as by harnessing. If donkeys are scared, they tend to stop and stand still, which is often interpreted as feeling no pain. The charitys roadside clinics in Gaza treat up to 30 donkeys and horses a day. A first aid package of animal food and veterinary medication has just arrived, and fundraisers are organising a second, which could arrive in July although, with Israelcontrolling the Rafah crossing, all aid shipments are sporadic. Dr Saif treats a donkeys shrapnel wounds ( Safe Haven for Donkeys ) The charity wants to send more pain relief, bandages and antibiotics, as well as surgical instruments and food. Dr Saif Shehda, leader of the four-strong mobile team, said: Animals are used as a significant means of transport in saving peoples lives and transporting the dead. This is especially the case in the northern parts of Gaza and Khan Younis. They work under horrific conditions due to lack of food, fatigue and beating. Donkeys are used to carry people away from the fighting ( Reuters ) A considerable number of donkeys and horses suffer from serious injuries due to the explosion of missiles and bombs. Shrapnel has killed some and injured many. The charity, which cares for working and abandoned donkeys in the Palestinian territories, Israel and Egypt, says it is the only mobile vet clinic in Gaza. The first shipment got through only because the stars aligned the team had a contact in another aid organisation able to help. Mr Foxcroft added: Animals are way down the priority list, he said. But donkeys and horses will only be able to support their owners and the community if they are fed and cared for. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Israel has said it is now in effective control of Gaza's entire land border, having taken over key a buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. The Israeli military has also continued deadly raids on Rafah in southern Gaza despite an order from the UN's top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to end attacks on the city, where half of Gaza's 2.3 million people had previously taken refuge. In a televised briefing, chief military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Israeli forces had gained "operational" control over the "Philadelphi Corridor", using the Israeli military's code name for the 14 km-long (9 mile) corridor along the Gaza Strip's only border with Egypt. "The Philadelphi Corridor served as an oxygen line for Hamas, which it regularly used to smuggle weapons into the area of the Gaza Strip," Mr Hagari said. Hamas is the armed Palestinian group that governs the blockaded territory. Mr Hagari did not spell out what "operational" control referred to but an Israeli military official earlier said there were Israeli "boots on the ground" along parts of the corridor. The border with Egypt along the southern edge was the Gaza Strip's only land border that Israel had not controlled directly. Earlier on Wednesday, Israel sent tanks on raids into Rafah. They had moved into the heart of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday despite an order from the top United Nations court to immediately halt the assault on the city. The ICJ said Israel had not explained how it would keep evacuees from Rafah safe and provide food, water and medicine. Its ruling also called on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release hostages taken during the Hamas attack on 7 October. That attack, during which around 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage into Gaza, triggered an Israeli offensive that has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the Hamas-run strip. Rafah residents said Israeli tanks had pushed into Tel al-Sultan in the west and Yibna and near Shaboura in the centre before retreating towards a buffer zone on the border with Egypt, rather than staying put as they have in other offensives. "We received distress calls from residents in Tel Al-Sultan where drones targeted displaced citizens as they moved from areas where they were staying toward the safe areas," the deputy director of ambulance and emergency services in Rafah, Haitham al Hams, said. Palestinian health officials said 19 civilians had been killed in Israeli airstrikes and shelling across Gaza on Wednesday. Israel accuses Hamas militants of hiding among civilians, something Gaza's ruling Islamist group denies. Fighting in Gaza will continue throughout 2024 at least, Israel's National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said, signalling Israel was not ready to end the war as Hamas has demanded as part of a deal to exchange its hostages for Palestinian prisoners. "The fighting in Rafah is not a pointless war," Mr Hanegbi said, reiterating that Israel aimed to end Hamas rule in Gaza and stop it and its allies attacking Israel. Palestinians flee Rafah with their belongings during an Israeli assault on the south Gazan city ( AFP/Getty ) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israel needed to craft a post-war plan for Gaza or risk lawlessness, chaos and a Hamas comeback in the enclave. Washington, Israel's closest ally, reiterated its opposition to a major ground offensive in Rafah on Tuesday while saying it did not believe such an operation was under way. There was no word on Wednesday on developments in the ceasefire and hostage release talks. Hamas has said talks are pointless unless Israel ends its offensive on Rafah. The Israeli military said three Israeli soldiers were killed and three badly wounded. Public broadcaster Kan radio said an explosive device had been set off in a Rafah building. Palestinian health officials said several people were wounded by Israeli fire and stores of aid were set ablaze in eastern Rafah, where residents said Israeli bombardment had destroyed many homes in an area Israel has ordered evacuated. Around a million Palestinians who had taken shelter in Rafah at the southern end of the Gaza Strip have now fled after Israeli orders to evacuate, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, reported on Tuesday. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said it had evacuated its medical teams from its field hospital in the al-Mawasi area, a designated civilian evacuation zone, because of continued bombardments. PRCS said two of its staff were killed when an ambulance was struck while on a mission to rescue people in Rafah. In another Israeli air strike on a house in Gaza City, medics said five other Palestinians were killed. In the nearby city of Khan Younis, an Israeli air strike killed three people overnight, including Salama Baraka, a former senior Hamas police officer, medics and Hamas media said. Another killed four people, including two children, medics said. In northern Gaza, Israeli forces shelled Gaza City neighbourhoods and moved deeper into Jabalia, where residents said large residential districts were destroyed. Malnutrition has become widespread in Gaza as aid deliveries have slowed to a trickle. The U.N., which has warned of famine, said on Wednesday the amount of humanitarian aid entering the enclave has dropped by two-thirds since Israel began its assault on the Rafah region this month. Reuters For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} There has been intense shelling and gunfire in the Gaza border city of Rafah in the wake of Israel saying it is now in effective control of Gazas entire land border, having taken over key a buffer zone along the border with Egypt. Palestinian medics said that at least 12 Palestinians had been killed in a dawn airstrike on Rafah. Israels military said there had been clashes in southern, central and northern Gaza but did not immediately comment on the reported deaths in Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering. Communication services were also cut in the southern city on Thursday evening because of the ongoing aggression, Palestinian telecommunications company Jawa said in a statement. The Israeli military has continued its offensive on Rafah despite an order from the UNs top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to end attacks on the city, where half of Gazas 2.3 million people had previously taken refuge. In a televised briefing, chief military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Israeli forces had gained operational control over the Philadelphi Corridor, using the Israeli militarys codename for the 14 km (9 mile) corridor along the Gaza Strips only border with Egypt. The Philadelphi Corridor served as an oxygen line for Hamas, which it regularly used to smuggle weapons into the area of the Gaza Strip, Mr Hagari said. Israels war in Gaza was triggered by a Hamas attack inside Israel on 7 October, during which around 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were taken into Gaza as hostages. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the subsequent Israeli bombardment, according to health officials in the Hamas-run territory. Mr Hagari did not spell out what operational control referred to, but an Israeli military official earlier said there were Israeli boots on the ground along parts of the corridor. International pressure has been growing over the Rafah offensive, while Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has seen splits emerge in his war cabinet. The National Unity party, which is led by Benny Gantz a member of that cabinet proposed a bill on Thursday to dissolve parliament, showing the growing strain between factions within Mr Netanyahus government, even if the prime minister has enough MPs to keep him in office. Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz, whose party has proposed a bill to dissolve parliament ( AFP via Getty ) The move follows an ultimatum Mr Gantz issued in May, demanding that Mr Netanyahu agree to a day after plan for the Gaza war by 8 June. He threatened to quit the coalition if no such agreement was forthcoming, although the prime ministers Likud party and hard-right allies still have a majority of seats without Mr Gantz, who joined Mr Netanyahus government shortly after the October attack. The seventh of October was a disaster that requires us to go back and get the peoples trust, establish a broad and stable unity government to lead us safely through the tremendous challenges in security, in the economy and, most importantly, in the Israeli society, Pnina Tameno, a legislator from the National Unity party, said in a statement. Proposing the bill now will allow us to raise it in the current session, she added. Mr Netanyahus Likud party responded by saying that disbanding the government would hurt the war effort and deal a fatal blow to efforts to free around 120 hostages who are still being held in Gaza. National Unity then issued a second statement, which blamed Mr Netanyahu for dismantling the government but said there was still time to find some middle ground. Netanyahu, its not too late to come to your senses either together we are victorious or you continue alone with the method of divide and rule, it read. Mr Gantz has emerged as Mr Netanyahus main political rival since the Hamas attack, with recent opinion polls showing he would receive the most votes should a snap election be held. His party, however, has just eight seats in parliament out of 120, and Mr Netanyahus original right-wing coalition controls a comfortable majority, with 64 seats. Internationally, Slovenias government has endorsed a motion to recognise a Palestinian state and has asked the countrys parliament to do the same. Prime minister Robert Golob said his government had sent the recognition proposal to parliament, which could convene as early as next week. All the world should act in the direction of peace, Mr Golob said after the government session. The way to achieve peace is a two-state solution ... The decision is not directed against anyone, not even Israel, but that it is a message of peace, he added, as the Palestinian flag was displayed on the government headquarters in Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital. Parliamentary approval is necessary for the motion to take effect, but Mr Golobs ruling liberal coalition has a comfortable majority in the 90-member assembly, and the vote should be a formality. The decision by Slovenias government comes just two days after Spain, Norway and Ireland recognised a Palestinian state, in a move that was condemned by Israel. With its motion, Slovenia is set to become the 10th member of the 27-nation European Union to officially recognise a Palestinian state. Norway is not an EU member, but its foreign policy is usually aligned with that of the bloc. Israels foreign minister denounced the Slovenian governments decision. Israel Katz said the decision rewarded Hamas for murder, and that it also strengthened Israels arch-enemy Iran while damaging the close friendship between the Slovenian and Israeli people. He added: I hope the Slovenian parliament rejects this recommendation. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy One of the worlds biggest botnet networks, responsible for stealing close to $6 billion (4.7bn), has been shut down following an international effort from law enforcement agencies. The US Justice Department, which led the operation, said the 911 S5 botnet comprised more than 19 million hijacked devices, which were being used to facilitate cyber attacks, large-scale fraud, bomb threats and even child exploitation. Chinese national YunHe Wang, 35, was arrested on 24 May on suspicion of creating and operating the 911 S5 botnet from his home in St. Kitts and Nevis. This Justice Department-led operation brought together law enforcement partners from around the globe to disrupt 911 S5, said US Attorney General Merrick Garland. This case makes clear that the long arm of the law stretches across borders and into the deepest shadows of the dark web, and the Justice Department will never stop fighting to hold cyber criminals to account. The FBI said the 911 S5 botnet infected computers in nearly 200 countries around the world, which were then controlled through 150 dedicated servers allegedly set up by Mr Wang. An indictment unsealed on 24 May claimed that malware was used to infect and compromise millions of residential computers between 2014 and 2022, forming the botnet that was then able to carry out the cyber crimes. Mr Wang allegedly sold access to the botnet to criminals, who then used it to bypass fraud detection systems in order to steal billions of dollars from financial institutions. One target was reportedly a pandemic relief program in the US, which saw the botnet used to fraudulently make insurance claims from the hijacked IP addresses. More than half a million false claims resulted in losses of $5.9 billion for the programs, according to the FBI. Working with our international partners, the FBI conducted a joint, sequenced cyber operation to dismantle the 911 S5 Botnet likely the worlds largest botnet ever, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. We arrested its administrator, Yunhe Wang, seized infrastructure and assets, and levied sanctions against Wang and his co-conspirators... We will work tirelessly to unmask and arrest the cybercriminals who profit from this illegal activity. Mr Wang made around $99 million by selling access to the botnet, according to the indictment, which he used to purchase real estate in the US, St. Kitts and Nevis, China, Singapore, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Other assets subject to forfeiture are two BMWs, a Ferrari, a Rolls Royce and several luxury wristwatches. The conduct alleged here reads like its ripped from a screenplay: A scheme to sell access to millions of malware-infected computers worldwide, enabling criminals over the world to steal billions of dollars, transmit bomb threats, and exchange child exploitation materials then using the schemes nearly $100 million in profits to buy luxury cars, watches, and real estate, said Matthew Axelrod of the US Department of Commerces Bureau of Industry and Security. What they dont show in the movies though is the painstaking work it takes by domestic and international law enforcement, working closely with industry partners, to take down such a brazen scheme and make an arrest like this happen. Mr Wang faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison if convicted. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Every six seconds, in a factory on the northern fringes of Stockholm, a top secret printer is spewing out sheets worth thousands of euros apiece. Each one contains 108 miniature solar cells that will soon find their way into everyday gadgets from keyboards to headphones that will fundamentally change how we interact with technology. According to their creator, they will even force us to rethink our relationship with light. Sweden may seem an unlikely location for a solar revolution, but the lack of light during the winter months was one of the reasons for Exeger co-founder Giovanni Fili to look beyond the Sun as the sole source of power for a photovoltaic cell. His companys breakthrough tech can harvest electricity from virtually any light source, from direct sunlight to candlelight. It can even generate a charge from moonlight, though it would take a while for it to be of much use. Like the algae on the bottom of the ocean where its almost pitch black, we can make efficient use of very few photons, Fili tells The Independent. The t-shirt he wears describes his companys technology as world-changing, capable of simultaneously addressing the global need for energy and some of our planets greatest environmental challenges. The Powerfoyle solar cell is durable enough to be embedded in bike helmets, while also versatile enough to imitate leather and brushed steel to fit in bags and speakers ( The Independent ) Indoor solar panels have been around for decades. Solar-powered calculators were first introduced in the 1970s, but the limitations of the amorphous silicon cells they rely upon mean they are too low power, too fragile and too rigid to be integrated into other products. The latest innovation stems from a discovery made in 1988 relating to dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC). A pair of scientists from UC Berkeley in California invented a low-cost, high-efficiency cell that was both semi-flexible and semi-transparent, which offered a pathway for commercial development of the technology. Just over 20 years later, Fili and fellow Exeger co-founder Henrik Lindstrom came up with a new electrode material that offered 1,000 times better conductivity. The breakthrough formed the basis of their Powerfoyle cells that are now being produced at a commercial scale. Exegers Powerfoyle solar cells offer a radical departure from the traditional glass-covered panels, eliminating the need for the silver lines you see on them that serve as conductors. They are also not sensitive to partial shading, which drastically reduces the efficiency of photovoltaic panels. The patented skin-like material can even morph into almost any material to allow for seamless integration into a huge range of products, while remaining waterproof, dustproof and shockproof. It works in any light condition, its more durable than any other solar cell in the world, its easy to manufacture, and it can imitate any surface leather, carbon fibre, wood, brushed steel. Its also beautiful, Fili says. So we can integrate into products that are already selling in the billions of units per year. Exegers Stockholm facility has the capacity to produce 2.5 million square metres of solar cells each year, making it the largest factory of its kind in Europe. Speaking at the factorys opening in 2021, Fili predicted that Exegers technology will touch the lives of a billion people by 2030 Exeger says its Powerfoyle solar cell is the most durable in the world ( Exeger ) The Powerfoyle solar cells have already found their way into seven on-the-shelf products including headphones, wireless speakers and a bike helmet while a further six have been announced. Customers include Adidas, Phillips and 3M, while they are also rumoured to be in talks with LogiTech and Apple. A battery-free future Exeger is one of several startups pioneering the commercialisation of indoor solar panels, with the promise of clean, endless power attracting both researchers and entrepreneurs. US-based Ambient Photonics was drawn into the space by the magic potential of the smart home, as well as the hope that it would be possible to eliminate the need for disposable batteries. The scale at which smart electronics are able to be deployed has been limited by battery life and the use of traditional batteries, which require continuous charging, stagnate product design, and have negative environmental consequences, Bates Marshall, co-founder and CEO of Ambient Photonics, told The Independent. Billions of disposable batteries are thrown away every year ( Getty Images ) TV remotes alone are responsible for 3.1 billion disposable batteries being thrown away each year, according to estimates from Samsung . The Korean electronics giant has made switching from alkaline batteries to photovoltaic energy a priority in order to reach sustainability targets, claiming it could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by around 6,000 tons per year. Every advancement in the power density of our product brings us closer to a future where the need for disposable batteries is significantly reduced, if not entirely overcome, Marshall says. Ambient Photonics DSSCs have so far been integrated into remote controls, though limitations with the amount of heat and light they can be exposed to mean the technology is currently limited to indoor applications. The versatility and durability of Exergers Powerfoyle means the only limitations are energy-intensive devices like laptops and smartphones although they could provide a significant boost to their battery life of 50-100 per cent. Exeger is also exploring a solar-powered tablet cover that could provide enough power for infrequent users to never need to charge. Our grandchildren will laugh that we had cables, Fili says. Prototypes of products embedded with Exeger's Powerfoyle solar cells include tablets, bags and even curtains ( Exeger ) One trend Fili has noted is that users of Powerfoyle products have become much more aware of their surroundings and the presence of light in their lives. We are making people light conscious, he says, because light is power. Fili is driven by the belief that the Powerfoyle is an era-defining technology. Exeger is the first to commercialise the technology at this scale, though it remains relatively nascent given that Fili views everyone on the planet as a potential user. Others appear confident in his claims, with Forbes likening him to figures like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Elon Musk. The tech behind Exegers solar cells, like the printers that produce them, is a closely guarded secret. Even the purpose of the thousands of Powerfoyles currently being printed each minute at the Stockholm factory is not yet public knowledge. (The elongated shape of them strongly hints that they will be used in a product most of us use every day one that this article is being typed on.) This is really, really huge, Fili says. We have just secured a contract with one of the worlds largest suppliers of keyboards and mice, and have already partnered with some of the biggest companies and brands on the planet. This technology is going to take over the world. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The 25-year-old designer behind the double-decker plane seat which sparked widespread criticism has debuted a first-class model at an aviation show in Germany. Alejandro Nunez Vicente, the founder of Chaise Lounge, built the latest invention with his girlfriend and business partner, Clara Service Soto. It differs from the economy class concept by having one seat on the bottom, and two on top. The economy class model has three seats on the top and bottom rows. Mr Nunez Vicente calls the new design elevated class. The more expensive option is secluded, has a lie-flat bed and lots of legroom. He showcased the new design at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg this month. Its the same place where he announced the economy version of the seats last open image in gallery Alejandro Nunez Vicente presents the economy version of his double-decker airplane seat design ( Alejandro Nunez Vicente/Instagram ) Mr Nunez Vicentes company started as a college project after too many uncomfortable flights, he explained. The founder is 6ft 2in and has struggled to sleep on cramped airplanes. Speaking to CNN, the innovator said that a handful of big companies are interested in implementing the technology but declined to name them. Any further development of the project will happen behind closed doors, he told the outlet. Now that we know economy works, and now thats moving forward, we thought, Why not go to the other end of the cabin and do a business-class/first-class hybrid? he said. open image in gallery The new Chaise Lounge double-decker first-class seat was shown at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg this month ( CNN ) Mr Nunez Vicente said that his goal with the company is to make flying better for the general public. To make more space for more seats in the airplane, he said. But also give the passengers an even better experience than they get today in business or first class. The economy versions of the seats went viral in 2022 and were widely ridiculed. One social media user commented: As if being on a plane isnt miserable enough already with another noting: fresh hell just dropped. But the designer has taken the criticism on the chin. To be honest, theres no such thing as bad publicity, he said at the time. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Anti-tourism protests on the Balearic Islands will move from the streets to the shoreline this weekend in a bid to recover Mallorcan beaches from overcrowding. This Saturday 1 June, residents are being called to protest by setting up on the Spanish islands beaches by the social media group Mallorca Platja Tour. The anti-tourism movement says plans for a larger demonstration on Sunday 16 June will be made from 10am on Sa Rapita Beach at this weeks protest. In posts to Twitter/X, the group said: This Saturday, the first of June, we will swim at Platja de Sa Rapita (in front of the CN) at 10:00 a.m. Beaches belong to everyone. Using the hashtag #OcupemLesNostresPlatges, or lets occupy our beaches, Mallorca Platja Tour invite all the residents near the beaches to go for a swim, recover our beaches and enjoy them as before. The movement started in response to statements from Manuela Canadas, a spokesperson for right-wing party Vox, who said that Mallorcans cannot expect to go to the beach in July and August like years ago. Mallorca Platja Tour estimates at least 500 people will fill the beaches on Saturday with laughter and watermelon. In Palma, protesters against overtourism have now proposed taxes for cruise ship passengers, fewer rental cars and revised rubbish charges for holidaymakers. Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martinez, told a Sustainability Committee: We also propose limiting the number of cruise ships or allowing only those that have Palma as their home port. Last Saturday, thousands of locals made their way through the islands capital, warning tourists to go home with banners that read Mallorca is not for sale. The estimated 10,000 protesters headed for Weyler Square, where holidaymakers were out for dinner and drinks. Banc del Temps spokesperson Javier Barbero, one organiser of the large demonstration in Palma, said: If measures arent taken we will continue taking to the streets until we see action. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A passenger has died after jumping overboard from the worlds largest cruise ship after it set sail from Florida. The male passenger, who has not been identified, reportedly jumped, according to the New York Post, from the 20-deck high Icon of the Seas after it left a Florida port on Sunday to embark on a seven-day cruise around the Caribbean, first stopping in Honduras. The Coast Guard, which said it did not have much involvement in the incident beyond assisting in the search for the man, told the New York Post that the cruise ship deployed one of their rescue boats, located the man, and brought him back aboard. The man has since been pronounced deceased, the Coast Guard added. The worlds largest cruise experience was approximately 300 miles away from PortMiami, and around 30 to 40 miles north of Santa Lucia, Cuba, at the time of the incident, which occurred in the morning, according to Cruise Hive. The Royal Caribbean, which operates the Icon of the Seas along with other groundbreakingly large cruise ships, told the outlet in a statement that their ships crew immediately notified the Coast Guard in the US and launched a search and rescue operation. The incident occurred on the Icon of the Seas, a 1,196ft-long and 20-deck high cruise ship ( AFP via Getty ) Our care team is actively providing support and assistance to the guests loved ones during this difficult time, the cruise company added. For the privacy of the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share. The ship, which holds way over 5,000 guests and only made its maiden voyage in January of this year, had embarked on the cruise on Saturday, but after the incident on Sunday, the cruise halted and stayed put for around two hours while the search continued, the outlet said. The ship cost approximately $2bn to build ( AFP via Getty ) According to CruiseMapper tracking data, the Icon of the Seas is continuing with the cruise, with its next stop in Coco Cay in the Bahamas on Friday. Zachary Normandian, 31, told The New York Post that the atmosphere on board the ship has been dystopian after people have been carrying on with their holiday aboard the ship after the tragedy. It just seemed like more people would have been like Oh my gosh, whats going on, but no, people were just going about their day, he said. The passenger recalled the moment that the man who went overboard was brought back to the ship, after he claimed that the captain informed the ship that the missing person had been found. Everyone in the dining room clapped, Mr Normandian told the outlet. We assumed that the guy was fine. At that point, however, they did not know that he had passed away. The incident comes over a month after a similar tragedy on another Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the Liberty of the Seas when a 20-year-old man identified as Levion Parker is thought to have gone overboard during a trip around the Bahamas. The cruise line immediately launched a search and rescue mission along with the US Coast Guard, but it was suspended after five days due to not being able to find him. However, the cruise company has also witnessed some successful rescues in recent months, such as being able to recover a passenger who fell overboard from the Symphony of the Seas back in October. The cruise, which had just left Barcelona at the time, said the guest was successfully brought back on board after falling shortly after it left the port. The Independent has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A person has been killed after falling into the engine of a KLM aircraft that was about to take off from Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. Passengers and crew on board reportedly saw the tragedy happen and are being offered counselling. The plane, which was bound for Billund in Denmark, had been reversing at the time, according to local media. It was not immediately clear how the person came to fall or whether they jumped, and whether they were a passenger or an employee. But police and safety authorities have launched a major investigation. A statement by the airport in Amsterdam read: Today there was a horrible incident where a person ended up in an airplane engine. Our thoughts go out to the relatives and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this. The royal military police [the Marechaussee] are currently conducting an investigation. Emergency services rushed to the airport just before 3pm, when the alarm was raised. A police spokesperson said: An incident occurred this afternoon on the Schiphol platform where a person fell into a running aircraft engine and died. The Marechaussee starts an investigation. It added that all passengers and employees of the flight in question, KL1341, had disembarked and were being taken care of. The Dutch Safety Board said it was sending three investigators to the airport. The fact that the engine was running suggested the plane, a Cityhopper, was preparing to take off, according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. An employee from the aircraft in question reported that someone had jumped into the engine while the crew had just completed the safety instructions, its website reported. There was a hellish noise after which smoke could be seen for a moment. Passengers and employees saw the incident happen before their eyes. An airport employee told the website that the aircraft had been reversing before taking off. KLM said: A fatal incident took place at Schiphol today during which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine. Sadly, this person has died. The flight concerned was KL1341 bound for Billund. We are currently taking care of the passengers and employees who witnessed the incident at Schiphol. The circumstances are currently under investigation. For further information once available we refer you to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee [Royal Military Police]. Police said victim assistance was available for passengers, airport employees and emergency services workers. Passengers may also be important witnesses, the spokesperson added. They may be able to help us in the investigation. Its understood the persons remains were found in the aircraft engine. Mark Harbers, the infrastructure minister, wrote on social media: Terrible news. My condolences go out to the relatives of the victim and the people who witnessed the accident. Marjan Rintel, chief executive of KLM, wrote: This afternoon a terrible incident took place at Schiphol in which one person died. Our thoughts go out to the loved ones of the deceased and all people who witnessed the accident. An investigation into the circumstances is currently under way. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Spirit Airlines flight from Jamaica to Florida saw chaotic scenes as its pilot told frightened passengers to prepare for an emergency water landing. Flight NK270 was forced to return to the Caribbean Islands Montego Bay shortly after takeoff on Sunday following a suspected mechanical issue. Before the Airbus plane returned to the airport, passengers said they were told by the pilot to prepare for emergency water landing which saw some onboard freaking out and panicking. Passenger Bettina Rogers captured video of the planes takeoff in which a chiming signal can be heard twice in the cabin, though the meaning of the signal is unclear. Shortly after the signal, the pilot told passengers there was nothing to be alarmed about, according to CNN. open image in gallery A Spirit Airlines flight from Jamaica to Florida became a site of chaos on Sunday ( AP ) About five minutes later, the pilot informed passengers the plane needed to return to the Montego Bay airport, Rogers said. But as the plane turned back, she said, the pilot announced, Prepare for emergency water landing. It was scary, and people were freaking out and panicking, Rogers said. Meanwhile, passenger Andrene Gordon described the ordeal as a near-death experience. The pilot said there was a slight issue, nothing major, so we are just gonna turn back and go to the airport, she told Jamaican outlet The Gleaner. We never knew we would actually make it to the ground because all we were seeing was literal water it was total chaos, Ms Gordon added. Despite the chaos, the plane landed safely back in Jamaicas Sangster International Airport and guests were able to deplane normally, according to CBS News. Spirit said the mechanical issue did not affect flight safety and the emergency landing instructions were given out of an abundance of caution. Passengers were given a $50 credit and out on a new flight to Fort Lauderdale, where they arrived just 45 minutes behind schedule. But passengers have said the $50 credit was not enough following the incident, with Gordon saying it felt like a slap on the face. After that near-death experience and emotional distress, Spirit wants to offer US$50 credit to use by August of this year, she told The Gleaner. I feel like that is a slap in the face because they put us through such a traumatic experience with an incompetent crew. That is just so unacceptable. Spirit has apologized to guests for any inconvenience. Safety is our top priority, and the aircraft will be thoroughly evaluated by our maintenance team, the airline added. Just a day after the Spirit scare, a United Airlines flight aborted takeoff after the plane engine caught fire while on the taxiway at Chicagos OHare airport. Also on Monday, a Southwest Airlines flight from Denver to Tampa, Florida, was diverted to Colorado Springs after the flight attendants reported a possible smell of smoke in the cabin, according to a Southwest statement. Meanwhile, last week, a 73-year-old British man died from a suspected heart attack after the Singapore Airlines flight he was travelling on was hit by turbulence, forcing it to divert to Bangkok. Seven other people were left in critical condition following the violent turbulence. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The latest IT failure involving UK border force has caused total chaos for passengers trying to travel between Paris and London. Eurostar says: A technical problem is affecting the UK Border Forces e-gates at Gare du Nord, causing major delays and impacting all traffic on the London-Paris route in both directions. On one of the busiest days of the week, many trains have been delayed by 90 minutes or more as passengers struggle to get through passport control in the French capital. Border formalities on Eurostar trains are juxtaposed with UK Border Force checking all passports in Paris before passengers can board trains. One passenger, Karen Fletcher, told The Independent: Total chaos at Gare du Nord. Been here three hours so far. Still in huge queue to get anywhere near check in. Advise anyone who doesnt need to travel back tonight to leave it. Barely any staff anywhere but those who are here are excellent in very trying circumstances. Ms Fletcher finally boarded the 4.12pm train from Paris to London St Pancras International two-and-a-half hours after it was due to leave. It is currently running three hours behind schedule, The cross-Channel rail firm has cancelled the last two trains of the day and is urging passengers who do not need to travel on Thursday to postpone their journeys. Eurostar says: We are awaiting the intervention of a technician to resolve this problem as quickly as possible and reduce the impact on our passengers but unfortunately, we had to cancel the two last trains of the day. For those who need it, we provide hotel accommodation or taxis at our own charge. The persons concerned are individually looked after directly by our train managers and staff at the station Eurostar teams are taking all measures to make sure that those who need to travel will be able to arrive in London. We are sincerely sorry for the inconvenience caused. Shortly after 7pm the Home Office said the issue was fixed. Earlier this month huge queues built up at major UK airports when e-gates failed nationwide. A spokesperson for the Home Office, which is responsible for UK Border Force, said: This issue has now been resolved and we are working with European ports and carriers to fully restore services. We apologise to all passengers for the inconvenience caused. A plane was metres away from the end of a runway as it took off at Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport in Brazil, this viral footage shows. This clip shows the Embraer E195 aircraft using a significant length of the tarmac before eventually lifting into the air against the backdrop of the city as it made its way to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont airport. Azul Airlines says it has begun an internal investigation into the incident to determine what happened. An Israeli airstrike on Rafah which killed at least 45 civilians has sparked a new viral social media trend. The AI-generated image with the text All eyes on Rafah has been re-shared more than 46 million times amid Israels attacks on Gaza. The slogan stemmed from Rick Peeperkorn, director of the World Health Organizations Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Celebrities including Bella Hadid, Kehlani, Susan Sarandon, John Legend, Jenna Ortega, and others have publicly criticized the strikes. Others, like Katy Perry, have echoed humanitarian bodies like UNICEF, calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid for Gaza. The incident has intensified global condemnation and calls for an immediate halt to Israels offensive. Nobody knew Gandhi before Richard Attenboroughs 1982 film- documentary, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has claimed. In an interview with local media on Wednesday (29 May), Modi blamed the Congress-led governments of the 20th century for failing to promote the national hero. Nobody knew [about Gandhi], he said. The first time when the Gandhi film was made [1982], the world got curious about who he might be. If the world knew Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi was no less than them. A crowd gathered outside a restaurant in Dalston after a shooting on Wednesday evening (29 May). The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to reports of a shooting near a restaurant in Kingsland High Street. A nine-year-old girl was left fighting for her life after she was shot in while eating with her family at a restaurant, authorities said. Three men aged 36, 27 and 42 were also rushed to hospital and treated for gunshot wounds. All of the men are in a stable condition but one of them faces potentially life-changing injuries. Nigel Farage defended his comments claiming young Muslims do not subscribe to British values in a heated clash during a live interview with Robert Peston. The former Ukip leader, who claimed there are British Muslims who loathe much of what the country stands for, was accused of alienating them by the ITV political journalist on Wednesday (29 May). Mr Peston suggested during the clash: What we should be doing is building bridges between communities, not alienating them. So ignoring it - brush it under the carpet, Mr Farage replied. Nikki Haley has signed artillery shells used by the Israeli military with the words finish them on a tour of the countrys northern border with Lebanon. The former contender for the Republican presidential nomination is in the region on a tour that on Wednesday (29 May) included a meeting with the families of Israelis taken hostage into Gaza. On Tuesday, the former UN ambassador visited an Israeli military post with Israels former ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, who shared the photos of the signed shells. Sir Keir Starmer has denied Labour is blocking left-wing candidates from standing in the general election. It came after Faiza Shaheen spoken out following the party's decision not to endorse her for the Chingford and Woodford Green seat in London. According to reports, she was suspended by the party after allegedly liking a series of posts on X that downplayed antisemitism accusations. Meanwhile, Diane Abbotts future remains uncertain after she said she wants to fight to retain her seat as long as it is possible after the party whip was restored following an investigation into her comments about racism. Telegram, the messaging platform being harnessed by peddlers of Russian disinformation, risks being hit by the EUs crackdown on online platforms being used to funnel illegal and harmful content. Regulators are examining whether the service should qualify as a major online platform under the blocs new content moderation law, according to people familiar with the matter. The EU is in talks with Telegram over the number of users in the bloc and how to define the platform, which includes channels that can be followed in addition to messaging functions. Some officials in the EU question Telegrams claim that it only has 41 million regular users in the bloc. The EUs Digital Services Act (DSA) has stricter compliance rules to prevent the spread of misinformation for so-called very large online platforms, which it defines as having more than 45 million active users. Read more KBC appoints liquidator to wind up its former Irish bank A spokesperson for the European Commission said it is examining Telegrams methodology for counting users, and continues to monitor market developments. A spokesperson for Telegram said it has fewer than the 45 million active users required to meet qualification as a very large online platform under the DSA. The DSA took full effect earlier this year and allows the EU to fine major platforms of as much as 6pc of global annual sales if it finds violations or ban repeat offenders from the EU. Telegram is often used by pro-Kremlin accounts to spread disinformation regarding issues ranging from the war in Ukraine to immigration and climate change. More recently, Russian intelligence officers have used it to recruit petty criminals to carry out acts of sabotage across European capitals. We find that Telegram is a big enough platform that similar obligations should apply to it as to Facebook, X and YouTube, Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas said earlier this month. It should qualify as a very large online platform. Ms Kallas has called on the EUs executive arm to carry out an independent assessment of the platforms size. A Telegram spokesperson said its platform isnt effective for spreading disinformation because it doesnt rely on algorithms and the company is working on a tool to allow national fact-checking agencies to add verified information to relevant posts. Fares to and from Dublin Airport could soar in the coming months as a result of the passenger cap, Ryanair has claimed. Chief executive Eddie Wilson said one-way flights on the London - Dublin route could rise to as much as 500 around the peak Christmas travel period as a result of the newly introduced limit on winter traffic at the airport. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) announced earlier this month that it is imposing a cap of 14.4 million seats at Dublin Airport for the winter season, which runs from October to March. This is the first time such a cap has been imposed by the IAA. We put in approximately 300,000 extra seats on the London-Dublin route [last winter] over and above what we already have there, Mr Wilson said. We cant put in any of those year. If those 300,000 seats are not on sale, prices on the Dublin-London route are going to go through the roof at Christmas. Families or people at the last minute will be paying up to 500, we estimate, he added. Ryanair's cheapest fares - try the 'fare finder' hiding in plain sight The airline reported that it would not be able to add extra seats for times of peak demand, including mid-term breaks, St Patricks Day, Cheltenham and other sporting events, such as Champions League matches. What normally happens in the winter is that youve extra aircraft that you cant fly for the whole season so what you try to do is put in some of spare aircraft for peak periods, Mr Wilson said. This will no longer be possible to do as a result of the passenger cap, he reported. Ryanair said it was allocated one million fewer seats this winter than it requires to meet demand from passengers. The carrier had planned to add 15 new routes over the period, it said today. The summer grew this year and that feeds into the overall cap, Mr Wilson pointed out. There is a currently a 32 million passenger cap at Dublin Airport each year which is imposed by conditions attached to the planning permission granted for Terminal 2 almost 20 years ago. Last year, more than 31.9 million passengers passed through the two terminals of the airport. Dublin Airport Authority reported yesterday that it was considering looking for short-term permission for Dublin Airport to handle 36 million passengers a year as an interim measure. The DAA is seeking to raise the cap to 40 million per year as part of a capital investment programme but a decision on that process isnt expected for a number of years. Ryanair has called on the Government to make changes to the passenger cap on a number of occasions, stating it will lead to irreparable damage to Irelands tourism, jobs and economy. This is what Governments are there to do, solve problems for their citizens, Mr Wilson said. Aer Lingus also reported earlier this month that seasonal flights, such as Lapland and ski trips could be impacted this winter as a result of the passenger cap. US actor Jeremy Renner is the latest star to join the cast of Rian Johnsons whodunit Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The Avengers star is continuing his comeback after a serious snowploughing accident last year which left him with more than 30 broken bones. The 53-year-old was injured while trying to help his nephew on January 1 2023, who was trying to free his car from the snow when the plough began to roll down the hill, according to a police report. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Renner will join Daniel Craig as returning detective Benoit Blanc in the new murder mystery, set for release in 2025. Previously announced cast members include British actor Josh OConnor, who starred in Challengers and The Crown, Irish star Andrew Scott from Ripley and Fleabag, Scandals Kerry Washington, Fatal Attraction star Glenn Close and Cailee Spaeny of Priscilla. Last week, filmmaker Johnson announced on X that the film is about to go into production while plot details are yet to be revealed. After his accident, Renner was airlifted to hospital in Reno, Nevada, and spent some time in an intensive care unit (ICU). Known for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor was seen in drama series Mayor Of Kingstown after he recovered from his injuries, while Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is reportedly his first film since the incident. RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland presenter Rachael English has been announced as the new presenter of the News at One, following the retirement of Bryan Dobson. After 14 years as a Morning Ireland presenter, Rachael English will become a permanent presenter on the lunchtime news offering. Revealing her new move at the end of this mornings Morning Ireland, Ms English said: Im delighted to have the opportunity on the News At One. Im not going far but I wont miss the 4am alarm clock. Ms English described the last 14 years as having one of the best jobs in radio. She added: Come middle of July, you can come join me on the News At One. Co-presenting this morning, Cian McCormack paid tribute to his colleague. "Rachel, youve always been a pleasure to work with, the past 14 years. We will really miss you here. "All your insights into politics, everything youve done from Drivetime to the election specials, it was always just class, as theyd say in Tipperary. "I watch you the way you listen to people, you get the best out of people, you mix light and shade well. "Theres a lot for a guys like me to learn. He added: "News At Ones gain is our loss. Ms English joined RTE in 1991 as a 2fm newsreader and later worked as a reporter for Morning Ireland, the News at One, Today with Pat Kenny and RTE Television News. Her first full-time presenting job was on Five Seven Live on RTE Radio 1. She presented The Late Debate and Saturday View before joining Morning Ireland in 2010. Since 2002, she has been a presenter on RTE Radio 1s General Election results programmes. She has also presented coverage of local, European and presidential election counts and has anchored election coverage from Belfast, London and Washington. As a reporter and presenter, she has worked on a wide range of national and international stories from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement to the Olympics Games to the 9/11 attacks. In 2022, Ms English was inducted into the IMRO Awards Radio Hall of Fame. The native of Shannon in Co Clare is also the author of seven novels, most recently the top-ten bestseller, Whatever Happened to Birdy Troy?. A communications graduate of Dublin City University, she began her career in local radio at Clare FM in Ennis. One man was arrested over a seizure of suspected cocaine Armed gardai carried out massive raids across five counties on Thursday seizing a large number of cars, cash and valuables. A total of 27 vehicles and over 200,000 in cash was seized during the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) searches on May 30. A quantity of suspected cocaine was also seized. One person was arrested in connection with this seizure and they are currently being detained at a Limerick city garda station. A search operation by CAB was conducted in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Dublin and Mayo, as part of the ongoing CAB investigation into targets linked to a Munster-based organised crime group. During the raids, exactly 218,000 in cash was seized in addition to the 27 vehicles, six Rolex watches, five jet-skis, two rigid inflatable boats and Louis Vuitton bags. Vehicles seized in CAB raids This group is involved in laundering the proceeds of organised criminality through the second hand motor trade, real estate purchases, property developments and the purchase of high value goods, according to gardai. CAB officers were assisted by gardai from the Limerick Divisional Detective Unit and Drug Unit and supported by the Emergency Response Unit, the Regional Armed Response Unit, the Dublin Metropolitan Region East District Detective Unit, Clare gardai, the Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit and the Customs Dog Unit. The operation involved 150 personnel conducting searches at twenty locations across the country. Electronic devices and assorted documentation including financial documents were also seized. Gardai stated the operation was a significant developments in CAB's ongoing proceeds of crime investigation. Eamon Ryan has pledged legislation to allow for random searches for munitions on civil aircraft. However, a group of senators has said the Transport Minister already has such powers but refuses to use them against US military aircraft which have been transiting through Shannon Airport for decades. There have been claims of major intelligence agencies using apparent civil aircraft for their own purposes. Many left-wing TDs have claimed that US military aircraft at Shannon may be carrying munitions - but are not searched. The Government grants permissions to land in Ireland where it is self-certified that military aircraft are not carrying weapons other than the side-arms of those who may be on board, and which do not leave the aircraft during refuelling stops. Mr Ryan stressed that "no airport in Ireland, or Irish sovereign airspace, has been used to transport weapons directly to Israel". He said that he would work with the Department of Foreign Affairs and other departments over the next six months to agree the new legislative approach. The carriage of munitions of war is prohibited on any civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory unless an exemption is granted. This does not allow for random checks and changes to primary legislation are needed to make this happen. It is believed in political circles that the civil aircraft random searches provision will send a signal. It will also bolster the Green Party against a perceived Foreign Affairs weakness just before the local and European elections next week. A Private Members Bill in the Seanad, sponsored by the President's daughter, Senator Alice Mary Higgins, proposes to restrict the transit and export of weapons of war from and through the State to the State of Israel. The Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024 will also provide for inspections of aircraft seeking to transit weapons through the State. Minister Ryan said that the issue was complex, particularly with regard to its compatibility with the Convention on International Civil Aviation also known as Chicago Convention, which has been signed by Ireland. I want to see random checks on civil aircraft and I will sit down with my officials and with legal experts over the coming months to make sure that new legislation is developed that is watertight, is workable, and is compliant with international aviation law, Mr Ryan said. No airport in Ireland, or Irish sovereign airspace, is currently being used to transport weapons directly to Israel, despite claims otherwise. "This week the Government historically recognised the State of Palestine. We have been one of the most vocal countries in Europe against the Israeli violence in Gaza. We clearly stand up for the right of nations to exist peacefully. But the strength of our position internationally is that we follow international rules and laws. For foreign military aircraft, the State requires diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Permission to land is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation. Senator Alice-Mary Higgins said, however: It is completely disingenuous for the Minister to suggest that he is trying to find a way to conduct checks when he already has the power to order inspections on flights that may contain munitions of war, weapons or dangerous goods. "The Minister can and must immediately use the powers he already has to order inspections and stop granting exemptions to any flights which may directly or indirectly be transferring military materials to Israel." Senator Frances Black asked: How can the government justify granting exemptions to aircraft from countries like Germany and the United States who are giving Israel the weapons and bombs it is using to murder Palestinians? This needs to stop now." Meanwhile, Taoiseach Simon Harris on Wednesday spoke with hardline Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. President Erdogan warmly welcomed Irelands recognition of the State of Palestine and said it would strengthen efforts to secure a two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East. The two men discussed the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and agreed the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages and unhindered access for aid. The Taoiseach also spoke about using every lever possible at EU level to bring an end to the conflict and suffering, officials said. Sinn Fein leader insists her party is Euro-critical rather than Eurosceptic Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said EU member states are better placed than Brussels to make decisions affecting their countries. At the launch of her European election campaign, Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein was a Euro-critical political party rather than a Eurosceptic party. She said Euroscepticism was a very British phenomenon and this was why she preferred the terms Euro-critical. Our position is we are Europeans. This is an ancient European nation. We need to work together on big issues, she said. But we don't just sleep walk along the road without thinking out if this a good move for Europe and most particularly for Ireland. So where things are in the interests of Ireland of course we're going to support them but where things will restrict or intrude inappropriately, unhelpfully or negatively on Irish life and Irish citizens, we're going to challenge them and we're going to face them down. She described new EU fiscal rules requiring states to provide five-year spending plans as being like a straitjacket on countries. People who live here, people elected to government here are best place to make those spending decisions, so that's our concern in the round, she said. She said Sinn Fein wanted an EU based on a partnership of equals that focused on issues that matter to ordinary people such as workers rights, economic justice, social progress, climate action and the ending of wars and poverty. She also said she believed the next General Election would be in autumn because as she did not see the Government staggering to the finish line in the springtime. Ms McDonald said her partys current fall in the opinion polls was due to the laws of political gravity, meaning what goes up, must come down. In historical terms, we're still going very, very strongly. I believe we're going to have a very strong performance in the upcoming European elections and then on the run into the general election the job for me as leader and for us as a team would be to build on that support, she said. She said she did not believe her leadership was in any doubt despite the drop in Sinn Fein support. She said Ukrainians employed in critical areas should be given work permits when their temporary protection status ran out next year. While sitting Independents 4 Change MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace may be facing a battle to retain their seats in the European Parliament, theyve both received a pretty high-profile endorsement courtesy of a Hollywood A-lister. Actress Susan Sarandon made a video declaring her support for the duo ahead of the June 7 elections. In it she says: There are very few voices for peace in places of power and we need them more than ever now, especially with what's going on in Gaza. "So this June 7th, people in Ireland, as you know, have a chance to vote to keep these two great MEPs in the European Parliament to continue the fight. So please don't lose that voice in Europe, I beg of you. "Thank you from me and all those voices in America that look to you for hope". Ms Daly said that she was humbled to get the nod of approval from a legend. "Im humbled that the platform we have developed in Europe against militarism has been heard and is supported around the world, she said. It shows the importance of keeping this seat and redoubling our efforts. Susan is a legend . A great actress and an even better person. MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace (Brian Lawless/PA) Having previously noted that he and Daly have quite a following in the US, Mr Wallace meanwhile was delighted with the support and recognition. "I don't actually look at too many films myself, but obviously she is a famous actress and people around the world listen to her and respect her. She has a pretty good heart. "I've received great support from Irish people too and people in Ireland South in particular for my anti-war views and for my stance on Gaza and my condemnation of Israel. I have always done my best to speak on behalf of the less well-off, be they in Ireland or elsewhere. Dad inspires first-time candidate to run for election in Tallaght on June 7 Baby Pereppadan and his son Britto are both running in the local elections in Tallaght. Pic: Mark Condren A father and son duo, who are both running for the local elections in Dublin, believe that staying in touch with residents and local issues is the most important thing to do. Fine Gael councillor Baby Pereppadan and his son Britto are both running in the Tallaght South and Tallaght Central areas. My dad inspired me to run big time, this is my first time running, Britto told the Irish Independent. I was young when he first ran in 2009, but I have memories as a ten-year-old of putting up posters and going to houses. Ive had that interest since a young age. When I got the chance to pursue it, I thought it was time. There are multiple factors we need to look at from a local level. As dad said, my priorities will be local. Even in my leaflets, as much as Id like to talk to people about the national issues we have, my priority will be local. I went around to people at Christmas time to understand what the local issues were. The main thing Im going to take from my dad is that hard work pays off and theres no substitute to going out, talking to people, and doing the groundwork. Thats what dad has been doing. Thats the way to do it, it is a local election, you need to stay in touch with the residents. This is the third time Baby Pereppadan will be running in the local election. He first ran in 2009 as an Independent candidate. In 2014, he joined Fine Gael but lost again, before eventually winning a seat in 2019. Im focusing on issues like anti-social behaviour. The population here is bigger than Limerick city. They have three garda stations there, and we only have one here, he said. I came from India 23 years ago. The majority of Irish people are supporting me here. This is my passion. I like to serve the community. I like answering calls and emails, I want to meet them, chat to them, and help the community. Britto has lived in Tallaght all his life and hopes he can represent his area. I have conversations with residents about housing, immigration and healthcare. I grew up in Tallaght, I went to school in St Martins, then Old Bawn afterwards. Cllr Baby Pereppadan and his son Britto who are both running in the local election.Pic: Mark Condren Im a local reader at our church and thats where I started altar serving. I used to play for Thomas Davis. Now Im a doctor in Tallaght. Everything is local for me. It will be extra work, but where theres a will theres a way. Meanwhile, People Before Profits Madeleine Johansson is running in the election for the second time. As a resident of Tathony House in Dublin 8, she has been encouraged to run again on issues like housing. I think that we need representation for working class people and tenants on our councils, she said. Many of the representatives are landlords, so the landlord clause is represented in politics, but tenants are not often represented. Tathony House has given me more of a drive to run again, because Ive really lived through the housing crisis. Thousands of people are experiencing it now. Being threatened with eviction, it makes me want to stand up and make sure that we have people representing all those thousands of people who are in that situation. Its the uncertainty thats horrible and takes the toll on you, the stress you feel every day. Its been tough. I get people contacting me all the time who are facing eviction and who have been given notices. Having gone through all that myself, it gives me confidence that I can give people advice, help them to fight back and represent them - and make sure that people dont become homeless and go to emergency accommodation. People Before Profits Madeleine Johansson Ms Johansson is originally from Sweden. She was 19 when she moved to Ireland in 2005 to work. I saw here in Ireland how different things were and how working-class people have less rights and obviously less public services than they would have access to in other countries like Sweden, she said. That really kind of spurred me on to get involved in politics. Ive made my life here, my husbands Irish, and Ive lived here for 19 years now. I made my home here. I feel that theres real opportunities to change things for the better. Public transport is an issue in our local area now because the buses are too full in the mornings. Theres still issues about buses not showing up, and theres no other transport. We have a train station in Lucan thats never open. Ive been doing a lot of work on improved public transport in the local area. If we want people to get out of their cars, there needs to be appropriate services for people to use, she added. A Fianna Fail senator has said it is highly ironic that many of those condemning violence in Gaza also commemorate the IRA. Ned O'Sullivan told the Seanad that the Government was right to recognise the State of Palestine, but the timing of the announcement has played into the hands of terror group Hamas. A great number of the people who are most vociferous in their condemnation of the violence and atrocities being perpetrated in Gaza have no problem countenancing commemoration services for the Provisional IRA, said Mr OSullivan. These were people who massacred thousands of people in our own country, including thousands of people of the Catholic faith, and [people] seem to have no difficulty in balancing those two. We have to be consistent here. If you are going to stand up and condemn what is happening in Rafah, then you cannot be embracing and welcoming the people who murdered my friend, (Detective Garda) Jerry McCabe. Just think about that for a minute, the inconsistency of that. We seem to have a fixation for violence in one specific geographic location only. Today's News in 90 seconds - 30th May 2024 I welcome what the Government has done but I have to say, along with many other people, I have serious reservations about the timing of our decision," he said. There is every danger that Hamas is perceiving it right now as a reward for what it carried out on October 7. Let there be no doubt about it: Hamas began this current conflict. This current round of an age-old conflict was started by Hamas. It sickens me to see the video clips of what they did to young, vibrant women out celebrating a concert. They were humiliated, degraded, raped. Unfortunately, Hamas got cheers for doing that from a large sector of the Palestinian community. I think that must be borne in mind by the pro-Palestinian lobby here." He said he did not condone the level of Israeli violence being unleashed in Gaza, adding that if he did so, I will be immediately accused of being genocidal. That is what happens if one lifts one's head above the parapet and offers even a slightly different perspective that is not approved of by the pro-Palestinian lobby and the pro-Hamas lobby, both of which are very strong in their voice in this country at the moment. Dublins Grand Canal tents cleared this morning for the third time this monthWestmeath and Kerry among six areas earmarked nationwide as migrants to be moved out of Dublin Clean-up efforts along the Grand Canal in Dublin as 'Tent City' removed Approximately 100 tents occupied by asylum seekers were removed from Dublins Grand Canal this morning for the third time this month. The multi-agency operation took place at the southside canal, with buses waiting to take the occupants to alternative accommodation. A Government statement this morning said that a number of beds became available in Citywest in recent days. The statement read: "The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, with the support of a number of homeless charities, conducted outreach visits at the Grand Canal. "Any individual identified as eligible for International Protection accommodation at one or more of those outreach visits was offered accommodation at Citywest." The operation comes as the Irish Independent reports that migrants arriving in Dublin are to be moved to a number of new camps across the country as part of an effort to reduce pressure on the city. The Government also has plans to open a new asylum-processing centre outside of the capital. The Irish Independent has learned details of a new Coalition strategy that involves housing hundreds of male migrants in centres in Kerry and Westmeath. Plans to develop the Thornton Hall site in Dublin are included in the plan. The Government has given the green light to proposals to establish a new International Protection Office (IPO) outside of Dublin and to expand existing migrant camps. A secret memo reveals the six new camps earmarked to house record levels of asylum-seekers are Columb Barracks in Mullingar, Co Westmeath; Ballymullen in Tralee, Co Kerry; a site in Athlone, Co Westmeath; and Thornton Hall, Ballyogan and Crooksling in Dublin. More than 200 men will be housed at prefab units that will replace tents at the former military barracks in Mullingar. Capacity at Crooksling will be doubled from the current tally of 180 beds by the end of next month. Up to 400 men will be housed at a site in Athlone. While 60 Ukrainian refugees are currently housed in Ballymullen, the Department of Integration plans to move them and house asylum-seekers there instead. Around 100 people are to be housed in Ballyogan in the coming days, with capacity for 390 people at that site. Asylum-seekers will also be accommodated in Thornton Hall in north Dublin in the coming weeks. Minor access and sewage works are currently being carried out on the site. Reportage artist documents migrant tents along Dublin's Grand Canal The department is awaiting proposals from providers for tented accommodation. Officials were also examining a site for migrants in Castlebar, but Mayo County Council has now said it is not available. More than 10 sites are needed for additional migrant camps in the coming weeks to make sure there is sufficient supply, it is understood. No further sites have been offered to the Department of Integration yet. A new International Protection Office is to be opened outside of Dublin as the Government aims to shift the focus from the capital. Hundreds of additional immigration staffers will also be hired as part of a significant ramping up of resources. Coalition leaders have given Justice Minister Helen McEntee the green light to buy up extra buildings for the IPO and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT), since offices at Mount Street and Hanover Street are almost at capacity. The Department of Justice is considering additional requirements for office and processing facilities as we continue to scale up the processing of people seeking international protection, a spokesperson for Ms McEntee said. No specific locations have been identified at this stage. The extra 400 staff will be put into different stages of the immigration process in a bid to process increasing numbers of international protection applications faster. The Government expects up to 30,000 asylum-seekers to come into the country this year. IPO staffing is also going to be increased from 490 to 620 and 200 extra panel members will be added by next March. The IPAT will also get an extra 17 tribunal members. A senior government source said a further significant ramp-up in resources had been deemed essential by the Department of Justice to deal with current record numbers and the migrant numbers that are anticipated. Expected asylum-seeker numbers were outrunning the capacity of the immigration processing system and the numbers of cases the Government was dealing with were increasing significantly. This was why there would be a need for investment at every stage of the international protection system, the source said. People who apply to work for the IPO will be interviewed remotely, initially on a pilot basis this week. Laws passed before the summer will also broaden the qualification criteria for IPAT panel members and this will aim to further increase capacity in the system Further measures to speed up the time it takes to process applications are being considered by the Department of Justice. Ms McEntee is due to make a decision on it by the end of next month because there is a consultation process under way. The Government also wants to ramp up removals and deportations of people who are unsuccessful in claiming asylum. Significant garda resources will be freed up to focus on removals of migrants. This will be done by further increasing the authorised staff in the Immigration Service Delivery Registration unit from 71 to 127 by next year. The authorised staff on the Repatriation Unit is also to be increased from 72 to 199 by next year. The number of deportation orders issued so far this year has increased by 51pc on the same period last year and enforced deportations have increased by 178pc. Voluntary returns, where people who are refused asylum leave Ireland of their own accord, have increased by 128pc compared to the same period last year. The Government has already sped up processing from a number of different countries, including the one with the most applicants which is currently Nigeria as well as designating 10 countries as being safe countries of origin. Applicants who have status in other European countries have also had their asylum application processing sped up. Applications have halved in number from the original eight countries that were designated as safe. Tanaiste Micheal Martin says Pearse Doherty risks being used as a pawn by BAM over Children's Hospital delay Tanaiste Micheal Martin has made grave accusations against the builders of the new National Children's Hospital. He claimed at Leinster House that main contractors BAM had not resourced the hospital site adequately for some time and was "delaying" completion of the project. Availing of Dail privilege, Mr Martin said the various deadlines set by BAM were "likely to be part of a commercial strategy by BAM to try and extract more money and more funding from the Irish people." He called on the contractor to resource the site "adequately and comprehensively to enable this hospital to be completed as fast as we possibly can". But he was told by Sinn Fein that the NCH project had been "a slow-moving car crash since day one" and health ministers had been asleep at the wheel. Pearse Doherty of Sinn Fein reminded the Tanaiste that Leo Varadkar had said many years ago that "short of an asteroid hitting the planet", the National Children's Hospital would be built by 2020. The safe bet now was that the hospital would not be operational before 2026, he said. Meanwhile the Taoiseach had given repeated assurances to child scoliosis patients that they would not have to wait more than four months. "Not one person is being held accountable for this fiasco, with billions of euro of taxpayers' money being squandered," Mr Doherty said. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly had "not once" met the hospital board last year, Mr Doherty said. "That's how incompetent this Government is." He asked the Government to take responsibility for the bungling, but Micheal Martin warned him not to be "a pawn". He suggested Mr Doherty not "take the bait" about hundreds of millions being submitted in claims. There had been a very robust and tenacious ersponse by the hospital board over them, he said. In relation to 75 million claimed in additional costs, the arbitration had reduced this amount to 22.8 million, he said. Mr Martin said the "bottom line is that BAM has not resourced this project sufficiently for quite some time." He called on the contractor to resource the site "adequately and comprehensively to enable this hospital to be completed as fast as we possibly can." The Government was being fair, but it was not saying "finish this at any cost", Mr Martin said. "The contractor has been delaying, and hoping that there would be this kind of pressure in Dail Eireann to yield (to additional claims)." The Fianna Fail leader said he believed the Dail should back the Government in being "resolute" with the contractor. However, building contractor BAM has said suggestions it is not committing adequate resources to the project or is in any way slowing down delivery were completely untrue. It said the project was currently resourced at 54pc above the anticipated levels for this stage and the build phase of the hospital was 92pc complete. "BAM is fully committed to the efficient completion of this critical piece of medical infrastructure. We have always fully resourced this project beyond the level required for the original programmed works largely to cope with the high level of design change and disruption and will continue to do so until the building is completed. "BAM has repeatedly highlighted design change as the primary cause of delay and disruption on the NCH project. This was also raised in the 2019 PwC review as a key issue. It remains a significant challenge, with weekly change orders or change instructions from the client occurring throughout 2024, said BAM in a statement. In terms of the outstanding claims, the company said it was obliged under the terms of the contract to raise any variation, including instructions, with a time or cost implication as a claim. These must be itemised on an individual, change-by-change basis. The State will pay 2 million for 35 beds for asylum seekers that now cannot be put into a hotel because of fire regulations, the Dail has been told. Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman had signed a contract to lease 500 beds, for two years, at the D Hotel in Drogheda, TDs were told. But a fire certificate issued last week for 465 beds at most, said Louth Fine Gael backbencher Fergus O'Dowd. "That means that the developers who own that hotel will have an additional 2 million in their back pocket as a result of beds that the Minister signed up for - but that can never be filled because they can never be put in there, he said. The total cost of the contract, based on 80 per head per night for bed and board over two years works out at around 29m. Mr O'Dowd noted that Taoiseach Simon Harris is meeting shortly with the business community in Drogheda to discuss the economic impact of the loss of The D Hotel and 21 million it means annually to the local economy. "The people of Drogheda remain extremely angry at this decision," he said. "The Government needs to intervene and have a package for the tourists and the businesses in our town. "We need a moratorium on tourist accommodation being provided in the future in Drogheda for IPAS or temporary protection applicants. "The Minister's policy is making a shambles of our town." He said Mr O'Gorman was "throwing people out of tents all over the city of Dublin" but proposing to house them in places like Drogheda. "The Minister needs to re-examine this policy and bring ordinary people with him - and not drive people into the arms of the extreme right wing who are getting oxygen from his actions." The hotel was the focus of protests by local people as well as far-right activists in recent months when plans emerged to use it to house migrants. Mr O'Gorman replied, however: "None of us wants to be in a situation where we are taking hotel accommodation. "That is why we published a comprehensive accommodation strategy, moving away from reliance on private providers, towards a core of State-provided accommodation." In the short-term this would be able to provide accommodation for people who are rough sleeping at present, he said. "Another 109 people were offered accommodation today," he said, referring to the latest Grand Canal clearance. Mr O'Dowd also claimed Drogheda was losing a major pub, which cost over 2 million to refurbish recently, as part of IPAS accreditation. "The business people in town are up in arms and they are very concerned about it," he said. Minister O'Gorman said he the Deputy was referring to The Mercantile pub, which Mr O'Dowd later confirmed. "It was offered for international protection accommodation some time ago. It was rejected by my Department," he said "I gather you are highlighting that there is potential that it may be re-offered. It has not been as yet there is no offer currently with my Department. I cannot speak to what the owners will do in the future. "All I can speak to is that it was rejected for significant reasons on the previous time it came in. That is where it is. There is no current live offer for that public house." A stolen Dublin City Council vehicle struck a rail crossing at Sutton this evening, with all Dart services between Howth Junction and Howth suspended as a result. The driver was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and no other injuries were reported. The vehicle had failed to stop for gardai at a checkpoint just before 6pm on Ormond Quay Lower, with the movements monitored by a number of units after gardai became aware it was subject to an unauthorized taking, a garda spokesperson said. It later collided with the level crossing barriers in Sutton. The small bin truck was stolen from Parliament Street in the city centre this evening while a member of the waste management staff emptied a bin, a spokesperson for Dublin City Council (DCC) confirmed. The the side-loader vehicle then made its way from the city centre to Sutton station 15km away, a journey that takes nearly 40 minutes to drive in a standard car. The bin truck then smashed into the level crossing, resulting in the cancellation of all DARTs between Howth and Howth Junction for the rest of the evening. The staff member on Parliement Street immediately contacted their supervisor to inform them of the incident, then they contacted gardai about the missing vehicle. Dublin City Council understands that Gardai subsequently intercepted the vehicle some time later, they added. The City Council would like to thank the Gardai for their assistance in this matter. A garda spokesperson said the vehicle had failed to stop during a traffic enforcement checkpoint at approximately 5.40pm this evening on Ormond Quay Lower. "Following enquiries, gardai became aware this vehicle was subject to an unauthorized taking earlier in the afternoon in the North Central area of Dublin city and the movements of the vehicle was monitored by a number of Garda units, they added. This vehicle later collided with level crossing barriers at a railway level crossing in Sutton where it came to a stop. The male driver was taken to a Dublin Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No other persons have reported injuries to An Garda Siochana at this time. A garda investigation into all the circumstances of the incident are ongoing and gardai confirmed they are following a definite line of enquiry. Dart services between Howth Junction and Howth remain suspended until further notice. Dublin Bus continues to accept rail tickets in the affected area. Northside rail services were also suspended earlier today due to a separate incident on the line at Howth Junction. DART and Northern Commuter services were impacted, reopening between Harmonstown and Malahide until the latest incident when a vehicle struck the level crossing in Sutton. It comes following a collision on the M7 and an earlier collision on the M50 which led to travel disruption for commuters this evening. A collision on the M7 between Junction 2 Kingswood and Junction 3 City led to the blockage of two lanes and caused tailbacks this evening. Reports of deer on the motorway and an earlier collision on the M50 northbound before J10 (Ballymount) added to delays on the route this evening. Today's News in 90 seconds - 30th May 2024 More to follow I should have gone to my GP sooner, but I put it off because I knew it was MS mum urges people with symptoms to seek help immediately Two women and a man have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a convicted killer in Dublin. Kevin Stretch Walsh (34), who had a conviction for manslaughter, died in January after being discovered seriously injured at a house in Lucan. He had made his way back to the property by taxi having earlier been the victim of a violent assault in the Tallaght area. Detectives launched a murder investigation after he was pronounced dead the following day and in the initial stages were attempting to establish if he was attacked by a person known to him. On Thursday, the investigation team, based in Crumlin Garda station, arrested three people as part of the murder probe. Sources told the Irish Independent that all three suspects are being detained on suspicion of murder. They are all being held at different Garda stations in Dublin and can be detained for up to 24 hours. A Garda spokesperson said: "Two women in their 40s and a man in his 30s were arrested today (Thursday 30th May 2024) as part of this investigation. They are currently being detained at a number of Garda Stations in the Dublin region under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. "This investigation is continuing from an Incident Room at Crumlin Garda Station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO). A Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) continues to keep the deceased's family informed of developments. "Gardai are continuing to appeal to the public for information in relation to this incident." The assault occurred on the weekend of January 6 and 7 last. In 2006, Kevin Walsh was convicted of the manslaughter of James Burke (20) at a green area near the N4 in Clondalkin in 2005. The trial heard that Walsh, who was aged 16 at the time, fatally attacked the victim because he was English. Mr Burkes body remained in a field near the shopping centre for two days before being discovered. Walsh was charged with murder but later found guilty of manslaughter. The killer, who had 34 previous convictions at the time including for burglary and theft, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment with the final five years suspended. After his release he remained involved in crime and in 2013 was jailed for the violent hijacking of a taxi driver. Our mother and daughter trip to Madrid - the best of food, art and shopping in 48 hours When gun battles and violent mobs came closing in, I was left with no options, Aliya* recollects. She fled from her home in Darfur to keep her family safe. It was a decision made in fear. How is one entrepreneur using AI to turn a profit? How does it work? And where do most restaurateurs go wrong? CEO of Nory and founder of chicken fast food chain, Mad Egg, Conor Sheridan joined Adrian on The Big Tech Show this week. Nory is an operating system for restaurants that uses AI to identify areas where a restaurant can be more profitable. For example, suggesting optimal staffing levels based on the number of coffees sold per hour in order to maximise profitability. The AI company has just raised $16 million dollars from one of Silicon Valleys most famous venture capital companies. Sheridan gave an insight into how he set up the Mad Egg brand in the interview. He chose chicken as a product because it is the most sold protein in the country. The chain specialised in fried-chicken sandwiches which didnt exist in Ireland at the time, and were hugely popular in the States, Asia and London. He felt that if he could connect with some of the best poultry farms in Ireland then it would be a cost effective and high value offering to the customer. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. Philip Nolan became a household name as one of the experts who led Irelands response to the Covid pandemic. He was a familiar presence at the regular Nphet press briefings, at times being a source of controversy himself in the midst of the pandemic making headlines when he compared antigen tests to snake oil. More recently though, his conduct as Director General of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) has propelled him back onto the front pages, after an investigation into bullying found his conduct was at the upper end of inappropriate behaviour and just below bullying. While his position at SFI has now been terminated by the Board, his role in the future of Research Ireland remains unclear. In this episode of The Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Fionnan Sheahan (Ireland Editor with the Irish Independent) to discuss what's going on at Science Foundation Ireland and explain why, despite Philip Nolan's departure, the story is far from over. Cavan-Monaghan Fianna Fail TD Brendan Smith has given his backing to news of how over 70 new beds will be added to Cavan and Monaghan General Hospital between now and 2028. A multi-million euro expansion of Cavan and Monaghan General Hospital will result in more than 70 new beds being added to its sprawling campus between now and 2028, it has been revealed. In figures released to Louth Fine Gael TD Fergus ODowd, HSE bosses have confirmed there will be 74 additional beds allocated to the Swellan based facility over the course of the next three and a half years. When delivered, it will bring to 97 the total number of new beds brought on stream between 2020 and 2031. Details surrounding the move have been greeted with wholesale praise at local political level. Cavan-Monaghan TD Brendan Smith expressed his delight at the news after he revealed in February how 54 new beds were to be included as part of a major expansion plan. The overall building programme for Cavan General Hospital is very, very positive and it will be extremely beneficial, he said. The reference to proposed building measures provide for a new Emergency Department, Endoscopy Unit and inpatient ward. The Irish Independent website also revealed last week how HSE chiefs have lodged plans to add a state of the art 17,000sq ft community care hub. The new facility, subject to planning, will comprise of 25 clinical rooms and a gymnasium on its ground floor. The proposed plans similarly provide for lobbies, a reception, waiting areas, education rooms, administration offices, storerooms, comms room, toilets, staff lounge and staff changing facilities. Outside the facility, 50 car parking spaces alongside five accessible spaces are planned as well as a bicycle stand. There is preparatory work ongoing at the minute for a new emergency department, an oncology unit and endoscopy unit so there are major expansion plans for Cavan General Hospital. Mr Smith, who told of how he has been in regular contact with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and senior HSE officials over the plans said its long term impact could not be understated. These new beds are much needed in the two counties and I know they will be of enormous comfort to families in the region, he said. These extensive, wide range and very welcome additional facilities marks a massive financial investment in acute hospital care for our area and will be of great benefit to patients and to all staff delivering healthcare in the Hospital, he said. Taste of Dublin festival taking place from June 13 to 16 A couple who were inspired to open a restaurant after attending a wedding in Korea, are among the food vendors on show at this years Taste of Dublin. Sofie Rooney and Garret FitzGerald fell head over heels in love with Korean fried chicken during a trip to Seoul in 2016. They became obsessed, frying chicken day and night in their small galley kitchen at home in Dublin, crafting a menu for their restaurant, Chimac on Aungier Street. Taste of Dublin will take place in the historic Georgian park, Merrion Square, from June 13 to 16. Its definitely one of our highlights of the year. Its just so much fun, Sofie said. You get to meet so many different business owners in Dublin. When youre working in a restaurant, you never have a chance to stop. When you go to Taste of Dublin, its just so lovely to be able to meet other people and build really strong friendships and relationships. Sofie Rooney and Garret FitzGerald, owners of Chimac restaurant in Dublin Were open five years this week, which is really exciting. Its been a crazy five years. It all started back in 2016. My husband and I took a trip to Korea for my cousins wedding. While we were there, he was like you have to try the fried chicken. We love food. Darragh is a chef, and were really into food and dining out. We gave it a go and fell absolutely in love with the concept. In Korea, the same way we have a pub or chipper here, they have Chimac shops selling fried chicken and beer. We fell in love with the experience, people coming together and having a nice time, people drinking and eating at the same time, which is not really something that we have as prominently in our culture. Their restaurant combines Sofie and Garrets obsession with bold punchy flavours, craft beer and sauce - and they did it all with an Irish twist. I used to work in marketing, before we opened the business. I was working on really interesting food brands, and I was always kind of jealous that I didnt have my own food brand, Sofie said. We spent two years from when we got back until we opened the restaurant. All that time we were working on the recipes, trying to figure out whats the most delicious. We worked on the menu for Chimac inspired by the food that we ate in Korea, and we use a lot of Korean ingredients, but its very much fusion food. We bring our own unique flavour which is based on our own experiences in life as well. Taste of Dublin 2024 will take place for the first time ever in Merrion Square Sofie believes Irish people are more open to trying new things, which is why she is delighted to be taking part in Taste of Dublin. I think Irish people, because we dont have a super-rich historical culture of foods, people are really open to trying new things. Our culture is very much changing and its amazing the different types of food that we have in Ireland, she added. The Galway branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (GPSC) has announced a vigil in support of Gaza tomorrow afternoon. The event will take place on the Wolfe Tone Bridge tomorrow Friday, May 31, at 5.30pm. Simultaneous vigils named Bridgils are taking place in towns and cities all across Ireland to allow people to raise their voices and call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Follow Independent Galway on Facebook Vigils are taking place on bridges across all 32 counties of Ireland this Friday in memory of all the Palestinians who have been killed in Israels war in Gaza and the West Bank in recent months. A vigil at the Wolfe Tone Bridge on Monday, May 27, organised at very short notice, attracted a large crowd during the evening rush hour in Galway. Protesters expressed outrage that civilians who had been displaced to tents in a so-called safe zone in Rafah were killed on Sunday night. The Galway branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign has urged people to bring flags, Keffiyehs and friends at tomorrows event, and make some noise for the people of Palestine. This is part of a nationwide campaign at the end of a week in which Ireland officially recognised the state of Palestine. However, GPSC argued that the government should be doing much more in terms of sanctioning Israel after more than 36,500 Palestinians have been murdered in less than eight months. 16 candidates for six seats Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) Cllr Michael Cahill (Fianna Fail ) As a longest-serving councillor Michael Cahill (FF) has years of experience and is an extremely hard-working and vocal councillor on every issues in the vast hinterland Kenmare Electoral Area. He has been elected in every election since 1991 and his father was a councillor before him. Among the issues high on his agenda is rural planning and housing, the regeneration of local towns, the South Kerry Greenway and tourism and fishing industries. Roads, broadband and footpaths are also on his agenda. Cllr Norma Moriarty (FF) Cllr Norma Moriarty (Fianna Fail) A firmly established and hard-working councillor, health care on the Iveragh peninsula has been one of her key issues in recent years particular the fears over the loss of a local GP in Cahersiveen and the need for more health services like a mental health nurse and podiatry services. The South Kerry Greenway, housing and regeneration projects are also on the agenda. She is actively involved in the local community and puts the community at the heart of what she does. Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae (Independent) Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae (Independent) The poll-topper in the last local elections Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae is the son of TD Danny-Healy-Rae and in keeping with the family motto he is a hard-working and strong voice highlighting such issues as the state of the roads, hedge cutting and housing including planning regulations. He is also familiar with rural issues across the electoral area and has his eyes on issues that effects such communities including supports for farmers. Dan McCarthy (Independent) Cllr Dan McCarthy (Independent) As Manager of Kenmare Mart he is probably best-known in the farming community and is always vocal on issues effecting farmers in Kerry and issues effecting rural families. Roads are also an issue he constantly raises including such projects as the N70 Blackwater to Sneem road. He has contested several elections and and is a supporter of local community initiatives. Cleo Murphy (Green Party) Cleo Murphy (Green Party) Cleo Murphy has worked as a journalist and broadcaster, both in Kerry and overseas. She contested the local elections in 2019 and was the Green Party candidate in the general election of 2020. A native of Kenmare, her focus is on the regeneration of towns and villages, the provision of good public transport connections, and the protection of nature, particularly in coastal areas. Tim Clifford (Social Democrats) Tim Clifford (Social Democrats) Tim is one of two candidates for the party in Kerry and is well-known in Killorglin where he is Director of K-Fest. He has been involved in several community projects including seeking funding for the redevelopment of the court house, the Biddy group and the local GAA club. Housing is a key priority for him as his services for towns such as bins, toilets and footpaths. The cost of living for people is also something he hopes he can highlight in his role and to provide supports to community groups where he too has played a part. Podge Foley (Independent) Podge Foley (Independent) From the well-known Foley family in Killorglin Podge is a first-time candidate who is well-known in the community and particularly in GAA circles given his involvement with the local club. He has cited his own personals struggles as one of the reasons for running for election. Chief among his concern is the closure of local businesses, he wants to help get small businesses open again as well as getting the council to invest more in the smaller towns as well as helping push several Killorglin projects that are in the pipe-line. Damian Quigg (Sinn Fein) Damian Quigg (Sinn Fein) Damian is a station officer at Killorglin fire station and has previously been elected for the party but lost his seat in the last election. He has just completed a business degree. Given his experience with the local community he is well versed with issues effecting the local area and in particular he cites housing as priority. Supports for community and sporting organisations and small businesses are also on his agenda. Tony Donnelly (FG) Tony Donnelly (FG) As a former Director of Elections and a party stalwart Tony has a long history in politics and in the community. He is the current chairman of South Kerry Development Partnership and Waterville Community Care and is on the board of Local Link Kerry. He was a member of the Iveragh Coastguard for 35 years. He is also the oldest candidate at 71 years of age but he says his experience stands to him. Stephanie OShea (SF) Stephanie O'Shea (Sinn Fein) Stephanie is from Cahersiveen and am a proud mother of two. She is passionate about South Kerry and actively involved in local community groups, leading various projects over the years. Affordable housing is crucial for our communitys future, she says. Accessible health services are also on her priority list and are essential to ensure everyone has the support they need. Improving community facilities, amenities, and local infrastructure is also what she will fight for. Catherina OSullivan (Aontu) Catherina OSullivan (Aontu) A clinical nurse manager with nearly twelve years experience in mental health, is also a devoted wife and mother of six. Over the past seven years, she has volunteered across Ireland, aiding families and expectant mothers. She played a pivotal role in Kerry's No/No vote in the recent referendum. Catherina is a vocal advocate for improving primary care in rural areas and increasing the supply of affordable housing. She also supports farmers against the burdens of the Climate Change Bill, pushing for fair negotiations with factories and supermarkets. Oliver ONeill (Independent) Oliver O'Neill (Independent) Oliver is a farmer from Kilgarvan who has originally intended to run for the Farmers Alliance but is now running as an Independent. Given his background farming is among his key issues but he also cited immigration as a concern. He wants to be the voice of rural communities and highlight the issues affecting such areas. Teddy OSullivan Casey (FG) Teddy O'Sullivan Casey (FG) Teddy O Sullivan Casey Dromoughty Kenmare and works as a caretaker in Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine. He is married to Jean Tim and they have three children. Disability is a primary concern for him given his own son has special needs. Housing and roads are the two main issues people have raised with him and he says more funding for roads is vital. Business rates are a huge issue, he says. Patrick Lyne (Independent) Patrick Lyne (Independent) Patrick is farmer from Valentia island that previously ran for Fine Gael but this year is running as an Independent. He said his main aim is to put South Kerry, its people and their livelihoods on the map. Housing and planning is a key priority for the South Kerry candidate. He says planning refusals lead to the decimation of local communities and emigration. He has been involved in various local organisations including the Board of Management of Colaiste na Sceilge. He cites health as an issue that needs to be addressed too. Ken OSullivan (FF) Ken O'Sullivan FF Ken is from Beaufort, a father of three and heavily involved in the GAA both as a player and manager. Given his day job as an auctioneer he understands the housing crisis in Kerry one of the key priorities of his election and he is passionate about finding a solution to the growing situation. He said the increasing number of road deaths in Kerry is important to him and improving Kerrys roads to boost road safety is on his agenda. William OBrien (Irish People Party) Immigration is his key priority and online he says he will propose Kerry County Council to cease all co-operation with the Department of Integration, stop funds to accommodation providers for refugees and asylum seekers and wants all this accommodation to be returned to its original use. He says he won't engage with mainstream media. What are the burning issues of the constituency? Like much of the country housing is again a key issue here. However, while social and affordable housing is of course on the agenda the stringent planning laws in rural areas are the chief concern, preventing sons and daughters of rural landowners from building on their own land and forcing many to emigrate or move to other locations leading to depopulation Given the rural landscape of this very large electoral area employment is a concern and supports for small businesses, tourism and farming, are much needed in the area as are supporting any potential employers in the area. Rates have come to the fore recently particularly in Kenmare. Healthcare is very high on the agenda in the Kenmare Electoral area particularly on the Iveragh peninsula where a GP crisis has been looming all year due to the difficulty in sourcing GPs upon retirement. A primary health care centre is a key project for the area. The South Kerry Greenway is a vital local project for the area and what has been called a gamechanger for the entire region. .The development of this will be a key concern over the coming years. Immigration is also a concern here given the use of hotels and guesthouses to house Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers and the strain the increased population has put on local services. Tralee-native Bernard Dillon was complex and charismatic when taking Edwardian England by storm. A story of triumph and tragedy, dreams and disasters is how one might describe the life and times of Bernard Dillon in a new book by Tralee journalist Stephen Fernane. In 1901, at the age of thirteen, Bernard left Kerry with dreams of becoming a jockey in England. No one could have predicted that within three years he would be the most popular sporting personality in Britain and Ireland. For the first time since Bernards death in 1941, a book capturing his astonishing rise to success and later his fall from grace due to heavy drinking is available. From a talented apprentice to astute professional, Bernard Dillon won the Epsom Derby and Grand Prix de Paris in a life of sporting conquest and human tragedy. Stephen explains his reason for writing the story stems from his fascination with Bernards sporting achievements and the sadness that would later overshadow them. The fact Bernards story is not widely known of is also a motivating factor behind the book. Discovering Bernards career and learning about all he achieved is what inspired me to write it. The inner demons that led to his demise in later life are just as fascinating. To think that very little is known about someone as colourful and complex as Bernard Dillon is astonishing, Stephen said. The book title: The Life and Times of Bernard Dillon: The Narie that Won the Derby is a deliberate nod to Bernards birth place at Caherina in Strand Road, Tralee, in 1887. I want to bring Bernard home for the book launch. To bring his story back to where it all started, and present it to people who might not know about him. That is the best tribute I can give him. Bernard is a Narie for sure, which is why the Kerins ORahllys GAA Club is the appropriate venue. Its his spiritual home as he was born only a few yards from the clubhouse, Stephen explained. Bernard Dillons journey from 1901 to 1911 was anything but smooth as he tried to cope with celebrity and adversity. Sadly, his downfall included domestic abuse and the mistreatment of his wife, and famous music hall artist, Marie Lloyd. Bernard and Marie met in 1905 and began a turbulent relationship. They were Edwardian Englands first celebrity couple with Marie eighteen years older than Bernard. However, notoriety would come at a cost. Drink took hold of Bernard after he lost his jockeys licence in 1913 over allegations of gambling. It marked the end of his reputation as a superstar. Stephen believes it was important to write Bernards story because of the random way it exists in the archives. With Marie Lloyd being the more famous personality, information about Bernards life is usually seen through the lens of Maries biographers, as opposed to Bernards perspective. He wrote his memoir in 1922 which has largely been ignored until now. While he does not explain the more violent side to his personality in the memoir, I was able to solve this by reading through many court sittings he appeared before, Stephen said. Even though the court charges are upsetting to read, my aim is to show Bernards opposing sides not just him as a famous jockey. There are examples of closeness and intimacy between the couple that have never been written about before now, he added. There is a chapter about Bernard and Marie being incarcerated at Ellis Island in 1913 because they were unmarried. Its staggering to imagine two of the most famous people in Edwardian England being detained with hundreds of immigrants. "They were the Posh and Becks of their time, for sure. As for Bernards active service during WWI, a judge accused him of engaging in more violence in London than on the Western Front! Nothing was ever straight forward in Bernards life from the time he left Tralee in short pants, Stephen explained. Stephen sums up Bernards life as totally unorthodox and that the book is about more than just horseracing. I wouldnt want anyone to get the impression the book is solely about horses. Significant though they are in Bernards life, there is an undertone to the book that symbolises a tragic love story between two people trying to deal with fame and infamy, he said. This is a global story that started in a quiet Kerry street and extended to far off places like America, South Africa, and the Middle East. I just felt it was time for Bernards story to be told in his own words. I think the book is fair to him and shows that no matter how successful we are in life, we are vulnerable to self-destruction, Stephen said. The Life and Times of Bernard Dillon: The Narie that Won the Derby will be launched on June 6 at the Kerins ORahillys GAA Club at 7pm by Mayor of Tralee Terry OBrien. A presentation of a framed photograph of Bernard Dillon will be made to the Kerins ORahillys GAA Club on the night. Everyone is welcome. Light refreshments served. Book price is 15. Available at Polymath Bookstore in Tralee and online at: www.buythebook.ie/bernarddillon Government plans to use Ballymullen Barracks in Tralee to alleviate the male migrant crisis in Dublin is leading to deep concern in the town over the pressure the move will place on local services, according to a local politician. News of the plans were revealed by the Irish Independent this morning after they obtained details of a secret government memo on the new strategy. Kerry County Councillor Sam Locke said the news of the plan is leading to rising concern among many of his constituents. The Tralee-based representative said immigration is one of the main issues being raised by people since the campaign started ahead of next weeks local elections. He believes the government has got its immigration policy wrong by not informing local councillors of plans to relocate migrants to towns, which would help ease fears over pressure on services. Ballymullen is already home to 60 Ukrainians. Its expected that they will be moved in order to accommodate the newest arrivals. The Government has got it wrong from the start with its open-door policy that allows all nationalities to enter without knowing how it will cater for them, Cllr Locke said. We now have people coming here in record numbers, including the recent flight of migrants from Britain. We cant deal with it at local level. We, as councillors, have no power to blockade this. Our constituents are blaming us for not doing enough when we are not even being told what is happening, he added. Cllr Locke stressed that a time has come to assess the ability of towns to facilitate migrants. He is adamant this attitude in no way stems from discrimination, but rather the practicalities around services. Im peeved at being excluded from the process. There is public outcry in Tralee this morning from what Im hearing on the ground. Some people are looking for us to interject. We cannot do it. Our hands are tied by national policythe facility at Ballymullen is not a proper facility to house people. There arent enough doctors to take more patients, our hospitals are overflowing, he said. The anger is there. Ive been on the streets since 9am canvassing and around 20 people have asked me what is going on?. The simple answer is we havent been informed,. Were at the front line and were being left in the dark, Cllr Locke said. Ballymullen Barracks was prepared in 2022 for the arrival of Ukrainian refugees. In the 1960s, Catholics fleeing south from violence in the north were housed there. In the early 2000s, the barracks was also home to refugees arriving from Nigeria and Somalia. CHO Area 8, which encompasses Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, has 764 children waiting to be seen in its Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Photo: Getty The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed to Independent TD Carol Nolan that CHO Area 8 which encompasses Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath has 764 children waiting to be seen in its Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Some 124 of these children have been waiting in excess of one year. The Midlands CHO area has the second highest waiting list nationally with only CHO Area 4 having recorded more children (974) on its CAMHS waiting list. Nationally there was 3,819 children on the waiting list for community mental health services. Follow Independent Laois on Facebook I know that the staff in our mental health service providers are under extraordinary pressure, but so too are the parents and children who are absolutely desperate for even minimal levels of intervention and assessment that they are clearly not receiving, said Deputy Nolan. I find it totally unacceptable that once again CHO area 8 is near the top of the list in terms of waiting times for essential services. It was confirmed to me only recently that CHO area 8 also has the highest number of people on its waiting lists for Speech and Language Therapy (3,962). When these numbers are combined then the level of service deficit becomes startling clear. Our children are being failed at a local and national level, with children in midland counties the worst affected in many cases. Clearly something is deeply, deeply broken when CHO area 8 is recording almost 800 children waiting for CAMHS but in at least five other HSE areas that number is well below 300 children. Today's News in 90 seconds - 30th May 2024 Why are our numbers so high? That is a question I am demanding answers to from the minister and indeed the HSE. We cannot allow this breakdown in services to continue. It is potentially causing irreparable developmental delay in so many children and causing untold frustration among parents who only want the best for the kids, concluded Deputy Nolan. A number of the 170 refugees due to be evicted from a hotel in County Leitrim on Friday have not yet found alternative accomodation. Lough Allen Hotel in Drumshanbo, County Leitrim has been home to around 170 Ukrainian refugees for the past two years. The hotel is predominantly used by women and children who now work and attend school in the area. However, the hotels contract as an accommodation centre is coming to an end tomorrow, May 31, 2024 and the residents have been told to find alternative accommodation. Local councillor Enda McGloin said there are still a few refugees who have not yet secured accommodation ahead of Fridays deadline. "Some have received an allocation of accommodation locally in a B&B that already had residents but was not full. "Others have found rented accommodation with the assistance of the management of the hotel. I understand that there are still some who are in need of rented accommodation and hoping to stay local but availability is tight enough if not exhausted at this point, said Cllr McGloin. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) said it will provide residents with alternative options, however, it is unknown where they will be moved too. Cllr McGloin said while the accommodation will be welcomed, many of the refugees have built a life in Drumshanbo and now face being moved to another area. I also understand that any one else remaining and in need of accommodation will be assisted by the department. "However, it would be in a location probably not that close to Drumshanbo which is regrettable indeed considering many have friends and roots now in the town, said Cllr McGloin. Today's News in 90 seconds - 30th May 2024 A spokesperson for The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) said, Temporary accommodation for those fleeing the war in Ukraine was provided at the Lough Allen Hotel, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. "This arrangement is due to come to an end shortly. "All accommodation contracted by the Department is temporary in nature, moves happen frequently when contracts end. Those who are residing at the accommodation have been contacted by the Department to notify them of the change. "Alternative offers of accommodation will be provided to the residents, and every effort will be made to ensure that the alternate accommodation will be in the general area. Beneficiaries of temporary protection are also entitled to make their own private arrangements, including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish or private accommodation, and can avail of some supports to do so. A local election candidate in County Mayo insists he will not be deterred by keyboard cowards on social media who circulated a photoshopped image of him. Independent Ireland candidate Donal Geraghty is running in the Castlebar Electoral Area. Recently, a photoshopped image of Mr Geraghty on an election poster has been circulating on social media. Donal said he spoke to his party and has been offered support and praise for taking it on the chin. Theres an image going around of me thats being spread around by bad actors looking to take me down. I can take it on many of my chins - I dont give a damn. "Im trying my best for the people of this town and thats it, said Mr Geraghty. The former 2014 local election candidate he believes he has momentum, as polling day looms, which is why he thinks people are trying to take him down. Im fat, I know Im fat, if the image was of a fella six foot, trimmed and slim thered be no joke to it. "We have these keyboard cowards behind a desk looking to take down somebody trying to better their local area. Theyre trying to get me to throw in the towel, to give up, the sight of my van with my name and the tunes blaring across the town is driving them mad. "I know it is, but it only makes me more determined than ever to win a seat, he said. Mr Geraghty believes the possibility of receiving abuse or negative comments online may act as a deterrent for other local people considering putting their names forward as an election candidate in the future. "I think this is a threat to democracy for other people who want to run in elections for the betterment of their own area who might decide not to run for fear of receiving abuse or similar incidents like this. "It is a serious threat to democracy for a local election candidate to be targeted in such a deliberate way to get them throw in the towel. "Other people who might not have as thick of skin might back down and say they are not going to continue because of this. "It is just unacceptable in my view, said Mr Geraghty. Gardai and Health and Safety Authority have launched separate investigations into the incident The body of the deceased was removed to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) where a post-mortem will be conducted (stock image Gardai are investigating the death of a man in his 50s following a workplace incident at a water treatment site in Roscrea, County Tipperary. The incident occurred shortly after 12.30pm on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 29. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and local Coroner were notified. The body of the man was removed to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) where a post-mortem will be conducted. "Enquiries are ongoing, said a Garda spokesperson. A spokesperson for Uisce Eireann extended the companys condolences to the mans family and friends. It is with deep regret and sadness that Uisce Eireann confirms that a man working on behalf of our contractor has died following an incident yesterday, Wednesday, May 29. The incident occurred on site at Roscrea Wastewater Treatment Plant, Roscrea, County Tipperary. "Our thoughts are with the family, work colleagues and friends of the deceased at this very difficult time. Uisce Eireann are liaising with the Health and Safety Authority and relevant authorities in relation to this incident, added the spokesperson. A spokesperson for the HSA said they are aware of the incident and have launched an investigation. No further information is available at this time, added the spokesperson. Today's News in 90 seconds - 30th May 2024 Nenagh Hospital has been sanctioned for a new 24 bed unit, according to a Tipperary TD Michael Lowry Nenagh Hospital in Co Tipperary has been sanctioned for a new 24-bed unit, according to a Tipperary TD. For many months I have highlighted the chaotic conditions at UHL, said Independent Deputy Michael Lowry. The appalling delays and overcrowding is having a detrimental impact on patients from North Tipperary. In my discussions with the Taoiseach and Ministers I consistently made the crisis in delivery of health care in the Mid-West a political priority. Follow Independent Tipperary on Facebook Bed capacity and staffing levels are the predominant issues. Management structures and procedural practices are being reformed. Hundreds of additional staff are currently in recruitment. Further to ongoing discussions with Senior HSE management, Deputy Lowry said he was pleased to confirm on Wednesday, May 29, that a major expansion of Acute beds will take place across the Midwest. An additional 350 acute beds will be created between Nenagh, St Johns in Limerick city, Ennis and UHL. Nenagh Hospital has been sanctioned for a new 24-bed unit. Funding estimated at 26 million has been added to the Capital Plan for this project, said Deputy Lowry. A preliminary design concept will be advanced, and the project progressed as a priority. Some 107 additional posts will be recruited to staff the unit. The Nenagh unit together with the other additional beds across Limerick and Clare will assist in alleviating the chronic overcrowding at UHL, he said. Patients from North Tipperary having been treated in UHL will be transferred to Nenagh to complete their recovery. I have always been a friend to Nenagh Hospital which has been transformed from a time when its very future was under threat to now being a central and key facility in the delivery of health care to the people of North Tipperary. This multi million investment is another milestone in the development and expansion of the hospital. I wish to thank the management and staff at the hospital for their perseverance under enormous pressure and for the wonderful care and attention given to patients, added Deputy Lowry. North Wexford local election candidate and amputee, Darragh McDonald has called for a total overhaul of the funding system for disability services as he says it is badly needed. Darragh McDonald visited St Aidans Services in Gorey recently with Fine Gael MEP candidate John Mullins. Speaking after the visit, Mr McDonald said the insufficient funding for disability services organisations needs to be urgently addressed. "At the moment we have several different types of disability services organisations operating in this country. All are providing similar services but have staff on different pay scales and terms. Two local organisations may receive different funding from the HSE for a staff member and as a result the organisation receiving less funds will struggle heavily to recruit and retain staff unless they make up the difference through fundraising in their communities. "Fundraising should be for the future development of services, not to keep the lights on. This pay disparity is unsustainable for the industry and must be urgently addressed by the HSE to ensure service levels are met, he said. Mr McDonald went on to say that budgets are approved by the HSE on a yearly basis but making the switch to longer term budget allocations could be beneficial and allow organisations to effectively plan for the future. "The number of potential service users that are expected to need disability services are monitored by the HSE, but given the huge delays and difficulty getting needs assessments completed, I find it very difficult to believe that we really have a grasp of the number needing services in the short-medium term, he said. Mr McDonald said while canvassing he has heard from many local families they are very frustrated that they cannot get a place in a day service setting locally or indeed an assessment to figure out what supports they may need. The ambition to resolve the issues in disability services has been missing from local and national government for some time now. I am calling on the government and the HSE to put the financial supports in place in this years budget to properly staff and deliver both needs assessments and disability services for the long-term. "As an amputee, I am well aware of the challenges of navigating the HSE and if elected I hope to be a proactive voice for the sector and families effected to ensure those with disabilities in Ireland get the services and support they need, said Mr McDonald. Professor Patrick Prendergast and Joe Bishop (President of the PPU in St Peter's College) pictured with a group at the St Peter's College reunion on Saturday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Professor Patrick Prendergast pictured with his family after receiving an honorary membership presentation at the St Peter's College reunion on Saturday evening. (l to r)- Sheena Browne, Prof. Patrick Prendergast, Pierce Prendergast, Eifear Prendergast, Mary Prendergast. Pic: Jim Campbell Professor Patrick Prendergast pictured receiving an honorary membership presentation from Joe Bishop (President of the PPU in St Peter's College) at the St Peter's College reunion on Saturday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Oulart-native and Chairperson of the Governing Body of the South East Technological University (SETU) Professor Patrick J Prendergast has become the first recipient of St Peters Colleges honorary lifetime membership award. At a special ceremony at the school, the president of the St. Peters past pupils union (PPU) Joe Bishop conferred Honorary Lifetime membership on Professor Prendergast who is a distinguished academic, 44th Provost of Trinity College Dublin and a member of the Royal Irish Academy. The event, which also saw the 70th anniversary of the PPU marked, was attended by the committee of the PPU as well as former presidents, past pupils, principals and vice-principals of the school, and both present and retired members of the teaching staff. David Power is the PRO of the St Peters PPU and he explained how this award had come into being. When the union was formed in 1954, the constitution drawn up envisaged using an Honorary Lifetime Membership Award as a way to recognise one of our alumni who, by his achievements and contribution to society had brought honour to St. Peters College. "In most institutions, such an honour is rarely bestowed. Weve gone one step better, as this is the first ever such award in the history of the PPU. On Professor Prendergast, Mr Power said it was fitting that a man who has devoted his career to the education of others should be the first recipient of the award. The professors career in the fields of bio-engineering and education saw him elected to the 44th Provost of Trinity College Dublin before, in 2022, becoming the inaugural Chairperson of the Governing Body of the South East Technological University. Prof Prendergast attended St Peters as a boarder from 1978 to 1983 and went on to Trinity College where he initially studied mechanical engineering. After postdoctoral positions in Italy and the Netherlands, he was appointed to the engineering faculty in Trinity College Dublin in 1995 and has held visiting professorships at the Institute of Fundamental Technology Research, Poland, Erasmus University Rotterdam; The Technical University of Delft; and at University Polytechnic of Catalonia, Barcelona. He won the prestigious Persons Medal in Engineering Science from the Royal Irish Academy in 2003 and in 2008 was elected to membership of the Royal Irish Academy. In 2007 he was President of the European Alliance of Medical and Biological Engineering Societies and served on the Board of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology for eight years. He is a former chair of the Bord of Science Gallery International and of the Douglas Hyde Gallery of Contemporary Art. Conferring Prof Prendergast and presenting him with a specially struck silver medallion, Joe Bishop said the recipient exemplified the motto on the crest of the college blazer Disce Prodesse, learn to be of service and that the PPU were particularly proud to have such a distinguished alumnus. Accepting the award, Prof Prendergast said, St. Peters College means a lot to me, its really where I began my academic life, where the teaching and the role models in St. Peter s inspired me to launch and develop my career. I learned so much here for the first time. "It was such a great education and not just academic education, we learned how to live up to higher goals, how to think of others, to see the value of so much that happens outside the academic world, in sport, in business and in many other facets that are really so important to the great functioning of society. Niamh Clancy (left) with Laura Wood and Caolfionn Murphy, at rehearsals for The Bond. East Coast FMs Breakfast Show host, Laura Wood, is among the cast as Greystones Players stage an evening of four powerful one-act American plays, all of which will explore stirring, universal themes of identity, love, loss, the ties that bind us and broken relationships all in that distinctly rural and gothic southern American vein. Taking place in the Whale Theatre, running from Thursday June 13 to Saturday June 16, the drama opens with Susan Glaspells seminal play, Trifles. First performed by Susan Glaspell herself, along with her Provincetown Players, in 1916, this masterpiece of a play explores themes of identity (constructed or innate), gender, justice and entrapment and the power of silence. Its setting is an abandoned rural farmhouse after a mysterious murder has taken place. Two women and three men visit the scene and respond very differently to what they see and find. Susan Glaspell (1876-1948) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright, novelist, journalist and actress. She is recognised as a pioneering feminist writer and is one of Americas first important female playwrights. The second play, The Bond by the great American poets Amy Lowell and Robert Frost, adapted by Walter Wykes, is based on three separate stories related by three different women; each womans story is interwoven with the others to create a powerful dramatic experience. Walter Wykes, a contemporary American playwright, has had over 30 plays produced across the US and internationally and has received the American College Theater Festival's Award for Excellence in Playwriting four times. Heart in the Ground by Douglas Hill, the third play in the evening, centres on a young farming couple each struggling in their individual ways to cope with a heartbreaking bereavement and the subsequent fallout when both their home and relationship are at risk. Douglas Hill is a playwright, actor and director whose work has been performed both in the US and internationally and has been anthologized by Dramatic Publishing, Heinemann, Smith and Kraus, and Black Box Press. Thank You, Kind Spirit by Tennessee Williams was written in 1941 and wasnt published or produced until nearly 20 years after his death. The drama takes place in the ieux Carre of New Orleans in a little crib-like room, the chapel of a spiritualist, Mother DuClos, an octoroon (a term used to describe a person who is one-eighth African). As her service unfolds, the proceedings are disrupted by an unkind presence who has come with an agenda other than to listen to Mother DuClos wisdom and revelations. Tennessee Williams (1911-1983), is recognized as one of the 20th centurys greatest American playwrights who transformed the American stage, and what a play to close out what is sure to be a spellbinding evening of theatre. Directed by Aideen Walton, Greystones Players presents Americana: 4 x 1-Act Plays at the Whale Theatre, Thursday June 13 Saturday June 16 at 8pm and Sunday June 17 at 4pm. Tickets 20 @ whaletheatre.ie The awards, which took place last Thursday, May 23, at the Round Room in the Mansion House in Dublin, were in their 24th year and are organised annually by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) nationwide. As the LEO Wicklow awards nominee, Bradys Coffee took home the South East Regional Award. Bradys Coffee started out in 2017, when brothers Craig, Darren and father John decided to set up a coffee company through their mutual love for the cup of jo. Renting time on a roaster, they launched Brady's Coffee Company at Showcase Ireland in 2017 and after a great response quickly moved on to their own Probat roaster in a premises in Wicklow town. The company now provides a range of coffees and teas, which they export worldwide. Along with Craigs wife Catherine, the parent company, Irish Decal Products Ltd, also supplies souvenirs. The trio recently developed a new brand BARE which offers a canned cold brew coffee. Their products are all ethically sourced and expertly roasted in Wicklow. A new product for 2024 is the Murphys Soap range, which offers seven handmade cold pressed natural scents. Commenting at the awards, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy said: I am delighted to congratulate Craig, Darren and Catherine and all the staff at Bradys Coffee. It is wonderful to see a local family business thriving. "With the innovative range of products on offer at Bradys Coffee, coupled with their growth ambition and their impressive exports to the USA last year, I am thrilled that they got the recognition they deserve. This is the third win for County Wicklow at the National Enterprise Awards in recent years and showcases the great breath of successful small companies that come through the doors of LEO Wicklow. Expressing her delight at the win, Head of Enterprise at LEO Wicklow, Vibeke Delahunt remarked how on the hard work and innovation which has seen the family firm grow internationally in recent years. Announcing the award winners at the Mansion House, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke said: The National Enterprise Awards are the highlight of the small business and enterprise calendar. Year on year the diversity of businesses and the standard of companies that are coming through the process is getting stronger. "We should not be surprised given the innovation and endurance that businesses have shown in recent years. We have some outstanding winners but the finalists on the whole have been excellent, and this is very much the start of their journey, he added. He also pointed to the vital role that LEOs have in fostering entrepreneurship and helping small businesses thrive every day across the country and have helped and guided small businesses in Ireland which are at the heart of every town, village and community and are vital to our economy. A giant bunny installation called Intrude by Amanda Parer will feature at this year's Beyond the Pale festival. Photo: Joe Kusumoto Hi Pony!, an outdoor aerial performance space showcasing aerial acrobatics, will feature at this year's Beyond the Pale festival. Hundreds of artists and performers will make the pilgrimage to Wicklow this June to take part in the extensive arts programme at this years Beyond the Pale festival. Recently voted Irelands Best Small Festival by IMRO, the alluring arts schedule at what is the third edition of BTP is compiled by Jenny Jennings (of THISISPOPBABY) and will feature SUN-STOP, a contemporary reimagining of a neolithic stone circle, designed by award-winning architects James Martin & Eibhlin Ni Chathasaigh. Coinciding with the summer solstice, the stone circle will act as an astronomical device and gathering space, offering an opportunity to celebrate the sun and the moon and dance by the fire. At sunset on Friday, join the Grianstad procession to SUN-STOP for a music and spoken word ritual with some very special guests. The internationally-adored giant bunny installation Intrude by Amanda Parer will also make an appearance, alongside acclaimed theatre powerhouses THISISPOPBABY with their magic late-night cabaret Cracked Lips and superstar comedian Shane Daniel Byrnes Comedy Shithouse, wrangling together his dream comedy line-up. Unleashing their magic, the powerhouse behind this weeks primary school rap hit The Spark will see young artists Kabin Crew and GMCBeats with their Rap for the Craic performance workshop to capture the creativity of Beyond The Pale, recording an onstage rap for the craic by festival goers. Also featuring are Edinburgh Fringe Festival hits Growler and Chicken, who make their Irish outdoor festival debuts and Penos with Bohs, who invites you to take a shot against one of Bohs players in support of Palestine. The extraordinary Sean Ronayne (as seen on Tommy Tiernan) returns to the festival for the third time with his unmissable bird-watching talk and walk, and, in an Irish music festival first, Beyond The Pale presents Livewire a high-wire stunt walk from Tony Mahon straddling the delicate line between tranquillity and danger. Keep an eye out for some exceptionally large white rabbits. Illuminated in stark white, the bunnies of Intrude by Amanda Parer stand enormous yet relaxed in their given new home by the lake at Glendalough Estate. In an homage to all things soul, funk and vinyl, joining se7en inch collective for some late-night boogying are seminal reggae crew Trojan Sound System, Andy Smith & Nick Halkes: Reach Up Disco Wonderland evoking the spirit and soundtrack of legendary NYC clubs such as Paradise Garage and Studio 54, and unmissable acid-house wunderkind Klaus Blatter. Hi Pony!, an outdoor aerial performance space showcasing aerial acrobatics, spectacular stunts and mesmerising choreography has even more high-flying aerial stars this year, with Sean McIrlaith, Monika Palova, Jenny Tufts, Kate Finegan, Aisling Ni Cheallaigh, Chloe Commins, Charlotte Bruce, Hannah Una Scully, Isobel O'Grady, Caroline Toledo, Jill Srigley and Jess Leong. Puc Fada with new co-curator Aoife McGlynn, who says: Puc Fada aims to leave people feeling curious and connected to the pillars of land, culture and custom with heaps of craic to be had along the way. This years iteration runs the gamut of whats so creatively rich and inventive about the Irish music scene. From CUSHLAs electro-sean-nos reimaginings to David Murphys ambient explorations of Irish airs on pedal steel guitar, the programme has visionary talent in abundance. People can expect genre-bending performances (e.g. Sibeal and Jade: The Fastest Reel in the West), epic spoken word (e.g. from Seanchoiche) and an unmissable trad session or two. Mise FRESHIN presents the fusion sounds of Tra Phaidinand lyricism as Gaeilge by Suil Amhain. Folk duo DUG melds Irish and American songs with tight harmonies and string picking. Trad Session with John Francis Flynn, Seamas Hyland and Jimmy Clarke will be offering up a mighty time of familiar favourites and surprises alike. There will be lively tunes from The Len Collective, while linchpins of the underground Trad Rave and Shakalak will rocket the crowd into the wee hours (if you know you know). Speaking ahead of the festival, Arts Programme Director Jennifer Jennings said: Beyond the Pales arts programme takes its cues, both from the extraordinary history, fauna and flora of the festival location and this moment in time that we find ourselves in. It offers a space to gather and play, to reconnect with nature and ritual, to ignite imagination and stir big feelings. This years line-up is full of many of the best artists and performers on the island today, who are guaranteed to have you rolling around the place laughing, dancing your socks off, profoundly moved or indeed utterly gobsmacked many times over the weekend. Rishi Sunak urged to deselect former British prime minister Liz Truss over appearance on far-right platform The former British prime minister was interviewed for a show on Lotus Eaters, set up by a commentator who suggested he might rape an MP Former prime minister Liz Truss (James Manning/PA) Sophie Wingate Thu 30 May 2024 at 07:42 Rishi Sunak has been urged to deselect Liz Truss as a Conservative candidate over her appearance on a far-right platform founded by a commentator who joked about raping an MP. Gazas border sealed off as Israel says war will rage until end of year Military has taken control of strip of land it claims is filled with tunnels used to smuggle weapons to Hamas Children sit in the boot of a car as Palestinians walk amid the rubble of houses and shops destroyed in an Israeli strike yesterday in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters Melanie Lidman, Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy Thu 30 May 2024 at 03:30 Israels military said it has seized control of a strategic corridor that runs along the length of Gazas border with Egypt, near the city of Rafah, where Israeli forces have been fighting. Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Photo courtesy: bharti.com | File image/UNI Mumbai: Sunil Bharti Mittal, who leads Bharti Airtel, has revealed that a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2018 turned out to be a turning point for him at a time when his telecom company was in the midst of a severe crisis. In an interview with the Economic Times, Bharti Group founder said Airtel was struggling to cope up with the drastic change in the business scenario due free voice and data services provided by new entrant Reliance Jio and string of decisions by the telecom regulator. Mittal, who had recently finished his term as chairman of the International Chambers of Commerce and occasionally briefed the Prime Minister on WTO, G20, and other issues, requested permission to discuss the critical state of the Indian telecom industry. During the meeting, where he conversed with Modi in Hindi, Mittal conveyed to the PM: "I will fight in the marketplace, but I can't fight the government." In response to his concerns, Modi assured Mittal that the government would not favour either side and would act in the best interest of the country. The Prime Minister encouraged Mittal to compete in the marketplace, emphasizing that the government would remain impartial. Mittal expressed his gratitude and considered this meeting as a crucial turning point for Airtel. "He told me that this government will not tilt towards either side. Whatever is good for the country will be done. You fight in the marketplace. I don't have a view on that. But from the side of the government, you can be sure that the government will not take sides," Mittal said. "And that was enough for me. I got up and thanked him... This was the turning point (for Airtel), Mittal was quoted as saying. Mittals interview with Economic Times followed Airtel's achievement of a $100 billion market cap on May 27. In the interview, Mittal spoke about the meeting with Modi. He also recollected the numerous challenges the company faced over its nearly three-decade history to reach this milestone. Mittal said that the meeting with Modi filled him with an indescribable sense of energy and inspiration. "Sometimes you need an inspiration. I do that to my troops. I needed that from someone. There was a very strong special message (from the PM): Fight in the market. Here was a man telling me-who has himself fought against a lot of odds-that you do your work and be very reassured that this government is going to only do things that are good for the nation," he said. He told ET, that the meeting with PM Modi prompted Mittal to look at the regulations, which he had previously viewed as unfavourable to Airtel, from a broader perspective. He came to realize that lower tariffs might have been politically advantageous for the government and could have facilitated the democratization of data services. The reassurance that there was no hidden agenda allowed him to see things in a new light. Airtel's market cap has increased by over $80 billion in the past five years, rising from around $19 billion in 2019, which was less than the total investment in the business up to that point. Mittal strongly believes that the notion of the government favouring only a select few is entirely mistaken. He regards Airtel's $100 billion market cap as a reflection of India's current state, not just the success of his company. He emphasized the influx of money, capital, and investments into the country, along with the growing stock market and significant valuations, as signs of a stable, robust, and functional economy under strong leadership. Riyadh: Saudi Arabia is set to officially launch a secondary offering of shares in the oil giant Saudi Aramco, to raise over $10 billion, as early as Sunday, according to sources familiar with the matter, reported Bloomberg. The government, which holds the largest stake in Aramco, plans to conduct a book-building process to gauge investor interest until next Thursday. Informal interest from investors in the Middle East and Europe has already crossed $10 billion, the report said. Final decisions regarding the offering period and deal terms, including its size, have yet to be made, and details may still change. Aramco has not yet commented on the matter, the report added. Since the beginning of the year, Aramcos stock has fallen by about 11%, following Bloomberg News' report on the government's plan to sell a stake. This week, the shares reached their lowest levels in roughly a year. This follow-on offering comes nearly five years after Saudi Arabia raised approximately $30 billion through Aramcos initial public offering, the largest stock sale in history. Proceeds from this share sale will support major initiatives to diversify the Saudi economy away from oil, including investments in artificial intelligence, sports, tourism, and the $1.5 trillion Neom development project, driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Bloomberg report added. In frame: Union Home Minister Amit Shah | Photo courtesy: X/@PIBHomeAffairs New Delhi/IBNS: The central government has started the process of granting citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2024 in West Bengal, where the first set of applications were on Wednesday granted citizenship by the Empowered Committee of the state. The empowered committees of Haryana and Uttarakhand have also granted citizenship to the first set of applicants in their respective states on the same day. In a notification, the Centre said, "The process of granting citizenship certificates under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 has now commenced in the State of West Bengal, where the first set of applications from the State were today granted citizenship by the Empowered Committee, West Bengal." "Similarly, the Empowered Committees of the States of Haryana and Uttarakhand have also granted citizenship today to the first set of applicants in their respective States, under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024," it added. On May 15, the central government handed over the first set of citizenship certificates to 14 applicants in New Delhi on Wednesday. Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla handed over the certificates to the applicants. The Government of India had notified Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 on March 11. The Rules envisage the manner of application form, procedure for processing applications by District Level Committee (DLC) and scrutiny and grant of citizenship by State Level Empowered Committee (EC). The processing of applications is done completely through the online portal. In pursuance of these rules, applications have been received from persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have entered into India up to 31.12.2014 on account of persecution on grounds of religion or fear of such persecution. Photo courtesy: IBNS File New Delhi/IBNS: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's former personal assistant was arrested at Delhi Airport in a gold smuggling case by the Delhi Customs on Wednesday, media reports said. Reports said Shiv Kumar Prasad had come to the airport to receive a person coming from Dubai. Both were arrested when the incoming passenger tried to give over 500 gms of gold to Prasad. Reacting to the reports, Tharoor, a Congress candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, posted on X, "While I am in Dharamshala for campaigning purposes, I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance. "He is a 72 year old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained on a part-time basis on compassionate grounds. I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action as may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course." While I am in Dharamshala for campaigning purposes, I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance. He is a 72 year old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 30, 2024 After the arrest, BJP's Thiruvananthapuram candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar has hit out at the Opposition alliance, INDIA. In a dig, Chandrasekhar posted on X, "First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling Now Cong MP "aide"/PA detained for Gold smuggling CPM and Cong - both INDI alliance partners - alliance of gold smugglers." Photo courtesy: Screenshot grab from X post Thiruvananthapuram/IBNS: In quite a rare occasion, monsoon has arrived in Kerala and the northeastern states of India earlier than expected time as well as simultaneously, media reports said. In general, monsoon enters Kerala on June 1 and enters the NorthEast a couple of days later. For a change, in 2023, monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 8. According to ANI, it has already started raining in the Kottayam district of Kerala. #WATCH | Kerala: Rain lashes several parts of Kottayam district As per IMD, Southwest Monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of Northeast India today, 30th May. pic.twitter.com/0ersoKXonI ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024 As per reports, the Cyclone Remal, which formed over the Bay of Bengal last week, is the cause of the early onset of summer in Kerala and NorthEast. Photo courtesy: Facebook/Arvind Kejriwal New Delhi/IBNS: A Delhi court has sought the Enforcement Directorate's response on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea in connection with the money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam, media reports said. Kejriwal on Thursday moved the Rouse Avenue Court seeking a regular bail. The next hearing will be held on June 1. The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to hear Kejriwal's bail plea seeking an extension of the interim bail- expiring on June 2- granted to him. Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case on March 21, was granted an interim bail by the Supreme Court till June 1, which marks the last date of polling in the Lok Sabha polls. The Supreme Court registrar said Kejriwal was given permission to move the trial court for regular bail, hence rejected the plea for extension. The central investigative agency asserts that he played a central role in the scam and was directly implicated in soliciting kickbacks from liquor barons. The Supreme Court said that Kejriwal would not be permitted to carry out his official responsibilities due to "may have a cascading effect" even if he is granted interim bail while in jail. In his first public comments after leaving jail, Kejriwal had thanked "all the judges of the top court". Photo courtesy: Amitav Ghosh Instagram and Screenshot grab from X video Mumbai/IBNS: Jnanpith Award winning writer Amitav Ghosh has expressed his anguish over the coastal road project in Mumbai calling it a "disaster" after reports of leakage in the tunnels within a few months since its inauguration surfaced. A report by Hindustan Times claimed there is already a leakage in the tunnel while monsoon is still a couple of weeks away from now. Water seepage spotted in the Mumbai Coastal Road Tunnel that was inaugurated 2 months ago. pic.twitter.com/LAT7151k8o Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) May 29, 2024 "On Monday evening, water could be seen dripping from the roof of the tunnels, while the walls had many dark spots where paint had chipped off due to the dampness," the report says. "Drip lines had formed from the dark spots till the floor, while the periphery of the holes were visibly damp. Water had pooled on the coastal road towards the Marine Drive-end of the tunnel, around 100 metres from its exit," it adds. Reposting it, Ghosh wrote on his X handle, "Completely predictable. Mumbai's coastal highway is a disaster in the making. But some construction companies made a lot of money so how does it matter...?" Completely predictable. Mumbai's coastal highway is a disaster in the making. But some construction companies made a lot of money so how does it matter...? https://t.co/jyZvJNlX1P Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) May 29, 2024 The Coastal Road, which is now partially opened, connects Worli to the Princess Street flyover. It was inaugurated on March 11. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday inspected the leakages amid worry for the Mumbaikars who are bracing the intense rainfall. "There were leakages in two to three expansion joints of the coastal road, and they will be plugged using polymer grouting. I have suggested polymer grouting on all 25 joints on each side of the tunnel to avoid water seepage even during the monsoon," Shinde said as quoted by India Today. Prior to his warning about the Coastal Road, Ghosh in his 2016 non-fiction book, titled The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable, had written about how the billboards would turn into deadly projectiles in Mumbai. In an almost materialisation of his warning, 17 people lost their lives after a huge billboard near a petrol pump in Ghatkopar fell on them during a dust storm earlier this month. On the same day, Ghosh had written on X, "In The Great Derangement I wrote that in the event of a major storm 'the thousands of billboards that encrust' Mumbai would turn 'into deadly projectiles'. "The recent storm was nowhere near as damaging as a major cyclone would be. Mumbai really needs to cut back drastically on billboards." Image Credit : Gan13166 via wikipedia.org New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will immerse in a 48-hour meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu, from May 30 to June 1 to mark the culmination of the BJPs Lok Sabha election campaign. The is a small rocky islet located about 500 meters from Kanyakumaris Vavathurai beach, the southern tip of mainland India, at the confluence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. It is also close to the monolithic statue of Tamil saint Tiruvalluvar mid-sea off the coast of Kanniyakumari PM Modi will meditate at Dhyan Mandapam, the same place where Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892. The Rock Memorial was constructed to honour the Hindu philosopher-saint. PM Modi's meditation at the Vivekananda Rock echoes his two-day visit to Uttarakhands Kedarnath shrine at the end of the 2019 election campaign, during which he undertook a 15-hour-long solitary meditation in a holy cave. Around 2,000 police personnel have been deployed in the area during PM Modi's stay. The PM is expected to remain in Kanniyakumari from Thursday evening until June 1. The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy have also been instructed to maintain a tight vigil, reported media. Today, Vivekananda Rock can be reached via a 15-minute ferry ride from Vavathurai. In 1892, however, Swami Vivekananda swam from the shores of Kanyakumari to the islet to meditate. His followers believe that he meditated there for three days and three nights, attaining enlightenment. Before this, Swami Vivekananda had spent four years traveling across India, and it was at Kanyakumari that he finally formulated his philosophy. When was the memorial built? On the eve of Swami Vivekanandas birth centenary in 1963, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee, led by RSS activist Eknath Ranade, initiated efforts to commemorate the visit of Swami Vivekananda to Shripada Parai on December 24, 25 and 26 1892 for meditation and enlightenment. The memorial on the rock was officially inaugurated by President V. V. Giri in 1970. Why did PM Modi choose the Vivekananda Rock for meditation? Prime Minister Modi has long regarded Swami Vivekananda as a role model. In his youth, he was a member of the Ramakrishna Mission, a spiritual and philanthropic organization established by Swami Vivekananda. During the Missions 125th anniversary celebrations last year, Modi stated, "Swami Vivekananda had a grand vision of India, and I am sure he is proudly watching India working to fulfill this vision." The choice of the Vivekananda Rock as the site for Prime Minister Modis meditative retreat particularly signifies his strong focus on the South during this years Lok Sabha campaign. More than a third of the prime ministers trips to the South have taken place in the last three years, including seven visits to Tamil Nadu in 2024 alone. Photo courtesy: wikipedia.org Mumbai: A Mumbai court on Thursday convicted gangster Chhota Rajan in the murder case of hotelier Jaya Shetty in 2001 and sentenced him to life imprisonment, media reported. The verdict was delivered by Special Judge AM Patil, who presides over cases under the Maharashtra Control Of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). DESIGNATED COURT SENTENCES ACCUSED RAJENDRA SADASHIV NIKALJE ALIAS CHHOTA RAJAN TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITH FINE OF Rs 16 LAKH IN JAYA SESU SHETTY MURDER CASE pic.twitter.com/BqLQy9hPev Central Bureau of Investigation (India) (@CBIHeadquarters) May 30, 2024 Jaya Shetty, the proprietor of the Golden Crown hotel in central Mumbai's Gamdevi area, had been receiving extortion calls from Chhota Rajan's gang. He was shot dead inside his hotel by two members of the gang on May 4, 2001. Despite receiving threats, Jaya Shetty's security cover provided by the Maharashtra police was withdrawn two months before the murder. Chhota Rajan has been incarcerated in Delhi's Tihar Jail since his deportation to India following his arrest in Indonesia in October 2015. As per reports from TOI, two assailants were responsible for the fatal shooting of Jaya Shetty. Following the incident, the hotel manager and an employee chased and managed to nab one of the shooters. Chhota Rajan alias Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje gained attention last year for challenging filmmaker Hansal Mehta and the owners of Matchbox Shots LLP, the producers of the web series 'Scoop' in Bombay High Court. Rajan filed a suit, alleging unauthorized use of his image and voice in the series. He became aware of this when his wife saw the series trailer and brought it to his attention. Rajan argued that this amounted to a breach of his rights since the filmmaker had not sought his permission. He sought a permanent injunction from the court to prevent the producers from releasing the series. The Netflix series traced the events involving journalist Jigna Vora, who was accused of murdering a fellow journalist Jyotirmoy Dey (J Dey). The Maharashtra MCOCA court found Chhota Rajan aka Abhay guilty of the murder of journalist J. Dey on 2 May 2018 and handed him life imprisonment. Photo Courtesy: BNM X page The Baloch National Movement recently held demonstrations in Amsterdam against Pakistans nuclear weapons tests in Balochistan. During the rally, the protesters carried placards and banners with slogans condemning Pakistans nuclear weapons tests, the genocide of the Baloch nation, and the nuclear explosions in the Chagai area of Balochistan on May 28, 1998, BNM said in a statement on Wednesday. Addressing protesters, Baloch National Movement activist Dr. Latif Baloch said May 28 is regarded as a dark day for Balochistan. He explained that the nuclear tests in Chagai have severely harmed both the environment and human health, leading to increased cases of cancer, skin diseases, lung and liver diseases, typhoid, and other deadly illnesses, as per BNM website. Baloch said the purpose of the protest was to highlight the detrimental effects of the nuclear tests in Balochistan on a global level. He alleged Pakistan has threatened world security by assisting other countries in acquiring nuclear power. Basit Baloch criticized the international communitys silence and indifference towards Pakistans nuclear weapons tests in Chagai and other parts of Balochistan. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay The 48-page report, I Escaped with Only My Life: Abusive Forced Evictions in Pakistan, documents widespread and abusive forced evictions that disproportionately affect the most economically and socially marginalized communities in Pakistan. The authorities have evicted thousands of people without adequate consultation, notice, compensation, resettlement assistance, or means of redress in violation of their basic rights. The Pakistani government urgently needs to reform its colonial-era land laws so that they are equitable, transparent, and in line with Pakistans international obligations, said Saroop Ijaz, senior Asia counsel at Human Rights Watch. The authorities should ensure that no one is made homeless due to eviction, compensate the loss of land, and provide for the resettlement of those displaced. Human Rights Watch interviewed 36 victims of forced evictions in the cities of Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi, as well as lawyers advocating for the rights of those evicted and urban planners, and reviewed court decisions and laws governing Pakistans land tenure system. In the vast majority of mass eviction cases documented, the authorities failed to provide adequate consultation, notice, and a means of redress. During many evictions the police used unnecessary or excessive force to remove tenants, including beatings, arbitrary arrests, and destruction of personal property. The governments promotion of the development projects as serving important public functions does not lessen the avoidable harm to those affected or the governments international legal obligations to address those harms. Many of those evicted, in addition to losing their homes, frequently lose their livelihoods and access to essential public services, such as schools and health care. These practices worsen social and economic inequalities, disproportionately burdening people and households with low incomes, and who often are ethnic minorities. Pakistans colonial-era Land Acquisition Act of 1894 has provided the template for public land acquisition in the country more than a century later. The law permits Pakistani authorities to acquire land for vaguely defined public purposes, which may include use by public-private partnerships and even private, for-profit companies. The law and others based on it gives the government almost exclusive authority to decide what falls within its scope and to displace people with minimum procedural safeguards that are contrary to international human rights law and standards. The government frequently asserts that removing structures that encroach on public lands or state property is both necessary and justified. Encroachment is also a crime under several provincial and regional laws, and those convicted face fines or even prison sentences. But interviews with those who have been forcibly displaced in such operations indicate that there is little consistency and often less rationale behind the use of anti-encroachment as a justification for evictions. In one example, the family of Bashir Husain had been running a small shop in a Karachi market for 70 years and paid timely rent to the local government municipal corporation, as well as utility bills and taxes. But in 2018, the authorities demolished Husains family shop as part of an anti-encroachment drive. How can my shop be an encroachment? he said. Since the 1950s we have paid rent to the government. How long does it take for something not to be an encroachment? Three generations of my family have run this shop. Governments are empowered to expropriate land, including evicting people from their property, for the public interest and other exceptional circumstances. However, to be lawful, evictions must be carried out in accordance with domestic law, and international human rights law and standards. International law defines a forced eviction as the permanent or temporary removal against their will of individuals, families, or communities from homes, business premises, or land without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection. Human Rights Watch found that the authorities frequently fail to ascertain land rights of residents beforehand and provide little if any compensation. In some cases, the police arrest and prosecute those who resist without a lawful basis. Other contributing factors that facilitate abuse include corruption in land acquisition; impunity for police who carry out abusive evictions; and poor land registration mechanisms that make it difficult for victims of forced evictions to prove ownership. Some Pakistani authorities have attempted to address the problem; in January 2023 the Sindh provincial government enacted the Sindh Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy 2022, Pakistans first. However, the real test is ensuring that the policy is carried out effectively, Human Rights Watch said. Pakistans government should ensure that projects intended to benefit the population are achieved hand-in-hand with the law, Ijaz said. Any necessary resettlements should be planned and carried out in a lawful and orderly way that respects peoples rights to housing, livelihoods, and safety. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay The residents of Shorkot recently demonstrated unscheduled power cut in the region. They set on fire old tyres and blocked the main Indus Highway to traffic coming from Peshawar and other areas to Dera Ismail Khan and Sindh, reported Dawn News. A large number of women participated in the event. The protesters chanted slogans against Pesco authorities for subjecting them to prolonged power outages in the hot weather, Dawn News reported. They asked the government to ensure the duration of loadshedding is reduced. They warned of more protests if the duration is not reduced. Potatoes were first cultivated nearly 8,000 years ago, and since then have found their way into homes across the globe. Potatoes' versatility and deliciousness are what make them so popular all over the world. Fry them, boil them, bake them - there are countless ways to cook a potato. From hearty meals to healthy sides, you can never go wrong with a potato dish! So it came as no surprise to anyone when last year announced May 30th would be recognised as International Day of Potato. Also Read: Satisfy Your Cravings With The Perfect Chai Time Snack: Korean Cheese Corn southernliving.com Popular Potato Dishes Across The World Globally, potato is the third most-cultivated food crop after wheat and rice. So, let's explore 9 of the most diverse and unique potato dishes that people love to eat and the countries they originated in. 1) French Fries (Belgium/France) Everyone is familiar with classic french fries but nobody is certain of their origin. Some say the delicious snack first appeared in France while others claim Belgium as their birthplace. French fries are made from deep-fried potatoes that have been cut into thin strips. Although classic french fries are just salted, nowadays people have started experimenting with their shapes as well as their flavourings and toppings. 2) Patatas Bravas (Spain) hoelangkoken.com Originating in Madrid, Patatas Bravas are one of the most common Spanish tapas that you can find in almost every bar in the country. Cubed, fried and drizzled with lemon juice and a garlicky aioli, these crispy potatoes make for a yummy and flavourful snack that's perfect for sharing. 3) Gnocchi (Italy) Gnocchi is a pasta dish that originated in Northern Italy. Traditionally the gnocchi dough is made with cooked mashed potatoes, flour and eggs. The pasta dough is then divided into small pieces and made into dumplings. The soft dumplings are boiled and then typically combined with a tomato, ragu or butter sauce to create a wholesome and filling meal. 4) Poutine (Canada) travelwithbender.com Poutine is Canada's take on the classic french fries recipe. The dish comes in many variations but french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy is the concept. Poutine first emerged in Quebec in the late 1950s, it is served immediately after combining the main three components to maintain the crispy texture of the fries. Also Read: International Hummus Day: Here's An Easy Recipe For Every Meal Of The Day 5) Rosti (Switzerland) Rosti is a Swiss dish championing potatoes that are coarsely grated and then either sauteed or shallow-fried in a pan. Originally a popular breakfast option it is now served as a side dish and not considered a complete meal. Although traditionally the Rosti is made only with potatoes, sometimes ingredients like bacon, onion, cheese, apple or fresh herbs are also added. 6) Gamja Jeon (South Korea) mykoreankitchen.com Gamja-jeon is simply a Korean-style potato pancake, made by pan-frying finely grated potato with oil until golden brown. Crunchy on the outside and chewy and soft on the inside, these pancakes are an amazing savoury option if you are bored of the classic sweet ones. Gamja-jeon is a perfect snack as it gets ready in no time with just a handful of ingredients. 7) Ellinikos Lemoni Patatas (Greece) Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside Ellinikos Lemoni Patatas (Greek lemon potatoes) is a traditional and simple side dish. A Greek take on the classic baked potato, Ellinikos Lemoni Patatas is made after combining fresh oven-roasted potatoes with a tart lemon marinade and topped with fresh herbs. Celebrate this International Day of Potato by taking a food tour across the world riding on the back of potatoes. Take your taste buds for a spin by taking them somewhere international and enjoy these delicious delights from the comfort of your home! Also Read: Did You Know? These 5 Street Foods Are Actually Healthy For more on travel, culture and health from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle. Mukesh Ambani might be spending crores of rupees to host this lavish cruise bash beginning in Italy for his son Anant Ambani and to-be daughter-in-law Radhika Merchant, but you know, you could visit the coastal paradise too and in much less money! Ambanis' Cruise Pre-Wedding Celebration: How Much Does A Wedding Function On A Cruise Cost?/X If you're in the mood of spending your summer days the Italy way, here's a complete 10-day itinerary for you. Some travel enthusiasts might say it cannot be explored in less than 2 weeks, don't worry, we have something for everyone. Read on. A 10-day itinerary of Italy Day 1-3: Rome Spend three days exploring the Eternal City, Rome. Visit iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Pantheon. Explore Vatican City and marvel at the art and architecture of St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums. Wander through the charming streets of Trastevere and enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at local trattorias. Day 4-6: Amalfi Coast Travel to the stunning Amalfi Coast and base yourself in the picturesque town of Positano. Relax on the beautiful beaches and soak up the Mediterranean sun. Explore the historic center of Amalfi and visit the stunning Duomo. Take a boat tour along the coast to discover hidden coves and grottos. Spend a day hiking the scenic trails of the Path of the Gods or exploring the charming town of Ravello. Day 7-9: Cinque Terre Journey north to the enchanting Cinque Terre region. Spend three days exploring the colorful villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Hike along the picturesque coastal trails that connect the villages and enjoy breathtaking views of the Ligurian Sea. Relax on the beaches and swim in the crystal-clear waters. Sample fresh seafood and local wines at seaside trattorias. Take a boat tour to admire the coastline from the sea and visit the nearby towns of Portovenere and Lerici. Bonus Days: Day 10: Florence Travel to the Renaissance city of Florence and spend a day exploring its iconic landmarks, including the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, and Ponte Vecchio. Enjoy gelato from one of the city's renowned gelaterias and indulge in traditional Tuscan cuisine at local restaurants. And, fly back to your home country! freepik/ Pinterest If you're one of those who think 10 days are not enough in Italy, add a few days explore the below mentioned destinations. Day 11: Tuscany Explore the charming towns of the Tuscan countryside, such as Siena, San Gimignano, and Montepulciano. Visit a local winery for wine tasting and a traditional Tuscan lunch. Admire the rolling hills and vineyards of the region and soak in the peaceful atmosphere. Day 12: Venice Travel to the enchanting city of Venice and spend a day exploring its iconic landmarks, including St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, and the Grand Canal. Take a gondola ride along the picturesque canals and explore the charming neighborhoods of Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, and San Polo. venice Day 13: Departure Depart from Venice, bringing an end to your unforgettable coastal adventure in Italy. This 10-day itinerary offers travelers the perfect balance of exploration and relaxation, with ample time to immerse themselves in the beauty and culture of coastal Italy. For more on lifestyle, astrology and health from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle. Season 3 of Prime Video's lighthearted show Panchayat is receiving immense love from both audiences and critics, just like it did when its first season was released in 2020. Fast forward to 2024, and it remains one of India's most-loved shows. With the much-anticipated third season now available, Panchayat Season 3 has taken the internet by storm. Recently, a fan-made video surfaced on social media, featuring an intriguing trailer that reimagines the series as a horror show, leaving netizens thoroughly impressed. Panchayat Season 3 Fan Trailer Reimagined As A Horror Show The fan-created trailer begins with Jitendra's character arriving in the village of Phulera by bus. The scene quickly shifts to him alone in a dark, unlit room, setting a mysterious tone. As the video continues, we see him unravelling a mystery, with the iconic 'lauki scene' taking centre stage. The trailer introduces Banrakas, known for his popular dialogue Dekh Rahe Ho Binod? The fan editor cleverly transforms Jitendras attempts to leave the village into a chilling sequence, adding a horror twist. The trailer concludes with the protagonist confronting an unknown figure and asking, Kaun? The fan also replaced the series' melodious background music with a thrilling and spooky soundtrack, making viewers stay glued to the trailer. The edited trailer was shared with the caption, What if Panchayat was a horror show? Trailer edit #Panchayat #PanchayatOnPrime, sparked curiosity among fans. Netizens were quick to react, highlighting the power of music in creating suspense. One user commented, Its all a game of background music!!! Screenshots From X "You understand the sheer power of video editing here the quick cuts, the lighting background scenes added with that background score And the Hindi font is fire too! Leaves lasting impression," another user commented. One X user who did not like the edited trailer that much said, "Sorry, but jab tak ladki aur bacche idhar udhar koodte faandte nahin dikhenge tab tak horror feeling aa hi nahin sakta... Kyunki bhoot bhi ladki yaa bacchon pe hi chimat ta hai. Still Frpm Panchayat Season 3/X Panchayat season 3 marks the return of Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Faisal Malik, and Chandan Roy, along with new cast members in pivotal roles. Also read: Once Slept On Railway Stations, Faisal Malik AKA Prahlad From Panchayat 3 Finally Gets His Due! For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari: Imagine a place where the land meets the sea, where history and spirituality blend seamlessly, and where every sunrise and sunset paints a picture of serenity. This is the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, a unique destination that draws visitors from around the world. Standing proudly on a rocky island just off the southernmost tip of India, the memorial is not just a monument but a tribute to one of Indias greatest spiritual leaders, Swami Vivekananda. In 1892, Swami Vivekananda swam across the turbulent waters to this rock to meditate and seek divine inspiration. It was here that he experienced a profound spiritual awakening, which later propelled him to introduce Indian philosophy and Yoga to the Western world. Today, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial stands as a symbol of his enduring legacy and a beacon of peace and enlightenment. Visitors to this iconic site are treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding ocean, the tranquil sounds of waves crashing against the rocks, and a chance to walk in the footsteps of a great spiritual leader. Whether youre a history enthusiast, a spiritual seeker, or simply looking for a beautiful place to visit, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial offers something for everyone. Karthitravels In this guide, well provide you with everything you need to know to plan your visit, from the timings and ticket prices to the best ways to experience this remarkable place. Join us as we explore the rich history, stunning architecture, and serene atmosphere of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari. PM Modi's two days meditation at Vivekananda Rock Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari for 45 hours, starting Thursday evening after the election campaign ends. For this significant event, 2,000 police officers and security personnel will ensure PM Modi's safety. His meditation will last from the evening of May 30th to the evening of June 1st. The memorial is a special site where Swami Vivekananda is believed to have received a divine vision. Also Read: National Youth Day 2024: Know Date, Theme, History, Celebration, Swami Vivekananda Quotes On His Birthday Tourist Restrictions During PM Modi's Visit During PM Modi's meditation, the beach will be closed to tourists from Thursday to Saturday, and private boats will not be allowed. PM Modi will arrive by helicopter, with a landing trial already done at the helipad. He will fly from Thiruvananthapuram to Kanyakumari in an MI-17 helicopter, arriving around 4:35 pm to witness the sunset before starting his meditation. He will leave Kanyakumari on June 1st at 3:30 pm. Significance of Vivekananda Rock Memorial The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a famous landmark in Kanyakumari, known for its beautiful views, historical importance, and spiritual significance. Located on a rocky island a short distance from the mainland, it is accessible by a scenic ferry ride. The memorial honors Swami Vivekananda, who meditated here in 1892. This experience inspired his journey to the World Religious Conference in Chicago, where he introduced Vedanta philosophy, Yoga, and meditation to the West. Designed by the renowned architect Eknath Ranade, the memorial combines traditional Indian and modern architectural styles. It features two main structures: the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam, connected by a corridor. Visiting Hours for Vivekananda Rock Memorial The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset. Here are the daily timings: Day & Timing Monday 8:00 am 4:00 pm Tuesday 8:00 am 4:00 pm Wednesday 8:00 am 4:00 pm Thursday 8:00 am 4:00 pm Friday 8:00 am 4:00 pm Saturday 8:00 am 4:00 pm Sunday 8:00 am 4:00 pm Ticket Prices for Vivekananda Rock Memorial Visiting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial is affordable: Entry Fee Rs. 20 per person Ferry Ride Rs. 50 per person Special Ferry Ticket Rs. 200 per person (for expedited boarding) Online Booking for Vivekananda Rock Memorial To ensure a smooth visit, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial offers online booking. Travelers can book their tickets in advance to avoid queues and enjoy a hassle-free experience. Visit the official website to make your bookings. Also Read: National Youth Day 2024: Top Inspiring Quotes By Swami Vivekananda Plan Your Trip to Vivekananda Rock Memorial Planning a trip to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari? Heres a guide for a seamless visit to this spiritual site: Check Timings: The memorial is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The memorial is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Purchase Tickets: Consider buying special ferry tickets online to save time. Consider buying special ferry tickets online to save time. Travel Arrangements: Arrive early to enjoy the tranquil morning atmosphere ideal for meditation and introspection. Arrive early to enjoy the tranquil morning atmosphere ideal for meditation and introspection. Respect Restrictions: Be aware of any closures or restrictions, especially during special events like PM Modis visit. The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a must-visit destination in Kanyakumari, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, historical importance, and spiritual significance. PM Modis Meditation at Kedarnath Cave In May 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a spiritual journey to the Kedarnath Cave in Uttarakhand. This peaceful and remote spot, set in the beautiful Himalayas, offered a perfect place for meditation and reflection. The Journey to Kedarnath Kedarnath is one of India's most sacred pilgrimage sites, known for its famous Kedarnath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Reaching the Kedarnath Cave involves traveling through rough mountain paths and often facing challenging weather. PM Modis journey was no different. He walked through the scenic yet difficult trails, showing his dedication to spiritual practice and connection with the divine. The Meditation Cave The meditation cave, called the "Rudra Meditation Cave," is a simple stone structure with basic amenities for a comfortable but modest stay. The cave offers stunning views of the Kedarnath Temple and the surrounding snowy mountains, creating a perfect environment for deep meditation. The peaceful nature of the place helps foster a sense of inner calm and reflection. PM Modis Experience PM Modi spent about 17 hours meditating in the Kedarnath Cave. He began his retreat on the evening of May 18th and finished the next morning. During this time, he stayed in silent contemplation, disconnected from the outside world, focusing solely on his spiritual practices. This retreat was not just a personal spiritual journey for PM Modi but also an inspiration for many. It highlighted the importance of taking time for self-reflection and spiritual growth, even with a busy schedule. His visit also drew attention to the peaceful beauty and spiritual significance of Kedarnath, encouraging others to visit and experience its tranquility. Significance of the Visit PM Modis meditation at Kedarnath Cave emphasized the rich spiritual heritage of India and the enduring importance of ancient practices like meditation and introspection. His retreat showed the value of connecting with nature and the divine to find inner peace and clarity. Fifteen years ago, Babita DCruz faced a heartbreaking prognosis: her baby would be born without limbs, and doctors urged her to reconsider the pregnancy. Despite the dire warnings, Babita trusted her maternal instincts and chose to proceed. Her faith was rewarded last week when her son, now 15, made her incredibly proud by scoring 83% on his exams. Wrote papers himself despite disability Joshua Betsalel DCruz was born exactly as the doctors had predicted: without his legs, a partially developed right arm, and an intact left arm. Also read: 'Caution - No Sympathy': Anamta Ahmed, Who Lost Her Right Arm At Age 13, Scores 92% In ICSE Boards 2024 Fast forward to today, and Joshua has his sights set on a future in computer science, having recently cleared the SSC exam with an impressive score of 82.8%. Joshua Betsalel DCruz/ BCCL He wrote all his papers using his left hand and used the two fingers on his right arm for geometry. In preparation for his board exams, Joshua's daily routine was a testament to his dedication. He woke up at 4 a.m. and studied for 14 hours a day, taking hour-long breaks every three hours to play the guitar. Defeted negative mindset & came out on top His school, Holy Cross High School in Bastora, also provided an inclusive environment that supported his needs. They even customised a special bench so Joshua's right hand could easily reach the table and installed ramps, a lift, and accessible toilets. "The nuns told me not to come to school and that they would assign duties to other students to assist him as they too had to learn. We would drop him at the gate in his wheelchair, and his friends would run to receive him. When we saw how beautifully the school handled everything, we were comfortable," his mother, Babita, shared with TOI. Joshua Betsalel DCruz/ Herald Goa Joshua handles negative comments with grace. "I smile, and they smile back. When they pass negative comments, I dismiss these as their opinions and dont let them trouble me. I find ways to come out of any negative mindset and depressing thoughts to make my day more productive," he said. "I believe my mind is enough to make me whole as a human," he shares with Herald Goa. Joshua's journey is a powerful reminder of the incredible strength of the human spirit and the importance of support and inclusion. In a recent incident, a woman of Indian origin residing in Canada encountered a daunting ordeal while attempting to return an Amazon package. This unsettling experience prompted her to realise and reflect on the privileges enjoyed by individuals back home in India. Cumbersome systems in Canada Instagram Selene Khosla recently shared a video on Instagram where she compared the return processes of Amazon in India and Canada. She highlighted the ease of returning items in India, where a delivery person picks up the parcel directly from your doorstep. In contrast, in Canada, customers are responsible for packing the item, printing the return label, and visiting the post office to send it back. Also read: Explained: Canada's Cap On New Study Permits & How It Will Impact Indian Students Canada post/ CTV News Montreal She said, "One of the cultural shocks I encountered after moving to Canada is that, unlike in India, where Amazon offers a 30-day return policy and the delivery person picks up the item, here you have to pack it yourself, print the label, and find a printer because no service delivers printouts to your home like Swiggy does in India!" Khosla expressed her frustration with the cumbersome process in Canada and praised the convenience provided by Amazon's return service in India. She says, "I now have immense appreciation for the systems in India and the Amazon delivery people who make returns so convenient." Watch her video here: 'No place like India': How people reacted The video swiftly gained traction, amassing 4.1 million views and over 253k likes. Among the flood of comments, one said, "NRIs and foreign students truly know the real value of India," while another echoed, "People start appreciating India only after they leave it." Another commenter remarked, "Hence proved - koi bhi desh perfect nahi hota," shedding light on the imperfections of every nation. Conversely, another perspective surfaced, suggesting, "I think the reason we have such services in India is also because people would work more for less than minimum wage. Unemployment is at an all-time high and people will take whatever they can." Amidst the discussion, one voice declared, "India is actually the best country to live. (traffic could be ignored)," while another simply proclaimed, "No place like INDIA." Even actor Aparshakti Khurana took notice of the video, expressing his sentiments with, "Indiaaaaaa indiaaaaaaa " What are your thoughts on the matter? For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Prepare to be amazed by the incredible tale of a bear with a sweet tooth like no other! After breaking into a man's car and snatching an Oreo for a tasty treat, this furry visitor couldn't resist the temptation for round two just days later. Hence proved; the love for the delicious cookie extends beyond humans to even the wildest of creatures. NBC In the Monrovia neighborhood of Los Angeles County, a bear has been causing quite a stir, particularly with its penchant for raiding homes in search of delectable desserts. On May 24, this bear brazenly broke into a residence on Canyon Crest Drive, absconding with a precious bag of Oreo cookies. Locals are convinced that these iconic treats are the preferred snack of this furry intruder. Oreos Captured on video by ABC 7 during the May 24 incident, the bear, now affectionately known as Oreo, skillfully exits the premises through a side window, proudly clutching a package of the beloved cookies in its jaws. Upon reaching the exit, the bear pauses to inspect its loot, indulging in a brief pawing session with the bag of cookies. According to reports from KTLA5, the very next day witnessed the bear making yet another bold foray into a residence, emerging victorious once more with a bag of Oreos. Before the house break-ins, the bear had boldly entered a homeowner's car to grab its favorite snacks. ABC Vina Khoury, a resident interviewed by KTLA5, revealed the rationale behind the bear's affectionate moniker, remarking, "That's why we named him Oreo... He's not just roaming around. He's actually going into the houses. So now, it's a very scary thing to leave a window open or your backyard door open or anything." Watch the video here: In an interview with KNBC, another resident expressed concern over Oreo's growing boldness, noting that the bear has become "too comfortable opening screens, getting inside the house, and pushing windows." Well. can we really blame the bear? With Oreos as the irresistible epitome of yum, who can resist their allure! For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. In a world where releasing pent-up frustration through shouting, kicking, or screaming was once reserved for private moments, this behavior has now spilled into public spaces, garnering widespread attention as it goes viral. This new phenomenon is aptly termed: rage rituals. Rage rituals/ News9live In America and European countries, there's a brand new trend gaining momentum: rage rituals. This latest internet sensation sees women shelling out thousands of dollars to take part in screaming ceremonies and object-smashing sessions, often held in the heart of the forest. Tailored specifically for women, these gatherings provide a space for them to release their pent-up anger by letting out screams and shouts. Rage rituals/ NY Post The loud noises serve as a cathartic outlet, helping to alleviate feelings of anger and frustration. Leading the charge in the United States is Mia Banducci, a cybersecurity engineer and social media personality who organises these events. Participants are willing to fork out hefty sums, sometimes ranging from $7,000 to $8,000 (approximately Rs 6 lakh), for the opportunity to unleash their emotions. Kimberly Helms, who attended one of these gatherings, described the experience as nothing short of miraculous. She remarked on the rarity of seeing women openly express their anger in such a manner and expressed a profound sense of peace after taking part. Bored Panda Support for these rage rituals comes from Arthur Janov, a psychologist and psychotherapist based in the US, who suggests that venting anger can enhance one's overall capacity for happiness. As such, these events are emerging as a notable method for women to effectively manage their emotions and find inner peace in their lives. Do you think rage rituals could be beneficial in India? Would they become as popular here? Share your thoughts! For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Light rain fell in Delhi and its surrounding areas, providing much-needed reprieve amid a record-breaking heatwave with temperatures reaching 52.3 degrees Celsius. Residents of Delhi expressed relief and astonishment on social media as showers fell just hours after the city reached the highest temperature in India's history. What did people share on the internet? It poured in Delhi after a heatwave | Image: X People shared photos and videos of the overcast skies and rain on social media, causing a buzz of comments. Many people expressed their delight and confusion over the unexpected shift in weather, with posts depicting the joy of enjoying chilly drizzle following extreme heat. Also read: Delhi Records Hottest Day: 7 Warning Signs Of Heat Stroke To Avoid A Trip To The Hospital What is Delhi's weather like currently? The combination of record-breaking heat and subsequent rain showers has highlighted Delhi's present weather patterns, which are harsh and unpredictable. While the gentle drizzle provided brief relief, people are hoping for more frequent and refreshing rains to counteract the oppressive heat. During the heatwave, Delhi's peak power consumption reached an all-time high of 8,302 MW on Wednesday, according to power distribution officials. This is the first time in the history of the national capital that power demand has exceeded 8,300 MW. Also read: Delhi Faces Intense Heatwave, Netizens Share Relatable Memes How did people on the internet celebrate the Delhi rain? Many people shared the videos and images of the rain on social media, some started a memefest. Have a look at some of the posts here. Finally, some respite as Delhi pours with rain! pic.twitter.com/f0h6TAApoB AARIZ RIZVI (@AarizRizvi) May 29, 2024 The sound of falling drops on parched trees is the best music in the world#Delhi #Rain pic.twitter.com/PXWj5oQL0J Sonal Kalra (@sonalkalra) May 1, 2023 What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. They say rules are meant to be broken, right? However, the old adage doesnt specify the extent. Two local branch workers of a bank in the United States probably took this way too seriously and got away with it for almost a decade! Two Bank Employees Worked Only Half Days For 10 Years Without Getting Noticed! A bestselling author from the United States has recounted a remarkable true tale involving two employees at her neighborhood bank. Chelsea M Cameron shared pn X how these two women worked only half-days for ten years without detection. Their ability to escape scrutiny stemmed from being the sole workers at the branch, allowing them to leave early without being noticed by upper management. unsplash To ensure their deception went unnoticed, one of the women leaving at the end of her half-day shift wouldn't clock out. Instead, her coworker would clock her out when it was time for her shift to end. This arrangement continued for a decade before management finally caught on, leading to both of them being terminated from their positions. Also Read: Second Innings! Anil Ambani Shows How It's Done As Reliance Power Settles Debts Of Three Banks The Author Explained How These Ladies Carried Out This Ruse Without Raising Any Eyebrows Sometimes I think about the two women who were the only employees at one of our bank branches and for nearly TEN YEARS had been working half days and clocking each other out and no one noticed. They got fired eventually but honestly? That's on the bank, Cameron revealed on the social media platform X. I was helping out while one of them was on leave having surgery and I'd drive back to my regular branch after lunch and see the other's car parked in her driveway when she was supposed to be at the branch. Never said a word. Chelsea M. Cameron (@chel_c_cam) May 28, 2024 In the thread, she further explained that the two ladies had a rock solid system in place to ensure that they never get caught. The lobby was only open until noon or so, and they were supposed to stay until 4. So one would stay to work on projects and the other would leave and clock them both out. unsplash Cameron herself was employed at one of the bank's other branches, where she had a minimum wage job answering phone calls, as she disclosed in previous tweets. I was helping out while one of them was on leave having surgery and I'd drive back to my regular branch after lunch and see the other's car parked in her driveway when she was supposed to be at the branch. Never said a word, she said. All of my wildest work stories came from that job. Like the (married) loan officer who was taking out fraudulent loans along with his (married) assistant to buy drugs and would show up to work blitzed on coke. They were also having an affair. Chelsea M. Cameron (@chel_c_cam) May 28, 2024 Interestingly, the management never visited the branch which is why their elaborate plan to avoid working full time went unnoticed for over 10 years. No one from upper management ever paid attention or even went there. Turns out the building needed a bunch of repairs after they left that had been ignored for years, said Cameron. Eventually, however, the two women were dismissed from their positions, she said. In a significant move to bolster bilateral ties, Greece and Qatar have signed two new agreements, marking a milestone in their strategic partnership. The signing took place during a high-profile meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the Maximos Mansion. Prime Minister Mitsotakis underscored Greeces developmental strides and engaged in discussions on regional issues, particularly those affecting the Middle East. The Qatari Emir, on his inaugural official visit to Greece, expressed optimism about the potential for enhanced economic and investment relations between the two nations. The leaders dialogue at the outset of their meeting highlighted a shared commitment to economic collaboration. Mr. Mitsotakis warmly welcomed the Emir, saying hi visit presented a prime opportunity to fortify economic ties with Qatar. Sheikh Tamim expressed gratitude for the invitation and anticipation for the talks, emphasising the historical bonds and the prospects for strengthening economic and investment relations. He also noted the importance of discussing regional issues, with a particular focus on the situation in Gaza. The agreements a Military Cooperation Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding for political consultations are seen as a testament to the deepening relationship between Greece and Qatar, with an emphasis on economic cooperation and investment opportunities. iefimerida.gr Kostas Synolakis, a leading expert in natural disasters, has outlined a formidable, though improbable, seismic scenario. Speaking on ERTs Studio 4, Mr. Synolakis discussed the potential for a significant seismic event along the Greek arc. The expert pointed to historical data to support the possibility, however remote, of an earthquake reaching a magnitude of 8.5 on the Richter scale He cited the massive earthquake that struck western Crete in 365 AD, which led to the decline of Alexandria as a global city due to a subsequent tsunami. The earthquakes magnitude can be inferred from geological uplifts still visible today. For instance, at the Falasarna beach in western Crete, an ancient harbour now sits 8 metres above sea level, and in Sfakia, the old coastline has risen by 2 metres. These geological shifts are visible to the naked eye, not just to geologists, Mr. Synolakis explained. The size of the earthquake is calculated based on these observations What kind of earthquake could cause such displacements that we still see today, and what was its magnitude? Mr. Synolakis asked. The answer is approximately 8.5 degrees. Its a statistical scenario because it has happened before. Its an indication, not a prediction. The fact that it has happened in the past is an indication that it could happen again. The professors statements have sparked discussions on Greeces preparedness for such a natural disaster, given the historical precedent and the physical evidence that underscores the regions seismic potential. iefimerida.gr Greece almost declared bankruptcy in 2015 because at some point the prevalent idea was that money was plentiful and "we could promise everyone everything, without any costing - and citizens believed it," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday in Pyrgos, western Greece, referring to the main opposition party. "We will never, ever, return to those times," Mitsotakis told the public during a tour of the city He also urged people to vote during the European elections on June 9, and not be complacent about voting. "We must never allow those - who never changed, who adopt the same toxicity, the same populism, the same provocativeness in regard to what they promise you - to reclaim any dynamic at these elections. Because we must never roll back, or give the impression there is even the slightest chance of returning to what we left behind us forever," Mitsotakis said. New Democracy must win in order to continue to work hard, recognizing its mistakes, to improve daily life and bring the country's standard of living closer to Europe, he said. iefimerida.gr The discovery of a cargo ship that sank in 1976, claiming nine lives after a collision near the Corinth Canal, has been confirmed in the Megara Gulf. The vessel, identified as the Mini Lord, was found tilted at a four-degree angle to the port side with a visible hole in its hull, according to marine researcher Kostas Thoktaridis, who spoke to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency. On November 20, 1976, the Mini Lord, transporting iron from Italy , was bound for Piraeus for refueling. It collided with the Costis TAF, another freighter traveling from Perama to Slovenia . The impact on the port side from the Costis TAF caused the Mini Lord to sink within minutes, along with its eight crew members. Despite immediate search and rescue efforts by nearby ships and the coast guard, none of the crew were recovered. A subsequent investigation attributed the collision to the Mini Lords captain, who reportedly failed to notice the Costis TAF while on a VHF call, veering sharply to the left only moments before the accident. iefimerida.gr Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, on Wednesday, appealed to organised labour to be considerate and patriotic in their demands. This is as it concerns the ongoing negotiation for a new national minimum wage between the Federal Government (FG) as well as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). She made the appeal in a statement signed by the Ministrys Director of Press and Public Relations, Olajide Oshundun, in Abuja. Advertisement According to her, FG had consistently taken steps to secure a fair and realistic wage for Nigerian workers. She, therefore, urged labour to recognise that the nations economy is still on the path of recovery from the effect of the pandemic and other economic distress. We appeal to organised labour and indeed, other relevant stakeholders to be considerate and patriotic in their demands, recognising that our economy is still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic and other global economic shocks. We are committed to putting the people first and ensuring that our economic policies benefit all Nigerians, not just a select few. The government remains dedicated to prioritising the well-being of our citizens and it want to urge all relevant parties to demonstrate patriotism and understanding. This is particularly during this critical period when the President, Bola Tinubu, is working diligently to revitalise the economy, she said. READ ALSO: Ill Only Sing Arise O Compatriots National Anthem Obiageli Ezekwesili Declares The Minister, therefore, said the government recognised that the economic challenges faced by Nigerians were complex and multifaceted, and called for a collective effort of all stakeholders to overcome them. She added that the meeting with organised labour was a significant step in the ongoing efforts to secure a fair and realistic wage for Nigerian workers. As a government, we recognise the importance of ensuring that our citizens receive a decent standard of living, and we are committed to making this a reality. After hours of intense negotiations, labour leaders took a recess to consult with other key stakeholders and have pledged to return to the negotiating table for further discussion. We welcome this development and are optimistic that our continued engagement will yield a positive outcome. In light of the current economic conditions, we have made a concessionary move from N57,000 to N60,000, she added. She noted that the increase was a demonstration of governments willingness to listen to the concerns of labour and work towards a mutually beneficial agreement. We understand that the current economic landscape is challenging, and we are doing everything in our power to mitigate its effects on our citizens, she assured. The Federal Government on Tuesday added a sum of N3,000 to its initially proposed N57,000 minimum wage, making it N60,000. However, the organised labour insisted on N494,000, removing N3,000 from its earlier N497,000 demand. Otaghware Otas Onodjayeke, also known as I Go Save, a Nigerian comedian, has queried the federal government. This is in light of President Tinubus recent decision to revert to the old national anthem, Nigeria we hail thee. He questioned whether the government could reinstate old currency values, old gasoline prices, old flight prompt operating schedules, old taxation, previous security standards, and more. Advertisement READ MORE: Ruth Kadiri Calls On FG Over Immunization Vaccines Shortage At Hospitals Taking to his Instagram story section on Thursday, he wrote, Since una don bring back old national anthem, can you people bring back our old dollar price, old fuel price, old flight prompt operating style, old taxation, old security standards, etc.. SEE POST: A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State, on Wednesday, ordered the interim forfeiture of the sum of $1.4 million linked to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. Justice Ayokunle Faji ordered the forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government of Nigeria. He also ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper, so that anyone interested in the money sought to be forfeited will appear before the Court and show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the said sum should not be made. Advertisement The court made the above orders while granting an ex-parte application moved by the counsel to the EFCC, Bilikisu Buhari-Bala. The money forfeited in the interim is said to be in Donatone Limiteds account and domiciled in Titan Bank Limited. Justice Faji however adjourned the matter to June 25 for a hearing of the final forfeiture of the money. At th proceedings, Buhari-Bala told the court that the orders sought are pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-related Offences Act No. 14, 2006, and Section 44 (2)(B) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She also said that the court had the statutory powers under the provisions of section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 to grant the reliefs being sought. That the funds sought to be forfeited are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, she said. Buhari-Bala also told the court that the motion exparte is supported by an affidavit deposed to by one David Jayeoba, an investigator with the EFCC. In the affidavit, the deponent stated that his commission received credible and directed intelligence which led to the tracing of funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities warehoused in the Donatone Limited (DL). READ ALSO: Emefiele To Forfeit $4.7m, N830m, Properties, Others To FG He stated that investigation revealed that some of the brains behind the fraudulent concealment of funds reasonably suspected to have been proceeds of unlawful activities of Emefiele are Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi, who are directors at Donatone Limited. The deponent further stated the following: Between 2021 and 2022, when accessibility to Forex in Nigeria was difficult, several international entities operating in Nigeria had to resort to different means to source Forex. That Uzeobo Anthony and Adebanjo Olurotimi used the firm, to collect bribes and gratification on behalf of Godwin Emefiele, to get approval for accessing Forex. And that one of the entities (NP) paid a total sum of $26,552 million USD, into the account of a firm domiciled in Titan Trust account number 2000000500. That the said credits came into the account of firm on November 9, 2021: $6,450,000; November 5, 2021: $6,050,000.00; December 16, 2021: $5,400,000.00; December 23, 2021: $652,000; January 31 2022; $3,000,000.00 and September 21, 2022: $5,000,000.00. The investigation traced the funds to having been fixed into interest-yielding accounts, dissipated and laundered through a foreign account in Mauritius, and transported back to Nigeria under disguise. That of the total sum of $26, 555, 000.00 US dollars received by firm, the balance standing in the said account as at today is the sum of $1, 426, 175.14 million USD. That it is the balance in the account that the applicant seeks to forfeit to the Federal Government of Nigeria, which has been traced to be the proceeds of unlawful activities of (GE) and his cronies. And that investigation further revealed that the international entities sourcing for forex were pressured into parting with huge funds to access forex during the period. That the signatories to the account warehousing the sum of $1, 426, 175.14 million USD, sought to be forfeited are at large and are making frantic efforts to dissipate the funds electronically. And that based on our investigation findings, the funds sought to be forfeited are proceeds of unlawful activities of (GE) and his cronies. And that it is in the interest of justice to grant this application. It would be recalled that Justice Yelim Bogoro had on May 25, 2024, ordered interim forfeiture of $4.7m, N830m, and some properties assets linked to Emefiele. Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, on Wednesday, lamented the vicious activities of rampaging bandits in the State. Speaking at a press briefing for his one year in office, the Governor disclosed that his elder brother was killed by bandits. Advertisement He stated that the news of bandits attacks in the beleaguered North-West State makes him sick at heart and fills him with sorrow. My saddest moment is when I receive calls that people were killed, houses burnt and women raped by bandits in a particular village. The only way to appreciate that is to put yourself in their shoes, and you will feel it. I have developed that feeling and it remained with me because my senior brother was killed by bandits. He left behind three wives and 27 children, he said. READ ALSO: Emir Tussle: CJN Invites Judges Over Conflicting Orders The Governor stated that many of the local government areas under the siege of the bandits have been liberated, noting that when his administration assumed office, 22 out of the 34 Local Governments were severely affected by insecurity. He noted that the creation of the community security watch corps by the state government has helped to check the menace of banditry. The Governor added that due to the immense heat that have been turned on on the criminals, they have now resorted to go after residents of hard-to-reach enclaves at night, making it difficult for the security operatives to respond easily. He further advocated the creation of state police in the country, saying: Before I became governor, I was a critic of the state police. It is now that I see the importance of that. Radda further said that bad eggs in society are affecting the ongoing efforts in the fight against insecurity in the state. There was a village head who was arrested for collecting N700,000 to allow bandits to attack the village and kill over 30 people, he said Kate Henshaw, a Nollywood actress, has expressed disappointment with the present administrations decision to reintroduce the old national anthem. She specifically criticised the timing of the change, questioning how returning to the old anthem would address the countrys economic woes. The actress decried the countrys excoriating hardship and lack of good governance on every level. Advertisement On her X handle, she sarcastically wrote: In the midst of excoriating hardship & lack of good governance on every level but not to worry, going back to a colonial anthem will be a soothing balm and inject patriotism back into our veins, a much needed drug. READ MORE: He Has Deteriorating Brain Disease, Desperate Politicians Exploiting His Medical Condition Charly Boy Responds To Soyinkas Comment On Obi In another post, Henshaw wrote, The labour of our heroes past o ti lo [is gone]. It should be noted that President Bola Tinubu signed the National anthem Bill 2024 into law on Wednesday, which reinstated the ancient song, Nigeria, We Hail Thee. SEE POST: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, posited that no foreign aid will help Nigeria unless citizens unite to build the country. Addressing a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja, Tinubu insisted that no institution or personality would help the country grow except the citizens. Advertisement His words: You sang out the latest national anthem, Nigeria we hail thee. This is our diversity, representing all people, and how we pledge together to be brothers and sisters. Without this house, I probably would not have found a path to the presidency; I started it all from here. That is why I have given that respect to you this morning and will continue to collaborate with you to build our country together. READ ALSO: Tinubu Approves Free Ride On Abuja Metro Rail Till December 31 We have no other choice. No other institution or personality will help us, except we do it ourselves. No amount of aid from foreign countries can help us. Let us work together to build our nation, charting a new path. Tinubu further thanked the lawmakers for building up this institution to this level. Our friends, old and new, to every Nigerian, I say congratulations on 25 years of unbroken democracy. You are the foremost leaders who speak for our people and have been at the forefront of this struggle, he added. The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday, said the reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration is repositioning Nigeria for a future of greatness. This was contained in a statement issued by Felix Morka, APCs spokesperson which congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the Presidents administration. According to Morka, the current hardships will not be for nothing but will result in future benefits for Nigeria, adding that the administration will remain committed to prioritising the welfare of its citizens. Advertisement The statement read in part: We applaud Mr. President for keeping faith with the Renewed Hope Agenda, striving with unmatched zeal and vigour to deliver on his cardinal electoral promise to oversee the full restoration and revitalisation of all aspects of our countrys social, political, economic life. Undaunted by prevalent deep-seated and existential challenges confronting the nation prior to his inauguration, the President stepped up with courage and bold determination to remake the fundamentals by tackling those challenges at their deepest roots. From huge interventions to boost food security to drastic revamping of the security architecture and infrastructure to increased funding and reform of the health sector, the administration is steadily reclaiming lost ground and repositioning Nigeria for a future of greatness. Announcing the termination of the fuel subsidy regime in his inaugural speech, the President dealt a decisive blow against what was probably the most potent threat to Nigerias economic survival. READ ALSO: Tinubu Taking Nigeria Back To Old Anthem Is His Most Profound Act Akpabio In the same intrepid manner, the President approved the harmonisation of existing multiple foreign exchange regimes that had become a gaping drain and massive damper to economic growth and development. This was quickly followed with a slew of other critical reforms, including the Oyelede Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy Reform; reconstituting the leadership of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); directing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to remit its dollar earnings to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), waging a beneficial war against crude oil theft and improving on the countrys oil exports and earnings. The APC spokesperson said Tinubus unmatched efforts to attract foreign direct and portfolio investments have brought tens of billions of US dollars into the nations economy during the first year. He added that the President has made an impressive impact in his first year by delivering high-quality infrastructure not only in Abuja but across the entire country. The recently flagged off 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will create jobs and boost tourism and economic development on completion. After decades of abandonement, the Sokoto-Badagry super-highway is now set to become a reality. The Abuja Metro rail; Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri rail; Ibadan-Abuja-Kaduna rail; Kano-Katsina-Maradi rail, and hundreds of roads and bridges across the federation are some of the landmark projects on the plate of this government. This president has governed with remarkable candour and forthrightness. He has been clear that some of the policies implemented by his administration will not be without pain especially for the poorest and most vulnerable citizens of our country. The President and our Party remain keenly aware and attentive to these difficulties, the statement continued. A giant sign with the company name in the Campbell Soup Co. headquarters in Camden. Read more Campbell Soup Co. is making changes to its supply chain, with plans to invest around $230 million at newer, more agile facilities through the 2026 fiscal year, to close a plant in Oregon, and to downsize a facility in Indiana, the company announced Tuesday. Campbell, which is headquartered in Camden, owns snack brands including Cape Cod, Goldfish, and Snyders of Hanover. As of last year, the company produced about 20% of the countrys supply of Goldfish at its Pepperidge Farm factory in Denver, Pa. Advertisement Some of the changes announced this week affects Campbells nearly 400,000-square-foot facility in Hanover, Pa., which is receiving a $72 million investment. The company is adding six additional kettles to the plant, which will allow it to produce 20 million more pounds of potato chips annually. To fuel growth and transform our manufacturing and distribution network, we must invest and further strengthen our supply chain, Dan Poland, the companys chief supply chain officer, said in a statement. The Hanover facility currently produces Snyders of Hanover pretzels, Late July tortilla chips, and potato chips for Kettle Brand and Cape Cod. The plant was established in 1989. Campbell started operating it when it purchased Snyders-Lance Inc. in 2018. Starting in July, production of kettle potato chips at the companys Jeffersonville, Ind., plant will be moved to the Hanover plant as well as another facility in Charlotte, N.C. The Jeffersonville plant going forward will specialize in production of tortilla chips for the Late July brand, as part of a downsizing of operations at that site. The company is also looking to add 72 jobs to the Hanover facility in food production, quality, and maintenance. Once the new workers are hired, the facility will employ around 950 people. Another change announced this week is the closure of a plant in Tualatin, Ore., which produces soup, broth, and plant-based beverages, and employs 330 workers. The facility was acquired in 2017 when Campbells purchased Pacific Foods for $700 million and is expected to close completely by July 2026. The aging facility and inefficient nature of the sites configuration can no longer support the increased consumer demand and continued growth of the business, reads a statement from the company referencing the Oregon facility. The production of items made at the Oregon plant will be moved to other facilities, according to the company. In addition to the investment in the Hanover plant, the company is spending $150 million at its Maxton, N.C., facility toward soup production and bringing in 100 new positions there. Campbell is also investing $8 million in its Franklin, Wisc., facility towards expanding the capacity of tortilla chips and creating 40 new roles. While the company plans to add new roles across its Maxton, Franklin, and Hanover facilities, 415 employees will be laid off as a result of the closure of the Oregon plant as well as the restructuring of the Jeffersonville facility. The announced supply chain restructuring comes as the company last year pledged to make a $50 million investment to upgrade and expand its Camden headquarters over three years. The move also entails bringing jobs from the North Carolina and Connecticut operations to the headquarters. The Port of Philadelphia welcomed a CMA CGM container ship at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in March. Philadelphias ports reported 743,000 container cargo units last year, up 80% over 2016 levels. Read more The competition for cargo on the Delaware River is heating up again. Not long ago, the company handpicked by Delaware in 2018 to run the Port of Wilmington and build a container terminal nearby was facing financial difficulties and forced by lenders to shake up its leadership team. But in the last year, the state hired a new port operator, secured some federal aid for its long-sought expansion, and just this month announced almost $200 million in state funding. Advertisement While Delaware hopes the historic $635 million project will create 6,000 new jobs, some Pennsylvania officials and businesses see a threat to Philadelphias ports 25 miles up the river. Pennsylvania may not have much of a say over the matter anymore, however. A Delaware board this month rejected a legal challenge from the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority a state agency known as PhilaPort that owns and leases terminals to private operators to an environmental permit for the port expansion project. Another party in that case, Philadelphia and South Jersey port operator Holt Logistics Corp., said it will appeal the decision. Holt has also filed a lawsuit challenging federal approvals for the project. Whether Delaware and its private partner, Boston-based Enstructure, are able to succeed in the states latest attempt at a megaproject will have big implications for a regional industry that generated an estimated $49 billion in economic activity in 2021, according to the most recent analysis performed for the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay. READ MORE: Truckers are raising alarms about unfair competition subsidized by taxpayers at Phillys port About 2,400 commercial vessels carrying steel, cement, paper, fruit, cars, and other staples of international trade navigated the rivers main channel last year to dock at area ports. The region will need additional capacity to maintain its status as a gateway for perishable cargo such as fruits and meats, especially as East Coast ports in the South such as Savannah have seen growth in that sector, experts said. This port complex meaning New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware has come under a lot of pressure from ports in the South Atlantic, said Susan Howland, a maritime industry consultant whos worked on projects in the region. I look at this new capacity as actually strengthening the regional ability to continue to grow and compete for the perishable cargoes. Container growth Neither Philadelphia nor Wilmington is considered a major player in the container business, in large part because their inland location means ships have to travel up to 100 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to reach them, increasing costs. While local officials cant change the ports location, they have made headway against another historical obstacle to growth: the Delaware Rivers naturally shallow channel, which has limited the size of ships that could traverse the waterway. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2021 completed construction of the deepening of the rivers channel from 40 feet to 45 feet a project 30 years in the making that cost Pennsylvania and federal taxpayers about $500 million. Delaware and New Jersey opposed the dredging and declined to help pay for it. Philadelphia and many other East Coast ports have seen increased container traffic since the 2016 expansion of the Panama Canal in Central America, which has allowed bigger ships to navigate the trade route that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Philadelphias ports reported 743,000 container cargo units last year, up 80% over 2016 levels. Contributing to that growth was the state of Pennsylvanias investment of more than $500 million in new cranes, warehouses, and other infrastructure upgrades for Philadelphias ports under Gov. Tom Wolf. Most of that was financed by the states issuance of general obligation bonds. About 203,000 container units moved through Philadelphia through March this year, up 10% over the same period in 2023 growth that was similar to competitor ports in New York, New Jersey, Georgia, and Virginia, according to data tracked by PhilaPort. Delaware responds Delaware saw a need to step up the competition. In 2017 Delawares taxpayer-owned Diamond State Port Corp. bought a former DuPont chemical plant in Edgemoor, seeking to build a new container terminal. In 2018, the state privatized its port after subsidizing operations at an annual loss of $10 million for years. Delaware leased its facilities to an affiliate of United Arab Emirates-based Gulftainer, which pledged to invest $584 million over 10 years to upgrade the Wilmington port and expand on the 115-acre site in Edgemoor. But the affiliate, GT USA Wilmington, quickly fell behind on lease payments to the state and racked up debts to creditors, who forced the company to replace its board members. While GT USA struggled, Pennsylvania officials tried to stop the Edgemoor project from getting off the ground. In 2021, the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority challenged an environmental permit, arguing that the expansion interferes with PhilaPorts navigation rights. The project includes a basin that will allow ships exiting the port to turn around to reach the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Because the basin stretches across the entire width of the rivers main navigation channel, it will impede traffic to Philadelphias facilities, the authoritys lawyers wrote in an appeal. Delawares Environmental Appeals Board denied the appeal earlier this month, saying PhilaPort and other appellants had failed to meet their burden. A PhilaPort spokesperson declined to comment. Meantime, last year Delaware terminated its deal with Gulftainer and solicited bids for a new operator drawing interest from Holt Logistics Corp., the Philadelphia port operator that was among the parties that challenged the environmental permit for the Edgemoor project. Around that time, PhilaPort officials also floated the idea of forming a regional alliance with Delawares port, according to the Delaware News Journal, and Delaware Gov. John Carney spoke with Wolf in late 2022 about seeking a more cooperative approach. A spokesperson for Carney didnt return a request for comment. Delaware rejected Holts bid and selected Enstructure, a privately owned company founded in 2016 that has since acquired marine terminals across the country. It recently partnered with asset manager Blackstone Credit to continue that growth. Carneys office said it expects construction to take three years. Enstructure will spend $335 million to pay for construction and equipment about half of that during the first phase of construction, which will include building a seawall and dredging, according to the governors office. The rest of the project will be built when business justifies the additional capacity, the governors office said in a news release. Enstructure didnt respond to a request for comment. One wrinkle: Enstructures strength is in handling unpackaged cargo thats transported in bulk, like oil and grains, and goods that dont fit in containers, like construction equipment. By contrast, Delaware wants Edgemoor to specialize in containers the giant metal boxes that have driven growth in global maritime trade for decades. Theyre not a container operating company, said Bob Blackburn, a former top PhilaPort official who was also a vice president for Gulftainers Wilmington affiliate. Thats not to say that with the resources they have they cant acquire those skills, and they may try to do that. But Blackburn said Enstructure will likely try to partner with a major ocean carrier or a terminal operator that has experience in the container business. Port Wilmington currently sees about 200,000 container units a year carrying Dole and Chiquita bananas though the state says it has the capacity to handle 400,000. Under the expansion plan, capacity would quadruple to 1.6 million units. Some analysts note that major ocean carriers are already investing in their own East Coast container facilities, raising the possibility that they could divert their Delaware River business to their own terminals. They say a new Delaware container port would exacerbate that threat. The Swiss shipping line Mediterranean Shipping Co. is developing a terminal in the Port of Baltimore, while French logistics company CMA CGM last year completed its acquisition of terminals in North Jersey and New York. Leo Holt, president of Holt Logistics, questioned the feasibility of Delawares project. According to Holt, major industry players have found that Edgemoor could cost up to $1.2 billion double Delawares estimate. If the state of Delaware is putting up the first $200 million, cobbling it together from lots of different pots and pans, wheres the next 400? And wheres the next billion coming from? he said. We love competition, he added, just bring money. Blackburn said Enstructure will have a better chance of succeeding than Gulftainer did, thanks in part to Delawares investment. At the end of the day it all comes down to money, he said, adding that the partnership sets a good precedent that this port area is worthy of investment. More broadly, the U.S. needs more container capacity, said John D. McCown, nonresident senior fellow at Virginia-based think tank Center for Maritime Strategy. Thirty-four U.S. ports handle containers, he said, and theyre moving four times as much cargo as they did 30 years ago. Container traffic has been shifting from West Coast to East Coast ports and will continue to do so for nothing other than cost economics, he said. Thinking long term Holt says the Edgemoor project isnt intended to attract new business to the river but rather to siphon existing business from upriver ports in the Philadelphia area, according to a lawsuit filed by the companys affiliates against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The suit, which seeks to block approvals granted by the Army Corps, says the Edgemoor project would significantly interfere with commercial shipping operations to the north. Edgemoor also will increase the likelihood of a collision or blockage in the channel, the suit says. The Army Corps of Engineers denied those allegations in court papers. Diamond State Port Corp., the Delaware agency that owns the land, told Delaware Currents in January that it wont be intimidated in its work to create jobs. If Pennsylvania elected officials are concerned about Delawares project, they arent saying so publicly. Spokespeople for Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, and State Sen. Nikil Saval, a Democrat whose district includes a major port facility in South Philadelphia, declined to comment. Daisy Confoy, a spokesperson for State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, a Democrat whose district overlaps with Savals, said the representative is confident that the Port of Philadelphia will continue to be a vital link in Americas supply chain going forward. Howland, the consultant, said she understands Holts concerns. You dont want to have capital investment competing with capital investment whether its public or private, she said. You need to find ways you can mitigate that. But private businesses are primarily concerned about capital theyve already invested, Howland said, rather than thinking long term, what are we going to need 10 years from now? Its up to political leaders to figure that out, Howland said: That would take a considerable amount of leadership from the governors to make that happen. Three people have filed a lawsuit saying they were sexually abused by staff at a juvenile detention center in Delaware County, the latest in a string of suits against similar facilities across Pennsylvania. The complaint, filed late Wednesday in Delaware County court, accuses employees at the now-closed Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center in Lima of perpetuating a culture of abuse, saying children there were assaulted by adults, and threatened to stay silent. Advertisement The facility was shut down by a judge in 2021 after the countys public defenders alleged widespread physical, psychological, and sexual abuse against children housed there, and a grand jury in 2022 found a dangerous absence of oversight that failed to protect those living at the facility. The new complaint comes a week after attorneys from the same New York-based law firm filed similar suits against six other juvenile facilities in Pennsylvania on behalf of 66 people who said they were abused while in custody. The attorneys in the latest case, led by Jerome Block and Anna Kull, said in their complaint that their clients suffered emotional and psychological trauma while at the Delaware County facility, abuse that has haunted them for their entire lives. Adrienne Marofsky, a spokesperson for Delaware County, which operated the center, said Thursday that she could not comment on allegations in pending litigation. But she said the county was proud of the changes being made to the juvenile justice system since 2021, when a board of managers was created to oversee juvenile justice and custody issues. As part of the overall vision for reform that begins with the safety and security of those in detention, the board is working to expand the needed services provided and the development of a new county-owned facility, as well as considering alternatives to detention, she said. Two of the three people alleging abuse in the suit said staff members fondled them while they were in custody. (The Inquirer does not identify without permission people who say they were sexually assaulted.) One of those complainants said she was about 14 when a male staff member began singling her out while she used the gym before eventually groping her in his office. The other accuser said he was about 17 when a male staffer groped him on two different occasions. The third complainant said he was forced into sex or sex acts with a male staffer about 25 times as he cycled in and out of custody over two years, starting when he was about 15 years old. The alleged abuser, who is not identified, also bribed the teen with food, gifts, money, and special privileges, the suit says, and warned him not to tell anyone about the abuse. The suit says that the teen did tell two other staffers, but that the abuse continued. The allegations in the suit echo those filed last week against three state-run juvenile facilities and three others that are or were privately operated. The law firm that brought the suits, Levy Konigsberg, has also recently filed similar complaints against juvenile facilities in other states. The Delaware County suit is not the first against the juvenile facility there. At least 10 suits have been filed against it in federal court, including complaints in which people said they were raped by staff and, in one instance, taken to private parties to be given alcohol and drugs before being sexually abused. A teenager was charged with third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle, and other offenses after police say he drove a vehicle that struck and killed a man on a motorcycle in North Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Bryce Neely, 17, of Philadelphia, drove a stolen Kia SUV with four passengers through a red light at Front Street and Hunting Park Avenue just after 8 p.m. and struck Wilberto Casillas, 55, who was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle through the intersection, police said. Advertisement Casillas, of Philadelphia, was pronounced dead at the scene. After the Kia and the motorcycle collided, the car continued north on Front Street for about 1,000 feet while all five occupants bailed out on foot, Chief Inspector Scott Small told reporters Tuesday night. All five ran about two blocks in different directions, Small said, but were ultimately apprehended by police. During a news conference Wednesday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said he couldnt release many details about Neelys history due to Pennsylvanias Juvenile Act. Krasner said he could neither confirm nor deny there may have been an ankle monitor on the driver. The four passengers two 17-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a 14-year-old, all girls have been charged with evading arrest, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, conspiracy, and receiving stolen property, police said Wednesday. Police have not released their identities. The Kia had been stolen Tuesday morning, Krasner said, citing information provided by police. Security camera footage obtained by NBC10 showed police officers following the SUV immediately after the crash. When asked whether police were tracking the stolen vehicle, Small said it was under investigation, according to 6abc. Two police officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative duty as the department conducts an investigation, Officer Tanya Little, a department spokesperson, said in a statement late Wednesday night. Earlier in the day, Krasner said he had yet to speak with Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, and has several questions about the events that led up to the collision. Im deeply troubled by the devastating consequences of this accident, and I think it is important that we find out all circumstances that surround it, Krasner said. Evelyn Nunez, the Philadelphia School District's associate superintendent of elementary schools, is shown in this 2021 file photo. Read more One of Superintendent Tony B. Watlingtons top deputies is leaving the Philadelphia School District. Evelyn Nunez, associate superintendent for elementary schools, has been named chief executive officer of Esperanza Academy Charter School, the organization announced Wednesday. Advertisement Nunez becomes superintendent of Esperanza Academy, a K-12 charter in Hunting Park. It enrolls 1,646 students across three campuses; its authorized to enroll 2,235. Nunez, who will begin her new job in August, has been a teacher, principal and chief of schools in the Philadelphia district. Shes spent 19 years in there, and has also spent time working in ASPIRA charters. Watlington, who said the district would conduct a search to replace Nunez, praised her dedicated service to the system. In her current role, she helped our district to achieve the strongest post-COVID recovery in grades third through eighth math and reading performance among big-city school districts in the nation, Watlington said in a statement. Nunez was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Philadelphia with her family at age 3. Angel Ortiz, chair of Esperanza Academys board, and chair of the search committee that chose Nunez, said she was picked from a field of more than 200 candidates. Dr. Nunez brings valuable experience from both the public and charter school sectors, coupled with her deep understanding of our communitys needs, Ortiz said. Her return to our neighborhood signifies her dedication to positively impacting our community. Esperanza Academy opened in 2000; it is affiliated with the larger Esperanza nonprofit, whose aim is to strengthen underserved Hispanic communities through arts, education, and economic development programs. The Rev. Luis Cortes, the Esperanza founder and CEO, expressed faith in Nunez. We are confident that Dr. Nunez will carry the schools excellence, innovation, and progress for our children into the future, Cortes said in a statement. File: Atiya Johnson, 38, of Clementon, N.J., owner of Janas Hair Salon and Janas Cosmetology Academy, is working on the hair of Kenya Linton, 44, of West Deptford, N.J. Read more New Jersey cosmetology schools would be required to teach stylists, barbers and braiders seeking a state license how to work on textured hair under a bill that has advanced in the state Legislature. It is the latest effort by the state to address hair discrimination amid a growing awareness of bias when it comes to different cultures and ethnic groups. Proponents say that the measure would help promote inclusivity in the hair industry. Advertisement Many people of color have experienced damaged hair or frustration over results because stylists are not adequately trained to work with them, State Sen. Angela McKnight (D., Hudson) said in a statement of the bill she introduced. This is a major disservice to both hair-care professionals and clients. If signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy, the bill would require the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling to establish curriculum requirements to work with textured hair for licensed schools that teach students in cosmetology, hairstyling, beauty culture, barbering, and hair braiding. Textured hair is defined as hair that is coiled, curly, or wavy. The bill, S-2495, passed the Senate, 37-0 on May 20. A similar version is pending in the Assembly. This is a win-win for the beauty care business, McKnight said in an interview. The laws are so archaic. The bill would require students to pass a written and practical portion of cosmetology hairstyling exams to obtain a state license to work in a salon or barbershop. New Jersey has about 30 licensing cosmetology and hairstyling schools. Book knowledge, not experience This is something that should have been done, said Atiya Johnson. owner of Janas Cosmetology Academy in Clementon. The South Jersey school is among only a handful on the East Coast that has a course that teaches students how to handle textured and Black hair. Janas recently received a $50,000 grant for scholarships from Beyonce's public charity foundation, BeyGOOD, to promote Black hair care training. Four other cosmetology schools in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles were also selected to receive a total of $250,000 in grants. Johnson, who was 17 when she took over the salon founded by her mother, Wanda, said the school was established because other schools offer little or no training for natural or textured hair. Janas is the only Black-owned and -operated beauty school in New Jersey, according to Johnson. Theyre teaching off of book knowledge, not experience, said Johnson, 38, of Gloucester Township. The schools make a lot of money off Black hair and the Black and brown students are being underserved. Jaylah May Israel, 17, a senior studying cosmetology at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Deptford, believes the bill would make the curriculum more diverse. The school recently added more mannequins with textured hair, but thats not enough, she said. Israel said students are learning how to straighten the textured hair, not how to style it in its natural state. Its definitely a disparity and its not fair, said Israel. She plans to attend a Historically Black College or University, major in chemistry, pursue a career as a cosmetic chemist, and produce Black hair and skin products. Last fall, state Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights reached an agreement with GCIT to ensure that the school teaches students the theory and practice of styling textured hair. The school agreed that at least 20% of its mannequins used for instruction would have Black hair, according to the state. The agreement resolved an investigation into allegations of race discrimination in the GCIT cosmetology program and accusation that non-Black students were not required to learn skills related to textured hair and that the school lacked enough mannequins for all students. A movement to ban discrimination McKnight said her latest bill is part of efforts by New Jersey and a growing number of states addressing hair discrimination. A 2019 New Jersey law known as the CROWN Act bans discrimination in the workplace or schools based on hairstyle or texture. (The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair act exists in about two dozen states.) A December 2018 incident involving a Black wrestler at Buena Regional High in Atlantic County made international headlines after he decided to have his dreadlocks cut to avoid forfeiting his match after a white referee said the teen could not wrestle without covering his hair. A video of the hair-cutting went viral and prompted charges of racism and cultural insensitivity. McNight, who wears her hair in locs, sponsored a bill signed into law in 2018 that eased the licensing regulations for hair braiders, requiring 40 hours of training for those with prior experience instead of 1,200 hours. READ MORE: Gov. Murphy signs hair discrimination bill inspired by South Jersey wrestler who had his dreadlocks cut In its Texture of Change movement, beauty care giant LOreal has called for every state to include all hair types and textures in cosmetology state board licensing and beauty school curriculums. According to its website, more than 65% of the U.S. population has textured hair. Its making sure that all women are able to get their hair done without any stigmas, McKnight said. Pro-Israel (front) and pro-Palestine protesters (rear) are separated a barricade and walkway at the University of Pennsylvania Sunday Apr. 28, 2024. The group of pro-Israel Penn faculty and students had gathered a few blocks away on campus for a no hate on campus rally, and then marched to the tent encampment. Read more After a tumultuous year marked by heated protests over Israels war with Hamas, the University of Pennsylvania should bolster its Jewish Studies program, incorporate antisemitism into mandatory education on inclusion and unconscious bias, and strengthen efforts to recruit Jewish faculty and students, a new report from a university commission says. The report, released by the university Thursday, was issued by the University Task Force on Antisemitism, a group formed by then-Penn president Liz Magill amid pressure to do more to combat anti-Jewish bias at the Ivy League school following the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas. Magill resigned in December after backlash over her congressional testimony about antisemitism on campus. Advertisement The report doesnt recommend specific changes to the universitys guidelines on open expression following the police-led disbanding of a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus earlier this month. The task force disagreed on whether to call for regulating the participation of people unaffiliated with Penn in campus protests and prohibiting the wearing of masks during protests for the purpose of concealing ones identity. Of 33 people arrested during the encampment dismantling on May 10, nine were Penn students. But it called for heightened awareness and identification of antisemitism, and provides a list of examples it said could be incorporated into inclusivity training. Among the examples listed is discriminating against, excluding, or denigrating a person simply for identifying as a Zionist drawing a distinction between criticizing Zionism as a movement or ideology, and mistreating a person for being a Zionist, which is discrimination based on creed, the report said. The report which also calls for Penn to reissue a clear statement on its opposition to divestment, sanctions or boycotts against Israel was released along with a report from the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community. Penn several times has said it opposes divestment regarding Israel. On May 10, Interim President J. Larry Jameson, in announcing that university police had brought an end to a pro-Palestinian encampment, on campus said Penn would not give in to the groups demand to divest from entities engaged with Israel. Penn remains unequivocally opposed to divestment, Jameson said. And in a statement to The Inquirer earlier that month, the school said: The University of Pennsylvania strongly opposes sanctions, boycotts, or disinvestment targeted against Israel. We have been clear about this issue for more than a decade. The Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine group, which has joined student protesters to call for divestment, did not immediately return a call for comment. The Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community, convened by Jameson in December, was charged with addressing bias, hate, and discrimination on campus and made broad recommendations, like adopting a university values statement, and equitably supporting students and faculty across Penns decentralized system. But it also made specific suggestions like creating a Middle East and North Africa cultural space; requiring a new seminar course for all undergraduates focusing on a challenging topic and emphasizing productive dialogue, with possible topics of war ethics, reproductive rights, or free speech; and creating an interdisciplinary research center for the study of hate and intolerance. In a statement Thursday, Jameson said the reports were the product of the rigorous, civil, and intellectual debate at the heart of Penns excellence. The thoughtful recommendations contained within these reports offer concrete guidance for actions Penn can and will take now, as well as aspirational goals that will inform our institutional priorities for the future. The reports are both reaffirming and complementary, Jameson said. They contain shared themes, such as affirming Penns values and clarifying University policies and reporting, and offer distinct ideas for building community, investing in research and scholarship, and supporting the student experience. He said some of the recommendations were already underway, while other elements of implementation lie ahead of us and will benefit from further input as we assess which strategies make sense for Penn. Cosmic Guilt, with leader James Everhart at bottom right. The Philly band's new album is "Palace of Depression." They play the sanctuary of the First Unitarian Church on Friday. Read more Back in 2019, after James Everhart had left Low Cut Connie after touring for six years, and while he was leading the raucous (now on hiatus) garage-rock band Scantron, he started inviting Philly musician friends over on Sunday mornings. We called it the cosmic brunch, says Everhart of the gatherings in his Queen Village house. This was the gestation period for Cosmic Guilt, the psychedelic folk-rock band he fronts and which will celebrate the release of its new album, Palace of Depression, at the sanctuary of the First Unitarian Church on Friday. Advertisement People would bring over records, and a few of them worked in the clothing industry as designers, so we started making sequined Nudie suits and western wear. That first batch of songs had that cosmic country vibe, like [the Byrds] Sweetheart of the Rodeo. Soon Everhart and guitarist George Murphy realized they had a band and a 10-piece one at that, complete with backup vocalists Hannah Taylor and Jillian Taylor (who are not related), and pedal steel guitar player Pat Kane. And then they had a name. We were walking through the Italian Market having a coffee and smoking a joint, and came up with that phrase, says Everhart, 35, who now lives in Fishtown and works as a graphic designer for Florida cannabis company Jushi Holdings and Philly brewery Human Robot. He and Murphy were overwhelmed with work that week and were talking about how it seemed like people in our generation always feel guilty that were not working hard enough. That it hangs over you, in a cosmic sense. We took that back to the band and everybody liked it. Cosmic Guilt played its first gig shortly before the pandemic, and became a Philly buzz band once they started gigging regularly in 2021. Their self-titled debut was released in 2021, and theyve now followed that up with Palace of Depression, a song cycle loosely inspired by a Vineland, N.J., roadside attraction built out of mud and scrap metal by eccentric former Alaska gold miner George Daynor during the Great Depression. The albums 11 original songs mix a taste of country with 1960s British psychedelic folk a natural inclination for Everhart, who says the artists he listened to most growing up in Delaware were Uncle Tupelo and Richard Thompson. He counts Fairport Convention as his favorite band. Daynors Palace of Depression struck him as a really cool story of someone picking up the pieces of their life and building something beautiful out of the ugly. I liked the ring of it, going off The Gilded Palace of Sin by the Flying Burrito Brothers. The album has an overarching theme of initial failure and deprivation, until you slap yourself out of it and starting looking to the cosmos for answers. And we tried to tie it together into what I would imagine the Palace of Depression to be if it were a kind of weird acid-trip Disney movie. Cosmic Guilt and Leon III at the First Unitarian Church sanctuary, 2125 Chestnut St. at 7:30 p.m. Friday. $25-$25. davekisspresents.com In 2016, Canadian broadcaster and musician Talia Schlanger replaced David Dye as host of World Cafe, the syndicated radio show produced out of WXPN-FM (88.5). She left in 2019 to follow other creative pursuits, and made good on that ambition with her affecting and wide-ranging debut album, Grace for the Going. Shes back in Philly for a show at Johnny Brendas on Thursday. Shannon & the Clams The Moon Is in the Wrong Place is a heartbreaker. It was recorded in the wake of the death of Shannon Shaws fiance, Eric Moore. Out of grief, the psych-garage band made its most vibrant music yet. Theyre at Union Transfer on Friday, after playing Free at Noon during the day. The Ladybug Music Festival takes over Wilmington on Friday with music on eight stages, including Philly bands Catbite, Velvet Rouge, and Humilitarian. The fest is free and promises 100% Women-Fronted Magic, with over 30 acts, not one of them fronted by a dude. Its Unlimited Devotion weekend at Ardmore Music Hall, with three nights of high-class Grateful Dead tribute action starting Friday, with musicians including Don Was, and Anders Osborne and Marc Brownstein of Phillys Disco Biscuits. Alex Savoth and Dan King of Philly band Stereo League are hosting League Night Vol. 2, their second annual Johnny Brendas showcase, on Saturday, also featuring vibraphonist Angelo Outlaw and multi-instrumentalist Bo Rains. Brooklyn rapper and songwriter Yaya Bey comes to World Cafe Live on Saturday in a show that would have fit right in at the Roots Picnic thatll be happening a couple of miles way. Shes supporting her sad and beautiful new album, Ten Fold, which was written and recorded after the death of her father, the rapper Grand Daddy I.U. from the hip-hop group Juice Crew. Philly rapper Ivy Sole opens. The city Health Department ordered Famous 4th Street Deli to close on Wednesday to correct a series of violations, including mouse droppings found on a slicer as well as prep tables and no chlorine observed in the dishwashing machines sanitizing solution. The restaurant, at Fourth and Bainbridge Streets in Queen Village, also did not have anyone on the premises certified by the city in food safety when the inspector arrived before lunchtime for what became a 2-hour visit. Advertisement Our team dropped the ball, said owner Al Gamble, the veteran restaurateur from New England who bought the landmark in January. He vowed to correct the violations. Under department guidelines, the soonest that Famous could reopen is Friday after paying $315 for a reinspection. Were confident we can get [the issues] resolved and get us reopened, Gamble told The Inquirer late Wednesday. He acknowledged that what [the inspector] wrote is huge. But when I spoke to her, there are three key items, and they are processing errors on our end. Most jurisdictions insist that establishments have on site at least one employee who has passed the National Restaurant Associations ServSafe course in food handling. Philadelphia also requires the person in charge to obtain a certificate from the city. Gamble said he was unaware of this requirement. READ MORE: What's Philly's best pastrami? Craig LaBan tasted and ranked them all Inspections are generally viewed as a snapshot of the day and time of the inspection. Many of the violations noted in Wednesdays report were repeat violations, including visible physical evidence of rodent activity, improperly covered foods, raw meat blood observed on the floor in the walk-in cooler, and the missing sanitizer solution. New violations included a slicer with an accumulation of food residue mouse turds on the food contact surfaces and is not being washed, rinsed and sanitized at least every 4 hours. A sign reading, Long story. Thank you for understanding. C U Friday, Famous Family, was posted above the citys candy stripe cease-operations notice on the front door. Home Cuban Cafe owner Dairys Mayoral (left) with Deborah and Charlie Vaturi, the owners of the building at 17 N. Third St., on May 30, 2024. Read more Once youve been in the restaurant business for a long time, as Dairys Mayoral said, You know when things are not good. The last several months at Home Cuban Cafe had been especially hard, as she juggled her family life and the daily grind at the Old City restaurant, which brought Cuban coffee, tostones, Cuban sandwiches, and platters to Third and Church Streets in late 2021. Advertisement This week, with the lease about to expire, she announced its closing, effective immediately. Thursday morning, as she met with her landlords to tie up loose ends, a stream of neighbors stopped to rap on the front window to wish her goodbye. Tears followed each wave. Comments on the shops last Instagram post were poignant: I knew it would be special from day one, wrote one. You made it so. Congratulations for winning over so many hearts with your food and your hospitality. Another: Oh I am so saddened!!! Your space was warm and delicious and felt like home in the buzz of urban hive. Mayoral got hugs from Charlie and Deborah Vaturi, who own the building. Great tenant, but you know how things are, said Charlie Vaturi, who owned the long-gone Charlies Pub, which was across the street until 2011. Mayoral said she would next work with a friend at his pizzeria, Hunnypie, in Springfield, Delaware County. She said its not clear if her food will be included on the menu. Mayoral, 45, grew up near Havana and immigrated to the United States in 1994. She owned a Cuban restaurant in Naples, Fla., for two decades before moving to Philadelphia when one of her daughters chose to attend college in Philadelphia. She opened Home Cuban in a former candy shop with her cousin Danae Peraza. After Peraza left, the work fell to Mayoral. Everything was on top of me, Mayoral said. I was fine but I noticed that the business was starting to go down and I was in a point that I was taking out savings. Im like, No, this is not working. So lets just shut the door. Tawana Tonkins (right), of Sewell, N.J., relaxes at a table during the Ladies Day Hat Contest at the Devon Horse Show. Read more Two hundred and fifty women in fascinators, perchers, derby and sun hats descended on the Devon Horse Show on Wednesday to compete graciously, and for charity, but not without an underlying ferocity to win in the annual Ladies Day contest. The theme was JAdore Devon, i.e. Paris, resulting in a sea of red, white, and blue. The unserious were not participating. The Devon Horse Show bills itself as the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed horse show in the nation; ever since it launched in 1896, it has been a prestige Main Line experience. All the proceeds from the 12-day event, which runs through June 2, go to Bryn Mawr Hospital. Ladies Day was packed: Mrs. New Jersey, in sash and tiara, wandered the event snapping photos. Someone had left a bottle of champagne tucked into a gold sequin purse in the gravel by the stage. The nearby stables smelled sweetly of manure and grass, and a brightly colored Ferris wheel made its rounds in the distance. Advertisement The women were competing for, among other things, a gift card to the Springfield Mall, a Lilly Pulitzer gift basket, a Tiffany and Co. necklace set valued at $2,000, and a package of three facials that uses the same cooling technology of Cryoskin alongside new warmer temperatures. The stakes were high and the judges would be examining not only the hats. Im going to be looking out for the whole look, said George Brescia, a celebrity stylist who appears on QVC and was one of the events seven judges. The dress, the jewelry, the attention to detail, and the statement thats being made. He pointed to a woman, Evie Romanova, standing nearby; she had won a few times in the past. Brescia explained: Her blue satin jewel buckle Manolo Blahnik pumps picked up on the blue in her custom-made striped taffeta dress, which picked up on the blue in her earrings, which matched her sky blue nails. The red lip! Brescia exclaimed. Thats how they do it. Romanova thanked him and pulled out her blue bejeweled purse, which was in the shape of a French poodle. Nearby, Ella Vasko, 18, and her sister, Jenna, 21, were attempting to register. They had decorated their straw hats with flowers in the morning, and Ella, who was skipping out on classes at the end of the school year, had tied remote-controlled LED lights around the brim. But upon learning the entry fee for the contest $65 each, and no swag bag because of the late registration they decided to forgo participation. They could watch. Ten at a time, the contestants walked across a red carpet in front of Brescia and the other judges. One wore a fascinator that looked like a plate of painted pastel macarons; another wore a stuffed croissant atop her head. Wawa Ingersoll, 88, had affixed a motley collection of mermaid-related items, including a plaque that read Kinda pissed about not being a mermaid, to a blue-gray straw hat. She knew that it was unlikely to fit the judges aesthetics. I thought my hat was too homemade to win, she said. But in fact, homemade hats stood a chance. Carolyn Slota, 57, made her own: a towering stack of black and white silk flowers in the front, and red, white, and blue ones in the back, all constructed around a miniature Eiffel Tower. When they announced the winner of the Best in Theme category, Slota clutched the roses atop her head and gasped. (She directs the spring shows at Sacred Heart Academy in Bryn Mawr and has a flair for the dramatic.) She was a winner. When they called my name I was clapping for whoever it was. It was me! Slota said. I think its the most fantastic category to win. Donald Trump made history on Thursday, becoming the first former president and first major-party presidential candidate to be convicted of felony crimes. But apart from that unique distinction, the decision by a Manhattan jury to convict him on 34 counts of falsifying business records all tied to $130,000 in hush money payments he authorized in 2016 to porn star Stormy Daniels raises a number of significant questions about Trumps unprecedented legal situation and the impact it will have on his presidential campaign. Advertisement READ MORE: Donald Trump is found guilty of all counts in hush-money trial; becomes first former president convicted of felony charges Is Trump going to prison? Trump has been free on bail throughout the trial and will remain so until at least his sentencing on July 11 four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he is expected to accept his partys presidential nomination. Although its possible that Trump could be sent to prison each count of which he was convicted Thursday carries a maximum term of four years legal experts say its unlikely that Justice Juan Merchan will sentence the former president to time behind bars. In weighing that decision, the judge must consider several factors, including Trumps age, 77, and his lack of previous convictions not to mention the logistical and security complications of potentially imprisoning a former head of state (who enjoys lifetime protection by the Secret Service) and a current candidate for president. Because each count on which Trump was convicted Thursday is classified a Class E felony or the lowest-level felony in New York state law probation is an option. On the other hand, Trump has repeatedly attacked the court and Merchan as being biased and corrupt in statements in the run-up to and throughout the trial factors that the judge could interpret as a lack of respect for the law from Trump and that could lead to a stiffer sentence. But no matter what sentence Merchan imposes, Trump will undoubtedly appeal his conviction and will most likely be allowed to remain free until that process is resolved. Can Trump still run for president? Yes. The U.S. Constitution does not disqualify felons from seeking or assuming elected office. In 1920, Socialist Party candidate Eugene V. Debs ran for president from prison after being convicted on sedition charges for speaking out against the draft during World War I. Though he won nearly one million votes, that amounted to less than 4%. U.S. Rep. Matthew Lyon remains the only federal officeholder to run for and win reelection from prison a distinction the Vermont representative earned in 1798 while serving a sentence for sedition tied to his criticism of President John Adams. READ MORE: Trumps hush money trial verdict could come this week. Heres what each outcome could mean for the election. When are Trumps other trials? Trump is still facing three other sets of charges election fraud cases in Georgia and Washington, D.C., tied to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and a case in Florida involving allegations that he mishandled classified documents. But it seems unlikely at this point that any of them will be ready for trial before the November election. None of the three has a trial date and all have been hung up for months by arguments over motions and appeals of pretrial rulings. READ MORE: Trump indictment: Charges feature former presidents effort to subvert Pennsylvania election results Of the three, the Georgia case in which Trump is accused of conspiring with 18 others to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia may be the most trial-ready. State prosecutors, led by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, have proposed Aug. 5 for jury selection to begin almost three weeks after Trump is expected to accept his partys nomination at the Republican National Convention on July 18. But thats an ambitious timeline, given that there are several key questions hanging over the proceedings including whether Willis will continue to oversee the case. Earlier this month, the Georgia Court of Appeals said it would consider a request from Trump and his codefendants seeking to disqualify her over a romantic relationship she had with the lead prosecutor she appointed to the case. Willis is also pursuing her own appeal to the court over several charges against Trump that were dismissed earlier this year by the judge overseeing the case. Complicating matters further, the U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to rule on an issue that could complicate the Georgia case even further whether Trump, as a former president, enjoys broad immunity from criminal prosecution on all matters pertaining to the election. That question arose out of Trumps election interference case in Washington a set of federal charges announced by Special Counsel Jack Smith last summer and continues to delay any prospect of a trial in that matter. During oral arguments last month, the Supreme Courts justices appeared skeptical of Trumps claims of absolute immunity but gave no indication on how quickly they might rule. However, a decision is expected before the courts current term ends in June. As for Trumps case in Florida another set of federal charges brought by Smith involving the former presidents alleged mishandling of classified documents the judge overseeing the proceedings announced earlier this month that she was postponing trial indefinitely as she continues to sort through pretrial arguments and issues arising from the classified evidence in the case. Could Trump pardon himself if he wins in November? No. Presidents can issue pardons only for those who have committed federal offenses. The charges of which he was convicted Thursday are New York state crimes. The same is true should a jury find him guilty of the state charges in his Georgia election interference case. As for his two federal cases the one in Washington on election fraud charges and the classified documents case in Florida the question of whether Trump could pardon himself should he be convicted remains a matter of debate. Constitutional scholars disagree on whether the presidents pardon power extends to himself. And although the question has never been tested, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a nonbinding, advisory opinion in 1974 seeking to answer it while juggling the fallout of President Richard Nixons involvement in the Watergate scandal. It concluded that a president cannot issue himself a pardon, noting that granting him the power to do so would violate the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case. Former Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henon leaves the federal courthouse in Philadelphia after his sentencing on bribery charges in March 2023. Read more Former Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henons bid to overturn his 2021 bribery conviction fell short Wednesday, as a federal appeals court rejected his contention that prosecutors had failed to fully prove their case. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit found that jurors had been presented with enough evidence to conclude that the former Council majority leader sold the powers of his office to labor leader John Dougherty in exchange for a $70,000-a-year salary from his politically powerful union, Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Advertisement Though the councilmember had argued that the government should have been required to prove that he and Dougherty had an explicit agreement that Henon would use the powers of his office to benefit Local 98 in exchange for those paychecks, the appellate court disagreed; an implicit understanding was enough. Whats more, the appellate judges concluded, Henon failed to raise the issue at trial, limiting the extent to which they could consider his argument on appeal. Because we see no clear error in the district court permitting proof of an implicit agreement [between Henon and Dougherty], we will affirm the conviction, Circuit Judge Cindy K. Chung wrote for the panel, which also included Circuit Judges Cheryl A. Krause and Thomas L. Ambro. READ MORE: John Dougherty and Bobby Henon trial: Day-by-day updates Henons attorneys, Bruce Merenstein, Robert Welsh, and Richard Walk III, declined to comment on the ruling Thursday. Henon, 55, remains incarcerated at a federal detention center in Lewisburg, Pa., where he is serving a 3-year sentence and was unavailable for comment. The Third Circuits decision increases the odds that hell end up serving the full length of that term until his projected release date in January 2026. But it could also spell trouble for Dougherty, who was convicted alongside the councilmember after their two-month trial and awaits sentencing in July on that case as well as charges he and others embezzled more than $600,000 from their union. From the day of the jurys verdict, Dougherty has confidently predicted that the bribery case would be overturned on appeal, saying prosecutors had unfairly criticized how business and politics are typically and properly conducted in Philadelphia. Though the ex-union chief has not yet filed his own appeal and has not formally specified the grounds on which he intends to challenge the case, the Third Circuits ruling on Henon could cut off some avenues he might have pursued. (Doughertys lawyers, in court, have raised other possible grounds on which he might appeal that are unique to his case, including the governments use of a confidential informant from within his union to secretly record his conversations for months after he was indicted in 2019.) The appellate judges, meanwhile, quickly dispensed with Henons claims. They opted not to hear oral arguments in the case earlier this year and the nonprecedential opinion they filed Wednesday took up only eight pages. Prosecutors painted Henon, a union electrician, as little more than Doughertys puppet swept into office in 2011 on a wave of union manpower and money, controlled by the Local 98 paycheck he received for little to no work, and then used as a vise to squeeze Doughertys personal and professional enemies. But in his appeal, Henon maintained that because Council rules allow members to hold outside employment and dont bar them from voting on matters in which their employers may have an interest, the government needed to prove that Henon and Dougherty had an explicit agreement that he was being paid by Local 98 to take official actions to benefit the union and its chief. READ MORE: Wiretaps show John Dougherty repeatedly relied on Councilmember Henon for help. But did he have to ask? The government did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Henon explicitly promised to take any particular official acts because of his Local 98 compensation, his attorneys wrote in their briefs to the appellate court. The Third Circuit judges concluded, however, that the government did not need to prove that Henon and Dougherty ever had a clear-cut discussion about what the money was for and that prosecutors had presented plenty of evidence for a jury to conclude that both men had an implicit understanding of what was required of Henon in exchange for his pay. READ MORE: A juror in the Dougherty-Henon trial says it was a lesson in Philly government and it was appalling The court cited recent rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court requiring proof of a more explicit agreement only in corruption cases in which bribes come in the form of campaign contributions. But even on that front, the Third Circuit held, the government had done enough to secure a conviction in Henons case. In addition to the charges involving Dougherty, jurors convicted Henon in a separate bribery scheme tied to public hearings he convened in 2015 to investigate a labor dispute between Verizon and members of Local 13000 of the Communication Workers of America. Wiretapped phone calls played at trial revealed that the unions head, Jim Gardler, had asked Henon to organize the hearing, hoping it would put public pressure on the communications giant. Henon, on the same calls, asked Gardler for campaign cash a request fulfilled days later with a $5,000 check from CWA. Gardler said he sold the donation to his board by saying he knew what I can ask Bobby to do for us. What I need, he continued, is the Verizon piece of it. READ MORE: At trial, feds say Councilmember Bobby Henon sought campaign cash for helping a union in its spat with Verizon That comment, Chung wrote in the Third Circuits opinion this week, laid bare the explicit nature of the understanding between the two men. If Gardler donated to Henons campaign, hed get the hearing he wanted to help his labor dispute. While Henon argues that the jury should have weighed the evidence differently, the judge wrote, we will not disturb a jurys conclusion merely because it could have reached an alternative one. Bryanna Snell (left) and Kylie Spickenreuther of Vineland pose for selfies on the Ocean City beach around 8:30 pm on Memorial Day weekend, Sunday, May 26, 2024. Even though the beach was technically to be closed at 8 pm, Spickenreuther said instagram comes first. Read more Its calm here midweek, just a lovely morning with rolling waves, breakfast surfers, and a smattering of lucky people sitting on the beach. But whew! Memorial Day Weekend was relentless. As most of you probably heard, there was a false report of a shooting that caused a stampede in Seaside, a stabbing amid the hordes on the Ocean City boardwalk, and so much bedlam in Wildwood that officials shut down the boardwalk after midnight and declared a state of emergency until dawn. Advertisement Be my eyes and ears at the Shore! Please send tips or story ideas to me here. Or to the Inquirers tip line here. Once again, there was angst about all the teens coming down the Shore with a sense of abandon, and about the newly tweaked state law regarding juveniles and alcohol, which police still feel ties their hands and emboldens teens. Others, including Gov. Phil Murphy, feel the law brings a much-needed level of fairness and reform to the juvenile justice system, and leaves police with the tools they need. Was it chaos at the Shore, as news outlets called it? Or civil unrest, as Wildwood officials called it to justify their state of emergency? Gov. Murphy took issue with the blanket hysterical descriptions, insisting on News12s Ask the Governor segment on Tuesday that there were three isolated incidents he took seriously amid a hugely successful weekend. He predicted a record season. But he promised a postmortem on the incidents and said towns needed more auxiliary officers. The Shore experience surely went sour for families like the lovely one from New York I interviewed in Ocean City this week, who have been coming down for generations. They found themselves huddled on a bench Saturday shortly after 9 p.m. on 10th Street with their 6-year-old and his grandparents as waves of teenagers ran from the stabbing. (A 15-year-old suffered non-life-threatening injuries.) It was, the mom told me, unsettling and disappointing, a feeling shes not used to in Ocean City, land of the fire engine kiddie rides and orange vanilla twist cones. So is this the new reality for Ocean City and other Shore towns? Or is it just another year where Memorial Day Weekend is nuts, and then things settle down? Read my story about the fallout from the Memorial Day Weekend boardwalk mayhem here. In other news, no sooner had we raised the question of political flags on the beach (see below for a blizzard of responses) the story broke about Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.s beach house on Long Beach Island. Now, I had suggested that we could all unite under Phillies flags this summer, but it turns out Alito threw us a curve ball. In front of his LBI house, he had several flags, the New York Times reported, after his Shore neighbors dimed him out. An Appeal to Heaven flag, a historic flag carried by rioters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and a Phillies flag from the 2022 postseason run. We see what you did there, Sam! But, memo to Justice Alito, readers, as youll see below, overwhelmingly do not want political flags at their beach. Or at your beach house. Does the Boardwalk teen chaos sour you on coming down the Shore? Do you have a teen that you drop off on the boardwalks, and is this all overblown? Are you a teen on the boardwalk? Who is responsible? Let me know what you think and Ill include your most interesting responses by replying to this email, or find me on Twitter or Instagram. Its going to feel like spring. And it is spring. Relax. But keep scrolling. Amy S. Rosenberg (Find me on X at @amysrosenberg. Follow me on Insta at @amysrosenberg. Email me at downtheshore@inquirer.com) If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. Shore talk Kelce drama: Could we love Kylie Kelce any more? No, we could not, not after she was filmed schooling a woman in the parking lot of Steve & Cookies restaurant in Margate over the weekend. The Kelces drove up from their Sea Isle home to have dinner, and Kylie got into it with a woman who was incensed that the Kelces declined to be photographed with her. As Jason watches from the background, the woman tells Kylie, I dont care who you are, youll never be allowed in this town. LOL. Kylie responds by telling the woman shes embarrassing herself. Read Gabriela Carrolls story here. As I predicted, the Kelces will own the Shore this summer. I didnt have Margate parking lot fight on my Kelce bingo card, but Kylie will always be welcome. Lets hope their meal did they order the veal chop Milanese? Warners bouillabaisse? Ugly tomato salad? made up for the experience. Meanwhile, the mayor of Margate apologized and said next meals on him. My Unorthodox Life star Batsheva Haart has relocated to Margate, where she posted a TikTok purporting to know all about Margate. Um, no Batsheva. First of all, 7311 is in Ventnor. No local waits a half hour for coffee. Club Wa after the bars? Have you even been to Maynards? Try harder! Seen in Ventnor: Trump foe and trial decoder George Conway at his ex-wife and Trump booster Kellyanne Conways beach house. Theres trouble in Bart Blatstein waterpark paradise. The Philly developers being sued by contractors because they say they havent been paid for millions of work done on his $100 million Atlantic City waterpark. They want the park sold. What to eat/What to do Take a walk on Cape Mays new accessible walkway that runs parallel to the shore on the beach itself. Typically the accessible pathways run from street to the ocean, which is great, but this one uniquely allows for a walk parallel to the ocean. Get some steamed dumplings and a bubble tea at Brigantines new Sunday Teahouse. Watch eagles nesting in Cape May. Art! Take in Works on Paper at LBIs 25th Annual National Juried Competition and Exhibition at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences. Take your dog to Seventh Street and Landis Avenue to play in Sea Isles new dog park. Catch Jason Kelce at his annual bartending-for-autism fundraiser in Sea Isle. Shore snapshot Trivia time In which Shore town were beachgoers out on the sand last Sunday morning for the first time in generations, as a Christian religious group fights the state over its regular beach closures there during Sunday services? A. Ocean Grove B. Ocean City C. Lavalette D. Asbury Park If you think you know the answer, click on this story to find out. Or take a guess and email us back with your answer. Your thoughts on political flags at the beach This wasnt a close call. The response overwhelmingly was against political flags at the beach. Its stressing people out, interfering with their Shore experience. Heres a sampling. Dave & Wende Charles: Please, please, please people! Stop with the political provocation on the beach! We come here to relax.The minute a Trump supporter stakes their spot with a Dont Tread on Me or Confederate stars and bars flag, they have declared their area as war zone. Joanne Petrosina: If you think windmills will ruin your view imagine political flags! Donna Cassidy: Political flags can be extremely divisive. But everyone can get behind the Phillies! Sharon Butt: We as a family always had an American flag with a pirate flag under it so if you went swimming, walk the beach, etc. we could always find out spot. When you are on holiday, relax and leave the politics at home. Marianne Johnston Poisel: Im all in favor of the First Amendment but seeing political flags at the beach raises my blood pressure. Fuels divisiveness, which is the opposite of what the shore is all about! Suzanne Fluh: Nobody whose last name is Alito should fly flags on or near the beach unless a certain Alito finds the ethical bone in his body that would result in his recusal from cases involving the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Except maybe his Phillies flag. Your Shore memory Jim Phillips writes: Spent my entire childhood summers from preschool through High School age at my grandparents bungalow just off the beach on 39th street in Sea Isle City. Precious memories of extended family time at the shore in Sea Isle in the 1950s. Have lived the second half of my life in Alabama where our Gulf Coast provides much warmer ocean water and stunning sugar white sand beaches. But at 80, I still cherish the memories of my youthful years Down the Shore. Send me your Shore moment or memory with a picture for a chance to be featured here. By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10. Defendants listen to part of the verdict in the Palace of Justice during the Nuremberg war crimes trial in Nuremberg, Germany, on Sept. 30, 1946. Read more The Nuremberg war crimes trials a first-of-its-kind effort by America and its allies to hold World War IIs surviving Nazi leaders to account for invading Europe and the mass slaughter of civilians, including the Holocaust took place in 1945-1946. But the moral imperative of that moment rang most loudly on the night of March 7, 1965 Bloody Sunday for the U.S. civil rights movement in Selma, Ala. That night, millions of Americans were on their living room couches watching ABCs heavily promoted TV premiere of Judgment at Nuremberg, the acclaimed 1961 film which stars that most all-American of Hollywood stars, Spencer Tracy, as a judge tasked with the trial of four former Nazi jurists over their role in the genocide of Jews. The film, centered on the profound debate over moral culpability for war atrocities, was suddenly interrupted at 9:30 p.m. by ABC news anchor Frank Reynolds and a special report. The network broadcast exclusive footage of civil rights marchers getting clubbed, beaten, and tear gassed by Alabama troopers on Selmas Edmund Pettus Bridge. Advertisement The stark moral contrast U.S. heroes seeking justice for a minority group that had been brutalized by the Nazis, suddenly interrupted by a segregationist attack that bloodied and battered peaceful African American marchers stunned the nation. The juxtaposition struck like psychological lightning in American homes, wrote former Inquirer editor Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff in The Race Beat. Even in Selma, a white shopkeeper told the Washington Post: Everybody knows its going on, but they try to pretend they dont see it. I saw Judgment at Nuremberg on the Late Show the other night and I thought it fits right in. Its just like Selma. The widespread outrage over the TV images from Bloody Sunday is credited for the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. That was a very different America. Today, the stunning extent to which the United States has rejected the global effort to bring justice against war criminals has been driven home by President Joe Bidens condemnation of an outrageous International Criminal Court a body recognized by much of the world but not the American government. The president was reacting to prosecutors seeking arrest warrants not only for the Hamas leaders behind the Oct. 7 attack but also for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and another top official in Israel, a close U.S. ally. Many members of Congress from both parties want to go even further and impose sanctions on the ICC and its leaders, in a bizarro world where American policy is not to go after people who take hostages or bomb refugee camps, but rather the public servants who prosecute them. The ICCs prosecutor Karim Khan says hes been told by a senior official that the 22-year-old ICC was built for Africans and thugs like [Russias Vladimir] Putin, not Westernized nations like Israel. One of the harshest critics of the ICC arrest warrants, South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham a former military prosecutor said the action triggers his fear that war crime prosecutors will eventually target the United States. They will come after our soldiers just a[s] sure as Im standing here, Graham told a Tel Aviv, Israel, news conference. The model used against Israel will eventually be used against American forces to come after our [former] troops in Afghanistan. Yet, this is the same Graham who had nothing but praise for the ICC when it issued an arrest warrant for Putin last year. To forgive and forget Putins war crimes that are occurring on an industrial scale would irrevocably damage the Rule of Law-based world order established at the end of World War II, he said in a statement then. This only highlights the hypocrisy of U.S. leaders, including Biden, who from the start of his presidency has claimed a rules-based international order as a centerpiece of his foreign policy, only to shun the bodies like the ICC and the International Court of Justice tasked with enforcing these supposed rules. Americas cultural and political schizophrenia will be on full display yet again with the June 5 launch on Netflix of Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial, a six-part docuseries that essentially updates Judgment at Nuremberg, using the war crimes tribunal as the moral framework for explaining the rise of German fascism and the horrors of the Holocaust. Much like in 1965, one fears the films framing of right and wrong will collide with viewers seeing videos on TikTok or Instagram of dead and mutilated Palestinian children, struck by Israeli jets firing U.S.-made bombs. How did we get to this place? How could the United States pioneer the system for seeking justice for unspeakable war crimes, and then run away from it? Michael Bryant, the Bryant University historian who is a leading authority on war crime law, compared American attitudes on the fraught topic to Robert Louis Stevensons tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. You have this kind of split personality, Bryant told me, citing a fundamental distrust of international authority over U.S. affairs that peaked with the 1919-1920 Senate rejections of the League of Nations, and continued through John F. Kennedys 1960 election, when voters feared that a Catholic president might be subservient to the pope. Of course, Hollywood movies tend to obscure the fact that in the smoldering ashes of World War II, there was a serious debate between America and its European allies which still at least nominally included the USSR about the best way to punish the leading Nazis who survived the conflict, and whether the very concept of a war crimes prosecution was setting a dangerous precedent. Bryant noted that in 1945, U.S. War Secretary Henry Stimson had to assure his U.S. colleagues that international tribunals wouldnt go after Jim Crow segregation. READ MORE: We interrupt this Super Bowl for a massacre | Will Bunch Newsletter But the very real questions about the source of legal authority for a tribunal like the one established at Nuremberg were overridden by powerful U.S. arguments that exposing Nazi criminality would be essential for reforming Germany and delegitimizing its former leaders. Some 24 top Nazis were tried in the original International Military Tribunal in 1945-1946; most were found guilty, and 10 were hanged. Scores of alleged German war criminals faced similar trials in the years that followed, and there was a parallel court in Japan. But the luster of Americas leading role at Nuremberg began to fade in the 1960s, and not just because of the contradictions exposed by the civil rights movement. Accusations of American war crimes in Vietnam most famously 1968s My Lai massacre of an entire village triggered a climate of concern about the world community turning against the United States that would be only amplified by later events, such as the abuses of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib in the early 2000s. In 1998, then-President Bill Clinton cited the legacy of Nuremberg in signing the Rome accord that established the ICC, but he never sent the treaty to a Senate that was sure not to ratify it. In post-Vietnam America, the kind of issues around legal jurisdiction that were brushed aside for the Nazis now loomed large. The U.S. delegation at Rome was actually one of just seven nations that voted against the ICC putting us on a list with China, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Qatar, and Yemen while 120 nations, including many American allies, voted for it. Americas split personality saw even greater hostility toward international justice during the presidency of Donald Trump, who in 2020 imposed economic sanctions and barred U.S. entry to two top ICC prosecutors after the panel said American actions would be included in a broad investigation of war crimes in Afghanistan. (Trump also pardoned three U.S. soldiers whod been convicted of war crimes committed in Afghanistan.) The Biden administration undid Trumps sanctions and joined Graham and others in praising the ICC arrest warrant for its enemy, Putin. But recent actions by the ICC and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which issued a non-enforceable order that Israel halt any major invasion into the Gazan city of Rafah, have been harshly condemned by most American leaders, except a handful of progressive Democrats in the House. That Jekyll and Hyde divide will always be there this tension between an international progressivism and a much older distrust of international institutions, Bryant said. Indeed, the twist that bodies like the ICC and ICJ which would seem to be exemplars of the rules-based world order that the U.S. government claims to support have turned against a longtime ally in Israel, and might eventually look at the American role in supplying so many of the bombs that have slaughtered civilians in Gaza, is exactly what ICC critics feared. Its exactly why they didnt want the United States to sign on to the ICC. But a growing number of everyday Americans are wondering how a nation that found its moral voice at Nuremberg can now remain silent during the stream of images of burned or decapitated children coming out of Rafah. You cant discriminate against what parties and countries the ICC would have jurisdiction over. You cant just cherry-pick your targets, Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia said. So with respect to the ICCs alleged equation of Hamas with Netanyahu, I think thats a red herring. The bottom line is they both are guilty of violations of human rights, and thats why they were both charged. Once again, the U.S. position on the ICC and its arrest warrants places us at odds with some of our closest allies like France and irony alert Germany, which voiced support for the concert of an international court for war criminals and its independence. An America that once showed the world how war criminals can be brought to justice now risks becoming an isolated international pariah over its resistance to the ICC. Where is Spencer Tracy when you need him? READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter SAN FRANCISCO With the Phillies facing a lefty starter and an off day upcoming, J.T. Realmuto would typically be in the lineup, even for a day game after a night game. Instead, Realmuto was on the bench Wednesday. Advertisement Its all about his health and making sure he gets enough rest, manager Rob Thomson said before the Phillies wrapped up a six-game western swing in San Francisco. Its all about J.T. READ MORE: The Phillies are off to their best start since 1993. How will they handle being frontrunners? To be clear, Realmuto isnt injured. Hes actually riding a 17-game hitting streak, the longest ever by a Phillies catcher, during which hes 26-for-74 (.351) with five doubles, one triple, and two homers. But Realmuto also missed three games recently with a sore right knee, so the Phillies will be careful not to push their iron man catcher, considering they held a five-game lead over the Braves in the National League East entering play Wednesday. Its a different position than the Phillies are accustomed to. In each of the last two seasons, they got off to a slow start, finally heard the alarm clock in June, scrambled to pull themselves together, and made the playoffs via the wild card. If theyre able to maintain the division lead through the summer, they dont have to go full-throttle, which would mean being able to slightly curb the workloads of certain players, especially Realmuto, who has started 130 games in each of the last two years. Thomson noted that keeping Realmuto on the bench Wednesday meant he would really receive two days off because the Phillies are idle Thursday. Backup catcher Garrett Stubbs got a rare start against a left-handed pitcher. Realmutos hitting streak reached 17 games with a double in Tuesday nights 10-inning, 1-0 loss to the Giants. Its his career-long streak, and it eclipsed 16-game rolls by former Phillies catchers Stan Lopata in 1956 and Jimmie Wilson in 1934. Its cool, Realmuto said Tuesday night. It would be a lot better if we were winning games. One hit a day doesnt feel that great. I know Im extending the streak, but kind of whatever. Name those fields The Phillies held a ceremony at their academy in the Dominican Republic to dedicate three fields in honor of former players Juan Samuel, Bobby Abreu, and Carlos Ruiz, and its bullpen mounds to longtime minor-league instructor Roly deArmas. Its important for us to not only celebrate the on-field contributions of our Latin American players and staff, but also recognize their legacy in Phillies history, owner John Middleton said in a statement. All four individuals being honored at these fields have made a significant impact on our organization and have represented the club in exemplary fashion. The academy, located in Boca Chica, opened in January 2017 and houses two Phillies teams in the Dominican Summer League, which opens its season Monday. READ MORE: Michael Mercado is ready for any role should the Phillies need pitching help from Lehigh Valley Extra bases Trea Turner (hamstring) played catch, took one-knee grounders, and hit in the batting cage. It remains unclear when he will resume a running program after feeling a recurrence of soreness over the weekend in Colorado. Nick Castellanos two-out double in the third inning Wednesday marked his 600th career extra-base hit. Fill-in shortstop Edmundo Sosa batted second for the third time in his career. Entering the game, Sosa was 20-for-59 with four doubles, four triples, two homers, and a 1.062 OPS in 19 starts since Turner went on the injured list. Condolences to Phillies radio play-by-play announcer Scott Franzke, whose father, Bob, died Wednesday in Texas at age 91. Aaron Nola (6-2, 3.04 ERA) will start Friday night at home against Cardinals righty Miles Mikolas (3-5, 5.64). President Joe Bidens appearance was his seventh visit to Pennsylvania in 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris has visited the state four times. Former President Donald Trump has made two swings through Pennsylvania in 2024. Former President Donald Trump delivers remarks to supporters at a rally behind the Schnecksville Fire Hall in Schnecksville, Pa. on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Trump will open a campaign office in Philadelphia Tuesday. Read more Former President Donald Trumps campaign will open an office in Philadelphia on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee. The spokesperson was unable to furnish details. The news came just as a New York jury found Trump guilty on all of the felony counts of falsifying business records in his hush money trial, making him the first former president and first major-party presidential candidate to be convicted of felony crimes. Advertisement According to reports, U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R., Texas), a high-profile Black Republican, has been tapped to be a guest at the office opening. Hunts office did not respond to requests for information. Trump, like President Joe Biden, has been working to gain support among African American voters, especially in Philly, where a strong showing could tip the scales in a key swing state. Hunt, an Army veteran and West Point graduate, said last summer that Biden is working to put President Trump in prison before he gets back in the White House. The Biden campaign already has two official offices in the city, in Roxborough and Brewerytown, and a third site in Center City, where some staffers are working. Up until now, political observers say, Trumps campaign has relied more on rallies to speak to voters in Pennsylvania than on campaign offices with organized get-out-the-vote efforts. He held a rally in Wildwood, a popular Shore destination for Philadelphia area residents, last month. The Biden campaign has 24 offices in the state. Its Center City office near 18th and Market Streets is one of 14 the campaign opened last month in Pennsylvania, a swing state with 19 electoral votes. Half of the offices are in voter-rich Philadelphia and its collar counties, including three offices in Bucks County, a critical swing area. Biden was in Philadelphia on Wednesday to kick off his campaigns Black Voters for Biden-Harris effort and attend an event with local business owners nearby. He was joined at the rally by Vice President Kamala Harris, who touted the Biden administrations accomplishments on issues that disproportionately affect Black voters, such as lowering the cost of insulin for diabetes patients and working to eliminate student debt. Its possible Trumps people have identified a bunch of voters who might flip to him, said Drexel University professor Richardson Dilworth, speculating on why the Trump campaign is opening an office now. Given what Ive seen, theres been some weakness reflected in the polls for Biden among Black voters. Theyre growing increasingly soft on him. Councilmember Kendra Brooks speaks at a press conference about the Eviction Diversion Program in April. She is surrounded by supporters of the program during a news conference in Philadelphia City Hall. Read more Philadelphias nationally lauded Eviction Diversion Program, which was created during the pandemic to keep people in their homes, has been extended several times and now its set to become permanent. City Council on Thursday voted, 16-1, to approve legislation making the program a fixture. The bill now heads to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, whose administration has expressed support for extending the program. Advertisement The passage represents a win for progressives, who have been staunch supporters and have led advocacy for the programs expansion. Councilmember Brian J. ONeill, a Republican, was the only member to vote against making it permanent. The law requires landlords and tenants to seek mediation and rental assistance before going to court. Since its inception, an average of 10,000 fewer evictions have been filed each year in the city than before the pandemic. It was set to expire in June. City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who represents parts of West Philadelphia and chairs the housing committee, said Thursday that the program is one of our citys most effective anti-displacement programs ever. As rent and housing costs continue to soar, she said, we know that the Eviction Diversion program remains just as important for the safety and vitality of our neighborhoods as it was in 2020. READ MORE: Philadelphias Eviction Diversion Program is on its way to becoming permanent Councilmember Nicolas ORourke, a freshman from the progressive Working Families Party, called the passage monumental. It feels like one of the most important votes that Ive cast in the past five months, he said, because of the material difference that this program has made since its introduction. But Gauthier said the program isnt complete without supercharging funding for the citys Targeted Financial Assistance program, which pays landlords directly if they agree to delay eviction proceedings. Parker, in her budget proposal, cut funding for that rental assistance program, which was created to be temporary. The progressives say securing $50 million for rental assistance is now a top priority through budget negotiations, which are expected to wrap up before lawmakers recess for summer break on June 13. What else happened? Eyes on OHS: For the last year or so, Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson has acted as something of an unofficial ombudsperson for the Office of Homeless Services, which has been in turmoil since news broke that it had overspent its budget by almost $15 million over four years. Now she wants to make the job official. READ MORE: Philly City Council wants more oversight of the Office of Homeless Services amid questions about its finances Council on Thursday unanimously approved legislation by Gilmore Richardson that could lead to the creation of a new ombudsperson to watch over the office. The legislation would amend the Home Rule Charter, the citys governing document, and will need to be approved by voters. Philadelphia voters almost always approve proposed amendments to the charter. Under the proposal, the ombudsperson would be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by Council, and would have subpoena power to investigate the Office of Homeless Services. Council also is considering another measure by Gilmore Richardson to change city contracting rules that was inspired by the overspending in the Office of Homeless Services. Currently, some city agencies are allowed to circumvent the competitive bidding process when hiring nonprofits. Under the bill, nonprofits would have to compete in a process just like other vendors. I know change brings fear. I know change brings fearmongering, Gilmore Richardson said, but change allows us to incorporate and improve best practices for city government. Five more for FiOS: Council approved a five-year extension of Verizons franchise agreement with the city, which allows the company to build and maintain its FiOS network in public right-of-ways. The measure passed with little drama this year. That was far from the case when Verizons first franchise agreement was adopted in 2009, ending Comcasts effective monopoly over cable services in its home city. READ MORE: Verizon ended Comcasts cable monopoly in Philly 15 years ago. The city plans to give Fios 5 more years. In the new agreement, Verizon will continue to pay the city 5% of its gross revenue from Philly cable customers, contributing about $6.7 million to the city budget. The company has also agreed to provide a $500,000 grant to the city for digital equity efforts, public safety initiatives, and other uses and to continue its support of public access cable with $8 million in funding. The deal also involves Verizon building out broadband internet service to Philadelphia Parks and Recreation facilities. A probe of drug treatment options: As City Hall continues its intense focus on cleaning up Kensington, Council is set to examine drug treatment options in the beleaguered neighborhood and explore barriers to recovery. Council passed legislation authorizing a new special committee on Kensington to hold hearings on the limited bed availability in the neighborhood. The legislation, introduced by Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, notes that people who use drugs face significant hurdles to entering treatment and shelter, including withdrawal symptoms, open wounds from toxic drugs, long wait times, language barriers, and too few options for couples. Whats next? Budget deadline: Over the next week, councilmembers and Parker will try to hash out a deal over the next city budget, which takes effect July 1. Councils final meeting before its summer recess is in two weeks, and to meet procedural deadlines they must reach a compromise on the budget before next weeks meeting. Were just working on the administrations priorities, Council priorities, and just making sure we come to a budget thats fiscally sound, most importantly, but also one thats equitable, Council President Kenyatta Johnson told reporters Thursday. READ MORE: Philly City Council members abandon plan to push for wage or business tax cuts, delivering win to Mayor Parker One major issue was taken off the table on Thursday, when Councilmember Isaiah Thomas said that he and other lawmakers who had been pushing for cuts to the wage and business tax rates in the next budget had given up on that effort. That means Parkers vision of no tax rate changes is likely to win the day. All thats left is to fight over where the money goes. Quote of the week Pride isnt just a celebration. Its a reminder of the courage, resilience, and unwavering spirit of the LGBTQ+ community. Councilmember Rue Landau Councilmember Rue Landau, the first openly LGBTQ city lawmaker in Philadelphia history, on Thursday introduced a resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Philadelphias next budget will not include cuts to the wage or business tax rates, providing a political victory for first-year Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and answering one of the more significant open questions as budget negotiations come down to the wire. Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, who had pushed for recent cuts to the business income and receipts tax, confirmed Thursday that he and others were abandoning their effort to cut taxes in the city budget that takes effect July 1. He said Council members want to be aligned with Parker and to wait for recommendations from the new Tax Reform Commission that are expected to be published in the fall. Advertisement We want to try our best to have a united front with the mayor, Thomas said. The move represents a break from recent precedent in City Halls tax policy and a setback for the business community, which has successfully lobbied for tax cuts in recent years. READ MORE: How Mayor Parker is changing the conversation on Phillys tax structure Successive Philadelphia mayors dating to the 1990s have supported a policy of using small annual cuts to incrementally lower the wage tax, which is the highest of its kind in the nation at 3.75% for city residents and 3.44% for people who work in Philly but live elsewhere. But Parker did not propose any tax cuts in the $6.29 billion budget proposal she unveiled in March, despite the city being in relatively strong financial condition. The mayor has said she supports lowering both taxes in the long term, but believed that the most urgent way to aid the business community was to fulfill her campaign promise of making Philadelphia safer, cleaner, greener. She also said she wants to wait for the Tax Reform Commission to produce a report and to see action on the state level before committing the city to further tax changes. Specifically, the mayor wants a state constitutional amendment to allow Philadelphia to apply higher tax rates on commercial real estate than residential properties. And she wants Harrisburg to raise Pennsylvanias minimum wage to $15 an hour from the current federal hourly minimum of $7.25. Both of those efforts face major political headwinds and would take years to accomplish. Tax cuts in recent years were seen as an indication that the politics of City Hall were moving back to the center after several years of momentum for the left and that the business community was gaining influence over lawmakers. Thomas said Thursday hes concerned that not passing tax cuts this year sends the wrong message to businesses but is confident that Council will remain committed to tax cuts in the long run. Thursdays Council meeting was the last opportunity for bills to be introduced in time to be passed before lawmakers recess for summer break on June 13. But neither Thomas nor Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Councils point person on wage tax cuts, introduced legislation. Neither Council nor the mayor this year proposed changing the real estate tax rate, which is 1.3998% of a propertys assessed value. But the city is resuming property reassessments in the next fiscal year after a one-year hiatus in the final year of Mayor Jim Kenneys administration, and the new valuations will lead to increased property tax bills for thousands of Philly property owners. Council is consequently considering tax relief measures that would take effect next year, such as increasing the homestead exemption for owner-occupied homes. With debates about tax policy all but settled, Council and the administration now have one week to hash out a final deal on spending allocations for the next budget. A group of progressive Council members on Thursday morning called for $14 million to build new affordable housing units at the site of the UC Townhomes; $5 million for the Philadelphia Energy Authoritys Built-to-Last program, which assists low-income homeowners with energy-efficient home repairs; $50 million for rental assistance; and $2.6 million for the Office of Worker Protection. This coalition is fighting for a budget that works for working families, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier said at a news conference before Thursdays meeting. When a customer makes a claim against their policy, it is subject to an excess unless they can provide us with the details of the person responsible for the damage so that we can exercise our rights of recovery for the resulting damage, the spokesperson told ABC. This means that for incidents like these, we will pay for the damage, but an excess is payable unless the identity of the perpetrator is determined. We are excited to partner with Gallagher Re to better understand both historical trends in tropical cyclone activity as well as projected future trends. Hurricanes are a large driver of both economic and insured losses, and consequently improving our knowledge of this natural hazard will help us prepare for an uncertain future. This research is even more critical as we embark on what is likely to be a very busy 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Klotzbach said. I think the main differences you get in state laws here might be on legal liability theories and various types of cognitive actions and how the different states courts have interpreted them, said Hershewe. In the US the insurance contracts themselves can be very different between the states. Im thrilled to be in Bermuda for the signing of this agreement, which further strengthens our commitment made in March to closely collaborate and align on sharing risk expertise between the worlds two major insurance and reinsurance hubs, Lloyds chief commercial officer and Americas chief executive Dawn Miller said. I checked my cover to be sure I was eligible for joint replacements, and then I got in touch with the surgeon to make sure he was participating in the program, and he was, which was fantastic, she said. It was all very organised. The hospital had a good pre-admission clinic, and I saw a physio there before I went in, and he organised for me to have physio at home. Having rehab at home made recovery so much more convenient and easier. Elon Musks Space X Starlink internet constellation reported a degraded service, but it quickly returned to normal. The storm was also sufficient to result in navigational errors in tractors and other equipment relying on GPS and drove some farmers in the US and Canada to halt planting. Aircraft were also diverted to reduce the exposure of passengers and crew to radiation. "As an industry leader in providing family-friendly benefits and programs, we're proud to be named a top Adoption-Friendly Workplace by the Dave Thomas Foundation as it recognizes our support of all paths to parenthood. Our Adoption Assistance Program underscores our commitment to offering meaningful resources for employees welcoming children into their families through adoption, QBE North America chief people officer Rachel Pollack said. Miles Wuller, president and chief executive at RSUM, expressed his approval of Pouliots promotion, saying: Im pleased to recognize Derek in this new role. Derek has been an invaluable colleague to our managing general underwriters and carrier trading partners, helping us drive underwriting profitability goals across our platform. When I was an underwriter, I massively benefited from face-to-face trading and having relationships with brokers, she said. I was [recently] out with some brokers who Ive worked with over the last 10 years, and I hadnt seen some of them for four or five years, since I stopped underwriting. And it was lovely to reconnect and reminisce about old times sitting at the box, where you learned so much about each others lives. That's a fantastic thing that the London market has that we don't necessarily want to give away. Lifting the lid on Ryans arrival, Santhirasenan stated: Risas appointment marks an important juncture in our growth as a company as we seek to meaningfully expand our on-the-ground presence in North America. As a hugely respected industry figure, she brings with her a wealth of experience, insight, and far-reaching relationships in the US market. A northern Virginia tech company is paying $38,500 to settle claims that it discriminated by posting a job listing seeking white, U.S.-born candidates for an opening as a business analyst. The Justice Department announced Thursday that it had reached a settlement agreement with Arthur Grand Technologies, an information technology firm in Ashburn, Virginia. The company listed the business analyst job online in March 2023, specifically seeking Only Born US Citizens (White) who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX (Dont share with candidates). It is shameful that in the 21st century, we continue to see employers using whites only and only US born job postings to lock out otherwise eligible job candidates of color said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments civil rights division in a statement. I share the publics outrage at Arthur Grands appalling and discriminatory ban on job candidates based on citizenship status, national origin, color and race. In the settlement agreement, the company said the ad was generated by a disgruntled recruiter in India and was intended to embarrass the company, and that it never intended to dissuade non-citizens from applying. Arthur Grand did not return a call and email Tuesday seeking comment. The settlement includes a $7,500 penalty to settle a Justice Department investigation and $31,000 as part of a settlement with the Labor Department to compensate individuals who filed complaints alleging they were discriminated against by the advertisement. The agreement also requires Arthur Grand to train its personnel on the requirements of the federal hiring and discrimination laws and revise its employment policies. In 2019, another northern Virginia tech firm, Cynet Systems, apologized after posting an online ad seeking preferably Caucasian applicants for an account manager job in Florida. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics InsurTech Talent Tech Virginia A former executive assistant at One Equity Partners sued the private equity firm on Wednesday, claiming she was subjected to sexist and racist conduct and was fired for complaining about it. Dianna Toomey, an Arab American of Lebanese descent, said in a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court that One Equity (OEP) executives frequently belittled women and a co-worker called her a dirty terrorist and other epithets. The lawsuit claims One Equitys founder and chairman, Dick Cashin, routinely made misogynistic comments and subjected Toomey to unwanted touching. It also alleges that Greg Belinfanti, the firms president, said he would not meet alone with women because it was just an invitation to a lawsuit. Toomey said One Equity has no human resources department so she complained about the conduct on numerous occasions to anyone who would listen, but no action was ever taken. She was fired in April, weeks after sending a letter outlining the alleged harassment to the companys chief operating officer, she said. One Equity said in a statement that the claims lack merit and are comprised of complete fabrications. OEP has a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. This employee was let go by OEP based solely on legitimate reasons, and the firm welcomes the opportunity to defend our reputation, the company said. Cashin and Belinfanti did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Whether a firm has $1 under management or $10 billion, like One Equity Partners, it is required to adhere to the anti-discrimination, anti-harassment and anti-retaliation laws, Michael Willemin, a lawyer for Toomey, said in a statement. OEP failed miserably in this regard, and we look forward to holding it and its executives accountable for their conduct. Toomey was hired as an executive assistant on One Equitys investor relations teams in 2022 and received positive reviews, raises and large bonuses throughout her time with the firm, court documents show. The lawsuit accuses One Equity of race and sex discrimination and retaliation in violation of federal and New York state and city laws. Toomey is seeking unspecified damages for pain and suffering, lost earnings and harm to her reputation, and punitive damages. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Richard Chang and Rod Nickel) The U.S. Supreme Court has revived a claim by the National Rifle Association (NRA) that a former New York regulator allegedly violated the organizations First Amendment rights by coercing insurers and banks to terminate their business relationships with the NRA in order to punish or suppress the NRAs gun rights advocacy. Government officials cannot attempt to coerce private parties in order to punish or suppress views that the government disfavors, the court declared in a unanimous opinion written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The Supreme Court found the NRAs allegations that former New York Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo violated its First Amendment rights to be plausible. The high court vacated a 2022 judgment of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit that dismissed the NRAs claims. The high court remanded the case back to the circuit court for further proceedings. The NRA claimed that Vullo infringed its free speech rights when she spoke out against gun violence and issued a press release and guidance letters urging banks and insurance companies in New York to consider the reputational risks of doing business with gun groups including the NRA. The gun advocacy organization argued that Vullos statements and letters constituted threats of adverse action if insurers or banks failed to support her efforts to stifle the NRAs speech and to retaliate against the NRA. The case stems from events in 2018 after Vullos department investigated the NRA-sponsored Carry Guard insurance programs offered by broker Lockton and insurer Chubb and similar programs underwritten by Lloyds of London. The DFS investigation concluded that the NRA-endorsed programs violated New York insurance law by providing insurance coverage for intentional criminal acts. DFS also found that the NRA promoted Carry Guard without an insurance producer license. As a result of the DFS investigation, Lloyds of London, Chubb and Lockton signed consent decrees agreeing to discontinue the sale of the NRA insurance plans in New York. Each consent decree expressly allowed the entities to continue to do business with the NRA. Vullo was quoted in the press release as stating that business can lead the way and bring about the kind of positive social change needed to minimize the chance that we will witness more of these senseless tragedies, and urging all insurance companies and banks doing business in New York to join the companies that have already discontinued their arrangements with the NRA, and to take prompt actions to manage these risks and promote public health and safety. Vullos comments came two months after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 high school students and staff were killed. In the wake of the shooting, the NRA and other gun promotion groups faced intense backlash. A panel of the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in September 2022 that Vullo was within her rights as a regulator and that she was entitled to qualified immunity for speaking out as she did. The federal appeals court said that NRAs First Amendment claims rested on whether Vullos statements were implied threats to employ coercive state power to stifle protected speech. Circuit Judge Denny Chin, writing for the three-judge panel, found that was not the case and that Vullos words speak for themselves, and they cannot reasonably be construed as being unconstitutionally threatening or coercive. Appeals Court Rejects NRA Free Speech Claims Against New York Insurance Regulator The NRA appealed to the Supreme Court that has now rejected that appeals court approach, concluding that the NRA plausibly alleged a First Amendment claim. While a government official can share her views freely and criticize particular beliefs in the hopes of persuading others, she may not use the power of her office to punish or suppress disfavored expression, the high court stated, adding that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from relying on the threat of invoking legal sanctions and other means of coercion . . . to achieve the suppression of disfavored speech. As DFS superintendent, Vullo had direct regulatory and enforcement authority over all insurance companies and financial service institutions doing business in New York. The court said Vullos communications with the DFS-regulated entities made clear she wanted Lloyds to disassociate from all gun groups, although there was no indication that such groups had unlawful insurance policies similar to the NRAs. Vullo also told the Lloyds executives she would focus her enforcement actions solely on the syndicates with ties to the NRA, and ignore other syndicates writing similar policies. The Supreme Court said the message was loud and clear that Lloyds could avoid liability for unrelated infractions if it aided DFSs campaign against gun groups by ending its business relationships with them. Vullos alleged communications, the court found whether seen as a threat or as an inducement were reasonably understood as coercive. The court said NRAs other allegations concerning Vullos guidance and communications reinforce the NRAs First Amendment claim. The high court criticized the Second Circuits conclusion that they were examples of permissible government speech and legitimate enforcement action, finding that the circuit court could only reach this conclusion by taking the allegations in isolation and failing to draw reasonable inferences in the NRAs favor. Vullo claimed that the NRAs position, if accepted, would stifle government speech and hamper legitimate enforcement efforts, but the Supreme Court said its conclusion simply reaffirms the general principle that where the complaint plausibly alleges coercive threats aimed at punishing or suppressing disfavored speech, the plaintiff states a First Amendment claim. Nothing in this case immunizes the NRA from regulation nor prevents government officials from condemning disfavored views. The takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or (as alleged here) through private intermediaries, the court stated. The American Civil Liberties Union provided legal representation for the NRA in the appeal. Reaction A lawyer for the NRA called the ruling a landmark victory for the NRA and all who care about our First Amendment freedom. The attorney, William A. Brewer, added that the opinion confirms that New York government officials abused the power of their office to silence a political enemy. Vullos attorney, Neal Katyal, said the ruling required the Supreme Court to treat the NRAs untested allegations as true even though these allegations have no evidentiary merit. Katyal said the NRAs allegations about the Lloyds meetings are false, and that Vullo did not threaten, coerce or retaliate against anyone. He said he believes that the Second Circuit, which threw out the lawsuit on qualified immunity grounds before, will reaffirm Vullos claim of qualified immunity. The Supreme Court did not address the immunity issue. Topics New York Gun Liability The European Unions executive arm is examining the feasibility of a proposal by one of its member states to sanction Russias Ingosstrakh Insurance Co., as part of efforts to choke revenue generating streams that Moscow needs to finance its war against Ukraine. The proposal, which may require the EU to expand its listing criteria, aims to target one of the main providers of insurance to tankers hauling Russian oil after the Group of Seven introduced price caps on most Russian seaborne crude and fuels in late 2022 and early 2023, according to people familiar with the matter. Were it to go through, the idea would create sprawling and hard-to-quantify risks and costs not just for Russias oil trade but for wider international commodities shipments that Ingosstrakh provides coverage for. The evaluation is still at an early stage and Moscow-based Ingosstrakh is currently not included in the latest draft of a new sanctions package the bloc is currently negotiating, the people said on condition of anonymity. Even if the proposal gets a nod from the European Commission, it would still face numerous hurdles given that several member states, including Hungary, have opposed most measures targeting Russias energy sector, the people said. EU sanctions require the backing of all member states. The listing criteria is aimed at people and entities operating in economic sectors that are providing the Russian government with substantial sources of revenue something that would need to be demonstrated in the case of Ingosstrakh. Listings are discussed and decided by the member states in a procedure that is confidential, said Peter Stano, lead spokesperson for the EUs foreign affairs and security policy. Ingosstrakh, a top-five Russian insurance provider, said it operates in strict compliance with all applicable legislation, and follows strict compliance procedures. The firm follows the recommendations found in relevant Sanctions Guidance for Entities Operating in the Maritime Shipping Sector published by OFAC and other relevant guidelines, as applicable, it said in emailed comments. The EU, US and other allies have imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russian exports, companies and officials following the invasion of Ukraine. Kyivs allies are especially focused on cracking down on Moscows ability to circumvent sanctions and on curbing its future revenue to reduce Vladimir Putins ability to finance and sustain Russias war. The G-7 price cap on Russian crude oil and petroleum products bans western shipowners, insurers and intermediaries from providing vessels and services for cargoes priced above the thresholds. The restrictions prompted a pivot away from western insurance and a need for alternatives. In April, the International Group of P&I Clubs, a London-based umbrella organization for clubs providing coverage of shipowners liability against risks including spills and collisions, provided services for just 16% of all tankers shipping Russian oil. Thats the lowest since at least the start of 2023, according to shipping data compiled by Bloomberg. Moscow has been able to skirt much of the impact of the price cap by assembling a fleet of tankers operating in difficult-to-trace jurisdictions and turning to non-western service providers to ship its barrels to new markets such as India. Ingosstrakh said in the months that followed the invasion that it would not fill the void if sanctions forced western firms to stop covering the nations petroleum shipments. It is known to be the provider of at least some protection and indemnity cover, but the full extent of its involvement is not clear and there is no suggestion the company has breached sanctions. It also provides P&I to some other commodity trades. All our P&I policies contain the sanction exclusion clause that excludes the provision of coverage in case of violations of any Sanctions in accordance with applicable legislation, Ingosstrakh said. The terms of our policies are similar to those offered by the leading P&I Clubs and international insurers. In 2023, the EU and the UK sanctioned Russian National Reinsurance Co., which provides state-backed coverage for all domestic sanctions-related risks, including the reinsurance of vessels and marine cargoes. The restrictions effectively shut the two major western reinsurance markets for the firm. Photograph: A view of Persian Gulf from inside Devon, an oil tanker transferring oil to exporting markets on March 23, 2018; photo credit: Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. Topics Carriers Energy Europe Oil Gas Russia Latin Americas human rights court holds a final hearing in Brazil on Wednesday in a case thats part of a global wave of climate litigation, as several international courts prepare first-time opinions on what countries must do to combat climate change. The rulings could also set off a wave of new litigation brought by citizens, businesses and governments. Enforcement of such decisions is largely untested, however. A Swiss parliamentary committee last week rejected a ruling for example by a top European court that said Switzerland had violated the human rights of its citizens by not doing enough to prevent climate change. Climate Court Cases That Could Set New Precedents Around the World The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), which holds jurisdiction over 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries, hopes to issue its advisory opinion by years end, top justice Nancy Hernandez Lopez told Reuters. The final hearing on Wednesday is being held in the Amazon rainforest city of Manaus. Already last week, the international tribunal set up under the U.N. Law of the Seas decided that carbon emissions amount to marine pollution and that countries must go beyond the Paris Agreement to protect oceans. Next year, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to have its say and could attempt to draw the earlier court decisions into one global ruling applicable to all U.N. members. The reason for (the wave of litigation) is peoples deep frustration that their elected representatives are not taking rapid and fair climate action, said Lucy Maxwell, co-director of the nonprofit Climate Litigation Network. The climate litigation landscape is really broad and diverse and massively growing. Setting Precedents While multilateral court opinions apply only to the states under their jurisdiction, they are all grappling with the same central question: Are governments obligated to protect people from climate change? And if so to what degree? That question is taking courts into uncharted territory, as there is little legal precedent on climate change. In deliberating, court judges have been reviewing climate science, holding hearings and digging through a tangle of laws, treaties and U.N. proceedings. That process has made the case before the Inter-American Court the largest to date with more than 600 participants at hearings held in Brazil and Barbados, as well as 262 written submissions to the court from Indigenous groups, civil society, scientists and one company. Such inclusivity helps give the court its reputation among the worlds most progressive, lawyers said. By comparison, the International Court of Justice has restricted submissions in its case mostly to countries and authorities like the World Health Organization. The Latin American court might also borrow arguments from earlier national climate cases, even if they are outside its jurisdiction, said senior lawyer Sophie Marjanac at the legal charity ClientEarth. The judges do read each others opinions, Marjanac said, though whatever influence one ruling has on another might be more psychological and social than legal. As such, the Latin American court could influence the ICJ ruling, expected next year. Legal Scope Globally, most past court decisions on climate have focused on countries causing harm by failing to sufficiently cut greenhouse gas emissions, including last months ruling against Switzerland. Climate Verdict for Swiss Women a Warning for European States, Oil Industry But the opinion from the Inter-American Court could go further by ruling on whether states also must adapt to climate change or pay for damages already caused by climate extremes, Maxwell said. The court could address protections for environmental defenders, given Latin America accounts for the vast majority of such activists who are murdered, said climate litigation expert Joana Setzer at the London School of Economics. It could also address fossil fuels, the main cause of climate change, or spell out the extent to which countries must regulate polluting companies, said climate justice attorney Nikki Reisch at the Center for International Environmental Law. What Comes Next? The multinational court decisions, once released, should provide clarity and guidance for national judges hearing climate cases. But they could also touch off a new wave in climate litigation, lawyers and judges told Reuters. Major differences between international court decisions could trigger fragmentation where climate change rules differ between regions. For the ICJ to declare that greenhouse gas emissions contribute to harming other countries would be already a huge victory, given the courts wide jurisdiction, Setzer said. Following the Inter-American courts decision, the governments under its jurisdiction will need to align their laws with the ruling or risk being sued, said Ciro Brito, a lawyer at Brazils Instituto Socioambiental, an environmental and Indigenous rights nonprofit in Brazil. It could give an immediate boost to a handful of legal cases already filed against governments in the region, including one filed by Mexican youths and another demanding more action from Brazil to fight Amazon deforestation. Globally, Maxwell counted at least 100 cases pending in national courts accusing governments of failing to meet climate obligations, among many more filed against companies and other defendants. Other lawyers said they were poised to take action once the Inter-American Court issues its opinion. We will use this opinion not only to knock on the governments door and say, You have to do this,' said Guilherme Lobo Pecoral, a lawyer for childrens rights nonprofit Alana Institute in Brazil. We will also knock on judges doors and say, We have this internationally defined obligation and the state isnt following it.' (Reporting by Jake Spring, Additional reporting by Bruno Kelly in Manaus and Katy Daigle in Washington; Editing by Katy Daigle and Rod Nickel) Topics Lawsuits The operator of Japans destroyed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant demonstrated Tuesday how a remote-controlled robot would retrieve tiny bits of melted fuel debris from one of three damaged reactors later this year for the first time since the 2011 meltdown. Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings plans to deploy a telesco-style extendable pipe robot into Fukushima Daiichi No. 2 reactor to test the removal of debris from its primary containment vessel by October. That work is more than two years behind schedule. The removal of melted fuel was supposed to begin in late 2021 but has been plagued with delays, underscoring the difficulty of recovering from the magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in 2011. During the demonstration at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Kobe, western Japan, where the robot has been developed, a device equipped with tongs slowly descended from the telescopic pipe to a heap of gravel and picked up a granule. TEPCO plans to remove less than 3 grams (0.1 ounce) of debris in the test at the Fukushima plant. We believe the upcoming test removal of fuel debris from Unit 2 is an extremely important step to steadily carry out future decommissioning work, said Yusuke Nakagawa, a TEPCO group manager for the fuel debris retrieval program. It is important to proceed with the test removal safely and steadily. About 880 tons of highly radioactive melted nuclear fuel remain inside the three damaged reactors. Critics say the 30- to 40-year cleanup target set by the government and TEPCO for Fukushima Daiichi is overly optimistic. The damage in each reactor is different, and plans must accommodate their conditions. Better understanding the melted fuel debris from inside the reactors is key to their decommissioning. TEPCO deployed four mini drones into the No. 1 reactors primary containment vessel earlier this year to capture images from the areas where robots had not reached. __ AP video journalist Ayaka McGill contributed to this report. Photograph: Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, also known as TEPCO, the operator of Japans wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, reveals a robot to be used to retrieve debris at the power plant in Kobe, western Japan, Tuesday, May 28, 2024. (Kyodo News via AP) Related: Topics Japan Irelands High Court is to begin hearing a dispute around insurance claims for aircraft stuck in Russia on June 11, a week later than scheduled, after parties in the case asked for additional time to prepare, a court spokesman said on Thursday. Lessors are suing dozens of insurers around the world for billions of dollars after more than 400 planes were unable to leave Russia due to Western sanctions in response to Moscows invasion of Ukraine that forced the termination of their leases. The worlds number two and three lessors, SMBC and Avolon, as well as BOC Aviation, CDB Aviation, Nordic Aviation Capital and Carlyle Aviation Partners are pursuing their claims in Ireland, where more than 60% of the worlds leased aircraft are owned or managed. The worlds biggest aircraft lessor, Irish-based AerCap, is pursuing its insurance claims through Londons High Court. The Irish case is to be held at a special venue as no court in Ireland is large enough to accommodate the 180 lawyers involved, Justice Denis McDonald told a hearing last year. The case had been due to begin on June 4. (Reporting by Conor Humphries; editing by Kirsten Donovan) Related: Topics Claims Russia Miller, the London-based specialist re/insurance broker, announced the acquisition of Madrid-based commercial insurance and reinsurance broker Bruzon Correduria de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A. and its subsidiary Bruzon Services S.A., subject to regulatory approval. Financial details of the deal, which is expected to close later this year, were not disclosed. The Bruzon transaction is Millers second continental European acquisition as it continues to expand its specialty boutique model internationally, combining solutions to complex risk-transfer needs with excellence in client service. Established in 1990, Bruzon is one of Spains leading insurance and reinsurance brokers, specializing in the structuring and placement of direct and reinsurance risks. Bruzons clients include large banks, insurance companies, large corporates and members of the IBEX 35. The broker offers a broad range of solutions and is a market leader in facultative reinsurance, accident & health, sports, financial lines, credit and surety insurance. Also part of the deal is Bruzon Services, a boutique consultancy firm, which focuses on financial advisory and structuring. Bruzons 32 staff will continue to be led by its founder, chairman and CEO John Bruzon, and will collaborate closely with Millers 900-plus staff across the UK, Asia, Bermuda and a growing number of European insurance markets including France, Belgium and Switzerland. The company will trade under the Bruzon Miller brand to acknowledge a longstanding partnership between the two companies, with Miller having been a minority shareholder of Bruzon prior to 2015. This is an exciting time for Miller as we continue to expand our presence across the UK, Europe and Asia. Bruzon has an outstanding reputation in Spain and shares our vision to create the broker of choice for clients with complex risk-transfer needs and for talented brokers to pursue their passion, commented James Hands, CEO at Miller. Together we can broaden the spectrum of solutions and services available to our global clients. We are delighted to join Miller as the next step of Bruzons journey. This transaction will advance our own presence in the Spanish market, continuing to provide our clients excellent advice, solutions and service, said John Bruzon, chairman and CEO at Bruzon. With Millers ownership and increased resources, we preserve the legacy and strengthen the special character of our company. Source: Miller Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Agencies Excess Surplus Reinsurance The White House on Wednesday planned to announce new measures to support the development of new U.S. nuclear power plants, a large potential source of carbon-free electricity the government says is needed to combat climate change. The suite of actions, which werent previously reported, are aimed at helping the nuclear power industry combat rising security costs and competition from cheaper plants powered by natural gas, wind and solar. Nuclear proponents say the technology is critical to providing large, uninterrupted supplies of emissions-free power to serve soaring electricity demand from data centers and electric vehicles and still meet President Joe Bidens goal of decarbonizing the U.S. economy by 2050. In the decisive decade for climate action, we need to pull as many of the tools for decarbonization off the sidelines and onto the field, said Ali Zaidi, Bidens national climate adviser. Critics worry about the buildup of radioactive waste stored at plants around the country and warn of the potential risks to human health and nature, especially with any accidents or malfunctions. Biden signed a law earlier this month banning the use of enriched uranium from Russia, the worlds top supplier. At a White House event on Wednesday focused on nuclear energy deployment, the Biden administration will announce a new group that will seek to identify ways to mitigate cost and schedule overruns in plant construction. The group of climate, science and energy policy experts from White House and Department of Energy will work with project developers, engineering, procurement and construction firms, utilities, investors, labor organizations, academics, and non-governmental organizations. It also said the Army will soon solicit feedback on deploying advanced reactors to provide energy for certain facilities in the United States. Small modular reactors and microreactors can provide energy that is more resilient to physical and cyber attacks, natural disasters and other challenges, the White House said. The Department of Energy also released a paper outlining the expected increased safety of advanced reactors. And a new tool will help developers figure out how to cut capital costs for new nuclear reactors. The youngest U.S. nuclear power reactors, at the Vogtle plant in Georgia, were years behind schedule and billions over budget when they entered commercial operation in 2023 and 2024. No new U.S. nuclear plants are currently being built. Vogtle is now the largest U.S. source of clean energy, the White House said. Nuclear energy accounts for about 19% of U.S. power generation, compared with 4% for solar and 10% for wind. Photo: Vogtle nuclear plant in Waynesboro, Ga. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Topics USA Severe thunderstorms are set to sweep across Texas Panhandle, including Lubbock and Amarillo on Thursday. The risk will drop on Friday and Saturday but destructive systems will still be possible, the US Storm Prediction Center said. A tumultuous weather pattern sparking several rounds of robust thunderstorms is set to continue throughout much of the central and south-central United States, Cody Snell, a forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center, wrote in an outlook. The right mix of unsettled patterns coming across the Rocky Mountains, weather fronts in the Great Plains and moisture flowing up from the Gulf of Mexico area all coming together. Snell said strong storms are forecast to progress eastward over the the southern Plains on Thursday night. These thunderstorms may contain large hail and damaging wind gusts, with locations most likely impacted including the Texas Panhandle and parts of western Texas, he said. Wild thunderstorms have battered Texas and much of the central US for weeks. This has led to deaths from tornadoes and damaging winds, as well as widespread power outages, particularly across Texas. As of 5:30 a.m. New York time, 192,722 customers were without power in Texas and another 15,876 in Arkansas, according to PowerOutage.us. In other weather news: India: Wednesdays high of 48.8C (120F) was recorded at Rohtak (Haryana), according to the India Meteorological Department. A heat wave has entrenched over much of Punjab, as well as in many parts of Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. There have been several record highs set across northwest India over the past few days, said Jason Nicholls, a meteorologist with commercial forecaster AccuWeather Inc. It will remain hot into the weekend, but it is not expected to be as extreme as the past couple of days. Heat wave conditions are forecast to gradually improve through the next five days, the department said. Australia: Damaging winds are possible across elevated areas in Victoria and southern New South Wales, said Sarah Scully, a forecaster with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Wind gust could reach 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour, which is enough to bring down trees and powerlines, causing outages and making travel difficult. Heavy rain will also likely develop across Victoria raising the risk for flash flooding. Tasmania will also be buffeted by high winds and heavy rain Friday, she said. Sun: Moderate geomagnetic storms are possible May 31 to June 1 as a coronal mass ejection (CME) reaches Earth. The CME is associated with a flare that erupted from the large sunspot complex that created wild aurora displays earlier this month. That cluster has rotated completely around the Sun and is now back on the Earth-facing side of the star, according to the US Space Weather Prediction Center. Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. Topics Texas Is the installation of an in-ground trampoline considered landscaping work, covered by a landscapers liability insurance policy? Artificial intelligence programs suggest that it is. But human judges with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals believe otherwise, despite one of the judges going to great lengths to explore A.I.s views on the matter, according to an opinion handed down this week in an Alabama case, James Snell vs. United Specialty Insurance Co. The opinion is pretty thorough and straightforward. It really speaks for itself, said Allen Graham, of Mobile, Alabama, one of the attorneys for United Specialty, a State National subsidiary. Graham said this is the first time he has seen a judge employ ChatGPT or any other artificial intelligence program to examine the common usage or meaning of terms used in an insurance policy. The appeal stemmed from an incident in Fairhope, Alabama. James Snell and his Outdoor Expressions landscaping company were asked by a longtime customer, the Westons, to install an in-ground trampoline. The work included digging a large pit in the yard, shoring up the sides with stone blocks and timber supports, and installing a drainage system. At ground level, just outside the edge of the trampoline, the crew capped the retaining wall with a 210-inch wood perimeter, flush with the grass. In 2020, a girl jumping on the trampoline bounced and struck her face on the wood perimeter, causing serious injuries. The girls father filed suit against the homeowners, the trampoline manufacturer and Snell and his landscape company. The suit alleged the trampoline was defective and was installed without adequate padding or netting around it, as many trampolines have. Snell held a commercial liability policy with United Specialty. The insurer denied the claim and informed Snell that it would not defend him in the lawsuit, noting that his policy covered only damages arising from landscaping work not installation of a trampoline. Snell sued United, charging breach of contract and bad faith by the insurer. The lower court, the U.S. District Court for Southern Alabama, in 2022 agreed with United Specialty and granted summary judgment. Snell appealed, and a panel of the 11th Circuit on May 28 upheld the district judges finding. Snell, reached Wednesday by phone, said that the insurers denial and the court decisions were baffling to him, given that his landscaping crew had done extensive work on the land. Thats exactly what we did a lot of landscaping, he said. He has since shied away from other trampoline projects, although his firms Facebook page still shows photos of the Weston job. Snell said and the photographs suggest that the injury may have been avoided if the padding around the trampolines frame had been extended to cover the wood deck board around it. Images of other in-ground installations around the country, found online, show grass up against the padding and the frame of the trampoline, without a wood cap. Snells attorney, Thomas OHara, of Daphne, Alabama, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The 11th Circuit appellate panel explored the definition of landscaping as mentioned in Snells policy. But it did not decide the case on that question. Instead, the judges said the decision turned on Snells insurance application, which, according to Alabama law and a 2001 state Supreme Court decision, must be considered part of the policy. The application asked if the work would include any recreational or playground equipment construction or erection. Snell had answered, No. If Snell had answered Yes to that question or if he had informed United Specialty at some time later that his operations were going to include structural work for recreational equipment and the installation of recreational equipment, then United Specialty could have added that coverage and made any appropriate adjustments to Snells rate, the lower court said in its decision. The appellate judges upheld that reasoning, noting that the insurance application conclusively shows he is not entitled to coverage. We agree with the district court that Snell expressly disclaimed doing any of the sort of work he did hereincluding the site work necessary to install the trampoline that he now claims is landscaping out of which the underlying injury arises,' Judge Elizabeth Branch wrote for the three-judge appeals court panel. The opinion held other guideposts for insurers writing liability coverage: Alabama law, contrary to what Snells lawyer argued, does not require a judgment on whether the insurer had a duty to indemnify before a decision is made on a duty to defend, the 11th Circuit panel said. And the bad-faith claim failed because United Specialty had a lawful basis for denying the claim and Snell did not show that United had neglected to fully investigate. Also, the landscapers insurance policy indicated that the exclusion of non-landscape work was not actually an exclusion to the policy but was a limitation of coverage. That was an important distinction, the court said, because Alabama law notes that the insured has the burden of proof to show that coverage exists but the insurer must prove that an exclusion applies. Still, the underlying question of whether installing an in-ground trampoline is considered landscaping work nagged at one of the judges, Kevin Newsom. Although the courts opinion sidestepped that question a bit, thanks to the state law requiring that the insurance application form be considered part of the policy, other cases will undoubtedly focus on the ordinary meaning of terms, such as landscaping. In a 25-page concurring but thought-provoking opinion, Newsom said his efforts to determine the true meaning of the word left him a little frustrated. So he put the question to OpenAIs ChatGPT, and Googles A.I. platform. His exercise came as insurers have ramped up their use of artificial intelligence in a number of roles, but courts around the country have disciplined lawyers for relying too heavily on A.I. to write their arguments, some of which have cited nonexistent court decisions. Newsom, an Alabama native who has been outspoken on some other issues, acknowledged that it first sounded absurd to consult with A.I. large-language-model tools, but the more he researched it, the more viable it seemed. Yes, installing an in-ground trampoline can be considered a part of landscaping, ChatGPT answered, Newsom explained. Landscaping involves altering the visible features of an outdoor area for aesthetic or practical purposes, and adding an in-ground trampoline would modify the appearance and function of the space. Googles Bard, the forerunner to GoogleGemini A.I., produced a more nuanced response, noting that the answer depends on whether landscaping is defined broadly or narrowly. Under a broad definition of any modification to the visible features of an area of land, then, yes, that includes the trampoline work. But under the more narrow definition of planting and maintaining vegetation, it would not. Ultimately, whether or not installing an in-ground trampoline is considered landscaping is a matter of opinion. There is no right or wrong answer, Bard A.I. concluded. Newsom, age 51, who was appointed to the bench in 2017 by then-President Donald Trump, concluded that his exercise shows that A.I. should at least be a tool in the judiciarys toolbox, going forward. A.I. platforms have their drawbacks, he said, but they are transparent and comb through billions of words and weigh multiple references from academic to the commonplacethat human judges dont have the bandwidth for. Plenty of questions remain, Newsom wrote. Butand this is my bottom lineI think that LLMs (large language models) have promise. At the very least, it no longer strikes me as ridiculous to think that an LLM like ChatGPT might have something useful to say about the common, everyday meaning of the words and phrases used in legal texts. The full appeals court opinion can be seen here. Newsoms concurring opinion starts at page 25. Related: Insurance Industry Vulnerable to A.I. Risks Topics InsurTech Liability Talent Data Driven Artificial Intelligence Alabama BARNSLEY, Ky. (AP) Devin Johnsons life was uprooted for a second time when a tornado flattened his home over the Memorial Day weekend on the same lot in Kentucky where another storm left him homeless in 2021. Johnson, 21, watched Tuesday as workers used chain saws to cut into the wreckage of the trailer he called home with his grandparents and girlfriend. It was an all-too-familiar scene for his family. Their previous home in the tiny western Kentucky community of Barnsley was destroyed during another terrifying tornado outbreak in December 2021 that killed 81 people in the Bluegrass State. We never thought that it would happen again, Johnson said. Amid all the uncertainty as they start over again, theres one thing theyve decided on, he said. All we know for sure is were not going back here, Johnson said. Its going to have so many memories of us losing everything. Barnsley was hit on Sunday by a powerful tornado that packed winds up to 165 mph (266 kph) and tore a destructive path across nearly 36 miles (58 kilometers) of Kentucky, the National Weather Service said. The region was hit by multiple rounds of severe storms, and damage survey teams were assessing the wreckage to determine how many tornadoes struck. Another powerful storm Sunday barely missed the city of Mayfield, where a painstaking recovery continues from a tornado that hit the town in 2021. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency from the Sunday storms and reported five deaths statewide. The governor toured storm-stricken areas of western Kentucky on Monday. We are committed to helping rebuild every home and every life thats a promise, Beshear said Tuesday on the social media platform X. In Barnsley, the tornado tore through a section of the storm-weary community and flung Johnsons mangled trailer into a yard next to where Mark Mintons family lived. The Minton family had roof damage and one end of their trailer was pushed off its foundation. The 2021 storm destroyed their home. Im pretty good at statistics and odds and those numbers dont add up, Minton said Tuesday about his familys home being hit twice. He doesnt know yet if its a total loss this time. His family stayed put after the 2021 storm, but hes not sure what theyll do after the latest twister, which struck the day after his daughters marriage. He has a lawn-care business and his youngest son will be a high school senior next school year two factors tugging at him to stay put. Ive seen my fair share of storms, Minton said. But to see the same area almost pinpoint accuracy get hit twice in two years, its hard to stay in the area. His family fled to safety both times before each storm hit. While his family stays with relatives, he said hes spending nights at home to guard against any potential looting. Johnsons family also fled before the tornado hit Sunday, taking refuge with a relative in nearby Madisonville. Watching weather alerts as the storm barreled toward Barnsley, they had a sinking feeling. We just all had that feeling that we just lost everything again, he said. Later as he drove back home, emergency vehicles rushed past him. When he turned the corner into his neighborhood, there was just nothing as he approached his familys lot. In 2021, Johnsons family rode out the storm in their trailer. With no basement, Johnson hunkered down in the kitchen, desperately clinging to a table with his grandparents, his sister and her boyfriend. His uncle and aunt put a mattress over themselves in the hallway. You start hearing a roar and then the entire house started shaking, he recalled. The power started flickering and the windows just shattered. And then all of sudden you just feel the wind and pressure and this roar just ripping through the house and it starts tugging on you and trying to drag you out. They all emerged unhurt, but the trailer was destroyed. From the wreckage they salvaged some belongings including a beloved statue of Jesus and Mary that his grandmother had for decades, Johnson said. They recovered some family mementos, including photos. Johnsons family furnished their new trailer in stages once they scraped together enough money, he said. But after the latest twister, the familys home and belongings were strewn across the neighborhood. This time, everything that we have is gone, he said. Later in the day, they found an engagement ring that had belonged to his girlfriends grandmother. Its very meaningful to her because its the last memory she has of her grandma, he said. His family was insured both times when tragedy struck. But their situation is just as dire as the first time. Right now we have no money, Johnson said. So were just trying to figure out how to go next. Hes staying at a motel in Madisonville, with relatives helping with the expenses. The plan is to move to Madisonville. He and his girlfriend have put away money since the 2021 storm in hopes of getting their own place, but for now theyll likely live with his grandparents, he said. Johnson has a warehouse job in Madisonville and his girlfriend works at a factory. Its just been so tight since then with all the bills we had to go through, he said. Having seen the immense force of tornadoes, hes longing for a home with a basement. We know the power that theyre capable of and how easily they can just take your life, he said. AP writer George Walker IV co-authored this report. Photo: Haley Loukota, left, and her fiance Devin Johnson collect their belongings after their home was demolished along Barnsley Loop, Tuesday in Madisonville. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm Kentucky Clearwater-based CLC Insurance Agency has merged with ARCW Insurance, a Leavitt Group affiliate, the companies said in a news release this week. CLC, founded four years ago by Crystal Callahan Lawson, now Callahan-Estes, will relocate to ARCWs Pinellas Park offices. Callahan-Estes will serve as a commercial insurance advisor. She has more than 20 years in the business, the companies said. ARCW Insurance was founded in 1989 and joined Leavitt Group in 2021. Leavitt Group, based in Utah, said it is one of the largest privately held insurance brokerages in the country, with a network of 90 agencies in 27 states. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions The heat dome that led to record-high temperatures in Mexico is forecast to expand northward and bring higher temperatures to parts of the Western U.S., according to AccuWeather. Meteorologists say 82% of Mexico was experiencing conditions ranging from abnormally dry and exceptional drought as of May 1. Records show this has been the worst drought for much of Mexico since April 2011. The highest temperature recorded in Mexico so far this year was 124 degrees Fahrenheit at Galinas on May 9, less than two degrees from the record high for Mexico of 125.6 degrees Fahrenheit set in 1995 in Mexicali. The hot and dry conditions have also contributed to several large wildfires this spring in Mexico. The massive heat dome parked over Mexico will begin to shift northward and into the Southwestern and South Central states next week, according to the forecasting service. There is the potential for a prong of triple-digit heat to develop over the interior valley of California by the middle of next week, stated Paul Pastelok, an AccuWeather meteorologist. Temperatures will trend upward significantly as a bubble of the Mexico heat moves up and into the western U.S. The significant warming trend is forecast for much of California, Arizona, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming, as well as parts of Idaho and Oregon next week. AccuWeather said it does not expect major problems in California from water shortages into the first several months of 2026 thanks to the ample rain and mountain snow during the past two winter seasons. Meteorologists said the same massive heat dome over Mexico likely contributed to the frequency of torrential downpours and severe thunderstorms in the Central United States in recent weeks. Storms tend to erupt along the edge of a heat dome because they cannot erupt in the middle of the massive area of sinking air that exists under the heat dome. Instead, the storms tend to erupt on the edges or areas of least resistance, a phenomenon called the ring of fire, the area along the outer edges where thunderstorm complexes often develop. Topics California USA Mexico An agri-environmental scheme is the first Irish project to win a Natura 2000 award. LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature, an agri-environment pilot that worked with farmers in the northwest of the country, has won the major European award in the category 'working together for nature'. The Natura 2000 award highlights projects that demonstrate excellence in nature conservation and sustainable land use. Wild Atlantic Nature is the first Irish project to win such an award. The results-based agri-environmental payment scheme was a pilot initiative implemented in 2021-2022. The project aimed to develop capacity among farmers, farm advisors, policymakers and scientists to deliver improved ecosystem services including water quality, biodiversity and climate regulation in a way that works for both landowners and the environment. The results-based payment scheme directly links farmers agri-environment payments to the ecological condition of their land through a scorecard-based approach that assesses different habitat types, and captures the level of environmental services provided. In this way, good environmental management is rewarded and improvement on lower-scoring lands is incentivised. Delivering for nature Speaking at the awards in Brussels, project manager Derek McLoughlin said this built on the success of other agri-environment projects such as the Burren Programme, and Hen Harrier and Pearl Mussel Project EIPs, and brought their learnings to new areas. "None of this would be possible without the support and engagement of farmers. Our experiences working with farmers have been extremely positive, and shows that if the right structures are in place, farmers can and will deliver for nature," Mr McLoughlin said. In all, over 820 farmers across 63,000 hectares of Natura 2000 and neighbouring land participated in the Wild Atlantic Nature project, with more than 3m in direct payments to farmers. The learnings informed the development of the Department of Agricultures results-based Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme co-operation project (ACRES CP). There are now almost 20,000 farmers participating in the ACRES CP programme (2023-2027), covering an area of 1.16m hectares, including over 85% of Irelands blanket bog SACs, with a total budget of 750m. A female garda subjected to a torrent of misogynistic and homophobic abuse by a male anti-migrant agitator in south Dublin has been receiving support from her colleagues and management, Garda HQ has said. The man who recorded his tirade and uploaded it to social media is the subject of a Garda investigation to determine if a criminal offence has been committed. It is thought that, as part of the investigation, gardai are trying to determine if a full recording was taken down by the man and a slightly shorter, edited version kept online. The individual originally put the video up on his TikTok account from where it was widely circulated across various platforms, including X. The TikTok account was since deactivated but a replacement account has been set up with much of the same videos, except the one involving the female garda. Anti-racist activists have taken down what they claim is a transcript of a full video that was originally uploaded. In the video that was widely circulated, the man persists in subjecting the female garda, who was wearing her uniform, to a stream of misogynistic and foul language and, on occasion, homophobic abuse. The garda manages not to respond to the abuse and maintains composure and professionalism throughout. The man was one of a small group of agitators at Tallaght Retail Park last week who were attempting to get to the rear of a building earmarked for asylum seekers but were being prevented by uniformed gardai. In response to a query, Garda HQ said the incident is being investigated and that support is being provided to the garda in question. Gardai are investigating all the circumstances around this incident, it said in a statement. The Garda member involved is receiving support from their colleagues and local Garda Management and the wider organisational supports of the Peer Support Service, Chief Medical Officer and 24-hour counselling service have been provided, if required. The mans behaviour attracted widespread condemnation online and from public representatives. 'Nasty stuff' At last Mondays Dublin City Joint Policing Committee, chairwoman Tara Deacy said she had seen some pretty nasty stuff that some gardai had to endure. No one should have to come to work and deal with that, she said. Ms Deacy added that there has also been an incredible amount of both verbal and physical abuse over the last number of weeks directed at councillors. Speaking at the meeting, Dublins police boss, Assistant Garda Commissioner Angela Willis, said there is a hostility to people in public life at the moment. She said gardai have seen a huge rise in the level of aggression at protests, with 31 people arrested so far this year, compared to 20 in the same period in 2023. Of the 31 arrested, 27 were at anti-immigration protests. Irelands cyber agency has launched 211 investigations so far this year, compared to 309 for all of last year, it has emerged. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said the cyber landscape had been worsening in the last number of months, with Russias continuing aggression in Ukraine resulting in a degradation of cyber security across Europe. NCSC director Richard Browne said this had been compounded by espionage, with Germany recently attributing cyber attacks to a group associated with Russian military intelligence. He told the Oireachtas communications committee China was also heavily involved in cyber security threats, with Britain's Electoral Commission recently attributing a breach of its system to a group linked to Chinese authorities and an attack on US critical infrastructure also being blamed on a China-based group. Mr Browne said the strength of NCSC had grown from 25 to 57 and should hit 75 by the end of the year, much of it due to obligations stemming from the European Union. He said continuing obligations from the EU, including a new directive this year, and two more directives soon after, may mean NCSC staffing will need to reach 120-130 staff within three years, adding it could be a lot more. National Cyber Security Centre director Richard Browne said evidence suggests relatively poor cyber security and a willingness to pay ransoms has created a bit of a 'feeding frenzy'. Picture: Maxwells He said ransomware where a gang targets and cripples a companys IT system and demands payment to release its control is still the biggest threat, saying the number of estimated incidents rose by 75% globally in 2023. He said this included a significant number of incidents in the US targeting the health sector. He said evidence suggests relatively poor cyber security and a willingness to pay ransoms has created a bit of a feeding frenzy. He said global estimates suggest ransomware payments exceeded 1bn in 2023. Mr Browne said the NCSC, an executive office inside the Department of Communications, received 5,200 reports last year, with 721 confirmed cyber incidents and 309 investigations. He said there were 211 investigations so far in 2023, which was substantially up on the same time last year. Mr Browne said a major EU directive, called NIS 2, will see a dramatic increase in both the number of entities and companies covered in Ireland and the requirements on these entities regarding cyber security. He said the number of entities will go from over 100 to at least 3,000. He said the directive will create national competent authorities for various sectors such as telecoms and energy which the NCSC will provide guidance to and oversight. The NCSC will keep a direct brief over the government and key entities. He said the NIS2 will be followed by the EU Cyber Resilience Act and the EU Cyber Solidarity Act. Mr Browne said while Ireland may be small, it has twice the number of IP [internet] addresses per head than the UK because of the number of high-tech companies, and related economic activity, here. We have a substantial cyber security real estate and we have collective responsibility to everybody else that our estate isnt used for attacks on other jurisdictions, he said. Its a question of our neutrality we cant be used as a base of an attack on other jurisdictions. Mr Browne said the figure of 100m had been put on some of the costs caused by the cyber attack on the HSE in 2021. He said: The HSE [attack], in many ways, is one of the largest cyber security incidents in history, globally not just the scale of it, but the implications for individuals and their lives was particularly egregious, and just for criminal gain. Christmas and winter air fares to and from Dublin Airport are expected to soar over a limit on the number of passengers allowed to pass through the states biggest airport, Ryanair has warned. Ryanair and other airlines have long called for the removal of the cap limiting Dublin Airport to 32 million passengers a year. The airline said the restrictions will leave it unable to provide more than one million seats during peak periods, including Christmas, midterm break and St Patricks Day, as well as sporting events. Eddie Wilson, chief executive of Ryanair, warned that air fares could rise to 500 to travel between Dublin and London. Ryanair chief executive Eddie Wilson has warned that air fares will soar this winter because of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport (Damien Storan/PA) Speaking in Dublin on Thursday, Mr Wilson said the passenger cap will force air prices back to the 1980s. The airline boss also said that despite an increase in its aircraft fleet, there is no real growth in Dublin. The issue of winter slots means that we are going to have one million less passengers than we would have planned at Dublin airport for this winter, Mr Wilson said. This is repeated Daa mismanagement. They already put in an extra runway that cost 300m and you would think that when you had one runway and now youve got two runways that youll double the capacity, but only in Ireland, having put all that in, we actually have less passengers than before. The traffic cap means that Dublin is closed for business and it will have a devastating effect on tourism, jobs and the economy. Ryanair chief executive Eddie Wilson (Damien Storan/PA) Airlines put in for extra flights for peak periods during the winter but the cap is now stopping us from we can only put in the routes that we had last year subject to the cap. We put in approximately 300,000 extra seats on the Dublin to London route over Christmas over and above what we already have but we cant provide any of those this year. With those 300,000 seats not on sale, price on the Dublin to London route is going to go through the roof this Christmas. Theyre going to go through the roof in the midterm and to a lesser extent for sporting events. We wont be able to put on extra flights for Lapland and its not just Ryanair, nobody will be able to do this in Dublin, all because of the passenger cap. He called on Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to make a special ministerial order to remove the passenger cap. We are also calling on the Minister for Transport to ensure that the winter 2024 traffic isnt lost, he added. We want them to scrap that and the cap and lower Dublin charges. The high fares that are coming is at Eamon Ryans door this Christmas. People at the last minute will be paying up to 500, we estimate, because of an artificial cap. Its going to bite this winter and its going to get worse. We want to grow. This needs urgent action right. The big ones that are going to be affected by air fares this winter are the midterm break, Christmas and Paddys Day. Kenny Jacobs, Daa chief executive, the operator of Dublin Airport: We fully agree with Ryanair regarding the need to raise the 32 million passenger cap and the planning process is in play which will hopefully lead to that happening soon. However, we absolutely refute the manifestly false comments made regarding Daa mismanagement, we have just announced a record financial performance and record passenger satisfaction scores up by 37%. Tanaiste Micheal Martin has slammed as "extraordinarily insensitive" and "wrong" comments made by the Chief Rabbi of Ireland about the war on Gaza. Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder had told the 'Irish Examiner' there has been a "very good ratio" of civilian deaths to Hamas fighters killed and that the Israeli forces in Gaza had compared well to other conflicts in terms of civilian casualties. That is at odds with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which said in March that more children have been killed in the Gaza strikes than in four years of conflict worldwide. Micheal Martin said he disagrees "fundamentally" with the Chief Rabbi's analysis. The Tanaiste said: I think it was at the least extraordinarily insensitive to the many, many families who have lost children and loved ones in Palestine, people who had nothing at all to do with Hamas. "Just as we've condemned the mass atrocity, the shocking killing of the innocents by Hamas, likewise, the bombardment of Gaza has caused the deaths of thousands of innocent children and men and women in Gaza. That type of approach is very difficult to comprehend." Mr Martin said he had recently met with the Jewish community and said there are "legitimate concerns within Ireland in terms of making sure there's a safe space for everybody in our country, where we can debate and argue and contest". "I think that part is important within our education system, in particular within our universities, that those are safe spaces for debate, and for difference and for enabling people from different backgrounds and traditions to meet and to engage... but the comments I think were just wrong." The comments come as Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke to the prime minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati. While the two discussed Palestine, a government statement also said that Mr Harris had addressed "frustration" that the suspects in the murder of Private Sean Rooney, and the serious injuries inflicted on Trooper Shane Kearney during an attack on Irish peacekeepers in 2022 remain at large. Read More Gardai complete probe into death of Private Sean Rooney Meanwhile, President Michael D Higgins has hit out at the EU for not taking a stronger stance in relation to the ongoing bombardment of Gaza. "It's unconscionable what is happening and Gaza, and I think the European Union has damaged itself by not being able to speak strongly, morally and ethically and in accordance with international law. Speaking at the Bloom festival, the President added: "I know that the debate in the Security Council is getting a wider airing than before, but in many cases, how can countries stay silent? "If you are a friend of Israel, you don't want to see Israel disgracing itself in front of the world by continuing actions against people." A leading surgeon has warned of the dangers of travelling abroad for cheap surgery, especially for cosmetic or gastric-sleeve and band procedures, after the details of three tragic deaths were heard at a coroners court. Colm OBoyle, a consultant surgeon at the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork, and one of the most experienced bariatric surgeons in Ireland and Britain, said doing surgery, particularly bariatric surgery, in isolation, with little pre-op care and discussion, is courting with potential disaster. There is a general concern both amongst general surgeons and bariatric surgeons in Ireland that the complication rates from surgery abroad are considerably higher than they should be. "We don't have data. If we had data I think that would go along way towards making people realise how dangerous it is," he said. He said some of the procedures overseas are cheaper than here but the problem with cheap surgery is lots of corners are being cut. There appears to be little in the way of clinical governance, evidence of surgical or bariatric team accreditation, or evidence of outcomes in these institutions. Furthermore, there appears to be very little accountability when things go wrong." He made his comments after Cork City Coroner's Court heard inquests on Thursday into the deaths of three women who had all travelled overseas for surgery one for gastric band surgery, one for liposuction, and one for stomach cancer surgery. In a detailed report for Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn, Mr OBoyle said there is ample anecdotal evidence from Irish patients who have travelled overseas for certain surgical treatments of substandard care and of questionable operative techniques. There are many hazards related to pursuing surgical intervention in a foreign country, he said. Most medical tourism is based in non-English-speaking countries and is encouraged by attractive low tariffs and shortened waiting times for surgery." He said the selection process for surgery appears to be based on ability to pay rather than medical appropriateness, with the focus on the surgical procedure and often very little advice, pre-operative selection, and work-up and/or post-op follow-up. He outlined a range of anecdotal evidence about questionable operative techniques, including: Patients being discharged too early; Money being exchanged early in the process, putting the patient under pressure to proceed despite reservations; Previous patients being offered financial remuneration to promote the institution; Patients being persuaded to have another major procedure in addition to bariatric surgery under the same anaesthetic; Operations being explained poorly, with consent forms in a foreign language; Pre-operative work-up performed on the day before or the day of surgery and only basic blood tests being performed. Mr O'Boyle cited a shocking case of one patient who met the surgeon for the first time on the day of surgery, was asked about a rare blood disorder on arrival at hospital, resulting in the surgery being cancelled, before the patient's mother was asked if she wanted surgery instead. In another case, he said a patient with liver failure underwent bariatric surgery and died of liver failure shortly following their return to Ireland, while another had a different procedure to the one they thought they were having. Complications occur in the best of hands following major surgery. If they occur following major surgery abroad there is an increased risk of patient harm. He cited sepsis and bleeding, and increased risk of deep venous thrombosis when someone flies soon after major surgery as among the main risks. He said in cases where complications arise upon a patients arrival home in Ireland, the appropriate expertise to deal with them may not be easily accessible. There are currently only three surgeons working outside Dublin and five within the Dublin area who can deal properly with bariatric surgical complications and a similar number who can deal with complications of esophagectomy, he said. A coroner has highlighted the potential dangers and risks of undergoing surgery overseas and advised people to consider the move carefully, and do so with their eyes open. Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn was speaking after hearing inquests into the deaths of three women who travelled overseas from Cork for surgery one for a gastric bypass, one for liposuction, and one for major stomach surgery following a cancer diagnosis. The purpose of these inquests is not to cast aspersions on the medical care but to make people aware that if they go abroad for certain treatments, they need to go with their eyes open and consider it very carefully before they do so. These cases highlight the dangers of going abroad for surgery, where in some cases hospitals did not take the same steps as would be deemed absolutely necessary here, he said. Teen praised for being his mothers voice at inquest A teenager was praised for being a voice for his mother at the inquest into her death just weeks after she underwent major surgery for stomach cancer in her native Latvia. Artjom Scerbakovs, aged 16, told Mr Comyn that his mother Elena Shcherbakova, 48, who had lived in Castletownbere, Co Cork, for over a decade, felt unwell during a family holiday in Latvia in early 2023 and went to her local GP in Cork in April, where she was diagnosed with ovarian cysts and was told it would take some time to see a specialist. By September 2023, she had decided to return to Riga in Latvia for surgical treatment, where stomach cancer was identified, the inquest was told. Elena Shcherbakova died on December 17, 2023. Picture: rip.ie Ms Shcherbakova underwent surgery at Riga East University Hospital on November 8, 2023 first a hysterectomy and then the removal of parts of her stomach, duodenum, and small bowel. She recovered well and returned to Ireland, where on December 11, 2023, she met cancer specialist Dr Seamus OReilly to discuss a chemo treatment plan, which was due to start on January 2, 2024. Dr OReilly said many foreign people living here have chosen to return to their native countries for certain surgical procedures due to confidence in their own systems and the language barrier. But he said long waiting lists and concerns about accessing services here were issues in this case. That does not help instil confidence in the system here, he said. Ms Shcherbakova collapsed at home on December 14, 2023, and was rushed to the Mercy University Hospital. Alexandrs Scerbakovs of Castletownbere and his son Artjom Scerbakovs at Cork City Coroner's Court. Picture: Denis Boyle Vascular surgeon Gavin OBrien said a CT scan revealed an infection had arisen from a stitch line that had not healed properly, and he said the manner in which the Latvian surgeons had operated left Irish surgeons with very limited surgical options. He said they decided to treat her infection aggressively but said she was in a very fragile condition and deteriorated acutely, before she ultimately crashed and was rushed to theatre, where despite doctors' best efforts, she died on December 17. Mr OBrien said it was an exceptionally rare and complicated medical situation which was particularly difficult for her family to understand. I am very sorry there was nothing more I could do to try to save her life, he said. The cause of death was given as haemorrhage due to the rupture of a mesenteric pseudo aneurysm, with complicating sepsis, due to the perforation of an anastomotic site, following the stomach surgery. The coroner recorded a verdict of death due to a known complication of a medical procedure on a background of a complex medical history. No evidence of standard or recognised procedure, says surgeon A woman who suffered a fatal infection days after a gastric bypass in Turkey did not have a standard or recognised bariatric procedure there, the Irish surgeon who tried to save her said. Prof Micheal O Riordain, a consultant gastrointestinal and general surgeon, made his comments during the inquest into the death of Pamela Canty, aged 53, from Commons Rd, Cork, in MUH on October 23, 2022, just days after a gastric bypass in a hospital in Ismir. Finbarr Canty attends the inquest into the death of his wife Pamela. Picture: Denis Boyle Ms Canty's husband Finbarr told the inquest that he and their son Josh flew with Pamela to Ismir for what was supposed to be a gastric sleeve operation, arriving at around 1am on October 17, 2022. He said they were collected from the airport and taken straight to the hospital, where tests revealed a hernia in Pamelas oesophagus, which ruled out a gastric sleeve, with the surgeons suggesting through a translator that she undergo a gastric bypass instead. He said he told Pamela they should leave and get the hernia dealt with at home first but that she insisted on going through with it. She said if I go home now, I wont come back, he said. He wept as he recalled how he underwent a similar procedure in Turkey the previous January, without incident, and how he now blames himself for what happened. If I didn't go to get it done myself, she wouldn't have known. I partly blame myself, he said. He told the inquest that he was discharged from the hospital four days after his surgery but Ms Canty was discharged to a hotel two days after her surgery, despite looking tired, pale, drawn, and having a fever. He said he expressed concerns about her early discharge but said hospital staff told him his wife would be ok with rest. The family left Ismir on October 21. Ms Canty collapsed at home the next day and was rushed by ambulance to MUH where Prof O Riordain performed emergency surgery. He said he found no evidence she had undergone a standard bariatric procedure, and in the absence of medical notes from Turkey, and based on what he had heard, he said he felt she was discharged from hospital too soon. She died the following day, with the cause of death given as septic shock due to discharge of gastro jejunal bypass with abdominal infection. The coroner said it was clear from the evidence, and assistant state pathologist Dr Margot Bolster and Prof O Riordain agreed, that Ms Canty was showing signs of a post-op infection in Turkey and her symptoms should have been investigated further there. He returned a verdict of medical misadventure. Daughter felt 'held against her will' in Turkey after mother's death A young woman said she felt held against her will in Turkey and wasn't allowed see her mothers body after she died in a hospital in Istanbul following liposuction. Hazel Gervacio outlined her horrifying experience during the inquest into the death of her mother, Estelita Haemlin, 46, from Fermoy, Co Cork, in Turkey on October 20, 2021. Ms Gervacio said her mother got the number of a contact for the hospital from a beautician in the area, and made arrangements for the two of them to travel to the facility on October 18, 2021. She said they were collected from the airport and brought to the hospital for bloods, before being dropped off at a hotel, where they were collected the next day in a van which was full of people who were also undergoing similar procedures. She said her mother felt rushed to sign consent forms and signed documents without even reading them properly. Before Ms Haemlin was taken into surgery, she asked her daughter to go back to hotel to collect some overnight clothes. That was the last time I saw my mum alive, Ms Gervacio told the inquest. Hazel Gervacio, who mother died in hospital in Istanbul following liposuction. Picture: Denis Boyle Within hours, Ms Gervacio said she felt something was wrong when her mother had not returned from surgery and she began to panic. She told of how she approached nurses, and searched the hospital frantically looking for someone who could speak English and tell her what was going on, and even had to show a photograph of her mother to one of the cleaners, in a bid to find her. She finally discovered from a nurse that her mother had been taken to ICU in critical condition after the procedure. The doctors said maybe she had an underlying issues, but she didnt, she said. She was finally allowed see her mother in ICU on October 20, shortly before she died. She told the inquest how she was accompanied by two nurses back to hotel, was booked out of there, and into another hotel, where she was told the hospital would cover the costs of repatriating her mothers body and refund the cost of the liposuction. I felt the hospital was anxious to send me home, she said. Despite engaging a Turkish solicitor, the family could not get Ms Haemlins medical files. An autopsy conducted on her remains at Cork University Hospital by Dr Bolster established the cause of death was haemorrhage and shock due to a liposuction procedure. Coroner Mr Comyn described Ms Gervacios experience as horrifying and said despite his best efforts, and high-level diplomatic efforts involving the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish embassy, the hospital has not provided all of Ms Haemlins files. He said whatever his private thoughts about this case, in the absence of full information, he had to record an open verdict. An attempted murder charge was brought today against a 32-year-old man arising out of an investigation into the alleged arson of a house in Cork city on Christmas Day. Detective Garda Brian Barron formally arrested Shane Casey of Shanowen, Rathcormac, County Cork, and charged him with the attempted murder of Billy Murphy, the owner of the house at Dyke Parade, Cork. The accused made no reply to that charge when arrested, charged and cautioned at 10.39am this morning at the courthouse on Anglesea Street, Cork, on the count of attempted murder of the man in his 60s. He did not reply to the three other new charges brought against him either. Those charges are of assault causing harm to Billy Murphy, production of an article, namely a blade, in the course of the assault, and causing criminal damage to the house with intent to endanger life. Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said that because there was an attempted murder charge there could be no application for bail at district court level. Inspector Martin Canny said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case should proceed at the Central Criminal Court. Judge Philip OLeary remanded Shane Casey in custody until June 5 at Cork District Court. Det Garda Barron said that date was sought for the adjournment in order to link up with other charges including arson brought against Shane Casey arising out of this investigation. Allegations In relation to the arson charge it was previously alleged that he set fire to the house and stood outside swinging a blade when the first person ran from the burning building, telling him, You are going to die here tonight. These were the allegations made by Detective Garda Barron in the case when Shane Casey first appeared in court in relation to the alleged incidents at the house on Dyke Parade, Cork, just after 6pm on December 25, 2023 when four people were present in the house. Referring to CCTV and other evidence, the detective said: At 6.05pm, he exits and stands looking in the open front door at the fire taking hold. At 6.06pm, it is alleged that he closes the front door and attempts to barricaded the front door from the outside, using a piece of timber to jam to the side and then under the door. It is alleged he takes a blade from his pocket and holds it out in front of him and waits outside. At 6.08pm, the front door bursts open and [one of the men] attempts to escape the now blazing house. "It was alleged he said (to one injured party), 'My name is Shane Casey and you remember me from two days ago you are going to die here tonight.' It was further alleged that one woman had to be rescued from the roof and that it took six units of the fire service more than six hours to bring the fire under control and make the building safe, and the fire caused thousands of euro in damage, the detective said. Renowned Cork chef Dr Darina Allen has been appointed as an adjunct professor to Adult Continuing Education, and the Department of Folklore and Ethnology at University College Cork (UCC). The Ballymaloe Cookery School founder's new role will benefit students of UCCs Masters in Food Studies and the Irish Foodways Programme. According to UCC, as a champion of Irish food, Dr Allen will bring her extensive food knowledge and in-depth understanding of the Irish food system to the course. The Masters programme, which has run since 2019, has seen successive cohorts of students professionalise their knowledge of economic, political, social, and cultural aspects of Irish food and food production. The UCC programme provides an in-depth analysis of Irish food culture by exploring how the food system works; analysing the environmental dimensions of food production; examining aspects of nutrition and health, alongside providing a deep exploration of Irish food history, folklore, tradition, and heritage. 'Honoured' Dr Allen said: I am honoured to be appointed as adjunct professor to UCCs food studies programme. Food education has been at the heart of my work in both formal and informal settings for over 40 years. The cookery school provides students with essential life skills to choose and control how they build relationships with food and food producers. Dr Allen said it is very encouraging to see that academic institutions are slowly beginning to realise the crucial role that food education plays in the health of the students". Our energy, vitality, and ability to concentrate and achieve is influenced by the food we eat, she added. According to Dr Allen, powerful education results are best produced by combining the academic with the practical and she is eager to contribute such insights to UCCs masters programme". I hope this reciprocal relationship will be of benefit to both our institutions, she added. Director of Adult Continuing Education, Dr Seamus O Tuama, said he is thrilled to have one of Irelands most esteemed food advocates join the team at UCC. He said: Her experience and work at grassroots level with food production and industry provides new and fresh inspiration and direction to guide our students on the MA in Food Studies and Irish Foodways. To mark her appointment, the Ballymaloe Cookery School founder will host her inaugural lecture at the university on Wednesday, June 5, at 6.30pm. The lecture, entitled Do we know the story behind the food we eat?, is free to attend and open to the public, but is already booked out. Her appointment coincides with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Michelin star winner, Myrtle Allen, and the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Yeats Room restaurant in Ballymaloe House. Myrtle Allen, Darinas mother-in-law, was the head chef and co-owner of The Yeats Room. She died in 2018. To celebrate both anniversaries, the lecture on Wednesday will be followed by a panel discussion on Myrtles contribution to Irish food and cooking, with panellists Rory OConnell of Ballymaloe Cookery School, Wendy Whelan of Ballymaloe House, and Ballymaloe House executive head chef, Dervilla OFlynn. Earlier this month, the Irish Examiner reported that accumulated profits at the renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School climbed to 2.9m last year. The Cork cookery school, based in Shanagarry, sits on a 100-acre organic farm, and Darina Allen is the majority shareholder. In April, Ballymaloe Cookery School came into the spotlight after Oscar-winning actor Kate Winslet enrolled in a two-and-a-half-day course with TV chef and bestselling cookbook author, Rachel Allen. There is no mechanism to create the office of a directly-elected mayor for all of Cork, a government minister has told the Seanad. During Thursday's session of the upper house, James Browne said that while the two individual councils in Cork could hold plebiscites on whether to establish the office, it would not be for the city and county. Limerick will next week elect its first-ever directly-elected mayor, having narrowly passed a plebiscite in 2019. A similar vote in Cork City was defeated when 33,364 voted in favour and 34,347 voted against. Raising the issue in the Seanad, Kinsale-based Senator Tim Lombard said he was "trying to start a debate about where we are with local government and what the national plan will be". "I want to know what the Government's plan is for directly-elected mayors elsewhere in the country and whether Limerick is going to be an outlier whereby it will have a directly-elected mayor but we are not going to do anything in the other local authorities, whether in Wexford, Cork or wherever else," he said. "Where is our national policy for directly-elected mayors and how are we going to look at the issue going forward? Is Limerick going to be a template or just an experiment?" Mr Lombard said that "what happened five years ago in the context of Cork was a total mistake". He said the county should have one local authority which would represent around 12.5% of the country and would give it more power. He added that Limerick "now has the potential to move ahead, which is great for Limerick", but said that Cork needs similar powers. When I go to Pairc Ui Chaoimh to support Cork, I do not support the city player over the county player; I support Cork. "I just do not understand how we have got caught in this unfortunate dilemma that does not see a suitable structure to promote Cork county or city appropriately in local government. " In response, junior Justice Minister James Browne said there are three ways a plebiscite could be held again. These are where a local authority corporate policy group recommends it and the elected council approves it, where a petition is signed by more than 15% of the electorate, or where the Minister directs it. It must then be held within 12 months. Where the outcome of a plebiscite is in favour of a directly-elected mayor, the Act requires the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to submit a report to the Oireachtas within two years containing proposals for a directly-elected mayor of that administrative area. "In the case of Cork, under these provisions, either or both of the two Cork local authorities could hold plebiscites for mayors in their own administrative area. However, these provisions do not allow for a plebiscite on the question of having a single directly-elected mayor of a geographic area that comprises more than one local authority area," Mr Browne said. Pro-Palestine groups in Cork have protested outside Cork County Council to vent their frustrations at the council's "inaction" since it was deemed an apartheid-free zone in January. Cork County Council unanimously passed a motion on the issue of occupied territories of Palestine on January 22. The motion declared Cork County Council's support for the boycott, divestment, and sanction campaign. It also stated that until Israel compiled with international law and universal principles on human rights, the council agreed "not to purchase goods or services produced or provided, in whole or in part [as practicable] by Israeli companies, or companies that support the Israeli state". However, the motion was not included in the minutes of the meeting. Dermot Barry of Fermoy Palestinian Solidarity Campaign said the actions of the council raise serious questions". The pro-Palestine protest at Cork County Hall. Picture: Eddie O'Hare Who decided that a motion passed unanimously by councillors would not be minuted or enacted? he asked. What are the councillors doing to ensure that democracy is being upheld? Marlane OSullivan of Midleton Palestine Solidarity Campaign said the declaration of Co Cork as an apartheid-free zone is "not enough if it remains mere words". Cork County Council's silence on this issue is unacceptable. It is imperative that they fulfil their commitments and take concrete actions immediately, she said. Rioghnach Elliott and her daughters Jane and Meabh from Glounthaune at the protest at County Hall. Picture: Eddie O'Hare The protest was organised by members of Ballincollig, Cobh, Fermoy, Kinsale, Mallow, Midleton, and Youghal Palestine solidarity groups. A spokesperson for Cork County Council said they are "not aware" of any contracts, products, or services that are directly sourced from Israel. It also said there is no record of Israel being referenced in any of the supplier details held on its system. Who is running? Rola Abu Zeid-ONeill, People Before Profit Anthony Barry, Fine Gael Ger Curley, Independent Ireland Dominic Finn, Fianna Fail Keith Kelly, Fine Gael Peter Kidney, Independent Mehdi Ozcnar, Sinn Fein Diarmaid O Cadhla, Glor Sheila OCallaghan, Fianna Fail Cliona OHalloran, Green Party Cathal Rasmussen, Labour Sinead Sheppard, Fine Gael CORRECTION May 30: This article originally incorrectly listed Peter Kidney as running for the National Party, when in fact he is a 'Non-Party' (Independent) candidate. This has been corrected in the above list. We are happy to correct the record and apologise for the error. What you need to know Its estimated the Cobh Municipal District is home to people from 70 different countries. Its one of the most diverse municipal districts in the country and therefore it's hardly surprising that one of the candidates, Mehdi Ozcnar, is the son of a Kurdish father (Islamic) and Armenian mother (Orthodox Christian), and another is a Nazareth-born Palestinian Rola Abu Zeid-ONeill. The former is running for Sinn Fein and the latter for People Before Profit. Mehdi, 35, who lives in Cobh and who works with Apple, is married with two children. He was born in Turkey and came to Ireland 12 years ago. Prior to that he obtained a bachelors degree in communications at a university in Italy. Sinn Fein candidate Mehdi Ozcnar was born in Turkey and came to Ireland 12 years ago. Picture: David Creedon I recognise there are a huge number of people from different nationalities who're not represented. Im pushing them to ensure they vote. If they dont vote for me thats alright but I want them to exercise their franchise, he said. Rola, 51, is even more aware of the nationality diversity. Married to an Irishman and a mother-of-two she's a former manager at the Carrrigtwohill Family Resource Centre. While there she worked on integration and inclusion projects. She arrived in Ireland in 2007 and works as a part-time lecturer in womens studies at UCC. It's very important that minorities vote because many think they do not have the right to, she said. Theres a long-standing view (with analytical justification) that Cobh votes dont transfer over Bellvelly Bridge as the people of the Great Island like to keep to their own as their local public representatives. However, there has been a steady population increase in the other town in the constituency, Carrigtwohill, and it wont be long before the number of voters there outstrip those of their harbourside neighbours. Last time out Cobh elected three of its own councillors out of the six seats on offer Fine Gaels Sinead Sheppard, Independent Sean OConnor, and Labours Cathal Rasmussen. Cllrs Sheppard and Rasmussen are seeking re-election. In addition, Fianna Fail is hoping to grab a seat in the town with first-time candidate Dominic Finn. It's remarkable such a big party couldnt win one in the town last time out. Ger Curley is a former member of the Naval Service who lives in Cobh and is running for Independent Ireland. It will be crowded in Cobh, and somebody has got to lose out. Carrigtwohill By contrast it looks easier for candidates on the northern side of Belvelly Bridge. Carrigtwohill has sitting councillor Anthony Barry (Fine Gael) who looks to be very much in the running to retain his seat. The only sitting Green councillor in the county, Alan OConnor is also from Carrigtwohill but has decided not to seek re-election. Instead, the Greens are running Cliona OHalloran, from Cobh. The young mother is a project manager with a multinational company and has done a lot of volunteer work in Cobh. Meanwhile, in 2019 Fianna Fail councillor Sheila OCallaghan, who lives in Watergrasshill, hoovered up many rural votes. She'll have a big party machine behind her as shes the sister of Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher. While Cobh and Carrigtwohill remain the main centres of population, there are growing populations elsewhere and any politician who ignores this does so at their peril. In particular, the Kelleher/OCallaghan clan will be acutely aware of this. It helps that brother and sister have canvassing teams working in unison, especially as Kelleher is seeking another term in the European Parliament. Add into the canvassing mix Fianna Fail Cork North Central TD Padraig OSullivan (who lives in Little Island) and his supporters and you probably have one of the most impressive canvassing teams in the country. Kelleher and his sister are both farming stock and the MEP has consistently gained votes from that community over the years, regardless of their political affiliation. Green Party councillor Cliona O'Halloran is running for a local council seat in Cobh. The ripe for picking areas on the periphery of the municipal district are growing communities in Watergrasshill, Whitechurch, Glenville, Knockraha etc. Fine Gael will also have targeted these areas, but smaller parties and independents are more often than not canvassing in the two towns in the municipal district. I think it is wonderful that there are people of different nationalities running. It is representative of the population we now have in this country and I think it is fantastic, Anthony Barry said. It is estimated that there are 60 different nationalities alone in Carrigtwohill. He said he believes that Cobh candidates will likely get three of the six municipal seats on offer and theres a possibility they might even get four. The Tanaiste has said the ongoing delays in relation to the National Children's Hospital are part of a strategy by the hospital contractor to "extract more funding and more money from the Irish people". Micheal Martin told the Dail he would not "take the bait" on the issue, saying the Government would ensure the taxpayer gets value for money while delivering the completed hospital as quickly as possible. He said the blame for the shifting completion date and the rising cost of the construction lay with BAM and not the Government. Mr Martin was responding to accusations from Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty that the Government and the health minister have been "asleep at the wheel" when it comes to the long-awaited hospital. It emerged this week the hospital will not begin admitting patients until August 2025 at the earliest, although this date could not be guaranteed by BAM. Mr Doherty was critical of the rising cost of the construction of the hospital, which has gone from an initial estimate of 650m and has since increased to over 2.2bn. He noted Stephen Donnelly did not meet with the National Paediatric Health Development Board (NPHDB) at all in 2023. "He thinks it's somebody else's problem. But the cheques keep on getting written and children keep on getting denied the hospital that they deserve," said Mr Doherty. He accused the Government of having lost all control in relation to the cost and delivery of the project, calling it a slow-moving car crash. However, Mr Martin said in his view Mr Doherty was being used as a pawn inadvertently or not in where the contractor wanted things to go. "The contractor has been delaying, has not been resourcing the project properly or comprehensively, is hoping there will be this kind of engagement in Dail Eireann to keep pressure on the Government and politicians to yield a bit quicker," said Mr Martin. He said the Government would not roll over into contractual engagements with BAM, noting that out of 2,782 claims submitted by the contractor, the Government had arbitrated 2,182 at a value of 785m. While it is vital that the hospital is delivered as quickly as possible, Mr Martin said they would not tell BAM it needed to be finished "at any cost". Mr Doherty said eight years into the project, the children waiting for the hospital could not believe a word that came from the Government because every single target has been surpassed. There are 251 children with scoliosis still waiting on life-altering operations, who Taoiseach Simon Harris promised would not wait more than four months for their treatment, he said. "A broken promise and they need that hospital more than anyone," Mr Doherty said. The Tanaiste said there was no doubt the new hospital would be transformative compared to what we currently have but said we should not lose sight of the significant advancements that had been made so far. You may remember reading here about the Digital Atlas of Cork, a free online interactive map that launched late last year. Its an impressive resource, showcasing Cork citys history from AD 623 through to 1900. A big plus is the ease with which it can be used you can browse the digital atlas or search for a specific site in the city. It was based on what I described then as the forthcoming Irish Historic Towns Atlas no. 31, Cork/Corcaigh by Howard Clarke and Maire Ni Laoi. Forthcoming no more, however. It was launched a couple of weeks back in City Hall, so I picked up the phone to Howard to learn more about the project. We concentrate on what we call a study area, the city core, he told me. HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading We dont do what are now the modern suburbs. We dont go into detail after the year 1900 we do say something about that period, but for practical reasons we dont really go beyond that point. But people can take a lot of different things out of it. They can see, for example, industries in the nineteenth century and the people who were making things in the city were generally named in the street directories, so theres a certain amount of family history to be seen in that aspect of it even if we dont really focus on genealogy. If the atlas goes back to the seventh century the obvious question is this: what sources did they use? We basically use information in print, we dont generally use information in manuscript thats not printed, though we make some exemptions to that rule. So we use printed sources, primary sources, as well as secondary sources such as books, articles, and journals. We also use lots of maps Ordnance Survey maps of the nineteenth century, and all the earlier maps. Were using a combination of printed material and maps. We also use archaeological evidence where appropriate weve used quite a lot of that evidence in this atlas. One of the maps in the Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 31, Cork/Corcaigh. How plentiful are those sources? The further back you go the slimmer they get. In general the sources for history are fuller and more detailed for what wed call the modern period, the 18th to 20th centuries. Thats what youd expect. Earlier than that the sources are not so detailed, and they vary a good deal as well, depending on what youre looking for. In general the medieval period is not documented as well so we have to rely on archaeological evidence. How far back? It goes back to St Finbarr in the seventh century AD, but the existence of St Finbarr is itself a controversial subject I wont go into all the details of that but he was associated with Cork by the eighth century, say, and thereafter hes regarded as the local saint related to the city. So you can go back that far, but at that point youre really relying on annalistic evidence for the most part. 1690 map Mind you, they made some interesting discoveries along the way. Take the map that was missing for over 300 years. The most important new discovery was a map of the city of Cork dating from 1690, the year the city was besieged by the Williamite forces. Three years ago we discovered that map for sale in London it had been made by a Dutch military engineer at that time, and was completely unknown to everyone. Weve acquired a copy of that map and the Boole Library in UCC now has it. Its a map of the siege works around the suburbs of the city to defend the city against the Williamite forces, and its in perfect condition, beautifully drawn. Itll be printed for the first time in this Atlas, the whole idea of the siege of Cork in 1690 will have to be rethought because of this map. We dont know the full history of the map, but we believe the man who drew it, Wolfgang Romer, took it back to the Netherlands with him he was Dutch and the key to the map is all in Dutch and that it was kept in storage, probably in a safe place. Its not marked in any way and appears to have been folded once, thats all. Its a wonderful discovery. Two of the borders of the map have beautiful drawings of the siege works themselves banks, ditches, gates, fences and so on. Clarke is quick to give credit to others for their help with the atlas. Weve been working on this for the better part of twenty years. My wife is my co-author shes using her original name, Maire Ni Laoi, and she did roughly five years work on her own in the library of the Royal Irish Academy. She established a basic outline of the topographical information the basic information we use and at that point we could see that it needed a lot more work, so I joined with her as a co-author. Ive been working on these atlases for thirty years or so, so I had the experience in how to set it out. Weve also tried hard to relate to other people in the city. My wife is from Cork so I think weve had a successful connection with the librarians, archivists, and archaeologists in the city. And with Cork City Council. Maire and I made an appointment to see the chief executive of the Council, Ann Doherty, some time ago and she was very receptive. Cork City Council also provided us with some very valuable funding for the printing of the Atlas. Yours truly didnt make the launch itself but the praise from Lord Mayor Kieran McCarthy, himself a keen local historian, was noteworthy (... a tremendous publication which will no doubt deepen our understanding of the built heritage of our historic port city. The accompanying maps, produced in large scale, are a unique and important resource for those interested in the physical development of the city). Hes correct about the maps being large enough to read, about the greater understanding of the city which this atlas drives, about the physical development of Cork. A resource like this is invaluable on many different levels. In and of itself it stands as a repository of information and heritage for the entire city, and the presence of that knowledge helps to reinforce Corks sense of itself. There are no doubt plenty of people keen to point out that Cork already has a robust sense of itself most of them far from Leeside but this is hard evidence of the citys deep roots. Hundreds of years of people walking the oldest parts of Cork, of the citys limits pushing down towards the seat to the east, up the slopes to the north, westwards along the banks of the river. We hear a lot about where the city is going, but this atlas does a great job of explaining where Cork has come from. Cork/Corcaigh is available from bookshops nationwide or can be ordered from ria.ie/cork US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has attacked Russian attempts to sow discord in democracies with misinformation after hinting that the Biden administration may soon allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia. In Prague for a Nato foreign ministers meeting, Mr Blinken hit out at Moscows use of misinformation and disinformation, calling it a poison, and signing an agreement with the Czech government to combat it. He also toured a Czech military base, where he saw armoured vehicles that Prague is sending to Kyiv to help fight Russias invasion, and received a briefing on a Czech initiative to supply Ukraine with a million rounds of ammunition by the end of the year. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova attend a Czech Defence Capabilities Event at Prague-Kbely Airport in Prague (Petr David Josek/Pool/AP) We know that a major front in the competition that we have, the adversarial relationship that we have, notably with Russia, is on the information front, he said. Mr Blinken said the agreement with the Czechs the 17th such accord the US has signed with partner nations will help to effectively deal with misinformation and disinformation, which is a poison being injected into our democracies by our adversaries. The more were able to do together both between our countries but also with other countries, the more effective were going to be exposing it and dealing with it, he told reporters at a signing ceremony with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky. Mr Lipavsky agreed, noting that Czech authorities have recently exposed a major Russian-backed misinformation campaign. We are facing confrontation between democracies and autocracies, he said. The Kremlin has started targeting democracies all around the world with cyber warfare, propaganda and influence operations, and this danger simply cannot be underestimated any more. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky sign a joint memorandum at the Czernin Palace in Prague (Petr David Josek/Pool/AP) Russias invasion of Ukraine and support for Ukrainian attempts to repel it will be a major focus of the Nato foreign minister meetings on Thursday and Friday the alliances last major diplomatic gathering before a leaders summit in Washington in July to mark the 75th anniversary of its founding. On Wednesday in Moldova, Mr Blinken said US policy on how Ukraine deploys American weapons is constantly evolving, suggesting that Washington may rescind an unwritten prohibition on Ukraines use of them for attacks on Russian territory. Although US officials insist there is no formal ban, they have long made clear that they believe the use of American weapons to attack targets inside Russia could provoke an escalatory response from Moscow, something that Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised. That position appears to be being reconsidered, and Mr Blinken noted that it is a hallmark of the Biden administrations stance on Ukraine to adapt and adjust as needed. The US Secretary of State visited Kyiv earlier this month and heard a direct appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to use American military assistance to strike positions in Russian from where attacks on Ukraine are launched. As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how its pursuing its aggression, escalation, weve adapted and adjusted too, and Im confident well continue to do that, Mr Blinken said at a news conference in Chisinau. At every step along the way, weve adapted and adjusted as necessary, and so thats exactly what well do going forward, he said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Moldovan President Maia Sandu at the Presidential Palace in Chisinau (Vadim Ghirda/Pool/AP) Were always listening, were always learning, and were always making determinations about whats necessary to make sure that Ukraine can effectively continue to defend itself, and well continue to do that. Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron and Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said Western countries should not object if Ukraine needs to strike inside Russia to defend itself. Mr Stoltenberg reaffirmed that position on Thursday. I believe that time has come to (re)consider some of these restrictions to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves, he said. We need to remember what it is. This is a war of aggression launched by choice by Moscow against Ukraine. The right to self-defence, Mr Stoltenberg said, includes also striking legitimate military targets outside Ukraine. The remains of recently identified Greek soldiers who fought in Cyprus against invading Turkish troops nearly half a century ago were returned to their families on Thursday. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides attended a funeral service at Ayios Panteleimonas Orthodox Church in the capital, Nicosia, for the 15 soldiers before their remains were contained in Greek flag-draped coffins. Mr Christodoulides said it was the least the state could do to honour and pay respects to the memory of those who died. Soldiers carrying the coffins of Greek soldiers whose remains were recently identified, process past Ayios Panteleimonas Orthodox Church in Nicosia (Philippos Christou/AP) Eight of the 15 soldiers will be reinterred in Greece. The families of another six opted to have their remains reinterred in a mass grave in Nicosia which stands as the countrys prime monument for the war. No family members have been located for one of the soldiers, according to the state broadcaster. Family members watch as a soldier leads a guard of honour at the funeral service in Nicosia (Philippos Christou/AP) Turkey invaded Cyprus in July 1974, a week after supporters of union with Greece mounted a coup backed by the Greek junta then ruling the country. The invasion resulted in Cypruss ethnic divide, with Turkish Cypriots later declaring independence that is only recognised by Turkey, which still maintains more than 35,000 troops in the breakaway north. Of the 2,002 people who disappeared in 1974 and the preceding decade amid ethnic violence, the remains of 1,033 have been identified and returned to their families since UN-led search efforts began in earnest in 2006. Soldiers help inter the remains of six Greek soldiers at the Tomb of Makedonitissa in Nicosia (Philippos Christou/AP) UN officials said this marks the second-best success rate in the world, after the former Yugoslavia. A total of 769 Greek Cypriots and 200 Turkish Cypriots are still listed as missing and officials say the passage of time poses a huge challenge. 1371138342::cfb49c8e-2422-11e5-99a3-d7f5c6e8b241 A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. By Aijaz Ahmad Mir | ( Middle East Monitor ) The ongoing conflict in occupied Palestine has had a major effect on the mental well-being of Palestinian children. The trauma of living in a war-ravaged region, enduring displacement and witnessing extreme violence can result in a variety of mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and behavioural issues. Furthermore, children who have endured these traumas may grapple with feelings of despair, fear and anger. Childhood innocence is under siege. It is thus crucial for Palestinian children to obtain the necessary support and resources to assist them in managing the mental health consequences of the conflict. UNICEF has identified the Gaza Strip as the most perilous location for children globally. Women and children make up over 70 per cent of the casualties resulting from Israels offensive since 7 October. From birth, Palestinian children have been subjected to an Israeli siege and blockade, enduring conditions of poverty and violence. The predicament of minors in the Gaza Strip was already critical prior to 7 October due to the siege imposed by Israel since 2006 and additional structural obstacles. The majority of children in the Gaza Strip have endured distressing circumstances since last October. These include bereavement, extensive devastation, forced displacement and a serious lack of food, water and medication. Inadequate playgrounds and secure spaces, as well as school closures, are additional contributors to children developing mental health and psychosocial problems. The solitary psychiatric hospital in Gaza has been targeted by Israel, and the activities of the other six community mental health clinics that serve thousands of patients throughout the enclave have been interrupted as a result of air strikes. In an effort to detect children who are suffering from mass depression, mutism, bedwetting and suicidal thoughts, some medical professionals have attempted to maintain contact with youngsters via the use of WhatsApp. The present conflict has had an influence on childrens mental health that cannot be compared to the condition that existed before the crisis. This is due to the fact that the level of intensity of the hostilities and the destruction of infrastructure has been unparalleled. To put this into perspective, prior to 7 October, the Gaza Strip was already experiencing a significant number of mental health concerns. Approximately 54 per cent of Palestinian boys and 46.5 per cent of Palestinian girls between the ages of 6 and 12 were found to have emotional and behavioural issues, according to a survey conducted in 2017. In 2022, Save the Children revealed that 80 per cent of the youngsters who participated in the research had signs of mental distress. Two-thirds of the children there were engaging in self-harming, and about half of them admitted to having considered ending their own lives. Before 7 October, the availability of mental health care in Gaza was restricted and often subject to social stigma. As a consequence, families and community members did not give priority to mental health and psychological support (MHPSS). Dr. Mamoun Mobayed, a consultant psychiatrist, and director of treatment and rehabilitation at Qatars Behavioural Healthcare Centre, stated that children suffer from the enduring consequences of wartime conditions during their sleep. Nightmares are experienced frequently, and some individuals may suffer from nocturnal enuresis as a consequence of these nightmares. A year ago, Palestinian-American psychologist Dr Iman Farajallah found in her study on the impacts of war on Palestinian children that children who survive such wars often suffer serious psychological, emotional and behavioural repercussions. Ninety-five per cent of Gaza Strip children, according to her study, showed signs of trauma, sadness and worry. Farajallah believes that the solution to the Palestine issue is not to be found in psychology but rather in a peaceful political resolution. France 24 English Video: Gaza remains hell on earth for children and their families, Unicef Spokesperson tells FRANCE24 The ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine is having a severe impact on childrens mental and physical well-being, confirms UNICEF. UN officials report many children killed and countless more suffering from anxiety and displacement. The violence is taking a huge toll on childrens mental health, said Jonathan Crickx, UNICEFs chief of communication in Palestine. Weve received accounts of children who are deeply worried and anxious. The UNICEF official urged all parties to ensure that children receive the specific protection that international humanitarian and human rights law guarantees them and to provide them with unequivocal protection. Additionally, the UN body demands an urgent cessation of hostilities. The conditions necessary to deliver humanitarian aid to children in Gaza are not only unfulfilled, but also deteriorating. The prolonged embargo and continuous shelling in Gaza have severely strained the mental health of children, pushing it to its limits. The victims have endured indescribable psychological trauma resulting from acts of violence, severe bodily suffering such as amputations, and the profound loss of their families, homes and educational institutions. More than one million children in Gaza require mental health assistance. UNICEF reports that Israel has caused the deaths of more than 13,000 children in Gaza since 7 October. In addition, it should be noted that there are other children who are experiencing acute malnutrition and are so weak that they lack the energy to even produce tears. Our children have experienced various wars, explained one of the mothers in Gaza. They were already struggling with resilience, and now coping has become extremely challenging. The children are frightened, angry and cant stop crying. Many adults are reacting the same way. This is overwhelming for adults, let alone children. According to Save the Children in Gaza, if the war is not stopped, there will be additional long-lasting psychological damage to children, with diminishing chances for recovery. Amal, a mother of four children in Gaza between the ages of 7 and 14, said that, Some of my kids can no longer focus on simple tasks. They forget what Ive just told them and cant recall recent events. I wouldnt even say their mental health has declined, it has been destroyed. This is total psychological devastation. Children in Gaza are bearing the brunt of the wars consequences at a disproportionate rate. Brain development may be altered irrevocably as a result of childhood traumas, although the repercussions might not become evident until much later in life. During childhood, the brain undergoes critical developmental periods. Anacker explained that too much stress from grief, anxiety, or a lack of social and emotional interaction during these times can alter brain function. Theres no effective way to completely reverse the effects of childhood trauma in adulthood, thats why its essential to protect children from stress during these critical stages of development. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has cautioned on numerous occasions that children are affected disproportionately by contemporary conflicts. Children residing in regions affected by brutal conflict endure profound psychological anguish. According to Taha et al., the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), a non-profit organisation based in Qatar, is providing psychosocial assistance to a total of 35,000 children, 15,000 caregivers and 1,000 frontline workers in Gaza. In addition, Save the Children is supplying leisure packs and creating secure educational environments for children who have been relocated or are in precarious situations. Organisations such as UNICEF are creating areas where children may participate in physical activities, group games, sketching and communication with experts who provide care. These endeavours are essential in tackling the mental health emergency among youngsters in Gaza. There are considerable obstacles in providing mental health services to children, owing to a myriad of circumstances. Insufficient understanding among healthcare practitioners, a scarcity of mental health experts and constraints on foreign aid imposed by Israel sometimes result in untreated mental health illnesses. Whats more, the distribution of resources to tackle pressing emergencies, such as the shortage of essential supplies, increases the intricacy of providing mental health interventions for children in Gaza. The declining healthcare infrastructure and lack of protected zones due to ongoing bombardment exacerbate the challenges of addressing the mental health crisis among young people in Gaza. In conclusion, the relentless conflict in Gaza has subjected Palestinian children to profound and enduring psychological trauma. These young lives are marred by experiences of violence, loss and deprivation, which have a severe impact on their mental health and overall development. It is imperative that international efforts are intensified to provide comprehensive mental health support and protection to these vulnerable children. Without a peaceful resolution and substantial humanitarian aid, the psychological scars inflicted by the conflict will likely persist into adulthood, perpetuating a cycle of suffering and instability. Ensuring the mental well-being of Palestinian children is not only a moral obligation, but also a crucial step towards building a future where peace and stability can prevail. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor. Middle East Monitor Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) The Biden administration has signaled that it will not cooperate with a Republican-led effort to place legislative sanctions on the International Criminal Court for having requested warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The move reverses a pledge by Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week to work with Congress against the ICC. Blinken has repeatedly shielded the Netanyahu government from criticism and has declined to undertake basic State Department tasks such as certifying to Congress that Israel is using US weapons in ways consistent with the Geneva Conventions. Somehow President Biden, who has been almost as bad, appears to have been persuaded that sanctioning an international court undermines US policy goals in places like Ukraine. Netanyahu said in a forthcoming interview, frankly Im surprised and disappointed, according to Politico. I should think so. Netanyahu, who is on trial on two counts of corruption, operates rather as his namesake, the gangster Benjamin Bugsy Siegel did in Las Vegas, corrupting or intimidating judges and other officials. Though to be fair to Mr. Siegel, he murdered many fewer people. The backdrop to the plan of troglodytes in Congress to harass the ICC is that Netanyahus government in Israel has run a decade-long campaign of spying and intimidation against the judges of the International Criminal Court, according to an investigation of The Guardian and two Israeli magazines, +972 Mag and Local Call, published by journalists Harry Davies, Bethan McKernan, Yuval Abraham, and Meron Rapoport. It is important to point out that the same cast of cyber-bullies has run an operation against American universities under the rubric of Canary Mission, in coordination with the inquisitorial Ministry of Strategic Affairs. headed by the American Ron Dermer. So reported James Bamford in The Nation. Canary Mission smears and doxes students and professors at American universities who stand for Palestinian rights in an attempt to interfere with their careers and for the purpose of intimidating them and others into silence. Both operations are Israeli government-inspired but aided by local agents. Despite the US federal law, FARA, which requires agents of foreign governments to register, Israeli such agents have been exempted from such requirements for political reasons, including Canary Mission and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The International Criminal Court was envisioned by the internationally-backed Rome Statute in 1998, which came into effect in 2002. The judges are selected by delegates from the 124-member states of the Conference of Parties. Canada, Britain, France, Denmark, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland are among the signatories. So the Israelis were spying on and harassing judges chosen by several NATO countries. Mossad, Israeli intelligence, directed an operation against Fata Bensouda, the former prosecutor of the court, during whose tenure the court found that it had jurisdiction over the Occupied Palestinian Territories because Palestine, a non-member observer state of the United Nations, had acceded to the Treaty of Rome in 2015. The Guardian story alleges that Israeli operatives attempted to bribe her, showing up at her private home, to come to a different decision. The Hill Video: Ex-Israeli Spy Chief THREATENED ICC Top Prosecutor, Pressures Her To Drop Netanyahu Probe: Report Israels control of telecommunications in Palestine allowed it to tap into any fact-gathering calls ICC officials made to the Occupied West Bank. Israel intensively spied on Palestinian human rights NGOs sending dossiers to the ICC, using the Pegasus spyware that has so harmed journalists and activists, which was developed by a company with close ties to the Israeli government. Pegasus has been banned in the United States by the Biden administration. At one point, Israeli officials attempted to discredit the Palestinian NGOs working with the ICC by falsely accusing them of having terrorist links. Sound familiar? Mossad director Mossi Cohen, a close crony of Netanyahu, appears actually to have stalked Bensouda, turning up unannounced and subjecting her to unwanted calls, according to Davies et al. Some of the stalking was done in New York, so perhaps the zealous New York City officials who were so concerned with students having tents on campus might open an investigation into an actual crime? Mossad also started a smear campaign against a relative of Bensouda in hopes of discrediting her, an operation that failed. Her successor, British Prosecutor Karim Khan, said that the ICC under his tenure faced several forms of threats and communications that could be viewed as attempts to unduly influence its activities. As for Canary Mission, Bamford wrote at The Nation, Like all of Israels espionage and covert operations in the United States, Canary Missions links to Israeli intelligenceand the Missions American financiersare well hidden. But as a result of a slipup on a tax form a few years ago, those links began to be revealed. And in the process was exposed the role played by one of the wealthiest families in California, headed by publicity-shy billionaire Sanford Diller, a major Trump backer who had donated $6 million to a pro-Trump political committee . . . For donations to a variety of causes, the Diller family maintains the Helen Diller Family Foundation. But in order to get a tax break, they turn the funds over to a much larger trust, the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, which then channels the Diller family donations. According to The Forward (formerly The Jewish Daily Forward), in 2016 the Diller Foundation donated $100,000 through the Jewish Community Federation to an obscure Israeli nonprofit called Megamot Shalom. Untraceable, off the grid, unheard of, Megamot Shalom was actually the front for Canary Mission. So these individuals donating to Megamot Shalom were breaking the Foreign Agents Registration Act Law, attempting to smear and blackball American professors and students on behalf of the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs. There is almost certainly a RICO offense here. These two stalking operations, of ICC judges and of American universities, are intended to allow the large scale theft of Palestinian land by Israeli squatters to proceed unhindered, and to shield Israel from the consequences of its war crimes against the Palestinians. The vicious crackdown on protesters against the genocide in Gaza in US universities is being actively connived at by the Dillers of the world. American parents should be outraged that Trumpie Zionists are conspiring to put their children in jail for having a conscience. Attorney General Merrick Garland must look into Canary Mission and sanction its donors and agents for FARA violations, not to mention a vast conspiracy to interfere with Americans first amendment rights and to libel them. It is coming for our children, for Gods sake. ( Tomdispatch.com ) The academic year that just ended left Americas college campuses in quite a state: with snipers on the rooftops and checkpoints at the gates; quads overrun by riot squads, state troopers, and federal agents; and even the scent of gunpowder in the air. In short, in the spring semester of 2024, many of our campuses came to resemble armed camps. Whats more, alongside such brute displays of force, there have been congressional inquisitions into constitutionally protected speech; federal investigations into the movement for divestment; and students suspended, evicted, and expelled, not to speak of faculty disciplined or simply dismissed. Welcome to Repress U., class of 2024: a homeland security campus for the ages. But dont think it all only happened this spring. In reality, its an edifice thats been decades in the making, spanning the George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden administrations. Some years ago, in the wake of Occupy Wall Street, I wrote a step-by-step guide to how the original homeland security campus was created. Let me now offer an updated manual on the workings of Repress U. in a newly oppressive era. Consider the building of just such a homeland security campus a seven-step process. Here they are, one by one. Step 1. Target the movement for divestment. As a start, unconditional government support for the state of Israel triggered a growing movement of student dissent. That, in turn, came to focus on the imperial entanglements and institutional investments of this countrys institutions of higher learning. Yet, instead of negotiating in good faith, university administrators have, with a few exceptions, responded by threatening and even inviting state violence on campus. Nor, in a number of cases, did this offensive against the student left start, or end, at the campus gates. For instance, a targeted campaign against Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) kicked off in October, when the State University System of Florida, working with Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, announced that based on the National SJPs support of terrorism the student chapters must be deactivated. Private universities would soon join in with their own public displays of intolerance. Brandeis, Rutgers, George Washington, and Harvard all imposed similar sanctions on student groups. Columbia broke new ground by suspending not only SJP but also Jewish Voice for Peace after its student chapter held an unauthorized event that included threatening rhetoric. Over the course of the academic year, the student movement has been elevated, at least rhetorically speaking, to the level of a national security threat one which has figured prominently in White House briefings and House Republican hearings. And by far the greater part of the threatening rhetoric overheard in recent weeks has been directed not by the movement, but at the movement. We have a clear message, said House Committee on Education and Labor Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC) in announcing the latest round of congressional inquisitions. American universities are officially put on notice that we have come to take our universities back. No stone must go unturned while buildings are being defaced, campus greens are being captured, or graduations are being ruined. Held on May 23rd, the hearings were an exercise in twenty-first-century McCarthyism, with House Republicans going on the warpath against radicalized students and so-called university leaders. President Biden, when speaking of the student movement, has struck a hardly less belligerent tone, declaring that vandalism, trespassing shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations none of this is a peaceful protest and that order must prevail. Step 2. Censor pro-Palestinian speech. For all the talk of free speech and the right to protest, pro-Palestinian advocacy and antiwar activism have, in these last months, come to represent a notable exception to the rule. From the words of commencement speakers to the expressive acts of student occupiers, outright censorship has become the order of the day. Take the case of Asna Tabassum, a graduating senior scheduled to give this months valedictorian address at the University of Southern California. When, on social media, Tabassum dared link to a page denouncing racist settler-colonial ideology, she was subjected to an organized smear campaign and ultimately barred from speaking at commencement. Across the country, the cancellations have piled up. The Palestinian writer Mohammed El-Kurd was banned from speaking at the University of Vermont. The artist Samia Halaby saw her first American retrospective cancelled by the Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University. And a group of Jewish students seeking to screen a film critical of Israel were denied space at the University of Pennsylvania. Again, the trail of repression leads all the way back to Washington, D.C. Over the course of the past year, since the White House released its National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have shown an increasingly active interest in policing what can and cant be said on campus. According to the latest White House fact sheet, dated May 7th, FBI and DHS have taken steps to expand and deepen engagements with campus law enforcement and others. Such engagement has been evident for all to see in the recent crackdowns on campuses like Columbias, where the administration bragged, in a leaked internal memo, about coordinating with the FBI. Step 3. Punish student protest. It was not enough, however, for certain university administrators to ban Students for Justice in Palestine or censor pro-Palestinian speech. It was also imperative that they make students pay. The punishments have varied, ranging from interim suspensions to permanent expulsions to evictions from campus housing. What they have in common is a logic of retribution for even distinctly nonviolent student protests. It became common practice for administrations to demand that students leave their on-campus encampments or be barred from graduating. In Harvards case, the Corporation went ahead and struck 13 pro-Palestinian students from the rolls anyway, just days before commencement. Expulsions have also proliferated in the wake of the occupation of administration buildings, from Columbias Hamilton Hall to Vanderbilts Kirkland Hall. In justifying the expulsions, Vanderbilts chancellor helpfully explained, My point of view had nothing to do with free speech. Last but not least, student dissidents have been the victims of doxxing, with their names and faces prominently displayed under the banner of Leading Antisemites on billboards in public places and on websites belonging to a far-right organization, Accuracy in Media. The group was recently revealed to be bankrolled to the tune of nearly $1.9 million by top Republican megadonors. Step 4. Discipline faculty dissent. Students have not been the only targets of such repression. They have been joined by faculty and other employees of colleges and universities, who have also faced disciplinary action for standing up for the rights of Palestinians. By one count, more than 50 faculty members have been arrested, while hundreds more have been disciplined by their employers. The backlash began last fall with the suspension of two educators at the University of Arizona, then ramped up with the summary firing of two teaching assistants at the University of Texas at Austin. Their offenses? Sharing mental health resources with Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab students, who had specifically requested them in the wake of October 7th. Further controversy attended the suspension of a tenured political science professor, Abdulkader Sinno, at Indiana University following an unauthorized event held by the schools Palestine Solidarity Committee (which Sinno advised). Then came the removal of a noted Palestinian-American artist and activist, Amin Husain, from his adjunct position at New York University. The University of Florida, for its part, circulated a directive threatening that employees will be separated from employment should they be found responsible for engaging in prohibited activities, including disruption, indoor demonstrations, or outdoor encampments. And Washington University in St. Louis, in April, placed six employees on leave after they were accused of participating in a Gaza solidarity protest and allowing unauthorized persons onto campus. That same day, another Palestinian-American professor, Steve Tamari, of Southern Illinois University, had nine ribs fractured and one of his hands broken while exercising his right to film the police. Step 5. Lock the community out, but let the vigilantes in. In the face of sustained student protest, universities have converted themselves into heavily guarded, gated communities, each with its private security force, and each with its own laws to enforce. Harvard Yard will be closed today, read a typical text, in bold red letters hanging from Johnston Gate. Harvard affiliates must produce their ID card when requested. Other schools have responded to the encampments with a new architecture of control, extending from the metal barricades erected around George Washingtons University Yard to the plywood walls now surrounding New York Universitys Stern School of Business. Still others, like Columbia, went as far as to cancel their major commencement ceremonies, given security concerns. At the same time, the private firms entrusted with the publics safety on college campuses have failed to intervene to keep far-right agitators out. Instead, as seen at the University of California, Los Angeles, and elsewhere, they have allowed vigilante violence to run wild. At UCLA, on the night of April 30th, a gang of anti-Palestinian militants, wearing white masks and bearing blunt instruments and incendiary devices, were permitted to terrorize the schools Palestine Solidarity Encampment for more than three hours before public officials felt compelled to take action. At least 16 serious injuries were reported. Not one of the attackers was detained. At first, I couldnt understand why, reported one eyewitness to the bloodshed. But an hour in, and then two hours in, and then three hours in, it just reached the point where I was like, UCLA knows this is happening, and they dont care enough to protect their students. I thought I was going to die, recalled another. I thought Id never see my family again. Step 6. Call the cops. Incite a riot. Again and again, administrators have turned to the baton-wielding arm of the law to sweep Gaza solidarity encampments off school grounds. In calling the riot squads out on their own students, they have launched the most wide-reaching crackdown on campus protest in more than half a century, with some 3,000 arrests and still counting. The military-style raid on Columbias Morningside campus, on April 30th, was just one case in point. It was one I watched unfold with my own eyes a few paces from occupied Hamilton Hall (or Hinds Hall). It started with a group of students linking arms and singing We Shall Not Be Moved, and ended with 112 arrests and one gunshot fired from an officers Glock 19. First, I watched three drones surveil the protesters from above, while a veritable army of beat cops, clad in riot gear, surrounded them on all sides. Next, I saw paramilitary squads with names like Emergency Service Unit and Strategic Response Group, backed by an armored BearCat, stage an invasion of the Columbia campus, while their counterparts laid siege to nearby City College. In the end, law enforcement unleashed a full use-of-force continuum on students and workers, including that live bullet that unintentionally discharged from a sergeants service weapon into the office they were attempting to gain access to. Said one officer to another: Thought we fucking shot someone. And Columbia was but the tip of the spear. A similar pattern has played out on campuses across the country. At Emory University, a Gaza solidarity camp was met with stun guns and rubber bullets; at Indiana and Ohio State universities, the police response included snipers on the rooftops of campus buildings; and at the University of Texas, gun-toting troopers enforced Governor Greg Abbotts directive that no encampments will be allowed. Step 7. Wage information warfare. In most, if not all, American cities and college towns with such protests, the police, pundits, and elected officials alike have doubled down on their defense of Repress U., while vilifying the student movement in the media. In doing so, theyve engaged in the kinds of coordinated information activities typical of a classical counterinsurgency campaign. It began with House Republicans like Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who dubbed the student protesters a pro-Hamas mob, and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who called them lawless agitators and radicals. Donald Trump took it a step further, claiming that many of them arent even students, and many of them come from foreign countries. Thousands and thousands are from foreign countries Im like, Where did these people come from? Novel conspiracy theories, blaming the outbreak of campus protests on groups ranging from Hamas to Antifa (or even Jewish billionaire George Soros), have reverberated across the echo chambers of the right. But the agitprop didnt stop at the far-right fringe. Democratic officials have since taken it up, too, with New York Mayor Eric Adams leading the charge: What should have been a peaceful protest has been coopted by professional outside agitators. Within 24 hours of the raids on Columbia and CCNY, the New York Police Department had, in fact, produced its own live-action propaganda from the scene of the crime, concluding with these words of warning: To any other individuals that wanna protest If youre thinking about setting up tents anyplace else think again. Well come there. Well strike you. Take you to jail like we did over here. This is the future envisioned for Americas college campuses by the partisans of Repress U. Its a future where what passes for homeland security takes precedence over higher learning, where order prevails over inquiry, and where counterinsurgency comes before community. Then again, the next generation the one behind the Peoples University protests may well have other plans. Copyright 2024 Michael Gould-Wartofsky Via Tomdispatch.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces drill core assay results from its fully-funded 2024 drill program at the Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname. This release reports the remaining eight drill holes from phase one of drilling at the Donut Zone ("Donut"). West Donut Shear Discovery New shear zone intercepted in four holes over >150 metres ("m") of strike including: 4.5 m of 3.27 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") from 15.6 m downhole (24DO04) 12.0 m of 0.84 g/t Au from 12.6 m (24DO13) 27.0 m of 0.73 g/t Au from 26.1 m (24DO14) 16.5 m of 2.35 g/t Au from 26.1 m (Hole 24DO02, previously reported) Main Donut Shear Along-strike continuity of previously reported high-grade gold at Donut with intervals including: 8.0 m of 6.64 g/t Au from 247.0 m (Hole 24DO13) 19.0 m of 1.02 g/t Au from 99.0 m (Hole 24DO09) 6.0 m of 3.10 g/t Au from 181.0 m (Hole 24DO15) The Donut Zone is located in the northwest section of the Antino Property, approximately 800 metres northeast of the Froyo Zone (Refer to Figure 1). Mineralization at Donut is characterized by broader, intrusion-hosted gold mineralization and structurally controlled high-grade gold mineralization. Colin Padget, Founders CEO commented, "We are pleased to see the gold mineralization at Donut continue along strike with 8.0 metres of 6.64 g/t Au in hole 24DO13 and some broader, lower-grade intervals as expected. Additionally, we've hit a second gold-bearing shear hosted in the mixed volcanic rocks to the west of Donut with near surface gold mineralization over substantial widths. Combined, these results represent an excellent first phase of drilling at Donut and our team is busy with planning follow up work." West Donut Shear Discovery The newly identified West Donut Shear (Figure 2) is a steeply dipping zone of shear-hosted gold mineralization intercepted in four drill holes. The zone is intercepted near surface in all four holes. Drill holes 24DO04 (4.5 m of 3.27 g/t Au), 24DO13 (12.0 m of 0.84 g/t Au), 24DO14 (27.0 m of 0.73 g/t Au) and previously reported 24DO02 (16.5 m of 2.35 g/t Au) outline a north-south oriented shear zone with a minimum strike length of 150 m. The zone remains open along strike and has not been drill tested below a vertical depth of 40 m. Intrusion-Hosted Donut Mineralization Gold mineralization at Donut occurs within a main shear near the tonalite intrusive body's margin. Broader, up to 40 m, zones of lower-grade gold mineralization (0.1 - 1.5 g/t Au) also occur within the intrusive. The latest results including, 8.0 m of 6.64 g/t Au (24DO013), 6.0 m of 3.10 g/t Au (24D015) and 19.0 m of 1.02 g/t Au (24DO09) confirm the continuation of high-grade gold along the western and northwestern extents of the intrusive contact where shearing is most concentrated. Mineralization in this part of the Donut system remains open and currently extends over a strike length of at least 190 m along the western contact and >130 m along the northwestern margin. The eastern and southern intrusive margins also potentially host gold and will be further tested as part of the Company's future drilling plans. Table 1: Drilling Results and Highlights at the Donut Zone Hole ID From (m) To (m) Core Length* (m) Au (g/t) 24DO04 15.60 20.10 4.50 3.27 24DO05 NSA 24DO08 NSA 24DO09 53.00 60.00 7.00 0.81 and 99.00 118.00 19.00 1.02 and 184.00 195.00 11.00 0.92 24DO10 0.00 24.60 24.60 0.54 24DO11B 161.18 181.18 20.00 0.53 24DO12 73.10 80.60 7.50 0.68 and 255.00 264.30 9.30 0.56 24DO13 12.60 24.60 12.00 0.84 and 161.00 168.00 7.00 1.26 and 192.00 234.00 42.00 0.31 and 247.00 255.00 8.00 6.64 24DO14 0.00 6.60 6.60 0.53 and 26.10 53.10 27.00 0.73 24DO15 6.60 15.60 9.00 0.93 and 56.00 92.00 36.00 0.71 and 138.00 146.00 8.00 1.27 and 181.00 187.00 6.00 3.10 24DO16 24.60 31.00 6.40 0.44 and 83.00 90.00 7.00 0.63 *Intervals are estimated to represent 85% or more of true width based on current drill data Figure 1: Upper Antino Plan Map with Historical Auger Samples Figure 2: Upper Antino Plan Map Centred on the Donut Zone Figure 3: Upper Antino Section Map Centred on the Donut Zone About Founders Metals Inc. Founders Metals is a Canadian exploration company with properties in North and South America. The Company focuses on acquiring and advancing gold projects in the Guiana Shield. Its flagship asset is the 20,000 ha Antino Gold Project in Suriname, where artisanal surface/alluvial mining has produced over 500,000 gold ounces to date1. Using its diamond drilling equipment, the Company drilled over 10,000 metres in 2023 and is fully financed for drilling in 2024. 1 2022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo. Quality Assurance and Control Results from samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo, Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75% passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 m. Samples were analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 10.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Lima, Peru (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project. Qualified Persons The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Per: "Colin Padget" Colin Padget President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director Founders Metals Contact Information Katie MacKenzie, Vice President, Corporate Development Tel: 306 537 8903 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Nick Stajduhar, Director Tel: 647 225 0046 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "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 state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Infield Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:INFD) ("Infield" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement (the "Share Purchase Agreement") dated effective May 29, 2024, pursuant to which it will acquire (the "Acquisition") all the issued and outstanding share capital of 1468289 B.C. Ltd. ("BC Co") with closing subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). As the Acquisition is considered both a "Reviewable Transaction" and a "Fundamental Acquisition" under the policies of the TSXV, trading of Infield's shares has been halted but is expected to resume upon filing of a 43-101 Technical Report1 regarding the Kings Canyon Property (as defined below) with the TSXV. In accordance with the policies of the TSXV, Infield will issue a news release regarding the status of the Acquisition every 30 days following this trading halt until the Acquisition is complete and a news release has been issued confirming closing of the Acquisition. BC Co is a privately owned company incorporated pursuant to the laws of British Columbia on February 28, 2024. Mario Stifano ("Stifano") and Ewan Downie ("Downie") each own 50% of the outstanding share capital of BC Co. BC Co's sole asset is an option agreement with Geomark Minerals USA Inc. ("Geomark") to acquire an undivided 100% interest in the Kings Canyon property (the "Property" or "Kings Canyon Property") in the state of Utah, USA (the "Kings Canyon Option Agreement"). Upon completion of the Acquisition, Infield will own 100% of BC Co in consideration for the issuance to each of Stifano and Downie of 2,711,448 (5,422,896 in the aggregate) common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.015 per share. The securities of Infield to be issued pursuant to the Acquisition will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from issuance in accordance with Canadian securities laws. "Infield is exceptionally pleased to be moving forward with the addition of Kings Canyon to our project portfolio and to welcome Mario Stifano and Ewan Downie as shareholders of Infield," stated Evandra Nakano, President and CEO of Infield. Ms. Nakano continued, "we look forward to the opportunities to create value for shareholders in the coming years through advancing the known deposit areas, exploring the upside potential and pursuing additional value-add transactions." Kings Canyon Property Project Highlights: The Kings Canyon Property is host to disseminated "Carlin-type" gold mineralization within an emerging mineral district, 30 km east of the Nevada border in western Utah The Crown Zone hosts a near surface oxide gold deposit that reportedly contains an unclassified historical resource* of 6.8 million tons grading 0.030 ounces per ton (" opt ") (1.02 grams per tonne (" g/ t")) gold for >200,000 ounces, using a cut-off grade of 0.013 opt (0.44 g/t) (*see below) ") (1.02 grams per tonne (" t")) gold for >200,000 ounces, using a cut-off grade of 0.013 opt (0.44 g/t) (*see below) Royal Zone drilling has outlined a mineralized footprint comparable in size to the Crown Zone; 2012 historical results include (see sedarplus.ca for Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. AIF dated January 25, 2013 and March 21, 2013): 1.1 g/t gold over 33.5 m in hole KC12-17 1.0 g/t gold over 27.4 m in hole KC12-19 1.54 g/t gold over 30.5 m in hole KC12-22 1.27 g/t gold over 21.3 m in hole KC12-23 1.15 g/t gold over 27.4 m in hole KC12-24 Opportunity to better delineate known deposit areas and to explore the potential for expansion and new discoveries among similar host rocks The Kings Canyon Property is located in Millard County, Utah, within the emerging Kings Canyon mining district, and consists of approximately 2,500 acres comprising 129 unpatented mining claims and one (1) 640-acre State of Utah metalliferous minerals lease (Figure 1). The Kings Canyon mining district is situated along the edge of the upper Proterozoic rift within the U.S. Great Basin, approximately 30 km east of the Nevada border. While the district hosts numerous mineral occurrences, it has lacked the consistent and sustained exploration required to uncover the area's full mineral potential. Gold at the Property occurs as disseminated, Devonian carbonate-hosted mineralization, analogous to the "Carlin-type" deposits, that are well documented throughout northern and central Nevada, as well as western Utah. The Kings Canyon Property is host to two known oxide gold mineralized zones: the Crown Zone and the Royal Zone, which have been outlined by more than 200 historical drill holes. The Crown Zone has been explored since at least the late 1980s and hosts a near surface oxide gold deposit with a strike length of approximately 800 m. The zone reportedly contains an unclassified historical resource* of 6.8 million tons grading 0.030 opt (1.02 g/t) gold using a 0.013 opt (0.44 g/t) cut-off grade (*see below). Most of the historical drill holes were vertically oriented and completed via reverse circulation drilling that targeted disseminated mineralization and did not adequately test for potential high-grade feeder systems at depth. *The historical estimate does not comply with CIM definition standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as required by NI 43-101 and is not relevant to NI 43-101. The historical estimate was reported by Crown Resources Corporation in its 10-K annual report filed on April 1, 2002, with the SEC. The historical estimate was prepared prior to enactment of NI 43-101 and details of estimation methodology are not provided. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the historical estimate is not considered reliable. The Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Historical data available to the Company indicates drilling was completed on the Property subsequent to the historical estimate. The Company has not determined the full extent of work required to verify or upgrade the historical estimate as a current mineral resource, however, initial steps could involve a review of the historical assay quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") methods, inspection of available assay certificates and logs, and additional drilling and assaying. The Royal Zone is situated approximately one (1) km south of the Crown Zone, with disseminated gold mineralization hosted in the same carbonate rocks as the Crown Zone. This permissive stratigraphy underlies much of the project area, providing additional opportunities for discovery. The most recent drilling at the Royal Zone was conducted by Geomark Exploration Ltd. in 2012 and 2013, with results including 1.1 g/t gold over 33.5 m in hole KC12-17, 1.0 g/t gold over 27.4 m in hole KC12-19, 1.54 g/t gold over 30.5 m in hole KC12-22, 1.27 g/t gold over 21.3 m in hole KC12-23, and 1.15 g/t gold over 27.4 m in hole KC12-24 (see sedarplus.ca for Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. AIF dated January 25, 2013 and March 21, 2013). Since 2013, the Kings Canyon project has remained dormant in an oil and gas company's portfolio until BC Co entered into the Kings Canyon Option Agreement on February 29, 2024. Figure 1: Kings Canyon claims location map showing the primary claims package. The 22 BLM claims located to the south of the primary claims package are not depicted. Pursuant to the terms of the Kings Canyon Option Agreement, in order to earn a 100% undivided interest in the Property, subject to pre-existing royalties ranging from two to five percent, the Company must (through BC Co as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) pay to Geomark a total of $1,200,000 over a period of thirty (30) months in accordance with the following schedule: $300,000 within five days of closing of the Acquisition; $300,000 on or before the date, which is six months after closing of the Acquisition, one-half of which may be paid in common shares of Infield2, at its sole option; $300,000 on or before the date, which is eighteen months after closing of the Acquisition, one-half of which may be paid in common shares of Infield1, at its sole option; and $300,000 on or before the date which is thirty (30) months after closing of the Acquisition, one-half of which may be paid in common shares of Infield1, at its sole option. Following exercise of the Option and transfer of the Property to BC Co, Infield (through BC Co) shall make the following payments to Geomark if the following events occur: $1,000,000 upon filing of a 43-101 Technical Report describing 400,000 ounces or more of Mineral Product3 within the Property; and $2,000,000 upon achievement of aggregate production of no less than 5,000 ounces of Mineral Product from mining operations on the Property. The Acquisition is an arm's length transaction as defined in the policies of the TSXV. No finders' fees are applicable in connection with the Acquisition or Kings Canyon Option Agreement. A copy of the Share Purchase Agreement will be filed and will be accessible under Infield's profile on SEDAR (www.sedarplus.ca). Completion of the Acquisition is subject to a number of conditions, including TSXV acceptance. There can be no assurance that the Acquisition will be completed as proposed or at all. 1Means a technical report, as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. 2The price of the common shares issuable under all option payments is based on the 30-day volume weighted average trading price of Infield's common shares following Infield's notice to Geomark of its intention to pay in common shares. If such issue price is less than the price permitted by the TSXV, the issue price shall be adjusted to be the lowest price per common share permitted by the TSXV. 3Valuable rock, minerals, precious metals, ore and other valuable substances extracted from the Property. Qualified Person Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Andrea Diakow, P.Geo., a geological consultant and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. The potential quantity and grade of mineralization described herein is conceptual in nature as there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in targets being delineated as a mineral resource. Drill core samples collected by Geomark Exploration Ltd. in 2012 and 2013 were analysed by fire assay with an atomic absorption finish, with analysis completed by ALS Minerals in Reno, Nevada. ALS Global laboratories are independent and ISO/IEC-17025 accredited. For additional information on sample preparation, analysis and QA/QC, please refer to Pine Cliff Energy Ltd.'s Annual Information Form dated January 25, 2013 and March 21, 2013, which are available on sedarplus.ca. The Company is relying on historical assay information provided by Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. and has not verified the accuracy of the information. For more information, please contact Evandra Nakano, the CEO, President and a director of the Company, at +1 (604) 220-4691 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Infield Minerals Corp. Evandra Nakano President, CEO & Director About Infield Infield Minerals is currently exploring for gold within the U.S. Great Basin. Our mission is to grow and deliver value through discovery, acquisitions and sustainable development of high quality, high potential assets for the social and economic benefits of our stakeholders. Founded in 2020, Infield is led by a team of mining entrepreneurs with extensive technical and resource evaluation experience. www.infieldminerals.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning Infield's plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forwardlooking statements". Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, resumption of trading of Infield common shares, completing the acquisition of 1468289 B.C. Ltd. and TSXV acceptance thereof, and Infield's exploration plans, including for the Kings Canyon property. Forwardlooking statements may be, but are not always, identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. Infield cautions readers that forwardlooking statements, including without limitation those relating to Infield's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties (including geopolitical risk, regulatory, COVID-19 and exchange rate risk) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forwardlooking statements. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will prove to be accurate or that management's assumptions underlying such statements, including assumptions concerning future developments, circumstances or results, will materialize. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this new release and Infield does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking information included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2024 /CNW/ - Vizsla Copper Corp. (TSXV: VCU) (OTCQB: VCUFF) ("Vizsla Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that due to significant investor demand, the Company has increased the maximum gross proceeds of its previously announced "best efforts" private placement (the "Offering") to C$3,800,000. The Offering has been revised to allow for the sale of any combination units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of C$0.11 per Unit and flow-through units of the Company (the "FT Units", and together with the Units, the "Offered Units") at a price of C$0.12 per FT Unit. Red Cloud Securities Inc. (the "Lead Agent") is acting as lead agent and sole bookrunner on behalf of a syndicate of agents (collectively, the "Agents"). Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Unit Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each FT Unit will consist of one common share of the Company to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one half of one Warrant. Each whole Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.16 at any time on or before that date which is 24 months after the closing date of the Offering. The Company has granted the Agents will have an option, exercisable in full or in part, up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering, to sell up to an additional C$570,000 in any combination of Offered Units at their respective offering prices (the "Agents' Option"). The Offered Units will be offered by way of the "accredited investor" and "minimum amount investment" exemptions under National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions in all the provinces of Canada. The securities issuable pursuant to the sale of the Offered Units will be subject to a statutory hold period in Canada ending on the date that is four months plus one day following the closing date of the Offering. The Units may also be sold in offshore jurisdictions and in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act"), as amended. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of Units for working capital and general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Shares will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's projects in British Columbia, Canada. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Units effective December 31, 2024. The Offering is expected to close on or around June 19, 2024 or such other date as agreed between the Company and the Lead Agent, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, as amended, or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States or the US persons except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. ABOUT VIZSLA COPPER Vizsla Copper is a Cu-Au-Mo focused mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The Company is primarily focused on its flagship Woodjam project, located within the prolific Quesnel Terrane, 55 kilometers east of the community of Williams Lake, British Columbia. It has three additional copper properties: Poplar, Copperview, and Redgold, all well situated amongst significant infrastructure in British Columbia. The Company's growth strategy is focused on the exploration and development of its copper properties within its portfolio in addition to value accretive acquisitions. Vizsla Copper's vision is to be a responsible copper explorer and developer in the stable mining jurisdiction of British Columbia, Canada and it is committed to socially responsible exploration and development, working safely, ethically and with integrity Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to: obtaining the required regulatory approvals for the Offering; the expected Closing Date; completion of the Offering; the intended use of proceeds of the Offering; the Company's growth and business strategies; and the exploration and development of the Company's properties. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, the limited operating history of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by 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 forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws. TORONTO, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQX: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) (Lithium Ionic or the Company), is pleased to announce that it has executed a binding term sheet (the Term Sheet) with Appian Capital Advisory LLP (Appian) to sell a 2.25% gross revenue royalty on its Bandeira Deposit in exchange for an upfront cash consideration of US$20,000,000 (the Royalty). Appian is an investment advisor to long-term, value-focused private capital funds that invest solely in mining and mining-related companies. Lithium Ionic intends to use the proceeds of the Royalty to further advance the development and construction of its world-class Bandeira Lithium Project (Bandeira or the Project), located within the Lithium Valley in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The Lithium Valley is a unique geological belt that hosts a significant concentration of lithium-bearing pegmatites and has emerged as a globally significant lithium production center. On May 29, 2024, the Company announced Feasibility Study results for Bandeira supporting a 14-year, low-cost mining operation producing 178,000tpa of high-quality spodumene concentrate (5.5% Li2O), resulting in a post-tax NPV8 of US$1.3B and an IRR of 40%. Terms of the Royalty Term Sheet The closing and funding of the Royalty are subject to the execution of a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") between the Company and Appian. Certain key terms that have been agreed upon include: A 2.25% Life of Mine gross revenue royalty on the Bandeira Project. A purchase price of US$20,000,000 payable to the Company upon closing. An option for the Company to fully buy-back the Royalty within the first five years for a fee of US$67,500,000. Funding is subject to customary conditions precedent, including the finalization and execution of documentation and the provision of legal opinions. BMO Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to Lithium Ionic. Bennett Jones LLP is acting as Lithium Ionics legal advisor. About Lithium Ionic Corp. Lithium Ionic is a Canadian mining company exploring and developing its lithium properties in Brazil. Its Itinga and Salinas group of properties cover 14,182 hectares in the northeastern part of Minas Gerais state, a mining-friendly jurisdiction that is quickly emerging as a world-class hard-rock lithium district. Its Feasibility-stage Bandeira Project is situated in the same region as CBLs Cachoeira lithium mine, which has produced lithium for +30 years, as well as Sigma Lithium Corp.s Grota do Cirilo project, which hosts the largest hard-rock lithium deposit in the Americas. About Appian Capital Advisory LLP Appian Capital Advisory LLP is the investment advisor to long-term value-focused private capital funds that invest solely in mining and mining-related companies. Appian is a leading investment advisor in the metals and mining industry, with global experience across South America, North America, Australia and Africa and a successful track record of supporting companies to achieve their development targets, with a global operating portfolio overseeing nearly 7,000 employees. Appian has a global team of over 75 experienced professionals with presences in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Lima, Belo Horizonte, Montreal, Dubai, Johannesburg and Perth. Qualified Persons The technical information in this news release has been prepared by Carlos Costa, Vice President Exploration of Lithium Ionic and Blake Hylands, CEO and director of Lithium Ionic, who are both qualified persons as defined in NI 43-101. Mr. Costa and Mr. Hylands have both read and approved the content in this news release. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Lithium Ionic Corp. Blake Hylands Chief Executive Officer, Director Investor and Media Inquiries: +1 647.316.2500 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-statements. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the prospectivity of the Companys mineral properties including Bandeira and Salinas, the Companys ability to produce a NI 43-101 compliant Feasibility study and the timing thereof, the Companys ability to obtain the requisite licences and permits, the economic viability of the Bandeira Project, the Companys ability to obtain adequate financing (including the ability to execute a Definitive Agreement and to complete and close the proposed Royalty transaction), the mineralization and development of the Companys mineral properties, the Companys exploration program and other mining projects and prospects thereof and the Companys future plans. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that managements beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Information and links in this press release relating to other mineral resource companies are from their sources believed to be reliable, but that have not been independently verified by the Company. 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 press release. Vancouver, British Columbia TheNewswire - May 30, 2024 - Red Canyon Resources Ltd. (Red Canyon or the Company) (CSE: REDC | OTCQB: REDRF) is pleased to announce it has commenced diamond drilling on its 100% owned Peak Project in central British Columbia. The Company is focused on impactful, value-add exploration to make discoveries of copper and copper-gold deposits in established mineral belts in North America. Company Highlights: The Companys Peak copper-gold project in central British Columbia has multiple copper- gold targets highlighted by magnetic features, coincident Induced Polarization (IP) anomalies and elevated copper geochemistry. Peak represents a 6,560-hectare, strategic land position situated in a coppergold district with active large scale mining operations nearby and excellent infrastructure. This initial program, of up to 2,000m of diamond drilling, will consists of 2-6 drill holes to test a series of high priority copper-gold porphyry targets. The Companys main priority is to test Peak Central. A previous IP survey at Peak Central outlined a large chargeability zone and a deep resistive centre, west of outcropping copper bearing porphyritic rocks grading up to 2% copper. The Peak project represents a series of complex magnetic highs and lows spanning approximately 15km of interpreted Quesnellia Island Arc Terrane. The Company has identified four additional priority targets, north of Peak Central with IP chargeability highs coincident with elevated copper geochemistry and interpreted intrusion related magnetic features. The Company controls a portfolio of seven 100%-owned, internally generated copper and copper gold projects in British Columbia and the Western US, four of which are drill ready. Wendell Zerb, the Chairman and CEO of the Company, states: "We are excited for this first phase drill program largely targeting the Peak Central zone. This intriguing area has complex magnetic features in combination with widespread elevated copper soil geochemistry, copper in porphyritic outcrops, impressive IP chargeability and resistivity targets. These coincident features, in combination with outstanding infrastructure, make this an excellent, high-priority copper-gold porphyry target. Peak Project The Peak property is located in the Cariboo region of south-central British Columbia, approximately 30 km NE of the City of Williams Lake. Peak is a large, 100% owned 6,560-hectare, strategic land position situated in a coppergold district with active large scale mining operations and excellent infrastructure. The Project is located approximately 28 km southwest of the Mount Polley copper-gold mine and 20 km southeast of the Gibraltar copper-molybdenum mine. Figure 1: Location Map A series of complex magnetic highs and lows spanning over approximately 15km of interpreted Quesnellia Island Arc Terrane have been identified using magnetic inversion modeling and are considered by the Company to potentially be intrusive related features. Project wide soil sample geochemistry has outlined anomalous areas of copper associated with magnetic features that further enhances the potential that these features and may reflect the presence of porphyry-type intrusions at depth. An IP geophysical survey, which focused on coincident magnetic features with elevated copper in soils, was completed by the Company in 2023. Four of the seven targets tested show IP chargeability highs coincident with elevated copper geochemistry and interpreted intrusion related magnetic features. Figure 2: Map showing Peak airborne magnetics RTP-VD geophysics with completed pole dipole IP lines. The Companys primary drill-ready target is at Peak Central, which represents an area of complex magnetic highs and lows associated with altered and mineralized porphyritic rocks. A 2011 IP survey at Peak Central outlined a large chargeability zone west of outcropping copper bearing porphyritic rocks, which has not been drill tested. Figure 3: Peak Central IP cross section line 1000N. The Company has initiated a 1,000m to 2,000m drill program, largely to test geophysical features outlined in the 2011 IP program and interpreted by Red Canyon to potentially represent the central causative intrusion related to peripheral copper mineralization found in outcrops to the east. This program is fully funded and designed as an initial test program to be potentially followed by subsequent drilling in H2/24. About Red Canyon Resources Red Canyon Resources Ltd. (CSE: REDC | OTCQB: REDRF) is a geoscience-driven, discovery-focused mineral exploration company focused on exploring North Americas top copper jurisdictions. The Companys core goal is to make impactful copper discoveries to benefit all stakeholders and support the clean energy transition. Red Canyon has a portfolio of 100% owned copper and copper-gold porphyry exploration projects. The Companys technical team consists of experienced geoscientists with diverse capital market, small cap and major mining company backgrounds and a track record of success. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.redcanyonresources.com. Red Canyon is part of the NewQuest Capital Group which is a discovery-driven investment group that builds value through the incubation and financing of mineral projects and companies. Further information about NewQuest can be found on the company website at www.nqcapitalgroup.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Wendell Zerb, P. Geol Chairman and Chief Executive Officer +1 (604) 681-9100 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. For further information, please contact: Brennan Zerb Investor Relations Manager +1 (778) 867-5016 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Qualified Person The technical information contained in this update has been reviewed and approved by Wendell Zerb, P. Geol, a Qualified Person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future capital expenditures, exploration activities and the specifications, targets, results, analyses, interpretations, benefits, costs and timing of them, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as pro forma, plans, expects, may, should, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes, potential or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. 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 differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, including the Companys exploration plans and the proposed expenditures for exploration work thereon, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, the ability of the Company to obtain the required permits, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, the Companys limited operating history, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as those factors discussed under the heading Risk Factors in the Companys prospectus dated October 12, 2023 and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Companys profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Uranium Corp. (CSE: GURN) (the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (Option Agreement) with Forum Energy Metals Corp. (Forum) pursuant to which the Company has the right to acquire up to 75% of Forums interest (JV Interest) in a joint venture (Forum / NexGen JV) between Forum and NexGen Energy Ltd. (NexGen). The Forum / NexGen JV, existing by way of a joint venture agreement between Forum and NexGen (Forum / NexGen JV Agreement), was formed for purpose of carrying out the obligations, and enjoying the rights under, a joint venture (Northwest Athabasca Joint Venture) among Forum, Cameco Corporation and Orano Canada Inc. to explore and develop certain mineral claims in the Northwest Athabasca region of Saskatchewan (NWA Project). Forum currently holds a 62.2% beneficial interest in the Forum / NexGen JV, which in turn holds a 69.95% beneficial interest in the Northwest Athabasca Joint Venture. Accordingly, Forum holds a 43.32% beneficial interest in the Northwest Athabasca Joint Venture. These percentage interests are subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Forum / NexGen JV and the Northwest Athabasca Joint Venture, as applicable. Under the Option Agreement the Company has the initial right (Initial Option) to acquire 51% of the Forums Interest by: making staged payments to Forum totalling $225,000 by December 31, 2027; making staged issuances to Forum of a total of 1,000,000 shares of the Company by December 31, 2027; and making staged payments to Forum equal to the amounts Forum would be entitled to contribute for exploration under the Northwest Athabasca Joint Venture on account of the 2025-2028 operating years, totalling a minimum of $3,900,000 and up to a maximum of $9,000,000 to be applied to the corresponding cash calls, depending on the participation of the minority partners in the Northwest Athabasca Joint Venture in any approved exploration program. The funding of $3,000,000 of such amount by December 31, 2025 is a firm commitment on the part of the Company. Upon exercise of the Initial Option, the Company shall become a party to the Forum / NexGen JV Agreement. The Company shall also have the right (Second Option) to acquire a further 24% interest in Forums Interest (for a total of 75%) by making payments to Forum equal to the amounts Forum would be entitled to contribute on account of the 2029-2031 operating years, totalling a minimum of $4,750,000 and up to a maximum of $11,000,000, depending on the participation of the minority partners in the Northwest Athabasca Joint Venture in any approved exploration program. In circumstance where the Company has exercised the Initial Option, it shall make certain milestone payments to Forum. In this regard, if a preliminary economic assessment is prepared in respect of the NWA Project in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101), the Company shall pay Forum $1,000,000. Further, if a feasibility study is prepared in respect of the NWA Project in accordance with NI 43-101, the Company shall pay Forum a further $1,000,000 and issue to it 1,000,000 common shares. The Option Agreement is subject to the acceptance of the Canadian Securities Exchange and all securities to be issued will be subject to a four month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. Northwest Athabasca Joint Venture Project The NWA Project lies on the northwest shore of Lake Athabasca, approximately 70 km west of Uranium City and immediately east of the Alberta border. The NWA Project lies along the edge of the Athabasca sandstone basin, with sandstone cover ranging from 0 to 200 m thick; with approximately half of the NWA Project lying just outside the basin which allows exploration for basement-hosted unconformity-related uranium targets. The NWA Project consists of 11 claims for 13,845 ha. The 2025 exploration plans at the NWA Project are expected to concentrate along the main conductor trend targeting cross-cutting faults and gravity lows, as well as the largest gravity low on the Project located at Spring Bay. The initial program is also expected to complete gravity coverage on any unsurveyed areas on the NWA Project (see Figure 1) and a ground EM survey is intended to cover the Spring Bay target area. Additional geophysical surveys may be proposed as the project evolves. This is expected to be followed by a diamond drill program of 3,000 to 4,500 metres with a budget of $3,000,000. Ken Wheatley, Qualified Person under NI 43-101, and a consultant to the Company, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical contents of this news release. Figure 1 Residual Gravity Map of the NWA with Proposed 2025 Exploration Plans. The background shows the residual contoured gravity data overlain with the main target areas. Blues are gravity lows and reds gravity highs. Additional gravity surveys will be completed as outlined above and 2025 drilling will concentrate on the Andy/Opie trend and Spring Bay area. Bouguer density 2.50 cm/cc; Terrain Corrections: r=750m by DEM. For further information: https://www.globaluranium.com/ ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS S. John Kim S. John Kim CEO and Director 604-359-1248 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipate, expects and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include but are not limited to the Companys ability to exercise the Initial Option or Second Option, market conditions and the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Factors that could cause actual results to vary from forward-looking statements or may affect the operations, performance, development and results of the Companys business include, among other things, the Companys inability to exercise the Initial Option or Second Option; the Companys inability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its current and future obligations; contractual counterparties failing to adhere to the terms of agreements with the Company; that mineral exploration is inherently uncertain and may be unsuccessful in achieving the desired results; that mineral exploration plans may change and be re-defined based on a number of factors, many of which are outside of the Companys control; the Companys ability to access sources of debt and equity capital; competitive factors, pricing pressures and supply and demand in the Companys industry; general economic and business and such other risk factors as are disclosed in the Companys listing statement dated April 29, 2024 or may be disclosed in the Companys continuous disclosure filings under SEDAR+ through www.sedarplus.ca. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law. No securities exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Spain and Norway on Tuesday formally recognised a Palestinian state, with Ireland due to follow suit, in a decision slammed by Israel as a "reward" for Hamas, more than seven months into the devastating Gaza war. The three European countries believe their initiative has strong symbolic impact that is likely to encourage others to follow suit. As Oslo's formal recognition went into effect, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide hailed the move as "a special day for Norway-Palestine relations". "Norway has been one of the most fervent defenders of a Palestinian state for more than 30 years," he added. Shortly afterwards, Spain followed suit, with government spokeswoman Pilar Alegria confirming the cabinet had formally recognised Palestinian statehood, qualifying it as "a historic day". Earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said such recognition was "an essential requirement" for peace, insisting the move was "not against anyone, least of all Israel" and was the only way to secure a future "Palestinian state living side-by-side with the state of Israel in peace and security". The decision also reflected Spain's "outright rejection of Hamas, which is against the two-state solution" and whose October 7 attacks led to the Gaza war, he added. Ahead of his own cabinet meeting, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said it was "an important moment" that sent a signal "that there are practical actions you can take as a country to help keep the hope... of a two-state solution alive". - 'Incitement to genocide' - The plans were unveiled last week by the prime ministers of the three countries, sparking a furious response from Israel, further exacerbating diplomatic tensions, notably with Spain. Last week, Sanchez's far-left deputy Yolanda Diaz hailed the move saying: "We cannot stop. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea", which Israel's Madrid envoy denounced as a "clear call for the elimination of Israel". The slogan refers to the British mandate borders of Palestine, which stretched from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean before Israel was created in 1948. On Tuesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz went even further. "Sanchez, as long as you don't fire your deputy and you recognise a Palestinian state, you are participating in the incitement to commit genocide and war crimes against the Jewish people," he wrote on X. On Sunday, Katz posted a video on X splicing footage of the October 7 attacks with flamenco dancing, saying: "Sanchez: Hamas thanks you for your service." Spain condemned the post as "scandalous and revolting". On Monday, Katz initiated the first of a series of "preliminary punitive measures", ordering Spain's Jerusalem consulate to stop offering consular services to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. - Differences within the EU - Recognising Palestinian statehood has provoked sharp disagreement within the 27-nation European Union. For decades, formal recognition of a Palestinian state has been seen as the endgame of a negotiated peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Washington and most Western European nations have said they are willing to one day recognise Palestinian statehood, but not before agreement on thorny issues like the status of Jerusalem and final borders. The Gaza bloodshed has revived calls for Palestinians to be given their own state. Tuesday's move will mean 145 of the United Nations' 193 member states now recognise Palestinian statehood. In 2014, Sweden became the first EU member to recognise a Palestinian state. It followed six other European countries that took the step before joining the bloc: Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania. On October 7, Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel in an assault that killed more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza. The Israeli army says 37 of them are dead. Israel's relentless retaliatory offensive has killed more than 36,000 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. burs-hmw/bc Spain, Ireland and Norway will jointly issue a "firm" response to Israel's angry reaction to their decision on Tuesday to recognise a Palestinian state, Spain's top diplomat said. The plans unveiled last week by the three countries drew a furious response from Israel, which has lashed out, notably online with its Foreign Minister Israel Katz posting several contentious messages on X, the former Twitter. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares accused Katz of trying to divert attention from its actions. "I am well aware that my Israeli colleague has spent days creating provocations, posting vile false allegations on social media about our government and the Irish and Norwegian governments," Albares said. "I totally get his strategy ... that rather than talking about a Palestinian state, a ceasefire, releasing hostages and access to humanitarian aid, we focus on (Israel's) online posts and provocations." He said the three governments would issue "a coordinated response... which will be calm but firm." Israel has denounced the recognition as a "prize" for the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement whose October 7 attacks sparked the Gaza war. Katz posted one video splicing footage of the violence with flamenco dancing, saying: "Sanchez: Hamas thanks you for your service." Spain called the post "scandalous and revolting". But on Tuesday, Katz went even further. "Sanchez, as long as you don't fire your deputy and you recognise a Palestinian state, you are participating in the incitement to commit genocide and war crimes against the Jewish people," he wrote on X. He was referring to comments last week by Sanchez's far-left deputy Yolanda Diaz who hailed the recognition move, saying: "We cannot stop. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea". Widely used at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, the slogan refers to the British mandate borders of Palestine, which stretched from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean before Israel was created in 1948. Israel's ambassador in Madrid denounced the remarks as a "clear call for the elimination of Israel". US President Joe Biden has no plans to change his Israel policy following a deadly weekend strike on Gaza's Rafah -- but is not turning a "blind eye" to the plight of Palestinian civilians, the White House said Tuesday. Gazan health authorities said 45 people were killed as a blaze tore through a camp for displaced people following the Sunday strike by Israel. But Washington does not believe that Israel's actions in Rafah amount to a full-scale operation that would breach Biden's "red lines," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. "As a result of this strike on Sunday I have no policy changes to speak to," Kirby told a White House briefing. "It just happened, the Israelis are going to investigate it." Kirby added however that "this is not something that we've turned a blind eye to" when asked "how many charred corpses" it would take for Biden to change course on the issue. Biden has previously said he would not support a major Israeli military offensive in Rafah, from which one million civilians have fled, and earlier this month paused a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel over concerns they could be used against the southern Gazan city. Witnesses told AFP that Israeli tanks were stationed in the center of Rafah on Tuesday, after intense fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in recent weeks. But under repeated questioning Kirby insisted that the president was not "moving the stick" on how to define a major military offensive against Rafah. "We have not seen them smash into Rafah," he added. "We have not seen them go in with large units, large numbers of troops, in columns and formations in some sort of coordinated maneuver against multiple targets on the ground." - No to ICC sanctions - The Pentagon had earlier said that it considers Israel's assault on Rafah as "limited in scope." Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh also said the administration was waiting for the Israeli military to conclude its investigation into Sunday's strike before commenting further. "We certainly take seriously what happened over the weekend. We've all seen the images. They're absolutely horrific," Singh added. Earlier US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Israel's preliminary investigation suggested that the strike was carried out using "the smallest bomb in their arsenal." Israel has called the loss of life "a tragic accident" and its army said Tuesday its munitions alone could not have caused the deadly blaze, adding that it had targeted and killed two senior Hamas militants in the strike. The White House also said it did not support calls from Republicans in Congress for sanctions against the International Criminal Court after its prosecutor sought an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "We don't believe that sanctions against the ICC is the right approach here," Kirby said, although he added that the United States still did not believe the war crimes court had jurisdiction. Separately, the Pentagon said the US military has suspended aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip by sea after its temporary pier was damaged by bad weather. Spain's far-right Vox leader came under fire Wednesday following surprise talks in Jerusalem with Israel's premier to denounce Madrid's recognition of Palestinian statehood, with the government accusing him of "fuelling war". The unexpected trip was only publicised on Tuesday night when Santiago Abascal published photos on X of himself and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting took place on the same day that Spain, Ireland and Norway recognised Palestinian statehood, sparking Israeli fury and hiking diplomatic tensions, notably with Madrid. Since the Gaza war began on October 7 following Hamas' deadly attack on southern Israel, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been sharply critical of the spiralling Palestinian death toll. Israel has also been angered by remarks by Sanchez's top ministers, including his far-left deputy, who said: "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea". For Israel, the slogan -- which refers to the British mandate borders of Palestine between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean before Israel's 1948 creation -- was "a clear call for the elimination of Israel". In a post on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Israel Katz attacked Sanchez over his deputy's remark and Palestinian statehood, saying he was party to "incitement to commit genocide and war crimes against the Jewish people". In Spain, the far-right Vox and the right-wing opposition Popular Party (PP) have both slammed Sanchez for recognising Palestinian statehood. According to Vox, Abascal hailed Israel's "firmness" in the Gaza war and told Netanyahu that the Spanish premier "was ready to do anything to cover up his own political and economic corruption". Abascal said he told Netanyahu "the real reason" for the Palestinian statehood move was Sanchez trying to divert attention from a graft probe into his wife. "I told the prime minister that the corruption investigation into Begona Gomez was the real reason Sanchez decided to recognise a Palestinian state," he wrote on X. His post sparked a backlash with Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares accusing Abascal of inflaming the situation. "Abascal is embracing the policy of falsehoods, slander and insults coming from the most extreme elements of Netanyahu's government," he told RTVE public television late Tuesday. "While some people are fuelling wars, others are trying to find solutions for peace." He also accused the PP of aligning itself with Vox, with Sanchez raising the same issue in parliament Wednesday. "What do you think of the picture Abascal took yesterday with Netanyahu, encouraging him to continue the bombings in Gaza and in Rafah?" he asked PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo. The Gaza war began with the October 7 Hamas attacks on southern Israel in which 1,189 people were killed, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,171 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. vab/CHZ/hmw/cw X Song Seung Hoon took a trip down memory lane. In his recent interview, he mentioned by Lim Ji Yeon when he was asked about his project together with the actress. As the actor returns to the small screen with the action comedy "The Player 2: Master of Swindlers," the veteran star shared his experience doing intimate scenes on camera. During his appearance in MBC's "Radio Star" with co-stars Lee Si Eon, Oh Yeon Seo, and Jang Gyu Ri, he was asked about his 2014 movie "Obsessed," in which he was the lead star alongside with Lim Ji Yeon. Song Seung Heon Talks About Working With Lim Ji Yeon, Song Hye Kyo According to the actor, he noticed that the historical-romance film "has been experiencing a resurgence in popularity." He added that, apart from "Obsessed" being Lim Ji Yeon's debut work, the popularity of "The Glory," in which she was also part of, also contributed to the resurgence of the movie. Interestingly, he also joked that working with him brings luck. "Song Hye Kyo, who starred with Lim Ji Yeon in 'The Glory', filmed 'Autumn in My Heart' with me. That work was Song Hye Kyo's traditional drama debut. Working with me seems to bring good fortune." Song Seung Heon Recalls Bed Scene With Lim Ji Yeon in 'Obsessed' Speaking of working with Lim Ji Yeon, he also mentioned the bed scene that they did during the filming of "Obsessed." The actor pointed out that despite the intimate scene, "there's no personal emotion involved" since it was purely acting. On top of that, the set was awkward since everyone, including the staff, was present. "The atmosphere isn't as sweet as it may seem. While the audience may watch breathlessly, the set is filled with staff, making it impossible to have personal feelings." Directed and penned by Kim Dae Woo of "The Servant '' and "Forbidden Quest," Song Seung Heon plays as Colonel Kim Jin Pyeong, who returns to Korea in the late 1960s after the Vietnam War. On his return, he meets Jong Ga Heun, the wife of his new subordinate, who recently moved to their area. Little did they know that they would develop romantic feelings for each other despite having respective families. "Obsessed" has bagged notable awards in various ceremonies. Despite Lim Ji Yeon landing her first big role, she took home the Best New Actress Award at the 2014 Grand Bell Awards, while Song Seung Hoon won the Popularity Award at the Blue Dragon Awards. Song Seung Heon on Marriage: 'I Feel Envious' One of the top-notch bachelors in the K-drama industry, Song Seung Heon talked about marriage and settling down. The 47-year-old star admitted that he had thoughts about getting married and has always wanted to have a family of his own. "I feel envious when friends and senior colleagues bring their families to gatherings." The actor has been tight-lipped about his current romantic status, but he dated Chinese-American actress Liu Yifei back in 2015, but they called it quits in 2018. Meanwhile, Song Seung Heon will make his small screen return through "The Player 2: Master of Swindlers," slated to premiere on June 3. Check out the action drama's exhilarating trailer below! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Flores Park Seo Joon has been hounded by various dating rumors since he became one of the most sought after K-drama stars of his generation. Starring in back-to-back hit K-dramas like "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim," "Fight for My Way," and the blockbuster series "Itaewon Class," as well as his Hollywood debut for MCU series, it's no surprise why he has been linked to various personalities. From non-showbiz to fellow celebrities, the 35-year-old actor's dating life piques the interest of fans. Interestingly, following his rumored romance in 2023, the "Itaewon Class" star made it to the headlines once again for an alleged relationship with a model-actress. As we dig deep into Park Seo Joon's dating history, here are the rumored ex-girlfriends and current girlfriend of the top star. Baek Jin Hee A then-rookie actress, Baek Jin Hee, met Park Seo Joon on the set of the 2013 K-drama "Pots of Gold," where they played the roles of a married couple. Their chemistry was so on-point that viewers thought that they were dating in real life. However, the dating rumor blew up in 2015 after media outlets claimed that they had been dating for two years at that time. There were also rumors that the actor moved near Baek Jin Hee's residence in Geumho-dong, but Park Seo Joon's agency, Awesome ENT, denied the rumors, stating that they are only friends and co-workers. Kim Ji Won Before the "Queen of Tears" craze, Kim Ji Won was paired with Park Seo Joon in "Fight for My Way." Like his previous co-star, their on-screen chemistry is sending mixed signals to viewers who thought they were really dating in real life. However, they never addressed the rumors about their alleged romance. Park Min Young At the height of "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim?" viewers are shipping the duo due to their undeniable chemistry. Netizens even claimed that there was evidence that would show that the duo were dating. However, Park Min Young once mentioned in a 2022 interview that the said 'evidences' were misunderstood and that she and Park Seo Joon are just super close friends and co-workers. YouTuber Xooos In 2023, Park Seo Joon was linked to YouTuber Xooos after there were claims of the pair's sighting abroad. Awesome ENT then released a brief statement saying, "It is difficult to confirm anything regarding the actor's private life." Lauren Tsai A year after Park Seo Joon's dating rumor with YouTuber Xooos, he found himself caught up in another dating rumor, this time with Chinese-American Lauren Tsai. Various outlets said that they were spotted in Japan, where Tsai was also working as an illustrator. However, Park Seo Joon's agency quickly responded to the dating rumors, explaining that the actor is "carrying out overseas activities for attendance at a brand event," where he was meeting a lot of artists and industry key players. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Flores We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Police have identified the Toronto man allegedly stabbed to death by a group of teenage girls as 59-year-old Ken Lee. Police say Lee died in hospital after he was allegedly swarmed and stabbed by a group of eight teenage girls in mid-December. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Toronto Police Service New scholarship the culmination of Kennesaw State alumni family success KENNESAW, Ga. | May 30, 2024 Jacqueline Hand and her daughters Tanasia Kenney and Tanneka Hylton. Tanasia Kenney has plenty of childhood memories at Kennesaw State University. Her mother, former KSU employee Jacqueline Hand, frequently brought her to campus, where she was known as Jackies daughter, and became familiar with staff and faculty. Some of those faculty members were still teaching when it was time to decide if shed attend KSU or look a little farther from home. Their knowing me as Jackies daughter and feeling like you have eyes on you all the time, it was a bit intimidating, Kenney said. But my mom believed in KSU. She said, Youve got a great university here, and in time, I rolled with it, and my years at KSU were so liberating and fun. Now a reporter for McClatchy news publications, Kenney is just one member of a KSU alumni family. Her older sister, Tanneka Hylton, join Kenney and Hand as KSU graduates. Hylton graduated in 2006 with a bachelors degree in sociology, Hand in 2007 with a human services degree, and Kenney in 2015 with a communication degree with a concentration in journalism. Recently, they came together to celebrate yet another milestone a $25,000 endowed scholarship. Created through Hands generosity, the scholarship will pay educational costs for human services or nursing majors in the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services. Hands passion for human services led her to the non-profit CobbWorks, where shes worked for the past 18 years. After moving her family from New York to Kennesaw in 1999, Hand said taking a job at KSU seemed like a good way to get an education while she worked, but it was also intimidating to be a non-traditional student. Thankfully, her fellow Owls took her under their wings. I was an adult learner taking classes with all these young kids, and I was a little nervous about that, Hand said. But I made friends with my professors and other students, and I was encouraged to get involved. That also helped me feel like my daughter, Tanneka, would be taken care of. Though they didnt take the same courses, Hand and Hylton attended classes at the same time and were able to catch up with each other during the school day. Hylton recalls her mothers advice to get involved in student groups, professional societies and service organizations, and passes that advice on to incoming students whenever she can. Now a diversity, equity and inclusion business partner with Warner Bros. Discovery, Hylton said her mother inspired her throughout her time at KSU and continues to motivate her as she gives back to the University through the newly endowed scholarship. Going through my own matriculation at KSU, watching my mom graduate and then watching my sister graduate, its like weve built our own little community here, Hylton said. Every time we go back for events, its like coming home. I love that we get to experience that together. Seeing my mom endow this scholarship is a moment of pride, but its also like, Well I cant let my mom outdo me, so when its my time, Ill need to think about endowing a Radow College scholarship. Kenney wasnt surprised when her mother decided to invest in the KSU community through an endowment, as shes always looked for ways to give back as a student, employee and alumna. But as shes grown and propelled herself further into her own career, Kenneys appreciation for all that her mother has done for her family during her years at KSU has only deepened. It didnt really hit me how much she has juggled until a high school sociology class, where we talked about how some people go to school and come home to raise children and cook and just carry the role of a mother. Thats when I started thinking, Oh wow, my mom was doing all of that, Kenney said. It gave me flashbacks to sitting in the back of her classes, being on campus and growing and learning at KSU along with her. I think about that a lot. For Hand, watching her children become so deeply involved at KSU, graduate from the university where she so enjoyed working and earning her own degree and continue to be involved as alumni is a bright spot in her life. But she said the brightest spot in her life will always be watching her daughters leverage their KSU education into successful and fulfilling careers. Im so proud of both Tanneka and Tanasia. There are students still that tell me they look up to the two of them, she said, choking up. Both of my daughters being KSU babies or owlettes as I call them and doing so well for themselves, that makes me very proud. And when I wear that black and gold, I wear it proudly. Story by Thomas Hartwell Photos by Judith Pishnery Related Stories A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The universitys vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - An AK47 rifle believed to have been used in a series of violent robberies in Laikipia has been recovered by the police, and the prime suspect taken into custody. After days of relentless surveillance, DCI sleuths netted the 46-year-old suspect identified as Renkel Lentaam within Nanyuki town, who upon interrogation confessed to owning the deadly arsenal. Augmented by their GSU counterparts from Arjijo Operation Camp, the crime busters proceeded to the Makurian location inside Mukogodo forest, where the suspect had hidden the illegal firearm and 53 rounds of live ammunition inside a modified tree trunk. The same were seized, documented, and forwarded to the National Forensic Laboratory for ballistic examination. Meanwhile, the pursuit of suspected accomplices is ongoing. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, 30 May 2024 - Police have arrested a suspected drug dealer ferrying 327kgs of bhang valued at Ksh 9.8 Million along the busy Nairobi- Mombasa highway. The suspect was flagged down by hawk-eyed patrol cops in Voi and upon search, bhang stashed in sacks was found in the car. The car was impounded and the driver taken to custody pending arraignment. It is alleged that the suspect had hired the vehicle. See photos. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - Controversial Kenyan prophet, David Owuor of Repentance and Holiness Ministries, was invited to the Brazilian Congress, where he mingled with senior government officials. The bearded prophet was filmed waving the Israeli flag at the congress in solidarity with the people of Israel. Owuor has a huge following in Brazil where he frequents to hold mega crusades. Last year around September, he received Presidential honours when he was on a month-long mission in Brazil. The televised function that saw him honoured with the Order of the National Congress was attended by top government officials of Brazil. The accolade recognized him for the great work he has done in improving the life of mankind. He was also given a private jet by the government to fly him around during his visit. But in Kenya, most people criticize him and allege that his miracles are fake. Below is a video of him at the Brazilian Congress. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - American Airlines flight attendants have been accused of kicking eight black men off a flight because they were 'smelly', a lawsuit alleges. The eight men, who did not know each other, had boarded Flight 832 at Phoenix Airport for the five-hour flight to New York JFK in January. They were all seated in different parts of the plane but all were picked out and hauled off after a 'white male flight attendant' made a complaint about 'offensive body odor' inside the aircraft, the suit claims. Staff spent an hour looking for an alternative flight but, when none could be found, the men were asked to get back on the aircraft and retake their seats. 'I knew that as soon as I got on that plane, a sea of white faces were going to be looking at me and blaming me for their late flight of an hour,' said Emmanuel Jean Joseph. Jean Joseph and fellow passengers Alvin Jackson and Xavier Veal had each taken a connecting flight from Los Angeles before boarding the plane at Phoenix. Veal decided to record the incident on his phone after noticing that all the black passengers, and none of the white passengers, were being removed. 'I started freaking out,' he said. A black American Airlines attendant at the desk appeared to agree with the claim that their removal was racially motivated, admitting: 'I do not disagree with you.' The eight men began discussing their removal and three lodged the lawsuit on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York. 'They had to re-board the plane and endure the stares of the largely white passengers who viewed them as the cause of the substantial delay,' the lawsuit claims. 'They suffered during the entire flight home, and the entire incident was traumatic, upsetting, scary, humiliating, and degrading.' 'We want our customers to have a positive experience when they choose to fly with us,' they added. 'Our teams are currently investigating the matter, as the claims do not reflect our core values or our purpose of caring for people.' And lawyers for the men are keen to hear the airline's account of the incident. 'It's almost inconceivable to come up with an explanation for that other than the color of their skin,' said attorney Sue Huhta. 'Particularly since they didn't know each other and weren't sitting near each other.' The lawsuit cites other recent occasions that passengers have alleged discrimination by the carrier. It also references a 2017 travel advisory from the NAACP in which the civil rights organization advised against flying on the airline for eight months after 'multiple instances' of alleged discrimination. 'Somebody should have stepped up and said, 'Wait a minute. We can't do this. This is wrong',' said Michael Kirkpatrick of the Public Citizen law group 'But instead, nobody stepped up and intervened to stop it from happening.' The lawsuit alleges that other passengers were informed that the men were removed because of their smell while they were off the aircraft. 'We're walking through the aisle of shame, if you will,' said Veal. 'It was horrible. It was a really traumatic experience. 'Unfortunately, I'm a black man and I live in America.' Thursday, May 30, 2024 - A man dismembered his pregnant sister because he was angry she was no longer innocent". Jack Joseph Ball, 23, of Farmington in Minnesota, was busted after dumping body parts on a neighbors doorstep, according to authorities. He was charged Tuesday, May 28, with two counts of murder for killing his married sister Bethany Israel, 30, and her unborn child, who was about 18 weeks, Dakota County Attorney Kathryn Keenan said. He was arrested last Thursday, May 23, in a neighbors yard after he was spotted on a Ring cam dumping dismembered body parts on the front step and around the yard, according to a criminal complaint. Ball slashed his own throat and was covered in blood on his head, shirt, arms, legs and pants, according to the document. A bloody saw, hatchet and knives were found in his home. Investigators also found several journals, including one in which he wrote about being angry his sister was pregnant and no longer innocent,' the complaint stated. The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing and horrific words cant describe what our law enforcement partners encountered during the investigation, Keena said. The brother and sister had earlier had dinner, before the alarm was raised by Israels mom who was worried that she had not come home, the affidavit said. The mom had gone to Balls home, and he tore out of there, the affidavit said. Inside the home, police found a large pool of blood in the kitchen along with a bloody saw, hatchet, and large, bloody, knives, that were likely used to dismember Israel. He was finally traced after a neighbor called 911 to report someone dumping body parts on the front steps, authorities said. Ball had slashed his own throat, but survived, authorities said. He made his first court appearance Tuesday, May 28, where his bail has been set for $2 million without conditions and $1 million with conditions. When he is medically cleared, he will be transferred to the Dakota County Jail as he awaits his next hearing on June 10. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Israels husband, Josh, and her family following her death, raising more than $28,000 as of Wednesday afternoon, May 29. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Chinese authorities have started taking online influencers known for their luxurious lifestyles off Chinese social media platforms amid a government crackdown on conspicuous displays of wealth. Chinas Cyberspace Administration, the national internet regulator, announced a campaign last month against influencers who create a wealth-flaunting persona, deliberately showcasing a luxurious life built on money, in order to attract followers and traffic. One influencer, Wang Hongquan, known for flaunting his luxurious lifestyle online had his account on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok banned. Searches returned an error message saying it had been blocked due to violations of Douyins community guidelines. The Douyin accounts of other online influencers who posted similar content, such as Bo Gongzi (Young Wealthy Lord Bai), with 2.9 million followers, and Baoyu Jiajie (Abalone Sister), with 2.3 million followers, were also blocked. China is currently experiencing an economic slowdown that has reportedly hit the middle class especially hard. When most people are unhappy with their own lives, they see all this online content thats so disconnected from reality seeing all these people who seem so happy and wealthy, it creates a pretty warped psychology, Lyla Lai, a former beauty influencer who had over a million followers on Douyin, said in a voice message. Lai, who left Douyin amid criticism from other users over her sales tactics and lifestyle, said there were concerns about young people today seeing too much of this stuff and not focusing on their studies anymore, getting caught up in this excessive, greedy materialism. In the long run, thats definitely not good for development, so this cleanup is really necessary, said Lai, who now lives in Australia. But at the root of it, we also need to see the economy being able to develop more, so people can have a greater sense of fulfillment and happiness in their lives, rather than just seeking psychological comfort through the internet. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Americans including Donald Trump have reacted after the former president was found guilty by a Manhattan jury on all 34 counts in the historic hush money criminal case against him, on Thursday, May 30. An angry-looking Trump, 77, addressed reporters moments after the jury, five women and seven men, delivered its decision. The real verdict will be Nov. 5 by the people Im a very innocent man, the ex-US president told reporters, blaming the ordeal on President Biden. Im fighting for our country, Im fighting for our constitution, Trump said. Were a nation in decline. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee was accused of fudging company documents tied to claims he had his then-fixer Michael Cohen, the prosecutions star witness, made a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election to silence her story about having an affair with Trump. He was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, felonies that each carried a possible sentence of up to four years behind bars, in the case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office making him the US president to become a convicted felon. See videos and reactions on X below THIS WAS A DISGRACEA RIGGED TRIAL BY A CONFLICTED JUDGE WHO IS CORRUPT. WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONTHIS IS LONG FROM OVER! pic.twitter.com/Fe1x83fp4V Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) May 30, 2024 THIS WAS A DISGRACEA RIGGED TRIAL BY A CONFLICTED JUDGE WHO IS CORRUPT. WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONTHIS IS LONG FROM OVER! pic.twitter.com/Fe1x83fp4V Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) May 30, 2024 BREAKING: Donald Trump reacts to the Manhattan jury's guilty verdict: "The real verdict will be November 5th by the people." "The whole country is being rigged right now. This is being done by the Biden Administration in order to hurt or wound a political opponent." "We'll pic.twitter.com/fhsRrnd1zE Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 30, 2024 Thursday, May 30, 2024 - President Biden lashed out Wednesday, May 29, at a reporter who asked if he planned to complete a full second term or hand over power to Vice President Kamala Harris. The President was at the at Philadelphia International Airport when he was asked the question by a reporter. Are you OK? the 81-year-old president shouted in response to the reporter, pointing his finger at his head. Are you all right? Youre not hurt, are you? Biden added, addressing the pool reporter who asked the question. The reporter then asked if the president could approach, due to the difficulty in hearing the answer. I said, are you OK? Did you fall on your head or something? Biden shouted again across the tarmac, drawing laughter from his entourage. Republicans regularly argue that a vote for Biden is akin to voting for Harris to take over in the Oval Office, since Biden will be 86 even if he manages to complete a full term, and polls show most Americans are concerned about his ability to complete an eight-year presidency. After the encounter, Biden took to X to call Kamala Harris a historic vice president. He wrote: Folks, if anyone is wondering whether your vote matters, remember this. Because Black Americans voted, I am president, Kamala Harris is a historic vice president, and Donald Trump is a loser. Watch the video below. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Disgraced music mogul, Diddy allegedly broke a chair over a music executives head and left him bloody for dating his ex Kim Porter. That is one of the new allegations revealed in an extensive investigation of the music mogul published on Wednesday, May 29. Combs was reportedly enraged at Porters romance with music executive Shakir Stewart. In the summer of 2000, as music industry bigs celebrated L.A. Reids wedding in Italy, Combs went to Stewarts room after the ceremony and broke a chair over his head, Rolling Stone reported. He left him bleeding on a hotel floor in Italy, the alleged victims mother Portia Stewart was quoted as saying. He had to have stitches. Combs wasnt done, she said. He threatened to kill Stewart. Thats when I said you need to get out of this business, Portia Stewart told Rolling Stone. This man is crazy. Two close friends corroborated the story to the publication. Stewart committed suicide in 2008 and Porter died of pneumonia in 2018. Rolling Stone interviewed dozens of former associates ranging from friends to acquaintances and employees, along with industry insiders and artists with Bad Boy Records, the label Combs founded in 1993. In all, more than 50 people agreed to be interviewed for the lengthy expose, many of them off the record, the magazine said. Diddys alleged problematic behavior dated back at least to his days at Howard University, when he would tap on a classroom window to entice his girlfriend to ditch class and come outside, her former schoolmates told Rolling Stone. He faced several lawsuits and numerous accusations of rape and abuse occurring over the ensuing decades. One of those came from Cassie Ventura, who last year filed suit accusing him of rape, sex trafficking and years of abuse. Earlier this month, CNN aired footage captured by a hotel surveillance camera of him beating Ventura in 2016. Combs apologized for what was caught on tape. An expired statute of limitations means Combs cannot be prosecuted for the attack, the Los Angeles District Attorneys office said after the videos release. On March 25, federal agents raided Combs properties in Miami and Los Angeles as part of a sex trafficking investigation. He may face a federal grand jury indictment in New York City, according to witnesses who said they have been called to testify. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Donald Trump has become the first former US president to be convicted on criminal charges. The real estate mogul, former US commander-in-chief and Republican party 2024 presidential nominee was found guilty on all counts on Thursday, May 30, by a jury of 12 citizens of Manhattan, New York in the unprecedented criminal prosecution of an ex-president. The jury found that Trump, 77, falsified business records throughout 2017 by lying that he was paying his then-lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen for phoney legal services when he was actually reimbursing him for the hush money that kept Daniels from speaking out about having sex with Trump inside a Lake Tahoe hotel room in 2006. When asked to read the verdict on count one of the indictment, the foreman calmly stood up and said, Guilty. He then repeated the word guilty 33 more times when asked to read the jurys verdict on the other counts. As the verdict was read, Trump slouched in his seat, shoulders forward. He titled his head, looking at each juror while his fate was read out. The verdict capped a dramatic seven-week trial in Manhattan Supreme Court in which the jurors, including people who both praised and criticized the polarizing politician, heard X-rated testimony from Daniels herself. Cohen, a convicted perjurer who testified that he lied under oath in the past to protect Trump was Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs star witness against his former boss. Trumps lawyers capitalized on Cohens history of lies and revealed that hed once stolen $60,000 from the ex-presidents business, as they tried to paint him as a serial liar and fabricator hellbent on seeing his former boss behind bars. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has urged Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to stop telling him that he was given the seat by Kikuyus. Speaking on Wednesday, Sakaja said he was elected by Nairobians who saw his track record and elected him as the governor of the busy metropolis. I've been through a lot and I'm not easily intimidated, nobody has the right to say I was given the seat. I was elected," charged Sakaja. In 2027, you are free to run for any elective post, run and be Nairobi Governor. Sakaja in April this year came out to dismiss allegations of a rift with Gachagua, terming the DP as his senior and a good leader who should be respected. Reports of bad blood between the two stemmed from Sakajas bid for the UDA party Chairmanship in Nairobi at the forthcoming elections. I have no differences with the Deputy President. "He is a senior man who is respected, he has been in politics, and even though he got into politics after us, he came in and became popular. "He is a good leader who should be respected, he said. I've never spoken ill of him. I have never mentioned him. "I respect him as our leader, vice president, and deputy party leader. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Pastor Chris Chege, the founder of Fresh Fire Kingdom Church, gave his daughter a purity ring as she celebrated her 17th birthday. The flamboyant preacher took to his Facebook account and said the ring was a covenant for her to keep herself holy. On my daughter Juanitas last day as a 16-year-old, I gave her a purity ring as a covenant to keep herself holy and pure (for her divine husband) until she gets married. "Every girls first kiss and first date should come from her father to set the standard, he wrote. A purity ring, often referred to as a fairy ring, is a type of ring that symbolizes a commitment to abstain until marriage. This practice is often associated with certain religious and moral beliefs, particularly within Christian communities. See photos. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - President William Ruto has moved to set the record straight regarding his alleged expensive trip to the US. This is after Kenyans raised concerns over the cost of the trip which was alleged to have cost the taxpayers a whopping Sh200 million just to hire a luxurious private jet that he used. While speaking during the National Prayer Breakfast in Nairobi, Ruto revealed that the private plane cost Kenyan taxpayers less than Ksh10 million. "I am a responsible steward, there is no way I can spend Ksh200 million, in fact, let me disclose here that it cost the Republic of Kenya less than Ksh10 million," he stated. The Head of State revealed that when he was informed that the cheapest plane was Ksh70 million, he asked his team to book with the national carrier Kenya Airways. However, he noted that when some of his friends heard about his travel plans, they offered him a cheaper plane. "My friends asked me how much are you willing to pay. I told them I was not ready to pay more than Ksh20 million. They told me to bring Ksh10 million and we will give you the plane," he revealed. He emphasised that he was at the forefront of ensuring the austerity measures were being implemented. Ruto reiterated that he would lead the country in the right direction by adhering to the austerity measures and cutting down on his expenditure. "As I tell others to tighten their belts, mine must be where to begin," he added. The Head of State urged Kenyans to focus on what Kenya gained from the trip instead of dwelling on the exaggerated cost of te trip. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, May 30, 2024 - On Sunday, May 26, a horrific accident occurred at Red Hill Link Road in Nairobi. Initial reports indicated that a speeding Subaru lost control, hit a guardrail, and rolled into a compound. The driver was said to have died on the spot while another occupant was hospitalized with serious injuries. But according to new information from a distressed source, there's much more to this story than initially reported. Early reports by mainstream media suggested that the car was being driven at high speed before it flew off the road, broke a protective guardrail, and ended up in someones compound. Witnesses claimed the car had three occupants who appeared to be drunk and returning from a party. Local news outlets reported that the driver died instantly while two others were taken to the hospital. One witness was quoted saying that the car broke the protective guardrail and hit the staircases before rolling into the compound. I know them, they were drunk. This narrative painted a picture of reckless driving and implied the driver was at fault. But a source has come forward to reveal new details that change the entire context of the accident. The actual driver of the Subaru is apparently the son of a popular Machakos politician who is also a prominent businessman and currently a powerful appointed official serving in the Kenya Kwanza government. It appears that contrary to initial reports the car had three occupants. The victim who died on the spot was not the driver but was seated in the back seat without a safety belt. The driver and another person who is now in ICU were reportedly in the front seats. The family of the deceased is now calling for the truth to be made public. Good evening Nyakundi. Please hide my identity. I have something very serious I want to share. It is painful when you lose someone, but what is more painful than getting to hear lies about the death of someone who cannot come back to explain the truth. On Sunday morning the terrible accident at Red Hill Link Road as reported by the media and bloggers is not true. It is reported that the driver of the car died on the spot while another person was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The truth is, the car had 3 occupants. The driver of the ill-fated car is the son of a high-ranking politician from Machakos County. He has caused an accident previously but was never dragged into the issue in July last year. The person who died on the spot is our family member. He was seated in the back seat without a safety belt while the two in front were the driver (son of the politician) and the other guy who's now in ICU. Details about the son haven't been mentioned to anyone in the public. I wonder why the investigating agencies could craft such a lie. While there is nothing we can do to bring our kin back to life, we request that you help us get this truth out there so that our kin will rest in dignity and peace, even in his death. Thank you. Via Cyprian Nyakundi. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has accused Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of fighting President William Ruto. Though it is in the public gallery that it is Rutos men who are fighting Gachagua, Sakaja, who used questionable academic papers to vie for the Nairobi gubernatorial race, stated that it is Gachagua who is fighting the president. I've been through a lot and I'm not easily intimidated, nobody has the right to say I was given the seat. I was elected," charged Sakaja and accused the DP of fighting the head of state. In 2027, you are free to run for any elective post, run and be Nairobi Governor. Sakaja and Gachagua have not been seeing eye to eye due to the fact the latter accuses the former of being corrupt to the core. Since he was elected in September 2022, Sakaja has not done anything tangible in Nairobi. He has been accused of looting like there is no tomorrow and has reportedly bought houses in Runda, Kileleshwa and he is constructing houses in Kahawa West, Githurai, and other Nairobi suburbs using looted money. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, May 30, 2024 - An Indonesian groom has discovered that his bride is actually a man twelve days after their wedding. The man named only as AK, 26, met his spouse Adinda Kanza, also 26, on Instagram in 2023 and the pair dated in person for a year. During their in-person meetings, Adinda wore a traditional Muslim niqab that covered her entire face - which AK reportedly took as a sign for her devotion to Islam. The couple decided to get married in a small ceremony at AK's home after Adinda told him that she no longer had any family. But AK grew suspicious of his new wife soon after tying the knot on April 12, since she avoided intimacy by telling him she was on her period or feeling unwell, according to the South China Morning Post. AK said Adinda refused to speak to his family and continued wearing her niqab at home, so he tracked down her former address 12 days after their wedding - and was surprised to find her parents alive and well there. Adinda's parents revealed that AK's wife was actually a man, identified as ESH, who started cross-dressing in 2020. They also said they didn't know that their son was in a relationship, let alone married. The police said that Adinda behaved like a woman and had a female-sounding voice, adding: 'If you look at their wedding photos, Adinda looks exactly like a real woman. 'He also has a gentle voice and tone, so there was no suspicion at all about him being a woman.' ESH has now been arrested by the police and told them he intended to marry AK to steal his family's assets, according to local media reports. He is facing fraud charges that could land him behind bars for up to four years. Police suggested that ESH enjoyed pretending to be a woman while dating men. It was also revealed that the alleged fraudster had previously dated women. The investigation is ongoing. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - A Kentucky high school allegedly withheld a graduates diploma when the student went off script during his graduation speech to preach his belief in Jesus. Micah Price praised Jesus Christ in his commencement speech at Campbell County High School in Alexandria, Kentucky, on May 24, and followed his address with urging other Christians to stand up. Class, before another word leaves my mouth, I must give the honor, the praise and the glory to my lord and savior Jesus Christ, Price said to a packed Truist Arena at Northern Kentucky University. His speech received resounding applause from the audience before he continued with his holy message. Who in his very words tells us he is the light, he is the way, the truth and life. Class, anyone in the audience today, Im here to tell you that if you dont have any of those things in your life and cant seem to find the answer, then my Lord and Savior is your answer. When Price changed his prepared remarks, school officials werent pleased with his off-script moment and confronted the graduate after the ceremony. The school scolded Price and denied him his diploma. "After the speech was over, one of the principals came in, tapped me on the shoulder, very politely and professionally told me that I was going to have to go in front of the board and explain what I did because I went off script, Price said in a video posted to TikTok on Sunday, May 26. The school district had allowed Price to thank his lord and savior Jesus Christ before telling him to read from the preapproved script. All speakers were told that going off their submitted speech, or any unplanned choices at graduation, may have repercussions as they would at any school function, Superintendent Shelli Wilson told WKRC. Off-program choices such as speech, signs, and caps in support of any cause or religion, injecting inappropriate language, or political election statements could lead to something other than this outpouring of Christian faith, Wilson said. Price claimed he had written down all the preaching to his classmates in the script but was told to take it out before it was approved. I had that in my script, and they told me that I was; they said that it was a public institution; and they didnt want to divide their audience or my audience because I was speaking, Price told the outlet. I think it was fine that I thanked him, but going in and urging them to follow him and urging other Christians to stand up and talk about him might be the thing they didnt want. Price told his TikTok followers that he had no bad blood with Campbell County or the principals as they were just doing their job. He also took full responsibility for the incident, saying he went against school policy because he serves a higher power. I do no ones bidding but God. So, if anyones in the wrong, I am. I deserve to get punished. After speaking out online, Price eventually received his diploma on Wednesday, May 29. Holding it is just an answered prayer, thats all it is, just an answered prayer, Price said. The incoming US Air Force Academy cadet says he has no regrets and would do it again times two. Watch his speech below. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Foreign investors manufacturing edible oils have threatened to leave the country and invest their billions somewhere else over President William Rutos increased taxation. The billionaire investors raised concerns about the harsh business environment in the country before Members of Parliament. One of the investors, who came to Kenya in 2012, complained about the government's appetite to increase taxes yearly through different laws and the Finance Bill. As a result, the investor hinted at exiting the Kenyan market arguing that the taxes have made local production in Kenya expensive. "One of the key factors that attract me to a country as an investor is stability. Unfortunately, as a foreign investor in this country, I no longer find Kenya attractive," he remarked. The investors further revealed that the company has been in operation for over 86 years and operates in 14 countries but has never faced such instability compared to Kenya. It also recently expanded in West Africa. He emphasized that in all his years in the industry, Kenya was the only country that has continued changing tax policies making business difficult and pushing more investors outside the country. "When we came here, I had a plan to expand the business but at the moment I am only looking to survive. I love this country but the taxes keep changing," he emphasized. Another investor in the manufacturing sector also lamented about the increased taxes which is lowering Kenya's competitiveness compared to other countries. He asked the government to stop taxing raw materials and instead tax the end product to lower the cost of manufacturing which often burdens the consumer. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, May 30, 2024 Thursday, May 30, 2024 - President William Ruto has revealed how a meeting with General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, almost collapsed Sudan peace talks. Speaking during an interview, Ruto, with the permission of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), revealed that he had invited Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader to State House Nairobi on January 3. Immediately after hosting Hemedti, Sudan's military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, threatened to withdraw from the peace talks. When IGAD asked both sides to come for a meeting, Hemedti showed up. Burhan showed up in one meeting, and then in the next meeting, Hemedti showed up, Ruto revealed what transpired. When Hemedti showed up, the other side says they are pulling out of IGAD because the other side showed up. Ruto remarked that despite the setback, he still believed that there could be no peace in Sudan if both sides didn't sit on the same negotiating table. The Head of State remarked that he had hosted both Al Burhan and Hemedti because peace is made through enemies engaging and compromising. Ruto added that he would continue pushing for both sides to negotiate, adding that was the only viable solution to ending the civil war that has rocked the country. He further remarked that efforts were underway to have the two leaders and their teams participate in the process. At the same time, Ruto reiterated an earlier statement that had caused controversy that there is no military solution to the challenges being experienced in Sudan. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has said he doesnt need the support of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to be re-elected during the 2027 General Election. Sakaja, elected on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, was supported by Kikuyus who form the largest tribal grouping in Nairobi. However, speaking at the Bomas of Kenya during the UDA Delegates Conference, Sakaja said it was not Kikuyus who made him win the election but all Nairobians who believed he was the ideal candidate. "No one has the right to say I was given this seat. I was elected, Sakaja said. The words were aimed at Gachagua who last year said Mt Kenya leaders have a stake in the running of the city countys affairs since their votes handed the seat to the governor. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - Israel's head of national Security Council has said the country expects "another seven months of fighting" in Gaza to achieve the objective of destroying Hamas. The war began when Hamas-led militant groups launched a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October, involving a barrage of several thousand rockets concurrent to an estimated 3,000 militants breaching the GazaIsrael barrier and attacking Israeli civilian communities and military bases. The war has elicited strong reactions worldwide, with more European countries now recognizing the state of Palestine and the International Criminal Court charging Israeli Prime Minister for war crimes. In a radio interview on the Israeli station Reshet bet on Wednesday, Tzachi Hanegbi said: "It was honestly stated in the first days of presenting the plans to the cabinet that the war would be long". "It is built on a staged basis, with the year 2024 defined as a year of combat. We are now in the fifth month of 2024, which means we expect another seven months of fighting to deepen our achievements and achieve our goal of destroying the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad," he added. "You need to have patience and know how to stand strong. This resilience is what has allowed this nation to survive for 75 years, and even for 3,000 years before that. Just don't use a stopwatch on ourselves or set ultimatums," he said. Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - King Felipe of Spain was crushed and destroyed over his wife Queen Letizias alleged infidelity, according to a bombshell new book. The Spanish royal family has been rocked by new claims made by journalist Jaime Penafiel, who has covered the royals for decades. In his latest work, titled Letizias Silences, released in Spain Wednesday, May 29, Penafiel, 91, claimed the king of Spain was aware that Letizia was cheating on him in real time as her bodyguards have an obligation to report on her whereabouts. The royal author alleges that bodyguards joined the queen on a trip to New York back in 2011, during which she was accompanied by her rumored lover Jaime del Burgo. Letizia, 51, reportedly dated del Burgo before meeting King Felipe in 2002. That day [in New York], she was accompanied by her faithful escorts, who, without a doubt, any, they would pass a report to the Ministry of the Interior or [the Palace of] Zarzuela, Penafiel wrote in his book, according to Daily Mail. He added that Felipe, 56, was left crushed and destroyed by Letizias alleged betrayal, and was plunged into hell and wants to get out. The Queen's alleged lover Del Burgo, 54, who is currently based in the UK, contributed in January to Penafiels tell-all book about Letizia. The entrepreneur, who is the son of former politician Jaime Ignacio del Burgo, was married to Letizias sister Telma from 2012 to 2014. Based on the allegations, this means that Del Burgo slept with two sisters - Queen Letizia and her sister Telma whom he eventually married. In Penafiels first book, del Burgo claimed that he and Queen Letizia were still romantically involved after Letizia tied the knot with Felipe in 2004. Prior to her wedding to Felipe, Letizia was previously married to literature teacher Alonso Guerrero Perez from 1998 to 1999. Del Burgo claimed that he was dating Letizia when she met King Felipe, and that he was planning to propose to Letizia when she announced that she was dating a mysterious diplomat over dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz hotel in Madrid in 2002. In his new book, Penafiel also claimed that everything in Letizias world has been broken as a result of her alleged deceit, adultery and betrayals. The veteran reporter took further aim at the queens character, claiming she is cold, indestructible and determined and often resorts to silence as a way of controlling and punishing other people. In January, Penafiel was let go from the Spanish newspaper El Mundo after a 20-year tenure. His sudden departure from the publication took place shortly after he made a series of damaging allegations about the royal family in his first book, titled Letizia & I. In the book, released Jan. 30, Penafiel alleged that Letizia was embroiled in an affair with del Burgo a claim he doubled down on in his latest book. Elsewhere, the veteran royal reporter labeled Letizia emotionally immature. He also claimed that she is hated by Felipes family. Penafiel claims that Letizias passive aggressive nature is the reason Felipes mother, Queen Sofia, and his sisters Infanta Cristina and the Duchess of Lugo, hate her so much. Felipe and Letizia tied the knot in a lavish ceremony on May 22, 2004. They celebrated their 20th anniversary last week. To mark the special occasion, the couple released official family portraits last week. In the photos, the pair posed alongside their two daughters, Princesses Leonor and Sofia. Thursday, May 30, 2024 Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has broken his silence on the controversial Muguka and made his stand known. In a statement, Raila, through his ODM party, backed the decision by three County Governments at the Coast to ban the sale and distribution of muguka in their jurisdictions. ODM lauded governors Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, Gideon Mung'aro, and Andrew Mwadime for putting up a spirited fight to defend their youth. "Governor Nassir has been courageous enough to follow the talk with action in making the bold move prohibiting the entry, transport, sale, and distribution of muguka within Mombasa County. "Governor Gideon Mungaro (Kilifi) and Andrew Mwadime (Taita Taveta) have taken similar action," the statement said. The opposition party faulted the government for being selective in its fight against the drug abuse menace in the country, claiming that it failed to show seriousness in the fight against muguka in the Coastal region while being firm in the fight against alcohol abuse in Mt. Kenya. "We note with concern the silence of the so-called champions of a sober country, keen on fighting alcohol abuse in their political backyards but quiet when Muguka ravages the young people of the Coast," the letter signed by the ODM party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna read in part. They complained that President William Ruto had polarized the country and politicized the war against the drug menace in Mombasa by attempting to cancel the decision taken by the three county governments. The Kenyan DAILY POST Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - One person has been killed after falling into a KLM passenger plane engine at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport. Emergency crews carried out a 'massive' response after the horror tragedy was first reported around 3pm this afternoon. Passengers and crew members were reported to be on board the Embraer 190 aircraft when the incident occurred. Flight 1341, operated by the Dutch airline, was set to depart from Schiphol in Amsterdam for Billund in Denmark. It was unclear from initial reports whether the victim was travelling with the airline or worked at the airport. 'Today there was a horrible incident where a person ended up in an airplane engine,' the official Schiphol account posted on Twitter/X this afternoon. 'Our thoughts go out to the relatives and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this.' Investigators from the Dutch military police, Marechausse, have said that is was too early to say whether this was an 'incident', or a form of suicide. The airport confirmed an investigation was underway to gather more details on the case, led by the Royal Military Police. The 'Koninklijke Marechaussee' Royal Military Police said in a statement: 'An incident occurred this afternoon on the Schiphol platform where a person fell into a running aircraft engine and died.' 'All passengers and employees of the flight in question have disembarked and are being taken care of,' the statement added. Psychological support will be provided for the passengers witness to the incident, military police said. They noted that the passengers may still be 'important witnesses' in helping them understand exactly what happened. The engine was running at the time of the incident, suggesting the plane was preparing to take-off, according to Dutch daily De Telegraaf. An airport employee told the outlet the plane was reversing in a 'pushback' before taking off. KLM Flight 1341 was due to take off at 2:25pm. Airline KLM said in a statement: 'Today there was a horrible incident at Schiphol in which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine. 'Sadly the person has died. 'We receive passengers and employees who have seen this at Schiphol. The circumstances are currently being investigated. 'For further information - as soon as available - we refer to the Royal Military Police.' Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, said on Twitter/X: 'Terrible news about a fatal accident today at Schiphol. 'My condolences go out to the relatives of the victim and the people who witnessed the accident.' Thursday, May 30, 2024 - As millions of Kenyans complain about harsh economic times, there are a few elite Kenyans who are swimming in money. A case in point is this wealthy Kenyan who was spotted cruising around in a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J250 2024 in Nairobi Central Business District. The multi-million car will be officially launched on 15th June 2024. Renowned Radio Jambo presenter Gidi shared the photo on his Facebook page, sparking reactions among his followers, most of whom are facing harsh economic times. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, May 30, 2024 - The World Bank has told President William Ruto to create a conducive business environment to increase the number of jobs generated for Kenyans. In the report titled Jobs for All: Unlocking Inclusive Growth in Kenya, the Kenya Kwanza government was asked to provide current and future workers with cognitive, non-cognitive, and social-emotional skills that will allow budding talent to adapt to a changing world of work. The Bretton Woods institution further observed that better policies should also be drafted to create a better environment for businesses to thrive and create employment. Another step is easing youth's transition into employment after completing higher education. This can be done through Active Labour Market Programs (AMLPs) to help bridge the skills gap and support those with lower levels of education and access to better jobs. World Bank further noted that the Kenyan government should invest in the young Kenyans entering the labour force. Kenya can invest in them through early childhood development, increasing primary health care coverage, and increasing the quality of education. Additionally, to create more jobs, Kenya was tasked with increasing the productivity of the private sector to support sustained high rates of economic growth. The manufacturing sector in Kenya was listed as among the important sources of jobs for those with fewer skills. Another step Kenya should take is to enhance job-relevant skills and provide multifaceted support to the workforce. This can include training and support in connecting them to better job opportunities. Kenya should also support productivity increases for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which the institution observed will help grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Police officers have raided an apartment in Juja and arrested some ladies caught hawking themselves. The officers from Juja police station raided the apartment after getting intelligence reports from the locals. Several ladies and men who had gone to seek services were arrested and taken to the nearby Juja police station. Watch the video. Juja Police Make Arrests Wameingia kwa Brothel bana.., wives around Juja are happy pic.twitter.com/3imfb8TKYB Andy (@AndyKe_) May 30, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has accused the United States and Europe of meddling in his countrys affairs to ensure no elections would be held at the tail end of 2024. Speaking during a Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) rally, Kiir stated that this was against what the Nairobi peace process led by President William Ruto aimed to achieve. He urged Western powers and local rebel leaders to give Ruto room to mediate in the process and ensure that peace and stability prevail. Salva Kiir further faulted the U.S. and Europe for what he described as a misguided campaign that South Sudan would be thrown into chaos and anarchy post-2024 elections. Some people in America and Europe said that a statement of SPLM must be prevented. Because if they go for elections, people will fight. "Who is going to fight here among you? he asked his supporters. Some people said if the election is allowed to go on, many people will die. "South Sudanese will fight. I must assure you that nobody will fight. The President urged holdout groups to give Rutos peace process a chance, noting it was what the nation needed. I am calling upon our brothers and sisters in the holdout groups to embrace the Tumaini Initiative under the leadership of Kenyan President William Ruto to dialogue with us to reach an amicable solution, Kiir stated as he gave approval to Ruto-led talks. He accused some of the rebel groups of being used by external forces to sabotage the exercise. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, May 30, 2024 The infighting within the UDA party has gone a notch higher. This is after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja slammed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after he claimed that a section of Rift Valley leaders were interfering with Mt Kenya politics. Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya yesterday, Sakaja wondered why the Deputy President was crying foul, accusing him of intimidating other leaders in the past. Dont try and intimidate us. we are unbwogable. "You can't be the one bullying people for two years and then, when you're mentioned for one week, you disappear into the forest, said Sakaja. Sakaja asked DP Gachagua to respect other leaders if he wanted to be respected equally. The Nairobi governor noted that the people of Nairobi elected him as the Governor and no one should claim he put him on the seat. I have been through a lot and I am not easily intimidated nobody should say I was given the seat. "I was elected by the people of Nairobi, he stated. Sakaja further claimed that Embakasi North MP James Gakuya is being sponsored as a project against his Nairobi County UDA chairperson bid. The person I am competing with is not a candidate, he is a project by some people, Sakaja claimed. Gachagua has been having a tense relationship with Governor Sakaja and has openly said he monitors how the Nairobi County affairs are being managed. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, May 30, 2024 - An aspiring female politician from Nyeri County is trending after she confronted a police officer and accused him of being used by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to harass her. The enraged woman claimed that she was fed up with Gachagua's endless threats and said that if anything happened to her and her children, he should be held responsible. It is now emerging that the woman in the viral video is Gachaguas baby mama. She unsuccessfully vied for the Mathira Parliamentary seat in 2017. It is not clear whether she is being threatened by Gachagua or his handlers. Watch the video if you missed it. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, May 30, 2024 - As leaders assembled at Safari Park for the 21st National Prayer Breakfast at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko caught the attention of those present with his flashy dressing. Sonko dressed a green three-piece suit, also known as a waistcoat suit with a matching set of jacket, tie, hat and shoe. The outfit also caught the attention of President William Ruto who engaged the former Governor in a tete-a tete while walking out of the prayer breakfast venue. The annual breakfast prayers organized by Parliamentary leadership was attended by top leaders from the executive and legislature including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, his Senate counterpart Amason Kingi, Cabinet Secretaries, MPs, Diplomats, members of the clergy among other guests. On his social media accounts Sonko posted a humorous post on his dress code which attracted a mixed reaction from netizens. The former Governor posted: Ati mnasema hii look yangu imefanya kila mtu acheke ati niko na wedding after breakfast meeting A number of Kenyans reacted to the post with majority of them expressing satisfaction with the flashy outfit. Paula Nesta Nathan Luku master nayo mkuu umeingara vile inafaa. Haubahatisyhangi mavazi legi Alfred Mathu You can always count on Sonko to be the best dressed in the room. Do you have a stylist or do you just have a natural eye for fashion? Richpagima Always unique..uyo designer wako maombi mingi kwake Nyakwar Wambida Gouya Kwani ilikua waenda harusini mhesh lakini uko smart Thursday, May 30, 2024 - An ex-producer on "The Apprentice" has accused former United States of America's President, Donald Trump of using the N-word on season 1 of the show. Bill Pruitt, a producer on the first season of the hit NBC show in 2004, who went on to work on it for years, has published an article on Slate, accusing the former President of using the derogatory word while discussing a Black contestant. He said Trump used the word while mulling over the finalists for season 1, namely, Bill Rancic (who won the show that year in 2004) and Kwame Jackson, the runner-up. Pruitt described it this way, he said he, Carolyn Kepcher (who ran Trump's hospitality units at the time), and Jay Bienstock (the 'Apprentice' showrunner at the time) were huddled up to discuss the last two guys in a recorded moment. He said this was meant to be filmed as a lead-up to Trump's ultimate decision and as the team briefed the former President on who they thought would be best, he allegedly winced at the suggestion that Kwame should be considered the top dog. Pruitt says Kepcher told him, "I think Kwame would be a great addition to the organization," to which Trump allegedly grimaced. Pruitt says Trump asked why Kwame didn't fire Omarosa after some problems and the former President's team defended Kwame, saying he didn't have that power. Then Trump allegedly said; "Yeah, but, I mean, would America buy a n***** winning?" Pruitt said Kepcher went pale after hearing this and claimed Trump continued to wince as he mulled it all over, seeming serious about not wanting Kwame to take first place. Bienstock then allegedly changed the subject and pivoted to George Ross, one of Trump's attorneys who was also supposedly in the mix for this conversation. After that, Pruitt says no one acknowledged what Trump said and the alleged recorded moment never saw the light of day neither did other unsavoury things he claims Trump said during filming. Trump has long denied ever saying it and there's never been proof. However, this is the first time anyone's described the alleged utterance of it from Trump's lips. A rep for the Trump campaign has reacted to the claim, saying; "This is a completely fabricated and bull*** story that was already peddled in 2016. Nobody took it seriously then, and they wont now, because its fake news. Now that Crooked Joe Biden and the Democrats are losing the election, they are bringing up old fake stories from the past because they are desperate." Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Embattled Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was on Thursday barred from attending the annual National Prayer breakfast meeting thats normally attended by top national leaders and Governors. Being the host Governor, Sakaja was expected to lead the prayer meeting and usher in guests, but his fate was sealed when a call from State House apparently warned him from attending the breakfast prayer meeting. Notably present was former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko who was seen seated in the VIP seats during the prayer meeting. Our mole at State House indicated that Sonko who was the only senior UDA leader from Nairobi during the event, was officially invited by the State House to attend the meeting. Sonko was impeached by the Senate in 2020 and he was barred from vying in the 2022 general elections. According to the Star newspaper, Sakaja was told by President William Ruto to avoid attending the meeting just a day after he attacked Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during a UDA delegates meeting at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi. He said: Huwezi kuwa you are bullying people for two years, then unatajwa wiki moja unaanza kulia. Do you know bullies are the biggest cowards? Mpaka unaenda sijui kwa msitu, sijui wapiif you want respect, respect other leaders. If you dont respect those leaders, then respect the people who put them there. Sakaja went on to dare the DP to run for the Nairobi County governorship seat in the 2027 elections if he does not respect his capacity as an elected official. I've been through a lot and I'm not easily intimidated, nobody has the right to say I was given the seat. I was elected," charged Sakaja. In 2027, you are free to run for any elective post, run and be Nairobi Governor. Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - A 36-year-old woman walked into a Missouri police station on Tuesday morning, May 28, to tell officers that she had shot her daughter, 9, dead, leaving her in a car outside of the building, and that she drowned her son, 2, earlier that day. Ashley Parmeley, 36, has been charged with the second-degree murder of her son, Isaac, while investigators prepare charges relating to the death of her daughter, Scarlett. The car was seen outside of the station around 10:30am local time. After Parmeley's confession, police began searching for her son. They found him dead in a fountain close to the Timber Creek Resort on the outskirts of St. Louis, 13 miles from the station. Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak said officers searched for a third child who has been found safe. Officials have not released a motive for the horrific crime. Sheriff Marshak noted that the children were accounted for and alive on Monday, May 27. Then on the morning of May 28, Parmeley had changed her Facebook profile photo to a plain black image. Another recent post featured a meme with an assault rifle and the words "Shall Not Be Infringed." The sheriff described Parmeley as having strong ties to the local community and said that he didn't think she had ever been in trouble with the law before. When she arrived at the police station, Parmeley's clothes were described as wet and disheveled. Photos published by the Associated Press showed police searching a silver Mazda SUV with Missouri license plates. Among the items retrieved from the vehicle was a bloody beach towel, the Post-Dispatch reported. Officials are expected to provide an update on the case later. The Central Bank has urged commercial banks to ease access to the Agriculture credit facility funds under the Agricultural Credit Facility. Sarah Mubuuke, the Head of Credit Appraisal and Publicity in the Agriculture and Other Credit Schemes Division at the Bank of Uganda, has urged the Uganda Bankers Association to resolve internal bottlenecks that are stopping some financial institutions from efficiently lending out these funds. Her remarks come days after the state minister in charge of investment, Evelyne Anite wondered why these funds are underutilized and concentrated among just a handful of recipients. Mubuuke was speaking during the launch of 36th edition of the Seeds of Gold Farm Clinics, a Nation Media Group- Uganda initiative held in Namuwongo, last evening. The problem was first at the institutional level of the memorandum of agreement where we had issues to resolve, but then there is also a strategic issue with the financial institutions which has to be addressed by the Uganda bankers assassination, Ms. Mubuuke said. Running under the theme, Climate Smart Farming this year, the Seeds of Gold Farm Clinics will be held on June 29th, July 27th, and September 8th 2024 The venues will be in Lira district at the Ngetta Zardi NARO institute, Bulambuli district at Buginyanya NARO institute, and Kabale district at Kachekano NARO institute respectively. The government has been asked to allocate adequate resources towards emergency response efforts in the country. This is after some schools in different parts of the country have remained closed due to floods even after schools were officially reopened for second term on Monday this week. Speaking to KFM, Citizens Concern Africa Founder & Executive Director Andrew Mafundo says children are heavily impacted by disasters such as floods, since they are vulnerable and dependant on others for survival, emotional support and lifesaving skills. Mafundo adds that, government needs to allocate resources for establishment of such things as temporary shelters, emergency supplies for the affected households to ensure the childrens education is not disrupted. Every time we get an emergency in the country you see panic, corruption and unplanned expenditure what happen? These ones are predictable we know them they come back and forth, what happened to the resource allocation, we have a minister for disaster preparedness what are they doing?, Ms. Mafundo responded. Citizens Concern Africa (CICOA) is a Non-Government Organisation that champions climate justice, human rights, natural resources governance, renewable energy and conservation. According to the Uganda Red Cross Society, upto 39,185 people (8,011) households have so far been affected by flood hazards in 14 districts in Uganda while, 3,080 households were displaced. With just three days to this years Martyrs Day, the Uganda Police Force has availed 20 ambulances to support in handling of emergencies ahead of the annual celebrations at Namugongo, Wakiso District slated for June 3rd. Addressing the media in Kampala earlier today, the deputy spokespersons Kampala Metropolitan Traffic police Godwin Arinatwe said the ambulances wi ll bear green stickers for use within and around both the Catholic and the Anglican Shrines. These ambulances will bear disciplined stickers for emergency purposes within the areas of Namugongo, Protestants and Catholics church they will use green stickers, any ambulance without stickers will not be used for our own security reasons, Mr. Arinatwe said. Meanwhile the Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire has asked the communities around Namugongo to be welcoming to both the local and international pilgrims throughout their stay. He also appealed to pilgrims to come prepared with enough funds for their upkeep and transport back home after the celebrations. Marked on June 3 every year since 1920, the Uganda Martyrs Day is a religious holiday that commemorates the bravery of a group of Christians (22 Catholics and 23 Anglicans executed on the orders of Mwanga II, then Kabaka of Buganda. The Catholic Martyrs were beatified in 1920 and later canonised in 1964 by Pope Paul VI. Boone County commissioners approved a tax freeze on real property for citizens aged 62 and older at its meeting Thursday afternoon. This will freeze eligible senior's real estate taxes at the levels they are at in 2024. This tax relief is a revised version the Missouri General Assembly passed this session and still requires Gov. Mike Parson to sign it into law. The fact that county commissioners approved it before it was signed into law has some people upset. "They made the wrong decision," State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch, R-Hallsville, said. She was upset that the version the commission passed includes an exception where qualified applicants would not receive subsidies for taxes to pay back voter-approved public bond debt. Toalson Reisch said her advisors sent her an email saying "Senate Bill 756 says counties can't stop freezing property taxes because of bonded indebtedness." Senate Bill 756 is the modified version of the senior citizen real estate property tax bill the General Assembly passed this year. It was meant to clarify the version that passed last year. The most notable difference between the two is the new one clarifies eligible taxpayers as those 62 years of age or older. Article IV section 27(b) of the Missouri Constitution allows local governments to sell public bonds but does not specify who is responsible for repaying the taxes for them. Charles Cantrill helped collect signatures to put the issue on the April ballot. Boone County voters passed the measure to allow a freeze in that election. He supported the commission's decision to pass the current version of the tax freeze. The commission concluded that both the exception for public debt and an exception for payment for the state's blind pension fund are constitutionally mandated. "That just means that cities and counties in Missouri are taking care of their debt. They're handling their debt. They're not going upside-down on the debt, which pushes the problem off to increases in sales taxes or higher personal property taxes, or higher levies on anything," Cantrill said. "If you don't handle your debt, you can start being charged on going to the park, parking special places, all kinds of taxes that didn't even exist today, just to satisfy the debt revenue." Other exceptions that are not constitutionally mandated are taxes on the value of new construction and if someone's real estate is annexed into a different county. If Parson signs the revised tax freeze bill, it won't go into effect until August. Boone County commissioners said the deadline to apply for the tax freeze for 2025 will be Oct. 1 of this year. If they waited until August to pass a new version, seniors would have had less time to apply. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Seniors will be able to apply for the freeze starting July 1. Cantrill said getting the most seniors to apply for the freeze is important. "Literally, you can do everything right in America. You can pay off your mortgage. You can take care of your home. You can pay all your utilities and your debt and your revenue and still, you can lose your home," Cantrill said. "Only for the simple fact that property taxes in some states are too high." Cantrill continued, "We don't want a whole new wave of homeless elderly people here in Boone County or in the state of Missouri, so we need to take steps to give seniors, that have paid their dues and worked through the system a chance for a tax break." Toalson Reisch is gathering signatures to put an issue on the November ballot forcing the commission to re-draft the senior property tax freeze in Boone County. In a statement on Thursday, she said she has 4,000 signatures and needs 600 more. Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick said Missouri is only the 12th county in the state to pass a senior citizen property tax freeze, and the first since the legislature passed the revised bill with further clarification. Kendrick explained the commission passed their version of the tax freeze with the new bill in mind. "This is a complex system," Kendrick said. "I'm confident about Boone County government's ability to implement this program and to do so effectively." Cantrill said he had to move from his house in Iowa for the simple fact that the property taxes there were too high. "As long as Missouri takes steps so that people that retire don't have to forgo their home, don't have to become homeless, that is what I call progressive policy and progressive democracy," he said. "That's what we need. That's what this legislation supports." The commission also passed a Chapter 100 bond agreement for Kraft Heinz's Oscar Mayer hot dog plant in Columbia. The agreement will give Kraft Heinz a 75% abatement on property taxes for $49 million worth of new equipment it purchases to upgrade the facility, the Missourian reported. UNESCO World Heritage site exemplifies Arabian desert's austere landscape By Lee Hae-rin WADI RUM, Jordan Nestled in the south of Jordan, close to the Saudi Arabian border, lies a realm that seems like something from the pages of a science fiction novel. A four-hour drive south of Amman on the Desert Highway leads to Wadi Rum, a sprawling desert landscape known for its otherworldly beauty and ancient mystique. Renowned for its surreal Martian-like terrain, the enchanting destination is a playground for adventurers and a haven for those seeking solace amidst nature's grandeur. Also known as the Valley of the Moon, this region is a UNESCO World Heritage site that stretches across 720 square kilometers of desert terrain. Its rusty orange and red sands, towering dunes and vast open spaces create a landscape unlike any other on Earth. The dramatic rock canyons, sculpted by wind and time, stand silent against the backdrop of an endless sky. Otherworldly landscape Wadi Rums austere beauty first gained global popularity as the backdrop for a 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. It then drew several science fiction filmmakers who were also in search of otherworldly landscapes, providing the backdrop for the planet Mars in Ridley Scott's film The Martian, the desert planet Arrakis in Denis Villeneuves Dune series, and an alien planet in Prometheus. For outdoor enthusiasts, Wadi Rum offers a plethora of activities that cater to all levels of adventure. From thrilling jeep safaris across the dunes to exhilarating rock climbing expeditions, there is no shortage of excitement in this desert playground. For a more immersive experience, it is recommended that one take a camel ride through the desert, following ancient caravan routes that have been traversed for centuries. Wadi Rum is not only a natural wonder but also an archaeological and cultural treasure. The desert has been inhabited by various civilizations for thousands of years, including the Nabataeans of prehistoric times, leaving behind a rich tapestry of history etched into the sands. Visitors are recommended to explore ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions that adorn the rock walls, telling stories of nomadic tribes and ancient civilizations that once roamed these lands. Sleeping under the stars As the sun sets over the horizon, Wadi Rum transforms into a celestial wonderland, with the desert sky ablaze with millions of twinkling stars. Visitors should spend the night in a traditional Bedouin camp and experience the magic of sleeping under the vast canopy of the Milky Way, gathering around a crackling campfire, savoring the flavors of Bedouin cuisine and listening to tales from desert folklore told by local guides. For those seeking a more luxurious experience, Wadi Rum also offers upscale desert camps and eco-lodges that blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, providing modern comforts without compromising the authenticity of the desert experience. Preserving the delicate ecosystem of Wadi Rum is paramount to ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy its beauty for years to come. Efforts are underway to promote sustainable tourism practices that minimize environmental impact while supporting local communities. Bedouin-led initiatives focus on responsible tourism, conservation efforts, and cultural preservation, ensuring that the spirit of the desert remains intact. Wadi Rum beckons travelers to embark on a journey into the unknown, where the ordinary fades away, and the extraordinary takes center stage. For both a thrill-seeker craving adventure or those seeking thoughtful introspection and solace, the timeless beauty of this desert oasis offers an experience unlike any other, highlighting Jordan's beautifully arid landscape. A Seoul court on Thursday granted an injunction filed by CEO Min Hee-jin of Ador, an affiliate of K-pop powerhouse HYBE, which is behind the girl group NewJeans, to stop HYBE from dismissing her as the sublabel's head. The decision by the Seoul Central District Court came a day ahead of an Ador shareholders' meeting, where HYBE was expected to replace Min Hee-jin as CEO over a suspected breach of trust. HYBE, which holds 80 percent of Ador shares, launched a surprise audit into Min and subsequently filed a breach of trust complaint against her late last month, accusing her of plotting to usurp control of Ador and take NewJeans with her. Min has flatly denied the allegations and sought a court injunction to prevent HYBE from exercising its voting rights to dismiss her as Ador CEO during the upcoming shareholders' session. The Seoul Central District Court determined that HYBE's reasoning for dismissing Min has not been sufficiently explained, as it granted the injunction. The court ruled that Min's dismissal, if approved in the upcoming shareholders' meeting, couldn't be reversed even through a main lawsuit and any resulting damage stemming from the loss of her position couldn't be offset by any financial compensation afterward. The court further acknowledged that Min had "clearly" sought independent control of Ador but had hardly progressed to the actual implementation stage, saying it amounted to "betrayal" but not "breach of trust." The court also ordered HYBE to pay compensation of 20 billion won ($14.5 million) if it exercises its voting right to dismiss Min. (Yonhap) Celebrity chef's franchise company aims to complete Kosdaq listing in H2 By Anna J. Park Theborn Korea, a food and beverage franchise business founded by celebrity chef Paik Jong-won, officially launched its listing process earlier this week, aiming to go public on the Kosdaq market during the second half of this year. The move comes as the franchise food company marks the 30th anniversary of its founding. This is the company's second attempt to go public, after its previous attempt failed in 2018. According to the Korea Exchange (KRX) on Thursday, Theborn Korea submitted a preliminary evaluation request for the stock listing to the state-run bourse operator on Wednesday. Korea Investment & Securities and NH Investment & Securities will be the lead underwriters of the IPO. Investment banking industry watchers expect the company's corporate valuation to stand at around 350 billion won ($253 million) to 400 billion won. The company posted record high annual sales of 410.6 billion won last year, which is up 45 percent compared to 2022. The company's earnings have been on a steady rise over the past few years. In 2020, Theborn Korea achieved annual sales of 150.7 billion won, followed by 194.1 billion won in 2021 and 281 billion won in 2022. Although net profit edged down 0.6 percent last year compared to 2022, Paik's company is evaluated to have secured the potential for profitability improvements by increasing the prices of its major brands earlier this year. Given that the stock exchange's review period is 45 business days, the results of the preliminary assessment are expected to be released by the end of July. The process could be delayed if additional materials are requested during the review. If the review by the exchange proceeds smoothly, Theborn Korea can start the subscription process for its shares in the third quarter and complete the listing process within this year. Paik, a beloved celebrity chef in Korea renowned for his appearances on various broadcast shows, has consistently voiced his aspirations for the company's IPO in 2024. This aligns with his vision, coinciding with the firm's 30th anniversary. Founded by Paik in 1994, Theborn Korea now operates 25 iconic food brands that are highly popular in Korea, including Bornga, Paik's Noodle, Paik's Bibim, Saemaeul Restaurant, Paik's Coffee, Hanshin Pocha and Ball Katsu. Many of his brands have now advanced into overseas markets, including major cities in the U.S., China, Japan and Southeast Asia. The company also runs Hotel Theborn Jeju on Jeju Island. No permanent reason for hostility between Pyongyang and Washington: Gallucci By Kwak Yeon-soo Robert Gallucci, the chief negotiator during the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis, said normalizing relations with North Korea should come before discussing denuclearization. As denuclearization is increasingly seen as an unlikely outcome amid stalled diplomacy and North Koreas continued provocative threats, the United States should push toward forging normal ties as an effort to engage Pyongyang, according to Gallucci. The only way we're going to get at the nuclear issue, in my view, is to change the nature of the political and diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and the DPRK and that is going to require improvement of relations, diminishing the threat at all times, Gallucci said during an interview with The Korea Times at Yonsei University, Tuesday. The DPRK stands for North Koreas official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. Gallucci, a distinguished professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown Universitys Walsh School of Foreign Service, explained that the threat from North Korea has evolved to the point that the U.S. ballistic missile defense may not be particularly effective against the Norths sophisticated attack. In January, he wrote in National Interest that we should at least entertain the thought that nuclear war could break out in Northeast Asia in 2024. Now we are starting to get into a much more dangerous situation in terms of nuclear weapons. An increased level of threat from North Korea is largely due to two things their capability to do damage and their declaratory posture, he said. We are now dealing with a nuclear weapons state that has somewhere between 50 and 100 nuclear weapons. Theyve gotten better in accuracy, reliability and perhaps even in sophistication. Asked if North Koreas failed satellite launch has any implications, he said, I would say that's not significant. If you look at the American or the Russian development of ballistic missiles particularly the very long range ones like ICBMs there are lots of failures in developing. Gallucci asserted there is no geostrategic or permanent reason for hostility between Pyongyang and Washington, adding that the U.S. should be looking for areas in which it can have a useful conversation with the reclusive regime. The Biden administration doesnt want to be responsible for having no progress in reducing tensions with the DPRK. It also has a prejudice that if we invest in negotiations with the North, theres a high chance it will fail, he said. The former nuclear envoy stressed that the U.S. can have relations with countries whose values don't match perfectly with its own and who don't live in a Jeffersonian democracy. I wouldnt remove sanctions now without cause, but I would look for sanctions relief to be part of a negotiation. We might be able to scale back ROK-U.S. military exercises to dial them (the DPRK) back a little. Maybe we can get the Chinese to help, he said. ROK refers to the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name. Stressing that denuclearization is a realistic, but long-term goal, Gallucci said the trilateral summit involving South Korea, Japan and China can serve as an opening for negotiations with North Korea. I hope the Japanese and the South Koreans emphasized to the Chinese to assist in restraining North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in his enthusiasm for highlighting the threat he presents to everybody in Northeast Asia except China, he said. There's a new relationship between Pyeongyang and Moscow, which may worry Beijing, but the relationship between China and North Korea has been a durable one. So we would like the Chinese to use their influence to help loosen the North Korean position. Gallucci downplayed concerns regarding Russias potential transfer of sensitive military technology to North Korea. I don't know whether to believe it or not, but Russians have at least given some of our colleagues assurances that they would not do bad things or stupid things like getting involved with the transfer of sensitive technology to North Korea, he said. Asked about his thoughts on a growing call in South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons as a means of deterring a nuclear strike from the North, he said it is a matter of a sovereign decision for South Korea to make. However, he remained skeptical about whether Seoul could enhance its own security by developing its own nuclear weapons. If deterrence is going to work against North Korea, the U.S. extended deterrence will be much stronger than your own deterrence. For traditional U.S. administrations, we would be very negative about that idea because we think the spread of nuclear weapons without respect to whom diminishes our security, he said. North Korea on Thursday denounced U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' latest criticism of Pyongyang's botched launch of a spy satellite, describing him as a "servant" of the United States who has repeated the same words of condemnation as those coming from Washington. On Tuesday, Guterres condemned the North's launch of a spy satellite that ended in failure the previous day and urged Pyongyang to return to dialogue, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric. Kim Son-gyong, North Korea's vice foreign minister in charge of international organization, said the U.N. chief "rudely decried" North Korea's exercise of its sovereign rights, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "He, beyond the level of expressing concern, parroted without hesitation the senseless word of the same 'condemnation' with that which came out from the loudspeaker of the U.S. Department of State," Kim said in a statement carried by the KCNA, calling him a "servant" of the U.S. He also warned of "catastrophic consequences" over the plan by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to convene an opening meeting Friday to discuss Pyongyang's failed satellite launch. "I express deep concern about the fact that the UNSC is going to convene an open meeting again to call the DPRK's legitimate satellite launch into question at the brigandish demand of the U.S. and its followers and give a warning to the UNSC of the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its reckless act," Kim said. North Korea has claimed that the country's launch of a spy satellite is the exercise of its sovereign right to pursue a space development program. But any launch using ballistic missile technology by the North is a violation of multiple UNSC resolutions against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. (Yonhap) The U.N. Security Council (UNSC) will convene an open meeting this week to discuss North Korea's recent launch of a military reconnaissance satellite that ended in failure, a Seoul official said Wednesday. The official at South Korea's Permanent Mission to the U.N. said that the meeting is slated to take place on Friday after Pyongyang's attempt to launch a satellite-carrying rocket failed due to the midair explosion of the rocket on Monday. The recalcitrant regime pressed ahead with the launch despite international warnings and criticism that any launch using ballistic missile technology, including that of a space launch vehicle, is a violation of multiple UNSC resolutions. South Korea, a nonpermanent member of the 15-member UNSC, is expected to reiterate its condemnation of the latest launch. In a statement, Nate Evans, spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the U.N. confirmed that a UNSC meeting will take place on Friday morning, stressing that the council must address the North's "reckless and destabilizing" behavior. "The Security Council has a responsibility to protect global peace and security, defend the global nonproliferation regime, and uphold its resolutions," Evans said. "The United States urges all Security Council members to take this responsibility seriously and unite in condemning the DPRK's dangerous and unlawful behavior." DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. On Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the North's launch and called on Pyongyang to return to dialogue in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric. (Yonhap) The U.S. military on Wednesday condemned North Korea's latest round of ballistic missile launches and called on the recalcitrant regime to refrain from "unlawful" and "destabilizing" acts. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued a statement after Pyongyang fired some 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Thursday morning (Korea time), a day after sending hundreds of large balloons carrying trash and manure into the South. "The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts," the command said, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "We continue to monitor the situation. The U.S. commitments to the defense of the ROK and Japan remain ironclad," it added. ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. In response to a question from Yonhap News Agency, a State Department spokesperson called on Pyongyang to refrain from provocative actions and return to diplomacy. The North's launches came after it made a botched attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite on Monday under a plan to launch three more satellites this year. It successfully put its first military spy satellite into orbit in November. (Yonhap) Pyongyang fires around 10 short-range missiles toward East Sea By Kwak Yeon-soo North Korea has escalated tensions with South Korea through a series of provocations, including deploying balloons laden with trash, launching short-range ballistic missiles, and attempting GPS jamming. Seoul, in conjunction with the international community, is condemning these provocations, some of which are perceived as violations of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the Armistice Agreement. On Thursday morning, North Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea. The missiles flew around 350 kilometers before splashing into the waters east of the Korean Peninsula, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). We strongly condemn North Koreas missile launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, the JCS said, adding it closely shared related information with the U.S. and Japan as the North's launches of ballistic missiles are violations of UNSC resolutions. North Korea continued its GPS jamming attacks for a second day, the JCS confirmed in a separate statement. "We detected the signal near the de facto inter-Korean maritime border in the West Sea. The jamming persisted for about an hour but did not disrupt military operations," according to the statement. The missile launch comes a day after more than 260 balloons filled with trash and what is presumed to be feces, sent by the North, were found in various locations in the South. The balloon release was an apparent retaliation against South Korean activists for sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, vowed to send dozens of times more balloons to the South. The United Nations Command (UNC) also said it would launch an investigation into the case. The North's military action of deploying mass numbers of trash-laden balloons that can cause harm to local populations is not only offensive and unsanitary, but constitutes a violation of the Armistice Agreement, the UNC said in a statement. A unification ministry official suspected that the series of provocations were intended to cover up the failure of a spy satellite launch earlier this week, saying it is unusual to fire some 10 missiles at once. On Monday, North Korea's attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit failed due to a suspected engine problem. However, experts argue that the failed satellite launch itself is not the issue. Rather, it's the response from the international community, including the U.S., the U.N., and Japan, that appears to have prompted the country to escalate the crisis level on the peninsula. They (provocative actions) appear to be a reaction to South Korea carrying out joint air drills with the U.S. and joining Japan to call for denuclearization. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Gutteress remarks condemning the attempted launch of North Koreas satellite, and the UNSCs plan to convene a meeting on Friday also seemed to prompt the North to carry out provocations, said Lim Eul-chul, a professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University. Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, echoed that view. North Korea claims the satellite launch was an exercise of its right to self-defense and it flew balloons in retaliation against South Korean activists. The North says it did that to safeguard the regime, he said. North Korea watchers have cautioned about the potential for a serious escalation in a tit-for-tat cycle if South Korea retaliates. Lim said the UNC could act as a mediator by conducting a formal investigation into the matter. Hong said that South Korea also bears responsibility for sending anti-Pyongyang balloons to the North. It is self-contradictory for us to accuse the North only for sending balloons. Whether it was carried out by the government or private organizations, the Souths action may constitute a violation of international law, Hong said. Some dog carcasses might have been sold to dog meat farms By KTimes Busan's contracted animal shelters are suspected of having euthanized animals and falsifying documents to make it appear as though they had died of natural causes, according to the animal protection group Beagle Rescue Network. The group reported on Tuesday that during a nationwide investigation of stray animal conditions, it detected suspicious records in Busan's handling of stray animals. In cooperation with the Busan city government, the group conducted an investigation on shelters operated by contractors in the city's Gangseo, Saha, Dong and Yeongdo districts. The southeastern city of Busan, which sees around 6,000 stray animals annually, has one of the highest rates of natural deaths in shelters 59.6 percent last year, compared to the national average of 27 percent. In contrast, the euthanasia rate was reported at only 2.7 percent. In 2022, the natural death rate was 61.2 percent, while the euthanasia rate was 3.1 percent. The city contracts six companies to manage stray animal shelters across its 16 districts. The animal protection group suspects that the shelters inflated the natural death rates because having lower euthanasia rates is advantageous when renewing contracts with district offices. Additionally, performing euthanasia with a veterinarian incurs significant costs. The group also discovered that, based on individual management cards, the weight of 794 animal carcasses that should have been disposed of last year totaled 5.5 tons. Contracted management is unsuitable However, the amount actually processed by waste disposal companies was only 0.47 tons, leaving over 5 tons of carcasses unaccounted for. The shelter operators failed to provide an explanation for this discrepancy in meetings with city officials, animal groups and contractors. The organization suspects the carcasses might have ended up going to dog meat farms. "The shelter operators have not provided a proper explanation," said an official from the group. "Sending dogs to meat vendors not only reduces disposal costs significantly but also brings in profit." Yoo Young-jae, an executive of the Beagle Rescue Network, criticized local authorities for their inaction. "For nearly a decade, animal protection groups and activists have raised suspicions about the high natural death rates and the possibility of dogs being sold for meat, but the district offices have not conducted proper inspections or investigations," he said. The group is considering filing criminal charges against the shelter operators for obstruction of official duties, document forgery and violation of animal protection-related laws. Kim Se-hyun, head of the Beagle Rescue Network, said, "This case, along with others, shows that contracted management is unsuitable for operating animal shelters. District offices should terminate these contracts immediately and switch to direct management of shelters." In response, a Busan city official said, "We are currently investigating the complaints from multiple angles and will take appropriate action based on the findings." This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times. President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday that South Korea will push for a space project to send a space exploration vehicle to the moon by 2032 and plant a national flag on Mars by 2045. Yoon unveiled the plan to invest 100 trillion won ($72.6 billion) by 2045 during the opening ceremony of the nation's new space agency, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), in Sacheon, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul. "We will land our space exploration vehicle on the moon in 2032 and plant the Taegeukgi on Mars in 2045," Yoon said in his opening remarks, referring to the name of the national flag. Yoon pledged to increase the budget and investment in the space and aerospace industries to enhance their competitiveness. "We will expand the related budget to over 1.5 trillion won by 2027 and attract about 100 trillion won in investment by 2045," he said. The government will also designate May 27, the establishment of KASA, as Space Aerospace Day to raise awareness of space exploration, he said. In the face of an intensifying global space race, Yoon underscored the importance of playing a leading role in setting standards in the space and related industries. Last year, South Korea successfully completed the third launch of the 200-ton Nuri, also known as KSLV-II, putting eight practical satellites into orbit. It has also sent two military reconnaissance satellites carried by SpaceX rocket into orbit in December and April, respectively, to better monitor North Korea. South Korea plans to acquire five spy satellites by 2025, and plans to acquire around 60 small and micro-sized spy satellites by 2030, which would enable the military to monitor the Korean Peninsula every 30 minutes or less. The smaller satellites are expected to be launched on a homegrown solid-fuel space rocket currently under development. In December, the military conducted the third flight test of a solid-fuel space rocket. (Yonhap) President Yoon Suk Yeol will send former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong and ruling party lawmaker Kang Min-kuk as special envoys to the inauguration ceremony of incoming President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, Yoon's office said Thursday. Won and Kang of the People Power Party will attend the inauguration ceremony on Saturday and convey Yoon's congratulations to Bukele while also delivering a letter from Yoon expressing his wish to closely cooperate to further strengthen the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. The special envoys also plan to meet with senior Salvadoran officials and Korean residents, and visit Korean businesses operating in the Central American country. El Salvador has long had friendly relations with Korea and the two sides have developed ties in various sectors, including politics, the economy and infrastructure, since 1962. (Yonhap) Defense Minister Shin Won-sik was set to leave for Singapore to attend an annual security forum and hold meetings with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts in the face of North Korea's growing military threats, his office said Thursday. The three-day Shangri-La Dialogue is scheduled to kick off in the city-state on Friday, bringing together senior security officials from some 40 countries, including the United States, China, Britain, Australia and Japan. This year, Shin will deliver a speech highlighting South Korea's role in sustaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and request international support for such policy efforts, according to the ministry. On the sidelines of the forum, Shin is set to hold trilateral talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, where they are expected to discuss ways to strengthen their security cooperation and assess their system for the real-time sharing of North Korean missile warning data. Separately, Shin will hold bilateral talks with the U.S. defense chief, as well as with his Canadian, French and Filipino counterparts. Hosted by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, the forum consists of seven key sessions, including those on U.S. strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, enhancing crisis management amid rising competition and building cooperative security in the Asia-Pacific. (Yonhap) By Jon Dunbar Bruce Fulton, editor of "The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories," will give a book talk at the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea next Tuesday. Fulton is a well-known literature translator, along with his wife Ju-chan. Together they won the Top Prize for short fiction in The Korea Times' Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, in 1985, 1987 and 1989. He has published numerous works of Korean fiction and won countless accolades, including the Manhae Grand Prize in Literature in 2018. "The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories," released last year, is Penguin UK's first volume of modern Korean literature. It presents 25 authors active across a century, ranging from early masters such as Yi Hyos?k and Kim Yuj?ng to contemporary writers of the 21st century, including Kim Aeran and Han Yujoo. Also included is "Hwang Chini" by North Korean writer Hong S?kchung, the first North Korean literary work to earn a major South Korean award, the 2004 Manhae Grand Prize in Literature. Literary Review magazine calls it "an ever-surprising and stylistically diverse anthology that will surely stand as the touchstone collection of Korean literature for decades to come." The lecture starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the fifth-floor lounge of the FastFive building in Da-dong near Seoul City Hall. Entry costs 10,000 won or 5,000 won for students and is free for RAS Korea members. Visit raskb.com for more information. In an online invitation, Fulton hinted that one of the anthology's authors may attend to present a short bilingual reading. By Jung Min-ho The Supreme Court has upheld a two-year prison sentence for a Korean scholar for leaking autonomous vehicle technologies to China. The top court on Thursday upheld the lower court's verdict that found him guilty of leaking 72 files, including research data on light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technologies, from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) to Chinese professors between November 2017 and February 2020. The remote-sensing technologies are used to measure real-time distances, which are critical for self-driving automobiles. In 2017, the scholar joined the Thousand Talents Plan, a Chinese program to hire experts in science and technology from overseas. For his participation, he was reportedly offered 3.3 billion won ($2.4 million) for research projects and other expenses. His wrongdoing was first detected in 2020 by national intelligence officials. The same year, he was indicted on charges of violating the Industrial Technology Act among other laws. Korea's largest doctors' organization was set to hold candlelight vigils nationwide Thursday, as the government effectively finalized the plan to increase the number of medical school admissions starting next year. The Korea Medical Association (KMA) said it plans to hold candlelight vigils at six locations across the country, including Seoul and the southern port city of Busan, where participants plan to condemn the government's medical reform plan. The move comes about a week after the Korean Council for University Education confirmed a hike in next year's medical school admission quota, marking the first such increase in 27 years. During the rally in Seoul, the KMA plans to play video messages from patients' guardians addressed to the president and respond to questions submitted by citizens. About 12,000 trainee doctors have remained off the job since Feb. 20 in protest of the plan to raise the medical school admissions quota by 2,000, causing disruptions at general hospitals and emergency rooms. Amid media reports that the KMA may announce an all-out strike of doctors, including those from local clinics, officials from the organization stated that nothing has been decided on the matter. Pundits predict that even if the KMA declares an all-out strike, the number of doctors actually participating may be limited, given that most members run private clinics. The health ministry, meanwhile, noted that it will closely monitor the scheduled rallies, including the possibility of an all-out strike. Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong also renewed the call for junior doctors to return to their hospitals, noting the government will make efforts to improve their working environment. "The government intends to make the best efforts to minimize penalties on junior doctors returning to their worksites," Cho added. (Yonhap) A Korean expert has been reelected as a member of the U.N. Human Rights Committee monitoring civil and political rights, the foreign ministry said Thursday. Soh Chang-rok, a professor at the graduate school of international studies at Korea University, will serve another four-year term from 2025-2028 as one of the 18 members on the committee that monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He has been serving in the position for the 2021-2024 term. Soh is the first Korean to have been elected to the committee since the country acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1990. He is known for his yearslong expertise in human rights and currently serves as the head of Human Asia, a Seoul-based nongovernmental organization, and has served as a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council Advisory Committee from 2014 to 2020. (Yonhap) The National Assembly kicked off a new four-year term Thursday as the rival parties are tasked with addressing thorny issues unresolved during the previous parliament, including a bill on a Marine's death last year. The opposition bloc, led by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), dominates the 300-member parliament with 192 seats, while the ruling People Power Party (PPP) holds 108 seats. The National Assembly will hold its first plenary session next Wednesday to elect a new speaker. Concerns have grown over whether the rival parties will successfully cooperate in dealing with pending issues, including a bill mandating a special counsel investigation into the military's response to a Marine's death last year that failed to pass the previous National Assembly. The DPK has vowed to reintroduce the bill, which calls for the appointment of a special counsel to look into allegations President Yoon Suk Yeol's office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the military's probe into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023. The ruling bloc has opposed the bill, citing the need to first see the results of an ongoing investigation by the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials. The rival parties are also expected to clash over the chairmanship of the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee, a key Assembly panel that has the power to approve bills before they are put to a plenary vote. The DPK took the legislative committee chair in the first half of the 21st National Assembly term, followed by the PPP in the second half. (Yonhap) A Seoul court on Thursday granted bail to Song Young-gil, a former head of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who has been imprisoned since last December over a cash-for-votes scandal surrounding the party's 2021 leadership election. The Seoul Central District Court approved Song's request for bail, allowing him to be freed after 163 days of detention. Song was arrested in December and indicted in January over charges that his campaign distributed cash envelopes totaling 66 million won ($48,000) to 20 sitting DPK lawmakers and other party members in the run-up to the party's leadership election in May 2021, which he ultimately won. He was also accused of being involved in the collection of illegal political funds worth 763 million won by a think tank. Song has denied the charges. He filed for bail in March, but the same court rejected the request. (Yonhap) Political conflict looms large over special counsel probe By Nam Hyun-woo The 22nd National Assembly started its four-year term, Thursday, with opposition parties that hold a significant majority 192 out of 300 seats mounting pressure on the ruling People Power Party (PPP) with just 108 seats, right rom the outset. Taking advantage of this dominance, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), with 175 seats under its control, is set to push ahead with contentious bills. These include a special counsel probe bill regarding a Marines death that was recently vetoed by Yoon, signaling the onset of serious partisan conflicts at the beginning of the term. The first plenary session of the 22nd Assembly will be held next Wednesday, during which lawmakers will elect the speaker and two deputy speakers. Following the tradition of the largest party nominating the sole candidate for the speaker, the DPK has recommended Rep. Woo Won-shik as its candidate. It remains uncertain when the 22nd Assembly will hold an official opening ceremony. While the ceremony is traditionally held after lawmakers finish naming committee chairs, the two major rival parties are still butting heads over how many committees they will head. Among 18 committees in the Assembly, the DPK claims at least 11 should be headed by its lawmakers, while the PPP insists on taking the head position for the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which plays a gatekeeping role before tabling any bills at a plenary session. The partisan conflicts between the ruling and opposition blocs are expected to continue and intensify in the new Assembly. The DPK reintroduced the bill to initiate a special counsel probe into the death of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun. Chae was killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023. This bill marks the first legislative proposal unanimously endorsed by all party members in the new Assembly. The bill, which aims to look into suspicions that the Yoon Suk Yeol administration influenced the militarys investigation into the death, was vetoed by Yoon on May 21 and eventually scrapped in the previous Assembly on Tuesday after it failed to get enough approvals during a re-vote. Including the special counsel probe bill, the DPK seeks to table all 14 bills Yoon rejected earlier. A day earlier, Yoon vetoed four contentious bills, including one requiring the government to support victims of home rental scams. Yesterday, which was the last day of the 21st Assembly, the president used the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th vetoes, DPK floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae said Thursday. The president and the ruling party, characterized by arrogance and a lack of communication, are severely infringing upon the legislative powers of the National Assembly and threatening the principle of the separation of powers The DPK will by any means pass the bills that the president indiscriminately rejected. The ruling PPP refuted that the vetoes were a necessary defense for Yoon to stand up against the DPK which is going out of control. The bills Yoon rejected yesterday were 'bad laws' that have systematic loopholes and are not agreed on by the people, PPP spokesperson Rep. Kim Meen-geon said. Based on partisan logic, the bills were driven by a populist approach and ignore the democratic order, thus justifying the president's use of his veto power. The minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP), which was created just a month before the April 10 general elections but clinched 12 seats, pledged to put up what it described as a tough fight against those with vested rights. People say lawmakers should stop fighting at the National Assembly, RKP Chairman Rep. Cho Kuk said during a press conference. However, we will put up a tough fight for the people, not for those who have vested rights and powers. Meanwhile, the first bill submitted to the 22nd Assembly was a revision to the Act on Promotion of the Transportation Convenience for Mobility Disadvantaged Persons, proposed by DPK Rep. Seo Mi-hwa, a first-term lawmaker who joined the Assembly as a proportional representative. The revision is aimed at guaranteeing disabled people access to all transportation methods that can be used by non-disabled persons. By Arthur I. Cyr In May, Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, was inaugurated as president of Taiwan, succeeding two-term President Tsai Ing-wen, who was the first woman to hold this top government position. Democracy is reconfirmed. Beijing is expressing severe hostility. Chinas military now surrounds Taiwan. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has won three presidential elections in a row. The party is formally committed to independence from China. However, Lais vote margin was reduced and the DPP also lost their legislative majority. The conservative Kuomintang (KMT) gained the most seats. This could be a diplomatic plus given their more pragmatic approach to Beijing. China is not happy about continued DPP control of the executive office, but greater KMT presence in the legislature provides opportunities for cultivation. China's media have been relatively restrained about this election result compared to past extreme rhetoric. Both sides will likely continue to avoid armed conflict. The first DPP government, from 2000 to 2008, was able to finesse the political challenges with Beijing. Today, economic concerns remain more important than ideological purity for Chinas challenged communist leadership. In 2016 the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago, which represents Taiwan, hosted a remarkably instructive, insightful seminar on the implications of the return of the DPP to governing power. There was general agreement President Tsai had effectively endorsed the framework of cooperation initiated by Beijing and Taipei in 1992. This remained true despite her 2019 speech that emphasized independence. One participant emphasized the global importance of the Chinese people, a primary source of investment. This was a remarkably shrewd, insightful suggestion, still worth consideration by government leaders of Taiwan. The two sides share a bitter legacy of battle and blood. In 1949, the Nationalist forces of General Chiang Kai-shek evacuated to Taiwan as Mao Zedongs communist forces seized control of the mainland. Except for some island territories, the communist revolution was complete. The 1950-53 Korean War made the Cold War global, with China and the United States direct combatants. U.S. commitment to Taiwan's security became explicit. The foundation of cooperation has been built steadily if slowly over time. Pragmatism characterizes Taiwans approach to mainland China. Following formal U.S. diplomatic recognition of Beijing in 1978, a consequence of President Richard Nixons 1972 visit, Taipei immediately launched a comprehensive nonconfrontational strategic response. In November 2008, agreement was reached on far-reaching trade accords, including direct shipping, expansion of weekly passenger flights from 36 to 108 and introduction of up to 60 cargo flights per month. In 2010, the bilateral Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) was concluded. This has been a major triumph for then-President Ma Ying-jeou. His election as chief executive in 2008 and 2012 greatly furthered rapprochement with Beijing. In February 2014, senior representatives of the island and the mainland agreed to exchange representative offices. Face-to-face negotiations were led by Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun of China, and Taiwan Mainland Affairs Minister Wang Yu-chi. Unfortunately, in 2016 Beijing suspended direct communications. Taiwan has become an essential investor in the economic revolution on the mainland. Commercially successful, generally well-educated overseas Chinese in turn are a vital source of capital for the mainland. Expatriate Chinese also vote in Taiwan elections. Presidents Tsai and now Lai represent equality, fairness and progress. Open competitive markets undercut the rigidities of tradition and ideology. The ECFA framework is now so strong that a return to earlier hostility across the Taiwan Strait is unlikely. Taiwan without doubt has now effectively embraced representative democracy. Arthur I. Cyr (acyr@carthage.ed) is author of After the Cold War American Foreign Policy, Europe and Asia. By Robert D. Atkinson Technological innovation and production are the most important factors determining Koreas economic future. Only technology can deliver the necessary growth, productivity and scale to enable the Korean economy to compete with the rest of the world, especially China. The recipe for innovation is no secret. History has shown that the key ingredients are: science and engineering research, STEM and entrepreneurial skills, effective mass education, modern infrastructure, and the success of technology firms of all sizes, including large, dominant ones. Innovation also requires smart, supportive government policies that put accelerating the rate of progress at the center of economic thinking. However, both innovation and innovation policy must be grounded on a bedrock of aspiration and optimism. If society sees innovation as a necessary force for good there will be more innovation and better innovation policies. But if the dominant narrative is that technology is an out-of-control force for harm, there will be detrimental policies and less innovation. This latter situation is where the United States, Europe and Commonwealth nations (e.g., the West) find themselves today. Technology, especially digital technology and the corporations that produce it, are often seen as inherently suspect and problematic. Like Gulliver, they are giants to be tied down, not the necessary pillars of an advanced technological society. These attitudes reduce both the enthusiasm for innovation and the efforts by government needed to spur it. While Korea is allied with the West, it also competes with Western economies. And the greater techlash in these places relative to Korea will make it easier for Korea to win global market share in technology industries, provided Korea doesnt go further down the Western techlash road. Too often, the West has shifted its focus from delivering technological wonders to preventing harmful change. This mindset has led to technology bans, counter-productive taxes, overly stringent regulations, excessive approval cycles, and a general fear of the future. Once widely seen as a savior of humanity, technology is increasingly viewed as an oppressor. The knowledge of Athena gets treated more like the curse of Eris, the goddess of discord. These overly negative attitudes are leading the West to increasingly retreat from the future, at risk of ceding important innovation areas to its global rivals. While Chinese leader Xi Jinping proclaims: The Internet Age will promote the development of human life, production and productivity, U.S. President Biden, reflecting the view of many Western leaders, recently wrote with regard to artificial intelligence: We must be clear-eyed and vigilant about the threats. Unless such fear-based narratives are rejected and replaced with more hopeful ones of the kind that enabled the West to become the most advanced region in the world, the West can expect slower rates of progress and the eventual loss of global leadership. Such a loss risks transforming the West into a different kind of place: fearful, static, and increasingly angry. In this sense, technological pessimism and opposition are like dry rot eating away at the foundations of the West. Today, it is most advanced in Europe, but it has also spread widely across the United States and Commonwealth nations. The West needs to clean out the rot and return to its optimistic, dynamic and appreciative technology roots. What keeps this narrative and worldview alive and powerful is a set of techno-economic myths that are now widely seen as truth. These techno-mythologies are deeply embedded in the popular consciousness, repeated endlessly by anti-tech advocacy groups, the elites and a mainstream media that often uses scaremongering to attract eyeballs. We hear them regularly: AI will destroy jobs, technology is eroding privacy, social media is the cause of political polarization, productivity no longer helps the average worker, the pace of technological change is too fast, profits are too high, digital technologies are addictive, AI is inherently biased, and of course, AI will become sentient and destroy humanity. In "Technology Fears and Scapegoats: 40 Myths About Privacy, Jobs, AI and Todays Innovation Economy," my co-author and I examine 40 major myths about technology and technology firms and we find they are all either wrong or severely exaggerated. Korea thankfully lags behind with West in techlash thinking and the embrace of myths that support it, but it is by no means free from this corrosive force. Korea has seen it in Luddite-inspired opposition to ride sharing apps. Korean civil society groups have advocated that the Korean legislature adopt EU-style AI regulation, something that would surely slow AI innovation in Korea. Similarly, groups have called for bans on facial recognition technology. This is not to say that tech companies and their innovations are a panacea, and that there are no problems or role for regulators. Many of the promises of the information age such as the transformation of health care, education and transportation have yet to be fulfilled, and criticism of tech company shortcomings and business practices is sometimes warranted. But when the detractors are so blinded by hostility that they exaggerate the downsides and ignore the many things these companies do right, their critiques cease to be part of a productive debate, and take on the character of an angry mob. Both the West and Korea need a more positive and balanced perspective that doesnt make technology the source of todays societal ills. More broadly, the West needs to rediscover, and Korea not abandon, what used to be a deep-seated optimism about technology, progress and the future. For if the West and Korea drift too far from these roots global technological leadership will more easily shift to China, a country where technology is welcomed, not feared. Dr. Robert D. Atkinson (@RobAtkinsonITIF) is the president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), an independent, nonpartisan research and educational institute focusing on the intersection of technological innovation and public policy. The views expressed in the above article are those of the author and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times. By John J. Metzler New Caledonia, a remote French overseas territory in the South Pacific, is not often in the news. Its even less common when you see the truly unexpected cast of characters placing this small island group into an unwanted limelight. The trigger for the recent troubles was a ruling in Paris allowing for voting rights for the islands non-indigenous population, thus indirectly diluting the power of the local Kanak people. Rioting, widespread looting in Noumea, the nation's capital, quickly spread as would sadly be expected, and before long France sent Gendarmes and troops from Europe to quell the troubles. Seven people, including two police officers, were killed during the disturbances leading to the French government declaring a State of Emergency. Situated between Australia and the Fiji Islands, New Caledonias population of 272,000 is roughly divided between an indigenous Kanak majority of 41 percent and a French/European minority of 24 percent among other mixed groups. Many French have fully assimilated locally. The population is overwhelmingly Christian. Back in 1998 after an earlier time of tensions, the French government agreed to the Noumea Accords allowing for three referendums on whether the territory wished to gain independence from France. Over this past decade, all three votes were held, rejecting a break with France; the island wished to retain its political and cultural ties with Paris. Yet, despite being a highly subsidized territory of France, an increasingly radicalized pro-independence movement has flared again. Into the fray flew French President Emmanuel Macron on the Presidential Airbus, trying to use his artful logic and persuasion to sort things out. Macron condemned the absolutely unprecedented insurrection movement that has shaken New Caledonia since mid-May. The French in the meantime have accused the Azeris of fomenting mischief in the South Pacific. Gerald Darmanin, the Overseas France Minister, charged that Azerbaijan bore some responsibility for the unrest in New Caledonia, Its not a fantasy, its a reality. Indeed , among the flags and banners of pro-independence protesters quite improbably were the flags of Azerbaijan, the authoritarian oil-rich Muslim republic on the Caspian Sea bordering Iran. The French Interior Ministry suspected this obviously had nothing to do with religion, but much to do with Azerbaijans long-running political feud with France over strong support by Paris of Armenia, Azerbaijans Arch enemy. Only last September the Azeriss captured a large swath of disputed territory from Armenia displacing large numbers of ethnic Armenians. But this is half a world away from the South Pacific. At this point you are thinking but what is the real reason for the troubles? Indeed, natural resources, in this case nickel. New Caledonia remains the worlds third largest producer of nickel, a key element in the production of clean energy applications and especially batteries for electric cars. Who is the worlds largest electric car producer? And who profits by cornering the nickel mining market? China. Mining remains an important part of the New Caledonia economy accounting for 90 percent of exports. Beyond its use in stainless steel production, nickel, according to Resources Canada, has seen the evolving utilization of the commodity in the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric-hybrid vehicles, which accounted for 15 percent of total nickel end use globally in 2022. However, now the seemingly overlooked resource has focused Macron who wants to place France in a strong position for mandated EU Green energy initiatives, especially electric vehicles. In a sense, France is focused on turning this vital resource into a driver of EV battery production. While Indonesia holds large deposits of nickel as does Russia and Canada, New Caledonia enters the relatively small cache of nickel producers. The price per ton of the metal stands at $20,000. The International Energy Agency estimates that by 2030 a group formed by Indonesia, the Philippines and New Caledonia could account for 75 percent of international mining production. Already, 40 percent of New Caledonias nickel exports go to China. Last year President Macron warned, those indigenous separatists who favored an independent New Caledonia which would benefit from closer ties with China, If independence means choosing tomorrow to have a Chinese (naval) base here or to be dependent on other fleets, good luck! Thats not called independence. Not surprisingly both Beijing and Moscow have carefully cultivated ties with the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, the primary pro-independence movement. China is playing its cards carefully. While New Caledonias mining sector has faced its own production problems it holds sizable untapped reserves; Beijing looks to corner natural resources globally. Will this be Beijings Bali Hai moment in the South Pacific? John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism the Diplomacy of Separated Nations; Germany, Korea, China." Samsung Electronics said Thursday its new artificial intelligence-powered laptop will be available globally next month as part of its plans to lead the AI era. Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite, a next-generation processor, the Galaxy Book 4 Edge features both on-device and cloud AI capabilities. These include real-time translation and search services, as well as automatic connectivity with the user's smartphone and tablet, according to Samsung Electronics. The laptop also offers an image-based search feature called "Circle to Search" on its 3K AMOLED touchscreen. In collaboration with Microsoft, the Galaxy Book 4 Edge will include "Cocreator" and "Paint" programs to support creative work, with a dedicated AI key for enhanced assistance. "This product will be released globally, launching in 10 countries including Korea, the United States, and several in Europe," said Park Jun-ho, the product lead at Samsung Electronics, during a press event. "In the new era of AI, we're working hard to anticipate and drive significant changes. We aim to make a meaningful impact." In particular, he said Samsung Electronics expects 2 out of every 3 laptops sold in the Korean market to be from the Galaxy Book series. Currently, Samsung Electronics leads the Korean laptop market, holding a 49.5 percent share in the first quarter, according to data. All AI functions and technologies released by Samsung Electronics later this year will be incorporated into all Galaxy laptops, Park added. The Galaxy Book 4 Edge will be available globally starting June 18. (Yonhap) Korea has partnered with a U.S. electric aircraft startup to push forward the commercialization of urban air mobility (UAM), the transport ministry said Wednesday. Archer Aviation will join the Korean government's UAM test project dubbed "Grand Challenge" along with local companies -- Kakao Mobilty, LG Uplus and GS Engineering & Construction, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement. Archer Chief Commercial Officer Nikhil Goel met with Korean government officials in Sejong, 113 kilometers south of Seoul, for the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the project and discussions for UAM's commercialization, it said. In the Grand Challenge project, the participating companies are expected to establish the transportation management system using fifth-generation wireless technology, while testing integrated operating capabilities in UAM flights, traffic management and the operation of vertiports for UAM vehicles, the statement said. The government aims to commercialize UAM in the greater Seoul area in late 2025 and gradually expand the services across the country from 2026. UAM is widely considered the next big thing in urban mobility amid concerns of worsening traffic congestion and air pollution. Most UAM vehicles in development are being designed to run on electricity and travel at low altitudes in urban areas. (Yonhap) By Ko Dong-hwan Public real estate developers are facing criticism for their growing penchant for adopting non-Korean names for their apartments and residential complexes, a trend that mirrors the controversial strategy long employed by private builders to make facilities sound more luxurious, according to industry officials Wednesday. Experts said the practice has deepened the concerns surrounding the naming method that tarnishes Korean diction. The developers that recently adopted the practice are the Seoul Housing & Communities Corp. (SH), under the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), and Korea Land & Housing Corp. (LH), under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. They said the practice is making the country's local apartment towns more difficult to remember and even pronounce and that the public firms that had proposed using more Korean words have reneged on their own ideas. "Apartment names are also part of varying trends, and consumers tend to believe that (foreign-language) names make their apartment towns appear more luxurious and not so obsolete," a Kwangwoon University professor teaching real estate laws said. "But as there are no legal forces banning such practice here, I think more (non-Korean) naming for apartments will continue for a while. I, however, agree that those with excessively hard-to-understand (foreign-language) names should be controlled by authorities." According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), Wednesday, SH registered "Banghwa Sky Foret" as the name for a public rental housing town it has recently introduced in the Banghwa area in western Seoul. SH said the name reflects Banghwa's proximity to Gimpo International Airport (sky) and Mount Gaehwa (foret) and received the most votes from the company employees and the town's incoming residents. SH said that there were other candidates with Korean names, but the foreign-language candidate won out. LH has recently named its new public housing in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, "Foelln," the name the majority of incoming residents favored. LH has been lenient in changing the names of public housing apartment towns it had built to cater to its residents' needs for making their towns look more luxurious. The company said it last year erased "LH" from the names of 30 apartment towns it had built. It also said it plans to change the names of two other apartment towns it had built within this year. "People living in apartment towns built under public housing projects by either LH or SH don't want the company names showing on their buildings," an industry expert said. "They want the image of public housing gone from where they live. And they think showing a fancy foreign name on their apartment buildings helps." The SMG and the land ministry previously encouraged construction firms to use more Korean words when naming their building structures. The SMG in March published a guidebook that encouraged using either authentic Korean or proper nouns. The guidebook pointed out that some of the most frequently used non-Korean words for local neighborhoods here, like "central," "park," "river" or "the first," make it difficult to differentiate different towns or regions. By Lee Min-hyung Rising ocean freight rates pose a growing threat to Koreas top three tire manufacturers Hankook Tire, Kumho Tire and Nexen Tire as their business structure relies heavily on exports, according to data and industry officials, Thursday. Amplifying jitters, the global freight index shows few signs of stabilizing amid ongoing geopolitical tensions near the Red Sea and in the Middle East. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), a key barometer of container freight rates worldwide, soared to over 2,700 for the first time since September 2022. The tire companies are vulnerable to external uncertainties, primarily because they generate a significant portion of their sales from overseas. According to a quarterly earnings report from Nexen Tire, expenditures on freight costs rose to 63.7 billion won ($46.2 million) in the first quarter, up 16 percent year-on-year. Similarly, Kumho Tire experienced a three percent surge in freight costs, reaching 77.5 billion won during the same period. Of particular concern is that it remains unclear when the external risks will subside, since Korean tire makers derive the majority of their revenues from markets outside their home country. Earlier, Kumho Tire reported first-quarter sales of 1.04 trillion won. More than 60 percent of the figure was generated from overseas markets. As a result, the rising freight burden comes as a major risk factor for the tire maker. This is feared to temporarily halt the earnings rallies of the tire firms, according to industry officials. Tire firms generated robust earnings in the first quarter on increasing sales of premium and lucrative tires, but the lingering freight uncertainty may drag down the growth momentum, unless the geopolitical risks are cleared, an official at a local tire company said. Typically, tire firms sign freight contracts on an annual or biennial basis, so the recent spike in the rate may not pose an immediate threat, but if the uncertainties continue, this will hamper the overall profitability of tire manufacturers here. The state-run Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) also expressed concerns over the sharp rise of the SCFI. The index has steeply risen for the first four months of this year, and the pace is uncommonly rapid, so fear sentiment is growing that the ocean freight rate entered a negative cycle featuring a drastic fall in container ships, a recent report published by the KOBC said. By Lee Min-hyung An appellate court has ordered SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to pay 1.38 trillion won ($1 billion) to his estranged wife, Roh So-young, in a property division settlement. This amount is approximately a 20-fold increase compared to the 66.5 billion won previously ordered by a lower court. While the lower court did not acknowledge Roh's contribution to Chey's asset accumulation, the high court did so. The amount awarded in the property division is the largest among known cases in this jurisdiction. The Seoul High Court also mandated him to pay 2 billion won in alimony, marking a substantial increase from the 100 million won ordered by the Seoul Family Court in December 2022. The two initiated divorce proceedings between 2017 and 2019, following Chey's admission of having a child out of wedlock. Roh initially demanded alimony of 300 million won and half of Cheys stake in the groups holding company, valued at around 1 trillion won. However, the lower court substantially reduced the awarded amount at that time. Roh contributed to boosting SK Groups corporate value and to Cheys management activities So all of the chairmans property is subject to division, it said, overturning the lower court's ruling that shares held by Chey in SK Inc. were not subject to division. As Roh was the daughter of late former President Roh Tae-woo, the court said, We consider the former president played a role as a protector or shield for late former SK Group Chairman Chey Jong-hyun (the current chairman's father), which helped successful business activities for the group. The court also stepped up criticism of Chey for suspending any financial support to Roh after the first trial and showing an insincere attitude. Even if the marital relationship has not been (legally) dissolved, Chey has suspended credit cards and stopped providing cash living expenses after the first ruling, the court said. On top of that, he also did not show an attitude of respect regarding the ongoing legal process, without reflecting on his misconduct. It continued: The amount of alimony assessed in the first ruling is too low, considering the mental anguish triggered by the marital breakdown. It said Chey spent more than 21.9 billion won on maintaining relationships with T&C Foundation President Kim Hee-young after separating from Roh, and has provided economically unquantifiable benefits to her. By Ko Dong-hwan Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryung on Thursday pledged to provide stronger support for the country's major kimchi exporting firms as the food industry has been showing robust growth in the global market and the government is determined to make a record kimchi export this year. Meeting representatives of six kimchi makers here at Museum Kimchikan in central Seoul, Song said that the government will improve the existing cold chain supply channels for kimchi ingredients including essential bacteria for microbial fermentation, which determine the quality of kimchi. Song pledged to support the companies' market expansion to overseas by matching them with foreign buyers and researching new recipes using kimchi for broader consumers around the world. Listening to the company representatives' wishes to see mitigated business operation costs and higher global demands for kimchi, Song said that she will consider more financial boosts and promote further the K-Food logo in global events to raise awareness on kimchi internationally. "The diversity of kimchi we're exporting to 92 countries right now is quite staggering. There has truly been a major change that has boosted kimchi's variety to a level I never imagined," Song said after checking key products exported by major firms like CJ Cheiljedang, Pulmuone, Daesang and smaller companies such as Iikim, Louetlang and Open Sauce Lab. The products showcased at the museum included kimchi sauces to kimchi powder, dried kimchi blocks and kimchi without "jeotgal" (salted preserved seafood widely used when making kimchi) to offer more options for consumers. "Among the food products we're heavily exporting are manufactured products like instant noodles. But as for fresh produce, kimchi is on top of the list." Korea's kimchi export has recently grown broader and more extensive in the past decade. Compared to 2013 when almost 74 percent of kimchi exports headed to Japan, the global market grew larger with the United States (25.7 percent) and the Europe (11.5 percent) importing significant portions of kimchi alongside Japan (39.5 percent) last year. This year, as of this month, kimchi exports amounted to $67.3 million, a year-on-year increase of 5.5 percent. Exported kimchi is now on shelves in major retail chains like the United States' Costco and Walmart and France's Carrefour. To attract more foreign consumers, companies have been introducing new kimchi using ingredients and recipes specific to their respective regions. "I believe that food is the best way to promote Korean culture overseas," Song said. "I also believe that the government and companies here as one team can together beat last year's food exports of $9.16 billion by reaching $10 billion this year." Jurors in Donald Trump's hush money trial finished their first day of closed-door deliberations on Wednesday without reaching a verdict that would decide the fate of the only U.S. president to be charged with a crime. The 12 jurors and six alternates were due to return to the New York courthouse at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday to weigh evidence and witness testimony they have seen and heard over the five weeks of trial. It was unclear when they might reach a verdict. Trump, 77, is charged with falsifying business documents to cover up a $130,000 payment just before the 2016 presidential election to silence porn star Stormy Daniels, who alleged they had a sexual encounter. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies a liaison with her. He left the courtroom pumping the air with his fist and ignoring reporters' questions. Late in the day, jurors asked Justice Juan Merchan for transcripts of testimony by two witnesses: former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, who testified that Trump was aware of the payoff and worked to cover it up, and former National Enquirer tabloid publisher David Pecker, who testified about his efforts to bury stories that might have hurt Trump's candidacy. They also told Merchan they wanted him to repeat the detailed instructions he had given them earlier in the day to guide their deliberations. It was unclear whether jurors wanted to hear all of those instructions again or just a portion. Any verdict requires unanimous agreement by all 12 jurors. The judge will declare a mistrial if they are unable to resolve their differences. Trump, a Republican, has cast the trial as an attempt to undercut his bid to take back the White House from Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election. "Mother Teresa could not beat these charges," he told reporters outside the courtroom, referring to the late Nobel Peace Prize laureate. "The whole thing is rigged." Merchan told jurors to apply extra scrutiny to the testimony of Cohen because he was an accomplice to the payments at the heart of the case. Cohen was Trump's fixer and private lawyer for about a decade until they had a falling out. Cohen testified that he paid the $130,000 out of his own pocket to prevent Daniels from telling voters about the alleged sexual encounter with Trump that she says took place 10 years before the 2016 election. Cohen testified that Trump approved the payoff and agreed after the election to a plan to reimburse Cohen through monthly installments disguised as legal fees. Trump's lawyers have argued that jurors cannot rely on Cohen, a convicted felon with a long track record of lying, to tell the truth. "He is literally the greatest liar of all time," Trump lawyer Todd Blanche toll jurors on Tuesday. Prosecutors say voice messages, emails and other evidence back up Cohen's testimony. Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office face the burden of proving Trump's guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt," the standard under U.S. law. They say the Daniels payment could have contributed to Trump's 2016 victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton by keeping an unflattering story out of the public eye. A conviction will not prevent Trump, from trying to take back the White House. Nor will it prevent him from taking office if he wins. Opinion polls show Trump and Biden locked in a tight race. But Reuters/Ipsos polling has found that a guilty verdict could cost Trump support among independent and some Republican voters. Trump faces up to four years in prison if found guilty, but those found guilty of the crime he is charged with are more often fined or given probation. A verdict of not guilty would remove a major legal barrier, freeing Trump from the obligation to juggle court appearances and campaign stops. If convicted, he would be expected to appeal. Trump faces three other criminal prosecutions, but they are not expected to go to trial before the November election. Biden campaign officials say any verdict will not substantially change the dynamics of the election. (Reuters) China could arrange a peace conference in which Russia and Ukraine would participate, the RIA news agency cited Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying on Thursday. Lavrov said such a move would be a continuation of Beijing's efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. "We share (China's) position that the root causes of the conflict need to be addressed in the first place and legal interests of all parties need to be protected, with subsequent agreements based on the principle of equal and indivisible security," Lavrov said in an interview with the agency. "Let me underscore again, this entails respecting realities on the ground, which reflect the will of people living there." Russia has repeatedly called for talks with a precondition that Kyiv and the West recognize its territorial gains in Ukraine. Kyiv has rejected those proposals. Lavrov criticized the United States for aiding Ukraine, saying Washington has become "an accomplice in the crimes of the Kyiv regime." He said, in particular, that Russia regarded the planned supplies of nuclear-capable F-16 fighters to Ukraine as a "signal action" by NATO. "They are trying to tell us that the United States and NATO would stop at nothing in Ukraine," Lavrov said. "Nevertheless, we hope that the Russian-Belarusian drills on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons that are under way now will knock some sense into our opponents by reminding them about the catastrophic consequences of further nuclear escalation." In the Middle East, Lavrov said, the United States was also "fanning the flames of conflict." (Reuters) SNSD Hyoyeon and aespa NingNing showed off their hilarious chemistry while enjoying delicious food and drinks. On May 29, the Girls' Generation member released the premiere episode of her new YouTube web show, "Hyoyeon's Level Up." There, Hyoyeon invited her junior idol aespa NingNing as the first guest, and they talked about various topics while enjoying a sumptuous feast. When their food was being served, NingNing expressed her excitement and randomly let out a cute sound, "niahong~", like a cat. Confused, Hyoyeon asked her: "Is that trending these days? Niahong?" NingNing then confessed: "It's kind of my habit. It's annoying and cute, right?" Perplexed with the maknae's sudden "aegyo" attack, Hyoyeon blurted: "What the hell?" ALSO READ: Girls' Generation Hyoyeon Finally Breaks the Silence About SM Entertainment's Solo Artist Selection Criteria Behind the studio, NingNing then further explained her unique habit of copying the sound of a cat and said: "We usually understand other's feelings depending on their expressions, right? If you do it like, 'nyang, nyang' just like this, they don't really know what I'm feeling exactly. They don't really get it, which is quite fun to me." Flaunting her "maknae" energy in front of Hyoyeon, her senior idol refuted that she was giving off the image of the youngest member. The SNSD member acknowledged NingNing's skills and praised her: "Feels like she does her work very well, you know?" However, NingNing's team denied this and exposed her for being spoiled. However, the young star explained: "I did it on purpose... to look cute." As the interview went on, Hyoyeon then flaunted her Chinese-speaking skills to the Chinese aespa member and when the latter asked if SM forced her to learn it, Hyoyeon replied: "At the time, they selected one girl and one boy (to learn Chinese) and I said I wanted to go. I was determined and showed them my passion." Hearing this, NingNing once again said: "Meow." *hyoyeon telling a story ningning: *meow hyoyeon:... *woof I CANTTT NINGNING WAS SO SURPRISED pic.twitter.com/v3cv1FNEj5 (@soshirevelae) May 29, 2024 Distracted by it, Hyoyeon hilariously responded: "So...woof!" Shocked by Hyoyeon, NingNing took some time laughing before she was able to collect herself and said: "You're the first person to react like this." Hyoyeon also said: "You're the first person to cry like a cat." As the episode concluded, Hyoyeon left her impression by meeting NingNing alone, saying: "I might be quite a good senior responding to her 'meow' with a 'woof.' Although she seems quirky, she is very mature and I could learn to have a positive mindset." READ MORE: 'Pick Me Trip in Bali' Cast Hyoyeon, Bomi, Nayoung, More Stranded in Bali + Passport Confiscated for THIS Reason For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dela Cruz NINGNING, a member of the popular K-pop girl group aespa, recently shared her feelings of sadness about not having enough time and energy to enjoy drinks with her fellow group members anymore. This candid revelation came during her guest appearance on the May 29 episode of "Level Up," a YouTube show hosted by Hyoyeon from Girls' Generation. At the start of the video, Hyoyeon asked NINGNING about her recent activities, inquiring if she had been socializing much. NINGNING responded with a bittersweet smile, "Well, the members of aespa and I used to frequently go out for meals and drinks, but I don't have the time and energy for it anymore. So, I don't really drink these days." Hyoyeon expressed surprise at this revelation and probed further, "Really? You know, as trainees, we always dream of our lives after debut. I'm sure you did too. Is your current life anything like you imagined it would be?" IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS: aespa NingNing Goes Viral for Pre-Debut vs Current Visuals: 'There's a big difference in...' Reflecting on her journey, NINGNING replied, "I always try to imagine myself perfectly, so I keep striving to become that in real life. Maybe I'm at 70% of how I pictured myself before debut? I don't know. But even now, I think I'm continually growing. I definitely want to grow even more in the future though. I have a lot of ambition and many things I want to do. I really enjoy continuously improving myself." Discussing her stress management, NINGNING added, "I used to get really stressed out, but over time I've gotten used to it. Since it's the path I chose, I realized there's no point in getting stressed about it. There are more and more people who like me, and I feel like I need to do better for them. If I get too tired and stressed out now, and show it, it feels too irresponsible." Hyoyeon, impressed by NINGNING's maturity, responded, "You sound very mature anofed prssional!" Recently, aespa's NingNing faced criticism after a Chinese fan revealed their reason for leaving the fandom. The fan, who had participated in 12 fan calls with NingNing, expressed disappointment that she failed to recognize them despite the repeated interactions. This incident sparked debate in online communities, with some defending NingNing, citing possible eyesight issues and the challenge of remembering numerous fans. Others sympathized with the fan, highlighting the financial and emotional investment fans make. The controversy divided opinions, with some emphasizing the importance of idols acknowledging dedicated fans. You can watch the full video here. YOU MIGHT BE ALSO INTERESTED IN: aespa NingNing Criticized for Armpit Fats in THIS Photo - MYs Defend idol For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Cassidy Jones. In the ever-vigilant world of K-Pop fandoms, even the slightest digital gesture can ignite a wildfire of speculation. BIGBANG's G-Dragon, no stranger to social media controversies, finds himself once again in the crosshairs for his recent Instagram activity, specifically his decision to follow aespa's Karina on the platform. This isn't the first time G-Dragon's online actions have raised eyebrows. Previously, his interactions with female K-Pop idols sparked rumors and heated discussions. Instances like using IVE Wonyoung's sticker on Instagram and liking f(x)'s Krystal's posts led to unwarranted dating rumors and temporary shutdowns of social media accounts. Recently, an eagle-eyed netizen uncovered that G-Dragon's private side account, @peaceminusone, was among those following Karina. IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS: BIGBANG G-Dragon Puts End to Discord Rumor With TOP by Doing THIS While G-Dragon keeps his main account private, this revelation prompted questions about his motives and past controversies. Some find it perplexing that he chose his side account for this follow, given his history of social media scrutiny. The discovery has ignited a storm of opinions within the K-Pop community. While some passionately defend Karina and question G-Dragon's intentions, others argue that his actions are innocuous, given Karina's popularity and widespread following. The central question remains: Is the criticism warranted? While some argue that G-Dragon should be more mindful of his actions, especially considering his past controversies, others contend that his freedom to follow whom he pleases shouldn't be policed. Meanwhile, BIGBANG's G-Dragon has recently been noticed liking an Instagram post by aespa's Karina, sparking reactions from Korean netizens. Since joining Galaxy Corporation in December 2023, G-Dragon's increased social media activity has drawn attention, especially amidst rumors of a solo comeback. The like on Karina's post, shared on April 11, 2024, has led to speculation about their relationship, although some view it as typical behavior from G-Dragon. Despite varying opinions, many attribute the like to Karina's charm. YOU MIGHT BE ALSO INTERESTED IN: BIGBANG G-Dragon Puts End to Discord Rumor With TOP by Doing THIS For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Cassidy Jones. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): Hiroshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to India and Bhutan, indicated that Japan is looking forward to working with Adani Group after meeting Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group on May 29. The ambassador took to social media platform X to share his insights after visiting Mundra Port, and Khavda. Also Read | Central Railway Mega Block Work: Shiv Sena Urges Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde To Declare Holidays or Allow WFH Following 63-Hour Mega Block for Platform Extension. "Had a fantastic meeting with Mr Gautam Adani, Chairman of Adani group. Deeply grateful for his warm friendship, and his commitment to strengthening the special partnership between Japan and India. Eagerly looking forward to working together into the future," ambassador Suzuki said in his post.https://x.com/HiroSuzukiAmbJP/status/1796173401633038658 Japanese ambassador expressed gratitude for the commitment shown by Adani to enhance the partnership between Japan and India. Also Read | Underworld Don Chhota Rajan Gets Life Term in 2001 Murder of Hotelier Jaya Shetty, His Second After Journalist J Deys Killing. On May 29, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani posted on the social media platform X to convey his insights following his meeting with Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki. "Had a very engaging discussion with Amb Hiroshi Suzuki of Japan. We are grateful for his visit to our Mundra Port and to Khavda where we are building the world's largest Hybrid Renewable Energy Park of 30 GW capacity. The Ambassador's appreciation for India's culture, the value he places on our partnership and his tremendous support for India are truly inspiring," Adani said in his post on X. As claimed by Adani, the coal to port company is building world's largest Hybrid Renewable Energy Park of 30 GW capacity. Th project is being developed by Adani Green Energy Limited. It will be the largest largest power plant on the earth after the completion. It covers an area of 538 sq km on arid ground in Khavda, Kutch, Gujarat, the company claims. Its area is nearly as big as Mumbai and five times larger than Paris. On February 14, 2024, 551 MW of solar energy was transferred from the project to the national grid for the first time. Adani Green Energy Limited will invest roughly Rs 1.5 lakh crore for the project. The visit by Ambassador Suzuki to the Khavda project site and the Mundra Port demonstrates Japan's interest in and support for India's renewable energy industry. Japan has been actively funding infrastructure projects in the country, among them Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project (IV), The Dhubri-Phulbari bridge, Phulbari-Goeragre section of NH 127B, Chennai Peripheral Ring Road, and Dedicated Freight Corridor Project are some of the major projects. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Join the Celebration: Special Deals at 300+ Nationwide outlets - One Bite Closer to your Dreams VMPL New Delhi [India], May 30: ONE BITE is one of the fastest-growing fast-food restaurant chains in India, renowned for its diverse menu, alluring ambience, and groundbreaking franchise opportunities. With 300+ outlets nationwide, ONE BITE empowers individuals to realize their entrepreneurial dreams through its innovative franchise model, offering attractive investment options and significant returns. Also Read | Paris Olympic Games 2024: Indian Female Athletes to Wear Saree, Male Athletes to Don Kurta During Ceremonial Events: Report. In the Fast-Paced world of Fast Food Franchises, achieving significant milestones is not a small feat. However One Bite, a prominent brand in the Indian fast food industry, has recently marked a remarkable achievement by expanding its footprint to over 300+ Franchise outlets nationwide. We have covered 26 States of Indian Territories and leading to a widespread presence in almost 280+ cities and towns successfully. This milestone not only underscores the brand's robust growth but also speaks volumes about its popularity and customer appeal. Over the years, the brand's commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction has propelled its expansion. ONE BITE VISION: Also Read | Excise Policy Scam: Delhi Court Issues Notice to ED on Arvind Kejriwal's Pleas for Bail in Money Laundering Case. Great things in business are never done by one person, they're done by a team of people. Our franchisee's for us is the same team of people who are supporting us and counting on us in "One bite" expansion for PAN INDIA. ONE BITE MISSION: Being a new venture in Industry Success wouldn't be possible without our Franchisees's Alliance, their contribution means a lot to us. We believe that "Most good Associations are built on Mutual Trust & Respect" So give an opportunity to "One Bite" for becoming a successful Franchisee with Economic Investment & Huge Returns. ONE BITE USPs of Becoming Franchise Partner: * Very Economic Investment with Good Returns. * Break even time is 12 to 15 months, as Investment is less. * Very Negligible Royalty 2 per cent. In Case if Sale would be Below to 3 lacs in a Month, then No Royalty would be Applicable. * Trained staff support would be there at the time of opening of outlet. * No wastage would be there, as we have the best Customized Inventory Maintained software. * No chef or skilled person would be required as we have to assemble Frozen Precooked material at the store level, so a fresh guy with a very minimal salary can also mug up things within 15 to 20 days. One Bite's Franchise Model is designed to Empower Franchisees with Comprehensive Support, including assistance with Site Selection, Outlet Setup, Training, Marketing, and ongoing Operational Guidance. How we work at One Bite is mentioned Below by Picturization; CONCLUSION: So, To Celebrate this significant milestone, One Bite is thrilled to announce a special offer for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to join its franchise network. As a gesture of appreciation to its loyal customers and prospective franchisees, One Bite is offering a 10 per cent Flat Discount on Franchise fees for a limited time. One Bite invites aspiring entrepreneurs to join its journey and become a part of its thriving franchise network. Don't miss this opportunity to take a bite of success with One Bite! NOTE: For those who are interested in availing the special franchise offer of 10 per cent discount on Franchise Fees, kindly send a screenshot of this article for Reference. For Franchise Enquiries, Please Contact: Mukesh Patel 8800893218 (Business Development Head) (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) VMPL New Delhi [India], May 30: Odoo is the leading all-in-one business management software suite, meeting the demands of businesses of all sizes, industries, and verticals. All apps are fully integrated to manage everything from CRM to accounting, seamlessly connecting your data to create a streamlined process. Also Read | Excise Policy Scam: Delhi Court Issues Notice to ED on Arvind Kejriwal's Pleas for Bail in Money Laundering Case. As it is open-source, it is not only highly customizable, but also offers efficient and rapid scalability. This makes it a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large corporations. Odoo Community Days India 2024: India's Biggest Tech & Business Event Also Read | England vs Pakistan Live Streaming Online on SonyLIV and FanCode, 4th T20I 2024: How To Watch ENG vs PAK Cricket Match Free Live Telecast on TV in India?. Calling all business leaders, IT professionals, and Odoo enthusiasts! Get ready for India's biggest tech and business event of the year, Odoo Community Days India 2024 - taking place on August 23-24 at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Center in Gandhinagar, India. Odoo Community Days India 2024 is a unique opportunity for businesses of all sizes to explore the transformative power of Odoo. This two-day event will bring together Odoo experts, users & customers, developers, and implementation partners, to share their knowledge, insights, and best business practices. What to Expect at Odoo Community Days India 2024 * Keynote addresses: Fabien Pinckears, CEO & founder of Odoo will demonstrate the features coming to the new version Odoo 18.0. * Inspiring Sessions: Enter the world of integrated business software with over 100 insightful talks spread across two days. Learn from the Odoo product, consultants, implementation partners & developers about the upcoming features of key apps including CRM, Accounting, inventory, e-commerce, marketing, and get insight of how it will help you to streamline your business process. * Expand Your Network: Over 5,000 attendees from all across India are expected at the event. This is your chance to meet other businesses, share ideas, and build valuable connections that can help your company grow. * Exhibitors: Connect and interact with 100+ Odoo Partners from all over the world to showcase their latest solutions and innovations and establish professional connections. * Evening Parties: Wrap up your day with our evening parties - a mix of live concerts, delicious dinners, and mocktails. Who should attend? * Business Owner: Looking for next generation business solutions. * Students: For exploring opportunities to become a part of Odoo Community. * Partner Prospects: Companies interested in collaborating with Odoo and becoming a valued partner. Why Attend? * Unveil the Latest: Be among the first to discover Odoo 18.0's latest features. * Expert Insights: Learn best practices from Odoo product, consultants, implementation partners & developers * Expand Your Network: Connect with Odoo users, partners, and developers. * Boost Your Skills: Develop your Odoo knowledge and skills to optimize business processes. * Stay Competitive: Gain a competitive edge by learning how Odoo adapts your business to the ever-changing tech landscape. Register Now and Save Your Spot! Registration for Odoo Community Days India 2024 is now open! Secure your spot at this premier event. Visit Odoo Community Days India for more information and registration details. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, connect, and collaborate at Odoo Community Days India 2024! (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) VMPL New Delhi [India], May 30: Hum Fauji Initiatives (HFI) has been recognized for the second consecutive year as one of India's Top 'Most Future Ready' companies for the year 2024-2025. This prestigious accolade was unveiled on May 23, 2024, at the Economic Times' ET Future Ready Awards held at The Sahara Star, Mumbai. Also Read | Star Sports Channel Number on Airtel Digital TV, TATA Play, Videocon d2h, Dish TV: Where to Watch Live Telecast of ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on DTH?. Joining the ranks of industry giants such as Amazon, Bajaj Capital, Capgemini, Coca-Cola, Lenovo, MakeMyTrip, Microsoft, and Reliance, Hum Fauji Initiatives stands tall among the leading global corporations. With a large number of companies vying for the honour through rigorous selection rounds spanning two months, Hum Fauji Initiatives and NTPC were the only two organisations that were recognized and included in this hallowed list for two consecutive years highlighting HFI's unwavering commitment to excellence. "HFI has done it again for the second time in a row," exclaimed Col Sanjeev Govila (Retd), CEO of HFI. "Competing with so many outstanding small and medium companies across the nation and being listed among the 17 future-ready companies in the small and mid sized enterprises for the coming year is a monumental achievement." This accolade is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire team. Delving deeper, it is clear that the following core values have led to this enormous win for a niche brand. A business that redefined how 'Blue Ocean Strategy' can be effectively and continually applied to the financial services industry. Some features include: Also Read | Elon Musk Says Rocket Reusability Key for Humanity To Become a Spacefaring Civilisation. * Dedicated Team Members: The HFI team embodies the spirit of service and dedication intrinsic to fauji ethos, driving HFI forward with passion, resilience and determination. * Customer Centricity: Clients are at the heart of all of HFI's operations, with a tradition of anticipating needs and exceeding expectations. * Innovation: Embracing creativity and being forward-thinking, HFI continually seeks ways to revolutionise and enhance its services through continuously researching human and technological efficient frontiers. * Future Vision: With a clear and ambitious vision, HFI confidently navigates the evolving landscape. * Automation: Leveraging cutting-edge technology including the AI to streamline processes and enhance efficiency, paving the way for sustainable growth. * Ethical Values: Guided by integrity and transparency, HFI upholds the highest ethical standards, earning the trust and respect of stakeholders. * Inclusion: A commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity is central to the culture, fostering a collaborative environment that sets HFI apart. Col Sanjeev Govila (Retd), CEO, and Bindu Govila, COO, received the awards on behalf of Hum Fauji Initiatives. The modest couple-preneur shared profound gratitude to the entire armed forces community for their steadfast support and for being an integral part of HFI's journey over the past 14 years. "Our mission to support the financial well-being of the armed forces community is at the heart of everything we do," said Bindu Govila, COO of HFI. "This award reinforces our commitment to innovation, excellence, and the unique needs of our clients." The niche focus of 'By the Faujis, For the Faujis' underscores HFI's specialised mission to serve the armed forces community. "Being a part of this esteemed group of companies is a tremendous honour," added Col Sanjeev Govila (Retd), "It validates our relentless pursuit of excellence and our unwavering dedication to the financial security of armed forces personnel." The award is really about people, culture, technology and workplace shifts. It is noteworthy that Hum Fauji Initiatives incorporate the unique culture and traditions of the armed forces in managing their people. A reel on their social media platforms showcases how the organisation is weaving inclusiveness and equality into their people management strategy, drawing from their armed forces experiences and lessons. Hum Fauji Initiatives looks forward to building on this success by leveraging diversity, equality, and inclusiveness while continuing its journey of growth and innovation. This recognition cements HFI as a perfect case study of niche marketing, demonstrating how specialised focus and core values can drive an organisation to stand out and excel in a competitive landscape. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, May 30 (PTI) The ruling alliance in Maharashtra on Thursday spoke in different voices in connection with Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad tearing a poster with a picture of Babasaheb Ambedkar during a protest. Awhad had taken part in a protest at Mahad in Raigad district against the state government's alleged plans to introduce some verses from the Manusmriti in the school curriculum. The ancient text supported the caste system and denigrated women, he had said earlier, asking people to oppose the decision. Also Read | Bus Accident in Jammu and Kashmir: 21 Killed, 69 Injured As Bus Falls Into Gorge on Jammu-Poonch Highway in Akhnoor (Watch Videos). A controversy erupted after videos of that protest showed Awhad tearing up a stack of posters which also had Ambedkar's picture on them. While the BJP held protests across Maharashtra against Awhad, state minister and leader of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP Chhagan Bhujbal told reporters in Nashik that the MLA had torn the poster by mistake and he should be forgiven. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: 25-Year-Old Woman Drugged, Raped by E-Rickshaw Driver, Accused Arrested. "Awhad's intention was good to go to Mahad. He tore the poster of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar unintentionally and mistakenly. Others also followed him. However, he has tendered an apology in this matter. Therefore, his feelings should be understood," Bhujbal said. Criticizing him just because he is an opponent is not right, Bhujbal said, adding he too was opposed to the Manusmriti being included in the school curriculum. "Those who oppose the Manusmriti and its contents should not get diverted to any other topic. Manusmriti cannot be included in the school text," Bhujbal asserted. Hitting back, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar said, "It is unfortunate that Bhujbal who boasts about his secular thoughts is sympathising with a person who has torn the poster of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Bhujbal's stand is inappropriate and I do not know with what wisdom he is making such a statement." "Our leader (deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis) has already made it clear no part of the Manusmriti is going to be included in the state curriculum. Despite this, Awhad held a protest on the matter," Darekar said. Meanwhile, Awhad's MLA colleague Rohit Pawar said the BJP was holding protests to divert people's attention from the Porsche car crash case in Pune. "Jitendra Awhad has immediately tendered his apology for an inadvertent mistake during the protest. However, the BJP is deliberately holding a state-wide agitation against him to divert people's attention from the defame it is getting from the Pune Porsche car accident," said Pawar on social media platform X. "Since when did the BJP develop so much affection for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar? If the BJP honestly loves and respects him, will it have the courage to burn the copies of Manusmriti openly?" asked the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA. Two IT professionals were killed in the early hours of May 19 in Kalyani Nagar in Pune after a Porsche allegedly being driven by a drunk minor rammed into their two wheeler. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Patna, May 30 (PTI) Campaign ended on Thursday for eight Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, where the fate of more than 100 candidates will be decided by over 1.60 crore voters in the seventh and final phase of polls. Voting is scheduled at Patna Sahib, Patliputra, Arrah, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Buxar, Sasaram and Karakat on Saturday. Also Read | Bus Accident in Jammu and Kashmir: 21 Killed, 69 Injured As Bus Falls Into Gorge on Jammu-Poonch Highway in Akhnoor (Watch Videos). Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued leading the NDA's campaign, with rallies in Buxar and Patliputra, which the BJP seeks to retain, and in Karakat where an ally is in the fray. In the last general elections, 39 out of 40 seats in Bihar were bagged by the NDA and the PM seemed determined to ensure another great performance by the coalition, with altogether 15 rallies in the state, where polls were staggered across all seven phases, besides s roadshow in the capital city. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: 25-Year-Old Woman Drugged, Raped by E-Rickshaw Driver, Accused Arrested. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, too, chipped in, with rallies in Karakat and the reserved seat of Sasaram, another constituency which the BJP seeks to retain. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was last seen in the state for a rally at Bhagalpur more than a month ago, flew down to address three back-to-back election meetings in Patna Sahib, which his party is contesting, and in Patliputra and Arrah, for allies RJD and CPI(ML)L, respectively. BJP president J P Nadda canvassed in Arrah, where Union minister R K Singh is aiming at a hat-trick, besides Nalanda and Jehanabad, which ally JD(U), headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seeks to retain. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge campaignedin Patna Sahib and Sasaram, which is also being contested by the party. In Karakat, NDA candidates Upendra Kushwaha, who heads the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, received ample support from the BJP as, besides the PM and the home minister, two rallies were held in his support by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Singh also canvassed in Patna Sahib and Buxar, urging the people at all his rallies to excuse him for speaking while remaining seated on account of a recent injury in the leg. With the BJP in the fray in altogether five of the last-phase seats in Bihar, regional sartraps were also pressed into service. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath campaigned in Patna Sahib and Arrah while Madhya Pradesh counterpart Mohan Yadav did the same in Patna Sahib and Patliputra. Patna Sahib has former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad seeking re-election and he received some more support from ex-cabinet colleagues Nirmala Sitharaman and Smriti Irani, both of whom interacted with renowned citizens of the state capital, which falls in the constituency. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi was also in Bihar to shore up support for the AIMIM candidates in Patliputra and Karakat, where he lambasted the RJD-Congress-Left combine, and vowed to support a government at the Centre, which did not have "Modi or any other BJP leader as the prime minister". RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who claimed to have set a record of sorts by addressing more than 250 rallies in the multiple phase elections, carried out his campaign seated in a wheelchair with a belt wrapped around his injured back. (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, May 30 (PTI) The mood of the country indicates it wants a change and the INDIA bloc will get good enough number of seats that will ensure it gets a clear-cut mandate and form a government, senior Congress leader K C Venugopal said on Thursday. In a wide-ranging interview with the PTI, the Congress general secretary, Organisation, said that the Congress treated this Lok Sabha election as "poor versus rich" and raised people's issues, while noting that the BJP's tally in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra "will come down drastically." Also Read | Underworld Don Chhota Rajan Gets Life Term in 2001 Murder of Hotelier Jaya Shetty, His Second After Journalist J Deys Killing. He also asserted that there was no wave for the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi this time on the ground. The Congress leader said that once the numbers come in their favour, the INDIA parties would decide on their prime ministerial candidate "without any delay" with consultations, and asserted that no unilateral decision will be taken in this regard by the Congress. Also Read | Manipur Rains: Three Killed, Thousands Affected As Landslides, Floods Wreak Havoc in Eight Districts of State (Watch Video). Venugopal also hit out at the Election Commission, alleging that a "lack of transparency" has been witnessed throughout the election on the part of the poll watchdog, with no level-playing field maintained. He said the EC has to be a neutral player, as a referee, for it to be able to conduct free and fair poll. "But we are not experiencing that through the poll body's actions." Venugopal alleged that the ruling BJP created a narrative for polarisation and creating divisions in society. "The BJP's attitude was totally dictatorial in this election. The Congress party took a strong decision to focus on people's issues and that this election should be fought on people's issues. In this election, we treated this election as 'poor versus rich'," he told PTI. "Wherever we are going, we are getting the pulse that the change of mood is there in favour of INDIA alliance. We did not see any wave in favour of the BJP or Narendra Modi," he said. "Therefore, their (BJP's) seats will drastically go down in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. We are expecting good results from Assam also. These are states where the BJP got maximum seats, but there is going to be a decrease in seats for the BJP. "Our ground reports are very comfortable. We are winning a good number of seats, which will give us a clear-cut mandate on forming a government," Venugopal asserted. He said the Congress stuck with its narrative of "rich versus poor" despite attempts by the BJP leaders to throw it off its stride. "This type of polarising campaign by BJP got a negative impact," he said. Venugopal claimed that all those states where the BJP had scored maximum in 2019 election, including Rajasthan, Haryana, Karnataka, Bihar ,and Uttar Pradesh, its number will go down this time. "Maharashtra is totally in a changing mood. Karnataka, they got maximum, but it is also in a changing mood. Haryana, Rajasthan where we were zero, but the people are in a changing mood now. In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh also, there is a change on the ground," he said. Venugopal alleged that the BJP created a situation where it though it was going to win hands down without any opposition. "That is why they decided their entire campaign in a manner which a political party has never done in a national election in India. They were totally dependent on Ram Mandir. "Their only agenda throughout this elections is to create communal division among the people, by speaking about dharma and religion. This level has come from the Prime Minister himself, to build that narrative that this election is for polarisation. They did not create a level playing field for the opposition also," he said, as he raised the matter of jailing of several opposition leaders and freezing of their accounts. "Their attitude is totally dictatorial in this election," he alleged. Venugopal rubbished the claim made by Modi, that the Congress would give reservation to Muslims. In every speech, the Congress president and Rahul Gandhi said that the reservation is for SC, ST, OBC and poor people, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Nawanshahr (Punjab), May 30 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Thursday that the Constitution reflects the thinking of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak and freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, and claimed that it is under attack from the BJP and the RSS. Gandhi was interacting with farmers in Khatkar Kalan village in Punjab's Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district on the last day of campaigning for the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections. He was accompanied by the Congress' Anandpur Sahib candidate Vijay Inder Singla. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Shocker: Three Persons Allegedly Gang-Rape 26-Year-Old Woman in Gwalior. Khatkar Kalan is the ancestral village of Bhagat Singh. Gandhi said he was happy to visit the village of the legendary Bhagat Singh. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 7: Campaigning for Final Phase of LS Polls Ends, Voting To Take Place on June 1; Check Constituencies and Key Candidates. "For the first time in independent India, the Constitution is being attacked," he said. "Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and (other) BJP leaders have clearly said that if they win the elections, they will scrap and tear up Ambedkar's Constitution and throw it away," the Congress leader claimed. Holding a copy of the Constitution, Gandhi said it is not just a book. The Constitution reflects the thinking of Guru Nanak and other greats. "When the BJP and RSS people attack it, they attack the country's history and its heart. The most important thing in this election is the mission to protect Ambedkar's Constitution," he said. "The BJP is openly attacking the Constitution," he charged. Responding to an elderly women who spoke about "meagre" MGNREGA wages, Gandhi said if the opposition INDIA bloc comes to power, it will raise the daily wage from Rs 250 to Rs 400. He also said that honorariums of anganwadi and ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers will be doubled after June 4. Gandhi alleged the Modi government is working for only 22 billionaires. He also spoke about the Congress' proposed Mahalaxmi Yojana under which women from poor families will be given Rs 1 lakh every year. They will continue to receive this money till they come out of poverty, he said. He also said that 30 lakh vacancies in central government will be filled up by giving jobs to youths. Gandhi also targeted the Modi government over the Agniveer scheme and said it is an insult to the Army. He said if the INDIA bloc comes to power, it will throw the Agniveer scheme in the dustbin. Having two types of jawans in the Army is unacceptable. One will get pension, full training and martyr status while the Agniveer will neither get pension nor martyr status, he said. The government rolled out the Agnipath recruitment scheme in June 2022 for short-term induction of personnel with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three armed services. It provides for recruiting youngsters between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 for four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 30 (ANI): Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple chief priest, Acharya Satyendra Das weighed in on the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Kanyakumari for meditation and stated on Thursday that such a spiritual endeavour does not violate the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). "There is a law that determines what is the violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC). But, if someone visits a temple, and meditates for spiritual reasons is not a violation of the MCC. The Election Commission knows this and even the opposition knows this. But, since it's about the PM, who gets the energy from meditation that makes him win," Das said to ANI. Also Read | AI Learning in Kerala Schools: Government To Include Artificial Intelligence in School Textbooks for Class 7 in New Academic Year. "The opposition especially Congress knows this and hence they are opposing everything to stop the PM from winning its third term," Das added. PM Modi will visit the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari on May 30 to June 1 and meditate after the culmination of his Lok Sabha election campaign. Also Read | Noida Fire: Blaze Erupts Inside Flat of Lotus Boulevard Society in Sector 100, No Casualties Reported; Video Shows Heavy Smoke Billowing Out of Apartment. Responding to criticism from opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, Acharya Satyendra Das said that those who are opposing the PM's visit are wrong. "Rahul Gandhi has started to believe that he will win and become the Prime Minister, but it's not like that. The outcome will be determined by the people of our country, who know which party and which individual is truly concerned about our welfare. People know where the nation's interest lies. If the PM is going to Kanyakumari to meditate, then it is not a violation of the MCC. Those who oppose this are wrong," Acharya Das said. On his visit, the Prime Minister will visit the Rock Memorial and will meditate day and night at the same place where Swami Vivekananda did meditation, at the Dhyan Mandapam from May 30 evening to June 1, evening. Kanyakumari is the place where Swami Vivekananda had a vision of Bharat Mata. This rock had a major impact on Swami Vivekananda's life. People believe that like Sarnath holds a special place in the life of Gautam Buddha, this rock also holds a similar place in the life of Swami Vivekananda. It was here that he arrived after wandering across the country and mediated for 3 days and attained a vision for a developed India. According to mythology, Goddess Parvati also meditated at the same place on one foot as she waited for Bhagwan Shiv. This is the Southernmost tip of India. Further, this is the place where India's Eastern and Western coastlines meet. It is also the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. PM Modi is sending a signal of national unity by going to Kanyakumari. The Prime Minister is known to undertake spiritual journeys at the end of election campaigns. In line with this, he will reach Kanyakumari on May 30 and stay there till June 1. In 2019, he had visited Kedarnath, and in 2014 he visited Shivaji's Pratapgarh. The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats is being held in seven phases starting April 19. The counting of the votes will be held 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) Rajouri, May 30: A severe dry spell and soaring temperatures have sparked a series of forest fires in the Chingus Block and various other forest areas in the Nowshera Sub-Division of Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir. These fires, which began yesterday, disrupted normal life, covering the region in thick smoke and causing widespread distress among the local population. The resultant smoke has severely polluted the air, reducing visibility and posing health risks to residents and travellers alike. The local people, including those living near the forest, as well as small market vendors, hotel owners, shopkeepers, and dhaba operators, are grappling with the adverse effects of the fires and the accompanying smoke. Srinagar Fire: Blaze Erupts at Commercial Structure in Rajbagh, Video Shows Massive Flames. Mohd. Mustafa Charrakk, the Block Officer of the Chingus Forest Department, highlighted the efforts undertaken by the forest department in controlling the blaze. "My team has controlled the fire. The area is sloppy, so it needed to be controlled soon. We patrol at night to keep a check on the forest fires. It is a tough task to control these forest fires. Because the temperature is increasing, the fire is taking place in the near forests. As soon as we get information of the fire, we go there and try to bring it under control," Mohd. Mustafa Charrakk, the Block Officer of the Chingus Forest Department said. "We also patrol the area during the night to check for any signs of fire," he added. Jammu and Kashmir Fire: Blaze Erupts at Commercial Structure in Srinagar, No Casualties Reported (Watch Video). He also appealed to the locals to assist by promptly notifying the authorities about any fire incidents and cooperating in controlling the blaze. Mustafa Shabnam, a local urged the fire department to bring the blaze under control as soon as possible or else it could lead to harmful affects on their health. "The blaze has erupted since last evening here. We are facing suffocation. The Forest department is working but they haven't been able to control the blaze. We want to appeal to the administration to bring this under control. The blaze has spread in the whole area and it could lead to some harmful problems," said a local. Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 30 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday called for a judicial investigation into the alleged suicide of an official of the Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation (MVDC) in Karnataka's Bengaluru, on Monday. Former BJP national secretary and the party's senior leader in Karnataka, CT Ravi, targeted the ruling Congress government in the state over the alleged suicide incident, holding State Tribal Welfare Minister B Nagendra responsible and demanding his resignation. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 7: Campaigning for Final Phase of LS Polls Ends, Voting To Take Place on June 1; Check Constituencies and Key Candidates. "They (the state government) are trying to hide the issue. Funds for the development of SC, ST, and OBC communities were transferred to fake accounts. Karnataka Minister Nagendra is behind all of that. We will protest and demand his resignation. The matter should be investigated under judiciary leadership," CT Ravi told ANI on Thursday. Chandrasekaran (45), a resident of the Kenchappa colony in Vinobanagar, allegedly died by suicide on May 26. Chandrasekaran was a superintendent with the MVDC and was posted at its Bengaluru office. Also Read | Akhnoor Road Accident: 21 Killed, 40 Injured As Bus Falls Into Gorge on Jammu-Rajouri National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir (Watch Videos). In a six-page suicide note recovered by police, Chandrasekaran mentioned the names of three officials and alleged corruption worth crores in the corporation, demanding action against the named officials. A case has been registered in this regard at the Vinobanagar police station. On Wednesday, a team from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Karnataka police inspected Chandrasekaran's residence. The team found the deceased official's bag, which included a pen drive and laptop, among other items. The matter has led to political outrage, with the BJP attacking the state government. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said that an investigation is underway and that everything will be known after the probe. Regarding the BJP's demand to sack Minister Nagendra, Parameshwara said that a decision would be made after checking the authenticity of the death note. Earlier in the day, Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa visited the deceased MVDC officer's residence and assured support for his family. "I visited Chandrasekaran's residence as per the instructions of the Chief Minister. The government has said that it will provide whatever kind of help is needed, and it will ensure justice. I will provide any required cooperation from the government, and I will do whatever work is necessary from my side," Bangarappa told reporters after visiting the family. "Such an incident should not happen. The investigation is going on. Let the investigation be completed, and those who have done wrong should be punished," he 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) New Delhi, May 30: Major Radhika Sen of the Indian Army has been awarded the prestigious 'United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year' award for the year 2023, according to an official release. This accolade comes in recognition of her outstanding contributions to promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Major Radhika Sen was deployed to MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from March 2023 to April 2024, where she took charge as the Engagement Team Commander of the Indian Rapidly Deployed Battalion. "While serving as the Engagement Platoon Commander of the Indian Rapidly Deployed Battalion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), she demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment. She led a team comprising of 20 women soldiers and 10 male soldiers. Her work primarily focused on interacting with civilians, addressing security concerns of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and advocating for the voices of women, girls, and children in conflict zones," the release stated. Under her leadership, the engagement teams conducted educational sessions on essential topics, including women's health, education, childcare, gender equality, and employment. These initiatives, coupled with skill development programs, have not only enhanced self-reliance among local populations but also built trust and facilitated effective information gathering. When asked about her feelings on receiving the award, Major Radhika Sen expressed deep gratitude to her dedicated engagement platoon, particularly Major Saumya Singh, her second in command, for their unwavering support and guidance from her contingent members. She also acknowledged the Indian Army for the opportunity and trust bestowed upon her to serve in the DRC. Furthermore, she thanked her parents for their support and encouragement which pushed her to give her best always in difficult conditions. Her work has had a profound impact on the local communities in the DRC and has set a high standard for future peacekeeping missions worldwide. Major Sen's achievements exemplify the values of service, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to building peaceful and inclusive societies. Major Radhika Sen hails from Sunder Nagar, a small town in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. Both her parents were state government employees as teachers and are now retired. Her younger sister is pursuing an MD in Anesthesia. Major Sen completed her high school studies in Sunder Nagar and moved to Chandigarh for higher education. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering in Biotechnology and was pursuing her M Tech from IIT Mumbai before joining the Indian Army. Major Radhika Sen was commissioned into the Indian Army on September 10, 2016, and joined the Army Service Corps. In her Army career, she has served in challenging conditions in J-K, Ladakh and North Sikkim. "The Indian Army and the nation celebrate Major Radhika Sen for her remarkable achievements and her unwavering dedication towards advancing global peace and gender equality," the release added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Imphal East (Manipur) [India], May 30 (ANI): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday chaired a meeting with Ministers, MLAs, the Chief Secretary, security officials and all department officials to review the flood situation in the state. "Chaired a meeting with Ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary, security officials and all department officials to review the flood situation in the state, while assessing the ongoing measures to provide necessary aid & assistance to the affected families," Manipur Chief Minister said in a post on X. Also Read | India on Israeli Attack in Rafah: MEA Expresses Deep Concern Over Israeli Air Strike on Refugee Camps for Displaced People in Gazas Rafah (Watch Video). https://x.com/NBirenSingh/status/1796188865616662783 "Out of the 18 spots where the breach occurred in the embankments of rivers, 17 were sealed and the flooding in the surrounding areas have been successfully brought under control. The efforts to seal the remaining breach and the work to reinforce the embankments are underway," he added in the post. Also Read | Heatwave in India: No Respite From Searing Heat Across Northwest, Central India; Rajasthan's Ganganagar Hottest at 48.3 Degree Celsius. Heavy rainfall has caused flooding in parts of Manipur, including Imphal, where two overflowing rivers have inundated several areas. This occurred after Cyclone Remal triggered continuous rainfall in the state. Manipur Chief Minister said that the NDRF, Indian Army and Assam Rifles, along with local authorities, are carrying out rescue operations and saving people from various flood-hit areas of the state. As many as 40 personnel of the NDRF and 6 additional motorboats have also arrived in Imphal to aid the state government in the rescue operations, he added. https://x.com/NBirenSingh/status/1795874864823169339 "I appreciate the teams of the NDRF, Indian Army & Assam Rifles for supporting the local authorities in carrying out the rescue operations & saving precious lives at various flood areas of the state. As many as 40 personnel of the NDRF and 6 additional motorboats have also arrived in Imphal. I urge all to extend cooperation to the rescue teams as they perform their duties to ensure everyone's safety," Manipur Chief Minister said in another post on X. Manipur's Chief Minister mentioned that fishermen from Thanga are collaborating with the Loktak Development Authority team to rescue people stranded by the flood in various locations across the state. "Fishermen of Thanga are joining hands with the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) team in rescuing the ones stranded by the flood. The fishermen are evacuating flood-affected people from various locations across the state in full swing at present, and I am highly appreciative of their noble gesture at this hour. With concerted efforts from all sections, we can tide over the challenges and provide necessary aid to the affected families," Manipur Chief Minister said in another post on X. Cyclone Remal made landfall around May 26th in India and Bangladesh, causing heavy rains and floods in Manipur, particularly affecting areas like Imphal Valley. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 30 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar today categorically said there was no question of protecting the culprits of the Valmiki Development Corporation scam. Speaking to reporters after returning from the New Delhi visit, he said, "Strict action would be initiated against those who are responsible for the embezzlement of funds in Valmiki Development Corporation. There is absolutely no question of protecting the perpetrators." Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: MHA Grants X Category Security to 28 West Bengal BJP Leaders, Say Sources. Asked about the Opposition's demand for the resignation of Congress minister B Nagendra, he said, "It is the Opposition's dharma to demand his resignation. The Chief Minister has taken this case seriously and we are investigating the allegations. Unwarranted allegations don't deserve a response. An FIR has been lodged and the Managing Director has been suspended. If the allegations are proven, we will take strict action against all those involved." Asked about Congress' demand for the resignation of the then BJP minister K S Eshwarappa in a similar case, he said, "These two are different cases. The suicide letter had clearly stated that there was an oral instruction from Eshwarappa. In this case, there is no direct allegation against Nagendra. This is not a small scam, the government is investigating it." Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 7: High-Voltage Campaign Comes To End in West Bengal, It's Over to Voters Now. "After a lot of deliberations with the Central leadership, we have submitted a list of 65 shortlisted candidates. The decision will be taken by the High Command. The High Command had already given its word in the case of Yatindra. There are a lot of aspirants from Coastal, Central and Kalyana Karnataka regions. There are 21 aspirants in Mangaluru and 9 in Chikmagaluru constituency," he said. Asked about Home Minister Parameshwar's comment that the opinion of seniors must have been considered, he said, "We have taken his feedback. Parameshwar has also met the Chief Minister regarding this." Replying to a query on the yardstick for shortlisting candidates, he said priority was given to those who have worked for the party. Asked if Minister Boseraju would continue as a minister, he said it would be decided by the High Command. "The Legislature party meeting has been organised at a private hotel at 6 pm on June 2. MLAs, MLCs, ministers and MPs would be invited to the meeting. Several issues including the Legislative Council election will be discussed in the meeting. The Office bearers meet which was scheduled for June 1 has been postponed," he said. Replying to rumours that D K Suresh was being considered for the position of KPCC President, he said, "It is an absolute lie. Let the local body elections get over, we need to bring the party to a certain level before I step down. The Congress Bhavan on Race Course Road is in bad shape and a new building needs to be built." Asked if the Cabinet would be reshuffled, he told the reporters to ask the Chief Minister about it. Asked about the protest by women's organisations in Hassan, he said the right to protest can't be taken away in a democracy. Asked about women flocking post offices to open accounts in anticipation of a government scheme, he said, "That reflects the confidence people have in our guarantee schemes. India bloc will come to power. We have already said that we will give Rs 1 lakh per year to women if we come to power." (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], May 30 (ANI): Director of India Meteorological Department, Mumbai, Sunil Kamble said the monsoon will take eight to ten days to cover Maharashtra after arriving in Kerala. Sunil Kamble said that the monsoon is expected to reach Kerala in the next 24 hours. Also Read | Death Threat to T Raja Singh: Telangana BJP MLA Complains to Amit Shah About Receiving Threat Calls. "If you talk about Mumbai, the temperature range of Mumbai is 35-36 degrees centigrade. And for the summer season, these are quite normal temperatures. But because of the high humidity, like 80% to 90% humidity is there. That's why even at 35 percent-36 percent centigrade, we are getting the feel of 40 degrees. And if you look in and around Maharashtra, the temperature range is between 38 percent and 40 percent centigrade...," he told ANI. "The normal date of the onset of monsoon over Kerala is June 1. But we are expecting an advanced monsoon, and within 24 hours, we are expecting the monsoon to reach Kerala. Once the monsoon arrives in Kerala, it takes eight to ten days to cover Maharashtra, especially Mumbai..," Kamble added. Also Read | Sanju Techy Arrested: YouTuber From Kerala Held for Setting Up Swimming Pool Inside Moving Car (Watch Video). He said that the IMD has already issued a long-range forecast. "This season we will have more rainfall than normal." In 2023, rainfall over the country as a whole during monsoon season (June-September), was 94 per cent of its long-period average. The advance of the southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by monsoon onset over Kerala and is an important indicator characterising the transition from a hot and dry season to a rainy season. As the monsoon progresses northward, relief from scorching summer temperatures is experienced over the areas that it tends to cover. These rains are crucial to the Indian agriculture economy (especially for kharif crops). India has three cropping seasons -- summer, kharif and rabi. At a press conference on Monday, IMD chief said that above-normal rainfall is expected this monsoon season across the country in a much-needed respite from the heatwave sweeping the country. Director General of Meteorology, IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra had said, "The South West Monsoon rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be 106 per cent of the long-period average with a model error of 4 per cent. Thus, above-normal rainfall is most likely over the country as a whole." The forecast follows the prediction of above-normal rain this monsoon riding on favourable La Nina conditions, expected to set in between August and September. The weather office said that the heatwave across India will likely decline from May 30, warning of severe heatwave over northwest India over the next three days. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, May 31 (PTI) Suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, facing allegations of sexually abusing several women, was arrested by the SIT probing the case, minutes after he landed from Germany here in the wee hours of Friday. The 33 year-old MP was arrested at the Kempegowda International Airport by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), as soon as he returned to Bengaluru from Munich. Also Read | India on Israeli Attack in Rafah: MEA Expresses Deep Concern Over Israeli Air Strike on Refugee Camps for Displaced People in Gazas Rafah (Watch Video). A large number of policemen were deployed there to ensure that he was taken safely to police station for investigation. The MP returned to Bengaluru a month after the scandal broke out, only to be taken into custody by the Central Industrial Security Forces sleuths, who later handed him over to the SIT. Also Read | Heatwave in India: No Respite From Searing Heat Across Northwest, Central India; Rajasthan's Ganganagar Hottest at 48.3 Degree Celsius. After the formalities, the SIT took him under its custody, sources said. Exactly a month after he left the country, Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, had on May 27 released a video stating he will appear before the SIT on May 31. (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, May 30 (PTI) Along with the right to speech, the Constitution also provides for the right to remain silent, which can be exercised by individuals if they are arrested, former Supreme Court judge Madan Lokur said on Thursday. Participating in a discussion on "Freedom of Expression in Today's India" along with portal NewsClick's founding editor Prabir Purkayastha at the Press Club of India, Justice (retired) Lokur said all fundamental rights are interlinked and a variety of ways are being used to curb freedom of speech. Also Read | Maner Laddoo in Demand After PM Modi Mentions in Poll Speech, Bihari Sweets Popularity Had Similarly Skyrocketed When Aamir Khan Highlighted Them in 2012!. He said the Constitution provides for the right to silence, which means an individual can refuse to answer questions from police in case of arrest or detention. "One thing that I would like to say is that everybody has the fundamental right to remain silent. It is a right which is not being exercised by persons who are being taken into custody," the former apex court judge observed. Also Read | Monsoon 2024 Arrives in India: Southwest Monsoon to Arrive in Gujarat on June 15, Says IMD Forecast. "The Constitution says you have the right to be silent, which means if police ask you a question, you can say 'I will not answer....' What happens in that situation? Every now and then it happens. Police tell the court that the accused is not cooperating and therefore, bail should not be granted. "But that in my view is a clear violation of Article 20 of the Constitution, where you have the right to remain silent," he said. Justice Lokur suggested that if someone is arrested, he should remember that he has the right to remain silent because what he says can be used against him. "That can be the basis for further investigation or the future course of action," he said. Article 20(3) of the Constitution grants the right against self-incrimination. It says an accused is presumed to be innocent, the prosecution has to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt and he cannot be forced to give a statement against his will. Justice Lokur said freedom of expression is being curbed in a variety of ways in recent times, including arrest or detention of someone expressing dissent, action against those around him, by denying advertisements to media, using social media platforms to take down posts and also, by the use of the defamation law. Purkayastha, who was released from Tihar Jail on May 15 as the Supreme Court declared his arrest "invalid", compared his recent experience with his arrest during the 1975-77 Emergency and said the people of the country know how to "discipline" their leaders. He said during the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi regime, radio stations and television channels were owned by the government, which is not the case now. "After 19 months, Mrs Gandhi declared an election.... Indian people know how to discipline leaders. Mrs Gandhi did not impose Emergency again...," Purkayastha said. "People know how to change leaders and that is how democracy survives. It is a spirit with which we are seeing the rebirth of resistance of a different kind," he added. Purkayastha also expressed solidarity with those who continue to languish in jails. "Everyone has the responsibility to see that democracy, democratic spirit and justice are preserved," he said. The Delhi Police's Special Cell arrested Purkayastha on October 3 last year under anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly receiving money to spread "pro-China propaganda" through his portal. (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, May 30 (PTI) Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva on Thursday blamed the AAP government for the water crisis in Delhi and claimed that Haryana is supplying 1,049 cusecs of Yamuna water to the city, which he said exceeds the agreed-upon water sharing amount. Sachdeva's statement came in response to Water Minister Atishi who has accused the BJP-ruled Haryana of stopping Delhi's share of Yamuna water, causing shortage in many parts of the city. Also Read | Kashmir Tourism in 2024: Million Tourist Arrivals Likely To Break All Previous Records. The national capital is facing water shortage due to unprecedented summer heat with temperatures hovering around the 50 degrees Celsius mark in parts of the city. Delhi's people are not suffering due to a genuine reason but due to an artificial crisis of water created by the Kejriwal government, Sachdeva alleged. Also Read | Bank Holidays in June 2024: Banks To Remain Closed for 10 Days Next Month; Check Complete List of Bank Holiday Dates. "Water Minister Atishi is claiming that the Haryana government is not providing Delhi water, but she is hiding the truth," he charged. Just a few days ago, officials from the Delhi government's flood department and Jal Board went to the Hathinikund Barrage, where officials from the Haryana government were also present, he said. "After checking the system set up to measure the water level, officials from the flood department and Jal Board returned satisfied because the Haryana government is supplying more water to Delhi than promised," he claimed. According to an agreement, Haryana is supposed to daily provide 719 cusecs (cubic foot per second) of water to the national capital, but the state is instead providing 1,049 cusecs of water per day, Sachdeva said. "The question arises, what is the reason of supply crisis in Delhi when it is receiving more water than promised? Water is being wasted and stolen and the Delhi government has completely failed to stop this wastage and theft," he charged. Sachdeva also alleged corruption involved in supply of water in the city through tankers. Water Minister Atishi on Tuesday accused Haryana of not releasing Delhi's share of water since May 1. She had said the Delhi government may approach the Supreme Court if the supply of Yamuna water to the city does not improve in coming days. (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, May 30 (PTI) India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) on Thursday said the Rs 2.11 lakh crore dividend transfer by the RBI is likely to ease liquidity pressure and bring down deposit rates in the banking system if the government spends the amount. It said the mega dividend will give a fillip to the central government's fiscal position, which may lead to additional spending or fiscal consolidation or a combination of both. However, the structural challenges for banks in term of deposit accretion will continue in the medium to long term. Also Read | Kashmir Tourism in 2024: Million Tourist Arrivals Likely To Break All Previous Records. "The agency expects the RBI's INR 2.1 trillion dividend transfer to the government will improve the liquidity conditions and alleviate heightened pressure on the banking system deposit, leading to the easing of pressure on cost of liabilities for banks in the near term," Ind-Ra said in a statement. The RBI board last week decided to transfer Rs 2.11 lakh crore dividend to the government out of the profits earned in 2023-24. Also Read | Bank Holidays in June 2024: Banks To Remain Closed for 10 Days Next Month; Check Complete List of Bank Holiday Dates. If the government spends the amount, it will reduce the ongoing pressure on the banking system deposit accretion and overall rates in the system, Ind-Ra said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Quetta [Pakistan], May 30 (ANI): Baloch political activists highlighted the atrocities faced by the local Baloch community at the hands of the Pakistani administration during a press conference at the Quetta Press Club in Pakistan. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Siddat Ullah highlighted the inhumane treatment of the people belonging to the Baloch community while addressing the press conference. Also Read | India on Israeli Attacks on Refugee Camps: MEA Expresses Deep Concern Over Israeli Air Strike on Camps for Displaced People in Rafah (Watch Video). In his statement, Siddat Ullah said, "In Balochistan, there is no day when we don't get news of an inhumane incident involving someone we know. There is a high possibility that even during broad daylight one can receive news about an incident of enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killing, targeted killing, mutilated body, or any other atrocity." Ullah said that Baloch people have been pushed to a limit that they have forgotten how to celebrate. He said that Baloch people, in many cases, are forcibly abducted in front of witnesses. Also Read | World No-Tobacco Day 2024: WHO Sounds Alarm over Adolescents Exposure to Tobacco Ads, Products in Southeast Asia. "Our Baloch community has been pushed to such a limit that we have forgotten how to celebrate. We don't even remember when we last collectively celebrated a holiday. We are sometimes handed over multiple bodies of our loved ones," Siddat Ullah said. "Sometimes we even have to bury more than 30 people who used to belong to our community when they were alive. Most of them are young individuals, and we have to bury them as if they were old members of our family. In many cases, people are forcibly abducted in front of witnesses," he added. He highlighted that there are numerous cases where Baloch people are abducted. He accused the powerful officials in Islamabad of committing atrocities against the Baloch people. Siddat Ullah said, "Now we have reached a stage where some of us are not even responsive to incidents of enforced disappearance as we sometimes know that one or the other day this atrocity is going to happen to us, no matter what happens. The atrocities that are being inflicted upon us are being committed by powerful officials in Islamabad. The Baloch community is now at its limit. There are numerous cases where our people are abducted, and there is no record of any such atrocities upon our community," he added. In response to a query, he said that no cases and First Information Reports are filed when an incident of Baloch atrocity happens. Siddat Ullah said that he personally has, in multiple cases, visited police stations to file complaints against such incidents. However, most of the time his complaint was rejected with the explanation that a complaint would not be filed. He said that in some cases, the victim was asked to get a court order to file a complaint. However, he added that even after getting the court order, the police officials straight away refused to file any complaint about the incident of the atrocity inflicted upon the victim. He said, "We understand that all these incidents are not mere coincidences but are a strategic way of committing Baloch genocide." (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], May 30 (ANI): An investigation is being conducted into the killing of Bangladesh Member of Parliament Anwarul Azim Anar and the Indian government is extending full support to the Bangladeshi side in the probe, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a media briefing on Thursday. Asked about Anwarul Azim Anar murder case, Jaiswal said, "This particular case is being investigated. Law enforcement agencies from both Bangladesh and India are coordinating and necessary information is being exchanged. From our side, the government is extending full support to the Bangladeshi side as part of the ongoing investigation in the matter." Also Read | South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol Says Country Will Push Space Project To Send Space Satellite Vehicle to Moon by 2032. Bone-chilling details surrounding the murder of the member of parliament from Bangladesh, who had been missing since May 13 just a day after his arrival in Kolkata have come to the fore. According to the findings, the MP was allegedly killed in a Kolkata apartment, where his body was chopped and suspects proceeded to dispose of the remains by packaging them in multiple plastic bags. Also Read | Germany Shocker: 43-Year-Old Man in Paderborn City Reports Himself to Police for Killing Someone. As the probe continues in the case of Bangladeshi MP Anwarul Azim Anar's killing, the Bangladesh Detective Department Chief Harun-or-Rashid said on Thursday that the daughter of the Bangladeshi MP will come to Kolkata soon for the DNA examination. He further said that the other accused behind the killing of the Bangladeshi MP are hiding in Nepal or the US. "Bangladesh MP's daughter will come to Kolkata very soon for the DNA examination. Another accused is hiding in Nepal or the US. CID West Bengal and our team are also seeking help from Interpol," he said. Bangladesh Detective Department Chief further thanked the West Bengal CID for cooperating with them. "I would like to thank CID West Bengal and other senior officials of West Bengal and Kolkata police. During the last few days, we went torm_blk" action="https://www.latestly.com/search/"> Prague, May 30 (AP) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday assailed Russian attempts to sow discord in democracies with misinformation after hinting the Biden administration may soon allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia. In Prague for a NATO foreign ministers meeting, Blinken hit out at Moscow's use of misinformation and disinformation, calling it a poison and signing an agreement with the Czech government to combat it. Also Read | South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol Says Country Will Push Space Project To Send Space Satellite Vehicle to Moon by 2032. He also toured a Czech military base, where he saw armoured vehicles that Prague is sending to Kyiv to help fight Russia's invasion and received a briefing on a Czech initiative to supply Ukraine with a million rounds of ammunition by the end of the year. We know that a major front in the competition that we have, the adversarial relationship that we have, notably with Russia, is on the information front, Blinken said. Also Read | Germany Shocker: 43-Year-Old Man in Paderborn City Reports Himself to Police for Killing Someone. He said the agreement with the Czechs the 17th such accord the US has signed with partner nations would help to effectively deal with misinformation and disinformation, which is a poison being injected into our democracies by our adversaries. "The more we're able to do together both between our countries but also with other countries, the more effective we're going to be exposing it and dealing with it, Blinken told reporters at a signing ceremony with Czech Foreign Minister Minister Jan Lipavsky. Lipavsky agreed, noting that Czech authorities had recently exposed a major Russian-backed misinformation campaign. "We are facing confrontation between democracies and autocracies, Lipavsky said. "The Kremlin has started targeting targeting democracies all around the world with cyber warfare, propaganda and influence operations and this danger simply cannot be underestimated any more. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and support for Ukrainian attempts to repel it will be a major focus of the NATO foreign minister meetings on Thursday and Friday the alliance's last major diplomatic gathering before a leaders' summit in Washington in July to mark the 75th anniversary of its founding. On Wednesday in Moldova, Blinken said that US policy on how Ukraine deploys American weapons is constantly evolving, suggesting that Washington may rescind an unwritten prohibition on Ukraine's use of them for attacks on Russian territory. Although US officials insist there is no formal ban, they have long made clear that they believe the use of American weapons to attack targets inside Russia could provoke an escalatory response from Moscow, something that Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised. That position appears to be being reconsidered, and Blinken noted that it was a hallmark of the Biden administration's stance on Ukraine to adapt and adjust as needed. Blinken visited Kyiv earlier this month and heard a direct appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to use US military assistance to strike positions in Russian from where attacks on Ukraine are launched. As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how it's pursuing its aggression, escalation, we've adapted and adjusted too, and I'm confident we'll continue to do that, Blinken said at a news conference in Chisinau. At every step along the way, we've adapted and adjusted as necessary, and so that's exactly what we'll do going forward, he said. We're always listening, we're always learning, and we're always making determinations about what's necessary to make sure that Ukraine can effectively continue to defend itself, and we'll continue to do that. Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that Western countries should not object if Ukraine needs to strike inside Russia to defend itself. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo, May 30 (PTI) The Sri Lankan government on Thursday said that four of its nationals arrested in India last week by the authorities in Gujarat for links with the Islamic State terror group have no record of being "religious extremists" but drug addicts. Speaking to reporters in the Eastern town of Ampara, Secretary of Defence Kamal Ginaratne said that the Sri Lankan authorities were also asked to check on the background of those arrested in India and accordingly after a probe it has been found that they are into drugs. Also Read | South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol Says Country Will Push Space Project To Send Space Satellite Vehicle to Moon by 2032. We are currently investigating them. We have found them to be severely addicted to drugs. They are not religious extremists, Gunaratne said responding to a question. He said that the Sri Lankan authorities have arrested more of their associates but it won't be right to reveal any more details on them as the investigation is going on. Also Read | Germany Shocker: 43-Year-Old Man in Paderborn City Reports Himself to Police for Killing Someone. The police arrested two more suspects from the northwestern regions on May 29 while one suspect was already in their custody. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad arrested four Sri Lankans with links to ISIS at the airport in Ahmedabad. The four men had taken an Indigo flight out of Colombo to Chennai on May 19. Sri Lankan security forces suspect that a 46-year-old man - identified as Osmand Gerrard - acted as their handler and facilitated their movement from Lanka to India. The police have also noticed a cash reward for information on the suspected handler of the four arrested by the Indian authorities. Gunaratne said the defence establishment won't leave room for any attacks like the 2019 Easter Sunday attack carried out by a local jihadi group which killed over 270 people including Indians. The 2019 attack came despite advance warming to Sri Lankan defence officials from Indian intelligence services, a probe commission appointed in the aftermath of the attack was told. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) United Nations, May 30 (PTI) An Indian peacekeeper who lost his life serving under the UN flag is among the over 60 military, police and civilian peacekeepers honoured posthumously on Thursday with a prestigious medal here for their service and supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who served with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), was honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold medal during a solemn ceremony when the UN commemorated the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. Also Read | South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol Says Country Will Push Space Project To Send Space Satellite Vehicle to Moon by 2032. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador, Ruchira Kamboj, received the medal from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. India is the second largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping. Also Read | Germany Shocker: 43-Year-Old Man in Paderborn City Reports Himself to Police for Killing Someone. It currently deploys more than 6,000 military and police personnel to the UN operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara. Nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, the highest number from any troop-contributing country. During formal ceremonies at the United Nations Headquarters on May 30, Secretary-General Guterres laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial Site on the North Lawn to honour all UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948. He presided over a ceremony during which the Dag Hammarskjold Medals were awarded posthumously to 64 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers who lost their lives serving under the UN flag, including 61 who died last year. In his message to mark Peacekeepers' Day, Guterres said the world organisation pays tribute to the more than 76,000 United Nations peacekeepers who embody humanity's highest ideal: peace. Day in and day out, at great personal risk, these women and men bravely work in some of the most dangerous and unstable places on earth to protect civilians, uphold human rights, support elections and strengthen institutions, he said, noting that more than 4,300 peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price while serving under the UN flag. We will never forget them. In 1948, the historic decision was made to deploy military observers to the Middle East to supervise the implementation of Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements in what became the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad/Beijing, May 30 (PTI) Pakistan on Thursday launched a multi-mission communication satellite for faster internet connectivity with the help of its all-weather ally China, making it Islamabad's second satellite to be sent into orbit within a month. The Multi-Mission Communication Satellite, also known as PAKSAT MM1, was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China's southwestern province of Sichuan, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Also Read | South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol Says Country Will Push Space Project To Send Space Satellite Vehicle to Moon by 2032. The satellite entered its planned orbit, it said. A statement issued by state-run broadcaster Pakistan Television said the satellite would provide the best internet facilities across Pakistan and help improve television broadcasts, cellular phones and broadband services. It added that the satellite will begin providing service in August, the Dawn newspaper reported. Also Read | Germany Shocker: 43-Year-Old Man in Paderborn City Reports Himself to Police for Killing Someone. Congratulating the country on the launch, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was hoping that the satellite would help provide the fastest internet facility throughout the country, state-run Associated Press Pakistan reported. I am particularly excited about the potential impact of PAKSAT MM1 on internet connectivity across Pakistan. With its state-of-the-art communication technology, this satellite promises to revolutionise our digital landscape and provide the fastest internet facility throughout the country, the report quoted Sharif as saying. Sharif said that PAKSAT MM1 would not only enhance the lives of Pakistani citizens but also contribute to the promotion of economic activities, e-commerce, and e-governance. He said that the launch from China's satellite launch centre was a "testament to the strong collaboration and partnership between the two countries", according to the report. It is through such cooperative endeavours that we can propel our nation forward and harness the power of technology for the benefit of our people, he said. The prime minister asserted that the satellite's positioning in a geostationary orbit 36,000 kilometres above Earth was an "impressive feat" that showcased the nation's scientific and technological prowess". In a statement last week, Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) said the satellite's launch was a part of the National Space Programme 2047. The PAKSAT MM1 was conceived as a joint venture between Suparco and the Chinese aerospace industry, keeping in sight the growing needs of the country in the broad spectrum of communication and connectivity, The News International newspaper had reported, citing Suparco's statement. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who attended the launch, said soon Pakistan would launch satellites from its own launching pads. Day is not far when we will launch our satellites on our own rockets from Pakistan's Space Launch Centre. Congratulations Pakistan, he said. On May 3, Pakistan's mini satellite iCube-Qamar' was launched as part of China's Chang'e-6 lunar mission from the Hainan province. Pakistan has sent at least six assets in space, such as BADR-A, BADR-B, PAKSAT 1-R, PRSS-1, PakTes 1-A and iCube Qamar, the report added. After the May 3 launch, the iCube-Qamar sent the first-ever images of the moon captured in the lunar orbit following its ascent in space on May 8. (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], May 30 (ANI/TPS): Israel's Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, when speaking about how many Hezbollah terrorist commanders more than 300 of their terrorists in total were eliminated by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) said, "[Hezbollah leader] Nasrallah is dragging Lebanon into a very, very difficult reality - one in which the residents of Lebanon will pay the price [suffer as a result of Hezbollah's actions]." The comment came when Gallant held an operational situation assessment and visited several command and control centers in the IDF's Northern Command on Wednesday. Also Read | All Eyes on Congo Trends on Instagram After All Eyes on Rafah, Know Meaning and Whats Happening in Congo That Is Drawing Netizens Attention. Upon completing the visit, Minister Gallant referred to Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah's recent speech in which he claims that "Israel's Minister of Defense is inflating the numbers." Minister Gallant presented a series of images of Hezbollah brigade commanders and emphasized that the IDF has eliminated over 300 terrorists and commanders in the terrorist organization. "Nasrallah is dragging Lebanon into a very, very difficult reality - one in which the people of Lebanon and Hezbollah forces will pay the price [suffer the consequences of Hezbollah's actions]," he added. "This is the same Nasrallah who told you two weeks ago that there were no casualties among Hezbollah terrorists." Also Read | Pakistan: Ex-PM Imran Khan Acquitted in Two Cases Linked to May 9 Riots Due to Insufficient Evidence. "My question to him - aren't they your people?" Gallant then listed a number of the Hezbollah commanders eliminated by the IDF, while pointing at picture of them. These included Commander of the Bint Jbeil Brigade, and the senior officers - Abu Madi who handled missiles his whole life, Sid Mechi, one of the most senior Hezbollah operatives, Jawad Twil, Commander of the Radwan forces. "Aren't they all Hezbollah members?" he asked. (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) Islamabad, May 30 (PTI) The Pakistan Army on Thursday vowed to defeat what it termed "digital terrorism", which aims to induce "despondency" in the country by pitching national institutions against each other through fake news and propaganda. The army also called for bringing to justice the planners, perpetrators, abettors, and facilitators of last year's May 9 riots that occurred following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in an alleged corruption case. Also Read | Germany Shocker: 43-Year-Old Man in Paderborn City Reports Himself to Police for Killing Someone. In a statement issued after the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference at GHQ, Rawalpindi chaired by Army chief General Asim Munir, the top military brass also expressed serious concerns over terrorism being orchestrated using Afghan soil. "The forum underscored that politically motivated and vested digital terrorism, unleashed by conspirators duly abetted by their foreign cohorts, against state institutions is clearly meant to try to induce despondency in the Pakistani nation, to sow discord among national institutions, especially the Armed Forces, and the people of Pakistan by peddling blatant lies, fake news, and propaganda, it stated. Also Read | All Eyes on Congo Trends on Instagram After All Eyes on Rafah, Know Meaning and Whats Happening in Congo That Is Drawing Netizens Attention. "However, the nation is fully cognisant of their ugly and ulterior motives and surely the designs of these nefarious forces will be comprehensively defeated, it added. The meeting - attended by Corps Commanders, Principal Staff Officers, and all Formation Commanders of the Pakistan Army - reiterated that those involved in the May 9 violence of the last year would not be spared. The forum noted that planners, perpetrators, abettors, and facilitators of 9th May need to be brought to justice for the collective good of the country and that without the swift and transparent dispensation of justice to the culprits and establishing the rule of law, stability in the country will ever remain hostage to the machinations of such elements, the army said. The violence followed after supporters of Khan took to the streets when he was arrested in a case of alleged corruption. The army leadership expressed its resolve to continue to fully support the government's initiatives for sustainable economic growth and curbing illegal activities, including smuggling, hoarding, electricity theft and implementation of One Document Regime for the visiting Afghan nationals. It supported the dignified repatriation of illegal foreigners, and safeguarding of the national database. The forum was briefed on the dynamics of the geo-strategic environment, emerging challenges to national security, and the army's strategy to counter multi-domain threats. It was also briefed on technological innovations to modernise the army and optimise logistic support to field formations, in line with the fast-evolving operational environment. The meeting expressed serious concerns over continued cross-border violations from Afghanistan and terrorism being orchestrated using Afghan soil, noting that Pakistan's adversaries were using Afghanistan to target the security forces and innocent civilians inside Pakistan. It acknowledged the priceless sacrifices of the people of Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) in the war against terrorism and underscored the importance of uplifting the NMDs to decisively defeat terrorism. The meeting underlined the need for socio-economic development in Balochistan to counter externally propagated narratives of exclusion, exploited by foreign-sponsored proxies to lead Balochistan's youth away from peace and progress. The forum expressed complete solidarity with the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for the inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in UN resolutions, it said. It also expressed complete solidarity with the people of Palestine and condemned serious human rights violations and war crimes being perpetrated in Gaza, supporting the International Court of Justice's decision to stop the Rafah Operation and all other operations within the Gaza Strip. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kyiv, May 30 (AP) Russia conducted an array of aerial attacks on Ukraine with cruise missiles, drones and ballistic missiles, Ukraine's air force said Thursday, while the chief of the army said Russia is increasing its troop concentration in the Kharkiv region where Moscow's forces have made significant advances in a spring offensive. Ukraine's GUR military intelligence operation claimed that sea drones destroyed two Russian KS-701 patrol boats in the Black Sea off the Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula. Russian officials did not immediately comment on the claim. Also Read | Germany Shocker: 43-Year-Old Man in Paderborn City Reports Himself to Police for Killing Someone. The air force said the overnight attacks included eight S-300 ballistic missiles, 11 cruise missiles and 32 Shahed drones. All the drones and seven of the cruise missiles were shot down, the air force said but did not give other details. In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, seven people were injured and a municipal services building caught fire in the attacks, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Russian aerial strikes were also reported in the Khmelnytskyi and Dnipropetrovsk, but there were no injuries. Also Read | All Eyes on Congo Trends on Instagram After All Eyes on Rafah, Know Meaning and Whats Happening in Congo That Is Drawing Netizens Attention. Army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on his Facebook page on Thursday that Russia is bringing army units into the Kharkiv region from other parts of Ukraine to supplement forces in the two main focuses of fighting, the towns of Vovchansk and Lyptsi. Syrskyi said Ukraine has also moved reserve troops into the area. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down eight U.S.-made ATACMS missiles over the Azov Sea, which borders both Russia and Russia-held Ukrainian territory. One person was injured by a drone explosion in Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Kharkiv and comes under daily attack from the Ukrainian side. A lengthy delay in U.S. military aid and Western Europe's inadequate military production has slowed crucial deliveries to the battlefield for Ukraine, and Russia has exploited the delays to make advances in the Kharkiv region. Russian missiles and bombs also have pummeled Ukrainian military positions and civilian areas, including the power grid. (AP) (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], May 30 (ANI/TPS): The US suspended deliveries of humanitarian aid through its pier off the coast of Gaza when the USD 320 million structure broke up in rough weather, the Pentagon confirmed. "As of today, one of the Army vessels that was beached on the coast of Israel near Ashkelon has been recovered. The second vessel that was also beached near Ashkelon will be recovered in the next 24 hours, and the remaining two vessels that were beached near the Trident pier are expected to be recovered in the next 48 hours," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters. Also Read | Bangladeshi MP Murder: West Bengal CID Plans To Visit Nepal To Trace Conspirator in Anwarul Azim Anar Murder Case. "I think, unfortunately, we had a perfect storm of high sea states and ... this North African weather system also came in at the same time, creating not an optimal environment" for the pier, she explained. Singh said the Navy would remove the pier from its anchored position and tow it to Ashdod for repairs. American personnel are not authorized to set foot in Gaza. Also Read | Earthquake in Myanmar: Quake of Magnitude 5.6 on Richter Scale Jolts Country, No Casualties Reported. More than 1,000 metric tons of aid were delivered through the pier during the two weeks it was operational, Singh said. Trucks carrying food, water, medicine, fuel, and other supplies from Cyprus arrived by ship and drove to the Gaza mainland on a causeway. The aid was offloaded at a staging area near Gaza City before being transferred to distribution sites around Gaza. However, many of the trucks were looted while transferring the aid from the staging area to other distribution sites in the Strip. One Palestinian was killed by gunfire during a hijacking. Deliveries were suspended for two days while security arrangements for the convoys were worked out. Once fully operational, the pier is expected to handle up to 150 trucks daily. The passage of aid deliveries is controversial in Israel. When Hamas slashed food prices in April, Gaza residents told TPS-IL that the problem wasn't a lack of food but a shortage of money for families to purchase it. "Don't feed Hamas" is a common chant at Israeli demonstrations against humanitarian aid deliveries, and the families of hostages have called on the government to leverage the aid for information, access, and freedom of their captive loved ones. At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 125 remaining hostages, 39 are believed 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) New Delhi, May 30: A court here on Thursday issued notice to ED seeking its response on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals regular bail plea in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Court also sought the agencys reply on his plea seeking interim bail for a week on medical grounds. The judge issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking their response on both the regular and interim bail pleas. Appearing on behalf of the ED, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju sought additional time to file a response. Raju argued that Kejriwal had not disclosed critical information and that the ED needed to bring these issues to the court's attention. He is not in custody. He has been granted interim bail by the Supreme Court. He is today in Punjab campaigning. His health did not hinder him from campaigning. He moves the bail on the last date so that we get very little time. His conduct doesn't entitle him to any orders today, Raju contended. Arvind Kejriwal's Bail Plea: Supreme Court Refuses Urgent Listing of Delhi CM's Application Seeking 7-Day Extension of Interim Bail in Liquor Policy Case Judge Baweja has scheduled the next hearing for June 1 to consider the ED's response and further arguments regarding Kejriwal's bail applications. On May 10, Kejriwal was ordered to be released on interim bail till June 1 by the Supreme Court in view of the ongoing general elections. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court registry had refused to accept the application moved by him seeking a seven-day extension of interim bail to undergo medical examinations, including a PET-CT scan. The SC registry said that the top court had already reserved its verdict in the matter and the application seeking a 7-day extension has no relation to the main petition. As SC had allowed him to move the trial court to obtain regular bail, the application is not maintainable, it added. As per the Aam Aadmi Party, CM Kejriwal's health has deteriorated since he was arrested in the alleged Delhi excise scam. The party has said that he has lost 7 kg in weight after his arrest and his Ketone levels are also very high indicating a serious medical disorder. Swati Maliwal Assault Case: Delhi Court Sends Arvind Kejriwals Aide Bibhav Kumar to Three-Day Police Custody (Watch Video) The party has further said that the CM was required to do medical tests and seven days were needed for this. Earlier, the apex court had directed him to surrender back to Tihar Jail on June 2. The top court on May 17 had reserved its verdict on CM Kejriwals petition challenging his arrest and subsequent remand by the federal anti-money laundering agency in the excise policy case. It said he could approach the trial court for a grant of regular bail notwithstanding the fact that the apex court reserved judgment in the matter. The CM was arrested by the federal agency on March 21. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 30, 2024 03:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). A US man who has been identified as 43-year-old Robert Kawada has been charged with attempted poisoning and assault after secretly giving his pregnant ex-girlfriend abortion pills disguised as iron supplements. The woman, who met Kawada on a dating app in January, miscarried after taking the pills, including misoprostol. Prosecutor Jacob McCrindle revealed that a fake nurse instructed the woman to take the pills, causing severe cramps and bleeding. Court documents showed Kawada's internet searches for "9-week aborted fetus pics" and "telephone voice changer." Kawada, who denied the allegations, is facing multiple charges, including assault on a pregnant person. US Shocker: Transgender Driver Runs Over Elderly Man in Texas, Kisses Body Before Stabbing Victim Nine Times; Disturbing Video Surfaces. Man Charged After Giving Abortion Pills to Girlfriend (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.) On 29 May Paraguays Presidentdeployed the armed forces to the departments of Itapua, Misiones, and Neembucu to strengthen security operations. End of preview - This article contains approximately 403 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 29 May Brazils government led by Presidentconfirmed that its ambassador to Israel,, will not return to his post, amid a deterioration in Brazil-Israel relations in recent months. End of preview - This article contains approximately 402 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options The Mexico Election will finally happen on Sunday as the country is expected to vote for the first woman to be president, whether she be Xochitl Galvez or Claudia Sheinbaum. However, political violence continue every day on the final day of campaigning. As candidates continue on their final day of campaigning before the actual vote on Sunday, a cloud of violence has been cast over them as the election season has been marred by violent and deadly attacks on candidates and their supporters as drug cartels seek to have their own influence on the vote. Even though Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) has tried to beef up security in Mexico for the election, several candidates have already been killed. This earned him an attack from opposition candidate Xochitl Galves, who slammed his "hugs not bullets" approach of not confronting the drug cartels. "Are we going to continue with hugs, or are we going to apply the law to criminals?" the presidential candidate asked her supporters as she held what may be her final political rally before the June 2 election. "Mexico wants peace, wants tranquility." She then slammed AMLO again for his divisive rhetoric, especially his usual dismissing of criticisms of how he handles the government, saying, "enough division, enough hatred ... we are all Mexicans." Under AMLO, minimum wage and government benefit programs increased in Mexico. However, he has struggled to significantly reduce the country's historically high homicide rate, especially as the drug cartels are fighting back. As his tenure ends, election violence is marring his presidency, with a mayoral candidate in the western state of Jalisco being shot multiple times by intruders in his campaign offices. The mayoral candidate survived but is in critical condition. This is only one of the many examples of attacks on people running for local office. READ MORE: Mexico City Covered in Ice Amid Massive Heatwave as Weird Weather Continues Local Candidates Face Deadly Violence During the Mexico Election Campaign Period In Mexico, organized crime groups have repeatedly attacked local candidates over the crime period. This is usually used so their own candidate would win or show the eventual winner who is actually in charge. Over 30 candidates have been murdered ahead of Sunday's vote, and observers have pointed out that this has already eroded Mexican democracy. One candidate, Gisela Gaytan, was shot and killed on the very first day of the campaign period. Her replacement candidate, Juan Miguel Ramirez, now has armed military personnel guarding him. As The Guardian noted, this is expected to be the largest election in Mexico ever, with over 20,000 seats up for grabs, including the presidency. However, local candidates have been hit hard, as they are not afforded the same protection as those running for national offices. Mexico to Likely Elect Its First Female President As for the presidential race, the two leading candidates are women and either Galvez or Sheinbaum are expected to become the next president and replace AMLO. While Sheinbaum has held a comfortable lead in the months leading up to the June 2 vote, Galvez has been gaining on her in the polls. According to the Associated Press, whether Galvez or Sheinbaum wins, it will be considered a major step in a country long marked by its "macho" culture. Whoever wins will also inherit several big problems, including the ever-present drug violence that plagues Mexico. READ MORE: Mexico Elections Primer: Who Are the Top 3 Candidates Vying to Replace AMLO? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: What's behind the rise in political violence in Mexico? | Inside Story - Al Jazeera English Brazil withdrew its ambassador to Israel on Wednesday, escalating tensions between the two nations over Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza. This decision, announced in Brazil's official gazette, marks the latest fallout from South America regarding Israel's offensive in the Palestinian territory. Israel's foreign ministry confirmed it had not received an official notification from the Brazilian government, AP News reports. However, following media reports, Israel summoned the Brazilian charge d'affaires to the ministry for a meeting on Thursday. READ NEXT: Brazil's Lula Declares State of Emergency as Flood Death Toll Climbs to 85, Dozens Missing Lula's Criticism and Diplomatic Repercussions Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza. Earlier this year, Lula compared Israel's offensive to the Holocaust, a statement that led to a public reprimand by Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz. Katz summoned the Brazil ambassador, Frederico Meyer, to Jerusalem's National Holocaust Museum to address Lula's comments. Initially, Lula recalled Meyer to Brazil, but Wednesday's move further escalated the situation, according to Reuters. The Brazilian Embassy in Israel remains open but now operates without an ambassador. According to an official at Brazil's foreign ministry who spoke anonymously, this decision was in response to Meyer's treatment by Israel's top diplomat. Frederico Meyer has been reassigned to Geneva, where he will join Brazil's permanent mission to the United Nations and other international organizations. Brazil's foreign ministry stated that the appointment of a new ambassador to Israel would be announced in due course. The embassy in Tel Aviv will be led by the charge d'affaires. A pro-Israel group in Brazil, the Israeli Confederation of Brazil, expressed regret over the move, stating it moved away from Brazil's diplomatic tradition of balance and dialogue. They believe it hinders Brazil's ability to act as a mediator in the Middle East. Background on Gaza War The Gaza war, now in its eighth month, started on October 7 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 civilians and taking 250 hostages. Israel's retaliation has resulted in at least 36,096 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between fighters and civilians. Israel claims to have killed 15,000 militants, Aljazeera noted. Internationally, Brazil's President Lula da Silva faced backlash for comparing the situation in Gaza to the Holocaust. This led to diplomatic tensions, including Brazil's ambassador to Israel being summoned and Lula being declared persona non grata in Israel. Despite this, Brazil continues diplomatic relations, with Lula da Silva criticizing Israel's actions. Brazil's foreign ministry supported recent recognitions of a Palestinian state by Ireland, Norway, and Spain. This coordinated move increased pressure on Israel, which condemned it. Colombia, Bolivia, and Belize have also cut ties with Israel, criticizing its actions. The conflict has caused global concern, especially as Rafah, Gaza's last city facing an offensive, struggles with severe humanitarian restrictions. The UN reports that 1.4 million people were in Rafah before the offensive, with one million fleeing since. The conflict has intensified calls for a Palestinian state, with Brazil advocating for a two-state solution. READ MORE: Haiti's Transitional Council Appoints Garry Conille as Prime Minister This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Ross Key WATCH: Brazil's President Lula compares Israel's war on Gaza to the Holocaust - From Al Jazeera English Donald Trump, the former president, launched a scathing attack on actor Robert De Niro following the latter's contentious conference outside a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday. De Niro's event, marked by disruptions and hecklers, drew sharp criticism from conservatives and led to a heated exchange between him and Trump supporters, Fox News reports. In a post on his Truth Social account around 12:45 AM Wednesday, Trump derided De Niro as "pathetic" and a "wacko," highlighting the actor's diminishing stature since entering the political arena. The confrontation between Trump and De Niro underscores the ongoing animosity between the two figures. READ NEXT: Trump Criticizes Biden and Judges in Fiery Memorial Day Post De Niro's Dramatic Appearance Robert De Niro's appearance outside the courthouse marked a dramatic shift in Joe Biden's campaign strategy. After weeks of staying clear of the courthouse, Biden's team seized the opportunity to hold their own event, aiming to counter Donald Trump's narrative and address the stakes of the upcoming election. Joined by Biden campaign surrogates, including former police officers Michael Fanone and Harry Dunn, De Niro delivered impassioned remarks against Trump's presidency. Despite disruptions from Trump supporters, De Niro remained steadfast in his condemnation of Trump's leadership, according to Politico. The Biden campaign's decision to hold a surprise press conference near the courthouse reflects a strategic shift to break through the media coverage dominated by the Trump hush money trial. By bringing out De Niro and other prominent figures, the campaign sought to redirect attention to key issues and rally support ahead of the election. While De Niro's presence garnered significant media attention, the Biden team refrained from directly addressing the ongoing legal proceedings against Trump. Instead, they focused on highlighting Biden's policy priorities and contrasting them with Trump's agenda. Donald Trump's Response Trump's response to De Niro's appearance was swift and vehement. He ridiculed the actor's stature and criticized his involvement in politics, portraying De Niro as a fading figure seeking relevance through political activism. The exchange between Trump and De Niro underscores the deep polarization in American politics. Inside the courthouse, Trump's defense team continued to challenge the prosecution's case, emphasizing the credibility of key witnesses and disputing the allegations against Trump. As the Trump hush money trial entered its closing arguments, tensions remained high both inside and outside the courtroom, The Hill noted. The jury is currently deliberating on whether Trump should be convicted on charges related to alleged falsification of business documents during the 2016 presidential campaign. The outcome of the trial has significant implications for Trump's political future and the broader landscape of American politics. The clash between Donald Trump and Robert De Niro outside the Manhattan courthouse reflects the intense political division gripping the nation. As the trial continues, both sides are fiercely contesting the narrative, with the outcome poised to shape the trajectory of American politics in the coming years. READ MORE: Ohio Governor Guarantees Biden's Ballot Presence, Calls Special Session This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Ross Key WATCH: Robert De Niro spars with bystander during remarks outside Trump trial - From CNN Jack Joseph Ball, a 23-year-old resident of Farmington, Minnesota, faces charges of two counts of second-degree murder following the brutal killing of his pregnant sister, Bethany Israel, and her unborn child. The Dakota County Attorney's Office announced the charges on Tuesday, detailing a grisly sequence of events that has shaken the local community. The tragic incident unfolded last Thursday when concerns were raised after Bethany Israel, 30, failed to return home following dinner with her brother, Ball. A family member visited Ball's residence and discovered a scene of horror, significant bloodstains, and a collection of bloody knives, saws, and other tools suggestive of violent dismemberment. Police were immediately alerted to the situation, and upon arrival, they encountered a disturbing sight, the New York Post reports. Inside the home and scattered around the vicinity were dismembered body parts believed to belong to Bethany Israel. This shocking discovery marked the beginning of a harrowing investigation into a crime described by the authorities as deeply disturbing and horrific. READ NEXT: Minnesota State Trooper Charged with Murder in Fatal Traffic Stop Arrest and Subsequent Events The search for Minnesota man Jack Joseph Ball intensified after a neighbor in Rosemount reported a man matching his description dumping what appeared to be body parts on their doorstep. Police swiftly located Ball nearby, covered in blood and with what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound to his neck. He was promptly apprehended, and the investigation into the heinous crime began in earnest, People noted. According to details from the criminal complaint, journals belonging to a Minnesota man were found during the investigation. In these journals, Ball expressed anger and resentment towards his sister's pregnancy, believing it robbed her of her innocence. This chilling motive shed light on the disturbing mindset of the accused, adding a layer of tragic complexity to an already shocking case. Community and Legal Response As news of the incident spread, the local community and authorities responded with profound grief and a commitment to seeking justice for Bethany Israel and her unborn child. Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena emphasized the gravity of the allegations and vowed to ensure that the victims receive justice and that their family receives the support they need during this difficult time. Minnesota man made his initial court appearance, where bail was set at $2 million without conditions or $1 million with conditions, pending his medical clearance for transfer to Dakota County Jail. His next court date is scheduled for June 10, and it remains unclear whether he has retained legal representation or entered a plea, according to the Daily Beast. In the wake of this tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to support Bethany Israel's family, which has already raised over $25,000. Described as a cherished wife, daughter, sister, and expectant mother, Bethany Israel's vibrant spirit and kindness were celebrated by those who knew her. The fundraising efforts underscore the profound impact she had on her community, particularly in the volleyball circles where she was beloved. The case continues to unfold as investigators and legal authorities work tirelessly to uncover the full extent of the circumstances surrounding Bethany Israel's tragic death and bring justice to her memory. READ MORE: Turks and Caicos: American Man Faces 12-Year Sentence for Ammunition Possession This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Ross Key WATCH: Deranged brother hacked up pregnant sister in anger that she was 'no longer innocent': affidavit - From New York Post Marc Muffley put hundreds of lives at risk by putting an explosive into his luggage and checking it for departure on his plane leaving Lehigh Valley International Airport, according to a federal hazardous materials expert. The 41-year-old Carbon County man was sentenced Wednesday to two and half years in federal prison, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office prosecuting the case. Muffley admitted he handed over the bag with the firework at the airport on Feb. 27, 2023. Airport security flagged the suitcase and prevented it from being loaded into the planes cargo area, police said. Federal authorities said the 3-inch-wide ball of powder wrapped in waxed paper was equivalent to a commercial grade firework. Muffley was on his way to care for his elderly grandfather in Florida and wanted to bring the firework, according to a memorandum filed by defense attorneys Timothy Wright and Jonathan McDonald. Muffley didnt want to light it on the plane; he had no way of lighting it even if he wanted to, they wrote. They say Muffley has below-average intelligence and a history of mental illness and had a daily methamphetamine habit, all of which contributed to his poor decision to pack the device, along with a can of butane, a torch lighter and lithium batteries. All of the items are banned from airplane luggage, authorities said. McDonald previously told The Associated Press that Muffley wanted to set off the firework on the beach in Florida. Photo of a can of butane fuel, left, and a torch lighter found in the luggage of Marc Muffley.Photos courtesy of the U.S. Attorney's office A cordless drill, charger and lithium batteries recovered from the luggage of Marc Muffley.Photo courtesy of the U.S. Attorney's office Even if Muffley didnt intend to light the fuse, the device still posed a danger had it made it into the plane, according to Donald A. Stiger, the principal hazardous materials aviation safety inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration. Friction from turbulence, from the luggage being thrown into the cargo hull or from shifting items in flight could have caused the firework or other items to ignite, according to Stiger. Air pressure changes, temperature fluctuations or static electricity also could have led to a fire or explosion, he wrote. The plane was bound for Orlando, a frequent destination for children and families on their way to Disney theme parks. The items that the defendant had hidden in his luggage had the capability of destroying the aircraft midflight. This would kill over one hundred individuals in a catastrophic national tragedy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Schopf wrote in his sentencing memorandum. When the firework was discovered, airport security summoned Muffley over the public address system. Muffleys attorneys say he was afraid he was being reprimanded over a pending child support claim, so he panicked and fled, leaving the suitcase behind. However, Muffleys girlfriend reportedly told authorities Muffley was nervous about what was contained in his baggage and changed his phone number to avoid being tracked. FBI agents picked Muffley up at his Lansford home the next day. He complied with authorities and took responsibility immediately, his attorneys wrote. Muffley pleaded guilty to attempting to place an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft and to possessing an explosive in an airport. Federal authorities argued Muffley committed the crimes willfully and without regard to the safety of human life, or with reckless disregard for the safety of human life, which would ratchet up the recommended penalties. If he committed the crimes without regard for human life, guidelines call for a 46-to-57-month sentence. Defense attorneys said Muffley didnt understand the risks of his decision and that the disregard for life wasnt willful on his part, so the guideline sentencing range ought to have been 10 to 16 months. Muffley already served more than 14 months in Lehigh County Jail awaiting the federal sentencing. His attorneys said he ought to be released on a time-served sentence. U.S. District Judge John Gallagher split the difference, sentencing Muffley to 30 months in prison plus three years of supervised release, according to the prosecutors news release. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. The Health Service Executive, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth have both issued statements to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, rejecting a claim that a HSE facility is to be used for people seeking international protection. A candidate in the Laois local elections has claimed that elderly residents St Brigid's Hospital Shaen are are to be moved out and International Protection Applicants are to replace them. Donal Kelly, non-party candidate for the Portlaoise Municipal District, made his allegation in a video he posted on his Facebook campaign page. However, the HSE, and the Department have both issued statements to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, rejecting his assertion. A spokesperson for Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth confirmed that no offer has been made for the Laois care home. "The Department has received no offer of accommodation in respect of this property, and is not examining this property for use either for international protection applicants or for people fleeing Ukraine. "As with all properties, in the event an offer is made in the future in respect of this site, it may be assessed for use. However, no offer nor enquiry has been received on behalf of the owner at this time." A spokesperson for the HSE also rejected the claim by Mr Kelly. "This is a long term care facility for older people and there are no plans to house international protection applicants at this facility. "There are 20 residents currently living in Shaen and continues as a long term care facility for older people," they said. St Vincent's Community Nursing Unit in Mountmellick is midway through the 35m construction of a new 50 bed ensuite unit for its residents, required to comply with HIQA patient standards. Two more phases are to follow to offer a total of 130 bedrooms in the coming years. The HSE spokesperson has also confirmed that the building is "currently on schedule and is proposed to open in Summer 2025". In his social media post, Mr Kelly first named another town in Ireland that he described as being "subjected to the influx of international protection applicants". "For anybody who thinks this is an exaggeration that it's coming to a town or village near you soon, you're wrong. "In Laois, there are plans afoot now to have St Brigid's Hospital in Shaen, which is a residential care centre for the elderly and infirm. Those people who are there at the moment, those poor unfortunates, they will be according to the plans, moved to the new centre in Mountmellick which is currently under construction. "I thought when I was looking at the construction of the beautiful new wing to this hospital, St Vincent's in Mountmellick, that it was going to give more capacity to take care of more of our elderly and infirm, but no. They are actually going to make no more capacity for them. What they'll do is they will uproot the poor people in St Brigid's in Shaen, move them to Mountmellick and replace them with international protection applicants. That's the plan. "As an elected councillor, I would be at the forefront of any protests that would be taking place, to protect our elderly and infirm. And make sure that the capacity is there for them. Nobody else, and I don't care who they are," he said. The improvement in pay and conditions for Laois firefighters has solved staff shortages in the Portlaoise station, but not all Laois stations have enough crews yet. In September 2023, retained firefighters in Ireland, accepted an offer of a guaranteed minimum income per year of over 18,000 and a roster to be on call every second week. It only followed SIPTU trade union pickets and staggered closures of fire stations across Laois and Ireland to demand improvements. Beforehand, retained firefighters which accounts for all eight crews in Laois, were unable to take their allotted time off because of staff shortages. The deal is now paying dividends in Laois, as confirmed by Senior Fire Officer Declan Power, speaking in Laois County Council chambers on Monday, May 27. "It is working well. We have 11 awaiting to be appointed. Portlaoise is full. Five of our eight stations are fully restored. It is progressing extremely well since the changes to the roster. The crew in Portlaoise is very happy with it," he told councillors. Recruitment is still underway. Some of the female Laois firefighters. Photo: Leinster Express His report to Laois County Council stated that "as of 13th May, there are 27 permanent vacancies in the Laois retained fire service. This is based on the new compliment of 100 retained firefighters - up from 75 - in the eight fire stations, following the WRC agreement. Open recruitment is ongoing to recruit more fire-fighters, with 7 applications on file. There are 18 in the appointments process". CFO Power attended the meeting to seek Part 8 planning approval from the councillors to upgrade Mountmellick fire station. Cllr Paddy Bracken proposed it, and Cllr Seamus McDonald seconded. "I welcome this, it's badly needed, they do great work," Cllr Bracken said. The station will get a new drill training tower, a training yard inside the palisade fence behind the station, and a new water mains so the crew don't have to draw water from the public mains. No submissions were received during a public consultation period. The job will now go to tender, and is expected to begin later in 2024. In 2024 so far, (up to May 13) Laois County Fire and Rescue Service had attended 204 emergency incidents, including 47 fires, 119 special service incidents and 38 false alarms. The busiest station is Portlaoise with 89 callouts. Followed by Stradbally at 39, Mountmellick 35, Portarlington 32, Abbeyleix 29, Mountrath and Rathdowney at 20 each. Laois people are being invited to show their solidarity with Palestine in a nationwide day of protest this Friday, May 31. The public are asked to gather and fly their flags for Palestine on two M7 motorway bridges on either side of the Portlaoise exits. One meeting point is at the bridge on Junction 15 to Mountmellick, beside the Gandon Inn at 5.30pm. The second is the motorway bridge at Junction 17 (beside the Midway / Maldron) throughout the day from 7.30am until 7pm. Emily Barrett is part of the Laois branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who are organising the local event. "On Friday, May 31 people from the 32 counties of Ireland will fly the Palestinian flag in solidarity with the people of Palestine. This initiative started in Cork and Kildare and the purpose is to show the Irish government that we stand with Palestine and we want the Irish government to do everything in their power to end the genocide now," she explained to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. There will be Bridgils - Bridge Vigils - held at over 60 locations across Ireland on Friday as part of a nationwide protest that is calling on Ireland to impose sanctions on Israel and ask it to end its attacks on Gaza that have resulted in over 36,000 deaths. Ireland formally recognised Palestine as a state this week, and the Palestinian flag has been raised at the Dail in solidarity. After its successful tour of headline making exhibitions in Hong Kong and New York, Princess Dianas Elegance A Royal Collection is coming to the Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware, Newbridge. Featuring a collection of Princess Dianas most famous and highly glamourous garments and accessories assembled since her historic 1997 charity auction the exclusive exhibition opens on the 4th of June 2024 and runs until the 17th of June 2024. This will be the only European exhibition appearance before Princess Dianas Elegance: A Royal Collection heads to auction on June 27th at Juliens Auctions in Los Angeles. Juliens Auctions, the industry leader in the sales of Princess Dianas most important garments, made headlines last year in the $1.14 million sale of her Jacques Azagury 1985 ballerina-length gown, a new auction record for the most expensive dress worn by Princess Diana. The exhibition consists of a capsule collection of some of Dianas most luxurious cocktail and evening gowns, daywear, hats and handbags. From her philanthropic missions to royal tours and appearancesDianas style and elegance changed royal fashion forever. Many of her favourite British designers whom she championed, including Catherine Walker, Victor Edelstein, Caroline Charles, and Murray Arbeid, and the exquisite designs they created for her, cemented her status as a style icon during her remarkable reign as the beloved Peoples Princess. William Doyle CEO of Newbridge Silverware said, Princess Diana didn't just enchant the world with her grace and unparalleled fashion sense; she also captured hearts with her profound inner beauty and boundless compassion. While her flawless appearance and timeless elegance made her a symbol of global style, it was her genuine warmth and unwavering commitment to aiding the disadvantaged that truly left an indelible mark on humanity. We are delighted to be able to showcase this special exhibition and want to thank Juliens Auctions for their collaboration. On becoming Princess of Wales after her marriage to Prince Charles in 1981, Diana captivated the world with her fairytale wedding gown, a masterpiece crafted by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. The final toile of her wedding dress is in fact on permanent display at the Museum of Style Icons and is a must see display for Princess Diana fans. Martin Nolan of Juliens Auctions said, Princess Diana has a timeless allure, she exuded movie-star glamour that transcended mere fashion, revealing her very essence to the world. Entrusting her confidences to designers and courtiers, she wove a language through fabrics, colours, and silhouettes, allowing her to converse with and inspire global audiences through the medium of attire. Infused with her signature humor and humble demeanor, each design became a reflection of her spirit, endearing her even further to the public. We are very excited to show this exhibition and would encourage people to visit it before June 17th . Radiating poise and finesse, Princess Diana effortlessly choreographed her movements to complement sumptuous gowns by Murray Arbeid or the regal elegance of basque-waisted creations by Catherine Walker. As she assumed the title of HRH Princess of Wales, she embraced a role as patron to British fashion designers, championing their talents to bolster the industry. The exhibition features the Murray Arbeid Midnight Blue Strapless Tulle Diamante Star Gown, that Princess Diana wore to the Premiere of The Phantom of the Opera in 1986 at Her Majestys Theatre, London. This is a particularly important gown and is estimated to sell in excess of $400,000. Other key garments include the Victor Edelstein Magenta Silk and Lace Flamenco Style Evening Dress that was worn in 1987 to the London Coliseum for a performance of the Opera, The Masked Ball and the Catherine Walker Yellow and Navy Skirt Suit worn in 1989 on a visit to a British Forces Shore Base, in Tamar, Hong Kong. The intersection of fashion and royalty spans centuries, with monarchs historically dictating prevailing styles. Much like Queen Victoria, whose attire showcased British materials to bolster local industry, Princess Diana leveraged her position to champion not just fashion, but artistry and craftsmanship. Her infectious style became a vehicle for raising awareness, shining a spotlight on issues such as AIDS, mental health, and homelessness, inviting the world to share in her boundless compassion. In her lifetime, Princess Diana earned the endearing title of The People's Princess; her legacy enduring through her timeless fashion and steadfast love, continuing to captivate hearts long after her passing. Princess Dianas Elegance: A Royal Collection opens on the 4th of June 2024 at the Museum of Style Icons and runs until the 17 th of June. Admission is free. For more see www.visitnewbridgesilverware.com Espace Louis Vuitton Beijing is hosting an exhibition Malerei, dedicated to German artist Albert Oehlen. Running through to Oct 27, this exclusive showcase features six remarkable pieces carefully curated by Louis Vuitton, including some never-before-seen works that are sure to mesmerize art enthusiasts. Oehlen, a leading figure in contemporary art, was born in Krefeld, Germany, in 1954 andcurrently divides his time between Buhler, Switzerland, and Segovia, Spain. His artistic journey began at the Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste in Hamburg, Germany, where he honed his craft before immersing himself in the vibrant punk scene of 1970s Berlin. This era of rebellious creativity left an indelible mark on Oehlen, shaping his distinctive style and approach to art. Embracing the spirit of the "Wild New" movement in the 1980s, Oehlen challenged the conventions of traditional painting, aligning himself with a group of avant-garde artists from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. His work, characterized by a bold Neo-Expressionist aesthetic, defied norms and pushed boundaries, earning him acclaim and recognition on the global art stage. Oehlen's influence extends far and wide, with his pieces housed in prestigious collections such as the Centre Pompidou and Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris, the Daimler Contemporary in Berlin, the MoMA in New York, and the Tate Modern in London. His innovative approach to art continues to captivate audiences worldwide, transcending borders and resonating with art aficionados of all backgrounds. As part of the Foundation Louis Vuitton's "Hors-les-murs" program, which showcases the collection's treasures at various Espaces Louis Vuitton around the globe, this exhibition in Beijing represents a celebration of artistic diversity and international collaboration. Through this immersive experience, the foundation aims to bring Oehlen's visionary creations to a wider audience, fostering a deeper appreciation for his groundbreaking work and the power of art to inspire and provoke thought. A currently vacant military jail in The Curragh is being considered to accommodate prisoners. It was reported by TheJournal.ie earlier that a Department of Justice spokesperson has confirmed that The Curragh facility was being examined by Minister Helen McEntee and her officials. In the late 1990s The Curragh Prison was taken over by the Irish Prison Service, and before that, it was formerly the Military Detention Unit, dating from 1869. The site acted as a civilian prison until 2003. Commenting on the announcement, Sinn Fein councillor Noel Connolly told the Leinster Leader: "We are faced with this decision due to chronic underfunding of the Prison Service over the last few decades. "The government spent 30 million on a site at Thornton Hall in North County Dublin in 2004, specifically for a prison. "This land has been lying idle since, and costs 30,000 a year for security and maintenance on the site. "The site was recently valued at 6.5 million; this is just another example of wasteful spending by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael." He continued: "The Curragh is far from ideal for a prison: it is poorly served by public transport for visitors, and a prison in an area with such a small population with poor local infrastructure is not a good idea. "We need to look at a fresh approach to justice... restorative justice is something that Sinn Fein has championed , and it can have a positive effect on reoffending rates. "Prisons should concentrate on rehabilitation, and to combat inter-generational crime trends, we need to invest in the less well-off and neglected areas of our towns and villages. "If we tackle the roots of crime, we will see a reduction in crime." "There is a need for counselling services to help prisoners avoid reoffending." Sinn Fein Cllr Noel Connolly. File photograph. Cllr Connolly also said that he has spoken to prison officers living in his community and said that they are 'genuinely worried that conditions in our prisoners will lead to an upsurge in violence.' He further said: "I've also read the Inspector of Prisons Annual Report, and it makes for sobering reading. "Prisoners are sleeping on floors in some prisons, and while some of their crimes are inhuman, if we treat people with respect, give them back their dignity, educate them and give them a purpose, crime levels will fall." "The endless cycle of crime, courts, prison, repeat needs to be addressed.... only then will society reap the benefits," Cllr Connolly concluded. Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer also gave her views on the matter: "The prisons are at full capacity from recent reports so I suppose it is an obvious short term solution. "I would assume that whatever remedial works are needed to modernise the facility these will happen before it can reopen. Cllr O'Dwyer added: "Staff consultation is also very important to keep them updated as Portlaoise and the Midlands prison are a good distance from The Curragh." A man took his partners phone and sent intimate images from it to her family, it was alleged at Naas District Court. The court was told that the pair have a child together who was born when the girl was aged under 17 years. Referring to the incident Inspector Ronan McDonald said the man approached her in an aggressive manner, took her phone and she fell and received an injury. A number of explicit messages and images were sent to her family - but he said she wished to withdraw the complaint against him. The young woman said she made a statement and the claims made were true but she wanted to withdraw them because he is the childs father and she wants him to continue to see the child. When Judge Zaidan was told that the girl was a teen when the child was born he said that technically this amounts to rape in Irish law and he urged her to get help and counselling given her age. Read more Kildare news The judge pointed out that the child will be able to access the images posted by the father in the future because theyre on the internet. Referring to the womans wish to withdraw the statement, the judge said he had no doubt she is under undue pressure. He commented that the injured party has barely had a childhood. The judge also said the injured party is just a witness in the case and he said the Director of Public Prosecutions could use circumstantial evidence in the case. Defending solicitor Tim Kennelly said the man does not accept what the State purports to be the facts. It was a Wednesday night to remember for two Lotto players in Ireland, as a total of 321,312 is divided and shared between two lucky individuals. Lotto players in Dublin and Meath matched five numbers and the bonus, to scoop 160,656 each in the midweek draw. Both players struck gold as they purchased Quick Pick tickets in their localities. The Dublin player won their share of the Match 5 + Bonus prize, after purchasing their winning Quick Pick ticket on the day of the draw at Circle K Elm Park on the Merrion Road in Dublin 4. Meanwhile, the Meath winner was celebrating after purchasing their winning Quick Pick ticket, also on the day of the draw, at Tesco Narrow Ways on the Eastham Road in Bettystown. The winning numbers in the Wednesday, May 29 Lotto draw were: 12, 25, 35, 38, 39, 45 and the bonus was 34. People in Dublin and Meath are being urged to check their Lotto tickets carefully, as two players now have tickets worth 160,656 each. National Lottery spokesperson, Sarah Orr, said: Two lucky Lotto players could be walking around with the winning ticket in their bags or pockets, totally unaware of just how much they are worth. Wednesdays Lotto draw saw over 59,000 players nationwide win prizes across the Lotto and Lotto Plus draws, with the Dublin and Meath winners taking the titles of biggest winners of the night. As there was no winner of the 3,377,681 jackpot on offer, Saturdays jackpot is now set to roll towards an estimated 3.8m. Cowboys and Heroes is returning from the 31st of May to the 3rd of June for another incredible weekend of the biggest names in Irish Country at Drumcoura City Ranch near Ballinamore. Cowboys and Heroes will feature Ireland's top country acts, including The Whistlin Donkeys, Derek Ryan, The Tumbling Paddies, Robert Mizzell, Johnny Brady, Jimmy Buckley, Claudia Buckley, Patrick Feeney, David James, Sina Theil and many more! The event is unique in Ireland for providing Country Music with a full festival experience, complete with on-site accommodation, camping, a campervan park, an American car show, a Western horse show, Can-can girls, line dancing, 5 bars, themed restaurants, and the largest indoor arena in the region! This all takes place within the 50 acre ranch at Drumcoura City. There are multiple competitions and prizes over the weekend with 1,000 up for grab in the jiving competition, Country Star singing contest and the all new Western Barrel racing. There are even spot prizes for the best dressed Cowboy and Cowgirl at the show! The action packed 4 day event includes a family day on Monday, the 3rd of June. There will be face painters, amusement rides, pony rides, a kids tractor run and live music all day. You can pay whatever you like on the gate on this family fun day out, with all proceeds going to Make a Wish Ireland. With huge demand for tickets, accommodation can be difficult to come by but there are ample camping grounds for tents, campervans and caravans offered by a neighbouring landowner. There is no need to book the camping, just arrive and pay on the day. For tickets and the full line up go to www.cowboysandheroes.ie Cllr Mary Bohan proposed that Leitrim County Council contact the Taoiseach, Simon Harris TD, the Tanaiste, Micheal Martin TD, Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, and Minister Roderic O'Gorman TD to express our total dissatisfaction with the lack of communication in relation to the placing of international protection persons to locations in County Leitrim. She said that if you raise this topic at all, you are accused of being racist even though the vast majority of people in this country have shown they are not and welcomed people that needed shelter and housing into the country and Leitrim has been at the forefront of that. She continued that Leitrim has welcomed a considerable amount of people into this county but where the department has fallen down, in my mind disgracefully, is in relation to community engagement. Last year, a Community Engagement Team was established within DCEDIY to work with colleagues across Government, local government and the community and voluntary sectors, assisting with certain openings of accommodation centres, where possible. Cllr Bohan said that this hasn't been done; it hasn't been done in Dromahair and it's absolutely disgraceful the way they've treated the people there. She said the Community Engagement Team came down in December and said there were 155 people coming to the hotel the following week and more or less told us we could take it or leave it. She stated that she took exception to the way the planning department in the council were treated and said it was ridiculed. Last month, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys found the proposed use of the Abbey Manor Hotel was not unlawful, as alleged by the council, and can go ahead. He said owner Dromaprop Limited was entitled to avail of a planning exemption to change the use of the hotel, which shut during the financial crash in 2009, to accommodate protected persons under 12-month contract with the Department of Integration. He refused the councils request for an order prohibiting the temporary housing of asylum seekers at the premises. Cllr Bohan said there is no use having a community engagement team just in name; it's a complete farce and I think people are being railroaded into doing things that they haven't had any say in. She added that ahead of the proposed arrival of 155 asylum seekers last year she said no consultation had been held Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB), who provide English classes. There was no consultation with the local doctor's surgery, the HSE or primary or secondary schools, she said. She said the building was not fit to house 155 people, in her view, adding that one of those rooms had eight beds with a room off it with three beds with one standard toilet and shower to eleven people. Is that humane for people coming from war-torn countries? She added that she felt the department has lost control of where a lot of these people are coming from and there are a lot of people not coming from war-torn areas. Cllr Felim Gurn supported the motion and noted that planning was originally approved for Short Term Tourist Letting (STTL), which meant a hotel. He said to land 155 people, which may happen, into an area where there are around 1,200 means the population goes up overnight and to have no discussions as regards schools, healthcare facilities and the impact it would have on Sligo University Hospital. He said the Community Engagement Team has been a joke from the way they handled this from day one. He said taking hotels like this out of circulation is having a huge impact on our towns, businesses and villages going forward. We have to come up with another plan to house these people. Cllr Des Guckian said the court ruling has to be contested adding that otherwise planning laws are useless. Cllr Padraig Fallon said he has been making queries on this for months and you could wait for weeks for a reply from the Community Engagement Team." He said, there's obviously been no learning with regard to communication because we've had this all over the country. Gardai in Crumlin are continuing to investigate a fatal assault on a man in his 30s that is understood to have occurred sometime between Saturday, January 6, 2024 and the early hours of Sunday, January 7, 2024 in Dublin. The man in his 30s was discovered at approximately 3am on Sunday, January 7, 2024 with serious injuries at an apartment in Lucan, County Dublin. He was later pronounced deceased at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. Two women in their 40s and a man in his 30s were arrested this Thursday, May 30, 2024 as part of this investigation. They are currently being detained at a number of garda stations in the Dublin region under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. This investigation is continuing from an Incident Room at Crumlin Garda Station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO). A Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) continues to keep the deceased's family informed of developments. Gardai are continuing to appeal to the public for information in relation to this incident. Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Crumlin garda station on 01 666 6200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Fountain Asset Corp. Announces Its Financial Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2024 TORONTO, May 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fountain Asset Corp. (TSXV:FA) ("Fountain" or the "Company") would like to announce its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2024 ("Q1/24"). Highlights from Q1 2024: NAV of $6.22 million ($0.10/share) at March 31, 2024 compared to $6.66 million ($0.11/share) at December 31, 2023, representing a 9.1% decrease on a quarter over quarter per share basis; Net comprehensive losses of $0.44 million compared to net comprehensive losses of $0.18 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 (" Q1/23 "); "); Total losses from investment activity was $0.28 million compared to gains of $0.04 million for Q1/23; Net realized losses on the sale of portfolio investments of $0.32 million compared to net realized gains of $0.09 million for Q1/23; Net unrealized gains on portfolio investments of $0.04 million compared to net unrealized losses of $0.06 million for Q1/23; Total expenses of $0.17 million compared to $0.22 million for Q1/23; and Operating expenses of $0.17 million compared to $0.18 million for Q1/23. During Q1/24, the Company realized $0.32 million in losses on the sale of non-core portfolio investments. The company saw a decline in its portfolio of publicly traded companies, which included a decline from SRG Mining Inc. The decreases were offset by increases in Hammond Power Solutions. The Company continued to maintain low operating expenses in Q1/24, which helped reduce the net comprehensive loss of the Company. As at March 31, 2024, the Company's net assets were valued at $6.22 million or $0.10 per share compared to $6.66 million or $0.11 per share at December 31, 2023. "During Q1/24, Fountain continued to focus on its growth-oriented goals by realigning its investment portfolio for new opportunities and exiting non-core investments that have not benefitted the Company. While this resulted in additional realized losses during Q1/24, Fountain believes the disposition of these investments was necessary for the Company to re-position itself and capitalize on new opportunities," said Andrew Parks, CEO of Fountain. A full set of the Q1 2024 unaudited financial statements and the management discussion & analysis are available on SEDAR+. About Fountain Asset Corp. Fountain Asset Corp. is a merchant bank which provides equity financing, bridge loan services (asset back/collateralized financing) and strategic financial consulting services to companies across many industries such as marijuana, oil & gas, mining, real estate, manufacturing, retail, financial services, and biotechnology. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking information, which is information relating to possible events, conditions or results of operations of the Company, which are based on assumptions and courses of action and which are inherently uncertain. All information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, growing Fountain's capital base and a strong pipeline going forward. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: the level of bridge loans and equity investments completed, the nature and credit quality of the collateral security and the nature and quality of equity investments, and the other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's annual information form dated August 17, 2022 filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. 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. Neither TSX Venture Exchange Inc. 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 further information: please contact Andrew Parks at (416) 456-7019 or visit Fountain Asset Corp.'s website at www.fountainassetcorp.com. 29 may 2024 at 19:05 News published onand distributed by: Clarivate Celebrates 500 Institutions Adopting Rialto Marketplace Solution Transforming the way libraries select, acquire and manage their collections of academic books LONDON, May 30, 2024 /CNW/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today announces that 500 institutions around the world have selected the Rialtotm books marketplace solution with Florida Atlantic University as the 500th customer. This milestone, achieved in just a few years, underscores Rialto's rapid adoption and success in transforming the way libraries acquire and manage their academic book collections so they can best serve their communities. Audrey Marcus, Senior Vice President, Books Business Unit, Clarivate said: "Rialto has rapidly grown to a sophisticated solution that benefits academic libraries of all sizes by creating greater efficiencies and transforming collection development. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the user community to deliver forward thinking innovations that support librarians." Dr. Linda Marie Golian-Lui, Dean of University Libraries at Florida Atlantic University, said: "We are excited to adopt Rialto and look forward to the benefits this software will provide our library staff and our library users. The integration of Rialto with our online integrated library system, Alma, provides beneficial real-time budget tracking for our library staff, and the platform offers several features that will improve collaboration across our team. This product also provides significant efficiencies in ordering and receiving critical library resources for our library users." Rialto uses a marketplace approach that makes selecting and acquiring library resources fast, accurate and transparent. The platform's features include: Comprehensive marketplace: Libraries can search, select and order from more than 20 leading publisher and aggregator platforms within a single, easy-to-use marketplace. Rialto eliminates the need to purchase separately from individual platforms to simplify invoicing and enable libraries to build rich, diverse collections. Libraries can search, select and order from more than 20 leading publisher and aggregator platforms within a single, easy-to-use marketplace. Rialto eliminates the need to purchase separately from individual platforms to simplify invoicing and enable libraries to build rich, diverse collections. Utilizing the power of AI: Since the very beginning, Rialto has harnessed Artificial Intelligence to deliver the most relevant insights and recommendations to selectors. Recommendation feeds can be customized to meet the unique needs of each library and support data-driven decision-making based on past purchases and patron engagement. Since the very beginning, Rialto has harnessed Artificial Intelligence to deliver the most relevant insights and recommendations to selectors. Recommendation feeds can be customized to meet the unique needs of each library and support data-driven decision-making based on past purchases and patron engagement. Seamless workflow: Rialto greatly reduces manual workloads through its unification with Almatm, the library services platform used by more than 2,500 institutions worldwide, creating unmatched selection and acquisition workflow efficiencies for librarians. Florida Atlantic University has joined libraries such as The University of South Australia, University of Central Florida and University of Edinburgh in the Rialto user community. Since its launch, Rialto has continued to evolve, incorporating feedback from its diverse customer base and expanding its capabilities to address emerging challenges in the library landscape. About Clarivate Clarivatetm is a leading global provider of transformative intelligence. We offer enriched data, insights & analytics, workflow solutions and expert services in the areas of Academia & Government, Intellectual Property and Life Sciences & Healthcare. For more information, please visit www.clarivate.com Media Contact: Rachel Scheer, Director, External Communications, Academia & Government [email protected] SOURCE Clarivate Plc 30 may 2024 at 03:00 News published onand distributed by: Aya Gold & Silver Announces Release of Fourth Sustainability Report MONTREAL, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA; OTCQX: AYASF) ("Aya" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce the publication of its 2023 Sustainability Report for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the Report ). The report can be consulted on the ESG Analyst Centre page of the Corporation's website. Fourth Sustainability Report The Report presents the Corporation's progress and achievements across a range of environmental, social and governance ("ESG") practices and outlines the Corporation's commitments to stakeholders. This year's single report, which includes the Corporation's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures ("TCFD") disclosure, is TCFD- and GRI-compliant. Benoit La Salle, President & CEO, commented, "I am very proud of our team's dedication toward progressing and embedding our ESG strategy which is outlined in this second TCFD-compliant report. Our growing maturity in sustainability is reflected by our 2023 focus on improving our corporate governance, prioritizing tailings management, suppliers' due diligence, human rights, transparency, and diversity, and formalized by our appointment of a Chief Sustainability Officer. We are at an exciting stage of our sustainability journey as we prepare to bring Zgounder expanded operations into commercial production and begin operation of a low-cost, global top 20 silver mine. The mine has already set new standards for responsible mining in the region, and its expansion will be transformational for us." Annual Highlights (as of year-end 2023) Environmental New tailings built in compliance with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) 69% of water usage recycled compared to 61% in 2022 Near-completion of the renewable energy power line that sets the table for achieving Zgounder's 88% greenhouse gas reduction target by 2025 Social Significant improvement in health and safety performance, with 85% year-over-year decrease in lost-time and a 75% decrease in lost-time injuries Increased training hours by 294% year over year Implemented a Shareholder Engagement Plan and grievance mechanism in addition to launching agricultural livelihood projects Governance Enhanced governance with addition of nine new corporate policies including inaugural Modern Slavery report Launched a Suppliers' Code of Conduct to ensure suppliers adhere to our high standards of responsible business conduct Scored above-average in the mining industry in our inaugural S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment Achieved 38% female representation and 88% independence on the Aya Board About Aya Gold & Silver Inc. Aya Gold & Silver Inc. is a rapidly growing, Canada-based silver producer with operations in the Kingdom of Morocco. The only TSX-listed pure silver mining company, Aya operates the high-grade Zgounder Silver Mine and is exploring its properties along the prospective South-Atlas Fault, several of which have hosted past-producing mines and historical resources. Aya's Moroccan mining assets are complemented by its Tijirit Gold Project in Mauritania, which is being advanced to feasibility. Aya's management team has been focused on maximising shareholder value by anchoring sustainability at the heart of its operations, governance, and financial growth plans. For additional information, please visit Aya's website at www.ayagoldsilver.com. Or contact Benoit La Salle, FCPA, MBA President & CEO [email protected] Alex Ball VP, Corporate Development & IR [email protected] Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"), which reflects management's expectations regarding Aya's future growth and business prospects (including the timing and development of new deposits and the success of exploration activities) and other opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "growing", "improving", "prioritizing", and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", or are "likely" to be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify such forward-looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements and information with respect to future opportunities o. Although the forward-looking information contained in this press release reflect management's current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Aya cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions, opinions and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions, and its expectations of future developments that management believe to be reasonable and relevant but that may prove to be incorrect. Aya cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including government approvals and permitting, changes in economic conditions, changes in the worldwide price of silver gold and other key inputs, changes in mine plans (including, but not limited to, throughput and recoveries being affected by metallurgical characteristics) and other factors, such as project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of Aya, as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in Aya's 2023 Annual Information Form dated March 28, 2024, and in other filings of Aya with securities and regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Aya does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs, and opinions change. Nothing in this document should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell Aya securities. All references to Aya include its subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise. 30 may 2024 at 07:00 News published onand distributed by: Sinequa Augments Companies with Release of New Generative AI Assistants AI-powered search provider Sinequa announced today the availability of Sinequa Assistants, new enterprise-grade generative AI assistants that seamlessly integrate with all enterprise content and applications to augment and transform knowledge work. Sinequa's new generative AI Assistants empower employees to work more efficiently, effectively and creatively, allowing them to accelerate and improve decisions, devote more time to strategic initiatives and drive business success. Generative AI (GenAI) is poised for rapid adoption. According to Gartner, "By 2027, GenAI will augment 30% of all knowledge workers' tasks, from 0% in 2023." (1) As organizations have grappled with how to reliably use generative AI in business, Sinequa's Assistants demonstrate that combining search with GenAI in a technique called retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) enables the next generation of AI-augmented knowledge work. Sinequa's unique Neural Search is the perfect complement to GenAI and provides the foundation for Sinequa's Assistants. Its capabilities go far beyond RAG's conventional search-and-summarize paradigm to intelligently execute complex, multi-step activities, all grounded in facts to augment the way employees work. Assistants automate tedious tasks and streamline work processes with added insights for better results, improved quality, and a more satisfying work experience. Unlike other AI assistants or copilots that lack secure access to the full scope of all enterprise content, Sinequa's Assistants leverage any and all company content and knowledge to generate contextually-relevant insights and recommendations, while ensuring privacy and data governance. Optimized for scale with three custom-trained small language models (SLMs) for the best relevance at low cost, Sinequa Assistants ensure accurate conversational responses on any internal topic, complete with citations and full traceability to the original source. Sinequa Assistants work with any public or private generative LLM, including Cohere, OpenAI, Google Gemini, Microsoft Azure Open AI, Mistral and others, allowing companies to choose which LLMs best meet their needs while controlling costs. The Sinequa Assistant framework powers a range of ready-to-go Assistants along with tools to define custom Assistant workflows so that customers can use an Assistant out of the box, or tailor and manage multiple Assistants from a single platform. These Assistants can be tailored to fit the needs of specific business scenarios and deployed and updated quickly without code or additional infrastructure. Some of the domain-specific Assistants available include: The Augmented Scientist empowers research teams to converse with scientific content from an ever-increasing number of data sources to speed up clinical trials, drug development and streamline Research & Development (R&D) processes. empowers research teams to converse with scientific content from an ever-increasing number of data sources to speed up clinical trials, drug development and streamline Research & Development (R&D) processes. The Augmented Engineer empowers design teams with a unified view of projects, products, and parts and the ability to construct and search across a digital thread. empowers design teams with a unified view of projects, products, and parts and the ability to construct and search across a digital thread. The Augmented Lawyer gives lawyers and paralegals powerful self-service research capabilities across all case files and information through a time-saving AI search. gives lawyers and paralegals powerful self-service research capabilities across all case files and information through a time-saving AI search. The Augmented Asset Manager empowers financial asset managers and advisors to leverage valuable insight from contracts, portfolio history and documents. All of the Assistants are powered by Sinequa's search platform, combining the most accurate and performant hybrid search technology and three custom SLMs. A flexible Assistant framework makes it easy to define custom workflows informed by search and combine that with any generative AI model, whether commercial, private, or open source. "To better capitalize on the feedback following production incidents in our refineries, we implemented JAFAR (Jenerative AI for Availability REX), a new search app designed to streamline information retrieval in TotalEnergies' knowledge databases. Powered by Sinequa's search engine/RAG combined with generative AI, JAFAR enhances decision-making by analyzing documents and providing recommendations," said Aude Giraudel, Head of Smart Search Engines, TotalEnergies. (2) While most companies are still experimenting with basic search-and-summarize RAG, Sinequa has gone much further with Assistants that take RAG to the next level. Sinequa's Assistants execute multi-step workflows to accomplish complex tasks with reasoning, incorporating RAG as needed to fully leverage corporate knowledge. This ensures that the Assistant responds accurately, transparently, and securely, with the most up-to-date information, including inline citations to original sources and immediate traceability ? and access ? to those sources. "Sinequa has been investing in Artificial Intelligence and leading Enterprise Search for the last 20 years thanks to our unmatched connectivity and scalability on enterprise content. Having pioneered the use of LLMs in search with our custom-trained SLMs, Sinequa is perfectly positioned to take search and RAG to the next level with the release of Sinequa's Generative AI Assistants. This is an exciting time as our Assistants augment the way we work, empowering knowledge workers to deliver higher quality work in less time, and with greater confidence and lower mental stress. At Sinequa we are proud to support our customers in their GenAI transformation," said Jean Ferre, CEO and Co-Founder of Sinequa. As part of this paradigm shift and the unveiling of Sinequa's virtual assistants, Sinequa has also launched a new brand identity and company website to reflect this new era of work augmented by Assistants informed by search and Sinequa's role in advancing AI in the enterprise. AI is fundamentally transforming how work gets done, and represents a new world of opportunity for augmenting employees and businesses. For more information, visit www.sinequa.com. (1) Gartner, Emerging Tech: Primary Impact of Generative AI on Business Use Cases, 6 September, 2023, by Annette Jump, Anthony Bradley, Eric Goodness, Radu Miclaus (2) Quote extracted from CIO France magazine, "TotalEnergies raffine ses resultats de recherche avec le RAG," April 18, 2024 30 may 2024 at 08:00 News published onand distributed by: Mitsubishi Power to Supply Technology to Support Brazil's Largest Reliability Project The consortium formed by Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. (Mitsubishi Power) and CONSAG Engenharia ? an Andrade Gutierrez company (CONSAG) ? recently signed an agreement with Portocem Geracao de Energia S.A. and New Fortress Energy, Inc. (NFE) for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of the Portocem Thermoelectric Power Plant (UTE Portocem) in Brazil. The signing ceremony was held on May 10, 2024, in Tokyo at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (parent company of Mitsubishi Power) headquarters and included representatives from all parties of the consortium. The event celebrated this milestone achievement in Brazil's largest simple cycle gas thermal power plant through a traditional Japanese Daruma doll ceremony. The Daruma doll is a custom used when setting a wish or a goal, and this symbolizes the communal goal for Portocem to be a successful project. In the EPC agreement Mitsubishi Power will supply four M501JAC enhanced air-cooled gas turbines to operate in simple cycle at UTE Portocem. CONSAG will be responsible for providing the balance of plant , utilities, civil works, assembly, and commissioning of the plant as well as the implementation of the transmission line and substation. This collaboration will result in providing 1.6 GW of firm, dispatchable power capacity in what will be Brazil's largest peaking power plant and one of the largest power plants ever built in Latin America, to provide reliable energy to the national grid in Brazil, supplying much-needed additional capacity to back the existing reliance on hydropower. The project and its 15-year Capacity Reserve Contract received full regulator approval in March 2024. Portocem Geracao de Energia S.A. was the biggest winner of the first Power Capacity Reserve Auction in December 2021, and the project marks Mitsubishi Power's third advanced technology heavy duty gas turbine project in Brazil in 5 years for a total of approximately 2.6 GW of gas turbine capacity. Commercial operation is expected in 2026, with construction of the thermal power plant already in progress. NFE recently completed construction and commissioning of the Barcarena LNG terminal which will supply LNG to more than 2.2 GWs of capacity (owned by NFE) in Para, Brazil. "The UTE Portocem project is yet another example of how the Brazilian power generation sector is recognizing the need for advanced, cleaner power generation technology to meet the needs of a changing market," said Tim Shore, Senior Vice President of LATAM Commercial and Regional Leader for Mitsubishi Power Americas. "At Mitsubishi Power, we have the technology to support this transition and we thank Portocem Geracao de Energia S.A. for choosing us for this important project." Brazil's energy usage has varied in recent years, in part due to droughts and environmental factors, and in part due to 99.5% of all homes becoming electrified. In a second update of its NDC (October 2023), Brazil set ambitious decarbonization targets, with a 49% cut in GHG emissions by 2025 and 53% by 2030 when compared to 2005 levels, with the objective to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 (Enerdata). About Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. (Mitsubishi Power) headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida, employs more than 2,800 power generation, energy storage, and digital solutions experts and professionals. Our employees are focused on empowering customers to affordably and reliably combat climate change while also advancing human prosperity throughout North, Central, and South America. Mitsubishi Power's power generation solutions include gas, steam, and aero-derivative turbines; power trains and power islands; geothermal systems; PV solar project development; environmental controls; and services. Energy storage solutions include green hydrogen, battery energy storage systems, and services. Mitsubishi Power also offers intelligent solutions that use artificial intelligence to enable autonomous operation of power plants. Mitsubishi Power is a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI). Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, MHI is one of the world's leading heavy machinery manufacturers with engineering and manufacturing businesses spanning energy, infrastructure, transport, aerospace, and defense. For more information, visit the Mitsubishi Power Americas website and follow us on LinkedIn. 30 may 2024 at 10:10 News published onand distributed by: National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program Mobile Tour Visits New Hampshire MANCHESTER, N.Y., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting June 11, New Hampshire Fishercats and University of New Hampshire in Manchester, NH 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 more?all 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: Manchester, NY 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, June 11, to Friday, June 18, 2024 11:30am-5pm Delta Dental Stadium 1 Line Dr Manchester, NH 03101 Tuesday, June 18, to Friday, June 21, 2024 10am-4pm University of New Hampshire 105 Main St Durham, NH 03824 See the full list of events in New Hampshire from June 11 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/tour . 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: 703-454-9168 ext: 144 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Montage Marketing Group 30 may 2024 at 12:00 News published onand distributed by: Minister MacAulay announces investment in crop diversification research SASKATOON, SK, May 30, 2024 /CNW/ - Diversity in field crops creates an agriculture ecosystem that is profitable and resilient to climate change. Small acreage crops, like camelina, carinata, flax, mustard and sunflower, contribute to the resiliency of Canadian crop production thanks to their ability to withstand drought, heat, and soil nutrient deficiency. To support research to increase crop diversity, today, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced up to $8,124,319 to Ag-West Bio Inc. through the AgriScience Program ? Clusters Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Ag-West Bio will manage the Diverse Field Crops Cluster, a coordinated group of organizations representing small acreage crops, with the goal of building capacity and increasing the acreage seeded to diverse crops. Crop research is a key driver of innovation and advancement for producers, and it has the potential to generate long-term, sustainable economic growth for Canada's agricultural sector. The Cluster research activities aim to: Benchmark the GHG emissions produced by diverse crops and understand how those emissions are impacted by nitrogen fertilizer use Further develop new oilseed crops, such as camelina, that are more adapted to production on lower-quality land Improve genetic resiliency, yields, and disease resistance in rotation crops such as mustard, flax, and sunflower Quotes "There is no doubt that our farmers are among the first to feel the impacts of climate change. That's exactly why we're supporting this important research to increase the yield and profitability of diverse field crops and make the sector more resilient." - The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food "We're pleased to support research that builds on the Prairies' extensive agricultural know-how. Applying that knowledge to a wider range of crops creates new sources of value, and jobs in rural areas. This project brings together partners with a shared purpose who can draw upon local assets and strengths across our region. Not one government, industry, or organization can do it alone. Investments like this one, supporting the Green Prairie Economy, are a step towards our goal to transition to a stronger, sustainable economic future together." - The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister responsible for PrairiesCan "Ag-West Bio is grateful for this continued support of the Diverse Field Crops Cluster (DFCC). The goal with DFCC is to give farmers viable alternatives to include in their rotations, which will help create an agricultural ecosystem that is more profitable while also being more resilient to climate change. By pooling resources, DFCC can advance these crops much faster." - Karen Churchill, President and CEO of Ag-West Bio Quick Facts Diverse field crops, such as the ones supported in this Cluster, grown in rotation with the major crops cultivated in Canada , can reduce the risks associated with a limited crop rotation. , can reduce the risks associated with a limited crop rotation. The five crops researched in the Diverse Field Crops Cluster are primarily adapted to Western Canada's environment. environment. The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector, and Canadians. The Clusters Component, under the AgriScience Program, supports projects intended to mobilize industry, government and academia through partnerships and address priority national themes and horizontal issues. Ag-West Bio Inc. is a Canadian not-for-profit organization created in 1989 by the Government of Saskatchewan , through the Ministry of Agriculture, to accelerate the emerging ag-biotech sector and to support the bioeconomy by linking capabilities to resources. , through the Ministry of Agriculture, to accelerate the emerging ag-biotech sector and to support the bioeconomy by linking capabilities to resources. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has partnered with Prairies Economic Development Canada and other government departments in support of the Green Prairie Economy. This is a commitment to supporting businesses and communities across the Prairie provinces and seizing new opportunities to grow Canada's globally competitive economy sustainably. globally competitive economy sustainably. Within the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, federal departments coordinate investments for the Prairies and collaborate closely with Prairie stakeholders on their priorities for a prosperous and sustainable economy. The Framework is a principles-based approach that respects provincial jurisdictions and supports economic reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Additional Links Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 30 may 2024 at 12:37 News published onand distributed by: Phenom Named Strategic Leader in Fosway 9-Gridtm for Talent Acquisition 2024 for Fourth Consecutive Year Phenom has been named a Strategic Leader in the 2024 Fosway 9-Gridtm for Talent Acquisition for the fourth consecutive year, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of its solution and its ability to innovate, drive business impact, and support with customer adoption and satisfaction compared to alternative talent acquisition software solutions. Fosway identifies Strategic Leaders as companies that provide a rich suite of capability across a broad scope of features and have the sophistication to consistently meet the needs of complex enterprise-scale customers. Strategic Leaders are also recognised by Fosway for having strong market performance and customer advocacy; as a result, they are frequently selected by such organisations and consistently meet their needs. The European job market is undergoing a significant transformation. Challenges such as talent shortages and technological disruptions are actively shaping the dynamics of recruitment practices. To navigate this, talent acquisition leaders, sourcers, talent marketers, recruitment events managers, and recruiters must adopt a multifaceted approach that encompasses building alliances, appropriately leveraging and consolidating technology, personalising candidate engagement, maximising utilisation of artificial intelligence and automation, and embracing data insights. "The TA industry faces many challenges due to a fragmented tech stack, and companies often struggle to streamline their recruitment processes and engage candidates effectively," said David Wilson, CEO and founder of Fosway Group. "Phenom's Intelligent Talent Experience platform aims to deliver an effective, data-driven, personalised enterprise solution to these issues. Their continued innovation and customer outcomes are reflected in their position as a Strategic Leader for a fourth successive year." The Most Productive, Efficient Organisations Will Define the Decade Ahead More than 600 global, diverse enterprises use Phenom's automations, intelligence, and experience to achieve measurable, defensible results, including the ability to: "Phenom's fourth consecutive year being recognised as a Strategic Leader in the 2024 Fosway 9-Gridtm for Talent Acquisition reaffirms our commitment to innovation, customer impact, and advocacy," said John Harrington, Senior Director, Product Marketing at Phenom. "Securing the highest positioning in performance and potential is a testament to our 13+ years in the industry and reflects our ability to partner with global organisations across all industries to address their unique challenges and exceed their goals." Leading the Way in Generative AI Adoption and Impact in HR The advent of generative AI in the past year afforded Phenom a significant opportunity to address the challenges being experienced by its customers with immediate solutions that drive efficiency and productivity outcomes. Since its introduction in 2023, Phenom X+ Generative AI in Phenom's Intelligent Talent Experience platform has been adopted by over 600 customers, supporting over 60 use cases, and saving HR teams 37,000 hours in the process. Top X+ generative AI use cases and examples of time savings include: Email generation, saving Talent CRM users over 6 minutes per email Generation of profile summaries, affording 15 hours back to talent acquisition teams each week Development of SMS and email campaigns, leading to 35% higher response rates from candidates Unleashing a Massive Wave of HR Tech Innovation Phenom continues to innovate by introducing new functionality and capabilities intended to address the top challenges being experienced by talent practitioners today. 2024 Phenom platform innovation highlights include: Talent Experience Engine: transforms talent marketers into strategists by leveraging large datasets to create personalised, on-brand campaigns. It enhances efficiency by unifying persona and journey data, enabling content creation, segment identification, personalised journeys, and automated outreach. This comprehensive set of tools optimises engagement and conversion for candidates, employees, and alumni. transforms talent marketers into strategists by leveraging large datasets to create personalised, on-brand campaigns. It enhances efficiency by unifying persona and journey data, enabling content creation, segment identification, personalised journeys, and automated outreach. This comprehensive set of tools optimises engagement and conversion for candidates, employees, and alumni. X+ Source: optimises sourcing by segmenting talent pools and creating personalised journeys to attract best-fit candidates. Simply request candidates for a specific role and location, and X+ Source finds the best-fit talent, provides recommendations, summarises key details, and conducts automatic outreach to establish initial contact. optimises sourcing by segmenting talent pools and creating personalised journeys to attract best-fit candidates. Simply request candidates for a specific role and location, and X+ Source finds the best-fit talent, provides recommendations, summarises key details, and conducts automatic outreach to establish initial contact. X+ Workforce Intelligence: connects data from employees, management, HR teams, candidates, and recruiters to provide real-time talent insights for proactive retention and growth. HR teams and managers can identify skills gaps, create personalised development plans, and designate successors based on data to find ideal candidates. connects data from employees, management, HR teams, candidates, and recruiters to provide real-time talent insights for proactive retention and growth. HR teams and managers can identify skills gaps, create personalised development plans, and designate successors based on data to find ideal candidates. Talent Marketer Experience: empowers talent marketers to craft personalised content, design campaigns, segment talent, and engage effectively using AI and automation. X+ Agents guide marketers through tasks, enhancing engagement throughout the talent lifecycle via a single, unified platform. empowers talent marketers to craft personalised content, design campaigns, segment talent, and engage effectively using AI and automation. X+ Agents guide marketers through tasks, enhancing engagement throughout the talent lifecycle via a single, unified platform. Talent Leader Experience: provides recruitment managers with organisation-wide insights and individual performance data, including requisition and candidate interaction metrics. X+ Agents offer tailored action plans based on hiring type, enhancing team efficiency and effectiveness. provides recruitment managers with organisation-wide insights and individual performance data, including requisition and candidate interaction metrics. X+ Agents offer tailored action plans based on hiring type, enhancing team efficiency and effectiveness. X+ Screening: enables fast, intelligent hiring decisions by offering comprehensive insights based on recorded answers, situational judgment questions, and call simulations for all job types. enables fast, intelligent hiring decisions by offering comprehensive insights based on recorded answers, situational judgment questions, and call simulations for all job types. Structured Interviews: streamlines interview processes with automated note-taking, question management, and real-time transcription. It enables hiring teams to focus on meaningful candidate interactions while reducing human error and leveraging AI for confident hiring decisions through organised and analysed data. streamlines interview processes with automated note-taking, question management, and real-time transcription. It enables hiring teams to focus on meaningful candidate interactions while reducing human error and leveraging AI for confident hiring decisions through organised and analysed data. Contingent Talent Hiring: helps top brands attract contractors effortlessly via Phenom. Companies can now seamlessly discover and hire temporary workers, with integrated support for Vendor Management Systems and payroll providers for smooth onboarding. helps top brands attract contractors effortlessly via Phenom. Companies can now seamlessly discover and hire temporary workers, with integrated support for Vendor Management Systems and payroll providers for smooth onboarding. Events Pro: streamlines event creation to easily target demographics through email, SMS, and registration forms. Personalised virtual event lobbies allow talent to review content, visit booths, and receive automatic event summaries via email. streamlines event creation to easily target demographics through email, SMS, and registration forms. Personalised virtual event lobbies allow talent to review content, visit booths, and receive automatic event summaries via email. Phenom Assessments: have expanded the existing behavioral and language assessments to include motivation and interest assessments to guide early talent to the right jobs. have expanded the existing behavioral and language assessments to include motivation and interest assessments to guide early talent to the right jobs. X+ Fit Score: enables talent acquisition professionals to extend the typical criteria used to formulate fit scores, or customise the scores in the context of the role. Companies across EMEA are successfully adopting Phenom's Intelligent Talent Experience platform to help candidates find and choose the right job faster, employees develop their skills and evolve, recruiters become wildly productive, talent marketers engage with extreme efficiency, talent leaders optimise hiring processes, managers build stronger-performing teams, HR align employee development with company goals, and HRIS easily integrate existing HR tech to create a holistic infrastructure. On June 6, Phenom is demonstrating its massive wave of recent platform innovations during its HR Innovation Showcase. Register here for the streaming event and see how Phenom continues to innovate, earning its position as a Strategic Leader for the fourth consecutive year. About the Fosway 9-Gridtm Fosway Group is Europe's #1 HR industry analyst. The Fosway 9-Gridtm provides a unique assessment of the principal learning and talent supply options available to organisations in EMEA. The analysis is based on extensive independent research and insights from Fosway's Corporate Research Network of over 250 organisations, including BP, HSBC, PwC, RBS, Sanofi, Shell, and Vodafone. Visit the Fosway website at www.fosway.com. About Phenom Phenom has a purpose of helping a billion people find the right work. Through AI-powered talent experiences, employers use Phenom to hire employees faster, develop them to their full potential, and retain them longer. The Phenom Intelligent Talent Experience platform seamlessly connects candidates, employees, recruiters, talent marketers, talent leaders, hiring managers, HR and HRIS ? empowering diverse and global enterprises with innovative products including Phenom X+ Generative AI, Career Site, Chatbot, CMS, Talent CRM, One-Way Interviews, Automated Interview Scheduling, Interview Intelligence, Talent Experience Engine, Campaigns, University Recruiting, Contingent Talent Hiring, Talent Marketplace, Workforce Intelligence, Career Pathing, Gigs, Mentoring, and Referrals. Phenom has earned accolades including: Inc. 5000's fastest-growing companies (4 consecutive years), Deloitte Technology's Fast 500 (4 consecutive years), five Brandon Hall ?Excellence in Technology' awards including Gold for ?Best Advance in AI for Business Impact,' Business Intelligence Group's Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards (3 consecutive years), and a regional Timmy Award for launching and optimizing HelpOneBillion.com (2020). Headquartered in Greater Philadelphia, Phenom also has offices in India, Israel, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.phenom.com. Connect with Phenom on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. 30 may 2024 at 14:25 News published onand distributed by: People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on May 30, 2024. JUNG YEON-JE / AFP North Korea fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles early on Thursday, May 30, Seoul's military said, hours after Pyongyang sent hundreds of trash-filled balloons across the border to punish South Korea. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had detected the launch of "what are suspected to be around 10 short-range ballistic missiles," fired into waters east of the Korean peninsula, it said. The missiles flew around 350 kilometers, JCS said, adding that it was analyzing the specifics alongside the United States and Japan. The launch was a "provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," it added. Japan's coastguard and prime minister's office also confirmed the launch and said they were checking for more information. On Wednesday, Pyongyang sent balloons full of trash, toilet paper and suspected animal feces into the South, with Seoul's military slamming Pyongyang for their "low class" actions. Punishing action The North had warned over the weekend that it would shower border areas in "mounds of wastepaper and filth" to punish Seoul. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong mocked the "goblins of liberal democracy" in Seoul for complaining about the balloons and pledged more could follow. The salvo of ballistic missiles also comes just days after North Korea's latest attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit ended in a mid-air explosion three days earlier. North Korea said late Monday that the rocket carrying its "Malligyong-1-1" reconnaissance satellite exploded minutes after launch due to a suspected engine problem. Japanese broadcaster NHK ran footage of what appeared to be a flaming projectile in the night sky, which then exploded into a fireball, saying it had filmed it from northeast China at the same time as the attempted launch. Read more Subscribers only South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island has become the front line for clashes with the North This handout photo taken by the South Korean Defense Ministry between the night of May 28 and 29, 2024, and released on May 29 shows unidentified objects believed to be North Korean propaganda material attached to balloons on a street in Chungnam Province. HANDOUT / AFP Putting a reconnaissance satellite into orbit has long been a top priority for Kim's regime, and it claimed to have succeeded in November, after two failed attempts last year. In a speech released by the official Korean Central News Agency late Wednesday, Kim said the country was undeterred by the recent failed satellite launch. "Although we failed to achieve the results we had hoped to get in the recent reconnaissance satellite launch, we must never feel scared or dispirited but make still greater efforts," he said. "It is natural that one learns more and makes greater progress after experiencing failure," he said, according to the transcript of the speech, given at the Academy of Defence Sciences. UN meeting Nuclear-armed North Korea is barred by multiple UN resolutions from tests using ballistic technology, and analysts say there is significant technological overlap between space launch capabilities and the development of ballistic missiles. Monday's launch was widely condemned, including by Seoul, Japan, and the United States. The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet Friday to discuss that incident. Early Thursday, North Korea released a statement warning UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres he might be "the most spiritless and weak-willed secretary-general in the history of the United Nations." Pyongyang said it had to express "deep concern about the fact that the UNSC is going to convene an open meeting again to call the DPRK's legitimate satellite launch into question," said the statement by Kim Son Gyong, a North Korea foreign ministry official. For the North, "the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite is an inevitable undertaking for bolstering up the might of self-defense," he added. Seoul claims Kim received Russian technical assistance for its successful November launch in return for sending containers of weapons to Moscow for use in Ukraine. Read more Subscribers only North Koreans are used as modern slaves in China's fish processing plants An aspiring mayor was shot dead in southern Mexico on Wednesday, May 29, during a campaign rally, the Guerrero state governor said, the latest in a string of attacks ahead of weekend elections. A video published by local media showed a person approaching Alfredo Cabrera and shooting him several times, causing chaos and panic among people attending the event. Guerrero governor Evelyn Salgado condemned the "cowardly" murder of Cabrera, a candidate for an opposition coalition in the town of Coyuca de Benitez. Writing on social media platform X, she said she had asked the state prosecutor's office to bring "the full weight of the law against the person or persons responsible." The prosecutor's office later announced that the alleged attacker had been killed at the scene. Read more Subscribers only In Mexico, 'AMLO's' popularity guarantees victory for his chosen successor The government said on Tuesday that at least 22 people running for local office had been murdered since last September. Some non-governmental organizations have reported an even higher number, including Data Civica, which has counted around 30 murders of local politicians. On Tuesday, a mayoral candidate in the central state of Morelos was murdered while another one was wounded by gunfire in western Jalisco state, authorities said. The PRI, one of the opposition coalition parties, accused the government of having "not made even the slightest effort to guarantee the safety of the candidates." Around 27,000 soldiers and National Guard members will be deployed to reinforce security on Sunday, when Mexicans will vote for a new president, members of Congress, several state governors and myriad local officials. Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, Culture Minister Asta Vrecko and Economy Minister Matjaz Han attend a press conference about the recognition of the Palestinian state, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, May 30, 2024. BORUT ZIVULOVIC / REUTERS Slovenian lawmakers are due to vote on Tuesday, June 4, on whether to recognize a Palestinian state, the parliament speaker said on Thursday, May 30, just days after three other European nations extended their recognition. "The session is scheduled for Tuesday from 4:00 pm," parliament speaker Urska Klakocar Zupancic told a press conference in Ljubljana. The three centre-left parties in the governing coalition, which hold 51 of the 90 seats in parliament, support the recognition of a state of Palestine, as part of efforts to end the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible. Almost 60% of Slovenians back the recognition of a Palestine state while 20% oppose it, according to an April poll of 600 people published by the Dnevnik daily newspaper. Spain, Ireland and Norway recognized a Palestinian state this week, bringing the number of the United Nations' 193 member states that have recognized the statehood to 145, according to the Palestinian authorities. Read more Subscribers only Palestine officially inaugurates its embassy in Madrid Earlier on Thursday, Slovenia's center-left government sent a decree on recognizing a Palestine state for parliamentary approval, speeding up a procedure that was initially scheduled to end by mid-June. With the decree, Slovenia recognizes the Palestinian state within the territories set by the 1967 UN resolution or according to any future peace agreement reached by both parties. "This is a message of peace, we believe the moment is now for the whole world to join efforts towards the solution that will bring peace to the Middle East: that is a two-states solution," Prime Minister Robert Golob told journalists. During his news conference a Palestinian flag was hoisted alongside the Slovenian and EU flags on the front of the prime minister's office in the capital. The conservative opposition Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) opposes the recognition, saying Slovenia should remain with the majority of EU states that have decided now is not the right time. "We are aware of who is leading Palestine and it is clear that with the recognition Robert Golob's government is stepping to the wrong side of history," SDS lawmaker Milan Zver told the Delo newspaper on Thursday. Read more Subscribers only Ireland, Norway and Spain decide to jointly recognize Palestine as a state A WanderB-VTOL drone from Israeli company BlueBird Aero Systems at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, Seine-Saint-Denis, June 2023. GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP Joining South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria, Morocco is soon to become a member of the group of African countries that build military drones. The announcement was made by Ronen Nadir, founder and president of the Israeli company BlueBird Aero Systems, which belongs in part to the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries corporation. In a statement published on April 13 by the Spanish magazine Zona Militar, the former Israeli air force commander said that a production plant for unmanned aircraft (ASPs) had been created in Morocco and would start operating in the near future. Read more Subscribers only Moroccan political and business leaders caught up in international drug trafficking case No details have been released on the location of this installation, nor on its start-up date. BlueBird Aero Systems declined a request by Le Monde for comment. Nadir's remarks did not elicit any official comment from the Moroccan side either, but they coincided with an announcement in November 2023 by Defense Minister Abdellatif Loudiyi concerning plans to develop a national military industry focused on ASP production. Which drones will be manufactured in Morocco? WanderB and ThunderB models, according to Asher Fredman, Israel director for the Abraham Accords Institute for Peace. These devices are primarily intended for reconnaissance, intelligence and target acquisition missions. By 2022, Rabat had ordered 150 of them, some of which will be produced on Moroccan soil. 'Increasingly decisive on the battlefield' The Israeli company's SpyX drone, a 'kamikaze' version recently acquired by Morocco, could also be manufactured locally. These loitering munitions, which have proved their worth in Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh, "are increasingly decisive on the battlefield," said Nizar Derdabi, a former Moroccan gendarmerie officer who teaches at the Economic Warfare School in Rabat. BlueBird Aero Systems has not disclosed the manufacturing costs or sales prices of these ASPs. But the Emirati conglomerate EDGE which the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) ranked in 2019 among the world's 25 largest weapons manufacturers last year offered $29,000 to purchase a kamikaze drone and $1.1 million for an ISTAR model. This was not the first time that BlueBird Aero Systems set up a facility for manufacturing drones outside of Israel. The company has already been producing ASPs in India through a joint venture with Cyient. As for its rival Elbit Systems, whose Israeli liaison office in Rabat reported a year ago that it planned to open two drone production sites in Morocco, it has facilities in the US, Europe, Brazil and Australia, per Fredman. You have 60.66% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A DESIGNER from Garryowen and his team are the masterminds behind an array of eye-catching, sparkly outfits for Girls Aloud who are back together and on tour. Derek Purcell, the creative director of Bang London, has previously worked on costumes for Beyonce and Kylie Minogue. On the Bang London Instagram page, they said it was an amazing couple of months working with these icons. Girls Aloud came to Dublin's 3Arena on May 17 for two nights, before going onto Belfast and then onto the UK leg of the tour. The band is made up of Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh and this tour has a total of 30 dates. This is their first tour since 2013 and their first since being a group of four members. The reunion tour paid tribute to former band member Sarah Harding, who died from cancer in September 2021, at the age of 39. There were nods to Sarah through her voice on backing vocals, as well as some images projected on screen at the shows. Girls Aloud will play the final show of the tour on June 30 in Liverpool. A NUMBER of candidates in the upcoming local elections have vowed they will not be "intimidated" after their campaign posters were defaced and damaged in Limerick city. In the early hours of Thursday morning, a number of individuals vandalised posters on Brookville Avenue in Clareview. The posters were ripped off poles and left on the ground with one candidate's face removed from a number of posters. Suzzie ODeniyi, candidate for Limerick City North, condemned the vandalism and theft of campaign posters across the constituency. "Several posters and numerous other campaign materials have been defaced or stolen in what can only be described as a disgusting and degrading act by a very small minority of individuals. "These actions are not just illegal but fundamentally undermine the democratic process. The use of military-style tactics and intimidation seeks to silence political expression and stifle healthy debate". Ms ODeniyi said that this behaviour does not reflect the values of the people of Limerick. "The vast majority of Limerick residents are respectful, law-abiding citizens who support fair and open elections. "The actions of a few should not overshadow the integrity and spirit of our community. I urge everyone to reject these acts of vandalism and to stand together in promoting a positive and respectful campaign environment. "Women, in particular, have been targeted the most in this election, facing intimidation and harassment. We will not tolerate it. I will not tolerate it." Councillor Olivia O'Sullivan added that candidates would not be intimidated by the vandalism. "This is ridiculous behaviour, and a criminal offence to deface, destroy or remove election posters. "If they think it is going to put off other candidates, then I can assure them they are very wrong. In fact, it is a great motivator coming into the final week of the campaign!" Limerick Live have contacted the garda press office in relation to the incident. TWO Limerick towns were among the top ten searches in Ireland with people looking for guidance on how to pronounce them. Foynes and Caherconlish both ranked in the top ten, in a new study from Preply, which analysed the spellings of more than 100 Irish places. Dungarvan in Waterford was the top most mispronounced, with 57,870 monthly searches. Here in Limerick, Foynes was fourth with 10,960 monthly searches, while Caherconlish was in sixth place with 7,280 monthly searches. Other surprising inclusions, which many may view as easy to pronounce include Castletownbere, Spiddal and Termonfeckin. Some that might have people scratching their heads that made the list are Youghal, Clogherhead, and Grangebellew. The study found that most searches emerged from the spelling being quite different to how the place name actually sounds. READ MORE: Limerick hurling fan queues from 2am for coveted Munster final ticket Sylvia Johnson, language expert at Preply, told Limerick Live: The complexity in pronouncing Irish place names often arises from the fact that they originated in the Irish language, often referred to as Irish Gaelic. Since Irish Gaelic has its own unique phonetic rules, which differs significantly from English, it can be quite tricky for non-native speakers to pronounce them correctly. For example, silent letters. Just like in English, Irish has silent letters and letter combinations. For instance, the combination "bh" might be silent or sound like a "v" or "w" depending on context. She added: Many Irish place names are descriptive, so knowing some common elements can be beneficial. Few examples are "bally" or "baile" (place), "dun" (fort), "cill" (church), etc. If unsure of the pronunciation, use online audio tools to listen to the phonetics or ask a native speaker to help you out mastering the pronunciation. Looking away from the towns and villages, Dublin tourist attraction Kilmainham Gaol museum was searched on average 460 times over a 12-month spell. Two Irish MEPs have received a surprising endorsement by a Hollywood A-lister ahead of the European elections. US actress Susan Sarandon praised Clare Daly and Mick Wallace in a video posted online recently, calling them "voices for peace". In the video, which has been viewed over 40,000 times, she says, "Right now in America it's a very pro-war time and also voices that question that are being silenced and fired and being given a very, very difficult time. "So for the last five years, when I've seen Clare Daly and Mick Wallace doing what they're doing, we can hear them around the world including in the United States, they're speaking up loud and clear for international solidarity and social justice, for peace and for the oppressed people. "I can't tell you how much - how very important - and how much that means to those of us in other places given hope by them and what they are saying to hear that kind of truth." She continued, "There are very few voices for peace in places of power and we need them more than ever now especially with what's goin gong in Gaza. "This June 7th, people in Ireland have a chance to vote to keep these two great MEPs in the European Parliament to continue the fight, so please don't lose that voice in Europe, I beg of you. This June, don't forget to give your number one vote to Clare Daly in Dublin, or to Mick Wallace in Ireland South. "Thank you from me and all those voices in America that look to you for hope." Wallace posted the video on his personal X (formerly Twitter) page with the caption, "It's far from Hollywood actresses I was reared. But amazing to receive endorsement and support from the great Susan Sarandon. "She has a great politics and an even better heart. Don't believe everything the Irish Times tells you about me. Listen to Susan. VOTE MICK WALLACE NO.1." Ireland goes to the polls on June 7 for both the European and local elections. Mumbai, May 30th, 2024: Kabra Extrusion Technik Ltd. (BSE - 524109, NSE - KABRAEXTRU, ISIN: INE900B01029) and Eve Power Co. Ltd. (EVE) agreed to co-operate to deliver advanced Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) solutions in India. The companies will combine their respective strengths, where EVE will supply battery cells and DC side ESS products to Kabra, and Kabra will assemble and integrate these products at its manufacturing facility in India. This collaboration aims to harness the world's best technology with the advantage of local production, creating a competitive edge in the market. Currently, Kabra Extrusiontechnik Limited, under the BATTRIXX brand, is a leading manufacturer of Lithium-Ion batteries for the E-Mobility market in India, with a production capacity of 2GWh. The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) market in India is witnessing significant growth driven by several factors such as increasing renewable energy integration, grid stability concerns, and the rising demand for reliable power supply. The demand for BESS market is set to soar and will be a major disruptor in Indias power sector in the coming years., said Ekta Kabra, Managing Director of Kabra Extrusiontechnik Limited. According to the Central Electricity Authoritys (CEA) latest optimal generation mix report, the BESS market in India is projected to exceed 208 GWh by 2030. Ekta further emphasized, Renewable energy growth is pivotal to the expansion of the BESS market in India. We are thrilled to work with EVE to deepen our cooperation in the green energy sector and for the development of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This cooperation shows our dedication to transforming the energy industry and fostering a greener future. About Kabra Extrusiontechnik Ltd. (KET): Kabra Extrusiontechnik Ltd. (KET) is Indias premier manufacturer & exporter of plastic extrusion machineries. KET is a part of renowned Kolsite Group having over 6 decades of experience, more than 15,000 installations and presence around 100+ countries in Americas, Middle East, Asia and Africa. KET enjoys leadership position in the extrusion market. About Battrixx: Battrixx is the future technologies division of KET. It is dedicated to developing and producing green energy systems and solutions that will power the growth of Indias transition into green energy storage and electric transportation. It is one of the largest chemistry agnostic battery pack manufacturers with a culture of continuous innovation through strong R&D capabilities. The brand stands tall with state of the art facilities for design, development and production in Chakan, Pune. The noble objectives are epitomized by the brands flagship product advanced lithium-ion battery packs and modules for e-vehicles. About EVE Power Co. Ltd. (EVE): EVE Power, established in China, with core technologies of cell development and system integration, providing products and solutions from cells, modules, BMS and systems, which are widely used in new energy vehicles, energy storage, new energy construction machineries and electric ships markets. For more information, please visit: https://www.kolsite.com and https://www.battrixx.com Following the success of the Varanasi Harit Koyla Pariyojna (Green Coal project), Macawber Beekay Private Limited (MBL) a pioneer in the waste-to-energy segment with its innovative technology, has bagged three more Green Coal projects in India, for Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), and Hubli (Karnataka). The largest project with 900 tonnes per day (TPD) capacity would come up in Noida whereas Bhopal and Hubli would have 500 and 400 TPD respectively. Including Varanasi project, the three more projects shall have a combined installed capacity to handle 2400 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day by August 2025. NTPC is expected to get over 800 tonnes of Green Coal per day collectively from the four projects. Nearly four years ago Indias power generation Maharatna NTPC Limited had planned to make green coal (torrefied charcoal) from municipal waste. To execute the project, its subsidiary NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd, awarded the project on an EPC basis to Macawber Beekay. The total capacity of this Green Coal plant is 600 TPD of waste handling capacity. This plant generates 200 tonnes of Green Coal with input of 600 TPD of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). This Green Coal Project Recently Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, while inaugurating the Varanasi Harit Koyla Pariyojna in his constituency, appreciated this innovative project which is an example of the governments commitment to the environment and waste management for a cleaner and greener country under the Swachh Bharat Mission. This Green Coal project is a prime example of the "Make in India" initiative, demonstrating Macawber Beekays dedication to the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" Mission. In a first of its kind plant in the world, we have successfully produced green coal for NTPC Ltd, which is one of Indias biggest coal consumers in the power sector. After successfully demonstrating the technology in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), the central public sector undertaking (CPSU) has now awarded Macawber Beekay with more such waste to Green Coal plants. We will be setting up the largest waste to Green Coal plant in Greater Noida, with a capacity of 900 TPD, saidMr.Gautam Gupta, Joint Managing Director, Macawber Beekay. In terms of technological enhancements, we're diligently upgrading the existing technology with innovations derived from our experience in Varanasi by continuous research and development.These refinements will not only bolster efficiency but also ensure the seamless integration of these advancements into our operations in Varanasi and the upcoming projects,added Mr. Gupta. Green coal is charcoal made using MSW through thermal treatment of MSW, technically called torrefaction, which is carried out in an oxygen-deficient environment. The process uses biomass pellets (produced using agrowaste) to start the combustion process. It also results in the production of some volatile gases which, in turn, are used in heating of dryer & reactor during conversion of MSW into charcoal, thereby keeping emissions to a minimum & making system self-sustainable. For four decades, Macawber Beekay has led India's power and infrastructure market and now diversified into green energy solutions. In line with this, the company has developed pioneering solution for converting municipal solid waste into eco-friendly Green Coal. With the inauguration of world's first commercial plant by honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Macawber Beekay showcases its innovative prowess and the indigenously developed technology transforms waste into a viable alternative to fossil fuels, reshaping energy production while addressing waste disposal challenges. Macawber Beekay's waste-to-energy process begins with meticulous MSW collection inside waste pit, followed by treatment of Leachate in Leachate Treatment Plant and moisture removal through specialized dryers. Segregation and size reduction eliminate inert and metallic components before the waste is transferred to the specialized Macawbers proprietary equipment (Reactor) to produce high-calorific charcoal powder surpassing fossil fuel coal in Gross Calorific Value. The process utilizes volatile gases for self-sustained heating, minimizing carbon emissions and fostering carbon neutrality. This innovative approach not only addresses waste management challenges but also delivers economic benefits by reducing traditional coal-related costs and health hazards associated with mining and legacy waste pile up. We not only address the challenges of waste management but actively contribute to environmental well-being, carbon neutrality, and economic benefits, making Macawber Beekay a market leader in the dynamic landscape of waste-to-energy solutions. Highlighted by Mr. Brijesh Kumar Singh(Assistant Vice President -Projects). The environmentally beneficial aspect of these Green Coal projects lies in the utilization of both legacy and fresh waste, which accumulates in significant volumes daily across the country, exacerbating pollution and groundwater contamination issues in numerous landfill sites. By addressing these environmental challenges, the goal of producing "Green Coal" emerges as a robust solution. Many existing waste-to-energy plants struggle due to inconsistent waste quality and high capital investment. Consequently, the end-user electricity prices often exceed standard rates, prompting the need for a more efficient and sustainable approach, said the Joint Managing Director, Gautam Gupta. The utilization of Green Coal holds immense potential for India's energy landscape. With the ability to integrate seamlessly into thermal power plants and blend with conventional coal, it serves as a sustainable alternative endorsed by governmental mandates. Given that power plants are significant coal consumers, the impact of integrating Green Coal is substantial. For instance, in a 1,000 MW plant consuming approx. 5 million tonnes of coal annually, even a 10% replacement with Green Coal translates to half a million tonne of sustainable fuel. According to published data, using 1 kg of green coal as solid fuel by replacing fossil coal reduces approximately 2 kg of CO2 produced per kg by fossil coal. Imagine the positive impact it would have on the environment if the country has adequate Green Coal production capacity to replace more than 50% of fossil fuel! Mumbai: The bleeding UK unit of Tata Steel Ltd will start generating operating profit from the latter half of this financial year, managing director T.V. Narendran said, once its blast furnaces are shut and the unit begins processing crude steel imported from India and the Netherlands. The companys Dutch unit, also in the red in the March quarter, will turn an operating profit in the current quarter as full-scale production has resumed after lengthy maintenance work, Narendran said in an interview. The two European units turning profitable will aid Tata Steels consolidated financials, after their losses dragged the companys margins down in the March quarter despite robust performance in India. Ebitda, a measure of profitability, stands for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. The two European units reported a combined Ebitda loss of almost 650 crore in the January-March period. Narendran said that Tata Steels Dutch unit turning a loss last fiscal year was an exception on account of one of its two blast furnaces being shut for maintenance in the better part of the year. "Now that the second blast furnace is back since February, this quarter onwards, it will be Ebitda-positive," he said. Tata Steel's UK unit, which has been making losses due to high input costs inherent to the British market, is shutting its blast furnaces to make way for electric arc furnaces. In the interim, the company will rely on imported crude steel from Tata Steels Indian and Dutch mills for three years to run its downstream processing units that make value-added steel. These operations will generate an operating profit, Narendran said. To be sure, the UK unit could slip into the red as it will be booking some expenses over the next two years due to the ongoing restructuring that will see an estimated 2,800 job cuts. Moving debt to India Tata Steel on Wednesday secured approval from its board to invest $2.11 billion ( 17,408 crore) in its Singapore unit T Steel Holdings Pte. Ltd (TSHP). TSHP is a holding company used by Tata Steel to house its overseas subsidiaries including its UK and Netherlands units. The transaction will used to shift some debt from the books of TSHP to the Indian unit, Narendran said. Traditionally, a lot of our debt was sitting outside India for various reasons. We are now trying to see how we can have more debt sitting in India than outside," Narendran said. This will also have a tax benefit as Tata Steel makes the bulk of its profits in India, and interest payments can be used to reduce the tax outgo, Narendran said. Perils of import Speaking about increasing imports of steel into India, Narendran said that more than the impact on volumes of domestic players, the concern was the impact on price. India imported 8.3 million tonnes of steel in FY24, which was 38% more than the previous year. This compares to 136 million tonnes of domestic steel consumption during the same period. It is not so much a (concern in terms of) volume, but it acts as a dampener for pricing," Narendran said, adding that a lot of imports are priced uncompetitively low. If it is unfairly priced imports, we should stop it. Because at the end of the day, if those steel companies are selling steel in India at prices where they are not making money, why should it derail an industry which is investing tens of thousands of crores in creating new capacity?" he said. Speaking specifically about imports from Vietnam, Narendran said that there is a growing concern that Chinese mills could use the country to route their products to India to circumvent duties levied on Chinese steel. Steel imported from China attracts a basic custom duty of 7.5% in India. But no such duty is levied on steel from Vietnam thanks to a free trade agreement between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Vietnam is a member. About 10 Vietnamese companies are awaiting certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards so that they can resume trade with India, Mint reported earlier this week. A leak earlier this month comprising thousands of pages of Google's internal documents offered an unprecedented glimpse into how the Google Search algorithm operates, according to a report in The Verge. The leak suggested that the company may not have been entirely transparent about its processes. Google on May 30 confirmed the authenticity of these documents in a statement to the publication. We would caution against making inaccurate assumptions about Search based on out-of-context, outdated, or incomplete information. Weve shared extensive information about how Search works and the types of factors that our systems weigh while also working to protect the integrity of our results from manipulation, Google spokesperson Davis Thompson said. Notably, Googles search algorithm is influential in determining which websites thrive and which falter. However, the specifics have remained a mystery, with journalists, researchers, and SEO professionals piecing together what they can. Insider Revelations In an article on May 27, SEO expert Rand Fishkin said he received 2,500 pages of these leaked documents from a source who hoped it would counteract misleading information previously shared by Google employees about their search algorithm. Fishkin and fellow SEO expert Mike King analysed the leaked documents in a blog post titled, Leak source: An anonymous source shared thousands of leaked Google search API documents with me; everyone in SEO should see them. He said the documents detail Googles search API and outline the information available to its employees. The technical content of these documents is dense and more comprehensible to developers and SEO experts, as per the Verge report. He said that while the documents dont directly prove that Google uses all the mentioned data and signals for search rankings, they do indicate what data Google collects from websites and searchers. As SEO expert Mike King noted in the leaked article post, this information provides indirect clues about Google's priorities. Key Insights from the Leak The leaked documents cover topics such as the types of data Google collects, how it elevates certain sites on sensitive topics such as elections, and its handling of small websites. As per the report, some details in the documents contradict public statements made by Google representatives. Lied is harsh, but its the only accurate word to use here. While I dont necessarily fault Googles public representatives for protecting their proprietary information, I do take issue with their efforts to actively discredit people in the marketing, tech, and journalism worlds who have presented reproducible discoveries," King said. Google has yet to respond to The Verge's requests for comment on these documents. Fishkin mentioned that Google has not disputed the validity of the leak but did ask for changes in the language used to describe certain events. SEO Industry Impact Googles secretive algorithm has created an entire industry of marketers who meticulously follow Googles public guidelines to optimise websites for better rankings, the Verge report said. It added that this has led to widespread criticism that Google Search results are becoming cluttered with low-quality content created to meet these guidelines. In response to these criticisms, Google often defends its position by citing its guidelines. The leaked documents question the accuracy of Google's public statements about its search operations. For example, King noted that Google has stated that it doesnt use Chrome data for ranking pages, but the documents suggest otherwise. They mention Chrome in sections discussing how websites appear in Search. Also Read | Google parent Alphabet soars past $2 trillion market cap on AI strength Another debated topic is the role of E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness) in rankings. Although Google has claimed E-E-A-T isnt a ranking factor, the documents show Google tracks author data, indicating some relevance to rankings. However, the Verge report said Google maintains that author bylines are meant for readers, not to influence rankings. Looking Ahead While the leaked documents dont provide conclusive evidence of all of Google's practices, they offer a rare, in-depth look at its search algorithm. The ongoing US antitrust case against Google, focusing on Search, has also led to the release of internal documents, shedding more light on Googles operations. Google's lack of transparency about its algorithm has led to uniformity in website content, driven by SEO marketers attempting to decode Googles hints. In his post, Fishkin criticised publications for uncritically accepting Googles statements, urging them to scrutinise the company's claims more rigorously. Juspay-backed Namma Yatri is looking to expand its ride-hailing services in tier-2 and tier-3 towns after a fresh capital infusion thats expected to be finalised soon, chief growth officer Shan MS told Mint . The firm is looking to raise money to invest in product, research, and expansion plans, with tier-2 penetration being a key focus, Shan said, without divulging details of the funding. Expansion is at the top of our minds. The idea is to enable convenience for customers and maximum earnings for drivers," he said, adding that the firm is hoping its open-network model will help solve pain points. Over the next few months, Namma Yatri will look to strengthen its presence in more than 15 tier-2 cities in south India such as Mangalore, Kottayam, Madurai and Salem, Shan added. Venturing beyond metro cities will be a natural progression for the mobility company, he added. Namma Yatri is eyeing a big chunk of Indias ride-hailing market with its no-commission business model. "We aim to look at these regions actively over the course of the year. Learnings from our presence in bigger cities like Bengaluru and Kolkata will certainly be helpful," Shan said. Also read: Can ride hailing drive more women into India's labour force? Launched in November 2022 in Bengaluru, Namma Yatri was built on the Beckn Protocol, a government-backed, open-source protocol that allows the creation of decentralised, peer-to-peer networks for economic transactions. It was also used to build the governments Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). Shan and chief product officer Magizhan Selvan currently lead Namma Yatris operations. In March, the company was hived off as a separate entity under the name Moving Tech Innovations Pvt. Ltd, to allow the mobility firm maintain independence, according to Shan. The divestment was also aimed at enabling fundraising. Juspay Technologies, a digital payments platform, remains Namma Yatris largest shareholder, while Juspays investors including SoftBank and early-stage venture capital firm Accel hold indirect stakes in the company. Harnessing digital public infrastructure Juspays decision to enter the mobility space arose from deep faith in Indias digital public infrastructure, Shan said. Namma Yatri was formed to create synergies with Juspays core products including credit and payment infrastructure, he added. We have always rooted for open ecosystem initiatives such as UPI and the Open Credit Enablement Network at Juspay. We believe these initiatives can create population-scale impact and solve problems with the help of technology," the executive said. Also read: Digital public infrastructure must bridge every digital divide However, the team soon realised that mobility had a complex human side to it, as opposed to a UPI transaction, which is simply two systems interacting with one another. The empathy angle was necessary to build trust and provide high-quality service. Thats what we started off with," Shan added. Subscription vs commission Namma Yatri claims to have completed 3.9 crore trips with 3.6 lakh drivers since inception. It charges drivers a subscription fee unlike rival ride-hailing firms like Uber and Ola, which take a commission on each ride with fares starting at 25 for auto rides. However, Shan believes the company may have to rethink its approach in non-metro cities. So far, our conversations and experiments suggest that drivers are open to paying a subscription fee as opposed to a commission. But we are hoping to figure out over time which model would work best," Shan said. According to an early-stage mobility investor, Namma Yatri will have to take into account the differences in driver and consumer behaviour in metros and non-metros. In smaller cities, he said, riders and drivers have a relationship, making ride-hailing apps an afterthought. It will be interesting to see how Namma Yatri works around this. The commission model will definitely not appeal to drivers and subscription charges will have to be kept nominal," the investor said. Also read: Ola's India refocus makes sense Shan said the firm will look at creating specialised features for these regions, including an option to favourite drivers to increase reliability and trust. Shared auto rides are also likely to perform well in smaller towns, he added. Drivers in these regions generally find themselves idle during off-peak hours. Our idea is to provide them an opportunity to make money in those hours," he said. For cabs, Shan said on-demand, point-to-point hailing may not work too well in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Instead, the company is looking to introduce intercity rentals. Namma Yatri has already achieved operational profitabilityexcluding central and product development costsin Bengaluru, Shan told Mint, adding that theres a long way to go" for company-wide profitability. Meta had found likely AI-generated content used deceptively on its Facebook and Instagram platforms, including comments on the Israel-Gaza conflict published below posts from global news organisations and US lawmakers, the social media company said in its quarterly security report. The social media accounts posted as Jewish students, African Americans, and other concerned citizens are targeting the US and Canadian audiences. The campaign was attributed to Tel Aviv-based political marketing firm STOIC, Reuters reported. While Meta has encountered AI-generated basic profile photos in influence operations since 2019, this report is the first to reveal the use of text-based generative AI technology, which has existed since late 2022. Researchers warned that generative AI could lead to more effective disinformation campaigns and sway elections as it can quickly and cheaply produce human-like text, images, and audio. Meta security executives reported that they swiftly dismantled the Israeli campaign and did not believe that advanced AI technologies hindered their capacity to disrupt influence networks, which are organized efforts to propagate specific messages. They added that the executives had not seen such networks deploying AI-generated imagery of politicians realistic enough to be confused for authentic photos. Meta head of threat investigations Mike Dvilyanski said, There are several examples across these networks of how they use likely generative AI tooling to create content. Perhaps it gives them the ability to do that quicker or to do that with more volume. But it hasn't really impacted our ability to detect them, Mike said as quoted by Reuters. Besides the STOIC network, Meta also shut down an Iran-based network focused on the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, it did not identify any use of generative AI in that campaign. It is worth mentioning that Meta and other tech giants have grappled with how to address the potential misuse of AI technologies, especially in elections. Researchers have discovered instances where image generators from companies like OpenAI and Microsoft have created photos containing voting-related disinformation, even though these companies have policies prohibiting such content. The companies have highlighted using digital labelling systems to identify AI-generated content at the time of creation. However, these tools do not apply to text, and researchers question their effectiveness. In a recent letter to shareholders, Tesla Inc. has strongly criticized proxy adviser Glass Lewis Inc., following the adviser's recommendation to reject a proposed $56 billion pay package for CEO Elon Musk, Bloomberg reported. In a letter titled What Glass Lewis Got Wrong About Tesla, the electric vehicle maker accused the adviser of omitting key considerations, using faulty logic, and relying on speculation and hypotheticals. Bloomberg reported that Tesla urged shareholders to disregard Glass Lewis's advice and vote in favour of Musk's compensation package and a proposal to reincorporate the company in Texas rather than Delaware. Also Read | Chinas Yuan Ends May in Pain With Weaker Dollar Failing to Help The letter, published Thursday, stated, "Tesla is one of the most successful enterprises of our time. We have revolutionized the automotive market." As Tesla's annual meeting on June 13 approaches, the company's board is working to rally shareholder support, particularly for Musk's controversial compensation package. Initially crafted and supported by most shareholders in 2018, the pay deal was nullified by a Delaware judge earlier this year. The judge ruled that the board had not been transparent enough with investors and that the deal was not in their best interest. Glass Lewis recently labelled the payout as "excessive" and criticised Musk for managing too many ventures simultaneously. In response, Tesla asserted that the compensation agreement had motivated Musk to achieve "extraordinary growth." Stockholders should care enormously about value creation, the Tesla letter argued. "And not about whether Elons perceived focus was strong enough." Musk has long criticised firms like Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services Inc., another influential proxy advisory firm. In January 2023, Musk posted on social media that these companies held too much power, because so much of the market is passive/index funds, which outsource shareholder voting decisions to them. ISS and Glass Lewis effectively control the stock market, Musk wrote. Additionally, Musk took to social media on Thursday to criticize Calpers, the largest state public pension fund in the US, after its CEO announced plans to vote against the pay package. Musk accused Calpers of "breaking their word" in a post on X. BHP Group thought it could buy its way to becoming the worlds top copper producer. Now, it may need to expand or build its own mines to get there, a potentially fraught journey given inflation and other risks. The Australia-based miners weekslong pursuit of London-listed Anglo American ended abruptly Wednesday after its rival said it wouldnt further engage in talks on what would have been the industrys largest-ever deal. BHPs failed tilt at the storied, century-old Anglo shows the challenges that even arguably the worlds most powerful miner faces in adding to its copper stable. The industrial metal has been at the heart of BHPs growth plans for years, and the miner made some inroads with a takeover of smaller Australian producer Oz Minerals a year ago in what was its biggest acquisition in over a decade. A takeover of global miner Anglo, for whom copper accounts for roughly 30% of production, would have given it control of roughly 10% of global mine supply. Instead, BHPwhich, under U.K. takeover rules, has to stay away from Anglo for six months unless another bidder emergesgoes back to business as usual and is expected to focus on gradually advancing its own expansion options and rewarding shareholders with meaty payouts, investors say. I think its just BAU [business-as-usual] for BHP," said Wilson Asset Management portfolio manager Matthew Haupt, whose fund holds stock in the miner. They will keep plugging away at their brownfield projects" and there will be a higher dividend paid, Id say, than if they did the deal," he said. Haupt said he is disappointed an agreement couldnt be reached with Anglo, but happy that BHP walked away after failing to entice its directors with a trio of takeover proposals. Even as BHP Chief Executive Mike Henry sought to bring Anglo to the deal table, he framed the proposed deal as a good opportunity but not a must-have. BHP is never dependent on acquisitions, and that remains the case," Henry told an industry conference in Miami in mid-May. BHP, which relies on steel ingredient iron ore for most of its profit, has been narrowing its focus in a bet on the transition to a lower-carbon world. It sold its oil-and-gas unit to Woodside Energy in mid-2022, and has also offloaded some coal operations. Henry has sought to alleviate concerns that BHP now lacks its own options for growth. The only major project BHP has under construction today is a potash mine in Canadas Saskatchewan province. Roughly a decade ago, BHP had 18 major projects including mines and port infrastructure under construction. We are so much better placed than we were even just a few years ago when it comes to growth," Henry said at this months conference. That potash mine is slated to become one of the worlds top sources of the fertilizer ingredient. Henry also highlighted what he said was a strong pipeline" of copper options being evaluated in south Australia and northern Chile. Yet the miner has for years faced technical and permitting challenges in growing its own copper business. Resources are becoming harder to find and harder to extract, Henry told another conference last year. Mines are becoming costlier to build due to higher prices for labor and materials, and mining companies are coming under sharper scrutiny for their impact on local communities, indigenous peoples and the environment. Over recent weeks, a number of investors raised concerns about what the proposed tie-up could mean for future copper supply. Some worried BHPs focus on expanding its copper business by buying Anglo American wasnt going to spur investment in new mines needed to feed copper-hungry manufacturers of electric vehicles and wind turbines. The merger does nothing for global copper production and simply moves assets from one company to another," said Adam Matthews, chief responsible investment officer of the Church of England Pensions Board, which holds stock in both Anglo and BHP. Not one extra ton of copper comes as a result of all this energy and time." Matthews welcomed the decision by Anglos board not to extend talks with BHP. BHPs Henry said he had envisaged the combined company as having greater financial strength to pursue planned investments. He acknowledged the world needs more copper supply for the global energy transition. Anglo said it favored its prospects as a stand-alone company. Analysts at Jefferies say an acquisition of Anglo would have been a win in the long term for BHP, but that its shares should still benefit in the short run from the miner holding its ground. Some investors reckon BHPs interest wont vanish with this knockback and that it will be watching closely while Anglo pursues a breakup plan it set out earlier this month aimed at reviving its fortunes. If another opportunity came up, theyd be there in a heartbeat," said Wilsons Haupt. Henry, BHPs CEO, said the miner will take a disciplined approach to mergers and acquisitions, adding that the miner still thinks our proposal was the most effective structure to deliver value for Anglo American shareholders." Write to Rhiannon Hoyle at rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com BENGALURU : More than three-fourths of Wipro Ltds public shareholders voted against awarding $4.33 million ( 36.15 crore) in cash severance to former chief executive officer Thierry Delaporte, marking a rare episode of investor displeasure against a company perceived to put corporate governance at the heart of its business. Baulking over an apparent lack of transparency in the decision-making, 78.4% of Wipros public shareholders voted against the cash compensation to Delaporte, show voting records published on BSE on Thursday. Despite that, a 73% promoter holding helped the resolution secure an overall 90% vote in favour. Delaporte resigned on 6 April after Wipro chair Rishad Premji asked him to put in his papers. Following his resignation, Wipro disclosed that it had agreed to pay $4.33 million to Delaporte, a first-of-its-kind cash payment made to any outgoing executive in the companys history. Including the 36 crore in cash and accelerated vesting of unvested stocks, the cost of which Wipro pegged at 31 crore, Delaporte reaped a total salary of 167 crore ($20.1 million) for last year, making him among the highest-paid chiefs in the countrys IT services sector. At least seven large foreign institutional investors, including the UKs largest fund manager, opposed the decision, show documents reviewed by Mint. A vote AGAINST this resolution is warranted given that there is insufficient disclosure and that certain aspects of the reward justification fall within the scope of an executives appointment contract," said London-based Legal & General Investment Management, which manages $1.5 trillion of assets. Overall, about 80% of institutional shareholders, who own 10.5% of Wipro, voted against approving the cash compensation to Delaporte. About 70% of Wipros retail shareholders who voted also opposed the decision. Retail investors own 16.5% of the company, but only 11% of them exercised their vote. All against Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, which oversees $460 billion in assets, and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, a Canadian pension fund that manages $200 billion in assets, also rejected the proposal. We do not support the proposal as the companys current disclosures do not provide sufficient transparency to evaluate fully the associated risks and opportunities," said Nordea Asset Management, which handles about $400 billion in assets under management (AUM). Nordea Asset Management is the investment arm of the Nordic regions largest bank, Nordea Bank Abp. The California Public Employees Retirement System, or CalPERS, which has about $500 billion of AUM, and Calvert Research and Management, part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, also opposed the resolution. The City of New York Trust, with about $200 billion of AUM, also voted against the proposal. Rationale unclear Delaporte, who took over as the CEO on 6 July 2020, resigned 14 months before his five-year tenure was to end in July next year, and was replaced by Srinivas Pallia at India's fourth-largest IT services company. In a regulatory filing, Wirpo said the cash severance was in recognition of Mr. Delaportes contributions in driving significant transformation at Wipro and to ensure adherence to post engagement obligations (including, but not limited to, confidentiality, non-solicitation, non-disparagement, and other obligations)". Also read | With Delaporte gone, can legacy hand Srinivas Pallia steer Wipro through the AI age? The rationale for such a large payout for what appear to be obligations born out of basic professionalism is unclear," proxy advisory firm Institutional Investor Advisory Services India Ltd said in a note dated 16 May, recommending to shareholders to reject the proposal. The company must also clarify if this payout was agreed to as part of his employment contract," IiAS added. It is unclear if this compensation was part of the terms negotiated on his employment contract." Wipro has outlined bleak revenue growth for the first quarter of this financial year (2024-25), after reporting one of its worst years with declining revenue (-3.8%), profit (-2.7%) and headcount (-9.5%) in FY24. Wipro shares fell 2.8% to 438.20 each on NSE on Thursday. With President Biden maintaining many of those tariffs and Trump promising more if re-elected, the criticism has grown. Two new studies show tariffs are regressive, meaning they fall more heavily on lower-income families who tend to spend more of their income on cheap imported goods. Still, while who pays tariffs is hotly debated, it may not be what matters most. Duties on China arent meant to raise money but to reduce U.S. dependence on a potential adversary. In that sense, they arent like other taxes, or even like tariffs of previous eras. In his definitive work Clashing Over Commerce: A History of U.S. Trade Policy," Dartmouth College economist Douglas Irwin shows that tariff policy has gone through three distinct phases since the 1700s. Revenue, restriction, reciprocity From independence until the Civil War, Irwin writes, the purpose of tariffs was mainly revenue: They accounted for 90% of federal receipts. From the Civil War until the Great Depression, the purpose was restriction: protecting northern manufacturers, then represented by the newly dominant Republican party, from imports. A third era began with the passage of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act in 1934 empowering the president to negotiate lower duties if other countries did the same. Reciprocity remained the dominant paradigm after World War II as presidents of both parties sought to knock down other countries trade barriers through a mixture of carrots (trade deals) and sticks (targeted duties and quotas). Trumps initial tariffs on solar panels, washing machines, steel and aluminum mixed restriction and reciprocity, protecting some industries while pressuring Canada, Mexico, Japan and South Korea to revise their trade relations with the U.S. now realignment The tariffs he imposed on China and to which President Biden just added are a different animal altogether. They are partly about restriction and reciprocityprotecting nascent industries and prodding China to change its ways. But the more fundamental goal is realignment: diversifying U.S. trade away from China. Its dominance in numerous manufactured goods and processed minerals, officials fear, gives China too much influence over the U.S. and its allies economies and, ultimately, security. That fear has grown with the threat of a new China shock" of cheap manufactured exports. The office of Katherine Tai, Bidens trade ambassador, made this clear in explaining last week why many importers, after requesting extensions to their exclusions from the tariffs, were denied. Many simply asserted that (alternative) products were unavailable because China remained the lowest cost source," it said. Extending their exclusions would simply delay the shift to alternative sourcing and continue their dependence on Chinese suppliers and products, which undermines the goal of" changing Chinas behavior. Who pays tariffs depends on myriad factors. While several studies found U.S. importers did pay more because of tariffs, those costs werent necessarily passed on to consumers. Still, some researchers found the surge of imports from China following its entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001, while displacing millions of American workers, benefited most consumers through lower prices. Logically, tariffs would hurt those same consumers. Poor people pay tariffs Economists Amit Khandelwal of Yale University and Pablo Fajgelbaum of the University of California, Los Angeles illustrate this neatly by studying the increase in the de minimis" exemption, below which small packages may enter the U.S. duty-free, to $800 from $200 in 2016. The authors found that 74% of direct shipments received in the poorest ZIP Code were de minimis, compared with 52% for the richest. De minimis is controversial: Many importers use it to circumvent the tariffs on China. E-commerce giants Shein and Temu use it to ship from China to the U.S. Some in Congress, and Trump advisers, want it scrapped. That would hurt the poor, the authors say: People in lower-income ZIP Codes would lose $45 a year, compared with $35 for middle-income ZIP Codes and $81 for the richest. At present, tariffs represent 2% of the value of imports. That would skyrocket to almost 17%, the highest since the passage of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff in 1930, if Trump is re-elected and carries out his threat to raise tariffs to 60% or more on China and 10% on the rest of the world, according to Sarah Bianchi and Matthew Aks of Evercore ISI, a brokerage. That would really bite, especially on lower-income households. Kimberly Clausing and Mary Lovely of the Peterson Institute for International Economics estimate this would shrink the purchasing power of the 20% poorest households by 4.2%, but the top 1% by just 0.9%. This doesnt capture all of the costs, which include less-efficient producers gaining sales at consumers expense and disruptions from reorganizing supply chains. Tariffs as Pigouvian taxes Whether those downsides kill the case for tariffs depends on what they accomplish. Tariffs on China can be thought of as a Pigouvian" tax. Named for the British economist, Arthur Pigou, such a tax offsets some collateral social harmmuch as a carbon tax helps to reduce global warming. Consumers bear a direct cost from tariffs on China, but the U.S. as a whole gets a less-vulnerable, more-diversified supply base. Ending the de minimis exception eliminates a loophole used to avoid those tariffs. Nonetheless, the distributional consequences are real. One response might be to rebate some of the revenue from tariffs to those hit hardest, as Canada does with its carbon tax. But as Clausing and Lovely note, Republicans plan to extend their 2017 tax cut, large parts of which expire in 2025, would do the opposite, delivering disproportionately big benefits to the top 1% and little to the bottom 20%. Tariffs are more than taxes. They are also an instrument of geopolitical competition. Nonetheless, like all taxes, they impose costs that need to be weighed against their benefits. It isnt clear what benefit could justify hitting the entire world with a 10% tariff, especially if the world retaliates. Write to Greg Ip at greg.ip@wsj.com New Delhi: The US government is ready to hold discussions with India for a preferential trade agreement between the two countries, according to the country's top envoy, who hinted at things starting to gain momentum after a new government takes charge in India. There's not a huge appetite in Washington for free trade agreements (FTAs)," US Ambassador to India Eric M. Garcetti said in an interview. "But I do think that there's an openness in Washington to advance a discussion about preferential trade between our countries. And so, I look forward to a new government here, and our people stand ready, willing and available to begin those sorts of scoping discussions." Preferential trade agreements and FTAs both seek to liberalize trade, but the former is more focused on specific products or sectors while the latter has a broader coverage. Also read Commerce ministry brainstorms to develop SOPs for trade deals Lowering of tariffs by both countries and India emerging as a low-cost producer in areas like electronics and for components in the clean energy sector would help in scaling up bilateral trade while accelerating Indias economic growth, Garcetti added. These could also help double bilateral trade (comprising both merchandise and services) between India and the US to $400 billion or even $500 billion by the end of decade, he said. Currently, the US is India's biggest trade partner, with almost 18% or $77.5 billion of India's goods exports going to the country in FY24, a decline of 1% year-on-year in a fiscal that saw India's overall exports shrink by 3%. With $41 billion of imports from the US in the year ended March 2024, India has a merchandise trade surplus with the US the only such instance among Indias top five trading partners. India has trade deficits with the other four top trading partners, namely China, UAE, Russia and Saudi Arabia. Warming up to each other Trade relations warmed up last June when the two countries bilaterally settled six trade disputes. Subsequently, India in September lowered the basic customs duty on items such as apples, almonds, lentils and chickpeas imported from the US as part of removal of retaliatory duty imposed on US exports in 2019 after the US raised import duty on certain items. The duty cut was done ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden during the G20 summit. Also read How will policy shifts impact India-US bilateral trade pact In a reference to past trade disputes and certain customs tariffs, Garcetti said the two tend to get a little defensive at times despite having much to gain through increased trade. Commenting that India's trade tariffs are still "very high" compared to the rest of the world, the ambassador said the two countries need to break down those boulders that trip them time and again "in this very warm moment between our countries". Partnering the US and others India is already negotiating the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), an ambitious trade agreement with the US and 12 other countries, but tariff concessions are not part of this as the US did not want it, explained Ajay Srivastava, founder of Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), a research group focused on climate change, technology and trade. Most of the negotiations for this treaty are complete. Also read India-UK trade talks in limbo as British delegation cancels Delhi visit Under IPEF, countries have negotiated multiple issues under four subjects--trade, supply chains, clean economy and fair economy. India is negotiating all pillars except trade," said Srivastava. "Since the US has not agreed to include tariff negotiations in IPEF, it may not favour a separate FTA that deals with tariff concessions. India's selective engagement in the IPEF allows it to maintain control over its tariff policies while benefiting from cooperation in other critical areas." The other IPEF members are Australia, Brunei, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Pushing India's growth In a veiled reference to China, Garcetti said India needs to be a leader in low-cost production of electronics and energy components, "to wean ourselves off the dependence of autocratic countries that have human rights issues and also because it will be good for India's rise". He said India is growing but faster growth will help in meeting the requirement for more jobs. We want to help India get closer to 10% (growth rate)," he said. Talking about a scenario 20 years from now, Garcetti said, If India was the shop floor for good quality solar cells for electric vehicles for the region and for the world at low cost, what would it look like for us to be able to have American manufactured components for electronics come here, combined with Indian manufactured components and be low cost leaders for the things that drive our lives, from semiconductors in our cars to air conditioners that cool our homes?" It is not just trade, but cross-border investments, too, are top on the agenda for both the countries, Garcetti said, Indians are now the biggest delegation to our annual Invest in US conference, Select USA." Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday that the INDIA bloc will get a "decisive mandate" in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 and may take less than 48 hours to decide on its prime ministerial pick. He asserted that it stands to reason that the party that gets the maximum seats in the alliance will be a "natural claimant" for its leadership. In an exclusive interview with PTI, Ramesh exuded confidence that the INDIA bloc will get seats above the 272 needed for a majority in the Lower House. He said the NDA parties may join the coalition when the INDIA parties come to power. When asked if the doors would remain open for NDA allies like JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu after the polls, the Congress leader remarked, Nitish Kumar is the master of 'palti' (volte-face). "Naidu was with the Congress in alliance in 2019. I would say when INDIA janbandhan parties will get the people's mandate, then not only INDIA parties but also some NDA parties may join the coalition. The high command of the Congress, Kharge ji, Rahul ji, Sonia ji, will have to decide whether to include them in the INDIA bloc," he told PTI. He further stated that the difference between INDIA and NDA is of two I's -- I for 'insaniyat' and 'I' for 'imaandaari'. Those parties that have 'imaandaari (honesty)' and 'insaniyat (humanity)', but are in the NDA, will join the INDIA parties. I think we are going to be large-hearted in victory -- no politics of vendetta, no politics of vengeance." Interestingly, PM Modi will meditate at the famed Vivekananda Rock Memorial for two days, the same Vivekananda memorial from where Rahul Gandhi started the Bharat Jodo Yatra on September 7, 2022, he said, adding that I am sure he (Modi) is going to be meditating on what life is going to be after retirement. I don't want to get into numbers but all I am saying is that we (INDIA bloc) will get a clear and decisive majority. 273 is a clear majority but it is not decisive. When I say clear and decisive, I mean well above 272 seats, he added. Mumbai: Demand for cold drinks and cooling appliances has shot up, so much so that supplies are struggling to keep pace, as a blistering heatwave scorches large swathes of the country. Sales of coolers and air conditioners have surpassed records previously seen in 2016 by Vijay Sales, a retailer of consumer electronics. Demand has been strong in north India, said a top executive at the retailer, and manufacturers are rushing to plug demand gaps. Its been a very good summer for air conditioners, air coolers and refrigerators. Last year, the summer was bad because of unseasonal rains. I would say compared to last year, we are well ahead. We had a very good summer 2016; this has surpassed those numbers because the intensity of heatwave is very high, said Nilesh Gupta, director, Vijay Sales. Also read: When summer sizzles, can beverage, AC sales be far behind? Gupta said retailers and manufacturers are struggling to supply adequate stock to the market. Out of stock There have been a few stock-out situationseveryone is running short on stockso they are making today and dispatching. Situation is that there is no channel inventory. Earlier, retailers used to carry 30-50 days of channel inventory; right now its down to 10-15 days. We are calling for stocks daily, he said. Growth in air cooler is higher, he added. Other vendors also said they broke previous sales record on the back of high demand for cooling appliances. We have surpassed the last five years records with a multifold surge in demand. Past summer seasons, especially during covid, were dull, said Sanjay Chitkara, senior vice-president, LG Electronics India. Also read: Mint Primer | Into the 50s: Why heatwaves are hotter & longer Kamal Nandi, executive vice-president and business head at Godrej Appliances, said the company has reported a 100% sales growth in air conditioners between March and April compared to a year ago. Demand for cooling appliances has exceeded expectations, he said, adding that there have been some stock-out situations on specific models. The heat is on This precipitous rise in demand for cooling appliances and beverages comes as north India reels under dangerously hot weather conditions. Temperatures in some pockets of Delhi shot past 50 degrees on Wednesday, while those in parts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab have been hovering around that mark for the past several days. Bottled water maker Bisleri International said it has so far had a very strong summer, exceeding last years demand that was impacted by unseasonal rains. This trend is visible across markets except Kerala. On carbonated beverages, there has been a production constraint. While we ramped up capacity, demand has been high, said Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International Pvt Ltd. Earlier this year, the company had ramped up manufacturing facilities for its range of fizzy drinks. Demand for beverages grew both for in-home and out-of-home consumption, companies said, with channels such as quick commerce performing well. Meanwhile, Anshul Gupta, Dabur India's sales head, said that with the heatwave intensifying across the east, north and central India, the company is witnessing growing demand for its summer-centric products, particularly the glucose portfolio. We have already built inventory for the same, both at the retail and stockist end, to meet this growing demand, he said. The biggest investor in U.S. solar manufacturing is embracing a new technology that reduces the cost of producing the panels, potentially bolstering efforts to build a supply chain outside of China for an industry crucial to the energy transition. The new technology comes from an Israeli startup that promises to simplify one of the most cumbersome steps in solar manufacturing and cut costs by reducing the amount of silver needed to capture sunlight on the panels. The startup, called Lumet, is the brainchild of Benny Landa, who founded the company that developed the first digital printing press. That company was sold to HP for $830 million in the early 2000s. Lumet is working with Bank of America to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in the coming months, Landa said. South Koreas Hanwha Group says it will be the first company to use Lumets technology. Hanwhas Qcells unit, one of the biggest solar-panel makers outside China, is building a multibillion-dollar solar supply chain in Georgia. The company expects the financial savings and performance gains to help it compete with low-cost products from the worlds biggest producer. Qcells is expected to be one of the biggest potential beneficiaries from incentives in the 2022 U.S. climate law and a recently announced tariff increase on Chinese solar cells. The company said recently it is closing its only factory in China. Chinese solar panels can be half the price of panels made elsewhere, industry analysts say, putting pressure on companies to cut costs. We know we cant depend on trade barriers or subsidies to make us competitive," Danielle Merfeld, global chief technology officer at Qcells, said in an interview. We have to keep innovating." Plummeting costs have made solar power one of the cheapest and fastest-growing sources of energy globally. Further advances can reduce the need for fossil fuels to meet rising demand for electricity and help limit climate change. Solar panels account for a small portion of overall project costs, but bigger contributors like labor, permitting and financing expenses are less flexible. The main building blocks in solar panels are polysilicon wafers, which are treated with chemicals and silver to produce solar cells that can collect energy from the sun. Those cells are connected to get finished modules. The step that uses silver and is being overhauled by Lumet is called metallization. It is one of the most expensive parts of cell assembly. The process uses screen printing techniques that rely on squeegeeing a silver paste through a mesh screen in a process similar to stenciling, then drying it out. The silver is coated on the cell in ultrathin shapes, known as fingers, for capturing sunlight. Making the fingers as thin and efficient as possible has been critical to reducing solar costs because silver is expensive. Prices for the precious metal have recently risen to their highest level in more than a decadeabove $32 a troy ouncebuoyed in part by strong solar demand. Current printing techniques have reached their limit, Lumet says. The company coats the surface of plastic films with silver paste in precise patterns. That film then gets pressed onto preheated solar cells. The elevated temperatures make the pattern stick on the cell, so the film can then be peeled off. The process can produce thinner silver fingers that use less metal and are specially placed to increase the amount of light captured by each solar cell, Lumet says. Eliminating bulky screen printing and drying equipment and automating the process in a single machine generates cost savings and performance gains on each cell, it claims. The company is talking to other potential customers and plans to establish factories in the U.S. and China to begin production next year, Landa said. Qcells has been testing Lumets process for nine months and talking to the company for two years. Qcells declined to provide specifics on when it would deploy the technology at specific factories and the overall cost reductions it is targeting. Its $2.5 billion Georgia supply-chain effort is on track to be completed by the end of the year and will supply big customers including Microsoft. Expanded module assembly is up and running, with ingot and wafer production expected to start by September and cell production to follow by December, Merfeld said. Write to Amrith Ramkumar at amrith.ramkumar@wsj.com The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) released a new master circular on health insurance. According to this circular, insurers must decide on cashless authorisation within one hour of receiving a request. This master circular replaces 55 earlier circulars and is aimed at empowering policyholders and strengthening inclusive health insurance, stated Irdai in a circular dated May 29 The circular consolidates information on policyholder entitlements in a health insurance policy for easy reference. It also highlights measures to provide policyholders with a smoother, faster, and hassle-free claims experience and ensure improved service standards across the health insurance sector. We are committed to aligning our health insurance offerings with the IRDAI's Master Circular on Health Insurance Business. Our goal is to provide policyholders with a wide range of products covering most medical conditions, including pre-existing diseases. We ensure equal treatment options across all lines of medicine, including Allopathy and AYUSH, and we strive to make 100% cashless services available," said Rakesh Jain, CEO of Reliance General Insurance. "The new Master Circular requires insurers to process discharge authorizations within three hours, enhancing customer service and addressing a common grievance among policyholders," stated Manish Dodeja, Head of claims & Underwriting at Care Health Insurance. "Insurers are urged to strive for 100% cashless claims." "The updated norms also encourage diversity in product offerings, catering to various demographics and medical needs. They allow policyholders with multiple policies to choose the policy under which to claim. Enhanced transparency is ensured by providing a Customer Information Sheet with each policy. Policyholders stand to benefit from No Claim Bonuses and have the flexibility to cancel policies at any time for a refund of the unexpired premium," Manish added. Also Read: Why you should buy health insurance plans for your family Salient features of the insurance regulator master circular Final authorisation for discharge from the hospital The insurer shall grant final authorisation within three hours of receiving the discharge authorization request from the hospital. In no case shall the policyholder be made to wait to be discharged from the Hospital. If there is any delay beyond three hours, the additional amount, if any, charged by the hospital shall be borne by the insurer from the shareholders fund. In the event of the death of the policyholder during the treatment, the insurer shall: - immediately process the request for claim settlement. -get the mortal remains (dead body) released from the hospital immediately Also Read: Why is health insurance crucial for working women? Here are 4 key reasons Implementation of Ombudsman Award The Insurer is required to comply with the award of the Insurance Ombudsman within 30 days of receipt of the award by the Insurer. If the Insurer does not honour the ombudsman award, the complainant will be charged Rs. 5000/per day. This penalty is in addition to the penal interest liable to be paid by the Insurer under The Insurance Ombudsman Rules, 2017. Approval for Cashless facility Every insurer shall strive to achieve 100% cashless claim settlement in a time-bound manner. The insurers shall endeavour to ensure that the instances of claims being settled through reimbursement are at a bare minimum and only in exceptional circumstances. The insurer shall decide on the request for cashless authorization immediately but not more than one hour after receipt of the request. The insurer shall also implement necessary systems and procedures immediately and not later than 31 July 2024. Insurers may arrange for dedicated Help Desks in physical mode at the hospital to handle and assist with cashless requests. Insurers shall also provide pre-authorization to the policyholder through Digital mode. Also Read: How to cut down on expenses with health insurance Settlement of Claims No claim shall be repudiated without the approval of the PMC or a three-member sub-group of the PMC called the Claims Review Committee (CRC). If the claim is repudiated or disallowed partially, the claimant will receive full details, referring to the specific terms and conditions of the policy document. According to the claim's intimation, insurers and third-party administrators (TPAs) shall collect the required documents from the hospitals. Policyholders shall not be required to submit the documents. The master circular aims to achieve 100% cashless claim settlement within a specific timeframe. It proposes that cashless authorization requests be decided upon immediately, with a final decision made within three hours of the hospital's discharge request. This initiative signifies a significant step in empowering policyholders, ensuring they receive top-quality care and service. It also promotes trust and transparency in the health insurance sector. TTK Prestige Ltd, the maker of kitchen appliances and cookware, is struggling to maintain profitability as increased competition erodes margins, especially in their bread-and-butter entry-level products. Additionally, consumer spending has shifted towards other discretionary items, making it challenging to boost sales. Against this backdrop, a modest 2% year-on-year consolidated revenue growth to 623 crore in the March quarter (Q4FY24) isnt surprising. While online channels offer a glimmer of hope, traditional stores are underperforming. Even aggressive sales promotions failed to improve profitability. While TTK Prestige squeezed a little more efficiency out of production, operating leverage took a hit. As a result, Q4 Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) margin fell 74 basis points (bps) to 12.4%. Following the results, Yes Securities has lowered its FY24-26E growth forecast to 9.5% revenue CAGR versus the earlier expectation of 11%. However, the brokerage remains mildly positive" on the stock, as company has performed relatively better than peers in the challenging environment and it will be the first one to bounce back once the demand trends improve." Amid stiff competition, TTK Prestige has managed to retain its market share in most key areas. For the year as a whole, its Ebitda margin contracted by 157 bps to 11.3% in FY24, with revenues declining by 3.6% to 2,678 crore. However, there was revival in H2FY24 with 3.6% revenue growth YoY. We believe it indicates higher growth in FY25," said a report by ICICI Securities. The revamp of the Judge brand, targeted at the mass market, might offer some relief in FY25. Nevertheless, weak demand, particularly in the mid-range segment, is a worry. Also, its multi-brand strategy is a work-in-progress. The company expects demand trends to improve in the coming quarters, citing a long-awaited shift in consumer spending towards kitchenware and the positive back-ended impact of strong real estate sales on kitchen appliance demand. With this shift in demand, the kitchen appliances manufacturer anticipates mid-teen growth. Moreover, it expects exports to improve in FY25, and is eyeing the developed European economies, aiming to diversify export portfolio. This is already showing promise, with TTK Prestige successfully adding two new European clients in Q4FY24. Looking ahead, investments in the modernization of manufacturing plants might eventually lead to long-term savings. Its ability to adapt and innovate will determine the rate of future success. For now, investors may wait for meaningful signs of improvement in demand before placing their bets. Currently, the shares trade at 34 times one-year forward price-to-earnings multiple, according to Bloomberg data, and are down 16% from their 52-week highs of 832.70 seen on 6 September. Also Read: Big stock movers of past year have brought fat returns Shares of KNR Constructions, one of the leading companies providing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, gained 10.6% in today's intraday trade, reaching a new 52-week high of 309.80 per share. This surge followed the company's healthy performance in the March-ending quarter and for the full fiscal year (FY24). Today's rally has pushed the stock to gain 23% in 2 months. On Wednesday, the company reported a consolidated profit after tax of 341 crore, a solid increase from 141 crore in Q4FY23, marking a 140% rise year-over-year and a 151% increase compared to the preceding quarter's net profit of 135 crore. Revenue from operations during the reporting quarter rose to 1,414 crore from 1,245 crore in Q4FY23. For the full fiscal year, revenues increased to 4,429 crore, a 9% improvement compared to 4,062 crore in FY23. The net profit for the fiscal year reached a record high of 752 crore, reflecting a 71% growth compared to 439 crore in FY23. During the March quarter, the company received an award for water supply projects in 26 ULBs and sewerage projects in 4 ULBs under AMRUT 2.0, within the jurisdiction of Nalgonda and Khammam PH Divisions (PackageII). The letter of award was issued on March 12, 2024, with a project cost of 1,163 crore. As of March 31, 2024, the company's order book stood at 5,304.8 crore. It recently secured orders for the construction of an access-controlled four-lane road with a paved shoulder from Mysore to Kushalnagara Section of NH-275 on Hybrid Annuity Mode under NH(O) in Karnataka (Package IV), worth 575 crore, and another segment of the same project (Package V), worth 625 crore. Including these projects, the total value of the order book is 6,504.8 crore. Segment-wise, 50% of the order book accounts for roads (HAM), 18% for roads (others), 17% for irrigation, and the remaining for pipeline projects, as per the company's Q4 investors' presentation. KNR Constructions is a leading player in the countrys infrastructure sector, where it mainly focuses on providing infrastructure services for highways, flyovers and bridges, and irrigation sectors. It participates in all the formats of bids, including item rate contracts, EPC contracts, BOT (toll/ annuity), and HAM mode. Looking ahead, the road sector presents attractive opportunities as the government aims to construct 23 new national highways by 2025, with the private sector projected to emerge as the primary contributor to road infrastructure development. The expansion of national highways is set to reach 16,000 km in 202324, advancing at a pace of 45 km per day. Concurrently, the government aims to provide piped water supply to households in rural areas, targeting a capital expenditure of 12.6 trillion rupees for building water infrastructure. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Indian stock market remains volatile ahead of Lok Sabha election results next week. The benchmark indices, the Nifty-50 index and Sensex, are down 1.5-2 per cent in the past five sessions. The Volatility Index or VIX also is hovering close to 24, much higher than levels of close to 10 seen in April. Against this backdrop, focusing on defensive stocks will be crucial for investors to reduce risk, says Yes Securities MD and CEO Anshul Arzare. Many experts believe that the volatility could further rise in the next two sessions ahead of election results and even thereafter. For investors looking to mitigate volatility and cushion the impact, one of the strong strategies suggested is diversification of portfolios apart from taking higher exposure to the defensives. Further, as volatility can remain high after the elections, it will be crucial for investors to focus on choosing value buys and also on longer-term investments. According to Anshul Arzare, before election results, investors should adopt a strategy to diversify their portfolios across various sectors to mitigate risk. Focusing on defensive stocks, such as those in the FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), healthcare, and utilities sectors, can provide stability and reduce volatility. Additionally, maintaining a portion of the portfolio in cash or liquid assets can enable investors to capitalise on market corrections, with buying during dips being a potentially fruitful strategy, suggests Arzare. According to Arzare, investors need to assess the new government's policies and their potential impact on different sectors after the election results. Based on the election outcome and the government's ability to implement its strategies, investments should be shifted to sectors that are likely to benefit from these policies, such as infrastructure or technology, which might have been highlighted in pre-election discussions. However, Arzare said that it is crucial to adhere to long-term investment strategies and avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term market fluctuations. As the Lok Sabha election results draw closer, global brokerage house CLSA has identified 54 'Modi stocks', predominantly public sector undertakings (PSUs), as "direct beneficiaries of the policies of the current government" led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As per the brokerage, these stocks have been rallying in anticipation of the BJP government's return to power after the Lok Sabha poll results on June 4, 2024. The list includes many PSUs from capex and infrastructure-linked sectors. Going ahead, CLSA predicts that stocks of Indias state-run companies, or PSUs, might peak in June or July, ahead of the budget presentation by the new government, mirroring the trends observed in previous general elections. Read here: Elections 2024: Defence, power, industrials among sectoral picks ahead of result Furthermore, the global brokerage highlighted that over the past six months, 90 percent of the "Modi stocks" have experienced an election-focused rally, outperforming the Nifty index. The average increase for these stocks has been 50 percent or more, compared to the Nifty's 14 percent rise. CLSA identified these 54 stocks from a pool of 183, representing 30 percent of the futures and options universe. Only five of these stocks have underperformed the benchmark in this period, it added. Read here: Lok Sabha Elections: 4 investment strategies to follow ahead of election results The buildup of election-related expectations began in December, following strong state election results for the ruling party and CLSA expects this trend is likely to continue, particularly if the incumbent government returns with a strong majority. "The dominant outperformance of Modi stocks clearly suggests high expectations of a favourable election verdict outcome for the ruling party being baked into market expectations," CLSA said. Read here: Market may go down 15-20% if BJP secures less than 250 seats, says Ruchir Sharma However, the global brokerage cautioned that this rally, driven by a narrow, election-themed optimism is expected to taper off by mid of 2024. A few weeks after the election, CLSA anticipates investors will be greeted with a reality check that many positives would already have been priced in, in these stocks. "This may drive profit-taking by the less patient holders of Modi stocks," it forecasted. CLSA referenced the patterns observed after the previous two elections - 2014 and 2019 - when PSU stocks peaked a few weeks after the election results in June. Read here: Lok Sabha elections 2024 trading strategy: Poll-driven equity weakness buying opportunity, says UBS While CLSA estimates this "election-themed" rally will end in June or July, it sees banking stocks as the best risk-reward play in India for the second half of 2024. "A clear pushback on rate-cut expectations has allowed banks in the US to outperform year-to-date but Indian private banks have been laggards," CLSA noted. Indian equities are expected to remain volatile in the lead-up to the Lok Sabha election exit polls on June 1 and the results on June 4. Other than these stocks, banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and IndusInd Bank also have growth potential and their stocks could rise, CLSA stated. Shares of fintech major Paytm surged by 5 per cent for the second consecutive trading session on May 30. The stock experienced a significant rally following reports that billionaire Gautam Adani is contemplating acquiring a stake in Paytm's parent company, One97 Communications. The stock finally closed at 377.40 per share on Thursday. However, Paytm later clarified that the report was purely speculative. "We hereby clarify that the above mentioned news item is speculative and the company is not engaged in any discussions in this regard. We have always made and will continue to make disclosures in compliance with our obligations under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015," the company said in a statement. Meanwhile, Adani Group also issued a clarification, as quoted by media reports. Categorically deny this baseless speculation, it is totally false and untrue, it said. The denials followed a Times of India (TOI) report asserting that Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma had met Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani in Ahmedabad. The two business leaders discussed "finalising the contours of a deal", the daily reported, citing unnamed sources. The news came after the Financial Times, a global business daily, reported that the Adani Group was planning to enter India's fintech sector. This move would position the ports-to-power conglomerate as a direct competitor to Alphabet's Google Pay, Walmart's PhonePe, and Reliance Industries' Jio Financials. According to the TOI report, the potential purchase of a stake in Paytm would be one of the Adani Group's major acquisitions, following its previous acquisitions of Ambuja Cement and New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV). Notably, Paytm shares have been declining since the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed restrictions on its banking division. From March onwards, the RBI has prohibited Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) from onboarding new customers and issuing credit. If youre an investor seeking robust returns from the stock market, delving into promising growth stocks can be highly rewarding. These companies present the opportunity for substantial long-term gains, driven by their ability to grow revenues and profits at a rate surpassing the market average. Often, these stocks outperform the broader market. However, growth stocks can be more volatile and test investor patience, especially during market downturns. Thorough research into these stocks is crucial. Identifying promising growth stocks based on key factors can be a rewarding endeavor for investors. When evaluating growth stocks, pay close attention to revenue and profit performance, industry trends, return ratios, and any significant news. By staying attuned to market changes and capitalizing on opportunities, investors can maximize positive trends while safeguarding their investments against potential risks. In this piece, we will examine top five growth stocks that are currently outperforming the Nifty and show potential for continued success. #1 HAL Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is a public-sector aerospace and defence company. Established on 23 December 1940, HAL is one of the oldest and largest aerospace and defence manufacturers globally. It is the only Indian company specializing in manufacturing and maintaining aircraft services. HAL develops, designs, manufactures, and supplies aircraft, helicopters, avionics, and communications equipment for both military and civil markets. The company is aggressively pursuing exports by leveraging its range of indigenous products, particularly emphasizing the capabilities and safety of platforms like the LCA Tejas. The Defence Acquisitions Council has approved the purchase of 97 units of the Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets. HAL has partnered with the European aerospace company Airbus to create a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility for the A320 family of aircraft in New Delhi. This partnership aims to boost the Make in India initiative and enhance Indias self-reliance in aircraft maintenance. HAL plans to establish an MRO hub in New Delhi, offering a one-stop solution for commercial airlines, with a target to have the facility operational by November 2024. In FY24, HAL's revenue from operations grew by 12.8% to 303.8 billion, while its net profit surged by 30.1% to 76.2 billion. During the financial year, HAL secured major orders worth more than 190 billion and repair and overhaul contracts exceeding 160 billion. The companys order inflow includes the supply of 25 Dornier aircraft to the Indian Navy and engines for the MiG-29 aircraft of the Indian Air Force. HAL's management has exciting plans in the pipeline, including creating a new business division focused on boosting exports. As part of its expansion strategy, HAL is seeking global partners and opening export offices in specific locations. While exploring new opportunities, HAL will continue to focus on its core business of upgrading aircraft, including avionics upgrades and integrating new weapon systems. #2 Zomato Zomato's stock has become a significant turnaround story in the Indian stock market. The company had a rocky start following its initial public offering (IPO), with the stock initially falling and facing significant criticism from investors concerned about profitability and growth prospects. This scepticism was rooted in the company's high valuation at the time of its IPO and the challenges faced by tech startups in the market. However, Zomato's stock has witnessed a remarkable turnaround over time, driven by several positive factors. One key factor has been the company's continued growth in its core food delivery business and its expansion into new verticals such as grocery and nutraceuticals. The platform's venture into hyperlocal delivery (Zomato Instant, Blinkit) and loyalty programs (Zomato Gold) offers promising new revenue streams. In FY24, consolidated revenue from operations stood at 121.1 billion, up 71% from 70.8 billion in FY23. The company has also achieved profitability. In FY24, the food delivery platform reported a consolidated net profit of 3.51 billion, a significant improvement from the consolidated net loss of 9.71 billion in FY23. Zomato's efforts to improve operational efficiency and reduce losses have been well-received by the stock market. The e-commerce arm of Zomato, Blinkit, increased its delivery charges by 11-35 in the Delhi and Mumbai regions, contributing to higher profits. Zomato also started charging a nominal platform fee of 2-5 for each order, further improving its margins. Looking ahead, Zomato plans to expand Blinkit's footprint in larger cities. India's online food delivery market is projected to reach $16 billion by 2025, positioning Zomato as a frontrunner in a sector brimming with future potential. #3 Dixon Technologies Dixon Technologies is at the forefront of Indias electronics revolution. As the country's largest home-grown EMS player and the biggest manufacturer of LED TVs in India, Dixon produces for brands like Samsung, Panasonic, Xiaomi, TCL, and OnePlus. The company also manufactures lighting products for Philips, Havells, Syska, Bajaj, Wipro, and Orient, as well as semi-automatic washing machines for clients like Godrej, Samsung, Lloyd, and Panasonic. In addition, Dixon manufactures mobile phones and other hardware for companies like Acer, Motorola, Nokia, and recently added Xiaomi. Since 2016, Dixon Technologies has been manufacturing mobile phones and their parts, with significant growth spurred by government's production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. These incentives have played a pivotal role in securing contracts and establishing collaborations with leading global mobile phone manufacturers. As part of its strategic plan, the company aims to export 30% of its total production capacity over the next two to three years. Recently, Dixon Technologies announced plans to manufacture Alphabet Inc.'s super-premium Google Pixel 8 smartphones in India. According to the company, Dixon's first batch of India-made Pixels may hit the market as early as September 2024. The company may also produce older and upcoming models like the AI feature-heavy Pixel 9, which has a new design language, later this year. Dixon Technologies has also signed a 15 billion agreement with Nokia to develop and manufacture telecom equipment, including fixed wireless access points and routers. In FY24, Dixon reported consolidated revenue of 177.1 billion, compared to 122 billion in FY23, an increase of 45.2%. The companys consolidated net profit stood at 3.75 billion, up 47% from 2.55 billion a year ago. #4 Tata Power Tata Power has transformed into India's undisputed energy powerhouse. The companys presence extends across the electricity value chain, including generation, transmission, and distribution. It boasts an installed generation capacity of 14 GW, of which 8.8 GW is from thermal sources, with the remainder from clean energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydro. Tata Power aims to become the frontrunner in India's clean energy revolution, investing heavily in building an expansive EV infrastructure and setting up EV charging stations across the country. The company is also active in consumer-centric businesses such as solar rooftops, pumps, and microgrids. Tata Power holds 13% of the domestic solar module market, aiming to increase this share to 20% with the help of its new solar cell and module manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu. Tata Power's subsidiary, Tata Power Solar, will have its manufacturing plant fully operational this year, increasing the company's total installed solar module capacity to 4.9 GW, including a 600 MW annual capacity at its Bengaluru plant. For the sale of its rooftop solar units, Tata Power will rely on its network of over 500 channel partners across 450 cities, planning to double this network to 1,000 channel partners within the year. Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd, an arm of Tata Power Group, has started commercial production of solar modules from its new plant in Tamil Nadu, with solar cell production set to commence in June 2024. This development is expected to boost several capacity-addition projects that require locally manufactured products. The new solar cell and module facility of Tata Power Renewable Energy produced about 130 MW of modules in the March 2024 quarter. In FY24, Tata Power reported its highest-ever revenue and net profit at 615.42 billion and 42.8 billion, respectively, with revenue and profit growing by 10% and 12%, respectively. The companys bottom line has now grown for 18 consecutive quarters. #5 M&M Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) is the flagship company of the Mahindra group, which has diverse business interests across the globe. M&M operates through several segments: automotive, farm equipment, and others. The automotive segment comprises the sale of automobiles, spare parts, and related services. The farm equipment segment involves the sale of tractors and spare parts. The other segments include farm, construction equipment, power, and spares business units. Since its inception in 1945, M&M has been a highly reputed brand in India for automobiles, with its cars among the most trusted and reliable in the market. M&M is ready to ramp up again after streamlining its operations. Following exits from non-core businesses, which unblocked funds worth 13.9 billion, the company is now laser-focused on its expansion plans. In FY24, M&M reported consolidated revenue and net profit of 1,390.8 billion and 112.7 billion, respectively, with the topline and bottomline up 15% and 25%, respectively, over the previous year. The company has unveiled a massive investment plan of 370 billion over the next three years. This cash infusion will be spread across its various businesses, with the auto sector receiving the biggest chunk of the investment. M&M is bullish on both electric vehicles (EVs) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, particularly SUVs. The plan is to aggressively develop both segments. The auto company aims to invest 140 billion in ICE vehicles by FY25 and 120 billion for the electric vehicle arm, Mahindra Electric Automobile (MEAL), over the next three years. The farm equipment business, a major cash generator, will receive 50 billion. The services sector, encompassing companies like Tech Mahindra and Mahindra Holidays, will also receive 50 billion. Conclusion Growth stocks in India have garnered significant attention, especially in recent years, as the country's economy continues to experience rapid expansion. These stocks offer a great opportunity for investors to capitalize on India's economic progress. However, before investing in growth stocks, it's important to conduct thorough research and understand the risks involved. Moreover, bear in mind that 2024, being an election year, introduces an element of uncertainty. These events usually add volatility to the stock markets, as changes in policies and regulations can impact the business environment and potentially affect company performance. Happy investing. Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such. This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com Delhi-based Sachin Chopra, 46, suffered a tough time when his father died intestate during the covid-19 years. He ran pillar to post to get his father's assets transferred in his name. His mother had also passed away, but she was still the nominee in some of his father's investments. It made the process even more complex. This experience made me realise how important it is to create a will. It took me more than two years to get all assets transferred in my name," says Chopra. There is no official data on how many people have created a will in India. In an independent survey of 467 people, online will-making platform Yellow found that 80% of the respondents had not created a will. Another 10% had only created a rough draft. Surprisingly, over 60% of the respondents believed that being a nominee was akin to being a legal heir. Chopra has created a will himself, which very few do. Will-creation is not as complicated as it seems. I wrote a comprehensive will of three pages and got it attested by four witnesses at my home itself, even though only two witnesses are required," says Chopra. Even a hand-written will on a blank paper attested by two witnesses is considered legal. One does not have to register it at the sub-registrars office. However, not everyone could be capable of drafting a will on their own. There are nuances depending on how much wealth and assets one holds. Wills are no longer drafted by lawyers alone. Tax consultants , chartered accountants, company secretaries and in some cases even notary public are part of the ecosystem. But the significance of the testamentary document cannot be undermined as it demands legal knowledge and exposure to succession laws," says Rajat Dutta, founder and initiator at Inheritance Needs Services Pvt. Ltd. Find a trusted professional Online will-making platforms such as Yellow, WillJini and No Grey have made the process affordable and accessible. Banks too have group companies running will-making services, such as SBICap Trustee's MyWill Services. We charge 15,000 for offline will services. Online charges are just 2,500," says Meenal Purswani, head-legal, risk and compliance, at SBI Trustee. Pune-based Madhav Samant got his will done via an online will-making platform. For me data privacy was most important. I thoroughly ensured it before going ahead with the platform." says Samant. I opted for a customised option, in which my draft was reviewed by a lawyer. Later ,on they appointed a person physically who helped me with registering the will at the registrar's office. I paid 20,000 each for me and my wife," he added. Samant also got a power of attorney done so that in case he becomes incapacitated, a PoA in the name of his wife would ensure his funds remain accessible. It cost me an additional 10,000," he says. Also read | How to ensure phased payouts to your nominee in the case of death Online platforms are convenient, but one has to be cautious about it. Will is a personalised document. One size will not fit all," Dutta says of Inheritance Needs. A good lawyer will verify your documents instead of creating a will on self-declaration. I have seen instances where a person may say he has 50% ownership of a property, but property documents show other relatives are involved," he adds. The paperwork has to be done impeccably while you are living to smoothen the inheritance after you are gone. Reliance on detailed documentation supporting the will at the drafting stage itself is critical and dependence on self-declaration could prove disastrous." Remember, a will is the only document that stands scrutiny post the demise of an asset owner. Neither reference nor consultation with the author is possible. The document needs to be robust enough to be self-sustaining," Dutta cautions. View Full Image (Graphic: Pranay Bhardwaj/Mint) Minor beneficiaries Be very careful about the language of the will and consider all possible scenarios when writing it. Many people tend to will all their assets to one beneficiary, mostly their spouse. What if the husband and wife both pass away while the children are still minors? That is what made Anshul Goel include 11 scenarios in his will. "Some scenarios are like thisif wife dies, then the husband gets everything; if husband dies, then bifurcation between wife and parents," Goel says. He has also appointed five legal guardians in an order in case his spouse and he both die. I have included specific instructions for them such as using the existing bank account to fulfil the needs/wants and desires of my child(ren), sending them to the best of the boarding schools in the country, and giving all money to them when they turn 25," Goel says. The language should be such that wealth accumulated after creating a will should find a place in it. A will can always be updated with codicil or addendum, but one will have to bear the cost all over again, more so in the case of a registered will," says Purswani of SBI Trustee. Foreign assets If you have assets in one or multiple foreign countries, it cannot be part of your Indian will. You will have to create separate wills for foreign countries. "Such people are advised to create a living trust because executing a composite or multiple wills in different jurisdictions is a complicated, time-consuming, and expensive process," says Pritika Kumar, co-founder, No Grey, a Gurgaon-based online legal platform involved in making wills and trusts. For families whose children are studying abroad (or about to), careful planning can help optimise their portfolio and allow wealth-creation overseas. Also read | Why India loves to hate inheritance tax and estate dutywrongly NRIs are treated differently under (Foreign Exchange Management Act), and broadly are allowed to remit more monies outside India, compared to a resident Indian," says Rishabh Shroff, head of the private client team at law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, specialising in succession planning. Families may explore transferring liquid assets directly into the hands of the NRI child to allow more remittance overseas," says Shroff. Naming an executor Appointing an executor should be well thought-out. Generally, people appoint their spouses as a sole executor, but executors should be fairly young because they should reasonably be expected to outlive you," Shroff adds. We advise having a spouse as the first-order executor, followed by children as the joint executor." While preference should be given to the immediate family as executors, in some cases people do consider using family confidants, chartered accountants or lawyers as executors. However, this is rare. We have observed business families feel uncomfortable about appointing a professional executor, and prefer to keep such important matters within the family," says Shroff. Also read | Does your family know about your investments? While a trust is advisable if large wealth is involved, a Hindu Undivided Family can be considered too. If aged parents want to will away their wealth, the eldest son can activate his HUF, being its Karta," says CA Prakash Hegde. Parents can include the HUF as one of the beneficiaries in the will. It would be a separate entity for tax purposes." Note that if the Uniform Civil Code gets implemented, the concept of HUF will be erased. To register or not Creating a will is just the beginning. Executing it after the one who has created it (testator) is gone could be challenging. The testator should ensure in her lifetime that the will is foolproof. Even as a hand-written will on a white paper is legal, some financial institutions may ask for the registered will. A will need not be registered according to the law and it can still be executed. However, in one of my clients cases, during transmission of mutual fund units, a notary will was not accepted," says Milan Pandya, a Mumbai-based personal finance consultant. We had to go through the succession certificate process, which was a time-consuming and costly affair. The client paid roughly 1.5 lakh to obtain it, including court and lawyer fees." Even registered wills can be contested. The last will, or the most recent will pre-demise, will be the valid will whether registered or otherwise. In such scenarios, a probate will be needed. Probate is a process whereby the legal system certifies the legitimacy to the will with adequate due diligence and after hearing the aggrieved parties. You may have a registered will, but if the testator creates an unregistered will later, it will hold supremacy. In such situations, a probate will be required," says Dutta of Inheritance Needs. If the deceased owned immovable assets or properties in Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai, a probate is a must for the beneficiaries. While registering a will is not compulsory, it could be prudent to register it if the value of immovable property exceeds 50% in value terms (of the entire net worth of the asset owner), or if some beneficiaries are expected to be given less when compared to others," says Dutta. Registration to an extent can dilute the impact of possible future litigation." Will-creation is a simple affair. But seek professional help from an experienced lawyer or an institution if complex inheritance matters are involved. In order to crack down on pesky calls and SMSes, the department of telecom (DoT) has decided to allocate a separate number series 160 exclusively for service and transactional voice calls, as per Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR), 2018, reported Business Line. The phone calls coming from government and regulators should have the prefix of 1600 and financial entities which are regulated by RBI, SEBI, PFRDA and IRDAI should have a prefix of 1601, Department of Telecommunications said. Apart from these principal entities (PEs), if any other entity requires assignment of number resources under this series, the same has to be requested separately by TRAI, a source, reported BusinessLine. DoT stated, telecom service providers (TSPs) have to indicate the licensing service area as part of the series in the 10-digit number provided to PEs. Different states If a call is routed from Delhi, then the series should be 1600 (or 1601)11; if from Tamil Nadu then 1600 (or 1601)44; from Mumbai, the series would be 1600 (or 1601) 22. The series will also be followed by the TSP (BSNL/ MTNL, Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone-Idea and so on). ALSO READ | Pesky callers have had a free run for too long. That may be about to end The TSP should ensure adequate verification of each and every entity before assigning a number from 160 series, and obtain an undertaking from the seeking entity (PE) that it will use the number assigned from the series exclusively for service and transactional voice calls, as per TCCCPR, 2018 notified under TRAI Act-1997 only, a senior government official said, BL further reported. LONDON (AP) A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and bolted when the bill came is now paying the price behind bars. Bernard and Ann McDonagh were sentenced to prison on Wednesday for fraud after running up tabs they didn't pay for, including three-course meals, the finest cuts of meat and double portions of dessert. Judge Paul Thomas said in Swansea Crown Court that their dine and dash spree was driven by pure and utter greed. You were not going to these places to feed you and your family, it was criminality for criminalitys sake to see if you could get away with it, he said. I have no doubt, apart from the greed element, you had got a buzz out of what you were able to get away with. Even worse, the judge said, they were ruthlessly exploitative" in using their children in the ploy. When a bank card was declined for lack of funds, they would leave at least one of six children behind at the table while they ostensibly went to retrieve money from a cash machine. They never returned to pay up and the children would eventually flee to a waiting vehicle. The couple, who covered their faces as they hustled into court, previously pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud. They stiffed four restaurants and a Chinese takeout business of nearly 1,170 pounds ($1,485) in crimes that dated back to last fall, a prosecutor said. The two, who have several previous convictions and used more than 40 aliases, got caught after restaurants posted images of them on social media. Ann McDonagh, 39, who also admitted four counts of shoplifting, was sentenced to 12 months in prison. She also admitted obstructing a constable when she lied that she was nine months pregnant to get out of jail after being arrested. She was not expecting a child at the time. Her attorney, Andrew Evans, said she was grieving deaths in the family, though he didn't elaborate. He said she may have carried out the crimes to make herself feel better. Bernard McDonagh, 41, was sentenced to eight months behind bars. (Bloomberg) -- Apollo Global Management Inc. plans to expand its asset origination business to sell private credit to retail channels, including exchange traded funds, Chief Executive Officer Marc Rowan said Thursday. The firm already sells credit instruments to insurers, including its own Athene unit, and institutional investors. Apollo has set a five-year goal of boosting annual origination to $200 billion to $250 billion. We built a third-party insurance business and then we built a third-party institutional business, a fixed-income replacement business, and you will watch us do this in retail, Rowan said at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference. You will watch us do this in interval funds. You will watch us do this in ETFs. Private asset managers are increasingly looking beyond traditional institutional investors such as pension funds and endowments for sources of capital amid a difficult fundraising environment. Blackstone Inc. and KKR & Co. are also building wealth units, while Carlyle Group Inc. is readying its first European private credit fund for wealthy individuals. Private wealth is one of those mega-trends, Carlyle CEO Harvey Schwartz said at the same event Thursday. Just 1% of the $80 trillion of wealth held by individuals with at least $1 million in their accounts is allocated to alternative assets, compared with one-third for institutional clients, Blackstone President Jon Gray said a day earlier. Im not arguing its going to the same place, he said, but I think it could be much larger. Wealth Channels Apollos products for individual investors are distributed through intermediaries such as bank wealth channels and registered investment advisers, and the firm doesnt expect that to change, Rowan said. But the firm sees opportunities to create investments for individual investors to access private markets that are a mix of 70% beta and 30% alpha, he said. Apollo plans to launch two such products this year, Rowan said. Eventually youll see this in credit, but eventually you will see this in the whole landscape, he said. KKR and Capital Group said last week that they had formed a partnership to make hybrid public-private investment products for investors. (Updates with comments from Carlyle and Blackstone CEOs starting in fifth paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Adds analyst's comment in paragraph 13) By Savyata Mishra May 30 (Reuters) - Gap raised its annual sales forecast and its first-quarter results beat market expectations, boosted by strength in its Old Navy and Gap brands as Americans snap up its trendy denims and limited edition apparel. Shares of the company surged 22% after the bell as the Banana Republic owner saw strong spring shopping, similar to mall-based retailers like Abercrombie & Fitch, which had also hiked its annual sales goal. Gap's quarterly store sales jumped 3% from a year ago as it has been expanding its store presence, while online sales rose 5% to account for 38% of the total sales. The company's turnaround strategy to lower promotions and focus on right product assortment is yielding results after weak growth last year due to low demand and supply chain issues. "Shoppers are willing and able to spend if they see value in an on-trend, well-made dress from Gap or a burrito bowl from Chipotle," Zak Stambor, a senior analyst at Emarketer said. Gap also lifted its fiscal 2024 margin forecast to at least 150 basis points growth compared with a prior target of as much as 50 bps expansion. It now sees annual sales to be up slightly from last year and compared with prior expectations of roughly flat sales. First-quarter gross margin jumped 410 basis points to 41.2%. At Old Navy, comparable sales grew 3% compared with 1% decline a year ago, while Gap logged 3% growth. Its net sales for the quarter ended May 4 rose to $3.39 billion, edging past analysts' average estimate of $3.29 billion. It earned 41 cents per share compared to estimates of 14 cents. In contrast, American Eagle Outfitters missed quarterly revenue estimates, while Kohl's posted a surprise quarterly loss. Temperatures in India's capital Delhi reportedly soared to a record-high of 52.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, with the weather department warning of dangerous heat levels in the sprawling megacity. But how dangerous or deadly heatwaves can be? The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) says heatwave conditions can result in physiological strain, which could even result in death. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) explains that deaths and hospitalisations from heat can occur extremely rapidly (over same day), or have a lagged effect (several days later). The global health body says high air temperatures can affect human health and lead to additional deaths. Extended periods of high day and nighttime temperatures create cumulative physiological stress on the human body which exacerbates the top causes of death globally, the WHO explains. Heat may "result in accelerating death or illness in the already frail, particularly observed in the first days of heatwaves," the WHO says. It adds, "Even small differences from seasonal average temperatures are associated with increased illness and death." How do you know if you are impacted by heatwave? The health impacts of heat waves may involve "dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke". The signs and symptoms, as per the NDMA and the WHO, are as follows: 1. Heat Cramps: Ederna (swelling) and Syncope (Fainting) generally accompanied by fever below 39C i.e.102F. 2. Heat Exhaustion: Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and sweating. 3. Heat Stoke: Body temperatures of 40C i.e. 104F or more along with delirium, seizures or coma. "This is a potential fatal condition," the authority says. 4. Altered human behavior: Heat conditions can alter human behavior, the transmission of diseases, health service delivery, air quality, and critical social infrastructure such as energy, transport, and water. It is important to take all reasonable steps to lessen the effects of heat waves, and to seek medical attention as soon as possible if discomfort arises. Source: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare How to help if someone is suffering from the heat: The NDMA list a few ways in which one must help those affected by the heat. These measures include: 1. Move the person to a cool place under the shade 2. Give water or a rehydrating drink (if the person is still conscious) 3. Fan the person 4. Consult a doctor if symptoms get worse or are long lasting or the person is unconscious 5. Do not give alcohol, caffeine or aerated drink 6. Give the person ORS to drink or lemon sarbat/torani or whatever is useful to rehydrate the body. 7. Cool the person by putting a cool wet cloth on his/her face/body 8. Loosen clothes for better ventilation 9. Take the person immediately to the nearest health centre. The patient needs immediate hospitalisation, as heat strokes could be fatal. How to preventing heat-related illnesses When is heatwave declared in India? According to the India Meteorological Department, a heatwave is considered if maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40C or more for the plains and at least 30C or more for hilly regions. The IMD defines heatwaves as "a period of unusually high temperatures as compared to what is normally expected over a region." It says that the impact of heatwaves gets aggravated due to high humidity, high wind speed, duration of heat wave events and other such meteorological factors. Delhi water shortage crisis: The Delhi government will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday, May 30, to address the water crisis in the national capital amid simmering heatwave conditions. The meeting will be led by the Water Minister of Delhi, Atishi, and the Health Minister of Delhi, Saurabh Bhardwaj, with all senior officials to discuss the persistent water shortage in the capital city. The announcement of an emergency meeting came after several reports emerged describing the situation of the city's water supply. Due to the record high temperature in Delhi, there has been a rapid surge in water demand. As a result, the city is dealing with a water shortage, leading to frequent supply cuts in many parts of Delhi. This announcement came after reports of severe water crises surfaced from various parts of the city, where residents have had to wait for hours in a long queue for water tankers. Delhi residents forced to buy bottled water Amid severe water shortages in several parts of Delhi, people shared their ordeals related to water shortage. Most of the people are relying on water tankers to meet their water requirements amid shortage, however inadequate supply of water from tanks force them to buy bottled water, a resident of Geeta colony told ANI. Vinay, a resident of Geeta Colony, told ANI, "We are facing a severe water crisis. Our locality has a population of around 3,000-4,000 people, but the government sends only half the required number of tankers." "Although a tanker comes daily, but in this scorching heat, the demand for water has significantly increased. Sometimes, they reduce the amount of water in the tanker, due to which we suffer a lot. While in the absence of tankers, the wealthier residents can buy water, but the poorer ones cannot, due to which they have to drink dirty water, which leads to illness," he added. Shabru Khatun, a resident of the colony, said, "There are a lot of problems regarding water in this area. We get only one tanker for the entire area. The tanker water is used for drinking and cooking purposes. Sometimes, we don't even get the tanker, and we are forced to buy bottled water." Delhi govt passes the buck on Haryana govt, warns of moving to SC As the capital city continues to suffer because of water shortage, Delhi minister Atishi has blamed the Haryana government for the situation. The minister has accused the Nayab Singh Saini-led government of not releasing Delhi's water share even after "so many talks." The Aam Aadmi Party minister also said that if the water supply does not improve in the next one-two days, then the Delhi govt will move to the Supreme Court, reported ANI. Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday sought the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) response to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal's bail extension plea. The Delhi CM was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court of India in the Delhi liquor policy scam case until June 1. On Thursday, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, opposed the bail plea of Arvind Kejriwal, stating that the Delhi CM was healthy enough to campaign in Punjab for the Lok Sabha elections. CM Arvind Kejriwal has been instructed to return to Tihar Jail on June 2. However, Kejriwal has sought a week's extension of the bail. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja had directed the central probe agency to file its response to Arvind Kejriwal's plea by Saturday. The court has set June 1 as the next date for the hearing. Arvind Kejriwal's case: Key updates -Delhi CM Kejriwal has sought regular bail in the Delhi excise policy scam case. He has also sought the extension of interim bail for seven days on medical grounds. -Kejriwal has sought an extension of his interim bail to undergo a host of medical tests, including a PET-CT scan, given his "sudden and unexplained weight loss coupled with high ketone levels", which are indicative of kidney, serious cardiac ailments and even cancer. -The AAP convener is out on an interim bail till June 1 following an order of the Supreme Court, which has directed him to surrender on June 2. In his latest plea submitted on May 26, Arvind Kejriwal stated that he would surrender to jail authorities on June 9 instead of the originally scheduled date of June 2 for his return to prison. -The ED, while opposing Kejriwal's bail plea, said, He (Arvind Kejriwal) is not in custody. He is today in Punjab campaigning. His health did not hinder him from campaigning. He filed the bail extension plea on the last date so that we would have very little time. His conduct doesn't entitle him to any orders today. -The Delhi Court has sought the ED's response on regular bail for Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam. -The Delhi Court also sought the ED's response on granting CM Kejriwal bail on medical grounds in case regular bail is not applicable. -On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of India denied Arvind Kejriwal's request for a seven-day extension of his interim bail in a corruption case related to the Delhi liquor policy. -Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A fire broke out in a flat in the posh high-rise Lotus Boulevard Society in Noida's Sector 100 on Thursday morning, newswire PTI reported. Quoting officials, PTI reported that no casualties have been reported yet and the fire has been extinguished. "The fire has been extinguished by Fire Safety officials. Other details would be shared soon," a police spokesperson said. Videos on social media showed heavy smoke billowing from the apartment in one of the residential towers of the society. Fire outbreak cases There have been a host of major and minor fire outbreak cases reported this month, especially in the last two weeks. Most prominent and deadly among these is the Rajkot TRP gaming zone fire and the Delhi baby care centre fire. The devastating fire that swept through TRP Game Zone in Rajkot, Gujarat, claimed the lives of at least 27 persobs, including children, on May 25. The fire also resulted in the death of one of the owners, Prakash Hiran. NDTV reported that CCTV footage captured Hiran at the location, and his vehicle was found at the scene of the fire. In another incident, at least seven newborn babies died after a fire erupted at New Born Baby Care Hospital in Delhi's Vivek Vihar on Saturday night. According to reports, seven dead children, of which four male and three female newborn babies, were moved to the GTB Hospital for postmortem. The Delhi Fire Department suspected an "electric fault" to be a possible reason behind the fire. Meanwhile on May 28, a major fire broke out in the forested hills near Neem Karoli Baba Ashram Kainchi Dham in Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The state administration rushed to the spot and the fire department is trying to control the fire, which is threatening to spread across the region. A video of the fire in the hills of the Nainital forest is circulating on social media. On the same day, at least six persons suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out at an industrial compound in Dharavi slum area of Mumbai, civic officials said. In a continuation of his meditation tradition before the final phase of Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his three-day visit to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu from May 30 to June 1. He will meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial as the weeks-long poll campaign ends today. His spiritual sojourn comes just days before the announcement of Lok Sabha election results on June 4. In 2019 too, PM Modi had a similar trip to Kedarnath and meditated at a cave before the final phase of elections. He had visited various temples like Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, and the Kothandaramaswamy Temple in 2019. Interestingly, the Rock Memorial's Dhyan Mandapam is the same site where Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892 with a vision of Bharat Mata. Kanyakumari is located at the southernmost tip of India, where the country's eastern and western coastlines converge. It is the point where the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea intersect. It is important to note that PM Modi's visit to Tamil Nadu is symbolic because he actively campaigned for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to woo voters and gain a foothold in South India. The Prime Minister has also been promoting Tamil culture during his poll campaign speeches. Security beefed up for PM Modi's Kanyakumari visit Around 2,000 police personnel and various security agencies maintain a tight vigil during the PM's 45-hour stay at the famed mid-sea Vivekananda Rock Memorial here on Thursday as he sits on meditation at the place named after the revered Hindu saint. Tirunelveli ranges DIG Pravesh Kumar, accompanied by the superintendent of police E Sundaravathanam, inspected the security arrangements at the rock memorial, boat jetty, helipad, and state guest house here, PTI reported. The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu has submitted a petition to the district collector, opposing permission for the Prime Minister's spiritual visit. They cited the election model code of conduct currently in effect and the ongoing tourism season, which is expected to attract a significant number of domestic and international tourists. PM Modi is expected to arrive at Kanyakumari late afternoon on May 30 for the spiritual sojourn. He would later proceed to the memorial. He is likely to stay at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial till 3 pm of June 1, when the country will be voting in the seventh and final phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Since the Prime Minister would stay for about 45 hours to meditate, the coastal security group, Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy would maintain a vigil along the marine borders, sources told PTI. The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu petitioned the district collector against granting permission for the PM's spiritual sojourn, citing the election model code of conduct that is in force, besides the ongoing tourism season that would see a good influx of domestic and foreign tourists. Prajwal Revanna sex abuse case: JD(S) suspended MP Prajwal Revanna from Karnataka's Hassan, is scheduled to land in India on May 31. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara informed on Thursday that the suspended MP would be arrested on arrival by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday. According to reports, Prajwal Revanna has booked a business-class ticket on Lufthansa's Munich-Bengaluru flight. The flight is expected to land at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru at 1:30 am on May 31. What happens when Prajwal lands in India? A team from the SIT is camping at the Kempegowda International Airport to arrest Prajwal Revanna as soon as he lands on May 31. As per procedure, the immigration officials will detain the grandson of former Prime Minister of India HD Deve Gowda and hand him over to the SIT, as there is a lookout notice against him. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that the government has initiated action to revoke Prajwal Revanna's diplomatic passport. A show cause notice was issued to the passport holder on May 23, giving him ten working days to respond to our notice. We await a response and will take further action per the rules, said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. What happens if Prajwal Revanna does not return? According to Karnataka Home Minister, Prajwal Revanna's passport will be cancelled unless he lands in India on May 31. Minister G Parameshwara has made it clear that when Prajwal Revanna returns, he will face arrest, and the full force of the legal process will be set in motion. Speaking to the press, the Karnataka minister explained, A warrant has been issued against him as per the law. It is the responsibility of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to execute this warrant. "He (Prajwal) himself has said in the video statement that he will appear before SIT on May 31 at 10 am, not us. So I feel that he will come," the minister added. If Prajwal Revanna doesn't come to India, the Karnataka government will request that the Indian government cancel the JD(S) MP's passport. We will again request Interpol through CBI, as the state government cannot do it directly; we will have to do it through Government of India agencies, he said. Recently, Interpol issued a Blue Corner notice against Prajwal Revanna after a video was released by the sexual abuse accused from Hungary. Prajwal Revanna sexual abuse case Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and the NDA candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of sexually abusing multiple women. The cases of sexual abuse came to light after several pen drives allegedly containing explicit videos involving Prajwal Revanna were reportedly circulated in Hassan ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26. Thousands take part in 'Hassan Chalo' protest A sea of demonstrators flooded the streets of Karnataka, clamouring for justice and accountability in the wake of allegations against suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna. Against the beats of 'Tamate' and resonating drums, the march sought Prajwal Revanna's arrest and expressed solidarity with his victims. The march 'Namma Nadige, Hassanada Kadega' (Our march towards Hassan) echoed through the streets of Karnataka on Thursday. Spearheaded by the human rights collective 'Naveddu Nilladiddare' (If we don't stand up), the event drew participation from a diverse array of civil society groups, including women's rights activists, labour activists, farmers, Dalit, and the LGBTQ+ community. Top Events on May 30: India is all set to witness various political, technological, sports, and entertainment events today. PM Modi will be on a three-day break from political meetings, while Yogi Adityanath will hold a public meeting in Himachal Pradesh and Rahul Gandhi will visit Odisha today. India and France will begin the talks on the Rafale Marine fighter jet deal in Delhi on Friday. Take a look at top events of the day below, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, from May 30 to June 1 to meditate at the Dhyan Mandapam after wrapping up the Lok Sabha election campaigns. - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will address a public meeting at Rath Maidan in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu on May 30. - Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will attend a meeting at Sanamahitpur in Simulia of Odisha's Balasore district today. - A high-level French government team will arrive in India on Thursday, May 30, to begin talks on the Rafale Marine fighter jet deal in Delhi. - Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren will visit Ramgarh today to attend the 28th foundation day celebrations of Dishom Manjhi Pargana, a Santhal outfit. - The Indian Navy is set to formally start the cost negotiations with a French delegation on Thursday, May 30, to procure 26 Rafale Marine aircraft that will operate from its two aircraft carriers. - Owner Naveen Khichi, the doctor on duty, was sent to three-day police custody till May 30 in connection with the Delhi hospital fire accident. - Activists to hold a protest meeting in Hassan on May 30, demanding the arrest of JD(S) leader and MP Prajwal Revanna in an alleged sexual assault video case. Prajwal booked a Munich to Bengaluru flight to reach here on Friday. - The Himachal Pradesh High Court today deferred the hearing on a petition challenging the appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSs) to May 30. - The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted intense heat and heatwaves in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh until May 30. - Goa will celebrate its statehood day on May 30, honouring its official separation from Daman and Diu as a state in 1987. - Pakistan is set to launch a multi-mission communication satellite on May 30 with Chinese support. The United Nations will honour Indian peacekeeper Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold medal on May 30. During the event, the UN Secretary-General will also present Major Radhika Sen, an Indian military officer, with the 2023 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. - Disney's first Marvel experience for Apple Vision Pro arrives on May 30. The launch of the Vivo S19 Series Vivo Watch GT is also confirmed for Friday in China. Moto G04 will launch in India on May 30. - Bharat Dynamics will announce Q4 results on May 30 in Maharashtra. - Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Deepika Padukone's 'Kalki 2898 AD' was postponed to May 30 due to the Lok Sabha election. Monsoon 2024: After the monsoon reaches Kerala, it's expected to take about eight to ten days to move across Maharashtra, according to the Meteorological Department. This means it will cover various regions of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, during that time frame. When will Monsoon hit Kerala? According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the Southwest Monsoon reached the Kerala coast and progressed into parts of northeast India starting Thursday. This year, the Monsoon arrived two days earlier than its typical onset date of June 1. Kerala has already seen widespread pre-monsoon rainfall. When will Monsoon hit Mumbai? "Traditionally, the monsoon arrives over Kerala by June 1st. However, we anticipate an early onset this year, expecting the monsoon to reach Kerala within 24 hours. Once it arrives in Kerala, it usually takes eight to ten days to cover Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai,"Sunil Kamble, Director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Mumbai said, ANI reported. The southwest monsoon's arrival over the Indian mainland is signalled by its onset over Kerala. As it moves northward, regions it covers experience relief from intense summer heat. Monsoon 2024 update: IMD predicts above-normal rainfall At a press conference on Monday, the IMD chief said that above-normal rain is expected this monsoon season across the country in a much-needed respite from the heatwave sweeping the country. Director General of Meteorology, IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, said, "The South West Monsoon rainfall over the country is likely to be 106 per cent of the long-period average with a model error of 4 per cent. Thus, above-normal rainfall is most likely over the country." (Bloomberg) -- Subway, the restaurant chain with the most locations in the US, has sold $3.35 billion of asset-backed bonds to help fund its buyout by Roark Capital Group, in what is the largest securitization of its kind on record. The sandwich maker priced the largest portion of its whole business securitization where a company pledges most of its assets as collateral, including franchise fees at spreads of 150 basis points above the benchmark, according to people with knowledge of the deal. The jumbo transaction is the largest among other multi-billion dollar franchise-backed deals from well-known chains like Dunkin Brands Group Inc., Taco Bell and Wendys. Dunkin was the holder of the previous record WBS deal, at around $2.5 billion in 2015. Investors placed $19 billion of orders for the $3.35 billion of bonds for sale, signaling demand outstripped supply, said the people, declining to be identified as the details are private. Spreads tightened at least 30 basis points across the capital stack from guidance, another indication of significant investor interest. Morgan Stanley and Barclays Plc acted as joint structuring advisers, as previously reported. The bond sale was Subways debut securitization. The sale has also sealed Subways spot among the top 10 largest ABS transactions seen in the last 10 years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News. ABS sales are running about 27% faster in 2024 compared to this same point in 2023, boosted by sales of bonds backed by traditional collateral like auto loans, and unusual collateral like franchise deals. Whole business securitizations in particular have been a popular source of funds for businesses with a large network of franchised stores. The structure gives investors more control of the businesss assets, in exchange for allowing access to cheaper capital. Seven other such deals have priced this year, including Zaxbys, a chicken finger restaurant chain, and Nothing Bundt Cakes, a bakery chain. Private equity firm Roark won the race to purchase Subway last year for more than $9 billion, of which $5 billion came from major banks. The global brand has expanded dramatically to more than 37,000 restaurants compared with 16 shops in 1974. Bloomberg is in the process of reaching out to Subway, Roark, Morgan Stanley and Barclays for comment. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Adds more details, no immediate United comment in paragraph 3) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) - United Airlines can take delivery of new airplanes as U.S. aviation regulators review the carrier, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday. "We are permitting them to take deliveries of aircraft. Most of those aircraft have been one-on-one replacements for missing aircraft," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker told reporters at a briefing. "Some of it has been growth. They have provided us with their growth plan, and we're working with them on that growth plan going forward." United did not immediately comment. Some United certification activities were halted after the FAA said in March it was increasing its oversight of United following recent safety incidents. The FAA said earlier this month it is requiring the presence of FAA personnel when United conducts final inspections of new aircraft replacing older models. The FAA said this month the review, known as the Certificate Holder Evaluation Program, "is ongoing and safety will determine the timeline for completing it." The evaluation is to ensure the Chicago-based airline "is complying with safety regulations; identifying hazards and mitigating risk; and effectively managing safety," the FAA said. United, in a May 16 email to its employees, said the FAA was allowing the company to begin the certification process restart "after a careful review and discussion about the proactive safety steps United has taken to date." The airline delayed the start of two new international routes last month, citing a pause on some certifications by the FAA. 38 Chinese military aircraft, 7 Chinese navy vessels, and 4 China Coast Guard vessels detected around Taiwan, Taiwanese defense ministry said on May 30. According to an AFP report, the ministry detected 38 Chinese warplanes and 11 navy or coastguard vessels around Taiwan in the past 24 hours. This follows a significant two-day military drill by Beijing a week prior. Also Read | Russian think tank proposes 'demonstrative' nuclear blast to deter Western support for Ukraine Notably, China considers democratic Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring it under Beijing's control. Incursion Across the Median Line The defence ministry stated that 28 of the Chinese aircraft had crossed the median line, which bisects the Taiwan Strait and separates Taiwan from China. In response, Taiwan's military deployed planes and ships. The sightings coincide with visits from United States congressional delegations, marking the first such visits since President Lai Ching-te's inauguration on 20 May, AFP said. Following President Lai's inauguration, Chinese warships and fighter jets encircled Taiwan in drills, which Beijing described as a test of its ability to seize the island. During these exercises, China warned that "independence forces" would be left "with their heads broken and blood flowing", the report added. Persistent Military Pressure In recent years, Beijing has increased military pressure on Taiwan, with a near-daily presence of warplanes, drones, and naval vessels around the island. Experts describe these actions as "grey zone tactics," which aim to exhaust Taipei's military without direct acts of war. Also Read | Apple signals that its working on TV app for android phones China also criticised Lai's inaugural speech as promoting independence, accusing it of "pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger". Israels opposition National Unity party, headed by war-cabinet member Benny Gantz, submitted a bill for the dissolution of parliament in a bid to force early elections and oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Knesset should be the subject of a fresh vote to reflect changing circumstances since the invasion by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, which triggered the ongoing war on Gaza, the party said in a statement on Thursday. While its unlikely that Gantzs party can garner enough support for the measure to pass, the move marks the latest in a series of attempts by Netanyahus opponents to force him from office. Gantz has given the premier a deadline of June 8 to meet a series of demands, saying hell quit if they arent met, and has said elections should be held in September instead of as scheduled in 2026. Read More: Pressure on Netanyahu Grows After Gantz Demands Election Netanyahus Likud has 32 seats in the 120-seat chamber, though is the largest party in a ruling coalition that accounts for 64. The National Unity party has just eight seats. Netanyahus popularity dived after the Oct. 7 attacks, with criticizm focused on how the incursion that killed 1,200 people had been allowed to happen. But in recent days polls have suggested the prime minister is edging back in favor, with one survey saying respondents would prefer him to Gantz as their leader. Read More: Netanyahus Popularity on the Rise in Blow to Israeli Rivals Netanyahu heads a three-man war cabinet with Gantz and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, both have which have clashed with the prime minister over the war strategy. Israels offensive in the Gaza Strip city of Rafah has heaped pressure on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to respond more forcefully to a former adversary that Egypt has long held a cold peace with, but also viewed with deep suspicion. Since Israel began deploying troops along Gazas southern border in recent weeks, the Egyptian military has issued instructions to soldiers at the border to return fire if fired upon, Egyptian officials say. Egypt has warned Israel that it wont hesitate to respond militarily if its security is threatened, they added. With Israeli forces saying this week that they now control the roughly 9-mile border, Israeli troops are just a few hundred yards away from Egyptian soldiers holding positions on the other side of the Gaza fence. The chances of a miscalculation are high, even with warning shots. On Monday, those fears were realized when a rare clash on the border left two Egyptian soldiers dead and sparked outrage in the Arab country. This weeks events have put a spotlight on two of the Sisi governments worst fears: that the fighting could spill into Egypt, and that the Gaza war could stir up a popular revolt in the Middle Easts most populous country. Already, a series of small pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Egypt have heightened fears among security officials that the public discontent could eventually turn against the government. Recent events have been humiliating for Egypt," said Michael Hanna, the director of the U.S. program at International Crisis Group and an expert on Egyptian politics and security. The lack of any response is going to be frustrating for a lot of people," he said. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry didnt respond to a request for comment. The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment. Israel has said that capturing the Gazan side of the border with Egypt is a central aim of the war, intending to cut off what it says is Hamass ability to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip. Egypt has disputed Israels charges that it isnt doing enough to clamp down on arms smuggling. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also says the Rafah campaign aims to destroy remaining Hamas military forces in the area. Despite some veiled threats, Egypt has ruled out military action against Israel for now and opted for what officials are calling a containment strategy" designed to gradually increase pressure on Israel. The policy includes conditioning the reopening of the Rafah crossinga vital route for humanitarian aid to Gaza from Egypton the Israeli militarys withdrawal from the area and returning control over the crossing to the Palestinians, and joining a case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice, an accusation that Israel has denied. If Egypt exhausts those other options, the government would freeze relations with Israel entirely, according to Egyptian officials. Earlier in the war, Israel praised Egypts role as a mediator with Hamas in talks that led to the release of more than 100 hostages taken captive when the U.S.-designated terrorist group stormed Israel and killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. After a decade of decline as a regional power, Sisi spent the last eight months leveraging this crisis to prove Egypts diplomatic importance," said Timothy Kaldas, deputy director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, a think tank based in Washington. From the beginning, the war has also squeezed Egypts already strained economy, with revenue from the Suez Canal plummeting due to reduced traffic amid Yemeni rebel attacks on Red Sea shipping routes. The government recently announced an increase in subsidized bread prices and devalued its currency, measures that have hit working-class and poor Egyptians hard. And ordinary Egyptians are increasingly angry about the course of the war as the Palestinian death toll mounts. The Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, Palestinian officials have said, without specifying how many were combatants. How long do you want to continue playing with fire is a real question," said Kaldas. Egypt was the first Arab state to recognize Israel. The two countries, after fighting a series of wars, have developed an important security partnership since 1979, with Egypt becoming a cornerstone of Israels strategy of gaining acceptance in the broader Middle East. The nations security agencies have worked together closely, particularly over the past decade under Sisi, during which they shared intelligence to help defeat Islamic State extremists in Egypts North Sinai region. But relations have always been publicly chilly and never extended to average Israelis or Egyptians, who dont generally visit each others countries or do much business. The most recent flashpoint came in early May, when the Israeli military ignored Egyptian warnings against launching its operation in Rafah. Israel gave Egypt just hours notice of the impending operation, in which it seized control of the Gazan side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, Egyptian officials said. The Egyptian government closed its side of the crossing in protest and threatened to downgrade Egypts diplomatic representation in Israel. Egyptian officials say that the presence of Israeli forces in the area along the border with Egypt violates the terms of the 1979 peace treaty, which places limits on the number of troops that both countries can deploy near their shared border. The treaty bans Israel from deploying tanks, artillery and antiaircraft weapons in a narrow strip along the border with Egypt. Does Israel fully understand the meaning of Egypts warnings against entering Rafah? Will it choose this option to the detriment of the peace that has lasted for 45 years?," said Diaa Rashwan, an Egyptian government spokesman, in an interview in April with pan-Arab news channel al-Arabiya. Egyptian military leaders have been particularly concerned in recent weeks about the presence of Israeli forces in proximity to Egyptian conscript soldiers, who often have had limited training, along the border. The Egyptian military started rotating soldiers every few days to avoid a scenario in which Egyptian soldiers could take matters into their own hands and open fire at Israeli forces. Despite the precautions, an exchange of fire on Monday resulted in the death of two Egyptian soldiers, according to people familiar with the matter. In a sign of the stakes involved for Sisi, the Egyptian military has acknowledged the death of only one soldier and said it was investigating the incident, part of a broader approach of publicly playing down the incident. At a funeral for one of the men in Egypts rural Fayoum province just south of Cairo, an imam led a crowd in prayers against what he called Zionist traitors" and in support of the mujahedeen of Palestine," according to a recording of a livestream of the funeral viewed by The Wall Street Journal. A relative of the second man confirmed his death. A series of small protests in Egypt have heightened fears among Egyptian security officials that any unrest could eventually turn against the government. Since Sisi came to power in a 2013 coup, Egyptian authorities have jailed thousands in a broad attempt to end an era of popular protests and unrest following the 2011 revolution that ousted the president at the time, Hosni Mubarak. Egyptian authorities have arrested 120 people in connection with pro-Palestinian protests since the war began, according to a list of the detainees seen by the Journal, compiled by the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, a nongovernmental group based in Cairo. As much as there is sympathy with the Palestinians in general, there is a fear of sliding into a situation of war, so thats on everyones minds," said Mohamed Lotfy, executive director of the commission. Write to Jared Malsin at jared.malsin@wsj.com and Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com As soon as it became clear that Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had won the Philippine presidential election in May 2022, the nations ambassador to the US was asked by the White House when President Joe Biden should give him a congratulatory call. The sooner you make the call, the better for our relationship, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos recalled in an interview. Biden called from Air Force One two days after the election, holding a friendly ten-minute exchange with Marcos that really set the tone for our relationship with the United States, Romualdez said. The tone, from the US perspective, desperately needed changing. Rodrigo Duterte, who preceded Marcos had tilted away from Washington and repeatedly questioned the Southeast Asian nations decades-old alliance with the US. Yet even American officials have been surprised by just how much Marcos has shifted the Philippines back toward the US since he took office roughly two years ago. While Marcos in no way wants to be seen as a US pawn, one official said, he was disillusioned by Chinas actions in the South China Sea and is fully on board with strengthening ties with Washington. Marcos outspoken pushback on China, highlighted by his efforts to publicize confrontations between the two countries in the South China Sea, has turned him into somewhat of a star among the US and its allies. He had the rare honor of addressing the Australian parliament, and on Friday, hell deliver the keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security conference in Singapore that brings together defense chiefs from the US, China and other nations. I can feel it in DC, you know, Romualdez said, where hes based. Hes really the most sought after leader now, worldwide and in the United States, the envoy said. The Wests embrace of Marcos is a remarkable shift from his familys pariah status after his father was ousted from power almost four decades ago. Some observers initially thought he would hold a grudge against the Americans for prompting his familys exile to Hawaii after the 1986 revolt that ended his fathers dictatorship. Bidens phone call to Marcos in May 2022 was soon followed by high-profile visits from the US secretaries of state and defense, as his administration made it a priority to revive longstanding alliances in a bid to compete with China. Biden met Marcos on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September of that year, and two months later his vice president was in Manila. Within six months of his inauguration, Marcos had completed an almost total overhaul of Manilas policy towards the US and by extension, China. Shortly afterward, he handed Washingtons military planners something they greatly coveted: access to four additional bases in the Philippines, three close to Taiwan. U-Turn Duterte had largely ignored a 2016 ruling by a UN-backed tribunal that had declared Chinas expansive claims illegal, aiming instead for better relations with Beijing a position Marcos appeared to back on the campaign trail. But Marcos shifted course once in office, repeatedly citing the 2016 ruling and putting the blame on Beijing for boosting tensions. China claims much of the South China Sea for itself, has built military facilities over reclaimed disputed areas and has conducted large military exercises near Taiwan. We have not instigated any kind of conflict. We have not instigated any kind of confrontation, Marcos told Bloomberg in a March interview. Since the threat from China has grown, he said, we must do more to defend our territory. Early into his term, Marcos appeared to want to balance ties as much as possible. He met Chinese President Xi Jinping in January 2023 on a state visit to Beijing, where the two leaders amicably discussed maritime differences and restarted talks on oil and gas exploration. Read: Xis Fleet Is Winning the South China Sea Energy Fight But everything changed a few weeks later. During a visit by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the Pentagon announced it had secured access to four additional bases in the Philippines, reinvigorating their decades-old military ties. It was seen by Beijing as positioning the US to interfere in the Taiwan contingency because of the location, said Ngeow Chow Bing, director of the Institute of China Studies at the University of Malaya. It was very hard for Beijing to feel that the Marcos government had any good intention. Two weeks after the expanded military deal was announced, the gloves came off. On Feb. 14, 2023, the Philippines protested Chinas flaring of a military-grade laser on a Coast Guard vessel, temporarily blinding the crew and forcing it to retreat. The Squad Since then, dangerous encounters in the South China Sea have become increasingly routine. Beijings armada of fishing boats and Coast Guard vessels have often blocked Philippine ships and even collided with them, raising the risk of a conflict with China that could potentially draw in the US. China has repeatedly warned the Philippines about involving external forces into their dispute, while maintaining that its maritime actions are reasonable and professional. The US and its allies have given the Philippines steadfast diplomatic support, while providing it with real-time intelligence. US planes routinely circle overhead on Philippine resupply missions to a dilapidated World War II-era ship that serves as a military outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal. The US recently assembled a grouping privately called the Squad with the Philippines, Australia and Japan to conduct maritime drills and provide greater security assistance to Manila. The Philippines is also working on troop visits with France, in addition to deals with Japan and Australia. In recent weeks, it conducted one of the largest joint exercises ever with the US. Manila is hoping to leverage the enhanced military relationship to win more US investment and diversify from China, its top trading partner. The US recently promised $1 billion in tech and energy investments, and a deal to boost the Philippines role in the nickel supply chain to cut Chinas dominance is also under discussion. The US and Japan have also committed to build rails, ports and factors in a so-called economic corridor on the Philippines main island. Our alliance with the United States has become stronger, bolstered by our economic engagements, Marcos said last month during his fourth trip to the US in two years. Marcos has sought to use the clashes in the South China Sea to his advantage, inviting media from across the world to view Chinas actions. And that strategy is showing some signs of paying off, according to Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore. Some of the PRCs behavior at sea may have become more careful and restrained as a result of the Philippines efforts, he said, using an acronym for China. This suggests that amid the friction and intensifying differences, even Beijing wishes to be able to manage escalation and is acting more carefully than it otherwise could. With assistance from Rebecca Choong Wilkins, Cliff Venzon and Colum Murphy. North Korea fired multiple suspected ballistic missiles on Thursday, just days after leader Kim Jong Uns space program was dealt a blow when a rocket blew up soon after liftoff. South Koreas military detected about a dozen projectiles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles launched from an area near Pyongyangs main international airport toward the east from around 06:14 a.m., the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters. Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for additional launches, the message said, adding South Korea is maintaining full readiness by closely sharing information related to the ballistic missiles with the US and Japanese authorities. Japans Coast Guard said what appears to have been a ballistic missile has fallen. The projectile likely fell outside of Japans exclusive economic zone, national broadcaster NHK reported. North Korea typically does not comment on missile launches until the day after they take place. This is the sixth test of ballistic missiles from Kims regime this year. North Koreas last ballistic missile launch took place about two weeks ago when it fired multiple short-range rockets. Just prior to that launch, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the leader, blasted accusations that North Korea had been sending munitions to Russia made by the US and several of its partners. Kim Jong Un has pledged to press ahead with his space program after the rocket on a mission to deploy a spy satellite blew apart on Monday. The US, South Korea and Japan have said the technology used for rockets helps Pyongyangs ballistic missile program and is a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Kim intends to launch three spy satellites in 2024, official media reported after a policy-setting meeting of top officials in the last days of December. The satellites can help him keep an eye on US troops in the region and improve his ability to strike targets as he upgrades his nuclear weapons arsenal. Read more: North Korea Fires Missiles After Criticizing Weapons Charge Kim Jong Un also warned South Korea that it was playing with fire by threatening his countrys sovereignty through moves such as air exercises near the border separating the countries. His state sent balloons filled with trash such as batteries, shoe parts and manure into South Korea from Tuesday night and into Wednesday, South Koreas military said. Read more: Kim Jong Un Faces Annihilation in Most Korea War Scenarios The US, South Korea and others have accused North Korea of sending to Russia massive amounts of artillery shells as well as its newest family of short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missiles that are easy to hide and quick to deploy. The munitions are for use in the Kremlins war in Ukraine, the US and its partners have said. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the charges. South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik has said recent tests of weapons overseen by Kim Jong Un could be part of a demonstration before exporting the arms to Russia for use by President Vladimir Putin for his assault on his neighbor. Russia, in return, is providing North Korea with food, raw materials and parts used in weapons manufacturing, Shin has said. The food aid has helped Kim stabilize prices for necessities, and if the arms transfers grow, Russia will likely send more military technology to Kim, increasing Pyongyangs threat to the region, Shin added. With assistance from Sebastian Tong. OpenAI said it has cut off five covert influence operations in the past three months, including networks in Russia, China, Iran and Israel that accessed the ChatGPT-makers artificial intelligence products to try to manipulate public opinion or shape political outcomes while obscuring their true identity. The new report from the ChatGPT-maker comes at a time of widespread concern about the role of AI in global elections slated for this year. In its findings, OpenAI listed the ways in which influence networks have used its tools to more efficiently deceive people, including using AI to generate text and images in larger volume and with fewer language errors than would have been possible by humans alone. But the company said that ultimately, in its assessment, these campaigns failed to significantly increase their reach as a result of using OpenAIs services. Over the last year and a half there have been a lot of questions around what might happen if influence operations use generative AI, said Ben Nimmo, principal investigator on OpenAIs Intelligence and Investigations team, in a press briefing Wednesday. With this report, we really want to start filling in some of the blanks. The company said it defined its targets as covert influence operations that are deceptive attempts to manipulate public opinion or influence political outcomes without revealing the true identity or intentions of the actors behind them. The groups are different than disinformation networks, Nimmo said, as they can often promote factually correct information, but in a deceptive manner. While propaganda networks have long used social media platforms, their use of generative AI tools is relatively new. OpenAI said that in all of the operations it identified, AI-generated material was used alongside more traditional formats, such as manually written texts or memes on major social media sites. In addition to using AI for generating images, text and social media bios, some influence networks also used OpenAIs products to increase their productivity by summarizing articles or debugging code for bots. The five networks identified by OpenAI included groups such as the pro-Russian Doppelganger, the pro-Chinese network Spamouflage and an Iranian operation known as the International Union of Virtual Media, or IUVM. OpenAI also flagged previously unknown networks that the startup says it identified for the first time coming from Russia and Israel. The new Russian group, which OpenAI dubbed Bad Grammar, used the startups AI models as well as the messaging app Telegram to set up a content-spamming pipeline, the company said. First, the covert group used OpenAIs models to debug code that can automate posting on Telegram, then generated comments in Russian and English to reply to those Telegram posts using dozens of accounts. An account cited by OpenAI posted comments arguing that the United States should not support Ukraine. Im sick of and tired of these brain damaged fools playing games while Americans suffer, it read. Washington needs to get its priorities straight or theyll feel the full force of Texas! OpenAI identified some of the AI-generated content by noting that the comments included common AI error messages like, As an AI language model, I am here to assist. The company also said its using its own AI tools to identify and defend against such influence operations. In most cases, the networks messaging didnt appear to get wide traction, or human users identified the posted content as generated by AI. Despite its limited reach, this is not the time for complacency, Nimmo said. History shows that influence operations which spent years failing to get anywhere can suddenly break out if nobodys looking for them. Nimmo also acknowledged that there were likely groups using AI tools that the company isnt aware of. I dont know how many operations there are still out there, Nimmo said. But I know that there are a lot of people looking for them, including our team. Other companies such as Meta Platforms Inc. have regularly made similar disclosures about influence operations in the past. OpenAI said its sharing threat indicators with industry peers, and part of the purpose of its report is to help others do this kind of detection work. The company said it plans to share more reports in the future. With assistance from Jeff Stone. Indias democracy is famed globally not just for its size, but for its diversity. There are sections of people, however, who suffer the effects of centuries-old practices that deny them their right to equality. One such community at the receiving end comprises individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+. While doing our internship at Basera Samajik Sansthan and living with transgender people for 15 days, we observed much variation in how they chose to describe themselves. A transgender woman, someone assigned the gender male at birth who identifies as female, might describe herself as a transwoman", male-to-female" or simply female," and vice versa. Some do not identify as either male or female, opting to go beyond the gender binary. In India, transgenderism is well known as a sub-culture. Yet, mainstream awareness about the community is very low, which worsens their social oppression. A transwoman working for a global lifestyle brand recounts how co-workers would often ridiculed her appearance. Customers would also pass snide remarks and avoid her billing counter. She was deeply disheartened, she says. In another instance, a transgender individual secured a job at a renowned pathology lab. On her first day, the organization invited the media to celebrate its recruit and showcase its commitment to diversity and inclusion. It was good news for all transgenders in need of regular jobs. However, after seven months, the company asked her to leave, citing an alleged contractual term that was never documented. Unlike the fanfare on her first day, her dismissal got no media attention. Diversity for the lab was only performative, she says, aimed at brownie points instead of genuine inclusion. This incident highlights the reluctance of employers to accept transgender individuals. Similar cases of discrimination are found in educational settings. Also read: Gender equality is an even bigger driver of economic progress than we thought Data suggests that the literacy rate among Indias transgender population is significantly lower than the national average. This disparity extends to education, with transgender students dropping out of school. Many of them face a hostile environment within institutions. Bullying, harassment and the targeted use of derogatory language create a climate of humiliation and anxiety. These experiences take a toll on their well-being, contributing to depression, a major factor leading young people to leave school prematurely. Despite their strong desire for education, they find their academic goals thwarted. This highlights the need for rapid progress in creating safe and welcoming learning environments for all. There are an estimated 25 million transgender people globally, and they are nearly four times more likely to suffer from conditions like depression, anxiety and the ills of substance misuse than cisgender individuals. The former often encounter barriers to enrolling in higher education due to discrepancies between their birth certificates assigned sex and their gender identity. As a result, many are unable to pursue university education. In India, low educational qualifications and job discrimination have led some to turn to prostitution for income, with increased vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases. Government policy interventions for transgenders include the National Youth Policy, which recognizes transgender youth as marginalized and calls for support for the LGBTQ+ community. Then, there are Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules and Ayushmaan Bharat TG Plus Scheme, among several other welfare schemes. The way forward would be to establish specialized schools for vocational training and guidance, promote transgender culture, integrate transgender-related topics into academic curricula and explore new modes of engagement that can dismantle barriers and foster inclusive classrooms. We must also respect peoples chosen names and pronouns, provide gender-neutral facilities, ensure confidentiality, offer financial assistance, strengthen legal protections and establish feedback mechanisms. Support for transgenders in pursuit of education and employment, of course, must be a priority. Vision statements and guidelines apart, very few educational institutions in India have established inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ students. Gender-inclusive policies are imperative for a substantive change to be achieved. To this end, it is crucial for everyone to acknowledge the right of transgender students to determine their own gender identity. The transition processes of officialdom that involve gender and name changes should be smooth. It is time to set up committees dedicated to addressing gender minority concerns. From privacy issues to protocols, there is much ground to cover. Further, state governments should implement appropriate laws to regulate institutions and ensure compliance with inclusion guidelines. For truly effective law-making, opinions need to be sought from within the transgender community and taken into consideration. Community participation is a very important factor for overall progress on gender inclusionso that everyone in the country can live a life of dignity. Also read: Use financial inclusion to reduce inequality and speed up growth If there is a single issue that has dominated the election discourse over the past two months, it has been Indias crisis of jobs. But what exactly is this so-called employment challenge? While one hears anecdotal stories of educated youth not finding employment, jobs mean different things to different people. If it means any engagement in gainful productive activity, then the growth of employment since 2017-18 has been the highest in recent years, with the total number of workers in the economy increasing from 458 million in 2017-18 to 563 million in 2022-23, as reported by Periodic Labour Force Surveys (PLFS). Last week, the National Statistical Office (NSO) released estimates from quarterly surveys for urban areas for January-March 2024; these confirm the trends reported earlier. Urban males aged above 15 years have seen their workforce participation increase from 67.7% in January-March 2022 to 69.8% in January-March 2024. The increase is greater for urban females, whose workforce participation rate rose from 18.3% to 23.4% over the same period. Also read: Indian employment data generates both misconceptions and puzzles But then, why is employment an issue? Primarily because in an economy like ours, with significant economic distress, getting jobs is almost a necessity. Most people in the working age-group need some means of earning a livelihood, with only a few able to survive on accumulated wealth. For Indias vast majority, joblessness is an unaffordable luxury. Which also implies that unemployment statistics are not the only way to understand the challenge. While useful, this data represents only one aspect of the problem. A nuanced look would show that rising employment data may mask increasing distress in the economy. Most employment gains have been in agriculture and among women workers; this suggests distress-induced job seeking over the last five years. Also consider that rising economic growth is usually associated with a declining share of workers in agriculture, but this trend held firm only till 2017-18 and saw a reversal after that, raising questions about non-farm job creation. Anxiety over jobs extends to those who want superior employment, a significantly large group. Among those who are employed, the last decade has seen a deterioration in job quality and also a decline in earnings from such work. While casual wage labourers in rural areas continue to suffer declining real wages for farm and non-farm work, the decline has been sharper for regular employees. Also read: India should prepare itself for a dynamic employment scenario PLFS data suggests a decline in rural regular wages by 1.3% per annum in the last five years, with urban regular wages declining at 2.7% per annum. In fact, regular worker wages have been declining since 2011-12, with real wages in rural areas declining at 0.6% per annum since 2011-12 while urban wages declined at 1.2% per annum since 2011-12. Quality of employment has been a bigger challenge. The only thing that distinguishes a regular worker from a casual wage worker is the regularity of employment. But this scenario is bleak. Almost two-thirds of Indias regular workers do not have a written contract, while only one-fourth have one that is longer than 3 years. Both these indicators have worsened since 2011-12. The decline in real earnings from regular employment has led to a situation where the earnings of the bottom quintile of regular workers is no different from the bottom quintile of casual workers. In 2022, both received average monthly earning of about 3,000 per month or 100 per day. Earlier this year, while releasing the India Employment Report 2024 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Institute for Human Development, the chief economic advisor (CEA) was criticised for saying that the government cannot create jobs for everyone. The CEA may be right in a general sense, given the limitations of the government in creating public-sector jobs, but the administrations responsibility is not just to create government jobs, but also to create enabling conditions for the private sector to employ people in good jobs. It is also the duty of the government to provide an enabling framework of regulations for decent work, including provisions of social security to those who are either employed as regular workers or are self-employed. Instead of political promises of creating millions of jobs, a better way to deal with the employment challenge is to initiate structural reforms that can encourage labour-intensive sectors as well as small and medium enterprises. India must improve the quality of employment to assure people social security as well as better earnings. The retail sector in India has grown hugely. It is now placed at $1.2 trillion, fuelled by rising consumer spending, swift urbanization and a burgeoning middle class thats youthful by world comparison. In an effort to meet growing demand, homegrown as well as foreign brands are scaling up their operations and physical presence. With prominent single and multi-brand retailers such as Apple, Reliance Retail, Tatas Trent, Shoppers Stop, etc, all vying to fulfil fast-growing urban demand, India saw record-high leasing of space by retailers in 2023. While the phenomenon of ghost malls does exist, we also saw renovations of shopping malls and hypermarkets that were struggling to retain footfalls, especially after the covid pandemic. In recent years, real estate developers have been launching better designed and located retail spaces to attract large tenants whose requirement runs into several thousand square feet. Historically, in India, landlords have driven lease negotiations with tenants, drawing up terms based on their own standard template. This has been changing. In todays times, organized retail players with a major national presence seem just as capable of tilting the scales in their favour as high-profile international tenants. In April 2023, iPhone-maker Apple struck lease agreements for its first Apple retail stores in Delhi and Mumbai, thereby officially marking its physical presence in the country. The lease agreement for Apples 20,000-sq-ft space in Reliance Jio World Drive mall, located in Mumbais posh BKC area, features an exclusive zone clause that restricts the landlord from leasing space to 22 competing technology brands near the store, as specified by the tenant. This is one of the first such instances in the Indian retail sector of an anchor tenant leveraging its dominance to obtain such favourable terms. An exclusive zone is a tenant-requested clause designed to ensure that two similar tenants do not end up in such close retail proximity that they interfere with each others customer traffic. In such cases, landlords are wary of the restriction being too wide, effectively acting as a restraint on their space-rental business. Fortunately for Apple, past rulings of law courts in India suggest that such a restrictive clause does not violate any Indian law, considering that its objective is not restrictive of trade but to facilitate the retailing of a companys products in a specified geographical location (and also that the restriction ends with the expiry of the lease tenure). Across the world, big shopping malls rely on an anchor retailer to attract footfalls. This is also evident in India, where some shopping centres have turned into loss-making ghost malls after their anchor tenants shut shop. Anchor retailers are in a position to use this dependence to their advantage by negotiating the lease rent and corresponding terms in anticipation of market downturns. There also exists a co-tenancy clause that enables an anchor tenant to exercise the right to pay reduced rent if the shopping centre fails to achieve a pre-negotiated occupancy level of nationally recognized tenants open and operating" within a specified period of time. As tenant departures could also reduce the whole shopping centres traffic, specific conditions could be stipulated as the trigger for rent reduction. If occupancy falls below a certain threshold along a timeline, for example, this clause could be invoked. There can be complexities. An anchor tenant with market clout, for example, may want to reduce the rent payable to, say, a fixed percentage of its gross sales till the time the co-tenancy occupancy threshold is attained. This may invite its own disputes. To begin with, the landlord and tenant may have different interpretations of who qualifies as a nationally recognized tenant" or what an open and operating" store means. Further, the legality of an anchor tenant using a unilateral formula to determine rent in response to a breach of the co-tenancy clause has been contested in US courts, where it has been held that co-tenancy provisions will be generally enforceable, unless they are substantively unreasonable." While lease rent in India is governed by the rent control legislation of respective states and is a result of the sum agreed upon by both parties, Indias apex court has made it clear that both the landlord and tenant are empowered under the law to approach the rent controller for fixing fair rent during the subsistence of the lease." Apart from choosing what concessions to extend to an anchor tenant, there are certain terms under a lease that landlords can negotiate to protect their interests. For any big retail centre, store occupancy drives traffic and a shuttered anchor will inevitably hurt smaller tenants. Dark storefronts and corridors put customers off. To combat this, landlords can introduce the right to re-capture space in lease agreements. This would empower them to take back rented space from an anchor tenant in the event the latter is not open for business for a defined period of time during the week. Landlords could also demand monetary compensation from such a tenant. In general, though, with organized retail expected to expand further and Indian spending on the rise, we can expect to see retailers with significant clout and market presence driving a hard bargain with landlords for retail spaces. These are the authors personal views. S&P Global has raised the outlook on Indias credit rating to positive" from stable" while affirming its rating of BBB minus. It cited robust economic growth and improved expenditure quality for the move, which puts Indias sovereign rating in the reckoning for an upgrade. A positive outlook implies better odds of the rating moving up than down. Whether the agency rates the country in a better position to repay its debt would depend on a complex assessment that takes into account parameters such as the governments fiscal deficit, the economys growth and a bunch of other variables. While Indias macro numbers broadly seem to be moving in the right direction, government officials have long complained of a raw deal from global rating agencies. Independent India has never defaulted on debt repayments. This partly underpins global demand for Indian sovereign bonds that are open to foreign investors. Inflows from abroad into these are expected to surge once theyre included in marquee global indices. If Indias economy continues to do well and such bonds attract many more buyers, a credit rating that barely considers them investment grade will look awkward. CHISINAU, MoldovaU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signaled on Wednesday that the U.S. is weighing the idea of allowing Kyiv to strike Russian territory with American-provided weapons in light of the evolving battlefield situation in Ukraine. It was the first time that a top Biden administration official has publicly indicated that the U.S. is considering the policy shift. Previously, the U.S. has said it wouldnt allow Ukraine to attack targets on Russian territory with ATACMS missiles or other U.S. weapons. Blinkens remarks follow statements from a string of European officials who said they favor allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons against targets on Russian territory that Moscow has been using as a staging ground for its invasion. Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, said earlier this week that the time has come to consider whether it will be right to lift some of the restrictions" on Ukraine. If they cannot attack military targets on Russian territory, then it ties one hand of the Ukrainians on their back and makes it very hard for them to conduct defense," Stoltenberg said at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Sofia, Bulgaria. Blinken parsed his words at a press conference here after a meeting with Moldovas president. He repeated earlier assertions that the U.S. has neither encouraged nor enabled strikes on Russian territory. But then he said: Were going to make sure that Ukraine has the equipment that it needs to do that." Another hallmark of our support for Ukraine over these, now, more than two years has been to adapt as conditions have changed and the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how its pursuing its aggression and escalation," he added. Weve adapted and adjusted, too, and Im confident well continue to do that." Biden administration officials acknowledged that a policy switch is under consideration but said that a White House decision hasnt yet been made. We do not encourage nor do we enable attacks using U.S. weapons on Russian soil," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said following Blinkens comments. Our support to Ukraine has evolved appropriately as the battlefield conditions have evolved, and thats not going to change, but right now, theres also no change to our policy." As Russia has been making territorial gains in northeast Ukraine, Kyiv has repeatedly asked for permission to strike targets with U.S. weapons on Russian territory. Ukraine already used its own drones to carry out cross-border attacks, but they are less effective than Western systems. The U.S. has provided the ATACMS surface-to-surface missile and other weapons systems, while stipulating that they not be used to strike targets on Russian territory. That constraint, which Ukraine agreed to as a condition of receiving the weapons, was intended to reduce the risk that the conflict could escalate into a military confrontation between the U.S. and Russia. Russias foreign ministry said in September 2022 that the U.S. would cross a red line" and would be considered a direct party to the conflict" in the Kremlins eyes if it supplied longer-range missiles to Kyiv. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the use of Western-supplied weapons to strike Russian territory could risk escalation and, he hinted, retaliation. Earlier this month, the U.K. suggested Ukraine had the right to use British-supplied weapons against targets in Russia. Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure its defending itself," Foreign Secretary David Cameron said. On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine should be allowed to strike missile sites in Russia that are being used to attack Ukraine. If we tell [the Ukrainians] you do not have the right to reach the point from which the missiles are fired, we are in fact telling them that we are delivering weapons to you, but you cannot defend yourself," Macron said during a visit to Germany. The U.S. has been under pressure to clarify its position as Blinken heads to Prague for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers that begins Thursday. The longer-range version of the ATACMS missiles that the U.S. has provided can travel more than 180 miles and were used for the first time last month against an airfield in northern Crimea. ATACMS, which stands for the Armys Tactical Missile System, is a ground-based surface-to-surface missile. President Biden made the decision to send the longer-range model, which can be armed with cluster munitions or a single warhead, following repeated appeals by Ukraine and U.S. lawmakers. Administration officials said that the decision was made after the Pentagons concern about running down its supply of missiles was eased and after Moscow turned to North Korea for ballistic missiles and escalated attacks on Ukraines civilian infrastructure. The U.S. provided shorter-range versions of the missile, which have a range of about 100 miles, to Ukraine in October. Gordon Lubold contributed to this article. Western sanctions and export controls were meant to subdue Americas enemies, leveraging the power of the dollar to strong-arm governments into submission without the bloodshed of military force. They have inadvertently birthed a global shadow economy tying together democracys chief foes, with Washingtons primary adversary, China, at the center. Unprecedented finance and trade restrictions on Russia, Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, China and other authoritarian regimes have squeezed those economies by curbing access to Western goods and markets. But Beijing has increasingly foiled those U.S.-led efforts by bolstering trade ties, according to Western officials and customs data. The bloc of sanctioned nations collectively now have the economy of scale to shield them from Washingtons financial warfare, trading everything from drones and missiles to gold and oil. China is the strategic competitor willing and able to reshape the current global order," said Dana Stroul, a former senior U.S. defense official and now a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, defended Beijings policies, saying that the country wasnt providing lethal weapons to anyone involved in the Ukraine conflict. China carries out normal economic and trade exchanges with relevant countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit," he said. The relevant trades under international law are legal and legitimate, thus should be respected and protected." The governments of Russia, Iran, Venezuela and North Korea, contacted through their diplomatic offices in the U.S., didnt respond to requests for comment. The blocs trade needs are aligned. On one side of the equation, China gets oil from three OPEC powerhousesRussia, Iran, and Venezuelaat heavily discounted prices. That is a windfall for the worlds biggest oil importer, which bought more than 11 million barrels of oil a day last year to keep its economy running. Those countries, in turn, then have revenue they can use to buy sanctioned goods from China. Oil revenue from China is propping up the Iranian and Russian economies and is undermining Western sanctions," said Kimberly Donovan of the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank. Donovan, who calls this group the axis of evasion," said the countries use of Chinese currency and payment systems for that trade restricts Western authorities access to financial data and weakens their ability to enforce sanctions. Chinese and Russian customs data show China has supplanted Russias loss of Western access to the highest priority dual-use goods, products that have both civilian and military uses. A Chinese state-owned defense company, Poly Technologies, for example, sent nearly two dozen shipments between September and December last year to a U.S.-sanctioned, state-owned Russian firm that manufactures military and civilian helicoptersUlan-Ude Aviation Plant, according to a Journal review of Russian customs data. Poly Technologies, which is also sanctioned by the U.S., is also responsible for a 1,200 kilo shipment of rifles on Feb. 16 last year to Izhevsky Arsenal, which describes itself as a government contractor and one of Russias biggest wholesalers of weapons. Customs records also show Chinese firms were responsible for all 60 shipments last year to a Russian company that U.S. officials say is part of the procurement channel for Irans production of military drones in Russia for Moscows forces. The companies didnt respond to requests for comment. Russias war against Ukraine has also provided Tehran with an economic and strategic opportunity. Selling Moscow fleets of military drones and establishing a production facility in Russia provides Iran with income, bolsters international perceptions of Tehrans military power, and provides valuable wartime data, say former U.S. security officials. Iran is also supplying Venezuela with weapons, technical assistance for its energy infrastructure, and other sanctioned goods, according to U.S. officials and customs data. In exchange, Caracas has provided Iran with gold from its vast Orinoco deposits, according to Western officials, a commodity difficult to track around the world and whose fungibility allows for sanctioned nations to sidestep the Western banking system. Chinas abilityand willingnessto keep Russias war machine running and help Moscow rebuild its military industrial capacity fostered unprecedented trade and finance, say U.S. officials. It revealed a degree of trust that could potentially open the door to wider integration of their defense industrial base," said a senior intelligence official with knowledge of the two countries trade relationship. Write to Rosie Ettenheim at rosie.ettenheim@wsj.com and Ian Talley at Ian.Talley@wsj.com Donald Trump and Elon Musk have discussed a possible advisory role for the Tesla leader should the presumptive Republican nominee reclaim the White House, the latest sign that the once-frosty relationship between the two men has thawed. The role hasnt been fully hammered out and might not happen, people familiar with the talks said, but the two men discussed ways to give Musk formal input and influence over policies related to border security and the economy, both issues on which Musk has grown more vocal. Musk, along with the billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, has also briefed Trump on a plan theyve developed to invest in a data-driven project to prevent voter fraud, according to some of the people. Peltz and Musk also told Trump of an influence campaign in elite circles that is already under way, in which Musk and his political allies host gatherings of powerful business leaders across the country and try to convince them not to support President Bidens re-election campaign. As recently as two years ago, Trump and Musk were publicly trading insults. But in recent months, the two men are developing a friendly rapport and talk on the phone several times a month as the election nears, the people familiar with their talks said. The pair have held discussions on immigration, technology and science, including the U.S. Space Force. Their views and interests have grown more aligned, the people said, with Musk calling Trump directly on his cellphone. Trump has told Musk, one of the worlds wealthiest people, he wants to find a way to get him more involved if he wins in November. Muskwho has a long history of flouting convention in the business worldhas signaled he isnt interested in simply writing a check to a super PAC, which can accept unlimited amounts of money from donors and is a popular way for the billionaire class to support candidates. Instead, he has elected to use his clout in elite business and technology circles to help defeat Biden by galvanizing the support of influential allies. Musk is motivated by anxieties over the direction of the country, according to a person familiar with his thinking. Among other things, Musk has railed against what he calls the woke mind virus," a catchall for liberal policies including diversity, equity and inclusion programs that conservatives say create divisions. Musk didnt respond to requests for comment. The former president, for his part, is impressed with Musks wealth and has embraced the rightward turn of the Tesla CEOs politics. Musk has said his politics are fairly moderate" and donated smaller amounts to Democrats and Republicans in past years, according to Federal Election Commission filings. His politics publicly shifted in May 2022, when he tweeted he would vote Republican because Democrats had become the party of division & hate, so I can no longer support them." Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, said: President Trump will be the only voice of what role an individual plays in his presidency." Palm Beach meetup The discussion around the advisory role and voting project took place at a March gathering at Montsorrel, Peltzs sprawling oceanfront estate in Palm Beach, Fla., with a group of wealthy and powerful friends, some of the people familiar with the discussions said. The New York Times earlier reported the meeting had occurred, but details of the discussions havent been previously disclosed. As guests nibbled on a Sunday morning breakfast of eggs, bacon and fresh fruit served by Peltzs household staff, Peltz, Trump and Musk held forth on the November elections, criticizing Bidens stewardship of the country, the people said. It was a family affair. Musk and his young son X, who often joins him at events, were part of a group that also included Trump and his 18-year-old son, Barron. Musk and Peltz know each other in part through Peltzs son Diesel, a tech entrepreneur who is friendly with Musk. Diesel Peltz was at the breakfast as well. The potential administration advisory gig for Musk would likely be in the mold of the role previously held by Isaac Perlmutter, the former Marvel chairman and confidant to both Peltz and Trump, one of the people said. During Trumps first term, Perlmutter was positioned at the Department of Veterans Affairs in an advisory capacity, along with two other members of Trumps Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida: a Palm Beach doctor and an attorney. The three spoke to the agencys staff and weighed in on a range of matters, including budgets, mental-health initiatives, software procurement and overhauling the VAs record-keeping systems. Musk served on White House business advisory groups during Trumps first term as president but resigned from them in 2017 after disagreeing with Trumps decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord. Trump dubbed billionaire investor Carl Icahn, an old business acquaintance, a special adviser to the president on overhauling federal regulations in 2016. When he was named to the post, Icahn had already been helping Trump vet candidates for top posts at the Securities and Exchange Commission and Environmental Protection Agency. The position wasnt an official government job, meaning Icahn didnt get paid but also didnt have to give up his business dealings. Icahn resigned from the post less than a year later after drawing criticism for potential conflicts of interest with his investments. He has kept a distance from Trump and Washington since. Musk and Peltz have told acquaintances they are working on a massive data-driven project to ensure votes are fairly counted, echoing Trumps accusations of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Trumps own attorney general, Bill Barr, has rejected those claims about the 2020 election. Trumps campaign and its allies lost dozens of lawsuits challenging the results. Musk and Peltz described the initiative to Trump in the March meeting, according to a person familiar with that discussion. More details about the antifraud effort couldnt be learned. Musks business interests Recent talks between the two men have covered some of Musks companies, including the X social-media platform; Tesla, the electric-vehicle maker; and rocket and satellite launcher SpaceX, people familiar with the discussions have said. Tesla, the worlds most-valuable automaker and Musks only public company, has seen its share price fall and recently recorded its lowest profit in years. Musk and Trump have discussed the electric vehicle industry and EV tax credits, according to people close to Trump. Trump has maintained a tough posture against EVs on the campaign trail. He has criticized how the vehicles need recharging for longer trips and has called for massive tariffs on those made in Mexico, saying it hurts the U.S. auto industry. Musk has publicly criticized EV subsidies, which Tesla has benefited from, and recently spoke out against tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other parts. Musk has asked Trump to return to posting more actively on X, especially using the Spaces" live audio feature, people close to Trump said. Trump dominated the platform when it was known as Twitter, boasting more than 88 million followers at one point. But Trump, who is keen to protect his Truth Social platform that launched in 2022, has only posted on X once since being reinstated to the platform after Musk bought it. Truth Social is owned by the publicly traded Trump Media & Technology Group, which has a market value close to $9 billion. In conversations with people close to Trump, Musk has been noncommittal on an endorsement, people familiar with the discussions said. Publicly, Musk has made clear his displeasure with Biden but has stopped short of endorsing Trump. Dinner parties Musk plans to continue organizing for his anti-Biden cause among an elite group of business leaders whom he counts as friends, people familiar with the plans said. In April, Musk co-hosted a secret dinner of around a dozen business leaders in Los Angeles. The guests included Peltz; venture capitalist Peter Thiel; former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin; and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, chairman emeritus of News Corp, which owns The Wall Street Journal, according to people familiar with the matter. The gathering was earlier reported by the news outlet Puck. The group convened at entrepreneur and investor David Sackss 11,000 square-foot modern farmhouse atop the Hollywood Hills. Musk and Sacks worked together years ago on PayPal. The discussion at times centered on how attendees could give money to Trump outside of public view. In February, Trumps supporters launched a new super PAC called Right For America to help re-elect the former president. The first major donor to the group was Perlmutter, the former Marvel executive. Sacks is co-hosting a coming fundraiser for Trump in San Francisco. Musk, Peltz and other Trump backers are planning to continue hosting more salon-style dinners and gatherings across the country targeting wealthy, powerful people in business, a person familiar with the matter said. The idea is more about emphasizing what Musk and Peltz see as Bidens shortcomings than trumpeting Trump himself, this person said. Alexa Corse contributed to this article. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday criticised the Congress over its party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's remark on the 1962 India-China war, calling it an attack on the integrity of India and an insult to every soldier who sacrificed their life for the tricolour. Addressing a press conference here, BJP spokesperson Gaurab Bhatia questioned the silence of senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge over Aiyar's remark while accusing the grand old party of having an anti-India mindset. Can this happen without the approval of Rahul Gandhi and Maillikarjun Kharge who are silent? Why this silence? We all know the relationship between India and China, India has been standing strong with pride showing China its place, Bhatia said, as quoted by ANI. This represents the anti-India mindset of Congress and Mani Shankar Aiyar. This is an attack on the integrity of India. This is an insult to every soldier who sacrificed his life for the tricolour. 1400 of our soldiers sacrificed their lives in the 1962 war. They fought till their last breath. This was an alleged attack, he added. Congress distances itself from Aiyar's remarks Congress leader Jairam Ramesh distanced the party from Aiyar's remarks on the Chinese invasion in 1962, saying his statement was in his personal capacity, and he is not an official but a former MP and minister. Who is Mani Shankar Aiyar? He is not an official, he is a former MP and a former minister. He speaks whatever he wants in his personal capacity. We have nothing to do with it... he has nothing to do with the Congress party. He is in Congress party but he is not even an MP, he is just a former MP, Ramesh told ANI. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera termed it a slip of tongue while stressing that Mani Shankar had already apologised for his remarks. This is not a big issue. It was a slip of tongue and he has apologised. BJP is continuously bringing up this issue after that. This shows their bankruptcy. He even questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly giving China a "clean chit" in the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. Narendra Modi gave a clean chit to China on June 19, 2020. China which took control of 26 out of 65 patrolling points, which is 2000 square kilometers in eastern Ladakh, has been given clean chit by Narendra Modi. He has insulted our soldiers, Khera added. 'China allegedly invaded India' Aiyar, speaking at an event at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Delhi on Tuesday evening, was quoted narrating an anecdote, saying, In October 1962, the Chinese allegedly invaded India." However, he later apologised for using alleged" in a brief statement. I unreservedly apologise for having mistakenly used the word 'alleged' before 'Chinese invasion' at the Foreign Correspondents Club this evening." Nine-hundred eighty-three people applied online for a job posted recently by tech recruiter Rob Tansey. The candidate who got the offer wasnt one of them. Tansey, who scouts potential hires for aviation-software maker Veryon, received a half dozen referrals from a woman he knew from past job searches. One of those six quickly became the front-runner. Thats often how Tansey operates: He estimates that just 40% of successful applicants come in cold through his companys job portal. Theres an idealist in me that wants to look at all the resumes," he says. The reality is you just cant." Who-you-know networking is back. As the number of job applicants has swelled in recent years, the key to landing a new position often turns on a personal connection that can pluck your resume out of online obscurity and ensure its seen by a real person. Behind the resurgence: frustration with the digital slog that bogs down U.S. hiring. Many hiring managers and applicants agree that the ease with which job hunters can respond to help-wanted postings has broken the online-application process by creating high volumes of candidates that hiring managers cant hope to parse through. Meanwhile, applicants say automatic screening tools are shutting them out of opportunities. Reverting to referrals threatens to undermine corporate diversity efforts, which were supposed to be aided by online applications. Software promised to democratize hiring by reducing human biases, but wider talent pipelines have overwhelmed some employers to the point where theyre reaching for whats worked in the past. To promote the use of connections, some employers, like software giant Dassault Systemes, have increased cash rewards for employees whose recommendations lead to hires. Others, including the University of Miami and its health system with 20,000 total employees, have launched new referral-bonus programs. Corporate hiring software can allow companies to identify referred candidates first, boosting those applicants over the competition. Whether recommendations come from in-house or outside the company, the advantages are significant, according to data compiled by the hiring-software company Greenhouse. For roles that were posted on Greenhouse job boards and filled in the first quarter of this year, applicants with referrals had a 50% chance of advancing past an initial resume review, compared with 12% odds for other external candidates. Thirty percent of eventual hires had referrals, even though people with referrals represented just 5% of the applicant pool. Candidates are so desperate to get noticed, and theyre asking, Whats the cheat code? Whats the way to get through the filters?" says Jon Stross, Greenhouses co-founder. Get referred. It really increases your chances of getting through the first filter." AI arms race leads to frustration The renewed reliance on networking comes as applicants and hiring managers are struggling to navigate the software that now dominates recruiting. Companies are swamped by applicants in part because many job seekers are newly relying on ChatGPT and automated bots to fire off large volumes of resumes, or using other shortcuts like LinkedIns easy apply" button. Some human-resources professionals lament that cover letters sound eerily similar, as if written by the same nonhuman. Candidates fume when they click submit" and dont hear backand sometimes even when they do. Amanda Palasciano, in Red Bank, N.J., scored an interview for a senior copy-manager position as she sought a job in advertising. The catch was that her interviewer was an avatar, not a person. The video call was awkward. Palasciano, 42, had a short window to record her response to each question. She didnt know where to look. Soon after, she was rejected. It put a bad taste in my mouth about the company," she says. If thats how much reliance you put on brand-new tools over people, this isnt the right place for me." She decided to stop applying online and started asking former colleagues about short-term openings, aiming to convert one to a full-time job. This front door is locked," Palasciano says. Were going through the back door, or were not working." Fewer applicants, higher quality Lindsay Broveleit, a Minneapolis-area vice president at the marketing agency Matato, didnt bother posting a job listing online when she needed to fill a midlevel role this spring. She feared that listing the position on LinkedIn or the companys website would bring throngs of low-quality applicationsand she was anxious about how truthful AI-enhanced applications might be. A couple of years ago, I would have absolutely pursued more digital channels that are more public-facing," she says. Not now. We dont want that many applicants. We want good ones." She thought to tap her and her colleagues networks to fill the role, but she soon reconsideredeven those personal channels have become oversaturated with first- and second-degree connections looking for work. Employees are inundated with people asking for their help to navigate into open positions," she says. She contracted a staffing agency instead. Whether using agencies or their own employees, more companies are turning to people to vet prospects. Laserfiche, a maker of content-management software, has a longstanding employee-referral program and a renewed commitment to contact everyone who is recommended by an employee. The guaranteed outreach does not ensure an offer, says Vice President of People Jenny Bode, but it is a chance for candidates with unconventional backgrounds to make a case for themselves. With about 400 applicants for a typical opening, thats an opportunity not afforded to everyone. Bode values referrals partly because one helped bring her to Laserfiche in 2022. She wasnt even looking for a job when she heard from a former co-worker shed kept in touch with. She reached out to me and said, I have this position. Do you want to interview for it?" Bode recalls. Alison Mincey introduced referral bonuses of up to $2,500 when she became chief human resources officer at the University of Miami in 2022. She estimates one in 10 hires now starts with an employee referral. The program, she says, also helps with retention: Employees are more engaged when their input is valued, and newcomers are more likely to stay and thrive when they already know a co-worker. A flawed but indispensable system On Greenhouses platform, when employees submit referrals, the software prompts them to consider referring people from underrepresented backgrounds." That can be a challenge. People tend to knowand therefore recommendpeople like themselves, says Ruth Thomas, chief of research and insights at PayScale, a compensation-management firm. (PayScale itself has lately doubled its usual share of new hires found through referrals, to 30%.) Referral networks tend to reinforce demographic imbalances. A PayScale survey of 53,000 workers found that white men land more jobs and bigger raises through referrals than others because they are more likely to be connected to corporate decision makers. Hiring managers might say, They were in my club at Princeton, and therefore, theyre a good person," says John Horton, an associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Sloan School of Management and co-author of a recent paper on artificial intelligence in hiring. If people start to retreat away from an open market, and it happens much through who you know and references, that would be bad." Cisco Systems is leaning more heavily on referrals for hiring than it has in the past. But the network-equipment company knows the approach can run counter to diversity efforts, so it also launched an effort to hire more people of color and workers without four-year degrees, says Macy Andrews, vice president of employer branding for people and purpose. That hiring initiative looks to identify candidates with transferable skills rather than mandating college. Cisco so far has made over 100 hires through the initiative. The company is looking to cut through the online-application morass in other ways as well. Cisco recruiters now visit college campuses with preprinted offer letters, so they can snap up students who make strong impressions. There is a bigger point here, which is that the process of sending in resumes and having thousandssometimes millionsto go through isnt the wave of the future," she says. No connection, no luck Samuel Joynson, of Venice, Fla., launched a thoroughly modern job hunt after he lost his job when his company went through a reorganization. He enlisted ChatGPT to edit his resume and draft emails and cover letters. The language didnt sound like himso he changed his approach. Joynson, 28 years old, switched to writing his own letters and emails, investing about two hours into each application. He also pushed himself to contact everyone he knew at major tech companies including Apple, Google and Microsoft, where he talked to a friend from college. On calls, he asked them about their experiences at the companies, the office environment and remote-work policies. I took the approach of making it as human-based as possible," he says. Joynsons old-fashioned strategy paid off. Many conversations led to introductions to other employees within his target companies. He landed a role and started as a senior technical program manager at Microsoft in April. Francisco Denis recently discovered that connectionsor lack thereofcan make all the difference. He says he was a finalist for a project-manager role at Disney but was told by a recruiter that the company decided to hire someone who had worked there in the past and could plug in immediately. Denis, 40, has applied online for more than 100 jobs this year after moving on from an unsuccessful startup. His efforts have yielded only a handful of interviews, a jarring turn from a couple of years ago, when he was routinely headhunted. Hes pouring energy into networking for the first time in his career, reconnecting with former co-workers at companies hed like to join. He often shares his resume and describes his arduous job search to show that hes not looking for a handout. Still, even a system that relies on human connections can be gamed. On Fishbowl, an app for workplace venting and career advice, users have started a forum dubbed Job Referrals!" It has drawn hundreds of thousands of members seeking endorsements from people they dont know. Anyone willing to provide a referral to Amazon?" one user posted. In lieu of a handshake or business card, another offered an emoji: Looking for a referral for Spotify, thanks in advance :)." Bogus referrals could be win-wins for the people who give and receive them. The applicants gain an edge and, if theyre hired, their sponsors might be entitled to referral bonuses. The companies that extended the offer? Theyre left with one more hiring strategy that cant be trusted. Lynn Cook contributed to this article. Write to Callum Borchers at callum.borchers@wsj.com and Lindsay Ellis at lindsay.ellis@wsj.com Nicholas Umphenour, 28, the Idaho man charged with shooting correction officers while helping an inmate escape as the prisoner was getting treatment at a Boise hospital, stood silent when asked to enter a plea Wednesday afternoon. Standing silent, also known as standing mute, means the defendant refuses to enter a plea. Fourth District Judge Nancy Baskin entered a not guilty plea on his behalf instead, as mandated by Idaho law. Umphenours attorney informed Baskin of Umphenours decision in court. Your counsel has represented that you wish to stand silent and not enter a guilty plea on your own behalf, Baskin said. So I will respect that decision. Standing silent is an unusual but not unheard of legal move. It was recently used by high-profile murder defendant Bryan Kohberger, who is charged with killing four University of Idaho students in Moscow. Umphenours case will move forward toward a jury trial, which Baskin scheduled to begin Oct. 21. Umphenour said little throughout his arraignment at the Ada County Courthouse. He acknowledged that he understood when Baskin told him that he could face up to life in prison if found guilty of his alleged crimes and enhancements. Umphenour is accused of ambushing Idaho Department of Correction officers at Boises Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center to help inmate Skylar Meade, 31 who was receiving treatment for self-inflicted injuries escape custody on March 20. Boise police said Umphenour shot two of the officers, while a third was mistakenly shot by police. MOSCOW Just like a decade ago, Latah County still lacks the resources to address housing and food security needs among its residents, according to a new study by the League of Women Voters of Moscow. The Poverty on the Palouse report, which aims to provide a snapshot of the state of poverty in Latah County, is an update of a similar study conducted in 2012. The new poverty study was published earlier this month and focuses on deficiencies related to housing, food insecurity, child care, health care and transportation. It also provides information on local resources that aim to meet those needs. The study can be found at the League of Women Voters website, my.lwv.org/idaho/moscow, and in the Moscow Library. According to the study, some strides were made in addressing poverty on the Palouse since 2012. But rising prices and the COVID-19 pandemic have left many residents struggling to meet their basic needs. Food banks, for example,are having a difficult time keeping up with rising demand. Nancy Chaney, who is chairperson of the Poverty on the Palouse Report, said she was most surprised to see how some food banks have seen their demand double in recent years. In 2022, the West Side Food Pantry, in Moscow, averaged 500 visits per month by adults, plus 300 visits by seniors and children. Those averages doubled in 2023. The Moscow Food Bank had 650 family visits per month in 2022 and also saw a significant increase in 2023. On a positive note, Chaney said food banks have done a better job of networking with each other since 2012 to help with storage and distribution of food supplies. The study also says the lack of affordable housing is a growing problem in Latah County. In a 2019 regional housing assessment published by the Partnership for Economic Prosperity, it was estimated the region was short of the needed number of single-family homes by roughly 340 units. From 2017 to 2027, the region needed an additional 270 single-family units per year, the housing assessment said. Chaney said new housing developments are out of the range of middle-class families, let alone low-income families. Organizations like Moscow Affordable Housing Trust are working to provide more affordable homes in the area, but not at the scale or pace that is needed to alleviate the shortage, the poverty study says. Jean Micki (Chapman) Cole, our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at her daughters home on Saturday, May 18, 2024. Micki was born Oct. 8, 1944, to Leo and Jean Chapman. Micki was a lifelong resident of Weippe and was a much-loved member of the community. As a cook/head cook in Weippe for School District 171 for over 35 years, she was the favorite lunch-lady that fed all the kids in the area. No one who knew Micki went hungry. Micki married Gary Cole in 1962. He passed away in 2023 and went ahead to scout out great camping and fishing spots waiting for her to join him. They loved exploring the outdoors together, and they are probably already laughing somewhere in a beautiful forest. They loved to travel together and once Micki got the travel bug, they had adventures all over, including places like Alaska and Jamaica. Micki loved with her whole heart. If she loved you, she would be your fiercest protector, your loudest cheerleader, and you would know that you were loved. Her family, friends and even her pets all were stronger and better because they knew they had Micki Cole to love and care for them. Her laugh was infectious, and she was known for her sharp wit and sense of humor. You never had to wonder what was on her mind. Her unique combination of generosity and authenticity made her someone you would never forget, and she touched many lives with her kindness. Heres another example of how upside down weve gotten. Sheetz gas and made-to-order food stores (25,000 employees and 675 locations) are well known in six Eastern states for their family friendly community spirit and quality service. Glenn Beck shared the following account on his April 24 broadcast. A few days earlier, Joe Biden and his presidential motorcade rolled into a Sheetz outside Pittsburgh, Pa. Biden wanted to show his affection for the locally owned business so he bought sandwiches for the people there and took a selfie with one of the employees. It was a well-planned photo op at a highly respected establishment. One day later the Biden administration hit Sheetz (a privately held company) with a federal lawsuit; federal officials say the company is discriminating against minorities. How are they discriminating, you ask? Sheetz is discriminating by conducting criminal background checks on all applicants for a job. Seems like the Democrats are saying that there are more criminals among minorities. The Democrats tell us that were safer with them in charge, yet they sue a family business that is trying to make communities safer by not employing criminals. This defies logic and common sense. One last question for patriotic Democrat voters: How can you vote for a party that is courting the vote of those who are chanting death to America? Bruce Crossfield Clarkston This editorial was published in The Idaho Statesman of Boise. Attacks against the LGBTQ+ community are becoming alarmingly loud and brazenly out in the open in Idaho. Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling on Tuesday felt compelled to issue a news release telling residents that the city wouldnt be canceling a park permit for the Canyon County Pride Festival. Apparently, some residents have been calling on the city to nix the event, scheduled for June 9 at Lakeview Park in Nampa. Its incredible that residents in this Canyon County city of 100,000 people would call for the government to cancel a groups right to assemble because they dont like the message. Dont like the message? Guess what? Dont go. But dont tell others they cant. Keep in mind that residents in Canyon County just voted this month for a bunch of candidates who ran on platforms of freedom and liberty. But once again, these so-called freedom-loving citizens demonstrate that its freedom only for certain people. Its not really about freedom; its all about adherence to certain moral and religious beliefs and imposing those beliefs on others. In her news release, Kling acknowledged that whats at stake here are First Amendment protections of basic rights, quoting the protection of freedom of speech and the right of the people peaceably to assemble. So to those who called up the city of Nampa and asked them to cancel the permit for the Pride Festival, you clearly dont truly believe in the tenets of the Constitution. But while Kling is ultimately doing the right thing here, shes going about it the wrong way. While this event does not reflect the personal beliefs and convictions of myself, the Nampa City Council, and many living in Nampa who have already reached out to us requesting it be canceled, Kling wrote in a news release, the advice of our legal counsel was that the City of Nampa must recognize the protected First Amendment rights of those scheduling and involved in this event. There are so many things wrong with that statement. First, why the need to say the event does not reflect your personal beliefs? What are those personal beliefs? That youre not gay? Or that you dont condone homosexuality? Or you dont believe LGBTQ+ people should be allowed to be in public and gather? If the Huizhou style dwellings are like ink paintings when viewed from a distance, then looking at Huizhou style dwellings, wood carvings on the gate house, stone carvings in the courtyard, brick carvings on the walls, is the exquisite beauty of carving skills. "The three carvings of Huizhou are the collective name for the three techniques of wood carving, brick carving, and stone carving that were popular in the ancient Huizhou area. As a national intangible cultural heritage, the three carvings of Huizhou need to be innovatively developed in the inheritance. For this reason, I have devoted myself to creation, visited various places, learned from others, integrated them, and strived to make this 'flower of intangible cultural heritage' go out of Anhui and go international." Zha Rong, the national chief master of the "Three Carvings of Huizhou" technique and the 27th generation inheritor of Huizhou carving, said in an interview with reporters recently. From the day he picked up the carving knife at the age of 8, Zha Rong was destined to have a lifelong relationship with Huizhou carving. "At first, I did Huizhou carving purely because I liked it. I lived in Yixian County, Huangshan since I was a child, and I was exposed to the art of Huizhou carving." In his opinion, the dissemination of a single art exhibit is relatively niche. If you want more people to know and understand the three carvings of Huizhou, you have to broaden the path of inheritance and connect with the market and schools. The Huizhou Three Carvings Heritage Art Museum in Luyang District, Hefei City, is one of its footholds. Since the opening of the art museum for more than ten years, domestic and foreign tourists have come to visit and exchange. The museum has been rated as the "Chinese Traditional Handicraft Huizhou Three Carvings Demonstration Base". Entering the Huizhou Three Carvings Heritage Art Museum, the reporter saw that Zha Rong's carvings are based on a wide range of materials, including figures, flowers, animals, insects and fish. The three carving arts of Huizhou in China were exhibited at the United Nations in 2016. He delivered a speech as a representative at the opening ceremony. He brought the three carving arts to Russia, Germany, Australia and other places. When the National Expert Committee for the Appraisal and Evaluation Standards of Huizhou Three Carvings was established, he served as the director... After years of hard work, Zha Rong has been awarded the honorary titles of Chinese Carving Crafts Master, National First-Class Arts and Crafts Artist, Chinese Traditional Handicraft Leader, Intangible Cultural Heritage Gold Medal Craftsman. Source: anhuinews.com The Irish Government has done more for Gaza than any other EU member state, the leader of the Green Party has said. Eamon Ryan said the Middle East conflict is one of the most common issues being raised by voters on the campaign trail. Mr Ryan made the remarks as he participated in a static canvass outside Pearse Street station in Dublin on Wednesday evening, passing on the partys message ahead of the local and European elections next week. Commuters running for their journey home were handed leaflets encouraging them to re-elect Ciaran Cuffe as an MEP for the Dublin constituency, which highlight his work on housing regulations and climate action. Amid the cacophony of screeching train brakes and rattling Dart carriages, the two softly-spoken politicians engaged with a variety of voters, although it was noted that many of them were not day-to-day motorists. A group of passing young men cheerily told Mr Ryan that they would be voting for Sinn Fein, but he still convinced one of them to take a leaflet. A former soldier, aged in his 60s, complained that things take so long to change. Mr Ryan attempted to assure him: But well get there and Ciaran is very hard working. A young man who works as a mechanical engineer with a data-centre firm had an in-depth conversation with Mr Cuffe and Mr Ryan about renewable energy, interconnectors, electricity grid capacity and HVO fuel. Speaking to the PA news agency afterwards, the Dublin constituent said he had traditionally voted Green but was now unsure as he is more concerned with how MEPs had acted in relation to the Gaza conflict. While unable to recall her name without being prompted, he said he was more aligned with independent candidate Clare Daly. He said Ms Daly, an MEP in the The Left grouping, was a good Irish representative who was critical of Ursula von der Leyen and acted like a canary for human-rights issues like the Gaza conflict. The man admitted that he did not know anything about her fiscal policies or green credentials beyond her being left-wing and added that he had no idea what Mr Cuffes stance on Gaza was. Despite this, he had not raised the Middle East conflict in his conversation with Mr Cuffe. Had he taken the campaign leaflet, he would see that the sitting MEP claims to have stood up to Ms von der Leyen and demanded support for Gaza. Another constituent criticised the Green Partys approach to a passenger cap at Dublin Airport. Mr Cuffe has opposed expansion plans at Dublin Airport while Mr Ryan has become embroiled in a public spat with Ryanair over passenger limits. The woman, who worked for an airline, said she wanted to see the politicians engage more with the sector. There were several positive reactions to the Green politicians but most people, however, simply passed by. Mr Cuffe noted that he and his party leader had a different approach to the interactions. The Dublin MEP said: I like to engage people directly on the facts. I havent learned to tell people youre right and engage with them like that which seems to be a prerequisite skill in Irish politics that I havent picked up on over 30 years. At one point, though, Mr Cuffe is jubilant that a voter told him he was nailed on for a number one preference. I think the worst thing someone can say is best of luck, he said, adding that he believed it means they have no intention of voting for him. However, Mr Ryan who did not hear this remark later said: I translate best of luck into Im going to vote for you. When told about his colleagues view on the expression, Mr Ryan added: Well, Im an optimist. The difference in outlook was demonstrated as one prospective voter told Mr Ryan after a lengthy pitch that he would give his candidate a scratch on the ballot paper. The MEP shouted after him: Ill need more than a scratch! Speaking to the PA news agency while engaging with commuters at the station, Mr Ryan feels the party is on the right track. Asked about what concerns voters are raising, the Green Party leader said: You get issues like migration, depending on where you are. Housing comes up. Gaza comes up people are very exercised about whats happening in Gaza. He added: I think they recognise that the Government has done more than any other government in Europe. Asked about the response to politicians while canvassing, he answered: People are much better in real life than they are online. He said there was a small, vocal, organised group of people who had been influenced by a crossover of anti-migrant, anti-vaccine and anti-climate ideas online since the pandemic. Youll see it here now: One in 50 people will maybe shout something. And theyre entitled to that. Thats democracy. His point is immediately illustrated as a passing moped rider interrupted his comments to yell: Youre destroying the city, Eamon. A red traffic light offered Mr Cuffe an opportunity to step in. He said the man believes that the city centre traffic plan will impede his work as a blood-delivery driver. Noting that road management of the city is not under the remit of a MEP, Mr Cuffe shouted to Mr Ryan: I told him youd sort it out. After fielding a separate complaint about the Dart schedule, he acknowledged that some voters had difficulty understanding the role of the European Parliament. Mr Cuffe said: People want to talk about what housing, bike lanes and BusConnects. Im saying: Look, theres a lot we can do in Europe, we need a housing commissioner and people consider that and say that could be good. I think when you break it down into understandable chunks, the nature of our job is to make it simple. He added: People tend not to get too animated about the European fiscal rules, strategic autonomy or the rule of law, but these things are important. Overall, Mr Cuffe feels positive about the reaction at the doorsteps but said the party is sometimes between a rock and a hard place with some voters thinking change is happening too quickly, while others feel progress is too slow. As the branded Green Party vests slipped off and the campaigners bicycles came unlocked, the rush-hour canvass came to a close. But suddenly, one last opportunity arose as two constituents approached the MEP. Their pressing issue: Whats the quickest way to Heuston Station? Local News, Crime By Long Island Published: May 30 2024 Suffolk County Police arrested Mohammed Ahmed Shoaib, 25, for unlawfully selling vape and tobacco products to minors during compliance checks in Shirley and Mastic as part of 'Operation Smoke Out.' Suffolk County Police today arrested one person for selling tobacco & vape products to people under the age of 21 during compliance checks at multiple businesses in Shirley and Mastic. As part of the Suffolk County Police Operation Smoke Out, Seventh Precinct Crime Section officers checked nine locations for age compliance related to sales of vape and tobacco products. Violations were found at one. The following person was charged with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child: Mohammed Ahmed Shoaib, 25, of Queens, employed at Shirley Smoke and Cigar, located at 429 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: May 30 2024 Widespread access to illegal flavored e-cigarettes propped up by the black market and noncompliant distributors. Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages and Senator Leroy Comrie joined colleagues in the legislature, clergy members, and law enforcement officials to highlight the need for their legislation to enhance enforcement of New York State laws banning flavored e-cigarette products (A9206/S8559). Communities across New York State are keenly aware of how accessible vaping devices are to young people. Too many smoke shops and other sellers continue to sell flavored vaping products that were outlawed back in 2020. The proposed legislation would give the Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) enhanced powers to impose fines on violating sellers and seize illegal vaping products. A new system of licensing for distributors of e-cigarette products would be created to allow DTF to keep track of all operating distributors in the state and improve monitoring for the distribution of illegal products. This licensing system would also give DTF enhanced abilities to inspect distribution facilities. Distributors who violate the law by selling illegal, flavored e-cigarettes will also be subject to new penalties, including fines and the revocation of licenses for up to seven years depending on the frequency of violations. The taxes collected on e-cigarettes would shift from a retail tax to an excise tax, which would be paid at the distributor level. Each of these actions disincentivizes distributors from engaging in illegal sales of flavored e-cigarettes by imposing significant financial costs if they are found to be violating New York State law. "Our communities have been flooded with illegal vaping devices for far too long," said Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages. "Distributors must be held accountable for participating in this lucrative, illegal enterprise that saturates the market with harmful products. This legislation empowers state authorities with the necessary tools to enforce existing laws effectively and protect our young people from the dangers of vaping." Illicit flavored vapes are becoming a candy-flavored gateway for our youth to nicotine addiction and long-lasting health implications, said Senator Leroy Comrie. Though banned in 2020, lax enforcement of the ban on flavored vapes has made compliance seem optional, and as a result, four more years worth of young folks have been getting hooked on these dangerous products. We have to make a stronger effort to ensure New York businesses face real consequences if they further the issue, so Im proud to sponsor bill S8559/A9206 with Assemblymember Michaelle Solages to bring about this change. I am proud to support the work of my colleague, Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, on A9206, said Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr. It takes a village to combat the bad actors hell-bent on circumventing the law. Passing A9206 will require store owners to be issued licenses, pay their share of taxes on these products, and hold businesses accountable when they break the law. This bill will be another critical tool added to our toolbox in the fight to keep our communities healthy and safe." Assemblymember Billy Jones: Illegal flavored vapes are flooding our communities and creating a public health crisis in our communities, especially among youth. These products are unregulated, and we do not know what the health effects will be from these illicit substances. We must provide law enforcement the tools to get these products out of the hands of our youth and prevent lifelong health problems. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: May 30 2024 Buckle Up New York, Click It or Ticket Running Now Through June 2; NASCAR Star Ross Chastain Partners with GTSC to Promote Seat Belt Safety. The Governors Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) and star NASCAR driver Ross Chastain once again teamed up today to demonstrate the importance of wearing a seat belt to teens in Suffolk County as part of the annual statewide Buckle Up New York, Click it or Ticket education and enforcement campaign, which runs from May 20 until June 2. In addition to meeting with students at Mount Sinai High School in Mount Sinai on Wednesday, May 29th, Chastain will join GTSC at A-Tech High School in Brooklyn on Thursday, May 30th to show teens how taking a few seconds to buckle up could save their lives. It is important to demonstrate to our young drivers that the devastating consequences of not wearing a seat belt during a crash can easily be avoided, said Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder. Our ongoing partnership with Ross Chastain helps us grab the attention of New Yorkers and continue to promote the message to buckle up, whether you are behind the wheel or in the back seat. Its the law and its one that could save your life. Ross Chastain, when hes not driving on the NASCAR circuit, is an eighth-generation watermelon farmer, hence him sporting New Yorks Protect Your Melon logo on both his uniform and his #91 Buckle Up NY Chevy for the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Watkins Glen International in September. More than 1,500,000 watermelons labeled with Protect Your Melon and a Buckle Up! hashtags will be sold in grocery stores across the state from now until fall. New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, Wearing a seat belt is a simple measure that dramatically reduces the risk of severe injury or death in a crash. The New York State Police is proud to partner with our law enforcement partners to strongly encourage the proper use of seat belts and child safety seats in motor vehicles. I thank the GTSC for their partnership in effort to reduce the senseless tragedies caused by those who ignore New Yorks seat belt laws. New York has always been at the forefront of seat belt safety. In 1984, New York was the first state in the country to pass legislation requiring drivers and front seat passengers to use seat belts. In 2020, those historic seat belt laws got even tighter with the enactment of a law to also require back seat passengers to wear a seat belt or be properly restrained in a child safety seat. Data compiled by the University at Albanys Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research (ITSMR) shows in 2023 that New Yorks seat belt usage rate hit a peak of 94%, up from 92% in 2022. Delaware County Sheriff and President of the NYS Sheriffs Association Craig DuMond said, The most effective device for saving lives and preventing injuries in a vehicle is the seat belt. Everyone must wear a seat belt or be in an appropriate child restraint device, even back seat passengers. As you get out and travel more with the nice weather remember, the Sheriffs of New York State want you to wear your seat belt because its smart, its simple, and its the law! City of Batavia Police Chief and President of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police Shawn Heubusch said, The members of The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police are committed to keeping our streets and roads safe for all. This includes being diligent about safety belt enforcement and education. Our member organizations pledge to continue the good work done across the state to increase compliance and reduce injury caused by unbelted passengers." As part of its ongoing effort to make sure drivers and passengers are safe, GTSC's Child Passenger Safety Program supports training on how to properly install child safety restraints. Through this program, law enforcement and various community safety partners offer free child car seat inspections by certified child passenger safety technicians year-round. Information for parents and caregivers is available at trafficsafety.ny.gov. For more information on occupant protection, please visit the GTSCs website or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. About GTSC Combined with education and enforcement campaigns, GTSC coordinates various traffic safety activities throughout the year and supports ongoing initiatives to improve pedestrian, motorcycle and bicycle safety. The GTSC also sponsors critical training for law enforcement, provides resources for teen drivers and their parents, and promotes seatbelt use statewide. For more information about GTSC, visit https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/, or follow the GTSC conversation at Facebook and Twitter. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: May 30 2024 New Yorks Number-One Public University to Begin National Search for New President Amidst Unprecedented Period of Growth and Transformation. Stony Brook University the number-one public university in New York and a state flagship university today announced that President Maurie McInnis is stepping down after a four-year tenure to become the next president of Yale University. McInnis, a Yale graduate (90, M.A., 93 M.Phil., 96, Ph.D.) and member of its Board of Trustees, will assume her new position effective July 1. The State University of New York (SUNY) will oversee the leadership transition. President since March 2020, McInnis led Stony Brook through the COVID-19 pandemic and helped shepherd its continued rise into a world-class research institution and modern flagship of the SUNY system. Under McInniss leadership, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution of The New York Climate Exchange research center on Governors Island; awarded one of the largest gifts to a university in American history with a $500 million unrestricted endowment from the Simons Foundation; and achieved its highest ever rankings among U.S. News and World Reports Best Colleges listing. In her role, McInnis worked at the center of a broad leadership coalition committed to growing academic excellence at Stony Brook, providing opportunity to students of all backgrounds, and supporting New Yorks economy. This includes SUNY and its Board of Trustees, the Stony Brook Foundation and Stony Brook Council, the universitys longstanding partners at the Simons Foundation, and its more than 2,900 world-class faculty and staff members, from the Office of the Provost to Campus Operations and Maintenance. We congratulate Maurie on this prestigious appointment, merely the latest in her series of extraordinary professional accomplishments, said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. Mauries election is a testament to both her exceptional ability and the esteem with which Stony Brook is viewed by its peers. I know that we will have superbly talented candidates to choose from as we begin this search for Mauries successor to lead one of the nations most prestigious public universities and a true engine of research innovation and social mobility. Rich Gelfond, chairman of the Stony Brook Foundation and CEO of IMAX Corporation, praised McInniss leadership. In her four-year tenure, Mauries decisive, collaborative leadership brought a number of key strategic initiatives to the finish line culminating in the most transformational period in Stony Brooks history. We are grateful for her stewardship and look forward to continuing the incredible progress of this one-of-a-kind institution. Kevin Law, chairman of the Stony Brook Council, the group that oversees and supervises the operations and affairs of the institution, praised McInnis for her leadership through challenging times. Maurie arrived during the Covid pandemic and more recently has successfully steered the university through a year that has been especially difficult for many university presidents, Law said. She led Stony Brook to new heights, bringing immense positive change and improvement to the university. I have been so proud to lead Stony Brook during this exciting time in its history, said Maurie McInnis. When I talk with other leaders in higher education, it is clear that they recognize Stony Brook is an institution on an upward trajectory, combining groundbreaking research with expanded opportunities for students from all backgrounds. I want to express my appreciation to all the faculty, students, and staff who are achieving great accomplishments. I am confident that Stony Brooks best years lie ahead. About Stony Brook University Stony Brook University New Yorks flagship university and No. 1 public university is going far beyond the expectations of todays public universities. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With nearly 26,000 students, more than 2,900 faculty members, more than 220,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the worlds biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #58 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Reports Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brooks membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The universitys distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $7.23 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ stonybrooku/ and X @stonybrooku. After three commercial albums, 9 Billboard top 10 hits, and one No. 1 single, Selena Gomez says she may never tour again. She said while nothing makes (her) happier, than spending 90 minutes with her fans, when on tour you realize youre just surrounded by a bunch of people that youre paying. It is very emotionally draining for me, Gomez, 31, told TIME. In 2016, Gomez pulled out of her last worldwide tour for her Revival album, citing anxiety and depression as side effects from lupus as the cause, TIME reports. Read more: Winterpills return to Northampton for show at Iron Horse Music Hall She says now shes 50-50 on whether shell ever go on a major tour again, according to TIME. Its a cliche, but girls are mean, said Gomez. I dont know where Im meant to belong. Selena Gomez walks the red carpet during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 12, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media Gomez said she love(s) having levelheaded people around that couldnt give two f***s about what I do, and her best friends are a real estate agent, a producer and a casting director, TIME reports. Gomez has been transparent about her mental health, disclosing her bipolar disorder diagnosis in April 2020 just months before launching her beauty brand, Rare Beauty. TIME points out, When youre as famous as Gomez is, your personal life becomes global fodder. The star shared with Rolling Stone in 2022, she suffered from suicidal ideation and had been to four treatment centers. While Gomez has been vocal about her mental health online, she offered an even closer look into her mental health battles in her 2022 documentary, My Mind and Me. According to TIME, Gomez is trying to be present, and acting is one part of life that affords her the chance to be fully focused. A 17-year-old boy is facing a number of assault charges after police say he stabbed a man in Worcester on Wednesday, led police on a chase and kicked officers who arrested him. The boy, whose name was not released, is charged with assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault with serious bodily injury, armed assault to murder, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace, Worcester Police said in a statement. Police found a 30-year-old man with multiple stab wounds around 1 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a report of a possible assault and battery on Sunderland Road. The man was taken to a hospital with serious injuries that are not considered life-threatening, Joe Cersosimo, a spokesman for Worcester Police, said in an email. Sometime later, police identified the 17-year-old as a suspect, according to the statement. The boy is accused of leading police on a brief foot chase leading to the area of Green Street and then kicking officers as they arrested him. Police say the teen had a large kitchen knife when he was arrested. An American Airlines flight heading to Boston Wednesday morning was forced to cancel its takeoff to avoid a collision with a plane that had landed on an intersecting runway, officials said. The American Airlines flight was scheduled to take off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday. But, around 10:30 a.m. air traffic controllers canceled the planes takeoff clearance because another plane had been cleared to land at the airport on an interesting runway. As a result, the flight, which left its gate at 10:05 a.m., did not depart until more than four hours later at 2:36 p.m. Wednesday, according to the online flight tracker FlightAware. The flight landed at Boston Logan International Airport at 3:46 p.m. It had originally been scheduled to land at 11:28 a.m. American Airlines said it would support the Federal Aviation Administrations investigation of the incident. The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and were grateful to our crew for their professionalism, the airline said in a statement. Multiple media reports indicate the plane was traveling at a speed upward of 90 mph when it was forced to abort its takeoff. The incident Wednesday morning marked the second time in just over a month that a Boston-bound flight has been severely delayed after an incident at Reagan Airport. On April 18, a JetBlue flight nearly collided with a Southwest Airlines flight on the runway there. The JetBlue flight was beginning its takeoff roll on a runway at the airport when an air traffic controller instructed a Southwest Airlines flight heading to Orlando, Florida to cross the runway, the FAA said in a statement. A couple was identified as the two people killed in a fire that ravaged a triple-decker home in Worcester on Tuesday, according to WCVB-TV. Daniel Gonzalez, 62, and Juana Candelario, 59, both died after a fire burned through the home at 3 Hancock St., off Main Street near Clark University and the Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, family members told the news station. Worcester Fire Department responded to the structure fire at approximately 11:30 p.m. on May 28, with reports of people trapped in the building, according to a release from the city managers office. Two residents were found on the first floor and were removed from the building by firefighters. The unidentified people were taken to a local hospital by Worcester EMS, according to the release. Firefighters found the first floor had heavy fire with conditions deteriorating and began extinguishing the flames immediately, the release said. The release said despite firefighters efforts, two residents died and two firefighters were taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Four adults and three children are displaced, and the fire is under investigation. From outside the home on Wednesday, smoke lingered in the air. No one was outside, besides a mailman who looked up at the damage before continuing to deliver mail. Wood, debris and burned items littered the lawn and walkway, where burns and fire damage could be seen inside the house. Down at the end of the driveway were three vases with flowers and six votive candles. All the candles were blank except for one with Jude the Apostle on one side. Caution tape stretched from one end of the driveway to the opposite side of the front lawn. A Florida man was arrested Wednesday at the Liberty Hotel in Boston after police say he told a woman, during a conversation at the hotels bar, that he had a bomb in his suitcase. Mark DiPaolo, 62, of Naples, Florida, is facing a single charge of threat concerning the location of dangerous items or a hijack, Boston Police said in a statement. Boston police arrived at the hotel at 215 Charles St. at 8:11 p.m. on Wednesday after a woman reported the threat to hotel staff, who in turn, called police. Officers spoke to the woman, who told them she tried to start a casual conversation with the man about his dog. After asking him if the dog was trained in anything, the woman said he told her I have a bomb in my suitcase. Fearing for her safety, the woman reported the threat to the staff. Police were able to get a description of the man and a large brown suitcase in his possession and later went to a room he had booked at the hotel. DiPaolo was arrested after being identified by officers and witnesses. Officers searched the room and did not find any explosive devices or anything dangerous. Editors note: This article contains a description of a sexual assault. A 57-year-old North Carolina man was sentenced to up to three years in state prison in connection with the beating and attempted rape of a woman in South Boston in 2020, according to the Suffolk County district attorneys office. Glen Mumford was convicted of assault with intent to rape and assault and battery by a jury last week, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office said in a statement. Mumford will serve two-and-a-half to three years in prison for the assault with intent to rape charge, and two years probation on the assault and battery charge. A resident at the Old Colony housing project in South Boston reported a woman screaming for help in a basement hallway around 5:50 a.m. on Dec. 8, 2020. When police arrived, they heard gargled breathing and heavy moans and found Mumford face down assaulting the woman, according to the statement. When police identified themselves, Mumford rose to his knees and revealed the woman beneath him, who was unconscious and naked from the waist down, Haydens office said. The woman appeared to be choking on blood flowing from her nose and mouth. When the woman, who had freshly broken teeth and bleeding gums, regained consciousness she told police, I was screaming for help, he tried to kill me. The woman told police she had met Mumford at the Andrew Square MBTA station in Dorchester. Haydens office sought a sentence of seven to nine years for Mumford. This man deserves every minute of his sentence for an attack that left a woman choking on her own blood and shattered the early-morning peace in a public housing development. I thank everyone involved for putting together the facts that led to a strong case, and I thank the jurors for their sound verdict, Hayden said in the statement. If you are a victim of sexual assault, you are not alone. Rape Crisis Centers in Massachusetts offer free, confidential services for adolescent and adult survivors as well as their loved ones. Crisis centers operate a 24/7 toll-free hotline for phone counseling, questions and referrals. For a full list of regional crisis centers, click here. SafeLink offers a 24/7 toll-free hotline: BALTIMORE Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas, who began taking ground balls this past Friday, will visit with the doctor at the end of the week. Hes progressing fast, manager Alex Cora said before Bostons game against the Orioles on Wednesday. So hopefully we can add stuff to what hes doing but hes feeling great. FanDuel Sportsbook MA Pre-Launch Offer $100 BONUS BETS! CLAIM OFFER NEW STATE LAUNCH! 21+ and present in Massachusetts. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Casas is listed on the 60-day injured list with a left rib strain. He has some fractured cartilage which connects his ribcage to his sternum. Hes not eligible to return until June 21 at the earliest when Boston plays the Reds in Cincinnati. He told MLB.coms Ian Browne his goal is to return on that day. The 24-year-old slugger, who finished third for the 2023 AL Rookie of the Year, was batting .244 with a .344 on-base percentage, .513 slugging percentage, .857 OPS, six home runs, three doubles, 10 RBIs, 12 runs, 12 walks and 26 strikeouts in 22 games (90 plate appearances) before landing on the IL. Garrett Cooper and Dom Smith have shared time at first base in his absence. GREENFIELD A peaceful pro-Israel rally downtown was disrupted Tuesday evening after an elderly woman was assaulted, police said. At around 5:20 p.m., police received a call that a woman, 82, had been hit by another woman who yelled, Stop genocide, at a group of the pro-Israel rally-goers, according to William Gordon, Greenfields deputy chief. Upon arrival, police spoke to the victim and six other rally attendees. For the fifth time in the span of six months, nurses at Worcesters Saint Vincent hospital have filed a series of complaints to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and other state agencies over a lack of patient safety from hospital staff, the states largest nurses union announced Wednesday. The complaints, which were listed in a letter sent to DPH on May 23, state that a lack of staffing, equipment and care has created an environment that is considered unsafe for patients, the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) said in a press release. The letter was signed by Mary Sue Howlett, a registered nurse who is the associate director of the nurses associations clinical nursing division. According to the union, the complaints about patient care at the hospital were based on 900 reports by nurses who have accused the hospitals administrative team and Tenet Healthcare the Dallas-based healthcare company that runs Saint Vincent, of not fully staffing wards such as the intensive care unit and hiring staff that do not have the reported qualifications for their role. In the press release, the union wrote that the lack of staff and the current conditions at the hospital have resulted in increased instances of patients not receiving their medication promptly, patient falls that could have been prevented and, most recently, a rise in patients reporting they are experiencing bedsores. According to the union, nurses reported a total of 25 bedsores from patients at Saint Vincent Hospital in April 2024. As a nurse, like all the nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital, I take pride in providing the best care possible but I am sad to report that under these current staffing conditions, conditions we have been duty bound to report to appropriate authorities, we are unable to fulfill our professional responsibilities, Marlena Pellegrino, a nurse at the hospital and an MNA representative, wrote in the release. Shawn Middleton, the communications and public relations manager for Saint Vincent Hospital, rebutted the MNAs accusations and said staff are committed to providing patients with high-quality care in a statement sent to MassLive on Thursday. Our hospital leadership quickly addressed areas of opportunities identified, Middleton said. We are focused on providing access to high-quality healthcare services, and will not allow the MNAs unfounded attempts to discredit our institution distract us from caring for our community. Katheleen Conti, the DPHs assistant director of media relations, told MassLive on Thursday the department received the complaints from the MNA on May 29 and is currently reviewing them as of May 30. Conti added that trained DPH staff carefully review incident reports and may conduct an announced survey at the facility as a result. The fight between the hospital and the union For years, the nurses union and the hospital have been at odds regarding how the hospital treats its patients. The MNA has repeatedly accused the hospital of practices that neglect patients safety, while the hospital has accused the union of spreading misinformation. In February 2021, nurses from the union went on strike as the two sides could not agree on staffing levels. The strike lasted about 10 months, with the union gaining support from the Worcester City Council and then-Attorney General Maura Healey. In December of that year, the hospital and the union agreed on staffing levels and ratified a contract on Jan. 3, 2022. Despite the contracts ratification, nurses from the MNA, former employees and national labor organizations have continued to file complaints against the hospital with some nurses accusing the hospital administration of wrongfully terminating them for their complaints. In years past, we had a robust program to prevent pressure ulcers, including wound care swat teams, with specialized training for staff on how to prevent them, Pellegrino wrote in the press release. But all that has been dismantled under our current administration, and instead of supporting us in preventing these outcomes, they are threatening to punish us for the result of their mismanagement. A call for direct oversight from the state In their letter sent to the DPH, the union members asked that the state directly intervene by sending department members to the hospital to monitor the workplace daily. As an agency responsible for holding providers accountable for the care they provide, we reiterate our call for your immediate intervention, the letter states. As without proper oversight, we fully expect many more patients to be harmed, and tragically, a number of our patients will die. The union wrote that the hospital would be monitored similarly to the current monitoring of patient care at facilities run by the Dallas-based health care company Steward Health Care. The DPH deployed monitors to the sites owned by the company at the order of Gov. Maura Healey after reports of Stewards financial struggles were made public this year. As an organization, the MNA represents nurses and health care professionals working in 70% of the states acute care hospitals, including the hospitals currently owned by Steward Healthcare, we can state without equivocation or hyperbole that the conditions at Saint Vincent Hospital are the worst among all those providers by far, the letter states. With a voter turnout of 50.3 percent in the MidlandsNorth-West constituency, which Mayo is in the heart of, only 1 in 2 people had their voices heard in the European elections in 2019. This is something we need to change on June 7 in order to ensure a strong mandate for the people representing us, who are helping to shape the future Mayo, Ireland and Europe you want. In parts of Europe, democracy is under pressure and media bubbles are increasingly posing a challenge to public discourse. In Ireland also, we are seeing a rise in disinformation, and it often seems as though it is the loudest voices rather than the plurality of voices which are heard. Luckily, strong institutions such as the European Parliament and democratic principles such as free elections offer an opportunity for us to express ourselves in a civil way and with great impact. Last month the European Parliament Liaison Office launched our national Use Your Vote campaign to increase awareness of the elections and encourage people to vote. Our team has since then travelled the length and breadth of the country. We had campaign launch events in each constituency, where we spoke to local people to remind them to register to vote and to ensure that they have the tools to help inform their decisions. The campaign has since gained traction and has been widely covered in local as well as national media. We are conscious, however, that a single campaign is short lived. To help inform citizens and remind people that the European Union is open and accessible, we need continuous and established networks of volunteers, schools and others stakeholders. With this in mind, Together.eu was established after the 2019 elections campaign to help galvanize the many volunteers across Europe who had helped spread the message of democracy. Today we have over 2,300 active volunteers across Ireland, regularly organising and attending events aimed mainly at younger voters. Twenty-two of these volunteers are based in Mayo, and we hope to increase that number in the coming weeks, months and years. Europe Direct centres around Europe help bring the EU closer to people on the ground and answer questions about EU policies, programmes and priorities. The library in Ballinasloe is host to a very active Europe Direct centre. We also have a network of schools across Ireland who participate in the European Parliament Ambassador Schools Programme (EPAS). EPAS aims at increasing students awareness of European parliamentary democracy, the role of the European Parliament and European values. The programme is now in its 12th year in Ireland and there are currently 73 schools registered. Teacher training and resources are provided, and schools who complete the programme are awarded Ambassador School status at award ceremonies which take place in each constituency every year. Ballinrobe Community School has been a committed participant of the EPAS programme since 2020, and this year we were delighted to welcome a new school from Mayo into the programme, Colaiste Muire of Tourmakeady. In March, our office partnered with the W cinema in Westport for free screenings of three of the films shortlisted for the European Parliaments annual Lux Audience Award for European films which raise awareness about current social and political issues. The W cinema was filled with local supporters of European cinema, and this is a collaboration we hope to nurture into the future. Not only is it another opportunity to inform citizens and engage them in debate, but is also a welcome excuse to be invited back to beautiful Westport. This year, voters in the MidlandsNorth-West constituency have 27 candidates to choose from, ten more than in 2019. The constituency currently has four MEPs, and will gain one more this year, bringing the number to five MEPs who will represent you in Brussels and Strasbourg. This time round also, the constituency will be slightly larger, gaining as it does the counties of Laois and Offaly. We are now just over one week away from the European elections and you may have seen or heard a version of the short film which is the centrepiece of our campaign. It is an emotional and sincere depiction of real grandparents, from all over Europe, telling their young-adult grandchildren about how, for them, democracy was something they had to fight for. This is an important message for young voters in particular to keep in mind. Growing up in a united, prosperous and peaceful Europe is a privilege, and it is easy to forget that this is a mere blip in our continents and indeed our countrys vast history. Lets not take what we have for granted and let us exercise the rights we inherited, remembering the sweat and blood it took to build. Fionnuala Croker is a native of Donegal who is now Head of Office (Acting) in the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland. For more on the Use Your Vote campaign and to view the short film, visit the Use your Vote site. The world became more intrusive as it became more interconnected by social media. In cities, people walk about gazing into their phones or listening to music through ear-plugs, as if they fear becoming disconnected or isolated. Increasingly, lives are lived in an electronic crowd and nature fades into the background. Worse, public discourse has become fractious and coarsened. Who came up with the mad idea of a Dublin-New York portal? And was it any surprise that is attracted abusive behaviour? Against this background, Robert Macfarlanes book, The Wild Places, presents a challenging and humane alternative world. Macfarlane set out to discover and experience remote places that were shaped by geology, nature and geography rather than by mankinds invasive actions. He walked places where human touch was light and folded into the natural environment. Moss-covered dry-stone walls. Ancient walking routes used by our ancestors. Lonely cottages where people live close to nature. NATURAL GRACE A heron near Prospect (Photo: P Slevin) What provided the urge to do this? Macfarlane puts it well: Anyone who lives in a city will know the feeling of having been there too long. The gorge-vision that streets imprint on us, the sense of blockage, the longing for surfaces other than glass, brick, concrete and tarmac. On the other hand, there is a danger in drawing attention to wild places. Globalised mass tourism often ends up destroying the things that created it. Of course, it brings necessary incomes to places that may lack alternative sources of income, but if left unchecked, even in cities we end up with the inhabitants of Venice, Amsterdam and Barcelona being crowded out of the enjoyment of their own homes. Just as the intrusion of Europeans into the South Pacific in the 18th century was described by Alan Morehead as The Fatal Impact, so too tourism can have a fatal impact. As a student I wandered freely along the wild Cliffs of Moher. I would not bother going there now! Even on our island, with its low population density (74 people per square kilometre compared to an EU average of 106, with the Netherlands at 477), truly wild places are increasingly threatened. This is also the case in our lagging Northern and Western Region, where underdevelopment has resulted in a higher share of wild places than in the Eastern and Southern Regions. GNARLED BEAUTY Ancient oak tree near Prospect (Photo: P Slevin) My own favourite wild places? I have written before of a hike down the extraordinary Bangor Trail skirting the west side of the Nephins, one of the few remaining places where you can escape from roads, towns, villages, commercialism and noise. But beware! Its wild side is enticingly threatening, so never do it alone. The interior of the Nephins is a vast, lonely, but gentle wild place, described memorably by Sean Lysaght in his book Wild Nephin. Another favourite, Inishturk, is probably Mayos most isolated and beautiful wild island. It is easy to understand why the western islands attracted contemplative monks whose rugged monastic settlements are dotted all along the Atlantic coast. Of course, you dont have to trek or sail to faraway places to experience wildness. Some are close by, literally on our doorstep. Close to Westport, for example, is an area of stunning natural beauty. It stretches from the melancholy Aughavale Graveyard through Cloona, rising over Prospect and the Deerpark and arriving out on the pilgrim path at Murrisk. It is almost invisible unless you are prepared to don your hiking boots, prepare for rain, carry a packed lunch, take a stout stick and traverse the lower foothills of the northern slopes of Croagh Patrick. PEACEFUL IDYLL A view of Croagh Patrick from Cloona (Photo: The Liam Lyons Collection) Dedicated ramblers cherish and protect wild places, and their light-touch passage hardly disturbs the wildlife inhabitants. Just as people from places that are beset by intrusive mass tourism have come to dread its disruption to their lives, so too do people living on the northern foothills of Croagh Patrick dread the impact of a three-metre-wide tarmac cycle route through this wild and wet place. A cycle track project on the mountain would have a fatal impact and seriously damage the sensitive ecology of the mountain at a time when it is already under threat from climate change. Gerard Manley Hopkins put it far better than I could: What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and of wildness? Let them be left, O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet. John Bradley is a former ESRI professor and has published on the island economy of Ireland, EU development policy, industrial strategy and economic modelling. The Department of Health must consider substantially increasing the number of respite beds available in Ireland, Senator Paddy Burke has said. The call comes after an announcement yesterday of an additional 4,367 new hospital beds nationwide. The Fine Gael senator welcomed this announcement, however acknowledged the lack of mention around extra respite beds. Senator Burke called on Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly, to communicate plans for respite beds and invited Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State at the Department of Health, to the Seanad for a debate on the provision of respite beds throughout the country. I am pleased to see Minister Stephen Donnelly acknowledge that bed capacity must catch up to our growing and ageing population. However, there was no mention in the announcement of a plan for extra respite beds, he said. Senator Burke continued: In my own constituency of Mayo, there is currently huge demand for respite beds, and I believe this need is echoed all over Ireland. For example, the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar, which had been closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, reopened recently, and received two new respite and rehabilitation beds. While the Mayo senator called this great news, he said the reality is that the hospital does not have the funding to carry out the service properly. The reopening is having a positive impact on the town and the region more broadly, but one bed is hardly enough. According to Census 2022 figures, over 299,000 people are family carers in Ireland, and Family Carers Ireland believes the real figure is actually much higher than that, he added. The senator furthermore explained that those undertaking the vital work of respite care are often met with little relief. Senator Burke concluded: Its time the Minister took respite seriously. The well-being of our carers must be a priority not an afterthought. CLAMPING in Castlebar is becoming a 'serious problem' again according to local councillors who called on the council management to put a stop to it. The issue of clamping was raised at the May monthly meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District by Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne who claimed that cars are being illegally clamped in the town. Ten years ago, there was controversy in Castlebar over the clamping of cars in private car parks which resulted in the Castlebar Municipal District passing a motion to ban clamping in the town. Clamping of vehicles was outlawed by Castlebar Town Council when vehicles started to be clamped in a certain establishment in this town. Now it has started again, Cllr Kilcoyne claimed. Cllr Kilcoyne cited a video which recently appeared on social media which showed a person being clamped in the wrong. Most of you would have seen the video circulated last week where a clamper came along and clamped a car. There is a video where a man clamped the wrong car. The woman was extremely upset, he said. Fine Gael councillor Cyril Burke backed up Cllr Kilcoyne saying that clamping was once again a 'serious problem' and claimed that it is all 'about collecting money and nothing else'. I got a call from a father of a young girl who had an exam to do and she came on a train from Dublin and her car was clamped by the same firm. That lady lost two hours of her exam time. Whatever the issue was she was right and she shouldn't have been clamped and was told to reclaim her money afterwards. It is about collecting money and nothing else, he said. Cllr Kilcoyne claimed that the ban on clamping is part of planning regulations in the town and called on the management of the council to take action against the clampers. Head of the Municipal District, David Mellet told the meeting that he was not aware of the by-laws in relation to clamping but agreed to look into it. The county of Mayo is set to celebrate the creativity of children on Cruinniu na nOg. Circus and craft events in Achill, creative writing workshops in Claremorris, illustration events in Belmullet, a magic workshop on Inishturk, jiving and country music in Bohola these are just a few of the exciting events for children happening Saturday, June 15th, as part of the Cruinniu na nOg festival. This years theme, Dare to Create encourages young people to try something new and showcase their talents. Cruinniu na nOg is Irelands national day of free creativity for children and young people under eighteen. Mayo Creative Ireland Coordinator, Austin Vaughan, said: "Ireland is the first, and only, country in the world to have such a day. In Mayo, we will have over 60 events covering all areas of creativity, from stop-motion animation workshops to dancing sessions inspired by nature." Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Michael Loftus, called the day of free events wonderful as it is an opportunity for children to showcase and explore their creativity. He explained the importance of creativity for childrens for wellbeing, social connection, and economic development. The events are organised through the Cruinniu na nOg Mayo Events Grant Scheme, and this year children and young people helped select the winning entries. We decided this year to involve children and young people in the panel process for the grants, explained Mayo County Councils Creative Communities Engagement Officer, Anna Livia Cullinan. She continued: The youth panel was brilliant. They thought of everything from making sure there were events for children with additional needs to having interesting options for all age groups. Their advice for event organisers was to have fun and be genuine. Silly voices are also welcomed, but not required. This year also sees the introduction of Cruinniu Late, a partnership with the Night Time Economy Task Force to keep our creative spaces open and active by providing a series of evening and late-night, alcohol-free events for older teens. As part of Cruinniu Late, Brad Heidi, number one on the Irish Breakers Chart with his latest single 'Don't Let Go,' will be performing at Aras Inis Gluaire alongside a DJ, open mic, photo booth, and much more. There will be a VR mural session in Ballina Library where young people can step into a virtual world and explore different aspects of the mural in 3D, examining the intersection of art and technology. Additionally, there will be creative tasters and a street art event at Castlebar Library. Cruinniu na nOg 2024 is a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programmes Creative Youth plan and is organised in Mayo by the Creative Ireland team of Mayo County Council with the support of young people, community groups, creatives, and organisations across the county. Minister Catherine Martin expressed her delight at the expansion of the programme, and stated:This year Cruinniu na nOg is everywhere, and all at once! I am thrilled that we are launching Cruinniu Late, providing authentic, alcohol-free spaces for young people to perform. Our partners in local authorities have devised over 31 great events for 14-18 year olds. Cruinniu na nOg takes place in County Mayo and across Ireland on Saturday, June 15, with a range of free events. For a full programme of events and to find a Cruinniu na nOg activity near you, see the Creative Ireland website. Sacred Heart Secondary school has paid homage to staff member Patricia Doherty as the school year ends, and she begins her retirement. Ms Doherty worked as an SNA at the school, a role in which she worked closely with individual students in small class groups and in full classroom settings. A spokesperson for the school wrote on social media: She has supported, helped, and cared for so many of our girls over her career. She has motivated, cajoled and used many different methods to get the best out of each and every student. She took an interest in our whole student body, she had a word or two for each and every one of them, she got to know them all by name. She also supported our staff and helped in any way that she could, she was so very helpful, she was extremely beneficial in practical classrooms. The post described Ms Doherty as a multi-talented lady who brightened up the corridors. She created artwork and decorated the school corridors several times a year: students were quick to mention this to her this week. She brightened up corners with flowers, she frequently baked and made food as part of fundraising drives for The Cancer Society, Arror, St V. de Paul. Her lemon cake is legendary. She had a huge interest in our school, she got involved in all that was going on in the school and classrooms, she gathered new information, developed new skills and has continued to learn throughout her career. She told the students this week that she loved coming to school: loved each new day. The post finished with thanking Ms Doherty for everything, and wishing her well in her retirement. Patricia, continue to be interested in life, continue to be young at heart, but do take some rest, even for a short while, as we cannot imagine you will be idle too often. The post concluded: Like our students, we will miss you in the corridors, in our classrooms, in our school, but we will not forget all you have done for each one of us! by Fern Siegel , May 30, 2024 Graphics matter. SKYY Vodkas latest campaign Embrace Every Y uses the extra Y to challenge the status quo. The new creative by Small highlights the spirits singular style. The work is launching first in the U.S., Canada and South Africa, backed by a marketing strategy that incorporates various digital assets: 6- and 15-second videos, stills and GIFs via OLV, paid social and search across You Tube, Hulu, Facebook and Instagram. The brand partnered with photographer Nadia Lee Cohen and motion director Charlie Denis to produce nine different scenes, from lively outdoor parties to quiet indoor moments. In each, the audience is presented a Y? question. SKYY has always been at its most alluring when it forged its own style, so our core aim for this campaign was to embrace our individuality again. When we kicked off the work, we knew we wanted to harness some of the bold, irreverent attitude SKYY advertising was known for in the 90s and early 2000s, Raul Gonzalez, managing director global, strategic marketing at Campari, told Agency Daily. advertisement advertisement Our partners at Small helped bring this vision to life by creating a new visual world for SKYY that is cool, real and fun. Born in 1992, SKYY Vodka was one of the first vodka brands to introduce a quadruple-distilled, triple-filtration process to create a smooth spirit. SKYY is part of the Campari Group, which includes Aperol, Campari, Grand Marnier and Wild Turkey. Founded in 1860, Campari is the sixth largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. Luca Pannese, executive creative director of Small, added: With this campaign, we hope to attract not just observers, but participants, fully immersed in each moment of life. by Danielle Oster , May 29, 2024 Wellness company Suja Life has acquired the Slice brand, with plans to revive the nostalgic fruit soda as a better-for-you product in 2025. Details of the acquisition were not disclosed. The relaunch is planned with a fresh look as well as reformulated ingredient profile, according to the company. In a release announcing the news, Suja Life wrote that the flavors and taste profile will resemble the classic, nostalgic sodas people know and love, from Slice, while not just be an all-natural, low-calorie soda, but one that delivers advantages for gut health with superior nutrition, function and taste. Slice is already showcased on Suja Lifes website with a message promising a glow up for visitors favorite childhood soda, and inviting them to sign up with their email to be notified about future news. advertisement advertisement The relaunch arrives roughly 40 years after Slice was first introduced by Pepsi in 1984. PepsiCo started phasing out the brand shortly after the turn of the century, according to Wikipedia. A company owned by Chicago entrepreneur Mark Thomann called New Slice Ventures acquired the brand in 2018, with plans to partner with another of Thomanns ventures, Dormitus Brands, to relaunch Slice as a lower calorie soda sweetened with fruit juice, according to reporting by the Chicago Tribune. The move follows Suja Lifes 2022 acquisition of immunity boost shots brand Vive Organic, and will expand the companys better-for-you drinks portfolio, which also includes its flagship Suja Organic brand, following its launch. Suja also recently expanded into the protein drink category for the first time. The Slice acquisition reflects the parent companys growth strategy under new CEO Maria Stipp, who joined the company from Stone Brewing to replace the retiring Bob DeBorde in the role this past February. by Danielle Oster , May 29, 2024 Riboli Family Wines -- which includes Stella Rosa Wines, which it claims is the number one imported Italian wine in the country -- is investing in the summer of the Spritz with the launch of its new RTD spritz brand, Spritz Del Conte. In a release announcing the news, Riboli described the brand as an Aperitivo-style, ready-to-serve Italian Spritz featuring a blend of aromatic herbs and bubbly white wine with notes of orange and a touch of bitterness, which is ready to drink without any additional mixers. Serving guidelines suggest simply serving over ice with an orange garnish. Launching at retailers nationally, Spritz Del Conte debuts with both an 8.5% ABV Classico variety, and a 0.5% ABV Nonalcoholic option. Its being sold in 750ml bottles for $14.99. advertisement advertisement The move sees the brand entering both the popular spritz category, and the growing low ABV/nonalcoholic sector. According to data from the IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the global no/low-alcohol volume category grew by 5% in volume last year, and is now worth around $13 billion. Spritzes, specifically, are also having something of a moment. According to research agency CGA by NIQ, the drink has been the biggest winner over the course of the past 12 months and eclipsed popular favorites like the Espresso Martini to become the seventh most popular cocktail. The RTD launch, of course, arrives ahead of the summer season commonly associated with the drink. It also follows on the heels of a similar entry into the category. Earlier this month, distilled spirits company Sazerac introduced its own RTD spritz brand line, launching The Spritz across three varieties: Traditional, Limone, and Hugo. While it appears the Sazerac line was first to market -- with a limited launch largely focused on the midwest region -- Ribolis Spritz Del Contes national launch arrives ahead of The Spritz being available nationally this September, according to a Sazerac release announcing news of the launch. Trusted Source Who can donate stem cells or bone marrow? Go to source Trusted Source Health experts highlighted that in India, a new case of #bloodcancer is diagnosed every 5 minutes. Despite this alarming rate, the nation grapples with a significant shortage of blood #stemcelldonors. #organdonation Expanding India's Stem Cell Donor Registry to Save Lives Who can donate stem cells or bone marrow? - (https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/bone-marrow-stem-cell-transplants/who-can-donate-bone-marrow-or-stem-cells) Experts emphasize India's urgent requirement for stem cell donors to combat blood cancer , which claims the lives of over 70,000 individuals annually ()."Besides being the thalassemia capital of the world, India also has a high prevalence of blood cancers. Stem cell transplants are often the only curative option for these conditions, but finding a compatible stem cell match is difficult, especially in a country as genetically diverse as India," Dr Rahul Bhargava, Principal Director & Chief BMT, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, told IANS."In India, someone is diagnosed with blood cancer or a severe blood disorder every five minutes. Despite the global registry having over 41 million donors, India has only about 0.6 million registered. Thousands of patients are in dire need of matching stem cell donors to undergo life-saving transplants. We need to expand our donor database significantly to provide these patients with a fighting chance," added Patrick Paul, CEO of DKMS BMST Foundation India -- a non-profit.The experts also lamented the lack of awareness and misconceptions about the process of stem cell donation that leads to hesitancy to register as a donor."Increased awareness and participation in donor registries are crucial to meeting this life-saving need. In simple terms, stem cell therapy uses stem cells to repair damaged tissues or organs or even to replace them entirely. It is used to treat some types of blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma," Dr Rahul said.The experts stated that matching for stem cell transplants is based on Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) characteristics, not just blood type. To become a potential stem cell donor, the criteria is to be a healthy adult aged between 18 and 55.Source-IANS Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Help You Quit Tobacco Quitting #tobacco abruptly can cause severe withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, mood changes, and impaired cognition. #worldnotobaccoday #smoking #nicotine The Army's Criminal Investigation Division is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information on 31 M17 pistols that went missing from Fort Moore in Georgia. Investigators were notified May 16 that the pistols had been reported missing from the Crescenz Consolidated Equipment Pool on the base, and the firearms are believed to have gone missing sometime between March and May, according to an Army CID reward flyer posted on Reddit. "The Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Moore is [sic] aware of the incident, which remains under investigation," the center's public affairs office said in an email Thursday to Military.com. Read Next: Unprotected: Troops Spent Decades Elbow-Deep in Dangerous Chemicals to Keep Nuclear Missiles Working The reward poster hadn't been posted on the official CID website Thursday, but had been circulated across the Fort Moore installation and among local law enforcement, according to one person familiar with the investigation but who was not authorized to speak publicly about it. The M17 is a 9 mm Sig Sauer pistol with a 17-round magazine capacity. The handgun was adopted by the Defense Department in 2017 to eventually replace the M9 Beretta pistol. The civilian version of the M17, the P320-M17, retails for around $650. According to the Army's regulation governing the physical security of weapons, they must be accounted for by serial number each month, except for those that are "boxed and banded," meaning they are sealed in a container for longer periods. Weapons sent to other locations for repairs or transfer also must be accounted for. In 2021, an investigation by The Associated Press found that at least 1,900 military firearms were lost or stolen during the 2010s, and some were later used in violent crimes within the U.S. "Government records covering the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force show pistols, machine guns, shotguns and automatic assault rifles have vanished from armories, supply warehouses, Navy warships, firing ranges and other places where they were used, stored or transported," according to the AP. "These weapons of war disappeared because of unlocked doors, sleeping troops, a surveillance system that didn't record, break-ins and other security lapses that, until now, have not been publicly reported." A .50-caliber machine gun went missing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state in 2022, and an Army noncommissioned officer was eventually charged with stealing machine gun parts and a smoke grenade. Last year, an M18 pistol, the compact version of the M17, disappeared from a Marine infantry unit in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, the same unit that lost two rifles in 2019, according to Marine Corps Times. In 2022, an M240B machine gun went missing from another Army base, near Fort Irwin, California, the Army Times reported. -- Kelsey Baker is a graduate student at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, and a former active-duty Marine. Reach her on X at @KelsBBaker or bakerkelsey@protonmail.com. Related: Army Sergeant Charged with Stealing Machine Gun Parts, Smoke Grenade After Brigade-Wide Search During the late 1960s, when protests against the Vietnam War erupted across the country, college campuses emerged as places of more than intellectual debate over U.S foreign policy and the countrys deeply racist history. Unlike the protesters against the Israel-Hamas War, many of the college-age demonstrators back then faced the very real possibility of being drafted by the U.S. military and forced to serve in what they considered an unjust war. I was one of the fortunate young Black men who had a deferment that enabled me to avoid compulsory military service because I was enrolled in college. While some saw my deferment as a lifesaver, I was troubled by my friends who had either been drafted or already killed. By the end of 1968, the war had resulted in the deaths of nearly 17,000 Americans, with another 87,000 wounded. Among the bloodied were a disproportionate number of Black soldiers. The protests also made me feel guilty about my own sense of patriotism as I reconsidered the military service of my father, several of his brothers, my grandfather and great-grandfather in different U.S. wars. All of these competing factors came to a boil one day when I was listening to a professor rant and rave against the Vietnam War. Troubled, confused and increasingly frustrated, I asked the philosophy professor if he had ever fought in a war. As some may know, a core tenet of existentialism is that one should experience reality in order to critique it. He answered, No. Then how can you criticize it, I snapped. After that exchange, it didnt take long before another disgruntled student and I dropped out of Southern Illinois University and walked into a nearby Army recruiting station. Both of us enlisted. He joined the Green Berets, the Armys elite special forces, and I went into the Army Security Agency. Surprisingly, I would learn later that my protest against the war and appreciation for U.S. democracy had only begun. Secrets and truths The Army Security Agency was a top secret unit within the Army. It was connected to the National Security Agency, a U.S. Department of Defense agency charged with supporting combat operations and providing cryptological security, cybersecurity and national intelligence. After my training, I received my orders for the war in Vietnam. Our task was to be the eyes and ears of U.S. soldiers on the ground by providing intelligence on Vietnamese troops. It was 1971, and I was stationed about 50 miles within the demilitarized zone in a place called Phu Bai Combat Base. For about the first six months, we did our jobs well. But almost to a man, we began to seriously question the U.S. role in Vietnam and whether the war was moral or just. We no longer believed in the American mission to prevent the spread of communism. We came to the conclusion that communist leader Ho Chi Minh, the leader of North Vietnam, was on the side of freedom. He had modeled his dreams of independence from colonial France on George Washington and the American Revolution against British rule. So what did we do? We went on strike. Acts of treason? Our commanders were pissed, and they read us the riot act. We became part of a small number of Vietnam soldiers that committed mutiny by refusing to do our job. Because the crimes were committed during an active war, we were threatened with major penalties, including court martial and execution by firing squad. But our commanders had a dilemma. How do you punish about 100 essential intelligence officers with top-secret security clearances? The Army did something unique they promoted each of us and promptly shipped us to different locations in Vietnam to serve out our service tours. Though we were thousands of miles away, our individual and collective protests against the war as soldiers kept us linked at least symbolically with our peers on college campuses. Black student protests Police blockade a street on Detroit's Near West Side, about three miles from the downtown area, throwing stones and bottles at store fronts, and looting, July 23, 1967. (AP Photo/Alvan Quinn) When I finally returned to Southern Illinois University in 1976, the war had ended, but the racial unrest on college campuses and cities had continued. Thinking back, its hard to rationalize all the chaos that was occurring. Cities were burning. New York Citys Harlem borough in 1964. The Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts in 1965. The entire year of 1967 became known as the long hot summer after more than 150 race riots erupted across the country. One of the most violent riots took place in Detroit, where 43 Black demonstrators were killed, anywhere between 450 and 2,000 were injured, and 7,231 were arrested before the National Guard ended the bloody mess on July 25, 1967. And just as soon as the civil disorder appeared to subside, another wave of racial protests occurred in more than 100 cities across the country after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in April 1968. In all, between 1965 and 1968, nearly 329 disturbances took place in 257 cities, resulting in nearly 300 deaths, 8,000 injuries, 60,000 arrests and property losses running into the hundreds of millions of dollars. But from all of the racial chaos came at least one tangible result on college campuses the emergence of Black studies programs. In February 1968, Black students at San Francisco State University withstood police beatings and mace and staged a 133-day strike to establish the new academic discipline. The school was the nations first to have a Black studies department. It didnt take long before other universities created similar departments. By the early 1970s, more than 500 schools had programs that explored the complexities of the Black experience long ignored by traditional academia. Though its original intent was to empower Black students, the new departments were designed for the benefit of everyone and welcomed robust debate over long-accepted narratives that placed white people at the center of history, culture and innovation. Those ideals are still relevant as demonstrators for the rights of Palestinians on college campuses draw some of their tactics from the 1960s struggle against racial oppression in the U.S. and French colonial rule in Vietnam. But that debate over how American history and U.S. imperialism is taught rages on as anti-woke campaigns in 24 states want to restrict the teaching of race in public schools, state agencies and institutions. As a professor of critical race studies, I welcome the chance to fight once again. America was born in protest, and civil disobedience is part of our national DNA. There was no reason to stop then, and theres no reason to stop now. Rodney Coates is a Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Miami University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Thursday fired a barrage of suspected ballistic missiles toward its eastern sea, according to South Koreas military, days after its attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite ended in failure but still drew strong condemnation from its rivals. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the North firing around 10 projectiles that appeared to be short-range ballistic missiles from an area near its capital, Pyongyang. It said the suspected missiles flew around 350 kilometers (217 miles) before landing in waters off the Norths eastern coast. It said the South Korean military has increased surveillance and vigilance and is closely sharing information with the United States and Japan. Japans coast guard issued a maritime safety advisory over the North Korean launches and urged ships to exercise caution if they find any fallen objects. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that the suspected missiles were believed to have landed in waters outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone and there were no immediate reports of damages. He said Tokyo strongly condemns the launches, which are in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions against the North. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have increased in recent months as the pace of both North Koreas weapons testing and South Koreas combined military exercises with the United States and Japan have intensified in a cycle of tit-for-tat. Thursdays launches came after North Korea flew hundreds of trash-carrying balloons toward the South since Tuesday night in retaliation against South Korean activists flying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had warned of unspecified overwhelming actions against South Korea after it staged an aerial exercise involving 20 fighter jets near the inter-Korean border hours before North Korea attempted to launch its second military reconnaissance satellite. The rocket exploded shortly after liftoff, but Kim has urged his military scientists to overcome the failure and continue developing space-based reconnaissance capabilities, which he described as crucial for monitoring U.S. and South Korean military activities and enhancing the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles. Also on Thursday, North Korea hit back at international condemnation of its failed satellite launch, which drew strong rebukes from the United Nations and other countries as it involves technologies used for developing intercontinental range ballistic missiles. The North had successfully launched its first military spy satellite in November, but Mondays failure posed a possible setback to Kims plans to launch three more military spy satellites in 2024. We will never tolerate any moves of the hostile forces to violate the inviolable sphere under the exercise of sovereignty nor step back from having access to the space reconnaissance capability which should be done surely no matter what others may say, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong said in a statement published on state media. Kim Son Gyongs statement came as response to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemnation of Mondays launch, which he called a violation of Security Council resolutions that prohibit the North from conducting any launches involving ballistic missile technology. Thursdays launches were the latest in a series of weapons tests by North Korea. On May 17, South Koreas military said that North Korea fired suspected short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast. North Korea later said it tested a tactical ballistic missile with a new autonomous navigation system. The North this year tested various cruise missiles and artillery systems and flight-tested what it described as a solid-fuel intermediate range missile with hypersonic warhead capabilities. Experts say it is designed to reach remote U.S. targets in the Pacific, including the military hub of Guam. ___ AP journalist Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. WASHINGTON A string of security, logistical and weather problems has battered the plan to deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza through a U.S. military-built pier. Broken apart by strong winds and heavy seas just over a week after it became operational, the project faces criticism that it hasnt lived up to its initial billing or its $320 million price tag. U.S. officials say, however, that the steel causeway connected to the beach in Gaza and the floating pier are being repaired and reassembled at a port in southern Israel, then will be reinstalled and working again next week. While early Pentagon estimates suggested the pier could deliver up to 150 truckloads of aid a day when in full operation, that has yet to happen. Bad weather has hampered progress getting aid into Gaza from the pier, while the Israeli offensive in the southern city of Rafah has made it difficult, if not impossible at times, to get aid into the region by land routes. Aid groups have had mixed reactions both welcoming any amount of aid for starving Palestinians besieged by the nearly eight-month-old Israel-Hamas war and decrying the pier as a distraction that took pressure off Israel to open more border crossings, which are far more productive. Its a side-show, said Bob Kitchen, a top official of the International Rescue Committee. The Biden administration has said from the start that the pier wasn't meant to be a total solution and that any amount of aid helps. Nobody said at the outset that it was going to be a panacea for all the humanitarian assistance problems that still exist in Gaza, national security spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday. I think sometimes theres an expectation of the U.S. military because theyre so good that everything that they touch is just going to turn to gold in an instant." We knew going in that this was going to be tough stuff, he added. "And it has proven to be tough stuff. Before the war, Gaza was getting about 500 truckloads of aid on average every day. The United States Agency for International Development says it needs a steady flow of 600 trucks a day to ease the struggle for food and bring people back from the brink of famine. The aid brought through the pier was enough to feed thousands for a month, but U.N. data shows it barely made a dent in the overall need of Gazas 2.3 million people. Here's a look at the timeline of the pier, the problems it faced and what may come next: MARCH: ANNOUNCEMENT AND PREP MARCH 7: President Joe Biden announces his plan for the U.S. military to build a pier during his State of the Union address. Tonight, Im directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters, he said. But even in those first few moments, he noted the pier would increase the amount of humanitarian aid getting into Gaza but that Israel must do its part and let more aid in. MARCH 8: Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, tells reporters it will take up to 60 days to deploy the forces and build the project. MARCH 12: Four U.S. Army boats loaded with tons of equipment and steel pier segments leave Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia and head to the Atlantic Ocean for what is expected to be a monthlong voyage to Gaza. The brigade's commander, Army Col. Sam Miller, warns that the transit and construction will be heavily dependent on the weather and any high seas they encounter. LATE MARCH: U.S. Army vessels hit high seas and rough weather as they cross the Atlantic, slowing their pace. APRIL: CONSTRUCTION AND HOPE APRIL 1: Seven World Central Kitchen aid workers are killed in an Israeli airstrike as they travel in clearly marked vehicles on a delivery mission authorized by Israel. The strike fuels ongoing worries about security for relief workers and prompts aid agencies to pause delivery of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. APRIL 19: U.S. officials confirm that the U.N. World Food Program has agreed to help deliver aid brought to Gaza via the maritime route once construction is done. APRIL 25: Major construction of the port facility on the shore near Gaza City begins to take shape. The onshore site is where aid from the causeway will be delivered and given to aid agencies. APRIL 30: Satellite photos show the U.S. Navy ship USNS Roy P. Benavidez and Army vessels working on assembling the pier and causeway about 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) from the port on shore. MAY: THE PIER OPENS THEN CLOSES MAY 9: The U.S. vessel Sagamore is the first ship loaded with aid to leave Cyprus and head toward Gaza and ultimately the pier. An elaborate security and inspection station has been built in Cyprus to screen the aid coming from a number of countries. MAY 16: Well past the 60-day target time, the construction and assembly of the pier off the Gaza coast and the causeway attached to the shoreline are finished after more than a week of weather and other delays. MAY 17: The first trucks carrying aid for the Gaza Strip roll down the newly built pier and into the secure area on shore, where they will be unloaded and the cargo distributed to aid agencies for delivery by truck into Gaza. May 18: Crowds of desperate Palestinians overrun a convoy of aid trucks coming from the pier, stripping the cargo from 11 of the 16 vehicles before they reach a U.N. warehouse for distribution. May 19-20: The first food from the pier a limited number of high-nutrition biscuits reaches people in need in central Gaza, according to the World Food Program. Aid organizations suspend deliveries from the pier for two days while the U.S. works with Israel to open alternate land routes from the pier and improve security. MAY 24: So far, a bit more than 1,000 metric tons of aid has been delivered to Gaza via the U.S.-built pier, and USAID later says all of it has been distributed within Gaza. MAY 25: High winds and heavy seas damage the pier and cause four U.S. Army vessels operating there to become beached, injuring three service members, including one who is in critical condition. Two vessels went aground in Gaza near the base of the pier and two went aground near Ashkelon in Israel. MAY 28: Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh says large portions of the causeway are being pulled from the beach and moved to an Israeli port for repairs. The base of the causeway remains at the Gaza shore. She also says that aid in Cyprus is being loaded onto vessels and will be ready to unload onto the pier once it is back in place. MAY 29: Two of the Army vessels that ran aground in the bad weather are now back at sea and the other two near the pier are being freed, with the aid of the Israeli navy. WHAT'S NEXT? In the coming days, the sections of the causeway will be put back together, and by the middle of next week will be moved back to the Gaza shore, where the causeway will once again be attached to the beach, the Pentagon says. When we are able to re-anchor the pier back in, youll be able to see that aid flow off in a pretty steady stream," Singh said Tuesday. "Were going to continue to operate this temporary pier for as long as we can. ___ AP writer Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed. Veterans of the spy business like to remind people that there are friendly nations, but no friendly intelligence services. In practical terms, that means our intelligence community shares intelligence with our close allies and even partners with their spy services when our respective interests overlap. At the same time, it also means that we spy on each other because each side never entirely trusts that the other's intelligence is accurate or providing a full or disinterested picture. Perhaps nowhere is this convoluted relationship better illustrated than in the intelligence ties between the United states and Israel. The two allies have a long history of intelligence cooperation that goes back to the earliest days of the Jewish state in the 1950s, when legendary CIA counterintelligence chief James Jesus Angleton established close ties to the Mossad and essentially took over the Israel account. For the past two decades in particular, the CIA and Mossad have been sharing intelligence on mutual targets like Iran and its regional proxies: Hezbollah in Lebanon, several Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. And in the wake of Hamas' devastating Oct. 7 attack -- which surprised Israeli leaders -- Jerusalem and Washington signed a secret memorandum that expanded their already extensive intelligence cooperation, raising concerns among some lawmakers and human rights groups that the new arrangement is adding to the staggering civilian death toll in Gaza. Indeed, so deep and institutionalized is the intelligence sharing between the United States and Israel that knowledgeable sources tell SpyTalk that the Mossad has maintained a discreet office behind an unmarked door inside CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. But even though U.S. and Israeli officials are loath to talk about it, the two allies also have a lengthy history of aggressively snooping on each other. In 2009, the NSA intercepted a telephone call between an Israeli influence agent and then-Rep. Jane Harman, a California Democrat with a longtime involvement in intelligence issues, in which shed said she would lobby the Justice Department to reduce espionage-related charges against two officials of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, the most powerful pro-Israel organization in Washington. In exchange for Harman's help, sources told then-Congressional Quarterly National Security Editor Jeff Stein, the suspected Israeli agent pledged to help lobby Nancy Pelosi, then-House minority leader, to appoint Harman chair of the Intelligence Committee after the 2006 elections. In more recent years, two former heads of FBI counterintelligence have told SpyTalk that they regularly had to call Israeli officials on the carpet in Washington and tell them to "cut the shit," meaning to stop trying to steal American technology. To some annoyance here, Israelis also continue to invite former U.S. security officials to conferences around Tel Aviv, where they size them up as potential sources. But the spying has gone both ways, including at the highest levels. The National Security Agency, in particular, has long trained its electronic ears and cyber apps on the Israeli leadership, a practice that has probably intensified, a source told SpyTalk, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Biden have clashed over the war in Gaza. In the Beginning In the late 1950s, the CIA flew U2 spy planes over Dimona, the isolated Negev Desert site of Israel's nuclear reactor, to determine if it was really designed only for peaceful purposes, as the Israelis claimed. After also secretly sending operatives to test the soil around Dimona for weapons-grade levels of radioactivity, the CIA estimated in 1960 that the reactor was "intended for the production of weapons-grade plutonium". A year later, the CIA predicted Israel would be in a position to "produce sufficient weapons grade plutonium for one or two crude weapons a year by 1965-66". The CIA's intelligence estimates on Israel's nuclear program turned out to be accurate. In 1969, Prime Minister Golda Meir confessed to President Richard Nixon that Israel indeed had developed nuclear weapons, but fearing a Middle East nuclear arms race, the two leaders agreed to keep the Israeli bomb an official secret, a policy that both countries still maintain despite the expert opinion that Israel today has amassed an arsenal of some 90 nuclear weapons, as well as a triad of ballistic missiles, warplanes and submarines to deliver them. One of the ugliest chapters of the U.S-Israel spy wars was the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, a NSA spy ship that was monitoring Israeli communications during the 1967 Middle East war from international waters in the Mediterranean off the northern coast of Egypt's Sinai peninsula. On June 8, 1967, Israeli warplanes repeatedly strafed the Liberty with cannon fire and set it aflame with napalm bombs before an Israeli torpedo tore a 39-foot hole in its starboard hull. The attack killed 33 U.S. sailors and one NSA civilian, wounded 117 others, and severely damaged the ship, which miraculously managed to limp to safety in Malta. Israel later apologized for the attack, claiming it had mistaken the Liberty for an enemy Egyptian ship, and paid $13 million (the equivalent of $82 million today) in compensation to the victims' families and for material damage to the vessel. But some critics believe Israel intentionally attacked the Liberty to prevent U.S. eavesdroppers from learning of Israel's plans to seize Syria's Golan Heights. The most treacherous episode in the spy vs. spy rivalry between Israel and the United States was the Pollard affair. In 1987, Jonathan Pollard, a U.S. Naval intelligence analyst was convicted of spying for Israel, becoming the first American to go to jail for life for passing secrets to a U.S. ally. The top-secret intelligence Pollard provided to Israel was so vast and damaging that the complete list of files remains highly classified to this day. After serving 30 years in prison, he was paroled in 2015 and quickly emigrated to Israel, where he was hailed as a hero. Pollard remains one of the most damaging spies in U.S. history. These days, former security officials say, the United States and Israel spy on each other using mostly electronic means. That puts the Hebrew linguists at the National Security Agency and the FBI on the front lines of the U.S. espionage mission to learn what Israel isn't sharing with its American counterparts. "Yes, we tap and monitor the world, including the GOI, the Mossad, Shin Bet and the IDF," a former high-ranking State Department official with extensive contacts in the military and intelligence communities told SpyTalk, referring to the government of Israel, its foreign and domestic spy services, and the Israel Defense Forces. This official requested anonymity to discuss highly sensitive issues. Another retired senior intelligence official, who also asked not to be named, said the NSA's satellites, cell phone technology and other classified systems "act like a giant giant vacuum cleaner," amassing mountains of raw intelligence from recorded phone conversations, emails, texts, photos and video from all over the world. NSA analysts then use key words to pinpoint relevant information regarding specific targets. The first former official says the NSA has used its capability to tap supposedly secure communications lines between foreign agencies and offices and in some cases has even planted sophisticated bugs in the offices of presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers to listen or even watch what goes on in them. "You would be surprised how secure' these people are told by their own people these phones are," this former official says. "We also now have satellites that will do this for us and give us the data almost in real time, both sound and sometimes video." According to classified documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden in 2013, the NSA has shared some of that raw intelligence with Israel, including the names of U.S. persons, as part of their intelligence cooperation agreements. But at the same time, these leaked documents showed, the NSA cites Israel as a "priority target" for intelligence gathering, along with China, Russia, Iran and Cuba. Tapping Leaders' Cell Phones As far back as 2013, one high-value NSA target was Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite President Barack Obama's promise to curb U.S. eavesdropping on friendly world leaders following Snowden's leak and a revelation that the U.S.had eavesdropped on German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cell phone since 2002, the NSA continued to spy on Netanyahu because of White House concerns that he might order an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear program without warning, a move that almost certainly would draw the United States into another Middle East war. Though U.S. fears of a preemptive Israeli strike subsided, the NSA continued to monitor Netanyahu to learn if Israel had discovered the secret negotiations that began in 2013 between the United States and Iran for a deal that would curb the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. Sure enough, intercepted conversations between Netanyahu and his top intelligence officials confirmed that Israeli spies knew about the negotiations and later leaked details of the talks to turn Congress against the nuclear deal. According to former U.S. counterespionage officials, Israeli spies most likely learned of the secret talks by using sophisticated electronic devices, called Stingrays, that mimic cell phone towers. Such devices, when installed on a telephone pole or on a rooftop near the White House, State Department, national security think tanks or the offices of foreign-connected lobbyists in Washington, can capture cell phone calls and even download the entire contents of a mobile phone, including emails, texts, photos and videos. It's unclear whether the NSA has fully informed congressional oversight committees as to which foreign leaders -- if any -- it's currently targeting. Not surprisingly that's not the kind of information that the NSA or the committees share with the media. The NSA did not respond immediately to a request for comment. One former CIA officer suggests they may have not come clean with Congress. "If it ever got back to the [congressional intelligence] oversight committees, there would be hell to pay," a former CIA case officer who served in Israel told SpyTalk. "The Israeli lobby's minions wouldn't stand for that." But this former spy added: "It would seem to be very much in the interest of U.S. national security to eavesdrop on Bibi and company, given their extremist policies which endanger the U.S." Earlier this month, the Biden administration reportedly offered to provide Israel with intelligence on the location of wanted Hamas leaders and the tunnels under Gaza where they're hiding if Netanyahu calls off his plan to invade Rafah, the enclave's southernmost city where Israel says the last Hamas battalions are hiding amid more than a million displaced Palestinian civilians. Asked if the administration is now using intelligence as a carrot to minimize civilian casualties, Chuck Freilich, a former Israeli deputy national security adviser, said that's not how U.S.-Israel intelligence cooperation works. "Bilateral intelligence cooperation is too deep and institutionalized, and the Biden administration too committed to eliminating both the tunnels and Hamas leaders, for this to be the case," Freilich said in an email. But by quoting foreign reports, a time-honored method for current and former Israeli officials to avoid violating classification rules, Freilich seemed to confirm that the NSA continues to eavesdrop on Israeli officials, and that Israel's own equivalent of the NSA -- the IDF's vaunted Unit 8200 -- is well aware of such espionage. "There have been long-standing reports of U.S. eavesdropping on Israel, including by cyber," he said. "Presumably, [defensive] measures are being taken." He refused to comment further. SpyTalk Editor-in-chief Jeff Stein and Contributing Editor Peter Eisner contributed reporting to this story. You can hear a discussion of the US-Israeli spy wars with Jeff Stein and Jonathan Broder on the latest edition of the SpyTalk podcast, on Apple or wherever you listen This article first appeared on Spytalk.co. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. In 1967, I was stationed at a U.S. Army base in Bien Hoa, Vietnam -- one of the primary nodes in Operation Ranch Hand. This was the lighthearted name given to the cruel campaign of defoliating large areas of Vietnam with Agent Orange, making it easier for bombers and fighters to set their targets and depriving the local population of food. Almost 60 years later, the soil and groundwater in and around Bien Hoa remain contaminated with toxic chemicals, making residents ill. Many Vietnam veterans have also become sick. I have two medical conditions resulting from my exposure to Agent Orange: cardiac disease and prostate cancer. The Department of Veterans Affairs provides care and compensation for these ailments, though this support requires securing a disability rating -- a number from zero to 100. The higher the number, the more care and compensation a veteran receives. Getting that rating entails navigating a morass of regulations, evaluations and paperwork. Thankfully, there is an army of well-trained and accredited service officers, who often help veterans like me. Unfortunately, there is now also a competing industry of unaccredited, for-profit companies, many of which offer sketchy services at astronomical costs. I've used accredited officers for both of my conditions, though in my most recent experience for prostate cancer, I've been inundated by appeals from shady claims companies, referred to by veterans' advocacy groups as "claims sharks." As things currently stand, the VA is not able to take legal action against unaccredited claim sharks. It can only send cease-and-desist letters. This is the result of a truly illogical policy that Congress pushed in 2006. While Congress said the predatory tactics used by claim sharks are technically illegal, legislators mysteriously removed any penalties. Since there are no legal consequences for noncompliance, claim sharks across the country are acting with impunity. Congress is seeking to stop predatory sharks through the GUARD VA Benefits Act, mostly by reimposing criminal penalties. Veterans and the broader community should contact their congressional delegation and demand immediate passage of this legislation. The nation cannot allow predatory companies to take advantage of those who answered the call to duty. I secured my rating for cardiac disease nearly a decade ago, before these unaccredited "claims sharks" had really emerged. The path to my rating began after I experienced a heart attack and underwent emergency quintuple bypass surgery. Unfortunately, I had a potentially fatal allergic reaction to one of the drugs I was given, which caused me to be kept unconscious for four days. I consequently developed pneumonia, and a false diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was entered into my medical record. After the surgery, I contacted my county's Veterans Services Office to apply for a service-connection rating for cardiac disease. This office employs agents who are trained, tested and accredited by the VA Office of General Counsel. Accredited claims agents undergo background checks. The accredited agents employed by local governments or veterans' groups don't charge for their services. Those who do must submit detailed fee agreements to the government to be scrutinized and approved as fair. The office submitted my initial claim, which was approved only for a 10% disability rating. This was because of the false diagnosis of COPD, which was cited as the primary factor in my cardiac issues. My accredited officer assisted in helping me object to the diagnosis of COPD. As part of this appeals process, I was referred for a more comprehensive medical examination. My accredited officer also advised me to obtain a statement from the pulmonologist who examined me post-surgery and found no evidence of COPD. Submission of the pulmonologist's evidence, combined with the findings of the second medical examination, resulted in the VA reversing its initial decision and awarding me a 60% disability rating. This was far from an easy process, but I was deeply grateful to have free, expert assistance in the form of my county service officer. A decade later, in January, I had prostate surgery. Tissue biopsies revealed the presence of prostate cancer. I returned to the same county veterans office, which prepared and filed a claim for service-connected disability based on exposure to Agent Orange. My service connection for prostate cancer is currently under review by the VA, but, like cardiac disease, it is a presumptive disability from exposure to Agent Orange. An award of service-connection for prostate cancer is expected soon. According to the VA, a decision letter is being prepared. Ever since I applied for a service-connected rating for prostate cancer, I have been inundated by ads from these claim sharks. They are not required to adhere to the same professional and ethical standards as accredited representatives, and many are poorly trained to help a veteran navigate the intricate rules and regulations concerning veterans' benefits. Claim sharks are for-profit companies that charge thousands for services that are provided for free by county veterans service offices and veterans service organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion. The assistance offered by accredited VSOs is of higher quality than what's offered by claim sharks. That's because their mission is to help veterans, not to use them to turn a tidy profit. The ads from claims sharks appear daily in my email messages and on my Facebook account. They falsely claim to offer expedited service and suggest it is possible to easily achieve an award of 100% disability. In fact, there are no shortcuts to the VA disability process. -- Bruce Carruthers is an Army Vietnam veteran, retired VA employee, and member of the Steering Committee at the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute. Motor Machinist's Mate First Class William F. Trump was a Coast Guardsman and steeled veteran of amphibious landings long before departing for Normandy. He landed troops at Sicily in 1943 and Salerno later that same year. When he arrived in England, he began to memorize the landmarks that would help him drive his landing craft toward his target beach in France. Like most troops, he didn't know when that would be, but he knew the invasion of Europe would be a pivotal point in the war. Operation Overlord was one of the most complex military operations in the history of modern warfare. On June 6, 1944, nearly 200,000 sailors landed some 156,000 soldiers on five beaches along the Normandy coast. The D-Day invasion was the largest amphibious invasion in military history, but it was only the first footprint of the Allies' liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe. By the end of August 1944, more than two million Allied troops would cross the English Channel into France, along with tanks, fuel, supplies and other war materiel. Coast Guard Captains Edward Fritzche (left) and Miles Imlay (right) discuss the invasion of Omaha Beach on a relief map laid out in the hold of the Samuel Chase. (U.S. Coast Guard) The landings were dubbed Operation Neptune. The soldiers and sailors who assaulted the German defenders' positions are rightfully remembered for their heroism and sacrifice. The Nazis began fortifying their "Atlantic Wall" in 1942 and positioned more than 50,000 troops and 170 coastal guns in its maze of concrete and steel. Along with the Army and Navy, thousands of Army Air Forces aircraft dropped more than 13,000 paratroopers and 3,000 glider troops into Normandy. An estimated 306 Marines were also present in the English Channel, setting off seaborne mines and ready to land if needed. The Coast Guard is known today as a maritime law enforcement and protective force. One of its primary missions is protecting coastal areas, minimizing losses to life and property by searching for and rescuing people in distress. On D-Day, Coasties were not only living up to their continued mission of saving lives, but many, like William F. Trump, were using their unmatched littoral skills to drop U.S. Army troops at their target beaches. LCVPs from the USS Samuel Chase approach Omaha Beach under fire on D-Day, June 6, 1944. (U.S. Coast Guard) The Higgins Boats At Normandy, Trump would crew an LCI (or "Landing Craft, Infantry"), a 158-foot-long and 23-foot-wide ship capable of ferrying up to 200 soldiers to the beaches. His mission didn't stop with the landing: He had to jump off his ship under fire and anchor a line onto the shore to help the disembarking soldiers find their way onto the beach. But the MVP of D-Day -- and according to Allied Supreme Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the entire war -- wasn't the LCI, but the Higgins boat. Officially designated "Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel," these unique boats were one of the major technological innovations of the war. They were nicknamed "Higgins boats" for their creator, New Orleans industrialist Andrew Jackson Higgins, who modified shallow water Eureka Craft boats used in oil and gas production to meet the needs of the U.S. Army. Because of the Higgins boat, amphibious invasions were no longer centered on heavily defended ports, and the Allies could choose their target beaches at will. The versatility of the Higgins boat was on display at Normandy. At Utah Beach, the Coast Guard's USS Bayfield assault transport was the "nerve center" for the entire Utah sector, landing much of the U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division. Coast Guard vessels also landed British and Canadian troops along with supplies at beaches Gold, Juno and Sword. But the Coast Guard was centered around assault group O-1, led by the USS Samuel Chase, on the eastern areas of Omaha Beach, where it would land the Army's 1st Infantry Division, "The Big Red One." When the time came to load the transports and cross the English Channel, the landing craft were piloted by highly trailed and thoroughly drilled Coast Guardsmen, many of whom were veterans of other amphibious invasions. Over 11 miles of rough, choppy seas, the Higgins boats full of soldiers pitched and rolled as they made their way to their target beachheads, dodging mines and obstacles as they approached. The coxswains driving the boats had to land six transports for every 3,000 yards of beach, all on an exact timetable. A panoramic view of the Omaha beachhead after it was secured, sometime around mid-June 1944, at low tide. The Coast Guard-manned LST-262 is the third beached LST from the right, one of 10 Coast Guard-manned LSTs that participated in the invasion of Normandy. (U.S. Coast Guard) The first wave consisted of eight assault battalions. Two minutes later, a demolition team would land, having just 30 minutes to clear obstacles. From 7 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., the Coast Guard (along with some Navy sailors) would land a new wave every 10 minutes. At 8:30 a.m., LCIs manned by men like Trump began landing their forces. Unlike the Higgins boats, the LCIs could tear through beach obstacles, as long as they weren't mined. By 11 a.m., the Samuel Chase had offloaded the entire 1st Infantry Division. Its landing craft, having dispatched its troops and supplies, changed its mission. They then joined the rescue effort. The Rescue Flotilla Despite the massive logistical complexity of the operation, just a few weeks before the invasion, President Franklin D. Roosevelt "suggested" Operation Overlord needed a rescue flotilla. Naturally, Chief of Naval Operations Ernest J. King tapped the Coast Guard to man such a rescue team. The Coast Guard at the time operated a number of 83-foot patrol boats along the United States' Atlantic Coast. Nicknamed the "Matchbox Fleet," they were simple wooden ships running on gasoline engines, but they had capable crews and were shipped to England. Some 60 of these "Matchbox" ships were renamed Rescue Flotilla One, and its crewmen were trained in amphibious maneuvers such as small boat handling and ship-to-shore movement, as well as beach landings and retractions. The fleet was split in half between the British and Canadian sectors and the American sector. Roosevelt's suggestion was remarkably prescient: The Coast Guard would save 400 men on D-Day alone. By the end of the year, that number would balloon to more than 1,400. Their lifesaving day began before the Allies ever set foot on the beach. At Gold, Juno and Sword beaches, the Matchbox Flotilla spent D-Day rescuing British and Canadian troops from the choppy channel, ferrying personnel and, as they got closer to the beaches, pulling survivors out of burning landing craft. Off Omaha and Utah Beach, they also pulled men from the waters, but the Coast Guardsmen were 2,000 yards away from the action and did their rescue swimming under heavy machine-gun, mortar and artillery fire. Proximity to the beach did not determine anyone's safety on D-Day. Coast Guard landing ships were hit by seaborne mines, 88-millimeter artillery shells and countless bullets. One LCI was hit 25 times. Another beached on a sandbar, allowing the Germans to pour artillery onto it. Ships burned, forcing the crews and hundreds of troops to abandon them in the middle of the channel. Those who bailed out closer to the beaches were mowed down by unrelenting machine-gun fire. Two Royal Air Force flight crew members from a Mosquito bomber that crashed in the English Channel are rescued by the crew of a Coast Guard 83-foot cutter of Coast Guard Rescue Flotilla One. (U.S. Coast Guard) Meanwhile, Coast Guard-manned transports lay offshore, staffed by corpsmen and doctors from the U.S. Public Health Service. Coast Guard landing craft returned from the beaches and surrounding waters with wounded soldiers and sailors. The assault transport USS Joseph T. Dickman sickbay was filled up so fast, it had to return to Plymouth in England to drop the troops off. The Coast Guard's mission in Operation Overlord wasn't over on D-Day. The USS Bayfield spent the next 19 days directing operations near Utah Beach. Capt. Miles Imlay, who directed traffic toward the beach all morning, would go on to manage all the Allied traffic coming into Europe from Britain and elsewhere after artificial harbors were constructed and the invasion moved inland. There were 99 vessels crewed by Coasties during Operation Neptune. By midnight, 18 Coast Guardsmen would be dead with another 38 wounded. The Coast Guard lost more vessels that day than any other day in its history -- but no one else was more qualified for the variety of work it was asked to do that day. "We didn't think twice about going to help out a shipmate in distress," said one Coast Guard commander. "Ship spirit is at its best when the enemy is making it tough for us." Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. The space industry is one that is always evolving and innovating, with companies like SpaceX leading the way in pushing the boundaries of whats possible. With their ambitious plans for colonizing Mars, expanding their solar power network, and sending humans to the moon, SpaceX has been at the forefront of this exciting new era. (When Is The Next Launch For Space X) However, as we near the end of the year, there is speculation about when the next launch from SpaceX could happen. While SpaceX has been releasing more information than usual during the holiday season, many fans have been eagerly waiting for more details on their plans. One potential date that has been mentioned is February 2023. According to Elon Musk, SpaceX will be launching a crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) later that month, which will be their first trip to the ISS without the need for Russian astronauts. While SpaceX has not provided any official confirmation yet, this news would certainly be an exciting development for space enthusiasts and investors alike. It would also mark a significant milestone in the history of space exploration, as it would be SpaceXs first attempt to send a human to the ISS without relying on Russias partnership with NASA. Of course, there are many other factors that can influence when a new launch from SpaceX might occur. These include delays in supply chain logistics due to COVID-19 or unexpected challenges that arise during the launch process. However, with SpaceXs reputation for reliability and efficiency, it is likely that they will continue to push forward with their plans for the future. (When Is The Next Launch For Space X) In conclusion, while we do not know exactly when the next launch from SpaceX will happen, it is clear that this exciting time for space exploration is only just beginning. As SpaceX continues to make progress in their plans, it will be fascinating to see how they develop and execute their ambitious goals in the coming months and years. As an AI language model, I do not have access to real-time information about the future launch dates and schedules of SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket. However, based on the companys past launches and plans, we can make some educated guesses about where the Falcon 9 will be launched in the near future. (Where Will Space X Falcon Be Launched) SpaceX has already launched its Falcon 9 rockets from multiple locations around the world, including Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, Cape Canaveral Launch Complex in Florida, pad 4 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and pad 39B at SeaWorld San Diego. The company is also planning to launch its first commercial satellite using its Falcon 10 rocket from pad 27 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the past, SpaceX has launched its Falcon 9 rockets from different locations for a variety of missions. For example, during its successful landing of the Dragon spacecraft on board the International Space Station in February 2021, SpaceX flew its Falcon 9 rocket from pad 4 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Based on SpaceXs past launches and plans, it is likely that the Falcon 9 rocket will be launched again from various locations around the world in the near future. However, it is difficult to predict exactly where the rocket will be launched due to factors such as weather conditions, launch window availability, and other logistical considerations. Despite these uncertainties, SpaceX continues to develop new technologies and capabilities that will enable it to launch more powerful and efficient rockets into space. The company is also working on developing reusable rockets that can be launched multiple times, which could further reduce the cost and environmental impact of launching rockets into space. (Where Will Space X Falcon Be Launched) In conclusion, while it is difficult to predict exactly where SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket will be launched in the near future, the company continues to develop new technologies and capabilities that will enable it to continue sending satellites and astronauts to orbit. With its past successes and continued innovation, SpaceX remains one of the most promising companies in the field of space exploration. MUSKEGON, MI - Michigans smallest bar is tapping out in downtown Muskegon ahead of the summer season. The Peoples Cider Co. opened the lakeshore location in one of Muskegons seasonal Western Market chalets last spring at 307 W. Western Ave., Unit Q. A year later, the quaint bar wont reopen. MACKINAC ISLAND, MI Former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan thinks Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is pretty damn popular. Shes definitely a star in your party, Ryan said Wednesday, May 29, during a discussion at the Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island. The Republican and one-time vice presidential nominee gave that response when asked by Harold Ford Jr., a former Democratic congressman from Tennessee, what politicians he thinks best display bipartisanship, solemnity in duty and a willingness to tackle serious issues. Ryan named a few people, including Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, before mentioning Whitmer, who he said he doesnt know well but touched on the two-term governors popularity. Whitmer has been viewed as a potential presidential candidate in 2028 but hasnt herself confirmed those ambitions. She serves as the national co-chair for President Joe Bidens reelection campaign. Related: Gov. Whitmer gives a wink during Washington speech: See you in 2029 The question was raised after Ryan criticized some in Congress who he said are more entertainers trying to get famous than politicians focused on policy. Ryan called out U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, as examples of this, mentioning how they both tried to oust speakers of the U.S. House, with Gaetz being successful. Gaetz successfully led the charge last fall to vote out former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Greenes attempt this year to ouster U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who replaced McCarthy, was not successful. The issue is close to home for Ryan, who served as speaker of the U.S. House from 2015 to 2019 before retiring from politics. The longtime Wisconsin congressman was a vice presidential nominee on the 2012 Republican ticket with U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney. The interview with Ryan spanned a wide range of topics, from the war in Gaza to misinformation and its use by Americas adversaries to undermine U.S. democracy. Ryan talked about ongoing failures by the Republican and Democratic parties to capture a majority of Americans, in part because of politicians playing to the base that votes during primaries. For Democrats, Ryan sees them as leaning too far left and having to play to a more progressive base. As for Republicans, Ryan said the base has gotten more weird and fringe because of populism taking over the party. The good news, he said, is that the populism in the party and the cult of personality around former President Donald Trump is temporary, given Trumps age and that he has at most one more term as president. One of the reasons the Republican party is struggling right now, Ryan said, is because the populism isnt attached to any ideas, principles or policies and is instead about one person winning. Since the era of former President Ronald Reagan, the Republican party could be defined as a coalition of social conservatives, free market conservatives and national security hawks, he said. The Reagan era is over, and it ended with Trump, Ryan said. Ryan mentioned in passing the tumult faced by the Michigan Republican Party and applauded the state partys chair, Pete Hoekstra, for trying to bring back some normalcy. Related: A fractured Michigan GOP struggles to mend ties at convention Hoekstra succeeded former Michigan Republican Party Chair Kristina Karamo earlier this year after a confusing battle for power that required a judge to weigh in. LANSING, MI It was an unusual day at a Michigan fire station when a snake needed to be rescued from a teacup, officials said. This young lady was having a tea party when her pet snake decided to join in, only to find itself stuck in the cup, the Lansing Fire Department said in a news release Tuesday. A snake was rescued from a teacup by Lansing Firefighter Jones. It had slithered through the cup's handle and became stuck.Lansing Fire Department The snake had slithered through the handle of one of the cups and could not free itself. Lansing Fire Department Station 6 welcomed the reptilian visitor and Firefighter Jones bravely came to the rescue and freed the snake. While the cup was cut in the rescue effort, the child went home with a happy pet and a junior firefighter hat. ANN ARBOR, MI - An Ann Arbor Public Schools therapy dog will remain with the district after a judge denied a teachers efforts to have it returned to her care while a lawsuit determine who its rightful owner is. Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Connors denied Wines Elementary School kindergarten teacher Alexandria Fatas request for a temporary restraining order Thursday, May 30, that sought the return of a bernedoodle named Gracie that she has cared for the last two years. Its rare for him to grant temporary restraining orders in such cases, Connors said, noting there were questions surrounding each of the four factors judges are asked to consider in granting such an order. I seldom sign ex parte requests because in my entire life experience as a man on the bench, theres always another side to the story, Connors said. Fatas attorneys disagree that Gracie remains the therapy dog at Wines. AAPS attorney Anne-Marie Welch said Gracie is in the care of Wines Elementary Principal David DeYoung, the dogs secondary caregiver, and should remain with the school. READ MORE: Ann Arbor principal stole kindergarten teachers dog, lawsuit alleges I want Gracie to be kept as Wines therapy dog, Welch said. Miss Fata knew the circumstances under which she was given this dog. Fatas attorney Charlotte Croson said she is very disappointed with Connors decision to deny returning the dog to her clients care without holding an evidentiary hearing. We think Gracie belongs with (Fata) and we think the community supports that, Croson said. The lawsuit alleges that when Fata told DeYoung in March she would be resigning from her position at the end of this school year so her partner could pursue a job opportunity, DeYoung attempted to threaten and bully Fata into abandoning the dog. When those efforts failed, DeYoung physically stole Gracie on April 29, abetted by his supervisor, the lawsuit states. In a letter to Fatas attorney on May 10, Welch wrote the district did not wrongfully convert Fatas property to their own use, claiming Fatas efforts to gain possession of Gracie reflect her misunderstanding about who owns the dog. Welch wrote the districts parent teacher organization would not have provided $12,500 in training costs to the dog training business The UpNUp Pup for a staff members dog, instead describing Fata as the dogs primary handler. Welch also outlined that Michigan Mountain Doodles, which donated Gracie, expressed in written correspondence that the dog would be owned and cared for by the school. Wines Elementarys parent teacher organization also believes the dog belongs to the school and not Fata. The PTO provided funds for training the dog, with the goal for the dog to be a permanent part of the Wines Elementary family, available to all students, according to a letter it issued on May 23. READ MORE: Therapy dog at center of lawsuit belongs to school, Ann Arbor parent group says In an Aug. 21, 2023 email to Fata, DeYoung wrote that Gracie was technically your dog and not owned by the school or district, but it included a caveat. We have an agreement (that we can put in writing) that she is part of the school community during her serviceable lifetime, DeYoung wrote. In other words, if you were to move or take another job, etc., then we would need to transfer ownership to a member of the staff who is still here or find a way that she is at Wines daily. Fata emailed DeYoung back the same day disputing the existence of any such agreement and alleges in the lawsuit that no agreement had ever been reached. The lawsuit contends that in 2021 Fata volunteered to adopt a dog that would be trained and certified to serve as the schools therapy dog after DeYoung emailed Wines teachers and staff seeking such a volunteer and acknowledging there was the chance that the dog might not end up being a perfect fit for a school. In addition to seeking the immediate and unconditional return of Gracie, Fata is seeking just compensation for the value of her property, all economic damages, emotional and physical distress and appropriate equitable relief. If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. KENT COUNTY, MI In separate April incidents, police officers in Kent County crashed into suspects fleeing on foot, killing both. There, similarities end. JACKSON, MI A Jackson woman duped into helping with online romance scams has been barred by a federal court from aiding or interacting with fraudsters in any way. U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan Paul D. Borman approved a consent decree, May 16, from federal prosecutors prohibiting Holly Locke, 70, from assisting, facilitating, or participating in any more romance scams, according to the United States Attorneys Office Eastern District of Michigan. The decree comes after investigators discovered Locke was repeatedly aiding romance scammers, acting as a money transmitter, while she herself was also being scammed, despite being told so by police who ordered her to stop, prosecutors said. A money transmitter aids in scams by receiving money from other victims and obscuring the transfer of funds from those victims to the fraudster. Locke is alleged to have acted in this role after meeting and developing a romantic relationship with several fraudsters online, prosecutors said. Locke began by aiding a fraudster in Ghana in February 2022, believing she was helping him build an orphanage in Africa, according to the federal complaint. Once their relationship developed, Locke began receiving numerous packages from strangers containing money, which she passed on to her purported fiance/husband in Ghana. The money was sent from victims who believed they were assisting their own online romantic partners and friends, the complaint states. After flagging several Priority Mail packages sent by Locke to Africa in 2022, U.S. Postal Inspectors intervened, investigated and told Locke she was the victim of a romance scam, prosecutors said, adding she signed a cease and desist order stating she would no longer interact with the scammer. There were no further issues until May 2023, when Locke became a money transmitter again in several other new scams involving people Locke met on Facebook who said they needed help paying medical bills, court records show. This civil action against Locke is the first of its kind in the Eastern District of Michigan and is part of a broader trend in recent years by the Department of Justice to disrupt international fraud rings that target U.S. citizens through fake social media profiles, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison said. This consent decree cuts off the flow of money from the victims to the international fraudsters behind these scams, Ison said. In an increasingly online world, people are under constant threat from unscrupulous people trying to compromise personal information or otherwise defraud them. This case should put fraudsters on notice that we will protect our citizens from this particularly cruel type of victimization. Locke did not admit liability as part of the consent decree, Ison said. In a romance scam, a person typically starts talking to a stranger they meet online, not knowing the stranger intends to defraud them. After developing a friendship or romantic relationship, the fraudster will ask the victim to send them money based on false claims about the need for the funds, officials involved in this case said. If the victim does not have money to send, sometimes the fraudster will use that person as a money transmitter by routing payments from other victims to that person and instructing that person to transfer the money to the fraudster, officials said. People are urged to be on the lookout for signs someone is trying to recruit them to receive and transmit fraud proceeds. People should not agree to receive money or checks mailed to them or sent to their bank account from someone they have met over the phone or online, and should not open a bank or cryptocurrency account at someone elses direction, officials said. Typical actions by fraudsters may include falsely saying they are helping a person get a lottery prize, initiate a romantic relationship, and then tell them they need money, or pretend to offer the person a job, an opportunity to invest in a business venture, or the chance to help in a charitable effort, officials said. Those knowing anyone age 60 or older who has experienced financial fraud, should contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. The Federal Trade Commission also provides a hotline at 877-FTC-HELP and a website at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov to receive consumer complaints. CALHOUN COUNTY, MI -- Federal officials visited a Michigan Native American reservation on Wednesday, May 29, to address a key issue for tribes across the nation affordable housing. Officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) spoke with tribal leaders and toured new housing at the Nottawaseppi Huron band of the Potawatomi tribe (NHBP) at the Pine Creek Indian Reservation. MT. MORRIS TWP., MI -- Weve seen stretch limousines. Weve seen expensive cars, horse-drawn carriages and even a goat being taken as a prom date. But to see two prom-goers in a helicopter land just a few hundred feet in front of Beecher High School, thats a first. As neighbors streamed onto sidewalks in the nearby neighborhood, drivers pulled over to watch. Spectators looked up to bear witness as Beecher senior Terry Thames, 17, waved to the crowd of hundreds alongside his date, Hamady senior Zenobia Hodo, 18. This is just so exciting to be able to do this, Hodo said. Ive never been in a helicopter. This is just so cool. Thames said he wanted his arrival to be remembered, not only for this year, but for years to come. To be honest, I dont even like planes. For real, Thames said. But the helicopter is pretty cool, and I love coming to prom in a helicopter. LaToya Thames, Terrys mother, wanted to send her son off in style for the dance. She rented the helicopter and pilot Kaleb Brady through his company Maxflight Helicopter Service Inc., based in Grosse Ile in the Detroit area. As this prom is the last big event before graduation and lifes next chapter, LaToya Thames wanted her one and only to have this memory to cherish for a lifetime. Thats my fly guy, so I had to bring him in flying. Hes the No. 7 in the top 10 of his class. Hes been on the honor roll and in the honor society since hes been in kindergarten, she said. He deserves it all, so I wanted to give it to him while he is here. To see him go to prom, that means the world to me. This is Beecher prom. Its not only a vibe, but a mixture of cultural celebration, school pride and the biggest, baddest red carpet you may ever see. Year after year, students bring their A-game to become the kings and queens they truly are -- sporting bling and chains, showing swagger on the walk out of the car, and simply showing out to the community that has loved and built them. Related: See photos from the 2024 Beecher red carpet More than 30 Beecher students and guests showed off their outfits to start the 2024 prom in style outside of Dailey Elementary School, just up the road from the high school. Beautiful dresses. Dapper suits. Some couples matched, and others showed off interesting bling and accessories that shined bright. But everyone stopped and looked to the sky when Terry Thames arrived. This means a lot to me, Thames said. I wanted to be different than everyone else. Brady, the helicopters pilot, said bringing first time fliers up is always a thrill, as he sees their expressions change from terror and fear to absolute joy. Those expressions get more relaxed with the atmosphere Brady has built into the experience, complete with air conditioning on, gradual takeoffs, and a music playlist of the passengers choice. One thousand feet in the air at 100 miles per hour, it feels really slow. You get to see a lot. Its a really good vantage point, he said. A lot of these kids have never been up in the air or left Michigan, so its a lot of fun to see them enjoy their first time in the air too. Maxflight Helicopter Services Inc. offers tours from 10 minutes to hour-long journeys. The company also works special events, such as rose petal drops, funerals, weddings, gender reveals, candy drops on Halloween, and marshmallow and Easter Egg drops. Read more on MLive.com: 12 fashion-forward photos from Beechers Renaissance Gala prom Beecher shows out on the red carpet in style ahead of 2024 prom in Detroit How to make prom night the G.O.A.T? Bring along an actual goat BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing on Wednesday. Xi noted that, 68 years ago, Egypt was the first Arab and African state to establish diplomatic relations with China. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, he said, adding that over the past decade, the two heads of state have worked together to guide the vigorous development of bilateral relations. China-Egypt relations have become a vivid illustration of China's solidarity, coordination, and mutually-beneficial win-win cooperation with Arab, African, Islamic and developing countries, Xi said, adding that under the new circumstances, building a more enriched and dynamic China-Egypt relationship meets the common expectations of the two peoples. Xi said that China is ready to work with Egypt to deepen mutual trust, advance cooperation, build a China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era, and contribute to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity. Xi stressed that China is striving in all aspects to build a strong and prosperous country and achieve national rejuvenation, and China and Egypt are facing historic opportunities for exchanges and cooperation in various fields. The two sides should continue to firmly support each other and work together to promote common development, Xi added. China is ready to work with Egypt to tap the potential of cooperation in traditional areas such as infrastructure, industry, electricity and agriculture, explore cooperation in emerging areas such as health care, information and communications, and renewable energy, deepen economic, trade and investment cooperation, and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Egypt, Xi said. Xi urged efforts to organize the 2024 China-Egypt year of partnership, expand personnel and cultural exchanges, and make the Luban Workshop in Egypt a benchmark for China-Africa vocational education cooperation. China supports Egypt in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and stands ready to further strengthen coordination and cooperation with Egypt on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS cooperation mechanism, advocate an equal and orderly multi-polar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, as well as the common interests of developing countries, Xi said. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Xi said that China is ready to work closely with Egypt and other parties to build a successful China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, inject new impetus into China-Arab relations, and promote the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. China is also willing to work with Egypt and other African members of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, and work together to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, Xi added. Sisi expressed his pleasure at paying a state visit to China and attending the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, adding that Egypt expects to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and strive to promote regional peace and stability. Sisi said that Egypt adheres to the one-China principle, firmly supports China's position on issues relating to its core interests such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xizang and human rights, and firmly supports China in achieving complete national reunification. It is hoped that the 2024 Egypt-China year of partnership will be an opportunity for the two countries to enhance people-to-people exchanges and strengthen bilateral cooperation in such areas as information and communications, artificial intelligence, new energy, food security and finance, Sisi added. Expressing appreciation to Xi for putting forward a series of global initiatives, Sisi said Egypt stands ready to work closely with China in multilateral cooperation to make positive contributions to human peace and progress. The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi said that the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused heavy casualties of innocent Palestinian civilians and the humanitarian situation in Gaza is extremely grave, and China is deeply saddened. It is imperative to cease fire and stop the war immediately, avoid the spillover of conflict which will impact regional peace and stability, and prevent a more serious humanitarian crisis, he said. Noting that the two-State solution is the fundamental way out for resolving the Palestinian question, Xi said China firmly supports Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations. China appreciates Egypt's important role in cooling down the situation and providing humanitarian relief, and is ready to work with Egypt to continue to provide assistance to the people in Gaza within its capacity, and promote an early, full, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, Xi added. Egypt greatly appreciates China's consistent commitment to justice on the Palestinian question and stands ready to maintain close communication with China to push for an early easing of tensions in the Gaza Strip, Sisi added. After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields, which involve the plan for the promotion of cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road, science and technology innovation, investment and economic cooperation, and quarantine. The two sides also issued a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. 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By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the police force to promote the modernization of the country's public security work. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Tuesday while meeting with police personnel attending a national conference on public security work in Beijing. Li Qiang, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, were present. Addressing the conference on Wednesday, senior CPC official Chen Wenqing urged the police force to stay loyal, clean, and ready to rise to duty. He called on them to spare no efforts in preventing risks and ensuring security and stability, enhance the quality, efficiency, and credibility of law enforcement, and strengthen the police force through reform. The previous such conference was held in 2019. Since then, great changes have taken place in China's public security work, including improved social order, according to a recent press conference held by the Ministry of Public Security. Enhanced police efforts in combating organized crimes and telecom fraud, among others, have helped make China one of the safest countries in the world. The index for Chinese people's sense of security stood at 98.2 percent in 2023, compared with 87.55 percent in 2012. * China and the EU inked a landmark agreement on geographical indications in 2021, aiming to improve bilateral trade of agri-food products. This year marks the third anniversary of the agreement coming into effect. * A trade company's sales of Iberico ham, a Spanish geographical indications product, is expected to record a five-fold increase in 2024 compared with 2023 in China, as many restaurants in first-tier cities are keen on this delicacy. * In light of an enhanced agricultural trade ties, EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said China and the EU are just at the beginning of deeper long-term cooperation. by Xinhua writer Ding Yinghua, Zhang Zhaoqing BEIJING/BRUSSELS, May 29 (Xinhua) -- From Bordeaux wines and Iberico ham to Comte cheese and Sitia olive oil, these signature agri-products from the European Union (EU) have gained a greater presence in the kitchens of Chinese families, tickling Chinese taste buds with their exotic flavors. Every one of these products are labeled with Geographical Indications (GI) designation, a mark of authenticity and quality endorsed by both the EU and China, making them sought-after products in the Chinese market. China and the EU inked an agreement on geographical indications in 2021, aiming to improve bilateral trade of agri-food products. This year marks the third anniversary of the landmark agreement coming into effect. The first GI list, which entered into force in 2021, protects 100 Chinese agricultural GIs in the EU and 96 agricultural EU GIs in China. A second list of more products from both sides will be protected as of March 1, 2025. "In a broader sense, GIs contribute to enhancing EU-China relations, by bringing us closer through our mutual love for food," EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. WINES AND HAM Commenting at a recently concluded roundtable forum on China-EU Geographical Indications held in Belgium's Brussels, Wojciechowski said the agreement is mutually beneficial, promoting agricultural trade between the two regions and positively impacting regional economic development. He led a delegation of European businesses on a visit to China in April this year, during which they met with Chinese government officials and discussed collaboration concerning agricultural matters, including the GI agreement. This delegation of 75 business leaders represented EU agri-food companies and organizations from all over Europe, he said. "It is the largest delegation I have taken with me during my time as commissioner, representing the strong interest of EU agri-food businesses in the Chinese market." In 2023, the total agri-food trade exchange value between the EU and China was close to 23 billion euros (about 25 billion U.S. dollars), according to Wojciechowski. These robust agricultural trade ties have bred business opportunities for GI producers. A listed GI Jumilla, which signifies wine produced in southeastern Spain, specifically within the Murcia province, serves as one example, according to Lorenzo Abellan, chairman of Bodegas Carchelo, S. L., a family winery that produces Jumilla wines. "There are over 40 wineries in the entire Jumilla wine region, and total exports to China, our fourth-largest market globally, stood at between 6 million and 8 million bottles last year, a notable expansion from around 4.5 million bottles in 2021," Abellan said. Wang Cheng, the general manager of Shandong Anxunman Trading Co., Ltd., acting as the commercial representative for Bodegas Carchelo in China, concurred that the increased exposure resulting from the GI designation has led to new business opportunities. Taking another GI, Dehesa de Extremadura, which denotes a distinct region in Spain renowned for its production of premium Iberico ham, as an example, Wang said his company's sales of such Iberico ham in China is expected to record a five-fold increase in 2024 compared with 2023, as many restaurants in first-tier cities are joining his list of clients keen on this rural delicacy. China has a rich culinary tradition and heritage similar to that of the EU, Wojciechowski said. "We see that protecting GIs is a 'win-win' concept. Our producers, our consumers, and our society as a whole reap the benefits." HERITAGE, LANDSCAPE VALUED With breathtaking vistas featuring lush forests, deep valleys, and cascading waterfalls, Jingmai Mountain, which is situated in the city of Pu'er in Yunnan Province in southwest China, hosts a Chinese GI designated Pu'er tea, a type of fermented tea that is renowned worldwide for its exquisite fragrance. Home to communities of well-preserved ancient tea trees, the mountain's local history of human cultivation of tea trees can be traced back more than 1,000 years. "In Europe, Chinese teas evoke in the minds of consumers an image of beautiful tea plantations such as Jingmai Mountain," Wojciechowski said. Both Europe and China are dotted with landscapes influenced by GIs that contribute to the renown of their regions, he remarked, also citing the vineyards in France and the rolling hills in Tuscany as examples. However, to earn its label, each GI product must respect detailed requirements and specific standards, according to Wojciechowski. Jingmai Mountain has served as such an example, maintaining its great biodiversity while supporting human settlements and tree cultivation. Village regulations and local constitutions help prevent tea farmers from applying chemical fertilizers or pesticides to the ancient tea forests. Instead, they have adopted natural methods of preventing plant diseases and pests in these tea forests, such as planting camphor trees to repel insects. Through the respect of their specifications, GIs ensure the preservation of landscape, according to Wojciechowski. ROSY FUTURE Since the beginning of this year, there have been frequent high-level exchanges between China and Europe, fostering closer ties in various fields, especially in the agricultural sector. In May, China's customs authority greenlighted the entry of more types of agricultural products from Europe into the Chinese market, including pork from the Netherlands, prunes and fresh blueberries from Serbia, and fresh cherries from Hungary, on condition that these products meet China's quarantine and health requirements. During the same month, China and France issued a joint statement on agricultural exchanges and cooperation, pledging that the two countries will work to expand French pork exports to China, and provide guarantees for market access and safety of poultry products. Over the years, agri-food products have become an important area of China-Europe economic and trade cooperation. Pan Feng, vice chairman of the China-Europe Association for Technical and Economic Cooperation, told Xinhua after the roundtable forum that the promotion of GIs will not only extend product convenience, but also enhance mutual trust in China-EU economic and trade development. In 2023, the EU was China's second-largest source of imports and second-largest export market, according to a recent report from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. Wojciechowski shares Pan's optimism regarding the future prospects of China-EU trade. "The GI agreement is a sign to the world of both parties' commitment to deeper trade relations, and a symbol of our openness and our adherence to international rules as a basis for trade relations," he said. "For us, we are just at the beginning of deeper long-term cooperation," Wojciechowski added. (Video reporters: Liu Yuxuan, Zhang Zhaoqing, Wang Yue; Video editors: Hong Ling, Roger Lott, Hui Peipei, Wei Yin, Wang Han) The north Queensland MP has sparked intense debate after posting details about taking the life of the wild dog. Queensland One Nation MP Stephen Andrew has copped criticism for killing what he claimed was a wild dog, which fatally mauled his prized $25,000 ram. Source: Facebook A One Nation MP has defended his decision to kill a "wild" dog which he said fatally mauled a "prized ram" on a local property, with the Queenslander fighting off criticism on social media from Aussies who branded him a "despicable human" in response to him sharing a confronting photo of the lifeless animal. Steve Andrew, who represents the seat of Mirani in the state's north, said the "wild dog" attacked and killed the ram earlier this week, which its owner said was worth $25,000. Posting an image of the dead animal on his public Facebook page, Andrew wrote that "it was so good" the dog "came back for seconds" so that he could "meet his maker". "This bloke mauled and killed a $25,000 ram trying to protect his herd .... They are getting more bolder [sic] and closer by the day." Stephen Andrew has represented the seat of Mirani in Queensland's north since 2017. Source: Facebook Aussies divided over MP's boastful post Wildlife advocates were quick to respond to the post, where the dog, which is dingo-like in appearance, is seen draped over the bonnet of Andrew's ute. Many argued the killing would have repercussions on the local food chain, while others said it would "actually increases the likelihood of stock losses". "Despicable human.. what is wrong with you killing wildlife and doing so with no awareness of their value to our ecosystem," one woman wrote. "Most of all, these magnificent apex predators have been here for thousands of years they are sentient beings." While some defended the MP's killing of the animal, even applauding it, many others thought the online boast was irresponsible from the local politician. "Sure, this dingo became a problem for you and you dealt with it. Sharing it in this way publicly will likely encourage others without deeper understanding to indiscriminately kill dingoes, which only further fuel the problem in the long term," a second person wrote. "Its an irresponsible thing for a politician to do." It's unclear from the photo alone whether the dog in question is a full-bred dingo, a protected species in certain parts of the country. There is no suggestion Andrew did anything unlawful. Dingos are protected in some parts of the country, but are considered a pest in others, where they are allowed to be 'managed'. Source: Getty Dingos can legally be 'managed' in some parts of Queensland In Queensland, under the Biosecurity Act 2014, landholders have a legal responsibility to control wild dogs (including dingoes) on their land. The Queensland government allows the "management" of wild dogs which includes killing in some protected areas under certain circumstances. It's these laws that saw a number of people leap to the MP's defence. "Well done, I applaud this when these animals come in and kill domestic animals, theyre now classed as FERAL!" a person wrote in Andrew's defence. "The carnage a dingo leaves attacking domestic animals is soul destroying and heartbreaking." Andrew responded to the vast majority of commenters on his post personally, also telling 7News that he is a licensed pest controller. The owner of the ram told the network the animal was her "prized" possession. "It was quite disturbing given he was our little prized ram," she said. Why the words wild dog matter Stories of wild dogs roaming Australia have been proven to be largely untrue, thanks to years of DNA research. Thousands of dingoes are killed by government trapping, shooting and poisoning programs across Australia. Governments use the term wild dog when they are killing them to protect sheep, and the word dingo when theyre conserving them in national parks. Dr Kylie Cairns and her team discovered that most of these animals are actually pure dingo, and only a small per cent had interbred with domestic dogs. This leads to confusion with the general public not understanding the animals that are being killed are dingoes. Quite often people will say dingoes and wild dogs when theyre not two separate things, she earlier told Yahoo News Australia. So making sure that our language is clear, means that people understand what management actions are being taken. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail copy View Photo Tuolumne County, CA Stanislaus National Forest wants the publics feedback on the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail, a six-county cross-section of California between San Francisco and the Sierra Nevada, including Calaveras County. The Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail (MCCT) (also known as the MCCT or Coast to Crest Trail) is a non-motorized and multi-use trail bisecting California and is just under 50% complete. When finished, the trail will roughly follow the Mokelumne River from the rivers headwaters at the Sierra Crest to Martinez on the Carquinez Strait, where the river meets the Bay Area. The trail is split up into five segments spread over six state counties., starting in Calaveras County near the Camanche Reservoir. The Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail is also one of twenty-seven official California State Parks trail corridors that form a statewide trail system linking mountain, valley, and coastal communities to recreational, cultural, and natural resources throughout the state. A virtual meeting is being held this evening, Thursday, May 30, at 6:30 p.m. to learn about the trail. A non-profit corporation called the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail Council stewards the public input process, design, and maintenance of the trail in partnership with public and private organizations. Click here to register for the meeting. Despite winter approaching, flies are still in 'abundance' and it's something more Australians will likely need to get used to. The Irish ex-pat has publicly asked why no one warned her about the worst thing about Australia. Source: TikTok It's no secret Australia is home to a long list of pesky creatures and travellers are frequently warned, often to an excessive degree, of how fearsome the wildlife is here. But one Irish woman says was never told about the worst of it, with her biggest nuisance not once mentioned ahead of her migration to Western Australia. In footage shared online as a warning to others, the woman can be seen standing in hi-vis work gear attempting to talk to the camera but stopping every few words to swat or blow away the swarm of flies landing on her face. "I was well warned about sharks, I was well warned about spiders, I was well warned about crocodiles," the Irish woman said. "But nobody told me the flies take drugs, steroids, I don't know some kind of narcotic substance [here]... send help," she complained. While most Aussies understand the plight, it's an annoyance that is only going to get worse thanks to climate change, according to entomologists. The Irish woman was stunned by the sheer number of flies she's contended with since moving to Western Australia. Source: TikTok Recent weather created 'perfect storm' for flies A spell of warm weather in the state, which is set to continue well into winter, has allowed fly populations to flourish for much longer than usual. And with more flies comes an increased rate in reproduction and the population continues to grow. "It's been warmer in the state in recent months which encourages fly activity to increase," entomologist Bryan Lessard told Yahoo News. "There's been more rain this season as well and that triggers the fly to hatch from the cocoon, so it's kind of the perfect storm of heat and wet weather to trigger the abundance." Lessard explained the rise in global temperatures will undoubtedly impact fly populations too, warning residents all across Australia to ready themselves, saying the relentless treatment the Irish woman experienced could possibly become the new norm in years to come. "With climate change our insect populations will also change, so if there's a lot more warmer weather and a lot more wetter weather, we'll probably see more insects," he said. Aussies often have to contend with pesky flies throughout the warmer months. Source: Supplied The reason why flies target 'eyes, nose, ears, mouth' A gripe people often have about flies is they seem to target specific parts of the face, with the Irish woman mentioning this in her viral complaint. "They go directly to your eyes, or your nose, or your ears, or you mouth," she said. Lessard confirmed this is typically the case and the flies do it for good reason. "It's so hot flies are looking for something to quench their thirst and unfortunately our tears, sweat and saliva are quite hydrating." Flies may have played a part in Aussie accent It's likely the flies in the video are from a bush fly population, which are native and found across the country. And despite being small and pesky, there is "anecdotal" evidence they had a role to play in the Aussie accent. "The bush fly apparently influenced the Australian English accent because a lot of settlers when they moved here couldn't open their mouths too wide because flyers were getting inside, Lessard explained to Yahoo. "So the story goes that over time, we spoke English not enunciating very much." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Something Strange Happens to Wolves Infected by an Infamous Mind-Altering Parasite Science Alert Taking Stock: Dollar Assets, Gold, and Official Foreign Exchange Reserves Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Liberty Street Economics Would Returning to the Gold Standard Resolve Our Most Pressing Monetary Problems? Charles Hugh Smith, Or Two Minds. No. CalPERS opposes Elon Musks $56 billion pay package amid shareholder discontent WION The CRE non-crisis rolls on FT Climate Water Syndemics China? Myanmar Vast concessions threaten Malaysias forests: Report Channel News Asia India Syraqistan European Disunion Walking France: Avignon to Pont-Saint-Esprit Chris Arnade, Walking the World Dear Old Blighty New Not-So-Cold War Global Elections South Africa counts ballots in most competitive election since apartheid France24 2024 The Supremes Spook Country The Bezzle Digital Watch Boeing FAA appears poised to grant Boeing extension on safety report Leeham News & Analysis The 420 Imperial Collapse Watch Class Warfare Antidote du jour, via JB: A little bird singing in the cold. See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg commended Czechia for its vital role in NATO in a visit to Prague on Thursday (30 May 2024). The Czech capital will host an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers on Thursday and Friday. Meeting with Prime Minister Petr Fiala, the Secretary General thanked Czechia for its substantial contributions to the Alliance and its significant aid to Ukraine. He highlighted that Czechia hosts hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees, and provides critical military equipment to Ukraine, including tanks, helicopters and air defence missiles. He also welcomed that the Czech-led ammunition initiative is providing more artillery shells for Ukraine, with deliveries expected soon. Its really making a difference, he said. Later, at a speech at the Senate of the Parliament, Mr Stoltenberg highlighted the importance of the upcoming Washington Summit in July, with NATO Foreign Ministers preparing the ground this week in Prague. Mr Stoltenberg said he expects leaders in Washington to take important decisions in three areas: strengthening NATOs defences, increasing support for Ukraine, and deepening NATOs partnerships. On Thursday night, Czech President Petr Pavel will award the Secretary General the Order of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk in a ceremony at Prague Castle. Foreign Ministers will gather for a working session on Friday. On Thursday (30 May 2024), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted the importance of partnerships and global cooperation in a video message to the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity in the Republic of Korea. The challenges we face are global, he said, they require a global response. For this reason, NATO is working ever more closely with partners around the world. The Secretary General welcomed NATOs deepening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region with South Korea, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand who are among NATOs closest partners. Mr Stoltenberg underlined NATOs commitment to deepen practical cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners in several practical areas, including cyber defence, counter-disinformation, and emerging technologies. The Republic of Korea is an important and long-standing NATO partner. This partnership was further strengthened with the establishment of an Individually Tailored Partnership Programme in July 2023. This is the first time that NATO has engaged with the Jeju Forum, which brings together academics, politicians, and business leaders from across the world to promote international cooperation. Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana met Cabo Verdes State Minister of Defence Janine Lelis at NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (29 May 2024) for talks on working toward a partnership between the Alliance and Cape Verde. NATO and Cabo Verde share the same values, said Mr Geoana following talks in Brussels. You already have a close relationship with many Allies, including Portugal. You are strategically located at the crossroads of the Atlantic, connecting Africa to Europe and the Americas and regularly host Allied warships. We see potential for closer cooperation in a range of areas, including maritime security. The Deputy Secretary General welcomed Cabo Verdes clear stance on Ukraine, including its vote in the UN General Assembly. Mr Geoana stressed that Russias war has been felt across Africa, especially through trade disruptions and commodity price increases, being a reminder that security is not regional, it is global and that what happens in Europe matters for Africa, and what happens in Africa, matters for Europe. NATO already has several partners in Africa and is strengthening cooperation with the African Union to address common challenges, including terrorism, maritime security, and small arms proliferation. NATOs political dialogue with Cabo Verde goes back decades. In 2006, Cabo Verde hosted the NATO exercise Steadfast Jaguar on the island of Sao Vicente. This major exercise involving more than 7,000 troops tested the ability of NATOs rapid response force to carry out missions globally. (As delivered) Prime Minister Fiala, Dear Petr, It is great to see you again, And its great to be here in the beautiful city of Prague. The Czech Republic is a reliable and strong and highly valued NATO Ally. And not least because this year, you will spend more than 2% percent of GDP on defence. You lead NATOs battlegroup in Slovakia. And you contribute forces to our battlegroups in Latvia and Lithuania, helping to deter any aggression. Your forces also serve in NATO missions in Kosovo and Iraq. In response to Russias brutal war of aggression, you have also stepped support to Ukraine. Czechia hosts hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees. You provide critical military equipment to Ukraine, including tanks, helicopters and air defence missiles. And the Czech-led ammunition initiative is providing more artillery shells for Ukraine. And you updated me on the initiative during our meeting, and I can just say that this is of great importance. Its really making a difference. And it's very good news that the first delivery of artillery shells will happen very soon and there will be a continued flow of ammunition into Ukraine, organised by the Czech ammunition initiative. So many, many thanks for everything you do, But in particular, many thanks for the very important work you have done in establishing the Czech-led ammunition initiative. Let me also thank you for hosting tomorrows informal Meeting of NATOs Foreign Ministers. It will be an important moment to continue preparing for the upcoming Summit in Washington. When leaders meet in July, we will take further steps to invest in our security, strengthen ties with partners, and bolster our support to Ukraine. Ukraine continues to fight bravely, but the challenges they face are greater and growing. Ukraine can still prevail but only with continued, robust support from NATO Allies. So at the NATO Summit in July, we plan to put our support on a firmer footing. Including with a greater NATO role in coordinating security assistance and training, as well as a multi-year financial commitment. We also plan to work even more closely with our Indo-Pacific partners: Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. Including on technology, cyber, and countering hybrid threats. At our ministerial, the Foreign Ministerial Meeting tomorrow, we will also discuss how to address instability in our southern neighbourhood, including the continuing threat of terrorism. So Prime Minister Fiala, Thank you again for your hospitality. I look forward to a successful ministerial meeting here in Prague, And a successful Washington Summit in just six weeks time from now. So, thank you so much for hosting. (As delivered) Good morning from the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. And thank you so much to Governor Oh and the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity for inviting me to address you today. This Forum offers a unique platform for dialogue, and I understand you will celebrate the 20th edition of the Forum next year, so congratulations! I have had the pleasure to visit South Korea several times. And I was last in Seoul early in 2023, but it is a first for me - and for NATO - to participate in this important Forum. Demonstrating once more the important and ever growing ties between the North Atlantic Alliance and the Indo-Pacific region. These ties matter today more than ever. We live in a dangerous world. Russias war against Ukraine rages on, thanks in large part to the support Moscow gets from Beijing, Pyongyang, Tehran and others. At the same time, there is war in the Middle East. And threats from terrorism to cyber-attacks, nuclear proliferation and climate change persist. Our security from the Euro-Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific is at stake. We see active attempts by states to tear up the rules-based international order which has benefitted us all, for decades. This affects us all, also in your region which is such a hub for so much of the worlds trade. NATO is playing its part to preserve peace, as we have done for seventy-five years. Initially with only 12 members, now, we are 32 countries working hand-in-hand to promote freedom and protect our one billion people throughout the Euro-Atlantic area. Together, we represent half of the worlds military and half of the worlds economic might, making NATO the worlds most successful security alliance ever. Yet, preserving peace is not a job NATO can do alone. The challenges we face are global. They require a global response. For this reason, NATO is working ever more closely with partners around the world, including countries in your region. South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are NATOs closest partners. With you and others in the Indo-Pacific, we must ensure states live up to the international commitments they have made. And we share a wish for peace and prosperity. This is why we collectively support Ukraine and condemn Russias brutal war. We cannot let Putin have it his way. If he wins in Ukraine, it will embolden him to press ahead. And it will embolden others to use force to achieve their goals, making the world even more dangerous, including in Asia. NATO is also deepening our cooperation with our Indo-Pacific partners in several practical areas, including to make cyber-space safer, to counter disinformation, and to ensure emerging technologies work for us, not against us. At the same time, we are strengthening our political dialogue on security issues of common concern. I was honoured to welcome President Yoon Suk Yeol at the NATO Summit in Vilnius last year, together with the leaders of Australia, Japan and New Zealand. And I invited them, once again, to take part in the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington D.C this July. Our growing ties send a powerful signal at a critical time: when countries like Russia try to rip up the global rules and laws, we stand united and strong to protect our way of life and prosperity. Prevent war, and preserve peace. Thank you so much. Plus a person has died in Amsterdam after they fell into the engine of a KLM aircraft. Yahoo's live news blog for Thursday, May 30 has now concluded. A phone found among "items of interest" during Victoria Police's renewed search for Samantha Murphy is understood to be the missing mum's. A Coles rewards scam is on the rise and one Aussie mum has revealed the convincing details that fooled her into clicking and losing her money. Read more in the blog below. A person has died in Amsterdam after they fell into the engine of a KLM aircraft. Read more here. Follow along for regular updates throughout the day. LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 13 updates State records its biggest ever monkeypox outbreak Health authorities are looking to get on top of a monkeypox outbreak in Queensland. The cluster of 10 cases is the largest recorded in the state but it is not linked to an outbreak found in Victoria last month. "All cases are currently linked and contact tracing is underway by public health units," a Queensland Health spokesperson said. Read more here. Qantas wins award for new in-flight feature Qantas has been hailed for a new plane feature that's set to be rolled out in 2026. The airline landed a Crystal Cabin award for its plans to introduce a wellbeing zone on A350-1000 designed for long-haul flights. Features, as pictured below, include self-serve refreshments, wellbeing content on a screen and space for exercise and stretching. The idea is now award winning. Student's $4k artwork divides a nation The artwork is one of the biggest talking points in China this week. Source: Weibo A fine art student's work displayed at a graduation exhibition is causing a stir in China. Photos of the contemporary artwork titled Super Hive, consisting of flattened cardboard boxes stacked on top of one another, has gone viral with many questioning how on earth it could be considered art. The artist has since apologised for people's misunderstanding of her work and tried to explain the reasoning behind it. "I realise that my creation may have caused confusion among people, and some people even think it looks like a pile of 'junk'," she said. "I have incorporated a lot of delicate thinking into this work," she continued, adding each layer was carefully curated at an overall cost of 20,000RMB ($4,000). State media suggested Chinese people need more exposure to contemporary art to truly understand its value. So what do you think? Have your say below. Update on phone found in Samantha Murphy search A phone found during the search for Samantha Murphy is understood to belong to the missing mum, Seven News reports. Sources have told Seven News the phone retrieved by investigators in Buninyong on the outskirts of Ballarat is Murphy's and is a significant clue in investigations. Hugging at Samantha Murphy search site sign of hope after lack of leads Detectives were seen hugging on Wednesday following the discovery of 'items of interest'. Source: Nine Aerial vision captured from yesterday's renewed Samantha Murphy shows police hugging, backslapping and shaking hands after finding "items of interest" including a mobile phone at the edge of a dam outside of Ballarat. The elation at the find was a good sign, University of Newcastle criminologist Xanthe Mallett said. This case has really touched everybody not only the Ballarat community but the wider community and the police, she said. To (possibly) find (her phone) after so long of no real leads it would have been a really good moment for them, giving them hope they can progress this case for Samanthas family. Read more here. Gaza war to last 'at least another seven months' A senior Israeli official has said the country's war against Hamas in Gaza could extend into 2025. "The fighting in Gaza will continue for at least another seven months, the prime ministers national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, told Israel's Kan public radio. There's growing global concern over Israel's assault on the southern city of Rafah where Palestinians have fled to take refuge amid the war. However Israel insists it must take control of Rafah in its fight against Hamas. Alice Springs has wettest May day in 20 years In more rain news, NT's Alice Springs has recorded its highest daily rainfall for May in 20 years. The outback town recorded 28mm in the 24-hour period to 9am today. A cloudband continues to move east, and is set to complete its soaking of the majority of the country in the coming days. Woman gave birth to boy before riverside discovery Police say forensic testing of human organs found on the side of a river in Sydney indicate a mystery woman gave birth to a boy. Authorities continue to hold serious welfare concerns for the woman and the newborn after an umbilical cord and placenta were found by a dog walker besides the Cooks River in Earlwood at about 4.30pm on Monday. Police have urged the mother to attend her nearest hospital in order to receive urgent care for herself and her son. We are concerned for them and we are wanting to know they are safe as we know childbirth presents a number of health concerns," Detective Chief Superintendent Christine McDonald said. Police near the discovery site earlier this week. Source: NCA NewsWire Perth ends lengthy dry period A remarkable run came to an end yesterday after Perth recorded it's first 20mm day of rain in nearly 10 months. In that period, WA's capital had a measly 23mm of rain between October and and the end of April, where the city failed to record a single day with more than 10mm of rain. According to Weatherzone, the 26.2mm that fell in the 24-hour period to 9am on Wednesday was the most since August 16 last year, 287 days ago. A welcome shower for many I bet. Woohoo! Here at Weatherzone we rarely "cheer" for one type of weather over another, but is any Perth local unhappy about the first daily total topping 20 mm in almost 10 months? More rain is coming to southwest WA this week too, heaviest on the weekend. https://t.co/lV8KDpZj8m pic.twitter.com/fKHci3H7Vc Weatherzone (@weatherzone) May 29, 2024 Search at new Samantha Murphy site ends Victoria Police say the search for Samantha Murphy at a Buninyong location where "items of interest" were found has now concluded. The Missing Persons Squad will not be searching the site on Friday, a spokesperson confirmed and an update on yesterday's operations is unlikely today. Grim prediction for Aussie homeowners There's bleak news this morning for Australian homeowners as inflation continues to be a thorn in the side of the RBA. The ABS data showed the monthly consumer price index (CPI) climbed to 3.6 per cent in the 12 months to April, which was slightly higher than the forecasted 3.4 per cent. Traders have now slashed their rate cut bets, pushing out an expected easing of interest rates until December 2025. Previously a 25 basis point cut had been priced in for May next year. Read more here. Mortgage holders could be in for prolonged financial pain. China ends ban on Aussie meat exporters In yet another move to rebuild Sino-Australian ties following years of tension under the Coalition, Beijing has agreed to allow five major beef exporters to recommence selling produce to the Chinese market. "That is fantastic news for the cattle producers, for the meat processing industry and for the workers in those industries," Agriculture Minister Murray Watt told ABC News Breakfast on Thursday. China slapped a host of bans and tariffs on Aussie exports as relations between the two countries rapidly deteriorated under former prime minister Scott Morrison. Phone found in search for missing mum Samantha Murphy Police discovered "items of interest" in their renewed search for Samantha Murphy on Wednesday, with reports one of those items was a phone. Pictures from Nine News shows an officer handling a mud-soaked phone on the banks of a dam amid what was a targeted search of a Buninyong property, six kilometres from where police believe Murphy was killed in February. Read more here. A phone is understood to be one of the items of interest in the search for Samantha Murphy. Source: Nine Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs - Czechia, Prague - 30-31 May 2024 NATO in Afghanistan Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was established under the request of the Afghan authorities and a UN mandate in 2001. ISAF was led by NATO from August 2003 to December 2014 and was succeeded on 1 January 2015 by the Resolute Support Mission (RSM), which was terminated early September 2021. ISAF's mission was to develop new Afghan security forces and enable Afghan authorities to provide effective security across the country in order to create an environment conducive to the functioning of democratic institutions and the establishment of the rule of law, with the aim to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a safe haven for terrorists. ISAF contributed to reconstruction and development in Afghanistan. This was done primarily through multinational Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) led by individual ISAF troop-contributing countries securing areas in which reconstruction work could be conducted by national and international actors. PRTs also helped the Afghan authorities progressively strengthen the institutions required to fully establish good governance and the rule of law, as well as to promote human rights. The principal role of the PRTs in this respect was to build capacity, support the growth of governance structures and promote an environment in which governance can improve. ISAF was one of the largest international crisis management operations ever, bringing together contributions from up to 51 different countries. By end 2014, the process of transitioning full security responsibility from ISAF troops to the Afghan army and police forces was completed and the ISAF mission came to a close. It was immediately succeeded by a new NATO-led, non-combat mission, Resolute Support, to train, advise and assist the Afghan security forces and institutions. The Resolute Support Mission (RSM) operated with one hub (in Kabul/Bagram) and four spokes in Mazar-e Sharif (northern Afghanistan), Herat (western Afghanistan), Kandahar (southern Afghanistan) and Laghman (eastern Afghanistan). Key functions included: supporting planning, programming and budgeting; assuring transparency, accountability and oversight; supporting the adherence to the principles of rule of law and good governance; supporting the establishment and sustainment of processes such as force generation, recruiting, training, managing and development of personnel. The legal basis of RSM rested on a formal invitation from the Afghan government and the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between NATO and Afghanistan, which governed the presence of Allied troops. Resolute Support was also supported by the international community at large. This is reflected in UN Security Council Resolution 2189, unanimously adopted on 12 December 2014. This resolution welcomed RSM and underscored the importance of continued international support for the stability of Afghanistan. In April 2021, the Allies decided to start the withdrawal of RSM forces by 1 May 2021 and the mission was terminated early September 2021. Counter-piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Horn of Africa Responding to a request from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, NATO naval forces provided escorts to UN World Food Programme (WFP) vessels transiting through the dangerous waters in the Gulf of Aden, where growing piracy threatened to undermine international humanitarian efforts in Africa. The NATO-led Operation Allied Provider was conducted from October to December 2008 and involved counter-piracy activities off the coast of Somalia. Concurrently, in response to an urgent request from the African Union (AU), these same NATO naval forces escorted a vessel chartered by the AU carrying equipment for the Burundi contingent deployed to the AU Mission in Somalia. From March to August 2009, NATO ran Operation Allied Protector, a counter-piracy operation, to improve the safety of commercial maritime routes and international navigation off the Horn of Africa. The force conducted surveillance tasks and provided protection to deter and suppress piracy and armed robbery, which are threatening sea lines of communication and economic interests. Building on previous counter-piracy missions conducted by NATO, Operation Ocean Shield focused on at-sea counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa. Approved on 17 August 2009 by the North Atlantic Council, this operation contributed to international efforts to combat piracy in the area. It also offered, to regional states that requested it, assistance in developing their own capacity to combat piracy activities. There were no successful piracy attacks from May 2012 onwards, but even though Somalia-based piracy was suppressed, it had not been eliminated. During the periods without surface ships, maritime patrol aircraft continued to fly sorties, and links to situational awareness systems and counter-piracy partners remained in place. In this effort, the NATO Shipping Centre played a key role. Ocean Shield was terminated on 15 December 2016 after having achieved its objectives. Operation Active Endeavour Operation Active Endeavour (OAE) was initiated in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to deter, defend, disrupt and protect against terrorist activity in the Mediterranean. It helped to secure one of the busiest trade routes in the world and was among eight initiatives launched by the Alliance in 2001, in solidarity with the United States. It was an Article 5 operation, i.e., a collective defence operation that, initially only involved NATO member countries until it started accepting non-NATO countries' participation in 2004. OAE hailed merchant vessels and boarded suspect ships, intervened to rescue civilians on stricken oil rigs and sinking ships and, generally, helped to improve security in the Mediterranean Sea. NATO ships also systematically carried out preparatory route surveys in "choke" points, as well as in important passages and harbours throughout the Mediterranean. 2010 was a turning point for OAE, when it shifted from a platform-based to a network-based operation, using a combination of on-call units and surge operations instead of deployed forces. In addition to tracking and controlling suspect vessels, it helped to build a picture of maritime activity in the Mediterranean by conducting routine information approaches to various vessels. Active Endeavour was succeeded by Operation Sea Guardian in November 2016. NATO and Iraq NATO conducted a relatively small but important support operation in Iraq from 2004 to 2011 that consisted of training, mentoring and assisting the Iraqi Security Forces. At the Istanbul Summit in June 2004, the Allies agreed to be part of the international effort to help Iraq establish effective and accountable security forces. The outcome was the creation of the NATO Training Mission in Iraq (NTM-I). The NTM-I delivered its training, advice and mentoring support in a number of different settings. All NATO member countries contributed to the training effort either in or outside of Iraq, through financial contributions or donations of equipment. In parallel and reinforcing this initiative, NATO also worked with the Iraqi government on a structured cooperation framework to develop the Alliance's long-term relationship with Iraq. NATO and Libya Following the popular uprising against the Gadhafi regime in Benghazi, Libya, in February 2011, the UN Security Council adopted Resolutions 1970 and 1973 in support of the Libyan people, "condemning the gross and systematic violation of human rights". The resolutions introduced active measures including a no-fly zone, an arms embargo and the authorisation for member countries, acting as appropriate through regional organisations, to take "all necessary measures" to protect Libyan civilians. Initially, NATO enforced the no-fly zone and then, on 31 March 2011, NATO took over sole command and control of all military operations for Libya. The NATO-led Operation Unified Protector had three distinct components: the enforcement of an arms embargo on the high seas of the Mediterranean to prevent the transfer of arms, related material and mercenaries to Libya; the enforcement of a no-fly-zone in order to prevent any aircraft from bombing civilian targets; and air and naval strikes against those military forces involved in attacks or threats to attack Libyan civilians and civilian-populated areas. The UN mandate was carried out to the letter and the operation was terminated on 31 October 2011 after having fulfilled its objectives. Assisting the African Union in Darfur, Sudan The African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) aimed to end violence and improve the humanitarian situation in a region that has been suffering from conflict since 2003. From June 2005 to 31 December 2007, NATO provided air transport for some 37,000 AMIS personnel, as well as trained and mentored over 250 AMIS officials. While NATO's support to this mission ended when AMIS was succeeded by the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), the Alliance immediately expressed its readiness to consider any request for support to the new peacekeeping mission. Pakistan earthquake relief assistance Just before the onset of the harsh Himalayan winter, a devastating earthquake hit Pakistan on 8 October 2005, killing an estimated 53,000 people, injuring 75,000 and making at least four million homeless. On 11 October, in response to a request from Pakistan, NATO assisted in the urgent relief effort, airlifting close to 3,500 tons of supplies and deploying engineers, medical units and specialist equipment. This was one of NATO's largest humanitarian relief initiatives, which came to an end on 1 February 2006. Over time, the Alliance has helped to coordinate assistance to other countries hit by natural disasters, including Turkiye, Ukraine and Portugal. It does this through its Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre. Hurricane Katrina After Hurricane Katrina struck the south of the United States on 29 August 2005, causing many fatalities and widespread damage and flooding, the US government requested food, medical and logistics supplies and assistance in moving these supplies to stricken areas. On 9 September 2005, the North Atlantic Council approved a military plan to assist the United States, which consisted of helping to coordinate the movement of urgently needed material and supporting humanitarian relief operations. During the operation (9 September-2 October), nine member countries provided 189 tons of material to the United States. Protecting public events In response to a request by the Greek government, NATO provided assistance to the Olympic and Paralympic Games held in Athens with Operation Distinguished Games from 18 June until 29 September 2004. NATO provided intelligence support, provision of chemical, biological radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defence assets and AWACS radar aircraft. This was the first operation in which non-Article 4 or 5 NATO assistance was provided within the borders of a member country. In the same vein, NATO responded to a request made by the Latvian government for assistance in assuring the security of the Riga Summit in November 2006. NATO provided technical security, CBRN response capabilities, air and sea policing, improvised explosive device (IED) detections, communications and information systems, and medical evacuation support. Second Gulf Conflict During the second Gulf Conflict, NATO deployed NATO AWACS radar aircraft and air defence batteries to enhance the defence of Turkiye in an operation called Display Deterrence. This operation started on 20 February 2003 and lasted until 16 April 2003. The AWACS aircraft flew 100 missions with a total of 950 flying hours. NATO in North Macedonia Responding to a request from the Government in Skopje to help mitigate rising ethnic tension, NATO implemented three successive operations in the country (at the time, North Macedonia was a NATO partner; it became a member in March 2020). The operations were conducted from August 2001 to March 2003. First, Operation Essential Harvest disarmed ethnic Albanian groups operating throughout the country. The follow-on Operation Amber Fox provided protection for international monitors overseeing the implementation of the peace plan. Finally, Operation Allied Harmony was launched in December 2002 to provide advisory elements to assist the government in ensuring stability throughout the country. These operations demonstrated the strong inter-institutional cooperation between NATO, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. In April 2002, NATO Headquarters Skopje was created to advise on military aspects of security sector reform; it was downsized in 2012, becoming the NATO Liaison Office (NLO) Skopje, which in turn was formally closed one year after the country's accession to NATO, in March 2021. NATO's first counter-terrorism operation On 4 October 2001, once it had been determined that the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington DC had come from abroad, NATO agreed on a package of eight measures to support the United States. On the request of the United States, the Alliance launched its first-ever counter-terrorism operation Operation Eagle Assist - from mid-October 2001 to mid-May 2002. It consisted of seven NATO AWACS radar aircraft that helped patrol the skies over the United States; in total 830 crew members from 13 NATO countries flew over 360 sorties. This was the first time that NATO military assets were deployed in support of an Article 5 operation. NATO in Bosnia and Herzegovina With the break-up of Yugoslavia, violent conflict started in Bosnia and Herzegovina in April 1992. The Alliance responded as early as summer 1992 when it enforced the UN arms embargo on weapons in the Adriatic Sea (in cooperation with the Western European Union from 1993) and enforced a no-fly-zone declared by the UN Security Council. It was during the monitoring of the no-fly-zone that NATO engaged in the first combat operations in its history by shooting down four Bosnian Serb fighter-bombers conducting a bombing mission on 28 February 1994. In August 1995, to compel an end to Serb-led violence in the country, UN peacekeepers requested NATO airstrikes. Operation Deadeye began on 30 August against Bosnian Serb air forces, but failed to result in Bosnian Serb compliance with the UN's demands to withdraw. This led to Operation Deliberate Force, which targeted Bosnian Serb command and control installations and ammunition facilities. This NATO air campaign was a key factor in bringing the Serbs to the negotiating table and ending the war in Bosnia. With the signing of the Dayton Peace Accord in December 1995, NATO immediately deployed a UN-mandated Implementation Force (IFOR) comprising some 60,000 troops. This operation (Operation Joint Endeavour) was followed in December 1996 by the deployment of a 32,000-strong Stabilisation Force (SFOR). In light of the improved security situation, NATO brought its peace-support operation to a conclusion in December 2004 and the European Union deployed a new force called Operation Althea. The Alliance has maintained a military headquarters in the country to carry out a number of specific tasks related, in particular, to assisting the government in reforming its defence structures. ADL brags about controlling ALL major tech platforms, determining what speech is allowed in America The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is no longer trying to hide its collusive behavior with Big Tech as it pertains to controlling the flow of information and speech online. At a recent Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) gathering, Rabbi Nosferatu from the ADL casually spilled the beans about how his organization has completely infested social media platforms for the purpose of censorship. "We work with Google on using AI to try to interrupt cyber hate before it happens," Rabbi Nosferatu said smugly at the event. "We work with YouTube to get them to change their algorithms. We work with Facebook on trying to use a redirect method." Rabbi Nosferatu from the ADL controls online discourse by telling the major tech companies what to do. pic.twitter.com/V1sPiQ28Yx Henrik Palmgren ?? ? (@Henrik_Palmgren) May 25, 2024 (Related: According to the ADL, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has to be eliminated in order to "protect Israel.") ADL praises Elon Musk for "meaningful effort to fight antisemitism" Sam Parker, who ran for U.S. Senate in Utah as a Republican and as an America First candidate, tweeted about the above video, writing that the ADL not only "controls the algorithms for social media platforms," but also "trains every FBI agent" and "has a program for helping train cops." "Who made them the 4th branch of government?" Parker wants to know. In case you are unfamiliar with his platform, Sam Parker is working towards making American government local again. He wants to repeal the 16th, 17th, 19th and 26th Amendments, as well as the Reapportionment Act of 1929 and the Immigration Act of 1965. 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. Parker vehemently opposes all forms of illegal immigration, as well as all of the establishment politicians, including all of the RINOs (Republicans in name only) who foster it. Parker also tweeted the following video in which a Jewish man pretends to be a victim under attack by someone who is "antisemitic." The ADL designated what you see in this video as a hate crime and in the "stand your ground" state of Florida, the ADL wants guys like this to be able to pull out a gun and shoot protesters for committing acts of "hate." ??? jewish man plays the victim...and it's hysterical. ? But according to the ADL this was a hate crime, and according to Israel he would be well within his rights to pull out a gun & shoot the protestors. Imagine an entire country full of people like this guy: pic.twitter.com/8Qcodw9oEE Sam Parker ?? (@SamParkerSenate) May 27, 2024 Keep in mind that the ADL loves Elon Musk, the new owner of X (formerly Twitter). Last fall, the ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt praised Musk for engaging in what he described as "a meaningful effort to fight antisemitism." "Shut down the ADL," someone wrote on X in response to the first video linked in this article. "We work with algorithms to also elect the same 'democratic warmongering parties,'" wrote another, writing as if he was Rabbi Nosferatu speaking more directly about what the ADL does to suppress the First Amendment. "It's called algorithmic AI-PAC democracy." Another warned that this is why America needs to get every last Zionist out of government: because if we do not, then Rabbi Nosferatu, Greenblatt, Musk, and the rest of their ilk will erase our collective right to free speech. In 1985 there was a jewish terrorist attack in santa ana, california. Alex Odeh was a peace activist that was killed with a bomb, allegedly by extremists from the JEWISH DEFENSE LEAGUE (JDL). he left behind a wife and 3 daughters. #justice4alexodeh pic.twitter.com/twsHPhE77O America First ZOE (AFZ) (@AmericafirstZOE) May 25, 2024 The ADL is an enemy of free speech and it must be stopped. Learn more at Censorship.news. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com NaturalNews.com Biden wants U.S. government to scan all images on your phone to comply with new AI rules To supposedly stop people from exchanging non-consensual artificial intelligence (AI) images of a sexual nature, President Biden wants to probe everyone's smartphones as part of a sweeping surveillance effort. A press release from the White House explains the Biden regime's desire for the tech and financial industries to take charge in stopping the creation and spread of abusive sexual imagery created by AI robots. According to Biden's handlers, "mobile operating system developers could enable technical protections to better protect content stored on digital devices and to prevent image sharing without consent." The plan is to have mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS automatically scan and analyze people's private photos to determine which ones are sexual or non-consensual. Users would not have the ability to keep any of their images private from government spooks. It might sound like a good thing until you recognize the privacy implications of such an arrangement. Do we the people really want to allow the government direct access to our photos? Beyond the search and analysis framework, the Biden regime also wants mobile app stores like Apple's App Store and Google Play to "commit to instituting requirements for app developers to prevent the creation of non-consensual images." (Related: AI is just one component among many of the dystopian present.) Do we really want Biden looking at our photos? If Biden gets his way, a full range of apps would be subject to government intrusion, including apps that allow users to edit and draw images and other art. Beyond that, the sky is the limit. 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. "Once this technology of on-device monitoring becomes normalized, this level of scrutiny could extend beyond the initial intent, potentially leading to censorship of other types of content that the administration finds objectionable," warns Reclaim the Net's Ken Macon. "The administration's call to action extends to various sectors, including AI developers, payment processors, financial institutions, cloud computing providers, search engines, and mobile app store gatekeepers like Apple and Google. By encouraging cooperation from these entities, the White House hopes to curb the creation, spread, and monetization of nonconsensual AI images." Previously, the Biden regime was able to secure voluntary commitments from Amazon, Google, Meta (Facebook and Instagram), and Microsoft to implement safeguards on their respective AI systems. This is not enough, though, as the White House wants even more intrusion. Privacy experts worry about the "mission creep" aspects of the plan, which essentially gives the government free rein to do as it wishes in the name of stopping "crime." On-device surveillance of any kind means that someone, somewhere will always be looking at and monitoring everyone's photos. AI is new, yes, but there have always been programs like Photoshop that allow people to create and edit images on their phones, so why the sudden concern about non-consensual and sexual imagery? "This could set a precedent for more extensive and intrusive forms of digital content scanning, leading to broader applications beyond the original intent," Macon warns. One of our own readers noted in an article about AI and the dystopian present that humanity is "going mach speed to extinction" with all of this Orwellian tech and associated government invasion of privacy. "The extinction event is happening right now," he further contends. "AI is telling us that the first president, George Washington, was black. Why is Google programming it to lie? What other billion lies has Google not yet been caught on?" This writer's best advice comes straight from the Bible in Revelation 18, which says in verses four and five: "Come out from her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues." The latest news about the AI takeover of the world can be found at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: ReclaimTheNet.org WhiteHouse.gov NaturalNews.com Billionaire Elon Musk says AI will eventually replace nearly all human workers One of the world's most government-subsidized billionaires is talking out of his behind again about how the world of the future will not include human workers. That billionaire is Elon Musk, who despite fathering at least 10 children so far believes that people in the future will struggle to find employment and meaning as artificial intelligence (AI), of which he is a part, takes over the world. Musk has said this kind of thing before, but he recently doubled down in stating that humans of the future will need a "universal high income" in order to survive as AI-driven job displacement sweeps the planet. Once AI robots have taken over most of the jobs that people currently do, humanity's purpose, in Musk's eyes, could just be to "give AI meaning" Musk is a godless technocrat so of course his philosophical musings about an AI future are devoid of any actual meaning apart from the robots he and his ilk are building and unleashing. "My biggest fear is AI," Musk admitted, repeating what he has said on many occasions about fearing the AI future. (Related: Last year, Musk hired WEF [World Economic Forum] globalist Linda Yaccarino to take over his X platform, Yaccarino being a tried-and-true deep state asset.) Nobody wants to live in Musk's AI future Musk, currently the world's wealthiest person thanks in large part to U.S. government subsidies, delivered these and other ominous statements at the recent VivaTech 2024 event in Paris. Musk envisions a future in which all of our goods and services are made and provided by AI rather than people. 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 question will really be one of meaning if the computer and robots can do everything better than you, does your life have meaning?" Musk asked. "I do think there's perhaps still a role for humans in this, in that we may give AI meaning." Humans in the AI future could still work "as a hobby" if they want, but ultimately humans will be "useless" in terms of providing value to shareholders, Musk said in so many words. For someone who is so "afraid" of AI that he cannot stop talking about it every chance he gets, Musk sure does love to create AI systems via his xAI company, which recently secured a whopping $6 billion in funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital and Tribe Capital, bringing the company's value up to $18 billion. Musk admits his xAI company lags behind industry leaders like OpenAI and DeepMind, but he is hopeful that it will catch up to the others by the end of 2024. "xAI is a new company so it still has a lot of catching up to do before it has an AI that is competitive with Google Deepmind and OpenAI," Musk said. "Maybe towards the end of the year, we will have that." AI could surpass humans by as soon as 2025, in Musk's opinion. And he hopes that xAI will be among the top companies that successfully unleash AI programs that are capable of human-level cognition (assuming that such a concept is even possible, which the world's top minds say is debatable.) Keep in mind, though, that Musk loves to talk, having said lots of things over the years that never actually came to fruition. In 2019, for instance, he infamously promised that Tesla would unleash one million fully autonomous robo-taxis by 2020, which did not happen. Musk now says that it will unveil its first-ever robo-taxi this coming August, which remains to be seen. Where were you when AI started taking over the world? Find out more at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: CoinTelegraph.com NaturalNews.com COINCIDENCE? Health officials warn about bird flu outbreak just in time for the vote on WHOs pandemic treaty For the past few months, health officials have been issuing threats and warnings about the potential for a bird flu or H5N1 pandemic among humans . While the current public health risk is low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims to be watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposure. On May 22, the agency confirmed a new human infection with the H5 avian influenza virus. Since 2022, the total number of reported human cases in the United States is three, two of which got the flu following an exposure to dairy cows and one after an exposure to poultry. All of them had only mild symptoms and there is no evidence yet of human-to-human transmission. As the narrative that the avian flu could be the next "big" pandemic, regardless of its slow transmission rate, public health authorities are on high alert, with half of the national pandemic stockpile of H5N1 vaccine being made ready to deploy. Incidentally, global governments agreed to continue working on the proposed pandemic treaty. They prepared and refined the draft of the agreement ahead of the World Health Organization's (WHO) 77th World Health Assembly, which started on May 27 in Geneva, Switzerland. Attendees at the WHO headquarters in Geneva agreed to resume hybrid and in-person discussions to advance work on critical issues. Member nations will cast their votes on the final draft of the global pandemic treaty. Analysts say it is fully expected to pass. Member State-led Intergovernmental Negotiating Body Bureau Co-Chair Dr. Precious Matsoso said progress had been made during this latest round of discussions on a wide range of issues contained in the draft agreement. 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. "We are witnessing history play out before our eyes during this process, with the coming together of all countries to decide a binding pact to protect all citizens of the world," said Matsoso. "This is not a simple exercise. This is the first-ever process to develop a proposed agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response." Renowned author Michael Snyder wrote about how these two globalists' efforts coincidentally surfaced at the same time. Snyder said that if the bird flu mutates into a form that can spread easily from human to human, that will create an enormous amount of fear and the death toll could potentially be catastrophic. "In such an environment, what sort of extreme measures would the WHO decide to institute?" he wrote on his blog. He pointed out how the pandemic treaty negotiations have been taking place for the last two years despite us being told that the agreement has been "watered down." However, the truth is that all that has changed is that some language has been made vaguer. "If this treaty passes, when the next pandemic erupts the WHO will be running the show, and most people in the general population do not realize this," he warned. "The next pandemic may be a lot closer than most of us think." (Related: Dr. Joseph Mercola: Bird flu cant kill humans unless it is WEAPONIZED.) U.S., Europe scrambling for H5N1 vaccines Amid the "fearmongered" clamor concerning H5N1, the United States and Europe are now moving to acquire or manufacture bird flu vaccines they claim are for at-risk poultry and dairy workers, veterinarians and lab technicians. U.S. officials last week said they were moving bulk vaccine from CSL Seqirus that closely matches the current virus into finished shots that could provide 4.8 million doses of vaccine. European health officials told Reuters they were in talks to acquire CSL's pre-pandemic vaccine. Meanwhile, Canadian health officials said they have met with GSK, the maker of Canada's seasonal flu shots, to discuss acquiring and manufacturing a pre-pandemic bird flu vaccine once its seasonal flu production capacity is freed up. Other countries, including the U.K., are discussing how to proceed on pre-pandemic vaccines, scientists said. "All of our efforts need to be focused on preventing those events from happening," said Matthew Miller, co-director of the Canadian Pandemic Preparedness Hub at McMaster University. "Once we have widespread infections of humans, we are in big trouble." The U.S. has contracts with CSL and GSK to test pre-pandemic vaccines that more closely match the circulating virus than older H5N1 vaccines in the stockpile. The country is moving forward with the CSL vaccine, a Department of Health and Human Services official confirmed. Wendy Barclay, chair in influenza virology at University College London, said discussions about pre-pandemic vaccine use are going on at government levels and among scientists in several places, including in the United Kingdom. If deployed strategically to dairy farmers, healthcare workers and those in close contact with infected animals, "it would put a pin in the virus," she said, although she said it was not clear if this step was necessary yet. Visit Influenza.news to read more stories about bird flu. Watch the video below that talks about the CDC warning over symptomless bird flu. This video is from the Evolutionary Energy Arts channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: MORE SCAMDEMIC FEAR: EU officials warn of the dangers of BIRD FLU, lament the "lack of immune defenses" against it. Robert Scott Bell: "Bloodshot eye" scare part of bird flu FEARMONGERING Brighteon.TV. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com CDC.gov WHO.int EndOfTheAmericanDream.com Reuters.com Brighteon.com Sen. Ted Cruz lambasts Biden-nominated judge for sending a convicted man into a womens prison A recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing turned heated and fiery when President Joe Biden's nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn, had a face-to-face encounter with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who grilled her and called the judge radical "Biden's nominee to be the judge for the Southern District of New York, Sarah Netburn, is an absolute radical. She puts ideology before safety when it comes to housing biological men in women's prisons," Cruz wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The senator grilled Netburn for approving the transfer of July Justine Shelby to women's prison FMC Carswell, a female federal correctional facility in Fort Worth, Texas, back in August 2022. Shelby is a transgender-identifying male child rapist. Netburn's transfer order overturned the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) rejection of Shelby's request for female housing. Cruz got Netburn to admit the suspect had confessed to molesting a nine-year-boy and raping a 17-year-old girl. After Shelby's release 18 years later, the suspect violated parole by using the internet in his apartment, landing himself in prison for another six years until 2015. After being released again, Shelby underwent hormone therapy to begin transitioning to a female. In 2017, the biologically male felon pleaded guilty to the distribution of child pornography. He received a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of 180 months, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release that included participation in sex offender treatment. Shelby served time between a few mens facilities, where he said he was groped and harassed repeatedly. He asked to be relocated to a women's facility. 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. Cruz said to Netburn, "So you took a six-foot-two serial rapist. Serial child rapist with male genitalia. And he said, you know, I'd like to be in a women's prison. And your answer was, 'That sounds great to me.' Let me ask you something. The other women in that prison, do they have any rights? Do they have the right not to have a six-foot-two man who is a repeat serial rapist put in as their cellmate?" Cruz rhetorically asked. During the time of Netburn's decision, BOP claimed "that permitting petitioner to live among women will be traumatizing and possibly dangerous to them," Netburn wrote in her opinion. But to her "this concern is overblown." The court concluded that the BOP acted with "deliberate indifference" to Shelby's "serious medical needs" in denying his transfer requests to a women's facility. Shelby for years was eager to begin genital reassignment surgery, specifically penis removal, according to court documents. Meanwhile, the Texas senator went on to accuse Netburn during the hearing of being a political activist instead of a judge who deals with fact and law. "When the Bureau of Prisons WARNED against housing a convicted serial child rapist in a womens prison, Netburn disregarded the recommendation and housed the rapist with women anyway. This was a disgusting, purely politically ideological decision made by the judge," Cruz posted on X. Netburn was appointed years after conniving with Big Tech to hide a Biden family scandal According to the Daily Wire, Netburn signed off on an order mandating Google to secretly hand over to criminal investigators information from the email account of the Project Veritas journalist who had obtained the diary of Ashley Biden, President Joe Biden's daughter. Project Veritas ultimately decided not to publish the diary. Nonetheless, lawyers for Ashley Biden contacted the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which turned the missing diary into a federal case. In the diary, the president's daughter discussed drug addiction and questioned whether her sexual compulsion stemmed from her father allegedly showering with her as a child. The order signed by Netburn also forbade Google from letting the target know about it, preventing Project Veritas from fighting the move. "The information sought is relevant and material to an ongoing criminal investigation, and that disclosure to any person of this investigation of this application and order would seriously jeopardize the investigation," the order said. The application for a search warrant was also sealed, making it unknown exactly what prosecutors told Netburn. The case became public after prosecutors executed pre-dawn raids at the homes of three former Project Veritas journalists, drawing condemnation even from left-leaning civil liberties groups. (Related: FBI admits colluding with Big Tech to ramp up online censorship efforts ahead of 2024 election.) Netburn granted the ruling favorably to Biden in December 2020, after Joe Biden had won the presidential election. Three and a half years later, the president nominated Netburn for a lifetime appointment as New York district judge. Visit Wokies.news for more stories like this. Watch the video below that talks about Ashley Biden's diary. This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Big Government censorship collusion with Big Tech RESUMES efforts to block all "misinformation" before Election Day. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz rips Biden for allowing Chinese balloon to fly over entire country before shooting it down. Sources include: InfoWars.com NYSD.USCourts.gov NationalReview.com DailyWire.com Brighteon.com Memorial Day weekend storms inflict at least 24 casualties as severe weather ravages the country Severe storms killed at least 24 people , injured hundreds and left a terrifying trail of destruction across Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia over the Memorial Day weekend. The storms destroyed homes and damaged a truck stop where dozens of people sought shelter in a restroom during the latest deadly weather to strike the central United States. The storms inflicted heavy damage in a region that stretched from north of Dallas to the northwest corner of Arkansas. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency early Monday, May 27, in a post on X, citing "multiple reports of wind damage and tornadoes." According to the authorities, falling trees killed at least two people in Kentucky. In Mercer County on Monday, one person was pronounced dead inside and a second was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Another storm-related death was reported in Louisville. In total, five deaths were blamed on the severe weather in Kentucky. "We believe at least a few tornadoes touched down, including the one we know was on the ground for at least 40 miles," said Beshear. The Kentucky governor also said that at least one family who lost their home in the 2021 tornados lost their home again this year. (Related: Texas electricity grid BARELY produced enough energy to meet demand during Winter Storm Heather in January.) At a news conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that seven deaths were reported in Valley View in Cooke County, Texas, near the Oklahoma border. 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. On Saturday night, May 25, a tornado destroyed a rural area near a mobile home park in Cooke County. According to the county sheriff, the casualties included two children, ages two and five. Meanwhile, three family members were found dead in one home. At least 100 people were injured and more than 200 homes and structures were destroyed in Texas, said Abbott. Severe storms also killed two people and destroyed several houses in Oklahoma, seven people in Arkansas and one in Virginia. On Tuesday, May 28, the authorities confirmed deaths in two additional states: one death in Clay County, North Carolina, and one death in Sikeston, Missouri. Moist air to blame for the string of tornadoes The recent wreckage continued a month of severe weather in the nation's midsection. Earlier this month, tornadoes in Iowa left at least five people dead and dozens injured. The deadly twisters occurred during a historically bad season for tornadoes. Meteorologists and authorities issued urgent warnings to seek cover as the storms sped across the region late Saturday. "If you are in the path of this storm take cover now!" warned the National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma, in a post on X. Harold Brooks, a senior scientist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, explained that a persistent pattern of warm, moist air is behind the string of tornadoes within the past two months. On Sunday morning, May 26, Oklahoma residents awoke to overturned cars and collapsed garages. Some residents left their homes to carefully assess the damage. In Valley View, near the truck stop, the storms tore the roofs off of homes and blew out windows. Residents saw clothing, insulation and other pieces of debris wrapped around miles of barbed wire fence line surrounding grazing land in the rural area. Kevin Dorantes, 20, was in Carrollton when he heard that the tornado was heading to the Valley View neighborhood where he lived with his father and brother. He called the two of them and told them to take cover in the windowless bathroom, where they waited out the storm and survived unharmed. As Dorantes walked through the neighborhood of downed power lines and devastated houses, he found one family whose home was reduced to rubble. A father and son were trapped under debris and friends and neighbors hurried to help them get out, shared Dorantes. He said the pair "were conscious but severely injured." Go to Disaster.news for more stories about storms and other disasters across America. Watch the video below for footage of the recent storms across Texas. This video is from the Loves Greatness com channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Nearly 10,000 homes in U.K. left WITHOUT POWER as Storm Henk batters country. Major storm, largest in 20 years, strikes southern California, bringing "astronomical rain totals" and risk of mudslides. Historic rains and flooding push California fault lines toward the "Big One." Sources include: CBSNews.com PowerOutage.us Brighteon.com Migrants rushing to cross the border NOW before Trump gets re-elected in November As fears rise regarding the possible re-election of former President Donald Trump, more and more migrants are attempting to rush across the border into the United States In an exclusive report, Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin brought disturbing footage from Jacumba, California, where he interviewed a group of military-aged men from various parts of the world. Surprisingly, none of the men hail from Mexico, Central America or South America. Among the men, a Turkish migrant revealed that he paid $10,000 to a cartel for passage. He was astonished at the ease of crossing into the U.S. without encountering resistance and warned Americans about who was entering the country. "American people is right, completely true," the Turkish migrant told Melugin. "Who comes into this country? They don't know. Okay, I'm good, but how if they're not good? How if they're killers, psychopath, else? No guarantee of that. Like, no security check, no background check." The man explained that he had attempted to enter the U.S. legally but was denied visas multiple times. Frustrated and desperate, he opted for illegal entry as the only viable option. A separate report from the New York Post in May revealed the same trend, where Colombian brothers Ricardo, 20, and Sebastian, 18, illegally crossed the Arizona border for the same reason. "We think with the elections, it will be harder," Ricardo said while waiting for a bus to the Phoenix airport, where they would catch a flight to New Jersey to reunite with their mother. "We dont want Trump." (Related: Trump to GO HARD against ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS and human traffickers if elected for a second term.) 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. Trump vows unprecedented deportation and stricter immigration policies if re-elected Trump has been a vocal critic of the immigration policies of President Joe Biden's administration and has emphasized the country's broken immigration system during his campaign. Trump has been talking about a series of stringent immigration policies he plans to implement if elected for a second term. For instance, in a recent interview, Trump revealed the possibility of building migrant detention camps and the deployment of the military at the border as well as inland to carry out deportation operations. "I would not rule anything out," said Trump during the interview. "There wouldnt be that much of a need for them, because of the fact that were going to be moving them out. Were going to bring them back from where they came. Its possible that well do it to an extent but we shouldnt have to do very much of it, because were going to be moving them out as soon as we get to it. And well be obviously starting with the criminal element." At a campaign rally in Reno, Nevada, on Dec. 17, Trump promised his supporters the largest deportation operation in American history. "Given the unprecedented millions of Biden illegal aliens who are invading our country, it is only common sense that when I'm re-elected, we will begin and we have no choice the largest deportation operation in American history," he told the crowd in Reno. He also pledged at that time to terminate all of Biden's "open-borders policies," including the Alien Enemies Act, to deport individuals identified as gang members, drug dealers or cartel affiliates. Visit BorderSecurity.news for more stories about the influx of illegals in America. Watch the video below to learn more about the suspicious reason Texas is becoming a dangerous illegal immigrant city. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Foreign-born U.S. population hits record high at 49.5 million in October. CBP agents blame lack of DETERRENTS for illegals as major reason for U.S. BORDER CRISIS. INVASION USA: Swarm of military-aged immigrants arriving in Texas, citizen journalist warns. Actual invasion of U.S. underway: Hundreds of thousands of military-aged males pouring into country with help from the Biden regime. 5,000 ILLEGALS are being released in the U.S. daily, DHS tells Congress. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com NYPost.com Modernity.news RT.com Brighteon.com Elon Musk now requiring all X users who get paid to send their personal ID details to Israeli intelligence-linked corporation X now requires new users who wish to monetize their accounts to verify their identification with a company known as AU10TIX. While creator verification is not unusual for online platforms, Elon Musks latest move has drawn intense criticism because of AU10TIXs strong ties to Israeli intelligence. Even people who have no problem sharing their personal information with X need to be aware that the company they are using for verification is connected to the Israeli government. AU10TIX was founded by members of the elite Israeli intelligence units Shin Bet and Unit 8200. CEO Ron Atzomm was personally part of Unit 8200, which is known for surveilling Palestinians and using the information it gathers for political persecution and creating division among Palestinians by identifying potential informants. He is the son of a former treasurer for the Likud party. Many of the companys engineers also worked for Unit 8200. It is also known for supporting the Israeli military with intelligence gathering and surveillance. X user CensoredMen explained why this is so dangerous: This is an extreme security risk. Not only will regular creators have to give their ID to a company with deep ties to Israeli intelligence, but PRO-PALESTINIAN creators will also have to do the same. This is completely and totally unacceptable. The new measures require users to upload a head shot of themselves and a copy of their government-issued identification. A notice from X includes a consent form requiring users to agree to allow X to store their biometric data using the companys software for up to 30 days. X claims that the data will be used for the purpose of safety and security, including preventing impersonation. 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. AU10TIX has also created identity verification systems for border controls and airports and formed commercial partnerships with companies such as Uber, PayPal and Google. AU10TIXs Vice President of Europe, the Middle East and Africa Sales, Edo Soroka, previously worked for the Israeli startup AnyVision, which was accused of surveilling Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, while its Chief Financial Officer, Erez Hershkovitz, previously worked for the Israeli company Voyager Labs, which was sued by Meta for using tens of thousands of fake Facebook accounts to collect data on more than half a million users. All users should be concerned about sharing their biometric data with X The executive director of the Israel-based Palestinian digital rights organization 7amleh, Nadim Nashif, told the Middle East Eye: "The concept of verifying user accounts is indeed essential in suppressing fake accounts and maintaining a trustworthy online environment. However, the approach chosen by X, in collaboration with the Israeli identity intelligence company ?Au10tix, raises significant concerns. "Au10tix is located in Israel and both have a well-documented history of military surveillance and intelligence gathering... this association raises questions about the potential implications for user privacy and data security." Independent journalist Antony Loewenstein said he was worried that the verification process could normalize Israeli surveillance technology. The worldwide spread of surveillance tech, often built by veterans of the Israeli intelligence service who have spent years monitoring Palestinians under occupation, is a threat to democracy across the globe. In an age of rising ethno-nationalism, from India to Hungary to Israel, its vital to ask critical questions about the source and pedigree of any Israeli digital company, he cautioned. He also said that users need more information about how secure their data will be, where it will be stored, and who will be able to access it. Sources for this article include: X.com MintPressNews.com MiddleEastEye.net Exclusive: Yahoo has spoken with the world's top primate experts as debate over the strange creature's species grows. When the 200kg animal was first encountered by Congolese villagers they feared it was a devil or a monster. Six years on, the Chimporilla has eluded classification because the worlds top primatologists are split on whether it's a gorilla, chimpanzee, hybrid, or some strange new creature. One conservationist has declared it's confounding mystery similar to the legendary North American "Bigfoot". Kisangani Universitys Dr Casimir Nebesse was part of a team that retrieved the Chimporilla's lifeless body from a tree and collected it for scientific research in 2018. He had been contacted by villagers who claimed to have killed it in self-defence. They told us this animal had made trouble. It destroyed the crops, banana plants, cassava, then it began to attack the population of this village," he told Yahoo News Australia. WARNING - CONFRONTING CONTENT: The 'Chimporilla' is now displayed at the university's museum in Kisangani. Source: Conserv Congo/Adams Cassinga The Chimporilla was found in the town of Bayaguma on Congo's Bushmeat Highway, 25km from Kisangani. But despite there being hundreds of dead jungle animals strung up for sale along the notorious stretch of road, villagers had never encountered anything similar. They claimed the giant male primate had killed a person so they shot it 12 times one bullet brutally pierced its face, killing it. But what's worth noting here is that experts with knowledge of human and ape conflict, report that whenever a primate is killed by villagers, they are nearly always described as the aggressor. But more often than not the creature is simply scavenging for food because its jungle home has been destroyed to make way for a plantation. But one thing that appears clear is the reported uniqueness of the animal as no similar remains have been collected in the area however an unverified story suggests villagers may have killed and eaten a female and her baby days before the male attacked. Mysterious Chimporilla a powerful symbol of the Congo The Congo has been plagued by civil war and the situation inside the country remains treacherous highlighted by an attempted military coup in May. But for animals, the dangers they face are also dire including threats from mining, development, poachers and worst of all the bushmeat trade a 2021 United Nations report found it to be a key driver of extinction. The city of Kisangani is home to 1.6 million people, but despite its size, the city is difficult to reach by road as its located in the middle of the jungle and surrounded by rivers. After the Chimporilla was dissected, its blood, kidneys, lungs, heart, liver, muscles and spleen were collected for genetic testing. Its massive hands were measured at over 22cm long and its feet are even bigger at 28cm. Its skin was mounted, and its taxidermied remains are now displayed at a museum in Kisangani where it has remained largely "hidden" from the world's attention simply due to distance. One man who has been determined enough to have studied the Chimporilla is Congolese conservationist Adams Cassinga. For him, the Chimporilla could be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to undiscovered natural wonders living in the Congo's impenetrable jungle. And it's them he is trying to protect as profit-driven humans cut deeper into territories that have been the domain of animals. He is unsure what sort of creature the Chimporilla is, but he compares it to a Sasquatch or Bigfoot. "But there is a difference," he points out. "This one is visible, it is there at the museum and I want to find out what it is." Wild history of chimpanzee-gorilla hybrids Unverified reports of chimpanzee and gorilla hybrids roaming remote parts of the Congo date back to the nineteenth century. A legendary "Koolakamba" that was transported from Africa to Germany was described as large and unmanageable. Like the Chimporilla, scientists could not agree on what species it was. A map shows the distance between the Chimporilla discovery site and Maiko, the closest known gorilla population. Source: Google Earth The physical characteristics of gorillas and chimpanzees can vary between locations, and for decades there have been several controversial claims by scientists that they have discovered new species. In 2003, popular media reported accounts of large, aggressive apes living in the Bili region at the end of the Bushmeat Highway. Some even claimed they howled at the moon. But although they are culturally divergent, and sometimes nest on the ground like gorillas, most researchers do not believe the Bili ape's genetics are significantly different from other chimpanzee populations. Rare photos of Chimporilla published When it comes to the Chimporilla, University of Kisangani experts believe theres no mystery and it is simply a lost gorilla thats what they reported after its body was dissected. But looking internationally not everyone agrees, and Yahoo has contacted experts in Poland, UK and remote corners of Africa in an attempt to solve the mystery. Little is known of the Chimporilla before it died, but we have acquired several rare images of him. One gruesome still shows the animal strung up in a tree where it was killed. Another shows him on the back of a pick-up truck three days after he was shot. Others are too bloody to publish as they show the Chimporilla being dissected. The Chimporilla was discovered dead and strung up in a tree after it was shot 12 times. Source: Kisangani University Biologists examined the Chimoprilla and dissected its body. Source: Kisangani University Horror account of Congos Bushmeat Highway Having studied other primates along the Bushmeat Highway, primatologist Dr Cleve Hicks is fearful for creatures like the Chimporilla. On his drive between Kisangani and Bili more than a decade ago, he saw hundreds of monkey carcasses and okapi skins. We found something like 42 chimp orphans to the north of where [the Chimporilla] came from. And for every orphan you see in a market, we can estimate that 10 adults have been killed, he told Yahoo from his office in Warsaw. We have found a new chimp culture up there, what we think is the largest continuous population of chimps on the planet, and we risk losing it." Dr Cleve Hicks studied the Chimporilla's remains during a visit to the museum. Source: Supplied Ten adult chimpanzees are often killed by poachers just to secure one baby. Source: Cleve Hicks Chimporillas location a clue to its species Because the Chimporilla was shot hundreds of kilometres away from known gorilla ranges, Hicks is certain he knows what species it is. I have a pretty strong opinion on what I think it is. And its a bit of a controversial one. But I need to point out Im not certain, this is just what I think he said. I would love it to be a gorilla. But if it was, it would be mind-blowing. It would rewrite the history or biology books on the distribution of the gorilla. Because it would put them hundreds of kilometres away from the closest ones we know of. Hicks had heard rumours of the Chimporilla for years and was delighted when he was shown its taxidermied body when visiting Kisangani. Its mounted in a way to look like a gorilla. And it definitely is a big male ape an intimidating looking fellow. But its quite decayed, so I cannot be sure, but looking at the facial structure it looks like a male chimp. In fact I'd eat my hat if it's not a chimp." After studying the Chimporilla and sketching its likeness in 2023, Hicks determined it was a chimpanzee. Source: Cleve Hicks What the Chimporillas physical appearance tells us World renowned gorilla expert Ian Redmond cut his teeth working as a researcher for Sir David Attenborough, and hes since appeared in over 50 wildlife documentaries. While he hasnt seen the taxidermied specimen in person, he was willing to share a theory. Convinced the animal is most likely a gorilla, he believes it could be a stray individual that fled an attack from humans or other primates further east and kept walking until it arrived at the village where it was shot. Others believe it could be an escaped pet, and some controversially think it could be a part of an undocumented gorilla population. "We don't know the accuracy of the provenance, because sometimes animals get carted around on the back of the bicycle, if they think you can get a better price somewhere else," Redmond said. "Or it could be that somebody ordered a gorilla. In some tribal cultures gorilla meat in reserved for the chiefs and the big men. So if a chief is hosting neighbouring chiefs, it's disrespectful not to serve them gorilla because gorilla is big man's meat. "But then you wouldn't think that culture would exist where gorillas didn't." Redmond's believes the Chimporilla is a gorilla based on the photographs and a university report we shared with him. It doesnt appear to have large ears. Chimpanzees have big ears and gorillas have little ears, he said. "However, the silvering on the back is more chimp-like. But it's not a very big animal. It's big for a chimp, but not for a gorilla. From the shape of its nostrils it looks like a Grauers gorilla thats not fully mature. A rare photo shows the Chimporilla on the back of a pick-up truck before it was dissected. Bullet wounds can be seen on its face and body. Source: Kisangani University Simple solution to determining what species the Chimporilla is Field biologist Dr John Hart has come to a different conclusion. Hes lived in the Congo since the early 1970s and describes the Chimporilla as an only in the Congo type of story. Like Hicks, Hart believes the animal is a chimp, but he thinks the debate could possibly be resolved with a DNA test. "Samples were taken but mysteriously no one has ever seen the results of genetic analysis," he said. Maybe youre onto an incredible discovery or maybe its a hoax. It is fun though. Its a great little story. More Yahoo stories on saving Congo's wildlife Could the Chimporilla mystery soon be solved? Genetic samples were collected in 2018, but theyve never been tested due to a series of delays caused by problems acquiring endangered primate tissue export permits. For years, the samples had been stored at Kisangani University and they only made their way to Belgium for DNA testing in January 2024. The woman who has the power to test them is eco-wildlife biologist Dr Anne Laudisoit. She spoke to Yahoo as she waited for a flight out of Zanzibar, and excitingly she has agreed to begin the process of DNA sequencing. Laudisoit said there was excitement when they were first collected. Researchers were initially leaning to it being a gorilla, because that's what it looked like when it was strung up in a tree. She believes this assumption about its species seemed to influence the way it was displayed at the museum. When the taxidermy was done on the specimen, it was really mounted to have the attitude of a gorilla. Then we thought it might also be a chimp for some reason, but its never really been decided, she said. Because the samples took so long to ship, they became less of a priority. They now sit at the University of Antwerp. But Laudisoit believes they can be sent to the citys zoo for testing this year. However skeptics fear because the testing of the specimens has taken so long, they could have been compromised years ago. They suspect the results will only produce a clue rather than a complete understanding of what species the mysterious Chimporilla is. Chimporilla could lead to discovery of other new species If the Chimporilla's identity is ever truly confirmed, Adams Cassinga believes it will be "sad" to see the end of the mystery. But he hopes its story will lure scientists to the Congo, so they will conduct more research into other animals that are yet to be formally described. The more that is known about them, the more effort can be made to protect the jungle they call home from human destruction. I dont think a lot of people have been aware of the Chimporilla, it's just been a Congolese story and sometimes people don't give a damn about us," he said. "There are way too many dark stories in Congo and all the intriguing and beautiful stories are always overshadowed, he said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Report: Canadas Liberal government under Trudeau spent over $30M to promote LGBT IDEOLOGY in federal agencies A report has revealed that the Canada's Liberal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent more than $30 million to promote LGBT ideology in the country's federal agencies. LifeSiteNews reported on the issue, citing information released May 21 to the Canadian independent media outlet True North. Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, a journalist and senior researcher for the outlet, reviewed the 400-page inquiry of ministry presented to lawmaker Kerry-Lynne Findlay a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. "Government contracts reveal a cabal of consultants trafficking in the dark arts of gender ideology, systemic racism theory and other ideological demagoguery," Dzsurdzsa wrote for True North. He also cited examples of this "egregious spending" that amounted to more than $30 million in taxpayer money. The Canadian Department of National Defense (DND) received the largest diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) contract amounting to $9.32 million. Employment and Social Development Canada followed at second place with a $6.96 million DEI contract, and the Parole Board of Canada (under Public Safety Canada) received $2.27 million. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) received $2.14 million, while the Department of Canadian Heritage received $1.72 million. Dzsurdzsa also mentioned that Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) contacted the LGBT organization Egale Canada to conduct "lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender queer (or sometimes questioning) intersexual, asexual and two-spirited cultural competency webinars" between 2020 and 2021. The group was reportedly paid $18,500 for this endeavor. 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. Taxpayer dollars were also used for "sex change" seminars at the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, which is under the VAC. Aside from seminars, various indigenous workshops and LGBT Pride flags were charged to the taxpayer dime. Meanwhile, ISED paid out a hefty $18,465 contract to "energy expert and soul practitioner" Julie Richer for "safe space discussions" conducted online. The sessions involved 890 employees with the ISED's spectrum and telecommunications sector. "The sector held several safe space discussions for its employees, with an objective to create space and provide resources for constructive and safe dialogue on structural racism, systemic racism and systemic discrimination," the contract reads. Woke LGBT ideology compromising national security It is worth noting that the DND has received the greatest amount of money for DEI projects. LifeSiteNews previously reported that the Canadian military spent tax dollars on polls, guest speakers, LGBT flags, presentations and workshops. Some of the workshops covered topics like "the gendered nature of security," while another touched on "integrating gender and diversity perspectives." Back in 2021, the DND disclosed that it had two separate committees and eight programs which worked to appoint homosexual advisors. These advisors reportedly sought to "innovate" religious instruction and gender-neutral uniforms for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). "Since Trudeau took office, the Canadian military has become increasingly woke and has been forcing LGBT ideology on its personnel," LifeSiteNews pointed out. "Interestingly, at the same time, military recruitment has plummeted." (Related: Woke U.S. military failing to recruit because nobody wants to defend American degeneracy.) "Last November, officials admitted that the nation's military is shrinking to dangerously low number as Trudeau continues to push the LGBT agenda on Canadian soldiers. In addition to low recruitment, the military is struggling to retain soldiers." A CAF member previously told the pro-life news outlet that new ideologies are driving away new recruits, adding that radical left-wing ideologies are doing more harm than good for national security. "It's not stopping with the gender ideology," he warned. "This is not the Canada that we signed up to defend. It's an alien ideology that people don't resonate with. These are not Canadian values of freedom and democracy these are cancel culture values of censorship, of authoritarianism [and] of radical ideologies that are alien to our culture." Visit Wokies.news for more stories about the woke LGBT ideology. Watch Carl Higbie of Newsmax explaining why wokeism is negatively impacting military readiness a problem present in both the U.S. and Canada. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trudeau gov't to fund $75k of trans surgeries for each federal employee. WOKE Trudeau to spend $110 million on global promotion of 2SLGBTQI ideology. Canada's state media is targeting those who resist LGBT dogmas on 'misgendering.' Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com TNC.news Brighteon.com Report: Talks to establish WHO Pandemic Treaty seem to have collapsed Negotiations to establish the globalist World Health Organization's (WHO) Pandemic Treaty appear to have collapsed According to 100 Percent Fed Up, the failure of negotiations between countries concerning the pandemic treaty means the global health body won't be finalizing the document. Despite this, it urged people not to lower their guard as the WHO "will undoubtedly attempt its authoritarian power grab again." "Roland Driece, co-chair of WHO's negotiating board for the agreement, acknowledged that countries were unable to come up with a draft. [The] WHO had hoped a final draft treaty could be agreed on at its yearly meeting of health ministers in Geneva," the Associated Press (AP) reported. "We are not where we hoped we would be when we started this process," said Driece. He added that finalizing the pandemic treaty, which would give the WHO overarching power to supersede national sovereignty during pandemics, was important "for the sake of humanity." According to Driece, the World Health Assembly would take up lessons from the WHO's work and plot the way forward. The official also urged participant nations to make "the right decisions to take this process forward" to ratify the pandemic agreement "because we need it." "The draft treaty had attempted to address the gap that occurred between [Wuhan coronavirus] COVID-19 vaccines in rich and poorer countries, which WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said amounted to 'a catastrophic moral failure,'" the AP continued. Despite the less-than-stellar outcome of the final day of negotiations, Tedros insisted that the failure of the pandemic treaty "was not a failure." He added: "We will try everything believing that anything is possible and make this happen because the world still needs a pandemic treaty. Many of the challenges that caused a serious impact during [the] COVID-19 [pandemic] still exist." 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. U.K. refuses to sign the treaty "The co-chairs of the treaty drafting process didn't specify what caused the logjam, but diplomats have said vast differences remained over sharing of information about pathogens that emerge and the sharing of technologies to fight them," according to the AP. The outlet said the treaty's latest draft stipulates that the WHO should get 20 percent of pandemic-related products like tests, treatments and vaccines. It also urges countries to disclose their deals with private companies. But as Driece mentioned, not everyone was on board concerning the pandemic treaty. The United Kingdom has refused to sign the said treaty, with a government representative confirming the move to the Telegraph. (Related: U.K. refuses to sign WHO Global Pandemic Treaty.) "We cannot comment on the details of specific proposals, and no proposals have been agreed [upon]," said a spokesperson for the British Department for Health and Social Care. "We will only support the adoption of the accord and accept it on behalf of the U.K. if it is firmly in the [British] national interest and respects national sovereignty." Meanwhile, 24 Republican governors penned a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden urging him not to sign the pandemic treaty. They argued that the proposed changes under the accord "could drastically change the role of governors in response to their charge as the state health officials." Ultimately, the state chief executives warned that the WHO's pandemic treaty could undermine national sovereignty, infringe upon states rights and jeopardize constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. Members of the Senate GOP also wrote to the Biden administration, urging the president to stand against the treaty and refuse to sign off on it. The senators argued that the draft treaty focused on issues like "shredding intellectual property rights" and "supercharging the WHO." Head over to Globalism.news for more stories about the WHO and the pandemic treaty it is pushing. Watch this clip about the WHO failing to reach a consensus for its pandemic treaty. This video is from the East Ghost Reports channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The WHO's pandemic treaty and a bird flu crisis are both arriving at the same time. WHO backs off on Pandemic Treaty, makes substantive changes to address tyranny concerns. Every GOP senator just signed a letter to Biden telling him to WITHDRAW from the WHO pandemic treaty. Be warned: The World Health Organization's "Pandemic Treaty" will destroy all remaining freedoms and unleash a global MEDICAL DICTATORSHIP. RED ALERT: New WHO pandemic treaty in final stages, would overrule the US Constitution and unleash medical dictatorship, warns Dr. Francis Boyle. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com APNews.com TheNationalPulse.com Breitbart.com Brighteon.com Von der Leyen proposes vaccines for minds and a shield for democracy One of the hallmarks of the European Union is that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. In fact, it often means the exact opposite. (Article by Rachel Marsden republished from RT.com) Take, for instance, the idea that Ursula Von der Leyen, the European Commission president, is running for re-election when in reality shes just publicly squabbling with a few other establishment hacks to be handpicked and confirmed by the establishment itself, not by popular vote. But that hasnt stopped her from cosplaying as an actual democratic candidate. Its not like she didnt have the opportunity to actually be one rather than just play one, but when her German colleagues asked her to run for an elected EU seat in Germany to establish some democratic credibility, she reportedly declined the inconvenience. But that hasnt stopped her from posting campaign ads on social media, as though shes actually trying to appeal to voters. In one such video, she promises that if shes re-coronated, er, re-elected, shell defend Europe with a Democracy Shield. The whole idea, she says, is to detect disinformation and malign interference... remove content, including [artificial intelligence] deepfakes, [and] to make our societies more resilient. Nothing about defending Europes democracy from unelected bureaucrats wielding excessive power though, I guess? Ever since billionaire tech entrepreneur, Elon Musk, took over Twitter, renamed the social media platform X, and publicly shamed all the Western government authorities that tried to exploit the platform directly for their own propaganda purposes, his community notes feature has allowed users to react directly and in real time to content, including deep fake videos, and has proven that the antidote to inaccuracy is more free and democratic speech, not less. Democracy, in the case of this Democracy Shield is really just a euphemism for censorship. Because what does this shield really protect Europe from, that more free speech cant achieve, other than inconvenient facts? Or from Queen Ursula and the rest of the European establishment having to defend their own ideological lunacy and explain to citizens why the narratives they peddle often dont jibe with reality. Apparently, they figure that democracy would be better off if everything and everyone that didnt fit their top agenda narratives could just be whacked over the head and dragged off into the shadows by the online Gestapo serving von der Leyens online Democracy Shield. But maybe characterizing the Democracy Shield as little more than a propaganda shield is unfair. After all, its not like the EU or Ursula actually say that theyre interested in doing propaganda. No, instead she says that she just wants to do a little pre-bunking, which totally doesnt sound like propaganda at all. Speaking at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit earlier this month, von der Leyen explained that research has shown that pre-bunking is more successful than de-bunking. Pre-bunking is the opposite of de-bunking. In short, prevention is preferable to cure. Think of information manipulation as a virus. Instead of treating an infection once it has taken hold, thats the de-bunking, it is better to vaccinate, so that our body is inoculated. Pre-bunking is the same approach. Yeah, folks, just think of free debate and discussion as a nasty virus that could get really messy. May provoke verbal diarrhea. Ugly stuff. Wouldnt it just be better if the EU could inject its narratives like a vaccine straight into the minds of citizens to eliminate any risk of messy opposing views or information? What if the pre-bunk narrative IS the disinformation, though? Of course that never happens, right? Everything that the EU and Western governments say is always the total and complete objective truth and anyone questioning it is some kind of foreign agent. By the way, von der Leyens societal resilience here really just means compliance that everyone piles into the clown car on command so these bozos can take everyone on a joyride down Dystopian Highway towards wherever fresh Hell their hidden special interests dictate at any given time. But perhaps Queen Ursula should be given the benefit of the doubt here, though. Maybe she really does just want to deploy her Democracy Shield against armies of annoying online bots and not on the political playing field to quash dissent? Its not just fakes or fabricated content, von der Leyen argued in announcing the Shield. Its also buying influence and causing chaos. We have seen far-right politicians and lead candidates from AfD in Germany in the pockets of Russia. They are selling their souls on Russian propaganda outlets and videos. Well, if she puts it that way doubt benefit erased. Want to smear a political opponent because they happen to enjoy free speech on a variety of platforms? Sounds like a job for Queen Ursulas Democracy Shield, which, like NATO, is totally defensive and does not ever do offensive operations and actively snuff out opponents on the political landscape. The EU already tried to pick off entire media outlets that it didnt like, censoring Russian platforms like RT and Sputnik at the supranational level and imposing that ban on all member states of the entire bloc in the absence of sovereign and democratic due process. The justification? That they were spreading distortion of facts that threatened the EU democratic order. Nothing better for credible journalism than governments arguing that theyre the ultimate arbiters of truthful information. It turns out that blanket censorship didnt quite knock everyone into line, so von der Leyen says in her ad that the Democracy Shield will track down information manipulation and coordinate with national agencies. Hunting down wrong-speakers on the informational landscape? Sounds super democratic. So does the idea of national agencies deciding what qualifies as news. Is this authoritarian Democracy Shield going to require any independent oversight? Because von der Leyen, back when she was German defense minister under Chancellor Angela Merkel, wasnt really into that kind of thing. Western press reports were rife with details of her underwhelming performance, with the Washington Post, for instance, citing a shortage of military equipment and promises to rectify the situation that were never fulfilled. They also said that the troops used broomsticks instead of machine guns for NATO exercises. Guess she had lots of those at her disposal. We know from her stonewalling of the committee demanding to see her text messages with Pfizer brass over her vaccine deals that Queen Ursula really isnt into transparency, either. Who needs actual democratic values though, when you have a Democracy Shield? Maybe we can see it deployed in real time in a sort of test. If it was truly doing its job of shielding democracy, it would mow down von der Leyens propaganda first, then just blow itself up. Read more at: RT.com Ex-Mossad Israeli spy chief threatened and stalked ICC prosecutor An investigation by(United Kingdom) has found that a former Mossad intelligence agent out of Israel "threatened" the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to drop a 2021 war crimes probe. Yossi Cohen, an ex-spy from Mossad, went after former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in a series of secret meetings at which he stalked the prosecutor for daring to look further into Israel's alleged crimes against humanity in occupied Palestinian territories. Citing multiple anonymous sources, a report on all this determined that Mossad's objective with the threats was to "compromise the prosecutor or enlist her as someone who would cooperate with Israel's demands." The intelligence group also sought to pressure Bensouda to abandon her probe entirely. Bensouda responded to the threats by briefing a small group of senior ICC officials about what happened, expressing concerns about Cohen's "persistent and threatening nature." Cohen reportedly threatened Bensouda on multiple occasions with sources close to Bensouda confirming that the former Mossad chief used "despicable tactics" as part of an unsuccessful "stalking" effort to influence her decisions and behavior. ICC officials were told that Cohen said to Bensouda that she "should help us and let us take care of you." "You don't want to be getting into things that could compromise your security or that of your family," Cohen continued to tell Bensouda in a threatening tone. (Related: Did you hear the news that Israel seized equipment from the Associated Press [AP] for partnering with Al Jazeera to report on the war 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. Mossad has been waging "war" against the ICC for almost a decade For nearly 10 years, Israeli intelligence has been trying to stop the ICC from investigating Israel for war crimes. These efforts have been unsuccessful, though, as the ICC's Karim Khan, Bensouda's successor, just applied for an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. These arrest warrants actually stem from the very same probe that Cohen was trying to stop, which was launched back in 2021 at the height of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic." Khan says there are "reasonable grounds to believe" that Netanyahu, Gallant and other top officials are guilty of "war crimes and crimes against humanity" in the Gaza conflict. Khan also issued arrest warrants for three senior members of Hamas. Since Israel is not a member of the ICC, it is rejecting the warrants and disregarding their implications. The United States, Israel's top ally, is also condemning the ICC with some U.S. lawmakers even going so far as to call for sanctions on The Hague court. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations' top court, similarly made accusations against Israel earlier this year, accusing the Zionist state of committing genocide in Gaza. "This is internationalized thuggery," one RT commenter wrote about Cohen and Mossad's alleged actions. "Coming soon to a college campus or public rally near you (Anglo West)." "This is just a warning," wrote another about what Cohen and Mossad are allegedly doing. "They will be planning to silence all those who opposed Israel. They are too brutal and lawless." "Look how the so-called advanced military of Israel could not fight a conventional war with its enemies. While the Hamas and Hezbollah are targeting Israeli's military, Israel is massacring women, children, babies, elderly, and patients and doctors in hospitals. A genocide cannot get more brutal than this." Someone else added to the conversation that this is typical Zionist behavior. "Threats, coercion, bribery, blackmail, theft and murder are all par for the course for these Zionist thugs operating under the guise of Israel," this person wrote. Israel isn't planning to stop until it's defeated Hamas. Learn more at Prophecy.news. Sources for this article include: RT.com NaturalNews.com Gallant says Israel will forge on in Rafah despite UN world court demanding ceasefire Israel is eager to finish the job it started in Gaza by completing its controversial ground invasion of Rafah. After rockets rained down on Tel Aviv this week for the first time in about four month months, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant blamed Rafah for the attacks while simultaneously vowing to have Israel Defense Forces (IDF) forge even deeper into the southern Gaza enclave, this despite a ceasefire order from the United Nations (UN) World Court (ICJ) and other international bodies. "Our goals in Gaza are emphasized here in Rafah: to destroy Hamas, return the hostages and maintain freedom of operation," Gallant told Israeli troops. "Regarding the hostage issue we are making tremendous efforts and will continue to do so, via both physical activities and by reaching agreements." Gallant also said he will continue to carry out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's order to not stop the war until Hamas is fully eradicated. "Remember: your job is to eliminate Hamas, to win this war," Gallant continued. "Our job is to take it [your achievement] and take it to the next level in Gaza and across the Middle East. These issues are connected." ???new hamas video Watch a Mirkva tank being targeted with an Al-Yassin 105 shell, and enemy concentrations being destroyed northeast of the city of Jabalia with mortar shells pic.twitter.com/aCoAwJYoW6 adam7867862 (@adam7867862) May 16, 2024 (Related: Did you catch the ICC statement outlining arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders accused of committing war crimes?) Rafah, the last stronghold of Hamas After sustaining eight rocket attacks in central Israel, which resulted in at least one Israeli house being damaged, Israeli leaders reiterated their call for total victory in Gaza. Not only is Rafah believed to be the last place where Hamas militants are hiding, but Israel also says it is among the last locations where major rocket stockpiles still exist. It is also possible that Hamas is still manufacturing rockets in Rafah, though the IDF believes it has probably already destroyed all of the weapons-manufacturing factories. 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 a post on Telegram, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, one of the armed wings of Hamas, posted that it targeted Tel Aviv "with a large rocket barrage in response to the Zionist massacres against civilians." Whatever Hamas still has pales in comparison to the advanced weaponry that Israel possesses, which is upsetting to some who say that this is all just a smokescreen so Israel can take the land. "In truth, Hamas has a pittance of weaponry and the Israelis are slaughtering and starving the one million refugees they drove into Rafah," one commenter wrote. "It really is David versus Goliath," responded another. "Videos of the attack on the refugee camp show bodies charred beyond recognition still crawling in the fire, a man carrying a beheaded child, blood-curdling cries of grief as the demonic night hellscape from 2,000-pound bombs dropped on TENTS and CHILDREN becomes clear," wrote another about what is said to be happening in Rafah right now. Another shared the following post from X: Israeli occupation forces massacred nearly a hundred innocent civilians who took refuge in Rafah, thinking it was safe. This is genocide!#RafahUnderAttack #RafahMassacre pic.twitter.com/AnJiRUlQH6 Yakup Ekmen (@Yakupekmn) May 26, 2024 Another expressed support for Israel, calling Hamas "scum" and stating that the war "will not be over until every Hamas and Hamas supporter is dead." "Any chance that IDF operatives are firing rockets at Tel Aviv?" asked another in speculation as to a possible false flag taking place this week. "For the greater good, of course." "Gallant the war criminal," wrote another. The latest news about the Israel-Hamas war can be found at Prophecy.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com ICJ commands Israel to stop genocidal assaults in Rafah The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nation's top court, has ordered Israel to "immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah ," as it is not convinced that the Israeli military is doing enough to protect civilians. The court acted in support of last week's application of South Africa, which brought genocide charges against Israel at the ICJ in December. The appeal sought several measures against Israel, accusing it of stepping up what it says is a genocide. "Those who have survived so far are facing imminent death now and an order from the court is needed to ensure their survival," Pretoria's filing read. (Related: South Africa calls for immediate halt to Israels military offensive in Rafah.) ICJ head Nawaf Salam read the new ruling and said that its justices were doubtful that the evacuation efforts and the related measures that Israel affirms to have undertaken are not sufficient to "alleviate the immense risk" to civilians in Rafah. Salam said the humanitarian situation has deteriorated further since the court's last order in March and is now classified as "disastrous." The Palestinian city of Rafah hosted around 1.4 million refugees displaced from the enclave when Israel ordered around half that number to evacuate the city as it sent tanks and troops into its eastern neighborhoods. "Israel must immediately hold its military offensive of [sic] any other action in the Rafah governorate," Salam continued, warning that failure to do so could bring about the wholesale destruction of life in the city. 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. But Israel has vehemently denied the allegation. According to National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi in a joint statement with the foreign ministry, Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could destroy the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part. Jerusalem also signaled it would ignore any order to halt its operation. Its government spokesman told the reporters on Thursday that "no power on earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains that an invasion of Rafah is necessary to root out Hamas' remaining battalions and achieve "total victory" over the militants. Meanwhile, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour hailed the ruling and called for Israel to abide by it. "We expect that resolutions of the ICJ be implemented without hesitation," he said. "That's mandatory. And Israel is a party to the convention." Israel declared war on Hamas on October 7, after the militant group killed around 1,100 Israelis and took another 250 to Gaza as hostages. After almost eight months of fighting, more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry. A UN-backed report warned in March that more than 70 percent of Gaza's population is facing catastrophic hunger, while the World Food Program stated last week that a full-blown famine had developed in the north of the enclave. World leaders react to ICJ ruling Apart from the immediate halting of Israel's genocidal attacks on Rafah, ICJ also ordered the country to report back to the court within a month about its progress in applying measures ordered by the institution. It has also asked to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt for humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, leaders all around the globe reacted to this ruling. As per Palestinian Authority spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the presidency welcomes the decision issued by the ICJ, which represents an international consensus on the demand to stop the all-out war on Gaza. Hamas official Basam Naim said that the militant group welcomed the decision by the UN Court "that calls on the Zionist occupation forces to end its military aggression on Rafah." He added that the group also welcomes the court's request to allow investigators into the Gaza Strip to probe "acts of genocide against the Palestinian people and Hamas pledges to cooperate with investigation committees." "South Africa welcomes the order handed down by the International Court of Justice today. We are gravely concerned that Israel has restricted necessary levels of aid from entering Gaza and has systematically targeted aid and aid infrastructure within Gaza," South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said. "This case is thus focused on the ordinary Palestinians in Gaza who are now facing their seventh month of suffering through collective punishment for something for which they have no individual responsibility." The international rights organization Human Rights Watch said the ICJ rulings show how bad things are in Gaza. "The International Court of Justices order underlines the gravity of the situation facing Palestinians in Gaza," said Balkees Jarrah, associate director of the group's International Justice Program. "This decision opens up the possibility for relief, but only if governments use their leverage to press Israel to urgently enforce the courts measures." On the other side of the coin, United States Senator Lindsay Graham slammed ICJ for its recent decision. "As far as I'm concerned, the ICJ can go to hell. It is long past time to stand up to these so-called international justice organizations associated with the UN. Their anti-Israel bias is overwhelming," she said. "The ICJ's ruling that Israel should stop necessary operations to destroy four battalions of Hamas killers and terrorists who use Palestinians as human shields is ridiculous. "This will and should be ignored by Israel." Bookmark IsraelCollapse.com to get updates on the ongoing war Israel is waging against Palestine. Sources for this article include: RT.com BBC.com AlJazeera.com Italian officials decry remarks by NATO head about Ukraine using Western arms on Russia Italian officials have rebuked remarks by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg about Ukraine using Western arms on Russia, claiming that such comments escalate tensions with Moscow. During an interview with the Economist magazine, the NATO head claimed that "the time has come" for the bloc to reconsider their policies and allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to launch strikes deep into Russian territory. In particular, he cited the region of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine as an example of where Western arms can be used. "I don't know why Stoltenberg said such a thing," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told the Rai 3 TV channel on May 26. "I think we have to be very careful. NATO must remain firm, not give the signal that it is giving in, [yet exercise] greater caution." According to Meloni, "there are many questionable statements." She recounted her denouncement of French President Emmanuel Macron over his remarks on potentially sending troops to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini told an election rally on May 26 that the NATO head "cannot speak on behalf of the Italian people." (Related: Oblivious NATO chief tells members to stand up to "authoritarian powers" does this include NATO member nation tyranny?) "NATO cannot force us to kill in Russia, nor can anyone force us to send Italian soldiers to fight or die in Ukraine," he said. According to Salvini, Rome is sending weapons to Kyiv only to "defend itself" against attacks and not to "fight, strike and kill outside its territory." 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. The deputy prime minister also issued a challenge to Stoltenberg: "This gentleman should either ask for forgiveness, rectify his remarks or resign." Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who also serves as deputy prime minister, agreed with Salvini's remarks. He insisted that the weaponry Rome sends to Kyiv must only "be used inside Ukraine." Russia warns Stoltenberg against further escalation Even Russia has warned the NATO secretary-general against his rhetoric. Speaking to the Russian daily newspaper Izvestia, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov replied to Stoltenberg's remarks to the Economist. "NATO is increasing the degree of escalation," Peskov said, adding that the Russian Armed Forces knew what to do. "NATO is flirting with military rhetoric and falling into military ecstasy." When asked by the newspaper if NATO was approaching a direct confrontation with Russia, the Kremlin spokesman answered in the affirmative. "They are not getting close; they are in it," he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned the West that it is risking a global war over Ukraine. A direct conflict between Russia and NATO would mean the planet was one step away from World War III. According to the Economist magazine, the NATO secretary-general's remarks in his interview were clearly aimed at U.S. President Joe Biden, who has resisted allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia. While Washington has repeatedly said that it does not encourage Ukraine to launch attacks inside Russia, Kyiv has been lobbying hard to do so. (Related: Ukraine conducts first strike using U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles, allegedly destroying 9 Russian helicopters and 2 airfields.) Stoltenberg's comments also come at a time when Western leaders are making increasingly bold statements about attacks on Russian territory. However, according to Moscow, the claims of existing restrictions on the use of American munitions are false and designed to maintain the illusion that the West is not part of the conflict. "We proceed from the fact that American and other Western weaponry strikes targets on the territory of Russia, primarily civilian infrastructure and other residential areas," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He noted that U.S. weapons such as ATACMS missiles armed with cluster warheads have already been used on attacks against Russia, including strikes against civilian targets. Watch this clip of Ukraine targeting Russian nuclear early warning radars with Western-supplied weapons. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Defense chief offers Ukraine to be "testing ground" for NATO weapons. NATO members are running out of weapons that they can send to Ukraine. Russia threatens retaliation against British targets if Kyiv uses UK-provided missiles to strike Russian territory. Russian electronic warfare systems are successfully disabling "sophisticated" US-supplied Ukrainian weapons. Sources include: RT.com MSN.com Brighteon.com Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says the West DOESNT WANT the Russia-Ukraine war to end According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the West doesn't want the war between Russia and Ukraine to end He issued this remark in an address delivered to members of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian Federal Assembly, as part of the process of his reappointment after a government reshuffle. Russia Today (RT) pointed out that Lavrov's assessment implies that Western nations do not truly want a negotiated end to the hostilities, instead preferring matters to be decided on the battlefield. "That's their right. If they want it to be on the battlefield, they will have it on the battlefield," said the senior diplomat. He stressed that Moscow was prepared to secure its objectives in the conflict through diplomatic means, but it would not hesitate to do so through military action if needed. Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Lavrov's candidacy for foreign minister after the president's inauguration resulted in a mandatory resignation of the current cabinet. Under the Russian Constitution, the head of state in this case Putin chooses the prime minister for the parliament's consideration, and after his approval names ministers responsible for security and policy. In turn, the recently-appointed prime minister appoints the rest of the cabinet. "The biggest change was Putin's decision to name acting Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu as secretary of the [National] Security Council," RT wrote. "Acting First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov, a civilian official with a record of supervising economic reforms, is slated to take the defense ministry portfolio in the new government." 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. Lavrov: Moscow was ready to show goodwill in the conflict's early days In his speech before the Federal Council, Lavrov told lawmakers that Moscow was ready to show goodwill "despite multiple previous deceptions by the West" and to sign a peace agreement that would benefit Kyiv. However, the Ukrainian government canceled the pre-approved document. According to Lavrov, Russia was "cheated" and "forced" to keep fighting in the conflict that has dragged on for more than two years. (Related: U.S. military official ADMITS British commandos are operating covertly in Ukraine.) Western nations insist that Kyiv is a victim of "unprovoked" aggression by Russia and have promised to arm it, as many of its leaders have claimed, "for as long as it takes" to defeat its neighbor. In contrast, Moscow believes that the conflict is a U.S.-initiated proxy war on Russia with Ukrainian soldiers being used as "cannon fodder." Russian officials have also insisted that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATOs) growing presence in Ukraine and Kyivs discriminatory policies against ethnic Russians "forced Moscows hand." Moreover, Moscow has also claimed that the U.S. is covering up Ukrainian terrorism. Anatoly Antonov, Russia's ambassador to the U.S., warned that children, women and the elderly are being killed with Western weapons. "Some promises by Kyiv not to use weapons it received from America on targets in our country are not worth a penny," he said. Antonov also criticized the "ostrich" policy adopted by the West and the reluctance to keep Ukraine in check. For the past few months, the Russian city of Belgorod has become the main target of Kyiv's attacks. Ukraine has continued shelling and attempts to get past Russian territory. Visit UkraineWitness.com for more updates on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Watch the video below as Russia conducts live nuclear drills and pledges a defense against the West. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The FALL of the WEST and why the world's economic future belongs to China, Russia, India and Iran. Ukrainian generals warn that Kyiv's reserve forces are DEPLETED as Russian forces advance in Kharkiv. Draft official tells Spanish newspaper El Pais: Ukrainians are rejecting the army. Blinken stresses importance of Ukrainians embracing mobilization as a necessary step to NATO membership. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com RT.com Brighteon.com European court ruled in 2020 that PCR tests are 97% unreliable for diagnosing COVID, but media ignored it Reaffirming an earlier decision from a lower court, Portuguese judges have ruled that four German holidaymakers were illegally quarantined in Portugal during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic" based on fraudulent PCR testing, which was found to be upwards of 97 percent unreliable. The four Germans who visited Portugal for holiday tested "positive" for the Chinese Virus based on PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, which the Portuguese justice system admits are not a valid way to detect the presence of COVID. Delivered on Nov. 11, 2020, the verdict followed an appeal against a writ of habeas corpus filed by all four Germans against the Azores Regional Health Authority. "This body had been appealing a ruling from a lower court which had found in favour of the tourists, who claimed that they were illegally confined to a hotel without their consent," reported RT's Peter Andrews. "The tourists were ordered to stay in the hotel over the summer after one of them tested positive for coronavirus in a PCR test the other three were labelled close contacts and therefore made to quarantine as well." (Related: PCR testing was a scam from the very beginning.) PCR testing for COVID is fraudulent The Lisbon Appeal Court ultimately ruled that the Azores Regional Health Authority violated both Portuguese and international law by forcing the four Germans to remain isolated and holed up inside a hotel. The judges in the case ruled that only a doctor can "diagnose" a person with a disease, not politicians based on faulty PCR testing. It turns out that none of the four Germans was ever properly diagnosed by an actual doctor before being force-quarantined. 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 judges also railed against PCR testing in general, writing in the conclusion of their 34-page ruling that the protocol is bunk from a scientific perspective. "In view of current scientific evidence, this test shows itself to be unable to determine beyond reasonable doubt that such positivity corresponds, in fact, to the infection of a person by the SARS-CoV-2 virus," they said. In other words, the Portuguese legal system determined that a "positive" PCR test does not correspond to a COVID case, no matter how much the media and politicians argue otherwise. "The test's reliability depends on the number of cycles used," the judges wrote. "The test's reliability depends on the viral load present." In the United States and Europe, the typical "cycle threshold" for PCR testing was set to between 35 and 40, but experts say that even 35 is far too high to be accurate. Many of them suggest a lower cycle threshold of 25-30 instead. Data released from three U.S. states Massachusetts, New York and Nevada further shows that up to 90 percent of the people who tested "positive" for COVID during the "pandemic" probably never had the virus because of erroneous cycle threshold settings. If someone tests "positive" for COVID at a cycle threshold of 35 or higher, the chances of that person actually being infected is less than three percent, the Portuguese courts acknowledge. Conversely, they also said "the probability of ... receiving a false positive is 97% or higher." The cycle threshold used by Portuguese labs is unknown, which only further backs the court's decision that the whole thing was basically a scam from the very beginning. "Testing, especially PCR testing, is the basis for the entire house of cards of Covid restrictions that are wreaking havoc worldwide," Andrews writes. "From testing comes case numbers. From case numbers come the 'R number,' the rate at which a carrier infects others. From the 'dreaded' R number comes the lockdowns and the restrictions." The COVID scam is still with us more than four years after it was launched. Learn more at Plague.info. Sources for this article include: RT.com Google.com NaturalNews.com Netanyahu claims Israeli airstrike in Rafah that killed over 45 and injured 200 others is just a tragic mistake Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in a speech before the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, that the recent Israeli airstrike in the southern Gazan city of Rafah on Sunday, May 26, was just a "tragic mistake." The airstrike, which killed at least 45 Palestinians and injured more than 200 displaced Palestinians in Rafah, was considered one of the deadliest Israeli Military Defense (IDF) strikes since Israel began its operation there on May 7. According to the Gaza Health Ministry and Palestinian medics on the ground in Rafah, the deadly airstrike ignited a fire in the refugee camp at Tal al-Sultan, leaving most of the casualties women and children. Hospitals in Rafah were overwhelmed and unable to accommodate the number of injured individuals. Meanwhile, footage from the aftermath of the attack shows the camp engulfed in flames, desperate residents, including many children, scrambling to find safety amid the chaos, and rescuers pulling burned bodies from the ruins. "Several civilians are still trapped inside the camp, which was attacked without warning," a Palestinian man filming the disaster said. "This was declared a safe zone." The attack came days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to "immediately halt" its military actions in Rafah to avoid inflicting conditions that could lead to the physical destruction of the Palestinian people in Gaza. In its defense, the IDF announced that the strike targeted "a compound in Rafah in which significant Hamas terrorists were operating." The IDF argued that it used a precision munition to target a Hamas installation operation that resulted in the deaths of two senior militants. But then, the explosion ignited a nearby fuel tank, which in turn led to a devastating fire at the camp. 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. Netanyahu echoed the statement and admitted during his speech at the Israeli Knesset on May 27 that the attack had gone tragically wrong. "Despite our best effort not to harm those not involved, unfortunately, a tragic error happened last night," Netanyahu said. (Related: Netanyahu's war cabinet gives in to pressure from families of female soldiers captured by Hamas, decides to resume truce talks with militant group.) International community mocks Israel as it claims to "investigate the tragic error" of its attack During his speech, Netanyahu stated that the IDF General Staff's Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism is currently investigating the incident. Chief Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, an officer for the top legal office of the IDF, stated the same at an Israeli lawyers' conference. Tomer-Yerushalmi said that while such incidents happen "in a war of such scope and intensity," the Israeli government still initiated 70 criminal investigations into incidents raising suspicions of international law violations. She added that cases of "violence, property crimes and looting" were also under review. Israel has consistently claimed that its independent judiciary is capable of investigating and prosecuting abuses. However, human rights groups argue that Israeli authorities frequently fail to thoroughly investigate violence against Palestinians and that, even when soldiers are held accountable, the penalties are typically lenient. In turn, the incident led to more international outrage and renewed cries for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. "These operations must stop. There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians. I call for full respect for international law and an immediate ceasefire," President Emmanuel Macron posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto echoed the statement on SKY TG24. He said that bombings like the latest incident will have long-standing repercussions for Israel: "Israel, with this choice, is spreading hatred, rooting hatred that will involve their children and grandchildren. I would have preferred another decision." Follow IsraelCollapse.com for more news about Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. Watch the video below about Israel amassing dozens of tanks and armored vehicles in what appears to be preparations for an invasion of Rafah. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Israeli airstrike on Gaza refugee camp in Rafah decapitates small child, kills dozens. Desperate, starving Palestinians resorting to intercepting aid delivered to Gaza via American "floating pier." Netanyahu "invokes another genocidal biblical reference" while "scolding" the ICC. American doctors stranded in Gaza urge Biden administration to end support for Israeli genocide. Gaza has "less than a week" of food left now that Israel controls Rafah border crossing. Sources include: Mirror.co.uk CNN.com 1 CNN.com 2 Brighteon.com A former supervisor for the town of Mentz admitted in Cayuga County Court Thursday to sending a sexual video to a child. Richard Nielens Jr., 66, pleaded guilty to first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors (a class D felony) before Judge Thomas Leone that morning and is set to be sentenced Aug. 15 to two years in state prison followed by 10 years of post-release supervision. That sentence would also satisfy a charge of endangering the welfare of a child (a misdemeanor). Nielens, who is also a former member of the Mentz Town Board, admitted to sending a video depicting sexual conduct to a child younger than 16 in December 2023. He was arrested that month. Nielens was a member of the town board for 12 years before he became supervisor. He served as supervisor from 2016 to 2021, and lost elections in 2021 and 2023. Also in court Jonathan R. Evans, 39, of Cortland, pleaded guilty Thursday to third-degree criminal sexual act (a class E felony) and is set to be sentenced Aug. 15 to four years in state prison followed by 10 years of post-release supervision, the maximum sentence for that charge. Drequan A. Thomas, 28, of Auburn, was sentenced Thursday to 1.5 to three years in state prison for one count of first-degree criminal contempt (a class E felony), satisfying his four other first-degree criminal contempt charges. James J. Thomas, 38, of Auburn, was sentenced Thursday to four years of state prison followed by five years of post-release supervision for attempted second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a class D felony). That charge was previously reduced from second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a class C felony). Tajanae D. Cobb, 25, was sentenced by Judge Jon Budelmann in Cayuga County Court on Tuesday to three years of probation for fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property (a class E felony), satisfying a charge of fourth-degree grand larceny (also a class E felony). Raisis death could trigger CIVIL WAR in Iran, warns expert An expert has warned that the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi could trigger a "bitter" civil war in the "unstable" Islamic Republic The Iranian leader was killed on May 19 as a result of a fatal helicopter crash in Iran's mountainous East Azerbaijan Province. Aside from Raisi, six others including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, East Azerbaijan Gov. Malek Rahmati and a senior imam from Tabriz city died in the crash. The U.S.-made Bell 212 helicopter carrying Raisi and his companions crashed into a mountain peak in the Varzeqan region located north of Tabriz. The Iranian president was returning from an official visit to the border with Azerbaijan, in Iran's northwest, to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project. He had met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev before the tragic incident. Some are worried that Raisi's death will leave a power vacuum that could cause a bigger civil war to break out. But according to professor Anthony Glees from the University of Buckingham in England, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "has the real and absolute power in Iran" a nation described by the British historian as "highly dangerous and unstable." (Related: Iran and Pakistan set to resume relations following cross-border missile strikes.) According to Glees, Iran could suffer from "a bloody and bitter civil war" if massive infighting occurs. But for now, First Vice President Mohammed Mokhber will assume Raisi's position according to the country's constitution. Tehran is then mandated to hold elections at the soonest to elect the late Raisi's replacement. 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. According to Glees, Mokhber is considered a "safe bet" who should be able to keep the warring factions in check. He added that the 68-year-old politician, who is within Khamenei's inner circle, is also deemed by the people as one who can reassure the Iranian people who are against "the bloody rule of the Ayatollahs." Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the incumbent supreme leader, is also being considered as Raisi's successor. But electing him as president would be a controversial move as having the 55-year-old cleric take power would establish a hereditary principle. According to Glees, hardline Shiites known for their black turbans believe that while imams are chosen by God, "presidents are chosen by the people." He added that if the son of a supreme leader succeeded a supreme leader, that would establish a hereditary principle. Opposition to such a move, like in the case of the last Shah Reza Pahlavi, is one of the major factors that sparked the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Glees absurdly claims Raisi's death should be rejoiced The British historian is of the belief that the death of Raisi should be rejoiced instead of mourned. During his term, Raisi elicited controversy as he was reportedly responsible for the brutal crackdown against nationwide protests in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody. Amini was believed to have been beaten to death by law enforcement after being arrested for improper wearing of the hijab. Moreover, the late Raisi is believed to have been behind the retrial of 20,000 dissidents and the mass slaughter of 5,000 of them. Prior to his death, he led the attack on the Women, Life and Freedom movement putting to death more than 500 women and having as many as 20,000 arrested. Glees also pointed to the fact that both Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian were in the same helicopter and flying in fog "so thick they could not be found," suggests that they were incompetent at running a country. However, it was revealed that there was no fog at the time the Iranian president flew back from East Azerbaijan province opening up various conspiracy theories about his death. Visit CivilWar.news for more stories about brewing civil wars in the U.S. and around the world. Watch this clip about the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and how his recent death can affect Iran's future. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Iran launches missiles targeting alleged Israeli spy centers in northern Iraq. Iranian president threatens to DESTROY ISRAEL if it tries to attack Iran again. Iran-backed Houthis claim to have a HYPERSONIC MISSILE they can use against Israel. Steve Quayle: Blue states want total CIVIL WAR in America. Narrative collapse: There was NO FOG when Iranian president's helicopter crashed. Sources include: Mirror.co.uk Reuters.com Brighteon.com Casual dining chain Red Lobster officially files for BANKRUPTCY Casual dining chain Red Lobster, which became famous for popcorn shrimp and "endless" seafood deals, has officially filed for bankruptcy Citing a CNBC report, 100 Percent Fed Up said the seafood restaurant cited "a difficult macroeconomic environment, a bloated and under-performing restaurant footprint, failed or ill-advised strategic initiatives and increased competition" in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Days before, the 56-year-old chain shuttered almost 100 locations across the country, amid massive losses triggered by its unlimited shrimp promotion. "Red Lobster's restaurants will remain open and operating as usual during the Chapter 11 process, continuing to be the world's largest and most-loved seafood restaurant company," the chain said in a press release. The statement added that Red Lobster "has been working with vendors to ensure that operations are unaffected and has received a $100 million debtor-in-possession financing commitment from its existing lenders." "The Company intends to use the proceedings to drive operational improvements, simplify the business through a reduction in locations, and pursue a sale of substantially all of its assets as a going concern. As part of these filings, Red Lobster has entered into a stalking horse purchase agreement pursuant to which Red Lobster will sell its business to an entity formed and controlled by its existing term lenders." (Related: California discount chain 99 Cents Only announces permanent closure, begins liquidation.) Red Lobster currently operates 551 locations in the U.S. and 27 in Canada. Prior to the bankruptcy filing, the chain closed 93 under-performing locations. It has also asked the bankruptcy court to reject 108 of its leases to further slim down its footprint. 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. Unlimited seafood isn't the only thing that brought down Red Lobster "This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial aid operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on growth," said the chain's CEO Jonathan Tibus. "The support we've received from our lenders and vendors will help ensure that we can complete the sale process quickly and efficiently, while remaining focused on our employees and guests." But according to Tibus, there was something fishy about the involvement of Red Lobster's largest shareholder in the chain's ill-fated all-you-can-eat shrimp promotion. He disclosed that the company is investigating Thai Union's role in the fiasco. The Thailand-based firm owns a 49 percent stake in Red Lobster. The bankruptcy filing stated that Thai Union "exercised an outsized influence on the [company's] shrimp purchasing." But for Tibus, former CEO Paul Kenny is to blame as he was responsible for making the $20 unlimited shrimp promotion a permanent menu item "despite significant pushback from other members of the company's management team." But it's not just the unlimited shrimp that brought down the casual dining chain. A source familiar with the company told CNBC that Red Lobster's real estate portfolio is also a "huge problem" partly created by its former owner, private equity firm Golden Gate Capital (GGC). When Darden Restaurants sold Red Lobster to GGC in 2014, it funded the $2.1 billion acquisition partially through a $1.5 billion sale-leaseback agreement, the companies said previously. Under the terms of the arrangement, the majority if not all of Red Lobsters locations were sold off, and the chain had to start paying rent on properties it once owned while Golden Gate reaped the profits, the source said. At the time, it was tough to predict that Red Lobster would see sales drop as much as they have. Given how much revenue has fallen, the chain can no longer afford those leases. Head over to Collapse.news for similar stories. Watch this clip that outlines restaurants closing in 2024, including Red Lobster. This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Nike drops plan to reopen Portland community store, confirms its closure is PERMANENT. Starbucks announces CLOSURE of 7 stores in downtown San Francisco amid skyrocketing violence and crime. In-N-Out Burger announces CLOSURE of its Oakland, California location due to wave of car break-ins and robberies. More layoffs coming to McDonalds as fast food giant embraces Googles AI for online ordering. Soft-serve joint in California closes down due to new state law mandating $20 hourly salary for fast food workers. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com CNBC.com Brighteon.com Supreme Court rules that Texas CAN arrest illegal aliens The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has rejected an emergency request by the Biden regime to stop Texas from enforcing a new illegal immigration law. In a 6-3 ruling, the highest court in the land decided that Texas police can legally arrest illegal migrants as they attempt to cross the border from Mexico into the U.S. despite it being challenged in the lower courts. The Department of Justice (DoJ) tried to sue Texas over the law, only to have SCOTUS rule that the law will stand. Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, welcomed the ruling, calling it a "clearly positive development." At the same time, the battle between Texas and the Biden regime is far from over. Texas and other right-leaning states are all upset that the Biden regime refuses to enforce federal immigration laws, which is why some of these states now want to do it themselves. You will recall that Texas authorities erected barbed wire and other barriers at its southern border with Mexico to try to stop the influx. Biden challenged that, too, only to have Texas defy that challenge citing constitutional breaches by the White House. (Related: Did you know that a pair of illegal aliens was recently caught spying on a U.S. special forces operator outside his home?) Biden regime lashes out about SB4 Known as SB4, the new Texas law will enable state and local law enforcement to arrest migrants who illegally enter the U.S. It will also allow Texas judges to order the deportation of illegal migrants. The Biden regime continues to argue that only the federal government has jurisdiction over border security, meaning Texas is beholden to whatever the White House decides to do or not do. 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. "We fundamentally disagree with the Supreme Court's order allowing Texas' harmful and unconstitutional law to go into effect," said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement. "SB 4 will not only make communities in Texas less safe, it will also burden law enforcement and sow chaos and confusion at our southern border." As you might expect, the Supreme Court ruling was divided along partisan lines. The six judges who were appointed by Republican presidents sided with Texas while the three who were appointed by Democrat presidents sided with the Biden regime. "The court gives a green light to a law that will upend the longstanding federal-state balance of power and sow chaos," commented Justice Sonia Sotomayor in a dissenting opinion about the ruling. The chaos Sotomayor and other critics speak of, though, is only being amplified by the Biden regime as its open borders policies wreak havoc across the land. Because the Biden regime will not enforce federal immigration law, illegals are flooding American communities by the millions year after year, which is fundamentally changing the demographic landscape of the nation. America's inner cities are also facing a heavy barrage of illegals as Texas and other states bus them in from the south. Cities like New York City, Chicago and Denver are bending under the weight of all this influx pressure to the point that some of them could eventually collapse. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been complaining loudly about all these bussed-in migrants, stating that they are threatening to "destroy" America's largest and perhaps most well-known and well-visited city. "Where is the fence?" asked one commenter, referring to the "wall" that former President Trump constantly spoke of while campaigning and serving. "Trump and the Republicans had four years to finish it what happened?" "The Democrat appointed judge is wrong," wrote another about Sotomayor's dissenting opinion. "It is the policy of Biden regime which has overridden the legitimate security needs of the United States by encouraging and enabling illegal immigration across the Texan border with Mexico. The chaos sowed is wholly at the hands of the Democrats." The latest news about the illegal invasion of America can be found at InvasionUSA.news. Sources for this article include: RT.com NaturalNews.com Latest X policy orders earners to confirm their government ID with Israeli verification firm X (formerly Twitter) is now ordering the use of a government ID-based account verification system for users that earn income on the platform either for advertising or for paid subscriptions. To facilitate this system, X has joined with Au10tix, an Israeli corporation widely known for its identity verification solutions. Users who choose to receive payouts on the platform will have to go through a verification process with the company. This action seeks to protect against impersonation and fraud and improve user support. Nevertheless, it also raises serious questions about privacy and free speech, as X advertises itself as a free speech platform, and free speech and anonymity usually go hand-in-hand. This is particularly true in nations where their speech can get citizens imprisoned or worse. "We're making changes to our Creator Subscriptions and Ads Revenue Share programs to further promote authenticity and fight fraud on the platform. Starting today, all new creators must verify their ID to receive payouts. All existing creators must do so by July 1, 2024," the update to X's verification page reads. This change toward online digital ID verification is part of an extensive trend across the political domain, where the push for identification usually clashes with the need for privacy and anonymous speech. By connecting online identities to government-issued IDs, platforms like X may suppress expression, as users become cautious of speaking freely when their true identities are known. This policy switch signals a move towards more accurate but also more invasive forms of user identification. 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. Even though designed to improve security, these practices risk weakening the very essence of free speech by making users feel continually monitored and increasing fears that, soon, all speech on leading platforms will have to be connected to a government-issued ID. Anonymity has long been a cornerstone of free speech, permitting people to express controversial, dissenting or unpopular opinions without fear of retaliation. Anonymous speech throughout history has been a crucial instrument for activists, whistleblowers and ordinary citizens alike. It enables people to denounce their governments, expose corruption and share personal experiences without endangering their safety or careers. Governments worldwide demanding an end to online anonymity Governments around the world have been demanding an end to online anonymity over the last year, and X's latest policy change is a move toward this agenda. Over the past year, a lot of child safety bills have come out, apparently intended for protecting the youngest internet users. Nonetheless, below the surface of these well-meaning initiatives lies a more subtle agenda: The drive for extensive online ID verification. X owner Elon Musk has recently declared his support for the bills. While this recent X change is only for those users appearing to claim a chunk of the advertising revenue that X makes from their posts and is not yet imposed for all users, it is a step towards the normalizing of online digital ID verification. Although X's support page for verification indicates that, while ID verification is available in "numerous countries," it is not available in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom. This is probably because of the strict data protection laws of the European continent. (Related: EU to force X to shut down if Musk does not ban independent media from the platform.) The ID-based verification appears like a preempted move that presently results in nearly no benefits. The corporation stated it might age-gate some content according to the age derived from the ID. "X currently focuses on account authentication to prevent impersonation and may explore additional measures, such as ensuring users have access to age-appropriate content and protecting against spam and malicious accounts, to maintain the integrity of the platform and safeguard healthy conversations," it announced. Users who undergo the verification badge will have a note that states that their government ID was verified. However, you can only view it when you click on the blue checkmark on the profile page. The corporation also said that users with ID verification will get "prioritized support from X Services," but it is difficult to comprehend what this means. Remarkably, the corporation carried out a way for paid users to conceal their checkmarks from their profiles. X said that eventually, it plans to accelerate the review process for checkmarks if a user verifies the ID. Moreover, they will get to make regular changes to their names, usernames, or profile photos without losing the checkmark. The corporation is also presently providing ID-based verification for paid users only. While X amusingly talks about decreasing impersonation and spam, it doesn't provide verification tools to all users. Follow Censorship.news for more stories about X censoring free speech on its platform. Watch the video below to learn more about X ramping up censorship on its platform. This video is from the Diane Sosen channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: X platform (formerly Twitter) blasted over new ANNUAL FEE for basic site functions but its designed to crack down on BOTS. THOUGHT POLICE: European regulator gives Elon Musk 24 hours to address MISINFORMATION about Israel-Palestine conflict on X. Brazil to axe X from telecommunications network after citing Elon Musk for obstruction of justice for his refusal to engage in government-demanded censorship. Sources include: ReclaimTheNet.org TechCrunch.com Brighteon.com Zelensky no longer legitimate leader of Ukraine Putin The only legitimate authority in Ukraine is now the parliament, Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed after Vladimir Zelenskys official term as the countrys head of state expired last week. (Article republished from RT.com) Speaking at a press conference following a two-day official visit to Uzbekistan, Putin suggested that a deep legal analysis of Zelenskys status should be carried out and stressed that there is no article in Ukraines constitution that says anything about extending the powers of the president. Zelensky has argued that his mandate as Ukraines leader have been extended due to the fact that the country is currently under martial law and that no presidential elections can be held during wartime. Putin noted that the Ukrainian constitution does not make any mention of the suspension of presidential elections and only explicitly prohibits holding parliamentary polls, meaning that only the term of the Verkhovna Rada, the national legislature, can be extended under such circumstances. Putin admitted that Ukraines mobilization law does specifically state that no presidential elections may be held during wartime, but stressed that nothing is said in this law about extending the presidents term in office. Citing Article 111 of the Ukrainian Constitution, Putin argued that supreme presidential power should be transferred to the Parliament Speaker, and that the only legitimate authority in the country now belongs to its legislature. The Russian President went on to suggest that the reason why Ukraines overseas masters were keeping Zelensky in power was so that he and his government would bear full blame for all the unpopular decisions that have been made and have yet to be made, such as the lowering of the military draft eligibility age to 18. Some time later, the current representatives of the executive branch will simply be tossed out and replaced by a new government that would not bear the responsibility for such decisions, Putin suggested, noting that if this is the idea, then the logic is clear. Previously, Putin reiterated that Russia remains open to engage in common sense talks with Ukraine to end the ongoing hostilities, but questioned with whom Moscow would have to negotiate, given that Zelenskys legitimacy has expired. The Russian president has dismissed any possible attempts by the West to give credibility to Zelenskys status during the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland as meaningless and has stressed that it is now up to Ukraines legal system, parliament and constitutional court to decide who is the legitimate leader of the country. Read more at: RT.com Coral reefs, those vibrant underwater cities teeming with life, harbor a secret: their annual mass spawning event. Imagine synchronized bundles of eggs and sperm released by corals over several days following a full moon-a breathtaking spectacle that remains elusive to most observers. In this exclusive investigation, we delve into the mysterious world of coral reproduction, revealing the key factors orchestrating this mesmerizing phenomenon. The Enigma of Coral Spawning: A Natural Symphony Corals, often mistaken for underwater trees due to their branching shapes and waving tendrils, are actually colonies of small anemones. These remarkable organisms reproduce not through seeds like plants but via eggs and sperm, akin to animals. Yet, their reproductive process remains shrouded in mystery. Associate Professor Shinichiro Maruyama from the University of Tokyo's Department of Integrated Biosciences describes coral mass spawning as "one of the most spectacular reproduction events in the world." However, despite decades of research, the environmental triggers behind this synchronized spawning have remained unclear. To crack this enigma, Maruyama and his team embarked on an unconventional journey-one that led them to an unexpected source of knowledge: an aquarium. The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, renowned for its stunning marine exhibits, held a treasure trove of 15 years' worth of coral spawning records for Acropora corals, commonly found in Japan's southernmost prefecture, Okinawa. This data, previously untapped for scientific research, became the linchpin of their investigation. Aquarium Insights: Decoding the Synchronized Dance of Corals Studying coral spawning in situ would be theoretically possible but practically challenging. Imagine installing robust environmental sensors around coral beds, diving daily to make observations-expensive, impractical, and risky, especially at night and in adverse weather conditions. Instead, Maruyama's team turned to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium's meticulously recorded data. By collecting, interpreting, and interrogating this treasure trove, they uncovered a fascinating revelation: corals employ multiple environmental inputs to fine-tune their spawning timing and achieve synchronization. Also Read: Massive Coral Spawning Event Turns Dying Reef to "Super Reef," Resilient to El Nino and Pacific Ocean Warming Hot Spot in Kiribati Rainfall, Solar Radiation, and Water Temperature: The Triad of Coral Spawning Rainfall: Corals respond to rainfall patterns, adjusting their spawning schedules accordingly. Rainfall acts as a subtle conductor, signaling the optimal time for releasing gametes. Solar Radiation: Sunlight plays a role too. Corals synchronize their spawning with lunar cycles, and solar radiation acts as a celestial metronome, ensuring precise timing. Water Temperature: The primary trigger lies in water temperature. Corals meticulously gauge this factor to determine their annual window of opportunity. When conditions align, they unleash their reproductive frenzy, creating a symphony of life beneath the waves. What are the implications of this research for conservation? The implications of the research on coral synchronization for conservation are profound. Let's explore how this newfound knowledge can shape our efforts to protect these vital ocean ecosystems: Precise Timing for Restoration Efforts: Understanding the environmental cues that trigger coral spawning allows conservationists to time restoration efforts more effectively. By aligning coral transplantation with natural spawning events, we can enhance the success rate of reef rehabilitation projects. Imagine reintroducing corals during their peak reproductive season, ensuring that the newly transplanted colonies contribute to genetic diversity and ecosystem resilience. Climate Change Resilience: As climate change intensifies, coral reefs face unprecedented challenges. Rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events threaten their survival. Armed with insights into coral synchronization, conservationists can develop targeted strategies. For instance: Temperature Mitigation: Monitoring water temperature fluctuations becomes critical. By identifying optimal temperature ranges for spawning, we can protect corals during vulnerable periods. Rainfall Management: Managing freshwater runoff is essential. Excessive rainfall can disrupt spawning by diluting seawater salinity. Conservation efforts should consider local rainfall patterns and their impact on coral health. Solar Radiation Protection: Light pollution from coastal development can interfere with natural cues. Implementing measures to reduce artificial light near reefs ensures that corals can accurately perceive lunar and solar cycles. Educational Outreach: The mesmerizing spectacle of synchronized coral spawning captivates public imagination. Conservation organizations can leverage this natural phenomenon to raise awareness. Nighttime spawning events could become eco-tourism attractions, fostering appreciation for coral ecosystems. Educating visitors about the delicate balance required for successful spawning encourages responsible behavior near reefs. Policy and Marine Protected Areas: Armed with scientific data on spawning timing, policymakers can enhance marine protected areas (MPAs). Designating specific zones within MPAs during spawning seasons ensures minimal disturbance. Regulations can restrict fishing, anchoring, and other human activities that might disrupt the reproductive process. Genetic Diversity Preservation: Synchronized spawning promotes genetic exchange among coral colonies. By safeguarding diverse genetic lineages, we enhance resilience against diseases, bleaching, and other stressors. Conservation efforts should prioritize maintaining genetic diversity within coral populations. In summary, the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium's hidden treasure-15 years of coral spawning records-unlocked the secrets of coral synchronization. By understanding these environmental cues, scientists can better protect these vital ocean ecosystems. As climate change threatens our seas, this newfound knowledge becomes a beacon of hope, guiding conservation efforts and ensuring the continued survival of these mesmerizing underwater architects. Related article: Great Barrier Reef: How Coral Spawning Event Contribute to Breeding Heat-Tolerant Corals Delhi recorded an all-time high temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.22 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday as intense heatwaves swept across the northern and western regions of India. Severe Heat Wave Condition On Wednesday afternoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded the temperature in the Mungeshpur area of New Delhi, citing "severe heatwave conditions." The previous record for the highest temperature ever recorded was 51 degrees Celsius (124 Fahrenheit) in 2016 at Phalodi, Rajasthan. Every time the temperature rises above 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit), India declares a heatwave. People stayed indoors to avoid the intense heat in Mungeshpur, northwest Delhi, where streets were barren and most shops were closed. "When we go outside, it seems like someone is slapping our faces. It has become difficult to live in Delhi," said resident Akash Nirmal. Numerous communities have had to close their schools due to the extreme weather, which also increases the danger of heatstroke for those who work outside. A six-week general election falls during the intense heat, which increases the risk to public health as voters stand in long lines to cast ballots. Voting closes on Saturday. Animals are suffering from the scorching temperatures as well, as they run the risk of heatstroke and dehydration. Water scarcity is threatening endangered chinkaras, also called Indian gazelles, according to Sitaram, an animal activist from Bikaner, Rajasthan. Read Also: India Record-Breaking Heatwave Kills Hundreds, Destroys Crops Water And Energy Shortage Most of India experiences high temperatures in April, May, and June before the monsoon rains bring in milder weather. But with the warm weather becoming more intense over the past ten years and usually accompanied by severe water shortages, extreme heat is quickly turning into a public health emergency in India. Of India's 1.4 billion population, tens of millions do not have access to running water. As the nation's capital swelters in unbearable heat, officials in New Delhi have also issued a warning about the possibility of water shortages, which could limit supplies to certain neighborhoods. The authorities have also warned individuals caught wasting water that they will be fined. At least 200 teams would be sent in, according to Water Minister Atishi, to take tough measures against individuals who wash their cars with hosepipes and allow their tanks to overflow. Due to people's resort to air conditioning, ceiling fans, and coolers to beat the heat, the city's power usage has reached an all-time high. The judge of a consumer court declared it was too hot to hold court without air conditioning, so the proceedings were suspended on Tuesday. Gufran Beig, chair professor at the Indian Institute of Science, said that record temperatures have been reached due to an unusual El Nino to La Nina shift and a dearth of breezes providing moisture. La Nina is characterized by abnormally low temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, while El Nino is the warming of Pacific waters that is frequently followed by drier weather over the Indian subcontinent. "We suspect that it is all associated with climate change," he said. Weather authorities predict that June's maximum temperatures will probably be above average. They even say that a heatwave is predicted to last four to six days in northwest India. The March through September Indian summers are typically hot and muggy. However, the nation is expected to see longer and more extreme heatwaves this year, according to the weather service. Related Article: Heatwave 2022: Scorching Temperatures Recorded in India and Pakistan for April Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. Blake Lively attends Taylor Swift's first Madrid Eras show with Haim sisters S inger-songwriter Taylor Swifts closest friends cheered for her during the latest stop of her Eras tour. Blake Lively and the Haim sisters were in the crowd at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to watch the pop superstar, 34, perform her first of two shows in Madrid, reports People magazine. Multiple concertgoers raved about seeing Swift's celebrity friends in attendance. One user on X shared a video of Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim dancing next to Lively. Other users shared photos of the Haim sisters and Lively in the audience. As per People, Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, previously said he planned to attend Swift's concert in Madrid during an appearance on Today with Hoda and Jenna earlier this month. Reynolds, 47, said that Lively and their children have already been to "five or six" Eras Tour shows. They love it, theyre obsessed", he said on Today. Lively and Reynolds are parents to James, 9, Inez, 7, Betty, 4, and a fourth baby (whose name has not been revealed). Apart from attending the 2024 Super Bowl together, where Swift cheered on her boyfriend Travis Kelce, Lively previously shouted her out in a sweet Instagram post in December 2023. Next to photos of her, Swift, and Beyonce at the premiere of Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce, Lively wrote, "When I grew up, women were always pit against one another. It took me until adulthood to see that the instinct for women to lift each other up to their highest potential is the norm, not the exception." Blake Lively attends Taylor Swift's first Madrid Eras show with Haim sisters Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! For Sunita Rajwar, working with 'Gullak' co-star Geetanjali Kulkarni is like a homecoming A ctress Sunita Rajwar, who is awaiting the release of the upcoming fourth season of her hit streaming show Gullak, has shared insights on her friendship with her fellow actress from the show, Geetanjali Kulkarni. Sunita shared that she and Geetanjali have known each other since their time at the National School of Drama in Delhi. Reflecting on the friendship, Sunita said: "Working with Geetanjali is like coming home. Our friendship dates back to our days at the National School of Drama, where Geetanjali was a year senior to me. She has always been someone I looked up to, not just for her incredible talent, but for her generous spirit." Talking about how their friendship has evolved from the first season of the show to the fourth season, the actress said: "Over the four seasons of Gullak this bond has transformed from just friendship, and she has now become extended family. We laugh, we discuss, we debate, and most importantly, we support each other through every scene and every challenge." Sunita said that the trust that they have built is invaluable, and it shows in their performances. The on-screen chemistry that viewers love reflects the genuine affection and appreciation we share on and off-screen. I feel incredibly fortunate to not only work with such a brilliant actor but to call her my friend and family," she added. Gullak season 4 is set to drop on Sony LIV on June 7. For Sunita Rajwar, working with 'Gullak' co-star Geetanjali Kulkarni is like a homecoming Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! "The practice of patient informed consent in assisted reproduction was and is the 'medical Standard of Care. ... It is not a newly created duty and was never a vested right of Christie to commit fertility fraud." A recent collaborative research endeavor, published in the prestigious Cell Press journal Cell Reports Medicine, highlights a promising therapeutic avenue for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Led by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in conjunction with counterparts from Germany, the USA, and Canada, the study delves into the potential of augmenting macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) protein levels as a novel approach to tackling ALS. ALS, often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a devastating neurodegenerative condition characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and ultimately respiratory failure. While the etiology remains elusive in the majority of cases, a subset of about 10% is attributed to genetic factors. Typically striking individuals aged 40 to 60, ALS carries a grim prognosis with a median survival of two to five years post-diagnosis. Approximately 20% of genetic ALS cases stem from mutations in the superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene. Extensive research has elucidated that these mutations, numbering over 180 variants, induce motor neuron degeneration through some form of toxicity. Yet, the precise mechanisms driving this selective toxicity remain unresolved. A few years ago, Israelson and colleagues identified the multifunctional protein MIF to directly inhibit mutant SOD1 misfolding and binding to intracellular organelles. Elevated expression of MIF was shown to suppress accumulation of misfolded SOD1 and extends survival of mutant SOD1-expressing motor neurons. Recently, a study led by Dr. Leenor Alfahel at Professor Adrian Israelson's laboratory at BGU, in collaboration with Professor Susanne Petri's team at Hannover Medical School, Germany, and other international collaborators, demonstrated the efficacy of exogenous MIF administration via viral vectors in a SOD1 mouse model of ALS. This intervention effectively delays motor function decline, modulates critical pathways, and extends lifespan. Moreover, the study identifies diminished MIF levels in motor neurons derived from familial ALS patients with various genetic backgrounds, as well as in the motor cortex and spinal cord of sporadic ALS cases, suggesting broader implications beyond SOD1-linked pathology. These collaborative efforts underscore MIF's potential as a therapeutic candidate for ALS, opening up new possibilities for treatment. However, comprehensive investigations are warranted to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms of MIF's efficacy and its translational implications. The research was supported by the Israel Science Foundation (Grant no. 284/19) and the GIF, the German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development (Grant no. I-116-415.6-2016). A new type of immunotherapy, developed by UCL researchers, has shown promising preclinical results against a bone cancer called osteosarcoma, as part of a study in mice. Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer in teenagers but is still relatively rare, with around 160 new cases each year in the UK. Meanwhile, more than 150,000 people suffer from cancer that has spread to the bones. Cancer that starts in or spreads to the bones is particularly hard to treat, meaning that it is a leading cause of cancer-related death. It is also frequently resistant to chemotherapy, so new treatments are needed. The results of the experiment, published in Science Translational Medicine, found that using a small subset of immune cells, called gamma-delta T cells (gdT cells) could provide an efficient and cost-effective solution. gdT cells are a less well-known type of immune cell that can be made from healthy donor immune cells. They have strong innate anti-cancer properties, can kill antibody labelled targets and can safely be given from one person to another, without the risk of graft-versus-host disease. In order to manufacture the cells, blood is taken from a healthy donor. The gdT cells are then engineered to release tumour targeting antibodies and immune stimulating chemicals called cytokines, before being injected into the patient with cancer in the bone. This new treatment delivery platform is called OPS-gdT. The researchers tested the treatment on mouse models with bone cancer and found that OPS-gdT cells outperformed conventional immunotherapy when controlling osteosarcoma growth. Lead author, Dr. Jonathan Fisher (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and UCLH), said: "Current immunotherapies such as CAR-T cells (another type of immunotherapy using genetically modified immune cells) use the patient's own immune cells and engineer them to improve their cancer-killing properties. However, this is expensive and takes time, during which a patient's disease can get worse. And, while it is an effective treatment for leukaemia it has been found to be less effective against solid cancers. "An alternative is to use an 'off the shelf' treatment made from healthy donor immune cells, but in order to do this care must be taken to avoid graft-versus-host disease, where the donor immune cells attack the patient's body. "The Fisher Lab discovered a way of engineering the previously under-utilised gdT cells, which have been clinically proven to be safe when made from unrelated donor blood. This offers a more cost-effective alternative to current per-patient manufacturing." As part of the trial, researchers injected the mice with gdT cells that hadn't been engineered at all, an anti-tumour antibody, OPS-gdT cells alongside a bone-sensitizing drug, and CAR T-cells. They found that the OPS-gdT cells were most effective when partnered with the bone-sensitizing drug which has previously been used on its own to strengthen weak bones in patients with cancer. This treatment prevented the tumours from growing in the mice that received it leaving them healthy three months later. Thousands upon thousands of people have cancer that spreads to the bones. There is currently very little that can be done to cure these patients. However, this is an exciting step forward in finding a potential new treatment. Our hope is that not only will this treatment work for osteosarcoma but also other adult cancers." Dr. Jonathan Fisher, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and UCLH Following the successful preclinical trial, the team is now generating data on the effectiveness of OPS-gdT cells in secondary bone cancers and plan to move towards an early phase clinical trial using patients with secondary cancers within the next couple of years. This work was supported by UCLB, the innovation commercialisation operation for UCL. Sara Garcia Gomez, Senior Business Manager at UCLB, said: "We work closely with clinicians at the forefront of research to help them bring new treatments from the lab to the patient. With few treatment options out there for bone cancers, this study has shown encouraging potential for new therapies. We will continue to work closely Dr Fisher and his team through the next important stages of exploring the potential of this new approach." The research was also supported by UCL Technology Fund and the National Institute for Health and Care Research GOSH Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR GOSH BRC). It also received support from Professor Katia Scotlandi (Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna), the Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group and the Little Princess Trust. Tanel Ozdemir, Investor, UCL Technology Fund said: "We've had the pleasure of working with Dr Fisher and his talented team at UCL for a number of years now. We believe the OPS-gdT platform demonstrates a significant leap in how effectively apply immunotherapies to treat solid tumours. We're extremely excited by the potential of technology and look forward to continuing our support of Dr Fisher as he tries to bring this treatment to patients." insights from industry Amy Landreman Senior Product Marketing Manager Promega Corporation In this Interview, NewsMedical speaks with Amy Landreman about NanoBRET Technology and its role in cellular target engagement. Could you start by explaining the significance of understanding cellular target engagement in the drug discovery process and how it impacts the development of therapeutic insights? Understanding compound target engagement is a crucial step in drug discovery as it provides valuable insights into the interaction between drug candidates and their specific targets. Accurate measurements of drug-target interactions help researchers optimize drug molecules for increased selectivity and potency, essential for enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing potential side effects. Studying this binding interaction within live cells is key to predicting the clinical efficacy of a drug, as it reflects the physiological conditions that are likely to be encountered in human tissues. How does NanoBRET TE technology change the way we understand drug-target interactions in live cells? NanoBRET TE technology integrates the precision of biochemical assays with the complexity of cellular contexts, making it possible to generate quantitative and real-time measurements of drug-target interactions in live cells. The cellular functional and phenotypic assays often used to characterize drug activity report downstream effects of drug-target interactions and can be influenced by non-specific activities, overlapping signaling pathways, and other cellular responses. In contrast, NanoBRET TE provides specific compound binding data in the live cell context. This removes many of the unknowns obtained with traditional cellular assays, providing valuable insights that directly support the decision-making process and increase confidence when selecting the most promising candidate compounds for advancement. What key advantage does NanoBRET TE offer over traditional biochemical assays in drug discovery? NanoBRET TE offers a significant advantage over traditional biochemical assays in drug discovery by enabling the measurement of drug-target interactions directly within the native cellular environment. This is crucial because it allows researchers to observe and quantify how a drug interacts with its target in the presence of cellular components that are absent in simpler biochemical assays. Traditional assays often fail to account for factors such as the influence of cell membranes, cellular cofactors such as ATP, and protein conformational dynamics that occur within cells. NanoBRET TE bridges this gap by providing a real-time, biologically relevant assessment that reflects the true binding activity of a drug under physiological conditions. This approach not only enhances the accuracy of target engagement data but also increases the reliability of predictions regarding a drug's in vivo performance, leading to more effective and safer therapeutic agents. Image Credit: Promega Corporation Can you explain how NanoBRET TE quantifies compound-target affinity within a cellular context? NanoBRET TE is based on a specialized bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) technique. This method uses a NanoLuc luciferase-tagged target protein expressed within the cell and a cell-permeable fluorescent tracer that binds to the target protein. When the tracer is close to the NanoLuc-tagged protein, energy transfer from the luciferase to the tracer causes the tracer to emit light, which is measured as the BRET signal. To create quantitative assay conditions, the fluorescent tracer is added to cells at concentrations that are equal to or less than the dissociation constant (Kd) of the tracer. The initial binding of the tracer to the target provides a baseline BRET signal. Researchers then introduce unlabeled drug compounds under study, which can displace the tracer from the target protein, resulting in a reduction in BRET signal. Under such conditions, the IC 50 value measured in the NanoBRETTE assay approximates the apparent Ki of drug compounds (within 2-fold), providing a quantitative measurement for the compound-target interaction in a live cell environment. How does NanoBRET TE measure and impact the selection of clinical candidates? NanoBRET TE is often used in the hit-to-lead stage of drug discovery, helping to identify and support the structure-activity relationship (SAR) optimization of promising clinical candidates. The technology provides quantitative affinity results that support the direct comparison of target protein binding across compound collections and enables correlative analysis with effects observed in functional and phenotypic cellular assays. These rapid, data-driven insights are essential during this iterative stage of drug development, facilitating more informed decisions about which compounds to further optimize or advance. Additionally, because NanoBRET TE is based on transfection of the target protein fusion, it can be easily adapted for the study of common disease-driving protein mutations, alleviating the burden of purifying mutant proteins needed for biochemical analysis. This aids in tailoring the SAR process to the development of lead compounds that are more precisely designed for conditions observed in the clinic. NanoBRET TE can also be performed in a permeabilized format to assess intracellular compound availability and permeability. This feature is particularly valuable when developing compounds that fall beyond traditional drug design rules, such as proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). Information on cellular permeability obtained through NanoBRET TE can be integrated into the SAR process to enhance compound design for optimal cellular uptake. This approach leads to the development of lead compounds with optimized chemical properties, significantly impacting their potential effectiveness and suitability for clinical use. Image Credit: Promega Corporation In what ways does NanoBRET TE's capability to assess selectivity advance therapeutic development? Through the use of appropriate experimental controls, the BRET data can be converted to a measure of the fractional occupancy of the target protein. This enables the quantification of a compound's selectivity across a range of similar targets, such as kinases. The dual capability to quantitatively assess both affinity and occupancy allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of compound interactions and selectivity within a cellular context so that lead compounds can be optimized for on-target affinity while minimizing off-target effects. Furthermore, NanoBRET TE's live-cell format allows for the assessment of compound residence time, providing insights into how long a drug remains bound to its target. This duration can significantly affect a drug's effectiveness and safety profile, influencing the overall therapeutic window. In addition, as a compound can display differential binding duration among related targets, a drug can be kinetically selective for its target despite having off-target engagement under equilibrium conditions. The ability to measure binding affinity, selectivity, and residence time under physiological conditions ensures that only the most promising, well-characterized candidates advance to the next phases of therapeutic development. How did NanoBRET TE unveil trametinib's unique mechanism of action and its therapeutic potential? NanoBRET TE played a pivotal role in a study by Khan Z. et al., unveiling the unique mechanism of action and therapeutic potential of trametinib, a MEK inhibitor (MEKi) used in oncology, immunotherapy, and aging-related treatments. Utilizing structural analysis through X-Ray crystallography, these researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai discovered that trametinib distinctively engages with the interface between MEK and the pseudokinase protein KSR (kinase suppressor of RAS). This interaction leads to structural changes in the MEKi binding pocket, potentially influencing how these inhibitors bind and function. To corroborate these structural findings, the research team employed NanoBRET TE assays to measure the specific binding of trametinib to the MEK/KSR complex within live cells. The assay results confirmed trametinib's unique ability to specifically target the MEK/KSR complex, demonstrating greater specificity compared to other MEK inhibitors. Additionally, kinetic analysis via NanoBRET TE showed that trametinib has a prolonged residence time at the target site, suggesting that its enhanced specificity and extended engagement could reduce side effects and sustain inhibition of MEK activity over longer periods. These characteristics position trametinib as a more targeted and durable therapeutic option, albeit with ongoing challenges related to drug resistance, which has led to the development of new analogs like Trametiglue to potentially improve efficacy and overcome resistance mechanisms. What significance does NanoBRET TE's specificity have in developing treatments for CCNE1-amplified cancers? Amplification of the CCNE1 locus is prevalent in multiple tumor types, contributing to genome instability and resistance to treatment. By utilizing synthetic lethality approaches, researchers target specific vulnerabilities in cancer cells with amplified CCNE1. In a significant study by Gallo, D. et al., genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screens identified PKMYT1 kinase as a therapeutic target, leading to the development of RP-6306, an effective PKMYT1 inhibitor that demonstrates the potential of precision medicine in targeting specific genetic profiles of cancer. The NanoBRET TE assay was crucial in establishing the specificity and efficacy of RP-6306 against PKMYT1, thereby advancing our understanding of cell cycle regulation in cancer contexts. By comparing RP-6306s interactions with WEE1, another cell cycle-regulating kinase, the assay confirmed RP-6306's selective inhibition of PKMYT1. This precise measurement of binding affinity within living cells supported the mechanism of action for how RP-6306 induces cell death by prematurely activating CDK1 in CCNE1-overexpressing cells. As RP-6306 progresses through clinical trials, these findings highlight the role of synthetic lethality in oncology drug discovery, offering new therapeutic options for tumors with CCNE1 amplification and similar genetic conditions. How does the scalability of NanoBRET TE support high-throughput drug screening efforts? In addition to later-stage drug discovery, NanoBRET TE can be used earlier in the process in high-throughput screening campaigns to identify hit compounds that are candidates for further optimization. NanoBRET TE assays are designed to be performed in multi-well plate formats, which can range from small to very large scales, accommodating hundreds or even thousands of samples simultaneously. This capability allows for the rapid and simultaneous assessment of multiple drug candidates under uniform conditions. Researchers can quickly measure and compare the affinity, specificity, and selectivity of various compounds in engaging their cellular targets in a live-cell environment. The operational efficiency of NanoBRET TE, which does not require cell lysis or complex sample preparation, facilitates seamless integration into automated workflows. This is particularly advantageous for pharmaceutical companies and research laboratories looking to streamline their drug discovery pipelines. The ability to conduct these assays in a high-throughput manner not only speeds up the drug discovery process but also helps reduce costs by enabling the early dismissal of less promising candidates. Consequently, NanoBRET TE's scalability ensures that drug development efforts are both efficient and effective, maximizing the chances of finding successful new therapies. What are the current limitations of NanoBRET TE, and how might they be addressed in future research? NanoBRET TE, while valuable for drug discovery, faces limitations such as the need for specific tagging of target proteins with NanoLuc luciferase, which may not always be feasible for all proteins. Future research could focus on developing less intrusive tagging methods that more closely maintain the protein's natural state. As a step in this direction, the NanoBRET TE method has already been adapted to the use of complementary NanoLuc subunits as protein tags to enable the study of target engagement on protein complexes. The use of CRISPR gene editing to incorporate the tag at the endogenous protein loci is another adaptation that would further increase the physiological relevance of this approach. Further, while NanoBRET TE is invaluable for assessing drug interactions within cells, its application is primarily confined to in vitro settings. Extending this technology to organoid or in vivo models could significantly broaden its utility, providing insights into how drugs behave in more complex biological environments. From your Pittcon experiences, how do collaborative discussions shape the future of technologies like NanoBRET TE? Collaborative discussions at conferences like Pittcon are instrumental in advancing technologies like NanoBRET TE. These gatherings bring together a diverse mix of scientists, fostering idea exchanges that drive technological innovation and refinement. Such interactions commonly result in enhanced assay designs, broader application ranges, or tackling challenges like protein tagging and assay sensitivity. Feedback from end-users during these conferences can also lead to practical improvements in technologies like NanoBRET TE, making them more user-friendly and tailored to specific research needs. These discussions may reveal emerging applications and new scientific questions, potentially inspiring adaptations such as developing in vivo assay methods for animal studies. This collaborative dynamic not only guides the technological evolution to meet current and future research needs but also helps identify potential projects and partnerships that could expedite the development and deployment of next-generation technologies. Finally, reflecting on your experience, how do you envision the future of drug discovery and the role technologies like NanoBRET TE will play in it? Reflecting on the evolving landscape of drug discovery, technologies like NanoBRET TE are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping its future. As drug discovery continues to demand more precise, efficient, and cost-effective methods, technologies that provide real-time, accurate insights into drug-target interactions within the native cellular environment will become indispensable. Looking forward, I envision that the integration of NanoBRET TE with other emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, could further revolutionize drug discovery. These integrations could enhance the predictive accuracy of preclinical models, enabling more targeted therapy options and personalized medicine approaches. Additionally, advancements in NanoBRET TE could expand its applications beyond traditional settings to include advanced cell models such as organoids or even in vivo studies, providing a more comprehensive understanding of a drug's performance in complex biological systems. About Amy Landreman Amy Landreman is a Senior Product Marketing Manager in the Life Science Business Unit at Promega Corporation. She earned her BS degree in Botany and her PhD in Molecular and Environmental Toxicology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Initially working as an applied toxicologist, she transitioned into the biotechnology industry over 15 years ago. Since then, Amy has held global roles in product technical support, product management, and product marketing. Her work primarily focuses on cell-based assay solutions that facilitate basic research and drug discovery. At Promega, she specializes in the development and strategic commercialization of novel bioluminescence-based technologies that support small molecule drug discovery workflows. About Promega Corporation With a portfolio of more than 3,000 products covering the fields of genomics, protein analysis and expression, cellular analysis, drug discovery and genetic identity, Promega is a global leader in providing innovative solutions and technical support to life scientists in academic, industrial and government settings. Promega products are used by life scientists who are asking fundamental questions about biological processes as well as by scientists who are applying scientific knowledge to diagnose and treat diseases, discover new therapeutics, and use genetics and DNA testing for human identification. Promega holds significant intellectual property rights and licenses in several key areas that form a foundation for its diverse portfolio including: Bioluminescence, including engineered luciferases, luciferase reporter vectors and luciferase substrates Short tandem repeat (STR) detection for STR-based cell line authentication, human identification, cell and tissue characterization, and mixed sample detection HaloTag protein labeling and capture technology Originally, founded in 1978 in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, Promega has branches in 16 countries and more than 50 global distributors serving 100 countries. A cornerstone of Promega business practice is supporting customers, community and employees. A new study from the UC Davis School of Medicine found striking differences at the cellular level between male and female mice with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The findings could determine how HFpEF is treated in women compared to men. With HFpEF, the heart muscle contracts normally but the heart is unable to fully relax and refill properly between beats. This condition is known as diastolic dysfunction. It can occur if the heart is too stiff or if the contraction process doesn't shut off quickly enough between beats. The study showed that the diastolic dysfunction in female mice resulted from altered heart filament proteins. In male mice, it resulted from the slow removal of calcium from heart cells between heartbeats, causing a slight contraction to remain between beats. The findings were published in Cardiovascular Research. This study demonstrates the importance of conducting research on both male and female populations." Donald M. Bers, senior author of the study Bers is the chair of the Department of Pharmacology and the Joseph Silva Endowed Chair for Cardiovascular Research at the UC Davis School of Medicine. "If these same molecular male-female distinctions occur in obese diabetic patients with HFpEF, it may mean that the best therapeutic strategies for HFpEF in women may differ from those for men." Heart failure is when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to support the body. Approximately 6.2 million people in the U.S. have heart failure. The five-year mortality rate for heart failure is around 50%, although many factors can influence survival. About half of those with heart failure have HFpEF, and almost twice as many women have HFpEF compared to men. Men with the heart failure may be more at risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. "Two hit" mouse model to study HFpEF Obesity and diabetes are common in people with HFpEF. To study the disease, the researchers created a unique "two-hit" mouse model combining two factors. For the first factor, the researchers used mice genetically lacking a leptin receptor. Leptin is a hormone that promotes satiety. Without it, appetite remains high and the animals become obese and diabetic. For the second factor, mice were exposed to an aldosterone infusion. Aldosterone is a hormone made by the adrenal gland. High levels of aldosterone cause fluid retention. This animal model of heart failure and diabetes develops HFpEF, allowing researchers to analyze the cellular and molecular mechanisms of muscle contraction and relaxation in male and female mice. The research team (left to right): Christopher Y. Ko, Juliana Mira Hernandez, Donald M. Bers, Erin Y. Shen and Bence Hegyi in in front of their key findings on the screen. Dysregulation of calcium, titin Calcium is critical in the activation of contraction and relaxation of heart muscle cells as well as the heart's electrical activity. Calcium entering the heart cell at each beat causes the muscle to contract. It also helps drive the electric signal that synchronizes the contraction of the millions of heart muscle cells required for the heart to function as an efficient pump. Calcium is removed from the cell at each beat. This allows the heart to relax between beats and fill for the next beat. In the male mice with HFpEF, the calcium removal from the heart muscle cells was slowed, preventing complete relaxation between beats. The male HFpEF mice also exhibited more abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias. In contrast, the females with HFpEF exhibited normal calcium movements into and out of the heart cells. Instead, the researchers observed an increase in a shorter and stiffer form of titin (N2B). Titin is a protein in the heart that acts like a supportive spring. Researchers also observed phosphorylation (a molecular reaction) of titin and another heart filament protein, troponin I. Both the titin and troponin changes made the female heart cells functionally stiffer -; making the heart harder to fill -; even though calcium removal was normal. "This study reveals different drug targets in males and females and will be a stepping-stone for future trials with sex-specific targeted drugs in HFpEF," said Bence Hegyi, an associate project scientist in the Bers Lab and co-senior author of the study. "Potentially, women with this form of HFpEF could benefit from drugs that reduce cardiac stiffness. On the other hand, men with this form of HFpEF might benefit more from drugs that enhance calcium removal." Limitations The researchers noted several limitations of the study. Although the mice in this study may be representative of the substantial number of HFpEF patients who have diabetes and are quite obese, many HFpEF patients may not be represented by this model. Multiple animal models will be needed to understand different subpopulations with HFpEF. Additional preclinical and clinical studies are needed to fully realize the potential benefits of this work. Additional authors include Erin Shen, Christopher Ko, Emily Spencer, Daria Smoliarchuk and Julie Bossuyt from the UC Davis School of Medicine; Juliana Mira Hernandez from the UC Davis School of Medicine and the University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia; and Zaynab Hourani and Henk Granzier from the University of Arizona, Tucson. The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) has recently announced that they have selected Varanasi to host the Toyota Mobility Foundations $9 million Sustainable Cities Challenge. Other than Varanasi, Venice and Detroit have also been selected to host the massive event. The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) organises the Sustainable Cities Challenge in order to move towards sustainable mobility for a healthier and safer environment. This event will also invite innovators and technicians from all around the world to provide solutions to the specific mobility obstacles that are present in these global cities. The selected cities have been shortlisted from a list of 10 cities that were announced in November last year. These cities will be launching their own City Challenges that will invite innovators to work with them. Talking about Varanasi, the city will start its City Challenge on June 27, 2024. It is one of the most popular heritage sites and is known as the Spiritual Capital of India. The city has an influx of tourists, which has led to concerns about safety and crowding. Overall, the main aim of the City Challenge is to generate data-driven solutions that enhance safety and accessibility for both religious tourists and local residents in the city. As reported by ET Auto, Akshat Verma, who is the Municipal Commissioner of Varanasi, stated, This initiative offers us a valuable chance to explore technical and design-related avenues for enhancing mobility within our city. By collaborating with innovative minds, we aim to bolster Varanasis reputation as a premier global tourist destination. Talking about Detroit, the main aim of the City Challenge organised by TMF is to provide sustainable mobility solutions for the eastern market. They will be planning to cut fossil fuel use and reduce the costs of freight operations by using cleaner technologies. The City Challenge has already been launched on May 29, 2024. For Venice, TFM seeks innovative solutions to encourage the use of existing sustainable transport modes, enhancing the overall mobility landscape. The City Challenge will begin on June 11, 2024. Innovators and technicians will come from all over the world, but their solutions must always be tailored to the problems of an individual city. Those solutions that are considered best as per the needs of each city will be selected by late 2024. They will also be given a share of the $3 million per city innovation grant for demonstration and pilot testing. The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has dismissed a long pending criminal case against Wipro Chairman Azim Premji on May 29. While delivering the verdict, Justice Shamim Ahmed said that CJM (Chief Judicial Magistrate) Lucknow did not use his discretion in summoning Premji and issuing a warrant. As per the court, the CJM didnt properly examine the evidence and documents presented on behalf of Premji. After hearing the pleas, the bench had reserved its verdict on May 13 and delivered it on Wednesday. The court said that prima facie there is no case against Premji. The case, which has now been quashed, was 8 years old, originating in 2016. Then the Labor Enforcement Officer filed a complaint against Premji in the CJM court on the alleged charge of violation of labour laws. Azim Premjis company, Wipro, had entered into a manpower supply agreement with a service provider company M/s G for G Secure Solutions India Pvt Ltd. A complaint was filed regarding a violation of the terms of this agreement. A complaint was filed against them under the Equal Remuneration (Pay) Act of 1976. The court took cognizance of this case on September 3, 2016, ordering to summon Premji. On May 13, 2017, the court issued a bailable warrant against Premji, following which Premji approached the High Court against the order. Now, the bench of the Allahabad High Court has jinked the CJM order against the industrialist. The bench observed, Premji, a distinguished industrialist and the chairman and managing director of Wipro Ltd, has consistently demonstrated a commitment to ethical business practices and social responsibility. The bench added, In reflecting upon the character and contributions of the individual summoned before the court, it is imperative to consider the specifics of the case at hand and to also consider the broader context of the individuals life and work. This court recognises the multifaceted nature of Premji, whose endeavours, both as an industrialist and a philanthropist, have left an impeccable mark on society. Tesla boss Elon Musk recently criticised LinkedIn, the job search platform owned by Microsoft. His comments were in response to a post by a user named Alex Cohen, who expressed his strong dislike for LinkedIn, stating, I hate LinkedIn with a passion. Responding to it, Elon Musk agreed, LinkedIn is so cringe it will make your toenails curl. Elon Musks social networking site X reportedly boasts 600 million monthly active users (MAUs), while LinkedIn has approximately 1 billion members spanning over 200 countries. I hate LinkedIn with a passion pic.twitter.com/CIohr1FlnU Alex Cohen (@anothercohen) May 28, 2024 The comment sparked a flood of replies from social media users, many of whom expressed their support for the billionaire. One user commented to Elon Musk and Alex Cohen, highlighting a key difference between X and LinkedIn: The most significant distinction between X and LinkedIn is that people tend to be their true selves on X. On LinkedIn, too many people are posting as if HR is hovering over them. The biggest difference between X and LinkedIn is that people tend to be their real selves on X. On LinkedIn too many people are posting as if HR is breathing down their necks. Adam Lowisz (@AdamLowisz) May 29, 2024 Another said, They also have the most useless notifications on the web. They also have the most useless notifications on the web pic.twitter.com/FqvzZCTTNG Empress Heavy (@HeavyMetalShip) May 29, 2024 There was one user who also recommended everyone delete their LinkedIn account. I recommend everyone delete their LinkedIn. The amount of spam calls and emails will decrease by 80 per cent, the user wrote. I recommend everyone delete their LinkedInThe amount of spam calls and emails will decrease by 80% Marjorie Taylor Greene Press Release (Parody) (@MTGrepp) May 29, 2024 While another remarked, Some of the postings arent real jobs. Companies post to simply wrangle more traffic to their page. Some of the postings arent real jobs. Companies post to simply wrangle more traffic to their page. Elena_ The HumanistPoet (@ElenaRuiz_Poet) May 29, 2024 It has been reported that Elon Musk intends to provide a job search feature that will enable users to locate job openings directly on the platform. Building on his previous efforts, Musks AI company began posting job openings on the @XHiring page in the United States. This could signify a bigger drive by the tech mogul to convert X into a versatile everything app. Introducing our job search tool.Start exploring jobs on web at https://t.co/0A5snlK8Ne. pic.twitter.com/4KS0016M5N Hiring (@XHiring) November 16, 2023 Elon Musk previously attacked Meta-owned WhatsApp for focusing on user security. According to Musk, Meta exports user data every night, yet some individuals still believe it is a secure platform. After which WhatsApp Head Will Cathcart responded to Musks report, saying it is incorrect. Insurance Regulator IRDAI on Wednesday released a master circular on health insurance specifying that an insurer must decide on cashless authorisation within one hour of request. The master circular on Health Insurance products repeals 55 circulars issued earlier and is a significant stride towards reinforcing the empowerment of policyholders and bolstering inclusive health insurance, IRDAI said in a statement. The circular has brought in one place the entitlements in a health insurance policy available to a Policyholder/prospects for their easy reference and also emphasises measures towards providing seamless, faster and hassle-free claims experience to a policyholder procuring health insurance policy and ensuring enhanced service standards across the health insurance sector, it said. Faster Cashless Claim Settlement The master circular pitches for striving towards achieving facilitation of 100 per cent cashless claim settlement in a time-bound manner. To decide on cashless authorisation requests immediately and within one hour and final authorisation on discharge from hospital within three hours of request from the hospital, it said. Approval for Cashless facility: Every insurer shall strive to achieve 100% cashless claim settlement in a time-bound manner. The insurers shall endeavor to ensure that the instances of claims being settled through reimbursement are at a bare minimum and only in exceptional circumstances. The insurer shall decide on the request for cashless authorisation immediately but not more than one hour after receipt of the request. after receipt of the request. Insurers may arrange for dedicated help desks in physical mode at the hospital to deal and assist with cashless requests. Insurers shall also provide pre-authorisation to the policyholder through digital mode. Final authorisation for Discharge from the hospital: The insurer shall grant final authorisation within three hours of receiving the discharge authorisation request from the hospital. In no case, the policyholder must wait to be discharged from the hospital. If there is any delay beyond three hours, the additional amount if any charged by the hospital shall be borne by the insurer from the shareholders fund. In the event of the death of the policyholder during the treatment, the insurer shall: 1. immediately process the request for claim settlement. 2. get the mortal remains (dead body) released from the hospital immediately Customer-centric Approach Sanjiv Bajaj, joint chairman & MD, BajajCapital, said that the recent circular by IRDAI, setting a 3-hour time limit for insurers to clear cashless claims, marks a significant step forward in the realm of customer-centric health insurance reforms. By mandating faster cashless authorisations and encouraging insurers to offer a wider range of products, add-ons, and riders, IRDAI is demonstrating its commitment to enhancing customer experience and satisfaction. These measures are not only expected to increase the adoption of health insurance across India but also foster higher levels of trust between insurers and policyholders, Bajaj added. With stricter review processes and a focus on maintaining high standards of customer service, IRDAI is ensuring a more transparent and reliable health insurance environment, ultimately benefiting the consumer. Wider Choice For Policyholders Sharing salient features of the master circular, it said, a wider choice to be provided by the insurers by making available products/addons/riders by offering diverse insurance products catering to all ages, regions, medical conditions/ all types of Hospitals and Health Care Providers to suit the affordability of the policyholders. It also specifies Customer Information Sheet (CIS) which the insurer provides along with every policy document. It explains the basic features of insurance policies in simple words like type of insurance, sum insured, coverage details, exclusions, sub-limits, deductibles, and waiting periods. In case of no claims during the policy period, the insurers may reward the policyholders by providing an option to choose such No Claim Bonus either by increasing the sum insured or discounting the premium amount. It also talks about providing end-to-end technology solutions for effective, efficient and seamless onboarding of policyholders, renewal of policy, policy servicing, and grievance redressal. For claim settlements, it said, the policyholder shall not be required to submit any documents rather insurers and TPAs should collect the required documents from the hospitals. Regarding portability requests on the Insurance Information Bureau of India (IIB) portal, stricter timelines are being imposed for the existing insurer and the acquiring insurers to act. An insurer is liable to pay Rs 5,000 per day to the policyholder in case ombudsman awards are not implemented within 30 days. This master circular represents a landmark effort to empower the policyholders, ensuring they receive the highest standards of care and service; fostering an environment of trust and transparency in the health insurance sector. Grievance Redressal The insurer is required to have a robust system of grievance redressal process. The response letter of the insurer in any grievance shall include the contact details of concerned insurance ombudsmen where his/her complaint can be escalated in case, the policyholder is not satisfied by the grievance redressal provided by the insurer. With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. VOYAH FREE 318 starts pre-sale On May 30, VOYAH announced the pre-sale of the FREE 318, an extended-range electric SUV with a battery-powered range of 318 kilometers. The new model is set to officially hit the market on June 14. Photo credit: VOYAH FAW Toyotas all-new Crown Kluger hits market, starting at 284,800 yuan FAW Toyota on May 30 put its updated Crown Kluger onto the market. The new model features enhanced configurations, including an 8155 chip from Qualcomm and digital key feature. Coming with six variants, the refreshed models prices range from 284,800 yuan to 332,800 yuan. Haomo.ai's self-driving delivery vehicles begin operations in Shanghai On May 29, Haomo.ai received the first batch of autonomous driving equipment innovation application identification licenses in Shanghai's Pudong New Area. This allows Haomo.ais Xiaomotuo autonomous delivery vehicles to conduct Level 4 autonomous driving demonstration operations on open roads within Pudong. Beijing-Xiong'an Expressway kick-starts autonomous driving test project On May 29, the launch ceremony of the autonomous driving test and demonstration project on the Beijing-Xiong'an Expressway (Hebei section) took place in Xiong'an New Area. NEOLIXs unmanned delivery vehicle licensed to operate in Shanghai With the implementation of the "Pudong New Area Regulations on Promoting the Innovation and Application of Unmanned Equipment" and the associated "Implementation Rules," a grand ceremony was held on May 29th in Shanghai's Pudong New Area to mark the issuance of licenses for unmanned equipment in Pudong New Area and the Lin-gang Special Area. BYD Qin L DM-i starts at 99,800 yuan, powered by 5th-gen DM tech On May 28th, BYD officially announced the guidance prices for its fire new mid-sized sedan, the Qin L DM-i. The new car comes with five trim levels, with prices ranging from 99,800 yuan to 139,800 yuan. Additionally, customers can receive a trade-in subsidy of up to 15,000 yuan. BeijingWest Industries to supply Dongfeng MHERO with suspension system On May 30, BeijingWest Industries (BWI) announced that it has secured a substantial order worth hundreds of millions of yuan for its AeroRide air suspension system from Dongfeng Motor's MHERO electric off-roader brand. Amazon Web Services, NavInfo to co-develop localized smart automotive solutions in China On May 29, during the AWS China Summit 2024, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced an enhanced strategic partnership with Chinese automotive intelligence solution provider NavInfo to jointly design and launch localized services and solutions for the automotive industry. Hubei announces 300-million-yuan car replacement subsidy program for 2024 Recently, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Finance, and three other departments of Chinas Hubei province issued the "Detailed Implementation Rules for Hubei Province's Vehicle Replacement Subsidies," announcing the allocation of 300 million yuan in fiscal funds for vehicle replacement subsidies. XPENG AEROHT teases bright spots of future flying car available for both land, air travels On May 29th, XPENG AEROHT, an affiliate of XPENG, released a video showcasing the highlights of its land-air integrated flying car, designed for future multi-layered transportation. IM Motors, NIO Energy partner for nationwide EV charging network interoperability On May 30th, Wuhan NIO Energy Co., Ltd. ("NIO Energy") and IM Motors, the premium electric vehicle maker co-owned by SAIC Motor, Alibaba Group, and Zhangjiang High-Tech officially entered into a partnership for electric vehicle (EV) charging network interoperability, according to IM Motors' press release. Petrol, Diesel Prices On May 30, 2024: Petrol and diesel prices for Thursday, May 30, have been released. The daily fuel prices in the country are decided based on international crude oil prices. Because of this, the effect of change in crude oil prices is seen in petrol and diesel prices in the country. Government oil marketing companies release fresh petrol and diesel prices every day at 6 am in the country. Today, there has been no change in the petrol and diesel prices in the countrys capital Delhi and other metros. Companies like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation of India release the prices of petrol and diesel on their websites. Let us know the new fuel prices. Petrol Diesel Price Today In India (Check city-wise rate list below) Mumbai Petrol & Diesel Price As of May 30, the price of petrol in Mumbai continued to exceed the Rs 100 mark, reaching Rs 104.21 per litre, while diesel was priced at Rs 92.15 per litre. Delhi Diesel Price Today As of May 30, the cost of diesel is priced at Rs 87.62 per litre. Delhi Petrol Price Today As of May 30, the cost of petrol in Delhi is Rs 94.72 per litre. Check city-wise petrol and diesel prices on May 30: In Noida today, petrol is Rs 94.65, while diesel is being sold at Rs 87.75. Today in Agra, petrol is being sold at Rs 94.70, while diesel is being sold at Rs 87.79 per litre. Today in Lucknow, petrol is Rs 94.65, while diesel is Rs 87.76. Today, the petrol price in Ghaziabad is Rs 94.65, while diesel is being sold at Rs 87.75. Today, the petrol price in Muzaffarnagar is Rs 94.63, while the price of diesel is Rs 87.72. Today, the petrol price in Meerut is Rs 94.43, while the price of diesel is Rs 87.49. Today in Dehradun, petrol is priced at Rs 93.48, while diesel is being sold at Rs 88.34 per litre. Today, in Chandigarh, petrol is priced at Rs 94.24, while diesel is being sold at Rs 82.40 per litre. Today, the petrol price in Jodhpur is Rs 104.70, while diesel is being sold at Rs 91.20. Today, the petrol price in Jaipur is Rs 104.88 and diesel is Rs 90.36. Today, the petrol price in Patna is Rs 105.18, while the price of diesel is Rs 92.04. Know the price of petrol and diesel through SMS You can also find out the latest petrol and diesel prices in your city through SMS. If you are a customer of Indian Oil, then you will have to write RSP along with the city code and send it to 9224992249. If you are a customer of BPCL, then you can get information about the new price of petrol and diesel by writing RSP and sending it to 9223112222. Whereas, if you are a customer of HPCL, then you can find out the price of petrol and diesel by writing HP Price and sending it to 9222201122. The Service Selection Board (SSB) is one of the toughest interviews in India. It is considered the most crucial stage of Indian Armed Forces recruitment. The interview process continues for 5 days which includes a series of tests and evaluations. After clearing the interview the selected candidates are sent for officers training at IMA (Indian Military Academy), INA (Indian Naval Academy), OTA (Officers Training Academy), and Air Force Academy. Let us today look at the procedures that are followed in the five-day SSB interview process: Day 0- Reporting Day: Candidates who are appearing for the SSB interview are received by an army official at the station. They are then taken to the selection centre where the process will be held. Upon arrival, the official starts with an opening speech in which all the required information regarding the process is mentioned. This is followed by document verification. The reporting day is not considered as the first day by the army. The Air Force Service Selection Board counts the day as the first day and various tests commence immediately after the completion of the verification process. Day 1- Screening: The first day of the SSB interview starts with three tests: Officers Intelligence Rating Test (OIR Test Paper-1 and Paper-2) Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PPDT). The OIR tests include both written and verbal tests. The candidates are provided with two booklets each comprising 40 questions. The time allotted to answer is 15-17 minutes for each booklet. Then the PPDT round starts. In the PPDT round, a picture is shown to the candidates for 30 seconds. Then the picture is taken away and the candidates have to write a story based on the picture within a timespan of four minutes. This is followed by a group discussion. Around 10-15 candidates are grouped. Each group is required to narrate the stories after having a team discussion. The results are announced at the end of the PPDT test and the selected candidates move to the next round. Day 2- Psychological Tests: The Psychological Tests are conducted on the second day in four stages: Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Word Association Test (WAT) Situation Reaction Test (SRT) Self Description Test In the first stage, the candidates are shown 12 pictures including one black picture. Each picture is shown for 30 seconds and the candidates then get four minutes to write a story based on the picture. This process is repeated until the black slide appears. In the Word Association Test exam candidates are shown 60 words back to back. Each word remains on the screen for 15 seconds and within that timespan, the candidates have to make a sentence out of the word and write it. In the Situation Reaction Test, the candidates are given a booklet which contains 60 situations and candidates have to write their response depending on the situation. A time of 30 minutes is provided for this test. The last stage of the day is the Self Description Test in which the candidates have to write a few paragraphs about themselves. The time allotted for this task is 15 minutes. Day 3- Group testing 1: On the third day of the SSC interview procedure, several group tasks and events are held. They are: Group discussion on two topics Group planning exercise Progressive group tasks Individual Obstacles Task Half group tasks Day 4- Group testing 2: The fourth day of the selection process consists of lectures, individual obstacles tasks, command tasks, final group tasks and personal interviews. Candidates are given four topics and each candidate has to speak for three minutes on one of the given topics. In the individual obstacle round a candidate needs to cross 10 obstacles within three minutes. Personal interviews are typically held on the second, third and fourth day of the process after the completion of the daily activities. Questions regarding daily experiences, work, family, education, hobbies, academic achievements, and general awareness are asked. The final selection is done based on the interview of the candidates. Day 5- The fifth and final day starts with a closing speech by the board members of the Service Selection Board followed by a conference. The members discuss the performance of each candidate and then call each of them individually to announce their overall results. The committee then recommends the candidates for the final selection process. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. Due to the severe heat, several state governments have decided to close all government and private schools. Heatwave alerts have been sounded in various parts of the country. Keeping in mind the safety of the children this decision was taken. Let us look at the list of states that have taken the decision: Bihar: After reports emerged of a huge number of students falling sick, the education department of Bihar has decided to keep all the government and private institutions closed until June 8. Reports indicate that this measure was taken after a discussion between the Chief Secretary of the state and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department. Following the meeting, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar issued a notification to all the district officials and instructed them to suspend all educational activities for the time being. Rajasthan: The Rajasthan education department has earlier announced the summer vacations for all schools. The summer vacation started on May 17 and is set to continue till June 30. All the schools in the state are instructed not to hold any extra classes or activities keeping in mind the intense heat. Madhya Pradesh: Due to this scorching heat the education department of Madhya Pradesh decided to extend the summer vacations till June 30 due to the unbearable heat. Earlier, the education department announced that the summer vacation will start from May 1 and continue till June 15. Uttar Pradesh: In Uttar Pradesh, the summer vacation started on May 18 and is set to continue till June 18. The principals of the schools have asked the teachers to assign homework so that students stay engaged with their studies during the holidays. The school has also asked the parents to contact the teachers in case of any information regarding the studies. Delhi: As per the academic calendar, summer vacations for the schools in Delhi began on May 11 and are set to continue till June 30. Considering the severe heatwave this year, the government decided to allot a 50-day long summer vacation. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. The high-pitched campaigning for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in 57 seats in seven states and the Union territory of Chandigarh on June 1 ended Thursday evening. Polling is scheduled in all 13 seats of Punjab and four of Himachal Pradesh, 13 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha and three seats in Jharkhand besides Chandigarh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term from Varanasi. Voting is already over in 486 seats in 28 states and Union territories. The turnout in the first six phases was 66.14 per cent, 66.71, 65.68, 69.16, 62.2 and 63.36 per cent respectively. Counting of votes will be taken up on June 4. The campaigning saw BJP leaders led by Modi accusing the Congress and the INDIA alliance of being corrupt, anti-Hindu and engaging in loot, appeasement and dynastic politics. The Opposition parties have been claiming that the BJP is anti-farmer, anti-youth and will change and scrap the Constitution if they win the elections. At a rally in Odisha, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also claimed that BJP leaders were trying to project Modi as the eleventh avatar of Lord Vishnu but the people of the country will not accept. On Thursday, former prime minister Manmohan Singh accused Modi of lowering the dignity of public discourse and the gravity of the office of the prime minister by giving hateful speeches during the poll campaign. In an appeal to voters of Punjab, Singh asserted that only the Congress can ensure growth-oriented progressive future where democracy and Constitution will be safeguarded. He also hit out at the BJP government for imposing the ill-conceived Agnipath scheme on the armed forces. On Thursday evening, Modi headed to Kanyakumari where he will meditate till June 1 at the site associated with Swami Vivekananda. Modi had 206 public outreach programmes, including rallies and roadshows, since the Election Commission announced the Lok Sabha election schedule on March 16. In Punjab, where the ruling AAP and its INDIA bloc partner Congress are fighting separately in a multi-cornered contest, the high-decibel campaign saw the participation of senior BJP leaders from Modi to Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman to BJP chief J P Nadda and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states. For the Congress, Kharge and party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the campaign. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, out on interim bail in the excise policy case, also led an aggressive campaign for his party candidates along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. On the final day, Modi while addressing a rally at Hoshiarpur in Punjab, attacked the Congress for ranting about the Constitution when it was the one that strangled it during the Emergency and not care about it when Sikhs were killed in the 1984 riots. At the rally in favour of his partys Hoshiarpur candidate Anita Som Parkash and Anandpur Sahib nominee Subhash Sharma here, the prime minister also touched upon the issues of reservation, corruption and the Ram Temple. Hitting out at the opposition for questioning the Agnipath scheme, he accused the INDIA bloc of making the Army a weapon of politics and said there cannot be a bigger sin than this. In Uttar Pradesh, while the BJP claimed that the INDIA bloc will bring in Muslim reservation and put a Babri lock in the Ayodhya temple in their speeches, the Opposition urged the people vote to save the Constitution. In West Bengal, Modi took out a rally in Kolkata on Tuesday in support of candidate for Kolkata Uttar seat Tapas Roy. TMC supremo and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also held rallies for party candidates almost in each of the nine Lok Sabha constituencies. On Thursday, Banerjee walked a rally of 12 km from the southern part of the citys Jadavpur area to Gopalnagar. Party leader Abhishek Banerjee also participated in two rallies on the final day of campaigning. The BJP while campaigning alleged the Mamata government was involved in many scams related to coal and cattle smuggling, and irregularities in school recruitment among other issues. It also alleged how the state government was not implementing the welfare schemes of the Centre and depriving the common people of their benefits. The TMC, however, kept on reiterating that the Centre was not releasing funds to the state. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Jadavpur is one of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal. Among the seven assembly segments under the constituency, two (Jadavpur and Tollygunge) are in Kolkata district while the rest five are in South 24 Parganas district. The assembly segments are: Baruipur Purba (TMC), Baruipur Paschim (TMC), Sonarpur Dakshin (TMC), Bhangar (ISF), Jadavpur (TMC), Sonarpur Uttar (TMC) and Tollygunge (TMC). Voting for the Jadavpur Lok Sabha seat will take place in the final phase of polls on June 1 while the counting of votes will take place on June 4. Current MP: Vacant (Mimi Chakraborty of TMC won in 2019) Top Contenders: Saayoni Ghosh (TMC), Srijan Bhattacharyya (CPI-M), Anirban Ganguly (BJP) Political Dynamics TMC Strong in Jadavpur In 2019, the TMC won the prestigious seat of Jadavpur by a margin of over 2.95 lakh votes. That was a staggering victory in an election which saw the BJP inflict severe losses on the ruling party of Bengal. However, Jadavpur stood out as one of the constituencies that overwhelmingly chose the TMC. In fact, Jadavpur is among the most difficult constituencies to win in the state, with both the Left and TMC having considerable hold over it. In 2019, the BJP emerged as a serious political force here as well, bagging 40% of the votes. The TMC has now fielded Saayoni Ghosh from Jadavpur. Ghosh is a young leader of the TMC who has grown in popularity and stature for two reasons the trust she has built with her partys top brass and the fact that she looks like a young Mamata Banerjee herself. Her work in Tripura for the TMC has lent her an identity of being a streetfighter like Banerjee. Barring Jadavpur and Tollygunge, which come under south Kolkata proper, five assembly segments are a mix of rural and semi-urban areas. Bhangar, in fact, has been a political flash point with violent clashes in the past. Sonarpur and Baruipur segments are not much different. Out of the seven assembly segments, the TMC has MLAs in six while the Indian Secular Front (ISF) won Bhangar in 2021. There is a dominance of Muslim voters in at least three of these seven segments, which gives the TMC an edge in the fight this time too. The problem, though, arises if one looks at the kind of effort the Left and Indian Secular Front are putting into the Jadavpur constituency. The ISF was originally meant to be a part of the INDI bloc, however, it dropped out of the alliance in April. The CPI(M) has fielded Srijan Bhattacharyya a young leader who could eat into the Dalit and Muslim votes here. The role of the ISF is now crucial, as it remains to be seen which party its voter base supports. A significant division of Muslim votes could land the TMC in trouble in a seat it is rather comfortably placed to win. The Left is not in a position to win the seat on its own but is acting with a long-term strategy of regaining its foothold in Jadavpur. Interestingly, the TMC also appears to be at an advantage since the women voters outweigh the men in Jadavpur. As such, Mamata Banerjees Lakshmir Bhandar scheme is set to play a pivotal role here. BJP Faces Uphill Battle The BJP is unlikely to upstage the TMC in Jadavpur in this election. For starters, it lost to the TMC by close to 2 lakh votes in 2019. This time, the BJP faces tougher competition since the TMC has fielded Saayoni Ghosh who is striking a chord with the electorate in Jadavpur. Although the BJP has fielded scholar-turned-politician Anirban Ganguly, his prospects do not appear very promising. For starters, this is his first election. In a constituency like Jadavpur, fielding an electoral novice may not have been among BJPs brightest ideas, especially not when their candidate is supposed to take on a rising star within the TMCs ranks. For the BJP, PM Modis campaign in Jadavpur will be of critical importance and could help the party increase its vote share in the final overs of the electoral match. However, winning the seat just yet does not appear to be a possibility. The BJPs focus here remains on Modis vision for development, TMCs corruption and patronage of its vote bank, the Sandeshkhali incident and promises that the payout under Lakshmir Bhandar scheme will be increased to Rs 3,000 every month. Across Jadavpur, the influence of university politics is palpable. Jadavpur University is considered a bastion of the Left, and as such, it has an influence on the way this constituency thinks and votes. In terms of narrative-building, the BJP has been at a disadvantage here. Key Issues Corruption Corruption has been raised as one of the most important issues in the election. The people allege corruption across the board by the local administration. There has been no development in the region and people blame the rampant corruption as one of the biggest reasons for it. Sonarpur IT Park, the foundation stone of which was laid by former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has remained a non-starter for over a decade. Encroachment of government land by local leaders and strongmen has become a major nuisance for the people. Local politicians often encroach upon unused government land and construct houses over it. Railway Connectivity There is a massive issue faced by the region in terms of railway connectivity. People have complained about the low frequency of trains on the Sealdah-Lakshmikantapur suburban route. The demand of more trains connecting the region and improving the railway connectivity has been raised time and again but to no avail. Drinking Water There is a severe drinking water crisis in the Jadavpur region which is exacerbated in the summers. With the temperature rising, the water consumption has rapidly increased. According to an estimate, while on an average the KMC supplies 165 litres of water daily to an individual in Kolkata during winters, by the second week of April, the demand soars and almost doubles. Reports of water shortage and crises has already started. To address water supply challenges, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has constructed 37 booster pumping stations in the past three to four years. These stations include reservoirs that store water and use high-powered pumps to increase water pressure, enabling it to reach more remote areas. The KMC is also expanding its production capacity by upgrading the Dhapa water treatment plant and building a new plant in Briji. These projects, expected to take two years to complete, aim to meet the increasing water demand in Kasba, Jadavpur, Behala, and Tollygunge. Healthcare and Education Infrastructure The region faces a shortage of quality educational facilities. Government schools often fail to provide adequate education, while private schools are financially inaccessible to daily wage earners. Healthcare infrastructure also lags behind, lacking basic facilities. When residents fall ill, they are forced to seek medical care in Kolkata, highlighting a significant lack of local healthcare options. Despite residents voicing their concerns, the state government has shown little response to their needs. Lack of civic Amenities Lack of civic infrastructure remains a major issue in Jadavpur. There is a lack of all-weather roads connecting rural areas. There is also an issue of erratic electric supply which is caused in the monsoon seasons after rains as citizens have complained that daily life gets impacted due to it. Moreover, the crumbling healthcare infrastructure forces people to travel to nearby Lucknow for major ailments. Patients in Barabanki also suffer due to a lack of basic amenities at the present healthcare facilities in the region. Waterlogging Jadavpur faces recurring waterlogging issues, largely due to an aging and inadequate sewage system that struggles to handle the growing population. Even short periods of rain can overwhelm the system, causing widespread flooding that paralyzes the city for days. Residents are often confined to their homes, unable to navigate the flooded streets. The flooding also washes garbage from the streets into homes, creating unsanitary conditions and providing breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Infrastructure Development New Flyovers New Flyovers have been erected from Jadavpur police station to Lords Bakery, EM bypass to Newtown Garia to Jadavpur and Jadavpur to Majerhat. Amrit Bharat Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 28 stations under the Eastern Railway (ER) have been earmarked for redevelopment. Sonarpur railway station is among those being revamped under this scheme. The Eastern Railway previously announced that the redevelopment of Sonarpur station is progressing with a total investment of Rs 8.1 crore. The station will feature enhanced amenities, including an AC waiting hall, a refurbished facade and circulating area, upgraded signage, improved lighting and fans, solar panels, and display boards. Booster pumping stations Over the next two years, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will construct 18 semi-underground water reservoirs-cum-booster pumping stations to supply potable water to large parts of the Tollygunge-Jadavpur belt and nearby neighbourhoods off the EM Bypass. This project is part of a Rs 700 crore initiative to enhance water infrastructure in the area. One million residents of the extensive stretches along the EM Bypass and the Tollygunge-Jadavpur belt will benefit. Since 2019, 26 booster pumping stations have already been built in Behala, Tollygunge, Garia, and Jadavpur. Demographics Total Voters: 1816117 SC: 437,684 (24.1%) ST: 9,081 (0.5%) Geographical Composition Urban Voters: 728,263 (40.1%) Rural Voters: 1,087,854 (59.9%) Religious Composition Hindu: 77.5% Muslim: 21.4% Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website With the Lok Sabha elections inching towards completion, an analysis of women candidates in the fray shows that yet again political parties have just paid lip service on women representation in Parliament despite the historic womens reservation bill passed last year. The bill provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies but will most likely come into effect only after 2029. None of the major parties attempted to set healthy precedents this time. On an average, every woman candidate in this election has had to battle 10 male candidates. The statistics hold true for all major national parties in the fray. Around 8,360 candidates were in the fray for the Lok Sabha elections, including the upcoming seventh and final phase. Just 801 of these are women, while 7,557 are men, analysis of the data from the Election Commission of India shows. This is the highest number of women in the fray since the first Lok Sabha elections in 1951-52. But in proportion to total candidates, it is not the best. While national parties have been shying away from fielding women, the regional parties have performed better, the data from the EC and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) shows. As many as 278 women are fighting the elections as Independent candidates. There were a total of 3,903 Independent candidates in the fray. Apna Dal (Sonelal), a party based in Uttar Pradesh, has fielded two candidates, both women. Apart from party president Anupriya Patel, contesting for a third term from Mirzapur, it has fielded Rinki Kol from Robertsganj in the state. Tamil Nadus Naam Tamilar Katchi has fielded 40 candidates and half of these are women. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Ajit Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) fielded five candidates each and an equal number of women at two (40%). From Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, two women (33%) were in the fray out of a total of six candidates. Naveen Patnaiks Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has fielded 33% women seven among 21 candidates. Another Tamil Nadu-based party, the Pattali Makkal Katchi, fielded total of 10 candidates, of whom three are women (30%). In Lalu Prasad Yadavs Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), women representation stood at 29%, seven women among 24 candidates. Mamata Banerjees All India Trinamool Congress has 25% women candidates 12 women among 48 leaders in the fray. In Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party, out of 71 candidates, 14 are women (20%). YS Jagan Mohan Reddys Andhra Pradesh-based Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) has fielded four women among 25 candidates (16%). How Do National Parties Score? Out of the 441 candidates fielded by the BJP, just 70 were women (16%). With just 41 women out of 327 candidates, women representation in the Congress was 13%. In Bahujan Samaj Party, this share was just 5%, while the Aam Aadmi Party has fielded zero women candidates. In the Communist Party of India (Marxist), with just seven women candidates, the women representation stood at 13%. After the Womens Reservation Bill was passed in September 2023, parties across the political spectrum had made big pitches of women empowerment and the need for reserving seats for women candidates. The history of demand for womens reservation is long. The first time such a bill was introduced was 1996. Since then, parties had off and on raised their voices in favour of 33% reservation for women. However, they failed this time in giving women their due share in decision-making or ticket distribution. Despite tall promises, yet again, almost all the major parties in the country have failed in ensuring decent space for women in Lok Sabha battle. The statistics show that unless womens reservation in Lok Sabha and Assemblies is binding in law, none of the parties will step up willingly. But there is no roadmap yet on which election the bill will come into effect from. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday expressed confidence that the INDIA bloc will secure a clear majority in the Lok Sabha polls and give the country an inclusive and nationalistic government. People have endorsed their view that it will be the end of democracy if the current government gets another chance, Kharge said while addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here on the last of campaigning for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls. According to the Congress chief, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about mandir-masjid and divisive issues 421 times during the poll campaign despite the Election Commissions direction of no appeal for votes on caste and religion. He also said Modi in his speeches in the last 15 days took the Congress name 232 times and his own name 758 times. He didnt talk about unemployment even once, Kharge claimed. The INDIA bloc will form government with a clear majority and will give the country an inclusive, nationalistic government, he said. We are confident that people will give a mandate for an alternative government on June 4, the Congress chief said. Kharge also took a swipe at the prime minister over his comments in an interview that global awareness about Mahatma Gandhi came after Richard Attenboroughs film, saying he may not have studied about Gandhi but the Mahatma is known the world over. Narendra Modi said he came to know about Mahatma Gandhi after watching the film Gandhi. This is laughable, perhaps Narendra Modi has never read about Gandhiji. The whole world knows Mahatma Gandhi, his statues are there at different places in the world, including in the UN, Kharge said. If Narendra Modi does not know about Mahatma Gandhi, he would not know much about the Constitution either, he added. Kharge said that Modi must read Mahatma Gandhis autobiography to know more about him after June 4 when he will have a lot of free time. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website The months leading up to the Lok Sabha elections were dominated by the Oppositions single biggest charge against the Narendra Modi government that the Indian Constitution is in danger and crucial institutions are compromised. Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Mallikarjun Kharge and a battery of Opposition leaders told voters why they should vote for the INDIA bloc to save the Constitution. But sometime during the halfway point of the seven-phased general election, PM Modi turned the tables, wielding the Oppositions weapon against them. He said they should vote for the BJP if indeed they really want to save the Constitution, democracy and reservation. But how did the Prime Minister flip the Opposition Brahmastra? MUSLIM QUOTA CREATED THE BEDROCK In late April, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated that this is an election to save democracy, reservation, the Constitution, and the rights of the poor. Look, earlier Narendra Modi said 400 paar (400+ seats). Is he now saying 400 paar? Now he isnt talking about crossing even 150. Statements are coming that we are not against the Constitution, we are not against reservation, we are not against democracy. Why? Because they have come to know that the people of the country have understood the real thing the people of the country have understood that these people want to uproot the Constitution and the rights of the poor, he said. But, simultaneously, the BJP ignited a controversy in Karnataka that would form the bedrock of how the party would turn the tables on the Opposition using its own arguments in the days ahead. The PM talked about how Muslims are being given reservations in Karnataka against the ethos of the Constitution while robbing those who deserve it. Around the same time, when Gandhi was accusing the BJP of weakening the Constitution, Modi, in a rally in Telenganas Medal district, hit out, saying: They (Congress) want to insult the Constitution for their vote bank. But I want them to know, till the time I am alive, I will not let them give the reservation meant for Dalits, SCs, STs, and OBCs to Muslims in the name of religion. Interestingly, it was in the same rally in which expressed confidence that he would commemorate 75 years of the Constitution in a grand manner during his third term, thus rebuilding the counter-narrative over saving the Constitution. The Congress, the Samajwadi Party, the Trinamool Congress are advocates of religion-based reservations In fact, the Samajwadi Party even demanded constitutional amendments to give Muslims proportionate reservations. So this shows they are the ones who are keen to change reservations. Because Muslim reservation is completely unconstitutional, says BJPs spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala. OBC QUOTA TURNED THE TABLES A Calcutta High Court order that came when two phases of voting were left put the INDIA bloc in complete discomfort. The order cancelled all certificates issued to several classes under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) issued in West Bengal since 2010, calling them illegal. Interestingly, here too there was an appeasement angle that the BJP didnt left unexplored and unexploited. There are 179 castes on the state list of OBC castes in West Bengal. According to Hansraj Ahir, the Chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), 118 are from the Muslim community. Within hours of the judgment, the Prime Minister trained his guns at not just the TMC, but the entire Opposition. He called the judgment a slap on the INDI alliance saying the TMC gave Muslims OBC certificates for their vote bank politics. What helped the BJP bolster its tirade was West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjees immediate reaction where she said she will not accept the order. I respect the courts. But I do not accept the judgment that says Muslims should be kept out of OBC reservation. OBC reservations will continue. We will go to a higher court if need be, Banerjee announced. Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah immediately hit back, asking: Mamata ji said that we do not accept the decision of the High Court. I want to ask the people of Bengal, can there be such a Chief Minister who says we do not obey the courts order? The election started with fear-mongering by the Opposition that an absolute majority would help the BJP change the Constitution. By the end of May, PM Modi created the same perception against the Opposition. While addressing a poll meeting in UPs Mirzapur, PM Modi claimed the Opposition has decided to change the Constitution to give reservations to Muslims. Addressing another rally in Purvannchals Ghosi, he talked about three conspiracies. Referring to the first, he said, the people of INDI alliance will change the Constitution and write in it afresh that reservation should be given on the basis of religion in India. Raju Bista, BJPs Darjeeling MP, told News18: The Oppositions call to save the Constitution was akin to butchers call to save the animals a farce. People of this country have seen through this hogwash PM Modi has not only checkmated the Opposition, but also exposed them and their hypocrisy for the whole world to see. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website With campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections winding down ahead of the seventh and final phase on June 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a nearly two-day meditation exercise at the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari on Thursday. The PM gave a special message to voters from his constituency Varanasi (Kashi), which is set to have polling, asking them to go out and vote in large numbers. The voting day for the Lok Sabha elections has arrived. For me, Kashi is a city of devotion, power and detachment, the Prime Minister said in the video message posted by the Bharatiya Janata Party on social media. Kashi is the cultural capital of the world, the land of music. Being the representative of this city is possible only with the immense grace of Baba Vishwanath and the blessings of you Kashi residents. Prime Minister Modi concluded his election campaign in Punjabs Hoshiarpur on Thursday for the final phase of the general elections, after canvassing for the BJP across the length and breadth of the country. This times election for Kashi is an election for the creation of not only Navkashi but also a developed India. The people of Kashi have to set a new record on June 1, he said in his video message. PM Modi is seeking a consecutive third term in the Lok Sabha from Varanasi. While the INDIA bloc has fielded Congresss Uttar Pradesh president Ajay Rai from the seat, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has picked Athar Jamal Lari, and three independent candidates are also in the fray. Kashi has become the capital of youth welfare and development in the last 10 years, the PM said, recalling the excitement among young people during his nomination filing. Now this enthusiasm should be seen at every booth, this is my request. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Union Finance Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nirmala Sitharaman has hit out at the Opposition for playing politics over Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Kanniyakumari for meditation, saying that the Congress leaders rather choose to vacation in Thailand or at undisclosed locations. In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Sitharaman said it was a negative campaign undertaken by the Opposition. People who are self-appointed liberals are against somebody who wants to keep silence. If the PM talks, you have an objection. He wants to keep maun (silent), you have an objection, Sitharaman told CNN-News18. The Prime Minister will be reaching Kanniyakumari on the evening of May 30 to hold a meditation session till June 1 at the Vivekanada Rock memorial. The Congress has approached the Election Commission of India to stop any telecast of the session. None of the Congress leaders ever take pride in associating themselves with places of historic, cultural, or religious significance for India, in India. They rather go for a vacation to Thailand and somewhere undisclosed. Id rather prefer them going and doing such meditation and take the energy from these places, because these are so essentially Indian, the Union Finance Minister said. When asked why the PM chose to go to Vivekanada Rock Memorial, Sitharaman explained that the election campaign has been hectic and long-drawn, with PM Modi not just campaigning but also addressing the national and regional media in numerous interviews. For someone who has done this, after the campaign is over and silence period comes in, he is doing his meditation and that too in silence. He is not speaking or addressing sessions. He is just meditating, Sitharaman said. She said the Congress opposition was consistent with their only position oppose everything that the Prime Minister does. You are so centric on that one persona your campaign begins and ends at that. It shows clearly who actually is attracting conversation, the political narrative is around the PM, and rightly so, because he is a performing Prime Minister. They dont have a story of their own. They have nothing constructive to offer to the country, Sitharaman added. The Finance Minister told CNN-News18 that the PM has a close association with the Ramakrishna Math and great respect for Swami Vivekananda. It is believed in Tamil Nadu that Goddess Kanniyakumari, after which the city and district are named, did tapasya on that rock. The impression of her holy feet are there on that rock, Sitharaman explained. It has so much importance. It is one of the most visited place these days and has so much sanctity. Therefore, it is appropriate for the PM to go after this hectic campaign to be with himself and meditate at a place which has so much significance for him and for the entire country. Why does the opposition want to grudge that, the Finance Minister asked. She also said that the rock memorial was built with the help of the RSS and Eknath Ramakrishna Ranade had spoken to Lal Bahadur Shastri for this. It is a sacred piece of rock associated with Goddess Kanniyakumari, and then Swami Vivekananda did tapasya there before he went to Chicago, the senior BJP leader told CNN-News18. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website In an era marked by the escalating challenges of global climate change and a rising consciousness of environmental protection, new energy vehicles (NEVs) have emerged as a significant growth sector worldwide. In China, the world's largest auto market, the NEV industry has gained significant achievements, positioning itself as a leader in the global automotive industry's shift toward electrification. Deepening engagement in China's NEV Market Over the past decade, China's annual production and sales of NEVs have experienced exponential growth, soaring from 75,000 vehicles initially to a remarkable 9.5 million, thereby capturing more than 60% of the global market share. This growth is also underscored by an impressive average annual compound growth rate of 71%. In this context, UFI Filters Group (hereinafter "UFI Group") has recognized the vast potential of China's NEV market. In January 2022, the Group signed an investment agreement with the Administrative Committee of the Xiuzhou High-tech Development Zone in Jiaxing city, Zhejiang Province, to establish its factory fully dedicated to green technologies in China, focused on producing thermal management products and advanced, efficient filtration materials. After over two years of meticulous preparation, UFI GREEN (JIAXING) Co., LTD. (hereinafter "UFI GREEN") celebrated its grand opening on May 27th. UFI GREEN opening ceremony; photo credit: UFI Group Strategic significance, core functions of UFI GREEN For UFI Group, this new facility represents not merely the 7th manufacturing base on the Chinese Mainland, but also its inaugural factory fully committed to green technologies in the country, marking a significant milestone in its business expansion. At the opening ceremony, Simone Trazzi, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer APAC of UFI Group, remarked, "Today is not just about the opening of a new industrial facility it's indeed about the celebration of partnership, innovation and shared commitment to sustainability". Simone Trazzi, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer APAC of UFI Group; photo credit: UFI Group The new factory, covering 42,000 square meters, is outfitted with cutting-edge production lines and R&D Lab center. With an overall investment of 45 Mil Euro and 650 employees, UFI GREEN will develop and manufacture advanced thermal management systems and innovative filtration products. At the first stag, UFI GREEN will focus on the production of E-axle heat exchanger, battery chillers, liquid cooling condensers, dry receivers, accumulators and integrated compact battery thermal management modules, reaching full capacity at 9.4 million units. These products aim to maintain the electric drive system and batteries in the best temperature range conditions, and are applied to new energy vehicles and energy storage applications. Integrated battery thermal management module; photo credit: UFI Group Additionally, the new plant will focus on high-adsorption and high-efficiency filtration media for mobility, home appliance and industrial filtration, with a capacity of 3 million square meters. HEPA cabin filter and Carbon cabin filter; photo credit: UFI Group Focusing on thermal management system with commitment to localization Since its establishment in 1971, UFI Group has evolved into a global leader in filtration systems and thermal management technology, with extensive operations in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, maritime transport, and specialized industrial applications, including customized hydraulic machinery. Today, UFI Group operates in 21 countries, with 22 manufacturing facilities worldwide and a workforce exceeding 4,000 employees. In China, UFI Group's presence dates back to 1982, marking its distinction as the first foreign company in the country to conduct the filter business. Over the decades, the Group has consistently expanded its engagement in the Chinese market, now boasting seven manufacturing bases. Multitube air filter; photo credit: UFI Group UFI Group is following "local-to-local" strategy: UFI GREEN is planned to include an advanced innovation center dedicated to R&D of new systems and products. Besides, the Group's R&D center in Shanghai has developed extensive expertise in thermal management and cabin air filtration technologies for quite a long time. In recent years, UFI Group has garnered significant achievements in the realm of electric drive and battery thermal management, particularly in the area of battery thermal management modules. Notably, China has emerged as the forefront R&D hub for the group in this vital field. UFI GREEN; photo credit: UFI Group Notably, UFI GREEN is located about only 100 kilometers from the Shanghai headquarters and R&D center. This proximity greatly benefits the company's operational efficiencies, bridging the gap between research and market needs. This streamlined process not only ensures the Group's competitive edge amid the fierce rivalry in the Chinese market, but also helps in effectively managing costs, bolstering the Group's sustainable growth. Pioneering sustainable energy future with layouts in hydrogen sector In the second phase, UFI GREEN will be also focused on hydrogen & fuel cell systems as a key development area. The Group has a deep commitment to environmental protection and firmly believes that hydrogen energy is one of the key directions for future sustainable development. UFI GREEN; photo credit: UFI Group Since 2017, UFI Group has been focusing on hydrogen applications in fuel cells and filtration technology, successfully engineering essential components like cathode air filters and deionizers. These components are applicable to a broad range of scenarios, from future heavy-duty trucks to light-duty commercial and passenger vehicles. In China, UFI Group has carved some notable niches in the hydrogen energy sector. For instance, in June 2023, the Group announced its role as the supplier for the first domestically mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell sedan model, equipping it with cathode air filter modules. Furthermore, in 2023 UFI Hydrogen has been launched, the NewCo fully concentrated on the hydrogen value-chain and dedicated to the research and development, implementation and industrialization of PEM Proton Exchange Membranes MEA CCM Catalyst Coated Membranes - strategic component allowing the separation of oxygen from hydrogen in water electrolysers for the production of green hydrogen - and also allowing the generation of electricity by recombining green hydrogen with oxygen in Fuel Cells - thus enabling the use of hydrogen in zero-emission mobility and stationary applications. At the opening ceremony of the UFI GREEN, the Group Chairman Giorgio Girondi expressed his optimism about the potential of hydrogen energy, stating, "We have a very important investment plan in hydrogen because we truly believe it will be a key future energy source in the direction to reach the ambitious targets of carbon neutrality." In summary, the inauguration of UFI GREEN, the Group's first green technologies factory in Jiaxing, underscores the company's deep commitment to the automobile industry's transition toward sustainable development. With the NEV market expanding rapidly, there is an escalating demand for efficient, environmentally friendly filtration and thermal management technologies. Capitalizing its strategic vision, UFI Group, with cutting-edge production technology and innovation capabilities, will sustain the green transformation of the automotive industry. Anupamaa enjoys a massive viewership in India. The daily soap is loved for its twists and turns, as well as the primary character, Anupama, played by Rupali Ganguly. While the entire storyline concentrates on Anupamas life and the problems she confronts, the shows other characters have also made headlines for their screen presence. Sudhanshu Pandeys Vanraj Shah, which had a combination of good and bad, was both beloved by fans. Recently, the actor addressed claims of being favoured by his producers, and rumours about him quitting the show. In conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Sudhanshu Pandey addressed accusations about Anupamaa producers favouring him. The actor jokingly stated that had the producers favoured him, he would have been playing the role of Anupama instead of Rupali Ganguly. On the other hand, when asked if he ever thought of quitting the popular show, which has gained him immense recognition, Sudhanshu stated, Nahi, aisa toh nahi hua. Aisa kabhi nahi hua. Anupamaa chhordne ka toh maine kabhi kisiko bola bhi nahi, na kabhi aisa socha. Mujhe aisa lagta hai ki jis show ko humne banaya hai, itna khoon-paseena, mehnat karke humne uss show ko Vanraj Shah ka character jo hai puri duniya mei itna iconic ban chuka hai (No, I have never thought of leaving the show. I have not said anything like that to anybody, nor have I ever thought of it. I think when we have put so much hard work to make this show, today Vanraj Shahs character has become such an iconic character). He added that since he has worked so hard to take this character forward, he is not ready to leave it when it is at its peak. Sudhanshu added that the success of Anupamaa had much to do with the backdrop of the middle class house setup which made the audience relate more to the characters and their lives. Sudhanshu Pandey has been in a lot of films and television shows during his decades-long career. He has been observed in Jersey, Singh Is Kinng, and Singham, among other places. While Sudhashus acting skills have undoubtedly captured the attention of many, he also has a devoted fan base that enjoys his singing ability. Sudhanshu was previously part of a music group called the Band of Boys. Bigg Boss 17 star Abhishek Kumar is currently in Romania to shoot the upcoming season of Khatron Ke Khiladi. As the television actor is geared up for a month full of spine-chilling stunts, a few glimpses from behind the scenes of the shoot surfaced on social media. In the pictures and videos, Abhishek can be seen enjoying himself with his co-contestants including Shalin Bhanot, Asim Riaz, and Krishna Shroff. Amid the hectic schedule, he also made sure to keep his fans engaged. The actor, on Thursday, shared a video on his Instagram handle and it has a Ranbir Kapoor connection. Abhisheks latest Instagram entry features him dressed in nothing but a towel. Flaunting his ripped body, the Udaariyan actor exuded oomph in the video. Well, thats not all. He also recreated the iconic towel scenes of Ranbir Kapoor while grooving to the song Jab Se Tere Naina from his debut Saawariya. Not to forget his striking poses while lip-syncing to the songs lyrics, we bet you cant take your eyes off him. Abhishek captioned the video, Sorry, and added a bunch of emojis to it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AbhishekKumar (@aebyborntoshine) Abhisheks dedication to keeping his fans entertained is visible in his posts. Earlier, he reposted a pic shared by Karan Veer Mehra who is also a participant in the show. In the picture, he, along with Karan, can be seen enjoying their time at the gym with Krishna, and actress Niyati Fatnani. All the contestants looked uber-cool. Abhishek accompanied the picture with the party track Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai from Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khans film Khoobsurat. Although the Bigg Boss 17 first runner-up is now a part of the stunt-based reality show hosted by Rohit Shetty, he had backed out from the same previously for his health concerns. During a conversation with Times Now, Abhishek Kumar confessed, Yes, I didnt want to do the show initially. But then the Colors team and Endemol team told me that everything is not related to claustrophobia in the show. Actually, I have an injury in my right hand as well. Further, he sought advice from Ravi Dubey and other senior celebrities who helped him change his mind. Delhi, and several other parts of North India, are reeling under severe heatwave since mid-May. In some areas of the national capital, the temperature was recorded over 48-49 degree Celsius, while in Rajasthan the mercury touched 50 degree Celsius in some places. Deaths due to heatstroke and related ailments were reported in several areas in the north, which brings us to the question how much heat can a human body tolerate. Experts mention humidity and the wet bulb temperature to understand how much heat a human body can sustain. The wet bulb temperature is a meteorological term used to describe the lowest temperature that can be reached by evaporating water into the air at constant pressure. This temperature helps measure humidity and understand how much water can evaporate into the air, affecting things like comfort, farming and weather patterns. According to a Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science Environment (CSE), the body works best within a narrow range of body temperature 36 degree Celsius to 37.5 degree Celsius. Once 40 degree Celsius is reached, it can be dangerous even with low humidity levels. With temperature touching 50 degree Celsius, the situation is critical. When the air temperature is 46.1 degrees Celsius with a relative humidity of 30%, the wet bulb temperature is 30.5 degrees Celsius. But when the air temperature is 38.9 C and the relative humidity is 77%, the wet bulb temperature is about 35 degree Celsius. Humidity aggravates heat conditions, making it harder for a body to process hot temperatures. With more water in the air, it harder for sweat to evaporate off the body. According to Sagnik Dey, an Associate Professor at the Centre for Atmospheric Studies in IIT Delhi, when a body is exposed to heat, it tries to maintain its core temperature. Depending on the environmental and physiological conditions, the bodys core temperature starts building and humans start to feel fatigue. What Happens To Body When It Is Too Hot People tend to start breathing more heavily, and their heart rates can go up, say medical experts. Once a persons body can no longer get rid of excess heat a condition known as heat stress the core temperature rises. That can result in confusion, nausea, dizziness, headache or fainting. Continued exposure to 48-50 degree Celsius and beyond leads to a severe breakdown of muscle and even death. According to Dr Sanjeev Bagai of Nephron Clinic, discomfort can be felt at any temperature beyond 40 degrees Celsius. Headache, vomiting and dehydration are experienced at temperatures beyond 40-42 degrees. At 45 degrees delirium, palpitations and drop in blood pressure become common, he said. A human body is equipped to acclimating to heat, up to a point. But once the body can longer process the heat, it will denature proteins and cause irreparable brain damage. This change happens over a period of time and is not an immediate effect. Once the body temperature rises, the brain can struggle to process information, there could a drop in cognitive function, which can affect judgment and put people at risk of falling. In extreme cases, high heat can even cause dangerous brain inflammation. Not just the brain, the human heart also gets affected. Stephen Cheung, a senior research fellow at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, said, as quoted by CBC News, thats because more blood is trapped out in the skin as your body tries to cool itself. What happens is that it places greater strain on your heart because now it has less blood coming back, and it has to work harder to pump that blood out to the rest of the body, he said. Extreme heat also is found to affect the kidneys and the lungs. Highest Recorded Temperatures at Which Human Survived The Furnace Creek Ranch in California recorded 56.7-degree Celsius or 134-degree Fahrenheit on July 10, 2021. The place was earlier called the Greenland Ranch. Furnace Creek Ranch officially became the hottest place on the earth after the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) rejected the claim of 58 degree Celsius recorded at El Azizia in Libya in 1922 in a review during 2010-12. Phalodi in Rajasthan recorded the temperature of 51-degree Celsius or 123.8-degree Fahrenheit on May 19, 2021. In Churu (Rajasthan), the temperature touched 50.8 degree Celsius or 122.4-degree Fahrenheit in August 2019. Delhis two weather stations Mungeshpur and Narelaobserved the highest temperature touching 49.9 degrees Celsius on May 29, 2024. The previous highest maximum logged at a Delhi station was 49.2C at Mungeshpur on May 15, 2022, officials of the weather department said. How To Protect Yourself According to the UNICEF, keep these steps in mind when facing severe heat conditions. Know how hot and humid it is going to get today, this week and this month to help plan outside activities. Keep an emergency kit at home that contains oral rehydration salt (ORS) packets, a thermometer, water bottles, towels or cloths to wet for cooling, a handheld fan or mister with batteries, and a checklist to identify and treat symptoms of heat stress. Know how to get help. Note down the contact information for the nearest health care provider or ambulance/transport services. When possible, close the curtains during the hottest parts of the day and open windows at night time to cool down the house. Drink water at regular intervals before you are thirsty. Carry a water bottle and a small towel, so you can hydrate and cool down by placing a wet towel on your neck. Wear light and loose clothes. Cotton is ideal during hot days to help reduce heat rashes and absorb sweating. When outside, wear sunscreen and try to stay in the shade or use hats and umbrellas for protection. How Many Indians Have Died of Heatwave? Across the country, 32 people have died due to heatstroke, and another 28 deaths are suspected to be caused by heatstroke. Government data also revealed that on May 22 alone, two people in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthans Kota died of suspected heatstroke. Since March 1, there have been 16,344 suspected heat stroke cases, with 486 cases reported on May 22 alone. Dileep Mavalankar, head of the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH) in Gandhinagar, said, as quoted by Business Standard, There are two types of heatwave deaths exertional, caused by exertion in direct sunlight leading to an inability to cool down by sweating, accounting for only 10% of heatwave deaths. Non-exertional deaths occur among the vulnerable the elderly, the sick, and infants who cannot cool down even at night. Their kidneys and heart start failing following dehydration. These people may not have access to cooling at home and can die anywhere, even at home, as its not related to exertion. These are not categorised as heat strokes and are hence, possibly not counted as heat deaths at all. In Europe, high temperatures in 2022 may be responsible for 70,000 excess deaths, according to a new study by Barcelona Institute for Global Health. Just hours after one of the automatic weather stations in Delhi showed a record-breaking temperature reading of 52.9 on Wednesday afternoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has retracted the data, stating it could have been a faulty reading". The Automatic Weather Station (AWS) is among the 15 such stations recently installed by the weather department across Delhi-NCR for 24-hour temperature and rainfall observations. This is in addition to the five main department observatories where data is manually recorded and examined. It was most likely a faulty reading," says M Mohapatra, Director-General of Meteorology (DGM) late on Wednesday. The data is from one of the newly-installed Automatic Weather Station (AWS) which continuously records temperature all through the day. While the temperatures can be high, it seemed like an outlier when compared to readings from other weather stations of the day." It recorded a temperature of 49.9 the day before. How IMD Measures Temperature Data? Unlike IMDs departmental observatories in each state, where temperature is manually measured by IMD officials using their instruments like thermometer after every three hours, the Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) record temperature/humidity/wind speed and other weather data all through the day using its automated sensors with no manual intervention. The AWS have the advantage of providing real-time observations for local areas, and the weather department is in the process of further strengthening this AWS network across India to provide local weather forecasts. However, the maximum temperature of the day is measured around 2:30 pm when mercury usually peaks. No other station in Delhi has recorded a temperature over 50 so far. The departments weather observatory at Safdarjung, which remains Delhis oldest observatory functional since 1931, recorded 46.8, while it was 47 in Palam (set up in 1956) and 46.8 in Ayanagar (set up in 1967). The mercury has been hovering nearly 5-6 above-normal across all five of the oldest meteorological stations in Delhi for the last three days. The temperatures which normally remain around 42-44 at this time of the year crossed 46 and settled there for consecutive days leading to blistering heatwaves across the national capital. So, it perhaps came as no surprise for many, when the IMD reported a temperature of nearly 50C in Delhis Mungeshpur on Tuesday until the reading soared to 52.9 the day later causing a tinge of disbelief. It is not official yet. Temperature of 52.3 in Delhi is very unlikely. Our senior officials in IMD have been asked to verify it," tweeted Union Minister Kiren Rijiju around 8 pm on Wednesday. Soon after, the IMD issued a statement admitting that the 52.9 reading was an outlier, and could have been due to error in the sensor or the local factor", and it will examine its data and sensors. ONLY FIVE CLIMATE REFERENCE STATIONS: IMD CHIEF We have five main climate reference stations across Delhi Safdarjung, Palam, Ayanagar, Lodhi Road and Ridge. The data is manually recorded, and we have records of more than 70 years. So, it is urged that we use this data for any climate-related trends and extremes over Delhi," added the IMD chief. According to Mohapatra, the five stations have well-defined environmental conditions which have not changed over the years significantly, so the observations are not affected much by temporary variations. Normally, the temperature is recorded every three hours in the manual observatories, with the main reading around 2:30 pm when mercury peaks in the day. However, the automatic weather stations measure the temperature all throughout the day. In 2022, the IMD had started including temperature and rainfall data from the 15 AWS along with the five departmental observatories. Additionally, temperature over urban areas like Delhi may also vary from place to place due to local conditions including green cover, concrete areas, proximity to any water body and barren land. HEATWAVES TO REDUCE OVER NORTHWEST INDIA As forecasted earlier by IMD, India has certainly borne the brunt of unusually higher number of heatwaves this summer, with temperatures surging to nearly 50 in Rajasthan. The heatwaves have swept Northwest India since May 17, with higher-than-normal temperatures during the day as well as night. But the region including Delhi is expected to witness some temporary relief from the scorching heatwaves May 30 onwards, with thunderstorm activity/light rain which has already begun across the National Capital Region (NCR). A western disturbance has impacted the region, and is expected to bring down temperatures by 2-3 over the next few days with the help of some cooler, moisture-laden south-westerly winds from the Arabian Sea which are now blowing towards Northwest India. This will not only reduce the intensity of heatwaves, but also their geographical spread, said IMD on Wednesday. Swami Vivekananda, the philosopher, author and a spiritual leader, swam from the shores of Kanniyakumari (Kanyakumari) to an islet in 1892 and meditated there for three days, and attained enlightenment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also chosen the same rock, now called the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, to meditate from May 30 to June 1 to mark the end of BJPs Lok Sabha election campaign. During the end of the 2019 election campaign, PM Modi visited Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand for two days where he undertook a 15-hour ekantavaas (solitary meditation). In 2014, PM Modi visited Pratapgarh in Maharashtra and paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji who won a crucial battle in November 1659 after slaying Afzal Khan, the general of Adil Shahi Sultans of Bijapur. His victory cleared the way for his coronation as the head of the Maratha empire which the Chhatrapati termed Hindavi Swaraj. Modis Kanniyakumari sojourn comes ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Election results on June 4. Let us first understand the historical significance of the Vivekananda Rock. While meditating on the islet, which is located some 500 metres from Vavathurai beach in Kanniyakumari the southern most tip of mainland India at the confluence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal Swami Vivekananda had a vision for developed India. Swami Vivekandana wandered for four years across India, and formulated his philosophy of having faith in ones divine nature, truth, purity, honesty, perseverance, courage, strength and love. As he wrote to Swami Ramkrishnananda (not to be confused with his guru, Sri Ramakrishna) in 1894: At Cape Comorin sitting in Mother Kumaris temple, sitting on the last bit of Indian rock, I hit upon a plan: We are so many Sannyasins wandering about, and teaching the people metaphysics it is all madness. Did not our Gurudeva use to say, An empty stomach is no good for religion? That those poor people are leading the life of brutes is simply due to ignorance. We have for all ages been sucking their blood and trampling them underfoot (as quoted in S P Agarwals The Social Role of Gita, 1993). On the eve of Swami Vivekanandas birth centenary in 1963, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee led by RSS activist Eknath Ranade commemorated the site. The memorial was formally inaugurated by President VV Giri in 1970. It is believed the Goddess Parvati also meditated on the same rock on one foot as she waited for Lord Shiva. Today, the rocky islet is accessed through a 15-minute ferry service from Vavathurai. It is also the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. Why Modi Chose Vivekananda Rock PM Modi considers Vivekananda as his role model, and was even a member of the Ramakrishna Mission, a spiritual and philanthropic organisation founded by Swami Vivekananda. At the Ramakrishna Missions 125th anniversary celebrations last year, Modi had said, Swami Vivekananda had a grand vision of India, and I am sure he is proudly watching India working to fulfil this vision. Modis choice to meditate in Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu also underscores his partys extensive South India push during this years election campaign. The PM South Indias trips accounted for over a third of his total tours in the last three years, with seven visits made to Tamil Nadu in 2024 alone. He has been promoting Tamil culture and language during his campaign speeches for the Lok Sabha elections. He also visited several temples, including the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple and the Kothandaramaswamy Temple in Tamil Nadu ahead of the April 19 Lok Sabha Election. The five southern states Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka account for 131 of 543 Lok Sabha seats. Tamil Nadu alone accounts for 39 seats in Parliament. Prime Minister Modi had said the BJP would emerge as the single-largest party in the South. On May 20, he said in an interview to PTI news agency: We have already seen a jump in mind-share already, we will see a big jump in seat share and vote share for us in the region. Whats the Preparation for Modis Visit? Around 2,000 policemen and security agencies have been deployed to ensure that the PMs 45-hour stay at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial on Thursday is smooth. Tirunelveli ranges DIG Pravesh Kumar, accompanied by the superintendent of police E Sundaravathanam, inspected the security arrangements at the rock memorial, boat jetty, helipad, and state guest house here, PTI reported. The PM will reach Thiruvananthapuram airport on Thursday afternoon after winding up his election campaign at Hoshiarpur in Punjab. He will reach the state guest house in Kanniyakumari in the evening and leave for Vivekananda Rock Memorial by boat. He will remain there until Saturday afternoon. Modi will reach Kanniyakumari helipad by Saturday evening and return to Thiruvananthapuram before flying back to Delhi the same day. The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu has submitted a petition to the district collector, opposing permission for the Prime Ministers spiritual visit. They cited the election model code of conduct currently in effect and the ongoing tourism season, which is expected to attract a significant number of domestic and international tourists. Bikes lovers always try to scale their passion of riding to a level higher. A 24-year-old girl hailing from Kumble in Keralas Kasargod district is one of those. Amrita Joshi, a young woman biker is geared up for the international trip from Mangaluru to Bhutan on her bike. It will be reportedly her first international bike trip. She will ride to Bhutan on her KTM 220 bike. Amrita Joshi will start from Mangaluru and travel via Bengaluru, Odisha, West Bengal, Sikkim and Meghalaya. Amrita will also travel through the North Eastern states including Assam. She will be travelling through ten states during this trip. She along with her group will travel 10,000 kilometres. During her journey, the woman biker aims to understand the customs and culture of different cities and spend time with local people. Her objective is to empower women of the nation and make them believe that bike riding is not a man-oriented activity. Amrita Joshi has previously done an all-India bike ride including Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal. She learned to ride the bike in sixth grade. She has earlier done the All Kerala Group Tour. Apart from empowering women, an international trip to Bhutan on a bike is itself a big feat which is quite impossible to achieve for anyone irrespective of gender. Amrita Joshi, daughter of Dr Ashok Joshi of Kumble and Annapurna, has completed her Diploma in Polymer Science at KPT, Mangaluru. It is not the first time that a Mangalorean has embarked on the journey of covering cities in India on a bike. In 2020, a Ullal resident of Mangaluru completed a solo ride in 39 days after covering a distance of 12,635 km. He visited more than 100 cities, which also included treacherous Himalayan Stretches. His name is Muhammed Saleem. He rode on his Royal Enfield Classic 350. He started his journey on January 8 and returned on February 15. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said the heatwave conditions will continue to prevail in Delhi on Thursday, despite the brief rain session when the city reportedly recorded Indias highest-ever temperature. According to the IMDs latest forecast, the maximum temperature in the National Capital Region (NCR) is likely to touch 45 degree Celsius accompanied by gusty winds. On Wednesday, the mercury soared to 52.9 degrees Celsius at Mungeshpur weather station, a reading the IMD said could be an outcome of faulty sensors. On the other hand, some relief can be expected from tomorrow, as the weather department has predicted a partly cloudy sky, with very light rain/drizzle accompanied by gusty winds (speed 25-35 kmph). Delhi Weather Forecast Today Severe heatwave conditions accompanied by dry weather will continue in many parts of the country till June 1, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said adding that prevailing conditions will gradually reduce over Northwest and Central India in the next 23 days. Heatwaves will be reported in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, several places in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, according to the weather department. Delhi Records Over 52C? Heres What IMD Says The highest temperature in Delhis Mungeshpur on Wednesday touched 52.9 degree Celsius, a 79-year high record. However, the IMD said the reading could be due to some fault in the sensors and was likely inaccurate. While Delhis primary weather station Safdarjung observatory recorded a maximum of 46.8 degree Celsius, the weather officials in the city were left baffled when Mungeshpur reported 52.9 degrees prompting the IMD to examine the automatic weather station in the locality for possible errors in its sensors. Meanwhile, Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju informed that a temperature of over 52 degrees Celsius in Delhi is very unlikely. AAP To Hold Review Meeting on Water Shortage in Delhi Amid claims that Haryana stopped releasing water to the national capital, Delhi Water Minister Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj will hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss water shortage. The minister also accused Haryana of not releasing Delhis share of water since May 1 and said that if the issue is not resolved soon, Delhi will approach the Supreme Court. In the first clear indication of a serious water crisis in Delhi, which is largely dependent on neighbours Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to meet its soaring water demands, Atishi appealed to the people to not waste water. Monsoon Sets Over In Kerala The Indian Meteorological Department has officially announced that the Southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of Northeast India on Thursday. Conditions continue to become favourable for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala during the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department said on Wednesday. On May 15, the weather office announced the onset of monsoon over Kerala by May 31. Meanwhile, the IMD revised its rain updates and sounded an orange alert in seven districts on Wednesday as heavy downpours continued to lash the state leading to waterlogging in major cities including the capital Thiruvananthapuram. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website As hellish temperatures break all records, hospitals in the national capital region are witnessing a significant surge in outpatient and emergency cases related to heat-induced illnesses. On Wednesday, the weather station in Delhis Mungeshpur reportedly registered Indias hottest day ever at 52.3 degree Celsius. Most patients visiting the emergency department are elderly or have a medical history. Experts told News18 that seniors and children are at greater risk, as well as individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, or those on specific medications. The most common ailment due to the high temperatures is dehydration, which can be identified by dry mouth, fatigue, and low urine output. Additionally, people are fainting due to low blood pressure. Higher Footfall in Emergency, OPDs Such heat-related complaints have increased noticeably at hospital OPDs and emergency departments across Delhi-NCR. Compared to last week, the hospital is witnessing a significant 15% increase in cases related to heat-related illnesses due to the heat wave, Dr Pankaj Verma, senior consultant for Internal Medicine at Gurugram-based Narayana Hospital told News18. Majority of this 15% increase are elderly with chronic conditions such as respiratory, heart, and kidney diseases, and diabetes, he explained, adding that many patients arrive in a state of shock and about 5% need hospitalisation. Doctors are also witnessing viral gastroenteritis combined with heat-induced dehydration, which is causing severe illness. However, the surge is still not alarming in the context of the significant surge in temperatures. While the cases are increasing, nothing is very alarming yet due to access to cooling, water and awareness, said Dr Atul Gogia, senior consultant for Internal Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. There is an increase of 15% to 20% of heat-related patients coming in OPD and about 10% increase in emergency compared to the last week. Dr Ankur Gupta, consultant for Internal Medicine at Fortis Escorts, Okhla told News18 that, on average, he sees 10 patients in the OPD daily who are unwell due to extreme heat. What are the Heat-Related Illnesses Heat illness contains a spectrum of disorders that arise from the bodys inability to cool down effectively, ranging from mild heat cramps to severe, life-threatening heat stroke. Common heat illnesses include heat cramps, characterised by muscle pains or spasms, often in the legs or abdomen, and heat exhaustion, marked by heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache, and muscle cramps. The most severe is heat stroke, which presents with a high body temperature (above 40 degree Celsius or 104 degree Fahrenheit), confusion, rapid pulse, and potential unconsciousness, and requires immediate clinical intervention to avoid being life-threatening, explained Dr Verma from Narayana Hospital. How to Stay Cool Factors like poor hydration, and strenuous physical activity further increase the risk of heat stroke and heat illnesses. To prevent heat illnesses, individuals should stay hydrated, avoid excessive outdoor activities during peak heat, wear light clothing, and use fans or air conditioning. Hospitals generally stabilize patients conditions, often with intravenous fluids for rehydration, and closely monitor vital signs. While severe heat illnesses can cause long-term damage to vital organs, experts insist that prompt treatment can often prevent stroke. Doctors advise minimizing sun exposure, staying indoors as much as possible, and ensuring adequate fluid intake in the form of water, coconut water, lemon water and buttermilk. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website In a spine-chilling incident from Karnatakas Tumkur, a man was arrested for killing his wife after she did not serve him dinner. The man allegedly killed his wife, decapitated her and skinned her body. The womans body was found lying in a pool of blood at their house and her veins and intestines were visible as her skin was peeled off by her husband. Her severed head lay next to her body. Police said that the incident took place on Monday night in Huliyurudurga town of Kunigal taluk. The accused, Shivarama worked at a sawmill and used to have regular arguments with his wife, identified as Pushpalatha. The duo got into an argument on Monday night after the woman refused to serve dinner to her husband. The fight then escalated as they started fighting over Shivaramas employment. In a fit of rage, the man stabbed Pushpalatha and then used a machete to cut her head, butchering parts of her body. He then continued to skin her body till Tuesday dawn and then informed his landlord about the crime. Their eight-year-old son was asleep at the time of the horrific act. Tumkur Superintendent of Police Ashok Venkat said, A 35-year-old females body was found on the spot. The husband was also there at this spot. During questioning, he has confessed to the murder. We have secured the accused. He further said that the couple were married for 10 years and used to have minor fights. Yesterday they had a fight over employment issues. He killed his wife and informed his employer. They immediately informed us. We have sent the body for post-mortem, the cops said. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais on Thursday said that had the teen accused in Pune Porsche accident been a member of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), the incident would not have happened. Bais was talking about the need for NCC to be made compulsory in all schools and colleges across the country. Personally speaking, I would like NCC to be made compulsory in all schools and colleges across the country. In the Pune accident, had the child (minor accused) been an NCC cadet this accident would not have occurred. A sense of discipline and patriotism that gets instilled in children, the sense of dedicating oneself to the country is foremost for all of usIf the child is disciplined, he will be disciplined and follow the right path The Maharashtra Governor was addressing the felicitation ceremony of the Governors citation to NCC Directorate Maharashtra. On May 19, an intoxicated 17-year-old boy crushed two bike-borne IT professionals to death with his speeding Porsche car in Punes Kalyani Nagar area. The case created a huge media and public outrage after the teen, the son of a builder, was granted bail 14 hours after the accident. However, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) later overturned the bail order and sent the teen accused to observation home till June 5. The case has also been constantly hitting the headlines because of revelations about attempts that were made to help the 17-year-old evade the law. From bribing a doctor to swap the blood sample of the accused to pressuring the driver to take the blame, the teens familys attempts to deceive the law were uncovered. The allegations of involvement of political meddling in the Pune Porsche case were levelled up with the claims of Sassoon Hospitals dean, who asserted that one of the doctors accused of replacing the blood samples of the teenager involved in the accident had been made the head of the forensic department at the insistence of a state minister and an MLA. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website BYD releases 5th-generation DM hybrid technology with 2,100-km range Xinhua) 08:28, May 30, 2024 People visit the exhibition booth of BYD at an auto show in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen) SHENZHEN, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) giant BYD has released its fifth-generation DM (dual mode) hybrid technology for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with a comprehensive driving range of 2,100 kilometers. With the technology, BYD's plug-in hybrid vehicles can lead globally in a series of key indicators, achieving a thermal efficiency of 46.06 percent, a fuel consumption of 2.9 liters per 100 kilometers even when in an electricity-deficit state, and a comprehensive range of 2,100 kilometers, BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu said at a launch event in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Tuesday night. The driving range was established based on vehicles with a fully charged battery and a full tank of petrol. At the event, BYD also unveiled two car models powered by the new technology, the Qin L DM-i and the Seal 06 DM-i, which use only a third of the fuel consumed by traditional cars and triple the range. Prices range from 99,800 yuan (about 14,000 U.S. dollars) to 139,800 yuan. Wang said that BYD is confident in leading the global development of plug-in hybrid technology and promoting the green transformation of the global auto industry. The Shenzhen-based carmaker has sold a cumulative total of more than 3.6 million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. In the first four months of 2024, China's production and sales of new energy vehicles climbed to 2.985 million and 2.94 million units, respectively, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Those figures represent respective year-on-year growth of 30.3 percent and 32.3 percent, the association said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) "If we compare Arab-Chinese relations in 2004 and 20 years later, we find that the difference is very vast. Of course, the Belt and Road Initiative also contributed to this growth," said Magdy Amer, former deputy foreign minister of Egypt. CAIRO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The ties between China and the Arab world have reached an unprecedented level thanks to the collaboration under the umbrella of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum over the past two decades, a former Egyptian ambassador to China told Xinhua in a recent interview. "If we compare Arab-Chinese relations in 2004 and 20 years later, we find that the difference is very vast. Of course, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) also contributed to this growth," said Magdy Amer, also a former deputy foreign minister of Egypt. His remarks came a few days before the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, which is set to be held in Beijing on Thursday. Since the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in 2004, there has been tremendous growth in trade, investment, tourism and direct flights between the two sides, Amer said. China has been the largest trading partner of Arab countries for years. The volume of trade between the two sides reached 398 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, compared to 36.7 billion dollars in 2004, according to data released by China's Foreign Ministry. "The forum was initially a political decision by both parties, based on which all commercial, economic, cultural, tourism and other relations have improved," said the former Egyptian ambassador, hailing the fact that the forum has put Arab-China relations on the right path. In December 2022 at the first China-Arab States Summit in Riyadh, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for fostering a closer China-Arab community with a shared future. The proposal "was based on the principles of peace and development, which are the highest goals of China and the Arab countries," the Egyptian veteran diplomat said. The BRI proposed by China in 2013 also "gave a very great impetus to cooperation between Arab countries and China" and significantly contributed to promoting China-Arab ties, Amer added, citing the Central Business District project of Egypt's New Administrative Capital and the Alamein Downtown Towers Project in New Alamein as examples. "The establishment of the forum in 2004 and then the launch of the BRI in 2013 were the two key factors that together promoted Arab-Chinese relations to a completely different level," the former Egyptian deputy foreign minister told Xinhua. Photo: CBS / YouTube The Department of Defense is probably looking at Lockheed Martins refund policy after a brand-new F-35 fighter jet crashed on Tuesday afternoon. The recently built aircraft was being transferred from an assembly plant in Fort Worth, Texas to Edwards Air Force Base in California. The F-35B slammed into a hillside near Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico. A pilot from the Defense Contract Management Agency was at the F-35Bs controls at the time of the incident. The plane had refueled at Kirtland Air Force Base, just adjacent to the airport, before the crash. The pilot ejected from the fighter and was transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital with serious injuries, ABC News reports. Two civilians on the ground were evaluated but not hospitalized. The Associated Press spoke with an eyewitness: ADVERTISEMENT Patrick White, who was driving in the area at the time of the crash, told AP that he saw the aircraft trailing low to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dirt and dust. He said it briefly disappeared from his line of sight, and then he saw an enormous plume of black smoke. When he drove past the crash, he said he saw a piece of the fighter jet in the middle of the road. Its difficult for mishaps with the Lockheed Martin F-35 to go unnoticed when the program costs the government north of $1 trillion. Last September, a Marine Corps pilot ejected from an F-35B during a training flight in South Carolina. The pilot ejected safely, but the plane went missing. It took over 30 hours to find the wreckage, which was worth $90 million to roll off the assembly line. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said in case suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, does not return to the country on May 31, further action such as cancellation of his passport will follow. He also said if Prajwal comes he will be arrested and the legal process will be initiated. Prajwal released a video statement promising to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the cases against him, on May 31. According to official sources, Prajwal booked a business-class ticket on Lufthansas Munich-Bengaluru flight, which is expected to land at the Kempegowda International Airport at 12.30 am IST on May 31. The information is he (Prajwal) will come, he has booked the flight ticket. SIT has made the necessary preparations. If he comes the legal process will begin, Parameshwara said. Addressing reporters here, he said, As per law, a warrant has been issued against him, so he will have to be arrested, SIT will decide and do it. He (Prajwal) himself has said in the video statement that he will appear before SIT on May 31 at 10 am, not us. So I feel that he will come In case he doesnt, the process will follow like cancelling his passport, we will again request the Interpol through CBI, as the state government cannot do it directly, we will have to do it through Government of India agencies, he added. A team of SIT officials is camping at the airport here to arrest Prajwal. As per procedure, the immigration officials will detain him and hand him over to the SIT, as there is a lookout notice against him, they said. Responding to a question on reports that SIT has found out that Prajwals video statement was recorded in Hungary and was released from there, and why no attempt was made to arrest him, Parameshwara said, We cannot go there and arrest, even the central government cannot do. Thats the reason Interpols help was sought and a Blue Corner notice was issued. There is a procedure for everything. Asked whether Prajwals passport will be impounded, he said the state has requested the Centre to cancel his passport, and depending on the legal process they might cancel. The External Affairs Minister has said that the process has been initiated in this regard, so they might do it, he added. Prajwal (33), the grandson of JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and the NDA candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of sexually abusing women. He reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to polls, and is still at large. A Blue Corner Notice seeking information on his whereabouts has already been issued by Interpol, following a request by the SIT via the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The cases of sexual abuse came to light after several pen drives allegedly containing explicit videos involving Prajwal were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 10 years of rule has focused on development, an influential Indian-American author has said, hoping that a third term for him would give India another five years of stability and provide him an opportunity to address some of the major challenges facing the country. India can courageously counter all this (challenges being faced from outside the country). The reason India can counter all this is because of the Modi government. Despite all the things that people claim, argue and criticise, the fact is that theyve delivered development. A lot more development is needed but they have delivered, Princeton-based Indian-American author Rajiv Malhotra told PTI in an interview. A prolific writer, Malhotra over the last few decades has authored several books in opposition to the Western academic study of Indian culture and society. Snake in the Ganga: Breaking India 2.0 is his latest book. Referring to the Indian media reports, Malhotra said it looks like Modi is coming back to power for the third term. Malhotra said that during his two terms, the Modi government had carried out development that benefited all sections of society. You can show statistically that every segment of society from poor to minorities, and so on have benefited when you can show it numerically that now they have roads, clean water, better health facilities, food, and education. So then people have to say this government has delivered whereas the previous government was making all the slogans of fighting poverty etc., and not delivering, he said. Ultimately, poor people need economic development and that has been a successful central agenda of this government, Malhotra said, arguing that Modi in his third term should focus on several key challenges, including intervention from outside powers in Indias internal affairs. He suggested creating a national think-tank, carrying certain constitutional amendments that give equal rights and benefits to all Indians irrespective of caste, religion and ethnicity. Malhotra, who heads the Infiniti Foundation in the US, agreed with the recent statement of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar that external forces had tried to influence the results and nature of Indian elections. First of all, let me just say that while I like Jaishankars ability, his audacity and his quick response. Thats all good. Previously they were apologetic. But I will say I have a criticism that he cannot anticipate. He can react. He is unable to anticipate where its coming from, where the vulnerabilities are, where the next attack is coming, who the bad guys are, and who the ones doing it are, he said. They havent done a diagnostic. They havent done deep enough research. Because of that, they are running around wondering where the next attack will come. You cannot survive long-term when the other side is deciding when, how and where to attack you and then you will respond. I think in the field of physical attacks, and terrorist attacks, India has become pretty good. The intelligence agencies can stop the attacks or anticipate and respond before they happen in many cases, he said. There are many instances where theyve been able to preempt attacks. But in the intellectual space of narratives of tarnishing Indias image, stirring up violence against India, whether its Khalistan, whether its Kashmir separatists, whether its all these woke kids who are shouting and screaming, whether its the United Nations or whether its the, you know, campuses and think tanks, India has not been able to (address that), Malhotra said. Malhotra alleged that the Reliance group is funding an anti-India professor in the United States. One of the worst anti-India, anti-Hindu scholars in the world is Professor (Victor David) Hanson at Stanford. He is called Reliance Dhirubhai Ambani professor at Stanford. All this dismantled Hindutva and all that, he is one of the signatories to all these things. You read his papers, its so loud, clear, he said. He considers that this whole Hindu revival and the Hindu Rashtra idea and the RSS and Modi, are violating human rights of minorities. They should have sanctions against them. They are a bunch of Nazis. It is not like you have to be very subtle when reading it. It is so blatant out there. These people go and give a talk to the US Commission on Religious Freedom. They talk to the US Senate and Congress. They are the ones who all the enemies of India are supporting whether its ISI, whether its Kashmir separatists, whether its Khalistanis. They like to quote this kind of thing. And, surprisingly, Ambani has a name on it, Malhotra alleged. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website At least 22 people died while more than 70 others were left injured after a bus rolled down in a deep gorge in the Tanda Morh on the Jammu Poonch Highway in the Akhnoor area. Soon after the incident, a rescue operation was launched, said an official. The bus was coming from Uttar Pradeshs Hathras. Meanwhile, the injured have been shifted to the Akhnoor hospital. A bus carrying passengers from Hathras, Uttar Pradesh has met with an accident near Tanda, Akhnoor in Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Jammu said. This comes hours after the engine of the Sampark Kranti Express derailed at Jammu railway station on Thursday, officials said. No one got injured in the incident. As the train arrived at the railway station from New Delhi on Thursday, one wheel of the engine went off the track, causing the train to come to a halt, the officials said. PM Modi Announces Rs 2 Lakh Ex Gratia Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anguish for the loss of lives due to the bus mishap in Akhnoor. Anguished by the loss of lives due to a bus mishap in Akhnoor. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon.Rs. 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each deceased due to the bus mishap. The injured would be given Rs. PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 30, 2024 He also announced Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased. President Murmu Expresses Her Condolences President Droupadi Murmu shared her deepest condolences for the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. Taking to X, she said, Pained beyond words to learn about the loss of lives in a bus accident in Akhnoor near Jammu. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured. Pained beyond words to learn about the loss of lives in a bus accident in Akhnoor near Jammu. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured. President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 30, 2024 J&K LG Calls Reacts To Accident, Rs 5 Lakh Ex Gratia Announced The Lieutenant Governor Of Jammu and Kashmir also took to his official account and expresses condolences for the loss of lives. Calling the accident heart-rending, he said, I condole the loss of lives and pray to the almighty to give the bereaved families the strength to bear the irreparable loss. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. He also said, An ex-gratia of Rs. 5 Lakh to be given to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs.50,000 for those injured in the tragic bus accident in Akhnoor, Jammu. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Two persons in their 70s died after a part of a slab of a three-storey building collapsed on Thursday in Vikhroli in north east Mumbai, a civic official said. The incident took place in MHADA building number 40, which is partially occupied, in Kannamwar Nagar No 1 at 6:50pm, he said. Sharad Mhaslekar (75) and Suresh Madhalkar (78) were declared dead after being rushed to nearby Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital. Further details are awaited, the official said. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his 45-hour-long meditation session at the renowned Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadus Kanniyakumari on Thursday. Arriving via helicopter from nearby Thiruvananthapuram, PM Modi first paid homage at the Bhagavathi Amman temple before boarding a ferry to the rock memorial, where his meditation is scheduled to continue till June 1. Clad in a dhoti and a white shawl, the Prime Minister participated in rituals at the temple, including circumambulating the garbhagriha. Priests performed a special arthi ceremony, and Modi received temple prasad, including a shawl and a framed photograph of the presiding deity. Upon arriving at the rock memorial via a state-operated ferry service, PM Modi initiated his meditation session at the dhyan mandapam, situated adjacent to the memorial, serving as a meditation hall for visitors. What is the Vivekananda Rock Memorial? The Vivekananda Rock Memorial holds immense spiritual significance, as it is believed that Swami Vivekananda, after swimming from the mainland in 1892, meditated on the rock for three days and three nights, ultimately achieving enlightenment. The memorial also includes the Sripada Mandapam and Vivekananda Mandapam, along with a life-sized bronze statue of the revered philosopher-saint. In 1963, ahead of Swami Vivekanandas centenary birth anniversary, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee, spearheaded by RSS activist Eknath Ranade, worked towards commemorating the site of his enlightenment. The memorial was officially inaugurated by then-President VV Giri in 1970. How to get there? The rock memorial, situated on a rocky islet around 500 meters from Vavathurai beach in Kanniyakumari, is accessible through regular ferries operated by the Tamil Nadu government. ALSO READ: Why PM Modi Chose Kanniyakumaris Vivekananda Rock To Meditate After End Of 2024 Poll Campaign Reason behind PM Modis visit PM Modis visit to the memorial rock marks his first stay at the site. Previously, after the conclusion of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he opted for reflective meditation at Kedarnath cave. This time, he has selected a spiritually significant location at the southernmost tip of the mainland for his retreat. Speaking to the media, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai described PM Modis visit to the memorial as a private affair. It is Prime Ministers personal visit, Annamalai said, adding that was why his party leaders and cadres did not take part in the event. Meanwhile, security personnel has crowded the memorial premises, heightened security measures have been implemented throughout the Kanniyakumari district. Approximately 2,000 police personnel have been deployed, along with increased surveillance by the Tamil Nadu polices Coastal Security Group, Coast Guard, and Navy. (With inputs from PTI) Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday began his 45-hour-long meditation session at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, Tamil NaduHe will meditate from 30th May evening to 1st June evening. PM Modi will meditate day and night at the same place where Swami Vivekanand did meditation, at the Dhyan pic.twitter.com/7QfKkvRLLN ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024 The PM arrived in Kanniyakumari earlier in the day from nearby Thiruvananthapuram and offered prayers at the Bhagavathi Amman temple. He will perform meditation at Vivekananda Rock Memorial for nearly two days from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1. He will meditate day and night at the same place where Swami Vivekanand did meditation, at the Dhyan Mandapam. Ahead of his departure on June 1, Modi is likely to visit the Thiruvalluvar statue, next to the memorial. Both the memorial and statue were built on tiny islets, that are separate and mound-like rocky formations in the sea. All arrangements, including heavy security, are in place for Modis 45-hour stay at the famed, mid-sea memorial, named after the revered Hindu saint. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayer at Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanyakumari, Tamil NaduHe will meditate from 30th May evening to 1st June evening. PM Modi will meditate day and night at the same place where Swami Vivekanand did meditation, at the Dhyan pic.twitter.com/xKqZpnuQbV ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024 Modi will meditate at Rock Memorial, a monument built in tribute to Swami Vivekananda, here following the culmination of the Lok Sabha polls campaign later today, BJP leaders had said. The PM had undertaken a similar exercise in a Kedarnath cave after the 2019 poll campaign. Modi will meditate from the evening of Thursday to the evening of June 1 at Dhyan Mandapam, the place where Vivekananda a spiritual icon admired by Modi is believed to have had a divine vision about Bharat Mata. Security has been beefed up ahead of Modis visit and 2000 police personnel will stand guard during his stay, even as the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy would also maintain tight vigil. Following the end of the 2019 election campaign, PM Modi had visited Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand for two days where he undertook a 15-hour ekantavaas (solitary meditation). (With PTI inputs) Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Amid the outrage over the Pune Porsche case, a member of the Juvenile Justice Board, Dr LN Danwade, who granted bail to the 17-year-old, was trolled on social media heavily for not wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler. In videos widely shared on social media, Danwade, who granted bail to the teen after making him write an essay, was seen running away without answering questions being asked by a group of reporters surrounding him. Social media users commented on the video pointing out the JJB member was not wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler. No problem. The traffic cops will tell him to write an essay about the joys of riding a scooter without a helmet, one user wrote. Another user tagged Pune Police and Pune Traffic Police and wrote, I expect you to note this scooterist without a helmet and take action as per traffic laws. There should be no difference when it comes to enforcing law. Danwade had been under fire for letting the 17-year-old, who killed two bike-borne IT professionals after hitting them with his Porsche car while driving in an intoxicated state, go free without any strict punishment. The board had asked the teen to work with the traffic police in Yerawada for 15 days, write an essay on the accident, get medical treatment to quit drinking and undergo psychiatric counselling. The JJB board, however, overturned the bail order later sending the 17-year-old to observation home till June 5. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website As probe into the Pune Porsche crash continues, Dr LN Danwade, member of the Juvenile Justice Board, who granted bail to the 17-year-old, was seen avoiding questions being raised by reporters. In a video going viral on social media, Danwade, who granted bail to the accused after making him write an essay, was seen running away without answering questions being asked by a group of reporters surrounding away. While a reporter followed Danwades two-wheeler in his car and continued to ask questions, the JJB member refused to speak. Danwade has been under fire for letting the 17-year-old, who crushed two bike-borne IT professionals to death with his Porsche car, go free without any strict punishment. The board had asked the 17-year-old to work with the traffic police in Yerawada for 15 days, write an essay on the accident, get medical treatment to quit drinking, and undergo psychiatric counselling. The advocate of the accused had said his bail had conditions aimed at rehabilitation and awareness. According to the police, the minor was detained after a case was registered against him after the accident. He was produced in a juvenile court, which granted him bail. While details of the bail hearing were not made public, police said the court found the crime not serious enough to deny bail. As per the court order, which came within 14 hours of the minors detention, several conditions were imposed on his release. New Details in The Case Meanwhile, new details continue to emerge in the case, making it murkier every passing day. The case has exposed corruption and crime at various levels in the city of Pune. Earlier this week, the Pune Police arrested Surendra Kumar Agarwal, the grandfather of the 17-year-old Pune Porsche driver. Agarwal has been charged for helping his builder son, Vishal Agarwal, abscond, and kidnapping and putting pressure on the driver to take the accident blame. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar had earlier said that there is an attempt being made to frame a driver instead of the teenager. The grandfather of the 17-year-old boy had allegedly made payments to gangster Chhota Rajan in a shootout case, police sources told News18. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has charge-sheeted the boys grandfather, he allegedly contracted Chhota Rajan in 2009 to execute Shiv Sena corporator Ajay Bhosale. Meanwhile, Shivani Agrawal, the mother of the 17-year-old accused, has reportedly gone incommunicado. She came to the forefront after a video was widely circulated on social media with claim that the accused uploaded a rap video on the day he got bail. Shivani had clarified that the featuring her son is fake. Some local reports claimed that the juveniles blood sample, which was supposed to be tested after the accident, was swapped with his mother, Shivani Agrawal. A report in ABP Majha quoted sources as saying that the doctors of Sassoon hospital have mentioned in the report of the inquiry committee that the changed blood sample of the teenager belongs to a woman. However, sources told News18 that there is no confirmation yet that the sample belongs to Shivani Agarwal. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website In another twist in the Pune Porsche crash, the mother of the 17-year-old accused in the case has reportedly gone incommunicado. It has also emerged that the blood sample of the teenager for alcohol test was replaced at the citys Sassoon hospital with that of a woman. While some reports said that it was the mothers blood sample, there was no immediate comment by officials. Staff members of the hospital, including nurses, are being questioned by the crime branch probing the sensational case. The mystery deepened after a probe panel of experts, which is looking specifically into the alleged manipulation of blood samples, was told that the changed sample belongs to a female. The purported revelation was made by doctors at Sassoon hospital in a report to the three-member investigation committee. Shivani Agarwal, the mother of the juvenile accused, had come to the fore after a video was widely circulated on social media claiming that her son uploaded a rap video on the day he was granted bail. But, she had clarified that the video featuring her son is fake. The police are now unable to contact Shivani, whose statement in the case was earlier recorded by the Pune crime branch at the Agarwal residence. According to News18 sources, the Pune crime branch has also summoned some nurses, who are members of the staff at the Sassoon hospital. They are being questioned regarding the swapping of the blood samples, they added. Sassoon hospital doctors submitted their report to the probe panel on Wednesday (May 29). The Maharashtra medical education (MME) department formed the committee headed by Dr Pallavi Sapale, dean of Mumbai-based Grants Medical College, on May 27 after the police claimed that the teenagers blood samples were discarded and replaced with another persons samples, which showed no traces of alcohol, at Punes Sassoon General Hospital. Police have arrested Dr Ajay Taware, head of the state-run hospitals forensic medicine department, chief medical officer Dr Shrihari Halnor and staff member Atul Ghatkamble in connection with the incident. Two IT professionals in their 20s were killed after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old, in the early hours of May 19 in Punes Kalyani Nagar area. According to police, the teenager, son of builder Vishal Agarwal, was drunk at the time. (With PTI inputs) Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, has taken off from Germanys Munich for India. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to probe the sex scandal involving Revanna, is preparing to arrest him at Bengaluru International Airport upon arrival on Friday. Prajwal (33), the grandson of JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and the NDA candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of sexually abusing women. Earlier in the day, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said in case Prajwal Revanna does not return to the country on May 31, further action such as cancellation of his passport will follow. The information is he (Prajwal) will come, he has booked the flight ticket. SIT has made the necessary preparations. If he comes the legal process will begin, Parameshwara said. As per law, a warrant has been issued against him, so he will have to be arrested, SIT will decide and do it, he added. Quoting official sources, a PTI report said that Prajwal booked a business-class ticket on Lufthansas Munich-Bengaluru flight, which is expected to land at the Kempegowda International Airport at 12.30 am IST on May 31. Earlier, Prajwal had released a video statement promising to appear before the SIT on May 31. He (Prajwal) himself has said in the video statement that he will appear before SIT on May 31 at 10 am, not us. So I feel that he will come In case he doesnt, the process will follow like cancelling his passport, we will again request the Interpol through CBI, as the state government cannot do it directly, we will have to do it through Government of India agencies, the Karnataka Home Minister further said. Upon being asked whether Prajwals passport will be impounded, he said the state has requested the Centre to cancel his passport. The External Affairs Minister has said that the process has been initiated in this regard, so they might do it, he added. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website bmw skytop z8 BMWs Skytop Concept car is ready for homologation and could be built in very small numbers with deliveries as soon as next year, according to company bosses. The 8 Series-based car was officially revealed at Villa dEste on Friday 24 May and uses the M8s 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 with 626bhp. It is Z8-inspired, with several design nods to the 2000s car. Speaking at the event, BMWs Design Director, Adrian van Hooydonk, said: The headlamps, the tail lights, they're new, they're as slim as we could possibly make them. But we know they could be homologated. If we do it I think we should do it in a very limited production. Very limited. Like we did with 3.0 CSL. We made 50 pieces of that. ADVERTISEMENT Then I think that would make some sense, then it becomes a dream car. Maybe an instant classic. Theres no need to turn it into a big series production car. We could deliver within a year if we were to go that way. BMW M CEO Frank van Meel added: It is a little bit like a test balloon. You show the cars and if there's enough demand it can be built. I think the demand is quite high. So probability is quite high. Well see over the next few weeks if that interest translates into purchasing orders. The probability is there. It shows we always want to try new things and see if there is a demand. Even though were a big company, its not the main purpose to build a small series. But if you listen to your customers and they say every now and then to do something like this and we do it - I think its a nice gesture to show that we are not only into lets say the cars we build everyday, but we can also do something special if demand is there. Skytop: everything we know The upmarket open-top, which features a removable Targa-style roof and an integral roll-over hoop was shown at the Villa dEste concours, which is a celebration of some of the most luxurious and flamboyant cars ever made. This spirit is reflected in the design of the Concept Skytop, which apes classic BMW grand tourer proportions, with a long probing bonnet, a cabin set well back within a long wheelbase and a boot that slopes down subtly at the rear. Story continues But while there is tradition in the shape, much of the two-seaters design is very much rooted in the present, such as the smooth surfacing, elegant lines, advanced lighting, brushed aluminium highlights and overall detailing. A heavily tapered kidney grille with two separate illuminated elements and horizontal louvres give the front end a pointed profile that is reminiscent of the brands old shark-nose visage. Ultra-thin LED headlights and huge vents in the bonnet enhance the aggressive, sporting look. BMW Concept Skytop front Further back, the Skytop adopts a heavily raked windscreen and a Targa-style roof with two separate leather-trimmed elements that are designed to be stowed in a dedicated cubby in the boot. The individual roof panels attach to the top of the windscreen and a leather-trimmed roll-bar hoop behind the seats. The hoop forms the frame of an upright rear window, which is bookmarked either side by prominent buttresses with a Hofmeister kink along their leading edge. The buttresses sit above wide rear haunches that extend towards the rear to visually elongate the new concept. The boot features a distinctive central divider that mirrors the one in the bonnet, and it curves up into a small ducktail spoiler that bears a resemblance to the E63-generation 6 Series created under former BMW design chief Chris Bangle. Like the Z8, produced from 1999-2006, the Skytop features thin horizontal brake lights, which use OLED technology. Lower down, two oval-shaped tailpipes are integrated into the rear bumper. Long doors with three subtle feature lines and winglets that replace conventional door handles provide entry to a leather-trimmed and remarkably realistic interior. The cabin includes the latest generation of BMWs iDrive infotainment system, a familiar shifter for the automatic gearbox and a conventional multifunction steering wheel. BMW Concept Skytop interior Similar in style and layout to that of the existing 8 Series, it also features leather seats with brogue-like accents and stitching, together with the use of crystal on the gearlever and stainless steel for the pedals. BMWs latest concept eschews pure-electric power for what the company calls the most powerful V8 engine in the BMW drivetrain portfolio namely, the 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged unit that powers the most powerful M cars and produces up to 626bhp in its most potent guise. Thats another spiritual nod to the Z8, which used a 5.0-litre V8 powerplant with 395bhp and 369lb ft of torque. No technical specifications for the Concept Skytop have been revealed, though Autocar has been told that it is based on the CLAR platform, which underpins every BMW model from the 3 Series upwards. Should it get the green light for production, the road-ready version of the Skytop would be expected on sale in early 2026 as a replacement for todays 8 Series, which was launched in 2018. While this concept envisions a luxury convertible, the 8 Series is currently also available as a coupe and a four-door fastback, but it is unclear whether BMW plans to keep offering all three derivatives. BMW Concept Skytop rear This is the first future-looking BMW show car since the Concept 4 revealed at the Geneva motor show in 2019 as a preview of the current 4 Series to be powered by a combustion engine. The brand is ramping up to launch its Neue Klasse family of EVs from 2025, but it has not yet put an end date on petrol and diesel cars and the Skytop suggests it still sees a future for large-capacity motors in certain segments. ]]> A 15-year-old girl who was on the run for allegedly killing her father and brother was arrested from Uttarakhands Haridwar on Wednesday. The shocking incident occurred on March 15 in in Madhya Pradeshs Jabalpur where the teen-aged girl along with her 19-year-old boyfriend allegedly killed her father and brother and stuffed their chopped bodies in a freezer. The accused was on run since then and her partner who is also a co-accused in the case is still missing. According to Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Dobhal, the girl was taken into custody on Tuesday after she was spotted in the town. During the interrogation, she also revealed that she had come to Haridwar along with her boyfriend. Officials said that the girls father was killed as he objected to her relationship with the 19-year-old and her brother was killed as he had witnessed the crime. They chopped the bodies into pieces and stuffed them in a freezer before running away, police said and added that according to the girl, the killing was planned by her boyfriend. The girl has been handed over to the Madhya Pradesh Police while a search is underway for her boyfriend, Dobhal added. (with PTI inputs) Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website The police in Kashmir have registered an FIR against Indian Army personnel including three lieutenant colonels for allegedly entering Kupwara police station on Tuesday night and attacking the staff and officers present with rifle butts, kicks, and sticks. An FIR accessed by News18 reads that the army personnel collectively and without any provocation, in the form of an unlawful assembly, severely attacked the staff and officers present at Police Station Kupwara with Rifle Butts, kicks, and sticks. An FIR number 0121/2024 filed on May 28 at 21:40 hours shows that the army men have been booked under 11 sections of the Indian Penal Code including 307, attempting to murder, 186, voluntarily obstructing a public servant in the performance of their public duties, 332, intentionally harming a public servant while they are performing their duties, 342, wrongful confinement and 397, robbery or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt and 365 which deals with kidnapping. The police have also booked them under Sections 7 and 25 of the Arms Act. The Srinagar-based Defence spokesperson, in a statement to the media, said that the minor differences between the police and a territorial army unit on an operational matter have been amicably resolved. Reports of an altercation between police and army personnel and beating up therein of police personnel are misfounded and incorrect. Minor differences between the police personnel and a territorial army unit on an operational matter have been amicably resolved, he told the media. A purported CCTV footage accessed by News18 showed a scuffle taking place between the army and police inside the police station in Kupwara. Uniformed men with guns could be seen entering the police station and beating the policemen who were in civics. The footage shows further scuffle taking place when SHO Kupwara entered the police station. The FIR reads that, At around 21:40 hours a huge number of armed and uniformed personnel of 160 Territorial Armyupon being questioned regarding their arrival at PS Kupwara they collectively and without any provocation in the form of an unlawful assembly severely attacked the staff and officers present at Police Station Kupwara with Rifle Butts, kicks, and sticks. It says that the station house officer inspector Mohmmad Ishaq was also injured in the alleged attack. The allegation includes brandishing weapons and snatching the mobile phones of the injured police personnel. The cops have also blamed the army unit for abducting head constable Ghulam Rasool, who according to sources was released later. Sources in the police told News18 that the army personnel from the Territorial Army were angry over the detention of their member by the police. Pictures of injured policemen accessed by News18 show injuries caused to the head, arm, and legs. They were treated at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar and are stable. The investigation will now be carried out by Deputy Superintendent of Police DAR Kupwara. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Journalism is the oldest profession practiced, and it is the most powerful tool for effecting significant social change. Every year on May 30, Hindi Journalism Day commemorates the founding of the countrys first Hindi newspaper. This day is significant for all the Hindi newspaper journalists in India. The newspaper played a vital role in creating awareness amongst the people and uniting them during Indias freedom struggle. The communication medium that was most popular at that time was the newspapers. Hindi Journalism Day 2024: Why Is It Celebrated On May 30 The first Hindi-language newspaper, Udant Martand, was published in India on May 30, 1826, from Calcutta (now Kolkata). Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla published the weekly newspaper on Tuesdays alone and priced at Rs 2 annually. At the time, he had no idea what would emerge of his initiative. During Indias freedom struggle, the publication was instrumental in raising public awareness. This newspaper was the most widely read media at the time. The publication date, May 30, 1826, is known as Hindi Journalism Day or Hindi Patrakarita Diwas. However, due to increased mailing costs and a remote readership, Udant Martand was unable to be published for an extended length of time due to financial difficulties. Hindi Journalism Day 2024: History and Significance On May 30, 1826, Udant Martand, the first Hindi newspaper, was published. This day has since become recognised as a watershed moment in Hindi journalism history. Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla was the newspapers first editor. He was originally from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh and then moved to Calcutta, West Bengal. Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla possessed extensive knowledge of Hindi, English, Sanskrit, and Persian languages. At the time, English, Persian and Bangla publications had a large readership, leaving no room for Hindi media. Udant Martand began with a weekly print run of 500 copies. This was the first newspaper totally published in Hindi using the Devanagari script. At the time, many newspapers in Bengali and Urdu were the most widely read, with a very small proportion of the Calcutta readership reading Hindi. Udant Martand employees spoke a combination of Khari Boli and Braj Bhasha Hindi dialects. Later, the newspaper failed owing to financial difficulties, but it sparked a new era of Hindi journalism in India. Happy Hindi Journalism Day 2024: Wishes and Quotes As the monsoon has arrived, Keralas Idukki district health department has called for increased vigilance and precautionary measures. Heres everything you need to know about the far-reaching impact of vector-borne diseases and the strategies recommended by global health authorities to contain their spread. Tragic incidents in Idukki have highlighted the deadly threat posed by mosquito-borne diseases. On May 25, Baiju, a 46-year-old resident of Kanjikkuzhy, succumbed to dengue fever at Kottayam Medical College Hospital. He was initially admitted to a private hospital in Thodupuzha, but his condition deteriorated after being shifted to the medical college. Similarly, on May 17, a 24-year-old man from Maniyarankudi died of West Nile disease at Idukki Medical College Hospital. The patient had contracted the disease while undergoing treatment after a kidney transplant at a private hospital in Kozhikode. Health experts are increasingly concerned about the impact of climate change on the increase in vector-borne diseases. Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns have expanded the habitat for disease-carrying mosquitoes, increasing the incidence of diseases such as dengue and West Nile. This trend is particularly concerning for low- and middle-income countries, where health systems are often ill-equipped to deal with such outbreaks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80% of the worlds population is at risk of vector-borne diseases. Transmitted by mosquitoes, flies, bedbugs and other vectors, these diseases result in millions of infections and numerous deaths annually. They disproportionately affect impoverished communities and exacerbate existing health and socioeconomic inequalities. Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) can be used to curb the spread of diseases in homes. IRS involves spraying insecticides in homes to kill mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects. Originally targeted at malaria, IRS has also been shown to be effective against other vector-borne diseases. Health authorities and implementing partners must work closely together in the design, planning and implementation of vector control measures. Adequate health system capacity is necessary to ensure timely and high-quality application of insecticides, which can significantly reduce the incidence of vector-borne diseases. In a recent development in the ongoing legal battle between HYBE and ADOR, the Seoul Central District Court has reportedly approved an injunction filed by ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin. With the ruling in her favour, it means that Min Hee Jin can now continue her role at the company, while HYBE will be unable to exercise its voting rights to dismiss her. According to South Korean media reports, HYBE has reportedly lined up replacements for Hee Jin, including Chief Human Resources Officer Kim Ju-young, Chief Strategy Officer Lee Jae-sang, and Chief Financial Officer Lee Kyung-jun. However, despite its 80 per cent stake in the label, they cant remove her, which was their primary agenda. Also, the company will be liable for a compensation of 20 billion won in case of a violation. Based on the claims and materials presented to date, there is no reason for the dismissal of Min Heejin, the court reportedly said as quoted by Kpop Charts. The court has accepted Min Heejins injunction to stop HYBE from exercising its voting rights to dismiss her, set compensation of 20 billion won if HYBE violates and fires Min Hee jin. Based on the claims and materials presented to date, there is no reason for the dismissal pic.twitter.com/C8911cmrdv Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) May 30, 2024 On the other hand, if the injunction had not been accepted, HYBE could have used its rights to force Min Hee Jin to step down as the CEO of NewJeans label, ADOR. The update has left a flurry of reactions across social media platforms, as fans were mostly seen being elated with the news. The decision came just a few days after a string of alleged texts surfaced regarding the ongoing battle for control. The message allegedly shared between officials of ADOR seemingly confirmed HYBEs accusations against Min. According to TV Daily, a lengthy thread of text messages was found that included evidence of Min scheming about ADORs departure from HYBEs multi-label system. Before that, another threat of KakaoTalk messages, reportedly penned by Min Hee Jin, got the internet talking. As claimed, the ADOR CEO was seemingly passing derogatory comments about NewJeans members. MIN HEE JINKAKAOTALK BY TV DAILY BTS IS MENTIONED THATS WHY I POSTED pic.twitter.com/UL9RmBvwth (@focusonjeon_) May 27, 2024 The timeline of events in the HYBE-ADOR feud The ongoing legal feud between HYBE and its subsidiary label, ADOR, has turned out to be one of the most high-profile matters in the K-pop industry. ADOR, which houses the K-pop group NewJeans, is led by CEO Min Hee Jun. The label came at the centre amid an alleged power struggle over the management and treatment of NewJeans and other future projects. It began after HYBE launched an investigation into Min over doubts that she was trying to take control of the agency. Shortly after this, Hee Jin issued a statement accusing the parent company of undermining NewJeans, even calling it out for copying them. As the matter escalated, HYBE finally filed a formal complaint against both Min and another unnamed ADOR executive. While both sides continued to pass allegations and claims, the company requested a shareholders meeting to fire the CEO. Dalljiet Kaurs husband Nikhil Patel has finally opened up about their separation. Recently, Patel issued a statement and indirectly blamed Dalljiet for their differences. He argued that they could not make their marriage successful because the actress found it challenging to adjust in Kenya. In January this year, Dalljiet decided to leave Kenya with her son Jaydon and return to India, which ultimately led to our separation. We both realized that the foundation of our blended family wasnt as strong as we had hoped, making it hard for Dalljiet to settle in Kenya. In March 2023, we held an Indian wedding ceremony in Mumbai. Though it held cultural significance, it was not legally binding. This ceremony was intended to reassure Dalljiets family about her move to Kenya, Nikhil said as quoted by ETimes. Despite our efforts, Dalljiet found it challenging to adjust to life in Kenya, missing her career and life in India. The complexities of our family dynamics became increasingly apparent, he added. Rumours of Dalljiet and Nikhils separation first made headlines in February this year i.e. after 10 months of their wedding. It all started after the actress left everyone shocked by deleting all her wedding pictures from her Instagram handle. Not just this, she also dropped Patel from her name. Confirming their separation earlier this month, Dalljiet accused Nikhil of cheating on her. Nikhil has now reacted to the allegation and has called it unnecessary harrassment. Her departure marked the end of our relationship for me, and despite her concerning social media activity over the past five months, I have found closure and solace, moving forward positively. However, Dalljiets recent assumptions and impulsive posts on social media have caused confusion and distress among those around me. She has expressed a desire to return to my life and has crossed boundaries. Her posts have been misinterpreted, resulting in unnecessary harassment of family and friends unrelated to this situation. I hope she stops this behavior, he said. Nikhil suggested that Dilljiet should rather sit with him to sort out the misunderstanding. It is important to set the record straight, not just for myself, but for everyone involved. I sincerely wish Dalljiet all the best and hope we can all move forward positively, he concluded. Dalljiet Kaur married Nikhil Patel on March 10, 2023. This was her second marriage. The actress was previously married to Shalin Bhanot but the two parted ways in 2015 after she accused him of domestic violence. One of Bollywoods cutest couples, Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal have been spotted in London again. The actress has been away from the spotlight for a while now and to top it off, Katrina is also rumoured to be pregnant. While Katrina and Vicky are yet to address these claims head-on, the couple was spotted in London yet again. In a new video shared on Reddit, Katrina and Vicky were seen taking a stroll in the streets of London. Read more: Katrina Kaif Stops Vicky Kaushal After She Spots They Are Being Recorded, Video Goes Viral Fans are speculating that Nandamuri Balakrishna was drunk when he pushed Telugu actress Anjali at a pre-release promotional event of Gangs of Godavari. While the actor-politician is yet to react to the incident, social media users noticed that there was a bottle with what they seem to believe is alcohol filled in it. The videos of the bottle went viral, with many speculating that he was drunk when he was on stage with Anjali. Read more: Was Nandamuri Balakrishna Drinking Alcohol Before He Pushed Anjali? Gangs of Godavari Makers REACT Actor Imran Khan, who was married to his childhood friend Avantika Malik, parted ways with her in 2019 and has been legally divorced for a couple of years. However, the actor has once again found love in his life. In a recent interview, Imran opened up about his relationship with Lekha Washington. The Delhi Belly actor spoke to India Today and recalled reading recent headlines about his relationship status and feeling surprised. Read more: Imran Khan Says He Made His Relationship Official With Lekha at Ira Khans Wedding: I Was Surprised Janhvi Kapoor is currently awaiting the release of her highly anticipated next Mr and Mrs Mahi. The film will also feature Rajkummar Rao in the lead. This marks Janhvi and Rajkummars second collaboration after the horror comedy film, Roohi. Now, an old video from Roohis promotions has resurfaced on Reddit. In the now-viral video, Janhvi and Rajummar were joined by actor Varun Sharma for an interview. While Varun was giving an answer, Janhvi slapped him. Read more: When Janhvi Kapoor Slapped Varun Sharma, Left Rajkummar Rao In Shock: Was Asking For It | Watch Bigg Boss 17 winner Munawar Faruqui has caught everyones attention with his second wedding rumours. The comedian has allegedly gotten married to Mehazabeen Coatwala, a make-up artist. While Munawar is yet to react to the rumours, it has been claimed that Munawar met Mehazabeen two months before their alleged wedding ceremony. A report claimed Munawars close friend, actress Hina Khan introduced them. Read more: Munawar Faruqui Met 2nd Wife Mehazabeen Just Two Months Before Wedding Thanks To Hina Khan: Report Kriti Sanon has been basking under the success of her last released film Crew. The film was loved by the audience. She was today spotted in the city, effortlessly looking stylish in her latest casual ensemble. Kriti turned heads in comfy casuals as she was papped in the city. In the video, Instant Bollywood shared, Kriti is donning a relaxed yet trendy outfit perfect for the summer heat. She opted for denim shorts paired with a breezy, oversized tee. Completing her look, she wore white sliders. Her hair was left open in loose waves and minimal makeup accentuated her natural beauty. Fans are dropping heart emojis. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood) Crew was released in March of this year. It features Kareena Kapoor, Tabu and Kriti Sanon in lead roles. Kapil Sharma and Diljit Dosanjh have also made cameos in this movie. The story of the film revolves around Geeta Sethi (Tabu), Jasmine Kohli (Kareena Kapoor) and Divya Rana (Kriti Sanon). Airlines in which all three work as air hostesses go bankrupt and none of these three are getting a salary. All three were then involved in gold smuggling in the film. The films story is about how their lives take a different turn. Rajesh A Krishnan directs the movie. Along with this, Ekta Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor have produced the movie. She is gearing up for her next released Do Patti with Kajol. The teaser opens with an aerial view of Manali and Kajol is seen as a cop riding a bike. Her voice can be heard in the background throughout the video. She is talking about wrong and right situations in life. Kriti Sanons character is also shown as a glamorous one. She is seen in a grey shade. Looks like it is a murder mystery but still nothing is clear. The film will surely keep you on the edge of your seat. Rajkummar Rao praised South star Fahadh Faasil and revealed his eagerness to collaborate with him, during a chat with IndiaToday.in. For those who may not know, the two actors have been acquainted for some time. Previously, Fahadh Faasil referred to Rajkummar Rao as one of the finest actors in the country. With the release of Mr and Mrs Mahi approaching, Rajkummar shared his thoughts on Fahadhs commendation. Hes somebody who I have immense respect for and he is such a wonderful actor. The kind of films he produces and acts in, theres so much to learn from him. And him saying this, of course, its an honour. He is one of the finest actors of this country. And I wish someday I would get a chance to work with him. Meanwhile, Fahadh Faasil, who will next be seen in Allu Arjun starrer Pushpa 2, has said that he was clinically diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at the age of 41. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the brains ability to regulate attention, behavior, and impulse control. It is common in children but can also affect adults. Speaking after dedicating Peace Valley Childrens Village at nearby Kothamangalam on Sunday, the Aavesham actor said that while roaming around the childrens village, he asked a doctor whether it was easy to cure ADHD. He told me it can be easily cured if it is diagnosed at a young age. I asked whether it can be cured if it is diagnosed at the age of 41. I am clinically ADHD diagnosed, said the Kumbalanghi Nights actor. His statement comes as Aavesham, upon its release on April 11, garnered widespread critical acclaim from reviewers, who lauded its direction, standout performancesparticularly by Fahadh Faasil and Sajin Gopudynamic action sequences, stunning cinematography, captivating musical score, and overall technical prowess. Aavesham has become one of the highest-grossing Indian films of this year. It is written and directed by Jithu Madhavan and features Fahadh in the role of a gangster. Now, the actor is all set to collaborate with director Jeethu Joseph, who helmed the famous Malayalam film franchise, Drishyam and Drishyam 2, featuring Mohanlal. The movie will be written by Santhi Mayadevi, who wrote Thalapathy Vijay-starrer Leo and Drishyam 2. Besides this, Fahadh Faasil will be playing a prominent role in Rajinikanth starrer Vettaiyan. It is written and directed by TJ Gnanavel. The music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander. It will also star Amitabh Bachchan, Rana Duggubati and Manju Warrier in the prominent roles. Film producer Sorav Gupta has levelled certain shocking allegations against actor Sunny Deol. Recently, the producer attended a press conference when he accused the Gadar 2 actor of cheating, extortion and forgery. Gupta claimed that Deol took Rs 4 crore from him in advance for a film in 2016 but never did the movie. What Did Film Producer Sorav Gupta Alleged Against Sunny Deol? We gave him 1cr in advance but instead of starting my film, he opted to shoot for Poster Boys (2017) instead. He kept asking me for more money and by now my 2.55cr is in Sunny jis account. He also made me give money to another director, book Filmistaan studio and get an executive producer, Gupta said as quoted by Hindustan Times. The producer further alleged that Sunny Deol forged an agreement with his company in 2023 and added, When we read the agreement, humne dekha ki unhonein toh panna hi change kar diya beech wala, jahan par fees ka amount 4cr ko badha kar 8cr kar diya aur profit to 2cr kar diya. The press conference was also attended by filmmaker Suneel Darshan, who is known for movies like Janwar (1999) and Andaaz (2003). Darshan also extended his support to Gupta and claimed Sunny Deol did the same with him too. Sunny Deol acquired rights from my movie Ajay (1996) for overseas distribution and only made a partial payment. The balance payment never came through, Darshan said and then added, Later, Sunny requested me to work on a project with him, saying, Have faith in me, help me out, and got me to pay him again. Sunny Deols Upcoming Movie: Border 2 Sunny Deol was last seen in Gadar 2. Released in August 2023, the film also starred Ameesha Patel and was a blockbuster hit. Next, Deol will soon be seen in the sequel of his 1997 movie, Border. Border 2 will not only mark Sunny Deols return in uniform but will also star Ayushmann Khurrana. He will reportedly be playing a prominent role in the Indian Armed Forces. Anurag Singh will direct the film. Earlier this month, Sunny Deol graced Ranveer Allahabadias podcast when he talked about Border 2 and said, Ive also heard that theyre making Border 2. We were meant to start it a lot earlier, in 2015. But then my films flopped, so people were scared to make it then. Now, everyone wants to make it. Deol is likely to begin shooting for the film in October this year. However, there is no official confirmation regarding this as of now. LOS ANGELESDerek Hay, the founder of adult talent agency LA Direct Models, on Tuesday entered guilty pleas to felony counts of perjury and conspiracy to commit pandering as part of a plea agreement in a Los Angeles court for a case against him and two co-defendants originally brought in 2020 by then-California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. A total of 12 felony counts were initially filed against Hay and his co-conspirators, but current California AG Rob Bonta secured a new grand jury indictment in September of 2022 that brought more charges, including counts of pimping, pandering, conspiracy, money laundering and perjury. Hay was arraigned on the grand jury indictment in March 2023. Hay and his co-defendants are due for sentencing on July 17; he could be remanded that day. The judge noted Tuesday that Hay is likely to face two years probation and up to 270 days incarceration in a county jail. Hay's attorney Richard Freeman had not responded to multiple requests for comment as of post time. Hay's legal troubles date back to 2018 when attorney Allan B. Gelbard, who was present at Tuesday's court hearing, filed a complaint against LA Direct Models before the California Labor Commissioner's Office. During the labor hearings throughout 2019, several women, identified as "Jane Does," accused Hay and LA Direct Models of violating the Talent Agencies Act. The "Jane Does" eventually identified themselves as Charlotte Cross, Shay Evans, Sofi Ryan, Andi Rye and Hadley Viscaraall once represented by Hay and his talent agency. AVN reported in 2020 that Labor Commissioner hearing officer Patricia Salazar found for the five models, ruling that Hay violated the law when he withheld commission payments to the performers. Hay was ordered to pay back the commissions, including attorney fees and court costs. Freeman told AVN at the time that he immediately filed an appeal for trial de novo in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Gelbard told AVN that he believes the immediate plea deal for the felony counts would not bode well for Hay and Freeman in any new trial over the Labor Commissioner's rulings. "[M]any more of the legal issues are resolved, we have way more incriminating evidence, and [Hay]'s a convicted perjuror," explained Gelbard. Charlotte Cross released a statement to AVN in reaction to the pleas. "I hope that the outcome of this case will usher in the beginning of a new era, where everyone in the adult industry can become far more scrupulous of agents, managers, and anyone else exerting control over a performers livelihood," Cross said, adding that the plea deal is a "massive relief." AVN has covered Derek Hay's case extensively over the years. Fans are speculating that Nandamuri Balakrishna was drunk when he pushed Telugu actress Anjali at a pre-release promotional event of Gangs of Godavari. While the actor-politician is yet to react to the incident, social media users noticed that there was a bottle with what they seem to believe is alcohol filled in it. The videos of the bottle went viral, with many speculating that he was drunk when he was on stage with Anjali. However, the producers of the film dismissed the rumours. Gangs of Godavari producer Naga Vamsi spoke to the press on Thursday and said that the bottle spotted in the video was inserted using CGI. That bottle was added in the video via CG. In reality, there was no bottle, producer Naga Vamsi claimed. #VishwakSen (Yesterday) It's a Juice not alcohol#NagaVamsi (Today) it's a CG work done by some people, In Real, there are no such bottles at his feet#GangsOfGodavari #Balakrishna pic.twitter.com/pYXy7Pyj04 Daily Culture (@DailyCultureYT) May 30, 2024 For the unversed, Balakrishna was seen pushing away Anjali on stage after she couldnt hear him. While Anjali laughed it off, social media users slammed him. Director Hansal Mehta called Balakrishna a scumbag for pushing Anjali on stage. Taking to X, he condemned the act. Who is this scumbag? Hansal asked, while sharing the video of the incident. A social media user defended Balakrishna. Addressing Hansal, the user said, They both have acted before with each other so theyve that bonding, irrespective of age he had that friend kinda vibe with co stars, hes the biggest star of Telugu film and industry and the son of great SR NTR and is the uncle of JR NTR, so before calling him a scum bag and all the words ur using think once and tweet before keeping a finger into someones life who is a star himself and PPL around know. Hansal reposted the message and wrote, Scumbag x100. Penn Badgley was once almost convinced that Steven Tyler was his father, thanks to his ex Blake Lively. Recently, in a podcast, the 37-year-old actor recalled when his Gossip Girl co-star pulled on the remarkable prank on him which had him believing that Tyler was his father. He also revealed that she got many people involved in it, including his mother, Lynne Badgley. During an episode of his Podcrushed podcast, Penn shared that Blake was actually very serious about the pranks. Speaking of the ultimate prank, he shared, I get an email, just like: Theres this press item were trying to kill but just so you know, somebody thinks, or Steven Tyler thinks, hes your dad. He further explained, And I didnt even think about it for a moment because who would in their right mind would think that thats true? The You Star was contacted by the publicist multiple times, claiming that the Aerosmith frontman himself believed the rumor. Despite not believing that think the concept was true, he still questioned why Tyler would. Then came an interesting turn as Blake encouraged him to call his mother amid the confusion. His mother, who Penn said was not a prankster, also joined Blake and said that he was related to Tyler. He continued, Shes upset, and Im like: Mom, why are you upset? And then she takes a pause, that is like the pause that sold me, and she goes: Why do you think we moved out of Maryland? It needs to be noted that Penns parents Duff and Lynne, divorced when he was 12. Penn, during the conversation, admitted that he briefly fell for the prank saying, I was impressed. I was like: Wow. You really put in a lot of work, and it worked. Notably, Blake and Penn dated each other from 2007 to 2010. As of now, Blake shares four kids with husband Ryan Reynolds whereas Penn is a father of a son and stepson with his wife Domino Kirke. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri is currently busy with his upcoming project The Delhi Files. Earlier in April, the director confirmed that the film would go on floors this year and will be released next year. Known for his dedication to authentic storytelling, Agnihotri is traveling from Kerala to Kolkata to Delhi, to gather comprehensive information for his film. Recently, he also reached Gandhis Ashram in Sevagram for his research. Seemingly impressed, the director shared his experience of the cottage on his social media handle. The Kashmir Files director urged everyone to visit the cottage calling his experience inspiring. On his X (fFormerly Twitter) handle, the director shared, For the research of The Delhi Files, I spent days at Gandhis Ashram in Sevagram. This cottage has been visited by whos who of the world. Some of the best journalists used to station themselves here to interview Gandhi. Every parent must take their children there. Truly inspiring. With his note, Agnihotri also attached a set of pictures featuring him posing against the backdrop of the cottage. The director exuded style in the pictures, dressed in a grey shirt and black pants. One of the frames captured him greeting a woman with folded hands. For the research of #TheDelhiFiles, I spent days at Gandhis Ashram in Sewagram. This cottage has been visited by whos who of the world. Some of the best journalists used to station themselves here to interview Gandhi. Every parent must take their children there. Truly inspiring. pic.twitter.com/tCgaeLyN05 Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) May 30, 2024 If a report by Telly Chakkar is to be believed, Agnihotri has immersed himself in deep conversations with historians and writers to get valuable insights on the events which are expected to be depicted in The Delhi Files. Not only this but the Tashkent Files director has also read over 100 books and over 200 articles related to the historical events, forming the basic plot of his much awaited film. Reports suggest that the director and his team travelled across 20 states, for research work. Previously, in a post announcing The Delhi Files, Agnihorti had mentioned that the film would form the final installment in a trilogy that includes The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files. He had shared, Few years back, I started telling untold stories of independent India.1. The Tashkent Files Right To Truth. 2. The Kashmir Files Right To Justice (releasing soon) Happy to announce the last & the boldest of the trilogy: 3. The Delhi Files Right To Life. Pls bless us. It is clearer than water that the incumbent ruling party, the BJP, is going to win the ongoing Indian general elections for the lower house of Parliament. The only question is by how many seats, votes and margin. Whether it will be able to tap the southern belt of India or gain a few in Kerala or West Bengal, we leave these questions to political pundits. In this article, we shall analyse how India will look after Prime Minister Modi and his cabinet take oath for the third term in a row. Policies over Politics If the BJP is able to surpass its 2019 mandate, it would mean that the party has made inroads in the SC/ST and even the Muslim community with a much better vote share. The BJP has always been dubbed as the Brahmin-Baniya and now, an OBC party, but after June 4, it will give tough competition to regional parties. Not only would the OBC vote bank have favoured the BJP, but the party will also give considerable representation to OBCs in the new Cabinet. If the 2014 elections were about anti-incumbency of the UPA and brand Modi and 2019 were all about the mass feeling of nationalism generated due to Balakot airstrikes, what about 2024? This election is being fought only on the delivery of policies by the NDA government. Policies over politics. If Annamalai wins from Coimbatore along with 3-4 more seats from Tamil Nadu, the DMK and AIADMK need to worry about it. If Rajeev Chandrashekhar defeats Shashi Tharoor in Kerala, the BJP cadre in Kerala will get the much-needed motivation and ground support. If the party wins at least 2-3 seats from Punjab, it will be a signal that it doesnt need Akali Dal anymore. If the BJP crosses 35 seats out of 48 in Maharashtra, it will pose a threat to the existence of Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. If Rahul Gandhi loses from Raebareli, Owaisi loses from Hyderabad and Supriya Sule loses from Baramati, it will send jitters to the Opposition. Jammu and Kashmir will again be a test match for the BJP as we anticipate its maiden elections this year. Article 370, counter-terrorism and tussle with regional parties will be worth witnessing. Thus, the BJP getting 350 seats on its own will be a golden opportunity for the party to improve its organisational strength in south India, West Bengal and Maharashtra. Unity in majority? Throughout the election campaign, PM Modi and the BJP tried to de-emphasise caste as a factor in the elections, aligning with the partys and the RSSs broader goals. The Opposition, on the other hand, advocated for a caste census, arguing that it would reveal and address existing inequalities. The BJP countered that such a census would further fragment society into sub-groups, potentially increasing social divisions. Therefore, the NDA winning the 2024 elections with a huge majority indicates a step towards Hindu unity, with caste divides slowly and steadily being resolved. The majority will further empower the NDA government to take up crucial issues challenging the Indian society like conversions happening in Punjab and Kerala. Unity in majority. Modinomics Amidst global headwinds and despite geopolitical tensions stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war and the Red Sea crisis, the Indian economy continues to experience rapid growth. It is not just Indias moment but Indias decade. Our GDP growth rate is averaged at 7.5 per cent by major global financial institutions. Racing to become the worlds third-largest economy, we are already at the fifth position. From stable forex reserves and slow but gradual de-dollarisation, there is a hope that our currencys value will increase. Additionally, a few countries have agreed to trade with us in our very own rupee. India continues to be a favoured destination for FDI. We recently hit the magical milestone of $5 trillion market capitalisation. From doubling farmers income to promoting investments in India, many promises were made, and some are yet to be testified after June 4. We have seen a rise in startups, MSMEs, local companies and the development of industrial and IT/logistics parks across the country. The youth has been a large beneficiary of government schemes including Digital India. The National Creators Award acknowledges the bustling creator and influencer economy. The RBI has been successful in delivering a huge dividend to the government, and the economic policies will continue to be shaped as they are now. Not only Indians but we also have seen foreign diplomats using UPI and promoting it thereafter. Modinomics over traditional economics. Cultural Renaissance Ayodhya toh abhi jhaaki hain, Kashi Mathura baaki hai, a slogan which is age-old but saw its relevance in the 2024 elections. From the construction of the Shri Ram Mandir to Ujjains Mahakal Corridor and the increased emphasis on Sanskrit in the Indian education system, the Modi government has actively pursued a Hindu renaissance. This renaissance rests on three pillars: Sanatana (eternal tradition), Virasat (heritage), and Hindutva (Hindu identity). After June 4, those in Bharat can anticipate the potential abolition of the Waqf Act, which would pave the way for reclaiming Hindu temples destroyed by the Mughals. Furthermore, professional courses are likely to be offered in regional languages, following the model already implemented in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. We are yet to see the play of the Uniform Civil Code at the Centres hands, but a trailer has been given by the Uttarakhand government. If there is more to say, we shall not wish to kill curiosity. If there is less, we shall like to pretend we said it all. Ritwik Mehta is a political strategist and Founder, Niti Tantra; Aditya Trivedi is a corporate lawyer and Founder, Arth Vidhi. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal plays ruthless dirty politics" and is grossly insulting the courts" with his statements, union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in an interview with CNN-News18 on Thursday. Kejriwal has been telling voters that he would not need to return to jail if the opposition alliance wins the Lok Sabha elections on June 4. The court has asked him to surrender by June 2. He is politicising the whole legal processif he thinks this is going to benefit him, he is being very short-sighted. What he is saying is a complete insult to the judiciary," Sitharaman said. She said courts had given him bail till June 2 on the grounds of giving a level-playing field to campaign. By repeatedly saying and appealing to people that if you press AAP symbol, I will not need to go to jail is he trying to say that the courts are doing politics or courts are going by basis of votes which are coming?" Sitharaman told CNN-News18. She asked if Kejriwal was not trying to influence people by saying it is not about the judiciary but is political. This is a gross insult to courts and they should take cognisance of it," the minister said, She added that Kejriwal was underestimating the people of the country like Indira Gandhi did when the Allahabad High Court went against her. Sitharaman also took objection to Kejriwal saying the Prevention of Money Laundering Act strengthened under the Narendra Modi government had made regular bail difficult for him. For a CM who came into power in the name of eradicating corruption, he is now doing petty bargaining with the people or courts saying look forget all this, I want my freedom and political liberty but I am not willing to answer serious questions being asked of me," the minister told CNN-News18 in the interview. She said it was Kejriwal who had first asked for the strictest of laws to punish corrupt people. He said he had a sackful of evidence against Shiela Dikshit, a much-respected CM of Delhi. Where is that evidence? He said sab ke sab ko jail bhijvaunga; is the law any stricter now than it was then which you had?" Sitharaman asked. She said that while Kejriwal wanted to send all to jail, he is there himself now. Even courts today are not able to give him bail. He is building a false narrative. Either he does not believe in the intelligence of the people or he believes in manipulating them. In either case, it is absolutely condemnable. The people make their choices, dont underestimate them. It just shows how ruthless dirty politics he plays," Sitharaman told CNN-News18. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website The state government has suspended the managing director and an official of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd over allegations of an illegal money transfer. The alleged unauthorised transfer of Rs 88.62 crore came to light after an accounts officer of the corporation died by suicide on May 26, leaving behind a note naming his seniors and top management officials of a public sector bank. Six officials of the Union Bank of India, including its MD and CEO, have also been booked in connection with the officers death. The state government suspended the ST development corporations managing director, JJ Padmanabh, and accounts officer Parashuram G Durugannavar. In his death note, 48-year-old accounts superintendent Chandrashekharan named Padmanabh, Parashuram and Union Bank of India chief manager Suchismita Rawal, while also saying the minister in charge had issued oral orders for transferring the funds. The two corporation officials were suspended as they allegedly overlooked the creation of a new bank account that facilitated unauthorised transfer of funds. According to their suspension orders, they were suspended pending inquiry on charges of dereliction of duty, negligence and violation of financial rules. Union Bank of Indias MD and CEO Manimekhalai, four executive directors and the chief manager of the MG Road branch were booked for allegedly being aware of the fraudulent money transfer. The Valmiki corporations account with the Union Bank of India was recently transferred from the Vasanth Nagar branch to the MG Road branch. The bank officials were booked at the High Grounds police station in Bengaluru, based on a complaint by the corporations general manager. According to the FIR, the corporations general manager has alleged that the bank officials were aware of the illegal money transfer by their own employees and other third parties, and still failed to act. He further alleged that the bank failed to take precautionary measures despite the presence of such a large sum in their bank; hence, he said, the top management must be held liable for this lapse. What is the case so far? The suspension order of the officials stated that Padmanabh, despite knowing about the illegal money transfer, submitted a report to the government only on May 27, a day after Chandrashekharan died by suicide. The state government said the bank account in the MG Road branch was opened without authorisation, and funds to the tune of Rs 187 crore were illegally moved to it. Between March 5 and 23, Rs 88.62 crore was withdrawn from this account by anonymous persons, said the suspension order of both officials. It added that the officials did not act on it and were, hence, being held responsible. The order further stated that the money was moved to 14 anonymous accounts using forged cheques and RTGS letters, and an unknown number was entered instead of the registered mobile number for this purpose. The government said it was also ensured that the intimation of the transaction did not reach the corporations registered email address. A report published by news agency PTI said it was found that through 14 virtual accounts, money went to accounts in the name of well-known IT companies and a Hyderabad-based cooperative bank. These accounts were frozen and Rs 5 crore was returned to the corporation, and efforts are on to ensure the return of the remaining amount, the report quoted the government. Parashuram, meanwhile, was found to have failed in his duty in managing the bank accounts and financial transactions of the corporation, and in bringing it to the notice of higher officials, the suspension order said. What is the Karnataka government saying? Following Padmanabhs suspension, the government has given additional charge to ST welfare departments joint director KR Rajkumar as the managing director of the corporation, said official sources. But, the officers death by suicide has put the government in a spot with the opposition BJP demanding the resignation of ST welfare minister B Nagendra. State home minister G Parameshwara, however, said a CID probe is on and the truth will be known from the probe. State primary education minister Madhu Bangarappa said he visited Chandrashekharans family on the instructions of chief minister Siddaramaiah. I visited Chandrasekharans residence, and the chief minister instructed me to visit. The government has said it will give any kind of help needed, and give justice to the family. I will cooperate as required; such an incident should not happen, the investigation is on. Let it be completed, and those who are in the wrong will be punished, he said on Thursday. Chandrashekaran, a 48-year-old accounts superintendent working at the Bengaluru office of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd, was found dead at his residence in Shivamogga late on May 26. The police said he left behind a note in which he mentioned the misuse of large sums of corporation funds and the names of senior officers allegedly responsible for his death. The officer, in his suicide note, accused senior officers of forcing him to open a parallel bank account to divert money from the corporations primary account, they said. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday slammed the Samajwadi Party over power shortages during its term in Uttar Pradesh, and said the supply was uninterrupted during Ramzan but not on Janmashtami. Addressing poll rallies in the state, Shah said this Lok Sabha election presents before people a choice between those who constructed the Ram temple and those who opened fire at Ram bhakts. The home minister addressed four rallies first at Maharajganj, then Deoria, Ballia and Robertsganj canvassing for BJP and NDA candidates who are in the fray in the last and the seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls on June 1. Speaking at his rally in Ballia where the BJP denied a ticket to sitting MP Virendra Singh Mast in favour of former prime minister Chandra Shekhars son Neeraj Shekhar Shah launched a broadside against Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, alleging that mafia used to harass people during its rule. When the BJP came to power, Yogi Adityanath was made chief minister and he fixed the mafias, Shah said. Uttar Pradesh also faced electricity woes during the SP government, he said. There was a power supply only for three hours. There was an uninterrupted supply during Ramzan but not on Janmashtami. (Ramzan me toh puri aati thi, magar Janmashtami ke din nhin aati thi. After the BJP came to power, our Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ensured 18-hour power supply, Shah said. At his poll meeting in Deoria in support of BJP candidate Shashank Mani Tripathi, Shah accused the opposition of stalling the construction of the Ram Mandir for over 70 years and said the temple could be built only because of Prime Minister Modi. This election is between those who constructed the Ram temple and those who opened fire on Ram bhakts, he said, referring to the firing at kar sevaks in 1990 when the late Mulayam Singh Yadav was CM. At his Maharajganj rally also, Shah took a jibe at INDIA bloc allies SP and Congress, saying they have already decided to blame EVMs for their defeat in the polls. The counting is on June 4. In the afternoon the two shehzade (Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav) will hold a press conference and say we lost the election because EVM was defective, he said. Modi has crossed 310 seats in five rounds of polls. Rahul baba you will not get even 40 seats and the other shehzade (Akhilesh Yadav) will get four seats, he said at the rally in support of party candidate Pankaj Chaudhary. The opposition does not have a PM candidate and they say they will have five PMs in five years, Shah said. This is not a general store but a nation of 130 crore people. Can such a PM work? Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is and will remain a part of India. And we will take it back, he asserted. Referring to the Sahara scam, Shah claimed it occurred when the parties currently in opposition were in power. Akhilesh Yadav, the scam took place in your government! Modi ji started the refund process (to the customers impacted by the Sahara scam, he said. Sahara group firms were accused of circumventing regulations with Ponzi schemes. The group has denied the charges. The senior BJP leader promised that a new mega sugar mill will be constructed in Maharajganj if the BJP comes to power again. At the rally in Deoria, Shah claimed there were rampant terrorist attacks during the Congress government. When Narendra Modi came to power, we conducted surgical strike and air strike and hit Pakistan in their home and ended terrorism. I want to give a Modi guarantee, no one can lay hands on the reservation of SC/ST and OBC till even a single MP of BJP is in Parliament. These people have reduced the reservation of backward classes for appeasement politics, he said. He praised Aditayanth for his focus on cleanliness and decisive action against mafias. Yogi ji has cleared mosquitoes with his cleanliness drive and the mafia in his own style. At his Robertsganj rally, Shah alleged that in 1989, the SP government ordered firing on tribals who were protesting against a cement factory there. Make Modi the prime minister and all the tribals will get Van Adhikar Patta (rights for the use of forests). People associated with the SP have snatched the rights of tribals by illegal mining. Modi has reserved some of the minerals extracted from here for tribals by creating a District Mineral Fund. The BJP has also completed the Kanhar project and provided water to the fields of tribals, he said. This entire area is at the border of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. It was affected by Naxalism. The Modi government has ended Naxalism. Six-seven years ago, it was tough to get drinking water in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra in three years, the BJP will complete the work of providing tap water to the houses. Later, the home minister held a roadshow in Ghazipur favouring BJP candidate Parasnath Rai. The 2.5-km roadshow started with Shah garlanding the life-size statue of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay in Misra Bazaar of Ghazipur. It passed through Misharbazar, Lal Darwaza, Dakinganj, Panchrasta, and Prakash Talkies Chowk before culminating at Qazi Tola, covering the distance in 1 hour and 15 minutes. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Prajwal Revanna, the Hassan MP who had been absconding since he left the country on April 27, finally landed at Kempegowda International Airport (T2) in Bengaluru at 12.52 am on Friday amid a thick security cover, including officers from a special investigation team (SIT). He was arrested as soon as he landed via a Lufthansa flight (LH0764), which flew in from Munich. Read More| Stay Updated With Latest News On Prajwal Revanna The suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader was accosted by a team of CISF, SIT, and Karnataka police officials from the flight to a vehicle by about 1.07 am. Wearing an ash-grey hooded jacket and track pants, the rather composed-looking Prajwal was swiftly moved into the police vehicle waiting by the airport that took him to the CID headquarters in the city and the SIT office within. He would later be taken to Bowring Hospital for a medical examination and then be produced before a magistrate for legal procedures to be completed. There was increased security deployment across the Bengaluru international terminal where the flight landed and across the city along the route he was taken by the police. Prajwal was taken to the SIT office from the airport with zero traffic clearance in just 20 minutes and then authorities began the formalities of his official arrest. Armed with documents and statements by several women who allege they have been sexually abused, assaulted, and intimidated by the lawmaker, the SIT is expected to interrogate Prajwal on what is being termed as one of the biggest scandals to have rocked Karnataka politics. Pen drives allegedly containing over 3,000 video clips of victims being sexually exploited, which allegedly the MP shot on his phone, were circulated, causing this scandal to break out. The victims included domestic staff in the Revanna household, party workers, and government officials, according to police sources. The SIT was set up by the Karnataka government to probe the allegations, while an arrest warrant and an Interpol blue corner notice were issued against Prajwal after three women complained to the investigators of sexual abuse by the suspended JD(S) leader. Prajwal, the grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and the son of former Karnataka minister HD Revanna, fled the country a day after the Lok Sabha seat he is seeking re-election from, Hassan, went to polls on April 26. Prajwal had moved for anticipatory bail, but this was rejected by a special court in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Another bail application is likely to be heard along with the one filed by Prajwals mother Bhavani. She too had moved the courts for anticipatory bail in a kidnapping case. The allegations of sexual harassment against Prajwal and his father HD Revanna took a grave turn with two FIRs being filed, accusing them of rape and kidnapping. HD Revanna, who had not appeared before the SIT despite several summonses, was arrested from his father Deve Gowdas home in Bengalurus Padmanabhanagar on May 4 and later released on conditional bail. The JD(S), which is in alliance with the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka, has left its partner embarrassed. The BJP has remained tight-lipped about the matter, only stating that a probe should be conducted to find out the truth. Just days before Hassan went to polls, it is alleged that several pen drives loaded with videos of an obscene nature were distributed across the constituency, featuring the MP and several women whom he allegedly exploited. On April 28, a day after Prajwal left India on his diplomatic passport, a first information report (FIR) was filed in Holenarsipura by a former house help of the Revanna household who accused the MP of molestation. The same day, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah announced the formation of the SIT to probe the case and the allegations. On May 1, Siddaramaiah wrote his first letter to the Centre seeking the cancellation of Prajwals passport so that he could be brought back to India for investigation. The same day, another victim and JD(S) worker accused Prajwal of raping her by threatening her with dire consequences if she spoke about the episode. On May 2, a son of one of the victims filed a case of kidnapping and criminal intimidation against Prajwals father, HD Revanna, alleging that his mother was kidnapped by the family and kept captive in their farmhouse. This victims video begging Prajwal to spare her went viral on social media and was also taken as part of the SITs investigation into the arrests. The woman escaped from captivity and later told the police that she was told she was being held there as the authorities were looking for her in a case of bogus voting. After her escape, she filed a case of rape with the SIT. On May 30, the SIT arrested two persons from Hassan, identified as Naveen Gowda and Chetan, for allegedly distributing pen drives containing obscene videos. Prajwal, who had initially on May 1 claimed through his lawyer that he would appear before the SIT within seven days, failed to do so. Exactly a month later, he released a video apologising to his family and the JD(S) workers. In the video, Prajwal claimed that after the scandal broke, which he called a political conspiracy to defame him, he went into depression and isolation. This self-shot video was released from an unknown location after a stern warning was issued by Deve Gowda to Prajwal Revanna, stating that he should return to India, cooperate with the SIT, and let the truth come out or face his anger and isolation from the family. This is not an appeal I am making. It is a warning that I am issuing. If he does not heed this warning, he will have to face my anger and the anger of all his family members, said the former PM in his letter addressed to Prajwal Revanna. Wherever you are, come back and face the inquiry. I request him not to avoid it. If you have not done anything wrong, why are you afraid? You will have to fight it out, said JD(S) leader and Prajwals uncle HD Kumaraswamy, who has been in battle mode to protect the image of the party. Kumaraswamy also spoke of how his father and Prajwals grandfather, Deve Gowda, had dedicated his entire political career to the young MPs political growth, and the onus was on the latter, as a mark of respect to his grandfather and the JD(S) workers, to return to India. Prajwal, in his video, stated that he would appear before the SIT on May 31 and lay out the truth in front of the investigators. He stated that his trip abroad was a planned one, and when he left, there was no instance of an SIT or case against him. Some powers got together and hatched a political conspiracy against me. Because I am growing in politics and they want to bring me downfor that, all of them came together. When I saw all this, I was further disturbed and I only stayed away and went into depression and isolation. I dont want anyone to feel I have wronged them, said Prajwal in a two-minute video clip that has been widely shared on social media. Siddaramaiah had written two letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking the Centres intervention to cancel the diplomatic passport used by Prajwal to leave the country and help the SIT bring the accused MP to India for questioning. A massive protest was held on May 30 in Hassan called Hassan Chalo, which included academics, activists, intellectuals, and others, who took to the streets seeking justice for the victims of abuse in the Prajwal Revanna case as well as against the family of Deve Gowda, whom the demonstrators accused of caste discrimination, sexual assault, misuse of power, and other crimes in the district for several decades. The family is considered by some as the kings of Hassan and they have been for generations and decades misusing their political power, money, and influence. They believe that they can do anything, say anything, and get away with it. We have gathered here in Maharaja Park to say that this is not some park of the kings, but a place where people are demanding justice, said former MP Subhashini Ali, who is also a leading womens rights activist. Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website Wireless routers are common across houses, so when a major security issue hits these devices, the concerns are alarming. The Indian government has also taken heed to the issues and released a high severity rated warning for people who are using wireless routers from a brand called TPLink. The biggest problem with the security threat is that a big chunk of TP-Link routers are affected that have been running on the firmware version 1_1.1.6., as per the details available on the security issue with TP-Link routers. TP-Link Router Security Risk: What We Know The security risk affecting TP-Link routers is capable of allowing the attackers to bypass the existing security levels which gives them the ability to do anything with these devices. By successfully exploiting this flaw, remote unauthenticated attackers can gain arbitrary command execution on the device with elevated privileges, as highlighted by ONEKEY, a Germany-based cybersecurity firm. As for the bulletin from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), the vulnerability exists in TP-Link routers due to improper neutralization of special elements used in a binary called rftest. This binary exposes a network service that is vulnerable to unauthenticated command injection. The actual security risk was observed in the TP-Link Archer C5400X gaming router that was also running on the firmware version 1_1.1.6. The good news is that a new firmware is already available and you can fix the issue in the TP-Link routers by updating to the latest version. TP-Link Router Security Issue: How To Update The Firmware And What Else You Should Know Before you get to the part of updating the firmware version of the router to v1_1.1.7, the company has a strict set of guidelines that the customer needs to understand, because any misuse could void their product warranty. Only install the new firmware update from the official and local TP-Link website for your region, in this case it will be India. The second step is to verify the hardware version of the router to know the firmware version running on it. Once again, installing the wrong version could damage the router. You can head over to the TP-Link official website to see how the version number can be found. Keep the router turned on while the firmware upgrade is taking place because if the device loses power, it can face some issues. TP-Link advises you to install the upgrade by connecting the router to a wired LAN connection. You should stop using the computer and even disconnect the internet from the device while the upgrade is going on. The firmware upgrade file for v1_1.1.7 Build 20240510 is available on the support page of TP-Link with a download file size of 34.78MB which can be extracted using software like WinRAR or WinZIP. Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI continues to raise doubts about his position and authority in the company. Recently, we heard about one of the main scientist leaving OpenAI, claiming the company is now focused on the shiny products. And now, another former executive at OpenAI has publicly shared her experience of working with Altman and most of the views dont paint a rosy picture about the OpenAI chief. Helen Toner, one of the former board members at OpenAI has mentioned that the company only learned of the existence of ChatGPT when they saw it on Twitter. Toner was talking candidly in an interview on The Ted AI Show podcast that aired earlier this week. Toner provided her first detailed account of the backstory behind the dramatic firing and rehiring last November of OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, painting a picture of a manipulative executive who fostered a "toxic atmosphere". The former board member said that one of the biggest reason for Altmans ouster was linked to the situation where two OpenAI executives reported instances of "psychological abuse" to the board. "They were really serious, to the point where they actually sent us screenshots and documentation of some of the instances they were telling us about" she was quoted saying. OpenAI wad quoted about this development by Reuters stating, We are disappointed that Miss Toner continues to revisit these issuesThe review concluded that the prior board's decision was not based on concerns regarding product safety or security, the pace of development, OpenAI's finances, or its statements to investors, customers, or business partners. The admission from Toner shows Altman in a different light, especially when you think about the time when over 70 people from OpenAI were willing to leave with him and join the Microsoft AI Research team which never happened. So, what resulted in Altmans quick fire-and-return saga and what made the company take this call. On the podcast, Toner attributed Altman's swift return to employees being told that the company would collapse without him. Additionally, once a potential return seemed likely, employees feared retaliation from Altman if they did not support him, she said. These statements come just a week after Jan Leike, AI researcher at OpenAI quit earlier this month, and talked about the problems at the company and where they focus lies these days. He has talked about being skeptical of OpenAIs approach towards the technology and how they plan to go about building these futuristic use cases without giving heed to the security and concerns posed by AI to humans. He also talked about the disagreement with OpenAI over their roadmap which seems to have fast tracked his decision to leave the company. I joined because I thought OpenAI would be the best place in the world to do this research. However, I have been disagreeing with OpenAI leadership about the companys core priorities for quite some time, until we finally reached a breaking point, he mentioned in the post. (With Reuters inputs) CREDIT: SNY Despite having MLBs top payroll this season at over $307 million, the New York Mets currently have a dreadful 22-33 record, third-worst in the National League. The Mets struggles were on full display against the Los Angeles Dodgers this week, as the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep at Citi Field. Wednesday seemed to represent a boiling point for the team, as postgame media availability was postponed while the Mets held a meeting in their clubhouse. Our normal protocol is to speak with Carlos Mendoza and then enter the clubhouse immediately. Not today. Weve been waiting outside for about ten minutes now, as the Mets appear to be holding a team meeting after another disheartening loss. Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) May 30, 2024 Our normal protocol is to speak with Carlos Mendoza and then enter the clubhouse immediately. Not today. Weve been waiting outside for about ten minutes now, as the Mets appear to be holding a team meeting after another disheartening loss, SNYs Steve Gelbs shared on X shortly after the 10-3 loss. Shortly after, the clubhouse opened to the media and outfielder Brandon Nimmo took the time to discuss some of the teams issues. Brandon Nimmo told the media that the Mets had a team meeting after todays loss, initiated by Francisco Lindor. pic.twitter.com/A8bcY2Wd7j Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 30, 2024 Its no secret that things arent going the way we want around here. We opened the floor and talked about ways we could turn it around, ways that we can still have a good process moving forward, and ways that we can stay positive through this tough time. Its no secret we arent playing the way that we know that were capable of, were not winning games, its a tough time that were going through, Nimmo said. The Mets will have to figure it out in a hurry. Theyre already a whopping 16 games out of first place in the NL East, and trail an NL Wild Card spot by six games. [Steve Gelbs] UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak led a Q&A session on Instagram stories while on the campaign trail ahead of the forthcoming UK Elections 2024. On May 29, the Prime Minister started conducting a campaign visit in Cornwall in an attempt to increase support for the struggling Conservative Party in the general election. Sunak even posted a photo of Connor Donnithorne, the Conservative MP candidate for Camborne, Redruth, and Hayle, in the story. The UK PM posted a photo of scones alongside cream and jam, asking, Guess where I am? In the following story, a user predicted that Sunak is in London. To which, he replied with a no. Another image displays two distinct scones with cream dishes that are placed on a table. Someone replied, Devon, here. Closer, was the UK PMs response. In the last story, a user gave the correct response, Cornwall, to which Rishi Sunak replied, Yes!. Meanwhile, Sunak was spotted sporting a $952.63 (almost Rs 80,000) backpack while campaigning in one of the countrys poorest districts. The UK PM was reportedly seen with an opulent Tumi luggage monogrammed with his initials, RS, as he boarded a train headed for Cornwall, according to WION. His campaign for the Conservative Party in the South West of England included a trip to Penzance on the sleeper service, according to the Manchester Evening News. According to the BBC, he spoke at a train terminal in Penzance about intentions to shut university courses in England that he has branded as rip-off degrees and stated that he was committed to balancing funding for Cornwall. He announced that the government would pay for up to 100,000 more apprenticeships annually in place of college courses, the report added. Sunak, according to Cornwall Live, was trying to sell his recent pledges of National Service, the triple lock plus on pensions and the launch of apprenticeships. In an attempt to influence voters, Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, the head of the Labour Party, will be touring the nation in the lead-up to the July 4 election. Numerous policy announcements are made along the way, such as the Tory proposal to reinstate National Service for all 18-year-olds. Meanwhile, Starmer appears to have already set foot in Downing Street, if surveys conducted by UK media outlets are to be believed. The Pune Porsche crash case, that resulted in the death of two IT professionals, reportedly at the hands of a 17-year-old boy, is a matter of much discussion in the country. The case got limelight after it was revealed that the teen, who was driving under the influence of alcohol, was given immediate bail on lenient conditions, such as working with Pune traffic police for 15 days and writing a 300-word essay on road safety. Now a content creator, who goes by the name Gajodhar Singh Cool, seemingly poked fun at the Juvenile Justice Boards leniency. In an Instagram video, the content creator is seen speeding his car through an underpass as he tells the camera that he has the hack for driving the way he wants. He shows a 300-word essay that he has kept ready. With a comic evil laugh, he says, Brother, now I can drive the way I want. I know the hack. I have kept a 300-word essay. The text over the video said, Real life cheat code. This clip has gathered over 8.5 lakh likes since it was shared on May 26. In the comments, many people praised the content creator for his satirical take. Some people also jokingly pointed out loopholes in his post. An Instagram user wrote, Par bhai wo ammero pe loogoo hota hai (But brother it is only applicable on rich people.) Another person wrote, Lekin father builder hona chaiye (But your father needs to be a builder). Pune Porsche Crash The Pune crash took place on May 19, when the 17-year-old, who had been drinking with his friends in two pubs to celebrate his Class 12 results, knocked down the two 24-year-old IT professionals in the Kalyani Nagar area. He was driving a 2.5-crore Porsche at over 150 kmph. At 17 years and 8 months old, the teenager was four months short of the legal age for driving and more than seven years shy of Maharashtras legal age for drinking. He has been sent to a remand home till June 5 while his father is in police custody. Udaipur is known as the city of lakes. It is also called the historic capital of the kingdom of Mewar in the former Rajputana Agency. The city is covered in natural beauty; its full of lakes and hills. Udaipur is one of the most popular tourist attractions in India. The Udaipur City Palace is one of the oldest and most famous places to visit in the city. It is also a museum that holds many antiques. The grand palaces in the city of Udaipur are a massive attraction. Many palaces in the city have been turned into luxury hotels over time. These are some of the best marriage destinations for celebs and prominent personalities. Many people rent rooms near the palaces to celebrate special occasions. Staying at a hotel near the City Palace costs more than one can imagine. Some of the luxurious rooms in these hotels cost up to Rs 7 lakh per night. The City Palace of Udaipur is the most historical and grand palace. It is also considered to be the second-largest palace in India. Among the most expensive hotels, Six Senses Fort Barwara charged Rs 1,20,000 last December. One source said in a media report, We also have multiple queries for our Maharaja suite priced at Rs 7 lakh a night. There is an influx of inbound tourism, which has been pretty stagnant and inconsistent so far. Domestic travellers book late and the influx of international tourists has led to rates going up substantially. Those who hadnt planned in advance are willing to pay a premium. Many people rent rooms near the palaces to celebrate special occasions. Apart from the most expensive hotels to stay in Udaipur, there are little less expensive hotels as well. One of the most famous hotels is the Taj Fateh Prakash Palace. It costs nearly Rs 17,000 to stay at this hotel for a day. The hotel is only 160 metres away from the City Palace. Another famous hotel is the Taj Lake Palace. It costs Rs 27,000 to stay one day at the Taj Lake Palace. ZANA Lake Resort in Udaipur charges around Rs 55,000 for two two-night stay and Leela Palace Jaipur charges Rs 31,683 for each night during December last years December. The palaces are known for their royal facilities and the experience they provide. The hotels near the City Palace bear the tradition of Udaipur. The rooms are highly decorated with special amenities. The view of the whole of Udaipur city from the hotels near the palace is revered. Most importantly, the food available in these hotels has a huge variety. In the hotels, you can get authentic Rajasthani food along with other special food items from many different countries. The City Palace of Udaipur is special in Indian history. The huge palace was laid out by Maharana Uday Singh. The royal family resides in the palace even today. In the past, 22 kings helped build the city palace. It has a grand museum too. One portion of the building is a museum that holds many historic artefacts. The entry fee for the museum is Rs 400 for each person. Old items from the Maharanas can be seen in the museum. One might have seen incidents where traffic officers caught people red-handed for violating traffic regulations or being underage. But these perpetrators make sure to not come under the legal scanner. But, things roll a bit differently for this man in Michigan who landed himself in trouble knowingly, by driving without a license. Not only that but to add to his misery, he decided to attend his digital court trial while driving. As per an NBC report, the man on trial, Corey Harris, failed to show up in court for his hearing on May 15. Instead, he dialled into the Zoom call while driving. The trial was being broadcast on YouTube and presided over by Judge Cedric Simpson. The judge was left dumbfounded by Harriss disregard for laws. The video was later picked up by many online users and shared on social media. NEW: Man with a suspended license joins court Zoom call while driving in his car.This is the funniest video Ive seen in a long time. Judge Cedric Simpson can be seen dumbfounded after defendant Corey Harris dialed into the meeting from his car. Simpson: Mr. Harris, are pic.twitter.com/ydOKIMD7Ie Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 29, 2024 In the clip, the judge is heard asking Corey whether he had joined the hearing while he was behind the wheel. Mr Harris, are you driving? the judge. The defendant replied, Actually, Im pulling into my doctors office. The judge was appalled at the audacity of the perpetrator and checked his records. He then stated, OK, so maybe I dont understand something. This is a driving while your license suspended? The advocate suggestively representing Corey answered that it was true that the defendants license was suspended. The judge started smiling at the situation and exclaimed, And he was just driving? And he doesnt have a license? He also looked around at the courtroom in utter disbelief and stated that it was shocking why the defendant would do that. The judge subsequently revoked Corey Harris release and ordered him to turn himself in at the local county jail. Corey, who was silent, was shocked at what transpired within minutes. Did he drive himself to jail too?You cant make this up Joshua Walker (@RedsRepair95) May 29, 2024 Funniest court video of the year. Unbelievable. Will surely be on Worlds Dumbest Criminals. Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) May 29, 2024 Its amazing how some people can navigate through life with this level of thinking. Calisthenic Kyle (@CalisthenicKyle) May 29, 2024 This is hilarious. He told the judge to hold on while he finished driving on a suspended license. RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) May 29, 2024 Netizens had hilarious reactions to this viral video. One user jokingly asked, Did he drive himself to jail too? You cant make this up. While another stated, Funniest court video of the year. Unbelievable. Will surely be on Worlds Dumbest Criminals. A user pointed out, This is hilarious. He told the judge to hold on while he finished driving on a suspended license. While a surprised individual stated, Its amazing how some people can navigate through life with this level of thinking. (Warning: Prepare for Spoilers) Released on May 28, Panchayat 3 has once again struck a chord with audiences, offering a delightful blend of humour, heartfelt moments, and insightful commentary on rural life. The third season of this much-loved series picks up where it left off, with Abhishek Tripathi (played by Jitendra Kumar) continuing his journey as the secretary of Phuleras Panchayat. As the new season unfolds, fans have taken to social media to express their excitement and amusement. Memes inspired by the shows quirky moments and beloved characters are flooding the internet, adding a layer of communal enjoyment to the viewing experience. Whether its Vikas and Prahlads humorous banter, Pradhan Jis unique problem-solving methods, or Abhisheks ongoing struggle to adapt to village life, viewers are keeping up with the series by sharing and enjoying these creative memes. Take a Look: Only Jeetu Bhaiya Can Guide And Motivate Sachiv Ji To crack CAT pic.twitter.com/fDEc0ujfJ5 Cine Vichaar (@Cine_vichaar) May 29, 2024 People who finished Panchayat season 3 in a single night waiting for next season pic.twitter.com/Cwa7P6L1t7 Sober (@Soberhere_) May 29, 2024 Sachiv ji doing CAT preparation amid Panchayat politics pic.twitter.com/r9qDWxr7jq tushR (@heyytusharr) May 29, 2024 POV: Youre watching Panchayat Season 3 pic.twitter.com/C2QONEjjjO Shivani (@shivani_yaar) May 28, 2024 Returning to the review, the charm of Panchayat lies in its simplicity and the genuine depiction of village dynamics. Season 3 does not disappoint, maintaining the perfect balance between comedy and drama. The show continues to explore the socio-political issues faced by rural communities with sensitivity and humour. Abhisheks character development is particularly noteworthy as he grows more attached to the villagers and their way of life. Also Read: Panchayat Effect: Delhi Police Warn Against Drunk Driving, Take Inspiration from Sachiv Ji The supporting cast, including Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, and Chandan Roy, deliver stellar performances that bring the village of Phulera to life. Director Deepak Kumar Mishra and writer Chandan Kumar deserve accolades for their nuanced storytelling and for maintaining the shows authenticity. On top of it, the cinematography beautifully captures the rustic landscape, and the music complements the narrative, enhancing the overall viewing experience. The dialogues are sharp and witty, often reflecting the unique blend of tradition and modernity that defines rural India. In conclusion, Panchayat 3 is a delightful continuation of a series that has successfully carved a niche for itself with its heartfelt storytelling and relatable characters. The addition of social media buzz, with fans sharing memes and engaging in discussions, adds to the shows charm, making it not just a series to watch but a cultural phenomenon to be a part of. North Korea has dropped at least 260 balloons carrying trash in South Korea. According to a report published in the BBC, this has prompted the authorities to warn its natives to stay indoors. Not only the authorities, South Koreas military also cautioned the public against touching the white balloons and the plastic bags attached to them. It is because they comprise filthy waste and trash. These balloons have been located in eight of nine provinces in South Korea and are now being examined. This incident comes days after North Korea said it would retaliate against the frequent scattering of leaflets and other rubbish in border areas by activists in the South. North Koreas vice-minister of defence Kim Kang Il also issued a statement regarding this situation to state media on May 26. According to the vice-minister of defence ,mounds of wastepaper and filth will soon be scattered over the border areas and the interior of the ROK. The politician said that the South Korean residents will directly experience how much effort is required to remove them. In an earlier statement, the South Koreas military had said that they were investigating whether there were any North Korean propaganda leaflets in the balloons. Republic of Korea or ROK is the official name of South Korea. The North is called DPRK or the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. On May 28, residents living north of the Souths capital Seoul and in the border region received text messages from their provincial authorities asking them to refrain from outdoor activities. The residents were also asked to file a report at the nearest military base or police station if they spot an unidentified object. Pictures shared on social media show bags attached via string to white translucent balloons. These balloons comprise toilet paper, dark soil, and batteries, among other contents. This is not the first time North Korea has indulged in such a tactic in its fight against the South. Both countries have used balloons in their propaganda campaigns since the Korean War in the 1950s. The Korean war commenced on June 25, 1950, after five years of prevailing tensions in the Korean peninsula. In this war, the Northern Korean Peoples Army invaded South Korea in a coordinated general attack at several strategic points. There is so much information hidden in the history books which often forces us to be shocked. We are unaware of the surprising things around us. A similar thing happened to a person in the US. This person was reading Byron Preiss and Sean Kellys 1982 book The Secret: A Treasure Hunt. In the book, he finds out that there is a treasure hidden on Staten Island. According to the New York Post, David Hager (58), a resident of Colorado, with his wife Michelle and two sons, started digging in a small park in the early morning at 6 am. He said that the book mentioned that treasure is hidden at this place. This place has been excavated before, but nothing was found because those people did not understand the clues properly. Hager is a geologist and science teacher who now owns a college-planning service. He said that there are two things in the book that no one has been able to understand to date. We paid full attention to this. We feel that the treasure should be at this place in the park. There were two things [in the book] that nobody could figure out. We have this so dialled in. It has to be here, he told the New York Post. It is said that in the early 1980s, Preiss buried keys and casques in 12 cities in North America. Detailed clues have been given in this book about those places. Based on his book, many places were excavated and only three of the places in Chicago, Cleveland and Boston have ever been found. Preiss died in a car accident on Long Island in 2005. Hager and his family travelled from Denver to spend the holiday weekend digging. They brought shovels, battery-operated power drills and underground cameras with them. If Hager discovers a casque and key, he can exchange the key with the Preiss estate for a particular gemstone, which he believes to be a topaz and is valued at approximately $2000, i.e., about Rs 1.66 lakh. They are doing this work secretly and do not want to tell anyone about the digging place because they were not licensed for the excavation. Hager said that before coming here, they practised behind their house. Tested different tools and techniques so that there was no difficulty while digging. So far, this family has dug to a depth of 30 feet, but the treasure has not been found yet. India on Thursday said that it was one of the first countries to recognise Palestine and has long supported the two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestine conflict. India also said that the deaths of civilians in the airstrike in Rafah was heartbreaking and highlighted that it has taken note of the fact that Israel has launched a probe into the deaths of civilians. India was one of the first countries to recognise the state of Palestine in the late 1980s, and we have long supported two state solution which entails the establishment of a sovereign, viable and independent state of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace, the external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. The heartbreaking loss of civilian lives in the displacement camp in Rafah is a matter of deep concern. We have consistently called for protection of the civilian population and respect for international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict, the spokesperson said. We also note that the Israeli side has already accepted responsibility for it as a tragic accident and announced an investigation into the incident, Jaiswal further added. The external affairs ministrys note on India-Palestine relations says that New Delhis support for the Palestinian cause has long been a key aspect of its foreign policy. In 1974, India became the first non-Arab state to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. In 1988, India was among the first countries to recognize the Palestinian state. India opened its Representative Office in Gaza in 1996, which was later moved to Ramallah in 2003, the note by the ministry reads. There have been regular high-level bilateral visits between India and Palestine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a historic first-ever visit to Palestine on February 10, 2018. Former President Pranab Mukherjee also made a historic first-ever visit to Palestine in October 2015. In addition to strong political support, the note mentions that India has provided significant economic assistance to the Palestinian people. This includes funding the construction of the Jawaharlal Nehru Library at Al Azhar University in Gaza and the Mahatma Gandhi Library-cum-student activity centre at Palestine Technical College. India has actively supported the Palestinian cause in various international forums. During the 53rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), India co-sponsored and voted for the draft resolution on the right of Palestinians to self-determination, the note says. In 2015, India financed the construction of two schools: Jawaharlal Nehru Secondary School for Boys in Abu Dees and Jawaharlal Nehru Secondary School for Girls in Ashira Al-Shamaliya. India also established the India-Palestine Centre of Excellence in ICT at Al-Quds University in Abu Dees, a Digital Learning and Innovation Centre at Al Quds University in Ramallah, and supplied vocational training equipment to centres in Yatta and Hebron. An international law enforcement team has arrested a Chinese national and disrupted a major botnet that officials said he ran for nearly a decade, amassing at least $99 million in profits by reselling access to criminals who used it for identity theft, child exploitation, and financial fraud, including pandemic relief scams. 911 S5 Botnet Dismantled and Its Administrator Arrested in Coordinated International OperationBotnet Infected Over 19M IP Addresses to Enable Billions of Dollars in Pandemic and Unemployment Fraud, and Access to Child Exploitation Materials : https://t.co/sEdzhDoHfl pic.twitter.com/R5UBMsOX6n U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) May 29, 2024 The US Department of Justice quoted FBI Director Christopher Wray as saying Wednesday that the 911 S5 botnet a network of malware-infected computers in nearly 200 countries was likely the worlds largest. Justice said in a news release that Yunhe Wang, 35, was arrested May 24. Wang was arrested in Singapore, and search warrants were executed there and in Thailand, the FBIs deputy assistant director for cyber operations, Brett Leatherman, said in a LinkedIn post. Authorities also seized $29 million in cryptocurrency, Leatherman said. Cybercriminals used Wangs network of zombie residential computers to steal billions of dollars from financial institutions, credit card issuers and accountholders, and federal lending programs since 2014, according to an indictment filed in Texas eastern district. The administrator, Wang, sold access to the 19 million Windows computers he hijacked more than 613,000 in the United States to criminals who used that access to commit a staggering array of crimes that victimized children, threatened peoples safety and defrauded financial institutions and federal lending programs, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in announcing the takedown. He said criminals who purchased access to the zombie network from Wang were responsible for more than $5.9 billion in estimated losses due to fraud against relief programs. Officials estimated 560,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims originated from compromised IP addresses. Wang allegedly managed the botnet through 150 dedicated servers, half of them leased from US-based online service providers. The indictment says Wang used his illicit gains to purchase 21 properties in the United States, China, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and St. Kitts and Nevis, where it said he obtained citizenship through investment. In its news release, the Justice Department thanked police and other authorities in Singapore and Thailand for their assistance. A New York taxi driver, in an antisemitic attack, attempted to run over a rabbi and Orthodox students with his car outside a Jewish school in Brooklyn on Wednesday. Eyewitnesses reported that he began the attack shouting threats, including, Im gonna kill all the Jews. Asghar Ali, a 58-year-old Pakistani immigrant, was arrested in Canarsie, Brooklyn, for attempting to ram Jewish students outside a yeshiva. Ali, driving a white sedan. The attack was thwarted as the targets managed to scatter in time.He was screaming, "I am going to kill all pic.twitter.com/Ns3C60nFw0 Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) May 30, 2024 He was later identified as Asghar Ali, a 58-year-old Pakistani immigrant, who drives a taxi for a living in New York City. Ali has been residing in the US for over two decades, and was described by law enforcement sources as emotionally disturbed, according to the New York Post. In 1998, he faced arrest for impersonation when he presented false identification after being stopped. He also lacks a valid TLC (Taxi and Limousine Commission) licence, even though he works as a cab driver. He was arrested four times previously. Wednesdays incident is being probed by the New York Police Departments Hate Crimes Task Force. He faces charges of attempted murder, attempted assault along with hate crime charges. Officials told the New York Post that they believe that the attack was not terror-related. They have not found evidence that indicated he was tied to any online radical group. The incident happened near Mesivta Nachlas Yakov School when Ali started driving at Jewish students dressed in Orthodox garb. He targeted the rabbi and two students. He drove round the block and then again charged towards the school hurling antisemitic abuses. The victims managed to seek refuge inside the building just in time to avoid being struck. Among them were three 18-year-olds, a 41-year-old man, and a 44-year-old man. They emerged unharmed. Rabbi Twersky, employed at the Yeshiva, recounted the chaotic scene that unfolded when the assailant attempted to target one of the boys standing at the corner of Glenwood Road and East 55 Street. After that the driver launched an attack on another group of 30 to 40 students after driving onto the wrong side of East 56 Street. I came in, and the boys were like Did you see the cameras? Did you see the cameras? Im more scared for them. Im much more scared than they are their adrenaline is up, Rabbi Twersky told the newspaper. The members of the Shomrim Safety Patrol found the man and called the cops. We were able to retrieve the video footage. We got the guys plate number. Obviously it was a very distinct car, a Crown Vic, an old model. You dont see too many of those around. We were told by the people at the school that he hangs around, he drives around the neighbourhood. And one of our members, when he was doing his daily patrol canvassing around the neighbourhood, saw the car, Bob Moskowitz, executive coordinator of the patrol was quoted as saying by the newspaper. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called Indian Army Major Radhika Sen a true leader and role model while presenting her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole, Guterres said of her work as a Peacekeeper in the Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). #WATCH | Major Radhika Sen of the Indian Army has been awarded the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for the year 2023. This accolade recognises her outstanding contributions to promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in United pic.twitter.com/9L7ipKYf9e ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024 An Indian Army medic, Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who died while serving in the same mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last year, was awarded the Dag Hammarskjold medal during the ceremony. Despite direct attacks by armed groups, harsh operating environments, and the emergence of new weapons of war including digital technology and artificial intelligence our Peacekeepers persevere, Guterres said. Speaking on the occasion, Major Sen said she was deeply honoured and humbled to receive the award on behalf of my esteemed colleagues in MONUSCO and my home country, India. This award is special to me, as it recognises the hard work put in by all the Peacekeepers working in MONUSCOs challenging environment, she said. Major Sen also said that she hoped one day a man would get the award she received because gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everyones business, not just womens. In a video of her work shown earlier at the ceremony, Sen said, It is very rewarding for me to see women and young girls come up and say that they feel very happy and empowered when they see a woman soldier leading a team comprising both male and female soldiers. Recalling Sens work as a Peacekeeper in the DRC, Guterres said that as commander of the Indian contingents engagement platoon, Sen led her unit on countless patrols in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu. Under her leadership marked by humility, compassion, and dedication, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including women and girls as she earned their trust, Guterres said. Because of the safe and welcoming platform she developed for women to share their ideas and concerns, Monusco could better respond to their needs, he said. She was also the battalions officer charged with preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, Guterres noted. Besides her military duties, she also undertook educational and vocational efforts for women in the DRC, he added. Sen said, We had the opportunity to engage with the communities on topics ranging from womens health and education to childcare, gender equality, womens employment, and combating sexual violence in conflict, along with interactions on various skill development programmes to foster self-reliance. Women and girls are disproportionately affected in conflicts, facing increased risk of abuse, she said, adding, The need of the hour is to mainstream women in nation-building, particularly in sectors of security and governance. Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, received Singhs Dag Hammarskjold Medal on behalf of the country and his family. Singh, who belonged to the Army Medical Corps, worked as a nursing assistant with MONUSCO. Sen was assigned to MONUSCO in 2023 as the Engagement Platoon Commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion, and completed her tenure in April 2024. Sen is the second Indian Peacekeeper to receive the honour after Major Suman Gawani, who served with the UN Mission in South Sudan and received the award in 2019. Of the 6,063 Indian personnel in UN peacekeeping operations, 1,954 serve with MONUSCO, including 32 women. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called upon US students, who are protesting in their universities against Israels sustained offensive on the Hamas militant group, to become familiar with the Quran. In a letter penned to them, expressing empathy and solidarity for their defence of Palestinians, he spoke of the students as a branch of the Resistance Front that will attain victory with the permission of God. Dear university students in the US, my advice to you is to become familiar with the Quran. Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) May 30, 2024 The Qurans lesson for us Muslims and all of humanity, is to stand up for that which is right: So be steadfast as you have been commanded (11:112). The Qurans lesson for human relations is: Do not oppress and do not be oppressed (2:279). The Resistance Front advances by a comprehensive understanding and the practice of these and hundreds of other such commands and will attain victory with the permission of God. My advice to you is to become familiar with the Quran, he said in his letter titled As the page of history is turning, you are standing on the right side of it. The Iranian cleric and politician signalled a different fate for the important region of West Asia, saying history is turning a page. He underlined that circumstances are changing. I would like to assure you that today the circumstances are changing. A different fate awaits the important region of West Asia. The peoples conscience has awakened on a global scale, and the truth is coming to light. Moreover, the Resistance Front has grown in strength and will become even stronger. And history is turning a page, he said. This comes immediately after this weekends Israeli attack that claimed more than 40 lives in Rafah, prompting the All Eyes on Rafah campaign on social media. Khamenei said he is writing this letter in the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, calling upon the students, whose awakened conscience has moved them to defend the oppressed women and children of Gaza. Calling the anti-Israel protests by students, academics and the general public as uprisings, he said: Besides you students from dozens of American universities, there have also been uprisings in other countries among academics and the general public. After a lull, the protests renewed after this weekends attack on a Rafah encampment. Israel has continued its offensive in the region despite the large civilian population, which has taken refuge in camps. The strike on one such camp, which led to deaths of many children and women, has only added to the rising international criticism of Israel in its war with Hamas with even its closest allies expressing outrage. The Israeli attack on a camp in Rafah came right after an order of the International Court of Justice to immediately halt military operations in the region. Anti-Israel protests escalated in April after mass arrests at the Columbia University campus occupation. More than 2,950 protesters have been arrested, including faculty members and professors, prompting many critics to call such action police brutality. These protests have also spread to universities in Europe, Australia and Canada. Since a series of these occupation protests began in Columbia University on April 17, many students have either been expelled or suspended. Several of these protests, however, have been criticised as antisemitic and a result of the migrant influence, especially with terms such as intifada (understood to mean civil uprising in the Palestinian context) being used to describe them. Jewish students have described them as creating an atmosphere of fear and hate on campuses. They have also said they were targeted for wearing Jewish symbols and accused of being Zionists. In fact, Khameneis letter to the US students uses the term Zionist regime to describe Israel, while he has also referred to police brutality against protesters. He said the students have formed a branch of the Resistance Front in the face of their governments (the US government) support to the usurper and brutal Zionist regime. Dear university students in the United States of America, this message is an expression of our empathy and solidarity with you. As the page of history is turning, you are standing on the right side of it. You have now formed a branch of the Resistance Front and have begun an honorable struggle in the face of your governments ruthless pressure a government which openly supports the usurper and brutal Zionist regime, he said, adding that the goal of the struggle is to put an end to the the brutal Zionist terrorist network. He said the support and solidarity of professors is a significant development, and said he too is among those who empathise with young people. The support and solidarity of your professors is a significant and consequential development. This can offer some measure of comfort in the face of your governments police brutality and the pressures it is exerting on you. I too am among those who empathize with you young people, and value your perseverance, he added. Khamenei further accused Israels Zionist regime subjecting Palestinians to the harshest of pressures and tortures after seizing their country. Calling this an apartheid against Palestine, he said the country has a long history and is made up of Muslims, Christians and Jews. He described Israels capitalist Zionist network as being helped by England in pushing out natives and seizing their cities and villages, while the US later helped it in the production of nuclear weapons. He also accused a global Zionist elite of owning most US and European media corporations, and asked if it is an act of terrorism for Palestinians to defend their own land. Can one call a people a terrorist nation for defending themselves on their own land against the crimes of the occupying Zionists? And is helping such a nation and strengthening it, an act of terrorism? he said. Iranian border guards opened fire at a vehicle carrying a group of Pakistanis, killing four people and wounding two others in a remote area in the southwest, Pakistani officials said Thursday. The incident happened near the border village of Mashkel in Balochistan province on Wednesday, local police said. Government administrator Sahibzada Asfand said it was unclear why the Iranian forces opened fire. Local police say the bodies of the four men had been handed over to their families. There was no immediate comment from Tehran or Pakistans Foreign Ministry. Security forces on both sides often arrest smugglers and insurgents who operate in the region. Pakistan in tit-for-tat strikes in January targeted alleged militant hideouts inside Iran, killing at least nine people in retaliation for a similar attack by Iran. A lawsuit filed by three Black American passengers claimed that a flight attendant aboard an American Airlines flight rounded up every single black passenger on the flight and ordered them to get off the aircraft, complaining of an offensive body odour inside the aircraft. There were eight Black males in the aircraft who did not know each other had boarded Flight 832 at Phoenix Airport in Arizona for a flight to New Yorks John F. Kennedy Airport. They were all seated in different parts of the plane but all were picked out and ordered to exit the flight after a white male flight attendant made the complaint earlier this year in January. I knew that as soon as I got on that plane, a sea of white faces were going to be looking at me and blaming me for their late flight by an hour, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, who was among the passengers singled out, was quoted as saying by the New York Post. The flight crew looked for an alternative flight for an hour and then asked the men to get back to their seats. The lawsuit claims that other passengers were told the men were removed because of their smell while they were off the aircraft. Jean Joseph and fellow passengers Alvin Jackson and Xavier Veal were also rounded up. Veal recorded the entire event on his phone. He noticed that only black passengers were being removed. A Black American Airlines attendant at the desk seemed to agree that their removal was racially motivated, saying, I do not disagree with you. The eight men discussed their removal, and three of them filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York. American Airlines has not yet explained why the men were removed from the flight but said they take all claims of discrimination very seriously. We want our customers to have a positive experience when they fly with us, the airline added. Our teams are currently investigating the matter, as these claims do not reflect our core values or our purpose of caring for people. The mens lawyers are eager to hear the airlines explanation. Its almost impossible to find another explanation for this besides their skin colour. Especially since they didnt know each other and werent sitting near each other, attorney Sue Huhta told the Daily Mail. Were walking through the aisle of shame, if you will. It was horrible. It was a really traumatic experience. Unfortunately, Im a black man and I live in America, Veal told the news outlet. A 29-year-old woman from the US state of New Jersey, saved her own life after being hit by a train in early May. Lisa Fitzgerald was struck by a New Jersey Transit (NJT) train at the Morristown train station in northern New Jersey on May 5. Lisas stepmother Stacie Weil-Fitzgerald said on the day of the accident it was raining heavily and her stepdaughter was waiting for a train to take her to New York City. Freak accidentsomehow, she wound up under the train. Her leg was immediately severed off of her, Weil-Fitzgerald explained while speaking to Fox News Digital. Lisa was struck when the train was still entering the station and it was the last few cars of the train that hit her. She corralled herself up onto the platform and she waited on the tracks. She crawled herself over, poor thing, Weil-Fitzgerald said. Lisa told her loved ones that she was afraid that she was going to get caught up in the rails and it would suck her back in. So she waited for the train to stop. She levied herself up onto the platform and she started screaming for help, she further added. Her stepmother said some passengers and people at the railway station walked by her and ignored her screams. A New Jersey Public Transportation Corporation worker spotted her and called for help after which police came. Her leg was completely severed. She was bleeding outshe started screaming for help. And somebody that works for New Jersey Transit, the ticket collector, came over, and he totally freaked out, the stepmother said. She urgently demanded help, giving a ten-second countdown and starting to scream and count aloud. Fortunately, two Morristown Police Department officers heard her. Lisa tried to tourniquet her leg with her t-shirt until the officers arrived to assist. Officials from the Morristown Fire Department (MFD) also arrived to aid the officers and retrieve the severed limb. Lisas leg was found beneath the train and handed over to medical personnel. Lisa was quickly transported to a hospital for treatment, but unfortunately, her leg could not be reattached. The Morristown Department of Public Safety (MDPS) confirmed the incident in a social media post. Upon making contact with the female, [an officer] noticed her left leg right above the knee was severed from her body and she was bleeding profusely. He immediately applied a tourniquet and tightened it until the bleeding was observed to have stopped, the MDPS statement read. Morristown Fire Department (MFD) officials also arrived to assist officers and recover the missing limb. Lisas leg was located under the train and given to medical personnel. The actions of Officers Hollain, Cerrick and Moran undoubtedly saved this womans life. They exhibited unwavering composure which facilitated quick effective decision-making and provided comfort and support to the victim, the statement further added. The tragic incident happened two weeks before Lisas 30th birthday party. Children exposed to peanuts very early on are much less likely to develop peanut allergy later in life, researchers say. A study published in the journal NJEM Evidence confirmed earlier research, but it tracked participants for longer than other studies, the Washington Post reports. It found that children who consumed peanut products in infancy and early childhood were 71% less likely to have developed the allergy by age 12, and researchers believe the protection could be lifelong. "It is extremely unusual to see new onset of peanut allergy in adolescent years," study co-author Gideon Lack at King's College London tells the BBC. "This simple intervention will make a remarkable difference to future generations and see peanut allergies plummet." "Peanut allergy develops very early in most children between six and 12 months of life," Lack tells CNN. "If you want to prevent a disease this needs to be done before the disease develops." Ticketmaster's bad month appears to be getting worse. A well-known hacking group claims to have stolen information on 560 million customers, Quartz reports. In a post on a hacking forum, the group, ShinyHunters, offered to sell the 1.3 terabytes of data for a "one-time price" of $500,000. It provided a sample that included partial credit card numbers as well as names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers, along with details of their Ticketmaster orders, reports Cyber Daily. The Australian outlet notes that an identical post was made on a Russian forum. Australian authorities said they are "working with Ticketmaster to understand the incident," the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports. A US embassy spokesperson told AFP that the FBI has offered its assistance. It's not clear whether the alleged hack has a specific link to Australia, but "due to the time frame in which the hackers shared their breach, it appears Australian outlets were the first to cover the news," Mashable reports. Alabama carried out its second execution of the year on Thursday, months after the nation's first execution via nitrogen gas . Jamie Ray Mills, 50, was pronounced dead at 6:26pm after receiving a three-drug injection at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in southwest Alabama, authorities said, the AP reports. Lethal injection "remains the state's main execution method unless an inmate has requested nitrogen ," per the AP . Mills was convicted in the 2004 murders of an elderly couple who were beaten and robbed in their Guin home "There is no doubt that Mills committed those offenses," Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall wrote in a motion earlier this year to set Mills' execution date. The state Supreme Court gave its approval, per the Montgomery Advertiser . The Alabama Department of Corrections did not say ahead of time which drugs it planned to use, USA Today reports. Mills maintained he didn't kill Floyd and Vera Hill and was only convicted because his ex-wife lied on the witness stand. JoAnn Mills said she saw her common-law husband kill the couple with a hammer, tire tool, and machete after a night spent smoking methamphetamine, per USA Today and the AP. The Millses had been found with the alleged murder weapons and other evidenceincluding a blood-soaked pair of pants bearing Jamie Mills' namein their vehicle a day after the killings. JoAnn Mills pleaded guilty to a charge of murder and received a life sentence with the possibility of parole. Jamie Mills, who argued he'd been framed by a local drug dealer, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. In recent filings, his lawyers argue prosecutors obtained his conviction illegally by concealing a plea deal with their star witness, a claim the state denies. Defense lawyers also claimed Mills possibly would be subjected to an "unnecessarily prolonged and tortuous execution," per USA Today. However, the 11th Circuit Court of Criminal Appeals denied motions to delay the execution this week. Marshall said Mills was only looking to "further delay the execution," noting he's put forth no new evidence that could clear his name. He also dismissed concerns of unnecessary cruelty. Hours before the execution, the US Supreme Court declined without comment to block it. (More execution stories.) A Hollywood actor accused of brutally stabbing his ex-girlfriend in Los Angeles has been arrested at a border checkpoint in Texas. Nick Pasqual, whose credits include a 2011 episode of How I Met Your Mother, is to be extradited to California to face charges including attempted murder and residential burglary, per CBS News . He allegedly attacked his ex with a knife inside her home around 4:30am on May 23, shortly after she'd filed a restraining order against him. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said 34-year-old Pasqual stabbed the victim "multiple times" before fleeing the scene. The New York Post reports the victim was stabbed more than 20 times. Media outlets name the victim as 35-year-old Allie Shehorn, an award-winning makeup artist and special effects producer. She and Pasqual met on the set of Rebel Moon, a Zach Snyder film released last year on Netflix, per the Los Angeles Times. Shehorn, whose credits also include this year's Mean Girls reboot, was initially "fighting for her life" in a hospital's intensive care unit following the stabbing, according to a GoFundMe page, which said she'd undergone surgeries to close a neck wound and repair severed tendons in her right arm. She has since been released from the ICU, per People. "Our office ... extends our support and resources to her as she embarks on the long and difficult journey of healing," said DA George Gascon. He said the "heinous" attack was "a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence." In filing the restraining order, Shehorn accused Pasqual of attacking her at least four times, per the Post. She claimed he raped, choked, and beat her with a belt. The DA's office said Pasqual fled Los Angeles and was detained Wednesday at a US-Mexico border checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted as charged. (More attempted murder stories.) Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday declined an invitation to meet with Democratic senators to talk about Supreme Court ethics and the controversy over flags that flew outside homes owned by Justice Samuel Alito. Roberts' response came in a letter to the senators a day after Alito separately wrote them and House members to reject their demands that he recuse from Supreme Court cases involving former President Trump and the Jan. 6 rioters because of the flags, which are like those carried by rioters during the 2021 attack on the Capitol. Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., a member of the Judiciary panel, wrote Roberts a week ago to ask for the meeting and also that Roberts take steps to ensure that Alito recuses himself from any related cases. "I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting," Roberts wrote, noting that justices decide for themselves when to step aside from cases, per the AP. "Moreover, the format proposeda meeting with leaders only of one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the courtsimply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable," he wrote. In his own letter to lawmakers, Alito said he concluded that nothing about the flags, both of which he said were flown by his wife outside their homes in Virginia and New Jersey, required his recusal. (More US Supreme Court stories.) But social media sleuths detected an issue. A small Palestinian flag pin, which Pearce had been wearing on his lapel throughout Cannes, was missing from the photograph, though a different photo, featuring the pin, was posted to the magazine's Instagram the same day the article published. A white, red, black and green bracelet - the colours of the Palestinian flag - was still visible on his wrist. The sleuthing went viral on sites like X and TikTok, prompting the magazine to replace the un-edited photo and issue a correction to the article. An apology was also posted to social media on Sunday. "We have published by mistake a modified version of this photo on the site," the magazine wrote in French on X in response to a viral post criticising the edited photo. "The original version was posted on Instagram the same day. We have rectified our mistake and we apologise." It's unclear why a modified version of the picture existed in the first place. Conde Nast, Vanity Fair's parent company, did not respond to CNN's requests for comment. Following the Vanity Fair France controversy, Pearce reiterated his support for the Palestinian cause in a post on X, writing "Palestinians are being murdered as we speak. Displaced, traumatised, ruined. The lives and futures of Palestinian children are being eradicated by a vengeful tyrant." Pearce did not respond to CNN's requests for comment. Flybuys has announced it's closing down after nearly three decades. Loyalty New Zealand launched the longstanding loyalty programme in 1996. Fast-forward to 2022, Flybuys had 2.9 million members across 80 percent of New Zealand households. Loyalty NZ, the company that administers Flybuys, said the scheme rapidly took off in the 1990s. "Back when Flybuys was born, coalition loyalty schemes were brand new, and flying anywhere for free was pretty much unheard of. The four founding partners of parent organisation Loyalty NZ Z (then Shell), BNZ, State and Foodstuffs - started out with an attractive travel/rewards offering, launching Flybuys when they could ensure that the average family could earn enough points in a year for return flights from Auckland to Wellington," its website says. "Flybuys proved to be an immediate hit with Kiwis. So much so that just two weeks after launch, 250,000 households had applied to sign up. In fact, the initial target to sign up 300,000 members in the first year was smashed in the first 89 days, and within five months one in three NZ households had signed up." In a statement on Thursday, Lizzy Ryley, CEO of Loyalty NZ, said it has been "a privilege to be part of so many New Zealanders' lives". "We're incredibly proud of what Flybuys has achieved over the past 28 years. It's been a privilege to help them save money and enjoy rewards from their favourite brands. "The landscape for loyalty programmes has changed, and continues to change rapidly, with businesses now having greater access to technology and capabilities that enable them to create their own highly tailored proprietary loyalty programmes. The Flybuys model of a services and retailer alliance has run its course, so will close at the end of this year." Members collect Flybuys when they shop with partner organisations, and can redeem points to spend on rewards - including savings on things like groceries at New World or fuel discounts from Z and Caltex. Some current partners include BNZ, Noel Leeming, helloworld Travel, State, Petcover, and LiquorLand. What it means for members Flybuys members can continue to earn Flybuys until 11:59pm on October 31 and will have until 11:59pm on December 31, 2024 - when the programme officially closes - to redeem their points. "We wanted to give our members as much notice as possible, so they have plenty of time to redeem their points, including over the busy Christmas period," Ryley added. "Flybuys would like to thank the millions of New Zealanders who have embraced the programme. We are hugely grateful for the support we have received from Kiwis over the past 28 years." Loyalty NZ will also transition to closure. IAG New Zealand announced on Thursday it has agreed to acquire some of Loyalty NZ's assets and will be making offers of employment to approximately one-third of its staff. For more information about the closure of Flybuys and how to redeem points, members can visit flybuys.co.nz or contact 0800 FLYBUYS (0800 359 2897). Anyone with a social media account has most likely come across the phrase "All Eyes on Rafah", but what's the story behind the slogan? It has been circulating on social media in recent months, but has significantly gained momentum globally over the past few weeks. The phrase was searched on Google in New Zealand more than 10,000 times yesterday. On social media, an AI template image with the phrase "All Eyes on Rafah" surrounded by tents in a desert setting has been shared almost 32 million times, and the hashtag #alleyesonrafah has featured on videos viewed millions of times on TikTok. Activists and humanitarian groups are using the phrase to draw the world's attention to the plight of Palestinian people in Gaza. Israel has continued its offensive in the city of Rafah, now reportedly reaching the heart of the city, despite the large civilian population and international outcry. Where is Rafah? Rafah is situated in the far-south of the Gaza strip. It borders Egypt and had been a place many Palestinians had fled to at the start of the conflict, to escape Israeli bombardment. As many as 1.4 million people were thought to be in the city earlier this year. However, since Israel began its operation in and around Rafah three weeks ago, the UN has estimated more than a million people have now left the city, to once again try and escape the fighting. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com MP Maryam AlSayegh is stepping up to tackle some of Bahrains most pressing economic issues low wages and high unemployment with a bold new legislative proposal. Aimed squarely at the private sector, this initiative seeks to hit several key targets. Foremost among these is the establishment of a minimum wage threshold for Bahraini workers. Under this proposal, any Bahraini employee earning less than BD600 per month shall not be included in the mandatory Bahrainisation quotas imposed upon private enterprises. This provision ensures that Bahraini citizens are afforded a standard of living commensurate with the escalating cost of living. Secondly, the proposal aims to increase the overall percentage of Bahrainis employed in the private sector. By incentivising the hiring of Bahrainis at higher salaries, companies will be encouraged to take on local talent, addressing the current reliance on a large number of foreign workers. Thirdly, the proposal includes measures to prevent the misuse of wage subsidies provided by the Tamkeen Labour Fund. Some companies have been accused of exploiting the system by laying off Bahraini workers after the subsidies expire. Subsidies The new law would require companies benefiting from Tamkeen support to repay the subsidies if they terminate Bahraini employees without just cause, thus protecting Bahraini workers from exploitation. Fourthly, the proposal includes legal protections to prevent Bahraini workers from being unfairly targeted and laid off. This will ensure greater job security and stability for Bahraini citizens in the private sector. Fifthly, the proposal aims to reduce unemployment by creating a more balanced labour market. Instead of companies seeking work permits for foreign workers, they will be encouraged to hire qualified Bahrainis at competitive salaries, leading to a decrease in unemployment among Bahraini citizens. Finally, to ensure compliance with the proposed Bahrainisation quotas, the proposal includes provisions for withdrawing licences from institutions that fail to meet the required percentages. This will create a stronger incentive for companies to actively recruit and retain Bahraini talent. Employment landscape Already adopted with success in some GCC countries, this proposed law could dramatically reshape the employment landscape in Bahrain. MP AlSayeghs initiative is attracting considerable attention and is currently under review by the relevant authorities. Its potential to tackle these critical economic issues head-on makes it a development worth following closely. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com H.E. Dr. Ebtisam AlDalal, Head of the Services Committee of the Shura Council, announced that Bahrain has significantly advanced womens rights through a strong legislative framework. This progress has positioned Bahraini women as exemplary in various fields as part of the comprehensive reform project led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Dr. AlDalals remarks were made during the Arab Parliaments Dialogue on Regional Reviews of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action after Thirty Years, organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), UN Women, and the League of Arab States in Amman, Jordan. The Shura Council delegation, led by Dr. Jihad AlFadhel, the Second Vice President, included Dr. Ebtisam AlDalal and Dr. Fatima Al Kooheji, who participated in the dialogue sessions. Dr. AlDalal highlighted that the Bahraini government continually reviews its legislation to align with the evolving work environment and global changes. Active role Collaboration among parliamentarians is essential to proposing best practices, ensuring laws and proposals remain relevant, and enabling women to play an active role in sustainable economic growth. National legislation supporting gender balance and womens empowerment reflects the leaderships interest, with support from Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the President of the Supreme Council for Women. This is evident in the rise of womens participation in the private sector, which reached over 50% in 2022. The Bahraini Constitution and the National Charter affirm equality among all citizens without discrimination in rights and duties. Amendments to the Bahraini Labour Law in the private sector have reinforced womens rights in the workplace, granting them the same entitlements as men. Working mothers The legislation also addresses the needs of working mothers, providing 60 days of paid maternity leave, two hours of childcare per day until the child reaches six months, and two half-hour care periods until the childs first birthday. Additionally, the law prohibits the dismissal or termination of a female worker due to marriage or maternity leave. Dr. Jihad AlFadhel, the Second Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, confirmed that Bahrains legislative, executive, and judicial authorities are collaborating to implement initiatives for gender equality and womens empowerment, in line with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad Al Khalifa In the news release, IKEA Canada proudly partners with Rainbow Railroad to help at-risk LGBTQI+ get to new homes safely, issued 30-May-2024 by IKEA Canada Limited Partnership over CNW, we are advised by the company that the abbreviation "LGBTQ+" in paragraph two should read "LGBTQI+," and the abbreviation "2SLBTQ+" in paragraph three should read "2SLGBTQ+" The complete, corrected release follows: IKEA Canada proudly partners with Rainbow Railroad to help at-risk LGBTQI+ get to new homes safely From June 1st to July 31st, 100% of sales generated by new Rainbow cake at IKEA will help Rainbow Railroad support approximately 500 individuals resettle in Canada. BURLINGTON, ON, May 30, 2024 /CNW/ - IKEA Canada is proud to announce a donation of up to $200,000 to help create a better everyday life for at-risk LGBTQI+ individuals who seek support from Rainbow Railroad through emergency relocation, crisis response, and other forms of assistance. The partnership with Rainbow Railroad will also provide IKEA Canada customers and co-workers with opportunities to learn more about the organization and the injustices that LGBTQI+ individuals face around the world. IKEA Canada proudly partners with Rainbow Railroad to help at-risk LGBTQI+ get to new homes safely. From June 1st to July 31st, 100% of sales generated by new Rainbow cake at IKEA will help Rainbow Railroad support approximately 500 individuals resettle in Canada. (CNW Group/IKEA Canada Limited Partnership) IKEA Canada proudly partners with Rainbow Railroad to help at-risk LGBTQI+ get to new homes safely. From June 1st to July 31st, 100% of sales generated by new Rainbow cake at IKEA will help Rainbow Railroad support approximately 500 individuals resettle in Canada. (CNW Group/IKEA Canada Limited Partnership) Since 2018, IKEA has been recognizing May 17th as International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) by raising the Pride Progress flag at store locations across Canada and marking the start of Pride celebrations at IKEA Canada. (CNW Group/IKEA Canada Limited Partnership) "While Pride month is a time to celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ rights and diversity, it is also a reminder of the progress still to be made as many continue to experience social exclusion simply based on who they are," says Selwyn Crittendon IKEA Canada CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer. "This initiative gives our communities a chance to make a positive impact by donating through the purchase of the Rainbow cake at IKEA, listening to the stories of those being affected, and getting involved in other ways like volunteering with Rainbow Railroad." Currently, there are approximately 70 countries that have laws criminalizing same-sex relationships and in many others, LGBTQI+ people face physical attacks and abuse in their communities, at their workplace, and even in their own homes. Sometimes their only option is to flee. "Rainbow Railroad's mission to help individuals who are forced to flee their homes really resonates with IKEA and the work that we do to support refugees and newcomers to Canada," says John Williams, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Leader, IKEA Canada. "There is great potential for us to make a positive difference in local communities with Rainbow Railroad." IKEA has been a long-standing advocate for ensuring that everyone has a right to be treated fairly and provided with equal opportunities regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. "Rainbow Railroad is excited to partner with IKEA this Pride season and we are extremely grateful to be the charitable beneficiary of proceeds from the Rainbow cake," Scott Ferguson, Rainbow Railroad's Director of Corporate Partnerships stated. "Through our resettlement and direct support programs, Rainbow Railroad is helping LGBTQI+ refugees escape severe threats to their well-being and relocate to safer countries. Thanks to the leadership of IKEA, this year we will help approximately 500 LGBTQI+ refugees begin new lives in Canada where they can live openly and authentically -- more than double the number of people we help bring to Canada in a typical year. Together, we are making a difference for the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQI+ communities." Since 2018, IKEA has been recognizing May 17th as International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) by raising the Pride Progress flag at store locations across Canada and marking the start of Pride celebrations at IKEA Canada. This year, IKEA Canada will continue to ensure that individuals within the 2SLGBTQ+ community feel welcomed, respected, and appreciated for who they are by: Supporting Pride parades across Canada through sponsorship and participation as marchers; Donating a portion of the proceeds of the STORSTOMMA bags to 2SLGBTQ+ organizations that benefit local communities, adding to more than $250,000 raised since 2018; raised since 2018; Partnering with organizations like Pride at Work and the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion to create a fully inclusive work environment and foster important conversations from an intersectional perspective, recognizing unique life experiences; and Providing safe spaces where co-workers can be themselves and support one another through such forums as the Rainbow Connections Co-worker Resource Group. Learn more about the Rainbow cake and other Pride activities at IKEA Canada at IKEA.ca/bettertogether. ABOUT IKEA CANADA Founded in 1943 in Sweden, IKEA is a leading home furnishing retailer, offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible can afford them. IKEA Canada is part of Ingka Group which operates 379 IKEA stores in 31 countries, including 16 in Canada. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 28 million visitors to its stores and 166 million visitors to IKEA.ca. IKEA Canada operates business through the IKEA vision - to create a better everyday life for the many people and does so through its local community efforts and sustainability initiatives. For more information on IKEA Canada, please visit IKEA.ca. ABOUT RAINBOW RAILROAD Rainbow Railroad is a global not-for-profit organization, founded in Canada in 2006, that helps LGBTQI+ people facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. In a time when there are more displaced people than ever before, LGBTQI+ people are uniquely vulnerable due to systemic, state-enabled homophobia and transphobia. These factors either displace them in their own country or force them into the global refugee system. Since 2006, Rainbow Railroad has provided life-saving support and assistance to almost 16,000 LGBTQI+ persons from around the world, including providing international resettlement support to over 2,000 individuals. Last year, Rainbow Railroad received more than 15,000 requests for help. For more information, visit www.rainbowrailroad.org SOURCE IKEA Canada Limited Partnership For media inquiries: Lisa Huie, Public Relations Leader, IKEA Canada, [email protected] "At tentree, we're a tree planting company that sells sustainable clothing with the vision to make restoring the planet simple," says Derrick Emsley, tentree co-founder and CEO. "We plant trees all across the globe, and one of our focuses is planting trees here in Canada that have been lost to wildfires. Our Following Wildfire tool is a way people can help protect our forests and communities by getting outside to enjoy nature and sharing photos using our #FollowingWildfire hashtag." Unlike traditional monitoring methods, Following Wildfire uses a proprietary algorithm to scan major social media platforms for images that have used the tag #FollowingWildfire, using AI to detect smoke or flames with a high degree of accuracy in publicly shared images. This cutting-edge technology provides extensive and critical coverage of the activities and areas where human-caused fires ignite. Here's how Following Wildfire works: Take Action: Canadians join us to help protect our environment by taking photos in the great outdoors and tagging #FollowingWildfire. Real-time Monitoring: A proprietary algorithm scans major social media platforms in real-time for images that have used the tag #FollowingWildfire, and display early signs of wildfire: smoke or flames. Risk Assessment: When a potential fire has been detected, the algorithm integrates regional weather and vegetation data to help assess the potential for ignition, spread and burn intensity. Specialist Verification: A trained human wildfire specialist then reviews positive detections to rule out false positives from the AI, validates geo-location, and posts timeline information with the social media user. Swift Action: When an image contains early signs of wildfire, the social media user is instructed to contact their local fire authority hotline to advise of the fire detection. By delivering prompt notifications to local fire authorities, Following Wildfire allows Canadians to be part of a collective effort, thereby safeguarding communities, forests, and wildlife from the flames in our very own backyard. The innovative solution was developed in partnership with Dentsu Creative Canada. "Following Wildfire leverages the collective strengths of transformative creativity, data and technology, delivering a tool that we hope will make every Canadian feel they can contribute to helping manage wildfires this season," said Jordan Doucette, President and Chief Creative Officer of Dentsu Creative Canada. "Our hope this fire season is that every Canadian feels empowered to actively participate in protecting their communities." While some fires are part of a forest's lifecycle or controlled burns, recent wildfires are leaving forests unable to recover on their own without the help of tree planting. This summer, tentree will match the first 20,000 wildfire trees sponsored through its ReLeaf program, which has planted up to 1 million trees for wildfire restoration to date. Tree planting packages start at $5. Not every fire needs to be wild together, let's safeguard our forests. Next time you're out in nature, simply snap your photos as you normally would and join the initiative by tagging #FollowingWildfire. For more information about Following Wildfire and how you can get involved, please visit followingwildfire.com . ABOUT tentree tentree is an earth-first lifestyle apparel brand set on protecting the world we play in and on a mission to plant 1 billion trees by 2030 to drastically reduce climate change. Every tentree purchase has a purpose: for each item sold, the company and its partners plant trees around the world where it is needed. With over 105 million trees planted, Climate Neutral Certified and of the highest BCorp scores in the apparel industry, tentree is becoming the most environmentally progressive sustainable apparel brand on the planet. For more information, visit tentree.com or follow on Instagram @tentree. ABOUT DENTSU Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world's leading organizations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now present in over 145 countries and regions, it has a proven track record of nurturing and developing innovations, combining the talents of its global network of leadership brands to develop impactful and integrated growth solutions for clients. Dentsu delivers end-to-end experience transformation (EX) by integrating its services across Media, CXM and Creative, while its business transformation (BX) mindset pushes the boundaries of transformation and sustainable growth for brands, people and society. Dentsu, innovating to impact. https://www.dentsu.com/ SOURCE tentree For interview requests or more information, please contact: Jennifer Dunsmore, Pomp & Circumstance PR, [email protected] or 519-820-6242 TORONTO, May 30, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, Sanofi, a global healthcare company, announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art pediatric and adult vaccine manufacturing facility at its Toronto Campus. Building upon its 110-year heritage, as the largest vaccine manufacturing site in Canada, Sanofi's expansion demonstrates the company's commitment to innovation and leadership in global public health. The new facility significantly increases capacity to meet growing Canadian and Global demand for pediatric and adult vaccines for pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria and tetanus. These vaccines will be exported to 60 markets globally, protecting lives in Canada and around the world. The new state-of-the-art pediatric and adult vaccine manufacturing facility at Sanofi Canadas Toronto Campus. (CNW Group/Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc.) This new facility further bolsters Sanofi's biomanufacturing footprint in Canada with continued commitment of investments and employs more than 200 highly skilled people in biomanufacturing production, as part of Sanofi's 2,000 employees in Canada. Sanofi's investment totals over $800 million CAD which includes support from Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments and is part of the company's expanded investment in the future of Ontario and Canada's advanced biomanufacturing sector. As a global healthcare leader dedicated to improving people's lives, Sanofi aims to become a leading company in immunology and positively impact millions of patients suffering from immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Sanofi protects half a billion people worldwide every year with its portfolio of vaccines and by leveraging its broad set of technology and manufacturing platforms. Today's announcement was marked by an official opening at Sanofi's Toronto Campus. Attendees included the Right Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, the Hon. Ya'ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health & Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Government of Canada, the Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, the Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, the Hon. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation & Trade, Government of Ontario and her Worship Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto, as well as members of Sanofi's executive leadership team. Stephanie Veyrun-Manetti, Sanofi Canada Country Lead and General Manager Specialty Care "We are proud of our heritage in Canada, going back over a century. We remain committed to investments and innovation that improve people's lives around the world. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Canadian authorities as we pursue our common goal of ensuring timely access for patients to innovative medicines and vaccines, ensuring better health outcomes for Canadians for another 110 years." Brendan O'Callaghan, Executive Vice President, Manufacturing and Supply, Sanofi "This investment is representative of the incredible transformation that is underway across Sanofi's global network, as we work to modernize our operations and accelerate our journey to Industry leading performance, while reducing the environmental footprint of our operations. We are building the capacities and capabilities we will need to support the impressive growth of our commercial portfolio, while preparing for the exciting wave of new Product Launches to emerge from our pipeline over the coming years." The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada "Vaccines save lives. That's why we'll be producing a lot more of them in Canada, including flu vaccines. Sanofi's two new facilities in Toronto employ hundreds of highly skilled staff, protect the health and wellbeing of Canadians, and give our scientists, innovators, and researchers a fair chance to succeed." The Hon. Mark Holland, Minister of Health "Protecting the health and safety of people in Canada is one of our government's top priorities. With this new facility, we can strengthen our domestic biomanufacturing capacity and improve health outcomes for Canadians." The Hon. Ya'ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health "With the resurgence of infectious diseases, the capacity to develop and produce vaccines in Canada is critical. In strengthening Canada's vaccination supply, we can better help protect our loved ones, our communities, and the most vulnerable among us." The Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario "Our government is pleased to welcome and support Sanofi as they expand their footprint in Ontario. This new state-of-the-art facility is another vote of confidence in our workers and our growing life sciences sector, helping to ensure people in Ontario and around the world have increased access to life-saving vaccines when we need them." The Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health "Under the leadership of Premier Ford, Ontario has become a hub of healthcare innovation and technology that is connecting more people to the care they need, when they need it. Sanofi's new state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing facility in Toronto is championing made-in-Ontario vaccinations that will build healthier communities in our province, and around the world, for years to come." The Hon. Vic Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade "Building on Ontario's long history of excellence in the life sciences, today's announcement by Sanofi represents another vote of confidence in our world class life sciences ecosystem. Sanofi's new B100 vaccine manufacturing facility will play an integral role in advancing our province's bio manufacturing capabilities and leadership in global public health innovation, while securing hundreds of good-paying jobs for our talented workforce. Thank you, Sanofi, for choosing Ontario." Her Worship Olivia Chow, Mayor of the City of Toronto "Toronto is thrilled to welcome Sanofi's new state-of-the-art pediatric and adult vaccine manufacturing facility. Our city is a global centre for innovation. This new investment will bring jobs and help position Toronto as a leader in advancement in healthcare." About Sanofi Sanofi is an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people's lives. Our team, across some 100 countries, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our ambitions. In Canada, we employ over 2,000 people and invest annually 20% of our revenue in biopharma research, representing $1.2 billion CAD in R&D over the last decade, creating jobs, business, and opportunity throughout the country. About the Sanofi Toronto Campus Founded as the Connaught Antitoxin Laboratories in 1914. Sanofi's Toronto Campus has supported numerous scientific breakthroughs while making significant public health contributions. The Toronto campus was home to large scale commercial insulin production and was the sole supplier of the diabetes treatment to Canadians until the 1980's. It also produced a highly accessible antitoxin for diphtheria, the leading public health threat to Canadian children in the early 1900's and was an important partner in the eradication of polio in north America and smallpox around the world. SOURCE Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc. Bethany Rubin, Lead, Communications, +1 (437) 518-4769, [email protected]; Daniele Dufour, Head of Communications, +1 (437) 286-0103, [email protected] New evidence of Nanjing Massacre donated to memorial hall Pub Date:24-05-30 10:33 Source:Xinhua Historical materials were donated to a Chinese memorial hall on Monday as new evidence of war crimes related to the 1937 Nanjing Massacre perpetrated by the invading Japanese troops. Editor:Qin Shuying Related News Interview: China-Arab ties reach unprecede... Xinhua Headlines: Shared passion for delic... Experts: 'Overcapacity' narrative counter ... IMF: Country's growth to stay resilient at 5% DEAR MISS MANNERS: A Chilean friend of mine told me that he once spoke in Spanish to a store clerk, who mumbled something about gringos. My friend took this to mean that the clerk thought he was a gringo showing off his bad Spanish. Ive been studying Spanish for years, but Ill never be fluent in it (my brain is too old). So Im hesitant to initiate speaking in Spanish with someone whose English may be better than my Spanish. Either way seems rude -- not speaking in Spanish when you can, or being presumptuous about the other persons ability to speak English. I want to be polite! GENTLE READER: It should not surprise you to hear that the answer will depend on the language and the country. Depending on your knowledge of both, you can adapt your preparation and behavior to get the best results. In some countries, making an effort to speak the local language is taken as a compliment and therefore makes up for minor defects in accent or grammar. In others, accent is more important than grammar. And in at least one country Miss Manners can think of, not speaking the local language perfectly is taken as a personal affront, if not an indication of imbecility. Surprisingly, the levels of tourism enjoyed by the above countries do not directly correlate with the locals behavior. In extremis, watch what other people are doing. (Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.) Four New York men who kidnapped a Fort Lee man and held him hostage for $680,000 in ransom were sentenced to lengthy federal prison terms Wednesday, authorities said. Three men from Queens and one from Staten Island, New York previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit interstate kidnapping after authorities said they duct taped a victim and held him hostage. Albert Ferrelli, 52, of Queens, was given the longest prison term of over 20 years and five years of supervised release. Chiahao Lee, 32, also of Queens, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Gabriel Anthony, 35, of Queens, was sentenced to 14 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Mrs. Hanna Krauses Homemade Candy shop, a Bergen County staple since 1959, will be closing its location on Route 17 in Paramus on June 28, according to the companys website. Owner Karen Ryan, daughter of the shop founders Ingrid and Karl Krause, has decided to retire and close the family business, the shop workers said. Its time for her to go and move on, said Donna Kattowski, manager of the candy store and an employee for almost 30 years. Hanna Krauses candy shop was well-liked by the surrounding communities, and employees like Kattowski will greatly miss working at the business, she said. The customers are wonderful. Great business and the customers are very friendly, said Kattowski. It did wonderful [things] for the Bergen County area. We will miss it a lot. For those looking to experience Hanna Krauses candies after the Paramus location closes in June, the Toms River Hanna Krause candy shop will remain open, serving homemade treats using the same 65-year-old recipes. The future of the Krause candy shop building on Route 17 was not immediately clear. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. A man has been charged in a string of armed robberies and the assault of a gas station employee in Bergen and Passaic counties in February. The robberies, all on Feb. 5, included a Valero gas station in Hasbrouck Heights, a Delta gas station in Clifton and A&C Grocery Store in Paterson. After a months long investigation, detectives said they identified Husem Nasri, 24, of Elmwood Park, as the robber. Earlier this month, he was charged with four counts of armed robbery, four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of terroristic threats as well as theft and multiple weapons offenses, authorities said. He was apprehended on Tuesday by FBI agents in Alexandria, Virginia. Hasbrouck Heights Police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Delta gas station on Route 17 on Feb. 5. During the failed robbery attempt, Nasri struck the gas station attendant with a gun before fleeing the scene, police said. Officers investigating the robbery later communicated with nearby departments and found that similar armed robberies happened that same day at a Delta gas station in Clifton and A&C Grocery Store in Paterson. In the Clifton robbery, Nasri pointed a gun at the gas station attendant and fled the area after the worker secured himself inside the building, authorities said. In the grocery store robbery, Nasri pointed a firearm at multiple employees and threatened to kill them, authorities said. Workers handed over $400 in cash, prosecutors said. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage and found the subject in all three robberies was wearing similar clothing and driving the same car. The vehicle was identified as a black Dodge Challenger that had been stolen in New York City on Feb. 2, officials said. Nasri is in custody at Alexandria Detention Center in Virginia and is awaiting extradition to New Jersey. Attorney information was not immediately available. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. A coworker of Johnny Wactor, an actor who was recently killed in Los Angeles, has detailed the final moments of the actors life. Wactor, 37, who played Brando Corbin on General Hospital was shot and killed leaving a bartending gig Saturday night. He reportedly interrupted two thieves attempting to rob a part from his car. His co-worker Anita Joy took to social media to recount the events that led up to Wactors death. Joy explained she needed some time to collect herself after the traumatic occurrence in an Instagram post on Wednesday. I was with Johnny in his last moments and Im here to be his voice after such unimaginable events, Joy wrote, stating that the basic details of the horrific incident include a few criminals trying to steal a car part. My friend of 8 years went from laughing together, working side by side, leaving our bartending shift and walking to our cars, to him dying in my arms in the streets of DTLA in the dark hours of 3 a.m., the post read. The actor was shot after trying to deter three male suspects from attempting to remove a catalytic converter from his vehicle. We cautiously approached the men, questioning what they were doing, at first thinking the car was being towed. We were no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and for them to leave. Hands open to his side in peace, Joy shared. Johnny was between me and the man who shot him - as I heard the shot ring into the night, he forcefully tumbled back into my arms and as I grabbed for him, I shouted Hunny you okay?! And he only responded, nope! shot! Joy said a security guard nearby rushed to aid after the shots rang out, trying to perform CPR and stop the wound from bleeding but was unsuccessful due to the severity of the wound. I am utterly heartbroken and so very angry. My only peace is that I was with him and this didnt happen to him alone - my only other peace will be seeing these awful men brought to justice, Joy said. Wactor appeared in General Hospital, Army Wives, Siberia, Criminal Minds, Animal Kingdom, Westworld, and most recently Dead Talk Tales: Volume I. More TV news Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Christopher Burch can be reached at cburch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SwishBurch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips/. A Hudson County Superior Court ruling that threw out a Jersey City murder conviction and a lifetime prison sentence because of ineffective counsel has been upheld by a state appellate court panel. The latest decision, released Wednesday, means 33-year-old Justin Garcia may be retried in the July 21, 2016 fatal shooting of Javon Murray, 28, on Clinton Avenue. The Hudson County Prosecutors Office said it is reviewing the appellate courts opinion, but declined to comment further. Garcia was convicted in March 2018, mostly on circumstantial evidence and accounts by witnesses who had altered their versions of the events of the incident. Throughout his trial and sentencing, Garcia had maintained his innocence. The 26-page appellate court decision notes that the state presented 10 witnesses and introduced into evidence more than 100 exhibits, but no one witnessed the shooting, the weapon was not recovered and no projectiles or shell casings were found at the scene. Garcias attorney, who had been a pool attorney for the Office of the Public Defender, did not call a single person to testify at the trial, even though he had issued subpoenas for four of them. Garcias post-conviction relief (PCR) appeal for the verdict to be tossed was granted by Judge Jeffrey Jablonski based on evidence that Garcias attorney was ineffective at the trial, and the Hudson County Prosecutors Office then appealed that decision. The appellate panel did not rule on Garcias guilt or innocence, but stated that it was clear Garcia did not receive a fair trial because of his attorneys failures to question witnesses who had varying accounts of the incident, in which two men were in the vicinity of the victim at the time of the shooting. The prosecutors office argued in its appeal that witnesses the defense attorney could have called to testify would not have provided relevant information and that Jablonski mischaracterized one witness testimony as diametrically opposed to another witness. The appellate panel rejected that argument and noted there was enough testimony that was not heard at trial to merit a new trial. The panel pointed out that Garcias attorney, questioned at the PCR hearing, had no strategic reason for not calling witnesses. More than 20 members of a Hudson County street gang are facing federal charges for crimes related to an armed a robbery, a phony check scheme and drug trafficking. The 24 people belong to the Booker T street gang, which operates near the Booker T housing projects in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood of Jersey City. The defendants have been charged by complaint and are scheduled to appear in Newark federal court on Thursday afternoon, the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey said in a news release. An investigation into the gangs activities found members were selling large quantities of narcotics including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, authorities said. It has also been alleged that members of the group ran a fraudulent check scheme resulting in losses of about $100,000. Between September 2022 and May 2024, various methods were used to obtain fraudulent checks, which were deposited into bank accounts controlled by the gang members, prosecutors alleged. Federal authorities have also alleged that two members Juan Hemmingway and Stephon Murphy forced a man out of his car on May 6, threatened him with a gun and stole multiple items from him, including Percocet pills. They are both charged with Hobbs Act robbery. Hemmingway is also charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, brandishing a firearm and conspiracy to commit controlled dangerous substances. Murphy is also charged with brandishing a firearm during the alleged robbery. Street gangs that are allegedly engaged in violence and narcotics distribution drastically diminish quality of life for those who live in affected communities, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. The charges in this case against 24 defendants demonstrate that, along with our law enforcement partners, we will work tirelessly to root out alleged gang-related criminality in order to make our communities safer. Murphy was also one of two men charged by the Hudson County Prosecutors Office last week in the April 30 fatal shooting of a 24-year-old man. He was charged with weapons, robbery and burglary offenses. The charges among the other 22 defendants include conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances, while some are charged with both crimes. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. The city of Hoboken is fighting back against gun violence in the wake of a fatal shooting in April. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and city public safety officials announced Thursday that its police department will host a gun buyback event June 22. Residents can surrender up to three firearms, with no questions asked, and receive as much as $350 per weapon. The announcement was made in May, one month after former Hoboken High School two-sport star Damon Murray was shot dead outside a city public housing complex building. A decades long career of a colorful Jersey City attorney who represented accused killers, violent predators and even the Newport Easter bunny, came to an official end Thursday when he was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for bilking a client out of $2 million and other offenses. James Lisa, 68, was sentenced in federal court in Newark by U.S. District Judge Julien X. Neals. He had faced up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud, two years for aggravated identity theft, three years for obstructing the IRS, one year for failure to file a tax return and 10 years for wire fraud while on pretrial release. James Lisa used his law license to execute a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme and rip off clients who placed their trust in him, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said. Then, after being charged for that fraud, Lisa committed another when, posing as his own lawyer, he sent a bogus letter to a lender that falsely described the status of his criminal case. Lisas multiple criminal acts were serious violations of his oath as an officer of the court and a betrayal of his clients trust. The sentence imposed today is his just punishment for these crimes. He admitted in September to the $2 million theft and other crimes that included not paying taxes for seven years and forging his attorneys name on a loan document while out on bail. Lisa had agreed to a plea deal in February and changed his mind three months later. While awaiting trial, authorities found that Lisa forged his attorneys signature a fraudulent document while applying for a $22,000 loan. His case took another twist in September, after he was ordered into custody for the forgery. Given an extension to clear his massive client list, Lisa showed up in Hudson County Superior Court with a new client. Upon learning this news, the federal court rescinded the extension and Lisa was detained. Lisa was retained by a family in 2014 to help repatriate millions of dollars that had been transferred by other family members to offshore bank accounts decades earlier. Lisa successfully repatriated more than $6 million of the familys funds, but only provided $4 million to the family while representing that the remaining $2 million was beyond his control. He also falsely told the family that he successfully resolved the tax implications of repatriating the funds. In 2016, Lisa sent the family a fraudulent IRS closing agreement reflecting an agreement with the IRS for the family to pay $3 million in taxes and penalties for the repatriated funds. In 2018, Lisa sent the family another fraudulent closing agreement reflecting an agreement with the IRS for the family to pay $2 million in taxes and penalties because only $4 million was purportedly repatriated. Lisa also admitted that he failed to file individual income tax returns for tax years 2015 through 2022, and as a result, caused a tax loss to the IRS of at least $550,000. The veteran attorney, a familiar figure around the halls of the Hudson County Administration Building, was known to carry an active caseload that numbered in the hundreds. In addition to the prison term, Lisa was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $2.05 million in restitution to his fraud victims and $550,000 to the IRS. With a week before primary day, Rob Menendez Jr. and Ravi Bhalla were faced with a question that has perhaps become the main theme in their high-profile battle: why do they feel like they have the moral high ground over each other? Menendez Jr., the Democratic incumbent representative of the Eighth District, brought up an alleged quid pro quo arrangement involving the Hoboken mayor and his censure by the state Supreme Court during a one-hour debate Tuesday organized by Hudson Media Group. A major power transmission project linking Montana to energy markets in the Midwest picked up a key commitment Tuesday from Colstrip Power Plant shareholder Portland General Electric. The $3.2 billion North Plains Connector would bridge the Eastern and Western energy grids by running 415 miles of high voltage, direct current line between Colstrip substation and Center, North Dakota. North Plains is being developed by Texas-based Grid United. Effectively, the line allows energy to move between the West Coast to the Midwest, something no major U.S. transmission line currently does. The connection increases the potential for new Montana energy generation and should make power more available, and thereby cheaper, during peak demand times driven by extreme weather. Oregon ending coal power For Portland General Electric, faced with state law requiring coal-power to be phased out, North Plains extends the utilitys reach for renewable energy in a way that increases the probability that theres some to be had, regardless of whether the wind is spinning turbines in the Pacific Northwest. Its a strategy spelled out in PGEs latest integrated resource plan, a 20-year energy roadmap in which the utility explains how it will reach into areas of the country with different climates, to address gaps in the availability of wind and solar energy. We really identified the need for diversity, and we call them climate zones. And in that IRP, you saw us focus on Wyoming as a proxy, and the desert southwest as a proxy for solar. But really, what we signaled is if you can get wind from diverse regions, solar from diverse regions, you now have a portfolio of variable resources that looks more similar to a baseload resource, said Brett Greene, PGEs Senior Director Clean Energy Origination and Structuring. Now, I don't want to say, Well never replace a coal or a gas resource, but if you add wind and solar that actually blows throughout the day and you pair it with battery storage, youre going to make a lot of progress on decarbonizing. The utilitys expected ownership share of North Plains Connector transmission capacity is 20%. The 525-kilovolt line can move 3,000 megawatts of electricity at any given time. Grid United is the project developer and has told Lee Montana Newspapers previously that the line should be complete within four years. Grid United expects to begin the permitting process for North Plains in October, said Brant Johnson, vice president of development. That means Montana and North Dakota will begin review of siting and construction, while the U.S. Department of Energy determines whether the transmission line warrants an environmental assessment, or a more thorough Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. Grid United estimates construction will create 600 jobs in Montana and North Dakota. In Oregon, decarbonizing has been written into utility law since 2016, which is when legislators created law requiring PGE and PacifiCorp to abandon coal by wire. The utilities will do so no later than the end of 2029. Both utilities own shares of the Colstrip Power Plant and will leave the 1,480-megawatt coal burner in southeast Montana generator in the next few years. Portland General Electric has a 296-megawatt ownership share in Colstrip Power Plant, dating back to the 1980s construction of generating Units 3 and 4. The Portland utility with just under a million metered customers is holding onto its share of the 500-kilovolt Colstrip Transmission Line, which coupled with the North Plains Connector will bridge Portland General Electric with energy markets deep in the United States. Greene explained that the North Plains Connector will also enable PGE to sell its own generated renewable power when it has a surplus. Corporate filings show the utility generated more than a gigawatt of wind energy in February. Importing power Just as important is the ability to access power generated outside the Pacific Northwest and Montana during times of peak demand, when the crush of the regions utilities scrambling for extra power drives up market prices. In mid-January, the utilities in the northwestern United States paid close to $900 a megawatt hour for electricity as subzero temperatures created a surge in regional demand for electricity. There was more affordable electricity to be had from southern Idaho to the Midwest, but utilities in northwestern states, particularly Montana lacked the transmission lines to access more affordable energy. The situation cost customers of NorthWestern Energy in Montana tens of millions of dollars in expensive market purchases. Demand for energy in the Pacific Northwest is surging with the arrival of data centers, centrally located computer servers and other networking equipment assembled to process vast amounts of information. Each data center can consume as much electricity as a small town. The new reality is, I think this is across the United States and definitely in the Pacific Northwest, is the amount of demand growth we're all experiencing from data centers. And for us, it's not just data centers here in Oregon, but also semiconductors, Greene said. So, we have a lot of federal and state funding that is driving that economic development. And that's all energy demand that we need to meet on aggressive timelines. Currently the timeline for new development is too slow to keep up with demand, Greene said. The PGE commitment to North Plains Connector is the second utility buy-in for transmission line developer Grid United. Minnesota-based Alette secured a 35% stake in the transmission project in early 2023. Earlier in May, Alette was purchased for $6.2 billion in share purchases and debt acquisition by Canadian Pension Plan and Global Infrastructure Partners, a major infrastructure investor. "We welcome PGE joining us in our efforts on this historic and transformative infrastructure project for our nation," Bethany Owen, ALLETE CEO said in a press release. "Large-scale projects require collaborative solutions. We look forward to working with PGE and their strong team to advance this critical project." Allete owns the 80-megawatt South Peak wind farm in northcentral Montana. North Plains would be the just the second large cross-state transmission project built in Montana in the last 30 years. Improved transmission is considered crucial for Montana's energy export industry. Montana ranks fifth in the nation for wind energy potential, as scored by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. For actual wind generation, the state is middle of the pack. Montana ranks 50th on the Grid Modernization Index, with no state grid modernization plan and no mention in Montana's energy plan of modernizing the grid for resilience. The Grid Modernization Index is produced by GridWise Alliance, a nonprofit which describes itself as a diverse membership of electricity industry stakeholders focused on accelerating innovation that delivers a more secure, dependable, resilient, and affordable grid to support decarbonization of the U.S. economy. After starting her career as a comedian in the 80s, Ellen DeGeneres is finally ready to close the joke books. The iconic comedian and talk show host will begin Ellens Last Stand Up tour on June 19 in San Diego and will wrap up on Aug. 17 in Minneapolis. While on her farewell tour, Ellen will perform at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Aug. 1. The tour will see the former talk show host make a comeback to the live stage and reintroduce her trademark wit and laughter-inducing anecdotes to a live audience. DeGeneres also announced that she would release a second and final Netflix special before the end of 2024. As this is her first comedy tour since 2022 and officially her last, there is a high chance tickets are going to sell fast. How to get Ellen DeGeneres comedy tour tickets Presale tickets for Ellen DeGeneres farewell comedy tour go on sale on May 30 at 10 a.m. and will wrap up the same day at 10 p.m. through Ticketmaster. The general sale for the tour tickets will begin on May 31 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. If you miss out on securing tickets through the presale and general sale, then you can access them through secondary market websites, such as Vivid Seats, StubHub, TicketCity and SeatGeek. If you are struggling to secure tickets in the right price point or your preferred seating section on StubHub, you can find some tips and tricks here. First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout. You can find a full calendar of Ellen DeGeneres tour dates here. Upcoming 2024 comedy tours Ellen DeGeneres is not the only comedian heading out on tour this year. Here are a few you dont want to miss out on: Sebastian Maniscalco, Impractical Jokers, Steve Martin and Martin Short and Matt Rife. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. After seeing how cheap Taylor Swift tickets are in Scotland, that was The Moment I Knew I needed to go. Swift will head to Edinburgh, Scotland to perform at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield stadium on June 7-9, and Swifties should get excited about how cheap tickets are. The fact that tickets are under $300 which was dirt cheap compared to many of the upcoming U.S. shows means that they are most likely going to sell out fast. Heres everything you need to know to see Taylor Swift live on her international tour. Where to buy the cheapest Taylor Swift concert tickets Throughout the Eras Tour, the cheapest last-minute tickets for Swifts 2024 concerts have been on StubHub and Vivid Seats. As of now, the cheapest ticket for Swifts June 7 Eras Tour concert in Edinburgh is $230 on Vivid Seats, with tickets being listed as high as $6,784. For her June 8 show, the cheapest ticket at the time of publication is $228 on Vivid Seats, with other tickets being listed as high as $7,298. Finally, for Swifts June 9 show, the cheapest ticket we could find is $288 on Vivid Seats, before fees. Other tickets were listed as high as $4,242. First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout. Fans also should check out other secondary sites to snag last-minute tickets, like TicketCity and SeatGeek. Where is Taylor Swift playing next? Taylor Swift will perform 84 shows throughout the second leg of her Eras Tour. Her next shows will be in Liverpool, England from June 13-15. Tickets are available on several secondary market sites, like StubHub, Vivid Seats, TicketCity and SeatGeek. A complete list of Swifts tour dates is available here. More massive upcoming tours Taylor Swift is not the only artist on a huge tour right now. Here are a few more tours you wont want to miss: Morgan Wallen, Melanie Martinez, Olivia Rodrigo and Justin Timberlake. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. NEW YORK Jorge Lopez sat at his locker quietly as reporters made their way around the room, talking to players after the Mets lost 10-3 to the Dodgers on Wednesday at Citi Field. He had enough time to consider what he would say when the New York media eventually made its way to him. Naturally, reporters wanted to talk to Lopez about his actions in the top of the eighth inning, when the reliever was ejected for arguing with third base umpire Ramon De Jesus. As he walked off the field, Lopez untucked his shirt and tossed his glove into the stands, an act of defiance in the middle of another dreadful loss, the Mets third in a row. A New York City man who backed into a Drug Enforcement Administration vehicle in Elizabeth while trying to elude law enforcement after a botched drug deal has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison. Miguel Nunez, 50, of the Bronx, was sentenced to five years, 10 months as well as four years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey said Wednesday. Nunez and Jesus Higuera-Parra drove from New York to Elizabeth on March 24, 2021, to sell fentanyl, officials said. When they arrived to meet the buyer, DEA agents were also there. Nunez put his car in reverse and struck the DEA vehicle in an attempt to flee. He pleaded guilty in September to possessing 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute and resisting officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Higuera-Parra, 28, of Ontario, California, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute and is awaiting sentencing. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A New York man who was part of a crew that targeted Asian and Asian-American small business owners for burglaries has been sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison. James Hurt, 48, is the second person to be sentenced for his role in an operation that burglarized the homes of the business owners in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania between December 2016 and March 2019, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey said. Hurt and his associates stole money, valuable jewelry, and other items and then transported them to various places in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The thieves learned the travel patterns of the resident and usually tried to enter when they believed no one would be home, court papers state. They used ladders to enter the homes through second-floor windows and communicated with two-way radios. Hurt, who previously lived in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. A member of the group told detectives they targeted Asian business owners because it was believed that the victims kept large sums of currency and jewelry in their residences, according to a criminal complaint. The group operated out of a home in Elizabeth, according to court papers. They burglarized or robbed more than 50 residences in all, including in Spotswood, Old Bridge, Sayreville, Edison and Kenilworth, according to examples provided in the charging document. A vehicle owned by a business owner was broken into in Hazlet. Seven others were charged in the case along with Hurt in 2021. Barr was sentenced to 50 months in state prison in August and was ordered to pay a combined $127,661 in restitution and forfeiture. Charges are pending against the others with plea negotiations ongoing, according to court records. This case is sufficiently complex in that it involves multiple incidents and victims, court papers filed May 1 state. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Two New Jersey nonprofit organizations are splitting nearly $1 million in funding from a Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit provided by New Jersey American Water, according to a news release. The funds will support 10 projects across the two nonprofit organizations, Stand Up for Salem and Camden Lutheran Housing, Inc., in collaboration with numerous local partners. The funding was announced in coordination with the N.J. Department of Community Affairs, the company said. New Jerseys property tax breaks, including the popular Senior Freeze and ANCHOR benefits, could soon undergo dramatic changes as the state tries to keep its promise to further cut taxes for senior citizens under the Stay NJ law, according to recommendations released Thursday. The long-awaited 101-page report comes from the Stay NJ Task Force, which was charged with figuring out how to implement the complicated and much-debated law in time for the 2026 deadline for when payments are scheduled to start. Stay NJ, in conjunction with ANCHOR and Senior Freeze, is designed to slash property taxes by up to 50%, capped at $6,500, for senior citizens in New Jersey who earn less than $500,000 a year. The recommendations, reviewed by NJ Advance Media, include a plan to simplify the states overall property tax break regime by having one application for all three programs, beginning early next year. A single comprehensive application along with consolidation of the programs in a sequential manner, followed by changes to how benefits are paid, should be accomplished in steps, the report said. But while the law also called for the task force to develop recommendations on how to fund Stay NJ, critics note the report does not include any new guidance on that. Opponents from both sides of the political aisle have long warned that paying for the program and even launching it at all will be a tall challenge. The state has to reach several benchmarks and set aside more than $1 billion each year for Stay NJ payments to go out. The recommendations that are included in the report would still have to be adopted by the state Legislature and signed by the governor to be implemented. They include: Complicated calculations: The bottom line is that senior homeowners would get 50% off their property tax bills, capped at $6,500, from a combination of Stay NJ, ANCHOR, and Senior Freeze. Also, no one would get less than they currently receive under ANCHOR and Senior Freeze together. Benefit calculation: The state Division of Taxation would compare a senior homeowners combined ANCHOR and Senior Freeze benefit to a Stay NJ benefit. An applicant would receive the higher of the two, up to 50% of property taxes, not to exceed $6,500, it said. If the senior homeowner has not received the equivalent of 50% of their taxes, up to $6,500, from ANCHOR and Senior Freeze combined, an additional benefit under Stay NJ would be paid by check. Homeowners not eligible for ANCHOR or Senior Freeze but eligible for Stay NJ would receive the maximum Stay NJ benefit of $6,500 or 50% of their property taxes. Checks, then credits: Because of the complicated nature of providing property tax credits through the states 564 municipalities, the Stay NJ benefit, rather than being paid as a quarterly credit, would be sent to senior homeowners as a check in the first year. The goal would be to make the Stay NJ payment a credit on tax bills in the programs second year. One application: Residents would complete one application for Stay NJ, ANCHOR, and Senior Freeze effective Feb. 1, 2025, and legislation would need to be passed at least 90 days prior to make sure theres time to design, print and mail the combined application. Changes to residency and age requirements: All three programs would require a full year of residency as of Dec. 31, 2024. New Senior Freeze applicants would need to be 65 as of Dec. 31, 2023. Streamlined income definition: ANCHOR and the Senior Freeze currently have different definitions of taxable income. These definitions would be made the same under all the tax break programs. Renters: Renters are not eligible for Stay NJ or Senior Freeze but would continue to receive the ANCHOR benefit via check or direct deposit. The task force also addressed a change thats sure to confuse some ANCHOR recipients. By making all three benefits move to the same timeline, there would be no ANCHOR benefit labeled for 2023, but eligible residents would still get annual payments as long as its funded in the yearly budget. State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, the main author of the Stay NJ law, told NJ Advance Media its really not a lost benefit year. It will just jump, Coughlin said. Youll still get (an ANCHOR benefit) every year. Its not like were taking a year off. Coughlin said the goal is to have a common application to operate out of the same base, and the task force proposed using the benefit year 2024, so ANCHOR would need to be adjusted. Still, the report said people who are eligible for the 2022 ANCHOR benefit but then have changes in residency, income or homeowner status may not be eligible for the 2024 benefit. The estates of deceased people that qualified in 2022 would lose a year if the benefit year for eligibility date is moved to 2024, the report said. And finally, some newcomers to the state may have to wait a year to become eligible for ANCHOR because of the new 12-month residency requirement. Gov. Phil Murphys office did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the recommendations. The timing of the report is vital. Murphy and his fellow Democrats including Coughlin who control the Legislature are in the midst of a sometimes heated push and pull on how to spend taxpayer money in the state budget for the next fiscal year. The tax cut is expected to be a weighty bargaining chip as deals are struck and key players dangle possible compromises to get to the finish line. Negotiations are about to enter the critical final month. If they dont reach an agreement by June 30, the state government could be shut down. HOW MUCH WOULD YOU GET? How much each resident would get if the recommendations are adopted would vary greatly based on eligibility. The ANCHOR program, which has no age restrictions, would continue to be funded annually through the budget. The next benefit year, for the 2021 tax year, would pay eligible homeowners up to $1,500 and qualifying renters $450, plus an extra $250 for both senior renters and homeowners. The payments are made by direct deposit or check. Under the recommendations, nothing would change for renters. The total received by homeowners, though, would depend on additional specifics. The Senior Freeze program, which reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled persons for property tax increases, currently offers a credit made directly onto a property tax bill. How much a homeowner would receive depends on when they first applied and how high their taxes have gone up since then. Long-time recipients could receive well over $1,000, while the benefit for new applicants is far lower. Under the Stay NJ recommendations, the amount received for both Senior Freeze and ANCHOR would be added together. If the amount is less than 50% of a homeowners property tax bill, capped at $6,500, the homeowner would get additional money under the Stay NJ name. That payment would come as a check or direct deposit in the first year, and as quarterly credits on tax bills in subsequent years. As an example. take a senior homeowner who has income of $75,000 a year and who owns a home with a $10,000 property tax bill. The homeowners maximum Stay NJ benefit would be $5,000, or 50% of the tax bill. The homeowner also qualifies for a $1,750 ANCHOR benefit and a $1,000 Senior Freeze benefit, which add up to $2,750. Because those two combined benefits are less than the homeowners maximum Stay NJ benefit of $5,000, the homeowner would receive an additional Stay NJ check for $2,250. It would work differently for a homeowner who has income of $300,000, who would be ineligible for the ANCHOR and Senior Freeze benefits because of income cutoffs. If the homeowner has property taxes of $20,000 a year, they would receive the maximum Stay NJ benefit of $6,500. A homeowner who has income of $160,000 would encounter another scenario. Lets say that person, with annual property taxes of $13,000, has a maximum Stay NJ benefit of $6,500. They also receive a $750 Senior Freeze benefit but are not eligible for an ANCHOR payment because of income limits. So in addition to the Senior Freeze credit of $750, they would receive a Stay NJ check for $5,750. THE NEXT HURDLE When it comes to spending priorities in Trenton, theres rarely a consensus, and theres only so much money to go around. Murphy in February proposed a $55.9 billion state budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The proposal includes another $200 million on top of $100 million in the current budget to ramp up funding for Stay NJ before its planned 2026 launch. Even Stay NJ supporters say that may not be enough to prepare, and there is broad concern about funding the program continuously. The annual cost of Stay NJ is about $1.2 billion, according to the nonpartisan state Office of Legislative Services. Right now, lawmakers are concerned in general about the states finances as Murphys budget proposal includes a structural deficit meaning it would spend $1.8 billion more than it draws in from taxes and fees. That means the state might have to use money from the surplus to cover some spending, a potential problem because the Stay NJ law requires a 12% surplus be maintained, among other benchmarks, before any benefits from the program can be doled out. Fears over funding have been hitting home with each monthly report on how much tax revenue the state is taking into its coffers as pandemic-era cash infusions dry up. Indeed, the state Treasury Departments accounting of tax receipts has been running about 2% lower than last year. It all sets the stage for a possible battle between advocates for two large and loud groups of residents the states commuters and its senior citizens just as Murphy and lawmakers dive into the most intense part of negotiations over spending, with just weeks to the deadline. Murphy has called for lawmakers to pass a new corporate transit fee, meant to provide an ongoing funding source to get and keep NJ Transit out of fiscal disorder. Standing in his way could be Coughlin, Stay NJs biggest supporter. Coughlin could use Murphys desire for the transit tax as leverage to get more money set aside for Stay NJ, three sources previously told NJ Advance Media, with one calling property tax relief the Assembly speakers No. 1 priority. The source said Coughlin could even demand part of the transit tax be earmarked for Stay NJ funding. With budget talks about to kick into high gear, Coughlin said hes generally concerned about the state spending more than it takes in. Thats a threat to everything, he said. We have to look at the budget right now and make meaningful progress in terms of eliminating that structural deficit. Coughlin stopped short of framing the funding of Stay NJ as a commuters vs. seniors debate, telling NJ Advance Media he supports funding the transit system but the states spending plan has to be looked at as a whole. Part of that is property tax relief, he said. I want to make sure we continue to support the biggest property tax relief in the history of the state because it means so much to people. I dont know if it is purely X versus Y. There have also been talks about possibly increasing the state sales tax back to 7% to help bolster the budget. It is currently 6.625%. At this point in the process, everything is open for discussion, Coughlin said of that. The speaker said he was largely pleased with the task force recommendations, adding that streamlining the application is a challenge but important to make the process easier and more seamless for seniors. This takes us one step closer to making Stay a reality, Coughlin added. We know its gonna happen. But we needed to go over these challenges. Coughlin said the next step is for the Legislature to pass bills implementing the recommendations, adding that could happen in the coming weeks. He also said he wants to keep the task force running to figure out how to give residents benefits as a tax credit rather than a check as soon as possible. In the report, the task force said it recognizes that the recommendations presented here are only a part of the solution to addressing property taxes in New Jersey and property tax relief is just one, albeit significant, component of the States budget and one choice the Governor and the Legislature need to consider when balancing the needs of all New Jerseyans. State Senate President Nick Scutari, D-Union, another important budget negotiator, did not immediately return a request seeking comment. State Sen. Declan OScanlon, the Senates Republican budget officer, said despite the report, he still doesnt believe the program will ever be funded, especially with the structural deficit in the governors budget proposal. This is an election-year gimmick, and Democrats are now desperately trying to keep their pledge, OScanlon said. We already see it being watered down and excuses being made. ... Its the same B.S. garbage we said it was when it was announced. Republicans say they have their own recommendations for how to cut spending and grow revenue but have largely been ignored by Democrats. At the same time, left-leaning think tank New Jersey Policy Perspective criticized Thursdays report for not addressing the underlying problems of Stay NJ. Namely that it directs the biggest benefits to wealthy homeowners while providing little support for lower-income households and renters struggling to stay in their homes, said Peter Chen, a policy analyst for the group. The report also does not address how the state can realistically pay for the $2 billion program without cutting funding for other essential services and infrastructure. NEW YORK Prosecutors at U.S. Sen. Sen. Robert Menendezs bribery trial showed jurors hundreds of texts, emails and phone calls over two days that show his girlfriend-turned-wifes desperate financial situation before New Jersey businessmen she had long known came to the rescue. Prosecutors elicited the evidence through the testimony of an FBI agent for a second day Wednesday as they sought to show that Menendez, 70, conspired with three businessmen and his wife, Nadine Menendez, 57, in a bribery scheme that enriched the couple with gold bars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and a luxury car. The Menendezes and two of the businessmen have pleaded not guilty, while the third pleaded guilty and is scheduled to testify. Nadine Menendezs trial was postponed until July after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Poor Bob Good. The Virginia representative, 58, frequently calls Donald Trump the greatest president of my lifetime, voted against certifying the 2020 election results, and repeated Trumps false claim that Joe Biden stole the 2020 presidential election. He even traveled to the Manhattan courthouse where Trump is being tried on 34 felony counts to show his support. But he committed an unforgivable crime: Good endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primaries, so Trump humiliated him by endorsing Sen. John J. McGuire III over Good in the GOP primary battle for Virginias 5th Congressional District seat. MORE POLITICS Jill Biden takes a shot at Donald Trump Trump is still seething over Robert De Niros appearance at his criminal trial Trump signals that he expects a conviction: Mother Teresa couldnt beat these charges Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA, Trump posted on Truth Social. He turned his back on our incredible movement, and was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave a warm and loving Endorsement But really, it was too late. We tell this tale as a set-up to Trumps latest knife-in-the-back victim: Fox host Shannon Bream, who was attacked after she interviewed Trump attorney and mouthpiece Alina Habba. I never knew Shannon Bream was so naive, Trump posted. In her interview with my Representative, Alina Habba, Shannon just suggested that Crooked Joe Biden was not involved in my show trial. HOW STUPID! Not only is he involved, he is virtually leading it and all of the other trials as well, meaning his people because hes not mentally sharp enough to lead anything. Just take a look at the DOJ/White House thugs involved, and everything else. Biden is incompetent and feels that Weaponization is the only way he can win. Hes counting on the Shannon Breams of the world to get him there. Bad day for Shannon! Habba, in an interview, parroted Trump by raging against the un-American prosecution. Like Trump, Habba hinted that she expects a conviction, complaining about the trial taking place in New York and the unfair jury instructions. At one point, though, Bream took issue with Habba accusing Biden of orchestrating the criminal case against Trump. How can you say the Biden administration is not responsible? Habba asked. Its a state trial, Bream, the Fox News Sunday host, responded. Its [Manhattan district attorney] Alvin Bragg. Whether you think there is a political motive for him, its not connected to the DOJ. I mean, the feds passed on these election charges. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Disneys Twice Upon a Year Sale is already a magical occasion, but its gotten even more enchanting thanks to an extra 25% off select sales items. Through Sunday, June 2, you can take an additional 25% off clothing, toys, home goods and accessories with the code EXTRA25. There are nearly 1,000 mouse-approved markdowns on site, but we might be most excited about the Loungefly backpacks, because these licensed designs are pricey and they typically dont go on sale. Among the best Loungefly backpack deals we spied is the Minnie Mouse Sequined Loungefly Mini Backpack in Hydrangea, a great summer color and the perfect #somethingblue if youre a Disney bride on her bachelorette party. The mouse-eared mini is reduced from $99 to $52 when you use the promo code. If youre a Marvel fan, you can also grab the Scarlet Witch faux leather mini backpack from Loungefly for $45, instead of $89. Who knows, it could be just the thing to make you move through Disney ride lines in no time at all... Special-edition park packs are included in the mix, too, like the Disneyland Icons Loungefly Mini Backpack at $44 off. This one features Sleeping Beautys Castle and an array of Anaheim, California, fan-favorite attractions all beneath a firework-bursting nights sky. Shop the entire Twice Upon a Year Sale while these Disney-diehard deals are live. And take a peek at the Loungefly picks on sale (all with the EXTRA25 code), before they fly off the site for good. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Hydro Flask has unveiled a new limited-edition color collection for summer and this one throws some serious shade at its rivals. The new Ombre Collection from Hydro Flask includes four ombre shades Ginger, Matcha, Honey and Bayberry. The new color options are available in its lineup of All Around Travel Tumblers (32 oz and 40 oz) and Wide Mouth Water Bottles (24 oz), ranging in price from $35 to $40. The new hues in the Ombre Collection are a return of the beloved color fades that previously made an appearance in drops like the Polar Ombre Collection and the Shave Ice Ombre Collection. These popular color combinations have sold out and are considered rare finds among Hydro Flask fans. Hydro Flask has said that this Ombre launch is a limited-edition collection and we dont expect it to last for long based on previous ombre drops. Hydro Flask even warned that shoppers on social media to grab yours before theyre gone! The Ombre Collection is the latest release from Hydro Flask, which recently introduced the Sugar Crush collection of drinkware inspired by the sweetness of spring. This collection features a refreshing swirl palette that is available in its Wide Mouth Water Bottle (24 oz and 32 oz) and All Around Travel Tumbler (32 oz and 40 oz), which retail for $35-$45. Hydro Flasks new Ombre Collection also comes on the heels of Stanleys Matcha Cream Quencher Tumbler launch last week. Stanley released four Quencher Tumbler sizes in the new green color for $20 to $45 that are also sold on Amazon. Plus, Hydro Flask includes free shipping on online orders over $39. Heres look at all of drinkware you can snag from Hydro Flasks new Ombre Collection. Tumblers Water Bottles Shop for even more Hydro Flask drinkware in an extensive rainbow of color options here. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. ANAHEIM, Calif. Unsolicited, Luis Gil brought up Gerrit Cole while he was trying to explain his pitching brilliance in Spanish with Yankees interpreter Marlon Abreu translating to a group of English-speaking writers crowding his space. The right-hander was masterful again in the Yankees 2-1 win over the Angels 2-1 on Wednesday night. He pitched through the eighth inning after never going longer than 6 1/3 as a big leaguer and held the Angels to two hits, a single and solo homer, while striking out nine and walking two. This years Pride celebrations come at a dark and uncertain time for Louisiana generally and especially for the LGBTQ community. Led by Gov. Jeff Landry and a cadre of hateful members of the state legislature, Louisiana lawmakers this year passed several bills targeting the queer community. Most troublingly, these measures seem designed to purposefully attack children and young adults. Take the so-called Bathroom Bill that lawmakers passed last month. There is no evidence showing trans people using a bathroom aligning with their gender puts anyone at risk. On the other hand, there is clear evidence that forcing trans people, particularly trans women, to use the opposite genders bathroom puts them at increased risk of assault and rape. This is especially true in the spaces specifically targeted under the bill: prisons, shelters for the unhoused, and school settings where bullying queer kids is already a major safety concern. Sadly, lawmakers werent done there. Republicans swiftly and overwhelmingly moved this states version of a Dont Say Gay bill, limiting what topics students and teachers can talk about in classrooms around the state. In addition to being an affront to free speech, it is clearly intended to limit the rights of queer people. During consideration of the bill, Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, one of the bills chief supporters, acknowledged the measure does not apply to cisgendered teachers discussing their relationships. On May 28, the Senate approved a House bill forcing schools to use trans kids deadnames and pronouns. This pointless and cruel mandate serves no other purpose other than to target trans children. From the relative progressive confines of Orleans Parish, it can be easy to see the threats to the rights and wellbeing of queer people as remote, particularly for those who arent members of the LGBTQ community. But one need only look as far as the 600 block of Iberville Street to be reminded of how imminent those threats are. Thats where a man in April ripped out of the sidewalk a plaque commemorating the UpStairs Lounge fire and threw it in the trash. The 1973 arson took 32 lives and was the deadliest attack on the LGBTQ community in the United States until the 2015 shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Florida. Even in progressive New Orleans, it took nearly 50 years for City Hall to publicly acknowledge the tragedy and apologize for its mishandling of the subsequent investigation and for the disrespect shown to those who died. One haters removal of the plaque may strike some as a one-off or a purely symbolic snipe at the LGBTQ community, but memorials carry enormous weight and convey important messages particularly at a time when elected leaders publicly deride trans people because they know it has become acceptable in many quarters. That, however, is what makes New Orleans' annual celebration of LGBTQ life so important. The annual Pride parade and events across our city during June are a powerful symbol of queer existence, joy and resistance. A Bismarck man who pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiring with others to distribute fentanyl was given a sentence of time served as of June 3 and will be transported to a Veterans Affairs facility in St. Cloud, Minnesota, for treatment. Alexander Hollis, 35, was given credit for one year and nine months he's spent in jail since being arrested in April 2022. He will also serve three years of supervised release. His guilty plea was entered under an agreement with federal prosecutors. During Hollis' sentencing hearing Thursday, defense attorney Ashley Flagstad said Hollis, who previously served in the military, had been accepted into the VA facility effective June 3 for treatment of substance abuse and undisclosed mental health issues. She suggested Hollis be released from jail at that time and be transported to the Bismarck Greyhound bus depot for transport to St. Cloud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Volk had originally recommended Hollis be sentenced to nearly four years in prison with credit for time already served but supported Flagstad's proposal, citing Hollis' cooperation with federal authorities regarding prosecution of indicted co-conspirators Layne Johs and Cyrus Hollis. Alexander Hollis conspired to possess and distribute pills containing fentanyl in and around Bismarck-Mandan in late 2021, according to court documents. At the time of his arrest, Hollis was found in an apartment in the 1300 block of East Thayer Avenue with more than 200 suspected fentanyl pills. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he could have received a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor accepted the time-served sentencing recommendation. Traynor did note Hollis has a lengthy criminal history indicative of substance abuse, and Hollis' admission he was involved in the alleged conspiracy to support his own addictions. Court documents indicate Johs, Cyrus Hollis and a third person identified as Kayla Wember are scheduled to be tried in federal court in Fargo beginning on July 29. Neither Flagstad nor Vold offered comment to the Tribune regarding details of Hollis' veteran status. Thousands of pounds to help small rural businesses in North Devon and Torridge diversify or install carbon reduction measures could be returned to the government if not spent by next March. Some 798,000 of more than 2 million allocated in 2023 was part of the levelling up agenda for rural investment over a two-year period. But with only a fraction of the fund claimed last year, North Devon councillor Robin Milton (Ind, Bishops Nympton) is urging businesses to submit applications before the deadline this November. The level of spend last year was abysmal, but it wasnt well promoted. Its now on the home page of North Devon Councils website so I am hoping we get more applications. The money is being administered by North Devon +, an economic delivery partner for both councils. Grants range from 2,500 to 35,000. Small and micro businesses with up to 50 employees and a turnover of less than 10 million and social enterprises are eligible. The money can be used to buy equipment or software that will help them to create jobs or introduce new technologies or processes with a focus on net zero. Applicants will be required to provide match funding of 10-20 percent, depending on the size of the grant. Cllr Milton added: There is around 600,000 left in the fund that needs to be spent by the early part of 2025. Its a decent intervention of around 80 per cent to projects which can really help farmers and small rural businesses. Its a substantial fortune for this area, I would hate to see that money go back to the government. Time is ticking away to get a project in place by the deadline so I would urge people to get cracking. There are three key priorities for funding: I have only talked with Vladimira Yaneva up to the moment when pre-trial proceedings were launched against her, Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov said last Thursday. He did not contest the authenticity of the recorded conversations and even noted that Yaneva was bringing up facts. At the same time, he denied being pressured by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to finish Yaneva. The published to date recordings of conversations between Yaneva and another judge, Rumyana Chenalova, (see here, here, here and here) show that there various officials have talked with Yaneva on Friday, February 13, 2015. This is the day after Borisov read from Brussels the 400-years-in prison sentence for the so-called case Worms. A week later, on Thursday, February 19, the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) removed judge Yaneva from her post of Chair of the Sofia City Court on the proposal of Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov. Tsatsarov based his request on pre-trial proceedings that have been launched against Yaneva. At the SJC meeting it became clear that on Tuesday, February 17, the prosecution has launched proceedings in the case Worms against two known perpetrators a former police officer and Vladimira Yaneva. Thus, it turns out that Tsatsarov denies having spoken to Yaneva after February 17. However, in the recordings, Yaneva admits to Chenalova that Sotir Tsatsarov has personally spoken to her by phone on the evening of February 18. The reason for the call was to inform her about the pre-trial proceedings launched against her: Vladimira Yaneva: And then, Sotir calls me around 7 or 8 pm in the evening and tells me: I want you to learn it from me. Tomorrow I will file with the Council that it was initiated No, proceedings have been initiated against you and tomorrow we will file the removal request with the Council. If this is true, the Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov lied shamelessly. The result of the conversation with Tsatsarov is that Yaneva has been warned what to expect. The next day she communicated with the Chair of the Supreme Administrative Court Georgi Kolev, who informed her what happened at the meeting of the SJC. After learning that she is facing the risk of being indicted and removed automatically from the post, Yaneva instructed Joro (Georgi editors note) to conspire with the people (in SJC editors note) to remove her under a more favorable paragraph of the Judicial Power Act. So far, Vladimira Yaneva has refused to comment on the recordings. civil protest rally, demanding the resignation of Sotir Tsatsarov, is going to be held tonight (Monday, November 16) at 6:30 pm in front of the main Courthouse in Sofia under the motto Stop the finishing of the judicial reform in Parliament; # RESIGNATION of the Chief Prosecutor and dissolution of the SJC! *** If you find this article useful, support our work with a small donation. Pay a Bivol Tax! We will highly appreciate if you decide to support us with monthly donations keeping the option Monthly Like this: Like Loading... This post is also available in: Bulgarian Calumet Heritage Area President Gary Johnson will give a talk to the Crown Point Rotary Club next week. Johnson will address the Rotary Club at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday at the Youche Country Club, 2301 W. 129th Place, Crown Point. It's the club's weekly lunch meeting. Johnson, who has been spearheading an effort to bring the Calumet Region more national recognition for its historical and cultural significance, hails from Gary. He graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering and a master of science in industrial administration. He served as chairman, president and CEO of an electronic materials producer in Ohio and returned to the Calumet Region in 2012 to serve as president of Mortar Net Solutions in Burns Harbor. He's won a number of awards over the course of his business career, including being inducted into the Northwest Indiana Society of Innovators in 2015. He serves on many boards like the Northwest Indiana Society of Innovators, the Crisis Center in Gary and the Calumet Heritage Partnership. He's led the effort to create a National Calumet Heritage Area that would bring national recognition to the culture and history of the bi-state area that encompasses Northwest Indiana, Chicago's far South Side and the south suburbs. He plans to discuss the importance of preserving local history and celebrating the Region's rich natural and cultural assets. For more information or to RSVP, contact Joseph Skibbie at jskibbie@jrsmarcom.com. JASPER COUNTY A 54-year-old woman died in a car accident Monday on Interstate 65 in Jasper County, the Indiana State Police said in a statement. Troopers from ISP were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash at approximately 1:30 a.m. on I-65 northbound near the 216 mile-marker, one mile north of the Rensselaer exit. Preliminary investigation reveals a 2012 black Jeep was northbound when the vehicle unknowingly left the right side of the roadway and overturned, ejecting all occupants, police said. "First responders treated the injured at the scene and three of the occupants were transported to area hospitals for treatment of severe injuries," police said. The fourth occupant, Jeanette Nyiramariza, of Chicago, was declared dead on scene. Neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected to be factors in the crash, police said. "The Indiana State Police reminds all drivers and occupants to always wear their seatbelt as required and designed," police said. "The safest place to be in a crash is inside the vehicle with the safety belt fastened." Valparaiso University is petitioning a Porter County judge to modify the charitable trust that provides three paintings it has been looking to sell. In an email to the campus community on Tuesday, VU President Jose Padilla said the university had filed the petition and they would update the campus once the court made a ruling. "We will continue to take steps that we believe are in the best interest of all our students, in support of our mission and the Universitys future," Padilla said in the email. The artwork in question is Georgia O'Keefe's "Rust Red Hills," Frederic E. Church's "Mountain Landscape" and Childe Hassam's "The Silver Vale and the Golden Gate." Under the current terms of the Percy H. Sloan Trust, which provided the artwork in the Brauer Museum of Art or funding for them, the paintings can only be sold if the proceeds are reinvested into the museum's collection. The petition, filed before Porter Superior Court Judge Michael Fish, stated the terms of the agreement have become "impracticable, impossible and wasteful." The university noted its student enrollment decreased by nearly one-third in the past five years and a projected $9 million operating deficit has resulted in its inability to provide financial resources for museum improvements, or for it to display the three paintings in the museum securely. The artwork pieces have been in storage since last September. The university also argues in its petition that the O'Keeffe and Hassam paintings are considered modern art and don't fit with Sloan's condition that income from the trust is used to purchase conservative art. VU further claims Richard Brauer the museum's founding director and namesake knew of the "conservative" restriction when he purchased both artworks. VU said in the court filing that funds from the sale of the three artwork pieces would be used to renovate freshman dorms and to create the "Sloan Gallery of American Painting" to display other works of the Sloan collection to students as a way to increase student enrollment and "more consistently honor Sloan's intent of furthering conservative art and art education." The O'Keeffe piece has previously been valued at $15 million, while Hassam's has been valued at $3.5 million and Church's at about $2 million. Brauer and Philipp Brockington, a law professor and museum benefactor, filed a lawsuit last year to block the sale. A Porter County Superior Court judge ruled in October neither man had standing to sue. Brockington died in November. VU first announced its intentions to sell the painting to fund renovations for freshman dorms last February. The announcement received pushback from the campus community, as well as art museum directors and curators. Close Nursing students learn the basics in the skill center before moving on to the simulation center at Valparaiso University. Valparaiso University Simulation Specialist Susie Zaweski explains the use of simulators in the Sim Center to Valparaiso City Council President Robert Cotton in the Sim Center. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Director of the Center for Experiential Learning Gail Kost speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Simulation Specialist Susie Zaweski explains the use of simulators in the Sim Center to Valparaiso City Council President Robert Cotton in the Sim Center. Valparaiso University Assistant Dean Lynette Rayman speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University nursing student Eleanor Schuler speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University nursing student Mariya O'Grady speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Assistant Dean Lynette Rayman speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. PHOTOS: $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program Nursing students learn the basics in the skill center before moving on to the simulation center at Valparaiso University. Valparaiso University Simulation Specialist Susie Zaweski explains the use of simulators in the Sim Center to Valparaiso City Council President Robert Cotton in the Sim Center. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Director of the Center for Experiential Learning Gail Kost speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Simulation Specialist Susie Zaweski explains the use of simulators in the Sim Center to Valparaiso City Council President Robert Cotton in the Sim Center. Valparaiso University Assistant Dean Lynette Rayman speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University nursing student Eleanor Schuler speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University nursing student Mariya O'Grady speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Valparaiso University Assistant Dean Lynette Rayman speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan speaks at a press conference announcing $1 million in federal funding secured for Valparaiso University nursing program. Gov. Eric Holcomb left Indiana for Europe Thursday to promote the state's advantages in microelectronics, semiconductors and energy to current and prospective partners in the public and private sectors. The Republican chief executive is scheduled to visit the Netherlands, Belgium and France on his third international trade mission this year and his 23rd since taking office in 2017. "Coming on the heels of our second Indiana Global Economic Summit, it's more top-of-mind than ever that our international partners have been key to the record-breaking levels of investment coming into Indiana in the last few years," Holcomb said. "These three countries have helped us level up in semiconductors and microelectronics and have forged new and prosperous relationships with our higher education institutions." The Netherlands is the first stop for the Indiana delegation, which includes the governor; Janet Holcomb, the state's first lady; Commerce Secretary David Rosenberg; representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corp.; and executives of the Applied Research Institute, one of the state's strategic innovation partners. The group is scheduled to confer there with leaders from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands Shefali Razdan Duggal. In Belgium, the Hoosier delegation is slated to meet with Redwire, a global leader in the space industry; Chamber of Commerce Antwerp; representatives of the European Union External Action Service in charge of Economic and Global Issues; and Jan Jambon, minister-president of Flanders, with which Indiana signed a memorandum of understanding in December 2023 to strengthen cooperation on semiconductors, life sciences and energy. Also on the agenda are meetings with imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, that last year partnered with the state and Purdue University to advance research and development in Indiana's semiconductor sector and recently opened a new research and development hub on Purdue's West Lafayette campus. Finally, in France, Holcomb will attend the U.S.-France D-Day Anniversary Ceremony and visit Utah Beach with Carver McGriff, a D-Day veteran and Hoosier, to pay respects to members of the armed forces during a visit to Normandy. Records show Indiana is home to more than 1,050 foreign-owned business establishments, representing more than 40 countries and territories. In 2023, foreign-owned companies committed to investing $20.49 billion to locate or expand operations in Indiana a 182% increase from 2022 and 71% of the IEDCs total committed capital investment in 2023 and create approximately 8,500 new Hoosier jobs. The cost of the governor's travel is paid using private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation, not taxpayer dollars. 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 Along the teeming narrow streets of this centuries-old trading port, and among the modern-day merchants of the old souk who have immigrated from across the Middle East, South Asia and beyond, an urban project is paying homage to 5,000 years of pearling history in Bahrain. The newest part of the project is the Pearling Path, which opened in February. The urban trail can be followed as a free, self-guided tour that rolls its way through 3.5-kilometers, or just over two miles, of commercial and residential neighborhoods in Muharraq, a centuries-old city across the water from the modern capital, Manama. With the jury still deliberating, its time for those of us who have heard every minute of this trial to place our bets. My prediction is this: Donald Trump will be convicted on nine of 34 counts of falsifying business records. Hell go down for the nine fraudulent checks he signed in the White House in 2017 each a piece of a broader effort to falsify business records and, ultimately, to interfere unlawfully in the 2016 election. I could easily be wrong, of course, but heres my reasoning. To resolve differences with a split-the-baby approach, the jury might decide that Trumps fingerprints are literally on those checks, while the 11 false invoices, 12 false ledger entries and two false checks signed by Donald Jr. and Eric are not as closely connected to Trump, though he was the one who caused the falsification of all of them. Jurors are showing commendable signs of diligence. It would have hurt the credibility of their verdict had they returned with one too soon on Wednesday, the day they began deliberating. On Thursday morning they reheard portions of the judges instructions and many pages of important trial testimony. No one has any idea if they will ask to hear more. I think Trump deserves to be convicted on all 34 counts. But reasonable jurors could legitimately conclude that they are more comfortable with nine. Eighteen teenagers and young men who the authorities said belonged to street gangs were charged on Wednesday with unleashing a wave of gun violence in Brooklyn that killed two 16-year-old boys and injured 10 others over a three-year period. Fifteen of those charged belonged to two gangs, made up of people from Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant, that formed an alliance against other gangs in the same neighborhoods, as well as in Brownsville and Flatbush, the authorities said. The rivalry led to a rash of shootings between August 2021 and May 2024, with gang members shooting at each other on streets populated with pedestrians, cyclists and families, according to the Brooklyn district attorneys office. Some of the people charged were as young as 14 when they committed crimes that included firing guns at people, according to prosecutors. During a news conference, Eric Gonzalez, the Brooklyn district attorney, played a series of surveillance videos that showed young men and boys, wearing hoods or masks, opening fire on busy streets, often in broad daylight. One video showed a young couple walking with a stroller on a sidewalk just before shooting erupted. In another clip, people could be seen scattering, running into stores or ducking behind garbage cans to avoid bullets. Theres nothing easy about sitting through an Abel Ferrara film. Even his slick crime thrillers like King of New York sprawl out psychologically and delve into natural transgression thats sorely missing from films made by Ferraras peers. Theres a reason his work causes such a hullabaloo with critics and audiences alike. Its not so much that Ferrara holds his gaze on the terrifying and morally destructive, its that hes found comfort in treating the audience like both hopeless onlookers and essential initiators of the action. In Dangerous Game, real life and reel life bleed into one another, then its locked and focused on an abusive Hollywood film set. The result is nothing short of uncomfortable, but its all emboldened by honesty thats also sorely missing from similar chamber dramas. Dangerous Game tells the sordid tale of New York-based filmmaker Eddie Israel (Harvey Keitel) as he embarks on the production of his new film titled Mother of Mirrors. The film is being shot in Los Angeles, plus it stars the white-hot Sarah Jennings (Madonna) and Francis Burns (James Russo) as an unhappily married couple falling apart at the seams with questions of religion, drug use and unconventional sex abound. And when Madlyn (Nancy Ferrara, real wife to Abel) arrives in Los Angeles to find a film production cursed with infidelity, drug use and violence, the pot boils over leading into an uncompromising final act. Raw and uncompromising are two words used to describe Ferraras work at large, though I can understand the hesitancy of any audience member or critic for steering away from his difficult films for that exact reason. Ferrara has been derided as a blowhard by some, though youd be hard-pressed to find a more humble, shocking self-reflection of filmmaking and its many deleterious real-life moral effects than Dangerous Game. Madonna has famously disowned the film for being the disgusting, abusive work that drove her to essentially quit acting for a while. And you can certainly see why when watching Dangerous Game, as it uses chaotic format changes between film and early camcorder footage to upset anything clearly meant to be cinematic. This is a polished drama that uses this realistic, non-illusory video format to break the barrier between movie and reality. All in all, Dangerous Game smashes the wall between hopeless onlooker (viewer) and performer (actor) that feels just about as cursed as the set it was produced on. Hearing all the stories about Madonna butting heads with Ferraras approach, which can be likened to pure improv to find a deeper emotional truth in a film, only really emboldens how rare this shocking of a work is. If you find value in that shock is up to you, but this viewer found it spellbinding from beginning to end. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-rays Tumult and turmoil on a film set takes over in Dangerous Game, presented here by Cinematographe in their customary mediabook packaging with slipcase and j-card. The mediabook comes with three different booklet essays, some reproductions of production photos and the custom-molded disc holder that holds the single Blu-ray (BD50) disc. The Blu-ray boots to a standard menu screen with options to play the film, select chapters, browse special features and set up audio and video. Ive got a gash on the knee, but that is a small price to pay. DYLAN TWISS, a 25-year-old from Perth, Australia, on the cheese-chasing contest, a tradition in southwestern England that draws competitors and spectators from around the world. Mr. Twiss won one of the races, and was awarded a large wheel of Double Gloucester. If one is facing a charge of driving with a suspended license, there are better ways to make ones case than from behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. That self-evident reality was momentarily lost on a Michigan man who did just that earlier this month when he appeared via Zoom for a pre-trial hearing in Washtenaw County District Court, leaving a judge perplexed. Im pulling into my doctors office actually, so just give me one second Im parking right now, the man, Corey Harris, 44, told Judge J. Cedric Simpson as he asked for a moment before beginning the proceeding. The video feed from the May 15 hearing showed Mr. Harris in the drivers seat of a vehicle, donning glasses and wearing a seatbelt as he turned the wheel, intently scanning his surroundings for a place to park. Seeking to harness the outrage over an Israeli strike on Sunday that set fire to an encampment and killed at least 45 displaced Palestinians, including children, many diplomats at the United Nations Security Council are backing a new resolution this week that would demand an immediate cease-fire and a halt to Israels military operations in the city of Rafah. But they will have to overcome the objections of the United States, which has veto power on the Council and has signaled it will not support the resolution in its current form. Algeria, the only Arab representative in the current makeup of the Security Council, drafted and circulated the one-page resolution, which says that Israel, the occupying Power, shall immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in Rafah. It calls for an immediate cease-fire respected by all parties, and also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The Council held back-to-back meetings on the war in Gaza on Tuesday and Wednesday, first an emergency session behind closed doors about the strike on the encampment in Rafah and then a scheduled monthly open meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Algerias resolution was expected to go to a vote in the coming days. The human cost is self-evident and appalling, Algerias ambassador, Amar Bendjama, told the Council on Wednesday. These crimes speak for themselves. One U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the United States would block the current version of the resolution, which it views as unbalanced and problematic. He said that the United States had proposed a number of revisions. Israels national security adviser said Wednesday that he expected military operations in Gaza to continue through at least the end of the year, appearing to dismiss the idea that the war could come to an end after the military offensive against Hamas in Rafah. We expect another seven months of combat in order to shore up our achievement and realize what we define as the destruction of Hamas and Islamic Jihads military and governing capabilities, Tzachi Hanegbi, the national security adviser, said in a radio interview with Kan, the Israeli public broadcaster. The Israeli military also said Wednesday that it had seized operational control over a buffer strip along the southern edge of Gaza to prevent cross-border smuggling with Egypt that would allow Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups to rearm. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said repeatedly that controlling the corridor is critical for Israeli security in postwar Gaza. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, said the zone was Hamass oxygen tube and had been used by the Palestinian armed group for smuggling munitions into Gazan territory on a regular basis. He said that Hamas had also built tunnels near the Egyptian border, calculating that Israel would not dare strike so close to Egyptian territory. It was only midmorning, and Eike Schmidt was already way off schedule. As he strolled to an appointment at a market in Florence, Italy, well-wishers repeatedly stopped him to shake his hand, take a selfie or share a gripe, further upsetting his timetable. All of Florence is my natural habitat and has been for years, said Schmidt, who, after being the first foreigner to run the citys storied Uffizi Galleries, is now trying to pull off another coup and become the first foreigner to govern Florence itself. Born in Germany, Schmidt became an Italian citizen last November, which made him eligible to run. My idea is not so much now to become a politician, but really become a manager of the city, bringing in the ideas and experiences he harvested running one of the worlds major museums, he said. Thats quite different from all the professional politicians that weve had in the past decades in Florence, Schmidt added. His campaign slogan Firenze Magnifica, or Magnificent Florence suggests a Florence returned to its Renaissance glory, when the city was a renowned artistic and intellectual hub. As mayor, Schmidt said, he would aim to bring back the splendor of the epoch when the Medici family and its successors ruled the city. Trump is found guilty on all counts Donald Trump has been convicted of all 34 felony counts in a criminal case stemming from a hush-money payment to a porn star on the eve of the 2016 election. He is the first American president to be declared a felon, a stain he will carry as he seeks to regain the presidency. After hearing the verdict, Trump did not visibly respond, my colleague Jonah Bromwich reported from the courtroom. He slowly stood up as the jurors exited, with a frown on his face. He did not look at the jurors as they left, his eyes downcast. The 12 New Yorkers who made up the jury heard weeks of tawdry testimony describing tabloid deal-making, a sexual encounter between Trump and the porn star Stormy Daniels, and the $130,000 payoff that kept her silent. Prosecutors contended that Trump engaged in a fraud against the American people, arguing that he falsified records related to the reimbursement of his onetime fixer, Michael Cohen, who paid her out of his own pocket. Pressure grows to allow attacks on Russia with U.S. weapons Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested yesterday that the Biden administration could be open to tolerating strikes by the Ukrainian military inside Russia using American-made weapons. He said that the U.S., which has so far opposed such attacks, would adapt and adjust its stance based on battlefield conditions. Several European leaders including Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO, and Emmanuel Macron, the president of France have called on President Biden to remove these limits on Ukraine. Blinken made his remarks in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, the first stop in a trip aimed at showing U.S. support for nations facing a hostile Russia. In the U.S., a plant still under construction in Texas will soon turn out 30,000 artillery shells each month for the 155-millimeter howitzers that have become crucial to Kyivs war effort, roughly doubling current U.S. output. Heres a look inside. From July 2021 to February 2022, a 13-year-old girl worked at the Smart plant, where she was recruited to work by Best Practice Service, the suit claimed. The suit also contended that two other children were employed at the plant. The Labor Department said that through the employment of children at its supplier, Hyundai was in violation of the hot goods provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which prevents the interstate commerce of goods that were produced in violation of the minimum wage, overtime or child labor provisions of that law. Companies cannot escape liability by blaming suppliers or staffing companies for child labor violations when they are in fact also employers themselves, said Seema Nanda, the Labor Departments chief legal officer, in a statement Thursday. The suit comes after investigations by Reuters and The New York Times documented the use of child labor by the suppliers of car companies. In 2022, Reuters found that Smart Alabama had used child labor at its facility, and that Kia, which is part of the same South Korean conglomerate as Hyundai, had also used child labor in the South. A 2023 investigation by The Times found children employed at the suppliers of General Motors and Ford Motor. Hyundai imports many of its vehicles from South Korea but has made big investments in factories in the South, spending nearly $8 billion on an electric vehicle plant in Georgia. The United Automobile Workers union has said it hopes to organize workers at Hyundais Montgomery plant. Former President Donald J. Trump can proceed with a lawsuit against Mary L. Trump, his estranged niece, over her role as a source for a New York Times investigation into Mr. Trumps finances, a New York State appeals court said on Thursday. The ruling, from the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court, was a victory for Mr. Trump, though it did not address the substance of his claim: that his niece should be held liable for breaching a confidentiality agreement when she provided financial documents to a team of Times journalists. Those documents became the basis of a series of news articles examining what The Times called Mr. Trumps history of tax avoidance and outright fraud. The series received a Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting in 2019. Mr. Trump sued The Times in 2021 over the articles, accusing the news organization of improperly inducing his niece to provide the documents. Last year, a New York judge dismissed Mr. Trumps claims against The Times and its journalists; the judge also ordered the former president to pay the newspapers legal fees. This February, Anthony Scalici discarded a fork in Florida. Detectives from New York and Florida had been watching him for weeks, waiting for a chance to get a sample of his DNA. Fifteen years before, Mr. Scalicis uncle had been found stabbed to death in a pool of blood in the hallway of his Queens home. But the blood of an unidentified male had also been found at the scene. The police recovered the fork, tested it, and found that Mr. Scalicis DNA matched the blood from the murder scene, as well as DNA that had been found under his uncles fingernail, according to Queens prosecutors. Mr. Scalici, 41, was arraigned Thursday morning in Queens Supreme Court on a second-degree murder charge in the killing of his uncle Rosario Prestigiacomo, 64, according to a news release by Melinda Katz, the Queens district attorney. It doesn't make much sense to the naked eye why Chucky: Season One was met with rave reviews that had TV audiences talking about the show for weeks on end but after watching that first season, it was easy to see why the show reignited horror TV and the franchise. Its dark comedy, silly one-liners, practical gore effects, and excellent cameos from previous characters made it easy to love Chucky all over again. Season Two ups the ante as Chucky tries to take revenge on the three teenagers from Season One, Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Bjorgvin Arnarson), and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind) along with anybody else that gets in his way, including his romantic relationship with Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly). The carnage and mayhem go a long, brutal, funny way this season as Chucky becomes a devoted Catholic. That's right. After Chucky blows up a young boy and frames Jake, Devon, and Lexy, the three teenagers end up at a Catholic School that utilizes punishment and anti-LGBT views to keep these kids in line. It is led by a returning Devon Sawa as the headmaster of Incarnate Lord - the Catholic School where the showrunners have a ton of fun with religious jokes as Chucky murders his way through the new digs. The Chucky narrative though is all over the place and has returning characters from past films showing up as their characters and their real-life actor personas. It can be a little confusing when Jennifer Tilly the actress is playing a version of herself alongside her character Tiffany. But in the voodoo world, anything goes, right? The same is to be said for Brad Dourif's daughter Fiona who plays Nica Pierce in the franchise. In this second season though, she pulls double duty as Nica and evokes the voice of Chucky when someone casts a voodoo spell over her. The showrunners and the three main leads do a great job again of setting the story on track as Chucky preys upon his victims one by one by uttering hilariously offensive lines of dialogue toward women, children, and the gay community. The guts and gore are at an all-time high and the camerawork is slick and explores some inventive ways to shoot kill scenes and comedy with the use of camera phones, titled angles, and tons of metaphors hanging on the wall in the Catholic home. Brad voicing Chucky is exquisite still some 35 years later. He embodies the soul and essence of Chucky with his words and delivery where it's hard to not love Chucky, even when he's killing people. The rest of the cast turn in fantastic preferences and further, their layered issues in their character work inside of drugs, alcohol, and LGBTQ problems - not to mention the Catholic church disciplining them for being kids. Chucky: Season Two is a home run and displays every checked box anyone would want in comedy or horror. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray Chucky: Season Two casts a voodoo spell on Blu-ray via Turbine Medien and Universal in the form of a two-disc Digibook with alternate packaging. The two discs are Region-Free and house four episodes each. The discs rest inside a thick Digibook with a booklet that features essays on the killer doll. It's a great-looking package. Follow live updates of closing arguments in the Menendez trial. Prosecutors had called their first witness, and Senator Robert Menendezs blame-my-wife strategy in his federal bribery trial already appeared vulnerable. An F.B.I. agent was testifying about a search of the New Jersey home that Mr. Menendez, 70, shares with his wife and the gold bars that were found inside a locked bedroom closet bribes prosecutors say were paid to the couple in exchange for political favors by the senator. Although the closet held womens clothing, the agent said, a mans blue blazer was also found hanging inside, seemingly tying Mr. Menendez to the gold and other alleged bribes. The agent stuck by his account even after Mr. Menendezs lawyer, during cross-examination, pressed him and displayed a photograph showing the blazer hanging outside the closet. But the next morning, the agent asked to clarify his testimony. After reviewing photographs of the search, he said, he agreed the blazer was hanging outside the closet. With Donald J. Trumps unprecedented felony conviction on Thursday, what has long been a remote and abstract concept could move closer to a stunning reality: a former president of the United States behind bars. But that wouldnt happen fast. A jury in Manhattan convicted Mr. Trump of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a crime that under New York State law carries a possible sentence that ranges from probation to four years in prison. But Mr. Trump is no ordinary defendant. And while most experts think a prison sentence is unlikely, the judge in the case, Juan M. Merchan, has made it known that he takes white-collar crime seriously. The judge set sentencing for July 11. political memo The outcome of Donald Trumps Manhattan trial on Thursday had seemed almost unthinkable to the Trump team as recently as last summer. Donald J. Trumps run of luck in his criminal cases has expired. Before the conviction on Thursday in Manhattan, the former president had drawn what some of his closest advisers regarded as a defense lawyers equivalent of an inside straight: something close to perfection. Mr. Trump had lost civil cases with costly damages, but the four criminal cases that threatened his freedom were stumbling along so badly that his advisers were often incredulous at his good fortune. In the Florida case in which he was charged with obstruction of justice and unlawfully holding onto classified documents, a Trump-nominated judge had spent so much time puzzling over minor issues that the trial would almost certainly be delayed beyond the presidential election in November. In the Georgia case, the prosecutor who had charged Mr. Trump as part of a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election was caught in a romantic affair with the man she had hired to help her prosecute Mr. Trump. And with the federal charges over his efforts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, the Supreme Court has significantly narrowed the chances of a trial before the election, having taken up the presidential immunity arguments put forth by Mr. Trumps lawyers. His streak ended minutes after 5 p.m. on Thursday, as 12 jurors found Mr. Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal that could have imperiled his 2016 presidential campaign. As the verdict was announced by the jury foreman, there was almost no reaction from Mr. Trumps two rows of friends, family and aides. Mr. Trump sat slack and glum at the defense table. On the bench behind him, his son Eric shook his head from side to side. The courtroom was silent as the foreman repeatedly announced, Guilty. Guilty. When Mr. Trump got up to leave court, his face looked as if hed been punched in the solar plexus. As he entered the aisle of the courtroom, he reached for Eric Trumps hand and they clasped their hands together. The former president left with an entourage that included his longtime friend, the real-estate investor Steve Witkoff. He is my dear friend, Mr. Witkoff said later. I stand with him. Mr. Trump exited the courthouse in his motorcade, smiling out the window at his fans as he typically does. But days of predictions from his allies that the case would end in a hung jury or even in an acquittal did not come to pass. Image Mr. Trump left the courthouse on Thursday in a motorcade. He will be sentenced on July 11, a few days before the start of the Republican National Convention. Credit... Adam Gray for The New York Times Such an outcome seemed almost unthinkable to the Trump team as recently as last summer, according to several people with knowledge of the discussions. Back then, the conventional wisdom among Mr. Trumps lawyers was that the Manhattan case would never see daylight. Mr. Trumps lawyers spent relatively little time thinking about it. Instead they focused on the cases they viewed as far more serious and perilous: in particular, the two federal cases brought by the special counsel Jack Smith. The Trump team liked its chances in the Florida documents case, with a perceived friendly judge and a friendly jury pool, the people with knowledge of the discussions said. But the team was pessimistic about the Washington trial, in which Mr. Trump would face charges of scheming to hold onto power through lies and intimidation. There, they met a judge, Tanya Chutkan, who seemed to them as hostile as the citys residents, who overwhelmingly vote Democratic and had a close-up perspective on the violence that was committed on the former presidents behalf at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Mr. Trumps lawyers thought that the Washington trial would surely be held before the election, and they didnt like their chances. Then, their delay tactics and moves made by Mr. Smiths team meant that the two federal cases were stalled. And the Manhattan trial was suddenly the first one on deck. Some close to Mr. Trump noted an irony: Inside the Manhattan district attorneys office, the hush money case was nicknamed the zombie case. It kept being killed off and then resurrected, according to Mark Pomerantz, who had worked in the office but resigned in early 2022 after the new district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, declined to immediately proceed with prosecuting Mr. Trump. Mr. Bragg was skeptical of relying on the testimony of Michael D. Cohen, who had pleaded guilty to lying to Congress, and people close to Mr. Trump assumed that Mr. Bragg was being pressured into a prosecution that he never truly believed in. But here the case was back on the calendar, set for an April trial, just three months before the Republican National Convention. And the former president and New York native was forced to face a jury in a city that widely despises him. He will now be sentenced on July 11, just a few days before the start of the convention where he is set to be nominated for a third time. In private conversations with his advisers in recent days and weeks, Mr. Trump, who was found liable by two civil juries in the last year and a half in Manhattan, had often seemed resigned to the notion that he would be convicted in this case. He has insisted privately that the verdict can play to his political advantage, just as the indictments energized and consolidated his support in the Republican primaries. He has telegraphed for almost a year now his playbook for managing the fallout. Mr. Trump and his allies on Capitol Hill and in conservative media assiduously prepared their audiences to be outraged, whatever the outcome. There was no need for talking points to be distributed. Everyone knew what to think and what to say. Minutes after the verdict, Mr. Trumps allies said roughly the same thing in simultaneous posts on social media: This was a threat to the U.S. system of justice. His allies whom he endorsed were asked by his team to post on social media in support of him. And one of his top advisers warned on the X platform that a Republican candidate for Senate had ended his campaign after having urged people to respect the verdict. Mr. Trump has asserted, relentlessly and without evidence, that the Manhattan charges are part of a sweeping conspiracy against him, orchestrated by President Biden and unnamed henchmen around him. His allies, chief among them his former strategist Stephen K. Bannon, have already called for congressional Republicans to issue subpoenas to anybody involved in any of the prosecutions of Mr. Trump. Image Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, had declined to immediately proceed with prosecuting Mr. Trump. Credit... Emil Salman for The New York Times For over a year, Mr. Trumps political campaign and legal woes have been completely entwined. Yet while his indictments empirically helped him in Republican primaries boosting his standing in the polls and turbocharging his online fund-raising its less clear what effect a conviction might have for the broader electorate to whom Mr. Trump must appeal to win in November. The publics views of Mr. Trump have long been remarkably stable. Mr. Trump currently holds a lead over Mr. Biden in five of the six closest swing states, according to the latest New York Times/Siena College polls of the states likely to decide the presidential election. Most swing-state voters said that they were not paying much attention to the trial, but Mr. Trump has an opening among undecided voters, who were about evenly divided on whether he could get a fair and impartial trial. Working in Mr. Trumps favor is the fact that, of the four criminal cases Mr. Trump is facing, voters across the country consider the hush money charges to be the least serious. In a national poll taken a month into the trial, Quinnipiac University asked voters if Mr. Trumps conviction in the Manhattan hush money case would influence their vote. Just 6 percent of his supporters said that a conviction would make them less likely to vote for him. While the share is small nationally, such voters could be decisive in closely fought states. Voters have short memories and even shorter attention spans, Neil Newhouse, a Republican pollster, said. Just as the former presidents two impeachments have faded from memory, he said, a guilty verdict in the hush money trial may be overshadowed by the first presidential debate. Theres nothing that has come out in this trial that has been a shocker or a surprise to throw this back into the court of public opinion, Mr. Newhouse added. Its almost a certainty that the conviction will intensify what is already a burning Republican anger across the country. In a Fox News poll taken during the trial, the vast majority of Mr. Trumps supporters said that he was not being treated fairly by the legal system, and half said he had done nothing wrong regarding the payments. So many Republican voters even those who were maybe lukewarm on Trump have been angry in a way Ive never seen our base more angry than after the 2020 election, more angry than after any impeachment trial, Senator J.D. Vance, Republican of Ohio, said. Theres a sense of personal resentment, added the senator, who is on a shortlist to be Mr. Trumps running mate. Here is this symbol of American law and order the courtroom weaponized against the only candidate who ever gave a damn about them. Nobody is working harder to stoke that MAGA fury than Mr. Trump. On Wednesday, the day after the actor Robert De Niro joined Biden campaign staff for a news conference outside the Lower Manhattan courthouse, Mr. Trump regaled reporters about how Trump supporters had shouted down Mr. De Niro. He got MAGAd. He got MAGAd yesterday, Mr. Trump said in the hallway outside the courtroom. He got a big dose of it. Ruth Igielnik contributed reporting. The war in Gaza has produced a blatant disregard for the mission of the United Nations, including outrageous attacks on the employees, facilities and operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. These attacks must stop and the world must act to hold the perpetrators accountable. As I write this, our agency has verified that at least 192 UNRWA employees have been killed in Gaza. More than 170 UNRWA premises have been damaged or destroyed. UNRWA-run schools have been demolished; some 450 displaced people have been killed while sheltered inside UNRWA schools and other structures. Since Oct. 7, Israeli security forces have rounded up UNRWA personnel in Gaza, who have alleged torture and mistreatment while in detention in the Strip and in Israel. UNRWA staff members are regularly harassed and humiliated at Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank including East Jerusalem. Agency installations are used by the Israel security forces, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups for military purposes. UNRWA is not the only U.N. agency that faces danger. In April, gunfire hit World Food Program and UNICEF vehicles, apparently inadvertently but despite coordination with the Israeli authorities. A jury in Idaho on Thursday found Chad Daybell guilty of first-degree murder in the killings in 2019 of his first wife and two of his current wifes children in a case that drew widespread attention because of the couples doomsday religious beliefs. Mr. Daybell, 55, maintained a blank expression as he stood next to his lawyer, John Prior, while the verdict was read on Thursday. In addition to three counts of first-degree murder, Mr. Daybell was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft by deception, one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and two counts of insurance fraud. In 2021, prosecutors charged Mr. Daybell Mr. Daybell and his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, in the deaths of two of Ms. Vallow Daybells children, Joshua Vallow, 7, known as J.J.; and Tylee Ryan, 16. Mr. Daybell was also charged with murder in the death of his previous spouse, Tammy Daybell. President Biden, in a major shift pressed by his advisers and key allies, has authorized Ukraine to conduct limited strikes inside Russia with American-made weapons, opening what could well be a new chapter in the war for Ukraine, U.S. officials said on Thursday. Mr. Bidens decision appears to mark the first time that an American president has allowed limited military responses on artillery, missile bases and command centers inside the borders of a nuclear-armed adversary. White House officials insisted, however, that the authorization extended only to what they characterized as acts of self-defense, so that Ukraine could protect Kharkiv, its second-largest city, and the surrounding areas from missiles, glide bombs and artillery shells from just over the border. The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them, a U.S. official said in a statement issued by the administration. Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long-range strikes inside of Russia has not changed, the statement continued, referring to an artillery system, provided to Ukraine, that has the capability to reach deep inside Russian territory. The decision by Mr. Biden was reported earlier on Thursday by Politico. American officials said that the change in policy went into effect on Thursday. At some point during a routine seven-hour trip from his Oregon district to Washington, Representative Earl Blumenauer, 75, a Democrat who has served in Congress for almost three decades, experienced a depressing epiphany. I distinctly recall crawling on yet another plane to come back for yet another vote that made absolutely no difference and was going absolutely nowhere, he said in an interview. And I had this singular experience of asking myself, Why would you do this? Mr. Blumenauers moment of truth was in fact far from singular. A total of 54 House members, or about one-eighth of the total body, will not be seeking another term this November. As a matter of sheer numbers, the exodus is not history-making. What is striking are the names on the list. There are rising stars, seasoned legislators and committee chairs. But not a single bomb-thrower. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. on Thursday declined requests to have Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack after provocative flags flew on the justices properties. The justices make those calls on their own, Chief Justice Roberts wrote in a letter to Democratic senators. Members of the Supreme Court recently reaffirmed the practice we have followed for 235 years pursuant to which individual justices decide recusal issues, he wrote. The Supreme Court sided with the National Rifle Association on Thursday, finding that the group could pursue a First Amendment claim against a New York state official who had encouraged companies to stop doing business with it after the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Fla. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for a unanimous court, found that the N.R.A. had plausibly claimed a violation of the First Amendment, reversing an appeals court decision and sending the case back for further proceedings. Although a government official is allowed to share her views freely and criticize particular beliefs, she wrote, that official may not use the power of the state to punish or suppress disfavored expression. The case is one of two this term in which the justices have wrestled with when government advocacy crosses a constitutional line into coercion. The dispute centers on whether Maria T. Vullo, who was a superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services, had infringed on the free speech rights of the N.R.A. After a young man killed 17 people in a shooting at a school in Parkland, Fla., Ms. Vullo told insurance companies and banks that they should consider whether to provide services to the group. Claudia Sheinbaums list of accolades is long: She has a Ph.D. and a shared Nobel Peace Prize and was the first woman elected to lead Mexico City, her nations capital and one of the largest cities in the Western Hemisphere. Now she has another chance to make history. Ms. Sheinbaum, 61, is the clear front-runner in the Mexican election on Sunday, putting her in position to become the countrys first female president. But she has an image problem, and she knows it. Many Mexicans are wondering: Can she be her own leader? Or is she a pawn of the current president? Theres this idea, because a lot of columnists say it, that I dont have a personality, Ms. Sheinbaum complained to reporters earlier this year. That President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador tells me what to do, that when I get to the presidency, hes going to be calling me on the phone every day. The dishes at a community center potluck for Indian expatriates near Washington, D.C., ranged from chana masala, a popular northern Indian chickpea curry, to idli, a southern Indian rice cake. The guests views on Indias general election were equally varied. Some praised Prime Minister Narendra Modis economic achievements. Supporters of candidates challenging Mr. Modis party criticized what they saw as his disregard for minorities and democratic norms. What is the vision for India in 2024? the host, Somu Kumar, a manager at a cloud computing company, said recently of that winter potluck. That gets a lot of people excited to talk. Indias 35 million-member diaspora, roughly equivalent in population to Delhis metropolitan area, represents a tiny minority compared with the nearly one billion people who are eligible to take part in a six-week voting process that ends on Saturday. Expatriate Indians also cannot cast absentee ballots under Indias electoral laws. The South Korean marines were sent in after monsoon rains flooded a rural section of the countrys heartland last July. They were looking for missing residents in waist-high floodwaters, but they were not wearing life jackets. Nor did they have buoys or safety tubes. When the ground gave way, five of them were swept away in the churning brown water and one, Lance Cpl. Chae Su-geun, disappeared downstream, yelling for help, and was later found dead. Nearly a year later, the death of the 20-year-old marine has become an impeachment threat for South Koreas leader, President Yoon Suk Yeol. And it has raised the prospect of political instability in the nation, a key United States ally in creating a bulwark against North Korea and China. The South Korean military is no stranger to tragic accidents, but this latest episode has evolved into the first major political crisis for Mr. Yoon since his partys crushing defeat in parliamentary elections last month. The career military officer who investigated Lance Corporal Chaes death has accused the Defense Ministry of whitewashing the inquiry and absolving top military brass of responsibility all under pressure from Mr. Yoon. The severe turbulence that killed one passenger and injured dozens on a recent Singapore Airlines flight led to sudden changes in altitude and airspeed, Singapores Transport Ministry said on Wednesday. Flight SQ321 encountered turbulence about 10 hours into a 13-hour trip to Singapore from London last week, officials said. Many of the 211 passengers had just finished breakfast. The turbulence hit as the plane was traveling over southern Myanmar at an altitude of 37,000 feet, the Transport Ministry said in a preliminary report on Wednesday. When the plane rose unexpectedly by 362 feet, probably because of an updraft, its autopilot pitched it downward, the report said. The plane also sped up unexpectedly around the same time, and the pilots manually hit a brake in response. Two weeks after being shot and seriously wounded in an assassination attempt, Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia was released from the hospital on Thursday and taken to his home in Bratislava, the capital. Miriam Lapunikova, the director of the hospital in central Slovakia where Mr. Fico underwent several rounds of surgery, told the TV3 television station that the prime ministers condition had stabilized sufficiently for him to continue treatment at his residence. Mr. Fico, a combative populist who took office in October after eking out a narrow victory in a parliamentary election, has not spoken publicly since he was shot on May 15 in the Slovak town of Handlova during a meeting with supporters. His return to Bratislava suggested that he would resume control of a government that opponents have accused of eroding democracy and of putting Slovakia on the same authoritarian path taken by Prime Minister Viktor Orban in neighboring Hungary. Spains Parliament approved a landmark law on Thursday that grants amnesty to Catalan separatists involved in the illegal October 2017 independence referendum, a reprieve that could apply to hundreds of people, including Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan leader who has been living in self-imposed exile for seven years. The measure had met with resistance from opposition parties in recent months, and led to widespread anger and huge demonstrations in cities around Spain, with opponents denouncing it as a ploy by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to remain in power. Mr. Sanchez brokered the amnesty deal with the Catalan separatist party Together for Catalonia after his own party fell short of a majority in last Julys general elections. Cries of traitor could be heard from several lawmakers in Parliament when Mr. Sanchez cast his vote on Thursday. Spains judges now have two months to apply the new law, although its opponents vowed to continue trying to block it. Some argue that the measure violates the Constitutions principle of equality because it is unfair to other people facing legal proceedings. In recent days, Ukraine has conducted a series of drone attacks inside Russia, including one of the longest-range strikes of the war, that target radar stations used, at least partly, as early nuclear warning systems by Moscow. On Monday, Ukraine struck a radar station near the border with Kazakhstan that was more than 1,100 miles away, a Ukrainian intelligence official said. Ukrainian experts said the facility was used to detect missile threats from Asia. On Tuesday morning, the governor of the Krasnodar region of Russia reported that a Ukrainian drone was downed in the sky over the town of Armavir, which is home to two radar stations. Ukraine did not report any new strikes that day. Ukraine has used its own drones and missiles to carry out these strikes, but they come as officials in Kyiv have made urgent appeals to the United States for permission to fire powerful American-made weapons into Russia. The Biden administration had for weeks resisted those appeals for fear of getting drawn into a wider war, but it has now agreed to let Ukraine use its weapons to fire into Russia, though only against military sites being used to attack the Kharkiv area. Top Ukrainian military officials have warned that Russia is building up troops near northeastern Ukraine, raising fears that a new offensive push could be imminent in a region that has become a pressure point on strained Ukrainian forces. Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraines commander in chief, said on Thursday that Moscow was redeploying troops toward Vovchansk and Lyptsi, two villages near the city of Kharkiv that Russian forces have been trying to capture for more than two weeks. Other officials have also said that Russia has massed troops further north, across from the Ukrainian region of Sumy, in preparation for a possible ground offensive in that area. These forces are not enough to launch a full-scale offensive and break through our defenses, General Syrsky wrote on Facebook on Thursday. Still, he said, a reorganization of Ukrainian defenses in the area was underway to be prepared to repel assaults. Russias incursion across the border toward Kharkiv has introduced a distressing threat to Ukraines military, which is already under constant assault farther southeast in the Donbas. Commanders have been forced to move troops to the north to shore up defenses while waiting for Western weapons in numbers big enough to have an impact. When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel announced plans late last year to occupy a sensitive corridor of land in the Gaza Strip, along the border with Egypt, the response from Cairo was public, explicit and ominous. It must be strictly emphasized that any Israeli move in this direction will lead to a serious threat to Egyptian-Israeli relations, the Egyptian government said in a statement in English in January, weeks after Mr. Netanyahu announced plans to occupy the so-called Philadelphi Corridor. Egypt said that an Israeli military presence there would violate the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries. This week, the Israeli military announced that it had seized tactical control of the corridor. Yet despite the Egyptian government facing domestic pressure to take a harsher stance on Israel following its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, there has been no public Egyptian comment on the seizure of the corridor. The silence may be a reflection of the dilemma Egypt finds itself in after nearly eight months of war in Gaza. The Israeli military said on Wednesday night that it had taken tactical control over the Philadelphi Corridor a sensitive strip of Gaza along its border with Egypt in a move that could further tax Israels already strained ties with Cairo. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, said the zone was Hamass oxygen tube and had been used by the Palestinian armed group for smuggling munitions into Gazan territory on a regular basis. He said that Hamas had also built tunnels near the Egyptian border, calculating that Israel would not dare strike so close to Egyptian territory. Israeli officials have said seizing the narrow, roughly nine-mile-long area holds crucial importance for preventing Hamas from rearming itself through cross-border smuggling. It must be in our hands; it must be closed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel told reporters in December, after being asked whether Israel still intended to capture the zone. An Israeli military official, who briefed reporters Wednesday on condition of anonymity to comply with military protocol, said that troops had identified at least 20 tunnels running from Gaza into Egypt, some of them only recently discovered. But in briefing reporters later on Wednesday night, Admiral Hagari stopped short of claiming that the tunnels crossed the border. I cant say now that all of these tunnels cross into Egypt, he said. Well inspect that, pass along the intelligence to Egypt. The tunnel shafts in Gaza are located in proximity to the border with Egypt, including in buildings and homes, he added. Well investigate and take care of each of those shafts. A court in Hong Kong convicted 14 pro-democracy activists on Thursday in a landmark political trial. They and dozens of other activists who had previously pleaded guilty now face potential prison time, highlighting the sweeping power of a national security law Beijing imposed to tighten its grip on the Chinese territory. The trial centered on 47 opposition figures politicians, academics and activists whom the authorities accused of conspiracy to commit subversion. Heres a look at who they are. Joshua Wong, 27, became a prominent activist at age 14. Joshua Wong, 27 Benny Tai, 59, was a professor of law at the University of Hong Kong. Benny Tai, 59 Twelve were elected lawmakers, who had often used their presence in the legislature to protest Chinas encroachment on Hong Kongs autonomy. Claudia Mo, 67 Mo had served as a lawmaker for eight years and is known as Auntie Mo. Leung Kwok-hung, 68 Better known as Long Hair, Leung had been a mainstay of the opposition for nearly two decades. Helena Wong, 65 Kwok Ka-ki, 62 Wu Chi-wai, 61 Raymond Chan, 52 Chan was Hong Kongs first openly gay lawmaker. Andrew Wan, 54 Jeremy Tam, 48 Eddie Chu, 46 Lam Cheuk-ting, 46 Alvin Yeung, 42 Au Nok-hin, 36 Twenty-one had been elected district officials, including younger activists who were voted in after months of antigovernment protests in 2019. Gary Fan, 57 Andy Chui, 56 Lawrence Lau, 56 Ricky Or, 53 Andrew Chiu, 38 Roy Tam, 44 Sze Tak-loy, 41 Clarisse Yeung, 37 Ben Chung, 35 Jimmy Sham, 36 Sham was a leader of an activist group that organized huge pro-democracy rallies throughout 2019. Kalvin Ho, 39 Cheng Tat-hung, 35 Henry Wong, 33 Kinda Li, 32 Sam Cheung, 30 Tiffany Yuen, 30 Lester Shum, 30 Lee Yue-shun, 30 Michael Pang, 29 Ng Kin-wai, 28 Fergus Leung, 27 Others were prominent activists who had worked on various social causes. Carol Ng, 53 Ng was a former flight attendant who became a union leader. Winnie Yu, 37 Tam Tak-chi, 51 Gordon Ng, 45 Hendick Lui, 41 Ventus Lau, 30 Mike Lam, 35 Gwyneth Ho, 33 Ho was a journalist who rose to fame in 2019 when, during her livestream of a mob attack on protesters, she herself was beaten by thugs. Frankie Fung, 28 Owen Chow, 27 Lau Chak-fung, 27 Prince Wong, 26 Wong was a student leader who began her activism when she was in high school. Lengthy Detentions Without Trial The 47 defendants were charged in February 2021 with subversion for holding or taking part in an unofficial primary vote to select opposition candidates to run in elections. Unlike other types of offenses, national security cases impose a high threshold for bail, which, in effect, lets the authorities hold defendants for months or even years before trial. Critics say that amounts to a presumption that defendants are guilty. 35 Detained 12 Granted bail In hearings before the trial, 16 contested the charges and 31 pleaded guilty, including Benny Tai and Joshua Wong. On Thursday, the court in Hong Kong acquitted two of the defendants, Lawrence Lau, a barrister, and Lee Yue-shun, a social worker. The charges carry prison sentences that range from less than three years to life. The defendants and their lawyers are barred from commenting on the case. But legal experts say the democracy proponents are probably under enormous pressure to plead guilty because of the lengthy detentions, dwindling financial resources and the long odds of winning in a court modeled after Chinas authoritarian system. The process is designed to be as painful as possible, said Samuel Bickett, a lawyer and activist based in Washington, D.C., who was jailed in Hong Kong after scuffling with a plainclothes police officer in 2019. 31 Pleading guilty 16 Pleading not guilty The Transformation of Hong Kongs Political Landscape Starting in June 2019, Hong Kong was engulfed in widespread protests calling for greater freedom from China.. To quell the unrest, Beijing imposed a national security law in June 2020, days before the 47 democrats held the primary election that would lead to their arrests months later. Most of the 47 have been jailed ever since. Their arrests effectively muted the citys once-vocal opposition. China also imposed a drastic overhaul of election rules for Hong Kong that effectively barred pro-democracy candidates from running for seats in the legislature. One is a major automobile manufacturing province in China, and the other is Germany's leading automobile state. How can they achieve mutual benefit and win-win results through strengthened economic and trade cooperation? On May 29, the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Friendship between Anhui Province and Lower Saxony and the China-Germany (Anhui) Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Promotion Conference were held in Hefei. It is understood that Germany is Anhui's most important economic and trade partner in Europe, with more than 110 German enterprises investing and operating in Anhui and 34 Anhui enterprises operating in Germany. As early as 1984, Anhui Province and Lower Saxony officially established a friendly provincial-state relationship, becoming the first pair of friendly provincial-state relations between China and Germany. Over the past 40 years, the two sides have continuously reached new heights in exchange and cooperation. Lower Saxony is the most important source of investment in Anhui from Germany and is also a relatively concentrated area for large Anhui enterprise projects in Germany. Anhui is one of China's important innovation and manufacturing centers, particularly emphasizing the development of the automobile and its supply chain industries. A relevant leader of Anhui Province stated, "We hope that car companies and upstream and downstream enterprises in the automobile industry chain, such as Volkswagen Group and Continental, will further increase their investment in Anhui. We will also fully support Anhui's automobile industry in accelerating its investment layout in Lower Saxony." "Volkswagen Group has been in China for 40 years, and China has become Volkswagen's second home. Over the past 40 years, Volkswagen Group has rapidly developed alongside China's automobile industry, gaining support and affection from more than 50 million Chinese consumers," said a relevant person in charge of Volkswagen (Anhui) Co., Ltd. They also expressed a commitment to continue contributing to the development of China's automobile industry in the future. Founded in 1871 and headquartered in Hanover, the capital of Lower Saxony, Continental Group has nearly 30 years of development history in Anhui Province, having established an automotive electronics factory and an electronics R&D center in Wuhu. "Since Continental Group began developing in Anhui, it has received strong support from local governments at all levels. Thanks to Anhui's good business environment, Continental Group's development in Anhui has been thriving," said a relevant person in charge of Continental Group China, expressing anticipation for more fruitful cooperation in the future. During the event, a collective signing ceremony for projects and enterprise matchmaking activities were held on-site, providing a platform to facilitate in-depth exchanges between enterprises from both countries. Source: anhuinews.com FINN Partners picks up global marketing duties for World Shoe, which produces antimicrobial, biodegradable shoes in Africa for global consumers. Nigerian-born ensrepreneur Manny Ohonme leads the company alongside a team of marketing, technology and social impact leaders that includes veterans of Nike, Puma and Nordstrom. FINN will drive a comprehensive PR and thought leadership strategy with World Shoe aimed at creating a space in the global retail market for purpose-driven consumers who want to support improvements in health, education and economic opportunities for low-income communities, beginning in key African markets. The shoes are made in Ghana in factories that are 80 percent staffed by trained workers from local communities. Shoes are essential for preventing disease transmission, keeping kids in school and opening a world of economic possibilities, said Ohnome. Were excited to work with FINN to transform the footwear space with our revolutionary product and sustainable model. Rubenstein Public Relations lands NukuDo, a provider of cybersecurity workforce development and staffing solutions. RPR is set to launch an expansive public relations and marketing initiative to hone the distinct messaging, positioning and corporate identity for NukuDo in the U.S. market, with the objective of establishing the company as a frontrunner in the U.S. cybersecurity training arena. The campaign will include media engagement, thought leadership cultivation, brand evolution, and key event participation. NukuDos approach to cybersecurity training offers candidates an immersive six-month paid training program, followed by direct employment within the company for three years. Sage Growth Partners picks up B-Secur, a Belfast company specializing in advanced biosensing algorithms for health devices and platforms. The partnership will focus on supporting existing technology solutions and announcing anticipated FDA approvals of new products through a variety of integrated communication efforts, thought leadership materials, earned media activities, and PR. We sought a proven, experienced and insightful communications and marketing partner. Sage is the right firm to position our company for sustainable growth and create unparalleled value in the market," said B-Secur chief commercial officer Brain Pitsick. Damara Catlett Damara Catlett, who spent about 13 years at The Raben Group, has joined Bryson Gillette as senior VP in the Washington office of the minority-owned strategic communications shop. In her nearly 20-year career, Catlett has had civil rights advocacy, tech policy, civic engagement, and media expertise. Representing Airbnb, she helped forge its strategic communications and domestic lobbying efforts. Catlett worked on the We Must Count effort that generated attention for the disproportionate impact that COVID-19 had on communities of color, and led a campaign for the National Urban League that reached more than 350K Black voters. Bill Burton, who was President Obamas deputy press secretary, launched Los Angeles-based Bryson Gillette. Hes confident that Catlett will expand his firms DC outpost. Damara brings a breadth and depth of experience that will help us deliver outstanding results for a wide range of clients, from social justice advocates to those working to make technology safer, said Burton. FIANNA Fail Local Election candidate Barbara Daly has welcomed Transport Infrastructure Irelands indication that they would be happy to support any measures that would complement an NTA Safe Routes to School scheme at St Cynocs NS, Ferbane located on the N62. Daly was updated on progress by Cllr Eamon Dooley, who has been liaising with Board of Management and the School Principal over an extended period of time to find a resolution to safety issues for children entering and leaving the school. Cllr Dooley had been advised in 2023 by Offaly County Council that the footpath width at the location is insufficient to meet the requirements for safe installation of additional barriers to the front of the school. Cllr Dooley and Barbara Daly attended a meeting of the Board of Management at the beginning of this year to update the Board on the situation. The school is located adjacent to a residential area of the town. Efforts to resolve the issues at the school without impeding other pedestrians or impacting accessibility for wheelchair users of the path were also outlined. Following recent speculation on social media that a barrier would be erected, at Dalys request the County Council have again clarified that there are no plans to install additional barrier on the path in front of Saint Cynocs. Cllr Dooley requested that an urgent meeting with the TII Safety Officer be had and the site examined by the Councils Active Travel Team to consider the option of including the school on the NTAs Safe Routes to School programme. TII have now indicated that they would be happy to support any measures that would complement an NTA Safe Routes to School scheme at the location. Offaly County Council will carry out traffic surveys at the school and develop a proposal in consultation with the school for submission to the NTA. Welcoming this development Daly said that We need to keep children safe going to and from school. This is a priority . Traffic at the school during drop-off and pick-up times presents a safety hazard for school children. However, available footpath width at present doesnt allow for erection of a safety barrier, and the needs of other pedestrians also have to be considered. I welcome the decision of Offaly County Council to work with the school in developing a proposal for submission to the NTA. The support of TII is essential to the resolution of this urgent safety issue. If elected, I will continue to liaise with the School Principal and Board of Management on delivering a long-term solution. Crinkill National School transformed its hall into a vibrant gallery for its pupil art exhibition. The event showcased a stunning array of artwork created by students from all class levels, celebrating the young artists' creativity and talent. The school's gym was filled with colourful paintings, intricate drawings, and imaginative sketches, each piece framed and displayed with care. The exhibition attracted a large crowd of proud parents, teachers, and community members, all eager to admire the diverse collection of artworks. Principal Sandra Nolan expressed her pride in the students' achievements, stating, "Our pupils have worked incredibly hard, and it is wonderful to see their creativity and dedication come to life in this exhibition. The artwork on display is a testament to the talent and enthusiasm of our students." The event was organised by the school's Arts Co-ordinator, Mary Quigley, who played a pivotal role in bringing the exhibition to fruition. "It's been a joy to watch the students explore their artistic abilities," Ms Quigley remarked. "The diversity of styles and mediums on display reflects the individuality and unique perspectives of each child. We are thrilled to provide them with an opportunity to share their work with the wider community." Parents and visitors wandered through the exhibition, taking in the wide range of artistic expressions. From bold, abstract paintings to detailed sketches of local landscapes, the students' work captivated the audience. Many pieces sparked conversations and admiration, with some visitors even expressing interest in purchasing the artwork. The success of the exhibition highlighted the importance of arts education at Crinkill NS and reinforced the school's commitment to fostering a creative environment for its students. As the evening ended, the young artists beamed with pride, knowing their efforts were appreciated and celebrated by all who attended. Crinkill NS's pupil art exhibition not only showcased the students' artistic talents but also brought the community together in celebration of the next generation of artists. All agreed the event was a resounding success. There is good news for Offaly commuters this week after Irish Rail and the NTA proposed a new later service from Heuston Station to Galway, serving Tullamore and Clara. Commuters have long complained about the times of the trains leaving Dublin in the evening but later this year, a new 8.30pm service from the capital will be laid on Monday to Saturday. Unfortunately, passengers will have to wait another few months for the service. From August 25, 2024, the new Heuston/Galway service (Mon-Sat) will begin taking passengers. It will arrive in Galway just after 11pm at night. This will provide a later last service from Dublin to Tullamore and Clara. Fine Gael councillor and Local Election hopeful for the Tullamore area, Neil Feighery, welcomed the news this week. "This is a huge win for local commuters and is a priority that I and my colleagues on Tullamore Municipal District have been working diligently on for a number of years now. READ NEXT: Offaly father and son convicted of animal cruelty offences "Irish Rail senior management attended the March meeting of the Tullamore Municipal District and I highlighted the huge need for a later train service from Heuston to allow more flexibility for service users. The delegation undertook to seek approval from the NTA for a later service. "Tullamore is lucky to have a quality train service and is a key attraction for our town and I know from talking to new residents during my canvass who have settled in town, the train service was key to their decision." A Limerick woman has set up a fundraiser to raise funds for Palestinian children, who need hope of a better life. Sophie Cusack Ryan, aged 21 from Corbally, committed to walk 100km through the month of June to raise money for Save the Children, a humanitarian organisation which helps vulnerable children survive. The Corbally native, who set up a GoFundMe campaign, said the western world had to do everything in its power, to help save the lives of Palestinians, who are dying for no reason. I think that every little thing that the western world can do for these innocent people we have to do. Regardless of how large or small the effort is, these people are dying for no reason. We have to give them hope of a better life, the life that they ultimately deserve. They have nothing and we have the power to give them something and to help them, Sophie said. No matter what race, religion, creed you are. Whats going on in this world isnt right and we need to acknowledge this. We cant keep ignoring it. We ignored it for 70+ years. Its time to make a change. On May 28, Ireland made the historic decision to recognise the State of Palestine, alongside countries such as Norway and Spain. Speaking of Irelands acknowledgement of the State of Palestine, the young woman said: I think its a step in the right direction. Ireland has no problem stepping up for what is right because of what this tiny country has been through. While I cant compare what happened in Ireland over 100 years ago to what is happening in Palestine territory right now, we know the power we have and we know that we must do anything within our power to help them. Big up Ireland. On Monday, May 27, Michael Martin condemned the barbaric Israeli air strikes that killed at least 45 civilians and left many in critical conditions, targeting tents housing displaced people in Rafah, Gaza. According to UN officials, around 80% of Gazas population have fled their homes, and severe hunger is widespread as many are experiencing famine in parts of the territory. Thailand introduces Visa-Free entry for Sri Lankan tourists and expands travel benefits Posted by Editor on May 30, 2024 - 10:22 am The Thai cabinet has implemented several visa measures to boost tourism, extending benefits to travelers from 36 additional countries, including Sri Lanka. These measures will accommodate visitors planning to stay in Thailand for over 30 days. Starting June 1, the number of countries eligible for visa-free entry will expand from 57 to 93, with the duration of visa-free stays extended to 60 days. Newly eligible countries include Sri Lanka, Laos, Albania, Cambodia, China, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Romania, and Uzbekistan. The new regulations also include expanded visa-free and visa-on-arrival schemes, extended stays for students, and reduced health insurance requirements for retirees. The Thai cabinet has approved visa-on-arrival for 31 countries, up from the previous 19. Digital nomads can now obtain multiple-entry five-year visas, allowing them to stay for up to 180 days each visit, with one extension permitted within the five-year period for up to an additional 180 days. Previously, stays were limited to two 30-day periods. Government spokesperson Chai Watcharong highlighted that these changes are aimed at attracting digital nomads, remote workers, freelancers, and individuals interested in learning Muay Thai and Thai cuisine. Foreign graduates can now stay in Thailand for a full year after completing their studies, facilitating job searches, especially in high-demand fields. This is a significant extension from the previous requirement of immediate departure. Currently, around 40,000 foreign students are studying in Thailand. In a notable change for long-stay tourists aged 50 and above, the required health insurance coverage will be reduced to THB 440,000 (USD 12,000) from the previous requirement of THB 3 million (about USD 81,820). This change will take effect in September. Additionally, the cabinet has approved expanding e-visa application services at Thai consulates and embassies, increasing the number of locations from 47 to 94, starting in December. Aiming to attract over 36 million international visitors this year to drive economic growth, Thailand has already welcomed more than 14.32 million foreign tourists as of May 26, generating over THB 682.9 billion (over USD 18 billion). Following a meeting on Tuesday, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced that the extension of visa-free stays from 30 days to 60 days will come into effect in June. The government will also increase the number of visa-free countries from 57 to 93, including Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan, Laos, and others. Additionally, the number of countries eligible for visa-on-arrival will increase from 19 to 31. Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Niger has demanded American troops to leave the country "no later" than 15 September, and the US has agreed. The official statement said the two countries had "reached a disengagement agreement to effect the withdrawal of US forces, which has already begun". The US had relied on Niger as its primary military base, but US threats led to the rupture of military ties, according to Niger's Prime Minister Zeine, who blamed the US for the breakdown in bilateral relations, culminating with the "Yankee Go Home" order. In April, street demonstrators in Agadez, Niger, demanded the withdrawal of US troops. A crucial military relationship between Washington and Niger, its closest West African ally, dissolved after a visiting US official made threats during last-ditch negotiations over whether American troops based there would be allowed to remain, according to Zeine. On March 17, Niger broke off military cooperation with the US, as military leaders move closer to Russia. A senior US delegation left the country the day before, following an unsuccessful 3-day visit to renew contact with the military leaders that ousted the former president. The government of Niger decided to "denounce with immediate effect" the agreement relating to US military and civilian employees of the US Department of Defense inside Niger, which operated a desert drone base built at a cost of US$100 million. In July 2023, a military coup overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, who had been close to Washington, and the US had cut aid to Niger in the aftermath. Niger's military had in the past worked closely with the United States, but are now looking to cooperate with Russia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a visit to Niger in 2023 in hopes of shoring up Bazoum, a stalwart ally of the US, but just four months later, the military deposed Bazoum and put him under house arrest. The military took a hard line against former colonial power France, forcing the withdrawal of French troops in place for nearly a decade last year. China has focused on economic engagement in Africa, while funding infrastructure development through its Belt and Road Initiative. China's investment and aid without attaching conditions such as political and economic reforms have attracted many African leaders who have come to resent what is perceived as Western meddling in internal affairs, where US aid is conditioned on domestic politics. In March, Niger announced the end of its military agreement with the US. Military spokesperson Col. Amadou Abdramane accused the US of raising objections about the allies that Niger had chosen. Abdramane condemned the US for its "condescending attitude" and "threat of reprisals". American forces have used two military bases in Niger, and has more than 1,000 troops stationed at the base. As Niger has distanced itself from the West, it has drawn closer to Russia, and last month, Russian military instructors arrived in Niger as part of a new agreement with its military leaders. Niger has also quit the French-backed G5 Sahel force, saying it was ineffectual and undermined African sovereignty, and launched their own defense pact called the Alliance of Sahel States. Era of Global Transformations Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). I have been following American politics most of my adult life, nearly 7 decades, that includes observations, experiences and the study of history. I must admit that the present political situation falls outside all the political norms of the past. And that is saying quite a lot given the Korean War, the Cold War, the McCarthy witch-hunts, the assassinations of JFK, MLK and RFK, the Viet Nam War, the demise of Richard Nixon, the Central American debacles, the Oklahoma City Bombing, 9/11, and even the elections of 2000, 2016, and 2020 and Covid, not to mention several economic crises. In all of those cases no matter what political course was chosen; I could see what political calculus was at play, and it made some sense. I can understand the competition of partisan politics, even though it can often be quite counter-productive. I understand that there might be long-term goals behind a decision or policy. I also understand short-term goals to deal with what might appear to be a crisis. All of these suggest some political calculus that will end up with an equation that will balance in the end; in other words, a policy that can be matched with the ideals and goals of an American democracy. But we find ourselves now in the midst of a choice of direction, a policy choice by the administration of the current president, Joe Biden, which totally confounds me. That policy is to not only support the current Israeli destruction of a captive civilian population in Gaza, but also to provide the weapons, intelligence, financial support, political support and to even run interference for Israel in the United Nations and with the international community. Operating more like a rogue nation than the level-headed, impartial supporter of democracy and human rights in the world, operating from at least some remnant of moral high ground, we, as a nation, run the risk of ruining our international reputation as a nation of decency, a nation that cares for human dignity. This part of the calculus get us no points, no benefits internationally, except as an example of a powerful nation that disregards any rules, laws or moral imperatives on a whim, to serve some undisclosed, cynical and callus idea of national interest. As far as I can see, only those supporting imposing raw power into human conflicts could begin to support this position. Those who would use raw power that way are not the kinds of leaders or nations I would be proud to list as our supporters. The domestic calculus is equally disturbing. There is no apparent difference between the two presidential candidates on their support of Netanyahu's demonic plan for the imprisoned and defenseless Palestinians in Gaza. So, it is not some partisan advantage that is at work here. As far as the support of the general public, it is clear that a sizable portion of that public is aghast at the Biden administration's position vis-a-vis Netanyahu and Gaza, and are clearly showing their disagreement with demonstrations, with the support of unions, cities, communities, organizations and then with the uprisings on college campuses in opposition to these policies. One would think that that calculus would at least suggest a policy pause to reconsider public opinion in what we call our democracy. With Mr. Biden showing no pause or deviation, that part of the equation is a negative balance. Not only that, but we are facing a monumental presidential election in November between Mr. Biden and a Republican candidate, Mr. Trump, who, although he agrees with our policy toward Israel, seemingly is willing to gut the judicial system to not only stop his legal issues, but to wreak vengeance on a judicial system the had the effrontery to question the actions and activities he chose. In addition, it appears that Mr. Trump would like to run the nation, no longer as a democracy, but more like USA, Inc., with the economy and profit as its goal, and with Mr. Trump as the CEO, who, of course, is also invested in many other money-making schemes at the same time, a kind of diversification. This would be the final step in the progression we have watched over several decades as we have turned into an oligarchy with big money determining most of what happens in this nation, politically and materially. You only need to have watched the growth of income inequality climb to unprecedented levels to see the change from democracy to oligarchy. Mr. Trump would also further deregulate businesses allowing for the even quicker slide into an irreversible climate crisis. But oh, the money to be made. I must add that Mr. Biden's foreign policy of military build-ups and confrontations, sending weapons to allies like Israel and Ukraine and benefiting from the huge profits in the military-industrial complex, is also creating havoc with the climate crisis. His policies do not begin to hint at creating the cooperative connections needed to combat climate change. The real difference between the two candidates is that one wants to continue with a democratic tradition, although one might question it remaining functionality, and the other would seem to be willing to simply walk away from that democratic tradition, replacing it with a business model. So, Biden ends up with a positive number in the equation of governance style, democracy or business as usual. And finally, in an election that is most likely to be very close, Mr. Biden is willing to run the very clear risk of antagonizing an entire set of voters. These are the voters who are opposed to his Gaza policy, not only because it is so clearly racist, but because it is being done in our good name and with our tax money. That feels like a betrayal of all the things we grew up thinking were the very basis of this great nation, those things that were worth defending in the past. Not only that, but those who dare to speak up against that Gaza policy are being harassed, intimidated, and in some cases punished for doing what a democracy is designed to support, speaking up to influence the direction of the nation, when necessary. Those voters may well not vote for Trump, but they may find it difficult, if not impossible, to vote to reelect a president who supports what is happening in Gaza. What to do if you are a Palestinian-American, or even an Arab-American or a Muslim-American; or if you have experienced racism in this nation, or if you just see this as a horrible change in direction for this nation. The temptation to not vote for any candidate for president in the November election will be great. There is no political calculus that justifies the direction that Mr. Biden has chosen for this nation. And the final equation is nowhere near balanced. It does not add up to any risk that is worth the price we are being asked to pay. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. Forget the dead for a moment and think about the living. We're talking about a miniscule, 25-mile strip of land on which, before recent events began, an estimated 2.4 million people lived, went to school, worshipped, farmed, did whatever. When Israel responded to Hamas's nightmarish October 7th attack by bombing northern Gaza into rubble and sending in its military, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed a "complete siege" of the region with "no electricity, no food, no fuel" for what he called "human animals." The Israeli military did indeed promptly proceed to destroy most of the homes, schools, and hospitals, you name it in northern Gaza, while encouraging hundreds of thousands of its inhabitants to flee south, many of whom finally ended up in the city of Rafah, where an estimated nearly 1.4 million refugees were lodged, often in crude tent encampments. Now, jump seven months or so and the Israeli military is, step by step, moving into and destroying parts of Rafah, while once again encouraging its population to flee. In the first weeks after they began doing so, it was estimated that at least one million (yes, 1,000,000!) Gazans did indeed flee that city. As Philippe Lazzarini, head of the chief U.N. agency that aids Palestinians, described it, "Every time they are forced to leave behind the few belongings they have: mattresses, tents, cooking utensils, and basic supplies that they cannot carry or pay to transport." And it's not just the Muslim Gazans who are suffering. The small Christian community there has been brutalized and largely destroyed, too. Talk about a hell on earth! Worse yet, as of now, there's no end in sight and -- imagine this -- the Biden administration nonetheless continues to plan to send vast quantities of new weaponry to Israel. With that in mind, let TomDispatch regular Joshua Frank explore the damage being done and what to make of it. Tom You Can't Turn Back the Clock on Genocide The Bombs, Missiles, and the Damage Done By Joshua Frank As Amal Nassar lay in pain on a bed at the Al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp in northern Gaza, the echoes of explosions and artillery fire could be heard all around her. It was mid-January and she had made her way to the embattled hospital to give birth to a baby girl she would name Mira. While Amal should have been celebrating her infant's delivery, instead she was engulfed in fear, surrounded by the relentless nightmare of death and suffering that she and her family had experienced for months. "I was muttering to myself, 'I hope I die,'" she recalled. Though gut-wrenching, Amal's story is not unlike those of so many other young mothers in Gaza today. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 50,000 pregnant women are barely surviving there, while having babies at the rate of 180 births a day. Many of those women (especially in the north) are acutely malnourished and few received any medical attention before their labor pains began, often weeks ahead of schedule. According to a bleak report released in March by UNICEF, the thousands of infants born in Gaza over the previous two months (and ever since) are at great risk of dying. Many already have, although numbers are hard to come by. "There are babies who died in their mothers' wombs and surgeries were performed to remove the dead fetuses," said Dr. Muhammad Salha, acting director of Al-Awda Hospital, where the situation couldn't be more dire. "Mothers are not eating because of the conditions we are living in, and this affects the infants" There are [cases] of many children suffering from dehydration and malnutrition, leading to death." Western healthcare providers who have returned from Gaza describe genuinely horrific scenes. Dr. Nahreen Ahmed, a Philadelphia-based doctor and the medical director of the humanitarian aid group MedGlobal, left Gaza in late March, her second time on the frontlines since Israel launched its assault nearly eight months ago. What she witnessed has changed her forever. "There's not enough space for us to work closely with the mothers to help them start lactating again. We can't even access them. And to be able to do that, you have to have day-to-day activities with those women, and that is not something that's possible for us right now. Those children need to be breastfed. If they can't be breastfed, they need formula," Dr. Ahmed told Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman. "What we're talking about is women who are squeezing fruits, dates into handkerchiefs, into tissues, and feeding -- drip-feeding their children with some sort of sugary substance to nourish them." Being born amid the rubble, amid a horrifying offensive, will undoubtedly scar future generations -- if, that is, they're lucky enough to survive the constant bombings and the denial of basic necessities like food, fuel, and medical aid. And as yet, despite mounting international pressure, threats of war crimes charges, and claims of genocide, Israel has shown no signs of relenting. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). A man was found dead on the shoulder of Interstate 5 in Clackamas County on Wednesday, the Oregon State Police said. Oscar Lizardo Chaidez, 42, of Salem, was possibly struck by a vehicle, police said. Officers responded to a call at 5:43 a.m. Wednesday and arrived near Exit 282 to find Chaidez. The initial investigation and the medical examiner determined that Chaidez was the victim of a homicide, Oregon State Police said. Police have not announced any arrests and said the investigation is ongoing. They provided no further details, and ask anyone with information about the case to contact them at 1-800-452-7888. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive; dperry@oregonian.com A new South Dakota policy to stop the use of gender pronouns by public university faculty and staff in official correspondence is also keeping Native American employees from listing their tribal affiliations in a state with a long and violent history of conflict with tribes. Two University of South Dakota faculty members, Megan Red Shirt-Shaw and her husband, John Little, have long included their gender pronouns and tribal affiliations in their work email signature blocks. But both received written warnings from the university in March that doing so violated a policy adopted in December by the South Dakota Board of Regents. I was told that I had 5 days to remove my tribal affiliation and pronouns, Little said in an email to The Associated Press. I believe the exact wording was that I had 5 days to correct the behavior. If my tribal affiliation and pronouns were not removed after the 5 days, then administrators would meet and make a decision whether I would be suspended (with or without pay) and/or immediately terminated. The policy is billed by the board as a simple branding and communications policy. It came only months after Republican Gov. Kristi Noem sent a letter to the regents that railed against liberal ideologies on college campuses and called for the board to ban drag shows on campus and remove all references to preferred pronouns in school materials, among other things. All nine voting members of the board were appointed by Noem, whose remarks in March accusing tribal leaders of benefitting from illegal drug cartels and not properly caring for children has prompted most South Dakota tribes to ban her from their land. John Little sits for a portrait in 2022 at the Solis Photography Studio in Sioux Falls, S.D. Two University of South Dakota faculty members, Little and his wife Megan Red Shirt-Shaw have long included their gender pronouns and tribal affiliations in their work email signature blocks. But both received written warnings from the university in March that doing so violated a policy adopted by the South Dakota Board of Regents in December. (Solis Photography via AP)AP South Dakotas change comes in the midst of a conservative quest to limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives gaining momentum in state capitals and college governing boards around the country, with about one-third of the states taking some sort of action against it. Policies targeting gender pronoun use have focused mainly on K-12 students, although some small religious colleges have also restricted pronoun use. Houghton University in western New York fired two dorm directors last year after they refused to remove gender pronouns from their work email signatures. But some fear the South Dakota policy could signify a creep of such efforts into public colleges and universities. Quite frankly, this is the first Ive heard of a state university choosing to use branding standards to eliminate what obviously had become a practice of including pronouns and tribal affiliations to emails, said Paulette Grandberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. But Im not surprised, given the current climate were in. Grandberry Russell referred to the conservative push limiting transgender rights and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as a testing ground to see if discriminatory laws will be tolerated. It is a steady progression, she said. This comes in the form of communications and branding standards. Is that going to be the next frontier in sanitizing the realities of our differences? " The college faculty advocacy group American Association of University Professors is not aware of any other faculty at a public university in the U.S. being required to drop their preferred pronouns in official correspondence, spokesman Kelly Benjamin said. Anecdotally Ill say, because I live in Florida and have seen whats happened with all the anti-wokeness and targeting of education here, I know this is part and parcel to a longer-term agenda, Benjamin said. A spokeswoman for the University of South Dakota declined to answer questions about whether its administrators or the University Faculty Senate had been consulted before regents adopted the policy, referring questions to the Board of Regents. Shuree Mortenson, a spokeswoman for the regents, said all six universities under the regents board umbrella were given the opportunity to review the policy, but ultimately, the Board of Regents made this decision. She declined to say whether other faculty at any of the five other schools had received warnings about not using gender pronouns, tribal affiliation or other identifiers, but defended the new policy as providing consistency to safeguard the brand. Mortenson did not answer questions about whether the inclusion of tribal affiliation in official public university signature blocks had been considered by the regents before adopting it or whether tribal leaders in the state had been consulted. When the policy was announced to faculty in January, Little said he and Red Shirt-Shaw asked schools administrators how the new policy would impact the inclusion of tribal affiliations. It was clear that they had not considered that this would impact Native employees, Little said. The U.S. had long tried to eradicate Native American communities and cultures through warfare, assimilation and other means before recognizing tribes inherent right to govern themselves. Indigenous children, for example, were taken from their communities and forced into Native American boarding schools, which systematically abused students. Red Shirt-Shaw said in social media posts that being told she could not list her tribal affiliation as part of her signature felt like further erasure of Native people in South Dakota. The ability to share my tribal affiliation as well as gender pronouns signals that I am a person who values the lived experiences of others, she said. Both she and Little have begun listing their tribal affiliation and pronouns in the body of their emails, which the university currently is allowing. The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota said it has heard from faculty and students at the University of South Dakota who are concerned about the new policy. The ACLU is considering next steps to address it. Maybe their intent was to suppress pronoun usage in email signatures, but as is often the case with any limitation or suppression of free speech, theres always unintended consequences, said Samantha Chapman, an advocacy manager for the ACLU South Dakota. There is also a component here of double erasure. There are plenty of queer Indigenous folks in South Dakota. ___ By MARGERY A. BECK Associated Press. Associated Press journalist Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona, contributed to this report. The Oregon Department of Justice has crossed the one-year mark on its review of whether to open a criminal investigation into the Democratic Party of Oregon for misreporting the donor who gave the party $500,000 in the final weeks of the 2022 election. At the time, Democrats reported the money was from a Las Vegas payment processing company called Prime Trust. After The Oregonian/OregonLive inquired about the transaction, the party said the money was actually from Nishad Singh, an executive at the disgraced cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Under Oregon law, it is a Class C felony to make or accept a campaign contribution under a false name. Oregon elections officials in the Secretary of States office, overseen by a director who previously worked for the Democratic party, investigated the incident and referred a potential criminal case against Singh to the Oregon Department of Justice. At the same time, Oregons then-Acting Secretary of State, Cheryl Myers who is now Oregons deputy secretary of state slashed the fine on the Democratic Party for misreporting the source of the donation from $35,000 to $15,000 and agreed not to pursue a criminal case. A state lawyer had written in a legal memorandum that the Democratic Partys efforts to correctly identify their huge donor were lackluster and any other reasonable person would not have been satisfied with the amount of due diligence. But the Secretary of States office ultimately issued a press release stating that the investigation did not find clear evidence that the Democratic Party of Oregon knew the true donor when they reported the contribution. Last May, The Oregonian/OregonLive requested a copy of the Secretary of States investigation to learn more about the scope of the inquiry and what officials found. The Secretary of States office said it had turned the investigation file over to the Department of Justice, and the Department of Justice declined the news organizations public records request citing an ongoing criminal investigation. Roy Kaufmann, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Justice, said last May that the agency had not ruled out opening a criminal investigation of the Democratic Party of Oregon. We have made no determination as to the scope of our inquiry, Kaufmann wrote in an email. On Wednesday, Kaufmann did not offer any new information. Our work is ongoing, he wrote. In March, Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder and CEO of FTX, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for defrauding hundreds of thousands of customers and investors by diverting their money to make risky investments, give big donations to both political parties and support a lavish lifestyle with private jets and purchases of expensive real estate in the Caribbean. Singh has pleaded guilty to fraud and is awaiting sentencing, as are other FTX executives. The U.S. government has been working to recover the funds where possible. Brad Martin, the partys executive director, told The Oregonian/OregonLive in 2022 that Democrats accepted the money without knowing much about its origin. It was the largest donation they ever recorded in Oregons campaign finance database. They used the funds to attack the Republican candidate running for governor in 2022, Christine Drazan, in the final days of the election. Martin did not respond to a text message requesting comment Wednesday afternoon about the states ongoing review. The Democratic Party of Oregon turned $500,000 over to the U.S. Marshals Service on June 9, 2023, according to the states campaign finance system. The same day, the campaigns of Gov. Tina Kotek, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley each donated $100,000 to the party. U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici also donated $25,000, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer gave $50,000 and U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle gave $15,000, according to the state. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who has contributed over $100,000 from her campaign to the Democratic Party of Oregon, last year recused herself from the justice department review. Rosenblum is not the only lawyer with close ties to both the Department of Justice and Democratic Party of Oregon. The attorney for the Democratic Party of Oregon, Harry Wilson of the Portland firm Markowitz Herbold, has joined other lawyers from his firm in representing the state as a contracted special assistant attorney general on multiple high profile cases, including suing software giant Oracle over the failure of Cover Oregon and suing members of the notorious Sackler family over allegations the family siphoned off money from pharmaceutical company Purdue. In light of Wilsons work for the Democratic Party, Markowitz Herbold asked the justice department to waive the professional conduct rule that normally prohibits lawyers from representing clients whose interests might be adverse to each other. The DPOs interests do not necessarily align with the states interests, Markowitz attorney Lauren Blaesing wrote in a request for the state to waive the conflict, noting that at the time of her letter, Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, a Democrat, was considering whether to open an investigation into the partys misreporting of the $500,000 donor. We do not believe there is a significant risk that our firms ability to represent the DPO is limited by the firms responsibilities to the state in the Purdue, Wyatt, Willamette, Talmage, and Maney matters, she wrote. We can continue to fully, completely, and diligently represent the state in the Purdue, Wyatt, Willamette, Talmage, and Maney matters and our firm can do the same for the DPO. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Udland signed the conflict waiver. Hillary Borrud is an investigative reporter. Reach her at 503-294 4034, hborrud@oregonian.com or @hborrud. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. The company that bought Portland-based FlightStats in 2016 is laying off three-dozen of its staff in Oregon as it consolidates technology operations in India and the United Kingdom. FlightStats was a Portland startup that provided live flight tracking information to airlines, airports, travel agents and travelers. It sold its business in 2016 to a company later known as Cirium, which retained some Portland operations though all employees were working remotely. Cirium notified Oregon workforce officials this week that its in the process of laying off 73 U.S. employees, mostly software engineers. Thirty-seven of those workers are in Oregon. They layoffs begin July 31 and will continue in stages until December. Cirium said it is retaining 21 Oregon employees. Oregons unemployment rate remains near a historic low, 4.2%, but there have been a spate of high-profile job cuts recently. Nike is laying off 740 at its headquarters near Beaverton, for example, several wood products companies are cutting jobs in rural parts of the state, and Campbell Soup Co. plans to lay off 330 over the next two years as it closes the old Pacific Foods facility in Tualatin. This article has been updated with additional information about the number of Oregon workers Cirium will retain. -- Mike Rogoway covers Oregon technology and the state economy. Reach him at mrogoway@oregonian.com or 503-294-7699. Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Listen to this episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian podcast where reporter Lizzy Acker interviews Laura Hill who helped design the iconic PDX carpet. Listen below or wherever you listen to podcasts. Laura Hill was about 30 years old when she helped create one of Portlands most-iconic designs. When the Port of Portland was redesigning Portland International Airport in 1986, architecture and design firm SRG Partnership led the project. Hill retired from the firm in 2008, but at the time she was a principal interior designer for SRG. The focus of the project, according to Hill, was to create a retail hub in the center of the airport, which ultimately became the Oregon Marketplace. Their main goal, the ports goal, was to make the airport a welcoming gateway to Oregon and to reflect on the Pacific Northwest, Hill said earlier this month, from her home in Willsonville. The airports carpet, she said, was a piece of a much larger project. The airport is once again in the midst of a major renovation. Renovation is, as Hill pointed out, somewhat of a constant for airports. But this time, as the airport unveils a new terminal, it will feature something old: sections of newly manufactured green carpet, originally designed with help from Hill as part of the renovation that began in 1986. I must say, of all of my design work in my career, it was not the one I thought would be still so popular, Hill said, and I just wish I had a nickel for every time that the carpet was reproduced. Because the carpet has been reproduced again and again. On hats and socks, on cookies and cakes, on yoga pants, and even on peoples skin as tattoos. While she may not have a jar of nickles, she and the firm do take pride in the reach of the design and the fact that it has become so beloved. Back in 1986, Jon Schleuning was the SRG Partnerships partner in charge of the project, running the architecture end of the renovation while Hill led the interior design aspects. SRG never really distinguished between architecture and interiors, Hill said. They saw that every element of design needed to work in unison. It was a joy to work with a firm that had that attitude. It became clear through the design process that the goal of the entire project was to represent Oregon. The big idea that emerged was the Oregon marketplace, Hill said. And it was a unique operational model that was not seen in other airports. In general, she said, airports were run by a big generic national concessionaire. It was the same in every airport, Hill said, except the name on the T-shirt changed. The Oregon Marketplace was different. All the retailers were Oregon-based and represented the values of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Powells Books, Nike and Norm Thompson Outfitters were there, among others. It was a risk, Hill said, but the Port was willing to take it. These were the days when airports were more porous, before 9/11 changed layouts into before and after security spaces. The Oregon Marketplace ultimately became a destination. Prices were the same at the airport as in downtown Portland and people might come and shop there who werent even waiting for a plane or a passenger. According to Hill, people from Washington would even come to shop at the airport to avoid sales tax. The design of the Oregon Marketplace also needed to represent the state. At the time we started the project, that central area of the main terminal was kind of a dark interior volume with scattered retail and food and waiting areas and automobiles on display down the concourse, Hill said. Definitely not much personality that reflected Oregon. The flooring was carpet even then, which was not standard at the time and the Port was willing to use it again, since luggage with wheels was quickly becoming the norm. There were a few people on the client committee who absolutely hated the sound of rollerboards. Click click click click click click over tile floors, Hill said. They were adamant about not having that. Hill and her team started touring other airports with carpets. They visited Las Vegas, where people were stealing carpet tiles for souvenirs. In Albuquerque, the carpet reflected the colors of the desert. In Atlanta, the airport was contending with cigarette burns and chewing gum with a drab beige carpet covered in a brown and black pattern meant to camouflage the burns. It was not to be our inspiration, Hill said, of the Atlanta model. When they finally started designing the carpet, everyone had ideas, she said. There was a big proponent for roses, rose patterns, because of the Rose City, Hill said. I found that to be more appropriate, perhaps, for a hotel ballroom than the airport. It was too Portland-centric. Then, the interest moved to mountains and waves. But even that was too specific to Western Oregon, Hill said. Another idea was clouds and raindrops, which for obvious reasons was rejected, she said. The concept for the carpet didnt just have to look good underfoot, but it had to be interesting in a great expanse, out across the concourses and long stretches of floor. So, Hill said, the team decided to look for things that were less representational and more symbolic. And as we were looking at those geometries, she said, someone said, Gee, that kind of looks like the screens of the control tower where airplanes are Xs and runways were little diamond patterns. That idea took off, she said, adding, I dont mean that as a pun. The final design isnt anything you would actually see in a control tower, Hill said, but we were inspired by that concept. The design became more of a symbol that could be interpreted in many ways. We were never intending it to be a realistic pattern, Hill said, but one that was interesting and colorful closeup, and created that large scale that worked in huge areas as well. The color palette was also a crucial element in the design. In selecting the colors, part of it was we wanted it to be warm and inviting, which we consider the Northwest attitude, Hill said. They wanted to represent Oregon with the green. And Hill insists the main color of the carpet is green, not teal. I kind of cringe when I hear it called teal because, to me, its not teal, she said. Heres how she describes the color instead: Its not forest green, but I think its a green of nature. Its not a fake green. Its a green that you might find in leaves and trees. The background of the carpet isnt just green, it is speckled with golds and blues, to help hide spills and stains. The same speckled background can be found on the dark blue companion carpet that was designed to be at the edges of the green version, to separate the Port of Portland carpet from airline-specific carpets and other flooring. The blue border was also used in high-traffic areas where sections of the carpet would need to be changed out over time, so new and old parts of the carpet wouldnt be so apparent. In the late 80s, when the carpet was designed, there was no computer-aided design also known as CAD. Everything was hand-drawn. We drew it small, but we also had to draw it at full scale and try to understand what it did in a large scale, Hill said. So there were people who spent weeks and weeks drawing patterns and testing ideas. They settled on a carpet manufacturer, U.S. Axminster, a company making woven carpets that are more expensive than tufted carpets but last longer. U.S. Axminster had CAD and it was Hills first exposure to the program. It was a glorious new experience for Hill and the designer who went with her. U.S. Axminster also could print out full-scale pattern sheets that were around four feet wide and 10 feet long, Hill said, so now she and the designer could look at the pattern closer to the scale it would be in the airport. The carpet was finally installed in 1988. It remained a ubiquitous part of the airport for nearly 30 years. It saw travelers through three vastly different decades, going from the age of waiting at the airport bar for arrivals to posting photos of your feet on the carpet for Instagram. When the carpet was mostly removed and replaced in 2015, there was a city-wide response to the loss. The old carpet was the hero of the year and was even chosen as the Grand Marshal of the Rose Festivals Starlight Parade. What made the carpet so legendary? Hill, humbly, still thinks it is because it is part of the whole. Theres a warmth and a softness and an inviting feel, I think, to the whole airport, she said, and the carpets a part of that. Lizzy Acker covers life and culture and writes the advice column Why Tho? Reach her at 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com or @lizzzyacker Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. The RCMP has verified that human remains discovered near Dawson Creek, B.C., belong to a female recorded to disappeared late last year. Remains of Missing Mom of 2 Were Found in Dawson Creek, B.C. Renee Didier, who sometimes went by the surname Supernant, was found on May 18 close to the Kiskatinaw River, west of Dawson Creek in northeastern B.C. A Cree female and mom of two, Didier was last seen on surveillance footage at a gas station on December 3, 2023, and was reported to disappeared on December 7. Didier, who was 40 at the time of her vanishing, is one of four people who disappeared from Dawson Creek last year. This city, situated in the Peace River region about 740 kilometers north of Vancouver and 20 kilometers from the Alberta border, has a population of 12,000. These disappearances led to extensive community searches and raised concerns about public safety. Among the missing is Didier's cousin, Darylyn Supernant, last seen on March 15, 2023. Also missing are 24-year-old Dave Daniel Domingo, believed to have been in a rural area near Dawson Creek on August 29 when police responded to reports of a possible shooting, and 24-year-old Cole Hosack from Prince George, who was last seen on New Year's Eve at the same bar where Didier was last seen before she disappeared. On April 19, police also discovered human remains on the 219 Road near Saskatoon Creek, north of Dawson Creek, but have not yet recognized them. Didier's grandmother, Verna Cardinal, characterized her as a "fun-loving" mom of two who was always laughing. Cardinal expressed concern that Didier had been associating with individuals involved with drugs shortly before her disappearance, though it was unusual for her not to stay in contact. Cardinal was supposed to pick Didier up the night she disappeared, but Didier never called. The family has requested privacy following Didier's discovery. Anybody with data about Didier's demise or disappearance is pressed to contact the Dawson Creek RCMP at 250-784-3700 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Read Also : Bodies of Two Missing Kansas Women Were Found in Chest Freezers Buried in Cow Pasture Autopsy on the Remains of the Cree Woman An autopsy conducted by the BC Coroners Service was performed on the remains, although both the Coroner and the police have refrained from disclosing any details regarding the possible cause of Didier's death. The remains were found on May 18 west of Highway 97 by an industrial worker conducting river water tests. Didier was reported missing on December 2nd, and surveillance footage from a gas station in the early hours of December 3rd captured the last known images of her. Didier, who occasionally used the surname Supernant, was 40 years old at the time of her disappearance. She is among four individuals who have gone missing from Dawson Creek within the past 15 months. The others still missing are Darylyn Supernant, Cole Hosack, and Dave Domingo. The BC RCMP North District Major Crime Unit has taken over the inspection and is seeking any data from the public that may help in their inquiries. A Missouri Blue Springs school district now has zero school meal debt after a fifth grader made a fundraising initiative to erase it. The student, Daken Kramer, is an 11-year-old boy studying at Thomas Ultican Elementary School in Blue Springs, Missouri. He has earned himself recognition and praise from the school administration, parents, teachers, and community members for his extraordinary act of kindness. Fifth Grader Pays Off School Meal Debt Ambitious with Overwhelming Support As the school year came to a close, the fifth grader noticed that a large number of his friends and classmates were struggling to pay for school lunches and meals. Kramer decided to take action and received unexpectedly overwhelming support that cleared out the debt. Daken initially aimed to raise $3,500 to cover the meal debt at his school. To achieve this, he posted a heartfelt video on his mother's Facebook page, calling on friends, family, and local businesses to contribute. His plea resonated far and wide, resulting in donations pouring in from across the country. In just a few weeks, Daken raised an impressive $7,370, more than doubling his original goal. This amount was enough to clear all the meal debt at Thomas Ultican Elementary School and provide nearly $4,000 to reduce the debt at Blue Springs High School. Daken's efforts showcased the power of community and generosity, inspiring many to contribute to his cause. A Legacy of Compassion and Community Support Daken's mother, Vanessa Kramer, expressed immense pride in her son's initiative. Having grown up in a food-insecure household, Vanessa understood the significance of Daken's mission. She shared that during the COVID-19 pandemic, federal aid provided free school meals, which for some students was the only time they received breakfast. This realization motivated Daken to take action and support his peers. Local media coverage further boosted donations, with messages of support coming from across the nation. One donor from New Jersey praised Daken for his leadership and compassion. The overwhelming response highlighted the impact one individual can have on their community. During his fifth-grade graduation, Daken was honored with the announcement of the Daken Kramer Legacy Award, which will be given annually to students who demonstrate exceptional kindness and determination. His teacher, Kristi Haley, praised Daken's heart, drive, and grit, which served as an inspiration to others. Addressing the Broader Issue of School Meal Debt School meal debt is a significant issue both locally and nationally. State data shows that nearly 30% of the 15,000 students in the Blue Springs School District are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Despite the reduced cost, many families still struggle to keep up with payments, and the district faces a meal debt of around $235,000. The School Nutrition Association's 2024 survey revealed that the median district meal debt was $5,495, with some districts experiencing debt amounts as high as $1 million. The end of federal aid for free school meals in 2022 has exacerbated this issue, leaving many students without access to essential nutrition. Daken's act of kindness highlights the broader problem and underscores the need for systemic solutions. While eight states have made school meals free for all students regardless of income, many states, including Missouri, have yet to adopt such measures. Vanessa Kramer hopes that her son's initiative will inspire others to take action and advocate for change. Daken's story demonstrates the power of individual effort and community support. His fundraising success has not only alleviated meal debt for many students but also set a precedent for future acts of kindness. As Daken transitions to middle school, his legacy of compassion will continue to inspire others to make a difference in their communities. Please Hit Subscribe! If you have received benefit from this or any of my other 4,600+ articles, please follow this blog by signing up (with your email address) on the sidebar to the right (you may have to scroll down a bit), above where there is an icon bar, Sign Me Up!: to receive notice when I post a new blog article. This is the equivalent of subscribing to a YouTube channel. Please also consider following me on Twitter / X and purchasing one or more of my 55 books. All of this helps me get more exposure, and (however little!) more income for my full-time apologetics work. Thanks so much and happy reading! *** Johann Eck (1486-1543) was a German Catholic theologian, who was arguably one of Martin Luthers two most important and formidable debate opponents, along with Erasmus (Ive compiled several of his devastating replies to Luther as well). He was ordained as a priest in 1508 and in 1510 was installed as a professor of theology at the University of Ingolstadt in Bavaria: which lasted for thirty years. He mastered both Greek and Hebrew and had a prodigious memory, boundless energy, and very considerable debating skills. He famously engaged Luther for eighteen days in the Leipzig Disputation of July 1519. Ecks argumentation might be said to be one of the quintessential examples of the Catholic theological and polemical response to the Protestant Revolt up to the opening of the Council of Trent in 1545. This is one of many excerpts from his best-known and principal volume, Enchiridion of Commonplaces Against Luther and Other Enemies of the Church. It first appeared in 1529 and eventually went through 91 editions. I will be using a later edition from 1541 (translated by Ford Lewis Battles, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1979; now in the public domain). Ecks words will be in black; my interjections in blue, and citations from Luther and other famous Protestants in green. I use RSV for scriptural citations. *** [On Mt 16:17 ff.] It is clear how he meant to designate the person of Peter, for he set forth his old name, Simon, his new name, Peter, the name of his father Bar-Jonah and properly shows this. You are, and upon this rock, Jerome explains: That is, upon you, and I will give you the keys, etc. And through these words the holy fathers attest that the primacy was promised to Peter, and upon Peter the Church was to be built. Cyprian, Epist 68.8, to Pupian, and 54.7, to Cornelius. Origen, On Matthew, Hom. 6. Jerome, Against the Pelagians, 1 and On Matthew, 16. Ambrose, Sermon 47. Augustine, Against the Epistle of Donatus. Chrysostom, On Matthew. [On Jn 21:15] To Peter alone as the prince of the Apostles in the presence of the other Apostles, He committed the flock: for to [pastor] in the Scriptures means to rule, and in Ez 34:2; Isaiah 44:28; 56:11; Jer 22:22; Jer 23:1; Ps 72:70f, kings are called shepherds. This is true in Hebrew and in Greek. That the primacy was given to Peter through these words, Cyprian, De Simplicitate Praelatorum, attests. Jerome in his Discourse on Peter to Eustochium, Ambrose in his Sermon on Penance, and on the Faith of Peter. Chrysostom On John, Hom. 8, on Repentance, Augustine, Questions on the New and Old Testaments, Qu. 75. Peters primacy is proved from many other passages of Scripture Lk 22:31f: Simon, behold Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail, and you, being once converted, may confirm your brethren. Note that He prays for Peter more than the rest, and petitions two things: indefectibility of faith and power to confirm the faithful. . . . Mt 10:2, Mk 3:6, Lk 6:14, where the appointment of the Apostles is described: by all Peter is named as head, first, that Jerome and Chrysostom reckoned on behalf of his primacy on the basis of Jn 21 that Peter alone came to Christ across the waters of the sea. This is the sign of a singular pontificate, says Bernard, On Consideration, to Eugenius. And if to the other disciples it is commanded that they let down their nets, only to Peter is it said launch out into the deep [Lk 3:4]. So ponders Ambrose. We have now heard from the holy fathers: all attribute the primacy to Peter, first promised by the Lord, then after the resurrection set forth over the whole Church. Let some thing be added to these prior proofs. Dionysius, On the Divine Names, ch. 3. Athanasius in his Epistles to Marcus, Liberius, and Felix II, in which he abundantly proves the primacy of the Pope. Eusebius H.E. [History of the Church], 2.14. Augustine, On Johns Gospel, Tract. 56, Against the Donatists, 2, etc. Lactantius, Divine Institutes 7. Reason persuades that there was a high priest under the old Law, whose authority was heard [Dt 17 [:9]. And the monarchical rule is best: and such is the order in the Church Triumphant. [Deuteronomy 17:9-12 and coming to the Levitical priests, and to the judge who is in office in those days, you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision. [10] Then you shall do according to what they declare to you from that place which the LORD will choose; and you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you; [11] according to the instructions which they give you, and according to the decision which they pronounce to you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside from the verdict which they declare to you, either to the right hand or to the left. [12] The man who acts presumptuously, by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die; so you shall purge the evil from Israel.] This is beautifully confirmed by Gregory Nazianzus: Moses in doubtful times provided for the synagogue [Dt 17: 10ff]. Why should not Christ have provided for His bride the Church? . . . [Objection] And since the Church was built upon a rock, but his rock was Christ [1 Cor 10:4] it cannot be referred to Peter, and other foundation can no one lay; save that which has been laid [1 Cor 3:11]. . . . [Reply] Even if Christ is the chief rock and primary foundation, yet He has vicars and substitutes, secondary rocks. For alongside Pauls statement that Christ alone is the foundation stands the statement of John [Rev 21:14]: And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them, the twelve names of the twelve apostles, and of the Lamb. . . . [Objection] The primitive Church of the Apostles would not have been a Church, since Peter, 18 years after Christ had suffered, was still in Jerusalem. Where then was the Roman Church? . . . [Reply] Luther is mistaken that Peter came so late to Rome: for he was five years in Pontus, and seven years at Antioch in Asia; afterwards he migrated to Rome: although in the 18th year he came from Rome to Jerusalem to the Council. Now, nothing applies to the matter. For Peter was the supreme pontiff wherever he was, although by the revelation of the Spirit, as St. Marcellus the martyr says, he chose a see for himself at Rome. Therefore Peter was for a time supreme bishop before he became Bishop of Rome. . . . [Objection] Peter never was at Rome. . . . [Reply] The very ancient man Hegesippus, who came to Rome under Anicetus in the year of our Lord 160, wrote in Book 3 of On the Destruction of Jerusalem, how Nero sought a pretext for killing the Apostles, and when the command was given that the Apostles be seized, Peter was asked that he give himself over to another. Dionysius Bishop of the Corinthians, living at Rome A.D. 50, says: You having admonition from Peter and Paul, have joined the planting (plantation) of the Roman Church. Also both men arriving and teaching in this city at the same time, were crowned too with martyrdom in like manner at one and the same time. A certain writer named Gaius under Pope Zephyrinus attests the same thing. Saint Ignatius, a disciple of John the Evangelist, writes to the Tarsians: What of the fact that Peter was crucified? That Paul and James were cut down with swords? That John was banished to Patmos? And in his letter to the Romans.: Not just as Peter and Paul do I bid you: for they were Apostles of Jesus Christ, but I am the least. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon, Against Heretics, 3.1., says as follows: Matthew gave the Scripture of the Gospel to the Hebrews in their own language, while Peter and Paul proclaimed the Gospel at Rome, and founded the Church. And Ch. 3: By the two most glorious apostles Peter and Paul, the Churches of Rome were founded and established. Tertullian, living A.D. 150, wrote in Against Marcion, 3: To the Romans, Peter and Paul left the Gospel with the seal of their own blood. And On the Prescription of Heretics, 36, speaking of Rome, he adds: Where Peter is brought into equality with the Lords passion. Eusebius of Caesarea, [History of the Church], 2: says: In those times of Claudius, by the mercy of divine providence, he led Peter, the most approved of all the Apostles, and the greatest in magnificence of faith and merit of virtue, the prime prince, to the city of Rome. And in the book De Temporibus: . . . Peter, a Galilean by birth, the first pontiff of the Christians, after he had first founded the Church of Antioch, proceeded to Rome, where preaching the Gospel he persevered for 25 years as bishop of the same city. . . . Jerome, On Famous Men, c.1; Simon Peter, son of John of the province of Galilee, of the village of Bethsaida, brother of Andrew the Apostle, and prince of the Apostles, after his episcopate of the Church of Antioch, and preaching of the dispersion of those who had believed in the circumcision in Pontus, Galatia, Cappodocia, Asia, and Bythynia, in the second year of the Emperor Claudius hastened to Rome to overcome Simon Magus; there he occupied the episcopal see for 25 years. Dionysius the Areopagite, St. Pauls disciple, attested the same to his fellow-disciple Timothy, concerning the passing of the Apostles. Linus the next pope after Peter, wrote to the Easterns in behalf of the martyrdom of Peter in the city. Ambrose in Sermon 67, says: Let us not think it came to pass without cause, that on one day, in one place they bore the sentence of one tyrant, suffered on one day, so that together they came to Christ, in one place, lest Rome should be deprived of either one. etc. And further on: In the city of Rome, which obtained the chief position and headship of the nations, he speaks of Peter and Paul. Papias of Jerusalem, the hearer of John the Evangelist, attests that Peter wrote his first canonical epistle at Rome. . . . [Objection] How could Peter have been the rock, when in Mt 16:18f Christ said: Get behind me, Satan [?] . . . [Reply] he had not yet received the keys, had not yet been confirmed, and had not yet the fulness of the spirit come upon him. Therefore he was not yet the rock, but after the resurrection Christ founded the Church upon him, as Jerome expressly states in his Commentary on Matthew, at that verse. Lastly, Chrysostom and Hilary would not apply the name of Satan to Peter, but to the devil, the supporter of this advice. [I slightly modified the awkward overly literal translation] . . . * Please Hit Subscribe! If you have received benefit from this or any of my other 4,600+ articles, please follow this blog by signing up (with your email address) on the sidebar to the right (you may have to scroll down a bit), above where there is an icon bar, Sign Me Up!: to receive notice when I post a new blog article. This is the equivalent of subscribing to a YouTube channel. Please also consider following me on Twitter / X and purchasing one or more of my 55 books. All of this helps me get more exposure, and (however little!) more income for my full-time apologetics work. Thanks so much and happy reading! *** Johann Eck (1486-1543) was a German Catholic theologian, who was arguably one of Martin Luthers two most important and formidable debate opponents, along with Erasmus (Ive compiled several of his devastating replies to Luther as well). He was ordained as a priest in 1508 and in 1510 was installed as a professor of theology at the University of Ingolstadt in Bavaria: which lasted for thirty years. He mastered both Greek and Hebrew and had a prodigious memory, boundless energy, and very considerable debating skills. He famously engaged Luther for eighteen days in the Leipzig Disputation of July 1519. Ecks argumentation might be said to be one of the quintessential examples of the Catholic theological and polemical response to the Protestant Revolt up to the opening of the Council of Trent in 1545. This is one of many excerpts from his best-known and principal volume, Enchiridion of Commonplaces Against Luther and Other Enemies of the Church. It first appeared in 1529 and eventually went through 91 editions. I will be using a later edition from 1541 (translated by Ford Lewis Battles, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1979; now in the public domain). Ecks words will be in black; my interjections in blue, and citations from Luther and other famous Protestants in green. Line breaks imply breaks in the text. I use RSV for scriptural citations. *** St. Paul gives thanks to God in his prayers, 0 Most Reverend Father and Prince, when he hears of the charity of Philemon and of the faith which he had in the Lord Jesus, and toward all his saints [Philemon v. 4-5]. [I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints], For Paul, supremely conscious of the secrets of God, had an insight that the faith of any man shines before God when he strives to conform it as much as possible to the saints and friends of God, just as Israel believed not only the Lord but also Moses his servant [Ex 14:31]. [. . . and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.] And all good and sincere men have earnestly distinguished themselves from the time of Christs passion even to the present day, but not more than befits wise men [Rom 12:16]. [Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.] But those who (neglecting this Apostolic rule) have walked in wonderful things above themselves [Ps 130:1] [O LORD, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.] and exalted themselves as Lucifer and the noonday demon [cf. Ps 91:6], unwilling to believe in the saints of God, are deceived, and have been given over to the precipice of errors, while they are not afraid to despoil those ancient apostolic men, remarkable in learning, eminent in moral character, notable in authority, and famous for miracles. . . . he who is not convinced by the harmony of the succession of holy fathers in the Church, by the profession and unanimous verdict of councils, must with insolent and proud rashness dash headlong into all sorts of abominable errors. Luther preferred to follow this insane and mad rashness, with his confederates, rather than piously believe, with Philemon, in the saints of God, and the rule of faith which the whole Church observes. For with perverse will he murmurs against the ministers of God, the most holy fathers, and the whole Church, putting his own judgment (0 utterly blind pride of the vainest of men!) ahead of all the foremost men of the Church. So, for example, Luther wrote: Therefore, I now let you know that from now on I shall no longer do you the honor of allowing you or even an angel from heaven to judge my teaching or to examine it. For there has been enough foolish humility now for the third time at Worms, and it has not helped. Instead, I shall let myself be heard and, as St. Peter teaches, give an explanation and defense of my teaching to all the world I Pet. 3:15. I shall not have it judged by any man, not even by any angel. For since I am certain of it, I shall be your judge and even the angels judge through this teaching (as St. Paul says [I Cor. 6:3 ]) so that whoever does not accept my teaching may not be saved for it is Gods and not mine. Therefore, my judgment is also not mine but Gods. (Against the Spiritual Estate of the Pope and the Bishops Falsely So-Called, July 1522; from Luthers Works, vol. 39, 248-249) But he didnt disregard all of tradition, by any means. As usual, he was a mixed bag: He [Karlstadt] would like with such smoke and mist to obscure altogether the sun and light of the gospel and the main articles of Christianity, so that the world might forget everything that we have hitherto taught. (Letter to the Christians at Strassburg in Opposition to the Fanatic Spirit, Dec. 1524, tr. Conrad Bergendoff; in LW, v. 40) The amazing thing, meanwhile, is that of all the fathers, as many as you can name, not one has ever spoken about the sacrament [of the Eucharist] as these fanatics do. . . . Certainly among so many fathers and so many writings a negative argument should have turned up at least once, as happens in other articles; but actually they all stand uniformly and consistently on the affirmative side. (That These Words of Christ, This Is My Body, etc., Still Stand Firm Against the Fanatics, March 1527, tr. Robert H. Fischer; in LW, v. 37) Since our baptizing has been thus from the beginning of Christianity and the custom has been to baptize children, . . . if we are going to change or do away with customs that are traditional, it is necessary to prove convincingly that these are contrary to the Word of God. (Concerning Rebaptism, Jan. 1528, tr. Conrad Bergendoff; in LW, v. 40) [T]he Anabaptists proceed dangerously in everything. Not only are they not sure of themselves but also they act contrary to accepted tradition . . . (Ibid.) [I]f the first, or child, baptism were not right, it would follow that for more than a thousand years there was no baptism or any Christendom, which is impossible. For in that case the article of the creed, I believe in one holy Christian church, would be false. . . . If this baptism is wrong then for that long period Christendom would have been without baptism, and if it were without baptism it would not be Christendom. . . . But the fact that child baptism has spread throughout all the Christian world to this day gives rise to no probability that it is wrong, but rather to a strong indication that it is right. (Ibid.) Further, it is dangerous to accept such new teaching [a merely symbolic Eucharist] in contrast to lucid and open texts and the clear words of Christ, and to abandon this old belief (which from the beginning till now has been maintained in all of Christendom) on the basis of such poor [Scripture] passages and thoughts as [our opponents] have thus far brought forth . . . (Letters II, ed. and tr. Gottfried G. Krodel; to Landgrave Philip of Hesse, 20 May 1530; in LW, v. 49) [Y]ou would be troubled not only for the sake of your soul, which would be damned thereby, but for the sake of the whole Christian Church, for if you allow any to teach against the long and unanimously held doctrine of the Church when you can prevent it, it may well be called an unbearable burden to conscience. . . . For we must not trifle with the articles of faith so long and unanimously held by Christendom, . . . (To Duke Albert of Prussia, Feb. or early March 1532) See also my articles, and book: Martin Luthers Remarkably Pro-Tradition Strain of Thought [1-18-08] The Catholic-Sounding Luther: 25 Examples [6-16-08] Martin Luther: Catholicism is Christian [6-12-13] Top Ten Remarkable Catholic Beliefs of Martin Luther [1-19-15] The Catholic Luther : An Ecumenical Collection of His Traditional Utterances (Dec. 2014, 166 pages) Luther had, however, rejected at least fifty Catholic doctrines or practices by 1520, before he was excommunicated (as I have documented form his own words). Like I said: mixed bag. *** Christ did not write any book, nor did He bid the disciples or apostles to write one, yet He gave many precepts concerning the Church; hence when about to send apostles out to plant the Church, He did not say, Go write, but Go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature [Mt. 24:14], Therefore the law was written on tablets of stone, but the Gospel on hearts. Since you are a letter of Christ, sent out by us, and written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tablets of stone, but in the physical tablets of the heart [2 Cor 3:3]. Thus the apostles without the Scripture of the New Testament chose Matthias [Acts 1:22ff], ordained seven deacons [Acts 6:3]; Peter caused Ananias and Sapphira to die [Acts 5:1ff]. Even though the apostles were very diligent in sowing the Word of God, yet very few things are found written by them. It follows logically that they taught many more things than they wrote; the things taught have equal authority with the things written. Let the objection immediately be raised against him: how does he know that these Scriptures are canonical except from the Church, for why does he believe the Gospel of Mark, who did not see Christ, to be canonical, and not the Gospel of Nicodemus, who saw and heard Christ, as John testifies [Jn 3:1ff]? So why has the Gospel of Luke the disciple been received, and the Gospel of Bartholomew the apostle been rejected, unless we humbly confess the authority of the Church with the Blessed Augustine, something Luther sometimes taught, that the Church could judge concerning the Scriptures. Hence, Augustine, Against the Epistle Called Fundamental, 5.6 [PL 42.176]: I would not have believed the Gospel unless the authority of the Church had moved me to do so. Luther largely agreed, at least in this statement: St. Paul says in Rom. 1, 2, that the Gospel was promised afore in the Holy Scriptures, but it was not preached orally and publicly until Christ came and sent out his apostles. Therefore the church is a mouth-house, not a pen-house, for since Christs advent that Gospel is preached orally which before was hidden in written books. It is the way of the Gospel and of the New Testament that it is to be preached and discussed orally with a living voice. Christ himself wrote nothing, nor did he give command to write, but to preach orally. Thus the apostles were not sent out until Christ came to his mouth-house, that is, until the time had come to preach orally and to bring the Gospel from dead writing and pen-work to the living voice and mouth. (Sermon for the First Sunday in Advent; Matthew 21:1-9, 1521) i. Scripture teaches: Remember to hallow the Sabbath day; six days shall you labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath day of the Lord your God, etc. [Ex 20:8ff] Yet the Church has changed the Sabbath into Sunday on its own authority, on which you have no Scripture. ii. Christ said to His disciples on the mountain: I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it [Matt 5:17]. And yet the Church of the apostles in council [Acts 15] boldly made pronouncement on the cessation of legal matters. . . . iv. Scripture is defined in the council: It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us [Acts 15:28] etc., that you should abstain from sacrifices offered to idols, and blood and things strangled [v. 29]. This matter, so clearly defined and expressed, the Church by her authority changed, because she uses both blood and strangled meat. . . . And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension against them, the brethren decided that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem about this question [Acts 15:2] . . . And what was the Church? Not the whole congregation, but they went up to the apostles and presbyters who represented the Church. See the Related Materials: Part IV: Erasmus Hyperaspistes (1526): Luthers Anti-Traditional Elements Part VI: Erasmus Hyperaspistes (1526): Sola Scriptura and Perspicuity of Scripture * John Boadu, the Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) has been honoured with the Outstanding Public Leadership Award in the Public Sector category at the 8th Ghana CEO Summit. The prestigious event took place yesterday at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, celebrating excellence and leadership within Ghana's corporate and public sectors. Hon. Boadu was recognized for his exemplary leadership and transformative impact on various state entities under SIGA. Since taking office, he has been instrumental in turning around the performance and efficiency of these entities, setting new benchmarks for governance and public service in Ghana. In his acceptance speech, Hon. Boadu expressed his gratitude to the management and organizers of the event. "This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of my team at SIGA. It will further encourage me to strive for even greater heights in service to our beloved country," he remarked. The summit featured prominent guest speakers, including the Vice President of Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Alhaji Bawumia, and the former President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama. Both leaders commended the efforts of the awardees and emphasized the importance of leadership and innovation in driving national development. The 8th Ghana CEO Summit brought together top executives, policymakers, and thought leaders to discuss strategies for economic growth and sustainability. Hon. Boadu's award highlights his significant contributions to enhancing the governance and operational efficiency of state entities, reinforcing his reputation as a distinguished leader in the public sector. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In a pioneering initiative to tackle climate change and social issues, JCS Investments Ltd has partnered with UBA Ghana to introduce the JCS Green prepaid card, a co-branded Visa prepaid card. This initiative enables individuals to make a positive impact on the environment and society with every purchase, promoting a greener and sustainable future for all. Commenting on the partnership, Chief Executive Officer at JCS Investments Patricia Safo said, "We are delighted to partner with UBA Ghana on this ground-breaking initiative. The JCS Green Card is a secure and convenient prepaid Visa card that channels 1% of usage fees directly towards addressing critical environmental and social issues in Ghana. This card is a step in the right direction, contributing to solving a global crisis one transaction at a time. She noted that, If you're concerned about the environmental and social issues we're facing and feel powerless to make a difference, the JCS Green Card offers a solution. With every purchase you make using the Green Card, you contribute in your own small way towards creating a safer, more sustainable environment for the current and future generations. She further called on organizations to assess the potential impact of climate change and human activities on their raw materials costs and conduct a stress test to prepare for the likely increase in expenses. Shareholders must press management to take bold action to reduce their carbon footprint and implement transformative changes. With the possibility of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) emissions taxation looming, companies must act swiftly to decrease their environmental impact and mitigate the harmful effects of high CFC gases. Henry Nii Dottey, Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing at UBA Ghana, noted, "This partnership presents a valuable opportunity for UBA Ghana to join forces in combating the global climate crisis. As a responsible organization committed to environmental stewardship, we believe the JCS Green Card is more than just a prepaid card - it's a tangible step towards a greener and safer Ghana. With the JCS Green Card, individuals can effortlessly contribute to a sustainable future while enjoying the security and convenience of a reliable prepaid card. The JCS Green Card is available for Fifty Ghana Cedis (GHS50) and can be used internationally, online, and at Point of Sale (POS) payments. Unlike traditional Visa cards, this prepaid card is not linked to a bank account and can be used at all Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video An advocacy group known as Patient Rights Watch Ghana has made significant progress towards achieving its goals. This non-governmental organization (NGO) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the constitutional and statutory rights of patients in Ghana, focusing on three main pillars: Education, Victim Support, and Policy Advocacy. During a medico-legal symposium the NGO held on Thursday, May 23rd in Kumasi, which brought together legal experts and healthcare professionals to collaborate on ensuring that the Patients Charter is fully integrated into healthcare services in Ghana. The symposium, held under the theme "Ghana's Patients Charter: 12 Years on," was graced by the presence of distinguished individuals such as Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, a Justice of the African Court on Human and People's Rights and the Court of Appeal in Ghana, Dr. Divine Banyubala Esq, the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council in Ghana, Dr Emmanuel Tinkorang, Ashanti Regional Director of Health and Prof. Dr. Otchere Addai-Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. The event was hosted by Lawyer Isaac Ofori Gyeabour, the President and Founder of Patient Rights Watch Ghana. During his speech at the event, Lawyer Ofori Gyeabour noted that the Patients Charter has been shrouded in obscurity since its elevation into law twelve years ago. He emphasized the need for more organizations to join Patient Rights Watch Ghana to campaign for the rights of patients Lawyer Gyeabour declared that Patient Rights Watch is dedicated to disseminating knowledge about the Patient Charter and other medico-legal issues through initiatives and gatherings such as this one. He expressed that the Organization intends to extend these initiatives to healthcare training institutions to ensure that future healthcare professionals are well-informed about the legal aspects of their profession. Lawyer Gyeabour described the scale of harm caused to patients at the point of care as alarming. He cited a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which projects that one out of ten patients suffers one form of abuse or another at the point of care and that 50% of the harm is avoidable. With the right education on the Patient Charter, he believes this can be addressed in Ghana. Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, delivering the keynote address, explained the importance of the Patients Charter in Ghana, recounting the events that led to its promulgation in 2002. He said the law will safeguard the rights of the patient as well as the caregivers. Also, the Justice of the African Court on Human and People's Rights, Sir Dennis, advised health workers not to hesitate in offering an alternative medical service or facilities to the patient when the situation at hand is beyond their capabilities. He said this action is a fulfillment of the right of the patient to receive quality healthcare as enshrined in the Charter. In addition, he charged health workers to make the privacy of the patient paramount in the healthcare delivery process. He explained that it is a right protected by the Patient Charter and should not be violated under any circumstances. He advised patients to take the necessary legal action against health professionals and facilities that violate their rights in an attempt to seek healthcare. He said taking legal action should not have any negative ramifications on the patient. Dr. Divine Banyubala Esq, the Registrar of the Ghana Medical and Dental Council, who addressed the participants via Zoom from his base in Australia, added that patients should be circumspect of their responsibilities in the healthcare delivery process. He said the rights of the patients are not separable from the responsibilities. Dr. Banyubala urged patients to provide accurate medical information and history to the caregiver when seeking healthcare, follow prescriptions, and visit health facilities earlier. He called on authorities to set up an ethics review committee in all public health institutions to bring confidence and foster collaboration between the healthcare officers and the general public. Again, he proposed that there should be a separate fund for victims of medical errors or accidents. According to him, money should be set aside from the annual budget to compensate patients who suffer from the errors of the caregivers. The chairman for the occasion, Prof. Dr. Otchere Addai-Mensah, stated that lack of infrastructure and structures at the facilities hinder the smooth application of the laws. He said health facilities in the country have not seen the corresponding expansions to meet the growing population, and as a result, privacy and other rights of the patients are not absolutely ensured in the process. Dr Emmanuel Tinkorang, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health, proposed a national dialogue to tackle the issue of health. He said health issues affect everybody, and as such all hands should be on deck to imbibe the spirit of humility in health professionals in Ghana. He said the healthcare is face with many challenges and that having an NGO to do health advocacy as being done by Patient Rights Watch Ghana is vital. Speaking about nurse-patient conflicts, the principal nurse at the South Suntreso Government Hospital in Kumasi, Mrs Abigail Miezah, said conflicts are not always bad but sometimes are necessary to put both parties in check. She, however, advised patients to be mindful of the nurses' conditions as well. As humans, nurses have their own challenges that sometimes influence their work. The Secretary for GHAFTRAM (Ghana Federation of Traditional Medical Practitioners Associations) , Nana Kwadwo Obiri, noted that it is an infringement on the rights of the patient to deny him or her traditional or alternative medicine when orthodox medicines are not able to cure a particular ailment. He said the National Health Insurance Scheme should be expanded to include traditional and alternative medical care. 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 South Africans are voting in the most pivotal election since the racist system of apartheid ended in 1994, which could see the African National Congress (ANC) lose its majority for the first time in 30 years. As he cast his vote in Soweto, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he had "no doubt" that people would once more show confidence in the ANC. John Steenhuisen, leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), described the poll as the first opportunity for change in 30 years. Voting has been smooth overall, but some people have been turned away due to a rule change which requires them to vote where they registered. Support for the ANC has waned over the years because of anger over high levels of corruption, crime and unemployment. More than 27 million people are registered to cast their ballots in a poll that highlights growing political fragmentation in the country. A record 70 parties and 11 independents are contesting, with South Africans voting for a new parliament, and nine provincial legislatures. "The huge growth in parties shows disillusionment with the old big parties or, cynics would say, people are looking for an opportunity to get into parliament and earn a pension," political analyst Richard Calland told the BBC. In power since anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela led it to victory at the end of white-minority rule, the ANC is seeking a seventh term in office. Opinion polls have consistently suggested that the party will lose its parliamentary majority for the first time, forcing it to enter into a coalition with one or more opposition party. "We are entering the next phase of our democracy, and it is going to be a big transition," Prof Calland told the BBC. "We will either become a more competitive and mature democracy, or our politics will become more fractured," he added. There is no direct election for the president - the new National Assembly chooses the president, who is normally the leader of the majority party. The campaign has been dominated by widespread corruption in government, crushingly high levels of unemployment, especially among the youth, deteriorating public services and rampant crime. The DA has signed a pact with 10 other parties, agreeing to form a coalition government if they get enough votes to dislodge the ANC from power. But this is highly unlikely, with the ANC expected to remain the biggest party, putting it in pole position to lead a coalition. It got 57.5% of the vote in the last election compared to the DA's 21%. Former President Jacob Zuma caused a major shock when he announced in December that he was abandoning the ANC to campaign for a new party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), which translates as Spear of the Nation. Although he has been barred from running for parliament because of a conviction for contempt of court, his name will still appear on the ballot paper as MK leader. Opinion polls suggest MK will get about 10% of the vote. It is expected to do especially well in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, where tensions have been high, with some incidents of violence reported during the campaign. "The election in KwaZulu-Natal could become very messy - expect a lot disputes and contestation over the results," Prof Calland said. Women make up 55% of registered voters - around 15 million, according to statistics released by the Electoral Commission. In terms of age group, voter registration is highest among those who are 30 to 39 years old. They make up almost seven million of the 26.7 million voters. But, said, Prof Calland, around 13.7 million eligible voters did not register, with most of them - eight million - below the age of 30. "They have turned their backs on our young democracy. The assumption is that they have lost hope, feeling economically excluded and seeing no viable opposition," he added. This view was borne out by 29-year-old Keabetswe Maleka, who lives in Soweto, which was the epicentre of a student uprising against apartheid in 1976. 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. Featured Video The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development (MLGDRD), in collaboration with the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, have taken proactive measures to address flooding in Accra. Through this initiative, multi-purpose drones have been distributed to seventeen beneficiary Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies (MMDAs) participating in the GARID Project. The aim is to bolster flood mitigation efforts within the region. Highlighting the significance of this endeavor, the Ministry emphasizes that the drones are intended to assist the beneficiary Assemblies in identifying the root causes of flooding within their respective jurisdictions. The Coordinator of the GARID Project, Dr. Kwadwo Ohene Sarfo in an interview with the media underlines the transformative potential of this initiative stressing that the distribution of drones signifies a pivotal step towards enhancing the capacity of the beneficiary Assemblies and these drones will enable them to effectively monitor water body buffers to prevent encroachment, conduct surveillance of solid waste hotspots, and strengthen overall development control measures. Furthermore, Dr. Ohene Sarfo issues a stern reminder to the beneficiary Assemblies regarding the appropriate use of the drones emphasizing that the drones are not to be utilized for social gatherings or any unauthorized purposes so any misuse of the drones will result in accountability measures, as stipulated by the specific guidelines governing their use. The Geographic Information Systems and Informatics Specialist for the GARID Project, Mr. Bernard Makafui Agbelengior elaborates on the distinctive features of the drones. He highlights that these drones are tailored for specialized tasks, differing significantly from those typically employed for recreational purposes or social gatherings. The Municipal Chief Executive for Ablekuma Central and Dean of the Greater Accra Municipal Chief Executives, Hon George Cyril Bray, on behalf of the Assemblies expressed their gratitude for the support extended by the Ministry, reaffirming the commitment of the beneficiary Assemblies. He assures that they will leverage the drones effectively to advance the objectives of the GARID Project. Source: Prince Baffour Asamoah/Peace FM Newsroom Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has reacted to the opposition National Democratic Congress's (NDC) call for the Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame to resign. According to the NPP, what the Attorney-General did in the plea bargaining meeting with Richard Jakpa was not wrong. At a press conference addressed by Frank Davies, Chairman of the Legal and Constitutional Committee of the NPP on Tuesday evening, the NPP said the Attorney-General will not resign. He dismissed the claims that the prosecution of Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament, was politically motivated. He stated that the law is blind to titles and political affiliations, and it is the duty of every citizen to uphold the law. He said the prosecution was solely based on the evidence at hand and not on Dr Ato Forsons political standing. PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY ON THE DESPERATE NDC ATTEMPT TO SHIELD ATO FORSON FROM ACCOUNTABILITY ON 28TH MAY, 2024 Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen of the media and thank you for honouring our invitation. INTRODUCTION It is not in dispute that, the justice delivery system is arguably the last bastion of our burgeoning constitutional democracy, and if it is constantly being bastardized by people who ought to in the very least, be responsible and know better, it leaves much to be desired. We owe it to ourselves and posterity to rescue our dear Country from this dark canker by those whove made it their stock in trade to spew vitriol and unapologetically take shots at a system they have little or no faith in at all. We have called you here because the NDC have since last week set in motion a malicious scheme fueled by lies, falsehoods, misrepresentations, blackmail and needless pollution of the mass media, with the sole intention of obstructing the course of justice and scandalising the criminal proceedings in the High Court, to shield ATO FORSON (MP), Minority Leader in Parliament and former Deputy Minister of Finance, and his associates from taking responsibility for authorizing some payments which resulted in a whooping sum of 3.27 million Euros being lost by the state monies that belonged to you and I as Ghanaians. Ladies and Gentlemen, How did we get here? BRIEF FACTS On 22nd December, 2011, Cabinet endorsed an executive approval of a joint memorandum submitted to Cabinet by the then Minister for Health and 1st accused Cassiel Ato Forson, then Deputy Minister for Finance, for the purchase of 200 ambulances out of a medium term credit facility of 15,800,000.00 between Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited and the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance. On 1st November, 2012, the Parliament of Ghana granted approval for the financing agreement between Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited and the Government of Ghana for the purchase of the 200 ambulances. By an agreement dated 19th December, 2012, the Government of Ghana contracted a company in Dubai, described as Big Sea General Trading LLC (Big Sea) whose local agent is 3rd Accused, Richard Jakpa and which company was to supply the 200 ambulances to the Government, even though that company was unknown to the Cabinet and Parliamentary approvals regarding the transaction. By the terms of the agreement, advance payment for the contract was prohibited. Payment for the vehicles was stated in the agreement to be through letters of credit established for twenty-five percent of the Contract Price "upon the delivery of every fifty (50) Ambulance Vehicles". On 7th August, 2014, in disregard of the financing arrangement for the transaction approved by both Cabinet and the Parliament of Ghana, 1st accused, Cassiel Ato Forson authorised the Bank of Ghana to "urgently establish the letters of credit for the supply of 50 ambulances amounting to EUR3,950,000.00, representing 25 percent of the contract sum". At this time, not a single ambulance had been delivered. On 12th August, 2014, 1st accused also directed the Controller and Accountant-General to pay the sums of GHC806,688.75 representing bank charges covering the establishment of letters of credit for the supply of 50 ambulances, and further directed for the amount to be charged against the Capital Expenditure Vote for the Ministry of Health. Ladies and Gentlemen, all these directives by 1st accused, Cassiel Ato Forson were contrary to the agreement for the supply of the ambulances as well as the Parliamentary approval regarding the financing of the transaction. It is also important to note, that Ato Forson's authorisation of payment for the transaction was without any request from the Ministry of Health. In fact, the Ministry of Health had asked Big Sea to stop producing the ambulances as there was no valid contract regarding the transaction. In spite of that, Ato Forson without cause, proceeded to authorise payment for the ambulances. Pursuant to the unlawful directives of 1st accused, Ato Forson, Big Sea shipped 30 vehicles in three consignments between October, 2014 and February, 2015, which were fundamentally defective and lacking in the basic requirements for an ambulance. This was confirmed by a letter written by the then Minister for Health, Dr. Alex Segbefia and other assessments by the National Ambulance Service. In point of fact, Alex Segbefia, in a letter to Big Sea, described the ambulances as "ordinary vans"to wit, trotro. These vehicles were never used and could not be used as ambulances during the Mahama Administration. Following the change of Government in 2017, investigations commenced and statements were taken from several people including the incumbent Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, Madam Sherry Ayittey (Decdeased) and Dr. Alex Segbefia, all of whom were former Health Ministers as well as 1st Accused, Cassiel Ato Forson and other persons such as the 3rd Accused. Out of these many people, the Attorney-General, convinced that the willful act of Cassiel Ato Forson had resulted in a financial loss of 2.37 million euros to the state, charged him before the high court together with Sylvester Anemana, former chief Director of the Ministry of Health and Richard Jakpa a businessman, for causing financial loss, abetment to causing financial loss and misapplying public property. PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE HIGH COURT Ladies and Gentlemen, proceedings in the matter have run its course since commencement in December 2021. The Prosecution, led by the competent Attorney-General, called Five (5) Witnesses in support of its case. Lawyers for the 1st accused, in an attempt to truncate the proceedings, filed a submission of no case and urged the Court to rule that Cassiel Ato Forson had no case to answer as no prima facie case has been made against him. This plea was outrightly rejected by the Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, a justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court Judge. The Court ruled, that the Attorney- General, had led sufficient evidence to establish a case against Ato Forson and therefore ordered him to open his defence. Ato Forson subsequently opened his defence and has also closed his case. The 3rd Accused, Richard Jakpa also opened his case and was last Thursday being cross-examined when he made a scandalous, malicious, baseless and spurious allegation that the Attorney General had approached on several occasions to skew his testimony to implicate Ato Forson. Ladies and Gentlemen, DISCOMFORT OF THE NDC AND PRESSURE TO DISCONTINUE PROSECUTION It is no secret that the NDC since the commencement of Ato Forsons prosecution has threatened rain and storm against Government, the Attorney-General and any person they can find to cajole the Attorney General from discontinuing the prosecution. Pressure has come from every angle including former President Mahama, the Leadership of the Minority in Parliament, clergy, business friends of Ato Forson etc. Indeed, Former President Mahama specifically maintained the discontinuance of the Ambulance Trial as a condition to get Members of the minority in Parliament to agree to the recent recall of Parliament and has on several other occasions, stated it as a condition for the cooperation of the Minority in Parliament. This pressure stems from some warped and baseless logic of the NDC that the Ato Forsons prosecution is politically motivated and its Leader in Parliament, should be immune from prosecution even when the facts indicate conduct resulting in financial loss to the state. As mentioned earlier, investigations commenced as far back as 2017 making it imperative to ask, Why is Ato Forson the only government official being prosecuted from all the former NDC Ministers from whom statements were taken?. Clearly, the prosecution is based on the various documentation available from the participating agencies in the transaction and this is evidenced by the Courts ruling upholding that a case has been made by the Attorney General that warrants an answer from the defence. It is also worth noting, that prosecution of Cassiel Ato Forson commenced even before he became Minority Leader making worthless and nonsensical the suggestion that he is being prosecuted because he is minority leader of the NDC. NDCS PERRENIAL DISLIKE FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Ladies and Gentlemen, if at all, the only persecution in this instance is the malicious and perennial dislike of the NDC towards the Attorney General since he assumed office, and the several attempts to stultify his work. The records are there to show that right from his appointment as Attorney General, the NDC has spent one of the longest periods in vetting him with the hope of impeaching his appointment but the Attorney General remained resolute to their admiration. Having failed, the NDC filed a Motion for Censure to remove Godfred Dame from office as Attorney-General soon after his appointment which also failed. The NDC have since his appointment held over twelve(12) Press Conferences against the person of the Attorney General. The latest allegation by Richard Jakpa, the 3rd accused and an associate of Cassiel Ato Forson in this botched Ambulance procurement transaction, is therefore only a further ploy, contrived to curtail the prosecution of Ato Forson and smear the Attorney Generals integrity and reputation. But this would also not see the light of day as we believe firmly that public officials, regardless of social standing must be equally accountable for their use of public resources. Needless to say that the law is no respecter of persons SPURIOUS ALLEGATIONS OF RICHARD JAKPA- 3RD ACCUSED. Ladies and Gentlemen, the allegations by Richard Jakpa that the AG has on several occasions met him in privately at odd hours, in person and on phone to coax him to testify to implicate the Attorney General is at complete variance with the prevailing facts. In fact, the attempt to selectively present facts without the whole, is telling of intentions of the 3rd Accused. For the record: a. It is unacceptable, that Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, runs a commentary over the alleged tape calculated to prevent you the Ghanian people from making your own deduction reasoned judgment. b. Again, even though from the screenshots displayed, the alleged conversation is 26mins, the NDC schemed to play only 16 minutes. The question then is, where is the rest of the tape. Even in respect of what was played, it is apparent that there are repetitions, overlaps, incoherence, voice overs and distortions, demonstrating that, the NDC has spent these past days doctoring whatever tape they played. c. Even on the Doctored tape, the Attorney General never requested the witness falsify, fabricate or concoct any evidence or testify in the prosecutions favour. d. Again, on the question of who initiated the meeting, even from the NDCs presentation, it is clear that any meeting at all was mooted and initiated by the 3rd accused. e. We would like to also put on record, that as of February 2022 when Jakpa requested for a meeting with the AG, the AG never met him and never made any arrangement through the Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi. It was not until the AG was invited to the residence of Justice Yonny Kulendi in 2023 that he surprisingly met Richard Jakpa at the residence. f. We remain resolute that the Attorney General has never approached 3rd Accused for any conversation, let alone request him to skew his testimony against 1st accused, Cassiel Ato Forson. The only meeting at which the Attorney General, met the 3rd Accused was in the residence of a Supreme Court Judge, His Lordship Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi who about six (6) weeks ago, requested to see the Attorney General. It is not out of place for the Attorney General to visit the said Justice upon request. More so, when the two were friends even before the elevation of the latter to the Supreme Court. g. Again, the Attorney General at the time of the invitation was unaware that the 3rd Accused person was going to be present and therefore his subsequent appearance in the house of the Justice was surprising. It is pertinent to note, that prior to this meeting, the Attorney General had closed his case and the Court had thrown out the application of Ato Forson as being without merit. The 3rd accused had also by four different letters by his lawyers, requested and made proposals to the Attorney General for a Plea Bargain which would see Big Sea General, 3rd accuseds principal pay 2million Euros in exchange for the cessation of prosecution. This had been roundly rejected by the Attorney General. In fact, 3rd Accused through his lawyers in the letter dated 16th May, 2023 had indicated unequivocally that they were requesting a Plea Bargain and following the rejection had requested the AG for terms which the AG will consider acceptable. h. The Supreme Court Judge therefore sought to enquire whether there was room for a Plea Bargain and the AG highlighted that he was not opposed provided it was made in proper form and assured 3rd accused that he had nothing personally against any of the accused persons. The AG further requested that since the charges principally focus on the public officials through whose actions the loss was occasioned, Richard Jakpa should show fidelity to the transaction records which were already on record. i. Finally, there is also a record that 1st Accused himself, Cassiel Ato Forson, had in the company of a Senior Parliamentarian, visited the AG in his house to plead with him to end the prosecution. The NDC in their Press Conference today have conveniently failed,refused or neglected to respond to this fact which was also contained in the response of Ministry of Justice following the proceedings of Thursday. Ladies and gentlemen, if the Attorney General desired to cajole the 3rd Accused as suggested, then the best avenue would have been following 3rd Accused request for the AG to propose terms acceptable to him and the several whatsap messages sent to the AG, pleading with him. Clearly, the 3rd accused is a hired mercenary, contracted to exploit his relationship with the Supreme Court Judge, knowing the AGs inability to disrespect the said justice when invited after failing to secure a meeting with the AG. SUCCESS RECORD OF ATTORNEY GENERAL Ladies and Gentlemen, let me again put on record, the in the 4th Republic, the current Attorney General, Hon. Godfred Yeboah, Dame, has been one of the most successful both in and out of Court. As remarkably noted by the President at the last State of the nations Address, he had successfully saved the state over GHS10trillion and his verve in protecting public resources is shown by his commitment to the prosecution of public officials whose acts resulted in financial loss. This is beside the other several infrastructure and logistics improvement to the office of the Attorney General and Ministry of justice including the almost completed Law House. Conclusion Ladies and Gentlemen, if it is the firm belief of the NDC and Ato Forson that no loss had occasioned the state from his conduct, then they should remain faithful to our judicial system and cease these malicious orchestrations targeted at bastardising our judicial system prevent him from standing trial to conclusion. We are clear in our minds that the calls for the resignation of the Attorney General is misplaced, unwarranted and this would not put any spokes in the prosecution of Cassiel Ato Forson and his associates. Also, coming from the NDC the call for the attorney General to resign is very very rich. The AG would not resign and would continue to remain witty, resolute and focused in the delivery of his work. The wheels of justice they say grinds slowly but eventually, it grinds to a halt. Thank you once again for coming on such short notice. Source: graphiconline.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 Ghana's Parliament is scheduled to resume its sitting on June 11, 2024, as announced by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin. In accordance with Order 58 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana, Speaker Bagbin issued notice for the commencement of the third meeting of the fourth session of the eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic. In the official notice, Speaker Bagbin stated: "I, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, hereby give notice that the third meeting of the fourth session of the eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic shall commence on Tuesday, the 11th day of June 2024, at ten o'clock in the forenoon at Parliament House, Accra." The notice was dated in the Speaker's office in Accra, Ghana, on the 27th day of May. The reconvening of Parliament will allow Members of Parliament to continue their duties of representing the interests of the Ghanaian people and deliberating on crucial matters of national importance. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged captains of industry and the investor community to remain confident in the countrys business environment in the face of prevailing challenges. He expressed concern over the decision by some multinational companies such as GAME, Glovo, Nivea, BIC Pen, and Dark and Lovely to shut down operations with Unilever relocating its tea production to Nigeria due to what Mr Mahama described as the countrys bankrupt and collapsed economy. Amid all this, our public debt has also hit a staggering GH658.6 billion. But we cannot despair over the poor quality of governance that has served us in the last seven and a half years. I would like to appeal to you, captains of industry and the investor community, to tarry a bit more. Please dont leave our country, he said. The former President pledged to help change the fortunes of the country when re-elected in the December 2024 election and, therefore, entreated them not withdraw their investments despite the difficulties they were facing. He was addressing the 8th CEO Summit and Excellence Awards in Accra last Monday on the theme: Reigniting business and economic growth: Charting a path forward; economic diversification and artificial intelligence (AI) transformational. A private-public sector CEO dialogue and high impact-learning. More than 500 CEOs, heads of state, entrepreneurs, business leaders and policymakers from West Africa and around the world are participating in the event. Stabilisation of currency Mr Mahama said his priority when voted into office would be to stabilise the economy by restoring the value of the cedi. That, he said, would be achieved by launching an urgent economic recovery and fiscal consolidation plan after a national economic dialogue within the first 100 days upon assumption of office. We would do this by pruning huge government expenditure, preventing waste and corruption, and boosting revenues by expanding the tax net, Mr Mahama added. He said his government would continue to digitalise the countrys revenue collection and payment systems and by 2028, phase out cash as a form of payment for all government services. Mr Mahama recalled that under the current government, even cocoa, which at the end of his term in office brought in almost $2 billion in loan syndication, could barely manage $800 million last year. Increase cocoa production Mr Mahama further said that his government would work to restore cocoa production levels, improve forex flow into the economy, accelerate drilling and production of oil and gas in offshore and onshore concessions, and increase the availability of natural gas for electricity production and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for domestic use. He said the government would also streamline mineral production and exports to achieve the full benefit of this endowment. While these traditional sectors are essential, we must expand and invest in new areas to offer opportunities for sustainable growth. These include agriculture, agri-business, tourism, light industries, manufacturing and the creative sector. Diversifying our economic base can lead to more job opportunities, poverty reduction and a more robust economy, especially within the context of the Mahama 24-hour economy, Mr Mahama said. Collaboration For her part, the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Abena Osei-Asare, said there was the need to deepen collaboration between the government and the private sector to address the countrys challenges. It is not everything that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can do for us like fixing of the cedi; it can only suggest ideas for us but when it comes to implementation, I believe that the political will should be there which we have shown already, she said. The Chief Executive Officer of Telecel Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, called on operators in the telecommunications sector to use AI responsibly to drive growth in the sector. Source: graphiconline.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 By Ariana Perez-Castells, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) Campbell Soup Co. is making changes to its supply chain, with plans to invest around $230 million at newer, more agile facilities through the 2026 fiscal year, to close a plant in Oregon, and to downsize a facility in Indiana, the company announced Tuesday. Campbell, which is headquartered in Camden, N.J., owns snack brands including Cape Cod, Goldfish and Snyders of Hanover. As of last year, the company produced about 20% of the countrys supply of Goldfish at its Pepperidge Farm factory in Denver, Pa. Some of the changes announced this week affect Campbells nearly 400,000-square-foot facility in Hanover, Pa., which is receiving a $72 million investment. The company is adding six kettles to the plant, which will allow it to produce 20 million more pounds of potato chips annually. Cape Cod potato chips. (Aviva Luttrell | MassLive.com, file) To fuel growth and transform our manufacturing and distribution network, we must invest and further strengthen our supply chain, Dan Poland, the companys chief supply chain officer, said in a statement. The Hanover facility produces Snyders of Hanover pretzels, Late July tortilla chips, and potato chips for Kettle Brand and Cape Cod. The plant was established in 1989. Campbell started operating it when it purchased Snyders-Lance Inc. in 2018. Starting in July, production of kettle potato chips at the companys Jeffersonville, Ind., plant will be moved to the Hanover plant as well as another facility in Charlotte, N.C. The Jeffersonville plant going forward will specialize in production of tortilla chips for the Late July brand, as part of a downsizing of operations at that site. The company is looking to add 72 jobs to the Hanover facility in food production, quality, and maintenance. Once the new workers are hired, the facility will employ around 950. About 415 employees will be laid off as a result of the closure of the Oregon plant as well as the restructuring of the Jeffersonville facility. By Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News (TNS) An actor who appeared on shows like How I Met Your Mother and Americas Most Wanted was arrested near the U.S.-Mexico border and charged in the stabbing of Hollywood makeup artist Allie Shehorn, who is his ex-girlfriend. Nick Pasqual ooked to be trying to flee the country when he was apprehended on Wednesday at a border checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas, according to a press release from the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office. Hes slated to be extradited to Los Angeles, where he will face counts including attempted murder; first-degree residential burglary with a person present; and injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiance, boyfriend, girlfriend or childs parent. Nick Pasqual at a 2009 screening in Hollywood, California. (Jaguar/AdMedia/Zuma Press/TNS, file)TNS Pasqual is accused of breaking into Shehorns Los Angeles home in the Shadow Hills neighborhood early the morning of May 24 and violently attacking her. Police said he stabbed the makeup artist more than 20 times, inflicting great bodily injury upon the victim under circumstances involving domestic violence, and then fled the scene. Sherhorn, who had filed a restraining order against 34-year-old Pasqual, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. She underwent a series of surgeries and has made positive steps toward recovery, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help with bills. Sherhorn has done makeup for hit television shows and movies including Babylon, Mean Girls, and Rebel Moon: Part 1, where she met Pasqual, the Los Angeles Times reported. If convicted, Pasqual faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Story by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. Mamie Laverock, 19, who is best known for her role as Rosaleen Sullivan in the Hallmark Channels series, When the Heart Calls, is on life support after suffering a tragic fall. The incident took place on May 26, when the actress took a dive from a five-story balcony at a hospital in Vancouver. She was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed medical emergency. This comes after she had been transferred from a hospital in Winnipeg two weeks ago after her mother, Nicole Compton, rushed to her side just in time to save her life after suffering from the medical emergency, according to the familys GoFundMe. Launched on May 14, Laverocks parents explained in the GoFundMe the details that led up to the fall. On Saturday, May 11, Nicole traveled to Winnipeg to help Mamie, who was having a medical emergency. Nicole was able to get there in time to save her life. Her recovery is unclear at this time but she is alive and is showing signs of improvement, noting: We are trying to go every day to support her. Any contributions would help us be by her side. But this could be upwards of a month or more, they added. After two weeks of intensive treatment, Laverocks parents broke the news that the young actress suffered a bad fall. We are deeply saddened to report that on May 26th, Mamie, who has been in intensive treatment for the past two weeks, was escorted out of a secure unit of the hospital and taken up to a balcony walkway from which she fell five stories. She sustained life-threatening injuries, has undergone multiple extensive surgeries, and is currently on life support. We are all devastated, in shock, at this intensely difficult time, they wrote. As of May 30, the GoFundMe has raised $32,313 (Canadian dollars) of its $30,000 goal across 531 donations. Thats $23,635.31 in U.S. money. Erin Krakow, who stars in When the Heart Calls as Elizabeth Thatcher, was among Laverocks co-stars to share the fundraiser on Instagram. I just donated. If you have the means to do so, I hope you will too, she wrote in a post. Johannah Newmarch, who stars as Laverocks on-screen mother Molly Sullivan, took to X, formerly Twitter, to urge fans for their support. I love this family, my heart is broken. A devastating time for all who care for Mamie. Please help if you can. They need all the support they can get to make it through this. After exchanging their I-Dos, you can be sure that Yellowstone stars Hassie Harrison and Ryan Bingham dashed off into the sunset together after a lavish, cowboy-themed wedding ceremony. Yes, you heard right. After months of speculation, the two actors, who met while working on the hit Western drama series, revealed in an interview with Vogue, published Wednesday, that the two had already tied the knot during a western-themed wedding ceremony at Harrisons home in Dallas, Texas. So die-hard fans, if you didnt receive an invitation, dont take it personally. From the start, Ryan and I just really wanted to create a day that wasnt just a series of events but a heartfelt experience that centered around emotions, comfort, intimacy, and genuine moments with the people we love the most, Harrison said to Vogue. Every choice was a reflection of us, and getting to witness it all come to life was incredible, she added. Bingham, who is also a Grammy-winning musician, stars as ranch hand Walker on the show, while Harrison stars as ranch hand Laramie. It seems life imitates art because the two characters are also love interests on the show. Choosing to go with a western-themed wedding that emulated their TV roles, Harrison revealed they wanted to embrace the theme but morph it into a more sophisticated event. I knew I wanted Western, but it had to be elegant Western, with tones of worn leather, delicate lace, and a soft, blush color palette, Hassie said to Vogue. In multiple pictures posted to Instagram, the blushing bride can be seen wearing an off-the-shoulder floral and lace, mermaid gown paired with a near-sweetheart neckline and tulle train. She wore her hair in long, soft waves underneath a dramatic veil. After, she changed into a short, white dress adorned with fringe, paired with matching white cowboy boots and a hat. Bingham wore a classic, black tuxedo with black boots. His jacket held a secret message stitched on the inside that read, I love you, Bear King. Bingham and Harrison first confirmed their relationship in April 2023, when he posted a picture on Instagram of the two kissing and captioned, More than a spark. At the time, Harrison commented, I love you, cowboy. The two had previously sparked romance rumors after flirting in the comments of one of Harrisons posts. Dunkin is percolating up more central Pennsylvania locations. The latest one at 315 Bretz Court in Newport is hosting a grand opening celebration 9 a.m.-11 a.m. today with promotions including free coffee for a year to the first 100 people in line. Customers also can participate in a Dunkin prize wheel with branded giveaways, a face painter, Dunkins mascot and more. A 10 a.m., franchisee Penn Coffee Group, in partnership with the Dunkin Joy in Childhood Foundation, is giving a $3,000 grant to Neighbor Helping Neighbor Food Bank as part of a ribbon cutting. The donation will provide food to Perry County families in need. The Dunkin is the only one operating in Perry County and is located next to Burger King and McDonalds. The 3,200-square-foot restaurant follows Dunkins Next Gen format with a modern color scheme, equipment upgrades, coffee taps and drive-thru lanes. It operates in partnership with a 24-hour Sunoco gas station/convenience store. Its a good combination. It helps us serve customers with both their fuel needs and food needs, especially with Newport being such a commuter area, Dalsher Nagra, one of the partners, told PennLive last year. The Dunkin is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Update: As it turned out, it was the judge who was wrong. Turns out the man who was called out for having a suspended license actually did have a license, but the judge was wrong because of a clerical error. Talk about lacking common sense and being unable to read the room the courtroom properly. A man with a suspended license hopped on his courtroom Zoom call while driving. The only problem was just that he was driving, on camera, during the call, stunning the judge and his legal team. The call went viral. This all started with Corey Harris, who had a scheduled hearing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on May 15 in a case involving driving with a suspended license. After introducing herself, the assistant public defender said that Mr. Harris should be [present] via Zoom. Right when she said that, Harris joined the Zoom call. But it didnt take long for District Judge J. Cedric Simpson to notice that Harris was wearing a seatbelt in the video and was clearly in a vehicle that was in motion. Taken aback, thats when Simpson asked if Harris was the one behind the wheel. Actually, Im pulling into my doctors office, Harris replied. So just give me one second Im parking right now. Based on his reply, it was painfully obvious to those in the court what was going on. The Zoom cameras panned toward the public defenders, who looked disappointed. The judge seemingly couldnt believe his eyes. Others sitting in the back of the courtroom were seen attempting to hold back their laughter. Gaining his composure, the judge asked Harris if he was stationary, but he wasnt just yet. Harris took his time to park the vehicle and once he did, Harris legal team requested an adjournment of the case for up to four weeks. An exasperated Simpson, on the other hand, already had enough of Harris. OK, so maybe I dont understand something, the judge began. This is a driving while license suspended [case] and he was just driving and he didnt have a license. Those are the charges, Your Honor, yes, the public defender says. Simpson then looked over Harrisons paperwork and wasted no time in handing down his decision. The result: Harris bond was revoked and he was ordered to turn himself in to the Washtenaw County Jail by 6 p.m. that day. Failure to turn himself in will result in a bench warrant with no bond, Simpson said. Upon hearing that, Harris looked dumbfounded. Oh my God, Harris quietly responded in disbelief while tilting his head back into his drivers seat as Simpson ended the hearing. Senior pranks are traditionally something a group of graduating high schoolers pull off before walking the stage to get their diplomas. But instead of duping school faculty and fellow classmates, this group of graduates pranked a whole town instead. On April 30, Facebook user Marlena Calobong posted about a prank played on the residents of Pasadena, Maryland, where the high schoolers fooled the residents into thinking a Trader Joes was coming to the neighborhood. To my Pasadena friends, Calobong wrote. Yesterday the Senior class of our local high school pranked the ENTIRE town! In the post, Calobong explains that a group of seniors hung a banner that read Coming Soon in front of a closed grocery store property. It also read the words, Spring 2025, along with the signature, red and white colors of the Trader Joes logo. A QR code was also provided on the sign. But once excited residents scanned the code with their phones they were sent not to a Trader Joes website, but to the video for Rick Astleys 1987 hit song, Never Gonna Give You Up. Yes, they had been rickrolled. Calobong admitted the prank was a good one. The whole town was abuzz yesterday morning, thinking we were getting a Trader Joes! Calobong continued. AND again this morning to find out it was just a prank she wrote with laughing emojis. Well, they got us all!!! That was a good one!!! she wrote. We were extremely excited to see a sign pop up that we were getting another Trader Joes close to home, Calobong told Today, also mentioning that a friend texted her about the true origin of the sign. We were sad to find out the next day it was a prank. Definitely tricked us all. Other folks in town chimed in about the prank in their own social media posts. Kids can be so cruel, wrote one Facebook commenter. Trader Joes at Mars store Pasadena? Apparently, this was a joke. Not happening, another Facebook user wrote. TikTok user Alyssa Smith commended the group of seniors. If you are a victim of the senior prank that a Trader Joes was coming to Pasadena, raise your hand, Smith said in the video as she raised her hand. These kids had to have had help from older millennials or Gen Xers because how do they even know what a rickroll is? she continued. I mean, come on. Too funny. Representatives for Northeast High School have yet to confirm whether or not its seniors are responsible for the prank. The U.S. State Department issued a new security alert for the country of Haiti last week, following months of gang violence and riots in that Caribbean country. The departments travel advisory for the country is currently at Level 4, Do Not Travel, which is the departments highest warning. The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous. Travel within Haiti is conducted at your own risk, the alert says. The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders, or during any onward travel. Violent crime, including kidnapping for ransom, occurs regularly along many roadways in Haiti and U.S. citizens should assess their own safety and security when deciding whether to travel by road, the alert said. You should consider your personal security situation before traveling anywhere in Haiti. Only attempt to depart Haiti or travel within Haiti if you believe it is safe for you to do so. The Toussaint-Louverture airport in Port-au-Prince, Haitis capital, has resumed operations the State Department said, but the number of flights remains limited and is subject to decisions made by commercial carriers. Travelers should confirm the status and availability of their flight through their carriers official website or customer service agent. The airports in Cap-Haitien and Les Cayes are also open for departing flights, the alert said, although flight availability might be limited. If you are in Haiti, the State Department recommends the following: Avoid crowds. Follow local media for updates and avoid areas where violence or disruptions are happening. Keep a low profile. Be aware of your surroundings. Be prepared to shelter in place for an extended time. Stay inside after dark. Stay alert in areas frequented by foreign visitors. Review your personal security plans. Have travel documents up-to-date and easily accessible. Carry proper identification. The local director of a mission group in Haiti and a missionary couple from the U.S. were attacked and fatally shot by gang members after leaving a youth group activity at a church earlier this month. A Lancaster city man was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison after shooting a 15-year-old in the head in 2023, prosecutors said. The victim survived. Sackiwa Ntuli, 19, of Lancaster, was sentenced last week after pleading guilty to aggravated assault, carrying a firearm without a license, recklessly endangering another person, and discharge of firearms, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office. Two other men were charged with attempted homicide in the same shooting, which happened at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 7, 2023, in the 100 block of Dauphin Street. All three defendants were teens at the time of the shooting. Ntuli was 18, Charles Freeman was 15, and Jose Ramos, was 16. Police arrested the trio on February 23 when police were sent to the 800 block of East Orange St. for a report of suspicious activity. The caller reported seeing several masked juvenile males wearing all black run into a home on the block, prosecutors said. When police arrived, they found several males, one of whom was carrying a firearm, according to the district attorneys office. Police secured the scene and arrested the three. Police said Ntuli was found hiding on a second-floor roof. The arrests came shortly after a shots-fired call was received two blocks away, and four males were seen running from that direction into the home. Prosecutors said co-defendant Charles Freeman pleaded guilty in February and was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison. The case for the third co-defendant, Jose Ramos, is pending, according to police. Dauphin County will give the National Rifle Association (NRA) and a former county commissioner a total of $110,000 toward the Great American Outdoor Show, which the gun rights advocacy group hosts annually in Harrisburg. The Dauphin County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday voted 2-1 to approve the payment. Commissioners George Hartwick (D) and Mike Pries (R) supported the move, noting that the event generates tens of millions of dollars for hotels, restaurants and other businesses in the region. Commissioner Justin Douglas (D) voted against it, saying he has deep moral issues with the county giving tax dollars to a lobby group. If it was the Bass Pro Shops outdoor show, it would still have the same impact on those businesses, Douglas said. And it would not be a lobbying agency that were giving money to. The Great American Outdoor Show, which is hosted at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, calls itself the worlds largest outdoor show and features over 1,000 exhibitors of guns, fishing boats, archery and more, according to its website. The NRA donated $29 million to political campaigns in 2020, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign finances and political spending. The group has also used the Great American Outdoor Show as a political forum: Former President Donald Trump spoke at the event in February, telling the audience he predicted he will win Pennsylvania in the 2024 presidential election. On May 18, the NRA publicly endorsed Trump. The group has also recently come under fire for alleged corruption. In February, a New York court found former NRA leader Wayne LaPierre, who resigned in January, and two other executives guilty of misspending millions of dollars. Of the money the county commissioners approved, $50,000 will go to the NRA and $60,000 will go to former Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste, who acts as a liaison to the show. The county has paid Haste a total of $180,000 for that service over the past three years, paid in installments of $5,000 per month, said George Connor, executive director of the Dauphin County Department of Community and Economic Development, during the meeting. Connor also confirmed that the county has given a total of over $700,000 to the NRA for hosting the show in the past, but said the money was paid directly to the venue for parking expenses. While Hartwick voted in favor of the payments, he noted the complicated politics of funding the group. We all are in a position where quite frankly, gun violence is having a significant impact on this city and a significant challenge to families and people that are here, he said, but added that the revenue the show brings in is essential to local businesses who are already struggling. READ MORE: Jackpot! See who shared in $9.1 million in gaming grants in Dauphin County Three years ago, a house on Wiconisco Street in Harrisburg was destroyed in a fire. Now, community partners and students at Dauphin County Technical School have rebuilt and furnished the home, which will become permanent affordable housing for families experiencing homelessness. Whitney Williams cut the ribbon to her new home on Thursday, marking a new beginning in her life and the lives of her four children. This means a lot. Ive come a long way, Williams said. Im so excited, this is a big step to get to my life and get back on track. Williams has been working with the Brethren Housing Association for two years to reach this point. The Brethren Housing Association puts homeless individuals through training programs, helping them get jobs, find childcare and move into permanently affordable housing. The units owned by the association never cost more than 30% of the residents income. Members of the Brethren Housing Association pose for a photo with Whitney Williams, the new homeowner.DaniRae Renno You can visibly see the relief on a moms face when she knows her kids have a safe place to sleep, Brethren Housing Association Executive Director Kate Gillis-Hana said. They can now focus on a career, childcare and take the steps to achieve their dreams. The ribbon-cutting was the culmination of three years of hard work by students at Dauphin County Technical School, who arrived on a bus for the event. DeSean Crosson-Rector, a sophomore from Harrisburg, has worked on the project for a year as part of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) program. Not only did the project give him a chance to expand his technical skills, but it holds special meaning for Crosson-Rector. Ive experienced on and off homelessness in my youth and helping people avoid that is so special to me, he said. It also helped me realize what it was like to work with a big group in smaller spaces and gives me experience in what I want to go into. Robert Brightbill, building construction technology program instructor, worked throughout the entire project. His friend owned the house, and after its destruction could not find a buyer. With the help of the schools board, which includes school board representatives from the seven member districts, the Dauphin County Technical School bought the house. It wasnt much to look at, but Brightbill and others had a vision. Brightbill was moved to tears as he spoke at the ribbon cutting. He thanked the vendors involved for donating materials, the bus drivers and lunch workers at Dauphin County Technical School, as well as donors to the project, which included the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary and the City of Harrisburg. It was a monumental event every day just to get the kids here to work and to get them back and take care of all the minutia involved, he said. Photos of the home immediately after the fire were on display at the ribbon cutting.DaniRae Renno It was a challenging project for the students. They had to put in physical labor, lifting ceilings and roofs and creating frames, while applying technical skills learned in the classroom. Saramia Matos-Rodriguez, a senior and one of the few female students in the building construction technology program, has been working on the project since her first year. When we started it was just literal sticks and so much dust. I didnt think it could ever get to this point, Matos-Rodriguez said. I never thought it would help more than one person, so it feels good to know I was able to contribute. One of the unique challenges Matos-Rodriguez faced was learning how to deal with a fast-paced construction site. The guys move fast so you have to insert yourself, she said. The project has been great experience on that and just learning how to build. She said Brightbill was a huge factor in the teams success. Once the house was completed, Brethren Housing Association bought the building with help from grant funding. If Williams moves, theyll place a new resident in the building. The blue-paneled house is fully-furnished, its kitchen and a living room, decorated by the Brethren Housing Association, open up to a deck and a backyard. Upstairs bedrooms come complete with toys and bedding that incorporate parts of Williams childrens personalities. It was truly a community effort. We feel proud we were part of contributing to this amazing project, American Legion Post 272 Adjutant Michelle Zandome said. It was a sentiment expressed by many, including state Rep. Patty Kim, who represents parts of Dauphin and Cumberland County. The property is in her district and shes visited several times. It cant get any better than this, Kim said. My heart is so warm. Good people, a good homeowner all coming together, linking arms, and making something really good happen. To get involved with the Brethren Housing Association, visit their website. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced that traffic will be shifted on Thursday night at a box culvert replacement project on Route 30 in Lancaster County. The structure carries Route 30 over Houston Run just east of Brackbill Road in Salisbury Township, a press release said. Weather permitting, at 9 p.m. Thursday, the contractor will begin placing additional barrier and resetting existing barrier to shift traffic onto the temporary pavement on the south side of the bridge. This work will be completed by 6 a.m. Friday. While the barrier work is being performed traffic will be restricted to a single lane with flaggers providing traffic control. This work will be completed by 6 a.m. Friday.PennDOT Once this work is complete, traffic will be shifted onto the temporary pavement and two lanes will be open to traffic. A 10-foot lane restriction will remain in place on the bridge. In addition to the structure replacement, the project includes approach work, guide rail and drainage upgrades, and other miscellaneous construction. Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone. Work on this culvert is expected to be completed by Nov. 24. This work is part of a two-structure contract that also includes replacing a box culvert on Route 30 just east of Soudersburg Road in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County. Work on the second structure is scheduled to begin next spring. Kinsley Construction, Inc., of York, is the contractor on this project. The total contract cost for both structures is $3,676,000. Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X. By Aliya Schneider, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) U.S. Sen. John Fettermans brashness toward progressives has expanded beyond the topic of Israel. Fetterman was the topic of a lengthy feature article published by the New York Times on Saturday that highlighted how the senator, who had been on thin ice with progressives for his staunch and unconditional support for Israel in its war with Hamas, has shown that his willingness to make waves within his own party doesnt stop at the Middle East. Fetterman was seen mocking environmentalist Stevie OHanlon, who was trying to speak to him about a Chester County pipeline, in a video that circulated online earlier this month. Fetterman dismissed her, recorded her and made sarcastic remarks. Ive talked to Republicans who are much friendlier than that, OHanlon told the New York Times. The person that we voted for is not the person who mocks constituents when they bring up concerns. Progressives have argued that Fetterman abandoned the left because of his staunch support of Israel, but the senator insisted in an interview earlier this year that he was never a progressive in the first place. Even before the primary I was like, Im not a progressive. Its just strange why people want to ignore that. Its not new news, he told The Inquirer in January. Before Fettermans 2022 Senate bid, the former lieutenant governor and Braddock mayor had called himself a progressive. But on the campaign trail that year, he described himself as just a Democrat. FILE - Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., leaves an intelligence briefing at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)AP Fettermans political shift has gained momentum since Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israels subsequent attack on Gaza, with the brash senator casting aside the label more aggressively and top advisers leaving his team. Longtime political adviser Rebecca Katz recently departed his team, according to the New York Times, and his former chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, resigned last month to instead work as an outside adviser for Fetterman. All three of his top communications staffers left a couple of months ago; two of them left for unquestionably progressive political jobs. Joe Cavello, who left to work for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, lauded Johnson as a true progressive. Nick Gavio left to work for the Working Families Party. The third comms staffer, Emma Mustion, went to work for the campaign of Sen. Bob Casey, Fettermans more even-tempered counterpart. But while Fetterman has lost staffers and supporters, he has gained respect from those on the right who once mocked him, and has been invited to speak at Democratic Party events across the country. Hes also been lauded by advocates of Israel, and is slated to receive a high honor from Yeshiva University at the schools commencement on Wednesday. That honor was last given to the inventor of Israels Iron Dome air defense system. All in all, public opinion about Fetterman in Pennsylvania is split, as revealed by a poll by The Inquirer, New York Times, and Siena College. But he may be fracturing relationships with his former allies, such as U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D. N.Y.), who previously backed him for Senate. The senator appeared to mock a heated exchange on the House floor that emerged when U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.) hurled an insult about the appearance of U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D., Texas). Ocasio-Cortez joined in the confrontation to stand up for Crockett. In the past, Ive described the U.S. House as The Jerry Springer Show. Today, Im apologizing to The Jerry Springer Show, Fetterman posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the argument. Annie Wu Henry, a former Fetterman campaign staffer who ran his TikTok and later worked for Ocasio-Cortez, shot back by saying: In the past, Ive described the 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race as one where we voted for a candidate with empathy and character. Today, Im apologizing to everyone who also believed that was the case. On a similar note, Ocasio-Cortez seemed to call Fetterman a bully, in response to his Jerry Springer remark. Ocasio-Cortez said she has no comment when asked about Fettermans shift on Thursday, and said, Its up to Pennsylvanians, the New York Times reported. When asked for comment on the assessment that Fetterman is picking fights on the left, the senators spokesperson Carrie Adams pointed to a CNN video in which Fetterman called the bullying accusation absurd, and said he was responding to the general chaos on the House floor. Doug Polk's Team Purchases What Will Become the Largest Poker Room in Texas Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Copy link Earlier this month, thanks to an unfavorable city vote, Doug Polk was unsuccessful in his bid to open a massive poker room in a town near Dallas. But his team of investors, including poker vloggers Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen, are back and ready to take over what will soon become the largest card room in Texas. Polk, who is playing in the Hustler Casino Live Million Dollar Game this week, announced during Wednesday's HCL stream that his team has purchased Rounders Card Club in San Antonio, and will switch the name to The Lodge Card Club San Antonio. The group already owns The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock, a suburb of Austin, and that room is currently the biggest in the Lone Star State with over 70 poker tables. Plans for New Texas Poker Room Prior to the Hustler Casino Live stream, Polk shared details of his plans with PokerNews, and he explained why he chose the San Antonio market. Market is very fragmented (in San Antonio, Polk said. When you look at very fragmented markets, there is an opportunity for someone to come in and put together the most cohesive package and consolidate the market. "The (Interstate 35) corridor between San Antonio and Austin is fast-growing," Polk continued. San Antonio, with 2.5 million residents, has the third largest metropolitan area in Texas, trailing Dallas-Forth Worth and Houston. The drive to Rounders from The Lodge Card Club is only about two hours, but Polk doesn't anticipate the new room taking away players from The Lodge. Rounders Card Club, an established room, currently has 30 poker tables, making it the largest in San Antonio. But that's soon going to change. The Upswing Poker founder said a lease has been signed to operate out of a unit next door that is twice the size as the current business. As such, the newly owned Rounders will have 70-80 card tables, and become the largest place to play poker in Texas. Polk, Neeme, Owen, and the rest of the investment group will take over control of Rounders Card Club July 3. Polk's Future Plans Doug Polk Entering the San Antonio market isn't the end of Polk's poker business plans. In fact, he says, he expects to eventually open a room in every major city in Texas, including Dallas. But don't expect him to give it another try in Farmers Branch, the town that recently shot down his plans to open the biggest room in the state at a contentious city council meeting. Instead, he'll continue looking for another spot somewhere else in the Dallas-Forth Worth metro. Polk, a three-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner, has also researched venturing outside Texas to open a poker room, but has yet to find a state that would be feasible. Polk, Neeme, and Owen were part of the group that made a similar investment in January 2022, purchasing an established The Lodge Card Club, which they helped grow to not only become the largest poker room in Texas, but also one of the best places to play poker in the US. They'll try to do the same thing with Rounders Card Club in San Antonio, which will aim to challenge the exceptional experience that's given at any one of the top poker sites in the US. Doug Polk's Plans to Open "Largest Poker Room in Texas" Denied By City Share this article Plans for a new agribusiness park at the former Angola Airport property are taking a step forward, with the hiring of an architectural and engineering firm to design and construct a road that will extend into the park. The Buffalo and Erie County Industrial Land Development Corp., an affiliate of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency, approved a contract this week with LiRo Engineers to plan and direct the infrastructure development at the 240-acre former airport, which the agency purchased in partnership with the county. That will enable the county to begin marketing the land to potential users. Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week. The ILDC wants to transform the former airport into a commercial center focused on attracting agricultural businesses to the more rural area in the southern portion of the county. The agency has been working with Wendel Companies since 2021 on a master plan for the larger project. The project will involve the demolition of four one-story metal buildings, totaling about 14,70 square feet. Those were previously used by the airport for warehousing, offices and other purposes, but are no longer needed. The ILDC also intends to construct a 325-foot road that will run north from Eden Evans Center Road to the 3,200-foot-long former north-south aircraft runway. About 1,200 feet of that runway will be converted into a full roadway with utilities and other infrastructure that will support future buildout of the park. Thats the task that LiRo has been charged with designing and overseeing, after it beat out four other firms that responded to a request-for-proposals issued in February. The infrastructure design work will be entirely funded with a grant of $250,000 from Empire State Development Corp., which was awarded in March 2022. The total cost of the infrastructure work is $1.4 million. The ILDC also approved a final generic environmental impact statement for the overall redevelopment effort, after incorporating public comments and feedback from other governmental agencies received since December, and expects to issue its findings under the State Environmental Quality Review Act next month. In a separate project, the ECIDA also agreed to spend $150,000 to rehab railroad bridges for the Depew Lancaster & Western Railroad, which is a county-owned short-line rail spur that operates from the Buffalo-Cheektowaga border to Lancaster, serving businesses and industries located along the tracks. ECIDA manages the railroad. The Erie County Legislature approved the grant funding for the project including design, engineering and maintenance costs last September. The mainstream press is ignoring the part of the new NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist poll that shows that a guilty verdict would make 17% of voters less likely to vote for Trump. NPR reported on the new poll: Overall, two-thirds (67%) said a guilty verdict would make no difference to their vote; three-quarters (76%) said the same of a not guilty verdict. Roughly 1 in 6 voters (17%) said a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for Trump. That was true of a quarter of nonwhites and 1 in 5 voters who make less than $50,000 a year and those under 45. Small, but perhaps important, percentages of core Trump voter groups also said they would be less likely to vote for Trump if he were found guilty those who live in small towns (17%), whites without college degrees (14%), those who live in rural areas (11%) and Republicans (10%). Just 11% of independents said a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for Trump. Seventeen percent of voters is a lot of potential voters ruling a candidate out in a close election, where the margin of victory in swing states is likely to be five points or less. The bigger problem for Trump is that the Republican Party is showing signs of not being unified behind him, so even a drop of a few points among Republicans in swing states would doom the ex-president. These numbers are also only a starting point. If Trump is convicted, Democrats will use their fundraising advantage to hammer home the idea to voters that a convicted felon cant be elected president. The mainstream media is looking at these numbers from a national perspective, but presidential elections are 50 state elections. It doesnt matter how the verdict performs nationally in polls. What matters is how voters in states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, and Georgia feel about voting for a potential convicted felon for president. Even a tiny slip in support that may come with a conviction would be enough to doom Donald Trump. 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. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. [wpedon id=344887 align=center] After Thursdays surprise late afternoon GUILTY on all counts verdict for ex-president and current front-runner for Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, the Biden campaign warned that the threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater, and the ballot box is the only way to way to keep Trump out of the Oval Office. In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler wrote in a statement sent to PoliticusUSA. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November. The Biden campaign is also fundraising off of the verdict of their likely opponent, as anyone with a pulse in politics would do if they were in their shoes, with President Biden asking, You know that I hate to ask, but there couldnt be a more important moment for you to make your first donation to keep this guy out of the White House once and for all. So is this just politics? Obviously not. Today, our country had its first ever conviction of a former president for a felony. This is historic. And of course, Trump is accused of much worse than the falsified business documents case, even though it was itself a form of an election rigging case. Trump also faces a federal January 6th case related to his efforts to stay in power after he lost a free and fair election and the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump also faces an election fraud case in Georgia, where he is on tape trying to convince election officials to reverse his loss by finding votes for him. And Trump also faces a classified documents case in Florida relating to his keeping and even sharing of highly secret classified documents, in which his actions have potentially jeopardized the national security of the United States and our intelligence assets. Donald Trump is innocent until proven guilty in the above three cases, but has been found guilty of all 34 felony counts in the Manhattan hush money case. Given what is behind the charges in the cases Trump still faces, he is clearly not someone that a normal political party would even entertain supporting as a candidate for president. But we are way past those times. This is the man President Joe Biden will have to fight off to keep out of the Oval Office. Biden-Harris will need voters to do their job to ensure that the White House is not turned into a den for a seeming career criminal and adjudicated rapist, just like the jurors in Manhattan faced down the challenges of doing their civic duty under mob-like threat from MAGA leader Donald J. Trump. Well, this isnt going to go over well with the Trump crowd. The cover of next weeks The New Yorker will show an illustration of Donald J. Trump with tiny hands ready to be handcuffed, done by John Cuneo. Next weeks cover of The New Yorker by John Cuneo. pic.twitter.com/yQgbibxF9a Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) May 30, 2024 Even though the DOJ is also prosecuting the sitting Presidents son, MAGA are already screaming and howling about this verdict being rigged, so you can bet that they will not be able to stomach even light mocking over the guilty verdict of their leader. But from a political point of view, Donald Trump cant win 2024 with just his MAGA base. And once the mocking hits a certain level of national acceptance, it tends to stick to a candidate, fair or not (and this is certainly fair). Polls have already shown that a guilty verdict could be costly to Trump. Trump additionally faces three other trials, an election case in Georgia for trying to reverse his loss in that state by pressuring officials to find him votes, a federal January 6th case for his efforts to keep power after the 2020 election he lost and his incitement of a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, as well as a third case in Florida over his alleged theft and sharing of highly sensitive documents. This cover will be one of many to come showing the former president and likely Republican nominee for president in handcuffs. The Republicans have chosen to stand by their felon, turning control of their party over to him and his family and pushing their candidates to support him. Trump felon is their brand now. 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. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. [wpedon id=344887 align=center] COLUMBIA The sheriff called it chaos. There were sounds of automatic guns firing as teenagers fled from a neighborhood pool. Left behind were 75 shell casings from different calibers. About 80 people were at the neighborhood pool when shots broke out at around 8 p.m. on May 28. A 16-year-old was hospitalized for a gunshot wound. Two people have since been arrested, but Richland Sheriff Leon Lott said they plan to make more arrests. He asked for those living in the Villages at Lakeshore to send home surveillance camera footage to investigators. Lott pointed out Richlands longstanding problem of kids with guns. He mentioned the April 2023 shooting at Meadowlake Park where shots were fired into a crowd at a party following several high school proms, injuring 11 people. In 2022, Columbia-area schools were among the highest in South Carolina for weapons possession. One school resource officer said the students are caught with extended magazines, carrying more ammunition than an officer does. At a press conference, Lott showed a video from a surveillance camera at a home across from the pool parking lot. The sound of gunshots rang. The video then zoomed in to show a person holding a long gun and firing shots. Investigators are still looking for that person. Thats 22 seconds and at least 75 rounds that were fired, Lott said. Lott showed an evidence box with a handgun investigators seized after the shooting. He then held up an extended magazine. In his other hand, was a small black piece, known as a Glock switch. This switch will allow you to pull the trigger one time and every bullet in this magazine will shoot without stopping, Lott said. The sheriff described how the Glock switch drastically decreases the accuracy of the shots. And those shooting at the neighborhood pool were shooting with one hand. This investigation was supported with funding from the Data-Driven Reporting Project. The Data-Driven Reporting Project is funded by the Google News Initiative in partnership with Northwestern University | Medill The Charter Institute at Erskines schools underperformed in elementary and middle school math compared to other groups of South Carolina schools, according to a Post and Courier analysis of S.C. Department of Education data. The paper compared the performance of the Institutes schools to other charter schools in the state, traditional public K-12 schools and the state average for certain academic subjects. It found that the Institutes schools did worse than the other groups in elementary and middle school math every school year from 2018-19 to 2022-23. The Institutes schools did slightly better in elementary and middle school English language arts during the same period, coming close to or occasionally outperforming traditional K-12 public schools. For example, the Institute group did better than traditional K-12 schools and the state average in 2020-21 for students meeting or exceeding expectations in the subject, though they came in below other charter schools in the state. The Institutes high school students test scores reflected similar trends in math. Its high school students underperformed compared to the other groups yearly, though more modestly than elementary and middle school students. The one exception was in 2021-22, when they scored better than high school students at other charter schools in South Carolina. High school students in the Institutes group did better in English. While they underperformed compared to the other groups in 2018-19, they outperformed traditional public schools and the state in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! There are many reasons why some school districts perform more poorly than others, ranging from available resources to students economic backgrounds and the number of special needs students in the school. The Post and Courier found schools in the Institute group had slightly higher percentages of special needs students than traditional schools and other charters in 2022-23. A former state lawmaker and practicing attorney was arrested May 30 for allegedly slapping a man trying to calm him down after a confrontation with a Trash Gurl truck driver, according to Charleston police. Charleston police officers took John Kuhn, 61, into custody on the minor charge of simple assault just after 9 a.m. as he was leaving his Water Street home located on the peninsula South of Broad, said Sgt. Chris Stinson. Kuhn was granted a $1,087 personal recognizance bond the evening of May 30 in Charleston County Bond Court. Kuhn appeared via video in court before Magistrate Judge Alvin Bligen. The magistrate ordered Kuhn to receive counseling as part of his bond. Peter McCoy, Kuhns attorney and friend, declined to comment. He said in court that he and Kuhns family want him to seek help. He wants to go to counseling, McCoy said of Kuhn to the judge. Kuhn is accused of committing the assault on May 21 when he allegedly struck a construction worker with an open hand on East Battery Street. On May 21 around 11 a.m., an employee of Richard Mark Restoration working at 13 E. Battery St. was watching a Trash Gurl semitruck swap out dumpsters at the worksite, according to a police report. The truck was positioned to turn left onto East Battery Street from the residence and temporarily blocked part of the narrow street on the eastern tip of the peninsula. The employee reported Kuhn exited his white 2022 Range Rover behind the Trash Gurl truck and walked up to the truck. Kuhn began yelling at the Trash Gurl driver, who then exited the truck, according to an incident report. The home restoration employee said he watched Kuhn and the Trash Gurl driver argue as traffic built up on East Battery Street, according to the incident report. The employee said he approached Kuhn and asked, Can you please move your vehicle and let this guy out, you are holding up traffic, according to the police report. PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 17:15:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 911 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Abdulhamid Ahmed: Empowering Peoria's Entrepreneurial Spirit in Editorial, Content, Branding, and MarketingPEORIA, IL / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Abdulhamid Ahmed, a distinguished entrepreneur and editorial, content, branding, and marketing executive, continues to inspire and empower Peoria's entrepreneurial landscape through his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to community development.Hailing from a lineage steeped in philanthropy and entrepreneurship, Abdulhamid Ahmed's journey from Egypt to the heart of Peoria, Illinois, mirrors the rich tapestry of his family's legacy.Abdulhamid's entrepreneurial spirit blossomed during his formative years in Peoria, where he quickly embraced the vibrant opportunities of the Midwestern city. Guided by his family's values and a deep sense of responsibility for his newfound home, Abdulhamid embarked on a journey marked by innovation and community engagement.Venturing to Chicago in his mid-20s, Abdulhamid established himself as a formidable force in the business world, leveraging his diverse experiences and rich heritage to cultivate a unique approach to leadership. With over two decades of global experience, he has earned acclaim as a seasoned executive with a keen understanding of editorial leadership, content strategy, branding, and marketing.Abdulhamid's expertise transcends traditional boundaries, encompassing digital innovation and media strategy in an ever-evolving landscape. His visionary leadership has driven disruption and fostered brand development in an increasingly competitive market, while his deep understanding of integrated media strategy has enabled the creation of omnichannel content roadmaps that resonate with diverse audiences."As Peoria continues to shine on the national stage, this recognition reaffirms its status as a prime destination for those seeking an outstanding quality of life and a vibrant community spirit." Remarks Abdulhamid Ahmed. Beyond his professional endeavors, Abdulhamid remains deeply committed to Peoria, leveraging his success to support local initiatives and drive positive change. Whether through his business ventures or philanthropic efforts, he continues to honor his family's legacy while forging his own path as a leader in both business and community development.In an unprecedented opportunity for businesses seeking to elevate their brand presence and strategic marketing approach, acclaimed entrepreneur and branding expert Abdulhamid Ahmed announces his exclusive Branding Workshop, slated to take place in July 2024 in Peoria. This immersive event promises to empower participants with invaluable insights, strategies, and techniques to unlock their brand's full potential in today's competitive landscape.Abdulhamid Ahmed, renowned for his dynamic leadership and innovative strategies across global markets, brings over two decades of experience in brand development, content strategy, and marketing. His journey from entrepreneurial inception to establishing a thriving business empire in Chicago reflects a profound understanding of blending traditional values with cutting-edge methodologies.Attendees of Abdulhamid Ahmed's Branding Workshop can anticipate:Strategic Brand Development: Learn how to craft a compelling brand narrative that resonates with target audiences and sets your brand apart in the market.Innovative Marketing Strategies: Gain insights into leveraging digital innovation and media strategy to drive brand awareness and engagement across diverse platforms.Omnichannel Content Roadmapping: Discover how to create cohesive content strategies that span paid and shared channels, ensuring consistent brand messaging and audience connection.Collaborative Leadership: Explore Abdulhamid's collaborative and energetic leadership style, and learn how to drive high-value interactions and foster team collaboration for impactful results.Budget Management and Profitability: Acquire practical skills in budget management and profit and loss accountability to maximize commercial success and recognition within your industry.Creative Storytelling: Tap into Abdulhamid's expertise as a hobbyist photographer to harness the power of creative storytelling in media formats, enriching your brand's narrative and engagement.Abdulhamid Ahmed's Branding Workshop promises to be a transformative experience for businesses seeking to revitalize their brand strategy and establish a competitive edge in today's dynamic market environment."Peoria holds a special place in my heart, and I am honored to contribute to its vibrant entrepreneurial spirit," said Abdulhamid Ahmed. "Through innovative strategies and a commitment to excellence, we can continue to elevate Peoria's profile on the national stage while fostering growth and opportunity for all." Abdulhamid's collaborative and energetic leadership style has garnered praise for driving high-value interactions and shaping differentiated positioning strategies. His empathic understanding of consumers and their needs allows him to craft compelling brand narratives and marketing campaigns that resonate deeply with target audiences.As a successful entrepreneur and hobbyist photographer, Abdulhamid Ahmed embodies the spirit of innovation and creativity that define Peoria's entrepreneurial landscape. His multifaceted expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to excellence make him a standout leader in the fields of editorial, content, branding, and marketing.Abdulhamid's journey into entrepreneurship began amidst the dynamic opportunities of Peoria during his formative years. Guided by his family's values and a profound sense of responsibility to his newfound home, he embraced innovation and community engagement, setting the stage for his future endeavors.Transitioning to Chicago in his mid-20s, Abdulhamid swiftly established himself as a formidable presence in the business world. Drawing upon his diverse experiences and rich heritage, he crafted a distinct approach to leadership. With over two decades of global experience, Abdulhamid garnered acclaim as an executive with a comprehensive grasp of editorial leadership, content strategy, branding, and marketing.His expertise transcends conventional boundaries, encompassing digital innovation and media strategy in an ever-evolving landscape. Abdulhamid's visionary leadership has not only driven disruption and fostered brand development but has also facilitated the creation of omnichannel content roadmaps resonating with diverse audiences.For media inquiries or to schedule an interview with Abdulhamid Ahmed, please contact:Abdulhamid Ahmed MarketingAbout Abdulhamid Ahmed Peoria:Abdulhamid Ahmed Peoria is PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 22:05:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 641 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Stefan Gleason (the "Acquiror" or "Gleason") today announced that he is filing another early warning report in connection with his acquisition of additional shares of Electric Royalties Ltd. (TSXV:ELEC)(OTCQB:ELECF) ("Electric Royalties" or the "Company").After acquiring 2,000,000 Electric Royalties shares today via a private, off-market transaction, Gleason now beneficially owns or has control or direction over more than 26% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares."With Electric Royalties recently having more than tripled its overall holdings to 72 assets (including 40 royalties), I am pleased to continue the process of bolstering my long-term position in the Company by accumulating shares via open market purchases as well as private transactions," said Gleason."Meanwhile, with positive developments recently announced in connection with many of the Company's royalties - including Battery Hill, Seymour Lake, Mont Sorcier, Graphmada, Graphite Bull, Zonia, Kenbridge, Authier, and Chubb - as well as using a conservative NPV analysis of the Company's anticipated future cash flows, I believe Electric Royalties shares remain remarkably undervalued." In order to make further share acquisitions above the 20% threshold, Gleason has been utilizing both the "Normal Course Purchase Exemption" and the "Private Agreement Exemption" in National Instrument 62-104 - Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids.Stefan Gleason is a Charlotte-based entrepreneur who leads several privately held businesses in the United States, including Money Metals Exchange LLC. Money Metals is one of the largest precious metals dealers and depositories in North America.Gleason is also a Director of Electric Royalties. His family office, Gleason & Sons LLC, recently provided Electric Royalties an expanded C$10 million convertible credit facility that potentially enables the Company to acquire new assets without raising equity until such time as its shares are fairly valued, thereby limiting dilution of existing shareholders.On May 30, 2024, Acquiror closed on a private agreement to acquire 2,000,000 (at a cost of C$400,000, or $0.20 per share). Prior to May 30, the Acquiror held an aggregate of 23,746,404 Common Shares, representing 24.02% of the issued and outstanding Shares on an as converted and partially diluted basis. After the acquisition on May 30, the Acquiror held 25,746,404 Common Shares, or 26.05% of the issued and outstanding Shares on an as converted and partially diluted basis.On April 30, 2024, the Acquiror previously filed a report under the early warning reporting rules of Canadian securities laws, disclosing that he beneficially owned or had control or direction over 23,199,004 Common Shares, at the time representing 24.015% of the Company's issued and outstanding Shares on an as converted and partially diluted basis. The Acquiror is filing this latest early warning report because he has now accumulated more than 2% of the Company's issued and outstanding Shares since his prior filing on April 30, 2024.This early warning news release is issued under the early warning provisions of Canadian securities legislation, including National Instrument 62-104 - Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids and National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. A copy of the Early Warning Report will be filed at www.sedar.com For further information, contact:Stefan GleasonGleason & Sons LLC15720 Brixham Hill Avenue, #205Charlotte, NC 28277Tel: 208-577-2230This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements." All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address anticipated future events are forward-looking statements. Although the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future events and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements including as a result of the failure to obtain regulatory approvals, the availability of royalties, the production of properties underlying royalties not being as anticipated, and the Company's cash flow position deteriorating as a result of business or economic conditions.SOURCE: Gleason & Sons LLC PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 21:10:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 644 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SEAFORD, DE / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Alpha Care Medical, under the guidance of Nihar Gala, announces the introduction of compounded semaglutide for weight loss treatment at its Seaford location. Despite not yet receiving FDA approval, the medical facility aims to offer innovative solutions to address the pressing health concerns of the community.Compounded semaglutide presents a promising avenue for individuals struggling with weight management. As an experienced healthcare provider, Nihar Gala recognizes the importance of exploring alternative treatments to combat obesity and its associated health risks. By offering compounded semaglutide, Alpha Care Medical endeavors to provide patients with access to cutting-edge therapies in their pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.Nihar Gala, Founder and CEO of Alpha Care Medical, emphasizes the commitment to maintaining the highest standards of patient care and safety. The decision to introduce compounded semaglutide aligns with the facility's dedication to staying at the forefront of medical advancements while prioritizing patient well-being.While compounded semaglutide awaits FDA approval for weight loss indications, Alpha Care Medical assures patients of thorough evaluation and monitoring throughout their treatment journey. Under the supervision of qualified healthcare professionals, individuals can expect personalized care plans tailored to their unique needs and goals.As part of its mission to serve the Seaford community comprehensively, Alpha Care Medical remains vigilant in adhering to regulatory guidelines and ethical practices. Nihar Gala's leadership underscores the importance of transparency and integrity in all aspects of patient care, ensuring trust and confidence among patients and stakeholders.About Alpha Care MedicalAlpha Care Medical, founded by Nihar Gala, is a premier healthcare facility serving the Seaford, DE area. Committed to excellence in patient care, Alpha Care Medical offers a wide range of medical services, including addiction medicine, pain management, and now, compounded semaglutide for weight loss treatment. With a team of dedicated healthcare professionals, Alpha Care Medical prioritizes patient well-being and strives to provide compassionate and comprehensive healthcare solutions.About Nihar GalaNihar Gala, a distinguished and highly skilled medical professional, serves as the esteemed Founder and CEO of Alpha Care Medical. With a rich background in addiction medicine and pain management, Nihar Gala brings forth a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his pivotal role in leading Alpha Care Medical towards its mission of providing exemplary healthcare services.Having honed his skills through years of dedicated practice and academic pursuits, Nihar Gala stands as a beacon of excellence in the medical field. His profound understanding of addiction medicine and pain management equips him with the ability to address the complex needs of patients with compassion and efficacy.As the visionary leader of Alpha Care Medical, Nihar Gala remains steadfast in his commitment to serving the Seaford community with the highest standards of patient care and innovation in healthcare delivery. His unwavering dedication to improving the well-being of individuals underscores every initiative undertaken by Alpha Care Medical.With a relentless pursuit of excellence, Nihar Gala spearheads initiatives aimed at advancing medical practices and embracing emerging technologies to enhance patient outcomes. Under his astute guidance, Alpha Care Medical continues to evolve as a trusted healthcare provider, offering comprehensive solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of its patients.In addition to his professional accomplishments, Nihar Gala is deeply invested in the welfare of the Seaford community, actively engaging in initiatives that promote health education, outreach, and community wellness. His passion for making a positive impact resonates through his tireless efforts to empower individuals to lead healthier lives.In essence, Nihar Gala embodies the epitome of a compassionate healthcare leader, driven by a profound sense of duty to serve others. Through his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence, he continues to shape the landscape of healthcare delivery in Seaford, setting a standard of care that is second to none.Contact Info:Spokesperson: Nihar GalaOrganization: Nihar Gala AwardWebsite: https://nihargalaaward.com Email: apply@ nihargalaaward.com SOURCE: Alpha Care Medical PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 16:00:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 520 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 JACKSONVILLE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Ascend Plastic Surgery Partners announces 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 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.Ascend Plastic Surgery Partners Logo Since 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 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: PVPS 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. www.pvps.com About Ascend Plastic Surgery Partners: Ascend is at the forefront of the aesthetic medicine industry, committed to providing exceptional patient care and advancing the field through innovation and expertise. Ascend is dedicated to elevating the standard of care in plastic and cosmetic surgery. To join the Ascend network, visit www.ascendpsp.com Contact InformationLori MoonenMarketing Agencylori@ creativesparkjax.com 9042287318Related ImagesAscend Plastic Surgery Partners LogoPonte Vedra Plastic Surgery LogoSOURCE: Ascend Plastic Surgery PartnersView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-31 00:50:48 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 688 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 KELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 /Avant Brands Inc. (TSX:AVNT)(OTCQX:AVTBF)(FRA:1BU0) ("Avant" or the "Company"), a leading producer of innovative and award-winning cannabis products, held its annual general meeting of shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders") on May 30, 2024 (the "Meeting").40,063,347 of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares, representing 14.08% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of the Company, were represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Note that Mr. Michael Blady, originally listed as a nominee for reappointment as a Director in the information circular, has informed the Company of his decision not to stand for re-election, as announced on May 9, 2024. Consequently, Mr. Blady was not considered for reappointment.The complete voting results from the Meeting are as follows:1. Election of DirectorsEach of the six nominees listed in the management information circular of the Company dated April 15, 2024 (the "Circular") were elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of Shareholders or until their successor is duly elected or appointed. Proxies were tabulated as follows:2. Appointment of AuditorErnst & Young LLP was re-appointed as auditor ("Auditor") of the Company for the ensuing year at a remuneration to be fixed by the Company's Board of Directors. Proxies were tabulated as follows: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 press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements relating to Avant Brands Inc.'s future performance, growth prospects, strategic initiatives, and anticipated outcomes. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as 'may', 'will', 'should', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'could', 'intend', 'target', 'project', 'estimate', 'believe', 'predict', 'potential', 'plan', 'objective', 'contemplate', 'seek', 'aim', 'continue', 'budget', 'forecast', 'projections', 'outlook', 'strategy', 'priority', 'goal', 'aim', 'pursue', 'on track', 'initiative', 'expand', 'maintain', 'monitor' and similar expressions or their negatives.These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, including but not limited to the current regulatory environment, market conditions, and Avant Brands Inc.'s business strategies. However, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, changes in consumer preferences, regulatory changes, market competition, and the impact of geopolitical events.Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions, risks, and uncertainties is not exhaustive. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and may not prove to be accurate. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are based will occur.The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this release, and Avant Brands Inc. undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.SOURCE: Avant Brands Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 10:30:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 608 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Dr. Philip Fan J.P. () Spearheads Provision of Premium Dental Services Aspiring to Benefit More People WorldwideHONG KONG, HONG KONG / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Beame, a Hong Kong dental company founded by Dr. Philip Fan, J.P. (), the former Chairman of the Board of Directors, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, is dedicated to enabling clients to attain healthy, beautiful smiles through personalized orthodontic solutions. The company also strives to drive progress in the dental industry while expanding its international reach.Beame Expands Globally to Deliver High-Quality Orthodontic Services WorldwideBeame's team consists of seasoned professionals from Hong Kong's medical industry. Leveraging their expertise in dental care and advanced orthodontic techniques, Beame has established six consultation centers across prime locations in the city, including Central, K11, Times Square, Kwun Tong, Cheung Sha Wan, and Sha Tin. These centers provide orthodontic services, consultations, and maintenance.Beame's knowledgeable team employs the latest technologies and equipment to develop personalized treatment plans that cater to each client's unique needs and expectations, ensuring exceptional orthodontic outcomes.World-Class Medical Equipment Ensures Superior QualityBeame's first branch outside of Hong Kong is its self-owned clinic in Shenzhen, offering comprehensive dental services such as veneers, laser whitening, implants, and scaling. Managed by the Hong Kong medical team, the Shenzhen clinic employs international-grade equipment. Customers can access services at both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen locations, while also receiving ongoing maintenance and consultation support to achieve healthy, beautiful smiles.Dr. Philip Fan J.P. () Dedicated to Propelling the Dental Industry ForwardAlongside its existing clinics in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, Beame is actively expanding its global footprint, with plans to open branches in Australia, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. This strategic expansion aims to meet the rising demand for premium orthodontic services across these diverse regions. By broadening its international reach, Beame will enable more people to access convenient and efficient dental treatment, while also contributing to the overall advancement of the dental industry and driving economic growth in these local markets.Dr. Philip Fan J.P. (): Striving to Improve Oral Health for EveryoneAccording to Dr. Philip Fan J.P. (), the founder of Beame, "As the global population ages, the need for dental services will only increase. We are dedicated to delivering premium quality dental care to help more people recognize the significance of oral health. Our aim is to better the oral health of everyone, while also creating more opportunities worldwide." Beame aspires to become the world's premier dental care brand, delivering high-quality oral services to an expanding global population. The company is committed to enhancing people's oral health, confidence, and quality of life. By expanding its international presence, Beame aims to share the gift of beautiful smiles more widely while contributing to the socioeconomic progress of the communities it serves.About Beame ()Beame is a Hong Kong-based dental company staffed by experienced medical professionals from the Hong Kong healthcare community. It has 6 consultation centers across Hong Kong - located in Central, K11, Times Square, Kwun Tong, Cheung Sha Wan, and Shatin - primarily offering services like orthodontic consultations, maintenance, and payment processing.Beame's first branch outside of Hong Kong is its self-owned clinic in Shenzhen, which provides comprehensive dental services including veneers, laser whitening, implants, and scaling. This clinic is managed and treatments are designed by the Hong Kong medical team, using advanced equipment. Customers can receive services and aftercare at both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen locations.Additionally, Beame is actively expanding its international presence, with plans to open branches in Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.For enquiry, please contact:Jane NgMobile +852 5286 0518 Email:janeng@ mybeame.com SOURCE: BEAME Medical Technology Limited PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 20:01:39 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 281 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAINT GEORGE, UT / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Beautiful Brows and Lashes, a leader in the beauty industry, is excited to announce the launch of its new Beauty Professional Education Programs. These comprehensive training sessions are designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of beauty professionals, enriching their expertise and improving service quality across the industry.Mike Nielsen, spokesperson for Beautiful Brows and Lashes, highlighted the importance of ongoing professional development: "We are committed to elevating the standards of beauty services through education. Our new programs will equip beauty professionals with advanced techniques and deep insights into customer care, ensuring they excel in their careers and deliver exceptional results." The education programs will cover a wide range of topics crucial for modern beauty professionals, including advanced techniques for brows and lashes, the latest trends in beauty, and essential business skills for growing a client base. Each course is crafted by experts in the field and includes both theoretical knowledge and practical training.Drawing inspiration from industry pioneers like Pat McGrath, who have continuously pushed the boundaries of creativity and excellence, Beautiful Brows and Lashes aims to foster a new generation of talented beauty professionals who are prepared to transform the beauty landscape.About Beautiful Brows and Lashes:Beautiful Brows and Lashes is a premier brand catering to professional estheticians. They specialize in a wide range of high-quality lash and brow products designed to enhance your clients' natural beauty. Their offerings include lash extensions, brow tinting kits, tools, and accessories, all crafted to meet the needs of beauty professionals.For more information, please contact:Mike NielsenBeautiful Brows and LashesEmail: Info@ beautifulbrowsandlashes.us Phone: 805-574-9518SOURCE: Beautiful Brows and Lashes PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 15:01:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 535 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Carbon Green Investments (CGI) has announced its decision to withdraw the Kariba REDD+ Project and Chirisa REDD+ Project from the VCS GHG ProgramHARARE, ZIMBABWE / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Carbon Green Investments (CGI), a leading firm in the environmental sustainability sector, has formally announced the withdrawal of the Kariba REDD+ Project and Chirisa REDD+ Project from the VCS GHG program registry. This strategic decision, effective immediately, comes after extensive deliberations and a detailed review of the Projects' engagement over the past seven months.CG The decision to transfer these projects to an alternate GHG program was driven by a series of challenges that hindered their effective management and operations. Significant issues included prolonged communication delays and inadequate engagement with the relevant bodies, which have impacted the projects' implementation and CGI's business operations.CGI has cited several specific issues which led to the decision to transfer the projects:Engagement and Cooperation: CGI has faced considerable challenges, resulting in extended periods of uncertainty that have affected the projects' beneficiaries, staff, and business operations.Communication Delays: Persistent delays in addressing inquiries and providing necessary access to information have significantly hindered CGI's business and project management capabilities.Account Access and Transparency: Without access to necessary data, coupled with unexplained modifications, have raised serious concerns about transparency and operational integrity.Project Impact: These administrative challenges have caused further reputational damage and financial losses for all beneficiaries, further compelling CGI to act and place the best interests of the communities and stakeholders first.Both projects are now in the process of finalizing their registration applications with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) program and are scheduled for imminent revalidation and verification. CGI is committed to adhering to the highest standards of transparency and accountability, ensuring the integrity of the projects and the credibility of the issued credits.CGI, along with the appointed Validation & Verification Body, will continue to engage with VERRA as necessary throughout the revalidation process. CGI expects full cooperation from VERRA to facilitate a smooth transition and efficient handling of the credit transfer process, safeguarding the interests of all beneficiaries.CGI, withdrawing from VERRA after 12 years of collaboration, remains optimistic about its future under the new program. We are committed to fulfilling our environmental goals and ensuring the continued success and integrity of our projects.For further information, please contact Carbon Green Investments at:info@ carbongreeninv.netinfo@karibaredd.com About Carbon Green Investments (CGI)Carbon Green Investments (CGI) is a leader in the development and management of environmental sustainability projects, focusing on innovative solutions for carbon reduction and ecological conservation. Established with a mission to combat climate change through effective carbon management, CGI specializes in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) projects and other sustainable initiatives that contribute to global environmental integrity. CGI is committed to transparency, accountability, and excellence in all aspects of its operations, partnering with various stakeholders to ensure the success and credibility of its projects. Through its strategic approaches and dedicated team, CGI strives to create significant environmental impact and sustainable value for communities and ecosystems around the world, ensuring all areas of the landscape receive their fair share.###Contact Information:CG SpokespersonPRinfo@ karibaredd.com +263 4 88704786SOURCE: Carbon Green InvestmentsView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 22:45:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1013 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 THUNDER BAY, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals," "Clean Air" or the "Company") (TSXV:AIR);(OTCQB:CLRMF);(FRA:CKU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Garbutt as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective July 1, 2024. Mr. Garbutt, a seasoned mining professional with a record of success, has significantly contributed to the Company's strategic vision and development as COO over the past few years. Mike has the ideal skillset to lead the Company through potential asset acquisitions, resource expansion plans, and, ultimately, a mine development project."Succession planning has been at the forefront of our minds since Mike joined Clean Air Metals 2 years ago," said Jim Gallagher, outgoing CEO and returning Board Chair. "Mike's leadership and involvement, particularly in the due diligence review of other PGE assets in Northwestern Ontario, have been invaluable. He has demonstrated that he is uniquely qualified to carry forward our strategic initiatives." Mr. Garbutt's tenure as President and CEO comes at a crucial juncture for Clean Air Metals, as the Company demonstrates its resilience in the face of industry headwinds. Despite these challenges, Clean Air Metals has maintained a strong cash position, honed its project targeting, and strategically planned for resource base expansion through the potential acquisitions of other PGE assets."Being appointed CEO of Clean Air Metals is a tremendous honour," said Mike Garbutt. "I am excited to lead this exceptional team as we execute our strategy, capitalize on the opportunities ahead and create value for our shareholders. With Jim's continued support on the Board, alongside our recent additions of Dr. Lionnel Djon as VP of Exploration and Dr. David Peck to the Board of Directors, I am confident that we have one of the strongest teams in the junior sector." Clean Air Metals remains steadfast in its strategic focus on PGEs with associated copper exploration in Northern Ontario, leveraging the region's unique potential and scarcity of active exploration efforts. With an ongoing commitment to technical innovation and exploration excellence, the Company is well-positioned to seize the opportunities presented by the impending commodities super cycle, further enhancing its competitive edge."I am pleased to be able to hand the reins to Mike after a challenging year during which we redefined the Company's strategy and strengthened the team," said Jim Gallagher. "I started my mining career as a labourer at INCO's Levack mine 47 years ago. It is time for me to step back from Clean Air's day-to-day activities, but I'll remain on the Board of Directors supporting Mike and the rest of the team as they execute the strategy moving forward. In my long career, I have lived through several metal price super cycles and truly believe that with the low investment environment over the last few years combined with the Green Energy revolution and the desperate need for Critical Metals, we are on the cusp of one of the greatest metal cycles of recent times. I believe Clean Air Metals is well poised to take full advantage of the upcoming super cycle." Jim Gallagher will assume the role of Non-executive Chair of the Board of Directors starting July 1, 2024. He replaces Dean Chambers, who will continue his board roles as Chair of the Audit and Governance, Nominating and Compensation committees. We thank Dean for serving as Chair of the Board over the last year.About Jim Gallagher, PEng. Jim Gallagher, a mining engineer and experienced executive, was the CEO of North American Palladium from 2015 to 2019. He was responsible for the Company's operational and financial turnaround and eventual sale to Impala Platinum of South Africa for just under C$1 Billion. Jim served as Executive Chair of Clean Air Metals when the Company began to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange in early 2020. He assumed the role of CEO in June 2023.About Mike Garbutt, PEng. MBA Mr. Garbutt is a professional mining engineer with over 25 years of experience in mine operations, projects, and engineering. He has strong business acumen, has led successful mine operations, transitioned capital projects to operations, and has undertaken numerous project studies. He joined Clean Air Metals in May 2022 as its Chief Operating Officer. He was previously Deputy General Manager for IAMGOLD's Cote Gold Project, Senior Principal and Mining Sector Leader at Stantec Consulting, and General Manager of Sudbury Operations at KGHM. He held several senior technical and operating roles during a 14-year career at Glencore. Mr. Garbutt holds an MBA from Laurentian University and serves on select non-profit boards.The Company also announces that it has filed its audited consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the year ended January 31, 2024, available for viewing on www.sedarplus.ca Financial HighlightsTotal assets as at January 31, 2024 of $39,205,074 Total cash as at January 31, 2024 of $5,913,395 Working capital as at January 31, 2024 of $3,201,899 Shareholder's equity as at January 31, 2024 of $35,726,113 Financial SummaryFor the year ended January 31, 2024 January 31, 2023Operating Expenses $ 3,930,784 $ 5,565,889Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss (3,529,771 ) (4,816,873 )Loss per share - Basic and Diluted $ (0.02 ) $ (0.02 ) Total Assets $ 39,205,074 $ 42,290,356Total Liabilities 3,478,961 3,425,984Total Shareholders' Equity $ 35,726,113 $ 38,864,372 Full details of the financial reports and operating results for the year ended January 31, 2024 are described in the Company's audited consolidated financial statements with accompanying notes and related Management's Discussion and Analysis, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca About Clean Air Metals Clean Air Metals is a project consolidator assembling a portfolio of viable PGE/Copper/Nickel assets in Northwest Ontario. It is advancing its flagship, 100% owned Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals ("TBN") project, 40 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The TBN project, accessible by road and next to established infrastructure, hosts two (2) deposits - the Current and Escape deposits, only 2.5 km apart. Together, the deposits host a 13.8 Mt indicated mineral resource containing 2.4M Pt eq. oz (Technical Report on the Thunder Bay North Project, Ontario Canada, NI43-101, SLR Consulting Canada Ltd, June 19, 2023) with significant potential for expansion down-plunge.One of the rare primary platinum resources outside of South Africa with significant copper mineralization, the TBN project is in a stable and PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 19:46:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1061 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SURREY, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Condor Gold Plc (AIM:CNR)(TSX:COG) announces it is issuing 235,294 new Ordinary Shares at 28 pence each to Mark Child, Condor's CEO, as a bonus for the financial year ended 31 December 2023. (the "Payment Shares"). The bonus was recommended by the Remuneration Committee and approved unanimously by the Board. Mark Child was absent from the decision making process and Board approval.Application has been made for the Payment Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Admission of the New Ordinary Shares is expected to take place on or before 5 June 2024. The Company has applied to have the Payment Shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"). Listing is subject to the approval of the TSX in accordance with the applicable listing requirements.Total Voting RightsFollowing the issue of the 235,294 Payment Shares Condor's total issued share capital will comprise 203,442,778 New Ordinary Shares, each with voting rights (the "Enlarged Issued Share Capital"). This figure 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, securities of the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.TSX MattersThe Company is relying on the exemption provided for pursuant to Section 602.1 of the TSX Company Manual (the "Manual") from the requirements of the Manual and the TSX relating to the Payment Shares, including the requirements of Section 613 of the Manual, as the Company is an "Eligible Interlisted Issuer" as defined in the Manual.- Ends -For further information please visit www.condorgold.com or contact:Condor Gold plcMark Child, CEO+44 (0) 20 7493 2784Beaumont Cornish LimitedRoland Cornish and James Biddle+44 (0) 20 7628 3396SP Angel Corporate Finance LLPEwan Leggat +44 (0) 20 3470 0470H&P Advisory LimitedAndrew Chubb, Matt Hasson, Jay Ashfield+44 207 907 8500Adelaide Capital (Investor Relations)Deborah Honig+1-647-203-8793About Condor Gold plc:Condor Gold plc was admitted to AIM in May 2006 and dual listed on the TSX in January 2018. The Company is a gold exploration and development company with a focus on Nicaragua.The Company's principal asset is La India Project, Nicaragua, which comprises of a large, highly prospective land package of 588 sq km comprising of 12 contiguous and adjacent concessions. The Company has filed a feasibility study technical report dated 25 October 2022 and entitled "Condor Gold Technical Report on the La India Gold Project, Nicaragua, 2022" (the "2022 FS") which is available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and was prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. The 2022 FS indicated that La India Project hosts a high grade Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") of 9,672 kt at 3.5g/t gold for 1,088,000 oz gold in the indicated mineral resource category and 8,642 kt at 4.3 g/t gold for 1,190,000 oz gold in the inferred mineral resource category. The open pit MRE is 8,693 kt at 3.2 g/t gold for 893,000 oz gold in the indicated mineral resource category and 3,026 kt at 3.0 g/t gold for 291,000 oz gold in the inferred mineral resource category. Total underground MRE is 979 kt at 6.2 g/t gold for 94,000 oz gold in the indicated mineral resource category and 5,615 kt at 5.0 g/t gold for 98,000 oz gold in the inferred mineral resource category.The 2022 FS replaces the previously reported Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") as presented in the Technical Report filed on SEDAR in October 2021 as the current technical report for the La India project.The 2021 PEA considered the expanded Project inclusive of the exploitation of the Mineral Resources associated to the La India, Mestiza, America and Central Breccia deposits. The strategic study covers two scenarios: Scenario A, in which the mining is undertaken from four open pits, termed La India, America, Mestiza and Central Breccia Zone ("CBZ"), which targets a plant feed rate of 1.225 million tonnes per annum ("Mtpa"); and Scenario B, where the mining is extended to include three underground operations at La India, America and Mestiza, in which the processing rate is increased to 1.4 Mtpa. The 2021 PEA Scenario B presented a post-tax, post upfront capital expenditure NPV of US$418 million, with an IRR of 54% and 12 month pay-back period, assuming a US$1,700 per oz gold price, with average annual production of 150,000 oz gold per annum for the initial 9 years of gold production. The open pit mine schedules were optimised from designed pits, bringing higher grade gold forward resulting in average annual production of 157,000 oz gold in the first 2 years from open pit material and underground mining funded out of cashflow. The 2021 PEA Scenario A presented a post-tax, post upfront capital expenditure NPV of US$302 million, with an IRR of 58% and 12 month pay-back period, assuming a US$1,700 per oz gold price, with average annual production of approximately 120,000 oz gold per annum for the initial 6 years of gold production. The Mineral Resource estimate and associated Preliminary Economic Assessment contained in the 2021 PEA are considered a historical estimate within the meaning of NI 43-101, a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify such historical estimate as current, and the Company is not treating the historical Mineral Resource estimate and associated studies as current, and the reader is cautioned not to rely upon this data as such. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Company believes that the historical Mineral Resource estimate and Preliminary Economic assessment is relevant to the continuing development of the La India Project.In August 2018, the Company announced that the Ministry of the Environment in Nicaragua had granted the Environmental Permit ("EP") for the development, construction and operation of a processing plant with capacity to process up to 2,800 tonnes per day at its wholly-owned La India gold Project ("La India Project"). The EP is considered the master permit for mining operations in Nicaragua. Condor has purchased a new SAG Mill, which has mainly arrived in Nicaragua. Site clearance and preparation is at an advanced stage.Environmental Permits were granted in April and May 2020 for the Mestiza and America open pits respectively, both located close to La India. The Mestiza open pit hosts 92 Kt at a grade of 12.1 g/t gold (36,000 oz contained gold) in the Indicated Mineral Resource category and 341 Kt at a grade of 7.7 g/t gold (85,000 oz contained gold) in the Inferred PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 14:31:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 682 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Prize Recognizes Drs. Holtzman and Chen of Washington University School of Medicine in St. LouisWELLESLEY, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Cure Alzheimer's Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to funding the most promising research to prevent, slow or reverse Alzheimer's disease, has announced the recipients of the inaugural Jeffrey L. Morby Prize. Senior author David M. Holtzman, M.D., and first author Xiaoying Chen, Ph.D., both of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, were selected by their peers for their paper "Microglia-Mediated T Cell Infiltration Drives Neurodegeneration in Tauopathy," published in Nature in March 2023.The Morby Prize is named in honor of the late Co-Founder of Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Jeffrey L. Morby, who inspired the nonprofit's mission 20 years ago to fund research as a path to ending Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Morby passed away in September 2023.Established this year, the Morby prize will be awarded annually to the senior and first authors of a recent scientific publication that transforms the fundamental understanding of Alzheimer's disease and opens new paths to translate scientific results into effective ways to prevent, diagnose or treat the disease. This year's award included $200,000 for the senior author's lab for Alzheimer's disease-related research."Recognizing researchers for a paper selected by peer scientists for breakthrough thinking and benefit to the Alzheimer's community befits Jeff's wonderful legacy of empowering scientists to achieve rigorous and innovative science," said Meg Smith, CEO of Cure Alzheimer's Fund. "The many extraordinary CureAlz-funded projects that resulted in published papers in 2022 and 2023 made the competition for this award fierce, and the endorsement of this paper by their peers speaks to the importance of the work of Drs. Holtzman and Chen and their co-authors. Their compelling data challenge the old paradigm that the adaptive immune system has little role in neurodegenerative disease, and by doing so opens new avenues to explore for effective intervention in Alzheimer's disease." Added Dr. Holtzman: "Both Xiaoying Chen and I and our many outstanding co-authors are very honored to receive recognition for the work in our recently published paper. There remain many unanswered questions about the exact role of the adaptive immune response in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. I think this work along with work from others in the field is pushing us to understand how important adaptive immunity is in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies, as well as whether targeting it will ultimately be therapeutically beneficial to people." About The Holtzman LabDavid M. Holtzman, Ph.D. is a neurologist and neuroscientist who has focused much of his efforts over the past 30 years on trying to better understand mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, particularly as they are relevant to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Xiaoying Chen, Ph.D., was a postdoc research associate in the Holtzman Lab and is first author of the winning paper. The Holtzman Lab at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has published extensively on the neurobiology of apoE as it relates to the innate immune system and how apoE and other factors such as neuronal activity and sleep influence A and tau metabolism, their accumulation, and their effects in the brain. For more information, visitHoltzmanLab.Wustl.edu About Cure Alzheimer's FundCure Alzheimer's Fund is a nonprofit dedicated to funding the most promising research to prevent, slow or reverse Alzheimer's disease. Since its founding in 2004, Cure Alzheimer's Fund has provided 848 grants to more than 300 of the world's leading researchers and contributed $202 million to research. Its funded initiatives have been responsible for many key breakthroughs in understanding the causes and pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Cure Alzheimer's Fund has received a 4-star rating for more than 12 consecutive years from Charity Navigator. Our Board of Directors, Trustees and a core group of other donors direct their donations to CureAlz overhead expenses so that 100% of general donations go to our research program. For more information, visit CureAlz.org . To learn about the impact of Alzheimer's on women and women working toward a cure, visit WomenandAlzheimers.org Contact DetailsBarbara Chambers+1 978-417-9890BChambers@ CureAlz.org Company WebsiteSOURCE: ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH FOUNDATION PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 17:31:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 494 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Media tour conducted with Army Civilian Dr. John E. Deaton discusses "Find Your Next Level", a new campaign from the Department of the ArmyNEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / For the first time, the Department of the Army debuted a campaign focused on Army Civilian Careers.A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/FMkGY43U8FQ Find Your Next Level" demonstrates how private citizens can bring their existing skills and abilities to an Army Civilian Career and have an impact that can only be found in the Department of the Army.Individuals looking for a new challenge in their career can choose from more than 500 career paths. Army Civilians work across industries with roles in finance, cybersecurity, engineering, and beyond.With more than 265,000 employees, the Army Civilian workforce is one of the largest groups of Civilian employees within the Department of Defense. The Civilian role in the Army dates back to the founding of our country in 1776, and Army Civilians continue to play a critical role in the Army's success today.Because there is low public awareness that the Department of the Army employs Civilians, the campaign aims to bridge this gap by demonstrating how professionals can bring their existing skills and abilities to an Army Civilian Career.On May 22nd, a media tour was conducted with Army Civilian, Dr. John E. Deaton. He shared his unique perspective on the campaign as a former Army Ranger who ultimately returned to the Army as a Civilian later in his career - this time in veterinary sciences.His experience as an Army Ranger brought him the critical skills of discipline and leadership that would serve as the foundation for a fulfilling career in veterinary medicine after his service in uniform. Today he serves as the Deputy Director of Veterinary Sciences at Joint Base San Antonio where he leverages insights from his veterinary expertise to train the next generation of Soldiers.Topics that Dr. Deaton discussed included: Why the Army is launching a campaign focused on Civilians. His journey to the Army and why he chose to return as a Civilian. What opportunities his Civilian career in the Army has provided. Types of Army Civilian Career paths are available.For more information, visit ArmyCivilianCareers.com Army Civilian Careers will have a presence at upcoming events throughout the U.S. where potential candidates can interview for open positions, and potentially receive a tentative job offer on the spot: June 26-28: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in Las Vegas, NV September 18-20: Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing (CMDIT) in San Diego, CA October 4: American Indian Society of Engineers & Scientists (AISES) National Conference in San Antonio, TX October 12: Society of Asian Scientists & Engineers (SASE) in Boston, MA November 1-2: Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) in Anaheim, CA November 9: Great Minds in STEM (GMiS) in Fort Worth, TXContact DetailsYourUpdateTV+1 212-736-2727yourupdatetv@ gmail.com SOURCE: YOURUPDATETV PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 08:30:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 988 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 EduGenie introduces innovative essay writing services designed to enhance student academic success through comprehensive and expert support.BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / EduGenie introduces innovative essay writing services aimed at enhancing academic success. 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This meticu PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 15:01:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1020 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Faraday Copper Corp. ("Faraday" or the "Company") (TSX:FDY)(OTCQX:CPPKF) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced bought deal financing, including the exercise in full of the Underwriters' (as defined below) over-allotment option, for a total of 28,750,000 common shares (the "Common Shares") sold at a price of C$0.80 per Common Share for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$23,000,000 (the "Offering").Paul Harbidge, President and CEO, commented "We are pleased to close another successful financing backed by strong institutional support and key partners, including the Lundin family, Murray Edwards, and Pierre Lassonde." The Offering was underwritten by Ventum Financial Corp., Canaccord Genuity Corp. and TD Securities Inc. as co-lead underwriters and joint bookrunners (collectively, the "Underwriters").The Offering was completed by way of a prospectus supplement dated May 24, 2024 (the "Prospectus Supplement") and filed in all provinces and territories of Canada, other than Quebec, under the Company's base shelf prospectus dated October 21, 2022. The Common Shares were also sold in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and other jurisdictions outside of Canada.The Common Shares have been conditionally approved for listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"). The Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the final approval of the TSX.The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund advancement of the Copper Creek Project, located in Arizona, U.S., and for working capital and general corporate purposes as set out in the Prospectus Supplement.The Common Shares offered in the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under 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 any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.Related Party DisclosureRussell Ball who is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Company acquired an aggregate of 125,000 Common Shares pursuant to the Offering, which constitutes a "related party transaction" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Mr. Ball's participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 in reliance upon the exemptions contained in Section 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101. A material change report was not filed more than 21 days in advance of the closing as the launch of the Offering only occurred within a short period of time prior to the closing of the Offering, and the Company wished to close the Offering on an expedited basis for sound business reasons.About Faraday CopperFaraday Copper is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing its flagship copper project in Arizona, U.S. The Copper Creek project is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in North America with significant district scale exploration potential. The Company is well-funded to deliver on its key milestones and benefits from a management team and board of directors with senior mining company experience and expertise. Faraday trades on the TSX under the symbol "FDY".For additional information please contact:Stacey Pavlova, CFAVice President, Investor Relations & CommunicationsFaraday Copper Corp.E-mail: info@ faradaycopper.com Website: www.faradaycopper.com To receive news releases by e-mail, please register using the Faraday website at www.faradaycopper.com Cautionary Note on Forward Looking StatementsSome of the statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" and are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Faraday to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning final approvals relating to the Offering and the intended use of proceeds of the Offering.Although Faraday believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include without limitation: market prices for metals; the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses; lower than expected grades and quantities of resources; receipt of regulatory approval; receipt of shareholder approval; mining rates and recovery rates; significant capital requirements; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; fluctuations in rates of exchange; taxation; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which Faraday does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, competition; loss of key employees; rising costs of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; accidents; labour disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of Indigenous peoples and other groups; risks, uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 16:47:57 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 447 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 GoHighLevel AI Chatbot Feature Streamlines Multi-Platform Customer Communications with Advanced Conversation AI CapabilitiesLOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / GoHighLevel AI Chat Bot, a key feature of the renowned GoHighLevel marketing automation platform,continues to provide robust support for businesses through its advanced capabilities within the Conversation AI suite. This tool is instrumental for companies seeking to automate interactions across live chat, SMS, and social media channels efficiently.Accessible via GoHighLevel's sub-account settings, the AI chatbot enables businesses to seamlessly manage customer communications. By activating the feature in the 'Conversation AI' settings, users can deploy the chatbot across various communication platforms. Although it excels in live chat applications, it is also capable of handling engagements via SMS and social media.The versatility of GoHighLevel's AI chatbot is a significant advantage, allowing businesses to maintain consistent messaging across all customer interaction points. Users can customize the bot's responses and functionalities to suit specific platforms, ensuring that every customer receives relevant and prompt responses.One of the standout features of the AI chatbot is its ability to learn from a company's existing website content or from a tailored list of FAQs. This capability enables the bot to provide precise and useful information, thereby enhancing the efficiency of customer service. Businesses can also continuously refine the bot's knowledge base by providing it access to a Google Doc filled with FAQs and relevant information, which the AI utilizes to enhance its learning.Additionally, the AI tool offers functionalities like appointment booking integration. Businesses can link the chatbot with their scheduling systems to allow for seamless appointment setups directly through chat interactions, streamlining the process and improving user engagement.Rachel S. Lee, GoHighLevel expert , shares a tutorial video on Youtube on how to set up the AI chatbot.GoHighLevel AI Chat Bot ensures easy integration, providing a widget that can be added to various website platforms, including Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress. This adaptability makes the AI chatbot an accessible feature for businesses of all sizes, requiring minimal technical skills for setup.For businesses looking to maximize their use of the AI chatbot, GoHighLevel offers detailed training through its 'university' section, including a free course on setting up and optimizing the chatbot for different business needs.GoHighLevel AI Chat Bot's sustained commitment to improving business communication through innovative tools like the AI chatbot demonstrates its dedication to empowering businesses to achieve superior customer engagement and operational efficiency.For a free trial of GoHighLevel, you can use her link here.Rachel S. Lee is an affiliate of GoHighLevel and does not work for them. Check out her YouTube channel for more High Level resources.Media Contact: Rachel Lee info@ pulsemediapr.com SOURCE: High Level AI PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 17:35:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1076 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 /Infield Minerals Corp. (TSX-V:INFD) ("Infield" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement (the "Share Purchase Agreement") dated effective May 29, 2024, pursuant to which it will acquire (the "Acquisition") all the issued and outstanding share capital of 1468289 B.C. Ltd. ("BC Co") with closing subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). As the Acquisition is considered both a "Reviewable Transaction" and a "Fundamental Acquisition" under the policies of the TSXV, trading of Infield's shares has been halted but is expected to resume upon filing of a 43-101 Technical Report1 regarding the Kings Canyon Property (as defined below) with the TSXV. In accordance with the policies of the TSXV, Infield will issue a news release regarding the status of the Acquisition every 30 days following this trading halt until the Acquisition is complete and a news release has been issued confirming closing of the Acquisition.BC Co is a privately owned company incorporated pursuant to the laws of British Columbia on February 28, 2024. Mario Stifano ("Stifano") and Ewan Downie ("Downie") each own 50% of the outstanding share capital of BC Co. BC Co's sole asset is an option agreement with Geomark Minerals USA Inc. ("Geomark") to acquire an undivided 100% interest in the Kings Canyon property (the "Property" or "Kings Canyon Property") in the state of Utah, USA (the "Kings Canyon Option Agreement"). Upon completion of the Acquisition, Infield will own 100% of BC Co in consideration for the issuance to each of Stifano and Downie of 2,711,448 (5,422,896 in the aggregate) common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.015 per share. The securities of Infield to be issued pursuant to the Acquisition will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from issuance in accordance with Canadian securities laws."Infield is exceptionally pleased to be moving forward with the addition of Kings Canyon to our project portfolio and to welcome Mario Stifano and Ewan Downie as shareholders of Infield," stated Evandra Nakano, President and CEO of Infield. Ms. Nakano continued, "we look forward to the opportunities to create value for shareholders in the coming years through advancing the known deposit areas, exploring the upside potential and pursuing additional value-add transactions." Kings Canyon PropertyProject Highlights:The Kings Canyon Property is host to disseminated "Carlin-type" gold mineralization within an emerging mineral district, 30 km east of the Nevada border in western Utah The Crown Zone hosts a near surface oxide gold deposit that reportedly contains an unclassified historical resource* of 6.8 million tons grading 0.030 ounces per ton ("opt") (1.02 grams per tonne ("g/t")) gold for >200,000 ounces, using a cut-off grade of 0.013 opt (0.44 g/t) (*see below) Royal Zone drilling has outlined a mineralized footprint comparable in size to the Crown Zone; 2012 historical results include (see sedarplus.ca for Pine Cliff Energy Ltd. AIF dated January 25, 2013 and March 21, 2013):1.1 g/t gold over 33.5 m in hole KC12-171.0 g/t gold over 27.4 m in hole KC12-191.54 g/t gold over 30.5 m in hole KC12-221.27 g/t gold over 21.3 m in hole KC12-231.15 g/t gold over 27.4 m in hole KC12-24 Opportunity to better delineate known deposit areas and to explore the potential for expansion and new discoveries among similar host rocksThe Kings Canyon Property is located in Millard County, Utah, within the emerging Kings Canyon mining district, and consists of approximately 2,500 acres comprising 129 unpatented mining claims and one (1) 640-acre State of Utah metalliferous minerals lease (Figure 1). The Kings Canyon mining district is situated along the edge of the upper Proterozoic rift within the U.S. Great Basin, approximately 30 km east of the Nevada border. While the district hosts numerous mineral occurrences, it has lacked the consistent and sustained exploration required to uncover the area's full mineral potential.Gold at the Property occurs as disseminated, Devonian carbonate-hosted mineralization, analogous to the "Carlin-type" deposits, that are well documented throughout northern and central Nevada, as well as western Utah. The Kings Canyon Property is host to two known oxide gold mineralized zones: the Crown Zone and the Royal Zone, which have been outlined by more than 200 historical drill holes.The Crown Zone has been explored since at least the late 1980s and hosts a near surface oxide gold deposit with a strike length of approximately 800 m. The zone reportedly contains an unclassified historical resource* of 6.8 million tons grading 0.030 opt (1.02 g/t) gold using a 0.013 opt (0.44 g/t) cut-off grade (*see below). Most of the historical drill holes were vertically oriented and completed via reverse circulation drilling that targeted disseminated mineralization and did not adequately test for potential high-grade feeder systems at depth.*The historical estimate does not comply with CIM definition standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as required by NI 43-101 and is not relevant to NI 43-101. The historical estimate was reported by Crown Resources Corporation in its 10-K annual report filed on April 1, 2002, with the SEC. The historical estimate was prepared prior to enactment of NI 43-101 and details of estimation methodology are not provided. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the historical estimate is not considered reliable. The Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Historical data available to the Company indicates drilling was completed on the Property subsequent to the historical estimate. The Company has not determined the full extent of work required to verify or upgrade the historical estimate as a current mineral resource, however, initial steps could involve a review of the historical assay quality assurance/quality control ("QA/QC") methods, inspection of available assay certificates and logs, and additional drilling and assaying.The Royal Zone is situated approximately one (1) km south of the Crown Zone, with disseminated gold mineralization hosted in the same carbonate rocks as the Crown Zone. This permissive stratigraphy underlies much of the project area, providing additional opportunities for discovery. The most recent drilling at the Royal Zone was conducted by Geomark Exploration Ltd. in 2012 and 2013, with results including 1.1 g/t gold over 33.5 m in hole KC12-17, 1.0 g/t gold over 27.4 m in hole KC12-19, 1. PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 18:31:11 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 336 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Sav-Rx has disclosed a data breach affecting the personal health information of more than 2,800,000 individuals. Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating this breach to determine whether affected consumers are entitled to compensation.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On October 8, 2023, Sav-Rx detected a disruption in its computer network. In response, the company immediately secured its systems and enlisted the help of third-party cybersecurity experts.WHAT INFORMATION WAS INVOLVED?The information that may have been accessed or acquired included name, date of birth, social security number, email address, address, phone number, eligibility data, and insurance identification number.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Compensation may be available for Sav-Rx account holders who received notice that their personal information had been breached. Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers break into networks to steal personal information, which can be sold on the dark web or used to commit identity theft, financial theft, or other frauds. The company may be liable for failing to secure your privacy.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Sav-Rx or A&A Services, you are affected. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us as www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 08:30:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 952 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MasterPapers offers comprehensive dissertation writing services with flexible pricing and 24/7 support from a diverse team of PhD experts.PORTLAND, OR / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / MasterPapers announces the introduction of its comprehensive dissertation writing services, designed to support students at all stages of their academic journey. 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It eliminates the need to hire a separate editor.One-Page Summary: Often called an abstract, this can be ordered sepa PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 15:40:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 715 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The Netflix Star, Tattoo Artist, and Car Builder has teamed up to protect your car from UV rays this summer with new products available at O'Reilly Auto Parts or TurtleWax.com LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / In preparation for summer, Turtle Wax is continuing its collaboration with Netflix star Mister Cartoon - the legendary tattoo artist and lowrider builder - to introduce three new car care products to its popular Art of Car Care line. Each of these will leave your car shining and protected all season long. The new products, developed with Mister Cartoon's expertise and passion for cars, are now available in-store or online atO'Reilly' sorTurtleWax.com New collaboration between Mister Cartoon and Turtle Wax. The duo has launched three new products in its popular Art of Car Care line: All Metal Polish, Quick Wax, and Tire Coat available fromTurtleWax.comorOreillyAuto.com Designed to elevate the aesthetic of your ride while also leaving it properly protected, these innovations expand upon the seven detailing products the duo launched in 2023, along with numerous air care products. The innovations include:All Metal Polish(SRP $13): This is not your average metal polish; it's a comprehensive solution for all your metal polishing needs, designed to bring out the best in your vehicle's metal surfaces.Its powerful formula contains precision polishing agents that brighten metal surfaces and fight off future oxidation. Specifically designed to restore the original reflection in chrome, aluminum, brass, stainless steel, and more, it will help to ensure your vehicle's metal parts stay as good as new - no matter what you drive. Added ceramic infusion helps clean, restore, polish, and protect all metal surfaces, making it a must-have for long-term metal care.Quick Wax(SRP $12): Achieving the perfect, glossy shine for your ride is now a breeze, and it will remain fully protected, too.Ceramic infusion provides notable shine to your finish, as well as protection and exceptional water repellency in minutes. The powers of synthetic sealants and carnauba wax combine to create a stunning, mirror-like shine on all exterior surfaces. The application is quick and easy. Simply spray on a clean, wet, or dry vehicle and wipe it off to reveal the gloss shine. It's a hassle-free way to keep your vehicle looking its best, allowing you to focus on enjoying your ride!Tire Coat(SRP $14): Thanks to ceramic and acrylic infusion, your tires will experience unmatched, lasting brilliance and protection for up to a year, giving you peace of mind that your car's appearance is maintained for an extended period.Tire Coat provides a deep black, high-gloss, layer-able shine, bringing water and dirt repellency while driving. Scrub resistance means you can take your car wherever you want, even wash it, without worrying about removing the coating. It dries to the touch in minutes and won't accumulate dirt, and you can hit the road without worrying about slinging.With a rich history of involvement in the automotive industry, Turtle Wax and Mister Cartoon are not just names but symbols of quality, artistry, and innovation. They bring a product line that caters to all car enthusiasts, whether they own a daily driver, lowrider, custom rims, whitewalls, or custom paint jobs. No matter what type of vehicle you own, you can trust the combined expertise of Turtle Wax and Mister Cartoon to deliver exceptional car care products, ensuring your car's appearance is in safe hands.For more product information, visitTurtleWax.comor theirYouTubepage. To purchase, visit O'Reilly's Auto Partsonlineorin-storeorTurtleWax.com . Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience the Art of Car Care line, a game-changer in car care.EDITOR'S NOTEClickherefor product photos.ABOUT TURTLE WAXThe Turtle Wax story started with the launch of the first-ever bottled car wax in 1944. More than 75 years later, the 'Most Innovative Brand in Car Care' is still capturing the attention of the auto appearance industry with a cross-category assortment of No. 1 selling products. With product distribution in more than 120 countries, the Turtle Wax brand resonates globally. Still, the brand's heart remains in its hometown of Chicago, where award-winning innovation is still developed. For an inside look at the brand's breakthrough product development process or how Turtle Wax supports car culture worldwide, visitTurtleWax.com Contact Details:The ID Agency Glenda Vaquerano glenda@ theidagency.comCompany Website: http://turtlewax.com/ SOURCE: Turtle Wax PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 21:30:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 456 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 EDISON, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Safety is critical in the fleet industry, and NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA), the vehicle fleet industry's largest membership association, is dedicated to advancing safety standards across the board. In support of this commitment, NAFA is hosting its second annual Fleet Safety Symposium, "Enhancing Fleet Safety: An Interactive Fleet Safety Event," from June 24-26 at Oakton Community College in Chicago, IL."The Fleet Safety Symposium is a cornerstone of NAFA's commitment to promoting safety in fleet management. This event is designed to provide our members with practical strategies and tools to implement effective safety practices within their operations," said Bill Schankel, CAE, CEO of NAFA. "We look forward to seeing the collaborative efforts of our participants as they work together to enhance safety standards across the industry." Building on last year's success, this year's symposium introduces new, cutting-edge content aimed at addressing the evolving challenges in fleet operations. Participants will engage in interactive sessions focused on enhancing safety awareness, mitigating risks and fostering a culture of safety excellence.Jerry Curl, Chief Operating Officer at G&D Trucking Inc./Hoffman Transportation LLC, will help lead the symposium, guiding attendees through the event and driving insightful discussions.Fleet Safety Symposium Highlights and Key Features:Interactive Sessions: Engage in dynamic discussions designed to enhance safety awareness and mitigate risks."Trip Up the Expert" Session: Challenge industry experts to uncover blind spots and develop innovative solutions to safety challenges.Expert-Led Discussions: Participate in thought-provoking conversations and real-world case studies.Hands-On Activities and Group Exercises: Experience practical training that fosters a proactive approach to safety management.Focus Areas:Safety PlanningSafety CultureSafety Tools and TechnologiesSafety Policy ImplementationThis event will provide attendees with the tools, strategies and insights needed to drive positive change within their fleet operations, ensuring the safety and well-being of drivers, vehicles and communities.For more information and to register, please visit https://www.nafa.org/events/fleetsafetysymposium/ NAFA Fleet Management Association is the membership organization for professionals who manage the mobility requirements of vehicle fleets that include commercial, public safety, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for corporations, governments, universities, utility fleets, and law enforcement in North America and across the globe. NAFA's members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance, repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 4.8 million vehicles that drive an estimated 84 billion miles each year. NAFA's members control assets and services well above $122 billion each year.For more information, please visit www.nafa.org , and communicate with NAFA on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X .Contact DetailsKeaveny Hewitt+1 919-622-5276khewitt@ onwrdupwrd.com SOURCE: NAFA FLEET MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 14:02:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 874 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 In March 2024, Bitcoin soared to a historical high, nearing 70,000 euro per coin. How does this impact the iGaming market? Being a tech company with over 15 years of experience and an innovator in crypto iGaming software development, SOFTSWISS shares anticipations in its quarterly crypto analysis.GZIRA, MALTA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / SOFTSWISS experts analyse the data gathered from crypto-friendly brands by employing extrapolation, comparative, and correlative analysis. Over 220 brands powered by the company engaged in crypto transactions during the first quarter of 2024, which is 12% higher than the previous quarter.iGaming Market Overview: Unveiling Anticipated GrowthThe size of the global online gaming industry is expected to rise significantly and exceed 170 billion euro by 2032, according to Statista. Based on SOFTSWISS data, the iGaming market has demonstrated a stable pattern of growth year after year.In absolute terms in euro, the Total Bet Sum grew by 5.8% in the first quarter of the year compared to the last quarter of 2023. Analysing the year-on-year increase, comparing Q1'24 with Q1'23, the growth is more impressive, showcasing a 47.2% boost.Simultaneously, the Total Bet Count, both fiat and crypto, displayed a slightly larger gain in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter, surpassing 6.1% . The indicator's year-on-year boost is much more notable, revealing a 57.2% increase.The popularity of iGaming in recent years has been fuelled by the development of legislation regulating the iGaming sector, which establishes clearer rules and positively impacts the industry's growth.Constant technological advancements also stimulate its global reach and accessibility to the new young audience. On one hand, the quality of internet connectivity continues to rise, while on the other, new payment methods are emerging, simplifying payment procedures.The in-depth quarterly analysis, ongoing since the beginning of 2022, reveals that fiat bets are undergoing more substantial growth compared to crypto bets. In Q1'24, the Fiat Bet Sum increased by 6.9% compared to Q4'23, while the rise of Crypto Bet Sum was at 2.4% .What is the State of Crypto in iGaming?Analysing crypto bets, it is crucial to highlight that almost 93% of them are facilitated through the in-game currency conversion tool, which is gaining traction. This mechanism allows operators to engage players with cryptocurrency assets in games initially tailored for fiat only. Operators that adopt such options are gaining more competitive advantages in the market.While the Q1'2024 Crypto Bet Sum shows a moderate 2.4% growth compared to the previous quarter, the year-on-year analysis demonstrates a 20.8% increase. The Crypto Bet Count remained unchanged in Q1'24 compared to the previous quarter's indicator. Simultaneously, the metric increased by 21.3% year-on-year . The figures speak volumes, showcasing a consistent interest among players in crypto gaming."The lack of a substantial increase in the number of crypto bets during Q1'24 can be partly attributed to the significant rise of the Bitcoin exchange rate during this period, leading players to be more cautious with their crypto bets. This trend mirrors the situation in the first quarter of the previous year when the Bitcoin exchange rate surged following a decline at the end of 2022," comments Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Operating Officer at SOFTSWISS.What Distinguishes the Average Crypto Bet?The average crypto bet increased to 1.71 euro in the first quarter of the year from 1.66 euro in the last quarter of 2023. This growth correlates with a significant strengthening of the Bitcoin rate during the first quarter of 2024.The average fiat bet remained steady at around 0.81 euro in Q1'24 and Q4'23. The average total bet stayed constant since the second half of the previous year and is equal to 0.93 euro.Notably, the average crypto bet is double that of fiat. This indicates that digital currencies are preferred by higher-income players.Why Did Bitcoin's Share Drop?The Top Five most operated digital coins in iGaming have remained stable during the last two years with minor changes in ranking order. The top still includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Tether.In Q1 2024, Bitcoin experienced a significant decline of 9.4 p.p. compared to Q4 2023. This could be attributed to the bolstering Bitcoin exchange rate and players exercising a more cautious approach towards it.In contrast, the shares of other digital coins have increased. Ethereum and Litecoin showed growth of 4.0 p.p. and 3.8 p.p., respectively, during the same period. Simultaneously, Dogecoin rose to fourth place in the ranking, leaving Tether behind.Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Operating Officer at SOFTSWISS, summaries: "The benefits of employing digital currencies, such as fast transactions and anonymity, still attract many players. Embracing cryptocurrencies in iGaming can boost operator profits despite their volatile nature.As the Bitcoin rate is expected to strengthen after the Bitcoin Halving, the average crypto bet and projected gains may see a notable impact. During such promising times, it is crucial to have reliable and experienced partners to navigate the path to success." About SOFTSWISSSOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised iGaming solution.For more information, please contact:Volha Halota, PR ManagerEmail: volha.halota@softswiss.comTel./telegram/whatsapp: +48539949083SOURCE: SOFTSWISS PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 08:00:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1038 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Orosur Mining Inc - Argentina UpdateField work completed prior to winter recess.Mapping and sampling identified large, district scale low-sulphidation epithermal system.Environmental studies for drilling permits submitted, allowing for drilling by year-end.Technical teams shift focus to Anza project in Colombia during the Argentine winter recess.LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 /Orosur Mining Inc. ("Orosur" or the "Company") (TSXV:OMI)(AIM:OMI), is pleased to provide announce an update on the progress of exploration activities at its El Pantano gold and silver project ("Project" or "El Pantano") in Argentina.El Pantano - ArgentinaThe Project is an early-stage gold/silver exploration project in Santa Cruz province, southern Argentina.The Project comprises approximately 600km2 of contiguous licences in the prolific Deseado Massif region, roughly 45km from Anglo Gold's Cerro Vanguardia mining camp.The Project is subject to an Exploration & Joint Venture ("JV") agreement ("Agreement") with private Argentinean company DESEADO DORADO S.A.S and its shareholders ("Deseado"), the details of which were announced on February 15th 2022.At the time the JV commenced, the Project was an almost untouched grass roots gold/silver exploration project. Some historical sampling and geophysics had been done in the southeast of the Project, but 80% of the Project area had never been explored and no drilling has ever been undertaken anywhere within the Project area.The Company entered the JV on the basis of regional geological data that indicated the potential for a major, previously unknown district-scale low-sulphidation epithermal system. In addition to the highly prospective geology, the Project also offered a large contiguous land package, zero entry cost, and a low-cost pathway to 100% ownership.Post signing the Agreement, the Company immediately began the process of geological mapping and geochemical sampling across the licence package. This process is now largely complete, and data collected have supported the Company's initial view of the Project's prospectivity. It is now planned to move to the next phase of direct targeting. Environmental permits have been submitted which would allow for drilling by the year end.Figure 1. Project locationGeological ModelThe Deseado Massif plays host to a number of world class gold and silver deposits, the largest of which is the giant Cerro Negro deposit being exploited by Newmont Mining (Fig 2).Fig. 2. Geological map of the Deseado Massif with epithermal Au-Ag deposits and paleo hot spring occurrences.(Moreira and Fernandez)The Deseado Massif is a geological province in Southern Argentina, covering roughly 60,000km2 and consisting largely of felsic volcanics related to widespread mid to late Jurassic volcanism.Fig 3. Rift related, low-sulphidation model schematic section (Exploration Alliance)Mineralisation in the region is related to the Jurassic break up of Gondwana and opening of the Atlantic Ocean. There are a variety of mineralisation styles, but the most significant are of the rift related, low-sulphidation style.Extension associated with this volcanism created regional scale SE-NW striking rifts that acted as conduits for metal bearing fluids that were the source of most significant mineral deposits. These rifts can be tens of km long and several km wide and in cross section can be presented as "flower" structures as the rifts widen out toward the surface and the binding pressure of surrounding rocks decreases (Fig 3). Importantly this same reduction of pressure allows the metal bearing fluids to boil, and it is this boiling that is the primary mechanism for gold deposition. Above this boiling zone, the fluids continue upward, but may be now devoid of gold, being reflected as barren quartz veins, hot spring systems and other forms of pervasive surface silicification.As a result, gold surface geochemistry is often not an effective indicator of underlying potential. Attention must instead be focused on geochemical sampling of more mobile pathfinder elements (such as arsenic ("As"), mercury ("Hg") and base metals) and mapping of silica textures that give guidance as to the vertical level within the epithermal system.ResultsSince early 2022, the Company's geological teams have been slowly working across the large licence holding carrying out reconnaissance exploration activities including ground magnetics, geological mapping and surface geochemistry.The last phase of work was completed at the end of April 2024, with results now compiled and assessed.Examination of these data have supported the Company's original thesis as to the prospectivity of El Pantano. A regional scale SE-NW trending rift system has been clearly mapped at El Pantano, approximately 20km in strike length and 6km in width; the same style and scale of structural architecture that is known to control the emplacement of major gold/silver deposits elsewhere in the massif.Widespread areas of pervasive silicification and hot spring occurrences were identified, with textures indicative of being above the boiling zone, which is important for the preservation of any mineralisation that may have formed.Swarms of quartz veins have been mapped over wide areas providing evidence of a highly active epithermal system.High level geochemical anomalism was recorded in all key pathfinder elements (As, Hg, Pb, Zn, Cu) along the rift structure, especially at the eastern and western ends of the structure that were not covered by later cretaceous sediments. Of these anomalous elements, arsenic was the most diagnostic (Fig 4) as gold bearing low-sulphidation epithermal fluids are generally also enriched in arsenic but which is not precipitated by fluid boiling and so is evident at the surface.Fig 4. Arsenic geochemistry and geological mappingNext PhaseThe Company is optimistic that it has identified a major, hitherto unknown low-sulphidation epithermal system, potentially similar in scale to that which produced the giant precious metal deposits at Cerro Negro, Cerro Vanguardia and others.The objective of the next phase of work will be to focus down to areas within this rift system that may be the most attractive structural conduits for fluid flow and mineral deposition. Work programs may include more detailed geochemistry, electrical geophysics (resistivity and IP) and reconnaissance drilling. Data will be assessed further, and options developed over the winter recess.In the meantime, the Company has completed and submitted all the necessary environmental studies that are required as part of the Santa Cruz Province drilling permit process. Consideration of these reports and drilling approval is expecte PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 23:20:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 554 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MILANO, ITALY / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / In the ongoing battle against online fraud, Refundaroo continues to make remarkable strides. In the first and second quarters of 2024, the company achieved an impressive milestone by recovering $2,600,560 for its clients, underscoring its commitment to combating scams and supporting victims.A Journey of Dedication and GrowthSince its inception,Refundaroohas been dedicated to protecting individuals from the ever-present threat of online scams. Through strategic planning and a team of seasoned experts in finance and cybersecurity, the company has steadily gained momentum in the scam recovery industry.The recovery of $2.6 million in the first half of 2024 is a testament to Refundaroo's effective methodologies and unwavering dedication to its mission. This achievement solidifies the company's position as a trusted ally for those affected by fraudulent activities.An Efficient and Transparent Recovery ProcessRefundaroo's success is built on a foundation of efficiency and transparency:Submit a Case:Clientsprovide detailed information about the scam and losses by submitting a case on Refundaroo's user-friendly website. The team ensures that clients even have a case before discussing their services, demonstrating a high level of care and diligence.Thorough Review: Within a short timeframe, Refundaroo's experts meticulously review each case, ensuring all pertinent details are gathered.Investigation and Recovery: Armed with advanced techniques and expertise, the team initiates a comprehensive investigation to retrieve lost funds.Client Updates: Throughout the recovery process, clients receive regular updates, keeping them informed and reassured.Tracking Your Case Made EasyRefundaroo offers a user-friendly login portal, allowing clients to easily track the progress of their cases. With just a few clicks, clients can access real-time updates, monitor milestones, and communicate with the Refundaroo team, providing peace of mind throughout the recovery journey.Tackling Diverse Scams with ExpertiseRefundaroo's proficiency extends across various scam types, including romance scams, investment scams, and identity theft. By tailoring recovery strategies to each case, the company ensures that clients receive personalized assistance, regardless of the scam's nature. The team's thorough review process ensures that only legitimate cases are pursued, demonstrating a commitment to handling each case with care and delicacy.Why Refundaroo Stands OutSeveral factors contribute to Refundaroo's effectiveness:Specialist Team: Comprising professionals with extensive backgrounds in finance, cybersecurity, and fraud investigation.Proven Results: The recovery of $2.6 million in Q1 and Q2 2024 demonstrates Refundaroo's ability to deliver tangible outcomes for its clients.Client-Centric Approach: Transparency and open communication are at the core of Refundaroo's operations, fostering trust and confidence among clients.Continuing the Fight Against ScamsAs Refundaroo looks to the future, its commitment to innovation and improvement remains unwavering. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and refining its recovery processes, the company aims to further enhance its capabilities and better serve its clients.Global ImpactOperating worldwide, Refundaroo extends its services to citizens across North America, Europe, and Oceania, ensuring that individuals from diverse regions have access to expert scam recovery assistance.A Notable Contribution to Scam RecoveryRefundaroo's success in recovering $2,600,560 in the first half of 2024 represents a significant step forward in the ongoing battle against scams. As the company continues to make strides, it stands as a beacon of hope for those impacted by fraudulent activities.For more information please visit at https://refundaroo.com/ Media Contact:Name: Claudia Cardoso Website: https://refundaroo.com/ Email:contact@ refundaroo.comAddress: Via Luigi Cadorna, 73, 20055 Milano MI, ItalySOURCE: Refundaroo PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 15:00:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1007 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 /Revolve Renewable Power Corp. (TSXV:REVV)(OTCQB:REVVF) ("Revolve" or the "Company"), a North American owner, operator and developer of renewable energy projects, is pleased to report its financial results for the three and nine month period ended March 31, 2024 ("Q3 FY2024"). All amounts reported are in US dollars.Tania Ontiveros, CFO of Revolve commented, "This is the Company's first quarter since completing the acquisition of WindRiver, which has allowed us to report a 65% increase in revenues over the same period last year. Momentum is building across the various parts of the business and we look forward to reporting further progress over the coming months." Key Business & Financial Highlights in Q3 2024Total revenues for the 3 month period to March 31, 2024 of US$337,439 consisting of electricity generation revenue from our operational DG portfolio and the Box Springs Wind project since the acquisition of WindRiver Power Corporation ("WindRiver") closed in mid-February. Total revenues for the 9 month period to the same date were US$1,668,201, representing a 65% increase on the same period in FY2023. This included (i) the milestone payment received in August 2023 from the sale of the Parker Solar & Storage project (ii) electricity generation sales from the operating DG portfolio and Box Springs Wind project and (iii) asset management income from the operation of the Hunter Creek and Sakwi Creek Hydro projects. Renewable energy generation from the Company's operational projects was 3,877,342kWh for the 3 month period to March 31, 2024 and 4,822,522kWh for the 9 month period to March 31, 2024. During the quarter the Company completed the acquisition of WindRiver, a Canadian based renewable energy operator and developer with interests in a number of operating hydro and wind projects as well as a hydro project development pipeline ( https://revolve-renewablepower.com/revolve-completes-acquisition-of-windriver-power-corporation-a-canadian-renewable-energy-operator-and-developer/) . Distributed Generation ("DG") assets under construction remained at 3.45MW with permitting work continuing on the 3MW CHP project and installation work continuing on the 450kWp rooftop solar project both located in Mexico. Distribution Generation assets under development remained stable at c.140MW with a continued focus on converting this pipeline into signed power purchase agreements ("PPAs") Letters of Intent ("LOI") have been signed for a number of new DG projects with a combined capacity of 2.22MW. Progress has been slow in converting these to signed PPAs as customers are delaying final decisions until post the Mexican government elections in early June 2024. We remain hopeful that PPAs can be signed for these projects prior to the year end FY2024. Development work across our utility scale portfolio continues to be focused on the 80MWh/20MW Vernal BESS and 49.5MW Primus Wind projects in the US. An interconnection agreement was signed for the Vernal BESS project in April this year and the project remains on track to reach ready to build status within the next 12 months. The Primus Wind project is expected to complete the interconnection process in the coming months and a ready to build date within the next 12 months is also targeted for this project. The Company remains well positioned in the Mexican utility scale market with over 500MW of wind projects in mid to late stage development. As reported in our Q2 FY2024 financial results we are continuing to see signs of improving market conditions in Mexico and growing interest in renewable power purchase agreements from large corporates. We continue to analyse new greenfield development projects in Canada and the US with a view to adding further capacity to our pipeline by the end of FY2024. Limited transmission capacity and congested interconnection queues remain an issue for developers leading to the Company being selective in what opportunities are being pursued. Net Loss for the quarter ending March 31, 2024 was US$1,167,546 compared with a Net Profit of US$523,085 for the quarter ending March 31, 2023. The Company recorded a Net Loss for the 9 month period to March 31, 2024 of US$667,027 compared with a Net Loss of $235,972 for the 9 month period to March 31, 2023. Cash on balance sheet as at March 31, 2024 was US$1,295,455 following completion of the final tranche of the private placement during January 2024 as well as the consolidation of cash held by WindRiver and the Box Springs Wind project.Full Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis can be found on the Company's website ( https://revolve-renewablepower.com/financials/) and is also filed on SEDAR+.The Company has also issued a Q3 FY2024 Financial & Operating Results presentation, which can be found on the Company's website:About RevolveRevolve was formed in 2012 to capitalize on the growing global demand for renewable power. Revolve develops utility-scale wind, solar and battery storage projects in the US, Canada and Mexico. The Company has a second division, Revolve Renewable Business Solutions which installs and operates sub 20MW "behind the meter" distributed generation (or "DG") assets. Revolve's portfolio includes the following:Operating Assets: 11MW (net) of operating assets under long term power purchase agreements across Canada and Mexico covering wind, solar, battery storage and hydro generation;Under Construction: a 3MW CHP project and a 450kWp rooftop solar project that are both under construction and expected to be operational later this year; andDevelopment: a diverse portfolio of utility scale development projects across the US, Canada and Mexico with a combined capacity of over 3,000MWs as well as a 140MW+ distributed generation portfolio that is under development.Revolve has an accomplished management team with a demonstrated track record of taking projects from "greenfield" through to "ready to build" status and successfully concluding project sales to large operators of utility-scale renewable energy projects. To-date, Revolve has developed and sold over 1,550MW of projects.Going forward, Revolve is targeting 5,000MW of utility-scale projects under development in the US, Canada and Mexico, and in parallel is rapidly growing its portfolio of revenue-generating DG assets.For further information contact:Tania Ontiveros , CFO IR@ revolve-renewablepower.com OrSunita PrasadVP, Corporate Development & Investor RelationsPhone:+1778-885-5550 IR@ revolve-renewablepower.com Forward Looking InformationNon-IFRS MeasuresThis press release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measure PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 18:00:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 653 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Bana Canne joins Creole Shrubb and Mahina Coco in new bottles to form the Clement Liqueur CollectionLE FRANCOIS, MARTINIQUE / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 /Rhum Clement, renowned for its range of Rhum Agricole from Martinique, proudly unveil its newest liqueur, Bana Canne, joining the iconic Creole Shrubb and exquisite Mahina Coco to form the Clement Liqueur Collection. Bana Canne (SRP $34.99/700 ml) celebrates Martinique's two main agricultural trades - sugarcane and bananas - which are grown together on the estate and the crops are rotated to refresh essential nutrients in the soil. It is now available for purchase nationwide at https://spiribam.com/clement-rhum-shop Rhum Clement Introduces New Liqueur, Bana Canne Made from bananas grown on their Martinique estate, Bana Canne joins Creole Shrubb and Mahina Coco in new bottles to form the Clement Liqueur Collection."While at Habitation Clement, a group of U.S. bartenders observed both the sugarcane and banana harvests and learned firsthand the challenges of the two industries," explains Benjamin Jones, Director, Spiribam America. "During the quality control process, approximately 20% of the banana harvest is rejected and destined to compost or to local pig farms. Light bulbs popped over the heads of these bartenders, which eventually led to the development of a product that utilizes the island's two principal agricultural activities and reduces organic waste from banana production." Bana Canne: Hyper Local Meets Innovative CollaborationCrafted from bananas from Habitation Clement, Bana Canne is a collaboration with Kadalys, a Black woman-owned skincare brand championing sustainability and biochemistry. This partnership between Clement and Kadalys, founded by entrepreneur and Martinique native Shirley Billot, reinforces how diverse teams can create spectacular results. After over two years of collaboration and nearly fifty trials, the Clement-Kadalys teams developed the eco-extraction technique which led to the Bana Canne recipe."It's been an exhilarating journey collaborating with Clement," says Shirley. "Capturing the rich, nuanced banana flavors present in Bana Canne was a challenging and intricate task. I'm proud to have played such an important role in bringing this beautiful liqueur to life." Creole Shrubb and Mahina Coco: A Modern LookThe Creole Shrubb and Mahina Coco that round out the Clement trilogy now sport redesigned packaging. Creole Shrubb is a traditional Martinican liqueur that is a favorite among U.S. bartenders, a blend of Clement aged and unaged Rhum Agricole with natural orange peels, pulp, and creole spices. Mahina Coco is a bright and refreshing rhum-based liqueur, a vibrant natural alternative to conventional coconut liqueurs."After tireless efforts to create Bana Canne, we wanted to create a bottle that evoked the passion and natural ingredients," says Audrey Bruisson, Marketing Director, Rhum Clement. "Now that there are three liqueurs, we decided they should be dressed in a similar sophisticated fashion, and created the Clement Liqueur Collection." ABOUT RHUM CLEMENTFounded in 1887, Clement is one of Martinique's iconic brands. Located in Le Francois, on the Atlantic coast of Martinique, Clement produces aged and unaged Rhum Agricole, as well as a range of rhum-based liqueurs. Habitation Clement has six aging cellars housing over 12,000 barrels of particular types, origins, and sizes. This enables cellar master Julien Thimon and his team to craft characterful aged rums with flavorful oak character, reflecting Clement's distinctive aromatic profile.ABOUT KADALYSKADALYS is the first organic and eco-conscious bio-tech brand that upcycles banana agri-waste into patented and clinically proven active ingredients. Established in 2011, Kadalys leverages a deep understanding of biochemistry, eco-extraction, and sustainability to create and monetize banana agri-waste. In 2012, Kadalys launched its first line of products KADALYS, an eco-conscious skincare line clinically proven to rejuvenate skin.Contact InformationJen NeugeborenPublicist, Neugeboren PRjen@ neugeborenpr.com 917-572-5761SOURCE: Spiribam USAView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 17:15:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 731 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PEBBLE BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Stevenson, a leading independent PK-12 boarding and day school located on California's Monterey Peninsula, is pleased to announce the appointment of Cynthia B. Chapman as the new Chair of the Board, effective July 1, 2024. Chapman succeeds David Colburn, who will continue to serve on the Stevenson Board of Trustees.Cynthia Chapman Located on the Central Coast in Pebble Beach, California, Stevenson is a vibrant community of scholars, athletes, artists, musicians, visionaries, and explorers. At Stevenson, academic excellence meets self-discovery as students embrace their passions, face challenges with resilience, and foster a purpose that transcends the classroom."Cynthia's appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Stevenson," said Dr. Dan Griffiths, President of Stevenson. "Her long-standing commitment and contributions to our community, combined with her professional expertise and personal dedication to our mission, ensure a bright future for the school. We also extend our deepest gratitude to David Colburn for his remarkable leadership and continued service on the Board." Chapman, a Stevenson alumna of the class of 1983 and parent of two Stevenson graduates, Chapman '16 and Clea '22, has played a pivotal role in sustaining Stevenson's growth and development through her ongoing commitment and contributions to the school. Following her successful schooling at Stevenson, Chapman graduated cum laude from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1992, and received a B.A. degree in Art History in June 1988 from the University of California, San Diego, graduating cum laude.Today, Chapman is a member of the State Bars of Texas and California and is also licensed to practice before numerous federal district courts across the country. Chapman and her husband, Michael Caddell, established a national law practice, Caddell & Chapman, where she currently serves as Partner and focuses her practice on vindicating the rights of consumers. In addition to her impressive professional accomplishments, Chapman continues to honor her time at Stevenson through dedicated service to the school, which has included serving as the school's Alumni Association President and on the Board of Trustees (since 2008) in leadership roles such as Secretary and Vice Chair.Recognizing the important role financial aid played in her own achievements, Chapman and her husband established The Chapman & Caddell Scholarship Fund in 2012 to provide need-based financial aid for grade 9-12 students at Stevenson. In 2023, the school's Alumni Association awarded Chapman with the Day Family Award for Contributions to Stevenson."I am deeply honored and excited to take on this role," said Chapman. "Stevenson has been a cornerstone of my personal and professional development, and I am committed to advancing its mission. My vision for Stevenson is to continue fostering an inclusive, innovative, and inspiring environment where every student can thrive. I look forward to working with our dedicated faculty, staff, parents, and the broader Monterey community to achieve our goals." As Board Chair, Chapman's strategic vision for the Board includes providing the necessary foundation to enhance academic programs to ensure students are well-prepared for college and beyond, to expand extracurricular opportunities to nurture diverse talents and interests, and to strengthen community partnerships to support holistic student development."I have full confidence in Cynthia's ability to lead Stevenson into its next phase of excellence," said David Colburn, former Board Chair. "Her journey from a grateful scholarship student to a distinguished alumna and dedicated trustee exemplifies the transformative power of a Stevenson education. I am thrilled to support her in this new role." During his six-year tenure as Board Chair, Colburn made a significant impact on Stevenson's growth and his contributions will have a lasting impact on the Stevenson community. The school's investment fund grew by 75%, total net assets increased by 57%, and the school's budget grew by 29%. Under his leadership, financial aid increased by 40% to $7.6 million, and the majority of funds were raised to begin construction of a new math, science and engineering center, the largest building project in the school's history.Chapman, together with her colleagues on the Board of Trustees, will remain focused on driving forward Stevenson's mission to prepare students for success in school and their lives beyond school; to foster their passion for learning and achievement; and to help them shape a joyful life.Learn more about Stevenson at https://stevensonschool.org Contact InformationKatie RaySenior Advisor, Marketing & Strategic Communicationskray@ stevensonschool.org 9735706907SOURCE: Stevenson SchoolView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 02:31:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 525 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The acquisition marks an exciting opportunity for both companies' growth.MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 29, 2024 / Liang Holdings, a private equity firm based in the United Arab Emirates, has acquired significant shares in Miami, Florida based makeup company STUDIOMAKEUP, valued at $45 million, representing a major milestone for both companies. Both entities hope to find new opportunities for growth, innovation, and market expansion with the acquisition.Wayne Liang founded Liang Holdings in 2019 and has established the firm as a key player in the field of private equity by building a diverse portfolio spanning various industries. Liang Holdings has a proven track record of identifying and seizing lucrative investment opportunities and driving value creation. Technology, healthcare, real estate, and consumer goods are just a few of the industries Liang Holdings has invested in thus far. The firm has built a reputation for an unwavering commitment to excellence and is always on the hunt for new opportunities. Liang Holdings is known for taking risks on emerging businesses, believing that expediting a business's growth is essential to its further development. One of Liang Holdings' ultimate goals is to become a long-term partner in growing businesses such as STUDIOMAKEUP.STUDIOMAKEUP was founded and led by Saeid Yazdizadeh and Jacques Cohen. The brand has built a strong customer base for its innovative product offerings. The company's mission is to create high-performing makeup solutions that empower individuals to express their personal style. This ethos has garnered STUDIOMAKEUP a large following on social media and widespread acclaim throughout the online beauty community, with more than 92,000 Instagram followers. They have become known for its commitment to quality and dedication to customer satisfaction. The company frequently features influencers who use its products on its social media accounts, showing its appreciation for its loyal customers.STUDIOMAKEUP focuses on enhancing natural beauty. The company offers professional-level cosmetics products at affordable prices, designed to fit any skin tone or skin type. STUDIOMAKEUP sells everything from foundation and skin care to lip, eye, and brow products, offering a wide range of products. Products start around just $15, despite their professional quality, as they seek to offer affordability and accessibility. All STUDIOMAKEUP products are cruelty-free, paraben-free, and Earth-friendly, as they strive to improve the lives of customers, animals, and the planet. The brand's commitment to inclusivity and eco-friendly practices makes it an outlier in the competitive cosmetics industry.People who use STUDIOMAKEUP are encouraged to find their own definition of beauty. Each of the brand's products is developed to enhance the natural beauty of the user. Liang Holdings' valuable investment capital will allow STUDIOMAKEUP to expand its range of products and reach even more customers. Making high-quality makeup accessible to all is a key part of STUDIOMAKEUP's mission. With Liang Holdings as a partner, the brand will be paving its way to fulfilling this goal.About STUDIOMAKEUPSTUDIOMAKEUP is a cosmetics brand based in Miami, Florida. Founded by Saeid Yazdizadeh and Jacques Cohen, the company provides customers with professional-quality products and tools to enhance their natural beauty. The brand focuses on creating high-quality, yet affordable, makeup products that are accessible to everyone.Media ContactSaeid Yazdizadehsaeid@ studio-makeup.com SOURCE: STUDIOMAKEUP PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 15:01:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 476 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Summers Manufacturing, an innovative leader in agricultural equipment, is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in its expansion strategy with the establishment of a strategic partnership with Farm Depot.DEVILS LAKE, ND / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Summers Manufacturing, an innovative leader in agricultural equipment, is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in its expansion strategy with the establishment of a strategic partnership with Farm Depot.Summers Manufacturing Summers Manufacturing LogoThis collaboration marks a pivotal moment for both entities as they join forces to further Summers' mission to feed and fuel the world. Farm Depot's extensive network and deep understanding of regional farming needs perfectly aligns with Summers' commitment to excellence in agricultural technology."We are excited to partner with Farm Depot. Farm Depot is a fantastic organization that aligns perfectly with our drive to strategically add not just dealers to the Summers Manufacturing network but the right dealers. Farm Depot is motivated, driven, and willing to go the extra mile for their customers. At the end of the day, it's all about relationships and empowering others to help in our effort to feed and fuel the world. We just happen to make Field Tested Tough equipment," said Matthew Volkmar, Director of Sales and Marketing at Summers Manufacturing.With this new dealer relationship, farmers in Michigan can expect a comprehensive range of Summers' state-of-the-art products, including tillage, land rollers, application products, rock removal equipment, and mounted attachments. Further, Farm Depot will provide expert guidance and support to farmers, ensuring they maximize the benefits of Summers' technology."After meeting with Summers Manufacturing, we decided to display a Spray Fill Xpress in our store. We had an applicators clinic soon after and sold two units immediately. Once we sold the first one, it was a consistent stream of orders primarily thanks to word-of-mouth recommendations. Since bringing Summers Manufacturing on board, we have spent most of this spring setting up demos and selling equipment as fast as they can get products out the door. Summers Manufacturing makes extremely nice units and customers are beyond thrilled," explained Bryan Roberts with Farm Depot.The partnership between Summer Manufacturing and Farm Depot signifies a shared commitment to driving agricultural innovation and supporting the success of farmers.###About Summers ManufacturingSummers Manufacturing is an innovative leader in the agricultural equipment industry, dedicated to supporting farmers in their mission to feed and fuel the world. Since its inception in 1965, Summers has demonstrated a commitment to advancing agricultural practices through the introduction of new and efficient equipment. With a focus on understanding the evolving needs of farmers and the agricultural industry as a whole, Summers consistently invests in research and development to design and manufacture equipment that addresses key challenges faced by farmers worldwide.Contact InformationAmanda WendlingPublic Relationsawendling@ grit-capital.com 319-594-1313SOURCE: Summers ManufacturingView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 12:30:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1035 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Multiple High-Grade Structures Extend MineralizationAnnounces 60 km Drill Program Over Coming YearVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Mawson Gold Limited("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSXV:MAW)(Frankfurt:MXR)(OTC PINK:MWSNF) announces Southern Cross Gold Ltd. ("Southern Cross Gold" or "SXG") has released results from two diamond drillholes from the Rising Sun prospect at its 100%-owned Sunday Creek Project in Victoria, Australia (Figures 1 to 6). Both holes intersected multiple high-grade structures and were successful in extending mineralization beyond the bounds of the modelled mineralized domains as well as defining continuity in other areas.Highlights:SDDSC115A intercepted eleven high-grade mineralized structures at Rising Sun over a downhole width of 365.7 m from 512.4 m. This hole contains six assayed intervals of > 50 g/t Au (up to 202 g/t Au), and five assayed intervals > 5% Sb (up to 26.3% Sb) with drill highlights:1.5 m @ 12.4 g/t AuEq (10.6 g/t Au, 1.0% Sb) from 532.6 m3.3 m @ 6.4 g/t AuEq (2.6 g/t Au, 2.0% Sb) from 563.6 m0.2 m @ 25.9 g/t AuEq (15.4 g/t Au, 5.6% Sb) from 573.7 m10.4 m @ 3.0 g/t AuEq (1.2 g/t Au, 1.0% Sb) from 580.0 m3.2 m @ 48.2 g/t AuEq (45.3 g/t Au, 1.5% Sb) from 643.4m (ETW 2.5 m)0.3 m @ 87.2 g/t AuEq (86.4 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 707.7 m0.1 m @ 95.3 g/t AuEq (87.1 g/t Au, 4.3% Sb) from 719.5 mSDDSC117 was drilled to test strike continuity of two high-grade targets in the footwall of the mineralized host and intercepted eight mineralized structures. This hole contains 3 assayed intervals of > 20 g/t Au (up to 473.0 g/t Au) with drill highlights:8.7 m @ 4.1 g/t AuEq (3.5 g/t Au, 0.3% Sb) from 741.9 m0.5 m @ 473.1 g/t AuEq (473.0 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 913.6 m (ETW 0.3 m) The SXG Board has approved plans to drill 60 km over the next year , with a fifth drill rig to commence within weeks and a sixth rig to arrive during September 2024. SXG is commencing a specialized navigational ("NAVI") downhole application utilizing down hole motors to undertake detailed drilling (at approximately 20 m spacing) around super high-grade areas with the aim to build further confidence of grade continuity between high-grade intersections. Seven drillholes at Sunday Creek are currently being processed and analyzed, with 4 holes in progress. Mawson owns 96,590,910 shares of SXG (51%), valuing its stake at A$270.5 million (C$245.3 million) based on SXG's closing price on May 29, 2024 AEST.0.2 m @ 13.5 g/t AuEq (12.8 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 455.9 mMichael Hudson, Mawson Executive Chairman, states : "Sunday Creek continues to produce impressive news, release after release. Today's announcement discloses another set of extremely strong high-grade drill results from the Rising Sun project area. The holes were successful on multiple fronts as they extend mineralization beyond the bounds of the exploration target area as well as define continuity in other areas."Both holes reported here also each delivered a >100 g/t AuEq x m intersection. The project now contains a total of thirty-eight (38) of these significant hits. Importantly, the frequency of these significant hits continues to increase as we drill towards depth and understand the controls on high-grade mineralization better (Figure 7)."With a 60 km drill program set to more than double the drill metres into the Sunday Creek project over the next year, SXG will expand this globally significant gold discovery via logical step outs along strike to increase volume along with the start of detailed controlled downhole NAVI-drilling program that aims to target continuity of super high-grade areas."Additionally, planning for a regional scale IP geophysical survey is underway that will test the 10 km long trend along strike from the core drilled area to further demonstrate the district scale potential of Sunday Creek." Drill Hole DiscussionTwo drillholes (SDDSC115A and 117) are reported from the Rising Sun prospect. Both holes intersected high-grade structures, extending mineralization beyond the bounds of the modelled mineralized domains as well as reinforcing continuity in other areas.SDDSC115A was designed to test the footwall position of two high-grade vein sets and intercepted 11 mineralized structures, five of which are high-grade. This hole contains six assayed intervals of > 50 g/t Au (up to 202 g/t Au), and five assayed intervals > 5% Sb (up to 26.3% Sb). The hole traversed through the centre of the dyke/breccia host and provided continuity information in the plane of the 11 vein sets. High-grade continuity is well demonstrated in vein set RS55_L (Figure 3) where SDDSC115A drilled 3.2 m (ETW 2.5 m) @ 48.2 g/t AuEq (45.3 g/t Au, 1.5% Sb) from 643.4m (2 m @ 0.5 g/t Au lower cut) including 1.3 m @ 90.2 g/t AuEq from 643.4 m and 0.3 m @ 116.1 g/t AuEq from 646.3 m, which was located 68 m down-plunge of previously reported SDDSC107 (4.7 m @ 76.6 g/t AuEq), suggesting the possibility of a new high-grade mineralized domain.Highlights from SDDSC115A include:5.5 m @ 1.7 g/t AuEq (0.8 g/t Au, 0.5% Sb) from 512.4 m, including:0.3 m @ 6.1 g/t AuEq (2.4 g/t Au, 2.0% Sb) from 517.6 m1.5 m @ 12.4 g/t AuEq (10.6 g/t Au, 1.0% Sb) from 532.6 m including:1.2 m @ 15.3 g/t AuEq (13.2 g/t Au, 1.1% Sb) from 533.0 m3.3 m @ 6.4 g/t AuEq (2.6 g/t Au, 2.0% Sb) from 563.6 m including:0.8 m @ 6.7 g/t AuEq (5.1 g/t Au, 0.9% Sb) from 563.6 m1.2 m @ 11.3 g/t AuEq (3.1 g/t Au, 4.4% Sb) from 565.7 m0.2 m @ 25.9 g/t AuEq (15.4 g/t Au, 5.6% Sb) from 573.7 m10.4 m @ 3.0 g/t AuEq (1.2 g/t Au, 1.0% Sb) from 580.0 m, including:0.3 m @ 53.8 g/t AuEq (13.9 g/t Au, 21.2% Sb) from 580.2 m0.2 m @ 7.2 g/t AuEq (3.1 g/t Au, 2.2% Sb) from 587.7 m3.2 m @ 48.2 g/t AuEq (45.3 g/t Au, 1.5% Sb) from 643.4m (ETW 2.5 m), including:1.3 m @ 90.2 g/t AuEq (84.9 g/t Au, 2.8% Sb) from 643.4 m0.3 m @ 116.1 g/t AuEq (109.0 g/t Au, 3.8% Sb) from 646.3 m0.3 m @ 87.2 g/t AuEq (86.4 g/t Au, 0.4% Sb) from 707.7 m0.1 m @ 95.3 g/t AuEq (87.1 g/t Au, 4.3% Sb) from 719.5 m3.4 m @ 2.8 g/t AuEq (2.7 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 746.0 m, including:0.3 m @ 15.4 g/t AuEq (15.3 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb) from 747.3 m3.8 m @ 4.0 g/t AuEq (3.2 g/t Au, 0.5% Sb) from 874.3 m, including:0.4 m @ 12.9 g/t AuEq (12.9 g/t Au, 0.0% Sb) from 875.6 m SDDSC117 was designed to test the strike continuity of two high-grade targets in the footwall of the mineralized host and intercepted seven mineralized structures. This hole contains 3 assayed intervals of > 20 g/t Au (up to 473.0 g/t Au). SDDS PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 18:17:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 419 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Empowering Rico, Colorado, With Geothermal EnergyATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Teverra, LLC, a leading advocate for sustainable energy solutions, has been awarded a grant to spearhead the implementation of a Natural Geothermal Augmented Thermal Energy Network in Rico, Colorado. This groundbreaking initiative aims to revolutionize energy consumption in the region while preserving the unique heritage and values of this small mountain town.Rico, Colorado The grant, provided to Teverra, will fund a pre-feasibility study to assess the viability of establishing a thermal energy network utilizing the town's abundant natural geothermal resources. By harnessing the power of geothermal energy, Rico aims to enhance its energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and pave the way for a sustainable future.The project's primary objective is to establish Rico as a regional hub for geothermal energy education and workforce development. Through community engagement and strategic partnerships, Teverra seeks to educate stakeholders about the numerous benefits of geothermal energy while fostering a sense of pride and ownership within the community."We are excited to work hand-in-hand with the Rico community to realize the full potential of geothermal energy " said Emilie Gentry, Senior Geothermal Geoscientist of Teverra. "Together, we can build a more sustainable future by leveraging the power of geothermal while honoring the unique character and history of our mountain towns." Rico's natural geothermal system presents a unique opportunity to showcase the possibilities of sustainable energy solutions in rural mountain communities. By leveraging local resources and fostering innovation, this project aims to serve as a model for neighboring towns and regions with similar geothermal assets."I am incredibly grateful that our small rural mountain town has the opportunity to continue working towards innovative geothermal solutions that benefit the whole community through this important funding and the strong partnership with Teverra" shared Teal Stetson-Lee, Community Liaison with the Rico Geothermal Coalition.Teverra looks forward to working closely with the Rico community and stakeholders throughout every stage of the project.About Teverra, LLC:Teverra is a leading advocate for sustainable energy solutions, specializing in the development and implementation of innovative projects that harness the power of renewable resources. With a commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement, Teverra strives to create a more sustainable future for all.Colorado Government Announcement: https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/polis-administration-announces-77-million-awards-geothermal-energy-projects#:~:text=PUEBLO%20%2D%20Today%2C%20at%20Fire%20Station,geothermal%20technology%20in%20the%20state Contact InformationHamed SoroushCEOhamed.soroush@teverra.com SOURCE: TeverraView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 13:01:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 984 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Theralase Technologies Inc. (" Theralase " or the " Company ") ( TSXV:TLT )( OTCQB:TLTFF ), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light and/or radiation activated Photo Dynamic Compounds (" PDCs ") for the safe and effective destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses has released the Company's unaudited interim consolidated 1Q2024 financial statements (" Financial Statements ").Theralase will be hosting a conference call on Thursday June 6 th , 2024 at 11:00 am ET , which will include a presentation of the financial and operational results for the fiscal quarter ending March 31 st , 2024. Questions are welcome; to ensure we have time to review and answer them during the call, please send them in advance tomperraton@ theralase.com Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89087760875 Conference Call in: 1-647-558-0588 (Canada) / 1-646-558-8656 (US) - not required for those attending by Zoom.An archived version will be available on the website following the conference call.Financial Summary:For the three-month period ended March 31 st :1 Other represents foreign exchange, interest accretion on lease liabilities and / or interest incomeFinancial HighlightsFor the three-month period ended March 31 st , 2024;Total revenue decreased 15%, year over year. Cost of sales was $113,440 (65% of revenue) resulting in a gross margin of $62,114 (35% of revenue). In comparison, the cost of sales for the same period in 2023 was $114,638 (55% of revenue) resulting in a gross margin of $92,523 (45% of revenue). The gross margin decrease as a percentage of sales, year over year, is attributed to an increase in material costs. Selling expenses decreased to $67,552, from $74,671 for the same period in 2023, a 10% decrease. The decrease is a result of reduced spending in commissions (26%), and travel (74%). Administrative expenses decreased to $511,495 from $522,695 for the same period in 2023, a 2% decrease. The decrease is a result of reduced spending on general and administrative expenses (43%), insurance costs (8%) and stock based compensation (10%). Stock based compensation expense decreased 10% in 2024, due to the cumulative effect of accounting for the vesting of stock options granted in the current and previous years. Net research and development expenses for the Drug Division decreased to $725,017 from $907,099 for the same period in 2023, a 20% decrease. The decrease is primarily attributed to a decrease in costs for Study II patient enrollment and treatment. Net research and development expenses for the Device Division increased to $31,363 from $3,181 for the same period in 2022, an 886% increase. The increase is attributed to development of a new software program for the TLC-2000 Cool Laser Therapy system. Net loss was $1,266,711, which included $220,919 of net non-cash expenses (i.e.: amortization, stock-based compensation expense and foreign exchange gain/loss). This compared to a net loss in 2023 of $1,408,953, a 10% year over year reduction, which included $244,787 of net non-cash expenses. The Drug Division represented $1,011,762 of this loss (80%) in 2024. The decrease in net loss is primarily attributed to decreased spending on research and development expenses in Study II.Operational Highlights:Non-Brokered Private PlacementOn April 24, 2024, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of units. On closing, the Company issued an aggregate of 4,167,778 units at a price of $0.18 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $750,200. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of $0.25 for a period of 5 years following the date of issuance.In 2024, the Company plans to secure funding through various equity and debt instruments to allow the Company the ability to become base shelf eligible. This will allow the Company sufficient funding to complete enrollment into Study II by year end, data lock in mid 2026 and position the Company for FDA and Health Canada approval by the end of 2026, subject to achieving FDA Priority Review." Study II UpdateOn February 8 th , 2024, Dr. Michael Jewett joined the Company in the role of an independent consultant, to assist the Company in the accruement of patients into Study II. Under the terms of the consulting agreement, Dr. Jewett will be responsible for working with existing clinical study sites and helping to onboard new clinical study sites to assist Theralase to complete enrollment and provide the primary study treatment to all 100 patients in Study II, by December 31, 2024.To date, Study II has provided the primary study treatment for 68 patients, with new patients being enrolled in 2Q2024.Theralase is working to add up to 5 new CSSs in 2024, as well as increase enrollment at the existing 10 CSSs to complete Study II accruement by the end of 2024.All patients received the primary Study Procedure (n=68).Approximately 50% of the patients received the maintenance Study Procedure (n=33)Of the 33 patients who received the maintenance Study Procedure, 25 were CR prior to treatment, 4 were IR and 4 were No Response (" NR ") (positive cystoscopy and positive urine cytology).In conclusion, the primary Study Procedure provides a 58% opportunity for CR at the 90 day assessment.An advisory board meeting was completed on April 12, 2024 during the Canadian Urologic Association (" CUA ") Bladder Cancer Forum 2024 located in Toronto, Ontario and provided an update to all Canadian PIs of the Study II interim clinical data and an opportunity to discuss patient enrollment.An advisory board meeting was completed on May 4 th , 2024 during the 2024 American Urology Association (" AUA ") meeting in San Antonio, Texas and provided an update to all attendees of the Study II interim clinical data and an opportunity to discuss patient enrollment.Break Through Designation UpdateThe Company submitted a pre-Break Through Designation (" BTD ") submission to the FDA in July 2023 and based on the FDA's feedback, the Company is currently working with the Clinical Study Sites (" CSSs "), a biostatistics organization and a regulatory organization to update the pre-BTD with clinical data clarifications identified by the FDA. The Company plans to resubmit the pre-BTD submission to the FDA in 2Q2024/3Q2024 for FDA review of these clarifications. Once the pre-BTD submission has been accepted by th PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 14:02:00 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 595 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Trifecta Gold Ltd. (TSXV:TG)(OTCQB:TRRFD) ("Trifecta" or the "Company") announces a private placement of up to $1,500,000, to consist of the sale of up to 10,000,000 units at a price of $0.15 per unit. Each unit will consist of one common share and one-half (1/2) of one common share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant to entitle the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $0.25 for a period of 12 months following the closing of the private placement.All of the shares issued pursuant to this private placement, including any shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of the warrants, will be subject to a hold period in Canada of four months plus one day from closing. The proceeds from this private placement, which is subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, will be used to fund exploration activities and for working capital purposes.Trifecta recently announced that it entered into a binding agreement with Strategic Metals Ltd. to acquire up to 100% of Mt. Hinton and 10 other highly prospective, intrusion-related gold projects located in Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. Under MI 61-101 the Company is seeking disinterested shareholder approval for this Non-Arm's Length Transaction at its upcoming Annual General and Special Meeting to be held June 24, 2024.About Trifecta Gold Ltd. Trifecta is a Canadian-based precious metals exploration company dedicated to increasing shareholder value through the discovery and development of 100% held gold projects in Yukon and Nevada. Initial drilling at its Yuge Gold Project, located in northern Nevada, has identified multiple broad zones of gold mineralization near historical high-grade mines. The Company's Eureka Project hosts an 8 x 2.5 kilometre belt of surface showings and anomalous gold-in-soil that straddle the headwaters of two of the most productive placer creeks in Yukon's southern Klondike Goldfields. The Company's Treble Project covers a large hydrothermal system, located midway between Western Copper and Gold Corporation's Casino Deposit, the largest copper and gold deposit in the Yukon, and Rockhaven Resources Ltd.'s Klaza Deposit, a high-grade gold-silver deposit.The securities referred to in this news release have not been, 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 absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer for the sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD"Richard Drechsler"President and CEOFor further information concerning Trifecta or its various exploration projects please visit www.trifectagold.com or contact:Corporate Information Trifecta Gold Ltd.Richard DrechslerPresident and CEOTel: (604) 687-2522This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk factors beyond its control, and actual results may differ materially from the expected results.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.SOURCE: Trifecta Gold Ltd. PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 15:02:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1002 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Tsodilo Resources Limited (TSX Venture Exchange: TSD) ("Tsodilo" or the "Company")(TSX-V:TSD)(OTCQB:TSDRF)(FSE:TZO) announces that, subject to regulatory approval, it has retained Red Cloud Securities ("Red Cloud") to provide liquidity services to the Company in compliance with the policies and guidelines of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") and other applicable legislation. Red Cloud is a Toronto-based financial services company that helps mineral exploration and mining companies with accessing capital markets and enhancing their corporate profile. Red Cloud will trade shares of Tsodilo on the TSX-V for the purposes of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of Tsodilo's common shares.Under the agreement, the Company will pay Red Cloud $5,000 per month during the term, payable quarterly in advance. The term of engagement is ongoing and may be terminated by either party on 30 days' prior written notice. The Company and Red Cloud have an arm's length relationship, but Red Cloud and/or its clients may have an interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of Tsodilo. The agreement is principally for the purposes of maintaining market stability and liquidity for the Company's common shares and is not a formal market making agreement. There are no performance factors contained in the agreement between Red Cloud and the Company and Red Cloud will not receive any shares or options from the Company as compensation for services it will render.About Red Cloud SecuritiesRed Cloud Securities Inc. is registered as an Investment Dealer in Ontario, Quebec. Alberta and British Columbia and is a member of the Investment Industry Organization of Canada (IIROC). It is focused on providing unique comprehensive capital market services and innovative financing alternatives to the junior resource sector. The company was founded by capital markets professionals who designed the firm to service small public and private companies. This solution is a comprehensive platform that provides a full range of unconflicted corporate access services. Offering these services as a unified platform provides the ultimate value proposition for issuer clients.About Tsodilo Resources LimitedTsodilo Resources Limited is an international resource exploration company engaged in the search for economic metal and diamond deposits at its Gcwihaba Resources (Pty) Limited ("Gcwihaba") and Bosoto (Pty) Ltd. ("Bosoto) projects in Botswana. The Company has a 100% stake in its Gcwihaba project area consisting of five metal (base, precious, platinum group, and rare earth) prospecting licenses all located in the North-West district of Botswana. The Company has a 100% stake in Bosoto (Pty) Ltd. which holds the BK16 kimberlite project in the Orapa Kimberlite Field (OKF) in Botswana. Tsodilo manages the exploration of the Gcwihaba and Bosoto projects.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:James M. Bruchs Chairman and Chief Executive OfficerJbruchs@ TsodiloResources.comHead Office Telephone +1 416 800-4214 Facsimile +1 416 987-4369 Website www.TsodiloResources.comThis press release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements pertaining to the use of proceeds,the impact of strategic partnerships and statements that describe the Company's future plans,objectives or goals) 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. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward- looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company.Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include,among other things,changes in equity markets, changes in general economic conditions, market volatility, political developments in Botswana and surrounding countries, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future,exploration and development risks, the uncertainties involved in interpreting exploration results and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration business. 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 a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and, even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effectson, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include,among other things, uncertainties relating to availability and cost of funds, timing and content of work programs, results of exploration activities, interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, risks relating to variations in the diamond grade and kimberlite lithologies; variations in rates of recovery and breakage; estimates of grade and quality of diamonds, variations in diamond valuations and future diamond prices; the state of world diamond markets, reliability of mineral property titles,changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required project approvals, operational and infrastructure risk and other risks involved in the diamond exploration and development business. 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 o PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-30 17:01:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 332 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of Volkswagen AG ("Volkswagen" or "the Company") (OTC PINK:VWAGY). Investors who purchased Volkswagen securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/VWAGY Investigation Details:On May 20, 2024, One America News published an article titled "Report: Investigation Finds BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Volkswagen Linked To Forced Labor In China." The article stated that a Senate Finance Committee investigation found that multiple major automakers, including BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volkswagen, relied on forced labor in China by purchasing parts that were flagged by the U.S. government for links to forced labor camps in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang. The two-year investigation also found that BMW and Jaguar Land Rover continued importing the flagged parts as recently as last month, even after they were informed of the forced labor. Following this news, Volkswagen stock dropped that same day.What's Next?If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased Volkswagen securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/VWAGY . You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his client relations manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 332-239-2660.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC|Peretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC The Ekiti State Government has urged electricity distribution companies (DisCos) operating in the state to ensure that all electricity consumers are metered to put an end to incidences of estimated billing. The state Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Mobolaji Aluko, gave the charge in Ado Ekiti during an engagement with concerned stakeholders on electricity matters. He noted that arbitrary and outrageous electricity bills being imposed on un-metered houses had discouraged many consumers from paying their bills. He lamented that the ugly trend was also discouraging investors from investing in the state, leading to a loss of revenue. Mr Aluko, a professor, explained that the meeting was convened to address and put an end to estimated billing practices, and ensure that customers paid for only what they consumed with the provision of smart prepaid or postpaid meters. Stressing that the DisCos were expected to meter all consumers as soon as possible, Mr Aluko enjoined all DisCos operating in the state to submit their comprehensive metering plans and strategies to the State Electricity Regulatory Bureau. He said that Meter Asset Provider Companies would be made to register with the Bureau to ensure compliance in supplying standard meters, adding that the meters would also pass through the process of certification before they are acquired to guarantee good quality and reliable products. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The state Head of Service, Sunday Komolafe, in his goodwill message, emphasised that having many companies providing meters should not be an issue. He stressed that the focus was to make use of certified companies that will deliver standard meter products. In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, noted that the ongoing reforms initiated by the Biodun Oyebanji administration had turned Ekiti State into a trailblazer in power sector reform in the country. He said the current moves of the state government in the power sector would act as a catalyst in improving the ease of doing business, and also allow the shared prosperity agenda of the Oyebanji administration to thrive more in the state. In his contribution, the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Ekiti State branch, Mr Olusegun Ojo, solicited instalment payments for consumers who were not privileged to pay at once to access the prepaid or postpaid meters. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olumide Ajayi, during his presentation, highlighted some key roles of the Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (EK-SERB) as an independent regulatory body for electricity demand and supply. Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (EKSERB), Dare David, said that the establishment of EKSERB was done in accordance with the Ekiti State Electricity Power Sector Law 2023 to regulate electricity matters and operationalise the electricity market in the state to ensure reliable and sustainable power supply. He solicited the continued support of all stakeholders for the efforts of the state government to improve service delivery in the power sector. Responding on behalf of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), the General Manager of Ado Ekiti district, Mrs. Moyosola Akin- Afuye pledged its cooperation and readiness to work with the state towards achieving the desired goal. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print We have this understanding that he let me know whenever he arrives the country from his United States base, for a chance to hold conversations on literature, the arts and invariably the state of the nation he loves so passionately. It is a self-serving proposition on my part that has enabled me to scoop fellow reporters on the latest news about the renowned literary scholars career and his critical views on Nigeria. So, I was understandably excited to receive his text informing me he was in town shortly after Christmas and New Year festivities. But I didnt get to see Prof Niyi Osundare, poet laureate, until Easter weekend, the eve of his departure in March! Save for his appearances at Lola Soneyins 50th birthday in Ilishan, Ogun State, and at a colloquium organised in his honour in his Ekiti home state, the eminent writer-intellectual kept out of public view and also out of reach on phone for most part of the first quarter of the year until he began to pack his luggage to return to America. Im sorry, Yinka, he apologised when I eventually met him at his Ibadan home. He explained that he had been preoccupied writing two books for which he came home to do the necessary research. He had just signed the contract for Bookcraft Ibadan to publish one he completed the day before, he announced with glee and triumphant sense of accomplishment. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later We both laughed heartily as I congratulated him at being freed at last from Muses purdah temporararily as that may be. Truth is Trouble! Thats the title of the book, a collection of essays consisting of new and selected articles from his previous writings. He confessed that the intriguing title was not original to him, saying he borrowed it from an essay in famous American novelist and Nobel laureate, Toni Morrisons book, On Importance of Self Regard. The piece explored the concept of Truth as constituting a threat and menace to those whose ideas of the world are negative racists, bigots, political charlatans, economic saboteurs, those, generally, who want to keep the world away from progress because it hurts them. But it also views Truth as being trouble for those who speak it. Why, for instance, its so difficult to speak the truth and at the same time why its so difficult not to speak it, my host amplified, locating the dilemma in the paradoxical essence of truth as a bitter draught which however must be drunk in order to to heal! It takes a huge amount of courage to say the world is round when the political and ecclesiastical authorities that dictated conventional belief think and insist that it is otherwise. Thats why people were executed in the past for holding and espousing contrary views, said Mr Osundare, in a veiled allusion to the killing of Galileo, the 16th century astronomer who, offended the church and the state and was sent to the gallows for daring to propound that the planet was spherical and had never been flat as it was thought! Our conversation took place in the evening of Good Friday, the anniversary of the unjustified crucifixion and dastardly murder of Jesus Christ, the symbol of Truth, for the much-needed message of Truth He brought to save mankind more than 2000 years ago. But it was vexatious to the clerical and political elite of the time and who persecuted Him for it. I pointed out the apparent coincidence to the Professor sitting across me in his airy compound. He paused for a brief moment and proclaimed me a sage. He regretted Pontius Pilates failure to follow through on his conviction and obvious truth of Jesus innocence, citing his cowardly prevarication at Christs trial as example of the disposition of many when confronted with the burden of dealing with the Truth. You saw how he spoke from both sides of the mouth like many do today for fear of losing power and their privileged position, said Mr Osundare. Despite the age-long war to kill it, the truth, the poet-scholar declared, remained elastic , resilient, mercurial and invincible with innate capacity to triumph over its opponents. You hit it and think you ve killed it, but it splits into various forms and protean verities, he added. The eminent writer said his new book was, in a way, building up on Areopagitica, a monogragraph written by John Milton, in defence of free speech and expression of the Truth. The author of Paradise Lost, and undoubtedly the greatest intellectual of the 17th century England published the work in reaction to moves by the House of Lords and Commons to censor books and other forms of publication so as to, as they claimed, straighten the public. Osundare described Areopagitica as one of the most powerful treatises on truth and the defence of it. In it, Milton argued that whoever hurt the book hurt the truth and that banning books or preventing the truth from coming out was useless as it was indomitable and would, like a sphinx, always rise again! In Truth is Trouble, we see Prof Osundare historicising, analysing, intellectualising and also commonising the subject. The work examines Truth as a cultural, philosophical, and epistemological phenomenon. Offering glimpses into the awaited book, Prof Osundare said its in five parts, each exploring different perspectives of the subject. Part One, entitled Troublesome Truth dwells on the authors concerns about contemporary Africa and the world, relationship between African literature and body politic and global setting. It interrogates, among others, the notion of When in Rome, act like a Roman, which has recurrently featured in Osundares recent public engagements. In the essay the New Orleans Universitys Professor of English expressed his amazement that the government rather viewed the Diaspora debacle and continual brain flight from the continent in a positive light. All they talk about is how much diasporan remittances come into the country in a year. Hardly do they talk about what we miss by the absence of some of our best brains . Why do they leave the home that needs them for Europe or America where they will rather be an appendage? It doesnt make sense. Im looking forward to when Africans can migrate on their own volition; but right now, were only being forced by unconducive environment foisted on us by our visionless rulers. People say its our diversity. No, our diversity is not the problem, its the management of it that is the problem. Our diversity should be a source of strength. Its important that were different because in it lies our strength. Each of our various parts has something unique to contribute to the pot. What would an homogeneous world look like? Dull, drab, boring, uninteresting. Section Two, entitled Troublesome Muses, profiles prominent poets, writers and others whose trade in words has earned them public envy and oftentimes, malice for their truth and social impact. Listed in this hall of fame are the late Yoruba classic novelist, D. O. Fagunwa; romance writer, Amos Tutuola; literary icons Prof. Chinua Achebe; Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka; Aloune Diop, Mariame Ba, the Senegalese novelist and first winner of the Noma Award; and Anthonio Jacinto, the Angolan poet who was the first poet to win the Noma Award. One of the most interesting topics here, said Osundare, was an imaginary conversation he enacted between Tutuola and Bernth Lindsfors entitled Telephone from Heaven. This section also contains a keynote address Prof Osundare gave at a conference in Lisbon, Portugal, marking the 50th anniversary of the publication of Things Fall Apart, and two articles on Soyinka, one of which is his keynote speech when the Nobel laureate turned 80 some 10 years ago. Troublesome Terrains that is the title of Part Three of the book and is devoted to Osundares concerns for the physical environment as it relates to human beings placed in it, climate change and the ecology of knowledge. Here, Osundare, in one of the articles, paid homage to the book and offered a spectacular view of Mountains, raising appreciation of the issue beyond mere physicality to the realm of empathy in another lecture he gave at the University of Toulouse, France, where, years earlier, he had been conferred with an an honorary doctorate of the University He depicted Nature as the ultimate metaphor and tried to steer stakeholders towards the internationalist ideal of revering and protecting. Asking Where will writers be without nature? he tried to show why every writer should be interested in nature and the arts. Prof Osundare called Part Four an unusual section in a book of this type, consisting, as it were, of tributes to culture icons and artists. On the other hand, he remarked that it could not entirely be dismissed as an unusual entry because of its importance and the opportunity it afforded him to kill two birds with one stone speak critically and analytically about the works and their authors at the same time. He said this was critical as the stories of the icons are the same as those of the development of the African societies. The roll call included Prof Achebe; Eldered Durosinmi -Jones (first Editor of African Literature Today; renowned literary critic, Profs Abiola Irele; Isidore Okpeho; Kofi Awonoor; Buchi Emecheta; Gabriel Okara; Garcia Marquez; Aduni Olorisa (Susan Wenger); and the historian Dr. Gabriel Akinola. Others are Chukwunjidu Ihekaibeya; Moyo Ogundipe; Louis Armstrong; and Sir Victor Uwaifo, whom Osundare described as the Ultimate Maestro! The last and most personal of the entries is a funeral tribute to his mother, the late Fasimia Osundare,, described by the poet as The Mother Who Was Also My Muse. The goal is to celebrate the contributions of these icons and highlight their virtues in a constructive way because they have made our lives richer and better, Osundare explained The conclusion composed of what Osundare described as five major interviews he had granted journals/media which he now adapted into prose. In one of the interviews, published by The Nation in 2010, he dealt with how exile has not been kind to budding Nigerian writers, while in another with Dave Brink, a New Orleans poet, he spoke of time as the robe and at the same time, the wardrobe. Others included I am A Humanist, published in an online newspaper; Who begat African Literature?, first published in The Guardian (Nigeria), and later online where he ran into a storm of controversy there is also a more recent interview with The Nation, which he entitled Show, Dont Tell, that famous rule in the American writing workshop I asked Prof Osundare why holding to truth is such a burden? He replied: Truth is feared thats whats at the bottom of it all. The true word is the shortest distance between two minds. Truth doesnt dissemble, it doesnt pretend. Its another word for boldness, for courage, for intrepidity. Though its often bitter to swallow, its desirable. Without Truth, the world cant exist for one second. Fearsome and troublesome as it is, its the pillar on which the house of the universe rests! I had to interrupt my host at that point. If it is that significant, almost inevitable, why couldnt all mankind embrace and live by truth, or is it merely an utopia? I asked the great teacher. His response momentarily knocked me over before I saw the logic and with it the clear reality. READ ALSO: PREMIUM TIMES Books presents new title on creating and monetising media content A world thatll be the way you proposed will be impossible because it will not be human. At the bottom of our humanity is an indescribable complexity and imperfection. We can only leave a safe space between utopia and dystopia. To opt for Utopia is opting for a dreamers world. You have to wake up. On the other hand, to ask for dystopia is to sink into pessimism. In-between is the probable healthy interface of We can!, Si puede!, Yes, we can! Is Presidential Candidate Barack Obama listening?..(Laugh).That was a solidly affirming statement that won a historic election. Yes, we can. I bid my host a safe flight back to the United States and took my leave, cupping the tiny flame of hope his last words had just sparked in me from being extinguished by the howling wind of confusion in the dense darkness that enveloped the world. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Among the thousands of pages in the state budget passed in April was a provision that would allow for the closure of up to five of the states 44 prisons in the coming fiscal year, a measure that did not get much fanfare during the sausage-making process. Now, with the state making no announcements on which prisons will be closed or when the announcements will come, staff members, members of prison host communities and the lawmakers who represent those areas of Western New York are watching with interest to see which of the seven prisons in the region, if any, will close. Prison inmate populations have dropped by 41% over 13 years, but the move to close prisons has angered prison staff, their union representatives and many Republican lawmakers, as they argue that staffing shortages and increased attacks, both between prisoners and against guards, have drastically weakened morale among corrections officers across the state. Chris Summers, the president of the statewide corrections officers union, said that in previous rounds of closures, many corrections officers have chosen to retire or change careers rather than uproot their families. And staffing shortages require officers to work long hours, which, combined with increases in violence in prisons have made it difficult to recruit new corrections officers, all problems he believes will be exacerbated by further closings. The morale of our frontline staff has already surpassed an all-time low, Summers said to The Buffalo News in an email. Prison closures will only create additional hardships for our members, who are already stressed and considering leaving the job for other professions. Included in the state budget is a clause that requires that the state give 90 days notice to staff ahead of a prison closing, a part of the deal that both Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature found objectionable. Matt Janiszewski, a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul, said no decisions on potential closures have been made. The facilities have not yet been identified, he said in an emailed statement. State Sen. Rob Ortt, the Republican minority leader in the chamber, said he views the 90-day notice for prison closures as a minimum amount of time and wants Hochul and the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, commonly referred to as DOCCS, to consider giving people in the communities more time to figure things out after the announcements are made. State releases recommendations for redeveloping closed prisons, including Gowanda "This report lays out a plan to reposition New York States shuttered prisons as a source of economic and cultural vitality, ensuring that impacted communities have the tools they need to thrive," Prison Redevelopment Commission Co-Chair Darren Walker said. The closures will also have an economic impact in the towns and surrounding areas where prisons are closed. In many of the rural communities where state prisons are located, DOCCS employs a significant percentage of the community. In addition, employees of the prison spend their money in local businesses. We can give people and the workers more time, Ortt said. I dont see that as a bad thing or a hardship or any, any burden upon the government. I see it as a more graceful way to do something that is very difficult. State Sen. Sean Ryan said that he and other Democrats fought to get the 90-day window outlined in Hochuls budget changed, but ultimately couldnt get it done. You have to transfer your family to another region of the state, Ryan said. Thats switching school districts in the middle of the year. And thats generally just not enough time for people, so we wanted to give the families way more of a soft landing and unfortunately, we werent able to achieve it. The state has already closed nine prisons in the last three years and 24 since 2011. But the prison system has continued to hemorrhage employees and the number of incarcerated people. The prison population has shrunk from around 56,000 in 2011 to just over 33,000 today, a result of changes in state law that de-emphasize incarceration and falling crime rates, mirroring a decadeslong drop in crime nationally. Thats up from 30,000 in 2022, when disruptions in the court system due to Covid-19 restrictions, inmate deaths and other pandemic-related effects brought the population to its lowest point in decades, according to state data. Will WNY prisons close? The decision-making process for choosing prisons to close is internal to the DOCCS, the department that runs the prison system. There are many criteria considered by the state, including percentage of filled cells, the percentage of filled positions at the prison and specialized programs at each individual prison that may be valuable or unique to the overall system. Jennifer Scaife is the executive director at the Correctional Association of New York, an independent agency created by state law in 1846 to monitor activity at state prisons and create public reports on data and conditions in the prisons. Scaife stressed that she was not making any predictions about whether any individual prisons would be closed. Her organization plays no role in that DOCCS process. However, she said that most of the prisons in Western New York should have strong cases for remaining open based on the criteria that has played a role in previous prison closures and testimony from the governors budget office as part of this years budget process. She pointed to Collins Correctional Facility as an example of one of the Western New York prisons that likely has a strong case to remain open it is 83% full, only 2% of security positions were vacant, only 9% of support service positions were vacant and no program positions were vacant, according to DOCCS data collected and mapped by the Correctional Association of New York. In addition, it has a residential rehabilitation unit, a program that serves inmates previously held in solitary confinement regularly because of mental health and other issues. Those units are increasingly important to the system after the states Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act passed in 2022, which significantly restricts the use of segregated confinement. But working against Collins is the 45% vacancy rate in the prisons health services department and its distance from population centers, a measure Scaifes organization has pushed the state to consider in closure decisions. It doesnt look to me that Collins is a candidate for closure, but Im not a decision-maker, and I dont have access to any kind of insider information, she said. Other Western New York prisons Attica, Wyoming, Orleans, Albion, Wende all have high percentages of full cells and relatively low percentages of vacant positions, especially among security staff. Lakeview Correctional Facility is an outlier, as it is only 51% full. It is also far from most inmates county of commitment the place they were sentenced being the westernmost prison in the system. However, the minimum security prison runs unique drug treatment programming that emphasizes discipline and life skills not available in many other state prisons, which also makes it a good candidate to remain open. State Sen. Patrick Gallivan, former Erie County sheriff and a member of the Senates Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee, said that if DOCCS cannot properly staff prisons that will be taking on inmates from closing prisons, there is the potential that already rising levels of violence could get worse. When we put them together and a prison closes and the incarcerated people go to another prison, you put more people in an already dangerous situation, Gallivan said. Theres greater potential for problems in the receiving facilities, because now you have more people there and not as much staff. Ortt said he will be pushing back for all the members of his caucus and their constituents, who host an outsized number of state prisons in their districts. Now we have to wait and see and try to find out where those closures will be, Ortt said. Then work with the state and work with our corrections officers in those local communities to brace for that impact. Ademola Oyedokun, lawyer of the famous and controversial activist Vincent Otse, also known as Verydarkman (VDM), has accused the police of manipulating his client into custody. VDM has been held in prison for over a week. It is his fourth arrest in 2024. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Mr Oyedokun revealed that VDM has remained in police custody over a delayed bail process. In late March, the activist was arrested for cyberbullying but was subsequently released. His lawyer says VDM is remanded on a four-count charge, primarily related to his provocative remarks in March against police Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) and alleged cyber-related offences. The activist had boldly stated, If they didnt have anything to do with cross-dresser Bobrisky, Idris Okuneye, they should arrest him. Police manipulation VDMs lawyer stated that the police manipulated the activist, this time into custody on weak charges. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The attorney criticised the administration of the criminal justice system, highlighting that it mandates that a person presumed innocent by the Constitution be held in custody without provisions for compensation. VDM was served a charge by the police on May 20 with an order to appear in court on Wednesday. This timeline required his counsel, Deji Adeyanju, to prepare a bail application immediately, but VDM was remanded. Mr Oyedokun said despite preparing and serving the application on Tuesday, the police required 48 hours to respond, meaning the bail application was not ready for hearing by Wednesday. Consequently, VDMs bail could not be granted. Our Constitution entitles a person charged to court adequate time and facilities to prepare his defence. He should not be in court that Wednesday because he was served on Monday, and the police still needed 48 hours to respond to his bail application. Even in civil cases, parties are given 14 to 30 days to appear in court or prepare their defence. He ought not to have been in court on Wednesday when he took his plea and was remanded, the lawyer said. Allegations One of the counts against him relates to allegations that VDM falsely claimed top police officers and senators were involved in sexual relationships with the now-convicted cross-dresser, Bobrisky. In March, the police also accused VDM of asserting that Bobrisky was pimping young boys for senators and senior police officers, a statement made, according to the prosecution, to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, and injury. The defendant was alleged to have, by his actions, committed the offence of cyberstalking, which is in violation of and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015. VDM had pleaded not guilty to these charges. Bail possibility Mr Oyedekun said that if VDM had insisted on his right to adequate time and facilities, his bail application would have been ripe on his arraignment date. He also said the court adjourned the case for a week but did not sit on the scheduled day. But VDMs lawyer said his clients hearing has been adjourned until 3 June. Commenting on the activist release rumours, the legal practitioner stated that VDMs could only be released on Thursday if the court heard the application for bail in chambers and granted it, subject to meeting the bail conditions. As of press time, the outspoken activist remains in custody. Efforts to contact the Forces Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, for his reaction to the allegations, were futile, as repeated calls and messages went unanswered. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In April, 10 northern governors, including Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, were in Washington D.C. to attend a United States Institute of Peace-hosted event with the theme: Advancing Stability in Northern Nigeria. A Strategic Conversation with Nigerias Governors. While in the US, Governor Lawal spoke with PREMIUM TIMES White House Correspondent, Pearl Matibe. In the interview, the governor discussed the benefits of the trip and the challenges Zamfara State is facing in fighting against insecurity and eradicating terrorism, locally called banditry. Excerpts: PT: Good afternoon, Governor Lawal. Thank you for your time today. I know you have an extremely busy schedule. Youve had, in fact, a very busy week here in Washington. Earlier this week on Tuesday, you were part of a panel that was hosted by the United States Institute of Peace on the event Advancing Stability in Northern Nigeria. Thank you so much for your time and welcome. Could you give me an overview of what is the chief security issue in your state? Lawal: Well, thank you for this opportunity. As you rightly pointed out, Zamfara is one of the states that is facing serious security challenges, part of which is banditry as well as kidnapping. It is something that has been going on. I have inherited this issue, a major concern for me and the entire state, as well as Nigeria, in general. PT: Thank you so much. Now, I do understand that in your state, as you rightly said this issue has been going on for quite some time. The perpetrators are you talking about Fulani militants? Who are the individuals? Can you describe who they are? Lawal: Well, these people are Fulani herdsmen. They are the ones that are rising even though there are some elements of Hausa but theyre not as many as the Fulani. So, its a crisis between herdsmen, their house, or community in Zamfara State. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later PT: And how would you characterise the root cause of this issue? And if you know the root cause, why are you not able to solve the root cause? Lawal: That is a $1 million question. Like I always said, if you speak about Boko Haram I can understand the fighting for a religious cause. If you speak about the Niger Delta, they are fighting for economic development. But in my own case, I still try to understand the root cause of this herdsmen crisis. Because if you look at the way this whole crisis is going on, they are killing everybody, including their fellow herdsmen that are rich, and sometimes they go on sporadic attacks and attack the women in villages villagers that are also trying to survive. Sometimes they bomb the whole village or location. They burn their [victims] food, they kill people. So I begin to wonder, what exactly are the issues that if only we understand the issue, then well begin to address the issue. For example, for me as a governor, I have responsibility over six million people in my state, and Im ready to provide whatever assistance for development in terms of primary health care, in terms of schools, providing water, and so on and so forth, which Im ready to do. And Im trying to understand, really, why destruction? Why is it going on? So, it is something that we are trying to find out what really are the causes of this security, and what is ongoing, and I believe when we know the root causes, well be able to begin to address the issue. And what makes it difficult is because some of these guys are in the bush and theyre scattered around the state. So basically, we have about 10 local governments that are affected by these banditry activities. PT: I can imagine that it is a nightmare. I have looked at some of the data on the security situation, and the data that I was looking at was not from last year. I looked at data from 2022. And what I found in this data this is according to data which is published by the Global Terrorism Trends and Analysis Center (GTTAC), which has partnered with a research centre at George Mason University called the Terrorism Transnational Crime And Corruption Center (TraCCC). What GTTAC Record of Incidents Database (GRID), collected and found in terms of Zamfara State in 2022 is that Nigeria experienced more than 632 incidents in 2022 alone. And out of these incidents, there were militants who were perpetrating the incidents. In terms of how and what they were doing, it talks of arms and a lot of shootings. A high number of kidnappings, like you quite rightly said. From your perspective, do you consider this issue as strictly crimes, or as banditry with extremism aims and motives? Or is it tied to any illegal mining? Could you talk about the role illegal mining and the role China plays? Lawal: As I said earlier, at this conference that we attended, what Im trying to understand is what is the root cause of these issues? What exactly are they looking for? The interesting thing for you to know is these locales are indigenous to the state. So what exactly is the reason? Honestly. Thats what were trying to find out. PT: Is the state leaning more towards agriculture or mining? Lawal: Let me say this, Zamfara State is an agrarian economy. We have vast land, very, very fertile land for agricultural development. Zamfara happens to be one of the states that is feeding the South-west, in terms of food. In terms of cash crops, as well as food crops, for example, beans most of the beans that are being consumed in the South-west are from some foreign states. Look at cotton. It is a major producer of cotton. So, it is purely an agrarian economy. Now one other thing that were blessed with in Nigeria is that Zamfara has the highest mineral deposits. There is abundance. So, its a very small state, but very rich. Were blessed if were able to get our act together. Believe me, it is going to be one of the greatest states in Nigeria. PT: Youve been meeting with former Ambassador Carson and staff here in Washington and having many engagements in your quest to seek some solutions to these issues. Now, since you mentioned the issue of your state, having such a wealth of resources, let me ask you one or two more questions and then Ill let you go because I know that you have got a busy schedule. Youre hoping to get assistance and support, obviously from the United States. But, you know, in terms of resources, obviously China plays a role right, in your region? So, can you weave that in for me to help us understand what type of assistance or how was your engagement and interactions with people in Washington? Hows that been going? Fill us in on outcomes. What have you managed to achieve in your time in Washington? And then let us know what the role of China in Zamfara is. And where do you see sustainable results for when you go back home, for the future of Zamfara? When you are back home, what can you say you managed to achieve in Washington? Lawal: Let me say this, this trip is an important trip in the sense that we can, and we learned, we picked up ideas that are a combination of ideas from experts that had one challenge or the other. Issues were discussed in terms of what would be the best way to handle this kind of complex situation. And you know, some of these things had happened. In different parts of this group of experts that we discussed with. The good thing is, like I said, lets take 10 governors that attended this conference from the north. There are seven governors from the North-west as well as three governors from the North-central which include Plateau and Benue, as well as major states where also by extension, the states are also facing similar problems or spillover from Zamfara into some of these neighbourhoods. So, the good thing is they heard about the issues. And were looking for solutions which we can take. It has implications, and therefore, its going to be a combination of factors. What do we do with these people? All these issues were discussed extensively. Major, medium-term, as well as long-term solutions to this banditry issue. They have to discuss. So, it was a very good meeting because its a combination of ideas. PT: I appreciate the fact that you say its a whole holistic conversation that is happening not only connected on the humanitarian side for the people living on the ground in Zamfara. These are people who are living in fear. All they want is to wake up and take care of their families each and every single day. And yet, they might want to flee and not be able to return to their homes. How can they feel safe to return to their homes? If we know where the bandits are, if we know the people perpetrating these crimes, why can you not work to solve the problem? If where they are is known, why can somebody not go after the people? Lawal: Three weeks ago, I met with Mr President [Bola Tinubu]. I had explained this situation because maybe he was not properly briefed. What I asked him was, look, this small group of people, how can they be more powerful than the government? I dont think its right. We need to do whatever it takes to take this fight to wherever. These people who we know where they are; why is it difficult for the security forces to take this fight to the end? This is the $1 million question. As you know, Im just a state governor by name. Im the chief security officer of the state. However, I dont have control of the military. I dont have control of the police as well as civil defence (NCDSC). That is why I had to take these to Mr President, for him to come up with a system and do whatever it takes to make sure these guys are flushed out if we can do this thing holistically. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Supreme Court has ordered Nigerias 36 state governors to file their respective defence to a suit instituted against them by the federal government seeking full autonomy of local governments in the country. A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Garba Lawal gave the order on Thursday at the preliminary hearing of the suit in Abuja. In a short ruling on an application by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, for abrigement of time, the Supreme Court ordered the Attorneys-General of various states representing the state governors to file their individual counter-affidavits to the plaintiffs originating summons within seven days from Thursday, 30 May. The presiding justice, Mr Lawal, equally ordered the AGF to file his response to the governors counter affidavits within two days after being served with the filings. Mr Lawal said all filings and exchange of documents must be concluded on or before 10 June. The justice ordered that the eight states that had no legal representation at Thursdays proceedings must be served with fresh hearing notices. The states are: Borno, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Sokoto. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The court adjourned the suit until 13 June for hearing. Earlier at Thursdays hearing, the states Attorneys-General represented by Ben Odoh, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ebonyi State, informed the court that the respondents were yet to see the federal governments originating summons because the court filings were served at the various States liaison offices in Abuja. Mr Odoh, who is the Chairman, Body of states Attorneys-General, said he was served on 21 May with the originating summons. He urged the court to grant the respondents 14 days to respond to the suit. But the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), prayed the court to order the governors to file their defence within five days. Background There are 774 local governments in Nigeria. But their administration has been stifled by the overbearing influence of the state governors. Funds meant for local governments in the Federation Account are paid monthly to them through their respective state governments. But against expectations, the governors of the states retain the funds in joint accounts in the respective states and only release to the local governments what they wish. The local governments in each state have no say in the use of the funds in the joint accounts controlled by the respective state governors. The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has instituted a suit at the Supreme Court, seeking an order to better guarantee the independence of the local governments. In the suit marked: SC/CV/343/2024, the federal government urged the court to issue an order prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders. The plaintiff also prayed the Supreme Court to make an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by governors. In addition, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, begged the court to stop the governors from further constituting caretaker committees administer the affairs of local governments in violation of the constitutionally recognised and guaranteed democratic system. Mr Fagbemi further asked for an order of injunction, restraining the governors, their agents and privies, from receiving, spending or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefits of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is put in place in the states. Court filings showed that the governors were sued through their respective Attorneys General and Commissioners for Justice. Grounds of the suit Laying the legal basis for the case, the federal government contended that the Nigerian federation was a creation of the the Constitution with a president as head of government whose key responsibility is to uphold the provisions of the Constitution. The chief law officer of the country argued that the Constitution recognises the three tiers of government federal, state and local. The plaintiff further contended that by the provisions of the Constitution, there must be a democratically elected local government system and that the Constitution has not made provisions for any other systems of governance at the local government level other than democratically elected local government system. The justice minister said despite the statutory provisions, governors have failed and refused to put in place a democratically elected local government system even where no state of emergency has been declared to warrant the suspension of democratic institutions in the state. That the failure of the governors to put democratically elected local government system in place, is a deliberate subversion of the 1999 Constitution which they and the President have sworn to uphold. That all efforts to make the governors comply with the dictates of the 1999 Constitution in terms of putting in place, a democratically elected local government system, has not yielded any result and that to continue to disburse funds from the Federation Account to governors for non existing democratically elected local government is to undermine the sanctity of the 1999 Constitution. That in the face of the violations of the 1999 Constitution, the federal government is not obligated under section 162 of the Constitution to pay any State, funds standing to the credit of local governments where no democratically elected local government is in place, the AGF stated in the suit. The suit has been slated for hearing on 30 May, but it is not clear if the state governments have filed their defence. The state governments opposed the moves by the former President Muhammadu Buhari administration to enforce the constitutional provisions stipulating that local governments were entitled to receive the funds meant for them in the Federation Account. But the state governments, through Mr Fagbemi who was then a private lawyer, filed a suit to stop the specific move by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to abolish the joint accounts into which the the various state governors were diverting their local governments funds. The governors argued in the suit that the NFIUs move was illegal under a federal system of government. They said under the federal system, the NFIU, a federal government body, lacked the power to decide for the state governments how to use their funds. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has renamed the Airport Road in the state after his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, whom he referred to as his political father. The road, which is an expanded 21.5km portion of Oron Road, stretches from the Ring Road III roundabout to Victor Attah International Airport, serving as a gateway into Uyo, the state capital. We have the Executive Council resolution to properly name this road which was called the airport road and will now be known and addressed starting now as Udom Emmanuel Boulevard, Mr Eno said on Monday during the commissioning ceremony. The ceremony was part of the activities marking the first anniversary of Mr Enos administration. Earlier on Sunday during his first anniversary thanksgiving service, Governor Eno renamed the 21-storey smart building Dakkada Towers after Mr Emmanuel. You called it Dakkada Towers, but by the authority conferred on me as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, I rename this 21-storey edifice, Udom Emmanuel Towers, for the works you have done in our State. The smart building said to be the tallest in South-south Nigeria was built under Mr Emmanuels administration, while the new Udom Emmanuel Boulevard was initiated by Mr Emmanuel but completed by Mr Eno. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In his remarks at the road commissioning ceremony, Mr Eno commended his predecessor for being audacious and strategic in his approach to development. Mr Eno said his predecessor had promised to open up the state through the land, sea and air and without doubt has kept the faith with Akwa Ibom people. He listed some of the projects done by his predecessor at the Victor Attah International Airport, including the new Airport Terminal, the Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) facility and the taxiway. The MRO is ready and rather than the nation trying to look for people to start a new MRO, we are prepared to partner with Nigeria to begin to earn foreign exchange. We invite Nigeria to enjoy our smart airport terminal and grant international status for the airport. Your Excellency, (referring to Mr Emmanuel), we have read a tribute from our hearts to you. There is no honour that is too much to give to a man who laboured for eight years and put these infrastructures for our state, Mr Eno said. Responding before commissioning the project, Mr Emmanuel, flanked by his wife, Martha, thanked Mr Eno for honouring him and the people of the state for supporting the governor. Let me thank you for the finishing anointing that is upon you and for being a pastor who has not disappointed us. He recalled the previous day, how Mr Eno renamed the 21-storey building after him. Mr Emmanuel said the building would have been fully occupied if not for COVID-19. Because we had an expression of interest even at the time we were on the seventh floor but COVID-19 came for two and a half years and the entire scenario and ways of doing business changed all over the world. He thanked his successor for naming the road after him saying he was overwhelmed and amazed that he never planned for it. The elated former governor said it would be a sin, for him not to support his successor and share in his challenges. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has said the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is truly making positive impacts on the Niger Delta region. Mr Tinubu made the statement while inaugurating a 600-meter long bridge in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State. Represented by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Mr Tinubu said the commission had directly touched the lives of Niger Delta people in different ways. He said that the bridge which linked 20 communities, would enhance socio-economic interactions among residents of the affected communities. Mr Tinubu said that economic activities, education and social interaction would flourish because of the bridge. The current management of NDDC has positively touched the lives of the people of Niger Delta in just one year in office, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NDDC completed the bridge, which is a component of the Iko-Atabrikang-Akata-OpolomOkoroutip -Iwouchang Road. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The president said that the commission did well by constructing the Okiti-Pupa electricity substation that connected five local government areas in Ondo State to the national grid. This substation is going to serve 64 communities (and) l can tell you that you have brought hope to the people. Since the year 2000, NDDC has remained focused and committed to the welfare of the people of Niger Delta. Today, you have given the people of Ibeno an access to civilisation, these communities can now be accessed with ease, he said. The president urged NDDC to evolve programmes that would empower Niger Delta people to participate actively in agriculture for massive food production. The region has an environment that is agriculture-friendly, we need to tap into this opportunity, he said In his remarks, Abubarkar Momoh, the minister of Niger Delta, described the 600 metre bridge as a product of good thinking and hard work. It shows that the ministry and the commission understand the challenges of the people. The communities linked by this bridge were separated, today they can access themselves and relate socially and economically, he said. Also speaking, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, commended the commission for implementing the project. Represented by his deputy, Akon Ayakenyi, Mr Eno lauded the NDDC for taking steps towards providing a better quality of life for Niger Delta people. Earlier, Sam Ogbuku, the managing director of NDDC thanked the president for his support to the commission. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Flynas, a Saudidesignated Nigerian hajj air carrier, has condoled with Kebbi and Lagos states over the death of their pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. The airline said this in a statement by Umar Kaila, managing director of First Planet Travels Limited and General Sales Agent (GSA) of Flynas in Nigeria. Mr Kaila expressed the airlines heartfelt condolences to the immediate families of the deceased, the state Pilgrims Welfare Boards, and the people and government of Kebbi and Lagos states over the demise of these August visitors to the House of Allah (T). We pray to Allah (T) to repose the souls of the pilgrims, accept their acts of worship and bless them with Jannatul Firdous. Mr Kaila said though the pilgrims passing is painful, but we are sure that Allah (T) in his infinite mercy would honour them as they died while observing the Fifth Pillar of Islamic faith. A 68-year-old pilgrim from Shomolu Local Government in Lagos State, Idris Oloshogbo, died on Wednesday, 29 May in Makkah. Last week, Muhammad Suleman from Argungu Local Government, and Tawalkatu Busare Alako from Jega Local Government all in Kebbi State died in Makkah. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The deceased were buried according to Muslim rites in the Holy City of Makkah. READ ALSO: NAHCON cautions Nigerians against illegal Hajj Visa Flynas is the official hajj carrier of pilgrims from Kebbi, Lagos, Borno, Osun, Ogun, Sokoto, Niger, Yobe and Zamfara states for 2024 hajj operation. On May 15, Flynas airlifted the first batch of 2024 Nigerian pilgrims from Kebbi State to Madinah, in an elaborate ceremony attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and others. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, announced that Nigerians and other commuters would enjoy free train rides on the Abuja Metro Line until the end of the year. The president made this declaration while flagging off the re-launch of commercial operations on the Abuja Light Rail. Our dear Landlord, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), I have heard you say there will be free train rides for two months. I want to appeal to you to make it until the end of the year. Let us give the people reasons to celebrate, the president said before taking a 40-minute ride from the metro station to the airport station. He described the operations on the Abuja Metro Line as a symbolic milestone of enduring progress as a country and in the FCT. As we gather to commemorate the first anniversary of my administration, we are also celebrating the fruits of collaboration, dedication, progress, and foresightedness. The Abuja Metro was inherited by my administration from my predecessor. It was first commissioned in 2018 for public use, but this was not to be. COVID-19 struck. The train service was abandoned, vandalized, disused, and abused. When we came into office, as part of my desire to have a functional and flourishing FCT with efficient public infrastructure and transportation systems that will serve the people who live and work within the city and the surrounding communities, I made a public request and a challenge to the minister, Nyesom Wike. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Then, I did not know that he would be able to deliver this project on time. I said, Do not give me land, Mr. Landlord. He gave me the assurance that I will be able to ride on the metro line, and I am very proud that today you delivered on that promise, the president said. President Tinubu highlighted the significance of transportation in providing hope to the people and commended the completion of access roads to the various train stations. Transportation gives hope and access to various individuals and organisations. The access roads to the various stations have been done, and today, we are proud to say that you are truly serving the nation, the president said. President Tinubu, who described service to the nation as a critical element of the new national anthem adopted and signed into law earlier on Wednesday, urged Nigerians to remain dedicated to the service of the nation. Referring to the Abuja Metro Line as a symbol of unity and enhanced accessibility, President Tinubu reiterated his administrations commitment to delivering on its promises. What we have in the FCT is another piece of evidence that we are a government that delivers on promises, the president affirmed. In his remarks, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, recounted how the presidents directive at a public event in September 2023 spurred the FCT administration into action. He noted that while the metro line was initially inaugurated in 2018, it lacked essential access roads and remained non-functional. He said the project was actualized within nine months under President Tinubus administration. He, however, disclosed that with the intervention of the president, the Central Bank of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, and the Accountant General of the Federation, facilitated the payment of the contract sum of $30 million, which was previously unpaid, to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the contractors. Mr Wike also revealed that the construction of access roads cost N21.4 billion. The minister emphasised that the successful operationalization of the metro line is a testament to the reality and great possibilities of the Renewed Hope Agenda. We have given back renewed hope to the people. The Renewed Hope Agenda is real, working, and practical. This station stands as a promise made and a promise kept, the minister said. In an overview of the project, the FCT Mandate Secretary for Transportation, Chinedu Elechi, stated that the Abuja Metro Line has 12 trains with each having the capacity of carrying at least 700 passengers while making 14 trips per day. He said Lot 1 and 2 of the metro line would run two trips simultaneously every day, thereby having a cumulative capacity of transporting 980,000 passengers monthly in the Federal Capital Territory. All the ancillary roads to the four train stations and car parks have been constructed and delivered, thereby making todays launch of commercial operations of the metro line possible, the mandate secretary stated. Vice President Kashim Shettima; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola; members of the Federal Executive Council and other dignitaries accompanied the president on the train ride. Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) May 29, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Jigawa State Government has employed 3,143 new teachers and offered appointments to 147 first-class graduates to teach in the states seven tertiary institutions. Governor Umar Namadi on Tuesday, presented appointment letters to members of the groups at the Aminu Kano Triangle in Dutse, the state capital, in one of the events held to mark his first anniversary in office. Our 12-point agenda is designed to make Jigawa State great, including through providing access to quality education for all children in the state, and to achieve this, we must bridge our teacher gap, the governor said at the occasion. That is why we employed this number now, and we will continue doing this until we have teachers in every classroom. In addition to our commitment to achieve this, we sent over 120 students to study medicine in Cyprus and India, launched the construction of the N5.5 billion School of Nursing and Midwifery, and established three tertiary health institutions in the state. The Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in the state, Haruna Musa, said the newly employed teachers had served as temporary teachers for two years under the state governments programme known as J-Teach. He said they were being absorbed into the state;s teaching service after passing an examination. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The states commissioner for Higher Education, Yusuf Chamo, said the Namadi administration inherited only 2,566 teachers in the state, and has now increased the numbers to 5,986. He added that about 3,733 teachers were trained in modern teaching and learning skills while the state has also approved the upward review of scholarship and bursary awards by 100 per cent. Employment of 107 permanent and pensionable teaching staff and 54 non-teaching staff for the three Mega Schools across the state. The official listed the achievements of the admnistration in the education sector within the last year to include employment of 147 first class graduates across the seven states tertiary institutions. Supply and installation of NLP internet-enabled gadgets to promote e-learning and education in emergencies at the cost of N5,690,398.00. In their remarks at the event, some of the teachers thanked the state government for fulfilling its promise to absorb them into the service. One of them, Jamilu Sabiu, 33, from Babura Local Government Area, said he was delighted because he is now a permanent and pensionable worker. I spent several years working as a casual staff with several promises made to get us permanent employment until this moment. I commended the governor for keeping his promise and I wish him success in the other areas he promised to develop, Mr Sabiu said. Another beneficiary, Zainab Musa, also commended the government for the opportunity given to her to serve the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said on Tuesday that the Nigerian government is working to repeal the Fire Service Act of 1963, to be replaced with a Fire and Rescue Service Act. Mr Tunji-Ojo, who disclosed this at a ceremony for the remodelling and upgrading of the National Fire Academy, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), noted that current events have overtaken the usefulness of the 1963 law. He said the job of the Federal Fire Service in the security architecture of countries has expanded beyond fire fighting to include rescue operations and security duties. The scope of fire service all over the world in 2024 is different from what it was in 1963 and we cannot continue to be held down to the apron of the past when we have an opportunity to create a future that we will all be proud of, he said. We will be working hard to see to the repeal and enactment of a Fire and Rescue Service Act. This present law of 1963 is obsolete. He said the responsibilities of the fire service are beyond combating and preventing fire, adding that they should be the first responders in case of any emergency. You can only give what you have and that is why the government is going all the way to equip you with the required knowledge not just for the Nigerian market but also to be an exporter of rescue knowledge to the rest of Africa, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later On academy Speaking about the project of upgrading the National Fire Academy, Sheda, Abuja, the minister said the project completion timeline is in a year. He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would commission it as part of activities to mark his second year in office. Mr Tunji-Ojo said the government would also establish a fire academy in each of the six geo-political zones in the country after the completion of the project. He added that the target was to bring the private sector into the fire service and rescue industry. It is only when we do that that over 200 million Nigerians can have the kind of rescue assurance that they need, he said. Controller speaks Speaking earlier, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Jaji Abdulganiyu, commended the government for the decision to remodel the National Fire Academy (NFA). He said trainees from all walks of life including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and other paramilitary agencies have been patronising the academy for training. We have received requests for collaboration and training both within and outside Nigeria, and notably was the request from the Gambian authorities expressing the need to have Nigerias assistance in building the capacity of the personnel of the countrys security agencies in firefighting, fire protection and rescue, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print There is palpable tension in Nigerias south-east as security operatives across the region have declared war against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over a sit-at-home order. IPOBs sit-at-home IPOB earlier this month announced that there would be a sit-at-home on 30 May across the South-east to mark their Biafra Day which is celebrated annually in the region. Emma Powerful, the IPOBs spokesperson, in a statement, said the celebration was intended to remember IPOB members who died in the fight for freedom. IPOB is a group seeking to carve out a sovereign state of Biafra from the South-east and some parts of the south-south of Nigeria. Annually, we celebrate 30th May as our heroes and heroines day when we remember the men and women who died that we may live, before, during, and after the Nigerian war between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now, he said. To this effect, IPOB directs all schools, government, offices, private offices, banks, transport unions, market unions and private individuals to shut down all operations in honour of our heroes and heroines on Thursday, May 30, 2024, Mr Powerful stated, adding that only health workers are exempted from the illegal order. However, in a contradictory statement, Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafra agitator, announced that the sit-at-home would last for three days from 29 to 31 May 2024. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Ekpa, who leads Auto Pilot, a faction of IPOB, said the three-day sit-at-home was necessary to enable Biafrans to vote for the Liberation of Biafra. The agitator, who is based in Finland, asked Igbos and lovers of the South-east to stay at home on the mentioned days in honour of Biafran heroes who died during the Nigerian civil war. He asked the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to reschedule its Seniorlovers Examination (SSCE) billed to be held within the time in the South-east. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that WAEC had fixed 30 May for its General Mathematics examination across the region. Police ready for battle Reacting, the police in Anambra State said they were ready to frustrate the plan by the separatists to enforce the illegal order in the region. The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Wednesday, said the police in the state were aware that some IPOB members were circulating video clips on social media wherein they threatened to deal with residents who stepped out during the illegal order. It is imperative to inform the public that actionable intelligence indicates that these individuals, in their bid to enforce the unlawful sit-at-home order, fabricate threatening voice-over recordings and circulate outdated videos of violent incidents, some of which did not occur within the state or even the country. The Command is fully aware of these secessionist activities and urges the law-abiding citizens of Anambra to disregard such propaganda, Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said. The police spokesperson assured residents of the state that the police, along with other security agencies, have mobilised law enforcement resources to ensure the safety and security of every citizen in the state. He recalled that police operatives, on 29 May, intercepted a gang of four armed men planning to enforce the illegal order in the state. During the encounter, one miscreant was apprehended, while the other three managed to evade capture, sustaining bullet injuries in the process, he said. Like Anambra, like Imo On their part, the police in Imo State have also vowed to resist the illegal order in the state. The police spokesperson in the state, Henry Okoye, in a statement on Wednesday, asked residents of the state to disregard the sit-at-home order. Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Aboki Danjuma, has deployed security operatives across all parts of the state to ensure safety. The commissioner of police in Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, has urged the law-abiding residents of the state to go about their lawful businesses without any form of fear or intimidation as the command in synergy with other security agencies has emplaced adequate security measures to evade any threat of attack by any insurgent group, he said. Joint security operatives drawn from police, military, civil defence, road safety, immigration and fire service have been massively deployed to embark on confidence-building patrol and operation show of force across the 26 LGAs of the state, to ensure public safety, Mr Okoye stated. The police spokesperson warned those planning to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the state to desist as security agencies will prosecute any caught in such act. He asked residents to report any suspicious person or activities to the police for action. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Enugu State Government has vowed to resist a plan by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to scuttle the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Enugu State and South-east. Sit-at-home IPOB earlier this month announced that there would be a sit-at-home on 30 May across the South-east to mark their Biafra Day which is celebrated annually. Emma Powerful, the IPOBs spokesperson, in a statement, said the celebration was intended to remember IPOB members who died in the fight for freedom. IPOB is a group seeking to carve out a sovereign state of Biafra from the South-east and some parts of the south-south of Nigeria. Annually, we celebrate 30th May as our heroes and heroines day when we remember the men and women who died that we may live, before, during, and after the Nigerian war between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now, he said. To this effect, IPOB directs all schools, government, offices, private offices, banks, transport unions, market unions and private individuals to shut down all operations in honour of our heroes and heroines on Thursday, May 30, 2024, Mr Powerful stated, adding that only health workers are exempted from the illegal order. However, in a contradictory statement, Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafra agitator, announced that the sit-at-home would last for three days from 29 to 31 May 2024. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Ekpa, who leads Auto Pilot, a faction of IPOB, said the three-day sit-at-home was necessary to enable Biafrans to vote for the Liberation of Biafra. The agitator, who is based in Finland, asked Igbos and lovers of South-east to stay at home on the mentioned days in honour of slain Biafran heroes during the Nigerian civil war. He asked the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to reschedule its WASSCE billed to hold within the time in the South-east. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that WAEC had fixed 30 May for its general mathematics examination in the state and across the region. Enugu govt rejects sit-at-home But the Enugu State Government rejected the sit-at-home order and said the IPOBs declaration was unacceptable given that the illegal action had affected the socio-economic lives of South-east residents. The Commissioner for Information in Enugu State, Aka Eze Aka, in a statement on Wednesday, said the state government was concerned that IPOB asked WAEC to shift its examination because of the illegal order. Mr Eze said the possibility of students in the South-east failing to sit for the examination on Thursday has far-reaching consequences The information commissioner said the people of the South-east excel on the wings of industry, education and human capital development. Therefore, any pronouncement or action that tends to deny our children their rights to education which is their ticket to the future, is offensive to our sensibilities and surely the sensibilities of our founding fathers and fallen heroes, he said. The government will not sit by and watch the future of our children aborted by such ill-conceived pronouncement intended to keep them at home. WAEC, as the name implies, is a regional body organising SSCE, not just in Nigeria, but also across West Africa. The sub-region will certainly not wait for us. The Enugu State Government, therefore, enjoins candidates sitting for the ongoing SSCE in Enugu State to feel free to go to their respective centres to sit for their papers on Thursday, May 30, 2024, without any fears, while the officials involved in the conduct of the examination should also go about their legitimate duties without apprehension, Mr Eze added. The commissioner stressed that the government has put security agencies on red alert to ensure the security of lives and property and deal with IPOB members who try to enforce illegal order to scuttle the examination. Meanwhile, in a circular issued on Tuesday, the Head of Service in Enugu State, Ken Ugwu, warned civil servants and political appointees in the state that failure to report to work on Thursday (today) would attract severe sanctions. May I remind our workers that failure to be in their duty posts on the above date will attract summary dismissal from Service in line with the enabling provisions of the Public Service Rules, Mr Ugwu said. It must be noted that such purported public holiday/sit-at-home will have far-reaching consequences on the academic pursuit of our children, who are taking part in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations holding simultaneously across the nation, including the South-eastern region. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Nigerian graduate, Saidat Rasaq-Balogun, has been awarded the 2024 Distinguished Student Award from Southern Illinois University (SIU). Mrs Rasaq-Balogun and seven other students from SIUs campuses in Carbondale, Edwardsville and Springfield were honoured by the universitys board of trustees and the Student Advisory Committee for the SIU System (SACSS). The graduate of Meteorological and Climate Science from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) is working towards her Ph.D. in Environmental Resource and Policy at SIU. She also had her masters degree from the same department in FUTA. SIU is proud to have so many wonderfully accomplished students who are not only making a major impact on campus but also in the greater communities, the SIU System President, Dan Mahony, was quoted to have said in a statement. According to the statement, the SACSS received applications from across the system and selected one undergraduate student and one graduate student each from SIU Edwardsville and SIU Carbondale, as well as one student from the SIU schools of medicine, law, pharmacy and dental medicine. The SIU board meeting was held in Carbondale on 11 April. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later SIU awardees Mrs Rasaq-Balogun, according to the SIU, has made a tremendous mark at the university as a teacher, researcher and volunteer. Serving international students is a key part of Saidats life at SIU. On campus, she works with numerous organisations focused on helping international and African students, it said. The indigene of Ile-Ife in Osun State is currently the VP of the SIU International Student Council. Saidats service even extends to her home, where she often provides temporary housing to international students as they arrive or if they face challenges, the university noted. She makes inclusivity a top priority as she takes the initiative to ensure that international students can find communities where they belong at SIU. Other awardees include SIUs Carbondale Undergraduate Student, Sarah Lukavsky; School of Law Student, Shailey Park; School of Medicine Student, Ashley-Ann Walker; Edwardsville Undergraduate Student, Isabella Pruitt; Edwardsville Graduate Student, Amber Powell; School of Dental Medicine, Julissa Quinonez; and School of Pharmacy, Jessie Icenogle. The university further noted in the statement that the SACSS advises SIU administrators on student-related issues that are pertinent at the system level. This committee works very hard to be a voice for their fellow students and to recognize the outstanding work their peers are doing at SIU, SIU VP of Academic Innovation, Planning and Partnerships, Gireesh Gupchup was quoted. PhD research According to her message to PREMIUM TIMES, Mrs Rasaq-Balogun, is currently in her third year at the Environmental Resource and Policy Department, at SIUs Carbondale campus. She said her PhD research aims to gain a detailed understanding of historical and projected future changes in warm seasons and heat stress in the Midwestern United States. This goes a long way by explaining what is happening around the globe due to Climate Change, she said. The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change has projected that in the coming decades, Climate Change will increase in all regions of the globe, and for 1.5C of global warming there will be increasing heat waves hence the need for understanding and Preparedness for adaptation purposes. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State says his administration inherited 34 uncompleted road projects worth over N225 billion from his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The facts and figures show that we inherited 34 uncompleted road projects worth over 225.279 billion naira spread across 13 local government areas of the state. Mr Fubara disclosed this on Wednesday in Port Harcourt at a Town Hall meeting where he presented his scorecard to mark his one year in office. Of the 34 road projects, Governor Fubara said his administration has completed 12 while others were ongoing. We initiated the construction of nine new road projects of our own worth N534.332 billion, he added. I wish to emphasise that with a combined cost of N528.6 billion, the 50.15 kilometres Port Harcourt dual-carriage Ring Road, the dualisation of Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road and the Trans-Kalabari Road projects are three most ambitious road projects ever carried out by any governor in Rivers State. The governor said of the amount, only the N195.3 billion 50.1km Port Harcourt Ring Road project awarded to Julius Berger Plc was being funded from borrowed funds. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Others, including the most costly 12.1km all-swamp Trans-Kalabari Road awarded to Lubrik Construction Company Limited at N225 billion, are being funded from the states much-improved internally generated revenue which he said has jumped from N12 billion to N28 billion monthly. Cesspit of crisis Mr Fubara served as accountant general of the oil-rich Rivers under the administration of the immediate-past Governor Wike before he became governor in May 2023. Mr Wike, now the minister of FCT, helped Mr Fubara to become governor but the duo later fell out over the battle for the control of the political structure in the state. We started this journey with a bang. We were focused. We were determined to make the change we promised with a sense of urgency. But then, somehow, we suddenly found ourselves in the cesspit of crisis barely three months into our tenure, Mr Fubara said about his feud with Mr Wike which snowballed into an impeachment move initiated against him by pro-Wike lawmakers last October. It was not just an ordinary political crisis. It was a vicious existential crisis, he added. The crisis further deteriorated leading to the collapse of the peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu after the seats of 27 pro-Wike lawmakers were declared vacant following their defection to the APC. The legislative business of the state is currently carried out by a three-member assembly backed by Governor Fubara after a court barred the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers from parading themselves as assembly members. The worst is over. We have successfully defended our right and opportunity to govern, Mr Fubara declared at the ceremony, suggesting he has taken over political control of the state with the exodus of pro-Wike commissioners from his cabinet and with the governors loyalists now in charge of the legislature. Scorecard Addressing the people at the meeting, Mr Fubara listed his achievements across different sectors including education, health and security and the economy. We inherited a State, whose economy had remained on a declining trajectory despite its growth potential, and we needed to change this negative narrative for the better, he said. The governor said one year into his administration, the states internally generated revenue has witnessed an astronomical increase from N12 billion to between N17 billion in off-peak periods and N28 billion during the peak months. He said his administrations commitment and strategies on safety and security are yielding results with lower crime rates in the state. He further stated that his economic policies and programmes are attracting investors to the state based on the expression of interest he has received and that his administration has kept taxes low, frozen taxes on small businesses across the state and increased the ease of doing business by eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks. No request for the signing of a certificate of occupancy remains in my office beyond two days, except if I am otherwise engaged beyond two days or out of town. On education, the governor said his administration has released billions of naira for completion of projects in public schools in the state and has released money for textbooks in public schools. In healthcare delivery, Mr Fubara said his administration has taken several measures to reposition the sector including completing, equipping and expanding the capacity of several hospitals in the state, employing 1000 health personnel and rehabilitating 35 primary healthcare centres. The welfare of workers, Mr Fubara said, remains top on his priorities with regular payment of benefits. A civil servant in the state, Anthony Egobueze, a political science lecturer at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology confirmed that Mr Fubara has implemented the promotion for civil servants in the state, an exercise he said has not been conducted in the previous eight years. According to him, a substantial amount of money has been added to their salaries as a result of the promotion implementation. Mr Fubara said his administration is committed to economic diversification through agriculture, and assured the people of attracting investors to take over and revive all state-owned farms and agricultural assets and harness the huge agricultural potential of our State to enhance food security, grow our economy, create jobs and generate revenue for the government and stakeholders. With all sense of humility, I am proud of the progress we have made in one year. I am also confident that, although the progress may be slow, we are on the right path towards realizing our collective dreams for a better Rivers State, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print On 18 December 2023, President Bola Tinubu had a meeting with members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) at State House, Abuja. During the meeting, he reiterated his administrations commitment to upholding press freedom and promised to look into extant policies affecting the newspaper industry, according to a press statement from the presidents office. You have held our feet to the fire, and we will continue to respect your opinions, whether we agree or not. One thing I must say is that I read every paper, various opinions and columnists, the president said. Despite this promise, media practitioners in Nigeria have, since Mr Tinubu assumed office last May, faced attacks capable of discouraging free press. According to the Press Attack Tracker (PAT), there have been 37 incidents of press freedom violations between 29 May 2023 and 29 May 2024. The Press Attack Tracker is a civic technology tool of the Centre for Journalism and Innovation Development. It tracks, verifies and documents incidents of press freedom violations in Nigeria. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The cases of harassment, threats and even illegal detention of journalists in the course of their work show that much has not changed since the emergence of the current administration. Our findings also show that most of the attacks were mostly perpetrated by state agents, especially officers of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police Force and the State Security Service, also known as the Department of State Service (DSS). While security personnel carried out 26 attacks on the press, other state actors like political office holders and political appointees came next with seven verified incidents. In 2024 alone, CJIDs Press Attack Tracker has tracked, verified and documented 23 cases of press freedom violations against journalists in Nigeria, a development that shows that the country still has a long way to go in tolerating dissent views. In 2023, a total of 108 cases of press attacks were documented by the press attack tracker; 23 of the cases were documented between 29 May and December 2023. Also, unlawful arrests mainly perpetrated by security agents were the most common attacks recorded between 29 May 2023 and 29 May 2024. Authorities Weaponise Cybercrime Act Despite the amendment of the infamous Cybercrime Act 2015, the law is still being used to hound journalists. In fact, nine incidents have been documented between January and May 2024. On 7 February, the Kwara State Police Command charged four journalists Salihu Ayatullahi, Azeez Jaji, Abdurahman Damilola and Salihu Taofeek to court for allegedly violating Section 27(1)b and Section 24 of Nigerias Cybercrime Act. The journalists, who work for Informant247, were arrested over a controversial report about the alleged financial recklessness of the Kwara Polytechnic leadership. A month later, incidents of press freedom violations took a new dimension after the National Cybercrime Centre (NCC) of the Nigerian Police Force invited Foundation for Investigative Journalism Board Chair, Olubukola Shonibare, to answer questions relating to cybercrime and operations of the online newspaper. Upon honouring the invitation, she was asked to produce FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo, who at the time was yet to receive any official invitation from the police. Earlier this month, Daniel Ojukwu, a reporter with the same newspaper, who was arrested in Lagos was flown to the National Cybercrime Centre of the Nigerian Police in Abuja over allegations of cybercrime following a report, alleging misappropriation of public funds in the office of the former Special Adviser to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), of Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire. Mr Ojukwu was detained for 10 days before he was eventually released on bail after a protest by Civil Society Organisations and journalists in Abuja. On 15 May, an ICIR reporter, Nurudeen Akewushola, got a letter from the National Cybercrime Centre of the Nigerian Police, inviting him for an interview in an investigation being carried out over a petition received by the NCC. Similarly, another letter was received by the ICIR inviting its managing directors for an interview for the same reason. The letters which came several days after they were expected to show up at the police NCC, however, did not mention the name of the petitioner. However, ICIR editor, Victoria Bamas, told CJID that the organisation believes that the invitation is linked to a report by Mr Akewushola, indicting two former Inspectors General of Police of corruption. Since its inception, the CJID has tracked and documented 1,136 incidents of press freedom violations in Nigeria between 1986 and 2024. We, however, urge the federal government, particularly President Bola Tinubu, who professes the values of democracy and has been a victim of harassment under the military government, to call the police and public officials to order. The CJID condemns the continuing arrests of journalists based on the cybercrime law and encourages the government to comply with a Federal High Court order of 16 February, directing the Federal Government of Nigeria to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of all attacks against journalists and other media practitioners. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Defence Headquarters has said that troops killed no fewer than 640 terrorists, apprehended 1,051 suspects and rescued 563 kidnapped hostages in May. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the operations of the Nigerian military on Thursday in Abuja. He said that some senior terrorist commanders and fighters have been killed which has degraded the potency of the terrorists, as a result of intense pressure from the troops across theatres of operations. Mr Buba, a major general, further said that the troops apprehended some suspects including their logistic suppliers and informants. He added that the troops also recovered 707 assorted weapons, 16,487 assorted ammunitions comprising 411 AK47 rifles, 234 locally fabricated guns and 43 pump action guns, amongst others. In the North-east, Mr Buba said, Operation Hadin Kai recorded huge operational successes by killing some key terrorists including one Malam Mohammed, a leader of the IED cell in Sambisa Forest. He said the troops also rescued 386 hostages, who had been in captivity for over 10 years, adding that the victims had been handed over to the Borno State Government. During the month, troops neutralised 306 terrorists, arrested 199 suspects and rescued additional 219 kidnapped hostages. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Troops also recorded 1,099 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists combatants and their families as they recovered 200 AK47 rifles and 53 fabricated rifles among others, he said. In the North-central, Mr Buba said, the troops of Operation Safe Haven conducted several offensive operations leading to the killing of 39 terrorists, while 140 suspects were apprehended with 77 hostages rescued. The troops also recovered nine AK47 rifles among others, he said. According to him, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have conducted several operations against terrorists and violent extremist strongholds and arrested violent extremists, their collaborators and several gunrunners. Mr Buba also said the troops had killed 41 terrorists, arrested 184 suspects and rescued 48 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered 18 AK47 rifles, and 27 assorted arms, with 2,237 rounds of 7.62mm special. In the North-west, Mr Buba disclosed, activities of the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, led to the elimination of a notorious terrorist commander, Usman Modi. The troops killed the terrorist commander who hitherto terrorised communities around Danmusa, Kankara and Safana LGAs of Katsina State. Overall, the troops neutralised 262 terrorists, arrested 204 suspects and rescued 243 kidnap hostages, Mr Buba said. He further explained that the air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI has recorded significant air strikes to destroy terrorist camps in Faskari, Bayan Ruwa Maradun and Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara. Some of the terrorist leaders targeted (were) Jammo Smally and Kachalla Halilu; additionally, terrorist enclaves at Tungar Daji in Zamfara State and Rugu Forest in Safana (LGA) were also engaged, he said. The director said under Operation Whirl Punch, the troops neutralised 56 terrorists, arrested 150 suspects and rescued 80 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered 23 AK47 rifles. According to him, the air component destroyed terrorists training camp in Kuduru, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State and enclaves at Kabago, Alawa Forest, Katarma and Kwaki general areas in Shiroro and Chikun Local Government Areas of Niger and Kaduna states. Other successful operations recorded by the army troops include Operations Delta Safe in the South-South, where troops prevented the stealing of 4.12 million litres of crude oil, 793,796 litres of AGO and 4,480 litres of PMS. The troops also recovered 73 assorted weapons, destroyed 129 wooden boats, 686 assorted ammunitions and 223 illegal refining sites as well as neutralised five violent extremists and arrested 81 suspected oil thieves. The air component destroyed several illegal refining sites in different locations in Rivers, Mr Buba said. South-east Udo Ka Operation frustrated the activities of the terrorist group and restored peace to troubled areas across the zone. The troops have in the month of May, neutralised 69 terrorists, arrested 115 suspects, rescued 32 kidnap hostages, and recovered eight AK47 rifles and 13 pump action guns. Overall, troops operations have denied the terrorist the ability to carry out major offensive and has significantly diminished their offensive capability, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced the suspension of certain allowances for its staff during the 2024 Hajj operations due to financial constraints. According to the Executive Chairperson, Jalal Arabi, the financial downturn has impacted various aspects of the Hajj operations, including staff stipends. Mr Arabi expressed regret over the situation, acknowledging the challenging nature of Hajj operations for staff and their families. However, he stated that the commission remains hopeful that as conditions improve, staff allowances may be reassessed, even if its a minimal increase. NAN had also reported that In the meantime, staff will be given the option to return to Nigeria after 21 days of service if they choose to do so. Mr Arabi had earlier communicated this decision to staff on offshore assignment via a Zoom meeting on Thursday, explaining the commissions financial constraints and seeking their understanding. Additionally, allowances for operational committee members, including the media team, ulama, security, and other stakeholders, remain affected due to budgetary limitations. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Arabi solicited maximum support and cooperation from all concerned, acknowledging that not everyone will be happy with this decision. The chairperson expressed gratitude for the dedication and commitment of his staff and reassured all stakeholders of the commissions continued efforts to navigate the financial challenges while prioritising the well-being of pilgrims, personnel, and the success of the Hajj. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Founder of Hensard University, Henry Seriake Dickson, has enjoined the students of the institution to embrace the core values which make the school distinct. Mr Dickson, a serving senator representing Bayelsa West senatorial district, spoke at an interactive session, with the students. He stated that the purpose of the university was to produce leaders and entrepreneurs, in different fields whose values will make a difference to humanity. The university has invested in training ethical leaders through her core values that emphasise character and skills to develop the total human being. Hensards 12 Core Values are to guide you to becoming responsible, ethical, honourable citizens, leaders and servants to God and humanity, as encapsulated in Hensards motto, Qui Servit Homo, Servit Deo (He who serves man, serves God), he told the pioneer students. As pioneer students, you are the unique set of Hensard students who are the first to experience our facilities, global standards and practices. You will not only imbibe the Hensard core values, but pass them on to other sets, he added. He said Hensards core values, Belief in God; Service to God & Humanity; Love & Compassion towards all; Courage of Conviction; Integrity & Honour at all times; Respect & Tolerance for all; Hardwork & Responsibility; Passion in everything; Innovation & Entreprise; Discipline; Gratitude; Excellence, are the foundation on which we are training you to be impactful leaders. He stated further, Hensard University does not tolerate indiscipline. Definitely, bullying in any form is a no-no here. As you act, bear our core values in mind, for without them, the purpose of the training you will get at Hensard University will be lost. Mr Dickson said the session was the first in a series of regular interactions that the students would have with leaders in different fields where they have excelled, established themselves as thought leaders with experiences and inspiring lives that would spur you to broaden your perspectives on issues. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He advised the students to avail themselves of the facilities at Hensard University and enjoy world class education in Nigeria. By choosing Hensard you would benefit from the universitys uniqueness that we summarise as the Hensard Advantage. They are distinct innovations that the university has brought to higher education, the former governor of Bayelsa State said. Hensard students will enjoy a rare combination of academics, practical skills, industrial exposure, and mentorship, part of which you have experienced in your stay so far. Hensard will equip you with real-world experiences and entrepreneurial skills. It will make you graduates, entrepreneurs and wealth creators with industry-oriented skills with the international standards that are readily available to you, he said. Dileep Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Hensard University, thanked Senator Dickson for commencing the sessions. Professor Kumar summarised the Hensard Advantage thus: Dual certifications, international collaborations and partnerships that will ensure standards, and exposure of Hensard students to renowned mentors and leaders in various fields, globally Collaborations and partnerships with reputable universities, institutions, and industries that will ensure that Hensard students draw from sources of knowledge from several points Global Student Exchange Programme under which Hensard students would attend lectures in universities abroad as part of the dual certification process The worldwide scholars programme with rigorous academic experience intertwined with unique opportunities that tap into global academic resources and expertise will avail Hensard students exposure to best international resources Global academic network of lecturers and researchers, including the Diaspora Scholars Group, will use cutting-edge technology to deliver lectures in Hensards smart lecture halls Hensards Institutes and Centres of Excellence will ensure constant exposure of students to national and international seminars and conferences that will keep Hensard students abreast of the latest developments in the international knowledge space Mentorship of students by global leaders from international and corporate advisory boards with relevant competences in the students fields The International Board of Governors, comprising global leaders in government, academia, business, and research will provide students with a unique combination of diverse mentoring experience Practical Entrepreneurship Exposure while at school and Start-up Funds for Hensard graduates through the Hensard Entrepreneurship and Cooperative make Hensard unique. These are co-ordinated by the carefully selected Hensard team of international faculty and staff with vast experiences to create a truly robust academic community of students, staff, researchers, visiting academics, and global leaders who are committed to extending the frontiers of knowledge, beyond boundaries, for societys sustenance, Prof Kumar said. Hensard graduates will enjoy continued mentorship and support in establishing businesses of their own through the Hensard University Business Support Programme. We invite more students to join us in September to benefit from the Hensard Advantage, he added. Victoria Lawrence, a student of Political Science expressed her joy in being at Hensard University. Miss Lawrence lauded the management and staff of the university for the high quality of education the institution. The National Universities Commission, NUC) licensed Hensard University in July 2022. It is the first private university in Bayelsa State. Hensard University can be connected or accessed via these channels: Twitter @Hensard Facebook @HensardUniversity Instagram @HensardUniversity LinkedIn @HensardUniversity YouTube @HensardUniversity Email info@hensarduniversity.edu.ng admissions@hensarduniversity.edu.ng Phone Numbers: Enquiries +234 916 998 5153 VC Office +234 916 998 5152 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Six terrorists have been killed during an exchange of gunfire with soldiers in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Thursday. He said troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army and Operation Whirl Punch killed the terrorists and arrested three other suspects during special operations. According to him, the troops conducted a special fighting patrol to the Galadimawa general area of the LGA after intelligence reports alerted of terrorist activities in the area. Mr Aruwan said the troops set up an initial position at Sabon Sara village, where it was discovered that insurgents had abandoned a herd of rustled cattle as they hastily escaped from the location. According to him, the troops recovered the cattle and handed them over to locals before continuing the advance. The troops then sighted insurgents at the Market Square of Galadimawa. A swift exchange of fire resulted in six insurgents being neutralized by the troops, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Aruwan added that a further search of the market area led to the arrest of three suspected collaborators and informants believed to be offering logistic assistance to the criminal elements. He said two motorcycles and four mobile phones were also recovered. READ ALSO: Nigerian Army reopens Banex Plaza in Abuja Receiving the report, Governor Uba Sani congratulated the troops under the leadership of the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander Operation Whirl Punch, Major General MLD Saraso for the breakthrough. The governor urged the security forces to pursue a thorough investigation towards dislodging more criminal networks. He said special operations will continue in the general area and other locations of interest, the statement highlighted. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least four soldiers were killed on Thursday when gunmen attacked soldiers in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, Nigerias South-east. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the hoodlums, numbering about 15, attacked soldiers at about 8: 00 a.m. at a military checkpoint in Obikabia Junction in the commercial city. The gunmen were said to be enforcing a sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) across the South-east to mark the Biafra Day which is celebrated annually in the region. A witness who identified himself simply as Marvelous told this newspaper the hoodlums, who were masked, stormed the junction and opened fire on the soldiers Marvelous said four soldiers were killed during the attack while one other soldier was seriously injured. Four of the soldiers were killed. The other soldier sustained serious gunshot injury. I am not sure he will survive it, Marvelous said in Pidgin English language. The gunmen came in black Highlander (SUV). Even some ordinary people sustained gunshot injuries, he added. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Video clips Some video clips showing the masked gunmen during the attack on the soldiers have been circulating on Facebook and other social media platforms. In one of the clips, some armed men, dressed in black attire, were seen firing sporadic gunshots around the junction. A military patrol truck was parked in the area. PREMIUM TIMES, from the clip, counted over 10 gunmen who took part in the attack. Some fear-stricken residents were seen in another clip scampering for safety around the area. The clip showed the gunmen razing the military patrol truck apparently used by the soldiers. Shortly after the attack, an armed soldier was seen apparently surveying the area to ascertain if the hoodlums had left. This army man is the only surviving person here. He was the only person that ran away, a male voice was heard speaking in the background in the video. Some youths were seen in another clip carrying a young man who was apparently hit by stray bullets. The injured mans clothes had blood stains. Does anybody here have a motorcycle? one of the youths enquired from his colleagues. The youths would later carry the victim to an undisclosed medical facility. Army silent The spokesperson of the 14 Brigade of the Nigeria army in Ohafia, Abia State, Innocent Omale, a lieutenant, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking his comments. When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday afternoon, Jonah Unuakhalu, the spokesperson of the 82 Division of the army, refused to confirm the attack but promised to revert to this reporter with details. Mr Unuakhalu, a lieutenant colonel, did not respond to subsequent calls seeking his comments, nearly an hour later. Background IPOB earlier this month announced that there would be a sit-at-home on 30 May across the South-east to mark the Biafra Day. Emma Powerful, the IPOBs spokesperson, in a statement, said the celebration was intended to remember IPOB members who died in the fight for freedom. IPOB is a group seeking to carve out a sovereign state of Biafra from South-east and some parts of the south-south of Nigeria. However, in a contradictory statement, Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafra agitator, announced that the sit-at-home would last for three days from 29 to 31 May 2024. Mr Ekpa, who leads Auto Pilot, a faction of IPOB, said the three-day sit-at-home was necessary to enable Biafrans to vote for the Liberation of Biafra. The agitator, who is based in Finland, asked Igbos and lovers of South-east to stay at home on the mentioned days in honour of Biafran heroes who died during the Nigerian civil war. He asked the West African Examination Council to reschedule its Senior School Certificate Examination billed to hold within the time in the South-east. PREMIUM TIMES reported that security agencies in the South-east have vowed to resist the sit-at-home order imposed by the separatists in the region. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, will deliver the 2024 convocation lecture of Lagos State University (LASU) on Tuesday. The universitys Vice-Chancellor, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, disclosed this during a press briefing at the institutions senate chamber on Thursday. She said: On Tuesday, 4th June 2024, which is day five of the Convocation, we shall be having the convocation lecture which will be delivered by His Excellency, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, CON, a former governor of Lagos State and former visitor to our university. An accomplished lawyer and celebrated public servant, Mr Fashola was the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, under Muhammadu Buharis administration from 2019 to 2023. Mr Fashola was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (Urban and Rural Community Development and Youth Empowerment) at our last convocation. She said the theme of the lecture is: Embracing the Future: Navigating the Intersection of Technology and Humanity. The convocation lecture will be chaired by Peter Okebukola, a professor of science and computer education and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC). Awards Mrs Olatunji-Bello said diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate diplomas and masters degrees would be awarded to deserving graduates on Wednesday, 5 June. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Out of 554 diploma students that are graduating this year, there are 55 distinctions, 274 upper credits, 224 lower credits and one pass, she said. Out of the 8,670 students that are graduating for first degree programmes, 153 came out with First Class; 3,029 are graduating with second class upper division; 715 are graduating with second class lower division, 228 are graduating with a pass, and 195 are graduating with non-classified degree. Out of the 2,164 postgraduate students that are graduating, we have 375 postgraduate diplomas, 962 academic masters, 672 professional masters, 89 doctor of philosophy, and 66 professional doctoral degrees. READ ALSO: 153 bag First Class as LASU holds 27th convocation Best graduating students Speaking on the best students for the 2022/2023 academic session, the vice-chancellor said one Olaniyi Olawale and Olaitan Damilola emerged the overall best graduates for the first degree and masters programme respectively. I am happy to announce that OLANIYI MUBARAQ OLAWALE of the Accounting Education with a CGPA of 4.98 [First Class Honours] is our best-graduating student for the 2022/2023, while for Masters, OLAITAN AMINAT DAMILOLA with a CGPA of 4.78 (Educational Management) is the best graduating student for 2022/2023 in this years ceremony, she said. Asked how LASU has been operating an uninterrupted academic calendar, Mrs Olatunji-Bello said its due to the support of the academic staff and the unions. Higher institutions in Nigeria are synonymous with strike,s which cripple all academic activities. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown's administration has hired a politically connected Buffalo attorney who was convicted a decade ago of submitting false documents to the Internal Revenue Service and underpaying her federal taxes for three years. Lisa M. Yaeger pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors in September 2014 and admitted failing to report substantial income from her private practice for 2005, 2006 and 2007. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara sentenced Yaeger to time served in jail and six months on supervised release after the U.S. Attorneys Office informed him she had made full restitution on her tax debt of $22,905. Her license to practice law was suspended by New York in 2013 and reinstated in 2015. Yaeger was hired effective May 20 as an assistant corporation counsel earning $119,480 by Buffalo Mayor Byron Browns administration, according to documents filed with the Common Council last week by Corporation Counsel Cavette Chambers, the citys top lawyer. Chambers said Yaeger's appointment above the minimum salary was based upon over 30 years of extensive legal experience. The city publicly advertised the open position in February 2023. The Brown administration defended its hiring of Yaeger. This situation, which arose out of a very ugly and public divorce, happened over 10 years ago and has been resolved, said Brown spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge. She paid full restitution immediately prior to sentencing and served her suspension. Subsequently, Ms. Yaeger worked at various levels of government, including several years with the state. She was hired to this position because of her possessing over 30 years of legal experience as a trial attorney and other extensive governmental experience. Neither Yaeger nor Chambers responded to requests for comment. Yaeger also is politically connected. On her Facebook page, she posted a reelection fundraiser this month for Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples Stokes. Yaeger donated a total of $5,760 to Brown for Buffalo and Mayor Brown's Leadership Council between 2005 and 2022. She contributed $600 to Friends of Leah Halton-Pope in 2023 for Halton-Popes successful bid for the Buffalo Common Council. Yaeger donated $200 to Friends of Christopher P. Scanlon from 2017 to 2020. Scanlon, who has been on the Council for 12 years, was elected Council president by his colleagues in January. Overall, Yaeger has donated $11,078 since 2005 to political committees in New York State, with nearly all of it going to Democrats in the Buffalo area. She also served as counsel for then-State Sen. Antoine Thompson, who in 2014 wrote a letter to Arcara seeking leniency for Yaeger before her sentencing. "Ms. Yaegers leadership while counsel in the NYS Senate was critical in helping to enact major legislation to allow for the redemption of water bottles at stores and creating green jobs in the state," Thompson wrote. By all accounts, Yaeger was a capable and diligent attorney, but she had lapses in judgment related to reporting some cash payments, according to the sentencing memorandum signed by U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gretchen L. Wylegala. As an attorney, Yaeger would occasionally ask for payment in cash, the document said. She deposited sizable checks, but only reported the income if she received a 1099 form, even though her accountant always asked her about the income. When she rushed to her accountant to amend the 2007 return in the wake of an ethics complaint, she was given the opportunity to amend the earlier years but did not do so, wrote Kennedy and Wylegala. Yaegers actions did not exemplify the qualities we encourage in the legal profession. Yaegers actions showed no respect for the law," the prosecutors wrote in asking Arcara to sentence her to 6 to 12 months in jail. Residents of Ayetoro community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, took advantage of the Democracy Day celebration on Wednesday to protest the incessant sea surge threatening their existence. They called on the federal and state governments to urgently help them as they brace for another season of rains that are likely to result in dangerous sea incursions. Although it was a peaceful protest, the residents poured out in large numbers to the main streets of the community to lament their perennial ordeal. They were also armed with placards with different inscriptions, such as Save our souls, save Ayetoro community, oil exploration has become a curse, N6.5billion shoreline project awarded by NDDC not yet executed after 16 years. Other placards read: We cannot access our schools again, More than 700 houses have been destroyed, Community-owned factories have been washed away, and shoreline protection we demand, among many others. In April last year, about half of the community was submerged by the sea and many houses destroyed. Speaking with journalists, the towns traditional ruler, the Ogeloyinbo of Ayetoro, Oluwanbe Ojagbonmi, appealed to governments at all levels to help. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later We need help. Stop the ocean surge, he appealed, adding that the governments should find a lasting solution to the problem. The community has been experiencing frequent ocean surges, which have led to the destruction of homes, farmlands, and other properties. The residents live in fear of losing everything they had worked for. The traditional head emphasised the urgent need for government intervention to prevent further damage and provide relief to the affected residents. He also called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ondo State Oil Producing Company (OSOPADEC) and the state government, to take immediate action to protect the community from the devastating effects of the ocean surge. All efforts in reaching out to the federal and state governments and agencies concerning the devastating effects of sea incursion that is caused by climate change and oil exploration proved abortive. Hopefully our voices will be heard and the government will respond to our pleas for help at this time, Mr Ojagbonmi said. Also, a female community leader, Mofeoluwa Arowolo, said the ocean surge had washed away their markets. We can no longer trade because our main occupation here is fishing, and the women can no longer have our kitchen where we dry fish; all have been washed away by the sea, she added. The communitys youth leader, Thompson Akingboye, noted that the first fish boat that was built in Nigeria was built at Ayetoro in 1964, but today, the place has been eroded and washed away by the sea incursion. Mr Akingboye appealed to the government at all levels to look into the demands of the community and help with a lasting solution to the sea incursion ravaging the community. If urgent action is not taken, this place where we are standing will not be here next year, he said. All the factories built by communal efforts are no more; the bakery, Technical College, and others have been washed away, he lamented. The Ondo State government had promised to tackle the problem and bring succour to the people, but nothing has been done. Several decisions had also been reached at the state executive council, mapping out strategies to curb the situation, but there had been no practical move. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Presentations Cover Aspen's Autologous iPSC-derived Approach for Neuron Replacement Therapy in Trial for Parkinson's Disease SAN DIEGO and VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspen Neuroscience will present this week to a global audience of clinicians, regulators, researchers, technologists and industry partners at the 2024 annual meeting of the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) in Vancouver, Canada, May 29-June 1. "We are excited to be part of this meeting, which covers the latest advancements in cell and gene therapy," commented Aspen Chief Executive Officer Damien McDevitt, PhD. "The members of the ISCT community share our vision to translate the potential of cell and gene therapies into safe and effective medicines to improve patients' lives." "Members of the ISCT community share our vision to translate the potential of cell therapy into tomorrow's medicines." Post this As part of the ISCT 2024 Translational Pathway Sessions, as well as the ISCT main program, Aspen's Chief Scientific Officer Xiaokui Zhang, Ph.D., and Chief Technology Officer Kim Raineri will discuss developments in autologous research and development, including for ANPD001, Aspen's autologous iPSC-derived neuron replacement therapy currently under investigation for Parkinson's disease in a Phase 1/2a clinical trial, as well as advancements in manufacturing of autologous iPSCs. Daniel Fremgen, Director of Analytical Development, will present regarding Aspen analytical development strategy including machine learning genomic models and characterization of autologous iPSCs and dopaminergic neuron precursor cells. The Aspen Neuroscience schedule of presentations includes: Thursday, May 30 Event: ISCT 2024 Translational Pathway Sessions Translation to Clinic Concurrent Session Title: Autologous iPSC-Derived Neuron Replacement for Parkinson's Disease Chair and Presenter: Xiaokui Zhang, Ph.D. Chief Scientific Officer, Aspen Neuroscience Time: 5:00 - 6:00pm PT Location: Room 217-219 Event: Scientific Poster Sessions Poster Networking Session #2 Title: Analytical Development Strategy for Dopaminergic Neuron Precursor Cell Replacement Therapy for Parkinson's Disease Presenter: Daniel Fremgen Director, Analytical Development, Aspen Neuroscience Time: 6:00 - 7:30pm PT Location: Exhibit & Poster Hall Saturday, June 1 iPSCs Signature Series: From Bench to Bedside Event: Manufacturing Considerations for Autologous and Allogeneic iPSC-derived Therapies & Opportunities for Cross-industry Alignment Title: Manufacturing of Autologous iPSCs Presenter: Kim Raineri Chief Technology Officer, Aspen Neuroscience Time: 8:15 - 9:15am PT Event: Characterization of iPSC-derived Cell Therapies Going in Depth Chair Xiaokui Zhang, PhD Title: Characterization of Autologous iPSCs and Dopaminergic Neuron Precursor Cells for Parkinson's Disease Presenter: Daniel Fremgen Director, Analytical Development, Aspen Neuroscience Time: 10:30 - 11:30am PT About Aspen Neuroscience Headquartered in San Diego, Aspen Neuroscience, Inc. is a clinical development-stage, private company focused on autologous regenerative medicine. The company's patient-derived iPSC platform is used to create personalized therapies to address diseases with high unmet medical needs, beginning with autologous neuron replacement for Parkinson's disease. Aspen combines cell biology with the latest machine learning and genomic approaches to investigate patient-specific, restorative cell treatments. The company has developed a best-in-class platform to create and optimize pluripotent-derived cell therapies, which includes in-house bioinformatics, manufacturing and quality control. For more information and important updates, please visit https://www.aspenneuroscience.com. SOURCE Aspen Neuroscience, Inc. MIAMI, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 2011, Atlantic Sapphire ASA ("Atlantic Sapphire"; OSE:ASA /OTCQX: AASZF) has been revolutionizing the seafood industry with a proprietary aquaculture system to sustainably deliver ocean-safe seafood across North America. This month, the company is pushing the boundaries even further, announcing it will be joining the Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) SolarTogether Program in an effort to decrease its electric carbon footprint by offsetting 45% of its total energy consumption with solar. The Norwegian-founded company has already transformed salmon farming with its innovative BluehouseTM technology. With water sourced from the Floridian Aquifer, the fish is sustainably raised and delivered fresh from the Sunshine State resulting in a lower carbon footprint than imported salmon, with no airfreight needed. Becoming part of the FPL SolarTogether community is another step the company is taking toward a more environmentally conscious production. "Our company is committed to working with FPL to reduce carbon emissions derived from energy consumption from its operations," explains Johan Andreassen, CEO for Atlantic Sapphire. "We believe that the best way to place aquaculture at the forefront is by reaching efficiencies at every level." FPL SolarTogether is a voluntary subscription program designed to give all FPL customers an opportunity to experience the financial and environmental benefits of homegrown solar energy, without having to put panels on their roof and with no upfront costs. Participants pay a fixed monthly subscription cost and receive escalating monthly bill credits based on the solar energy generated from FPL's community solar energy centers throughout Florida. While their subscription cost remains fixed, their credit increases every year, helping to lower customers' bills over time. "We are excited to welcome Atlantic Sapphire to the FPL SolarTogether program to help them meet their energy and sustainability goals," said Tim Oliver, vice president of development for FPL. "We applaud their commitment to supporting the continued growth of diverse energy sources right here in Florida that help keep our air and water clean now and for years to come." For more information visit atlanticsapphire.com. To learn more about FPL SolarTogether, visit FPL.com/SolarTogether. About Atlantic Sapphire ASA Atlantic Sapphire (OSE:ASA /OTCQX: AASZF) is pioneering Bluehouse (land-raised) salmon farming, locally, and transforming protein production, globally. Atlantic Sapphire has been operating its innovation center in Denmark since 2011 with a strong focus on R&D and innovation to equip the Company with the technology and procedures that enable the Company to commercially scale up production in end markets close to the consumer. In the US, the Company has identified and obtained the requisite permits to construct its Bluehouse in the ideal location in Homestead, Florida, just south of Miami. The Company has completed Phase 1 construction, which provides the capacity to harvest approximately 10,000 tons (HOG) of salmon annually. The Company completed its first commercial harvest in the US in September 2020. Atlantic Sapphire is currently constructing its Phase 2 expansion, which will bring total annual production capacity to 25,000 tons, and has a targeted harvest volume in 2031 of 220,000 tons. FOR MORE MEDIA INFORMATION: Bright Red Agency 912 419 6906 [email protected] SOURCE Atlantic Sapphire Expanding two-story Northlake Mall location to include a Belk Outlet in addition to traditional Belk store CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Belk is proud to announce its next outlet location in its home state of North Carolina. The latest addition to the Belk Outlet lineup will open at the Northlake Mall in Charlotte, N.C. in September 2024. Belk Outlets give customers the opportunity to shop a broad selection of high-end, national designer brands and products at a discount. The wide selection of merchandise comes directly from traditional Belk stores, in addition to value fashion and home merchandise purchased specifically for the outlet locations. "We're excited to bring the Belk Outlet shopping experience to our hometown customers," said Don Hendricks, CEO of Belk. "This is a fantastic opportunity for customers to shop a large range of designer and high-end national brands at additional savings. Customers across our footprint are loving the Belk Outlet offerings, so we're looking forward to adding this new location." Belk will continue to operate its traditional store on the first level of the Northlake Mall, while work begins in June on transitioning the second level into a Belk Outlet. This concept allows customers to continue to shop for all their favorite products at the traditional store, while offering them a chance to hunt for other discounted high-end and designer national brand treasures at the outlet within the same building. Belk debuted its first outlet in January 2023 in Greeneville, T.N., before opening 16 additional locations. The new Charlotte outlet location reaffirms Belk's commitment to the local community. Last year, the company expanded national brand product offerings by adding over 180 new brands. It also elevated customers' shopping experiences with updated decor and enhancements at several stores, including many in the Charlotte area. About Belk Charlotte-based Belk, Inc., a privately-owned department store, opened its first store in 1888, beginning a legacy of selling great products at great prices, treating customers like family, and giving back to the community. Today, Belk serves customers at nearly 300 Belk stores in 16 Southeastern states, at belk.com and through the mobile app. For over 135 years, Belk has proudly put customers and community at the center of what they do, supporting local charities, organizations, and families when they need it most. For more information visit https://newsroom.belk.com/. To shop, find your local store at https://www.belk.com/stores/ , visit belk.com or download the Belk app in Google Play or Apple Store. SOURCE Belk, Inc. NYIFF 2024 delves into the multifaceted realm of Indian cinema and celebrates the illustrious legacy of Shabana Azmi with a retrospective tribute. NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), North America's longest-running festival dedicated to Indian cinema, announces its 24th edition program, brimming with bold narratives, captivating documentaries, and insightful shorts. Brimming with bold narratives, captivating documentaries, and insightful shorts, NYIFF 2024 promises a captivating exploration of modern Indian filmmaking from May 31st to June 2nd, 2024, at Village East by Angelika in New York City. NYIFF Event Poster This year's festival boasts a rich selection of 49 films, encompassing features, documentaries, and shorts, in 12 Indian languages and even Sinhalese and Arabic. From thought-provoking dramas like "Dear Jassi" by celebrated Indian American director Tarsem Singh to the poignant "Paradise," a Sri Lankan drama presented by the legendary Mani Ratnam's Madras Talkies, NYIFF 2024 offers a kaleidoscope of cultural experiences. The festival shines a spotlight on the brilliance of Indian actresses. The legendary Shabana Azmi, celebrating her 50th year in cinema, will attend a special event featuring a screening of her iconic film "Fire" followed by a conversation with filmmaker Mira Nair. Ms. Azmi will delve into her remarkable journey, from her groundbreaking debut in Shyam Benegal's "Ankur," to her trailblazing roles that have earned her five National Film Awards and international accolades Additionally, captivating performances by Sanya Malhotra ("Mrs."), Rajshri Deshpande ("Privacy"), and Tannishtha Chatterjee ("Yellow Bus") promise to enthrall audiences. NYIFF 2024 presents a compelling platform for established directors like Umesh Kulkarni ("U=Me") and Srijit Mukherji ("Padatik") alongside the works of exciting new voices like Pooja Kaul ("The Umesh Chronicles") and Wendy Bednarz ("Yellow Bus"). "I have been associated with the New York Indian Film Festival since its inception and I am heartened by the progress it has made over the years in leaps and bounds. I am happy that my 50th year is being celebrated at the NYIFF and I look forward to it," Ms. Azmi said. "NYIFF is a must-watch event for anyone interested in Indian cinema and its growing impact on global cinema. It offers a unique opportunity to explore and appreciate the diverse cinematic voices emerging from India today," said Dr. Nirmal Mattoo, Chairman of the Indo-American Arts Council, the organization that presents the film festival. "We aim to truly underscore the NYIFF commitment to diversity and cultural representation in film," said Aseem Chhabra, NYIFF Festival Director. "This year, we will feature films in 12 languages spoken in India: Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oria, Punjabi, Tamil. Two films also feature Sinhalese and Arabic languages. All films will have English subtitles." "I am thrilled to present the lineup for this year's New York Indian Film Festival. Our selection of films not only epitomizes the artistic brilliance we champion but also mirrors the vibrant narratives we strive to share with our community. This year, the amalgamation of cultural richness, outstanding narratives, and stellar performances is poised to make this edition of the festival unparalleled in its appeal," said Poonam Khubani IAAC Board Member. NYIFF recognizes the power of cinema as a tool for social change. Shabana Azmi, a champion for social activism, exemplifies this spirit. The festival fosters cultural understanding and celebrates the vibrant Indian diaspora community in North America. Join NYIFF 2024 for an immersive journey into the heart of contemporary Indian cinema. Witness the power of storytelling, celebrate artistic excellence, and discover the depth and vibrancy of Indian culture. For tickets and festival information, visit https://www.nyiff.us/. Media Contact: Suman Gollamudi Executive Director Indo-American Arts Council: [email protected] #NYIFF2024 #IndianCinema #GlobalIndianCommunity #FilmFestival SOURCE Indo-American Arts Council Transit Teamsters Join New England Teamsters Pension Fund, Secure Wage Increases BOSTON, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Block by Block workers represented by Teamsters Local 25 have voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first collective bargaining agreement. The four-year agreement includes significant wage increases, a Teamsters pension, and strong workplace protections language. "Thank you to my fellow transit ambassadors for standing together in support of this historical event," said Khalilah Ali, a transit ambassador at Block by Block. "We were committed to getting a strong first contract and we greatly appreciate the hard work of Teamsters Local 25 for helping us secure the changes and improvements we wanted." The 282 Teamsters work as transit ambassadors and help hundreds of thousands of commuters and travelers navigate the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority each year. "Block by Block Teamsters make traveling on public transportation in the Greater Boston region seamless," said Tom Mari, President of Local 25 and Secretary-Treasurer of Joint Council 10. "They touch the lives of countless visitors and commuters by ensuring they get to and from their desired location safely and efficiently. We are proud to represent them and to have helped them secure their very first Teamsters contract that includes better wages and a Teamsters pension. The Joint Council 10 organizing department has been with these workers every step of the way since their first meetings riding the train with workers through this contract victory. We look forward to our continued partnership with these essential transit Teamsters." Teamsters Local 25 represents more than 12,000 members and their families in greater Boston and southern New England. For more information, visit teamsterslocal25.com. Contact: Matt McQuaid, (202) 624-6877 [email protected] SOURCE Teamsters Local 25 The mobile app, which will enhance Corporate Emergency Access System participation, is slated for release in early June. FULTON, N.Y., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Network of Emergency Resources (BNET) is proud to announce the upcoming release of the latest enhancement to its Corporate Emergency Access System (CEAS), the CEAS Mobile ID App. CEAS provides centrally issued, standardized credentials to private-sector essential workers in conjunction with sponsoring government jurisdictions. The credentials allow for easy recognition by enforcement agencies during an emergency. The CEAS Mobile ID App will allow users to securely access their credentials and display them on their smartphones. The image can be easily scanned for verification by law enforcement personnel with any smartphone camera. The CEAS Mobile ID App will allow users to securely access their credentials and display them on their smartphones. BNET President and CEO Peter Picarillo Besides providing end users with a simple way to display their credentials on their smartphone, the mobile app allows company coordinators to deliver credentials just-in-time via invitation, allowing the delivery of a credential with only a few clicks. Once the invitation is accepted, the end users can provide their headshot photo, using their smartphone camera, and certify their participation in the program via the app. "CEAS, in its most basic form, creates a centralized registry of essential workers that uses a common credential that enforcement officials can use to certify an individual as an essential worker. BNET always has its sights set on continuous improvement to CEAS, and bringing a smartphone-based, just-in-time solution to the program has been one of our top objectives," said BNET President and CEO Peter Picarillo. BNET has been partnering with cities, counties, and states and their business communities since 2003 to promote business preparedness and community resiliency. Cities partnering with BNET through the CEAS program include New York, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Baltimore, Stamford, and others. Two statewide programs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ensure private-sector businesses are ready to step up, maintain operations, speed recovery, and support their communities during a crisis. CEAS is an effective tool that partners with emergency managers, law enforcement, businesses, and communities to make them resilient to unforeseen emergencies. The Business Network of Emergency Resources (BNET) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve community resiliency through the sustainability of businesses following a disaster. To this end, BNET partners with governments, public agencies, and private-sector organizations to aid in disaster response and recovery. BNET's essential employee credentialing program helps communities and businesses overcome obstacles to recovery to ensure the continued delivery of vital goods and services to impacted communities. Local governments can receive this program at no cost. Businesses in locales where CEAS has been adopted can enroll online at ceas.com/enrollment . Peter Picarillo, president and CEO, can be reached at [email protected] or (888) 353-2638 x1002 SOURCE The Business Network of Emergency Resources (BNET) The event will provide resources to the Architecture, Engineering & Construction community, advocates and policymakers to address the issue of embodied carbon in the built environment and fight climate change. BOSTON, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) and the Boston/Northeast Hub of the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) have announced that the 2024 Northeast Embodied Carbon Summit will be held in Boston from June 20-21, 2024 and that registration is now open. The summit marks five years since the BSA held the Embodied Carbon in Buildings Conference which led to the development of the EC 101 Series and the creation of the CLF Boston / Northeast Hub. The goal of the summit is to come together to learn from each other, provide resources to the broader Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) community, and to advance the collective efforts of this group to help lower the impact of climate change. "In the past five years, great strides have been made both nationally and regionally in embodied carbon through advocacy, research, education, outreach, and implementation," said Miranda D'Oleo, Manager of Policy and Advocacy for the Boston Society for Architecture. "There have been advances on many fronts including policy, concrete, biogenic materials, adaptive re-use and an increase in case studies. We look forward to hosting the Northeast Embodied Carbon Summit to bring together our community and further drive innovation in our practices in the Northeast and beyond." The Summit will include opening remarks by Andrea Love, FAIA and past President of the BSA and keynote remarks will be made by Billie Faircloth, FAIA, former Partner and Research Director at KieranTimberlake, incoming Associate Professor at Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), Cornell Atkinson Scholar and Senior Faculty Fellow at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. Winners of the BE+/MassCEC Net Zero Challenge will also be recognized during the event's reception by Katherine Antos, Undersecretary for Decarbonization and Resilience at Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. For more information on the 2024 Northeast Embodied Carbon Summit, including pricing and a full schedule of events, or to register, please visit the BSA website here . The event also comes as the BSA and CLF released a Low-Carbon Concrete Report, which explored solutions to accelerating the specification and use of low-carbon concrete in the built environment. Experts estimate that concrete is responsible for 8% of all global carbon emissions and, according to the International Energy Agency, emissions from cement alone must fall by an average of 4% per year through 2030 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 C. Massachusetts' own goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 85% by 2050, will rely heavily on decarbonizing concrete. The co-published report concludes that the obstacles to this key climate initiative lie not in technology or engineering, but in the design and construction process. The report can be downloaded for free here . About the Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) The Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) is a non-profit membership organization focused on improving the quality of life for Boston-area residents by championing innovation in the built environment, with particular emphasis on sustainability and social equity. We achieve this by connecting our diverse and passionate network of over 4,500 architects, firms and allied members through collaborative initiatives that create solutions towards a more equitable and sustainable future. We extend and deepen these efforts philanthropically through our BSA Foundation, with donations and hands-on work in our community. The BSA is one of the oldest and largest chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). For more information about the BSA and the BSA Foundation, visit architects.org . About the Boston/Northeast Hub of the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) The Boston/Northeast Regional Hub of the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) is a volunteer-led group working to bring people together towards reducing embodied carbon emissions in our community through supporting the goals and mission of CLF at the local scale. The Hub empowers local leaders to use CLF research and resources to drive action in the communities of Boston and the Northeast region. The Hub shares knowledge and identifies actionsimmediate and long-termfor the AEC industry to address issues of embodied carbon in the built environment. SOURCE Boston Society for Architecture ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- C3 Industries ("C3" or "the Company,") a leading multi-state cannabis company dedicated to crafting premium cannabis experiences for consumers, announced its celebration of Pride Month with special offerings at High Profile cannabis dispensaries located in Michigan, Missouri, Illinois, New Jersey and Massachusetts throughout the month of June. As part of its commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community, High Profile will launch a point of-sale donation campaign for The Trevor Project a nonprofit organization founded in 1998 that focuses on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth. All donations received during the month of June will go towards providing life-saving resources, education and advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth. High Profile Cannabis Shops will also introduce the Cloud Cover rainbow-tipped pre-roll, available exclusively at High Profile locations in the Wolverine, Show-Me and Bay States as part of the campaign. Each pre-roll will feature a unique rainbow tip to symbolize unity, diversity and inclusivity within the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to the special edition pre-roll, High Profile dispensaries will showcase original art illustrations throughout its locations, capturing the spirit and vibrancy of Pride Month. "We aim to not only commemorate the achievements and struggles of the LGBTQ+ community and its deep roots with the cannabis community, but also to support organizations like The Trevor Project that are making a meaningful difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ youth," said Scott Franco, vice president of marketing for C3 Industries. "We are proud to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community not just during the month of June but all year long and look forward to our customers celebrating with us and spreading love, acceptance and equality." Customers visiting High Profile retail locations during Pride Month can also look forward to exclusive Pride-branded towels and lighters. As a special promotion, customers will have the opportunity to receive a Pride towel and a pride-branded lighter with qualifying visits. About C3 Industries C3 Industries is a multi-state, vertically integrated cannabis company headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with multiple product brands including the award-winning Cloud Cover Cannabis and Galactic Cannabis, and a retail network, High Profile Cannabis Shop. The company retails high-quality cannabis products at its High Profile locations in Michigan, Missouri, Massachusetts, Illinois and New Jersey. Additional High Profile retail locations are scheduled to open throughout 2024 in New Jersey, Illinois, Missouri and Connecticut. C3 currently operates almost 220,000 sq. ft. of total cultivation and processing facilities, with 125,000 sq. ft in Michigan, 37,000 sq. ft. in Massachusetts, 55,000 sq. ft. in Missouri. The company also has a 55,000 sq. ft. expansion nearing completion in Missouri and a 58,000 sq. ft. Connecticut facility in development. For more information, visit www.c3industries.com . Additional information about High Profile Cannabis Shop can be found by signing up for the company's newsletters at www.highprofilecannabis.com and on Instagram at @highprofileofficial. Additional information on Cloud Cover Cannabis can be found at www.cloudcovercannabis.com and @cloudcovercannabis on Instagram. Additional information on Galactic Cannabis can be found at www.galacticcannabis.com and @galactic.cannabis on Instagram. Media Contact: Ellen Mellody KCSA Strategic Communications [email protected] 570-209-2947 SOURCE C3 Industries TRACY, Calif., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In California, over 3 million households face food insecurity. In honor of June as National Dairy Month, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) has announced a partnership with Raley's Food For Families program to deliver milk and dairy foods to nourish families in need. California dairy farmer Maureen Lemos kicks off the Raley's Food For Families Do Good with Dairy campaign Throughout the month of June, California dairy families, through the CMAB, will match customer in-store and online Food For Families donations, dollar-for-dollar (up to $30,000) to provide California dairy products to feeding programs. Prompts with the "Do Good with Dairy" message will be shared through in-store signage and digital communications to alert consumers to the initiative. Part of the Real California Milk CADAIRY4GOOD program and Raley's well-known Food For Families charitable organization, the partnership is part of an ongoing commitment from both to providing resources to food banks and feeding programs to increase access to nutritious foods. California Agriculture Secretary, Karen Ross, shared: "Despite California's leading position worldwide in food production, far too many people here are food insecure, and we must change that. I applaud the efforts of the California Milk Advisory Board and Raley's to help feed hungry families." "As a California dairy farmer, it's important that all families have access to milk, one of the most nutritious foods available," said Maureen Lemos who, with her husband, dairies in the Waterford area. "This partnership not only provides valuable resources where they are needed most, it also helps to raise awareness of the importance of dairy foods for nourishing families and communities." Milk donations will be distributed to 12 Food For Family partner food banks Alameda County Community Food Bank, Central California Food Bank, Food Bank for Monterey County, Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Placer Food Bank, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County, Second Harvest of the Greater Valley, and Yolo Food Bank. "Currently, folks experiencing hunger is at an all-time high. Milk donations our community will receive thanks to the charitable efforts of Raley's and California's dairy families are truly a blessing," said Blake Young, President/CEO at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. "We are grateful for this wonderful support." With help from customers, vendors, and Raley's team members, Raley's Food For Families has provided millions of meals to local families. Raley's absorbs all administrative costs, maximizing the impact of every donation. "We are excited to partner with Real California Milk to bring dairy products to our food bank partners," Zoe Edwards, Raley's Food For Families Operations Specialist. "Year-around we accept donations to Food For Families to help alleviate hunger in our communities. Dairy is an important food group, providing nutrients and additional sources of protein to our food bank partners and their clients." The CADAIRY4GOOD platform focuses on increasing access to nourishing dairy foods for individuals and families throughout California through partnerships to pilot programs to deliver product and refrigeration resources to the state's food banks and feeding programs. California is the number one dairy state. Its 1,100 family dairy farms are focused on delivering the wholesome goodness of California milk while creating a greener, more sustainable future for dairy in the state. About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state's dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB's programs focus on increasing demand for California's sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world. Connect with the CMAB at RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. About Raley's Food For Families Raley's Food For Families is a registered 501(c)3 organization providing food to Feeding America food banks and their network of partner agencies. The year-round program serves the communities of Northern California and Western Nevada through Raley's, Bel Air Market, Nob Hill Foods and Raley's ONE Market locations. Raley's Food For Families began as a holiday food drive in 1986 and was founded by Co-Chairman and Owner Joyce Raley Teel and CEO emeritus Charles Collings. In the past 33 years, the organization has raised over $59 million and 44 million pounds of fresh wholesome food. With a long commitment to local communities, Raley's Food For Families continues to grow and thrive as an organization dedicated to health and happiness for those experiencing food insecurity. Raley's covers one hundred percent of the administrative costs for the non-profit, meaning all donations go directly to the food bank partners. SOURCE California Milk Advisory Board Clicktripz and Discover Puerto Rico announce results of first-ever AI-powered conversational media unit, CHIME Post this The proprietary technology is nicknamed CHIME, which stands for Chat to Inspire Meaningful Engagement. CHIME is an AI-powered conversational advertisement that turns travelers' questions into inspiration and ultimately travel bookings. Specifically, CHIME enables DMO brands to speak in their own voice and in real-time to their target audiences when and where they are searching for trip inspiration. "Our clients are keen to incorporate AI into their marketing strategies, realizing the power and scale it can provide," said Lindsey Patterson, SVP of Media & Publishing for R&R Partners, "but there are potential pitfalls of AI at this stage. Clicktripz has been able to develop a solution trained exclusively on client content, guaranteeing brand safety, and that's been critical for our adoption and success with the model." CHIME is unique in its ability to converse with users through display media. Only Clicktripz can offer this capability by leveraging direct integrations with Clicktripz's extensive network of travel publishers. This ensures that every interaction is not only brand-safe and engaging but also highly relevant to the user's interests and real-time search activities. As the CHIME launch partner, Discover Puerto Rico's first campaign garnered tremendous success not previously seen in traditional display media. In the first three months, the model received, responded to, and logged over 1,000 consumer queries through CHIME, providing valuable insights into what's top of mind for travelers considering Puerto Rico. Moreover, the interactive nature of the media unit generated an engagement rate of 10% and drove over 48,000 visits to www.discoverpuertorico.com in the first 12 weeks alone. Due to hyper contextual targeting in the media placements, CHIME also drove the most efficient Cost-per-acquisition of any travel endemic partner on R&R Partners media plan for the destination. "We pride ourselves on testing first-to-market advertising solutions. As an agile Destination Marketing Organization, we prioritize opportunities to elevate innovation in our marketing strategies and tactics. We are very excited about the results Clicktripz has generated with their program," said Karinna Sostre, CHDM, Web Content Manager for Discover Puerto Rico. "CHIME Reach sets a new standard for how destination marketers interact with potential visitors while they actively research their options across 100's of travel websites," Jamie Claudio, SVP of Marketing and Destination Strategy, "CHIME is an indispensable tool for any destination looking to enhance its digital strategy in an era where cookie depreciation and demand for greater personalization are rapidly shifting the marketing landscape." For more information about CHIME and how it can revolutionize your marketing efforts, visit Clicktripz's website. For media inquiries, please contact: Jamie Claudio SVP, Marketing & Destination Strategy [email protected], 631.291.0552 About Clicktripz: Clicktripz is among the world's largest travel endemic ad networks, giving travel brands exclusive access to 100 million travel shoppers per month. Our direct publisher integrations do not rely on ad exchanges, and combine destination-specific contextual targeting with large format ad units, which yield the highest engagement rates of any online media channel. All media is purchased on a CPC, guaranteeing highly qualified new travel audience traffic for DMOs. Founded in 2010, Clicktripz generated more than $1BB in sales for our travel advertisers in 2023. For more information, visit www.clicktripz.com About Discover Puerto Rico: Discover Puerto Rico is a private, not-for-profit Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) whose mission is to make Puerto Rico visible to the world as a premier travel destination. The DMO brings prosperity to the people of Puerto Rico by collaboratively promoting the Island's diversity and uniqueness for leisure and business travel, and events. It is responsible for all global marketing, sales, and promotion of the destination and works collaboratively with key local governmental and nongovernmental players throughout Puerto Rico's visitor economy and the community at large, to empower economic growth. To discover all the beauty the Island has to offer, visit DiscoverPuertoRico.com. About R&R Partners: Founded in 1975, R&R Partners is a full-service advertising agency with a long-standing tradition of producing award-winning creative solutions for some of the world's most iconic brands in the travel, tourism and hospitality, technology and innovation and purpose categories. As an independent agency, we are free to do what's necessary to help our partners achieve their goals. We don't shy away from taking on social issues and monumental tasks that transcend marketing because our people and our talents transcend what you'd find at a typical agency. Simply put, we're built to do what other agencies can't. With a footprint in major markets across North America, yet global span via our Worldwide Partners independent agency network, we never let location get in the way of producing the best work for our clients, which include the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), Brand USA, Discover Puerto Rico, Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Boeing, Allegiant Air, Las Vegas Raiders, Brand USA, CoralTree, Firestone Walker, Cox Business, Intermountain Healthcare, and many others. For more information, visit www.rrpartners.com . SOURCE Clicktripz Avion Street project will help fortify ONT's role as a global supply chain hub ONTARIO, Calif., May 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35) on Wednesday presented a $500,000 check to Ontario International Airport (ONT) for major roadway reconstruction along an industrial area south of the airfield. From left: OIAA CEO Atif Elkadi, Congresswoman Norma Torres and OIAA Board Treasurer Ron Loveridge. The improvements along a one-mile stretch of East Avion Street and East Jurupa Street will help accommodate freight access into and out of the nation's ninth largest cargo airport, while reducing congestion and vehicle emissions along adjacent corridors. Improvements will include new pavement, the addition of a lane in each direction to more safely accommodate the passing and turning of large trucks, intersection signals, striping, signage, utility infrastructure, grading and drainage. The Avion Street Realignment project was one of 15 projects submitted by Congresswoman Torres as part of her Community Project Funding request to the House Appropriations committee for Fiscal Year 2024. The project will be done in three phases. Phase 1 construction costs are estimated at $11.5 million. "Investing in Ontario International Airport supports good-paying jobs, economic growth, and an enhanced passenger experience for Inland Empire families and beyond. That's why I fought and secured an additional $500,000 of direct federal funds to help reconstruct, widen, and realign the primary access road along the airport property a must for the fastest growing airport in the nation," Rep. Torres said. "This means better vehicular flow in and around the airport for passengers and cargo and it's only the beginning of many more investments. Ontario Airport is an incredible asset for small businesses, manufacturers, and our families throughout the Inland Empire, one of the fastest growing areas in the nation, and I look forward to continuing working with airport officials and the community to expand and improve the airport for years to come." Ron Loveridge, Treasurer of Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners, described Wednesday's check presentation as a critical moment for the Avion Street project. "On behalf of OIAA and our Board of Commissioners, I would like to thank Congresswoman Torres for her support of this vital project, which will help reinforce Ontario International Airport's role as a global supply chain hub and essential economic driver for our region," said Loveridge. "Air cargo creates jobs and economic opportunity across our region and around the world. We are truly grateful for the support of Congresswoman Torres in helping advance these important roadway and infrastructure improvements that will help ensure ONT's role as an economic driver and job creator, while also improving traffic flows and reducing vehicle emissions," said Atif Elkadi, OIAA chief executive officer. FedEx Express, United Parcel Service and Amazon all have significant cargo operations at Ontario International, which in 2022 handled 5.2 billion pounds of landed-weight cargo, ranking ninth in the United States, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's most recent Air Carrier Activity Information System (ACAIS) report. Also in 2022, an economic impact study by Oxford Economics placed ONT at the center of a global network that accounts for $17.8 billion in economic output, $9.9 billion of GDP, 122,200 jobs and $2.3 billion in local, state and federal taxes. Key elements of the Avion Street project include: Reconstructing East Avion Street from South Vineyard Avenue to approximately South Hellman Avenue and widening the roadway from two to four lanes. Realigning East Avion Street as four-lane roadway from South Hellman Avenue to the Cucamonga Creek Channel. Reconstructing and widening East Jurupa Street from two lanes to four lanes from the Cucamonga Creek Channel to South Archibald Avenue. Constructing a new four-lane bridge over the Cucamonga Creek Channel. Demolishing a vacant structure to accommodate the realigned roadway. About Ontario International Airport Ontario International Airport (ONT) is California's most popular airport, according to J.D. Power's most recent North America Airport Satisfaction Study. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which offers nonstop commercial jet service to two dozen major airports in the U.S., Mexico, Central America and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA leaders include Ontario City Council Member Alan D. Wapner (President), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Treasurer) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner). OIAA Media Contact: Steve Lambert (909) 841-7527 [email protected] SOURCE Ontario International Airport DALLAS, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A-MAX Insurance proudly presented the winner of their New Car Giveaway with the keys to their brand-new Toyota Corolla. This momentous occasion was celebrated during a customer appreciation event where attendees had the chance to win other prizes every thirty minutes. The giveaway, which commenced at the start of the year, reached its peak at this heartfelt celebration. It also served as a testament to the dedication of hundreds of employees who tirelessly worked to make this campaign a reality, showcasing A-MAX's unwavering commitment to going above and beyond for their customers. The winner of A-MAX New Car Giveaway Founded in 2002 in Dallas, TX, A-MAX has been a trusted partner to over one hundred thousand customers. In addition to providing a best-in-class customer service and finding affordable insurance, A-MAX is known for its community involvement and for lifting up the neighborhoods in which they serve. They are excited to show why they're known for more than just their exceptional service; their compassion and community-building has helped define them these past two decades. "Our entire organization is extremely excited to finally give the winner their keys to their brand-new Toyota Corolla", says Regional Sales Manager Anayeli Valle. We know not everybody has access to a reliable vehicle and we know having one could dramatically affect someone's circumstances in a positive manner. That's why no matter if you were an A-MAX customer or not we wanted to give everybody in the communities we serve to have an opportunity to win this brand-new car." "When they told me I won, I was speechless," says Derrick Tinsley, the winner of the new car. "I mean, who expects to win a car, right? It's still sinking in. My dream truck that I saved up for was totaled in January, and since my wife and I don't have any family out here, it has been a difficult time. This car couldn't have come at a better time for us. It's truly a blessing. I was really in need of a reliable car. I'm beyond grateful to A-MAX. It's life-changing." About A-MAX Auto Insurance: Founded in 2002, A-MAX Auto Insurance is headquartered in Dallas with offices throughout Texas, and California. A-MAX, with its more than 200 offices, operates as an independent insurance agency under various brand names, including ALPA Auto Insurance and Preferred Coverage Insurance Agency. A-MAX offers its customers the ability to shop for the best prices and coverage options from various insurance companies, including auto, renters, homeowners, and more. For more information or to find an A-MAX office near you, visit www.amaxinsurance.com. Tasha Willingham A-MAX Auto Insurance [email protected] 972-884-4132 SOURCE A-MAX Insurance Nicholson brings to DECKED more than 30 years of experience in the automotive industry supply chain. KETCHUM, Idaho, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Truck organization leader DECKED hires Jeff Nicholson as Vice President of Operations. Nicholson will oversee plant operations, purchasing and supply chain quality, as DECKED continues its aggressive product expansion and growth of 100% American-made products. Nicholson, a 30-year veteran of the automotive industry, brings to DECKED unparalleled operations expertise. Nicholson retired from Ford Motor Company in 2022 as the Global Director, Electrical and Digital Technology Purchasing. His previous positions at Ford included Supplier Quality Director Global Powertrain, Plant Launch Recovery F150 Frame, and Assembly Team Manager Cleveland Engine Plant 1 to name a few. "My career working for centuries-old companies, like Alcoa and Ford Motor Company, has been about industrializing products and bringing them into fruition through mass-production manufacturing. It's exciting to bring my expertise to a growing brand like DECKED and help it accelerate its tremendous momentum," said Jeff Nicholson. "As Vice President of Operations, my aspiration is to help DECKED achieve its growth plans. I hope to help evolve the organization to enable this growth through my experiences in supply chain, manufacturing, and product launch." Nicholson's hiring comes in the midst of DECKED's major product and production expansion. In June 2022, DECKED announced a $22-million expansion of its Defiance, Ohio manufacturing facility, with a state-of-the-art 70,000-square-foot expansion, bringing its total footprint to 170,000 square feet. It followed that up with the all-new second-generation of its flagship product, the Drawer System. "We couldn't be more excited to bring Jeff on board and will benefit from his incredible expertise and experience," said DECKED CEO, Bill Banta. "Jeff is a ringer, having managed so many complex areas of the supply chain at one of the most important automotive brands in the world. We are lucky to have him join our team." Nicholson holds a BS in Engineering from University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana and an MBA from Michigan State University. A native of Chicago, Nicholson now resides in Brighton, Michigan with his wife of 20 years, Karen, and two children, Natalie and Matthew. About DECKED Based in Ketchum, Idaho, with manufacturing facilities in Defiance, Ohio, and St. George, Utah, DECKED designs, engineers, and manufactures storage and organization products for tradespeople, outdoor enthusiasts, and the gamut of folks looking to make their lives more organized and efficient. Since 2014, DECKED has been passionately dedicated to making working and recreating out of trucks and vans more efficient, safe, and convenient. To learn more visit https://decked.com/. CONTACT: Nick Jaynes Differential Communications 503-805-8790 [email protected] SOURCE DECKED JACKSON, Miss., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EastGroup Properties, Inc. (NYSE: EGP) (the "Company", "we", "us" or "EastGroup") announced today its recent business activity. Commenting on the Company's activity, Marshall Loeb, CEO, stated, "We continue to be pleased by the resiliency of the Sunbelt, shallow bay industrial market. The trends we saw during the first quarter are carrying over to date. Meanwhile, given the volatility and uncertainty in the capital markets, we continue to opportunistically improve the strength and flexibility of our balance sheet, which allows us to take advantage of any market opportunities that arise." In May, EastGroup acquired a 275,000 square foot newly constructed industrial property in Raleigh for approximately $54,000,000. This property, which is 100% leased to three tenants, represents the Company's entry into the Raleigh-Durham market, which has been a target market for EastGroup for several years due to its population growth, diversified economic base, and prominent universities. As of May 30, 2024, EastGroup's portfolio was 97.7% leased and 97.0% occupied. During the second quarter of 2024 to date, 1,232,000 square feet of new and renewal leases were signed with rental rate increases averaging 69.6% on a straight-line basis and 49.0% on a cash basis. During the second quarter of 2024 to date, the Company settled outstanding forward equity sale agreements that were previously entered into under its continuous common equity offering program by issuing 420,370 shares of common stock in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $76,000,000. In addition, during the second quarter of 2024 to date, EastGroup entered into forward equity sale agreements with respect to 135,662 shares of common stock with an approximate gross total of $23,000,000. These shares of common stock are available for settlement until May 2025. Management is scheduled to present at Nareit's REITweek: 2024 Investor Conference on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The presentation will be broadcast live and is accessible through the registration link on the Company's website at www.eastgroup.net. An online replay of the webcast will be available at the same location. During the conference, EastGroup executives may discuss the Company's transaction activity, leasing environment, market trends and conditions, financial matters and other business that may be affecting the Company. Presentation materials that may be referenced during the EastGroup presentation are available on the "Investor Relations" page of the Company's website. About EastGroup Properties, Inc. EastGroup, a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. The Company's goal is to maximize shareholder value by being a leading provider in its markets of functional, flexible and quality business distribution space for location sensitive customers (primarily in the 20,000 to 100,000 square foot range). The Company's strategy for growth is based on ownership of premier distribution facilities generally clustered near major transportation features in supply-constrained submarkets. EastGroup's portfolio, including development projects and value-add acquisitions in lease-up and under construction, currently includes approximately 60 million square feet. EastGroup Properties, Inc. press releases are available at www.eastgroup.net. Forward-Looking Information The statements and certain other information contained herein, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "seek," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "targets," "intends," "should," "estimates," "could," "continue," "assume," "projects," "goals," "plans" and variations of such words and similar expressions or the negative of such words, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views about its plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to the Company and on assumptions it has made. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects as reflected in or suggested by those forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that such plans, intentions, expectations, strategies or prospects will be attained or achieved. Furthermore, these forward-looking statements should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company's operations and business environment. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These uncertainties include, but are not limited to: international, national, regional and local economic conditions; disruption in supply and delivery chains; construction costs could increase as a result of inflation impacting the costs to develop properties; the competitive environment in which the Company operates; fluctuations of occupancy or rental rates; potential defaults (including bankruptcies or insolvency) on or non-renewal of leases by tenants, or our ability to lease space at current or anticipated rents, particularly in light of the impacts of inflation; potential changes in the law or governmental regulations and interpretations of those laws and regulations, including changes in real estate laws or real estate investment trust ("REIT") or corporate income tax laws, potential changes in zoning laws, or increases in real property tax rates, and any related increased cost of compliance; our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT; acquisition and development risks, including failure of such acquisitions and development projects to perform in accordance with projections; natural disasters such as fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes; pandemics, epidemics or other public health emergencies, such as the coronavirus pandemic; availability of financing and capital, increase in interest rates, and ability to raise equity capital on attractive terms; financing risks, including the risks that our cash flows from operations may be insufficient to meet required payments of principal and interest, and we may be unable to refinance our existing debt upon maturity or obtain new financing on attractive terms or at all; our ability to retain our credit agency ratings; our ability to comply with applicable financial covenants; credit risk in the event of non-performance by the counterparties to our interest rate swaps; how and when pending forward equity sales may settle; lack of or insufficient amounts of insurance; litigation, including costs associated with prosecuting or defending claims and any adverse outcomes; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks related to the failure, inadequacy or interruption of our data security systems and processes; potentially catastrophic events such as acts of war, civil unrest and terrorism; and environmental liabilities, including costs, fines or penalties that may be incurred due to necessary remediation of contamination of properties presently owned or previously owned by us. All forward-looking statements should be read in light of the risks identified in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors within the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company's periodic filings and current reports filed with the SEC. The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE EastGroup Properties Kevin Wallace, seasoned EGLO lighting expert, returns to set up the organization for growth ATLANTA and MONTREAL, May 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kevin Wallace (Wallace) has returned to EGLO North America (EGLO NA) as Executive Vice President (EVP), Chief Sales Officer (CSO). Kevin has 32 years of experience in the lighting industry, previously spending ten of those years with EGLO Canada. Since the recent merger of United States and Canada, as EGLO NA, the team has been focusing on alignment of sales channels and product development. Wallace will be leading an alignment across these focuses for EGLO NA. "I am excited to be back home. I previously had great success with EGLO, and I believe we are set up for more opportunities than ever before. My time away from EGLO only gave me perspective on how we can focus on our customers for partnerships and shared progress in the market." said Wallace, EVP, CSO. EGLO has been actively building the North American market since inception in 2006. Their progressive approach to product development and distribution meets and exceeds customer expectations. Departmental teams have aligned forces to create a synergistic and cohesive approach to build a mutually beneficial brand strategy. Updates to the brand strategy along with a preview of Stars of Light, an exciting new category, will be unveiled and launched at Lightovation on June 17th in Dallas at their showroom in Trade Mart 4916. "In my time at EGLO we have been working on an assortment with trends top of mind. Now we are evolving and offering various customer channels with exclusivity and equally accessibility to more EGLO by combining the right product mix from both the previous US and Canada assortments. Introducing Stars of Light will expand our showroom focus with leading exclusive trends in the market," said Leisa Lawton, VP of Product Management. Headquartered in Tyrol, Austria, EGLO has partners in 120 countries on 6 continents, 94 sales divisions with more than 5,500 employees, three factories producing 80,000 products per day, and more than 2.5 million square feet across 18 storage facilities worldwide. Company Profile Media Contact: Jessica Swiger [email protected] Cell 540-931-3091 EGLO Leuchten GmbH | Heiligkreuz 22 | 6136 Pill | Austria | Landesgericht Innsbruck, FN 42973x Tel +43 (0)5242 6996-0 | Fax +43 (0)5242 6996-938 [email protected] | www.eglo.com SOURCE EGLO PORTLAND, Ore., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Facteus, the leading provider of alternative data and insights in the consumer transaction industry, today announced a groundbreaking partnership with District Taco, a rapidly growing fast-casual Yucatan style Mexican restaurant chain. This collaboration aims to leverage Facteus' innovative data solutions to drive District Taco's strategic expansion and enhance customer understanding. Through this partnership, District Taco will gain access to Facteus' comprehensive consumer spending data, enabling them to make data-driven decisions and stay ahead in the competitive restaurant landscape. By harnessing the power of Facteus' cutting-edge analytics and insights, District Taco will be able to identify key market trends, understand customer purchasing habits, and pinpoint high-potential locations for future growth. As we look for new ways to leverage data, we are excited to be among the first restaurant brands to partner with Facteus Post this "We are thrilled to partner with District Tacos and support their data-driven approach to business growth," said Jonathan Chin, Co-founder of Facteus. "Our consumer insights solutions will provide District Taco with unparalleled insights into consumer behavior, empowering them to make informed strategic decisions and enhance their customer experience." District Taco, known for its commitment to innovation and technology, sees this partnership as a significant step forward in its data-driven journey. "We have always been a tech-forward business. As we look for new ways to leverage data, we are excited to be among the first restaurant brands to partner with Facteus," said Chris Medhurst, President and COO of District Taco. "Their insights will give us a strategic advantage by helping us understand our customers' purchasing habits and identify markets for future expansion." By combining District Taco's industry expertise with Facteus' advanced data capabilities, this partnership is set to redefine how restaurants approach growth strategies and customer engagement. The insights derived from Facteus' alternative data will enable District Taco to optimize menu offerings, tailor marketing campaigns, and deliver personalized experiences to their loyal customer base. About Facteus Facteus, a leading technology and data company, is the largest provider of consumer transaction data in the Alternative Data industry. Facteus specializes in delivering comprehensive consumer spending insights to businesses across various sectors, including retail, finance, and hospitality. Through its innovative, AI-driven platform, Facteus empowers clients to make data-driven decisions and stay ahead in their respective markets. For more information, visit www.facteus.com. About District Taco In 2009, two neighbors got together over some homemade chips, salsa and guacamole and decided to launch District Taco as a food cart. Since then, District Taco has opened multiple locations in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. Their mission is to serve quality Yucatan style Mexican food that is fresh, simple, and healthful, with a fully customizable menu that includes vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. At District Taco, food is made fresh daily from the highest quality ingredients. They strive to limit their impact on the environment by serving in environmentally friendly packaging where possible. For more information about District Taco or their menu, and to download the app, visit www.districttaco.com or follow @districttaco across socials. SOURCE Facteus SILVER SPRING, Md., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today the signing of a formal agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to renew their Federal Interagency Collaboration to Reduce Food Loss and Waste (FIFLAW). Additionally, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) joined the collaboration as an important federal partner that has an international reach in reducing food loss and waste, marking a significant expansion of the federal collaboration. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D., and USAID Administrator Samantha Power signed a formal agreement renewing and enhancing the collaborative effort. "The FDA is committed to achieving the goal of a 50% reduction of food loss and waste by 2030 through a whole-of-government approach in collaboration with the USDA, EPA and USAID," said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. "We also recognize the role that empowered U.S. consumers can play in helping to reach the national food waste reduction goal. We encourage consumers and retailers to use the FDA's food loss and waste reduction resources including the 2022 Food Code , Tips to Reduce Food Waste and the Food Loss and Waste Social Media Toolkit to bolster their efforts." The collaboration's activities will continue to produce educational and guidance materials (e.g., tool development), conduct outreach (e.g., federal panels at events), research, community investments, voluntary programs, technical assistance, policy discussion and public-private partnerships. With the addition of USAID, the U.S. government can expand its efforts and reach to a wider range of international stakeholders while better leveraging government resources. The agencies will work together with external partners to leverage the private and the non-governmental sectors to drive national and global change to reduce food loss and waste. One example of a public-private partnership is that USDA and EPA expanded membership of the U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions from 30 Champions in March 2020 to 50 currently. The 2030 Champions are businesses and organizations that have made a public commitment to reduce FLW in their own U.S. operations by 50 percent by 2030. The 2030 Champions include several industry giants across the food supply chain, such as Danone North America, Smithfield Foods, Inc., Starbucks, Sysco and Tyson Foods. Globally, 30-40% of food produced is either lost or wasted throughout the farm-to-consumer supply chain, such as in fields due to spoilage and pest damage, while being stored, in transit and when it goes unused by consumers. The U.S. sends nearly 80 billion pounds of food to municipal solid waste landfills annually, and when food is tossed aside, so are opportunities for improved food security, economic growth and environmental prosperity. The Federal Interagency Collaboration to Reduce Food Loss and Waste was first formed in October 2018 and was renewed in December 2020. Since its creation, the Federal Interagency Collaboration has published the draft National Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and Recycle Organics and are working together to produce a final Strategy. This draft National Strategy is a step toward meeting our national goal of reducing food loss and waste by 50% by 2030. The actions outlined by the USDA, EPA and FDA in this strategy will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (including methane), save households and businesses money and build cleaner communities by reducing food loss and waste. The Collaboration has also developed and signed a collaborative formal agreement with the national non-profit, ReFED, to leverage resources to evaluate what is and is not working with respect to the technical implementation of strategies aimed at reducing food waste in the U.S. The Federal Interagency Collaboration builds on its current work to reduce food loss and waste with a look toward the future, such as with the plans for the National Strategy. # # # Media Contact: Enrico Dinges , 240-620-9293 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA 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 Frontera Achieved 108% of its 2023 Sustainability Goals and Offset 50% of Emissions through Carbon Credits Frontera Handed Over 1,000 Hectares To The National Park Association For The Establishment Of The Serrania Of Manacacias National Park In Meta, Colombia The Company Is Committed To Continue Being An Integrity Influencer BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE CALGARY, AB, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Frontera Energy Corporation (TSX: FEC) ("Frontera" or the "Company") today released its 2023 Sustainability Report (the "Sustainability Report"), announced its 2022 environmental, social and governance ("ESG") targets and its mid-term sustainability strategy. Orlando Cabrales, Chief Executive Officer, Frontera commented: "I am pleased to report that Frontera achieved 108% of its 2023 Sustainability goals, we offset 50% of our scope 1 emissions through carbon credits, handed over 1,000 hectares for the establishment of the Serrania of Manacacias National Park and, at the beginning of the year, were recognized for the fourth consecutive year as one of the most ethical companies in the world by the Ethisphere Institute. Frontera's 2023 Sustainability Report highlights the progress the Company made over the last year, as we strive to leave a positive footprint and fulfill our commitment to contribute to the sustainable development of the regions where we operate, while increasing competitiveness, encouraging innovation and promoting economic growth, so that our presence means well-being for the field's nearby population." Frontera's Sustainability Report presents the Company's Sustainability performance in 2023. The document covers the period from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. It has been prepared in accordance with the standards issued by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) for the Oil and Gas Sector, and following the recommendations stated in the IFRS. The Global Reporting Initiative standard (2021 GRI) for the Oil and Gas Sector. Where necessary, reference has also been made to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), S&P Global's Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, the UN Global Compact's Ten Universal Principles, the World Economic Forum's recommendations, IPIECA and the UN Guiding and Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. Frontera has voluntarily published annual Sustainability Reports since 2016 as part of its continuous and transparent disclosure efforts to highlight its ESG achievements and challenges. Frontera's 2023 Sustainability Report can be accessed on the Company's website at: https://www.fronteraenergy.ca/sustainability-reports/ In accordance with the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act ("Bill S-211"), Frontera has issued a report presenting the framework of guidelines and policies implemented within the Company, along with its responsible business conduct procedures and the activities carried out as part of its human rights' due diligence process for the prevention and establishment of guarantees on zero tolerance regarding forced labour and child labour as forms of modern slavery. Highlights of Frontera's 2023 ESG performance Frontera achieved 108% of its 2023 Sustainability Goals and offset 50% of its scope 1 emissions. Completed 5,737 cumulative hectares preserved and restored in key connectivity corridors in Casanare and Meta (Colombia) and recycled 45,2% of its operating water and 12% of its solid waste. Frontera handed over 1,000 hectares to the National Parks Association in Colombia, which contributed to the declaration of the Serrania de Manacacias as a National Park in Meta, a major environmental milestone for the country. The Company invested approximately $5.5 million in education, inclusive economic development, and quality of life initiatives, benefiting 94,875 people through 256 social projects in Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana. Purchased US$73.3 million worth of goods and services from local suppliers in nearby operation areas. In 2023, Frontera was included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index ("GEI") and was honored for the third time as one the most ethical companies in the world by the Ethisphere Institute. This recognition has been reaffirmed for the fourth consecutive year in 2024. The Company established its Sustainability Strategy 2024 - 2028 Sustainability, as one of Frontera's strategic pillars, enables the company to provide ongoing value to its stakeholders, including investors. Based on the Materiality Analysis carried out in the 1st quarter of 2023, the Company built a mid-term 5-year strategy. It focuses on the comprehensive management of risks and impacts, for the different sustainability matters, by applying a due diligence approach in human rights, recruitment, care of life, respect for diversity, environmental protection, preservation of resources, empathic and trust based relationships, ethical behavior and corporate compliance, all of which are supported within its political framework, considering its territorial, sectorial context and the relationships that derive from it, based on how each member of Frontera's team interact under the values of integrity and transparency. Said strategy follows three key general goals: To be an environmentally friendly and energy efficient company, maximizing the use of resources and waste in our activity. To respect human rights and improve the economic and social well-being of our stakeholders. To promote Company growth and competitiveness by managing strategic risk with sustainability and responsible business criteria. Frontera's 2024 Environmental, Social, and Governance Goals As part of its 2023 Sustainability Report, Frontera published its sustainability goals for 2024. Frontera will report on its progress towards achieving its 2024 goals in its yearly Sustainability Report. A list of the Company's 2024 ESG goals is shown below. Environmental Social Governance Climate Action Neutralize 50% of the 1 and 2 scope emissions through carbon credits from both regulated and voluntary markets Work, Health, and Safety Maintain or improve health and safety indicators (TRIR) for employees and contractors in Colombia and Ecuador operations, according to the IOGP Cybersecurity Maintaining a rate of 0 material incidents in cybersecurity. Clean Water and Sanitation 45% of water recirculation required for operating activities Diversity, equity, inclusion and human talent management Asses the occupational segregation index with a pilot group of our suppliers Compliance, ethics and transparency Strive to be a role model for ethical behavior and compliance throughout the value chain and the market. Life & Ecosystems 6,554 Cumulative number of preserved hectares Community engagement Maintain social incidents attributable to Frontera, which directly impact production, below 16% Comprehensive risk management Ensure that all requests, complaints, and claims related to human rights are promptly addressed and resolved, achieving a 100% management rate Responsible consumption and production 15% waste recovery Responsible management of the supply chain Improve or maintain local goods and services purchases by 10%, including indirect purchases through key contractors Through these goals, performance progress and actions and as reflected in the 2023 Sustainability Report, Frontera Energy ratifies its commitment to develop its business in a responsible manner aiming to build a sustainable future. Frontera's Sustainability Report can be accessed on the Company's website at: https://www.fronteraenergy.ca/sustainability-reports/. About Frontera Frontera Energy Corporation is a Canadian public company involved in the exploration, development, production, transportation, storage and sale of oil and natural gas in South America, including related investments in both upstream and midstream facilities. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets with interests in 24 exploration and production blocks in Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana, and pipeline and port facilities in Colombia. Frontera is committed to conducting business safely and in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner. If you would like to receive News Releases via e-mail as soon as they are published, please subscribe here: http://fronteraenergy.mediaroom.com/subscribe. Social Media Follow Frontera Energy social media channels at the following links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/fronteraenergy?lang=en Facebook: https://es-la.facebook.com/FronteraEnergy/ LinkedIn: https://co.linkedin.com/company/frontera-energy-corp . Advisories Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information relates to activities, events, or developments that Frontera believes, expects, or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking information in this presentation includes, without limitation, Frontera's 2024 ESG goals, the Company's expectations regarding its 2024 Sustainability Report and the Company's dedication to harmonizing its business objectives with its ESG goals. All information other than historical fact is forward-looking information. Forward-looking information reflects the current expectations, assumptions, and beliefs of Frontera based on information currently available to it and considers the experience of Frontera and its perception of historical trends. Although Frontera believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such information. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some that are similar to other oil and gas companies and some that are unique to Frontera. The actual results of Frontera may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, 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, Frontera. The annual information form of Frontera for the year ended December 31, 2023, and Frontera's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023, and quarter ended March 31, 2024, and other documents Frontera files from time to time with securities regulatory authorities describe the risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results and such factors are incorporated herein by reference. Copies of these documents are available without charge by referring to Frontera's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. All forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Frontera disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise. SOURCE Frontera Energy Corporation Nationwide Zora Living Expansion Plans on the Horizon PHOENIX and CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Suncrest, a leading residential master-developer, is making waves in Charlotte and Phoenix with recent grand openings of two exceptional, luxury rental home communities the first in their planned national portfolio of Zora Living communities. Elevated Living at Zora University in Charlotte Zora Encanto in Phoenix, Arizona. Zora University celebrated their Grand Opening this past Saturday, May 25, and offers a selection of 108 one- and two-bedroom, craftsman-style homes, each featuring smart home technology, private entrance, and individually fenced and landscaped backyards. The community, conveniently located near major employment hubs, includes an array of amenities, including a sparkling resort-inspired pool, outdoor grilling stations, fitness facility, yoga lawn, and open-air courtyards. Sean Cooney, Suncrest Managing Partner, expressed his excitement: "Zora University redefines modern living, offering a unique blend of privacy through our single-family homes and convenience through exceptional management services. We are thrilled to bring this highly anticipated rental opportunity to residents in the Charlotte metro area." Sustainable Luxury Phoenix's Zora Encanto Zora Encanto celebrated their Grand Opening on April 13, and sets a new standard for sustainability and superior living. Located near major employment hubs, the 109 luxury, ranch-style, rental homes offer an impressive list of features including private entrances, private turf backyards, smart home technology, doggy doors, and more. Beyond these amenities, Zora Encanto showcases its commitment to sustainability, utilizing HercuWall technology, an innovative, panelized exterior and demising wall system offering superior strength, insulation, and efficiency compared to traditional construction methods. Jason Rhees, HercuTech CEO, emphasized the benefits: "The HercuWall system absolutely differentiates Zora Encanto from competing products and highlights Suncrest's commitment to building better and focusing on residents' experience and well-being." Employing HercuWall will save over 35,000 kilograms of carbon emissions annually, reduce residents' energy bills by over $15,000 annually, and save 600+ trees in the community construction. Mike Koch, Suncrest Managing Partner, expressed excitement about the HercuTech partnership: "We are extremely proud to offer our residents a higher level of privacy, soundproofing, significant energy bill savings, and other benefits that HercuWall offers." About Suncrest Suncrest, a geographically diverse master developer, creates sustainable mixed-use and residential communities reflecting local character and values. Handling everything from acquisition to operation, Suncrest transforms real estate into social, environmental, and economic harmony. SOURCE Suncrest Real Estate & Land KAWANISHI-CITY, Japan, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Environmental problems such as climate change, global warming, deforestation, extinction of species, water shortage etc due to explosion of human population are becoming increasingly severe worldwide. Plastic pollution is also a severe environmental problem which cause adverse effects, especially nanoplastics which are already present in the human body as a result of plastic polluted breathing air and though our meal. For example, we are ingesting nanoplastics through drinking water with PET bottle. Recently, there are some medical studies reporting the enhanced risk of heart attack, stroke caused by nanoplastics in blood vessels. In addition, they may also possess ill effect for the immune system as well as cause inflammation reaction in digestive system. Plant based Biodegradable Filament for 3D Printer composed of PLA (Polylactic Acid) and Cellulose Fiber Composite PLA (Polylactic Acid) and Cellulose Fiber Composite Resin Pellets for Plant based Biodegradable Filament for 3D Printer The production and usage of biodegradable plastic is slowly increasing, although greater than 90 % of plastics worldwide are still petroleum-based non-biodegradable plastics. In addition, the production of this petroleum-based non-biodegradable plastics are still increasing regardless of these plastic pollution problems. Therefore, plastic pollution is worsening each year. On the other hand, biodegradable plastics can biodegrade and return back to nature and do not become plastic pollution although biodegradability needs to be carefully examined in various types of conditions including compost condition, soil, water, sea water etc. However, biodegradable plastics including PLA (polylactic acid), lactone based materials are already applied for medical usage in human body. Under this circumstances, Mr. Daiki Tanaka and Mr. Hirohisa Iwabayashi as Ph.D candidate at Green Science Alliance have developed biodegradable resin filament for 3D printer with PLA and cellulose nanofiber composite. The company is selling these products also on online shop (https://en.nano-sakura-shop.com/). They also confirmed that biodegradability and mechanical strength have been strengthened when cellulose nanofiber concentration is high enough in base PLA resin. They also developed plant derived cellulose based biodegradable resin filament for 3D printer although this still has problems regarding printability and adhesion. Therefore, they began selling PLA + nanocellulose composite biodegradable filament first. The company will keep working for improving various types of biodegradable resin filament and colored filament too, for 3D printer market demands. Green Science Alliance technologies are registered by the United Nation Organization (UNIDO's platform "STePP", WIPO GREEN) and they were also selected as one of the startup company supported by incubation program of United Nation (UNOPS GIC Japan) in 2020. Contact: RYOHEI MORI [email protected] +819085282305 SOURCE Green Science Alliance Co., Ltd. Give Dad the gift of personalization and premium suiting MIAMI, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hive & Colony, a bespoke menswear brand known for its craftsmanship and personalized services, is marking Father's Day with a special opportunity. For a limited period, customers who purchase Hive & Colony gift cards will receive an additional dollar amount, offering extra value for those considering a customized gift. From June 2 through 16, customers will receive an added dollar amount on the purchase of any gift card of the below values: Hive & Colony's commitment to quality and personalization is evident in every garment they produce. Post this The brands bespoke process includes a comprehensive consultation, detailed measurements, and a choice of the finest fabrics, all tailored to create a distinctive and elegant look. Photo courtesy of Hive & Colony. With the purchase of a $300 gift card, receive an additional $50 with promo code FD50 . gift card, receive an additional with promo code . With the purchase of a $500 gift card, receive an additional $100 with promo code FD100 . gift card, receive an additional with promo code . With the purchase of a $1000 gift card, receive an additional $250 with promo code FD250. This exclusive offering allows customers to present loved ones with a premium shopping experience, where they can explore Hive & Colony's exquisite range of bespoke garments and accessories. Hive & Colony's commitment to quality and personalization is evident in every garment they produce. Each piece is meticulously crafted to fit the unique measurements and style preferences of the individual, ensuring unparalleled comfort and sophistication. The brand's bespoke process includes a comprehensive consultation, detailed measurements, and a choice of the finest fabrics, all tailored to create a distinctive and elegant look. "We are thrilled to offer this special promotion as a way to celebrate Father's Day and show our appreciation for our valued customers," said Kevin Scott, COO of Hive & Colony. "A gift card is the perfect way to introduce someone to the bespoke experience, especially the special father figure in your life who deserves to enhance his style and delight in the personalized shopping experience we offer." To take advantage of this limited-time offer, customers can purchase gift cards online at Hive & Colony's website or visit any of the brand's 11 retail locations across the country. With the choice of a physical gift card in sleek, signature packaging or an easily accessible e-gift card, creating a custom Hive & Colony look becomes even more seamless for the father figure who appreciates a no-fuss shopping experience. About Hive & Colony From the streets of Manhattan to its first showroom in Boston, Hive & Colony has pollinated its vision of redefined menswear from coast to coast. Through the utilization of 1,000+ rich materials and 3D measurement technology, Hive & Colony has tailored a custom shopping experience as unique as it is luxurious. Sophistication is never sacrificed through Hive & Colony's array of hand-crafted Italian accessories or custom suits and tuxedos. To book an individualized experience at a showroom visit hiveandcolony.com or follow on Instagram at @hiveandcolony and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hiveandcolony/. SOURCE H&C Retail Management LLC New functionality in IFS Cloud 24R1 enables companies to superpower how they leverage assets and improve service, drive profitability, and use sustainability as a competitive advantage LONDON, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IFS, the leading technology provider of enterprise cloud and industrial AI software, today announced the general availability of its latest IFS Cloud release. As the only vendor focused on helping asset and service-focused companies leverage the power of Industrial AI, IFS is releasing new AI-powered functionality that enables customers to improve operational effectiveness and profitability. This May release focuses on three strategic themes, which are supported by a powerful IFS.ai Copilot that helps users better understand and use data from across a company's supply chain and operations. Powering Potential: Humans and Technology in Harmony The power of IFS Cloud extends beyond human potential to asset potential; assets operate optimally, minimizing downtime and extending lifespans, resource utilization is optimized, and operations streamlined. Key features and capabilities include: IFS.ai Copilot: improve decision-making and enhance user experience and engagement through our AI-powered assistant. The first data source target for this release is IFS Cloud help and support information. Boost productivity through timely knowledge and guidance. improve decision-making and enhance user experience and engagement through our AI-powered assistant. The first data source target for this release is IFS Cloud help and support information. Boost productivity through timely knowledge and guidance. Analytics as a Service: gain accelerated time to value and valuable insights while reducing capital expenditure and operating costs. gain accelerated time to value and valuable insights while reducing capital expenditure and operating costs. Transport Loading: improve the shipment process, supporting greater capacity utilization, and faster goods loading. improve the shipment process, supporting greater capacity utilization, and faster goods loading. Task Bundling for Service : increase technician utilization and efficiency and reduce travel costs and emissions while improving service margins. : increase technician utilization and efficiency and reduce travel costs and emissions while improving service margins. Maintenance Planning and Scheduling new Lobbies: improve visibility, drive efficient asset maintenance operations, and drive asset compliance. Driving Profitability: Winning in a Volatile Landscape Business success hinges not just on potential, but on measurable profitability. This release equips customers to fine-tune global operations, lower costs, reduce waste, and empower the organization to consider new business models. Key features and capabilities include: Supply Chain Customer Scheduling: handle multiple open schedules from the same plant simultaneously, increasing productivity and time savings. handle multiple open schedules from the same plant simultaneously, increasing productivity and time savings. Advanced SLA Management: increase margins, SLA adherence, and compliance. increase margins, SLA adherence, and compliance. Incomplete & Follow-on Process: service management is enhanced with an intuitive guided technician process for reporting to achieve SLA compliance, avoid penalties, and improve customer satisfaction. service management is enhanced with an intuitive guided technician process for reporting to achieve SLA compliance, avoid penalties, and improve customer satisfaction. Business to Business Portal: let contractors record multi-site work, for greater control and visibility while streamlining the communication process between contract and asset owners. Sustainability as a Competitive Edge IFS Cloud empowers businesses to not only achieve sustainability goals but also emerge as champions of environmental stewardship, which will resonate with stakeholders from consumers to investors. Optimizing resource utilization, minimizing waste, and tracking environmental impact lets customers reduce their carbon footprint. Key features and capabilities include: Emissions Tracker: enhancements to accurately track progress against sustainability through easy emissions data collection. Gain a more complete view with the addition of select Scope 3 emissions categories. Also, input kilowatt consumption data from utility supplier invoices. enhancements to accurately track progress against sustainability through easy emissions data collection. Gain a more complete view with the addition of select Scope 3 emissions categories. Also, input kilowatt consumption data from utility supplier invoices. ESG Lobbies: now underpinned by Power BI for easier real-time access to focused insights. now underpinned by Power BI for easier real-time access to focused insights. Support for Circular Manufacturing: enhancements cut production costs by supporting the planning of the remanufacturing process. This enables the introduction of new revenue streams and lower carbon footprint. enhancements cut production costs by supporting the planning of the remanufacturing process. This enables the introduction of new revenue streams and lower carbon footprint. Packing Material Management: enable more sustainable operations by handling unit accessories as inventory increasing the use of reusable packaging. Christian Pedersen, Chief Product Officer, at IFS commented: "With this latest release of IFS Cloud, customers will benefit from a new level of meaningful AI capabilities and innovation that is truly relevant to their industry and impactful to their business. The IFS.ai Copilot is the natural next step for IFS Cloud users to engage with and benefit from the AI capabilities we have embedded into IFS Cloud. We're offering so much more than generic AI - our industrial AI approach means customer can effectively manage supply chains and improve their operations. We're creating an environment where technology and human ingenuity come together." Pedersen added: "At a time where regulation in Europe and the US is making companies take action in how they set and manage their Sustainability commitments, we are offering new AI powered capabilities that both help companies improve their operations and report progress. As we look ahead, it's clear that IFS.ai will continue to be a catalyst for change, driving businesses forward with purpose and passion within the industrial setting. The future is not just bright; it's AI powered, composable, and cloud-enabled, and it's here now." IFS.ai applied The new capabilities in 24R1 provide powerful industrial AI functionality, but also packed into the release is new industry-specific tooling. Take for example Aerospace and Defense. New Aircraft Release to Service functionality automatically detects and flags missing mandatory components and overdue maintenance tasks for compliance and risk reduction, and Aircraft Airworthiness Status Insights provides visibility and control of fleet status and aircraft in maintenance to enable aviation operators with additional efficiency and productivity gains. The new release offers similar benefits to customers in other asset and service focused industries. To find out more about the latest release of IFS Cloud including industry-specific capabilities and enhancements, watch our 24R1 Release Showcase. CONTACT: EUROPE / MEA / APJ: Adam Gillbe IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive Communications Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 7775 114 856 NORTH AMERICA / LATAM: Mairi Morgan IFS, Director of Corporate & Executive Communications Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 7918 607 299 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Public/855/3992056/ac043a0545ed340f_org.png Image for IFS Cloud 24R1 release 930x423px 1 SOURCE IFS TSXV: ITR; NYSE American: ITRG www.integraresources.com VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Integra Resources Corp. ("Integra" or the "Company") (TSXV: ITR) (NYSE American: ITRG) is pleased to provide an overview of the upcoming exploration drill campaign at the Wildcat Deposit ("Wildcat"), which combined with the Mountain View Deposit form the Nevada North Project (the "Project"). Wildcat is located within the Farrell mining district in northwest Nevada, 56 kilometers ("km") (~35 miles) north of the town of Lovelock, in Pershing County. The 17,612-acre land package consists of 916 unpatented claims and 4 patented claims. Mineralization at Wildcat consists of a gold-dominated, low sulphidation, epithermal vein system with disseminated oxide, transition, and non-oxide mineralization hosted in permeable volcanic and intrusive rocks. The Company intends to complete a ~2,000 meter ("m") Phase 1 exploration drill program at Wildcat, commencing in June 2024. The drill program is designed to test the oxide mineralization adjacent to the existing mineral resource at Wildcat, while also testing the high-grade breccia target which is believed to be the feeder source of gold mineralization at Wildcat. The planned drill program is the first time Integra's team will complete a significant follow up exploration program since the Company acquired the Project as part of the merger with Millennial Precious Metals Corp. ("Millennial") in 2023. The Company believes that Phase 1 drilling has the potential to significantly increase the existing mineral resource at Wildcat by testing high-priority targets that could not be drilled previously due to permit restrictions. Highlights: Wildcat currently hosts a mineral resource of 746,297 ounces ("oz") of gold ("Au") and 6,437,869 oz of silver ("Ag") or 829,152 oz of gold equivalent ("AuEq") in the Measured and Indicated Category ("M&I") (59,872,806 tonnes at 0.39 g/t Au and 3.34 g/t Ag) and 209,662 oz Au and 1,980,129 oz Ag or 235,146 oz AuEq in the Inferred Category ("Inf.") (22,455,848 tonnes at 0.29 g/t Au and 2.74 g/t Ag). The 2023 Nevada North Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") demonstrated strong project economics including an after-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") 5% of US$310 million ( C$409 million 1 ) and a 37% after-tax Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") using base case metal prices of US$1,700 /oz Au and US$21.50 /oz Ag. 2 Using recent metal prices of US$2,000 /oz Au and US$23.00 /oz Ag, the Nevada North Project delivers an after-tax NPV 5% of US$490 million ( C$647 million ) and a ~54% after-tax IRR . 2 in the Measured and Indicated Category ("M&I") (59,872,806 tonnes at 0.39 g/t Au and 3.34 g/t Ag) and in the Inferred Category ("Inf.") (22,455,848 tonnes at 0.29 g/t Au and 2.74 g/t Ag). Previous drilling at Wildcat completed by Millennial focused primarily on the Main Hill target which hosts the existing mineral resource. The upcoming drill campaign will test multiple underexplored targets outside the Main Hill area at Wildcat, which have demonstrated the potential to host additional mineralized material at Wildcat. The 2,000 m Phase 1 exploration drill program will focus on achieving three main objectives: Oxide resource expansion: The 2022 exploration program at Wildcat completed by Millennial increased the mineralized footprint from ~1.5 km by 1.5 km to ~3.0 km by 2.0 km through the collection of ~850 rock samples. Of these samples, ~99% were collected outside the proposed PEA pit and ~200 were above cut-off grade 2 . Three priority areas were identified within the expanded mineralized footprint, including the Crossroads, Breccia Pipe, and Rhyolitic Ridge targets. The 2024 drill program will be the first time the expanded mineralized footprint will be drill tested by the Company with the goal of increasing the oxide mineral resource in future studies. See Figure 1 for target locations and overview of 2022 grab sample program. Testing high-grade Breccia Pipe target at depth: Significant geophysical, magnetic, and chargeability anomalies were interpreted below post-mineralization basalts 800 m north from the Main Hill resource. These anomalies are interpreted to be the potential location of high-grade epithermal feeder veins which will be drilled as part of the Phase 1 program. A discovery at the Breccia Pipe Target has the potential to materially augment both the size of the mineral resource and potential future economics at Wildcat. See Figure 2 for Wildcat schematic long sections with geophysics. Metallurgical and geotechnical testing: Strategic drilling will be executed within the proposed PEA pit to collect additional material for future economic studies. Column leach tests completed for the 2023 PEA demonstrated excellent leachability of the tuff material (~75% of the in-pit mineralized material) with oxide recoveries up to ~80%. Test work planned in 2024 will seek to further optimize and improve the variability, size sensitivity, and kinetics observed within the tuff material. Further testing will also help the team better understand recoveries in the granodiorite (~25% of the in-pit mineralized material) which had recoveries of 52% in the 2023 PEA. 2 Integra has observed a strong correlation at Wildcat between the presence of historical mines and the location of mineralization. Of the ~25 historical mines and adits located on the property, only 8 are located within the proposed PEA pits, suggesting a strong potential for new areas of mineralization at the targets designated for drilling in 2024. (1) CAD:USD FX rate of 1.32 (2) Refer to the NI 43-101 technical report titled: "Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Wildcat and Mountain View Projects, Pershing and Washoe Counties, Nevada, USA", dated June 28, 2023 with an effective date of July 30, 2023 available under Integra Resources' SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov. Jason Kosec, President, CEO and Director of Integra commented: "We are extremely excited to kick off the much-anticipated 2024 drill program at Wildcat. The planned program is the first significant exploration drilling program at Wildcat since the deposit was explored by Millennial in 2022, when five new mineralized targets were discovered outside the 2023 PEA pit. We believe this drill program has the potential to significantly increase the near surface oxide mineral resource which will enhance future economics at Wildcat. Moreover, the discovery of the main feeder zone could be a potential game changer for Wildcat, altering the scope of what we currently know about the potential size of the deposit." Key Figures Figure 1: Wildcat 2024 plan view with proposed drilling and locations: https://integraresources.com/site/assets/files/2572/wc_nr_plan_figure_2024-05-28.pdf Figure 2: Wildcat schematic long sections with geophysics: https://integraresources.com/site/assets/files/2572/nr_-_wildcat_geophysics_sls_2024-05-28.pdf Figure 3: 2022 Millennial drilling highlights: https://integraresources.com/site/assets/files/2572/wc_nr_cs_rev1_2024-05-28.pdf Overview of Previous Millennial Exploration at Wildcat In 2022, Millennial completed both drilling and a detailed mapping and sampling program at Wildcat. The sampling program included detailed surface mapping, a robust rock chip sampling program (~850 samples, ~23% of samples returned grades above 0.1 g/t Au), and detailed compilation of historic data. The mapping program successfully increased the mineralized footprint at Wildcat from ~1.5 km by 1.5 km to ~3.0 km by 2.0 km. Infill and metallurgical drilling which took place at Wildcat in 2022 was highly successful, demonstrating strong grade continuity, minimal overburden coverage, and excellent rock mechanics allowing for favourable pit wall angles and the potential to reduce stripping volumes and lower mining costs. Wildcat demonstrates an extremely low-strip ratio of 0.28 Life-of-Mine ("LoM"), which is presented in the 2023 PEA (Nevada North LoM strip ratio of 1.21). See Figure 3 for a cross section providing an overview of the mineralization at Wildcat. Highlights from the 2022 drill program include (refer to Millennial news release date November 29, 2022): WCCD-0003: 1.26 g/t oxide Au over 39.2 m from surface, including a high-grade intercept of 1.82 g/t oxide Au over 20.6 m including a of WCCD-0004 : 0.93 g/t oxide Au over 41.4 m : WCCD-0005: 0.36 g/t oxide Au over 17.7 m and 0.55 g/t oxide Au over 68.6 m and WCCD-0006: 0.39 g/t oxide Au over 120.2 m from surface, including ~50 m of oxidized mineralization WCCD-0012: 0.34 g/t oxide Au over 30.5m and 0.41 g/t Au over 54.9 m (oxide and mixed) Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) WCCD-0003 0.2 39.3 39.2 1.26 including 1.1 21.6 20.6 1.82 WCCD-0004 0.3 41.8 41.4 0.93 including 32.6 41.8 9.2 2.51 and 41.8 79.9 38.1 0.74 WCCD-0005 52.1 120.7 68.6 0.55 and 4.0 21.6 17.7 0.36 WCCD-0006 0.9 121.0 120.2 0.39 including 0.9 15.9 15.0 0.68 WCCD-0012 64.9 119.8 54.9 0.41 and 5.5 36.0 30.5 0.34 Note: Considering the broad shape of mineralization, all intercepts are estimated to represent 70-100% of true width. 2024 Exploration Drill Program at Wildcat The 2024 exploration drill program at Wildcat will test the expanded mineralized footprint at Wildcat identified by Millennial in 2022. The drill program will focus on greenfield exploration targets that have the potential to expand the oxide mineral resource at Wildcat. Material will also be collected for metallurgical and geotechnical testing to be used in future studies. The greenfield portion of the 2024 drilling program will focus on three primary targets: Breccia Pipe Target : One of the main objectives for the 2024 program is to drill into the previously untested high-grade Breccia Pipe target. Located approximately 800 m north of the Main Hill resource, this target was identified through a combination of conceptual metallogeny and recompilation of geophysical information. Considering the abundance of rhyolite tuff in the area, a large volcanic diatreme, which is a strong indicator of highly permeable conduits for gold rich hydrothermal fluid, is not present at surface. The absence of a diatreme on surface suggests it may be located below the post-mineralization basalts to the north. Using pre-existing geophysical data, a new 3D model was developed that showed significant magnetic and chargeability anomalies immediately below the basalts. Magnetic and chargeability anomalies in this area indicate high sulphur content which is generally associated with magnetite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, or chalcopyrite and can be strongly correlated with gold bearing structures. The first three drill holes of the 2024 campaign are targeting these anomalies. : One of the main objectives for the 2024 program is to drill into the previously untested high-grade Breccia Pipe target. Located approximately north of the Main Hill resource, this target was identified through a combination of conceptual metallogeny and recompilation of geophysical information. Considering the abundance of rhyolite tuff in the area, a large volcanic diatreme, which is a strong indicator of highly permeable conduits for gold rich hydrothermal fluid, is not present at surface. The absence of a diatreme on surface suggests it may be located below the post-mineralization basalts to the north. Using pre-existing geophysical data, a new 3D model was developed that showed significant magnetic and chargeability anomalies immediately below the basalts. Magnetic and chargeability anomalies in this area indicate high sulphur content which is generally associated with magnetite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, or chalcopyrite and can be strongly correlated with gold bearing structures. The first three drill holes of the 2024 campaign are targeting these anomalies. Crossroads Target : The Crossroads target is approximately ~1,300 m by 600 m in size and is characterized by disseminated mineralization within silicified tuff breccia. Of the ~36 samples collected at the Crossroads target in 2022, ~69% returned oxide grades >0.10 g/t Au with values up to 2.44 g/t Au, suggesting that oxide mineralization extends into this target. The Crossroads target geology is identical to Main Hill, however, most of the granodiorite located below the Crossroads target is not mineralized. This implies that the main feeder structure of the gold mineralization at the Crossroads target may be a fault located east of the PEA pit. This fault will be tested for high-grade potential at depth during the 2024 drill program. : The Crossroads target is approximately ~1,300 m by in size and is characterized by disseminated mineralization within silicified tuff breccia. Of the ~36 samples collected at the Crossroads target in 2022, ~69% returned oxide grades >0.10 g/t Au with values up to 2.44 g/t Au, suggesting that oxide mineralization extends into this target. The Crossroads target geology is identical to Main Hill, however, most of the granodiorite located below the Crossroads target is not mineralized. This implies that the main feeder structure of the gold mineralization at the Crossroads target may be a fault located east of the PEA pit. This fault will be tested for high-grade potential at depth during the 2024 drill program. Rhyolitic Ridge Target: The untested Rhyolitic Ridge target consists of multiple large gold geochemical soil and geophysical anomalies. Located approximately 300 m east of Main Hill and presenting similar lithologies to the mineral resource area, Rhyolitic Ridge contains significant soil anomalies with ~55% of the 116 samples tested returning grades above 0.1 g/t Au. Wildcat Deposit Overview Wildcat is located within the Farrell mining district in Nevada, 56 km north of the town of Lovelock within Pershing County. The property can be accessed year-round by roads from Lovelock via State Route 399 and Seven Troughs Road. The 17,612-acre land package consists of 916 unpatented claims and 4 patented claims. The claims are located on publicly-owned lands administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Mineralization at Wildcat is genetically related to a mid-Miocene rhyolite dome complex developed during the extensional dominated tectonic environment of the Nevada Rift. The bulk-tonnage gold mineralization is hosted in tuff breccia that is considered to be the erosional remnant of a subaerial apron to a phreatomagmatic diatreme vent. The tuff breccia-hosted gold mineralization was fed from low-sulphidation veins in the underlying Mesozoic granodiorite basement. Additional bulk-tonnage gold mineralization associated with tuff breccia may be present elsewhere within the district, particularly beneath a post-mineral mafic volcanic cover sequence and within the interpreted main feeder diatreme. Low-sulphidation epithermal veins beneath the tuff breccia have the potential to host high-grade gold targets. A technical report for the Nevada North Project, comprised of the Wildcat and Mountain View deposits, is available under Integra's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov. Wildcat Mineral Resource Estimate Tonnes g/t Au oz Au g/t Ag oz Ag g/t AuEq oz AuEq Oxide Indicated 59,872,806 0.39 746,297 3.34 6,437,869 0.43 829,152 Inferred 22,455,848 0.29 209,662 2.74 1,980,129 0.33 235,146 (1) Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. (2) Refer to the NI 43-101 technical report titled: "Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Wildcat and Mountain View Projects, Pershing and Washoe Counties, Nevada, USA", dated June 28, 2023 with an effective date of July 30, 2023 available under Integra Resources' SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com and EDGAR profile at www.sec.gov. (3) The estimate is reported for open-pit mining scenario and with reasonable assumptions. (4) The cut-off grade of 0.15 g/t Au was calculated using a gold price of US$1,800/oz, mining costs vary from US$1.5/t to US$2.4/t (depending on material type and project location), processing cost of US$3.1/t and US$3.7/t, G&A costs of US$0.4/t to US$0.5/t, and metallurgical gold recoveries varying from 30% to 86%. Gold equivalent in the Resource Estimate is calculated by g/t Au + (g/t Ag 77.7). (5) Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent discrepancies between tonnes, grades, and contained metal content. (6) The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environment, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Raphael Dutaut, Ph.D (P.Geo), Integra's Vice President Geology and Mining. Mr. Dutaut is a "qualified person" as defined in National Instrument 43- 101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). About Integra Resources Integra is one of the largest precious metals exploration and development companies in the Great Basin of the Western USA. Integra is currently focused on advancing its two flagship oxide heap leach projects: the past producing DeLamar Project located in southwestern Idaho and the Nevada North Project, comprised of the Wildcat and Mountain View deposits, located in northwestern Nevada. The Company also holds a portfolio of highly prospective early-stage exploration projects in Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. Integra's long-term vision is to become a leading USA focused mid-tier gold and silver producer. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jason Kosec President, CEO and Director Forward Looking and Other Cautionary Statements Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forwardlooking statements" and "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and applicable United States securities laws (referred to herein as forwardlooking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forwardlooking statements which includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the future financial or operating performance of the Company and the Company's mineral properties and project portfolio; the results from work performed to date; the estimation of mineral resources and reserves; the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the development, operational and economic results of technical reports on mineral properties referenced herein; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; the anticipated advancement of the Company' mineral properties and project portfolios; exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits; underground exploration potential; costs and timing of future exploration; the completion and timing of future development studies; estimates of metallurgical recovery rates; exploration prospects of mineral properties; requirements for additional capital; the future price of metals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; the timing and possible outcome of pending regulatory matters; the realization of the expected economics of mineral properties; future growth potential of mineral properties; and future development plans. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "would", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "budget", "scheduled", "plans", "planned", "forecasts", "goals" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of factors and assumptions made by management and considered reasonable at the time such information is provided. Assumptions and factors include: the Company's ability to complete its planned exploration programs; the absence of adverse conditions at mineral properties; no unforeseen operational delays; no material delays in obtaining necessary permits; the price of gold remaining at levels that render mineral properties economic; the Company's ability to continue raising necessary capital to finance operations; and the ability to realize on the mineral resource and reserve estimates. Forwardlooking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: integration risks; general business, economic and competitive uncertainties; the actual results of current and future exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; meeting various expected cost estimates; benefits of certain technology usage; changes in project parameters and/or economic assessments as plans continue to be refined; future prices of metals; possible variations of mineral grade or recovery rates; the risk that actual costs may exceed estimated costs; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); title to properties; and management's ability to anticipate and manage the foregoing factors and risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are advised to study and consider risk factors disclosed in Integra's annual report on Form 20-F dated March 28, 2024 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. There can be no assurance that forwardlooking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forwardlooking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are presented for the purposes of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans, objectives and goals, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forwardlooking statements. Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves NI 43-101 is a rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Technical disclosure contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Classification System. These standards differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and resource information contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by domestic United States companies subject to the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Integra Resources Corp. Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept is the perfect blend of all-electric 4xe capability and authentic Jeep brand design inside and out Off-road concept vehicle adds Rock mode and driver-selectable electronic rear axle locker to enhanced Selec-Terrain system NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jeep brand is known worldwide for pushing the limits of capability design through its rugged and capable concepts. Easter Jeep Safari and Moab, Utah, have long been a test bed for that creativity. Today, the brand is showcasing the art of the possible with the unveiling of the Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept. This rugged and fully electric SUV concept can easily transition from the pavement to off-roading terrain showcasing the flexibility of the STLA Large platform and Jeep Wagoneer S lineup. The Jeep brand is known worldwide for pushing the limits of capability design through its rugged and capable concepts. Easter Jeep Safari and Moab, Utah, have long been a test bed for that creativity. Today, the brand is showcasing the art of the possible with the unveiling of the Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept. This rugged and fully electric SUV concept easily transitions from pavement to off-roading terrain showcasing the flexibility of the STLA Large platform and Jeep Wagoneer S lineup. "Like all Jeep brand SUVs, the new 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S descends from a rich heritage and is composed with legendary capability, innovative design and the flexibility to perform at its best both on- and off-road," said Antonio Filosa, Jeep brand CEO. "The Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept vehicle, builds upon the flexible STLA Large platform, showcases what the all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S lineup is truly capable of, whether cornering tight turns with ease or traversing new ground off the beaten path." The Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept debuted alongside the all-new, all-electric 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition, the Jeep brand's first global battery-electric vehicle (BEV), launching first in North America. Planned for markets around the world, the Wagoneer S will launch first in the U.S. and Canada in the second half of 2024. Superior performance and Jeep 4xe capability The Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept is 100% electric and 100% Jeep brand SUV. All-electric technology enhances the fun, freedom and adventure that the Jeep brand is known for, while providing unprecedented performance, uncompromised 4xe capability and instantaneous torque. The Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept features all the capability of the new production vehicle and takes off-road exploration to the next level. The standard Selec-Terrain system's Auto, Sand, Snow, Eco and Sport is enhanced with Rock mode and a driver-selectable electronic rear axle locker. The trail-ready, four-wheel-drive concept vehicle also features rugged 31.5-inch all-terrain tires. Authentic Jeep brand styling Form follows function The Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept a go-anywhere, do-anything SUV is the perfect blend of off-road capability, high-speed performance and authentic Jeep brand design inside and out. Designed for capability, the Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept boasts a lifted suspension plus an aggressive front and rear design that includes heavy-duty tow hooks and functional air extractors to improve performance in high pressure zones under high-speed conditions. The Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept's distinctive front-end expression tells the tale of an SUV that is designed to drive and thrive on dusty trails and rocky terrain. The iconic Jeep brand seven-slot illuminated grille boasts a bolder rugged look with textured slots and Storm Gray metallic accents. The concept's special-edition Banner exterior color is loaded with rugged features designed for the toughest adventures, including an anti-glare hood decal, flush badging inspired by modern aircraft, front and rear orange tow hooks, unique 18-inch multi-piece wheels, laser-cut aluminum roof rack and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof for an open-air experience. Rugged interior upfitted for adventure The Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept's interior has been upfitted for adventure with soft surfaces wrapped in Mantis Green non-leather synthetic material and accented with meteorite-inspired real stone veneer. Storm dark metallic accents and Radical Red anodizing are used to visually highlight the vehicle's capability features. A redesigned octagonal steering wheel design allows the driver to lock in their preferred hand position for precise control: Tactical-inspired grip section at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions for all-terrain driving Rounded profile for hand-over-hand maneuvering over any terrain The concept's instrument panel features a functional cross-car grab bar for passenger stability off road. Embedded into the grab bar are exposed fasteners and 1/4-20 threaded inserts to mount gear, devices and accessories. Behind the grab bar, the instrument panel is accented with a unique meteorite-inspired genuine stone veneer that's natural, durable and adds a visual connection to the geological elements from which the concept vehicle is crafted. Aggressive front seats retain their balance of sport and luxury appointments from the standard Jeep Wagoneer S. The heated and ventilated seats are wrapped in Mantis Green with a unique chevron perforation pattern. Wrapped trim includes Ultraviolet accent stitching with textile decorative piping. The doors and center console feature a new modular cargo management system with re-configurable elastic straps that enable the user to customize gear storage and organization. The center console features a large open storage bin with a wireless phone charger and multiple USB outlets to power all modern tools and accessories essential to outdoor adventures. Jeep Brand Built on more than 80 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV brand that delivers legendary off-road capability, interior refinement, high-tech features and versatility to people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a broad portfolio of vehicles that continues to provide owners with a sense of safety and security to handle any journey with confidence. Jeep Wave, a premium owner loyalty and customer care program that is available to the entire Jeep 4x4 lineup, is filled with benefits and exclusive perks to deliver Jeep brand owners the utmost care and dedicated 24/7 support. The legendary Jeep brand's off-road capability is enhanced by a global electrification initiative that is transforming 4xe into the new 4x4. All Jeep brand vehicles in North America will offer an electrified variant by 2025. Follow Jeep and company news and video on: Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com Jeep brand: www.jeep.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeep Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeep Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeep LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/jeep YouTube: www.youtube.com/thejeepchannel or https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA SOURCE Stellantis The 2025 Kia EV9 is the first electric vehicle assembled in the state of Georgia and joins the award-winning Telluride, Sorento, and Sportage SUVs currently assembled at Kia's West Point facility WEST POINT, Ga., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thursday marked a historic milestone at Kia Georgia's assembly plant in West Point as team members gathered to celebrate the start of assembly of the all-electric 2025 EV9 three-row SUV, the first saleable electric vehicle assembled in the state of Georgia. The vehicle was introduced by SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon, President and CEO for Kia North America and Kia America, then driven off the assembly line by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and James Watson, Kia Georgia's Vice President of Production. On Thursday, Kia Georgia, Inc. held a Start of Production ceremony for the all-electric 2025 Kia EV9 SUV. Pictured, from left: Georgia State Representative Vance Smith; Georgia State Senator Randy Robertson, SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon (President and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America), First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp, Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Senator Jon Ossoff, Commissioner Pat Wilson (Georgia Department of Economic Development), Congressman Drew Ferguson, and Stuart Countess (President and CEO of Kia Georgia). "Marty and I were privileged to be part of this monumental accomplishment by the Kia Georgia team," said Governor Kemp. "This expansion of Kia's operations in our state and the addition of this incredible new product line to the vehicles already being built in West Point is just the latest example of what comes from state and local partners working with this valued job creator. I want to congratulate the Kia Georgia team members on today's achievement and thank them for choosing the Peach State yet again as we work to become the e-mobility capital of the nation." The EV9 joins the award-winning and increasingly popular lineup of SUVs currently being assembled on Kia Georgia's assembly line: Telluride, Sorento and Sportage. This is the culmination of a more than $200 million expansion that has added approximately 200 new jobs at the plant and the flexibility to assemble both EVs and the company's traditional products along the same assembly line. "Today's launch of the Kia EV9 in Georgia is the latest example of Kia's commitment to the U.S. market and the state of Georgia," said Yoon. "Through Plan S, Kia is poised to be a leader in the e-mobility sector for years to come. Having achieved prestigious accolades such as World Car of the Year, World EV of the Year, and North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, EV9 will be in excellent hands with the team members at Kia Georgia and their track record for assembling award-winning, world-renowned products speaks for itself." Stuart Countess, President and CEO of Kia Georgia, looked back to almost 15 years ago when the first Kia vehicle rolled off the same assembly line on Nov. 16, 2009, while crediting the Kia Georgia team with being the driving force behind the milestones that have led to celebrations like the one on Thursday. "Today, the Kia Georgia team is still going as strong as ever, continuing that mindset of turning challenges into opportunities," said Countess. "We are excited for this chance to add Kia's flagship EV to our facility and to enter this new era at Kia Georgia with the same quality focus of assembling the best vehicles in the world, right here in West Point." About Kia Georgia Kia Georgia, Inc. is the first manufacturing site in North America for Kia Corporation based in Seoul, Korea. With an annual capacity of 350,000 units, Kia Georgia is located on 2,200 acres in West Point, Ga. and began mass production on Nov. 16, 2009. Kia Georgia is home to the Telluride SUV, Sorento SUV (excludes HEV and PHEV models), Sportage SUV (excludes HEV and PHEV models) and the all-electric EV9 SUV. SOURCE Kia America SANTA ANA, Calif., May 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kind Lending, a national mortgage lender founded by industry veteran Glenn Stearns, announces the appointment of Tamara "Tammy" Richards as its new Chief Operating Officer. Richards brings over 40 years of experience in the mortgage industry and remains the CEO of LendArch, a consulting firm she founded in 2021. Tammy has also held executive leadership positions at Bank of America, Caliber Home Loans, and most recently, serving as Chief Operating Officer for Loan Depot. Tammy Richards, newly appointed COO of Kind Lending, brings over 35 years of industry experience and a dedication to enhancing operational efficiency. We are delighted to have Tammy on board as our Chief Operating Officer," said Yvonne Ketchum, President of Kind Lending. "Her experience and dedication to enhancing operational efficiency will be instrumental as we continue to grow and innovate. Tammy's vision and leadership will undoubtedly help us to better serve our customers." In her new role at Kind Lending, Richards will leverage her deep industry expertise and proven history of success to oversee all operational aspects of the company. Her focus will be on scaling Kind Lending's infrastructure and processes to support its rapid growth while ensuring the company upholds its commitment to social impact. "We are thrilled to welcome Tammy Richards to team Kind! Tammy brings with her a vast wealth of industry knowledge, a positive disposition, and a deep appreciation for cultivating a healthy culture. Her awareness and business acumen will be instrumental in bringing Kind to another tier of excellence," said Glenn Stearns, CEO of Kind Lending. "Tammy is an innovator in our industry and we are very excited to watch as LendArch releases their new products. Tammy continues to be dedicated to LendArch's vision of improving the industry with efficiency, transparency and access to all." Tammy is a passionate advocate for financial inclusion and a recognized expert in the industry's ongoing technological transformation. Throughout her career, she has championed initiatives to expand access to homeownership for underserved communities. Her goals at Kind Lending directly mirror the company's mission: to increase homeownership rates, reduce bias in the lending process, and make homeownership a reality for all Americans. "I am incredibly excited to join Kind Lending at such a pivotal time in the company's growth," said Tammy. "I am deeply impressed by Kind Lending's commitment to social impact and its innovative approach to making homeownership more accessible for all. I continue to be elated over the progress LendArch has made on our game changing technology and will continue to be dedicated to LendArch's leadership, success, and growth." About Kind Lending Kind Lending, LLC is an independent residential mortgage lender determined to forge a new identity in the wholesale and mortgage banking space by providing a simple, quick, and efficient loan approval process by experienced and friendly mortgage professionals. Kind Lending is not just a business! It is a movement fueled by a passion to streamline processes, making a better experience for all. SOURCE Kind Lending, LLC KNNX Freight is now available in the Coupa App Marketplace, extending Coupa's platform and increasing comprehensive view on invoices and supplier data. TORONTO, May 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - KNNX Corp, a global leader in technology solutions for supply chain and logistics today announced it will offer KNNX Freight in the Coupa App Marketplace , connecting businesses with certified, pre-built solutions. Coupa certified KNNX Freight for use within Coupa's total spend management platform. Coupa helps teams collaborate to build more agile and sustainable operations, delivering intelligent and responsible spend strategies to meet their companies' purpose. KNNX Freight integrates with the Coupa platform to extend spend visibility, while improving efficiency and trust between shippers and carriers. This integration makes it possible to process invoices automatically and without errors, leading to substantial freight cost savings and significantly improved relationships between shippers and carriers. Additionally, it allows invoices to be viewed directly within Coupa, streamlining the payment procedure through complete integration. "With an overwhelming number of invoice disputes in freight the need for a single source of truth that can be shared with all partners is imperative," said Nigel Pegg, SVP of Platform at Coupa. "We're proud to have KNNX Corp on the Coupa App Marketplace to give our customers even greater automation of freight invoicing to help customers to reduce disputes, payment errors, and external auditing. As a certified Coupa App Marketplace solution, KNNX Freight Invoice Automation meets the requirements established by Coupa through its App Marketplace Partner Program. The App Marketplace Partner Program enables software partners to build complementary solutions that easily connect into the Coupa platform. Customers benefit by discovering and connecting solutions to optimize their business spend and mitigate business risk while reducing the cost of third-party software integration. "Connecting KNNX Freight into the Coupa platform gives our customers a streamlined freight invoicing experience and provides a single source of truth for all of the information," said Francis Lalonde, CCO. "We are proud to be part of the Coupa App Marketplace and a trusted Coupa technology partner. We look forward to our relationship with Coupa to further help customers transform their freight and logistics invoicing process." For more information on KNNX Freight and how it can streamline your freight invoicing process, visit the Coupa App Marketplace at marketplace.coupa.com. Coupa, Coupa Business Spend Management (BSM), CoupaLink, and all Coupa logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Coupa Software, Inc. All rights reserved. About KNNX Corp: KNNX proudly offers the first real-time invoicing solution, streamlining the logistics process by enabling immediate creation, completion, and approval of invoices upon delivery. This innovation is key in quickly resolving any potential disputes, ensuring that all necessary data is easily accessible to both Shippers and Carriers. SOURCE KNNX KUNMING, China, May 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 22nd Kunming International Flower Expo of China and Kunming International Flowers & Plants Expo ("Kunming Flower Expo"), China's top floral industry trade show, is set to take place from September 20 to 22 at the Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center. The 2024 trade show will cover a total exhibition area of 50,000 sqm and is expected to attract over 400 companies and 30,000 distributors, wholesalers, traders, floral retailers, and floral e-commerce players. Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in southeastern China, is the biggest fresh-cut flower production and distribution center in the country and top 3 worldwide, and is a gateway to the southeast Asian market with reaches to the whole China market. "For over two decades, the Kunming Flower Expo has operated as the premier platform enabling international cultivators, breeders, and distributors to present novel and exceptional plant varieties, engage with a broad spectrum of global partners, exchange insights on industry advancements and innovations, and broaden their market footprint," said Lanny Zhang, Senior Vice President of RX Greater China. The trade show's extensive coverage of the entire floral industry chain is driving the development of the Asian market with significant impact. It effectively connects industry partners, facilitates order transactions, enhances brand influence and reputation, and hosts impactful new product releases. Floral companies from the Netherlands, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, France, Israel, Estonia and more will join this year's expo, where they will set up special exhibition zones to showcase the unique floral varieties through shows and performances, while interacting with partners from around the world. These country-themed exhibitors will not only provide insights into the floral industries but also foster global connections in production and distribution. At the upcoming Kunming Flower Expo, a series of professional forums will explore the latest market development trends, with topics including the conservation of new plant breeds in China, the modern development of floral production equipment, how digital technologies can empower the breeding of horticultural plants, the latest e-commerce marketing trends and more. The Kunming Flower Expo will offer a diverse range of experiences and benefits for all participants. Industry professionals can leverage the full spectrum of industry resources, gain insights into the latest trends, and exchange ideas. Amateur florists will have the opportunity to enjoy premium flower varieties from around the world and witness spectacular flower shows and installations. The Kunming Flower Expo will also introduce a special collection of cultural and creative souvenirs this year. "The Kunming Flower Expo is thoughtfully crafted to create a premier platform that effectively connects market players and amplifies opportunities for all involved. Our extensive range of events and forums act as both a window into the sector's most vibrant trends and a pivotal meeting point for planting facilities, industry purchasers, floral technique experts, and elite florists, fostering collaboration and driving sector growth," said Lanny. For more information, please visit www.ifexflowerexpo.com. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.cn SOURCE RX Greater China CHICAGO, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LanzaJet, a leading sustainable fuels technology company and sustainable fuels producer, was today named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list. The fourth-annual list highlights companies making an extraordinary impact around the world. "LanzaJet's inclusion in the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of our entire team to enable a transition to a net-zero future," said Jimmy Samartzis, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaJet. "This recognition affirms our commitment to building a new fuels industry for aviation through leading-edge technology and the production of low-carbon, sustainable fuels. As we celebrate this honor, we reflect on our journey, the partnerships key to our success, and the continued belief that our work is creating a more sustainable future for generations to come." To assemble the list, TIME solicited nominations across sectors, and polled its global network of contributors and correspondents, as well as outside experts. Then TIME editors evaluated each on key factors, including impact, innovation, ambition, and success. The result is a diverse group of 100 businesses helping chart an essential path forward. See the full list here: time.com/100companies. LanzaJet's proprietary ethanol-to-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology is poised to enable the aviation industry to meet its net zero targets by 2050. The company is now engaged in more than 25 countries and on five continents, and in January opened the world's first ethanol-to-SAF plant in Soperton, Georgia, USA. Recently announced investors include Microsoft's Climate Innovation Fund, Southwest Airlines, and global airport operator Groupe ADP. This extends LanzaJet's investor base across the entire value chain and builds on existing investment from British Airways, LanzaTech, Mitsui & Co., Shell, and Suncor Energy, as well as funding from Breakthrough Energy, the US Department of Energy, and the UK Department for Transport. LanzaTech and Microsoft were both previously recognized on the TIME100 Most Influential Companies List. LanzaJet is also named on Fortune's 2024 list of Most Innovative Companies, listed as #8 in culture and #22 in product. LanzaJet CEO Jimmy Samartzis is also a 2024 Midwest Finalist for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year. ABOUT LANZAJET LanzaJet is a leading sustainable fuels technology company dedicated to accelerating the clean energy transition. As a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology provider and producer with patented ethanol-based alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) technology, LanzaJet is creating an opportunity for future generations by accelerating the deployment of SAF and other clean technologies critical to addressing the climate crisis and transforming the global economy. Further information is available at https://www.lanzajet.com/ SOURCE LanzaJet Uniquely Designed Button-Down Shirts Feature Iconic Characters, Imagery & More HOBOKEN, N.J., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, RSVLTS (Roosevelts), creators of high-quality licensed and unlicensed pop culture apparel since 2012, and legendary anime studio Toei Animation announced the release of their inaugural collaboration based on the widely popular, smash hit anime series, "One Piece," which will feature a five shirt button-down collection in RSVLTS signature KUNUFLEX material (soft, stretchy, never shrinks or fades). The collection is available now online at www.rsvlts.com and via RSVLTS app (iOS & Android). The debut One Piece x RSVLTS apparel collection of button-downs available now in classic and women's styles! "We're excited to partner with RSVLTS on this special 'One Piece' shirt collection," said Jennifer Yang, Senior Manager, Licensing for Toei Animation Inc. "RSVLTS is well known for its pop culture apparel and this unique 'One Piece' collaboration will now offer anime fans a new way to not only express their love for the series but also celebrate its 25th anniversary." With this apparel collection, fans can now hop aboard the Thousand Sunny for a swashbuckling 25th Anniversary ode to the coolest pirates sailing the Four Blues. From Straw Hats to love for Luffy uh, we mean Lucy to Den Den Mushi and more designs that'll really call your name this high seas haul of gear is the ultimate treasure trove for all "One Piece" fanatics. "One Piece" | RSVLTS Collection - Details & Background Below please find for more details for each item, all available across classic (unisex) and women's sizes & styles for this first apparel series: "One Piece" | RSVLTS - "Two Years Later" The casual "One Piece" viewer might think this shirt is covered in a bunch of Straw Hat crew character stickers. The true fan will recognize that the style of this post-reunion collage is actually based on Bartolomeo's hilarious reaction to Robin's wink in Dressrosa. We think we know which one you arewink. "One Piece" | RSVLTS - "Lil Straw Hats" Remember when you thought tricornes, eye patches, and shoulder parrots were pirate prerequisites? Little did you know all you needed to command your own crew was a hand-me-down straw hatand skin like rubber, of course. Inspired by the East Blue, this button-down featuring Luffy's signature shade maker amongst a sea of his Jolly Roger proves that even little things and characters can be absolutely epic. "One Piece" | RSVLTS - "Puru-Puru-Puru" Your favorite Den Den Mushi is calling, and it's got some shell-shocking news you're about to be the envy of the Four Blues! This eye-catching design features your favorite transponder snails in all their multi-colored glory. Question: What happens if you drop your Den Den Mushi in the toilet? Asking for a friend "One Piece" | RSVLTS - "Shh! I Am Lucy" Ahhh, Dressrosa the land of passion, toys, and... gladiator disguises? When Luffy went undercover in the Corrida Colosseum, he proved that sometimes the best way to infiltrate a warlord's inner circle is with a fake beard and a whole lot of guts. Now, you can channel your inner "Lucy" in this button-down featuring a floral foreground that'll definitely look familiar. But take a closer look and you'll spy Luffy himself in all his gladiatorial glory, striking poses and taking names. "One Piece" | RSVLTS - "We Go!" You know the show like the back of your hand, so you'll certainly have no problem ID-ing the back of your favorite characters. Let your crew flag fly with this soft and stretchy button-down that features the whole 10-person Straw Hat squad looking out toward their next adventure. "We're beyond thrilled for this debut RSVLTS collaboration with 'One Piece,' especially since it's also in honor of the 25th Anniversary of such a beloved and storied franchise," said Mike Shriner, Director of Communications for RSVLTS. "While the live action series last year was an absolute breakout sensation, our apparel collection fully captures the essence of the original, beloved animated series, and includes some deep-cut imagery and easter eggs across the designs that we feel all 'One Piece' fanatics will enjoy. We go!" All "One Piece" | RSVLTS Collection videos and more content can also be found on RSVLTS YouTube , and across both branded social media channels: One Piece on IG, One Piece on TT, and @rsvlts on IG and @rsvlts on TT. Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation. One Piece, and all logos, character names and distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Toei Animation Co., Ltd. About Toei Animation Inc. Based in Los Angeles, Toei Animation Inc. manages the distribution of Toei Animation's top properties, including franchise series Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, One Piece, Digimon, Saint Seiya and many others, to North America, Latin America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Toei Animation's Los Angeles office also oversees all categories of consumer product licensing based on its film and television brands within these territories. For more information, please visit toei-animation-usa.com. About RSVLTS Since 2012, founded and headquartered in Hoboken, NJ, the RSVLTS brand and apparel is rooted in super high-grade pop culture fandoms and nostalgia, dedicated to those with a bold and fun spirit. What makes RSVLTS different is its approach to producing incredibly comfortable and fashionable, officially licensed gear, and original designs, in a unique style that kick-starts a conversation and fully captivates the room. With the RSVLTS proprietary material, the soft, stretchy, and oh so radical KUNUFLEX poly-spandex blend, its shirts are guaranteed to make people feel just as good as they look, for any event or occasion. SOURCE RSVLTS CHICAGO, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lochner, a leading provider of infrastructure planning and engineering services, has partnered with Praedico, a global technology company, to provide digital twin and asset management solutions for passenger and freight rail clients across North America. With offices in the US, the Netherlands, and Australia, Praedico partners with clients to transform their transit and rail networks through the power of rail knowledge and technology, delivering increased value, availability, reliability, productivity, and safety. Praedico integrates operational data and asset management information into a simple and intuitive software platform. By aggregating, organizing, and managing the static, spatial and live data for all rail assets, Praedico creates a data-driven digital rail network. The platform allows the progression from reactive maintenance to a predictive or AI-driven approach, maximizing efficiency, optimizing capacity, and increasing availability. For rail asset and maintenance managers, having a digital twin of the entire network provides visibility into the performance of infrastructure assets from the big picture to the smallest detail with the ability to monitor and compare the performance of tracks, stations and rolling stock. "What differentiates Praedico in the marketplace is their deep railway domain knowledge," said Lochner's Transit & Rail Market Director Gary Thomas. "With their digital twin solution, they have set a new standard of railway asset management and maintenance across light rail, commuter rail, subways, intercity and high-speed passenger rail, and freight rail networks." Added Praedico CEO Marc Maathuis, "We are thrilled to partner with Lochner, combining our trusted expertise in the transit and rail industry. This collaboration brings together rail professionals who truly understand the market and are committed to delivering outcome-focused solutions." Gary Thomas and Praedico's COO Lewis Hillman will be attending the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) Rail Conference in Cleveland, Ohio, June 2-5, 2024. About Praedico With offices in the US, the Netherlands, and Australia, Praedico partners with clients to transform their transit and rail networks through the power of rail knowledge and technology, delivering increased value, availability, reliability, productivity, and safety. About Lochner Founded in 1944, Lochner provides planning, environmental, design, construction engineering and inspection, and program/construction management services for surface transportation, aviation, and water clients across the US. The company is ranked No.103 in Engineering News-Record's list of the Top 500 Design Firms. CONTACT: Laura White Director of Marketing & Business Development [email protected] 737.704.3080 | 701.269.2110 (cell) SOURCE H.W. Lochner, Inc. News / National by Staff reporter War veterans are calling on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to revamp his Cabinet and politburo to eliminate newcomers and make room for former combatants.Zanu-PF central committee member and former lawmaker Blessed Geza voiced concerns that veterans who played pivotal roles in the 2017 coup to oust former President Robert Mugabe have been marginalized.Geza aired his grievances on HStv, emphasizing that those who previously opposed Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga are now reaping rewards, while war veterans are sidelined.Mnangagwa's Cabinet appointments after the coup included a mix of technocrats and long-standing Zanu-PF members, excluding some war veterans who were instrumental during the coup.In February, Mnangagwa dismissed Christopher Mutsvangwa, the War Veterans minister and a prominent figure in the coup, without providing reasons for his removal.Geza also criticized alleged interference with the judiciary by top Zanu-PF officials, claiming that the independence of the courts has been compromised.He urged judges to report to war veterans to address what he perceives as intimidation.Geza's sentiments echo Mutsvangwa's recent complaints about judicial interference in his son's money laundering case.A High Court judge presiding over Neville Mutsvangwa's case recently recused herself without explanation, sparking further concerns about judicial independence.These allegations of judicial capture have been voiced by opposition figures and civic groups as well.Geza shed light on the behind-the-scenes efforts to oust Mugabe, revealing that many Zanu-PF leaders were initially hesitant and fearful.He accused party leaders of succumbing to rumors and misinformation propagated by those seeking favor with the President, vowing to confront and halt these practices.Meanwhile, a faction of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has raised concerns about attempts to co-opt the organization by Zanu-PF factions ahead of their upcoming congress.In a statement, ZNLWVA chairperson Ethan Andrease Mathibela criticized the political affiliations of aspiring leaders within the organization and highlighted the sidelining of war veterans by the government.He called for introspection within the war veterans' community to address historical grievances and improve their living conditions despite their pivotal role in securing Zimbabwe's independence. PERTH, Australia and MIAMI, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LumaCina, the pharmaceutical supplier and marketing division of Bridgewest Perth Pharma announce new production of Oral Morphine to meet critical drug shortage in New Zealand. The shortfall of Oral Morphine has become increasingly concerning in New Zealand, adversely affecting patients who rely on this medication to manage pain effectively. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, LumaCina has been actively working in partnership with Pharmac, New Zealand's government agency responsible for pharmaceutical funding and access, to bridge the supply gap. LumaCina has made substantial investments to expand capabilities for steady supply of Oral Morphine. "We're committed to addressing the shortage of Oral Morphine for patients who need access to this vital pain medication" Post this "We are deeply committed to addressing the shortage of Oral Morphine and ensuring that patients have access to the medication they need to alleviate pain and improve their quality of life," said Cyrus K. Mirsaidi, Global CEO for LumaCina and Bridgewest Perth Pharma. "Through our collaboration with Pharmac, we are leveraging our collective expertise and resources to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients across New Zealand." "Making a positive impact on public health is paramount to our group's efforts. Through our ingenuity and resources, we aim to make a significant and lasting impact on the healthcare landscape and the lives of all," said Dr. Masood Tayebi, CEO and Founding Partner of global private equity firm, Bridgewest Group. Last year, Bridgewest Group made a key strategic move to broaden its life science ecosystem, expanding capabilities throughout research and development, manufacturing, and delivery. It acquired the Pfizer Perth cGMP sterile injectable manufacturing plant, and formed Bridgewest Perth Pharma, NovaCina CDMO division and LumaCina pharmaceutical supply division. About LumaCina LumaCina is a global supplier and marketer of sterile injectable pharmaceutical drugs located in Perth Australia. LumaCina is aggressively expanding capabilities, infrastructure, and industry partnerships, growing a robust pipeline of high-quality accessible injectable medications, spanning high potency, blow fill seal, multi format vials and more. LumaCina is a Bridgewest Group Portfolio Company. Media Contact: Jenny Bourbiel, [email protected] SOURCE LumaCina The child development center, in collaboration with the local church currently supports 111 children and their families, offering a beacon of hope and a stronghold of support in the community. With the generous backing from MAKO Medical, the center is poised to expand its reach, aspiring to serve an average of 275 children and families, as is typical when such centers reach full maturity. Over the course of an average 12-year sponsorship, program participants experience approximately 4,000 contact hours with the dedicated workers and volunteers at the center. This substantial engagement ensures that each child is not only known, loved, and protected but also introduced to the teachings of Jesus and his immense love for them. The center's approach encompasses a holistic model of child development, addressing the multifaceted needs of children to foster their growth into capable and confident individuals. "We are so grateful for the generous support of MAKO Medical in expanding the reach of this critical effort in Guatemala," says Compassion International President and CEO Santiago "Jimmy" Mellado. "MAKO Medical's long-standing commitment to care for others is deeply inspiring, and this incredible gift is instrumental in extending desperately needed, holistic care to the children and youth during the most at-risk years of their life." Doug Morgan, CAO of MAKO Medical reflecting on the decision to support Compassion International, stated, "Our partnership with Compassion International and the child development center in Guatemala is a reflection of our deep belief in the power of community and faith to transform lives. We are honored to contribute to such a meaningful cause and to support the incredible work being done to nurture and protect the most vulnerable members of our global family." This support marks a pivotal step forward in the mission to provide holistic care to children in need. It underlines a shared commitment to making a tangible difference in the lives of children by ensuring they have access to the necessary resources for their all-around development. To learn more about MAKO's commitment to thriving communities; please visit MAKO Cares. Please direct all media inquiries to [email protected] About MAKO Medical Founded with a mission to revolutionize healthcare delivery, MAKO Medical combines advanced diagnostic testing with unparalleled customer service to meet the diverse needs of its clients. By integrating innovation with a deep commitment to community involvement, MAKO Medical strives to improve health outcomes and support the well-being of communities across the nation. www.makomedical.com. About Compassion International Compassion International is a Christian child development organization dedicated to releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name. Founded in 1952, Compassion partners with more than 8,500 local churches in 29 program countries to deliver spiritual, economic, social, and physical care to over two million babies, children, and young adults in poverty. Ranked No. 13 in Forbes' America's Top Charities List in 2023. SOURCE Mako Medical Laboratory WALL TOWNSHIP, N.J., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Manasquan Bank proudly announces the elevation of four outstanding individuals to the position of Executive Vice President, marking a significant milestone in their careers and underscoring the Bank's commitment to developing and recognizing talent within its valued colleague base. Jennie Piperi, a seasoned professional with a proven track record of success, has been promoted to Executive Vice President and will continue her role as Director of Marketing and Digital Operations. Joining Manasquan Bank in April 2019 as Senior Vice President, following the merger of Metuchen Savings Bank and Manasquan Bank, Jennie quickly established herself as a driving force within the organization. Armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Kean University and a comprehensive HR Management Certificate from both Union County College and Fairleigh Dickinson University, Jennie's leadership has been pivotal in enhancing the Bank's marketing strategies and fortifying its digital operations. Additionally, Jennie graduated from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking, further enriching her expertise. Her innovative approach and dedication to excellence have earned her widespread respect among colleagues and clients alike. Jeffery Casten, a stalwart in the banking industry with over 40 years of commercial lending experience, has been promoted to Executive Vice President and will continue to serve as Director of Commercial Lending. Jeffery's journey with Manasquan Bank began in 2006 as Senior Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer. With a bachelor's degree in business administration from Bucknell University, Jeffery's extensive background includes tenure with prominent institutions such as New Jersey National Bank, First Fidelity Bank, and Wachovia. His leadership and expertise have been instrumental in driving the success of the Commercial Lending Department. Timothy Dempsey, a finance professional with nearly two decades of lending and credit experience, has been promoted to Executive Vice President and retains his role as Chief Credit Officer. Timothy's journey at Manasquan Bank commenced in 2008 as a Credit Analyst, steadily progressing through various roles to assume the mantle of Chief Credit Officer in 2022. With a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Buffalo and a master's degree in business administration from Monmouth University, Timothy's academic prowess is complemented by his practical expertise. Timothy is a graduate of the prestigious Stonier Graduate School of Banking, and his leadership has been instrumental in ensuring the Bank's credit quality remains robust. Robert Hart, a seasoned mortgage lending professional with four decades of experience, has been promoted to Executive Vice President and will continue to serve as Director of Residential Lending. Bob's tenure at Manasquan Bank commenced in 2010 as a Senior Vice President and Director of Residential Lending. With a bachelor's degree in political science from Seton Hall University, Bob's extensive career spans tenures with renowned institutions such as City Federal Savings Bank, Ocean First Bank, Sovereign Bank, Freedom Mortgage, and Central Jersey Bank. His leadership and expertise have been instrumental in driving the success of the Residential Lending Department. James S. Vaccaro, Chair, President, and CEO of Manasquan Bank expressed his sincere appreciation for the dedication and contributions of these newly promoted executives. "The elevation of Jennie, Jeff, Tim, and Bob to Executive Vice President underscores their exceptional leadership and commitment to excellence," said Vaccaro. "Their collective expertise and unwavering dedication have been instrumental in driving the success of Manasquan Bank, and they, collectively, will continue to play pivotal roles in the development, shaping, and success of our future." Manasquan Bank extends its congratulations to Jennie Piperi, Jeffery Casten, Timothy Dempsey, and Robert Hart on their well-deserved promotions. About Manasquan Bank: Manasquan Bank, a mutual community bank with consolidated assets of $2.9 Billion, is headquartered in Wall Township, NJ. The Bank has been serving New Jersey residents since 1874 and continues to pioneer the future of banking with both traditional and digital solutions. The Bank offers a full line of personal & business services, and operates fifteen branch locations throughout Middlesex, Monmouth & Ocean Counties. Manasquan Bank proudly supports community-focused, non-profit initiatives through the Manasquan Bank Charitable Foundation. For more information, visit www.manasquan.bank SOURCE Manasquan Bank CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Myeloid Therapeutics, Inc. ("Myeloid"), a clinical stage immunology company, announced today that it will participate in the Jefferies Healthcare Conference Private Biotech Day, taking place June 4th, 2024, in New York. Company management will be conducting one-on-one meetings with investors at the conference. About Myeloid Therapeutics Myeloid Therapeutics is a clinical stage immunology company, engineering cutting-edge RNA technology to program immune cells to combat cancer and other deadly diseases. Myeloid is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. For additional information, please visit https://www.myeloidtx.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn and X/Twitter . For collaborative interests, write to [email protected] . Investor and Media Contact Amy Conrad Juniper Point [email protected] SOURCE Myeloid Therapeutics, Inc. WASHINGTON, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch and launch activities for the agency's Boeing Crew Flight Test, which will carry NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to and from the International Space Station. Launch of the ULA (United Launch Alliance) Atlas V rocket and Boeing Starliner spacecraft is targeted for 12:25 p.m. EDT Saturday, June 1, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Starliner will dock to the forward-facing port of the station's Harmony module at approximately 1:50 p.m., Sunday, June 2. Boeings CST-100 Starliner crew ship approaches the International Space Station on the companys Orbital Flight Test-2 mission before automatically docking to the Harmony modules forward port. Wilmore and Williams will remain at the space station for about a week to test the Starliner spacecraft and its subsystems before NASA works to complete final certification of the transportation system for rotational missions to the orbiting laboratory as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program. NASA, Boeing, and ULA scrubbed the previous launch opportunity on May 6 due to a suspect oxygen relief valve on the Atlas V rocket's Centaur second stage. Since, teams have removed and replaced the valve, and completed an assessment of Starliner's performance and redundancy after discovering a small helium leak in the spacecraft's service module. As part of the helium leak investigation, NASA and Boeing conducted a follow-on propulsion system assessment to understand potential helium system impacts to some Starliner return scenarios. NASA also completed a Delta-Agency Flight Test Readiness Review on May 29 to evaluate all work performed and flight rationale before proceeding toward launch. The deadline for media accreditation for in-person coverage of this launch has passed. The agency's media credentialing policy is available online. For questions about media accreditation, please email: [email protected]. NASA's mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations): Friday, May 31 1 p.m. Prelaunch briefing with the following participants: NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free Steve Stich , manager, NASA's Commercial Crew Program , manager, NASA's Commercial Crew Program Dana Weigel , manager, NASA's International Space Station Program , manager, NASA's International Space Station Program NASA astronaut Mike Fincke Mark Nappi , vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing , vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing Gary Wentz , vice president, Government and Commercial Programs, ULA , vice president, Government and Commercial Programs, ULA Mark Burger , launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Coverage of the briefing will stream live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency's website. Media may ask questions in person and via phone. Limited auditorium space will be available for in-person participation. For the dial-in number and passcode, media should contact the newsroom at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida no later than one hour before the start of the event at [email protected]. Saturday, June 1 8:15 a.m. Launch coverage begins on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency's website. 12:25 p.m. Launch Launch coverage on NASA+ will end shortly after Starliner orbital insertion. NASA Television will provide continuous coverage leading up to docking and through hatch opening and welcome remarks. 2 p.m. Postlaunch news conference with the following participants: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Ken Bowersox , associate administrator, NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate , associate administrator, NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate Steve Stich , manager, NASA's Commercial Crew Program , manager, NASA's Commercial Crew Program Dana Weigel , manager, NASA's International Space Station Program , manager, NASA's International Space Station Program Mark Nappi , vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing , vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing Tory Bruno , president and CEO, ULA Coverage of the postlaunch news conference will air live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency's website. Media may ask questions in person and via phone. Limited auditorium space will be available for in-person participation. For the dial-in number and passcode, media should contact the Kennedy newsroom no later than three hours before the start of the event at [email protected]. NASA+ will resume coverage and NASA Television's public channel will break from in-orbit coverage to carry the postlaunch news conference. Mission operational coverage will continue on NASA Television's media channel and the agency's website. Once the postlaunch news conference is complete, NASA+ coverage will end, and mission coverage will continue on both NASA channels. Sunday, June 2 11:15 a.m. Arrival coverage resumes on NASA+, the NASA app, and YouTube, and continues on NASA Television and the agency's website. 1:50 p.m. Targeted docking to the forward-facing port of the station's Harmony module 3:35 p.m. Hatch opening 3:55 p.m. Welcome remarks 5 p.m. Post-docking news conference at NASA's Johnson Space Center with the following participants: NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free Steve Stich , manager, NASA's Commercial Crew Program , manager, NASA's Commercial Crew Program Dana Weigel , manager, NASA's International Space Station Program , manager, NASA's International Space Station Program Mark Nappi , vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing Coverage of the post-docking news conference will air live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency's website. All times are estimates and could be adjusted based on operations after launch. Follow the space station blog for the most up-to-date operations information. Audio Only Coverage Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA "V" circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240 or -7135. On launch day, "mission audio," countdown activities without NASA Television launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135. Launch audio also will be available on Launch Information Service and Amateur Television System's VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz and KSC Amateur Radio Club's UHF radio frequency 444.925 MHz, FM mode, heard within Brevard County on the Space Coast. Live Video Coverage Prior to Launch NASA will provide a live video feed of Space Launch Complex-41 approximately 48 hours prior to the planned liftoff of the mission. Pending unlikely technical issues, the feed will be uninterrupted until the prelaunch broadcast begins on NASA Television, approximately four hours prior to launch. Once the feed is live, find it on NASA Kennedy's YouTube: http://youtube.com/kscnewsroom . NASA Website Launch Coverage Launch day coverage of the mission will be available on the agency's website. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 8:15 a.m., June 1, as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468. Follow countdown coverage on the commercial crew or the Crew Flight Test blog. Attend Launch Virtually Members of the public can register to attend this launch virtually. NASA's virtual guest program for this mission also includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a stamp for the NASA virtual guest passport following launch. Watch, Engage on Social Media Let people know you're following the mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by using the hashtags #Starliner and #NASASocial. You can also stay connected by following and tagging these accounts: X: @NASA , @NASAKennedy , @NASASocial , @Space_Station , @ISS_Research , @ISS National Lab , @BoeingSpace , @Commercial_Crew Facebook: NASA , NASAKennedy , ISS , ISS National Lab Instagram: @NASA , @NASAKennedy , @ISS , @ISSNationalLab Coverage en Espanol Did you know NASA has a Spanish section called NASA en Espanol? Check out NASA en Espanol on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for additional mission coverage. Para obtener informacion sobre cobertura en espanol en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en espanol, comuniquese con Antonia Jaramillo: 321-501-8425; [email protected]. NASA's Commercial Crew Program has delivered on its goal of safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station from the United States through a partnership with American private industry. This partnership is changing the arc of human spaceflight history by opening access to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station to more people, science, and commercial opportunities. The space station remains the springboard to NASA's next great leap in space exploration, including future missions to the Moon and, eventually, to Mars. For NASA's launch blog and more information about the mission, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew SOURCE NASA WASHINGTON, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Bill Nelson welcomed Peru as the newest nation to sign the Artemis Accords Thursday during a ceremony with the U.S. State Department at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Peru joins 40 other countries in a commitment to advancing principles for the safe, transparent, and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond. From left to right, Ambassador of Peru to the United States Alfredo Ferrero Diez Canseco, Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and United States Department of State Acting Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer R. Littlejohn, pose for a photo during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Peru is the 41st country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASAs Artemis program. Credits: NASA/Keegan Barber "NASA is proud to welcome Peru to the Artemis Accords family," said Nelson. "This giant leap forward for our countries is a result of decades of work Peru has done to further its reach in the cosmos. We live in the golden era of space exploration. Together, we will continue to explore the cosmos openly, responsibly, as partners, for all." Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea, foreign minister, signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of Peru. Alfredo Ferrero Diez Canseco, ambassador of Peru to the U.S. and Jennifer R. Littlejohn, acting assistant secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of State, also participated in the signing ceremony. "Peru, by joining the Artemis Accords, seeks not only to express a common vision with the other member countries but also to establish cooperation mechanisms with these countries, especially with the United States, to participate in activities of exploration and sustainable use of resources found in space, as well as to promote aerospace scientific development in our country," said Gonzalez-Olaechea. The United States and seven other nations were the first to sign the Artemis Accords in 2020, which identified an early set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for all humanity. The accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data. More countries are expected to sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years to come. The commitments of the Artemis Accords, and efforts by the signatories to advance implementation of these principles, support NASA's Artemis campaign with its partners, as well as for the success of the safe and sustainable exploration activities of the other accords signatories. For more information about the Artemis Accords, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords/ SOURCE NASA WASHINGTON, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Slovakia signed the Artemis Accords Thursday during a ceremony hosted by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at the agency's headquarters in Washington, becoming the 42nd nation to join an international community in a commitment to peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space for the benefit of all. From left to right, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the United States Radovan Javorcik, Slovak Republic Minister of Education, Research, Development, and Youth Tomas Drucker, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and United States Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Sonata Coulter pose for a photo during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Slovakia is the 42nd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA's Artemis program. Credits: NASA/Keegan Barber "NASA welcomes Slovakia as the newest signatory of the Artemis Accords," said Nelson. "The United States and Slovakia share a deep understanding of the power of exploration. Through this new chapter in our nations' partnership, we will further this global coalition to explore the cosmos openly, responsibly, in peace." Tomas Drucker, Minister of Education, Research, Development, and Youth signed the Accords on behalf of Slovakia. Sonata Coulter, deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. State Department, and Radovan Javorcik, ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the U.S., also participated in the signing ceremony. "Slovakia perceives the Artemis Accords as a great opportunity for this generation to positively define guidelines and principles for the responsible and sustainable exploration and use of outer space," said Drucker. Earlier Thursday, Peru became the 41st country to sign the Artemis Accords. The United States and seven other nations were the first to sign the Artemis Accords in 2020, which identified an early set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for all humanity. The accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data. Several accords signatories also met face-to-face for a workshop in May to continue implementing the principles. The commitments of the Artemis Accords, and the efforts by the signatories to advance implementation of these principles, support NASA's Artemis campaign with its partners, as well as for the success of the safe and sustainable exploration activities of the other Accords signatories. For more information on the Artemis Accords, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords SOURCE NASA LOS ANGELES, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting June 11, Cedars Sinai, Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, PRIDENet, in California 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, June 11 to Wednesday, June 12, 2024 10am-4pm MLK Jr Center for Public Health 11833 Wilmington Ave Los Angeles, CA 90059 Friday, June 14 to Saturday, June 15, 2024 10am-4pm Mi Centro 553 S Clarence St Los Angeles, CA 90033 Tuesday, June 18 to Wednesday, June 19, 2024 2:30-6pm Southwinds Youth Center 300 W Clara St Oxnard, CA 93033 Thursday, June 20 to Friday, June 21, 2024 2:30-6:30pm MAOF Oxnard Early Learning Center 1800 C St Oxnard CA 93033 Saturday, June 22, 2024 8am-4pm College Park 3250 S Rose Ave Oxnard, CA 93033 See the full list of events in California from June 11 to June 22 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/onthego . 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: 703-454-9168 ext: 144 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Montage Marketing Group MANCHESTER, N.Y., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting June 11, New Hampshire Fishercats and University of New Hampshire in Manchester, NH 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: Manchester, NY 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, June 11, to Friday, June 18, 2024 11:30am-5pm Delta Dental Stadium 1 Line Dr Manchester, NH 03101 Tuesday, June 18, to Friday, June 21, 2024 10am-4pm University of New Hampshire 105 Main St Durham, NH 03824 See the full list of events in New Hampshire from June 11 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/tour . 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: 703-454-9168 ext: 144 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Montage Marketing Group Over 1,000 Projects Potentially at Risk If Cap-and-Invest Ends SEATTLE, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clean & Prosperous Institute unveiled its latest initiative: The Risk of Repeal mapping tool, an online resource to track the more than 1,000 projects already funded by the Climate Commitment Act. Signed just three years ago this month and beginning implementation just seventeen months ago, the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) is still in its infancy and faces many challenges that could significantly weaken or fully repeal it. With this new tool, Clean & Prosperous Institute is shining a spotlight on the investments that CCA dollars are making into communities spanning every county in the state, with nearly $7.31B in longer-term projects at high risk of being scaled back or lost altogether, should the CCA be repealed. Projects at risk of repeal range from forest health initiatives and salmon recovery projects to transportation improvements and new ferry construction. The interactive map and downloadable database plots over $1.1 billion in community investments, representing 60 percent of revenues generated to date from CCA auctions. Another $2 billion of authorized programs are still in the process of being distributed to Washington residents and businesses. The Risk of Repeal Mapping Tool will continue to track these as funding flows to communities. "Projects large and small dot the landscape, from forest and fish protection projects in Aberdeen to dairy farms in Pullman," said Kevin Tempest, the Institute's Research Director. "From electric passenger ferry construction for Anacortes to electric vehicle chargers in Washtucna, the Climate Commitment Act is revitalizing infrastructure and creating new job opportunities for all Washingtonians, both east and west." "Investments are flowing to communities in every county across the state," continued Tempest. "They are lowering the cost of clean energy, improving the health of forests and providing an economic engine to power our communities towards a clean energy future." The Risk of Repeal map tool offers transparency and clarity, allowing users to explore where Climate Commitment Act revenues are being invested while identifying projects and programs at risk of losing funding. It categorizes projects based on risk levels, from high-risk investments directly funded by the Climate Commitment Act to minimal-risk initiatives nearing completion. By providing relevant information and key context, the tool empowers stakeholders to understand the current scope of investments and potential risk of repeal. "Our goal is to ensure that these investments are visible," said Tempest. "The Risk of Repeal mapping tool is a vital resource to provide transparency and detail about how investments are already putting shovels in the ground to deliver benefits to communities in every county across the state." For more information and to access the Risk of Repeal map tool, visit riskofrepeal.cleanprosperousinstitute.org. For additional information on specific projects at risk, please check here. Media, please contact Lee Keller to get a live demo of the map or for interviews at 206.799.3805 or [email protected]. More About Clean & Prosperous Institute The Clean & Prosperous Institute (formerly the Low Carbon Prosperity Institute) works to responsibly tackle climate change and carbon reduction at the state level. We leverage resources, prioritize truth-telling, and strive for improved government and private-sector collaboration. Our core focus is system design, delivering technically accurate, long-term greenhouse gas reduction strategies that guide policy decisions. We thoroughly explore opportunities and complex risk factors associated with crafting climate policy from the state level upward. We strongly believe in the power of business leadership, bipartisan problem-solving, and data-driven public policy. Media Contact: Lee Keller Call or text: 206.799.3805 [email protected] SOURCE Clean & Prosperous Institute News / National by Staff reporter The government has reached out to the Ndiweni family to propose a meeting concerning the vacant Ntabazinduna chieftainship following the dismissal of Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.In a letter dated May 23, 2024, and addressed to the Ndiweni family, acting Umguza district development coordinator, F. Muchokore, conveyed the intention to hold a meeting on May 31 at Chief Ndiweni's homestead to discuss the Ndiweni chieftainship."The Department of Traditional Leaders Support Services is requesting an engagement meeting with the Ndiweni family concerning the Ndiweni chieftainship," the letter stated."Therefore, may you assist by inviting members of the Ndiweni family to this important meeting. Kindly advise on a convenient time to hold the meeting. Your usual cooperation will be greatly appreciated."The letter was copied to the acting director of Local Government Services, Tapiwa Zivovoyi, and the chief director of Traditional Leaders Support Services, F. Chikovo.Although Muchokore was unavailable for comment, Nhlanhlayamangwe, in response to the letter, expressed gratitude for the correspondence after a prolonged period of silence. However, he sought clarification from the acting DDC regarding the meeting's agenda, necessary documents, attendees, and preferred venue, considering potential challenges for virtual participation due to poor internet connectivity.Notably, Nhlanhlayamangwe highlighted that the proposed venue was subject to a High Court order. He reiterated his claim to the Ntabazinduna chieftainship despite previous challenges and maintains regular virtual engagements with village heads and subjects. PLANO, Texas, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) is pleased to announce that Becker's Healthcare named North Texas Medical Center (NTMC) and Southwest Health System (SHS) to its "100 Great Community Hospitals 2024" list. NTMC in Gainesville, Texas, and SHS in Cortez, Colo., join other community hospitals on Becker's list that provide "clinical and academic excellence, personalized, and holistic care, and overall improved health in their communities." Tom Sledge is CEO of NTMC, a CHC 60-bed acute care hospital. Joe Theine is CEO of SHS, a CHC-managed 20-bed critical access hospital. Becker's based its selections on nominations and outside rankings and ratings organizations, including U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), The Leapfrog Group, the National Rural Health Association and The Chartis Center for Rural Health. CHC President and CEO Jim Kendrick commented: "Becker's recognition validates the reputation of NTMC and SHS as two of the country's finest community hospitals. CHC is extremely proud of their dedicated staff who work tirelessly to improve the quality of patient outcomes and satisfaction. CHC is honored to play an integral role in their achievements and advancing quality and efficient healthcare delivery." Including NTMC and SHS on the publication's list reflects their achievements in operational and financial improvements, such as: NMTC joined a pilot program introducing Hospital at Home care to its community. The new program is designed to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare in their service area. In 2023, NMTC received the CMS 5-Star Overall Rating and 5-Star Patient Survey Rating, making NTMC one of nine Texas hospitals to earn the highest marks in both categories. hospitals to earn the highest marks in both categories. SHS' innovations include improving the hospital's infrastructure to reduce building costs, launching a community-based physician recruitment program that led to several hires, and collaborating with CHC on various revenue integrity improvements. About Community Hospital Corporation HELP WHERE HOSPITALS NEED IT Community Hospital Corporation owns, manages and consults with hospitals through CHC Hospitals, CHC Consulting and CHC ContinueCARE. Visit www.chc.com. Contact: Anne Block [email protected] 972-943-6470 SOURCE Community Hospital Corporation NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OneMain Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: OMF), the leader in offering nonprime consumers responsible access to credit, announced today that Doug Shulman, Chairman and CEO, and Jenny Osterhout, CFO, will present at the 2024 TD Cowen Financial Services & Fintech Summit at 11:30 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, June 6. Webcast Information The general public is invited to listen to the live audio webcast through the Investor Relations section of OneMain's website at http://investor.onemainfinancial.com. About OneMain Holdings, Inc. OneMain Financial (NYSE: OMF) is the leader in offering nonprime consumers responsible access to credit and is dedicated to improving the financial well-being of hardworking Americans. We empower our customers to solve today's problems and reach a better financial future through personalized solutions available online and in 1,300 locations across 44 states. OneMain is committed to making a positive impact on the people and the communities we serve. For additional information, please visit www.OneMainFinancial.com. Contacts Investor Contact: Peter R Poillon, 212-359-2432 [email protected] SOURCE OneMain Holdings, Inc. Innovative Educators Announces Free Webinar on AI Literacy for College Students BOULDER, Colo., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world where AI is integral to every industry, the need for comprehensive AI literacy is not just imminentit's urgent. Reports indicate that over 60% of new jobs require basic AI skills, yet less than 20% of college students feel prepared to utilize AI effectively. This gap represents a critical opportunity for educational institutions to step forward and bridge the divide. Furthermore, 77% of companies are either using or exploring the use of AI, emphasizing the growing demand for these skills in the workforce (AI Index) (MarketSplash). Innovative Educators Innovative Educators As the demand for artificial intelligence (AI) skills skyrockets, with 75% of employers now seeking candidates with AI proficiency, colleges & universities need to address this educational shift (BCG, 2023). Join Innovative Educators as they discuss these challenges during their upcoming webinar, " Are Your Students AI Ready For Fall? Essential AI Literacy Tools For Academic Integrity & Success ," designed to prepare educational leaders to integrate AI literacy training into their educational plans. Scheduled for June 18th, 3-4 Eastern, this webinar offers strategic insights into fostering academic integrity and enhancing employability through AI education. Immediate Need for AI Literacy Strategic Educational Development: Position your institution at the forefront of educational innovation, enhancing its attractiveness to prospective students and faculty. Position your institution at the forefront of educational innovation, enhancing its attractiveness to prospective students and faculty. Comprehensive Learning Outcomes: Equip your students with the knowledge to use AI tools effectively and ethically, fostering a campus-wide culture of responsible and innovative technology use. Equip your students with the knowledge to use AI tools effectively and ethically, fostering a campus-wide culture of responsible and innovative technology use. Future-Proof Your Curriculum: As AI becomes more pervasive, your students will be ahead of the curve, ready to transition into the workforce with a competitive edge. Expert-Led Insights Featuring Jean Mandernach, a renowned AI educator with over a decade in technology integration, this webinar will explore actionable strategies for embedding AI tools and principles across educational spectra. Jean's expertise is particularly relevant in today's tech-centric academic landscape, providing attendees with not just knowledge but practical approaches to AI education. Webinar Details: Register! Are Your Students AI Ready For Fall? Essential AI Literacy Tools For Academic Integrity & Success June 18th , 3-4 Eastern Introducing the AI Literacy Course In the latter part of the webinar, they will showcase their AI literacy course designed to address the needs for student populations. Attendees get an insider look at how the course works, including: Comprehensive Curriculum: From basic AI principles to complex applications, the course covers all facets of AI, preparing students to use AI tools effectively and ethically. From basic AI principles to complex applications, the course covers all facets of AI, preparing students to use AI tools effectively and ethically. Customizable Modules: Tailored to fit any institution's needs, our course offers flexibility and depth, ensuring relevance and applicability. Tailored to fit any institution's needs, our course offers flexibility and depth, ensuring relevance and applicability. Real-World Application: Each module is crafted to educate and empower students with practical skills to apply AI in their studies and future careers Secure a spot today at Are Your Students AI Ready For Fall? Essential AI Literacy Tools For Academic Integrity & Success and set your students on a path to success in an AI-driven future. Media Contact: Valerie Kisiel 303-955-0415 [email protected] SOURCE Innovative Educators TORONTO, May 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Pluribus Technologies Corp. (TSXV: PLRB) ("Pluribus" or the "Company") announces a further amendment (the "Amendment") to the previously-announced forbearance agreement (the "Forbearance Agreement") dated January 18, 2024, between the Company and National Bank of Canada (the "Lender"), relating to a secured credit agreement dated April 27, 2022, as amended, among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries and the Lender. Under the Amendment, the Lender has agreed to extend the term of the Forbearance Agreement to June 5, 2024 to allow the Company to continue its previously announced strategic review process, which involves a review and evaluation of strategic alternatives that may be available to the Company to further enhance the Company's growth, development and prosperity in the short and long terms, with the goal of maximizing shareholder value. The Company will provide an update when further disclosure is required or otherwise appropriate. About Pluribus Technologies Corp. Pluribus is a technology company that is a value-based acquirer and operator of small, profitable business-to-business technology companies in a range of verticals and industries. Pluribus provides its acquisitions access to experienced sales and marketing resources, strategic partnership opportunities, a diverse portfolio of customers in different geographical markets and enabling technologies to create new revenue streams and provide the opportunity for these companies to grow in their respective markets. When market conditions are conducive to raising capital at reasonable costs, Pluribus focuses on rapidly acquiring and integrating new acquisitions to accelerate growth. When the environment does not support this, Pluribus focuses on implementing strategies to maximize organic growth and increase cashflow from operations in its existing portfolio companies. For more information, please visit: pluribustechnologies.com Forward-Looking Information Certain information in this press release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to whether the Lender will continue to forbear from exercising their rights and remedies on expiry of the Forbearance Agreement and what the terms or timing of such a transaction or such continued forbearance might be, the Company providing an update when further disclosure is required or otherwise appropriate, the business plans of the Company, including the completion of future acquisitions, the Company management's expectation on the growth, profitability and performance of its portfolio companies, the Company's ability to acquire business-to-business technology companies in the future, the Company's ability to grow its portfolio companies and the Company achieving a positive transaction as a result of its strategic review process. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or negatives of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, including the Company's ability to manage a complex portfolio of companies effectively; and the Company's ability to raise sufficient financing to continue its acquisition strategy. Other assumptions include industry trends, the availability of growth opportunities, and general business, economic, competitive, political, regulatory and social uncertainties will not prevent the Company from conducting its business. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies and they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information speaks only to such assumptions as of the date of this release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing is not exhaustive. Readers are further 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 placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The purpose of forward-looking information is to provide the reader with a description of management's expectations, and such forward-looking information may not be appropriate for any other purpose. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. 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 press release. Contact: Richard Adair Chief Executive Officer Pluribus Technologies Corp. 1 (800) 851-9383 SOURCE Pluribus Technologies Corp. The program democratizes ML insights, allowing diverse professionals to make data-driven decisions without coding barriers Through no code tools, projects and case studies, learners develop practical skills for implementing AI solutions in real-world scenarios The program ensures comprehensive skill development from data collection to deployment for effective analysis and interpretation to derive insights SAN FRANCISCO, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn , the world's leading online bootcamp provider for digital skills, has announced a strategic collaboration with Purdue University Online to launch a Professional Certificate Program in No Code Machine Learning . This innovative program aims to empower individuals to build and deploy machine learning models without extensive coding experience. The landscape of technology is continuously evolving, with key industry trends shaping the future of various sectors. According to Fortune Business Insights , the global machine learning (ML) market is anticipated to soar, reaching a staggering $225.91 billion by 2030. This projection reflects the growing integration of ML across industries, driving innovation and efficiency. Similarly, the rise of no-code AI platforms is expected to revolutionize software development processes. Future Market Insights expects the no-code AI platform market to grow 28.3% annually from 2023 to 2033. Maximize Market Research predicts it will reach $22.98 billion by 2029. The program is designed for individuals from diverse backgrounds, offering a comprehensive curriculum covering key machine-learning concepts. Learners will learn to leverage various no-code machine learning platforms, including DataRobot, Dataiku, and Amazon SageMaker Canvas, to analyze data, build predictive models, and make data-driven decisions. Moreover, learners will be adept at training, evaluating, and deploying no-code ML models, as well as refining outcomes based on key metrics. By immersing themselves in real-world scenarios such as customer feedback analysis, churn prediction, demand forecasting, and image recognition, learners are prepared to implement no-code ML solutions effectively. Upon completion, learners will receive a program completion certificate from Purdue University Online and Simplilearn and gain access to Purdue's alumni association. With over 50 hours of core curriculum delivered through live online classes by industry experts, learners engage in hands-on projects across various industries to apply their knowledge effectively. Additionally, they benefit from live online masterclasses conducted by Purdue faculty and staff. Moreover, Simplilearn's Job Assist feature aids learners in gaining visibility with top hiring companies, enhancing their career prospects. To be eligible for the program individuals must be at least 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. While applicants are encouraged to have at least two years of professional work experience, it is not mandatory. Additionally, individuals from both programming and non-programming backgrounds can enroll. Speaking about the program, Mr. Anand Narayanan, Chief Product Officer of Simplilearn, said," Our collaboration with Purdue University Online for the No Code Machine Learning Program brings together the expertise of the world's leading online bootcamp provider and a renowned institution dedicated to innovation. This program is designed to make machine learning accessible to business professionals who need to harness the power of machine learning but do not want to learn coding. This program really is machine learning for everyone, and we hope that our learners will apply these tools and techniques to deliver business value to their organizations." Carrie Berger, Executive Director of Academic Affairs for Purdue University Online, said, "With AI universally having major effects on businesses and industries, as well as society at large, Purdue has recognized the need to develop AI education and training programs that are accessible to diverse audiences, including people who build AIs, people who manage AIs and people who use AIs. Collaborating with Simplilearn on the No Code Machine Learning certificate program is another way for us to enhance our mission, not only to equip learners with vital skills and knowledge but also to create a culture of inclusivity, enabling professionals from various backgrounds, whether programming or non-programming, to excel." About Purdue University Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among the top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue's main campus has frozen tuition for 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Computes at: https://purdue.edu/ About Simplilearn Founded in 2010 and based in San Francisco, California, and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn, a Blackstone portfolio company, is the world's #1 online Bootcamp for digital economy skills training. Simplilearn offers individuals and businesses worldwide access to world-class work-ready training. The Bootcamps are designed and delivered with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies via live online classes featuring top industry practitioners, sought-after trainers, and global leaders. From college students and early career professionals to managers, executives, small businesses, and big corporations, Simplilearn's role-based, skill-focused, industry-recognized, and globally relevant training programs are ideal upskilling solutions for diverse career or business goals. For more information, please visit www.simplilearn.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1100016/4169121/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg SOURCE Simplilearn LOS ANGELES, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Resecurity, Inc. (USA), a leader in global cybersecurity services headquartered in Los Angeles, proudly announces its recognition in the prestigious Frost & Sullivan's Global External Risk Mitigation and Management Market 2023 report. This annual report is an essential indicator of market trends and highlights the most influential vendors and tools shaping the cybersecurity and risk management landscape. Being featured validates Resecurity's innovative approaches and its pivotal role in the sector. Frost & Sullivan's report commends Resecurity's HUNTER team for its relentless pursuit of cutting-edge research and intelligence, which ensures that clients receive up-to-date and actionable cyber threat intelligence. This dedication has secured Resecurity consistent accolades for growth and an impressive customer retention rate of 100% year-over-year. Martin Naydenov, senior industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan, notes, "Resecurity's strategy of expanding access to robust threat intelligence and enhancing visibility into critical areas is a testament to its commitment to redefining the cybersecurity paradigm. This approach not only supports sustained growth but also solidifies its reputation as a leader in the field." Resecurity serves an extensive array of industries globally, providing clients with a cyber threat intelligence platform that integrates the latest threat data with their unique risk profiles and environments. Coupled with its digital risk protection (DRP) and other services, Resecurity offers a comprehensive suite of solutions that address the complexities of modern cyber threats. Gene Yoo, CEO of Resecurity, comments, "We are honored by our inclusion in the Frost & Sullivan External Risk Mitigation and Management Market report for 2023. This recognition from such a respected industry authority confirms our status as a foremost provider of sophisticated risk management and threat intelligence solutions." The exposure in the Frost & Sullivan report is expected to further extend Resecurity's influence in the cybersecurity industry, as many organizations rely on Frost & Sullivan for credible market research and intelligence. With strategic partnerships and a broad global presence, Resecurity is well-positioned to continue its expansion and promote its state-of-the-art threat intelligence and risk management solutions for Fortune 100 and government agencies. The cybersecurity market is increasingly vital as the threat landscape evolves with more sophisticated cyber-attacks and new security challenges. Organizations must navigate challenges posed by both legacy and emerging threats. In this environment, having access to comprehensive, actionable intelligence is critical for staying ahead of threat actors and securing digital assets effectively. About Resecurity Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence. Known for providing best-of-breed data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity's services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it has been globally recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of enabling organizations to combat cyber threats regardless of how sophisticated they are. Most recently, Resecurity was named as one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California by Inc. Magazine. An Official Member of InfraGard National Members Alliance (INMA), AFCEA, NDIA, SIA, FS-ISAC and the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia (AmChamKSA), Singapore (AmChamSG), Korea (AmChamKorea), Mexico (AmChamMX), Thailand (AmChamThailand), and UAE (AmChamDubai). To learn more about Resecurity, visit https://resecurity.com. SOURCE Resecurity Inc. The uniform design concepts are set to be unveiled during Haute Couture Week in Paris, on June 27, with the full uniform launch scheduled for later this year RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Riyadh Air has selected world-renowned Saudi Arabian fashion designer Ashi to design and create the airline's first-ever cabin crew fashion line. The partnership marks another groundbreaking milestone for the Kingdom's new start-up airline, which is set to combine spectacular high fashion and outstanding design with functionality ahead of its maiden flight in 2025. Riyadh Air chooses Creative Director Ashi as its cabin crew fashion designer Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas The new uniform collection will be a stunning visual manifestation of cutting-edge design that reflects Riyadh Air's dynamic approach to doing things differently, along with setting new standards in customer service and style, as it positively disrupts the future of aviation through its digital-first mindset and relentless attention to detail. Riyadh Air and Ashi share a common DNA of luxury, style and a focus on the future, with both committed to showcasing the world-class ingenuity, excellence and innovation of Saudi Arabia to the world. Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said: "It is a hugely proud moment for Riyadh Air to be working with an exceptionally talented designer such as Ashi for our beautiful cabin crew fashion line. Our cabin crew personify the panache and style that Riyadh Air represents, making it imperative to partner with a like-minded innovator who not only understands Saudi Arabian culture and hospitality, but also captures the essence of our brand with a bold, visual impact. The cabin crew fashion line is one of the first things our guests will see when they board our aircraft in 2025 and we are confident that Ashi's unique designs will leave a lasting impression, ensuring the experience lives long in their memory after they have landed." Ashi, founder and creative director of ASHI STUDIO said: "It's such an honour to collaborate with Riyadh Air to design the airline's first ever cabin crew fashion line. The airline will play an important role in the future of Saudi Arabia by making Riyadh one of the world's key destinations. I am delighted to be part of a project so significant for our nation. It's an exciting time to be in Saudi Arabia and to witness another Saudi brand going global. I am looking forward to sharing the cabin crew fashion line with the world, and to seeing the Riyadh Air team wearing my creations when it takes its maiden flight in 2025." Ashi spent his early years mastering his craft in the United States, working for international Couture houses before settling in Paris. His creations have been worn and seen by major celebrities and royalties becoming himself an iconic figure in Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh Air cabin crew fashion line will follow the same standards set by the airline's historic bold dual-livery designs which were revealed in 2023, exuding elegance with meticulously crafted details combining style, sophistication and comfort, while paying tribute to Saudi Arabia's warm, authentic, hospitality and future-focused vision. Ashi's designs will ensure Riyadh Air cabin crew not only look impeccable but are comfortable and can deliver unrivaled, professional and first-class service to its guests. Ashi is set to unveil the uniform design concepts and share his inspiration for the unique creations at Haute Couture Week in Paris, from June 22-27, with the full uniform launch scheduled for later this year. Riyadh Air is on track to make its maiden flight in 2025, revolutionizing the future of air travel by re-imagining the premium aviation experience for both guests and staff. Photo 1: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2425574/Riyadh_Air_Creative_Director_Ashi.jpg Photo 2:https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2425575/Riyadh_Air_CEO_Tony_Douglas.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2367414/Riyadh_Air_Logo.jpg SOURCE Riyadh Air FOLSOM, Calif., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Samuel Hale, LLC has announced its new partnership with XL Insurance America, a member of AXA Group, effective May 1st, 2024. XL will be Samuel Hale's workers' compensation insurance carrier for their 15,000+ employees in the light industrial trades for all 50 states. "The new relationship will not have an impact on existing clients, but will broaden Samuel Hale's underwriting appetite," said Michael DiManno Sr. CEO and Founder of Samuel Hale. "The transition has been seamless for us and our customers and both carriers have the very highest AM Best Rating. "We are deeply grateful for the support we got from the team at Arch Insurance, they played a critical role in the success of our company and we still consider them a partner." About Samuel Hale As a California workers' compensation Employer Carve-out Organization, SAMUEL HALE, LLC enables frictionless employment by shielding California employers from high and unpredictable employment costs due to fraud and litigation in workers' compensation claims. Created in 2016, the company is dedicated to eliminating fraud and unnecessary litigation in work comp claims and reducing clients' insurance premiums. Visit https://www.samuelhale.com/ for more information. About XL Insurance XL Insurance America, part of the AXA Group, is renowned for its financial strength and exceptional service in the Workers' Compensation space. AXA Group is a global leader in insurance and asset management, known for its commitment to innovation and customer-centric approach. For more information, please contact: Garth Nearents Marketing Director [email protected] 916-803-4626 SamuelHale.com Facebook LinkedIn SOURCE Samuel Hale Dog Man: Big Jim Begins, the thirteenth book in the series, explores the origin story of Pilkey's beloved Dog Man characters, and will land in stores in time for the holiday season and weeks before the global theatrical release of the movie. The announcement comes on the heels of the success of Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder released in March of this year and seized the #1 spot as the bestselling book overall (adult and children's books combined) for five straight weeks* in North America and topped bestseller lists around the world. Since the series launched to critical acclaim in August 2016, there are more than 60 million Dog Man books in print to date with translations in 47 languages. Author and illustrator Dav Pilkey, whose first graphic novel was published nearly 22 years ago, said, "With this new book, I wanted to share the origin story of my characters, as readers get to know more about Big Jima character who is playful, kind, overly optimistic and often misunderstood, and who sometimes gets into trouble despite having the best intentions. Since the pandemic, I've been writing and illustrating books in the Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club series which has been a satisfying yet solitary experience. I'm grateful to all my readerskids and their families as well as educators--who have sent me letters and messages of encouragement. Their support and enthusiasm have inspired me to keep making books. I am truly humbled and honored." "For nearly four decades, Dav Pilkey has been delighting kids with books that ignited their passion for reading," said Ellie Berger, President of Scholastic Trade. "With Dog Man, Dav has created a vast universe featuring characters that kids can relate to and stories that make them laugh and clamor for more. There isn't anything in the industry that has reached this level of success and fandom that Dog Man has achieved in seven short years. The massive impact of Dav Pilkey's books cannot be overstated, and we couldn't be more proud to be his publisher and help bring these books to the hands of kids everywhere." "Dog Man" film director Peter Hastings (Kung Fu Panda, Animaniacs, The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants), said, "What I found so compelling about Dog Man is that it transcends culture and language, connecting and uniting kids and families everywhere with stories about friendship, love, bravery, empathy, epic adventuresand of course, a lot of humor. All of us at DreamWorks Animation are thrilled to once again be partnering with the incredibly talented Dav Pilkey and the team at Scholastic to bring Dog Man to the big screen--an iconic character known all over the world." With Dav Pilkey's trademark humor and heart, the Dog Man series celebrates creativity and imagination and explores universally positive messages including the importance of doing good and striving to become a better version of one's self, while it also tackles more complex themes including loss, redemption, and forgiveness. Most recently with Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder, Dav Pilkey delved into the world of artificial intelligence while making a gripping and comical commentary about the impact of social media. About Dav Pilkey The publication of Dog Man: Big Jim Begins marks Dav Pilkey's 38 years of writing and illustrating award-winning and bestselling books for children. When Pilkey was in second grade, he was diagnosed with dyslexia and what is now widely known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Because of his learning and behavioral issues in school, he was often sent out in the hallway. It was in his elementary school hallway where he created comic books about superheroes that eventually became Captain Underpants and Dog Man. Launched more than 25 years ago, Pilkey's pioneering Captain Underpants series has more than 90 million copies in print, translations in 38 languages, released as a feature film by DreamWorks Animation, as well as an original series on Netflix. TheaterWorksUSA's musical adaptations of Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club opened to rave reviews, were both New York Times Critics' Picks, and are currently touring around North America and Australia. Dav Pilkey has created over 70 books for children and was awarded a Caldecott Honor for his picture book The Paperboy. His first graphic novel, The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, was an instant national bestseller and was published fourteen years before the first Dog Man book was released. For more information about Dav Pilkey and his books, visit https://mediaroom.scholastic.com/davpilkey. About Scholastic For more information about Scholastic, visit our mediaroom at https://mediaroom.scholastic.com/. (*Source: Circana Bookscan) SOURCE Scholastic Inc VANCOUVER, BC, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Scope AI Corp. (CSE: SCPE) (OTCQB: SCPCF) (FSE: VN8) ("Scope" or the "Company") is excited to announce its collaboration with several leading ad agencies and ad networks. This initiative aims to gain insights into the primary challenges these organizations face in analyzing the efficacy of different ad creatives and page layouts, as well as the difficulties and costs associated with testing. These friendly collaborations are part of Scope AI's commitment to ensuring that the functionality and features of its GEM (General Enterprise Machine Learning) platform are the best market-product fit. By engaging directly with industry professionals, Scope AI is gathering critical feedback to refine and enhance GEM's capabilities, making it a more valuable tool for advertisers, brands, agencies, and Adtech service providers. GEM, Scope AI's flagship product, is designed to revolutionize the advertising technology sector through advanced AI-driven visual recognition and neural network technology. The platform will enable users to streamline processes, maximize return on ad spend, and analyze user behavior through custom neural networks without the need for expensive and risky live campaign testing. "Our approach is to start with the pain points of our potential users and build solutions based on those insights," said James Young, CEO of Scope AI Corp. "We believe in understanding the real-world challenges faced by our partners, rather than falling into the common software trap of 'build it and they will come.' This collaboration ensures that GEM is not just another tool, but a solution that addresses the specific needs of the advertising community." Scope AI's commitment to innovation and user-centric development is further evidenced by its expanding development team, which is focused on incorporating feedback from these collaborations into the GEM platform. By doing so, Scope AI aims to deliver cutting-edge AI solutions that drive growth, productivity, and campaign performance in the advertising technology sector. About Scope AI Corp.: Scope AI Corp. is a leading technology company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, dedicated to advancing the field of artificial intelligence. With a focus on visual recognition and neural network technology, Scope is committed to empowering businesses and industries with innovative solutions that drive growth and innovation. For more information please visit Scope AI Corp. , [email protected] , or follow along on social media. LinkedIn: scope-ai-corp Facebook: Scope AI Corp Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScopeAICorp Contact Information James Young, Chief Executive Officer (604) 416-1720 [email protected] Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that constitute forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that are not purely historical statements of fact are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, future, strategy, objectives, goals and targets, and more specifically, the use of proceeds of the Offering. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable and reflect expectations of future developments and other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "aim", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, including, but not limited to, those risks and assumptions described in the Company's prospectus dated August 10, 2022, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While Scope considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions, continued satisfaction of Canadian Securities Exchange requirements, product safety and recalls, regulatory compliance and risks associated with the Company's business. For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause anticipated opportunities and actual results to differ materially, please refer to the risk factors set out in the Company's prospectus dated August 10, 2022, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the business of the Company and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2414853/4733184/Scope_AI_Corp_logo.jpg SOURCE Scope AI Corp. NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Doximity, Inc. ("Doximity" or the "Company") (NYSE: DOCS). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. The class action concerns whether Doximity and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. You have until June 17, 2024 , to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Doximity securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On August 8, 2023, Doximity reported its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, which ended June 30, 2023. While the Company exceeded its quarterly revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance for the first quarter, it provided disappointing guidance for the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 and slashed its guidance for the full fiscal year 2024. Specifically, Doximity announced that it expected fiscal year 2024 revenue of between $452 million and $468 million (down from prior guidance of between $500 million and $506 million, and representing year-over-year revenue growth of only between 7.9% and 11.7%), and adjusted EBITDA of between $193 million and $209 million (down from prior guidance of between $216 million and $222 million, and representing year-over-year adjusted EBITDA growth of only between 4.9% and 13.6%). In conjunction with the disappointing guidance, Doximity announced that it would reduce its workforce by approximately 10%, noting that the workforce reduction is expected to cost approximately $8 million to $10 million. On this news, Doximity's stock price fell $7.49 per share, or 22.84%, to close at $25.30 per share on August 9, 2023. Then, on April 1, 2024, Jehoshaphat Research published a report alleging, among other things, that "Doximity's underlying sales . . . are declining at a negative -3-6% rate, but that this decline has been masked through accelerated revenue recognition." On this news, Doximity's stock price fell $1.11 per share, or 4.12%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $25.80 per share on April 2, 2024. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Roblox Corporation ("Roblox" or the "Company") (NYSE: RBLX). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Roblox and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On May 9, 2024, Roblox reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2024 and provided updated guidance. Among other items, Roblox advised that it expects bookings revenue of $870 million to $900 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to analyst expectations of $929 million, and bookings revenue of $4 billion to $4.1 billion for the full year, significantly lower than the Company's earlier forecast of $4.14 billion to $4.28 billion. On this news, Roblox's stock price fell $8.61 per share, or 22.06%, to close at $30.42 per share on May 9, 2024. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Fastly, Inc. ("Fastly" or the "Company") (NYSE: FSLY) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and docketed under 24-cv-03170, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Fastly securities between February 15, 2024 and May 1, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Fastly securities during the Class Period, you have until July 23, 2024 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] Fastly operates an edge cloud platform for processing, serving, and securing customer's applications. The edge cloud is a category of Infrastructure-as-a-Service that purportedly enables developers to build, secure, and deliver digital experiences. Fastly's platform includes a Content Delivery Network ("CDN"), or a geographically distributed network of proxy servers and their data centers. Content owners such as media companies and e-commerce vendors pay CDN operators to deliver their content to their end users. Certain companies have adopted a "Multi-CDN" framework which combines multiple CDNs from various providers into one large global network. In 2023, a "consolidation trend" emerged in the CDN industry, in which several prominent Multi-CDN companies reduced the number of CDN vendors they had previously managed in an effort to simplify their operations and increase efficiency, opting instead to manage fewer CDN vendors. Facing reduced competition, Fastly was able to materially increase its market share and drive favorable sequential growth. On February 14, 2024, Fastly issued a press release providing full year ("FY") 2024 revenue guidance in a range of $580 million to $590 million. In that same press release, Fastly's Chief Executive Officer Defendant Todd Nightingale ("Nightingale") was quoted as stating, "[t]his quarter demonstrated the progress we've made in operational and financial rigor resulting in strong gross margins and non-GAAP net income," and "[o]ur go-to-market, packaging and channel efforts through 2023 delivered an inflection in our customer acquisition as we closed out the year. This positions us well for 2024, driving our mission to make every user experience fast, safe, and engaging." Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) contrary to its representations to investors, Fastly was in fact experiencing a significant deceleration in growth among its largest customers and was losing the increased market share it had gained as a result of the 2023 CDN consolidation trend; (ii) the foregoing issues were likely to have a material negative impact on the Company's revenue growth; (iii) accordingly, the Company was unlikely to meet its own previously issued revenue guidance for FY 2024; (iv) as a result, the Company's financial position and/or prospects were overstated; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On May 1, 2024, Fastly announced its first quarter ("Q1") 2024 financial results. Despite the Defendants' positive statements just three months earlier about Fastly's performance and near-term business prospects, the Company reported revenue of only $133.52 million, missing consensus estimates by $0.35 million. The Company also lowered its FY 2024 revenue guidance to a range of $555 million to $565 million, significantly below its previously issued FY 2024 revenue guidance of $580 million to $590 million, and likewise below consensus estimates of $584.62 million for the same period. That same day, Fastly held a conference call with investors and analysts to discuss the Company's Q1 2024 results (the "Q1 2024 Earnings Call"). In explaining the Company's disappointing revised FY 2024 outlook, Defendant Nightingale stated that "[t]he biggest factor is a reduction of revenue from a small number of our largest customers. The first-quarter revenue from our top 10 customers dropped from 40% to 38%[,]" and that the Company saw "significant volatility" in the Multi-CDN strategy run by many of Fastly's top 10 accounts. Further, Fastly's Chief Financial Officer Defendant Ronald Kisling stated that the Company is "facing a challenging environment of revenue declines in our largest customers, overshadowing the impact of new customer acquisition and product pipeline[,]" and that the Company would not benefit in 2024 from the favorable impact of the early 2023 CDN consolidation that drove favorable sequential growth in the prior year same period. Then, on May 2, 2024, Bank of America downgraded Fastly stock from a "Buy" rating to an "Underperform" rating and cut its price target on the stock from $18 per share to a mere $8 per share, noting that "[d]ecelerating growth in Fastly's largest customers, share loss in delivery, and limited visibility in 2H cause us to question a rebound in 2024," and that "[w]hile we continue to like Fastly's positioning in the edge compute market, we see it as a 2025 opportunity instead of a near-term growth driver." Following these developments, Fastly's stock price fell $4.14 per share, or 32.02%, to close at $8.79 per share on May 2, 2024. As a result of Defendants' wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the Company's securities, Plaintiff and other Class members have suffered significant losses and damages. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Global Cord Blood Corporation ("Global Cord" or the "Company") (OTC: CORBF) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and docketed under 24-cv-03071, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Global Cord securities between June 4, 2019 and May 3, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Global Cord securities during the Class Period, you have until June 21, 2024 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] Global Cord, together with its subsidiaries, provides umbilical cord blood storage and ancillary services in the in the Beijing Municipality, Guangdong Province, and Zhejiang Province of the People's Republic of China ("PRC"). Originally known as "China Cord Blood Corporation," Global Cord became a public company in May 2007 and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") in November 2009. The Company has received but rejected multiple "going private" offers, or transactions in which a public company is converted into private ownership. From the Company's inception until January 2018, Global Cord's largest shareholder was Golden Meditech Holdings Limited ("Golden Meditech" or "GMHL"), a medical device and hospital management company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and based in the PRC. Founded in 2001 by Defendant Yuen Kam ("Kam"), Golden Meditech was publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange until October 2020, when it was taken private by Kam. Golden Meditech's previous financial interest in Global Cord is just one of the significant connections that have existed between the two companies during the relevant time. Global Cord and Golden Meditech also maintained the same registered address in Hong Kong, even occupying the same building floor. Furthermore, Defendant Kam previously served as Global Cord's Chairperson until January 31, 2018. Global Cord's next Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Defendant Ting Zheng ("Zheng"), served as a non-executive member of Golden Meditech's Board of Directors from August 2012 to May 2019. Global Cord's Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), Defendant Bing Chuen Chen ("Chen"), served (officially) as Golden Meditech's Corporate Finance Vice President from March 2005 until an unknown date after 2017. After that time, Defendant Chen continued to be secretly involved in managing Golden Meditech while he was serving as Global Cord's CFO. Similarly, Kam continued to exert control over Global Cord after he was no longer formally associated with the Company. After the Transaction (descried below) was announced, Chen held Kam out as a representative of Global Cord for a private meeting with the Company's largest shareholder. Even further highlighting the connections between Golden Meditech and Global Cord, Defendants Zheng and Kam are in a personal relationship and have two children. In September 2016, Golden Meditech, in combination with The University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center, announced the founding of Cellenkos Inc. ("Cellenkos"), a biotechnology company based in Houston that focuses on umbilical cord blood-derived T-regulatory cellular therapies. On April 29, 2022, after the market closed, in a Form 6-K filed with the SEC, Global Cord announced that it had entered into a Material Definitive Agreement to acquire Cellenkos for over $1 billion, including $664 million in cash and 114 million Global Cord sharesroughly the same number of the Company's shares that were already outstanding (the "Transaction"). In a press release appended as an exhibit to the Form 6-K, the Company provided that it would acquire 100% of Cellenkos and the rights to develop and commercialize all of its existing and future products worldwide except those related to a certain existing collaboration. Further, the Company stated that, at the close of the Transaction, it planned to issue approximately 125 million new shares, valued at US$11 per share, and pay $664 million in cash as total consideration. The Transaction thus stood to dilute the Company's shareholders by half and deplete its sizable cash balance. On this news, Global Cord's stock price fell $0.98 per share, or 28.57%, from $3.43 at the close of trading on April 29, 2022, to close at $2.45 per share on May 2, 2022. The Transaction was rushed to completion in under three days from when Global Cord's Board was first notified of it, without the shareholder approval that would be expectedand was requiredfor such a momentous transaction. Further, it grossly overvalued Cellenkos, such as by assuming that all of its treatments would receive regulatory approval. Global Cord's Directors approved the Transaction to benefit themselves and other Company insiders and related parties. The court in the Cayman Islands has criticized the role of Global Cord's Directors and management in the Transaction, stating (among other observations) that "it is impossible at this stage to discern any easily comprehensible commercial rationale for the Company, especially being a listed company, consummating and implementing an arrangement which was so financially and strategically significant with such a breath-taking combination of speed and stealth, particularly in circumstances where the Company was (as at April 29, 2022) under 'minority' rather than majority shareholder control." One of Cellenkos's primary products is CK0802, an allogenic cell therapy product that is presently in a randomized, double blinded placebo controlled, multi-center trial for the treatment of COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome . In October 2021, pursuant to a license agreement (the "License Agreement"), Cellenkos assigned the license of CK0802 to Defendant Golden Meditech Precision Medicine Limited ("GMPM"), a subsidiary of Golden Meditech. Thereafter, on October 25, 2022in preparation for the Transaction at issue hereGMPM assigned its interest in the License Agreement to Defendant GM Precision Medicine (BVI) Limited ("GMPM BVI"), a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of GMPM. Under the Framework Agreement for the Transaction, GM Precision Medicine (BVI) Limited was to "provide a written notice (the 'Allocation Notice') to Buyer [i.e., Global Cord] at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing, setting out the identity of each Person (which shall be GMPM or any of GMPM's shareholders or Affiliates as designated by BVI Company [i.e., GMPM BVI]) to receive all or a portion of the Consideration and the amount of Cash Consideration and/or Closing Share Consideration to be received by such Person." The Consideration under the Framework Agreement was $800,000,000, "of which US$664,000,000 shall be payable in cash (the 'Cash Consideration'), and the remainder shall be payable in form of 12,363,636 ordinary shares of Buyer [i.e., Global Cord], par value US$0.0001 per share (the 'Closing Share Consideration')." On May 3, 2022, Blue Ocean Structure Investment Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nanjing Yingpeng, filed a Petition (the "Petition") in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, Financial Services Division, opposing the Transaction. Specifically, the Petition asserted that Cellenkos had no discernible long-term value, that the Transaction purchase price was unjustifiable, that the Transaction would result in a massive dilution of Global Cord shareholders, that the close relationship between Global Cord and Cellenkos constituted a conflict of interest, and that the Transaction was approved without sufficient shareholder knowledge. On this news, Global Cord's stock price fell $0.22 per share, or 9.09%, to close at $2.20 per share on May 5, 2022. On September 22, 2022, as a result of the actions described above and other misconduct by the Individual Defendants related to the Transaction, the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands suspended the powers of Global Cord's Directors and appointed Joint Provisional Liquidators over the Company. As Global Cord announced on September 26, 2022: The Joint Provisional Liquidators are authorized and empowered by the Grand Court to take such steps as they consider necessary or expedient to protect the Company's assets. The powers of the Joint Provisional Liquidators include, among other things, the power to defend any actions or legal proceedings on behalf of the Company, to investigate and conduct the affairs of the Company, to engage staff and advisors to assist them in the performance of their functions, to take possession of and collect the Company's property and to execute all agreements and documents on behalf of the Company. Following the appointment of the Joint Provisional Liquidators, the NYSE halted trading in Global Cord's ordinary shares, effective September 23, 2022. Evidence that was presented to the Cayman Islands court, and that was investigated further and corroborated by the Joint Provisional Liquidators appointed by the Cayman court, shows that the Cellenkos Transaction was actually part of a cover-up aimed at "filling a gap" in Global Cord's balance sheet. It turns out that from September 2015 to May 2022, Global Cord made secret, undisclosed payments of approximately $606 million to entities related to Golden Meditech and controlled by Defendant Kam. Kam and the Golden Meditech Defendants misappropriated even more of Global Cord's funds. The Joint Provisional Liquidators have been able to identify only approximately US$427,000 and HK$135,000 in Global Cord's bank accounts, as compared to the over $1 billion in cash that the Company reported before the Transaction was announced. The Joint Provisional Liquidators and the court in the Cayman Islands have also been highly critical of the extensive efforts of the Individual Defendants to obstruct their work. On June 22, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a Form 25 Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration Under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, stating: "Pursuant to 17 CFR 240.12d2-2(b), the Exchange has complied with its rules to strike the class of securities from listing and/or withdraw registration on the Exchange." The Company's shares continue to trade in the United States on the over-the-counter market and, as of [INSERT], are trading at [INSERT] per share. Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Global Cord employed a capital allocation strategy designed to reserve funds for Company insiders rather than for the benefit of Company shareholders; (ii) Global Cord's decisions to reject multiple going private offers and enter into the Transaction were nothing more than self-serving and conflicted attempts by Defendants to divert company funds to corporate insiders; (iii) Defendants had fundamentally misrepresented to investors Global Cord's approach to capital allocation, strategic investments, acquisitions, and related party transactions; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. As a result of Defendants' wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the Company's securities, Plaintiff and other Class members have suffered significant losses and damages. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Danielle Peyton Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 646-581-9980 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP St. Polten UAS Hosts 33rd EURASHE Annual Conference Every year, the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE) brings together representatives of the higher education sector in order to discuss and design a common path in important matters for the present and future of education. This year's meeting was held at the St. Polten University of Applied Sciences. The focus of the event was on transnational collaborations between higher education institutions and on cooperation with the business world and society. More than 200 experts from all over Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East took part. ST. POLTEN, Austria, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EURASHE, the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education, features approximately 600 universities, universities of applied sciences, university colleges, and similar institutions that conduct primarily professional higher education and applied research. Important Voice in the European Higher Education Area "In order to come up with solutions to the diverse challenges of our times, it is necessary for us to integrate the knowledge and experiences of various fields and to further develop our creativity. In most cases, individual higher education institutions can generate only little impact unless they pool their forces. Therefore, international partnerships and university alliances are decisive for future-oriented development", emphasises St. Polten UAS CEO Hannes Raffaseder who is the current President of EURASHE. St. Polten UAS is also the coordinator of the European University Alliance EUDRES. Regarding higher education institutions it's important that we have a diversity of voices in Europe and EURASHE is a very important voice for the universities of applied sciences. They bring in a different perspective. Typically they are very rooted in the local or regional context. They are close to the labour market and they are very innovative. So we need EURASHE to bring in their perspective and come up with new ideas on how we can make transnational cooperation work better at European level", says Sophia Eriksson Watershoot, Director for Youth, Education and Erasmus+ from the European Commission. "I am happy to have our conference here in St. Polten. The conference is different each year, and that is what makes EURASHE conferences so interesting. Here at this new campus, people get a feel of how fast changing this sector is. And we had a great diversity of people at the conference this year including guests from all around the world like North America, Asia, and the Middle East", says John Edwards, Secretary General of EURASHE. 33rd EURASHE Annual Conference https://www.eurashe.eu/events/annual-conference-2024 https://www.eurashe.eu Contact: Mark Hammer [email protected] +43 2742 313 228 ext. 269 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1735639/St_Polten_University_Logo.jpg SOURCE St. Polten University of Applied Sciences St. Polten UAS Hosts 33rd EURASHE Annual Conference Every year, the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE) brings together representatives of the higher education sector in order to discuss and design a common path in important matters for the present and future of education. This year's meeting was held at the St. Polten University of Applied Sciences. The focus of the event was on transnational collaborations between higher education institutions and on cooperation with the business world and society. More than 200 experts from all over Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East took part. ST. POLTEN, Austria, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EURASHE, the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education, features approximately 600 universities, universities of applied sciences, university colleges, and similar institutions that conduct primarily professional higher education and applied research. Important Voice in the European Higher Education Area "In order to come up with solutions to the diverse challenges of our times, it is necessary for us to integrate the knowledge and experiences of various fields and to further develop our creativity. In most cases, individual higher education institutions can generate only little impact unless they pool their forces. Therefore, international partnerships and university alliances are decisive for future-oriented development", emphasises St. Polten UAS CEO Hannes Raffaseder who is the current President of EURASHE. St. Polten UAS is also the coordinator of the European University Alliance EUDRES. Regarding higher education institutions it's important that we have a diversity of voices in Europe and EURASHE is a very important voice for the universities of applied sciences. They bring in a different perspective. Typically they are very rooted in the local or regional context. They are close to the labour market and they are very innovative. So we need EURASHE to bring in their perspective and come up with new ideas on how we can make transnational cooperation work better at European level", says Sophia Eriksson Watershoot, Director for Youth, Education and Erasmus+ from the European Commission. "I am happy to have our conference here in St. Polten. The conference is different each year, and that is what makes EURASHE conferences so interesting. Here at this new campus, people get a feel of how fast changing this sector is. And we had a great diversity of people at the conference this year including guests from all around the world like North America, Asia, and the Middle East", says John Edwards, Secretary General of EURASHE. 33rd EURASHE Annual Conference https://www.eurashe.eu/events/annual-conference-2024 https://www.eurashe.eu Contact: Mark Hammer [email protected] +43 2742 313 228 ext. 269 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1735639/St_Polten_University_Logo.jpg SB 3649 Passes Both Chambers Thanks to Union Lobbying Efforts SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters are calling on Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to sign into law Senate Bill 3649, the Illinois Worker Freedom of Speech Act. The bill would ban mandatory attendance at captive audience meetings, employer-sponsored presentations filled with anti-union propaganda designed to discourage organizing efforts. The legislation passed both chambers of the state legislature following a rank-and-file powered grassroots lobbying campaign by the Teamsters and other unions throughout the state. "Captive audience meetings infringe on workers' rights by compelling them to choose between their job security or having to endure offensive propaganda," said Thomas W. Stiede, Teamsters Joint Council 25 President. "Employers routinely use corporate indoctrination to foster an environment conducive to coercion whenever they find out about a union organizing drive. The Worker Freedom of Speech Act safeguards workers' rights to opt out of these meetings without fear of repercussions." Nationwide, Teamsters are pushing for state legislatures to address the issue of mandatory captive audience meetings. Connecticut, Oregon, Maine, Minnesota, and New York have already adopted legislation banning them while other states are considering similar proposals. "Having managers corner workers and try to talk them out of organizing a union shouldn't be a thing that happens," said Danny Mejia, a Local 777 member who works at Ascend Cannabis in Chicago. "That's why we need this bill to become law. Elected officials have a responsibility to workers and to fight union busting. They're elected by us, and they need to have our rights in mind." Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 125,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana. For more information, go to teamstersjc25.com. Contact: Matt McQuaid, (202) 624-6877 [email protected] SOURCE Teamsters Joint Council 25 INDIANAPOLIS, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The State of Tennessee has announced its intent to award Renaissance Life and Health Insurance Company of America (Renaissance) the contract as the Dental Benefits Manager for TennCare, the state of Tennessee's Medicaid program. The multi-year contract is slated to go-live July 1, 2025. TennCare provides dental coverage to over 1.5 million children and adults in Tennessee in support of the Tennessee Healthy Smiles Initiative. "We are honored and excited to partner with TennCare to enhance access to high-quality dental care for Tennesseans," said Diana Steinhoff, LMHC, president and CEO of Renaissance. "Our insurance holding company system has extensive Medicaid management experience, comprehensive service offerings, and proven technology systems that work together seamlessly to provide exceptional care. We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition to minimize any potential disruption to members and providers." Renaissance understands the importance of adapting to each program's unique requirements. The operational platform processes nearly 40 million claims annually and supports and manages more than 23 million members, including 2 million Medicaid members. "We believe everyone deserves access to quality dental care, and this partnership will allow us to make a meaningful impact on the lives of many," said Steinhoff. "Our cutting-edge technology and patient-centered approach will ensure TennCare members receive the best dental care possible." Renaissance plans to focus on network recruiting, training and retaining dental providers in rural communities throughout the state. Licensed in all 50 states, Renaissance offers group dental, vision, life and disability insurance as well as individual dental, vision and hearing solutions. The company provides third-party administration (TPA) support nationwide and has offered group and individual TPA services for 19 years. Renaissance also offers On-Exchange Qualified Dental Plans in 13 states under the Affordable Care Act. About Renaissance Renaissance Life and Health Insurance Company of America, along with Renaissance Life and Health Insurance Company of New York, provides ancillary benefits for employer groups and individuals nationwide. Dental, vision, life, disability and accident insurance comprise the core line of the companies' ancillary benefits solutions. With headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind., Renaissance is focused on providing its members and partners with outstanding products and services. Visit renaissancebenefits.com , and find us on Facebook , LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) . SOURCE Renaissance Life & Health Insurance Company of America Matt Carey to Retire from The Home Depot After 16 Years of Service ATLANTA, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, appointed Jordan Broggi as executive vice president (EVP) of customer experience and president of online, effective June 3, 2024. In the role of EVP of customer experience, he will be responsible for leading the vision, design, and development of new and innovative solutions to drive a seamless experience for the millions of customers who turn to The Home Depot for their home improvement projects in stores, online, or on mobile devices. He will also retain leadership of the company's online business, overseeing online operations, merchandising strategy and customer experience for The Home Depot's digital properties. Broggi has been with The Home Depot for 11 years, most recently as senior vice president and president of online. He has served as senior vice president of finance, where he was the primary finance partner to the company's U.S. business and was responsible for planning, forecasting and guiding execution of the company's P&L and capital plan. Additionally, he has held roles across merchandising finance, supply chain finance, financial planning and analysis and strategic business development. Prior to joining the company, Broggi held various positions in finance and strategy at LexisNexis and Bain & Company. "Jordan is a fantastic leader with a deep understanding of our customers and our business," said Ted Decker, chair, president and CEO. "In his role as president of our online business, he brought data-driven innovation and value to the millions of customers and suppliers who use our website and mobile app. I look forward to his leadership and expertise as we continue to remove friction from our customers' interconnected experience." Matt Carey, who was most recently EVP of customer experience, will retire from The Home Depot on December 31, 2024, after 16 years with the company. He will continue to serve as an EVP in an advisory capacity until his retirement. Carey led the transformational efforts to re-imagine all aspects of The Home Depot's IT infrastructure and approach to software development. Under his leadership, The Home Depot successfully built the technology infrastructure of an advanced retailer including store mobility, price management, auto-replenishment, global sourcing, interconnected retail, advanced analytics and much more. "Matt leaves a legacy of exceptional accomplishments that have helped The Home Depot evolve to meet the changing needs of our customers," said Decker. "Since he joined the company in 2008, he has spearheaded an enormous technology transformation across our stores, supply chain, merchandising and digital presence. Today, The Home Depot is one of the largest truly interconnected retailers in the world. The Home Depot is a better company because of Matt's tremendous contributions, and I wish him the best in his retirement." About The Home Depot The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer. At the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, the company operated a total of 2,337 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The company employs approximately 465,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index. SOURCE The Home Depot BELGRADE, Serbia, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- UnionPay International, the leading global card scheme, has entered into an issuing agreement with HALKBANK A.D. BEOGRAD to enhance the payment experience and acceptance coverage of existing Dina card issued by HALKBANK. The signing ceremony took place in Shanghai on 30th May 2024, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort between UnionPay International and HALKBANK A.D. BEOGRAD. The collaboration aims to issue 80,000 Dina-UnionPay dual-brand cards over the next 18 months. These cards will seamlessly combine the strengths of both UnionPay and HALKBANK, offering cardholders enhanced convenience and UnionPay's global acceptance. UnionPay International's acceptance network has been extended to 183 countries and regions, including great acceptance in Chinese mainland and 67 million merchants outside Chinese mainland, providing consumers in Serbia with access to cross-border payment across international markets. Furthermore, UnionPay's acceptance infrastructures, marketing campaigns, and cardholder benefits in Chinese mainland will be available to HALKBANK, paving the way for future cooperation. The launch of the SplendorPlus Card is planned, targeting cross-border travelers visiting Chinese mainland. "HALKBANK's commitment to business development strengthens ties between Serbia and China. By leveraging the robust infrastructure of UnionPay International, combined with HALKBANK's strength in innovation, flexibility, and dedication to constant technological improvement, we are confident that together we can establish new market standards and achieve a significant competitive advantage." said Hasan Comert, Member of the Executive Board of HALKBANK Belgrade. UnionPay International and HALKBANK have been cooperating for a long time. Over 90% of merchants' POS terminals and ATMs in Serbia already accept UnionPay cards, including all POS terminals and ATMs under HALKBANK. "Our collaboration with HALKBANK represents a significant milestone," said Larry Wang, UnionPay International. "Residents of Serbia will have a wider range of payment options, whether for local consumption or for cross-border travel to China, to enjoy the convenient payment services provided by UnionPay. We are honored to bring more convenience to the friendly exchanges between the two peoples. " About HALKBANK A.D. BEOGRAD HALKBANK JSC Beograd, based in the Republic of Serbia, is a universal bank offering comprehensive banking products to business and retail clients. The bank aims to stimulate local economic growth and provide a secure place for client deposits. Since its establishment in September 1954 as Cacanska Bank, and becoming a part of Turkiye Halk Bankas A.S. in 2015, HALKBANK a.d. Beograd has been expanding its branch network and client base across Serbia. It now proudly serves clients in 43 branches nationwide. Committed to fully meeting client expectations, HALKBANK JSC Beograd prides itself on its fast, high-quality services and products, which it views as its trademark. Additionally, HALKBANK fosters a strong, family-like atmosphere with the motto "People first and foremost," supported by polite employees and a pleasant work environment. About UnionPay International UnionPay International focuses on the international business of UnionPay, a global payment network that serves the world's largest cardholder base. Collaborating with over 2,600 partners globally, UnionPay acceptance now reached to 183 countries and regions. Outside the Chinese Mainland, UnionPay is accepted at nearly 67 million merchants and 1.7 million ATMs. In Serbia, over 90% of merchants' POS terminals and ATMs already accept UnionPay cards, and nearly all contactless merchants support UnionPay QuickPass. BEIJING, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The cooperation between China and Arab countries has always been a model in China's foreign relations, and this model relationship is entering a new historical starting point. The 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum will be held on May 30. President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony together with four Arab heads of state, namely, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Tunisia's President Kais Saied, and the United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who are paying state visits to China, and President Xi will deliver a keynote speech. The presence of these five heads of state at the opening ceremony of the ministerial conference is unprecedented. As Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li stated at a briefing for Chinese and foreign media, this fully reflects the common wish of China and Arab states to unite and cooperate and to continuously promote the China-Arab relationship to new levels. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. The forum, which has thrived over the past 20 years, owes its significance and vitality to the tangible achievements it has made. China has steadily remained the largest trading partner of Arab countries for many years. Under the framework of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the two sides have implemented over 200 cooperation projects, benefiting nearly 2 billion people from both sides. The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum has established 19 important mechanisms, including ministerial conferences and strategic political dialogues, and has issued 85 important outcome documents. It's commendable that while China-Arab bilateral trade has maintained a historical high level of around $400 billion, a new wave of cooperation focusing on key areas such as technological innovation, industrial transformation, green and low-carbon development, and infrastructure is emerging. China-Arab cooperation has shifted from being primarily focused on economic and trade to the "troika" of economy, security, and culture achieving good development. As old friends along the ancient Silk Road, China and Arab countries are now good brothers and partners who uphold mutual assistance, equality, mutual benefit, and inclusive mutual learning. This meeting is also the first ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum held after the first China-Arab States Summit in 2022. It serves as a review of the achievements of China-Arab cooperation over the past 20 years and a look forward to the next 20 years, outlining the blueprint for future China-Arab cooperation. According to Chinese sources, the meeting plans to further consolidate consensus between China and Arab states through a series of outcome documents, plan cooperation for the next stage, and issue a joint statement on the Palestine issue. International attention has already been focused on the venue, and the time of China-Arab States Cooperation Forum is about to begin. China develops friendly relations with countries of all sizes in the world based on the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit. China-Arab cooperation is simply cooperation between China and Arab countries, driven by inherent logic and mutual needs for both sides to come together and get closer. Of course, as members of the "Global South," the relationship between China and Arab countries has developed so well that it is worth discussing if there are any insights for the international community. As good brothers and partners, China and Arab countries stand together through both good and hard times in the struggle to uphold national dignity and defend national sovereignty, work together to develop in the tide of globalization and the new technological revolution, and support each other on issues involving core interests and major concerns. Last year, under China's mediation, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a historic reconciliation. In April of this year, China facilitated consultations between the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Beijing. Some foreign media outlet has commented that China has "transformed from a silent participant to a significant voice in the region." We believe that the significance of China's voice lies not in the volume, but in maintaining a just position, supporting the just cause of Arab countries, and always playing a constructive role, which is why Arab countries fully trust and accept it. More importantly, Arab countries' sense of independence and autonomy is growing stronger, and China-Arab cooperation embodies the idea of discussing and handling things together on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Arab countries view the cooperation between China and the Arab world with a focus on the present, but also look beyond the present. China in particular supports Arab countries in independently seeking development paths suitable for their own national conditions. This further convinces them that "China's development is a growth of peace and progress, and China is a trustworthy friend and partner for Arab countries." A thousand years ago, despite the distance, it did not hinder the footsteps of China's exchanges with Arab countries. Today, the China-Arab relationship is at its best historical period, rooted in a broad and deep friendship and cooperation foundation. With this opportunity of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, it can be ensured that China and Arab countries will continue to aim to build a community of shared future, uphold the spirit of China-Arab friendship, and create a model of collective cooperation among developing countries for unity and independence. SOURCE Global Times OAKLAND, Calif., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wooden Table Baking Company , a beloved bakery based in Oakland, California, is proud to announce its celebration of Pride Month throughout June. With a commitment to inclusivity and diversity, Wooden Table is honored to showcase its LGBTQ certification as a queer owned business, and their unwavering support for the LGBTQ community. The Importance of Pride Month Wooden Table Baking Co. Celebrates Pride Month with LGBTQ-Certified, Inclusive Approach to Baking Wooden Table Baking Co. Celebrates Pride Month with LGBTQ-Certified, Inclusive Approach to Baking Pride Month is celebrated in June to honor the LGBTQ community and commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969. These riots were a series of demonstrations held by members of the LGBTQ community who protested against a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. This event sparked a movement for LGBTQ rights and ultimately led to the first Pride Parade a year later. Pride Month is a time for the LGBTQ community to come together, celebrate their identities, and advocate for equal rights and acceptance. Embracing Love and Inclusivity Under the leadership of owner Andres Ozzuna, Wooden Table Baking Company embodies a spirit of togetherness and acceptance. Inspired by Andres' Argentine roots and the traditions passed down by his grandmother, the bakery crafts delectable goods using whole, high-quality ingredients. From real butter and eggs to imported Colombian dark chocolate and authentic dulce de leche, every creation is made with love and care. In observance of Pride Month, Wooden Table celebrates the LGBTQ community's resilience, strength, and contributions. By fostering an environment of inclusivity and warmth, the bakery invites customers to indulge in delicious treats while supporting a business that values equality and respect for all. By choosing Wooden Table for their baked goods, customers align themselves with a socially conscious and LGBTQ-owned business that promotes togetherness and joy for all people. Shop Wooden Table Baking Company today to savor the sweetness of life and stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community. About Wooden Table Baking Co. Wooden Table Baking Company is an LGBTQ owned and certified, Latin-American bakery located in Oakland, California. Committed to sustainability, quality, and inclusivity, the company bakes all its goods from scratch using whole, high-quality ingredients. Wooden Table Baking Company is a proud member of the Oakland Latino Chamber of Commerce, Bay Area Made, Oakland Indie Alliance, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and Golden Gate Business Association. Contact Andres Ozzuna [email protected] 415-260-7511 SOURCE Wooden Table Baking Co. Drop-off in Zombie Homes Tracks Broad Slowdown in Lenders Pursuing Delinquent Homeowners IRVINE, Calif., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, today released its second-quarter 2024 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report showing that 1.3 million (1,289,387) residential properties in the United States sit vacant. That figure represents about 1.3 percent, or one in 79 homes, across the nation the same as in the first quarter of this year. The report analyzes publicly recorded real estate data collected by ATTOM including foreclosure status, equity and owner-occupancy status matched against monthly updated vacancy data. (See full methodology below). The report also reveals that 237,208 residential properties in the U.S. are in the process of foreclosure in the second quarter of this year, down 2.3 percent from the first quarter of 2024 and down 23.9 percent from the second quarter of 2023. Foreclosure activity has declined this year following a surge in cases that hit after a nationwide moratorium on lenders pursuing delinquent homeowners, imposed during the Coronavirus pandemic, was lifted in the middle of 2021. Among those pre-foreclosure properties are about 6,945 sitting vacant as zombie foreclosures (pre-foreclosure properties abandoned by owners) in the second quarter of 2024. That figure is also down from the prior quarter, by 5.4 percent, and down 20.6 percent from a year ago. The latest count of zombie homes continues a long-term pattern of those properties representing only a tiny portion of the nation's total housing stock - currently at just one of every 14,724 homes around the U.S. The ratio is down from 13,905 in the prior quarter and from one in 11,577 in the second quarter of last year, to the lowest level since early 2021. Zombie foreclosures numbers remain so small that most neighborhoods around the country face little or no threat of the blight and decay those homes can spread. The portion of pre-foreclosure properties that have been abandoned into zombie status, meanwhile, also went down slightly, from 3 percent in the first quarter of 2024 to 2.9 percent in the current quarter. "Predictions of a huge spike in foreclosures after the moratorium, with the potential for a surge in zombie properties, never came true. Indeed, the opposite has happened, as abandoned homes in foreclosure continue to get harder and harder to find around the country," said Rob Barber, CEO for ATTOM. "Some signs have popped up over the past year that the long U.S. housing market boom is giving back some of its gains, which could lead to declining equity and more foreclosures. We are still far from losing the benefit of having zombie properties nearly disappear from the housing market landscape." The dip in the number of zombie properties during the second quarter comes as the housing market remains buoyed by 12 years of price increases despite the recent markers of a slowdown. The nationwide median home value dropped quarterly in the early months of 2024 by 4 percent, to $330,000, but was still up 3 percent from a year earlier, according to ATTOM's home sales analysis. It has increased every year since 2012, more than doubling during that time. Those gains have fueled a historic rise in homeowner wealth to the point where almost 95 percent of owners paying off mortgages have at least some equity built up and nearly 50 percent owe less than half the estimated value of their properties. Zombie foreclosures drop in more than half the country, remaining a non-issue in most neighborhoods A total of 6,945 residential properties facing possible foreclosure have been vacated by their owners nationwide in the second quarter of 2024, down from 7,338 in the first quarter of 2024 and 8,752 in the second quarter of 2023. The number of zombie properties has decreased quarterly in 30 states and annually in 38. As those numbers keep dwindling, the biggest decreases from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2024 in states with at least 50 zombie homes are in Ohio (zombie properties down 22 percent, from 597 to 466), Maryland (down 17 percent, from 104 to 86), South Carolina (down 14 percent, from 74 to 64), California (down 13 percent, from 310 to 269), and North Carolina (down 12 percent, from 67 to 59). The only quarterly increases among states with at least 50 zombie foreclosures are in Massachusetts (zombie properties up 12 percent, from 68 to 76) and Illinois (up 1 percent, from 719 to 724). Overall vacancy rates continue to hold steady The vacancy rate for all residential properties in the U.S. has remained virtually the same for eight quarters in a row. It stands at 1.26 percent (one in 79 properties), unchanged from the first quarter of 2024 and virtually the same as the 1.27 percent level in the second quarter of last year. States with the largest vacancy rates for all residential properties during the second quarter of this year are Oklahoma (2.27 percent), Kansas (2.18 percent), Missouri (2.06 percent), Alabama (2.04 percent) and Michigan (2.02 percent). Those with the smallest overall vacancy rates are New Hampshire (0.36 percent), New Jersey (0.41 percent), Vermont (0.44 percent), Idaho (0.47 percent) and California (0.64 percent). Other high-level findings from the second quarter of 2024: Among 168 metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. with at least 100,000 residential properties in the second quarter of 2024, those with at least 100 properties facing possible foreclosure and the highest zombie foreclosure rates are Peoria, IL (18.6 percent of properties in the foreclosure process are vacant); Wichita, KS (8.4 percent); Cedar Rapids, IA (8.3 percent); Shreveport, LA (8.3 percent) and St. Louis, MO (7.8 percent). (18.6 percent of properties in the foreclosure process are vacant); (8.4 percent); (8.3 percent); (8.3 percent) and (7.8 percent). Aside from St. Louis , the highest zombie-foreclosure rates in major metro areas with at least 500,000 residential properties and at least 100 homes facing foreclosure in the second quarter of 2024 are in Cleveland, OH (7.2 percent of homes in the foreclosure process are vacant); Indianapolis, IN (6.5 percent); Baltimore, MD (5.2 percent) and Portland, OR (4.6 percent). , the highest zombie-foreclosure rates in major metro areas with at least 500,000 residential properties and at least 100 homes facing foreclosure in the second quarter of 2024 are in (7.2 percent of homes in the foreclosure process are vacant); (6.5 percent); (5.2 percent) and (4.6 percent). Among the 35.1 million investor-owned homes throughout the U.S. in the second quarter of 2024, about 905,600 are vacant, or 2.6 percent. The highest levels of vacant investor-owned homes are in Indiana (5.5 percent vacant), Oklahoma (4.5 percent), Alabama (4.3 percent), Missouri (4.3 percent) and Kansas (4.1 percent). (5.5 percent vacant), (4.5 percent), (4.3 percent), (4.3 percent) and (4.1 percent). Among the roughly 11,400 foreclosed, bank-owned homes in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2024, 14.3 percent are vacant. In states with at least 50 bank-owned homes, the largest vacancy rates are in Ohio (26.6 percent), Indiana (23.3 percent), Illinois (21.2 percent), Michigan (20.5 percent) and Oregon (20.3). (26.6 percent), (23.3 percent), (21.2 percent), (20.5 percent) and (20.3). The highest zombie-foreclosure rates in U.S. counties with at least 500 properties in the foreclosure process during the second quarter of 2024 are in Broome County (Binghamton), NY (15 percent of homes in the foreclosure process are vacant); Marion County ( Indianapolis ), IN (9.3 percent); Cuyahoga County ( Cleveland ), OH (7.6 percent); Erie County ( Buffalo ), NY (6.6 percent) and Volusia County ( Daytona Beach ), FL (5.9 percent). ( ), IN (9.3 percent); ( ), OH (7.6 percent); ( ), NY (6.6 percent) and ( ), FL (5.9 percent). Among zip codes with enough data to analyze, 89 of the top 100 where zombie properties represent the largest portions of all homes are in New York , Florida and Illinois . The largest portions are in zip codes 61605 in Peoria County, IL (one in 151 homes); 32206 in Duval County ( Jacksonville ), FL (one in 256); 10993 in Rockland County (West Haverstraw), NY (one in 287 homes); 61603 in Peoria County, IL (one in 296) and 10030 in New York County ( Manhattan ), NY (one in 303). Report Methodology ATTOM analyzed county tax assessor data for 102.3 million residential properties for vacancy, broken down by foreclosure status and owner-occupancy status in the second quarter of 2024. Only metropolitan statistical areas with at least 100,000 residential properties, counties with at least 50,000 residential properties and zip codes with at least 1,000 residential properties were included in the analysis. About ATTOM ATTOM provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency, and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID the ATTOM ID. The 30TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include ATTOM Cloud, bulk file licenses, property data APIs , real estate market trends, property navigator and more. Also, introducing our newest innovative solution, making property data more readily accessible and optimized for AI applications AI-Ready Solutions. Media Contact: Megan Hunt [email protected] Data and Report Licensing: [email protected] SOURCE ATTOM 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 Sanaa, May 30 : Houthi group has said it shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen's central Marib. Yahya Sarea, the group's military spokesman, said on Wednesday in the statement broadcast by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV that "a locally made surface-to-air missile is used in the operation, and this is the sixth MQ-9 Reaper drone we shot down in six months". He added that "we will continue to develop our military defence capabilities to counter the US-British coalition aggression against our country". "We will also continue to support the Palestine people against the Israeli aggression until the conflict and blockade stop," the spokesman stressed as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. The Houthi television said it would broadcast a video showing the operation of shooting down this drone. It has broadcasted videos of all previous operations, showing the debris of the drones. Meanwhile, the US media outlets cited an anonymous Defence official as saying that "the US Air Force has not lost any aircraft operating within US Central Command's area of responsibility" without providing further details. Last November, the Houthis began to launch anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones targeting what they said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In response, the US-British naval coalition stationed in the waters has since January conducted regular air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets to deter the group but led to an expansion of Houthi attacks to include US and British commercial vessels and naval ships. Khartoum, May 30 : The Sudanese government has voiced rejection of US calls to return to the Jeddah negotiation platform between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). "The invitation by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan to go to the Jeddah negotiation platform embodies contempt for Sudan and cannot be accepted," said Malik Agar, Deputy Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council, on Wednesday. He made the remarks while addressing a political conference in Port Sudan, the capital city of the Red Sea State in eastern Sudan, Xinhua news agency reported. "Sudan has not and will not agree to go to Jeddah, not because we do not want peace, but because peace must have foundations. We will not accept that without being consulted," Agar added. He noted that the current phase cannot stand interference of political parties with their different agendas, stressing that the priority must be given to ending the conflict and achieving stability before moving towards national consensus via Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue. Earlier, Blinken had a phone conversation with Al-Burhan, during which he called for ending the conflict in Sudan, allowing humanitarian access, and resuming the Jeddah negotiations, according to a statement by the Sovereign Council on Wednesday. On May 6, 2023, Saudi Arabia and the US put forward a peace initiative in Jeddah as the first serious attempt to end fighting in Sudan, which was later known as the Jeddah negotiation platform. Since then, several truces have been reached and breached, with the two sides accusing each other of violating them. The Jeddah negotiations were suspended last December over fundamental differences between the Sudanese warring parties. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF since April 15, 2023, which have killed 15,550 people and displaced 8.8 million others so far, according to the latest estimates by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Madrid, May 30 : Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held a meeting on Gaza with a delegation of the Ministerial Committee commissioned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit here, a day after Spain's official recognition of Palestinian statehood. The delegation thanked Spain for the "historic and courageous" step that the recognition of a Palestinian state represents at this time. It is not just a symbolic step, but one that keeps alive the idea of the two states, the delegation said on Wednesday, according to a Spanish government statement. The meeting highlighted Spain's commitment and willingness to negotiate with Arab and Islamic countries in their efforts to put an end to violence and materialise the two-state solution, the statement added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Mustafa said that Spain, Norway, and Ireland's recognition of Palestine as a state on Tuesday "lays the foundations for a new beginning for the region". Sanchez reiterated the need to stop Israel's military operation in Rafah, as well as to establish a permanent ceasefire, the release by Hamas of all hostages and to allow humanitarian aid access to Gaza on a large scale. The committee was created in November last year to achieve a ceasefire, help humanitarian aid reach Gaza and set up an action plan to materialise the two-state solution. Geneva, May 30 : There is no indication that Israel will open the Rafah crossing soon, Palestine's Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan said here. "This is totally in the hands of the Israelis," Abu Ramadan told a press briefing in Geneva on Wednesday. Israel launched a ground assault on Rafah on May 6 and claimed to have taken control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, which is the only border crossing between the enclave and Egypt, Xinhua news agency reported. The crossing is also a main conduit for humanitarian aid entering Gaza, and an exit point for medical evacuees from the enclave. Abu Ramadan said that Israel committed a crime against humanity in Gaza, regardless of the exact death toll. "What matters is that there is a crime against humanity. With one or a million (dead), that doesn't change the situation," he added. "At the moment, people are deprived of almost all aspects of health services." The closure of the Rafah crossing has aggravated the humanitarian crisis, he said. "This is complicating the picture," Abu Ramadan added. The closure of Rafah crossing cut the access for patients in Gaza to get health services, he said. Those who cannot be treated in Gaza are forbidden from going to Egypt and somewhere else for the treatment they need, Abu Ramadan added. "This is only a part of the situation." Minsk, May 30 : Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed the document to suspend the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), the media reported. The document was signed by Lukashenko on May 24, Xinhua news agency reported. The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the decision to suspend the CFE was made in the context of the collapse of the existing conventional arms control system in Europe and the continued escalation of the military and political situation in the region. The Ministry added that if NATO ends its suspension of the treaty, Belarus would do the same. The CFE was signed in November 1990 in Paris by 16 NATO member states and six Warsaw Pact countries. It came into effect in November 1992. The treaty limits the number of military equipment signatory countries can possess. Khartoum, May 30 : Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan has held a phone talk with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, discussing the need to end the conflict in Sudan and enable unhindered humanitarian access to alleviate people's suffering, according to a statement from the council. The US State Department has called for ending the conflict in Sudan and allowing humanitarian access, said the statement on Wednesday as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. During the phone call from Blinken, the two sides also touched upon the resumption of the Jeddah talks and the need for cessation of hostilities in El Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur State in western Sudan, it added. Al-Burhan, also the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), in addition, discussed with Blinken bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 15, 2023, which have killed 15,550 people and displaced more than 8.8 million others so far, according to the latest estimates by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Lucknow, May 30 : Lucknow University students will now get an opportunity and exposure to work with expert faculty and researchers of the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. The two institutes have joined hands for academic collaboration to foster cooperation in education, research, and skill development. LU spokesperson Durgesh Srivastava said, "The University of Copenhagen, founded in 1479, is one of the world's top universities, best known for producing 10 Nobel laureates, 37 Prime Ministers, and 34 Olympic medallists for Denmark. Study tours and joint research with such a prestigious institution will be an enriching experience for our students." He said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) formalised between these institutions delineates a multifaceted approach aimed at enhancing education, research, and skill development endeavours. The collaboration includes the exchange of both undergraduate and postgraduate students between the two universities and promises to enrich the academic experience by exposing students to diverse learning environments and methodologies. There will also be an exchange of faculty and staff enabling the cross-pollination of ideas and expertise and fostering a culture of innovation and knowledge dissemination. Moreover, the commitment to joint research projects represents a cornerstone of this partnership, as it encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and the pursuit of cutting-edge scientific inquiry. Additionally, mutual assistance in establishing new educational programmes stresses a shared dedication to academic excellence and the nurturing of future talent in veterinary and animal sciences, he added. Tel Aviv, May 30 : The Israeli military has said that it has taken operational control of the entire route along the Gaza-Egypt border, known as the Philadelphi area, and discovered 20 tunnels that were used for cross-border smuggling. This was announced by the spokesperson of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Rear Admiral Daniel Hageri on Wednesday night. He said several rocket launchers were discovered on the border. The IDF spokesman said that the newly captured strip of land runs 14 km along the Gaza-Egypt border and is considered Hamas's Oxygen Pipeline for smuggling weapons. Hageri said that of the 20 tunnels discovered, some were known to the Israeli Army but others were discovered for the first time. The spokesperson said that 82 tunnel shafts leading into the tunnels have been located in the newly captured border area. The IDF said its troops are physically controlling most of the corridor but a small section is controlled by aerial surveillance. The Israel Defense Forces spokesperson in the statement also said that Hamas terrorists positioned the rocket launchers near the Egypt border believing that Israel won't shoot fearing that it would reach into Egyptian territory. "Hamas took advantage of the Philadelphi area, and built its infrastructure just dozens of metres from the border with Egypt so that we can't strike there," Hageri said Worried at Bing success, Google to infuse more AI into its Search engine. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, May 30 : Tech giant Google has admitted that around 2,500 leaked internal documents from its Search feature are authentic. The leaked Search material was first reported by search engine optimisation (SEO) experts Rand Fishkin and Mike King, according to reports. In a statement to The Verge, the company said "we would caution against making inaccurate assumptions about Search based on out-of-context, outdated, or incomplete information". Google said that it has shared extensive information about "how Search works and the types of factors that our systems weigh, while also working to protect the integrity of our results from manipulation." The leaked material allegedly suggests that Google "collects and potentially uses data" that company representatives have said does not contribute to ranking webpages in Google Search. However, the leaked information is likely to create some panic across the SEO industry. According to Fishkin, the leaked documents outline Google's search API and break down what information is available to employees. SEO expert King said in his overview of the documents that "Lied" is harsh but "it's the only accurate word to use here". "While I don't necessarily fault Google's public representatives for protecting their proprietary information, I do take issue with their efforts to actively discredit people in the marketing, tech, and journalism worlds who have presented reproducible discoveries," he wrote. Seoul, May 30 : Samsung's new semiconductor chief pledged on Thursday to restore the company's leadership in the global chip market amid the ongoing transition driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Seoul, May 30 (IANS) Samsungas new semiconductor chief pledged on Thursday to restore the company's leadership in the global chip market amid the ongoing transition driven by artificial intelligence (AI). "We are at the centre of the AI era and facing an unprecedented future," Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun stated in his inaugural letter on the company's internal bulletin. "This presents a significant challenge, but if we navigate it properly, it will become a major opportunity for our semiconductor business, which is essential in the AI era." Jun was recently appointed head of Samsung's semiconductor division as part of the company's strategy to revitalise its struggling chip sector, reports Yonhap news agency. Last year, Samsung Electronics posted an annual loss of 15 trillion won ($11 billion) due to declining demand for IT products. Despite this, the company hesitated to cut memory production, exacerbating the financial loss. The company also lost its leadership in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, a crucial segment in the expanding AI sector. SK hynix now leads the HBM market with a 53 per cent share, compared with Samsung's 38 per cent. On top of that, on Wednesday, the company's unionised workers announced plans to go on a strike in protest against stalled wage negotiations with the management. Jun expressed confidence in overcoming these challenges, citing Samsung's extensive experience in the memory chip industry and its untapped potential. "As an executive, I feel a heavy responsibility for the current situation," he said. "I will analyse the circumstances with renewed determination and find ways to overcome these difficulties." Jun, who joined Samsung Electronics in 2000, has extensive experience in the semiconductor and battery sectors. After leading the development of DRAM and NAND flash memories in the chip division, he took over Samsung SDI Co. in 2017, helping the battery maker shift to the black in 2020 and become a major player in the global market. Chennai, May 30 : A joint investigation team of Kerala and Tamil Nadu Police are in Salem for further investigation into the Kerala kidney racket. The team has taken into custody a Salem native considered to be associated with the main accused in the case, Sabith Nasar from Kerala. Tamil Nadu Special Investigation Team (SIT) has already taken into custody three persons from Coimbatore and Pollachi with regard to the case. The SIT of Kerala Police have been in Tamil Nadu for the past few days after the main conduits in the racket, Sabith Nasar and Sajith Shyam revealed of the involvement of certain Tamil Nadu-based persons during interrogation. Salem was in the news in 2015 when a leading nephrologist associated with a few leading private hospitals in the region was arrested for around 80 illegal kidney transplants. Tamil Nadu intelligence has tipped off the state police team that some doctors and middlemen based out of Salem are involved in the Kerala kidney racket as well. The Tamil Nadu SIT have also provided information to the Kerala team and a joint investigation is on in Salem. Meanwhile, Kerala Police is also trying to deport an Aluva native, Madhu, from Iran, considered to be one of the main middlemen in the kidney racket based out of Iran. The Kerala kidney racket came out in the public domain after Sabith Nasar was arrested at the Nedumbassery International Airport in Kochi on May 19 upon his return from Iran. The arrest was following a tip-off from Central intelligence agencies who have been tracing regular movementsof Sabith to Iran and other west Asian countries. Oslo : , May 30 (IANS) The sixth meet of the 2024 Diamond League is set to take place, here at the Bislett Olympic Stadium on Thursday. The worldas best athletes will compete against each other as the premier meet comes to Europe for the first time, this season. Home favourite and reigning Olympic champion Karsten Warholm is due to make his seasonas debut in the menas 400m hurdles. Tokyo 2020 Gold medal winner Jakob Ingebrigtsen is another home boy who will be in action in men's 1500m. Jamaicaas Shericka Jackson (200m), Italyas Marcell Jacobs (100m), Ugandaas Joshua Cheptegei (5000m) and Swedenas Daniel Stahl (discus) are the other Olympic champions who will be competing in Oslo. There will be no Indian track and field athlete in action at the Oslo meet. Diamond Disciplines at Oslo 2024- Women: Discus Throw, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 3,000 meters, 400-meter hurdles Men: Pole vault, Triple jump, Discus Throw, 100 meters, 400 meters, 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, 400-meter hurdles Live Streaming details for Oslo Diamond League 2024- When to watch Oslo Diamond League 2024: The one-day meet of Diamond League 2024 series is scheduled on Thursday, May 30. The track and field action will start at 11: 30apm IST onwards. TV broadcast of Oslo Diamond League 2024 in India: Sports18 - 3 The live streaming of Diamond League will be available on JioCinema. Fans can also follow the scores on the official website of Diamond League. Shenzhen, China : Fourteen Hong Kong opposition figures were convicted on Thursday under Beijing's controversial national security law, the South China Morning Post reported. Meanwhile, former district councilors Lawrence Lau and Lee Yue-shun were acquitted, becoming the first to do so after trial since the legislation was implemented in June, 2020. The 16 pro-democracy activists were among 47 people charged with subversion in relation to an unofficial primary election for Hong Kong's 2020 Legislative Council (LegCo). The 16, which include former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung and Helena Wong, had contested the charge while the remaining 31 pleaded guilty before the start of the four-month trial, the Post reported. The charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The landmark case saw the highest number of activists ever charged under the national security law at one time since it was imposed in response to mass pro-democracy protests. The national security law has made it easier for the Chinese authorities to crack down on activists for behaviour they class as secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with a foreign power. --IANS/DPA svn London, May 30 : Three adults and a child have been injured in a shooting near a restaurant in the London neighbourhood of Hackney. London's Metropolitan Police said the child is in a serious condition and that they are awaiting updates on the condition of the adults after the shooting on Kingsland High Street. The four were taken to an east London hospital with "gunshot injuries." Police said they were called to the scene at around 9.20 pm (1820 GMT) on Wednesday with specialist firearms officers attending. The force said no arrests have yet been made. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward said: "We know Londoners will be shocked by what has taken place tonight. "Our thoughts go to all those affected. "Fast-moving inquiries are underway and we will update as soon as we can. If anyone has any information, please contact us." --IANS/DPA svn New Delhi, May 30 : Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday hit out at the Congress and its INDIA bloc partner CPI(M) saying they are an "alliance of gold smugglers". His reaction comes after an aide of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was detained in a gold smuggling case by the Customs department at the Delhi airport. "First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling. Now Cong MP 'aide'/PA detained for Gold smuggling. CPM and Cong - both INDI alliance partners - alliance of gold smuggler," the Union Minister wrote on X. The Union Minister was referring to the gold smuggling scam unearthed in Kerala in 2020. M. Sivasankar, the then principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was arrested in the case. On Thursday, the Customs Department said that an FIR had been filed in a case of smuggling of gold against a passenger and his accomplice, who carried an Aerodrome Entry permit ID which is a part of the protocol team for a Member of Parliament. The passenger had arrived at the Airport from Bangkok by flight TG-323 on Wednesday Bhubaneswar, May 30 : Three devotees died while over 30 suffered serious burn injuries after a heap of firecrackers exploded during the Chandan Yatra festival at Narendra Tank near Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri. The incident occurred as a splinter from fireworks hit a heap of firecrackers on the Devi Ghat on Wednesday where the longest annual festival of Jagannath Temple of Puri was being observed. The crackers piled on the spot soon went off causing serious burn injuries to the devotees who were at the spot to watch the annual water sport of the deities. Several devotees also jumped into the waterbody to save their lives. The injured were rushed to Puri district headquarters hospital from where some were shifted to the SCB medical college and hospital at Cuttack and private hospitals in Bhubaneswar. As per reports, three persons, including a minor, have succumbed to the burn injuries. Several other injured devotees are undergoing treatment at different private and government hospitals in Puri, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday met three injured persons at a private medical college in Bhubaneswar. He spoke to the relatives of injured people and doctors at the private hospital. CM Patnaik had earlier assured free medical treatment to the injured. Hyderabad, May 30 : In the run-up to the 10th Formation Day celebrations of Telangana, a row has erupted over the state government's move to adopt a new state emblem, with the main Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) threatening to launch a movement. On state formation day on June 2, the Congress government plans to unveil the new emblem as it says that the present emblem carrying Kakatiya Kala Thoranam (welcome arch of the Kakatiyas) and Charminar reflect feudalism and autocratic rule and CM Reddy wants the new emblem to reflect the decades-long struggle for Telangana state. CM Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka have given final touches to the new emblem being designed by artist Rudra Rajesham. CM Reddy has also roped in Oscar-winning music composer MM Keeravani to compose music for the state song which will also be released on June 2. The government adopted Ande Sri's 'Jaya Jaya He Telangana' as the state anthem. CM Reddy is scheduled to hold a meeting with leaders of all political parties to brief them on the new logo and state song. However, the BRS is likely to stay away from the meeting and the party has threatened to launch a movement if the government changes the emblem. Day after BRS leaders led by former MP B. Vinod Kumar staged a protest at Kakatiya Thoranam in Warangal, party Working President KT Rama Rao planned a similar demonstration at Charminar on Thursday. However, the government refused to give permission for the protest. "World over, Charminar has been the icon/symbol of Hyderabad for centuries. When one thinks of Hyderabad, they cannot but think of Charminar which has all the qualities of a UNESCO world heritage site. Now the Congress Government wants to remove the iconic Charminar from the state logo citing frivolous reasons. What a shame," Rama Rao posted on X. He also stated that the protest at Kakatiya Kala Thoranam was just the beginning and BRS would proceed legally. He questioned the government's decision saying people have not given power to Congress to change the emblem. "Kakatiya Kala Thoranam and Charminar are not the signs of imperialism. They are symbols of development, people's welfare and historical and archaeological significance of the region," he said. He also argued that a change of state emblem would require the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Vinod Kumar also appealed to AICC leader Sonia Gandhi to ask CM Reddy to desist from it as this would set a bad precedent. The BRS leader also accused CM Reddy of trying to destroy the history of Telangana saying he was a strong votary of a combined state. "He was for Samaikya Andhra Pradesh. He never raised the Jai Telangana slogan either during the statehood movement or after the state's formation," the BRS leader said. Disagreeing with Revanth Reddy that Kakatiya Kala Thoranam is a symbol of imperialism, he explained that Kakatiya rulers were from the backward communities of the society and they built 'thrikuta' temples and constructed tanks and lakes including the chain-link tank system for meeting the drinking water and irrigation needs. He pointed out that this system is serving its purpose even 800 years after their rule. Vinod Kumar said the Chief Minister should focus on fulfilling the long list of pre-poll promises instead of unproductive actions such as changing the state emblem. The new emblem will replace the one adopted in 2014 when Telangana came into being as the 29th state. The Congress government, which came to power in December 2023, decided to replace the existing emblem which depicts Kakatiya Kala Thoranam and Charminar, the symbols of Kakatiya and Qutb Shahi dynasties. Change of emblem was one of the key decisions taken by the Congress government, reversing the decisions of the previous BRS government. It replaced 'TS' with 'TG' as the state abbreviation. The earlier BRS government had adopted 'TS' as the abbreviation. The new government also decided to change Telangana Talli statue to reflect the sentiments of Telangana people. New Delhi, May 30 : The Centre has urged states to take up reforms for enhancing transparency and efficiency in the minor minerals sector which includes granite and marble, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Mines on Thursday. Mines Secretary, V. L. Kantha Rao, in a meeting with state government officials in Bengaluru, emphasised the various initiatives and reforms undertaken by the Government of India in the mining sector. He urged the State Governments to also take up such reforms in the minor mineral sector. Further, he pointed out that the Central government has made comprehensive data and information on exploration available through the NGDR (National Geo-Data Repository) Portal, facilitating access to data for all stakeholders. This initiative, driven by data collected from Central agencies, aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in the mining sector. Officials from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and PSUs were present at the workshop. Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner, Government of Karnataka, Dr Shalini Rajneesh, emphasised the importance of collaboration between the government and industry to find solutions to administrative, technological, and other issues in the granite and marble mining sector. She underscored that any economic activity, including mining, must be sustainable. Dr Shalini welcomed startup ideas and innovative contributions to address the sector's challenges constructively and also stressed the use of IT platforms to manage critical areas of the mining sector, ensuring transparency and reducing grievances. After the inaugural session, various stakeholders made presentations on the issues of granite and marble mining. Thereafter, Governments of Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana gave presentations responding to the issues flagged by the industry association and also highlighted the Best Practices on the Regulation of Granite and Marble Minerals. A presentation was also made by Joint Director, National Council for Cement and Building Material DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce Dr B. Panduranga Rao, regarding the role of granite and marble industry in Indiaas cement and construction sector. Chief controller of mines, IBM, Piyush Narayan Sharma, made presentation on sustainable development framework in the mining sector and star rating of mines. New Delhi, May 30 : The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain the application filed by cleric Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, who is charged by Uttar Pradesh Police for running a mass religious conversion racket, seeking permission to enter the state boundary to attend nephew's death anniversary. "The death took place last year. Other members are also there in the family. You were very much aware of the date. You could have filed an application earlier before the same (SC) bench that you have to go on such and such date. The application is coming (for hearing) when the event is already over," observed a vacation bench presided over by Justice SC Sharma. The Bench, also comprising Justice PB Varale, appeared unimpressed with the submission that Siddiqui, being the eldest member of the family, did not attend the funeral of the deceased nephew last year. Sensing the disclination of the bench to entertain the application, the senior counsel, representing Siddiqui, sought permission to withdraw the plea. "The plea is dismissed as withdrawn," the apex court ordered. In August last year, the top court had granted a one-time relaxation to Siddiqui to visit his ancestral village in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar to perform the last rites in his brother's funeral. It had ordered that the cleric would not take part in any political or social event except connected with his brother's funeral and said that he would not make any public speeches. One of the bail conditions imposed by the Allahabad High Court barred Siddiqui from entering the state of Uttar Pradesh except for trial purposes. The Uttar Pradesh government's appeal against the High Court bail order was ultimately disposed of by the apex court without disturbing the bail conditions. In April last year, a division bench of Justices Attaur Rahman Masoodi and Saroj Yadav of the Allahabad High Court directed Siddiqui's release on bail, who was arrested from Meerut on charges of converting over 100 people. The high court granted him bail on the grounds of parity as one of the co-accused was granted bail by the Supreme Court. The state ATS had claimed that he ran the biggest conversion syndicate across the country and donations through 'hawala' in a trust operated by him, were also stated to have been recovered. Mumbai, May 30 : Actress Debattama Saha has praised her 'Krishna Mohini' co-star Fahmaan Khan for being the livewire who lights up the set with his fun energy and keeps the entire cast and crew entertained off-screen. The show features Debattama as Krishna, and Fahmaan as Aryaman. Speaking about Fahmaan, Debattama shared: "He is an absolute live wire. He has this infectious energy that lights up the entire set. No matter how demanding the shoot day is, he always finds ways to keep us smiling and laughing. He is very perceptive and in tune with everyone's emotions." "He has an uncanny ability to sense when the intensity of emotional scenes is weighing us down. That's when he swoops in with his playful pranks and witty one-liners. It's such a blessing to have a co-star who can create an environment with positive vibes and happiness. Even the most arduous workday feels like a breeze with him around," added Debattama. Set in Dwarka, Gujarat, the family drama follows Krishna, who plays an elder sister to Mohan (played by Ketaki Kulkarni), and Aryaman, a businessman, who crosses paths with the former. 'Krishna Mohini' airs every day at 7 p.m. on Colors. New Delhi, May 30 : Former Prime Minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh has attacked the BJP, saying that in the past 10 years, its government has left no stone unturned in "castigating Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiyat". He said this in a letter on Thursday posted on X by Congress, which comes two days ahead of the last phase of Lok Sabha elections when Punjab's 13 seats will also go to polls. The former PM while appealing to the Punjab voters, said, "In the past ten years, the BJP government has left no stone unturned in castigating Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiyat. 750 farmers, mostly belonging to Punjab, were martyred while incessantly waiting at Delhi borders, for months together. As if the lathis and the rubber bullets were not enough, none less than the Prime Minister verbally assaulted our farmers by calling them "Andolanjeevis" and "Parjeevi" (Parasites) on the floor of the Parliament. Their only demand was the withdrawal of the three farm laws imposed on them without consulting them." He said, "Punjab and Punjabis are warriors. We are known for our spirit of sacrifice. Our indomitable courage and innate belief in the Democratic ethos of inclusiveness, harmony, amity, and Brotherhood can protect our great nation." Rooting for his party's guarantees, the ex-PM said, "Now, the Congress party has 5 guarantees under "Kisaan Nyay in our manifesto. These include a legal guarantee of the MSP, a stable export-import policy for agriculture, a Permanent Commission on Agricultural Finance for loan waivers, direct transfer of insured compensation to the farmers in 30 days in case of crop losses and removal of GST on farm input products and equipment. In my opinion, these steps would create an environment for the second generation of agricultural reforms." He said, "...for five years, when the Congress party was in power, the BJP government at the Centre was consistent in denying funds to Punjab. Whether they were meant for debt restructuring, a legacy issue of the previous BJP-Akali government, or for farm loan waiver, or the pending wage liabilities for MGNREGA." In the letter, the former Prime Minister attacked PM Modi, saying, that he (Manmohan Singh) has been keenly following the political discourse during this election campaign and the PM has indulged "in the most vicious form of hate speeches". The Congress leader quoted Allama Iqbal's couplet, which he said was a tribute to the rich pluralistic civilisation of India. Ahmedabad, May 30 : A fire broke out at Asarwa Civil Hospital, one of the largest government-run hospitals in Gujarat on Thursday. No casualties have been reported. The incident occurred due to a short circuit in the air conditioning compressor on the fifth floor of the medical facility. Officials shared that the fire brigade team responded to the emergency call and arrived at the scene. They managed to control the fire before it spread, preventing significant damage or injuries. Details are awaited. In 2019, an air conditioning (AC) unit in ward D-9 on the hospital's third floor, which housed the swine flu isolation unit, burst into flames. Two patients had died in the ward following the incident. Recently, a fire at a game zone in Rajkot had claimed many lives. Puducherry, May 30 : Farmers of Puducherry, who faced heavy crop losses during rains and floods between November 18 and December 10, 2021, have sought the intervention of Lt Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan for their long overdue claims. A total of 464 farmers from Puducherry and Karaikal regions of the Union Territory are awaiting indemnity claims under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Puducherry Farmers Association leader V. Chandrashekar told media persons that an inter-ministerial team led by Rajiv Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had assessed the damages. He said that the indemnity claims are to be settled based on yield data from crop cutting experiments and the insurance company is mandated to settle claims at 90 per cent for all Kharif and Rabi-II crops within three weeks of receiving the yield data. The farmeras leader said that despite multiple representations, the Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, who is the State Nodal Officer for the scheme, did not pursue the National Insurance Company which had a contract till March 31, 2023. However, an official of the Additional Director (Agronomy) and Scheme and Implementing Department told IANS that the insurance intermediaries appointed by the company failed to enroll the 464 farmers out of over 8,000 applicants in the national crop insurance portal. The official said that the inconsistencies in names across identification documents and bank and IFSC codes are the reason behind this. The Ministry has reopened the portal after the Agriculture Department approached it but the insurance company is yet to complete the process, hence the delay. He said that the matter is being taken up with the Central government for the discrepancies to be rectified. The official also said that the claims worth Rs 7.6 crore were settled for over 8,000 farmers from the Union Territory through Direct Benefit Transfer about 10 months ago. Mumbai, May 30 : Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, who is currently busy with his film 'The Delhi Files', recently visited Mahatma Gandhi's Ashram in Sevagram, Maharashtra. Mumbai, May 30 (IANS) Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, who is currently busy with his film 'The Delhi Filesa, recently visited Mahatma Gandhias Ashram in Sevagram, Maharashtra. The director said that he visited the place for research of his upcoming film. On Thursday, Vivek took to social media and shared pictures from his visit to Gandhias ashram. He shared the pictures with the caption: "For the research of #TheDelhiFiles, I spent days at Gandhias Ashram in Sewagram. This cottage has been visited by whos who of the world. Some of the best journalists used to station themselves here to interview Gandhi. Every parent must take their children there. Truly inspiring." The director travelled from Kerala to Kolkata to Delhi, covering vast distances to gather accurate and comprehensive information for his film. Vivek has read over 100 books and more than 200 articles related to the historical event that forms the crux of his film. Vivek is known for films like aThe Kashmir Files' and aThe Tashkent Filesa. Earlier, he directed aThe Vaccine Wara featuring Anupam Kher, Nana Patekar, Sapthami Gowda, and Pallavi Joshi. It was based on the efforts of Indian scientists in creating the indigenous Covid-19 vaccine during the global health crisis triggered by the pandemic. Mumbai, May 30 : The outlook for the Indian economy remains bright with the GDP growth likely to be at a robust 7 per cent in 2024-25, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in its annual report released on Thursday. Against the backdrop of subdued global economic activity and multiple headwinds, the Indian economy expanded at a robust pace in 2023-24, with real GDP growth accelerating to 7.6 per cent from 7.0 per cent in the previous year - the third successive year of 7 per cent or above growth, the report pointed out. The sustained strengthening of macroeconomic fundamentals, robust financial and corporate sectors and a resilient external sector are expected to drive growth in 2024-25, the report stated. The government's continued thrust on capex while pursuing fiscal consolidation, and consumer and business optimism augur well for investment and consumption demand, it added. According to the report, the prospects for agriculture and rural activity appear favourable due to the ebbing El Nino and the expected above-normal southwest monsoon. The extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) scheme for a period of five more years with effect from January 1, 2024 will strengthen national food security. The government's focus on AatmaNirbhar Oilseeds Abhiyan, the expansion of environmentally sustainable nano diammonium phosphate (DAP) in all agro-climatic zones and the promotion of bioeconomy through a new bio-manufacturing and bio-foundry scheme in the interim Union Budget 2024-25 would also support the agriculture sector. The Union government's impetus to growth-inducing capital spending is likely to be sustained in 2024-25 with more than half of borrowings directed towards financing of capital outlay. The central government extended the financial assistance scheme for states' capital expenditure to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 1.3 lakh crore. The budgeted reduction in gross market borrowings from 5.3 per cent of GDP in 2023-24 (RE) to 4.3 per cent of GDP in 2024-25 (BE) will enhance the flow of funds to the private sector and support private investment. The fiscal outlook for states remains favourable, with adequate fiscal room to pursue increased capital expenditure. The digitalisation of the tax system has enhanced tax collections, with the Centreas direct tax revenues budgeted to reach 6.7 per cent of GDP in 2024-25, the highest in three decades, it adds. Pune, May 30 : Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif has admitted that a ruling MahaYuti ally Nationalist Congress Party had recommended the reinstatement of the tainted medico, Ajay Taware - now arrested and suspended - to the coveted post of Medical Superintendent (MS) in Sassoon General Hospital, here on Thursday. Pune, May 30 (IANS) Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif has admitted that a ruling MahaYuti ally Nationalist Congress Party had recommended the reinstatement of the tainted medico, Ajay Taware a" now arrested and suspended a" to the coveted post of Medical Superintendent (MS) in Sassoon General Hospital, here on Thursday. The recommendation was made by MLA Sunil Tingre, and a letter purportedly penned by him had gone viral on social media last week, though the legislator had vehemently denied the development. Mushrif said that Tingre had written the recommendation letter around December 2023 which he (as Minister) had endorsed for further action to the concerned hospital authorities. When questioned over this, Mushrif pointed a finger at the hospital Dean Vinayak Kale a" currently sent on compulsory leave a" asking why he failed to oppose the name of Taware. "If he (Kale) did not consider Taware to be a suitable candidate for the MS post, then why did he not clearly inform the government about it," Mushrif shot back, as fresh developments continued to crop up almost daily since the May 19 Porsche crash. On May 29, Kale hinted at the involvement of the legislator and the minister in the return of Taware as the MS despite his questionable professional record at the hospital. Incidentally, Tingre is under a cloud for attempting to use his political clout and misguide the police investigations, and the Opposition parties have questioned whether the legislator's son was also in the Porsche along with the builder's minor son. Targetting the government, Congress' Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Vijay Wadettiwar has alleged that a "top person" in the regime was reportedly shielding the officials and the murky goings-on at the Sassoon General Hospital and would reveal the names later. As the Sassoon General Hospital is caught in the eye of the Porsche crash storm, the axe is falling on several officials with the Dean eased out on compulsory leave and replaced by Chandrakant Mhaske. Two senior medicos Ajay Taware and Shrihar Halnor plus a peon Atul Ghatkamble were arrested and suspended, and they shall be produced before a Pune Court later in the day for extension of their custody. The police have also questioned over two dozen other staffers of the hospital including medicos, nurses, administrative and medical employees for the probe. New Delhi, May 30 : Children are most vulnerable to third-hand smoke pollutants that settle indoors when tobacco is smoked, said health experts on Thursday, ahead of World No Tobacco Day. World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31 to raise awareness about the health risks of using tobacco. Thirdhand smoke contains more than 250 residual chemicals including nicotine and cancer-causing substances such as formaldehyde, and naphthalene. It builds up on surfaces over time and can get embedded in clothing, furniture, drapes, bedding, and carpets. "Children are most vulnerable to thirdhand smoke because they tend to touch surfaces, and often their mouths, resulting in skin exposure and ingestion of these residues," Lancelot Mark Pinto, from P. D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC, Mumbai, told IANS. "The only way to prevent such exposure is by completely banning indoor smoking, and insisting on keeping a radius outside buildings and homes smoke-free," added Lancelot, Consultant Pulmonologist and Epidemiologist at Hinduja. Thirdhand smoke is a hidden danger, lingering in furniture, walls, and clothing long after a cigarette is extinguished. The residue can remain for weeks, months, or even years. "Vulnerable groups include infants, children, and those with respiratory conditions, as they are more likely to come into contact with these contaminated surfaces and inhale harmful residues," Ishan Capoor, pulmonologist and respiratory medicine, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru, told IANS. "This exposure can lead to respiratory issues, developmental problems, and an increased risk of cancer," he added. To prevent third-hand smoke exposure, ensure that smoking is strictly prohibited indoors and in vehicles. Regularly clean surfaces and fabrics, and encourage smokers to quit or at least to smoke outside and away from others. Awareness and proactive measures are essential to protect the health of those most at risk." In addition to children, Srinath Bharadwaj, Medical Oncologist at Apollo Cancer Centre, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, told IANS that it may also harm pets in the house. "Our furry friends usually groom by licking their fur. If that fur is coated with smoke residue, they ingest carcinogens and toxins on top of the ones their lungs take in," he said. The experts called on businesses, communities, and individuals to take action to help prevent thirdhand smoke exposure by not allowing smoking indoors. Smoking in front of an open window does not prevent thirdhand smoke exposure. "The best way is to quit smoking and stay safe and keep your family safe," they noted. New Delhi, May 30 : A court here on Thursday issued notice to ED seeking its response on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's regular bail plea in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Court also sought the agency's reply on his plea seeking interim bail for a week on medical grounds. The judge issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking their response on both the regular and interim bail pleas. Appearing on behalf of the ED, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju sought additional time to file a response. Raju argued that Kejriwal had not disclosed critical information and that the ED needed to bring these issues to the court's attention. "He is not in custody. He has been granted interim bail by the Supreme Court. He is today in Punjab campaigning. His health did not hinder him from campaigning. He moves the bail on the last date so that we get very little time. His conduct doesn't entitle him to any orders today," Raju contended. Judge Baweja has scheduled the next hearing for June 1 to consider the ED's response and further arguments regarding Kejriwal's bail applications. On May 10, Kejriwal was ordered to be released on interim bail till June 1 by the Supreme Court in view of the ongoing general elections. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court registry had refused to accept the application moved by him seeking a seven-day extension of interim bail to undergo medical examinations, including a PET-CT scan. The SC registry said that the top court had already reserved its verdict in the matter and the application seeking a 7-day extension has no relation to the main petition. As SC had allowed him to move the trial court to obtain regular bail, the application is not maintainable, it added. As per the Aam Aadmi Party, CM Kejriwal's health has deteriorated since he was arrested in the alleged Delhi excise scam. The party has said that he has lost 7 kg in weight after his arrest and his Ketone levels are also very high indicating a serious medical disorder. The party has further said that the CM was required to do medical tests and seven days were needed for this. Earlier, the apex court had directed him to surrender back to Tihar Jail on June 2. The top court on May 17 had reserved its verdict on CM Kejriwal's petition challenging his arrest and subsequent remand by the federal anti-money laundering agency in the excise policy case. It said he could approach the trial court for a grant of regular bail notwithstanding the fact that the apex court reserved judgment in the matter. The CM was arrested by the federal agency on March 21. Mumbai, May 30 : Actress Sunita Rajwar, who is awaiting the release of the upcoming fourth season of her hit streaming show 'Gullak', has shared insights on her friendship with her fellow actress from the show, Geetanjali Kulkarni. Mumbai, May 30 (IANS) Actress Sunita Rajwar, who is awaiting the release of the upcoming fourth season of her hit streaming show aGullaka, has shared insights on her friendship with her fellow actress from the show, Geetanjali Kulkarni. Sunita shared that she and Geetanjali have known each other since their time at the National School of Drama in Delhi. Reflecting on the friendship, Sunita said: "Working with Geetanjali is like coming home. Our friendship dates back to our days at the National School of Drama, where Geetanjali was a year senior to me. She has always been someone I looked up to, not just for her incredible talent, but for her generous spirit." Talking about how their friendship has evolved from the first season of the show to the fourth season, the actress said: "Over the four seasons of aGullaka this bond has transformed from just friendship, and she has now become extended family. We laugh, we discuss, we debate, and most importantly, we support each other through every scene and every challenge." Sunita said that the trust that they have built is invaluable, and it shows in their performances. The on-screen chemistry that viewers love reflects the genuine affection and appreciation we share on and off-screen. aI feel incredibly fortunate to not only work with such a brilliant actor but to call her my friend and family," she added. aGullaka season 4 is set to drop on Sony LIV on June 7. Karnataka BJP laid siege to the residence Bengaluru, May 30 (IANS) The Karnataka BJP laid siege to the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru On Thursday, demanding the resignation of Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports, and Scheduled Tribe Welfare, B. Nagendra, over the suicide of Chandrasekaran P, the Superintendent of the Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC). Party workers, primarily affiliated to the BJP ST Morcha, demanded that Nagendra should resign over the alleged misappropriation of Rs 187 crore in the KMVSTDC. High drama ensued as the police prevented the BJP workers from entering the CM's residence and detained them. The workers raised slogans against the Congress government, branding it as anti-Dalit. They were dragged to police vans and taken away. Meanwhile, state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra visited the residence of Chandrasekaran in Shivamogga to console the bereaved family. The family informed Vijayendra that officers had taken away a laptop and other articles from the house. Vijayendra alleged that the government had sent the officers to remove evidence from the residence of the deceased. Commenting on the development, Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated that an investigation has been ordered into the death of Chandrasekaran. "It is said that money was transferred from the main account to other branches, and from there, it went to four other accounts. Until the investigation is completed, we can't draw any conclusions," he said. Parameshwara stated, "It was claimed yesterday that Rs 187 crore was transferred, with Rs 93 crore distributed to individual accounts. Others claim it was Rs 83 crore. There should be evidence to prove the minister's offence. They claim that the note states the minister gave oral instructions. This will be examined. Until the facts mentioned in the note are verified, it can't be considered the truth." He added, "In some cases, such notes are found immediately; sometimes they are found later. There is evidence that some death notes are written after the deaths occur. In this context, the note will be probed, and its genuineness needs to be ascertained. Only then will the investigation proceed." When asked about the Congress party launching an agitation until former minister K.S. Eshwarappa resigned during the BJP's rule after the suicide of a contractor, Parameshwara claimed there are no similarities between the two cases. Eshwarappa's name was clearly mentioned in the suicide note, whereas in this case, no name is mentioned. If the probe reveals a name, it is a different matter, Parameshwara added. Chandrashekaran P (52) allegedly committed suicide after writing a six-page statement in which he mentioned about the corruption in the corporation and a minister's involvement. Acting on the complaint of Chandrashekaran's wife, a case has been lodged against KMVSTDC Managing Director J. G. Padmanabh, accountant Parashurama Durgannanavar, and Union Bank Manager Suchismitha Ravul. Amid the demand for the resignation of B. Nagendra, the government has handed over the case to the Criminal Investigation Department. Chandrashekaran mentioned the torture and humiliation he had undergone for questioning the illegal transactions. The family claims that Chandrashekaran had come under tremendous pressure following the transfer of money without his knowledge. He also did not know about the bank account to which the money was transferred. The bank authorities have denied providing information about the transaction. BJP to focus on positive campaign instead of personal attacks on Mamata. Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, May 30 : With campaigning in the last and seventh phase of polls for nine Lok Sabha constituencies set to end within a few hours, a quick look back shows that local issues took precedence over national matters during the campaigns for the 42 seats in West Bengal. Although the electorate is voting to elect the government at the Centre, the focus of all political parties in the fray is still on state-centric issues and how the results of the Lok Sabha polls in Bengal will determine the longevity of the ruling government in the state, which is officially scheduled to continue till 2026. For instance, the BJP has focussed on issues like corruption cases against the state government and Trinamool Congress leaders, charges of sexual harassment of women at Sandeshkhali and misuse of funds released under centrally-sponsored projects. Interestingly, this line of campaigning has not just been followed by prominent BJP leaders in the state like President Sukanta Majumdar or the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, but even by the party's national leadership. The campaign speeches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were full of references of state-specific issues. Although both PM Modi and HM Shah touched upon national issues like India's social and economic progress in the last 10 years, the time allotted for the same was too less compared to the references to state-specific issues. For instance, in the campaigns for the last two phases, PM Modi focussed on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's observations, accusing a section of the monks of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission and ISKCON of acting on behalf of the BJP. On the other hand, Trinamool Congress leaders, especially Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the party's General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee devoted most of the time in either defending the allegations made by the BJP or in explaining how the saffron party has deprived the state government of its legitimate dues under different centrally-sponsored schemes. In addition, both leaders have dedicated much time on how the NRC, CAA and UCC will be against the interest of the Muslim community and how determined the Trinamool Congress is to block these in West Bengal. Similarly, in the campaign meetings for the last two phases, CM Banerjee has devoted substantial time in explaining that her comments on the iconic religious institutions were being misinterpreted and she had never been against such entities. However, one interesting similarity in the campaigns of the BJP and the Trinamool Congress has been their take on the CPI(M) and the Congress. Both BJP and Trinamool Congress have accused the CPI(M) and the Congress of having a covert understanding with their political rival in the state. This slur war was kicked off by CM Banerjee when she started describing CPI(M) and the West Bengal unit of the Congress as clandestine partners of the BJP in the state. Soon the BJP leadership, including PM Modi launched a counter-campaign describing CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress as "enemies in Bengal but partners in Delhi." Surprisingly, even the Congress-Left Front alliance in West Bengal has focussed on state- specific issues while campaigning. The alliance leaders have mainly talked about three issues, namely cases of corruption, clandestine understanding between BJP and Trinamool Congress and attempts to polarise voters in the state on religious lines by the BJP and Trinamool Congress. An interesting factor in the Trinamool Congress' campaign for these General Elections has been the constantly-shifting stand of CM Banerjee on the INDIA bloc. After claiming that the INDIA bloc will end the tally with over 300 seats, with the BJP stopping at a little over 200, the CM said that she would give outside support to any probable Union government formed by the Opposition alliance. Within days she shifted her stand and claimed that she is very much a part of the INDIA bloc and will take the lead role in any probable Opposition-led government at the Centre. Bengaluru, May 30 : The Karnataka BJP laid siege to the residence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru On Thursday, demanding the resignation of Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports, and Scheduled Tribe Welfare, B. Nagendra, over the suicide of Chandrasekaran P, the Superintendent of the Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC). Party workers, primarily affiliated to the BJP ST Morcha, demanded that Nagendra should resign over the alleged misappropriation of Rs 187 crore in the KMVSTDC. High drama ensued as the police prevented the BJP workers from entering the CM's residence and detained them. The workers raised slogans against the Congress government, branding it as anti-Dalit. They were dragged to police vans and taken away. Meanwhile, state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra visited the residence of Chandrasekaran in Shivamogga to console the bereaved family. The family informed Vijayendra that officers had taken away a laptop and other articles from the house. Vijayendra alleged that the government had sent the officers to remove evidence from the residence of the deceased. Commenting on the development, Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated that an investigation has been ordered into the death of Chandrasekaran. "It is said that money was transferred from the main account to other branches, and from there, it went to four other accounts. Until the investigation is completed, we can't draw any conclusions," he said. Parameshwara stated, "It was claimed yesterday that Rs 187 crore was transferred, with Rs 93 crore distributed to individual accounts. Others claim it was Rs 83 crore. There should be evidence to prove the minister's offence. They claim that the note states the minister gave oral instructions. This will be examined. Until the facts mentioned in the note are verified, it can't be considered the truth." He added, "In some cases, such notes are found immediately; sometimes they are found later. There is evidence that some death notes are written after the deaths occur. In this context, the note will be probed, and its genuineness needs to be ascertained. Only then will the investigation proceed." When asked about the Congress party launching an agitation until former minister K.S. Eshwarappa resigned during the BJP's rule after the suicide of a contractor, Parameshwara claimed there are no similarities between the two cases. Eshwarappa's name was clearly mentioned in the suicide note, whereas in this case, no name is mentioned. If the probe reveals a name, it is a different matter, Parameshwara added. Chandrashekaran P (52) allegedly committed suicide after writing a six-page statement in which he mentioned about the corruption in the corporation and a minister's involvement. Acting on the complaint of Chandrashekaran's wife, a case has been lodged against KMVSTDC Managing Director J. G. Padmanabh, accountant Parashurama Durgannanavar, and Union Bank Manager Suchismitha Ravul. Amid the demand for the resignation of B. Nagendra, the government has handed over the case to the Criminal Investigation Department. Chandrashekaran mentioned the torture and humiliation he had undergone for questioning the illegal transactions. The family claims that Chandrashekaran had come under tremendous pressure following the transfer of money without his knowledge. He also did not know about the bank account to which the money was transferred. The bank authorities have denied providing information about the transaction. Seoul, May 30 : South Korea will operate strategic research and development (R&D) centres in the United States and Europe to enhance global R&D collaborations, the science ministry said on Thursday. The strategic hubs aim to create a network between small overseas research centers in the regions and communicate with local authorities to find project partners, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. The ministry plans to select these strategic centers among existing facilities and start test operation after securing the necessary budget next year, reports Yonhap news agency. Additionally, the ministry will create a comprehensive map outlining the technological levels of global leaders in 12 national strategic technologies designated by the South Korean government, as well as key technologies for achieving carbon neutrality. The 12 technologies are semiconductors and displays, secondary batteries, advanced mobility, next-generation nuclear power, advanced biology, aerospace and ocean engineering, hydrogen, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, next-generation communications, advanced robotics and quantum technology. As an initial step, the government analyzed the maps for three technologies: solar power, wind power and power grid. The findings showed that South Korea ranks fourth in hyper-efficient solar battery technology, 11th in large-scale wind turbine technology and fifth in intelligent power supply system technology. Separately, the ministry announced four flagship global R&D projects, which will be on top of the government-backed programs, including the Boston-Korea Project and Net-Zero Korea Project. The Boston-Korea project aims to strengthen cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. to advance biotechnology, while the Net-Zero Korea project targets improving the country's hydrogen technologies. Kanyakumari: Once a Left citadel, now has no LDF candidate.. Image Source: IANS News Chennai, May 30 : Security has been beefed up in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit who is scheduled to arrive at around 4.45 p.m. in a helicopter from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The Prime Minister is visiting Kanyakumari for a three-day meditation at Vivekananda Rock Memorial from May 30 to June 1. Around 3,000 police personnel are in place for the Prime Ministeras visit. PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to reach the government guest house in the district from the helipad and after that, he will visit the Kanyakumari Devi temple where he will offer prayers. The Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to the Vivekananda Rock memorial on a ferry and will be in the meditation hall of the Rock memorial for close to 45 hours. Restrictions are in place in the district and in the Kanyakumari Devi temple where the Prime Minister will reach in the evening for prayers. Meanwhile, Congress has opposed the Prime Minister's three-day stay for meditation. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai wrote a letter to the Election Commission of India not to grant permission for the visit as it violated the model code of conduct. The Congress leader said that this was a silent election campaign. Mumbai, May 30 : Actress Nazia, who was recently seen in the movie 'Tipppsy', donned a bikini for one of the sequences, and said it made her feel confident and comfortable. Nazia, who made her acting debut with the Hindi film 'Say Yes to Love', played the role of Iris, an adventurous, strong, and independent girl, in Deepak Tijori's directorial. Sharing her experience, she said: "Wearing a bikini on screen was an experience for me, but I felt confident and comfortable. I believe in embracing and loving my body. Itas important to be comfortable in your own skin, and Iam glad I could convey that confidence through my role." The movie is a thriller and revolves around some friends who let their hair down in Goa, but unfortunately end up getting into trouble. Asked if she is a party animal or enjoys house parties, Nazia said she enjoys a good balance of both. "I love going out and partying with friends, but I also cherish cozy house get-togethers. Thereas something special about spending quality time with close friends and family in a more intimate setting," she said. She is now looking for roles that challenge her and also help her improve her craft. "Iam interested in diverse characters and stories that have a strong impact. Whether itas drama, comedy, or action, Iam open to exploring different genres," added Nazia. 'Tipppsy' also stars Alankrita Sahai, Natasha Suri, Kainaat Arora, Harjinder Singh, and Sonia Birje. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Man in Germany reports himself to police for killing someone. Image Source: IANS News Cologne, May 30 : A man in Germany called the police to report himself for killing someone, and told officers that they would find a body in his apartment. The 43-year-old man called police in the western German city of Paderborn on Wednesday morning and said that a person he had killed was lying in his flat. The caller did not respond to further inquiries. Police and public prosecutors in Paderborn publicly disclosed the incident on Thursday. The police officers who were alerted came across the caller and a dead man at the address given. The 45-year-old victim showed signs of suffering violence, according to police. The 43-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene without resistance. He remains in custody, with prosecutors seeking to bring charges on suspicion of manslaughter. --IANS/DPA svn Chandauli : , May 30 (IANS) It is a contest between Mahendra, Virendra and Satyendra and their fate now depends on the 'Narendra factor.' This is not a game of homophones but is the ground situation in Chandauli Lok Sabha constituency. Chandauli, founded by Chandra Sah, a Barhaulia Rajput of the family of Narotam Rai, and his descendants, Shujan Sah and Bhupat Sah, who built the fort which is now in ruins, is bound on the east by Bihar. The sitting MP is BJP's Mahendra Nath Pandey from Chandauli, the INDIA bloc candidate is Virendra Singh, a former UP minister, and the BSP has fielded Satyendra Maurya. Since Chandauli was a part of the Varanasi constituency till 1997, the tone and tenor of the politics here is similar to that of Varanasi. "Jo hawa Kashi se chalti hai, wohi Chandauli aati hai, (The wind that blows from Kashi, comes here)" says Chotu Chaurasia, who owns a paan shop and claims to be a psephologist of sorts. "I have seen many elections and my predictions have always come true," says the 59-year-old. Though for some unexplained reason, he is not happy with the sitting MP, but he says, "Jo Narendra (Modi) kahenge, wohi hoga." The Chandauli District till two decades ago was known as a hotbed of Naxal activities. In 2004, in a suspected Naxalite attack on a truck transporting policemen and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel, 14 PAC jawans and a policeman were killed and five jawans were injured in the explosion in the jungles of Hinaut Ghat in the district's Naugarh block. However, over the years, along with Varanasi, Chandauli has also seen development and this is one factor that goes in favour of the BJP. Mahendra Nath Pandey says that the work done by the double engine government is exemplary and the votes will come in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Virendra Singh of SP says, "People also talk of the work done by Mahendra and Narendra Modi cannot cover up for all." Incidentally, Chandauli is also the birthplace of former Prime Minister, late Lal Bahadur Shastri and the 'karambhoomi' of veteran Congress leader Kamlapati Tripathi. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also belongs to Chandauli. Chandigarh, May 30 : The high-octane campaigning for Punjab's 13 Lok Sabha seats, witnessing a four-cornered contest, came to an end at 5 P.M. on Thursday, with all top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a last attempt to woo 2.14 crore voters who are expected to exercise their franchise on June 1. The BJP, which is contesting the parliamentary polls alone in Punjab after almost three decades, is largely banking on PM Modi's four rallies that it believes are pivotal in swaying and consolidating votes, particularly in urban, Hindu-dominated segments. PM Modi held a big rally in Hoshiarpur, once a Congress bastion, making a last call to motivate the voters just hours ahead of the campaigning coming to an end. From this reserved seat, the BJP has fielded Anita Som Parkash, the wife of outgoing Union Minister Som Parkash. Punjab is all set for a four-cornered fight between the AAP, Congress, Akali Dal, and the BJP. Political observers told IANS that AAP aims to repeat its 2022 Assembly poll success of sweeping 92 seats in the House of 117, while the main Opposition Congress and the Akali Dal look to regain ground. In 2022, the Akali Dal was reduced to three seats. On the other hand, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former party President Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, among other prominent leaders, addressed rallies in the state. AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and state Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held roadshows and back-to-back public meetings, especially with traders, to woo the voters. In Punjab, the AAP is contesting the elections alone without any alliance with the Opposition's INDIA bloc. In the election campaigns, Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal, who's currently out on interim bail in the liquor policy case, came out with guns blazing at the BJP-led Centre and PM Modi. Interestingly, while campaigning on the penultimate day for the AAP and Congress' joint candidate in Chandigarh, Manish Tewari, the Delhi CM said, "We have to defeat the BJP from Chandigarh." Taking a swipe at PM Modi, CM Kejriwal said, "Achhe din aane waale hain, Modiji jaane waale hain." CM Kejriwal, along with candidate Tiwari, led a massive roadshow in Chandigarh and appealed to the people to elect the joint candidate as "it is a fight to save our democracy and Constitution." Chandigarh will also go for the polls on its lone seat on June 1. Here the straight contest is between the BJP's Sanjay Tandon, who is making a debut in electoral politics and believes there is a 'Modi wave' in the country, and two-time MP Tewari. Tewari is the outgoing MP from Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. Addressing a rally in Patiala last week in favour of the party's candidate and four-time MP Preneet Kaur, PM Modi blamed the Congress for the Sikh pilgrimage site Kartarpur Sahib going to Pakistan during Partition. Kartarpur Sahib is the place where Guru Nanak Dev spent his last years. Saying that more than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers had surrendered in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, PM Modi said had he been in power at the time, he would have taken Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan before freeing their troops. Besides Hoshiarpur and Patiala, PM Modi also addressed rallies in Gurdaspur and Jalandhar, which are the BJP's strongholds. Previously these seats were won by the BJP in alliance with the Akali Dal. Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal, who is hitting out at the BJP for divisive politics and the Congress for Operation Bluestar, held several meetings across the state and claimed his party could take Punjab on the path of development. This time Sukhbir Badal, who is the outgoing Ferozepur MP, is not in the fray. However, a tough battle awaits his wife Harsimrat Badal, who held portfolios in both the PM Modi-led central governments. She is eyeing to retain the politically-significant Bathinda seat, also known as Punjab's cotton belt, for the fourth-consecutive term. Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said the state has an electorate of 2,14,61,739, comprising 1,12,86,726 men, 1,01,74,240 women and 773 transgender voters. According to him, 5,38,715 voters belong to the 18-19 age group, who will be casting their votes for the first time. Similarly, 1,89,855 voters are aged above 85 years. The total number of 'Divyang' voters is 1,58,718. For the 13 Lok Sabha seats, a total of 24,451 polling stations will be set up, with 16,517 in villages and 7,934 in cities. In Punjab, 100 per cent photo identity cards (EPIC) have been made. In 2019, the BJP in alliance with the Akali Dal had contested three Lok Sabha seats (Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur), while the latter contested the remaining 10 seats. At that time, the state ruling Congress had won eight seats -- Amritsar, Faridkot, Anandpur Sahib, Jalandhar, Khadoor Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala seats -- while the Akali Dal won Bathinda and Ferozepur and the BJP Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur seats. The AAP won from Sangrur. Punjab had recorded a voter turnout of 65.96 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com) Chennai, May 30 : Thirteen persons including seven women were injured when firecrackers stored for a funeral fireworks exploded on Thursday near the old bus terminal in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu. Ranipet Police said that entire firecrackers stocked for the funeral services of K. Saraswathi Ammal (95) exploded after sparks from crackers that were burst by family members fell on the reserved crackers. On an alert from the residents, firefighters and police rushed to the place and a six-member team of firefighters doused the fire. The injured were taken to Ranipet Government Hospital in Walajah Street by the firefighters and the police. J. Usha Nandini, Chief Medical Officer, Ranipet Government Hospital told IANS that the injured suffered 10 to 30 per cent burn injuries and all of them are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. Ranipet town police have registered a case. District Collector Valarmathi and District Superintendent of Police Kiran Shruthi met the injured in the hospital. Seoul, May 30 : South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday said that the country will push for a space project to send a space exploration vehicle to the Moon by 2032 and plant a national flag on Mars by 2045. Yoon unveiled the plan to invest 100 trillion won ($72.5 billion) by 2045 during the opening ceremony of the nation's new space agency, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), in Sacheon, about 300 km from Seoul, Yonhap news agency reported. "We will land our space exploration vehicle on the Moon in 2032 and plant the Taegeukgi on Mars in 2045," Yoon said in his opening remarks, referring to the name of the national flag. Yoon pledged to increase the budget and investment in the space and aerospace industries to enhance their competitiveness. "We will expand the related budget to over 1.5 trillion won by 2027 and attract about 100 trillion won in investment by 2045," he said. The government will also designate May 27, the establishment of KASA, as Space Aerospace Day to raise awareness of space exploration, he said. In the face of an intensifying global space race, Yoon underscored the importance of playing a leading role in setting standards in space and related industries. Last year, South Korea successfully completed the third launch of the 200-ton Nuri, also known as KSLV-II, putting eight practical satellites into orbit. It has also sent two military reconnaissance satellites carried by the SpaceX rocket into orbit in December and April, respectively, to better monitor North Korea. South Korea plans to acquire five spy satellites by 2025 and plans to acquire around 60 small and micro-sized spy satellites by 2030, which would enable the military to monitor the Korean Peninsula every 30 minutes or less. The smaller satellites are expected to be launched on a homegrown solid-fuel space rocket currently under development. In December, the military conducted the third flight test of a solid-fuel space rocket. Mumbai, May 30 : A Mumbai Special Court has awarded mafia don Rajendra S. Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of the 2001 murder of a city-based hotelier Jaya Shetty, here on Thursday. Special MCOCA Court Judge A.M. Patil found Chhota Rajan guilty under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and other laws invoked against him in the killing 23 years ago. The victim Jaya Shetty was the owner of the famed Golden Crown Hotel & Bar in the Grant Road area of south Mumbai, and had run foul of Chhota Rajan and henchmen. On the night of May 4, 2001, two of Rajanas shooters allegedly barged into the hotel premises and killed Shetty on the upper floor of the joint, sparking terror in hospitality circles. Shetty had complained of getting extortion threats and calls from Chhota Rajanas associates and was provided police security. Later, he asked for the security to be withdrawn but he became a target barely two months after the security cover was taken away. This is the second lifer for Chhota Rajan in Mumbai after the life sentence he was given in May 2018 for the sensational daylight killing of journalist J. Dey on June 11, 2011. One of the dreaded mafia syndicate bosses in Mumbai, Chhota Rajan, 64, sneaked off to Dubai in 1989 and was deported to India from Indonesia in November 2015, after spending nearly 27 years as a fugitive on the run. In September 2000, Chhota Rajan narrowly escaped a murderous attack on him in a hotel in Bangkok, allegedly ordered by his underworld rival and the wanted terrorist-gangster, Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar. After that attack, Chhota Rajan again 'disappeared' till he was nabbed by the Indonesian Police in October 2015, and deported to India. Shimla, May 30 : The high-decibel electioneering in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, which will see polling for four parliamentary seats and simultaneous bypolls for six assembly constituencies on June 1, ended on Thursday with the political bigwigs from the traditional archrivals -- the Congress and the BJP -- making last-minute efforts to woo the 57 lakh electorate. The four parliamentary seats -- Mandi, Hamirpur, Kangra and Shimla -- have become a high-stakes battle for the BJP's star campaigner Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi. Both consider Himachal Pradesh their second home. While Prime Minister Modi does not miss an opportunity to remind the people of the years he spent here when he was appointed the BJP's in-charge of the state in 1995, travelling to every nook and corner, Priyanka Gandhi tried to strike an emotional chord by saying the hill state is her "home" as her cottage is located in Charabra, on the outskirts of Shimla. During campaigning, she took digs at Modi, accusing him of abandoning the people when disaster struck owing to heavy rain in 2023, despite his claims of considering Himachal "to be his home". However, PM Modi in both his big rallies in Nahan and Mandi towns last week focussed on a stronger India with promises of more development of the state in his third term. To woo the families of the defence personnel and ex-servicemen, a major vote bank in the state, the PM mentioned that the implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, a long-standing demand of military personnel, was done under his leadership. Also the Prime Minister's reference to the construction of the Ram Temple was a bid to woo voters in the prominent Hindu state. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while campaigning appealed to the people to vote for all the four Congress Lok Sabha candidates, while promising them that he and his sister Priyanka Gandhi will "be the voice" of the hill state in the national capital. "Priyanka and I are your soldiers in Delhi, and we will raise the voice of Himachal Pradesh in the capital," he said at a public meeting in Nahan in Sirmaur district. The brother-sister duo time and again raked up the issue of recruitment of Agniveers in the Indian Army. Rahul Gandhi in one of the rallies said "if the Opposition's INDIA bloc comes to power in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, it will dispose off the Agniveer scheme into the dustbin". Himachal is home to a large number of people serving in the armed forces. As per official figures, there are 1.29 lakh ex-servicemen residing in the state, besides 80,000 serving in the armed forces. Their highest concentration is in Kangra, Hamirpur, Mandi and Una districts. Like the 2022 assembly poll, Priyanka is holding the fort for campaigning in place of her brother. Prominent other leaders who campaigned in the state were BJP national president J.P. Nadda, Union ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and S. Jaishankar, former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. From the Congress, its national president Mallikarjun Kharge, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda and Shashi Tharoor addressed rallies. Appealing to vote for the BJP at an election meeting in Kullu district, Gadkari said "this election is not about the future of the Congress and the BJP but it is about the future of the country and its people". He said the public has to decide which party and which leader can work for their future. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the then state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retained all four Lok Sabha seats as its candidates won by record margins. Hamirpur's sitting MP Anurag Thakur, Kangra candidate Kishan Kapoor, Shimla candidate Suresh Kashyap and Mandi's sitting MP Ram Swaroop Sharma had won, defeating their Congress rivals. This time, the BJP fielded Union Minister Thakur again from Hamirpur and Kashyap from Shimla. In the Mandi parliamentary constituency, the battleground shifts between "royalty" and "reel", as Congress legislator Vikramaditya Singh, the scion of the erstwhile royal family, challenges Bollywood's queen, Kangana Ranaut, of the BJP. The ruling Congress has fielded its veteran and four-time Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma in his new battleground Kangra, the largest Lok Sabha constituency in terms of voters, against Rajiv Bhardwaj of the BJP, which ignored the sitting MP, Kishan Kapoor. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has given tickets to all six Congress rebels, who had supported it in the Rajya Sabha elections, for the Assembly bypolls. The candidates are Sudhir Sharma from Dharamsala, Rajinder Rana from Sujanpur, Ravi Thakur from Lahaul-Spiti, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal from Barsar, Chaitanya Sharma from Gagret and Devender Bhutto from Kutlehar. These seats fell vacant due to the disqualification of the legislators for defying the party whip while passing the state budget. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu has said he was not afraid of "conspiracies" being hatched against him. He accused the BJP of attempting to destabilise the elected government. With the electorate, in the Lok Sabha polls, traditionally favouring the party at the helm in the state, these elections are being seen as a referendum on Himachal Pradesh's 17-month-old Congress government. The Congress wrested the state from the BJP in December 2022, winning 40 seats in the 68-member House, while the BJP was reduced to 25. New Delhi, May 30 : The Data Security Council of India (DSCI), a not-for-profit industry body on data protection, in partnership with the IT infrastructure services provider Kyndryl on Thursday launched a cybersecurity training programme -- Cyber Sainik, which will train 25,000 students in three years across India. The programme, designed to protect students from cyber threats such as cyberbullying and online exploitation, will train students through grades 6 to 12 to report issues and offer them skills, tools and techniques to prevent bad actors on digital, online and social media channels. The programme will also educate them on the best ways to protect their personal information. "With the launch of Cyber Sainik, we will be tapping into the student community as well to make our efforts more holistic; and we would like to thank Kyndryl for joining hands in this noble initiative," Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI, said in a statement. Upon course completion, the students will receive a joint certification from Kyndryl and DSCI. "Kyndryl is committed to upskilling Indiaas tech talent, especially in cybersecurity, by working with local support groups to ensure the digital safety of vulnerable sections of our society," said Lingraju Sawkar, President, Kyndryl India. As per government data, cybersecurity incidents in the country are growing faster than the global average, with 1.3 million cybersecurity incidents annually between 2020 and 2022. Chennai, May 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Kanyakumari helipad just now. He reached the southernmost tip of the country in an air force helicopter. PM Modi will now reach the government guest house for a brief rest and after that he will offer his prayers at the Kanyakumari Devi temple. He will also pay his respects before the statue of Tamil cultural icon and saint, Thiruvalluvar. The Prime Minister will now move from the Kanyakumari mainland to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial on a ferry. He will be at Vivekananda Rock Memorial for three days from May 30 to June 1 and will meditate for 45 hours at the meditation hall of the Rock Memorial. The opposition Congress and the CPI-M have come out against the Prime Ministeras meditation programme at Kanyakumari and the Congress had even written a letter to the Election Commission of India not to allow him to undertake meditation. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President, K. Selvaperunthagai, has said that the Election Commission should not allow the PMas meditation programme as the Model Code of Conduct under the Peopleas Representation Act is in force. Rawalpindi, May 30 : Terming it as pivotal for the "collective good" of the country, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Thursday re-emphasised the significance of bringing to justice the culprits behind the violent attacks on military installations on May 9, 2023. Munir's remarks came at the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference, held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi which was also attended by Corps Commanders, Principal Staff Officers and all Formation Commanders of Pakistan Army. The Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) said that the forum emphasised on the transparent dispensation of justice in last year's riots and vandalism case. "The forum noted that planners, perpetrators, abettors, and facilitators of May 9 violence need to be brought to justice for the collective good of the country, and that without swift and transparent dispensation of justice to the culprits and establishing the rule of law, stability in the country will ever remain hostage to the machinations of such elements," read the ISPR statement released to media. The forum also took serious note of what it termed as "politically motivated and vested digital terrorism", which it maintained was unleashed by conspirators working on the agenda of foreign forces. "The forum underscored that politically motivated and vested digital terrorism, unleashed by conspirators duly abetted by their foreign cohorts, against State institutions, is clearly meant to try to induce despondency in the Pakistani nation, to sow discord among national institutions, especially the Armed Forces, and the people of Pakistan by peddling blatant lies, fake news, and propaganda," said ISPR. "However, the nation is fully cognizant of their ugly and ulterior motives and surely the designs of these nefarious forces will be comprehensively defeated," ISPR added. The latest statement from the Pakistan Army Formation Commanders' Conference has yet again indicated that there remains no possibility of any backdoor talks or engagement with former Prime Minister Imran Khan. On May 9 last year, after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court, supporters of the party and its top leaders stormed important military installations to express their anger against the military establishment. The violent protests resulted in targeted mob attacks on major military installations across Pakistan, including the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. After the riots, PTI was brutally dismantled with thousands of its workers arrested through raids and Imran Khan pushed against the prison walls with tonnes of cases. A complete blackout on political activities of the PTI was imposed before the February general elections. "It's clear that the army is not ready to forgive Imran Khan and his party for what they did on May 9. PTI and Imran Khan have been trying hard for talks but it seems that the army is in no mood to forgive them. They want to punish them severely for what happened last year," said senior political analyst Adnan Shaukat. "We also know that PTI is far ahead of everyone in its use of social media to campaign its narrative. Be it an anti-military establishment or pro-Imran Khan, PTI's social media certainly has been very active. PTI supporters and its official pages have criticised the military establishment openly. That is why the Formation Commanders Conference has termed politically-motivated campaigning by PTI as digital terrorism, which may turn into a major challenge for Imran Khan and PTI in the coming days," he added. The forum also expressed "serious concerns" over continued cross-border violations from Afghanistan and terrorism being orchestrated using Afghan soil. "Pakistan's adversaries were using Afghanistan to target the security forces and innocent civilians inside Pakistan," ISPR's statement read. The forum stated that foreign-sponsored proxies working to spread externally propagated narratives of exclusion are being exploited to lead Balochistan's youth away from peace and progress. Imphal, May 30 : At least three people have been killed and thousands affected by floods triggered by heavy rain in eight districts of Manipur, officials said on Thursday. Officials said that a 34-year-old man was killed and three others were injured in a landslide caused by heavy rain in Senapati district, while an octogenarian woman drowned in the overflowing Senapati river in the same district. In state capital Imphal, an elderly man died of electrocution after he came in contact with a live wire amid heavy downpour. All the major rivers, including Imphal, Nambul, and Kongba, were flowing above the danger levels, with water entering hundreds of government and private buildings, houses, and important installations in all five valley districts. Thousands of men, women, and children have taken shelter at safer places, officials added. Due to the incessant rainfall since Wednesday night, the banks of the Imphal river have been breached near Keirang, Khabam and Lairiyengbam Leikai in Imphal East district. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force, para-military personnel, Manipur police and local volunteers are engaged in rescue operations in the affected districts. A team of NDRF arrived in Imphal by a special Indian Air Force flight to join the relief and rescue operations. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who visited some flood-affected areas, said that due to a breach of the river banks in many areas, a large number of people and livestock have been affected. In a post on X, the Chief Minister said: "I appreciate the teams of the NDRF, Indian Army, and Assam Rifles for supporting the local authorities in carrying out the rescue operations and saving precious lives at various flooded areas in the state. "As many as 40 personnel of the NDRF and six additional motorboats have also arrived in Imphal. I urge all to extend cooperation to the rescue teams as they perform their duties to ensure everyone's safety." Officials said that the vital Irang Bailey bridge on Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH 37), which connects Imphal with the rest of the country via southern Assam, collapsed in Taobam village in Noney district, disrupting vehicular movement. A defence spokesman said that relief and rescue efforts have been launched at multiple locations simultaneously by the columns of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles on the request of the civil administration of Imphal East district. Colombo, May 30 : Sri Lanka has urged Russia to immediately stop sending Lankan ex-military personnel, now serving as mercenaries in the war against Ukraine, to the warzone. State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya said on Thursday that the Lankan government has made an official request in this regard till a decision is made after a meeting between Russian diplomats and Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry. Balasuriya said that 455 complaints have been received so far with regard to Sri Lankans who have been fighting for Russia. "So far, 16 Sri Lankans have gone missing while 37 were reported injured," he said, adding that "the figures could be much higher than this". Unconfirmed reports have said that more than 200 Sri Lankans fighting in Russia may have died and hundreds of them are being treated in Russian hospitals. The reports also indicated that nearly 1,000 Sri Lankan ex-soldiers who earlier fought in the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for 26 years have now been lured to join mercenaries fighting for Russia. Balasuriya said that it was difficult to know the exact number of Sri Lankans who had gone to fight in Russia as many of them have gone via different countries. "Some of them have gone through nefarious agents after paying large sums of money," he said. The country's security agencies have launched a probe into a human smuggling racket to send ex-soldiers to the Russia-Ukraine war and have arrested several suspects, including a retired army official. The Sri Lankan government has also made it mandatory to get the Defence Ministry's clearance for any ex-military men leaving for Russia. "Russia will now require Sri Lanka Defence Ministry's clearance for visit visas issued to ex-servicemen," Sri Lankaas Foreign Minister Ali Sabry posted on X. "We addressed the urgent situation of Sri Lankans being deployed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and agreed on immediate steps to resolve these issues," he added. A Sri Lankan delegation comprising officials from the Foreign and Defence Ministries is set to visit Moscow from June 5-7 to discuss the matter. Meanwhile, the Russian Ambassador in Colombo said on Thursday that Moscow is ready to have peace talks with Ukraine but the "puppet regime" in Kiev is not ready for it. Lucknow, May 30 : Searing heat and dusty winds failed to impact the campaigning by the leaders of various political parties in Uttar Pradesh during the ongoing elections. With 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, campaigning has been aggressive and intense, with allegations and accusations being hurled to and fro with alarming regularity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his election campaign from Meerut on March 31. Though the exact number of rallies he addressed in Uttar Pradesh is not yet known (the UP BJP spokesperson said that the data will be released later by the PMO), the Prime Minister addressed as many as seven rallies in two days. In his rallies, the Prime Minister directly attacked the opposition on issues like Muslim appeasement, spurning the invitation to the Ram temple, cutting the quota of SC/ST and OBCs in reservation, lack of development and protection of the mafia. He also listed the welfare schemes rolled out for the poor by his government. Interestingly , the Prime Minister did not campaign in Lucknow where Rajnath Singh is a candidate, Sultanpur where Maneka Gandhi is contesting and Amethi and Raebareli which are crucial for the Congress. After the Prime Minister, the BJPas biggest star campaigner has been UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who has addressed an estimated 190 rallies and sammelans in 60 days. CM Adityanath began his election programme with a Prabuddh Sammelan in Mathura on March 27 and since then, there has been no stopping him. He has held rallies, public meetings and roadshows both within Uttar Pradesh and beyond, spanning a dozen states across the country up to the final phase. The 12 states/UTs where CM Adityanath has engaged with the people to seek support for the BJP and NDA candidates are Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jammu, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Delhi, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Chandigarh. In his speeches, CM Adityanath has been even more attacking towards the opposition, especially on issues related to Muslim appeasement and the mafia in the state. This was apparently aimed at strengthening his own image as a Hindu leader. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also campaigned vigorously in Uttar Pradesh (number of rallies not yet known) but followed the tone and tenor set by the Prime Minister. He chose an interactive communication style with the people, which went down well with them. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav made a slow start in his campaign but went on to address 85 rallies in the state. In the early stages, Akhilesh stuck to his PDA a" Picchda, Dalit, Alpasankhyaka"formula but later started addressing issues related to farmers and the youth. Toward the end of the campaign, he synchronised with the issues raised by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. He managed to attract sizeable crowds in all constituencies. Akhilesh's wife Dimple Yadav confined herself to Mainpuri till May 7, the third phase, since she was a candidate there. For the first time, she campaigned single-handedly, assisted only by her daughter Aditi, since the other family members were busy in their respective constituencies. After polling was over in her constituency, Dimple campaigned in about a dozen constituencies and even held a much-talked-about roadshow in Varanasi, the PM's constituency, with Priyanka Gandhi. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has addressed a dozen meetings in Uttar Pradesh. In Amethi and Raebareli, he addressed meetings after his nomination and that of Amethi candidate K L Sharma. He campaigned in Bulandshahr, Amroha, Kanpur, Jhansi, Allahabad, Phulpur, Deoria, Bansgaon and Varanasi too. Rahul, in his election speeches, did not respond to allegations, especially of Muslim appeasement, by BJP leaders but stuck to his narrative that included MSP for farmers, jobs for youth and money for women in the BPL category. It was Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, however, who chose to respond to charges levelled against her family by BJP leaders. Priyanka confined her campaigning in UP, mainly to Raebareli and Amethi. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched the campaign by addressing a joint press conference with Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow. Thereafter he was seen at campaigns in Amethi and Raebareli. Kharge, who is as yet unfamiliar with Uttar Pradeshas political terrain, did not campaign very actively here. Mumbai, May 30 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday made it amply clear that the state government has not even thought of including a single verse of Manusmriti in any curriculum in the state. Dy CM Fadnavis, who is currently in Varanasi, blamed the Opposition for running a campaign in this regard. His statement came a day after NCP(SP) legislator Jitendra Awhad tore and burnt the copies of Manusmriti at Mahad and while doing so unintentionally tore a poster containing the picture of Dr Ambedkar which led to a controversy, despite his unconditional apology over the incident. "Maharashtra government has not even thought of including a single verse of Manusmriti in any curriculum. Not today, never. There is no discussion about it. Our opponents lie every day and make excuses for it. Those who started the discussion launched the movement. We have seen how that agitation was false. He tore the photo of Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Ambedkar while protesting. Maharashtra will never tolerate this," said Fadnavis. BJP and RPI staged protests against Awhad who has already tendered an unconditional apology. On the other hand, NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who is strongly opposed to the inclusion of verses of Manusmriti in the curriculum, supported Awhad saying that there was no point in staging a protest against him as he has already tendered an unconditional apology. State NCP(SP) chief Jayant Patil also supported his party colleague saying that for more than five decades Awhad has been actively working to protect the ideas of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. "His entire political and social life is covered by Ambedkari thoughts. Every Ambedkari-minded person has no doubts about Jitendra Awhad's loyalty and love for Babasaheb. While fighting for the protection of Ambedkari ideas, Awhad accidentally tore Babasaheb's poster. He has clearly apologised for it. I have full confidence that the followers of Dr Ambedkar will never fall prey to the opponents' false propaganda," he said. Srinagar, May 30 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday chaired a meeting to assess preparations being made for the implementation of three new criminal laws in J&K recently passed by the Parliament. The Chief Secretary enquired about the capacity building and training of concerned staff, conducted so far. He emphasised the need for collaborative efforts of all stakeholders for the effective implementation of these laws in the UT. He also asked about the status of dissemination of relevant informative material regarding the new laws among the police officers and different sections of society including women and students for their awareness. He also asked about different logistic measures and technological upgradations to be made for better implementation of these laws on the ground. He took stock of the necessary amendments to be incorporated into the Police Manual. He asked about the status of issuing different Statutory Orders (SOs) in this regard. He enquired about the changes to be made in the rationalisation or creation of posts, seeking clarifications from the Law Department and integration of different portals with the rechristened apparatus of law enforcement agencies. Nearly 6984 police personnel have been trained in the training institutions in addition to the orientation of 106 prosecutors. Besides, 72 officers are going to attend the batch-wise training program at CAPT, Bhopal along with 30 officers from the Judicial Academy. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam had been recently notified by the MHA for implementation from July 2024. These would replace the Indian Penal Code, of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, of 1898 and the Indian Evidence Act, of 1872, respectively. New Delhi, May 30 : A Delhi court on Thursday sent the owner of the Baby Care New Born Hospital, where seven children were recently killed in a massive fire, and a co-accused, to 14-day judicial custody. Hospital owner Dr. Naveen Khichi was arrested in the wake of the tragedy at the private hospital, along with an employee, Akash, who was on duty at that time. On Thursday, Akash was also sent to judicial custody for the same period. Naveen Khichi, meanwhile, has moved a bail plea which will come up for hearing on June 3. Police probe into the hospital fire has revealed that the licence issued to the hospital by the Delhi Government Health Services (DGHS) had expired on March 31. The probe also revealed that the doctors at the hospitals were not qualified to treat newborn babies, who needed neonatal intensive care, as these doctors were only BAMS degree holders. "In the hospital, there were 12 newborn babies admitted and one was already dead before the fire incident. All the newborn babies were rescued from the hospital with the help of other people and shifted to East Delhi Advance NICU Hospital for treatment," the police said. Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg said that seven children were declared dead at the hospital while five newly born babies are undergoing treatment. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Surendra Chaudhary said that after dousing the fire, burst oxygen cylinders were found. Further, when the hospital was inspected by police, fire brigade staff and crime team, it was also found there were no fire extinguishers, improper entry and exit, and no emergency exits. The probable cause of the fire was stated to be a short circuit. New Delhi, May 30 : With the high-octane campaigning coming to an end for the last and seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Thursday, the message from the global market investors is clear -- if Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns to power, the Indian stock market will remain strong and economic growth will touch new highs. From ace investor Mark Mobius to Jim Rogers, PM Modi's return to power for the third term will ensure the continuation of the government's robust policies across the economic spectrum. According to Mobius, if PM Modi gets more than 400 seats, then "we will see another big push in India for big changes taking place, particularly in the infrastructure area". Mobius showed his interest in infrastructure-related stocks, saying infrastructure is going to see a "good push" going forward. On the other hand, Rogers said that PM Modi has put in place several initiatives which are beneficial to the economy. If PM Modi secures victory, "I expect the Indian stock market to remain strong," he was quoted as saying in reports. "If the Indian stock market goes down a lot then I would change my strategy and start investing in India again," he added. On Wednesday, top global brokerage S&P Global upgraded India's outlook to positive from stable, called a 'good omen' for the economy by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. According to FM Sitharaman, the rating revision is a validation of India's robust growth and promising economic outlook. Meanwhile, the Indian stock markets went through a bit of volatility since the start of the first phase of polls a" a norm seen in previous polls too. Sensex largely remained in the 73,000-75,000 zone while Nifty hovered between the 22,000-23,000 levels since April 19 when the polls commenced. Market experts said on Thursday that ahead of the general election results on June 4, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and individual traders are net long on index futures. "It shows that there is a high possibility that the NDA will succeed," said Vaibhav Vidwani, Research Analyst, Bonanza Portfolio. Additionally, profit booking is evident in the current market as investors seek to protect themselves against unexpected losses in this highly volatile market, Vidwani noted. Pune : , May 30 (IANS) A Pune court on Thursday extended till June 5 the police custody of two doctors and a peon of the Sassoon General Hospital who were arrested for allegedly changing the blood samples of the minor accused in the May 19 Pune Porsche crash that left two techies dead. The accused doctors, Ajay Taware and Shrihari Halnor, and peon Atul Ghatkamble a" who were suspended by the state government on Wednesday a" were produced before the court after their first police remand ended on Thursday. Arguing for extending the custody of the accused trio, the police lawyer told the court that the blood sample of the minor accused was replaced with the blood sample of a woman, ostensibly to prove that the 17-year-old boy was not in an inebriated state at the time of the crash. The police said that they wanted to probe the womanas identity and match her blood sample with the boyas blood sample to determine the swap and related aspects. The three accused were raided and arrested after the police probe revealed that they had changed the minoras blood sample in the bin and taken the blood sample of a woman a" suspected to be his mother - and two others, to help him get off the hook. The police said that Halnor did not throw away the boyas blood sample a" as informed earlier by the city police chief to the media a" but had handed it over to someone else and the police now want to trace and recover the original sample. Last week, the minoras mother, Shivani V. Agarwal, became emotional and flatly denied that her son had recorded a purported video of a rap song following his arrest on May 19 after the Porsche speeding at around 160 kmph killed IT professional duo Ashwini Koshtha and Aneesh Awadhiya, both aged 24, sparking a nationwide furore. Till date, the police have arrested around 10 persons in connection with the case, while the Dean of the Sassoon General Hospital has been sent on compulsory leave pending probe. Two police officers have also been suspended, while the minor boyas mother is now under the radar of the investigators. Ranchi, May 30 : In order to strengthen India's domestic manufacturing of capital goods there is a need to explore strategies like technology transfer or an international technology provider to produce machinery for setting up steel plants, according to experts at the International Conference on Steel (ICONS-2024) which kicked off here on Thursday. The conference organised by public sector steel giant SAIL and engineering services provider MECON Ltd under the aegis of the Steel Ministry, is focussing on ways to give a big push to the manufacture of capital goods or machinery for steel plants. Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Nagendra Nath Sinha, said: "New ways of working, new ideas and new talents need to be inducted to give a boost to the heavy industry sector in India." He also said that today, meticulous project planning and timely execution have become one of the biggest challenges for the steel projects being set up in India. He stressed the need to find out innovative ways of timely executing projects for keeping steel projects healthy and for their long-term sustainability. Abhijit Narendra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel said that although India is the second-largest producer of steel in the world, it has limitations in making machinery for the steel industry. He stressed the need to create an ecosystem containing all the stakeholders. MECON chairman Sanjay Kumar Verma pointed out that national steel policy had set a target to reach 300 million tonnes (MT) of steel capacity for which about 138-139 MT of new capacity is estimated to be added in the next 7-8 years involving a huge investment of $120-130 billion from the Indian steel industry. "There will be a likely import of about 15-20 per cent of steel plant equipment from foreign countries. Given the current situation, where the import content and value rises as we move up the value chain, about $18-20 billion worth of imported equipment is likely to be sourced from abroad besides spares worth $400-500 million," he said. SAIL chairman Amarendu Prakash said that considering the volatility in the world, India needs to focus on supply chain security since securing supply chains is becoming more and more difficult. He emphasized on the development of a comprehensive and sustainable eco-system for the production of indigenized capital goods. NMDC chairman Amitava Mukherjee, mentioned that India is the fifth largest economy with a dominant services sector. The country's manufacturing sector needs to grow substantially and areas should be identified categorically. Constant interaction is needed between technology providers and technology buyer to educate each other on the possibilities and requirement for the future, he added. The first day of the two-day conference also covered four technical sessions which included trends and challenges in coke-making technology used in steel plants, agglomeration technology as well as iron and steel-making technologies. Senior representatives from manufacturing companies, iron and steel producers, equipment suppliers, engineering and consultancy companies also attended the conference. The objective of the conference is to bring together the brightest minds and leading stakeholders from across the steel industry, including technology providers, steel producers, manufacturers, academia and more to foster new partnerships, explore innovative solutions and to drive forward the future of steel industry. Bengaluru, May 30 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated on Thursday that political opponents are performing black magic through 'Aghoris' and 'tantriks' at a temple in Kerala against him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He added that it is an attempt against their government. Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said he has credible information that a yagya (special worship) is being conducted by 'Aghoris' in an isolated place near the Rajarajeshwari temple in Kerala. "The ritual is underway and is being conducted against me, the CM, and to destabilize the Congress government," he reiterated. The main objective of the yagya is to eliminate enemies, and the ritual is called 'Raja Kantaka' and 'Marana Mohana Stambhana' yagyas. Those participating in the ritual informed about this development, Shivakumar stated. He said that through the Aghoris, 21 red goats, three buffaloes, 21 black sheep, and five pigs are being sacrificed for black magic. When asked if leaders from the BJP or JD-S are carrying out this ritual, Shivakumar maintained that politicians from Karnataka are responsible. "I know who is conducting this ritual. Let them continue their efforts; I don't bother. It is left to their belief system. Despite their attempts and experiments to cause harm, the force which I believe in will protect me," he said. Replying to a question about whether he will conduct a counter-worship to this ritual, Shivakumar stated, "I pray to God for a minute every day before going to work." When pressed to name the persons carrying out such a ritual, Shivakumar suggested that the media investigate rather than force him to reveal names. Shivakumar added, "Why would I bother about it? It is their attempt. It is their belief. No matter what they attempt, the forces we believe in will protect us." Shivakumar announced that on June 2, there will be a legislators' meeting in Bengaluru. All MLCs, MLAs, and MPs will be invited. The meeting will discuss party matters and the MLC election, he said. Regarding the MLC election, Shivakumar stated, "Among 300 aspirants, 65 have been shortlisted based on various criteria. The high command sought our opinion, and we have provided it." He mentioned that there was a commitment to give Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's son, Dr Yathindra, an MLC post since he vacated his MLA seat for his father. Prominent leaders, including those who were defeated in the election, have sought tickets. Aspirants who sacrificed their seats will also be considered. Representation will be given to regions like Kalyana Karnataka, Mumbai Karnataka, coastal, and central Karnataka. It is not possible to give priority only to Bengaluru, he added. New Delhi, May 30 : A special India-Russia business dialogue is scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) which will take place between June 5-8, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. The event, which will have Oman and Bolivia as guest countries this year, will be attended by representatives from about 130 countries, including a number of state leaders, vice presidents and prime ministers, as well as industry ministers, and public and political figures. With the agenda of the forum built around the motto 'The basis of a multipolar world is the formation of new growth points', a session on 'Great Eurasian Partnership as a new pole of growth: potential and prospects' is expected to assume great significance. "The process of establishing a new multipolar world order is underway. The change in the geopolitical balance of power is accompanied by the emergence of new poles of influence due to the strengthening of the sovereignty and competitive capabilities of regional powers. In this context, the ability of states to adequately respond to the complex challenges of our time, equal constructive dialogue, civilized interaction and shared responsibility for the future of the world of all peoples comes to the fore," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova in Moscow on Thursday. The plenary session is traditionally opened with a speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by a series of bilateral contacts with foreign partners. The four main tracks of the business programme, spanning 150 events, include 'Transition to a multipolar model of the world economy', 'Russian economy: goals and objectives of the new cycle', 'Technologies that provide leadership', and 'A healthy society, traditional values and social development are the priorities of the state'. New Delhi, May 30 : Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)-based smartphones contributed 6 per cent to global smartphone sales in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, a significant increase from just 1.3 per cent in the previous quarter, a new report showed on Thursday. According to Counterpoint Research, premium smartphones (wholesale price over $600) accounted for over 70 per cent of GenAI-capable smartphone sales in Q1. Samsung's Galaxy S24 series dominated the GenAI-based smartphone market in Q1, securing the top three spots in the top-10 list for best-selling GenAI-capable smartphones. The Galaxy S24 Ultra was the best-selling smartphone, commanding over 30 per cent market share. "Samsung's aggressive marketing campaign highlighting the Galaxy S24as GenAI capabilities, coupled with its established global presence, led the brand to take a 58 per cent share of the GenAI segment," the analysts said. Chinese brands captured six positions in the top-10 list. The Xiaomi 14 and vivo X100 models ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, according to the report. For 2024, analysts expect GenAI-capable smartphones to contribute 11 per cent of the overall smartphone market as newer use cases emerge and consumer awareness increases around the segment. Media-focused features and personalised virtual assistants are expected to be major drivers of adoption. On the hardware side, more GenAI-capable chipsets from major semiconductor firms at affordable prices will further aid the growth of the segment. The analysts also expect the entry of Apple later this year into the GenAI segment with its 2024 iPhone lineup. Anandpur Sahib, May 30 : The BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Punjab's Anandpur Sahib, Subhash Sharma, on Thursday got a boost after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the voters to elect his old colleague by a record margin. Later in the day, BJP president J.P. Nadda said during a roadshow that "the voters must send a young and dynamic leader like Sharma to the Parliament so that he can raise people's issues and get them resolved". Nadda said Sharma's all-round development oriented approach will transform Anandpur Sahib into one of the most developed constituencies of Punjab. Attacking the opposition parties, Nadda said the India alliance is nothing but an alliance of corrupt leaders. Launching a scathing attack on the politics of corruption, nepotism and appeasement of the India bloc, Nadda mentioned the schemes of the BJP government and called on the masses to form the Modi government once again. "On June 4, India will establish a new milestone worldwide when Modi will become the Prime Minister of the country for the third consecutive time with a resounding majority," he said. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed an election rally in favour of Sharma here. Making a strong pitch for him, he told the electorate that young and dynamic leaders like Sharma should win by a huge margin. "Come out and vote in large numbers and make sure that Dr Sharma registers victory by a huge margin," said CM Adityanath in his speech. He added, "Punjab pe 70 saal se raaj karne walo ki wajah se Punjab aaj behaal hai (Punjab is in distress today because of bad governance by those who have ruled the state for the last 70 years)." The CM said he has come here to hand over the keys of his 'bulldozer' to Subhash. "It is my assurance to Dr Subhash that in order to wipe out the mining, sand, drug and land mafia from Punjab, I will send as many bulldozers as Dr Subhash needs." The high-octane campaigning for Punjab's 13 Lok Sabha seats, witnessing a four-cornered contest, came to an end on Thursday with all top leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, making a last attempt to woo its 2.14 crore voters. Voting is scheduled for June 1. New Delhi, May 30 : An e-rickshaw driver has been arrested in the national capital for allegedly robbing and raping a 25-year-old woman by drugging her, the police said on Thursday. The accused was identified as Mohammad Umer (24). An official said that on May 26, the police received a call regarding a robbery near the Geeta Colony flyover loop, following which a police team rushed to the spot. Upon reaching the spot, a woman in injured condition who was also profusely bleeding was found along with her son. "The victim, a resident of Araria district in Bihar, was medically examined, and her statement was recorded," said Deputy Commissioner of Police M.K. Meena. The woman informed the police that on May 26, she arrived at New Delhi Railway Station with her child and had to go to Punjab to meet her husband. After disembarking at the railway station, she proceeded to Sadar Bazar for shopping. "Around 6.30 p.m., she hired an e-rickshaw to return to New Delhi Railway Station. The e-rickshaw driver offered her a drink, which, after consuming it, caused her to lose consciousness," said the DCP. Subsequently, the e-rickshaw driver took her to an isolated area where he assaulted and raped her even as the woman's 3-year-old son was present. "When she resisted and attempted to call for help, the man hit her head with a brick, rendering her unconscious once again. Upon gaining senses, she discovered her mobile phone and Rs 3,000 in cash were missing," said the DCP. The DCP further said that during the investigation, despite a lack of initial leads, the police diligently worked, forming multiple teams to check around 500 CCTVs along both the forward and backward routes of the complainant. "The police teams meticulously reviewed CCTV footage from nearby areas and identified a battery rickshaw. A thorough search was initiated to ascertain the owner of the rickshaw, resulting in the questioning of around 150 e-rickshaw owners/drivers," said the DCP. Eventually, the focus narrowed on a specific e-rickshaw driver identified as Umer, residing in a 'jhuggi' behind LNJP Hospital. "Umer was arrested on Wednesday. Subsequently, during the questioning, the woman's mobile phone and the rickshaw used in the crime were recovered on the instance of the accused," the DCP added. Chennai, May 30 : Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) President and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has asked the Tamil Nadu government to approach the Supreme Court for banning online Rummy and Poker games. In a post on X, the PMK leader said that a youth worker committed suicide after he lost money while playing online gambling. Madras High Court on November 29, 2023, refused to strike down the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022 in its entirety. The PMK leader in his appeal to the Tamil Nadu government said that since the verdict of the Madras High Court, at least 12 people have ended their lives in the state in connection with online gambling. "Only in the last month, six people have committed suicide after losing their money," the PMK leader said. Anbumani Ramadoss said that the state government should approach the Supreme Court and added that immediate steps must be taken regarding online gambling as several innocent lives are lost due to traps through online gambling. Bengaluru, May 30 : Karnataka Leader of the Opposition (LoP) R. Ashoka on Thursday said that the Minister for Youth Empowerment, Sports, and Scheduled Tribe Welfare, B. Nagendra, must resign by June 6 in connection with the tribal corporation employee death case or BJP would launch a statewide agitation. Talking to reporters, R. Ashoka said that the officer who committed suicide claimed in his death note that Minister Nagendra had given oral instructions for money transfer. "The Congress government, which is looting the money of Dalits, will be shown the door soon. This agitation will be taken to its logical end. This government only wants to gallop Rs 187 crore which is reserved for the development of Scheduled Tribes," he said. He said that the Congress was chanting the mantra of Dalits before the election but after the election, they have only exploited them. "A murder case must be lodged against Minister Nagendra," he said. Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to clarify his stand on the suicide of an officer of the Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. He said that during the BJP regime, the then minister K.S.Eshwarappa was not at fault in the contractor suicide case but he owned moral responsibility and resigned. Responding to allegations, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said there is no question of protecting the culprits of the Valmiki Development Corporation scam. "Strict action would be initiated against those who are responsible for the embezzlement of funds in Valmiki Development Corporation. There is absolutely no question of protecting the perpetrators," the Deputy Chief Minister said. He said that the Chief Minister has taken this case seriously and the government is investigating the allegations. "An FIR has been lodged and the Managing Director has been suspended. If the allegations are proven, we will take strict action against all those involved," the Deputy Chief Minister said. United Nations, May 30 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called Indian Army Major Radhika Sen a "true leader and role model" while presenting her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. United Nations, May 30 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called Indian Army Major Radhika Sen a "true leader and role model" while presenting her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. "Her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole," Guterres said of her work as a Peacekeeper in the Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). An Indian Army medic, Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who died while serving in the same mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last year, was awarded the Dag Hammarskjold medal during the ceremony. "Despite direct attacks by armed groups, harsh operating environments, and the emergence of new weapons of war -- including digital technology and artificial intelligence -- our Peacekeepers persevere," Guterres said. Speaking on the occasion, Major Sen said she was "deeply honoured and humbled" to receive the award "on behalf of my esteemed colleagues in MONUSCO and my home country, India". "This award is special to me, as it recognises the hard work put in by all the Peacekeepers working in MONUSCO's challenging environment," she said. Major Sen also said that she hoped one day a man would get the award she received because "gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everyone's business, not just women's". In a video of her work shown earlier at the ceremony, Sen said, "It is very rewarding for me to see women and young girls come up and say that they feel very happy and empowered when they see a woman soldier leading a team comprising both male and female soldiers." Recalling Sen's work as a Peacekeeper in the DRC, Guterres said that as commander of the Indian contingent's engagement platoon, Sen led her unit on countless patrols "in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu". "Under her leadership marked by humility, compassion, and dedication, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including women and girls as she earned their trust," Guterres said. Because of the "safe and welcoming platform" she developed for women to share their ideas and concerns, Monusco could better respond to their needs", he said. She was also the battalion's officer charged with preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, Guterres noted. Besides her military duties, she also undertook educational and vocational efforts for women in the DRC, he added. Sen said, "We had the opportunity to engage with the communities on topics ranging from women's health and education to childcare, gender equality, women's employment, and combating sexual violence in conflict, along with interactions on various skill development programmes to foster self-reliance." "Women and girls are disproportionately affected in conflicts, facing increased risk of abuse," she said, adding, "The need of the hour is to mainstream women in nation-building, particularly in sectors of security and governance." India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, received Singh's Dag Hammarskjold Medal on behalf of the country and his family. Singh, who belonged to the Army Medical Corps, worked as a nursing assistant with MONUSCO. Sen was assigned to MONUSCO in 2023 as the Engagement Platoon Commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion, and completed her tenure in April 2024. Sen is the second Indian Peacekeeper to receive the honour after Major Suman Gawani, who served with the UN Mission in South Sudan and received the award in 2019. Of the 6,063 Indian personnel in UN peacekeeping operations, 1,954 serve with MONUSCO, including 32 women. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) United Nations, May 30 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called Indian Army Major Radhika Sen a "true leader and role model" while presenting her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. United Nations, May 30 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called Indian Army Major Radhika Sen a "true leader and role model" while presenting her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. "Her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole," Guterres said of her work as a Peacekeeper in the Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). An Indian Army medic, Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who died while serving in the same mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last year, was awarded the Dag Hammarskjold medal during the ceremony. "Despite direct attacks by armed groups, harsh operating environments, and the emergence of new weapons of war -- including digital technology and artificial intelligence -- our Peacekeepers persevere," Guterres said. Speaking on the occasion, Major Sen said she was "deeply honoured and humbled" to receive the award "on behalf of my esteemed colleagues in MONUSCO and my home country, India". "This award is special to me, as it recognises the hard work put in by all the Peacekeepers working in MONUSCO's challenging environment," she said. Major Sen also said that she hoped one day a man would get the award she received because "gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everyone's business, not just women's". In a video of her work shown earlier at the ceremony, Sen said, "It is very rewarding for me to see women and young girls come up and say that they feel very happy and empowered when they see a woman soldier leading a team comprising both male and female soldiers." Recalling Sen's work as a Peacekeeper in the DRC, Guterres said that as commander of the Indian contingent's engagement platoon, Sen led her unit on countless patrols "in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu". "Under her leadership marked by humility, compassion, and dedication, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including women and girls as she earned their trust," Guterres said. Because of the "safe and welcoming platform" she developed for women to share their ideas and concerns, Monusco could better respond to their needs", he said. She was also the battalion's officer charged with preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, Guterres noted. Besides her military duties, she also undertook educational and vocational efforts for women in the DRC, he added. Sen said, "We had the opportunity to engage with the communities on topics ranging from women's health and education to childcare, gender equality, women's employment, and combating sexual violence in conflict, along with interactions on various skill development programmes to foster self-reliance." "Women and girls are disproportionately affected in conflicts, facing increased risk of abuse," she said, adding, "The need of the hour is to mainstream women in nation-building, particularly in sectors of security and governance." India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, received Singh's Dag Hammarskjold Medal on behalf of the country and his family. Singh, who belonged to the Army Medical Corps, worked as a nursing assistant with MONUSCO. Sen was assigned to MONUSCO in 2023 as the Engagement Platoon Commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion, and completed her tenure in April 2024. Sen is the second Indian Peacekeeper to receive the honour after Major Suman Gawani, who served with the UN Mission in South Sudan and received the award in 2019. Of the 6,063 Indian personnel in UN peacekeeping operations, 1,954 serve with MONUSCO, including 32 women. Hailing Major Sen for the award, the Indian Army said in a post on X: "#IndianArmy congratulates Major Radhika Sen on being conferred with the 'UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year' Award by Mr Antonio Guteress, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at #UN Headquarters, #NewYork for her outstanding service in the Democratic Republic of the #Congo. Her dedication & courage highlight the invaluable role of #Women Peacekeepers in contributing towards a better world. She truly embodies the ethos of commitment and compassion of the Indian Peacekeepers around the world." (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) New Delhi, May 30 : The Delhi Police have arrested a man from Mohali in Punjab for allegedly strangulating his 22-year-old wife in south Delhi in a fit of rage, an official said on Thursday. The incident occurred on Wednesday and the accused was identified as Abhishek while the deceased was identified as Pooja, a resident of Delhi's Rajokri. Police said that on Wednesday at 12:38 p.m., a police control room (PCR) call regarding a murder was received at the Vasant Kunj South police station and a police team rushed to the spot to find a woman dead in the house. Initial enquiry revealed that Pooja and Abhishek had got married a month ago -- the second marriage for both of them, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Southwest, Rohit Meena said. Abhishek had no children while Pooja had a son from her first marriage. "Prima facie, a matrimonial dispute seems the reason for murder. From the initial examination of the dead body, it has been found that the death is due to strangulation," the DCP said. The DCP added that the duo had met through a matrimonial site. "The relationship between husband and wife was not good from the beginning. Wife didn't want her mother-in-law to stay at the new rented place and she also felt that the family had not accepted her son from the first wedding," he said. "Out of these quarrels in fit of rage that night the accused strangulated the victim," the DCP added. --IANS ssh/khz Mumbai, May 30 : Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar on Thursday questioned the links of Maharashtra political parties and ruling ministers with the accused Pune builder whose minor son was involved in the May 19 Porsche car crash that killed two persons. "Which are the political parties and ruling ministers who have partnership with the builder (Vishal Agarwal) and who are the ministers whose money has been invested with him and the leaders having business interests with the realtor. The police should probe all this thoroughly," Ambedkar told the mediapersons. He also echoed the Maha Vikas Aghadi opposition leader's suspicions and pointedly sought to know "which minister had called up the Pune Police" regarding the case that day, ostensibly to save the 17-year-old boy, hailing from a wealthy and well-connected builder's family. Referring to the increasing number of road accidents caused by inebriated drivers, the VBA chief called for taking the most stringent punitive action against all the bars and pubs that flout laws by admitting and serving alcohol to underaged teenagers, as in the Porsche case. "When the government issues them permits or licenses, a clause must be inserted that if the bars-pubs give entry to juveniles and serve liquor to those below 18, the owners-managers could face three years' jail, a fine of Rs 10 lakh, and the permission of their business establishment would be cancelled," demanded Ambedkar. He pointed out that since the laws against juvenile offenders in such cases are mild, they get away with light punishment, so this aspect must be reviewed, and any minors involved in such serious crimes must be heavily penalised. Acknowledging that the media had treated the matter very seriously and highlighted it, Ambedkar appealed to the courts to also consider it equally gravely and take strict action against all the accused in the case. The VBA chief commented for the first time after the May 19 accident by the Porsche speeding at 160 kmph killed two Madhya Pradesh techies, Ashwini Koshtha and Aneesh Awadhiya. The tragedy snowballed into a major public outrage and political controversy, with murky details emerging almost daily as the police's multi-pronged investigations progressed for the past 11 days. Omaha police officers and a Nebraska Humane Society animal control officer rescued a recently adopted dog from a hot car outside the CHI Health Center in downtown Omaha. Shortly after 6:30 p.m. last Friday, according to a police report, the animal control officer called OPD for the boxer locked inside a parked Honda Accord sedan. The animal control officer noted the dog showed signs of heat distress such as panting, drooling and laying down. The police report stated the animal control officer initially thought the dog was dead. Officers used a lockout kit to open the drivers door. The animal control officer then removed the dog from the vehicle. The police report noted one part of the kit inadvertently slipped off the interior drivers door handle and cracked the windshield. The animal control officer was able to identify the boxer based on the dogs microchip. The animal control officer reported the dog had a body temperature of 104.9 degrees nearly five degrees above a dogs normal body temperature. The police report noted that records showed the vehicles registered owner adopted the dog from the Humane Society 11 days before the incident. Pam Wiese, CEO of the Humane Society, said in an email the dog has cooled down and has fully recovered. She wrote that Humane Society staff did a thorough background check and asked questions of the dogs owners during the adoption process and found no red flags. She added the dog seemed to fit the family well. While we do try to give as much information about the dog itself, general pet care, health and training, we cant cover every scenario, Wiese wrote. We do have to believe that people adopting a pet have done some homework and have some general knowledge about what proper pet care entails. The incident, Wiese added, serves as a reminder for people to be mindful of how warm weather can injure or kill pets inside vehicles. On an 85-degree day, Wiese wrote, a car, with windows slightly opened, can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes. After 30 minutes the temperature can reach 120 degrees. When the temperature is in the 90s and its humid, your car temperature can rise more than 30 degrees per minute. Combined with a dogs inability to sweat, a hot car makes them unable to cool down. So, while its fun to take a dog along with you, if the temperature is over 73, its best to leave them at home, Wiese wrote. Two youths killed in road accident in Delhi. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, May 30 : At least two persons were killed when the slab of a partly occupied building crashed in Vikhroli suburb on Thursday, the BMC Disaster Control said. The incident happened at around 6.45 p.m. when a portion of the slab on the top floor in the three-storey Gurukripa Building in Kannamwar Nagar suddenly came crashing down. Two elderly persons who were trapped under the debris were brought out and rushed to the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Hospital nearby, but they were declared dead on admission. They are identified as Sharad Mhaslekar, 75 and Suresh Madhalkar, 78. The work of clearing the rubble was underway. Guwahati/Agartala, May 30 : Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur along with southern Assam remained isolated for the third consecutive day on Thursday as most railway tracks remained waterlogged or damaged due to the landslides which were triggered by the incessant rains in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal, officials said. A Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) official said that railway tracks were either inundated or the water is overflowing over the tracks due to incessant rains or have been damaged in at least ten places in the New Haflong-Bandarkhal section under the Lumding division in southern Assam's Dima Hasao district, which is a connecting route to south Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram. "The water levels of all rivers including Barak, Madhura, and Jiri are flowing above the danger level in the region. Once the water level recedes, restoration work can be started. "Currently intermittent heavy rain also badly hampered the work. However, our engineers and workers are working round-the-clock to restore rail services," an NFR official told IANS. India Meteorological Department said that the Southwest monsoon has advanced into most parts of the northeast region on Thursday, which was advanced by a week from its normal date. The railway official said that with the onset of monsoon if the rain occurs in the coming days then it is uncertain about the resumption of railway services in the region. The NFR had cancelled a large number of express, passenger and goods trains bound for south Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram since Tuesday. Tripura Food and Civil Supplies minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Thursday appealed to people "not to panic" and said the state has got sufficient food stocks and enough petrol, and diesel stocks to last another week. Passenger and goods train services have been affected in the region since April 25 owing to heavy landslides causing damage to railway tracks in the Jatinga Lumpur-New Harangajao section under the Lumding division after heavy rains lashed the mountainous Dima Hasao district. Considering the damaged railway tracks and weak soil in the region, the NFR recently operated a limited number of trains in the daytime on the hilly route, besides regulating long-distance, express and goods trains. The disruptions in services caused a major shortage of transport fuel -- petrol and diesel -- and other essential goods in southern Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur. Due to the heavy rain and landslides, highway connectivity was also affected in these states, which are heavily dependent on fuel, essential items, food grains and other commodities from the outside. Agartala, May 30 : With the arrest of three more Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, from Tripura on Thursday, 44 citizens of the neighbouring country have been detained in the state in the past three weeks, the police said. A police officer said that the three Bangladeshi nationals were trying to board a bus to Guwahati from the Chandrapur inter-state bus terminus in Tripura. The trio has been identified as Nur Mohammad, Md. Abdullah, and Asmaul Hasina, who confessed that they entered Tripura illegally and were trying to go to Punjab in search of jobs. With the latest arrests, 44 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, have been held in Tripura in the past three weeks who crossed the border illegally with the help of Indian middlemen. Hyderabad, May 30 : Amid row over the proposed move to remove images of historic Charminar and Kakatiya arch from the official emblem of Telangana, the Congress government has postponed unveiling of new emblem. With main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) taking strong exception to the move to remove the images of historic structures from the emblem and threatening state-wide protests, and also the objections raised in some other quarters, the government dropped the plans to unveil the new emblem at state formation day celebrations on June 2. At a meeting with ministers, leaders of Congress and its allies on Thursday, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy decided to adopt only the state anthem. 'Jaya Jayahe Telangana' song written noted Telangana poet and writer Ande Sri 20 year ago has been accepted without any changes. Oscar Award winner M.M. Keeravani composed music and sang the song. The song was played during the meeting and it was liked by all the participants. It will be formally unveiled at the state formation day celebrations, which will also be attended by top Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. Two versions of the "Jaya Jayahe Telangana" song have been created - a 2.30-minute version and a full 13.30-minute version. To facilitate its rendition at government events, a shortened version with three stanzas will be used. Ministers, Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, leaders of Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Telangana Jana Samithi attended the meeting. The Chief Minister said during the meeting that the new emblem has not yet been finalised. He said that the government has already received around 500 samples from artists from different parts of the state. All the designs are still under discussion, and no one has been finalised yet. The CM said that a final decision has also not been taken regarding the Telangana Talli statue and the artists are busy designing the statue. The government will take a final decision on Telangana emblem and Telangana Talli statue only after discussion in the Assembly without giving any scope to misconceptions and false propaganda. Revanth Reddy said that his government took many initiatives as part of rebuilding the Telangana state. The abbreviation of the state has already been changed as TG from TS. Along with vehicle registration numbers, all government institutions are already using TG in the place of TS. Earlier, the Chief Minister had meetings with artist Rudra Rajesham and had reportedly finalised a design, replacing the existing emblem, which carries images of Kakatiya Kala Thoranam (Kakatiya arch) and Charminar. Revanth Reddy had stated that the two historic structures are a sign of imperialism and wanted the new emblem to reflect the struggle and sacrifices made for the separate state. On Wednesday, BRS leaders led by former MP B. Vinod Kumar staged a protest at Kakatiya Thoranam in Warangal while on Thursday party working president K.T. Rama Rao and other leaders visited Charminar to register their protest against the government's move. The BRS leaders had threatened to approach court if the government went ahead with the plans to unveil a new emblem. "Kakatiya Kala Thoranam and Charminar are not the signs of imperialism. They are symbols of development, people's welfare and historical and archaeological significance of the region," Vinod Kumar said. Rama Rao said that removing Charminar from the state emblem would be an insult to all citizens of Hyderabad. He alleged that by removing Charminar and Kakatiya arch, the Congress government is hurting the self-respect of people of Telangana. The BRS leader said that if the government goes ahead with the decision to remove them from the emblem, their party will stage protests in Hyderabad and across the state. He asked Chief Minister Revanth Reddy what was the need and urgency to remove historic structures from the state emblem. The BRS leader alleged that the Congress government was resorting to a change of emblem due to political vendetta. Bengaluru, May 31 : Karnataka Police have tightened the security at the KempeGowda International airport in Bengaluru ahead of the midnight arrival of fugitive JD-S MP Prajwal Revanna, the prime accused in the sex video scandal, that has rocked the state. Prajwal is expected to arrive at the Bengaluru airport around 12:30 a.m. and will be checking out around 1 a.m. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials have been stationed at the airport since Thursday evening to take Prajwal into custody. The SIT officers have coordinated with immigration authorities for Prajwal's handover. Sources say that Prajwal will be taken directly from the airport to Bowring Hospital for medical tests. After the medical tests, he will be transported to the SIT office located within the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) premises. After the preliminary investigation, he will be allowed to rest at the SIT facility. Two battalions of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and more than 50 police personnel have been deployed at the entrance of the CID as a preventive measure. Prajwal will arrive via a Lufthansa flight LH764 from Munich, Germany. The SIT has booked him under IPC Sections 376(2)N (committing rape repeatedly on the same woman), 506 (criminal intimidation), 354(A)(1) (behaving in an unwelcome way, explicit sexual behavior, demanding sexual favours), 354(B) (using criminal force on a woman), 354(C) (voyeurism, capturing the image of a woman in a private act without her consent), and sections of the Information Technology Act. Helsinki, May 31 : The Finnish government has submitted the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Finland and the US for parliamentary approval. The agreement was signed last December. "The DCA will improve the conditions for the US to support Finland and strengthen Finland's security as a member of NATO," the Finnish government said on Thursday in a press statement. The Finnish government recommended to Parliament that a two-thirds majority be required for the final approval, as parts of the DCA contravene the Finnish constitution, Xinhua news agency reported. In the Finnish parliamentary process, the parliamentary constitutional committee ultimately determines the required majority. Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen expressed hope on Thursday that the DCA would be passed within a few weeks, the national radio Yle reported. Finnish nuclear energy laws prohibit any presence of nuclear weapons in Finland. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has assured that the DCA does not change this situation. Orpo reiterated in mid-May that there is no intention in Finland to start changing the nuclear energy laws now. Bengaluru, May 31 : Absconding JD-S MP Prajwal Revanna, the prime accused in the alleged sex video scandal in Karnataka, was arrested from the Bengaluru International Airport soon after his arrival from Munich, Germany, in the wee hours of Friday. Sources confirmed that 33-year-old Prajwal Revanna was taken into custody by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) upon arrival. He has been handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case. Sources said that the CISF cordoned off the Lufthansa flight which arrived from Munich and took the custody of Prajwal Revanna, who was seen walking with the CISF personnel towards the immigration department. The grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Prajwal Revanna had left the country on April 26, following the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka after the alleged sex video scandal came to light. The authorities had issued an arrest warrant, a look out notice, and a Blue Corner notice against him. Sources said that he will be taken directly from the airport to the Bowring Hospital for a medical check-up. After that, he will be transported to the SIT office located within the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) premises. The SIT officers were stationed at the airport since the evening to take him into custody. Prajwal Revanna arrived here on Lufthansa flight No. LH764 from Munich on a business class ticket. Through narrative, verse, and art,celebrates the many tiny creatures that play crucial roles in our ecosystemsas well as the people on the front lines of the fight to save them. Weaving art and science with inspiring stories of people doing their part to protect insects and the environment, author Heather Swan takes readers around the globe to highlight practical solutions to safeguard our fragile planet. Visit a sustainable coffee farm in Ecuador and a frog expert combating animal trafficking in Colombia. Explore a butterfly sanctuary in an Andean cloud forest and learn about a family of orchid farmers who are replanting a mountainside to attract native pollinators. Meet a bumblebee expert helping Wisconsin cranberry growers, a bark beetle specialist in a new-growth forest in Georgia, an entomologist collecting for the Essig Museum in California, and more. Against a backdrop of climate change, ecological injustice, and impending mass extinction, this book rekindles wonder and hope. Featuring works by artists deeply invested in preserving the smallest beings among us, Where the Grass Still Sings is a paean to the natural world. Since its inception, the internet has been theorized as a democratic force, a public sphere in which hierarchies are flattened. But the internet is not a neutral tool; it has the power to amplify and mirror certain opinions and, as a result, can concretize social norms. So what happens when matters of religious practice and gender identity collide in theseoften unregulatedonline spaces? In Keeping Women in Their Digital Place, Ruth Tsuria explores how Orthodox Jewish communities in the United States and Israel have used digital enclavesonline safe havens created specifically for their denominationsto renegotiate traditional values in the face of taboo discourse encountered online. Combining a personal narrative with years of qualitative analysis, Tsuria examines how discussions in blogs and forums and on social media navigate issues of modesty, dating, marriage, intimacy, motherhood, and feminism. Unpacking the complexity of religious uses of the internet, Tsuria shows how the participatory qualities of digital spaces have been used both to challenge accepted norms andmore pervasivelyto reinforce traditional and even extreme attitudes toward gender and sexuality. Original and engaging, this book will appeal to media, feminist, and religious studies scholars and students, particularly those interested in religion in the digital age and Orthodox Jewish communities. Scholastic has announced the publication of Dog Man: Big Jim Begins, the 13th book in Dav Pilkeys blockbuster graphic novel series. The book is due December 3. Also on the horizon is an animated feature from DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures, scheduled for global theatrical release in January 2025. Big Jim Begins tells the origin story of the popular Dog Man characters. Pilkeys previous book in the series, The Scarlet Shedder, which hit shelves in March, was the #1 bestselling book overall (adult and childrens books combined) for five straight weeks in North America and topped bestseller lists worldwide, according to Circana BookScan. More than 60 million Dog Man books are in print since the series launch in the summer of 2016, and the books have been translated into nearly 50 languages. Pilkey said in a statement, With this new book, I wanted to share the origin story of my characters, as readers get to know more about Big Jima character who is playful, kind, overly optimistic and often misunderstood, and who sometimes gets into trouble despite having the best intentions. Since the pandemic, Ive been writing and illustrating books in the Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club series, which has been a satisfying yet solitary experience. Im grateful to all my readerskids and their families as well as educatorswho have sent me letters and messages of encouragement. Their support and enthusiasm have inspired me to keep making books. I am truly humbled and honored. The Dog Man movie will be directed by Peter Hastings, whose film credits include Kung Fu Panda, Animaniacs, and The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants. Hastings said in a statement, What I found so compelling about Dog Man is that it transcends culture and language, connecting and uniting kids and families everywhere with stories about friendship, love, bravery, empathy, epic adventures... and of course, a lot of humor. All of us at DreamWorks Animation are thrilled to once again be partnering with the incredibly talented Dav Pilkey and the team at Scholastic to bring Dog Man to the big screenan iconic character known all over the world. This isnt the first adaptation of Pilkeys beloved series. TheaterWorksUSAs musical production of Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club were both New York Times Critics Picks and are currently touring North America and Australia. After George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020, five days of violence across the Twin Cities followed, impacting a number of indie bookstores but none more than Uncle Hugos Science Fiction Bookstore and Uncle Edgars Mystery Bookstore, which sat side-by-side on Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis. The two stores, owned by Don Blyly and known as "the Uncles," were burned to the ground by arsonists on the nights of May 29 and 30. We were one of the last places hit, Blyly noted. Approximately 200 businesses were damaged or destroyed by arson during that week of mayhem. Two miles east of the Uncles, Moon Palace Books was also impacted, due to its location near the Third Precinct police station where Chauvin worked. About 20 buildings around Moon Palace were destroyed, though the store itself remained unscathed. While some affected businesses never re-opened, others haveincluding the Uncles. While Blyly could not afford to rebuild in the Chicago Avenue location, he admitted that he wasnt sure at the time that he wanted to return to the neighborhood, which is near a large liquor store and a gun store. In 2022, Blyly bought a 1920s-era building half a block from Moon Palace with his $400,000 insurance payout and resumed selling new and used SFF, mysteries, and thrillers that August. The 100,000 books in the Uncles inventory are 30% new and 70% used; jigsaw puzzles recently were added to the mix. Its been a momentous time, and not just because Blyly was able to relocate and re-open: this year marks Blylys 50th anniversary as a bookstore owner: Blyly launched Uncle Hugos, selling primarily used SFF books, in 1974 as a first-year law student at the University of Minnesota. After receiving his J.D., he says, he realized that he would be very unhappy working as an attorney" because he "enjoyed selling books." He continued his graduate studies, "living on student loans while running the bookstore in a very small space, which included a basement where bongs were manufactured by other young entrepreneurs. Eventually, Blyly moved into a larger space on Franklin Avenue, where customer demand for mysteries and thrillers motivated him to open Uncle Edgars in 1980, at which point he was working on his MBA degree. The two stores moved into the building on Chicago Avenue in 1984, the same year Blyly was kicked out of the University of Minnesotas business school. The floors were on different levels, and people had to come in from different entrances to get to the two stores," Blyly said of the Franklin Avenue location, "so we kept them separate." Although the two bookstores are now housed in a 4,000 square-foot common retail area with one check-out counter, the business is still called Uncle Hugos and Uncle Edgars. Blyly explained that each store has a loyal following and it helps people realize what its about. Blyly gave PW a tour that included a visit to a 5,000-square-foot basement filled with books waiting to be processed and then shelved on the main floor. (The stores' inventories were not computerized until 2000, which presented a learning curve for Blyly, though he says he is "used to it now.) In the Chicago Avenue location, due to the buildings layout, both stores had dedicated staff monitoring the 5,000 square-foot total retail areas, plus two checkout counters. We had to have more people than could be supported by the amount of business, Blyly recalled. The Uncles currently employ four people part-time and one full-time, down from six or seven employees before the pandemic. While the charred remains of the Third Precinct station remain a blight upon a neighborhood that is still rebuilding, with some businesses continuing to struggle, Blyly and Angela Schwesnedl, co-owner of Moon Palace, both report that their stores are thriving, although Schwesnedl noted that while sidelines are up, book sales are down. Both say that they benefit from each others proximity, as well as the Hennepin County Public Library branch a block away. And Babycakes Book Stack mobile bookstore makes seasonal weekly stops in Moon Palaces parking lot to sell multicultural childrens books, which only adds to the bookish energy. It has worked out so well, Blyly and Schwesnedl say, that Independent Bookstore Day this year was their best IBD yet. Independent Bookstore Day was our busiest day ever, Schwesnedl said. Everyone went a little nuts buying books [and] you could get to three bookstores in one location [Moon Palace, the Uncles, and Babycakes]. I wish there was a third bookstore right here, walking distance, all year. I think that would really make it a destination. My fantasy is that some of the rebuild of this neighborhood would be a bookstore. Schwesnedl noted that Moon Palace, which opened its doors in 2012 and moved less than half a mile north to its current 3,000-square-foot building in 2015, stocks 30,000 titles, but theres little overlap between her general bookstores inventory of primarily new books and sidelines and that of the Uncles. She appreciates that the Uncles have such a large inventory because customers who are interested in the backlist of authors writing genre fiction and nonfiction can often find what they are looking for at the Uncles. Its nice, she said. [The Uncles] can go deep in a way that we cant. We cant carry every book in a 30-book series. Even though the Uncles are now located on a side street, instead of a major thoroughfare, Blyly maintains that one reason sales are up is that we see primarily people who are interested in what were selling, rather than people walking in who could not even figure out it was a bookstore; they came in to cause problems or to use the restroom. There is also a lot of cross-pollination among the different bookstores customer bases. A lot of people who are into sci-fi and fantasy and a lot of other things automatically go to both stores when they are in the neighborhood, Blyly said. And were selling a lot more kids books than in the old location; there are more families here. Two things Im not happy about: it takes me longer to get here from my home, and theres no good Chinese carryout nearby. Other than that, everything else is better. Shefali Luthra. Doubleday, $29 (368p) ISBN 978-0-385-55008-6 Journalist Luthra debuts with an eye-opening and chilling look at the strain the U.S. reproductive healthcare system is undergoing in a post-Roe world. Tracking the circuitous, costly, and legally jeopardizing paths that patients seeking abortions who live in states that have imposed restrictions must take to access care across state lines, Luthra reveals that these cross-country journeys are having a bottleneck effect that is limiting healthcare access across America. The story of Angela, a 21-year-old San Antonio mother who cant afford another child and makes an expensive trip to New Mexico for a dose of the abortifacient mifepristone, is juxtaposed with the plight of Jasper, a trans man who struggles to access abortion care because his local clinic in Orlando, Fla., has been overwhelmed by out-of-state patients. The healthcare providers themselves paint a dire portrait of a system in crisis (Its an unfolding national disaster, says one). Luthra depicts them triaging patients (the staff at a Jacksonville, Fla., clinic routinely stays until midnight to help out-of-staters, but still has to limit services for locals), strategizing new ways of providing care (which include illegal mail-order mifepristone networks), and dealing with patients in mortal terror of jail time (one San Diego clinician describes patients anxiously discussing how best to hide where theyve been from people back home). Luthras vivid and compassionate storytelling unveils an interconnected web of desperate individuals and heroic helpers who are only just barely within reach. Its an urgent wake-up call. (May) Correction: An earlier version of this review incorrectly stated that Jaspers local clinic is in Jacksonville, Fla. The review has also been updated with changes made prior to the books publication. After the intense conflict of 2020 in which Azerbaijan recovered much of the territory lost in the 1990s, the region is still the scene of clashes and tensions. Despite the ceasefire brokered by Russia, a lasting peace still seems far off. During 2023 and early 2024, there were firefights along the front line. The most serious of these (Shusha, March 18, 2024), resulted in the deaths of ten Azerbaijani soldiers and seven Armenian soldiers. Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, intensifying the war rhetoric, and raising international concerns about a possible resumption of large-scale hostilities (UN Press). On May 23, 2024, another incident saw the death of five people, including two Azerbaijani soldiers and three Armenian officers, during a check of a convoy suspected of carrying weapons (Al Jazeera). On the diplomatic front, the international community continues to seek peaceful solutions. In February 2024, several negotiations were held in Brussels between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, which, however, did not produce significant results as both sides remained firm on their positions. Moreover, despite numerous international organizations repeatedly calling for the opening of safe humanitarian corridors, access to Nagorno-Karabakh remains critical: local communities face severe difficulties due to disruptions in food, water, and medical supplies. With the victory of the opposition party (Civic Contract Party), the recent elections in Armenia led to a change of leadership that initiated a tougher policy toward Azerbaijan and resulted in a strengthening of defenses in the region. Naturally, this development in the situation has further complicated the already fragile peace negotiations and increased the risk of military escalation. The situation is further complicated by the influence of other regional players such as the Republic of Turkiye, a close ally of Azerbaijan, which continues to provide military and diplomatic support to Baku and conduct joint exercises with Azerbaijani troops in January 202, raising concerns in Armenia and tension with Russia. It is logical to assume that Ankaras goal is to strengthen its role as an energy hub between Central Asia and Europe, a strategy that depends on stability and control of energy routes through the Caucasus. Russian Federation, for its part, maintains a significant military presence in the area through its stabilization and pacification forces, deployed on the ground since 2020. Moscow sees geopolitical control of the South Caucasus as a strategic priority for several reasons. First, that region represents a buffer zone between Russia and the Middle East that is crucial for border security and for preventing the expansion of conflicts and radical movements that could threaten pro-Russian institutions in Dagestan and Chechnya. Second, Russia seeks to prevent the expansion of European and Turkish influence in that region. The presence of stabilization forces fulfills two tasks simultaneously: on the one hand, it allows Moscow to maintain political leverage over Armenia; on the other hand, it allows it to exert constant military pressure on Azerbaijan. The Kremlin also has a special interest in ensuring the security of energy routes through the Caucasus. Following the sanctions imposed by the European Union after the outbreak of Russian-Ukrainian hostilities in 2022, Azerbaijan has been confirmed as one of the most important suppliers of oil and gas to European states. It is clear, therefore, that Moscow considers it a top priority to maintain control over energy flows in the region in order to perpetrate its own countermeasure to European sanctions. Indeed, the South Caucasus is a key corridor for the European Unions energy supply, and stability in the region is essential to ensure that the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas (TANAP) and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) infrastructure remains operational with a view to reducing European dependence on Russian gas. It is obvious how on peaceful Armenian-Azeri coexistence depends on the energy security and prosperity of the European continent. In addition, the EU is interested in containing Russian and Turkish expansion in the region through an approach that finds its fundamental pillars of diplomacy and economic development; this approach aims to create favorable conditions for lasting peace based on the principles of territorial integrity and respect for human rights. The future of Nagorno-Karabakh represents one of the most complex and persistent challenges to contemporary international security: despite diplomatic and brokering efforts, in fact, a peaceful resolution of the conflict still seems to be far off. Ethnic, territorial, and geopolitical rivalries continue to fuel tensions that threaten not only the lives of people residing in the area but also international security and strategic interests. Efforts need to be intensified to ensure that the resolution of the conflict is seen not only as a matter of regional stability, but also as a humanitarian imperative that requires a collective and determined response. Only through an integrated approach that combines diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, and economic development can we hope to achieve lasting peace, but in the meantime the possibility of renewed military escalation cannot be ruled out, given the current fragile situation and deep-seated ethnic and territorial rivalries. Matteo Balzarini Zane, bachelor degree in Political Science, International Relations and Human Rights at the University of Padua (Italy). His X account is @m_balzarinizane. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Doug Jones says he is proud that viewers saw themselves in his character, Saru, over five seasons of the sci-fi adventure, Star Trek: Discovery. ADVERTISEMENT "I've heard it said before that we make all of our decisions in life based in either fear or love. Saru made all of his early decisions on this show out of fear," Jones, 64, told UPI in a recent Zoom round-table interview with reporters. "And he's come to a place where now he has courage and confidence, and fear's a thing of the past. He makes his decisions based out of love now, and he does not live under the cloud of fear and anxiety," the Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth and Shape of Water star added. "I've had so many fans from our audience who have contacted me to say that Saru has helped them through their own journey with anxiety, depression and fear, and so that's been such a gorgeous metamorphosis to watch happen, and I wanna be like Saru when i grow up." Wrapping Thursday on Paramount+, the fifth and final season follows the space adventures of the crew of the USS Discovery. Co-starring Jones as the ship's first officer and the first Kelpien to enter Starfleet, as well as Sonequa Martin-Green (Michael Burnham), Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets), Mary Wiseman (Sylvia Tilly), Wilson Cruz (Dr. Hugh Culber) and Blu del Barrio (Adira Tal), the show is set in the 23rd century about 10 years before the events of the original Star Trek series. David Ajala, 38, said playing the space courier Cleveland "Book" Booker, Burnham's love interest, makes him feel "enriched" as a person and an actor because the character is "an individual who just has a supernatural level of empathy." "Without sounding too wistful here, I believe that we can all benefit from that on this planet more," added the Supergirl and Jupiter Ascending star. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "Having a bit of empathy toward each other, being curious without being judgmental and, as far as it goes, with being changed [by playing him], I definitely feel like a better human being, because I know how my little efforts can make a big impact on someone else's life in the most positive way." Ajala said he thinks it was important that the show sends his character off to make reparations for his Season 4 misdeeds instead of allowing him to languish at some remote penal colony. "That was a very specific story that was told," he said of the restorative justice theme. "Within Cleveland Booker, a man who is imperfect, who has made mistakes, there is still a character there who can serve for the greater good," Ajala added. "It's also a testament to the way Starfleet and the way the Federation see his character and see things, so it's not a huge surprise when, at the beginning of Season 5, Cleveland Booker gets the call that his services are needed." Jones said a highlight for him of the later seasons of the show was Saru's blossoming relationship with T-Rina (Tara Rosling). "Didn't you love seeing Season 4 with the slow burn of this romance? it was like a British frock drama!" Jones said with a laugh. "Dare they even touch each other's hand? Well, the last episode of Season 4, we finally held hands and the crowds went nuts, so that was so, so sweet, to see such an innocent love story unfolding," Jones added. "It will continue to unfold more in Season 5. Where does it go? I don't want to give it all away." Book and Burnham's relationship isn't as solid in Season 5, according to Ajala. "The course of true love never did run smooth," the actor quoted from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. "That substance of love, which is meaningful, is also worth fighting for. It's a bit heartbreaking in the first episode where they go on an 'away' mission. "Then, after the storm as it were, and it's nice and calm, Cleveland Booker and Michael Burnham are just left alone with each other in their silence, and she says, 'Does it feel odd that I don't know how to be around you anymore?'" he added. "That's a major shift in their relationship because these two were completely at peace with being in each other's presence, with silence. That's something that they have to fight for." There are a lot of shooting competitions in this nation and around the world. Many of them are okay, some of them are great, but there are a rare few that stand above the rest and are truly exemplary. InRangeTV Woodland and Midnight Brutality are two such events. If you want to push yourself and your gear as hard as you can, see what it is like to shoot difficult courses of fire with the odds not really in your favor, and see what the weakest link of your gear is Brutality is a must-shoot event. My day started at 4:30 AM PST Thursday. A 5-hour flight to West Virginia and an argument with Hertz rental cars later and I was shooting Midnight Brutality Staff Night at 9 PM EST. We didnt stop until 2 AM EST Friday. 3 hours of sleep, hotel breakfast, and the first shots of Woodland Brutality Staff Day rang out at about 10 AM EST Friday. 7 stages later, my last shot was at 6:10 EST that evening. Fast drive into town for some chicken, and it was back at it for the first shots of my second round of Midnight Brutality at 9:03 PM EST. 1.5-inches of rain and 4 stages later, by 2 AM Saturday morning, I have never been more thoroughly exhausted in my life. It was the highlight of my year. BIG PICTURE While Im not much of a quotes guy, there are two that have stuck with me when it comes to formulating my views on training. Roughly put, Train in bloody practice, fight bloodless battles. I heard it from a Marine, but lore tells us this was a Roman Legenary phrase. The second, most commonly ascribed to Massad Ayoob, is A shooting competition isn't a gunfight. But every gunfight IS a shooting competition. Keep these two truths in mind and you will quickly see the incredible value in events like InRangeTVs Woodland and Midnight Brutality. Woodland Brutality is a physically demanding day match ranging from 10 yards to 400 yards and using a mix of pistol and rifle. Held in the rolling hills of West Virginia, the landscape is green, beautiful, moist, and immersive. Midnight Brutality is held at the same range, but in the dark, and with very different courses of fire. First shots at about 9 PM and last shots at 2 AM, its dark dark the entire time. While we had a half moon, when the moon was out, the reality for the second night was effectively zero moon/starlight due to thunderclouds. Held back-to-back its entirely possible for shooters to shoot the day match and then the night match right after. In fact, I would say this is the recommended way to experience Brutality. Divisions for both matches are radically different from other matches but mostly consistent within the Brutality family. Woodland had American Standard, Armored +P, Dead Eye, Iron Sights, Kalashnikov, Partizan, Roaring 20s, and Outlaw. Iron Sights and Kalashnikov are pretty self-explanatory, American Standard was red dot or 1.5x optic only 5.56 rifle, iron sight pistol. No bipods, mags over 17 rounds for pistol or 30 rounds for rifle. Dead Eye and Roaring 20s are historical divisions with Dead Eye being pre-1897 and Roaring 20s being pre-1929. Both are awesome and I highly recommend trying. I shot Dead Eye at CQB Brutality 2024 in St. George, Utah. Armored +P requires rifle-rated plates, bump or ballistic helmet, and has additional minimum requirements like 4 loaded rifle mags, 2 loaded pistol mags, IFAK, knife, water, and repair tools carried on your body during every course of fire. Upside, there is basically no restriction on equipment like optics, mag size, bipod, etc. Partizan is similar to Armored +P with additional equipment requirements like IFAK, mags, etc, but forgoes the armor and uses a point system to limit what equipment you can use on the rifle and pistol. This gives the shooter the ability to choose what matters most to them and plan their gear accordingly. Midnight is more simplified with just Infantry, Light Fighter, and Night Fighter. Infantry is night vision + active aiming systems like IR or vis lasers, Night Fighter is purely passive aiming with night vision, and Lighter Fighter is white light and vis lasers. No restrictions on mag size, bipods, armor, equipment, or anything else. Outlaw for both matches is simply any set of gear that doesnt fall into any of the above divisions. A truly open division or a purgatory for people who failed to meet requirements. GEAR AND WEAPONS Brutality is already a much harder-than-average style of match, but with the fact that the plan was to shoot 3 matches inside about 30 hours and there was a lot of gear overlap between each division, it was dialed up to 11. Because this match took place far from home and normal avenues for equipment werent an option (no 3-Gun style cart with a cooler and chair), this became part Brutality match and part endurance test. Limited sleep, limited equipment, limited gear, and lots of physical activity between them all. My goal was to have everything I needed and absolutely nothing I didnt. Weapons The rifle was a self-built AR using a Leapers UTG Pro ambi lower, Radian Weapons BCG and charging handle, Lead & Steel Monobloc barrel and handguard, Strike Industries stacked grip and cable system, Cloud Defensive REIN 3.0 WML, DBAL-A2, AAC Ranger 5 suppressor, KE Arms SLT Gen 2 trigger and SIG Sauer Romeo 4T with a Juliet 4 magnifier. The Juliet was on a random Amazon riser, but the Romeo 4T used the Strike Industries adjustable riser. And my favorite sling, the 5.11 VTAC. Pistol was a Shadow Systems XR920P with a Bushnell RXM-300 red dot and SureFire X300 weapon light. On Body Up top was the Team Wendy bump helmet w/ Agilite cover and Stream Light Sidewinder Stalk. During Midnight I had the Sionyx OPSIN as my digital night vision or a GoPro Hero 9 for the white light run. Woodland also had the GoPro. In the middle was the Agilite K-Zero plate carrier with RMA IV plates, an Agilite magazine placard, and Real Avid multitool. On my back hooked into the carrier was a 5.11 Convertible Hydration Carrier without the hydro pack. This carried items that were required to be on my body during Woodland Brutality but that I didnt really need to access unless shit went sidewise. The required 1L water, and extra parts like a spare BCG. This water was to check a box and have it on my body. Water for actual hydration was carried in my backpack that didnt need to be carried during the COF. My belt was a G-Code outer with a Blue Alpha inner velcro. I also used a G-Code single pistol holster plus a High Speed Gear rifle+pistol holster, Blackhawk Omnivore holster, Palmetto State Armory Kronos knife, IFAK, and 5.11 dump pouch. Magazines were TORKMAG 20-round mags for the Shadow Systems and Mission First Tactical AR mags. Moving between stages I used a 5.11 RUSH 12 2.0 backpack to carry ammo, food, water I actually drank, etc. Everything worked perfectly. I had zero failures or breakages on anything and Im pretty impressed by that. Agilite K-Zero was very comfy and is my favorite carrier so far. The 5.11 pack was the perfect size for holding what I needed for ~10 hours at a time worth of shooting and surviving. Not too big, not too small, and didn't wear me down when worn over my carrier. I generally had 4 snacks, ~300 rounds of 5.56, ~100 rounds of 9mm, 4L of water, at least 4 hydration packets, plus some supplies like a rain poncho, extra batteries for the GoPro/all my lights and optics, etc. Perfect bag for this. Under it all were the 5.11 Stryke pants that I practically live in these days and the new V-XI XTU Rapid Long Sleeve Shirt. Ive been using this shirt for matches for the past couple of months and from the heat of the Arizona desert to the jungle wet of raining West Virginia, this shirt is amazing. Full credit to the shirt for keeping me cooler and dryer than I thought was possible. Ammo TrueShot was kind enough to sponsor rifle ammo and sent me a pile of GGG 55gr 5.56 NATO. Before this, I had never heard of GGG, but my guy at TrueShot swore it was good stuff so I took a leap. Highly impressed. GGG is Giraites Ginkluotes Gamykla, a Lithuania state-owned company, and the ammo was awesome. Very consistent, good pressure, and perfect function. Pistol ammo was mostly Sellier & Bellot 124gr 9mm, but I also used a couple of boxes of Igman 124gr 9mm that a fellow shooter and VP at Lead & Steel traded me when I ran black on the S&B. Thanks bro! WOODLAND BRUTALITY 7 stages with 1 stage being force-on-force using blanks and MILES suits, plus 6 stages of real shooting. Stage 1 was the force-on-force using the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) and was run under supervision by staff at One Shepherd. If youve never used MILES, its basically laser tag with blanks. Real AR-15, real-ish ammo that goes bang but with no bullet so no one dies. My GoPro didn't capture for this stage, image courtesy of Russell Phagan Laser sensing vest on your body, laser emitter on the end of the rifle. Shoot someone and the lasers talk to each other to tell you that youve died and turn off your weapon. While all of Brutality dances a line between training and competition, this stage was pure training. Interesting, eye-opening, and just really cool because you dont often get a chance to use MILES. The next six stages were a mix of close range and long range out to 400 yards, a lot of running, some mid-tier obstacles, spinners, and pop culture. From Helldivers to Brecourt Manor the stages felt different, interesting, and challenging on every level. Highlights for me were Stage 3: War Never Changes, Stage 5: Brecourt Manor, and Stage 7: Tunnel Rats. Stage 3: War Never Changes Like the stage description said, 1815, 1915, or 2024 war never changes. Run the trench. Running an L-shaped trench and engaging targets in the woods and carrying your ammo in an ammo can was a fairly straightforward but highly enjoyable stage. Finding the targets wasnt easy in the dense West Virginia woods, and navigating port holes is never simple. Fast, immersive, and a nice blaster stage without feeling like youre dumping rounds for no reason. Stage 5: Brecourt Manor If youve ever seen Band Of Bothers, the Brecourt Manor assault was Easy Companys fight with the German artillery right after their jump on D-Day. This stage was in that same spirit with a lot of running in an open field followed by shots at 100, 200, 300, and 400 yards. While nothing crazy happened at this stage, getting to shoot 400 yards with an AR is always a good time and a nice test of what you can do with your rifle. For me, the Romeo-4T Pro and a magnifier worked really well in part because of the hold-over dots in the Romeo. Getting my hits at different ranges was fairly easy and quick because of it. Stage 7: Tunnel Rats A pistol primary stage, this was all short range but fun. Tripwires and tunnels were made from 12 sticks. Knocking over sticks would earn you a painful penalty of 60 seconds per stick, max 7. Fitting in tight spaces when you have armor and a helmet on is never easy and I actually expected this to be one of my worst stages. Instead, being careful around the sticks and managing pretty solid pistol shooting on a Texas Star and spinner target, I got a divisional stage win for Staff Day and 7th in Armored +P overall. MIDNIGHT BRUTALITY I loved this match because it was at night and night shooting is something thats fairly hard to find. For me, this was entirely about the learning experience and not about trying to beat other shooters. The stages were pretty awesome, the best visually being Stage 3: If It Bleeds. Glowing Preditor blood was a cherry on top prop. Shooting in the trench was similar to the Woodland version during the day, but different enough to make it feel new. Plus, doing it in the dark made it a lot harder. While technically a competition, my piece of advice for you would be to view Midnight Brutality more like a timed training event than a true competition. While I dont entirely believe in fairness when it comes to competition shooting in that being fair shouldnt trump everything, the environmental conditions and complexity of shooting at night make it extremely hard for it to be even moderately fair. Example: my first night was shooting in Light Fighter meaning I used white light. Stage 3 was the pistol stage where I had the Shadow Systems XR920P and a handheld SIG Foxtrot EDC compact plus Surefire X300 WML. I killed that stage pulling 5th overall and 1st in Light Fighter for the staff day and 3rd overall/3rd Light Fighter if you combine the public scores as well (while the other 3 stages got major redesigns between staff night and public, this stage didnt change). Stage 4 I did pretty solid on as well, 2nd Light Fighter and 4th overall. Stage 1 was my last stage of the night, so about 1:40 AM. I also shot late in the squad. From the first shooter to me there was a pretty sharp drop in temp and I would estimate at least a 15-degree drop from when I shot the previous stage a little over an hour beforehand to this one. Result? Oh, it was bad. 3rd to last overall, dead last Light Fighter. Why? Smoke. Before, the smoke was there but manageable. With the temp drop, the smoke was consuming, thick, and impenetrable. I couldnt see a damn thing. So. Much. Smoke. For a training experience, that is very valuable. For competition, I just have to accept that life isnt fair and sometimes an angel pisses in the flintlock of your musket. History would repeat itself, but in reverse and for different reasons, the next night for me. Again, mostly due to environmental conditions like moonlight and temperature. Midnight Brutality was a huge learning experience and a massive lesson in a lot of things. Shooting at night isnt easy. Its a lot of fun, harder, and complex. A complete breakdown of Whitelight Vs. NODs and a deeper look at what can go wrong is going to come soon, so stay on the lookout for that article. Bottom line: There is no teacher like experience. I learned more about night shooting in these two nights than I did in the last 6 months of research and preparing for the match. The fact that this was some of the most fun Ive ever had shooting was a bonus. LOOSE ROUNDS InRangeTV Woodland Brutality was without a doubt one of the best matches Ive ever shot. Stages were great, people were awesome, and West Virginia was a treat to experience. I would absolutely shoot this again and again. Midnight Brutality for me was in the top three best training experiences. I learned a ton of invaluable lessons that I really couldnt have gotten elsewhere. Nothing drives home information like getting out there and doing it. As a competition, I didnt perform nearly as well as I would have liked for the most part, but a not insignificant element to that is that environmental factors sometimes arent on your side and at night they are magnified. If youre good enough at shooting at night that you can treat Midnight Brutality like a true competition, then I commend your skill and to be clear, there were shooters like that at Midnight. But for the rest of us, I think viewing at least your first year of Midnight as a training event helps keep things in perspective. Even with the rain, the mud, and the exhaustion, Midnight was absolutely magnificent. If you're interested in shooting a Brutality match, take a look at the website for the dates of upcoming matches. They recently added Moonshine Brutality, a CQB match held at Echo Valley Training Center in WV where I shot Woodland and Midnight. 'When I called the HR department, they abused me.' Last year, Ajay (name changed), an employee at the beleaguered edtech giant Byju's, purchased a house in Mumbai for over Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) as a gift for his parents. He took a loan of about Rs 75 lakh (Rs 7.5 million) from the bank on EMI (equated monthly installment). However, a few months after the deal, Byju's handed him the pink slip. He had to sell off his property at a lower price last year and relocate to his previous accommodation at a chawl. "It was a middle-class boy's dream to gift a home to his parents and get them out of the chawl in Mumbai," said Ajay. He was also forced to go from pillar to post to get the provident fund, gratuity, and the full and final compensation. He still has not been able to get that amount from the company. "When I called the human resources department, they abused me," Ajay alleged. Ajay is among the 2,000 disgruntled former employees of Byju's who have joined hands to fight for their rights. Several among them, who are based in various parts of the country, including in New Delhi, are planning to take their former employer to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in Bengaluru for the payment of their dues. "We have already hired a lawyer to fight our case at the NCLT and the total claim amount is over Rs 1 crore, which is the threshold required to file the case," said Bharat (name changed), a former teacher at Byju's. Bharat said many of them are afraid to participate in a legal battle with Byju's as they fear it would negatively impact their careers. Byju's is facing multiple challenges, including a cash crunch, delays in financial reporting, and legal disputes with lenders and investors. Overseas, Riju Ravindran, a director of Byju's parent company, Think & Learn Pvt, faces financial penalties for defying a US judge's order to find out where the firm hid $533 million that disgruntled lenders said should be rightfully theirs. Riju, company founder Byju Raveendran's brother, not only failed to make a serious effort to find out what happened to the money but deceived the court, US Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey said, during a hearing in Wilmington, Delaware. The missing cash is part of the dispute between Byju's and an ad hoc group of lenders (the Ad Hoc Group), which lent $1.2 billion as term loans to the company. 'The ruling validates what we have known all along: Riju Ravindran, his brother and co-founder, Byju Raveendran, and their conspirators fraudulently transferred $533 million in loan proceeds for no legitimate purpose other than to hide the money from the lenders to whom it is rightfully owed,' said the lender group. 'With William Morton and now Riju (Ravindran) found in contempt, the walls are closing in around Byju and his house of cards. We will continue to take all necessary legal actions to recover the stolen funds,' the lender group added. Facing bumpy road Riju Ravindran faces penalties for defying a US judge's order to find out where the firm hid $533 million that lenders said should go to them. US bankruptcy judge said during a hearing that Riju not only failed to make a serious effort to find out what happened to the money but also deceived the court. The missing cash is part of the dispute between Byju's and an ad hoc group of lenders. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com Cyber criminals are impersonating as stock brokers, financial advisors, or executives of capital investment firms. IMAGE: The SEBI headquarters in Mumbai. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters Amid a rise in financial frauds, the market regulator has directed depository participants to take swift action and report any impersonification, usage of identity, trademark or logo to the National Cybercrime Reporting portal. The directions follow a report by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, which has seen a new pattern of transnational cyber-enabled financial fraud and investment scam, impersonating as stockbrokers and company executives. In a letter dated May 15, the Securities and Exchange Board of India has informed depositories about the receipt of the report on abuse of 'SMS Headers' in stock market investment fraud. The report added that it had seen a sharp rise in this new pattern under which cyber criminals are impersonating as stock brokers, financial advisors, or executives of capital investment firms. They are doing so through fake mobile apps, web sites, and WhatsApp or Telegram. 'Fraud WhatsApp groups are learnt to be operating from Cambodia/Hong Kong. At the early stage, these apps were learnt to be circulated through Google Playstore, Apple App store and via web links that are sponsored mainly through Instagram and Facebook advertisements targeting users with 'interest in stock markets',' said the report. The messages are structured so that victims believe that the SMSes are coming from genuine entities. Earlier in February, Sebi had issued an advisory against fraudulent trading schemes claiming to be offered by foreign portfolio investors to domestic investors. The caution followed instances where fraudsters coaxed individuals into downloading apps that would allow them to buy shares, subscribe to public offers, and enjoy institutional benefits without opening trading or demat accounts. These victims were enticed through online trading courses, seminars and mentorship programmes by people posing as employees of Sebi-registered FPIs. In several other instances, fraudsters sent messages and links claiming to be the managing director or a senior employee of stock exchanges. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com PITTSBURGH On four occasions last year, medical helicopters flew over Pittsburgh transporting not injured humans, but wounded pigs. The pigs bleeding heavily from the abdomen were stabilized in the air by an autonomous medical intervention system developed by the University of Pittsburgh as part of a military-funded study with the potential for groundbreaking advances in health care. What we did with the Department of Defense was try to solve their number one cause of preventable death on the battlefield, said Ronald Poropatich, director of the Pitt Center for Military Medicine. This is the future of medicine, whether its military or civilian. In the five-year proof-of-concept study published Friday in the journal Intensive Care Medicine Experimental Pitt researchers and physicians worked with computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University to build the ReFit (Resuscitation based on Functional Hemodynamic Monitoring) system. About the size of a microwave, the computer system can function as a highly trained critical care physician, administering fluids, blood and medication without human intervention. It was funded by a $3.712 million grant over four years from the Department of Defense. In the experiment, four pigs were fully anesthetized in accordance with animal research protocols and then given liver lacerations in a laboratory to mimic a gunshot wound to the abdomen or other noncompressible hemorrhage. The pigs were allowed to bleed for 30 minutes and then connected to the ReFit system. At this point, a human medical professional still has to manually insert an IV, but after that, no human intervention is required. Two of the pigs were placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital helipad, where they flew for several hours around Pittsburgh. The other two pigs were taken via ambulance to the Allegheny County Airport, and then flown on a medical helicopter as far as Kittanning and then back to Oakland. The ReFit system was able to stabilize the pigs and return them in adequate condition for life-saving surgery. For the first time in the history of medicine, we took an animal in a critical state onto a helicopter and autonomously brought it back healthier than when it was placed in emergency transport hours earlier, said Michael Pinsky, professor of critical care, bioengineering and critical and translational medicine at Pitt and lead author of the study. This has profound implications for trauma resuscitation in the field and of course in military medicine. In emergency medicine, physicians have long referred to the golden hour, an idea dating back to World War I that it is critical to get a seriously injured patient to a trauma center within one hour of their injury to avoid death or long-term complications. What ReFit can do is extend that timeline so that patients are stable for much longer up to five hours in the study before hospital care. It is all about extending the golden hour, said Dr. Poropatich. All we are trying to do is keep the casualty alive long enough to get to an operating room. Although the technology was developed for the military, there are scenarios in civilian medicine where it would be useful. Take the case of a serious car accident in an area of Pennsylvania that is far from a trauma hospital, said Dr. Pinksy: An EMT could insert an IV into a patient and the ReFit system could then administer care equivalent to what they would receive from an experienced physician while they were being transported. In a military scenario, the technology is well suited for large-scale combat operations with dispersed medical assets, such as the war going on in Ukraine, said Poropatich, who served in the U.S. Army for 30 years before retiring in 2012 as a colonel. Its the concept of trauma care in a backpack, he said. It could provide the technology to resuscitate without having a critical care doctor there with you. The team at Pitt is working on further advancements to the technology, such as the ability to deliver the ReFit system via a drone, to extend its reach into remote locations. Other research centers, such as Carnegie Mellon, are also working on robotic technology to insert an IV without a human. There is great interest in making it truly autonomous, Poropatich said. Autonomous care in an autonomous aircraft. To do so, the system will need to be tested on humans, in addition to pigs. While there are aspects of human testing that they plan to begin within this year, full clinical trials are realistically two or three years away, Pinsky said. We at the University of Pittsburgh and especially emergency medicine are completely excited about going to the next level here, he said. Everyone sees the realistic application of this now to treat human beings. 'Even last time, when I defeated Shatrughan Sinha, I did not take his name.' IMAGE: Ravi Shankar Prasad, left, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from the Patna Saheb constituency, and Janata Dal-United President Nitish Kumar during an election rally at Daniyawan in Patna, May 26, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says private investment would receive greater attention in his Patna Saheb constituency if he won in the 2024 general elections. During an interaction with Harsh Kumar/Business Standard in Patna, he said he had undertaken a slew of initiatives, which attracted companies like TCS. What will be the focus for your constituency? I have already undertaken initiatives, which have attracted companies like TCS to our area, and various private ventures are flourishing. Additionally, the metro project is underway, and several Ganga bridges have been initiated. Improving lives in my city and expanding the highway network have always been my priorities. We are also fostering a favourable environment for private sector growth. Do you think policies made by the Union government have come on ground and helped you in this election? The prime minister has laid out a comprehensive plan for the next 100 days. We are witnessing a positive impact of the PM s governance on issues such as gender justice, the abolition of triple talaq, direct benefit transfer and women s empowerment. Initiatives like Lakhpati Didi have bolstered support for the BJP. Furthermore, the BJP government's effort to promote Madhubani paintings in Bihar has been appreciated. As the IT minister, I had provided a platform for e-commerce businesses to boost the industry. Being a former law minister, what is your take on Uniform Civil Code? The UCC is an integral part of our agenda. Other parties refrain from pursuing it due to vote bank politics. I appeal to the people of this country to elect a government capable of ensuring stability. How do you see your opponent Anshul Avijit performing? Whenever I fight elections, I never take my opponent's name. Even last time, when I defeated Shatrughan Sinha, I did not take his name. I go with my policies. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'Modi will do himself a favour if he starts studying about Mahatma Gandhi.' 'I feel pity that we have a PM who has no idea of our own history.' IMAGE: On March 27, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi called at 3, Queen Victoria Road, New Delhi, and had an interview lasting over two hours with Sir Stafford Cripps. Sir Stafford sees Gandhiji to his car. Photograph: Photodivision Prime Minister Narendra D Modi in an interview with ABP News on Wednesday, mAY 29, 2024, stated that Mahatma Gandhi was not famous across the world until the movie Gandhi was made. In Modi's own words, 'Across the world, Mahatma Gandhi was a great person. Was it not our responsibility in these 75 years to ensure that the entire world knows Mahatma Gandhi? I am sorry to say that no one knows about him. 'The first time when the film Gandhi was made, it was then that there was curiosity across the world as to who this person was." 'It was the task of this country to ensure that if the world knows about Martin Luther King, South Africa's Nelson Mandelaji, then Gandhi was no less. One has to agree and I am saying this after travelling across the world, that India should have got that importance due to Mahatma Gandhi.' Congress leaders reacted with outrage to Modi's statement. 'Gandhiji was an inspiration to the entire world. Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela and Albert Einstein were all inspired by Gandhi. Crores of people in India follow Gandhi's path of truth and non-violence. This is the fight between truth and untruth, between violence and non-violence,' Rahul Gandhi said in a video message. P Chidambaram said he was appalled by the prime minister's comment. 'Has Mr Modi heard of the name Albert Einstein? Does Mr Modi know what Albert Einstein said of Mahatma Gandhi? Did Albert Einstein (died 1955) know about Mahatma Gandhi only after the film Gandhi was released (1982)?' "He (Modi) wants to make people believe that if he was not there, Mahatma Gandhi would have been an unknown person," Tushar Gandhi, the Mahatma's great grandson, tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com. What was your first reaction when you heard Prime Minister Modi stating that Mahatma Gandhi became famous only after the film Gandhi? It is laughable. The statement is like that of an illiterate person and I don't have the words to express my feelings after hearing him. I can only oblige him by imparting my knowledge about Mahatma Gandhi to him. If you compare before the film Gandhi and after, was there a huge surge in the Mahatma's popularity? When Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948, condolence messages came from across the world. Every top world leader of that time sent condolence message and the movie Gandhi was not made at that time in 1948. Prime Minister Modi had spoken about Martin Luther King earlier and I want to inform him that Martin Luther King started his civil rights movement on the path of Mahatma Gandhi's passive resistance. He followed civil disobedience and made satyagraha the model for his movement. And this too was before Gandhi was made. Martin Luther King's followers came to the Sabarmati ashram and Wardha ashram to take training in Ahimsa and Satyagraha. This too was before Gandhi. He also said that people know Nelson Mandela and not Gandhi, and see the irony of Modi's statement, Mandela himself wrote that whenever he was in solitary confinement he was not alone as Mahatma Gandhi (his philosophy) used to accompany him all the time in his jail cell. And if Modi wants any more clarification on the popularity of Mahatma Gandhi, then whenever he visits his samadhi on January 30 he should see the condolences that the Mahatma got at the time of his death because all this is recorded. Modi will do himself a favour if he starts studying about Mahatma Gandhi. I feel pity that we have a PM who has no idea of our own history. Is it ignorance on Modi's part or it is due to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh philosophy which tries to show Mahatma Gandhi as a lightweight because they opposed his ideology when he was alive? The RSS does it deliberately, but Modi is totally ignorant about Mahatma Gandhi. And now it is arrogance and ignorance together for Modi on his knowledge about Gandhi. It is I, me and myself factor for him. He wants to make people believe that if he was not there, Mahatma Gandhi would have been an unknown person. As far as the RSS is concerned they have plotted in belittling the Mahatma's stature. They have never been able to reconcile themselves that the right-wing Hindu element which murdered Gandhi could not murder his spirit. Mahatma Gandhi's spirit is still alive and that bothers them. This is the constant pain and agony the RSS suffers about the Mahatma. Being a Gujarati and having studied in Gujarat, it surprises one that Modi seems ignorant about the Mahatma who too hailed from the same state. Please do not judge Gujaratis via Modi. What was the reaction among the public when Gandhi was released in 1982? The film was made because Gandhi had a larger than life image in the West. For the generation of that time the film contributed to Bapu's grand image. The reason the film was made was because there was awe for Mahatma Gandhi in Western countries and therefore a Western director like Richard Attenborough made the movie. Any interesting anecdote you can recall about the movie? Before this movie was made there was a documentary on Gandhi made by Vitthalbhai Jhaveri. This documentary was five-and-a-half hours long. People like me also found it very difficult to sit through the entire stretch of this documentary. Attenborough, when he came to India, saw Vitthalbhai's documentary back to back twice. He sat for 11 hours and watched the movie silently after which he scripted the movie Gandhi. The effect of Gandhi was on Attenborough's mind and that is why he was inspired to make a movie on him. How has Modi contributed to popularising Gandhi's philosophy in the 10 years of his rule? He only contributed by doing nautanki or you can call it as drama for (Gandhian thoughts). And the statement he made shows how ignorant he is about Mahatma Gandhi. A special court in Mumbai on Thursday sentenced gangster Chhota Rajan to life imprisonment in the murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty here in 2001, over six years after he was handed a similar sentence in the killing of journalist J Dey. IMAGE: Gangster Chhota Rajan. Photograph: PTI Photo/File image Special judge for cases under the Maharashtra Control Of Organised Crime Act, AM Patil, held Rajan guilty under Indian Penal Code sections 302 (murder), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and provisions of MCOCA. Following the conviction, the court sentenced the gangster, currently lodged at Tihar jail in Delhi, to rigorous imprisonment for life and imposed a fine of Rs 16 lakh on him. Rajan, whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, was arrested by the Indonesian police in October 2015 before his extradition from Bali to India. The gangster had spent nearly three decades on the run before his arrest and was believed to have been a former right-hand man of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. After Thursday's judgment, Rajan has been convicted in seven cases, including six in the city, special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat said. A special MCOCA court in 2018 had sentenced Rajan to life imprisonment in the murder of senior crime journalist J Dey. Shetty, who owned the Golden Crown Hotel at Gamdevi in central Mumbai, was shot dead on the hotel's first floor on May 4, 2001. According to the prosecution, the murder was committed by the members of an organised crime syndicate headed by Rajan. One Ajay Mohite, who was accompanied by Kundansingh Rawat of the syndicate, had shot Shetty. He was caught red-handed and found to be carrying deadly weapons. Though Rawat escaped from the spot, he was later reported dead. Investigation showed that Pramod Dhonde, Rahul Pansare, Sameer Manik (accused) had conspired to kill Jaya Shetty at the best of gangsters Hemant Poojari and Rajan. Before the case was taken by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Mumbai police had invoked stringent provisions of MCOCA because Rajan and Poojari faced several cases. During the trial against Rajan, the prosecution examined 32 witnesses, including the victim's sons. "The shooter was caught red-handed, faced trial and was convicted. The co-accused had confessed that they were working for Chhota Rajan. Moreover, there were extortion calls from Rajan to the victim. He had threatened to kill Shetty and his family if they failed to pay the extortion money. All these aspects were relied upon by the prosecution," SPP Gharat said. Jaya Shetty's sons gave strong testimony against Rajan in the court, he said. One of his sons had testified before the court that his father was shot by two people at their Golden Crown Hotel. "We have been receiving threats of extortion since 1999. Even threats were received from Hemant Poojari," he had told the court. Further, he had deposed that when they reached the hotel after the shooting, they received a call from Poojari claiming that tumhare father ka murder kar diya hai abhi tum log next. Poojari also claimed that he was making the extortion calls on Rajan's orders, the SPP added. In a separate trial, a special judge in 2004 sentenced shooter Mohite to life imprisonment. While Dhonde and Pansare were acquitted of the murder charge, each was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for extortion. Manik, who was on the run, was apprehended in 2008 and was acquitted by the court that year. Poojari is still an absconding accused in the case. Rajan, already serving life imprisonment for the murder of J Dey in 2011, is currently lodged at the Tihar jail in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have got a tough fight in Varanasi had Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested against him as Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) candidate, feel party workers from the temple town. IMAGE: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Dimple Yadav along with Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hold a roadshow in support of INDIA bloc candidate from Varanasi, Ajay Rai for the Lok Sabha election, in Varanasi on May 25, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The prime minister is likely to have a cakewalk in the third consecutive election he is contesting from the holy city of Varanasi, with INDIA bloc's Ajay Rai apparently not in a position to spring any surprise even this time, they feel. While Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has given the ticket to a local, Athar Jamal Lari, three Independents are also in the fray. The INDIA bloc has fielded Congress Uttar Pradesh president Rai against Bharatiya Janata Party's Modi from the prestigious seat. Located on the banks of river Ganga, Varanasi is witnessing a weak resistance to Modi in his bid to score a hat-trick from the prominent Hindu religious city. People as well as the opposition party workers here say in private that there is virtually no contest because the rivals are no match to the prime minister. A district Congress leader said on the condition of anonymity that this could have been a good opportunity for the opposition to capitalise on the 'anti-incumbency' faced by Modi on the seat. But Rai failed in the last two chances and there seems to be little chance of expecting 'anything big' from him this time also, he added. Another leader said had Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested from Varanasi, it would have become tough for Modi. Initially, Rai himself had invited Priyanka Gandhi to fight the election against Modi from Varanasi. But, the party decided to field him from the seat again. Rai stood third in the previous two Lok Sabha polls from Varanasi. However, Rai disagrees with this view. "Varanasi will give a shocker to the BJP in the polls," he said. On the BSP's presence in the poll race, he said, "The BSP presence is nil bataa sannata (zero impact)." Modi had won against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal in 2014 while he had defeated his nearest Samajwadi Party (SP) rival Shalini Yadav in 2019 by a massive margin. Shalini Yadav later crossed over to the BJP. Rai started from the BJP and was elected as an MLA for five times -- three times (in 1996, 2002 and 2007) on a BJP ticket from the Kolasla seat in Varanasi. Modi, who had in 2014 said he had come to Kashi on the call of "Maa Ganga", recently said "Mother Ganga" has taken him in his lap (apne goad me le liya hai). Varanasi, an important place in Poorvanchal and which is also in proximity to bordering Bihar, will see voting in the seventh and the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections on June 1. Modi keeps visiting Varanasi and he conducted a road show with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here recently. The opposition camp is actively showing up in Varanasi to give an impression that the prime minister is facing opposition on his turf. Priyanka Gandhi and SP leader Dimple Yadav held a 1.5-km long joint road show in Varanasi last week to mobilise people in favour of INDIA bloc nominee Rai. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and SP president Akhilesh Yadav held a rally in Varanasi on Tuesday. Addressing the rally, Rahul Gandhi said Modi will not become the next prime minister, calling it a 'guarantee'. "I am telling you with a guarantee that after June 4, Narendra Modi ji will not be the prime minister of this country," Gandhi said. "In the contest, which is quite intense, between the two, Ajay Rai may win," he said. He added that this fight is between the auto-rickshaw drivers of Varanasi, the Banarasi saree makers, farmers, labourers and billionaires. The rally was also addressed by Akhilesh Yadav. Modi, who is vigorously touring different parts of the country as part of 'Abki baar 400 paar' (over 400 seats this time) call, keeps visiting Varanasi and remains in touch with the constituency even when there is no election. BJP president J P Nadda made a trip to Varanasi on Monday. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is a regular visitor to the temple town to offer prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple, always remains eager to add civic facilities in Varanasi throughout the year. Nadda attended a meeting of the local weavers held by the UP Institute of Design and Research (UPIDR) under the state government's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) department MSME, on Monday. UPIDR chairperson Kshipra Shukla said the local weavers and artisans, including those from minority Muslim community, feel indebted to Modi and Adityanath for popularising their trade of Banarasi saree. Shahid Jamal and his daughter Safina praised Modi for encouraging the Banarsi saree traders. "Before 2014, nobody visited our Bazardiha-Makhdumpur locality inhabited mostly by Muslims," Jamal said, adding that under the Modi-Yogi government, the area has seen good roads and the power situation has also improved tremendously. Local residents Ram Surat Pandey and Sonu Sahni besides Prem Nishad, a boatman, said the civic facilities have improved tremendously here. Roads, street lights and cleanness in the city have improved in the city, they added. Dairy major Amul has also opened its facility in Varanasi which is adding up to the the income of the milk producers. Varanasi has five assembly seats -- Rohania, Varanasi North, Varanasi South, Varanasi Cantt and Sevapuri. While Rohania has an MLA of the Apna Dal (Sonelal) party, the remaining four have BJP legislators. Veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi won the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat in 2009. Modi took over from Joshi in 2014 and is in the fray from here for the third consecutive time. The high-pitched campaigning for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in 57 seats in seven states and the Union territory of Chandigarh on June 1 ended Thursday evening. IMAGE: Election officials make a street art painting to spread voting awareness for the Lok Sabha election, in Bhojpur, Bihar, May 30, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Polling is scheduled in all 13 seats of Punjab and four of Himachal Pradesh, 13 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha and three seats in Jharkhand besides Chandigarh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term from Varanasi. Voting is already over in 486 seats in 28 states and Union territories. The turnout in the first six phases was 66.14 percent, 66.71, 65.68, 69.16, 62.2 and 63.36 percent respectively. Counting of votes will be taken up on June 4. The campaigning saw Bharatiya Janata Party leaders led by Modi accusing the Congress and the INDIA alliance of being corrupt, anti-Hindu and engaging in loot, appeasement and dynastic politics. The Opposition parties have been claiming that the BJP is anti-farmer, anti-youth and will change and scrap the Constitution if they win the elections. At a rally in Odisha, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also claimed that BJP leaders were trying to project Modi as the "eleventh avatar" of Lord Vishnu but the people of the country will not accept. On Thursday, former prime minister Manmohan Singh accused Modi of lowering the dignity of public discourse and the gravity of the office of the prime minister by giving "hateful speeches" during the poll campaign. In an appeal to voters of Punjab, Singh asserted that only the Congress can ensure growth-oriented progressive future where democracy and Constitution will be safeguarded. He also hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party government for imposing the "ill-conceived" Agnipath scheme on the armed forces. On Thursday evening, Modi headed to Kanyakumari where he will meditate till June 1 at the site associated with Swami Vivekananda. Modi had 206 public outreach programmes, including rallies and roadshows, since the Election Commission announced the Lok Sabha election schedule on March 16. In Punjab, where the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and its INDIA bloc partner Congress are fighting separately in a multi-cornered contest, the high-decibel campaign saw the participation of senior BJP leaders from Modi to Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman to BJP chief JP Nadda and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states. For the Congress, Kharge and party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the campaign. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, out on interim bail in the excise policy case, also led an aggressive campaign for his party candidates along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. On the final day, Modi while addressing a rally at Hoshiarpur in Punjab, attacked the Congress for "ranting" about the Constitution when it was the one that "strangled" it during the Emergency and not care about it when Sikhs were killed in the 1984 riots. At the rally in favour of his party's Hoshiarpur candidate Anita Som Parkash and Anandpur Sahib nominee Subhash Sharma, the prime minister also touched upon the issues of reservation, corruption and the Ram Temple. Hitting out at the opposition for questioning the Agnipath scheme, he accused the INDIA bloc of making the Army a "weapon of politics" and said there cannot be a "bigger sin than this". In Uttar Pradesh, while the BJP claimed that the INDIA bloc will bring in Muslim reservation and put a 'Babri lock' in the Ayodhya temple in their speeches, the Opposition urged the people vote to save the Constitution. In West Bengal, Modi took out a rally in Kolkata on Tuesday in support of candidate for Kolkata Uttar seat Tapas Roy. Trinamool Congress supremo and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also held rallies for party candidates almost in each of the nine Lok Sabha constituencies. On Thursday, Banerjee walked a rally of 12 km from the southern part of the city's Jadavpur area to Gopalnagar. Party leader Abhishek Banerjee also participated in two rallies on the final day of campaigning. The BJP while campaigning alleged the Mamata government was involved in many scams related to coal and cattle smuggling, and irregularities in school recruitment among other issues. It also alleged how the state government was not implementing the welfare schemes of the Centre and depriving the common people of their benefits. The TMC, however, kept on reiterating that the Centre was not releasing funds to the state. The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will get a 'decisive mandate' in the Lok Sabha polls and may take even less than 48 hours to decide on its prime ministerial pick, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday, asserting that it stands to reason that the party which gets the maximum seats in the alliance will be a 'natural claimant' for its leadership. IMAGE: Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh addresses a press conference, in Ranchi. Photograph: ANI Photo In an interview with PTI on the last day of campaigning for the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls, the Congress general secretary exuded confidence that the INDIA bloc will get seats 'well above' the 272-mark needed for a majority in the Lower House. Ramesh also said that when the INDIA 'janbandhan' parties will get the people's mandate, then some National Democratic Alliance parties may join the coalition and the Congress high command will have to decide whether to include them in the alliance or not. Asked whether post-polls doors will remain open for NDA allies such as Janata Dal-United chief Nitish Kumar and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, the Congress leader said, "Nitish Kumar is the master of palti (volte-face)." "Naidu was with the Congress in alliance in 2019. I would say when INDIA janbandhan parties will get the people's mandate, then not only INDIA parties but also some NDA parties may join the coalition," he said. "The high command of the Congress, Kharge ji, Rahul ji, Sonia ji, will have to decide whether to include them in the INDIA bloc," he said. Ramesh said the difference between INDIA and NDA is of two I's -- I for 'insaniyat' and 'I' for 'imaandaari'. Those parties that have 'imaandaari (honesty)' and 'insaniyat (humanity)', but are in the NDA, will join the INDIA parties, he said. Ramesh said an INDIA bloc government formed after getting the mandate from the people will be 'authoritative' but not 'authoritarian'. "I think we are going to be large-hearted in victory -- no politics of vendetta, no politics of vengeance. Interestingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to the famed Vivekananda Rock Memorial and be meditative for two days. The same Vivekananda memorial from where Mr Rahul Gandhi started the Bharat Jodo Yatra on September 7, 2022....I am sure he (Modi) is going to be meditating on what life is going to be after retirement," he said. Asked about his assessment of the political situation on the ground after six phases of polls, Ramesh said, "I don't want to get into numbers but all I am saying is that we (INDIA bloc) will get a clear and decisive majority. 273 is a clear majority but it is not decisive. When I say clear and decisive, I mean well above 272 seats." He claimed the 2004 result when the Congress won the polls to form an alliance government despite the BJP's 'India shining' campaign, will repeat itself in 2024. Ramesh also claimed that the Congress will make 'handsome gains' in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra. "We will improve our position in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam. In totality, we are headed for a 2004 type of a situation, 'bees saal baad'," he said. Ramesh said that in Uttar Pradesh also the Congress will make gains and the BJP cannot improve on its 2019 tally of 62. "They are not going to improve on 39 seats in Bihar, it is impossible, they are not going to improve on 18 seats in West Bengal, that is impossible," he said. Asked about the reported June 1 meeting of INDIA bloc partners, Ramesh said he does not have any authentic information that the meeting is going to take place that day but the INDIA bloc leaders will certainly meet. "In 2004, the election results came out on May 13 and the UPA was formed on May 16. Dr Manmohan Singh's name as PM was floated on May 17. It took less than three days for Dr Singh's name to emerge, although everyone knew it was going to be Dr Singh after Mrs Gandhi had made her intentions very clear of not accepting the PM's post, a great sacrifice on her part," he said. "But this time I don't think it will take even 48 hours (to decide on the PM pick). Within a few hours the leader of the janbandhan (will be picked). It stands to reason that the party that gets the maximum seats in the 'janbandhan' will be a natural claimant for the leadership of the janbandhan," he said. Pressed further that the Congress is likely to be the party with most number of seats in the INDIA bloc, Ramesh said, "You can interpret my statement in whatever fashion you want but the fact is that in a janbandhan, all parties if they are going to participate in government...it stands to reason that the party that has the maximum number of seats, is going to lead that janbandhan in Parliament." On whether it would be easy to arrive at a consensus on the PM pick when stalwarts such as Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar and Mamata Banerjee are part of the bloc, the Congress leader said the slogan of the alliance is 'main nahin hum, mera nahi humara'. On critics stating that such a diverse coalition may not be good for stability, Ramesh said Manmohan Singh running the UPA coalition government for 10 years was the best proof of it. "We are committed to giving a stable, transparent, responsive and responsible government," he said. Ramesh said there will be a 'janbandhan PM' who will set the economy right. "The BJP's policy was 'annadaataon ka apmaan aur chandadaataon ka samman' (insult of farmers and honouring those giving donations). That will change. All exploitative tax schemes like the angel tax will go," Ramesh said. Hours ahead of Janata Dal-Secular MP Prajwal Revanna's scheduled return from abroad to face the law over sexual abuse allegations, the Karnataka government on Thursday said the next course of action, such as cancellation of his passport, will follow if he fails to show up as promised. IMAGE: Prajwal Revanna. Photograph: ANI Photo Prajwal, facing charges of sexually abusing several women, had said in a video statement earlier this week that he will return on May 31 and appear before a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case. He has booked ticket in private flight from Munich that is scheduled to land here at 12.30 IST on Friday. On Thursday, State Home Minister G Parameshwara said that in case Prajwal Revanna does not return to the country on May 31 as stated, further action such as cancellation of his passport will follow. Prajwal will be arrested upon his return and the legal process will be initiated, he added. The anticipatory bail plea moved by the 33 year-old suspended Janata Dal-Secular MP in a rape case is pending before a Bengaluru special court and is likely to come up for hearing on Friday. Earlier, some media outlets, including PTI, had erroneously reported that the court had dismissed his bail petition. "The information is he (Prajwal) will come, he has booked the flight ticket. SIT has made necessary preparations. If he comes the legal process will begin," Parameshwara told reporters. "As per law, a warrant has been issued against him, so he will have to be arrested, SIT will decide and do it." "He himself has said in the video statement that he will appear before SIT on May 31 at 10 am, not us. So I feel that he will come... In case he doesn't, the process will follow, like cancelling his passport; we will again request the Interpol through CBI, as the state government cannot do it directly, we will have to do it through Government of India agencies," he added. A team of SIT officials is camping at the airport here to arrest Prajwal. Asked whether Prajwal's passport will be impounded, he said the state government has requested the Centre to cancel his passport, and depending on the legal process they might cancel. "The External Affairs Minister has said that the process has been initiated in this regard, so they might do it," he added. Meanwhile, hundreds of people took part in a march in Haasan, seeking justice for the victims of the alleged sexual abuse by Prajwal. They also demanded the arrest of the accused and a fair probe into the cases. The march was organised by a human rights collective, and was joined by civil society groups from across the state, including women, labourers, farmers, Dalits, and sexual minorities. The march was held amid the beats of 'Tamate' (a percussion instrument) and drums. Besides demanding the arrest of Prajwal, the participants also sought justice for the victims and expressed solidarity with them. They also demanded for action against those behind the circulation of pen drives containing videos of the sexual assault, and urged the administration to ensure the deletion of videos which are in circulation on social media platforms. Noted activists including former MP Subhashini Ali, writer Roopa Hassan and Vimala KS among others participated in the march. Prajwal, 33, the grandson of JD-S patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and the National Democratic Alliance candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of sexually abusing women. He reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to polls. The instances of sexual abuse came to light after several pen drives allegedly containing explicit videos involving Prajwal were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended his whirlwind Lok Sabha poll campaign with a rally in Punjab's Hoshiarpur on Thursday, closing out his electioneering the way he began -- by focussing on a region where he has invested heavily over the years for the Bharatiya Janata Party to make a mark outside its strongholds. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, May 30, 2024, on the last day of campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections. Photograph: ANI Photo Modi notched up a total of 206 public outreach programmes, including rallies and roadshows, since the Election Commission (EC) announced the poll schedule on March 16. The prime minister surpassed his nearly-145 public engagements on the stump during the 2019 polls by a big margin. The campaign period this time was of 76 days, compared to the 68 days in the polls held five years ago. When the EC announced the polls, Modi was on a political tour of southern India, covering all five states in the three days between March 15 and March 17. The BJP is eying to boost its fortunes in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh -- three states where it won no seat in 2019 -- and looking to maintain its strength in Karnataka and increase its tally in Telangana. The extent of his barnstorming campaign's success will only be known on June 4, when the poll results are scheduled to be declared. At 73, Modi was not only ahead of any other leader in terms of the sheer number of rallies and distance he covered, but continued to be the biggest vote magnet for his party whose comments, panned by critics and lapped up by the BJP's ardent supporters, set the narratives of the election. The prime minister also gave a total of 80 media interviews, averaging more than one daily since the polls began. Modi will be in Kanyakumari from Thursday evening to June 1 for meditation, engaging in spiritual pursuit at the site associated with Swami Vivekananda. The Indian gung-ho leadership may like to think about it, there should never ever be a doubt in anyone's mind, friend or foe, that Pakistan's operationally ready nuclear capability enables every Pakistani leader the liberty, the dignity and the courage to look straight into the Indian eye and never blink. Pakistan does not follow the "no first use" policy on nuclear weapons and the country's deterrence capabilities can respond to all threats from the enemy, a former senior military officer has said, as he clarified Islamabad's stance on the use of atomic weapons. Lt Gen (retd) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, adviser to the National Command Authority, was speaking at a seminar held at the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS) on Wednesday to commemorate Youm-e-Takbeer, the 26th anniversary of Pakistan's nuclear tests in 1998. The Dawn newspaper reported that Kidwai, who has served as the director general of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), said: Pakistan does not have a No First Use policy, and I'll repeat that for emphasis. Pakistan does not have a No First Use policy. The NFU refers to a country's stance and is regarded as an assurance that its nuclear arsenal is meant for deterrence, not fighting a nuclear war. Islamabad has traditionally maintained ambiguity regarding its NFU policy. The Indian gung-ho leadership may like to think about it, there should never ever be a doubt in anyone's mind, friend or foe, that Pakistan's operationally ready nuclear capability enables every Pakistani leader the liberty, the dignity and the courage to look straight into the Indian eye and never blink, Kidwai said. Kidwai said the full spectrum deterrence capabilities available to the Pakistani military were the combination of the conventional and most modern technology-based weapons capable of responding to all threats from the enemy, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported. He added that the full spectrum deterrence helped in restoring the strategic balance of power that enforced peace in the region. In the past few decades, the robust nuclear capability of Pakistan has enforced peace in the region, APP quoted Kidwai as saying. Pakistan conducted six nuclear tests on May 28, 1998, inside a deeply dug tunnel in the remote Chaghi mountain of Balochistan province, as a tit-for-tat response to India's nuclear tests in the same month at the Indian Army's Pokhran Test Range. Gen Kidwai also hinted at using emerging technologies to strengthen the country's nuclear programme. Advancements in technology including what is referred to as emerging technologies will continue to make their way appropriately in Pakistan's National Security calculus, and the nuclear programme will be stronger by benefiting from these, he said. He noted that Pakistan's Full Spectrum Deterrence (FSD) capability, while generally remaining within the larger philosophy of Credible Minimum Deterrence (CMD), comprises horizontally of a robust tri-services inventory of a variety of nuclear weapons. He said that the nuclear weapons were held on land with the Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC), at sea with the Naval Strategic Force Command (NSFC), and in the air with the Air Force Strategic Force Command (AFSC). Vertically, the nuclear spectrum encapsulates progressively increasing destructive weapon yields, and range coverage at three: strategic, operational, and tactical to 2,750 km to cover India's vast Eastern and Southern geographical dimensions, including its outlying territories. Lt Gen Kidwai further stated that India's Dynamic Response Strategy (DRS) is a clear reflection of the limits and constraints imposed by Pakistan's robust nuclear capability on India's strategic and operational options, and therefore, Pakistan's strategic weapons, especially the Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNWs), are weapons of peace. Director General of the Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs (ACDA) branch of the SPD, retired Brig Zahir Kazmi, highlighted some of the emerging threats and enduring threats to Pakistan's nuclear programme. The blood samples of the 17-year-old involved in a crash of Porsche car that claimed two lives in the city were replaced with those of a woman in a bid to show that he was not drunk at the time of the accident, police told a court on Thursday. IMAGE: The father of the accused 17-year-old boy involved in the Pune Porsche accident case being brought to the crime branch office by the Pune police after being arrested in an alleged abduction case, in Pune, May 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The sessions court granted the police's plea and extended till June 5 the custody of two doctors and an employee of the Sassoon General Hospital here arrested in this connection. While the police told the court that they wanted to identify the woman whose blood was used as a replacement, a government source told PTI that she was none other than the juvenile's mother. Dr Ajay Taware, then head of the department of forensic medicine at Sassoon hospital, medical officer Dr Shrihari Halnor and employee Atul Ghatkamble, arrested after the alleged swapping of samples came to light, were produced before the court as their initial custody ended. Seeking their further custody, police said that Dr Halnor did not throw away the juvenile's blood samples -- as was believed earlier -- but handed it over to someone, and they wanted to recover them. A highly-placed source in the Maharashtra public health department, familiar with the probe, told PTI that the blood samples of the teenager's mother were used as a replacement in order to shield him. According to police, the minor driver was drunk at the time of the incident which resulted in the death of two IT professionals in the early hours of May 19 in Kalyani Nagar area of Pune city. Glimpses from the lives of Modi look-alikes... Jagdish Rai Bhatia Jagdish Rai Bhatia, 68, a real-estate businessman, says he does not accept money for attending Bharatiya Janata Party rallies, because he considers the task a 'social service', since he likes Narendra Modi's vision. 'I really liked the way Modi worked, the things he did for the development of the country,' Bhatia adds. 'That is why I like to be of some use to the party.' IMAGE: A man takes a selfie with Jagdish Rai Bhatia at an election campaign organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi, May 9, 2024. All photographs: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters IMAGE: Jagdish irons his kurta at his house as he gets ready to leave for an election meeting and the opening of a BJP office, which he was invited to. IMAGE: Jagdish gets off an autorickshaw to attend the election campaign roadshow. IMAGE: BJP Supporters greet Jagdish. When Jagdish is not campaigning for Modi, he is just another common man. IMAGE: Jagdish travels with his wife Renu Bhatia, 65, on the metro in New Delhi, April 14, 2024. IMAGE: Jagdish takes an elevator at the metro station. IMAGE: Jagdish prepares tea at his residence in New Delhi, April 8, 2024. IMAGE: Jagdish in an alley near his residence, April 8, 2024. IMAGE: Jagdish combs his hair Modi style at his residence, March 16, 2024. Rashid Ahmed Rashid Ahmed, 60, an electric rickshaw driver, is fondly called 'Our Modi' in his Delhi neighbourhood for his striking resemblance to the Indian prime minister. "I have been like this from the beginning, but since Modi has become prime minister, there has been more discussion of it," said Ahmed, whose white hair and beard, trimmed like Modi's, along with similar clothing, spurred the comparison. Ahmed is one of several prime ministerial look-alikes, from a businessman in the financial capital of Mumbai to a food vendor in Modi's home state of Gujarat, to have featured in BJP campaigns. IMAGE: A man rushes to take a selfie with Rashid Ahmed as he poses in front of an election campaign poster featuring Modi at a bus stop, which is on the route he rides his electric rickshaw, in New Delhi, April 11, 2024. IMAGE: Rashid ferries passengers in his electric rickshaw near a New Delhi metro station, March 15, 2024. IMAGE: Rashid waits inside his electric rickshaw waiting for commuters to emerge from the metro station. IMAGE: Rashid cleans the windscreen of his electric rickshaw near his residence in New Delhi. IMAGE: Rashid feeds his grandson Ayan, 2, at their residence. IMAGE: Rashid takes an afternoon nap at his residence. IMAGE: Rashid offers prayers inside a mosque near his house. IMAGE: Rashid gets a shave from a roadside barber near his residence. IMAGE: Rashid's face is reflected in a mirror on the electric rickshaw he rides near a metro station, January 30, 2024. Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Alice Freemans artwork is among those on display in the Crowell Gallery at the Moore Free Library. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Mainly clear skies. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Gordon Hayward of Westminster writes about individual men and women who contribute day in and day out to the life of our community here in Southeastern Vermont. WILMINGTON Following staff turnover challenges and missing retirement funds, the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union received visits from Vermont Agency of Education staffers to assess the situation. "Due to the timely actions taken by WSWSU, the AOE is encouraged that the district is on a path to stabilizing and preparing for the 2024-2025 school year," Interim Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders wrote in a letter to school officials. Saunders said the supervisory union will be sent an updated list of action items to tackle, as the AOE continues to provide assistance. In an earlier letter describing agency staff's visits on April 29, she noted the agency "would only pursue nonvoluntary interventions in the extreme case that the supervisory union's actions fail to ensure continuity of educational operations." "The proactive actions underway on the part of supervisory union staff and the board demonstrate a commitment to remedying the most significant concerns," Saunders wrote. In an interview, Interim Superintendent Kevin Dirth said the supervisory union is "going in the right direction." He called the AOE "helpful and supportive." Agency personnel had previously been alarmed about the departure of the business manager this month. In a letter issued Tuesday, Saunders said the agency is pleased to learn of a plan to hire a financial consulting firm to manage business operations until a permanent replacement can be hired and trained. Saunders acknowledged steps taken by school officials "to ensure the key functions, including employee payroll, were reassigned to other district staff and that, prior to her departure, the Business Manager was able to bring payments to Vermont State Teacher Retirement System and Vermont Municipal Retirement System up to date." She also noted that offers were made to fill the superintendent and curriculum director positions. "We're still not totally up on staffing but we're better than we were," Dirth said, recounting how most of the positions in the central office were vacant when was first appointed in the position in April. "Now we've hired a curriculum director ... a new business manager, and we've brought up a person from one of the other schools who's helping us with payroll. So we're getting there." A human resources director, a special education director and an accountant for the business office are still being sought. Agency staff discussed challenges with the supervisory union not complying with federal reporting, which Saunders said "puts federal funding sources at risk." They were anticipated to come Thursday to help staff make plans for grant funding and submit an application for another grant. Windham Southwest enters contract negotiations with new superintendent WILMINGTON A new superintendent is slated to start in July at the Windham Southwest Superv Dirth and other school leaders were thanked by Saunders for their efforts and dedication. In a letter to the community last month, Dirth said he will serve in the position until July when Bill Bazyk will take over the permanent role. "It is my hope to begin the process of finding the issues that have caused so much angst in the SU and putting you on track to fix them and move forward," Dirth wrote. "We are aware of certain issues at WSWSU and ... we are doing everything we can to resolve them as quickly as possible." In the letter, Dirth acknowledged that frustration was justified but he encouraged people to avoid speculation and rumors until the situation is addressed. "I believe I speak for the Boards that they and I are committed to making our staff whole once we know and understand the problem and have the correct numbers," Dirth wrote. A staff member, who asked not to be identified, said it seems like funds are slowly being credited to employees' retirement accounts. "However, my representative was clear, no matching funds have been received, nor has interest lost been accounted for at this point," the staff member said. Dirth said the money is "getting back to the appropriate places." "My prediction is this will continue, we'll continue to improve and get back to where we're supposed to be," he said. His goal, he said, is to hand off the supervisory union to Bazyk "in a better place than we were so he can continue moving forward.' WSWSU Board Chairperson Erika Bailey did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday but told Vermont Public that there was no evidence the money from the retirement funds had been stolen, only that it hadn't been administered correctly. Central office turnover was blamed for the mistake. That's a case of we had one business manager and then we had another business manager and then we had another business manager so all the keys hadn't been, like, turned over so that they didn't have access to the right systems to do it, Bailey said, according to Vermont Public. Last month, the Reformer reported on the missing retirement funds and former Superintendent Barbara Anne Komons-Montroll being put on paid administrative leave without explanation. In an email to the school community at the time, Bailey said the board voted unanimously to retain Dirth to help with "current staffing issues in the Central Office." At a meeting where Dirth was appointed to the position, a motion to start an investigation into calculating the investment opportunity loss in employees' retirement plans and making the necessary employer contributions also passed. The board later accepted the resignation of WSWSU Director of Special Education Troy McAllister. WSWSU is made up of districts with schools in Halifax, Readsboro, Stamford, the Twin Valley schools in Whitingham and Wilmington, and the non-operating district of Searsburg. Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Nancy Braus is a regular columnist for the Reformer who writes from Guilford. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media. The new governments first Budget appears light on transformation spending in comparison to previous years, but one of the countrys biggest projects will continue. The governments forecasts include $183 million in funding for the first two years of the Ministry of Social Developments Te Pae Tawhiti transformation. Expected to cost $2.6 billion overall, Te Pae Tawhiti was to be delivered in three horizons of three years each. In 2022, the former government approved a detailed business case for the effort with $100 million of new funding over the first two years of the programme. Given that the programme is now under way, to either achieve expected outcomes or close the programme would require additional commitment of funding, a Budget document released today said. Additionally, the programme may have consequential impacts on the ongoing cost of the ministrys services. This time-limited funding ceases after 2024/25. On Thursday, the Charlottesville School Board will decide whether to spend nearly $600,000 to resurrect a program that would bring police officers back into its schools. It would mark a change in course for Charlottesville after school resource officers, or SROs, were removed from all schools in 2020 amid a nationwide reckoning over the role of the police and, specifically, police in schools. Neighboring Albemarle County, which also removed SROs in 2020, brought back a single officer last year. The impending vote in Charlottesville comes after a February survey in which 60% of respondents comprising students, parents and staff supported learning more about a school safety model that would include something called youth resource officers," or YROs. A quarter of respondents opposed exploring the model. That survey led to the creation of a working group of school and Charlottesville Police Department staff, which gathered information about the YRO model and how it could be applied to Charlottesville City Schools. The school board reviewed that information at a May 18 work session and in a 5-2 vote chose to include the topic on its May 30 meeting agenda. "I do feel like it was fast and not expected," School Board Chair Lisa Larson-Torres told The Daily Progress of the board's decision to vote on the YROs less than two weeks after the work session. "I think a lot of conversation on the 18th and since then has been focused around the fidelity of the process and the time that one would hope you'd invest in making any change, especially to a policy of this magnitude." If it votes to approve the YROs, the school and police would still need to draft a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, that would govern the program. So far, the discussion has focused on placing one officer at Charlottesville High School, one at Buford Middle School (soon to be Charlottesville Middle School), and another to work evenings at school activities or within the community. Further, the program would have to receive funding from Charlottesville City Council, which approved its annual budget back in April. That budget did not provide the school division with all the funding it requested, and it's not clear where the city would find the additional $571,000 required for the YRO program. City councilor Michael Payne said hed like to see some unanimity from the board before deciding whether Council should provide funding. But no matter what, the reality is providing $600,000 of funding after the budget has been approved and where we already had to raise multiple taxes to balance the budget, $600,000 isnt lying around anywhere, Payne told The Daily Progress. Personally, Id find it difficult to see where that money would even come from. Parents and teachers are raising alarm bells about the possibility of the YRO program, pointing to academic literature that indicates having police in schools increases student arrests and discipline but has a null effect on student safety. They also note that the district had an SRO program until 2020 when it was discontinued with the intention of finding a new model. Back in 2020, Charlottesville City Schools cited evidence that SROs were not particularly effective at deescalating or decreasing violent or criminal activity and that SROs had a habit of targeting children of color. The existing MOU is not in the best interest of students and staff, then-City Manager Tarron Richardson said at the time. This is an opportunity to listen broadly, to look at other approaches, and to craft a model that will serve our schools well. We will seek feedback from our citizens and explore national models. The YRO model before the board is from Cambridge, Massachusetts where in April a YRO accidentally discharged his firearm in a school restroom. Charlottesville City Schools spokeswoman Beth Cheuk told The Daily Progress that the YRO program being considered would vary from the discontinued SRO program. While the positions would need to be filled by the police department, Cheuk said the school would have a voice in who is hired for the positions to ensure they are the right fit to work with our students. YROs would receive training in adolescent development and understanding the school environment. The model would borrow elements from the world of social work to address student and family needs. They would work evenings and after-school events so they could continue building relationships with school members, and they would focus on diversion programs to avoid arrest and emphasize restorative justice practices. In the May 18 work session, school division Superintendent Royal Gurley and city Police Chief Michael Kochis gave a presentation to the board. The presentation included recommendations from the police department, such as an emphasis on a diversion process to avoid arrests. Restorative practices focus on repairing harm, addressing underlying issues, and fostering accountability and reconciliation among those involved in conflicts or incidents, reads the presentation. I think whats important is obviously the school would be intricately involved in that process of hiring the persons and selecting those individuals who would go into the school, Kochis told The Daily Progress. He added that hes only had cursory conversations with Gurley as the school board has yet to cast a vote. We all want the same thing, and thats what best for our kids, Kochis said. Alix Heintzman, a parent of two students at Jackson-Via Elementary School, is skeptical adding YROs will be a net positive for students. Ive done enough reading to be concerned about armed officers in schools, Heintzman told The Daily Progress, particularly when the school has a significant budget shortfall this year, when teachers are asking for raises and many of the high school staff members at the work session said they just want more counselors and community service assistants. A fellow Jackson-Via parent, Natalie Aviles, remembers having armed officers in her school when she was growing up in Southern California. Even as a straight-A student I felt like the school prioritized security over education, Aviles told The Daily Progress, adding that it was particularly difficult for her brother. Having security constantly waiting for you to make a mistake had a negative impact on his life." Aviles said the push for YROs was understandable considering the fall 2023 semester at Charlottesville High School, during which massive student brawls prompted police responses, a teacher "sickout"canceled classes and a principal resigned. My perspective on this is with leadership turnover at CHS, theres a sense that there are disciplinary problems we dont have solution to and I think that can be correct, but the immediate reaction being, Lets get police involved and integrated in the school, is, to my mind, a very knee-jerk response to uptick in violence that seems to have gone down recently, Aviles said. She and Heintzman worry that YROs would do little to reduce any student violence and could unnecessarily expose students to the criminal justice system at a young age. Its difficult to imagine a special request for City Council for something that will not make my kids safer and makes some kids less safe, Heintzman said. Last week, the Charlottesville teachers union passed a resolution opposing the return of police to city schools. Evidence clearly indicates that police officers in schools do not increase school safety, and lead to large increases in student arrests for trivial offenses, which is counterproductive to creating a safe learning environment for all students, reads the resolution. Moreover, the money that would be spent employing police officers in our schools could be used much more effectively for restorative justice and community outreach programs, and/or additional social workers and counselors. Aviles said she hopes parents will turn out in large numbers at Thursdays meeting so they can speak during public comment before the board takes a vote. It seems really important to show up and tell personal stories that make people realize putting police in our school is going to really raise the stakes of pretty ordinary mistakes that teenagers make, Aviles said. Their sentiments are similar to the general consensus Torres has heard from the public. "Overwhelmingly, from the emails weve gotten, the message is to not change the model to include a police officer back in the school buildings," Torres said. The Funan Techo canal will be built mostly with Cambodian money but some Chinese investment is expected. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet poses for a photo, along with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, not pictured, in Hanoi, Vietnam on Monday, Dec.11, 2023. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has said that the construction of the Funan Techo canal that has created a rift between the kingdom and neighboring Vietnam will begin in August, media reported. Most of the US$1.7-billion funding for the project will come from Cambodian sources, but we are negotiating with a Chinese investment company for technology transfer and additional investment, Hun Manet was quoted as saying at a ceremony at a cultural center in Kampong Speu province. Officially known as the Tonle Bassac Navigation Road and Logistics System Project, the 180-km (112 mile) canal will link the Mekong River, near the capital Phnom Penh, with the Gulf of Thailand and is expected to be built by a state-owned Chinese company under a build-operate-transfer scheme. The Cambodian government said it would cut transport costs and help reduce dependence on Vietnams sea ports for its international trade. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol has said the project will also bring great social and economic benefits to 1.6 million Cambodians living along the canal by providing better irrigation for farming A woman sails her boat on Hau River in Vietnam's Mekong Delta's Can Tho city September 28, 2007. (Reuters) But the project has created deep division between Vietnam and Cambodia, which have been staunch allies for decades, largely because of Vietnams concerns about its environmental and economic impact, especially a possible reduction in volumes of water flowing down the Mekong to its rice-growing delta region. Vietnamese scientist Le Anh Tuan recently told a conference that the canal could halve the flow of the Mekong by the time it reaches his country, threatening rice crops in the delta, which is home to 17.4 million people. Cambodia has dismissed those fears and declined requests for more studies of the impact of the project, which analysts say veteran leader Hun Sen, Hun Manets father, sees as one of his great legacies. Hun Manet was quoted as saying that the canal will be built on Cambodian territory to serve the interests of the Cambodian people and work on it should begin without any delay. The U.S. embassy in Phnom Penh has also voiced concern about the project, urging authorities to work closely with the intergovernmental Mekong River Commission, which was set up to jointly manage the development of the rivers lower basin. Edited by Mike Firn. Machine-made sculptures threaten the small businesses that line the highway in Kampong Thom province. As they draw closer to Ko Koh commune, drivers and passengers traveling on National Road 6 can spot the thousands of marble and sandstone statues and sculptures set out along the highway in central Cambobias Kampong Thom province. The sculptures mostly of Buddha, various animals and the Angkor-eras King Jayavarman VII come from the areas numerous hand-carving businesses. The traditional art dates back centuries. About 50 families in Ko Koh communes Samnak village are engaged in the local industry, which also provides employment opportunities to about 200 people from other nearby villages, commune chief Chap Thin told Radio Free Asia. Statues of the Buddha. (RFA) Stone sculptor Tep Thean said apprentices can earn from 600,000 (US$146) to 800,000 (US$195) riel a month, while skilled craftsmen are paid up to 100,000 riel (US$24) per day. But the craft is less popular these days, he said. Carving is very difficult. It affects our health. Sometimes it breaks, he said. It is very dangerous if we are not careful. For years, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has sent trainers to the area to help local sculptors hone their skills and to follow certain practices that make the works uniquely Cambodian, he said. Four steps by hand One has to go through four stages of stone processing. During the first stage, the sculptor trims a stone down into the desired shape of the sculpture, with outlines of the shoulders, arms, legs and face. The second step is to create six corners on the stone, and the third step is to sketch out the face of the sculpture. During the last stage, the sculptor polishes the face and cleans the sculpture before putting it out for sale. A major selling point for the sculptures is that they are produced by hand, Chap Thin said. Those who love Khmer sculptures will differentiate those made by hands and machines, he said. They wont value those made by machines. Undated video screenshot of Stone sculptor Em Ri Phon. (RFA) The sculptures are sold in Cambodia and in areas of southern Vietnam where ethnic Khmers live often referred to as Kampuchea Krom. They are also shipped abroad to the United States, Canada and Australia. Although Cambodian sculptors are skilled and meticulous, they cant carve stone surfaces as smoothly as those made by computer-guided machines. Some of the sculptors in Ko Koh commune are worried that machine-operated stone carvings from Chinese and Vietnamese-owned companies could tarnish the reputation of Cambodian stone carvings. Master stone carver Em Ri Phon said his family is earning 50 percent less from orders than they did a year ago. This artistic work I want to promote our art culture as well as Khmer sculpture, he said. We want to preserve this culture for a long time. Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the botnet led to $5.9 billion in losses to a US COVID relief program. A Thailand-based Chinese man who created a cybercrime operation that seized control of Americans computers and led to $5.9 billion in fraudulent claims from the U.S. COVID-19 relief program was arrested in Singapore, according to the Justice Department. The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday issued sanctions against YunHe Wang, 35, and two associates based in the Thai beach resort of Pattaya, alleging that they created a botnet or robot network called 911 S5 that took control of 19 million computers so criminals could use their internet connections. On Wednesday, the Justice Department said Wang was arrested in Singapore last week following an international law enforcement effort led by the FBI and including Thai and Singaporean authorities. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wang made more than $99 million selling access to his network of hijacked computers, which he gained control of by offering victims free access to virtual private networks, or VPNs, which people use to hide their online activity. What the free VPN users did not know, he said, was that their internet connections were being hijacked by Wangs operation and sold on to customers who used their I.P. addresses to commit crimes. We estimate that 911 S5 customers are responsible for more than $5.9 billion in losses due to fraud against pandemic relief programs, he said at a press conference. We and our partners have seized over $29 million dollars in criminal assets tied to the botnets operation. This case makes clear that the long arm of the law stretches across borders and into the deepest shadows of the dark web, and the Justice Department will never stop fighting to hold cybercriminals to account. Screenshot of the website https://911.re (RFA) FBI Director Christopher Wray said 911 S5 was likely the worlds largest botnet ever, and had provided its users with a veil that also facilitated identity theft and child exploitation crimes. Stolen credit cards An analysis by Krebs on Security, an online security news website, said users of Wangs free VPN services including MaskVPN, DewVPN, PaladinVPN, Proxygate, Shield VPN, and ShineVPN would have had few clues about the ways their connections were being used. 911s VPN performed largely as advertised for the user allowing them to surf the web anonymously but it also quietly turned the users computer into a traffic relay for paying 911 S5 customers, the article says, adding that the service was a lucrative one. A depiction of the Proxygate service. (University of Sherbrooke via krebsonsecurity.com) The botnets reliability and extremely low prices quickly made it one of the most popular services available on the cybercrime underground, with criminals able to use the service to make it appear as if they were nearly anywhere in the United States, according to the article. That was useful, it explains, because it let a criminal route malicious traffic through a connection that is geographically close to the consumer whose stolen credit card is about to be used, or whose bank account is about to be emptied and thereby avoid fraud detection. Besides the $5.9 billion in fraudulent COVID-19 relief losses sustained because of the 911 S5 botnet, U.S. financial institutions identified millions of dollars more in losses due to fraudulent credit applications, according to a statement issued by the Justice Department. With the proceeds of the botnet, Wang bought property in the United States, China, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, where he also gained citizenship through investment in May 2022, the statement says. Prices for 911s proxies in July 2022. (Screenshot courtesy of krebsonsecurity.com) An unsealed indictment says dozens of assets and properties have also been seized, including a Ferrari F8 Spider, a BMW i8, a BMW X7, a Rolls Royce, several luxury wristwatches, 21 properties, more than a dozen bank accounts and two dozen cryptocurrency wallets. Wang was charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces up to 65 years in prison if found guilty. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Trial is the biggest prosecution of activists and pro-democracy politicians in the former British colony. Police stand guard outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts building in Hong Kong, May 30, 2024. Updated at 13:00 ET on May 30, 2024. A Hong Kong court found 14 of the citys leading democracy activists guilty of subversion on Thursday under a tough national security law imposed on the city by China four years ago in what was described by one former lawmaker as a 'political trial.' The city's High Court acquitted two of the 16 defendants, but the city's Department of Justice said it would appeal those verdicts. The 118-day trial is the biggest ever prosecution of pro-democracy politicians and activists in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997 amid promises that it would keep the freedoms that once ensured its status as an international financial hub. The mass arrest of 47 lawmakers, grass-roots activists and election hopefuls from Hong Kongs now-defunct pro-democracy parties drew international condemnation in 2021. Sixteen of the 47 defendants went on trial after pleading not guilty to the charge of "conspiracy to commit subversion," which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. The other 31 defendants have already pleaded guilty to the charge, and are currently awaiting sentencing along with the rest. The charges are based on their participation in a democratic primary election in the summer of 2020, in which some 600,000 Hong Kongers turned out to vote. But the scheduled general election was eventually postponed while the government rewrote the rules to ensure that pro-democracy candidates wouldn't be allowed to run in future elections. The government claims the pro-democracy camp planned to subvert its power by blocking passage of its budget through the city's Legislative Council. Former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, known as "Long Hair," Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong and Raymond Chan were among the 14 found guilty by three government-appointed judges and no jury. Journalist-turned-politician Gwyneth Ho and the head of the hospital workers' union Winnie Yu were also convicted. The panel of national security judges said the two acquitted defendants, Lee Yue-shun and Lawrence Lau, should be released on bail and report to the police every month. The Department of Justice said later on Thursday that it would appeal those verdicts. Justice Andrew Chan set June 25 as a tentative date for the court to hear mitigating arguments from those convicted, prior to sentencing. Serious criminal scheme Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the convictions showed "the scale and the seriousness of their criminal scheme." He said the Department of Justice had already informed the court of its intention to appeal in the case of the two acquittals. "[The Hong Kong government] ... will do our utmost to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security to fulfill this justified responsibility," Lee said in a statement after the verdicts. Police officers stand guard outside the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts in Hong Kong, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Chan Long Hei/AP) But former pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui, who fled the city amid the ongoing crackdown on dissent, and who is now living in Australia, said the trial of the 47 was effectively "a political trial." "This has been a political trial from start to finish," Hui told RFA Mandarin on Thursday. "They are arbitrarily finding excuses to convict them to meet political needs." "The playbook here is that the Chinese government believes it necessary to round up all democrats and convict them," said Hui, who is also a lawyer. "The judges are merely executing the script, by finding some pretty far-fetched legal reasoning and evidence to support the idea that the democrats were trying to overthrow the regime," he said. Australia-based lawyer and rights activist Kevin Yam said the court's interpretation and definition of what constitutes "subversion" will likely set a precedent for future cases under the 2020 National Security Law, but that the verdicts made no sense when considered alongside protection for economic, civil and political rights enshrined in the city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law. "What's wrong with legislators exercising their constitutional power to veto the budget?" Yam said. "The most terrifying thing about this is the fact that exercising your constitutional powers can be construed as a criminal offense." "That's a precedent that will bring all kinds of trouble in its wake," he said. "Anyone exercising their civil rights can be deemed to be breaking the law, which means that the National Security Law can be infinitely magnified [to include anything]." Bulldozing freedoms In Washington, the Congressional Executive Commission on China, or CECC, accused the Hong Kong government of violating its international law and treaty obligations, and "bulldozing the freedoms and rule of law that once made it so vital and prosperous." "These verdicts are yet another sign that the Chinese Communist Party is pulling the strings, as its extreme efforts to restrict democracy and human rights now dictate Hong Kongs political and judicial institutions," Rep. Chris Smith, who chairs the commission, and Sen. Jeff Merkley said in a statement on Thursday. The commission called for the Biden administration to sanction the judges and prosecutors responsible for what it termed "political prosecutions" and to shut down the city's Economic and Trade Offices on American soil. Amnesty Internationals China Director Sarah Brooks called the mass conviction the most ruthless illustration yet of how Hong Kongs National Security Law is weaponized to silence dissent. She called on the international community to join Amnesty in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the activists. To imprison these men and women, having already kept most of the 47 in pre-trial detention for more than three years, is a brazen injustice. None of those convicted have committed an internationally recognized crime; they have been targeted simply for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and participation in public affairs, she said. Hostile foreign forces Meanwhile, a government spokesman accused unidentified "external forces" of smearing the government, the police and the courts during the trial, and of trying to interfere with the trial "through intimidatory political means and misleading remarks." Hong Kong and Chinese officials have long blamed "hostile foreign forces" for inciting several waves of mass popular protest in Hong Kong, including the 2019 protests for fully democratic elections and greater official accountability. The verdicts show that Hong Kong is "no longer a safe place for international business, said Benedict Rogers, chief executive officer of the London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch. He said the prosecution had presented "bogus evidence," and that the British government should reevaluate Hong Kong's overseas privileges and expand its lifeboat British National Overseas, or BNO, visa program to help people flee the ongoing crackdown, which was recently expanded with a second national security law, known as Article 23. According to the overseas-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, the sentences that are eventually handed down will depend on the defendants' alleged role in the primary election. Ringleaders could get 10 years to life, "active participants" 3-10 years and other participants less than three years, the group said via its X account, calling on the authorities to free all political prisoners. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her government was deeply concerned by the verdicts, including that for one Australian citizen among them, Gordon Ng. Australia has expressed our strong objections to the Hong Kong authorities on the continuing broad application of national security legislation to arrest and pressure pro-democracy figures, opposition groups, media, trade unions and civil society. We know that the application of these laws also has implications for individuals outside of Hong Kong, including in Australia, she said in a statement. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Taejun Kang and Malcolm Foster. Updates to add reaction from Hong Kong chief executive, CECC members, Hong Kong Watch CEO and adds context. The shipments were mostly medical and lab equipment, US Commerce Department data shows. After a seven-year hiatus, U.S. organizations began exporting humanitarian aid to North Korea last year much of it medical and laboratory equipment and supplies, according to data from U.S. Department of Commerces Census Bureau. Since November, more than US$200,000 in aid has been sent to the reclusive country, the data shows. The U.S. governments sanctions policy prohibits all trade with North Korea except for humanitarian goods such as food and medicine, which require approval from the Department of Commerce. After Pyongyangs fourth nuclear test in 2016, a new round of sanctions made it virtually impossible for for organizations to pass strict scrutiny even for humanitarian exports. Certain medical devices, for example, were banned because they could be used in applications other than their primary purpose. It wasnt immediately clear why humanitarian shipments from organizations in the U.S. resumed, or which organizations provided the aid. A truck driver walks on a truck carrying sacks of flour to North Korea at a parking lot of Imjingak pavilion near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, about 34 miles north of Seoul, July 26, 2011. (Jo Yong-Hak/Reuters) An American government official who requested anonymity told RFA that the shipments were humanitarian aid from U.S.-based organizations and werent products purchased by North Korea. Most of the shipments appear to be medical and laboratory equipment and supplies, said Jason Jindrich, director of the U.S. Census Bureaus International Trade Indicator MacroAnalysis Branch and Economic Indicators Division. Because the census only has access to the statistical information, I cannot say under what provision these supplies were sent, he said. The resumption of the humanitarian aid comes at a time when international organizations that left North Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic are discussing a possible return. The resumption of exports is meaningful, said Joung Eunlee, a research fellow at Korea Institute for National Unification. I think this means that the U.S. government is also taking the stance that we will support North Korea from a humanitarian perspective, she said. The U.S. State Department has previously told RFA several times that it does support humanitarian aid to North Korea. In November, US$120,000 worth of goods were shipped to the country, about $55,000 of which was classified as immunological products. In December, about $68,000 was sent, 90% of which were classified as diagnostic or laboratory reagents kits. Nothing was sent in January, but in February exports totaled around $26,000 and $3,500 in March. Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster. The launches came a day after the North sent more than 250 balloons carrying trash into South Korea. A missile is launched, as North Korea conducted a test firing of a tactical ballistic missile on Friday, state media KCNA said on Saturday, at an unknown location in North Korea, in a handout picture obtained by Reuters on May 18, 2024. North Korea test-fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Thursday while launching GPS jamming attacks against the South, the South Korean military said. The missile tests came a day after the North sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure into the South, which Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said was fitting punishment for those who mocked her country. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, or JCS, said it detected the flight vehicles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles fired from the Sunan district of Pyongyang toward the East Sea, or Sea of Japan as it is also known, at 6:14 a.m. Our military has strengthened monitoring and vigilance against additional launches, while closely sharing information related to North Korean ballistic missiles with the U.S. and Japanese authorities, the JCS said in a message to reporters. The launches come less than two weeks after North Koreas test-firing of tactical ballistic missiles considered to be short-range equipped with what it called a new autonomous navigation system. The North failed in an attempt to launch a second military spy satellite, in defiance of U.N. sanctions, on Monday as the space rocket carrying the satellite exploded during the first-stage flight shortly after liftoff. Separately, the South Korean military said it had detected attempts by North Korea to jam global positioning system signals for a second day. The military detected the GPS jamming attacks from 7:50 a.m. near the de-facto inter-Korean sea border in the Yellow Sea, the JCS said. The jamming attacks have not hindered any military operations, the JCS added. The latest North Korean actions came after it sent balloons carrying trash and excrement over the South on Tuesday and Wednesday, in retaliation for similar balloon flights from the South, launched by North Korean defectors and South Korean activists, carrying pro-democracy materials aimed at undermining the North Korean state. The balloon launchings from the South infuriate North Korea and it vowed to retaliate. Kim Yo Jong called this weeks North Korean balloons and their trash gifts from heart, the Norths state-run KCNA news agency reported. Referring to the balloons, she cited the freedom of expression of the North Korean people. She added the Souths balloons were aimed at political instigation and disparaged the Norths ideology and system while trying to spread South Koreas miscellaneous thoughts that sprouted from the gutter. Those who have grossly mocked and insulted our people must be punished as they deserve, Kim said. Edited by Mike Firn. Dramatic defeats have led to a collapse of army morale but it is likely to remain entrenched. Myanmar's junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who ousted the elected government in a coup on Feb. 1, 2021, presides at an army parade on Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2021. Updated at 18:45 ET on May 30, 2024. Unprecedented humiliating defeats for Myanmars military in its war against ethnic minority and pro-democracy insurgents are putting mounting pressure on junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who is facing widespread criticism and calls to step down, a think tank said in a report on Thursday. But despite the juntas dramatic failures since late last year, and the loss of much of its control of Myanmars periphery, the military is not on the brink of collapse and is likely to remain ensconced and unleashing air strikes and chaotic violence for some time, the International Crisis Group said. Myanmars junta leaders days in charge could be numbered, the group said in its report. Commander in chief Min Aung Hlaing overthrew an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in early 2021, ending a decade of tentative reforms in a country that had been ruled by the military since 1962. The coup triggered widespread protests that evolved into an insurgency in which pro-democracy activists have taken up arms and joined forces with ethnic minority guerrilla forces battling for self-determination for decades. Several insurgent groups launched offensives late last year and have made striking progress in some areas, particularly in border regions. The militarys recent failures have been dramatic some of the most rapid, significant defeats in the Myanmar militarys history, including some particularly humiliating ones, the Brussels-based group said. A spokesman for the junta was not immediately available for comment. Myanmars junta chief Min Aung Hlaing arrives to deliver a speech during a ceremony to mark the countrys Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw on March 27, 2024. (Stringer/AFP) Morale in the overstretched military has collapsed undermining its ability to launch counter offensives, a corrosive effect that would be difficult for the regime to reverse, said the group, adding that the blame is falling on Min Aung Hlaing. The military-connected elite in Naypyitaw see him as bearing responsibility, and they are expressing their frustration with unprecedented candor. Senior regime officials and military officers are now briefing against the junta leader in meetings with diplomats, local business leaders, journalists and personal acquaintances something that seemed unimaginable just six months ago. But with no institutional mechanism for removing Min Aung Hlaing, it was difficult to predict if or when other officers might move against him. Given the level of discontent, he could nevertheless face a plot to remove him, the group said. However, the junta leaders departure would be unlikely to end Myanmars war. While a change in leader could present an opportunity for the regime to seek an off-ramp from the crisis, the level of polarization in society triggered by the coup and subsequent violence has entrenched a siege mentality in the higher echelons of the military and a sense that they are fighting an existential battle against resistance forces, it said. The regime is likely to remain ensconced in Naypyitaw for now, taking vengeance from the air and prompting chaotic violence for some time to come. Autonomous statelets Meanwhile, the International Crisis Group said, the military's opponents are "focused on consolidating their hold on their ethnic homelands," rather than taking the fight to central Myanmar in a bid to topple the junta. "The current trajectory is one in which various ethnic armies will tighten their grip on autonomous statelets in the periphery, while a weak regime brutally clings to power in the centre," it said. The group said that this fragmentation is likely to be an "impediment to ... the federal union that many in the country aspire to." Anti-junta groups inside Myanmar, however, said that their goal remains to build a federal democratic state. Salai Peter Thang, deputy chairman and chief of staff of the ethnic Chin National Defense Force in Chin state, said he doesn't expect Myanmar to be "divided into pieces," as the International Crisis Group suggests in its report. "Each ethnic armed group is trying to take control of its own original land and territory, but the [goal] that we have long dreamt of is one where all sovereign states are united to become a federal democratic union," he said. "What [the report] said is that if the current trajectory continues like this. But I don't think it will go on like this for long." Khin Maung Swe, deputy secretary from the Ministry of Defense under the shadow National Unity Government said that rebel forces are focused on "eradicating the military dictatorship" before forming a federal union. "We are altogether marching for the same goal," he said. Than Soe Naing, a political and military commentator, said he doesn't expect Myanmar's various ethnic armies to "sit back and relax" if they are able to liberate their states from junta rule. "We hope that cooperation [among these armed groups] will occur," he said. "What [the International Crisis Group] said is a reflection of the current situation during the current phase of the war. From this situation, there is the hope that most of them will join together and fight to end the military dictatorship." A former military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns told RFA that Myanmar is not necessarily destined to break apart in the wake of the war. "There is only one point to remember -- what the military has said and done so far was wrong," he said. "But this is not something that cannot be corrected. It can be fixed ... [before] Myanmar reaches the status of a failed state." Edited by Mike Firn, Taejun Kang and Joshua Lipes. This story has been updated to include comments by Salai Peter Thang, Khin Maung Swe, Than Soe Naing, and a former military officer on the prospect of forming a federal union in Myanmar. Villagers say at least three people died as a result. Myanmars junta detained hundreds of villagers in Rakhine State, including children, over suspected links to ethnic minority insurgents and beat at least three people to death, residents told Radio Free Asia on Thursday. The security sweep appeared aimed at preventing the Arakan Army insurgent force making more advances after a string of recent gains and stopping them from closing in on the state capital of Sittwe, residents said. The junta soldiers ordered all villagers to gather and theyve been detained all day since yesterday, said one resident of Byian Phu village, which is several kilometers north of Sittwe. Now, the men have been taken in military vehicles. The women and children were gathered in the cemetery, said the villager, who declined to be identified in fear of reprisals. Another villager said three people were beaten to death while junta soldiers interrogated them RFA could not verify the villagers accounts and telephone calls to Rakhine States junta spokesperson, Hla Thein, to seek information went unanswered. The Arakan Army has seized junta bases in Rakhine and Chin states since a ceasefire between the junta and one of Myanmars most powerful insurgent groups ended in November. Residents have accused junta troops of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilians, recruiting members of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority and detaining civilians hostage on suspicion of supporting groups fighting the junta that seized power more than three years ago. As the Arakan Army gets closer to Sittwe, residents said the junta has increased security, arresting and interrogating more people. About 100 junta soldiers conducted the raid on Byain Pyu at noon on Wednesday, iand checked lists that households are meant to keep of overnight visitors, a monitoring system made stricter since the army seized power again in a 2021 coup. Soldiers also went from house to house to search for anyone hiding from them, residents said. Some people were beaten and taken away, along with valuables discovered in their houses, residents said. Another villager, who also declined to be identified for safety reasons, told RFA that at least three men were beaten to death by the junta soldiers. Men were being interrogated near the tea shop at the market. They were beaten and interrogated one after another. One of my relatives died there, the Byain Phyu resident said. It is said that two or three more people died. The bodies have not been returned. In northern Rakhine State, the Arakan Army captured Rathedaung and Ponnagyun townships in March and Pauktaw in January, leaving only Sittwe and Maungdaw, near the border of Bangladesh, under junta control. While insurgent forces in several parts of the country have made significant gains since late last year, seizing numerous junta camps, villages and towns, no group has captured a state capital. The junta has arrested 425 civilians in Rakhine State since November, the Arakan Army said in a statement on Monday. Fighting in the state had killed 268 civilians and wounded 640, it said. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn. Move comes as China declares it hasnt had any terrorist attacks in 7 years. Chen Wenqing, China's security chief, attends the closing session of the 14th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 11, 2024. In a visit to the far-western region of Xinjiang, Chinas security chief Chen Wenqing called for the normalization of counterterrorism policies, which experts said could signal renewed efforts to suppress the more than 11 million Uyghurs who live there. During his May 22-26 visit, Chen a former head of China's Ministry of State Security espionage agency stressed the need for persistent law-based crackdowns on violent and terrorist crimes and called for political and legal bodies to make social stability a top priority, according to Chinese media reports. On May 27, the day after his visit ended, Chinas Ministry of Public Security said in a statement that the country had not had a terrorist attack in more than seven years. Chen Quanguo, Xinjiang's party secretary, speaks during a meeting of the Xinjiang delegation at the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 12, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP) Still, Beijing has made no major policy changes in Xinjiang and remains highly interested in stabilizing the region, said Anders Corr, principal of political risk analysis firm Corr Analytics in New York. They continue to prioritize so-called terrorism when there is no terrorism, and there never really were actual terrorists at all in Xinjiang, he said. And so, thats the unfortunate issue when they say that theyre normalizing counterterrorism. The Washington-based advocacy group Campaign for Uyghurs said Chens call to further normalize counterterrorism efforts suggested continued and possibly increased surveillance, restrictions and arbitrary detentions of Uyghurs. Chen Wenqings statement is a blatant admission that the Chinese Communist Party intends to perpetuate a permanent campaign of genocide against the Uyghurs, said Rushan Abbas, the groups executive director in a statement. Instead of addressing international scrutiny, they are doubling down on their efforts, she said. The international community must see through the CCPs propaganda and euphemisms, which justify their horrific crimes as counterterrorism measures. A Uyghur woman passes an old disused mosque in Artush, capital of Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, July 19, 2023. (Pedro Pardo/AFP) The Chinese government ramped up its suppression of Uyghur and other Turkic peoples in Xinjiang beginning in 2017 with mass detentions of an estimated 1.8 million in re-reeducation camps that China claimed were vocational training schools to prevent "terrorism" and "religious extremism." Because of the mass detentions and other severe human rights violations, including the forced sterilization of Uyghur women and forced Uyghur labor, the U.S. government, European Parliament and the legislatures of the and some Western countries have declared that the measures constitute genocide and crimes against humanity accusations denied by Beijing. Chen Quanguo, Xinjiang's party secretary from August 2016 to December 2021, oversaw the mass imprisonment of Uyghurs. But under Ma Xingrui, Chinas current Communist Party secretary in Xinjiang, the goal is the legalization and normalization of counter-terrorism stability maintenance work, said Adrian Zenz, senior fellow and director in China studies at the Washington-based Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Normalization and institutionalization are very much what the CCP pursues in Xinjiang, Zenz told Radio Free Asia, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. Long-term counterterrorism is part of that. This also fits with the continued waves of detentions that we hear about. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. After the Taliban's de facto government cut ties with a number of diplomatic missions operated abroad by diplomats loyal to the ousted Afghan republic, the British and Norwegian authorities have opted to shut down Afghan embassies on their soil. Both Oslo and London say their decisions in no way represent official recognition of the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan, which no country recognizes due to concerns over a woeful human rights record and other failures to live up to promises it made before seizing power in August 2021. But experts say the embassy closures are likely to pave the way for more engagement with the Taliban, which controls all of Afghanistan's territory and has increased its hold on power. Diplomats who served the former Afghan government were left in limbo when the Taliban took control, but remained open for business in some Western states and continued to assist Afghan citizens. The window on their operations began to close when the Taliban announced in July that it was cutting ties with 14 such missions in Western countries and that it would not accept any consular documents they processed, a critical source of funding to keep them running. Many of the consular services, such as verification of identity documents or police clearance, offered by the embassies do require a degree of cooperation from the country's government because diplomatic missions might not be able to access all government data. This month, the British Foreign Office announced that it was shutting down the Afghan Embassy in London, explaining to RFE/RL on September 9 that the decision was made after the "dismissal of its staff by the Taliban." Norway quickly followed suit, announcing that the Afghan Embassy in Oslo would be shut down on September 12. Both the British and Norwegian governments have indicated that the move does not amount to a formal recognition of the Taliban's hard-line government. And the embassy buildings, which are Afghanistan's properties, will be eventually handed over to a "recognized" government of Afghanistan. But Hameed Hakimi, an Afghanistan expert, says the decisions to shut the embassies can be taken as "reality setting in" that the Taliban is "unlikely to be replaced in the immediate future." And for the Taliban, he says, it creates an opportunity to argue that its rule is being acknowledged, even without formal recognition. "The Taliban can use this to their advantage in their pursuit of claiming legitimacy with the Afghans and internationally," said Hakimi, an associate fellow at London's Chatham House think tank. More than a dozen countries, mostly Afghanistan's neighbors, already operate embassies in Kabul, and some have accredited Taliban diplomats. The Taliban government also partially controls diplomatic missions in some countries, and has established working relations with Afghan diplomatic missions in the Czech Republic, Spain, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, and the Afghan Consulate in Munich. The missions operating in Western countries staffed by diplomats appointed by the previous government are the outlier. Hakimi said that if all those missions are shut down, it "truly signifies the closure of the chapter of the Afghan Islamic Republic." The Afghan Islamic Republic, as it was formally known, emerged soon after a U.S.-led military alliance toppled the Taliban government in November 2001 following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Nearly two decades later, the internationally recognized Afghan republic collapsed as the Taliban seized power in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Taliban, meanwhile, recreated its brutal emirate from the 1990s by imposing harsh bans and discriminatory laws that resulted in widespread human rights violations. Afghan women and girls are deprived of education and employment in most sectors and lack fundamental freedoms. These Taliban policies have so far kept its government from being officially recognized. This absence of recognition has complicated engagement with the Taliban government on important issues, such as humanitarian aid, and made it difficult for the estimated 2 million Afghans living in Western countries to access consular services. Graeme Smith, a senior Afghanistan analyst at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, says Western governments might be acting on the UN special coordinator's recommendation to facilitate the processing of documentation for Afghans abroad. In his report endorsed by the UN Security Council in December 2023, Feridun Sinirlioglu, the UN special coordinator for Afghanistan, called for better cooperation between the Taliban regime and the outside world to ensure that Afghans can obtain the paperwork they need to continue with their daily lives. "Afghans have been suffering in limbo without clarity about where to go when they need identity papers or travel documents," Smith said, describing how Afghans who still do not have travel documents from another country suffer from the lack of consular services. "The steps we are witnessing now may represent practical efforts by some governments" to remedy the situation, Smith said. The challenge remains, he said, to ensure that efforts "aimed at pressuring the regime do not sabotage the lives and livelihoods of Afghans." Many Western capitals are also grappling with the complex issue of what to do with Afghan asylum seekers whose applications were rejected. Last month, Germany deported 28 Afghan men convicted of crimes in the country to Kabul, with Qatar playing an intermediary role in securing the Taliban's cooperation in accepting the returning Afghans. Smith said that some countries "are discovering the usefulness" of having a consular presence "connected to the authorities in Kabul" if they need to arrange the return of Afghan migrants. "But it's unclear if that motivated the recent closures," he said. Both Britain and Norway have not said anything about whether they will allow the Taliban government to offer consular services in London and Oslo. The fates of the Afghan Embassy in Berlin and consulate in Bonn are not clear, although the consulate in Munich is likely to remain open because it cooperates with the Taliban government on consular services. In London, Afghanistan expert Hakimi said the closure could create an "opportunity for the Taliban to lobby with the Western countries" and allow its representatives to at least run counselor services. These Afghan diplomatic missions can remain closed indefinitely, similar to what happened in the United States, where the Afghan Embassy and two consulates have been closed since March 2002. The Afghan Embassy in Canada offers remote consular services to Afghans living in the United States. In Norway, Afghans have mixed feelings about their embassy's closure. Sima Nouri, an Afghan woman living in Oslo, is worried over how her compatriots will now access consular services. "There is a possibility that the process of forced deportation of Afghan refugees will begin," she told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "This process, however, must be stopped." Mina Rafiq, another Afghan woman in Norway, prefers shutting the embassy down to cooperating with the Taliban. "This might work to the advantage of Afghan asylum seekers," she said, "because the Norwegian government will now have to give them necessary documents." After public pressure and the threat of a lawsuit, the University of Virginia has reversed course on its decision to ban a nursing student from Grounds. Mustafa Abdelhamid was one of 27 people arrested when Virginia State Police cracked down on a May 4 anti-war protest at the school. Multiple arrestees, including Abdelhamid, say they were not even participating in the protest or the encampment where people had been voicing their opposition to Israels war with Palestinian terror group Hamas that has killed tens of thousands since Hamas Oct. 7 surprise attack on the nation. Although he has no criminal record and a court is expected to drop his trespassing charge in August, UVa issued Abdelhamid a no trespassing order, or NTO, preventing him from being on university property, thus jeopardizing his academic future. A nursing student at Piedmont Virginia Community College, Abdelhamids program requires that he do clinical rotations with UVa Health. And this summer, the award-winning student had been offered a paid externship to work at UVa Healths intensive care unit. That offer was rescinded after the university issued his NTO, and Abdelhamid worried the prohibition would cause him to flunk out of his academic program. But on Wednesday, one day after The Daily Progress published a story on Abdelhamids circumstances and as attorneys prepared to sue UVa on his behalf, he received welcome news: his planned externship was reinstituted and UVa announced Police Chief Tim Longo had modified his NTO. Following the completion of a review into this individuals case, which required the University to gather additional information, Chief Longo has modified the NTO to permit him to return to Grounds, provided certain conditions are met, UVa spokesman Brian Coy told The Daily Progress. Previously, the university had declined to comment on the matter, leaving it unclear why Longo had modified the NTOs of other arrested protesters, many of whom have also seen their trespassing charges dropped already, but not Abdelhamids. The decision to drop his NTO was made after he completed a 2 1/2-hour interview on Tuesday with UVas threat assessment office. Although no significant risk factors for health and safety were identified during your May 28th meeting, I continue to have some concerns based on the totality of circumstances related to your history with the University and your conduct on May 4th, Longo wrote to Abdelhamid on Tuesday. The police chief laid out five conditions upon which the modification relies: Abdelhamid must adhere to all UVa policies and cannot engage in any criminal behavior on or off Grounds. He must find a UVa faculty member to serve as a mentor to sponsor his participation in the externship. He must remain in contact with the schools threat assessment office. Finally, he must permit the office to communicate with his faculty sponsor and the externship officials. I reserve the right to reinstate the full terms of the NTO if it is reported that you are not compliant with the conditions, Longo wrote. Abdelhamid was not part of the original protest that was broken up by state police. A DoorDash delivery driver, he says he was completing an order near the universitys iconic Rotunda and the protesters encampment on May 4. UVa faculty members offering him legal advice maintain that Abdelhamid saw some of his classmates in the crowd and decided to join them, unaware that police had declared an unlawful assembly in the area. He said as much in his appeal letter to Longo, noting that his nursing program requires him to be on Grounds. But the police chief effectively accused Abdelhamid of lying, saying that law enforcement records which were never shared with Abdelhamid, the public or The Daily Progress stood in stark contrast to the brief two-sentence account Abdelhamid offered in his appeal letter. The same day The Daily Progress story published, three of Abdelhamids classmates reached out to the newspaper, baffled and incensed by UVas refusal to allow Abdelhamid on Grounds. Hes just the nicest guy youll ever meet. Always eager to help everyone out. Theres never been a mean bone in that guys body, PVCC nursing student John Kermgard told The Daily Progress. I hope he sues them. I really do. Fellow classmate Nathaniel Reiner said that two weeks before final examinations, his computer stopped working. Abdelhamid loaned Reiner one of his own. He let me use it until finals were done and I gave it back, no questions asked. He wants to be a nurse to help other people, Reiner said, adding that he was angry upon hearing the story. Abdelhamid had not told his classmates of his predicament, or of the long and tragic series of events that had brought him to the U.S. from the Middle East, and the rigorous vetting he underwent with federal authorities to attain political asylum. When I heard about this I was so confused. I didnt believe it, like, theres no freaking way this is Mustafa. Hes like the sweetest guy in our program, Bogdan Patarinov said. Hes tried so hard, and hes so nice. Hes a valedictorian. He has all As. His grades are the best in the class. He tutors me actually. Both Patarinov and Kermgard recalled an incident where a fellow student was undergoing financial difficulties and wasnt going to be able to finish the program. They said Abdelhamid organized a fundraiser for the woman, putting together enough money so that she could complete her education. I want him to sue the university. Ill appear as a character witness on his behalf. This is absolutely insane, Kermgard, a decorated U.S. Navy combat veteran, said a day before UVa reversed its decision. In his letter reversing the decision, Longo wrote that on May 22 he had instructed the office of threat assessment to offer Abdelhamid a voluntary meeting to gather additional information and further evaluate your appeal. It was the same day that The Daily Progress first reached out to UVa about Abdelhamids case. Since his original appeal had been denied on May 16, multiple UVa faculty members and other friends of Abdelhamid had been quietly reaching out to UVa officials behind the scenes for weeks, pleading with Longo and other officials to reconsider. It was not until a lawsuit was drafted and his case received public attention that the university modified the NTO. Kermgard and others believe the delay can be attributed to racial profiling, noting that Charlottesville is a melting pot with a large immigrant population. Were known for hosting Afghan refugees for Christs sake, Kermgard said. He said it is suspicious that while other people had had their NTOs modified, Abdelhamid was not originally up for consideration. Somehow their stuff gets overturned and his doesnt. That doesnt make sense to me, Kermgard said. Russian President Vladimir Putin used a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Masud Pezeshkian, to cement their growing bilateral ties that have raised concern in the West as war rages in Ukraine and the Middle East. The two leaders met in Ashgabat on the sidelines of a conference in the capital of the tightly controlled Central Asian country of Turkmenistan on October 11. It was the first of two meetings between the men, with another scheduled at the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan that runs on October 22-24. It was the first of two meetings between the two, with another scheduled at the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan that runs on October 22-24. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters ahead of the meeting that while the talks will focus on bilateral relations, "the situation in the Middle East definitely will not be ignored and will also be on the agenda." The meeting was the first between the two since Pezeshkian assumed office on July 30 after winning an election to succeed his hard-line predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May. Relations between Moscow and Tehran have strengthened since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "Pezeshkian is trying to gauge to what extent Iran can rely on Russia for help," Touraj Atabaki, professor emeritus of Middle East and Central Asia social history at Leiden University in the Netherlands, told Radio Farda. "Russia wants to stand with Iran due to Iran's support in its war on Ukraine but Moscow doesn't want to darken its relationship with Israel further and cut all ties," he added. Since the early months of the Ukraine war, Russia has been accused of using Iranian-made Shahed and Mohajer-6 drones, many of which have been found after being shot down over Ukrainian cities and battlefields. Iran initially denied arming Russia before relenting and admitting that it had supplied a "limited number of drones" to Moscow before the war. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Tehran continues to deny that its drones are being used by Russia against Ukraine. That has not stopped the United States and the European Union from imposing sanctions on Iran for helping Moscow. Last month, the EU said it had "credible" information provided by allies suggesting that Iran has supplied short-range ballistic missiles to Russia to help Moscow wage war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have been heightened since Tehran launched some 200 missiles at Israel on October 1, saying the attack was in response to the killing of Tehran-backed militant leaders and a general from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Israel has vowed to launch a "deadly, precise, and surprising" attack on Iran in retaliation, while it continues to pound targets in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip that it says are aimed at Iran-backed proxies. At least 30 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded on October 11 by Israeli strikes in Jabalia in northern Gaza, according to the territory's civil-defense agency. The recent spiral of violence was sparked by the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas that killed around 1,200 people and saw some 250 taken hostage. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. The fighting in Gaza prompted another Iran-backed group, Hezbollah, to fire missiles into Israel in support of Hamas. Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the EU blacklists its armed wing but not its political party. The Israeli military has launched massive air strikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon in response, as well as a ground incursion into southern Lebanon intended to destroy the Iran-allied militant group, whose political party has seats in the Lebanese parliament. Israel faced condemnation on October 11 after its forces fired at what it said was a threat near a UN peacekeeping position in Lebanon. Israeli soldiers had responded to "an immediate threat" around 50 meters from the UNIFIL post, the military said. "An initial examination indicates that during the incident, a hit was identified on a UNIFIL post...resulting in the injury of two UNIFIL personnel," the statement added. The army pledged to carry out a "thorough review." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the firing as "intolerable" and "a violation of international humanitarian law," while the British government said it was "appalled" by reports of the injuries. U.S. President Joe Biden said he was "absolutely" asking Israel to stop firing at UN peacekeepers, while the French, Spanish, and Italian leaders issued a joint statement expressing "outrage." French President Emmanuel Macron renewed his call for an end to exports of weapons used by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon, while saying the UN peacekeepers had been "deliberately targeted." In Iran, more than three dozen hard-line lawmakers on October 10 demanded the government revise its nuclear doctrine to pursue atomic weapons. In a letter to the Supreme National Security Council, they said Western powers could not control Israel, thus making nuclear weapons "Iran's option to create deterrence." Iran has been hit with waves of crippling economic sanctions for its nuclear program, which has seen a sharp increase in its uranium enrichment capacity after the United States under former President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 landmark deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that restricted Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes, but government officials caused alarm recently by saying it could change its "nuclear doctrine" if it is attacked or its existence is threatened by Israel. With reporting by Reuters and AFP SOFIA -- Leaked documents of a back-and-forth between Sofia and its UN envoy have sparked accusations that caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev succumbed to external pressure over a widely followed UN vote in an effort to appease neighboring Serbia or Russia. The correspondence between Glavchev and Bulgarian Ambassador to the United Nations Lachezara Stoeva suggests that Glavchev instructed Stoeva hours before the May 23 vote to abstain on a resolution to declare an international day of remembrance for the Srebrenica genocide. Opposition or abstention would have marked a sharp departure in policy by Bulgaria, which co-sponsored the resolution, which was co-authored by Stoeva. Stoeva voted for the measure on Bulgarias behalf, along with 83 other countries, versus 19 nays and 68 abstentions on a resolution that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called highly politicized. Documents published on May 29 by the Bureau of Investigative Reporting and Data (BIRD), which is run by a French NGO founded by a Bulgarian investigative journalist, included a purported letter to Stoeva moments before the planned vote telling her to abstain because of the tense situation around it. They also include a four-page response purportedly from Stoeva arguing such a move would be an extreme act that could only be explained by external pressure and would wreak heavy damage to Bulgarias image within the international community. The author goes on to say such an action is contrary to the Euro-Atlantic values we uphold and suggests the only possible conclusion would be that Russia or Serbia pressured Bulgaria into the about-face. Glavchev, who is now an independent, became caretaker prime minister in April for the run-up to voting on June 9, Bulgarias sixth parliamentary elections since April 2021. The Bulgarian government issued a statement on May 30 saying the leaked documents were only part of the decision-making process and do not represent its entirety. The letter circulated to the UN envoy it included was authentic, it said, but does not contain the final instructions to Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva. It called the leak an element of a hybrid attack in the context of an election campaign and said it harms the interests of Bulgaria. BIRD suggested Glavchev was influenced by a conversation between Vucic and former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who heads the GERB party that used to include Glavchev. Having unsuccessfully argued against adoption of the resolution in the UN hall in New York on May 23, Vucic said after passage that I was hoping for a surprise from Bulgaria. Five minutes before the meeting, I was convinced that Bulgaria would vote abstain. Passage of the resolution created International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, where more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces in what is now a mainly Serb region of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The resolution makes no mention of the Bosnian Serbs who committed the massacre after UN peacekeepers abandoned a declared safe area amid a bloody conflict further marred by widespread ethnic cleansing, or of Serbia. Vucic has called what happened at Srebrenica a tragedy but says lives were lost on both sides and rejects the characterization of a genocide, a position shared by Moscow. The appeals chamber for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), as well as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), have called the mass killings at Srebrenica a genocide. A May 22 report in the independent news website Dnevnik asserted that Serbia was using unofficial channels to seek a change in Bulgarias position on the resolution. Former Bulgarian envoy to the UN Stefan Tafrov, who is running on the We Continue The Change-Democratic Bulgaria ticket for the European Parliament, warned later the same day on social media that Glavchev should not give in to Serbian pressure. 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. Several Georgian NGOs say they will challenge domestically and internationally the so-called "foreign agent" law pushed through parliament by the ruling Georgian Dream party despite a presidential veto and weeks of protests against the law, seen as mirroring a repressive Russian measure and jeopardizing the country's hopes to join the European Union. The group of NGOs announced on May 30 that they were going to file a lawsuit with Georgia's Constitutional Court to contest the legality of the measure, while at the same time lodging a complaint at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). After the Georgian Dream-dominated parliament on May 28 overrode President Salome Zurabishvili's veto with an 84-4 vote in the 150-seat parliament, the law is now expected to land back on the president's desk within three days. Once she receives it, Zurabishvili has five days to sign it. But the-pro-Western president, who has been at odds with Georgian Dream over the bill and sided with the protesters, has given no indication she intends to do so. However, if she refuses as expected, the speaker of parliament, Georgian Dream member Shalva Papuashvili, can sign the law and publish it. "Georgian NGOs continue their legal struggle against the 'Russian law.' We will not live by the norms of the 'Russian law' and will use all domestic and international mechanisms to impede its operation until the law is unconditionally repealed," the group of NGOs said in a statement read out at a joint news conference in Tbilisi on May 30. "The Constitutional Court can act with the powers granted by the constitution and suspend the operation of the relevant articles of the law," the NGOs continued. "We do not consider the Constitutional Court the only way of our legal struggle. If it does not act in a timely manner and within the constitutional framework, we will use an alternative legal mechanism," they added. "We are preparing to file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights. The authors of the statement note that "all nongovernmental and media organizations can become participants in this fight. Georgia's civil society has for years sought to move the country away from the influence of Russia, which still maintains thousands of troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway Georgian regions that Moscow recognized as independent states following a five-day war with Tbilisi in 2008. Critics say the legislation was introduced by Georgian Dream, founded by Russian-friendly Georgian tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili, in order to cement the party's grip on power ahead of elections later this year seen as crucial for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The law requires civil-society and media organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources to submit to oversight that could encompass sanctions for as-yet-undefined criminal offenses. Both the United States and the European Union have warned Georgian Dream that ignoring criticism and cracking down violently on protesters will have negative consequences. Georgia obtained the coveted EU candidate status in December, but it has yet to start actual accession talks, which could last for years. There had been hope such talks could start later this year, but Brussels has warned that the "foreign agent" law could endanger the path toward Europe. Georgian Dream has insisted that it remains committed to joining Western institutions and the law was only meant to increase transparency on NGO funding. But Western governments and organizations have issued stark statements, warning the Georgian Dream government that the Tbilisi's EU path will be blocked if the law comes into force. German Ambassador to Tbilisi did not mince words in an interview with Georgian media on May 29. "Georgia is a [EU] candidate country. This was a huge historic step for both the EU and Georgia. The next step should have been to open accession negotiations, all countries are ready to start negotiations, however, the Georgian government passed a law that does not meet EU standards. As long as this law is in force, we will not open negotiations with Georgia." European Council President Charles Michel also warned that overriding Zurabishvili's veto was a "step backward" for Georgia's European aspirations. "The European Council decided in December to grant Georgia candidate status on the understanding that Georgia undertakes the relevant steps and necessary democratic reforms," Michel wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on May 28. "The adoption of the transparency law in the parliament is a step backward and takes Georgia further away from its EU path. The Georgian people have clearly chosen a future in the EU and we will do everything to support their ambitions," Michel said, adding that the issue will be on the agenda of the next European Council meeting. A day before the vote, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc had started weighing options should Georgia enact the law. He said a decision will be made next month. A State Department spokesman said the United States condemns the parliament's decision and told reporters that the party's actions and anti-Western rhetoric threaten Georgia's democratic trajectory. Senator Ben Cardin (Democrat-Maryland), chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the Georgian Dream vote was a "sad day for Georgia," and reaffirmed Washington's determination to back the aspirations of the Georgian people. "The people have demonstrated that they will not allow Ivanishvili to destroy their democracy & take away their European future. We stand with them," Cardin said on X. Zurabishvili, meanwhile, has urged Georgians to gear up for the upcoming parliamentary elections later this year. "We must now do everything we can to prepare for October 26, which will be our answer to today. Are you angry today? Get angry, but let's get down to business," she said, calling for a campaign to collect signatures for an EU referendum. When 75-year-old Russian scientist Anatoly Maslov, a specialist in high-speed aerodynamics, was arrested on treason charges in June 2022, his colleagues were alarmed. "The persecution of scientists in the field of aviation has become a regular thing in our country," more than 400 of his colleagues wrote in an open letter that has since been deleted. In a closed session on May 21, a St. Petersburg court convicted Maslov, who is now 77 and has spent almost two years in jail, of giving classified information to German agents in 2014 -- a charge he and supporters say is groundless. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. "Fourteen years for a 77-year-old who had a heart attack while in pretrial detention is a death sentence," a relative of Maslov's who asked not to be identified out of safety concerns told RFE/RL. Maslov formerly headed a laboratory at the Institute for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITPM) in Novosibirsk, a longtime scientific hub in Siberia. Since 2018, at least 12 specialists in the field of hypersonic aerodynamics have been charged with treason. At least three of the researchers, most of whom are older adults, have died in custody. Like Maslov, many of them have been sentenced to long prison terms, while others have been held for months in pretrial detention. Lawyers involved in the cases suspect the rash of treason charges is related to President Vladimir Putin's personal interest in hypersonic weaponry. "It's a favorite toy of Putin's," Yevgeny Smirnov, a lawyer with the legal-aid organization First Department, which provides defense consulting in cases that allegedly involve state secrets, told RFE/RL. "He has repeatedly announced that only Russia possesses hypersonic weapons." The cases, all of which are handled by the Moscow headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB), have one purpose, Smirnov said: "To demonstrate that all the world's intelligence services are gunning for Russian researchers." "And our security agencies achieve this goal the only way they know how -- by putting innocent people in prison," he said. 'Like a Meteorite' Putin has been touting the prospects of hypersonic weapons for nearly two decades, part of his frequent saber-rattling about Russia's military capabilities. During his nationally televised Direct Line question-and-answer session in September 2005, he said Russia was developing hypersonic weapons that he claimed would be "practically invulnerable." A recent report by the BBC counted more than 70 examples of Putin boasting about the weapons in public appearances since then. He highlighted them in a particularly bellicose state of the nation speech in 2018. In that address, he mentioned the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, which has since been deployed against Ukraine in the first battlefield use of hypersonic weapons ever. He also mentioned the Avangard hypersonic missile, which he said "travels to its target like a meteorite" at up to 20 times the speed of sound. The Russian military reportedly accepted the first unit of Avangard missiles into service in December 2019. In comments to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee this March about Russia's intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), a senior U.S. Air Force commander said Moscow had "expanded its force of ICBMs armed with the Avangard" over the past year. 'Conveyor Of Repression' The accused scientists have all denied revealing classified information, saying their articles and speeches were strictly vetted by in-house security committees at their institutes. Advocates for the scientists say the FSB simply ignores that fact. "The FSB operatives arrive at some institute that is connected in some way with hypersonic research and look for researchers who have taken part in international conferences or such programs," lawyer Smirnov said. "Having identified several victims, they prepare allegations that during a conference or international program the scientist supposedly passed on secret information to foreign colleagues who might use it to create weapons for NATO countries." Many of the cases involve speeches or articles that are at least 10 years old. The programs involved were often approved by the Russian government during the 2008-12 presidency of Dmitry Medvedev, when Putin was prime minister, Smirnov noted. The government "approved the cooperation of a number of Russian institutes with European organizations doing physics research," he said. "Then, [a few] years later, they start coming to these people with searches and criminal cases, accusing them of treason for participating in those projects." All of the research institutes connected with what are often called the "hypersonic cases" participated in the FP7 space cooperation program, which started in June 2011 and ended in May 2013. In Maslov's case, his relatives said, the allegations were largely based on the testimony of a colleague named Aleksandr Kuranov. Kuranov, the 76-year-old former director of a St. Petersburg-based state research institute who worked on the Soviet-era Ayaks hypersonic aircraft, was given the minimum sentence of seven years in prison on treason charges in April. The court announcement said "mitigating circumstances" compelled the judge to impose the shortest possible sentence. A researcher at ITPM who was a co-author of papers with at least one of the arrested men and who spoke on condition of anonymity said the institute has cut all foreign contacts and canceled hypersonic research. "It is difficult to work under such conditions," the scientist said. "Not just because of the restrictions but because of the lack of defined, comprehensible rules. We are waitingfor common sense to prevail." The investigations into "hypersonic cases" show no signs of abating, Smirnov said. The year "2023 showed that the conveyor of repression of Russian scientists has not stopped and isn't going to be stopped," he said. "What does this mean? At least two to five more imprisoned researchers this year." SOFIA -- Peter Volgin was not shy about using the public airwaves in Bulgaria to spew pro-Russian disinformation. Such was the outcry that irate listeners and others picketed outside the state radio headquarters in the capital, Sofia, in February 2023 to demand it pull the plug on Volgin's program called Politically Incorrect. And given his Kremlin-friendly proclivities, it was perhaps little surprise when Volgin announced in April he was taking a leave of absence and hitting the political trail, running as a candidate for the far-right, pro-Russian Revival Party in upcoming elections on June 9 in Bulgaria to the European Parliament. Volgin is one of a handful of pro-Russian candidates who could win one of Bulgaria's 17 seats in the European Parliament. The poll will take place alongside another to elect deputies to Bulgaria's unicameral National Parliament, the sixth such election since 2021 in the country, which has been beset by political instability for several years. The expected extremist inroads in Bulgaria are anticipated elsewhere in Europe as well, amid apparent shifting political allegiances across the continent. Between June 6 and June 9, voters in all 27 EU member states will go to the polls to elect 720 members of the European Parliament. The elections are held every five years, and each country is allotted a certain number of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in direct proportion to its population size. Voters elect national parties, but after the elections, the MEPs organize into political groups in the European Parliament that align with their parties' political ideologies. Rise Of The Right In France, far-right leader Marine Le Pen's National Rally is polling ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party. Next door in Germany, Alternative for Germany, a party under police surveillance for its extremist views, is second in opinion polls, tied with the Social Democrats. Many of these far-right parties don't only parrot the Kremlin line but are alleged, in some cases, to have ties with Moscow. In March, Czech authorities busted a pro-Russian network that not only gave a platform on social media to pro-Russian politicians but paid some of them as well. European officials have warned of increasing Russian meddling in these elections. In Bulgaria, given the country's traditionally friendly ties with Russia going back at least to the 19th century, when Russia helped Bulgaria in its fight for independence from the Ottoman Empire, Kremlin narratives definitely don't fall on deaf ears. "Bulgaria falls in line with many of its European counterparts in that far-right parties are gaining or stabilizing their influence, albeit for different reasons," explained Rumena Filipova, chairwoman of the Institute for Global Analytics, a Bulgarian-based think tank. "In Bulgaria, the pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian discourse of Revival is a distinctive feature, which builds on pro-Russian sentiments in society molded by Russian historical propaganda about Moscow's supposed status as a 'liberator/savior' of Bulgaria," Filipova explained to RFE/RL in e-mailed remarks. Filipova has also written elsewhere that polling data in Bulgaria suggests increasing numbers of younger people are turning toward antidemocratic ideas, a trend, she says, is rising in Europe, especially in the former communist-ruled countries. In announcing his campaign to run for the Revival Party on April 16, Volgin vowed to rid "Europe from the European Union," as well as fight what he and his ilk consider so-called Russophobia in the bloc. After his announcement, Milen Mitev, general director of Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), told RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service that "Volgin can no longer be a presenter at BNR after he had officially committed himself politically." BNR employees are bound by its editorial standards and code of ethics, which forbids them from involvement in politics, including campaigning in support of political candidates or causes. Volgin has repeatedly courted controversy, given his penchant for spewing Kremlin-friendly propaganda on the Politically Incorrect program that he hosted. After the protest outside BNR headquarters calling for Volgin to be fired, the Council for Electronic Media, a Bulgarian media regulatory agency, months later said it had identified "propagandistic innuendo" in his broadcasts. Revival's Revival His party of preference, Revival, is notorious for cheerleading for the Kremlin, backing Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and opposing any Bulgarian support for Kyiv. In March, Revival put forward legislation to pull Bulgaria out of NATO, which failed. A month earlier, in February, members of Revival traveled to Moscow, where they paid a visit to the Diplomatic Academy of the Foreign Ministry, a state institution notorious for allegedly grooming Russian spies. Revival emerged as a political force in Bulgaria in 2021 when it won seats in parliament for the first time. By April 2023, Revival had secured a record 14.2 percent in another snap election. It is now on the verge of sending members, like Volgin, to the European Parliament for the first time. "The electoral successes of Revival have been underscored by the gradual normalization of the far-right nationalist discourse in Bulgaria as the party was able to move from its early presence primarily on social media to becoming part of established media outlets," explained Filipova. Polling also shows, as Filipova noted in a recent article, eroding support for democracy among younger people in Bulgaria, following similar patterns in Hungary and Serbia. "Indeed, contrary to expectations that young people should necessarily be more democratic, liberal, and pro-Western in their views than their older counterparts, polling results demonstrate a consistent pattern of youth attitudes in Bulgaria (and especially those CEE countries that have experienced authoritarian rule) that favor a 'strongman model of leadership,' think that the EU is 'dictatorial,' and are less critical [of] far-right nationalists than all other age groups," Filipova told RFE/RL. As analysts note, the elections to the European Parliament are taking place in the shadow of another national poll in Bulgaria, with the results of both elections expected to largely mirror one another. Opinion polls heading into the elections for the European Parliament put the coalition of two center-right parties, GERB and the Union of Democratic Forces, in first place, followed by the reformist We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria coalition. The liberal Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) -- which traditionally represents Bulgaria's ethnic Turk and Muslim populations and is led by business tycoon and U.S.-sanctioned politician Deylan Peevski -- and Revival are vying for third place, followed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the recast former communists. If vote results largely mirror pre-election prognostications, Revival, BSP, and DPS could send as many as six members -- nearly a third of the country's allotment -- to the European Parliament. Since the last elections to the European Parliament in 2019, the political landscape has changed much in Bulgaria, argues Petar Bankov, a lecturer at the University of Glasgow, and is "characterized by growing fragmentation, the marginalization of the left, and the increasing strength of right-wing parties, ranging between the liberal right to the populist radical right." ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- "I'm not criticizing anyone," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told reporters in Kharkiv on May 24. Zelenskiy may not have been trying to offend his Central Asian colleagues last week when he suggested that their international positioning remained pro-Russian "out of fear of the Kremlin." But he was perhaps probing for some kind of response -- including to his public invitation for them to attend a June summit in Switzerland demanding that Russia end its aggression against Kyiv and conclude a peace agreement in accordance with the UN charter. So far, that request has been met by stony silence. Does that nonreaction seem to prove Zelenskiy's point? "It is mostly pragmatism," argued Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. "But of course, that pragmatism includes some fear, because [the Central Asian states] are aware that there may be backlash for taking actions that anger Russia," he said. At the same time, Umarov says, the overall picture is more complicated and contradictory than Zelenskiy suggested. Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Central Asian diplomacy has seen a boom in diversity, while some leaders and other top officials from the region have on occasion said and done things that appear to stray from Moscow's line. "Yet they also understand that ties with Russia matter and that Russia is important for the security of their regimes," Umarov said. "The evidence for that is the high number of contacts between top Russian and Central Asian officials since the invasion began, as well as President Vladimir Putin's visits to the region -- most recently Uzbekistan." Russian Energy Leverage Growing In Uzbekistan... Putin's trip to Uzbekistan was indeed an important one for both countries. The state visit was officially billed for May 26-27, but stretched well into May 28 after the two presidents "spoke until three in the morning" and continued their talks the next day, according to Mirziyoev's press secretary, Sherzod Azadov. The main headline of the visit was the long-awaited confirmation that Russian atomic energy giant Rosatom will build a small nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan -- a long-planned but somewhat downsized project Mirziyoev described as "vital." The agreement for the 350-megawatt plant comes despite the progress of a bill in the U.S. Congress that would seek to impose sanctions on Rosatom -- one of the few major Russian state companies that have not already been targeted by the United States and Kyiv's other Western allies. But it also highlights Russia's growing energy leverage over the region's most populous country, which is simultaneously ramping up imports of Russian gas, with Putin pledging that Gazprom will increase deliveries to the country fourfold, reaching 11 billion cubic meters next year. Data points like these show "just how deep a hole Uzbekistan is in," according to Central Asia-focused journalist Peter Leonard, whose review of the visit carried the apt title "Uzbekistan's energy needs lock it into Russian orbit." "But the hard reality is that [Mirziyoev] has little choice," Leonard wrote in his newsletter, Havli. Leonard added that Mirziyoev was the only Central Asian president not to meet British Foreign Secretary David Cameron during his blitz through the region at the end of last month. The Uzbek president had taken a short holiday just before Cameron's weeklong regional trip -- a tour received with typical vitriol in pro-Kremlin sections of Russia's media. But he did make time to meet with Hungary's top diplomat, Peter Szijjarto, in Tashkent on May 7. And, of course, Mirziyoev was in Moscow with his other four Central Asian counterparts and Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka on May 9, when Putin and Russia staged their annual military parade commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. And Kazakhstan, Too? Uzbekistan makes an interesting case study in the debate over Central Asia's Kremlin "fear," after the mystery-filled aftermath of former Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov's comments on Ukraine in parliament in 2022. Komilov reportedly first stepped down on health grounds before being moved to a still-important role as deputy secretary of the Security Council after he spoke in parliament strongly in favor of the "independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity" of Ukraine. Ruling out any recognition of Russian-controlled entities in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions and calling for an end to the violence, it was one of the strongest statements on the war by a Central Asian official and deeply uncharacteristic for Uzbekistan. Observers wondered if his de facto dismissal was a step to appease Moscow. Or was Uzbekistan sending a message to the West while easing a respected but aging regime insider toward retirement? "Central Asian states may fear Russia, but they fear the idea of [Western economic] sanctions, too," Umarov noted. "Their strategy so far has been to do 'just enough' to try and avoid those." Kazakhstan has gone even further in statements on the war, including from President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, but never as far as outright criticism of the 2022 invasion. Zelenskiy's comments in war-torn Kharkiv last week -- in which he also said Central Asian leaders lacked "a little bit of balance" -- will have been particularly irksome to Kazakh diplomats, since Astana has on several occasions put itself forward as a host for talks on ending the war. But Kazakhstan, too, is looking vulnerable to Russia's energy heft. Not only does the country rely on Russia as a transit country for more than three-quarters of its oil exports -- a route that has suffered several stoppages since the Ukraine invasion -- its own power deficits are looking critical. Like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan has been weighing a potential nuclear power plant, with Rosatom openly eager to build it even as officials express a preference for a consortium made up of companies from different countries. The question of nuclear power -- contentious due to the legacy of Soviet-era nuclear tests in the country -- will be put to a popular referendum before any decision is made, Toqaev has promised. In the meantime, Kazakh officials are talking up the idea of allowing Russia to send gas to China via Kazakhstan while keeping some for growing domestic needs. Deputy Energy Minister Alibek Zhamauov said the northeastern region of Kazakhstan alone required about 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. China Considerations If Russia can still extend leverage over the region's two strongest countries, then the picture is much clearer for others, says Dosym Satpaev, a political scientist based in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty. "If for Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan it is the energy deficits, for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan it is the dependence on remittances sent by migrant workers in Russia, while in Turkmenistan, it is Russian purchases," Satpaev said. "Russia has various levers over all of them." Then there is the question of a common authoritarian political identity, Satpaev adds. "Not only do they consider themselves more like Putin than Zelenskiy, they probably consider themselves more like Xi Jinping. So Zelenskiy is right in many respects." A final factor that is often overlooked when it comes to the region's so-called Kremlin fear is China's own outsize role in the region, Satpaev argues. Some commentators expressed surprise back in 2008 when the Central Asian countries failed to recognize Abkhazia or South Ossetia, two Russian-backed territories that declared independence from Georgia. But their stance mirrored that of China, which reportedly blocked Russian diplomatic attempts at the time to legitimize the breakaway regions in various multilateral organizations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, where four of the five Central Asian states had membership. Ditto, their collective nonrecognition of territories in eastern Ukraine that Moscow has declared its own. Yet China has so far mostly poured cold water on Kyiv's attempts to engage it over the war as Beijing and Moscow have grown closer. Earlier this week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stressed that Beijing was supportive of "an international peace conference that is recognized by both the Russian and Ukrainian sides" -- in an apparent response to Zelenskiy's pitch for Beijing to attend the June 15-16 summit in Switzerland. And given Russia will not be at the table for those talks, Chinese nonparticipation would appear to offer even less room for any Central Asian leaders to attend. "The fact that China has become closer to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine somewhat deepens the pressure on Central Asian states to become part of a broader anti-Western front," Satpaev told RFE/RL. "And Ukraine is now strongly connected with the West." PRAGUE -- Ukraine can prevail in its battle to repel Russian forces with the "robust support" of its allies, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said, as foreign ministers from the military alliance's 32 member countries gathered in Prague to discuss a fresh military aid framework for Kyiv. The NATO gathering in the Czech capital, which is being attended by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will discuss an aid package for Ukraine that would be presented at NATO's summit in Washington in July. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here. Speaking ahead of the meeting on May 30, Stoltenberg said it was time for the countries supplying military aid to Kyiv to discuss restrictions placed on Kyiv more than two years ago when Moscow first launched its full-scale invasion. In recent months, Russia has launched withering air and ground assaults against Ukraine, which has struggled with ammunition shortages. Kyiv has pleaded for an acceleration of deliveries of ammunition and also has asked to be allowed to use longer-range weapons -- which came with restrictions on their usage into Russian territory -- to their full extent. "Allies are delivering many different types of military support to Ukraine and some of them have imposed some restrictions on the use of these weapons.... These are national decisions," Stoltenberg said in a speech delivered in Prague. "But I think that in light of how this war has evolved...the time has come to consider some of these restrictions, to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves." Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze told RFE/RL in an interview that Latvia has never imposed limitations on any of the weapons it has supplied to Ukraine and that Riga supports Ukraine's right to use weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory. She emphasized that Kyiv needs a variety of weapons and should receive them from its allies more consistently, adding that there are "things that are being supplied without being spoken about publicly." Blinken, who arrived in Prague after a trip to Moldova, immediately held talks with his Czech counterpart, Jan Liptovsky, on the issue of combating Russian disinformation as Moscow tries to drive a wedge between allies supporting Ukraine. The top U.S. diplomat called Moscow's use of misinformation and disinformation poison and signed an agreement with the Czechs to combat it. Blinken also visited a Czech military base, where armored vehicles that Prague is sending to Kyiv were on display, and was informed about Prague's drive to supply Ukraine with 1 million rounds of ammunition by the end of the year. We know that a major front in the competition that we have, the adversarial relationship that we have, notably with Russia, is on the information front, Blinken said. During the ministers' meeting, talks are scheduled on a plan presented by Stoltenberg in April on a framework that would transfer responsibility for military and civilian aid for Ukraine from an informal, U.S.-led group to the formal structures of the alliance. NATO is currently not officially offering lethal military supplies to Kyiv. Individual NATO member states have been channeling supplies through the Ukraine Contact Group (UCG), an initiative chaired by the United States known informally as the Ramstein Group. The ministers are also likely debate whether to allow Kyiv to use Western-provided weapons to strike targets inside Russia. The United States and Germany have been opposed to allowing such a move, while Britain and France have been in favor. Stoltenberg and the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, have also voiced their approval of allowing Ukraine to use Western arms to hit military objectives on Russian territory under certain conditions. As the two-day informal meeting of the alliance is set to kick off in Prague, Russia launched a large-scale attack early on May 30 that targeted military and civilian infrastructure in nine Ukrainian regions, causing casualties and damage. In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Russian missiles struck two locations, wounding seven people, six of them women, regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov reported. "A two-story administrative building was hit, resulting in partial destruction, followed by a fire. Six women and one man received minor injuries," Synyehubov said. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is located just 35 kilometers from the Russian border and has been repeatedly pounded by Moscow's artillery and air strikes over the past several weeks as Ukraine's depleted air defenses and ammunition face increasing difficulties in repelling such attacks. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov earlier said critical infrastructure, including a gas pipeline, was damaged in the strikes, which also triggered a fire. Separately, the Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down all 32 drones and seven of the 19 cruise missiles launched by Russia. The missiles and drones were shot down over the Khmelnytskiy, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhya, Odesa, Kherson, Kyiv, and Vinnytsya regions, it said. Separately, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) said its naval drones sank two Russian "Tunets" boats in Crimea. "On May 30, HUR's special unit Group 13, with the help of Ukrainian Magura V5 maritime attack drones, once again successfully attacked the ship depot of the aggressor state of Russia in the temporarily occupied Crimea," HUR said in a statement, adding that Russian troops used several attack helicopters in an unsuccessful attempt to repel the attack. The Tunets is an 8.8-meter-long and 2.5-meter-wide diesel boat mainly used by Russian border guards. With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak in Prague American support for the Republic of Moldova Neighboring Ukraine, invaded by Russian troops, the Republic of Moldova stays on the American diplomacy agenda Maia Sandu si Antony Blinken (Foto acebook.com/maia.sandu) Bogdan Matei, 30.05.2024, 13:50 All military experts and political analysts say about the Republic of Moldova that it is Ukraines neighbor most seriously affected by the Russian invasion there. In solidarity with the authorities in Kyiv, which are trying to resist the invaders, Chisinau, currently hosting many Ukrainian refugees, has become, in turn, a target for Russia. On Wednesday, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, reaffirmed, in Chisinau, the United States support for the Republic of Moldova and for its aspirations to get closer to the West. He saluted the work of the countrys president, Maia Sandu, who has resolutely charted a firm pro-European course. Blinken promised that his country would support a resilient democracy in the face of Russias destabilization attempts. Moreover, he announced a 50 million-dollar aid for the defense of democracy in the face of Russian threats, and investments of 85 million dollars for the consolidation of the energy sector of the Republic of Moldova. According to the Radio Romania correspondents in Chisinau, the head of Washington diplomacy specified that these funds are intended to reduce the dependence of the Republic of Moldova on Russian energy resources and will contribute to increasing the resilience of state institutions. The Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure have exacerbated the difficulties the Republic of Moldova is facing in the energy sector, and led to the increase in energy prices, making businesses and ordinary consumers vulnerable, said Antony Blinken, who paid his second visit to Chisinau since the Russians invaded Ukraine, on February 24, 2022. The visit of the Secretary of State reconfirms the excellent relations between the United States and the Republic of Moldova and is a strong sign of support, said in turn President Maia Sandu. The message of support conveyed on behalf of Washington comes, commentators recall, after the one received, also this month, from Brussels. The Republic of Moldova has recently signed a security and defense pact with the European Union. Thanks to it, the signatories say, the collaboration between Chisinau and Brussels will be much closer and will offer the republic more tools to strengthen its security on multiple levels, including in the military field. The Radio Romania correspondent in Brussels notes that, from now on, the Republic of Moldova can participate in missions under the European security and defense policy and will receive help to strengthen its military capabilities. Also, its soldiers will be integrated into the EU rapid deployment corps and will participate in joint exercises and training. (MI) BSDA is the biggest defence and aerospace exhibition held in the Black Sea region The event brought together 400 producers of military equipment and technologies from roughly 30 NATO members and partner countries. BSDA showcased the latest military technologies and state-of-the-art equipment, and included as its main attraction, the multi-role fifth-generation jet fighter, F-35, the US Air Force had for the first time brought to an exhibition in Europe BSDA 2024 Photo: bill Daniel Bilt, 30.05.2024, 13:59 The United States has decided to double its production of 155-millimeter artillery shells. White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said that using a Congress-approved funding, the Department of Defense has contracted with General Dynamics to stand up new production lines as part of a national effort to significantly increase the number of artillery shells being produced in the country every month. Kirby said at a news conference that the goal is to support Ukraine and the U.S. defense industrial base. "Increasing our production capability and building these new production lines improves our own military readiness as well. And it's critical, of course, to support Ukraine". When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the United States was producing about 14,000 155-millimeter artillery shells every month. "Thanks to investments that the President has made to increase our production in Mesquite and at plants across the country, we have already more than doubled that number, and we expect to double it again. We're on track to manufacture 100,000 155-millimeter artillery shells per month by the end of next year," Kirby told reporters. Artillery shells have been a critical munition for the war in Ukraine, making a significant impact on Ukraine's ability to repel Russian attacks. They have been particularly important in the eastern region of Donbas, to arrange behind the enemy lines in the open farmlands. Over the last year, Ukrainian forces have been engaged in a gunfight there. Wednesday, the Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth opened the Universal Artillery Projectile Ammunition Plant in Mesquite, Texas. "It will provide a much-needed increase to our capacity AND capability to produce 155mm munitions. Along with new facilities opening in the next year and expansion at existing organic industrial base plants, we are on track to meet our goal of 100K/month by the end of 2025," she wrote on X. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News A top UK official says Russia is suffering the highest rate of casualties in the war against Ukraine. "From January 2024 to April 2024, Russia's daily casualty rate in Ukraine - the numbers of killed and wounded - was 980. Estimates in May, put that number over 1000 per day. That is around 30,000 per month," Ankur Narayan, UK Politico-Military Counsellor at the UK Delegation to the OSCE said statement. The data comes within weeks of Russian President Vladimir Putin removing his long-time confidante Sergei Shoigu as defense minister, and replacing him with Andrey Belousov, who is an economist. Upon taking up the job, Belousov said he is putting special emphasis on waging the war with "minimal human losses". 465,000 Russian personnel have been killed or wounded since Russia invaded Ukraine, according to Narayan. Defence now takes up 40 percent of Russia's government spending - which amounts to 6 percent of its GDP. "Ukraine has liberated 70,000 square miles of land that Russia seized in 2022. And Ukraine has destroyed or damaged a quarter of the Black Sea Fleet's vessels, denying Russia control of the western Black Sea and pushing back much of the Russian navy from Crimea. As a result, Ukraine has successfully resumed maritime exports from its Black Sea ports. Monthly export volumes through its maritime corridor are consistently at the highest levels - four and a half million tonnes - since the war began". Narayan says Ukraine is on course to export all its harvest this year despite repeated Russian attempts to prevent it. He said President Putin is no closer to his goal of subjugating Ukraine even after suffering nearly half a million casualties. He called on Russia to end its war, respecting the UN Charter, and withdraw all of its forces from Ukraine. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The U.S. Department of the Treasury published a 2024 Non-fungible Token (NFT) Illicit Finance Risk Assessment. It explores how vulnerabilities associated with NFTs and NFT platforms may be exploited by illicit actors for money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. The assessment finds that NFTs are highly susceptible to use in fraud and scams and are subject to theft. The report, titled 'Non-fungible Token Illicit Finance Risk Assessment', determines that illicit actors can use NFTs to launder proceeds from predicate crimes, often in combination with other methods to obfuscate the illicit source of proceeds of crime. It also found little evidence of the misuse of NFTs by terrorists or proliferators, in contrast to fraudsters. The assessment finds that inadequate cybersecurity protections, challenges related to copyright and trademark protections, and the hype and fluctuating pricing of NFTs can enable criminals to perpetrate fraud and theft related to NFTs and NFT platforms. U.S. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson urged the private sector to use the findings of this assessment to inform their own risk mitigation strategies to prevent illicit actors from abusing NFTs and NFT platforms." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Sweden's economic confidence dropped slightly in May after showing some resilience in the previous three months, survey results published by the National Institute of Economic Research showed on Thursday. The economic tendency index fell to 94.0 in May from 94.9 in the previous month. The latest figure continued to show weaker sentiment than normal in the Swedish . The index measuring confidence in manufacturing declined by 2.1 points to 98.5 in May amid weaker order book balances. The morale for the construction segment slid to 95.4 from 96.8, and that for retail trade plummeted by 9.6 points to 92.3. Meanwhile, the only subsector showing an increase in confidence was in services, which edged up to 94.3 from 94.0. The survey showed that the consumer confidence index increased further to a 27-month high of 91.3 in May from 88.8 in April. However, a reading below 100 indicates pessimism among households. RTTNews Economic Calendar helps you stay ahead of the curve and is updated in real-time. Get your Economic Calendar today and make data-driven decisions. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Three men filed a lawsuit against American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) on May 29, accusing the airline of racial discrimination for removing them and five other Black passengers from a flight due to a complaint about body odor. The lawsuit claims that Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, Xavier Veal, and five other Black male passengers were taken off American Flight 832 from Phoenix to JFK in New York City on January 5, 2024, solely because of their race. According to the complaint, a white flight attendant reported a passenger's offensive body odor, leading to the removal of the men for about an hour before they were allowed back on the plane. "The whole ordeal was traumatic, upsetting, scary, humiliating, degrading, and outrageous. American's blatant profiling was malicious and racist," the lawsuit adds. They are seeking damages for pain and suffering, as well as punitive damages for the airline's alleged discriminatory actions. American Airlines mentioned in a statement that it is looking into the issue and stated that the allegations do not align with the company's principles. The airline expressed, "We treat all discrimination claims with utmost seriousness and aim for our customers to have a pleasant experience when they select us for their flights." Susan Huhta, representing the three plaintiffs, stated that the incident is part of a troubling history of allegations that American Airlines discriminates against Black passengers. The lawsuit alleges that there have been other instances of the airline targeting Black individuals and passengers of color. The lawsuit also mentions that the NAACP issued a travel advisory in 2017 warning Black travelers about the airline due to American's alleged racial bias towards Black passengers. This lawsuit comes in the wake of other incidents involving allegations of discrimination against Black passengers by American Airlines. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News While Indian automobile market size is more than double that of Brazil, the latter still has a much broader range of SUV options Over the next decade, emerging markets such as India and Brazil will drive the worlds growth in the auto sector. Across both countries, we see a significant demand for SUVs. Heres a quick look at some of the best selling SUVs in Brazil. Top selling compact SUVs in Brazil Brazils top selling compact SUV model is Volkswagen T-Cross. A total of 6,224 units were sold in April, registering a MoM growth of 14%. In India, Volkswagen sells the Taigun compact SUV, which is a derivative of the T-Cross sold in the Chinese market. Volkswagen Taigun is underpinned by the MQB A0 IN platform, which is specially designed for the Indian market. At number two in the list is Chevrolet Tracker, with sales of 5,670 units. MoM growth is 20.4%. Third best selling compact SUV model in Brazil is Hyundai Creta. Sales are at 5,335 units in April, registering a MoM gain of 23.6%. In India, Creta was the top selling compact SUV in FY24. It had registered sales of 1,62,773 units, with a market share of 31.22 percent. Fourth best selling compact SUV in Brazil is Volkswagen Nivus. A total of 5,259 units were sold, registering a MoM gain of 34.3%. Nissan Kicks is the fifth best selling compact SUV in Brazil. Sales were at 4,582 units in April, registering negative MoM growth of -9.0%. From the Indian perspective, theres Renault Duster at 11th position in the list. Excluding Creta, one cannot see the dominance of Hyundai and Kia in the Brazilian compact SUV segment. European and Japanese brands seem to be more popular. Top selling mid-size SUVs in Brazil Jeep Compass tops the list with sales of 3,914 units in April. MoM sales growth is down by -1.4%. Jeep Compass is a popular choice in the Indian market as well. However, the overall sales numbers are much higher in the Brazilian market. Second best selling mid-size SUV in Brazil is Toyota Corolla Cross, with sales of 3,754 units. Thats a MoM gain of 12.9 percent. At number three is Caoa Chery Tiggo 7, with sales of 3,026 units in April. MoM gain is 73.4%. At number 4th and 5th are BYD Song Plus and GWM Haval H6 with sales of 1,699 units and 1,609 units, respectively. It is apparent that Chinese brands are gaining popularity in Brazils mid-size SUV segment. Top selling large SUVs in Brazil Toyota SW4 tops the list, with sales of 1,561 units in April. MoM growth is at 44.9%. Second most popular large SUV in Brazil is Jeep Commander. It has sales of 1,093 units, registering MoM growth of 6.5%. At number three in the list is Caoa Chery Tiggo 8, with sales of 697 units. MoM growth is 13.3%. Chevrolet Trailblazer and Mitsubishi Pajero take 4th and 5th position, with sales of 240 and 200 units, respectively. Other popular large SUVs in Brazil include Volvo XC90, BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Porsche Cayenne and Land Rover Range Rover. The bakery has the suggestion of Irish and French in its name, but OBriens Boulangerie is a family-run business whose owners have roots in Guatemala. OBriens has been in business for nearly 30 years, but just recently moved into a spacious building in the Poway Business Park. It outgrew its Del Mar location earlier this decade, moved to Escondido and then to Poway this year. We hit capacity in Del Mar, the place was 4,000 square feet, then moved to a 10,000-square-foot building in Escondido in 2013, said Sales Executive Sara Escobar, whose mother and father bought the business in 2006 from Jim OBrien, who retired after running it for 18 years. Now were here in Poway at 22,000 square feet and its looking like were going to hit capacity here, as well. Edgar Escobar immigrated to the United States from Guatemala in the mid-1980s and worked for other people as a baker for 20 years. Twelve years ago, he purchased the business from OBrien, who stuck around one more year to teach them the ropes. When that happened, we had maybe 30 accounts, Sara Escobar said. Now we have over 200 accounts and deliveries every day. There are now six Escobars running the multi-generational business, which employs 60 people. The operation includes seven huge ovens in which racks of 72 loaves each can be baked simultaneously. Their clients include some of the best known spots in town: Barona Resort & Casino, the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the San Diego Convention Center, Jakes Del Mar, the Del Mar Racetrack, and the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. When the Padres are playing, we make 200 to 300 dozen hot dog buns for Petco Park, Sara Escobar said. When Comic-Con is in town, said Carmen Garcia, who handles ordering, its crazy. This week, OBriens also opened up a retail cafe in the front of the warehouse-like building in the business park at 13615 Stowe Drive, a few blocks south of the Poway Costco and Home Depot complex. The cafe serves all sorts of freshly made pastries, muffins, tarts and many other items, along with coffee and sandwiches. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is situated in the middle of a business park that employs more than 18,000 people. Barrista Alexander Bermudz just started working for the family. These are wonderful people, he said. A family business is where I like to be. I like to think of myself as an adopted Escobar. The family includes Edgar and his wife Argelia Escobar, the owners; Juan Carlos Escobar, Edgars brother who is the head baker; daughters Yvonne Escobar, the general manager, and Sara Escobar, sales executive; and son Eddie Escobar, pastry chef. The Poway location is perfect, Sara Escobar said, because it is centrally located. The single biggest client the bakery serves is the Barona casino. We go up there every day to Ramona, she said. Its a big load we drop off. They want it fresh every day. Pastry Chef Eddie Escobar was busy making some fruit tarts while a worker next to him prepared dough for what would become cinnamon rolls for delivery the next day to Barona. He said his day starts around 5 a.m. and often goes into the evening. The bakery operates on a 24-hour cycle. Theres always someone here, Sara Escobar said. There are over 1,000 varieties of baked good available from OBriens. Sourdough bread is the single biggest seller. The bakery produces about 500 loaves of it each day. For information about OBriens go to obriensbakerysd.com on the web. jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have captured amazing new photos of NGC 4449, which is found in the constellation of Canes Venatici. NGC 4449 is located some 12.5 million light-years away in the constellation of Canes Venatici. Otherwise known as Caldwell 21, LEDA 40973 or UGC 7592, this galaxy is approximately 20,000 light-years across. NGC 4449 was discovered by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel on April 27, 1788. It is part of the M94 galaxy group, which lies close to the Local Group that hosts our Milky Way. NGC 4449 has been forming stars for several billion years, but it is currently experiencing a period of star formation at a much higher rate than in the past, the Webb astronomers said. Such unusually explosive and intense star formation activity is called a starburst and for that reason NGC 4449 is known as a starburst galaxy. In fact, at the current rate of star formation, the gas supply that feeds the production of stars would only last for another billion years or so. Starbursts usually occur in the central regions of galaxies, but NGC 4449 displays more widespread star formation activity, and the very youngest stars are observed both in the nucleus and in streams surrounding the galaxy. Its likely that the current widespread starburst was triggered by interaction or merging with a smaller companion. Indeed, we think NGC 4449s star formation has been influenced by interactions with several of its neighbors. NGC 4449 resembles primordial star-forming galaxies which grew by merging with and accreting smaller stellar systems, they added. Since NGC 4449 is close enough to be observed in great detail, it is the ideal laboratory for us to study what may have occurred during galaxy formation and evolution in the early Universe. NGC 4449 was observed as part of the Feedback in Emerging extrAgalactic Star clusTers (FEAST) survey. The images combine infrared data from Webbs MIRI (Mid-InfraRed Instrument) and NIRCam (Near-InfraRed Camera) instruments. Observations in the infrared reveal the galaxys creeping tendrils of gas, dust and stars, the astronomers said. The bright blue spots reveal countless individual stars, while the bright yellow regions that weave throughout the galaxy indicate concentrations of active stellar nurseries, where new stars are forming. The orange-red areas indicate the distribution of a type of carbon-based compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (or PAHs) the MIRI F770W filter is particularly suited to imaging these important molecules. The bright red spots correspond to regions rich in hydrogen that have been ionized by the radiation from the newly formed stars. The diffuse gradient of blue light around the central region shows the distribution of older stars. The compact light-blue regions within the red ionized gas, mostly concentrated in the galaxys outer region, show the distribution of young star clusters. Nokia has moved closer to exiting Russia, with the countrys President Vladimir Putin authorising state-backed Rostelecom to acquire the Finnish vendors stake in a Russian joint venture. On Wednesday (29th May), a decree was issued authorising a subsidiary of Rostelecom to buy out Nokias 49% stake in the unit. The Moscow Times reports that under laws implemented in response to Western sanctions on Russia, Putins direct approval is required for any business transaction that would result in a Western firm leaving the market if it operates in a sector deemed strategically important by Russians government. Nokia and Rostelecom launched the venture, RTC - Network Technologies, in 2018 as a vehicle to invest in various technologies, including 5G and IoT. Nokia confirmed its intention to exit Russia in April 2022 following the countrys invasion of Ukraine in February that year. Since the invasion, Western countries have taken aim at the telecoms sector in Russia, placing sanctions on exports of technology. Russia has retaliated by implementing measures enabling it to seize the domestic assets of US-based companies and individuals, as well as taking several Western firms under temporary control a move decried as illegal by some of its targets. Google has announced plans to invest US$2 billion in Malaysia. It aims to develop its first data centre in the country, along with a Google Cloud hub. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been widely quoted as saying that the investment is expected to add US$3.2 billion to the economy and create 26,500 jobs by 2030. There arent too many specifics at the moment. However, Google has said in a statement that the new hubs will be developed at a business park in central Malaysias Selangor state, which is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, encircling the capital Kuala Lumpur. The business park aims to meet growing demand for cloud services and for artificial intelligence literacy programmes for Malaysian students and educators. Malaysia will be the twelfth country to house a Google data centre. The Malaysian Google Cloud hub which will deliver services to large enterprises, startups and the public sector will join 40 regions and 121 zones currently in operation around the world, according to Google. Theres been an extraordinary amount of investment activity related to telecommunications in recent weeks in Malaysia, notably Microsofts recent announcement that it plans to put US$2.2 billion over the next four years into building Malaysias new cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure. However, other headlines include, to name only a few, the first Apple store in the country, plans for a US$107 billion investment for its semiconductor industry, a deal with Ericsson and Intel and plans to build Southeast Asias largest integrated circuit design park. Just like a decade ago, Latah County still lacks the resources to address housing and food security needs among its residents, according to a new study by the League of Women Voters of Moscow. The Poverty on the Palouse report, which aims to provide a snapshot of the state of poverty in Latah County, is an update of a similar study conducted in 2012. The new poverty study was published earlier this month and focuses on deficiencies related to housing, food insecurity, child care, health care and transportation. It also provides information on local resources that aim to meet those needs. The study can be found at the League of Women Voters website, my.lwv.org/idaho/moscow, and in the Moscow Library. According to the study, some strides were made in addressing poverty on the Palouse since 2012. But rising prices and the COVID-19 pandemic have left many residents struggling to meet their basic needs. Food banks, for example,are having a difficult time keeping up with rising demand. Nancy Chaney, who is chairperson of the Poverty on the Palouse Report, said she was most surprised to see how some food banks have seen their demand double in recent years. In 2022, the West Side Food Pantry, in Moscow, averaged 500 visits per month by adults, plus 300 visits by seniors and children. Those averages doubled in 2023. The Moscow Food Bank had 650 family visits per month in 2022 and also saw a significant increase in 2023. On a positive note, Chaney said food banks have done a better job of networking with each other since 2012 to help with storage and distribution of food supplies. The study also says the lack of affordable housing is a growing problem in Latah County. In a 2019 regional housing assessment published by the Partnership for Economic Prosperity, it was estimated the region was short of the needed number of single-family homes by roughly 340 units. From 2017 to 2027, the region needed an additional 270 single-family units per year, the housing assessment said. Chaney said new housing developments are out of the range of middle-class families, let alone low-income families. Organizations like Moscow Affordable Housing Trust are working to provide more affordable homes in the area, but not at the scale or pace that is needed to alleviate the shortage, the poverty study says. Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, recently shared his reflections on social media platform X following an insightful meeting with Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki of Japan. The discussions took place during the Ambassador's visit to two pivotal Adani Group sites: the Mundra Port and the Khavda location, home to the world's largest Hybrid Renewable Energy Park. "Had a very engaging discussion with Amb Hiroshi Suzuki of Japan. We are grateful for his visit to our Mundra Port and to Khavda where we are building the world's largest Hybrid Renewable Energy Park of 30 GW capacity. The Ambassador's appreciation for India's culture, the value he places on our partnership and his tremendous support for India are truly inspiring. @HiroSuzukiAmbJP", Adani expressed in his post. Adani extended his gratitude to Ambassador Suzuki, highlighting the significance of his visit to these strategic locations. He emphasized that the Ambassador's support is invaluable in driving forward innovative and sustainable initiatives within India's renewable energy sector. Hybrid Renewable Energy Park at Khavda marks a significant milestone in India's renewable energy aspirations. Adani underscored the importance of strong international partnerships, noting that Ambassador Suzuki's appreciation for India's cultural heritage and his commitment to mutual respect and shared goals are key to advancing these initiatives. The planned 30 GWPark at Khavda marks a significant milestone in India's renewable energy aspirations. Adani underscored the importance of strong international partnerships, noting that Ambassador Suzuki's appreciation for India's cultural heritage and his commitment to mutual respect and shared goals are key to advancing these initiatives. Ambassador Suzuki's visit to Mundra Port and the Khavda project site underscores Japan's growing interest and support for India's renewable energy sector. The positive sentiments exchanged during this meeting reflect the strengthening cooperation between India and Japan in the realms of renewable energy and sustainable development. This visit and the ensuing dialogue signal a robust partnership aimed at achieving significant progress in sustainable energy solutions, setting a precedent for future collaborations between the two nations. Hum Fauji Initiatives (HFI) has been recognized for the second consecutive year as one of Indias Top 'Most Future Ready' companies for the year 2024-2025. This prestigious accolade was unveiled on May 23, 2024, at the Economic Times ET Future Ready Awards held at The Sahara Star, Mumbai. Joining the ranks of industry giants such as Amazon, Bajaj Capital, Capgemini, Coca-Cola, Lenovo, MakeMyTrip, Microsoft, and Reliance, Hum Fauji Initiatives stands tall among the leading global corporations. With a large number of companies vying for the honour through rigorous selection rounds spanning two months, Hum Fauji Initiatives and NTPC were the only two organisations that were recognized and included in this hallowed list for two consecutive years highlighting HFI's unwavering commitment to excellence. "HFI has done it again for the second time in a row," exclaimed Col Sanjeev Govila (Retd), CEO of HFI. "Competing with so many outstanding small and medium companies across the nation and being listed among the 17 future-ready companies in the small and mid sized enterprises for the coming year is a monumental achievement." This accolade is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire team. Delving deeper, it is clear that the following core values have led to this enormous win for a niche brand. A business that redefined how Blue Ocean Strategy can be effectively and continually applied to the financial services industry. Some features include: STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPD is asking for the publics help to find an individual sought for questioning in connection with an alleged incident where a girl was sexually abused on a MTA bus in Mariners Harbor. A 15-year-old girl was on a S46 bus when an unknown individual approached and began talking to her on May 21 at about 10:45 p.m., according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. The individual allegedly put his hand on her thigh, kissed her neck, and bit her hand. The individual exited the bus at Van Pelt Avenue and Walker Street and then fled to parts unknown, according to the police statement. The individual sought for questioning is described by police as a man about 36 years old who is about 61 tall with a light complexion, medium build and long hair. He was wearing black headphones, a black tank top and black pants. The NYPD provided the media with a photo of a man sought for questioning in connection with the incident. Anyone with information in regard to this incident 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/, on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential. WANTED-Sexual Abuse: 5/21/24 at approx. 10:45PM, on the S46 Bus @NYPD121PCT Staten Island. The suspect approached a 15-yr-female & touched her thigh, kissed her neck & bit her hand before exiting at Van Pelt & Walker. Any info call us at 800-577-TIPS Reward UP to $3,500 pic.twitter.com/OXGdkPOqnl NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) May 30, 2024 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In an effort to tackle the mental health crisis among youth, a new first-of-its-kind blueprint has been unveiled to help identify and support Staten Island children and young adults. Borough President Vito Fossella, government health officials, school leaders and local partners in health care unveiled the plan, titled the Behavioral Health Blueprint for Staten Island Children and Young Adults, on Thursday during a press conference at the College of Staten Island (CSI) in Willowbrook. It aims support children and young adults from pre-K through 24 years old. Fossella noted that the effort began in December 2022, when mental health among young people was named a priority. A task force was created to form a blueprint that would be customized just for Staten Island. Its a community-based, school-based, primary care-centered approach to ensure that every child on Staten Island who may show signs of behavioral problems or mental illness will get the help they need, said Fossella. And that will come between a collaboration with the Department of Education, the health-care providers, so many of you in this room, to ensure that here on Staten Island, with this customized not a one size fits all but a customized approach that will work for the kids and the families of Staten Island. The plan aims to support children and young adults from pre-K through 24 years old. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)Annalise Knudson The unveiling comes as Staten Island youth are experiencing an alarming increase in mental health conditions, particularly depression and suicidal ideations, according to data. In response to this growing mental health crisis, Fossella and his health team partnered with John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and reputable, longstanding Staten Island organizations to develop a framework to best provide services and aid to youth in mental and emotional need. Its a community-based, school-based, primary care-centered approach to ensure that every child on Staten Island who may show signs of behavioral problems or mental illness will get the help they need, said Borough President Vito Fossella. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)Annalise Knudson Fossella and community health partners unveiled this ground-up, organic blueprint that will identify youth suffering from mental and behavioral health conditions, develop systems to support them, and ultimately improve mental and behavioral health outcomes in youth. It was formed after months of extensive community participation with educators, school leadership, treatment providers, clergy, parents and youth. The north star goal of zero suicides was selected to guide the work. That includes: Reducing suicidal ideation Reduce suicidal attempts Reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations for suicidality Improve transition to care post-hospitality Increase self-management, connectedness, and resiliency Decrease anxiety, bullying, and depression Decrease substance misuse and overdoses Well do our best to educate their minds, but we need all of you to make sure we touch their hearts. So behavior and mental health is something thats prioritized in our schools, said Dr. Marion Wilson, Staten Island District 31 superintendent. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)Annalise Knudson The borough president was joined by: Staten Island District 31 Superintendent Dr. Marion Wilson, Dr. Ginny Mantello, director of health and wellness for the borough presidents office; Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) President and CEO Dr. Daniel Messina; Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) associate chairman of psychology Dr. Peter Steen, and representatives from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Wilson said the initiative will serve not just as a model for the rest of New York City, but the rest of the country. Well do our best to educate their minds, but we need all of you to make sure we touch their hearts. So behavior and mental health is something thats prioritized in our schools, said Wilson. Dr. Peter Steen, associate chairman of psychiatry at Staten Island University Hospital, speaks during the press conference. Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)Annalise Knudson A multi-tiered system of supports will be in schools starting in the fall, including: increased trainings for school social workers and counselors; Teen Mental Health and First Aid for ninth- and tenth-graders; wellness training for school staff; a mental health literacy pilot for sixth-graders through a partnership with Pathways to Empower; a partnership with Talkspace to promote NYC Teenspace and track Staten Island data. Steen placed importance on approaching mental health from a public health perspective, adding, And thats what were doing here today. Dr. Dan Messina, president and CEO of Richmond University Medical Center, speaks during the press conference. Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)Annalise Knudson Messina asked for help from Staten Islanders urging the public to follow the saying: If you see something, say something, when it comes to mental health. We need to get, I think, the help to broaden the reach to these folks that are walking around, walking by us, in the subway station, wherever..., he said. I think thats a piece we need to do some something better on public awareness and education and reach out to the parents, in the schools. Also at the announcement were: representatives from government health agencies; representatives from Staten Islands state senators Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Andrew Lanza; a representative from Richmond Country District Attorney Michael McMahons office; representatives from local hospitals and health-care providers, and representatives from community health organizations. I have been highly impressed by the commitment of the many Staten Island partners in this endeavor, along with their collaborative spirit. It is clear to me that Staten Island represents a community that is dedicated to improving the lives of its youth, said Dr. Nick Ialongo, of Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Ginny Mantello, director of health and wellness for the office of Borough President Vito Fossella, speaks during the press conference. Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)Annalise Knudson You can view the blueprint at www.statenislandusa.com/mentalhealthblueprint.html. Donald Trump was found guilty in his criminal hush-money and election-interference trial in Manhattan on Thursday, making him the first former president in history to be a convicted felon. Trump potentially faces time behind bars after the jury came back with a unanimous verdict among the 34 felony counts he faced. It was the second day of deliberations Thursday after the panel began the weighty task a day before. The jury deliberated for about 9 1/2 hours total: about 4 1/2 hours Wednesday and five hours Thursday. MORE TRUMP COVERAGE Angry Trump reacts to guilty verdict: Im a very innocent man Trump convicted in hush-money case: Where do his other trials stand? Minutes before the jury was to be sent home, it transmitted the news that it reached a verdict by note to Judge Juan M. Merchan at 4:20 p.m, just few minutes after hed announced to the courtroom minus the jury that court would adjourn at 4:30 p.m., barring a verdict. Trump sat in the courtroom with his arms folded across his chest as he awaited the reading of the verdict in his hush money trial. When the verdicts were announced, Trump had a frown on his face. Trump lead lawyer Todd Blanche looked away from his client with his left hand to his temple. Minutes earlier, Trump and Blanche had entered the courtroom exuberant, believing that the jury had failed to reach a verdict in the second day of deliberations a sign that maybe the trial was headed for a hung jury. But their moods quickly changed when Merchan announced a verdict had been reached. Trump is expected to quickly appeal the verdict and will face an awkward dynamic as he seeks to return to the campaign trail as a convicted felon and the presumptive Republican nominee to face incumbent President Joe Biden, a Democrat. There are no campaign rallies on the calendar for now, though hes expected to hold fundraisers next week. It will likely take several months for Merchan, who oversaw the case, to decide whether to sentence Trump to prison. Trump could face up to four years behind bars. Sentencing is currently set for July. Trump faces three other felony trials, but the New York case may be the only one to reach a conclusion before the November election, adding to the significance of the outcome. Though the legal and historical implications of the verdict are readily apparent, the political consequences are less so given its potential to reinforce rather than reshape already-hardened opinions about Trump. Thursdays verdict centered on $130,000 in payments that Trumps company made to his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen. He paid that sum on Trumps behalf to keep porn actor Stormy Daniels from going public with her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier. Trump has denied the sexual encounter ever happened. Prosecutors argued the payments to Cohen were falsely logged as legal fees. The said it was part of a scheme to bury damaging stories Trump feared could help his opponent in the 2016 race, particularly as Trumps reputation was suffering at the time from comments he had made about women. Trump has acknowledged reimbursing Cohen for the payment and that it was designed to stop Daniels from going public about the alleged encounter. But Trump said it had nothing to do with the campaign. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco. Editors note: This story is part of a series of stories exploring New Yorks controversial proposed Medical Aid in Dying Act. At stake is how the law defines what is permissible as people face heart-wrenching decisions about how to spend their final days. Are you a Staten Islander who supports or opposes medical aid in dying? Email this reporter at llovallo@siadvance.com. *** Update: Longtime Staten Islander Brian Moffett, medical aid in dying proponent with ALS, dies at 66 *** STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. For years, Brian Moffett was everybodys go-to guy. Whether helping a family member, friend or stranger, the nearly lifelong Staten Islander built a reputation as a man who could be counted on. Moffett, a now-retired 25-year employee of the MTA, aided in the cleanup efforts at Ground Zero following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; fed Staten Islanders in need when Hurricane Sandy decimated the borough in 2012; and served free food from his massive grills at countless large community events like the Westerleigh Folk Festival time and time again, among his many other generous deeds. Moffett, the man who gave everything yet asked for nothing in return, now has two urgent requests for New York state lawmakers: Pass the proposed Medical Aid in Dying Act, and let him be the first to use it. Brian poses for a photo from his room in a temporary rehabilitation center in Manhattan on May 28, 2024. Im suffering more than you can imagine, said the 66-year-old. Im down to one arm. I cant walk, its tough to talk, breathing is getting harder, I can hardly speak. And for me to live, I need 24-hour help, seven days a week, which is hard. Everything I do, I need help. Im just really hurt that New York is not passing [medical aid in dying], and now [lawmakers] are going to make me suffer." (Courtesy of Brian Moffett)(Courtesy of Brian Moffett) The Medical Aid in Dying Act, which counts Staten Island state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton as its prime co-sponsor, would allow mentally competent, terminally ill patients over the age of 18 the choice of self-administering prescribed life-ending medication. Currently, just 10 states Oregon, Washington, Vermont, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maine, New Mexico, Montana and Washington, D.C., permit medical aid in dying. The measure has failed to progress past the committee stage in every New York state legislative session since 2015. I HOPE TO BE THE FIRST ONE Moffett was officially diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) just two months ago. Though symptoms of the rapidly progressive disease began around the time of his retirement two years ago, they ramped up last fall. In October, Moffett drove across the country, from New York to Oregon, to attend the wedding of his son, Jake, 30. Brian with his son, Jake. Brian told the Advance/SILive.com he has Jake's blessing to use medical aid in dying should it become legal in New York state. (Courtesy of Brian Moffett)(Courtesy of Brian Moffett) I had to fly back to New York, and ship my vehicle back, because I wasnt able to walk, Moffett told the Advance/SILive.com. I started one day with a cane, next day with a walker. A week later, I stood up and fell down. A five-month wait to see specialists at a highly regarded hospital in Manhattan eventually led to the shocking diagnosis. The incurable disease has since stolen a majority of his manual dexterity, arm function and mobility. Im suffering more than you can imagine, said Moffett, 66. Im down to one arm. I cant walk, its tough to talk, breathing is getting harder, I can hardly speak. And for me to live, I need 24-hour help, seven days a week, which is hard. Everything I do, I need help. Im just really hurt that New York is not passing [medical aid in dying], and now [lawmakers] are going to make me suffer. ... Im the one that was always busy helping family and friends. And here I am now, I cant help myself. The former West Brighton and Westerleigh resident who relocated to upstate Bethel, New York, two years ago, but is currently residing in a temporary rehabilitation center in Manhattan doesnt want to live out what ALS has in store for him. ALS never stops, it continues taking away your body, your muscles, your voice, your tongue, everything, said Moffett. I hope to be the first one to use medical aid in dying in New York. SUPPORT OF FAMILY, FRIENDS Moffetts desire for medical aid in dying has been buoyed by the support of his son, and other close friends. My son understands, and said it was OK [to use medical aid in dying], said Moffett. He would hold my hand, and he would sing a song for me. We already talked about it. Jake Moffett has since set up a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for his fathers remaining time at the rehabilitation center, and to fund at-home care once the elder Moffett returns upstate in mid-June. For Catherine OCallaghan (nee Holden), watching one of her best friends deteriorate in front of her has been devastating. The former longtime resident of Stapleton Heights is one of a few people currently helping Moffett who was deemed by doctors as too medically compromised to travel to another state to legally employ medical aid in dying with day-to-day necessities. Its heartbreaking, but he is so proud of the fact that he could be a spokesperson for this. He feels like hes doing something, like hes fulfilling a purpose, said the retired former director of hospice at Staten Island University Hospital. Hes hoping that after he passes, it can be his legacy. That someday, other people dont have to go through what hes going through. For Catherine OCallaghan, second from left in the middle row, watching one of her best friends deteriorate in front of her has been devastating. The former longtime resident of Stapleton Heights currently helps Brian who was deemed by his doctors as too medically compromised to travel to another state to use their medical aid in dying laws with day-to-day necessities. (Courtesy of Catherine OCallaghan)(Courtesy of Catherine OCallaghan) OCallaghan, 75, now a New Jersey resident, was a supporter of New Jerseys Medical Aid in Dying Act, which passed in 2019. Shes pushing hard for New Yorks proposed legislation. Last week, OCallaghan was arrested at the Capitol in Albany alongside other protesters from the pro-medical aid in dying organization Compassion & Choices. The group was calling on lawmakers to stop the suffering. Im ready to go the distance, pledged OCallaghan, a proponent of bodily autonomy. Its really, really important to me. Brian is such an inspiration. Were not talking about killing yourself out of despair. ... I believe we should all have the choice. It doesnt mean anyones going to use it. Were more afraid of a horrific ending than death. When you see someone like Brian, whos facing death, and yet has the courage to say this is what I want to do so I can keep my dignity ... its so brave. Brian cooks hamburgers and hot dogs at the Seeley Summer Bash in New Brighton on July 24, 2010. (Staten Island Advance/ Bill Lyons)Staten Island Advance RUNNING OUT OF TIME The 2023-2024 legislative session ends in exactly one week, on June 6. If the proposed bill doesnt pass, it will need to be reintroduced in the 2025-26 legislative session which doesnt begin until January. The deadline is daunting, but prime co-sponsor Scarcella-Spanton hasnt given up hope it can still be done. Passing this would position New York among a growing number of states recognizing the importance of providing dignified end-of-life options to its residents, said the Staten Island senator. This legislation does not push individuals toward ending their own lives, it merely helps people who have exhausted all other avenues for relief and are in profound suffering. I am continuing to push for a vote on the floor in the last week of session. THE DAY HE WANTS TO DIE In Moffetts ideal world, lawmakers will scramble to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act in the next seven days; doctors will deem he qualifies for it; and he will plan a party to celebrate his life with those closest to him. Then, on Aug. 1 his 67th birthday Moffett will self-administer legally prescribed life-ending medication in his own home, comforted by his son, Jake, and beloved dog, Shelly. The looming reality is that Moffetts wish wont be granted. Its a scenario that has left him feeling incredibly frustrated. I was a law-abiding citizen all my life, said Moffett. Ive done the right thing all my life. This is not living. This is suffering. Nobody has the right to allow me to suffer. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Halloween is still five months away, but Mars Wrigley is already gearing up: The candymaker which produces brands like Twix, Snickers, 3 Musketeers and more recently unveiled some of its brand new seasonal innovations. Brace yourself for Pumpkin Pie M&Ms. At Mars, we celebrate Halloween every day, all year long, said Tim LeBel, chief Halloween officer and president of sales at Mars Wrigley North America, in a press release. Our 2024 Mars Wrigley Halloween product line-up is a direct reflection of our consumer obsession, and offers a playful blend of taste, creativity and on-trend seasonal offerings to deliver products we know will end up in the good pile on Halloween night. And Pumpkin Pie M&Ms arent the only new addition to the candy lineup. Fan-favorite M&Ms Ghouls - a mix of Milk Chocolate, Peanut and Peanut Butter M&Ms - will be coming back, as will Ghoulish Green Snickers and Twix bars. The press release did not indicate when the new M&Ms flavor will hit shelves, but according to allrecipes.com, the brand is releasing these Halloween goodies this summer. Its happened. Again. Theres a fresh accusation that former President Donald Trump used the n-word when he was the host of The Apprentice during the shows first season. According to an essay in Slate, former show producer Bill Pruitt recounted how Trump openly weighed whether a Black person should be cast as the winner and that Trump openly used the n-word when referring to the contestant, Kwame Jackson. I think Kwame would be a great addition to the organization, Kepcher told Trump when deciding between him and contestant Bill Rancic, Pruitt wrote. But, I mean, would America buy a n----- winning? Trump reportedly said during the conversation. Pruitt wrote that he was stunned by what Trump said. He also said theres likely evidence on tape of him using the slur. But he cast doubt on whether they would ever surface. In 2018, Omarosa Manigault Newman, who was also on the show and worked in Trumps administration, wrote in her memoir that there were numerous times Trump was caught using the n-word. Though Omarosa said she never heard Trump use the word herself. A couple of years later, Mary L. Trump, the former presidents niece, said that she regularly heard her uncle use the n-word and anti-Semitic slurs. An engineer works in the water filter company Mitte in Berlin, Germany, in 2020. Photo by Reuters About 4,000 people, mainly from Vietnam's central provinces, went to Germany to study vocational courses last year, accounting for 80% of the total number of Vietnamese students there. There are nearly 7,400 Vietnamese students in Germany, an increase of about 30% compared to before Covid-19, said Steffen Kaupp, Deputy Director of the Vietnamese office of the Goethe-Institut, a non-profit German cultural association operational worldwide with 159 institutes. Kaupp told an event of the institute in Hanoi this week that Vietnamese people are very keen on vocational training, with nursing and hospitality being the most popular, accounting for nearly half, followed by engineering. "Vocational colleges in Germany are trying to attract Vietnamese students because they are very diligent and perform well academically," he said." Most of the students come from Nghe An, Quang Binh, and Ha Tinh [all central provinces]." Felix Wagenfeld, Head of the German Academic Exchange Service office in Hanoi, the central point of contact for all questions relating to academic exchange between Germany and the countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, said Germany is increasingly attracting Vietnamese students for many reasons. These include an open educational system, tuition-free policies, numerous courses offered in English, and dedicated support from schools in internships and job placement after graduation, he said. Furthermore, since the beginning of March, the German government has relaxed several regulations for international students, amid a severe skilled labor shortage. The current work allowance for international students is now 140 days per year, an increase of 20 days from before. For vocational training, the age limit for applications is now 35, whereas previously it was 25. The salary for recent graduates in many professions is currently about $2,500-3,800 per month, equivalent to the average in Germany. The biggest barrier for Vietnamese students is the language. "Even though the courses are in English, they still need German for daily communications. They are not weak at it, but it still requires time for them to adapt. Some Vietnamese students graduate late for this reason," Wagenfeld said. Kaupp of the Goethe-Institut also noted that some vocational schools require a German language certificate at the A2 level, but this level is not sufficient for students to integrate with daily life in Germany. He advised students to prepare and take the certification test about 10-12 months before entering the country. According to the German Academic Exchange Service report on international students, in the academic year of 2022-2023, there were more than 458,000 international students in Germany, an increase of 52% compared to 2014. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R Staten Island/South Brooklyn) fired back at Gov. Kathy Hochul after Hochul pointed a finger at congressional Republicans for the latest failure of passing a border bill. Over a year ago, the House passed the strongest border security package in congressional history and Chuck Schumer has refused to bring it up for a vote. Yesterdays vote was a sad attempt to give vulnerable Democrats cover on a top issue for almost every American. Additionally, the House passed multiple measures to deport criminals with bipartisan support and Senator Schumer has yet to allow a vote on any of them. If Hochul and Schumer actually cared about the border, theyd call on President Biden to use his existing authority to reverse the over 60 policy changes he made instead of bringing up legislation that only gives him the discretion to continue this crisis he single-handedly created, Malliotakis said on Friday, May 24. Only one Republican voted in favor of the measure that garnered 43 years, according to the Senate website. Four Democrats joined in the 50 nays and seven officials opted out of voting, ultimately causing the bill to perish like its sister bill did in February. Last time, however, the votes tallied to 49 versus 50, as stated in a CNN article. Rep. Malliotakis knows her party needs to cynically extend a crisis at the border for the sake of election politics. The fact that she has not fought for any funds to help Staten Island and the city on this issue, or supported a single bipartisan solution -- like the one Senate Republicans wrote -- shows that the Congresswoman has no intention of doing anything real to fix the problem, a spokesperson for Sen. Schumer, Angelo Roefaro, said. In order for the border bill to pass which allows for emergency supplemental appropriations for border security and combatting fentanyl for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes, the Senate website detailed the bill must garner 60 votes, ABC News said. Here we go again: Republicans in Congress have once again blocked bipartisan legislation to secure our border and address the migrant and asylum seeker crisis. President Biden and Senator Schumer negotiated the toughest, fairest border bill in decades but the legislation fell apart because one party refuses to compromise. The only way out of this crisis is for New Yorks 10 Members of Congress who serve in the majority to march into Speaker Johnsons office and demand he pass bipartisan legislation that helps New York. Everything else is just talk, Hochul said in a written statement on Thursday, May 23. The Democrats brought the bill back to the table after the government continues to endure criticism for the handling of the border and the migrant crisis. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- One of New Yorks leading legislators is sounding the alarm on a major oil merger that could leave Staten Islanders paying more at the pump. On Thursday, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York) held a press conference on the North Shore of Staten Island imploring the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to block Chevrons looming $53 billion purchase of Hess, the latest in a long line of oil mergers that the senator claims will result in higher gas prices due to reduced competition in the market. When oil giants merge, do you know who pays the price? The consumer. The price goes way up, Schumer said. So I am here to sound the alarm and coming out strongly against the merger between Chevron and Hess. We are telling the Federal Trade Commission to block this merger ASAP. The senator said that Staten Islanders will be disproportionately impacted by the potential merger and subsequent rise in gas prices due to the boroughs car-dependency and lack of reliable mass transit options. Here on Staten Island people are dependent on their cars. We like our mass transit here, but theres not enough of it. Therefore everyone needs cars. Cars mean gasoline and mergers mean higher prices, Schumer said. He pointed out that Staten Islanders already pay higher gas prices than most of the country. As of Thursday, the average price for a gallon of gas on Staten Island was $3.72, which is six cents above the New York average of $3.66 and 16 cents above the national average of $3.56, according to AAA. Assemblyman Charles Fall (D-North Shore/Brooklyn/Lower Manhattan), who serves as chair of the State Assemblys Subcommittee on Consumer and Fraud Protection, said the FTC should be more focused on protecting consumers wallets than corporate profits. This deal would further concentrate power in the hands of Big Oil, allowing them to manipulate prices and undermine consumer protections. Staten Islanders, and indeed all New Yorkers, already bear the brunt of high energy costs, and this merger would only exacerbate the problem. The FTC must prioritize the interests of consumers over corporate profits and halt this merger to prevent further harm to our communities and ensure a fair, competitive marketplace, Fall said. Schumer has long rallied against consolidation in the oil industry dating back to his time as a congressman in the 1090s, when he fervently opposed massive mergers between Exxon and Mobil, as well as Chevron and Texaco. Weve seen this movie before. Weve seen when mergers occurred, the price goes up. You cant have that happen. Im here to fight it and I want to assure Staten Islanders that Ill do everything in my power to prevent this big merger from happening, said Schumer. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here. Catherine Mary Rose Dusty Gysel, 91, of Hampton, New York, passed away on Apr. 19, 2024. Born on Jun. 16, 1932, in Staten Island, she graduated from St. Patricks schools and attended Wagner College. Catherine worked at various companies before dedicating her time to Maryknoll Sisters and Historic Hudson Valley and was an active volunteer and community member. For the full obituary, click here. YESTERDAYS OBITUARIES Charles J. Maniscalco, 81, passed away on May 27, 2024. A dedicated FDNY Lieutenant and Army Reserves veteran. Charles was a graduate of Curtis High School iand graduated from the College of Staten Island with a degree in business. Maniscalco also worked as a Staten Island real estate broker for 38 years. He is survived by his partner, sons, sister, and grandchildren. Read the full obituary on SILive. Patrick McCauley, 89, of West Brighton, passed away on May 28, 2024. Born in Ireland, McCauley was a U.S. Army veteran and devoted husband of 60 years. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter. Read the full obituary on SILive. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by Advance Media staff. [Editors note: This is an entry from the courtroom diary of reporter Luke Peteley, who is present for summations and deliberations in the trial of former President Donald J. Trump in Manhattan Criminal Court.] *** NEW YORK, N.Y. Brrrring! It started with a shrill ringing sound just before 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Everyone nearly jumped out of their seat. The courtroom, which was hosting many restless members of the media, came alive with a buzz. Its a note, someone whispered. A court officer made his way to where the jury was being held and, in a matter of moments, court was back in session. The prosecution packed into pews and the reporters bold enough to hold out in the alternate waiting room came barging in. Donald Trump found his seat just after 3 p.m. followed by his family, the former president maintaining his composed, yet pensive, demeanor. Not a minute later, Justice Juan Merchan swiftly assumed the bench and confirmed what was suspected. There was a note. In truth, I admit that my heart felt like it was bounding out of my chest, in part because the bell startled me (I was writing entry four at the time), and on the other hand, the anxiety of covering what I believed to be an upcoming verdict began to creep in. Trump sat with his head slightly tilted, awaiting what was to come. Merchan said the jury requests to listen to a few of the testimonies of David Pecker once again. Informing both the defense and prosecution of the request, Merchan disappeared for more than 45 minutes. All the while, Trump sat with his counsel, face forward. Briiiiing! Another bell rings. Court officers proceeded in and out of the door by the side of the bench, the door used by the jury to enter and exit. Merchan emerged at around 3:55 p.m., stating that another note was signed at 3:51 p.m. The jury wishes to hear the judges instructions once more, Merchan says. Moments later, the jury members came out and took their places. Merchan informed the jury that the testimony transcripts are being gathered, and asked that they clarify whether or not they require the full set of instructions or simply a piece of those instructions. Additionally, with everyone present, Merchan reminded the jury of the rules regarding the confidentiality of the jury and stated that deliberations would resume Thursday at 9:30 a.m. The jury was promptly dismissed and, after a few more minutes, Trump proceeded out of the room, a stern look on his face. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Picking a college major is an important decision before graduating and some jobs pay less than others. If financial security is important, you may want to ditch choosing some college majors that will pay you less mid-career, according to a new analysis of jobs and salaries by the New York Federal Reserve. The nationwide figures are from 2022, which shows mid-career graduates in their career at ages 35 to 45. Heres a look at the top 10 lowest-paying college majors you may want to avoid, according to mid-career salary numbers from the New York Federal Reserve. 10 Performing arts: $64,000 9 Family and consumer sciences: $59,000 8 Special education: $57,000 7 Theology and religion: $56,000 6 Social services: $56,000 5 Miscellaneous education: $56,000 4 Secondary education: $55,000 3 General education: $52,000 2 Elementary education: $52,000 1 Early childhood education: $48,000 A separate recent analysis found the most common majors with the highest earning potential by bachelors degree only. Stacker, a data journalism website, looked at data analyzed by Learner from the Census Bureau via the University of Minnesota IPUMS to determine the most common college majors in the United States. It then looked at the median salary for those with a bachelors degree and those with a postgraduate degree (such as a masters, professional or doctoral). A business degree is the most common undergraduate major. As of 2022, around 8.5 million adults working full-time had a bachelors degree in a business-related field, according to data, and bout 2.9 million of these adults also earned a postgraduate degree in the field. You can find the college degrees with the most earning potential on SILive.com. Decorated SLU Alum Makes an Impact Globally and Locally Located in the heart of The Grove, Everest Cafe is a subtle, yet colorful touch to the lively food-scene in St. Louis. Serving a blend of Nepalese, Indian, and Korean food, this long-standing restaurant of 22 years attracts visitors from around the world, students from one of the many nearby Universities, and locals, who consider Everest Cafe a regular spot in their dining rotation. Devi States, PhD, DHSc, MPH, MSW, MS poses with his degrees that are proudly displayed on the wall at Everest Cafe.. But what makes Everest Cafe special is not its food, but rather the head and heart of the business, owner and operator, Devi Gurung States, Ph.D. Welcoming, out-going, and friendly to all, this SLU public health and social work alum has dreamed big his entire life, and Everest Cafe is only one piece of the puzzle. Born in Nepal, States became an orphan as a teenager when his parents died from a landslide caused by a monsoon. Living in a country with a class divide, and with no network, resources, or job access, States became unhoused in Kathmandu. After living on the streets for nearly two years, States finally found a job at a restaurant washing dishes and busing tables. Working at K.C. Restaurant is where he met what he refers to as his American father, who was a doctor from the United States that visited the restaurant regularly during a climb of Mt. Everest. After learning about States and his story, the doctor offered to bring States to the United States and provide him with housing and education. States was adopted by the doctor and attended high school in Spokane, Washington and then received his bachelors degree from Eastern Washington University. Reflecting on where he came from and where he wanted to go, States developed two dreams, which he describes as not my passion, but I feel it is my karma. First, he dreamed of owning his own restaurant. Second, he dreamed of helping women and children who are poor and suffering as he once was. With these missions guiding him, States continued to collect knowledge, certifications, and degrees throughout his life; currently completing his third Doctoral degree in addition to his three Master's degrees, two of which are from Saint Louis University. Now that he has the opportunity and the access, States loves to learn and set the example that no matter where you come from, you can achieve anything you dream of. States also holds the philosophy that knowledge is wealth, especially after his interaction with the Dalai Lama while he was working as his driver on the religious leaders trip to St. Louis. He told me in Buddhist philosophy rich means to have a wealth of knowledge. Money is temporary. It comes and goes. I told him my life story and he told me Youre rich, States said. Although, it is clear that its not money that drives States to get out of bed each morning. After arming himself with a wealth of knowledge during his time receiving his Master's of Public Health and Master's of Social Work at SLU in the mid-90s, and becoming inspired by the Jesuit mission, States used what he learned in the programs to develop his own non-profit. Himalayan Family Healthcare Project was developed by States in 2010 as the second piece of his lifes work, where he runs a clinic and health education center serving poor women and children in the rural areas of Nepal. Services include things like neonatal counseling, group connections, domestic violence shelter, and health care access, all largely funded by the profits of Everest Cafe. Everest Cafe sits at 4145 Manchester Ave. in The Grove neighborhood of St. Louis City. States not only takes care of those in his home country, but is also involved in the community health efforts of his adopted country as well. On Tuesdays, States volunteers at a pro-bono clinic where he works with Type 2 Diabetes patients providing them with cholesterol checks and diabetes education to help them manage their disease. He also prioritizes the health of his customers, going the extra mile to serve high-quality, nutritious food free of excess fat, oil, and frying in an attempt to combat high rates of stroke and diabetes that he recognized burdens the city of St. Louis. States is also a part of a multicultural coalition in St. Louis, and you might find him serving food at community events such as the Night of Nepal at Saint Louis University, or the Festival of the Nations held in Tower Grove Park every fall. Next time you find yourself in The Grove, stop by the quaint and comforting Everest Cafe, where you can read the stories that have been told about States and his dreams, or transport yourself to his clinic in Nepal by looking at the frames that decorate the walls of his restaurant. Maybe even strike up a conversation with States or his wife, where you might casually receive life-changing advice, such as this one tid-bit left by States: To be successful you need 3 things in life. First, you have to have a dream. I have a dream and Im still completing it. Second, you share your dream with someone you love. I share my dream with my wife and my father and they both support me. Third, it does not matter how long it takes. Pursue it," States said. "These are the things that are very important to be successful. To learn more about Everest Cafe, check out their website. To learn more about the Himalayan Family Healthcare Project, check out their website. Floating houses on the Mekong River section near Phnom Penh, Cambodia, February 2021. Photo by Reuters Cambodia will start work on a US$1.7-billion canal linking the capital Phnom Penh to the sea in August, Prime Minister Hun Manet said Thursday. Hun Manet said the Funan Techo canal would mostly be funded by Cambodians and that the government is in talks with a Chinese company for further investment. "We will do it now, we can't wait for anybody any longer," Hun Manet said in a speech on Thursday. The waterway is part of Beijing's huge Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure scheme across Asia, but Hun Manet insisted it will only serve Cambodia. "(We) do it within the Cambodian territory for the Cambodian people and for the interest of Cambodia," he said. "We will have a groundbreaking ceremony this August." The canal -- 180 kilometers (110-mile) long, 100 meters (328 feet) wide and 5.4 meters (17.7 feet) deep -- will connect Phnom Penh with Cambodian ports on the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodia's Deputy PM Sun Chanthol told Reuters earlier this month that barges and ships with a 3,000 deadweight tonnage can use the canal. Currently, about 33% of cargo to and from Cambodia use Vietnamese ports for their global trade by sending them through the Mekong River, Sun Chanthol said, noting that with the expanded canal the goal is to reduce that to 10% - which would represent a 70% drop on current shipping volumes. Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has several times expressed hopes that Cambodia will fully share information on the canal project and perform detailed assessment on its impact on the water resources and the ecosystem in the area, ensuring the harmonized interests of riverine nations and managing the water resources of the Mekong River effectively and sustainably. When a poorly performing company gets the now very common unsolicited, non-binding and highly conditional takeover bid, there is a rough template that its directors usually follow. After an initial blunt rejection, they wait for an increased offer before engaging to a limited degree. If theres a second bump to the bid with the potential for something more, the engagement usually gets quite deep and serious. Not so with Anglo American, which - even after BHP sweetened its offer for a third, and as it declared, final time without any meaningful engagement or encouragement from Anglos board gave its suitor only a week to address the structural issues of its quite complex offer. Anglo Americans Kumba iron ore unit in South Africa: BHP has walked away from its bid for the company. Credit: Bloomberg After what the BHP camp has described as cursory and quite superficial discussions over the past week, Anglo refused BHPs plea to extend the negotiations by another week, hours before the deadline imposed by Londons takeovers code was set to expire. Despite numerous requests, BHP chief executive Mike Henry said his company wasnt able to get key information from Anglo that might have helped it to address the perceived risks of the proposed deals structural issues. The game of tug of war is only possible under the right conditions. You need an agreed location, some rope, and most importantly two forces pulling strenuously in opposite directions. Whether you realise it or not, theres a colossal tug of war happening right now in many workplaces around the country. At one end of the rope are employers, usually owners or management whove spent decades in their jobs. At the other end, holding on for dear life, are individual employees picking up the slack for the first time. For most of history, employers have had all the power. But since the pandemic, the paradigm has shifted. Credit: Tanya Lake And in the centre, providing all the tension, are lofty questions about where, when and how we should work. Cast your mind back just five years ago. Our cities, homes, offices and schedules looked different to how they do today. Cities were crammed with commuters every weekday, most homes and apartments didnt have a dedicated space for working, offices were filled with workers from morning to night, and there was little flexibility to break free from those rules. The NSW government has been forced to deny its redevelopment of the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo faces a multimillion-dollar funding shortfall after withdrawing an erroneous independent costing which showed the revamp would cost $50 million more than budgeted. Infrastructure NSW (INSW) says a $350 million costing published to secure planning approval was inaccurate and published in error. Renders of the new look Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo. Credit: Durbach Block Jaggers Architects and Architectus The costing was contained in a spreadsheet document appendix to reports prepared for the agencys application for the projects state significance status. The disclosure came on the final day that public submissions were due for the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo, and prompted calls for the process to be restarted. The approvals process for new renewable projects, particularly wind farms, in NSW is the slowest and most expensive in the national energy market despite looming energy shortages causing the Minns government to commit up to $450 million to extend the life of the Eraring coal power station. Wind energy proponents have told global energy consultancy Rystad Energy that the process for securing approvals in NSW was slower, more complicated and more expensive than in other states, said David Dixon, a senior analyst with the company. The growing wind industry fears antipathy from the NSW planning department. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer The delays have increased over recent years, he said, even as the need for renewables was growing greater. This is crazy, considering that in New South Wales, were meant to be retiring coal. In nine years we are going to be down to one power station. We are running out of time to replace them [coal-fired power stations], and they [wind farms] take time to build, Dixon said. Advertisement Eating outBrisbane First look: a cult pair of Byron Bay and Burleigh eateries lands in Brisbane Finn Poke is serving barramundi bowls, while Two Yolks dishes up gooey egg burgers with Cape Grim beef and Bangalow pork. And theres a chef with Michelin-star pedigree attached. Matt Shea May 30, 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 It started at a hole-in-the-wall in downtown Los Angeles. It was this really cool spot [called Rice Bowl], Jem Jacinto says. It was, like, $12 a bowl. I tasted the food and thought, Wow, this is extremely sophisticated for a hole-in-the-wall. So I started talking to the chef. Two Yolks burgers feature imported American buns, Cape Grim grass-fed beef and Bangalow pork. Markus Ravik Jacinto, now co-owner of Jacinto Group, wanted to open a poke bowl restaurant in Byron Bay, but didnt know much about poke. He also didnt know that who he was talking to, Charles Olalia, was the former executive chef of Los Angeles fine diner Patina, and had come up under Thomas Keller at The French Laundry and Guy Savoy at the two-Michelin starred Restaurant Guy Savoy, both in Las Vegas. We didnt have much budget at the time, Jacinto says. So I thought, I can do a deal with this guy, get him to design a menu and maybe give him a free trip to Byron Bay. Advertisement 14.5 / 20 Review This elevated south-side spot may be Brisbanes best-value restaurant It was only when we hired a PR company for the opening and I got [Olalia]s bio that I realised his experience. It all correlates: the flavours, the balance in that $12 bowl. I realised Id hit the jackpot. The result was Finn Poke, which opened in mid-2017, and before long was turning heads with its local take on traditional Hawaiian poke bowls. Olalia then oversaw the menu for Two Yolks, an Instagrammable all-day burger spot that opened in Burleigh Heads and Pacific Fair in 2021; these days, hes executive chef partner at Jacinto Group. Two yolks features neon signage, diner-style booths, fluted glass and Japanese mosaic tile floors. Markus Ravik Now, the group is coming to Brisbane, opening Finn Poke and Two Yolks side-by-side in the South Brisbane spot previously occupied by dessert bar Cowch. Advertisement Brisbane is a natural integration for us, Jacinto says. Ive always loved Brisbane. Especially now, oh my god, its really coming out. There are so many places Im discovering. Its such an emerging market that I want to be a part of. Finn Poke is little more than a counter on Grey Street, with picnic-style outside tables to be in place upon opening. Markus Ravik Its a tricky time [in hospitality], but during COVID we came across one of our best locations with Connor Street in Burleigh sometimes the best opportunities come out of the hardest times. We were struggling financially at that time, but we needed to make it work. Regular Jacinto Groups designer Studio MKZ has lent both venues slick fit-outs, with plenty of timber panelling, tiles and neon. Finn Poke references its seafood with its aquamarine detailing but is otherwise little more than a counter, with some picnic tables to be set up on the footpath once the venues open this Monday, June 3. Advertisement A barraumdi poke bowl at Finn Poke. Markus Ravik Two Yolks is more substantial, and features diner-style booths, fluted glass and Japanese mosaic tile floors, its bright-orange palette inspired by a barn-found 1980 Mercedes W123 wagon Jacinto and his wife bought in Brisbane years ago. Against the back wall are a pair of turntables and a collection of vintage vinyl. For food, Finn Poke serves a stack of signature and warm bowls built on protein such as tuna, salmon, pulled pork and wagyu brisket. There are also vegetarian options, and you can make your own using organic black and brown rice, soba noodles or locally farmed kale, before adding a protein. Two Yolks is open daily from breakfast to late at night. Markus Ravik Finn Poke Brisbane is also introducing barramundi sourced from Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory to replace swordfish, after Jacinto found the latter to be too inconsistent season to season. Advertisement In Two Yolks, its a long menu of breakfast and all-day burgers, along with burritos and sides such as truffle fries and chilli cheese potato tots. Two Yolks has a pair of turntables and a wall of vintage vinyl. Markus Ravik In the morning you might order the Sausage, Egg and Cheese (pork patty with American cheese and chipotle mayo), the Bennys Bangs (free-range bacon, organic egg, rocket, chives and hollandaise), or the Triple B (smashed beef patty, free-range bacon, house-made sausage, American cheese, eggs, tater tots and a house-made barbecue sauce). Theres also Bourdains Mortadella, named after chef Anthony Bourdain (grilled mortadella, provolone, egg and dijonnaise). All-day, theres the Double Truffle (two smashed patties with American cheese, rocket, pickled red onion, truffled cheese sauce and truffled aioli), the Old Skool (single smashed patty with American cheese, ketchup and mustard, Japanese mayo, and house-prepped pickles) and the Cali Style (two smashed patties with double American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, caramelised onion, pickles and a house-made special sauce), among many others. Jem Jacinto: Its a cool spot with cool vibes that appeals to a wider demographic. Markus Ravik Advertisement Jacinto talks good game with his produce. For Finn Poke, beyond Humpty Doo hes using MSC-certified seafood from Walker Seafoods in Mooloolaba. Two Yolks uses grass-fed Cape Grim beef and Bangalow pork, and Martins potato buns imported from Chambersburg in the US. And Im using imported American cheese, Jacinto says. Youve got to use real American cheese, right? Two Yolks and Finn Poke open this Monday, June 3. Markus Ravik Two Yolks also features a short booze menu that includes a mimosa, a bloody mary and an orange spritz; theres also a clutch of craft beers. Advertisement Its designed to suit all ages, Jacinto says. A young person could come here for a date because its a cool place to hang out, but they could also come back with their parents ... Were just a burger joint, but were a pretty cool-looking burger joint I love it. Open daily 7am-10pm (Two Yolks), 10.30am-8.30pm (Finn Poke) 179 Grey Street, South Brisbane twoyolks.com.au finnpoke.com.au Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Advertisement Review Eating outAlbert Park Fish and chips get fancy at this new neighbourhood wine bar by the beach Its not the easiest time to open a restaurant, but is this corner bistro a good Omen? Dani Valent May 31, 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 This story is part of the June 1 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories . 1 / 7 Omen is a welcoming local hangout in Albert Park. Bonnie Savage 2 / 7 Braised octopus, jamon tomato sugo and olives. Bonnie Savage 3 / 7 Butter-poached cod fillet topped with beer-batter bits. Bonnie Savage 4 / 7 Brioche doughnut filled with chicken-liver parfait. Bonnie Savage 5 / 7 Slow-smoked pork cheeks with honey-ginger glaze and roasted root vegetables. Bonnie Savage 6 / 7 Duck croquette with an extra-cheffy crumb. Bonnie Savage 7 / 7 Inside the neighbourhood bistro and wine bar. Bonnie Savage Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Contemporary$$$$ Did you hear the one about the Irishman, the Frenchman and the Australian who opened a restaurant? The trio knew what they were doing, made the place charming and it wasnt actually that funny at all. High-spirited, yes. Nice, definitely. Delicious: Ill tell you shortly. But if you want hilarity, you can arrive with your own jolly anecdotes and unspool them for your dinner companions at this congenial 40-seat restaurant. Omen opened in April at the beach end of Victoria Avenue near the number-one tram terminus. Public transport is a decent option, not just because Pierre-Marie Caillauds wine list yes, hes the Frenchman is a lovely romp (and includes his own Vino Pierrot Sauvignon Blanc, $75) but because parking around here is a demoralising festoon of one-hour (until 10pm!) and resident-permit zones. It makes Albert Park feel like a gated community. After a 20-minute drive before I took a one-hour spot with a prayer, Omen was a welcoming balm. It was a good omen, too: the parking inspectors must have been dining out that night. The menu is more or less French ... smart for the postcode (moneyed) and the times (tight). Advertisement Caillaud and chefs Declan Carroll (Irish) and Dean Stagno (Aussie) all worked together at Crowns Rockpool Bar and Grill. It was at that swanky 200-seat institution that they concocted a plan for something smaller, more intimate and their own. It took a while: there was a pandemic to sit out and they had to find the right site a pleasant corner, previously occupied by Thai restaurant Thanon. With costs up and spending down, its not the easiest time to open a restaurant, but the way Caillaud, Carroll and Stagno rationalised it, as they painted the walls, built a bar and hung some art, business is never going to be easy, so you may as well start at the hardest point in the curve. The menu is more or less French, with the excitement residing in the fine cooking and attuned service rather than innovation. This is down to the classically trained background of the owners, of course, but is probably smart for the postcode (moneyed) and the times (tight). Prices are keen when you consider the excellent ingredients and careful techniques. Three owners who probably arent paying themselves yet means the value seesaw tips towards the diner. Chicken-liver parfait doughnut. Bonnie Savage Sourdough ($5 a piece) is baked using a starter thats been nurtured for six years. Its oven-baked, then rested above the Green Egg ceramic charcoal grill that handles much of the cooking. The crust is lightly smoke-tinged, the interior squishy and moist. Advertisement Brioche doughnuts ($9 each) are stuffed with chicken-liver parfait, glazed with sherry and dotted with hazelnut and cornichon. Theyre a cheeky, one-bite rendezvous of indulgence and sophistication. Tapioca-crumbed duck croquette. Bonnie Savage Duck croquettes ($10 each) are coated in a tapioca crumb crafted over five days using an extraordinarily complex process that Stagno learnt while working for three-Michelin-star UK chef Simon Rogan. Im honestly not sure all the mixing, steaming, drying, freezing, grating and frying pay off, but this multi-textural version of panko does make an apposite casing for gently braised duck mixed with its crisped skin. Larger dishes to hit the Green Egg include wagyu rump cap ($65) cooked just so and served simply with condiments a la Rockpool. Advertisement Pork cheeks ($35) are slow-smoked for 16 hours with a honey-ginger glaze and served with roasted root vegetables. Theyre lipsmackingly sticky and satisfying. Butter-poached cod fillet topped with beer-batter bits. Bonnie Savage Cod fillet ($45) is lovingly butter-poached and topped with a shower of beer-batter bits: the contrast of fancy and fish n chippie made me think of a poised princess in silken garb collapsing into gleeful giggles. If theres a gap in the menu, its the sides. The steak comes with salad and there are vegetable components with the pork and fish, but Im surprised no greens are offered separately. Diners often share these days, rounding out a spontaneous banquet with roast veg or dressed leaves. It seems a missed opportunity, not only for diners but also for a restaurant that needs to make the most of every mouth that comes to visit. Go-to dish: Stilton cheese apple tart. Bonnie Savage Advertisement To finish, apple tart and blue cheese are served together ($16.50), neatly side-stepping a restaurant conundrum I always find challenging: instead of choosing between cheese and dessert, you get both on the same plate. The tatin-style tart is flipped so the caramelised fruit faces the diner. The cheese is Stilton, a sharp counterpoint. Blue cheese and apple are fine bedfellows: pairing them like this is clever and fun. Omens owners may not be the set-up for a joke, but this sweet-tart assembly does make a terrific punchline. The low-down Vibe: Eager neighbourhood bistro Go-to dish: Stilton cheese apple tart ($16.50) Drinks: With 29 wines by glass or carafe, its easy to find a match. Look out for emerging winemakers like Honky Chateau: tasting notes for its Yarra Valley Cabernet Shiraz promise lasagne edge and mechanics overalls. Cost: About $180 for two, excluding drinks This review was originally published in Good Weekend magazine Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Details have emerged about the forthcoming Blackwattle Bay development, with big hospitality names, a Haymarket dumpling operator and the largest sushi train in Australia set to open at the site next year. Theyve been as tight as a set of clenched John Dory lips down at Sydney Fish Market about incoming operators at the $800 million redevelopment, but the Herald can reveal a restaurant from celebrity chef Luke Nguyen and a spin-off from the chefs hatted Ho Jiak restaurant are part of the plans. As the glistening build, designed by Danish architects 3XN with BVN as executive architect and twice the size of the existing site, edges closer toward its 2025 opening, Sydneysiders can look forward to a promising food line-up. A Haymarket dumpling operator and inner-west gelateria are also believed to be part of the incoming edible offering. A design by 3XN and BVN for the redeveloped Sydney Fish Market. Supplied Malaysian restaurateur Junda Khoo, who owns the one-hat Ho Jiak Town Hall restaurant, confirmed hell join the waterside food party. Given the leaning of most traditional operators at Sydney Fish Market toward seafood, Khoo wants to cater to a broader market by offering a menu that straddles surf and turf. It will be 50-50 meat and seafood, Khoo says of Tam Jiak restaurant, which translates as being greedy to eat. Inspired by Western-style hawker food stalls in Malaysia, the chef will bring his own take to grill-house staples. Vegemite baby pork ribs and a range of steaks are on his draft menu, along with chicken chop with buttermilk sauce, salted duck egg prawn toast, chilli crab dumplings and grilled squid. May 29, 2024 | 03:14 pm PT Last month, the marketing community heard rumors of the brutal acceptance rate of only 1 out of 150 candidates for a leadership position at Vietnam's largest dairy company. The rat race to the top corporate spots has never been harsher. The job market is hard in Vietnam. And it is even more fierce in Singapore, a nearby but very mature market, with more opportunities but even harsher competition. I searched on LinkedIn, one of the world's foremost job search sites, for "business analyst" positions, which showed that 50% of the month-old job posts have on average over 100 applicants on LinkedIn alone. The remaining job posts have between 20 and 97 applicants. Similarly, last month, a company operating an e-commerce site in Australia and New Zealand sent me its financial statements. Reading its reports, I was struck by how small the salary costs of the company were, too low to be real. Upon my questioning, the company answered that "all of our marketing team are Philippine citizens working remotely" whose hourly rate is just one-fifth of the local Australians' salary. I asked why the company chose the Philippines instead of other countries like Vietnam. The companys representative said: "The Philippines have good English and are hard-working. They are also very easily integrated into the companys Australian culture. The longer they work, the more they improve. We could not ask for more." Two weeks ago, a friend living in the U.S. told me that he had successfully revamped the working protocols of his companys Vietnam branch, integrated more technology management and significantly cut its team size from 150 to 60 employees. To him, I honestly think that it was good news, having helped his company cut the salary budget by two-thirds. But to the 90 employees being laid off, I could not help but feel sad for them. The mass layoff trend in recent years has spread from large global conglomerates to companies of all sizes. Vietnam boasts a strategic advantage of a cheap and abundant labor force. But how long will this remain a significant advantage for our country, considering the mass layoff trend globally? I faced this question in a short discussion at "Vietnam-Australia IT Day" in Sydney. Several Australia-based IT firms posed it. The companies wanted to know if Vietnam could maintain its advantage as a young, strong, and cheap labor force. They also asked if Vietnamese employees in the IT sector could communicate in English in case these companies decided to open offices in Vietnam. The language question, simple as it may be, is a fundamental concern for foreign companies wishing to invest in Vietnam. While English proficiency in Vietnam is not low, it is also not something to be very proud of. According to the latest report by Education First, an international language training service provider, Vietnam ranks 58 out of 113 countries in English proficiency, with an index score of 505, which is slightly above the global average of 493. The country is considered "relatively proficient" in English. Within Asia, Vietnam ranks 7 out of 23 countries. Though the ranking is not exactly bad, it shows a large room for improvement. Answering the Australian companies questions, I jokingly said that once they decide to invest in Vietnam, there will be some highly proficient English users to help. I hope that one day, instead of just meeting a few exceptionally proficient English employees, foreign investors would be welcomed by many employees with satisfactory English proficiency. The aforementioned stories hint that the global labor market will become increasingly more competitive in the years to come. With global economies in stagnation, there is increasing competition between humans and machines, between humans within one country, and between humans globally. There are many things to improve upon and many to learn. Workers need to prepare themselves with more advanced professional skills to avoid the "common laborer" trap. Laborers with skill sets sufficient enough to demand higher salaries, but not enough to prevent easy replacement, are the most vulnerable in a fast-changing world. Always be prepared for the upcoming changes, and always be prepared to learn more. Getting too comfortable in the ever-changing market may lead to unfavorable outcomes for Vietnamese workers. *Tran Hung Thien is an expert on market analysis and lecturer at the VNUK Danang and the Crimson Institute. Advertisement Review Eating outNew Brighton This relaxed shacks fish sandwich is worth the eight-hour drive from Sydney The Northern Rivers has plenty of great restaurants, but delicious lunch spots where you can wear thongs are harder to find. Callan Boys May 31, 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 This story is part of the June 1 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories . 1 / 6 Order at the counter and sit on the deck at The Salty Mangrove. Paul Harris 2 / 6 Crumbed snapper fish sandwich. Paul Harris 3 / 6 Fish dumpling salad. Paul Harris 4 / 6 Taramasalata with flatbread. Paul Harris 5 / 6 Go-to dish: Weed and feta pie. Paul Harris 6 / 6 The deck is open daily for pastries and deli-style sandwiches, but the full lunch menu only runs from Thursday to Sunday. Paul Harris Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Modern Australian$$$$ How good is The Salty Mangrove? asked our barista, half-rhetorically, at a Mullumbimby bakery the other week. Weird name for a cafe, though. With all due respect to my new, vape-fragrant friend: strong disagree. The Salty Mangrove is an excellent name for a fibro-cladded bolthole surrounded by high tides and old-growth forest. Its not really a cafe, either, although you can certainly trundle up in the morning for a long black. A short, smart cocktail list means the venue can work as a bar, while the kitchen helmed by chef-at-large David Moyle cooks the kind of easygoing holiday food that can lead to a four-hour lunch, even though the menu only features a dozen or so items. Advertisement Seaside tavern from a high-profile chef will bring more sizzle to this holiday hotspot If you were lucky enough to eat at Franklin in Hobart around 2015, you might remember Moyles knack for coaxing maximum flavour from seafood with minimum fuss. There wasnt a fish in the country quite like his whole, wood-roasted flathead with lemon leaves and miso. Since leaving Tasmania, Moyle has worked at restaurants up and down the East Coast, and opened The Salty Mangrove with a few local creatives last year. You can find it in New Brighton, a small coastal village dozing just north of Brunswick Heads. The beach is a short, sandy trail away. Salt marsh and sunsets lie to the west. Its not hard to imagine youve taken a few hundred wrong turns and ended up in a Mississippi oyster shack, albeit one with lots of very blonde, very tanned children running about, and the occasional surfer hauling a McTavish Noserider. Order at the counter. Sit on the deck. Sip on a Mezcal Sunrise ($16). Brazilian jazz-funk might be playing in the background. Go-to dish: Weed and feta pie. Paul Harris Advertisement Prior to Moyle and his mates moving in, the site was more standard-issue cafe. Instead of scrambled eggs and avocado toast, theres now a modest breakfast offering a weed and feta pie ($12). It is, perhaps, not for all locals. What happened to the default banana bread? reads one online review. But the place is still packed on a rainy Saturday morning, and there are cinnamon scrolls ($7) and a dense banana cake. That Greek-style weed pie ($12) is suitably sharp and flaky, full of spinach, dandelion, chicory and radicchio. The same clutch of bitter greens is used for a fish dumpling salad ($26), featuring head and tail offcuts of snapper rolled into little nubs, wrapped in vine leaves and charcoal-grilled. Fish sandwich. Paul Harris Advertisement The rest of the fish is used for a crumbed snapper sandwich ($26), a beaut, post-surf lunch with crunchy, thumb-thick fries ($7). This is a small revelation. The Northern Rivers has plenty of great restaurants, but delicious lunch spots where you can wear thongs are harder to find. Oysters ($5 each) are among the best Ive had all year super-briny Merimbula bivalves served simply with lemon. A special oyster-storing fridge helps ensure consistency, says Moyle during a visit in May. My whole thing with Salty was to shuck oysters to order, have great hand-cut chips, and wed figure the rest out from there. A noble pursuit for any kitchen, really. Head chef Alex Bentley runs the pass when Moyle is out of town, and he can sure whip a smooth taramasalata ($14). A liberal dose of salted mullet roe bolsters raw garlic, oil and lemon juice, while flatbread pillow-soft on one side, crisp on the other is $6 for all your dipping needs. Keeping with the understated, vaguely Greek theme, the bread also swaddles a kofta-ish lamb and buckwheat sausage dolled up with marinated peppers, labne and a small forest of mint ($22). Team it with a $15 glass of Minim 2022 Hitch Sangiovese. My whole thing with Salty was to shuck oysters to order, have great hand-cut chips, and wed figure the rest out from there. David Moyle Advertisement Although the deck is open daily for pastries and deli-style sandwiches (including a burly, $10 focaccia with pickled squash, cabbage and romesco), the full lunch menu only runs from Thursday to Sunday. At dinner, Im told, therell be one or two extra proteins cooked on the bone, such as lamb shank or whole-roasted flathead (welcome back!). Time your run right and you might find yourself there for a collaboration event, such as the recent Mumcha brunch with Melbournes ShanDong MaMa. Im half-tempted to do the eight-hour drive next time theres a vine leaf-wrapped Dolmade Parde menu produced in partnership with the crew from Coolangattas Bar Evelyn. Or when theres another outdoor gig from West African musician Amadou Suso or the mood takes Moyle to barbecue more mud crab specials. Its a place where you feel like youre doing something with your day without doing much of anything at all. How good is The Salty Mangrove? Very. The low-down Vibe: Green and breezy pocket of the Northern Rivers that can fill up at peak times Go-to dish: Weed and feta pie ($12) Drinks: Coast-appropriate cocktails, coffee and old-pressed juices, plus VB and local beer on tap and a few easy-drinking, natural wines Cost: About $80 for two, excluding drinks Advertisement Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up A Queensland government decision to protect one of the worlds largest underground freshwater reservoirs has prompted calls for a federal carbon capture storage ban. Queensland Premier Steven Miles said he would ban carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the Great Artesian Basin, a water source for 180,000 inland people with an estimated 65 million gigalitres. Loading The proposed laws will extend the ban to any enhanced oil or petroleum recovery that uses a greenhouse gas stream. The Great Artesian Basin is just too important to Queensland to mess with, Miles said on Friday. Thats why Im announcing today that we will ban CCS in the Great Artesian Basin. Environment lobby group Lock the Gate Alliance called on the federal government to follow Queenslands lead and ban CCS projects. The Albanese government needs to scrap the dangerous Future Gas Strategy, and other states and territories that overlay the basin ought to follow Queenslands example, national co-ordinator Ellen Roberts said. Miles said Queensland would lobby the federal government and other states to protect the basin, which spans almost 1.7 million square kilometres across four states and territories. Those impacted by laws that carried a 14-year prison sentence for consensual sex with their partners have been invited to a formal state apology at Parliament House next Thursday, two days before the 40th anniversary of decriminalisation of homosexuality in NSW. A formal state apology to those who suffered at the hands of laws that criminalised homosexuality recognises the harm done to many and acknowledges that it was wrong, Penny Sharpe, the leader of the government in the upper house, told the Herald on Thursday. Terry Goulden reads his police file at home in Wentworth Falls. Credit: Kate Geraghty It is also an opportunity to thank those who fought for change. The office of Premier Chris Minns is inviting those who have been affected by the laws and LGBTIQA+ advocates to watch the historic formal state apology in NSW Parliament. One of two women accused of killing a police officer by hitting him with a car has been ordered to stand trial for murder. Skye Anne Wallis and Kari OBrien faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday for a committal hearing after being charged with murdering Senior Constable David Masters. Senior Constable David Masters was hit and killed by a car on the Bruce Highway at Burpengary. Credit: Queensland Police Service The 53-year-old officer died after being hit by a suspected stolen car while deploying a tyre deflation device on the Bruce Highway at Burpengary, north of Brisbane, about 3am on June 26, 2021. Magistrate Peter Saggers on Thursday ordered that Wallis stand trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court on one count each of murder, arson and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. Owners of vacant shops in the City of Port Phillip could be hit with a rate rise of almost 400 per cent as the inner bayside council looks to rid its shopping strips of dormant retail spaces it says make the streets less safe and vibrant. The council is also proposing to increase rates on derelict buildings and vacant land by between 300 and 400 per cent as it seeks to push landlords to bring the disused spaces they own back to life. The owner of The Clifford in Ripponlea, Rob Fregon, has been warned of a rate rise for his bar, which has been closed since the pandemic hit in 2020. Credit: Joe Armao The Port Phillip council has warned affected property owners of the looming hike as it tries to turn around stubbornly high vacancy rates in some of its most storied shopping strips. This approach has been tried in London, but Port Phillip is among the first councils in Australia to propose a rate rise for vacant shops. Acland Street in St Kilda had a vacancy rate of 27.5 per cent last year, according to one property consultancy worse than Bridge Road in Richmond with 22.2 per cent. Well-heeled Port Melbourne residents have joined forces with former tenants of a public housing block to oppose the redevelopment of the Barak Beacon site, which includes plans for an 11-storey tower. Steve Raymond, who lives near the site, said that while tenants evicted from the public housing had been protesting against the redevelopment for a long time, many other locals had only just joined the fight. Local residents Steve Raymond and Rowena Calvert are unhappy with the proposed Barak Beacon redevelopment in Port Melbourne. Credit: Justin McManus Its made us hang our heads in shame, Raymond said. Weve ignored [it]. Weve been driving past these protests and couldnt quite work out what was going on, and now we find ourselves very unified. Public housing tenants were evicted from the Barak Beacon estate on The Boulevard facing New Beach last year, and the low-rise buildings, which comprised 89 homes, were demolished. Residents were relocated. A search is under way in the remote central Australian outback for a Victorian man who disappeared on a hike. Alistair Thomson, 64, started walking alone on May 13 on the Larapinta Trail about 240 kilometres west of Alice Springs. He was last heard from via a text message on Tuesday, May 21. Alistair Thomson went missing on the Larapinta Trail near Alice Springs. He was travelling east and was expected to arrive at Hugh Gorge about 70 kilometres west of Alice Springs on May 22. On Wednesday morning, Northern Territory police launched a search for him more than a week after his last known contact with family. The blame game between the state government and the City of Perth over Ruahs safe night space for women has been reignited, with Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas claiming the facility had now been closed longer on the states watch than the councils. Its been almost three months since Homelessness Minister John Carey exercised his power to call in a row between the city and Ruah that had reached the State Administrative Tribunal. City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas and Homelessness Minister John Carey have clashed over the safe night space. The city had approved the community service providers plans to operate the facility at its existing James Street premises in Northbridge. But that was conditional on the facility being operated to the citys satisfaction, an order Ruah said was heavy-handed and a risk to its success. The word threshold has already been thrown around a lot during the conversation over whether more could have been done to prevent Mark Bombaras double-murder in Floreat last Friday. He also killed himself, but theres no need to analyse that. He was gutless. What is important in this latest domestic violence-related tragedy is that we dont allow arguments of hindsight to be used as an excuse for what eventuated. Ariel Bombara has spoken out after her father killed two Perth women. Credit: ABC Perth Currently, WA Police and the Police Minister Paul Papalia are saying the threshold for officers to intervene in an acrimonious family break-up might need to be lowered. That if the threshold was lowered, 63-year-old Bombara may have had his 13 firearms seized, therefore diluting his opportunity to take one of those weapons as he did and shoot his estranged wifes best friend and her daughter. On May 28, the Georgian parliament voted to override Georgian President Salome Zourabichvilis veto of a bill that she and other critics regard as a blow to democracy. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called the bill a Kremlin-style foreign agents' law that runs counter to democratic values. The bill requires that if a non-governmental organization receives at least 20 percent of its funding from overseas, the NGO must register and declare it is carrying out the interests of a foreign power. It must also provide detailed financial information. Promoted by Georgias ruling Dream Party, the bill has given rise to weeks of protests by thousands of Georgians opposing the bill. Prior to the parliaments latest vote of approval, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned in a statement that such a law would stifle the exercise of freedoms of association and expression, stigmatize organizations that serve the citizens of Georgia, and impede media organizations working to provide Georgians with access to high quality information. He deplored Georgian authorities repressive tactics used to quell legitimate dissent and announced the United States is implementing a new visa restriction policy for Georgia that will apply to individuals who are responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia, as well as their family members. After the vote, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller condemned the action of Georgias parliament, which effectively turned the bill into law: In passing this law, the ruling Georgian Dream Party moved the country farther away from the European integration path and ignored the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Georgian people who have taken to the streets for weeks to oppose this law. ... The ruling partys actions and anti-Western rhetoric threaten Georgias democratic trajectory, future economic security, EU membership, and also put the U.S-Georgia relationship at risk. Spokesperson Miller noted that the United States has also launched a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation between the United States and Georgia: As Secretary Blinken said last week, we will take Georgia Dreams actions into account as we decide our own. The United States, declared Spokesperson Miller, continues to stand by the Georgian people as they work for a democratic and Western future. It is unfortunate that Georgias leaders are choosing to forgo the steps needed to advance Georgia in the Western direction that its people want. A 61-year-old Albany woman has been arrested and charged with the sexual abuse of a young boy she cared for in the 1990s. WA Police released a statement alleging the woman committed the offences while she ran a family day care in the Albany suburb of Yakamia. They say the abuse relates to a boy aged four and five years old at the time and the woman was in her 30s. At the time of the offences, the woman was aged in her 30s, and ran a family day care centre out of her home, police said. It will be alleged she committed three sexually based offences against a male child who was aged between 4 and 5 years at the time. The sight of a minister under constant attack will always send Parliament House into a cycle of speculation about when he or she will be sacked. That is the cycle in federal politics this week as Immigration Minister Andrew Giles is badly exposed to Coalition claims that he has bungled his job. Coalition frontbenchers Dan Tehan and James Paterson have run rampant with concerns about convicted criminals being freed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal when they should instead be deported. The cases are real, horrific and complicated. So, Tehan and Paterson have tossed aside the complexities to convince many that Giles basically opened the door of the prison and let the criminals walk free. The Coalition has been leading calls for Andrew Giles to be sacked. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The conventional wisdom is that Giles must go. The judgment in the government, however, is that he will stay. So it is time to cool the talk about an imminent reshuffle. There will be a time to overhaul the ministry, of course, but it is not right now. This defies the assumptions of many observers, including some in the Canberra press gallery, who think the only rational decision is to dump the minister to ease the pressure on Labor over crime and migration. This seems logical. Yet, the government wants to tough out the Coalition attacks rather than show the world it is crumbling to pressure. Beleaguered Immigration Minister Andrew Giles has claimed the government is using drones to track former immigration detainees following revelations that murderers, sex offenders and domestic attackers released since last years High Court decision were not being electronically monitored. After a bruising week of question time attacks, several caucus colleagues are privately discussing Giles future in the portfolio after a ministerial direction he issued last year was used by a tribunal to allow visa holders who had committed serious crimes to stay in Australia. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles is under fire for his management of the immigration detainee release saga. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told colleagues that he places a premium on stability, does not want a reshuffle and will not let Opposition Leader Peter Dutton dictate terms. Giles, a close factional ally of Albanese, has begun to ramp up his own attacks on Duttons handling of the Home Affairs portfolio when the Coalition was in government. Let me illustrate this with a quite different war: the US-led invasion of Iraq. By any estimation, it claimed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilian lives. You can say that happens in war, but you also then have to admit politicians chose to take that risk. And then you have to see how they chose to take it: in that case after relying on poor intelligence and a flimsy pretext both of which they were warned about to reach a conclusion they were all too eager to reach. And when it turned out there were no weapons of mass destruction? Whoops. On this occasion in Rafah, Israels account is that it was bombing a Hamas target, but some shrapnel struck a nearby fuel tank, which caught fire and engulfed nearby tents. Thats plausible, and Im in no position to dispute it. If that is what happened, then Netanyahu is accurate, in a literal sense, to describe it as a tragic mistake. But that doesnt ameliorate Israels transgression in the way Netanyahu probably imagines. Instead, it underscores Israels culpability. Displaced Palestinians inspect their tents destroyed by Israeli strikes at a UN facility west of Rafah. Credit: AP Thats because this is exactly the kind of thing that was always bound to occur in Rafah. It is simply what happens when you instruct a million people to go to a tiny area, thereby creating an environment of impossible population density, then proceed to conduct air strikes on that place. Doubly so if you strike the area youve specifically told them will be safe. This is not hindsight. Israels own allies each fully aware of Hamas threat have foretold this for months. A military operation into Rafah would be catastrophic, a joint statement from the prime ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand declared in February. The impacts on Palestinian civilians would be devastating There is simply nowhere else for civilians to go. The following month, the French president told Netanyahu he would consider any forced transfer of people from Rafah to be a war crime. But the German chancellor issued perhaps the plainest verdict last month: We do not believe that there is any approach that would not lead in the end to incredible loss of human life of innocent civilians. Israel made choices in that context. If some horror is so obviously predictable, even inevitable, is it really, truly, in the fullest sense, a mistake when it happens? Between the deliberate and the accidental, there is the foreseeable. That is not a place of exoneration or excuse; its a place of liability, of guilt. And in the case of catastrophe in Rafah, were talking about something not merely foreseeable, but foreseen. Forewarned. Loading This weeks melting bodies are simply a gruesome version of what Israels own allies said would occur, which is why this week they sounded concerned but not surprised. Heres Anthony Albanese in parliament: We consistently opposed the ground offensive in Rafah given that more than half of Gazas 2.3 million people were sheltering in Rafah, and were told to go to Rafah where they would be safe. What new sentiment is in those words? We need a word for this. We need a word for an inevitable accident. Something whose heft reveals the absurd inadequacy of words like regret and mistake. Something that leaves no room for whoops. Such words ultimately conceal the choices being made, then let you walk away and carry on, much as they did after Iraq: no prevention, no true accountability, just series of tragic mistakes whose consequences are born by anonymous others. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has branded former US president Donald Trump as a risk to democracy, as federal MPs across the political spectrum react to his conviction over hush money. Education Minister Jason Clare agreed with Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, saying the relationship we have with the US is more important and bigger than any one leader or government. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The US is our closest ally and irrespective of who the president is or who the prime minister is or which party is in office, the ties that bind our two countries together are strong and everlasting, Clare told Sunrise. But Hanson-Young maintained Trump was a risk to democracy across the world. We have to start having some hard discussions and deep thought about what this means for our relationship, she said. Hes a bad guy, hes a felon, and he doesnt believe in democracy. Greens leader Adam Bandt used social media to declare Trump as unfit to be president and wrote on X that it would be a disaster for the USA, Australia [and] the world if he is elected again. Earlier today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated the importance of Australias relationship with the United States. He acknowledged the importance of Trumps convictions, but said it was important he avoided commenting on court cases that didnt involve Australians. We regard that as a matter for the United States and their system as we regard the election of the US president to be a matter for the people of the United States, he said. The relationship between Australia and the United States is a relationship between nations, not just between individuals. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton suggested Trump might use the revelations to galvanise his political base. Theres obviously two tribes here ... the one tribe who detest him and hate him. And the other tribe love him and adore him, and for different reasons on both sides. And all it will do is reinforce the views on both of those camps, but obviously it will make for an even, you know ... more exciting election, I suppose, in November. Former prime minister Scott Morrison who said Trump had been subjected to a pile on in the United States after he met him in New York a fortnight ago has not yet reacted publicly. On May 15, Morrison posted a photo of himself with Trump and wrote on X: Was pleased to meet with former President Donald Trump on Tuesday night at his private residence in NY. It was nice to catch up again, especially given the pile on he is currently dealing with in the US. With AAP If one is facing a charge of driving with a suspended licence, there are better ways to make ones case than from behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. That self-evident reality was momentarily lost on a Michigan man who did just that earlier this month when he appeared via Zoom for a pretrial hearing in Washtenaw County District Court, leaving a judge perplexed. The scene from the court showing Corey Harris, bottom, driving while participating in a pre-trial court hearing earlier this month. Credit: Twitter Im pulling into my doctors office actually, so just give me one second, Im parking right now, the man, Corey Harris, 44, told Judge Cedric Simpson as he asked for a moment before beginning the proceeding. The video feed from the May 15 hearing showed Harris in the drivers seat of a vehicle, wearing glasses and a seat belt as he turned the wheel, intently scanning his surroundings for a place to park. PHILIPSBURG:--- As the nation of Anguilla approaches its celebration of the 57th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution, the Honorable Prime Minister of St. Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, extends his heartfelt congratulations to the Government and people of Anguilla on this auspicious occasion, observed annually on May 30th. "Tomorrow marks not just another anniversary; it signifies 57 years of Anguillas courage, unity, and relentless journey toward self-governance. It is with immense pride and joy that I, on behalf of the people and Government of St. Maarten, extend our heartfelt felicitations to every Anguillan on Anguilla Day," stated Prime Minister Mercelina. Dr. Mercelina lauded the people of Anguilla for their steadfast dedication to nation-building and their impressive strides in fostering a sustainable and vibrant economy. "Your remarkable progress serves as an inspiration across the Caribbean. Anguillas spirit of resilience and communal strength continues to drive your nation forward, making this day a proud moment not only for Anguilla but for the entire region," he remarked. PM Dr. Mercelina also emphasized the strong ties and shared aspirations between St. Maarten and Anguilla, expressing hope for continued collaboration and mutual growth. "As neighbors and partners, our bond is unwavering. Together, we share a vision of prosperity and peace that can only strengthen with time," PM Dr. Mercelina added. In conclusion, the PM Dr. Mercelina stated, "On this significant day, as you celebrate your history and achievements, know that St. Maarten stands with you in spirit and cooperation. Wishing you a joyful and memorable Anguilla Day." St. Maarten looks forward to further fostering a spirit of community and mutual support with Anguilla, reinforcing a partnership that benefits both nations and their people. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Acting Minister of Education, Lyndon Lewis, has announced that a total of 116 applications for study financing have been received for the 2024/2025 academic year. This represents a slight decrease of six applications compared to the previous year. Out of the 116 applications, 94 have received positive designations, 14 were denied, and 8 are currently pending. The positive designations are distributed as follows: 24 for St. Maarten, 20 for the Netherlands, 33 for the USA, 10 for Canada, 1 for Bonaire, 2 for Curacao, 1 for the Dominican Republic, 1 for Tobago, and 2 for the United Kingdom. The Study Financing Committee has postponed issuing recommendations for the eight pending applications until the final exam results are available. Minister Lewis highlighted that out of the total requests, 41 students applied for study financing in areas not included on the government's priority study list. Notably, St. Maarten, despite being a tourism-based island, has seen very few applications in the hospitality and service industries. Only one application was submitted for hospitality management, compared to ten for business administration/management, six for nursing, and five for psychology. Minister Lewis expressed his concern regarding the disconnect between the tourism industry and young people's academic interests. "It is essential that we investigate why our country's primary economic pillar, tourism, is not attracting more academic interest," he said. "There seems to be a significant gap between the opportunities in tourism and the career aspirations of our youth. We need to understand and address this dynamic." The Minister emphasized his commitment to supporting the future of St. Maarten's youth through educational opportunities. "I take enormous pride in being able to literally sign for the future," Minister Lewis stated. "Providing young people with the opportunity to excel at the tertiary education level and hopefully return to St. Maarten to apply the knowledge they have gained is a responsibility we hold dear. It is up to the government to ensure the country is ready for that influx of talent and expertise." All applicants can lodge an appeal with the Minister. The appeal procedure can be viewed on the website of the Division for Study Financing: https://studyfinancing-sxm.com PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- On Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the Advisory Committee on Slavery, Atonement, and Reparations (ACSAR) had an introductory meeting with the Council of Ministers (CoM). The meeting commenced with an honorary session dedicated to the ancestors of Sint Maarten, with the ritual performed by Nkosazzana Illis. Following this, the committee members explained the manner and reason for the Committee's establishment and emphasized the importance of discussing slavery. The Committee was established by Ministerial Decree in 2023 to address the questions of reparations and the legacy of slavery. For over a year, the committee has been holding weekly meetings, volunteering their time for a greater cause. A work plan was created, which includes workgroups and subcommittees, each focusing on specific areas. Despite the availability of funds, the lack of full-time capacity to have dedicated individual support for the Committee has hindered the utilization of these funds. Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina emphasized that the history of slavery is one of the pillars that helps us become more conscious and aware of our identity as a people. There has been a lack of tangible engagement with our past, and confronting it with concrete evidence allows for a deeper understanding and realization. A comparison was made with the effects of World War II, which are still tangible today in each country impacted by it. The Prime Minister further indicated that the intended National Slavery Museum in Amsterdam should be renamed the Kingdom Slavery Museum, as the matter is a Kingdom issue, not solely the Netherlands. The importance of a Kingdom-wide conscientization project to raise awareness was highlighted. Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina tasked Clara Reyes, head of the Culture Department, with drafting a vision plan. Reyes verbalized the explanation provided during the meeting with CoM, which stressed the importance of involving not only the government but also private stakeholders in the process. The vision plan will ensure that necessary action steps can be taken in the overall conscientization process. The Committee also highlighted the importance of incorporating Sint Maartens history into the school curriculum as one element that can create a sense of identity and belonging. This initiative will foster a greater understanding of our shared history and ensure that future generations are more informed about the legacy of slavery and its impact on our society. Additionally, it can encourage students studying abroad to return home and contribute their knowledge and skills to the development of our community. The ACSAR was thanked for their input and insights. The Council of Ministers recognizes the importance of healing and awareness in the slavery process and supports the strides being made by the Committee towards reparations and reconciliation. Present in the meeting were the President of the ACSAR, Rogelio Voges (virtual), Vice-President Clara Reyes, and members Antonio Carmona Baez, Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet, Nkosazzana Illidge, and Marcellia Henry. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Kingdom of the Netherlands signals its commitment to the development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) by sending a significant delegation to the 4th United Nations Conference on SIDS. Under the overarching theme of Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity," the conference aims to evaluate the progress of SIDS in achieving sustainable development, including the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. For the first time, the Dutch delegation includes representatives not only from the four constituent countriesAruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlandsbut also from the three special municipalities of Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. Leading the Sint Maarten delegation is Minister Plenipotentiary Patrice Gumbs, supported by Mr. Stuart Johnson, Chief of Staff of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister; Mr. Cameron Wathey, Interim Director of the Department of Foreign Relations; and Ms. Jessica Rogers, Senior Policy Advisor in the Department of Economy, Transportation, and Telecommunications. In the Kingdom delegations meeting with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Minister Gumbs emphasized the critical need for justice in international relations and finance, especially for small islands. He commended Secretary-General Guterres for his dedication to addressing the unique challenges faced by SIDS, particularly in the context of climate change and their limited human and financial resources. Minister Gumbs highlighted the necessity for effective global governance that acknowledges the distinct status of non-independent countries like Sint Maarten. Hurricanes dont care if you are independent or not, Gumbs remarked. While we are part of the Kingdom, we share historical, economic, cultural, and environmental realities with the Caribbean. Our vulnerability to environmental threats, as demonstrated by the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017, necessitates our inclusion in global discussions on resilience and sustainable development. Gumbs pointed out that despite the recovery funds provided by the Netherlands post-Irma, the complexities of recovery, politicization, and limited local expertise in international financial mechanisms posed significant challenges. He stressed that the international community might overlook these developmental disparities due to Sint Maartens constitutional status within the Kingdom. It is vital for us as Sint Maarteners to tell our story and contribute to the advocacy efforts of our regional leaders, Gumbs stated. The 4th United Nations Conference on SIDS represents a pivotal platform for Sint Maarten to voice its experiences and collaborate with international partners to build a resilient and sustainable future. Held once every 10 years, the Conference will culminate in leaders of the 193 countries in the UN endorsing the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) which will outline the international communitys plan of approach to address the needs of small islands. When Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, was inaugurated on May 20, he was greeted with messages of both congratulation and intimidation. The United States, along with leaders from Japan, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and others sent congratulations to Taiwans fifth democratically elected president. In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised Lai and the Taiwan people for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust and resilient democratic system. Secretary Blinken said, We look forward to working with President Lai and across Taiwans political spectrum to advance our shared interests and values, deepen our longstanding unofficial relationship, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. However, the Peoples Republic of China, which regards self-governing Taiwan as a renegade province, deplored the congratulations from world leaders and sent a message of its own. Beijing launched dozens of Chinese warplanes and navy vessels over a two-day period in a complex military exercise that modeled a blockade of Taiwan. This is the latest in an escalated campaign of threats and intimidation the PRC has conducted against Taiwan in recent years. In a statement, the United States expressed deep concern over the Peoples Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, Using a normal, routine, and democratic transition as an excuse for military provocations risks escalation and erodes longstanding norms that for decades have maintained peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is critical for regional and global security and prosperity and a matter of international concern. The United States rejects the PRCs attempts at intimidation. As Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said in a statement, The [U.S. Defense] Department remains confident in current U.S. force posture and operations in the Indo-Pacific region with our allies and partners to safeguard peace, stability, and our national security. We have closely monitored joint military drills by the Peoples Liberation Army in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. We have communicated our concerns both publicly and directly. The United States, he said, remains committed to its longstanding one China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. Google to invest $2 bn in Malaysia: government Kuala Lumpur, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 Google will invest $2 billion in Malaysia to house the firm's first data centre in the country, the government said Thursday, making it the latest tech titan to pump cash into the region in search of growth opportunities. The government said the cash would support 26,500 jobs across various sectors in Malaysia, including healthcare, education, and finance, and comes days after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim targeted at least $107 billion in investments for the semiconductor industry. Anwar said in April that he planned to build Southeast Asia's largest integrated circuit design park, while offering incentives including tax breaks and subsidies to attract global tech companies and investors. Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Google and its parent firm Alphabet, said: "Google's first data centre and Google Cloud region is our largest planned investment so far in Malaysia -- a place Google has been proud to call home for 13 years. "This investment builds on our partnership with the Malaysian government to advance its 'Cloud First Policy', including best-in-class cybersecurity standards." Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the cash "will significantly advance" Malaysia's digital ambitions outlined in a 2030 masterplan. He added that the data centre and cloud region "will empower our manufacturing and service-based industries to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies to move up the global value chain". Earlier this month Microsoft said it would spend $2.2 billion on AI and cloud computing in Malaysia, with boss Satya Nadella pledging to invest billions in Thailand and Indonesia during a tour of the region. And Amazon said it would spend US$9 billion in Singapore over the next four years to expand its cloud computing capabilities in the city. The facility announced on Thursday will be located at a business park west of the capital Kuala Lumpur and will power Google's popular digital services such as Search, Maps, and Workspace. "When operational, Malaysia will join the 11 countries where Google has built and currently operates data centres to serve users around the world," the statement said. The Google Cloud region "will deliver high-performance and low-latency cloud infrastructure, analytics, and AI services to large enterprises, startups, and public sector organisations", it added. A key player in the semiconductor industry for decades, Malaysia accounts for an estimated 13 percent of global back-end manufacturing, according to German tech giant Bosch. Research by global consulting firm Kearney showed AI was poised to contribute $1 trillion to Southeast Asia's gross domestic product by 2030, with Malaysia predicted to see more than a tenth of that. "Now that many of these American tech giants are diversifying their investment risks away from China, Malaysia with its traditional involvement in high-tech industry is in a good position to welcome the relocation of their operations," said Oh Ei Sun, an analyst with the Pacific Research Center of Malaysia. jsm/mba/dan GOOGLE Alphabet Inc. MICROSOFT Humanity in 'race against time' on AI: UN Geneva, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 Humanity is in a race against time to harness the colossal emerging power of artificial intelligence for the good of all, while averting dire risks, a top UN official said Thursday. "We've let the genie out of the bottle," said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the United Nations' International Telecommunications Union (ITU). "We are in a race against time," she told the opening of a two-day AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva. "Recent developments in AI have been nothing short of extraordinary." The thousands gathered at the conference heard how advances in generative AI are already speeding up efforts to solve some of the world's most pressing problems, such as climate change, hunger and social care. "I believe we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to guide AI to benefit all the world's people," Bogdan-Martin told AFP in an email ahead of the summit. But she lamented Thursday that one-third of humanity still remains completely offline, and is "excluded from the AI revolution without a voice". "This digital and technological divide is no longer acceptable." Bogdan-Martin highlighted that AI holds "immense potential for both good and bad", stressing that it was vital to "make AI systems safe". She said that was especially important now, given that "2024 is the biggest election year in history", with votes in dozens of countries, including in the United States. And "with the rise of sophisticated deep fakes disinformation campaigns, it's also the most contentious one," she said. "Not only does this misuse of AI threaten democracy, it also endangers young people's mental health and compromises cyber-security." In an address to a separate event focused on AI governance this week, the ITU chief said that "the power of AI is concentrated in the hands of too few". Bogdan-Martin hailed that governments and others had become more focused on regulation and protections around the use of AI. For instance, on Wednesday the European Union announced the creation of an AI Office to regulate artificial intelligence under a sweeping new law. "It's our responsibility to write the next chapter in the great story of humanity, and technology, and to make it safe, to make it inclusive and to make it sustainable," Bogdan-Martin said. Syria says Israeli strike kills girl, wounds 10 civilians Beirut, May 29 (AFP) May 29, 2024 Syria's defence ministry said an Israeli air strike Wednesday killed a girl and wounded 10 civilians on the coast, as a war monitor reported another raid killed five pro-Hezbollah fighters. "The Israeli enemy launched an air attack from the direction of Lebanon, targeting a central site and a residential building in Baniyas city in the coastal region, killing a girl and wounding 10 civilians," a ministry statement said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor also reported the girl's death and put the civilian wounded toll at 20. The Britain-based Observatory also said the Israeli strike on central Syria killed three Syrian fighters working with Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group and two other non-Syrian fighters working for the same movement. Earlier on Wednesday, state media said air defences intercepted Israeli "targets" over central Syria. "Syrian air defence intercepts enemy targets in the skies of the city of Homs," the official SANA news agency reported. The Observatory said the Israeli strikes targeted "at least one military site... in the eastern countryside of Homs, causing plumes of smoke to rise". On Saturday, an Israeli drone strike in central Syria, near the border with Lebanon, killed two Hezbollah fighters, the Observatory had said. Israel rarely comments on individual strikes in Syria but has repeatedly said it will not allow its arch-enemy Iran to expand its presence there. Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since the outbreak of the civil war in its northern neighbour, mainly targeting army positions and Iran-backed fighters including from Hezbollah. The strikes have increased since Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip began on October 7, when the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group launched an unprecedented attack against Israel. Syria's war has killed more than half a million people and displaced millions more since it erupted in 2011 after Damascus cracked down on anti-government protests. N.Korea fires ballistic missile: Seoul Seoul, May 29 (AFP) May 29, 2024 North Korea on Thursday fired an unspecified ballistic missile towards the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, South Korea's military said, just days after Pyongyang's failed attempt to launch a spy satellite. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff did not provide further details in its statement. Japan's coastguard and prime minister's office said the North had fired a suspected ballistic missile, adding they were gathering more information. North Korea's latest attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit ended in a mid-air explosion on Monday, Pyongyang said, after Seoul and Tokyo had criticised the planned launch. Japanese broadcaster NHK ran footage of what appeared to be a flaming projectile in the night sky, which then exploded into a fireball, saying it had filmed it from northeast China at the same time as the attempted launch. Putting a reconnaissance satellite into orbit has long been a top priority for Kim Jong Un's regime, and it claimed to have succeeded in November, after two failed attempts last year. N Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles Seoul, May 29 (AFP) May 29, 2024 North Korea fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles early Thursday, Seoul's military said, hours after Pyongyang sent hundreds of trash-filled balloons across the border to punish South Korea. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had detected the launch of "what are suspected to be around 10 short-range ballistic missiles," fired into waters east of the Korean peninsula, it said. The missiles flew around 350 kilometres (217 miles), JCS said, adding that it was analysing the specifics alongside the United States and Japan. The launch was a "provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula", it added. Japan's coastguard and prime minister's office also confirmed the launch, and said they were checking for more information. On Wednesday, Pyongyang sent balloons full of trash, toilet paper and suspected animal faeces into the South, with Seoul's military slamming Pyongyang for their "low class" actions. The North had warned over the weekend that it would shower border areas in "mounds of wastepaper and filth" to punish Seoul. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong mocked the "goblins of liberal democracy" in Seoul for complaining about the balloons, and pledged more could follow. The salvo of ballistic missiles also comes just days after North Korea's latest attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit ended in a mid-air explosion on Monday. North Korea said late Monday that the rocket carrying its "Malligyong-1-1" reconnaissance satellite exploded minutes after launch due to a suspected engine problem. Japanese broadcaster NHK ran footage of what appeared to be a flaming projectile in the night sky, which then exploded into a fireball, saying it had filmed it from northeast China at the same time as the attempted launch. Putting a reconnaissance satellite into orbit has long been a top priority for Kim's regime, and it claimed to have succeeded in November, after two failed attempts last year. In a speech released by the official Korean Central News Agency late Wednesday, Kim said the country was undeterred by the recent failed satellite launch. "Although we failed to achieve the results we had hoped to get in the recent reconnaissance satellite launch, we must never feel scared or dispirited but make still greater efforts," he said. "It is natural that one learns more and makes greater progress after experiencing failure," he said, according to the transcript of the speech, given at the Academy of Defence Sciences. - UN meeting - Nuclear-armed North Korea is barred by multiple UN resolutions from tests using ballistic technology, and analysts say there is significant technological overlap between space launch capabilities and the development of ballistic missiles. Monday's launch was widely condemned, including by Seoul, Japan and the United States. The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet Friday to discuss that incident. Early Thursday, North Korea released a statement warning UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres he might be "the most spiritless and weak-willed secretary-general in the history of the United Nations". Pyongyang said it had to express "deep concern about the fact that the UNSC is going to convene an open meeting again to call the DPRK's legitimate satellite launch into question," said the statement by Kim Son Gyong, a North Korea foreign ministry official. For the North, "the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite is an inevitable undertaking for bolstering up the might of self-defence," he added. Seoul claims Kim received Russian technical assistance for its successful November launch in return for sending containers of weapons to Moscow for use in Ukraine. Taiwan detects 38 Chinese aircraft around island Taipei, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 Taiwan's defence ministry said Thursday it detected 38 Chinese warplanes and 11 navy or coastguard vessels around Taiwan in the past 24 hours, a week after Beijing encircled the island in a massive two-day military drill. China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has said it will never renounce the use of force to bring it under Beijing's control. Taiwan's defence ministry said 28 of the Chinese aircraft had crossed the median line, referring to a line bisecting the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from China. The military deployed planes and ships in response, a ministry statement said. The latest report comes during visits by United States congressional delegations, the first since the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te on May 20. Days later Chinese warships and fighter jets encircled Taiwan in drills that Beijing said were a test of its ability to seize the island. During the two-day exercise, China vowed that "independence forces" would be left "with their heads broken and blood flowing". Beijing has in recent years upped military pressure on Taiwan, maintaining a near-daily presence of warplanes, drones and naval vessels around the island. Experts say these are "grey zone tactics", which stop short of outright acts of war but serve to exhaust Taipei's military. China said Lai's inaugural speech amounted to calls for independence, "pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger". Satellite, 'poopaganda', missiles: What's North Korea up to? Seoul, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 A failed satellite launch, floating hundreds of trash-filled balloons into the South, and firing a volley of 10 short-range ballistic missiles: North Korea has had a busy week. AFP takes a look at what's going on: What's driving recent actions? The flurry of activity can be seen as an angry retort from Kim Jong Un's regime to China, South Korea and Japan, experts say, specifically their joint statement this week targeting Kim Jong Un's nuclear weapons. The three countries held a rare summit on Monday, where they said they remained committed to the "denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula". It's a standard phrase the trio -- even key Pyongyang diplomatic ally and trading partner China -- have long used. Kim Jong Un himself, at a high-profile 2018 summit in Singapore with then-US president Donald Trump signed a joint declaration committing to work towards "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula". And Kim meant it, former South Korean president Moon Jae-in said in a recent memoir, adding he believed Pyongyang's young leader would have forsaken his nuclear programme "if there was a guarantee of regime survival". So what has changed? Since Kim's second summit with Trump collapsed in Hanoi in 2019, North Korea has abandoned diplomacy, doubling down on weapons development and rejecting Washington's offers of talks. It's also overhauled its laws. While Pyongyang first called itself a "nuclear-armed state" in its constitution back in 2012, it passed a new law in 2022 that Kim said made that status "irreversible". The law also outlined the command and control structure for the country's nuclear weapons -- with Kim firmly at the top -- and spelled out the country's right to carry out pre-emptive strikes "automatically" if threatened. The new status was formally enshrined in North Korea's constitution in 2023. This week, it said efforts to dismantle the country's nuclear arsenal were equivalent to denying the country's "constitutional position" and a "grave political provocation". Message to Beijing? North Korea is showing their "discomfort towards China" for allowing denuclearisation to be included in the joint statement with Japan and the South, Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has previously condemned North Korea's nuclear tests and supported sanctions. But as Beijing's relations with Washington have deteriorated, it has increasingly obstructed US-led efforts to impose stricter sanctions while blaming US-South Korea joint military drills for escalating regional tensions. Still, Pyongyang "may have been dissatisfied with Beijing's stance" at this week's summit, Yang said, adding Kim may have felt "China was being too 'passive' and therefore wasn't doing enough for them". And the balloons? South Korean activists have long sent balloons filled with anti-Kim propaganda, cash, and even USBs of television dramas northwards, infuriating Pyongyang, which recently vowed to retaliate in kind. From Tuesday night to Wednesday, the North sent some 260 balloons carrying bags of trash including batteries, toilet paper and plastic waste into South Korea. Initial reports claimed there was animal faeces in the bags of waste, sparking "poopaganda" headlines, but Seoul's military later said they believed the organic matter was "not manure made from fecal matter". North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister mocked Seoul for complaining, saying the country's citizens were simply exercising their freedom of expression -- a rationale Seoul has given in the past for activists' actions. What next? North Korea is drawing ever-closer to Russia, said Kim Dong-yup, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, pointing to Monday's failed satellite launch. The attempt "used new technologies, such as liquefied oxygen and kerosene, which are primarily utilised by Russia," he said, adding that this showed the North was trying to advance and apply Moscow's technical assistance. Seoul has accused the North of sending weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine in exchange for satellite help. China may also have a window to draw closer to South Korea later this year if Trump is re-elected as US President, Asan Institute research fellow Lee Dong-gyu said. Cracks may then appear in the so-called "ironclad" US-South Korea security alliance, he said, which would give China an opening "to expand its influence to South Korea by leveraging the North Korean issue," he added. US envoy condemns attacks on Western-linked brands in Baghdad Baghdad, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 The US ambassador to Iraq denounced attacks Thursday targeting Western-linked brands in Baghdad this week, as anger grows across the Middle East over Israel's war in Gaza. A stun bomb exploded at 1:20 am in front of a dealership of the US construction equipment company Caterpillar in the Jadriyah neighbourhood of Baghdad, the Iraqi security forces said. Ten minutes later, a blast went off in front of the Cambridge Institute in nearby Palestine Street, which a resident identified as a likely Iraqi-owned language learning centre. On Sunday, a makeshift bomb was thrown at a branch of the US fast-food chain KFC, causing minor damage. The next night, masked men broke into another branch, smashing glass. "We condemn recent violent attacks against US and international businesses," the US ambassador to Baghdad, Alina Romanowski, said on social media platform X. She urged the Iraqi government to "conduct a thorough investigation, bring to justice those who are responsible, and prevent future attacks". "These attacks endanger Iraqi lives and property, and could weaken Iraq's ability to attract foreign investment," the US diplomat added. The Iraqi security forces said Thursday's attacks, whose motives remained unknown, did not cause any damage or injuries, adding they were a "desperate attempt to harm Iraq's reputation". After the KFC attacks, security forces said they had arrested several suspects. Since the war in Gaza started in October, a boycott movement spearheaded by pro-Palestinian activists has targeted major Western brands, such as Starbucks and McDonald's. Iraq does not recognise Israel's statehood, and all of its political parties support the Palestinian cause. Earlier this week, influential Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr renewed his calls to close the US embassy in Baghdad "through diplomatic means without bloodshed", after an Israeli strike killed dozens of civilians in a camp in Gaza. cbg-rh/dv CATERPILLAR Starbucks Ukraine to get up to 100,000 shells in June: Czech official Prague, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 Ukraine will receive 50,000-100,000 shells in June under a Czech-led initiative to buy ammunition for the war-ravaged country largely outside Europe, a Czech official said Thursday. Tomas Kopecny, the Czech government envoy for Ukraine reconstruction, told reporters that Ukraine, battling a Russian invasion since February 2022, could get millions of shells if allies managed to collect the money. "The first delivery under the umbrella of this Czech initiative will be in June, and it will be dozens of thousands of shells, between 50 and 100," he said on the fringes of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague. Ukrainian forces said earlier this year they were so low on supplies that they were forced to ration ammunition, letting Russia seize ground. Russia has more recently launched a widescale offensive in northeastern Ukraine ahead of the delivery of US weapons that were approved after a long delay in Congress. Besides the Czech Republic, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal have so far contributed some 1.7 billion euros ($1.8 billion) to buy 500,000 shells in the first phase, Kopecny said. Ten other countries are "in the process" with talks for donations under way, he said. In Prague for the NATO meeting, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hailed the so-called Czech initiative, estimating that the effort will bring one million shells to Ukraine by the end of the year. "Czechia's leadership is really quite extraordinary," Blinken said. "We're not only stronger, we're more likely to prevent -- to deter -- aggression when we're united." Kopecny urged further contributions as Ukraine will need 200,000 shells a month in the next two years "just to make the balance" vis-a-vis Russia. The necessary supplies will swallow "between seven and ten billion euros per year," he said, adding the 500,000 shells obtained or pledged so far would suffice for two and a half months. He said allies were competing for millions of rounds of ammunition produced outside Europe with Russia. "It's about speed," he said. "It's a market where the owner of a product wants to sell it at the highest price." Kopecny also slammed allies for a failure to use bank loans to finance the weapon supplies to Ukraine. "It's so frustrating when you compare it with the expenses and the loans the EU took for Covid. Hundreds of billions of euros. Easy. And here we're struggling with hundreds of millions." US condemns NKorea missile launches Washington, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 The United States on Thursday strongly condemned North Korea's latest missile launches as a threat to regional security. North Korea fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles early Thursday, Seoul's military said. That followed a failed attempt by the nuclear-armed North to put a second spy satellite into orbit on Monday. "These launches continue the DPRK's reckless behavior, which poses a grave threat to the Korean Peninsula, the region, and international peace and security and undermine the global non-proliferation regime," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's full, formal name. "The United States reiterates that its commitments to the defense of the ROK and Japan are ironclad," he added. Thursday's launch came hours after Pyongyang sent hundreds of trash-filled balloons across the border to punish South Korea. The UN Security Council was to meet Friday to discuss the attempt to launch a spy satellite, which was condemned by the United States, Japan and South Korea. "The DPRK's actions will only intensify its isolation as it undermines stability and security on the Korean Peninsula," Miller said. If I was not sure before, after watching this episode I am even more convinced that I am not in need of any type of robot in my home. Mans best friend was turned into a weapon on tonights episode and left me feeling very uneasy. How to Train a Dog gave us mystery, suspense and tugged at the heart strings in a bizarre hour of Evil goodness. David, Kristen and Ben are assigned to investigate reports of a werewolf attacking church goers. When they arrive at the cemetery, David points out to Kristen how much she has changed when she shrugs off the fact that Leland stole her egg and her baby will be born in 30 days (indicating over a week has passed since the last episode). Kristen lets him know that she is just not letting fear dictate her life anymore. When Ben returns to the car, David notices glowing eyes in the distance and when he moves in he is attacked by a robot dog. They later learn the robot also attacked a black nun. The thought of racist robot dogs makes my stomach churn but Evil has always been smart with the way they tackle racism. "How to Train a Dog EVIL, Pictured: Mike Colter as Fr. David Acosta, Katja Herbers as Kristen Bouchard and Aasif Mandvi as Ben Shakir. Photo: Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+ 2024 Paramount+ . All Rights Reserved Ben calls his friend Kate for help as her company created the software for the robot. Kate brings the comedy this episode with a one liner describing the trio as a really weird Avengers team (a possible nod to Mike Colters days as Marvels Luke Cage). They conclude that the software was hacked so she provides them with another model to test; which the tests seem to be normal. When David returns to his room, Victor is waiting for him with another mysterious request and advises him that Grace is not doing well. Meanwhile, Ben back at his apartment is trying to explain away the demon attached to him with science. In a creepy scene, the demon grabs a hold of his face to prove that he is real. Kristen is going to be having her own problems as Lexis is awakened by scratching at the door and it's the robot dog looking to come in from the rain. Later when Kristen wakes in the morning, she finds Andy sleeping under the bed and decides they need to return to the doctor. Before they can further discuss it they are interrupted by the girls and the robot dog which Kristen makes clear that it cannot stay in the house but Andy seems weirdly ok with it being there. "How to Train a Dog EVIL, Pictured: Katja Herbers as Kristen Bouchard. Photo: Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+ 2024 Paramount+. All Rights Reserved David arrives at the location Victor gave him and meets a man named TJ who spouts off his personal information. David is later sent to a room with other men and told to stare at a playing card and begin to draw. We later learn that Victor is leaving his position and now David will be meeting with a man named Father Dominick who shows him a video taken by TJ at the same time that David was drawing his picture; he drew exactly what was shown in the video. David has remote viewing and was approached because Grace told the Vatican that he was special. This separate storyline for David is the most interesting as the audience is left on pins and needles trying to figure out why he is so important to the Vatican. Combine this new development with his visits from an Angel, perhaps David is some type of warrior needed to stop the apocalypse. While Ben is testing the robotic dog with the girls, the owner starts speaking to him, a man named Harley. Ben advises him to meet with him or he will junk the dog. Ben was pulling double duty as babysitter because Kristen is at the doctor with Andy and his results show he has been taking drugs. The doctor found needle marks between his toes. The audience knows its Leland but Kristen begins researching addiction later in the evening when she hears the robotic dog back in house watching Lexis sleep. When the robot goes into attack mode as someone approaches, it's Lynn coming in from seeing Sister Andrea again. Will Lynn play a major role in stopping the apocalypse? When the team finally meets with Harley, a black man, they learn that the robotic dog is not targeting black people. He jail broke the system to extend the battery life with links he found online. After further investigating they learn the robotic dog is attacking Catholics using an app on their phones showing Mass times. Confronting Harley one last time, Kate informs him that the company will sue him for tampering with the programming. As Ben is speaking with her, he once again sees the demon. Not trusting that it is a trick of his mind, he seeks out help and visits Kurt. Probably not the best person to ask for help with demons right now. "How to Train a Dog EVIL, Pictured: Aasif Mandvi as Ben Shakir. Photo: Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+ 2024 Paramount+ . All Rights Reserved I feel for Andy not being able to understand what he is going through. As he lays in the bathtub going through withdrawals and avoiding answering the phone (suspecting it's Leland on the other end), his girls find him and Lynn tells whoever is calling him to not call back (of course it is Leland). They begin to sing to him to call him down in a heartwarming scene. When the girls are loud they are loud but they save the day more than anyone realizes. Have to note that Sheryl had an interesting story this episode battling misogyny in a workplace run by demons. She got the job done but was rewarded with a small non functional office with a glass ceiling looking up at all the men, including Leland, that doubt her. Although I cannot stand what Sheryl is doing and how it affects her family, I do hope she succeeds in hurting Leland. Another solid episode of Evil, that leaves us wanting to know how everyone plays into the upcoming event in 30 days. Who will win, the side of good or the side of Evil? It all comes down to this season. So, what did you think Evil fans? Let me know in the comments and remember to connect with me on Twitter @jereereviews. What, glamour rag Loaded, do some good? Stay with me here. When it launched in 1994, with Gary Oldman on the cover (smoking, not noticeably topless), Vic Reeves pontificating on mustard and just the two pages of models, it did not capture the imagination of young British men so much as kidnap it. It became the bestselling title of its kind. Sure, the rot didnt take long to set in by the time it made the common room in my (all boys) school, its sole merit seemed to be that it was quicker to flick through pages than battle with dial-up but for a moment there, it mattered. In all, 40 million copies were sold. * FIRST NAME * LAST NAME * EMAIL Your email address * PASSWORD Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Show * YEAR OF BIRTH You must be at least 18 years old to create an account 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 * Required fields I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice CREATE ACCOUNT I'LL TRY LATER Already have an account? SIGN IN By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. I cant understand how they get away with it? If I turned up at an airport with 20,000 in cash, the authorities would rightly demand to know where it came from. Why is it not the same for handling stolen goods? Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh and Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Juan Carlos Fernandes Juarez (Photo: HNMO) He made the statement on May 27 when he was received by Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Tran Sy Thanh for his new working term in Vietnam. Ambassador Juan Carlos Fernandes Juarez said that this year Vietnam and Venezuela celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Over the past 8 months, receiving the invitation of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, Venezuela has welcomed delegations of high-ranking Vietnamese leaders, including the visit by Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Head of the Party Central Committee Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac in November 2023; and the visit by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang in April 2024. According to the Venezuelan Ambassador, 2024 is an important year, a milestone in the relationship between the two countries, an opportunity to look back at Vietnam - Venezuela relations from the past to the present, and to create a foundation for the future. This good relationship brings new developments, positively contributing to the development of each country. The ambassador also proposed placing a bust of national liberator Simon Bolivar in Hanoi. Referring to activities to promote cultural exchange, the Venezuelan Ambassador expressed his wish to restore the space for Venezuelan ceramic paintings at a suitable location in Hanoi. In addition, according to the Venezuelan Ambassador, in 2024, the two countries can coordinate to organize a number of events such as "Vietnam Day in Venezuela", "Venezuelan Cultural Week in Vietnam", "Rice Festival in Venezuela" to help the people of the two countries increase mutual understanding. Agreeing with Ambassador Juan Carlos Fernandes Juarez, Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always value the good traditional diplomatic relations with Venezuela. In the context of many complicated developments in the world, Vietnam remains faithful and grateful to Venezuela. He stated that Hanoi always supports the activities of the Venezuelan Embassy in the area, especially events marking the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Regarding the twinning between Hanoi and Caracas, he said Hanoi will coordinate with authorities to promote this process. In terms of the proposal to place a statue of national liberator Simon Bolivar in Hanoi, the Chairman of the City People's Committee appreciated the significance of the project and acknowledged the Embassy's proposal. The Hanoi City People's Committee will assign relevant departments, branches and localities to research and work directly with the Embassy to discuss this, he said. He also asserted the necessity of the project on restoring the space for Venezuelan ceramic paintings at a suitable location in Hanoi./. The use of the word whip is very unfortunate but thats another subject for another time. She added: I dont know what is going on but it doesnt feel good. We need clarity. Keir Starmer: you need to stop playing with us and treat Diane Abbott with respect. Treat Diane Abbott, and all of us, with respect. During the Hussey scandal, Abbott said: Ridiculous for a Buckingham Palace aide to be so rude to my friend and constituent Ngozi Fulani. Next thing they will be asking me Where do you REALLY come from? Fulani received so much abuse on social media after complaining that she decided to temporarily step down as CEO of Sistah Space. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: We will take absolutely no lectures from Labour on defence when Keir Starmer and his team tried to make a man who wanted to abolish our armed forces, scrap our nuclear deterrent and withdraw from Nato prime minister, twice. But Faiza Shaheen, who gave birth six weeks ago, said she was in a state of shock after being blocked by the NEC from running against former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith in the marginal London seat of Chingford and Woodford Green, after she allegedly liked a series of social media posts that downplayed antisemitism accusations. As for whether they could be used to hit targets in Russia, he told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg earlier this month: We do not get into how we would allow targeting of our weapons to be used outside of that (the whole of Ukraine), but we do provide our weapons to Ukraine in order for them to defend their country. However, it said: Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are common in Iceland. Recently there has been a series of volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland, the latest on 29 May. These have affected the town of Grindavik and the area to the north of it. PM Pham Minh Chinh holds phone talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong on May 29. (Photo: VNA) The two PMs voiced their delight at the unprecedented and comprehensive development of their countries cooperation, particularly in terms of economy with the network of the Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) considered a symbol of the successful economic partnership. Singapore is the first country with which Vietnam has established a green - digital economic partnership, in February 2023, they noted, agreeing to lift the partnership to a new height in the coming time. PM Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that to Vietnam, Singapore is always an important partner in the region and the world at large. The Vietnamese Government will keep coordinating closely with its Singaporean counterpart to develop the countries strategic partnership in an increasingly strong, substantive, and fruitful manner so that it becomes an example of dynamic relations in ASEAN and a model for promoting other intra-bloc cooperation mechanisms, he stated. Vietnam is interested in multiplying the VSIP model, he went on, adding that it will create favourable conditions for more new-generation VSIPs to operate efficiently in the country. Appreciating the Singaporean Governments assistance for Vietnam in training all-level officials, PM Chinh asked the two sides to enhance cooperation in defence, security, the building of a national data centre for Vietnam, finance, education - training, tourism, as well as people-to-people exchange to deepen mutual understanding between the two countries' people. For his part, Wong affirmed the continuation of boosting mutual visits and meetings at all levels, along with bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the annual meetings between the two PMs, to strengthen friendship and political trust. Singapore wishes to join Vietnam in effectively implementing the framework agreement on connecting the two economies and the green - digital economic partnership, especially in the fields of clean energy and carbon credit, thus paving the way for bilateral cooperation to reach a new level that is both comprehensive and strategic, according to the city states PM. He described the VSIP network as a lighthouse in bilateral economic ties, agreeing to promote new-generation VSIPs that are greener and further match Vietnams development trend and priorities. Wong pledged to demand ministers in his Cabinet continue encouraging Singaporean businesses to expand investment in Vietnam in a manner that helps improve the FDI quality and prioritises high technology, digital economy, circular economy, clean energy, semiconductor, and artificial intelligence sectors. With regard to regional issues, the two leaders agreed to help intensify ASEANs solidarity, support Laos to successfully serve as Chair of the bloc in 2024, and pay due attention to the sustainable development of sub-regions, including the Mekong sub-region, thereby contributing to an ASEAN of resilience, prosperity and sustainable development with its centrality brought into play in the region. On this occasion, PM Pham Minh Chinh invited his Singaporean counterpart to pay an official visit to Vietnam in the near future. PM Wong accepted the invitation with pleasure./. A coffee picker at work (Photo: VNA) The agency cited data from the General Department of Customs as saying that Vietnam exported 10,740 tonnes of coffee to Spain in April, earning 42.66 million USD, year-on-year rises of 18.7% in volume and 102.8% in value. Shipments from Vietnam to Spain in the first four months of this year reached approximately 55,380 tonnes, worth 193.1 million USD, representing increases of 53.7% in volume and 136.6% in value compared to the same period last year. The average export price of Vietnamese coffee to the Spanish market was 3,487 USD per tonne in the first four months, up 53.9% over the same period last year, the agency said, adding that it stood at 3,971 USD per tonne in April, up 9.1% month-on-month and 70.8% year-on-year. The price of robusta coffee on the domestic markets increased again in the middle of this month after falling below 100,000 VND (4 USD) per kilogramme. However, favourable weather conditions in the Central Highlands and exchange rate fluctuations have restrained the strong recovery of coffee prices. On May 29, coffee prices continued to rise and ranged between 115,700 - 117,200 VND (4.39 - 4.55 USD) per kilogramme./. Saudi Arabia will be present for the first time with a stand at the 2024 edition of the Bookfest International Book Fair, with numerous exhibits ranging from photographs and books to weapons, ornaments, fragments of clothing and vessels offering the public a glimpse of the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. Photographs or albums showcase important historical monuments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, such as the first castle of the Saudi king, the great mosques of Mecca and Medina, as well as the economic achievements of the country, all dedicated to encouraging tourism. On display are a sword and a dagger, once used in battle, now only traditionally worn in certain regions of the kingdom or in dances, handmade woollen textile fragments, portraits of Saudi Arabian kings, decorative objects and architectural motifs, jewellery with specific Arab designs and vases. There is also coffee, specific to these lands, prepared with cardamom, which visitors are invited to taste, along with dates or pastries. At the joint stand of the Arab countries (Algeria, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Qatar, Tunisia, Syria), under the slogan "Window to the Arab World," next to that of Saudi Arabia, Ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon in Bucharest Rana Mokaddem welcomes the public with the kindness of a career diplomat. "At the initiative of the Lebanese Embassy, every year since 10 years ago, we have this stand at Bookfest. We started with Lebanon and Egypt and after that the group got bigger and bigger. The presence of one country or another depends, from one edition to another, on the possibility of each country to participate in the event," the Lebanese diplomat told AGERPRES. Rana Mokaddem revealed that the stand is organised in three sections, one presenting books on the history, art and culture of the participating countries, another in cooperation with the Kyralina Bookshop in Bucharest, which includes literature, politics books for sale in French, English and Arabic, and the third one is designed for the programme offered to visitors to the stand. "We have a calligrapher here who writes in Arabic calligraphy. Tomorrow there will be a reading of Arabic poetry. It can be read in English, Romanian or French. One hour with live music. On Saturday, we have as guests the artists of the Tandarica Theatre, who will present Lebanese and Romanian dances," said Ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon in Bucharest Rana Mokaddem. Symphony No. 1 "Consolations" composed by Korean composer Shin Kim, winner of the Composition Section of the Enescu Competition in 2022, will have its world premiere in Bucharest during the opening concert of the 19th edition of the George Enescu International Competition, conducted by Delyana Lazarova. The event will take place on Saturday, 31 August, at the Romanian Athenaeum, in the opening of the evening programme, informs Artexim, in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday. In his works, Shin Kim distinguishes three major themes: religion, narrative and psychological phenomena, paying great attention to making classical-contemporary symphonic music accessible to the widest possible audience. "'Consolations,' the Korean composer's first symphony, is a deeply emotional journey, reflecting the dark and difficult realities of human life, but also the light of hope and consolation that come despite these obstacles. With five distinct movements, the symphony explores the full spectrum of human life, from pain and suffering to hope and inner peace, 'Hymnus Caelestis,' the last movement, concluding the symphony with a heavenly hymn, bringing light and tranquility to this musical journey," Artexim adds. The programme also includes the Triple Concert for violin, cello, piano and orchestra by Paul Constantinescu performed by Maria Marica (violin), Benjamin Kruithof (cello) and Alexandra Segal (piano), winners of the 18th George Enescu International Competition, accompanied by the National Radio Orchestra, conducted by Delyana Lazarova (Bulgaria). The 19th edition of the George Enescu International Competition, an event held under the High Patronage of the president of Romania and financed by the Romanian Government through the Ministry of Culture, will take place between 31 ust and 27 September in Bucharest. A The Government approved by memorandum on Thursday Romania's signing the Convention on the International Protection of Adults, adopted in The Hague on 13 January 2000. According to a Government press release, the Convention lays down rules on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of adult protection measures in a cross-border context and cooperation mechanisms between the authorities of the contracting states. "The scope of the Convention on the International Protection of Adults is the protection, in situations of an international nature, of adults who are unable to protect their interests because of deficiencies or insufficient personal capacity. Thus, the Ministry of Justice is designated as the central authority for receiving and fulfilling requests under the Convention, and the Bucharest Court will issue the certificates provided for therein," the press release reads. According to the Government, for the protection of vulnerable groups, the tasks will be managed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity for those with physical or mental disabilities; the Ministry of Family, Youth and Equal Opportunities for minors and victims of domestic violence; the Ministry of Health for people with mental disorders; the National Agency against Trafficking in Human Beings for victims of human trafficking. The 14th edition of the International Shakespeare Festival that took place in Craiova, between May 16 and 26, brought together over 200,000 visitors at over 380 events in over 70 indoor and outdoor places, according to one of the organisers, the Marin Sorescu National Theatre House. The event is said to have been attended by artists and audiences from over 30 countries, and this year's edition celebrated the 30th anniversary of the festival, "an edition as a journey into space and time, from 1600, from Shakespeare Village to the future, in Shakespeare Dimensions: a foray into virtual reality in a multimedia cube based on artificial intelligence." "Online, over 5 million users in Romania and 93 other countries interacted with the International Shakespeare Festival, while the Shakespeare Caravan, held in 30 cities in Romania, drew over 1,200,000 people. The performance halls of Craiova became too small for the productions signed by the greatest theatre directors in the world - Robert Wilson, Peter Brook, Declan Donnellan, Robert Lepage, Philip Parr, Jesus Herrera, Christian Friedel and others," the theatre house says in a press statement. Starting from the concept "communities build the festival," this year's edition of the International Shakespeare Festival transformed the city into a huge open-air stage and occasioned the intrinsic participation of the public in the Shakespearean show, in outdoor performances and performances built by an independent scene in the city around the pop-up concept. A Tiger Lilies concert in front of the National Theatre kicked off over 100 open-air performances joined by over 50 pop-up performances, built with the help of the audience. Built from scratch on the Craiova Hippodrome, Shakespeare Village, a replica of a traditional English village from 1600, hosted theatre performances, workshops, activities for children and daytime activities, while evenings were dedicated to concerts and parties. Organisers of this year's edition of the International Shakespeare Festival were the Shakespeare Foundation, the Marin Sorescu National Theatre House of Craiova, the I.L. Caragiale National University of Drama and Filmmaking of Bucharest, funded by the Craiova City Hall and the Local Council of Craiova, the Ministry of Culture, Dolj County Council, the Ministry of Education, and the Romanian Cultural Institute. President Ho Chi Minh Monument at the park named after him in the capital La Habana. (Photo: VNA) It is not difficult to see all over Cuba and right in the capital La Habana works named after heroes or historical places of Vietnam. Prominent among many works bearing the mark of Vietnam is the monument of President Ho Chi Minh at the park named after him in the capital La Habana. For more than 20 years, this location has been a familiar space for those who love Vietnam, becoming a noble symbol of the special and exemplary friendship throughout history between the Vietnamese and Cuban peoples. Architect Joel Diaz Gutierrez was in charge of designing and supervising the construction of the monument, while the bronze bust was cast by Vietnamese artisans. During his official visit to Cuba in October 2002, the late Prime Minister Phan Van Khai presented this statue to Cuban friends. The work was then completed on the occasion of Uncle Ho's 113th birth anniversary (May 19, 2003). Architect Joel is over 90 this year. Throughout his life, this is the project of which he is most proud and most honored. Mr. Joel spent most of his life cultivating the Cuba-Vietnam friendship and greatly admired beloved President Ho Chi Minh. Located on one of the largest streets in the capital La Habana, Ho Chi Minh Park covers 5,600 square meters. The monument of President Ho Chi Minh is located on a red marble base of 54 square meters, symbolizing the 54 groups of Vietnam. In the middle of the marble floor is a 5-pointed star made of yellow flowers - the image of the Vietnamese National Flag. The statue's stone pillar is made of white marble without any decorative patterns or motifs, reminiscent of the simple image of Uncle Ho. The protective frame above, consisting of 4 red painted iron bars that stand out against the green background of the park, connects into a pyramid symbolizing the Vietnamese conical hat. Of the 4 iron bars, 3 bars represent 3 predecessor organizations of the Communist Party of Vietnam; and the remaining bar represents the Communist International. The convergence point right at the top of the monument is the honor of President Ho Chi Minh in uniting revolutionary forces to work towards the common goal of national liberation. The thick bamboo grove behind the monument creates a landscape similar to Vietnam. This is the bamboo variety selected in Cuba. The towering ancient trees behind them are arranged to remind of the mountains and forests of the Viet Bac war zone and Dien Bien Phu, where Uncle Ho lived and led the Vietnamese revolution./. Patria Credit IFN SA, the non-banking financial institution of Patria Bank Group, posted a net profit of RON 8.54 million in 2023, by 44 percent higher compared to the previous year, while its loan portfolio increased 14 percent year-over-year to RON 184 million, the company said in a release. New loan sales were 1 percent up from 2022 to RON 94 million. Agriculture stays a major component in the NBFI's loan portfolio, accounting for 81 percent thereof. Also, investment loans represent 84 percent of the loan portfolio, the bulk of which is secured through guarantee programs offered by the European Investment Fund (InvestEU, Easi). In 2023, Patria Credit had its license renewed by the European Commission for another four years, fulfilling 100 percent the mandatory requirements for compliance with the European Code of Good Conduct for Microcredit Provision which defines a set of common standards for the European microfinance sector. Alongside the partnership with CEB (the Council of Europe Development Bank), Patria Credit signed in 2023 several agreements with international partners, including with REDI - Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative, a one of a kind arrangement in the Romanian microfinance market. The object of this partnership is a loan and a guarantee ceiling for the financing of Romani entrepreneurs, a ceiling that was fully used by the end of the year. Regional security and the implementation of the decisions of the Vilnius NATO Summit were discussed at a recent meeting in Romania of the national military representatives of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), the Romanian Defence Ministry (MApN) informed on Thursday. According to MApN, Head of the ministry's Department for Defence Policy, Planning and International Affairs Simona Cojocaru, and Chief of Defence (CoD) Gheorghita Vlad on Tuesday welcomed the SHAPE national military representatives . The agenda included regional security, the implementation of the NATO Vilnius Summit, preparation for the NATO summit to be held in Washington DC in July, as well as opportunities to strengthen NATO's defensiveness on the eastern flank and in the Black Sea region. "We should continue our efforts to enhance NATO's deterrence and defence posture on the eastern flank. It is also a priority to maintain unity and support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. In this volatile context, marked by multiple crises and repeated changes in the security environment, we will continue the efforts to equip and modernise the armed forces at a sustained pace," said Cojocaru. MApN quotes CoD Vlad as highlighting the efforts and involvement of the Romanian armed forces in strengthening collective defence, including the implementation of regional plans and action guidelines agreed at NATO level. Part of the meeting, General Vlad bestowed the Badge of Honour of the Defence Staff on the national military representatives at SHAPE. The schedule of the NATO delegation in Romania also included visits to the 57th Air Base at Mihail Kogalniceanu and to the Constanta Military Port. The SHAPE national military representatives conduct such visits regularly, on a rotating basis, to all NATO member countries. Romania's accession to the European Cultural Convention had a significant impact on the democratization of Romanian society, presidential adviser Sergiu Nistor said on Thursday. He participated in a debate in the context of the meeting of the Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP), which is taking place until Friday in Bucharest. "The provisions of the conventions of the Council of Europe in the field of cultural heritage protection were, between 1998 and 2000, the benchmarks of the proposals of the Ministry of Culture for the Law on Historical Monuments, the Ordinance on the protection of world heritage in Romania. In turn, the recommendations of the Council of Europe in the field of cultural heritage inspired the secondary legislation in field. But beyond the principles and techniques of cultural heritage protection of the most diverse consistencies, the accession to the Council of Europe had a significant impact on the democratization of Romanian society and the building of a rule of law," said Nistor. Romania joined the European Cultural Convention of the Council of Europe on the common cultural heritage of Europe in 1991. CDCPP President, Terje Birkrem Hovland, emphasized the importance of the Council of Europe in terms of protecting and promoting democracy. According to him, within the Council, the role of culture is "to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law throughout Europe and beyond". Also the president of ICR, Liviu Jicman, highlighted this aspect and the need for unification, through culture, especially in times of crisis. In this regard, he also mentioned the network of cultural institutes in the European Union - EUNIC. The event in Bucharest is organized by the National Institute for Cultural Research and Training (INCFC), in the context of our country celebrating 75 years since the establishment of the Council of Europe. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been invited to attend the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) annual national convention June 19- 22 at the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore. The invitation comes as the president launched a nationwide effort on Wednesday in Philadelphia to mobilize Black voters during a campaign rally in Philadelphia. Biden was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and Black elected officials at a rally at a majority-Black prep school in Philadelphia. The summer-long goal is to revive the coalition that helped propel Biden to the White House in 2020. According to the Biden campaign, Black leaders across the country will hold events in the battlegrounds and kick off a weekend of action including Black church engagement in Arizona, new office openings throughout Georgia, a community-led block party-style celebration in Nevada, community hub events across barber shops and hair salons in Michigan, and more. On May 30, Black Voters for Biden-Harris will host a nationwide stakeholder call to build a network of trusted messengers within Black communities across the country. The call will include remarks from several national leaders and be inclusive of an organizing pitch to supporters. While we are busy putting in the work to earn Black Americas support, Donald Trump continues to show just how ignorant he is. Hosting janky rap concerts doesnt hide the fact that he lacks the resources and competence to genuinely engage our community, stated Biden-Harris 2024 Principal Deputy Campaign Manager Quentin Fulks. We will continue to be aggressive, innovative, and thorough in our work to earn the support of the very voters who sent Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House in 2020 and will do so again in 2024. Fulks said Black voters deserve to hear from Team Biden-Harris, and they deserve to have their vote earned, not assumed. Thats exactly what we are doing through historic investments in Black media and outreach, creative engagement efforts, culturally competent content and innovative organizing initiatives. No campaign has valued Black voters like we have, including through investing earlier and with more money than ever before talking to Black voters. A New York Times/Siena College survey of battleground states released in early may found Trump winning more than 20% of Black voters in a two-way matchup with Biden, which would amount to a historic high if it translates to votes in November. Trump won roughly 1 in 10 Black voters nationally in 2020, according to multiple estimates, including 12% in CNNs exit poll. Another concern is that Black voter turnout will plummet in November 2024. This years NNPA convention theme is Empowering the Black Press, Communities, Families, and Voter Turnout. This conference is a critical platform for addressing the unique challenges and opportunities for political parties to share their messages with the media that serves the population and can make or break elections, said NNPA Chair Bobby Henry. The convention will include a keynote address by Damon Todd Hewitt, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law president and executive director, titled What is at Stake for African Americans: the 2024 Vote. Rev. Mark Thompson of NNPA Global will moderate the Generation Z Voter Issues panel, featuring current and former HBCU students. A group of hijab-wearing women chat animatedly in the back corner of the cafe while sipping Adeni chai out of clear glass cups. Couples push tables together near the entry, so they can sit together and share bites of freshly baked honeycomb bread and Biscoff cheesecake. Nearly every seat inside the bustling cafe is filled, with packs of young people milling about outside. Its 11 p.m. on historic Main Street in St. Charles, and Mocha Point Coffee is hopping. The specialty is Yemeni coffee and chai, along with unique desserts like the pistachio tres leches. Unlike typical late-night hotspots such as bars or clubs, theres no alcohol served and no dancefloor. This new coffee shop is one of three Muslim-owned cafes bringing unexpected late-night options to St. Charles and west St. Louis counties. The vibes are notably chill. These are places to hang out with friends, drink chai, indulge in a sweet treat, smoke some hookah and be reminded of a culture and place those left behind to come to this country. Dalia Al-Sagr, 20, is back home in Maryland Heights from studying in college in Minnesota. She is sitting in Mocha Point with her younger sister, Amani, 15, and their mom, Jenny. Theyve already been here a few times before, even though it opened just last month. I love seeing every background and culture here, Dalia said. The crowd inside has people from Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq. Her family is Palestinian. Growing up Arab in St. Louis, Ive had to hide parts of myself out of the fear of being called names, she said. Here, surrounded by people who understand her faith and culture, with Arabic music playing in the background, she feels free to be herself. It feels safe here, Amani said. Their mom said she remembers visiting her husbands family in Jordan after they were married. Family members stayed up until 3 or 4 a.m. joking, eating snacks, hanging out every night of their six-week visit. Its literally part of the Arab culture to be drinking coffee late at night, Dalia said, as she sips dark Yemeni chai. The co-owner, Sarem Othman, was also born and raised in St. Louis, but his parents are originally from Yemen. He has cousins back home who have connections in agriculture. Othman and his brother had worked in restaurants here and noticed that trendy Yemeni coffee shops were popping up in larger cities. They werent sure if the concept would work in a mid-sized metro with a far smaller Arab population, but they decided to take a chance. Yemens coffee roots reach back over five centuries among the earliest regions where coffee was cultivated. The cafes website describes the beverages beginnings in the historic port city of Mocha, where Yemenites brewed and consumed coffee, recognized by spiritually devoted Sufi Muslims for its energizing properties. Originally, coffee shops were made popular by scholars, Othman said. They would sit together late at night drinking coffee, reflecting, pondering and debating. He wanted to create a place where the community could gather and also welcome those unfamiliar with the culture and tastes. He says about half his customers walk in to try the food and drink as a completely new experience. He assures them they can trade any drink order if they dont like it. So far, theyve had a great response from the customers arriving at night. Were still trying to get the morning people, he said. Over in West County, two more Muslim-owned eatries are drawing eclectic crowds. George Simon, the owner of Sedara Sweets and Eats, opened a second location in Manchester in 2022 after launching in Affton in 2019. Hes a native St. Louisan, and his family is from Lebanon. His wife is an immigrant from Iraq. They noticed a lack of places to buy authentic Middle Eastern sweets or Arab coffee, so they decided to start Sedera, which also serves Arab-style pizzas and flatbreads. During their first year in West County, they kept normal business hours. Last Ramadan in March, however, Simon decided to stay open until after the last special evening prayer at the mosque. Customers would show up around 11 p.m. and stay until 2 a.m., he said. The place was packed every single night, he said. The crowds have thinned since the Ramadan peak, but hes decided to keep the late-night hours on the weekends. In the evenings, customers can order hookah, a table-top water pipe to their booths. Were the only place in West County that offers hookah, he said. It brought in a younger, hipper crowd. Its kind of a halal nightlife. On a recent Saturday night, Beyene Amor, of Chesterfield, is there with her husband and their two young children. Shes Algerian and her husband is Syrian. They used to travel to Chicago to eat traditional Arab food and sweets. Its really exciting that were growing as a community, and we have these options here, Amor said. Shes eating knafeh, a dessert made with shredded phyllo dough layered with a creamy, sweet cheese and soaked with simple syrup. Their five-year-old is licking a large rainbow-colored ice cream cone. Amor appreciates that the restaurant will be open for several more hours this evening, but the young family is wrapping things up around 9:30 p.m. This is probably the latest for us, she said, motioning to their 8 month old, who is calmly lounging in the deeply cushioned booth. She doesnt want to push their luck with the baby. Less than a mile west on Manchester, another unusual dessert spot is catering to the late-night crowd. Yazan Fawwaqa is co-owner of Twisted Rolls and Chimney Cakes, which is tucked in a strip mall in Winchester. His business partner spotted the traditional Hungarian Chimney Cakes, or Kurtoskalacs, in Europe and thought they might take off in America. The pastry is made from a sweet yeast dough that is rolled into a long rope and baked around a cylinder. This cone is coated in butter, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and filled with the customers choice of ice cream. The menu also offers crepes and waffles, mini pancakes, shakes and Italian sodas. Fawwaqa had worked in local restaurants for several years and was looking for a business opportunity. They opened the shop last October and also benefited from the Ramadan boom in business those who would be fasting during the day enjoyed the sugar rush until late into the night. Given the diverse crowd in the store, several trying the chimney cake for the first time, it seems fitting that an immigrant from Palestine was serving them a Hungarian dessert. Maira Waqar, 17, of Chesterfield, had heard about the shop from her friends and seen the buzz on social media during Ramadan. She finally brought her family here, so they could try it for themselves. Maira ordered the tiramisu shake and some pistachio ice cream. It was really good, she said. I definitely will be coming back. Late-night cafes Sedera Sweets and Eats 14339 Manchester Road, Manchester; 636-220-2928 Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday Twisted Rolls and Chimney Cakes 14640 Manchester Road, Ballwin; 636-386-5025 Hours: Noon to 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; noon to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday Mocha Point Coffee 343 North Main Street, St Charles; 314-917-7777 Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m Monday to Friday; 8 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday *Hours subject to change. Party and state leaders Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi meet with police personnel attending a national conference on public security work at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the police force to promote the modernization of the country's public security work. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Tuesday while meeting with police personnel attending a national conference on public security work in Beijing. Li Qiang, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, were present. Addressing the conference on Wednesday, senior CPC official Chen Wenqing urged the police force to stay loyal, clean, and ready to rise to duty. He called on them to spare no efforts in preventing risks and ensuring security and stability, enhance the quality, efficiency, and credibility of law enforcement, and strengthen the police force through reform. The previous such conference was held in 2019. Since then, great changes have taken place in China's public security work, including improved social order, according to a recent press conference held by the Ministry of Public Security. Enhanced police efforts in combating organized crimes and telecom fraud, among others, have helped make China one of the safest countries in the world. The index for Chinese people's sense of security stood at 98.2 percent in 2023, compared with 87.55 percent in 2012. Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, speaks at a national conference on public security work in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Editor: WXL JEFFERSON CITY As Missouri lawmakers worked to hammer out a state budget this spring, one senator had a special request. It wasnt for a pet project in her southwest Missouri district. It wasnt for more or less spending on a particular government program. Instead, freshman Sen. Jill Carter called on budget writers to address her concerns about providing money to build a new, multi-agency health laboratory campus in the capital city. When the final votes were cast in early May, the Republican from Granby got her wish. Included in the language for the $75 million lab was a caveat that none of the money shall be expended to the World Health Organization. Mention of the WHO was not sought by Gov. Mike Parsons administration. And, according to budget writers, there was never an intent to spend money meant for the lab on the organization. (W)e were not responsible for this added language, said Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services spokeswoman Lisa Cox. Rather, the phrase was added in response to conspiracy theories about the WHO that began gaining traction in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lab, which has been in the works for more than three years, would be a joint effort between DHSS, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Conservation and the Department of Natural Resources, all of which are out of room in existing labs or lack a centralized location for research. According to the budget request, a single campus would provide more efficient action on diseases that transfer from animals to humans, such as avian influenza, and from humans to animals, such as foot-and-mouth disease. The so-called One Health concept, which has support from the WHO, is based on the idea that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the environment we share with them. The project triggered some traffic on social media this spring attempting to connect the WHO to the project. Call your senators and the budget committee tell them to remove this item. Missouri should not be establishing anything connected to the WHO, wrote one anonymous poster on X, formerly known as Twitter. Carter said she supports the project, but wanted to make sure there is no foreign intervention in state spending decisions. The idea of multiple agencies working together to increase efficiency and be better stewards of Missourians money is very appealing. However, my primary focus is that Missouri elected officials have the flexibility to do whats best for Missourians. The reasoning behind the budget language was to ensure that decisions made for Missourians are done by those who were elected to represent them, not by foreign entities, she said in a statement Thursday. Her intervention came as she was ending her membership in the Missouri Freedom Caucus, which is a small faction of hard-right Republicans that held up action in the Senate for much of the session, resulting in one of the most unproductive years by the General Assembly in modern history. Some of the bills Carter introduced during the legislative session reflect her and other Republicans embrace of conspiracy theories related to global organizations allegedly infringing on the rights of Americans. Under one proposal, she sought Senate agreement on a resolution highlighting the Missouri Senates unwavering dedication to the principles of sovereignty and self-determination, declaring unequivocally that any encroachments on the freedom of its residents must be immediately stopped. The resolution adds that the Legislature is concerned by all attempts made by international organizations, such as the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and the World Health Organization, to advocate for policies and initiatives that could undermine the core values and interests of Missouris residents. The measure did not advance. Meantime, officials are waiting for Parson to act on the package of budget bills on his desk before work on the new facility can begin. To my knowledge, construction would begin soon after, Cox said. On Feb. 23, 2022, Russia invaded the Ukraine, killing civilians, assaulting women and kidnapping Ukrainian children. How many Ukrainians have been collateral damage? After 27 months, Russia is still killing Ukrainian civilians. Ukrainians are fighting for the survival of their country. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing civilians, assaulting women and kidnapping women, children and adults of all ages. In Gaza, Israel, fighting for the life of its country, is causing much collateral damage to the aggressors. Gaza is controlled by Hamas. Russia is controlled by Vladimir Putin. Both the Ukraine and Israel want to live in peace, but neither aggressor is willing to concede. College protesters want Israel to stop fighting the war they didnt start, even though Hamas still launches missiles at Israel. Why are the students not picketing Gazas diplomats or the Russian embassy? Dan Messmer Ellisville SMNYC 2024: Paramount's Steve Ellis Talks Premium Content, Ads, and Measurement At Streaming Media NYC, Tim Siglin, Founding Member, Help Me Stream Research Foundation, sits down for an exclusive interview with Steve Ellis, Chief Operating Officer of Paramount Advertising. They discuss the growth of ad-supported streaming and Paramount's role as a pioneer in this space, and Ellis highlights the importance of full-episode programming in reaching and engaging audiences effectively. He and Siglin also talk about the new Nielsen gauge measurement that shows the total reach of audiences across all premium publishers and YouTube, and he emphasizes the need for effective ads that align with the objectives of awareness, consideration, and last-click attribution. Siglin begins by asking Ellis to talk briefly about the fireside keynote chat he had with the conferences Program Chair and Host, Evan Shapiro, CEO, ESHAP. It's always great to talk with Evan, Ellis says. Hes one of the better commentators on the evolving media space. We covered the reality of streaming in ad-supported universes and how much it's grown. I shamelessly told him that Paramount was the first mover in ad-supported streaming, which is true. We talked about the scale of our ad-supported streaming stats when looked at in its entirety. We touched on the new Nielsen gauge measurement that shows the full reach of audiences across all the premium publishers and YouTube and shows Paramount for the first time appropriately in an aggregated light. And then we touched a little bit on the creator universe, which I have a long history in. I started a company called WhoSay, which is how I ended up at Paramount. They acquired that business. And we talked about how the creator world has obviously exploded in principle, but really, it's still mostly about the platforms benefiting from creators, creating really more effective ads. Why full-episode programming is the most effective format for Paramount Siglin asks Ellis how he defines premium content. I was actually doing a presentation to some seventh graders, and I explained professional content versus user-generated, and they understood that, he says. But premium is sort of a different phrasing as well. Ellis emphasizes that Paramount thinks of premium as full episode programming of half an hour to a full hour because those formats monetize the best because they most effectively reach audiences. We have over 10 shows that reach more than 10 million people at the same time, he says. This is not easy to do. You need the combination of a broadcast cable and streaming footprint to be able to reach those kinds of numbers of scale. So we're aware that platforms, such as YouTube and others, have hundreds of millions of users. But the truth is that Paramount also reaches across those platforms, with almost 200 million [users] a month. So if we're all reaching the same 200 million people in America, it really comes down to the content itself and how people are sitting, watching, and engaging. To your point, there are many millions of people watching a few seconds of this and a few seconds of that on platforms. And then there are millions of people watching half-hour and hour-long shows. And so premium for us is full episode programming, and we are particularly focused at Paramount advertising on it being supported by 30-second non-skippable ads. Nielsen and the issues with accurate audience measurement Siglin wonders what Ellis thinks of Nielsen regarding the overall accuracy of audience measurements in the new multiplatform streaming landscape. Do you feel we're at the point where the measurements are relatively accurate in aggregate across the multiple viewing experiences? I think there's always work to do, Ellis says. It is difficult and complicated when you have multi-platform worlds. But I want to give appropriate credit to Paramount Advertising for taking the lead in making sure there was more than one measurement option and partner out there. We're much closer to having an accurate view of [aggregation users] across all the platforms. But I also said yesterday that those of us in the television space, like Paramount, are held to a slightly different standard than the platforms that can measure and grade their own homework. Paramount's invested a lot of time, money, effort, and man-hours into ensuring there were alternatives and getting closer to an accurate view of the aggregate reach. The importance of matching premium content with premium advertising Siglin asks, What does a premium ad look like? Because on some platforms, the ads don't match the content, or worse, the volume level is so much higher. Ellis says, I would love to see people compare like-for-like, and what I mean by that is, in the end, you want the ad to be effective. [That depends] on your objective awareness consideration, [and] last click attribution. You want the ad to be effective in the world we live in today, and you have to engage in all formats. No one's pretending that they have the one solution. Still, he once more highlights the effectiveness of the traditional 30-second ad, especially compared to ads on social media platforms and shorter form content. The 30-second ad, he says, is the Most effective ad format in history, 70 plus years old now, and its proven itself for decades. And you compare it to platform ads90% of an audience on social content is gone by the fifth second. He notes how these skipped ads can be big issues considering brief engagement combined with the full price paid for longer ads. We've looked at the data, he says. If you thought about it on a cost-per-second basis, in many cases, you're looking at 10 or 20 times the price. Now, for some products, a three-second ad can tell the story. For others, you need much longer to do that. So I think we would love to see effectiveness and price be the two things people consider because measurement has become at least trusted and standardized. Here's the reach, we know the formats, so let's talk about was this ad effective for my objective and did I pay an appropriate price relative to my alternative options? Ellis further outlines what Paramount is doing to enhance advertising performance and measurement. At this years upfronts, he says, Paramount announced that they have Invested in identity and in multiple measurement partners to give our clients a choicewe're now investing in partnerships with EDO and MasterCard to provide performance measurement in an always on way for all of our customers who buy our inventory. So, I think that helps bring us up to the point where you can compare us to platforms. There shouldn't be a difference in a premium format just because you can't put your thumb on the screen, which you can on a mobile device. See more highlights and interviews from SMNYC. Watch full sessions from SMNYC on-demand. Join us in August 2024 for more thought leadership, actionable insights, and lively debate at Streaming Media Connect. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Related Articles URUMQI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- For thousands of years, many herders in today's Altay Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have been following a nomadic life, leading their livestock on journeys to different pastures at certain times throughout the year. Recently, this millennia-old tradition has been thrust back into the spotlight following the release of "To the Wonder," a TV series adapted from Li Juan's prose collection "My Altay." The show, which aired lately, became an instant hit. The spring migration in Altay has basically concluded, and the summer migration will begin in early June. A month ago, 600 heads of livestock belonging to Adalbek Beldumulati, a Kazak herder from a village in Altay, were loaded onto multi-deck trucks and transported to a pasture over 200 kilometers away from the village. After a five-hour drive, they arrived at the Sarbulak spring pasture in Altay's Fuhai County. "In the past, it would take at least a week to complete the migration. Now, we can leave in the morning and arrive in the afternoon," said Adalbek Beldumulati, who is in his 50s. Sarbulak, meaning "yellow spring," is a place where melting ice and snow form rivers that flow through the mountains. At the foot of these mountains, lush green grasslands stretch out, dotted with herds of cattle and sheep. The TV series has scored 8.8 out of 10 on China's popular rating platform Douban. The series portrays nomadic life during migration journeys, highlighting the collision of old and new ideas and the integration of traditional and modern ways of life, drawing significant attention to the nomadic culture in Altay. Altay, one of the pastoral areas in Xinjiang, is home to vast grasslands stretching between the Altay Mountains and the Junggar Basin. Nomadic ethnic groups migrate in search of water and grass throughout the year, leading their livestock on long-distance journeys to different pastures based on the growth cycle of the grass. This unique nomadic culture has existed for thousands of years. Even today, the herders in Altay maintain different pastures for each season. Every year, they migrate back and forth from south to north, and vice versa, covering distances ranging from a few dozen kilometers to more than 1,000 kilometers. In the spring of 2024, over 2.2 million livestock in Altay were part of this migration. In the vertical mobile grazing practiced by the Kazak ethnic group, migration allows for the efficient use of forage resources. "The grazing style is adapted to the fragile alpine grassland natural ecosystem," said Chen Xiangjun, professor at the School of Ethnology and Sociology in South-Central Minzu University. In recent years, local government has increased investment in infrastructure in the pastoral areas, transforming some traditional pastoral trails into highways to facilitate the transportation of herders. Over 100 posthouse facilities have also been established along the herders' migration routes, providing them with easier access to services such as accommodation, food and bathing, as well as supplies for their livestock. Today, many herders use modern equipment, such as motorcycles and walkie-talkies, and the younger generation enjoys communicating with the outside world through the internet. Bota, a "post-90s" herder in Altay, has an innate love for pastoral life. She often livestreams and creates videos while grazing, capturing everything from making felt blankets to preparing food with modern kitchenware and electricity. Through her videos, netizens can experience the scenery of the Altay pastures and see how modern life preserves traditions while embracing change. The nomadic culture has also become a tourism attraction in Altay, drawing visitors and shutterbugs alike. An important stopover for herders during their migration journeys, Sarbulak town in Fuhai has been hosting a migration-themed tourism festival for years. Traditional activities like horse racing and wool knitting offer tourists from home and abroad a chance to immerse themselves in the nomadic culture. "An increasing number of tourists have been coming to the pasture to experience the slow-paced life and the unique folk culture," said Waspan Malek, owner of a homestay in Altay's Burqin County. He added that when he first started the business, there were only two to three guest rooms, but with Altay's increasing popularity, he had to expand the homestay to encompass more than 50 guest rooms. Jilin New Village, a filming location of the series "To the Wonder," located in Altay's Habahe County, welcomes nearly 5,000 tourists daily. Among them is An Meimei, 21, who hails from central China's Hubei Province. "I was drawn by the breathtaking scenery portrayed in the TV series. While I had previously seen images of the migration, witnessing the herders' journey firsthand allowed me to truly grasp the essence of their nomadic lifestyle. It's an epic tale of harmony between people and animals," An said. According to the bureau of culture, sports, radio, television and tourism of Altay City, Altay Prefecture recorded over 1.05 million tourist visits from May 13 to 19, up 70.07 percent year on year. Editor: WXY An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 18th Aggressor Squadron takes off at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 11, 2023. The squadron is now known as the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. (Patrick Sullivan/U.S. Air Force) An F-16 Fighting Falcon jettisoned two fuel tanks during an in-flight emergency this week at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The jet, assigned to Eielsons 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, was taking off around 1:47 p.m. Tuesday when the emergency occurred, the base said in a statement posted to social media the following day. The aircraft landed back at Eielson safely with no injuries reported, said the statement, which added that the tanks were dropped in accordance with emergency procedures. No further details were released about the emergency, which the base said remains under investigation. The squadron had been known as the 18th Aggressor Squadron until a name-change ceremony at Eielson in Februrary. The fighters fuel tanks dropped in an uninhabited area near the base have been found, the Air Force said. To facilitate clean-up operations in the area, spectators are requested to stay away from the scene of the spill, the statement said. The base command post, local emergency services, law enforcement, and environmental protection agencies have been notified. The commander of Eielsons 354th Fighter Wing, Col. Paul Townsend, said his team is working closely with local government and community members to respond quickly and responsibly. We are grateful for the communitys support of our mission, and we strive to be good stewards of the land we fly over, he said in the statement. Then-Airman 1st Class Michael McCullough poses on the Ground Instructional Training Aircraft ramp at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, in September 2021. (John Ingle/U.S. Air Force) An Oklahoma school district is accused of illegally refusing to rehire a teacher after he returned from military deployment. Now the Department of Justice is suing. On July 16, 2019, Michael J. McCullough began working for Oklahoma City Public Schools as a band teacher. He then became a member of the United States Air Force Reserve in June 2020, according to the lawsuit filed May 29. McCullough was employed as a music teacher with the school district for the 2021-2022 school year. However, in February 2022, he received a non-continuance notice from the school. So he reached out to Cindy Lang, the principal of Fillmore Elementary School, where he taught at the time, according to the lawsuit. She responded in an email, saying she didnt know they were sending out the non continuing [sic] letters today, according to court documents. Thats just protocol. All teachers under two years get that. Id like you to stay if you are happy. After receiving this email, McCullough believed he would continue his employment through the 2022-2023 school year. A day later, he received orders for military service beginning Feb. 14, the lawsuit said. McCullough notified school officials that he would have to take a leave of absence to fulfill his military duties. Then, he received an email from Lang. Im trying to wrap my mind around this and Im very concerned. So Im paying you all year and have to have a sub? It would make it so much easier to fill this with a music teacher if you resign. But this is your choice, the email said, according to the lawsuit. Then, on March 10, McCullough received a letter from the school, saying his contract would not be renewed. Oklahoma City Public Schools told McClatchy News in a statement that it was made aware of the lawsuit and is reviewing it. The district will work through the legal process accordingly, the statement read. We cannot provide any further comment at this time. Still, on April 25, McCullough notified school officials that he intended to return to his employment for the 2022-2023 school year, the court document said. On July 29, he informed school officials that his military duties were extended until Dec. 30, and that he would be able to return to his employment after Christmas break. School officials responded to him, saying, Thank you for sending this information, however, your employment with OKCPS ended on July 15, 2022, at the end of your 2021-2022 contract, the lawsuit said. In December, McCullough reached out again after seeing a job posting for a band teacher position at a middle school. McCullough was interviewed for the position, according to the lawsuit, but the school hired someone else. McCullough once again requested to be reinstated to his former teaching position, to which school officials responded, saying, Since you are not currently employed with OKCPS, you must apply for open positions and follow the normal recruitment process, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit said the schools refusal to reinstate McCullough was a direct violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, which protects the rights of uniformed service members to reemployment in their civilian employment following absences due to military service obligations, according to a May 29 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Oklahoma. Service members are called to leave their home and work to serve and protect us, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma said in the release. It is our job to make sure their employment rights are protected once they return home. My office will continue to vigorously defend the rights justly earned by those who serve our country. The lawsuit is asking for an amount equal to McCulloughs lost wages, as well as further relief. Ailing man faked history in Navy for health benefits, feds say. Now hes sentenced Police department pulls job offer after learning applicant is transgender, lawsuit says Company discriminated against nearly 100 Black applicants, feds say. Now itll pay up 2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Police left a piece of barricade tape where a Marine was stabbed in the Henoko district of Nago city, Okinawa, May 29, 2024. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes) NAGO CITY, Okinawa Police are searching for a man who stabbed a U.S. Marine during an altercation outside a restaurant near Camp Schwab on Wednesday night. The Nago City Fire Department received a call from a restaurant worker at 8:04 p.m. saying a U.S. military-related man was stabbed by another U.S. military-related man, a department spokesman told Stars and Stripes by phone Thursday. The [Marine] was stabbed in the street before fleeing into the restaurant, he said. Its customary in Japan that some government officials speak to the media on condition of anonymity. The Marine, an unidentified man in his 20s, had refused to hand over his money, a prefectural police spokesman said by phone Thursday. He suffered injuries to his left shoulder, chest and leg but remained conscious and communicative while receiving first aid. The Marine was treated at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa and has been released with minor injuries, III Marine Expeditionary Force spokesman 1st Lt. Owen Hitchcock said by email Thursday. Hitchcock did not release the Marines name or other biographical details. The assailant, described as a 6 feet tall foreigner man wearing a black hoodie and pants, was still on the run Thursday, the police spokesman said. The weapon has not been recovered. The stabbing happened approximately a half-mile from Schwabs main gate. Police said they are examining area surveillance footage as part of the investigation. We thank the local police, civilians, and emergency responders who ensured the Marines injuries were treated and guaranteed safe passage to the Naval Hospital, Hitchcock wrote. We will continue to cooperate with local authorities as the investigation continues. A screenshot of live footage from Icelands national broadcaster RUV on May 29, 2024, shows smoke billowing from the ground near a communications mast used by the U.S. Navy, at right. (RUV) Lava from the latest volcanic eruption in Iceland has reached a defensive barrier around a U.S. Navy communications site on the southern coast, according to the countrys national broadcaster. Live footage by RUV on Thursday afternoon showed smoke coming from the ground near one of two masts at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station in Grindavik. The expectation, at this point, is that the defenses will hold, Darren Adam, a presenter and reporter with RUVs English service, said, referring to walls of crushed rock that Icelandic authorities started building last year ahead of a series of volcanic eruptions. Staffers at the telecommunications facility, who include one U.S. Navy civilian and Icelandic supporting personnel, were evacuated months ago because of the threat posed by the volcanic activity, the Navy said in February. Normally, the facility operates 24/7 and plays an important role in radio communications with various Navy and NATO vessels in the Atlantic Ocean by helping ensure their safety, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa spokesman Lt. Cody Keim said at the time. Keim refused to say whether the two communication masts could function without staff on the ground, citing operational security. On Thursday, activity near the site appeared to be less than it was when the eruption began the previous afternoon. Screenshots of live footage from Icelands national broadcaster RUV about 1 a.m. local time on May 30, 2024, show lava spewing from various locations. The top right box shows an area near a telecommunications station used by the U.S. Navy. (RUV) The Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station in Grindavik, Iceland, shown in January 2020. Lava from a nearby volcanic eruption has reached a defensive barrier around the site, according to the countrys national broadcaster. (Facebook/NCTAMS LANT) The Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station in Grindavik, Iceland, in 2022. Lava from a nearby volcanic eruption has reached a defensive barrier around the site, according to the countrys national broadcaster. (Olga Ernst/Wikimedia Commons) Much larger plumes of smoke were initially visible and at times nearly hid one of the masts. Around midnight local time, several prolonged flareups of lava could be seen in the footage. In an update Thursday, Icelands Met Office confirmed that the power of the eruption had decreased significantly, although lava was still bursting at Hagafell and Sylingarfell nearby. The town of Grindavik is about 30 miles south of the capital, Reykjavik, and about 15 miles from Keflavik International Airport, where U.S. forces operate. There were no initial reports of disruption at the airport because of the volcano. The eruption is the fifth on the Reykjanes Peninsula, in southwestern Iceland, since December. Until March 2021, the peninsula had not experienced an eruption for 800 years, but scientists believe the area is entering a new volcanic era that could last for decades or even centuries. Brad Martin, a retired Navy captain and researcher at Rand Corp., said that if the facility were disabled or destroyed by volcanic activity, the military would have backup options. There are always alternative pathways, usually there are multiple satellite systems that can do the same thing, Martin said. Iceland, a founding member of NATO, has a coast guard but no military of its own. At Icelands invitation and amid concerns of Russian aggression in Europe, the U.S. military in recent years has boosted activity at Keflavik, including deployment of a rotational detachment of P-8 Poseidon aircraft to the base for tracking submarine movements. In 2020, the Pentagon awarded $38 million in contracts for airfield improvements to allow for expanded missions. A MARTAC T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vehicle operates in the Arabian Gulf, Oct. 26, 2023. According to a military official, the U.S. Navy has changed the focus of its Middle East drone boat effort after not reaching its goal of assembling a fleet of 100 unmanned surface vessels. (Jacob Vernier/U.S. Navy) The U.S. Navys much-touted goal of a regional fleet of 100 unmanned surface vessels in the Middle East fell so short of expectations that the service has scrapped the notion of a numerical target for the program, according to a military official. The focus was switched from a firm number to an operational capability, the official, who has knowledge of the program, said Wednesday on condition of anonymity in order to speak on sensitive matters. By the end of last summer, the Navy said it had about 50 such vessels that it considered part of the regional fleet, of which the U.S. contributed about 20. But since last fall, naval officials have been loath to speak about the issue. The aim was to have the 100 drone boats patrolling Middle Eastern waters by the end of the summer of 2023, U.S. military officials said last year. The unmanned craft would have been provided primarily by regional allies. They would have collected information to be shared among the U.S. and its allies in the Middle East, following the example of the Navys tech unit Task Force 59, which since 2021 has tested and operated unmanned surface ships in the region. The unmanned vessel Ocean Aero Triton cruises through international waters between Naval Support Activity Bahrain and Iran on Nov. 30, 2022, as part of a naval exercise. The U.S. Navy's goal of having a fleet of 100 unmanned surface vessels in the Middle East remains unfulfilled. (J.P. Lawrence/Stars and Stripes) But the Navy was overly keen to announce a fleet with an eye-catching number of unmanned surface vessels and didnt factor in their Persian Gulf allies concerns, according to analysts. The countries are interested in maybe pursuing these as individual efforts, but theyre not necessarily looking to do it as part of that cooperative activity that the Task Force 59 guys were leading, said Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Hudson Institute. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have expressed a willingness to invest in naval surveillance drones and have the resources to do so, experts said. But these nations are sometimes competitors and have been hesitant to join an effort involving the sharing of sensitive information, said Clark, an analyst on naval operations and autonomous systems who spoke to Gulf and 5th Fleet officials. Arab leaders in the Gulf questioned the regional fleet idea last year and have been reluctant to share radar data with each other this year as part of a U.S.-backed initiative to cooperate on air defense, regional news site Al-Monitor reported last week. In a November interview, Capt. Colin Corridan, head of Task Force 59, cited difficulties in persuading other navies to make a cultural leap toward unmanned naval vessels. Its not going to happen immediately, Corridan said, adding that he was not keeping track of the numbers. Unmanned ships with green boxes containing aerial drones prowl the waters near Naval Support Activity Bahrain on Dec. 1, 2022, as part of an exercise that was the first test for 10 systems by the U.S. 5th Fleet. The U.S. Navy failed to meet its much-touted goal of putting together a fleet of 100 drone boats in the Middle East. (J.P. Lawrence/Stars and Stripes) After saying in September that the project was on a trajectory toward meeting the goal, U.S. 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Rick Chernitzer responded to an update request in February by saying there was nothing new to share ... on the regional fleet. This week, Chernitzer declined to answer questions on the status of the initiative and could not specify a country that had joined, citing sensitivities of the nations involved. He issued a statement saying that 5th Fleet is focused on delivering new capabilities. The failure to meet the expectation of having a 100-drone Middle East fleet is an example of the Navys hype about unmanned systems outpacing its abilities, experts said. The problem there is if you dont hit that mark, you lose credibility, said Joe Buccino, a former U.S. Central Command spokesman. The numerical target was always a bit of an aspiration, added Buccino, who as CENTCOMs chief spokesman until 2023 spearheaded much of the initial messaging about the initiative. And the goalposts have been shifting on the program since its inception, Buccino said, noting that the deadline set by the Navy changed at least three times. While the conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken up much of CENTCOMs focus in the region, Buccino said the drone fleet plan was already behind schedule on Oct. 7, when a Hamas terrorist attack on Israel started the war. According to Clark, the Navys attention in the Middle East is now geared toward more combat-focused operations that are not part of its previous shared regional fleet concept. Already, U.S. naval forces in the region have launched missiles from drone boats, and there is a new unit, Task Group 59.1, that can take robots into combat operations. Rand Corp. analyst Michael Bohnert said there was no need for the Navy to try to rush its drone boat plans into reality. In light of how new the field is and how much is being learned about the use of unmanned naval weapons from the war in Ukraine, the U.S. should give itself a few years of leeway for development, he said. Everyone is reviewing their uncrewed portfolios, Bohnert said. Given it is literally training day for the world, any continued forward progress is fine for now. Stars and Stripes ombudsman Jacqueline Smith. (Carol Kaliff/Hearst Connecticut Media Group) A fierce storm in mid-April damaged a school on a Navy base in Bahrain, forcing it to close. Stars and Stripes reporter Shannon Renfroe wanted to cover the open house on the Navy base intended to update concerned parents on the repairs. But a Public Affairs officer said she couldnt go without a military escort and by the time one arrived, all the parents had left. What could have been a relevant story on how families were affected by the school closing ended up with only official comments for deadline. What is frustrating is that the reporter did not actually require an escort. Stripes staff are Department of Defense employees and must go through federal background checks to receive whats called their Common Access Card the same card used by the military for unclassified areas. Access is one of three areas of heightened concern to journalists in proposed rules open for public comment in the Federal Register. The proposed rules govern the independent reporting standard of Stripes journalism to best serve the military community. However, taken together they pose a threat to the independence of Stars and Stripes and hinder the ability of reporters to fulfill their responsibility of gathering the news. If no action is taken, these rules will become hard and fast regulations. As a veteran journalist tasked with protecting the First Amendment rights of the Stripes news organization, I want to prevent those proposed rules from becoming binding. And I am asking for the help of anyone who believes in an independent and free press. Did you know that the government blocks Stripes journalists from filing Freedom of Information Act requests? They can file as private citizens but cannot use the resulting information in a Stripes story. How does that help the public? Did you know that the government prohibits Stripes from republishing classified or controlled unclassified information that has already been published in other media? That means Stripes readers the military, their families and other government employees and contractors cannot see information that others in the public can get elsewhere. We are talking about censorship. Let me explain in more detail about the importance of access, republishing classified or controlled unclassified information and filing FOIAs. Then Ill describe the action we can take. First, briefly (because this can quickly get into bureaucratic-speak) Stripes has been operating under a 1993 regulation that came out before the digital age revolutionized the media landscape. Obviously it required updating and many of the changes in the proposal by the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs are improvements. The document containing the proposals is published in the Federal Register (Vol. 89, No. 79) and open for public comment until June 24. I urge First Amendment and Stripes supporters to offer comments and will provide details on how to do so at the end of this column. Comments are crucial for requiring the DOD to rework the language in the three objectionable areas. Access: As proposed, reporters may ask questions of DOD officials, and may cover events open to those with installation access. My problem is with the word may. It denotes permission; it is not absolute. It leaves the interpretation to someone, for example a Public Affairs officer, whether a reporter may or may not ask questions or cover an event. The example of Shannon Renfroe ordered to have an escort for an Open House is hardly earth-shattering. But if this can be required for relatively innocuous events, imagine how open the officials would be to sensitive matters. Stripes journalists have been vetted for security clearance by the federal government. The public benefits by their unfettered access to public events. A better word than may is authorized. FOIA: As DOD employees, Stripes journalists adhere to many policies not required of commercial media, such as certain ethics guidelines; thats fine. But within those policies is the rule that a federal employee cannot file a Freedom of Information Act request of the federal government. This blocks Stripes journalists from using a tool available to others. Curiously, the statute regarding the FOIA has no mention of barring anyone from filing a request for information. And DODs own language is confusing and contradictory. I propose this wording: DOD shall not use the U.S. government employee status of Stripes reporters to block the release of, or access to, information through the FOIA statute provisions of otherwise releasable FOIA information. Republishing classified or controlled unclassified information: The emphasis is on republishing such information, for example, as the Pentagon Papers. Stripes adheres to guidelines that would neither harm national security nor put the lives of U.S. military personnel its audience at risk. But the decision whether to republish must reside with Stripes editors, and ultimately the publisher, as called for in the news organizations independence ordered by Congress. It is absurd to put into policy that Stripes cannot provide information to its readers that is readily available elsewhere. This gets to the heart of credibility. How could the news organization be trusted as a source for all information if the government is telling them they must withhold certain already-published information? When the rules of federal employment conflict with the First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment must prevail. Preferred wording: Stars and Stripes can republish, in whole or in part, reports already available to or known by the public based on classified or controlled unclassified information. I urge you to join me in offering public comments on the Federal Register and to do your part to support Stars and Stripes independence. Remember, the deadline is June 24. There are two ways to submit comments: on the website or via mail. Website: Go to the Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/document/DOD-2023-OS-0058-0001 Mail: Send your written comments to Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Transparency, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350-1700. Important! Your submission must include the agency name and docket number: Stars and Stripes Media Organization, [Docket ID: DOD-2023-OS-0058] or the Regulation Identifier Number: RIN 0709-AL63 Email Jacqueline Smith at ombudsman@stripes.com A birds-eye view of Allied troops landing in Normandy, France, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. (National Archives) DALLAS When Robert Pedigo steps off a plane Saturday in Paris to attend ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, it will be the first time the 100-year-old veteran of the Normandy invasion has ever set foot on French soil. His war was fought in the air over France and Germany as a nose gunner and chief armorer on a B-24J Liberator bomber, part of the 453rd Bombardment Group based northeast of London. The Indianapolis native is among about 60 World War II veterans traveling to France to attend the June 6 ceremonies with a group organized by American Airlines. The veterans average age just over 100 years will be joined on the pilgrimage by about 230 others including medical personnel, U.S. service academy cadets, Medal of Honor recipients from other wars, relatives, attendants and others. Each of the veterans, regardless of the role that they played in the defeat of fascism or where they served, has a story to tell, adding to the understanding of a conflict that saved democracy and shaped the modern world at the cost of an estimated 419,000 American lives worldwide. Despite the horrific losses suffered by the U.S. and its allies on D-Day an estimated 4,414 Allied troops died, including 2,501 Americans on June 6, 1944, alone Pedigo describes his experience that day as the easiest of his 30 combat missions. They included raids on Berlin, Munich and eight other German cities. We attacked a German troop concentration near St. Laurent (on D-Day), he said. We caught the Germans by surprise, and the targets were destroyed. Martin Sylvester, an infantryman with the 4th Infantry Division during the Normandy Campaign in World War II, is among veterans planning to return to France for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. (Courtesy of Paul Sylvester) Another member of the group, Brooklyn-born Martin Sylvester, 99, saw the war from a different perspective. An infantryman with the 12th Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, he came ashore at Utah Beach on the second day of the invasion, walking past wrecked equipment and a few bodies of German defenders. The French people were so happy to see us, Sylvester told Stars and Stripes. The women came out and gave us hugs and kisses, bottles of wine. We were like celebrities. Sylvester and Pedigos experiences were common for men and women of that era children of the 1930s depression whose lives were upended by a war fought in strange-sounding parts of the world that they barely understood. Sylvester, whose parents owned a dry-cleaning business in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, was drafted out of his freshman year at Brooklyn College soon after his 18th birthday and ended up in the infantry after basic training in Alabama. Later, an older brother was killed in the Battle of Huertgen Forest, where Martin Sylvester also fought but in a different unit. World War II veteran Robert Pedigo, left, shakes hands with former Vice President Mike Pence in March at a ceremony in Indianapolis marking National Medal of Honor Day. Pedigo will be attending ceremonies in Normandy marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, in which he took part as a crew member of a B-24J Liberator bomber. (Photo courtesy of Jill Fewell) Pedigo worked at a factory manufacturing the top-secret Norden bombsight but enlisted even though his job would have probably qualified him for a draft deferment. His airplane, dubbed the Silent Yokum after a popular cartoon character, was rushed to the 453rd Bombardment Group a few weeks before the invasion because the unit had recently lost eight planes in a raid over Braunschweig, Germany. On the afternoon before D-Day, his group operations officer, the actor Jimmy Stewart, marched the squadron into a field away from the buildings so no unauthorized persons could hear him. Fellas, we have a big mission coming up, Pedigo recalls Stewart saying. I want you to get some sleep. Hours later, Pedigo and his crew were flying over the English Channel. The whole channel was full of ships, so many of them it seemed like you could walk to France stepping on one boat after another, he said. For Sylvester, word of the invasion came in the form of a barracks guard rousting the men before dawn. They woke us up at 2:30 a.m. and told us to get ready to leave, he said. His only clue of what lay ahead was an order to take full backpacks so we knew we wouldnt be coming back. Flying a large group of elderly veterans from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Paris and then transporting them to and from Normandy nearly 200 miles each way from the French capital is no mean feat. U.S. soldiers hold French and U.S. flags during the 78th anniversary of D-Day ceremony at the Normandy-American Cemetery and Memorial of Colleville-sur-Mer on June 6, 2022. The ceremonies pay tribute to the nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the United States, Canada and elsewhere who landed on French beaches on June 6, 1944, to restore freedom to Europe after Nazi occupation. (Jeremias Gonzalez/AP) The veterans will attend commemorative ceremonies in the Paris area, visit Omaha and Utah beaches where U.S. forces came ashore, and take part in the main event at the Normandy American Cemetery along with President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and other dignitaries on June 6. Its really a logistical challenge, said David Seymour, chief operating officer of American Airlines who grew up in a military family. Its something we would want to do as an organization. Its really about recognizing those who served and preserving their stories before its too late. The upcoming commemoration may well be the last with significant numbers of World War II veterans. According to the National Museum of World War II, an estimated 119,550 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in that conflict were still alive at the end of 2023. An average of 131 World War II veterans dies each day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Seymour said planning for the D-Day pilgrimage began after American Airlines flew a group of veterans to Hawaii in 2021 for the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which propelled the United States into the war. The airline worked with the Old Glory Honor Flight group, which flies veterans to Washington, and the National Museum of World War II in New Orleans, the Gary Sinise Foundation, the State Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the French government and others to put together the trip. The singing group Victory Belles from the National Museum of World War II perform before veterans preparing to travel from Dallas to France with American Airlines to attend D-Day commemorations in Normandy. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes) Planning included identifying eligible veterans, medical screening to make certain that they were physically able to make the trip including a nine-hour flight from Dallas to Paris and arranging for individual escorts to attend to each persons needs. It involved about 18 months of intensive planning, Seymour said. The 80th anniversary of D-Day will be a huge event. You can imagine every hotel in the area will be fully booked. We had to work with the (U.S.) Embassy and the Secret Service because the president will be there. A KC-135 Stratotanker with the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., arrives at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., May 18, 2017. (Louis Briscese/U.S. Air Force) The Air Force said no one was injured Wednesday afternoon when front landing gear retracted on a KC-135 Stratotanker parked at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Aircrew had disembarked prior to the incident, the base said in a statement posted that evening on social media. Two maintainers were on board the aircraft and three others were near the aircraft at the time of the incident, but no one was injured. McConnells emergency responders remain at the scene, the statement said. Today our Emergency Response Airmen put their training to this real-world test, and I am extremely proud of how they conducted themselves and performed their duties, Col. Cory Damon, commander of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, said in the statement. Other flying operations at McConnell remain unhindered by this incident. An investigation is ongoing, according to the statement. Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing on Wednesday. Xi noted that, 68 years ago, Egypt was the first Arab and African state to establish diplomatic relations with China. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, he said, adding that over the past decade, the two heads of state have worked together to guide the vigorous development of bilateral relations. China-Egypt relations have become a vivid illustration of China's solidarity, coordination, and mutually-beneficial win-win cooperation with Arab, African, Islamic and developing countries, Xi said, adding that under the new circumstances, building a more enriched and dynamic China-Egypt relationship meets the common expectations of the two peoples. Xi said that China is ready to work with Egypt to deepen mutual trust, advance cooperation, build a China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era, and contribute to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity. Xi stressed that China is striving in all aspects to build a strong and prosperous country and achieve national rejuvenation, and China and Egypt are facing historic opportunities for exchanges and cooperation in various fields. The two sides should continue to firmly support each other and work together to promote common development, Xi added. China is ready to work with Egypt to tap the potential of cooperation in traditional areas such as infrastructure, industry, electricity and agriculture, explore cooperation in emerging areas such as health care, information and communications, and renewable energy, deepen economic, trade and investment cooperation, and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Egypt, Xi said. Xi urged efforts to organize the 2024 China-Egypt year of partnership, expand personnel and cultural exchanges, and make the Luban Workshop in Egypt a benchmark for China-Africa vocational education cooperation. China supports Egypt in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and stands ready to further strengthen coordination and cooperation with Egypt on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS cooperation mechanism, advocate an equal and orderly multi-polar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, as well as the common interests of developing countries, Xi said. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Xi said that China is ready to work closely with Egypt and other parties to build a successful China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, inject new impetus into China-Arab relations, and promote the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. China is also willing to work with Egypt and other African members of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, and work together to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, Xi added. Sisi expressed his pleasure at paying a state visit to China and attending the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, adding that Egypt expects to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and strive to promote regional peace and stability. Sisi said that Egypt adheres to the one-China principle, firmly supports China's position on issues relating to its core interests such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xizang and human rights, and firmly supports China in achieving complete national reunification. It is hoped that the 2024 Egypt-China year of partnership will be an opportunity for the two countries to enhance people-to-people exchanges and strengthen bilateral cooperation in such areas as information and communications, artificial intelligence, new energy, food security and finance, Sisi added. Expressing appreciation to Xi for putting forward a series of global initiatives, Sisi said Egypt stands ready to work closely with China in multilateral cooperation to make positive contributions to human peace and progress. The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi said that the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused heavy casualties of innocent Palestinian civilians and the humanitarian situation in Gaza is extremely grave, and China is deeply saddened. It is imperative to cease fire and stop the war immediately, avoid the spillover of conflict which will impact regional peace and stability, and prevent a more serious humanitarian crisis, he said. Noting that the two-State solution is the fundamental way out for resolving the Palestinian question, Xi said China firmly supports Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations. China appreciates Egypt's important role in cooling down the situation and providing humanitarian relief, and is ready to work with Egypt to continue to provide assistance to the people in Gaza within its capacity, and promote an early, full, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, Xi added. Egypt greatly appreciates China's consistent commitment to justice on the Palestinian question and stands ready to maintain close communication with China to push for an early easing of tensions in the Gaza Strip, Sisi added. After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields, which involve the plan for the promotion of cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road, science and technology innovation, investment and economic cooperation, and quarantine. The two sides also issued a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Editor: WXL U.S. service members participate in a live fire exercise at Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, on May 6, 2024. (Eloisa Lopez/REUTERS) BEIJING/MANILA Chinas defense ministry on Thursday strongly condemned the deployment of a U.S. intermediate range missile system in the northern Philippines during military drills in April, saying it brought huge risks of war into the region. Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told a press briefing in Beijing that China remained highly vigilant and opposed the deployment, the first in the Indo-Pacific region. The United States and Philippine practices put the entire region under the fire of the United States (and) brought huge risks of war into the region, Wu said, adding it seriously undermined regional peace. Intermediate-range missiles are strategic and offensive weapons with a strong Cold War colour, Wu said. China deploys its own advanced intermediate-range missiles as part of an extensive conventional ballistic missile arsenal. The U.S. said last month it had deployed its Typhon missile system to the Philippines as part of their Balikatan or shoulder-to-shoulder military drills. Philippine military official Col. Michael Logico said in April that the missile system, which can fire Tomahawk land attack and SM-6 missiles, was brought to Laoag city in Ilocos Norte province in the northern Philippines. But officials did not say if the weapon system was transported elsewhere, or if it remains in the Philippines. The Philippines and U.S. military did not fire the missile system during the exercises, but Logico said it was shipped to test the feasibility of transporting the 40-ton weapon system by air. A Philippines military spokesperson could not be reached for comment on Thursday. The annual drills this year involved around 16,000 Filipinos and U.S. soldiers, some of which were staged in northern Philippine islands near Taiwan and in western waters facing the South China Sea, where China is in dispute with the Philippines and other regional claimants. The exercises irked China at the time and it warned of destabilisation when countries outside the region flex muscles and stoke confrontation. Philippine and U.S. officials had said the exercises were meant to improve interoperability between their forces and were not directed at any third country. Reporting by Laurie Chen in Beijing and Karen Lema and Mikhail Flores in Manila; Writing by Greg Torode; Editing by David Holmes Trash carried over the border by a North Korean balloon is seen in this undated photo taken in Seoul, South Korea. (South Korean Ministry of National Defense) PYEONGTAEK, South Korea The multinational command tasked with enforcing the armistice agreement between North and South Korea is investigating hundreds of filth-carrying balloons Pyongyang sent across the Demilitarized Zone on Tuesday. Roughly 260 balloons with plastic bags tethered to them have been discovered this week in provinces across the peninsula, the South Korean military said in a statement Wednesday. Some contained manure. The bags also held cigarette butts, batteries, used clothes and other household trash, Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Col. Lee Sung-jun told reporters at a news conference Thursday. North Korean balloons with bags tethered to them are seen in this undated photo taken in South Chungcheong province, South Korea. (South Korean Ministry of National Defense) U.N. Command composed of 22 member states and led by Army Gen. Paul LaCamera out of Camp Humphreys announced late Wednesday it has launched a formal investigation in the matter. The military action of deploying mass numbers of balloons with substances (e.g. fecal matter and other contaminants) that can cause harm to local populations is not only offensive and unsanitary but constitutes a violation of the armistice agreement, the statement said. The Neutral Nations Supervisory Committee will observe the investigation to provide third-party oversight, the command said. We condemn any violations of international law that disrupt efforts to preserve peace on the Korean Peninsula, and we encourage [North Korea] to return to dialogue to deliberate these matters and other issues that present potential sources of conflict or tension, a U.N. Command spokesperson, Army Maj. Mayra Nanez, said in the statement. The commands purpose is to uphold the armistice agreement between the two Koreas and to investigate suspected violations. In one such probe last year, it concluded that both sides violated the agreement by flying drones into each others airspaces on Dec. 26, 2022. South Korean firefighters and explosive ordnance disposal teams were dispatched to investigate the balloons, some of which may have landed on homes, airports, highways and vehicles, the Souths military said in a news release Wednesday. None of the balloons were in the air as of Thursday, Lee, the Joint Chiefs spokesman, told reporters at the news conference. He described Pyongyangs campaign as a petty act. Tuesdays incident comes two days after North Korean Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il warned of tit-for-tat action in response to balloons sent north of the border by South Korean human rights activists, according to a statement published Sunday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. South Korean activists and North Korean defectors living in the South regularly send balloons carrying food, money and household essentials to the North. Mounds of wastepaper and filth will soon be scattered over the border , Kim said. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a senior ruling party official, mocked the South in a KCNA statement Wednesday, calling the balloons a form of freedom of expression. Sebastien Delogu, deputy for La France Insoumise party, attends a pro-Palestinian protest in central Paris, France, May 29, 2024. (Abdul Saboor/REUTERS) PARIS A hard-left French lawmaker sanctioned for raising a Palestinian flag in parliament on Tuesday said he would rather be on the right side of history than stick to the rules of the National Assembly. The lower house of parliament voted to suspend Sebastien Delogu, a deputy for the La France Insoumise (LFI) party, for 15 days and to halve his pay as a lawmaker over two months, the harshest sanction possible. Its the first time that a foreign flag has been raised in the assembly, but its appropriate given whats at stake, when you have people, who are like us, on the other side of the Mediterranean being massacred, Delogu told Reuters at a pro-Palestinian protest in Paris on Wednesday evening. LFI has positioned itself as a defender of the Palestinians, making the issue central to its campaign for the June 9 European Parliament election. Unlike other parties, LFI has not described the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel as a terrorist act. Some critics of LFI have accused it of antisemitism, which the party says is not true. Delogu raised the flag during a session of questions to the government, while another LFI deputy questioned a minister about the situation in Gaza, the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave devastated by Israeli bombardment and invasion since Oct. 7. There have been protests and spontaneous gatherings happening in Paris everyday this week since 45 people were killed on Sunday in a massive blaze in a tent camp in the Gaza city of Rafah caused by an Israeli airstrike. Of the strikes, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X on Monday that he was outraged and these operations must stop. Delogu said the French government is not doing enough. I point the finger at France... because they continue to sell arms (to Israel), which means they are complicit in this massacre, he said. Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu has previously said that France will not stop sending weapon components to Israel. He has said the components are used for Israels Iron Dome missile defence and others are sold to Israel for re-export. Lecornu has said Paris does not provide lethal weapons to Israel. The Elysee presidency and the defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Delogus remarks. Israels offensive on Gaza has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages according to Israeli tallies. Israels military says it is targeting armed militants hiding among the civilian population in the Gaza war and says it does its utmost to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas denies that its fighters use civilians for cover. Frances National Assembly rules forbid lawmakers from brandishing flags during session. In 2019, a lawmaker from Macrons party held up a white flag with France kills in Yemen written in red. He was given a warning. Another LFI MP, David Guiraud, called a Jewish colleague a pig and a pork during a heated exchange shortly after the flag-waving incident. That MP, Meyer Habib, who represents French people abroad including in Israel and is an ally of Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, has said he will file a complaint over antisemitism. Guiraud said that he was responding a comment by Habib, who himself had brought up pigs, and that the criticism of Israel and those who defend it is often portrayed as antisemitism. Reporting by Layli Foroudi, additional reporting by John Irish and Juliette Jabkhiro; editing by Ingrid Melander, William Maclean and Mark Heinrich. The Elysee said Russias war of aggression in Ukraine meant there would be no Russian delegation at the events, which President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are set to attend. (State Department/Wikimedia Commons) Russia will not be invited to ceremonies in France commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings next week because of the Kremlins war in Ukraine, which has further intensified in recent weeks, the French presidency said Thursday. The Elysee said Russias war of aggression in Ukraine meant there would be no Russian delegation at the events, which President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are set to attend. French organizers had said last month that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not be invited to the commemoration in France but that some Russian officials would be in recognition of wartime Soviet sacrifices. The move reportedly riled some allies uneasy about extending an invitation to Moscow as it wages war in Ukraine and attacks Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv. Heads of state and government, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, are expected in Normandy alongside World War II veterans to mark the 80th anniversary of the landings of American, British and Canadian troops on the beaches of Normandy in June 1944. The invasion helped lay the groundwork for victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Biden will travel to Normandy and Paris from June 5 to 9 on his first state visit to France, the White House said Thursday. French President Emmanuel Macron will host Biden in Paris, where the two presidents will discuss the need for unwavering, long-term support for Ukraine, the Elysee said earlier. The Soviet Union suffered massive casualties in World War II, with an estimated 22 million people killed. Its army fought Nazi forces on the eastern front in what is known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War. Moscow has marked victory in the war in a highly politicized Victory Day with an annual military parade on Red Square. In response to questions Thursday, the Elysee said the ceremony would include homages to Soviet wartime contributions and that there would be no erasure of history. Yet the snub will been seen as a rebuke for Russia, which prides itself on its role in helping to win the war. Putin attended the 70th anniversary commemoration of D-Day in 2014, despite Russias illegal annexation of Crimea from Ukraine months earlier. When the Russian leader was left off the invite list at the 75th anniversary in 2019, he said it was not a problem at the time. Why should I be invited everywhere? he said. I have enough business of my own here. Ahmed, 10, holds munition fragments found near the site of an Israeli airstrike that killed at least 45 people in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Ahmed said he found the fragments in his tent Monday, the day after the strike. MUST CREDIT: Alam Sadeq (Alam Sadeq) Four weapons experts said the Israeli military used a U.S.-made precision bomb in a strike that killed at least 45 people in southern Gaza on Sunday, after reviewing visual evidence provided to The Washington Post. The fragments of an SDB GBU-39, a 250-pound small-diameter precision munition, were found near the site of the strike on an encampment in Rafah, where witnesses described the sounds of planes overhead and successive explosions shaking the entire city. Israel said the attack was a targeted strike against two Hamas militants, conducted using the smallest munition Israeli fighter jets can use. It said that the fire that broke out at the camp was unexpected and unintended, and that it was investigating the possibility that secondary explosions ignited the blaze. The findings do not contradict Israels assertion that it used a small munition, weapons experts said. Israel said it used munitions containing 17 kilos of explosive material, a weight consistent with the size of a warhead used with a GBU-39, according to Trevor Ball, a former explosive ordnance disposal technician for the U.S. Army. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the United States couldnt confirm what weapons were used or how they were used in the strike. Speaking to reporters, Blinken called the attack horrific and said anyone who has seen images of it has been affected on a basic human level. The United States has been very clear with Israel, Blinken said, on the need to immediately investigate and interrogate exactly what happened. When asked if the strike will affect U.S. military assistance to Israel, he said Washington will await the results of Israels investigation. Munitions like the GBU-39 are often selected specifically to minimize the chance of harm to civilians or civilian objects, said N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services. Regardless, he said, with any targeted strike - and especially any strike being conducted in close proximity to civilians - a robust collateral damage estimation procedure is required. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says the majority of the casualties are women and children. Israel launched its campaign after Hamas militants stormed Israeli communities near the border and killed about 1,200 people in October. One of the fragments recovered Monday has the code 81873, which links it to a U.S. company. Israel said the attack on the encampment in Rafah was a "targeted" strike against two Hamas militants and employed "the smallest munition" Israeli fighter jets can use. (Alam Sadeq) Images of the fragments, taken by Palestinian journalist Alam Sadeq on Monday, showed the cage code, or five-character sequence used to identify vendors that sell weapons to the U.S. government. The 81873 designation links the fragment to Woodward HRT, a weapons components manufacturer registered in Valencia, Calif. Sadeqs video and images were verified and geolocated by The Post. He traveled to Rafah from nearby Khan Younis early Monday to document the aftermath of the strike. As he walked through the wreckage, he noticed a boy sitting on the ground examining the remnants of an electronic board. He told me that this piece was inside his tent, Sadeq said. I knew that this missile was used for bombing. The United States supplied Israel with 1,000 precision guided bombs in 2023, according to an arms transfer database maintained by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The Biden administration has not halted transfers of this munition over the course of the war. Last month, the State Department approved a transfer of more than 1,000 GBU-39/B small-diameter bombs with containers on the same day that Israeli forces bombed a convoy of World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza, killing seven. The attack late Sunday struck near a logistics base for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees, destroying at least four tin structures used as shelters for the displaced, according to satellite imagery from Monday provided by Planet Labs. More than a dozen tent-like structures were also visible between the tin buildings and the U.N. warehouse, a distance of about 500 feet, in images before and after the strike. Over the past eight months, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sought refuge in Rafah as Israels offensive pummeled the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The city swelled with the displaced, who set up tent encampments on the streets, in empty lots and on sand dunes near the sea. It is unclear how many people were still at the camp Sunday when the strike hit. After Israel seized the Rafah border crossing earlier this month, nearly 1 million people fled the city, fearing a wider incursion. Wes J. Bryant, a former U.S. military targeting professional, said small-diameter bombs are great for collateral damage mitigation when you dont actually drop them near tents with families. The Israeli military has stressed that the strike took place outside a designated humanitarian zone, but the Israel Defense Forces had not issued evacuation orders for this specific block of the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood before the strike. There was a civilian encampment and the civilians within it must remain protected, Bryant said, adding that the U.S. military would have required senior command approval for a strike on the camp. Our collateral damage analysis would likely have placed civilians within the effects radius of the strike regardless, and so we most likely would not have struck at that location, he said. An Israeli military spokesman reached Wednesday said he could not comment further on the munition used or what measures were taken to prevent civilian casualties. John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said Wednesday that the United States did not have any more granularity on what caused the explosion and subsequent fire. Speaking to reporters at a virtual briefing, Kirby said that if it was true Israel used precision guided weapons, that would certainly indicate a desire to be more deliberate and more precise in their targeting. Sadeq said he encountered horrific scenes in the aftermath of the strike, including charred corpses, blood-spattered bread and a man searching for his cousins head. He held a girls brain in one hand and a bag full of body parts in the other. The smell of death was everywhere, he said. Brown and Kelly reported from Washington, Fahim from Istanbul and Hudson from Chisinau, Moldova. Missy Ryan in Washington contributed to this report. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a ceremony marking Memorial Day for fallen soldiers of Israel's wars and victims of attacks, at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl military cemetery, May 13, 2024. (GIL COHEN-MAGEN/Reuters) JERUSALEM An Israeli cabinet minister accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition of failing miserably amid the Gaza war on Wednesday, prompting a rebuke from Netanyahus Likud party as political divisions deepen. Knesset member Gadi Eisenkot, an observer in the war cabinet, said Netanyahu had failed on security and the economy and called for elections by years end. Speaking at a conference, the former military chief, whose youngest son was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip in December, said Netanyahu was misleading citizens with slogans of total victory against Hamas instead of being truthful about the complexity of the Gaza war, now in its eight month. Anyone who says that well disband a few battalions in Rafah and then return the hostages is sowing a false illusion, he said. It will take three to five years to stabilize [Gaza] and then many more years to build an alternative to Hamas. He said Netanyahu had failed to meet his top 2022 campaign promises, including stopping Irans nuclear program, formalising diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia and strengthening the economy. Israel launched an air and ground offensive in Gaza last October vowing to destroy the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas. However, experts have doubted whether that is possible. In a statement on Telegram, the Likud party said Eisenkot and Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, Netanyahus main challenger, were looking for excuses to quit the coalition at the height the war. Instead of pursuing victory, they are engaging in petty politics, Likud said. Wednesdays exchange was the latest spat in the coalition, raising questions about how long Israels wartime government could survive as Netanyahu straddles conflicting demands from coalition members and faces global scrutiny over Israels war conduct, including from top ally the United States. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels assault on Gaza, the blockaded enclaves health ministry said, with thousands more trapped under rubble. Earlier in May, Gantz threatened to withdraw his center-right party from the conservative prime ministers broadened emergency coalition by June 8 if Netanyahu did not offer clarity on post-war plans for Gaza. Gantz has helped broaden support for the government in Israel and abroad, but if he quits, the prime minister would still command a majority in parliament with the backing of ultra-nationalist parties, who angered Washington even before the war and have since called Gaza to be annexed and settled. Most of its 2.3 million population has been displaced and is experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe as aid organizations report of widespread malnutrition and a collapsed health system. The war began after Hamas-led fighter attacked southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, calling for an end to Israels occupation, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Around 120 hostages remain in Gaza. (Editing by Josie Kao) Israeli tanks move toward Rafah during the wider military operation in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Saeed Qaq/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) If President Joe Biden truly has a red line for the conflict in Gaza, Israeli officials likely have not come close to crossing it. The Biden administrations metric for what would amount to the crossing of such a line and potentially lead Biden to switch off the spigot of American military aid to Tel Aviv shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet have a huge amount of leeway to continue air strikes, and even ground operations. That tactically sizable operating space was on full display this weekend, when an Israeli airstrike killed around 40 Palestinian civilians many of them children and in subsequent days as Israeli Defense Forces tanks rolled into Rafah. The southern Gaza city is where Netanyahus government, which could soon face a vote on dissolving the countrys parliament and moving toward elections, initially instructed Palestinian civilians to flee. Now Israel contends there are Hamas operatives hiding among the refugees. In recent weeks, amid reporters repeated questions about Bidens own words about a limit to the civilian death toll he would tolerate and the administrations internal definitions of that red line and major ground operation, senior Biden aides have said Israel has not crossed the line. John Kirby, White House national security communications adviser, has jousted with reporters about whether the weekend airstrike violated the red line Biden described in an interview with CNN earlier this month. During a sometimes-testy Tuesday briefing the lone scheduled televised one this week Kirby kept steering reporters back to three words: major ground operation. The president has been very clear and very direct about what our expectations are for Israeli operations in Rafah specifically, but in Gaza writ large, he said as reporters challenged his contention of presidential and staff clarity. We dont support, we wont support a major ground operation in Rafah and weve again been very consistent on that. And the president said that should that occur, then it might make him have to make different decisions in terms of support, said Kirby, who then added the caveat that is driving the U.S. sides decision to keep sending bombs, artillery shells, ammunition and other military equipment to Israel. We havent seen that happen at this point, he said of a large-scale military operation inside Rafah or the greater Gaza Strip. Some Democratic lawmakers and experts have questioned why Biden has decided to continue supporting Israel amid more than 35,000 Palestinian civilian deaths, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry and the United Nations, which also reports another 81,000 wounded. Answers lie in the scope of recent Israeli strikes and troop movements inside the refugee-packed city and strip. What a major ground operation entails, lots of units of, tens of thousands of troops, or thousands of troops, moving in a coordinated set of maneuvers against a wide variety of targets on the ground in a massive way, Kirby told reporters. Thats a major ground operation, pretty simple. I mean, its not hard to discern that. I think its very obvious what that is, and we have not seen them move in that way. It has been Bidens own words about a possible red line and upending 76 years of U.S. policy that have clouded his policy for the conflict. The president on May 8 told CNN Outfront anchor Erin Burnett during an interview in battleground Wisconsin that he had made clear to Israeli leaders that if they conduct military operations in population centers inside Gaza, he might withhold U.S.-made heavy bombs. He later froze one shipment of those munitions. I made it clear that, if they go into Rafah they havent gone into Rafah yet. If they go into Rafah, Im not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, to deal with that problem, Biden told CNN. He also appeared to say the goal was to limit Israels ability to go on offense in a big way inside Rafah, but not to defend itself. Were going to continue to make sure Israel is secure, in terms of Iron Dome [missile defense system] and their ability to respond to attacks like [the one that] came out of the Middle East recently, he said. Notably, Biden never used the term red line during that interview, according to a transcript produced by CQ Roll Call. Not a big bomb Kirby was asked about Bidens comments in the rare sit-down television interview on Tuesday, and dismissed any notions that the weekend airstrike crossed the line his boss appeared to set. The president wasnt moving the stick anywhere. He was talking about major ground operations in Rafah proper, which is what weve been saying all along, the national security spokesman said. And when he was referring to population centers, thats exactly what he was referring to. But Biden continues to support Israeli airstrikes even in Rafah, with U.S. officials saying this week they have confirmed an IDF claim that two Hamas operatives were killed in the Sunday aerial bombardment. Thats especially true if Israeli officials opt to conduct them without resorting to so-called heavy bombs, which weigh 1,000-2,000 pounds and are more likely to cause collateral damage, meaning civilian deaths. Smaller bombs, often supplied by the U.S., are precision-guided, helping to limit civilian casualties. As a matter of fact, the Israelis have said they used 37-pound bombs, precision-guided munitions. A 37-pound bomb is not a big bomb, Kirby said. If it is in fact what they used, it is certainly indicative of an effort to be discreet and targeted and precise. Put another way: Bidens red line remains intact, and likely will for some time. And that will have ramifications on the ground. Rising international pressure on Israel is unlikely to halt its military operation in Rafah, analysts at the private intelligence service Dragonfly wrote in a briefing paper published Wednesday. Israels military ground operation of Rafah will probably last several weeks at least. That is based on the timeline of Israeli operations in Gaza in other densely populated areas. It took the military several weeks to reach central Rafah from the east of the city, where it is now, Dragonfly analysts wrote. Over the past days, Israeli air strikes west of Rafah suggest the military plans to enter it in the coming days. Low-intensity operations in Gaza will probably continue at least until the end of the year with the aim of totally eradicating Hamas. Richard Haass, a former State Department official and now president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, said Wednesday that the Biden administration should ditch any possible internal deliberations about whether this or the next Israeli operation breached a red line. Instead, he told MSNBC, U.S. officials should zoom out and ask questions like: Is this still wise? Is this still in the interests of the United States? Is this still in the interests of Israel? This is a job that cannot be finished, Haass said of Israels current approach and goal to destroy Hamas. Israel continues to fight a conventional war in an unconditional environment. 2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa is pictured in Manama, Bahrain, on May 27, 2024. The president of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) has hailed the growing ties and cultural exchanges between Bahrain and China. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou) MANAMA, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The president of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) has hailed the growing ties and cultural exchanges between Bahrain and China. Ahead of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, scheduled to be held in Beijing on Thursday, BACA's President Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa underlined the importance of culture in facilitating the exchanges between the two countries. "Bahrain and China have always had a strong cultural cooperation whether related to heritage, joint programs and festivals," he said in a recent interview with Xinhua. "Culture can serve as an important bridge to connect two different countries, and play a role of soft power," he noted. "Another key aspect is the Maritime Silk Road which is an important cultural trail that connects Asia to the rest of the world and promotes commerce and cultural exchanges," he said. "Historically, Bahrain has been an important entry port and famous for its archaeological sites, with many artifacts originating from China discovered here." "The National Museum in Bahrain has a collection of rare artifacts, art, manuscripts and other items that showcase the rich history of Bahrain. Artifacts of different civilizations are stored in the museum, which is the repository of 6000 years of Bahrain's history," he added. Shaikh Khalifa said both China and Bahrain are committed to the protection of cultural heritage, and have cooperated closely within the framework of international organizations and platforms, including the World Heritage Convention and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. "Another key area we would like to explore is to provide access to Chinese researchers keen to explore this part of the world, understand the Bahrain heritage, and historical linkages between the two civilizations." Speaking about the visit of Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and other leaders of Gulf countries to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Ministerial Conference, Shaikh Khalifa says the visit is "a testament to our evolving partnership with China across various sectors." "We are proud of our cultural cooperation and progress over the years," he noted. Photo taken on May 26, 2024 shows ancient Chinese coins on display at the Bahrain National Museum in Manama, Bahrain. The president of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) has hailed the growing ties and cultural exchanges between Bahrain and China. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou) Photo taken on May 26, 2024 shows fragments of Chinese blue and white porcelain on display at the Bahrain National Museum in Manama, Bahrain. The president of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) has hailed the growing ties and cultural exchanges between Bahrain and China. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou) Editor: WXY An aid truck uses the roll-on, roll-off distribution facility to transport humanitarian aid onto a U.S. Army vessel on May 20, 2024. (Riley Anfinson/U.S. Army) WASHINGTON The temporary pier installed by the U.S. military two weeks ago off the coast of Gaza has been removed, and the recovery of two Army vessels that were moored to the floating dock continues, the Pentagon said Thursday. All sections of the Trident pier have been relocated to the port of Ashdod [in Israel] for rebuilding and repairing, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said. Additionally, the two Army vessels that were beached over the weekend on the coast of Israel near Ashkelon have been recovered. The recovery of the remaining two Army vessels that were beached near the Trident pier is ongoing with the assistance from the Israeli navy. The pier was fully functional as late as Saturday when heavy seas unmoored four U.S. Army vessels that were being used to ferry pallets of aid from commercial vessels to the pier, which was anchored into the beach and provided a long causeway for trucks to drive that aid onto the shore. The Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS, pier is meant to provide another way to deliver needed aid into Gaza. The World Health Organization has warned some 2.3 million Gaza inhabitants could face extreme hunger that could become a full-blown famine as Israel continues its war against Hamas militants who launched a surprise assault in October from the enclave. The JLOTS operation was first announced March 7. The next day, the Pentagon said the temporary pier would be operational within about 60 days. The temporary pier was installed after being delayed due to weather conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The pier, which costs about $320 million and involves roughly 1,000 American forces, was operational for less than two weeks when the Pentagon announced Tuesday that it would be removed after suffering damages from rough seas and bad weather. Repairs to the pier will take more than a week. Singh said Thursday that she was not tracking any modifications being made to the pier other than repairs. The one thing we couldnt anticipate was that North African weather storm. I was speaking to people that were monitoring that storm and what we saw, it basically changed direction within an hour or two, she said. If you look back historically, we dont see storms like that. We believe during these summer months, seas are usually calmer and so we should be able to be successful in re-anchoring. The suspension of the pier comes after more than 1,000 metric tons of aid had been delivered. Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages protest on May 25 in Tel Aviv to demand that the Israeli government strike a cease-fire and hostage release deal with Hamas. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post) A majority of Israelis support their countrys military response to Hamas in Gaza but are divided over its scope, according to a survey by Pew Research published Thursday. The survey found 39% of Israelis said that the countrys military response against Hamas in Gaza has been about right, and 34% said it has not gone far enough indicating continued support for the war. Another 19% said they think it has gone too far. The survey was conducted between March 3 and April 4, mostly before Israeli airstrikes killed seven aid workers for the charity group World Central Kitchen and predating last weekends airstrike in Rafah that killed at least 45 Palestinians. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war started, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas killed about 1,200. This week, in one of the most horrifying scenes of the war, an Israeli strike in southern Gazas Rafah killed at least 45 Palestinians, some of whom burned alive, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel said the attack was a targeted strike against two Hamas militants and that it was investigating the unexpected and unintended fire at the camp. Though opinions on the military response differed, most Israelis expressed confidence that Israel will be able to achieve its goals in the fight against Hamas, the Pew survey found. There was, however, shared concern about the duration and scope of the war. Just under 7 in 10 are seriously concerned about the war lasting a long time, the survey found. Laura Silver, associate director of research at Pew, said that the results of the poll showed that Israelis remained broadly optimistic about the war in Gaza, though people across Israeli society perceived the war in vastly different ways. People who have a favorable view of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are much more likely to say that the military response to Hamas has been about right or has not gone far enough than those who have an unfavorable view of him, Silver said. On Wednesday, Israels national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, told Kan public radio that he was expecting another seven months of fighting in Gaza to eliminate Hamas and other militant groups. In the poll, there was a lack of clear consensus among Israelis over the future of governance in Gaza. Forty percent said Israel should govern the enclave after the war, and 18% said the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, should be in charge of Gaza, the poll found. Palestinian citizens of Israel are sharply split on the matter with Israeli Jews. Most Palestinian citizens of Israel said either the people in Gaza should make that decision or approve of the Palestinian Authority running it. Netanyahu has been widely criticized for his governments lack of a postwar political strategy for Gaza. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and war cabinet member Benny Gantz have in recent weeks ratcheted up the heat on Netanyahu over this issue. A growing share of Israelis 58% hold a negative view of Netanyahu, who has faced mass anti-government protests for failing to bring back all the hostages kidnapped by Hamas militants on Oct. 7. Thats a jump of 6 percentage points from last year and the highest since Pew first started asking this question in 2013, the Pew Center said. Many Israelis also appeared critical of President Bidens handling of the war in Gaza, with 60% expressing disapproval. In the United States, Biden is facing stiff domestic pressure and scrutiny from some Democrats and supporters over his policies on Gaza amid a high civilian death toll and catastrophic humanitarian crisis. But Israelis want the United States to play a major role in diplomatically resolving the war, higher than that of any other country; 72% favored the United States for the task, compared with 38% support for European countries. Egypt, which has been involved in negotiations over a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, received support from 45% of Israelis, higher than the United Nations and other regional countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The Pew Research Center survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with a random sample of 1,001 Israeli adults; the margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4 percentage points for overall results. Dallas artist Roberto Marquez, left, and Bernardo Vargas carry to Vargass truck. one of the eleven mural panels from the Hawkins Point memorial honoring the six Latino workers who died in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. The city has agreed to store the murals at a city facility until their future home is determined. The crosses and landscaping at the memorial site on Fort Armistead Road will remain for now. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun/TNS) BALTIMORE (Tribune News Service) Alongside Baltimore City fire engines and inflatable rescue boats in a Locust Point garage rests a beloved mural, created to honor the victims of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The 11 massive canvases that made up the painting had sat in a patch of grass across from a Royal Farms convenience store in Hawkins Point, part of a sprawling homemade memorial to the six construction workers who perished when the bridge fell. But after nearly two months outside in the elements along Fort Smallwood Road, it came time Tuesday for the mural to move indoors, allowing its Texas-based artist Roberto Marquez to step back from his role as guardian of the shrine, which evolved into a serene gathering place for those impacted by a far-reaching tragedy. The murals fate isnt clear. But already, at least one museum has shown interest: the Baltimore Museum of Industry, which has started assembling a collection focused on the history of the bridge. Marquez said he is open to a museum hosting the artwork, but no final decision has been made. In the meantime, city and state officials helped Marquez find a storage location next door to the museum, an old Baltimore City Fire Department repair shop on Key Highway, with a wide-open garage large enough to fit the murals 7-foot-tall panels. Much of the memorial will remain in place about 2 miles from the collapsed bridge, at the request of some victims families: the six tall crosses, adorned with photographs and mementos; the flags representing each of the four countries the victims hailed from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico alongside a large American flag; perhaps even the bright red truck, painted to mimic the vehicles that the workers were sitting in when the bridge fell from beneath them. The relocation of the mural, filled with the families handwritten messages of grief and loss, was a difficult moment for some of them, Marquez said. But it was time. Im not with an organization. Im not a millionaire. I decided to help them, but eventually its getting real difficult, Marquez said. Marquez recently witnessed the sudden removal of a similar memorial he created for workers in Ocala, Florida, after just a few days. While the owners of the land where the mural sits now have not asked for its removal, Marquez said he needs to leave Baltimore and move on to other projects. He was concerned that vandals could damage the memorial if left unattended, or that it could end up in the trash. An official with Talen Energy, which owns the land the memorial stands on and the nearby Brandon Shores power plant, previously said the company respects both its presence and meaning to the community. Marquez said he has installed replacement canvases where the mural once stood, allowing families to continue writing and painting messages if they wish. A new section has been added, too, honoring the victims of the high-speed crash on Interstate 695 last year that also killed six road workers, some of whom had Latino heritage as well. Los Olvidados reads a painting beside the six new crosses: The Forgotten Ones. Over the past few months, Marquez has traveled back and forth between his hometown of Dallas and Baltimore numerous times to attend to family matters, including his fathers health problems and the birth of a grandchild. But when in Baltimore, he spent 12-hour days guarding the mural, and ensuring that arriving family members always had a person to talk to and a shoulder to cry on. He travels with a single rolling bag stuffed with clothes, and stays at the home of Bernardo Vargas, a local roofer who helps him maintain the memorial. Vargas is part of a hodgepodge team of locals who keep the memorial site clean and welcoming, including Mary Babington, a nurse who travels there with jugs of water in between shifts at the hospital, to water the flowers planted in the soil. After the collapse, Babington said she couldnt help thinking about the six workers and the terror of their final moments all because they signed up to do a job few others want to do. I probably passed these guys coming home from work one night, she said. And I didnt even realize it. Babington said she hopes the site can remain a memorial, not least because it adds beauty to an area that is heavily industrialized, including a medical waste incinerator and other facilities. The murals panels tell the story of the bridge disaster in bright, abstract imagery, evoking the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. It begins with a scene at Americas southern border, with soldiers violently arresting a traveling migrant. Steel bridge trusses emerge from the melee, and a red truck is visible in a sea of blue. The next panel features the large face of a weeping woman, cradling a human body in her hands. The face of Spanish artist Salvador Dali represents the cargo ship that caused the disaster. And a final panel shows the survivor of the collapse being rescued, as hands reach up to him from beneath the waves. Several staff members from the Museum of Industry have visited the mural, said spokesperson Claire Mullins, and were very moved by seeing it in person. While the museum would be honored to take the mural, and the artist has expressed interest in that option, our understanding is that at this moment no firm decision has been made, Mullins wrote in an email. Ultimately the BMI will defer to the wishes of the artist and the families about the future of the mural. The Museum of Industry also would be interested in accepting other items that were on display at the memorial honoring the victims, if they are donated by the families, Mullins said. While Marquez supports finding the mural a permanent home in a museum, he expressed interest in keeping a memorial for victims families to visit standing long-term maybe at the same location or elsewhere. Anay Orduno, a friend of Jose Mynor Lopez, who died on the bridge, said that in the disasters immediate aftermath, she visited the memorial site with many of his close family members nearly every day as they anxiously awaited news that Lopezs body had been recovered. He was the last to be found, six weeks after the collapse. On Saturday evening, one day after a memorial service for Lopez, they returned again. As night fell, Orduno and several of Lopezs family members shared their memories of him, some with beers in hand. She comforted Lopezs aunt, who took care of him as a child in Guatemala, and who he later brought to join him in the United States. The site has given the families a place to grieve collectively, said Orduno, adding that she hopes it can remain a memorial. In our culture in Spanish culture we take care of people when we are all alive, and when we are not, said Orduno, who lives in Rosedale. Perhaps Lopez, who friends called by the nickname Chepe, would have appreciated the gatherings. A father to four children, Lopez loved to spend time with his family and friends, sharing carne asada and beers. He was incredibly fun, she said. Shell always remember him sitting in the hammock on her porch, beer in hand. As preparations were underway for the mural to be relocated, many longtime visitors stopped by Saturday for a final look. Family members wrote their last messages on the canvas, as children played in the tall grass nearby. Charles Mills and his family brought fresh watermelon and corn for the group. The Glen Burnie resident said he has come to the memorial many times, dropping off candles, flowers and snacks. He hopes it remains. Theyve adopted us into the family, he said. After the mural was placed in storage Tuesday, its panels resting against a wall in the garage, one final message was written in permanent marker. It was from Jorge Cuctiul, one of the workers who helped move it. He wrote it in an indigenous language from Guatemala called Qeqchi, in hopes that his countrymen might see it and understand. Greetings to those who are going to see these words, his message said. It is me, Jorge, and I am with our compatriots, who died on the 695 bridge. 2024 The Baltimore Sun. Visit at baltimoresun.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. SAN FRANCISCO ChatGPT maker OpenAI said Thursday that it caught groups from Russia, China, Iran and Israel using its technology to try to influence political discourse around the world, highlighting concerns that generative artificial intelligence is making it easier for state actors to run covert propaganda campaigns as the 2024 presidential election nears. OpenAI removed accounts associated with well-known propaganda operations in Russia, China and Iran; an Israeli political campaign firm; and a previously unknown group originating in Russia that the companys researchers dubbed Bad Grammar. The groups used OpenAIs tech to write posts, translate them into various languages and build software that helped them automatically post to social media. None of these groups managed to get much traction; the social media accounts associated with them reached few users and had just a handful of followers, said Ben Nimmo, principal investigator on OpenAIs intelligence and investigations team. Still, OpenAIs report shows that propagandists whove been active for years on social media are using AI tech to boost their campaigns. Weve seen them generating text at a higher volume and with fewer errors than these operations have traditionally managed, Nimmo, who previously worked at Meta tracking influence operations, said in a briefing with reporters. Nimmo said its possible that other groups may still be using OpenAIs tools without the companys knowledge. This is not the time for complacency. History shows that influence operations that spent years failing to get anywhere can suddenly break out if nobodys looking for them, he said. Governments, political parties and activist groups have used social media to try to influence politics for years. After concerns about Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election, social media platforms began paying closer attention to how their sites were being used to sway voters. The companies generally prohibit governments and political groups from covering up concerted efforts to influence users, and political ads must disclose who paid for them. As AI tools that can generate realistic text, images and even video become generally available, disinformation researchers have raised concerns that it will become even harder to spot and respond to false information or covert influence operations online. Hundreds of millions of people vote in elections around the world this year, and generative AI deepfakes have already proliferated. OpenAI, Google and other AI companies have been working on tech to identify deepfakes made with their own tools, but such tech is still unproven. Some AI experts think deepfake detectors will never be completely effective. Earlier this year, a group affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party posted AI-generated audio of a candidate in the Taiwanese elections purportedly endorsing another. However, the politician, Foxconn owner Terry Gou, didnt endorse the other politician. In January, voters in the New Hampshire primaries received a robocall that purported to be from President Biden but was quickly found to be AI. Last week, a Democratic operative who said he commissioned the robocall was indicted on a charge of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate. OpenAIs report detailed how the five groups used the companys tech in their attempted influence operations. Spamouflage, a previously known group originating in China, used OpenAIs tech to research activity on social media and write posts in Chinese, Korean, Japanese and English, the company said. An Iranian group known as the International Union of Virtual Media also used OpenAIs tech to create articles that it published on its site. Bad Grammar, the previously unknown group, used OpenAI tech to help make a program that could automatically post on the messaging app Telegram. Bad Grammar then used OpenAI tech to generate posts and comments in Russian and English arguing that the United States should not support Ukraine, according to the report. The report also found that an Israeli political campaign firm called Stoic used OpenAI to generate pro-Israel posts about the Gaza war and target them at people in Canada, the United States and Israel, OpenAI said. On Wednesday, Facebook owner Meta also publicized Stoics work, saying it removed 510 Facebook and 32 Instagram accounts used by the group. Some of the accounts were hacked, while others were of fictional people, the company told reporters. The accounts in question often commented on pages of well-known individuals or media organizations, posing as pro-Israel American college students, African Americans and others. The comments supported the Israeli military and warned Canadians that radical Islam threatened liberal values there, Meta said. AI came into play in the wording of some comments, which struck real Facebook users as odd and out of context. The operation fared poorly, the company said, attracting only about 2,600 legitimate followers. Meta acted after the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab discovered the network while following up on similar operations identified by other researchers and publications. Over the past year, disinformation researchers have suggested AI chatbots could be used to have long, detailed conversations with specific people online, trying to sway them in a certain direction. AI tools could also potentially ingest large amounts of data on individuals and tailor messages directly to them. OpenAI found neither of those more sophisticated uses of AI, Nimmo said. It is very much an evolution rather than revolution, he said. None of that is to say that we might not see that in the future. Joseph Menn contributed to this report. A Meta logo is pictured at a trade fair in Hannover Messe, in Hanover, Germany, April 22, 2024. (Annegret Hilse/REUTERS) The Biden administration is urging big technology companies to ramp up efforts to curb antisemitic content on their platforms, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. Representatives from companies including Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok and X met on Thursday with U.S. special envoy Deborah Lipstadt to monitor and combat antisemitism. Lipstadt requested that each company designate a policy team member to address the issue and conduct training for key personal to identify antisemitism and publicly report trends in anti-Jewish content. We welcomed this convening and were pleased to come together to share facts about the ongoing steps TikTok takes on this important issue and to continue to learn from experts in the room, a TikTok spokesperson said. It is more important than ever that government, industry and NGOs work closely to support the Jewish community and counter hate and violence targeted at Jews, Metas president for global affairs, Nick Clegg, said in a statement. Google is committed to fighting hate speech - that includes content targeting the Jewish community - through our policies, tools and programs, said Kent Walker, Alphabets president for global affairs. Countries around the world have seen a rise in antisemitism following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel and subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military. The companies have not yet agreed to voluntary moves, but the administration is hopeful they will act soon, Lipstadt told Bloomberg News. The administration is also requesting staff training in order to help identify more implicit antisemitic messages on online platforms and to differentiate between criticism of the Israeli government and hatred directed at Jews, Lipstadt added. Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel The first new PTSD drug in over twenty years is up for approval. It will require U.S. regulators to do something theyve never done before: greenlight the mind-altering and illegal party drug known as ecstasy. (Dreamstime/TNS) (Tribune News Service) The first new PTSD drug in over twenty years is up for approval. It will require U.S. regulators to do something theyve never done before: greenlight the mind-altering and illegal party drug known as ecstasy. The new drug is a version of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, made by Lykos Therapeutics Inc., an unusual drugmaker started by a nonprofit that has for decades advocated to bring psychedelic therapy to the masses. On June 4, the public will gain the first hint of how regulators are leaning when outside experts on the Food and Drug Administrations Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee debate the data during a daylong session where both the company and FDA officials are expected to make their case. A decision on whether to approve the drug is likely by August. Everything about this is unprecedented, said Jonathan Alpert, chair of the council on research at the American Psychiatric Association. Lykos, which is privately held, has proposed its pill be given in conjunction with 42 hours of talk therapy with two therapists, including three day-long sessions involving MDMA. Were on the precipice of integrating psychedelic medicine into mainstream medicine, Lykos Chairman Jeff George said speaking at a recent psychedelics conference in New York. Some 13 million Americans have PTSD. Upping the ante, one influential government organization is already gearing up to provide the drug should it be approved. The Department of Veterans Affairs, which runs the countrys largest health system and has an outsized PTSD patient population, says psychedelics have significant potential. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder experienced after a traumatic event, like combat. The FDA faces a dilemma. Controversy over Lykos trial has exploded in recent weeks after a prominent group that assesses new treatments cited substantial concerns about the validity of the results. In a 44-page report released in March, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review concluded that the evidence was insufficient to determine whether MDMA-assisted therapy has value. At a public meeting held by ICER on Thursday, debate over whether benefit outweighed risk for Lykos treatment was sometimes heated. In a vote, ICER advisers decided nearly unanimously that Lykos had not proven that the treatment was beneficial. Chief among ICERs concerns was whether the trial could adequately prove MDMA worked because people on the therapy knew whether they had been given the psychedelic drug. The gold standard in research is whats known as a double-blind trial, meaning neither patient nor provider know whos on an experimental drug or a placebo in order to truly evaluate the difference. That wasnt the only problem. If you wanted to develop a study that would have every fatal flaw, you couldnt do better than what was done for MDMA, said Allen Frances, former chair of the psychiatry department at Duke University, who calls psychedelics the latest in a long series of overhyped psychiatry fads. The drug is being rushed way too soon to commercial markets. A need for new treatments New treatments are badly needed for PTSD. There are just two drugs approved to treat it, and current therapies dont work for many people. In recent years, MDMA and other psychedelic drugs like magic mushrooms have been pitched as a panacea, for PTSD and a host of disorders including depression, anxiety, nicotine addiction and anorexia. At least on paper, the results of the two phase three trials of MDMA are impressive: The treatment slashed symptoms so much that two-thirds of people no longer met the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis two months later. The drug was granted FDA breakthrough status in 2017, and was then granted priority review this year, which means the agency plans to move quickly to consider the drug for approval. The results are clearly better than what we have seen for the antidepressants currently approved by the FDA for PTSD, said Yale University psychiatrist John Krystal, who was not involved in the studies. No one is quite sure exactly how MDMA helps people with PTSD or other disorders. It can cause an increased sense of well-being and social openness while altering a persons visual perceptions. Taking MDMA floods the brain with serotonin, a key mood-boosting chemical. Some psychiatrists experimented with it as a communication enhancer during therapy sessions before it was banned by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 1985. The science suggests the drug may help the success of therapy by blunting the emotional response to traumatic memories and making it easier for people to talk through them. But the same thing that may make the drug so powerful also makes its effectiveness difficult to evaluate. When people know what they are receiving, Krystal said, it can invalidate the value of placebo. The ICER report also cited allegations that some negative patient experiences may not have been properly reported. It also said participants may have felt pressured to report good outcomes and suppress bad ones. The report also acknowledged an allegation of sexual misconduct during an early trial, including intimate contact between a patient and her therapists during a videotaped MDMA session, followed by alleged non-consensual sex with one of the therapists after all the sessions had been completed. The ICER report was followed by a separate petition sent to the FDA commissioner signed over 70 independent researchers calling for an extended public hearing to address numerous issues with the way the trials were conducted. Lykos said that the FDA okayed the design of the trials and that numerous steps were taken to minimize bias. The trials were very rigorous; they were very well designed, said Amy Emerson, Lykoss chief executive officer. The company said it had third-party raters assess patient symptoms in order to minimize any influence from unblinding. She said the company carefully trained all the trial sites on proper reporting of adverse events. The company also said it investigated the abuse allegations and developed policies and practices aimed to prevent, reasonably detect, and thoroughly respond to allegations of misconduct. The first of many hurdles The nonprofit behind Lykos, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS, is funded by high-profile donors that include hedge fund billionaire Steven Cohen and Republican political backer Rebekah Mercer. One way or another, MAPS has been involved in almost all the major studies of MDMA for PTSD. Thats contributed to allegations that its tight-knit culture has created a quasi-religious atmosphere where negative reports about the drug were discouraged or minimized. In 2014, MAPS founded a for-profit public benefit company to conduct MDMA clinical trials. Earlier this year, the company changed its name to Lykos and received $100 million in funding from outside investors led by Helena Special Investments. MAPS remains the largest single shareholder. MAPS founder Rick Doblin, whos been the public face of medicalizing MDMA therapy, maintains the data is reliable. We did the very best we could do to deal with the unusual challenges of studying psychedelic drugs, he said. Cristina Pearse, a 51-year-old Boulder, Colorado, resident and child sexual abuse survivor who participated in the second phase 3 trial of MDMA in 2022 described her own experience as miraculous. She suffered from persistent depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts for decades before being diagnosed with PTSD. Within one hour of the first MDMA dose, she started to feel better. It undid 47 years of trauma in that first session, she said. At the ICER meeting on Thursday, Meaghan Buisson, the patient who experienced the alleged abuse, cautioned against rolling the therapy out broadly. There is no question on whether what happened to me will happen again to someone else. It is only a matter of time, she said during the public comment period of the meeting. That doesnt negate the lived experience of those who say they may have benefited from this trial, this simply means they dodged a bullet. Jesse Gould, a former Army ranger and founder of a non-profit that helps vets with PTSD, the Heroic Hearts Project, testified to the desperate need for a new treatment. If not MDMA, theres nothing out there in the pipeline, he said. Do these risks that are outlined in the MDMA report really outweigh the enormous potential benefit? ICERs outside advisers agreed that there was an urgent need for new treatments. But in a warning sign for Lykos, the advisers voted nearly unanimously that the company had failed to prove that the treatment was beneficial overall. None of the advisers thought the treatment has been shown to be any better than standard talk therapy. Even if Lykos MDMA gets the green light from regulators, it will only be the first of many hurdles. The DEA will have to move MDMA to a less restrictive category of controlled substances. Administering it will require special training for therapists. And the many hours of prescribed therapy mean it could cost more than $12,000 per patient, according to ICER, which may make insurers hesitant to cover it. With assistance from Jessica Nix. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A grizzly bear in Grand Teton National Park. (Srcromer/Dreamstime/TNS) (Tribune News Service) New details have emerged that reveal how an Army veteran who surprised two grizzlies in Grand Teton National Park walked away from the attack seriously injured, but alive. He played dead as the bear mauled him, the Associated Press reported. Just as the larger bear made contact with him, he intentionally fell to the ground on his stomach to attempt to play dead, park chief of staff Jeremy Barnum told Buckrail. The bear bit him several times and ran off after it chomped down on a canister of bear spray that burst in its face, the AP reported. The 35-year-old man was visiting the Wyoming park from Massachusetts the afternoon of Sunday, May 19, when the surprise encounter occurred near Signal Mountain Summit Road, McClatchy News previously reported. The wildlife photographer was looking to photograph a Great Grey Owl on Signal Mountain, which he had heard was a hot spot for the species, Shayne Burke said in an Instagram post describing the encounter. He was running behind on meeting his wife back at the parking lot and was rushing back when he started to get a really uncomfortable feeling, he said in the post. I was breaking branches, singing and talking to myself aloud. These are somethings that can help prevent a surprise encounter with a brown bear, he said. He was walking through a thick wooded area in a valley when he noticed a bear cub running up a hill in front of him, he said. I knew this wasnt good, I unholstered my bear spray and saw the mother bear charging, he said. I stood my ground, shouted and attempted to deploy the bear spray but as I did she already closed the gap. When the mother bear pounced, Burke said he turned around so his back would take the brunt of the attack, he said. He got down on his stomach in the prone position and braced for the ride, interlocking my hands behind my neck to protect my vitals. Burke screamed when she bit into his right shoulder, he said. She stepped on his back, bit one of his legs and picked him up and slammed him onto the ground several times, he said. She continued biting his legs until he screamed again, which turned her attention to his head, he said. I believe she went in for a kill bite on my neck, he said. As she bit my hands (on) the back of my neck she simultaneously bit the bear spray can and it exploded in her mouth. This is what saved my life from the initial attack. The bear ran off, and Burke took the opportunity to escape, he said. He spoke with his wife as he applied improvised tourniquets, which he made by cutting his back pack straps, camera straps and fanny pack straps, to his legs. Then he laid down with his knife and his back to a tree to wait for the rescue helicopter, just hoping the bear wasnt to return. In this moment, I accepted on that small hill top that I very well could die, he said. I recorded a short video telling my people that I loved them. The bear didnt return, and rescuers took him to a hospital in Jackson. The number one thing that kept me alive during the attack was reading and understanding what to do in the event of a bear attack and being prepared with the bear spray, he said. Though I am not sure if I got to spray any at the bear, having it on me and keeping it in my hands while protecting my vitals 100% is the only reason I am telling my story now. Later, Burke said he begged park rangers not to kill the bear since she was defending her cub. What happened up on Signal Mountain was a case of wrong place wrong time, he said. As a disabled veteran in the Army Reserve, Burke said hes been shot at, mortared and has experienced improvised explosive device explosions. But the bear attack was the most violent thing he has ever experienced, he said. Wildlife officials will not take any action against the bear, which was acting normally in defense of her cub, Jackson Hole News & Guide reported. We are not considering any management actions, Barnum told the outlet. Its pretty clear in talking to the person who was injured and based on the site investigation that this was a surprise encounter and that the bear, likely a sow, responded defensively because she had at least one cub. The attack was the first grizzly attack reported in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem so far this year, the outlet reported. Attacks in Grand Teton are especially rare, and this was the first since 2011, when a grizzly attacked a hunter in the parks fall elk hunt, the outlet reported. 2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- As night fell and a gentle breeze blew, French harmonica player Laurent Maur and his jazz band quartet performed at an open-air theater in Beijing's Tongzhou District, offering the audience a delightful auditory experience. With Maur's lips moving and fingers leaping ceaselessly on the harmonica, the instrument's sound blended with the melodies of the flute, piano, and jazz drums, creating a cascade of wondrous notes. As their performance concluded, Maur greeted the audience with simple phrases in Chinese and, together with his band, bowed to thunderous applause. Born in Paris in 1970, Maur has won numerous awards in international harmonica competitions, and his performances have spanned across the globe for decades. This time, he was invited as a special guest to perform at the Taihu Jazz Festival 2024. Hosted by China's National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA), the festival gathered more than 200 jazz musicians from China, France, Hungary, Cuba, and other countries on May 22-26 to present over 50 jazz concerts, creating a new melody of cultural exchange. In 2008, Maur lost his job performing in restaurants in France due to the economic recession. When hearing that some of his peers were doing well in China, Maur visited China for the first time in 2010. Recalling that first visit, he admitted to experiencing a "culture shock." However, he quickly felt a sense of belonging. "For jazz, no matter where you are in the world, as soon as everyone plays together, connections are made, and you become friends," he said, adding that he has made many Chinese friends who are "generous and open." Since then, Maur has traveled back and forth between China and France. In 2018 alone, he visited 24 Chinese cities, including Xi'an, Wuhan, and Guangzhou, during a 28-day tour. Whether in a small club or a large theater, he enjoyed every moment and was deeply impressed by China's vastness, rich gastronomy, and regional differences. Maur's experiences in China, the friends he has made, and traditional Chinese music have all provided continuous inspiration for his music over the years. He has tried to incorporate Chinese elements into his arrangements. When discussing the development of jazz, Maur expressed his satisfaction, noting that with the flourishing of jazz education in recent years, the number of young people who enjoy or play jazz has significantly increased, and the audience has generally become younger. He is also delighted by the booming jazz scene in China. For example, he said the young audience is enthusiastic and truly engaged when he performs there. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. In Maur's eyes, music has played a crucial role in cultural exchanges between the two countries. "Just like how I only speak simple Chinese, yet I am deeply moved when appreciating Chinese classical music because the music itself is beautiful," he said. "As long as musicians put their hearts into creating good works, music can facilitate mutual understanding between people." This was echoed by Qiu Zeyan, a music lover from Beijing who came with friends to hear Maur and his band perform at the Taihu open-air theater last week. "Music transcends boundaries," the 29-year-old said, emphasizing how it enables people from diverse backgrounds to resonate and foster deeper understanding and communication. "I might develop an interest in French jazz after watching their performance," she added with a smile. In Maur's opinion, jazz represents more of a state of mind, and he is striving to engage in a dialogue with everyone through music. "I hope my Chinese friends and audience can enjoy and immerse themselves in my music, forget their worries, and share a wonderful time together in the music," said the musician. Editor: WRX Stephen Andrew McLaughlin (44) was sentenced to nine years imprisonment in 2016 for conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK in August 2014, in a scheme that was discovered after an Afghan man died of a heart attack in a lorry container. A Derry man who was jailed for conspiring to illegally traffic migrants into the UK is wanted in the North for the alleged attempted murder of his ex-partner, the High Court has heard. Stephen Andrew McLaughlin (44) was sentenced to nine years imprisonment in 2016 for conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK in August 2014, in a scheme that was discovered after an Afghan man died of a heart attack in a lorry container. Authorities in the UK are seeking his extradition for breaching the terms of his licence after his release from prison. McLaughlin, of Rose Park, Limavady, Co Derry, had denied the conspiracy charge but was convicted by a jury and jailed at Basildon Crown Court on June 30, 2015. The court heard that in 2014 Afghan national Meet Singh Kapoor died from a heart attack while travelling from Belgium with 34 others, including his family. UK Border Force officials found 35 Afghan women, men and children in a container at Tilbury Docks in August 2014. The container had arrived in Tilbury with 10 men, 10 women and 15 children on board from Zeebrugge port. McLaughlin, the court heard, supplied the lorry, his yard and allowed his shipping account to be used for the container's journeys. The court also heard that another container on a lorry had been discovered at the Europort in France, earlier in August 2014, that was due to depart to the UK with 12 Afghan nationals on board before it, too, was intercepted. At the High Court today, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath was told by Jane Murphy BL, for the State, that McLaughlins licence was revoked for not complying with probation services and a warrant for his arrest was issued by Southend Magistrates Court in February 2024. McLaughlin has a balance of 341 days to serve, she said. Ms Murphy said that in January another warrant for McLaughlin was issued by Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast for seven alleged offences, one of which is attempted murder. Authorities in the North are also seeking to charge McLaughlin with threat to kill, criminal damage, two charges of dangerous driving and two counts of assault. The maximum sentence for attempted murder in the UK is life imprisonment. The warrant alleges that on September 19, 2022, at Ness Woods Country Park in Co Derry, McLaughlin rammed the car of his former partner before placing her in a chokehold, turning her face purple and causing her eyes to roll back in her head. The warrant alleges that McLaughlin threatened to kill the woman and then placed her in a sitting position against her car before reversing back his own car and again ramming her car. The warrant further alleges that McLaughlin also assaulted a female friend of his ex-partner. David Perry BL, for McLaughlin, said the State had not established a corresponding Irish law to match "the conspiracy to breach immigration law" from the UK. The identification of a corresponding offence in Irish law is required in order to grant extradition. Separately, Mr Perry said that an expert lawyer in the North, consulted by the respondent, said that McLaughlin would not, in practice, receive credit there for the time he had already served in custody in the Republic. Under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, someone is entitled to credit for time served in this process. Expert evidence says that will not happen, which would be in breach of the agreement. Surrender then, should not be ordered. The Minister says the sentence is ticking down while proceedings are ongoing here but expert evidence says the contrary, said Mr Perry. Regarding correspondence, Ms Murphy, for the State, said that there was nothing in Irish law to say that a conspiracy charge applied "only to incomplete offences. Ms Murphy said conspiracy charges can be used to reflect the overall interactions and responsibilities in a criminal group and that there had in fact been a breach of immigration law. Regarding the issue of whether or not McLaughlin would be given credit for time served in the Republic, Ms Murphy said the Southend warrant stated that McLaughlins licence expires on January 17, 2025, after which no additional time can be served. There will be no additional time, as the calculated date as it stands on the warrant, is 341 days from the date of its issue and credit will be given, said Mr Murphy. Mr Justice MacGrath adjourned the matter to June 14 for judgement. The men face drugs and organised crime charges after some 2.25 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of more than 157 million was seized The seizure of 157m of cocaine from the MV Matthew off Cork was the biggest in the history of the State. Photo: PA Eight men charged in relation to the largest seizure of drugs in the history of the State after a Panamanian cargo ship was stormed by an elite special forces unit off the southeast coast last year have had their cases transferred to the non-jury Special Criminal Court. At the three-judge court this morning State solicitor Ciara Vibien successfully applied to have all eight mens cases heard at the court, which deals with terrorism and organised crime-related offences. The Special Criminal Court can hear certain cases where the Director of Public Prosecutions certifies that the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice and the preservation of public peace and order. The men face drugs and organised crime charges after some 2.25 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of more than 157 million was seized from the Panamanian-registered large bulk carrier MV Matthew in Irish waters in September 2023. The eight men charged are Ukraine nationals Vitaliy Lapa (61) of Rudanka, Regina Stn, Bendyousk, Ukraine; Mykhailo Gavryk (31) and Vitaliy Vlasoi (31) both with unknown addresses; Jamie Harbron (31) of South Avenue, Billigham, UK; Soheil Jelveh (49), address unknown; Philippines national Harold Estoesta (30), Iran national Saeid Hassani (38) and Cumali Ozgen (49) of Delftselaan, Den Hag, Netherlands. Vitaliy Lapa and Jamie Harbron are accused of an offence contrary to Section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 on dates between September 24, 2023 and September 26, 2023, both dates inclusive for possession of drugs within the State. Vitaliy Lapa is also charged with an offence under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 that between July 15 and September 25, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he contributed to an activity intending to or being reckless as to whether such activity could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that criminal organisation. Mr Harbron is also charged with the same Section 72 offence on dates between September 21 and September 25 2023. Soheil Jelveh, Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Harold Estoesta, Saeid Hassani, Cumali Ozgen face similar Section 72 charges and are further charged with an offence under the Criminal Justice (Illicit Traffic by Sea) Act 2003 and the Misuse of Drugs Act on dates between September 24 to September 26, both dates inclusive. On September 26, 2023, a joint task force comprising members of the Revenue Customs Service, Naval Service and An Garda Siochana interdicted and detained the MV Matthew, which was on a course originating in South America. After Army Rangers secured the vessel, members of the navy, the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and Revenue were transferred to the cargo vessel and the ship was then escorted into port. Farmer with history of violence is jailed for attack on inspector THIS is the Cork farmer with a history of violence who has been jailed for punching a Department of Agriculture official in the face because he didnt want him on his land. Andrew Scannell (64), who previously told the Sunday World he was not a violent man, carried out the attack on agricultural officer Jerry Herlihy last October almost a year after receiving a suspended sentence for a separate vicious attack on a female veterinary inspector who was carrying out another inspection on his land. In the latest incident on October 28 last year, Scannell of Lackaneen, Lissacreasig, Macroom, Co. Cork approached Mr Herlihy and started shouting aggressively at him, stating that he had no authority to be on his land before punching him in the face with a closed fist. Scannell tried to hit him a second time but Mr Herlihy bravely managed to grab his attackers arm and restrain him for about 20 minutes before gardai arrived. The court heard that Mr Herlihy suffered injuries to his right cheek and eye socket and had a partial black eye as a result of the assault, but there was no permanent damage. Mr Herlihy had been visiting Scannells farm for the previous two weeks in an official capacity as he had been tasked with getting his cattle into a manageable state as they were effectively wild and hadnt been tested for TB in three years. Neighbour Frank Sweeney, who witnessed the assault, said Scannell was ranting and raving and not really making much sense. Scannell's farm at Lackaneen, Lissacressig, Co Cork He told how Scannell hit Mr Herlihy in the face without warning after which the Dept of Agriculture official wrestled his attacker to some nearby bales of hay in the fear he would be struck again. Mr Sweeney then called gardai at Mr Herlihys request. He added: I thought the whole thing was preposterous. When gardai arrived, Scannell said: I dont deny assaulting him. Scannell, who has 34 previous convictions for assault, animal welfare offences and road traffic matters, was jailed for eight months for the attack last week. The incident was very similar to another frightening attack on a female veterinary inspector in October 2021. During that incident, Scannell grabbed inspector Maria Wall by the hair, threw her on the ground and slapped her face a number of times while shouting at her to get off his property when she arrived to carry out an inspection on his land. The Sunday World subsequently called to Scannells land to quiz him on his motive for carrying out such a horrific attack on a femal official. Despite the fact that by the time we visited his farm Scannell had already pleaded guilty to carrying out the attack on Ms Wall, he bizarrely and falsely claimed he didnt carry out the assault. Scannell told the Sunday World he was not a violent man despite leaving his victim covered in bruises and needing counselling. I didnt assault her. I didnt tell her to get out at all. I just told her look, please leave. I didnt force her either. I just escorted her down the road and opened the gate and told her to go. Despite his false claims, Ms Wall was left with a number of injuries including bruising to the right side of her face, her back and hip and the court heard she was receiving counselling over the attack. Scannell spent a number of days in prison on remand in February 2022, when Judge Helen Boyle said: I am not entirely convinced this man does not need to learn a lesson about attacking people going about their job. He was later given a suspended sentence. While out on bail, he dismissed the severity of the incident to our reporter. Its a nonsensical case. Its overrated. I didnt assault her. She had been outside my house previously. It was a nonsensical thing. Youd think I had robbed an old lady, which I wouldnt do, or beat up a woman. The unnamed Irish holidaymaker is the fourth drowning victim so far this year in the province of Tarragona. The unnamed Irish holidaymaker is the fourth drowning victim so far this year in the province of Tarragona AN IRISH tourist has died in a suspected drowning on Spains Costa Dorada. The 72-year-old was rescued unconscious from the water shortly after midday yesterday and attempts made to save his life at the scene by emergency responders. But police and paramedics were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead just before 1pm. The tragedy happened at a beach called La Pedrera near the resort town of Salou a short drive south of the east coast city of Tarragona. The dead mans identity is understood to have become apparent later in the day when his wife told receptionists at the hotel where they were staying he had gone missing and she was unable to reach him. Staff contacted an emergency services coordination centre who told them about the earlier incident and enabled officials to determine the holidaymaker who lost his life was the Irish tourist. The hotel where the couple were staying has been named locally as the four-star Golden Donaire Beach Hotel in La Pineda near to where yesterdays tragedy occurred. A post-mortem is expected to take place later today but the results will not be made public and will instead be sent to a local court. The unnamed Irish holidaymaker is the fourth drowning victim so far this year in the province of Tarragona. A teenager died on March 28 during Storm Nelson in Tarragona, a 15-minute drive from the scene of yesterdays tragedy, along with a 30-year-old German man who saw him in difficulties and tried to rescue him. On Monday afternoon a 57-year-old Irish tourist died during a visit to a famous Algarve tourist attraction. The 57-year-old is said to have gone into cardiac arrest after taking a dip at the Benagil Sea Cave, near the popular resort of Lagoa. Police and paramedics were called just before 3pm after he was taken to dry land on a boat. Emergency responders attempted to save his life but were unable to do so and he was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. Family members understood to have been with him at the time received psychological support. Monday afternoons drama came just five weeks after an Irish tourist drowned on the Algarve in front of his partner. The 52-year-old got into difficulties at Inatel beach in Albufeira, next to the hotel complex that gives it its name. The alarm was raised just before 1pm local time on April 20. Two Portuguese locals jumped into the sea to try to help but also got into difficulties. They were rescued alive by lifeguards but the Irish tourist couldnt be saved. Police said at the time his partner, who was on the beach, was being supported by psychologists after the traumatic experience. Judge Codd ordered that Fiks go on the Sex Offenders' register and leave the jurisdiction immediately on his release from prison. A man caught taking photos of a woman in a toilet cubicle at Dublin Airport was found to have over 300 images of child pornography on several phones, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard. Arthur Fiks (47), of no fixed abode, admitted assault causing harm and possession of child pornography at Terminal One on June 28, 2022. The court heard that the woman had gone into a cubicle of the ladies toilets when she noticed a camera phone pointing under the door and grabbed it. When the woman opened the cubicle door, Fiks lunged at her to get his phone back and pulled a tuft of hair from her scalp, the court heard. Fiks told gardai he was having a nap in the ladies' toilet at the airport when the woman in the next cubicle grabbed his phone out of his hand and woke him up. Gardai described Fiks' account as conflicting and self-serving and said it was not borne out by evidence from the victim and eyewitnesses. In a ruling today, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Fiks to three and a half years in prison, with the final nine months suspended. The sentence was backdated to June 29, 2022, when Fiks went into custody. Judge Codd ordered that Fiks go on the Sex Offenders' register and leave the jurisdiction immediately on his release from prison. She described Fiks' offending as truly shocking and disturbing and said it was greatly aggravated by the invasion of the woman's privacy, Fiks' entry into the female bathrooms and his attempt to put the phone under the door. Judge Codd noted from the victim impact statement, which was not read aloud in court, that the woman required counselling for psychological trauma in the aftermath of the assault. The woman had to plan her toilet breaks for six months and described herself as always anxious and checking every public bathroom. She works with children and describes herself as hyper-vigilant of children and paranoid and sceptical of others after this incident, Judge Codd said. Judge Codd said that while cases of possession of child pornography often involve more images, even one such image is one too many, noting that children need to be protected from sexual exploitation and that this was not a victimless crime. Detective Garda Neil Cotter told Joe Mulrean BL, prosecuting, that the assault took place in a public area of the airport after the woman had retrieved her bag from the luggage carousel and gone through Customs. She told gardai that on seeing a camera phone pointing at her under the toilet door, her immediate reaction was to grab it. She then heard a voice saying Ma'am, can I have my phone back? to which she said she would give the phone to the police. The woman then opened the door to find the man standing blocking her way before he lunged at her to try to retrieve his black Samsung phone. She held out her arms to keep the phone away from him and started screaming for help, whereupon Fiks became very aggressive and violent and pulled hair from her scalp. Airport police described her as visibly upset and still holding her own hair in her hand when they arrived at the scene. The court heard that other women in the bathroom came to help, including a Ryanair worker who began recording the incident on her phone. A witness who had just arrived from France described hearing the victim screaming for help and seeing Fiks with his arm around her neck, struggling for something. Gardai arrested Fiks and found a bottle of wine and a bottle opener in his bag, along with two other phones, which were analysed and found to contain child pornography. One Motorola phone contained 120 images of children, of which 42 were described as Category 1, the most serious category, depicting children between the ages of one and 13 involved in sexual activity. That phone also contained 22 videos of child pornography, of which 18 were listed as Category 1. A third phone, described as a black LG mobile, contained 195 child pornography images, of which 81 were Category 1, along with 14 videos, of which 11 were Category 1. All other criminal images were described as being in Category 2, where a child watches or witnesses sexual acts. Fiks has no previous convictions in Ireland, the court heard. Fiks told gardai he had come to Ireland from Poland two months previously and had been working as a mushroom picker on a farm in Co Monaghan. He was fired over his productivity rate and was trying to arrange to get a temporary passport to go home to Poland, as his Polish ID had gone missing. Fiks said he had spent three days in Dublin airport and the city centre, sleeping in the airport toilets and sometimes walking all night. He denied assaulting the woman and said it would have been a stupid decision to assault someone in front of all the cameras in the airport. I did not come to Ireland to attack anyone; I came to get some work. It would not have happened if she did not take my phone, Fiks told gardai. Mark Lynam SC, defending, described Fiks' difficult childhood with both parents suffering psychiatric problems. Fiks was in State care from the age of 13 or 14, the court heard. As an adult, Fiks worked odd jobs as a cleaner and had a history of admissions to psychiatric hospitals. Mr Lynam described his client as psychologically vulnerable and isolated both in the outside world and in prison. He said that Fiks suffered very serious sepsis while in custody and was transferred to a hospital where he experienced multiple organ failure and spent several weeks in intensive care, where he was not expected to survive. Fiks also has epilepsy and a history of deliberate self-harm, the court heard. He has an extremely poor grasp of English and finds being in prison in Ireland very difficult. The judge set a headline sentence of four and a half years but reduced this on account of Fiks' physical and mental health issues. Prosecutors said Stephen Weldon, 34, chipped five of the victims teeth and then filmed the aftermath of the attack to post on his Facebook page Stephen Weldon, who has 'misunderstood' tattooed on his scalp, filmed himself attacking a train driver over a vaping dispute A man who allegedly kicked and punched a train conductor about the head after being ejected for vaping wanted to show he was the alpha male, the High Court heard. Prosecutors said Stephen Weldon, 34, chipped five of the victims teeth and then filmed the aftermath of the attack to post on his Facebook page. As the injured conductor urged other passengers to contact police, Weldon responded by telling them he had been acting tough and got his ass whooped. The defendant, of Inniscarn Drive in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, was refused bail. He faces charges of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, and two counts of criminal damage over the incident onboard the Belfast to Larne service at around 9am on May 8. The court heard Weldon was asked to leave after the Translink employee observed him vaping, getting off at the Magheramourne halt. As the train made its return journey, the victim realised he had left a charger behind and stepped off at the same platform to return it to him. Weldon then launched a series of blows, according to the prosecution, knocking the conductor against the doors of the train and dragging him back out onto the platform. He punched and kicked him around the face and head, striking him six or seven times with fist and foot, a Crown lawyer said. At that point the victim got to his feet and ran, shouting for passengers to call the police, while Weldon began to record the incident on his phone. As he walked up the train the defendant allegedly declared: Hello folks, sorry for the hold up. The guy running the train was acting tough and got his ass whooped. Hope you have a good day. God bless. Weldon also filmed himself kicking the conductors money bag and stamping on his phone, with the court told that he posted the livestream on his Facebook account. The victim was taken to hospital amid initial suspicions he had suffered a broken jaw. It was confirmed that his injuries included five chipped teeth, a swollen head and jaw, and bruising to his calf and arm. During police interviews Weldon said he had been travelling to a new job in Larne, explaining that it was only his second day and he feared being late. He claimed the conductor told him it would be a 15-minute walk but then saw red and punched and kicked him twice to the ribs. Prosecution counsel added: He said the victims attitude wasnt right, that he was trying to be alpha so he showed him who was the alpha male. Weldon has made full admissions to carrying out the assault, the court heard. His lawyer described it as a despicable incident triggered by concerns that he was going to be sacked from his new employment for being late. He had resigned himself to losing his job on day two and appears to have taken it as some sort of potential mocking when told he could still walk it, the barrister said. He realised it wasnt possible and in that context he saw red. It was stressed that Weldon only filmed the aftermath of the assault on the conductor. Denying bail, however, Mr Justice Kinney ruled that he poses a risk to the public . The judge stated: This was an episode of unprovoked and spontaneous violence. He is fortunate indeed, as is the animal, that the puppy survived but the mechanism is horrendous and quite deliberate A man who allegedly ran over his six-month-old puppy three times in what a judge said was a horrendous and quite deliberate act was granted bail today. While Constable Robinson said police still had objections to Sean Norris being granted bail, Deputy District Judge Liam McStay heard that a mental health crisis package is ready to be implemented and that he can only access that if freed from prison. The judge told Ballymena Magistrates Court that although Millie the collie puppy had been found alive and not as seriously injured as first feared, nevertheless he has described what is very very alarming behaviour towards this animal. He is fortunate indeed, as is the animal, that the puppy survived but the mechanism is horrendous and quite deliberate, said the judge. Norris, from Larkspur Rise in Belfast, faces three charges arising from incidents on May 19 this year including two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs and making a threat to kill his brother. When Norris first appeared in court last week, there were concerns that Millie the puppy had been left either dead or seriously injured but it later transpired she had been found alive and seemingly well. As a result, Norris defence counsel Grant Powles lodged a fresh application for bail today and Constable Robinson outlined how police found the defendants car abandoned on the hard shoulder of the M2 in the early hours of May 19. When officers attended Norris family home in Belfast, they were made aware that he had left after an argument which had centred on the welfare of the dog. They alleged that Mr Norris wasnt providing adequate care for the dog, said the officer, adding that after the argument Norris had taken off in the car and headed towards Maghera and the Glenshane Road. An earlier court heard that police found what they believed to be fur and blood on the front bumper of Norris car and when he was interviewed, he told police he had let Millie out of the car to go to the toilet but he was not able to get her back into the car. He told police effectively that he ended up hitting the dog three times, said Constable Robinson, the first at 30mph, the second time after he turned and came back again in first gear, wasnt too sure of the speed and then hitting it a third time in first gear. At the time of the interview we were under the impression that she had succumbed to the injuries but obviously thats different at present, he told the court. The threats towards his brother related to a number of text messages sent by Norris where he declared that he wanted to cause him harm. During interviews, Norris admitted that he was angry with his brother, something which the officer said police find particularly concerning, adding that the brother appears to be confused as to where this situation has come from. The second charge of animal suffering relates to Norris mothers Bichon Frise in that the defendant told police I hate it I gave it a few good slaps and boots to shut it up when he was looking after it while his mum was on holiday. Mr Powles said the family had made arrangements that Norris could live with his grandparents and submitted that clearly theres a mental health background here, the barrister said there were also arrangements for Norris immediate access to a mental health crisis team. The messages that I have seen do suggest strongly a mental health issue, said Judge McStay. While the judge granted bail, he also imposed numerous conditions including one which compels Norris to see his GP and comply with any directions given to him by treating medics. In addition, he is barred from contacting his brother, he must be electronically tagged and he is also barred from keeping or having access to any animal. Do you understand those conditions completely and absolutely? the judge asked Norris and he confirmed simply yes. Granting bail run the sum of 200, District Judge McStay adjourned the case to June 27. Lee Nolan (27) was served with the book of evidence A young man allegedly caught with cannabis worth an estimated 90,000 following two searches by detectives has been sent forward for trial. Lee Nolan (27) was served with the book of evidence when he appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court. The accused, with an address at Beechbrook Lawn, The Donahies, Dublin 13, is charged with possession of cannabis as well as having the drug for the purposes of sale or supply at the R136 Ballyowen Road in Lucan on April 25 last year. He is further charged with possession of cannabis and having the drug for sale or supply at Corduff Grove in Blanchardstown on the same date. Mr Nolan is also charged under S15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act where the alleged value of the cannabis is greater than 13,000. In this case, the alleged value of the cannabis is 90,000. He is also accused of driving without insurance or a driving licence at Ballyowen Road on the same date. Mr Nolan is facing trial in the circuit court after the allegations were deemed to be too serious for the district court. A state solicitor said that the book of evidence was read and had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the present sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge David McHugh gave Mr Nolan the formal alibi caution. The judge also assigned defence solicitor Brian Keenan and one junior counsel on free legal aid. Mr Nolan was remanded on the same bail terms to appear before a court in the Criminal Courts of Justice on a date next month. The accused has not yet indicated how he intends pleading to the charges. Ann and Bernard McDonagh were jailed after a judge told them their actions had been motivated by pure and utter greed These are the police mugshots of the Irish married couple who have been jailed in the UK for multiple dine and dash offences in south Wales. Bernard McDonagh (41), and wife Ann (39), with addresses in Sandfields, Port Talbot, hit the headlines in the UK this week after they admitted to a spree of dine and dash thefts in south Wales where they live. Both Bernard and Ann hail from Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, where his father Bernard The Foal McDonagh is a well-known TikTok character Swansea Crown Court heard the pair, who used more than 40 aliases and 18 dates of birth between them, dishonestly obtained food and drink at four restaurants and one takeaway in the south Wales area, with the unpaid bills totalling 1,168.10. The couple, who pleaded guilty to five joint charges of fraud, were arrested after images of their scam were posted on social media. Ann McDonagh also admitted four counts of shoplifting, including at designer store Tommy Hilfiger, taking items worth 1,017.60. Watch the moment police arrested a couple after non-payment of restaurant bills and shoplifting This week, Ann McDonagh was sentenced to 12 months in prison and Bernard McDonagh to eight months, after a judge told them their actions had been motivated by pure and utter greed. Judge Paul Thomas told them: From the autumn of last year to spring of this year, you two set out on a deliberate course of sustained dishonesty. You would go to restaurants with your own family. You would have food and drink served to you to the value of hundreds of pounds and then you would cynically and brazenly leave without paying. You would order the most expensive items on the menu such as steaks in the full knowledge that you had no intention whatsoever of paying for them. The judge said that using children to wait in the restaurants, who would then run off, while pretending to go to a cashpoint was ruthlessly exploitative. The couple went viral after a furious restaurateur posted CCTV images of the McDonaghs and their party of eight fleeing his trendy Italian eatery after failing to pay a hefty bill. One video had 12 million views in less than a month as a campaign took hold to bring the dine-and-dashers to book. Other restaurants in the region fell victim to the same scammers, who were quickly recognised by locals. Both Bernards father Bernard The Foal McDonagh is a well-known TikTok character. The dine and dasher is one of 14 children to The Foal McDonagh and his recently deceased wife Rose, who was laid to rest in Ballyhaunis in December 2022. They attempted to cover up their faces as they arrived at court in Swansea where photographers and camera crews waited for their arrival. The couple made no comment. The McDonaghs pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud over their dine and dash escapades, totalling 1,168. Mrs McDonagh also admitted to shoplifting 1,017 in goods from Tommy Hilfiger, Sainsburys and Tesco, and obstructing a police officer. Restaurants had reported the couple turning up with a family group ordering food and drinks and leaving one or two people behind to pay the bill. The card would be declined, and they would offer to go back to their vehicle to get another card or to an ATM for cash but then disappear. The scams left some of the small local businesses devastated as the bills left unpaid ranged up to Stg300. It was heard in court that the couple both had previous convictions for fraud. The Foal McDonagh is known for his quirky social media posts in which has referred to himself as the King of Ballyhaunis. He appears in one clip with his son Bernard, in which he introduces him as the next king when he dies. Standing beside a statue of two men making a deal over a pig, the pair shake hands and give a thumbs up to the camera. In another clip, The Foal stands behind the beer taps of a bar which he claims to have just bought as he pulls and then downs a pint. A regular on TikTok, another clip features him asking Google who is the King of Ballyhaunis, before the system answers: According to TikTok, Foal McDonagh, King of Ballyhaunis, this is my town. Another video shows The Foal, who now lives in Kent, visiting a site at Swansea where he used to live. This is me in Swansea, south Wales, thinking about the good old days, he said, adding that he kept horses there which hed brought from Ireland. Our coverage of the case Grief-stricken by the passing of his wife, The Foal and his family have erected an elaborate memorial at the local cemetery in Ballyhaunis. It towers above other graves and had to be lifted into place by a crane. The memorial also has a bench for grave visitors to sit while paying their respects and is inscribed with the words: Gold Rose, Queen of Ireland, all my cares and troubles cease, as I kneel before you, Lady of Knock, My Queen of Peace. At Swansea Crown Court this week, Giles Hayes representing Bernard McDonagh, described the father-of-six as deeply embarrassed and ashamed by his actions and said his client had brought money with him to court in order to pay it back. Andrew Evans, representing Ann McDonagh, said she had suffered family bereavements and may have carried out the frauds to try to make herself feel better. However, Judge Paul Thomas told the couple: You were not going to these places to feed you and your family, it was criminality for criminalitys sake to see if you could get away with it. I have no doubt, apart from the greed element, you had got a buzz out of what you were able to get away with on a regular basis. The judge added that the behaviour of the family, from the traveller community, would fuel and reinforce negative stereotypes. Six years without any clear answers, so many questions in our minds, and never-fading deep pain in our hearts Giedre Ragucakite (29) was last seen alive in May 2018 A childhood pal of Giedre Raguckaite has marked the sixth anniversary of her suspected murder and disappearance with a heartfelt tribute. Gedvile Hibner posted in the memory of my best friend that today marks six years already since she was last seen alive. She is a missing person, and the murder investigation is still going on without any concrete closure, Gedvile wrote. Six years without any clear answers, so many questions in our minds, and never-fading deep pain in our hearts. Six years of absolute silence. You are gone, but still alive, in our minds, our hearts and our souls. Fly among the stars, beautiful soul." The Lithuanian woman who lived in Dundalk, Co Louth, went missing on May 29, 2018. That day she made contact with a friend and rang her father at around 6.30pm, telling him she had been in a hotel that day for dinner. She was seen at a house in Laytown, Co Meath with two men that night at around 11pm, and the last sighting of her was leaving that house with two men at 1.45am. Due to the nature of the case, gardai upgraded her disappearance to a murder investigation months after she was last seen. Gedvile Hibner However, the body of Ms Raguckaite has never been discovered which has hampered the long running investigation. In January 2022, a suspect had been arrested in prison by gardai investigating the suspected murder. He was questioned by Dundalk gardai but it later emerged that the suspect, who was serving a number of short sentences for theft offences, was deported from Ireland just days after his arrest. Speaking at the time, Gedvile said that although she was relieved when she heard the news of the arrest of a suspect, she questioned why it had taken so long to get to this stage of the investigation. "We were wondering why it took so long to be honest, they had the suspects from the beginning," she said. Two Lithuanian men were last seen with an unconscious Giedre on May 29, 2018 at a house in Laytown, Co Meath. She had been living in Dundalk for just two months after arriving in Ireland before she disappeared without trace. It is suspected she was abducted, drugged and raped before being murdered and her body disposed of. One of the suspects in the case took his own life in January 2021, which Gedvile feared could bring a halt to any progress in the investigation. "It was really worrying," she said one year later. Gedvile fears the person who died will be blamed for all the wrongdoing. "That's my opinion, that's what I think is going to happen," she said. Initially treated as missing person case, Giedre's disappearance was upgraded to a murder investigation six months later, in November 2018. "It took a lot of time, it took a lot of pressure to change it to a murder investigation," said Gedvile. Pal of murder victim Giedre Raguckaite threatened over her bid for justice Pal of missing Giedre Raguckaite begs for help to find body four years on Man (40s) arrested for suspected murder of Giedre Raguckaite is deported from Ireland "They have a lot of information at this stage, because so many people helped us, they really did, especially the Lithuanian people in Ireland - they were so united," she said. Gedvile believes some of those who came forward were able to help the garda investigation. Over the last six years Gedvile has kept up efforts to keep the case in the spotlight in the hope people would come forward with information. "It was really tough, but it has helped a lot as well that so many people were really uniting, she said previously. However, she also had to cope with the threats along with idle speculation which people also posted online. "There was so much fake information as well - it's social media so there were people gossiping, I found that really tough," she admitted. "I also had a lot of bad, very bad, messages, threatening, from people trying to frighten me," she said. Gedvile said the experience of campaigning for justice for her friend prompted her interest in studying criminology at the Metropolitan University in London. Mark The Chicken Lovell was gunned down in 2022, in a killing believed to be motivated by a cross-border drug feud The son of murdered drug baron Mark The Chicken Lovell has returned and immediately ended up in court, we can reveal. Ebony Hughes is believed to have fled Ireland for Australia after he escaped a murder bid from the same drugs gang that weeks later murdered his dad. Police issued an appeal for the whereabouts of 37-year-old Hughes in December 2022, saying he was wanted in connection with an incident in Newry in May 2022. He made an appearance back in the country to attend his fathers funeral, where he used his car to hem in a car containing Sunday World staff. Nobody had heard from Ebony afterwards and it was reported he drove across Europe before boarding a flight Down Under. But this week Ebony made a shock appearance at Newry Magistrates Court to face a string of driving charges. Last Wednesday Ebony Bernard Hughes stood in the dock where he confirmed his identity and that he understood the three charges against him, all alleged to have been committed on April 28 this year. Mark The Chicken Lovell Hughes, with an address of Ardcarn Park in Newry, faces charges of driving carelessly on the Clontigira Road, Killeen, failing to stop for police when requested and carrying a child below 12 without proper restraint. None of the facts giving rise to the charges were opened in court, but a police officer said he believed he could connect Hughes to each of the charges. A prosecuting lawyer told District Judge Eamon King the case will proceed on offences as per the charge sheet, while Hughes defence solicitor confirmed the papers have been sent to the defendant we have not seen them yet. Freeing Hughes on his own bail of 350, Judge King adjourned the case to June 5 for attitude. But Ebony wasnt the only member of the Hughes clan to appear in court this week. Whitney Hughes Two days earlier his sister Whitney, also from Ardcarn Park, was due to be sentenced in the Crown Court for being the head of an organised crime gang involved in the supply of substantial amounts of drugs but Judge Ramsey KC adjourned her case as well to give him time to consider the penalty. She was initially arrested in July 2022, but in November 2022 two hitmen tried to murder their father in Dundalk. A month later, the Hughes father Mark The Chicken Lovell was gunned down in Newry, in a killing believed to be motived by a cross-border drug feud. Lovell (58) was shot a number of times at close range inside his car while he was parked outside his childrens home in Newry on December 1, 2022. The drugs feud that claimed the life of Lovell had been simmering for over a year prior to his murder. While there were suggestions at the time that Lovell may have lost his life because rival dealers couldnt trace his son, the reality is that both men were under threat. Lovells wife, Eileen, was also threatened and ordered to leave Newry. Mark Lovell's funeral The murder of Lovell followed a failed murder bid on his son Ebony Hughes in Newry city centre. We revealed at the time details of how top border gang leaders met in a hotel to discuss ways of wiping out Lovell and all trace of his lucrative cocaine and heroin operation. Within days, a move was made on the life of Lovells son Ebony. The 6ft 2in fitness fanatic came within a whisker of being ambushed in Newry. But quick-thinking Hughes spotted his would-be attackers and he fled through the yard of Abbey CBS Grammar School. He fled Ireland but he made an appearance at his fathers funeral, where he played a prominent role. Ebony used his Volkswagon Passat to hem in a car containing Sunday World staff. As the cortege pulled into the car park of the Church of the Holy Family, Mark Lovells daughter Whitney Hughes gestured a one-finger salute to waiting reporters. Whitney Hughes is facing stiff jail time after admitting a raft of criminal charges linked to her fathers drugs gang. Shell be sentenced in the coming weeks but is almost certainly looking at several years behind bars. Avon and Somerset Police released images of the three men they would like to speak to in connection with the alleged attack Police in the UK have issued an appeal to help them identify three men with Irish accents after a man had his jaw broken after being punched outside a pub in Frome. Avon and Somerset Police released images of the three men they would like to speak to in connection with the alleged attack. Police said the victim was rushed to hospital for treatment after he was punched in Market Place in the Somerset town between 12.30am and 1am on Sunday, April 21. One of the men is described as white, 6ft tall, in his mid-20s, with slicked back black hair, clean shaven, and wearing a rugby-style shirt with white stripes on the front. The second is also white, 5ft 6ins tall, bald, in his mid-to-late 20s, with a light beard who was wearing a grey jumper. Spoke with an Irish accent. The third suspect is 5ft 8ins tall, with light brown hair slicked back and in his early 20s. He was wearing a black tracksuit top with white detailing down the arms. Police released these images All three are described as speaking with Irish accents. Police are appealing to identify these men Avon and Somerset Police said in a public appeal: "If you recognise any of them, or witnessed the assault, please contact us. If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5224101977, or complete our online appeals form. "You can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their Anonymous Online Form. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court or have to speak to police when contacting Crimestoppers." This family has already been through a lot. They had to leave their home and run away from the dangers of a war. A Sligo resident who provided accommodation for a Ukrainian family has expressed his shock at threats made to them. The family of eight had moved into the house only two weeks ago, after spending a few months in other accommodation. The owner of the house who lives a small distance from the property received a call from his neighbour on Tuesday morning, informing him about a poster with a threatening message written on it left hanging close to the laneway leading to the home. The writing on the back of a stolen Sinn Fein local election poster stated the family wasnt welcome in the community or local school and they had 48 hours to leave. It was signed, Far Right Movement The Irish Freedom Party. The house owner told The Sligo Champion that he was shocked to see such hatred against a vulnerable family and had the poster taken away as he doesnt want them to know about this. This family has already been through a lot. They had to leave their home and run away from the dangers of a war. Just a day after moving into our property, their grandfather passed away. He was such a nice man and was so happy to finally have a home for his family. The threatening message was written on the back of one of the 50 posters torn down belonging to Sinn Fein candidates and it was signed in the Irish Freedom Partys name. We called the gardai, but no fingerprints were found on the posters. Everyone who saw those words is in shock and I just want to say that people dont realise how much these families are going through. They need our help and support, and I am going to do it. I dont want to make it any more difficult for them. Mr Murphy said there were off-duty nurses and paramedics attending the wedding and they tried to help Brendan. A 67-year-old wedding guest died at a reception at a west Clare hotel last Christmas after a piece of steak got lodged in his throat during the main course of the meal, an inquest has heard. At the Co Clare Coroners Court in Ennis today, Clare Coroner, Isobel ODea found that the Brendan Glynn died as a result of impaction of the larynx at the hotel at Spanish Point on Friday, December 22nd last. Ms ODea extended sympathy to the large number of people in attendance at the inquest and to those who witnessed his sudden death at the wedding on what she said should have been a joyous occasion. Ms ODea also paid tribute to the off-duty nurses and paramedics attending the wedding who tried unsuccessfully to revive him. An electrician from the nearby seaside resort Lahinch, Mr Glynn was a guest at the wedding of a couple who got married at Liscannor Church earlier that day. John Murphy was sitting beside Mr Glynn at the meal and in a deposition told the inquest that I would have been talking away to Brendan seconds before this happened and he seemed fine. Mr Murphy said: Brendan had been having beef and did not give any impression that he had been in any difficulty in any way. Mr Murphy said that at the meal, Mr Glynn seemed in good form and was fine chatting away to me. The two had three pints together before the meal at the hotel bar. Mr Murphy said that during the meal his wife, Geraldine alerted me to the fact that something seemed to be wrong with Brendan. He said: I looked over and there appeared to be a liquid coming from the side of his mouth. He said that Brendan wasnt moving and Brendan didnt acknowledge me when I spoke to him". Mr Murphy said: "His eyes were open - I used a cloth to clean the side of Brendans mouth. The whole table at the wedding knew something was wrong at this stage. Brendan just sat there motionless and unresponsive. Mr Murphy said there were off-duty nurses and paramedics attending the wedding and they tried to help Brendan. He said: They tried to free up any food that was lodged and started CPR. Ennistymon based Advanced Paramedic, Pat McCarthy said that he reached the hotel at around 8.05pm and found an unresponsive male who had been choking at a wedding at the hotel. Mr McCarthy said that CPR was in progress in the reception area of the hotel but that the male had no pulse, was unresponsive and not breathing. Mr McCarthy said that he removed a large chunk of beef from his airway and Mr Glynn was pronounced dead at 8.45pm. Garda Colm Collins said that the response time of the ambulance was 15 minutes. In her post mortem findings, Asst State Pathologist, Dr Margot Bolster said that the history shows that a number of large chunks of steak obstructing the larynx were removed by medical personnel from the airways of Mr Glynn. Dr Bolster said that Mr Glynn had been eating steak, his face went blue and he slumped over. Dr Bolster said that her main findings is the cause of death are consistent with 'cafe coronary' or impaction of food in the larynx. Dr Bolster said that cafe coronary is a term used to describe a sudden collapse of healthy subjects during meals in the absence of any sign of asphyxia, respiratory distress, or neurological symptoms. In her post mortem report, Dr Bolster said: One of the main problems with this is that even when witnessed, it is often confused with myocardial infarction due to the absence of asphyxia symptoms. This can lead to misdiagnosis and potential delays in patients' treatment that can eventually have fatal outcomes. Sentencing of the former president will take place on July 11Trump berates judge following the jurys unanimous verdictJoe Biden says only way to keep Trump out of office is at the ballot box Former President Donald Trump returns to the courtroom at Manhattan Criminal Court. Seth Wenig/Pool via REUTERS Donald Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a crime on Thursday when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. Outside the court, Trump blasted the judge as corrupt and said the trial was a witch hunt orchestrated by the Biden administration. After deliberations over two days, the 12-member jury announced it had found Trump guilty on all 34 counts he faced. Unanimity was required for any verdict. Trump watched the jurors dispassionately as they were polled to confirm the guilty verdict. The verdict plunges the United States into unexplored territory ahead of the November 5 presidential election, when Trump, the Republican candidate, will try to win the White House back from Democratic President Joe Biden. Trump, 77, has denied wrongdoing and was expected to appeal. "This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt," Trump told reporters afterwards. "The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people," Trump said, adding: "I am a very innocent man." He faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison, though others convicted of that crime often receive shorter sentences, fines or probation. Incarceration would not prevent him from campaigning, or taking office if he were to win. Opinion polls show Trump and Biden, 81, locked in a tight race, and Reuters/Ipsos polling has found that a guilty verdict could cost Trump some support from independent and Republican voters. The jury notified the court they had reached a verdict at 4:20 p.m. (9:20am Irish) and read out all 34 guilty counts shortly after 10pm Irish time. The jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business documents after sitting through a five-week trial that featured explicit testimony from porn star Stormy Daniels about a sexual encounter she says she had with Trump in 2006 while he was married to his current wife Melania. Trump denies ever having sex with Daniels. Trump's then-fixer Michael Cohen testified that Trump approved a $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 election, when he faced multiple accusations of sexual misbehaviour. Cohen testified he handled the payment, and that Trump approved a plan to reimburse him through monthly payments disguised as legal work. Trump's lawyers hammered Cohen's credibility, highlighting his criminal record and imprisonment and his history of lying. Falsifying business documents is normally a misdemeanour in New York, but prosecutors in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office elevated it to a felony on grounds that Trump was concealing an illegal campaign contribution. Trump complained that he could not get a fair trial in his heavily Democratic hometown. The case was widely regarded as the least consequential of the four criminal prosecutions Trump faces. Jurors heard testimony of sex and lies that have been public since 2018, although the charges themselves rested on ledger accounts and other records of Cohen's reimbursement. It was known as the "zombie case" because Bragg brought it back to life after his predecessor opted not to bring charges. This case was also likely to be the only one to go to trial before the election, as the others are delayed by procedural challenges. If elected, Trump could shut down the two federal cases that accuse him of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and mishandling classified documents after leaving office in 2021. He would not have the power to stop a separate election-subversion case taking place in Georgia. Trump has pleaded not guilty in all the cases, and has portrayed his various legal troubles as an effort by Biden's Democratic allies to hurt him politically. This is also the film the elites dont want you to see Actor John Connors has claimed that his new film is being suppressed by elites in Ireland. The London born stars latest offering is called The Black Guelph, which has just finished a run in America. The award winning thespian took to social media on Thursday, where he stated his belief that the film is suffering from attempts at censorship here in Ireland. "But they are not going to suppress it, the message is going to get out. he said. Connors directed the new movie which is set in the Dublin crime underworld, which he indicated on TikTok. Hello everybody, John Connors here. Just to let you all know, The Black Guelph -my new film- is out now on More TV, he said. "If you are a fan of Love/Hate, or Cardboard Gangsters you will love this. The link is in my bio. John Connors social media video "This is also the film the elites dont want you to see. They tried to suppress this film in Ireland. "But the message will get out. "Let me know what you think about it, if you post about it, tag me and I will re-share. "All the best, enjoy, the actor added. Promotional material for the film states: Dive into the film that's taking the world by storm. Enter the gritty Dublin underworld in this sensational crime thriller directed by John Connors. Experience the electrifying story of Canto, a street-smart enforcer navigating the dangerous alleys of Dublin, and his tumultuous relationship with his drug-addicted father, Dan. Critics are raving about this intense, high-stakes drama thats fresh from American cinemas. The Black Guelph is a must-watch for fans of raw, unfiltered crime dramas and it's the film they didn't want you to see in Ireland. The word guelph as a noun has a dictionary definition of a member of the political party in medieval Italy and Germany that supported the sovereignty of the papacy against the German emperors: opposed to the Ghibellines, or A member of a secret society in Italy in the early 19th century that opposed foreign rulers and reactionary ideas. The Black Guelph can be rented here. I beg of you, this June, don't forget to give your number one vote to Clare or Mick Hollywood A-lister Susan Sarandon has come out in support of Clare Daly and Mick Wallace in the run up to the European elections. On Wednesday, Ms Daly posted a video endorsement from Ms Sarandon to her social media accounts. For the last five years, when I've seen Clare Daly and Mick Wallace doing what they're doing we can hear them around the world, including in the United States, Ms Sarandon says in the video. The star of Thelma and Louise goes on to give thorough endorsement to the pair, arguing that they speak for the voiceless. They're speaking up loud and clear for international solidarity, and social justice, for peace, and the oppressed people. Susan Sarandon's video "And I can't tell you how very important, and how much that means to those of us in other places that are given hope by them and what they are saying. "I beg of you, this June, don't forget to give your number one vote to Clare Daly in Dublin, or Mick Wallace in Ireland South. Ms Daly MEP responded with a message of appreciation of her own. "Humbled that the platform we've developed in Europe against militarism has been heard and is supported around the world. "It shows the importance of keeping this seat and redoubling our efforts. Many thanks to the great Susan Sarandon. MEP Clare Daly DalyForDublin #EUelections2024. Clare added in a statement she has received endorsements from a diverse range of global voices throughout the current campaign, including Hollywood star John Cusack, Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin, Greek politician and former finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and civil rights activist Bernadette Devlin McAliskey. The US Veterans for Peace group, Independent TD and Dail Leas-Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly, and former TD for Dublin Central Maureen O'Sullivan have also backed the campaign. MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms Daly's social media output regularly attracts the attention of tens of thousands online, and her posts have been shared by everyone from Michael Moore to Annie Lennox to System of a Down's Serj Tankian to British rapper and activist Lowkey. She is followed by 1.8 million people across the various major social media platforms more than all of the Irish political parties combined. She has six times as many followers on TikTok as the 'TikTok Taoiseach' Simon Harris. Last year, Mick Wallace gave an impassioned speech at the EU in relation the blowing of the Nord Stream pipeline. "Only last September, Commissions President Ursula von der Leyen stated that it was paramount to now investigate the Nord Stream pipeline attack and that any deliberate disruption of active European energy is unacceptable and will lead to the strongest possible response. The strongest possible response?" He then pointed to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hershs conclusion which cited an unidentified source saying that US navy divers destroyed the pipelines with explosives under President Bidens orders. While the White House has dismissed these claims as "utterly false and complete fiction", while Norway's foreign ministry said the allegations were "nonsense", Mr Wallace stated the EU should have investigated further. He continued: "Hersh has a long track record of journalistic integrity. This was a premeditated terrorist attack on European critical infrastructure. It was also environmental terrorism. "Does the EU care? Do you need to know who did it or do you want to know? Hersh says the US did it, did you ask them "Have we become so subservient, has the EU become so subservient, to US empire that we cant even ask them if they did it. Is that a f*****g joke." Out of the three separate investigations carried out by Germany, Sweden and Denmark, the latter two were closed in February without publicly assigned responsibility for the damage. Sean describes his ideal type of girl as blonde, petite, but I suppose at the end of the day, a pretty girl is a pretty girl. AN aspiring Irish actor set to join the Love Island show in the coming days. Sean Jenko Jenkins (25) has hopes of finding a wife on the new season, and playfully adds: Shout out to my future kids, this is how I met your mother. Cheeky Sean has been living in Malta for the past three years, but we can reveal he has links to Dublin and Galway. It appears Sean grew up in south Dublin and has links with CBC school in Monkstown. He went to college in Atlantic Theological University in Galway City, where he did a degree in Applied Freshwater and Marine Biology. He then went on to work for Apple in Galway as a technical support advisor before moving back to Dublin to become a freelance writer. Sean moved to Malta in recent years, where he lives in the St Pauls area and completed college courses in Digital Marketing, as well as Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies. His day job is as a Customer Success Manager with Social Discovery Ventures in Malta but he is also an aspiring actor. Sean describes his type of girl as blonde, petite, but I suppose at the end of the day, a pretty girl is a pretty girl. He adds I work as an actor, but I am also involved in digital marketing, Im looking for someone whos cute, kind, honest, caring, confident. Sean 'Jenko' Jenkins A girl thats in touch with her feminine side is really sexy. I think my first preference has got to be Raquel but well see how the dates go and if the vibe is there. His mystery target Raquel has still yet to be unveiled as one of this years contestants. This years Love Island kicks off on Virgin Media and ITV on Monday. The Summer favourite will be once again be filmed in Majorca, with Maya Jama returning as host. Natalie described Pauls sex scenes as 'very hot but also very tender Natalie Portman arrives at the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Paul Mescal attends the UK Gala Screening of "All Of Us Strangers" at BFI Southbank on January 23, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images) Kildare man Paul Mescal has been snapped having a cosy chinwag with Hollywood star Natalie Portman in London this week. The two actors were seen chatting and smiling as they enjoyed a few cigarettes outside Bar 69 in Islington wearing matching white t-shirts. Natalie (42) has just divorced Benjamin Millepied so is reportedly free and single. If my drama school self knew that I would be talking to you, I would pinch myself many, many times, the Maynooth man told Natalie during a Variety interview late last year. The pair laugh (Youtube) Black Swan star Natalie looked relaxed in a simple white tee paired with faded jeans, whilst Paul matched the casual vibe in a white shirt, teamed with high-waisted black trousers and classic Adidas Sambas. During their Variety interview last year, the pair appeared to become quite close. Natalie complimented Paul on his sex scenes with Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers, describing them as very hot but also very tender. I really loved the intimate scenes in All of Us Strangers. They were very hot but also very tender. Why do we see that so rarely, and particularly for same-sex relationships? Natalie Portman and Paul Mescal (YouTube) Paul responded by saying: Films like this are an indication of a distance that weve travelled, but ultimately theres quite a ways to go. All I can talk about is my experience with filming those scenes. "Andrew Scotts character, Adam, who is in his mid-40s, has a difficult relationship to sex. My character serves as a safe landing space for him to re-explore his sexuality. I think sex in film, when it can be healing and sexy at the same time, thats when its at its best." Natalie replied that its such an antidote to all the other depictions of sex that are bombarding us. Natalie Portman in a scene (Getty) To which Paul answered: I dont know about you, but Ive been lucky that I havent been in a sex scene in a film where I think, I dont know why this is here. "I dont know what your relationship to that is, but I also think that the sex scene in May December is a huge moment and so stark. The Irish actor also gave a run down of how he trained for his forthcoming appearance in the new Gladiator film. "Lots of protein shakes. Its a big departure from everything that Ive done before and so unbelievably fun. It feels like just exercising a totally different skill set. Im having a ball. Were going to finish it soon. Something people quite rightfully would associate with you as an actor is the level of transformation, both psychologically and physically, that goes into it, he added. Music Plus with Winston Watusi watusi@thesun.co.nz I was ready to review a couple of local albums today when I heard Rodger Fox had died. I write in advance, of course, so by the time you read this it will be old news. But right now its kind of poleaxing. I wont, at this short notice, try to offer any sort of comprehensive obituary. I absolutely lack the knowledge and resources to do someone like Rodger justice. Oh, the things he did... Like taking his big band to Europes legendary Montreux Jazz Festival in 1980 - the first New Zealand band invited to play an international jazz festival - and later to the Monterey and New Orleans festivals. In 2012, they flew to Los Angeles to record an album at Capital Studios, home of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole. That became the bands 36 album. Rodger Fox. Photo: Bob Hakins. Sheer work rate I knew Rodger for some 30 years, and through all that time his sheer work rate never ceased to astound me: continually arranging tours, setting up festivals, looking for funding, for new projects, for new players, teaching in every setting imaginable, always on the lookout for a new collaboration, a new way to explore music in NZ - whether by bringing the best in the world here or by working with the best we have to celebrate the countrys artistic possibilities. Just in recent years, there have been settings of Hone Tuwhare poems to big band music, and his project to arrange Dave Dobbyns music for big bands, resulting in musical charts which can be played by bands throughout the country in perpetuity. The last thing I saw was his genre-bending mash-up with King Kapisi, which he was looking forward to bringing to Tauranga. Then there were the overseas musicians Rodger lured to NZ. My life - and this is something many many people I know would happily attest to - was made richer by Rodger Fox, by the tremendous international players he exposed us all too. Those players, lets not forget, came here because Rodger was held, worldwide, in huge respect, both as an absolutely international-quality trombone player, and also because his bands were just that good. Thanks to Rodger, we got to see the likes of Robben Ford, Chris Cain, Dennis Chambers, Gregg Bissonette, Peter Erskine, Louie Bellson, David Clayton-Thomas, Randy Crawford, Charlie Musselwhite, Ernestine Anderson, Diane Schuur, and Joe Williams. And perhaps the one Rodger was most proud of, sax legend Michael Brecker, who joined the his big band to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Concerts and shows There were the brilliant concerts with pianist Michael Houston, and in earlier days the shows with Midge Marsden belting out Caledonia and taking the roof off. And so many festivals. Rodger organised, from the Manawatu Jazz Festival to the recent NZ Blues, Roots & Groove Festival, dozens and dozens all up. Rodgers passing leaves a gaping chasm in the music scene. And in many lives. Sorry if this was all a bit of a rant. Thank you for the music, Rodger. RIP. Hear Winstons latest playlist: More than 2500 people have gathered at Whareroa Reserve this morning ahead of a national day of disruption launched by Te Pati Maori to coincide with Budget day. The protest was delayed from 8am until 9.15am to allow protesters caught in traffic to arrive. Earlier traffic was at a standstill on Hewletts Rd. The road was down to one lane near Taiaho Pl. A contingent of police officers has gathered in the area. The two city-bound lanes on Hewletts Rd from Totara St to Tauranga Bridge Marina are closed. The eastbound traffic heading to the Mount is down to one lane during this section with westbound traffic being diverted to the other lane. Traffic on Takitumu Drive and Hewletts Rd is heavily backed up as a result, while police have gathered on Totara St. One commuter said it took them one hour and twenty minutes to get from Mount Maunganui to the Tauranga CBD due to the gridlock. A Be Proud to be Maori song is blaring out of speakers at the reserve as preparations are under way. Tommy Wilson is at the hikoi with his 8-year-old mokopuna and says he is there to support the anxiety the country is feeling, not just Maori. Its the poor, the disabled, the unwell, and the marginalised. Maori was now a million strong, according to the census, so the Crown needs to listen to our concerns. Sandra Des Forges. A small crowd is gathering for the hikoi that kicks off at 8.30am. Sandra Des Forges says she is at the protest today because she is disappointed to see the country going backwards from the small amount of progress towards honouring the Treaty of Waitangi. This county could be amazing if we work together more and respect one anothers world view. Traffic building up on Hewletts Rd this morning. Kipouaka Pukekura says it's important to be at the hikoi today because we are here to honour our tupuna who fought the fight before us to live a better life in our own tino rangatiratangi (under our own authority live our own way). Kipouaka Pukekura and Kuraimonoa Benton. We are here to protect our mokopuna and tamariki into the future. They are our future leaders, our rangatira mo apopo. Eden Tahu Tanaiwha Mahia and Ruaumoko. Organisers have encouraged people to walk off the job to unify against the Governments assault on tangata whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Traffic is at a standstill around Taurnaga this morning. Image: Google Maps. The protest march aims to hinder traffic on Hewletts Rd/State Highway 2, a major commuter and freight route in Tauranga. Police says the public can expect local traffic disruption this morning but any unlawful behaviour would result in enforcement action. One communter says they have been stuck in traffic for the last 43 minutes. Another reports that the protest has "stuffed up every route" for motorists trying to get into the CBD. "It's crazy." Supporters mobilised If you take away our reo you take away our existence. That is the view of Ngai Te Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley about what he describes as the Governments continuous disregard for our reo and our cultural identity. He is mobilising supporters to meet at Whareroa Reserve today for a protest march that aims to hinder traffic on Hewletts Rd/State Highway 2, a major commuter and freight route in Tauranga. Ngai Te Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley at the protest last year. Photo / Alex Cairns. Its the second time the iwi will join a nationwide Te Pati Maori protest expected to disrupt roads around the country similar to its action on December 5. Te Pati Maori party wrote on social media this week: We are being attacked for being Maori. This is what the rangatira revolution is about. Stanley says holding the protests on Budget Day is p***ing on their [the Governments] parade. He believes calls for Maori to strike for the day are a red herring and Ngai Te Rangi is not asking this. Last year protesters marched down Hewletts Rd in Tauranga. Photo / Alex Cairns. People are not stupid enough if they are in a precarious position in their employment to go on strike. If you want to turn up, turn up and we are expecting a big turnout last year we got 2500 people. The iwi wants to send clear, consistent messages to the Government. Last year Ngai Te Rangi made an urgent claim to the Waitangi Tribunal, accusing the Government of attacking Maori culture and language a hearing is in two weeks in Wellington. What they are doing is not right. We will not put up with it. We have to resist. He says it has worked too hard to revitalise our reo, educate our people, protect our mokopuna and correct the injustices faced by Maori, to have these efforts reversed. The iwi had arranged safety marshals for the protest and has had a briefing with police, Stanley says. Right to peaceful protest police A Tauranga police spokesperson advises the public to expect local traffic disruption during todays hikoi. We are working with organisers to provide advice on lawful behaviour on our roads and public places, as well as any health and safety implications. Anyone travelling for time-sensitive commitments are advised to allow more time for their journey. Police recognise the right to peaceful protest. Unlawful behaviour will result in enforcement action, either at the time or following the event if safety issues prevent immediate action. An NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi spokeswoman says it will be closely monitoring the situation through its Traffic Operations Centres. Police will be leading the operational response to the protest action. She says the agencys advice for commuters and motorists is to use the agencys online journey planner and traffic information pages for the latest information before travelling. Motor convoys on cards for other cities Police advise commuters to hit the road to work early and avoid the peak hour protests planned for Friday. Protesters in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are planning motor convoys to cause disruption to Budget Day announcements. Protest organiser Eru Kapa-Kingi, from Toitu Te Tiriti says delaying a few peoples trips to work was nothing compared to the daily disruption this Government had on Maori. We are the rangatira of this whenua and will act as we always have. We will act with the grace of our tikanga and sternness embedded in our mana, Kapa-Kingi told the Herald. Heoi ano, just as we looked after Pakeha when they first arrived here in Aotearoa, and every day since, we will do the same this Thursday, whilst standing for the truth that we never ceded sovereignty, and keeping the wellbeing of our mokopuna at the front of our minds. Te Pati Maori president John Tamihere says Prime Minister Christoper Luxons response that Maori should only go on strike on weekends is telling. According to Luxon, natives are only allowed to protest on weekends while his mates can go anywhere, anytime, Tamihere says. Protest motorists in Auckland will converge on to the Northwestern, Southern and Northern motorways from 6.30am on Thursday to try to accomplish maximum disruption. Those groups will slowly make their way to Aotea Centre in downtown Auckland, where a rally will be fronted by community advocate Dave Letele. Police Minister Mark Mitchell has condemned the planned unlawful protest action. Ive been very clear with the commissioner that my expectations are that law-abiding Kiwis going about their daily business, their rights are protected above those who choose to break the law, Mitchell said. He told Newstalk ZBs Mike Hosking that it is absolutely illegal. Mitchell is joined by his Labour counterpart Ginny Andersen, who says she will not be joining in on the protests. She understands why Maori are protesting but doesn't agree with unlawful protest. In Wellington, protesters will meet at the Wellington Railway Station before marching on Parliament before the 2pm Budget 2024 announcement. Similar delaying tactics will be employed at cities across the country. In December, thousands marched on Parliament. Assistant Police Commissioner Mike Johnson says they are working to manage the right to protest and peoples rights to go about their daily business. Officers will be highly visible across the roading network throughout the morning and, in some locations, will put measures in place to prevent participants putting themselves and motorists in harms way, Johnson says. Areas he says will be affected in and around the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel included Port Waikato, Thames, Matamata, Tauranga, Opotiki, Whakatane, Taupo, Turangi and Rotorua. We are aware that gatherings are planned for Aotea Square in Auckland City from 11am and Parliament Grounds in Wellington from 12 noon which are expected to continue into the afternoon, Johnson says. NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones says Te Pati Maori is spreading a grievance culture and described the Maori Party hikoi as a parade of blind mice. They are promoting victimhood. Sadly their own supporters have become blind mice. The Maori Party are telling whanau to strike or go without pay? Will Debbie Ngarewa Packer [Te Pati Maori co-leader] work a day for free? Their conduct is grossly disruptive and totally selfish. Cultural nursery rhymes will not improve our economic circumstances. -Additional reporting by Joseph Lose/ EARLIER: Police are preparing for planned hikoi and public gatherings in various locations around the country, including Tauranga and Rotorua today. Te Pati Maori is urging all Maori to go on strike on Thursday and participate in protest action across the country. The Toitu Te Tiriti National Day of Action protesters will be participating in carkois which entails driving slowly across roadways to disrupt traffic flow at peak times. Te Pati Maori encouraged all Maori to leave work and attend the hikoi near their location. Hikoi travel is scheduled to take place from 6.30am around the country and is likely to disrupt traffic in a number of areas, says Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson. "Officers will be highly visible across the roading network throughout the morning and, in some locations, will put measures in place to prevent participants putting themselves and motorists in harms way." In Rotorua, people are being advised to avoid Fenton St/ Amohau St intersection, Old Taupo Rd / Pukuatua St intersection and Lake Rd / Bennets Rd intersection. There is also protest action planned for Tauranga, Thames, Matamata, Opotiki and Whakatane. "Motorists are asked to plan ahead to mitigate any disruption to their travel, including avoiding the areas and seeking alternate routes in the morning," says Mike. "Officers will be highly visible across the roading network throughout the morning and, in some locations, will put measures in place to prevent participants putting themselves and motorists in harms way. "Police are working with organisers to provide advice on lawful behaviour on our roads and public places, as well as any health and safety implications." Mile says anyone travelling for time-sensitive commitments are advised to allow more time for their journey. He says police recognises the right to peaceful protest. "Unlawful behaviour will result in enforcement action, either at the time or following the event if safety issues prevent immediate action." One in three people in the Bay of Plenty were of Maori descent in 2023, and one in five nationwide, Census data released this week reveals. It also shows Rotoruas total population grew 3 per cent between 2018 and 2023 for a new total of 74,058 people, while Tauranga grew 11.5 per cent to 152,844 and Western Bay 10.4 per cent to 56,184. Maori descent data from Census 2023 was presented in Rotorua yesterday morning by Kirikowhai Mikaere - the lead technician for the Data Iwi Leaders Group and pou arahi of its operating arm Te Kahui Raraunga. It is the first time Maori descent information has been included in the first release of Census data on the iwi-designed and operated platform Te Whata. It was described as a historic step by Te Kahui Raraunga and Stats NZ. The Census is the official count of the people and dwellings in New Zealand and is held every five years, most recently on March 7, 2023. Stats NZ says it counts Maori in two ways Maori descent is based on whakapapa while affiliation to the Maori ethnic group is a self-determined cultural affiliation. Census data is used to inform policy development and planning, as well as decisions on services such as healthcare, education, housing, and transport. More than 60 per cent of Rotorua under-25s are Maori Speaking at the Rotorua event, held at the Te Kahui Raraunga office, Mikaere says the national Maori population in 2023 was 978,246 or 19.6 per cent of the New Zealand population. The Maori population increased 12.5 per cent from 869,850 in 2018, while the total New Zealand population increased 6.3 per cent. The age distribution showed 46.5 per cent of Maori in 2023 were younger than 25. Nationally in this age range, almost one in three people were Maori. In Rotorua, it was 60.8 per cent, Mikaere says about three in five. Kirikowhai Mikaere, lead technician for the Data Iwi Leaders Group and pou arahi of its operating arm Te Kahui Raraunga. Photo / Andrew Warner. The median age of the Maori descent population was 27.2 years, more than a decade younger than the New Zealand median of 38.1 years. Bay of Plenty data shows one-third 32.9 per cent were Maori, and the Maori population increased 12.1 per cent from 2018. Maori were close to making up half of Rotoruas population, with 45.3 per cent of residents stating they were of Maori descent, compared to 51.8 per cent indicating non-Maori descent. In Tauranga, 21.9 per cent indicated Maori descent and 24.1 per cent in Western Bay. Maori population young, resilient, and rapidly growing Mikaere (Tuhourangi, Ngati Whakaue) told the Rotorua Daily Post it's important to understand the makeup of communities and to ensure the right types of resources and education were being invested in for this youthful Maori population. I think its really positive that we have a growing population and so I think its understanding how we work together to ensure were creating a safe space for our people for our rangatahi, in a way that means they can aspire to be whatever they want to be. This included investing in options for young people to stay in the Bay of Plenty by being educated and employed here, she says. She says the age demographic data provided key insights for politicians locally and nationally about who the current voters are and future voters will be. The newly released Maori descent data was presented in Rotorua today. Photo / Andrew Warner. In a Te Kahui Raraunga media release, Mikaere says the Maori descent data shows a transformative shift in the make-up of Aotearoa and the Maori population was young, resilient, and rapidly growing. This would suggest that we will see Maori become a dominant part of the future workforce of Aotearoa, enhancing diversity, promoting new ideas, and stimulating creative solutions across industries. Te Kahui Raraunga data apprentice Te Atawhai Amaru-Tibble. Photo / Andrew Warner. Te Kahui Raraunga data apprentice Te Atawhai Amaru-Tibble said the data was important for those making decisions for rangatahi amid a growing young population. The 24-year-old (Ngati Porou, Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri, Ngati Tuwharetoa) said he expressed his Maoritanga by living and breathing being Maori and supporting Maori kaupapa in a Pakeha world. Just being staunch in who you are, grounded. Overcoming Census trust issue Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa and Ngapuhi ki Whangaroa iwi representative Raniera Kaio says he helped collect Census data in the Far North. Kaio says there is a trust issue among Maori with the Census and the main challenge is making it relevant to those in the region. In mid-2022, iwi representatives ensured data collectors were local and started talking to people at community events. They also used iwi media to publicise the Census as relevant for peoples health, education and households, and their children. He deemed it a success with a higher response rate recorded in 2023 than in the three previous Censuses. Te Kahui Raraunga chairman Rahui Papa speaking at the launch event of the Maori descent data in Rotorua. Photo / Andrew Warner. In a joint media release from Te Kahui Raraunga and Stats NZ, Te Kahui Raraunga chairman Rahui Papa says sharing the release of 2023 Census data highlighted the positive outcomes that could be achieved through iwi-Crown partnerships. Papa says collecting and hosting data on an iwi data platform was about using Maori stories and data to lead critical conversations with the government, funders, and strategic partners. In the media release, Government Statistician and Stats NZ chief executive Mark Sowden says it worked closely with Te Kahui Raraunga on the Census aiming to help iwi and Maori access and use data about themselves. 2023 Census iwi affiliation data will be released on September 26 and October 31 on Te Whata. -Bay of Plenty Times. Junior doctors are striking for the third time this month today, with 290 Blood Service laboratory workers also walking off the job this week. Te Whatu Ora has accused the unions of knowingly scheduling the strikes at the same time to cause maximum disruption, saying the dual action will compound the impact on patients. Hundreds of operations were postponed in last week's strike. More surgeries are being deferred on Friday. Te Whatu Ora chief people officer Andrew Slater says there's concern both strikes are under way at the same time, causing a lot of disruption. "But we've got plans in place that we need to have in place to safely deliver care." There's an 18 per cent pay offer on the table for the junior doctors and Te Whatu Ora has been in facilitation with the union, he says. The facilitator is set to make a formal recommendation next week, he says. The employment agreements for young doctors are very complex, Andrew says. "The offer on the table is between 3 and 29 to 30 per cent with an average of 18 per cent." The blood lab workers started their industrial action on Wednesday by not working any extra hours, and are going on strike for four hours on Friday. The PSA - which represented the lab workers - says the Blood Service and Te Whatu Ora are keeping a close eye on blood stocks and some staff will return to work if blood is needed for life-preserving reasons. There's enough on hand for acute operations that can't be deferred, it says. PSA union organiser Alexandra Ward says there's a 13 to 35 per cent difference in the pay that a worker with the same experience doing the same work received at the New Zealand Blood Service, compared to if they worked for Te Whatu Ora. Te Whatu Ora settled a pay equity claim with administrators two and a half years ago, she says. "So for an administrator that works for the New Zealand Blood Service that means it's two and a half years, back since January 1, 2022, accepting lower pay. "That's really hard to handle and we've been negotiating about this for seven months, people are struggling to pay their bills now." It's not coordinated with the doctor's strike but "I think it should be a signal that things are not right in our health system when there are multiple groups of workers going on strike simultaneously", she says. The four-hour strike is part of wider action that includes not working extra hours and not processing AHF plasma, which was sent to Australia for commercial processing rather than directly to hospitals. Next week, the workers will strike for 24 hours if the dispute has not been resolved. They want the Blood Service to pay them the same as their hospital counterparts, and plan to strike for longer next week. The junior doctors are part of the Resident Doctors Association which represents about half of all junior doctors, more than 2500 of them. President James Anderson says Te Whatu Ora has barely moved on its demands for fair pay and for an end to back-to-back 15 hour weekend shifts. It's also trying to "claw back" a 50-year-old clause that means doctors get $5000 when they pass their first exam, he says. Te Whatu Ora chief people officer Andrew Slater says he's frustrated and disappointed the doctors are still going ahead with the strike, despite the Employment Relations Authority recommending they paused during facilitation. The pay increase offer - between 3 and 29 per cent - is fair, he says. Hospitals will remain open and patients should turn up to appointment unless contacted, he says. -RNZ. More than 2500 people have gathered at Whareroa Reserve this morning ahead of a national day of disruption launched by Te Pati Maori to coincide with Budget day. The protest was delayed to allow protesters caught in traffic to arrive. Several thousand supporters are marching behind kaumatua, chanting, waving flags and signs and pushing babies in prams as they leave the reserve and move down two lanes of Hewletts Rd. Traffic waits as police look on with folded arms and safety marshals shepherd protestors into an orderly line. Truck and car horns are met with waves as tamariki sit on their parents shoulders. The atmosphere is purposeful, driven by those shouting messages over megaphones. Traffic waits as police look on with folded arms and safety marshals shepherd protestors into an orderly line. Video by Adam Stuart. Traffic at a standstill Earlier, traffic was at a standstill on Hewletts Rd. The road was down to one lane near Taiaho Pl. A contingent of police officers has gathered in the area. The two city-bound lanes on Hewletts Rd from Totara St to Tauranga Bridge Marina are closed. The eastbound traffic heading to the Mount is down to one lane during this section with westbound traffic being diverted to the other lane. Traffic on Takitumu Drive and Hewletts Rd is heavily backed up as a result, while police have gathered on Totara St. One commuter said it took them one hour and twenty minutes to get from Mount Maunganui to the Tauranga CBD due to the gridlock. Crowds building at Whareroa Reserve. My heart is crying now and I have goosebumps and shivers, Ngai Te Rangi communications spokesperson Reon Tuanu told the Bay of Plenty Times. Today the gods have smiled and it was about Maori unity. There is this vibe as Im looking at the crowd. I can taste it the ahuatanga. Ngai Te Rangi communications spokesperson Reon Tuanu. Photos: Alex Cairns. Children were playing Tug o War in the reserve while they waited for the hikoi to start. Children play Tug O War while they wait for the hikoi to begin. Photo / Alex Cairns. Its the second time the iwi joined in a nationwide Te Pati Maori protest expected to disrupt roads around the country similar to its action on December 5. Jolie Davis (Ngati Kuri, Te Rarawa) says it was a special experience being part of the inaugural Rongoa Maori Conference in Rotorua. The two-day conference in May supported by ACC brought together more than 450 rongoa Maori practitioners and health providers within te ao rongoa (the rongoa community) to whakawhanaunga (build relationships) and grow understanding of traditional Maori healing and its place in Aotearoas health sector. It was really exciting to bring everyone in the rongoa community and health providers together which we have never done before, says Davis, a member of the ACC expert advisory panel for rongoa Maori. It was a good opportunity to share, learn and see how we can work together to meet all the needs of our communities. We hope this conference will help grow the understanding and awareness of the benefits of rongoa Maori and traditional healing. Davis is a rongoa Maori practitioner from the Far North who is now based in Wellington and manages Manawa Ora. She says there has been a resurgence of traditional Maori healing. 2P8A - The two-day conference hosted by ACC brought together more than 450 rongoa Maori practitioners and health providers within te ao rongoa (the rongoa community). Photo supplied. Rongoa Maori seeks to restore balance and find the cause of disease and unwellness. Currently in Aotearoa, rongoa Maori is experiencing a massive revitalisation of our traditional practices. Were really happy about that as more and more people want to know more about rongoa Maori and access rongoa Maori. Davis says her passion for rongoa Maori came from growing up in a community where it was part of her local environment. In my community in Ahipara, we had access to rongoa Maori not just for illness or injury, but as a part of maintaining our wellbeing. It wasnt until I moved away from my turangawaewae [place of belonging] that I realised that it wasnt normal to others. Since June 2020, ACC has been offering rongoa Maori as an option for people in their recovery and have now delivered rongoa in more than 10,000 claims. There are now 200 practitioners registered with ACC from the Far North down to Stewart Island. There are 24 organisations/ practitioners in Northland registered with ACC to provide rongoa Maori services. From June 2020 to March 2024, ACC has supported access to rongoa Maori services for 658 kiritaki in the Northland region. Davis says the support of ACC has been a big part of the resurgence. Jolie Davis says growing up in Northland, rongoa Maori was just part of her life. Photo supplied. People coming through our doors have probably quadrupled in the past three years. ACC has done a lot of work to normalise rongoa Maori in our communities. Over the past four years ACC has funded more than 77,000 rongoa Maori sessions and claims have doubled for people requesting access to rongoa Maori. So, there is significant demand out there in our communities and ACC has been instrumental in creating access for our communities and whanau. ACC and Rongoa Maori Fact Box After yet another meeting earlier this week to stop median barriers that will restrict access to their homes, residents of Work Rd and Lund Rd wait with bated breath for Waka Kotahis decision. As part of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahis safety improvement works to SH2, the entity plans to install 8km of median barriers along this highway between Wharawhara Rd and Morton Rd, starting mid this year. Waka Kotahis director of regional relationships for the Bay of Plenty and Waikato, David Speirs, says the project is in the construction phase and well progressed. The roundabouts currently being built are to enable median barrier installation, as they provide safe turnaround points. Four roundabouts have already been built and the fifth (of six in total) are in construction, says David. Residents of roads adjacent to SH2 are strongly opposed to the median barriers going ahead. They will prevent right hand turns onto residential roads including Work Rd and Lund Rd meaning another seven kilometres of travel says, former Western Bay of Plenty District Councillor and resident of a Work Rd side road, Mike Williams. Impacts on residents Mike says Waka Kotahi is oblivious to the communitys concerns surrounding the median barriers. One of the concerns is inability of emergency vehicles to get to people, fires, the extra kilometres travelled by residents, tradies, truckies you name it. Anyone who comes up the road is going to have to travel a lot further every time they come and go. Gino lives on Lund Rd which will also be impacted by median barriers and is a rural contractor. From a work point of view its quite disruptive, says Gino. Im one of many that work as a rural provider to orchards like mulchers, shelterbelt trimmers all these people need to access these roads for their work. Gino says the extra distance he will need to drive due to the median barriers will certainly add cost. Whether I absorb it or I pass it on its going to inconvenience my work. And its not just during my busy period I do a lot of visits, not just one-offs. Fatal crashes and serious injury David says the improvements on SH2 are evidence-based road design. The original widening project (completed in 2023) would achieve a 44 per cent reduction in deaths and serious injuries [DSIs], the addition of median barrier is predicted to reduce DSIs by 75 per cent, says David. This equates to around 60 deaths and serious injuries prevented over 10 years. To his knowledge as a local, Mike says there havent been any fatal crashes at Work Rd or Lund in the last 10 years. Theres been one fatal accident in the last 10 years from an intersection and that was out of Dawson Rd. This was the 2016 incident in which five kiwifruit workers from Tonga were killed after a collision with a logging truck. SunLive asked Waka Kotahi to clarify where on this section of SH2 that deaths have occurred within the last 10 years. The agency did not specify where crashes have precisely happened, and instead shared a crash map of SH2. Crashes are grouped to make this map easier to read. This should not be interpreted as where crash hotspots are. Crashes can occur anywhere, says David. At Mondays Regional Transport Committee Meeting which Mike and Gino both attended to voice their concerns, Bay of Plenty Road Policing Manager Inspector Logan Marsh shared the crash reports for our region. Year to date our fatal [crashes] are sitting at 13 which is the lowest in five years which is positive, said Logan at the meeting. A breakdown geographically five in the Taupo area, four in the Rotorua area, two in the Western Bay of Plenty here, and one in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Extra hazards Mike thinks the median barriers will create extra hazards on SH2 as he believes people will do u-turns to avoid extra 7km detours to get home. Most of the barriers are going to finish about 200 meters before a bridge. So you come down and put your hazard lights on, do a u-turn and head back home again. Its a trade-off between safety and convenience, says Western Bay of Plenty mayor, James Denyer on the matter. I think the evidence is quite clear that the data has presented about the reduction in death and serious injuries. James Denyer. James also notes: It would be nice if there were gaps in the barriers to allow at least right hand turns into the roads. There may be possibilities there. Gino says it is not about residents feeling inconvenienced. I feel that fundamentally we have not been considered seriously. We want to feel safe and stay connected to our people and place. Katikati and its environment are our foundation. Down south As it happens, NZTA abandoned plans to install median barriers on State Highway 1 between Ashburton and Rakaia last month after push back from that community. SunLive asked why NZTA will not consider abandoning the installation of median barriers on this section of SH2 as it did for SH1. The safety improvements on SH2 are significantly more advanced than the SH1 Timaru to St Andrews project, which is subject to funding, timing and further potential scope changes as NZTA aligns the project with government priorities, says David. Its worth noting that this community [SH2] has called for safety improvements along SH2 very strongly over the years, including asking for including median barriers. Sharing concerns Coromandel MP Scott Simpson says he has been advocating against this plan in the format being promoted by NZTA since its inception. The previous Labour Governments Road to Zero strategy resulted in widespread median barrier installations, which are causing frustration for locals in our area and for people in other parts of the country too, says Scott. I will continue to encourage NZTA to take a more practical approach and will keep Simeon Browns attention on this as well. Scott Simpson. Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown says: Local MP Scott Simpson has expressed to me that there is a high level of frustration with the installation of median barriers across State Highway 2 as this results in lengthy detours for people who live on roads coming off State Highway 2. I have asked NZTA to look at the impact the proposed barriers have on access to residents on side streets off State Highway 2. If they do try and construct wire barriers past intersections locals arent going to just sit on their hands, says Mike. Were not prepared to let this happen here, says Gino. Police are making enquiries into a vehicle in a fence in Waitao. A police spokesperson says a person reported a vehicle stuck in a fence at the intersection of Waitao Road and Kaiate Falls Road, Waikato. "There are no reports of injuries or road blocking. "Contractors have been contacted. "Police are making enquiries." At the scene? Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz The new establishment represents a commitment to Mediterranean-Italian cuisine and confirms the consolidation of the group as a benchmark for fine dining in the capital. Niccia, located on Casapalma Street, brings a fresh and different approach to the group, but without losing the elegance that characterizes its restaurants. SUR Malaga Thursday, 30 May 2024, 16:43 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads Tatiana de Leon and Rodrigo Fernandez share both their Argentinian origin and a family connection to gastronomy. Both met in Malaga in 2021, uniting their flair for business and their desire to continue their family culinary legacy. Just three years later, they have just opened their third restaurant in the city, which certifies the success and effervescence of Eaterna Group, the brand that brings together their three businesses. Niccia is the latest addition to the group that they both manage, and opened its doors last February in C/ Casapalma, n7, Malaga. It represents a commitment to Mediterranean-Italian cuisine and brings a fresh and different approach to the group's restaurants, but without losing the elegance that characterises us, says Tatiana de Leon. The new restaurant has a unique decor: we have sought to make every corner worthy of a photo, says De Leon. We focus on making Niccia a complete experience, bringing care and excellence to every detail, from the personalised and friendly service of our waiters to the presentation of our dishes and the tableware," she adds. The restaurant offers clients curious and personal details, such as a space where you can take a photo with a polaroid camera, taking one home as a memento and leaving another for our photo mirror, located in the centre of the main room. Niccia's cuisine is characterized by fusing top-quality Italian products with unique flavors. Eaterna Group Niccia's specialties include fried burrata and veal milanese with spaghetti in butter, a combination we brought from Argentina. As in the other two Eaterna Group restaurants, the culinary line of its cuisine has been elaborated by its executive chef, Geronimo Garcia Rinaldi, based on a fusion of top-quality Italian products with unique flavours, paired with a careful selection of wines from Spain, Italy and Argentina. An expanding group Eaterna Group took its first steps in November 2021, when Rodrigo Fernandez founded the restaurant Puerto Cristal in C/ Jose Denis Belgrano n 7, Malaga. The name is a nod to Fernandez's personal history, as his family has another Puerto Cristal Restaurant in Argentina, although Rodrigo has added to his own restaurant a more personal touch by opting for Mediterranean cuisine with hints of local flavours. Tatiana de Leon and Rodrigo Fernandez, founding partners of Eaterna Group, which already includes three restaurants in the Malaga capital. Eaterna Group Tatiana de Leon and Rodrigo Fernandez, founding partners of the Eaterna Group, now run three restaurants in the capital. Eaterna Group began its expansion with the opening in April 2023 of the Tatanegro Restaurant located in the Plaza del Obispo n3, a location that brings to its delicious cuisine the unique attraction of the incredible views of Malaga Cathedral from the terrace. Niccia is now the third side of the gastronomic triangle that Eaterna Group has drawn in the centre of Malaga with its characteristic features: culinary quality, careful and detailed service, elegance and freshness. More information: Adress: Calle Casapalma n 7. 29018, Malaga Phone number: +34 633 94 03 31 Web: www.nicciamalaga.com Irene Quirante Malaga Thursday, 30 May 2024, 11:07 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads After more than 24 hours, the manhunt for 'El Chumbo' has ended. Officers from Spain's Guardia Civil, have arrested the 37-year-old man who barricaded himself in his house in Campillos with a shotgun and who managed to escape despite the police cordon. According to sources, he was located at around 10.30pm just 200 metres from his home, located in the San Benito neighbourhood. According to initial information, the fugitive hid himself in the boot of a vehicle. The investigators were still maintaining a presence in the vicinity of his home, suspecting that he could be hiding nearby. Despite his arrest, the Guardia Civil is keeping the investigation open, in part to clarify how he escaped and whether he obtained help from third parties. It all started late on Monday night in Calle Campos Moreno, after the Local Police received a call because there was an individual causing a disturbance in the San Benito neighbourhood. It was 'El Chumbo', who was the subject of a search and arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in a violent robbery, as well as a restraining order against an ex-partner. Related news 112 incident Manhunt after armed man barricaded inside house in Malaga province town escapes during police operation Irene Quirante / Juan Cano Following the resident's call, Local Police officers went to the address, where the man had taken cover in his home. Allegedly, on seeing the officers, he reacted by pulling out a sawed-off shotgun and threatening to shoot, though no shot was fired. Given the seriousness of the situation, the Local Police called in the Guardia Civil, one of Spain's national police forces, as the individual was armed and did not obey the instructions of the officers. As a result, during the early hours of the morning, a strong police and municipal authority presence was established, who kept the area cordoned off. A trained negotiator from the Guardia Civil tried to convince 'El Chumbo' to give himself up without success. Early on Tuesday morning, the operation was reinforced with agents from the Special Intervention Unit (UEI), who travelled from Madrid to Campillos with the aim of arresting the suspect. After several hours deployed in San Benito, the Guardia Civil finally gained access to the home of 'El Chumbo' and found that he had escaped during the operation. As sources from the force confirmed, the shotgun was not found in the building either. Where has he hiding? The escape of Jose Antonio 'El Chumbo' in Campillos left one obvious question and another much more enigmatic one. Where has he hiding? And, where did he go? Guardia Civil officers suspected that the man had not left the town and maintained a surveillance operation in the vicinity of his house. The operation bore fruit late on Wednesday, when he was arrested. The fugitive, aged 37, reportedly escaped from inside his home while the Local Police, first, and the Guardia Civil, later, maintained a siege around the house under the belief that he was inside and barricaded with a shotgun. The escape was confirmed at mid-morning on Tuesday 28 May, when heavily armed Guardia Civil entered the house to detain the suspect after 13 hours of confinement without much contact. One of the hypotheses is that 'El Chumbo' escaped through a kind of attic in the house and slipped into one of the adjoining houses, taking advantage of a change of shift among the officers or the around the time of the departure of his mother, who was never held hostage and who left the building of her own free will during the early hours of the morning, leaving her son inside. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Actor arrested, accused of stabbing Hollywood makeup artist 20-30 times A Hollywood makeup artist was allegedly stabbed 20 to 30 times by her ex-boyfriend, an actor that worked with her on Netflixs Rebel Moon. Classic rock band Heart is canceling its European tour dates due to a health issue, raising questions about upcoming summer concerts in Upstate New York. We regret to inform you that all upcoming Heart performances in Europe are canceled, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group said in a statement. Ann Wilson will undergo a time-sensitive but routine procedure for which the minimum recovery time is six weeks. Syracuse, N.Y. Nearly four years ago, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse facing a growing number of sex abuse claims filed for bankruptcy. Bishop Douglas Lucia said entering bankruptcy was the only way to address the claims, which now total more than 400, in a fair and equitable manner. The diocese has nearly 200,000 congregants in seven counties. This month, a plan that would allow the diocese to emerge from bankruptcy was mailed to creditors. They have until 5 p.m. July 1 to vote on the plan. The centerpiece of the 81-page plan is a multimillion-dollar fund to pay abuse survivors if they end their lawsuits against the church. If approved by the creditors, Wendy Kinsella, the chief bankruptcy judge for the Northern District of New York, will hold a hearing on the plan beginning Sept. 16 that could last for days or weeks. She would then either approve or reject the plan. Diocese spokesperson Danielle Cummings said the church is pleased that the bankruptcy exit plan could be approved this fall. This has been a long process, she said, and survivors of sexual abuse deserve the reparations they are due. At the fall hearing, some abuse survivors will read impact statements, according to Robert Kugler, the lead lawyer for the dioceses creditors. Theyve been waiting patiently, but theyre interested in doing so, he said in court. The diocese would contribute half of the $100 million fund to pay abuse survivors and end scores of lawsuits. The rest would be paid for by parishes, schools, missions and Catholic Charities. If split evenly among the parishes, each would face an average bill of nearly $400,000. The $100 million is what local Catholic institutions have agreed to pay. Any money from insurance companies would be on top of that money, officials said. The fund was described by church officials last summer as the second-largest payment by a Roman Catholic institution and its affiliates in any Roman Catholic bankruptcy case. Lawyers for the diocese previously said in court papers that each abuse claim will be reviewed to ensure it is not a duplicate or fraudulent, then given a number of points based on the type of abuse, the extent of the abuse and when it happened. The proposed claims reviewer is Roger Kramer, a lawyer based in the Minneapolis suburbs. Kramer declined to comment, citing court-ordered confidentiality. A lawyer for the U.S. Trustees office previously said the diocese doesnt appear to have enough money to pay for its share of the fund. The diocese, however, has said it can cover its share. The diocese said in court papers that it has assets with a value of about $35 million as of the end of February, the last month where such information is available. It had about $1.9 million in cash available at the time. That could leave the diocese tens of millions of dollars short of the funding for the plan. Stephen Donato, the dioceses lead bankruptcy lawyer, previously said the diocese is comfortable it can cover its part of the survivors fund. A financial official is expected to provide testimony to that effect during the confirmation hearing, he said. The parishes also appear to still be figuring out how to cover their portion of the tab. Their financial information was not disclosed in court since they have not declared bankruptcy. There are 116 parishes across seven counties. The diocese overall employs about 3,000 people. Timothy Lyster, a lawyer for parishes in the diocese, did not respond to a request for comment. He previously said in court that the contributions were a stretch for the Catholic family. The parishes are still scraping to get this money together, as is typical in these cases, he said. Some of the lawyers representing survivors said they werent concerned about the diocese making good on its promise. Taylor Stippel, of Jeff Anderson and Associates, said there should be no doubt the money will be there. We are confident and we know that the diocese and the parishes and the schools will be able to marshal that $100 million, she said. Because they agreed to it. Because theyve signed off on it. Another important part of the dioceses proposed plan to exit bankruptcy is also under legal threat. Under the proposed plan, abuse survivors would need to agree not to pursue further legal claims against the diocese and more than 250 other Catholic institutions to be able to receive money from the $100 million fund. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule by the end of next month in an unrelated case on whether bankruptcy courts are allowed to approve such releases, which could force the dioceses plan to be reworked. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is not a party to the case before the Supreme Court, said in court papers that the releases provide the only viable means for the Catholic infrastructure in many communities to survive what has become decades of mission-crippling litigation. A lawyer for the U.S. trustees office previously said it would not be prudent for a reorganization plan to be approved with this type of release, when it could soon need to be reworked. Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7. On the afternoon of May 19, a 37-year-old woman from Peru, New York, was badly injured after a 20-foot fall on Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain, in the Adirondacks. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers located the injured hiker approximately two-thirds of a mile up the trail. A New York State Police helicopter was called in to assist rangers with the rescue. Four rangers stabilized the injured hiker and packaged her into a litter. Another ranger hoisted her aboard the helicopter for transport to the hospital. Ranger Praczkajlo with an injured hiker aboard a state police helicopter. The hiker was hoisted off a trail near Upper Wolf Jaw Mountain in the Adirondacks.NYSDEC Rangers were busy on the weekend of May 25-26, 2024: A hiker was injured on a trail approximately one-half mile from Upper Wolf Jaw Mountain. A ranger harnessed the subject on the ground while another ranger hoisted her aboard a state police helicopter which flew her to the hospital. A ranger helped police and fire personnel recover the body of a suicide victim in the village of Lowville. The body was turned over to the Lewis County Coroner. Two hikers in their twenties called their parents in distress from the Cranberry Lake 50 trail, complaining of dehydration and leg cramps. A ranger met the pair on the Brandy Brook trail and escorted them to the trailhead. A 67-year-old fell off a horse on the Otter Creek Horse Trails in Lewis County, injuring their head, neck, and back. Rangers got the rider to an ambulance. A person was injured in an ATV accident in Lewis County. A ranger applied a tourniquet to control the bleeding from the riders lower leg before they were transported by air to the hospital. A 48-year-old hiker from Camillus injured her wrist two miles from the Heart Lake Information Center. A ranger helped her to the trailhead. Two hikers got lost in Wonder Lake State Park. A ranger walked them back to the trailhead. An 11-year-old from Webster got separated from a group descending Whiteface Mountain. Rangers located the lost child and reunited him with his hiking party. A 23-year-old from New Jersey with muscle weakness and leg cramps called for help on Wittenberg Mountain. Unable to stand on his own, other hikers gave him food and water as he waited for rangers to guide him of the mountain. DEC reminds hikers to eat and drink prior to attempting a difficult hike. A truck got stuck in on the beach at Ausable Point Campground on May 27. Rangers ticketed the driver for not using a state boat launch, and their truck was towed.NYSDEC A truck got stuck in on the beach at Ausable Point Campground on May 27 after the driver attempted to launch their boat from the foot access to the beach. Boats may only be launched from designated boat launch sites. The driver was ticketed and their truck towed. A 56-year-old and his son set out on May 23 in kayaks in the Zoar Valley Unique Area, paddling with a large group from the North Otto Road access point to Gowanda. But the pair decided to cut their trip short and called for help. Rangers provided navigation and lead them out of the gorge area to the trailhead. A hiker was hit in the head by a falling rock at Rainbow Falls on the afternoon of May 20. Rangers helped stop the bleeding and guided the hiker to the Adirondack Mountain Reserve trailhead where he drove himself to seek further care. On May 20, rangers assisted state police in a search for a despondent 57-year-old from Pittstown last seen at her residence the previous night. Rangers conducted linear searches along Route 7 and eventually found the woman about 600 feet from Phillips Road. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Rangers hoist an injured hiker aboard a state police helicopter. The hiker was one of two hikers injured on May 14 while hiking at the bottom of a waterfall off Quarry Hill trail at Taconic State Park.NYSDEC Two hikers were injured on May 14 while hiking at the bottom of a waterfall off Quarry Hill trail at Taconic State Park. A 28-year-old from LaGrange with an arm injury walked out on her own. A 33-year-old from Poughkeepsie with a suspected head injury was pulled out of the water by EMS, who determined she had suffered a hip injury as well. Rangers assisted in a high-angle rope rescue. The hiker was flown to the hospital. On the afternoon of May 15, a motorist in the village of Wurtsboro flagged down a ranger for help with another motorist who had been ejected from a vehicle that crashed down an embankment. The injured motorist was unresponsive but had a pulse. The ranger began rescue breathing until EMS arrived with supplemental oxygen. Local police and fire personnel helped carry the patient out of the woods to an ambulance. On May 18 at 1:45 a.m., a ranger ticketed a camper at Long Pond State Forest for playing music too loudly during established quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. A 44-year-old mother and child from Cohoes got lost while hiking on Buck Mountain on the night of May 18. A ranger reached the pair shortly after midnight and guided them back to the trailhead. Sign up for the CNY Outdoors Newsletter Enter your email address to get weekly updates on CNY outdoors news delivered to your inbox: READ MORE Elderly man lost in ADKs rescued by forest rangers - newyorkupstate.com Forest rangers rescue injured ADK hikers; conduct prescribed fires on 100 acres - newyorkupstate.com Forest rangers conduct controlled burns on 261 acres across New York State - newyorkupstate.com Rangers find body of missing man in forest near Massachusetts border - newyorkupstate.com Prepared for the worst, forest rangers rescued only one Adirondack hiker during eclipse - 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. Stories that will make you laugh, cry and question everything you thought you knew. Step into a portal where LGBTQ+ folks can live authentically, free from hate and where their contributions to art and culture are celebrated. Sign up for the QueerVerse newsletter today! For 35 years, New York Citys Asian American queer community has organized, resisted, and thrived. Their story is a microcosm of a nationwide movement that transformed queer Asian American activism, art, and acceptance across the nation. From the West Coasts Gay Asian Pacific Alliance, founded in 1980, to the Midwests Asian American Lesbian and Gay Alliance, established in 1988, communities across the country were mobilizing to address the unique experiences of queer Asian Americans, who often felt marginalized within both the Asian American and LGBTQ+ communities. At the start of the 1990s, anti-Asian violence surged in New York City and across the nation, increasing by an alarming rate up 680% from 1985 to 1990. Local anti-Asian violence groups created flyers detailing the New York City Police Departments Bias unit report of 3,254 reported rapes in NYC in 1989. The surge was not isolated; it mirrored a national rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, fueled by xenophobia and stereotypes. Local anti-Asian violence groups created flyers detailing the New York City Police Departments Bias unit report of 3,254 reported rapes in NYC in 1989. The surge was not isolated; it mirrored a national rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, fueled by xenophobia and stereotypes.Lesbian Herstory Archives Mobilization was necessary, and the images pulled for this article reveal the power of coalition building, reflection, and radical joy in the Asian-American struggle for justice and visibility. Their legacy continues to inspire and inform present-day activism, as the recent rise in anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic has tragically underscored the ongoing need for solidarity and resistance. The Miss Saigon protests: A watershed moment in queer Asian American activism In the spring of 1991, New York City became a battleground for a pivotal moment in queer Asian American activism. The announcement that the Lambda Legal Defense Fund and the Lesbian and Gay Center would feature the musical Miss Saigon as a fundraiser ignited a firestorm of protest. This seemingly innocuous decision struck a nerve within the community, as the plays portrayal of Asian women was widely viewed as offensive, degrading, and perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Leading the charge were two prominent queer Asian organizations, Asian Lesbians of the East Coast (ALOEC - though no longer online, you can learn about ALEOC in this zine) and Gay Asian and Pacific Islander Men of New York. They were joined by a diverse coalition of LGBTQ+ groups and allies who recognized the racism inherent in the plays casting of white actors in Asian roles (yellowface) and its exoticization of Asian women. Their central question was a powerful one: How could these mainstream organizations claim to represent all LGBTQ+ communities while ignoring the concerns of their Asian members? The most widely cited account of the coalition work on The Heat is On Miss Saigon Coalition describes Miss Saigon as the key fundraiser of the Lambda Legal Defense Fund and NYC LGBT Center, instilling city-wide mobilization against the announcement. What began as a peaceful protest in the form of a request became a series of demands for the play to not be performed in New York City in the name of queer organizing. A response to being left out of the FIA celebrations. Queers took the streets in 1997 creating their own counter parade.Lesbian Herstory Archives The protests began with peaceful dialogue and requests for change. However, when these efforts were met with resistance and a refusal to remove Miss Saigon from the program, the coalition escalated their actions. The initial request transformed into a series of demands aimed at preventing the plays performance in New York City altogether. The protests culminated in multiple demonstrations, including a major one at the Broadway opening of Miss Saigon in the spring of 1991. As Milyoung Cho, a member of ALOEC and co-founder of Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence, explained in an interview, the movement quickly gained traction, drawing widespread media attention and sparking a broader conversation about representation, racism, and solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community. The Miss Saigon' protests marked a watershed moment in queer Asian American activism, demonstrating the power of collective action and the importance of challenging harmful stereotypes in mainstream culture. May 22nd 1991 issue of Outweek with a cover story for their Queer N Asian issue reviewed by Bino A. Realuyo, co-founder of the Asian American LIterary Writers Workshop, and editor of The NuyorAsian Anthology: Asian American Writings About New York City (1999).Outweek The movement also found a platform in the media, notably in the May 1991 issue of Outweek magazine. This groundbreaking issue, titled Queer N Asian issue' featured a cover story dedicated to the protests and the broader context of queer Asian activism. Bino A. Realuyo, co-founder of the Asian American LIterary Writers Workshop, and editor of The NuyorAsian Anthology: Asian American Writings About New York City (1999) reviewed the Queen N Asian issue, noting how it amplified the voices of queer Asian organizers, artists, and intellectuals, providing a much-needed space for nuanced discussions about race, sexuality, and representation within the LGBTQ+ community. The Queer N Asian issue stands as a testament to the power of media in shaping social movements and giving voice to marginalized communities. Desi queer activism and the India Day Parade SALGA (South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association) merged as a vital hub for the Desi queer community in New York City, providing a safe space and fostering community for individuals from across the South Asian diaspora, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Tibet as well as people of South Asian descent from countries such as Guyana, Trinidad and Kenya. Founded in 1991, SALGAs impact extended far beyond its local roots, resonating with the experiences of queer South Asians across the United States and Canada. Images from India Day Parade, New York City (Aug. 15, 2009)--members of SALGA and allies met before the day's parade to create signs amplifying the discrimination that excluded a visible contingent of Desi gays and lesbians from the march.Roopa Singh Scholar and activist Gayatri Gopinath eloquently captures the significance of SALGA in her book, Local/Express: Asian American Arts and Community. She recounts her first encounter with the group in 1991, a time when a progressive South Asian community was just beginning to coalesce in New York City. Gopinath emphasizes the warmth and inclusivity she experienced at SALGA, despite being the only woman in a room of mostly older, first-generation immigrant men. This encounter underscores the importance of creating spaces where diverse voices within the Desi queer community could be heard and respected. Ill never forget the day I screwed up the courage to walk into my first SAGA meeting at the LGBT Center on 13th Street: I was the only woman in a room full of mostly older, first-generation immigrant men, Gopinath wrote. But they were hugely welcoming and resolved there and then to change their name to SALGA. SALGA really came together in the fight to march for the first time in the India Day Parade in 1992 One of SALGAs most notable achievements was its involvement in the struggle to march in the annual India Day Parade. This parade, organized by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), celebrates Indias independence from colonial rule and serves as a major cultural event for the Indian diaspora in the Northeast United States. However, for many years, the FIA refused to allow LGBTQ+ groups to participate openly, reflecting the broader challenges faced by queer South Asians in navigating cultural and religious traditions. In 1995, across the nation, parade exclusion fights made it all the way to the Supreme Court. In the case Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group of Boston, the court ruling against queer organizations. SALGA, along with other activists, played a crucial role in challenging this federal exclusion. Their tireless advocacy and organizing efforts eventually led to the FIAs decision to allow SALGA to march in the parade in 2000, despite specific rules marking a significant victory for visibility and acceptance. The SALGA story is a testament to the power of grassroots activism and the importance of creating inclusive spaces within cultural communities. It also highlights the interconnectedness of queer Asian activism across different ethnic and regional groups, as SALGAs struggles and triumphs resonated with and inspired other Desi queer organizations across the United States and Canada. Image from 2017 Pride March from SALGA Website.SALGA The rise of Asian American queer fiction The mid-1990s marked a turning point in queer Asian literature, as a wave of new voices emerged to challenge stereotypes and express diverse experiences that went hand in hand with the political organizing happening at the time. This literary renaissance was deeply intertwined with the burgeoning queer Asian activist movement, which had gained momentum in the wake of protests like those against Miss Saigon. As more and more queer Asian Americans found community and empowerment through activism, they also sought to reclaim their narratives through writing. By the mid-90s, it was easy to find first anthologies and collections of writers. The first-ever collection of gay male erotica was published by Cleis Press in 1998, titled Queer PAPI Porn: Gay Asian Erotica. This collection spanned 19 fuck fiction pieces introduced by its editor, Joel Barraquiel Tan, as a sexy, smart, innovative book, stretching the boundaries of sex, race, and desire. PAPI stands for Pilipinos, Asians, and Pacific Islanders, so though not all contributors are of PAPI descent or identify as exclusively male, the collection places queer PAPI porn at the center. Cover for Queer PAPI 1998 publication edited by Joel TanCleis Press Mainstream success opens doors for queer Asian filmmakers The 2000s saw a surge in independent filmmakers, who were less constrained by commercial pressures and more willing to explore marginalized narratives. Mainstream cinema largely ignored queer Asian stories, perpetuating stereotypes or erasing them entirely. When representation did occur, it was often limited to supporting roles or one-dimensional characters. Within Asian communities, homosexuality was frequently taboo, leading to self-censorship and fear of ostracization. However, after Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 2009, we saw shifts in opportunities for South Asian filmmakers. As an example, Sonali Gulati was awarded the 2009-2010 Robert Giard award, illustrating the impact mainstream art has on community-based art. Sonali Gulatis award-winning film, I Am, traces its origins to a moment of profound personal loss. After the passing of her mother, Gulati embarked on a journey back to her childhood home in Delhi, India. The film, which won the 2009-2010 Robert Giard Grant for Emerging Artists chronicles this poignant return after an 11-year absence. In I Am, Gulati confronts the unspoken truths of her past as an Indian lesbian filmmaker, exploring themes of love, loss, and the complexities of identity. Film Still from I Am a film by Sonali Gulati.Sonali Gulati Scholarship beyond borders Though this article is meant to unveil Asian-American histories and narratives, it is important to detail the community connections across the boundaries of US-based Asian-American narratives, as the stories are not in isolation, but connected to a wide-reaching international community. From the East Java Reyog project and Letter to Eros (Western Australia, Video Education Australasia, 16mm, 56 min, 1995) film project, produced and directed by Josko Petkovic.Josko Petkovic A testament to this global dialogue is the 1999 issue of Intersections: Gender, History and Culture in the Asian Context. This groundbreaking publication, now over two decades old, dedicated an entire issue to exploring the complex intersections of sexuality, gender, and culture across Asia. Articles delved into diverse topics, from Japanese sexual politics to ancient rituals in the Philippines, queer Korean film to the nuances of naming gayness in Thailand. This issue remains a pivotal contribution to queer Asian history, showcasing the rich tapestry of experiences and expressions across the continent. The range of historical representation of queer Asian-American history spans landscapes. It honors individuals, organizations, movement building, and representations of community that span diasporic landscapes. This list was never meant to be comprehensive, but it celebrates and pays homage to the work of Asian Americans to forge a mark with queer contexts and queerness, within the realms of Asian-American histories. By recognizing these interconnected stories, we can gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of queer Asian experiences and the ongoing struggle for visibility and acceptance on a global scale. More archival Resources: Shawn(ta) Smith-Cruz is a Black lesbian archivist and librarian living in NYC. You can find her online at shawntasmithcruz.com. New York The jury in Donald Trumps hush money trial ended its first day of deliberations without a verdict Wednesday but asked to rehear testimony from key witnesses about the alleged hush money scheme at the heart of the history-making case. The 12-person jury was sent home around 4 p.m. after about 4 1/2 hours of deliberations. The process is to resume Thursday, when jurors are expected to rehear the requested testimony and at least part of the judges legal instructions meant to guide them on the law. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Better Farming for Water Campaign Launched The Teagasc Better Farming for Water campaign will build on the progress made through existing water quality programmes such as ACP, ACRES, ASSAP, Farming for Water EIP, Waters of LIFE, Blue Dot Catchments, Slaney project and others to improve water quality. Pictured are left to right: Fiona Doolan, ASSAP Water Advisor; Pat Murphy, Teagasc; Dr. Daire OhUallachain, Teagasc Researcher; Dr. Siobhan Jordan, Technology Transfer Teagasc Eight actions for change have been identified that farmers can take on their own farms which will lead to improvements in water quality. The Teagasc Better Farming for Water campaign 8 Actions for Change was officially launched by Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, at Teagasc Ashtown, Dublin, today, Thursday, 30 May. Speaking at the launch, Minister McConalogue said; Water quality is, and ever-more-so will be, a deciding factor in the continued success and future ambition of our agri food sector. Not one part of the agri industry is immune to the impact that decreasing water quality will have, so no one sector can be immune to taking action. For that reason earlier this year, I asked Teagasc to lead a multi-actor Water Quality Advisory Campaign and I am delighted to see that come to fruition today. This campaign and plan reinforces the vital collaboration necessary between advisors, farmers and Government working towards one ambition; to ensure a sustainable agricultural sector for future generations. This is just one element of the collaborative approach that I am leading on, to improve water quality and maintain Irelands nitrates derogation. Eight actions for change have been identified that farmers can take on their own farms which will lead to improvements in water quality. These 8-Actions are in 3 critical management areas, namely: Nutrient management; Farmyard management and Land management. This campaign brings together farmers, advisors, researchers, agri-food industry, community and government in a collective sectoral effort to support farmers to implement solutions to address the quality of the water in their local stream or river. The campaign is being delivered at farm, catchment and regional scale, and is part of a wider whole-of government approach to improve water quality. Professor Frank O Mara, Teagasc Director said; The Better Farming for Water campaign is supporting farmers to adopt measures to improve all water bodies, where agriculture is a significant pressure, to Good or High Ecological Status. The buy-in from farmers, industry and the other stakeholders in the agri sector, combined with a determination to succeed, gives me confidence that progress will be made on water quality. 8-Actions for Change Teagasc and its partners in the campaign are asking farmers to look at 8-Actions for Change and to select the ones that are most appropriate for their farm and farming enterprise. Those actions aim to: Reduce purchased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) surplus per hectare. Ensure soil fertility is optimal for lime, phosphorus and potassium. Ensure application of fertiliser and organic manure at appropriate times and conditions. Have sufficient slurry and soiled water storage capacity. Manage and minimise nutrient loss from farmyards and roadways. Fence off watercourses to prevent bovine access. Promote targeted use of mitigation actions such as riparian margins, buffer strips and sediment traps to mitigate nutrient and sediment loss to water. Maintain over-winter green cover to reduce nutrient leaching from tillage soils. Data Driven Local Action One of the key aspects of the campaign is to enhance farmers knowledge of local water quality and pollution pressures. Farmers want to know what the quality of the water in the stream, or river that flows through their farm and community. Farmers take pride in protecting the natural environment. This year, Teagasc has produced localised factsheets using EPA maps to facilitate discussions around water quality between advisors and their farmer clients. These have been well received, and cover the actions required on grassland and tillage farms, to tackle both Nitrogen and Phosphorus loads. Digital Tools for Better On-farm Decisions A number of digital tools have been developed to support farmers in adopting the actions and making the required changes. AgNav, a new sustainability digital tool jointly developed by Teagasc, ICBF and Bord Bia, with the support of the Department of Agriculture, provides farmers with accurate and verifiable data to support decision making on farms. Further development will ensure that AgNav will have the capacity to calculate Nitrogen and Phosphorus surpluses on individual farms and the impacts of changing management practices. More farmers have requested nutrient management plans to date in 2024 than in previous years driven by the introduction of the national fertiliser register in September 2023. Through Teagasc NMP online, over 18,000 plans are in progress for farmers by Teagasc and private advisors this year. AgPlanner, a planning tool for preparing a water quality sustainability plan for farmers, has also been developed, and is in use by ASSAP and Teagasc advisors. The presentations from todays launch are also be available here. Access the full Better Farming for Water campaign 8 Actions for Change document here. libranof1987 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: All over! Posts: 7,886 Thanked: 19,673 Times Paint shop Once the shell of the car is ready, it hops over to the adjoining building that houses the paint shop. The shell then spends the next 7-8 hours here receiving several coats of paint. With 50% automation, the paint shop has distinct areas that are run either entirely by robots or entirely by humans. First, the primer - an electrophoretic deposition coating with the help of a 360-degree rotational dip... ...to provide the body shell with an anti-rust coat. All shells go through this process: Next, the shell gets painted with a base coat and then a top coat. Multiple (typically, six or eight, depending on the setup) robots first paint the interior portions of the car... ...followed by the exterior: Dedicated robots have hooks to open and close the doors, hood and hatch during the painting process. It is common for the paint shop to paint cars of different colours one after the other: The paint shop follows a wet-on-wet process, eliminating the need for multiple baking sessions to dry the paint: The car then gets a layer of clear coat. It then goes off to the heat chamber for the baking process. If the car paint scheme is a dual tone, the shell goes through the painting process twice! The roof is painted first and the rest of the body is skipped. The shell then returns to the conveyor belt right after the primer stage. Workers will mask the roof completely with plastic and tape, and the rest of the shell then goes through the normal painting process. At the next stage, humans take over from the robots as the shell receives a layer of wax on the main welding points: This is also where any coloured stickers are applied on the body shell e.g. the black tape running on the top of the doors on the Nexon: At the end of this process, all the points on the shell which are exposed to water / can serve as an entry point for seepage, such as the roof - A / B / C pillar joints and near the dashboard, are checked for paint integrity through infrared radiation. The shell then moves to the final assembly area, where it gets all the fitments: Once the shell of the car is ready, it hops over to the adjoining building that houses the paint shop. The shell then spends the next 7-8 hours here receiving several coats of paint. With 50% automation, the paint shop has distinct areas that are run either entirely by robots or entirely by humans.First, the primer - an electrophoretic deposition coating with the help of a 360-degree rotational dip......to provide the body shell with an anti-rust coat. All shells go through this process:Next, the shell gets painted with a base coat and then a top coat. Multiple (typically, six or eight, depending on the setup) robots first paint the interior portions of the car......followed by the exterior:Dedicated robots have hooks to open and close the doors, hood and hatch during the painting process. It is common for the paint shop to paint cars of different colours one after the other:The paint shop follows a wet-on-wet process, eliminating the need for multiple baking sessions to dry the paint:The car then gets a layer of clear coat. It then goes off to the heat chamber for the baking process.If the car paint scheme is a dual tone, the shell goes through the painting process twice! The roof is painted first and the rest of the body is skipped. The shell then returns to the conveyor belt right after the primer stage. Workers will mask the roof completely with plastic and tape, and the rest of the shell then goes through the normal painting process.At the next stage, humans take over from the robots as the shell receives a layer of wax on the main welding points:This is also where any coloured stickers are applied on the body shell e.g. the black tape running on the top of the doors on the Nexon:At the end of this process, all the points on the shell which are exposed to water / can serve as an entry point for seepage, such as the roof - A / B / C pillar joints and near the dashboard, are checked for paint integrity through infrared radiation.The shell then moves to the final assembly area, where it gets all the fitments: Last edited by Aditya : 29th May 2024 at 12:48 . A hot potato: The issue of whether smartphones should be banned in schools has long been a controversial one. In New York, it appears that kids will soon only be able to use dumb phones, rather than those with full internet access, while on school property. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said (via The Guardian) that she intends to launch the bill later this year and take it up in New York's next legislative session, which starts in January 2025. One of the main reasons why parents have objected to schools banning kids from carrying smartphones in the US phones are banned across all schools in England has been the need to reach their children at all times, for both emergencies and routine scheduling issues Hochul's bill appears to address this problem by allowing children to carry phones that lack internet access but can send texts and make calls, which sounds like feature, or dumb, phones. "Parents are very anxious about mass shootings in school," she said. "Parents want the ability to have some form of connection in an emergency situation." Hochul is also pushing the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (Safe) for Kids act. It would require social media platforms to provide minors with a default chronological feed composed of accounts they follow rather than ones suggested by an algorithm. The bill would also give parents more controls, such as the ability to block access to night-time notifications. Another of the governor's bills, the New York Child Data Protection act, restricts the collection of children's personal data by online sites that have knowledge of a user's age. Companies and trade groups have spent more than $800,000 lobbying against one or both of the acts. Unsurprisingly, the biggest spender was Meta, which paid $156,932 in its fight against the bills. Kids are unlikely to welcome the smartphone ban. In February, a Houston high school was placed on lockdown after students stormed out of their classrooms in protest of a new cell phone ban. Physical altercations had broken out on James Madison High campus the day before news of the new policy was shared, reported the Houston Chronicle. Even allowing kids to use feature phones might result in pushback from parents. About a quarter of notifications hitting teens' phones daily come during school hours, according to a recent Common Sense Media report, and many come from their parents. Some schools that have introduced limitations on smartphone use have seen parents transfer their children elsewhere in response. In April, UK ministers said they are considering giving parents more control over their children's smartphone use by banning the sale of the devices to anyone under the age of 16. In brief: Meta identified around 2,000 Facebook accounts during the previous quarter that violated its policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior. These mostly consist of accounts posting fake political messages and influence campaigns spreading propaganda, and the country with the largest identifiable origin of these accounts was Israel. Meta's quarterly Adversarial Threat Report includes research into six new covert influence operations that it disrupted, including ones from Bangladesh, China, Croatia, Iran, Israel, and a CIB network that targeted Moldova and Madagascar. While Meta removed 1,326 Facebook accounts from unknown origin, the identified country where the largest number of accounts originated was Israel, where 510 FB accounts, 11 Pages, one Group, and 32 accounts on Instagram were removed. The targeted audience was primarily in the US and Canada. The fake accounts, which posed as Jewish students, African Americans, or "concerned citizens," posted mostly about the Israel-Hamas war, including calls for the release of hostages; praise for Israel's military actions; and criticism of campus antisemitism, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and Muslims, claiming that "radical Islam" poses a threat to liberal values in Canada. Meta writes that while the operators of the accounts attempted to hide their identities, it found links to Stoic, a political marketing and business intelligence firm based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Meta banned the group and issued a cease-and-desist order. Stoic's website states that it uses generative AI to "create targeted content and organically distribute it quickly to the relevant platforms." Similar posts were discovered on YouTube and X, most of it AI-generated responses to other users' often-unrelated content. "This campaign appeared to have purchased inauthentic engagement (i.e. likes and followers) from Vietnam in an attempt to make its content appear more popular than it was," Meta writes. Despite the use of generative AI in that campaign, Meta says it has not seen threat actors use photo-realistic AI-generated media of politicians as a broader trend. The technology has so far been limited to photo and image creation, AI-generated video news readers, and text generation. "Right now we're not seeing gen AI being used in terribly sophisticated ways," said David Agranovich, Meta's policy director of threat disruption. China is another country that Meta identified as the place of origin for some of the inauthentic accounts (37). While none of the posted content Meta deleted was related to the upcoming US elections, Microsoft last month warned that threat actors in the Asian nation are using generative AI to sow disruption in the United States during this election year. In context: Microsoft has been trying for years to build a bridge between Windows PCs and the Android ecosystem, but those efforts were ultimately abandoned with the announced demise of the Windows Subsystem for Android. Now, a new partnership is apparently reviving some of these efforts, at least for Chinese PC users. Microsoft and Tencent have announced a new partnership to bring a selection of Android apps from the Tencent App Store to Microsoft's own app store for Windows. At launch, PC users will seemingly have access to around 1,500 apps and games, although the venture is exclusively focused on the Chinese market for now. Tencent's catalog includes some popular gaming apps, such as PUBG and Honor of Kings. Tencent apps will be available through Microsoft's store, the Start Menu, Windows Search, or Bing, Microsoft confirmed. After installation, apps and games will have their own shortcuts like any other desktop application, but they will still be Android apps through and through. This raises the question: what exactly is Microsoft interested in achieving with Android support on Windows? The company introduced native support for Google's mobile ecosystem through the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) technology in Windows 11. Users could not access the entire Google Play app offering, but only a smaller selection available through the Amazon Appstore. Microsoft has now decided to deprecate WSA, turning off support starting on March 5, 2025. The newly announced Tencent collaboration seemingly confirms that, despite WSA's early demise, Microsoft hasn't completely given up on providing some form of native Android compatibility with Windows 11. The partnership was also welcomed by Intel, which will provide the virtualization technology required to integrate Arm-based Android apps on x86 CPUs (called Celadon). Tencent apps will apparently be able to leverage the hardware capabilities of integrated GPUs to deliver higher frame rates, an improved visual experience, and AI acceleration. Intel worked with Tencent to provide an upgraded "Android engine" capable of optimizing the app experience on PC systems. According to Tencent, this partnership will help the PC users access the extensive mobile ecosystem available in China. Tencent is one of the biggest multimedia companies in the world and the largest investor in the video game industry through its Tencent Games subdivision. It should be noted that Tencent for years has offered GameLoop, an Android emulator that lets you play Android games on Windows PCs. We can't confirm, but it's possible this announcement essentially leverages this existing emulation layer, where Microsoft is now integrating it into Windows menus for broader user access. Nothing beats watching your favorite shows on a big screen from the comfort of your home. LCD projectors have become more popular as streaming services change how media content is being consumed. You can now replicate the movie theater experience by casting from your phone or laptop to witness as the projector transforms a simple space into a cinematic screen. The Wanbo DaVinci 1 Pro elevates the home theater experience with its broad range of features. It eliminates the need for tedious manual focusing through its All-Scene Smart Algorithm 3.0. You don't have to lift a finger as this LCD projector automatically adjusts the projection according to the environment. It also supports multiple interfaces like dual USB ports, Bluetooth, and 5G/2.4G WiFi. You can also directly access Netflix and other streaming services without installation or through another media streaming device. This portable projector also boasts a built-in Android smart system, so you can download the apps you need, like Twitch or Spotify. It can project up to 180 inches from a distance of 1.2 to 5 meters. Since it supports 4K resolution, you can feast your eyes on crystal-clear images. It also delivers exceptional audio quality through its 8W HiFi stereo speakers. You get fully immersed in the experience even without a home theater system. The DaVinci 1 Pro elevates your Netflix binge-watching sessions into the best viewing experience. Design of the DaVinci 1 Pro The DaVinci 1 Pro exhibits elegant curves and customized heat dissipation vents, which prevent its internal components from overheating even after a long binging session. It looks sleek and feels smooth to the touch, yet its surface appears vulnerable to scratches. You may need to exercise caution not to accidentally scratch the LCD projector with a sharp object. It only weighs 2.8 kg and measures 222x196x175 mm, almost as big as a 4-slice toaster, making it easy to transport. Infused with vacuum coating, the DaVinci 1 Pro exhibits a smooth and glossy finish. This material keeps it highly resistant to corrosion and rusting, which makes it safe to take outside for an outdoor movie experience. It also boasts dual 8W HiFi stereo speakers on its sides, which produce crisp and clear audio. This outdoor projector fully engages your ears through its expansive sound chamber and 460cc big sound cavity. You can expect an impressive audio quality for every movie you watch, especially in a show filled with action sequences. The sound effects coming from the DaVinci 1 Pro make the visuals appear realistic and impactful. Overall, based on its design, the DaVinci 1 Pro impresses with its compact size, vacuum coating, and minimalist design. The LCD projector is secured and packaged safely with a power cable, remote control, and a user manual. Performance of the DaVinci 1 Pro Assessing the performance of the DaVinci 1 Pro requires looking at its projection. My viewing experience with the portable projector feels satisfactory, thanks to its 600 ANSI Lumens with 1080p resolution. You can tell the difference in the brightness level because the projected video looks clear and visible. If you're subscribed to the Standard plan of Netflix, the DaVince 1 Pro matches the HD resolution. You can see more details and appreciate the visuals better due to the image clarity and color vibrancy. Moreover, this LCD projector also supports 4K. The resolution offers more detail and produces smoother images, making them look more realistic as if you're inside a movie theater. The DaVinci 1 Pro also seamlessly integrates with apps like Hulu, Disney+, and Max. It has Widevine L1 certification to stream HD content from any streaming service. You don't have to buy another media streaming device like a TV cube or Fire Stick since this portable projector also has Chromecast built into its system. You can access and play any online content without switching between multiple apps and download more apps without restrictions. The DaVinci 1 Pro offers multiple control options, including voice commands. You can ask Google Assistant for the latest releases on Netflix or play music from YouTube. You can get answers faster by speaking directly to the remote control. The DaVinci 1 Pro achieves crystal-clear visuals through its All-Scene Smart Algorithm 3.0. All you have to do is place the LCD projector at least 1.2 away from a clear wall, and it auto-focuses the display. It only fails to auto-focus when the display exceeds 180 inches. It also automatically reduces the screen size when it recognizes obstacles in its projected path. There are also instances when the display looks uneven, as if showing a trapezoid shape, due to the sloping position of the LCD projector. The DaVinci 1 Pro adjusts the display through auto keystone correction to evenly distribute its size for a better viewing experience. It scales the screen automatically to display the appropriate size on any wall or projector screen. You can watch or play any content by maximizing its multiple interfaces. You can insert at least two flash drives into the home theater projector. If you want to increase the volume, the DaVinci 1 Pro offers an audio output to connect your speakers. You can also cast from your laptop by using an HDMI cable, ensuring an expansive display for presentations or video calls. It also has adjustable color modes, such as cool and warm modes. You can also customize them to accommodate various viewing environments. Pros & Cons Pros HD Streaming Supports 4k Voice control Access to multiple streaming services Intelligent operation (auto-focus, auto keystone correction, obstacle avoidance, and auto screen fit) Cons The LCD projector cannot auto-focus over 180 inches. Conclusion The DaVinci 1 Pro brings the audiovisual experience from movie theaters into your home through its powerful speakers and support for 4K resolution. This LCD projector impresses with its crystal clear visuals and intelligent operation, backed by its All-Scene Smart Algorithm 3.0. Get fully immersed in watching with its 180-inch screen casting ability and stunning visuals, ensuring you get a cinematic experience even without going to the movie theaters. Get the best projector for home theater from Wanbo at the price of $289. Join the membership list first to get the additional 10% discount, and don't forget to add the code DaVinci2024 to save more. California lawmakers reportedly introduced a new bill that would guide state agencies' use of artificial intelligence (AI). The bill comes amid various AI legislations being introduced nationwide, almost all concerning how the technology will be used without causing significant harm to humans. The AI Accountability Act Bill, SB 896, introduced by State Senator Bill Dodd, already passed on third reading in the state Senate on May 24. A provision in the bill would mandate state agencies to alert users when they are interacting with AI. The bill also encouraged the state to invest in AI education and develop AI competency in the state workforce. "The legislature is famous for passing bills on businesses and everyone else, but yet is not a leader in the area and does not enact those same initiatives on it-self," said Dodd, as CBS News reported. According to Ahmed Banafa, an engineering professor at San Jose State, with many uncertainties in the fast-evolving AI world, a law like this is an important starting point for the government, AI companies, and consumers. AI Bills in the US Last month, the Voting Rights Lab said that AI's rapid development has caused numerous states to introduce guardrails against it, all to be prepared for the upcoming AI-riddled elections. The nonpartisan voting rights watchdog noted that it was monitoring over 100 bills in 39 state legislatures that had measures aimed at regulating the potential for AI to generate election misinformation. It comes amid several high-profile incidents of "deep-fake" video technology, computer-generated avatars, and voices being used in political campaigns and commercials. Some AI bills are progressing while others are stalling because they could suppress AI innovation. One example is the bill in Connecticut, which faltered because Governor Ned Lamont and others thought the regulations governing AI development were excessively onerous. However, this also results in uncontrolled deepfakes. Governor Ned Lamont and others believed the rules governing AI development were unduly burdensome, which is why the Connecticut law continues to be stalled. However, it also leads to uncontrollably generated deepfakes. FCC to Propose Rule Requiring AI Disclosures The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reportedly set to propose a new policy requiring disclaimers on AI-generated political advertisements. The FCC recently filed a proposal to start the agency's regulatory process, which is expected to take many months to complete. The FCC action aims to close a big loophole in the laws governing AI in political advertising. The proposed regulations are for cable and satellite companies and broadcast TV and radio. If political marketers on such platforms use AI-generated content in their advertising, they would have to disclose this on air. The FCC does not regulate social media and other internet-based media, such as streaming video services. (Photo : Tech Times) NASA's Lucy spacecraft has captured stunning images and unveiled intriguing findings from its flyby of the asteroid Dinkinesh, providing insights into the formation of the solar system and the early stages of planet formation. Launched in 2021, Lucy is a 12-year mission aimed at studying asteroids, particularly Jupiter's Trojan asteroids-two groups of space rocks that lead and trail the giant planet as it orbits the Sun. On its journey, Lucy made a close flyby of the asteroid Dinkinesh, located on the inner edge of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. This flyby occurred in November 2023, providing the first close-up images and data of the small asteroid and its moonlet, Selam. Asteroid Dinkinesh's Dynamic History Dinkinesh, with a diameter of nearly half a mile (720 meters), has revealed a dynamic history. The asteroid's surface features, including ridges and troughs, suggest a past filled with stress and transformation. Researchers believe that thermal radiation over millions of years caused Dinkinesh to rotate faster, leading to centrifugal stresses that eventually shifted the asteroid into an elongated shape. "We want to understand the strengths of small bodies in our solar system because that's critical for understanding how planets like Earth got here," explained Hal Levison, Lucy's principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute. If Dinkinesh was much weaker, resembling a fluid pile of sand, its particles would have gradually moved towards the equator and been flung off into orbit as it spun faster, NASA reports. However, Dinkinesh held together for a longer period, suggesting it possesses rock-like strength. Nonetheless, the strength required to fragment a small asteroid like Dinkinesh is minuscule compared to most rocks found on Earth. Keith Noll, project scientist for Lucy at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center adds that the asteroid's trough structures suggest an abrupt failure, more akin to an earthquake with a sudden release of built-up stress, rather than a slow process. Read Also : NASA James Webb Space Telescope Catches Formation of 3 of the Earliest Galaxies in Universe Formation of Selam During its dynamic history, a significant piece of rock likely broke free from Dinkinesh, forming a trough and sending debris into space. Some of this debris fell back onto Dinkinesh's surface as boulders, creating a ridge structure, while other material coalesced to form Selam, a contact-binary moonlet. A study published May 29 in Nature by main author Levison and team takes note of these observations. Selam, composed of two similarly sized lobes (750 feet and 690 feet wide), orbits Dinkinesh every 53 hours at a distance of about two miles (3.1 km). Simone Marchi, deputy principal investigator for the Lucy mission explains that mall asteroids may shed material, which later ends up forming a small satellite or satellites. "The complex shape of Selam indicates that this process may occur multiple times," Marchi explains. Future Missions Dinkinesh, meaning "you are marvelous" in Amharic, is the Ethiopian name for the famous Lucy fossil, an Australopithecus specimen providing insight into human evolution. Selam, meaning "peace," is named after another Australopithecus fossil. Looking ahead, Lucy will continue its journey, including a gravity assist flyby of Earth in December 2024, propelling it towards the asteroid Donaldjohanson in 2025 and then on to the Trojan asteroids beginning in 2027. Stay posted here at Tech Times. In a case described by a Commerce Department official as something "ripped from a screenplay," 35-year-old Chinese national YunHe Wang has been accused of operating an international botnet. This network allegedly infected over 19 million IP addresses globally, used VPN programs to distribute malware and facilitated a wide range of cybercrimes. How the Botnet Operated Wang reportedly used VPN services like MaskVPN and DewVPN to spread malware, which then took control of millions of computers worldwide. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), he managed the botnet 911 S5 and sold access to these compromised IP addresses, which allowed his customers to conduct illegal activities anonymously. The Crimes Facilitated by the Botnet The 911 S5 botnet was a hub for various cybercrimes, including large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats, and export violations. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the US collaborated with international partners to dismantle this extensive operation. FBI Director Christopher Wray added that the botnet had infected computers in nearly 200 countries. Criminal Activities Involving Botnet Hackers Matthew S. Axelrod, the assistant secretary for export enforcement at the Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security, emphasized the botnet's severe impact. He revealed that the scheme enabled criminals to steal billions of dollars, send bomb threats, and distribute child exploitation materials. The profits, estimated at $100 million, were allegedly used to purchase luxury cars, watches, and real estate. Duration and Scope of the Scheme The DOJ alleges that the botnet was active from 2014 until July 2022. During this period, compromised computers were used to carry out numerous crimes, including defrauding pandemic relief programs. According to The Verge, it is estimated that 560,000 fraudulent insurance claims originated from these compromised IP addresses, resulting in over $5.9 billion in fraudulent losses. Sanctions and Legal Consequences On Tuesday, May 28, the Treasury Department announced sanctions against Wang and two other Chinese nationals linked to the botnet. According to TechSpot, the other two suspects are Yanni Zheng and Jingping Liu. These sanctions prohibit any transactions with them or their associated organizations. If convicted on all counts, including substantive computer fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, Wang faces up to 65 years in prison. While the authorities have seized the masterminds behind the botnet operation, the scammers behind the Google search scam remain unknown. According to Tech Times, attackers trick their victims into clicking deceptive ads on popular search engines. When they click these ads, they are directed to a malicious website that can steal their hard-earned money and sensitive information. Fortunately, there are ways to safeguard yourself from this new scheme. These include running trusted antivirus software and bookmarking trusted websites so you can double-check legitimate websites from counterfeit ones. A new service from Mastercard is here, and it offers crypto users a chance to take advantage of its peer-to-peer (P2P) network to send and receive digital assets across various countries. It allows cross-border transfers for users in several countries in Europe and Latin America, with different crypto companies in partnership with the company for the service. This is done through the Mastercard Crypto Credential aliases, complete with a verification program to ensure transaction legitimacy. Mastercard Launches Its P2P Crypto Network Mastercard announced in its press release that it now offers a way for users to send and receive cryptocurrencies via its newly launched P2P network simplifying the experience for all. Instead of using the traditional complex blockchain addresses for the transfers, the fintech company offers to have it available via Mastercard Crypto Credential aliases that are made unique for a user. The company will verify the transactions among customers and businesses using the blockchain networks that undergo these transfers, one that assures that both ends are verified under its standards. The Mastercard Crypto Credential will help the metadata exchange with a more simplified approach toward the transactions through the supported wallets. Cross-Border Transfers in EU, Latin America Cross-border transfers are also available through this P2P network from Mastercard, which supports the Travel Rule information available in several European and Latin American countries. These include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Uruguay. It is available on Bit2Me, Lirium, and Mercado, and Mastercard has added Foxbit as its latest crypto wallet partner. P2P Crypto Network: What's Its Benefits? The peer-to-peer network is known for offering users a chance to buy various digital coins and assets instantly, and this allows a swift transaction that does not have any intermediaries that could slow up the process. This means that a user may purchase it directly from another user via a platform, and one example of this is Bitcoin, the top cryptocurrency built on this network. In this example, Bitcoin's peer-to-peer network allows for direct transactions from one user to another. However, it still validates these exchanges through a distributed network of nodes. Furthermore, various complex cryptographic processes will also be present to help with the verifications, but they have proven to be a challenge to regulate. The renowned credit card and fintech company Mastercard has long embraced the crypto industry, initially helping to combat digital asset fraud. However, Mastercard is now taking a more proactive approach to cryptocurrency transactions, offering a P2P network that allows users to send and receive asset transfers across borders and different platforms. After almost a year since PS VR2's PlayStation 5 exclusivity, Sony's confirmation of its PC compatibility made a significant development earlier today, as investigators recently spotted the company's adapter certification. This latest certification only signifies the company's dedication to making this experience possible in the future, but it remains unknown when it will be available in the year. Sony only said to stay tuned for its announcements in 2024, but the Japanese gaming company has not provided any further updates regarding its cross-platform feats. PS VR2 PC Compatibility: Adapter Certification Spotted The PS VR2 is slowly building on its promise to bring PC compatibility later this year, and according to a recent spotting by Brad Lynch on South Korea's National Radio Research Agency, Sony has applied for its adapter certification for the device. Its name clearly states 'PlayStation VR2 PC adapter,' and it is the highly-awaited tech coming to the VR wearable that will make it work on modern PCs. Moreover, it was certified in South Korea last late March, according to the website, but other countries where it would be available have no certification spottings yet. While this does not mean it would be exclusive to South Korea only, Sony may still be working on getting its PC adapter certified in the US and other countries. Read Also: Sony PS5 to Allow Users to Send Multiplayer Game Invites via Smartphone PlayStation VR2 PC Compatibility is Coming This Year Sony's claim in its previous confirmation said that the PC compatibility for the PlayStation VR2 will arrive this year, asking users to stay tuned for updates on its availability. PS VR2's experience is already coming to PCs and users only need to wait. Many believe it will be a good PC VR device that features eye-tracking tech, OLED, and more in one device. Sony's PlayStation VR2: Is It a Good Device? The PlayStation VR2 is a great device in terms of its performance, game availability, and overall experience, but it does not seem to catch a break from users with its mixed reviews and callouts. This is because several factors limit what it can offer, and one includes its exclusivity to new games only, with backward compatibility and the first PS VR games not available to access here. However, the latest PS VR2 still has novel features, and this includes what Sony put in it, allowing more accessibility experiences to be utilized. Expressions, winks, and more could mean a certain command or response from the device, offering an enhanced experience that will not entirely rely on its controllers. One of the caveats of purchasing the PS VR2 is its massive price tag, which set users to $500 for the wearable and another $500 for a PS5 if they do not own one. However, that is changing soon thanks to Sony's confirmation and recent adapter certification, signaling the upcoming shift for the PS VR2 to head over to PCs and offer a new platform for VR gaming, complete with its features. Artificial intelligence's rapid development is said to have tech CEOs worried, and big tech is hiding its inherent risks, as warned by leading scientist and AI campaigner Max Tegmark. Tegmark allegedly attacked the big businesses for bringing about what they saw as an inevitable future, saying that they had duped everyone into obliging to the very genuine existential threat that the development of extraordinarily potent technology posed. Tegmark emphasized the urgent necessity for stringent control on the developers of the most cutting-edge AI programs before it is too late during a speech at an AI Summit in Seoul. He asserted that there is a genuine risk that we could "lose control" over AI after we have created something that cannot be distinguished from a human or if it has passed the "Turing test." To put it briefly, no one on earth can predict with certainty what will happen when artificial general intelligence (AGI) is developed and used globally. Creating a supercomputer capable of comprehending human nature on a deeper level than the most potent weaponry ever created is far more complicated. Tech companies are already engaged in a technological race to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI), which could one day learn new information quickly and comprehend the world just like humans do. Once that's accomplished, it's impossible to predict how quickly it will change or whether its decisions will always serve humankind's interests. Read Also : California Bill to Regulate AI Use by State Agencies Passes Third Reading in State Senate Warnings Against AI's Rapid Development Tegmark's remarks are consistent with a recent study from the "Godfathers of AI," warning that major advancements in the rapidly developing field will be too great for government protection. Twenty-five specialists participated, including Yoshua Bengio and Geoffrey Hinton, two of the "godfathers of AI." Scholarly research suggests that if technology develops swiftly, government safety foundations with stronger standards should be implemented to address extreme AI concerns during rapid advancement. Moreover, it calls for tighter risk-checking guidelines for tech corporations, more funding for recently established groups such as the AI safety institutes in the US and the UK, and restrictions on using autonomous AI systems in crucial societal roles. According to the text, "we" are ill-equipped to handle these hazards, which is a grave warning. Humans are spending more resources on making AI systems more capable than ensuring they are safe and reducing any bad consequences they may have. Demand for AI Regulation in Japan The demand for AI regulation is growing louder globally. Only in April did Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) and Yomiuri Shimbun Group Holdings purportedly advocate for the quick implementation of AI regulation, expressing worries that unchecked AI could cause social unrest and incite conflict. Even though the Japanese companies' written credo emphasized the potential advantages of generative AI in boosting productivity, the technology was generally viewed with skepticism. It was stated that AI systems have already started to violate human dignity since they are sometimes made to grab users' attention without considering truth or morality. Meta has announced the removal of hundreds of Facebook accounts associated with six covert influence operations from several countries, including China, Iran, and Israel. According to the tech giant, these secret operations used artificial intelligence-generated content to spread disinformation and manipulate public opinion. Meta on Manipulating Political Agendas Meta said these deceptive networks used AI to promote specific political agendas and create the illusion of widespread support for certain viewpoints. The company's efforts to crack down on these operations underscore the ongoing battle social media platforms face in maintaining the integrity of online discussions and preventing the spread of disinformation. According to Meta's latest quarterly adversarial threat report released on Wednesday, these campaigns aimed to manipulate political discourse and fabricate a broader appearance of support for certain viewpoints. Some of the campaigns promoted political narratives on current events, including pro-Israel content from both Israeli and Iranian sources. The campaigns also used Instagram accounts to sway global political agendas. Originating from countries including Bangladesh and Croatia, these networks employed fake accounts to support political movements, promote phony news outlets, and comment on posts by legitimate news organizations. Read Also : New AI Model can Predict People's Political Stance AI-Driven Influence Campaigns From China and Israel One network, originating in China, comprised several dozen Instagram and Facebook accounts, pages, and groups aimed at targeting global Sikh communities, according to Meta. Another campaign, traced back to Israel, involved over 500 Facebook and Instagram accounts. These accounts impersonated local Jewish students, African Americans, and "concerned" citizens, posting content that praised Israeli military actions and discussed campus antisemitism, among other topics. Meta reported that some content from these two networks was likely produced using generative AI tools. The China-based network shared AI-generated images, while the Israeli campaign posted AI-generated comments. According to Meta, these AI-driven influence campaigns currently lack the sophistication to bypass existing detection systems. Influence campaigns are frequently identified on social media platforms. In early May, TikTok announced it had detected and dismantled a dozen such networks, including one linked to China. These campaigns often aim to manipulate public opinion by spreading misleading information or pushing specific political agendas through coordinated accounts and posts. TikTok's efforts highlight the ongoing challenge social media companies face in identifying and combating these sophisticated operations to ensure the integrity of online discourse. In March, TikTok revealed it had shut down 52 accounts from Ukraine with a combined 2.6 million followers. These accounts targeted Ukrainian users with content supporting Ukraine, aiming to influence conversations about the ongoing conflict with Russia. The report also highlighted similar efforts in countries like Indonesia, Venezuela, Germany, and Iran, where TikTok users tried to sway political discussions. TikTok also mentioned plans to address campaigns that had been removed in the past but were attempting to return to the platform. Singapore is focusing on creating eco-friendly data centers to save energy. The country has just announced a plan for these green data centers, showing their commitment to a strong digital economy while caring for the environment. Response to AI Demand in Singapore Addressing the escalating demand for artificial intelligence (AI), Singapore emphasized the importance of green data centers to alleviate pressure on energy resources. CNBC reported that the city-state unveiled a roadmap for sustainable data centers in an effort to support its aspirations for a thriving digital economy. According to CNBC, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary highlighted on Thursday the significance of this initiative, stressing that as the need for digital and AI computing expands, so will the demand for data center capacity. Part of the plan is to provide some 300 megawatts of additional capacity soon and more via "green energy deployments." The push for green data centers aligns with Singapore's commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship in the face of rapid technological advancements. In a press release, Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority highlighted the role of data centers in leveraging the country's position as a business and digital hub. IMDA plays a crucial role in promoting and regulating Singapore's communication and media sectors. Rising AI Demand Fuels Need for Data Centers The surge in AI adoption has driven a heightened need for data centers. These facilities are essential for storing the massive data necessary for training and implementing AI models, resulting in significant energy consumption. The report added that ongoing governmental incentives are necessary to encourage companies like Microsoft and Google to intensify their investments in clean energy solutions. Data centers represent a significant portion of the information and communications sector's carbon footprint, being the primary indirect carbon emitter. Puthucheary noted that these centers contribute to 82% of Singapore's ICT sector emissions and consume 7% of the country's total electricity. According to the data provided by global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield, Singapore ranks as Southeast Asia's second-largest data center market and the sixth-largest in the Asia-Pacific region. The city-state boasts over 70 cloud, enterprise, and co-location data centers capable of accommodating cloud platforms, digital services, and demanding AI workloads. With the global data center market reaching unprecedented levels in 2023, power constraints have compelled data center operators to explore emerging and smaller markets across the globe, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Singapore is also taking proactive steps to tackle the growing threat of deepfakes and misinformation by allocating $20 million to develop advanced detection tools. This initiative, dubbed "Building an Inclusive and Safe Digital Society," is in response to escalating risks in the digital realm, including cyberattacks, scams, and the proliferation of harmful content. Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo stressed the urgency of Singapore's adoption of new approaches to combat scammers and emerging online threats. As artificial intelligence (AI) technology becomes more integrated into everyday life, California lawmakers are intensifying their efforts to regulate its use. California Advancing AI Regulations Amid Growing Concerns Beyond concerns about privacy and discrimination, California legislators are now focusing on addressing AI's potential impact on issues such as highway congestion, road safety, and homelessness. According to the Associated Press, several proposals addressing those concerns have progressed in the legislative process last week. However, they still require approval from the other chamber before being sent to California Governor Gavin Newsom's desk. California is home to numerous AI giants and is at the forefront of this regulatory push. Lawmakers aim to build public trust and combat algorithmic discrimination while also outlawing deepfakes related to elections or pornography. The United States faces challenges catching up with Europe, which has already implemented stricter AI regulations. Newsom has promoted the state as an innovator and regulator in AI technology. He envisions deploying generative AI tools to alleviate highway congestion, enhance road safety, and provide tax guidance. However, his administration is still considering new rules to prevent AI discrimination in hiring practices. California remains committed to establishing comprehensive AI regulations that balance innovation with safeguarding public interests. According to Tatiana Rice, deputy director of the Future of Privacy Forum, a non-profit organization collaborating with policymakers on technology and privacy initiatives, California stands poised to implement significant regulations compared to other states like New York, which also harbor substantial interests in AI. Rice emphasized the need to establish a data privacy law as a precursor to enacting AI legislation. They are closely monitoring New York's initiatives for now, but she added that California seems more promising. Officials expressed urgency in addressing AI regulation, citing past failures in regulating social media companies. However, they aim to maintain the state's appeal to AI firms. California Forges New Paths in AI Regulation California is at the forefront of AI regulation, aiming to ensure fairness and transparency in an increasingly AI-driven world. With a focus on combating discrimination and building trust, the state is rolling out a range of measures to reshape the ethical landscape of AI. Key initiatives include shedding light on AI algorithms used in critical areas like healthcare and hiring as local officials protect workers against displacement by AI-generated replicas. California proactively addresses the risks of generative AI systems, proposing safeguards and fail-safe mechanisms to prevent potential disasters. In the realm of deepfakes, particularly those involving politics or pornography, bipartisan efforts are underway to close legal gaps and enable swift prosecution of offenders. By prioritizing fairness, transparency, and accountability, California is setting a precedent for responsible AI governance, paving the way for a safer and more ethical digital future. FintechOS, a Romanian fintech startup, has successfully raised $60 million (55.4 million) in a Series B+ funding round. This round was led by major investors, including BlackRock, Cipio Partners, and Molten Ventures, with participation from existing investors EarlyBird VC, OTB VC, and Gapminder VC. This funding is a milestone for FintechOS as it continues to scale its innovative financial technology solutions globally. What is FintechOS? FintechOS's platform empowers financial institutions to modernize their core systems and deliver superior customer experiences. FintechOS provides a low-code and intuitive platform that enables traditional banking and insurance companies to offer modern features and products akin to those provided by neobanks and fintech startups. Unlike many of its competitors, FintechOS focuses on enhancing existing core infrastructures rather than replacing them entirely, which allows companies to achieve significant transformation without overhauling their entire systems. CEO Teo Blidarus highlighted the platform's unique advantage, stating, "We can work side by side with the existing core infrastructure of a company, allowing 95% of the transformation without the open heart surgery of a new core replacement." (via TechCrunch) This approach has been instrumental in attracting a diverse range of clients across various sectors in the US and UK, including major banks and insurers such as Societe Generale, Admiral, Benenden Health, Avant Money, and Vibrant Credit Union. FintechOS' Rapid Growth The latest funding round follows previous investments of $14 million in 2015 and $60 million in 2021, underscoring the continued confidence in FintechOS's vision and execution. The company has experienced substantial growth, including a 40% year-over-year increase and a remarkable 170% boost in operating margins. Since its last funding round, FintechOS has grown by over 300%, further demonstrating the strong demand for its solutions in the global market. FintechOS's success is a testament to the potential of Romanian tech companies to make a significant impact on the international stage. This is exemplified by the success of other Romanian firms like UIPath. The recent funding will be used to scale FintechOS's operations internationally, allowing it to reach new markets and expand its customer base. Vinoth Jayakumar, a partner at Molten Ventures, emphasized the company's role in driving innovation within the financial services sector. "FintechOS is at the forefront of transforming financial services through innovative technology," Jayakumar stated. "Its track record with major banks and insurers demonstrates a rare ability to drive significant change within these organizations." The company's innovative approach has also earned it recognition from leading industry analysts. In March, FintechOS was named a Representative Vendor in the Gartner Market Guide for Core Banking, Europe Report. Roland Dennert, Managing Partner at Cipio Partners, praised FintechOS's growth trajectory and its commitment to modernization and innovation. "FintechOS's growth trajectory is a clear indicator of their potential," Dennert said. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Apple has announced that its Apple Wallet app will support Japan's Individual Number Card, also known as the My Number Card, starting next year. This is the first time Apple Wallet will host an official ID outside the United States. Users in Japan Can Use Their My Number Card in Apple Wallet Soon Apple, in collaboration with the Japanese Digital Agency, is gearing up to integrate Japan's My Number Card into Apple Wallet. The My Number Card is a critical form of identification in Japan, like the Social Security Number in the US, used extensively for accessing government services, healthcare, and other administrative functions. Over 100 million citizens have already applied for the card. This move is set to provide residents of Japan with a seamless, secure way to use their digital IDs via their iPhones. Apple Wallet ID Feature Launching Next Spring The rollout is scheduled for the second half of next spring. Apple has announced this initiative well in advance to give residents ample time to adapt to the new system. This initiative aligns with Apple's long-term vision to transform the Wallet app into a comprehensive digital wallet that can hold not just payment cards, but also driver's licenses, state IDs, and national IDs, 9to5Mac tells us. "The deployment of Apple Wallet's ID feature outside the United States is an important step in our vision of replacing traditional physical wallets with easy, secure, and private mobile wallets," Jennifer Bailey, Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said in a statement. For Japan, the My Number Card is the sole identification card required, making it an ideal candidate for the feature. How Apple Wallet ID Works Once implemented, residents can add their My Number Card to Apple Wallet on their iPhones. The process involves opening the Wallet app, selecting the My Number Card, and using Face ID or Touch ID for authentication. This feature will enable users to present their ID in person by simply holding their iPhone over a contactless ID card reader. The My Number Card in Apple Wallet can be used anywhere a physical card is accepted, including hospitals, medical facilities, convenience stores, and through certain apps like the My Number Portal iOS app. As for security and privacy, Apple Wallet Identification ensures that personal information is encrypted and stored only on the user's device. Apple does not have access to users' histories. Additionally, if an iPhone is lost, the Find My app can lock and help locate or erase the device remotely. Taro Kono, Japan's Minister for Digital Affairs, expressed his support, stating, "The Digital Agency will build a world-leading, safe and convenient digital society based on smartphones." Stay posted here at Tech Times. China has announced new export restrictions on various military-related materials, a strategic move aimed at safeguarding national security and fulfilling international obligations. This comes amid escalating trade and political tensions with the United States and its allies. China's Military Hardware Restrictions Targeting the West The Chinese government has imposed curbs on the export of several key military-related items. These include: Equipment used to manufacture aerospace components and gas turbines, crucial for warships and tanks Key components for bulletproof vests, helmets, and other protective gear Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fiber used in body armor and bulletproof plates Molds for spacesuit visors critical for aerospace and military applications The South China Morning Post reports that the restrictions will take effect on July 1. Exporting these items without proper authorization will be prohibited, according to a joint statement from the Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs, and the Central Military Commission's Equipment Development Department. Why Are These Measures Being Implemented? SCMP tells us that the primary aim of these restrictions is to "safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation," stated the Ministry of Commerce. This move also responds to increasing pressures from Western nations, particularly the US, to stop aiding Russia amid its ongoing war in Ukraine. Since the conflict began, several Chinese entities have faced US sanctions for allegedly supporting Russia by exporting dual-use equipment-items that can serve both civilian and military purposes. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US, in coordination with the European Union, would impose further sanctions on Chinese companies supplying Russia with microelectronics and hi-tech products for defense. Impact on Trade China's new export curbs come at a time when tensions with the US and Europe are rising, particularly over technology and trade issues. Data from Chinese customs revealed that in the first four months of the year, the US, Vietnam, and Singapore were the top importers of Chinese aerospace products. The US, India, and Vietnam were the leading importers of gas turbines, highlighting the significant impact these new restrictions could have on international trade. Major export destinations for ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fiber included Brazil, Vietnam, the US, and Israel. These restrictions are likely to affect these nations significantly, especially in their defense sectors. Lu Wei, an advisor at China's public security guard training center, noted that the ban was not targeting any specific countries but rather aimed at setting up a licensing system prioritizing central and state-owned enterprises. This development follows last September's export curbs on drones that could have military application, illustrating China's increasing regulatory control over critical military materials. Today, May 31, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and China's Defense Minister Wei Fenghe are scheduled to meet face-to-face for the first time. This meeting will take place at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore. Stay posted here at Tech Times. The majority of Americans are increasingly concerned about online misinformation, according to a recent survey. It was revealed there that many fear they lack accurate information, particularly about local political candidates. Among the groups, Black Americans are more likely the ones to encounter widespread fake news online. Disproportionate Impact on Black Americans The study, conducted by the social media watchdog group Free Press, highlights that misinformation disproportionately affects Black Americans. These individuals encounter false information more frequently than others when seeking news online. The report found that 50% of respondents encounter misinformation regularly, while only 28% feel well-informed about local elections. The Need for Public Education Nora Benavidez, senior counsel at Free Press, called for an urgent need to educate and engage the public about the upcoming elections. According to her, the public is in desperate need to be educated especially when it comes to elections, their importance, and what they really mean to the citizens. Aside from that, they should also be informed about down-ballot issues and the background of the local candidates. Microtargeting and Its Effects Benavidez added that microtargeting has something to do with how online misinformation affects people based on race. Black Americans reported higher instances of online harassment compared to other groups. The study also highlighted widespread concerns about the misuse of personal information. Voter Disinformation Targeting Looking ahead to the 2024 elections, there are growing concerns that voters of color may be targeted with disinformation designed to influence their attitudes or discourage them from participating in the democratic process. Benavidez expressed these concerns, noting the potential for disinformation to sway voter behavior. Social Media Usage Among Different Demographics The study found that Hispanic/Latino and Black Americans are more likely to use social media platforms for news, The Guardian reports. Specifically, 63% of Black adults and 65% of Latino adults get news from Facebook, compared to 56% of white adults. Similarly, 65% of Black adults and 67% of Latino adults use YouTube for news, versus 51% of white adults. Additionally, 54% of Black and Latino adults rely on Instagram for news, compared to 35% of white adults. Support for Tech Companies Moderating Content Majorities across these demographics believe it is acceptable for tech companies to prevent the distribution of political ads that spread false information. The poll, conducted in March 2024, surveyed over 3,000 American adults. It found that 47% of respondents frequently encounter false or misleading news stories. Decline in Content Moderation This concern comes at a time when social media platforms are scaling back content moderation efforts and failing to provide transparency around these practices. Despite the increasing spread of misinformation, these platforms are reducing their efforts to manage content effectively. The Role of Media and Advocates The findings indicate an important role for media and advocacy groups in ensuring that news and information meet the needs of a diverse, multiracial democracy. Earlier this year, a lot of AI-generated fake news was shown on several YouTube channels. Tech Times reported that this type of AI misinformation is circulating like normal news. Usually, they target Black celebrities. Cybersecurity experts have warned of a new ATM malware family that has been developed to infect Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Europe, with the potential to generate significant profits. Dubbed EU ATM Malware, this malicious software can compromise 99% of devices in Europe and target approximately 60% of ATMs around the world, including machines manufactured by leading vendors, such as Diebold Nixdorf, Hyosung, Oki, Bank of America, NCR, GRG, and Hitachi, claims the developer of this malware, thereby posing a potential security threat to the global banking industry. Listed for sale on a hacker forum, the malware can generate up to $30,000 per ATM. It is fully automated, simplifying its deployment and operation. Alternatively, the malware can be operated manually, offering cybercriminals flexibility. The developers of this malware claim that it can generate up to $30,000 per ATM, making it a lucrative tool for cybercriminals. The malware is fully automated, simplifying its deployment and operation, reported the website DailyDarkweb. Further, the developer is selling the malware with flexible payment options, such as a monthly subscription and an initial fee plus a share of the profits from successful jackpotting operations. Additionally, it is offering customers a three-day test payload option to verify the malwares capabilities before purchasing the product. If the above claims regarding ATM malware are true, it could become a potentially devastating tool for cybercriminals and subsequently have a catastrophic effect on the global banking industry. The U.S. Justice Department (DoJ) on Wednesday announced that a court-authorized international law enforcement operation dismantled what is likely the worlds largest botnet 911 S5. This botnet was used to commit cyberattacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats, and export violations. As part of this operation, Yunhe Wang, a 35-year-old Chinese national and St. Kitts and Nevis citizen-by-investment, was arrested in Singapore on May 24, 2024, as the alleged primary administrator of the malicious botnet service, on criminal charges for deploying malware and creating and operating a residential proxy service known as 911 S5. According to the DoJ, Wangs malicious 911 S5 botnet began operating in May 2014 until it was taken offline in July 2022, only to be rebranded later under the name CloudRouter. Working with our international partners, the FBI conducted a joint, sequenced cyber operation to dismantle the 911 S5 Botnetlikely the worlds largest botnet ever, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. We arrested its administrator, Yunhe Wang, seized infrastructure and assets, and levied sanctions against Wang and his co-conspirators. The 911 S5 Botnet infected computers in nearly 200 countries and facilitated a whole host of computer-enabled crimes, including financial frauds, identity theft, and child exploitation. This operation demonstrates the FBIs commitment to working shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to protect American businesses and the American people, and we will work tirelessly to unmask and arrest the cybercriminals who profit from this illegal activity. The malicious 911 S5 botnet infected more than 19 million unique IP addresses, including 613,841 IP addresses located in the United States. From 2014 through July 2022, Wang and his accomplices allegedly created and disseminated malware to compromise home computer systems and amass a network of millions of residential Windows computers worldwide. Wang generated millions of dollars by offering cybercriminals access to these infected IP addresses for a fee, anonymizing their online activities. According to court documents, Wang allegedly circulated his malware through Virtual Private Network (VPN) programs, such as MaskVPN, DewVPN, PaladinVPN, ProxyGate, ShieldVPN, and ShineVPN, as well as through pirated software bundled with malware. Wang [..] managed and controlled approximately 150 dedicated servers worldwide, approximately 76 of which he leased from U.S. based online service providers. Using the dedicated servers, Wang deployed and managed applications, commanded and controlled the infected devices, operated his 911 S5 service, and provided paying customers with access to proxied IP addresses associated with the infected devices, the Justice Department added. According to the indictment, Wang received approximately $99 million from his sales of the hijacked proxied IP addresses through his 911 S5 operation between 2018 and July 2022, either in cryptocurrency or fiat currency. He allegedly used the illicitly gained proceeds to buy real estate in the United States, St. Kitts and Nevis, China, Singapore, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. Other assets and properties subject to forfeiture, include a 2022 Ferrari F8 Spider S-A, a BMW i8, a BMW X7 M50d, a Rolls Royce, as well as several luxury wristwatches. The operation against the botnet was a coordinated multiagency effort led by law enforcement in the United States, Singapore, Thailand, and Germany, which involved searching residences, seizing assets valued at approximately $30 million, and identifying additional forfeitable property valued at approximately $30 million. On May 28, 2024, the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the imposition of sanctions against Wang, and his two suspected co-conspirators, Jingping Liu, and Yanni Zheng, for their activities associated with 911 S5. In addition, three entities Spicy Code Company Limited, Tulip Biz Pattaya Group Company Limited, and Lily Suites Company Limited, for being owned or controlled by Wang were also designated. Wang is indicted with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, substantive computer fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. If convicted on all counts, he could face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison. The DoJ said it is actively pursuing Wangs extradition from Singapore to the United States. Vatican urges debt cancellation for small island states Vatican City, May 29 (AFP) May 29, 2024 The Holy See has urged developed nations to cancel debt held by small island states, which are on the front line of climate change, Vatican News said Wednesday. "Debt cancellation is not just a matter of economic or development policy," Vatican representative Robert Murphy said during a four-day Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference. It is "a moral imperative rooted in the principles of justice and solidarity", he said Tuesday. SIDS are extremely vulnerable to climate change but not rich enough to stop it on their own. "The escalating debt burden faced by SIDS is becoming more and more unsustainable", Murphy told the summit in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, according to Vatican News. "Moreover, debt perpetuates a cycle of dependency that hampers SIDS' ability to address pressing issues such as poverty eradication and climate change," he told the conference of 39 states, whose populations number roughly 65 million people. Pope Francis called earlier this month for wealthy countries to cancel debts owed by lower-income countries not out of "of generosity" but "justice". Francis, who has made protecting the environment a key theme of his papacy, said rich nations have an "ecological debt" due to "the disproportionate use of natural resources by certain countries over long periods of time". Bid to 'privatize' Brazil beaches sparks outcry Rio de Janeiro, May 29 (AFP) May 29, 2024 A proposed constitutional amendment that could see Brazil's famed beaches fall into private hands has outraged environmentalists and citizens in a country that prides itself on open access to its vast shores. Brazil has one of the world's longest coastlines, at around 7,500 kilometers (4,600 miles) and by law beaches are public assets and thus government property. They are largely pristine, without the eyesore high-rise condos and hotels common at seaside resorts in other countries. However, a proposal to change the government ownership rule has been making its way through Congress, promoted by senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro who often said while in office that he dreamed of creating the "Brazilian Cancun" -- a nod to Mexico's hub of mega resorts. The idea is to transfer ownership of coastal land to states, municipalities and private occupants, which critics say could damage environmental protection efforts and block beach access. A senate public hearing on Monday sparked outrage on social media. "Let's pressure the senators to vote against this proposal," said Brazilian actress and environmental activist Laila Zaid in an Instagram video viewed almost one million times. The furore comes as Brazil is tackling historic flooding in its south, which experts attribute to climate change. Leticia Camargo, who coordinates a working group on marine conservation in Congress, told AFP the proposal could "lead to greater occupation of marine land right at a time when climate change will make storm surges and coastal erosion increasingly frequent." She said the move could also open up "pressure for very large real estate interests." The proposal has already been approved by the lower house, and Camargo said it would likely be approved by the Senate Constitution and Justice Committee, where the right-wing opposition has a majority. It then heads to the full Senate for a vote. Camargo says she is positive the pressure from the public could stall the amendment. Local media reported senate president Rodrigo Pacheco will not immediately put the matter on the agenda for a vote. Flavio Bolsonaro said on X it was "fake news" that the aim was to privatize beaches. Daniel Capecchi, a constitutional law professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, said that if it went to a vote, there was a "considerable probability" the measure would be approved. However, he said if studies prove the change will have a severe environmental impact it could be challenged in court as a violation of the unalterable constitutional right to an ecologically balanced environment. Camargo said the fierce public reaction shows "that if you mess with Brazilian culture in such a serious way, which is our access and our use of the beach, you touch a serious issue." Shareholders back Exxon bullying of green investors New York, May 29 (AFP) May 29, 2024 ExxonMobil shareholders overwhelmingly reelected the oil giant's board Wednesday, the company said, endorsing its hardball tactics in confronting climate activist investors. The company's 12 nominees won an average of 95 percent of votes cast, ranging from 87 percent to 98 percent, ExxonMobil said in an email to AFP. The vote followed criticism of the American multinational's lawsuit against two activist groups that had sought to direct the company to accelerate emissions reductions. The bullying tactics had drawn sharply-worded rebukes from Norway's sovereign wealth funds and California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), which voted against all 12 ExxonMobil board nominees. However, the company's approach won applause from the Wall Street Journal editorial page, which accused the groups of misusing the shareholder resolution process. "Far from protecting shareholder rights, these agitators want to punish Exxon and its investors for refusing to surrender," the editorial said. In a win for the company, shareholders not only backed the entire board, but decisively voted down four other measures on issues such as reducing single-use plastics and releasing a study of gender pay. These were brought by shareholders whom ExxonMobil Chief Executive Darren Woods referred to derisively as "serial proponents." None of the measures received more than 20 percent, according to preliminary results. "Today our investors sent a powerful message that rules and value-creation matter," said ExxonMobil, which reported more than $36 billion in profits in 2023. "Their vote signals a belief that we are on the right track by overwhelmingly re-electing our directors and soundly defeating all four proposals that would have hampered our ability to create long-term value," it added. "We expect the activist crowd will try and claim victory on today's vote, but common sense should tell you otherwise in light of the large margin of the loss." - Digging in - ExxonMobil has been a lightning rod on climate change for years, reliably sparring with investors at sometimes colorful live meetings in Texas prior to the shift to a virtual format. But the US oil giant, which unapologetically favors heavy petroleum investment despite its negative climate impacts, adopted a more aggressive posture towards activists at this year's gathering. ExxonMobil has sued two shareholder groups, NGO Follow This and activist fund Arjuna Capital, which sought an investor vote on a measure directing ExxonMobil to accelerate emission reductions, requiring targets and timetables to lower "Scope 3" emissions. The category of emissions includes those created by consumers using a company's product, such as the CO2 released by the burning of oil and gas produced by a fossil fuel company. ExxonMobil argued the proposal was the same as one rejected by nearly 90 percent of company shareholders at the 2023 meeting. Soon after ExxonMobil filed its suit in federal court in Texas in January, Arjuna and Follow This withdrew the proposal. However, ExxonMobil has persevered with the litigation, asking a federal judge to declare that the measure can be omitted from the company's proxy statement. CalPERS called climate change "a serious threat to long-term investment returns," while arguing that ExxonMobil's litigious tactics were aimed at "silencing voices and upending the rules of shareholder democracy." Norges Bank, meanwhile, voted against lead director Joseph Hooley, citing the need to protect shareholder rights. The fund also voted for the proposal seeking a report on median gender and racial pay gaps. Woods, who presided over the meeting, insisted he supports shareholder democracy when it promotes shareholder value. "We see a process that was designed to give investors access to directors, management and fellow investors to share their views being abused by a coalition of activists masquerading as shareholders," Woods said. "For shareholder democracy to thrive, abuses of the process must be addressed," Woods said. Activists fingered major asset managers such as BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan Chase who "remained silent" ahead of the meeting, despite calls for support of shareholder rights from labor unions and public officials. "The voting results indicate these asset managers were unresponsive to asset owners' concerns," said a statement from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility and other groups. Teachers sentenced to jail over Japan avalanche deaths Tokyo, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 Three Japanese teachers were each sentenced to two years in jail on Thursday for negligence during a 2017 mountaineering trip in which seven students were killed in an avalanche. A spokesman at a court in the central Tochigi region told AFP the three former and current teachers were found guilty of professional negligence resulting in injury and death. The avalanche triggered by heavy snow killed seven high school students and a teacher during a three-day expedition to Tochigi's Mount Chausu in March 2017. The disaster also injured 40 others on the mountain 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Tokyo. At issue throughout the trial was whether the avalanche could have been predicted. The Utsunomiya District Court ruled on Thursday that it was "sufficiently foreseeable" and faulted the defendants for failing to do proper research, according to broadcaster TBS. Prosecutors had argued that the amount of snowfall should have been a warning for the teachers, saying that the students could have been saved if better safety measures had been followed, several other media outlets reported. The defence sought acquittals for the teachers by arguing that they had no way of predicting the snowslide. In October 2017, a third-party panel tasked with probing the tragedy blamed it partly on complacency and a "lack of crisis-management awareness" among the supervisors. China releases 2024-25 energy conservation, carbon reduction action plan Xinhua) 08:35, May 30, 2024 BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council has released an action plan for energy conservation and carbon reduction for 2024-25, aiming to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by approximately 2.5 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively, in 2024. Energy consumption per unit of added value of industrial enterprises above the designated size will be reduced by around 3.5 percent this year, according to the plan. It added that the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption will reach around 18.9 percent in 2024 and 20 percent in 2025. Both in 2024 and 2025, energy conservation and carbon reduction transformations in key sectors and industries are expected to result in a reduction of around 50 million tonnes of standard coal and a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions by around 130 million tonnes. China has committed to a "dual carbon" goal of reaching the peak of carbon emissions by 2030 and attaining carbon neutrality by 2060. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) In Spain, 2023 was second-hottest year on record after 2022: AEMET weather agency Madrid, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 Spain endured its second-hottest year on record in 2023, which followed on from its hottest year ever since records began more than six decades ago, the AEMET weather agency said on Thursday. Last year's average temperature was 15.2 degrees Celcius (59.36 degrees Fahrenheit), which was 1.2C higher than normal, spokesman Ruben del Campo told reporters on unveiling the agency's annual climate report. "The average temperature in Spain has risen by more than 1.5C since 1961 with the hottest 10 years all occurring in the 21st century," AEMET said on X, formerly Twitter, referring to the year in which records began. Last year, Spain experienced seven heatwaves, four of which affected the mainland and the Mediterranean Balearic Isles, and three which affected the Atlantic Canary Islands, it said, citing the report. "Since 1975, heatwaves have lengthened by three days per decade.. and increased in temperature by 2.7C per decade," it said. Last year also saw the warmest spring on record, and no month registered temperatures that were colder than normal, AEMET said, indicating nine out of 12 months were "warm, very warm or extremely warm". It was also the sixth driest year on record. Indian heatwave highlights temperature 'record' checking challenge Geneva, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 The swift announcement that a potentially record-breaking temperature measured this week in India could have been due to a sensor error highlights the challenges in certifying extreme heat. The recording of 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.2 Fahrenheit) in a Delhi suburb on Wednesday -- surpassing the national record -- was an outlier compared to other stations, and the India Meteorological Department said it was reviewing the data and sensors. The incident underscored the critical importance of verifying temperature readings, notably for monitoring and understanding how the climate is changing -- and responding accordingly. The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization is responsible for signing off on global, continental and hemispherical temperature records. The Geneva-based WMO maintains a global weather and climate extremes archive, which logs records for temperature, pressure, rainfall, hail, aridity, wind, lightning and weather-related mortality. Its lengthy verification process involves months and even years of careful scientific checking, and sometimes sees measuring flaws and equipment errors bring down claimed records. - Lengthy evaluation - The WMO first contacts the national weather service of the country concerned, and the organisation that captured the supposed record in order to get the raw data. That includes details on the exact location of the reading, the equipment used, its calibration, and the regional weather conditions at the time. An initial assessment is carried out by the WMO Commission for Climatology and by Randall Cerveny, the organisation's rapporteur of weather and climate extremes, who heads up the records archive. An international panel of atmospheric scientists then reviews the raw data and provides Cerveny, a geographical sciences professor at Arizona State University, with recommendations for his final verdict. - Database started in 2007 - In 2005, while watching US news coverage of Hurricane Katrina's trail of destruction in New Orleans, Cerveny was struck by television presenters repeatedly calling it the worst hurricane of all time. He knew otherwise: while Katrina caused 1,800 deaths, a tropical cyclone in 1970 killed an estimated 300,000 people in what is now Bangladesh. Cerveny co-wrote a scientific article calling for an official global records database. And in 2007, the WMO asked him to set one up, to keep world, hemispherical and regional records for particular extreme weather events. - Measuring climate change - Knowing the existing weather and climate extremes is critical in determining exactly how much and how fast the world's climate is changing, according to the WMO. The information is also important for health and civil engineering planning. For example, architects need to know the maximum possible wind speed when designing a bridge. Another reason for maintaining the records database was to advance science -- and help the media to put weather events in perspective. - All-time heat record overturned - The WMO also re-examines records from before 2007, and sometimes delists them. The best-known case is that of the long-standing world record temperature of 58 C (136 F) measured in 1922 in El Azizia, in what is now Libya. Following a two-year investigation conducted in dangerous conditions during the Libyan revolution of 2011, the record was invalidated due to five major concerns, including potentially problematic instrumentation and "a probable new and inexperienced observer". Since then, the 56.7 C (134.1 F) registered on July 10, 1913 in Furnace Creek, in Death Valley in the United States, has held the world heat record. In July 2021, the WMO recognised a new record high temperature for the Antarctic continent, confirming a reading of 18.3 C (64.9 F) made at Argentina's Esperanza research station on the Antarctic Peninsula on February 6, 2020. But crucially, the WMO rejected an even higher temperature reading of 20.75 C (69.35) reported on February 9, 2020 at a Brazilian automated permafrost monitoring station on nearby Seymour Island. It found an improvised radiation shield led to a demonstrable thermal bias error for the permafrost monitor's air temperature sensor, making its reading ineligible as a record. Main points of Spain's Catalan separatist amnesty law Madrid, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 Spain's parliament on Thursday gave the final green light to a deeply divisive law to grant amnesty to Catalan separatists involved in the botched secession bid of 2017. Here is a summary of the key points of the text: - Who will it affect? - This law aims to "put an end to judicial processes and sentences affecting anyone, without exception, who took part in the independence campaign" including the "consultation in Catalonia on November 9, 2014 and the referendum of October 1, 2017". On both dates, Catalonia held a symbolic, non-binding referendum on independence in defiance of the Spanish courts. The law will apply to anyone convicted or sought by the justice system in connection with either event and will mean all charges against them are dropped. The government estimates the move will affect around 400 people, among them Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan leader at the time who led the failed independence bid then fled Spain to avoid prosecution. - Period of validity - "This organic law amnesties acts classified as offences... that took place between November 1, 2011 when events linked to the independence campaign began and November 13, 2023." The initial date was January 2012 but the separatists wanted to include the last two months of 2011 to cover the start of the process that led up to the symbolic declaration of independence of October 27, 2017. - Which offences are covered? - In order to "ensure legal certainty", the text lists the acts eligible for amnesty, ranging from the organisation of the referendum to preparatory meetings, participation in demonstrations to ensure it was held or protests against the prosecution of those responsible. One of the main problems with the initial draft was the "terrorism" reference, with the hardline separatist JxCat party saying it didn't offer sufficient protection against prosecution on terror charges, notably for its leader Puigdemont. That draft failed to pass a parliamentary vote in January and a month later, Spain's top court opened a probe into Puigdemont on "terror" charges over his links to Democratic Tsunami, the group behind several mass protests after Spain jailed 13 separatist leaders, including blockading Barcelona airport. To avoid the bill being overturned by the Constitutional Court or the European Court of Justice, its updated text does not include "terrorism" as defined by Spain's penal code, using instead wording laid out under the European directive of 2017 and the European Convention on Human Rights. - When will it come into force? - Once the law is promulgated, the courts will have "a maximum of two months" to order an individual's "immediate release" and to rescind all "arrest warrants and detention orders.. national, European and international" and to end "all custodial sentences, civil rights limitations and fines". But they could also turn to the Constitutional Court or the European judiciary to address certain issues, which would considerably delay its implementation. - Justification for the law - "Application of the law is necessary but at times it is not enough to resolve a long-running political conflict," the text says, describing the legislation as "one more step along a difficult path but one which is both brave and conciliatory". Long presented as a tool for reconciliation within Spain, the law is vital for the future of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's left-wing government, it being the price set by the separatist parties for their parliamentary backing that allowed him to secure a new four-year term in office. Cleaner shipping fuel accelerated global warming: study Paris, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024 An international effort to improve air quality by requiring ships to use less-polluting fuel caused a spike in global warming, according to research published Thursday on this unintended climate "shock". Global shipping's switch to low-sulphur fuels starting in 2020 "could lead to a doubling (or more) of the warming rate" this decade and has already contributed to record-breaking heat over the past year, the study said. That is because the tiny particles in sulphur pollution reflect and absorb sunlight and make clouds more mirror-like, creating a temporary cooling effect on the planet. Scientists had anticipated that switching to the cleaner fuels would reduce this reflecting effect and accelerate warming, even if they debated by how much. The study suggests that deliberately brightening clouds could put a brake on global warming, even if such measures do not address the underlying driver: pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Scientists warn that such "geoengineering" approaches to climate change may have unwanted side-effects, and say that caution is needed. For the new study, researchers combined satellite observations and model simulations to estimate the climate impact of slashing sulphur in shipping fuel under an International Maritime Organization regulation that took effect in January 2020. Introduced to limit airborne pollution, this ruling reduced sulphur dioxide emissions from the global shipping industry by 80 percent, said Tianle Yuan, lead author of the study published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment. - Substantial effect - But the rapid drop also had a "shock" effect on the planet, he added, dimming the capacity of clouds to reflect some of the Sun's energy back into space, resulting in a "substantial warming effect". "It would essentially double the warming rate of the 2020s," the senior research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center told AFP. This effect was uneven across the globe but it appeared there was a stronger impact in the North Atlantic, leading to warmer sea surface temperature, Yuan said. "It contributed to the anomalous warming we experienced in 2023 and 2024. However, we cannot attribute precisely how much" and they were unable to say it was the main cause, he added. Last year was the hottest year on record and that trend has crashed over into 2024, with temperatures on land and sea hitting new monthly highs. Human activities are the dominant cause of warming but scientists have also looked at other possible contributors to this extraordinary heat, including the role of El Nino, a periodic natural weather pattern over the Pacific. - Open question - Nicolas Bellouin, a climatologist from the University of Reading, told AFP that this latest study was "more scientifically sound" than previous research and "should be taken seriously". "But I think the contribution of this warming to the 2023 anomaly and future warming rates remains an open question, even after this study," said Bellouin, who was not involved in the research. Other scientists said the study offered evidence that seeding clouds with particles to boost their heat-reflecting capacity could help partially slow warming if greenhouse gases keep rising. For some, geoengineering -- which includes technologies to dim incoming sunlight or reduce acid levels in oceans -- is a distraction from tried-and-tested climate solutions already at hand. Currently, there is no formal global governance for the development or deployment of such technologies and an incomplete understanding of the risks they carry. Edward Gryspeerdt, an expert on the physics of clouds from Imperial College London, said there remained large uncertainties around the side effects of geoengineering, such as changes to rainfall patterns. "These risks must be better understood to make informed decisions about any future geoengineering strategies," he said. Firefighters from the Special Operations Division of the St. George Fire Department trained on a submerged car in the Baton Rouge Harbor for quick rescue certification. The certification expands the capabilities of Special Operations allowing them to rapidly respond to rescue situations where citizens are submerged in automobiles. The St. George Fire Department will carry the required equipment on specific units that will be dispatched to situations that call for this type of response. The system and the training allows the SGFD to quickly enter and search the water to enhance rescue capabilities and is not meant to replace the capabilities and duties of the East Baton Rouge dive team. Richard Tornetta is an unlikely campaigner against one of the worlds richest men. Until recently, the Pennsylvania residents biggest claim to fame was drumming in Dawn of Correction, a now-defunct thrash metal band that described its sound as a swift kick to the face with a steel-toed work boot. Next month Tesla shareholders will vote on whether to re-approve Musks pay package and whether to endorse the move to Texas. Credit: AP Tornetta owned just nine shares of Tesla when he sued the electric car maker six years ago, claiming a $US56 billion ($85 billion) pay scheme awarded to the companys chief executive Elon Musk was excessive. But when the verdict was finally announced, it delivered its own steel-toed kick to Musks wealth. Delivering a ruling in January, Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick described the compensation scheme as unfathomable and ruled that it should be reversed, saying Teslas board had acted like supine servants of an overweening master. About 1500 WA farmers and livestock transport industry workers will flood the CBD in their trucks on Friday morning to protest the ending of live sheep exports. Ben Sutherland will travel from Ravensthorpe in his livestock truck, keen to add his voice to the Keep the Sheep campaign. Keep the Sheep campaigners say a live export ban would devastate WA farming families and their communities Credit: Bloomberg Weve had an overwhelming response to the rally and its only gaining traction, Sutherland, who is also the Livestock and Rural Transport Association of Western Australia vice-president, said. Its going to be a pretty long procession and will make an impression, but the aim is not to be an aggressive protest, its a passive protest. Australias privacy commissioner is facing questions over the credibility of her preliminary inquiry into TikTok after she told Senate estimates her office had not conducted testing of the social media app and instead relied heavily on information from the company before deciding to close its inquiry. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner earlier this week wrapped up its inquiry into TikTok, finding that despite unacceptable data harvesting practices, there was no clear and obvious breach of Australian privacy law. Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind. Credit: Edwina Pickles The watchdog had opened the inquiry following reporting by this masthead that the TikTok app harvests users data including email addresses and mobile phone numbers, often without informed consent, through a tool known as a pixel found on many websites. Tests run by this masthead found TikToks pixel scrapes a users email address and mobile phone information across some of Australias most-visited websites, including Kmart and Sportsbet, often taking the information even before a user has clicked I agree or I consent on an online form. Staff Reporter Member of Legislative Assembly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Pradeep Lariya, on Wednesday, addressed a press conference in which, he briefed the media personnel over the stand of party in Sagars incident. He said that Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav reached the district in the morning and had met the family of the decease and also directed the officials to give economic help to the family and has also ordered the officials to set up a police station in the area. He also mentioned that the accused in this incident will not be spared and tough action will be taken by the government in this regard. While addressing the press conference, Lariya, slamming the erstwhile Congress government said that it was the Congress government who didnt take action against the accused in 2019, due to which this crime was committed. A case had been registered in this regard by the Sagar Police in the erstwhile Kamal Nath led government regime but no action was taken. If the Congress government had taken action on this issue, then this murder wouldnt have been committed. The BJP is standing with the dalits and tribals of the State and is committed for their development. Sant Ravidas temple and statue are under construction in the Sagar district with a cost of Rs 100 crore. We developed Panch Teerth in the country, commemorating five milestones in the life of the architect of the constitution. On the other hand, the Congress has always gathered votes on the name of Ambedkar but have nothing for the dalits in reality. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, they are getting pucca houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Scheme and are also availing various benefits under Khadyann and Ayushman scheme. The party has also made proper arrangements for them ensuring their daily requirement while in power whereas the Congress only considered them as vote bank, he said. He said that the party is with the family of the deceased. CM Yadav has himself met the family and have assured them of every possible help. Most of the accused in the previous cases are behind the bars and this time too, the accused will be under arrest soon. State officer-bearers of the party also accompanied him during the press conference. Action against illegal fee hike has restored peoples faith, taught pvt schools a lesson By Shivanjali Verma The level of action the Jabalpur district administration has taken against the education mafia in the last few days has re-established public trust on the Government. Common public, especially guardians of school students, are quite optimistic that now their voice will not go unheard. The administration has given a sweet surprise to guardians who were victimising dictatorial attitude of school authorities for the sake of their wards. Simultaneously, a terrifying shock to private school authorities indulged in arbitrary fee hike. Teaching a lesson to school authorities who were quite rigid with their so-called policies of fee hike, Jabalpur district administration has lodged FIR against total 51 persons for recovering illegal school fee of Rs 81.30 crore and books commission of Rs 4.12 crore. In an interview with The Hitavada, Collector Deepak Saxena has clarified that the Government intentions and conveyed message to those involved in such financial irregularities that either mend their ways or face the legal action. As education and medical are two fields where a major section of parents income is consumed, unfortunately despite paying hefty fee, students are deprived of quality education and other facilities they are entitled for, within the campus. Schools are the first platform after family, where a child learns values, etiquettes, honesty and loyalty towards his/her country. Few persons who are unfortunately running the same schools, ruin the future of our nation with such acts. Now, time has come for us as a society, to analyse where we stand as citizens of a great democratic nation, expressed Jabalpur Collector. According to the Collector, We have conducted proper investigation of 80 schools and none of them have neither updated nor uploaded their audit report on the education portal which is mandatory. Whereas, the Clauses are quite clear that the school authorities need to apply for Collectors permission that too within 90 days for upto 10 percent of fee hike and for upto 15 percent of hike, the State Governments permission is compulsory. Shockingly, these schools enforced fee hike upto 45 per cent on the guardians without any permission. As per initial fee calculation, these 11 schools have collected the huge amount of more than Rs 900 crores without taking prior permission from the district administration and State Government since April 1, 2018. During investigation, we have reduced the initial calculation with minimum average of illegal fee hike on different grounds, after which we unveiled the scam of Rs. 240 crores recovered by these schools, disclosed the Collector. It is time when these schools face the consequences for their ill-deeds towards the society. The administration is receiving immense public support which is evident that their sentiments were hurt badly due to schools illegal steps and unbearable attitude. They were silent because of their children since decades. We have decided that the extra fee collected by the schools will be recovered and refunded to the parents. Even the Chief Minister appreciated our action and mentioned it an inspiration for others. Today only, the Principal Secretary Education asked about our line of action behind the entire process so that other collectors can also initiate such steps in their respective districts. In a democratic country like India, citizens lead the government to take decisions for the sake of society. Hence parents have the responsibility and right to question the school authorities about necessary permission for fee fixation. Fee hike is not the only scam, commissioning in school uniforms, textbooks and other stationaries also need to be investigated properly and it is present in our agenda. CM meets victim Dalit family; announced financial assistance By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla As the matter of a Dalit familys fight for justice in a harassment case that claimed three lives surfaced prominently, State Government and Opposition come up with assurance of all possible help. Amid growing outrage, Chief minister Mohan Yadav visited the victims family in Sagar district, before this Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to the family members over phone and assures all possible help. In a stark reminder that all political parties including ruling BJP left no stone unturned to woo Dalit voters during the elections but in this case of death of a Dalit women who was fighting for justice since last several years couldnt witness that her influential culprits were punished. Yadav assured to open a police post in Barodia Nonagir. assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the family of the deceased Rajendra Ahirwar. CM also met the family members of Pappu Rajak who was injured in this incident. But the major question about action against culprits yet to be answered in a case of death of Dalit girl who fell from ambulance. As per the police complainant, the incident took three lives in less than a year. Dalit girl who was now turned at the age of 20 years, filed a police case in 2019 against four men, alleging that they had harassed, threatened and assaulted her. According to the FIR, the complainant, then 15, was out for ablutions when Azad Thakur, Vishal Thakur, Pushpendra Thakur and Chotu Raikwar verbally abused her. Vishal Thakur, the woman alleged, also slapped her and threatened her against going to the cops. IPC sections relating to criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt were invoked, along with provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Coming months before the 2020 Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, the case became a subject of heated political exchanges between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress. Then the elections were over, and the accuseds families started pressuring the woman to withdraw her complaint. The family refused. In August last year, a mob of hundreds beat the womans 18-year-old brother to death. The complainant was also assaulted and her mother stripped when she tried to protect her son during the attack. Amid an outrage over the incident, nine people were charged with murder and sections of the stringent SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were also invoked. Two people were arrested and another long legal fight began. According to the FIR, the accused included Vikram Thakur, Vijay Thakur, Azad Thakur, Komal Thakur, Lalu Khan, Islam Khan, Golu Soni, Nafis Khan and Waheed Khan. This Saturday, the womans uncle, also a witness in the mob murder of her brother, received a call from one Pappu Rajak. Pappu told the womans uncle that the accused wanted to settle the matter. The womans uncle was asked to retract his testimony. When he refused, both he and Pappu were attacked. The womans uncle died during treatment, and Pappus condition is critical. Following a police complaint by the family, police have registered a murder case against five accused namely Aashiq Qureshi, Bablu Bena, Israel Bena, Faheem Khan and Tantu Qureshi. One of them have been arrested. For the family, more was to come. On Sunday evening, the woman who filed the sexual harassment case back in 2019 Indias contributions to global peace, securityexceptional: Kamboj NEW YORK : INDIAS Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj lauded the countrys exceptional contributions to global peace and security on the occasion of International Day of UN Peacekeepers adding that the countrys peacekeepers have time and again shown unwavering courage to protect vulnerable communities around the world. In a video message on Wednesday, Kamboj remembered those who laid their lives as part of UN peacekeeping forces and noted they have made ultimate sacrifice under the blue flag, in the pursuit of peace. Today, on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, we come together to honour Indias exceptional contributions to global peace and security. Our brave peacekeepers have shown unwavering courage, steadfast dedication, and an unyielding commitment to protecting vulnerable communities around the world, the top diplomat said in a video posted on X. She also expressed happiness at the honour for Indian peacekeeper Major Radhika Sen who was bestowed with the UN Gender Military Advocate Award for her exemplary service in Congo and leadership during her deployment there. Countless Indian peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice under the blue flag, laying down their lives in the pursuit of peace. Their deep commitment to bringing solace to those devastated by conflict stands as a pillar of hope and humanity. This year, we are particularly honoured to receive the UN Gender Military Advocate Award...a powerful testament to Indias steadfast dedication to gender equality and the invaluable role of women in peacekeeping, she said in the video. India to get another five years of stability after PM Modi's re-election as he focused on development, says Indian-American author By Lalit K. Jha Washington, May 30 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 10 years of rule has focused on development, an influential Indian-American author has said, hoping that a third term for him would give India another five years of stability and provide him an opportunity to address some of the major challenges facing the country. India can courageously counter all this (challenges being faced from outside the country). The reason India can counter all this is because of the Modi government. Despite all the things that people claim, argue and criticise, the fact is that they've delivered development. A lot more development is needed but they have delivered, Princeton-based Indian-American author Rajiv Malhotra told PTI in an interview. A prolific writer, Malhotra over the last few decades has authored several books in opposition to the Western academic study of Indian culture and society. Snake in the Ganga: Breaking India 2.0 is his latest book. Referring to the Indian media reports, Malhotra said it looks like Modi is coming back to power for the third term. Malhotra said that during his two terms, the Modi government had carried out development that benefited all sections of society. You can show statistically that every segment of society from poor to minorities, and so on have benefited. When you can show it numerically that now they have roads, clean water, better health facilities, food, and education. So then people have to say this government has delivered whereas the previous government was making all the slogans of fighting poverty etc., and not delivering, he said. Ultimately, poor people need economic development and that has been a successful central agenda of this government, Malhotra said, arguing that Modi in his third term should focus on several key challenges, including intervention from outside powers in India's internal affairs. He suggested creating a national think-tank, carrying certain constitutional amendments that give equal rights and benefits to all Indians irrespective of caste, religion and ethnicity. Malhotra, who heads the Infiniti Foundation in the US, agreed with the recent statement of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar that external forces had tried to influence the results and nature of Indian elections. First of all, let me just say that while I like Jaishankar's ability, his audacity and his quick response. That's all good. Previously they were apologetic. But I will say I have a criticism that he is not able to anticipate. He can react. He is unable to anticipate where it's coming from, where the vulnerabilities are, where the next attack is coming, who the bad guys are, and who the ones doing it are, he said. "They haven't done a diagnostic. They haven't done deep enough research. Because of that, they are running around wondering where the next attack will come. You cannot survive long-term when the other side is deciding when, how and where to attack you and then you will respond. I think in the field of physical attacks, and terrorist attacks, India has become pretty good. The intelligence agencies can stop the attacks or anticipate and respond before they happen in many cases, he said. There are many instances where they've been able to preempt attacks. But in the intellectual space of narratives of tarnishing India's image, stirring up violence against India, whether it's Khalistan, whether it's Kashmir separatists, whether it's all these woke kids who are shouting and screaming, whether it's the United Nations or whether it's the, you know, campuses and think tanks, India has not been able to (address that), Malhotra said. Malhotra alleged that the Reliance group is funding an anti-India professor in the United States. One of the worst anti-India, anti-Hindu scholars in the world is Professor (Victor David) Hanson at Stanford. He is called Reliance Dhirubhai Ambani professor at Stanford. All this dismantled Hindutva and all that, he is one of the signatories to all these things. You read his papers, it's so loud, clear, he said. He considers that this whole Hindu revival and the Hindu Rashtra idea and the RSS and Modi, are violating human rights of minorities. They should have sanctions against them. They are a bunch of Nazis. It is not like you have to be very subtle when reading it. It is so blatant out there. These people go and give a talk to the US Commission on Religious Freedom. They talk to the US Senate and Congress. They are the ones who all the enemies of India are supporting whether it's ISI, whether it's Kashmir separatists, whether it's Khalistanis. They like to quote this kind of thing. And, surprisingly, Ambani has a name on it, Malhotra alleged. ZANGILAN, Azerbaijan, May 30. Significant progress is evident in the reconstruction efforts in Azerbaijan's liberated territories, CEO of the Dona Gracia Center for Diplomacy and Israel-based journalist Rachel Avraham said on the sidelines of the 3rd International Conference on Mine Action titled "Mitigating environmental impact of landmines: resource mobilization for a safe and green future" in Zangilan, Azerbaijan, Trend reports. "This is the second time I've attended this conference, the seventh time I've been to Azerbaijan, and the fifth time I've visited Karabakh directly. I have a very positive impression of the country," she remarked. Avraham highlighted that her visit to Karabakh shortly after the war revealed the complete destruction of the territories, with no roads or infrastructure in place. "Look at Karabakh today. You have a beautiful conference center. Last year, the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) organized a wonderful conference at the Aghdam Conference Center. There was also a culinary festival in Shusha. I witnessed the construction of Fuzuli Airport, which has now been completed, and Zangilan Airport is operational. Azerbaijan is making significant progress," she noted. The Israeli journalist added that progress is impeded by Armenia's failure to provide maps of minefields. She observed that despite all obstacles, the region is experiencing rapid development, though this progress could have been even swifter if Armenia had provided maps of minefields. She stressed that the international community should impose sanctions on Armenia until they hand over the maps of minefields. The 3rd International Conference on Mine Action began its work in Zangilan, jointly organized by the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The conference is attracting significant international attention, with over 300 delegates from 75 countries participating. Among the attendees are high-ranking officials from various nations, senior UN staff, representatives from prominent international organizations, officials from demining centers worldwide, and diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Of the new-look (?!) city LOOSEFOOTING around town these days often brings home a distinct awareness that Nagpur city is assuming newer look almost on a day-to-day basis. At least cosmetically, it looks good, though loaded with faultlines of modern architecture and half-baked urban planning. Broader, cemented roads lined by pavements covered by interlocked tiles, MetroRail tracks as if scouring skies all over the city, high-rise buildings dotting the urban landscape almost everywhere, increasing numbers of fly-overs (that are in most places only half-heartedly designed) modern malls where people are seen indulging in compulsive and impulsive buying as if there is no tomorrow, posh restaurants where ordering pizzas or burgers is the order of the day, swanky cars gliding along roads all over the place, people with modern (and sometimes terribly scanty) dressing showing up everywhere in town, food-delivery boys (and some girls as well) with colourful shirts moving at break-neck speeds on their two-wheelers meeting and beating dead-lines. The city also boasts of a few clubs tucked in this or that far-corner -- where grace and grandeur and wealth are the special attributes of the social life that pulsates there. ...! These are some of the dimensions and nuances of the city that is hectically modernising itself. The overall feeling is of vibrancy, so to say. One cannot escape feeling good for the city -- at least superficially. Roam around any locality in any part of the city and the picture would be more or less the same. The high-rise buildings really look daunting in most places -- tall and lean and standing on plots that are paved to the hilt. Individual homes, too, showcase their opulence in their own way -- occasionally demonstrating arrogance as well. ...! Though the loosefooter is quite used to all this, thanks to his global exposure, at times he gathers an uncomfortable feeling (for valid reasons). For, he wonders if the city is losing its character in the quest of modern living and so-called national and even global standards. For, Nagpur was one city where everybody seemed to know everybody else -- marking a social closeness beyond class barriers. Today, that does not appear to be the case. For, in the so-called flat-culture, people do live in a single building or a building-complex, all right, but do not have what is called a common neighbourhood. The city seems to have lost the understanding of the difference between living in a single building or building-complex and living in a neighbourhood -- as if having lost meaning in translation (from old-style, traditional living to modern lifestyle) ...! The loosefooter is sure that countless among the thousands of readers of this column will agree with this observation. He is sure, they, too, are feeling similar pangs of the fangs of changing ways and means of the city. Another grief that pinches the loosefooter hard is about a continual decline in green cover and increasing disrespect for water-bodies on the part of both, the people in general and the administrative, political and social leadership of the city in particular. He feels terribly hurt that the city has lost a few water bodies in the space of a couple of decades, and has made a grand mess of its three rivers. He also is traumatised that beautiful green landscapes of the city -- like the Seminary Hills, for example -- are being lost to human greed and thoughtless and arrogant approach to urban planning. Yet, there is no disputing the fact that the city is assuming a new look which has its own attractions. The loosefooter appreciates modern urban planning, but insists that it should not be devoid of deep thought -- which appears to be missing in Nagpurs planning process. If this is all urban planning is, then the loosefooter is afraid that in a few years, we -- the citizens of Nagpur -- may come to grief from which we may have no redemption. He will never hazard a negative prediction. Yet, he realises that that situation will never be welcome for us. n Prajwal books flight from Munich to Bluru, likely to reach on Friday BENGALURU, SUSPENDED JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing sexual abuse charges, has booked a return flight ticket to Bengaluru from Munich on May 30, official sources said on Wednesday. According to sources in the Special Investigation Team, the 33-year-old grandson of JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda is expected to land in Bengaluru in the small hours of May 31. The SIT is maintaining vigil at the Kempegowda Airport here to arrest him as soon as he lands, they said. The MP, who is seeking re-election as the NDA candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, fled to a foreign country as soon as the news broke out that the Karnataka State Commission for Women requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to order an investigation into the huge cache of explicit videos showing several women being sexually assaulted allegedly by him. So far two cases of sexual assault have been registered against Prajwal. Two days ago, the Hassan MP released a video message in which he promised to appear before the SIT on May 31 and cooperate with the inquiry. The MP has twice cancelled the flight ticket from Germany in the past, the sources added. SIT, FSL sleuths search Prajwals residence: THE Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) sleuths and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducted an extensive search at the residence Prajwal Revanna, in Hassan. The search operation that began at Prajwal Revannas RC Nagar residence late on Tuesday night continued till Wednesday morning. Sources said that the teams had seized beds, mattresses blankets, pillows and other articles from the house. The search operation conducted along with Hassan City police went on for more than 10 hours. The team also searched and collected samples of fingerprints from the house. SDM Adhartal issues notice to medicine shop for operating without FSSAI license Staff Reporter SDM Adhartal has carried out inspection at a private hospital, sweet shop and fish market and issued notice to medicine shop for not having FSSAI license. The district administration continued with its proceedings to ensure compliance with the rules in all types of business units, hotels, restaurants, private hospitals, petrol pumps, gas agencies, medical stores and educational institutions continued for the eighth consecutive day. According to the fixed roster, the investigation team under the leadership of SDM Adhartal Shivali Singh and CSP Aadhartal, Priyanka Karcham inspected KGN Hospital located at Junk Chowki, Saif Nagar and the medical store attached to it, Fish Market at Adhartal and Bishan Sweets located at Birsa Munda Chowk. SDM Adhartal, Shivali Singh informed that inspection at KGN hospital was conducted on the basis of complaints received against the hospital management. During inspection, the investigation team found many irregularities in this private hospital including expired fire NOC. The hospital had got the license for Ayurvedic treatment but admitted the patients for allopathy treatment. The hospital director was clearly instructed by the investigation team to treat the patients only through Ayurvedic methods until he gets the allopathy license. SDM Adhartal said that the team also inspected the medical shop KGN Pharma attached to the hospital and collected samples for different medicines for testing. A case was also registered against this medicine shop for not having FSSAI license. Following the doubt of adulteration, samples of namkeen, banana chips, khova, gram flour, laddu, food colour, cream, rasmalai and cake were taken from Bishan Sweets located at Birsa Munda Chowk by the investigation team. These samples are being sent to the State Food Laboratory, Bhopal for testing. The investigation team also inspected the fish market located at Aadhartal. The team issued notices to the shopkeepers for not having health check-up of employees working in the fish market, not having food safety display boards and selling fish in the open. Samples of lobster and chicken from the fish market were also taken by the investigation team for testing. The investigation team also included officials from the Health Department, Municipal Corporation, Food and Drug Administration, Labor and Weights and Measures Department. SDM Aadhartal said that the investigation team also ensured the availability of MTP license at Swastik Hospital located at Deendayal Chowk. As last Tuesday, when the investigation team not found the license under Medical Termination of Pregnancy during inspection, the hospital management was instructed to obtain it from the Health Department. Sitabuldi Police nab four men red-handed with fake currency notes Staff Reporter Sitabuldi Police arrested four fraudsters red-handed while attempting to deceive a man with counterfeit currency. The police seized counterfeit notes of Rs 500, Rs 200, and Rs 100 denominations with a face value of Rs 25 lakh. The accused have been identified as Satish Dhnyandev Gaikwad (29), a resident of Wadoda village in Malkapur tehsil of Buldhana district; Gautam Raju Bhalavi (21) and Shubham Sahdev Pradhan (27), both residents of IC Chowk, Hingna Road, Nagpur; Monu alias Shabbir Balakat Sheikh (27), a resident of Hingna Road, Nagpur. According to the police, Rahul Vasudev Thakur (31), a resident of Sushila Nagar, Jhingabai Takli, clicked on an advertisement on Facebook on Monday night and was directed to a phone number. He noted down the number and dialed it. The person, who answered the call, assured him of providing Rs eight lakh against Rs 2 lakh and claimed to have printing machines for Indian currency notes. Suspecting fraud, Thakur informed the police about the deal which led them to lay a trap and arrest the fraudsters red-handed when they handed over a bag to Thakur at Maharajbagh in the evening. Upon inspection, the police discovered 44 bundles of notes in the bag. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Changes to the roadmap for implementing the 'Market Competition' indicator of the World Bank (WB) project will be completed this autumn, Deputy Head of the Azerbaijani State Service for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the Ministry of Economy Jafar Babayev said, Trend reports. He made the remark during today's meeting of the working group on commodity market efficiency and competition of the Business Environment and International Ratings Commission, held in Baku. "Changes to the 2024 roadmap related to the implementation of improvements and communications in the area concerning the 'Market Competition' indicator of the World Bank Group's 'Business Ready' project will be ready by the end of August to early September," Babayev explained. To note, Azerbaijan will be included in the WB's 'Business ready' report starting next year. A preliminary assessment was carried out to improve the business environment in accordance with the provisions of the above report. In this regard, roadmaps have been developed. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Azerbaijan is actively working to align its standards with the World Bank's business rating, Deputy Head of the State Service for Antimonopoly Supervision and Consumer Market Control under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan Jafar Babayev told reporters, Trend reports. According to him, the country is taking significant steps to improve its position. As you know, the Competition Code has been adopted, a new law on state sales has been adopted, and significant steps have been made in the field of innovation. Further improvement in these areas is envisaged in the roadmap approved by the end of this year. International practice and especially the new business rating of the World Bank require us to further improve the legislation. There are many nuances in this area. In this regard, we are working to fully comply with this rating, he said. Will be updated BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. Following the one-on-one meeting of the two ministers, the delegations held a meeting in an extended format. "During the meeting, the ministers expressed their high regard for the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, underscoring that reciprocal visits and high-level engagements significantly bolster the further development of relations across all sectors. Bayramov extended gratitude to Pakistan for its unwavering political and moral support extended to Azerbaijan during Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territories, throughout the Second Karabakh War, and in the post-war period. During the discussion, Bayramov reiterated Azerbaijan's principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, emphasizing support for a peaceful resolution following international law norms and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The sides emphasized the significance of broad cooperation across various sectors, including energy, information technology, pharmaceuticals, heavy and light industry, chemistry, agriculture, tourism, transport, defense, education, humanitarian affairs, and more. The positive impact of direct flights between the two countries on tourism and people-to-people connections was highlighted. Satisfaction was expressed regarding the development of cooperation in education and humanitarian endeavors, including the operation of language and cultural centers in educational institutions of both nations, along with training programs. The ministers emphasized the importance of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in terms of further deepening ties and increasing mutual investments. During the meeting, it was mentioned that Azerbaijan places significant importance on its cooperation with Pakistan within various international organizations, such as the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Economic Cooperation Organization, and Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. Furthermore, it was noted that Azerbaijan's hosting of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) presents new avenues for collaboration, particularly in green energy. The Azerbaijani minister also extensively briefed his counterpart on the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the ongoing restoration and reconstruction efforts in the post-conflict territories liberated from occupation, including the issue of mine threats. During the meeting, the parties also discussed other bilateral and regional matters of mutual concern. Following the bilateral discussions, a joint press conference was held with the participation of both ministers, during which they addressed questions from the media," the ministry said. 11:30 Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, the statement of Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports. The ministers held extensive discussions on various topics. The goals of further developing strategic partnerships between Azerbaijan and Pakistan were also discussed. Multilateral cooperation, which further strengthens the two countries' positions at regional and global levels, took a key place on the agenda. To note, within the framework of the visit, a meeting between Bayramov and other high-ranking officials of Pakistan is also scheduled. 10:29 Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov has arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, the statement of Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports. He was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. ''They will hold comprehensive talks on bilateral and regional issues,'' the statement reads. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ZANGILAN, Azerbaijan, May 30. It is planned to reconstruct 3 towns, 5 settlements, and 24 villages in Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts by the end of 2026, special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts Vahid Hajiyev said, Trend reports. He made the announcement during the III International Conference on Humanitarian Demining on the theme Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines - Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future. Today, construction is underway in East Zangezur and Karabakh, with active projects in different parts of the region. Our main task includes the reconstruction of 3 cities, 5 towns, and 24 villages in Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan. The works are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026, he emphasized. He said that these initiatives are based on the principles of modern urban planning that prioritize sustainability, inclusiveness, and safety. One of the major challenges during the reconstruction is mine clearance and security. These areas were heavily contaminated with mines during nearly 30 years of occupation, making them some of the most affected areas, he added. To note, more than 300 delegates from 75 countries are taking part in the III International Humanitarian Conference on Mine Action, organized by Azerbaijan. Among the participants are top officials of several countries, leading staff of the UN Head Office, representatives of authoritative international organizations, officials of demining centers of various countries, as well as officials of diplomatic missions accredited in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the Conference themed Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future, Trend reports. "Dear Conference participants, I welcome you on the occasion of the opening of the International Conference themed Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future. Today, mines and unexploded ordnance continue to remain an acute problem posing threat to peoples security across many countries. Along with jeopardizing human life, the mines seriously challenge socioeconomic development, damage the environment and cultural heritage, hinder post-war recovery and development initiatives, and ultimately impede the Sustainable Development Goals, even decades after wars have ended. While mine explosions pose a threat to peoples lives and put their very right to live into question, they also significantly damage the environment. Plastic waste resulting from an explosion entails environmental consequences by negatively impacting soil structure. Mines that remain unearthed for a long time can lead to hazardous chemical reactions. The soil not in use due to threat of mines is subjected to erosion and abrasion. Therefore, it is particularly significant that todays conference is organized in the run-up to the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP29, which Azerbaijan will host. Azerbaijan is bearing the brunt of a 30-year long conflict and occupation of its lands by Armenia, suffering from mine pollution problem and stands among the most mine-polluted countries of the world. According to initial estimates, roughly 12 percent of the countrys territory is polluted by 1.5 million mines and an unknown number of unexploded ordnances. Since the end of the war in 2020, 361 of our citizens, mostly civilians, have fallen victim to mine explosion, resulting in 68 deaths and 293 severe injuries. Overall, since the beginning of Armenias aggression against Azerbaijan, over 3400 of our citizens have suffered from mines, including 358 children and 38 women. The steady increase in the number of mine victims is associated with Armenias refusal to provide the accurate maps of the mines it planted across Azerbaijans territory, and with placing booby traps along the roads, cemeteries, and other civilian facilities located behind the former line of contact. From 2020 to 2023, new mine zones were created stretching up to 500 kilometers, new mines had been planted in Azerbaijan. Responsibility for that rests with Armenia. Challenges we face on demining also hamper our development and recovery efforts, creating serious obstacles for the return of 800 thousand formerly displaced persons. Humanitarian demining is among the top priorities of Azerbaijans state policies, and the foundation of that was laid by the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev. Today, the primary body in charge of humanitarian demining in Azerbaijan is the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan ANAMA. So far, some 140 thousand hectares have been cleared of 119,946 mines and unexploded ordnances. Yet, mined areas stretch far beyond that. Mines are easy to plant but mine clearance is much more difficult and complex process. In a short span of time, Azerbaijan has mobilized all its strength, and is using the most advanced and cutting-edge technologies available worldwide. We are implementing measures to enhance efficiency in mine clearance, and our capabilities have significantly improved compared to previous years. All-women demining teams have also been deployed since last year. Our country is implementing humanitarian demining at its own expense. Adequate political and practical support from the international community for mitigating humanitarian consequences of mines and demining the affected areas are of utmost significance. While addressing its mine problem, Azerbaijan has simultaneously launched multiple initiatives to rivet the international communitys attention to this matter. As you may know, last year our country has officially declared humanitarian demining as the 18th National Sustainable Development Goal, and we are working to ensure the recognition of this issue as the UNs Global 18th SDG. In the meantime, Azerbaijan has launched an initiative to establish a Special Contact Group on Humanitarian Demining within the Non-Aligned Movement. The Contact Group has begun operating since last September. At the 15th meeting of the states-parties to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, held in 2013, a resolution titled The Impact of Mines on Cultural Heritage was adopted upon Azerbaijans initiative. As a follow-up to this momentous resolution, Azerbaijan hosted a special conference in Aghdam this May, themed The Impact of Mines and Unexploded Ordnance on Cultural Property. In the past three years, our country has hosted a number of international conferences, in collaboration with the UN, dedicated to the subject of mines. Along with being leading platforms for the discussion of mine action matters, these events draw greater attention to this significant problem that troubles humanity in the modern era. Presently, Azerbaijan is working with the UN to establish the Center of Excellence to provide education on the mine action. A letter of intent is due to be signed between the ANAMA and the UN Development Programme on the sidelines of this Conference. This notable development will allow Azerbaijan to share its expertise with the countries that face similar problems. Todays event demonstrates Azerbaijans determination to tackle the mine issue, one of the challenges of modern times. I believe that this conference will contribute to addressing the problem of mines and their consequences, including the environmental impact, as well as to the exchange of advanced experience in the area of the mine action. I extend my best wishes to you and wish the conference every success," reads the address of the President Ilham Aliyev. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. So far, some 140 thousand hectares have been cleared of 119,946 mines and unexploded ordnances. Yet, mined areas stretch far beyond that, said President Ilham Aliyev in his address to the participants of the International Conference themed Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future held in the city of Zangilan, Trend reports. In a short span of time, Azerbaijan has mobilized all its strength, and is using the most advanced and cutting-edge technologies available worldwide. We are implementing measures to enhance efficiency in mine clearance, and our capabilities have significantly improved compared to previous years. All-women demining teams have also been deployed since last year. Our country is implementing humanitarian demining at its own expense. Adequate political and practical support from the international community for mitigating humanitarian consequences of mines and demining the affected areas is of utmost significance, the President of Azerbaijan added. ZANGILAN, Azerbaijan, May 30. A total of 3,440 mine victims have been registered in Azerbaijan since 1991 to date, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) Vugar Suleymanov said, Trend reports. He made the remark at today's 3rd International Conference on Humanitarian Demining on the topic Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines - Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future in Zangilan. From November 2020 through May 30, 2024, 361 Azerbaijani citizens have been affected by mines. Of these, 293 people (128 civilians and 165 military servicemen) were injured, and 68 people (53 civilians and 15 military servicemen) were killed, he emphasized. Suleymanov added that currently, about 10,285 square kilometers of the country are contaminated to varying degrees by landmines, with estimates that up to 1.5 million landmines were laid during the occupation. According to him, to date, 1,385 square kilometers of Azerbaijani territory have been cleared of mines. To note, the 3rd International Humanitarian Demining Conference is attended by over 300 delegates from 75 countries. The participants include high-ranking officials from various countries, senior UN headquarters staff, representatives of reputable international organizations and demining centers from different countries, as well as officials from accredited diplomatic missions in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Modi is first PM to lower dignity of public discourse, gravity of office: Manmohan Singh | NEW DELHI, May 30 : Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh criticised his successor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday for making divisive speeches during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign. In an appeal to voters in Punjab ahead of the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polls on June 1, Singh asked the voters to give love, peace, fraternity, and harmony a chance and asserted that only the Congress can ensure a growth-oriented, progressive future where democracy and the Constitution will be safeguarded. Hitting out Modi's recent poll campaign rhetoric, Singh wrote, "No prime minister in the past has uttered such hateful, unparliamentary terms to target either a specific section of the society or the opposition." "Modi ji has indulged in the most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive in nature. Modi ji is the first prime minister to lower the dignity of public discourse and thereby the gravity of the office of prime minister," the former PM's letter read. The senior Congress leader also hit out at Modi for attributing false statements to him, saying, "I have never in my life singled out one community from the other. That is the sole copyright of the BJP." Singh's remarks came in response to a claim made by PM Modi at an election rally in Rajasthan, where Modi alleged that if Congress returned to power, Muslims would have the first right to the countrys resources. In the same speech, Modi had alleged that Manmohan Singh had made a similar statement during his tenure as Prime Minister. Singh said people of India are seeing through all of this. "This narrative of dehumanisation has now reached its peak. It is now our duty to save our beloved nation from these forces of discord," he wrote. The senior Congress leader also lambasted the Union government and PM Modi's response to the farmers agitation, adding that the BJP had left "no stone unturned in castigating Punjab, Punjabis, and Punjabiyat." "750 farmers, mostly belonging to Punjab, were martyred while incessantly waiting at Delhi borders, for months together. As if the lathis and the rubber bullets were not enough, none less than the Prime Minister verbally assaulted our farmers by calling them 'Andolanjeevis' and 'Parjeevi' (Parasites) on the floor of the Parliament," Dr Singh wrote. PTI Power outage | IMPHAL, May 30 : Amid the devastating situation in Manipur brought by Cyclone Remal, some areas have been gripped by power outage and consumers in these areas are unlikely to get power supply for some days The Manipur State Power Company Limited (MSPCL) has informed that some of the areas covered by its 33/11 KV sub-stations are facing power outage due to the current weather. MSPCL, in a statement, said that areas covered by Sekmai sub-station, Kang-pokpi sub-station, Gampha- zol sub-station, Mayang-khang sub-station, Gelnel sub-station, Tamei sub-station and Lakhamai sub- station are facing power outage because of the failure of the 33 KV transmission lines feeding these sub-stations. Saying that various poles were found damaged and washed away by the increased water level along Imphal River and the heavy rainfall and landslides caused by Cyclone Remal, the MSPCL added that repairing of the poles will only be possible when the water level subsides and roads become accessible. All the consumers of the seven sub-stations have been requested to bear the inconvenience for some days. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. The return of Gazakh villages, long occupied by Armenia, to Azerbaijan makes a positive contribution to the process of normalizing the situation, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said, Trend reports. He made the statement during a press conference with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad. He noted that Azerbaijan has always appreciated Pakistan's firm political and moral support for Azerbaijan during the past Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, the 44-day Patriotic War, and afterward. Our position on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has also always been consistent. Azerbaijan supports a peaceful solution to this issue based on the norms and principles of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and with full respect for international law. Today I informed my colleague about the post-conflict situation in our region and Azerbaijan's work on rehabilitation and reconstruction in the liberated territories. The recent agreement on the delimitation of a certain portion of the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the return of long-time Armenian-occupied villages to Azerbaijan positively contribute to the normalization track. Azerbaijan is committed to the peace process, and we hope that it will yield positive results for a prosperous and secure region for all countries, Bayramov said. To note, as a result of delimitation works, a 12.7 km long border line was defined, thus ensuring the return of territories (6.5 square kilometers) of four villages in the Gazakh district of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Baganys Ayrim, Ashagy Askipara, Kheyrimli, and Gyzylhajily to Azerbaijan. These villages were taken under the control of the State Border Guard Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan on May 24. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Blood donation camps have come to a stop due to prevailing heatwave-like conditions and election code of conduct. Most blood donation camps are conducted by political parties. They can only resume their blood donation camps after completion of the election process. Most of the social welfare organizations without the assistance from political parties are unable to organize blood donation camps. Some of the organizations are setting up blood donation camps but due to excessive heat not many blood donors are turning up at camps. The Hooghly district rural police came forward to extend their helping hand and organized a blood donation camp jointly with Arambagh Medical College Hospital in the hospital premises. Advertisement More than 65 police personnel donated their blood. On the occasion were present Hooghly district rural police commissioner Kamanasish Sen, additional commissioner Krishanu Roy, Arambagh SDPO Suprabhat Chakraborty, Arambagh IC Rakesh Singh, Arambagh Medical college hospital senior doctor Rama Prasad Roy and other dignitaries. Kamanasish Sen said the district is facing acute shortage of blood in different blood banks. To execute our social responsibilities towards the welfare of the society, the Hooghly district rural police organized a blood donation camp jointly with the Arambagh Medical College Hospital. Our personnel are ready to donate their blood to save lives. However, following the limitations of blood donation at present, only 65 police personnel donated blood. More such camps will be held by different police stations in the district to meet the acute shortage in different blood banks in the district, said Mr Sen. The water provided by Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) for drinking is entirely unfit for human consumption. According to Siliguri mayor Goutam Deb, citizens are advised to refrain from drinking water until the Corporation issues further instructions. The mayor, while speaking to the media, expressed regret for providing drinking water that is not suitable for people to drink. Advertisement I apologize to the people of Siliguri, said mayor Goutam Deb. After receiving a laboratory test report of water samples collected by the public health engineering on 23 May, the SMC made a decision based on the findings from the Pollution Control Board. The Siliguri mayor reported that the BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) levels in the water were below average, indicating a breakdown of organic material in the water. It should be mentioned that numerous individuals experienced stomach issues after drinking the water provided by the SMC in the past two weeks. The issue was brought to attention when a significant number of patients had to urgently seek treatment at Siliguri Hospital and North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMC&H) due to abdominal problems. In response to the urgent repair of embankments damaged by a flash flood in Sikkim in October 2023, the Teesta Barrage Project authorities halted the supply of raw water from the Teesta. Consequently, the SMC was forced to limit the availability of drinking water. The PHE, after consulting with the SMC, opted to continue providing drinking water from the Mahananda as a substitute for surface water. The West Bengal Pollution Control Boards report states that the Mahananda river in West Bengal is highly contaminated. The PHE is responsible for providing drinking water from its treatment facility in Fulbari, near Siliguri in Jalpaiguri. This water is supplied to the SMC, NBMC&H, and some rural areas close to Uttarkanya, a branch secretariat. The inhabitants of the area, who enjoy consuming water from Fulbari treatment facilities, were forced to discontinue collecting water due to experiencing stomach issues. As a result, they had to purchase bottled water sourced from underground reserves at the market. On 9 May, the irrigation and waterways department made the decision to initiate repairs on the Teesta Barrage projects embankments and other issues. It was also unanimously decided that the provision of untreated water would persist from 25 May. However, due to intense precipitation in the higher catchment areas, the officials were unable to finish the essential repairs within the given timeframe. The Mayor expressed his hope that the department of irrigation and waterways would begin providing untreated surface water from the river Teesta starting on 2 June. The PHE has also gathered water samples from various locations for testing in a laboratory, and the results are currently pending. Due to an unsatisfactory BOD report, the SMC is advising people not to consume the water until further notice. However, it can still be used for other purposes, Mr Deb added. As per Mr Deb, the SMC will use newspapers and local TV channels to inform the public about the current state of affairs through published notices and broadcasts. In order to provide a substitute solution for drinking water, 26 water tanks will be utilized in a rotational manner across 47 wards within the Corporation area. In addition, the population will receive a daily supply of 100,000 new water pouches, Mr Deb added. Shankar Ghosh, the BJP MLA for Siliguri, expressed unhappiness over the Corporations actions and suggested that the mayor should have tested the water sample before distributing it to the public. Currently, the people of Siliguri are experiencing a severe shortage of drinking water. The impoverished individuals are forced to gather water from various sources. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday imposed business restrictions with immediate effect on two Edelweiss Group firms ECL Finance Limited and Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company Limited, citing material supervisory concerns. The RBI has directed ECL Finance Ltd (ECL) to cease and desist, with immediate effect, from undertaking any structured transactions in respect of its wholesale exposures, other than repayment and/ or closure of accounts in its normal course of business The RBI has also ordered Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (EARCL) to cease and desist from the acquisition of financial assets, including security receipts (SRs) and reorganising the existing SRs into senior and subordinate tranches. Advertisement The RBI said that the action is based on material concerns observed during the course of supervisory examinations, essentially arising out of conduct of the group entities acting in concert, by entering into a series of structured transactions for evergreening stressed exposures of ECL, using the platform of EARCL and connected AIFs, thereby circumventing applicable regulations. Incorrect valuation of SRs was also observed in both ECL and EARCL. Apart from the above, in ECL, supervisory observations included submission of incorrect details of its eligible book debts to its lenders for computation of drawing power, non-compliance with loan to value norms for lending against shares, incorrect reporting to Central Repository for Information on Large Credits system (CRILC) and non-adherence to Know Your Customer (KYC) guidelines, the RBI said. ECL, by taking over loans from non-lender entities of the group for ultimate sale to the group ARC, allowed itself to be used as a conduit to circumvent regulations which permit ARCs to acquire financial assets only from banks and financial institutions, according to the RBI. In EARCL, other violations included not placing the Reserve Banks supervisory letter issued after the previous inspection for 2021-22 before the Board, non-compliance with regulations pertaining to the settlement of loans and sharing of non-public information of its clients with group entities, the RBI said. Instead of taking meaningful remedial action to rectify the said deficiencies, it was observed that the group entities were resorting to new ways to circumvent regulations, the RBI added. The Reserve Bank of India, in its annual report, on Thursday said its balance sheet increased 11.08% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 70.47 trillion as on March 31, 2024, riding on liquidity and foreign exchange operations. Notably, the balance sheet was Rs 63.44 trillion a year ago. Further, the balance sheet increased to 24.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) at end-March 2024, from 23.5% at end-March 2023. The balance sheet has returned to its pre-pandemic level, the central bank highlighted in the report. Advertisement RBIs income increased 17.04% Y-o-Y to Rs 2.75 trillion. The increase was mainly due to profit from foreign exchange sales. Further, the report said that the expenditure declined by 56.29% Y-o-Y to Rs 64,694.33 crore. This included a provision of Rs 42,819.91 crore made and transferred to the contingency fund (CF). The allocation was meant to protect the central bank from the depreciation of value in securities and risks from monetary and forex operations. In FY23, Rs 1.30 trillion was allocated to CF. The contingency risk buffer now stands at 6.5% of the balance sheet at the end of March 2024, up from 6% at end-March 2023. The norm is maintaining a risk buffer between 5.5 and 6.5%. The increase on the asset side was due to a rise in foreign investments, gold, and loans and advances. On the liability side, the expansion was due to an increase in notes issued by 3.88%, deposits 27%, and other liabilities 92.57%. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is particularly focused on efforts to achieve peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Josh Huck said, Trend reports. Huck made the statement during his speech at a reception organized by the Azerbaijani Embassy in the US, dedicated to Azerbaijan's Independence Day on May 28 and the Day of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan on June 26, in Washington. For thirty-two years, the United States and Azerbaijan have maintained a partnership founded on friendship, common interests, and mutual respect, Huck noted. He emphasized that for many years, Azerbaijan and the US have collaborated in combating terrorism and violent extremism, as well as promoting Azerbaijani gas and oil to Western markets. According to the official, Antony Blinken personally pays special attention to efforts aimed at establishing and developing these ties, as well as achieving a just and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. There are currently positive developments in this direction. I think this process will soon progress even further. The United States is always ready to provide support in this direction, he added. Josh Huck reiterated the United States' support for Azerbaijan's independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The popular adage the road to Delhi goes via Uttar Pradesh continues to hold sway, prompting both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to focus on the state during their campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Chief Minister has even set the ambitious target of securing 80 out of 80 seats in UP and has devised a strategy accordingly. The seemingly foolproof strategy, on one hand, glorifies achievements of PM Modi in the last 10 years of his tenure, in addition to highlighting the accomplishments of the state government over the past seven years. On the other hand, it relentlessly corners the opposition for their alleged past misdeeds, lack of vision for the country, an exclusive dynastic and regressive approach, favouring the mafia and corruption, as well as their lacklustre campaigning, a senior BJP leader claimed here on Thursday. Advertisement CM Yogi Adityanath, in his rallies within the state and outside, along with describing the achievements of the central and the state governments, has continuously attacked the opposition over issues related to faith, culture, development and peoples welfare as well as its intimacy with the mafia and the corrupt. Notably, Narendra Modi has had two successful terms as the Prime Minister of the country and UPs contribution to his success in terms of seats has been significant on both the occasions. The BJP said CM Yogi coined a new term Ram Drohi in this election, describing the contest as a battle between Ram Bhakts (devotees of Lord Ram) and Ram Drohis (Ram traitors). The Chief Minister refers to the Ram Bhakts as those who, along with their ancestors, long dreamed of building the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, actively participated in the movement during the SP governments tenure, and even faced bullets in pursuit of their cause. Conversely, he describes Ram traitors as those who obstructed the temples construction, fired upon devotees, and provided various arguments to delay the Supreme Courts decision. The statement is aimed at wooing Hindu votes, which the opposition parties have allegedly been trying desperately to divide. CM Yogi has also been trying to corner the opposition parties on the issue of cow slaughter and the consumption of beef by referring to its manifesto in which the party advocates granting minorities the freedom to consume whatever they desire. CM Yogi alleges that through this, the Congress is promising the minorities the freedom to slaughter cows and eat beef, which, he claims, violates the faith of the majority society. It is worth mentioning here that cow is worshipped in India and its slaughter or beef consumption are prohibited in the country. The Yogi government made the cow slaughter law even more stringent in 2020, under which there is a provision of imprisonment up to 10 years and double the punishment if found guilty again. When former Pakistani minister Fawad Chaudhary praised Rahul Gandhi, CM Yogi introduced the topic of Pakistan into the election discourse for the first time. Later, when Congress leaders talked about Pakistans atom bomb, CM Yogi seized the opportunity once again to train his guns at the party and the entire INDI alliance, projecting them as the ones whose sentiments lied with the mafia and the terrorists. CM Yogi has attacked the opposition continuously for conspiring to cut into the reservations meant for the SC, ST and OBC and giving them to the people of a particular religion against the spirit of the Constitution and wishes of Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar. CM Yogi has also accused the Congress of planning to implement inheritance tax in the country to rob people of their ancestral properties. In his statements, CM Yogi had accused the Congress and the opposition of engaging in appeasement politics, labelling their actions as anti-majority and discriminatory against SC, ST, and OBC communities. Additionally, he has claimed that the opposition intends to implement personal laws, asserting that the country should be governed by the Constitution, not Sharia. The CMs allegations seem to have a demoralising effect on the opposition parties, as they have been unable to clarify their positions on the issues. CM Yogi has launched a consistent attack on the opposition parties on the issue of nepotism. Mentioning SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as two boys, he criticises them of criminal negligence on the issues of internal and border security as well as safety of women and traders. The PM and the CM have cornered the opposition so much right from the beginning of their poll campaign, that they lost the steam to take on the ruling party effectively during their own campaign. Actor Amit Sadh has just unveiled the trailer for his eagerly anticipated YouTube series, Motorcycles Saved My Life. The series, which chronicles his epic journey from Mumbai to Leh, is set to debut on June 5th, 2024a date that holds special significance as it marks both World Environment Day and Amits birthday. The trailer opens with a compelling message: The Wait is Over. Viewers are immediately transported to the majestic Himalayan ranges, with stunning visuals that capture the beauty and diversity of the landscape. The footage showcases Amit interacting with locals and immersing himself in a variety of unique experiences, all while promoting the joys and benefits of motorcycle riding. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amit Sadh (@theamitsadh) Amit expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, Im incredibly excited to share my journey with viewers on World Environment Day. Nature has always been close to my heart, and releasing this series on a day dedicated to the environment feels particularly meaningful. My 28-day journey from Mumbai to Leh was nothing short of incredible, and I cant wait for everyone to see it through my eyes. He further elaborated on the personal significance of the series, explaining, This series isnt just about the rideits about my healing journey and the transformative power of travel. Im passionate about safe riding and protecting nature, and I hope to inspire others through my experiences. Motorcycles Saved My Life is a piece of my heart, and I hope viewers cherish it as much as my team and I enjoyed creating it. The series comprises three episodes, all set to premiere on Amits YouTube channel on June 5th. Each episode promises to deliver a blend of breathtaking scenery, heartfelt moments, and insightful interactions, offering a unique perspective on the joys of motorcycle travel and the importance of environmental conservation. As anticipation builds, fans are eagerly looking forward to joining Amit on this remarkable journey. The series not only celebrates the thrill of adventure but also underscores the profound impact of connecting with nature and embracing sustainable practices. Be sure to mark your calendars for June 5th to experience Motorcycles Saved My Life and ride along with Amit Sadh as he shares his inspiring journey through some of Indias most spectacular landscapes. The Special Judge, MCOCA Court, Mumbai on Wednesday sentenced Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 16 lakh in Jaya Sesu Shetty murder case. The Union government had transferred 71 cases involving Chhota Rajan to the CBI for investigation including the case pertaining to murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty, said the CBI in a communique. The case was initially registered by the Gamdevi Police Station in Mumbai under sections of IPC and Arms Act. The FIR in the case alleged that two unknown persons entered the premises of a Mumbai hotel and fired at the owner Jaya Sesu Shetty, as he had failed to meet the extortion demand. Advertisement The Mumbai Police had filed a chargesheet before the Special MCOCA Court, Mumbai against three accused persons in this case. After taking over the investigation, the CBI filed a supplementary charge-sheet on February 28 in 2019 against Chhota Rajan before the MCOCA Court, Mumbai. During the course of investigation, the CBI was able to trace and examine other relevant witnesses including ex-member of the Chhota Rajan Gang apart from others cited by local Police. On the basis of evidence collected during the investigation, the CBI was able to prove that the murder of the hotel owner was committed on the instructions of the accused as head of organized crime syndicate, the agency said. Notably, as per the Central probe agency, this is the second case investigated by it involving Chhota Rajan, in which he has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Earlier, in 2018, the accused was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in another murder case investigated by CBI. Campaigning for the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh ended this evening in 13 constituencies in Purvanchal of Uttar Pradesh. This phase will witness the VVIP Varanasi seat where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting for the third time. Along with the Prime Minister, fate of three Unions ministers Anupriya Patel ( Mirzapur), Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey ( Chandauli) and Pankaj Choudhury ( Maharajganj) will be decided in this phase among the 144 candidates in the fray. Advertisement Besides, Chief minister Yogi Adityanaths political acumen would be tested on his home turf Gorakhpur, which he won five times. Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan Shukla is trying his luck for the second time from the constituency. All eyes will also be on the performance of UP Congress president Ajay Rai, who is pitted against the PM in Varanasi. Ghazipur seat is also important where it will be seen which way it will swing in the absence of mafia-turned politician Mukhtar Ansari. In this phase in 2019, the BJP had won 9 seats while its ally Apna Dal ( Sonelal) had won Mirzapur and Sonbhadra seats. In the opposition, BSP, which had an alliance with the SP, had won Ghazipur and Ghosi seats during the last general elections. The campaigning which ended this evening at 6 pm was impacted by the prevailing severe heatwave conditions. As the soaring temperature crossed 45 degrees C in Purvanchal, the campaigning centred around small election meetings of big leaders. Due to the heatwave, political party leaders and candidates focused their canvassing either in the morning hours or in the evening. However in this phase , all focus is on Varanasi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting for a hat-trick win. Though the PM has not addressed any meeting after his roadshow and filing of nominations on May 13-14, almost all the senior BJP and NDA leaders have camped in the temple city to woo the voters. The PM also sent letters and video messages to his Varanasi voters to seek their support. Before the end of the campaign, he also appealed to the people of Kashi to vote in large numbers. The 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of this phase Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon (SC), Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Robertsganj (SC) are located in 11 districts. The Duddhi Assembly by-election falls under the Sonbhadra district. There are over 2.49 crore voters 1.32 crore male and 1.17 crore female in the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of the seventh phase. There are a total of 14,183 polling stations and 25,658 polling booths in these constituencies. Similarly, there are a total of 3.43 lakh voters 1.80 lakh male and 1.63 lakh female in 403-Duddhi (SC) assembly sub-constituency. State Chief Electoral Officer( CEO) Navdeep Rinwa said here on Thursday that after the end of the campaigning at 6pm, all election-related activities and campaigns are prohibited in the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies and Duddhi, where byelection is being held. Additionally, after the campaign period ends, the presence of external workers and officials from all political parties will be strictly forbidden in these constituencies. The CEO said in view of the scorching heat, necessary arrangements have been made at the polling stations, which include cold drinking water, toilets for men and women, and wheelchairs and chairs for people with disabilities and older people. Additionally, shades have been installed on the polling station premises extending to voter queues. Paramedics and ASHA workers at each polling station have been equipped with an ample supply of ORS and medical kits to safeguard against the heat. Paramedic staff has also been deployed alongside Sector Magistrates, he said. The CEO said the emergency ambulance service is available and has been kept at suitable places so that, if needed, they can be quickly sent to the polling stations and polling booths. The Chief Electoral Officer has advised the polling personnel and voters to use light cotton clothes while taking full precautions to avoid the heat. To protect from the scorching sun, keep a cap, umbrella, white cotton towel, or any other cloth covering the head. Keep a water bottle, and occasionally use plain water, lemonade or ORS as needed. On voting day, voters should reach the polling booths in large numbers and vote before the Sun is at its peak, Rinwa appealed to the people. Polling in these 13 Lok Sabha seats along with Dudhi assembly bypolls will be held from 7am to 6pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that the Congress and its INDI alliance partners want to snatch Dalits and backward classes reservation benefits and transfers them to Muslims in a deep conspiracy to divide the country on the basis of religion. Addressing his last 2024 election rally in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, he said he has unmasked the INDI alliance plan during the current poll campaign, and therefore the alliance leaders are abusing him. These parties have a track record of having snatched reservation benefits of the SCs, STs and the OBCs, the prime minister said. Reservation of jobs in the government on the basis of religion, or in sports, tenders, and university admissions, is against the Constitution and what its chief architect Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted, he said. Advertisement Modi has taken a vow, he said, that he will not allow anyone to snatch the reservation rights of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and the backward classes. They are angry with me over this, he said. The prime minister said the Congress and its allies talk of the Constitution these days; these are the people who imposed the Emergency suspending operation of the Constitution. During the 1984 riots, they did not remember the Constitution when Sikhs were being killed, he said. He said the vote-bank politics of Congress and the INDI alliance has hurt the nation heavily. Due to this, the Congress could not assert Indias rights over Kartarpur Sahib at the time of the countrys Partition. For their vote bank, they kept opposing the Ram Temple and is opposing the CAA also, he said. The Congress is the mother of corruption, he said. For 60 years under its governments, the Congress was busy in corruption, it appears it has done a double Ph.D in corruption. Without naming Punjabs ruling party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he said there is another party coming close to the Congress and has shown it is corrupt from its birth. The two parties pretend fighting each other in Punjab but they are together in Delhi, Mr Modi said. The Congress took 60 years to do a Ph.D in corruption but the AAP is corrupt from its birth. The party had promised to make Punjab drugs-free, but instead made drugs a source of income and forced the State into gang wars. It now appears to be taking a lead in womens harassment, he said. Delhis liquor scandal is known. The mining mafia is operating without fear. Industry and farming are ruined. Mr Modi said Punjab is the land of the brave and daring, but the INDI alliance people have been insulting the Indian Army. These people sought proof from the Army on surgical strikes. They had given a clean chit to China on its 1962 aggression on India during then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehrus term in office. He said the Congress and the INDI alliance never left any effort to weaken the Indian Army. Instead of providing the latest arms and ammunition to the Army, these people since Independence indulged in scams like the Jeep scandal, the Bofors scandal, the submarine scandal, and the truck scandal. They never thought of making the Army stronger but made plans to loot and steal. He said the Congress put the Tejas fighter plane manufacture project on the backburner and for years delayed the constitution of the CDS post for integration of the armed forces. The party spoke lies on the One Rank One Pension issue for 40 years. The Prime Minister said these people had delayed necessary reforms for modernization of the Army. On the eve of the 2014 election, the Congress spread wrong information that its government had taken action on the One Rank One Pension, he said. The Congress government had provided just Rs 500 crores for this. This was meaningless. When I implemented it, I deposited Rs 1.25 lakh crore in accounts of ex-Army personnel, he said. Modis target is to make the Indian Army the most modern and capable and self-dependent but as this would give the INDI alliance no chance to make money, they are showering anger on him, he said. The prime minister said, I have been around the whole country; people have made up their minds to elect the Modi government for its third term. The country has new aspirations, new expectations, and a new sense of confidence. After decades, a Central government with a full majority is to register a hat trick. The major reason for this is the dream of Viksit Bharat (developed India). A couple of hours before the end of the campaigning for the seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi exclusively addressed the people of his constituency, Varanasi, urging them to vote in large numbers to give the development of Kashi new heights. Releasing the video message for social media before he left for Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu for a 48-hour-long meditation, the prime minister said, I remember, on the day of my nomination, the young generation was very excited. Now, this enthusiasm should be seen at every booth, this is my request. Now, there is an opportunity to give new heights to the development of Kashi, this will happen only when the people of Kashi vote as much as possible on June 1. He further said there is a special request to the youth, women power, and farmers of Kashi. Every vote of yours will increase my strength and give me new energy. You people have to remember that first voting then refreshments, he said. Advertisement He appealed to the people of Bhojpuri to reach the polling place to vote as much as possible. As heatwave kept sweeping through Chhattisgarh for the sixth consecutive day a tragedy struck on Thursday when a traffic cop among two succumbed to the sweltering heat. The heatwave compounded by piercing sunrays engulfed the entire region posing grave risk to people and paralysing daily life in the state. The blistering heatwave was unmistakable as early as 6 am in Raipur with the sun in full bloom unleashing its blazing rays. Bhagirathi Kanwar, a traffic police constable deployed at the Bhilai Traffic Police Station, collapsed due to a heatstroke while on duty. Meanwhile, in Bilaspur, a woman collapsed in the courtyard of her home due to heat and breathed her last before she could be rushed to the nearest medical facility. Advertisement The two incidents add to a recent tragedy in which a 60-year-old woman, Bhadra Bai Thakur, employed under the MGNREGA scheme in Durgs Aheri region, succumbed to the searing heat. In view of the dire situation, Alliance Air suspended luggage carriage on flights departing from Bilaspur, citing concerns over overheating. To protect children from the exposure to soaring heat, all summer camps across the state have been suspended. The decision came in the wake of demands from the Chhattisgarh Students Parents Association to postpone summer camps in both government and private schools. The Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert for several districts, including Korea, Surguja, Balrampur, Bilaspur, Korba, and Rajnandgaon, urging residents to remain vigilant amidst warm nighttime temperatures. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai issued an appeal to the citizens to exercise caution and prioritise their safety and that of their loved ones. In a video message shared on the social media platform X, Sai emphasised the need for vigilance against the intensifying heat waves and associated health risks. According to meteorologists, there is a possibility of weather change in certain parts of the state from May 31st onwards, with thunderstorms and lightning expected, particularly in southern Chhattisgarh. On June 1st, mild showers accompanied by thunderstorms are anticipated across most districts of the Bastar division. Similarly, on June 2nd, similar weather conditions are forecasted for Gariaband and Dhamtari districts. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday reacted sharply after a report claimed that his former member of staff was caught smuggling gold at Delhi airport and asserted the law must take its own course. The Congress MP from Keralas Thiruvananthapuram said that the 72-year-old man, who was caught by customs officials with 500 gm of gold, was hired on a part-time basis on compassionate grounds. I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance. He is a 72-year-old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained on a part-time basis on compassionate grounds, Tharoor said in a post on X. Advertisement The Congress leader said that he doesnt condone the alleged wrongdoing of his former staffer and that he will fully support the authorities in the investigation. I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action as may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course, he said. According to a news agency, the customs officials on Wednesday arrested two people for allegedly smuggling gold. One of them identified himself as Shiv Kumar Prasad and claimed he was the personal assistant of Shashi Tharoor. Reacting to the incident, Union Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrashekhar, who contested the ongoing Lok Sabha elections from Thiruvananthapuram against Shashi Tharoor, took a dig at the Congress leader and called the Congress and CPM an alliance of gold smugglers. First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling, now Cong MP aide/PA detained for Gold smuggling. CPM and Cong both INDI alliance partners alliance of gold smugglers, Chandrasekhar wrote on X. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu predicted that the Lotus wont bloom in the state as the BJP workers are dejected for tickets having been given to sold-out MLAs. On the last day of the campaign and public meetings at Dharamshala, Dehra, Dharampur, Sujanpur, and Kutlehar on Thursday, Sukhu, referring to the six former Congress MLAs who joined BJP and were contesting the bye-election, said, BJP will have to bite the dust not only in Lok Sabha elections but also in the six assembly seats. The by-elections are being held for three and a half years. The real election of BJP workers will be in 2027. They should vote rising above party ideology to defeat money power, he added. Former CM and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur is suffering from heat stroke and can say anything. He is not a leader of his words. Lacking logic, he is making absurd statements. Our government gave the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to the employees, the employee who used to get a Rs 5,000 pension is now getting Rs 50,000. This has made Jai Ram Thakur panicky, he alleged. Advertisement Aiming at Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and BJP candidate for Hamirpur, Anurag Thakur he accused him of suffering from a phobia of lying as he is misleading people on Jol Sappar Medical College and Railway Line. Anurag Thakur became a captain after lieutenant in the Territorial Army and made the youth Agniveer. This is a big betrayal of the youth of the country. Agniveer Yojana will be stopped as soon as the India Alliance government is formed, he claimed. He said with what face is BJP fighting this election when it sold its lotus to the sellable MLAs. The condition of BJP, which calls itself the biggest party, has reached such a stage that it has to field candidates by selling lotus. The Chief Minister said that the public will now explain the culture of Himachal to the 9 sellable MLAs, including three independents. They are sure to stay at home. They have bought lotus by selling hands. The chief minister appealed to the people to vote for the four Lok Sabha candidates Anand Sharma (Kangra), Satpal Raijada (Hamirpur), Vikramaditya Singh (Mandi), Vinod Sultanpuri (Shimla) and six Assembly bye-election candidates Captain Ranjit, Vivek Sharma, Devendra Jaggi, Subhash Dhatwalia, Anuradha and Rakesh Kalia. Congress has given tickets to honest candidates. Priority was given considering their clean image. After the election campaign ends, voters still have 24 hours to think about why they are going to cast their vote. Is it because six sell-out Rajendra Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma, Devendra Kumar Bhutto, and Indradutt Lakhanpal have sold themselves? They bought the withered lotus by selling their hands, he charged, adding that the real election of genuine BJP workers will be in 2027 because then candidates will be selected according to their choice. The chief minister, appealing to the public to make peoples power win and defeat money power, said, If money power wins by mistake then the power of peoples vote will be lost. People will elect MLAs by voting and BJP will buy them. Therefore, there is a need to send a strong message that the politics of horse-trading will not work in Himachal Pradesh by defeating BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday headed to Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu for undertaking a two-day meditation at the iconic Vivekananda Rock Memorial after ending hectic campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls. According to sources, he will sit for the 48-hour meditation at Dhyan Mandapam, the spot where Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892. The Rock Memorial monument was built to pay tribute to the Hindu philosopher-saint. It is said that Vivekananda after wandering across the country meditated here for three days and attained a vision for a developed India. Upon his arrival, the prime minister headed straight to the Bhagavathi Amman temple and offered prayers. Advertisement Security has been beefed up and 2,000 police personnel will stand guard during his stay, even as the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy will also maintain a tight vigil. The act of the prime minister has come under opposition fire with many parties terming the development a violation of the model code of conduct (MCC). We have no problem if any leader keeps a fast of silence or campaigns but during the silence period, there should be no campaigning, said Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi after a meeting of a Congress delegation with Election Commission (EC) officials on Wednesday. He said the silence period before the polling will begin on May 30 and continue until June 1. He added that Modis meditation is a direct violation of the MCC. you are either campaigning this way or publicising yourself through new channels and print media, Singhvi said. We will complain. He can meditate, but it cannot be aired on television, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, adding that televising it would amount to the violation of MCC. The Dravida Munnetra Kazgham (DMK) slammed the practice saying it is a drama enacted for political gains. DMKs Kanyakumari south district advocates wing organiser M Joseph Raj has even submitted a petition to the returning officer of the city urging him to deny permission for the event. SPs Dimple Yadav said to meditate one does not need to travel to Kanyakumari to meditate as it can be done at home too. The Lok Sabha election is being held in seven phases beginning on April 19, and the results will be out on June 4. PM Modi and the BJP hope to return to power with a performance exceeding their count in 2019. Modi had undertaken a similar spiritual journey after the culmination of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. His visit to Uttarakhand after the high-octane campaign and meditation inside a cave near the Kedarnath shrine drew global headlines. In 2019, he visited Kedarnath, and in 2014 he visited Shivajis Pratapgarh. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. The Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan expresses strong protest against the adoption of an unfair and unilateral resolution targeting Azerbaijan by the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament on May 23, 2024, and vehemently condemns this step, considering it a racist, Azerbaijanophobic, Turkophobic, and Islamophobic political action, the statement of the press service of the Azerbaijani Parliament said, Trend reports. Additionally, it was noted that the accusations made against Azerbaijan in the resolution are partly based on distortions of reality and partly on false and falsified information. "The Dutch Parliament has frequently expressed its biased attitude toward Azerbaijan and adopted various resolutions after the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia was stopped in the fall of 2020 during the 44-day II Karabakh War, led by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, and the norms and principles of international law were restored. In the conditions where peace negotiations with Armenia are currently underway and certain encouraging results have been achieved in this direction, the reappearance of such a document in the Dutch parliament is a vivid example of political indiscretion and irresponsibility. Unfortunately, during the 30 years of occupation of Azerbaijani lands and the fate of one million Azerbaijanis as refugees and internally displaced persons, the members of the Dutch Parliament have never raised their voices, preferring to openly or secretly support the occupying country. Today, they allow themselves actions against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, which strike a blow to the process of normalizing relations between the two states, which have been in conflict for many years and promote revanchism. Furthermore, it should be taken into account that respect for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan is one of the international obligations of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as well as of other states. On the other hand, such actions contradict the interests not only of the South Caucasus region but also of Europe as a whole concerning peace, stability, and sustainable development. Inadequate statements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot during the discussion of the mentioned resolution in the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament, said in response to the deputy's inquiry, unfounded accusations made by her earlier against Azerbaijan, testify to the fact that the executive bodies of this country turn a blind eye to the provocative activities of the deputies of the Parliament and encourage such activities. All of this contributes to the growing tension in the South Caucasus region and seriously impedes efforts to realize the peace agenda. The Azerbaijani Parliament urges the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament, as well as the leading officials of this country, to put an end to the attempts of illegal interference in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, to abandon the intention to reignite the conflict in the region, and to take steps aimed at establishing long-term peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the press service of the Azerbaijani Parliament said. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally charged the leader of the outlawed militant group United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), along with five associates, in connection with a grenade attack on a military base in Assams Tinsukia district last year. The incident took place on November 22, 2023, targeting an Indian Army installation in Kakopathar, Tinsukia. There were no casualties, but the NIA claims the attack was part of a broader plot to strike security forces throughout the region. Advertisement Filed in a special NIA court in Guwahati, the chargesheet implicates Paresh Baruah and five others in multiple offences under the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Explosives Substances Act. Arunodoy Dohutia has been identified as a significant co-conspirator alongside Baruah. They are alleged to have masterminded the attacks and directed their operatives to execute them. The chargesheet also points to Abhijit Gogoi as the coordinator of the Kakopathar attacks planning and execution. Bijoy Moran is accused of enlisting local youths to participate in the assault. Investigations have uncovered that ULFA-I leveraged social media platforms for recruitment purposes. The NIA continues its investigation to uncover additional individuals involved and to dismantle the terrorist network. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying that Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal has entered into partnership with the BJP to escape from saffron partys vindictive crackdown politics. The Gandhi scion, addressing an election rally at Balasore Parliamentary constituency to bolster the electoral prospects of Congress candidates in the twin polls, also raked up the influence of VK Pandian in Patnaik government pointing out that here in Odisha, the government is run by VK Pandian (whom Patnaik has reportedly groomed as his political successor) to make billionaires as PM Modi has made Adani-Ambani billionaires. Its pertinent to note here that its the BJP which is trying to cash in on the outsider-tag attached to Tamil Nadu-born Pandian and CMs complete dependence on him and has made it the principal poll issue to dethrone Patnaik and end BJDs supremacy in Lok Sabha polls. The Congress, though, raised the unholy nexus between the BJD-BJP, has not been found as vocal as the BJP in attacking Pandian. Advertisement Stating that in Odisha, the BJP and the BJD are linked with each other and both are the same, he said Both have entered into partnership. Lashing out at the Modi government, he said BJP has framed me in 24 cases defamation, criminal cases, they sentenced me to two year jail, snatched away my Lok Sabha membership, drove me out from government quarters in Delhi. ED questioned me for 50 hours. If Chief Minister Naveen Babu had really fought against the BJP, why have no cases been slapped against him, he questioned. Nothing was done against him because Naveen Babu works for BJP in Odisha. Everything is crystal clear. The objective of the partnership of BJP-BJD is to loot the wealth, mineral resources of Odisha people, he alleged. Citing the Telangana example, he said BJP-BJD partnership is comparable to the BRS and BJP bonding in Telangana. People voted the Congress to power, and the corrupt, anti-people partnership was broken to pieces. Then BRS Chief Minister worked for BJP for fear just like Naveen Patnaik. Launching a blistering attack on the BJP, he said this is the first election in which the attempt is on to destroy the Constitution and on the other hand, ours (INDIA Bloc)s fight is on to save it. The INDIA bloc says we will save the Constitution whatever happens. The BJP, RSS leaders say we will tear apart the Constitution if the NDA comes to power yet again. I want to tell Narendra Modi and RSS people , no force on the earth can finish the strength of the Indian Constitution even if they (Modi, RSS) dream of doing so. You will not touch the Constitution regardless of your efforts, he reiterated. Adani, Ambani were given money by Modi, they spent it in foreign countries. We will give money to common people. We will waive farmers loan while Modi waives Adanis loan. Once the INDI Alliance comes to power, the temporary Agninveer army recruitment scheme will be abolished. If Congress is voted to power, it will give 3 lakh jobs to youths in Odisha. Ten years of the Modi government worked for 1 per cent of people like Adani-Ambani while we will work for the poor people, he added while listing out Congress pro-people welfare schemes. Responding to senior CPI-M leader and former finance minister Thomas Issacs statement that BJP leader Shone Georges allegation that a substantial amount was deposited into Chief Minister Panarayi Vijayans daughter Veena Vijayans bank account in Abu Dhabi by two foreign companies is false, the BJP leader on Thursday reiterated that the company against which he had complained that crores of rupees had been transacted through a foreign account belonged to Veena Vijayan, the daughter of the Chief Minister. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Shone challenged Thomas Issac whether he (Thomas Isaac) has the guts to say that Exalogic company does not have an account with Veena T and Suneesh M in Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. Shone also challenged Issac to take legal action against him if his allegations were false. Shone said Thomas Isaacs remark that the Exalogic company in UAE and the Exalogic company owned by the Chief Ministers daughter are different is an attempt to divert the issue. Advertisement In a Facebook post on Thursday, Thomas Issac rejected Shone Georges allegations against Chief Minister Veena Vijayan, saying that he (Shone) has created a false narrative. He said Shone George is lying about the Exalogic company. Issac claimed that Veenas firm and the company in UAE that Shone George referred to were two different entities. BJP leader Shone George on Wednesday alleged that a substantial amount was deposited into Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans daughter Veena Vijayans bank account in Abu Dhabi. He claimed that the amount was deposited in Abu Dhabi-based Commercial Bank to the account of Exalogic Consulting, Media City, UAE. Southwest Monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of northeast, including Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and most parts of Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The Southwest Monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1 with a standard deviation of about seven days. Monsoon is crucial, especially for kharif crops, which are dependent on rains. India has three cropping seasons summer, kharif and rabi. Advertisement The onset of the monsoon in Kerala marks the start of Indias southwest monsoon season, which stretches from June to September, and accounts for over 70 per cent of the countrys annual rainfall. The influence of Cyclone Remal is reported to have accelerated the onset of monsoon over the northeast as well. The Southwest Monsoon has advanced into remaining parts of southwest Arabian Sea, some parts of west central Arabian Sea, most parts southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep area, most parts of Kerala, Mahe, some parts of south Tamil Nadu, remaining parts of Maldives and Comorin area; some more parts northeast Bay of Bengal, most parts of northeast India including entire Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and most parts of Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam, the IMD said on Thursday. Thus, Southwest Monsoon has set in over Kerala, today on 30th May, 2024, the IMD said. Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of south Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area and Kerala, some parts of Karnataka, Some more parts of Tamil Nadu, Southwest & Central Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal and Assam and Meghalaya and some parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during next 2-3 days. IMD had said on Wednesday that conditions were rapidly becoming favourable for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala within the next 24 hours. This was a day earlier than IMDs first forecast for the onset of the monsoon on May 31. Normally, the monsoon arrives in the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, and Assam on June 5. Earlier on May 27, the IMD updated its Long-Range Forecast Outlook for the Southwest Monsoon Rainfall Season (JuneSeptember) 2024. The IMD said, Quantitatively, the southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be 106% of the long period average (LPA) with a model error of 4%. Thus, Above Normal rainfall is most likely over the country as a whole during the monsoon season (June to September), 2024. The onset of the monsoon in Kerala marks the start of Indias southwest monsoon season, which stretches from June to September, and accounts for over 70 per cent of the countrys annual rainfall. The monsoon plays a key role in the Indian economy as close to 50 per cent of the countrys farmland does not have any other source of irrigation. The monsoon rains are also crucial for recharging the countrys reservoirs and aquifers from which the water can be used later in the year to irrigate crops. The advance of the southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by monsoon onset over Kerala and is an important indicator characterising the transition from a hot and dry season to a rainy season. As the monsoon progresses northward, relief from scorching summer temperatures is experienced over the areas that it tends to cover. These rains are crucial to the Indian agriculture economy (especially for kharif crops). India has three cropping seasons summer, kharif and rabi. Crops that are sown during October and November and the produce harvested from January depending on maturity are Rabi. Crops sown during June-July and dependent on monsoon rains are harvested in October-November are kharif. Crops produced between Rabi and Kharif are Summer crops. Traditionally, the Kharif crops are heavily dependent on the normal progression of monsoon rainfall. Paddy, moong, Bajra, maize, groundnut, soya bean, and cotton are some of the major Kharif crops. The dependency of Kharif crop output on monsoon rainfall has been on a gradual decline, according to an analysis done by India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra). With BJP firing all cylinders raking up Odia pride plank to dethrone him for grooming Tamil Nadu-born VK Pandian as his successor, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said his trusted lieutenant would not be his successor. He is not my successor. I cant understand these exaggerations. He is not standing for this election. I see all of these as exaggerations and falsehood, 5-time Chief Minister Patnaik told a news agency. I have said the people of the state will decide the succession. That is the natural result of these things, Patnaik emphasised as he has often maintained his stand on the succession plan. Advertisement Refuting the allegation that Pandian is being placed above other BJD leaders, Naveen said, I find all of this quite nonsensical. On the other hand, amid an acrimonious verbal duel between BJD-BJP, he said: I have never shown acrimony to anyone in public life. When support is required, we will judge our appropriate position. Patnaiks remark regarding whether the BJP and BJDs election campaigning has shut the door for extending support to the NDA in the post-poll scenario assumes political significance. Patnaik, a man of few words, ruled out the possibility of extending support to the NDA in post-poll scenario. It is the BJP which had trained guns at the regional party satrap with the saffron party raking up Patnaiks deteriorating health, his inability to take independent decisions and outsourcing the government and the party to Pandian. With former bureaucrat Pandian, being a Tamil and outsider, BJP and its top leaders, including PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, have launched blistering attacks on Pandian for holding the veteran politician captive and hijacking the government during the poll campaign. Sensing the fact that Patnaik, who is ensconced in the seat of Chief Minister for 24 years, is still revered and adored by voters of Odisha, BJP strategised its plank reserving the diatribe at Pandian by raising Odia ashmita issue while largely sparing Patnaik from the rhetoric onslaught. Hinting at a dip in the popularity base of the BJP, he told the agency that they are getting more and more desperate, particularly as their popularity is waning in the country. He dismissed the allegation levelled by the Opposition that Pandian was acting as a gatekeeper and taking all decisions on his behalf, saying That is ridiculous. I have said this often before this is an old allegation. It holds no weight. Patnaik said that he is not dependent on others, He has all the powers to decide about decisions made by his party to the people before elections. I have always chaired cabinet meetings. There is not a single cabinet meeting that I have not chaired. Patnaik exuded confidence and predicted his partys impressive show in the twin polls. I see very handsome results in the state elections. We will form a solid government again in the state, and in Parliament, we will secure a very good majority, Patnaik said. When questioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent statement in a public meeting regarding the formation of a special committee to ascertain the reasons behind his deteriorating health, Patnaik said, The PM has recently said I am a good friend of his. Wasnt it his duty to dismiss rumours by simply picking up the telephone and asking me directly, rather than announcing it in a public political meeting to garner votes? With the general election on its last leg, the political landscape is marked by an undercurrent of discontent among Dalit voters. This discontent, emerging starkly in the absence of a concerted opposition campaign, challenges the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s narrative of a Viksit Bharat (developed India). Despite the BJPs portrayal of economic progress, many Dalit voters express scepticism and frustration over their economic conditions, revealing significant gaps in the governments development claims. A closer look at the sentiments of Dalit voters in key constituencies in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar reveals a consistent theme of economic hardship. Surveys indicate that less than 10 per cent of Dalit respondents feel their income meets their needs or that their economic situation has improved. Additionally, over 60 per cent believe that economic inequality has worsened, highlighting a critical disconnect between the development narrative and the lived realities of many Dalits. Employment issues underscore the disconnect. With high rates of daily wage labour among Dalit respondents, significant numbers still report being unemployed, particularly among women. This economic strain is compounded by rising prices. Such economic grievances directly challenge the governments claims of inclusive development and question the effectiveness of economic policies. Interestingly, while economic discontent is prevalent, it does not translate into a clear voting preference against the BJP. The concept of face or leadership plays a significant role in voter preferences. Many Dalits continue to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi, influenced by his strong national presence and the carefully cultivated image of a decisive, capable leader. Advertisement This personal appeal of Mr Modi often overshadows broader economic discontent, particularly among Dalit women who are more likely to support him despite facing higher unemployment rates. This paradox highlights a complex electoral dynamic. While economic issues are important, they do not always determine voting behaviour. Mr Modis leadership persona, bolstered by extensive media coverage, creates a compelling narrative that many voters find appealing. This personal appeal is a crucial factor in the BJPs strategy, enabling Mr Modi to maintain substantial support despite the economic grievances voiced by many Dalits. The role of welfare schemes also adds another layer to this electoral complexity. While access to schemes like free rations and health insurance is notable, it does not uniformly translate into support for the BJP. However, these schemes contribute to the larger narrative of Mr Modi as a benefactor, helping sustain his personal appeal even when economic conditions do not visibly improve. In the context of the election, the discontent among Dalits signifies a significant challenge for the BJP. This dissatisfaction has surfaced organically, without a concerted opposition campaign, pointing to deep-seated economic issues that transcend political narratives. As the election nears its end, it remains to be seen how this discontent will shape the voting behaviour of Dalits and whether the appeal of Mr Modis leadership can continue to overshadow the pressing economic realities faced by many I trade data reveals a significant deficit with nine of its top 10 trading partners, including major economies like China, Russia, South Korea, and Hong Kong. While a trade deficit is often viewed through a lens of economic pessimism, it is crucial to understand the complexities behind these numbers before jumping to conclusions about their impact on Indias economy. In the fiscal year 2023-24, Indias trade deficit with China rose to $85 billion, with Russia to $57.2 billion, South Korea to $14.71 billion, and Hong Kong to $12.2 billion. Despite these rising deficits, Indias overall trade deficit has actually narrowed to $238.3 billion from $264.9 billion in the previous year. These figures prompt a closer examination of the underlying factors and the broader economic implications. A trade deficit can be concerning if it signals a lack of competitiveness for Indias exports in international markets or an over-reliance on imports. However, not all deficits are created equal. In many cases, especially for a developing economy like India, a trade deficit can reflect a strategic investment in future growth. Importing capital goods, raw materials, and intermediary products can boost domestic manufacturing and export capacity in the long run. For instance, Indias deficit with China is partly due to the import of electronic components, machinery, and chemicals, which are critical for Indias burgeoning tech and pharmaceutical industries. Similarly, imports from Russia predominantly consist of energy supplies, essential for Indias energy security and industrial activity. While these deficits indicate a high volume of imports, they also underscore the integration of the Indian economy into global supply chains, which can enhance productivity and growth. However, there are legitimate concerns regarding sustainability of growing deficits. A large and persistent deficit can exert pressure on the domestic currency, leading to depreciation. This increases the cost of imports, potentially exacerbating the deficit further. Moreover, financing a substantial trade deficit might necessitate borrowing from foreign lenders, raising external debt and depleting foreign exchange reserves. These conditions can signal economic instability to international investors, reducing foreign direct investment and potentially slowing economic growth. To mitigate these risks, India needs a multi-faceted approach. First, boosting exports is essential. This requires improving the competitiveness of Indian goods and services in global markets through innovation, quality enhancement, and better market access. Advertisement Trade agreements and partnerships can play a pivotal role here. Second, reducing unnecessary imports is crucial. Encouraging the production of high-demand goods domestically can help balance trade. Policies supporting Make in India and similar initiatives are steps in the right direction. Developing domestic industries requires robust infrastructure, ease of doing business, and a favourable regulatory environment. Managing currency and debt levels prudently is vital to avoid the pitfalls of excessive external borrowing. Strategic fiscal and monetary policies can help maintain economic stability while fostering growth. A balanced approach can transform these challenges into drivers of long-term economic resilience and prosperity Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed the document to suspend the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), the media reported. The document was signed by Lukashenko on May 24, Xinhua Europe agency reported. The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the decision to suspend the CFE was made in the context of the collapse of the existing conventional arms control system in Europe and the continued escalation of the military and political situation in the region. Advertisement The Ministry added that if NATO ends its suspension of the treaty, Belarus would do the same. The CFE was signed in November 1990 in Paris by 16 NATO member states and six Warsaw Pact countries. It came into effect in November 1992. The treaty limits the number of military equipment signatory countries can possess. The Sudanese government has voiced rejection of US calls to return to the Jeddah negotiation platform between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The invitation by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for Chairman of Sudans Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan to go to the Jeddah negotiation platform embodies contempt for Sudan and cannot be accepted, said Malik Agar, Deputy Chairman of Sudans Transitional Sovereign Council, on Wednesday. He made the remarks while addressing a political conference in Port Sudan, the capital city of the Red Sea State in eastern Sudan, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement Sudan has not and will not agree to go to Jeddah, not because we do not want peace, but because peace must have foundations. We will not accept that without being consulted, Agar added. He noted that the current phase cannot stand interference of political parties with their different agendas, stressing that the priority must be given to ending the conflict and achieving stability before moving towards national consensus via Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue. Earlier, Blinken had a phone conversation with Al-Burhan, during which he called for ending the conflict in Sudan, allowing humanitarian access, and resuming the Jeddah negotiations, according to a statement by the Sovereign Council on Wednesday. On May 6, 2023, Saudi Arabia and the US put forward a peace initiative in Jeddah as the first serious attempt to end fighting in Sudan, which was later known as the Jeddah negotiation platform. Since then, several truces have been reached and breached, with the two sides accusing each other of violating them. The Jeddah negotiations were suspended last December over fundamental differences between the Sudanese warring parties. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF since April 15, 2023, which have killed 15,550 people and displaced 8.8 million others so far, according to the latest estimates by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Chairman of Sudans Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan has held a phone talk with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, discussing the need to end the conflict in Sudan and enable unhindered humanitarian access to alleviate peoples suffering, according to a statement from the council. The US State Department has called for ending the conflict in Sudan and allowing humanitarian access, said the statement on Wednesday as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. During the phone call from Blinken, the two sides also touched upon the resumption of the Jeddah talks and the need for cessation of hostilities in El Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur State in western Sudan, it added. Advertisement Al-Burhan, also the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), in addition, discussed with Blinken bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 15, 2023, which have killed 15,550 people and displaced more than 8.8 million others so far, according to the latest estimates by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. The State Fund for Environmental Protection has been provided a payment of 2.6 million manat in 2023, Deputy Prosecutor General Heydar Mammadov said at a conference in Ganja on May 30, Trend reports. Meanwhile, the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan held a business conference entitled "Environmental offenses: education and legislative regulation" in Ganja. Addressing the event, Deputy Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan Heydar Mammadov said that coordinated activity of the state, law enforcement bodies, and courts, effective environmental legislation, and legal innovations for a green world are important on the way to ensuring a clean and healthy environment. Complex activities continue in this field by the prosecutor's office bodies, together with the Ministry of Ecology and other state bodies. Work is carried out to solve environmental problems, protect the environment, and restore ecological balance. Last year, the Prosecutor General's Office initiated and sent for investigation 133 criminal cases of environmental offenses, initiated proceedings on 36 cases of administrative offenses, and in 33 cases submitted submissions to the relevant organizations to eliminate violations, causes, and conditions that caused them," he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Malayalam movie industry a.k.a Mollywood has experienced a breakthrough in recent decades, producing box-office hits that impressed viewers across India. The kind of reception and financial success the likes of Manjummel Boys, Premalu and Bramayugam enjoy underlines the kind of global acclaim Malayalam movies have acquired. Many claim Mollywood has become synonymous with the finest film industry in the country thanks to the meticulously crafted works by extraordinary filmmakers. "The new wave" Malayalam movies Movie buffs owes a great deal to the makers of movies which acted as the catalyst for this pivotal change by broadening the horizons of Malayalam cinema on national as well as international platforms. While the likes of stalwarts including MT Vasudevan Nair, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and John Abraham produced quality movies over the decades, the acceptance of Mollywood "crowd pullers" before a global audience is a recent phenomenon. ALSO READ | Dulquer Salmaan-starrer 'Lucky Baskhar' to release on September 27 This shift was notable in the 2010s -- which marked a significant turning point in the industry. Before 2010, Malayalam cinema followed the age-old film formulas of melodrama and masala entertainers which often collected a fair number of audience. But from the early 2010s, the industry witnessed filmmakers boldly experimenting with formulas like coming-of-age dramas and genre-bending. Bangalore Days by Anjali Menon, Premam by Alphonse Puthren, Ustad Hotel by Anwar Rasheed are among the movies that triggered this change in Kerala. Bangalore Days: A frontrunner These rather unfamiliar but fresh concepts were not something people were accustomed to but it was warmly embraced. Bangalore Days, a family entertainer that played a significant role in this change, turns 10, on Thursday. Here is a look back into the heartwarming journey of the movie multi-starrer that has established a place of its own in Malayalam Cinema. The three cousins Divya or Kunju (Nazriya Nazim), Krishnan or Kuttan (Nivin Pauly) and Arjun or Aju (Dulquer Salmaan) and their gratifying journey of self-discovery resonated deeply and won over audiences across the country. Mind you, while Dulquer Salmaan and Fahad Faasil were people's darling already, they were nowhere close to the "DQ" or "FaFa" aura that they enjoy today when the movie hit theatres. ALSO READ | Fahadh Faasil reveals he has been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 41 Anjali Menons fresh narrative style and technical innovation were a refreshing departure from the model Keralites were accustomed to. The director explored genres, blending romance, comedy, and drama seamlessly, making the movie a treat to watch. The young brigade of actors, which also included Parvathy Thiruvothu, Nithya Menen and Isha Talwar in credible roles, lived up to the director's vision, aiding the movie's iconic success. It has been a decade since Bangalore Days but the lasting impression that the movie has made still echoes in the hearts of people. This peppy, feel-good movie reached wider audience beyond Kerala and was remade in various Indian languages proving Malayalam industry can be commercially successful while also offering fresh and relatable stories with high production quality. In short Bangalore Days set a benchmark and ushered a new era for Malayalam Cinema. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sparked a controversy with his remark that "the world did not know of Mahatma Gandhi till the film 'Gandhi' was made". During an interview to a TV channel, Modi had said, "...Across the world, Mahatma Gandhi was a great person. Was it not our responsibility in these 75 years to ensure that the entire world knows Mahatma Gandhi. I am sorry to say that no one knows about him. The first time when the film 'Gandhi' was made, it was then that there was curiosity across the world as to who this person was. We have not done so... ." "It was the task of this country to ensure that if the world knows about Martin Luther King, South Africa's Nelson Mandela ji, then Gandhi was no less. One has to agree and I am saying this after travelling across the world that India should have got that importance due to Mahatma Gandhi. The remarks attracted fierce criticism from the Congress with Rahul Gandhi leading the attack, saying those who follow Nathuram Godse's path of violence cannot understand Gandhi. In a video message, the Congress leader said, "Those who get their world view in 'Shakhas' cannot understand Gandhi ji, they understand Godse and follow Godse's path." "Gandhi ji was an inspiration to the entire world. Martin Luther King Junior, Nelson Mandela and Albert Einstein were all inspired by Gandhi. Crores of people in India follow Gandhi's path of truth and non-violence. This is the fight between truth and untruth, between violence and non-violence. "Those who are violent and untrue neither understand non-violence nor truth," he said. Taking another dig at Modi, the Congress leader said in another tweet: "Only a student of 'Entire Political Science' would need to watch the film to know about Mahatma Gandhi." Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she heard from PM Modi that no one knew Mahatma Gandhi until an Englishman made a film on him. "Not only did the whole world know him, the freedom movements of many countries were also inspired by him. "It is surprising to know that the prime minister knows so little about the history of his country and the heroes of the freedom movement. Perhaps for them, Gandhiji is also just a PR stunt," she said in a post in Hindi on X. Jairam Ramesh said, "I don't know in which world the outgoing prime minister lives where Mahatma Gandhi was not recognised across the world before 1982. If anyone has destroyed the legacy of the Mahatma, it is the outgoing prime minister himself. "His own government has destroyed Gandhian institutions in Varanasi, Delhi and Ahmedabad," Ramesh alleged "This is the identity of the RSS workers that they do not know the nationalism of Mahatma Gandhi. It is due to the environment created by their ideology that Nathuram Godse killed Gandhi, Ramesh said in his post on X. Congress general secretary, organisation, K.C. Venugopal said Mahatma Gandhi is the greatest icon of modern history in the world and even before Independence, he was a phenomenon that every colonised country admired and looked to for inspiration. "Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, who Modi referred to in his ludicrous statement, were inspired by Gandhi himself. To think that a movie was required to popularise India's greatest thought leader since the Buddha is not only ignorant but also an insult to Bapu," Venugopal said in a post on X. Congress leader P. Chidambaram said he was appalled by the prime minister's comment. "Has Mr Modi heard of the name Albert Einstein? Does Mr Modi know what Albert Einstein said of Mahatma Gandhi? Did Albert Einstein (died 1955) know about Mahatma Gandhi only after the film 'Gandhi' was released (1982)," he asked. As water shortage grips Delhi, state minister Atishi has warned that the AAP government would approach the Supreme Court against Haryana for not releasing the state's share of Yamuna water. The water crisis comes as Delhi faces unprecedented summer heat. The Delhi government will also write to the Centre against Haryana's "arbitrary action", Atishi added. The minister, while visiting the Wazirabad Yamuna Reservoir, said Delhi was highly dependent on the Yamuna River for its entire water supply. "The water that comes to Delhi in Yamuna is whatever gets left after Haryana's use. The water level at the Wazirabad pond should be at 674 feet. However, it is 3 feet 5 inches lower. The water level of the Yamuna is 370.3 feet while it was 374.5 at the same time last year," Atishi said. "The Wazirabad water treatment plant, Chandrawal treatment plant, and Okhla water treatment use the water from Yamuna. When the water level falls, the treatment plants don't get enough. How are we supposed to treat water if Haryana doesn't leave us enough," she questioned. Atishi also rubbished allegations that the AAP government did not formulate a summer plan, including water rationing. "Water rationing occurs when there is an increase in consumption that cannot be met by our existing water supply. However, the effectiveness of any action plan also depends on the water supply remaining at normal levels. Water treatment plants can't produce water, they can only treat it." Tankers and enforcement teams The Delhi government will establish a central command and a control room for water supply. People can call 1916 if they need a water tanker. "From June 5, ADM and SDM-level officers will be deployed at the 11 water zones in Delhi. They will assess the situation at the hotspots facing a water shortage and deploy water tankers at those places," Atishi said. The government has also formed teams that will function round the clock to address complaints related to borewells. "There will be 200 enforcement teams under an IAS officer to check water wastage and issue challans. From Friday, there will be a ban on the use of potable water at construction sites and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will carry out an inspection and take action if these sites are found flouting the ban. "Similarly, the government is imposing a ban on the use of drinking water for washing cars and at car-service centres. Teams from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee will be inspecting these centres and if they are found flouting the ban, they will be sealed," Atishi said. The government also held an emergency meeting regarding the water crisis that the city is facing amid a heatwave. A Delhi Court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other accused in the liquor policy case till July 6. Hearing the case, Delhi's Rouse Avenue court extended the remand of Sisodia and other accused in the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with an alleged scam in now scrapped Delhi liquor policy. The Aam Aadmi Party leader is also serving remand in money laundering case registered in connection with the alleged scam. The CBI as well as the ED have alleged that irregularities were committed while modifying the Delhi excise policy, undue favours were extended to licence holders, licence fee was waived or reduced and licences were extended without the competent authority's approval. The beneficiaries allegedly diverted "illegal" gains to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to evade detection, the probe agencies have alleged. Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023, for his alleged role in the "scam". Sisodia resigned from the Delhi cabinet on February 28 last year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had started his 2024 election campaign with a rally in Meerut for party candidate Arun Govil, who had played the role of Ram in hit serial, Ramayana. The prime minister held his last rally- 206th in Hoshiarpur, a reserved seat in Punjab, before heading to Kanyakumari for a 24-hour meditation retreat, marking the end of longest Lok Sabha campaign ever. Terming Hoshiarpur as Chhoti Kashi (small Kashi) as it was also associated with Guru Ravidas, revered by Dalits, who was born in Varanasi, Modi talked about the developmental work done by his government including dalits. If Modis last public outreach was replete with political messaging, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi too gave his. In his last public programme, Gandhi addressed a village chaupal meeting in Punjabs Khatkar Kalan, the birth place of Bhagat Singh on Thursday. The seventh phase of polling will be held on June 1 covering states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, remaining seats in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha. Both leaders leading the campaign for warring alliancesNDA and INDIA blocheld their grounds during the two months long campaign presenting ideological different streams during the polls. The campaign had turned fractious as both sides attacked each other incessantly. The 2024 Lok Sabha campaign had started with BJPs slogan of 400 paarwinning over 400 seats for the alliance. As the campaign progressed, the INDIA blocs campaign too picked up as they gave their own version of forming the government giving different figures for the ruling grouping. As the overarching theme was missing in the campaign, winning the numbers of seats itself became the dominant theme as the different phases of polling progressed. Modi began on a strong footing showcasing his 10 year tenure of corruption free and terror attacks free governance focussed on building infrastructure. After the two phases polling showed the dip in voting percentage, Modi increased his attacks on the Congress and the opposition highlighting the latters divisive agenda favoring the minorities. The prime minister accused the Congress of Muslim appeasement and said if the INDIA bloc was voted to power, it would redistribute wealth to intruders and those producing more children. The Congress and the INDIA bloc, too, launched scathing attacks on Modi and the BJP, saying they will change the Constitution and end reservation. The opposition based this on the ruling alliances claim of needing 400 seats, saying this amount of seats was only needed in case of changing the Constitution. The statements by some of the BJP leaders like Anant Hegde were also cited by the opposition. The high stake 2024 elections will decide the future trajectory of several national and regional satraps. As the BJP was in direct contest in many of the states with the ruling parties, the results will showcase how most of the chief ministersMamata Banarjee, Siddraramiah, Arvind Kejriwal, Naveen Patnaik, Jagan Reddyfared against the saffron onslaught. If the BJP goes on to win the elections and form the government, it will be a historic first for any non-Congress leader to hold three terms as the prime minister. Only Jawaharlal Nehru had three terms as PM. Any upset for the BJP, as the opposition claims, will be billed as peoples anger against the government. Now, all eyes will be on the June 4 results which will shape countrys polity in the years to come. Radhika Sen, an Indian military peacekeeper serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo has won the 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. Sen, working with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission, served in the east of Congo from March 2023 to April 2024. Honouring Sen with the award, the UN said she led mixed-gender engagement patrols and activities in a volatile environment where people, including women and children, were leaving everything behind to flee the conflict. She also helped create community alert networks in North Kivu which became a platform for community leaders, young people and women to raise security and humanitarian concerns. She would, in turn, help address these issues with her colleagues in the mission. As a platoon commander, she also helped foster a safe space for men and women to operate together and quickly became a role model for both women peacekeepers and their male counterparts. She also made sure that peacekeepers under her command engaged in a gender-sensitive manner and stuck to sociocultural norms in Congo. These activities helped build trust and thereby increase her teams chance of success. She also arranged English classes for children, and health, gender and vocational training for displaced and marginalised adults. As a gender advocate, she encouraged women in the village of Kashlira, near Rwindi town, to organise themselves to address issues collectively, advocate for their rights and amplify their voices within the community, in particular in local security and peace discussions. On the award, Sen said: "This award is special to me as it gives recognition to the hard work put in by all the peacekeepers working in the challenging environment of DRC, giving their best to bring a positive change in society. Who is Radhika Sen? Hailing from Himachal Pradesh, Sen completed her degree in Biotechnology Engineering and later pursued her masters from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. She joined the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo in March 2023. Later she was assigned the platoon commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion. She is the second woman to win the award after Manor Suman Guwani in 2020. Rescue and search operations continued for the third day on Thursday to locate missing persons in three landslide-hit areas in Aizawl district, an official said. Aizawl's Deputy Commissioner Nazuk Kumar told PTI that rescue and search operations began on Thursday morning in Melthum, Hlimen and Aibawk areas. She said that teams of the Nation Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, fire department and Quick Response Team (QRT) have been deployed for the operations. They are assisted by volunteers of the Young Mizo Association(YMA), she said. Officials said that around seven people are believed to be still missing. All government offices and educational institutions opened in Aizawl on Thursday. At least 27 bodies have been recovered till Wednesday from the debris of landslides triggered by rain as a fallout of cyclone Remal, according to officials. Although district officials and police stated the death toll to be 29 on Wednesday afternoon, they later made rectifications and expressed apologies citing that wrong information was mistakenly given from Aibawk village, where search for two missing persons is still underway, due to poor mobile network. They said that 15 bodies have been recovered from a massive landslide at a stone quarry in the Melthum area and five from Hlimen, both on the southern outskirts of Aizawl, two persons died in Falkawn village about 15km from Aizawl and one each in Lungsei and Kelsih villages in Aizawl district died when houses were swept away by landslides. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia for the families of those killed in landslides and other calamities caused by rain in other parts of the state. He said the government has earmarked Rs 15 crore to tackle disasters triggered by rain, which occurred as an after-effect of Cyclone Remal. According to the state disaster management and rehabilitation department, more than 120 houses, schools and churches have been either damaged or collapsed due to the recent rain, storm and landslides, which occurred as an impact of cyclone Remal that hit Bangladesh and West Bengal on Monday. In Aizawl town, some cemeteries at Republic Veng, Kanan Veng, Luangmual and Kulikawn have also been swept away by landslides, and over 200 graves were damaged, it said. About 48 houses have also been submerged by water due to the flooding of Tlawng River at Sairang village about 21 km from Aizawl, the department said. Photo: Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with Governor of the Ulyanovsk region of the Russian Federation Alexey Yurievich Russkikh on May 30, Trend reports. During the meeting, the sides recognized the high level of Azerbaijani-Russian strategic ties in several areas. In parallel, the successful partnership between Azerbaijan and the Ulyanovsk region was praised by both sides. Furthermore, prospects for the further development of mutually beneficial partnerships in all spheres of mutual interest were also discussed. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Former Prime Minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh has hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his campaign during the Lok Sabha election, accusing the latter of attributing false statements to him. Singh added that he never singled out a community from others during his tenure. Singh, in a letter addressed to Punjab voters ahead of the final phase of Lok Sabha polls, said India was standing at a crucial juncture. "We have one final chance to ensure that democracy and our Constitution are protected from the repeated assaults of a despotic regime, trying to unleash dictatorship in India". Slamming the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government, Singh said, "In the past 10 years, the BJP government has left no stone unturned in castigating Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiyat." He also targeted the Prime Minister for misquoting his 'Muslim first remark'. "I have been keenly following the political discourse during this election campaign. Modi ji has indulged in the most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive in nature. Modi ji is the first Prime Minister to lower the dignity of public discourse, and thereby the gravity of the office of the Prime Minister." Singh said no prime minister in the past has uttered "such hateful, unparliamentary and coarse terms, meant to target either a specific section of the society or the opposition". Countering Modis remark against him, Singh said, "He has also attributed some false statements to me. I have never in my life singled out one community from the other. That is the sole copyright of the BJP. People of India are seeing through all of this." Criticising the Modi governments agriculture and economic policies, Singh said, "Over 750 farmers, mostly belonging to Punjab, were martyred while incessantly waiting at Delhi borders, for months together. As if the lathis and the rubber bullets were not enough, none less than the Prime Minister verbally assaulted our farmers by calling them 'Andolanjeevis and 'Parjeevi' (parasites) on the floor of the Parliament." "Their only demand was the withdrawal of the three farm laws imposed on them without consulting them," he added. "His policies in the last ten years have eroded the earnings of our farmers. The national average monthly income of farmers is a meagre Rs. 27 rupees per day, while average debt per farmer is Rs. 27,000 (NSSO)," Singh said. Slamming 'Agniveer' scheme, Singh said, "The BJP government imposed an ill-conceived Agniveer Scheme on our Armed Forces. The BJP thinks that the value of patriotism, bravery and service is only four years. This shows their fake nationalism." He added, "Those who trained for regular recruitment were woefully betrayed by the outgoing regime. The youth of Punjab, the son of the farmer, who dreams of serving the motherland through the Armed Forces, is now thinking twice about getting recruited only for a four-year stint. Agniveer Scheme endangers National Security. Congress party has therefore promised to abolish the Agniveer Scheme." The economist also slammed BJPs economic policies. "In the past 10 years, the nation's economy has witnessed unimaginable turmoil. The imposition of the demonetisation disaster, a flawed GST, and the painful mismanagement during the COVID pandemic have resulted in a miserable situation, where an expectation of a subpar 6-7 per cent GDP growth has become the new normal. Average GDP Growth under BJP Government has plunged to under 6 per cent, while during Congress-UPA tenure, it was about 8 per cent (New Series)." Singh appealed to voters to "give love, peace, fraternity, and harmony a chance in India". Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday sharpened his attack against the INDIA bloc, accusing it of making the Army a "weapon of politics" and said there cannot be a "bigger sin than this". Modi further hit out at the opposition, alleging that the Congress and "INDI alliance" never left any effort in weakening the Indian armed forces. Modi was addressing his last poll rally of the Lok Sabha polls Hoshiarpur. His attack came in the backdrop of the Congress and INDIA bloc members targeting the Narendra Modi government over the Agnipath scheme. Notably, the Congress has said it will scrap the Agnipath scheme if the INDIA bloc comes to power. Modi said it was his target to make the Indian defence forces as the most modern and capable force, self-reliant in the real sense. But this initiative blocks the ways for the "INDI alliance" to make black money. Therefore, they are taking out anger against "Modi", he said. "It is clear that we need to keep all things in mind to see with whom we fight... and we have to prepare our army accordingly," he said. The prime minister said armies are not made only for the Republic Day parade. The Army is made for a fight, to defeat an enemy and to save our motherland, he said. But the opposition made the Army as a weapon of politics, Modi alleged, and added that there cannot be a bigger sin than this. "I am telling the INDI alliance that I am silent. Do not make any mistake in understanding Modi. The day Modi opens his mouth, I will bring out all your sins out -- 'saat peedhi ke paap' (sins of seven generations)," he said. Modi said Punjab is a land of brave and valour but the INDIA bloc insulted the brave at each step. "They are those people who had insulted our late Army chief Bipin Rawat, calling him 'gali ka gunda'. It was not only the insult of General Rawat but also of each soldier of the country," said the prime minister. He targeted the opposition leaders, saying they are those people who had sought proof of the surgical strike. "They are those people who gave clean chit to China during the 1962 Indo-China war. They insult the Indian Army every other day," he said. Modi said the Congress and the INDIA bloc never spared not a single effort in weakening the Army. Training guns on the Congress, Modi referred to the Jeep scam, Bofors, submarine and Army truck scam and said they never cared about the requirements of the Army. "They only made plans to loot and empty the government exchequer by indulging in corruption, " he alleged. He accused the Congress of putting the Tejas fighter plane project in cold storage. "They kept the issue of CDS (Chief of Defence staff) hanging for many years. They are those people who did not allow important reforms for many years to modernise the Army," he said. He again targeted the Congress over the issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP), saying it lied to the ex-servicemen for 40 years on this. "How they throw dust in the eyes of soldiers," he said, recalling that it was his government which implemented OROP. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi took his own name 758 times during campaigning for Lok Sabha polls, he never uttered a word about unemployment. Addressing presspersons on the last day of campaigning for the final phase of Lok Sabha polls, Kharge said, In the last 15 days, Modi in his speeches took Congress's name 232 times, and his own name 758 times. But, he didn't talk about unemployment even once. The Congress president asserted the INDIA alliance will form the government after June 4. "We are confident that on June 4, the people of this country will give a mandate to a new alternative government. INDIA alliance will form a government with full majority and all of us together will give this country an inclusive nationalistic developmental government and we will move forward taking everyone along." Kharge added this election will be remembered for a long time as every citizen of the country came together this time to save democracy and the Constitution. The PM and leaders of the BJP made countless efforts to mislead the people on religious and divisive issues. Despite this, the people chose issues and we asked for votes on issues. Kharge said, People have endorsed our view that if this government gets another chance, it will be the end of democracy. Kharge charged Narendra Modi spoke about 'mandir-masjid' and divisive issues 421 times during poll campaigning despite the Election Commission's direction of no appeal for votes on caste and religion. Kharge also took a swipe at the prime minister over his comments in an interview that global awareness about Mahatma Gandhi came after Richard Attenborough's film, saying he may not have studied about Gandhi but Mahatma is known the world over. -with inputs from agencies. The BJP-led NDA is mulling the possibility of taking oath on June 9 and is keen to find a venue that can accommodate a large number of guests, one such possibility being Kartavya Path. According to a Hindustan Times report, tentative plans have been made for the ceremony in the event of the NDA victory and the idea is to showcase the achievements of the government in the last 10 years and its vision for the future at the venue. Results of the Lok Sabha elections will be declared on June 4. The seventh and final phase of the polls will be held on June 1. A lot of the new structures of the Central Vista project are ready and so it provides an ideal location for the vision of a Viksit (developed) Bharat, a source has been quoted as saying. Gauav Dwivedi, CEO of Prasar Bharti, has been quoted as saying that "all preparations are in place as per standard protocol." The BJP has been exuding confidence that the party will come to power for a third consecutive time with a thumping majority of over 400 seats. "The '400 paar' slogan is based on calculation and considered opinion," Home Minister Amit Shah had recently said. Confident of victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already appeared to have accepted an invitation to attend the G7 summit outreach sessions to be held in Italy in June. He had said in a tweet in April: Spoke with PM Giorgia Meloni...Thanked her for the invite to the G7 Summit in June. Discussed taking forward G20 India outcomes at the G7... Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tamil Nadus Kanyakumari on Thursday afternoon after concluding his high-voltage campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. Modi will meditate at Rock Memorial, a monument built in tribute to Swami Vivekananda, for next two days. The prime minister is scheduled to offer worship at the Bhagavathi Amman temple before reaching the Rock Memorial. Before his departure on June 1, Modi is also likely to visit the Thiruvalluvar statue. The BJP leaders claimed that Modi will meditate from the evening of Thursday to the evening of June 1 at Dhyan Mandapam, the place where Vivekanandaa spiritual icon admired by Modiis believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata'. Tamil Nadu Police has beefed up security in the coastal town, deploying around 2,000 personnel. The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy also maintain tight vigil. He had undertaken a similar meditation exercise in a Kedarnath cave after the 2019 election campaign as well. BJP functionaries had earlier said Modi's decision to pick the spot in Kanyakumari for his spiritual sojourn underscores his commitment to bringing to fruition Vivekananda's vision for the country. The rock, where the prime minister will meditate, had a major impact on Vivekananda's life and holds a similar significance in the monk's life as Sarnath for Gautam Buddha, they said. The blood samples of the 17-year-old involved in a crash of Porsche car in the city were replaced with those of a woman in a bid to show that he was not drunk at the time of the accident that claimed two lives, Pune police told a court here on Thursday. The sessions court granted the police's plea and extended till June 5 the custody of two doctors and an employee of the Sassoon General Hospital arrested in this connection. While the police told the court that they wanted to identify the woman whose blood was used as replacement, a government source told PTI that she was none other than the juvenile's mother. Dr Ajay Taware, then head of the department of forensic medicine at Sassoon hospital, medical officer Dr Shrihari Halnor and employee Atul Ghatkamble, arrested after the alleged swapping of samples came to light, were produced before the court as their initial custody ended. Seeking their further custody, police said Dr Halnor did not throw the syringe with which the juvenile's blood sample was drawn into the dustbin -- as believed earlier -- but handed it over to someone, and they wanted to find out who this person was. A highly-placed source in the Maharashtra public health department, familiar with the probe, told PTI that the blood samples of the teenager's mother were used as a replacement in order to shield him. According to police, the minor driver was drunk at the time of the incident which resulted in the death of two IT professionals in the early hours of May 19 in Kalyani Nagar area of Pune city. "We want to investigate who is that person to whom Dr Halnor handed over the juvenile's blood samples," said assistant commissioner of police (crime) Sunil Tambe who is the investigating officer in the case. "The FSL report showed that the blood sample (used as a replacement) was of a woman and we are looking for that woman and for that we need custody of these three accused," he told the court. There were some financial transactions between the accused and some suspects, the ACP said, adding that more persons could be arrested if their role in the conspiracy was established. So far, police has recovered Rs 2.5 lakh from Dr Halnor and Rs 50 lakh from Ghatkamble, Tambe said, adding that searches were needed to be conducted at Dr Taware's premises to probe his financial transactions. Taware had given Rs 3 lakh to Halnor and Ghatkamble for switching the blood samples, police had claimed earlier. The public prosecutor in the case told the court that CCTV footage showed that besides Dr Halnor and Ghatkamble, some other people were present in the room when the minor's blood samples were collected at the Sassoon hospital. Lawyers appearing for the three accused opposed further police remand, and said the prosecution had already seized several things such as call data records and CCTV footage, and it had sought custody on the same grounds at the first hearing. Dr Taware was not present when blood samples were taken, said a defence lawyer. After hearing the arguments, additional sessions judge P P Jadhav granted seven-day extension of the police custody. While the 17-year-old minor allegedly involved in the accident has been sent to an observation home, his father, realtor Vishal Agarwal and grandfather Surendra Agarwal have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping the family's driver and putting pressure on him to take the blame. Reacting to the news report of one of his former aides being detained for smuggling 500 grams of gold at the Delhi airport, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said he was "shocked" to learn about the incident. The Congress leader said he fully supports the authorities in their efforts to take necessary action and added that "the law must take its own course." "I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance," Shashi Tharoor said in a tweet. He said the accused is a 72-year-old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained as part of his staff on a part-time basis on compassionate grounds. "I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action as may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course," the Congress leader wrote. According to news agency ANI, Delhi Customs, on Wednesday, detained two people for alleged gold smuggling. One of them, identified as Shiv Kumar Prasad, claimed that he was a personal assistant to Tharoor. Prasad had come to the Delhi airport to receive someone who was coming from Dubai. Both were arrested when the person who arrived from Dubai was trying to hand over the gold to Prasad. Reacting to the news, Union minister and Tharoor's rival candidate from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency Rajeev Chandrasekhar took a dig at both the Congress and the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala calling them an "alliance of gold smugglers." "First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling Now Cong MP "aide"/PA detained for Gold smuggling CPM and Cong - both INDI alliance partners - alliance of gold smugglers," he wrote in a tweet. JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, is expected to land in India from the German capital of Munich in the early hours of Friday. Prajwal, 33, will be arrested upon his return and the legal process will be initiated, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has confirmed. Amidst political speculations and all-out media coverage ahead of Prajwal Revanna's return, a screengrab from a local television channel's reportage on the development has gone viral on the internet. The Kannada news anchor presented the programme from the inside of a flight's cockpit, thanks to graphics. ALSO READ | Prajwal Revanna sex video case: Siddaramaiah takes a dig at Modi in second letter As the anchor did his job from the seat of a pilot, the route of the aircraft he was flying was shown beside the two wings. "MUNICH TO BANGALORE", it read. The concept resulted in a laughter riot on social media platforms on Thursday. Anna went Germany to pickup Prajwal Revanna personally from Munich. #PrajwalRevanna pic.twitter.com/yNSKaIMBMC Mal-Lee | (@MallikarjunaNH) May 30, 2024 "Anna (Brother) went Germany to pickup Prajwal Revanna personally from Munich," one user jotted on X (formerly Twitter) alongside a salute emoji while sharing the viral screengrab of the media person in the cockpit. "With an open windshield I doubt the plane is still flying," another use jotted as an response to the post. "Caution:This aircraft flies only in TV. Handled by professionals. Dont try to imitate," another response read. Meanwhile, another user asked how will the mediahouse cover the Pune hit and run case involving a luxury Porsche car. Amidst the fun replies, one user pointed out that the mediahouse is unaware of the fact that "Bangalore is now Bengaluru." Prajwal Revanna sex scandal The grandson of HD Deve Gowde, facing charges of sexually abusing several women, had said in a video statement earlier this week that he will return on May 31 and appear before a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case. He has booked a ticket in a private flight from Munich that is scheduled to land at 12.30 IST on Friday. ALSO READ | Prajwal Revanna sex video case: SIT seizes MP's pillows and bedsheets ahead of his arrival On Thursday, State Home Minister G Parameshwara said that in case Prajwal Revanna does not return to the country on May 31 as stated, further action such as cancellation of his passport will follow. The anticipatory bail plea moved by the 33-year-old suspended JD(S) MP in a rape case is pending before a city special court and is likely to come up for hearing on Friday. Earlier, some media outlets, including PTI, had erroneously reported that the court had dismissed his bail petition. "The information is he (Prajwal) will come, he has booked the flight ticket. SIT has made the necessary preparations. If he comes the legal process will begin," Parameshwara told reporters. "As per law, a warrant has been issued against him, so he will have to be arrested, SIT will decide and do it." "He himself has said in the video statement that he will appear before SIT on May 31 at 10 am, not us. So I feel that he will come... In case he doesn't, the process will follow, like cancelling his passport; we will again request the Interpol through CBI, as the state government cannot do it directly, we will have to do it through Government of India agencies," he added. A team of SIT officials is camping at the airport in Bengaluru to arrest Prajwal. - With PTI inputs Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who lost his life while serving in the United Nations Peacekeeping force was honoured posthumously on Thursday for his service and supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who served with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), was posthumously honoured with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold medal. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador, Ruchira Kamboj, received the medal from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Naik Singh's valour and sacrifice were honoured during a solemn ceremony when the UN commemorated the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. He was among the 61 military, police and civilian peacekeepers honoured posthumously with the prestigious medal during the occasion. Who was Dhananjay Kumar Singh? Naik Singh was part of the Army Medical Corps, which deals with providing medical services to military personnel. Serving as a nursing assistant, Naik Singh was made part of the Indian Battalion-1 on 7 July 2023, The Print said in a report. Naik Singh's responsibilities included vaccination of troops on the ground and their medical examination along with regular "medic" duties like combat medical care. In Congo, he served at a Level-1 hospital ensuring round-the-clock operability of critical care and medical support, the report added. ALSO READ | Military peacekeeper Major Radhika Sen wins unique honour for her work in Congo What happened to Dhananjay Kumar Singh? Naik Singh breathed his last on November 1, 2023, due to ischemic heart disease while on duty. Ischemic disease is caused by poor blood flow to your heart. It's usually a result of coronary artery disease. Do you know? India is the second largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping. It currently deploys more than 6,000 military and police personnel to the UN operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara. According to news agency PTI, around 180 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, the highest number from any troop-contributing country. Israel sent a message to Iran via Egypt that it was willing to compromise in Gaza if Tehran avoided a reaction to the attack on its embassy in Syria, according to Iran's semi-official media Tasnim news agency. The report cited the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force Amirali Hajizadeh. "Israel sent messages through Egypt's foreign minister that it will compromise in the war in Gaza to avoid Iran's retaliation", Hajizadeh said, adding that Irans attack "destroyed" targeted Israeli military bases. Hajizadeh also claimed that Israel struck the IRGC officers in Damascus because it was looking for an easy win after the failures of October 7. He said Israel did not think it would trigger a direct response from Tehran. Israel's attack on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, had pushed West Asia to the edge after Iran retaliated by sending explosive drones and missiles to Israel, its first direct attack on Israeli territory. Israel is yet to respond to the report. Houthis get 'Ghadr' Tasnim said in another report that Tehrans sea-launched ballistic missile 'Ghadr' has been made available to Yemens Houthis. "Irans sea-launched ballistic missile, named Ghadr, now has been made available to Yemens (Houthi) fighters," the report said, adding that the missile has become "a weapon capable of presenting serious challenges to the interests of the United States and its main ally in the region, the Zionist regime." Interestingly, though Iran has pledged support for the Houthis, it, for long, did not acknowledge that it was supplying arms to the rebel groups. However, analysts believe Houthis were receiving weapons from Iran by 2014, the year they captured Sanaa. Ever since the Israel-Hamas war broke out, the Houthis have been attacking ships affiliated to Israel or links with Israeli businessmen, in a show of support for the Palestinians. However, the rebel groups mistakenly attacked a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier with a cargo of grain bound for Iran last week. A statement released by French naval forces based in the UAE that patrol the Middle East also identified the vessel's grain shipment as being bound for Iran. Initially, after the attack, the Laax had listed its destination as Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. On Thursday, however, its listed destination instead appeared to be Bandar Khomeini, Iran. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. With the recent raids by the Belgian police in the Russiagate case, fresh allegations of bribery involving some MEPs for backing Russian propaganda on the Voice of Europe website have emerged in the European Parliament, Trend reports. Belgian police conducted office searches of several MEPs, collecting evidence of bribery and corruption in the Russiagate case, alleging that Russia utilized bribery tactics to bolster its influence within the European Parliament, specifically to promote Russian propaganda through the Voice of Europe website. The frequency of bribery and corruption scandals in the European Parliament is on the rise, and there are claims that the problem is widespread across the continent's institutions. These corruption scandals significantly undermine the transparency and credibility of the European Parliament. The role of Armenians and Kaspar Karapetyan's involvement in the scandal The Armenian lobby has come under scrutiny in this scandal, with allegations suggesting that Kaspar Karapetyan, an Armenian businessman residing in Brussels, plays a significant role in the corruption and bribery mechanisms within the European Parliament. The bribery scandal within the European Parliament has severe repercussions on the reputation and transparency standards of European institutions, with the widespread occurrence of such scandals casting doubt on the democratic and transparent operation of the European Union. The proliferation of bribery mechanisms and their influence has raised grave concerns within the European Parliament, prompting Belgian police and other law enforcement agencies to take various measures to prevent and deter future incidents. The leadership of the European Parliament intends to implement stronger measures against corruption and bribery mechanisms. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Fourteen pro-democracy activists were convicted and two were acquitted in Hong Kong's biggest national security law violation case on Thursday. The case goes back to 2020 when pro-democracy activists held an informal 2020 primary election to determine the best candidates to win a majority in the legislature. While ruling, the court pointed out that they "would have created a constitutional crisis for Hong Kong" if they had been elected to the legislature. High Court judges Andrew Chan, Alex Lee, and Johnny Chan agreed with the prosecutor's argument that they would have tried to "veto or refuse to pass any budgets" introduced by the Hong Kong government which would have led to the dissolution of the government. The scheme, if carried out in accordance with the intentions of the parties as alleged, would necessarily amount to ... undermining the performance of duties and functions in accordance with the law by the government, they said. "The power and authority of both the Government and the Chief Executive would be greatly undermined," the court said in the verdict adding that would create a constitutional crisis for Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the court had acquitted--former district councillors Lawrence Lau and Lee Yue-Shun, saying it "cannot be sure" that they were "parties to the scheme" or that they "had the intention to subvert the state's power". The court on June 25 will hear the plea of the convicted defendants seeking a lenient sentence. Later, the judges will deliver the sentences to the convicted people. Who are the 47 activists? Hong Kong police arrested 47 pro-democracy activists in 2021. Among the arrested include men and women in their 20s to 60s. Former lawmakers, democracy advocates, and activists were among those detained by the police. They were arrested for allegedly violating the NSL that was imposed by Beijing for participating in unofficial election primaries for Hong Kong's 2020 legislature. Legal scholar Benny Tai, pro-democracy lawmakers Claudia Mo and Alvin Yeung, activists Joshua Wong, and Lester Shum, lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung Raymond Chan and journalist-turned-activist Gwyneth Ho were among those imprisoned. Some of those arrested pleaded guilty to a shorter jail term. What's the 2020 primary election? A huge anti-government protest erupted in 2019 in Hong Kong. The pro-democracy camp was set up to make gains in the 2020 legislative election. The camp was held for the primaries to determine the best candidates to win a majority in the legislature. It also had plans to vote down major bills that would eventually force the Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to resign. The protesters had put forward the demand for democratic elections and greater police accountability. Tai, the key organiser of the primary election, said that a majority in the legislature could be a "constitutional weapon with great destructive power". Despite the government's warning that the camp was against the national security law, the activists went ahead with it. An unexpected turnout of 6,10,000 voters voters turned up for the elections held in July 2020. Soon the Hong Kong government questioned the vote and in 2021 around 50 activists were arrested in connection with the NSL violation. Authorities had argued that the activists' plan was to subvert state power. The security law criminalises secession, acts of subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers to intervene in Hong Kong's affairs. Offenders could face a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. The early trends of the South African general election results showed the ruling African National Congress (ANC) losing its ground, while the Opposition parties were performing well. However, ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane said it was still early to say whether it would lose its majority. "The race is not over yet," said Mokonyane. The ANC had 2.5% of the vote after the election commission released results from 27.18% of polling stations. The party of Nelson Mandela will be forced to form a coalition with other small parties if it does not get enough majority to form the government. ANC had held the parliamentary majority for at least 30 years. The opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA) received 25.1% and Marxist Economic Freedom Fights (EFF) party got 9 % as per the latest results released by the electoral commission. The new party led by former president Jacob Zuma, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) got 8.6 % of the votes as well. The final results will come in only on Sunday. What led to ANC losing ground in South Africa? Among various reasons, experts believe that Zuma's new party is one of the major reasons for eating up the ANC's votes. Around 50 % of the votes that should have gone to ANC are going to MK, they said. Also, corruption scandals have adversely affected the party. Unemployment, poverty, infrastructure crumbling, and power outage issues paved the way for many citizens to lose faith in the government. ANC has won every national election since a landmark 1994 vote ended white minority rule and brought Mandela to power. In South Africa, the parties' shares of vote determine the number of seats they get in the National Assembly, which then elects the next president. The business community had raised its concerns over a coalition with EFF and Zuma MK as they stand for the nationalisation of mines and banks and the seizure of white-owned land. EFF leader Julius Malema and MK's Zuma had left ANC to form another party. In 2018, Zuma was forced to quit as president after scandals. The DA has vowed to oust the ANC, though its leader John Steenhuisen has not ruled out a partnership if it would prevent what he has called a "doomsday coalition" with the ANC bringing the EFF or MK into government, reported Reuters. The new parliament must convene within 14 days of final results being declared and its first act must be to elect the president. On May 29, as Donald Trump left the Manhattan courthouse where the jury had started deliberating whether the former president was guilty or not in the Stormy Daniels hush money case, he looked like a worried man. Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Trump mentioned Allen H. Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, who is serving five months in jail at a Rikers Island prison for perjuring himself during the Trump Organization's civil business trial last year. Trump, it seems, is worried about the possibility of jail time if he is convicted. After nearly 50 days of trial and testimony, the hush money case, which is the first criminal trial of a US president, has reached its final stage. On May 29, a jury of 12 New Yorkers started deliberating whether to hold Trump guilty or not. They could take days or weeks to reach a verdict. Meanwhile, there is intense speculation whether Trump would face prison time if he is pronounced guilty. The hush money case involves charges of Trump falsifying business documents to cover up the $130,000 payment made to adult movie actor Stormy Daniels to ensure her silence about an alleged sexual encounter in 2006. The payment was made during the 2016 presidential election season. Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying records to hide the payments. Each one of them carries a maximum sentence of four years and a fine of $5,000, but there is a 20-year sentencing cap in New York for such offences. The judge could also decide that the sentences could be served concurrently. And, the New York penal code permits judges to impose lenient sentenceslike less than a yearfor first-time convicts in non-violent cases. Conventional wisdom, however, suggests that Trump is unlikely to go to jail because class E felonies are the least serious category and Trump has no previous felony convictions. Moreover, he is 77, a former president and the presumptive Republican nominee in this year's presidential elections and the crime in question is not a violent one. An analysis of recent similar cases prosecuted by the Manhattan district attorney shows that only one in ten convicts had to serve jail time. If the jury reaches a guilty verdict, the next step would be reassessing Trump's bail conditions. Prosecuting attorneys might ask for an increased bail and/or stricter bail terms. But since Trump is not exactly a flight risk and he has already posted a $175 million bond, the presiding judge, Juan Merchan, is unlikely to change the terms. The next stage would be sentencing, and the hearing could start as early as July. Unfortunately for Trump, it could coincide with the Republican National Convention, where he would be formally anointed as the party's presidential nominee. Merchan, the presiding judge, has the sole authority of sentencing Trump. State law gives him a fairly wide margin in deciding the punishment. He could send Trump home by considering time served, deeming that the time spent for trial in itself is the punishment. Or Merchan could opt for a conditional discharge, essentially setting Trump free and ordering him to perform some sort of community service. Another option is probation, in which case Trump will have to report to a probation officer regularly and may face jail time if he breaks any law or violates any other conditions imposed by the judge. The last option is to impose a prison sentence. Going by Merchan's statements so far, he may not be keen to send Trump to jail, especially because of its political ramifications. He is a candidate for the presidency of the United States. So those First Amendment rights are critically important, observed Merchan. I also worry about the people who would have to execute that... court officers, correction officers, Secret Service detail." During the trial, Merchan had imposed a gag order on Trump to stop him from threatening and publicly criticising witnesses and court officials. He found Trump in contempt for violating the order ten times and fined him $1,000 for each violation. Although Merchan said he would consider putting Trump in jail for the repeated violations, he chose not to follow up on the threat. If Trump is indeed awarded a prison sentence, he will certainly appeal the verdict, and the process could take months or even years, till all possible options are exhausted. He would have 30 days to file a notice of appeal and then six months to file a full appeal. Trump's first stop would be the appellate division in Manhattan and if the guilty verdict is upheld, he can approach the court of appeals in Albany. The seven-member body is the highest appellate court in New York, which also has the discretion over whether to admit the appeal or not. If the court of appeals upholds the verdict, Trump is likely to approach the Supreme Court. But since the case deals with a state issue, Trump will have to convince the apex court that there has been some federal or constitutional violation for the court to admit the appeal. On the practical side, this means that it could take a long time before Trump actually sees the inside of a New York jail. However, if he is convicted, Trump will not be able to pardon himself as this is a state crime and only the governor of New York has the power to issue a pardon. If Trump receives a sentence of one year or less, he would be sent to the infamous Rikers Island, home to the Department of Correction's seven jails. And, he would be eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of his sentence. But if the sentence is for more than a year, the New York Department of Corrections would choose from one of its 44 prisons to house the former president. Trump would continue to enjoy Secret Service protection even when he is in jail as the agency is mandated to protect the former president round the clock. Trump will have to be kept away from other inmates and his food and other personal items will have to be monitored and tested all the time. According to a New York Times report, "a detail of Secret Service agents would work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rotating in and out of the facility. While firearms are obviously strictly prohibited in prisons, the agents would nonetheless be armed." Interestingly, Trump can run for president even if he is convicted and lodged in a New York prison. That is because nothing in the US Constitution prevents a convicted or incarcerated person from running for the highest office if he is a natural-born citizen who is at least 35 years old and has lived in the US for at least 14 years. He could still run and win even if he is in jail. But what happens next will be interesting, for instance, how Trump will take oath as president and discharge his official duties from a prison cell. Technically, the vice president and a majority of the cabinet could invoke the 25th Amendment and transfer the presidential authority to the vice president if the president is unable to discharge his duties. But all those cabinet positions will be filled by hardcore Trump loyalists so nothing could happen without Trump's approval. Clearly, the founding fathers never contemplated the possibility of a convicted felon running the country. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday pledged $135 million in aid to Moldova for energy security and to counter Russian disinformation as the Western-leaning nation struggles to blunt Moscows push for influence thats been buoyed by recent successes in its war in neighboring Ukraine. Blinken opened a short visit to Eastern Europe with a stop in Chisinau, Moldovas capital, where he announced the assistance at a news conference with President Maia Sandu. Americas top diplomat said $85 million would go to bolster energy infrastructure and $50 million was aimed at overhauling the energy and farming industries and deterring disinformation. That in turn will bolster the ability of Moldovans to resist Russian interference, to hold free and fair elections, to continue down the path to the European Union and Western integration, to create more economic opportunity, Blinken said. He planned to travel to the Czech Republic later. Before Wednesday, the U.S. had provided Moldova with $774 million in financial aid since the Ukraine war began in February 2022. Some $300 million of that was earmarked for energy security. Blinkens trip, organized around a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Prague, the Czech capital, comes amid concerns that Moldova and Georgia, another former Soviet republic, are facing renewed threats from Russia. Blinken visited Ukraine two weeks ago to reassure Kyiv of Washingtons support in the face of increased Russian attacks in its north. There are also signs Russia may be considering new actions in Moldova, where it has 1,500 troops stationed in the disputed territory of Transnistria, and is behind anti-Western moves in Georgia that the U.S. believes run counter to Moldovan and Georgian aspirations to join the European Union. Both countries have candidate status to eventually join the 27-nation EU bloc. Theres not a direct military threat that we see at this time, but theres ongoing Russian influence operations, and that is of concern, the top U.S. diplomat for Europe, James OBrien, said last week. Moldova has repeatedly accused Russia of conducting a hybrid war against the country, meddling in local elections and running vast disinformation campaigns to try to topple the government and derail its path toward joining the EU. Russia has denied the accusations, but the Moldovan government is wary of Moscows intentions, particularly after Transnistrian authorities appealed to Moscow in February for protection due to what they said was increased pressure from Chisinau. In Georgia, those fears intensified on Tuesday when the countrys parliament overrode a presidential veto of a foreign agents bill that has prompted weeks of massive protests by critics who say it will restrict media freedom and obstruct Georgias chances of joining the European Union. The bill that was approved by the parliament earlier this month requires media, nongovernmental organizations and other nonprofit groups to register as pursuing the interests of a foreign power if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. The legislature, controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, dismissed the veto of President Salome Zourabichvili, an independent. The president now has five days to endorse the bill. If she doesnt do so, the parliament speaker will sign it into law. Zourabichvili, who is increasingly at odds with the governing party, vetoed the bill on May 18. She has accused the governing party of jeopardizing the countrys future and hindering the path toward becoming a full member of the free and democratic world. Blinken last week announced that the U.S. would impose travel bans on Georgian officials who are responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia, as well as their family members. Blinkens announcement did not identify anyone who has already been targeted, but it said the U.S. would also undertake a comprehensive review of U.S.-Georgia cooperation. It remains our hope that Georgias leaders will reconsider the draft law and take steps to move forward with their nations democratic and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, he said. As we review the relationship between our two countries, we will take into account Georgias actions in deciding our own. The situations in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine will all be on the agenda at the NATO ministerial meeting in Prague on Thursday and Friday that will be the alliances last major diplomatic get-together before leaders meet at a summit to celebrate NATOs 80th anniversary in Washington in July. (AP) Another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone went down in Yemen, images online purported to show Wednesday, as Yemens Houthi rebels continued attacks on shipping around the Red Sea over the Israel-Hamas war. It wasnt immediately clear what brought down the drone, but the U.S. militarys Central Command acknowledged seeing reports of the aircraft being downed in a desert region of Yemens central Marib province. It marked potentially the third such downing this month alone. Images published online and analyzed by The Associated Press showed the MQ-9 on its belly in the barren desert, its tail assembly disconnected from their rest of its body. At least one hatch on the drone appeared to have been opened after it landed there, though the drone remained broadly intact without any clear blast damage. One image included Wednesdays date. Noticeably, the drone did not appear to carry any markings on it. Authorities in Marib, which remains held by allies of Yemens exiled government, did not immediately acknowledge the drone. Nor did the Houthis, who previously have shot down MQ-9 drones during the war. A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, told the AP that the U.S. Air Force has not lost any aircraft operating within U.S. Central Commands area of responsibility. The official declined to elaborate. Other American paramilitary forces have flown the drone in Yemen. Located 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Sanaa, Marib sits on the edge of the Arabian Peninsulas Empty Quarter Desert at the foot of the Sarawat Mountains running along the Red Sea. The province has seen U.S. drones previously brought down there, in part because the region remains crucial for the outcome of Yemens yearslong war. Since Yemens civil war started in 2014, when the Houthis seized most of the countrys north and its capital of Sanaa, the U.S. military has lost at least five drones to the rebels. This month alone, theres been two others suspected shootdowns of Reapers that the American military hasnt confirmed. Reapers cost around $30 million apiece. They can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (about 15,000 meters) and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land. The Houthis in recent months have stepped up attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, demanding that Israel end the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians there. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostage. The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat. On Wednesday, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree acknowledged the rebels attacked the bulk carrier Laax on Tuesday. Saree also claimed a number of other attacks on vessels that have not reported assaults without offering any evidence to support his claim. Saree in the past has exaggerated Houthi attacks. (AP) North Korea flew hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure toward South Korea in one of its most bizarre provocations against its rival in years, prompting the Souths military to mobilize chemical and explosive response teams to recover objects and debris in different parts of the country. The balloon campaign came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged his military scientists to overcome a failed satellite launch and continue developing space-based reconnaissance capabilities, which he described as crucial for countering U.S. and South Korean military activities, state media said Wednesday. In his first public comments about the launch failure, Kim also warned of unspecified overwhelming actions against South Korea over an exercise involving 20 fighter jets near the inter-Korean border hours before North Koreas failed launch on Monday. In a speech Tuesday, Kim described the South Korean response as a hysterical attack formation flight and strike drill and direct military challenge toward North Korea, the Norths official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea also has been flying large numbers of trash-carrying balloons toward the South since Tuesday night in retaliation against South Korean activists for flying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border. The Souths military said about 260 North Korean balloons were found in various parts of the country as of Wednesday afternoon and were being recovered by military rapid response and explosive clearance teams. The military said the balloons brought various types of trash and manure but so far they had found no human excrement. It advised civilians not to touch the objects from North Korea and to report to military or police after discovering them. In a statement issued over the weekend, North Korean Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il said the North was planning to scatter mounds of wastepaper and filth over border areas and other parts of South Korea, in what he described as tit-for-tat action against the leafletting by South Korean activists. Later Wednesday, Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leaders powerful sister, took to state media to ridicule a South Korean military statement demanding that the North stop its inhumane and vulgar activity. She said the North was merely exercising its freedom of expression, which the Seoul government has stated as a reason for its inability to stop anti-North Korean activists from flying leaflets across the border. Once you experience how nasty and exhausting it feels to go around picking up dirty filth, you will realize that you shouldnt talk about freedom of expression so easily when it comes to (leafletting) in border areas, she said. We will make it clear that we will respond with tens more times the amount of filth to what the (South Koreans) spray to us in the future. Photos released by the South Korean military showed trash scattered across highways and roads in different parts of the country. In the capital, Seoul, military officials found what appeared to be a timer that was likely designed to pop the bags of trash midair. In the central South Chungcheong province, two huge balloons carrying an un-popped plastic bag filled with dirt-like substances were seen at a road. There were no immediate reports of damage caused by the balloons. Similar North Korean balloon activities damaged cars and other property in 2016. Kim Jong Uns comments about the satellite were from a speech at the Norths Academy of Defense Sciences, which he visited a day after a rocket carrying what would have been his countrys second military reconnaissance satellite exploded shortly after liftoff. North Koreas aerospace technology administration said the explosion was possibly related to the reliability of a newly developed rocket engine that is fueled by petroleum and uses liquid oxygen as an oxidizer. Animosities between the Koreas are at their worst level in years as the pace of both Kims weapons demonstrations and South Koreas combined military exercises with the U.S. and Japan have intensified since 2022. The failed satellite launch was a setback to Kims plan to launch three more military spy satellites in 2024 after North Koreas first military reconnaissance satellite was placed in orbit last November. The November launch followed two failed attempts. Mondays launch drew criticism from South Korea, Japan and the United States, because the United Nations bans North Korea from conducting any such rocket launches, viewing them as covers for testing long-range missile technology. North Korea has steadfastly maintained it has the right to launch satellites and test missiles in the face of what it perceives as U.S.-led military threats. Kim has described spy satellites as crucial for monitoring U.S. and South Korean military activities and enhancing the threat posed by his nuclear-capable missiles. Although we failed to achieve the results we had hoped to get in the recent reconnaissance satellite launch, we must never feel scared or dispirited but make still greater efforts, Kim said. It is natural that one learns more and makes greater progress after experiencing failure. North Korea hasnt commented on when it would be ready to attempt a satellite launch again, which some experts say could take months. State medias mention of a liquid oxygen-petroleum rocket engine suggests the North is trying to develop a more powerful space launch vehicle that could handle larger payloads, according to some South Korean experts. It is believed that North Koreas previous space rockets used unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine as fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide as an oxidizer. The countrys swift transition in space rocket designs possibly indicates external technological help, which would likely come from Russia, said Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at South Koreas Research Institute for National Strategy. Kim has been boosting the visibility of his ties with Russia in recent months, highlighted by a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September, as they align in the face of their separate confrontations with Washington. Kims meeting with Putin was held at a spaceport in the Russian Far East and came after North Koreas consecutive failures in its attempts to launch its first spy satellite. Putin then told Russian reporters that Moscow was willing to help the North build satellites. The U.S. and South Korea have also accused North Korea of providing Russia with artillery shells, missiles and other military equipment to help prolong its fighting in Ukraine. (AP) A routine visit to the employee hub at 16th Avenue and 65th Street turned into a harrowing ordeal for a local resident seeking temporary help. The individual had gone to the area, known for connecting employers with temporary workers, when a man entered his car, offering to work for him. Once inside, the suspect sat in the back seat and suddenly placed the driver in a chokehold. In a desperate bid to escape, the driver managed to jump out of the vehicle and immediately called his wife, instructing her to contact Boro Park Shomrim for help. The suspect seized the opportunity to carjack the vehicle and sped down 16th Avenue towards the lower-numbered streets. The high-speed escape ended when the car crashed at 16th Avenue and 53rd Street. By this time, Shomrim had received the distress call and met with the victim at 16th Avenue and 65th Street. They promptly contacted the NYPD. A Shomrim volunteer responding to the incident witnessed the crash and connected it to the carjacking after hearing the vehicles description over the Shomrim radio. Responding officers from the NYPD 62nd precinct public safety unit met with the victim and proceeded to the crash scene. There, the victim identified the suspect, who was subsequently arrested. Shormim reminds residents to remain vigilant when hiring temporary employees from various hubs around town to prevent such incidents. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Justice Samuel Alito is rejecting calls to step aside from Supreme Court cases involving former President Donald Trump and Jan. 6 defendants, saying his wife hoisted the two controversial flags that flew above their homes. My wife is fond of flying flags. I am not, Alito wrote Wednesday. In letters to members of Congress, Alito said his wife, Martha-Ann, was responsible for flying both an upside-down flag over their home in 2021 and an Appeal to Heaven flag at their New Jersey beach house last year. Both flags were like those carried by rioters who violently stormed the Capitol in January 2021 while echoing Trumps false claims of election fraud. Neither incident at Alitos homes merited his recusal, wrote the justice, who has rejected calls from Democrats in the past to recuse on other issues. I am confident that a reasonable person who is not motivated by political or ideological considerations or a desire to affect the outcome of Supreme Court cases would conclude that the events do not meet the applicable standard for recusal, he wrote. I am therefore required to reject your request. Supreme Court justices decide for themselves whether to sit out a case and the only potential consequence for refusing to step aside is impeachment by the House of Representatives and removal from office by the Senate. That has never happened in American history. Trump, who was in New York while jurors deliberated in his hush money criminal trial, congratulated Alito for showing the INTELLIGENCE, COURAGE, and GUTS in refusing to step aside. All U.S. Judges, Justices, and Leaders should have such GRIT, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. Some Senate Republicans also quickly took to social media Wednesday to praise Alito for staying involved in the cases. The court is considering two major cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack by a mob of Trump supporters on the Capitol, including charges faced by the rioters and whether Trump has immunity from prosecution on election interference charges. The New York Times reported that an inverted American flag was seen at Alitos home in Alexandria, Virginia, less than two weeks after the attack on the Capitol. The paper also reported that an Appeal to Heaven flag was flown outside the justices beach home in New Jersey last summer. The Appeal to Heaven flag has in recent years come to symbolize sympathies with the Christian nationalist movement and the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump. According to Americanflags.com, the pine tree on the flag symbolized strength and resilience in the New England colonies while the words Appeal to Heaven stemmed from the belief that God would deliver the colonists from tyranny. An upside-down American flag has come to be a symbol associated with Trumps bogus fraud claims. Dozens of the pro-Trump rioters were carrying similarly inverted flags and chanting slogans like Stop the Steal on Jan. 6, 2021. The U.S. Flag Code states that the American flag is not to be flown upside down except as a signal of dire distress in instance of extreme danger to life or property. The inverted flag has been used as a protest symbol on both the left and the right on a range of issues over the decades. Alito said he was unaware that the upside-down flag was flying above his house until it was called to his attention. As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused, he wrote in nearly identical letters to Democrats in the House and the Senate. He had previously explained to the newspaper that his wife put up the flag as part of a nasty neighborhood dispute. The flag at his beach house was also hoisted by his wife, Alito wrote, noting that the house is in her name and was bought with money she inherited from her parents. Alito said he was unfamiliar with the Appeal to Heaven flag when it was flown, but he noted it dates back to the American Revolution. I was not aware of any connection between this historic flag and the Stop the Steal Movement and neither was my wife, Alito wrote. He said Martha-Ann Alito did not fly that flag to associate herself with the rioters or the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which Trump, a Republican, lost to Joe Biden, a Democrat. Calling her an independently-minded private citizen, Alito wrote, She makes her own decisions and I honor her right to do so. Alito also described the sacrifices his wife has made because of her husbands service on the Supreme Court, including the insult of having to endure numerous, loud, obscene and personally insulting protests in front of our home that continue to this day and now threaten to escalate. Protests began in 2022 after a draft of Alitos majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade and allowing states to ban abortions was leaked in early May. The court formally issued the decision in late June. Democrats in the House and the Senate sent a total of three letters last week to Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts seeking Alitos disqualification from the cases. Senators asked for a meeting with Roberts. Alito said it was better that he respond directly. Judicial ethics codes focus on the need for judges to be independent, avoiding political statements or opinions on matters they could be called on to decide. The Supreme Court had long gone without its own code of ethics, but it adopted one in November 2023 in the face of sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices. The code lacks a means of enforcement, though, and the Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation last year that would set stricter standards. But Republicans have been staunchly opposed to any efforts to tell the court what to do. (AP) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Armenian people must recognize that their future is intricately linked with their neighboring nations, with whom they have shared a longstanding history, rather than with external influences, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trend reports. This statement was delivered during the Distinguished Visitors Day event held on May 30 as part of the EFES-2024 multinational exercise in Izmir. The moment Armenia frees itself from the influence of foreign powers and the Diaspora, it will become even closer to peace. Armenian people must recognize that their future is intricately linked with their neighboring nations, with whom they have shared a longstanding history, rather than with external influences, he said. President Erdogan also emphasized that about 30 years later, a historic window of opportunity for stability in the region opened with the liberation of Karabakh. One truth must be well understood. Turkiye is not a country standing on the sidelines of global events. We are currently in a geography where the fiercest conflicts, political crises and confrontations are taking place. All the events that invaded the agenda of mankind are taking place in the immediate vicinity of Turkiye. Nobody knows when and how these wars, for which the costs in our region and the world are increasing day by day, will end, President Erdogan said. The Montreal Jewish community was left reeling Tuesday morning after a shooting at the Belz Yeshiva Ktana in the same neighborhood as Yeshiva Gedolah of Montreal, which was targeted in a shooting last fall, an incident for which a Muslim suspect was arrested and charged just last week. According to police, four bullets were fired through the front door of the Belz yeshiva ktana, which is located in the same building as a Young Israel shul, at 3:35 a.m., resulting in damage to the building but no injuries. The suspect remains at large, and the investigation is ongoing. Surveillance footage captured the gunman, but not his vehicle, which was parked at a distance from the building. There have been other recent incidents of violent antisemitism in Montreal, Toronto, and other Canadian cities. In November, Molotov cocktails were thrown at the Montreal JCC, as well as at a Shul in a separate incident. Just two weeks ago, a Toronto shul was vandalized the second such incident at the shul in a span of two weeks. And this week, shots were fired at a Chabad girls school, also in Toronto. The Montreal Kehilla is urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) North Korea on Thursday fired a barrage of suspected ballistic missiles toward its eastern sea, according to South Koreas military, days after its attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite ended in failure but still drew strong condemnation from its rivals. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the North firing around 10 projectiles that appeared to be short-range ballistic missiles from an area near its capital, Pyongyang. It said the suspected missiles flew around 350 kilometers (217 miles) before landing in waters off the Norths eastern coast. It said the South Korean military has increased surveillance and vigilance and is closely sharing information with the United States and Japan. Japans coast guard issued a maritime safety advisory over the North Korean launches and urged ships to exercise caution if they find any fallen objects. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that the suspected missiles were believed to have landed in waters outside of Japans exclusive economic zone and there were no immediate reports of damages. He said Tokyo strongly condemns the launches, which are in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions against the North. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have increased in recent months as the pace of both North Koreas weapons testing and South Koreas combined military exercises with the United States and Japan have intensified in a cycle of tit-for-tat. Thursdays launches came after North Korea flew hundreds of trash-carrying balloons toward the South since Tuesday night in a retaliation against South Korean activists flying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has also warned of unspecified overwhelming actions against South Korea after it staged an aerial exercise involving 20 fighter jets near the inter-Korean border hours before North Korea attempted to launch its second military reconnaissance satellite. The rocket exploded shortly after liftoff, but Kim has urged his military scientists to overcome the failure and continue developing space-based reconnaissance capabilities, which he described as crucial for monitoring U.S. and South Korean military activities and enhancing the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles. Also on Thursday, North Korea hit back at international condemnation of its failed satellite launch, which drew strong rebukes from the United Nations and other countries as it involves technologies used for developing intercontinental range ballistic missiles. The North had successfully launched its first military spy satellite in November, but Mondays failure posed a possible setback to Kims plans to launch three more military spy satellites in 2024. We will never tolerate any moves of the hostile forces to violate the inviolable sphere under the exercise of sovereignty nor step back from having access to the space reconnaissance capability which should be done surely no matter what others may say, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong said in a statement published on state media. Kim Son Gyongs statement came as response to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemnation of Mondays launch, which he called a violation of Security Council resolutions that prohibit the North from conducting any launches involving ballistic missile technology. Thursdays launches were the latest in a series of weapons tests by North Korea. On May 17, South Koreas military said that North Korea fired suspected short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast. North Korea later said it tested a tactical ballistic missile with a new autonomous navigation system. The North this year tested various cruise missiles and artillery systems and flight-tested what it described as a solid-fuel intermediate range missile with hypersonic warhead capabilities. Experts say it is designed to reach remote U.S. targets in the Pacific, including the military hub of Guam. (AP) Donald Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes Thursday as a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment. Trump sat stone-faced while the verdict was read as cheering from the street below could be heard in the hallway on the courthouses 15th floor where the decision was revealed after more than nine hours of deliberations. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial, an angry Trump told reporters after leaving the courtroom. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people. They know what happened, and everyone knows what happened here. Judge Juan Merchan set sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where GOP leaders, who remained resolute in their support in the immediate aftermath of the verdict, are expected to formally make him their nominee. Trump is expected to quickly appeal the verdict and will face an awkward dynamic as he returns to the campaign trail with felony convictions. There are no campaign rallies on the calendar for now, though hes expected to hold fundraisers next week. The falsifying business records charges carry up to four years behind bars, though Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braff would not say Thursday if prosecutors intend to seek imprisonment, and it is not clear whether the judge who earlier in the trial warned of jail time for gag order violations would impose that punishment even if asked. (AP) Senator Lindsey Graham, who is currently visiting Israel for his fifth time since October 7th, met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Graham told Netanyahu during the meeting: This is one of the most challenging times for Israel since its founding. There are so many problems and challenges to overcome, but one problem you will never have to worry about is America. I promise that we will do all we can to hold the ICC accountable for this outrage against the people of Israel a slap in the face of your judiciary. To the International Court of Justice you are a joke. The head judge of the ICJ is a raving anti-Semite. The president of the ICJ is Nawaf Salam, a Lebanese judge who has made many anti-Israel statements in the past. In 2015, he tweeted Israel Occupation of Gaza & the West Bank: UNHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU 48 YEARS OF OCCUPATION. Additionally, his appointment as president of the ICJ coincided directly with the first hearing on South Africas genocide lawsuit against Israel in January 2024. On Tuesday, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana accompanied Graham to view one of the rocket parts that hit Israel during the Iranian attack as well as one of the kibbutzim ravaged by Hamas terrorists on October 7th. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) City University of New York (CUNY) officials were reportedly shocked by the unbelievable damage caused by anti-Israel protesters at City Colleges campus in Upper Manhattan, totaling at least $3 million. The protests, which turned violent, resulted in significant destruction, including a torched administration building roof, broken windows, and vandalized property. Its costing over $3 million money that should be going to our academic institution and lifting up our students, said Councilman Eric Dinowitz, Chairman of the City Councils Higher Education Committee. Thats a real shame CUNYs purpose is to uplift people, not tear down the institution. The damage included $350,000 to repair the administration buildings roof, which was set ablaze by a protesters flare. Additionally, vandals caused $250,000 in damage by breaking windows, chairs, and other furniture, while demonstrators spray-painted video surveillance cameras, resulting in $600,000 in damage. To manage the protests and ensure campus security, CUNY has spent a substantial sum on additional measures, including erecting more fencing around the City College campus. The university has also contracted Security Services Corp. for $4 million to provide additional security guards at City College and other campuses. The protests were in response to Israels actions in Gaza, and dozens of protesters were arrested, including outside agitators who were not students. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The IDFs Golani Brigade has concluded a series of rigorous training exercises as part of its preparation for potential combat operations in the north. The brigade has been deployed on the northern border for approximately four months, serving as the first line of defense against Hezbollah terrorists. During this time, the soldiers have been engaged in various activities, including ambushes, patrols, and strikes against enemy targets. Recently, the brigades battalions participated in comprehensive exercises designed to enhance their readiness for a northern combat scenario. The training simulations focused on taking control of targets along terrain routes mimicking those found in Lebanon. The soldiers drew on their experiences and lessons learned from operating in the Gaza Strip to inform their tactics. The exercises tested the forces ability to counter enemy anti-tank missiles, handle explosives, and respond quickly to emerging threats with the aid of precise intelligence. Additionally, they practiced evacuating wounded personnel in complex and challenging conditions. Notably, these exercises were conducted concurrently with ongoing defense operations in response to real-time events in the north, demonstrating the brigades adaptability and commitment to readiness. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A delegation of parliament members from countries worldwide visited the Gevurah encampment, a protest tent opposite the Knesset established by members of about 50 bereaved families. The families, who all lost children battling Hamas terrorists, either on October 7th or during the ground war in Gaza, belong to the HaGevurah Forum, which works to place pressure on the government to continue the war in Gaza and obliterate Hamas. The members of the delegation met with Frieda Marciano, the mother of Sgt. Itai Eliyahu Marciano, Hyd, 20, and with Rabbi Achiya Eliyahu, the father of Sgt. Ariel Eliyahu, Hyd, 19. Both boys lost their lives battling Hamas terrorists on October 7th. During the meeting, one of the delegation members, Swedish MP Alexander Christiansson, broke into tears and fell on the knees of Rabbi Eliyahu. Christiansson said: I came here to support Israel and tell its residents that many people all over the world support Israel and their hearts are with you. Israel has the right to defend itself. Contrary to everything you hear in the media, its important that you know that many people support and stand by Israel. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Former MK Yair Golan, who was elected as the new chairman of the Labor party on Tuesday evening, called for IDF refusal at a recent conference, Channel 14 News revealed on Wednesday. In a recording of the Choosing Leadership conference, Golan is heard calling called for widespread civil disobedience in order to topple the government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. When asked to provide examples of civil disobedience, he responded: Civil disobedience is, for example not reporting for reserve duty until the government changes. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to open a criminal investigation against Golan, who has a history of calling for army refusal and other illegal actions. The Im Tirtzu movement filed a complaint with the police against Golan for sedition. Golan has been calling for civil disobedience, army refusal, and breaking the law for almost a year and is inciting the public, the complaint stated. In July 2024, Golan said that the real war is against the government and not Hamas or Hezbollah and that serving in the battle for Israeli democracy is more important than serving in the IDF. On Thursday afternoon, Channel 14 reported that Israel Police opened an investigation into Golans statements. However, this is not the first time that an investigation has been opened against him and no action has ever been taken. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) A cruise missile launched from Iraq was downed in southern Ramat HaGolan, the IDF said on Thursday morning. The IDF said that following drone infiltration sirens in Ramat HaGolan, a cruise missile from the east [i.e Iraq] was shot down. The IDF added that earlier on Thursday, following sirens in the Margaliot area of northern Israel, the Iron Dome intercepted a suspicious aerial object that crossed into Israel from Lebanon. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The Mossad revealed on Thursday that Iran is behind a series of terror attacks against Israeli embassies in Europe since October 7th and is targeting Jews and Israelis across Europe via criminal proxies. The Mossad, the Shin Bet, the IDFs Military Intelligence Directorate and the National Security Council worked together with European intelligence agencies and discovered that two main criminal networks, FOXTROT and RUMBA, that are responsible for promoting terror in Sweden and throughout Europe, are receiving funding and directions from Iran. In January 2024, the Israeli embassy in Sweden was attacked with a grenade, prompting the launching of an international investigation that uncovered the role of the FOXTROT crime organization, the largest crime organization in Sweden, which is responsible, among other things, for murders and large-scale drug trafficking. The investigation also uncovered the role of high-profile criminal Rawa Majid, the Kurdish Fox a Swedish citizen of Kurdish origin who heads FOXTROT and is wanted by Interpol. Majid has been receiving instructions from Iran to advance terror attacks against Jewish and Israeli targets across Europe. The Mossad revealed that Iran was also behind the recent grenade attack against the Israeli embassy in Brussels as well as the gunfire near Israels embassy in Stockholm on May 17. Following the shooting, several suspects were arrested, including some of Iranian origin. The incident was tracked back to RUMBA, which is headed by Ismail Abdou, the rival of Rawa Majid. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. France fails to comply with the UN resolutions, Marania Vaianui, foreign relations adviser to the deputy chairman of the ruling party of French Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira), general coordinator of Tavini in Punaauia, Trend reports. She made the statement at a conference in Azerbaijan's Parliament on "French Polynesia's right to decolonization: challenges and prospects". Vaianui emphasized that UN resolutions indicate that Polynesia should be liberated from colonialism. We seek support from 193 countries. Our aim is the freedom of our people, enabling us to liberate our lands and utilize our natural resources efficiently, she added. To note, heads and secretaries of commissions of the Parliament of French Polynesia (Ma'OHI Nui), as well as leading staff of the ruling Tavini Party, have arrived in Azerbaijan on a visit. The purpose of the four-day visit is to explore potential inter-parliamentary, economic, and humanitarian collaborations between Azerbaijan and French Polynesia, spanning various fields like science, education, sports, and health. The delegation from French Polynesia's visit was extended at the invitation of the Baku Initiative Group, which focuses on addressing colonialism and its contemporary forms in the 21st century. This visit aligns with the Cooperation Agreement between the Baku Initiative Group and the Tavini Party, formalized during the "The Path to Decolonization: Consequences of Assimilation and its Implications for the Realization of Human Rights" international conference held at the UN Office in Vienna on April 30. The Tavini party has persistently advocated for the independence of French Polynesia over the years. Housing Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf announced at the Israel Bar Association conference that the Israel Land Authority (ILA) ordered the UNWRA to immediately vacate its offices and the land it is using in Jerusalem. The UNWRA has a long history of violating leases that was largely ignored by the ILA in the past. But now that the organizations ties to terror have been revealed, Goldknopf demanded that the agency be evicted from state land. In a letter to UNRWA authorized by Goldknopf, the ILA demanded that the agency pay them NIS 27.1 million ($7.3 million) for using Israeli state land without consent for the last seven years. The agency was ordered to immediately stop any illegal use, destroy everything you have built in violation of the law, vacate the land of any people or items and return it to the [ILA] within 30 days from the date of this letter. The Im Tirtzu organization, which has been leading the battle to evict the UNWRA from Jerusalem, stated: Just yesterday, we held another demonstration outside the UNWRA offices, and in recent months, we have held dozens of demonstrations and protests in front of the UNWRA offices. We sent thousands of messages to ministers, MKs, and the head of the National Security Council demanding an end to the farce of the presence of the UNWRA terror organization in Jerusalem. We are happy to learn that the public pressure has borne fruit. Yashar Koach to Minister Goldknopf for his determination! (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Six months after the tragic loss of Rabbi Naaman Eshchar during a military operation in northern Israel, his newborn son had his bris performed at Maachal Hagvura in Jerusalem, with nearly 1,000 people in attendance. Rabbi Eshchars wife, Tsuf, chose Shachar Shimon to be the babys name. The Eshchar family chose to hold the ceremony at Maachal Hagvura, a venue that has become a symbol of support for bereaved families. They also joined the call for the Israeli government to continue the war until Israel achieves complete victory, a demand echoed by many families who have lost loved ones in the conflict. Rabbi Eshchar, a 32-year-old father of two, was killed in October 2023 when his tank flipped over during military operations on Israels northern border. He was a Rebbi at the hesder yeshiva in Shadmot Mechola and a selfless individual who had donated a kidney to a stranger just four months before his death. Despite being barred from enlisting in the reserves due to his kidney donation, Rabbi Eshchar fought to overturn the ban and continue serving his country. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran and worlds largest sponsor of terror, has expressed his admiration for American college students who have protested the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. In a letter, Khamenei commended the students for standing on the right side of history and forming a branch of the Resistance Front against their governments support of Israel. Khamenei accused the US and Britain of importing terrorists into the region after World War II, leading to the establishment of Israel. He claimed that the global Zionist elite has labeled the students courageous, humane resistance as terrorism. He also praised professors and staff who have joined the protests, calling their support a significant and consequential development. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) In response to Minister Benny Gantzs recent demand for early elections, National Unity MK Pnina Tamano-Shata has submitted a bill to dissolve the Knesset. October 7 is a disaster that requires us to go back and receive the peoples trust, to establish a broad and stable unity government that can lead us safely in the face of the enormous challenges in security, the economy, and above all in Israeli society, Tamano-Shata said. Submitting the bill now will allow us to bring it up in the current legislative session. Prime Minister Netanyahus Likud party has dismissed the call, arguing that it is unnecessarily disharmonious and damaging to the war effort. Likud, which leads a 64-member coalition bloc in the 120-member Knesset, remains firmly against the bill, especially since Gantzs party joined the coalition after October 7. In the midst of a war, Israel needs unity, not division. The dissolution of the unity government is a reward for [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar, a surrender to international pressures, and a fatal blow to the efforts to free our abductees, the Likud said in a statement. National Unity countered, blaming Netanyahu for repeatedly prioritizing personal interests over national interests, which they claim has led to the current governments instability. Netanyahu, it is not too late to come to your senses either together we will win or you will continue alone with the divide and conquer method, National Unity stated, referencing a government-promoted wartime slogan. Tensions between Gantz and Netanyahu have been mounting since Gantz joined the government following the October 7 attacks. On April 3, Gantz called for early elections by September, citing growing dissatisfaction with the wars management and the failure to recover hostages. Gantz later issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu on national television, threatening to withdraw from the coalition unless there was a commitment to an agreed vision for the Gaza conflict by June 8. MK Tamano-Shata, speaking with The Times of Israel, indicated a reluctance to leave the government but affirmed they would do so if pushed. Gantz further challenged Netanyahu by demanding a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks failures. Additionally, war cabinet observer MK Gadi Eisenkot, a member of Gantzs party, accused Netanyahu of security and economic failures, calling for a government replacement as soon as possible. Eisenkot proposed a vote between September and December to build the nation, though Netanyahus coalition, without Gantzs party, remains strong enough to likely withstand the dissolution bill. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The surrender of the board of Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS) to the blandishments of Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is a national disgrace. An IDS board, stuffed with the great and the good including chairman Keith Williams and senior independent director Sarah Hogg, should have fought against this travesty. It is betraying the heritage of one of the nations most venerated institutions with a history dating back to 1635. More concerning, it is bad business and bad for Britain. The trajectory of former public utilities falling into the hands of financially driven, uncaring ownership has been disastrous. The same public which so abhors the ownership structure of Thames Water, where billions of pounds of dividends and interest payments flowed overseas, cannot watch events at Royal Mail with equanimity. At risk: The 3.6bn Royal Mail deal will be paid for by putting a chunk of debt onto IDS balance sheet. The consequence of that will be a huge interest bill and a rush to dispose of assets The 3.6billion deal by Kretinskys EP Group will be paid for by putting a chunk of debt onto IDSs balance sheet. The consequence of that will be a huge interest bill and a rush to dispose of assets including the profitable European parcels arm GLS. A debt burden can only lead to investment being cut and the enterprise becoming less competitive. Supermarket groups Morrisons and Asda have gone backwards since falling under private equity control. The IDS board will wave in the air a series of commitments made by Kretinsky as a guarantee that core values and union contracts will be respected. Hooey! In private hands and operating behind locked doors, without formal scrutiny by stakeholders, Kretinsky and his backers will have licence to do what they like, especially when five-year pledges vanish. Enforcement of such agreements, even if legal action is taken by regulators, always is too late. Equally alarming as the cowardice of a sub-octane IDS board is the attitude of our supine politicians. In their desire not to be seen as not interfering in free markets there is a curious complacency. The indifference of politicians was responsible for the loss of Arm Holdings to New York. A focused board saved AstraZeneca, now one of the nations most valuable enterprises, from being swallowed by rival Pfizer. When I first broached the prospective Royal Mail sale with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in Washington last month he sounded less than enthusiastic. Indeed, he still insists that it will have to be examined on national security grounds. The Tories have given birth to the National Security and Investment Act and if still in government, they could have stopped this deal in its tracks. My fear is that it will fall through the electoral cracks. Kretinskys team have been busy buttering up Labour. The partys naive business spokesman Jonathan Reynolds insists that a Labour government will ensure the Czech billionaires assurances will be obeyed. There is not a cat in hells chance. Labour should make it clear now that it will not countenance such a transaction. It cannot be in favour of taking the railways back into state ownership, because of alleged mismanagement, while selling off the Royal Mail. If Keir Starmer is really the patriot he claims, he now has the chance to show he means it. Rishi Sunak has a unique chance to show Britain, in keeping with the US and France, he is willing to repel overseas marauders. Star Chambers All is forgiven. Anglo Americans chairman Stuart Chambers has shown backbone in holding out against the assault from Aussie-based BHP. What is even more impressive, he has done so in the face of urgings from Blackrock to keep on talking and a subsiding share price. Anglos biggest ally in the defence of the realm has been South Africa over almost a century of corporate history, including bold behaviour in the apartheid era. In particular it will be much more able to divest quoted offshoots Anglo Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore than BHP, which would have faced considerable regulatory and tax obstacles. London-quoted Anglo must now show that its go-it-alone strategy works. Best hope an early exit from iron coking coal. Several buyers, including Glencore, are in the wings. A sale would be a convincing early win for Chambers, chief executive Duncan Wanblad and investors. Office space provider International Workplace Group sank into the red after its founder sold nearly 70million worth of shares. Chief executive Mark Dixon offloaded 35m shares for around 196p each through his investment vehicle Estorn Limited. The proceeds raised will repay a loan from Deutsche Bank. Shares plunged 11.1 per cent, or 23p, to 184p. Dixon will remain the top shareholder, with a 25.2 per cent stake worth nearly 500million. The FTSE 100 fell 0.9 per cent, or 71.11 points, to 8183.07 and the FTSE 250 was down 1.3 per cent, or 268.93 points, to 20,436.34. Sell-off: International Workplace Group said chief exec Mark Dixon (pictured) offloaded 35m shares for around 196p each through his investment vehicle Estorn Limited. Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury has bought US academic publisher Rowman & Littlefield in a deal worth 65million, to speed up expansion overseas. The combined business will publish nearly 100,000 titles between them. Bloomsbury, which also publishes cookbooks from chefs including Tom Kerridge and Gino DAcampo, rose 7.2 per cent, or 40p, to 598p. North Sea producer Longboat Energy lost more than half of its value after it warned it could be forced to sell its 50 per cent stake in its Japanese joint business amid struggles to raise funds. Shares tumbled 59.4 per cent, or 10.7p, to 7.3p. Pets at Home insisted its vets growth strategy is not threatened after the Competition and Markets Authority last week launched a formal probe into the industry amid concerns over soaring bills. Full-year results showed that sales rose 5.2 per cent to 1.5billion in the year to March 28 while profits dipped 3.2 per cent to 132million. It edged down 1.6 per cent, or 4.4p, to 279p. Stock Watch - Kromek Durham technology group Kromek rose 7.4 per cent, or 0.5p, to 7.25p after it said it expects record revenues this year. The company has cashed in on contracts such as providing detectors that scan for radiation and detect exposure to nuclear materials. Kromek, which makes products that can identify cancer, Alzheimers and dirty bombs, also expects profits for 2024 to be higher than market forecasts. The stock peaked at nearly 80p in January 2014. Investment company Foresight Sustainable Forestry became the latest London-listed firm to be snapped up after it backed a 167million offer from private investor Averon Park. Shares jumped 30.1 per cent, or 22p, to 95p. Another investment firm, GCP Asset Backed Income Fund, said it wants to hand back at least 85million to investors in what would be the first capital return, and has decided against selling the company following strategic review. It gained 6.9 per cent, or 4.9p, to 75.5p. Sir Douglas Flint, chairman of IP Group, is reportedly facing pressure from shareholders to answer for the life sciences investors dwindling share price. Lombard Odier, the second-largest investor, is among those underwhelmed, Sky News reported, as it fell 2.2 per cent, or 1.2p, to 53.2p. National Express owner Mobico reversed 6.7 per cent, or 3.95p, to 55.35p after analysts at Berenberg downgraded the stock over concerns over rising costs, taking losses for the year to more than a third. Airline stocks had a turbulent session, with British Airways owner IAG down 2.8 per cent, or 4.8p, to 168.9p while Easyjet fell 1.6 per cent, or 7.3p, to 456.6p and Wizz Air lost 2.8 per cent, or 62p, to 2138p. Asset manager Impax fell 14.7 per cent, or 74p, to 428p after it posted huge outflows of 2.7bllion of funds in the first half. SysGroup sealed a deal with Softcat to help clients incorporate machine learning into their businesses, and climbed 12.9 per cent, or 4p, to 35p. BHP has abandoned its bid for London-listed miner Anglo American as the City continues to fight off foreign predators. With less than one hour before its 5pm deadline yesterday, the Australian group said it had not secured the backing to make a firm offer for Anglo, one of the biggest firms on Londons stock market. The announcement ends a five-week battle and means BHP must wait at least six months before making another push. While we believed our proposal was a compelling opportunity to effectively grow the pie of value for both sets of shareholders, we were unable to reach agreement, BHP chief executive Mike Henry said. It comes after Anglo bosses refused to extend yesterdays 5pm deadline, which coincided with South Africas election. No deal: BHP revealed it had not been able to secure the backing to make a firm offer for Anglo American South African politicians, notably mining minister Gwede Mantashe, opposed the deal, adding a layer of political complexity. But Anglos board yesterday said it had held extensive engagement with shareholders before concluding there was no basis for a further extension. Anglo last week rebuffed BHPs third offer of 39billion but agreed to takeover talks after two earlier bids from its larger rival of 31billion and 34billion. This adds to the firms that are pushing against takeover swoops, with Currys and Direct Line both defending themselves from predators this year. A major hurdle had been the requirement for Anglo to sell two of its South African businesses as BHP bosses had their sights set on the firms lucrative copper business. But the no-deal announcement will boost the embattled London market, which has seen both gambling firm Flutter and travel group Tui call it quits. However, the company may not be out of the woods just yet. Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, said: BHP has fired the starting gun for others to throw their hat into the ring and it seems almost certain that another player could bid for Anglo American in the near future. Marina Calero, analyst at RBC Europe, said Glencore, Rio Tinto and Vale were the most likely candidates. BHPs decision puts pressure on Anglo chief executive Duncan Wanblad to show it can boost value for shareholders. Shares have climbed a fifth since the takeover talks first kicked off. Wood Group could fall into foreign hands after Dubai firm Sidara sweetened its offer, valuing the Aberdeen firm at 230p, or 1.59billion. Wood said that it was evaluating a fourth and final proposal. Shares fell 2.5 per cent, or 4.7p, to 185.6p. Scandal-hit property investor Home REIT has pushed through a deal to recoup hundreds of leases from a major tenant as its turnaround efforts continue. Liverpool-based charity group Big Help has agreed to give up leases on more than 600 properties, which equates to around 30 per cent of Home REITs portfolio. The pair have been in a major row since the start of last year after the charity withheld rent in protest over housing conditions. In a statement to the stock market yesterday, Home REIT, which specialises in accommodation for homeless people, said reclaiming leases would allow it to collect rent and open up new opportunities. The update was a much-needed boost for the former FTSE 250 group, which has faced a series of scandals since 2022 and was suspended from the stock exchange in January last year after it failed to file accounts on time. Rents: Liverpool-based charity group Big Help has agreed to give up leases on more than 600 properties, which equates to around 30% of Home REITs portfolio Troubles first emerged more than 18 months ago when short seller Viceroy Research raised concerns over the sustainability of its business model. Viceroy had questioned the groups ability to collect rent from tenants, most of whom were charities and community interest groups. Home REIT marketed itself as a way to house vulnerable people, including the homeless, by letting out properties to charities and other groups, which would pay rents from Government housing benefits. The company floated in London in October 2020 and tapped investors for 850million to build a portfolio of 12,000 beds. But since Viceroys report, it has been buffeted by a series of damning revelations. These include a probe by forensic accountants Alvarez & Marsal which uncovered transparency and due diligence failings by its former investment adviser Alvarium Home REIT Advisors. Alvarium was subsequently sacked and another firm, AEW, was brought in to try to steady the ship. Since then, the group has been scrambling to sell properties in its portfolio, often at a steep discount, in order to raise cash and to keep itself afloat. Over the past year the company has been able to complete on the sale of 585 properties and exchanged on a further 262 properties. Several of its major tenants have also collapsed into insolvency after failing to secure Government assistance, leaving the company short of rental income. In the groups last trading update in December, it revealed that its 2,473 properties were worth an estimated 412.9million, which was almost 60 per cent less than the 977million that it had paid for them. Its troubles are far from over and in February the Financial Conduct Authority opened an investigation covering the period between September 2020 and January 3 last year. Home REIT said it would co-operate fully. Law firm Harcus Parker has also brought a claim against the company, representing hundreds of shareholders. Investors bought shares based on its claims that it had stringent processes to ensure it acquired properties that would provide safe and secure accommodation for vulnerable residents and would generate robust, sustainable returns, Jennifer Morrissey, a partner at Harcus Parker, said. It is now evident, from all the facts widely reported in the press, that Home REIT did nothing of the sort. The group has denied the allegations and has said it will defend itself. Last month it revealed that it was taking legal action against parties it considers to have been responsible for wrongdoing. Czech Sphinx Daniel Kretinskys 3.6billion swoop for Royal Mails parent company has failed to win over the City despite the companys board agreeing to the deal. Shares in International Distribution Services rose 4.3 per cent, or 13.8p, to 335p on the announcement, still short of the 370p offer price. It signalled that investors do not yet see it as a done deal, with regulators and politicians still needing to be convinced, and a new Government potentially in place within weeks. Kretinsky, already IDSs biggest shareholder with a 28 per cent stake, had seen an initial approach valuing the group at 3.1billion rejected last month. But an increased valuation together with commitments by Kretinskys EP Group, including promises on jobs and the Universal Service Obligation (USO) to deliver post across the UK at a single price, won the board over. Unconvinced: Shares in Royal Mail-owner International Distribution Services rose 13.8p after news of the deal failed to win over the City Analysts remain sceptical, with the General Election likely to mean further uncertainty over any Government intervention in the deal and a national security probe in the offing. Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, said: The price has been agreed and recommended by the board, now comes the hard part in getting the Government to approve the deal. The big question is which political party is going to be in power to decide, given the General Election is only five weeks away. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will not oppose the deal in principle though it would be subject to national security scrutiny. Labours shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said Labour would take the necessary steps to safeguard Royal Mails undeniable identity and place in public life. Liberum analyst Gerald Khoo believes that clearing national security scrutiny would be a major hurdle. Khoo added: While the undertakings are significant, they cannot cover all contingencies and they only apply for a five-year period at most. We remain to be convinced that this will be sufficient to secure support from whichever government gets to make the decision. Khoo added that a review of the proposed takeover could be lengthy. Even if that were not to be the case, any decision would fall foul of the pre-election prohibition on making long-term decisions that would tie the hands of the next government. The cash takeover will be funded by 1.2billion of equity and around 2.3billion debt, an EP executive told Bloomberg. Debt facilities are being provided by BNP Paribas, Citibank, Societe Generale and Unicredit. The proposed takeover comes as Royal Mail battles to return to profitability amid plunging letter volumes and after a period when it has been wracked by industrial disputes. Privatised in 2013 at 330p, its shares have since had a torrid time peaking at above 600p in 2018 and then sinking below 120p at the height of Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020. The groups rebrand as IDS highlighted the contrasting performances of loss-making Royal Mail and its sister company GLS, a European parcels operator. Annual results last week showed Royal Mail made a loss of 348million for the year to the end of March while GLS made a 320million profit, leaving the wider group 28million in the red. The company has been lobbying for changes to its USO, saying that it cannot meet the delivery targets. It has asked ministers and regulator Ofcom to allow it to reduce second-class letter delivery requirements so that it delivers them every other weekday. Biotech deal: Dame Kate Bingham (pictured) led Britains Covid vaccine task force in early 2020 A British biotech company co-founded by the Governments vaccines tsar has been sold to an American pharma group for 2.4billion. Dame Kate Binghams eye diseases treatment firm EyeBio has been snapped up by Merck for 1biliion. Another 1.36billion depends on meeting targets. Bingham led Britains Covid vaccine task force in early 2020 and is the chairman of EyeBio. Her venture capital firm SV Health Investors set up the business with scientists David Guyer and Anthony Adamis. It is developing a drug to treat the most significant forms of blindness affecting more than 200m people. Bingham said it could be a multibillion-dollar therapy and a potential health game-changer. She said the deal, three years after it was founded, was a vote of confidence in UK biotech. Merck last year bought immunologist Prometheus Biosciences for 8.6billion. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Polynesia is trying to free itself from French colonization, Member of the Tavini Huiraatira Party Rui Uretevi Paya said at a conference themed "French Polynesia's right to decolonization: challenges and prospects" in the Azerbaijani parliament on May 30, Trend reports. According to him, the people of Polynesia are fighting to preserve their cultural heritage, and they need support in the fight for freedom. "Freedom will allow us to preserve our unique heritage and act in the interests of our people. We need your support to become completely free. We want a just end to colonialism. All people have the right to freely determine their future. We thank the Baku Initiative Group for creating conditions for us to express our thoughts. Let's build a society in which nations and people will live in harmony, the MP added. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Dr Martens is set to undergo a radical shake-up and cost cutting plan in a bid to turn its fortunes around and boost its bottom line. The group on Thursday announced plans for a 'cost action plan', which aims to save the group between 20million to 25million, after revealing a sharp fall in annual profits. The cost cuts will stem from 'savings from organisational efficiency and design, better procurement and operational streamlining', the bootmaker told shareholders. Dr Martens said the cost of implementing these cuts meant their benefits will not be seen until 2026, adding that more detail would be provided at its half-year results in November. In charge: Kenny Wilson is the outgoing chief executive of Dr Martens Investors approved of the plans, with Dr Martens shares rising 9.65 per cent or 8.10p to 92p on Thursday, having fallen around 40 per cent in the last year. Dr Martens described its most recent annual trading period as a 'challenging year for our business, with a difficult trading environment and considerable macroeconomic uncertainty'. The company's operating profit fell by a third to 122million, against forecasts of 125million, while pre-tax profit fell 43 per cent to 97million, which was below analyst forecasts. Annual revenue fell 12.3 per cent to 877.1million, with US revenue tumbling 24 per cent and EMEA revenue slipping 3 per cent. Kenny Wilson, the group's outgoing chief executive, said: 'Our FY24 results were as expected and reflect continued weak USA consumer demand. 'This particularly impacted our USA wholesale business and offset our Group DTC performance, where pairs grew by 7 per cent. Falling revenue: Dr Martens saw its revenue fall over 12% in the last year, results show 'We have achieved robust performances in EMEA and APAC, and our supply chain strategy continues to deliver good savings. 'We are clear that we need to drive demand in the USA to return to growth in FY26 onwards and are executing a detailed plan to achieve this, with refocused and increased USA marketing investment in the year ahead. I am confident that the actions we are taking as we enter this year of transition will put us in good shape for the years ahead.' Dr Martens said trading in the US - its key market - was 'disappointing', with wholesale revenues falling 32.7 per cent on a constant currency basis and brand awareness flat at 73 per cent. The company has faced major challenges in the US, including residual problems from supply bottleneck issues in its Los Angeles warehouse. The group does not expect its US arm to recover until the autumn of 2025. In April, Dr Martens warned that current-year overall profits could fall by as much as two-thirds as its share price dropped to an all-time low. In June last year, the group, which was founded in Northamptonshire in 1960, reported a drop in profits despite hitting a 1billion revenue milestone for the first time. Wilson is is stepping down from the helm to be replaced by Ije Nwokorie, who is currently chief brand officer at the business, before the end of the current financial year. Basingstoke-based banknote maker De La Rue has confirmed it is in talks with a number of parties interested in buying its core divisions. The group, which prints banknotes for the Bank of England and other central banks across the world, has delayed the publication of its full-year results amid the talks. De La Rue said it had spoken with 'a number of parties who have made proposals' related to either its currency or authentication operations. The update comes a day after the board of the company that owns Royal Mail agreed to a formal takeover offer for the 500-year-old organisation by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. In February, Richard Bernstein, the boss of activist investor Crystal Amber, warned that the UK's biggest firms were being picked off 'one by one' as overseas suitors work to hunt down a bargain. Talks: De La Rue has confirmed it is in talks with a number of parties interested in buying its core divisions Bernstein said businesses like Wincanton and De La Rue, in which Crystal Amber is the largest shareholder, were 'sitting ducks'. The London-listed market hosts a number of potential takeover targets with cheap valuations on offer for deep pocketed rivals looking to expand in the UK via mergers and acquisitions. On Thursday, De La Rue said there was no certainty that interest from various potential suitors would result in any deal. Clive Whiley, chairman at De La Rue, said: 'Since my appointment a year ago, the board has considered a broad range of possible strategic alternatives including transactions with multiple parties which may involve a combination with, or the sale of, the groups divisions. 'The board confirms that the discussions with the relevant parties are advancing, and we expect to update further at the time of the full year results in July.' De La Rue held firm with its previous financial guidance for the year to March. Deal: The owner of Royal Mail has agreed terms for a formal takeover offer by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky De La Rue added that it had seen 'positive momentum' in both its authentication and currency divisions, with a number of 'significant recent contract wins and renewals'. Its authentication operation has reached an agreement with two existing Government customers for multi-year extensions to contracts for it to supply a digital tax stamp product. De La Rue said the currency division 'continues to progress' and that the market for banknotes and associated components was recovering. The division's order book jumped to 239million at the end of March and since that time the group has secured agreements for further orders totalling around 60million. This compares to an order book of 137million at the end of FY23, and the 220million announced last December. Clive Vacher, DE La Rue's chief executive, said: 'We are delighted to extend our relationship with these high-profile customers within our authentication division. 'This, alongside other recent renewals and the expanding currency order book, demonstrates further progress in the development of De La Rue which will help to underpin our performance in full-year 2025.' De La Rue shares rose 3.06 per cent or 3.00p to 101.00p on Thursday, having surged over 158 per cent in the last year. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has piled pressure on Czech Sphinx Daniel Kretinsky after his 3.6billion bid for Royal Mail sparked fears over the future of the 508-year-old postal operator. Hunt said regulators should look very carefully at five-year undertakings made by the billionaire, which include promises on jobs and the UK-wide six-day service. And a promise not to split up Royal Mails parent company International Distribution Services (IDS), which also includes European parcels business GLS, only lasts for three years. Hunt told LBC: That is something for the regulators to look at very carefully. We will make sure whoever takes over the Royal Mail, if someone does indeed take it over, that those things that people depend on are safe. Pressed on Kretinskys guarantees, he said: I cant predict whats going to happen in five years or ten years time, but three years is a very long time. And Im sure the Government will keep it under review. And its entirely possible, we will decide that we should extend it beyond that. Concerns: But Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (pictured) has indicated that he is not opposed to the Royal Mail deal in principal The comments come a day after IDS accepted a bid from Kretinskys EP Group which will see the Royal Mail fall into the hands of foreign owners. I do think that for our economy to modernise we need to attract investment from all over the world, the Chancellor said. But the deal will also face a national security probe and City analysts are sceptical that the pledges made by the bidder will be enough to convince ministers to give it the green light. Yesterday, shares fell 1p, or 0.3 per cent, to 334p, well below EPs offer price of 370p and a sign that the City does not yet see the takeover as a done deal. Kretinsky is IDSs biggest shareholder with a 28 per cent stake. But his bid faces opposition from other investors. Columbia Threadneedle Investments, which holds a stake of about 5 per cent, believes the offer undervalues the group. Jeremy Smith, its co-head of UK equities, said: We believe that the management has done a good job to turn the company around and additional equity value can be delivered. Results published last week show that Royal Mail is losing 1million a day though the company says that it is turning around its performance. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. The delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border is important for regional stability, Spokesperson for Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said during today's weekly briefing in Moscow, Trend reports. "Moscow is monitoring the beginning of the practical phase of work on delimiting the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is important for regional stability," she pointed out. Zakharova emphasized that Russia confirms its readiness to regularly provide advisory assistance to the parties on delimitation on the basis of trilateral agreements. To note, a 12.7-kilometer borderline was established between Azerbaijan and Armenia after border delimitation, ensuring the return of four villages - Baghanis Ayrim, Ashagi Askipara, Kheyrimli, and Gizilhajili (6.5 square kilometers) in the Gazakh district to Azerbaijan. The territories of above villages were taken under the control of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan on May 24. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. French Polynesia has the right to independence, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group Abbas Abbasov said, Trend reports. He made the announcement during the conference in the Azerbaijani Parliament on the theme "French Polynesia's right to decolonization - challenges and prospects". According to him, eight international conferences have been held since the establishment of the Baku Initiative Group, the main goal of which is to highlight the problems of countries affected by colonization. Since 2013 until now, the UN General Assembly has been adopting resolutions aimed at gaining independence for this country, but so far to no avail. We believe that French Polynesia will gain its independence, Abbasov said. He also noted that Azerbaijan's position in international organizations and chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement is the biggest contribution to the fight against colonization. Abbasov emphasized that a memorandum was signed between the Baku Initiative Group and Tavini Huiraatira, the ruling party of French Polynesia, at the last Vienna conference. This memorandum is a document that includes cooperation between the two organizations not only in the political sphere but also in the fields of health and education. I am sure that we will continue to cooperate with the Tavini Huiraatira Party in the future. Every year, the UN holds decolonization events, which France constantly boycotts, he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Christmas and winter air fares to and from Dublin Airport are expected to soar due to a limit on the number of passengers allowed to pass through the States biggest airport, Ryanair has warned. Ryanair and other airlines have long called for the removal of the cap limiting Dublin Airport to 32 million passengers a year. The airline said the restrictions will leave it unable to provide more than one million seats during peak periods, including Christmas, midterm break and St Patricks Day, as well as sporting events. Eddie Wilson, chief executive of Ryanair, warned that air fares could rise to 500 to travel between Dublin and London. Speaking in Dublin this Thursday, Mr Wilson said the passenger cap will force air prices back to the 1980s. The airline boss also said that despite an increase in its aircraft fleet, there is no real growth in Dublin. The issue of winter slots means that we are going to have one million less passengers than we would have planned at Dublin airport for this winter, Mr Wilson said. This is repeated daa (Dublin Airport Authority) mismanagement. They already put in an extra runway that cost 300 million and you would think that when you had one runway and now youve got two runways that youll double the capacity, but only in Ireland, having put all that in, we actually have less passengers than before. The traffic cap means that Dublin is closed for business and it will have a devastating effect on tourism, jobs and the economy. Airlines put in for extra flights for peak periods during the winter but the cap is now stopping us from we can only put in the routes that we had last year subject to the cap. We put in approximately 300,000 extra seats on the Dublin to London route over Christmas over and above what we already have but we cant provide any of those this year. With those 300,000 seats not on sale, price on the Dublin to London route is going to go through the roof this Christmas. Theyre going to go through the roof in the midterm and to a lesser extent for sporting events. We wont be able to put on extra flights for Lapland and its not just Ryanair, nobody will be able to do this in Dublin, all because of the passenger cap. He called on transport minister Eamon Ryan to make a special ministerial order to remove the passenger cap. We are also calling on the Minister for Transport to ensure that the winter 2024 traffic isnt lost, he added. We want them to scrap that and the cap and lower Dublin charges. The high fares that are coming is at Eamon Ryans door this Christmas. People at the last minute will be paying up to 500 euros, we estimate, because of an artificial cap. Its going to bite this winter and its going to get worse. We want to grow. This needs urgent action right. The big ones that are going to be affected by air fares this winter are the midterm break, Christmas and Paddys Day. Kenny Jacobs, daa chief executive, the operator of Dublin Airport: We fully agree with Ryanair regarding the need to raise the 32 million passenger cap and the planning process is in play which will hopefully lead to that happening soon. However, we absolutely refute the manifestly false comments made regarding daa mismanagement, we have just announced a record financial performance and record passenger satisfaction scores up by 37%. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov has met with Minister of Labor and Social Security of Turkiye Vedat Ishikhan, the press service of the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers told Trend. During the meeting, it was highlighted that Azerbaijani-Turkish friendly relations are thriving in all spheres. The importance of the 11th meeting of the Joint Standing Commission on cooperation in labor and social protection between the two countries, held in Baku, was underscored. The discussion focused on details of Azerbaijan's state policy on labor and employment, along with the ongoing social reforms within the country. The conversation also covered measures of social support for families of martyrs and veterans in the post-war period, including efforts to enhance their living conditions and advancements in medical and social rehabilitation. Gratitude was expressed to the Turkish side for their support in the treatment of veterans. Additionally, opinions were exchanged during the meeting regarding the potential development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye in the fields of labor, employment, and social protection. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. A delegation of Ma'OHI Nui (French Polynesia) led by Victor Maamaatuaiahutapu visited the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan, the parliament told Trend. Initially, the group was shown around the Azerbaijani parliament's plenary session hall. The delegation first visited the Victory Corner, a tribute to Azerbaijan's triumph in the Second Karabakh War. During their meeting, Ali Huseynli, First Vice-Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan and Chair of the Committee for Law Policy and State-Building, extended a warm welcome to the guests on behalf of Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova. He highlighted Azerbaijan's steadfast opposition to neo-colonialism on the global stage, underscoring President Ilham Aliyev's unwavering commitment to this cause as a cornerstone of Azerbaijan's foreign policy. Huseynli emphasized that during Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, significant strides were made in forming a robust coalition against neo-colonialism and supporting the liberation efforts of oppressed peoples. During the meeting, support was voiced for Ma'OHI Nui's ongoing struggle against French colonialism. Referencing the UN General Assembly resolution on the self-determination of French Polynesia from May 17, 2013, Huseynli lamented the imperfect nature of international legal mechanisms, which hinder former colonies from fully breaking free from French dominance. France was highlighted as a leading proponent of neo-colonial policies, actively backing the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia for nearly three decades. Discussing Azerbaijan's liberation efforts, the First Vice-Speaker emphasized the nation's commitment to implementing four UN Security Council resolutions independently, safeguarding its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Addressing the meeting, Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee for International Relations and Interparliamentary Ties Samad Seyidov criticized France for its historical colonial legacy, accusing the nation of masking its actions under the guise of democracy and human rights. Seyidov stressed Azerbaijan's own history of occupation and deprivation, calling for an end to France's colonial policies. Expressing gratitude for the warm reception, the head of the Ma'OHI Nui delegation emphasized the significance of their visit to Azerbaijan. He condemned France's centuries-old colonial policies, citing democracy suppression and human rights violations in Ma'OHI Nui. Despite France's attempts to hinder their struggle for independence, he affirmed the unwavering determination of the Ma'OHI Nui people to continue their fight for freedom. During discussions, heartfelt appreciation was extended to the Azerbaijani state, its leadership, and citizens for their steadfast support of the Ma'OHI Nui people. It was emphasized that the meetings and extensive exchanges during the visit would significantly contribute to the ongoing struggle against the centuries-old French colonial policies endured by the nation. The meeting was also attended by Rustam Mahmudov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Parliament, Abbas Abbasov, executive director of Baku Initiative Group, and other officials. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Fighting colonialism worldwide remains one of the main challenges, Chairman of Azerbaijan's Parliamentary Committee on Defense, Security, and Anti-Corruption Ziyafat Asgarov said at a conference themed "French Polynesia's right to decolonization: challenges and prospects" in the Azerbaijani parliament on May 30, Trend reports. He pointed out that French colonization lasted for centuries, and France abused the concepts of "justice" and "fraternity" to realize its intentions. The distance between Polynesia and France is 17,000 kilometers. What is France doing there? Why doesnt it leave the inhabitants of Polynesia alone? the MP also said. According to Asgarov, the work on fighting colonialism in the world is already underway. To note, heads and secretaries of commissions of the Parliament of French Polynesia (Ma'OHI Nui), as well as leading staff of the ruling Tavini Party, have arrived in Azerbaijan on a visit. The purpose of the four-day visit is to explore potential inter-parliamentary, economic, and humanitarian collaborations between Azerbaijan and French Polynesia, spanning various fields like science, education, sports, and health. The delegation from French Polynesia's visit was extended at the invitation of the Baku Initiative Group, which focuses on addressing colonialism and its contemporary forms in the 21st century. This visit aligns with the Cooperation Agreement between the Baku Initiative Group and the Tavini Party, formalized during the "The Path to Decolonization: Consequences of Assimilation and its Implications for the Realization of Human Rights" international conference held at the UN Office in Vienna on April 30. The Tavini party has persistently advocated for the independence of French Polynesia over the years. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. France fails to comply with the UN resolutions, Marania Vaianui, foreign relations adviser to the deputy chairman of the ruling party of French Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira), general coordinator of Tavini in Punaauia, Trend reports. She made the statement at a conference in Azerbaijan's Parliament on "French Polynesia's right to decolonization: challenges and prospects". Vaianui emphasized that UN resolutions indicate that Polynesia should be liberated from colonialism. We seek support from 193 countries. Our aim is the freedom of our people, enabling us to liberate our lands and utilize our natural resources efficiently, she added. To note, heads and secretaries of commissions of the Parliament of French Polynesia (Ma'OHI Nui), as well as leading staff of the ruling Tavini Party, have arrived in Azerbaijan on a visit. The purpose of the four-day visit is to explore potential inter-parliamentary, economic, and humanitarian collaborations between Azerbaijan and French Polynesia, spanning various fields like science, education, sports, and health. The delegation from French Polynesia's visit was extended at the invitation of the Baku Initiative Group, which focuses on addressing colonialism and its contemporary forms in the 21st century. This visit aligns with the Cooperation Agreement between the Baku Initiative Group and the Tavini Party, formalized during the "The Path to Decolonization: Consequences of Assimilation and its Implications for the Realization of Human Rights" international conference held at the UN Office in Vienna on April 30. The Tavini party has persistently advocated for the independence of French Polynesia over the years. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Polynesia is isolated due to France's policy of colonization, the Secretary General of the Tavini Huiraatira Party Victor Maamaatuaiahutapu said at a conference themed "The Right of French Polynesia to Decolonization - Challenges and Prospects" in the Azerbaijani parliament on May 30, Trend reports. He expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for the conditions provided. "I would like to thank Azerbaijan. After going through all the procedures, we have reached the end of the process initiated by the UN. Today, we need your help. We are isolated by France's desire because France wants to continue nuclear testing on our territories. We believe that you will carry our voice to the international community and help us. Furthermore, we are a nation that has existed for millennia, but politically, we are young. We want justice to finally prevail," he added. To note, heads and secretaries of commissions of the Parliament of French Polynesia (Ma'OHI Nui), as well as leading staff of the ruling Tavini Party, have arrived in Azerbaijan on a visit. The purpose of the four-day visit is to explore potential inter-parliamentary, economic, and humanitarian collaborations between Azerbaijan and French Polynesia, spanning various fields like science, education, sports, and health. The delegation from French Polynesia's visit was extended at the invitation of the Baku Initiative Group, which focuses on addressing colonialism and its contemporary forms in the 21st century. This visit aligns with the Cooperation Agreement between the Baku Initiative Group and the Tavini Party, formalized during the "The Path to Decolonization: Consequences of Assimilation and its Implications for the Realization of Human Rights" international conference held at the UN Office in Vienna on April 30. The Tavini party has persistently advocated for the independence of French Polynesia over the years. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. As part of his official visit to Pakistan, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with the country's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. During the meeting, the parties expressed satisfaction with the level of strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of mutual visits at a high level, as well as mutual support within the framework of international organizations. The parties discussed opportunities for cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, energy, tourism, education, science and culture, transport, and defense. Drawing attention to the importance of holding meetings of the intergovernmental economic commission on a regular basis, the parties touched upon the prospects for the development of bilateral economic relations, especially cooperation in the field of energy and mutual investments. At the same time, it was noted that strengthening the activities of the trilateral format of cooperation between Azerbaijan-Pakistan-Turkiye key in all areas will help strengthen the regional and global positions of all three countries, as well as make a special contribution to mutually beneficial cooperation. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which our country is hosting this year, creates favorable opportunities for new areas of cooperation.At the meeting, an exchange of views took place on other topical issues on the agenda, as well as on bilateral and multilateral topics of mutual interest. Details added (first version published at 16:41) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. France prevents the arrival of tourists by controlling our territory, Secretary of the Commission on Tourism and Culture of the Assembly of French Polynesia Cliff Loussan said, Trend reports. He made the remark during the conference in the Azerbaijani Parliament on the theme "French Polynesia's right to decolonization: challenges and prospects". He noted that such a policy by France hinders the development of Polynesia's economy. "France keeps us in a state of dependence on it. It imposes migration restrictions, which negatively affect tourism. It also prevents the issuance of visas to tourists arriving here. France claims that Polynesia is France. It does not want Polynesia to move towards freedom; it is preventing the development of our economy. Nowadays, we must make sure that our voice is heard by all societies," Lussan said. To note, the heads and secretaries of the commissions of the Parliament of French Polynesia (Ma'OHI Nui), as well as the leadership of the ruling Tavini party, arrived in Azerbaijan on a visit. The purpose of the four-day visit is to consider the possibility of establishing inter-parliamentary, economic, humanitarian cooperation between Azerbaijan and French Polynesia, as well as cooperation in the fields of science, education, sports, healthcare and other areas. The visit of the delegation of French Polynesia took place at the invitation of the Baku Initiative Group, which operates in the fight against colonialism and its new manifestations in the 21st century. The visit is organized in accordance with the provisions of the Cooperation Agreement signed between the Baku Initiative Group and the Tavini party within the framework of the international conference Liberation from colonialism: the consequences of assimilation and its impact on the implementation of human rights, organized by the Baku Initiative Group on April 30 this year in Vienna UN office. The Tavini party has been fighting for the independence of French Polynesia for many years. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. On May 30, another group of former internally displaced persons, consisting of families temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, pioneer camps and administrative buildings in various territories of Azerbaijan, was sent to the city of Shusha from the Garadagh district of Baku, Trend reports. At this stage, another 15 families (57 people) moved to the city of Shusha. Shusha residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation. Until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Shusha has been provided for 105 families - 406 people. Photo: State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Azerbaijan's working group on urban development under the Interdepartmental Center of Coordination Headquarters, established for the centralized resolution of issues in the liberated territories, has held a regular meeting, Trend reports. The meeting, chaired by the First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee of Azerbaijan for Urban Planning and Architecture, Namig Hummatov, was attended by special representatives of the President of Azerbaijan, senior officials of the Presidential Administration and other relevant state structures, and members of the working group. The event discussed issues related to the planning of agricultural lands in populated areas, fire safety in the liberated territories, and the current state of work on the implementation of the "First state program of Azerbaijan on the Great Return to the liberated territories" until the end of 2024 in the populated areas, which provide for the return of citizens. The relocation schedule for citizens in 2025 and other issues were also discussed. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. The 77th session of the World Health Assembly continues its work at the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, Trend reports. The delegation headed by Azerbaijani Health Minister Teymur Musayev held several bilateral meetings during the session. Thus, a meeting was held with the director of the World Health Organization's European Regional Office, Hans Henry Kluge. Meetings were also held with delegations headed by the Minister of Health of Turkiye Fahrettin Koca; the Acting Minister of Health of Uzbekistan, Asilbek Khudayarov; and the Minister of Public Health of Cuba, Jose Angel Portal Miranda; the Minister of Health of Kazakhstan, Akmaral Alnazarova; the Minister of Health of Kyrgyzstan, Alymkadyr Beishenaliev; and the Minister of Health of the Netherlands, Pia Dijkstra. Besides, bilateral meetings were held with Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership; Mark Edington, Head of Grant Management at the Global Fund; and Jan-Willem Scheijgrond, Vice President, Global Director of Government and Community Engagement at Royal Philips. At the meetings, first of all, congratulations were addressed to the Azerbaijani delegation on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic and the holding of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in our country. Additionally, noting the importance of such a prestigious event as COP29, it was emphasized that Azerbaijan always accepts and organizes international events at the highest level with dignity. Moreover, it was noted that our country attaches great importance to cooperation with specialized international health organizations, including the World Health Organization. Confidence was expressed that initiatives of great importance for the health of citizens will be successfully implemented in the future. During the meetings held with the ministers of Turkic-speaking countries, the exceptional role of the heads of state in the development of friendly relations between our peoples was emphasized. Besides, there is great potential for the development of relationships in the field of health care. The sides noted the importance of the Uzbek-Azerbaijani Decade of Health Care organized in Tashkent and timed to the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev's birth, within the framework of which Azerbaijani medical specialists, jointly with Uzbek colleagues, conducted more than 100 surgical operations. Interest was also expressed in the application of Kazakhstan's experience in the field of accreditation and quality control of medical institutions in our country. The experience of digital solutions applied by Azerbaijan in the field of healthcare in recent years is of great interest to Kazakhstan. Prospects of Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan cooperation in the field of biological security were also discussed. Useful discussions were held on cooperation with Kyrgyzstan in the field of transplantology and the possibilities of applying Azerbaijan's successful experience in this direction. Noting the importance of the Azerbaijan-Cuba Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of healthcare and medical science, it was emphasized that the document will play an important role in improving the healthcare capacity of our countries. At the same time, the healthcare system of the Netherlands, due to the combination of highly qualified doctors and modern medical facilities, is rightfully considered one of the best in Europe. The measures taken towards the elimination of malaria in Azerbaijan were highly appreciated during the meetings. Azerbaijan's successful implementation of programs to combat infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, was emphasized. A wide range of opinions on the application of high-tech medical equipment in the health care of Azerbaijan and other issues of mutual interest were discussed at the meetings, the information said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Let's start this morning slowly with a bit of follow-up on a story that will define Kansas City politics going forward . . . Recently our blog community noted that Mayor Q now ranks amongst the favorites for the next HUD secretary. In response to our reporting, the Mayor didn't EXACTLY deny the possibility. This week we noted just a bit more proof. Take a peek at this apt quote which seems to signal the Mayor's local governance philosophy that could earn him a position in Prez Biden's Cabinet . . . From the latest KCTV5 report regarding recent East Side developments: At its core, every issue in Kansas City is a housing issue, said Mayor Quinton Lucas. That sounds like JUST THE KIND OF THING THE BELTWAY WANTS TO HEAR from its next housing honcho. Meanwhile . . . We noticed Mayor Q playing hype man for the Prez which never hurts a Kansas City politico's career. Especially at a point when the White House is looking to stop so many African-American voters from sitting out this next election or, gasp, maybe going with MAGA. Read more about Mayor Q's White House flirtations by way of shared glory via www.TonysKansasCity.com screencap . . . Developing . . . ZANGILAN, Azerbaijan, May 30. The 3rd International Conference on Humanitarian Demining on the topic Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines - Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future has started its work in Zangilan, Trend reports. The event organizers are the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The conference is aimed at discussing ways to raise global awareness about Azerbaijan's mine problem, strengthening international partnerships in humanitarian demining, and mobilizing financial resources to reduce the impact of mine contamination and other explosive remnants of war on the environment. The event is receiving significant attention from the international community. The 3rd International Humanitarian Demining Conference is attended by over 300 delegates from 75 countries. The participants include high-ranking officials from various countries, senior UN headquarters staff, representatives of reputable international organizations and demining centers from different countries, as well as officials from accredited diplomatic missions in Azerbaijan. The conference began with an address to the international community by mine explosion victim Tamam Jafarova on behalf of the victims of mine incidents. The Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts, Vahid Hajiyev, welcomed the participants and stated that the start of the conference in Zangilan holds great symbolic significance. He pointed out that Aghali village in the Zangilan district is the first settlement to be restored and returned to former internally displaced persons. Besides, Hajiyev mentioned that the large-scale work is being carried out thanks to the tireless efforts of sappers who ensure the safety of people and mitigate the impact of mines on the environment. At the event, the Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev, read an address from the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the conference participants. Hikmet Hajiyev thanked the conference participants who gathered to discuss the environmental impact of the mine problem faced by the world and wished success in the work of the conference. In his opening speech, the Chairman of the Board of ANAMA, Vugar Suleymanov, emphasized the need to enhance international support for addressing the mine problem faced by Azerbaijan. He highlighted that 10,285 square kilometers of territories liberated from occupation in Azerbaijan are considered contaminated to varying degrees by mines and unexploded ordnance. Suleymanov informed about the serious contamination of fertile agricultural and farming lands with mines and other explosive remnants of war. The Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) of the UNDP, Ivana Zivkovic, stressed in her speech the importance of integrating demining with environmental restoration and national development programs. She said that her mission to reduce the impact of mines on the environment involves not only addressing the problem of explosives but also ensuring safe living, agriculture, and biodiversity for future generations. The main goal, according to her, is to turn affected lands into thriving ecosystems and sustainable communities. The Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, appointed President of COP29, Mukhtar Babayev, said in a video address at the conference that, in line with the goals of COP29, Azerbaijan aims to integrate climate resilience into its demining and reconstruction efforts. He pointed out that the goal is to create a green energy zone in the liberated territories. According to him, by restoring ecosystems and applying sustainable development practices, Azerbaijan aims to turn these lands into a green zone. As part of the conference, which is directly connected to the declaration of 2024 as the "Green World Solidarity Year" in Azerbaijan and the COP29 event, a tree-planting ceremony was held in Aghali village under the slogan "Let's Unite for a Safe and Green Future". The conference is currently ongoing, with discussions and conversations dedicated to finding sustainable solutions to the mine problem and promoting environmental protection for a safer future. The event will finish its work on May 31. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Soudah Development and Warner Bros. Discovery International (WBD) have signed a one-year partnership agreement to promote and celebrate the distinctive nature, culture, and heritage of Soudah and parts of the Rijal Almaa region, in southwest Saudi Arabia. The collaboration will focus on raising awareness about Soudah Peaks a luxury mountain tourism destination set 3,015 m above sea level, on the highest peak in Saudi Arabia and showcase its beauty and diversity to a global audience, said Soudah Development in a press release. The agreement entails the production of three short documentaries on Soudah's natural landscape, cultural heritage, traditions, architectural aesthetics, local community, and historical sites and monuments, it stated. As per the deal, they will air this summer in Europe, US, the Middle East, Africa, India, and Japan on WBD's TV channels Discovery Channel, Food Network, and Travel Channel and Eurosport 1 and 2. They will also air digitally on Discovery YouTube Channel, and on VOX MEDIA's social networks and Discovery Channel Weibo in China, it added. Soudah Development CEO Saleh Aloraini said: "We are delighted to join forces with Warner Bros. Discovery to unveil the exceptional beauty and cultural significance of the Soudah region on a global scale." "This collaboration marks a pivotal step in our endeavor to position Soudah as a unique luxury mountain tourism destination, and we are confident that it will captivate travelers from around the world," he noted. The Soudah region is home to a variety of fauna and flora, varied topography, and distinctive agricultural practices, all of which will be highlighted in the content produced.-TradeArabia News Service In an effort to attract more Muslim tourists, the Philippines is enhancing its resort offerings in Boracay by introducing halal-friendly options. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco announced these initiatives on Wednesday in Boracay, a top destination in the Philippine archipelago known for its pristine beaches and vibrant marine life. Philippines Targets Halal Market Growth Located in the Aklan Province, Boracay has long been a favorite for international travelers because of its white sand beaches and beautiful coral reefs. As part of its strategy to boost tourism, the Philippines is now focusing on the Muslim travel market. This initiative follows the country's recognition as the Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year at the 2023 Halal in Travel Global Summit in Singapore. Arab News reported Secretary Frasco emphasized the importance of catering to Muslim visitors by providing halal products and services. She stated that discussions are ongoing with local government units and the Department of Tourism to integrate halal-friendly tourism more comprehensively across Boracay. This move is part of a broader effort to tap into the lucrative market of halal tourism, which has been gaining global traction. Earlier in the month, a Philippine delegation attended the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai to promote the country's best destinations. During this event, a significant agreement was signed with Megaworld, one of the largest Philippine hospitality chains, to convert all their properties into Muslim-friendly establishments. The Philippines has seen a 10% increase in visitors from Gulf countries this year, indicating a growing interest from this region. By providing more halal-friendly options, the Philippines aims to become a top choice for Muslim travelers around the world, enhancing its tourism sector further. Related Article : AirAsia Philippines Proposes Direct Flights to Boracay, Aims to Cut Manila Congestion Philippines Expands Tourism Ties with Brunei The Philippines is set to fully open its tourism sector in Mindanao, aiming to attract more Muslim visitors, announced Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco on Wednesday. She informed the Philippine media that the Department of Tourism (DOT) has partnered with Megaworld Corporation to transform its facilities into Muslim- and Halal-friendly enterprises. Frasco emphasized the significance of this move, stating, "Our goal is to fully open up Mindanao tourism, which, of course, has the closest relations in terms of Islamic influence to our Muslim brothers and sisters," according to GMA News. Additionally, the Philippines has signed a tourism agreement with Brunei to increase tourist flows between the two nations, promoting niche tourism markets such as Islamic tourism. This agreement, aimed at diversifying visitor experiences in both countries, was signed by Frasco and Brunei's Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin. The ceremony, which took place during President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s two-day state visit, was also witnessed by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. This landmark deal is part of the Philippines' broader strategy to enhance its appeal as a destination for Muslim travelers and capitalize on the billion-dollar Halal tourism industry. Three Black men have initiated a lawsuit against American Airlines, accusing the airline of racial discrimination after they were asked to exit a flight from Phoenix to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. The incident, which occurred in January, involved a total of eight Black male passengers who claim they were singled out without any valid reason. American Airlines Accused of Discriminating Passengers According to the lawsuit, representatives from American Airlines approached each man individually during the boarding process and instructed them to leave the aircraft and head back to the gate for rebooking. Upon reaching the jet bridge, the plaintiffs realized they were not the only Black men being removed from the flight. The lawsuit emphasizes that it seemed all Black male passengers were being asked to disembark. The reason given for their removal was a complaint about body odor. However, Jackson, Joseph, and Veal, three of the plaintiffs, affirm they were not informed of any such issue directly. As per NPR, they allege that the real reason for their removal was their race, a claim that an airline staff member seemingly acknowledged during the confrontation. After an investigation at the gate revealed no alternative flights to JFK that evening, all eight men were allowed to reboard the plane. This delay led to uncomfortable interactions, as the plaintiffs felt scrutinized by other passengers, which added to their distress and humiliation. American Airlines has responded to the lawsuit, stating they are investigating the claims, which they say do not reflect the airline's commitment to inclusivity and positive customer experiences. This legal challenge is part of a series of discrimination allegations the airline has faced over recent years, prompting calls for continued vigilance and accountability from organizations like the NAACP. American Airlines Plans to Revise Strategy American Airlines announced a significant change in its sales strategy after its stock plummeted by 16 percent. The drop occurred as CEO Robert Isom admitted that the airline's novel sales approach had not performed as expected, particularly failing to attract crucial corporate clients and travel agencies. The Financial Times reported that the airline has been trying to shift bookings from traditional channels managed by intermediaries to its own system for over a year. This move has made booking with American Airlines more challenging, contributing to a decline in last-minute domestic sales since April. According to Isom, the issues arose from the new booking system and an industry-wide surplus of available seats, leading to lower prices. In response to the strategy's shortcomings, Chief Commercial Officer Vasud, a key advocate for the new system, will leave the company next month. Isom described this change as a "reset" and acknowledged the need for better execution in their sales strategy. Looking ahead, American plans to encourage using its new distribution capability system by offering incentives rather than excluding fares from traditional systems. This adjustment comes as the airline faces broader industry challenges, with a supply of seats that exceeds demand, leading to discounted ticket prices. Despite these hurdles, American Airlines has adjusted its growth plans, reducing its increase in flying capacity from 8% to 3.5% for the latter half of the year. Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. On a working visit to Turkiye, key officials of the Ministry of Defense and the State Border Service of Azerbaijan attended Distinguished Visitors Day at the EFES-2024 multinational exercise in Izmir, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. The ministry reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and National Defense Minister Yasar Guler spoke on Distinguished Visitors Day. "Azerbaijani representatives saw Turkish Stars demonstration flights and parachute jumps after touring the Defense Industry Exhibition. Later, with 1,567 participants from 49 nations, the EFES-2024 global exercise held the awarding ceremony. In the end, a solemn concert program was presented," the ministry added. To note, EFES-2024 multinational exercise will be ongoing until May 30. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel An international scientific-practical conference of students and young researchers on the topic "Green economy in conditions of sustainable development: challenges and expectations" has been held at the Russian School of Economics of UNEC. Speaking at the opening of the international conference, which gathered more than 200 young researchers from six countries on one platform, vice-rector for science and innovation Fariz Ahmadov spoke about the importance of the topic of the conference. He drew attention to the fact that modern economy has become an actual field of research, and talked about the events held at UNEC related to COP-29 and the responsibilities of young people in this direction. The head of the Russian School of Economics, associate professor Mansur Barkhudarov, noted that representatives of the private and public sectors were also represented at the event in addition to science and education representatives, and noted that the international conference will hold discussions on the issues that the green economy poses to Azerbaijan, including the world. Then, acting as speakers, Professor Yadulla Hasanli, Director of the Scientific Research Institute of Economic Studies at UNEC, and Professor Bahram Aliyev, a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke about different aspects of the green economy, the issues that need to be solved, and the place and role of education in these processes. The international conference continued with the reports of students, masters and doctoral students from Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Greece in 7 panel sessions. Interesting discussions on the subject were also held in the sessions moderated by prestigious scientists of UNEC, as well as well-known representatives of science related to the green economy. At the end of the conference, the creative club of the Russian School of Economics performed an interesting concert program. Udaku Special Majina ya Wanafunzi Waliochaguliwa Kidato Cha Tano 2024/2025 Wahitimu 188,787 kati ya 197,426 waliofaulu mitihani ya kidato cha nne, wamechaguliwa kujiunga na masomo ya kidato cha tano na sita pamoja na vyuo mbalimbali kwa mwaka 2024. Waziri wa Nchi katika Ofisi ya Rais Tawala za Miko ana Serikali za Mitaa (Tamisemi) Mohamed Mchengerwa amesema hayo leo Alhamisi Mei 30, 2024 wakati akitangaza uchaguzi wa wanafunzi. Form Five Selection in Tanzania refers to the process of assigning students to various secondary schools in Tanzania after they complete their Form Four national examinations. In Tanzania, the education system consists of two levels of secondary education: Ordinary Level (O-Level) and Advanced Level (A-Level). Form Five corresponds to the first year of A-Level education. Tamisemi Form Five Selection 2024 results has been Announced 188,787 out of 197,426 graduates who passed the fourth form exams, have been selected to join fifth and sixth form studies as well as various colleges for the year 2024. The Minister of State in the Office of the President for Local Administration and Local Government (Tamisemi) Mohamed Mchengerwa said this today Thursday May 30, 2024 while announcing the student elections. List of students selected to join Form Five (TAMISEMI) Form five Selection 2024/2025): CHAGUA MKOA ULIKOSOMA How to check Form Five Selection In Tanzania, the Form Five selection results are typically released by the National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) through their official website. Here are the general steps to check Form Five Selection Online on the NECTA website: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the delivery to Ukraine of a new package of military equipment worth EUR 500 million, which will include cruise missiles for IRIS-T SLM and IRIS-T SLS air defense systems, drones, IFVs, and sniper rifles. Pistorius said this at a joint briefing with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov in Odesa, reports an Ukrinform correspondent. The head of the German defense ministry expressed respect for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and their resolve to fight against Russian aggression. "We are ready to provide further assistance to Ukraine. In particular, it is about the supply of military materiel worth half a billion euros, which will be delivered soon. We are also ready to continue the supply of cruise missiles for the IRIS-T SLM and IRIS-T SLS, as well as drones that play a big role in the Black Sea," Pistorius said. In addition, the German Minister of Defense announced the intention to provide spare parts for LEOPARD tanks, 18 wheeled howitzers, and small arms munitions. Pistorius also noted that Germany would donate to Ukraine additional LEOPARD-1 and LEOPARD-2 tanks throughout this year and help maintain and repair them. Ukraine will receive additional IFVs and anti-aircraft self-propelled artillery systems. Read also: Umerov announces government decision to allocate UAH 370B for arms purchase During Pistoriuss visit to a sniper range, the Ukrainian soldiers told him about the need for additional sniper rifles. "We are ready to deliver several hundred sniper rifles in the coming days. In addition, we are already thinking about allocating an additional hundred such rifles," Pistorius informed. Finally, he assured that Germany is determined to provide military aid in the years to come. As reported, Germanys budget lays down EUR 7.1 billion for military aid to Ukraine in 2024, but Boris Pistorius recently requested an additional EUR 3.8 billion. The decision should be made in June. The German government is cautiously backing away from its reservations as to allowing Ukraine to attack military targets on Russian soil using weapons provided by Western partners. This was reported to Politico on condition of anonymity by a source familiar with the position of the German government, Ukrinform learned. The source says Chancellor Scholz is in favor of allowing the use of Western weapons against targets on Russian soil, stopping short of dwelling on details. In turn, on Wednesday, Scholz's spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, told reporters that Ukraine's "defensive action is not limited to one's own territory, but [can] also be expanded to the territory of the aggressor," adding he could not reveal precise agreements with Kyiv as they are "confidential." Read also: Macron says Zelensky will visit France next week Hebestreit also argued that Scholz's statement made a year ago, in which he said there was a "consensus" that Ukraine would not use German weapons on Russian soil, was a "statement of facts" that was true at the time, but did not necessarily apply to the future developments. On Tuesday, Chancellor Scholz said Ukraine could use weapons provided by Germany "within the framework of international law", which would allow Ukraines Armed Forces to hit targets inside Russia. "I find it strange," Scholz told reporters on Tuesday, "when some people have discussions and say that they [the Ukrainians] are not allowed to defend themselves and take measures that are suitable for this." French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking alongside the German chancellor, said: "We have to allow [Ukrainians] to neutralize the military sites from which the missiles are fired, but not other civilian or military targets." As reported by Ukrinform, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine's right to self-defense also includes the task of hitting legitimate military targets on Russian territory. The statement was later echoed by Canada, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and several other countries. The United States maintains its position regarding the non-use of American weapons against targets in Russia and at the same time is making efforts to ensure that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have the necessary capabilities for defending Ukraines sovereign territory. From the beginning of the decision-making process regarding the delivery of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, Denmark was aware that these aircraft, like other capabilities, are being donated to Ukraine for self-defense and can be used against Russia's military targets, including on its soil. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who spoke at a doorstep of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) in Brussels, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "The short answer is yes (regarding the possibility of F-16 strikes on Russian territory - ed.). This is not a new position, it is part of our contribution. When we discussed this with our Foreign Affairs Committee in the Danish Parliament, we made it very clear from the beginning that this is part of self-defense, which will likely also imply the attacks on military facilities on Russian soil," noted the Danish minister. As Ukrinform reported earlier, Denmark, which is one of the initiators of the so-called Aircraft Coalition for Ukraine, plans to send F-16 to Ukraine as early as this summer. The Netherlands will hand over such planes to Ukraine later in the fall. On May 16, Denmark announced a new package of military aid to Ukraine in the amount of EUR 750 million. The package will be aimed at strengthening Ukraines air defense and artillery capabilities. Denmark is also exploring opportunities for investing in the Ukrainian defense industry. ZANGILAN, Azerbaijan, May 30. Participants of the 3rd International Conference on Humanitarian Demining familiarized themselves with the reconstruction works in Zangilan, Trend reports. Particularly, the foreign guests visited the new mosque in Zangilan, where they had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with its history. Meanwhile, following the liberation of the occupied territories, construction and restoration work began at the Zangilan Mosque within the framework of the restoration project of historical, religious and cultural monuments of Karabakh. A working group, which included local and foreign experts, assessed the condition of the mosque, and based on this, a decision was made to preserve the building. A new mosque was built next to the preserved historical mosque. By its design, the mosque building is rectangular, with two minarets and three naves. It has prayer halls for 220 and 100 people. The minarets and the dome of the mosque are made of brick and lined with tiles. The interior is decorated with calligraphic inscriptions, and the mihrab is decorated with plant ornaments made of tiles. The minbar and shebeke elements are made of natural wood. Afterward, the guests visited the village of Aghaly, built based on the concept of a "smart village." In particular, they watched a performance organized by students of the secondary school in the village. The village has the necessary socio-technical infrastructure that meets modern requirements and all conditions for the comfortable and safe living of the residents. To note, the III International Conference on Humanitarian Demining on the theme "Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future" was launched in Zangilan under the joint organization of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The conference has received much attention from the international community. More than 300 delegates from 75 countries are taking part in the III International Humanitarian Demining Conference organized by Azerbaijan. Among the participants are high-ranking officials from many countries, senior staff of the UN Head Office, representatives of authoritative international organizations, officials of demining centers of various countries, as well as officials of diplomatic missions accredited in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ZANGILAN, Azerbaijan, May 30. UNDP assists in building Azerbaijan's capacity in the field of demining, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS Ivana Zivkovic told reporters on the sidelines of the 3rd International Conference On Mine Action titled "Mitigating environmental impact of landmines: resource mobilization for safe and green future" in Zangilan, Azerbaijan, Trend reports. "UNDP has a longstanding commitment to mine action and extensive experience worldwide. Now, in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Mine Action Agency, with whom we've partnered for over two decades, we're delighted to continue this cooperation. Together, we aim to build capacity and establish a Center of Excellence, offering educational and practical services not only to Azerbaijani deminers but to countries across the region," she remarked. The assistant administrator highlighted Azerbaijan's utilization of cutting-edge demining methods and advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and drone imagery. Zivkovic emphasized that she sees the primary challenge as mobilizing resources. "We're hopeful for the support of the international community to secure additional funding, allowing us to extend coverage to more areas," she concluded. The 3rd International Conference on Mine Action began its work in Zangilan, jointly organized by the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The conference is attracting significant international attention, with over 300 delegates from 75 countries participating. Among the attendees are high-ranking officials from various nations, senior UN staff, representatives from prominent international organizations, officials from demining centers worldwide, and diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel In a significant policy shift, Harvard University announced that it will refrain from making official statements on public policy issues not directly related to its institutional functions. The announcement, made by interim president Alan M. Garber in a campus-wide email on Tuesday, follows recommendations from the Institutional Voice Working Group, established in April to evaluate the university's approach to publicly salient issues. This new stance aims to maintain the integrity and credibility of the institution while focusing on its core mission of education and research. Recommendations of the Institutional Voice Working Group The Institutional Voice Working Group was tasked with examining whether and when Harvard should issue official statements on publicly salient issues. Their report, which guided the university's new policy, emphasizes that while the university should refrain from commenting on most public matters, it must still speak out on issues that directly affect its core functions. This includes defending academic freedom, protecting the university's autonomy, and promoting the value of its educational and research activities. The report highlights that the university has a responsibility to communicate the importance of its central activities and defend its interests when they are threatened. For example, if external forces attempt to dictate student admissions, influence the curriculum, or control research funding, Harvard's leaders must respond. However, the report also cautions against the institution taking positions on public matters that do not directly impact its core mission, as doing so could compromise its integrity and credibility. READ MORE : Harvard And Caltech Reinstate Standardized Testing Requirements For Admissions Challenges and Considerations for University Leadership The decision to limit official statements comes after a particularly challenging year for college presidents across the United States. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which saw a deadly attack by Hamas on October 7 and subsequent retaliatory strikes by Israel, sparked intense debates on campuses nationwide. Many university presidents faced criticism for their responses, illustrating the complexities and risks involved in addressing polarizing political issues. The Institutional Voice Working Group's report acknowledges the pressure on university leaders to comment on a wide range of issues. It warns that making statements on matters beyond the university's core functions could lead to the perception that the institution is taking sides on contentious issues. This, in turn, could alienate segments of the university community and detract from its primary educational and research missions. The report stresses that university leaders are appointed for their expertise in higher education, not public affairs, and should focus their official communications on matters within their institutional expertise and responsibility. A Focus on Harvard's Core Mission By adopting the recommendations of the Institutional Voice Working Group, Harvard aims to concentrate on its core mission and maintain its credibility as a leading institution of higher education. The decision underscores the importance of preserving academic freedom, protecting the university's autonomy, and ensuring that its leaders' public statements are relevant to the institution's central functions. Interim president Garber's announcement marks a shift in how Harvard will engage with public issues, emphasizing the need for the university to prioritize its educational and research activities. This approach is intended to prevent the institution from becoming entangled in political debates that could distract from its primary objectives. The policy also reflects a broader trend in higher education, where universities are increasingly scrutinized for their responses to political and social issues. By limiting official statements to matters directly related to its core functions, Harvard aims to navigate these challenges more effectively and uphold its reputation for academic excellence. Harvard University's decision to limit its official statements to issues directly related to its institutional functions represents a strategic move to protect its integrity and focus on its core mission. The policy, informed by the recommendations of the Institutional Voice Working Group, highlights the importance of preserving academic freedom, autonomy, and the value of the university's central activities. As universities continue to face pressure to engage with a wide range of public issues, Harvard's approach may serve as a model for other institutions seeking to maintain their credibility and focus on their primary educational and research objectives. Academic workers at the University of California campuses in Los Angeles and Davis have joined the ongoing strike in solidarity with pro-Palestinian protesters, following the lead of their counterparts at UC Santa Cruz. The strike, organized by UAW Local 4811, aims to address alleged unfair labor practices and to defend the rights of students and workers participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. With the possibility of more campuses joining next week, the movement is gaining momentum and drawing significant attention to the issues at hand. Growing Support and Participation UAW Local 4811, representing 48,000 graduate student workers, postdoctoral scholars, and other academic employees across the UC system, announced that thousands of its members at UCLA and UC Davis have heeded the call to strike. The union represents 6,400 employees at UCLA, 5,700 at UC Davis, and over 2,000 at UC Santa Cruz. While it is unclear how many are currently withholding their labor, the potential participation of over 14,000 employees underscores the scale and significance of the movement. The strike's primary focus is on addressing what the union describes as unfair labor practices by the UC system. Union members have faced arrests and disciplinary actions for their involvement in pro-Palestinian protests, which the union argues reflects a bias in favor of anti-Palestinian speech over pro-Palestinian expression. Anny Viloria Winnett, the union's academic student employee unit chair for UCLA, highlighted the harsh responses protesters have faced, including physical violence and the threat of further disciplinary actions. According to Winnett in the union's news release, the academic community throughout the state has been engaging in peaceful protests. However, they have faced severe responses, including physical violence, such as being kicked, maced, and attacked with gas canisters and fireworks. Riot police have even pointed weapons at them. Additionally, many protesters have been arrested, disciplined, and banned from the campuses where they reside and work. READ MORE : University Presidents Defend Negotiation Tactics To End Pro-Palestinian Protests At Congressional Hearing Legal and Administrative Responses The UC system has labeled the strike as illegal, raising the stakes for both the union and the administration. University officials have expressed concern over the impact of the strike on students' education. Mary Osako, UCLA's Vice Chancellor for strategic communications, emphasized the disruption caused by the strike to the educational environment. Osako expressed concern about the impact of deliberate disruptions on students' education, stating that students pay tuition to learn. She emphasized that students prefer to focus on their professors' teachings rather than being distracted by loud noises from protests outside their classrooms. In response to the strike, police have taken significant action to clear protest encampments from UC campuses. Hundreds of individuals have been arrested, with campus police and external law enforcement in riot gear involved in the efforts. The situation at UCLA escalated on April 30, when counterprotesters attacked a protest encampment, and campus police did not immediately intervene. The following day, law enforcement cleared the encampment and arrested more than 200 people. Union Demands and Future Actions The union is calling for the UC system to drop charges against those who have been arrested or disciplined in connection with the protests. Emily Weintraut, the union's academic student employee unit chair for UC Davis, emphasized the need for the administration to respect the rights of free speech and peaceful assembly. Weintraut called on UC System officials to dismiss charges against individuals who have been unjustly arrested or disciplined. She emphasized this as an initial step to address what the union perceives as unfair labor practices and to uphold their rights to free speech and peaceful assembly, which they believe have been guaranteed. The strike's expansion to more campuses underscores the growing support for the movement and the increasing pressure on the UC system to address the union's demands. With three additional campuses potentially joining the strike next week, the situation remains dynamic and fluid. The union's actions reflect a broader struggle for workers' rights, free speech, and the ability to protest without fear of retaliation. As the strike continues, the academic community and the UC administration are navigating a complex and contentious landscape. The outcome of this dispute will likely have lasting implications for labor relations and free speech policies within the University of California system. Louisiana's higher education system is undergoing a significant transformation with the implementation of a new law that offers more flexible and lucrative retirement benefits to faculty and staff. The legislation, signed into effect by Republican Governor Jeff Landry on May 21, aims to address longstanding issues of brain drain and retention of quality employees in a state where base compensation and retirement contributions have lagged behind national averages. Background and Context For years, new employees in Louisiana's public higher education system have faced a crucial decision within their first 60 days of employment: choose between an optional retirement plan or a more remunerative fixed state-pension plan. However, this choice became even more critical for those considering leaving Louisiana for another job, as the optional plan allowed them to take their accrued benefits with them. The new law brings about a crucial change, offering current employees who have been on the job for more than five years a 12-month window to switch retirement plans. For employees with four years or fewer, they have until their fifth anniversary to make the switch. This change provides much-needed flexibility, especially for long-term employees who may have reconsidered their initial retirement plan choice. Impact on Faculty and Staff Faculty and staff senate representatives, who had shown strong support for the bill, have hailed the legislation as a "massive win." Daniel Tirone, vice president of the Louisiana State University Faculty Senate, emphasized the importance of the retirement plan, especially since Louisiana does not enroll public employees in Social Security. He noted that the decision regarding retirement benefits can significantly impact an employee's financial well-being and their decision to stay in Louisiana. The new law's longer window for evaluating retirement plans allows employees to make a more informed choice about which plan suits them best. This added flexibility could potentially improve retention rates and reduce the high turnover rates that many institutions have experienced, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Legislative Support and Future Prospects The bill's success can be attributed to several factors, including the bipartisan support it received. Representative Barbara Freiberg, the bill's sponsor, highlighted its importance in addressing population and workforce challenges, particularly in retaining the state's best talent. Lawmakers hope that by offering more flexible retirement options, they can encourage faculty and staff to remain in Louisiana rather than seeking opportunities elsewhere. The legislation represents a significant step forward, but it is not without its imperfections. Previous iterations of similar bills failed due to cost concerns, particularly regarding the recognition of accrued service. The current bill addresses these concerns by not requiring employees who switch plans to receive credit for prior years of service. While this may not be ideal for all employees, it strikes a balance between fairness and fiscal responsibility. Louisiana's new law enhancing retirement benefits for higher education staff represents a positive step towards retaining talent in the state. By offering more flexible retirement options, the law aims to address longstanding issues of retention and brain drain. While there are still challenges to be overcome, particularly regarding cost and implementation, the new law provides a foundation upon which future improvements can be built. May 30 2024 Glasgow's Broomielaw waterfront is the frontline in the latest expansion of student accommodation across the city centre, with plans to deliver a purpose-built block on land previously earmarked for a giant office complex. Student housing developer Valeo Management Europe has recruited Flow Design Architects for the project, which will deliver 500 student rooms above ground floor commercial units on Carrick Street. David Saunders, managing director of Valeo, said: The Broomielaw and wider River Clyde Waterfront is undergoing significant transformation, and we hope that our plans will go somewhere to supporting this transition as well as providing much needed student rooms in Glasgow." A proposal of application has already been filed for the site, encompassing vacant commercial premises and the newly built Glasgow City Mission, the latter of which will be granted a stay of execution as it is to be retained and integrated within the new design - not demolished as per the prior plan. A two-step consultation process will kick off on 18 June at Box Hub on Washington Street between 15:00 and 19:00. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. From May 24 to 26, the "Force of Love" festival took place at the Space_13 art space, offering residents and guests of Baku an unforgettable experience. The main goal of the festival was to create an opportunity for families, children, and friends to gather, enjoy numerous activities, and have fun, Trend reports. On the first day, the festival featured various master classes, including painting on canvas, soap making and decorating, robotics, pottery, eco bag design, perfume making, tea assembly, plate decorating, flower planting, and zumba dancing. The second day offered stretching exercises, coffee painting, paper doll design, plate painting, glass painting and stained glass, and bachata dancing. Ulviyya Mahmud, the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine and the ideological inspirer of the Force of Love festival, conducted a master class on Still Drawing. Additional sessions included T-shirt graffiti by Becausenever (Toghrul Maharramli) and an ecological "Zero Waste" master class by Firuza Sultan-zadeh. The Center for the Development of Cultural and Creative Industries under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which supported the event, invited everyone to turn their dreams into reality and demonstrate their talents in various fields. These fields included music, dance, theatre, humour, design, architecture, fashion, craftsmanship and fine arts, film, video, photography, literature, publishing, television, radio, advertising, games, and creative technologies. The centre organised Cultech (cultural startups), GameTech (game technology), a sketching master class, and exhibited works by Ahmed Nabiyev and the Atide brand. Additionally, the festival showcased the works of young photographers of the f37 Union community. Assistance in organising the master classes was provided by the Republican Children and Youth Development Center under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Visitors to the festival had the opportunity to purchase art, books, photographs, vintage jewellery, vinyl records, home and beauty products, clothes, vintage bags, and more. They also enjoyed a variety of treats and drinks. The festival was visited by approximately 2,800 to 3,000 people. On May 26, the artistic portion of the event took place. Stand-up comics, including Javid Gurbanov (scriptwriter for "Comedy Club," "HB," "Nasha Rasha," and author of the KVN team "Bakl Oglanlar") and Roman Orkodashvili (director, scriptwriter, writer, editor, and participant of the "What? Where? When?" club of connoisseurs), performed on the Space_13 stage. The evening concluded with a musical set by Becausenever. May 30 2024 Singaporean investors have been brought on board by a Glasgow-based developer to fund the delivery of an approved student housing block on Osborne Street, Glasgow. Ambassador Group has teamed up with Far East Orchard and Woh Hup, to pay for the scheme, clearing the way for delivery by 2026. The first project in a new class of student housing championed by the developer the accommodation will comprise 273 student beds in a sociable environment comprising a student lounge, gymnasium and large south-facing terrace. Ahsan Afzal, head of development for Ambassadors Nova Living said, Our development will provide much-needed student beds in an acutely undersupplied market, with a shortage of 22,000 beds. "Our collective shared values in the sector have driven the relationship from the outset, and we look forward to embarking on this exciting journey with our new global partners to deliver on the first project within Nova Living, where we are entirely committed to delivering sustainable living solutions that prioritise the well-being and connectivity of residents. The project will rise on a prominent corner site at the junction with Old Wynd. Kuwait and Pakistan on Thursday agreed for enhancing mutual cooperation, promotion of bilateral relations and investment ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2024) Kuwait and Pakistan on Thursday agreed for enhancing mutual cooperation, promotion of bilateral relations and investment. Agreements and memorandums of understanding in the fields of industrial cooperation and engineering were also signed during the meeting of 5th Joint Ministerial Commission, said a press release. Pakistan also offered Kuwait to invest in the fields of pharmaceutical, engineering and automotives. A high-level delegation of Pakistan, headed by Minister of Investment board, Privatization and Communications Abdul Aleem Khan represented Pakistan in the Joint Ministerial Commission meeting. Addressing the JMC's concluding session, Abdul Aleem Khan announced to appoint a Commercial Counselor of Pakistan in Kuwait. He said that "Visa on Arrival" facility would be started soon in Pakistan for the Gulf Cooperation Council member countries. The minister said that Kuwait could engage veterinary staff, doctors, nurses and other workforce from Pakistan. He expressed the hope that in future Kuwait would also relax visa conditions for Pakistanis. The minister said,"Pakistan wants a long term economic partnership with Kuwait for which special facilities can be provided under the banner of SIFC for businesses". He said that new investment opportunities were available in tourism, minerals, agriculture, food, textile and energy sectors in Pakistan. Aleem Khan said that the Pakistani delegation also held talks on joint ventures with the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce. A consultative meeting was with Kuwait's well-known livestock organization "Al Muashi" in which Pakistan and Kuwait agreed to encourage export of poultry and other dairy products, he added. Kuwait's Minister of Commerce and Industry Omar Saud Al-Omar termed the holding of the 5th Joint Ministerial Commission satisfactory and assured the Federal minister of all possible support from Kuwait. Earlier, Abdul Aleem Khan along with his delegation held a meeting with Kuwait's Minister of Electricity, Water and Energy Dr. Mahmood A. M. Bashehri. During the meeting, Aleem Khan said that both Kuwait and Pakistan were facing energy challenges and they could form joint working groups under the SIFC in that regard. (@ChaudhryMAli88) PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2024) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister, Syed Qasim Ali Shah, announced on Thursday that chemotherapy used in the treatment of breast cancer will be included in the health card very soon. He made this announcement while speaking at an important function on breast cancer services organized at Khyber Teaching Hospital, according to a press release issued here. Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah and MNA Arbab Sher Ali attended the ceremony as special guests. Chairman board of Governor Dr. Umar Ayub Khan, MD Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ayaz Khan, Chairperson General Surgery Prof. Dr. Mah Munir Khan, Assistant Prof. Dr. Irum Sabir, and other faculty members participated in the management of Khyber Teaching Hospital. In the event, Assistant Professor of Cancer Unit, Dr. Irum Sabir, presented a comprehensive report on the treatment of cancer patients, which highlighted the data of breast cancer patients so far and the problems faced. She said that in 2022, 6206, 2023, 8733, and 3989 breast cancer patients were treated in 2024. She added, "Breast care services at Khyber Teaching Hospital are exceptional, and we are very proud of our achievements since 2019." Our dedicated team, led by Prof. Dr. Mah Munir Khan, Dr. Irum Sabir, Asst. Assistant Professor Dr. Muhammad Tariq, Assistant Professor Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Shah, Professor Dr. Hina Gul, Dr. Mahmood Akhtar Khattak, and Dr. Kulsoom Nawab, are highly skilled healthcare professionals. Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah said, "In his speech, he said that cancer is a serious health problem that we have to fight together. " "Unfortunately, one in eight women is at risk of developing cancer. We all have to work together to meet this challenge, and more improvements are needed." "I am happy to announce that chemotherapy will soon be included in the health card program to facilitate access to cancer treatment," he added. "Moreover, mammogram machines will also be provided to the hospital." The health minister said, "Our effort is to improve the efficiency of the health sector by adopting modern technology." "Gamma knives will be introduced soon in Khyber Teaching Hospital, and the process of setting up the cath lab will be expedited," he continued. During the ceremony, Chairman BOG Dr. Umar Ayub Khan highlighted the hospital's recent achievements, including the establishment of 80 modular beds and state-of-the-art tables for orthopedic surgeries. He expressed pride in the successful discussion of 2530 cases of breast sarcoma in each meeting and appreciated the excellent efforts of Prof. Mah Munir and her team. Chairperson of the of the Department of General Surgery, Prof. Dr. Mah Munir, took the opportunity to highlight the outstanding achievements of the Breast Care Unit. She said, "It is noteworthy that the unit has conducted the busiest and most extensive breast cancer awareness campaign in October every year." "Additionally, the unit is proud to have established a one-stop breast care clinic in the province and to be recognized for the FCPS in Breast Surgery, a distinction that ranks it fourth in the country," she informed. (@Abdulla99267510) Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir has expressed resolve to neutralize all threats to the security and stability of country with the support of nation. RAWALPINDI: ( UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-May 30th, 2024) The 83rd Formation Commanders Conference chaired by Army Chief General Asim Munir in Rawalpindi has expressed resolve to neutralize all threats to the security and stability of country with the support of nation. The forum underscored that politically motivated and vested digital terrorism, unleashed by conspirators duly abetted by their foreign cohorts, against State institutions is clearly meant to try to induce despondency in the Pakistani nation, to sow discord among national institutions, especially the Armed Forces, and the people of Pakistan by peddling blatant lies, fake news and propaganda. It however said the nation is fully cognizant of their ugly and ulterior motives and surely the designs of these nefarious forces will be comprehensively defeated. The forum noted that planners, perpetrators, abettors and facilitators of 9th May need to be brought to justice for the collective good of the country, and that without swift and transparent dispensation of justice to the culprits and establishing the rule of law, stability in the country will ever remain hostage to the machinations of such elements. The forum resolved to continue to fully support the governments initiatives in various domains for sustainable economic growth and curbing illegal activities, including smuggling, hoarding, electricity theft, implementation of One Document Regime, dignified repatriation of illegal foreigners, and safeguarding of the national database. The forum expressed serious concerns over continued cross-border violations from Afghanistan and terrorism being orchestrated using Afghan soil, noting that Pakistans adversaries were using Afghanistan to target Security Forces and innocent civilians inside Pakistan. The forum acknowledged the priceless sacrifices of the people of Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) in the war against terrorism and underscored the importance of uplifting the NMDs to decisively defeat terrorism. The forum also underlined the need for socio-economic development in Balochistan to counter externally propagated narratives of exclusion, exploited by foreign-sponsored proxies to lead Balochistans youth away from peace and progress. Reviewing the prevailing situation on the Eastern Border and the latest round of extra-judicial murders in IIOJK, the forum expressed complete solidarity with the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for the inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in UNSC Resolutions. The forum showed concern over the treatment of minorities, especially Muslims, in India and noted the growing fascism being perpetrated to achieve vested political ends. The forum also expressed complete solidarity with the people of Palestine and condemned serious human rights violations and war crimes being perpetrated in Gaza, supporting the International Court of Justice decision to stop Rafah Operation and all other operations within the Gaza Strip. The Army Chief appreciated the high standard of training displayed by formations during various exercises and the excellent performance of officers and troops in counter-terrorism operations. He commended the formations for their high morale and round-the-clock operational readiness. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2024) Federal Minister for Energy"Power Division" Awais Ahmad Khan Laghari on Thursday said that the 'Roshan Pakistan' programme will eliminate the energy crisis in the country. While holding a press conference with Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik in Islamabad, Federal Energy Minister Awais Laghari said that the electricity demand was 25,820 megawatts across Pakistan on May 29, of which 21,588 megawatts have been produced and supplied from within our system. However, he said 4,232 MW was the load shedding. He said that this load shedding was done only on those feeders, where losses are occurring. "From 20 per cent to 100 per cent where our losses are occurring, 4,232 megawatts of electricity was not provided there" he added. Awais Laghari said that where the losses are less than 20%, unfortunately, the power supply to these feeders also remained off for a few hours. The Federal Minister of Energy said that if they start supplying this electricity to these areas, the losses will increase to such an extent that the Pakistani economy will be further destroyed. "Until our distribution companies determine their direction and address these losses with the help of provincial governments, this load shedding will continue" he informed with certainty. He said that more steps are being taken in the energy sector including elimination of load shedding and electricity theft. He said that the Roshan Pakistan programme will end the energy crisis by showing the data on the demand and supply of each feeder. He said that reforms in the energy sector with the help of provincial governments are indispensable. The federal minister further said that they have contacted the provinces and told them to set an example in preventing electricity theft. Let me give you an example of my area, the minister stated, "A place in Dera Ghazi Khan has only three hours of electricity in 24 hours" and added, "It is very easy for me to provide full-time electricity there but we preferred principle over politics". He said that reforms in the energy sector with the help of provincial governments are inevitable, adding, action will be taken in areas where electricity is stolen and those who are involved in this malpractice would be punished. Awais Laghari said that he took strict measures to prevent electricity theft in his constituency and the people involved in electricity theft were also arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan. He said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has assured that they will provide assistance to reduce electricity theft and a proposal is being prepared with them in this regard. The minister said that the complaints related to the overbilling of consumers are being redressed. He said that the DISCOs will share daily electricity demand and supply data which will help in controlling load shedding problems. He said that there are many defects in the distribution sector, adding, there will be no compromise regarding governance in electricity companies. New boards of electricity companies will come in next week, he added. Awais Laghari said that there is no shortfall of electricity in the country at present, 7000 megawatts of electricity is being generated from water. He said, "We have plenty of electricity and transmission capacity". To a question, he said that our weakness was in the arbitration court case against NTDC. The federal minister said that such systems have not been implemented through which information reaches the public, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, each DISCO will present the details of electricity transmission and demand of load-shedding. Awais Laghari said that data used to be presented on Roshan Pakistan, now that data will be restarted under this program. He said the power supply in the areas with losses will increase the power circular debt a lot, the losses in 1978 feeders in LESCO are 10 per cent and load shedding was also done on these feeders yesterday which is not acceptable. The reason for the load shedding is the incompetence of the DISCOs, the CEOs of the DISCOs have been warned that action will be taken against them if the service level is not improved, he said. In response to a question, he said that a high-level committee has been set up to investigate the scams in the purchase of coal, which includes the ministers of finance, petroleum and defence and the committee has started its work in this regard. To another question regarding net metering, he said that net metering policy will continue. Minister of State for Power Division Ali Pervaiz Malik said that the Prime Minister has directed them to work hard to provide relief to the people. He said that if load shedding is to be ended, then the government should help. The government will make the electricity generated at a low cost accessible to the people because the leadership of the Muslim League-N is determined to provide facilities to the people. He said that he has held a detailed meeting with the heads of all the distribution companies for improvement in this sector. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Thursday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of the father of senior journalist Saqib Saeed ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2024) Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Thursday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of the father of senior journalist Saqib Saeed. In a condolence message, the minister expressed his heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved family. He said he was deeply grieved to hear the news of Saqib Saeed's father's death. He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude. (@FahadShabbir) The Hague, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2024) Authorities arrested four people and took down or disrupted more than 100 servers in the "largest ever" operation against botnets that deploy ransomware, Europol said Thursday. Dubbed Operation Endgame, the sweep was initiated and led by France, Germany and the Netherlands, with a French official saying they wanted to act before this summer's Paris Olympics. The May 27-29 operation led to one arrest in Armenia and three others in Ukraine, with searches in both countries as well as in the Netherlands and Portugal, Europol said. The servers were located in Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland, Britain, the United States and Ukraine. In addition to the four arrests, eight fugitive suspects linked to the case will be added to Europe's Most Wanted list. One of the suspects earned at least 69 million Euros ($75 million) in cryptocurrency by renting out criminal infrastructure sites to disseminate ransomware, Europol said. "This is the largest ever operation against botnets, which play a major role in the deployment of ransomware," the agency based in The Hague said. A botnet is a network of computers infected by malware and controlled by hackers. Authorities targeted malware "droppers" -- a type of software used to insert malicious software into a system -- named IcedID, SystemBC, Pikabot, Smokeloader, Bumblebee and Trickbot. Trickbot was used to launch ransomware attacks on US hospitals during the Covid pandemic. The operation had "a global impact on the dropper ecosystem", Europol said. Droppers allow criminals to bypass security measures and deploy viruses, ransomware or spyware, the agency said. (@FahadShabbir) Acapulco, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2024) An aspiring mayor was shot dead in southern Mexico Wednesday during a campaign rally, the Guerrero state governor said, the latest in a string of attacks ahead of weekend elections. A video published by local media showed a person approaching Alfredo Cabrera and shooting him several times, causing chaos and panic among people attending the event. Guerrero governor Evelyn Salgado condemned the "cowardly" murder of Cabrera, a candidate for an opposition coalition in the town of Coyuca de Benitez. Writing on social media platform X, she said she had asked the state prosecutor's office to bring "the full weight of the law against the person or persons responsible." The government said Tuesday that at least 22 people running for local office had been murdered since last September. Some non-governmental organizations have reported an even higher number, including Data Civica, which has counted around 30 murders of local politicians. On Tuesday, a mayoral candidate in the central state of Morelos was murdered while another one was wounded by gunfire in western Jalisco state, authorities said. The PRI, one of the opposition coalition parties, accused the government of having "not made even the slightest effort to guarantee the safety of the candidates." Around 27,000 soldiers and National Guard members will be deployed to reinforce security on Sunday, when Mexicans will vote for a new president, members of Congress, several state governors and myriad local officials. Mexico City, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2024) Campaigning to be Mexico's next president reached a climax Wednesday with two women leading the race for the first time in the violence-plagued Latin American nation. Barring a major upset, a woman appears almost certain to be elected leader of the world's most populous Spanish-speaking country when millions of Mexicans vote on Sunday. Left-wing ruling-party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum and center-right opposition hopeful Xochitl Galvez, both 61, have dominated the presidential race, in a dramatic change for a country with long-standing gender inequality. "We're going to make history," Sheinbaum told a cheering crowd at her closing campaign rally in Mexico City's main square. "I say to the young women, to all the women of Mexico -- colleagues, friends, sisters, daughters, mothers and grandmothers -- you are not alone," she said. After around three months of official campaigning, Sheinbaum, a former Mexico City mayor and a scientist by training, is the favorite with 53 percent of voter support, according to a poll average from research firm Oraculus. Opposition rival Xochitl Galvez, an outspoken senator and businesswoman with Indigenous roots, is second with 36 percent. The only man running -- long-shot centrist Jorge Alvarez Maynez -- has 11 percent. Thousands of Sheinbaum's supporters massed to hear her speak, with many wearing purple -- the color of the ruling Morena party. "The people have woken up. We don't want the old governments to rob us anymore because the poor come first," said Soledad Hernandez, a 23-year-old housewife from the southern state of Oaxaca. Sheinbaum owes much of her popularity to outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a close ally and fellow leftist who has an approval rating of more than 60 percent but is only allowed to serve one term. "It's an honor to be with Obrador," she told the crowd, repeating a slogan often heard during her campaign. "I'm clear that my obligation is to take Mexico along the path of peace, security, democracy, freedom and justice," she added. Galvez chose the industrial northern city of Monterrey for her closing rally. "If Claudia (Sheinbaum) wins, it will be more of the same like with Lopez Obrador, who has sunk Mexico and wants to turn it into another Venezuela," said one Galvez supporter, 71-year-old Bertha Diaz. Nearly 100 million people are registered to vote for a new president, members of Congress, several state governors and local officials, in the biggest-ever elections in the country of 129 million. Around 27,000 soldiers and National Guard members will be deployed to reinforce security on election day, following a wave of violence targeting local candidates. Since last September, at least 22 people running for local office have been murdered, according to an official count. Some non-governmental organizations have reported an even higher number, including Data Civica, which has counted 30 murders of local politicians. Criminal violence that has left more than 450,000 people dead since 2006 will be among the major challenges facing the next president, along with managing migration and delicate relations with the neighboring United States. Sheinbaum has pledged to continue Lopez Obrador's strategy of tackling crime at its roots -- a controversial strategy that he calls "hugs not bullets." Galvez, who often evokes her childhood story of growing up in a poor, rural town in central Mexico, has vowed a tougher approach, declaring "hugs for criminals are over." (@FahadShabbir) Jeddah, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2024) ROSHN Group has announced a revamp of ROSHN Waterfront, a popular destination in Jeddah that attracts over 55 million visitors annually. According to a press release, the initiative "Renewing and Coloring Your Steps" aims to promote community engagement, support local talents, and enhance the public landscape. Saudi artists will transform the walkway, which will stretch 3,200 meters long and 5 meters wide. Over 200 volunteers from Jeddah will paint the walkway by the end of May covering an area of 16,000 square meters, The refreshed ROSHN Waterfront will be unveiled in early June. The initiative is a collaboration between ROSHN, the "Lenobadir" volunteering initiative, and Jeddah Municipality's Social Responsibility Charity. The release said that ROSHN had held a competition for Saudi artists to submit their concepts for ROSHN Waterfront. Thirty-eight talented artists, including painters and designers, showcased their ideas, which were evaluated based on specific criteria. The Primary focus was on embodying ROSHN Group's distinctive elements, highlighting the quality of life, and capturing Jeddah's vibrant atmosphere and unique identity. Ghada AlRumayan, ROSHN Group's Chief Marketing Officer, stated, "ROSHN Waterfront has become a popular destination in Jeddah, and we wanted to improve the quality of life for all with our support for Saudi artists." She further noted that the revitalization project will bring the spirit of Jeddah to life through the artwork created by hundreds of volunteers from the local community." The area was opened in 2017 and renamed the ROSHN Waterfront in 2022. ROSHN's goal has been to help transform the area into a place everyone in Jeddah can enjoy as part of its focus on quality of life. ROSHN Waterfront features several kilometres of walkways, jogging tracks, and cycle corridors. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Spain's parliament gave the final green light to a controversial amnesty bill for Catalan separatists Thursday, paving the way for the return of their figurehead Carles Puigdemont after years of self-imposed exile Madrid, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2024) Spain's parliament gave the final green light to a controversial amnesty bill for Catalan separatists Thursday, paving the way for the return of their figurehead Carles Puigdemont after years of self-imposed exile. The legislation seeks to draw a line under years of efforts to prosecute those involved in the failed 2017 Catalan independence bid that triggered Spain's worst political crisis in decades. The text, which has been strongly opposed by Spain's right and far-right opposition, passed by 177 votes in favour to 172 votes against in the 350-seat parliament. One person was absent from the vote. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hailed the move, saying "forgiveness" was more powerful than holding a grudge over the 2017 crisis. "In politics, as in life, forgiveness is stronger than resentment," he wrote on X. "Today Spain is more prosperous and more united than in 2017. Coexistence is making progress." It is a key moment for Sanchez as the bill was a demand by separatist parties in exchange for their parliamentary support last November that let him begin a new term in office. - Rowdy session of insult trading - The bill, which grants an amnesty to hundreds of separatists involved in the independence bid, passed its first reading in the lower house in March. It then went to the upper-house Senate, dominated by the right-wing opposition, where it was symbolically vetoed -- the Senate cannot block a bill but only propose amendments -- before returning to the lower house on Thursday morning. Following a rowdy two-and-a-half-hour debate during which the Speaker was forced to call order several times due to the insults traded on the floor, the bill passed. The measure, which has dominated Spanish political discourse for months, could affect around 400 people, according to a justice ministry estimate. It will be up to individual judges to decide if the amnesty applies to their cases. They have two months to raise issues with the Constitutional Court or the European justice system, which could delay the law's implementation for some time. - 'A death certificate' - "Today we've witnessed the Socialist Party's death certificate being signed," right-wing opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo said before the vote. Feijoo's Popular Party (PP) technically won last July's general election but did not have the parliamentary support to form a government, leaving the way open for Sanchez, who succeeded with the crucial backing of the Catalan separatist parties. And what they demanded in exchange was the amnesty bill -- whose biggest beneficiary will be Puigdemont, the former Catalan leader who led the secession bid then fled Spain to avoid prosecution. Puigdemont's hardline JxCat party hailed the vote as a victory. "Today is a historic day in the broadest sense of the word. Today is not about forgiveness, it's about winning a battle in the war," said Miriam Nogueras, JxCat's parliamentary spokeswoman. "Next stop, a referendum," said Gabriel Rufian of the more moderate ERC party, referring to the separatists' longstanding demand for a referendum on Catalan independence. The amnesty has sparked fierce opposition from the PP and the far-right Vox, which have rallied mass street protests against the move and vowed not to give up the fight even after the measure becomes law. The latest protest was last weekend. - Successful strategy - Surveys suggest Spaniards are divided over the amnesty, including among Sanchez's Socialists and their supporters, though the result of the May 12 Catalan regional election has shifted the picture. After a decade in power, the separatists lost their absolute majority with the Socialists winning a clear victory, suggesting focus has shifted away from independence, vindicating Sanchez's strategy of defusing tensions around the 2017 crisis. Although the Socialists are preparing to take over leadership of the Catalan government, Puigdemont has said he wants to lead a minority separatist administration. He has also said he hopes to be back in time to see a new Catalan government take office, which is due to happen by June 25 at the latest. But it is unclear if that will happen given the two-month time span for the courts to enact the legislation and cancel outstanding arrest warrants, including the one for Puigdemont. bur-hmw/js BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Pakistan will fully support Azerbaijan during its presidency at COP29, said Ishaq Dar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, at a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, Trend reports. "We congratulate our brotherly country, Azerbaijan, on winning the bid to host the COP29 conference. During our meeting today Pakistan has pledged its full support for Azerbaijan in its COP29 presidency," he said. He also pointed out that the two countries will continue to bolster climate action and renewable energy sector cooperation. Ishaq Dar further noted that Baku and Islamabad are jointly working on increasing bilateral investments, especially in the energy sector. "During the extensive talks today, we discussed all aspects of bilateral relations. We are aiming to enhance our multilateral cooperation. Pakistan and Azerbaijan will continue to support each other on the multilateral fora," the FM concluded. Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) 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. The parties to the convention are 198 countries. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn. 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. Africa has what it takes to transform and grow its economy but faces rigid barriers, including a sometimes unfriendly global financial architecture, say leaders who gathered in Nairobi this week for the African Development Banks annual summit. While the continents average GDP growth is estimated to have slowed in 2023, African economies remain resilient, Africa Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina said at the meeting. "The African Development Bank projects that Africa's real GDP growth will rise from 3.1 percent in 2023 to 3.7 percent in 2024 and 4.3 percent in 2025. Importantly, more than half that is 31 countries achieved higher GDP growth rates in 2023 than in 2022," Adesina said. GDP, or gross domestic product, is used to measure the economic health of a country. As Africas bank, the AFDB which turns 60 this year has the responsibility to mobilize financing to develop the continent, said Adesina, the former Nigerian agriculture minister. That work is done, he added, against the backdrop of major global challenges including heightened geopolitical tensions, the disruption of global value chains, rising food and energy crisis, increasing debt service payments and, of course, the devastating effects of climate change from droughts to floods, cyclones to unpredictable weather patterns, the loss of lives and poverty. And enormous fiscal cost to countries." Heavy rains and flash floods recently killed hundreds and displaced thousands across East Africa, where the U.N. estimates that 1.6 million people were affected. In Kenya, the rains killed more than 280 people, displaced about 53,000, and destroyed thousands of crops. Kenyas President William Ruto was among those who attended the summit, along with leaders and officials from Zimbabwe, Somalia, Namibia, Rwanda, Congo-Brazzaville, Libya and others. Ruto said with the worlds 10 fastest growing economies being in Africa, the continent has what it takes to succeed, but it faces the rigid barrier of the global financial architecture that is misaligned with the continent's aspirations. "We routinely borrow from international markets at rates far above those paid by the rest of the world, often up to 8 or 10 times more, he said. Ruto, Adesina and other leaders called for a reform of the global financial architecture to mobilize even more financial resources they say are needed to accelerate Africa's growth and development. "The debt problem faced by many countries, which consume the largest share of national resources and starve [the] development agenda, we are a direct result of [this] unjust financial architecture, Ruto said. This situation not only makes debt unsustainable but also undermines growth, prevents countries from investing in resilience." That sentiment was echoed by African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, who said the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which tested economies worldwide and especially in Africa, is still being felt. He said that all of the African Unions member states have been caught in the spiral of an ever-pernicious debt which keeps them under the control of lenders with suffocating demands, despite numerous promises to alleviate this burden. An economic outlook published during the summit by the bank lays out a mixture of policies that are needed to address some of the continent's challenges. These include promoting local production and diversifying import sources to address rising food prices, and helping reform the current global financial architecture to help with debt restructuring. After six years on the run, the former president of Spains Catalonia region may come home to govern after his party won a close second in regional elections. But an investigation into his alleged ties to the Kremlin may prevent his return. Marcus Harton narrates this report from Ricardo Marquina in Barcelona. Alfonso Beato contributed. Tensions between North Korea and China surfaced publicly this week for the first time in years, after Pyongyang lashed out at a joint statement signed by Beijing mentioning the possibility of denuclearization. The apparent rift between the two allies emerged as North Koreas latest attempt to launch a military spy satellite interrupted a major diplomatic initiative by China. North Korea announced that it would conduct the launch as Chinas premier, Li Qiang, was in Seoul preparing to meet the top leaders of Japan and South Korea as part of a trilateral dialogue that had not occurred in almost five years. The launch, which ended in a fiery explosion just after liftoff, occurred several hours after the trilateral dialogue wrapped up late Monday. Although not unprecedented, it was a rare North Korean disruption of a major political event involving China, which has long been the main ally and economic lifeline for the isolated North. The developments suggest fissures in a relationship that both sides have long insisted is as close as lips and teeth, according to Jean Lee, a Korea specialist at the East-West Center in Hawaii. I think what were seeing is that those fissures can break wide open with just a little bit of pressure, she said. Uncomfortable spot North Koreas actions left China's Li in an awkward position, standing alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who both condemned the impending launch. Things got more uncomfortable from there. After the three men released a joint statement calling, among other things, for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, North Korea erupted. In a statement posted in the state-run Korean Central News Agency, North Korea's foreign ministry accused the three countries of mockery and trickery, denouncing what it described as a blatant challenge to its sovereignty and wanton interference in its internal affairs. Though the North Korean statement was primarily directed at summit host South Korea, it was also a veiled but undeniable swipe at China, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a North Korea watcher and senior fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Center. The Norths relations with China have looked to be cooling over the last year, but this is the first time in recent years any signs of trouble have broken into the open, she wrote in a blog post on 38 North, a North Korea-focused website. China has long called for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula a formulation often embraced by other countries, including the United States and its allies. North Korea has also accepted the idea of denuclearization in some settings, including perhaps most notably the joint statement signed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former U.S. president Donald Trump following their first summit in 2018. However, North Korea last year enshrined nuclear weapons in its constitution a status Kim now calls irreversible. North Korea's moves have sparked major concerns among the U.S. and its allies, which have responded by ramping up their own displays of military strength. In public settings, Chinese officials have called for all sides to show restraint, even while pressing the United States to make concessions in order to advance the denuclearization process. Ups and downs North Korea has not criticized China so blatantly since 2017, when Beijing backed United Nations Security Council sanctions over the Norths nuclear and missile tests. Since then, North Korea-China ties have improved. China now opposes new sanctions, even as North Korea dramatically expanded its ballistic missile tests that are banned by the U.N. resolutions it once supported. But there have been signs of trouble beneath the surface. For instance, Chinese leader Xi Jinping hasnt met with Kim in over five years. Meanwhile, Kim in September traveled to Russia's far east, where he agreed to expand military cooperation with President Vladimir Putin. According to Kremlin officials, plans are underway for Putin to soon visit North Korea. Putin now uses North Korean missiles and other weapons to wage war in Ukraine. In return, Putin may be aiding North Koreas nuclear weapons program, according to some U.S. officials, who have not provided evidence. Some analysts say China may be uncomfortable if Russia is enabling a significant nuclear buildup on its border which may explain some of the current tensions. China may also be trying to show that it is not as close to North Korea and to Russia as some Western nations imply, according to Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a professor of international relations at Kings College London. Kim Jong Un would have been invited already or would have essentially been dragged to China to meet Xi Jinping. And this hasnt happened, said Pacheco Pardo. That stands in contrast to the past, when Xi went out of his way to demonstrate that he was the world leader with the closest relationship to Kim, Pacheco Pardo added. North Koreas actions this week suggest it has been emboldened by its cooperation with Russia and now wants to demonstrate some level of independence from Beijing, he said. However, analysts have questioned whether Russia's current level of support for North Korea will outlast its war in Ukraine. While North Korea appears to be less reliant on China for now, Pacheco Pardo said, in the future, it might be different. The office of Belgiums federal prosecutor says police searched the residence and offices of a European Parliament employee Wednesday as part of its probe into a suspected Russian interference campaign to pay EU lawmakers to promote Russian propaganda. In April, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced the countrys intelligence service had uncovered the existence of a network trying to undermine support for Ukraine. The prosecutors office said the searches conducted Wednesday are part of a case of interference, passive corruption and membership of a criminal organization and relates to indications of Russian interference, whereby Members of the European Parliament were approached and paid to promote Russian propaganda via the Voice of Europe news website. The European Parliament employee under investigation is reported to be Guillaume Pradoura, who works for EU lawmaker Marcel de Graaff of the far-right Dutch party Forum for Democracy. Pradours home in Brussels and his parliamentary offices in Brussels and in Strasbourg, where the EU Parliaments offices are located in France, were also searched. "For me, all this comes as a complete surprise," de Graaff said on X. I have no involvement in any so-called Russian disinformation operation whatsoever. I have my own political beliefs and I proclaim them. That is my job as an MEP." An Agence France-Presse source who is close to the Belgian probe told the news agency that Belgiums investigation is more focused on the employees former employer than his present one. Pradours former employer was controversial German lawmaker Maximilian Krah, already under suspicion for his ties to Russia and China, after one of his aides was arrested on accusations of spying for China. Krah is the far-right Alternative for Germanys top candidate in Junes Europe-wide election for a new parliament, but his party has banned him from campaigning. A spokesperson for Krah told Agence France-Presse that Pradours had not worked in the lawmakers office for two years. We assume that we are not affected, he said. The European Parliament's hard-right Identity and Democracy Group, or ID, recently expelled Germany's Alternative for Germany, or AfD, delegation, led by Krah. Krah said in a recent interview published in an Italian newspaper that he would not say that anyone who wore an SS uniform was automatically a criminal." He was referring to the much-feared Nazi Schutzstaffel, the black-uniformed elite guards of Nazi Germany. Krah's SS statement, along with other behaviors, were too much for some other far-right groups in the European Parliament. ID said in a statement that it "no longer wants to be associated with the incidents. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. This year, Aghdam Industrial Park is expected to welcome more than five new businesses, Chairman of the Board of the Agency for Development of Economic Zones under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan Seymur Adigozalov told reporters in Aghdam, Trend reports. According to him, Aghdam Industrial Park was established under the jurisdiction of the Agency for Development of Economic Zones by the decree of the head of state dated May 28, 2021. The park occupies an area of 190 ha. Aghdam Industrial Park and other industrial zones attract enterprises. Aghdam Industrial Park has the second-most population under the Economic Zones Development Agency, behind Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park. To date, in Aghdam Industrial Park, the resident status has been assigned to 23 business entities, and the non-resident status to 6 entrepreneurs with a total investment volume of more than 200.6 million manat ($117.9 million). The business entities envisage the creation of more than 1900 workplaces here. Residents have invested more than 35 million manat ($20.5 million) in the industrial park and created about 300 permanent jobs. Many industrial park residents have finished building and installation, and manufacturing will begin soon. Yet a few of them continue building and installing and some will be finished this year. Furthermore, it is expected that this year in Aghdam Industrial Park, the enterprises for the production of ventilation, fire-fighting equipment and various metal products, construction materials, roofing materials, pipes and box profiles, electrical distribution equipment, and electrical outlets, various types of railway equipment, wallpaper, shoes, etc. will start working. Also, at present, in Aghdam Industrial Park, at the expense of state funds, works on the creation of infrastructure for residents, the construction of an electric substation, and administrative buildings continue, Adigozalov said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A speeding passenger bus fell from a highway into a rocky ravine in southwest Pakistan early Wednesday, killing at least 28 people and injuring 20 others, officials said. Local police officer Asghar Ali said the driver lost control suddenly in Washuk town as the bus was traveling from Turbat, the second-largest city in Baluchistan province, to Quetta, the provinces capital. Police were trying to collect details from the injured. Ismail Mengal, a government administrator in Washuk, said the driver of the bus was among the dead. He said officers were still trying to determine the cause of the crash. He said rescuers and police quickly responded and provided initial medical treatment to the injured passengers. Police transported the dead and injured to a hospital, where some of the injured were in critical condition. Photos from local media showed the wreckage at the bottom of a rocky ravine. In a statement, Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister in Baluchistan, expressed grief over the loss of lives, and he ordered the best possible medical treatment be provided to the injured. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in separate statements expressed sorrow over the deaths. Road accidents are common in Pakistan, where traffic rules and safety standards are not well followed, even on battered roads in particularly rugged areas. The latest accident occurred three days after 13 members of a family were killed in a collision between a van and a truck in Multan, a city in the eastern Punjab province. At least 20 people were killed and another 30 were injured earlier this month in a similar crash. A 35-year-old Chinese national is facing charges related to committing cybercrimes that FBI Director Christopher Wray described as likely the worlds largest botnet ever. The arrest in Singapore was the result of an international coordinated effort that included law enforcement agencies from Germany, Singapore, the United States and Thailand. YunHe Wang, arrested on May 24, is accused of being the creator of the 911 S5 botnet, a residential proxy service. Wang, along with other unnamed parties, created the 911 S5 botnet to facilitate cyber-attacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats, and export violations, said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a Department of Justice press release on Wednesday. Wang sold access to infected IP addresses to cybercriminals in exchange for crypto or fiat currency. From these transactions, he received at least $99 million in profits, the DOJ stated. The cybercriminals Wang transacted with were allegedly able to use the infected IP addresses to bypass financial fraud detection systems and steal billions of dollars from financial institutions, credit card issuers, and federal lending programs, according to the DOJ release. The compromised IP addresses allowed Wangs customers to create fraudulent unemployment claims that targeted pandemic relief programs. The United States estimates they lost $5.9 billion from these fraudulent claims. Wang used his profits to buy property in China, St. Kitts and Nevis, the United States, Singapore, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Wang also spent his money on luxury cars and watches. Wang faces several charges including substantive computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Wang could face up to 65 years in prison if convicted. Some information for this report was provided by Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Sudden Russian death syndrome, a term for a series of sudden strange deaths of Russian diplomats, rekindled again following the death of Moscows Mozambique ambassador Alexander Surikov, 68, presumably on May 11, at his residence in Maputo. Nearly two weeks later, there is no obituary from the Russian foreign ministry or the Kremlin in honor of the veteran diplomat, whom Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed ambassador to Mozambique in 2017. So far, there a single piece of public information in Russia about Surikovs death -- a May 12 news report in the Russian state media that uses identical language and cites the Russian foreign ministry. These clone reports seem to have originated from TASS, a state-owned news agency. The news reports are brief and share no details about the circumstances of Surikovs death. TASS reported on May 12, that the Russian foreign ministry told the agency: "Russian Ambassador to Mozambique Surikov suddenly died in Maputo. Preliminary assumption - stroke. The claim that Surikov died of a stroke is unsubstantiated. On May 12, the same day the Russian foreign ministry claimed the preliminary cause of Surikovs death was a stroke, AIM News, Mozambiques state-owned news agency, reported, citing the PRM (Police of the Republic of Mozambique), that the Russian ambassadors body was still in drawer number five in the morgue of the Maputo Central Hospital. Moreover, at that time, neither the police nor the hospitals forensic team had examined the ambassadors body because the Russian Consul, Yuri Doroshenkov, prohibited any examination or autopsy of the ambassadors body and gave clear instructions to the police not to touch the body, AIM News reported citing the PRM. Because of Surikovs diplomatic status, Mozambican law enforcement cannot investigate his death without Russian consent. The police report said that around 11 pm local time, on Saturday, May 11, the diplomatic police station, a nickname for Maputos 4th Police Station, informed the operational headquarters about a lifeless body lying in the Maputo Central Hospital. By the time the police arrived at the hospital, the record said Surikovs body was already wrapped in a bag and placed in the morgues drawer. Consul Doroshenkov and the embassys security officer who guarded the body allowed the police forensic team to take photographs of Surikovs body bag but declined any further examination, the record said. Mozambiques Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation spokesman Jose Matsinhe, said on May 13, that the Mozambican government was working in coordination with the Russian Embassy in Maputo to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of Ambassador Alexander Surikov and guaranteeing due solemnity in the transfer of the body of the deceased to the Russian Federation. The 360 Mozambique news site reported the Public Prosecutors office had denied any knowledge of the Russians failure to authorize an autopsy but confirmed that there was no medical examination on file, and the office's presumption was a sudden death from undetermined causes. Thus, a day after the Russian Foreign Ministry told the press that the preliminary cause of Surikovs death was a stroke, both the Mozambican Foreign Ministry and the Public Prosecutors office confirmed that the ambassadors body was still in the Maputo Central Hospitals morgue, not been examined and the cause of death was not determined. Russian embassy in Mozambique confirmed that on May 18, Surikovs body was still in Maputo. In a Portuguese language post on its Facebook page, the embassy said it held a "farewell ceremony for ambassador Surikov on May 18, before the transfer of his body to homeland. Surikov is the latest in a long list of Russian diplomats who have died under murky circumstances. The Diplomatic Courier reported in March 2023, that at least nine senior Russian diplomats died of sudden Russian death syndrome between January 2016 and October 2021, including the ambassadors to India, Sudan, and the United Nations. The Russian foreign ministry said some of those diplomats died of "heart attacks" or "brief illnesses," but in most cases, Moscow never announced the cause of the death. The foreign ministrys record of deaths from heart attack include, for example, the November 2016 case of Sergei Krivov, a 63-year-old security officer at the Russian consulate in New York Citys Upper East Side. The police found Krivovs body on the consulates floor, unresponsive and with a blunt force trauma to his head. Witnesses testified the man fell from the consulates roof. Russia maintained the cause of Krivovs death was a heart attack, but the NYC medical examiner found no evidence to confirm the man had a heart attack. Though not a diplomat, Putins former senior adviser, Mikhail Lesin, the founder of the Kremlins propaganda arm RT, who died in November 2015, in Washington, DC, also had "blunt force injuries to his head, with contributing causes being blunt force injuries of the neck, torso, upper extremities and lower extremities." A more recent example is the October 2021 death of Kirill Zhalo, a 35-year-old Russian diplomat in Germany. Zhalo was found dead on the pavement outside the Russian embassy in Berlin, the German capital, presumably fallen out of the upper floor window. As in the case of Surikov, the Russian embassy refused the autopsy of Zhalos body. Russian media cited the foreign ministry sources initially reporting the cause of death was a heart attack. But the Russian embassy in Berlin said the diplomat died in a "tragic accident." Exiled Russian journalist Roman Dobrokhotov alleged Zhalo was an undercover secret agent posing as a diplomat and that the FSB executed him on suspicion that he was cooperating with German intelligence. Right wing, populist parties are expected to surge in three-day elections starting June 6th across the European Union for the blocs parliament capitalizing on voter anger and distrust of mainstream parties. Analysts predict the fallout could influence EU-wide policies like the environment, the economy, immigration and foreign affairs, including potentially waning support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Paris correspondent Lisa Bryant reports. Jurors in Donald Trump's hush money trial finished their first day of closed-door deliberations on Wednesday without reaching a verdict. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Prague on Wednesday to attend an informal gathering of NATO foreign ministers. Polling stations closed across South Africa on Wednesday after a day of long lines as voters turned out in force for a pivotal election that could see the African National Congress (ANC) party lose its majority after 30 years in power. And giant pandas are returning to the National Zoo in Washington. The first Ukrainian pilots have completed F-16 fighter jet training at a military base in Arizona, with others soon to follow this summer. "The first batch has graduated, and other Ukrainian pilots are finishing their training here by the end of August," Arizona National Guard spokesperson Capt. Erin Hannigan told VOA. The graduates include a handful of Ukrainian pilots who had trained at Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, according to a U.S. official who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity because of security sensitivities. Out of an abundance of caution for the pilots safety, officials declined to provide an exact number of how many had graduated or the number of those who remain in F-16 training. The 162nd Wing at Morris is considered the Air National Guards premier F-16 training unit and houses the Air Forces only school dedicated to training pilots from more than 20 countries on the fighter. Kyiv pleaded for Western aircraft when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of their country in February 2022. In August 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden approved a plan for Western allies to send F-16s to Ukraine once pilot training was complete. Last August, Ukraine was gaining momentum in the conflict against Russia, but that was before a monthslong delay by Congress to approve new military assistance for Kyiv. Since then, Ukrainian officials reported that troops were forced to ration supplies as ammunition ran low. Analysts say Russia has capitalized on Kyivs disadvantage to make gains on the battlefield. Last month, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said his country's promised jets would be delivered to Kyiv by the end of the year. May 31 is World No Tobacco Day, a day when many health advocacy groups raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco. These groups have reason to celebrate: In most countries, tobacco use is declining. But not in Indonesia, where smoking rates are rising, according to the World Health Organization. Dave Grunebaum has the story. Hotib is practicing his speech. Repeating the letters from his therapist "A-E-I-O-U." Hotib, 64, smoked cigarettes for almost 40 years and a cancer diagnosis led to his larynx being removed. He now breathes through a hole in his neck. His voice is raspy as he relies on his esophagus to produce the sounds for his speech and his pauses between sentences are noticeably long. "Back in my day, smoking was considered a tradition and a casual thing to do by kids at that time," said Hotib, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. "People said if you're not smoking, you're not manly enough," he added. May 31 is World No Tobacco Day, when many health advocacy groups try to raise awareness about the dangers of using tobacco. The World Health Organization says about 70% of Indonesian males ages 15 and up smoke tobacco, one of the highest rates in the world for men. About 2% of Indonesian females ages 15 and up smoke. Indonesia is one of only six countries with rising rates of tobacco use, according to WHO research. "I think it's being portrayed as being part of our culture, that smoking is part of masculinity, and it's also being portrayed by the tobacco industry that it's cool for guys to smoke," said Olivia Herlinda, policy director for the Center for Indonesia's Strategic Development Initiatives, a nongovernmental organization focusing on health issues. "Because of the high rates of [male] smokers in Indonesia we also have high rates of lung cancer and other heart- and lung-related diseases such as stroke, ischemic heart diseases," Herlinda said, adding that nonsmokers can be harmed by secondhand smoke. On a recent weekend, Mukhsin, 20, relaxed on a bench in a park in Jakarta, Indonesia's biggest city. He was smoking a cigarette. It's a habit he started two years ago. "I knew about the harmful effects of smoking when I started," he said. "I smoke to relax, calm myself down. Smoking is so common here." The tobacco industry promotes itself in Indonesia with advertisements on television as well as billboards and by sponsoring popular events such as music festivals. These types of promotions by the tobacco industry face tighter restrictions in most countries, according to Vital Strategies, a global public health organization that has been actively supporting efforts to reduce tobacco use in Indonesia. Some local and provincial governments, including Jakarta's, have taken their own steps to ban cigarette billboards. Indonesia is one of only 13 countries, and the only country in Asia, that is not party to the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which requires strict limits on tobacco sponsorships and advertising. Labels that warn of the risks of smoking cover 40% of the front and back sides of cigarette packs in Indonesia, but the WHO recommends at least 50%. "The warning labels need to be bigger, and the taxes on cigarettes need to be higher to help discourage tobacco use," Herlinda said. Indonesia has a complicated tax system for tobacco with multiple categories. For many of Indonesia's popular cigarette brands, about half of the price paid by a consumer is for taxes, including a sales tax as well as an excise tax that tobacco companies pay before the cigarette packs reach store shelves, according to Abdillah Ahsan, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Indonesia and the coordinator for the Indonesia Tobacco Control Research Network. The World Health Organization advocates for total taxes to be at least 75% of the final cost of a pack of cigarettes. Local health advocates blame the country's high male smoking rates not only on the tobacco industry, but also on the government, particularly the Ministry of Industry. "The tobacco industry has very high influence in our policymaking, and that leads to very weak regulations in our country regulating tobacco," Herlinda said. Public health advocates are pushing for tight restrictions on the tobacco industry's access to lawmakers and regulators. "The government is currently required to consult with the tobacco industry if they create regulations that might impact the industry," Herlinda said. "There are a lot of behind-the-door negotiations happening between the tobacco industry and government too. We need to change things." VOA sent questions to the Ministry of Industry as well as to the Association of Indonesian Cigarette Manufacturers and Gudang Garam, one of Indonesia's largest tobacco companies, but did not receive answers. Taxes from tobacco made up about 7.5% of the Indonesian federal government's revenue in 2023, according to economist Abdillah Ahsan. But he was also quick to point to a 2017 report from Indonesia's Ministry of Health that says the health costs from smoking were three times the amount generated by tobacco taxes. Hotib, who had his larynx removed, says he's living proof of the harms of using tobacco. He speaks at schools and to youth groups, explaining the hardships he now faces after decades of smoking. "I need to breathe through this hole in my neck. My nose doesn't work, and my physical fitness has declined," he told VOA. "I am the proof of the cruel effects of cigarettes." Israel claims to have control of the Philadelphi Corridor, the border area between Gaza and Egypt; how will this change the course of the war, or the Israeli relationship with Egypt? Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Moldova to show support for Ukraines neighbor amid an increase of pressure from Russia. An update from Kyiv about Russian attacks overnight and Ukrainian successes at sea. North Koreas attempted satellite launch appears to have also been a message to China, its main ally. Plus, democracy advocates convicted in Hong Kong and a human rights protest in Turkey has entered its thousandth week. A New York jury on Thursday convicted former U.S. President Donald Trump of illegally trying to influence the outcome of the 2016 election that sent him to the White House, unanimously finding him guilty on all of the 34 felony charges he faced. The 12-member jury deliberated for two days before returning the verdict against Trump, 77, in the first-ever criminal trial of an American president. Trump is the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee in the November election against President Joe Biden, the Democrat who defeated him in the 2020 election. But Trump now also faces the possibility of being placed on probation or imprisoned for up to four years. Trumps sentencing was set for July 11, in the middle of his campaign to return to the White House and just days before the opening of the Republican National Convention on July 15, where he would be formally nominated as the partys 2024 presidential candidate. Trump defense lawyer Todd Blanche asked that the verdict be overturned, but New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan quickly rejected his request. Inside the courtroom, Trump showed little emotion as he learned his fate. But when he emerged from the courtroom, with his jaw tensed, he told reporters that the verdict was "a disgrace." With a somber expression, he vowed, "This is long from over." On his Truth Social platform, Trump said in all caps, "My civil rights have been totally violated with this highly political, unconstitutional, and election interfering witch hunt. Our failing nation is being laughed at all over the world!" Just after the verdict was announced, the Trump campaign sent out a fundraising email in which the former president said, again in all capital letters, "I am a political prisoner!" From the start of the trial in mid-April, Trump had treated the case with disdain, disparaging prospective witnesses against him despite Merchan's gag order prohibiting him from doing so. Merchan found Trump in contempt of court 10 times and fined him $10,000, which the judge acknowledged was a pittance for a billionaire like Trump. Merchan had excluded himself and prosecutor Alvin Bragg from his gag order. As a result, Trump virtually every day of the trial assailed them as he walked into court, especially the judge, whom he described as "corrupt" and "conflicted," apparently because he made a $35 donation to Biden and Democrats in 2020. Biden did not comment on the guilty verdict, but his presidential campaign called for voters to defeat Trump in the November 5 national election. "Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain," the Biden campaign said. "But today's verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president." Trump is certain to appeal his conviction and can continue to run for the presidency. There is no U.S. constitutional prohibition against his becoming president as a convicted felon. As a president, if he wins the November election, Trump would have broad pardon power related to convicted federal defendants, but he could not pardon himself in a state case like the New York trial in which he was convicted. Trump is facing three other indictments, including two accusing him of illegally trying to upend his 2020 election loss. But all three cases are tied up in legal wrangling between his lawyers and prosecutors. As a result, the New York case may be the only one decided before the November election. Trump was convicted after Michael Cohen, his onetime political fixer-turned-acidic critic, testified that Trump told him to "just do it" pay $130,000 in hush money days ahead of the 2016 election to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels to silence her claim she had a one-night sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier. Trump had denied any liaison with Daniels but did not testify in his own defense, as was his right. A hush money deal is not illegal, but Trump was convicted of all charges in the 34-count indictment accusing him of falsifying business records at his Trump Organization real estate conglomerate to hide the 2017 reimbursement of the hush money payment to Cohen, which Trump claimed was for money owed to Cohen for his legal work. The 34 counts covered 11 invoices Cohen filed with Trump company officials to be reimbursed, 12 ledger entries in the company's records and 11 checks sent to Cohen, nine of which Trump signed. The Trump defense team claimed Cohen, of his own volition and without Trump's knowledge, wired the hush money to Daniels' lawyer. The former president had denied the entirety of the indictment against him. Following the results of 2023, Bank Respublika has once again been recognized as the most active issuing bank in the field of trade finance in Azerbaijan by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The award was presented at a gala ceremony held during the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which took place in Yerevan. This award testifies to the annually increasing efficiency of cooperation between the EBRD and Bank Respublika in the field of trade finance. This once again confirms that the Bank Respublika is successfully implementing its mission to support entrepreneurship in the country, an important part of which is the financing of foreign trade operations. Bank Respublika is one of the five leading banks in Azerbaijan with the wide branch network. The development of international cooperation is one of the priority areas of the banks activities. Today, the banks international partners include more than 30 financial institutions around the world. A high-level Pakistani delegation met with Afghanistans Taliban authorities on Thursday and urged decisive action against militants who allegedly used Afghan soil to orchestrate cross-border attacks, including a recent suicide car bombing that killed five Chinese engineers. Kabul hosted the meeting several days after Islamabad revealed it had apprehended about a dozen suspects in connection with the deadly assault on Chinese civilians in March, saying an Afghan national carried out the bombing with the support of his handlers sheltering in Afghanistan. The victims were working on a China-funded hydropower project in northwestern Pakistan. Officials said Deputy Taliban Interior Minister Muhammad Nabi Omari and his Pakistani counterpart, Muhammad Khurram Agha, led their respective delegations at Thursdays meeting in the Afghan capital. A post-visit Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement said discussions focused on the March 26 terrorist attack against Chinese nationals. It added that the Pakistani side shared the findings of their investigation into the bombing with Taliban officials and sought Afghanistans assistance in apprehending the perpetrators. The Afghan side agreed to examine the findings of the investigation and expressed the resolve to work with the Pakistan side to take the investigation to its logical conclusion, the statement added. Officials privy to the talks told VOA that the Pakistani side highlighted the involvement of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, in the attack on Chinese workers and other acts of terrorism being committed against Pakistan. Mr. Khurram Agha talked about the attack on the 26th of March this year and hoped for the Afghan governments help in the security sector, Abdul Mateen Qani, Taliban Interior Ministry spokesman, said while sharing details of Thursdays meeting between the two countries. He quoted Omari as describing the terrorist attack on Chinese nationals as a tragic incident. The minister stated, "Our intentions and actions are to promote peace in the region for the benefit of ourselves and everyone. Omari renewed Afghanistans commitment to not allowing others to use its territory against anyone, and we wish the same from others. TTP, a globally designated terrorist organization, has for years waged deadly attacks in Pakistan, targeting security forces and civilians. Officials in Islamabad maintain that fugitive TTP leaders and combatants relocated to sanctuaries in Afghanistan after the Taliban retook control of the country nearly three years ago and have since intensified cross-border attacks with greater operational freedom. Taliban authorities reject the charges, saying neither TTP nor any other militant group is based on Afghan soil. The two sides agreed to remain engaged to confront the threat posed by terrorism to regional countries and to address the concerns raised by Pakistan, said the Pakistani statement Thursday. The Pakistani military said Thursday that a meeting of its leadership reviewed the security situation and the threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil. The forum expressed serious concerns over continued cross-border violations from Afghanistan and terrorism being orchestrated using Afghan soil, noting that Pakistan's adversaries were using Afghanistan to target security forces and innocent civilians inside Pakistan, said a post-meeting military statement. The Slovenian government approved a motion to recognize an independent Palestinian state, according to Prime Minister Robert Golob. The decision is awaiting approval from the parliament, a vote that likely will be a formality due to Golobs party majority. "Today the government has decided to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state," said Golob during a news conference in Ljubljana. He also called for the release of hostages and the end of hostility between Israel and Hamas. "This is the message of peace," he said. Writing on X, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Slovenias move rewards Hamas for murder, and he urged the Slovenian parliament to reject the recommendation. While Slovenia originally initiated the process of recognition in early May, the country said it was waiting for the conflict in Gaza to improve. Golob has expedited the process after the latest attacks on Rafah by Israel that have caused more than 1 million Palestinians to flee the area. The Slovenian government has also raised a Palestinian flag on its building in Ljubljana. The new flag stands with the flags of Slovenia and the EU. Earlier this week, Spain, Ireland, and Norway all formally recognized a Palestinian state, which was followed by an angry reaction from Israel. Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria had earlier recognized a Palestinian state. Malta, Britain and Australia may follow. Out of 27 EU countries, Slovenia would be the 10th country to recognize a Palestinian state. On Tuesday, the parliament in Denmark rejected recognizing a Palestinian state. Both Germany and the United States have argued that a two-state solution to the matter is possible through dialogue, rejecting a unilateral approach. France has said that now is not the time to recognize a Palestinian state. The conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7 with a Hamas terror attack on Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 hostages were captured, according to Israeli officials. Israels counteroffensive has killed over 36,100 Palestinians, including civilians and combatants, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry. Spains parliament approved a controversial law Thursday that grants amnesty to hundreds of Catalan separatists facing prosecution for their involvement in an unsuccessful 2017 secession bid. The legislation passed by a narrow margin on a vote of 177-172. Spains left-wing coalition government and two Catalan separatist parties supported the measure, but the conservative Popular Party and far-right Vox were against it. Catalan separatists are part of the Catalan independence movement that seeks the independence of the Catalonia region from Spain. Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont could benefit from the new amnesty law. Puigdemont, who is a fugitive from Spanish law, fled to Belgium after he led the illegal breakaway effort in October 2017. The law could also help hundreds of citizens who participated in the secession attempt. Experts have expressed concern over the legislation, warning that it will be applied on a case-by-case basis, creating inequality among Spanish citizens. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez proposed the amnesty law last year to gain the parliamentary support of two Catalan separatist parties Junts and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya whose support was necessary for him to keep his position following an inconclusive election. "In politics, like in life, forgiveness is more powerful than resentment," Sanchez posted on social media after the vote. "Today Spain is more prosperous and more united than in 2017. Living in harmony is the way forward." Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters. Swedens domestic security agency accused Iran on Thursday of using gangs in the country to target Israeli or Jewish interests. Daniel Stenling, head of counterintelligence at the Swedish Security Service, made the accusations at a news conference. "It is very much about planning and attempts to carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish interests, goals and activities in Sweden," he said. The security agency sees "connections between criminal individuals in the criminal networks and individuals who are connected to the Iranian security services." Reuters received no immediate response from Iran's Foreign Ministry to a request for comment on the Swedish statement. The Security Service also accused Iran of looking to act against dissidents among the Iranian diaspora and targeting the interests of other states. Gang violence has persisted in Sweden for years, with 53 people shot dead and 109 injured in 363 shootings in 2023. Sweden has the highest number of deadly shootings per capita in Europe, which can be partially attributed to disputes between two powerful gangs. "We see this connection between the Iranian intelligence services, the security services and precisely criminals in the criminal networks in Sweden," Stenling said. "We see that connection and it also means that we need to work much more internationally to get to the crimes and be able to prevent them." Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg Friday said he supports the alliances right to help Ukraine defend itself as its war against Russia evolves, including allowing Kyiv to return fire on targets inside Russia using NATO supplied weapons. Stoltenberg made the comments to reporters in Prague following a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. It came as NATO allies, the United States and Germany, altered their policies to allow Ukraine to counter-fire into Russia against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them. The NATO meeting had been intended as a planning session for the full NATO summit scheduled for July in Washington, but the issue of returning fire dominated discussions this week. Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week accused NATO and the United States of escalating the war by considering the policy change and warned of consequences. But Stoltenberg was emphatic in his response Friday. Let me clear: self-defense is not escalation, he said. Self-defense is a fundamental right. Ukraine has the right and the responsibility to protect its people, and we have the right to help Ukraine uphold its right of self-defense. Of course, Russia doesnt like this, he noted. Putin wanted to deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine. But we will not be deterred. The United States announced Thursday it had given Ukraine permission to use U.S.-supplied weapons to target Russia, but only in the Kharkiv region bordering Russia. The decision marks a major policy change. Until now, U.S. President Joe Biden had refused to allow Ukraine to use American weapons for assaults inside Russian territory. A U.S. official, speaking on background, said the U.S. policy against the use of long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, has not changed. Following the U.S. decision, Germany announce Friday it also would allow Ukraine to return fire into Russia using German-supplied weapons. Speaking to reporters in Prague shortly after Stoltenberg, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained that Ukraine had approached U.S. officials in recent weeks and asked for authorization to use U.S. weapons against Russian troops on the other side of the border. The request was passed along to the president, and Biden approved. "The hallmark of our engagement in Ukraine over these more than two years is to adapt and adjust as necessary to meet what is actually going on on the battlefield, Blinken said. Going forward, we will continue to do what we are doing, which is as necessary, which is adapt and adjust." Also Friday, Stoltenberg said he wanted NATO member countries to commit to supporting Ukraine with $43 billion annually in military aid. "We need a firm commitment for the long haul to ensure that Ukraine is able to plan, to ensure that Ukraine has the predictability they need to conduct this war of self-defense," Stoltenberg said. NATO countries already provide 99% of Ukraines military aid, Stoltenberg said. In fighting Friday, Ukraine shelling killed five people in the Russian-occupied region of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed leader of the region, reported on social media. Russian casualties since the beginning of its war in Ukraine have now likely reached 500,000, the British Defense Ministry said Friday. The death rate for Russian personnel remains high, the report said, with Russian casualties in May reaching 1,200 daily, the highest reported since the start of the war. The ministry said Russian forces were highly likely receiving only limited training and did not have the capability to carry out complex operations. Also, Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a prisoner exchange with Russia, which brought 75 Ukrainian prisoners both civilians and military personnel back home. Zelenskyy made the announcement as he met with leaders of Nordic countries in Sweden. The Russian news agency RIA, citing Russia's Defense Ministry, reported Ukraine handed over 75 people in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates. It was the first prisoner exchange in nearly four months. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Ukrainian officials say Russias invasion has turned thousands of Ukrainian children trapped in occupied territories into hostages, while others have been deported to Russia and forced into reeducation programs and adoption. Anna Chernikova reports from Kyiv on Ukraines efforts to bring them home. VOA footage by Vladyslav Smilianets. United Nations aid agencies warn that an entire generation of children in war-torn Sudan is at risk of malnutrition, disease, and death without urgent action. According to the U.N Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Program (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO), child malnutrition is being worsened by limited access to nutritious food, safe drinking water, adequate sanitation as well as an increased risk of disease. All these conditions have been heightened by the 13-month-old war between the Sudan Armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. An estimated 9 million Sudanese have been displaced from their homes, but insecurity and excessive bureaucracy make it difficult for aid agencies to deliver life-saving supplies. Mothers and children across Sudan are wasting away from malnutrition. The ongoing war has stripped them of everything they need to survive food, medical support, and shelter. We need immediate and safe access to deliver the humanitarian assistance that they so desperately need. Without it, this crisis risks becoming the worlds largest hunger emergency, said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain in a statement this week. Parts of Sudan are seeing emergency levels of child malnutrition. About 15.6% of children under age five suffer acute malnutrition in Central Darfur. In ZamZam camp in North Darfur, that number is around 30%. The statement says malnourishment and disease also exacerbate each other. Sick children become more malnourished, while malnourishment increases the risk of developing sickness. For children who recover in the immediate time span, malnutrition can still have long-term impact on physical and cognitive development. Malnutrition is not a one-time crisis. Malnourished children face a lifetime of developmental challenges and ill-health and are also more likely to die from infectious diseases, said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. For pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, the malnutrition crisis is particularly concerning. According to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), over 33% of pregnant and breastfeeding women in the ZamZam camp are malnourished. It says they are likely feeding their children instead of themselves, posing danger to the mother and the future child, since as much as 30% of malnutrition begins in utero. The agencies say that due to conflict, the U.N.s recent analysis still has data gaps, indicating minimal humanitarian presence in some areas of the country. They say an impending rainy season, beginning in June, will further isolate communities and breed disease. A lean season between harvests, when food runs low, is also approaching. The U.S. imposed sanctions Thursday on two companies in the Central African Republic that support Russias Wagner Group, the Treasury Department said. The Russia-backed Wagner Group and its network of businesses have exploited the people and natural resources of the Central African Republic to advance the groups agenda, Brian Nelson, Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement. The United States will continue to use its sanctions authorities to disrupt those supporting Russias destabilizing activities in Africa, he added. Washington says one of the sanctioned companies is responsible for importing chemicals frequently used in mining and for leasing Wagner Group aircraft to move personnel and equipment. The other company has received hundreds of shipments of heavy materials from a Russian entity linked to Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed last August in a plane crash. The U.S. has previously sanctioned people and groups globally that support the Wagner Group. Todays action reflects our continued efforts to counter the Wagner Groups damaging and destabilizing presence in Africa, State Department spokesman Mathew Miller said in a statement. Some information for this report was provided by Reuters. Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Kurt Campbell is hosting Chinas Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in Washington on Thursday for talks aimed at maintaining open communication to prevent miscalculations and unintended conflicts, especially during times of tension. Following two hours of face-to-face discussions, officials from the United States and the People's Republic of China will have a working lunch at the State Department. Later in the afternoon, U.S. deputy national security adviser Jon Finer will continue discussions with Ma. The visit by Ma Zhaoxu follows U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens trip to Shanghai and Beijing in April. Officials said it builds on the U.S.s intensive diplomacy with the PRC to responsibly manage competition in the relationship, even in areas where the two countries disagree. The State Department has said the U.S. is engaging in face-to-face diplomacy with China to clearly and directly communicate Washington's positions and intentions, aiming to make progress on bilateral, regional and global issues. A spokesperson from PRCs Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ma will also interact and communicate with representatives from various sectors in the U.S. during his visit to the country from May 30 to June 2. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Thursday the U.S. will continue its engagement with China at senior levels while raising concerns over contentious issues, including Beijing's support for Russia's war efforts in Ukraine. "If China does not curtail its support for Russia's defense industrial base, the U.S. would be prepared to take further steps, Patel told reporters during a briefing. He added, The PRCs reconstitution of the Russian defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security but also threatens European security, a view held by the United States, the G7, the European Union and NATO countries. However, Patel declined to preview any potential U.S. sanctions. While in Beijing last month, Blinken voiced "serious concern" regarding China's support for Russia's defense industry, warning Chinese leaders that Washington could impose sanctions over the matter. China has defended its approach to Russia, saying it is only engaged in normal economic exchanges with a major trading partner. Wednesday, Campbell renewed the U.S. warnings, saying Chinese support was helping to revitalize Russia's military capabilities, including long-range missiles, artillery, drones, and battlefield tracking. During his visit to Brussels, Campbell emphasized the urgent need for European and NATO countries "to send a collective message of concern to China about its actions, which we view are destabilizing in the heart of Europe." The latest U.S.-China talks occur just days after China conducted a large-scale, two-day military exercise involving 111 aircraft and 46 naval vessels around Taiwan. Washington has strongly urged Beijing to exercise restraint and has reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Mark Lambert, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for China and Taiwan, met virtually on May 23 with Hong Liang, the PRCs director-general for boundary and ocean affairs. During the meeting, Lambert expressed profound concerns regarding Peoples Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. The U.S. Supreme Court gave a boost on Thursday to the National Rifle Association in its free speech dispute with a New York state official it accused of coercing banks and insurers to avoid doing business with the influential gun rights advocacy group. The justices, in a 9-0 decision authored by liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, threw out a lower court's ruling that dismissed the NRA's 2018 lawsuit against Maria Vullo, a former superintendent of New York's Department of Financial Services. The NRA has claimed that Vullo unlawfully retaliated against it following a mass shooting in which 17 people were killed at a high school in Parkland, Florida. At issue in the dispute is whether Vullo had wielded her regulatory power to coerce New York financial institutions into cutting ties with the NRA in violation of protections under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment against government restrictions on free speech. "Ultimately, the critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or, as alleged here, through private intermediaries," Sotomayor wrote. The case will now return to the lower courts for further analysis of the NRA's allegations under the standard articulated in the Supreme Court's ruling. Vullo called upon banks and insurers to consider the "reputational risks" of doing business with gun rights groups following the February 2018 Parkland shootings. In the aftermath of the Parkland rampage by a 19-year-old former student armed with an AR-15 rifle, NRA officials lashed out at gun control advocates, arguing that Democratic elites were politicizing the shootings to erode gun rights. Vullo later fined Lloyd's of London and two other insurers more than $13 million for offering an NRA-endorsed product called "Carry Guard" that Vullo's office found was in violation of New York insurance law. The product provided liability coverage for policyholders who caused injuries from gunfire, even in cases involving the wrongful use of a firearm. The insurers agreed to stop selling NRA-endorsed products that New York considered illegal. The NRA's lawsuit, seeking unspecified monetary damages, accused Vullo of unlawfully retaliating against the group for its constitutionally protected gun rights advocacy by targeting it with an "implicit censorship regime." Its suit alleged that New York's "blacklisting" campaign sought to deprive the NRA of basic financial services and threatened its advocacy work. The case did not involve the Constitution's Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in March. The NRA is the largest and most powerful gun rights organization in the United States and has been instrumental in thwarting Democratic-backed gun restrictions in the U.S. Congress. The nonprofit group is organized under the laws of New York state, with its main offices in Virginia. A federal judge in 2021 dismissed all of the NRA's claims apart from two free speech counts against Vullo. The Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2022 said those also should have been dismissed, prompting the NRA's Supreme Court appeal. The NRA found an unlikely ally in the case in President Joe Biden's administration. Even though Biden has called gun violence a national embarrassment, his administration had urged the justices to let the NRA pursue its lawsuit. The administration argued that a lower court should determine whether Vullo's actions crossed the line between permissible criticism of the NRA and coercion aimed at suppressing a disfavored viewpoint in violation of the First Amendment protections. The case was the latest to come before the Supreme Court involving the NRA, a group closely aligned with Republicans that has opposed gun control measures and backed pivotal lawsuits that have widened U.S. gun rights. Americans remain deeply divided over how to address firearms violence including mass shootings even as the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has taken an expansive view of gun rights. Vullo was sued in both her official and personal capacities. But the 2nd Circuit found that Vullo would be protected from suit under the legal defense of qualified immunity that shields officials from civil litigation in certain circumstances. The Supreme Court by the end of June is expected to issue rulings in two gun rights cases. One involves a challenge to the legality of a federal ban on "bump stock" devices that enable semiautomatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns. The other involves a challenge to the legality of a federal law that makes it a crime for people under domestic violence restraining orders to have guns. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Azerbaijan has gained membership in the International Olive Oil Council (IOOC), which operates under the auspices of the United Nations, Trend reports via the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO). Established in 1959, the Council promotes international technical collaboration in olive oil and table olive research, knowledge transfer, and trade standards. It targets improving product quality and expanding international trade. The Council facilitates regular meetings between government representatives, experts, and the private sector to foster collaboration. Apart from Azerbaijan, the Council's membership includes Albania, Argentina, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkiye, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and several EU countries. Olive orchards cover several thousand hectares in Azerbaijan, yielding circa ten tons per hectare. The country produces several thousand tons of olive oil annually, exporting it to various European countries. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel On a February evening, a group of Myanmar junta government soldiers detained Jan Mohammad, who is not using his real name, from Maungdaw Township in Myanmar. When they took the 24-year-old Rohingya man to a nearby military compound, he knew he was being forcibly conscripted by the Myanmar Army. "They [the Myanmar junta soldiers] didnt say much. They just said, Come with us. They were pointing the gun directly at me. I was fearful when I saw the gun aiming at me," Jan Mohammad said in an interview with the rights group Fortify Rights after he had escaped the juntas military training camp. He was speaking from Bangladesh, where he said he had fled 10 days after the forced military training began, according to a yet-to-be-published report by the rights group and exclusively shared with VOA. [During the military training], we had to learn how to crawl on our elbows and hold a gun in a line, Jan Mohammad said. It was part of the military training. I didnt want to become a soldier. They [the Myanmar military] have been persecuting us. Why do I need to support them all of a sudden?" Jan Mohammad is not the only Rohingya abducted and forced into combat against his will. Since February, at least 1,500 Rohingya men and boys have been forcibly recruited by Myanmars military from villages in Rakhine state in Myanmar and refugee camps in Bangladesh, according to human rights groups and Rohingya sources. Additionally, the rebel group Arakan Army, which is fighting the military in Myanmar, is forcibly recruiting Rohingya men and boys, and both sides fighting the war are using the youths as human shields on the battlefield, rights groups and Rohingya sources reported. Rohingya insurgent groups are abducting youths from their community in Bangladesh and trading or selling them to Myanmars military for conscription, according to Rohingya refugee leaders. During the 2017 crackdown, the Myanmar military killed and raped thousands of Rohingyas and burned their villages. Seven years later, the military is deploying youths from the same community in its fight against the rebel groups. Myanmar has been engulfed in a bloody civil war that has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians since 2021, when the country's military seized power through a coup. Earlier this month, the U.N. issued a statement saying that the ongoing civil war had displaced over 3 million people in Myanmar. The statement also said that two-thirds of the 600,000 Rohingya Rakhine were among the displaced people. The Arakan Army and other ethnic rebel groups are fiercely opposing the military junta's rule. Myanmar government soldiers have lost key territory in recent months to the rebels, and many junta fighters have been killed or injured or have defected, it has been reported. In an attempt to compensate for its lost military members, the government in February activated a decade-old conscription law that makes young men and women subject to at least two years of military service, if drafted. And, within days, it began recruiting people, including young men from the persecuted Rohingya community. Human Rights Watch, in a statement on April 9, said that 1,000 Rohingya men and boys from the Rakhine state have been "abducted and forcibly recruited" by the Myanmar military. This week, several Rohingya refugee community leaders in Bangladesh said that 1,500 to 2,000 Rohingya youths have been forcibly recruited by the Myanmar military and its rival, the Arakan Army, and that half of the recruits are from the refugee camps in Coxs Bazar. The Rohingya Solidarity Organization an armed Rohingya insurgent group founded in the 1980s abducted 27-year-old Nasir Ahmad, whose name has been changed for safety-related reasons, from the Coxs Bazar refugee camp and sent him to the Myanmar Army for conscription. Some RSO men abducted me from my camp and sent me to the Myanmar Army. At a military training center in Myo Thu Gyi, near Maungdaw, I underwent arms training for 15 days and was made the leader of a group of 30 Rohingya conscripts, Ahmad told VOA. At the end of the training, Ahmad and his fellow Rohingya conscripts were told that soon they would be sent to the front lines of the war against the rebels. We knew that many soldiers, including some recently recruited Rohingya, had died while fighting as the army was losing ground, and that we would be used as human shields, Ahmad said. We were too scared. Two days after my training ended, somehow I slipped out of the military center and fled back to Bangladesh. Jafor Alom, who is not using his real name, a 27-year-old Rohingya school teacher in a refugee camp in Coxs Bazar, said the Myanmar military is desperately looking for Rohingya youths for conscription. Mohammad Abdullah, one of my teacher colleagues, was abducted by some RSO members from Balukhali camp on May 23 and sent to Myanmar military for conscription. Two days later, he was shot dead by the military. A fellow conscript phoned me and said, Abdullah told the military commanders that he was a school teacher and a soldiers job would be very tough for him. He was shot after he refused to join the military training, the conscript told me, Jafor Alom told VOA on May 28. RSO leadership has not responded to several VOA requests for a reaction to the allegation it is assisting the Myanmar military to acquire Rohingya youths to be new junta soldiers, perhaps in a trade or barter or as a way to earn money for RSO operations. The police chief of Coxs Bazar district, Mohammad Mahfuzul Islam, told VOA that the allegation against the police is not true. The allegation that the police protect insurgents at the Rohingya refugee camps is baseless. We act against all criminal activities in the camps, whoever commits them, chief Islam told VOA on May 28. Rights groups have been critical of the Myanmar military for forcibly conscripting the Rohingya youths. The militarys forceful conscription is a deliberate strategy aimed at creating communal conflict between the Rakhine and Rohingya communities and disrupting the revolution against the military junta, said Ejaz Min Khant, a human rights associate with Fortify Rights. This strategy also serves to further the ongoing genocide against the Rohingya. International governments must intervene and pressure the junta regime to immediately halt the conscription of Rohingya, which places them in grave danger of attacks from various armed groups, Khant told VOA. Human Rights Watchs Asia division researcher Shayna Bauchner said, in a sick twist, the military is forcing the Rohingya to fight for their oppressors. Young men weve spoken to describe being grabbed in raids and threatened with arrest and beatings. On both sides of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, Rohingya are trapped in limbo, vulnerable to mounting abuses, Bauchner told VOA. In Rakhine, theyre being used as pawns in the deadly battle between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army. Faced with the growth of anti-smoking campaigns and a drop in cigarette use worldwide, Zimbabwe, Africa's largest tobacco producer, has asked its tobacco research body to look into the viability of large-scale cannabis production. Kumbirai Mateva, a plant breeder at Zimbabwes Tobacco Research Board, says the agencys decision to research cannabis resulted from the World Health Organizations efforts to discourage tobacco use and the governments directive to explore agricultural alternatives. We see this as an opportunity to lead in the agricultural innovation and sustainability, ensuring that Zimbabwe remains at the forefront of progressive farming practices, he said. We are excited about the prospect on the horizon as we draft a variety of protocol for a new hemp variety, which we expect to launch in the near future. Munyaradzi Chedondo, formerly a tobacco farmer, got a 5-year license to be one of the cannabis growers at his farm about 40 kilometers north of Harare. Medicinal cannabis, it's just good business, he said. On a comparative level with tobacco, it pays better, and then you need to invest, because there's a lot of infrastructure involved. There's just a lot of money, seeds you import. On fertilizers, you need to do it organically, so there are costs. And returns are there. Mike Querl was a fruits and fish farmer who is now growing medicinal cannabis on 44 hectares near Bulawayo, Zimbabwes second-largest city. Cannabis look[s] good due to our weather pattern in Zimbabwe and the price for the crop, he said. We have grown it for the past 2-3 years; it has done really well. It will be a huge business for Zimbabwe, due to the fact that we can grow all year round. And we can grow three times; three harvests out of a year in [same] field. We [are] very excited about it. Smoking cigarettes with nicotine and tars is very unhealthy; we have CBD cigarettes that are being produced now, which are much healthier. It will help our people with smoking less. U.N. agencies are urging farmers to move away from tobacco given the health hazards, such as lung cancer caused by smoking. Because of those risks, demand for tobacco has dropped in the last 25 years, according to the WHO though it remains popular in Zimbabwe. Clemence Rusenga is a senior research associate at the School for Policy Studies of the University of Bristol in England. He is studying Zimbabwes cannabis policy. He said Zimbabwes tobacco farmers can transition to cannabis farming but there are a number of issues that need to be addressed. He said the current cost for a 5-year cannabis license $50,000 is prohibitive. As a result, many people, especially those who do not have a lot of resources, they are not able to afford this, he said. The industry has become exclusionary, meaning that even those who [were] producing cannabis before illegally, it makes it difficult for them to transition into the legal market. Number two, I think it is the costly production setup that cannabis farmers are facing in Zimbabwe. You need a lot of money because of the requirements, which I think some of which could be reduced if the regulators work with the stakeholders, so it is very costly as a result, very few cannabis farmers are producing currently. There is also the issue that recreational marijuana remains illegal in Zimbabwe. Rusenga said that Zimbabwe needs to take advantage of the growing cannabis industry globally to allow its farmers to thrive. Its a lousy argument, not to mention an offensive one. Photo: Universal Pictures When Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt appeared at the 2024 Oscars to pay tribute to Hollywoods stunt professionals, they had two aims. One was, of course, to help promote their film, The Fall Guy, which stars Gosling as a down-on-his-luck stuntman. But they were also there to implicitly draw attention to the fact that there still was no Oscar for Best Stunts, despite the fact that stuntpeople built Hollywood before there were any real movie stars. A song about how theres still no Oscar for Best Stunts even plays over the end credits of The Fall Guy, which, of course, was directed by stunt-professional turned director David Leitch. Some of us have been a broken record about this issue for years now. We started the Vulture Stunt Awards two years ago for that reason. I first wrote about the issue for Vulture in 2019, and that itself was a follow-up to a blog post I wrote in 2011 (which was itself inspired by an ongoing petition). Over the years, weve heard every reason why there shouldnt be a Best Stunts Oscar: The ceremony is too long! There are too many categories! Nobody cares about stunts! We celebrate art and stunts arent art! This is just an excuse to give Tom Cruise an Oscar! Blah, blah, blah. All of these arguments have, over the years, mostly proven hollow and fallen by the wayside. And the Academy has recently seemed more open to the idea as well. (By the way, an Oscar for stuntwork would likely go to a films stunt coordinator, not Tom freaking Cruise.) But there is one that persists. Its an argument that was really nowhere back in 2011, and it was just a whisper in 2019, although the veteran stunt coordinator Jack Gill, who had been leading the charge for a Stunts Oscar for decades, did say hed heard it from a couple of people: If stunt coordinators were given an award, they would start endangering people by trying to craft more and more elaborate stunts. Nowadays, its the argument one probably hears the most. One of the bizarre pushbacks I always get whenever I talk about the need for an Academy Award for Stunts is, Oh, now stuntpeople will be risking their lives for an award and thats bad, says one industry veteran whos worked on some of the biggest films of the past two decades. Ive heard it myself from several people in the industry. Its a lousy argument, not to mention an offensive one. For starters, safety is a stunt teams first job, and endangering or hurting people would be a pretty good way not to win an Oscar. But perhaps more importantly, and measurably, as stunts have become more recognized over the years, they have become safer. More and more organizations have started to reward stunts over the years, from the Screen Actors Guild to the Emmys to the Canadian Academy. The stunt industry has also given out its own prizes, the Taurus Awards, since 2001. By the logic of the people who think an Oscar would lead to more people getting hurt, stuntpeople should be dying left and right in their desperate efforts to win some of those awards, which are prestigious in their own right. Lets be very clear: That has not happened. Quite the opposite. The most dangerous time to be a stuntperson was in the early years of the industry when they were treated as anonymous, disposable stiffs. Until not too long ago, stunt professionals had to sign a blood sheet, in which they promised not to sue anyone in case of death or injury. Now, theyre part of the industry, with union protections. When SAG went on strike last year, the stuntworkers were right there with them. And as stunts have become more valued, they have become safer and better. Recognition improves the quality of the work, says Winston Duke, who played stunt coordinator Dan Tucker in The Fall Guy. Theres a reason people advocate to be paid more, because it improves the quality of the work. A veteran filmmaker turned to me and said, These people are the dumbest people on set. I dont want them getting any awards. And yet, the thinking that an award would make stunts less safe still persists. I suspect its actually old-fashioned Hollywood classism more than anything else. Over the years, some stuntpeople have said that they have often felt like second-class citizens on film sets, though they also admit that this attitude has been changing in recent years. But there is still a segment of the industry (an increasingly smaller one, thankfully) that sees stuntpeople as, well, dumb and unworthy. Their argument could really be rephrased thusly: If stunts got an Oscar, these ignorant yokels will maim and kill themselves breathlessly racing each other for a fancy gold statue. The aforementioned industry vet agrees: A veteran filmmaker and I were talking about a stunts Oscar, they say. He let me talk for five minutes while I made my case. Then he turned to me and said, These people are the dumbest people on set. I dont want them getting any awards. The supreme irony of it, of course, is that the stunt professionals are actually some of the smartest people on a film set. Theyre the ones dealing with math and physics. They have to gauge the density of the sand on a beach when theyre doing a cannon roll and factor in the tides. Theyre the nerds calculating wind resistance on their high falls. Theyre the ones measuring pressure on airbags and the give on a jump cord and the strength of a limit line. They build their own rigs. They test their own rigs. When you see an actor do a stunt on-camera yes, even when its Tom Cruise doing it it usually means that a stunt double has performed that stunt first, and tested it, and made all the necessary adjustments, so that old Tom doesnt accidentally get blown off the plane and become a large brown stain on some poor Norwegian farmers turnip field. Heres an example of how much work can go into a stunt from The Fall Guy: For his 225-foot truck jump in the climactic sequence of the movie, stunt driver Logan Holladay and the stunt team had to slowly build up to that length over weeks. They started off on a flat surface, with shorter jumps, and extended it by 25 feet each time after Holladay became comfortable with the jump. All along the way, they made adjustments to the shock absorbers and the pressures of the tires, because all of these affect the jump and the landing. If the wind was over ten miles an hour, it was not doable, Holladay told me. If it was blowing head-on, it would send the front of the truck way up in the air. If it was blowing sideways, it would turn you and blow you to the side of the landing ramp, which can be pretty scary. They eventually moved to the location, and practiced further there, taking further measurements all along the way and constantly making more adjustments. But so much of the stunt involves math and physics that, by the time Holladay actually did the jump onscreen, they knew it could be done and how he would land. And yes, they are artists as well. Hannah Waddingham, who played the role of producer Gail Meyer in The Fall Guy, found in stunt professionals kindred artistic spirits, because the close-knit nature of their community reminded her of the theater groups where she got her start. When youre a theater performer or when youre a stunt performer, you are an absolute team player, and its very much a vocation in time, she told me. The fact that stunts so often proves to be a thankless job in Hollywood infuriates her. They have such a ridiculous level of artistry and craft. It is a vocation in life that many of them start from being very little. Hopefully, they will finally get the respect that they are very much long overdue. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. The Trans Adriatic Pipeline has supplied 4 billion cubic meters of gas in the first four months of 2024, the TAP AG consortium told Trend. "During the first four months of the year, we have transported 4 billion cubic meters (bcm)," the consortium said. Reportedly, TAP has transported 35 bcm since the start of its operations. Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov earlier said that the countrys gas exports in 2024 will exceed 24 billion cubic meters, up from 23.8 billion cubic meters in 2023. "Europe will receive half of the gas volume, signifying an expanding geography for Azerbaijani gas supplies. More than 48 billion cubic meters of gas production is anticipated this year, with exports constituting half of this volume," the minister noted. TAP transports natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. The 878 km long pipeline connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy. TAP facilitates gas supplies to South Eastern European countries through existing and prospective interconnectors. TAP is connected to Interconnector Greece Bulgaria (IGB) which started its commercial operations in October 2022, providing Caspian gas to Bulgaria, enhancing security of energy supplies in one more European country. TAPs exits in Greece and Albania, together with the landfall in Italy provide multiple opportunities for further transport of gas from Azerbaijan to the wider European markets. As a key part of the Southern Gas Corridor, TAP is strategically and economically important to Europe and essential in providing reliable access to a new source of natural gas. TAP plays a significant role in boosting Europes energy security, supply diversification, as well as its decarbonization objectives. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn Recipes What do you want to cook today? High Court Reporters The Government cannot be accused of inaction over its obligations to meet the basic needs of those from other countries seeking international protection here, the High Court heard. If one looks at the dramatic increase in those seeking accommodation and support here in the last two years and what the State has done to meet their needs, there is not any case of Government inaction or indifference, David Conlan Smyth SC told the court. Mr Smyth was making arguments on behalf of the Minister for Integration, the Attorney General and the State in reply to the case being brought by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) over the alleged lack of material reception conditions for many adult male international protection applicants. Mr Conlan Smyth said in the last two years there have been 96,000 seeking accommodation, whether as international protection applicants or people fleeing the war in Ukraine under the EU temporary protection directive. This directive provides visa waivers for Ukrainians coming to the EU along with immediate access to the labour market and access to social protection and other State supports. Some 30,000 of those are international protection applicants (who must go through the asylum process). This is at least a tripling of those numbers while overall the number of people seeking accommodation had increased 11-fold, counsel said. The State has been drawing from the same finite pool of accommodation but, despite that, it has managed to roll out 11-times the amount of accommodation that has been available, he said. Counsel said it had now been decided there is a need to move away from a system where commercial enterprise-provided accommodation to a State-owned system which would be able to accommodate 13,000 a year, augmented by contingent accommodation for 11,000 provided by the commercial sector. Across the EU, the number of applications for accommodation grew from 714,000 to 1.14m during the last two years which was a dramatic increase of 59 per cent. However, Ireland almost uniquely faced a much greater increase of 185pc. "So the figures themselves are stark and show the scale of the challenge posed", counsel said. This was not a case of Government inaction which was important in terms of the legal position and whether the State is meeting its legal obligations under the EU directive or the human rights charter, he said. Counsel said the difficulties faced by the State also have to be considered against "a reality of hostility and 24-hour protests such as at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock, Dublin, where plans for a 550 capacity centre were being stalled. There had also been the reality of criminality including public order offences, criminal damage and arson incidents at some 15 locations in the last 24 months. There were attacks at places including Abbeyville House in Fermoy, Cork, Roscahill in Galway, Kill Equestrian Centre in Kildare, Trudder House in Wicklow, and Elblana Senior College, Dun Laoghaire, he said. Given these "significant challenges", the respondents say this is part of the reason why they are not in breach of their obligations, he said. While IHREC has argued that the question of what to do is a matter for the State, not IHREC, counsel said it is fair to say that they are asking that there are two options available: these are the double or tripling of the daily monetary allowance and/or to provide accommodation immediately. However, even if the allowance was increased (to allow people to get their own accommodation), there is a very significant obstacle entirely beyond the control of the State. T his was that accommodation providers require passports and credit cards to book accommodation and the State cannot address those problems, counsel said. The allowance had been increased last December from 35 per week to 113.80 per week when the Government first announced there were difficulties in providing accommodation to single male applicants, he said. That figure has to be considered in the context of where access is also provided to services during the daytime, including food, showers, phone charging and wifi along with access to health professionals, he said. Counsel said the rate here is in line with or higher than countries like Germany (95.90) and France (99.40). The figure complies with the requirement for the harmonisation of conditions so that "secondary movement" (from one country to another) by applicants is not influenced by large differences in rates. The case continues before Mr Justice Barry ODonnell. Irish forest owners are hosting free, in-forest events this June and September and sharing their own personal stories of forestry. The Realising the Potential of Family-owned Forestry events are hosted by members of Irish Forest Owners, an umbrella organisation of forest owner producer groups that supports and represents private forest owners across Ireland. The free walks and talks are open to the wider public curious about forestry and the importance of growing trees. Among the events is an open evening on Tom Hickeys farm in Stradbally, Waterford on June 20, starting at 7pm. Tom owns a mature conifer and broadleaf forest and will showcase the management and economics of conifers; go through forest certification and outline the social benefits of forestry. We started out planting conifers, added in spruce, sycamore and ash, which I replaced with birch. Im absolutely passionate about forestry. The sycamore is fantastic at the moment, looking at it is good for the soul. Im also dairying and milk cows up to Christmas. Im not 100% sure yet but Ill probably plant more and go for continuous cover forestry. Ive cut paths in the area where I planted conifers first. I walk up there along the paths with the dog now. Its completely relaxing theres something very special about forestry. Im absolutely hooked. More than half of forested land in Ireland is in private ownership and the majority is owned by farmers. Almost all, 90%, of this forestry is less than 30 years of age and therefore, the real potential of family-owned forestry is only beginning to be revealed, Irish Forest Owners Chairperson, Derek McCabe, said. At these open events, which are supported by funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, farmers, those considering entering the sector and the wider public will hear directly from private forest owners about why they planted, the benefits and pitfalls, what theyve learned and how they are realising the economic potential of their forest." The Waterford event takes place on June 20 at 7pm on Tom Hickeys forest in Carickahilla, Stradbally, Co Waterford X42 RR04. Tickets for Gilbert OSullivans long awaited return to Waterford sold out only 20 minutes after going on sale, ahead of his two upcoming gigs in Theatre Royal in December. The Cork Road natives career has spanned 50 years. His first single success Nothing Rhymed was released in 1970 and almost overnight it achieved Top 10 status in the UK and Europe charts. Mayor of Waterford, Cllr. Joe Conway pictured with Gilbert O'Sullivan and his wife Aase O'Sullivan during the ceremony conferring the Freedom of Waterford. Photo: Noel Browne He subsequently released his debut album, Himself, in 1971. His second, 1972s Back To Front, firmly cemented Gilbert amongst the worlds biggest musical talents, with Top 10 singles and Number 1s around the world, including the classic Alone Again (Naturally), which topped the US charts for six weeks and earned him three Grammy nominations. British recognition soon followed with the songs Clair and Get Down reaching the summit of the UK singles charts and his LP Back To Front topping the album charts. In the same year at the 18th Ivor Novello Awards Gilbert was named Song Writer of the Year. To date he has won three Ivors and in recent times performed alongside other artists at the BBC Proms in the Park. He has made three appearances at Glastonbury, including on the main stage, and toured extensively throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe, Japan and Australia. A hometown performance is eagerly awaited, with the local musician announcing to the Waterford News & Star earlier this year that a show in Waterford was on the agenda. He said: Thats the plan, it has to be. We are going to be doing two shows in Cork, two nights in Dublin in September and the plan is to come to Waterford, so that will happen. Also this year OSullivan was granted the Freedom of Waterford, in recognition of his contribution to global popular culture through his music. At the special ceremony in City Hall in March, Mayor of Waterford City & County, Cllr Joe Conway said that the Freedom of Waterford represented a distinguished honour and said that Gilbert OSullivan was a a signal composer and performer from Waterford roots who has made an indelible mark on the world of modern music. During his acceptance speech, Gilbert reflected on his childhood in Waterford, and referred to how proud his mother would have been to see Waterford recognising her son. He told the Waterford News & Star on the night: When we left Waterford, at eight, and when I came back in 1969, when I had moved to London and I could afford to come back, I arrived at the station and I just felt I was at home and I was like 20 years old or something. Thats how it felt, and its a special place. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Nearly 300 companies from 37 nations have confirmed their participation in the Baku Energy Week, Project Director for the Baku Energy Week at the organizing company Iteca Caspian Aynura Nazirli said, Trend reports. She made the remark at today's press conference dedicated to this large-scale event in Baku. According to her, for the first time, companies from India, Slovenia, and Switzerland will participate in the event, with new companies accounting for 15 percent of all participants at the Baku Energy Week in 2024. She also mentioned that the moderators will include leaders of leading analytical companies, particularly the Boston Consulting Group. "A record number of speakers, 77, have been announced for the conference panels at the Convention Center," emphasized Nazirli. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan Jahid Mikayilov said that an individual panel at the conference (on June 6) will be dedicated to green energy. "This panel will be chaired by Deputy Minister of Energy Elnur Soltanov. He is part of the COP29 chairmanship, and during the panel sessions, there will be many discussions focusing on the upcoming COP29 in Baku in November," added Mikayilov. Additionally, the invaluable role of the Contract of the Century (Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli), which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, in the development of Azerbaijan's economy will be highlighted during Baku Energy Week. To note, Baku Energy Week will start on June 4, uniting three important events - the 29th international exhibition Caspian Oil and Gas, the 12th Caspian international exhibition Energy and Green Energy, and the 29th Baku Energy Forum. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Additional train services have been announced for Waterford, including a late service to and from Dublin. Iarnrod Eireann, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, is planning to implement the timetable alterations from August 25, 2024. The current 8.15pm Heuston to Carlow train is now deferred to 8.20pm, and is being extended to Waterford. It will also serve Muine Bheag (Bagenalstown), Kilkenny and Thomastown. This will provide a later last service for stations between Dublin and Carlow and on to Muine Bheag, Kilkenny, Thomastown and Waterford on Mondays to Saturdays. The 9.37pm Carlow to Heuston service will now commence from Waterford at 8.20pm, additionally serving Thomastown, Kilkenny and Muine Bheag. This will provide a later last service from Waterford, Thomastown, Kilkenny and Muine Bheag for stations between Carlow and Dublin on Mondays to Saturdays. There will also be intermediate timing changes to this service from Carlow to Heuston. An additional service each way (Dublin to Waterford to Dublin) on Sundays was also announced, bringing Sunday service levels to five in each direction. Speaking on the news, Waterford T.D. Marc O Cathasaigh said: It is vital for economic, environmental and social progress to have good connectivity between our capital city and Waterford, and indeed between Kilkenny and Waterford too. "This late service will be a big benefit to people who might be working a couple of days a week in Dublin, giving them greater flexibility to either work on a bit later or to have a bite to eat before hitting for home. I can see it being a huge help to students across the South East attending SETU in Waterford too, as well as boosting the night-time economy connections between Waterford and Kilkenny. I am confident it will see good passenger numbers from the off. Meanwhile, Fine Gael Senator John Cummins also welcomed the news, saying, "I want to thank Irish Rail for taking on board the feedback, which the public gave, and I would encourage as many people as possible to make use of the service when it is operational. The fountain in the Peoples Park in Waterford City was given a 160,000 contemporary upgrade recently with the grand unveiling taking place in the park on May 29. Mayor of Waterford City and County, Councillor Joe Conway performed the unveiling and in doing so expressed delight at the look of the new fountain which has retained the shape and limestone capping of its predecessor. Consisting of a seven metre stainless steel spray ring, with 88 individual water jets, along with a dynamic colour change lighting display and a water filter system that can be monitored and accessed remotely, the new look fountain is a feature piece of the park. Speaking at the unveiling, Cllr Conway described it as a wonderful addition to the Peoples Park. Im delighted that so many people will be able to enjoy the calming sound and relaxing ambience that the fountain brings to this space, he said. Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. Joe Conway with Waterford City and County Council Environment team, Mark Ridgard, Fergus Galvin, Dawn Wallace, Darren Mulcahy and Eoin Dullea For anyone taking a stroll in the park, having a bite of lunch outdoors or enjoying the play areas for children, the new fountain is sure to be a big draw, he added. The area where the park is located was marshland around 170 years ago and Cllr Conway highlighted how its now a vibrant, green, biodiverse and family-friendly public space. He said its in everyones interests to ensure its respected and preserved for everyone to enjoy. In addition to the construction of the new fountain, the Carlisle Bridge, which links the Peoples Park to Waterford Court House across the River Pill, was also reopened. Carlisle Bridge dates back to 1857 when it was built to provide a pedestrian link between the Courthouse and the park. The bridge, which is a very early example of the use of reinforced concrete construction, was opened by the 7th Earl of Carlisle, after whom it was named. In recent years much of the original iron and lattice work on the bridge became heavily corroded and in late 2023, Waterford City and County Council appointed Cumnor Construction to undertake a refurbishment of the bridge. Waterford City and County Mayor, Councillor Joe Conway at the fountain That work included the replacement of corroded wrought iron work, a full back to bare metal stripping of the old paint and repainting in colours that would be in keeping with those used during the Victorian period. The bridge refurbishment was largely funded by grant support from the Department of Transports Bridge Rehabilitation Works Programme. Commenting on the fountain works, Dawn Wallace, Environment Senior Executive Officer with Waterford City and County Council said: We are delighted with the results. The Peoples Park is a wonderful public amenity that contains modern, accessible facilities such as the playground, playing pitch, skate park and adult gym, but what makes it particularly special is that it retains the history of the place. Front row l-r: Eoin Dullea, Dawn Wallace, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Joe Conway, Fergus Galvin, Cllr. Joe Kelly The bandstand has stood prominently in the heart of the 16-acre park since 1869 along with the Russian canons which were captured by the British army at the Battle of Sebastopol in 1854, she said. These significant historical features are now complemented by the new upgraded fountain and refurbished pedestrian access bridge, which means there is something for everyone to enjoy in this expansive natural space, she added. The overall cost of the fountain refurbishment was 160,000 and works were completed earlier this month by contractors Fountainworks of Navan with civil support works carried out by Liam Whelan Plant Hire of Dungarvan. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has pressed the Taoiseach to meet with former Waterford Crystal workers. The Taoiseach has agreed to do so. The issue relates to over 400 employees agreeing to a voluntary redundancy package with their employer in the early 1990s. However, as a result of accepting this package, they were excluded from a government compensation fund when the company became insolvent years later, and as a result were left without a pension. Teachta McDonald commented, I raised with the Taoiseach today an important issue affecting hundreds of former Waterford Crystal workers. The workers allege that Waterford Crystal Limited failed to properly inform them of their pension options when they were taking redundancy. This left them without an occupational pension and reliant on the State Pension. They are very angry and feel they are not getting a fair hearing. It is important that the workers get a fair hearing, and they have their case independently examined. We cant ever forget about people like Gordon, or [jailed Australian writer] Yang Hengjun just because were getting our meat back, Yam said. The Australian government is happily saying Chinese sanctions are lifted on our meatworks, and yet we have one of our own being convicted for exercising free speech rights that would be considered normal in Australia. Loading Hui, now a lawyer in Adelaide after fleeing to Australia via London in 2021, said the judgment was a gross miscarriage of justice that would open the floodgates for future prosecutions against citizens exercising their basic democratic rights. Regarding defendant Gordon Ng, the court heavily relied on his political belief in freedom to claim he was part of an illegal scheme. This is purely a punishment based on his speech and political opinions, blatantly violating human rights, Hui said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government was deeply concerned by the guilty verdicts handed to Ng and the others, and would continue to request consular access to Ng which has so far been denied by Hong Kong authorities. Australia has expressed our strong objections to the Hong Kong authorities on the continuing broad application of national security legislation to arrest and pressure pro-democracy figures, opposition groups, media, trade unions and civil society, Wong said in a statement. Observers said the subversion case illustrated how the security law was being used to crush the political opposition following huge anti-government protests in 2019. The Beijing and Hong Kong governments have claimed the law has helped bring back stability to the city and that judicial independence is being protected. When Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997, Beijing promised to retain the citys Western-style civil liberties for 50 years. However, since the introduction of the 2020 law, Hong Kong authorities have severely limited free speech and assembly under the rubric of maintaining national security. Many activists were arrested, silenced or forced into self-exile. Dozens of civil society groups disbanded. The prosecution of the primary case involves pro-democracy activists across the spectrum. They include legal scholar Benny Tai, former student leader Joshua Wong and a dozen former legislators like Leung Kwok-hung and Claudia Mo. Thirty-one of them, including Tai, Wong and Mo, pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit subversion. They have a better chance at shorter jail terms and will be sentenced at a later date. Sixteen others, including Leung, pleaded not guilty and underwent a non-jury trial. After the verdicts, mitigation hearings will be scheduled to determine the sentences of those convicted. Dozens of residents had lined up outside the police-guarded court building before 6am on Thursday to secure a seat in the public gallery for the verdicts. Some supporters who were among the first in the line came as early as Wednesday evening. Social worker Stanley Chang, a friend of one of the 16 defendants, said he arrived the site at 4am because he had feared he could not get a seat. Chang said there were very few things supporters could do for the accused and that attending the hearing was a kind of company. I want to give some support for my friend and the faces I saw in news reports, said Chang, who is in his 30s. S. L. Chiu, who only gave his initials due to fear of government retribution, said the hearing marked a historic moment. To show his support, he said he had collected messages for the 47 activists from others in a sketchbook and planned to mail them if possible. Hongkongers are still here. We havent given up. We are still with you all, he said. The July 2020 primary ballot was meant to shortlist pro-democracy candidates who would then run in the official election. It drew an unexpectedly high turnout of 610,000 voters, representing more than 13 per cent of the citys registered electorate. The pro-democracy camp at that time hoped they could secure a legislative majority, which would allow them to press for the 2019 protest demands, including greater police accountability and democratic elections for the city leader. But the government postponed the legislative election that would have followed the primary, citing public health risks during the coronavirus pandemic. The electoral laws were later overhauled, drastically reducing the publics ability to vote and increasing the number of pro-Beijing politicians making decisions for the city in the legislature. Loading Beijing also had criticised the vote as a challenge to the security law, which criminalises secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces to intervene in the citys affairs as well as terrorism. with AP All Eyes on Rafah, reads the image. The words are spelt out in rows of white tents, a backdrop of mountains in the distance. More than 40 million Instagram users have shared this graphic to their stories using a user-generated template in recent days, according to Instagram. The viral graphic appeared after a deadly Israeli strike on a tent encampment for displaced people in Rafah in southern Gaza on Monday, which killed 45 people and elicited worldwide outrage. A tent camp housing Palestinians displaced by the Israeli offensive in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Credit: AP Unlike other graphic imagery about the war that has gone viral, this image is likely to have been generated by artificial intelligence. Some on social media have criticised the image as replacing distressing footage of whats actually happening in Gaza from photographers and people on the ground with a fake image generated by technology. Heres what we know about the image, and where the phrase comes from. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. In connection with the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) to be held in Azerbaijan, the Food Security Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AQTA) has developed an instruction On sanitary and hygienic norms at public catering facilities during the COP29 event," Trend reports. The instruction was developed to ensure food safety at catering facilities during the international event and is methodical-recommendatory. The instruction reflects the requirements of the legislation concerning food products, personnel, cleaning and disinfection work, and food waste at catering facilities. The mentioned instruction, prepared following the COP29 Action Plan approved by the Agency, is intended for dissemination in catering establishments. Meanwhile, this November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. The COPthe Conference of the Partiesis the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Fulbright Scholar to build connections with Korean universities, enhance international education at Weber State May 30, 2024 OGDEN, Utah A staff member at Weber State University received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award that will take her nearly 6,000 miles across the world this summer. Mary Machira, executive director and senior international officer of the Office of International Programs & Services, will participate in a two-week seminar in and around Seoul to engage with South Koreas higher education system and build relationships with universities there. She hopes to bring back what she learned to develop new opportunities for WSU students. Its important to open our minds and embrace diverse educational perspectives from around the world, Machira said. Fostering a strong global understanding can ultimately lead to a more unified world. Each year, the Fulbright Scholar Program offers hundreds of awards for recipients to teach, conduct research and implement professional projects around the world. Among several international locations offered, Machira chose South Korea because of growing interest among WSU faculty and students, both to develop stronger ties with Korean schools and increase study abroad opportunities. Additionally, WSU has seen an increase of international students coming from South Korea, Machira said. Having international students on campus not only enhances the communitys cultural experience, but also enriches the classroom experience by adding diverse perspectives and ways of thinking, Machira said. And sharing cultures brings the world to our students who may not be able to afford to go abroad. She believes this experience will strengthen the universitys commitment to academic excellence by offering transformative learning experiences rooted in global best practices in higher education. Ive been in international education for over 20 years, so getting this award is a recognition of the growth and importance of international education, Machira said. Its an honor to receive this opportunity to expand my knowledge and share it with my university, because I know the impact it can have on the lives of students. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. In Bucharest, Romania, a joint venture will shortly be registered to develop the Black Sea Submarine Cable Project to bring green energy from Azerbaijan via Georgia and the Black Sea to the EU, Member Board Of Directors of Romanian Transelectrica (project participant) Bogdan Toncescu said, Trend report Last week in Tbilisi, the seventh ministerial meeting of the Strategic Partnership for the Development and Transmission of Green Energy from Azerbaijan, through Georgia, the Black Sea to Romania, and Hungary took place. Representatives from Transelectrica, Azerenerji, Georgian GSE, and Hungarian MVM Zrt agreed to expedite the establishment of a joint venture to implement the Green Energy Corridor project, which will be registered in Bucharest, he said. An Italian technical consulting firm, CESI S.p.A., is overseeing the undertaking. The establishment of this green energy corridor will facilitate the trade of decarbonized energy, in the form of electricity and hydrogen, between the South Caucasus and the EU. To note, on December 17, 2022, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary signed an agreement on a strategic partnership, which includes the construction of an energy bridge to transport green energy (from Azerbaijan's forthcoming wind farms) from the Caucasus region to Europe. As part of this agreement, a 1,000 MW, 1,195-kilometer-long undersea electric cable is set to be constructed. Over time, the cable will have the capacity to transport up to four gigawatts of green energy from the Caspian region to the EU. Additionally, a system for supplying green hydrogen from the Caspian region to the EU is being explored in tandem with this cable. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. NGOs and social activists from various countries, including the US, UK, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Hungary, Australia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, Mexico, and India, have sent a letter to the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum, expressing their support for Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29, Trend reports via the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum. "We, the undersigned civil society organizations and social activists, underscore the significance of COP29, slated to be held in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, in November 2024. This event carries high expectations, symbolizing Azerbaijan's dedication to fostering an inclusive environment where all voices are heard, perspectives are valued, and collaborative efforts are galvanized to ensure inclusive outcomes. As advocates for inclusive and collaborative climate action, we strongly advocate for NGO participation in COP29. NGOs serve as stakeholders deeply connected to their communities, offering unique ideas, experiences, and perspectives that enrich the deliberation and decision-making processes of COP29. Their involvement fosters a sense of responsibility and solidarity, underscoring a collective commitment to addressing the climate crisis. We express our solidarity with the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum, the COP29 Chairmanship, and Azerbaijan in our shared support for a hopeful future for our planet," the statement reads. The list of signatories to the statement can be accessed via the provided link. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A gaming and lottery licence proposal for Carrowteige Post Office and Shop in North Mayo has been approved by members of Westport Belmullet Municipal District... but only after a split vote. The proposal to adopt part 111 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act for the premises, which formed part of the agenda of the May meeting of the MD, gave rise to controversy as councillors disagreed over whether public representatives should be involved in making a decision around gambling. Westport-based Independent Cllr Christy Hyland strongly objected to the proposal, saying "these types of machines being available is not good to any area", and adding that his conscience would not allow him to support it. Another Westport councillor, Brendan Mulroy, said it was clear there was a huge problem with gambling, that it creates havoc and ruins lives and he thought it was a dangerous message to send out that councillors would back the proposal. However, Erris-based Cllr Gerry Coyle said the premises has been in operation for over 30 years but never got the proper designation. We are not getting a gambling licence, we are designating a room. It is on phones today, people are gambling. This man just wanted to keep his legality right. It is two tiny machines in there, thats all thats in it. "I can tell you people will have to do a 40-mile round trip for a litre of milk if this shop closes. This is the most rural shop in rural Ireland; it is a little shop on a lifeline, serving the people seven days a week. They are just asking for regulation on what is there already. Cllr Hyland commented: It baffles me why the survival of a shop is dependent on a one-armed bandit." Cllr Peter Flynn said: If Cllr Coyle is saying the shop can only stay open if the poker machine is allowed to stay, it is a really difficult one and I have seen how gambling impacts people. I think having some misfortunates losing their weekly income to keep the shop open through subsidy is not worth it, so I wont be supporting it. Gambling is a silent disease. We are not sanctioning it here. Achill-based Cllr Paul McNamara said he would support Cllr Coyle on the motion. I went to the shop and saw the small room with the gaming machines and they are there for the last 30 years and nobody, including the gardai, had an issue with them. Its not for me to say they should not be there; thats for the court process and licensing. Westport-based Cllr John OMalley said he was abstaining from the vote because the shop was not in his area. Director of Services Catherine McConnell said the council had no objection to the application but had no formal role in making a recommendation. The second part of the process would require the operator having to present themselves in court. She added: I understand it has been operating 20 years with no garda objection but the formality had been overlooked. In the same way that we dont object to lottery cards or betting offices, the executive has no objective to the proposal. With three councillors voting in favour of the proposal and three against, Cathaoirleach Sean Carey, from Belmullet, delivered the casting vote in favour of the proposal. No of Seats: 4 Candidates (9): Peter Flynn (Fine Gael); Karen Gallagher (Sinn Fein); Christy Hyland (Non-Party); Keira Keogh (Fine Gael); Chris Maxwell (Independent Ireland); Niall McCormack (Irish Freedom Party); Brendan Mulroy (Fianna Fail); Peter Nolan (Green Party); John OMalley (Non-Party). One of the big surprises in Westport is that Fianna Fail is only running one candidate, outgoing councillor Brendan Mulroy. Fine Gael, by contrast, has two candidates (outgoing councillor Peter Flynn and newcomer Keira Keogh), and there are another two outgoing councillors (Christy Hyland and John OMalley), who originally won their seats as Fine Gael representatives. It is a curious imbalance and it will be interesting to see how it plays out on Friday. On paper, Westport looks fairly straightforward and there is every chance that the four sitting councillors will be returned. But there are also a few unknowns, not least the performance of the two female candidates in the race, Fine Gaels Keogh and Sinn Feins Karen Gallagher. The opinion polls tell us that Sinn Fein will attract one in four votes in the next general election but will that be the case in the locals? If it is, Karen Gallagher should be fighting for a seat in Westport, but it remains to be seen whether national trends will be reflected in the local elections. Keira Keogh is a member of a well-known Westport business family and has been heavily involved in Junior Chamber International, so she is well qualified to challenge for a seat. But she faces some battle-hardened veterans in Peter Flynn, Christy Hyland and John OMalley, all of whom know what it takes to get the vote out. Flynn was first elected in 2009 after serving his political apprenticeship on Westport Town Council, and he made a successful comeback in 2019, having opted out of politics five years earlier. He has been one of the most vocal members of Mayo Co Council in recent years so it will be interesting to see if his high media profile translates into votes. Christy Hyland topped the poll in 2019 and the retired detective garda is expected to regain his seat. His erstwhile Fine Gael colleague John OMalley was another who regained their seat in 2019, having unexpectedly lost it five years earlier when he was the outgoing Cathaoirleach of the council. OMalley will hope to draw on a rural vote from his native Kilmeena, which has seen its population expand in recent years, as well as Newport where there is no locally-based candidate. Any man who regained his seat is not to be written off lightly and OMalley will hope to benefit from the recent Murrisk greenway controversy in which he has been a very vocal supporter of the landowners. Peter Flynn, on the other hand, has been very vocal in his support of the greenway and there is some speculation that it might cost him votes. The Green Party has tended to poll respectably in Westport but its candidate Peter Nolan will need to improve significantly on the 365 votes the party got in 2019. The Irish Freedom Party is running its only Mayo candidate in Westport in the form of Niall McCormack. However, the most intriguing contender is Louisburgh-based Chris Maxwell, whose prospects are discussed in more depth elsewhere on this page. Fianna Fail might be only running one candidate but Brendan Mulroy did not have to rely on party transfers to get across the line in 2019 and the sense is that he might be a little stronger this time around. It would be a huge shock were the party to be left without a councillor in Westport but were it to happen questions would inevitably be asked about the one-candidate strategy. As a young man, the spiritual writer, Henri Nouwen was travelling around Ireland. In Donegal, he witnessed an Irish burial, watching it over a stone wall. What particularly fascinated him was the filling of the grave after the prayers had been said. Relays of four men took it in turn to shovel clay over the coffin as the rosary announced the Hail Marys and Our Fathers. At the end, he noticed the care the men took to tidy the clay on the grave, and to shape its finish. In particular, he noticed the tap-tap-tap of the shovels dampening down the fresh clay. It was as if, he wrote, the tap-tap-tap was announcing to the gathering, that this person is dead, really dead. In Irish funerals there is no doubting that message, no effort to camouflage the end of a life. Other cultures are fascinated with the Irish approach to funerals, particularly its clear and unwavering focus on death. Unlike in other cultures, there is an acceptance of what death represents for the person who is dead and for those who grieve. By common consent, we do death well in Ireland. The rites and the rituals are embedded in our culture. They have a familiar feel to them. They are part of the very weather of our lives and even those who rarely come to church, seem to make it to funerals and, once they get a run at the once-familiar prayers, they can be carried along on a communal wave of respect and devotion. We do funerals well in Ireland because there is an accepted communal responsibility as well as a communal commitment to providing a fitting liturgy for loved ones as they take their final leave. Regardless of the circumstances, death in Ireland is an event and almost invariably we give it the attention it deserves and the significance it represents and anything that would diminish its importance and its status in our culture is perceived as a loss beyond words. At present we are very aware of the repercussions of the ongoing decline in priest numbers on all aspects of parish life, not least in the way we do death. In particular on how that decline might diminish our ability to provide a fitting funeral liturgy for our loved ones to mark their crossing the last great threshold of their lives. Thats one reason why the Diocese of Killala is at present training lay funeral ministers to ensure that our funerals continue to enjoy the attention and command the resources that they have received up to now. At present in the Newman Institute in Ballina, 65 laywomen and laymen are taking a two and a half year course in training for lay ministry, including funeral ministries. As part of their training, they are already actively co-leading with priests funeral services in six parishes of the diocese and this will in time be extended to every parish. This involves: leading prayers in the family home or funeral home; receiving the remains in the church; participating at the funeral Mass; leading the final prayers of commendation, and blessing and incensing the coffin; and leading the prayers at the grave. The plan and the hope is that this initiative will be extended to the other 22 parishes as it is essential that, with the inevitability of priestless parishes, we need to prepare for the future, now. And, as without that preparation the provision of fitting funeral services for our dead will be less than they might be, there is growing acceptance among people and priests that not to prepare for change can mean a dereliction of duty to our parishioners now and into future years. It is not a legacy any priest or parish community would like to leave after them. That sense of responsibility is evident in the response of people and priests to this initiative in Killala diocese. Speaking on Faith Alive on Midwest Radio recently, Fr Aidan OBoyle of Ballina remarked that in the 50 or so funerals in Ballina parish since last December, all have been co-led by a priest and lay funeral minister and the reaction of the families involved has been extremely positive. The response to the co-led funerals in the other five parishes where the training is also taking place has been similarly supportive and the word from the priests is that they are pleased with the additional help and support they are receiving. Unexpected benefits are that the lay funeral ministers are delighted to be involved in helping to provide such an important service to their own people and the bereaved families are happy to enjoy the support from people they know standing in solidarity alongside them and helping to provide follow-up support and care in the future. As has been found with other ministries and other changes, priests are discovering that despite the reservations they may have about changing long-established rituals and practices, more often than not the experience is that lay Catholics are much more comfortable with change than the priests themselves and are ready and willing to play their part. This, of course, is what the Catholic Church ambitions to be, people and priests working together, pooling their gifts and resources what Pope Francis calls the synodal way, the way of being Church in the future. What we are gradually coming to accept is that change is not just necessary but inevitable, that every baptised person has gifts to bring to the table and that the more people and priests cooperate in exercising their responsibility for and their rights in the Church, the fuller and richer will be the witness to the faith, hope and love that is at the heart of the gospel message of Jesus. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. Negotiations on the participation of overseas countries in COP29 are underway, the head of the Baku Initiative Group Abbas Abbasov said at a press conference in the Milli Majlis (parliament) of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. According to him, the public will be informed about the results of the negotiations. The heads and secretaries of the Commissions of the Parliament of French Polynesia (Ma'OHI Nui - in the local language), as well as the leadership of the ruling Tavini party, arrived in Azerbaijan on a visit. The purpose of the four-day visit is to consider the possibility of establishing inter-parliamentary, economic, humanitarian cooperation between Azerbaijan and French Polynesia, as well as cooperation in the fields of science, education, sports, healthcare and other areas. The visit of the delegation of French Polynesia took place at the invitation of the Baku Initiative Group, which operates in the fight against colonialism and its new manifestations in the 21st century. The visit is organized in accordance with the provisions of the Cooperation Agreement signed between the Baku Initiative Group and the Tavini party within the framework of the international conference Liberation from colonialism: the consequences of assimilation and its impact on the implementation of human rights, organized by the Baku Initiative Group on April 30 this year in Vienna UN office. The Tavini party has been fighting for the independence of French Polynesia for many years. Reading, PA (19601) Today Mainly clear skies; no frost overnight, and no Northern Lights displays expected like last night either. . Tonight Mainly clear skies; no frost overnight, and no Northern Lights displays expected like last night either. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Mainly clear skies; no frost overnight, and no Northern Lights displays expected like last night either. . Tonight Mainly clear skies; no frost overnight, and no Northern Lights displays expected like last night either. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 30. The Lower house of the Parliament of Kazakhstan has approved the ratification of an agreement with Kyrgyzstan on the creation of an industrial trade and logistics complex near the Karasu-Avtodorozhny and Ak-Tilek-Avtodorozhny border checkpoints, Trend reports. The law was presented to the deputies by Vice-Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Kairat Torebayev, who stated that the creation of a production and logistics center would allow unloading the Kordai checkpoint, the main checkpoint on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border. In general, the expected amount of investment in the project is about 30 billion Kazakh tenge ($68.1 million). Torebayev noted that on March 28, 2024, a competition was announced to select an investor for the construction of the complex, but there were no takers, adding that the repeat competition announced for April 19, 2024, ended with the same result, but the search for an investor continues. Meanwhile, the trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in 2023 amounted to over $1.3 billion, which is 11.6 percent more than $1.1 billion in 2022. Kyrgyzstans exports to Kazakhstan during last year reached $455 million, increasing by 10.9 percent compared to $410 million in 2022. Moreover, Kyrgyzstan's imports from Kazakhstan in 2023 totaled $862 million, which is an 11.9 percent increase compared to the 2022 figures ($770 million). ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 30. Kazakhstan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have discussed the prospects for new projects in the housing, communal services, and energy industries, Trend reports. Discussions took place during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev and Utsav Kumar, ADB's Country Director for Kazakhstan, and Eugenue Zhukov, the Director General of the Central and West Asia Regional Department. Today, ADB is implementing three programs in Kazakhstan: for the reconstruction of the Aktobe-Makat and Aktobe-Kandyagash highways, as well as supporting women through mortgage lending. Earlier, ADB expressed interest in financing the construction of wastewater treatment plants in the cities of Satpayev, Zhezkazgan, Balkhash, and Stepnogorsk. In this regard, Bozumbayev instructed the executive authorities and relevant ministries to complete the necessary examinations of WWTP by mid-July. To note, Kazakhstan joined the ADB in 1994. ADB has since committed about $7 billion in loans to the government and private sector, grants, and technical assistance. Regional cooperation and integration initiatives under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program remain an integral part of ADB operations in Kazakhstan, which is chairing the program this year. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 30. Kazakhstan's KazMunayGas (KMG, national oil and gas company) has started drilling a deep exploration well in the Turgai Paleozoic area in the Kyzylorda region, Trend reports. According to KMG, the depth of well PZ-1 is 5500 meters. "KazMunayGas, as a national company, pays special attention to the strategic goal of replenishing and developing the resource base, including the Kyzylorda region. If positive drilling results are obtained, the implementation of the project will increase the resource potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan," the company said. Previously, drilling of wells with a similar depth had not been carried out in this region. The difficulties of implementing a project to study deep-lying sediments are associated with an unknown geological section, potentially high pressures and temperatures, the presence of hydrogen sulfide, etc. As the company noted, to implement the project, a professional team of specialists consisting of 30 people was formed (the KMG Project Team). Also involved were service company specialists (about 40 people), professionals, and a drilling company crew (about 70 people). The subsoil user for the project is KazMunayGas (100 percent). Meanwhile, the volume of oil and gas condensate production by KazMunayGas amounted to 6.064 million tons (503,000 barrels per day) from January through March 2024. The volume of oil and gas condensate production grew by 1.7 percent compared to the same period in 2023. At the same time, natural and related gas output climbed by 4.6 percent over the reporting period, reaching 2.52 billion cubic meters. Furthermore, Kazakhstan produced 90 million tons of oil in 2023, which is 6.9 percent higher than in 2022. Oil exports also increased and amounted to 70.5 million tons, which is 9.6 percent more than the previous year. Moreover, Kazakhstan plans to increase oil production in 2024 to 90.3 million tons. The Parliament of Georgia has overridden the President's veto on the "Offshore Law" by re-voting and finally adopting the original version of the law. The law received support from 83 deputies.The law will now be sent back to the President for signature. If Salome Zourabichvili does not sign it again, the Chairman of the Parliament will have the authority to sign the law. Once Shalva Papuashvili signs and publishes it, the law will come into force.According to the law, assets registered in offshore countries should be exempt from profit/income, or import taxes when transferred to a company registered in Georgia.The President vetoed the "Offshore Law" on May 3. Zourabichvili stated that legislative changes involving serious political and economic risks cannot be adopted in an accelerated manner, without adequate time for consideration and without any provision for public involvement.Additionally, the President believes that the changes create an unequal and discriminatory environment for investors.In an interview with IPN, Israeli Ambassador to Georgia Hadas Meitzad voiced her surprise at the presence of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili in Tehran. They were attending the funeral ceremony of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.Meitzad further stated, "These two individuals, the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, were the ones who shaped, worked out the policies and founded, created, financed, equipped, trained brutal terrorist organizations throughout the Middle East. As patrons of Hamas, they bear direct responsibility for the genocidal acts committed by Hamas on October 7".The Government of Georgia has condemned the terrorist attacks on the State of Israel and its citizens on October 7 of last year. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. KazTransOil (Kazakhstan's national operator of the main oil pipeline) will ship 1.5 million tons of oil to the port of Aktau for further export through Azerbaijan, a source at KazTransOil told Trend. "In 2024, it is planned to transport up to 1.5 million tons of oil through the port of Aktau in the direction of Baku (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan)," the source said. At the same time, according to the source, in the first quarter of 2024, 355,000 tons of oil were transported through the port of Aktau in the direction of Baku. To note, at the end of 2023, the loading of oil into tankers in the port of Aktau using the facilities of KazTransOil amounted to 3.376 million tons, including 1.057 million tons in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan direction. Meanwhile, in 2022, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued an order to enhance the amount of oil transported through the Trans-Caspian corridor. The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and KazMunayGas, the country's oil and gas company, signed an agreement allowing for the transportation of up to 1.5 million tons of oil annually from the Tengiz field in the direction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline in compliance with this directive. In addition, during the visit of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Azerbaijan on March 1112, KazMunayGas and SOCAR signed an agreement to increase the volume of oil transported via the BTC to 2.2 million tons per year. BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 30. An intergovernmental agreement signed between the Government of Italy and the Government of Tajikistan will allow the commencement of traffic relations between the two countries by road, a source at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport of Italy told Trend. "Once ratified by the two governments, it will enable the commencement of traffic relations between the two countries, both for the transport of goods and for the transport of people. To this end, it will be necessary to initiate the exchange of bilateral authorizations between the two countries through a special meeting of the joint commission provided for by Article 17 of the agreement," the source said. The ministry noted that bilateral authorizations are indispensable documents that must be kept on board the vehicles to allow the entry into Italy of Tajik vehicles and, vice versa, the entry into Tajikistan of Italian vehicles, thus enabling the transport of goods and people between the two countries. Moreover, the source at the ministry added that the opening of direct flights between the two countries is possible, based on the signing of a bilateral agreement on air services (the Air Services Agreement, or ASA), and a specific technical understanding (generally a memorandum of understanding), both negotiated by the aeronautical authorities of Tajikistan and Italy. The ministry said that it would like to receive a proposal for negotiation from the aeronautical authority of Tajikistan, either directly or through diplomatic channels. On April 24, 2024, during the official visit of President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to Italy, an agreement on "international passenger and cargo transportation" was signed between the governments of the two countries. This signed document aims to expand the geography of international road transportation for Tajikistan. It corresponds with Tajikistan's goal to overcome communication bottlenecks and transform into a transit country. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 30. The delegation of Turkmenistan is studying Georgia's experience in joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), Trend reports. According to the official source, this topic was studied during the study visit of the Turkmen delegation to Tbilisi, dedicated to the study of best practices in WTO accession negotiations and the promotion of national trade policy. The visit is scheduled from May 27 through May 31, 2024. The Ashgabat Center of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) provided assistance in organizing it. The delegation of Turkmenistan included representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Justice, the Central Bank, the State Customs Service, and other departments. During the visit, the Turkmen side held meetings with colleagues from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Tax and Customs Policy Department. At the meetings, the parties discussed bilateral relations in the fields of economics and trade, the process of WTO membership, and functions and obligations related to joining this organization. Special attention was paid to the modernization and simplification of customs procedures, as well as fiscal reforms within the framework of WTO membership. Meanwhile, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization whose purpose is to regulate international trade by establishing common rules and standards, as well as facilitate trade negotiations and dispute resolution between participating countries, which allows for predictable and fair conditions for global trade. Turkmenistan's accession to the WTO can lead to a significant expansion of export opportunities through access to the global market and an improvement of the investment climate through bringing national legislation in line with international standards, which will contribute to economic diversification and reduce dependence on natural resources. Ethnic Kazak herdsmen move their livestock to summer pastures in Fuhai County of Altay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 5, 2021. [Xinhua/Sadat] URUMQI, May 29 (Xinhua) For thousands of years, many herders in today's Altay Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have been following a nomadic life, leading their livestock on journeys to different pastures at certain times throughout the year. Recently, this millennia-old tradition has been thrust back into the spotlight following the release of "To the Wonder," a TV series adapted from Li Juan's prose collection "My Altay." The show, which aired lately, became an instant hit. The spring migration in Altay has basically concluded, and the summer migration will begin in early June. A month ago, 600 heads of livestock belonging to Adalbek Beldumulati, a Kazak herder from a village in Altay, were loaded onto multi-deck trucks and transported to a pasture over 200 kilometers away from the village. After a five-hour drive, they arrived at the Sarbulak spring pasture in Altay's Fuhai County. "In the past, it would take at least a week to complete the migration. Now, we can leave in the morning and arrive in the afternoon," said Adalbek Beldumulati, who is in his 50s. Sarbulak, meaning "yellow spring," is a place where melting ice and snow form rivers that flow through the mountains. At the foot of these mountains, lush green grasslands stretch out, dotted with herds of cattle and sheep. The TV series has scored 8.8 out of 10 on China's popular rating platform Douban. The series portrays nomadic life during migration journeys, highlighting the collision of old and new ideas and the integration of traditional and modern ways of life, drawing significant attention to the nomadic culture in Altay. Altay, one of the pastoral areas in Xinjiang, is home to vast grasslands stretching between the Altay Mountains and the Junggar Basin. Nomadic ethnic groups migrate in search of water and grass throughout the year, leading their livestock on long-distance journeys to different pastures based on the growth cycle of the grass. This unique nomadic culture has existed for thousands of years. Even today, the herders in Altay maintain different pastures for each season. Every year, they migrate back and forth from south to north, and vice versa, covering distances ranging from a few dozen kilometers to more than 1,000 kilometers. In the spring of 2024, over 2.2 million livestock in Altay were part of this migration. In the vertical mobile grazing practiced by the Kazak ethnic group, migration allows for the efficient use of forage resources. "The grazing style is adapted to the fragile alpine grassland natural ecosystem," said Chen Xiangjun, professor at the School of Ethnology and Sociology in South-Central Minzu University. Tourists ride horses in Hemu Village in Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 5, 2024. [Xinhua/Ma Kai] In recent years, local government has increased investment in infrastructure in the pastoral areas, transforming some traditional pastoral trails into highways to facilitate the transportation of herders. Over 100 posthouse facilities have also been established along the herders' migration routes, providing them with easier access to services such as accommodation, food and bathing, as well as supplies for their livestock. Today, many herders use modern equipment, such as motorcycles and walkie-talkies, and the younger generation enjoys communicating with the outside world through the internet. Bota, a "post-90s" herder in Altay, has an innate love for pastoral life. She often livestreams and creates videos while grazing, capturing everything from making felt blankets to preparing food with modern kitchenware and electricity. Through her videos, netizens can experience the scenery of the Altay pastures and see how modern life preserves traditions while embracing change. The nomadic culture has also become a tourism attraction in Altay, drawing visitors and shutterbugs alike. An important stopover for herders during their migration journeys, Sarbulak town in Fuhai has been hosting a migration-themed tourism festival for years. Traditional activities like horse racing and wool knitting offer tourists from home and abroad a chance to immerse themselves in the nomadic culture. "An increasing number of tourists have been coming to the pasture to experience the slow-paced life and the unique folk culture," said Waspan Malek, owner of a homestay in Altay's Burqin County. He added that when he first started the business, there were only two to three guest rooms, but with Altay's increasing popularity, he had to expand the homestay to encompass more than 50 guest rooms. Jilin New Village, a filming location of the series "To the Wonder," located in Altay's Habahe County, welcomes nearly 5,000 tourists daily. Among them is An Meimei, 21, who hails from central China's Hubei Province. "I was drawn by the breathtaking scenery portrayed in the TV series. While I had previously seen images of the migration, witnessing the herders' journey firsthand allowed me to truly grasp the essence of their nomadic lifestyle. It's an epic tale of harmony between people and animals," An said. According to the bureau of culture, sports, radio, television and tourism of Altay City, Altay Prefecture recorded over 1.05 million tourist visits from May 13 to 19, up 70.07 percent year on year. (Source: Xinhua) People view a suit of traditional Chinese costumes in Valletta, capital of Malta, on May 27, 2024. [Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua] VALLETTA, May 28 (Xinhua) A lecture titled "Chinese Stories Dialogue with the World through the Beauty of Chinese Clothing" was held on Monday night in Malta's capital of Valletta. Hosted by the China Cultural Center in Malta, the event featured a display of traditional Chinese costumes from various dynasties. The speaker, Chu Yan, a professor at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, introduced the evolution of Chinese clothing and highlighted the fashion connections between East and West, tradition and modernity. Chu said that for thousands of years, different Chinese dynasties developed their distinctive clothing styles, such as the simple and elegant Han Dynasty costumes and the graceful and majestic attire of the Tang Dynasty. She also introduced the unique costumes of China's ethnic minorities. Rita Mallia, a Maltese teacher, talked about the differences between traditional clothing cultures in Malta and China, saying that each has its unique beauty. She expressed hope for more exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in this field. Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta, said the lecture provided an opportunity for the Maltese people to appreciate the rich and long history of Chinese clothing culture. Chu Yan (R), a professor at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, gives a lecture titled "Chinese Stories Dialogue with the World through the Beauty of Chinese Clothing" in Valletta, capital of Malta, on May 27, 2024. [Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua] Chu Yan (R), a professor at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, gives a lecture titled "Chinese Stories Dialogue with the World through the Beauty of Chinese Clothing" in Valletta, capital of Malta, on May 27, 2024. [Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua] (Source: Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen] BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing on Wednesday. Xi noted that, 68 years ago, Egypt was the first Arab and African state to establish diplomatic relations with China. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, he said, adding that over the past decade, the two heads of state have worked together to guide the vigorous development of bilateral relations. China-Egypt relations have become a vivid illustration of China's solidarity, coordination, and mutually-beneficial win-win cooperation with Arab, African, Islamic and developing countries, Xi said, adding that under the new circumstances, building a more enriched and dynamic China-Egypt relationship meets the common expectations of the two peoples. Xi said that China is ready to work with Egypt to deepen mutual trust, advance cooperation, build a China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era, and contribute to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity. Xi stressed that China is striving in all aspects to build a strong and prosperous country and achieve national rejuvenation, and China and Egypt are facing historic opportunities for exchanges and cooperation in various fields. The two sides should continue to firmly support each other and work together to promote common development, Xi added. China is ready to work with Egypt to tap the potential of cooperation in traditional areas such as infrastructure, industry, electricity and agriculture, explore cooperation in emerging areas such as health care, information and communications, and renewable energy, deepen economic, trade and investment cooperation, and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Egypt, Xi said. Xi urged efforts to organize the 2024 China-Egypt year of partnership, expand personnel and cultural exchanges, and make the Luban Workshop in Egypt a benchmark for China-Africa vocational education cooperation. China supports Egypt in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and stands ready to further strengthen coordination and cooperation with Egypt on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS cooperation mechanism, advocate an equal and orderly multi-polar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, as well as the common interests of developing countries, Xi said. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Xi said that China is ready to work closely with Egypt and other parties to build a successful China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, inject new impetus into China-Arab relations, and promote the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. China is also willing to work with Egypt and other African members of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, and work together to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, Xi added. Sisi expressed his pleasure at paying a state visit to China and attending the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, adding that Egypt expects to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and strive to promote regional peace and stability. Sisi said that Egypt adheres to the one-China principle, firmly supports China's position on issues relating to its core interests such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xizang and human rights, and firmly supports China in achieving complete national reunification. It is hoped that the 2024 Egypt-China year of partnership will be an opportunity for the two countries to enhance people-to-people exchanges and strengthen bilateral cooperation in such areas as information and communications, artificial intelligence, new energy, food security and finance, Sisi added. Expressing appreciation to Xi for putting forward a series of global initiatives, Sisi said Egypt stands ready to work closely with China in multilateral cooperation to make positive contributions to human peace and progress. The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi said that the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused heavy casualties of innocent Palestinian civilians and the humanitarian situation in Gaza is extremely grave, and China is deeply saddened. It is imperative to cease fire and stop the war immediately, avoid the spillover of conflict which will impact regional peace and stability, and prevent a more serious humanitarian crisis, he said. Noting that the two-State solution is the fundamental way out for resolving the Palestinian question, Xi said China firmly supports Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations. China appreciates Egypt's important role in cooling down the situation and providing humanitarian relief, and is ready to work with Egypt to continue to provide assistance to the people in Gaza within its capacity, and promote an early, full, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, Xi added. Egypt greatly appreciates China's consistent commitment to justice on the Palestinian question and stands ready to maintain close communication with China to push for an early easing of tensions in the Gaza Strip, Sisi added. After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields, which involve the plan for the promotion of cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road, science and technology innovation, investment and economic cooperation, and quarantine. The two sides also issued a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao] Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing] Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao] Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Pang Xinglei] (Source: Xinhua) ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 30. Turkmenistan is interested in developing cooperation with Iranian businessmen, Trend reports. According to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, this interest was expressed during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Ahmet Gurbanov and members of the Iranian business delegation. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the current state and promising areas of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. At the same time, they noted that there are great opportunities for deepening relations in trade, investment, and industry, and therefore, it is necessary to activate all mechanisms for the development of bilateral cooperation in these areas. Furthermore, the parties emphasized that the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Iranian Commission for Economic Cooperation occupies a special place in this work. Meanwhile, cooperation between businessmen in Turkmenistan and Iran has significantly strengthened in recent years, which has been facilitated by bilateral initiatives aimed at improving trade and investment relations. These efforts include the holding of joint business forums, the development of transport and logistics infrastructure, and the creation of favorable conditions for doing business, which contributed to the growth of economic ties and an increase in mutual trade. BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged unremitting efforts to upgrade rural roads to facilitate rural development. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a new instruction on work related to rural roads. In recent years, the Ministry of Transport and other central and local authorities have made notable achievements in improving rural roads, boosting the sense of fulfillment, happiness and security of rural residents, Xi said. Better rural roads will provide solid support to bring common prosperity to rural residents, facilitate rural revitalization, and accelerate the modernization of China's agriculture and countryside, Xi said. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng conveyed Xi's instruction on Wednesday at a conference on building high-quality rural roads held in Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province. Ten years ago, Xi issued instructions on rural road construction to eliminate the traffic bottlenecks restricting rural development, and to facilitate poverty alleviation work in the countryside. He ordered that rural roads be built well, managed well, maintained well and used well. For this reason, these roads have become known as "Four-Wells Rural Roads," or "Sihaonongcunlu" in Chinese. Official statistics show that these roads have played a fundamental role in improving livelihoods in China's vast countryside. From 2014 to 2023, a total of 2.5 million kilometers of rural roads were built or renovated, and 70,600 villages were connected by paved roads. By the end of 2023, the aggregate length of China's rural roads stood at 4.6 million kilometers. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a conference on building high-quality rural roads in Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 29, 2024. He conveyed Xi Jinping's instruction on Wednesday at the conference. [Xinhua/Jiang Han] (Source: Xinhua) Yan Ning receives the 2024 L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award for the Asia-Pacific region. [Xinhua] Academician Yan Ning of the Chinese Academy of Sciences received the 2024 L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award for the Asia-Pacific region at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Tuesday. Yan, professor at the School of Life Sciences at Tsinghua University and founding president of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, was recognized for her research in structural biology that has helped explain multiple disorders such as epilepsy and arrhythmia and guided the treatment of pain syndrome. The eighth Chinese scientist to win the award, Yan discovered the atomic structure of multiple membrane proteins that mediate the traffic of ions and sugars across the cell membrane, revealing principles that govern cross-membrane transport. "Our goal is to broaden the boundaries of human knowledge," Yan said in an interview published by UNESCO. "Through cutting-edge technologies, my work has evolved from exploring the processes of physiology and cellular activities to precisely discerning potentially effective health therapies. Ultimately, I aim to use science to understand the universe, to delve into the origins of life and the foundations of consciousness." UNESCO said that as a leading authority in her field, "Yan inspires female scientists globally and is a strong advocate for gender equality in research and science education". The four other winners of the award were Professor Rose Leke, an immunologist from Cameroon, Professor Alicia Kowaltowski, a biochemist from Brazil, Professor Nada Jabado from Canada, who conducts research in human genetics, and Professor Genevieve Almouzni, a molecular biologist from France. "The path to becoming a female scientist may be challenging, but it is not enough to stop you from moving forward. So, be brave and be yourself," Yan said in her acceptance speech. Her calls on social media for the elimination of gender discrimination, which have amassed 1.3 million followers, have become her platform to influence aspiring female scientists, telling them to "be brave, be confident and dare to seek help". Since 2015, she has been organizing annual forums for female scientists. In the two research institutions she leads, over half of the management positions are held by women. "We must establish gender equality, establish more female role models, change the historical biases and cultural prejudices in academia and society toward women," Yan said. "We need to prove that women also possess leadership qualities and deserve fair recognition." Audrey Azoulay, director general of UNESCO, said, "The world needs science, and science needs women." According to UNESCO data, women make up just a third of the global research workforce, and only a quarter of the senior scientific positions in Europe are held by women. Every year, the L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards honor an exceptional woman from each of five broad regions: Africa and the Arab states, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America. This year's winners were selected from among 350 candidates worldwide by an independent international jury. UNESCO said the five latest laureates had made major contributions to tackling global public health challenges ranging from cancer to infectious diseases such as malaria and polio and chronic illnesses such as obesity, diabetes and epilepsy. "Through the excellence of their work, these laureates demonstrate that science needs women now more than ever, for example, to meet major public health challenges, at a time when cases of cancer could increase by 77 percent by 2050, obesity affects 1 in 8 people worldwide, and there are still more than 249 million cases of malaria infection," it said. (Source: China Daily) ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 30. Ashgabat hosted the first hybrid meeting of the Working Group on Sustainable Economics and Finance (SEF), organized jointly by the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the US Embassy in Turkmenistan on May 28 this year, Trend reports. According to the official source, the meeting was attended by representatives of the diplomatic community of Ashgabat, who were informed about the goals and planned activities of the Working Group. Reports from development partners were presented, and ways to promote sustainable economic and financial development in Turkmenistan through cooperation and open dialogue were discussed. The speakers representing the event organizers stated that the SEF group will help Turkmenistan's people and government establish trade relations with the world, fully participate in the digital and green economy, and provide economic opportunities for all. At the same time, it was emphasized that the discussion of issues of economic development and financing for development by the UN and partners is especially important in the context of Turkmenistan's intention to join the WTO and the measures taken to improve the business climate and attract investment. The gathering also observed that the SEF Working Group wants to have monthly meetings to improve coordination, knowledge exchange, awareness-raising, and economic and financial cooperation. Meanwhile, Turkmenistan is striving for sustainable economic development and integration into global trading systems, which is reflected in its active measures to improve the business climate and attract foreign investment. Signing up for the WTO, which mandates international standards and active engagement with international organizations, is a major step toward economic growth and job creation. Chair of Wales Audit Office resigns over conflict of interest This article is old - Published: Thursday, May 30th, 2024 The chair of the Wales Audit Office was forced to stand down 12 months into a four-year term due to a conflict with another appointment, a report revealed. Kathryn Chamberlain, who was appointed by the Senedd in March 2023, was disqualified from the public spending watchdogs board after taking a post with the Welsh secretary. She was appointed lead non-executive director of David TC Davies office in January 2024. But an investigation found the role amounts to a Crown appointment, which Wales Audit Office members are not allowed to hold under the 2013 Public Audit Act. Dr Chamberlain stayed on the board until mid-April according to a report by the Senedds finance committee, which is chaired by Peredur Owen Griffiths. Disqualifying office It said: During March 2024, it came to light that Dr Chamberlain had commenced service as an independent non-executive director at the office of the Secretary of State for Wales. Further investigation established this role constitutes an appointment by, or on behalf of, the Crown, which is a disqualifying office under paragraph 26 of Schedule 1 to the 2013 Act. As a result, Dr Chamberlain was disqualified as a member and chair of the board, effective from January 1, and was informed of this by the chair of the committee on April 15. Mr Owen Griffiths wrote to Adrian Crompton, the auditor general for Wales, and the Wales Audit Office board in May to mitigate the risk of the error being repeated. Calling for updated training, he reminded non-executive members of the requirements of the 2013 Act which limits the roles that can be undertaken while serving on the board. Unplanned exit Mr Owen Griffiths, the Plaid Cymru MS for South Wales East, requested any updates to the registers of interest for board members to be shared with the finance committee in future. Due to Dr Chamberlains unplanned exit, the committee decided to invite members of the current board to express an interest for the position rather than advertise more widely. The report recommends the Senedd appoints Ian Rees, who was the only applicant, as chair of the Wales Audit Office for four years from June 12. Dr Rees, an education and training consultant, from Swansea, who has served on the board since 2020, was a member of the Arts Council of Wales for six years. If rubber stamped, he will receive a 25,000-a-year salary despite concerns this exceeds the range offered by the Welsh Government for similar public appointments within its remit. Oversight MSs on the finance committee, whose remit includes oversight of the Wales Audit Office, recommended two further public appointments to fill roles advertised in the first quarter. Elinor Gwynns first term as a board member was due to expire in September but she tendered her resignation and will leave her post on May 31. A three-person panel, which included Mr Owen Griffiths, considered applications from six women and 19 men before deciding to interview eight candidates. The panel picked Richard Thurston and Mike Norman as nominees to serve on the board from June 2024 to May 2028. Members may serve a maximum of two four-year terms. The Senedd is expected to sign off on the public appointments after Whitsun recess. Caught out Disqualification rules have caught out would-be Senedd members in the past with two Liberal Democrats finding themselves in a similar situation after the 2012 election. Aled Roberts, the former Welsh language commissioner, who died in 2022, was disqualified from the then-Assembly because he was a member of the Valuation Tribunal for Wales. But the north Walian overturned his disqualification, winning a vote 30-20 in the Senedd, due to outdated Welsh-language guidance issued by the Electoral Commission. His Lib-Dem colleague John Dixon stood down due to membership of the then-Care Council for Wales, with Eluned Parrott going on to represent South Wales Central instead. Under forthcoming Senedd reforms, which are set to receive Royal Assent, candidates and members who are not registered to vote in Wales will be disqualified from 2026. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Walking festival to showcase north east Wales natural beauty spots This article is old - Published: Thursday, May 30th, 2024 A voluntary group of ramblers are encouraging people to get outdoors this summer and enjoy the North Wales landscape as part of an annual walking event. The 2024 Wrexham Walking Festival, which takes place from Saturday 1 June through to Sunday 9 June, gives people of all ages and abilities the chance to enjoy a series of free walks exploring the splendour and history of North East Wales. Wrexhams Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths, who is a long-time supporter of the festival, has teamed up once again with organisers Walkabout Wrexham & District and will be taking part in this years event. From Coedpoeth to Corwen, the Wrexham Walking Festival not only promotes our regions picturesque surroundings, it also encourages people to live healthier lifestyles, said Ms Griffiths. Walking is a simple, stress-free workout and everyone is welcome to take part in this years event, which in the past has attracted walkers from across the UK to visit North East Wales. During the festival, walks take place daily and are graded depending on difficulty. Harder walks are at least 6 miles in length and will cross rough ground so walkers require a good level of fitness. There are also shorter, less strenuous walks so there is something to suit everyone. All walks are free of charge and are led by trained leaders. Participants are reminded to wear suitable clothing and boots. There is no need to book or reserve a place just turn up on the day at the appropriate meeting place. For updates and more information, visit the website www.walksinwrexham.com or email walkaboutwrexham@outlook.com. Alternatively, you can contact Wrexham Visitor Information Centre on Chester Street in the city centre. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 30. Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov took part in the III Ministerial Conference 'Central Asia + Italy', which took place on May 29 in Rome, Trend reports. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the event was attended by the heads of foreign ministries of Central Asian countries, Italy, as well as representatives of the EU. The foreign ministers discussed the state and prospects of cooperation in the foreign policy arena, in particular in matters of preserving and strengthening regional and global stability and expanding interregional cooperation, including in trade, economic and investment spheres, transport interconnection, energy, and ecology. In his speech, Rashid Meredov noted the high role of Turkmen neutrality as an effective tool for promoting peace and stability and paid special attention to issues of regional security, ecology, transport, water resource management, transitional energy, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Three thematic sessions were also held within the framework of the forum: 'Energy Transition and Global Challenges', 'Connectivity', and 'Higher Education and Knowledge Networks'. The parties agreed to cooperate systematically within the framework of the Central Asia + Italy format and develop a medium-term action plan for this purpose. Meanwhile, the III Ministerial Conference Central Asia + Italy included thematic sessions on water and energy cooperation, global connectivity, and higher education. The repression of the anti-Gaza genocide protests was stepped up Tuesday evening with Londons Metropolitan Police arresting 40 people. They were arrested following a demonstration by around 10,000 people outside Downing Street, the home of the prime minister. The draconian legislation used to clamp down on the protest included provisions in the Public Order Act and a Section 35 Dispersal Order under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Screenshot of photo posted on X at 9:38PM Tuesday evening by Westminster Police showing police confronting protesters [Photo: Westminster Police/X] The Hands off Rafah, End the genocide Emergency Rally was called by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition and other groups in response to Sundays airstrike by the Israel Defence Forces on a tent encampment in Rafah that left at least 45 people dead. The groups have organised the many peaceful protests held in the capital since Israels onslaught against the Palestinians began last October. With the demonstration beginning at 6pm, the police imposed conditions under the Public Order Actwhile the event was underwayrequiring it to end just two hours later at 8pm and for everyone to leave the area. The Met acknowledged in a self-serving statement that the vast majority of people left by the allotted time, but claimed around 500 remained in Whitehall [the main road which contains government ministries and Downing Street] and continued to protest putting them in breach of the conditions in place. It claimed that Officers engaged extensively before making a number of arrests for failing to comply with conditions. As they moved in, some in the crowd resisted physically, requiring officers to use force to extract those who had been arrested. The protesters then set off on a breakaway march, making their way as far as nearby Bridge Street, outside Westminster tube station, where cordons were put in place to detain them. The Met also claimed, Further opportunities were given to allow the group to comply with conditions. They were also informed that they were causing an obstruction of the highway. Shortly before 22:00hrs, officers wearing riot gear began a series of arrests, going into the crowd and snatching those suspected of leading the breakaway protest. Those detained were arrested for offences including breach Public Order Act conditions, obstruction of the highway and assaults on emergency workers. The statement noted of others, without giving a figure of the number involved, their details were taken and they were informed that they remain under investigation in relation to the events on Tuesday evening Those who refused to provide their details were also arrested. Disproving this sanitised account, video evidence shows that the police had been readied for attacking the demonstrators and making arrests, with what were later described by Westminster Police as specialist arrest teams. Many involved in the operation wore riot gear, with even officers in everyday uniform threatening protesters with batons drawn. To portray the seat of government as being overrun by protesters and justify mass arrests, the police exaggerated the numbers involved. Rather than 500 protesters remaining in the area, overhead photos and video clips show that less than 300 were present. Many will not have known they had to leave the area at 8pm, as this this was only stipulated at 7:17 PMaccording to a post on X by the Westminster Police accountsubsequently reposted by the Met Police X account. The Westminster Police post read, The turnout has significantly exceeded the estimates of the organisers. To ensure the safety of everyone taking part we have closed Whitehall to traffic. We have put in a new condition requiring the protest to end at 8pm and we'll reopen the road as soon as possible after that. At 11:49pm police issued a tweet stating, A Section 35 Dispersal Order is now in place across Westminster. The police clampdown was met with screaming headlines in the right-wing press and demands for further repression. The Daily Mail wrote, Violent pro-Palestine mobs have clashed with police outside Downing Street as shocking footage shows Met Police officers donning riot gear attempting to gain control over the chaos. The police had to take action, according to the Mail, because they were confronted by masses of chanting crowds blocking roads and running riot in the streets. The Sun denounced Protest chaos, in which some of the crowd resisted arrest which required officers to use force to remove those who had been arrested before the protest broke away. Senior News Reporter at the Express Ciran McGrath wrote in that papers article of a social media posting, Out of control pro-Palestine protesters goad police in shocking central London clip. But the Mail also reposted footage of protesters being violently pushed and struck by a police officer. Addressing the Met, the original poster wrote, Hi Metnot sure if its very professional officers tussling with members of the public at a peaceful protest. My elderly aunt got punched on the arm [by] a psychotic angry officer. The arrests came just three days after police moved in to clear out and arrest protesters who were occupying an administrative building at Oxford University. The occupation was an extension of an ongoing student encampment. The same day a small group of Zionists, in an act of provocation allowed by the police, were able to block a major road and temporarily halt a march of hundreds of pro-Palestinians in Manchester. Since the outset of the mass protests in London, which have collectively mobilised over 4 million people in 13 demonstrations against Israels genocide, right-wing and fascistic forces have insisted that more repression must be meted out, with police ludicrously accused of pro-Palestinian bias. Among the tweets included in the Mail article was one by the far-right Turning Point group, which described one scene as: Palestine supporters swarm the streets around Parliament and begin banging on vehicles. Met Police seem to have disappeared Animating these concerns is the fact that the London protests are part of a growing global movement against the slaughter of the Palestinians. The Mails headline demonising the London protests referred to the events in the context of a night that has seen chaos in France and Italy. It wrote with alarm: On Tuesday, huge demonstrations were also seen across France, Italy and Poland, as activists marched to voice their support for war-torn Palestine. Yesterday evening, Paris, and Bologna saw demonstrators blocking roads and clambering up historic monuments as activists branded Israel 'assassins' after Sunday's deadly airstrike. Thousands of French people stormed though cities including Paris, Lille, Lyon, and Strasbourg to show their solidarity. Footage captured in France showed demonstrators brandishing the red, white, black, and green flags while donning keffiyehs and chanting We do not kill a child, whether Jewish or Palestinian: Stop bombings, free Palestine and Rafah, Gaza we are with you. In Paris, thousands of people gathered at Place de la Republique to display their unwavering support. On Saturday, in a major provocation against the anti-genocide protesters, the fascist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Christopher Yaxley, the former leader of the English Defence League and a convicted criminal, is to hold a demonstration in London, Stand Up Against Two Tier Policing. Claiming to be victims of unfair policing, the protest will march through central London, ending up in Parliament Square. On Wednesday, three days ahead of the march, Robinson posted a thread in which the following words were emblazoned on a Palestinian flag: F**k Palestine, F**k Hamas, F**k Islam. Want to protest? F**k off to a Muslim country and protest. The Robinson march is taking place at the same time as anti-genocide protests in the capital, as well as a march by the Stand Up to Racism group under the banner, Unite against Tommy Robinson. On Wednesday, the Biden administration endorsed Israeli airstrikes on women and children in refugee camps in Rafah that killed 45 people Sunday and 21 Tuesday. The strikes, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said, were limited, targeted, and succeeded in their aim to kill Hamas operatives and a Hamas compound. In embracing these massacres and Israels broader assault on Rafah, the Biden administration asserted its right to sponsor war crimes and genocide on a limitless scale. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby [AP Photo/Andrew Harnik] Asked by a reporter, How many more charred corpses does he have to see before the president considers a change? Kirby bluntly declared there will be no policy changes. When Kirby was asked if the White House would do anything in response to condemnations of Israel and the United States in the wake of the strikes, he replied: The president does not make decisions or execute policy based on public opinion polling. He bases his decisions on our own national security interests. This statement is a public admission on the part of the government that it is consciously acting in defiance of the views of the vast majority of the population, which overwhelmingly opposes the US sponsorship of the Gaza genocide. Moreover, it asserts as the fundamental principle that the actions of the government are determined not by the will of the people, but the national security interests of the statethat is, the global interests of the financial oligarchy on whose behalf the state governs. Responding to Kirbys statement, Joseph Kishore, the Socialist Equality Partys candidate for US president, explained, One could not have a clearer declaration that the mass protests against the genocide and the expanding global war will not change government policy, which is dictated by the capitalist ruling elites. Kishore added, Someone could remind Mr. Kirby of the Declaration of Independence, which states, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it... The Biden administration is advancing the concept that democracy is a government that does whatever it wants, in which elections are a formality to provide a fig leaf of legitimacy for policies opposed by the vast majority of the population. When, during his election campaign in 2020, did Biden tell the public it would be his intention to allow Israel to massacre tens of thousands of Palestinians and starve a population of two million? In addition to representative government, the expression of the popular will is theoretically accomplished through protest, or, in the language of the First Amendment, the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. But in the United States, peaceful assembly is being criminalized. Over the past two months, nearly 3,000 Americans have been arrested for peacefully demonstrating against the Gaza genocide. The American government is embracing an entirely totalitarian vision of society, in which the preservation of the national security interests of the stateas the guardian of the interests of the financial oligarchyis its fundamental raison detre, and all opposition is to be suppressed through force. This conception was articulated in a discussion earlier this month by former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley and Alex Karp, CEO of defense contractor Palantir. Karp declared that anti-war protests were an infection inside of our society If you want to stop these people, you have to be willing to be fierce. The Gaza genocide marks a significant turning point in the embrace of naked criminality abroad and dictatorship at home. The massive crimes being carried out in Gaza are in preparation for even greater crimes to come, amid a frenzied drive to escalate war all over the world. Unrestrained militarism and imperialist barbarism are being promoted by all of the institutions of class rule, with the media playing its appointed role. In an article published Wednesday, New York Times columnist Bret Stephens condemned any restraints on the conduct of war, whether the number of civilians Israel is allowed to kill or the scale of a US war with nuclear-armed Russia. Wars are not porridge; theres almost never a Goldilocks approach to getting it just right, Stephens asserted. Either youre on the way to victory or on the way to defeat. In other words, any effort to limit war, either through adherence to international law or even self-preservation, is a recipe for defeat. Victory comes through brutality. Stephens wrote: Nations tend to canonize leaders who, faced with the awful choice of evils that every war presents, nonetheless chose morally compromised victories over morally pure defeats. Stephens statement virtually plagiarizes a 1939 speech by Adolf Hitler before the German high command, in which he urged the German military to commit war crimes and defy the internationally recognized laws of war. Hitler declared: Our strength consists in our speed and in our brutality. Genghis Khan led millions of women and children to slaughter with premeditation and a happy heart. History sees in him solely the founder of a state. Condemning these and other exhortations to criminality on the part of Nazi leaders, Roman Rudenko, one of the prosecutors in the Nuremberg trials, said: The defendants knew that cynical mockery at the laws and customs of war constituted the gravest crime. They knew it, but they hoped that the total war, by bringing victory, would also secure their immunity. But victory did not arrive on the heels of their crimes. The open turn to military violence and domestic dictatorship is the mark of a social order in terminal decline. In times of war, the state reveals itself openly as a tool of class domination. The issue is not appealing to the state and its institutions, but rather developing a social movement capable of opposing the entire state apparatus and the ruling social class it represents. That social force is the international working class, which holds the economic and social power to defeat the capitalist ruling elite. It is the working class that must be mobilized and made aware of the connection between its interests in fighting against capitalist exploitation and opposing imperialist war, which are united in the struggle to abolish capitalism and establish socialism. Since the end of April, Rio Grande do Sul has been facing the devastating effects of historic rains and floods that have hit practically this entire southernmost Brazilian state of almost 11 million inhabitants. A series of climatic factors, mainly those associated with global warming produced by capitalism and intensified last year by El Nino, are behind one of Brazils greatest climatic tragedies, one of the latest extreme weather events in the world. View of the flooded city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. [Photo: Agencia Brasil/Gilvan Rocha] Record temperatures in the South Atlantic Ocean have increased the frequency and intensity of weather systems that bring cold and humidity to Rio Grande do Sul. Between April and May, a sequence of these events was prevented from spreading to the rest of Brazil due to a warm air mass in the Midwest and Southeast of Brazil associated with record temperatures for this time of year. The humidity brought to Rio Grande do Sul by weather systems from the South Atlantic met with that coming from the Amazon region in northern Brazil, which condensed into record rainfall in the state. In two cities in Rio Grande do Sul, Fontoura Xavier and Caxias do Sul, it rained 778 mm and 694 mm, respectively, between April 22 and May 6. This is equivalent to the average rainfall for these cities for the first five months of the year, when it rains the most in Rio Grande do Sul. As a result, entire towns have been flooded. According to the Civil Defense bulletin of May 27, 94 percent of the states municipalities (469 out of 497) were hit, affecting more than 2 million people. Already, 169 deaths have been confirmed, and 56 people are still missing. More than 800 people were injured. The floods destroyed much of the infrastructure in Rio Grande do Sul. Bridges were washed away, and 100 highways were wholly or partially blocked, making it difficult not only to rescue and move residents, but also to transport medicines and food. The health system had around 100 hospitals affected, 17 of which had to suspend their services entirely. According to a May 20 report in the daily Folha de Sao Paulo, a single hospital, the Canoas Emergency Room, estimates a loss of R$35 million (US$6.7 million), which includes furniture, information technology, plumbing, suction and oxygen tubes, among other equipment. The state education system had 40 percent of its schools affected in some way. The electricity, water and sewage systems have been severely damaged. In the state capital of Porto Alegre, one water treatment plant was destroyed and is not expected to start working again, while the other five are operating at reduced capacity. It is difficult to find drinking water and other essential supplies. Clothing, blankets, and hygiene items reach the victims thanks to donations sent from all over the country. On May 18, the daily Correio Braziliense reported that the mayors of the capital and five other municipalities in the metropolitan region warned of the risk of food shortages and asked the federal and state governments to create humanitarian corridors for basic foodstuffs. Salgado Filho International Airport in Porto Alegre has had its operations suspended indefinitely and is expected to remain closed for up to six months. The states three ports, responsible for connecting 30 percent of the states gross domestic product to international markets, have also been affected, and so far only one has resumed operations. It was only 20 days after the heavy rains began that the water began to recede in the capital and other municipalities. But the situation remains critical in several areas that are still flooded, and throughout the state there are still around 56,000 people living in shelters and 580,000 displaced (in the homes of friends or relatives), according to the Civil Defense bulletin of May 27. Rio Grande do Suls secretary for Social Development has already stated that some of the 770 shelters serving people displaced by the rain will remain in place for months. The capitalist politics of climate disasters The tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul comes amid an intensification of climatic disasters in Brazil, further exacerbating the enormous social inequality in one of the most unequal countries in the world. Approximately 16.6 million of the countrys 215 million inhabitants live in favelas, shanty towns associated with precarious conditions and unsafe housing that are more susceptible to such disasters. Just to mention the last few years, between the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2023, major floods and landslides were recorded in the south of Bahia, the north of Minas Gerais, the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, the capital of Pernambuco and the coast of Sao Paulo. The deadliest rainfall disaster to date was in January 2011, in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, with landslides and flooding that killed 918 people. While many coastal states in Brazil are suffering from increased rainfall and its consequences, countless other regions of the country are facing record droughts. In 2021, the Midwest and Southeast experienced their longest drought in 91 years, while last year the Amazon region faced its worst drought in 120 years. Rio Grande do Sul itself was still recovering from floods that had occurred months earlier. In June 2023, the state was devastated by an extratropical cyclone, which killed 16 people and left more than 7,000 homeless. Just three months later, in September 2023, another 54 people died in yet another disaster, until then considered the biggest in the history of Rio Grande do Sul. And again in November, after a large volume of rain, five people died and at least 28,000 had to leave their homes. However, the most recent flood disaster in Rio Grande do Sul was the biggest ever recorded in the state and, in terms of the extent and duration of the damage, one of the biggest in the countrys history. In all these environmental disasters, the ruling class, through its governments and the press, has tried to blame the supposedly unexpected volume of rain and irregular construction. But this misleading version of reality has been debunked as quickly as the rise in water levels, which, in a few hours of rain, reached workers necks. Despite the governments feigning surprise, there is no shortage of data from experts to prove that this was a tragedy foretold. A 2015 report by the now-defunct Brazil 2040 program, commissioned by the government of Dilma Rousseff (Workers Party, PT) to forecast the effects of climate change on the country, already predicted above-normal rainfall in the South of the country and more acute droughts in the Northeast and Midwest. In Rio Grande do Sul, it hit me as soon as I saw the [current flood] maps from [climate agency] MetSul. They were visually similar to the forecasts made in the [Brazil 2040] program. It was frightening, commented Natalie Unterstell, who took part as program coordinator between 2013 and 2015, in an interview with BBC Brasil. After the unprecedented impact seen in Rio Grande do Sul, sections of the ruling class have raised concerns about the environment, mainly because of the growing race for global energy transition, and blamed fascistic former president Jair Bolsonaros scientific denialism for the tragedy. The current governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, is part of a political generation of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) that has renewed itself in a turn to the right. In the 2018 presidential election, he declared his support for Bolsonaro. In his first year in office, in 2019, Leite changed around 480 rules in the states Environmental Code. The changes were in line with the policy of the Bolsonaro government, which at the time had as its environment minister Ricardo Salles, who, during a ministerial meeting in 2020, advocated exploiting the medias focus on COVID-19 to change or remove environmental rules. Representing 12.6 percent of the countrys agricultural GDP, Rio Grande do Sul is among the top 10 agricultural producers in the country, accounting for 70 percent of national rice production, as well as meat, soybeans and corn. Last year, the sector earned more than R$100 billion (US$19 billion) in the state. Associated with predatory exploitation of nature, with massive deforestation that contributes to flooding, agribusiness is seen as the biggest enemy of environmentalists. And although Bolsonaro is more open about the worst interests of this sector, it was during the PT governments, from 2003 to 2016, that agribusiness strengthened and expanded. In the Bom Dia, Presidente show on May 7, the PTs President Lula da Silva expressed his pride in Brazilian agribusiness, emphasizing that there was no shortage of resources for the sector, having made R$364 billion (R$70 billion) available in the 2023/2024 Safra Plan and promising an equally generous 2024/2025 Plan. The Climate Observatory (OC), a network of Brazilian environmental organizations, criticized the federal government in an interview with BBC Brasil for not fighting hard enough for environmental issues. Weve never had a Ministry of the Environment with so much support in the government. Its the first time a president has talked about zero deforestation and zero tolerance for deforestation. You have a minister of the economy who talks about the environment, a Ministry of Indigenous Peoples. ... But even so, things arent moving as they should, said the OCs executive secretary, Marcio Astrini. The climate crisis demands a response from the international working class Far from being limited to Brazil, extreme weather events caused by global warming have been a global problem. In recent years, record heat waves have driven historic wildfires in Europe, North America, Africa and Chile. Record floods have hit Libya, Europe, China and Pakistan. In each of these events, millions of people were affected and continue to suffer the effects. Like the criminal response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the drive toward a nuclear World War III, the climate crisis is a consequence of the capitalist system of production that prioritizes private profit over human life and the preservation of the planet itself. Systems for mitigating and preventing environmental disasters have been abandoned in the interests of austerity and militarization in one country after another. And the effects of climate change are only just beginning. A report by the renowned National Institute for Space Research (INPE) published last November showed that rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul could increase by between 20 and 60 percent over the next 30 years, depending on the region of the state. Similar scenarios are predicted for every country in the world. Addressing such foretold tragedies requires the expropriation of the worlds ruling elite and the allocation of vast resources to coordinate a science-based global response to the climate crisis. This can only be achieved through worldwide action by the international working class. The deaths and devastation in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul must not be forgotten, nor their lessons ignored. New disasters can only be fought with a conscious struggle for a reorganization of the world economy on a socialist and internationalist basis. Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan oversees debate over a voting bill in the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. [AP Photo/Eric Gay] At its state convention in San Antonio last week, the Texas Republican Party voted for a 2024 platform that proposed new major attacks on democratic and constitutional rights and reaffirmed previous ones. The three-day biannual convention demonstrated that the evolution of the Republican Party into a fascist political organization is accelerating and, basing itself on extreme Christian nationalism, the Texas party is a driving force in this development. A core element of the document is the erasure of the separation of church and state, which is foundational to the US Constitution. Among the new planks in the 248-point platform is a call for a State Constitutional Amendment that would establish concurrent majority criteria for election to statewide office. This means that statewide candidates must carry a majority of Texas 254 counties to win an election, a model similar to the US electoral college. Such an amendment would effectively ban Democrats from ever winning statewide positions based on the current distribution of voter support throughout Texas. Since Democratic Party voters in Texas are disproportionately concentrated in a handful of major citiessuch as El Paso, Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonioparty candidates would be unable to satisfy the concurrent majority requirement. As reviewed by the Texas Tribune, Under current voting patterns, in which Republicans routinely win in the states rural counties, such a requirement would effectively end Democrats chances of winning statewide office. Even though the Democratic Party has not won statewide office since 1990, the Republican Party is seeking to implement a thoroughly undemocratic system that completely silences the voice of voters in the states urban centers. Quoting historian Kevin Kruse of Princeton University, the Tribune report further explains that the embrace of a county-based electoral system creates, something even more unequal than the scheme concocted by segregationists of a century ago. Kruse points out that the Republican Party amendment, should it be adopted, would make one vote in Loving County, which has a total population of 64 people, have as much significance as more than 70,000 votes in Harris County, where Houston is located and has a population of 4.7 million people. The Texas Republican Party platform also retains, in plank 21 and under the heading State Sovereignty, a call for Texas to advance the right to secede from the United States, and calls upon the Texas Legislature to pass a referendum acknowledging such a right. The plank states, Pursuant to Article 1, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution, the federal government has impaired our right of local self-government. Therefore, federally mandated legislation that infringes upon the 10th Amendment rights of Texas shall be ignored, opposed, refused, and nullified. State Republicans have already drafted the legislation called the Texas Sovereignty Act and filed it in the current 88th session of the legislature. Advancing the demand for Texas to establish itself as an independent country, or possibly uniting with other states seeking a similar objective, is a deeply reactionary and undemocratic demand that raises the specter of civil war and mass impoverishment. One need only consider the impact of Texas forming its own country in the 21st century. Mass unemployment would immediately follow as large corporate employers with headquarters, production facilities and offices moved out. Meanwhile, there are over 250,000 federal employees and military personnel in Texas who would either lose their jobs or be forced to relocate. This is to say nothing of the threat to Social Security, Medicare and other federal programs, such as food stamps, and aid to elementary and secondary education, and the economic dislocation caused by an end to the huge federal subsidies to agriculture and the oil industry, two mainstays of the states economy. Texas was an independent republic for a brief period after separating from Mexico in 1836. It applied for annexation to the US and, in 1845, it became the 28th state, based on widespread popular support for doing so. Todays push for secession is not based on nostalgia for conditions of nearly 200 years ago (when Texas was a slave state), but on a delusory perspective of creating an isolated, self-sufficient island in a globalized world. The real result would be the establishment of a Christian nationalist brand of fascism with a state government perpetually at war with its own population. Among the other right-wing planks in the 50-page platform are statements that abortion is not healthcare it is homicide and to enact legislation to abolish abortion by immediately securing the right to equal protection of the laws to all preborn children from the moment of fertilization. It states that gender-transition treatment for children is child abuse and homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice. The platform calls for the reversal of recent name changes to military bases to publicly honor the southern heroes, for gold and silver to be declared legal tender and for the US government to disclose all pertinent information and knowledge of UFOs. Underpinning much of the far-right platform elements are multiple references to the Bible, including the demand for prayer, the Bible, and the Ten Commandments being returned to our schools, courthouses, and other government buildings. Among the name-changed military bases that the Republicans would restore is the former Fort Hood, which was renamed a year ago to Fort Cavazos. Fort Hood was originally named after the Confederate General John Bell Hood, who commanded troops during the Civil War to defend chattel slavery. Under the misnamed heading Religious Freedom and Government Schools, the platform urges the state legislature and the Texas Board of Education to require instruction on the Bible, servant leadership, and Christian self-governance. The plank goes on, We support the use of chaplains in schools to counsel and give guidance from a traditional biblical perspective based on Judeo-Christian principles with the informed consent of a parent. The platform begins with an endorsement of the Agenda 47 of Donald Trump, advanced for the 2024 presidential elections. The Trump far-right and xenophobic agendamass deportations, militarized border, tariffs and domestic police repressionare fully backed by the Texas party as visionary positive solutions for the reconstruction of America. The primary runoff elections in Texas on Tuesday offered a glimpse into the political conflicts with the Republican Party, between the fascist forces linked to Trump and his reelection campaign, and reactionaries defending the more traditional policies of Corporate America. These divisions are an element in the deep crisis wracking the entire capitalist political system in the US. Several Republican Party establishment candidates came out victorious in two House Republican primaries and the speaker of the State House, Dade Phelan, survived a challenge from a Trump-backed Republican, David Covey, by a margin of 50.7 percent to 49.3 percent. Representative Tony Gonzales, a Republican who had called far-right members of his party scumbags, barely survived a challenge in the runoff. He defeated Brandon Herrera, a gun rights activist with a YouTube channel who calls himself the AK guy, by just 400 votes. Herrera, who had the support of fascist Matt Gaetz of Florida and others within the House Freedom Caucus, had received less than 25 percent in the earlier five-person primary, but then won 49 percent in the runoff. While these two narrowly survived Trump-backed challenges, six of eight incumbents lost to challengers Tuesday. Representative Justin Holland lost his suburban Dallas seat to Trump 2016 spokeswoman Katrina Pierson in a race that epitomized the conflict raging among Texas Republicans. If students and workers are united, they are perhaps one of the most powerful forces a society can bring togetherCharlie, student from Nijmegen Students and faculty members during Mondays walkout in Nijmegen Amid the immense human tragedy unfolding in Gaza, students and faculty members at Nijmegen Radboud University in the Netherlands, one of the largest in the country, staged a walkout May 27. Hundreds of students and faculty members participated, carrying Palestinian flags and signs, chanting Free Palestine, Cut the ties, Disclose, boycott, and divest and From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. Following protest rallies and encampments at universities in Amsterdam, Leiden, Utrecht, Groningen, Eindhoven and Maastricht, students and faculty members at Nijmegen demanded an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza. They accused the university administration (CvB) of being directly complicit in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by maintaining ties with Israeli institutions and defence industries. Radboud University faculty members have written an open letter in support of the students demands. The letter, signed by over 400 staff, expresses political solidarity with the students camped in front of the Maria Montessori building on campus grounds since May 13. On the other end of the barricade engaging in class war, the Dutch ruling class, under caretaker prime minister Mark Rutte, has consistently shown its political approval for the war crimes of the Netanyahu regime against Palestinians as an act of self-defence. The students and faculty members at the university are well aware that the terminology of self-defence is a political blank cheque for the fascistic regime in Tel Aviv to carry out the final solution to the Palestinian question. Students and staff walk along a trail lined by empty shoes criss-crossing the campus grounds to represent the thousands who have been killed in Gaza As tens of thousands march in the country against the genocide and the complicity of the Dutch ruling elite and its institutions, a coalition of Geert Wilders far-right Freedom Party (PVV), Pieter Omtzigts New Social Contract (NSC), Caroline van der Plas Peasant Citizens Movement (BBB) and the Liberals (Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, VVD) of Mark Rutte has agreed on a new government. They are about to appoint Dick Schoof as the next prime minister. Schoof, the 67-year-old former Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) member and alumnus of Nijmegen Radboud, currently holds the highest position at the Ministry of Justice and Security. Under previous Rutte governments he served as the head of the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), the Counterterrorism and Security Agency (NCTV) and the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Appointing Schoof as the next prime minister, who has an infamous record for stomping on democratic rights, sends a serious political warning to the working class and protesting students. His appointment serves as a conclusion to the 26-page coalition agreement titled Hope, Courage, Pride. The World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) has pointed out that the agreement is a declaration of war on the working class and all forms of social and left-wing opposition. The agreement has two central goals: the introduction of the toughest asylum law ever and the establishment of a police state. The events of the past few weeks have substantiated the analysis provided by the WSWS. As it stands currently, the Dutch bourgeoisie is in favour of appointing a former intelligence chief as the head of its new police state. The WSWS spoke to the students at Mondays protest, sharing a QR code linking to the statement: The assault on Rafah and the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. Charlie Charlie, a student at Nijmegen Radboud University, stated: Our university has direct ties with Israeli universities; they are part and parcel of Zionist ideology, which is that of ethnic cleansing and Judaization. The policy of Tel Aviv University, the Dahiya doctrine, states that unprecedented force can be used against Palestinian civilians as retaliation for the murder of Israeli citizens. This imbalance in the value of lives means we now have a situation in which 40,000 Gazans are being murdered in a genocide of retaliation. As students, when you know what your university is doing, when you watch that live, you have to take responsibility. You need to stand up and stand together. For 76 years, the Netherlands has had close ties with Israel, 76 years since the Nakba, 76 years of murder, genocide and ethnic cleansing, and 76 years of Dutch complicity in genocide. In April, Maikel Boon, a former Royal Dutch Army private and MP of Geert Wilders PVV, proposed a motion in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch Parliament, to ban the slogan From the river to the sea as antisemitic and as a criminal incitement for violence. On May 21 the motion was passed by 74 to 73 votes. Charlie continued: We dont use the slogan From the river to the sea! in terms of a Palestinian ethno-national state. We use the term and will continue to do so because it represents a future brighter than ethnic and religious divisions and an ethno-national state. Nationalism is exclusive and undemocratic, and it leads to ethnic cleansing as we can see now. We have huge support from staff membersin 48 hours, we had over 400 signatures. We have massive support from the Nijmegen community. We saw the Belgian dockworkers blocking arms shipments to Israel, which gave us great inspiration and courage because you can see workers saying No, we will not take part in it. If students and workers are united, they are perhaps one of the most powerful forces a society can bring together. Aisha, another student at Radboud University, who preferred not to be photographed due to security concerns, is in daily contact with a friend in Gaza. She was deeply emotional and found it difficult to articulate her thoughts on the dire situation facing the Palestinian people. I have a friend in Gaza and I have daily contact with him. He told me to keep the global movement going and educate people on whats going on in Palestine. Especially after last night, when we saw burnt babies, babies without heads, and burnt people in Rafah ... What is happening in Gaza is now being normalized. When we saw the first hospital bombed, we were shocked. Now there are no hospitals left in Gaza; burning babies is being normalized, burning people alive is being normalized ... This should not be normalized. Aisha rejected the narrative that the protesters were antisemitic, adding, There are a lot of Jewish people taking part in this protest and many of them are taking the lead as well. Therefore, calling the protests antisemitic is outrageous. Students occupying the Erasmus building in Nijmegen According to a spokesperson for the protest, security guards at Radboud University forcefully pushed two protesting students to the ground and placed them in a neck-lock. The students were subsequently turned over to the police. By midnight, a large number of police entered the Erasmus building at the university grounds to end the occupation by 50 students on its second floor. The riot police broke the barricade and dragged the students out of the building. On the same night, at Dam Square in Amsterdam, riot police encircled a large group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and arrested 73 of them and laid draconian charges of criminal offences. The recent attacks on protests against genocide in the Netherlands and internationally highlight the link between imperialist foreign and domestic policies. These brazen attacks not only undermine core democratic rights, but also serve to justify war, mass murder and police-state measures. As US President Joe Biden signed a record military budget of over $825 billion to fund the US/NATO war in Ukraine, to arm Israel, target Iran and prepare for war in East Asia with China, the Dutch bourgeoisie is preparing its own battle plan for global war. Thus far this year alone, Ukraine is set to receive an additional 400 million in military support from the Netherlands, in addition to the 2 billion already allocated for 2024. With seven months remaining in the year, the government has already allocated 1.5 billion for Ukraine for 2025. In addition to the billions already allocated to Kiev, the 2024 defence budget is projected to increase by nearly 43 percent. This war budget is expected to rise annually, reaching an initial sum of 21.4 billion by 2030, which is approximately 2 percent of the Dutch GDP. This is proposed to be enshrined in the constitution to place Netherlands on a perpetual war footing. On Wednesday, staff at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) established their first staff encampment in support of their students. One among them is Associate Professor Sruti Bala from the Faculty of Humanities and Theatre Studies. In her widely circulated Instagram clip from the staff encampment she insisted, This is not a freak bunch of hysterical nutters who watch too much social media. But this is a movement of academics as public intellectuals, as people, who stand up for issues that matter in society. The Dutch ruling class, as are its international counterparts, is particularly concerned that the student protests could incite the Dutch working class to engage a struggle against imperialist war, austerity and inequality. Already in many cities in the Netherlands, what initially started as a student protest is now gaining momentum and attracting a broader section of the working class to the anti-war and anti-genocide movement, starting from faculty members to workers in the immediate university encampment neighborhoods in the big cities. Developments this week indicate that workers in industrial neighborhoods also have begun to organise themselves into independent networks, exclusively through social media with close ties with university encampments, to coordinate political activities, to rally broader support, especially in terms of appeals for safety against police crackdown, as well as for funding resources and expertise, and not less to promote an independent media coverage to cut across the official media campaign of slander against the anti-genocide protests. Dutch students and workers must turn to the international working class and base themselves on a socialist perspective directed against police state measures at home, imperialist militarism abroadof which the genocide in Gaza is a partand against its source, the capitalist system. A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of the controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk and Southern trains Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. [AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar] Norfolk Southern and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reached a $310 million settlement over the derailment and fire that poisoned the town of East Palestine, Ohio, with toxic chemicals early last year. Also this month, a federal judge approved a $600 million settlement to a class action lawsuit brought by residents of the area against the railroad. Residents will have until July 1 to opt out of the class action if they do not want to be part of the settlement and seek their own settlement. Those suits can take years to settle. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to release its final report on the accident on June 25, giving residents less than a week to read the report and decide if they want to be part of the class action settlement or not. The settlements amount to a drop in the bucket of the real costs of cleaning up from the disaster and the impact on the health and lives of residents which can last for their entire lives. Norfolk Southern reported over $8 billion in gross profits for 2023 and another $1.9 billion for the first three months of 2024. As part of the settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency, Norfolk Southern agreed to pay the EPA $235 million for cleanup costs. Just $25 million will be allocated over 20 years for a community health program and another $15 million to set up long-term monitoring of surface and groundwater. The actual fine for poisoning a whole community with cancer-causing chemicals is just $15 million. This is less than 1 percent of the gross profits the company made so far this year and just slightly more than the $13.4 million that Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw made himself last year. A total of 38 cars out of a 151-car long train derailed on February 3, 2023, after the railroad ignored warnings that the wheel bearings in one of the cars was overheating. Eleven of those cars were carrying hazardous materials, several of which burst open and began to burn. In a decision that has been disputed by hazardous materials experts, the railroad decided to ignite five tanker cars carrying over 1 million pounds of vinyl chloride rather than let them cool down and safely move them. Vinyl chloride is a highly toxic chemical and known carcinogen, which in high enough concentrations, causes death. It was like an inferno going off, said Vicky who lived with her family just outside the evacuation zone. You could see the flames shoot off into the air, and the smoke went up to the clouds. Residents reported serious health problems, including burning of the eyes, nose and throat, as well as headaches and vomiting. The smell in the air was horrible, continued Vicky. Your eyes were watering, we all got in our car and just drove. Environmental groups found that over 45,000 animals were killed by the spill and release. Most were fish and other animals living in the water, but rabbits, raccoons and even some deer were found to have been killed in the disaster. This settlement is just a drop in the bucket for Norfolk Southern, said Vicky. All they cared about was getting their trains rolling. The governor told everyone it was safe to come home, and 15 minutes later the trains started rolling through our town again. They dont care about us, just making their profits. No one knows what the long-term effects are going to be. Ten or 15 years from now, my children could start getting cancer. Whos going to take care of them? $25 million to run a clinic for 20 years for 5,000 people. Thats ridiculous. Many residents agreed. Linda and Russ Murphy, who live about a mile from the derailment site, told NewsNation that they still feel sick. Were constantly feeling uneasy on our feet or dizzy, flushed, trouble focusing, dont see quite as well as we should be. Theres a lot of stuff going on. The headaches; I still get that funky taste in my mouth, that sweet, very odd, tingling, shortness of breath, Russ said. Christina Graves, who lives 1.2 miles from the train derailment crash site in East Palestine, told SpectrumNews 1 that it was like a sunset over the treetops, describing what she saw in February 2023. I dont spend much time outside. I used to live for bringing my grandson outside during the nice weather. I dont feel good about it. I dont want him putting a leaf in his mouth or anything that a normal little kid would do, Graves told the news outlet. It was just a nice rural property that had no concerns. Now, its different. Earlier this month, a government whistleblower revealed that the EPA did not deploy an advanced aircraft designed to detect toxic chemicals until days after the derailment. The aircraft, known as ASPECT, is equipped with advanced radiological and infrared sensors designed to identify the chemical fingerprints of hundreds of hazardous materials, including the toxins being carried by the Norfolk Southern train that derailed. The plane was supposed to have been deployed within hours of a chemical spill, but it was not moved to Pittsburgh until two days later and then did not fly over the crash site until February 6. That date is significant since it is after the release and burn of the vinyl chloride. Norfolk Southern and the EPA both claimed that it was necessary to prevent an uncontrolled explosion of the tanker cars. But the ASPECT plane carries infrared heat sensors and could have confirmed what the chemical manufacturers were saying, that there was no danger of an uncontrolled explosion. Robert Kroutil, who wrote the software and helped interpret the data from the planes powerful sensors, said that the government failed to deploy the plane in time and that when it did, many of the sensors that could have detected the chemicals being released into the air and water were turned off. The information was first released in a report from the Government Accountability Project, followed by an interview with the Associated Press. Officials have said that the reason the plane did not fly over the site February 5 is because of icing on its wings. However, Federal Aviation Administration data shows that roughly 300 planes took off or landed at Pittsburgh International Airport on February 4, 5, 6 and 7 and with the normal number of flight cancellations and delays. Bogdan Syrotiuk, a leading member of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists in Ukraine, was detained by the far-right Zelensky regime in late April. He has been framed up and arrested for fighting to unify Ukrainian and Russian workers against the US-NATO war against Russia, which has claimed the lives of at least 500,000 Ukrainians and tens of thousands of Russians, and threatens to escalate into a nuclear conflagration. Bogdan Syrotiuk at a May 9 rally in honor of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II Syrotiuk is threatened with life imprisonment, which in Ukraine is a virtual death sentence. As a socialist and Trotskyist, he has been charged by the Ukrainian regime for contributing articles to the World Socialist Web Site and fighting to bring a socialist and internationalist program to Ukrainian and Russian workers. The Canadian Liberal government plays a key role in supporting the far-right Zelensky regime and fuelling the war. Canadian imperialism has maintained a decades-long relationship with far-right Ukrainian nationalists at home and abroad, including the political descendants of Nazi collaborators during World War II. It is these forces that make up the backbone of the Ukrainian regime that is persecuting comrade Bogdan. Workers across Canada have begun speaking out against this outrageous act of persecution against a prominent opponent of the war. One statement received from a postal worker states: My name is Daniel, and I am a postal worker in Canada. I support the fight for Bogdan Syrotiuks freedom in Ukraine. He is a political prisoner, denied his basic rights to freedom of expression and freedom of thought. Bogdan, leader of the Ukrainian Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists, is currently locked up in squalid and life-threatening conditions, because he correctly believes the only way to end the US-NATO-led war in Ukraine against Russia is to unite the workers of both those countries and beyond with an international socialist and anti-war perspective. For me working in the logistics industry, the specter of globalization is readily evident. The global economy is highly interconnected, as I deliver parcels and letters coming in from all over North America, Europe and Asia. Weapons and military gear are also exported from Canada to Ukraine and Israel to decimate cities and wreak havoc on young people and workers. This wanton disregard for human life, funded and propagated by the capitalist elite, must end! Rabid attacks on basic democratic rights, such as the imprisonment of Bogdan, leave their mark on workers across the globe. Zelenskys frame-up and political persecution of Bogdan tear apart the propaganda that the US or Ukraine are fighting for freedom or human rights or anything progressive. Without fascistic methods of control, the Zelensky regime would be unable to send untold thousands to their deaths on the front lines in service of an unpopular war. The only social force capable of ending fascism and war is the working class! Eric, a young worker from Montreal, wrote: The detention of Bogdan Syrotiuk for high treason and the accusations against the WSWS are totally baseless and put reality on its head. Is NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also an agent of left-wing propagandists, as he himself has stated that Western countries created conditions under which it (Russia) was forced to launch the so-called special military operation? This is just an excuse to suppress any left-wing opposition to the war. Bogdan and the WSWS have numerous times condemned the Ukrainian as well as the Russian governments actions in the war, which is being waged by the oligarchs on the backs of working people of both countries. We have seen all over the world in the last decades massive austerity, cuts to social programs, brutality and repression by police, criminal indifference to climate change and COVID, wage cuts, evictions and extreme social inequality. All of this has been done for the sake of profits, imperialist war, genocide and destruction of the environment. The reason for Bogdans arrest is clear, that he spoke on behalf of the interests of the international working class and was calling for its unity against the war. We must demand his immediate release and the freedom from all persecution. There is no justice under capitalism. Free Bogdan Syrotiuk, Julian Assange, Danny McBride and all those imprisoned for speaking against imperialism and its crimes. Tibor, a truck driver, said: I demand his immediate release from prison because he wants peace, and prosperity for the long suffering Ukrainian working class, to put an end to this already lost war, which has cost hundreds of thousands of lives for nothing. Also, he should be released from prison, because what he was accused of is nothing but lies, fabrication, and distortion. Laurent, a specialized educator from Quebec and a leading member of the Quebec Public Sector Workers Rank-and-File Coordinating Committee, which was set up during the recent public sector strike to organize workers in opposition to the nationalist trade union bureaucracies, demanded Hands off Bogdan Syrotiuk! in his statement. He continued: On behalf of the Quebec Public Sector Workers Rank-and-File Coordinating Committee, I denounce the illegal imprisonment of Bogdan Syrotiuk and demand his immediate release. This is a frontal attack on the democratic rights of the entire working class, including the right to freedom of expression and free association. Bogdan, a socialist activist aged just 25, has been in a cell of Zelenskys fascist regime for over a month, even though he has committed no crime. On the contrary, he is fighting one of todays most heinous crimes: the proxy war being waged by the imperialist powers of NATO against Russia in his native Ukraine. Bogdan is fighting on the basis of the highest principles and noblest ideals: the unity of the Russian and Ukrainian working classes to put an end to this bloody war that threatens all humanity. Quebec and Canadian workers have a duty to come to the defense of Bogdan, whose life is in danger in Zelenskys jail. Canada is directly involved in the current war. The billions that are being used without our consent to fund and arm Ukraines neo-Nazi-filled military forces are coming out of the public purse; money that should be paying for decent jobs and public services for the population. The objective of Canadian intervention has nothing to do with defending human rights, as Trudeau & Co. claim. In reality, the Canadian ruling elite wants a piece of the pie in the plundering of the Middle East and resource-rich Eurasian territory. Canadian imperialisms wars of aggression abroad are inevitably accompanied by an assault on working peoples livelihoods at home, and a repression of opposition to war and capitalist austerity. On Canadian campuses, students peacefully protesting Israels genocide in Gaza are attacked by police and courts with the full support of the state. For their part, workers have long experience with government back-to-work laws that have criminalized one strike after another. Bogdan Syrotiuks imprisonment is intended to intimidate the anti-war movement growing among the working masses and youth in Ukraine, Russia and around the world. This is why the Ukrainian security services have openly admitted that Bogdan was arrested for collaborating with the World Socialist Web Site, the only organization fighting to unify the working class on a socialist and internationalist basis. Just as the WSWS supported and guided us politically in organizing our committee last year, our committee offers its full support to the campaign to save Bogdan Syrotiuk. Well be doing everything we can to alert workers in Quebec and across Canada to his appalling incarceration and mobilize them to demand his release! We strongly urge all workers, students, and everyone who defends democratic rights and opposes war to send your statement of support to the World Socialist Web Site in support of Bogdans freedom by filling out the form below. Sign the petition and spread the word about the campaign to free this leading Ukrainian socialist and stop the US-NATO war on Russia. Section of the students and other anti-genocide protesters at UCLA, May 23, 2024. The strike at the University of California against protest crackdowns continued into its 10th day Wednesday. Academic workers from UCLA and UC Davis picketed for the second day since being called out on Tuesday. The strike by members of United Auto Workers Local 4811 is a critical development because it points to the need for the working class to emerge as the basic force against war and in defense of free speech. It also is the result of the initiative taken by the rank and file against stonewalling by the UAW bureaucracy, which backs Genocide Joe Biden. Initially, the UAW limited the strike to only a single campus, UC Santa Cruz, out of the 10-campus UC system. But rank-and-file anger forced the UAW to sanction the expansion of the strike to two more campuses after it became clear the UAW bureaucracy could not keep workers there on the job. I think the fact that Santa Cruz, UCLA and Davis are all out now is very promising, but we need all 48,000, one UCLA student said. Im hoping that the other campuses will be called out soon. The World Socialist Web Site urges workers to form rank-and-file strike committees to expand the strike to all 10 campuses and oppose attempts by the union bureaucrats to shut down the strike with a sellout deal. This must be the starting point for a broad movement drawing in other sections of the working class, especially UAW members in the auto factories and munitions plants. The working class must organize independently against both pro-war parties and the pro-corporate union bureaucrats to force an end to the genocide and the attack on the right to protest. Meanwhile, demonstrations are continuing to build at campuses across California. A student group at UC Santa Barbara took over a campus dining hall Tuesday because they would rather the schools money go to feeding the students than bombs or war research, according to the campus newspaper the Daily Nexus. Last Thursday, a student protester was arrested and banned from the campus of Stanford University on the pretext that her activism was a danger to the campus. A statement by a student group declared: This is an absurd claim, especially given the numerous incidents of violence and harassment that pro-Palestinian students have faced in the past several months without recourse. Earlier this year, 18 Stanford students were arrested after police shut down a sit-in against the Gaza genocide. Components of bomb dropped on Gaza linked to Southern California facility Articles published by several news outlets Wednesday reported that the bombs used by Israel to kill dozens of civilians in a tent encampment Sunday were made in the United States. The GBU-39 small diameter bomb (SDB) is manufactured by Boeing, but components were linked via a serial number to Woodward HRT, according to the Washington Post. According to the Post, the US State Department approved the transfer of more than 1,000 such bombs to Israel just last month. This underscores the fact that the Biden administration is not just shielding the Israeli regime from the consequences of the genocide it is perpetrating in Gaza. Rather, the United States is a direct participant in the slaughter. A weapons expert told CNN Tuesday night that the GBU-39 is designed to attack strategically important point targets and result in low collateral damage. But, he added, using any munition, even of this size, will always incur risk. The bomb fragments were almost certainly produced at the companys facility in Santa Clarita, California, located only 30 miles to the north of UCLAs campus. On Wednesday, the WSWS urged pickets at UCLA to go to this facility and win the support of workers at the plant. When asked about the need to form rank-and-file committees, the UCLA student said: I think what youre saying is ultimately what were going to need. We need to shut everything down. Not just the campuses, but the work places and especially the defense industry. Going up to Woodward in Santa Clarita would be an excellent start. Whats going on here isnt just about the war, but is an attack on free speech. Anyone can come on this campus and say whatever they want about Israel. They could stand up in the middle of their classes and say they hope more Palestinian children get murdered, but the moment you say you think killing innocent Palestinian people is wrong, not even saying anything about holding the Israeli government responsible, just that the killing itself is wrong, you get disciplined and expelled. A graduate teaching assistant in the Chemistry Department said it was important for workers to come out to support the victimized pro-Palestinian students. The teaching assistant said: Im here to support the cause. It isnt right that the university victimized students who were engaged in peaceful protests and have done very little to the actual individuals who were assaulting them. This is also tied to the conditions workers face at the university. We dont make enough money to support ourselves and our families. A great deal of that has to do with the UCs support of Israel, which is why we demand that they divest from funding a genocide. She continued: Im very unhappy with the US governments role in all of this. If it werent for US support, the genocide would have been stopped a long time ago. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 30. Uzbekistan Railways put forward a proposal to establish a consortium to coordinate the activities of the CASCA+ transport corridor, Trend reports. The matter was reviewed during a meeting of representatives of the railway administrations of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye on the development of freight traffic along the CASCA+ transport corridor. The countries discussed the projects to be implemented for the development of the CASCA+ transport corridor. During the meeting, it was proposed to establish transportation of perishable (fruits and vegetables) cargoes in refrigerated containers along the CASCA+ corridor and create a system of online monitoring of the location (dislocation) of wagons and containers moving along the corridor, as well as to develop the activity of the corridor website. Meanwhile, CASCA+ is an international transport route covering 3 regions: Central Asia Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the South Caucasus Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as Turkiye. The goal of the transport route is to connect the countries of southeast Asia, in particular China, with Europe. Workers at a Seattle museum walked out May 22 in protest against an exhibition that equated anti-Zionism and antisemitism and suggested that protesters on US campuses support Hamas. The workers action, in response to one of the great lies of the Israeli and Biden administrations and their apologists, is a significant step. Approximately half the staff at the Wing Luke Museum (WLM), which focuses on the culture, art and history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, objected to language in the Confronting Hate Together exhibition. One of the shows panels, from the Jewish Historical Society, for example, asserted that Today, antisemitism is often disguised as anti-Zionism. The same panel also argued that on university campuses, pro-Palestinian groups have voiced support for Hamas (which is classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government) and a Palestinian state stretching from the river to the sea, a phrase defined by the erasure of Israel. Wing Luke Museum original text and workers response In a statement, the striking workers explain they walked out in response to the museum leaderships inability to meet our demands regarding the platforming of Zionist ideology in the current exhibition. They demand the removal of any language in any WLM publication and question any partnerships that attempt to frame Palestinian liberation and anti-Zionism as antisemitism, and insist on an acknowledgment by the museum of the limited perspectives presented in this exhibition. Missing perspectives, they add include those of Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslim communities who are also experiencing an increased amount of violence, scapegoating, and demonization as Zionist forces continue the genocide in Palestine. On Instagram, the protesting workers, wlm4palestine, describe themselves as a collective of Wing Luke Museum workers who participated in the walkout May 22 and have been withholding labor in protest of Zionist language in the new exhibit Confronting Hate Together. They continue, Our solidarity with Palestine should be reflected in our AA/NHPI [Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders] institutions. It sets a dangerous precedent of platforming colonial, white supremacist perspectives and goes against the Museums mission as a community-based museum advancing racial and social equity. Connecting the Gaza genocide to white supremacy is false. The underlying cause of the mass suffering of the Palestinian population is the imperialist world system, whose leading power, the US, along with its cats paw, the Netanyahu regime, intends to put an end to popular resistance to its policies through the final solution of the Palestine question, ethnic cleansing or extermination. Nevertheless, the workers were entirely correct to protest and walk out. The action demonstrates that the claims of various governments and the media about the antisemitic character of opposition to the Gaza horrors are wearing thin. Fewer and fewer honest people, including Jews, believe that a fascist government and its allies carrying out mass murder have the right to posture as defenders of the Jewish people against discrimination. As one commentator on Instagram noted, in relation to the exhibitions assertion that antisemitism is often disguised as anti-Zionism, the museum text is factually incorrect and bolsters the skewed narrative that anyone who opposes Israeli policies and actions is against all Jews. Its increasingly clear that many Jews reject the notion that the Israeli state represents or protects them. The Wing Luke Museum, established in 1967 and located in Seattles Chinatown-International District, is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate and the only pan-Asian Pacific American community-based museum in the US. Wing Luke Museum in Seattle [Photo by Jmabel / CC BY 3.0 The Seattle Times reports that although the conflict between museum staff and leadership reached an inflection point this week, staff began raising concerns about the museum leaderships approach to discussing the war as early as Dec. 3. According to the staff groups Instagram, they were first made aware of the panel May 14. The protesting museum workers wrote a letter May 19, signed by 26 staff members, in which they pointed out that in the face of the ethnic cleansing of the people of Palestine, the [museums] Executive Leadership has chosen to amplify organizations that frame Palestinian liberation and critiques of Israel as terrorism and antisemitism. When the workers demands were ignored, they walked out three days later. According to Hyperallergic, the strikers explain the walkout was also a response to leadership inaction since workers first expressed concerns over a statement that called Israels attacks on Gaza a conflict in the Middle East. Reportedly, the statement was signed by museum executives and other Asian-American organizations belonging to the Asian Jewish Initiative, a coalition of Seattle Asian and Jewish groups co-chaired by 15 organizations including the pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League. In other words, the exhibition and its accompanying propaganda are part of an effort, taken behind the backs of museum employees and the general public in Seattle, where opposition to the Gaza crimes is very widespread, to legitimize the Zionist regime and its mass murders. Macklemores Hinds Hall a success on a number of Billboard charts In another cultural note, hip hop entertainer Macklemores Hinds Hall has become a quick success on a number of Billboard charts, according to Forbes. As the WSWS noted, the song is named for Columbia Universitys Hamilton Hall, which was occupied by anti-genocide demonstrators. The students renamed the hall after six-year-old Hind Rajab, a Palestinian child murdered by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the assault on Gaza. In the song, Macklemore repeats several times, Block the barricade until Palestine is free, adding that peace isnt the problem, its what theyre protesting / it goes against what our government is funding. The rapper, as we noted, doesnt flinch from confronting one of the key elements of propaganda used to intimidate the protesters, rebutting the claim that these mass demonstrations are antisemitic. I seen Jewish brothers and sisters out there ridin/ in solidarity and screaming free Palestine, he sings. Forbes comments that Hinds Hall enjoyed a lofty opening on several lists thanks to very healthy sales figures, which largely powered the standalone tune. Thanks to support from Macklemores fansand likely also from those who endorse his position on the issues of the daythe track has become a notable and important win for the Grammy champion. The song is performing well in three of Billboards categories: Rap Digital Song Sales, the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales and the all-genre Digital Song Sales. As the media has been forced to admit, the song soared to over 100 million views on Instagram after its release, with hundreds of thousands sharing their support across various platforms. Macklemore first performed the song at a concert in New Zealand earlier this month. Rolling Stone Australia described the scene: At his first of two Wellington shows on Wednesday night, Macklemore performed Hinds Hall live for the first time in front of a packed crowd inside TSB Arena. I stand here today and every day forward for the rest of my life in solidarity with the people of Palestine, with an open heart, in the belief that our collective liberation is at stakethat we all deserve freedom in this life of ours, Macklemore said in a rousing speech almost halfway into his set. Yesterday [Tuesday], I put out a song called Hinds Hallcan I play it for you guys? he then asked, much to the crowds approval. When he performed Hinds Hall, a Palestinian flag flashed across the arena, while a video displayed student protestors in the US alongside footage of Gaza. On Wednesday, the jury in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump began deliberations in a courthouse in Lower Manhattan. State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, the presiding judge, turned the case over to the jury shortly before noon following his hour-long instruction on the legal parameters of the 34-count indictment. Trump is charged with falsifying business records in a conspiracy to corruptly influence the 2016 presidential election. The five-week trial culminated on Tuesday in a three-hour closing argument by Trumps defense team followed by a nearly five-hour summation by the prosecution team headed up by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Former President Donald Trump sits in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. [AP Photo/Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post] The substance of the charges is that Trump conspired with his then-lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen to pay $130,000 to porn film actress Stormy Daniels to stop her from going public just days before the November 2016 presidential election about an alleged sexual tryst between the two in 2006. This was in the immediate aftermath of the release of the Access Hollywood tape in October of 2016, in which Trump boasted that his star status allowed him to grab a womans genitals in public with impunity. Trump is charged with covering up the campaign-related payoff to Daniels, which was advanced by Cohen in his behalf, by reimbursing his then-fixer after Trump had entered the White House, in 2017, and falsely claiming the payments were legal fees, a violation of both state and federal campaign finance laws. Cohen was indicted both for campaign finance and banking violations related to his services to Trump, and subsequently for lying to Congress about Trumps plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. He pleaded guilty in 2018 and served a three-year prison term. He then sued Trump and became a vocal opponent of the real estate/casino/reality TV billionaire-turned fascistic president. Cohen was the main prosecution witness, along with Stormy Daniels and the former publisher of the National Enquirer, David Pecker. Trumps defense lawyer Todd Blanche devoted his closing argument almost entirely to insisting that the jury could not convict Trump on the basis of testimony and evidence linked to the convicted felon and self-admitted liar, Cohen. At one point Blanche violated a basic canon of law by telling the jurors they could not send someone to jail on the basis of testimony from the greatest liar of all time. This provoked an immediate objection from the prosecution and an angry Sustained from Judge Merchan, who cleared the court and reminded Blanche that sentencing was the province of the judge, and the jury was not allowed to consider possible sentences in rendering its verdict on the charges. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass in his summation meticulously reviewed the 34 checks, invoices and business ledger entries that substantiate Cohens claim that he was operating on Trumps instructions when he paid off Daniels, as well as other corroborating testimony. There is no way of predicting how long the jurys deliberations will last, although most media commentators seem to agree, for what its worth, that a decision is likely before the end of this week. There are three possible outcomes: either acquittal on all counts (Class E feloniesthe lowest category in New York State), conviction on one or more of the felony counts, or failure to reach unanimity on one or more of the counts, resulting in a hung jury. In the latter case, prosecutors could decide to retry the case, but that would not take place until after the November election. Each count carries a possible prison sentence of 16 months to four years, but it is deemed a virtual certainty that in the event of one or more guilty verdicts, the judge will issue concurrent sentences, meaning the maximum prison term would be four years. It is believed more likely, however, that the judge would place Trump on probation or issue a sentence that would not entail incarceration. In any event, Trump is certain to appeal a conviction, delaying any potential penalty until after the election. What is certain is that regardless of the outcome of the trial, and even were a convicted Trump to be removed as the Republican presidential candidate, the lurch to the right of the entire political system will continue unabated. Of the four criminal indictments against Trump, the Stormy Daniels case is the only one that will go to trial before the elections. The othersthe case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith in Washington D.C. over Trumps attempted overthrow of the 2020 elections, culminating in the fascist mob attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021; the case brought by Fulton County Attorney General Fani Willis against Trump for his attempt to overthrow the 2020 election result in Georgia; and the case in Florida over Trumps mishandling of classified documentsare far more substantial and deal, in the D.C. and Georgia cases, with Trumps massive crimes against the democratic rights of the American people. They have been delayed by the feckless and reactionary efforts of the Biden administration and the Democratic Party to prop up the Republican Party and cover up the extent of the state conspiracy headed by Trump that culminated in the January 6 attempted coup. This has enabled far-right Supreme Court Justices, led by Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, who are personally implicated in the attempted overthrow of the Constitution, to delay the Special Counsel case, and Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon to indefinitely delay the documents case in Florida. The criminal trial of Trump in New York nevertheless has immense historical and political significance. The first-ever criminal trial of a US presidentone who sought to overturn the previous election and remain in power as a dictator, and who is the presumptive candidate of the Republican Party in Novemberis the focal point of a crisis of class rule in America decades in the making, and now at a point of unprecedented intensity. This is not altered by the trivial character of the charges and the circus-like atmosphere the media has created around the case, in an attempt to divert public attention from Trumps fundamental crimes and the ongoing threats by the increasingly fascistic Trump-dominated Republican Party. This is a crisis that extends across the entire political establishment, marked by the role of the Democratic Party as the full accomplice in the onslaught on the democratic and social rights of the working class. Even as Trump and the Republican leadership make clear that they will not accept the results of the 2024 election if Trump loses, and they declare the court cases against the ex-president to be illegitimate frame-ups masterminded by Biden, the Democratic Party is in a virtual coalition government with Republican fascists in Congress on the basis of unlimited funding for the war against Russia in Ukraine, full support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza, and economic war and military preparations for conflict against China. So as not to disturb Republican support for US imperialisms expanding world war, Biden has largely remained silent on Trumps legal woes and is refusing to comment on the recent revelations that fascist Supreme Court Justice Alito on two occasions flew flags at his homes associated with Trumps Stop the Steal Capitol insurrection and fascist militia groups. At home, Biden is leading the crackdown on free speech and political protest on college campuses, joining with Christian nationalist fascists such as House Speaker Mike Johnson to denounce pro-Palestinian protesters as antisemites and encourage violent police attacks and mass arrests against peaceful demonstrators. At the same time, he has adopted the fascist anti-immigrant policy of Trump and the Republicans, seeking to outflank Trump by denouncing him for opposing Democratic border bills promoted as the most restrictive ever. The Democrats have broken with bourgeois democracy. They will go to any lengths to suppress the threat of a working class rebellion against exploitation and inequality assuming a directly political form in opposing war and genocide and defending the campus protesters against police state repression. This is the greatest fear of all sections of the ruling class, and with good reason, as seen in the strike by campus workers at the University of California. The role of the Democratic Party further enables Trump to incite violence from the fascist right. In the midst of the New York trial, on Memorial Day, Trump posted a statement on his Truth Social platform denouncing the Human Scum that is working so hard to destroy our Once Great Country, in which category he included the Radical Left, Trump Hating judges who presided over his conviction in a civil case concerning his business practices in New York and massive fines in the defamation and sexual abuse cases brought by E. Jean Carroll. Trump concluded with the threat: Now for Merchan! As Israel carries out its Final Solution in Gaza, three European statesIreland, Norway and Spainannounced they would recognise the state of Palestine. Announcing the decision last week in Dublin, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said, It is a statement of unequivocal support for a two-state solution, the only credible path to peace and security for Israel, for Palestine and for their peoples. Other countries were expected to follow suit in the coming weeks, he said, noting that 139 of 193 United Nations member states have already recognised the non-existent state of Palestine. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said there could not be peace in the Middle East without the recognition of a Palestinian state, with all the rights and obligations that entails. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told parliament in Madrid, We are going to recognise Palestine for many reasons, and we can sum that up in three words: peace, justice and consistency, adding, We have to make sure that the two-state solution is respected and there must be mutual guarantees of security. This is gesture politics at its most cynical, with Sanchez, Harris and Stre trying to deceive workers and young horrified by Israels genocidal violence and their governments complicity into believing they are sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians and are listening to the masses. Their overarching fear is that the global popular support for the Palestinians will coalesce with the growing anger over the deteriorating social conditions of their own citizens. But no one can seriously believe that the long-dead and bankrupt proposal of a mini-Palestinian statelet achieved via a two-state solution can be revived given Jerusalems proven intent to establish a Greater Israel, through mass murder and ethnic cleansing. This chimerapromised ever since the signing of the Oslo Accords by Yasser Arafat in 1993 has produced nothing more than a prison for the Palestinians, overseen by the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority (PA) of President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank and the besieged and now largely destroyed Hamas-controlled enclave in Gaza. Israel has subjected the Palestinians to de facto military rule and launched repeated military attacks to reinforce a system of discriminatory and violent apartheid rule. It has now slaughtered at least 36,000 people in Gaza and allowed settlers to commit pogroms in the West Bank under military and state protection. What is offered by the meaningless commitment to a two-states solution sometime in the future is only a smokescreen behind which governments internationally, the imperialist powers and corrupt Arab regimes above all, can continue allowing Israel to do whatever it wants. To the extent it is meant to have any practical significance, the proposal is bound up with discussions over what happens next, when Israel and its sponsors in Washington finally determine that it has achieved all it can through bloody violence. It provides the PA, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States with an opportunity to step-in and police the ruins of Gaza under the watchful eye of Washington and the European Union. It is a desperate attempt by the European powers to find a political mechanism for maintaining security by suppressing all opposition throughout the region to Israels continued military occupation of the Palestinian territories, and preventing the eruption of a wider regional conflict that would threaten not only Israel but the Arab states that have colluded for decades with Israel. It helps smooth the path for the Arab regimes to join Israel in escalating imperialist military aggression against Iran, as part of the Wests preparations for war on China. Norway and Spain are members of the NATO alliance and have backed the US in its wars over the last 30 years. Only the Republic of Ireland is nominally neutral, but it has no genuine independence from US imperialism. It sent troops to join the NATO-led operation against Afghanistan; allowed US fighter and transport planes to refuel at Shannon airport during the US invasion and occupation of Iraq; issued no condemnation of NATOs eastward expansion against Russia; and given diplomatic and political support to Ukraine against Russia. In addition, Dublin has maintained since 1978 a small number of troops as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon that assists the Lebanese Armed Forces in policing a blue linedefined after Israels attack on Lebanon in 2006, and since October 7 the site of escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. While all three, to varying degrees, have expressed their concerns about Israels slaughter of the Palestinians, not one of them has sought to sever diplomatic and trading relations, ban arms sales to Israel or impose sanctions on Israels leaders, banks, financial institutions and corporations, much less label it a terrorist state. It was Norway, which is not a member of the European Union, that acted as the mediator for the 1992-1993 talks between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This led to the Oslo Accords that was supposed to lead to a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Since then, Norway has chaired a donor group coordinating international assistance to the Palestinian territories, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), and made pro-forma attempts to reopen a diplomatic channel between Israel and the Palestinians. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide warned that work on a two-state solution was becoming urgent as the conflict was spreading in the region, but that only the US and the Israeli people could influence Israels position. Spanish premier Sanchez sad that recognition was essential for peace and security, insisting the move was not against anyone, least of all Israel. The decision, he stressed, reflected Spains outright rejection of Hamas, which is against the two-state solution. But a mini-Palestinian statelet is anathema to Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Likud Party and far-right coalition partners who rejected the two-state solution when it was first mooted in 1993, cheering on the crowds calling Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabinone of the signatories to the agreementa traitor and baying for his blood just weeks before he was assassinated by an ultra-orthodox nationalist in November 1995. Netanyahu lashed out, denouncing the move by Norway, Ireland and Spain as a prize for terrorism. This would be a terrorist state. It would try to carry out the October 7 massacre again and againand that, we shall not agree to, he declared. Foreign Minister Israel Katz recalled Israels ambassadors to Ireland and Norway and warned that further severe consequences could follow. It had already recalled its ambassador to Spain in November after Sanchez accused Tel Aviv of violating international humanitarian law in its war on Gaza. Bezalel Smotrich, finance minister and fascistic leader of the Religious Zionism Party, ordered punitive measures against the PA, cancelling Israels arrangement with Norway to collect taxes on behalf of the Palestinians and transfer funds to the PA, and announced he would revoke all VIP permits for PA officials indefinitely at all crossings and impose additional economic sanctions on senior PA officials and their families. He then approved 10,000 new housing units in the occupied West Bank and issued a directive to build a settlement for each country that recognises Palestine. Both the PA and Hamas welcomed Ireland, Norway and Spains announcement that came the day after International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan applied for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since October 7. Earlier in May, an overwhelming majority of the UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution approving Palestines eligibility to become a full member and urged the Security Council to reconsider the matter favourably after the US vetoed full Palestinian membership. The only genuinely international force that can prevent the drive to war and ensure peace and stability in the region is the international working class, but only if its struggles are unified globally and orientated towards the fight for socialism and the abolition of the nation state system in the Middle East and throughout the worldincluding the dissolution of the existing Israeli state and the creation of a new bi-national socialist federation. The campaign for the freedom of the socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk from his imprisonment by the Ukrainian regime continues to gain support in Australia and New Zealand. Bogdan has been the victim of a political frame-up. He was jailed in late April on the bogus charge of high treason and is threatened with life in prison. David North, the chairperson of the WSWS International Editorial Board, explained in a statement of May 17 that the real reason for his arrest is that Bogdan called for the unity of the Russian, Ukrainian and international working class on a socialist program against imperialist barbarism, including the US/NATO war against Russia. We urge all readers to sign the ICFIs online petition here and send in statements demanding his immediate release. **** Mick Hall [Photo: Twitter] Mick Hall, a New Zealand-based journalist who was the victim of a hysterical McCarthyite campaign Last year, Hall was pushed to resign from Radio New Zealand because he refused to conform to the medias pro-NATO propaganda on the war in Ukraine. The WSWS received the following statement in defence of Bogdan from him. The imprisonment of socialist organiser Bogdan Syrotiuk is an affront of democratic rights and one of several worrying examples of political repression against young people campaigning for a genuine peace across the world, whether it be in Palestine, Ukraine or other places where Western imperialism runs riot. Accusations against the 25-year-old political activist of spreading Russian propaganda and acting as a Kremlin agent, are both spurious and predictable. Falsely conflating a correct appraisal of the Ukrainian proxy war with ideological support for the Kremlin has been a crude means of suppressing dissent and punishing those who have articulated it since the invasion on February 24, 2022. It has now been used to criminalise and incarcerate Bogdan. The conflict makes young working-class Ukrainians like himself cannon-fodder to forward the geopolitical interests of Western elites. Bogdans voice was a threat to those interests and the increasingly tenuous position of the Zelensky regime, which now has no semblance of democratic legitimacy. Zelensky has banned opposition parties and jailed his opponents, while his neo-Nazi allies have murdered others. It is now a classic vassal state of the United States. He has courageously made appeals to unite against those political elites pushing this obscene war, one that may yet end in nuclear annihilation, as NATO pushes for further escalation. The very least we can do is draw attention to his plight and demand his release. Jack Picone, a multi-award-winning Australian-born, Bangkok-based documentary photographer He tweeted the April 30 statement calling for Bogdans release. Bogdan Syrotiuk, has been framed, arrested and incarcerated. His arrest is unlawful, oppressive and draconian. Fighting for Bogdans release is also fighting for an end to the repression of the working class and the sadistic proxy wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Emily, an environmental scientist in Sydney New South Wales Bogdan Syrotiuk was vocal in his opposition to the Ukraine-Russian war that serves as NATOs proxy war against Russia. The Zelensky regime have arrested Bogdan citing clearly false accusations of collusion with Russia. Opposition to this war, in which 500,000 Ukrainians have been killed, is opposition to the unnecessary loss of life of the Ukrainian and Russian working class. The suppression of this antiwar sentiment exposes the class interests of the Zelensky regime, as do the tactics used to falsely incriminate Bogdan which should serve as a warning to all who oppose war. This desperate suppression of the international antiwar youth movement reveal that the Zelensky regime consider Bogdan and his stance a significant threat and reveals the power of the international working class united against war, imperialism, and capitalism. We must demand the immediate release of comrade Bogdan! Zach Zach, a student in Sydney and member of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), the youth arm of the SEP The IYSSE at Western Sydney University echoes the call to workers and youth around the world to come to the defence of our comrade Bogdan Syrotiukthe founder and leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL) in Ukraine. Following his arrest on April 25 by the Security Service of Ukraine, state officials are attempting to present Bogdan as an agent and supporter of the Russian regime through blatant lies. The real crime of Bogdanin the eyes of the Ukrainian regimeis his fight for the principled unity of the Ukrainian and Russian working class in opposition to both the US-NATO backed regime of Zelensky and the oligarchic Putin regime in the midst of this devastating war, which threatens nuclear annihilation. The Ukrainian regime, like its counterparts around the world, is terrified of the very real prospect of revolutionary upheavals as a result of its criminal policies. It realises the significant threat posed by revolutionary leadership like Bogdan Syrotiuk and the YGBL and is attempting to use police-state measures to prolong its survival. The attack on Bogdan is an attack on the entire working class! The genuine enforcers of democracy are the international youth and working class, not the profit-dominated judiciary system of Ukraine, or anywhere else for that matter. In our defence of Bogdan Syrotiuk is the defence of our right to oppose the interests of the bloodthirsty capitalist class. This fight becomes ever more urgent, as the current socioeconomic order marches once more down the path of world war. Workers and students must turn to the ICFI in coordinating strike action and economic struggles against the corporations, universities, governments and union bureaucracies bankrolling and abetting war, genocide and the destruction of basic living conditions, making part of your demands Bogdans immediate release! Kirsten Burns, a screen writer in South Australia BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. The Palestinian Hamas movement is ready to reach an agreement with Israel on a settlement in the Gaza Strip if Israeli forces stop military actions in the enclave, a statement published on the Telegram channel of the Palestinian movement says, Trend reports. According to the information, the Hamas leadership conveyed to the mediators its firm position that the movement is ready to reach a full agreement if the war and aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip stops. This also reportedly includes comprehensive hostage exchange agreements. Young Ukrainian models win the hearts of not only domestic brands but also foreign luxury manufacturers. That's how 10-year-old Yasna became the face of Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger, and thousands, if not millions, of Americans have watched her images. ADVERTISIMENT The girl was born in Miami, where she quickly mastered the profession of modeling, but now lives in Ukraine. Her mother, photographer Alina Rost, told OBOZ.UA exclusively that she did not expect her daughter's charisma to catch the attention of the world's top brands at once. Little Yasna's career began to develop rapidly. Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Carter's, Next, and Kenneth Cole are among the brands she has worked with. But her modeling career started with Ralph Lauren and a few mishaps of her mother. ADVERTISIMENT "The first shoot in Yasna's life was for Ralph Lauren, she was chosen based on the portfolio photos I took. When I received a message from the agency that she had been chosen and that they were going to try on clothes tomorrow, I didn't take it seriously. I thought there must be some kind of letter or call, so I ignored it. In the evening, I got a call from the agent asking why we didn't come. I had to come up with a reason, and the next day we were at the fitting. That is, we didn't even go through any auditions. In fact, it was a very powerful start, because after this shooting we started receiving offers from top companies," Alina Rost admitted. ADVERTISIMENT As Yasna's mother told us, she also had various twists and turns with shooting for other brands. Sometimes she couldn't believe her daughter's success. "I had an interesting experience shooting for Calvin Klein. At first, I had to fly to New York for a casting call, and at my own expense. There I realized that we were going to miss out because there were hundreds of children, one more beautiful than the other. But our agent was sure that they would choose Yasna! Because they look not only at beauty, but also at the portfolio, behavior on camera, and many other nuances that we don't even know about. We spent two days wandering around New York waiting for the results - and she was indeed chosen! I still have the message from the Calvin Klein team about this incredible news," the photographer continued. ADVERTISIMENT With the outbreak of the full-scale war in Russia, Kenneth Cole supported Ukrainians, and when they learned that one of the models of their advertising campaign was young Yasna, they could not stand aside and made a gift to the family: exclusive patriotic shoes. "When the full-scale invasion began, I saw that everywhere on the signs and windows of the famous American brand Kenneth Cole it was written "We stand with Ukraine". I decided to send them a letter thanking them for their support and informing them that one of their models, a girl named Yasna, is Ukrainian. The company responded immediately and offered to give us a gift shoes for me and my daughters. A few days later we received sneakers with blue and yellow laces! It was very nice," said Alina Rost. ADVERTISIMENT In particular, she added that the shoots often featured world-famous photographers who collaborated with Ukrainian stylist and fashion director of Vogue Ukraine Yulia Pelipas, and shot children for the covers of Vogue kids. Interestingly, Alina Rost and her husband chose an unusual name for their youngest daughter before their first child was born. The Serbian director Emir Kusturica was their inspiration. "My husband and I chose the name Yasna a long time ago, even before our first daughter was born. We were very fond of the films of the Serbian director Emir Kusturica, who, unfortunately, turned out to be a Putin propagandist. One of his films featured a girl named Jasna. My husband and I were very fond of this unusual name, and we firmly decided that if we had a daughter, we would name her that way. After some time, I gave birth to a girl, but somehow we felt that the name Yasna did not suit her, so we named her Miriam. And when another girl was born a year and a half later, the name Yasna was already waiting for her, and there was no doubt about it," the photographer recalled. ADVERTISIMENT It is worth noting that with the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war, Alina Rost and her daughters returned to their homeland in a village in Bukovyna after 13 years in the United States. The photographer spoke about the difficulties of living in Ukraine and working with leading stars in an interview with OBOZ.UA. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Hollywood actor Nick Pasqual has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing his former girlfriend multiple times. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday that Pasqual, 34, had been charged with one count of attempted murder, a count of first-degree residential burglary with a person present, and one count of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiance, boyfriend, girlfriend or child's parent. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, officials said. The DA's office did not identify the victim but Entertainment Tonight reports Pasqual is accused of stabbing makeup artist Allie Shehorn, and a GoFundMe was launched to cover Shehorn's medical expenses. Pasqual allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend's Los Angeles home at around 4:30 in the morning on May 23, the district attorney's office said in a news release, and proceeded to stab her "multiple times." Shehorn, who had recently filed a restraining order against Pasqual, was hospitalized with critical injuries. The GoFundMe said the makeup artist was "fighting for her life" after being hospitalized. Shehorn was in the intensive care unit for several days, according to the fundraiser, and has undergone multiple surgeries, including a procedure to repair severed tendons in her right arm and a surgery to close wounds in her neck. Allie Shehorn attends a Los Angeles screening in Jan. 2019. / Credit: Michael Tullberg / Getty Images "No one deserves to endure such a traumatic experience, especially someone as compassionate and caring as Allie," reads the GoFundMe page. Pasqual allegedly fled the city after the stabbing. An arrest warrant was issued, and he was detained at a U.S.-Mexico border checkpoint in Texas, according to the district attorney's office. Officials said Pasqual will be extradited back to Los Angeles to face charges. An arraignment date has not yet been scheduled, the district attorney's office said. The Los Angeles Police Department is continuing to investigate the case, officials said. Shehorn has done makeup for projects like Rebel Moon: Part 1, Mean Girls and Babylon, ET reports. Pasqual appeared in Rebel Moon: Part 1, as well as How I Met Your Mother and Archive 81, according to his IMDB page. "My thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the victim in this horrific incident," District Attorney George Gascon said in the news release. "Our office, including our Bureau of Victim Services, extends our support and resources to her as she embarks on the long and difficult journey of healing from both the physical and emotional trauma inflicted upon her. This heinous incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence. We will ensure that the individual responsible for this egregious act is held accountable for their actions." Second American sentenced after ammo found in luggage in Turks and Caicos Supreme Court allows NRA free speech lawsuit to move forward Video shows family being carjacked in their own driveway with children inside car in Mississippi Cris MJs love for reggaeton was instilled in him by his parents. I didnt watch cartoons growing up, I watched reggaeton music videos, he tells Billboard admitting that when he was eight years old, he would imitate urban artists at his school talent shows. Inspired by old-school reggaeton acts, such as Daddy Yankee, Jory and Nengo Flow, as well as American Trap artists Travis Scott, Drake and Lil Baby, the emerging Chilean artist decided to teach himself how to make music. More from Billboard His first creations were music videos recorded on his iPhone and songs uploaded by himself on DistroKid it was difficult for a reggaeton artist to get support here, he explains, especially in his hometown of La Serena (located on the coast of Chile). However, he intended to make a name for himself by uploading Spanish covers of some of his favorite English rap and trap songs on social media. At one point of his career, Cris who has spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart with his FloyyMenor-assisted Gata Only fell into a depression, and almost quit music. He explains that he didnt believe in his project because of negative comments he heard on the streets. But his leap of faith arrived in 2020, when he moved to the capital of Santiago, and unleashed his first official single called Como Tu Ninguna, a catchy urban-mambo that locally put him on the map. I like doing all styles of music, but overall with futuristic beats or beats that I can vibe with, he says. The song that ultimately opened all doors for him, however, arrived in 2022: Una Noche en Medellin a hard-hitting perreo that highlights the vibrant Colombian nightlife. After going viral on TikTok, it landed on Karol Gs radar, who later jumped on the remix, invited fellow Colombian Ryan Castro to join in, and even included it on her Manana Sera Bonito (Bichota Season) album. The powerful collaboration which Karol & Cris first performed together at the 2023 Vina del Marearned the Chilean act his first Hot 100 entry, when it debuted at No. 68 last year in August. Cris MJ Una Noche En Medellin Now, following his debut albums Welcome to My World (2022) and Partyson (2023), Cris continues to herald the Chilean reggaeton movement with Gata Only. Similar to Medellin, the infectious reggaeton track about going after an attractive girl skyrocketed on the charts after building virality on social media. The seven-week No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs marks the first time any Chilean artist has entered the top 10 since La Ley and Ednita Nazarios Tu Sabes Bien peaked at No. 8 in 1999. Prior to that, it was Myriam Hernandezs Huele a Peligro, which peaked at No. 5 in 1998. For us, this is very important. Its a pride for all Latinos to be on that chart, Cris said to Billboard in a previous interview. In fact, before we released the song, I knew it was going to be a global hit. Im proud because its not only helping my career, but also the one of my colleagues. Cris is currently making the rounds with his latest track Si No Es Contigo. Below, learn more about this months Latin Artist on the Rise. Name: Christopher Andres Alvarez Garcia Age: 22 Recommended Song: Una Noche en Medellin Whats Next?: Following an extensive tour in Mexico, the Chilean artist is headed to Europe, where he will spend nearly two months touring. He also plans on releasing new music, including a collaboration with Junior H and Bryant Myers. Biggest accomplishment: Cris MJ says his biggest career accomplishment so far has been to be able to buy his car and own a home in Santiago. In addition to making history on the Billboard charts, hes also nominated at the 2024 Heat Latin Music Awards (Premios Heat). Best of Billboard TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Disney and Florida havent always gotten along. Between a back-and-forth about Floridas Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed the Dont Say Gay bill by critics, to legal battles over control of the land around Walt Disney World, the corporations contentious relationship with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is well documented. Despite the uneasy tensions between the states leadership and the owner of The Most Magical Place On Earth, Disneys CEO Bob Iger has been promising a large Florida expansion for more than a year, and next week the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District will vote on a new development agreement to bring those promises to life, NBC affiliate WESH reports. If the district, that oversees the Walt Disney World property, approves the agreement, what can fans expect from Disneys big expansion? A 5th Disney World Park The biggest perk of the new development would be the addition of a fifth major park, joining the likes of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. Two minor parks would also join Disneys smaller attractions like Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and Disney Springs. WESH said the agreement lays out $17 billion within the next 10 to 20 years, with a minimum of $8 billion invested in the first decade. More Places to Eat and Stay Three more parks would mean more than a handful of new guests visiting the parks, which means the need for places to stay would rise. The agreement spells out an additional 13,666 rooms and 269,665 square feet of new restaurants and retail space, WESH reported. The additional space, alongside the 39,801 hotel rooms already on Disneys property, would increase the companys retail and restaurant space to 1,732,887 square feet once the expansion is complete. More Attainable Housing Disney would also need more people to work at its expanded parks and to help facilitate that job growth the company is reportedly committing $10 million towards attainable housing. The investment in Orange County would earmark new homes for low-income households earning up to $77,200, 80% of the median income in the area, WESH reports. With Walt Disney Worlds substantial investments, we anticipate economic growth, job creation, and support for local businesses, alongside environmental stewardship and workforce housing initiatives, benefitting Central Floridas community, Stephanie Kopelousos, administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, told WESH. Disneys plans for a new park coincide with Universals Epic Universe expansion, which is set to open next year. Disney has not announced the name, location, or theme for the new park. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Kanye West's Wife Bianca Censori Shows Off Assets in Racy Jumpsuit as the Couple Returns to Italy Kanye West and Bianca Censori Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori is back at it again with her signature look. The Yeezy architectural designer, who tied the knot with the "Jesus Walks" artist in Dec. 2022, has become known for her racy ensembles, rarely departing from outfits that show off her assets. Now, the couple has returned to Italywhere they were previously disgraced and banned from a Venice water taxi company after putting on a super risque display involving "indecent exposure"and Censori revived one of her most frequented go-to trends: the cheeky no-pants bodysuit look. Related: Kanye West's Wife Bianca Censori Rocks Curve-Hugging Bodysuit During Date Night at Denny's In new photos of the pair stepping out, the 29-year-old appeared with the musical artist while donning a white pearl-colored one-piece leotard thong bodysuit, paired with knee-high sandal-boots. Her hair was worn slicked back in a bun and she once again covered the front part of her body by holding a pillow as an accessory. The couple looked to be keeping their somber public nature, with Censori clutching the square household item in her arms and keeping a straight facial expression. West, who now formally goes by Ye, matched his wife in an all-white ensemble comprised of a hoodie, loose pants and sneakers. See the images here. Censori's outfit has become a popular style among stars, with several Hollywood notables seemingly taking a page out of Censori's fashion book and rocking no-pants or tights-only styles. Even the 24-time Grammy winner's ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, has been accused on multiple occasions of trying to emulate the Australian woman. However, it doesn't seem that would be such a far cry, as it has been rumored that Ye curates Censori's fashion looks, just as he used to do with Kardashian as well. Next: Bianca Censori Sports Sudden Style Change While Dining With Parents Sans Kanye West Lindsie Chrisley says she is learning about the value of the family you choose versus the family you are born into. The eldest of the Chrisley kids talked more about her estrangement from her relatives, including sister Savannah, on the latest episode of her podcast, People Magazine reported. You dont necessarily prioritize the people that God gave you, but you prioritize the relationships that add value to your life, she said. And someone who you choose as family might not be blood-related, but you consider them more family than your own family. The contention between Lindsie and the rest of the Chrisley family has been an ongoing thing for several years now. Last month, Savannah told Lindsie she was not welcome at her parents hearing in Atlanta in front of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, as Todd and Julie continue to appeal their fraud convictions. My sister privately let the message get to us that she did not want us present at the hearing. And it was shared with me that if we were there, there would be issues and that we would be asked to leave. ... Its mind-blowing to me, the control and manipulation. It very much alarms me and Im just going to leave it at that, Lindsie said at the time. Savannah admitted it too. I most certainly told her privately to not attend. I told her that she was not wanted, that my dad did not want her there, and that he didnt care to have a relationship with her, Savannah said. RELATED STORIES: Savannah then brought up Lindsies alleged involvement in helping with their parents convictions. It hates [sic] me to even discuss this but the record has to be set straight, Savannah said. In an interview with Channel 2 Action News in 2019, Lindsie denied she had anything to do with her fathers conviction. Ive told my dad, I dont want you to go to jail, she said. Ive told my legal counsel, I dont want my parents to go to jail. I dont want to be involved in this. They brought me into this. This was not a choice that I made. She then made allegations that Todd and her stepbrother were threatening her, claiming to have purchased a sex tape she believed could exist. Lindsie said the pair wanted her to lie about an incident and if she refused to do so they were going to release the sex tape involving her. The incident refers to what ultimately led to Todd and Julies conviction. Lindsie Chrisley and her attorney, Musa Ghanayem, said she was never involved with any investigation into the family. All of a sudden, they say shes the one out there, responsible for the federal indictment and at the point, I have to go out and say, Thats just not true, Ghanayem told Channel 2 Action News at the time. In a statement to Channel 2 Action News at the time, Todd Chrisley denied the extortion claims. As I said before, Im at a loss as to why Lindsie is saying these terrible untrue things about her brother and me, Todd Chrisleys statement read. But whatever she says, she is still my daughter. I have always loved her, I will always love her, and I am here for her. Todd and Julie Chrisley, best known for the reality series Chrisley Knows Best, were found guilty of criminal bank fraud and tax evasion in June 2022. Channel 2 Action News first started investigating the Chrisleys in 2017, when we learned that Todd Chrisley had likely evaded paying Georgia state income taxes for several years. Court documents obtained by Channel 2 Action News showed that by 2018, the Chrisleys owed the state nearly $800,000 in liens. The couple eventually went to trial and a federal jury found them guilty of bank fraud and tax evasion. RELATED NEWS: EXCLUSIVE: Munya Chawawa is taking his BAFTA-nominated How to Survive a Dictator brand to one of the most notorious places on Earth. The viral comedian is shining a spotlight on North Koreas Kim Jong-Un via a Channel 4 doc from Late Night Lycett producer Rumpus Media, which will be at Sheffield DocFest next month. More from Deadline Chawawa, known for his recognizable brand of satirical humor and a regular on British TV, will head to Switzerland, Seoul and suburban West London for How to Survive a Dictator: North Korea, tracking down a school friend of Kims and meeting the people who have seen the effects of the Kim regime first hand. In the West, Kim is often presented as a maniac ready to blow up the world, but he has confounded critics during his 12-year reign, enjoying bromances with Donald Trump, Dennis Rodman and Vladimir Putin. Its been tricky to not feel a sense of apocalypse anxiety recently and a lot of that stems from North Korea and Kim Jong Un, so doing this doc has not only been fascinating, but also given me a strange sense of closure, said Chawawa. Chawawas first How to Survive a Dictator explored Zimbabwes Robert Mugabe, earning the team a BAFTA nominee in the Specialist Factual category. Channel 4 specialist factual boss Shaminder Nahal added: In his utterly unique style Munya Chawawa, with the exceptional team from Rumpus lead by Iain Wimbush, will explore the world of Kim Jong Un in a surprising and compelling way. Ex-Rumpus boss Wimbush is EPing the project with Morgan Roberts but has exited Rumpus and is currently in the process of setting up his own indie. Producer/director is Tomasz Frymorgan. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Paramore is speaking out on the ongoing violence in the Israel-Hamas war following a deadly airstrike in the Gaza region over the weekend. The Grammy-winning rock band took to its Instagram Stories Wednesday to encourage fans to donate to humanitarian relief organizations Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders. The group wrote that it "stand(s) in solidarity with those calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire." "We do not believe that support for our Palestinian friends and family equals anti-Semitism," the band wrote. "We love our Jewish friends and family and pray for the safe return of the remaining hostages. That being said, we simply cannot support a genocide." More: After Israel's strike on Rafah ignites outrage, Netanyahu deflects blame, vows to fight on Celebrities such as Paramore (pictured), Dua Lipa, Katy Perry and others are calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war after a deadly Israeli airstrike. On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike triggered a massive blaze killing 45 people in a tent camp in the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, prompting an outcry from global leaders who urged the implementation of a World Court order to halt the assault. A spokesperson for the Israeli military said Tuesday that a secondary explosion likely sparked a fire that set the tents nearby ablaze, not the initial strike. The airstrike marks one of the deadliest incidents in the nearly eight-month Israel-Hamas war, which began in October 2023 when militant group Hamas launched a series of surprise attacks on Israel. Other stars such as Dua Lipa, Katy Perry and John Legend are lending their voices to the humanitarian crisis. Dua Lipa urges fans to 'show solidarity with Gaza' Lipa, who has previously been vocal in her support of a ceasefire, shared an Artists for Ceasefire graphic on her Instagram Stories Tuesday, according to Billboard and Rolling Stone. She included the hashtag "#AllEyesOnRafah" in the post. "Burning children alive can never be justified," Lipa wrote, per the outlets. "The whole world is mobilizing to stop the Israeli genocide. Please show your solidarity with Gaza." Kehlani criticizes artists not speaking out on Israel-Hamas war In an Instagram video posted Monday, Kehlani criticized her music industry peers who have refrained from discussing the Israel-Hamas war publicly. "We dont sell out shows without A CROWD FULL OF PEOPLE," Kehlani wrote in the post's caption. "The songs dont chart without PEOPLE. The trends dont trend without PEOPLE. You dont draw a line at beheaded babies or people burnt alive after seven months of plenty of other atrocities?" She added: "(I dont care) about the rollout, the formula, the strategy, the algorithm at this point. Im begging (YOU) TO BE PEOPLE. BE A (expletive) HUMAN BEING." Jenna Ortega blasts lack of ceasefire after Rafah airstrike Following the Rafah airstrike last weekend, Jenna Ortega underscored the importance of a ceasefire by sharing an idyllic photo of what appears to be a Gazan family on Instagram. "Masses debating over a ceasefire while thousands upon thousands of children continue being slaughtered," Ortega wrote Tuesday. "Where is the humanity." Katy Perry joins call for 'immediate ceasefire' in Israel-Hamas war On Wednesday, Perry reposted a graphic from the humanitarian aid organization UNICEF on Instagram. The graphic contained a message calling for "an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and an end to the senseless killing of children." "A military besiegement and ground incursion in Rafah, Gaza, poses a catastrophic risk to the children sheltering there," the caption on Perry's repost read. "Many of the children camped in Rafah have been displaced multiple times and have lost homes, parents and loved ones. Thousands are injured, malnourished, traumatized or living with disabilities. "They must be protected, along with the few remaining basic services and infrastructure they need to survive." Bella Hadid pays homage to Palestinian heritage, calls attention to 'genocide' in Gaza Bella Hadid penned an emotional Instagram post Tuesday, in which she encouraged her fans to stay up to date on the Israel-Hamas conflict and its impact on the Palestinian people. The post also featured a photo of Hadid wearing a red and white dress that paid homage to the Keffiyeh, a traditional headscarf in Palestinian culture. "While I still have to go to work, even through this horror, to wear our culture makes me a proud Palestinian (and) I want the world to continue to see Palestine, wherever we go." "If you dont know whats happening right now in Gaza, watch my stories (and find other accounts leading to Palestinians on the ground) and please educate yourself on the ongoing occupation and genocide that is happening RIGHT NOW in Gaza," Hadid wrote. "Do not be desensitized to the horror that is being endured by the Palestinian people." John Legend, Chrissy Teigen donate $200K in humanitarian aid In an Instagram post Tuesday, Legend shared that he and wife Chrissy Teigen each donated $100,000 to Save the Children and are joining the humanitarian relief organization in its demand for a "definitive ceasefire." "Nowhere is safe in Gaza," Legend wrote. "Children are being killed at a devastating rate, whole families are being wiped out. The worst-case scenario is becoming a reality. Children and their families need more than words, they need action." He concluded: "There is no alternative. (A ceasefire) is the only way to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance and ensure the release of all remaining hostages." Contributing: Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY; Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Dan Williams, Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paramore, Dua Lipa, more stars call for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war In an excerpt taken from Prince Harrys bombshell memoir, Spare, the Duke of Sussex recalled the time he tried to arrange a secret meeting between his father, King Charles, and his older brother, Prince William, to discuss the state of their relationship. In a section of the book, Prince Harry shared how he flew back to London in April 2021 to attend the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip, who passed away on April 9, 2021. FYI, this was the first time Prince Harry returned home since he and his wife, Meghan Markle, relinquished their senior titles in January 2020. According to the memoir (reshared by CNN), the royal spare detailed how he wanted to talk to his dad and older brother about the state of things. Prince Harry wrote, So, though Id flown home specifically and solely for Grandpas funeral, while there Id asked for this secret meeting with my older brother, Willy [aka Prince William], and my father [to] talk about the state of things. To find a way out. Jack Taylor/Getty Images The royal spare continued, I tried to explain my side of things. I wasnt at my best. For starters, I was still nervous, fighting to keep my emotions in check, while also striving to be succinct and precise. In the book, Prince Harry also explained how his dad and brother had come ready for a fight during the arranged meeting. While noting the high tension with his brother, the Duke of Sussex shared that the monarch pleaded with them to not make my final years a misery. This isnt the first time Prince Harry has detailed the strained relationship with William. In a separate excerpt from Spare, the duke detailed the moment he believed that he lost Prince William (at least as he knew him up until that point) forever. In the book, the father of two referred to Prince William marrying his now-wife, Kate Middleton, as a final farewell. CHRIS JACKSON/GETTY IMAGES The brother Id escorted into Westminster Abbey that morning was goneforever, Prince Harry wrote. Who could deny it? Hed never again be first and foremost Willy. Wed never again ride together across the Lesotho countryside with capes blowing behind us. Wed never again share a horsey-smelling cottage while learning to fly. Who shall separate us? Life, thats who. Prince Harry Was in Full-on Rockstar Mode During Return to England Stay up-to-date on every breaking royal family story by subscribing here. Action star turned Putin pal Steven Seagal delivered a painful speech at the Kremlin on Thursday as he was presented with an award for his dubious accomplishments as the Kremlins special diplomatic representative to the U.S. Staring down at a prepared text, the Under Siege star dispassionately urged those in attendance to come together and fight for truth and justice against Nazi propaganda after the Russian president awarded him the Order of Friendship for his great contribution to international cultural cooperation. Reciting a list of the Kremlins fantastical claims about Ukraine about as convincingly as if he were reading the ingredients on the back of a cereal box, Seagal wondered aloud why the world would not wake up to Ukraines supposed history of human trafficking, organ trafficking, narco trafficking, child sex traffickingjust about all the traffickingsbio-chemical warfare labs, fascism, and nazism. And these are the things that we still tried to make them our brothers, he said clumsily in English. This war that we are currently embroiled in was started and financed by the West, and has come to involve the entire world in the fight against good and evil. Seagal, 72, was personally given a Russian passport by Vladimir Putin in 2016 and in 2018 was appointed a special envoy to facilitate relations between Russia and the United States in the humanitarian field, including cooperation in culture, arts, public and youth exchanges. Its unclear what he has accomplished in that role, if anything, as he seems to serve more as a personal cheerleader for the Russian president. At Putins swearing-in ceremony for his fifth term earlier this month, Seagal told reporters, Hes the greatest world leader, hes the greatest. 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. CCTV: The Signing Ceremony of Kunming Biodiversity Fund was held in Beijing. Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang attended the event. Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Inger Andersen, who also attended the ceremony, said that the launch of the fund is a tremendous contribution China has made to developing countries, as it shows support for developing countries in biodiversity conservation and restoration. What is your comment? Mao Ning: The Chinese government attaches great importance to biodiversity conservation, and is committed to working with all countries to build a community of all life on Earth. China has taken the lead to invest RMB 1.5 billion for the founding of the Fund, just as it was announced by President Xi Jinping at COP15. On the morning of May 28, China, the United Nations Environment Programme and the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office together signed cooperation agreements to officially launch the Fund. The Fund will stick to the approach of multilateralism and internationalized operation, work primarily through providing grants, and focus on the three major goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity, namely, conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of the components of biodiversity, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits, so as to support biodiversity conservation in developing countries and contribute to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. China is ready to work with the international community and, through the Fund, deepen international cooperation and build global synergy on biodiversity conservation, so as to create a better future of harmony between humanity and nature. AFP: The US Justice Department announced yesterday that it has dismantled a global malware network and arrested a Chinese national. Does the Chinese side know about the case? Can you share more details? Mao Ning: I do not have details about the case. What I can tell you is that China firmly opposes and fights against all cyber crimes. Reuters: RIA News Agency cited Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying that China could arrange a peace conference in which Russia and Ukraine would participate. Would China arrange such a conference? If so, when and what other parties would China invite? Mao Ning: On the Ukraine issue, China has always upheld a just and objective position and worked hard to promote talks for peace. The four principles laid out by President Xi Jinping form Chinas fundamental approach in seeking a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. We encourage and support all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful resolution of the crisis, and support an international peace conference held at a proper time that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans. China stands ready to maintain communication with the international community on pushing for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. AFP: On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, President Xi Jinping said today that China supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference. Where and under what conditions does China hope this peace conference to be held? Mao Ning: The full text of President Xi Jinpings keynote speech at the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum today has been released, which you may refer to. President Xi Jinping stated in the speech Chinas position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He stressed that war should not continue indefinitely, justice should not be absent forever, and commitment to the two-State solution should not be wavered at will. China supports Palestines full membership in the UN, and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference. This is Chinas most authoritative position. On the international peace conference, I dont have more to add. Yonhap News Agency: The DPRK today fired over 10 projectiles that appeared to be short-range ballistic missiles. The UN Secretary-General condemned the DPRKs attempted launch of a reconnaissance satellite on May 27, saying any launch using ballistic missile technology is contrary to the relevant Security Council resolutions. What is Chinas position on the DPRKs launch of a satellite on May 27 and the launch of ballistic missiles today? Mao Ning: China noted the reports. Chinas position on the Korean Peninsula issue is consistent. I have nothing new to add. Shenzhen TV: The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States was just held in Antigua and Barbuda. China sent a delegation to the conference. How do you comment on the event? Mao Ning: The decennial International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is the most important international conference under the framework of the UN for advancing the development of SIDS. As special members of the big family of world nations, SIDS have achieved remarkable progress in economic and social development, while facing challenges such as frequent natural disasters and lack of economic diversification. In-depth discussions at this years conference focused on the theme of Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity, and sent a strong message of upholding multilateralism, seeking strength through unity and pursuing common development. The outcome document, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, is of vital importance, as it will serve as the platform of action for the international community in supporting the development of SIDS in the next ten years. Representative of the Chinese government and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu attended and addressed the conference. He put forward Chinas four-point proposition: first, uphold multilateralism and support SIDSs equal participation in global governance; second, put development first and support SIDS in implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; third, uphold solidarity and cooperation, and support SIDSs response to climate change; and fourth, encourage innovation and support SIDS in strengthening the ability of self-driven development. Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu stressed that China always views SIDS as important development partners. We have worked actively to assist the development of SIDS to the best of our capability, set up several cooperation platforms under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and so on, and deepened practical cooperation with SIDS, delivering tangible benefit to the local people. China stands ready to work with all parties to actively implement the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, respond to the urgent needs of the people of SIDS, fully support SIDS in moving toward more resilient and lasting prosperity, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind. Dragon TV: A court in Hong Kong today issued the verdict on the case of conspiring to commit subversion. Certain Western country pointed fingers at the ruling. What is Chinas comment? Mao Ning: Hong Kong is a society under the rule of law. To abide by the law and bring lawbreakers to justice is a basic principle. No one should be allowed to use democracy as a pretext to engage in unlawful activities and escape justice. The Central Government firmly supports the law enforcement and judicial authorities in the Hong Kong SAR in carrying out their duties in accordance with the law and punishing all acts that undermine national security, and firmly opposes certain countrys interference in Chinas internal affairs and attempt to smear and undermine Hong Kongs rule of law by using relevant case. Reuters: The European Commission will postpone its decision on Chinese electric vehicle tariffs until after the European Parliament election on June 9, according to a Reuters report. Does the Ministry have a response to this? Mao Ning: China has stated its position multiple times on the EUs anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of EVs from China. Let me just say that the nature of the investigation is protectionist. There are many practices in the investigation that are simply unjustifiable and inconsistent with the rules and the EUs accusation of Chinas so-called subsidization is untenable. China urges the EU to stop the investigation as soon as possible so as not to disrupt China-EU economic and trade cooperation and the stability of industrial and supply chains. If the EU insists on continuing with the investigation, China will not sit back and watch. We will take every necessary measure to firmly safeguard our lawful rights and interests. Ivan, the son of Ihor Pelykh, a well-known TV presenter in the 2000s who died in a car accident at the age of 35, has been fighting at the front since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion and has received a decoration from Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The 22-year-old is currently defending Ukraine in the Sumy region, and earlier he fought with the Russians in Donbas. ADVERTISIMENT Ivan Pelykh often posts photos from the war zone on Instagram, so he shared the award in a story. As can be seen on the document for the award, the Minister of Defense issued the order on April 24. In addition to Umerov's signature, it also bears his seal. "It's all very well, but can I have a Glock instead, please?" commented Ivan Pelykh. By the way, the Glock is a semi-automatic pistol. It is considered one of the best in the world for its light weight. Previously, Bohdan Tsybmal, a senior sergeant with the Azov Brigade of the National Guard, received a Glock 19X as a gift for "exemplary performance of military and official duty, honor and valor." ADVERTISIMENT Ivan Pelykh occasionally shares photos from his service on social media, where he reports on trophy weapons, their testing, new achievements, and training. The man posts his photos under the hashtag #waronfilm to document this part of his life. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah isnt even two years old yet, but hes already making history! The Ghana native put a new age group on the map to look out for when it comes to creativity and expression. According to the Guinness World Records, the toddler gained attention due to his painting at just 12 months and 152 days old. On May 22, the organization officially recognized him as the youngest artist in the world, and his mother Chantelle Ankrah couldnt be more proud of her son. As they say, the apple does fall far from the tree. Being around his mother who is also an artist, Ace-Liam watching her while she was in her creative zone painting likely inspired him to pick up a brush, Because Of Them We Can reported. She shared with the outlet her sons interest in art began when he was only six months old. He was learning to crawl when he came across a piece of canvas his mother put on the ground with specs of paint to keep his attention while she worked. While learning to crawl, I spread out a piece of unstretched canvas on the floor and dropped some paint on it as a way to keep him busy while I worked on a commission painting, Chantelle told the publication. He ended up spreading the paint all over the canvas, and in the process, he created his first masterpiece titled The Crawl. It was clear that he found a lot of joy in it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ace-Liam | youngest Artist GWR holder (@ace_liam_paints) After accidentally hand-painting his first masterpiece, Chantelle helped nurture her sons gift because she felt it was his happy place. As he continued to paint, his natural talent shined through and he caught the eyes of local and national art fans and the media as they were amazed by his talent. Even the First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo, is a fan of his work. Due to Ace-Liams age, conversations have been happening around stimulating childrens interests in whatever they are drawn to. He has created a buzz and heightened the conversation about art appreciation, Chantelle said. As well as discovering and nurturing talents in kids. The young painters debut exhibition was The Soundout Premium Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Technology in Ghana. Out of the 10 pieces of artwork he painted for the showcase, nine were sold. The bold and vibrant colors used in his paintings to tell his experiences help his passion burst through the canvas. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ace-Liam | youngest Artist GWR holder (@ace_liam_paints) Encourage and support your childs interests, no matter how early they appear, Chantelle said. Every child is unique, and nurturing their passions can lead to amazing discoveries and achievements. Around the Sound: Support our national treasures at Pints for the Parks Raise a pint to (and some money for) Washingtons national parks this weekend! Eatonvilles Mill Haus Cider Co. is partnering with Washingtons National Park Fund and is hosting the Pints for the Parks event this Sunday, June 2. This event is a testament to our shared commitment to the preservation and upkeep of our national parks. From 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., your participation will directly contribute to the preservation of our parks, as a portion of the proceeds from the night will be donated to WNPF. Washingtons National Park Fund is the official philanthropic partner of Mt. Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. The WNPF is known for providing crucial resources and equipment, maintenance and research, and upkeep for the park and its natural landscapes. This event location, just 30 minutes away from one of Mt. Rainiers entrances, is ideal for the occasion. Its also a celebration of Mt. Rainiers 125th anniversary, said Mill Haus Cider Co. Event Coordinator Bree Anderson. The mountain also holds a spot near and dear to Mill Haus co-owner Steve Schmidt. Mt. Rainier is a major key player in pulling people out here. Especially from the town. We have a lot of people who come here from over two hours away, and theyre not coming to just the Mill Haus a lot of times; theyre coming to Mt. Rainier, said Schmidt. Schmidt says Mill Haus has become a gathering place for people near and far. He adds that the crowds the cider house can attract sometimes reach the hundreds, so when it comes to fundraising for special events. Its really nice because we can raise a fair amount of money to help those causes, he said. Mill Haus will host many more events and markets this summer. Their website has a list of their upcoming schedule. Canon launches Women Who Empower campaign in Nigeria to combat gender inequality in the visual arts Canon Central and North Africa has teamed up with Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) to launch the Women Who Empower Women campaign across Nigeria. The initiative aims to uplift and empower women in the imaging and print industries, offering workshops, networking events, and mentorship programs with Canon representatives and industry professionals. International Womens Day, which takes place annually on March 08, had the theme of 'Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress' this year. Other taglines included 'Count Her In: Accelerating Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment'. WISCAR was set up in 2008 inspired by "a keenly felt societal need", according to its website. During her long career, founder and chairperson Amina Oyagbola "constantly recognized a gaping need for an institutional framework that would provide to professional women inspiration, motivation, guidance, and support to help them better navigate their different career pathways." Women in Nigeria account for 70% of the countrys extremely poor, according to ActionAid Nigeria. However, they comprise only 49.3% of the general population. The gender gap in economic participation and opportunity "remains a significant concern," adds ActionAid. Only 56% of women are part of the labor force, compared to 80% for men, and women earn 45% less than men in similar roles. ABOVE: Canon celebrates the first phase of Women Who Empower The ability to become self-employed is often considered a key stepping stone in economic empowerment, and women only account for 41% of enterprises, which are often smaller in scale to men. Self-employed women also face challenges accessing educational, financial and marketing opportunities. The Women Who Empower Women campaign was launched on May 15 with a series of workshops in printing, photography, and content creation, with both theory and practical sessions. The classes involve technical instruction, foundational theory and a month of supervised Canon equipment practice. The content creation course is led by renowned Nigerian cinematographer, Daniel Ehimen, and the photography and printing courses will be taught by Emmanuel Oyeleke, a well-known lifestyle photographer in Nigeria and Canon ambassador. All resources will be provided by Canon, and all participants will be given certificates, as well as valuable feedback. "WISCAR is excited to partner with Canon to empower women in the imaging and print industries," says Oyagbola. "This collaboration underscores our commitment to providing women with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed in their professional endeavors. Together, we will pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society in Nigeria." Check out our guide to the best Canon cameras in 2024, as well as the best Canon lenses for DSLRs. We've also put together the definitive guide to the best Canon RF lenses, and the best Canon telephoto lenses. The Graham Vineyard and Winery on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Laingsburg. LAINGSBURG Heather McDonald and her husband Michael hosted weddings at their property for four years before she realized there was room for more on the 6 1/2 acres off West Britton Road. Almost half the land was vacant and covered with small trees: "I think we should make it a vineyard," Heather McDonald remembers telling Michael. It took the McDonalds more than two years to create Graham Vineyard and Winery, where grapes will be grown and wine, cider and non-alcoholic juices will be made and sold onsite. They also plan a food menu featuring pizza, charcuterie boards and salads. The business, which opens June 7, will co-exist with Graham Banquet Center, the wedding venue they've run on the property since 2016. Graham Vineyard and Winery owners Michael and Heather McDonald on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Laingsburg. The vineyard and winery will offer a relaxed, kid-friendly atmosphere, and wines that appeal to different palates, the McDonalds said. "We want the whole family to come," Heather McDonald said. A property with history Heather McDonald had a decade of event planning experience when she opened the Graham Banquet Center. She's hosted hundreds of weddings and receptions there in the last eight years. Before the McDonalds bought the property, 8920 W. Britton Road, it was home to Graham Church. The white, 1,600-square-foot chapel on the property was built 154 years ago and once hosted religious services. Today the couple utilize it for wedding celebrations. A 250-seat ballroom attached to the chapel, built in the 1990s, is more than double the size of the chapel. A view of the ballroom at Graham Vineyard and Winery on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Laingsburg. "We've done a lot, decorative-wise, to the interior in both buildings," Heather McDonald said. "We built the patio out on the outside of the ballroom, and we've built a stage for bands to play out there. There's a nice picnic table area, market lights and an outdoor bar. We've got an old-fashioned truck out there and a vintage wagon with wine barrels on the back." In the last two years the couple has put the same kind of effort into the vineyard and winery, investing several hundred thousand dollars in renovating the property. A selection of wine being offered at Graham Vineyard and Winery on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Laingsburg. They'll start growing their own grapes over the next year, but for now are utilizing Michigan-grown fruit to make their wines and ciders. Graham Vineyard and Winery will offer yard games for children and hand out crayons to younger guests when they arrive. "We understand when we travel with our kids and go to a winery, like in Traverse City, they're hungry right away and can get kind of agitated when we're trying to look at a wine list," Heather McDonald said. "We want it to be a calming experience for the whole family so we've got things in place to help everyone." READ MORE: Eureka's Home Town General Store offers nostalgia, pizza, and more Michigan WWII vet Richard Masters makes nostalgic visit to his high school on 97th birthday Trusting the process The McDonalds love to visit wineries and vineyards, but they were new to the business when they started learning how to make wine. Developing and creating their wines, ciders and juices was a process, they said. The couple started making wine in small batches over two years ago. They took some courses and experimented with flavors that made sense to them. Michael McDonald said his past experience as a pharmacist helped him understand the science behind wine making. The biggest challenge was grasping the timing needed to make each batch, he said. "Once we looked into it more and I understood really how wines were made I got a lot more comfortable with it, once I learned a little bit more about the process," Michael McDonald said. The couple has created 15 different wines and three ciders. They also offer white and red sparkling juices. There's something for everyone, Heather McDonald suggested. "We do have dry, sweet, middle of the road and we have non-sparkling juices as well for the children so they can feel fancy like mom and dad, but there's no alcohol in it," she said. There are plans to continue adding to the operation, including a tasting room. Graham Vineyard and Winery will operate year-round. Learn more on Facebook at "Graham Vineyard and Winery." Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ . This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Laingsburg couple adds winery to banquet center at site of one-time church PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Sao Noi is Lao for little girl. Its also the name of a chili sauce business by two entrepreneurs who chose it to honor their mothers nickname. Co-founders and sisters Maly Douangphoumy and Lisa Douangphoumy say the Sao Noi products chili oil, beef jerky and a cookbook represent Lao cultures and cuisine. They went to Portland State University while helping to run their familys now-closed restaurant in Hood River. Sisters Maly Douangphoumy and Lisa Douangphoumy share their Laotian culture through their products, Sao Noi, available at stores including New Seasons, May 27, 2024 (KOIN) Maly took business classes at PSU, earning a business minor. One of my former entrepreneurship professors, I had pitched to him our chili oils and he believed in us and our product, she told KOIN 6 News. Their first product was their moms idea. Our mom decided to make some chili oils to go with the pho and that became such a hit, Lisa said. And one of our employees really enjoyed the chili oils and they were like, Marnie Marnie is our moms name why dont you just bottle these and sell them? And thats how we started. Family is the heart of their company, and their late father continues to have an impact. Sisters Maly Douangphoumy and Lisa Douangphoumy share their Laotian culture through their products, Sao Noi, available at stores including New Seasons, May 27, 2024 (KOIN) Our dad was so creative with food and he was just such an inspiration to us. And he actually passed away in 2013, so it was pretty much our mom and us running the restaurant, Lisa said. Our brother was pretty young at the time, so I mean, he could only do so much. She said people often ask where theyre from and then explains where Laos is. I have to share with them our culture and our food, Maly said. And also we do have a cookbook which has some family recipes in there and it has a map of Laos, so it kind of shares our story and then also our culture. Sao Noi products are available locally, including at Market of Choice and Elephants Deli. This summer the sisters are going to the Fancy Food Show in New York along with people from the Food Innovation Center in Portland. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. You can make thousands of dollars by donating some time or body parts to science. But these procedures are not all painless, and not everyone can participate. Below is a short list, though be warned: these strategies aren't all easy money. Get dysentery. Play cards with someone who has the flu. Or, spend 45 days trapped in a tiny apartment with three total strangers. These are just a few of the many ways you can get paid for helping out with scientific research. If you want to aid the science community and potentially save some lives while making a little extra cash, there are some unconventional options to consider. Below is a short list, though be warned: these strategies aren't all exactly easy money. Sell your blood plasma Bags of blood plasma being examined in a laboratory. AP Images Payout (per donation): around $50 Plasma is the largest component in human blood. It's a protein-rich liquid that contains mostly water but is also filled with enzymes, antibodies, and salts. This gooey, sticky yellow-ish stuff can be used to create therapies that treat people with blood clotting disorders, autoimmune diseases, and even burn victims. Donating plasma is often called "the gift of life" since treatments for some conditions can't be made synthetically and require this kind of human contribution. During plasma donation, blood is drawn and an automated machine separates the plasma from other blood components, which are returned to the donor. Plasma donation pay varies from site to site, but the average payout is typically around $50 per donation. You can donate safely roughly once a month, according to the American Red Cross, and a typical session takes less than two hours. Find a licensed and certified plasma center near you. Donate your sex cells Iryna Inshyna/Shutterstock Payout for eggs (per donation): usually $10,000 to $12,000; Payout for sperm (per donation): typically $35-$150 Egg and sperm donation can allow couples who have trouble conceiving naturally to become parents by using a donor's sex cells. But the time commitment and risk involved in a woman's egg donation is far steeper than what a man goes through donating his sperm. In the United States, egg donors generally net around $10,000-$12,000. Weill Cornell outlines the standard steps for egg donation, which requires about a four-week time commitment. During the egg donation cycle, patients are injected with fertility drugs so that the ovaries make more mature eggs than normal. (Eligible women are generally between the ages of 21 and 30). The egg retrieval procedure takes about 20 minutes but may require several days of recovery. Donors should be aware of the risks involved (largely related to the hormones used) before signing up. Men are generally paid anywhere from $35 to $150 per sperm donation, according to The Sperm Bank of California, but sperm donation can really start to add up if you regularly donate samples (many programs require a six-month or one-year donation commitment). Donors should bear in mind that even if they choose to donate anonymously, sperm and egg donation is never really 100% incognito. Your DNA always knows who you are. Spend 45 days on a fake spaceship The Human Exploration Research Analog, HERA, in Houston, Texas. NASA Payout: $160/day NASA will pay you to spend 45 days traveling in space. Well, sort of. You'll actually be on the ground the whole time in Houston, Texas, but you'll be locked inside a model space capsule (650 square feet) along with three strangers. This simulation is designed to study what being cooped up for a very long time inside a spaceship might do to a person, both physically and mentally. NASA wants to check this out thoroughly before they start sending astronauts on missions to Mars, or to explore faraway asteroids. Participants in NASA's human research program share a capsule with each other that includes some workspace for doing lab experiments, a little kitchen table for eating meals that are just like what's served aboard the International Space Station, plus an exercise bike and some free weights. There's no internet, but you do get your own little cozy sleeping pod on the top floor. The fake astronauts "on board" the capsule in May and June of 2024 include an aerospace engineering professor, a US Air Force Reserve member, a commercial pilot, and a biomedical engineer. And that mission is nothing compared to NASA's CHAPEA Mars simulation, which keeps recruits in a simulated habitat of the red planet for 378 days. (NASA declined to comment on how much CHAPEA pays). Take part in a clinical trial Carolina Reid Payout: Varies by program The National Institutes of Health run a searchable database, ClincalTrials.gov, that rounds up human clinical studies ongoing around the world. Participants may be guinea pigs for new medical products, like drugs to treat high blood pressure, or they take part in observational research, like a study that records the effects of different lifestyles on heart health. Subjects are generally paid to participate in such clinical trials, and most of the time, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. For example, a participant in one study in which participants were exposed to dysentery-causing bacteria was paid over $7,000, while a single blood draw or lab visit for a more straightforward study may only be worth $100 or so. If you do decide to enroll in a study, choose wisely and carefully because not all of the studies on the site are regulated or evaluated for safety by the US Food and Drug Administration. Enroll in a psychological study 10'000 Hours/Getty Images Payout: Varies by program Paid psychological studies, such as those that examine human behavior and brain function, may not generate as high of a return as clinical trials, but they are generally lower risk and require a shorter time commitment. Most research universities keep an online database of studies so people can easily sign up. For example, here's a list of the most recent paid research studies offered by New York University. At NYU, you can make $12 an hour playing video games, and receive a $50 bonus if you're good at it. Give your dead body to science Associated Press/Stacy Thacker Payout: free cremation This last idea is sort of morbid, but if you're worried about being a bother when you're dead, you can donate your body to science. This helps with various types of research and education. Places like BioGift and Science Care will cover the costs of cremation, which can run upwards of $2,000. Read the original article on Business Insider Students at Licking Heights South Elementary collaborated with Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) to create a school mural of different world flags. Monica Jordans third-grade class, pictured above, worked with Jeremy Hollon (left) to design, sketch and paint the mural. Third graders at Licking Heights are using art as a tool of inclusion, right in their own community. South Elementary art students collaborated with Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) to create a mural by the front office of different world flags, many of which are the flags of home countries for students and their families. The project was led by students in Monica Jordans classroom, with guidance and support from art teacher Mandy Rubino. CRIS Associate Director of Community Partnerships Jeremy Hollon was the main collaborator with students. Rubino said Jordans class came up with the idea to use flags for the mural design, and students had very strong cultural identities of their own that they wanted to incorporate into the process. She created lesson plans about public art and murals to prepare students for creation. After the students created a design plan, Hollon and a team of CRIS volunteers stepped in to help with sketching and painting during and after school hours. Jordans class painted flags alongside Hollon during their art classes. "I had never done a mural before, and I wasnt sure what that process would be like," Rubino said. "It was the most amazing experience. Jeremy and his volunteers made it really easy for us. The kids feel so much pride now when they walk by the mural and point at their flags. Its a great learning tool, too." CRIS is a frequent collaborator with the district, providing both essential social services to students and families and as a creative partner for additional mural projects. In 2022, CRIS worked with art teacher Rachel Fout and Heights families to create a mural at North Elementary reading Welcome in different languages spoken throughout the district. "Community partnerships, like what we have with CRIS, make families feel valued, welcomed and important," Rubino said. "We can represent so many families, cultures, and traditions with projects like these. No matter what language you speak, art expresses feelings and ideas that are universally understood. We are one big family out here at Licking Heights." Information submitted by Licking Heights Local Schools. This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: 'One big family': Licking Heights mural showcases district's diversity A personal trainer shares 4 longevity exercises she used to help clients in their 60s climb a mountain A personal trainer shares 4 longevity exercises she used to help clients in their 60s climb a mountain A 37-year-old personal trainer was the youngest in a group of people that climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. She completed the trek with clients in their 60s and said strength training is key to aging well. Exercises like rucking, planks, push-ups, and wall-sits have big benefits for longevity. Jennifer Scherer never expected to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Despite plenty of enthusiasm for physical challenges, especially outdoors, trekking the highest mountain in Africa wasn't on her radar, the owner of Fredericksburg Fitness Studio in Virginia told Business Insider. "I've been hiking my whole adult life but never done anything like this before," she said. At 37, Scherer certainly never expected to be the youngest person in her group to take on the daunting task. But earlier this year, she braved intense cold and more than 19,000 feet of elevation with a group of senior athletes, most in their 60s and 70s. Among the group were two of Scherer's clients, a couple in their 60s, who inspired her to take on the challenge. She said training for the trek for herself and her clients involved functional exercises with major benefits for strength, endurance, and longevity. Movements like weighted carries, push-ups, and planks aren't just for climbing mountains they can also help you live a longer, healthier life. "You're not training for some Olympic event, you're training to live a life that's better quality. People feel like they're more capable," Scherer said. Rucking can build muscle, burn fat, and boost longevity Scherer said a major part of training to climb Mount Kilimanjaro involved hiking with a weighted vest to help simulate the heavy pack of gear she'd need to carry. Known as rucking, walking or jogging with weight provides unique benefits because it raises your heart rate, helping to improve cardiovascular health, while also working muscles to enhance strength. Rucking can torch calories to help maintain a healthy weight, making it a major habit of celebrities ranging from fitness elites to Food Network star Guy Fieri. Carrying weight also helps build stability, a key factor in longevity. You can try rucking even if you're new to fitness by adjusting the weight, speed, and distance. Scherer said she loves incorporating walking with a weight vest or pack into her fitness routine to keep it interesting and prevent gains from stalling. "Cross-training is my secret weapon. Don't get stuck in a rut," she said. "As we get older, so many people stop showing interest in those events, but they don't need to be so strenuous." Even walking without weight can be beneficial if you make it a habit. Research shows adding just a few thousand steps a day can add years to your life. Bodyweight exercises like push-ups and wall sits are linked to healthy aging Scherer said strength training has major longevity benefits, preserving muscle and preventing injury as you age. Some of her favorite exercises are ones you can do at home without any equipment, especially if you're a fitness beginner. "Start slow. Do things with your body weight before you start adding weight," she said. Movements like push-ups, pull-ups, and squats are similar to everyday activities like carrying objects and moving around. Holding a static squat or wall sit can strengthen your lower body and may help lower blood pressure, research suggests. "If you can push and pull, get down on the floor and back up, all the things we do in regular life, in your training, you're less injury prone, and your range of motion is better," Scherer said. Core exercises like planks can help prevent back pain One common complaint of getting older is an achy back, but a simple core exercise routine can help protect your spine and prevent pain, according to Scherer. She dedicates at least 60 minutes weekly to core exercises to help provide stability. "If you don't have solid core strength, you're going to run the risk of lower back pain and injury," Scherer said. She recommends a plank, maintaining good form to properly engage your core muscles, and avoid sagging in your back or hips. Having a goal can also extend your lifespan It's not an exercise, but Scherer said having something to work toward is key to staying healthy and motivated. "Aging is one thing, but you can pick something you can look forward to and stay in shape for a specific event," she said. Research backs it up. Some of the longest-living people in the world are known to have a sense of purpose and excitement that helps keep them going, whether it's climbing a literal mountain or just going for a walk with friends. Read the original article on Business Insider Pocono Pride Festival: Two stages, more space at biggest celebration to date The Pocono Pride Festival is back in downtown Stroudsburg this weekend with a larger footprint and more entertainment and vendors than ever before. The festival, set for noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, will take place on 6th and 7th streets between Main and Sarah streets, as well as Monroe Street between 6th and 7th. This street closure configuration, which is new for a Stroudsburg event, provides a nice size for the event while not disrupting traffic or parking on Main Street, said Erik Diemer, one of the coordinators and founders of the event. For the first time, two stages will be set up for the event the main stage in Courthouse Square with music and drag performances, and the Spotlight Stage on 6th Street with story time and entertainment geared toward children. There will also be chalk, face painting and other childrens activities nearby. A Progress Pride flag flies outside Novus ACS in Courthouse Square in Stroudsburg in 2020. Filling out the sponsor and vendor rosters was tough in the events first year, but this year organizers got well over 200 applications for 125 vendor spots, Diemer said. Vendors will be sorted by category, intended to feel like a little village, where each block has its own personality and feel, Diemer said. Everybody wants to be involved. Thats the beautiful thing about this event, he said. Inclusive Communication Services out of New York City will provide sign language interpretation. We want to ensure that were being inclusive and equitable of every single attendee, said Stroudsburg Mayor Michael Moreno. Moreno is also a Pocono Pride Festival coordinator along with Diemer and Benny Vukaj. Also new this year is the Pocono PRIDE Coalitions partnership with the Community Foundation of Monroe County, using donations to build an endowed fund to continue supporting the festival and other inclusive work in the community. Additional Pocono Pride events Stroudsburg is the heart of the Poconos, Moreno said, but its called Pocono Pride Festival, Pocono Pride Coalition, and Pocono is a region. Our goal is to kind of spread the love around the county, he said, and to the other Pocono counties in the future. The weekend kicks off Friday night at Mount Airy Casino Resort, where awards will be given to Corinne Goodwin, executive director and founder of Eastern PA Trans Equity Project (Person of the Year); Camp Out Poconos (Business of the Year) and Mount Airy Casino Resort (Ally of the Year). Events also included a 90s-themed drag show at the Sherman Showcase in Stroudsburg (9 p.m. Friday), a Pride mass at Christ Episcopal Church in Stroudsburg (5 p.m. Saturday) a pre-party at Camp Out Poconos (6 p.m. Saturday) and an after party hosted by Camp Out Poconos at Siamsa Irish Pub in Stroudsburg (5 to 11 p.m. Sunday). For additional information, and tickets where required, see poconopridefestival.com/pride-weekend-events. Kathryne Rubright is the managing editor of the Pocono Record and the Tri-County Independent. Reach her at krubright@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Pocono Pride Festival set for biggest year yet in 2024 On May 27, the Oscar Cinema in Kyiv hosted a pre-premiere screening of 10 Years of War. ADVERTISIMENT Roman Ratushnyi, Svitlana Povaliaieva, Tyra, and Tetyana Chornovol are the protagonists of the new documentary created by Espresso TV channel with the support of Internews Network and the US Embassy in Ukraine. The film was presented by the project team and partners who contributed to the production. The film is aimed primarily at a foreign audience, but it is also planned to be shown in Ukraine, in particular on Espresso TV. "The purpose of our film is to remind everyone in the world of what is happening in Ukraine, to evoke an emotional reaction and a desire to support Ukraine so that it can return to its original borders and the people of Ukraine can live in peace," commented the film's director, Oleg Garenchar. ADVERTISIMENT He lives and works in the United States, but he has long been closely associated with Ukraine: he was at the origins of the Espresso TV channel and was present in our country during all the fateful events. The stories of the protagonists civic activist Roman Ratushnyi, his mother, poet and activist Svitlana Povaliaieva, politician and journalist Tetyana Chornovol, and paramedic Yulia Payevska (Taira) are intertwined with key moments in Ukraine's recent history. The film explores the phenomenon of Ukrainian resistance from the first actions of the Revolution of Dignity to the active phase of the full-scale invasion: how the characters reacted to the Maidan and the war, how they manifested their civic position, how their lives changed against the backdrop of historical events. "It's about human destinies in a historical context, because the last 10 years have been both the most difficult and the most important in the modern history of Ukraine," said Anastasia Ravva, the general producer of Espresso, at the film's presentation. ADVERTISIMENT According to Mykola Kniazhytskyi, the founder of the Espresso TV channel, the idea of the film is to make Ukraine and our war understandable to foreigners. Therefore, the widest possible distribution abroad is planned. The film was supported by the US Embassy in Ukraine. "A full-scale invasion is not just an attempt to destroy infrastructure and economy, it is an attempt to erase the rich history and unique culture of Ukraine, to destroy you as a people and a state. Together we honor the indomitable spirit of Ukraine. The United States is proud to have supported the production of this important film because Ukraine's story must be told," commented Megan Tetrick, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT Journalist and publicist Vitaliy Portnikov focused on the task of making our personal experiences become the personal experiences of people in the world that helps us fight. "The main thing we have to say to people in the civilized world is that our friends, our colleagues, our personal experiences and beliefs are worth defending," he summarized. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands Repurposes Dress by Favorite Designer for Her Latest Royal Engagement Queen Maxima of the Netherlands made a royal appearance at the opening of the new headquarters of DSM-Firmenich in Maastricht, Netherlands, on Thursday. The royal opted to repurpose a look shes worn in the past, one by a favorite designer of the queen. For the special occasion, Queen Maxima fashioned a long-sleeve frock courtesy of Belgian fashion label Natan. The white midi dress featured intricate white and green detailing across the fabric and subtle bell sleeves. More from WWD Queen Maxima of The Netherlands opens the new headquarters of DSM-Firmenich on May 30 in Maastricht, Netherlands. A green belt accentuated the waistline of the dress, adding an extra pop of color. Queen Maxima paired the dress with a green hat that complemented the look, statement earrings and wore a pair of neutral-toned shoes to complete her ensemble. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and his wife Gusti Kangjeng Ratu Hemas during a visit at Kraton Yogyakarta Palace on March 11, 2020, in Indonesia. This isnt the first time Queen Maxima has fashioned this particular dress and hat combination. During her tour of Indonesia with husband King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Queen Maxima wore this exact look with a set of pearl jewels to meet Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and his wife Gusti Kangjeng Ratu Hemas during a visit at Kraton Yogyakarta Palace in March 2020. Queen Maxima of The Netherlands opens the new headquarters of DSM-Firmenich on May 30 in Maastricht, Netherlands. Queen Maxima has long fashioned pieces by Natan. In fact, she wore another look by the Belgian fashion label when she attended the five-year anniversary of Codam Coding College in Amsterdam on Wednesday. The whimsical frock featured a dusty rose hue, ruffled detailing and flowing long sleeves. She paired the look with a Maison Fabienne Delvigne fascinator with a floral embellishment. Queen Maxima of The Netherlands opens the new headquarters of DSM-Firmenich on May 30 in Maastricht, Netherlands. Queen Maxima joins another notable royal who often repurposes some of her favorite statement dresses in her royal wardrobe. Queen Camilla has been a long-time proponent of rewearing certain dresses for daytime events. She recently repurposed a blue Fiona Clare midi dress for a visit to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art with King Charles III on Wednesday. Whether Queen Maxima repurposes a favorite dress by a particular designer or opts for a new look entirely, her effervescent style tends to stand out among contemporary European royals for its playful use of color, patterns and whimsy. queen maxima of the netherlands style fashion outfits Launch Gallery: Queen Maxima of The Netherlands' Style Through the Years: Bright Colors, Whimsical Patterns & More Best of WWD Thanasis Ikonomou restored the 75-year-old apartment while adding fresh touches like custom cabinetry. Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here. Project Details: Location: Athens, Greece Architect: Thanasis Ikonomou, Studio Thanasis / @studiothanasis Builder: Manousakis Brothers Lighting Design: LUUN Photographer: Yannis Drakoulidis / @yannis_drakoulidis From the Architect: "Five years ago, Greek/Canadian architect Thanasis Ikonomou began what was meant to be a yearlong sabbatical from his job in Seattle and landed in Athens, Greece. The city soon tightened its grip on Ikonomous heart and mind, and so he decided to stay, establishing an architectural practice inspired by the culture and history of the place and people. House in a House is Ikonomous home in Athens: a restoration of a 1,000-square-foot, 75-year-old apartment in the historical Athenian neighborhood of Kypseli. The apartment is one of a series of projects by the architect that seek to express a genuine sense of place and act as a travel log for his experiences abroad. There are a lot of historical buildings in Athens that are decaying but have so much potential, and Im trying to help bring them back to life, says the architect. Over the years, the apartment had undergone multiple renovations which had stripped the space of its original character. Ikonomous goal with the new design was to move the space both forward and backward, revealing layers from the past while celebrating its future. "I want to create dialogue with past, present, and future Athens," he says. The project name, House in a House, comes from a centrally located kitchen which when built, was a house in itself: three separate rooms forming the nucleus of the home (a working kitchen, a staging kitchen, and a suite for the apartments staff). The kitchen renovation is inspired by a theatrical green room, a place for preparation and staging, and maintains the centrality of the original design. The kitchen features a custom dark green ash wood ribbon with Greek dionysos marble counters which transforms from kitchen, to eating nook, to laundry room. The full-height cabinet within the same space creates a classical totem, enclosing the pantry, coffee station, and refrigerator. I wanted to prove that a lot of contemporary elements can be in harmony with classical elements; that the two arent mutually exclusive, says Ikonomou. There can be a dialogue. "The partially unfinished nature of the main living space allows it to be transformed from gallery to entertaining space. Its wall-to-wall yellow curtain aligns with the theatrical theme of the apartment, nodding to the neighbourhoods rich history of independent theatres. The rest of the apartment has been left intentionally unfinished; a gift for the imagination, its potential yet to be discovered." See the full story on Dwell.com: Renovations Stripped Away This Athens Flats Character. An Architect Brought It Back, and Then Some Related stories: Opal and West opened in Shelby in a historic home that was restored by the Stevens' family. One of the area's oldest local houses has been carefully restored and transformed into a charming inn just a short walk from uptown Shelby. Located on the tree-lined West Marion Street, The Opal and West House is open and ready to welcome guests to its beautifully restored and modernized rooms. The former Webb home, built around 1860 by prominent Shelby merchant D.C. Webb, was purchased by Heather and Seth Stevens around two years ago with plans to turn it into an inn. The house had been in the Webb family for nearly 75 years and was also the former Lutz-Austell Funeral Home. The inn boasts seven ensuite rooms that comfortably sleeps 16 people, daily house-made breakfast, afternoon cocktail hour, a drip coffee station in the lobby and the enjoyment of common areas that include a dining room, lobby, library, patio and porches. According to the website, every room has a sound machine, Nespresso machine, a 55" flat screen TV with streaming, double vanities, a walk in shower with rainfall shower head, toiletries, luxury towels, robes and more. Opal and West, a historic home restored into an inn, opened in the heart of Shelby this month. The Historic Shelby Foundation held a preservation celebration at the Opal and West House and the Red Door Chapel, located beside the inn and also owned by the Stevens, last week. Guests were able to walk through the house on a self-guided tour and then heard a presentation at the Red Door Chapel on the historic preservation process. Zach Dressel, Historic Shelby Foundation board member, said Webb was one of the most influential families in Shelby at the time and said all 11 of the Webb children were born in the house. He said Heather and Seth Stevens brought back the original charm of the house. "I really think it's such a tremendous example of a legacy being preserved and maintaining the historical integrity of one of Shelby's oldest homes," he said. Dressel said it is part of a larger movement happening around Shelby of restoring historic properties, including the Hotel Charles and Webbley mansion. "There's so many great projects going on," he said. The Stevens family bought the Webb house in 2022 and began plans to restore and repair the house, working with preservation agencies at the state and national level. "We were thrilled to be able to get it," Seth Stevens said. "It's an 1860s home built by really prominent family back then who lived in it for two generations." Opal and West, a historic home restored into an inn, opened in the heart of Shelby this month. Seth Stevens said it is a family-run business and their daughter, Lynsie Stevens, is the inn keeper. He said they are continuing the Stevens' tradition of taking structures and turning them into hospitality properties, such as what they have done with Spinning Leaf and the next door Red Door Chapel, which is a historic wedding venue. "We're really focused on creating really unique experiences," he said. The inn is in the ideal location, a short walk from the Foothills Farmers Market, Rail Trail Boardwalk, uptown restaurants and shopping and the Carolina Harmony Trail. Seth Stevens said they want people to feel comfortable and at home and give guests the opportunity to learn and explore all that Shelby has to offer. He said it was a slightly more than two-year process from the time they bought the house to the time they finished construction. He said they spent a good deal of time working with the National Park Service and North Carolina State Preservation Office to ensure the building was properly restored and preserved. "We submitted our plans to them and waited about six months, this included not only construction plans but also finishes," Seth Stevens said. "They had no complaints and no edits." He said once they had the stamp of approval, construction began in December 2022. "It was in terrible shape when got the house. We really modernized 100% of everything," he said. Stevens said they put in air conditioning, heat, highspeed internet, all new electrical, plumbing, fully insulated the house and added soundproofing between rooms. "The process is pretty intense," he said. "A lot of its mirroring the old and the new in a way that the park service and state office can be proud of." He said Opal and West fully complies with both state and federal preservation standards. Seth Stevens said the name Opal and West has special significance to his family. His grandmother was named Opal and Heather's family has an opal ring that was passed down through several generations. The name West comes not only from the location on West Marion Street but from Seth's mother. "My mother, who was a Shelby resident, and passed away in February 2022 her middle name was West," he said. "That was the main tie in there." Seth Stevens said when he owned a coffee shop in Shelby, his mom, Lynn Grady, did the all the baking, and she was well known in the community. Many of the personal touches in the home, such as art work and furniture, are family pieces, lending an intimate and cozy feel. To book a room or find out more information on Opal and West, check out the website opalandwest.com or find them on Facebook and Instagram. Reporter Rebecca Sitzes can be reached at rsitzes@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Shelby home transformed into historic inn Thrift store ministry offers help and reset to those in need: 'One heck of a blessing' Delisa Jones, owner and founder of Second Chances Thrift Store ministry, stands recently at the counter of the ministry's Oklahoma City store at 2605 N MacArthur Blvd. Customers are offered love, acceptance and a helping hand at a unique nonprofit in northwest Oklahoma City. Delisa Jones said the idea behind her Second Chances Thrift Store ministry came from her own life and the second chance she was offered by the Lord and many people and organizations who believed in and supported her over the years. Jones, 58, said she was trafficked at a young age, became addicted to drugs and went to prison for drug trafficking. She said she turned her life around after getting out of prison in 2009 through Hope Community Services, her church, Memorial Road Church of Christ and other programs. Delisa Jones founded the Second Chances Thrift Store ministry at 2605 N MacArthur Blvd., the first of two stores. Jones opened the thrift store as a way to help others also in need of second chances. The store in Oklahoma City at 2605 N MacArthur Blvd., opened several years ago and Jones said her church has since helped her open a second store, this time in Edmond, in fall 2023. More: OKC nonprofit ensures that 'no kid sleeps on the floor' in their town A unique ministry: Helping others with free clothes, shoes and wisdom Jones said while both the Edmond store at 3431 S Boulevard and the Oklahoma City store accept donations and offer people a chance to shop for thrift store treasures, there is a big difference between the two enterprises. For starters, everything in the (OKC) store is for sale and everything in the store is free, she said, pointing to the clothing, shoes and other items that filled the original store on a sunny weekday morning. Delisa Jones, owner and founder of Second Chances Thrift Store ministry, greets a customer entering the ministry's Oklahoma City store at 2605 N MacArthur Blvd. Jones explained that anyone coming out of prison or a sober living center is given three complimentary sets of clothing, shoes and hygiene kits. She said Second Chances partners with different agencies in the community who refer clients to the store, where she offers them tangible aid and wisdom from someone who has been in their shoes. We dress our community for free, she said. Theres a method to her ministry: Jones knows she cant do it all alone. Along those lines, she said case managers from different agencies come to the store every Monday to see if there is anyone in need of community resources. Delisa Jones, owner and founder of Second Chances Thrift Store ministry, looks for an item in the food pantry in the ministry's Oklahoma City store at 2605 N MacArthur Blvd. The Second Chances ministry also has some faithful volunteers and the store is a place where people may serve court-ordered community service. Jones acknowledges that everyday is different, but it works and she wouldnt have it any other way. Its really Gods system, not mine, she said. Shoes are among the thrift store finds at the Second Chances Thrift Store at 2605 N MacArthur Blvd. 'She's one heck of a blessing' Meanwhile, the store gives out sack lunches and often a hot meal to anyone in the community who needs it. Customers could smell chicken soup cooking on a stove one recent morning. Later, people dropped in for a bowl of soup, while others accepted hot dogs, chips and bottled water. Like a proud mom, Jones placed protein bars and a sweet in each bag as a treat for each person who grabbed one. She greeted most of them by name, asking them how their day was going, what their new baby was doing or how they were doing on a new job. As each one left, she told them, I love you! Delisa Jones, owner and founder of Second Chances Thrift Store ministry, stands at the counter of the ministry's Oklahoma City store at 2605 N MacArthur Blvd. Tyler Stevens and a man who went by the name of Jason said they have seen firsthand that Jones has a mothers love for the people she encounters. Shes one heck of a blessing, Jason said. More: A food pantry for pets: OKC nonprofit delivers for beloved furry family members Stevens agreed. As he placed free bread, peanut butter and donuts on a table outside the store for afternoon passersby, Stevens said he was one of the people that was provided a tent when he was experiencing homelessness. The store regularly distributes free tents, tarp and sleeping bags to those sleeping on the streets. Furniture and baby items are among items for sale at the Second Chances Thrift Store at 2605 N MacArthur Blvd. in Oklahoma City. Stevens said Jones showed that she cared about him and he began volunteering to help at the store. These days, he works at the store several days a week, often anticipating Jones caring instincts when people in need pop in. She continues to love me where Im at, he said. Jones said with Gods help, she will continue helping people in need of second chances as long as she can. We give them things so they can feel loved, Jones said. Everyone needs love. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Second Chances Thrift Store ministry offers clothing, food, blessings (WHTM) Medline has recalled 1.5 million bed rails after two people died in care facilities. The company says when attached to a bed, users can become entrapped within the bed rail or between the rail and the mattress, posing a risk of death by asphyxiation or serious injury. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now abc27 Evening Newsletter There have been two deaths reported to the company since 2019 involving a 76-year-old woman at a senior nursing facility in Iowa and an 87-year-old woman at a residential care facility in South Carolina. The recalled bed rails have model numbers MDS6800BA and MDS6800BAH with black metal tubing and a rounded black foam rubber grip handle. The name Medline and the model number are printed on a label on the support frame. Medline Industries Recalls 1.5 Million Adult Portable Bed Rails Due to Serious Entrapment and Asphyxia Hazards; Two Deaths Reported Medline Industries Recalls 1.5 Million Adult Portable Bed Rails Due to Serious Entrapment and Asphyxia Hazards; Two Deaths Reported Medline Industries Recalls 1.5 Million Adult Portable Bed Rails Due to Serious Entrapment and Asphyxia Hazards; Two Deaths Reported The rails were sold from July 2009 to March 2024 on Medlines website and at nationwide retailers including Amazon, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart. Anyone with the bed rails should immediately stop using them and contact Medline for a refund. Medline can be reached by calling 866-359-1704 or by emailing recalls@medline.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. DENVER (KDVR) One person died and another person was hurt after severe storms tore through Greeley. No further details were immediately available, but a Greeley spokesperson said the death and injury were related to the storms that hit overnight into Wednesday morning. FOX31 is working to learn more about what happened. Greeley flooded streets The storm dropped piles of hail and inches of rain over Greeley, with hail covering the ground like snow and rainwater trapping vehicles in floods. FOX31 crews visited Greeley on Wednesday and found residents reeling in the aftermath, with homes and vehicles severely damaged. A severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect until 9 p.m. Wednesday east of the Denver metro. Feet of water flood home in Greeley FOX31 spoke with Jose Tirado, who recorded video that showed the wind, hail and rain that woke him from sleep. His first thought was to try to protect his car. I tried to get out the house to start the car to move it because I didnt want it to get damaged. No way to get out of the house. It was too bad, Tirado said. The rising waters hit the east side of Greeley the hardest. FOX31 went into a home where a bookshelf floated in a basement filled with more than 6 feet of water. Water was being pumped out of the over 100-year-old home. The water line was a couple of feet up on the houses, and so with lower window wells, there was no chance the basement was going to be dry. And sure enough, thats what we saw, Greeley resident Kyle MacAlmon said. Older drainage systems in the older parts of town simply could not handle the deluge. The east side of our community, which is a more aged and older part of our community with older infrastructure, with drainage where pipes are smaller, our structrues are older that hinders the ability for the rain and the hail to find places to travel, Greeley Assistant City Manager Kelli Johnson said. The city is in the middle of constructing a new underground storm drain system to prevent flooding. 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. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. A person was taken into the hospital following a shooting on the Blue Ridge Parkway on Wednesday afternoon in Asheville, according to a release. It happened around 2:00 p.m. between milepost 393.6 and 405. That area of the Parkway was closed during the investigation. It opened back up shortly after 4 p.m. ALSO READ: Blue Ridge Parkway seeking public input regarding changes to camping fees Police said a 19-year-old man was shot and is in critical condition at a local hospital. The National Park Service Investigative Services Branch is investigating with support from local law enforcement. The shooting is still under investigation. Police said in a release the shooting appears to be a targeted crime and there is no threat to the public. (WATCH BELOW: 1 killed, 1 hurt in University City crash and shooting) Agenda PAC has announced the launch of a new campaign against 10 incumbent legislators it hasdubbed The Hate Squad. These lawmakers, identified by Agenda PAC for their harmful actions against the LGBTQ+ community, represent districts deemed winnable for Democrats . The announcement coincides with the beginning of Pride Month , aiming to rally support and highlight the stakes for LGBTQ+ rights in the upcoming election. Under the direction of Interim Executive Director Rachele Fortier, a bisexual political strategist and LGBTQ + activist based in Philadelphia , Agenda PACs new initiative follows its previous success in local and state elections, utilizing traditional and unconventional campaign tactics to succeed against beatable bigots. Brian Sims, a gay former Democratic state representative in Pennsylvania and now senior adviser to Agenda PAC, underscored the campaigns urgency in an interview with The Advocate. Sims emphasized the need for LGBTQ+ people to engage robustly in the political process to defend and expand their rights. Our enemies and our opponents are motivated to participate in politics because of our existence, Sims said. The idea that for any queer person, their identity could be anything other than political right now is false. If there are people coming to the polls specifically to rob you and me of our rights, we need to be responding in kind. Sims warned those who may feel like the political process cant be influenced to pay even closer attention to the election. Disengagement is the hope, plan, and strategy of the hardcore conservative MAGA right. Not engaging in politics right now is doing exactly what our opponents want of us, and its the agenda they are pursuing, he said. Agenda PAC launched a powerful video on social media to kick off the campaign, highlighting the dangerous rhetoric and policies that have put LGBTQ+ children at risk. The video Our Kids opens with a poignant statement: Protecting our kids. Its the rallying call of the right wing, but not every kid, not kids like us. After generations of fighting to exist, we know how to fight. We can be the adults we never had because today, kids are taking up fights bigger than any kid should have to fight, for their right to live openly and love equally against adults with power and platforms. The video concludes with a powerful message to anti-LGBTQ+ legislators: If you come for our kids, we are coming for your seats, and were starting here. "Our Kids" - The Hate Squad Launch (2024) youtu.be Agenda PACs 2024 campaign targets ten incumbents with a history of anti-LGBTQ+ actions. Among them is California Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert, who voted against repealing "dont ask, dont tell," in favor of barring LGBTQ+ people from adopting children, and in favor of firing people for being LGBTQ+. Florida Republican state legislators Susan Plasencia and Fabian Basabe are also on the list. Plasencia voted to end gender-affirming care and forcibly detransition trans minors, and Basabe has been embroiled in controversy after voting in favor of an expansion of Floridas controversial dont say gay law. He has since defended that vote and has also pushed back against accusations by male staffers of creating a sexually charged work environment. Although a Florida House investigation cleared him of allegations, a civil suit is ongoing. Iowa Republican State Rep. Jon Dunwell sponsored a bill that forcibly outs trans students, while Missouri Republican State Rep.Bill Allen voted to ban trans kids from sports. Oklahoma Republican State Rep. Eric Roberts sponsored a bill targeting LGBTQ+ protesters at the Oklahoma State Capitol. The list also includes North Carolina Republican lawmakers Tricia Cotham and Buck Newton. Cotham, a state representative, switched her party from Democratic to Republican, giving Republicans a veto-proof majority, and then voted to ban trans girls from girls sports. Newton, a state senator, told a crowd in 2016, We must fight to keep our state straight. Pennsylvania Republican State Reps. Valerie Gaydos and Joe Emrick round out the list. Gaydos sponsored a ban on trans girls in sports, and Emrick voted to ban transgender girls and women from participating in school sports. One of the bills sponsors said, Allowing biological males to compete in girls and womens sports destroys fair competition and womens athletic opportunities. Additionally, Emrick voted to amend the Pennsylvania state constitution to declare that abortion is not a constitutional right. Discussing Agenda PACs specific tactics, a representative highlighted the dual strategy of high-visibility actions and targeted voter outreach. Last year, Agenda PAC infiltrated the host hotel for Moms for Libertys national convention and put door hangers on all the rooms, calling out the hate group. Last November, Agenda PAC-endorsed candidates secured victories in key school board races, marking a significant defeat for the conservative Moms for Liberty group. This organization, classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an antigovernment extremist group, has been known for its stance against LGBTQ+ educational materials and advocacy for so-called parental rights. Agenda PACs strategic efforts in states such as Pennsylvania and New Mexico successfully countered Moms for Libertys influence by supporting more progressive candidates who ultimately won their races. In 2022, Agenda PAC made headlines with its bold billboard campaign targeting Calvert in Californias 41st Congressional District. The billboards reminded voters of Calverts anti-LGBTQ+ record with the message Just a reminder. Ken Calvert tried to ban gay marriage. This campaign was part of Agenda PACs broader effort to unseat Calvert, who has a long history of anti-LGBTQ+ actions. This year, the group expects to do more of the same. Those guerrilla tactics, whether its Grindr ads or door hangers or the billboards, cost relatively small sums of money, and its kind of a trunk strategy where we do some of that for really high visibility, the Agenda PAC representative explained. But we bank the bulk of our budget and most of the money that we raise toward really targeted direct voter outreach that other PACs, in general, do to get voters aware of whats going on and get them to the polls. The rep added, We believe we can make a better world for LGBTQ kids, and it starts by holding those creating the most harm accountable. ChatGPT, which is a chatbot with generative artificial intelligence developed by OpenAI, gave a biased forecast for the rematch between the absolute heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) and the British Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs). The GPT-4 model was used to analyze the upcoming fight, a new model for ChatGPT that has shown even better results on a number of tests designed to measure the intelligence and knowledge of humans and machines. ADVERTISIMENT The machine believes that it is difficult to predict the outcome of the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, as both fighters are outstanding athletes with unique styles and skills. However, we can consider some factors that may affect the outcome: Current form and training of the fighters: Both athletes will be preparing thoroughly for the rematch. Usyk has already demonstrated that he can beat Fury, and this will give him a psychological advantage. However, Fury is likely to make adjustments to his preparation and strategy for the fight to correct the mistakes made in the first fight. Fighting style: Usyk is known for his speed, mobility, and technicality, which makes him a tough opponent for slower, more powerful fighters like Fury. At the same time, Fury has outstanding endurance, physical strength and the ability to adapt during the fight. Motivation and psychological state: Psychological readiness and motivation will also play a significant role. Fury will want to prove that the defeat was a fluke, while Usyk will be eager to confirm his status as the absolute champion. Tactics and strategy: Both teams are likely to develop new tactical approaches. Usyk may try to enhance his strengths and improve his defense against Fury's powerful punches, while Fury will try to find a way to neutralize Usyk's mobility and technique. "Ultimately, the outcome of the fight will depend on many factors, including physical fitness, strategy, mental toughness and the ability to adapt during the fight. Both fighters have a chance to win, and the rematch promises to be as exciting and unpredictable as the first fight," the text says. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, on May 18 in Riyadh, Usyk defeated WBC champion Tyson Fury and became the owner of the WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC heavyweight belts. A few days later, Fury activated the option to rematch with our compatriot. It's worth noting that many experts, including former world middleweight champion Carl Froch, insist that Oleksandr has achieved everything in his career and has nothing left to prove. Froch said it was time for the Ukrainian to hang up his gloves. ADVERTISIMENT The day before, the exact date of the second fight between the Ukrainian and British boxers became known. The venue remained the same - Riyadh, Arabia. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! $100M missing from special needs trust: Who should investigate the matter? $100M missing from special needs trust: Who should investigate the matter? TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Sen. Rick Scott has continued to call for action from the head of the Social Security Administration after $100 million went missing from a St. Pete trust fund meant to help vulnerable people, depleting more than 1,000 trusts. Can you imagine people that have an injury and they put money into a fund, and they think the money is going to be there when they need it and somebody steals it? Scott said. $100M missing from trust fund: Case much worse than FTX scandal if claims true, attorney says Between 2009 and 2020, Leo Govoni, the founder of the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration, loaned $100 million from the center to his own company, Boston Finance Group, court records show. The center said Govoni has not paid the money back. These are the people that you took from and you dont even care didnt bother you to do that you probably didnt even think for a second who you were taking from, said Louis Capasso, a victims father. 8 On Your Side asked Scott about the missing money in April. Then he wrote a letter to SSA Commissioner Martin OMalley, demanding answers. OMalley said the Social Security Administration does not provide oversight to special needs trusts, saying a trust is a legal arrangement generally regulated by state law. $100M gone: Did businessman accused of taking money from special needs trusts have help? However, Scott said the agency needs to do its part. Not until the Social Security Administration does their job to make sure this person is held accountable and do whatever they can to make sure this money come back as much as possible, he said. According to OMalley, the Social Security Act provides the agency with limited authority regarding financial trusts. The SSA said it does not investigate trusts unless its investigating the misuse of someones benefits. $100M gone: What families should know after special needs trusts drained Scott doubled down, saying the SSA should still investigate the matter, but OMalley insists that their authority is limited and that its up to the states to regulate trusts. So, who is responsible for investigating the matter? If not the SSA, should it be U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg whose office handles cases out of the Middle District of Florida? Or should it be Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody? Or Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bruce Bartlett, who handles cases where the Center for Special Needs was based? 8 On Your Side will continue to follow this story closely until someone steps up to investigate the matter. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Hutchinson World War II veteran Olen Mitchell is heading to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day Mitchell was escorted to Wichitas Dwight D. Eisenhower Airport. The Hutchinson Police Department, Wichita Police Department Motor Unit and American Legion Post 68 provided the escort. Mitchell was chosen as one of 150 to be flown to Normandy to commemorate the date of the attack on June 6, which marked the beginning of the end of World War II. KSN News talked with Mitchell about what the trip means. It is going to be a sad situation. Too many did not come home and get to receive the things I have received since World War II, he said. I dont know what to expect. I have never been in France, but I especially want to look to see if some of the friends that were there and still there, I would like to visit those. I had friends that didnt come back. They paid the price for me. Im grateful for it. Veteran Salute: WWII vet says bullet went in one cheek and out the other Mitchell served in the European Theater in the U. S. Army 337th Infantry Regiment in Italy-Rome ARNO-GO33 War Department. I was in Cicily in Italy, and I was wounded 40 miles south of Rome. Fourteen days before D-day, I came home, and I was well taken care of, and Im happy to be here today, Mitchell said. He later served in the 1763rd Service Command. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. There were 11 deadly car crashes across Georgia over the highly-traveled Memorial Day weekend, according to the Georgia State Patrol. Of these 11 deadly crashes, 8 were investigated by the GSP, while the other three were investigated locally. From Friday night through Monday, the GSP says that there were 500 crashes statewide, resulting in almost 250 injuries. Additionally, troopers made more than 24,000 traffic stops, arresting about 500 people for driving under the influence. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Troopers also issued about 15,000 warnings and over 14,000 citations. Of these 11 fatal crashes, three were in metro Atlanta, according to the GSP. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: This 12-year-old Eleese Shelton is heading to college! According to WCTV, Eleese graduated from Tallavana Christian School in Havana, FL, surrounded by supportive family. Its just kind of surreal, she explained, according to the outlet. I believe its mostly because of my support system, like my friends, my mom, my church community. While to some, a 12-year-old accomplishing this feat may come as a surprise, it is not for Eleeses mother, Danrell. When her daughter was just 2 years old, she already knew she was unique by how quickly she picked up learning on a LeapFrog tablet. I got her a LeapFrog tablet, and we didnt know that she was self-taught until it was telling her to do the letters, uppercase, lowercase letters, and we didnt realize that she knew all of it, Danrell explained, according to WCTV. I did not teach her any of it. She just had the LeapFrog, and she knew it. Additionally, Eleese continued to accelerate in learning, reading at the age of 3 and doing math just one year later. So it was already clear, she would have a bright future ahead, following in the footsteps of her brother, Even, who graduated high school at 16 years old. She told him that she was going to outdo him, Fred Shelton, the childrens father, said, according to WCTV. So she stuck to her word. Even commented, The best thing that you could hope for for somebody that you love is for them to do something better than you. Thats just what we hope for the next generation. Looking ahead, Eleese plans to attend college at Tallahassee Community College, and then she will transfer to Florida State University. Her long-term goal is to become a pediatrician. So, she hopes to attend medical school by 16 or 17. I feel excited to go on and embrace that journey, Eleese expressed to WCTV. A 17-year-old student made history at Arizona State University for being the youngest person to graduate with a doctorate degree. Dorothy Jean Tillman II received her degree in integrated behavioral health earlier this month, according to the Associated Press. Prior to this achievement, she earned her bachelors degree in humanities from Excelsior College in New York in 2018, as well as a Master of Science from the Unity College of Maine in 2020. Tillman was accepted into the doctoral program at ASU when she was 15-years-old. She was homeschooled and started her college education at just 10-years-old. People in my life like my grandmother [Dorothy Tillman], who was part of the Civil Rights movement, she of course harped on the importance of education and consistently learning something always, Tillman told Good Morning America about the motivations behind her pursuit of higher education at a young age. But the way I always held education so high on my own, aside from being raised that way, was finding different things to be educated about. I feel like that urge to learn something new just never didnt exist for me, she added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman II (@dorothyjeanius) One of her professors noted how unique her academic career has been, saying that her contributions havent gone unnoticed throughout her studies. She really led change and worked on different forms of management to really reduce healthcare stigma and improve that student population there to be able to enter and accept student health services, Dr. Lesley Manson, a clinical associate professor at the university, told GMA. It was wonderful to see her and help her navigate some of those personal and professional interactions and grow through those experiences. Its a wonderful celebrationbut this is still something so rare and unique, they added. She has innovative ideas and motivation, which is wonderful, and truly, I think what is inspiring is that she embodies that meaning of being a true leader. For now, Tillman is still figuring out what her next step will be just like any other teenager, she said. The 17-year-old founded the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute to help youth in arts and STEM subjects. Im really just grateful that the world is my oyster, and that Ive done so much so young, Tillman told the AP. And I have time to kind of think that through. NeeAli Scott, a 17-year-old senior student, graduated college before receiving her high school diploma at Savannah Arts Academy. She started with a dual enrollment before studying towards an associates degree. Scott decided to pursue higher education at an early age to save on tuition costs. I really just wanted to get as much education, a college education, as I can now for free. In the state of Georgia, you get 30 credits free, Scott told WJCL. So thats already half of the associates degree. The 17-year-old received her diploma last week. She was awarded an associate of science degree from Savannah State University. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sabriya Scott, Broker (@scottrealtyprofessionals) Scotts mother took to social media to congratulate her daughter on her academic achievements. Today my baby did her BIG one!! Shes OFFICIALLY a Savannah State University Graduate at 17 years old, Sabriya Scott write on Instagram. She just graduated from College before graduating from High School. Big thanks to my entire village and everyone that celebrated this milestone with her, she added. The recent graduate is still weighing her options after high school. She would like to enroll in classes at an HBCU and ultimately become a cardiothoracic surgeon. I would like to work in an inner-city hospital and give back to the youth here in Savannah or wherever I may end up, Scott told the news outlet. BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) More than a dozen alleged members of two gangs were arrested in a major takedown related to multiple shootings in Brooklyn, officials announced Wednesday. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said the 18 suspects are members of bloods-affiliated street crews. They were arrested and charged in connection with 12 shootings in Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant over the last two years. Two of the shootings were fatal. Prosecutors said some of the suspects were as young as 14 when they committed the crimes. More Brooklyn News This case sends a strong message that shooting guns in our streets cannot and will not be tolerated. It is shocking how young many of the defendants are, and todays takedown is part of our comprehensive approach to youth violence holding accountable those who commit shootings and working with other young people to steer them away from street gangs, Gonzalez said. According to officials, the indictment contained 85 counts of various crimes. Fifteen of those accused are purported members of the H-Block/Billys gang, a territorial alliance between a 59-Brim Bloods set and a 9-Trey/Billys Bloods set operating out of Crown Heights, officials said. The other three are alleged members of the Gates Fam, also known as the Gotti Gang. Below is a full list of people indicted: H-Block/Billys Nyshaun Perry, 20 Demitri JeanJacques, 18 Isaiah Charles, 17 Jamouri Foster, 17 Damian Nickelson, 17 Jayden Clarence, 16 Shamari Griffith, 21 Malcolm Davis, 19 Shamar Dudley, 20 Derrick Prescod, 20 Dushaun Johnston, 23 Kymani Glenn, 22 Jahnie Cox, 21 Michael Hammond, 20 Jaiden Jefferies, 18 Gates Fam/Gotti Gang Gyasi Shury-Muse, 21 Kaevon Mitchell, 19 David Robinson, 21 Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A Tennessee teenager graduated from high school on Friday and was fatally shot the following day allegedly by another teen, who told police he did not know the gun was loaded. Eighteen-year-old Lily Basil, of Franklin, was killed on Saturday in a shooting that took place a day after she celebrated her graduation, Page High School principal Katie Hill said in a statement to HuffPost. Lily Basil via Williamson County School District Williamson County School District Her smile lit up every room she entered, Hill wrote. Though she was newer to the Page community, she quickly embraced the Patriot spirit and was a friend to everyone she met. Matthew Roufail, 18, was arrested and charged with criminal homicide following the shooting, a spokesperson for the Franklin Police Department confirmed with HuffPost. His bond was set at $150,000. According to an affidavit cited by local FOX affiliate WZTV, officers responded to a 911 caller who told said he was taking Basil to the hospital to treat a gunshot wound in her right shoulder. Police told him to pull over and wait for paramedics. Basil was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, about 4 miles from where she was shot, according to the outlet. She was pronounced dead soon after. A witness at the scene of the shooting identified the suspect as Roufail, who they said left to go to a different hospital, according to the outlet. Roufail allegedly told police he shot Basil with an AR-15-style rifle he thought was unloaded, according to the Williamson Herald, a local news site. One witness told officers that Roufali had shot Basil with a .22-caliber rifle in the trunk of his car. Basils family arranged a celebration of life ceremony at a local church on Friday. Tennessee has one of the highest rates of gun deaths in the U.S., according to the gun control nonprofit Everytown, which cited the states permissive open-carry laws and a lack of background check requirements for those seeking to buy firearms. Related... DENVER (KDVR) The Douglas County Sheriffs Office is warning residents after multiple reports of scams involving gold bars took over a million dollars away from victims. Deputies said in a press release that the fraud started with a pop-up message on an iPad for one victim. The message gave the victim a number to call, where she was then told her identity and accounts had been compromised. Police: Chain necklace likely saved mans life in shooting The man on the phone told the victim that there was a gag order and she wasnt allowed to speak with anyone about her compromised accounts. Deputies said the victim was told to purchase gold bars, which would be delivered to her safe deposit box. However, the victim was working with deputies. We had a really brave victim come forward, Captain Joel White with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office told FOX31s Nate Belt. When the suspects arrived to pick up the gold bars, deputies arrested Anil Kumar Dhiman, 34, and Punit Punit, 30. The suspects are accused of theft and crimes against at-risk persons, according to the sheriffs office. No one gets to come to Douglas County, prey on our elderly residents, steal their life savings, and get away with it, said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly in a press release. Many have reported the scam to the sheriffs office for months. In March, an 81-year-old purchased $429,000 in gold bars and dropped them off to a man in Littleton. Because she wrote down the mans license plate, authorities said they were able to track the suspect into Illinois, where police were able to recover $1.1 million in gold bars belonging to the victim in Douglas County and another victim in Kansas City. The suspect in this case was identified as Syed Makki, 36. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox While deputies were able to arrest two suspects in Colorado, the sheriffs office said this scam has affected victims across the county. If something feels off or raises suspicion, trust your gut instincts. Seek advice from trusted family members, friends, or law enforcement before proceeding with any financial transactions, the sheriffs office said in a press release. We are willing to help and we are eager to help, said Ryan Falkner, Senior Resource Deputy for the Douglas County Sheriffs Office. Give us a call and well help guide you in any process along the way. To avoid scams, deputies recommend not keeping anything a secret, not clicking on a pop-up ad and not allowing strangers remote access to your computer or bank accounts. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. 2 men arrested, 1 stabbed during fight at homeless encampment in Hall County Two men have been charged and one of them was stabbed during a fight at a homeless encampment in Hall County. On Tuesday, May 28, at around 3 p.m., deputies with the Hall County Sheriffs Office responded to Georgia Avenue near the Queen City Parkway Bridge to reports of a fight that ended in a stabbing. Deputies learned that one man got into a verbal argument with two other men, which escalated into a physical fight. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The victim, who deputies did not identify, was hit in the head with a piece of wood and a handgun. Deputies said one of the suspects, Dexter Barnard Pulliam, 53, who lives in the homeless encampment, was stabbed several times. He was hospitalized and deputies have issued warrants for felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor battery for him. Once he is cleared from the hospital he will be booked into the Hall County Jail. The second suspect, Damond Jarquice Cantrell, 38, of Sautee-Nacoochee, was tracked to McConnell Drive and was arrested on a single charge of felony aggravated assault. TRENDING STORIES: Deputies took two handguns from Cantrell when they arrested him He is also being on an outstanding warrant out of Nevada. The investigation into this fight is still ongoing. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: In recent years, killer whales have been regularly ramming and sinking luxury yachts in European waters. So scientists have been trying to figure out why these intelligent, social animals have learned this new destructive trick. ADVERTISIMENT The results of the study showed that this behavior is not related to the fight for territory and aggression. The truth is that coordinated attacks on ships are probably a joke fashion among bored teenage killer whales, The Washington Post writes. Since 2020, members of a small group of killer whales have crashed into at least 673 ships off the coasts of Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, causing some of them to sink. The Spanish and Portuguese governments have commissioned a group of experts to determine what caused the whales to behave so aggressively and how to stop it. After years of research, a team of biologists, government officials, and representatives of the marine industry have released their findings on why one particular group of Orcinus killer whales has developed this destructive behavior. And it turns out that killer whales - especially children and adolescents - just want to have fun. The report shows that a combination of free time, curiosity, and natural playfulness has led young killer whales to adopt this "trend" of bumping into boats because they just want to have fun, and in the vast - and rather empty - open waters, boats are first-class toys. ADVERTISIMENT "It looks like a game. Obviously, it's a very dangerous game they're playing. But it's a game," said Naomi Rose, a senior researcher at the Animal Welfare Institute who was part of the working group. An interesting game for an orca to play that is dangerous and frightening for people on a boat, as this video from The Ocean Race in 2023 shows. In most cases, scientists have found that killer whales approaching boats come from a group of about 15 whales, mostly young ones. They usually approach slowly, as if they just want to bump their noses and heads against the rudder. But even young killer whales have an average length of 2 to 4.5 meters, so the rudders are often damaged or destroyed when the whales touch them. ADVERTISIMENT "There is nothing in the behavior of the animals to indicate that they are aggressive. When they play with the rudder, they don't realize that they can damage the rudder and that damaging the rudder will affect people. It's more playful than intentional," said Alex Zerbini, who chairs the scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission, the global body dedicated to whale conservation, and is also a member of the working group. It is not yet clear why killer whales are attracted to rudders or how they became interested in them in the first place. However, Zerbini believes it may have started with one curious young orca who may have been fascinated by the bubbles around a moving ship. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ADVERTISIMENT Students at Emmons Elementary School return to class Monday after volunteers worked makeover areas of using grant money from Indiana State Teachers Association on Monday, April 11, 2022, in Mishawaka. MISHAWAKA Mishawaka police are investigating a possible attempted child abduction. Two Emmons Elementary students said a black SUV followed them as they were leaving school after the passenger asked them to accept a ride. Police reported that a brother and sister, ages 10 and 11, were walking to their grandmothers house on West Ninth Street after school on May 29 and were asked by a passenger in a black SUV if they wanted a ride. After refusing a ride, the SUV followed the children. The kids described the passenger to Mishawaka Police as a white male, clean shaven with black hair, around 20 to 30 years old. The siblings said the man got out of the SUV and chased them. Lesson for children: Police give advice for children walking alone following suspected abduction attempt Altering their route through alleys and streets, the children were able to avoid the pursuer and made it to their grandmother's home safely. The grandmother called the police. The vehicle is described as having a scratch on the driver's side and on the window of the driver's door. The children were not able to provide a physical description of the driver. Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Mishawaka police search for men who tried to abduct to young students BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Police said they have a suspect after two people were stabbed in Dunkirk early Thursday morning. Officers responded around 3:30 a.m. to an apartment on Lake Shore Drive West for a report of a stabbing. Police said the suspect was located inside. The suspect, along with the two stabbing victims, were all hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries. Police are waiting to release more information on possible charges until after the suspect is released from the hospital. Latest Local News Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. 2024 hurricane season: This year is projected to be more active than usual Saturday marks the official start of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season and it could be an active one. Hurricane season runs from the beginning of June through the end of November and typically peaks around Sept. 10. Severe Weather Team 2 always encourages you to be weather aware and that will be important over the next six months. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] There were 20 named storms during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, including seven hurricanes. Three of those made landfall in the U.S. But its likely the number of hurricanes will increase in 2024. Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz says there are a couple of ingredients that are influencing the forecast for this hurricane season. First off, there have been historically warm waters in the main developing region of the tropical Atlantic. The water temperature is more like what youd expect in early August than this time of year. In addition to that, the El Nino that has been around for the last several months in the tropical Pacific, thats weakening. Nitz says the warm waters are starting to cool as we transition to a La Nina. La Nina weather pattern means lighter winds across the tropical Atlantic. That lower wind shear means increased hurricane activity, you combine that with the historically warm waters, I expect this is going to be a blockbuster hurricane season, Nitz says. TRENDING STORIES: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it predicts there will be between 17 and 25 named storms with eight to 13 becoming hurricanes. NOAA predicts between four to seven storms could become major hurricanes. Hurricane season typically peaks around Sept. 10. Shortly before that, in mid-August, the National Hurricane Center will test a new way to help people better understand the potential threat they face. It involves changes to graphics showing the cone of uncertainty. Were going to be, placing, the watches in the inland watches and warnings on that cone so we can collaborate these with the local National Weather Service offices, said Daniel Brown with the NHC. The usual cone shows the probable path of the center of a storm over five days. Severe Weather Team 2 has always focused on our inland impacts. Now the NHCs new experimental cone forecast will also highlight inland areas under threat. I think one of the hardest messages to get across is that every storm is different. Dont base your preparedness decisions on a previous hurricane experience, Brown said. Its important for Georgians to be extra weather aware. Hurricane Irma in 2017, Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Tropical Storm Cindy in 2005 are all reminders that Georgia can experience devastation from tropical systems. On Sept. 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma slammed into southwest Florida. A day later as a tropical storm, it caused two deaths in north Georgia and knocked out power to more than 1.5 million people across the state. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] In Oct. 2016, Hurricane Matthew had major impacts across South Georgia. The storm killed three people and caused massive flooding and power outages. In July 2005, an EF-2 tornado formed during Tropical Storm Cindy and slammed into the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Henry County. All this damage, its just unreal. The same storm system flooded streets and neighborhoods all over metro Atlanta. Im still not sure I was prepared for what I saw until I actually drove up and saw it. Just unbelievable that nature could do something like this. IN OTHER NEWS: 2024 Python Challenge: Everything to know about Florida's annual snake removal competition Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez announced on Thursday (May 30) that registration for the 2024 Florida Python Challenge is open. Nunez and officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and South Florida Water Management District provided details about the annual organized removal of the invasive snake at a news conference at the S-365 Pump Station along U.S. Highway 41 in Homestead (Miami-Dade County). Here is everything you need to know about the 2024 Florida Python Challenge, according to the FWC: More: Snake School: FWC's crash course on Burmese pythons a primer for finding, killing menace When is the 2024 Florida Python Challenge? The 10-day competition starts at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 9 and end at 5 p.m. on Aug18. Where is the 2024 Florida Python Challenge? Only Burmese pythons removed from these seven competition locations are valid entries for the Florida Python Challenge: Who is eligible to participate in the 2024 Florida Python Challenge? The competition is open to both professional and novice participants. Where do you register for the 2024 Florida Python Challenge? Visit FLPythonChallenge.org to register for the competition. What are the prizes being awarded for the 2024 Florida Python Challenge? Participants this year will have the chance to win a share of more than $25,000 in prizes. What is the breakdown for the prizes awarded for the 2024 Florida Python Challenge? Prizes will also be awarded in the professional, novice and military categories, courtesy of FWC sponsors and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. The Bergeron Everglades Foundation and InversaLeathers have donated $10,000 each and Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands has dontated $5,000 to support conservation efforts in Florida through the Florida Python Challenge. What were the statistics from the 2023 Florida Python Challenge? Number of pythons removed: 209 How many hunters participated: 1,050 Where did the hunters come from: 35 states were represented and someone from Belgium competed When was the first Florida Python Challenge? 2013 How many pythons have been removed since the first Florida Python Challange? 917 More: Florida will teach you how to hunt, kill Burmese pythons. Practice and you could get paid Does the FWC provide training for hunting and humanely killing a Burmese python? Required online training All participants (including youth under age 18) in the Florida Python Challenge must read the Rules and take the 2024 version of the Required Online Training. Training from a previous year is not valid for 2024 registration. The Required Online Training teaches participants identification of Burmese pythons and native snakes, plus safe handling and humane killing methods. Burmese pythons can be difficult to find and participants must follow a designated two-step method in order to kill them humanely. Optional training Yes. In-person safe capture trainings are available near the start of the Florida Python Challenge. Trainings are held at Everglades Holiday Park from 9:00-10:30 a.m, Aug. 9-11. Space is limited to 21 participants at each training. Burmese pythons are currently considered established from just south of Lake Okeechobee to Key Largo and from western Broward County west to Collier County. Why is there an annual hunt for the Burmese python in Florida? Burmese pythons are not native to Florida, and they negatively impact native wildlife. This invasive species is found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in South Florida where they prey on birds, mammals, and other reptiles. A female Burmese python may lay 50 to 100 eggs at a time. Since 2000, more than 21,000 Burmese pythons have been reported to the FWC as removed from the environment. What they are saying about the 2024 Florida Python Challenge Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez : I wish all participants a memorable and safe hunt, and I look forward to congratulating this years winners. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young : This event allows the public to get involved in protecting our native wildlife while competing to win thousands of dollars for their efforts removing Burmese pythons from our iconic Florida Everglades ecosystem, a place like nowhere else on Earth. South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member Ron Bergeron: The Everglades is one of the natural wonders of the world, and the Python Challenge is another great way to get people directly involved in the protection of the Everglades. Long live the Everglades! More frequently asked questions about the 2024 Florida Python Challenge Everything from can you use dogs to drones for the Python Challenge is addressed here. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: When is the 2024 Florida python challenge An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather. The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, which is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces. In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines. That means in part focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases. There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group. Those include re-conductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies. In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year. Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said. The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs and lower Americans utility bills. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies. And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines. More tools than ever To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree. Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines and a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026. Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month the administration also announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years and the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing. The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said. The states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. The post 21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nations aging grid appeared first on Rhode Island Current. An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather. The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, which is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces. In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines. That means in part focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases. There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group. Those include reconductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies. In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year. Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said. The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs and lower Americans utility bills. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies. And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines. More tools than ever To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree. Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines and a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026. Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month the administration also announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years and the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing. The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said. The states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Maine is among 21 states joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather. The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, which is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces. In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines. That means in part focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases. There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group. Those include reconductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies. In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year. Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said. The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs and lower Americans utility bills. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies. And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines. More tools than ever To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree. Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines and a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026. Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month the administration also announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years and the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing. The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said. The states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Maine among 21 states joining Biden administration in bid to modernize nations aging grid appeared first on Maine Morning Star. An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar, and severe weather. The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative. It is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces. South Carolina, like most states in the South, is not part of the initiative, though neighboring North Carolina has joined. In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines. That means in part focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases. There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group. Those include reconductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies. In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year. Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said. The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs and lower Americans utility bills. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies. And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines. (Montana and Minnesota also arent part of the Biden initiative.) More tools than ever To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree. Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines. And a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high-capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026. Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month the administration also announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years. And the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing. The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said. The states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. The post 21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nations aging grid appeared first on SC Daily Gazette. An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather. The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, which is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces. In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines. That means in part focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases. There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group. Those include reconductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies. In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year. Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said. The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs and lower Americans utility bills. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies. And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines. More tools than ever To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree. Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines and a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026. Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month the administration also announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years and the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing. The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said. The states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. The post 21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nations aging grid appeared first on Washington State Standard. An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather. The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, which is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces. In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines. That means in part focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases. There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group. Those include reconductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies. In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year. Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said. The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs and lower Americans utility bills. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies. And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines. More tools than ever To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree. Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines and a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026. Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month the administration also announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years and the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing. The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said. The states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post 21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nations aging grid appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has suspended sugar exports to the EU until the end of 2024, setting the sugar export quota at zero. This decision was made due to reaching the export limit set by the EU to avoid exceeding the quota. Updated export rules were also introduced for eggs, poultry, corn, cereals, and honey. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. "On June 1, the government introduced a zero sugar quota, which will be in effect until the end of the year. However, Ukrainian agricultural producers continue to export sugar to Africa, the Middle East, and the UK," explained Taras Vysotskyi, acting Minister of Agrarian Policy. The fact is that the annual quota of 262 thousand tons has already been exhausted. The Ukrtsukor Association has asked the government to stop sugar exports, as Ukrainian exporters have already reached the limit for this year, as stipulated by the EU decision. In general, according to Mr. Vysotskyi, there is enough sugar production for domestic consumption. This means that no shortage of the product and its prices are expected. In addition to sugar, the government's resolution also imposes restrictions on the export of other agricultural products to the EU. In particular, export quotas for poultry meat and by-products are set at 132.3 thousand tons, including 3.7 thousand tons of turkey meat and by-products. ADVERTISIMENT These changes may significantly affect the sugar market in Ukraine and the country's export opportunities. The reduction of quotas to zero means that Ukrainian producers will not be able to export sugar to the EU until the end of the year, which could lead to a surplus of products on the domestic market and potentially lower prices. At the same time, the government seeks to ensure a balance in the market and compliance with the terms of the agreements with the EU. Given the high rate of exports, this decision may help to avoid exceeding the established quotas and ensure stability in the domestic sugar market. According to government sources, this decision is part of a broader strategy to control agricultural exports to ensure compliance with international agreements and support the domestic economy. Future changes in export policy will depend on the development of the market situation and negotiations with partners in the EU. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather. The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, which is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces. In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines. That means in part focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases. There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group. Those include reconductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies. In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year. Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said. The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs and lower Americans utility bills. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies. And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines. More tools than ever To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree. Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines and a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026. Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month the administration also announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years and the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing. The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said. The states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. The post 21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nations aging grid appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star. An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather. The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, which is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces. In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines. That means in part focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases. There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group. Those include reconductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies. In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year. Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said. The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs and lower Americans utility bills. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies. And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines. More tools than ever To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree. Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines and a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026. Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month the administration also announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years and the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing. The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said. The states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. The post 21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nations aging grid appeared first on Arkansas Advocate. One of the tools Darrin Lowery found on Parsons Island. Darrin Lowery Darrin Lowery found a collection of tools in Maryland that may date to 22,000 years ago. That would mean humans first arrived in North America thousands of years before we thought. Most experts believe humans first arrived in North America between 15,000 and 20,000 years ago. North and South America were the last inhabited continents that modern humans settled thousands of years ago, but when and how they reached the Americas remains a mystery. "We don't know who these first peoples were," Todd Braje, executive director of the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, told Business Insider. We don't know "where they came from, when they arrived, the technologies that they had available," he added. For many years, archaeologists thought the first humans to set foot in the Americas did so around 13,000 years ago. But more recently, new findings have challenged that theory, pushing the timeline back even further. Now, a recent series of discoveries on Parsons Island, Maryland, could wind back the clock yet again. And it raises some difficult questions about early human migration across North America. Outside the mainstream Darrin Lowery has been hunting for artifacts on Maryland islands around the Chesapeake Bay since he was 9 years old. Over 40 years later, he's amassed a large collection of tools that he believes some of the earliest Americans used. He found nearly 300 tools on Parsons Island and says they're around 22,000 years old. That's thousands of years before many scientists think humans first journeyed to North America. If Lowery's hypothesis is correct, it would significantly change our ideas of how and when people started arriving in this part of the world. However, Lowery, who mainly works as an independent geologist, hasn't published his latest work in a peer-reviewed journal, making other experts skeptical of a theory that's already a bit outside the mainstream. Lowery doesn't mind the criticism, though. "If I'm wrong, I'm fine with that," he told Business Insider. "Prove me wrong." When did the first modern humans reach North America? Darrin Lowery found nearly 300 artifacts on Parsons Islands, some of which he dated to around 22,000 years old. Darrin Lowery Around 13,000 years ago something significant was happening across northern North America: The glaciers that had covered part of the continent for millennia were melting. Archaeologists thought humans needed to wait for those glaciers to melt to migrate across this region. Otherwise, the journey through what is now Canada would have been too dangerous, with little food available along the way. So, for most of the 20th century, the theory was that the first Americans came from Asia around 13,000 years ago, crossing the now-submerged Bering land bridge that connected Siberia and present-day Alaska. Then those humans and their ancestors made their way across the areas of the Americas with fewer glaciers. But by the second half of the 20th century, older sites were turning up, like a 14,500-year-old site in Chile, Monte Verde. If people were that far south at the time, it meant humans had to have traveled from North America to South America well before 13,000 years ago. "It really changed everything about what we understood about when and how people arrived to the Americas," Braje said of the Chile site. One alternative theory is that people followed the less icy Pacific Coast and then started moving east. While individual sites are often subjects of debate, the widely accepted range of humans' first arrival in the Americas is now between 20,000 to 15,000 years ago, Braje said. But Lowery said his artifacts are even older. Dating 22,000-year-old artifacts Parsons Island has undergone a lot of erosion, so many of the artifacts are no longer in their original location. Darrin Lowery Over the course of 93 visits to Parsons Island, Lowery and other volunteers found a mix of chipped-off rock flakes, a stone for hammering, and knives. Due to erosion, most of the artifacts fell out of the embankment that once held them. However, nine were still stuck in the bank, and three of those dated to around 22,000 years ago. Dating ancient artifacts like this is tricky and is often the source of contention around these sites that question our understanding and timeline of ancient human history. For instance, most dating methods require organic material and won't work on stone tools. Instead, scientists test charcoal, pollen, and other matter found near stone artifacts. However, if a tool shifts from its original position like if it falls out of the embankment that's holding it it's difficult to date it reliably. That's why only a handful of Lowery's artifacts could be tested. Though Lowery doesn't want to publish a paper through peer review a process he called "antiquated" he said he did his due diligence in dating the artifacts. He used different methods to date the still-in-place artifacts and also sent samples to independent labs for verification. Using radiocarbon dating that measured the amount of carbon in flakes of charcoal, an independent lab estimated the artifacts' ages to be between 20,563 and 22,656 years old. If these artifacts are as old as the lab analysis suggests, then Lowery's discovery could rewrite our understanding of ancient American human history. The journey from Alaska to Maryland Around 21,000 years ago, glaciers covered most of Canada. NOAA Climate.gov Around 21,000 years ago, nearly all of Canada was covered in glaciers. Therefore, one of the biggest questions with Lowery's theory is how humans could have made the trek from Alaska to Maryland 22,000 years ago when there was a vast, icy landscape in between. But Lowery said nearly 26,000 years ago, Beringian wolves traveled through a temporary corridor between ice sheets. Humans could have used the same route, he said. "I think this is largely a misconception that ice is an impediment," Lowery said. "It's a challenge, but humans are pretty damn smart." Lowery admitted this is just what he called "a story," but it's one some experts refuse to entertain. One archaeologist that The Washington Post spoke with refused to comment on the non-peer-reviewed paper. For Braje, Lowery's research is reminiscent of past debates when new discoveries pushed back the timeline for the first American arrivals. Braje didn't dismiss Lowery's ideas outright, but he thinks they need to go through the peer-review process. "I think all these ideas are valid ones that we should be talking about," he said, "but then we have to go to the scientific evidence." "To make big claims like this takes a lot of work, a lot of evidence, a lot of enduring critique, but that's part of the scientific process," Braje said. Read the original article on Business Insider Chance Brannon and Tibet Ergul were recently sentenced for throwing a Molotov cocktail at a Costa Mesa Planned Parenthood in 2022. (U.S Department of Justice) A 22-year-old man will spend six years in prison for his role in the 2022 firebombing of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa, closing a case that involved two other defendants. Tibet Ergul pleaded guilty in February to federal charges of conspiracy to damage an energy facility and intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility. He was one of three men arrested in connection with the crime. Erguls co-defendants, Xavier Batten of Brooksville, Fla., and Chance Brannon of San Juan Capistrano, were recently sentenced to three and a half years and nine years, respectively. Ergul's attorney, Sheila Mojtehedi, said her client "looks forward to closing this chapter and moving on with his life." Read more: Molotov cocktail used in O.C. Planned Parenthood attack lands Florida man in prison In a letter to U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney, Ergul apologized for his actions and cited mental health issues, along with other struggles. He added that he was keen to please his old friend, Brannon, leading him to agree to attack the clinic. I had just spent a long period of time alone, feeling as if l did not belong to any causes, nor groups; I believed that if I did not go along with satisfying my friend's wishes and, in a way earn his respect, I would lose another relationship that I had cultivated and end up lonelier than I had been before, Ergul wrote. According Ergul's plea agreement, on the morning of March 13, 2022, he and Brannon disguised in dark clothing, hoods, masks and gloves ignited a Molotov cocktail and threw it at the clinics entrance. The facility was forced to temporarily close and staff had to reschedule around 30 appointments. This defendants hatred toward others led him to plotting and carrying out violence, said U.S. Atty. Martin Estrada. We will not allow bigoted intolerance to divide us. My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes motivated by hate in order to keep our community safe. Following the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade, Ergul and Brannon planned to use a second Molotov cocktail to damage another Planned Parenthood clinic, but did not follow through with it after seeing law enforcement near their intended target, Ergul's plea agreement states. Ergul then conspired with others, including Brannon, to use firearms or a Molotov cocktail to damage a Southern California Edison electrical substation, according to the agreement. The third man, Batten, pleaded guilty to teaching the others how to assemble the Molotov cocktail used in the attack. 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) Topeka firefighters doused a fire at a local thrift store Wednesday that caused thousands of dollars in damage. The Topeka Fire Department (TFD) was called just before 7:30 p.m. on May 29 to Dandy Deals located at 1801 S. Kansas Avenue. Fire crews found smoke and flames coming from the building and were able to put out the fire with no injuries reported. This embedded content is not available in your region. City of Topeka spokeswoman Rosie Nichols said a TFD investigation unit is looking in to what caused the fire. Total estimated losses associated with the fire come to $25,000 with $15,000 attributed to structural damage and $10,000 to content loss. No working smoke detectors were located in the building. Reports of fake cash in Topeka double from last year 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 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Editor's note: Private investigator Steve Ridge has extended the offer of a $100,000 reward through July 27, after which a $50,000 reward will remain in place indefinitely. In his final attempt to get more information, a licensed private investigator is doubling his reward to $100,000 for the recovery of the remains of missing Mason City television anchor Jodi Huisentruit. Steve Ridge first offered $50,000 last year for anyone who could lead police to her remains. He now will double it as the 29th anniversary of her disappearance nears. Ridge has been actively investigating the case since 2019, though he has followed it since Huisentruit disappeared early on the morning of June 27, 1995, on her way to work at KIMT-TV in Mason City. Though the case has remained in the public eye since, no arrests or charges have been made, and her body has not been found. Jodi Huisentruit Ridge has a team that has been searching by land and by water for possible evidence in the case, he said. Ridge's team has used magnets, probes, metal detection equipment, sonar, and airborne and submersible drones. Ridge, who first offered $25,000 for information in early 2023 but has twice upped the reward, hopes the higher dollar figure will encourage someone to come forward. This is my final attempt to break the silence of those who are withholding information, Ridge said Wednesday. Jodis family, friends and the entire Mason City community deserve to know what happened to this budding young media superstar. More: Seven of Iowa's most infamous true crime, cold case mysteries Ridge was to appear on the television program "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" to announce the doubled reward, which will be offered through June 27. In 2023, on the 28th anniversary of her disappearance, Huisentruit's family posted a statement on the website findjodi.com thanking people for their support and encouraging anyone with information to come forward. "We never thought a tragedy like this would happen to our family. Please do not make us wait another year for answers. We implore you if you know something, SAY something," the statement said. "The pain of not knowing where Jodi is or what happened to her is a pain we would never wish on anyone. Please help us bring Jodi home." Anyone with information should call the Mason City Police Department at 641-421-3636. Jodi Huisentruit went missing on her way to work June 27, 1995, at station KIMT in Mason City. Family and friends hope the billboards will bring new clues to the investigation. What happened to Jodi Huisentruit? Huisentruit, 27, who grew up in Long Prairie, Minnesota, didn't show up at work for her 6 a.m. broadcast. On the morning of her disappearance, Huisentruit answered a call from a KIMT-TV producer. She said she had overslept and was heading into the office. The producer called again at 5 a.m. with no response before co-workers asked police to perform a welfare check at her apartment. Police believed she was grabbed as she tried to unlock her red Mazda Miata shortly after 4 a.m. A hair dryer, a red pair of shoes and a bottle of hairspray were found next to her car at her apartment complex. Police found a palm print on the car along with signs of a struggle. "There's nothing I'd rather do in my life right now than bring closure to the family," Mason City Police Sgt. Frank Stearns told the Register in 2005. "You just can't let it go. It becomes a part of you." Huisentruit was declared legally dead in 2001. Her mother, Jane Huisentruit, said in a 2005 article that she believed her daughter is at the bottom of a lake near her home. Her cousin, Mary Lee Moberg, believes a man stalked her. "Nothing adds up," Moberg said, "besides something like a stalker. Some twisted-person mentally." Jose Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: $100,000 reward offered to find Jodi Huisentruit, solve Iowa cold case LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control say a second Michigan farm worker has been diagnosed with Influenza A (H5) commonly referred to as bird flu. The first Michigan case was announced on May 22. The first human case in the U.S. was announced in Texas on April 1. Since April, there have been three human cases of the infection, state and federal health officials report. Chelsea Wuth, a spokeswoman for MDHHS, declined by email to provide any more detail on where the person with the infection lived or worked. To protect farm and worker privacy, we are not providing that information., she wrote in an email. FILE/AP Rich Pedronceli. WLNS The worker, a news release from MDHHS, has been provided with antiviral medications. In addition, those who are close contacts to that worker have been notified and offered preventative antiviral medications. Health officials say currently there is no evidence of human-to-human transmissions. Michigan has led a swift public health response, and we have been tracking this situation closely since influenza A (H5N1) was detected in poultry and dairy herds in Michigan. Farmworkers who have been exposed to impacted animals have been asked to report even mild symptoms, and testing for the virus has been made available. With the first case in Michigan, eye symptoms occurred after a direct splash of infected milk to the eye. With this case, respiratory symptoms occurred after direct exposure to an infected cow. Neither individual was wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). This tells us that direct exposure to infected livestock poses a risk to humans, and that PPE is an important tool in preventing spread among individuals who work on dairy and poultry farms. We have not seen signs of sustained human-to-human transmission, and the current health risk to the general public remains low. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigans chief medical executive, statement in a news release on May 30, 2024 Counties where bird flu has been detected in Michigan. Screenshot of Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development website. May 30, 2024. (WLNS) The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) reports the current outbreak began in February 2022. Since February 2022, the virus, the agency reports on its website, has been detected in domestic birds from Bay, Branch, Cass, Eaton, Genessee, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Menominee, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola, Washtenaw, and Wexford counties. Beginning in April of this year, the virus began being detected dairy cattle from Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Montcalm and Ottawa counties. CDC data on the ongoing bird flu outbreak in the U.S. Screenshot of the CDC website May 30, 2024. (WLNS) Since the CDC began tracking the viral outbreak in 2022, 9,373 wild birds have tested positive for the virus; 92,343,826 poultry have tested positive or been affected; and 67 dairy herds have been impacted. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent) Buchanan County can collect a special marijuana sales tax on dispensaries within St. Joseph city limits, a judge ruled Wednesday in the second decision granting counties the right to stack taxes on top of city levies. Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg wrote in his two-page ruling that provisions in the recreational marijuana constitutional amendment passed in 2022 do not limit the taxing power of counties within corporate limits of towns and cities. To put it bluntly, the court cannot accept (the) plaintiffs interpretation of Local Government to prohibit the power of the county to impose such tax within the Saint Joseph city limits, Kellogg wrote. The definition of Local Government includes both the city and the county. As such, both are authorized to impose and collect the tax. Vertical Enterprises, which is licensed for retail sales, cultivation and marijuana product manufacturing in St. Joseph, sued the Buchanan County Collectors office, the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Buchanan County Clerks office to block enforcement of the tax. Along with regular sales taxes which in some locations approach 12% people purchasing marijuana for recreational use also pay a special 6% state tax and a local tax of 3% if approved by voters. The ruling will cost Verticals customers about $30,000 a month, said Chris McHugh, CEO of the company. There are two other dispensaries in St. Joseph and he estimated their tax payments would be comparable to his. Consumers should be outraged, McHugh said. Theyre paying this. Statewide, consumers purchased $1.1 billion worth of marijuana in the first year of recreational use sales. This is millions and millions of dollars that never, never should be taken from consumers, McHugh said. Its nothing but an anti-marijuana tax. McHugh said he will appeal Kelloggs decision. MoCann Trade, the industry lobbying organization, said in a statement from Executive Director Andrew Mullins, that excessive taxes on marijuana drive customers into the underground, unregulated market. Since Oct. 1, Missouri cannabis customers have been paying roughly $3 million more each month than what the Missouri Constitution requires, Mullins said. Drafters of the amendment legalizing marijuana wanted to prevent stacking, so they used the broad term local government for the entity authorized to impose a tax. To make it apply to both cities and counties, the term was defined as meaning a village, town, or city for incorporated areas and counties for unincorporated places. But the revenue department, interpreting the new tax law, told local governments that county marijuana taxes may be stacked, making the local tax rate on marijuana purchases 6% in places where county and city voters have approved the levy. Almost everywhere the tax has been on the ballot, it has passed, sometimes with overwhelming majorities as in Unionville in April, where it was backed by 73% of voters. Regular sales taxes are stacked and consumers pay the 4.225% state rate plus the local taxes for counties, cities and special taxing districts. A 2023 notice from the departments Taxation Division stated that the section of the constitution authorizing the tax states that any successful vote is applicable to the political subdivision where it was enacted. The amendment did not define political subdivision, the notice stated. The distinction between local government and political subdivision is important as voters in the entire county will authorize the additional tax, not just voters in the unincorporated area, the notice stated. And practically, counties do not otherwise limit the applicability of their sales taxes based on geography. The interpretation generated both the lawsuit in Buchanan County and another in St. Louis County. In a ruling that is being appealed, St. Louis County Circuit Judge Brian May wrote that the interpretation offered by the plaintiff in that case, Robust Missouri 3 LLC, operator of a dispensary in Florissant, could have unintended consequences. If [Robusts] interpretation were accepted, then a municipality or city would essentially be given carte blanche to ignore any county ordinance or regulation, including those related to public health and safety wholly unrelated to the taxing issue, May wrote in the ruling. Getting the same result from two courts shows the strength of the argument that the taxes can be stacked, said Steve Hobbs, executive director of the Missouri Association of Counties. From the very beginning, our position was absolutely that the constitutional amendment left this avenue open, Hobbs said. Were really satisfied that, you know, our position was proved correct in two places. The trial court decisions arent controlling precedent and neither Hobbs nor McHugh said the cases would end at the courts of appeals. Everyone understands this is going to end up at the (Missouri) Supreme Court, McHugh said, so weve got to go through the process. This article has been updated with a comment from the MoCann Trade Association. The post 2nd Missouri judge rules counties can stack taxes at marijuana dispensaries appeared first on Missouri Independent. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Dozens of firefighters battled a three-alarm blaze at a residence near Third Ward that investigators determined was intentionally set, the Charlotte Fire Department said Thursday. Crews responded to calls regarding the incident around 2 a.m. at a residence near 1000 Margaret Brown Street near Third Ward in uptown Charlotte. Six residents at the location were treated on scene and one was transported to an area medical center for further treatment. No firefighters were injured. Red Cross was on scene assisting those who were displaced. The fire was a three-alarm fire and 60 firefighters were able to contain the fire within 75 minutes. Investigator later stated that the building was undergoing a complete renovation and that a similar fire occurred there on Wednesday. Both fires were determined to be intentionally set. About $390,000 in damages has been estimated by CFD. There is no mention of any arrests or charges at this time. This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Three more arrests have been made as the Kremlin apparently outsources its dirty work to down-on-their-luck young men across Europe who are happy to set a fires in exchange for a few thousand euros. The latest figures in what appears to be a sprawling sabotage scheme are two Belarusian men in their 30s and a 40-year-old Polish man, all of whom, Polish prosecutors say, were hired to carry out sabotage for Russian intelligence. Sources cited by the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita say the three men were offered 10,000 euros ($10,830) for each facility set ablaze. Investigators say they planned to set fire to shopping malls, restaurants, and construction warehouses in three different cities but were stopped before they could. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said earlier this month that nine other suspects had been detained for carrying out beatings, arson and attempted arson on Russias orders. Seemingly random fires have broken out one after another in recent weeks, destroying Warsaws largest shopping center, scorching an IKEA in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, and tearing through a Ukraine-linked business in London. Insiders Are Secretly Working Against Putins Soviet Tactics In all cases, investigators suspect the fires were the result of Russian spies pulling the strings of hired arsonists. Mysterious fires have also broken out at sites in NATO countries Germany and Denmark. Security services across Europe have warned that the blazes are likely part of a wider Russian sabotage campaign that aims to cause fear and chaos and, ultimately, destabilization. That campaign appears not to be limited to arson: Two suspects arrested last fall for spray-painting Stars of David on a Paris school reportedly told investigators they were paid to do so by a man in Russia. A Ukrainian refugee interviewed by The Wall Street Journal earlier this month told the newspaper hed been ensnared in Russias sabotage-by-proxy scheme after seeing a job advertised on the popular Telegram app. He started out spray-painting graffiti for a small payout, was then tasked with setting up cameras along Polish railways transporting Western military aid for Ukraine, and ultimately went down on espionage charges. While hundreds of Russian diplomatsmany of them likely spieswere expelled from their posts in Europe after Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin appears to be fine-tuning a frighteningly easy new method for sabotage and spycraft: enlisting the help of unsuspecting people looking for ways to make easy cash on social media. 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. Sharks and rays do not have bones, but they have joints, just like humans. However, it was previously thought that synovial joints (containing a viscous fluid that maintains their elasticity) are found only in bony vertebrates. ADVERTISIMENT In fact, they existed in a much older ancestor of cartilaginous and bony fish. This is evidenced by a study published by bioRxiv, which, according to scientists, expands the evolutionary theory of joints. "Because many aquatic creatures can regenerate their damaged joints, studying their evolution could lead to better treatments for arthritis and other human problems," says study author Neil Shubin, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Chicago. The structure of our body is determined by several types of joints. The sutures in the skull in adults do not move, and cartilaginous ones (for example, those connecting the ribs to the sternum) usually have very limited mobility. But there are also synovial sutures, which are the majority of interbone connections in humans. A fluid-filled cavity connects adjacent bones, and cartilage ensures maximum and smooth maneuverability. ADVERTISIMENT According to biologists, the evolution of these joints is a "great innovation" in the history of vertebrates. The evolutionary history of synovial joints has long puzzled biologists. In the 1940s, anatomists found evidence that they existed in adult sharks that evolved about 450 million years ago. But in the decades that followed, textbooks said that these fluid-filled joints evolved in land animals about 50 million years later to help four-legged animals walk on the ground. Over time, the joints allowed for the development of a variety of locomotion and feeding strategies, including the ability of humans to walk on two legs. ADVERTISIMENT This was the conventional wisdom until 2016, when Crump and his colleagues found genetic evidence of these joints in bony fish that evolved about 410 million years ago. According to the scientists, the lubricating proteins were found in large quantities in the jaws of fish and in the fins of danios, gar and tapeworms. Then it became clear that synovial joints did indeed originate in the aquatic environment. Dr. Neelima Sharma decided to find out more. She searched for these joints in three animals: the sea stingray, the bamboo shark, and the sea lamprey. It is believed that these animals represent vertebrates that arose earlier in the evolutionary process. The stingray and shark are jawed cartilaginous species, while the lamprey, although it has cartilage, is jawless. Together with another scientist, Yara Haridi, the doctor conducted microcomputed tomography of small embryos aged 20, 28 and more than 30 weeks and their gene activity. ADVERTISIMENT The researchers found that the embryonic jaw and pelvis of the stingrays initially looked like a separate post that broke apart and formed a joint separated by a cavity. The rupture was stimulated by muscle contractions and was accompanied by the presence of specific signaling proteins called growth differentiation factor-5 and beta-catenin. When scientists treated the embryos with a chemical that paralyzed the muscles during development, the potential structures of the jaw and pelvis did not break down and joints did not form. Although stingray joints connect cartilage rather than bone, they show the same set of genes as their bone counterparts. This has led to the production of lubricating and moisturizing molecules - hyaluronic acid, aggrecan and lubricin. They are known to be used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, eye drops, and cosmetics to soften the skin. ADVERTISIMENT On the contrary, no such cavities were formed in the skeleton of the underdeveloped lamprey. This suggests that these joints arose in sync with the evolution of the jaws. And genes found to be active only in the joints of stingray and other vertebrates were active throughout the lamprey's body. "It was really a matter of reorganizing and repurposing them," Medeiros says. Since the ancestors of these cartilaginous creatures predate the evolution of bones, it is clear that the evolution of joints had nothing to do with adaptations related to the presence of a bony skeleton, says Maurizio Pacifici, a developmental biologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Instead, he believes, the physical needs of a mobile sea hunter contributed to the evolution of these joints. ADVERTISIMENT Medeiros agrees: "Shark cartilage is very crunchy, so you would expect them to need joints." In contrast, he says, lamprey cartilage is soft and flexible, as if their skeleton "is one big joint." The fact that the stingray uses similar molecular instructions to build joints as birds and mammals is "a telling example of how evolution preserves and utilizes efficient mechanisms," the scientists add. Learning more about the joints of these animals may one day help us understand arthritis and other joint diseases in humans and other mammals. "The more we know about these creatures, the more we can discover new ways to stimulate wound healing in human joints," says Shubin. Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL's Telegram and Viber channels to keep up with the latest developments. 3 Black Passengers Sue Airline for Discrimination After They Were Removed from Flight Over Alleged Body Odor The plaintiffs and 5 other passengers, all Black and male, were removed from the flight. The men didn't know each other and weren't seated together CBS Mornings Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph and Xavier Veal Three Black men have filed a federal lawsuit against American Airlines, claiming that employees removed them from a flight because of a body odor complaint. According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, plaintiffs Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal were traveling from Phoenix to New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport on Jan. 5, 2024, when they were allegedly kicked off Flight 832, without any valid reason, based solely on their race. The complaint, which was filed Wednesday, May 29, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, claims that American Airlines engaged in blatant and egregious race discrimination when its employees removed Jackson, Joseph and Veal, along with five other Black male passengers, from the plane. The men were not traveling together and did not know one another. American Airlines told PEOPLE in a statement, We take all claims of discrimination very seriously and want our customers to have a positive experience when they choose to fly with us. Our teams are currently investigating the matter, as the claims do not reflect our core values or our purpose of caring for people. The lawsuit says that prior to takeoff, an airline representative approached each plaintiff and ordered them off the plane immediately, without explanation. Per the suit, each of the plaintiffs complied, and it was once they reached the jet bridge that they realized that several other Black men were also being removed from the plane. In fact, it appeared to Plaintiffs that American had ordered all of the Black male passengers on Flight 832 off the plane, reads the complaint. When the eight men demanded an explanation from airline employees, they were allegedly told that that they were ordered off the plane because of a complaint about body odor. Related: Musician David Ryan Harris Says American Airlines Accused Him of Trafficking His Biracial Kids Plaintiffs were not told that they personally had body odor, and in fact none of the Plaintiffs had offensive body odor, the lawsuit says. When Plaintiffs pointed out that it looked like they had been singled out because they were Black, at least one of the American representatives present at the time said, I agree. I agree. The exchange was captured on video. The plaintiffs were allegedly told that they and the other five passengers would be rebooked on a different flight. However, after about an hour, the airlines staff allegedly told them that because there were no other available flights that evening, they could reboard their original plane. The suit claims that the plaintiffs had to endure the stares" of other passengers, who viewed them as the "cause of the substantial delay." They suffered during the entire flight home, and the entire incident was traumatic, upsetting, scary, humiliating, and degrading, the filing alleges. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty American Airlines planes Related: T.J. Holmes Says Another Passenger Accused Him of Stealing Her Phone During Flight With Amy Robach The lawsuit also accuses American Airlines of having a documented history of frequently subjecting Black passengers (and other passengers of color) to differential treatment and bigotry, citing a 2017 NAACP travel advisory against the airline, which was lifted the following year. The three men are seeking compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at a jury trial. The lawyer representing the plaintiffs, Sue Huhta, a partner at Outten & Golden, told CBS News that it seems "fairly apparent that race was part of this dynamic." "It's almost inconceivable to come up with an explanation for that other than the color of their skin, particularly since they didn't know each other and weren't sitting near each other," said Huhta. 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. Jackson and Joseph spoke about their experience in an interview with NBC News. Being grouped and removed hits all these trigger points of things that I dont think should happen to Black people anymore, Jackson said. Joseph, who said he has not flown since the incident, told NBC News,It still affects me. He added, When I do get on a plane again, its going to be something that haunts me. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Three men on their way home from work were killed in a DUI crash in Athens. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The crash happened Tuesday night around 7 p.m. in Madison County, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. A Camry attempting to turn right off Madico Drive was hit by a Ford pickup truck. The 22-year-old driver of the Camry, Moo Thaw, was charged with DUI, first-degree vehicular homicide and failing to yield. The driver of the pickup truck was not charged. TRENDING STORIES: All three men that were killed were in the back seat of the Camry. Theyve been identified by family members as Thai Htoo, 19; Saw Ah, 19 and Gler Taw, 25. Family members said on a GoFundMe set up to help with funeral expenses that the men were headed home for work when they were killed. Taw was a father with 9-month-old daughter. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The other two were both beloved son and friends to many in the communities, one victims brother wrote on the GoFundMe. They all followers of our lord and savior Jesus Chris. Now they watching us from Heaven grieving. One GoFundMe has raised more than $12,000. A second GoFundMe is set up through New Neighbors Network, which is an organization that helps refugees and immigrants navigate life in America. (KRON) The Sonoma County Sheriffs Office was involved in multiple rescues from Trione-Annadel State Park this week. The sheriffs Henry-1 helicopter crew airlifted three patients out of the park near Santa Rosa over Tuesday and Wednesday, according to authorities. The first call for a rescue in the state park came in on Tuesday. A mountain biker near Steves Trail and Richardson Trail was injured and emergency crews on the ground had already started care, SCSO said. Henry-1 was used to extract the mountain biker, along with a Santa Rosa Fire Department paramedic, using a 200-foot long line. The patient was brought to an awaiting ambulance before being transported to a local hospital. The Sonoma County Sheriffs Office shared a video of the Henry-1 rescues (below). The second call for rescue came in just as the first was wrapping up, the sheriffs office said. In an unrelated accident, another mountain biker was reported to be injured in the area of South Burma Trail. The Henry-1 crew searched for the injured person and located them a short time later, according to SCSO. The biker was extracted with a 200-foot long line and brought to an awaiting ambulance, where they were then transported to the hospital. On Wednesday afternoon, a third rescue was made by the Henry-1 helicopter crew in the same park, authorities said. The patient was also flown to an awaiting ambulance. The extent of injuries and the current condition of the patients is unknown. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. 3 men connected to thefts in at least 5 states arrested after chase with GA deputies Habersham County deputies arrested three men accused of stealing money from people across several states. Investigators were contacted by Dalton police about a rental vehicle with three suspects inside it connected to previous burglaries in the area. Using a Flock camera, a Habersham deputy spotted the rental near a Dairy Queen in Clarkesville and the suspects started a chase. The chase ended in front of a Dunkin Donuts and all three people in the car then ran away from officers. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Two of the men then went into the nearby Wilbanks Lumber property while the third into the woods. The two men in the store were found in a wood pile, while the man who ran into the woods was arrested a short time later. None of the suspects had guns on them at the time of the arrest. TRENDING STORIES: Theyre going around using debit cards, credit cards, fraudulent checks, doing a lot of fraud and stuff where theyre stealing money from people, Habersham County Sheriffs Investigator George Cason said. Its tied into about five different states, possibly six, all the way even out to Texas. The sheriffs office did not release the mens names, but said they will be booked at the Habersham County Detention Center in Clarkesville. They all face obstruction and fleeing charges. Additionally, officials said they had stolen a debit card from someone and had been using that. There could be additional charges. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: ELMONT, Long Island (PIX11) Police are searching for three men accused of launching a firework inside a 7-Eleven on Long Island on Wednesday, according to the Nassau County Police Department. It happened at a 7-Eleven on Elmont Road in Elmont around 11:30 p.m. A man walked into the convenience store, lit the firework and tossed it into the middle aisle, according to authorities. Video: Man, woman steal $55K worth of jewelry from Brooklyn mall kiosk The explosion destroyed store shelves and merchandise, police said. No injuries were reported. Police describe the man as wearing dark clothing and a face mask. Two other men, who were also wearing dark clothing, were with the suspect, according to authorities. Man attempts to run over Jewish students in alleged Brooklyn hate crime: NYPD The three men fled on foot going west on Hoffman Avenue. Submit tips to police by calling Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS (8477), visiting nassaucounty.crimestoppersweb.com or downloading the P3 Tips mobile app. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. 30-year sentence for man who pled guilty to fatal Mall of America shooting One of the individuals who carried out a fatal shooting inside the Mall of America the day before Christmas Eve in 2022 has received a sentence topping 30 years. TaeShawn Adams-Wright, 19, was sentenced by Hennepin County District Judge Paul Scoggin after Adams-Wright pleaded guilty for his role in the killing of 19-year-old Johntae Hudson inside the mall's Nordstrom department store. With credit for time in jail since his arrest, Adams-Wright is expected to serve roughly 19 years in prison and the balance on supervised release. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office charged Adams-Wright and Lavon Longstreet, 19, with aiding and abetting intentional second-degree murder. Shortly before 8 p.m. on Dec. 23, 2022, surveillance video showed the suspects chasing Hudson, of St. Paul, through the store before they stood over him and fired multiple shots. Hudson was shot eight times. He died at the scene, and police recovered his firearm, which law enforcement said he fired twice. Holiday shoppers and employees dove for cover as the shooting unfolded. A bullet grazed one woman. At the time of the shooting, Longstreet was six weeks away from turning 18. County Attorney Mary Moriarty filed a motion to have him certified as an adult because he "played a lead role in a brazen shooting that left one person dead and endangered the lives of many others at the Mall of America." Longstreet fled the state after the shooting, and Bloomington police issued a warrant for his arrest. Authorities captured him in Georgia with his mother three weeks after the shooting. He has a hearing scheduled for Friday. Hudson's slaying is the only fatal shooting in the Mall of America, according to a mall official. The shooting was part of a string of incidents where guns were brandished in an armed robbery or a shooting inside the mall. After the Dec. 23, 2022, shooting, a man was shot in the leg and another was grazed by a bullet on the third floor that New Year's Eve. Months later, another shooting sent the mall into lockdown for two hours when a dispute ended with several shots fired outside a Nike store. No injuries were reported. Weeks after that, a man armed with a long gun robbed a Lids store in the mall before being tackled and arrested. Paleopathologists at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain have examined 4,000-year-old skulls which they say hold information about ancient Egyptian cancer treatments. The astonishing report was published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine. Lead author Edgard Camaros and his team examined two separate human skulls housed at the University of Cambridge. The first skull belonged to a man between the ages of 30 and 35 who died between 2,687 and 2,345 B.C. The second was that of an elder woman, above age 50, which dates back to between 663 and 343 B.C. The skull of a younger male, who appeared to have a tumor located on the top right side of his cranium. 'Frontiers in Medicine' Camaros found that the male had what appeared to be a tumor on his skull. There were also about 30 separate lesions, which it appeared someone had used a curved tool to try and excise. The male's skull was found to be infected with a tumor and roughly 30 lesions, which someone had seemingly tried to remove with a curved object. 'Frontiers in Medicine' When we first observed the cut marks under the microscope, we could not believe what was in front of us, Tatiana Tondini, a researcher at the University of Tubingen in Germany, told The New York Post. The female skull also showed bone destruction from a cancerous tumor, in addition to two lesions. However, researchers believe that her lesions were caused by a violent injury from an edged weapon. The skull of an older woman, which showed bone decay from a cancerous tumor and two lesions from injuries resulting from an edged weapon. Was this female individual involved in any kind of warfare activities? German researcher Tatiana Tondini queried. If so, we must rethink the role of women in the past and how they took active part in conflicts during antiquity. 'Frontiers in Medicine' This is an extraordinary new perspective in our understanding of the history of medicine, Camaros enthused to NYP. However, Camaros and the rest of his team are exercising caution in their excitement. Since they possess only the skulls and lack proper medical histories for the deceased, its unlikely that much more will be known about their fates. But the discovery still presents a great deal of promise in terms of understanding the global evolution of cancer and its treatments. This study contributes to a changing of perspective and sets an encouraging base for future research on the field of paleo-oncology, but more studies will be needed to untangle how ancient societies dealt with cancer, Camaros reflected. Just before jurors in Donald Trumps trial for falsifying business records went into deliberations on Wednesday, New York Justice Juan Merchan gave the jury records an excellent roadmap to their verdict. Of his instructions on the law, five stood out along with two he did not give. Now that the powerful evidence the prosecution produced sits in the frame of legal instructions, its easier to see why Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg believed from the start that a guilty verdict was more likely than not. With juries, of course, one never knows. 1. The other crime: A central element of the crime is that prosecutors must prove Trump falsified business records in order to commit or conceal another crime. It is the committing or concealing of another offense that elevates misdemeanor falsifications to felonies, as the grand jury alleged. Analysts across the board present company included identified the other crimes as limited to tax law violations and state or federal election law offenses. We missed something. Justice Merchans instructions said that the jury may also consider the potential other crime of falsifying these other business records: Bank records associated with Michael Cohen account formation paperwork for the shell companies he created to pay Stormy Daniels and others; Bank records labeled retainer that were associated with Michael Cohens wire of the pivotal $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels lawyer; An invoice which Cohen sent to one of the shell companies, representing that it was for advisory services rather than for the payment to Stormy Daniels; and the 1099 tax form that treated the checks from Trump as income rather than as reimbursements. In other words, there are potentially criminal falsifications of business records other than the 34 checks, invoices, and ledgers that the grand jury identified and charged as separate crimes in the indictment. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. For the jury to have this option for finding proof beyond a reasonable doubt on what may be the most difficult element of the case is a very big deal, illuminating another path to a guilty verdict. 2. Criminal acts Trump did not commit himself: Justice Merchan instructed the jury that Trump may be held criminally liable for the conduct of others (such as Cohen or Weisselberg) with whom Trump acted in concert. To hold Trump liable as an accessory, the jury must find that he solicited, requested, . . .or intentionally aided that [other] person to engage in th[e] crime, and that he did so with the state of mind required for the commission of the offense. If, for example, Trump intentionally aided Cohen in the commission of the crimes by signing falsified retainer checks that he knew were reimbursements, then he aided the crime, and the jury is to find him liable. 3. Mix and Match: Justice Merchan instructed the jury that it must conclude unanimously that the defendant conspired to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means, but that it need not be unanimous as to what those unlawful means were. In other words, the jury may mix and match so long as every juror believes that Trump intended to commit or to conceal the commission of one of the three other crimes. 4. Tax Fraud: The instruction regarding tax fraud as the other crime stated that it is unlawful to willfully make any tax return, statement, or other document that is . . . false as to any material matter, regardless of whether it results in underpayment of taxes. The alleged false statements on Michael Cohens 1099 tax document arose from the reporting as earned legal fees what prosecutors allege to have only been receiving a non-taxable reimbursement for purchasing Stormy Daniels silence. This is important because it allows the jury to find a tax law violation even if the government lost no money from the alleged crime. 5. Intent: Significantly, the court gave a general intent instruction, not a specific intent instruction. What that means is that jurors were told that to find that Trump acted with the requisite criminal intent, jurors need only conclude that his conscious objective or purpose [was] that unlawful conduct be performed. The jury was not required to find that Trump knew that the conduct was unlawful or which law was being violated. So what was the other important instruction that was not given? It is known as a lesser included offense instruction. It would have granted jurors the option of finding Trump guilty of only misdemeanors if the prosecution had proven beyond a reasonable doubt all elements of the crime of falsifying business records except for the intent to commit or conceal another crime. * * * Yesterdays instructions, along with Tuesdays closing arguments brought to mind two lines from songwriter Dan Wilsons pop classic, Closing Time. It once topped the charts and ends here: Closing time, every new beginning Comes from some other beginnings end Soon enough, well learn what kind of new beginning starts with the trials verdict at the end of historys first criminal trial of a former president. While experts say the chance of an acquittal is zero, a hung jury would avoid a conviction, which is, according to polls, a significant hurdle to a new beginning for Trump in the White House. Alternatively, a guilty verdict would start his 2024 new beginning as a felon. 50 years after becoming the 25 millionth crosser, man returns to Mackinac Bridge to celebrate anniversary Bob Kuchar, on the motorcycle at center, rode the 25 millionth vehicle across the Mackinac Bridge in 1974. He was greeted by Lawrence Rubin, left, the Mackinac Bridge Authoritys executive secretary, and presented with a gift package from local businesses. ST. IGNACE Fifty years ago, Bob Kuchar rode into Mackinac Bridge history on his 1972 Suzuki 250 motorcycle. He was a 24-year-old General Motors employee on vacation when he crossed the bridge on May 21, 1974. As it turns out, he became the bridges 25 millionth crosser since it opened in 1957. "It was an experience for a 24-year-old, and it was just a cool feeling to be the 25 millionth across," Kuchar said in a press release from the Mackinac Bridge Authority. "I couldnt have been more welcomed by the Bridge Authority representatives from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City." Bob Kuchar, who was driving the 25 millionth vehicle to cross the bridge back on May 21, 1974, crossed again on May 23, 2024, to celebrate the 50-year anniversary. Kuchar made another crossing of the five-mile span, stretching between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace over the Straits of Mackinac, on May 23, 2024 to mark the 50th anniversary of that momentous day. He crossed the bridge in his 2017 Ford F-150. Kuchar, now 74, had planned to ride his 2019 Husqvarna 350 FE dual-sport motorcycle, but gusty winds and concerns about riding on the bridges grating changed his plans. The motorcycle still made the crossing in the truck. "To have my name associated with the iconic Mighty Mac, I'm no less humbled as I again was welcomed to visit with you all," Kuchar said in a statement. "Some family and friends offered regrets that I didn't get another picture of me on my cycle paying the toll, but most said, 'maybe next time.'" Bob Kuchar crossed the Mackinac Bridge on May 23, 2024, with his motorcycle in the back of his Ford F-150 pickup rather than riding it across. Kuchar was just making a day trip on this most recent crossing, enjoying lunch in St. Ignace before heading home. In 1974, he had just started out on a trip all the way around Lake Michigan. His moment in Mackinac Bridge history included a photo with Mackinac Bridge Authority Executive Secretary Lawrence Rubin, a prize package worth $500 donated by Straits-area businesses, hotel and meal vouchers, and a free tank of gas. Kuchar retired from DELPHI Automotive Systems in 2005 and now lives in Fruitport with his wife of 45 years, Jackie. The couple has three children and two grandchildren. For more information about the Mackinac Bridge, visit mackinacbridge.org. Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: 50 years after becoming the 25 millionth crosser, man returns to Mackinac Bridge to celebrate anniversary ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Cash rewards are being offered for information leading to the arrest of nine suspects wanted for various crimes in Abilene. Police are seeking these suspects for the following offenses: John Flores Indecency with a Child Johnathan Lechuga Child Endangerment Mario Albarado Injury to Child, Burglary of Habitation Robert Lane Injury to a Child Yair Martinez-Ferral Assault on Peace Officer, Robbery Robert Mason (IN CUSTODY) Endanger a Child x4 Mario Morales Burglary of Habitation Jorge Hernandez Injury to a Child Broderic Livingston Robbery, Evading Arrest Emily Ann Perez (FEATURED FUGITIVE) Intoxication Assault CrimeStoppers is offering $500 cash rewards for information that leads to the capture any of the suspects, and a $1000 cash reward for information that leads to the capture of the featured fugitive. Cash rewards will only be given if the information is received during the week their mugshots are aired on Abilenes Wanted Criminals. Abilenes Wanted Criminals is a police-run social media segment that will highlight wanted suspects from around the City each week. Episodes will be posted to the Abilene Police Departments YouTube page or APDs PIO Youtube page. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. The Air Force of Ukraine will receive two ASC 890 long-range radar detection aircraft from Sweden, which will help strengthen Ukraine's air defense and combat capabilities. These aircraft are equipped with advanced radar systems to detect and track long-range targets such as fighters, helicopters, cruise missiles, and maritime targets. ADVERTISIMENT Until now, Ukraine has not had such equipment, while the terrorist country of Russia is actively using the A-50(U) radar. OBOZ.UA has found out what the advantage of Swedish ACS-890 is and how these aircraft will help Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression. The ability to integrate ACS-890 with American F-16 fighters will be one of the main advantages of the Ukrainian Air Force. Unlike most ground-based radars, whose effectiveness is limited to the horizon, the ACS-890 aircraft, while at high altitude, can monitor the airspace for hundreds of kilometers. According to the Global Security portal, the ASC 890 airborne surveillance aircraft with the Ericsson PS-890 Erieye radar with a phased array in a rectangular capsule at the top of the fuselage was developed in the early 1990s. ADVERTISIMENT The Ericsson PS-890 Erieye radar uses active arrays of 200 solid-state modules. The range of the 3 GHz S-band side-looking radar is 300 km. The 900 kg antenna is housed in a 9-meter-long fairing mounted on top of the fuselage. Thanks to adaptive suppression of the side lobes, the viewing angle on each side is about 160 degrees. At the standard operating altitude of 6000 meters, the radar has a maximum range of 450 km, while the effective range of a fighter jet-sized target is approximately 330 km. Sea targets can be detected from a distance of 320 km, but this parameter depends on the cruising altitude of the aircraft. An electronically scanned antenna can scan certain sectors while others are monitored, and one sector can be scanned in different modes simultaneously. ADVERTISIMENT It is noteworthy that the ASC 890 airborne radar is effective even in a dense enemy electronic warfare environment in conditions of strong radar interference and at low target altitudes. In addition to this, the Ericsson PS-890 Erieye radar also detects targets using the "friend or foe" system. An important feature is that the Ericsson PS-890 Erieye system is fully compatible with NATO air defense command and control systems. So, after the American F-16 fighters appear in the Ukrainian skies, the ASC 890 will be a very effective addition to the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force. ADVERTISIMENT The ASC 890 airborne surveillance aircraft will actually be a counterweight to the enemy's A-50. On the modernized aircraft, which received the prefix "U" in the name, the Russians installed a radio system with improved parameters for detecting low-observable air targets. The Russian Federation claims that the A-50U can detect fighters and helicopters in the face of electronic jamming. According to the Russian media, the upgraded A-50U can detect new types of aircraft and is capable of simultaneously tracking more targets and fighters than the previous modification. "The A-50U aircraft can detect ballistic missiles at a range of up to 800 km, strategic bombers (such as the Boeing B-52) at a range of up to 650 km, and enemy fighters such as the F-35 at a range of up to 300 km. Cruise missiles such as Storm Shadow or SCAL EG can be seen by the Bumblebee at a range of up to 215 km. Ground targets, such as air defense systems or air defense systems, as well as group targets of armored vehicles, the A-50U aircraft can detect at a range of 250 to 300 km," the Russian media wrote. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, the BBC notes that the Russian airborne radar is based on the IL-76 heavy transporter and is equipped with a rotating antenna, while the Swedish ASC 890 has a fuselage-mounted antenna. This feature somewhat narrows the radar view of the Swedish radar, but allows the use of a larger antenna, which has a positive effect on the range and quality of the information received. As a reminder, on May 29, Sweden announced its 16th largest military aid package to Ukraine. Its total amount is 13.3 billion Swedish kronor. As reported by OBOZ.UA, several countries are asking Sweden to postpone the issue of providing Ukraine with Gripen fighter jets for some time. A number of countries believe that it would be more appropriate to focus on American F-16 fighters. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! The East Troublesome Fire burns north of Granby on Oct. 22, 2020. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) The first televised debate between the six candidates vying to represent Colorados most conservative congressional district began with a unanimous rejection of the scientific consensus on human-caused climate change. The debate hosted Wednesday night by CBS Colorado featured all six candidates who will appear next month on the Republican primary ballot in the 4th Congressional District. The winner of that primary will be heavily favored to win election in the seat previously held by former U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, who resigned from office in March. The GOP hopefuls were asked to give a quick yes or no response to the question, Is climate change real, and is it caused by humans? All six answers sidestepped or contradicted the overwhelming scientific consensus on global warming and its causes, reflected in regular assessments conducted on behalf of the U.N.s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change by thousands of leading scientists from around the world. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Two-term U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who has moved across the state and jumped to the 4th District race after winning reelection in 2022 by fewer than 600 votes in the 3rd District, which she still represents, repeated a line she has used on multiple occasions when discussing climate issues on the drought-stricken Western Slope. Climate change occurs four times every year. Its absolutely real, Boebert said. Theres many things we can do to manage our environment. One of Boeberts first actions as a member of Congress in 2021 was to introduce legislation seeking to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on limiting greenhouse gas emissions. A member of House Republicans far-right Freedom Caucus, she has frequently spread viral misinformation relating to the Biden administrations climate policies, which she has claimed reflect a determination to destroy this nation and linked to the racist great replacement conspiracy theory. Former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, a longtime fixture in Colorado Republican politics endorsed in the 4th District primary by many party insiders, also repeated climate-denial talking points and didnt respond when pressed to say whether humans are the cause. Weve had climate change since the Ice Age. Weve had climate change our entire earthly history, Sonnenberg said. Quite frankly, we have, right now, the cleanest water and cleanest air that weve ever had over the last hundred years. During his time in the state Legislature, Sonnenberg consistently voted against Democratic-backed efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and during floor debate on a climate bill in 2019 he claimed that global warming had been quite benign and that carbon dioxide emissions are a net positive to the climate. Since the 19th century, average temperatures in many parts of Colorado have risen by more than 4 degrees Fahrenheit above previous levels, fueling a regional drought worse than any dry spell the upper Colorado River Basin has experienced in at least 1,200 years. All of the 20 largest wildfires in state history have occurred since 2001, destroying thousands of homes and causing billions of dollars in damages. Research summarized by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that human activity is the dominant cause of the global temperature rise observed since 1850. (IPCC) A contribution through industry In a video announcing his retirement from Congress last year, Buck cited his partys lying about the results of the 2020 election and said that a steadfast commitment to truth, even uncomfortable truths, is the only way forward. But Buck himself frequently ignored and dismissed the science of climate change, which he once called the greatest hoax that has been perpetrated. The 4th District encompasses Douglas County, parts of Weld and Larimer counties and much of Colorados Eastern Plains boundaries that span many of the states most productive oil fields, home to many fossil fuel industry workers and local governments that have enjoyed windfalls from oil and gas property taxes. The extraction and combustion of fossil fuels in power plants, home appliances and gas-powered vehicles accounts for the vast majority of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Three candidates during Wednesdays debate offered slight variations on the same false claim that while human activity may have contributed to climate change, natural changes have been a bigger factor. There is a contribution through industry, but theres a larger contribution through environmental factors that we do not control, said state Rep. Richard Holtorf of Akron. Humans have very little impact on it, changing it one way or the other, said state Rep. Mike Lynch of Wellington. It is driven more predominantly by factors outside human exports or what we produce, said Deborah Flora, a conservative talk radio host. In fact, virtually all of the observed rise of over 1.1 degrees Celsius in average global temperatures since 1850 is attributable to human causes ranging from industrial activity to land-use changes, according to the IPCCs latest comprehensive report in 2021. Summarizing vast bodies of existing research, the report estimated that natural drivers like solar and volcanic activity, as well as internal variability in the climate, have had no net effect on global temperatures. It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land, the reports authors wrote. Evidence of observed changes in extremes such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and tropical cyclones, and, in particular, their attribution to human influence, has strengthened since (the IPCCs previous assessment). DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST The post All 6 Republicans in Colorados 4th District primary deny the science of climate change appeared first on Colorado Newsline. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) Virginia State Police reports a Greenville woman was killed in a single-vehicle accident in Augusta County on Tuesday, May 28. VSP says around 5:50 p.m., 62-year-old Lennie G. Losh was in a 2015 Toyota Tacoma driving north with a passenger on Route 11 when she ran off the right side of the road near Peyton Hill Road. Losh then overcorrected and ran off the left side of the road, hitting two signs, causing the truck to flip over. VSP: Nine crashes kill 11 people during Memorial Day Weekend across the state Deputies say Losh died at the scene. She was not wearing her seatbelt. The passenger, James W. Earhart, was also not wearing a seat belt and suffered serious injuries. This crash remains under investigation. WFXR News will update this story as further information is released. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. Former President Trump has invoked various historical figures when railing against his legal opponents and perceived political rivals, including most recently arguing Mother Teresa could not defeat charges he faces in his New York hush money trial. Trump has often pointed to notable figures from history to also tout his popularity on the campaign trail, and he has compared himself to several former presidents, including Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln, when discussing his accomplishments and policies. Here are some of the top historical figures he and allies have invoked over the years. Mother Teresa Trump spoke to reporters moments after the jury in his New York hush money case began deliberations this week and invoked Mother Teresa, the Roman Catholic nun who dedicated her life to charitable causes. Mother Teresa, the Nobel Peace prize winning nun, is with New Yorks Governor Hugh Carey, rear left, and his wife Evangeline Gouletais, right, during a luncheon ceremony at the New York Foundling Hospital on June 24, 1981. Mother Teresa was presented with the hospitals Elizabeth Seton Humanitarian Award for her contributions to the field of child care. Mother Teresa could not beat these charges. These charges are rigged. The whole countrys a mess, between the borders and fake elections, and you have a trial like this where the judge is so conflicted he cant breathe, Trump said. The former president faces 34 counts of falsifying business records in the New York case where jurors are in their second day of deliberations. In total, Trump faces 88 criminal charges across four cases, including the one in Manhattan. Trump has often complained that the cases brought against him are unfair and politically motivated. He has denied any wrongdoing, but has repeatedly labeled his legal woes as part of a rigged system. Al Capone Trump has repeatedly mentioned Al Capone in his rallies, noting he has been indicted more times than the famous Chicago mob boss. Did anybody ever hear of the great Alphonse Capone, Al Capone, great, great head of the mafia, right? Mean, Scarface. He had a scar that went from here to here, and he didnt mind at all. But he was a rough guy, Trump said to a crowd of supporters last December. Now, I heard he was indicted once a couple of people told me a few times more but I was indicted four times, Trump added, noting Capone was a dangerous man. Jesus Christ The former president said in 2020 that the only person more famous than him was Jesus Christ. Someone said to me the other day, Youre the most famous person in the world by far. I said, no, Im not. They said, whos more famous? I said, Jesus Christ,' Trump said at the time. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) also compared Trump to Jesus last year amid the former presidents arraignment in the New York hush money case, prompting Saturday Night Live to poke fun at the comparison. Ronald Reagan Trump invoked former President Ronald Reagan in a 2015 interview with then-CNN anchor Don Lemon when discussing he was at one point a registered Democrat, like Reagan. If you look at Ronald Reagan, and he was a Democrat, he was actually, Don, he was a Democrat with a very liberal, or at least a pretty liberal bent, and he became a Republican with a somewhat conservative I wouldnt say very, but he was a conservative Republican, Trump said at the time. Over the years, as Ronald Reagan changed, I also changed, he added. Some members of Reagans family have sought to distance themselves from Trump and other Republicans, with his daughter Patti Davis saying earlier this year that the late president would likely not be in todays GOP. Winston Churchill The Trump White House compared Trumps 2020 photoshoot in front of St. Johns Episcopal Church to former British Prime Minister Winston Churchills trip to look at World War II bombing damage in 1941. Through all of time, we have seen presidents and leaders across the world who have had leadership moments and very powerful symbols that were important for a nation to see at any given time to show a message of resilience and determination, then-White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said. Like Churchill, we saw him inspecting the bombing damage. It sent a powerful message of leadership to the British people, she added. Abraham Lincoln Trump has compared himself to former President Abraham Lincoln multiple times, claiming he has done more for the Black community than any president since Lincoln. Ive done more for Black Americans than anybody, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln. Nobody has even been close, Trump said in 2020. He also mentioned Lincoln in a 2017 rally, saying that with the exception of the late, great Abraham Lincoln, I can be more presidential than any president thats ever held this office. Trump suggested earlier this year that he has been treated worse than any other president in history. Elvis Presley The former president said he felt like rock star Elvis Presley after his song with a group of men convicted for the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol topped the music charts last year. On iTunes and on Amazon and on Billboard, which is the big deal, number one. Donald Trump, he said in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity last year. So now I feel like Elvis. Nelson Mandela Trump has invoked anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela numerous times amid his ongoing legal woes, suggesting at some points he may go to prison like the former South African president. I dont mind being Nelson Mandela because Im doing it for a reason, Trump said at a New Hampshire campaign event last year. Weve got to save our country from these fascists, these lunatics that were dealing with. Theyre horrible people and theyre destroying our country. Mandela, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, spent 27 years in prison for opposing the apartheid system in South Africa. In a Truth Social post earlier this year, Trump said it would be a great honor to be jailed over violating a gag order in his hush money case, saying he would gladly become a modern day Nelson Mandela. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. AUSTIN (KXAN) As Austin City Council members head into their summer break, theyve got a stacked agenda with nearly 200 items to cover. Heres some of what were watching: Addressing mail theft: Approved A resolution brought forward by Council Member Paige Ellis will direct the city manager to find ways to educate the public on, and address mail theft. According to that resolution, three Austin-area mail carriers have been robbed for their arrow key since 2023. Those are also known as master keys which can open a variety of mail boxes. 2 men face felony charges after alleged large-scale mail theft in Austin The resolution asks the city manager to gather neighborhood representatives, law enforcement, the postal service and other groups to look for solutions to mail theft. Those will be brought back to city council later this year. It also asks the city manager to add secure postal delivery to its federal legislative agenda, send a letter to U.S. Postmaster Louis Dejoy regarding Project Safe Delivery in the Austin area, and directs city staff to create a mail theft awareness campaign heading into the holiday season. Adjusting the homelessness response system: Approved After groups like VOCAL-TX, a nonprofit that works on homelessness issues, pushed for months for the City of Austin to look at how it does rapid rehousing versus permanent supportive housing, some changes are now coming. Time and time again the rapid rehousing program came up from our leaders and from other community members who attend our meetings, said Cate Graziani, co-director of VOCAL-TX. Austin City Council looked at and approved several elements of how it handles getting people out of homelessness and into more stable housing, including: Creating a bridge to permanent supportive housing program which could better connect people in our bridge shelters to lifelong resources Taking a look at the assessment and referral process for both permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing Freeing the City of Austin up to allow rapid rehousing vouchers for up to two years for Austinites who need the program You can read all of the now-approved recommendations here. Family violence shelter contract: Approved Though Austin City Council approved the purchase of a former hotel in northeast Austin in December 2021 with the intent of using it as a family violence shelter the building still sits vacant. Former hotel purchased by City of Austin in 2021 still sits vacant, though its intended to become a family violence shelter (KXAN photo/Alexis Candiani) Austin City Council voted Thursday on the construction contract for that property with STR Constructors. Itll cost the city as much as $8.5 million, according to council documents. Hotel City of Austin purchased in 2021 for domestic violence victims still sits vacant The new shelter will be run by The Stop Abuse For Everyone Alliance (SAFE), an organization that serves violence and abuse survivors. KXAN previously reported that a new space for family violence survivors hadnt been added by the city in more than a decade. Council documents show the facility near East 51st Street and Ed Bluestein Boulevard is intended to add 50 rooms to the current system. It will house 100-150 people a day, according to SAFE. Adding to HOME: Approved Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool and several city council members introduced a companion resolution to the second phase of the HOME initiative, which was approved by city council earlier this month. The second phase of the HOME initiative will change minimum lot size requirements essentially, how much land you need to build a unit on it. The Thursday resolution, which builds on the HOME initiative, aims to address some community concerns. After 14 hours of public comment, Austin City Council passes HOME part 2 The resolution will direct the city manager to look at things like: Partnering with lending institutions to make private financing more approachable for low and middle-income homeowners Find ways to streamline the process and cut costs for those moving to utilize HOME, including looking at procedures fees that can be waived for low and middle-income homeowners Expanding Austins existing Anti-Displacement Navigator Program Tax exemption: Approved Austin City Council members voted Thursday to raise the homestead tax exemption for disabled and senior homeowners in an effort to offset the increase in property values. READ MORE: City Council raising homestead exemption for senior and disabled homeowners A memo from the citys finance office said in order to keep the property tax bill the same from last year for senior and disabled homeowners, the council would need to increase the exemption for these individuals by $30,000. Prior to Thursdays vote, the exemption for these specific homeowners was $124,000, which was raised last year from $113,000. These homeowners will now deduct $154,000 from their property value, after first applying the citys 20% general homestead exemption. Now approved by council, the new homestead exemption will apply to this years property taxes. City aid with flood insurance costs: Approved A resolution brought forward by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes will direct the city manager to look at ways to reduce the cost burden of flood insurance for residents, according to the agenda. Austin City Council members propose resolution for flood insurance Austin is known as flash flood alley, and we know with climate change worsening we can expect more severe weather events, Fuentes said. The resolution will also promote more engagement with the public on flooding and protecting their homes. Mobile court program: Approved After piloting a mobile court service, Austin City Council voted Thursday to move forward in making the program permanent and asking city staff to identify funding. The program aims to help Austins homeless resolve criminal charges to avoid warrants and access services by bringing court help to them. To address their cases, address if they have any open warrants and get those resolved so they dont create any additional barriers, said Robert Kingham, court administrator for the Downtown Austin Community Court. Mobile court helps resolve criminal charges for homeless According to data from the Downtown Advisory Court Board, 383 people had their court case statuses checked by the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) during the pilot between October 2023 and February 2024. Of those people, 125 learned they had an open case, which represents roughly 32% of the people who took advantage of the service. According to data, 48 warrants were cleared during that pilot. The majority of individuals that we engaged for this pilot had no idea that they even had an open court case with the City of Austin, Kingham said. New council speaking rules: Approved Austin City Council voted to introduce new public speaking rules after being sued by Bill Bunch, the director of the Save Our Springs Alliance a regular speaker at council meetings. I will sue you: Austin City Council public comment rules in limbo after judge ruling Because of several rulings that followed that lawsuit, public speakers have gotten three minutes to speak on every item they sign up for during the last several council meetings. Previously, speakers were getting two minutes, regardless of the number of items they were speaking on. The rules moving forward are as follows: the presiding officer shall announce the amount of time allotted to speakers per item, but at no time will the speaking time be reduced to less than two minutes per agenda item, per the resolution. Council Member Alison Alter has also brought forward a resolution that, if approved, would have made it so that if six or more speakers sign up on an item, it would be pulled from the consent agenda. That amendment ultimately didnt pass and wasnt included in the final, newly approved rules. A tweak presented by Watson and approved by council cleaned up some of the resolution language. Following that change, the resolution mandates that the city manager must publish the council agenda 13 days prior to the meeting but struck language saying any addendums to the agenda must be published six days before the meeting. Aiding food establishments: Approved The council signed off on a resolution item to assist smaller-scale food establishments that dont employ more than 100 people. If approved, the item could request the following assistance from the city manager to: Minimize development costs and streamline review and development processes Adjust building permit requirements for small businesses Enhance resources to help small business owners continue to operate in Austin Remove certain operational requirements for small businesses Architectural grant for Interstate 35 highway cap: Approved The Council voted to apply for the Architects Foundation DAT grant to aid in design and technical assistance services for a highway covering the Hancock and Cherrywood neighborhoods. The citys Our Future 35 program is designing deck plazas that are intended to be constructed over the sunken portions of I-35, in tandem with the Texas Department of Transportations upcoming expansion project. This particular seven-acre cap would run from 38 1/2 Street to Airport Boulevard. City officials said the cap presents optimal potential to integrate future Red Line investments, private redevelopment, and capture future property tax revenue from at least two major sites, including Hancock Center, Fiesta, and multiple surrounding smaller sites, per council documents. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. UPDATE: Grace the baby bobcat has been found! According to My Michigan City, Indianas Facebook page, she was found Thursday and peacefully captured near the Guy Foreman Amphitheater in Washington Park. MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. The search is on in Michigan City, Indiana for a young bobcat that escaped from the zoo. The 9-month-old bobcat, named Grace, escaped her enclosure at the Washington Park Zoo early Wednesday or late Tuesday. According to a Facebook post from My Michigan City Indiana that was shared by the zoo, Grace is about the size of a large house cat. Zoo director Jamie Huss is quoted in the post as saying, Like coyotes and foxes, bobcats are native to this area. Due to her age and size, Grace will likely not be a threat to humans or most animals as long as she is left alone. Bobcats are quiet, secretive and active from dusk to night; and as with all wildlife, the natural response of a bobcat is to move away from humans. A photo of Grace can be seen here on the Facebook post. Huss asks that anyone who spots Grace not attempt to capture her. Instead, people should immediately report any sightings to the Michigan City Police Departments non-emergency phone number at (219) 874-3221. Huss said the public need not be alarmed, as the baby bobcat poses no threat to humans. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. A woman grabs a button during a "lobby day" held by the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Conn., Monday, March 11, 2013. The Supreme Court sided with the National Rifle Association in its ruling on Thursday, May 30, 2024. | Jessica Hill The Supreme Court sided with the National Rifle Association in its ruling on Thursday. After the Parkland high school shooting in 2018, the NRA filed a suit claiming a New York official with the department of financial services had advised insurance companies and banks to part ways with the NRA. The group claimed the former official, Maria Vullo, had violated the First Amendment. A federal appeals court ruled against the NRA and the group appealed the decision. Justice Sonia Sotomayor authored the courts opinion following the unanimous decision. Sotomayor said the NRA plausibly alleged Vullo violated the First Amendment. This means the suit may move forward. Vullo was free to criticize the NRA and pursue the conceded violations of New York insurance law, wrote Sotomayor. She could not wield her power, however, to threaten enforcement actions against DFS-regulated entities in order to punish or suppress the NRAs gun promotion advocacy. Sotomayor said government officials are free to forcefully state their views to inspire others. What she cannot do, however, is use the power of the state to punish or suppress disfavored expression. She emphasized that at the heart of the First Amendments Free Speech Clause is the recognition that viewpoint discrimination is uniquely harmful to a free and democratic society. Ultimately, the critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or (as alleged here) through private intermediaries, wrote Sotomayor. Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Neal Gorsuch filed separate opinions concurring with Sotomayor. Jackson said she wrote her opinion to distinguish between government coercion and First Amendment violations. Coercion of a third party can be the means by which the government violates the First Amendment rights of another, wrote Jackson. But the fact of coercion, without more, does not state a First Amendment claim. Gorsuchs opinion laid out how lower courts should approach these claims and emphasized settled legal principle. Today we reaffirm a well-settled principle: A government official cannot coerce a private party to punish or suppress disfavored speech on her behalf, wrote Gorsuch. The American Civil Liberties Union represented the NRA in its claim before the court. While the ACLU stands in stark opposition to the NRA on many issues, it represented the group to safeguard the First Amendment rights of all advocacy organizations, said the group in a press release. This is a landmark victory for the NRA and all who care about our First Amendment freedom, William A. Brewer III, counsel for the NRA, said in a statement. The opinion confirms what the NRA has known all along: New York government officials abused the power of their office to silence a political enemy. This is a victory for the NRAs millions of members and the freedoms that define America. Alex Abdo, litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said the decision reaffirms the bedrock First Amendment rule that the government may not coerce others to suppress constitutionally protected speech. The ruling also appropriately recognizes that, while the government may not employ coercion, it must be allowed to attempt to persuade the public of its views. Our government could not govern effectively if it were not permitted to speak out, forcefully, on the topics of the day, said Abdo in a statement. Neal Katyal, who represented Vullo during oral arguments, said he believes she did not violate the First Amendment. As the Courts decision makes clear, because of the posture of this case, this ruling required the court to treat the NRAs untested allegations as true even though these allegations have no evidentiary merit, Katyal told Politico. Ms. Vullo did not violate anyones First Amendment rights. Ms. Vullo enforced the insurance law against admitted violations by insurance entities. Actor Accused of Trying to Kill Makeup Artist Was Arrested, Then Sprung from Jail, Days Before Knife Attack As soon as he paid his bail, he came after her, a friend alleges to PEOPLE Maury Phillips/WireImage; GoFundMe Nick Pasqual (left) is charged with the attempted murder of his estranged girlfriend, Allie Shehorn (right). The California actor was arrested on a felony domestic violence-related charge against makeup artist Allie Shehorn Saturday, May 18. Nicholas Pasqual was booked into a Los Angeles jail at 10:06 a.m. He was released on a $50,000 bond about five hours later at 3:13 p.m., per his online booking records. As soon as he paid his bail, he came after her, alleges Shehorns friend and fellow makeup artist, Jed Dornoff in an interview with PEOPLE. Five days after his release, Pasqual allegedly broke into Shehorns Los Angeles home around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, May 23, stabbing Shehorn with a knife multiple times, per prosecutors. Courtesy of Jed Dornoff Allie Shehorn with her friend and makeup artist Jed Dornoff. Related: Actor Who Allegedly Stabbed Hollywood Makeup Artist Multiple Times Charged with Attempted Murder Pasqual, 34, is charged with one count of attempted murder involving domestic violence with a deadly weapon and one count of first-degree residential burglary with a person present; along with the earlier domestic-violence related charge of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiance, boyfriend, girlfriend or childs parent, per his online criminal court record, which notes that the alleged May 23 crimes occurred while Pasqual was on bail. This heinous incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement, calling the attack egregious. Courtesy of Jed Dornoff Artist Allie Shehorn Christine White described as Shehorns surrogate mother on a GoFundMe set up to cover extensive medical and rehabilitation bills found the 35-year-old woman bleeding out in her home and acted fast getting her medical attention. Shehorn has since undergone 14 hours of intensive life-saving and reconstructive surgeries for stab wounds across her throat, wrists, chest and back, says Dornoff, who visits his friend regularly in the hospital. Courtesy of Jed Dornoff Allie Shehorn (right) is an award-winning makeup artist with credits including "Mean Girls," "Rebel Moon" and "Babylon." 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. Because the knife cut through her tendons, Shehorn is now having to relearn how to walk with a walker and to feed herself with a spoon, says Dornoff, noting that the award-winning makeup artist now has very limited use of her hands. Just days before the alleged knife attack, on Monday, May 20, Shehorn filed a restraining order against Pasqual, her boyfriend of two years, per Pasadena Courthouse online family court records. GoFundMe Allie Shehorn (center) is using a walker as she relearns how to walk after the attack. Los Angeles County prosecutors confirmed the restraining order, and Dornoff said it was the first time Shehorn had filed a restraining order. Dornoff, who knew the couple who had met on set, said he was unaware of Pasqual having any alleged mental health or anger issues. Im in shock myself, he said of the couple he had spent extensive time with. The way it went down, how it went down. The San Fernando courthouse clerks office said that Pasqual had skipped his initial court appearance Friday, May 24, and a warrant for his arrest was issued later that day. Emily MacDonald and Jed Dornoff/GoFundMe Allie Shehorn Prosecutors said that Pasqual had fled the crime scene and was later detained at a U.S./Mexico border checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas, and, as of the office's Wednesday, May 29 press release, was still awaiting extradition to Los Angeles County to face charges. (Prosecutors did not have an update on the case in time for publication.) The clerks office said that a new court date had not yet been set and that he had no defense attorney listed in their system. PEOPLE reached out to Pasquals agent, Jared Pascoe, by phone and email, but he did not comment in time for publication. If convicted of the charges, Pasqual faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. 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. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Actor Rachel Zegler condemned the AI-generated All Eyes on Rafah post that has been circulating on social media this week, echoing the criticisms of pro-Palestinian activists who have labeled the post performative. In a message on social media on Wednesday, the Hunger Games star criticized those who were sharing the viral graphic, stating that it fails to provide information or context about what is happening to people in Gaza. The post, which experts say was created by artificial intelligence (AI), depicts artwork of a landscape and mountain with the words All Eyes on Rafah, a phrase used to draw attention to Israels bombardment Sunday of camps for displaced people in Rafah, killing dozens of Palestinians sheltering in tents. At least 40 million people reshared the post on Instagram as of Wednesday. I genuinely find it disturbing that the only way so many people have suddenly felt comfortable sharing their support for palestinian lives is via an Al-generated image that doesnt even begin to touch upon the actual horrors of what these human beings are experiencing, Zegler wrote on her Instagram story. Zegler, a Colombian American performer and Oscar nominee for West Side Story, added that there are numerous GoFundMe appeals, infographics or even other pieces of art that would have had been more effective posts to support the Palestinians in Gaza than what the internet has decided is its trendy version of showing up for a population that has been (publicly) massacred. Others online echoed her criticisms, pointing to celebrities and influencers who shared the image after being largely quiet about the attacks in Gaza over the past eight months. We have had real accounts and images for the past eight months about this genocide very well documented, and youre choosing AI? a user named Yeganeh said in an Instagram reel on Tuesday. On Oct. 7, the militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing an estimated 1,200 people and taking about 240 people hostage. Since then, Israels offensive has killed an estimated 35,000 people in Gaza, displaced most of the population and caused what the United Nations has called a full-blown famine. Following the Sunday bombardment, which has drawn international outrage, Israel has continued to strike at tent camps sheltering Palestinians who have been displaced several times to so-called safe zones, and the Israel Defense Forces killed at least 37 Palestinians overnight Monday and on Tuesday. Horrifying videos of the aftermath of the attacks this week, including one of a man carrying the body of a beheaded child, were captured by journalists and witnesses in Rafah. Humanitarian experts and others online have described the AI post as a sanitized and uncontroversial image that doesnt depict real-world violence, which may have driven its spread online, according to The Washington Post. Many have drawn parallels to the black squares that were posted on social media during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. The squares were meant to represent support for the movement, but the images drew criticism because they didnt provide any context or useful resources on racial inequity and police brutality, and their proliferation pushed those valuable tools out of peoples social media feed. The surge of black squares, as well as the All Eyes on Rafah graphic, were criticized as performative activism: done out of a desire to make a person look better rather than to help the cause. I think its precisely the lack of context that makes this image politically safe for liberals to signal their concern for Gaza, one user wrote in X about the All Eyes on Rafah post. Palestine is not named. Zionism is not named. It conveys urgency and awareness without naming the historical actors that have produced this genocide. Related... VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Those in Visalia looking for a furry addition to their families can take advantage of the waived adoption fees for Adopt-a-Pet Day in Visalia in June. Visalia Animal Services is celebrating the first Adopt-a-Pet Day in California, which will be held on Saturday, June 1, with free adoptions and special, extended hours, according to officials. We are proud to be joining the first ever California Adopt-a-Pet Day, said Candace Harrington, Animal Services Manager in Visalia. We work year-round with our community to find loving homes for animals and to raise awareness about the issues of overcrowding in animal shelters, but this is a special day for everyone involved. The Visalia Animal Center officials say they are participating in this day by holding special operating hours from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 1 for the event. Those who find their perfect match at the Care Center during the event and are ready to adopt will have all their adoption fees waived. Officials say the event is managed by CalAnimals and supported by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is providing funds to cover the cost of free adoptions at the participating shelters, as well as the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. To find a participating shelter located outside of Visalia for Californias Adopt-A-Pet Day, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. The Czech company Czechoslovak Group (CSG), one of the largest suppliers of ammunition in Central Europe, has warned of problems with the supply of ammunition to Ukraine. According to the company, due to rising prices and poor quality of the shells, half of them will not be sent to Ukraine as quickly as planned. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Financial Times. CSG owner and CEO Michal Strnad said that the Czech-led initiative to purchase artillery ammunition for Kyiv would begin supplying shells in June. However, according to him, about 50% of the parts purchased by his company on behalf of the Czech government in Africa and Asia were not of sufficient quality to be shipped to Ukraine without additional processing. For some shells, CSG is forced to add missing components of its production. "Every week the price goes up, and there are big problems with components. It is not an easy job," Strnad said. However, he emphasized that the Czech initiative is still "afloat" and CSG is committed to delivering the due portion of the supply. Strnad added that the war in Ukraine is driving up prices for the limited number of shells available outside the EU, while Europe lacks free ammunition. ADVERTISIMENT He noted that European ammunition manufacturers' orders are booked for the next eight years, depending on the type of parts, even though "we are all increasing capacity." Even in the unlikely event that the war in Ukraine ended now, he said, "we would have to do a huge job of replenishing NATO's strategic stockpiles." Earlier it was reported that the United States will soon open a plant for the production of 155-millimeter shells, which are needed by the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the battlefield. The company is expected to produce about 30 thousand shells per month. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the aggressor country Russia produces artillery shells about three times faster than Ukraine's Western allies, and these ammunition cost about four times cheaper. According to the analysis, in 2024 Russia plans to produce or restore 4.5 million rounds of ammunition. At the same time, the United States and European countries plan to produce only 1.3 million shells. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! A coalition of community activists called on House leadership to take up a broader reauthorization of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) scheduled a vote on a more limited extension next week. RECA, which compensates Americans exposed to radiation by nuclear testing and uranium mining, is set to expire this summer at the end of a two-year extension. On Tuesday, Johnson scheduled a vote for the first week of June on legislation that would extend RECA another two years and would not expand eligibility. A separate bill, sponsored by Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), would extend the law for more time and add several states and territories to its eligibility, including Missouri, Idaho, Montana, Guam, Colorado, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alaska, as well as Americans downwind of the 1945 Los Alamos, N.M., Trinity atomic bomb test. In a letter first shared with The Hill by Hawleys office, advocates urged Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to instead introduce the bill from Hawley and Lujan, which passed the Senate by a more than 2-to-1 margin in April. Signatories of the letter include national and local organizations such as Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Idaho Downwinders, Just Moms STL, the National Association of Atomic Veterans and the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, as well as Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Speaker Crystalyne Curley. We have prayed for justice, traveled countless times to Washington DC to tell our stories, held press conferences, held community meetings, attended Congressional hearings. We have also held bake sales to raise the money to attend our cancer treatments, held our loved ones hands at their hospital bedside, and held too many funerals to count, they wrote. Hawley has vocally criticized his Republican colleagues, Utah Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney, for introducing the smaller bill, while Lee and Romney have defended it as less costly. Missouri Reps. Cori Bush (D) and Ann Wagner (R) have also vowed to vote against any RECA extension that does not include Missouri. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Housing advocates arent just worried about the rising number of veterans experiencing homelessness in recent years. Theyre also concerned about growing apathy and anger towards the problem. Its not just about losing momentum. Right now, it feels like the tide is heading in the opposite direction, said Kathryn Monet, CEO of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, which is holding its annual conference in Washington this week. Were just seeing so much more opposition to solutions, so many more challenges to finding ways to help people who are struggling. This years gathering of hundreds of community and veterans activists includes the groups typical updates on new federal program rules, best practices for civic organizations and networking opportunities to share ideas on how to house more veterans. But organizers have also included an emphasis in their sessions on ways to better share the stories and struggles of homeless veterans in the wake of what they see as rising opposition to their outreach efforts. Vets advocates push Supreme Court to dump laws punishing homelessness Monet said a growing number of municipalities in recent years have increased criminal penalties for homeless individuals while reducing funding support programs, a situation that complicates an already difficult financial situation for the estimated 36,000 veterans without stable housing on any given night in America. Last month, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Johnson v. City of Grants Pass, where an Oregon towns officials approved fines and jail time for people for sleeping outside in public areas as part of an effort to manage homeless encampments in the city. Advocates called the move unconstitutional. A decision from the high court is expected in coming months. But Monet said she does not expect the Grants Pass case to be the last high profile conflict of its kind. She said a growing number of groups are sparring with civic leaders over those types of penalties, and an increasingly negative tone towards potential solutions. Were already seeing an unrelenting housing affordability crisis, and now were seeing so many cities choosing unproductive responses to homelessness that makes the situation worse, she said. Advocates have been lobbying for more federal support for veterans housing programs for the last year, since a pandemic assistance program which provided support services for rent costs and medical travel expenses expired in May 2023. But persuading leaders to invest in those programs will require public support for the effort. Every single one of us has a role to play in shaping and advancing narratives about homelessness, housing security and housing writ large, whether its building power so that people can vote, or for specific solutions around housing first and veterans issues, Marisol Bello, executive director at the Housing Narrative Lab, told attendees at their opening session Wednesday. Bello said that includes educating officials on the costs of ignoring homeless problems and the long-term benefits of engaging in community solutions. Specific sessions this week also focused on highlighting housing challenges among elderly veterans, an underreported issue that is growing as the veterans population continues to age. Monet said she remains optimistic about the ability for communities to continue to aid homeless veterans, but acknowledged that some of the public goodwill of recent years on the issue appears to have disappeared. When President Barack Obama in 2010 first announced plans to end veterans homelessness across America, the ambitious goal was followed by years of federal and local focus on the issue, reducing the number of former personnel without stable housing by half in eight years. But those gains have been more modest in recent years. According to federal estimates, the number of homeless veterans dropped only about 5% from 2018 to 2023, and actually increased by several thousand individuals from 2022 to 2023. On Oct. 10, ex-Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro, left, conferred with his defense lawyer, Scott Grubman, during a Fulton County court hearing in the sweeping 2020 presidential election interference case. Two weeks later, Chesebro returned to court Oct. 20 to plead guilty to his role in trying to illegally overturn the 2020 election results. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP) Four days before a group of Michigan Republicans gathered in Lansing to sign documents claiming to be Michigans state electors in 2020, a copy of the false certificate was emailed to a member of the group by an attorney for then-President Donald Trump. That information came from Howard Shock, a special agent investigator with the Michigan Department of Attorney General, who testified Tuesday and was back on the stand Wednesday, as a preliminary exam continued for six defendants facing felony charges for submitting the false electoral votes. Shock testified that on the evening of Dec. 10, 2020, Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro emailed the certificate alleging the former president won Michigans 16 electoral votes to Marian Sheridan, one of the 15 people charged in the scheme. Chesebro has admitted to orchestrating a multi-state fake elector plot to present fake elector documents in favor of a Trump presidency, and pleaded guilty last October to a felony count in Georgia as part of that plot. He is also an unindicted co-conspirator in the Michigan case, along with Trump, and several others, including Trump lawyers Jenna Ellis and Rudy Giuliani; Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows; and Chris Velasco, who worked for Trumps campaign in Michigan. Sheridan reportedly initiated the exchange with Chesebro in an email whose subject line was Urgent Trump/Pence campaign asked me to contact you to coordinate December 14th board voting by Michigan electors. Hi, Kenneth, while Kathy Berden is an elector, so am I. And I believe your email was intended for her, Shock testified the email said. Nonetheless, I believe I can be more effective in getting the other 15 electors involved in this effort for December 14th. Shock then said Chesebro responded with an attachment that contained a certificate of the votes of Michigan electors for Trump and Pence along with a signature page. And looking at that first page of the document that was emailed to Ms. Sheridan, is the number of votes already on there? LaDonna Logan, an assistant attorney general, asked Shock. Yes, he replied. And how many? 16. This is on December 10, 2020. Is that correct? Logan asked. Yes. That testimony seemingly corroborates what prosecutors contend was a knowing attempt to falsely portray Trump as the winner of Michigans electoral votes despite the Michigan Board of State Canvassers certifying Joe Bidens 154,000-vote win more than two weeks earlier. Four days later, on Dec. 14, 2020, the defendants met at the Michigan Republican Party headquarters and signed a number of documents as the duly elected and qualified Electors for President and Vice President of the United States of America from the State of Michigan, including the document sent by Chesebro submitting 16 electoral votes for Trump and Pence. Shock further testified that on the evening of Dec. 14, 2020, Sheridan sent Chesebro a follow-up email that simply said; We did it! Under cross-examination, Shock revealed that the email exchange was provided to him by Chesebro and his attorneys during a four-hour interview last December. Shock also indicated that there had been discussions to call Chesebro as a witness at some point. Shock then spent most of the rest of the day Wednesday being hammered by defense attorneys for his inability to recall specific details that connected their clients to various pieces of evidence that prosecutors say links them to the conspiracy. Among them was David Gilbert, the attorney for defendant Kenneth Thompson, who asked Shock about the results of a search warrant that was issued to Meta, the parent company of Facebook. He specifically asked the investigator how he linked Thompson to a Facebook page in the name of Kenneth A. Ration. How did you associate it? What information did you use to make that association? Gilbert asked. I dont recall, but typically its through emails, phone numbers, stuff like that, responded Shock. So you dont know how youd link that to Mr. Thompson? I said I dont recall. Clearly frustrated, Gilbert again tried to get Shock to say how he linked the account to his client, calling it pretty important information. When Shock twice again said he couldnt recall, Gilbert objected to the search warrant results being entered into evidence. Ingham County Judge Kristen Simmons then ordered a recess so Shock could refresh his memory, one of several breaks the investigator would need on Wednesday. When court resumed, Shock said he linked the account to Thompson using registration data including phone numbers. Gilbert also questioned Shock if he could prove the false certificate was actually inside the envelope that several of the defendants tried to deliver to the Michigan Capitol building in Lansing on Dec. 14, 2020. It could have been empty? asked Gilbert. It could have been, responded Shock. Shock was also grilled about who exactly was present at the state GOP headquarters that day, and what exactly was said to the defendants prior to their signing the false certificate. When Michael Bullotta, the attorney for Rose Rook, concluded Shock didnt know what they were told, especially by Trump campaign attorney Shawn Flynn, the investigator said he was basing his conclusions on the totality of the investigation and the information that I obtained during the investigation. The exam continues Thursday for six of the defendants; Sheridan, Thompson, Rook, along with William Choate, Clifford Frost, and Mayra Rodriguez. Three others, Stanley Grot, Timothy King, and Kent Vandwerwood, had their cases continued to later dates. Another six had their exams held last month after Simmons split the defendants into two groups. The hearings will result in her ruling whether or not prosecutors have enough evidence to send the case to trial. The post Agent: Emails show Trump attorney sent fake certificate to GOP electors days before attempted vote appeared first on Michigan Advance. The amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza has dropped by 67% since Israel launched a military offensive in the southern city of Rafah earlier this month, the United Nations has warned. The amount of food and other aid entering Gaza, already insufficient to meet the soaring needs, has further shrunk since May 7, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Wednesday. A daily average of 58 aid trucks reached Gaza between May 7 and Tuesday, down from an average of 176 aid trucks between April 1 and May 6, OCHA said, a drop of 67%. About 500 trucks per day crossed into Gaza before hostilities between Israel and Hamas began in October, according to figures from the UN, which has long urged that deliveries return to this level. The drop in aid deliveries came after Israel began its assault on Rafah in its attempt to destroy Hamas, which was believed to have regrouped in the south of Gaza after Israels destruction of much of the north. Since Israel seized control of the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing on May 7, aid has been blocked, with supplies piling up in Egypt and the Strip teetering close to famine. A top Israeli security official this week warned that the war in Gaza could spill into next year, apparently dashing the possibility that the Rafah campaign could bring the offensive to an end. In its ruling last week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said the humanitarian situation in Gaza could now be described as disastrous and ordered Israel to keep the Rafah crossing open for unhindered provision at scale of aid. Trucks build up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, waiting to enter Gaza in April. - Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters Israel and Egypt have blamed each other for the blockage. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called on Egypt to reopen the crossing; his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry accused Katz of distorting the facts, saying that Israels offensive near the crossing and the danger it poses to relief workers was the reason Egypt is unable to bring aid into Gaza. Rafah had previously been the central artery for aid to flow into Gaza and, in November, for some injured Palestinians and foreign nationals to enter Egypt. With Rafah now the epicenter of hostilities, aid has continued to trickle in from two other crossings: Kerem Shalom in the south and Erez in the north. Kerem Shalom was reopened last week after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and US President Joe Biden agreed to send aid to the UN via the crossing on a temporary basis. This will help save lives, Biden said, while efforts continue to reopen the Rafah crossing. More than 370 aid trucks arrived at the crossing from Egypt on Monday, Israeli officials said. But UNRWA, the main United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, said it had picked up only 30 trucks for distribution on the Gazan side of the crossing. Trucks carrying aid move through security inspections at the Kerem Shalom crossing in March. - Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images While the Kerem Shalom crossing remains open in principle, it is extremely difficult for aid organizations to access from the Gaza side due to the hostilities, OCHA said Tuesday. Some Israelis have in recent months staged protests at the crossing, demanding that no aid enter Gaza until Hamas release all of the hostages. In the north, some aid has been able to enter via the Erez crossing. From May 1 to May 20, the World Food Program transferred 500 trucks, carrying 7,000 metric tons of aid, through the crossing. But only the western side of the crossing is open, with Erez East still closed. Meanwhile, the temporary US-built pier to transport aid into Gaza, which cost $320 million and only began operating on May 17, broke apart Tuesday. It will be removed from the Gaza coast and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod for repairs, which will take more than a week. CNNs Lucas Lilieholm contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com For months, Palestinian civilians were told to evacuate their homes and head to Rafah, a tiny Southern city designated a safe zone by Israel, while Israel conducted an aggressive military campaign throughout the rest of Gaza. Israels effort to root out members of Hamas in the wake of its Oct. 7 attack has come at a staggering cost: 36,000 dead and counting, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. In recent months, more than a million Palestinians, including 600,000 children, were pushed by Israel into makeshift shelters in the so-called safe zone in Southern Gaza. But on Sunday, and again on Tuesday, Israel conducted airstrikes in and around Rafah where internally-displaced Palestinians were sheltering, sparking a blaze that engulfed multiple tents. The Israeli military said two senior Hamas leaders were among the 45 individuals killed in Sundays strike. Speaking to the Israeli Parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the fire and civilian casualties a tragic mishap. James Elder is a spokesman for the United Nations Childrens Fund who has spent months trying to raise awareness about the dire conditions for children and families across Gaza. They are physically spent, theyre psychologically exhausted, their coping capacity has been smashed, they are in some sort of overdrive in terms of How do I get through this? And then, theres a direct bombardment that turns into this inferno and, I mean, literally: It is hell on Earth, says Elder. Karin Huster is a French-American trauma nurse and medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Gaza, which has been operating on the western side of Rafah since May 14. In a voice note shared with Rolling Stone, she described the situation at the Tal Al-Sultan Trauma Stabilization Point on Sunday after the first airstrike. We received, over the course of the night, over 180 patients, which we were able to stabilize and refer to the open field hospitals in the neighborhood, Huster said. Very, very sadly we also received 28 patients that were dead on arrival. Many of the bodies were burned beyond recognition. On Monday, Huster said, military activities continued to intensify to the extent that they were forced to close the triage unit and transfer all patients to nearby field hospitals. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who came to Rafah to escape Israels bombing campaign are now fleeing as it has become clear it is not the safe zone that was promised. A safe zone has two obligations, says Elder. The occupying force, Israel, has a legal obligation to ensure safety it sounds obvious, but a safe zone cant be bombed and a safe zone also has to have the things that sustain life: protection, water, food, medicine. These areas [in and around Rafah] have none of that. There has been no attempt whatsoever. Since Israel began its attacks in and around Rafah, many of the 1.3 million Palestinians who had been sheltering there are confronting the reality that there is nowhere left to go. The border with Egypt, to the South, is closed and, to the North, where there were once cities, there are only heaps of rubble. Huster describes people moving by the thousands along a beach road out of Western Rafah in recent days: Mayhem might be a strong word, but it is completely chaotic. Where are people going to go? They are moving to Khan Yunis and Dier al-Balah, which are places that have been destroyed. They have no infrastructure that is functioning, there is no running water, there is no electricity. People are going to put their tents or their plastic sheeting on rubble. Many are in Al-Mawasi, an IDF-designated humanitarian zone west of Rafah. Its just sand, Elder says. Its utterly unlivable. Some are going further West, to the beach itself. The tents are all the way to the edge of the water. This is not going to be sustainable. Their tents will be washed away; there is no way this is survivable. Its insane, Huster says. There are flies, there are mosquitoes. Its just going to be terrible from a hygiene perspective imagine the beach packed, jam-packed, with plastic sheeting very very few toilets, forget about the showers. (Before the airstrikes that caused refugees to flee Rafah, there was approximately one toilet for every 850 people, and one shower for every 3,600 people, according to UNICEF.) Israels decision to strike the area came just days after the International Court of Justice ordered the country to halt its offensive in Rafah. U.S. President Joe Biden had issued a similar warning to Israel earlier this month, telling CNN: I made it clear that if they go into Rafah Im not supplying the weapons. (CNN has reported the munition dropped on the refugee camp was American-made.) But on Tuesday, speaking from the White House on Tuesday, Biden National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby insisted that Israels airstrikes did not violate Bidens ultimatum. We have not seen them go in, with large units, large numbers of troops, in columns and formations, in some sort of coordinated maneuver against multiple targets on the ground. That is a major ground operation, and we have not seen that, Kirby said on Tuesday. (Kirby added that the U.S. has also killed civilians in airstrikes in Iraq and Afghanistan.) At the same press conference, Kirby defended the Rafah crossing closure, saying it was done to shut off the revenue to Hamas that comes across that crossing. Humanitarian workers say that the border closure is hobbling their efforts to provide medical care and other critical aid to displaced Palestinians. (A floating pier built by the US military to deliver aid to Gaza, meanwhile, was badly damaged by heavy seas this week; officials say it will take at least a week to repair.) Medical equipment, medications, we havent been able to get. Its been the same issue with fuel, Huster says. Its been super challenging And soon it will be impossible for us to work. One nearby hospital, Huster says, lost electricity for hours after it ran out of fuel, forcing medical providers to manually ventilate patients with an inflatable bag. Its super tiring for somebody to do. If its a kid, its easy, but if its an adult, its more difficult, Huster says. Its just not sustainable. Elder raises similar concerns. The crossing point is where the vast majority of water comes in, of medicines, of highly nutritious food for an unprecedented malnutrition crisis among children. We have been working day in day out to prevent famine, or prevent this nutritional crisis from spreading, and now we are in a situation where not just food, but highly nutritious food for the most severely malnourished children, thats restricted everything is restricted. And thats at an aid crossing for humanitarian supplies that is checked by Israel thoroughly so they know exactly what goes through there. That crossing has been closed. Despite its devastating toll on civilians, aid workers, and members of the press (107 journalists and media workers have been killed since Oct. 7) the material impact of Israels campaign against Hamas has been limited: U.S. intelligence, according to a recent report in Politico, says only 30 to 35 percent of Hamas fighters have been killed in the conflict, and more than two-thirds of the militant groups underground tunnels remain intact. Huster has spent much of her career in conflict zones; the difference between those experiences and and this one, she says, is that here, the government that is dropping bombs on Rafah and, sadly, killing so many civilians, is a country with one of the most sophisticated armies in the world and it has been able to do what it is doing with very little actual consequences from the rest of the world. Its devastating work, but, Huster says, I know that the day I die, I will be able to sleep because I will have tried to do something. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Ukrainian forces shot down all the 32 Shahed-type "kamikaze" drones and seven of the 11 Kh-101/555 cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight on May 30, the Air Force said. Moscow's Armed Forces attack Ukraine's population centers and civilian infrastructure on a nearly daily basis, regularly inflicting casualties and damage. Russia reportedly launched the drones from the Russian town of Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea, while the cruise missiles were fired from Tu-95 bomber planes over Russia's Saratov Oblast. The drones and cruise missiles were shot down over Khmelnytskyi, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kherson, Kyiv, and Vinnytsia oblasts, the report read. The full consequences of the strikes are being determined. Moscow's troops also launched eight S-300/400 missiles against Kharkiv Oblast, the Air Force said. Authorities in Kharkiv reported that at least four people were injured and critical infrastructure was damaged in the attacks. Read also: Finland, Canada, Poland dont prohibit Ukraine from striking targets in Russia with their weapons Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Alabama executed death row inmate Jamie Ray Mills on Thursday, marking the state's first execution since Kenneth Smith was put to death using nitrogen hypoxia in January. Mills, 50, was pronounced dead at 6:26 p.m. local time after a three-drug injection at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in southwest Alabama, the state's Department of Corrections said in a statement. Lethal injection remains Alabama's default method of execution unless an inmate requests nitrogen gas or the electric chair to carry out the death sentence. Mills was convicted of capital murder in the 2004 killing of a senior couple at their home in northwestern Alabama. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey had authorized a 30-hour window for his execution to take place, between 12 a.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday, although officials estimated that it would begin at around 6 p.m. local time Thursday, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. "On May 29, 2024, Mills had 6 visitors and 6 phone calls," the department's statement said. "On May 30, 2024, he had 6 visitors, nocphone calls, accepted his breakfast tray, and had a final meal of seafood." A joint statement from Ivey and Corrections Commissioner John Hamm released earlier in May noted plans for Mills' execution could potentially change, "based on the conclusion of the required legal proceedings." This undated photo released by the Alabama Department of Corrections shows Jamie Mills, who was convicted of bludgeoning an elderly couple to death 20 years ago. Alabama is set to execute Mills on Thursday evening, May 30, 2024. / Credit: Alabama Department of Corrections via AP, File An Alabama jury convicted Mills in 2007 for the murders of 87-year-old Floyd Hill and 72-year-old Vera Hill, an elderly couple living in Guin, near the Mississippi border, court documents show. Two others were also found guilty in the case: JoAnn Mills, considered Jamie Mills' wife by common law standards during the trial; and Benjie Howe, described as a local drug dealer. In court filings, prosecutors said Jamie Mills and his wife had plotted to steal money and prescription pills from the Hills after killing them. They described the murders as brutal executions, carried out using "a machete, tire tool and ball-peen hammer." The Hills' money and prescription drugs were found in Howe's possession when he was eventually arrested as a suspect, and both Jamie and JoAnn Mills' arrests came soon afterward, as authorities say they discovered the murder weapons in the trunk of their car. DNA lifted from the tools matched one of the victims, but attorneys for Mills have in more recent years argued that little else existed in the way of concrete evidence linking him to the crime. During the trial, testimony given by Mills' wife helped anchor the prosecution's case. JoAnn Mills originally suggested to authorities that Howe had planted the murder weapons in the trunk of her and her husband's car in an attempt to frame them for killing the Hills, according to court filings. Ultimately, though, she became the prosecution's key witness as they sought to convict Jamie Mills for the crimes. How and why that change happened later emerged as a source of controversy over whether Mills' conviction and death penalty sentence were fair. Transcripts from the trial show that, during questioning, former Marion County District Attorney William Bostick said on the stand that JoAnn Mills had not been incentivized to testify against her husband and accuse him of the murders. In at least one exchange, Jamie Mills' defense counsel asked the prosecutor directly if any "inducement" existed that may have encouraged his wife's testimony, to which the district attorney repeatedly said no. JoAnn Mills was eventually convicted in the Hills' murders and sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, with Alabama dismissing capital murder charges against her. It was discovered later that her lawyer at the time, Tony Glenn, had said in a sworn affidavit that he met with the district attorney and the Hills' family members to arrange a deal in which the state would not pursue the death penalty against her if she testified against her husband. As a result, Mills filed a motion this past April asking the court to reopen his appeal and grant a stay of execution. He always maintained his innocence in the Hills' murders. Eleventh Circuit Judge Nancy G. Abudu acknowledged in the court's opinion this week, "According to Glenn, before Mills' trial, the victims' daughter agreed not to oppose the State offering JoAnn a plea deal, and the district attorney agreed to not pursue the death penalty against JoAnnso long as she 'testified truthfully' at Mills' trial." Abudu still ruled in favor of the state, denying Mills' appeal and authorizing the execution to go forward. Mills filed a separate petition to the United States Supreme Court to review the decision and reconsider a stay. In his April appeal, Mills shared concerns about the execution itself, knowing that Alabama's correctional system earned some level of notoriety over the last half-decade or so for botching death row inmates' executions by lethal injection. Smith became the first condemned inmate in the United States put to death by nitrogen hypoxia earlier this year after surviving a botched lethal injection attempt in 2022 in Alabama. Abudu addressed Mills' concerns as well. "Mills has a valid fear that he will be unnecessarily placed on the execution gurney if a stay is in place, while the IV team is not attempting to establish IV access, or while officials transport witnesses to the viewing area, without being given any updates from officials on the status of his cases or the ongoing execution protocol," the judge wrote in the opinion. "In its filings to this Court, the State has assured us that should Mills be granted a stay while he is on the execution gurney, he will be returned to a holding cell. The State also indicated it has taken steps to accelerate its preparation process to ensure witnesses are transported to the viewing area sooner to limit delays." Second American sentenced after ammo found in luggage in Turks and Caicos Supreme Court allows NRA free speech lawsuit to move forward Details from inside courtroom as jury read Trump verdict Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, describes a bill to extend parental leave to state employees on March 21, 2024 in the Alabama House of Representatives at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Alzheimers Task Force met Wednesday to develop recommendations for the Legislature for a five-year strategy to address Alzheimers and other dementia-related diseases. The task force, created by a legislative resolution last year, will present the plan to Gov. Kay Ivey and lawmakers at the start of the 2025 legislative session in February, at which time the task force will be dissolved. Just looking at what state services are available through the different agencies, we have a member of the committee thats from the Veterans Affairs, we have Medicaid involved, we have Department of Public Health, [Department of] Mental Health, all of the different state agencies that deal with people who suffer from Alzheimers in some form or fashion, Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, who chairs the task force, said after the meeting. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alabama in 2021 had the second highest mortality rate from Alzheimers disease, behind only Mississippi, at 46.8 per 100,000 people. The 2023 Alabama State Health Assessment identified Alzheimers disease as the seventh-leading cause of death in the state in 2022, with a rate of 52.2 people with Alzheimers per 100,000 population. Thats an improvement from 2020, when the state had a rate of 62.9 cases per 100,000 people. The number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimers disease in Alabama is expected to increase from 96,000 in 2020 to 110,000 in 2025, a 14.6% rise, according to a 2023 report from the Alzheimers Association. The increase is mostly due to poor health care access in rural areas and an aging population, particularly in the Black Belt region. The task force established five subcommittees with different focuses. The plan will also suggest ways to boost public awareness and support family caregivers, as stated in the resolution. The different subcommittees will focus on caregiver support and education; dealing with stigma; health care provider education; research and policy and advocacy. Laurie Eldridge-Auffont, chronic disease director at ADPH, said they reviewed plans from other states to guide the task forces state plan development. Eldridge-Auffont provided an overview of the Alzheimers Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Healthy Brain Initiative, which offers strategies for state and local health departments to build infrastructure for addressing Alzheimers. They also reviewed parts of the Massachusetts, Louisiana, and other states plan that could be implemented in Alabama. This is a good start to see what other states have done so that were not reinventing the wheel, Eldridge-Auffont said. Amie Brunson, a professor of social work at the University of Alabama, will provide a needs assessment report to the task force. Were looking to ascertain peoples knowledge about dementia and dementia risk, learn about their experience with finding the information activity within their community regarding dementia as well as caregiving, Brunson said. Brunson also said that they hope to learn about the publics perspective on access to public and private organizations working in dementia care. I can tell you firsthand that it is quite taxing on caregivers, and Im probably more connected than most people at seeking out services and finding out whats available as far as health care and other services, Shaver said, who is her sisters caretaker. For someone with dementia, theres people who do not have the knowledge and the connections that I have. Alzheimers disease disproportionately affects Black Americans. According to a 2022 study by the Alzheimers Association, Black Americans are up to twice as likely to develop Alzheimers disease, but also 35% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimers and other dementias than white participants. The Black Belt region has some of the highest rates of Alzheimers disease in the state. In Greene and Macon counties, 18% of the population age 65 and older are living with Alzheimers disease, according to the Alabama chapter of the Alzheimers Association. The average in Alabama is 11.8%. Race itself is not a risk factor, according to the study, but certain diseases and lifestyle factors are associated with dementia, with some racial or ethnic groups at greater risk. Cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and diabetes are more prevalent among Black Americans, which have been consistently associated with dementia and late-life cognitive decline. Mortality due to Alzheimers disease is also increasing in the state, according to the 2022 report. About 2,659 Alabamians died from Alzheimers disease in 2019, a 197.1% increase since 2000. The older population in the nation is increasing, with one in six people being 65 or older (in 1920, that was less than 1 in 20). Alabamas median age is slightly higher than the national average. The median age in Alabama in 2022 was 39.4 years, according to the U.S. Census, compared to 38.9 years nationwide. The median age was higher among white Alabamians, at 42.9 years. To create an infrastructure to better connect services around the state, ADPH received a $1.7 million, five-year grant known as the BOLD grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The task force members will be chosen to join the task force subcommittees over the next few weeks. In July and August, subcommittees will meet monthly to draft goals for their priority areas and present these to the task force for discussion and adoption in September and October. The subcommittees will draft objectives for each goal based on a needs assessment being developed by the University of Alabama, which will be distributed statewide for feedback. From November to December, the subcommittees will draft strategies for each objective and present their findings for the task force. By January, their recommendations are to be finalized and ready to be presented to the legislature in February 2025. Its a five year plan, and years one and two are developing the statewide plan, and then years three, four and five are implementing the plan. What we come up with in the meetings, they will be able to carry it forward and implement it, Shaver said. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST The post Alabama task force charts five-year plan to tackle Alzheimers disease appeared first on Alabama Reflector. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is launching a return-to-work program to bring back retired officers. The program was put into motion by lawmakers during the recent legislative session. In early 2024, lawmakers passed House Bill 236, which allowed public safety employees to return to work while keeping their retirement pensions. Now, APD is trying to incentivize employees to come back with longevity pay as well. The program targets officers that retired before the end of 2023 and that have been retired for 90 days or more. Law enforcement asking for help in Albuquerque hit-and-run crash If officers return to work under the program, they will receive pay of at least $31.89 per hour. After the first year back, they can receive pay based on their longevity, which starts at a salary of $60,008 for cadets all the way up to $97,520.80 for officers with 18 or more years of service, APD says. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. On the night of Thursday, May 30, the aggressor state of Russia took to the skies Tu-95M strategic bombers and launched X-101 cruise missiles. An air alert was declared in all regions of Ukraine, and air defense systems were working to protect the sky. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported on the official Telegram channel of the Ukrainian Air Force. Four bombers of the Russian occupation forces took off from the Olenya airfield in the Murmansk region of the Russian Federation. At 02:55, the Air Force said that Tu-95s had launched X-101 cruise missiles in the Engels area. At 3:50, the first missiles entered Ukrainian airspace. The first group of cruise missiles in the Sumy region, heading towards the Poltava and Chernihiv regions. ADVERTISIMENT The enemy cruise missiles were flying through Kyiv and Vinnytsia regions, heading for Khmelnytskyi. As of 04:40, all the missiles were heading toward Starokonstiantyniv. At 05:15, the Air Force announced the cancellation of the air raid alert in the regions. According to monitoring channels, during this attack, the Russian Armed Forces used X-101/555 cruise missiles from four Tu-95s (launch area, Saratov region, Russia). attack UAVs of the "Shahed" type. "The X-101/555 missiles covered the longest distance of about 1720 km before reaching Starokonstiantyniv, Khmelnytskyi region. The missile attack lasted two hours, and the UAV attack lasted 5 hours and 30 minutes," the statement said. ADVERTISIMENT The air defense forces shot down seven of the 11 X-101/X-555 cruise missiles and all 32 Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones. At the same time, the occupiers attacked Kharkiv and the region with eight S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft-guided missiles. On the evening of May 29, the Russian occupiers once again attacked Ukraine, launching Shahed-type kamikaze drones from the south. As a result, alarm began to spread in the regions. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Conservative groups are backing up Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. The justice is refusing to recuse himself from January 6th related cases after two controversial flags seen at the Capitol riot were spotted at two of his properties. There is nothing to suggest Justice Alito cannot be impartial, said Thomas Jipping, a senior legal analyst at the Heritage Foundation. Jipping says Democrats have no proof the flags are directly tied to January 6th protestors and are aiming to manipulate the court in their favor. If these flags were made for January 6th or if they said Trump on them or something it might be different, but both of these flags have a very long history and a generally recognized meaning, said Jipping. Democrats, led by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), argue the incident raises reasonable questions about bias and fairness at the Supreme Court. In response to Alitos refusal to recuse himself, Durbin is promising to investigate the flags and push for a new enforceable code of ethics for justices. Justice Alitos response clearly demonstrates why the Supreme Court needs an enforceable code of conduct, said Durbin. The White House is not weighing in on the matter directly, but Tuesday suggested flying an upside-down American flag is inappropriate. The American flag, it should be held sacred. The rest is up to Congress and the court to decide, said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Justice Alito blames his wife for the flags and told senators he was unaware of the flags until it was brought to his attention. After consulting with the courts current ethics code, he wrote I am confident that a reasonable person who is not motivated by political or ideological considerations or a desire to affect the outcome of Supreme Court cases would conclude that the events do not meet the applicable standard for recusal.I am therefore required to reject your request. Thursday, Chief Justice John Roberts declined an invitation from senators to discuss the controversy. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. The Graceland mansion in Memphis is the final resting place and former home of Elvis Presley, Priscilla Presley and their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. Photo by Stephen Downes/Flickrr May 29 (UPI) -- Someone claiming to be a Nigerian identity thief and scammer took responsibility for the recent failed attempt to foreclose on and sell Elvis Presley's former Graceland home in Memphis. The self-proclaimed scammer responded Friday to emails seeking information from CNN and the New York Times. The news outlets used an email address provided on documents allegedly created by Naussany Investments & Private Lending, which allegedly attempted a foreclosure sale on Graceland Thursday. Presley's granddaughter, actress Riley Keough, successfully filed to stop the foreclosure sale, which a Tennessee judge halted on May 22 and suggested she would prevail in a fraud claim. "I didn't win this one," the respondent told CNN. "I've stole [sic] many identities and received monies. We don't win them all." The writer of the email to the New York Times claimed to be the leader of an identity theft ring that operates on the dark web and has "worms" placed across the United States. "We figure out how to steal," the email writer said. "That's what we do." The alleged scammer claimed the group is especially active in Florida and California and targets individuals who recently died by drafting fraudulent loan agreements. Because the people are dead, they aren't able to deny borrowing money and defaulting on loans they never borrowed. CNN and the New York Times each reported the respective emails they received were written in Luganda, which is the Bantu language of Uganda, the L.A.Times reported. The emails' writer claimed to be located in Nigeria, whose official language is English and where the Luganda language isn't used, according to Translators without Borders. In the Graceland case, the alleged scammer filed paperwork claiming Keough's mother and Elvis' daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, borrowed $3.8 million in 2018 but defaulted on the loan. Lisa Marie Presley died in 2023 and is buried at Graceland along with her mother, Priscilla, and Elvis. Keough challenged the loan claim, saying her mother's signatures on the loan and deed of trust were forged and Florida notary Kimberly Philbrick said she never signed the paperwork. Philbrick provided an affidavit saying she never met Lisa Marie Presley or notarized her signature on the documents. Shelby County Chancery Court Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins halted the foreclosure sale following an eight-minute hearing. About 600,000 people visit the Graceland mansion every year, making it the nation's second-most visited residence after the White House. Sens. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio and Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, listen as former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media at his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 13, 2024 in New York City. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records last year, which prosecutors say was an effort to hide a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president to face trial on criminal charges. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) On June 22, 2018, the dean of conservative columnists, George Will, provided his advice to the nation in a Washington Post article titled, Vote Against the GOP this November. His thesis was simple: Donald Trump was a danger to the nation and to American democracy, and the Republican Congress was equally dangerous in their blind, shameless support of Trump. Together they constituted a carnage of Republican misrule in Washington. Will stated that Trump needed to be quarantined and the nation protected from Republicans. The threat to the nation was far greater than his low opinion of Democrats. The nation is again in this predicament. America faces a corrupt, would-be dictator with no respect for truth, the rule of law, democracy, or many of his fellow citizens, supported by a dysfunctional Republican Party. In a recent Time Magazine interview, Trump describes his views for in the words of the interviewer an imperial presidency. Choose your term: fascist, authoritarian, dictator, totalitarian, thug, strong man. Trump has made clear that he will work to destroy American democracy as we know it. Think of Victor Orban in Hungary and Recep Erdogan in Turkey. The fact that someone of such low character dishonest, vindictive, racist, self-centered, morally reprehensible could be the nominee of a major political party is mind-boggling. But it is the undermining of our democracy that remains Trumps greatest threat to the nation. He tried to influence a tight election in 2016 by hiding damaging information. He tried to overthrow the election of 2020 with violence and criminal behavior when he lost. He will not agree to accept the results of the 2024 election. What more proof does the public need? The Republican carnage of misrule has continued for six more years. Republicans who have spoken out against Trump are censured by their party, primaried, or leave Congress. Those remaining have done little good for America. Republicans passed a tax break primarily for rich people. They acquitted Trump of abuse of power, with only Sen. Mitt Romney voting to convict. The Republican Senate completed the creation of a right-wing U.S. Supreme Court that has been eroding Americans rights ever since, including voting rights, womens rights and public safety. More than 50% of congressional Republicans (147) voted, without merit, not to certify Joe Bidens election, before acquitting Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection. Then, as in 2009, Republicans left it almost completely to Democrats to help the economy recover, avoid a recession, and to address issues like drug costs and climate change. Congressional Republicans, Republican-led states, and MAGA continue to pursue extreme policies and serve as sycophants to Trump, operating almost like a cult. Trumps vice-presidential hopefuls cannot afford to admit that Trump lost the 2020 election, an established fact. The chaos in the Republican-led House during the past two years is a matter of record. George Will also observed that, just as magnets attract iron filings, Trump attracts, and is attracted to, louts. So far this has included over a dozen close associates who have been convicted of felonies, as well as numerous others who are under indictment at both the federal and state level. His supporters include white supremacists, Christian nationalists, conspiracy theorists, armed anti-government militias, neo-Nazis, election deniers, and a variety of other extremists. The America we cherish is unlikely to survive an authoritarian president, advised and supported by anti-democratic extremists, matched with a do-nothing, dysfunctional Congress, and helped along by a far-right Republican Supreme Court. David Darby held leadership positions in several U.S. agencies and Montana state government. He also served as a senior U.S. advisor to more than a dozen foreign governments. He is retired and lives in Billings. The post America may not be able to survive another take-over attempt appeared first on Daily Montanan. An image of the phone allegedly used to record a 14-year-old North Carolina while she used the bathroom aboard an American Airlines aircraft in September 2023. American Airlines has fired its legal team following statements that a young girl was negligent after being recorded using the bathroom by a flight attendant. The change in counsel comes a week after the airline landed in hot water over a May 21 court filing that stated that a 9-year-old girl was recorded through her own fault and negligence, while using the bathroom, according to previous USA TODAY reporting. The company quickly backpedaled, telling USA TODAY that outside legal counsel, retained with our insurance company made an error in this filing. The airline replaced the previous legal team with Kelly Hart & Hallman, a Texas-based firm, the company told USA TODAY Wednesday. We do not believe this child is at fault and we take the allegations involving a former team member very seriously," the airline said. "Our core mission is to care for people and the foundation of that is the safety and security of our customers and team. Heres what we know. Former American Airlines employee charged with recording minors The U.S. District Attorneys Office for the State of Massachusetts says that former American Airlines flight attendant Estes Thompson had recordings of four girls ages 7, 9, 11 and 14 using the bathroom while he worked on their flights. He's been charged with secretly recording the girls, the attempted sexual exploitation of children and possessing images of child sexual abuse. Scott Lauer, Thompson's lawyer declined to comment. Over 50 photographs of the 9-year-old girl were found on Thompsons iCloud, Apples cloud service that stores and syncs data cross devices. There were also photos of her seated pre-flight and close ups of her face while she slept, according to the district attorney's office. The girl, the same one American Airlines referred to as negligent in court records, is suing the airline. Girls lawyer not surprised American Airlines switched legal teams Paul Llewellyn, an attorney representing the 9-year-old and another girl in the case, said that American Airlines' attorney swap was a direct result of the intense media and public backlash surrounding the outrageous allegation. With the benefit of this new legal representation, we hope that American Airlines will now take a fresh look at the case and finally take some measure of responsibility for what happened to our client," Llewellyn said in a statement to USA TODAY Wednesday. Llewellyn said his team is very confident that a Texas jury will do the right thing and hold American Airlines responsible." I was both shocked and outraged, Llewellyn told USA TODAY. As a lawyer I understand that you have to assert possible defenses, but I cannot even imagine a world where it would ever be appropriate to blame a 9-year-old for being filmed in an airplane bathroom. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: American Airlines fires lawyers for blaming girl in hidden camera case The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating a Wednesday morning near-collision between an American Airlines plane and another aircraft on the runway of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia, according to the FAA. An air traffic controller cancelled the takeoff clearance for American Airlines flight 2134 because another aircraft was cleared to land on an intersecting runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the FAA said. The American Airlines Airbus A319 was bound for Bostons Logan International Airport and already traveling at a speed of around 92 miles per hour when the pilot was told to cease takeoff. In an audio recording shared by NBC News, air traffic control is heard saying, American 2134 cancel takeoff clearance zero, alpha, alpha, go around, go around. An American Airlines plane nearly crashed into another on the runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Rejecting the takeoff, 2134, the American Airlines pilot said. And zero, alpha, alpha, cannot go around, we are already on the ground, the other pilot, who was flying a King Air plane, said. The air traffic controller said the American Airlines aircraft would need to be resequenced and asked if the American Airlines pilot wanted to go back to the gate. We need to talk to maintenance, but yeah, I think we were above 80 knots (92 miles) so were going to have to get an inspection, the American Airlines pilot said. The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and were grateful to our crew for their professionalism, an American Airlines spokesperson told USA TODAY in an email. We will support the FAA and NTSB in their investigations. AA2134 took off four hours after its scheduled depature time and arrived safely in Boston, according to FlightAware. This incident is the latest in a series of near-disasters on runways. Last month, the airport experienced another close call when a JetBlue plane was cleared for takeoff while a Southwest flight was cleared to cross the same runway. The JetBlue began its takeoff roll when air traffic controllers started yelling for the two planes to stop. Following the last incident, the FAA released a report that found the air traffic control workforce to be at a high risk of fatigue, resulting in crucial safety risks. The agency will soon increase the rest period for air traffic controllers from nine to 10 hours as well as require a minimum 12-hour rest period before a midnight shift. Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Two planes narrowly avoid crash on runway, FAA investigating PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The American Red Cross is calling for blood donors as incoming blood supplies are critically low due to a recent lack of donors, the nonprofit organization announced Thursday. In the past month, the Red Cross collected 20,000 fewer blood donations than is needed to maintain its national blood supply. The American Red Cross critically needs blood and platelet donors now following a concerning decrease in donations as the country has experienced an increase in severe weather systems and historic travel, the Red Cross stated in a press release. blood donoe_517608 Swim warning issued after high E. coli levels found in Battle Ground Lake The Red Cross anticipates that donations levels could remain low as the Transportation Security Administration predicts record-breaking travel in the summer of 2024. AAA warns that increase in travel frequently results in the 100 deadliest days for auto accidents. It is critical [that] hospitals have lifesaving blood products on hand for all trauma and accident victims who count on transfusions when there is no time to waste, the Red Cross said. In some of the most dire situations, medical teams may need to use hundreds of blood products to save a life. Unseasonably strong atmospheric river aiming for Pacific Northwest this weekend Priscilla Fuentes, Regional Executive of the Red Cross Cascades Region, is encouraging local community members to give blood during the shortage. Emergencies take many forms some arising in a hospital and others arising as relentless and devastating storms, Fuentes said. Unfortunately, our community has been no stranger to emergencies these past few years, but when I witness communities come together at a blood drive or after a disaster I see us growing stronger and becoming more resilient. Together, we can provide help and hope that is very much needed right now. The Red Cross has teamed up with The Tetris Company to provide donors with a limited-edition Tetris shirt from May 20 to June 9 in honor of the video games 40th anniversary. Donors will also be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to New York to meet Tetris creator, Alexey Pajitnov. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Sex therapist and social worker Stefani Goerlich sits in her office in Detroit. Goerlich says her hard-won relationships with clients are upended when they move away from Michigan, because most states bar social workers from providing telehealth services across state lines. An increasing number of states are trying to address the problem by empowering social workers to practice in multiple states. (Amy Feick, courtesy of Stefani Goerlich) Stefani Goerlich, a certified sex therapist and social worker with a private practice in Detroit, sees several dozen clients a month, most of them from underserved and minority backgrounds. She speaks to them about sensitive matters such as gender-affirming care, and building trust takes time. Those hard-won relationships often are upended when clients move away from Michigan, because most states bar social workers from providing telehealth services across state lines. Finding another therapist who is a good fit isnt easy, especially since many areas of the country have a shortage of mental health providers. It takes them such a long time to find somebody that they feel safe with, Goerlich said. To have a spouse get transferred in their job and to lose all of that? Statistically, people are more likely to just stop therapy entirely, because they dont want to have to go through that again. Amid what many Americans are calling a mental health crisis, an increasing number of states are trying to address the problem by empowering social workers to practice across state lines. Under the Social Work Licensure Compact, social workers can get a multistate license, which clears them to care for patients in a participating state, even if they dont live there. Social workers must abide by the laws of the state where the patient resides. Missouri was the first state to approve compact legislation, in July 2023. Since then, 14 other states including Maine have signed on. And at least 17 more are considering bills to do the same, according to the nonpartisan Council of State Governments, a nonprofit organization that promotes the exchange of ideas across state lines. It takes them such a long time to find somebody that they feel safe with. Stefani Goerlich, a certified sex therapist and social worker in Detroit The compact is the result of a collaboration among the council, the U.S. Department of Defense and the Association of Social Work Boards, which develops social work licensing exams. The National Association of Social Workers and the Clinical Social Work Association, both membership organizations for social workers, are partners in the effort. The Defense Department is involved because military families move frequently, and many of them include social workers. Getting a new license every one or two years is burdensome. The social work compact is one of 10 multistate licensing agreements the Defense Department agreed to fund a few years ago, ranging from teaching to cosmetology, according to Matt Shafer, a deputy program director at the Council of State Governments. Shafer told Stateline it likely will take one to one and a half years until licenses are issued under the social work compact. Social Work Licensure Compact state Alabama Connecticut Georgia Iowa Kansas Kentucky Maine Missouri Nebraska Ohio South Dakota Utah Vermont Virginia Washington This isnt the first compact to allow mental health providers to practice across state lines. Thirty-six states have passed legislation to allow psychologists to practice elsewhere by joining an interstate compact known as PSYPACT. It works, Robin McLeod, a senior director at the American Psychological Association, said of PSYPACT. It allows for people who have specialized practice to provide care, or for people who need specialized practice to receive care. For example, McLeod said, a therapist might specialize in serving patients with autism and also speak Arabic. Under the interstate compact, a practitioner could serve more people with those specific treatment and language needs, via telehealth. However, McLeod noted, therapists practicing under the compact still have to navigate differing state laws. She pointed to Texas, where providers need to be aware of laws prohibiting abortion and gender-affirming medical care. Those are times where it can be really tricky, she said. If youre practicing in that state from another state, its the Texas health and safety laws that you would have to follow. But Alabama Democratic state Rep. Kenyatte Hassell, who sponsored successful compact legislation in his state, thinks the benefits outweigh the potential complications. A 2023 report from Mental Health America, a nonprofit that focuses on issues of mental illness, ranked Alabama 48th among the states in its effectiveness addressing mental health and substance use issues, citing its high prevalence of mental illness and limited access to care. I know, as a state, we need to put more money into the health department to deal with mental health, from schools to workplaces, Hassell told Stateline. We defunded some of the mental health hospitals that we had in the state. And it became a problem. In Colorado, where a bill that would allow the state to join the compact is on the governors desk, Democratic state Rep. Emily Sirota a social worker herself noted the issue is bipartisan. Compact bills also are awaiting governors signatures in Minnesota, New Hampshire and Tennessee, according to the Council of State Governments. Its not a partisan issue to recognize a need in the workforce, Sirota told Stateline. She said the licensing compact is a way to make connections between patients and social practitioners more streamlined and more effective. For Goerlich, who sees clients in at least four states, anything that can make licensure easier for therapists is a good thing. In addition to Michigan, Goerlich went through the licensing process in Arizona and Ohio so she could continue to treat patients who moved to those states. She also works in Florida, where she says she doesnt need a full license because she is a registered telehealth provider. I went through all the hoops, I got licensed, she said. But that ended up costing me money. And Im fine with it, because Im able to help people. But if we had something like a compact, I would have been able to see them without needing to do that. This piece was originally published at Stateline, which like Maine Morning Star 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 Amid mental health crisis, new compact allows social workers to practice across state lines appeared first on Maine Morning Star. Yet another SCOTUS Spouse is posing serious conflict-of-interest questions on whether justices should disclose their partners work. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barretts husband, Jesse Barrett, is representing Fox Corporation in a defamation lawsuit, Rolling Stone reports. The SouthBank Legal managing partner represented a prominent media company in a lawsuit alleging defamation, per his website, referring to Redmond v. Fox Television Station LLC. The case, which lists Barrett as an attorney for Fox, stems from Illinois man Lavell Redmonds claim in the suit that Foxs inaccurate reporting directly led to Redmond being arrested and wrongfully charged with violating the reporting requirements of the sex offender registry. The case is being argued in the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Barrett was under no legal obligation to disclose the client list of her partner on mandatory ethics forms, though advocates say the top courts ethics rules need serious improvements. The Barretts attended Notre Dame Law School together for a year, each clerking for judges and working gigs in the private sector before Amy Coney Barrett made her way to the Federal Judiciary. Jesse Barrett then opened a D.C. office for his firm mere months after his wifes confirmation to the Supreme Court. The curious practice of not disclosing potential conflict of interests arising from a justices spouse was noted by Politico in 2022, writing that Justices Thomas, Roberts and Barrett all chose to leave details about the work of their partners off their ethics forms. The Supreme Court Justices colleagues spouses have been in the news recently, too. Justice Alitos wife was thrust in the spotlight of discussions over the waving of a flag in support of attempts to overturn the 2020 election when Alito told members of congress that [his] wife is fond of flying flags. Justice Thomass wife played a sizable role in those same attempts to overturn the election. All three instances of spousal political involvement have raised ethics questions into the impartiality of the three justices, who make up half of the conservative wing of the court. Supreme Court watchdogs worry that increasing conflicts and compromises to justices ethics pose a legitimacy crisis that demands intervention. Either we just accept a Supreme Court that is compromised beyond measure, and where there's no recourse, James Sample, a constitutional law professor at Hofstra University, previously told Salon. Or the other branches have a constitutional duty and power to step in and promote due process." The aggressor state of Russia suspends the exchange of prisoners of war and tries to blame Ukraine for this. The occupiers claim that Kyiv is allegedly making "far-fetched demands," but this is not the case. ADVERTISIMENT Russian Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova has officially stated that the aggressor state has decided to suspend the exchange of prisoners with Ukraine and has groundlessly accused Kyiv of doing so. Her statement was published by Russian propaganda outlets on May 29. "Unfortunately, the exchanges have been suspended for several months because of Ukraine, which constantly puts forward new far-fetched demands," the Russian dictator Putin's accomplice cynically stated. At the same time, the Russian ombudsman refused to elaborate on the exact demands from Ukraine, but she emphasized them. Moskalkova also emphasized that visits to prisoners of war on both sides are mirrored. "According to the agreement, we visit the prisoners of war in a mirror image every day: the Ukrainian ombudsman visits our prisoners of war, and I visit Ukrainian servicemen," she said. ADVERTISIMENT It should be noted that the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, said that on April 10, Kyiv initiated a prisoner exchange with Russia, but Moscow ignored the proposal. The Ukrainian side was ready to give four captives to the Russian occupiers for each Ukrainian soldier released from captivity. In addition, Russia was offered to conduct an exchange under the "all for all" formula on the occasion of Orthodox Easter. According to Lubinets, Ukraine has also confirmed its readiness to join the Pope's call for the exchange of prisoners in the "all for all" format. As reported by OBOZ.UA, Russia is holding 403 Ukrainian women in captivity, including many civilians illegally captured by the occupiers. Their detention in captivity does not comply with the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Former U.S. President Trump's criminal trial on charges of falsifying business records continues in New York By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) - In their opening statement at Donald Trumps criminal trial, the prosecutors seeking to win the first-ever criminal conviction of a sitting or former U.S. president made a bold prediction: they would have hard evidence to back up testimony from Michael Cohen, the star witness branded a liar by the defense. Over the next several weeks, jurors heard testimony from insiders at Trumps real estate company, his 2016 presidential campaign, and his White House that methodically backed up the two core elements of Manhattan District Alvin Braggs case: that Trump was aware of a catch-and-kill conspiracy to buy the silence of people with negative information before the election, and that he was involved in a cover-up of Cohens hush money payment to a porn star. That testimony - coupled with evidence such as bank records, emails and a surreptitious recording of Trump speaking about a hush money payment - culminated in the 12-member jury finding Trump guilty of criminal charges. Its verdict: He illegally falsified business records to hide his reimbursement to Cohen for the $130,000 Cohen paid to buy the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election about an alleged sexual encounter she had with Trump in 2006. To be sure, jury deliberations are secret and the reasoning behind the decision to convict will not be clear unless any jurors decide to speak publicly. Trump is almost certain to appeal his conviction. Cohen testified at the trial in New York state criminal court in Manhattan that the reimbursement payments were falsely labeled as legal retainer fees in Trumps family real estate companys books. Cohen said Trump directed him to pay off Daniels, and that he would not have done so without getting paid back. He stated to me that he had spoken to some friends, some individuals, very smart people, and that: 'It's $130,000. You're like a billionaire. Just pay it,' Cohen said on May 13. And he expressed to me: 'Just do it.' The verdict vindicated Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who was criticized by both Trump's fellow Republicans and some of Bragg's fellow Democrats for bringing a case involving well-known allegations of sexual impropriety, even if the transaction that mattered was financial. Bragg argued the case was truly about an effort to corrupt the 2016 election - not sex. "It was the subversion of democracy," prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said in his May 28 closing statement. The "catch-and-kill" conspiracy, he said, was meant "to manipulate and defraud the voters, to pull the wool over their eyes in a coordinated fashion." The case is widely viewed as less consequential than the other three criminal cases Trump faces on charges over efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democratic President Joe Biden and his retention of sensitive government documents after leaving the White House in 2021. Trump has pleaded not guilty in the other three cases, which are unlikely to reach juries before his Nov. 5 election rematch with Biden. 'OUT OF CHARACTER One challenge for Bragg's case was Cohen's credibility. Cohen went to prison after pleading guilty in 2018 to violating campaign finance law with the payment to Daniels and lying to Congress in 2017 about a Trump Organization real estate project in Russia. Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche hounded Cohen on cross-examination about his lies to journalists and an instance in which he stole from Trump's company. So prosecutors needed plenty of evidence backing up Cohens testimony that Trump was aware of Cohens payment to Daniels, which they argued was part of a broader conspiracy to buy the silence of people with potentially negative information about Trump in violation of campaign finance laws. Jurors did not have to rely solely on Cohens testimony to accept that Trump intended to conceal that alleged conspiracy by labeling his 2017 payments to Cohen as legal retainer fees. David Pecker, the then-publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid, testified that he agreed at an August 2015 meeting with Trump and Cohen to be the campaigns eyes and ears for women coming forward with unflattering stories about Trump. Jurors heard a tape Cohen surreptitiously recorded of Trump on Sept. 6, 2016, discussing a hush money payment Peckers company made to Karen McDougal, a Playboy model who says she had a year-long affair with Trump in 2006 and 2007. Trump denied having ever had a sexual relationship with her or with Daniels. Jurors saw phone records showing Cohen had several calls with Trump and his bodyguard Keith Schiller - whom Cohen said would hand his phone to Trump - around the time of frantic negotiations with Daniels lawyer over the payment in October 2016. In some of his most damning testimony, Cohen said he, Trump and then-Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg discussed the repayment plan in a January 2017 meeting shortly before Trumps inauguration as president. Weisselberg, who is serving a five-month jail sentence after pleading guilty to perjury in a separate case, did not testify for either side at the trial. But jurors saw Weisselbergs handwritten notes - jotted down on a copy of the wire transfer receipt for Cohens payment to Daniels lawyer - with instructions as to how Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney should pay Cohen. McConney testified that he understood the payments to be a reimbursement for Cohen, not legal fees. Hope Hicks, a former communications aide of Trumps, recalled Trump telling her that Cohen paid Daniels out of the kindness of his own heart - consistent with the defenses efforts to distance Trump himself from the hush money deals. But Hicks expressed skepticism of that claim. That, Hicks testified on May 3, would be out of character for Michael. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Howard Goller) Question of the day: what is the job of a deputy party leader? Previous incumbents of the post in the Labour Party never doubted the answer: it was to support the leader publicly and to advise him privately. That was how John Prescott, probably the partys most successful deputy to the partys most successful leader, saw it. Prescott was a man of the Left but he had a keen understanding of pragmatism and the role it plays in shaping a partys platform and helping it to victory. Deputies often have to bite their tongue and smile for the cameras. Self-indulgence, that most tempting of political traits, should always take second place to the needs of the party. Angela Rayner seems to have a different approach, and its one that threatens to dangerously undermine her own leader. And for leader, read party. For during an election campaign especially during an election campaign the leader and the party might as well be the same thing. Whats good for the leader is good for the party. A disaster that afflicts the leader is a disaster inflicted on the entire party. Rayner, perhaps feeling emboldened thanks to being cleared over her alleged avoidance of capital gains tax, has weighed in on the Diane Abbott controversy, which over the past 48 hours has seen Labours professional, calm, measured and uninspiring campaign descended into chaos. What Starmer needed was for some high-profile Labour people to weigh in on his side, supporting him in his desire to clean out the Augean stables of the Parliamentary Labour Party once and for all, to congratulate him for going further than any of his predecessors in cleansing the party of extremist views. Because without such interventions, Starmer risked looking weak, isolated and worst of all for any aspiring prime minister not in charge of his party. Alas, Rayner, on whom her boss should be able to depend for support, today refused to offer it. Instead she took the position that she knew was the direct opposite of Starmers: I dont see any reason why Diane Abbott cant stand as a Labour MP going forward I am saying that as the deputy leader of the Labour Party. Without wishing to sound too apocalyptic on the matter, this is devastating for Starmer. The very fact that Rayner added that she was stating her opinion as Starmers deputy is a direct challenge to his authority. There was no need to do so. She could have equivocated. She could have passed the buck to the partys National Executive Committee. She could have claimed that her taking a side, one way or the other, would only prejudice the case. More to the point, she knew that any of the above options would have helped and strengthened Starmer. And Angela Rayner chose not to do that. She decided to play to the gallery, to activists rather than voters, to the media rather than her boss. In doing so, she has risked damaging irreparably the relationship between her and Starmer. If he becomes prime minister in July that will be bad news for her own career prospects. She cannot be sacked as Starmers deputy, but it is up to him what job in government she gets, or if she gets one at all. And a victorious party leader will be given great, almost unlimited, leeway to make controversial personnel decisions, especially in the early days of his administration. Presumably Rayner knows this, but went ahead with her message of solidarity to Diane Abbott anyway, despite Abbotts record of opposing the Labour whip (even when she had it) and despite her clumsy and ignorant claims about Jews the sin which triggered her suspension from the whip in the first place. In Rayners judgment, parliament and the Labour Party would be better with such a person in its ranks. Starmer is one of the least politically experienced leaders of the opposition in history, but he knows enough to recognise treachery when he sees it. His reputation for ruthless dispatch of his political enemies has led him to this current pass; Angela Rayner must hope that, for her own careers sake, that ruthlessness will be blunted before he gets to Downing Street. 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. 'Angst, distrust:' What we know about the Columbus City Schools' leaked document scandal Columbus City school board has censured board member Brandon Simmons through the end of this year over a leaked document proposing school closure strategy, and also said he was improperly withholding public records. The leaked school closure strategy document, Taking Control of the Task Force Narrative," is connected to Simmons and has led to calls for his resignation from the district's teachers union. The board initially met in an over three-hour private executive session to consider "the investigation of charges or complaints against a public official." Board President Christina Vera and other members have maintained that Simmons was the sole author of the document, but he says it was a collaborative process including Vera, other board members and district administration. Here's everything we know about the leaked document scandal: 'Angst, distrust:' Why did the board censure Brandon Simmons? Columbus City school board voted unanimously Wednesday night Simmons joined them to censure Simmons. A censure is an expression of severe disapproval from a governing body, but it does not remove Simmons or affect his ability to sit on the full board and vote on matters. However, Vera did remove Simmons from his two board committee assignments as chair of the Community Engagement & Advocacy Committee and as a member of the Equitable & Transparent Resource Management Committee. During Wednesday's special meeting, other board members expressed disappointment in Simmons and distanced themselves from the document, reiterating that Simmons was the sole author of the document. Columbus City school board member Michael Cole listens Wednesday, May 29, as colleagues admonish board member Brandon Simmons over a strategy document they say he alone proposed regarding school consolidation. Simmons has insisted that other board members and district staff were involved in drafting the document, which was leaked by the Columbus Education Association. Board Member Michael Cole said Wednesday that since Simmons assumed his role on the board at the beginning of the year, Simmons has displayed disruptive, dismissive behavior that has done nothing but create angst, distrust. He has been abusive of staff; hes been dismissive of things we asked him to do. Its just time now that consequences be rendered, Cole said. What does Simmons say? Simmons has continued to maintain that he did not act alone, and that other board members and district officials collaborated to create the strategy document. May 29, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Columbus City Schools board member Brandon Simmons listens to a motion to censure him following an executive session of the board. During the Wednesday meeting, he issued a statement saying that Vera, Vice President Tina Pierce, member Jennifer Adair and Superintendent Angela Chapman had all contributed to the document and provided three descriptions of meetings he attended with them. He did not provide material evidence to support those claims. All have denied involvement in the creation of the document. What is in the leaked document? The document in question is a draft of a proposed strategy for handling opposition to the district's plan to close school buildings and was first released publicly May 21 by the Columbus Education Association, the union representing the district's more than 4,500 teachers and other educational professionals, after a school board member shared it. Read the leak: What to know about the document at the center of a Columbus schools scandal Some proposals in the document suggest to: "Drive a wedge" between the district's two unions by holding a hearing on the "disrespect of classified employees by 'other employees,'" and to not ignore "racial dynamics." Reward good media outlets with priority seating or camera location and priority interviews." "Bring in loud mechanical equipment if (the unions) hold a press conference on our land "Change the (meeting) location last minute" on public meetings about the closures to keep opponents out. In its release, the CEA said the document was racially divisive, and called for a pause to the closure process. The union also called for Simmons to resign. How was the document leaked? Board member Sarah Ingles said earlier this month that she was the one who had shared the document with the CEA, The Dispatch previously reported. Columbus City school board member Sarah Ingles states publicly her lack of involvement in a proposed strategy document attributed to fellow board member Brandon Simmons regarding school closures and consolidation. "After serious consideration of what was best for the district and our students," Ingles said she decided to share the document. "I was appalled and offended when I read it," Ingles stated in a prepared release. "Our work in the district is too important for these kinds of divisive and absurd tactics." What do public records requests show? The Dispatch has filed a number of public records requests with the district seeking to verify claims made by the board and Simmons, and has not received responses. On Wednesday, board member Jennifer Adair said the district was unable to fulfill numerous records requests because Simmons was refusing to comply with them. On Wednesday, the board passed a resolution instructing the district's legal counsel to compel Simmons to release the requested documents. Columbus City school board member Jennifer Adair puts forth a motion at a special meeting Wednesday, May 29, to compel Board Member Brandon Simmons to turn over public records. The vote was 7-0, including Simmons voting in support. Simmons said that he was retaining his own legal counsel and that he would begin the process of acknowledging public records requests after he has obtained an attorney. Who is Brandon Simmons? Simmons, 23, of Columbus' Hilltop area, is a first-term member elected to the Columbus City Schools Board of Education last November. He previously enjoyed the endorsement of both district unions as a candidate at the expense of incumbent board member Carol Beckerle, who was not endorsed by the unions or the local Democratic party. Last year, Franklin County Democratic Party chairman Mike Sexton told The Dispatch that Beckerle had not received the party endorsement because she did not have union or community support that other candidates, including Simmons, had. Simmons, a 2020 graduate of Columbus Alternative High School, began his political advocacy in 2019 when he was a high school student and publicly complained about the conditions at the school, The Dispatch previously reported. Earlier this month, Simmons and Vera led a media tour of Columbus Alternative to point out problems they said made the district a candidate for closure as the district consolidates from more than 110 schools. Will the document controversy impact school closures? Following the initial wake of the document's publication, some stakeholders expressed concern that the closure process could be in jeopardy, The Dispatch previously reported. More: Will the leak scandal derail Columbus City Schools' bid to close as many as 20 schools? The scandal comes at a perilous time for the districts school closing process, where the board is assessing proposals from the Superintendent's Community Facilities Task Force to close as many as 20 of the district's schools. Vera said Wednesday that the school closure discussions will continue unimpeded. The important work of the task force will continue under the superintendents direction, Vera said. Editor's note: a previous version of a photo caption of board member Jennifer Adair in this story contained an incorrect description. Cbehrens@dispatch.com @Colebehr_report This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What we know about the Columbus City Schools' leaked document scandal Anthony Scaramucci Reveals 'Nervous Tic' That Shows Trump Is Feeling The Heat Right Now Former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci flagged former President Donald Trumps nervous tic thats a sign of his outlook as the jury began deliberations in his New York hush money case on Wednesday. Mother Teresa could not beat these charges, the former president told reporters outside the courtroom, while moving his hands together and apart. It was Trumps latest comparison of himself to a famousfigure. If you see that accordion move that hes doing right there, thats a nervous tic of his, Scaramucci, a staunch Trump critic since a 10-day gig as his White House communications director in 2017, said in an appearance on The Hill on NewsNation podcast. And so, when he gets upset, he always goes to the accordion move and so thats a tell that hes bummed out, he added. Scaramucci said hes pretty confident Trumps lawyers told the former president that with the way Judge Juan Merchan instructed the jury its going to be very tough for them not to come back with some guilty verdicts among the 34 counts he faces. And so I think hes preparing his base and hes preparing himself, mentally, for a potential guilty [verdict] ... if he gets off, then hes better than Mother Teresa, Scaramucci said. He added that Trump is upset and you can see it in his face. However, he said he doesnt think the trial will have a big impact on the November election. Related... Students participate in a protest in support of Palestine and for free speech outside of the Columbia University campus on November 15, 2023 in New York City. The university suspended two student organizations, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voices for Peace, for violating university policies. The tense atmosphere at many college campuses has increased as student groups, activists and others have protested both in support of Israel and Palestine. - Photo: Spencer Platt (Getty Images) College campuses around the country have been erupting in protests against what many consider the genocide of Gaza by Israeli forces. Though students may have trouble finding their dream job following graduation if their employer catches wind of their activism, according to a recent poll. A recent survey of over 1,200 business leaders by Intelligent.com uncovered a lot about how employers really feel about hiring Gen-Z college graduates. Among the findings, 1 in 2 survey respondents said they believe the recent grads have a worse work ethic and have fewer practical skills. About 57 percent of respondents said they believe the Gen-Zers have high salary expectations and 50 percent of the group said they believe the new adults are entitled. Theres always been plenty of debate about hiring new grads due to broad assumptions around lacking soft skills, entitlement, and overall job readiness, said Chief Education and Career Development Advisor Huy Nguyen to Intelligent.com. In recent months, there seems to be a heightened concern about Gen Z becoming far more politically active and vocal with their beliefs in all aspects of their lives including the workplace. Ouch. Yet, the survey didnt stop there. As Nguyen alluded to, the poll included questions about the recent (and rather fiery) pro-Palestine protests across college campuses. The survey says *in my Steve Harvey voice* protesting can be a problem for your employer. Read more from Intelligent.com: Thirty-two percent of business leaders are more concerned about hiring recent college graduates because of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted students education. Additionally, 30% of business leaders have greater concerns about hiring recent graduates due to the pro-Palestine protests, which have occurred in the past 6 months. Of business leaders surveyed who expressed concerns about hiring recent graduates, 22% say they are reluctant to hire graduates who participated in protests. Conversely, 21% indicated a preference for hiring such graduates, while 57% remained neutral. The reluctance to hire protestors stems from concerns that they may exhibit confrontational behavior (63%), are too political (59%), or could potentially make workers uncomfortable (55%). Additionally, some business leaders perceive protestors as liabilities (45%), dangerous (40%), lacking adequate education (24%), or holding conflicting political ideologies to their own (23%). About 6 in 10 business leaders said they ask recent graduates if they participated in protests during the interview process. However, dont let this information put you on edge: Luckily, the majority of respondents (about 73 percent) actually have a higher inclination to hire recent grads who participate in protests because it demonstrates their outspoken nature, dedication to a cause and, more often than not, their cause aligns with the political beliefs of the employer. Its obvious the students arent going to stop...campuses are still hot. Six demonstrators were recently arrested at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill following a protest from last month, per ABC11. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. AUSTIN (KXAN) The Austin Police Department identified the man who died after being shot by a police officer during a SWAT situation inside a southeast Austin gas station last week. The agency is now conducting an investigation into the shooting. That man was identified as Alfonso Gonzales, 35, according to APD. APD: Man killed in police shooting made Molotov cocktails inside gas station with employee inside The officer who discharged their Department-issued firearm has 16 years of service with APD, the release said. Police said the incident was captured on officers body-worn cameras and will be released within 10 business days per APD protocol. APD will conduct two concurrent investigations into this incident: a criminal investigation conducted by the APD Special Investigations Unit in conjunction with the Travis County District Attorneys Office and an administrative investigation conducted by the APD Internal Affairs Unit, with oversight from the Office of Police Oversight, the release said. What led to the SWAT callout It all started with a report of a stolen vehicle on May 21 around 12:36 p.m. Officers saw the vehicle in the 8000 block of Salt Springs Drive. The vehicle then pulled into the Texaco gas station, 8101 Salt Springs Drive, and parked. The person who got out was later identified as Gonzales, according to police. When officers attempted to make contact with Gonzales in the parking lot, he turned away from them and then went into the store. Officers then went into the store, and that is when they saw Gonzales with a gun in his hands, the release said. Texaco gas station which was the scene of an officer-involved shooting following a SWAT call in southeast Austin May 21 was damaged during the incident. (KXAN Photo/Dylan McKim) When officers told Gonzales to drop the gun, police said he did not comply with their commands, and officers then backed out of the store and initiated a SWAT callout, the release said. Additionally, other first responders also came to the scene due to the incident lasting several hours, according to APD. Police said an employee was able to run out of the store, but they said another employee was trapped inside the store in a locked office. According to police, Gonzales shot at officers several times during the incident. Then, Gonzales was later seen by police pouring lighter fluid inside the store, and he had a lighter in his hands, the release said. During this time, officers attempted alternative routes to try and get the trapped employee out of the store. However, Gonzales threatened to shoot officers if they came near the store. Police also tried using pepper ball rounds to get Gonzales to drop his gun and come out. Then, by 4:49 p.m., Gonzales was then seen pouring lighter fluid into a container with a rag which is known as a Molotov cocktail. Due to him pouring lighter fluid inside the store, officers believed this posed a threat to the employee who was still inside the store, the release said. At 4:50 p.m., an officer fired their Department-issued firearm at Gonzales and then went into the store to rescue the employee, the release said. Gonzales was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead at 5:21 p.m., according to police. No one else was injured during the incident, the release said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) will held a news conference today around 2:30 p.m. to release details on an officer-involved shooting. The shooting left one person dead outside of a Walmart on April 11, 2024. APD Chief Medina said officers were searching for 25-year-old Adriana Gonzales, who they believed was involved in several armed robberies. Police located Gonzales around 11:35 a.m. in the parking lot of the Walmart near Wyoming and Menaul. Gonzales was with a man identified as 30-year-old Mark Benavidez. APD Commander Kyle Hartsock said robbery detectives were able to identify Gonzales on April 10 and secured an arrest warrant for robbery with a deadly weapon and three counts of conspiracy to commit robbery. Benavidez was not identified at that time. On April 11, Gonzales and Benavidez were tracked to the Walmart at 2266 Wyoming Blvd. NE. Detectives observed Benavidez leave a vehicle and enter the Walmart, leaving Gonzales in the car. Detectives then arrested Gonzales without incident. Warning: Footage from the press conference may include violence or profanity. Detectives waited by the Walmart entrance waiting for Benavidez to come out. Hartsock said Thursday that Benavidez had an unrelated warrant out for his arrest and was suspected of being involved with the armed robberies. As Benavidez left the store, two APD detectives attempted to take Benavidez into custody. When Benavidez attempted to flee into the parking lot, one of the detectives grabbed Benavidez and they both fell to the ground. As they fell, Benavidez grabbed the detectives rifle and put his finger on the police rifle. Benavidez then used his other hand to turn the safety off on the rifle. The rifle went off into the ground and the second detective shot Benavidez with a taser. A third detective then got involved and pushed the rifle into the ground and tried to get Benavidezs hands off the rifle. The police rifle was fired seven more times into the ground during this incident. The first two detectives fired their handguns at Benavidez, striking him five times. Medical aid was given but he died on the scene. On the day of her arrest, Gonzales admitted to the armed robberies she was being charged with and told detectives that Benavidez had also been involved. She is currently being held in custody until trial. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A special screening panel that vets judges in the state selected Letitia Verdin, of Greenville, as one of three finalists for the state Supreme Court. Verdin has been a judge for more than 15 years, spending the past year on the state Court of Appeals. (Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA Court of Appeals Judge Letitia Verdin is set to be the next justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court after her remaining competition withdrew Thursday. With her expected election next Wednesday, the Palmetto State will no longer have the nations only all-male high court. It will join 18 other states with an all-white high court, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Verdin, 53, of Greenville, is the only candidate remaining for a seat on the states highest court after Appeals Court Judge Blake Hewitt, of Conway, dropped out six days ahead of a vote by the joint General Assembly, legislative staff confirmed. His departure came two days after Circuit Court Judge Jocelyn Newman, of Columbia, submitted her letter exiting the race. South Carolina is one of only two states where the Legislature picks nearly all judges. Virginia is the other. It is normal for candidates to withdraw from a judicial race in South Carolina once they realize they dont have enough support from legislators to win. Verdin already had more than enough votes to win the three-way contest outright heading into the long holiday weekend, according to her chief vote-counter. Traditionally, when only one candidate remains for a joint assembly, legislators elect the judge by acclamation without actually taking a vote. However, thats not what happened last month, when the GOP-controlled Legislature refused to seat former Rep. James Smith of Columbia, Democrats 2018 gubernatorial nominee, to a spot on the Circuit Court. But such a move is highly unlikely to happen again next week. The election of Verdin who has 15 years of experience on the bench will mean four out of the states five justices will be from the Upstate. Only Justice George James, who lives in Sumter, lives in a different region. Verdin will fill an opening created by the retirement of Chief Justice Don Beatty, who turned 72 last month. By law, judges in South Carolina must retire from full-time work by Dec. 31 of the year they turn 72. Beatty will retire when his term ends July 31. Beatty, too, is an Upstate resident. The former state legislator, who was first elected to the Circuit Court in 1995 straight from the House, hails from Spartanburg. While Beattys impending retirement created the vacancy, the election is actually to fill the seat of Justice John Kittredge, of Greenville, once he replaces Beatty as chief justice. The state Supreme Court hasnt been all white since Beatty was elected an associate justice in 2007. A decade later, he became South Carolinas second Black chief justice since Reconstruction. The first was Ernest Finney Jr., also a former House member, who was first elected to the high court in 1985, elected chief justice in 1994, and retired in 2000. The post Appeals Judge Letitia Verdin on deck to be SCs next Supreme Court justice appeared first on SC Daily Gazette. Fatime Letifova The working visit of the leaderships of the Ministry of Defense and the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Turkiye continues, Azernews reports. As part of the visit, the representatives visited Izmirs Doganbey firing and exercise area and got acquainted with the Defense Industry Exhibition. The guests were provided with detailed information about aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, weapons and combat vehicles presented at the exhibition. As a result of the operation of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on the night of May 30, up to seven occupiers' ships could have been hit in the occupied Ukrainian Crimea. Four boats, two ferries, and a pilot boat were allegedly damaged or destroyed. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Russian Telegram channel ASTRA. It is also claimed that five people were allegedly injured as a result of strikes on the occupied peninsula. According to the channel, the pilot boat Mechta, which sank, and the ferries Conro Trader and Avangard probably came under attack by the DIU. The latter ran aground due to damage, sources in the emergency services of the occupied Crimea said. One of the crew members, Roman Stas, was allegedly wounded on the Conro Trader ferry and was sent for surgery, ASTRA reports. ADVERTISIMENT Four occupants were wounded on the Avangard, including 19-year-old interns Danylo V. and Mykyta Sh. In addition, four KS 701 landing crafts were damaged, and the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of two of them. As reported by OBOZ.UA, explosions were heard in occupied Kerch on the night of May 30, and the occupiers blocked the Crimean bridge. Later, the Russian Federation said that two ferries were allegedly "damaged by the fragments of downed missiles". ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainian intelligence sources told OBOZ.UA that the explosions in the occupied Crimea were the result of a DIU operation. The target was the KC-701 Tuna boats, which the enemy used to guard the Kerch Bridge. Later, the DIU released a video of the operation to destroy the KC-701 Tuna boats and said that it was conducted by the Group 13 unit using Magura V5 maritime drones. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! AR man charged with more than 100 counts of child pornography MEMPHIS, Tenn. A 66-year-old Proctor, Arkansas man is being charged with over 100 counts of child pornography, according to the Crittenden County Sheriffs Department. Brice Michael Kane is charged with 14 counts of Producing/Directing Sexual Performance of a Child, 113 counts of Child Pornography, and First-Degree Computer Exploitation of a Child. Deputies say a cyber tip led to a joint investigation with Crittenden County Sheriffs Department and the Arkansas State Police. After a search of Kanes devices, he was arrested Wednesday evening. More charges could be ahead. TN man arrested, facing federal child porn charges Kane is set to appear in court for a probable cause and bond hearing on Friday morning. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Archaeologists found a secret chamber at the base of the Great Pyramid of Giza, and they have no idea what it is Archaeologists used radar and other methods to find an underground structure near the pyramids and cemeteries in Giza, Egypt. Archive Photos/Getty Images Archaeologists discovered secret structures in Giza, Egypt with ground-penetrating high-tech methods. The methods revealed an L-shaped structure and a deeper, larger anomaly hidden beneath bare sand. The findings could explain why a large section of the densely packed Western Cemetery is empty. Egypt holds many secrets to its ancient past, and archaeologists may have discovered a new one hidden beneath the sands of the Western Cemetery in Giza. The Western Cemetery holds hundreds of rectangular tombs called mastabas that line the base of Giza's Great Pyramid. These mastabas belong to elite citizens and relatives of the Ancient Egyptian king Khufu, who ruled around 4,500 years ago. However, in stark contrast to the many rows of tombs, one area of the cemetery is bare, with no structures. Below the sand, it's a different story, archaeologists recently discovered. What appears to be a flat, sandy surface might hide long-forgotten structures built thousands of years ago. Only a couple of feet below the surface lies what appears to be an L-shaped structure. Even deeper, there's another, larger structure connected to the first. The L-shaped structure's corners are "too sharp" to be naturally occurring, researcher Motoyuki Sato, who helped find the anomaly, told Live Science. That suggests humans constructed it and might explain why such a large swatch of the crowded necropolis remains empty above the sand, the researchers reported in a paper they recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Archaeological Prospection. Both features could be remnants of an ancient tomb, according to the researchers. However, the discovery still leaves many unanswered questions. The approximate location of the Egyptian and Japanese researchers' first survey of the Western Cemetery in Giza, Egypt. Archive Photos via Getty Images In the early days of archaeology, it took years of careful digging to uncover the shape and size of a structure. Now, newer technologies can help scientists map previously unknown buildings without removing even a shovelful of dirt. That's how researchers from Higashi Nippon International University, Tohoku University, and the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics in Egypt uncovered this latest hidden piece of history. Between 2021 and 2023, the team studied the location using not one but two high-tech methods: ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). GPR uses electromagnetic waves to map shallow underground features in high resolution. For deeper structures, ERT can locate walls, shafts, and similar anomalies but without as much detail. Combining GPR, ERT, and satellite data, the researchers discovered an L-shaped structure measuring roughly 32 by 50 feet buried 1.6 feet to 6.5 feet under the sand. They also found evidence of a 1,000-square-foot structure about 11.5 feet to 33 feet below ground, deeper than the L-shaped anomaly. The next step is excavation Some mastabas in the Giza Necropolis were elaborately decorated. DeAgostini/Getty Images At some point, the shallower L-shaped structure was filled with sand, which could be a clue to its purpose. It may have served as a kind of passageway to a lower tomb, according to the researchers. Ancient Egyptians often filled up such shafts to keep out the living. While GPR and ERT can offer a more complete picture of sub-surface archaeological finds, these techniques can only take archaeologists so far. The researchers noted that the two methods' data didn't precisely match, and the techniques can sometimes make anomalies appear larger than they are. Other mysteries remain, too. They don't know what, if anything, is in the deeper structure. It could be filled with sand or totally empty. To answer some of these questions, the archaeologists needed to start digging, literally. They're currently excavating the site, Live Science reported. Read the original article on Business Insider Argentina has joined the international coalition for the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, Ukraine's chief ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said on May 29. At least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and less than 400 have been returned home, according to the Ukrainian government's Children of War database. A Ukrainian delegation, headed by presidential adviser Daria Herasymchuk, visited Argentina last week as part of President Volodymyr Zelensky's Bring Kids Back UA project. The visit was organized by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry. "I am sincerely grateful to Argentina for its support and for this important decision!" Lubinets said on his Telegram channel. "Despite the long distance between us, our values are close when it comes to bringing back all the deported children." In March, it was reported that Argentina's President Javier Milei may visit Kyiv in June, making it the first visit by a South American leader to Ukraine since the outbreak of the full-scale war. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A police chase in California ended in the arrest of an Arizona man accused of shooting and killing his wife, according to the Mohave County Sheriffs Office. On Tuesday, May 29 around 5:45 p.m., MCSO deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the 1600 block of Thompson Avenue. When deputies arrived, they found the victim, later identified as 43-year-old Amber Lee Soster of Kingman, and took her to a local hospital where she was later pronounced dead. MSCO identified the suspect as the victims husband, Brent Phillip Soster, 43. After the shooting, Brent left the area in his vehicle, which was later found in California where he was involved in a police chase with the San Bernardino Sheriffs Office, MCSO said. Brent was arrested and taken to a local hospital for his injuries. He is set to be extradited back to Mohave County for charges related to the murder of his wife, MCSO said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Arkansans call for DHS to address more than 400,000 disenrolled from Medicaid Arkansans call for DHS to address more than 400,000 disenrolled from Medicaid LITTLE ROCK, Ark Advocates for Medicaid patients in Arkansas are calling for a meeting with the Department of Human Services Secretary Kristi Putnam after more than 400,000 people were disenrolled. A number of these advocates delivered a letter to DHS officials Wednesday asking for systematic solutions and better use of tax dollars, saying they want to continue the conversation of reenrolling hundreds of thousands of patients whose Medicaid coverage was dropped. Arkansas completes Medicaid unwinding with more than 400,000 disenrolled in last six months Last September, Arkansas removed 427,459 patients from Medicaid during its mandated six-month period DHS officials described as an unwinding that started at the end of the federal COVID-19 pandemic emergency rules, which kept anyone from being dropped from state rolls. DHS officials note that 298,257 patients were renewed for Medicaid coverage during the same period. Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer Gavin Lesnik received the letter from the advocates Wednesday and said DHS shared the goal of making Medicaid as strong as it can be. Arkansas mom calls for change in Medicaid unwinding process Lesnick noted that Putnam has been meeting with the group Arkansas Community Organizations (ACO) since October and that the department has followed up on 24 names sent to them of people who lost Medicaid coverage. Volunteers with ACO said Wednesday that getting two dozen patients back on the rolls is not enough for the 400,000 other patients dropped during the disenrollment. So many people were cut that qualify last year that a case-by-case solution would take years, longer than any Arkansan can sit without their health care, volunteer Landon Skouras explained, adding that a mother in the Delta he has worked with qualifies on every metric he could find but after three submissions of her information, nothing has happened. More than 78,000 Arkansas children dropped from Medicaid this year, forced to find coverage elsewhere Lesnick said Wednesday was the first time he had hear of that particular issue but noted that names being submitted for review does not mean they automatically are reenrolled. Today is the first weve heard that there was any issue of non-response, so certainly well look into that, but every name they provided, we have sent to our eligibility team to check on their status, he stated. I will caution that doesnt mean that person is eligible for Medicaid. It will mean we will reach out to that person and determine that. HHS Department warns Arkansas among states with coverage losing Medicaid, CHIP coverage DHS officials said cancellations can be related to lower unemployment rates and wage increases. The states website said the main reason is missing paperwork or failing to renew claims. Lesnick said patients looking to appeal their disenrollment can visit a county office, go online at Access.Arkansas.gov or call the DHS hotline at 1-855-372-1084. More than 78,000 Arkansas children dropped from Medicaid this year, forced to find coverage elsewhere As of the end of April, almost 900,000 people are enrolled in the states Medicaid, but the amount of people who were reenrolled following a disconnection is not a number that DHS tracks. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration is warning about a potential scam when a vehicle is priced way below market by a private seller. The DFA reports that the agency is seeing an uptick in stolen vehicles sold online by a private seller for way below the typical market price. Shortly after purchase, the buyer finds that the new ride is stolen and has a fake VIN. One Tech Tip: Protecting your car from the growing risk of keyless vehicle thefts A DFA official explained that scammers find a vehicle like a stolen vehicle they are trying to sell. They then make a sticker using the clean vehicles VIN and apply it to the stolen car, advertising it on social media or a message board as a cash-only below-market deal by a private seller. A buyer makes a cash purchase thinking they have just gotten a great deal on a car with a VIN showing a legitimate problem-free history, only to find out they got scammed. Scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from older Americans last year, an FBI report says Officials said that those currently running this scam favor late-model pickup trucks. If it is too good to be true, it usually is, a DFA spokesperson said as a final red flag. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin warns about price gouging and rebuilding scams after the storms A stolen vehicle must be turned over to the insurance company or original owner, and buyers lose the money they spent. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A request has been made to President Joe Biden as Arkansans recover from the May 24 26 storms and tornadoes. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requested a major disaster declaration from the president on Wednesday afternoon. FEMA gives update on damage in Rogers after weekend storms The sheer magnitude of this event created disastrous amounts of debris, extensive destruction to homes and businesses, and resulted in the death of nine citizens and injuries to countless others, Sanders wrote in the states request. The letter continued listing storm and flooding reports throughout the state as well as socioeconomic impact. Because several of the hardest-hit areas also experienced major damage to infrastructure, industry, trade, and local businesses, as well as agricultural enterprises, it is expected that applications for disaster-related unemployment will be high, the letter states. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders issues order authorizing paid leave for state employees affected by weekend storms The letter states that the impact of public assistance will exceed $6.4 million, including the cost of temporary housing for those displaced by damage to their homes or ongoing power outages. Sanders concludes by stating that without the federal support of a major disaster declaration, it would be difficult for Arkansas to bear the burden of the storms impact on its own. Arkansas Disaster Relief Program opens for donations to help those affected by tornadoes According to officials, as of Wednesday evening 16 tornadoes have been confirmed for May 24 to 26, with nine tornado-related deaths, the most tornado deaths in the state since 2014. The estimated 1.8-mile width of the tornado in Decatur is a preliminary state record. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell answers questions about storm recovery efforts at press conference on May 29, 2024 outside Rogers City Hall. She was joined by local officials, including (l-r) Benton County Judge Barry Moehring, Arkansas Division of Emergency Management Director A.J. Gary and Rogers Mayor Greg Hines. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate) Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday requested a major disaster declaration from the president that will make more resources available to communities recovering from damage caused by fatal tornadoes that tore through north Arkansas Sunday. Ive seen the destruction caused by these storms and it is heartbreaking, but Arkansas is resilient because of her peoplethe neighbors, first responders, guardsmen and women, and volunteershelping those in need, Sanders said in a statement. Our state is going to need all resources available to help rebuild. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who toured the storm damage in Rogers on Wednesday, said officials are assessing the scale and scope of the destruction and promised to quickly provide assistance if the federal declaration is granted. As I told the governor earlier today, we will stand by her and bring in the resources as needed to help all of the communities across Arkansas that have been impacted as they go through this road to recovery, and we will continue to have people on the ground, Criswell said. According to preliminary reports from the National Weather Service, at least 11 tornadoes touched down in Arkansas Sunday four in Benton County, one in Boone and Marion counties, one in Baxter County, one in Fulton County, two in Randolph County and two in Greene County. The weekends severe weather resulted in seven fatalities, according to the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management. storm-damaged business in downtown Rogers Criswell urged Arkansans to use caution as they clean up debris and crews work to restore power. Roughly 21,000 people in six northern counties were still without power early Wednesday evening, according to PowerOutage.us. Criswell also encouraged people to document damages by taking photos, which are needed for insurance claims and federal support that may become available. Officials did not have a timeline for when federal aid might become available, but local assistance is being implemented. Sanders spoke with President Joe Biden on Monday and has signed executive orders to declare an emergency and to authorize paid leave for state employees affected by the severe weather. Sanders also mobilized two Arkansas Army National Guardsmen to provide potable water distribution at Piney Point Church in Rogers. The mission is expected to last until June 4, according to a press release. The citizens of Benton County have a need for this critical, life-sustaining asset, and were going to deliver it for them, said Maj. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, Arkansas adjutant general. People just need to bring their own water containers, and well help them fill them up. Benton County officials on Wednesday said they anticipate additional troops will provide assistance in the area in the coming days. Meanwhile, local residents can drop off their vegetative debris at the Benton County Fairgrounds north parking lot. The public can dispose of logs, tree branches and brush at the site, which opened Wednesday. Starting Thursday, it will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday until further notice. Theres all sorts of challenges occurring in our community right now, Rogers Mayor Greg Hines said. Folks are still hurting, folks are still homeless and hungry, and were trying to do what we can as a government in our role to help lessen that blow as best as possible. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The post Arkansas governor requests federal disaster declaration for storm damage appeared first on Arkansas Advocate. LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) An armed man attempted to rob an armored truck Thursday afternoon in Lincoln County, according to the sheriffs office. The crime happened around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30, near a business at the intersection of Webbs Road and NC-16 Business in Denver. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area >> Latest stories here The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office said the suspect, described as a Black man driving in a white sedan, armed with a handgun, tried to rob an armored truck in the area. Anyone who may have been in the area during the time of the incident or has information is asked to contact LCSO Det. Jon Propst at at 704-732-9050. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Armed robbers struck an east Charlotte arcade again this week, stealing nearly $10,000 in cash, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police. The armed robbery happened on Wednesday, May 29, at the Giveaway Arcade located at 6416 Albemarle Road in Charlotte. The business is listed as a gambling facility/casino. According to a CMPD police report, the suspect robbed the business using physical force and took $9,200 in cash before running away from the crime scene. Weapons used in the armed robbery were hands, feet, and teeth, the report states. MORE FROM QUEEN CITY NEWS Crime & Public Safety The victim listed in this crime is a 21-year-old woman. Charges listed in this crime are: assault on a female and common law robbery. This isnt the first time Giveaway Aracde has been robbed. Just last month, in April, five suspects broke into the business and robbed several people at gunpoint. During this armed robbery, $4,000 in cash, two guns, an iPhone 11 Pro Max, and multiple bags that contained keys, a debit card, a Chromebook, clothing, and a phone, were taken. Wednesdays armed robbery remains an open and active investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. On the night of May 30, explosions occurred in the temporarily occupied Crimea, which resulted in the destruction of two Russian boats. The target of the attack were vessels of the KC-701 Tuna type. ADVERTISIMENT The invaders used such boats to guard the Kerch bridge. This was reported to OBOZ.UA by Ukrainian intelligence sources. The enemy targets were attacked as part of an operation by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. According to updated data, two Russian boats of the KC-701 Tuna type were damaged at once. It is worth noting that last year Ukrainian servicemen destroyed two such boats in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Putin's invaders use the KC-701 Tuna to guard the Kerch Bridge. As a reminder, explosions occurred in the temporarily occupied Kerch on the territory of Crimea on the night of May 30. The occupiers temporarily blocked traffic on the Crimean bridge. Later, they said that two ferries were allegedly "damaged by the fragments of downed missiles". ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA: - The bridge in Kerch was also blocked due to explosions on May 25. In addition to reports of explosions and "air defense work," Crimean publics wrote about a "fire on the site," many firefighters and medics. - Also on May 25, explosions were heard over Novofedorivka, where the military airfield of the Russian invaders is located. After the explosions, smoke rose in the area of the airfield. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Army shrinks below 73,000 troops for first time since Napoleonic era The number of soldiers has fallen by some 27,500 since 2010 - HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP The number British Army troops has fallen below 73,000 for the first time since the Napoleonic era. Official government figures show there are now just 72,510 full-time, trained soldiers ready for deployment. It comes after Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary, announced in 2021 that the Army would be reduced to 72,500 personnel by 2025, scrapping the 82,000 target which had been set in 2015. All three military services have been struggling to recruit and retain personnel in recent years. In response to the figures, Labour accused the Conservative party of being deeply negligent of the UKs security. Troop numbers have been cut by around 27,500 since 2010. When Labour left office, the Army had more than 100,000 soldiers. In the 12 months to April this year, the number of Army personnel who have completed phases one and two of training and are ready for active service fell by 2,320, from 74,830 to 72,510. John Healey, Labours shadow defence secretary, said: The Conservatives have already cut the Army to its smallest size since Napoleon, now theyve allowed soldier numbers to slump below their own target strength. This is deeply negligent of Britains defence. Mr Healey accused the Government of missing its recruitment targets every year for the last 14 years, adding they had been hollowing out the British military since 2010. Our Armed Forces cant afford five more years of the Tories, he said. Its time for change, we have plans to ensure Britain will be better defended with Labour. A painting showing British soldiers in 1815, days before the battle of Waterloo The current overall strength of the UK Armed Forces stands at 183,230, with Whitehall sources claiming there has been significant growth in applications in recent years. Earlier this year, Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, said applications to the Royal Navy had reached an eight-year high and those to the Army were at a six-year high. A defence source said that headline numbers do not define the effectiveness of our Armed Forces and it continues to meet all its operational commitments. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: Recruitment and retention are a priority for the Armed Forces and they continue to implement a number of measures to improve it for both regular forces and the reserves. 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. NEWTON COUNTY, Mo. An arrest warrant has been issued out of Newton County for a man who is accused of sexually abusing a developmentally disabled boy. Royal Hoth faces a charge of statutory sodomy in the second degree. Former Missouri teachers aide accused of child sex crimes According to the probable cause statement, he confessed to starting with cuddling with the boy, which led later to oral sex. The incident was alleged to have happened on April 8. Authorities said Hoth has since moved from Joplin and is now somewhere in western Kansas. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Assault brigade of the National Police shows footage of battle for Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast video The battle for Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast, continues. Police officers involved in defending the city shared photos of their clashes with the Russians. Source: press service of the Liut Brigade, a police unit in the Defence Forces of Ukraine Details: The soldiers emphasise that the battle for the town in the Kharkiv sector does not stop for a moment. The Russians want to take control of Vovchansk but the Defence Forces offer strong resistance. The Russian forces are trying to gain a foothold in the buildings, but the soldiers of the Tsunami assault regiment of the Liut Brigade of the National Police are preventing them from doing so. Ukrainian soldiers are driving the Russians out and conducting the door-to-door mop-up operations. Quote: "During one of the combat missions, our fighters spotted the occupiers in one of the rooms and immediately opened fire." Background: On 30 May, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, noted that the Russians continued to amass their troops in the main attack area of the Strilecha-Lyptsi axis and in the area of Vovchansk by deploying additional regiments and brigades from other areas and training grounds. The Commander-in-Chief says that these forces are currently insufficient for a full-scale offensive and a breakthrough of the Ukrainian defence on the Kharkiv front. Support UP or become our patron! Three grey space rocks in the blackness of space. the largest is alone on the left; the smaller two are on the right, touching one another. Scientists may have learned the history of the tiny contact-binary moon orbiting asteroid 152830 Dinkinesh , which was the first cosmic stop for NASA's Lucy spacecraft. That moonlet may have spun off its larger parent asteroid when Dinkinesh was sent twirling through space after absorbing and re-emitting sunlight. Having launched in 2021, the Lucy mission is on its way to explore the Trojan asteroids, which share the orbit of Jupiter but, to reach them, Lucy has to cruise through the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. In a silver lining, however, this has given Lucy the chance to test its prowess on a minor world in the asteroid belt before reaching the Trojans, which are positioned at Jupiter's L4 and L5 Lagrange points . Related: Lucy mission: NASA's journey to the Trojan asteroids On Nov. 1, 2023, Lucy flew within 268 miles (431 kilometers) of Dinkinesh, which is affectionately nicknamed 'Dinky.' That might not sound like a notable distance until you consider that Dinkinesh is just 787 yards (720 meters) in diameter. Yet, the spacecraft's autonomous range-finding and tracking system was able to lock onto Dinkinesh, allowing the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L'LORRI) to image the asteroid. What it found was surprising: Dinkinesh is not alone! L'LORRI discovered a natural satellite orbiting Dinky every 52.7 hours at a distance of 1.9 miles (3.1 kilometers). For an asteroid to have a moon isn't that surprising; astronomers are discovering that about 15% of small asteroids indeed have companions, such as Dimorphos, which is the small body that orbits the asteroid Didymos and which was subject to NASA's DART planetary defense mission in 2022. What is particularly interesting about Dinky, however, is that its little moon, called Selam , is itself a contact binary two objects stuck together as one. Again, contact binaries in and of themselves are not that rare; the comet 67P/ChuryumovGerasimenko , for instance, visited by the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission for two years between 2014 and 2016, was a contact binary. Arrokoth , which is the Kuiper Belt object that New Horizons flew past on New Year's Day 2019, is also a contact binary. However, Selam is the first contact-binary-asteroid-moon situation. More specifically, Selam appears to be two objects, or lobes, touching end to end. They are similarly sized: one lobe is about 230 yards (210 meters) across and the other is 250 yards (230 meters) across. Selam is tidally locked to Dinkinesh, meaning one lobe permanently remains closest to the larger asteroid. Frustratingly, the contact point between the two lobes is hidden in shadow in L'LORRI's images. a graphic showing the positions of a spacecraft and a three-asteroid system in space Naturally, astronomers sought to learn how Selam had formed like this. The clues, according to a team led by the mission's principal investigator, Hal Levison of the South-west Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, can be found on the surface of Dinkinesh. The larger asteroid is distinguished by a large trough that runs longitudinally around it, as well as an equatorial ridge that is overlaid on top of that trough and wraps around its rotational axis. Levison's team argues that these features are the result of a massive structural calamity that occurred when the asteroid's rotation was spun up by a phenomenon called the YORP effect. Short for YarkovskyO'KeefeRadzievskiiPaddack, after the scientists who first modeled it, the YORP effect describes how a modestly small object such as Dinkinesh can be spun up by the effects of absorbing and then re-emitting sunlight. The momentum of solar photons striking the surface, and then thermal photons emitted from the surface as the surface warms in the sunlight, create small amounts of thrust that can push around an asteroid smaller than about 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) wide. Though such thrust would be extremely gentle, over eons, it would be able to build up enough power to greatly affect an asteroid's rotation. In terms of Dinkinesh, the YORP effect led to an increase in the space rock's rotation today, it spins once every 3.7 hours. But that wasn't all. The resulting centrifugal force on Dinkinesh, scientists have now learned, then caused some material to lift off the surface of the spinning, loosely held together, asteroid. That material then settled into a ring of debris around the asteroid's equator. Structurally destabilized, a crack literally appeared on Dinkinesh's surface the large trough that we see today. Some of the material spun off from Dinkinesh fell back onto the asteroid, forming the equatorial ridge, while the rest coalesced to form two satellites. This, by the way, is the mechanism believed to have formed Didymos' moon Dimorphos , too. Dimorphos, however, is just one ordinary satellite so, to create a contact binary such as Selam there must be more to the story. Related Stories: NASA's Lucy spacecraft successfully completes 1st flyby of asteroid 'Dinky' Surprise! Asteroid 'Dinky' is actually a double space rock, NASA's Lucy probe reveals (photo) Curious double moon discovered orbiting asteroid 'Dinky' now has a name Levison is intrigued by the fact that the two lobes are almost identical in size, and wonders whether this is telling us something about the satellite formation process. Regardless, once the two halves of Selam formed, they must have edged closer and closer together, moving at very low relative velocity, until they were close enough to kiss. From there, gravity was able to hold them together. Nature, it seems, had performed a most delicate operation when creating Selam. Had these lobes touched with a higher relative velocity, they would have either become smushed together to form just a single lobe, or, more likely, smashed each other apart. Instead they bonded, and are now literally stuck with one another. The analysis of Lucy's observations of Dinkinesh and Selam are published in Nature. A lawyer for Abe Hamadeh, who previously ran for attorney general and is a current U.S. House candidate, faces nearly $210,000 in court sanctions after a judge tossed out his lawsuit last month seeking to challenge the results of the 2022 election. Attorney Ryan Heath represented Hamadeh, a Republican, in a suit that questioned the signature comparison methods used to verify mail-in votes cast in Maricopa County in 2022. He also took on Cochise County Supervisor Tom Crosby and Valley resident David Mast as clients in a similar case. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Susanna Pineda consolidated two lawsuits and then rejected both. She said Hamadeh's claims were "untimely" and that his case asked the court to "overturn the will of the people." She also asserted Crosby and Mast lacked standing to bring their claims because they failed to show "a distinct and palpable injury." Abe Hamadeh speaks during a town hall at the Palm Ridge Recreation Center in Sun City West on April 2, 2024. Now, Hamadeh is on the hook for about $100,000 in sanctions, while Crosby and Mast owe $113,000 each to state and county election officials. Post-judgement interest is set at 9.5% annually. Heath, through a legal assistant, declined to comment to The Arizona Republic on the sanctions against him and his clients. 'A real and present danger to the rule of law' The sanctions come weeks after the Arizona Supreme Court voiced concerns around penalties in election-related lawsuits. Many recent election cases in Arizona have resolved with sanctions against plaintiffs and their attorneys. The Arizona Supreme Court itself ordered sanctions last year against former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake's lawyers for "unequivocally false" claims made in court as she challenged her 2022 loss to Gov. Katie Hobbs. Sanctions have also emerged as a possible deterrent to voting conspiracies that emerged after the 2020 presidential race. But Justice John Lopez wrote in an order reversing sanctions against the Arizona Republican Party on a 2020 election challenge that inappropriate discipline poses "a real and present danger to the rule of law." The Arizona Supreme Court building in Phoenix. "During times of social and political contention and strife, we must be mindful that our courts provide a means of resolving such conflicts when issues are legitimately presented," Lopez wrote. "By sanctioning parties and their lawyers for bringing debatable, long-shot complaints, courts risk chilling legal advocacy and citizens raising 'questions' under the guise of defending the rule of law." Hamadeh and Heath cited that order while appealing Pineda's dismissal of their lawsuit via a special action request to the Arizona Supreme Court. Their request called Pineda's conclusions about the case "baseless," asked the court to reverse any sanctions against them and requested sanctions against state and county election officials. "All semblance of impartiality is lost when government officials (or their counsel) are allowed to make material misrepresentations to the court with impunity while, at the same time, chilling sanctions are imposed against petitioners for asserting good-faith arguments seeking to uphold and enforce election laws," their petition read. The Arizona Supreme Court rejected their request to review the case. An appeal before the Arizona Court of Appeals is pending. Other cases continue Earlier this month, Hamadeh and his lawyers asked the Arizona Supreme Court to hear another case challenging his 280-vote loss to Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes. That case was filed immediately after the 2022 election in Mohave County. Hamadeh and his lawyers asked the states top court to take the appeal arguing Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen did not appropriately allow Hamadeh to review ballots, a cast vote record or a list of provisional ballots before his December 2022 trial. The result was that Hamadeh was straightjacketed at trial, ultimately prejudicing his ability to fairly present his case, the appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court reads. Meanwhile, Crosby and fellow Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd are in hot water in Maricopa County Superior Court. They are accused of interfering with the 2022 election and are each charged with felony counts of conspiracy and interference with an election officer. Crosby and Judd both pleaded not guilty to those charges in December. They've also filed motions to dismiss the case. A trial is currently scheduled for August, but attorneys said last month that date is likely to move to September because of scheduling conflicts. Republic reporter Stacey Barchenger contributed reporting to this article. Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for The Arizona Republic. Do you have a tip to share on elections or voting? Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Attorney for Hamadeh faces $210K in sanctions over AZ election challenge A coalition of attorneys general from various states urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to open a civil rights investigation into the murder of a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020 after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) pardoned his killer two weeks ago. The group of attorneys general, all Democrats, said Garrett Foster, the protester, was exercising his First Amendment right at the time he was shot. They also slammed the case, saying the facts of it were egregious. The group, in a letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland, expressed concern over the stand your ground law, which Abbott mentioned when announcing Daniel Perrys pardon earlier this month. The undersigned Attorneys General are concerned that these stand your ground laws encourage vigilantes to attend protests armed and ready to shoot and kill those who exercise their First Amendment rights, the coalition said in the letter dated Wednesday. The Texas governor pardoned Perry, who was convicted of murder for fatally shooting Foster, an Air Force veteran, during a 2020 protest sparked by the murder of George Floyd. A jury found Perry guilty of murder in April 2023, and he was found not guilty of an aggravated assault charge. Perry, who worked as an Uber driver, dropped off a passenger in downtown Austin. He allegedly saw Foster point an AK-47 rifle he was legally armed with toward him. Perry shot Foster with a pistol because he feared for his life. In the letter calling for the investigation, the group said the deadly incident came after Perry googled the locations of protests and sent a text message that he was considering traveling to another city to shoot looters. His internet search history includes evidence that he intended to cover up his crime (including a search for whether the federal government [has] the ballistics of every firearm sold legally). When states fail to protect their residents from such violations of our civil rights, its imperative that DOJ steps in and ensures that justice is served, New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of the attorneys general included in the letter, said in a statement. Others are from Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, D.C. We urge DOJ to investigate this incident and demonstrate that this will not be tolerated in America, James said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) The Auburn Police Department (APD) said a 19-year-old woman from Atlanta, Georgia, was arrested after an investigation pointed to her stealing checks. On May 26, Auburn Police with help from the College Park Police Department arrested Miranda Lauren Masone on multiple felony warrants charging her with identity theft and second-degree theft of property. Authorities arrested Masone after APD received a report about fraudulent checks back on Jan. 2. A complainant reported to Auburn Police that several checks were mailed to recipients in December of last year. While in transit, police say the checks were stolen, changed and deposited into multiple bank accounts. Police eventually developed Masone as a suspect and after additional investigation, the police department obtained arrest warrants for her. College Park Police Officers found and arrested Masone in Georgia. Auburn Police say Masone was transported to the Auburn Police Department on Sunday and was later booked into the Lee County Jail where she is held on a $8,000 bond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) The Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity will be able to continue its mission in providing safe and affordable housing for local families in need thanks to a generous grant. According to organizers, the Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity received a $225,000 grant from The John Deere Foundation. The CEO of the Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity states that this contribution will allow them to launch more initiatives within the community. ALSO ON WJBF: Bamberg Co. Sheriff Dept. officers to receive new body armor vests thanks to assistance grant We are deeply grateful to the John Deere Foundation for their generous grant and for entrusting us with these vital funds, Bernadette M. Fortune said. It will enable us to launch initiatives that educate the community on the importance of housing advocacy, equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools to support and drive positive change. Organizers say that the grant will be awarded over the next three years with payments of $75,000 in 2024, 2025, and 2026. To learn more about Augusta/ CSRA Habitat for Humanitys mission, register to volunteer, or make a donation, please visit augustahabitat.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. As Australian women push for action on domestic violence a problem described by the countrys prime minister as a national crisis one state has appointed a special official charged with improving mens behavior. Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan announced Wednesday that state MP Tim Richardson would serve as the inaugural Parliamentary Secretary for Mens Behavior Change the first position of its kind in the country. Richardson said he would focus on the influence the internet and social media have on male attitudes towards women, and on building respectful relationships. It would not be easy work, but it is important, he added. We must make Victoria a safer place for women and children and work to end the tragedy of deaths of Victorian women at the hands of men, Richardson wrote on X. Gender-based violence is plaguing Australia 31 women have been killed across the country so far this year, according to the Counting Dead Women project. Last year, 64 women were murdered, the group said. Last weekend, a woman and her daughter were shot dead in Perth, Western Australia, by a man who was allegedly trying to find his ex-partner and daughter. In a statement, the mans daughter said that, when my father couldnt find us he murdered her best friend and her best friends daughter. The country was rattled by multiple violent incidents in April, including when five women were killed by a man armed with a knife at a shopping center in the suburb of Bondi in Sydney. Police said CCTV footage showed it was obvious the man targeted women. In another violent incident, a 28-year-old mother was allegedly murdered by her partner, who was already facing charges of raping and stalking her but had been released on bail. Tarang Chawla, who founded the non-profit Not One More Niki after his sister Nikita Chawla was murdered by her partner in 2015, told CNN he hopes the new parliamentary position will make a tangible difference to addressing male violence in Australia. This role gives me some semblance of hope that the focus is shifting away from this being a womens problem to solve and instead is a mens issue that we can take leadership for, he said. But it also requires the Parliamentary Secretary to consult and collaborate on solutions with those working on the ground, with men, to understand their attitudes, the drivers of their actions and work to change their behaviors, he told CNN. However, not all Australians had a positive reaction to the news. Jane Hume of the opposition Liberal Party, who represents Victoria in the national Senate, questioned the efficacy of the appointment. It does sound to me like a little bit of window dressing around a really important issue that involves genuine cultural change, she told Sky News. Within hours of announcing the position, Richardson took to X, writing: Some pretty hectic reactions here to an important role and Australian first. It will be about modelling positive role models for boys and men and ensuring we break away from gendered based stereotypes and building respectful relationships. As boys and men we need to lead this. While the new Parliamentary Secretary for Mens Behavior Change now exists at a state level, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also announced in May a rapid review into the prevention of domestic violence after calling the problem a national crisis. We recognize that governments need to act, but we also recognize that this is an issue for the whole of society. Women should not be responsible for ending violence against women, he said at the time. CNNs Hilary Whiteman contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A small group of auto accident survivors and care providers gathered on Mackinac Island during the Mackinac Policy Conference on May 29, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols) The group was small and half-mile downhill from the Mackinac Policy Conference where lawmakers are meeting to talk decision-making, but auto crash survivors and advocates arrived at Mackinac Island Wednesday to call for the Legislature to fix a policy signed at the conference five years ago. In 2019, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a major reform to Michigans no-fault auto insurance at the conference in the Grand Hotel. At the time Whitmer said Its not perfect. But this is a big step forward. But the new rules have had devastating consequences on survivors of auto accidents, as theyve told lawmakers that parts of the change created a new fee schedule for health care providers that began in 2021. Rehabilitative and long term care services without Medicare codes were cut to a 55% reimbursement rate. Jenna Worthy, who sustained a spinal injury from a car crash in July 2019, said that her at-home health care providers are going to stop offering her services in September as they can no longer afford to provide her care. I was seeing gains and improvements. Im quadriplegic and I dont have much movement in my hands, but I was able to gain some movement back, Worthy said. For a moment I was able to do assisted standing with my therapist and stuff which would keep my legs going stronger. But now as care providers are able to come less and less, Worthy said shes losing opportunities to maintain her progress. Theres days that I wont have caregivers come in. I just gotta kind of hang out in bed and I have to call somebody to come and get my kids because I cant even have my kids at home with me, Worthy said. I just have to be bed bound and hope that I have everything next to my bed that I need. I cant safely transfer into my chair without somebody with me. Bills to alter the changes made under the 2019 rules in an effort to allow care providers to be compensated more for services so they continue to offer care cleared the Michigan Senate in October, and have sat in a House committee since. The Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) opposes the bills, with DIFS Director Anita Fox sending lawmakers a letter saying the measures would lead to higher auto insurance rates for Michiganders. [T]he broad-brush reimbursement rate increases proposed in these bills would substantially impact auto insurance affordability across the stateIncreased insurance rates would likely lead to more uninsured drivers and less competition in the insurance marketplace, which could further increase insurance rates, Fox said in the letter. For years auto crash survivors and their families have rallied regularly at the state Capitol pursuing lawmakers to fix the no-fault auto law in order to maintain care and services. Its a challenge for survivors to be able to make the trips to the Capitol and on Wednesday to Mackinac, said Laura Haynes President and CEO of the Michigan HomeCare and Hospice Association. And the conference where all the lawmakers are is located on top of a large hill, so the crowd of wheelchaired gatherers could not reasonably all make it up to try and talk with lawmakers. When theyre reading bills, the people that are in those rooms are not the survivors. Oftentimes, its the lobbyists; its the insurance companies; its all of these other groups. They are not the survivors, Haynes said of the importance of auto crash survivors continuing to show up in-person. They need to fully understand what these cuts have done to survivors The survivors need to matter. The post Auto crash survivors and care providers come to Mackinac Island, ask lawmakers take up bills appeared first on Michigan Advance. The US delegation will take part in the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. At the same time, there is no specific information about President Joe Biden's attendance. ADVERTISIMENT This was announced at a briefing by White House spokesperson Karin Jean-Pierre. She emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine and providing it with all the necessary opportunities for protection. "We have been actively involved in each of the previous Ukrainian peace summits. The U.S. government is involved in this. And we will be represented at this upcoming summit," the spokesperson said. When asked if President Biden would attend the event, she replied that she "has no more specific information to share." Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he would like to see Biden at the Peace Summit in Switzerland. This will demonstrate the highest level of US support, which will have an impact on the leaders of other countries. If the head of the White House ignores the summit in Switzerland, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will "give a standing ovation." ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA: - The UN will take part in the Peace Summit in Switzerland. This became known after a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. - India will participate in the Peace Summit. It has not yet been announced who will represent New Delhi. - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has decided not to participate in the Global Peace Summit on Ukraine, which will be held in June in Switzerland. This is due to the fact that the countries of the so-called Global South have reservations about the sanctions imposed by the West against Russia over its war in Ukraine. - Zelensky invited Argentine President Javier Milei to participate in the first peace summit in Ukraine. The event will take place in June 2024 in Switzerland. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ADVERTISIMENT Democratic strategist David Axelrod ripped the Biden campaign for actor Robert De Niros appearance outside the Manhattan courthouse this week, calling the event ill-timed in a new opinion piece. Axelrod took aim in an opinion piece published Wednesday on CNN, asking why President Bidens campaign team thought it would be a good idea to have De Niro speak outside the courthouse where former President Trumps hush money trial has been taking place. Who thought this was a good idea? I love De Niros work and agree with many of his comments. But given the arms length distance the White House has kept from the whole sordid mess at 100 Centre Street, they seemed grossly ill-timed, Axelrod wrote. Axelrod wrote that De Niros appearance, including being shouted at by nearby Trump supporters, ended up becoming the story as the jurors were preparing to go into deliberations. The stated goal was to highlight Trumps trespasses on democracy and general unfitness for office, but the scene quickly devolved into a shouting match between De Niro and a small crowd of hecklers who roasted him as he roasted Trump. Great fodder for Saturday Night Live, but not necessarily the campaign, he wrote. Axelrod concluded the piece by writing, whoever at Biden HQ directed De Niros performance Tuesday probably should have left it on the cutting room floor. The Biden campaign has largely avoided talking directly about Trumps legal woes, especially during the former presidents hush money trial. Biden has made few references to Trumps court battles, like quipping during the White House Correspondents Association dinner about how Trump has had some stormy weather recently. But Tuesday, the Biden campaign brought De Niro and two former police officers who served at the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot to speak outside the Manhattan courthouse, where closing arguments in the hush money case were underway. When asked why they were holding a political event outside Trumps criminal trial, Bidens communication director Michael Tyler said you all are here, referring to the large media presence surrounding the courthouse. Its easy to talk about the choice in this election when the entire news media is here day in and day out, Tyler said. De Niro, who filmed an ad for the Biden campaign last week, blasted the former president while Trump supporters heckled him in the background. I dont mean to scare you. No, no, wait, maybe I do mean to scare you. If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss away these freedoms that we take for granted, and elections, forget about it. He will never leave, he said. Trump criticized De Niro shortly afterward, saying he never knew how small, both mentally and physically, Wacko Former Actor Robert De Niro was. The former president is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The Hill has reached out to the Biden campaign for comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A bobcat named Grace is believed to be on the loose after escaping from her enclosure at the Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City, Ind. Photo courtesy of Michigan City May 30 (UPI) -- Officials with an Indiana zoo said they are searching for a 9-month-old bobcat who apparently escaped from her enclosure. The Michigan City mayor's office said in a news release that the bobcat, named Grace, was noticed missing Wednesday from the enclosure she shares with her sister, Hazel, at the Washington Park Zoo. Grace is not believed to pose any risk to humans, but officials said they are concerned about the young animal's welfare. "Grace is roughly the size of a large housecat," zoo director Jamie Huss said in the news release. "Her prey would range from chipmunks to rabbits and smaller. We are concerned for her safety, and have continued to set live traps and trail cameras in hopes of a sighting and recapture." It was unclear how Grace managed to get out of the enclosure. Baby girl found in trash can just hours after being born Baby girl found in trash can just hours after being born TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A newborn girl was found in a trash can just hours after being born, according to police in Lima, Peru. On Wednesday morning, police found the baby abandoned in a garbage can after a guard heard her cries. She was wrapped in black bags and blankets, with her umbilical cord still attached, according to local news outlets. Were about to go into the ocean: Passengers on Florida-bound flight told to prepare for possible water landing The video, time-stamped at 6:12 a.m., shows the moment police find the child, before transporting her to a nearby hospital. The outlet reported that the baby was thought to be born at home in the 38th week of pregnancy. The infant is being treated at the pediatric ICU in Lima. Her current condition is unknown. Police did not release any further details regarding the childs mother. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. White Canadian writer self-publishes book on race after traveling US in Afro wig and Mocha shade foundation Canadian journalist Sam Forster donned blackface to write a book (right) about racism in the US (Supplied) A white Canadian writer who travelled the US in blackface and published what he has described as the most important book on American race relations that has ever been written has been met with swift backlash. Last summer, I disguised myself as a Black man and traveled throughout the United States to document how racism persists in American society, journalist Sam Forster, who has written for The National Post and The Spectator, posted on X on Tuesday. He also shared a link to his self-published book, Seven Shoulders. A blurb for the book on Amazon called it the most important book on American race relations that has ever been written. In a copy of the book sent to The Independent, the author describes donning a blackface disguise in September 2023 that included a synthetic Afro wig, colored contact lenses and copious amounts of Maybelline foundation in the Mocha shade. Seven Shoulders documents his experiences hitchhiking across Nashville, Birmingham, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Detroit. The work consists largely of first-person descriptions, where most drivers pass him by while hes in disguise, as well as commentary on the history of race and politics in the US. Forster said he was carrying on a tradition born in the fight for civil rights (Supplied) Prominent Black writers and journalists reacted to the project with a mix of criticism and bemusement. The Nations legal correspondent Elie Mystal ridiculed the books methods and compared it to Tropic Thunder, a 2008 Hollywood satire in which Robert Downey, Jr, plays a white Australian actor who dons blackface to portray a Black Vietnam War soldier in the hopes of winning an Oscar. Option A: Talk to actual Black people, Mr Mystal wrote on X. Option B: [whatever in the Tropic Thunder F*** this is]. The book features interviews with Black leaders, including a sitting US congressman and the mayor of a major American city, though their names are redacted in the work, and Mr Forster says he didnt tell them about the blackface aspect of the project. Nikole Hannah Jones, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter behind the 1619 Project, which argues for a reframing of American history beginning with the arrival of the first enslaved African people to the land that later became the US, appeared perplexed in her brief response to the news of the book. No comment, she wrote on X. New York Times political reporter Astead Herndon called on Mr Forster to release a picture of him in disguise. Drop the pic, Samuel, he wrote on X. Im trying to see something. Some noted the books resemblance to the 1961 book Black Like Me, by John Howard Griffin, in which a white writer donned blackface to describe the racism of the Jim Crow South. Mr Forster told The Independent via email he was hoping to carry on in the tradition of Griffin with the goal to dramatically improve our collective understanding of race. As the public is beginning to realize, I didnt force myself to supplicate at the feet of sensitivity readers, consultants, and Midtown executives like most authors do, he said. I simply wrote what I saw. I recognize that my independence bothers people, but I think it produced a tremendously important and historic book, he added. He argued people should read the book before criticizing it, and declined to share a photo of the disguise he used during the writing process. As I mention in the book, the point of this project is to foster serious, productive dialogue, he said. If people are looking for a minstrel show, they should look somewhere else. He added that people on social media seeking to see the image showed the crude and corrupting impulses of the masses and suggests more about the masses than it says about me. Last summer, I disguised myself as a Black man and traveled throughout the United States to document how racism persists in American society. Writing Seven Shoulders was one of the hardest things Ive ever done as a journalist. Its out on May 30th:https://t.co/jK2kvIPh1H pic.twitter.com/TE8mEfOiHi Sam Forster (@ForsterSam) May 28, 2024 The seven shoulders of the books title refers to highway shoulders where the Canadian journalist hitchhiked both with and without his disguise. (Mr Forster has another book, Americosis: A Nations Dysfunction Observed from Public Transit, based on his observations riding the Dallas public transit system.) The Canadian writer argues in the book that his method offers a unique perspective on race because most people have only experienced life within one societally defined racial category, while in his case, for a short window, I became Black. I experienced the world as a Black man. Nobody has an experiential barometer with respect to race, for that matter, he writes. Nobody except for me.. My barometer is better than anyone elses. The book contains other claims sure to prompt fierce debate and backlash, such as his claim that present-day examples of institutional racism are extremely Mr Forster repeats the word for two straight pages difficult to identify despite ongoing racial disparities in institutions including the criminal justice system. The writer also argues that the people most passionate about the issue of race are the most ill-informed and out of touch, and suggests most writing about the history of racism in the US is moralizing disguised as scholarship. With few exceptions, the stuff thats out there doesnt serve the function of saying what previously was or what currently is, but rather, what should have been, or what ought to be, he writes. He describes his own writing in Seven Shoulders as a tremendous literary achievement and a tremendous achievement in the realm of civic progress. The Canadian journalist argues his work is separate from the historically racist function of blackface and instead is journalistic blackface with a purpose. Seven Shoulders is set to be published on Thursday, 30 May, via the authors Slaughterhouse Media company. Bajas top prosecutor denies Tijuana is having its most violent year ever SAN DIEGO (Border Report) The office of Baja Californias attorney general during a news conference Wednesday denied reports the city of Tijuana is on pace to break all-time records when it comes to crime. According to a recent report issued by the citys Citizens Security Council, the city of Tijuana has seen crime go up 20% compared to last year. It says crime data provided by Mexicos Office of Statistics was used to make its determinations. The group also reports that compared with 2021, crime has gone up 31% in the city. Tijuana taxi drivers demand more security amid wave of assaults The Citizens Security Council went on to issue the following statistics showing crime in Tijuana is up in many areas: Home robbery up 26% Business robbery up 65% Street assaults/muggings up 47% Business extortion up 46% Murders in Tijuana, through last week, were approaching 800 for the year, something Miguel Angel Gaxiola, head of the Baja attorney generals homicide division, doesnt deny. But he insists the crime rate and the number of homicides for this year are on par with last year. We are still seeing the same schemes, and believe me, its not gratifying to say were getting five to six murders per day, Gaxiola said. Well keep working to reinforce investigations and investigators to keep crime down. He told reporters on Wednesday the areas most prone to violence are in downtown Tijuana and the Otay area near the airport on the east side of the city. But Roberto Quijano Sosa, head of the Citizens Security Council, says statistics dont lie. Tijuana tops 600 homicides in less than 4 months The first quarter in 2024 saw a big increase in crime compared to other years, he said. Unfortunately this is shaping up to be the most violent year ever in Tijuana. Quijano Sosa also stated numbers show domestic violence is up 14%, while cybercrime and real-estate fraud are up 45%. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border Authorities will probably say the numbers are up because people feel more comfortable about reporting crime, thats not it, the problem is that more crimes are being committed, said Quijanao Sosa. We are toward the bottom at the national level when it comes to security in spite of additional investment in police, and in spite of a heavier National Guard presence in the area, crime is worse today than it was 10 years ago. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Bal Harbour Shops housing project is not the boogeyman local officials paint it to be | Opinion Attainable housing Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed the enhanced Live Local Act into law. The legislation provides incentives to create more affordable housing on private land by increasing zoning allowances, granting tax savings to property owners and streamlining approval timelines. The bills signing comes as Florida contends with an historic affordability crisis. A report by Miami Homes for All found that Miami-Dade needs 90,000 affordable units to meet current demand. At Bal Harbour Shops, we have proposed a new mixed-use development centered around hundreds of workforce housing units that will cater to those who serve our community daily: teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers, hospitality and healthcare workers. Unfortunately, the Village of Bal Harbour has gone to great lengths to stop our project by delaying the application process and adopting new ordinances intended to derail development. The Live Local Act compelled me to contemplate workforce housing within our property. This is proof positive that our lawmakers got it right. I am hopeful the Village will join us in becoming part of the solution, rather than bending over backward to preserve the status quo. Matthew Whitman Lazenby, president, chief executive officer, Whitman Family Development, Bal Harbour Forgotten heroes Within Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address are the words, can never forget what they did. On Memorial Day, I paid my respects to the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen of Miami-Dade County who died in service to the United States of America, by visiting the county war memorial in Bayfront Park. The memorial is engraved with the names of several hundred who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. There were no flags, no flowers and no bunting, as one might expect on this given day. Instead, parts of the inscription were so deteriorated they were illegible. I also found the memorial decorated with animal feces of some sort. Miami-Dade forgot what they did. We can do better. Gregg Chislett, U.S. Army, retired, Miami Pocketbook issues Re: the May 29 op-ed, Most Americans see things differently than economists. I dont go by gross domestic product, stock market and unemployment numbers. I go by what I see. In the past, I could shop and dine in various beautiful shops and restaurants in downtown Miami, the Village of Miami Shores and North Miamis 125th street. Today, they are either boarded up or senior medical clinics fill their spaces. The mostly vacant 163rd Street Mall has cut the air conditioning in its covered hallway and its hot and musty. Product quality has also gone downhill. Two items I bought recently are glaring examples: a jigsaw puzzle with pieces that wouldnt hold together and a food storage container with a lid that wouldnt close. Im 70 and retired. Throughout my job hunting years, I could look through classified ads and find a job within a few days or weeks. Today, young people must search job hunting sites online and wonder if theyll get a response to their inquiries. As for the cost of living, everyone already knows how much more expensive everything is. Who says the economy is better? Not me! Karin Stahl, North Miami Cuban capitalists The recent updates, as highlighted in the May 28 Herald online article, In a first, Cubas private business owners will be able to use U.S. banks, Treasury says, do little to benefit the Cuban people and instead bolster the regime. Since the July 11, 2021 protests, internet access has been a critical need, as Cuban telecom company Etecsa cut the service. These new measures primarily seem to serve commercial interests rather than support grassroots communication, for which the Cuban-American community has been advocating. Additionally, the idea that independent Cuban entrepreneurs will benefit is questionable. Can these entrepreneurs truly operate without the regimes blessing? These updates do not foster genuine economic independence. Instead of emphasizing the private sector, more attention should be brought to Cubas civil society and political prisoners. Carlos Martinez, Silver Spring, MD Posting party As a military veteran, I read with interest the May 28 Herald online article, Trump attacks Biden, hush money judge in Memorial Day post: Human scum. I always wondered how draft dodgers celebrate Memorial Day. Roger Hammer, Homestead Problem solvers Re: the May 30 Herald editorial, As South Florida sizzles, climate denial is the new law. I must give Republicans their props. They are a fine-tuned, well-oiled machine at creating problems (actually distractions) in search of solutions. Theyre even better at spinning proven expert solutions to real problems (vaccines, efforts to deal with climate change) as conspiracy theories or culture wars. God help us! Rosa Osborne, Pembroke Pines Bewitched ride The one thing Donald Trump has said that I wholeheartedly agree with is that his opponents are on a witch hunt. And I know who the witch is. Now, if only he would jump on his broom with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Gov. Ron DeSantis and a few others and fly off to Siberia, where they will be happily greeted by some of their best supporters. David Hardesty, Pinecrest Resign, Alito It is a sad day when one must be ashamed of a U. S. Supreme Court justice. However, with Justice Samuel Alito, it has come to that. His letter to two U. S. senators, in which he tries to justify why partisan, provocative flags flew over his homes the decision to do so was supposedly made by his wife and not recuse himself from court cases involving ex-President Donald Trump, was ludicrous. Any loving spouse should have enough sensitivity to avoid the inevitable embarrassment. Any Supreme Court justice should have the integrity to take his oath of impartiality seriously. Daniel Klein, Hollywood No more puppets Gov. DeSantis has it all wrong. Climate change is hitting us in the face, on top of the head, in the back of the neck, even our feet. Our homeowners insurance rates are climbing while insurance benefits are declining. Yet climate change shouldnt be mentioned in any of our statutes or rules. Will DeSantis next tell judges not to mention climate change in court? Its time for the voters to get rid of this governor and the Republicans who are so out of touch with the world we live in. We must get real people in office. Gary P. Simon, Pinecrest Fully exposed Gov. Ron DeSantis has tried to hide those elements of life he wishes were invisible. In his point of view, LBGTQ people should stay in the closet, so dont say gay. Liberal ideas shouldnt be taught in school, so books are banned by outsiders, not school boards. School children are too tender to learn facts, so teachers are threatened to curb history lessons and eliminate the truth about slavery. The actual number of deaths from COVID-19 should be hidden from the public, so he hired an incompetent anti-vax doctor to preach against vaccines, a scientifically proven guard against serious illness and death. Now, he wants us to believe there is no such thing as climate change, by striking those words from state documents. Impacts of climate change have been visible in Florida for years, with erosion of 1,000 miles of tidal coastline, increased flooding, record-breaking hurricanes and worsening algae blooms. Studies warn the longer we fail to curtail harmful pollution and emissions, the worse natures impact and the worse the expense. People, truth and climate change are not invisible. Johnnie McDonald, Miami Not so guilty Isaac Baileys May 30 op-ed, Trumps guilt is already apparent, compares Donald Trump to the late O.J. Simpson and George Zimmerman. What could be further from the truth? Trump did not kill anybody. Mike Turkal, Palmetto Bay Whatever sticks Im sure that if Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos wife were unwilling to fall on the sword of the upside down flags controversy, he would have been willing to hoist the blame on the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny for the travesty on his doorsteps. Bruce Shpiner, Miami Bangladesh residents may face significant threats of exposure to PFAS as a result of the countrys apparel industry, a new study has found. The forever chemicals have contaminated Bangladeshs surface and tap water, according to research from the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), a Bangladesh-based NGO and research body, and IPEN, a collective of 600 public interest groups in developing nations concerned with chemical and waste policies. More from Sourcing Journal The research partners tested and analyzed water from 31 rivers and lakes from communities located near textile manufacturing hubs that produce clothing for brands like Benetton, C&A, Calvin Klein, H&M, Marks & Spencer, Sainsburys and Zara. PFAS chemicals were found in 27 of the 31 surface water samples (87 percent), and in 18 of those samples (58 percent), researchers discovered chemicals that have been listed for global elimination under the Stockholm Convention. Nineteen samples representing 61 percent of the total lot tested showed PFAS levels above proposed EU regulatory limits for surface water. Water samples taken close to textile-producing facilities contained higher concentrations of PFAS, adding to the evidence that the textiles industry may be a significant source of PFAS water pollution, the study found. For example, two of the waterways tested were downstream and upstream from the countrys Export Processing Zones in Dhaka and Adamjee, and the downstream samples showed higher PFAS concentrations, reinforcing the idea that the chemicals are flowing out of these facilities at a dangerous rate. Several surface water samples showed alarmingly high PFAS concentrations, with one containing more than 310 times the proposed EU regulatory limit. The groups also tested four tap water samples, which yielded disturbing results. Analysis indicated PFAS present in three out of the four samples taken at levels beyond the U.S. PFOA regulatory limit. Bangladesh does not currently have its own regulatory framework for PFAS, but that doesnt mean natural resource contamination isnt a danger to its residents. The compounds, which scientists fear are making their way into groundwater and the food supply, have been linked to negative impacts to fertility and fetal development. A 2022 study showed that chronic exposure in children led to elevated blood cholesterol levels, lipid imbalances that can cause cardiovascular disease, lower birth weights and reduced antibody response to some infections and vaccines. PFOS, a chemical under the PFAS umbrella, has been tied to liver damage, while PFOA, another member of the PFAS family, has been fingered for causing cancer. Its hard to deny that the apparel and textile sector is largely responsible for the spread of the toxic inputs, as it accounts for 50 percent of total global PFAS use and is the second largest PFAS emissions contributor on Earth. Bangladesh may be a particularly high-risk market, given that ready-made garment (RMG) production is an essential driver of the nations economy. The industry accounts for 83 percent of Bangladeshs total exports, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). About four million workers are employed at 3,500 factories across the country, indicating a high probability of direct exposure to PFAS. Residents that dont toil in factories are not necessarily safe from that exposure. Five clothing items for men, women and children purchased from retailers in Bangladesh were tested, and all were found to contain PFAS, with one garment containing suspected carcinogen PFOA. The results of the research add to the evidence that the textiles industry may be a significant source of PFAS water pollution, not only posing threats of PFAS exposures to residents of Bangladesh through water, food, and clothing, but also more widely due to their properties as global pollutants, the study authors wrote. Based on the results of this study, ESDO and IPEN are calling on the textiles industry to phase out the use of PFAS, they added. Policymakers also have a major role to play, as regulation is needed to institute penalties for employing the chemicals. Finally, the onus is also on the brand-name companies that have tremendous market influence to demand products free from PFAS, they wrote. People cast their votes on the first day of the advance voting of the European Parliament election. Roni Rekomaa/Roni Rekomaa/dpa The European Parliament is elected every five years, with the next elections due to be held over four days from June 6-9. 720 seats are up for grabs. Parliament with blocking (and amending) power Compared to a national parliament, the European Parliament's powers are fairly limited. It cannot propose new EU laws - only the unelected European Commission can do that. But the parliament can block most draft legislation. It also has the power to reject EU member states' nominees for the key position of commission president and the other 26 commissioners. The parliament has never rejected a nominee for commission president - though it came very close to turning down incumbent Ursula von der Leyen in 2019 - but it has rejected would-be commissioners. Parliamentarians can also usually propose amendments to draft legislation, but these have to be agreed with EU member states' national governments before they can become law. The member states are represented by their ministers in a separate institution called the Council of the European Union. Negotiators for the two chambers typically resolve disagreements on amendments to new laws in often gruelling talks, which can run overnight. The parliament can reject the outcome of these talks and send their negotiators back to the table. How members are elected Parliamentary seats are distributed among EU countries according to population: big countries get more seats than small ones. In the coming elections, there are 96 seats available in the EU's largest country, Germany, and six in the smallest, Malta. Some countries - such as Ireland and Belgium - divide their seats among separate electoral districts, but most don't. All countries some version of proportional representation, which aims to ensure the seats available in a given country or district are won with a roughly equal share of the vote. For example, if a country has 20 seats, a party that gets 50% of the vote might win 10. Similarly, an individual candidate can be elected with 5% of the vote. But the details vary, and the formulas used to allocate seats to winners can be quite complicated. Some countries, such as Germany, use a "closed list" system that forces voters to choose between entire political parties, rather than individual candidates. Parties then distribute the seats they've won across their list of candidates. Others use variations of an "open list" system, where voters can influence the ranking of individual candidates on the party lists. Other countries don't use party lists at all. The political "parties" you've voted for, but never heard of When they get to the European Parliament, political parties usually band together into different pan-European groups that most voters will be unfamiliar with. The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) has been the largest such group for the last 25 years, though no group has ever had a parliamentary majority. The EPP includes Germany's Christian Democrats, Italy's Forza Italia and Poland's Civic Platform. The other current blocs are the centre-left Socialists & Democrats, the liberal-centrist Renew; the Greens; the mildly eurosceptic European Conservatives and Reformists; the more nationalistic Identity & Democracy - which recently kicked out the German far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD); and The Left, a coalition of radical socialists and communists. There are also non-aligned parties and independents. European political groups are fairly loose coalitions. Just because two parties are in the same EU group doesn't necessarily mean they're much alike, or that they'd be on the same side if they had to share a country. Their fringes can also overlap: a few parties in the EPP are arguably to the left of some members of Renew, for example. On the other hand, these groups often vote as single blocs in the European Parliament. For the ordinary voter, that raises an interesting question: Is the party you'd vote for in a national election necessarily the one you want to send to the European Parliament? Batavia man who smothered dad to death with blanket wanted to 'play God,' prosecutor says Zane Pelfrey, 39, appears in court for sentencing Thursday. Prosecutors say Pelfrey smothered his father to death with a blanket before stealing his credit card. Just days after Zane Pelfrey smothered his father to death with an orange blanket, he described it to detectives as a mercy killing, prosecutors said. Now, the Batavia man will spend more than a decade in prison. Pelfrey was sentenced Thursday in Clermont County Common Pleas Court to a minimum of 11 years. However, he could serve up to 16 years under a state law allowing the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to extend sentences based on an inmates conduct. He pleaded guilty in April to involuntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence and theft of a credit card, court records show. A grand jury indicted Pelfrey in December on counts including aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence. On Nov. 24, 2023, Batavia police responded to Pelfreys residence after he called 911 and reported that he found his father dead when he arrived home from playing bingo, prosecutors wrote in a court filing. When first responders arrived at the scene, they determined that 60-year-old Dewayne Pelfrey was beyond medical intervention, initially believing the elder Pelfrey died of natural causes. Two days after Zane Pelfrey reported his fathers death, his roommates told police hed been talking about killing his dad for several weeks, prosecutors said, adding that he admitted to his roommates that he ended it for his father. Prosecutors said the roommates later told detectives that after the killing, Zane Pelfrey took his dads credit card, went to UDF to withdraw money and was disappointed the account only contained $30 since he expected $2,100 to be available. That all happened before he called 911. The roommates also opened up about an incident that happened weeks before, in which they believed they walked in on the younger Pelfrey trying to smother his father, according to prosecutors. When Zane Pelfrey was interviewed by detectives, he denied causing his fathers death or saying that he had anything to do with it but eventually confessed to the killing. He admitted to smothering his father for two to three minutes, indicating that the older Pelfrey awoke to his son trying to suffocate him and reacted defensively, prosecutors said. The injuries observed on Dewayne Pelfrey during an autopsy were consistent with how the younger Pelfrey described smothering his father. Dewayne Pelfrey suffered from multiple medical issues that prevented him from being able to protect himself from his own son, said Lara Baron-Allen, an assistant Clermont County prosecutor. The reality is, your honor, the defendant wanted to and did, in fact, play God, Baron-Allen told Judge Kevin Miles. In a sentencing memo filed in anticipation of Thursdays hearing, Zane Pelfreys attorney pointed to his limited criminal history before his November arrest, adding that he took responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty. "Mr. Pelfrey feels immense grief in knowing that there is nothing he can do to bring his father back and he has to live with that punishment every single day for the rest of his life," his attorney wrote, adding that he loved his father and despised seeing him sick. Id like to apologize to my family and the court and my children for the decisions and the judgment I made that has led to today, Zane Pelfrey told the judge. However, prosecutors argued the fact that Zane Pelfrey went immediately after the killing to withdraw money from his fathers bank account demonstrates that he had no remorse for his actions. Today, you stand before the court and say youre sorry, Miles told Zane Pelfrey, agreeing with the probation departments finding that he lacks genuine remorse. I dont know what youre sorry for because youve indicated basically that you didnt do anything. Mr. Pelfrey, the damage youve done, certainly the damage to your family, is incalculable, Miles added. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Clermont County man gets prison for smothering dad with blanket On todays episode, we chat with Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan, who tells us how Labour and the Conservatives differ in their views on defence spending. Then we speak to Paul Nuki, editor of Global Health and Security, who gives us the latest on the dire situation in Rafah as Israeli airstrikes kill dozens. Finally, we speak to Ben Farmer, our South Africa correspondent, about the elections there this week. Across the world, from Europe to Asia, from the Americas to the Middle East, tensions are rising between nation states as the traditional alliances and alignments evolve in the 21st century. This year sees war in Europe and the Middle East, and elections in major economies, from the US and the UK to Taiwan. Insurgencies flare in Yemen and Burma, tensions escalate in East Africa, and all around the world the international security architecture buckles under increasing pressure. Battle Lines, a new podcast from The Telegraph, combines on-the-ground reporting with analytical expertise to help the listener to better understand the course of world politics, wars and tensions, as fault lines grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous and confusing multipolar world. Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or your favourite podcast app. 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 BBC is to assess if there is evidence of groupthink in storylines, as part of a review into the portrayal of ethnic minorities and class. The corporation has appointed two media experts to probe how accurately and authentically the broadcaster portrays different groups and communities across the UK. Anne Morrison, the former Bafta chairman, and Chris Banatvala, an independent media consultant, are to lead the review, which is to begin in the coming days, the BBC said. It will cover television, radio and online content, as well as output from the Nations and English regions. The assessment is expected to consider whether storylines represent a sufficiently broad and authentic range of perspectives or if there is evidence of groupthink, the corporation said. It will also attempt where any imbalances in portrayal and representation are identified, to determine what causes them and how they might be addressed. The BBC has faced fierce backlash over impartiality issues, most notably after presenter Gary Lineker tweeted fierce criticism of the Governments Rwanda policy. It has also come under fire for its reporting of the war in Gaza. As part of the midterm review of the BBCs charter, the board was ordered to tackle the corporations groupthink and ensure that its coverage represents all political reviews. Announcing the new review on Wednesday, Samir Shah, the BBC chairman, said: The BBC must reflect the lives of all classes, communities and cultures across the UK, and how authentically and fairly it does this can be a significant factor in determining overall perceptions of the BBC. Anne Morrison and Chris Banatvala bring extensive knowledge and understanding of portrayal and representation in broadcasting, so are particularly well placed to identify the strategic challenges the BBC faces delivering on this key priority in its Royal Charter. The review will also examine results from the 2021/22 census, to establish how the portrayal and representation of the UK reflects current reality in terms of the make-up of communities around the country and what the major changes have been over time. The audit is the third in the BBCs 10-point impartiality plan and comes after a review into the impartiality and accuracy of the broadcasters coverage of immigration earlier this month. The previous assessment, conducted by the director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, found that some BBC journalists were anxious that reporting on local concerns about migration, or covering topics such as immigration fraud, could appear hostile to migrants. However, the review, which was commissioned by the BBC board, concluded: It is not racist to be concerned about the impacts of migration or to prefer more restrictive policies. BBC coverage should have equal empathy for migrants and UK residents who worry about the impacts of migration. BBC management endorsed the key points and said they would tell journalists: Its not biased to hear directly from migrants, just as its not racist to air concerns about immigration. Audiences want to know why people move and appreciate hearing from them though not to the exclusion of hearing other voices. 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. Beaver County farmers found guilty of killing nearly 30 birds with toxic pesticide sentenced A Beaver County farm operator and his employee have been sentenced after being found guilty of the unlawful killing of migratory birds. Robert Yost, 52, of New Galilee, and Jacob Reese, 27, of Enon Valley, conspired to kill migratory birds that were on leased farmland operated by Yost Farms in June 2020, the Department of Justice said. In total, Yost and Reese were responsible for killing around 17 Canada geese, 10 red-winged blackbirds and one mallard duck, officials said. They used carbofuran, a registered restricted-use pesticide. Yost directed Reese to spread corn coated in carbofuran in and around a field used for soybean cultivation where children were regularly present, according to the Department of Justice. Yost was sentenced to a year of probation, a $21,000 fine and 100 hours of community service. Reese was sentenced to a year of probation, a $5,500 fine and 50 hours of community service. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Penn Hills graduate killed in explosion in downtown Youngstown 3 teens arrested for string of vehicle thefts, armed home invasions in Pittsburgh Research shows regular marijuana users may have traces of metal in their system VIDEO: Shadyside nursing home, rehabilitation center to close this summer DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The account of Vlaams Belang, Belgiums Flemish nationalist party, posted an advertisement on April 26 with a video of young people fighting at a Geel bus stop. Have you also had enough of the enrichment of the multicultural society? the caption reads in Dutch. Only Vlaams Belang is talking about thisand will restore law and order! For between 600 to 800, Vlaams Belang got up to 125,000 Facebook impressions and 60,000 on Instagram from this ad, largely from their intended audience of 18 to 34-year-olds in Belgiums north, according to Meta Ad Library data. For some, the social media campaign strategy of Vlaams Belang and party leader Tom Van Grieken is working. A Euronews/Ipsos poll from March puts the party in the lead in Flanders with 23 per cent support there. Van Grieken's agenda includes: breaking up the country and establishing a Flemish republic with strict immigration regulations. The story in Wallonia and Brussels is quite different, with the Belgian Socialist Party (PS) and the Belgian Reformist Movement (MR) parties in the lead in those respective areas. This post is one example of how the Belgian far-right party has used extensive social media advertising, to win over online voters, who often skew younger. Spending hundreds of thousands on social media Xavier Degraux, a digital marketing specialist in Charleroi, Belgium, used the Meta Ad Library platform to analyse the social media advertising of major Belgian political parties in the first three months of the election campaign starting February 10. He found that Vlaams Belang spent the most of all Belgian parties, with just under 300,000 on sponsored Facebook and Instagram ads. That outpaces the second-place party, the leftist Workers Party of Belgium (PVDA/PTB), which spent 176,637. Thats just on the official party accounts: the party spent another 77,219 on the personal account of Vlaams Belang leader Van Grieken. For the Workers Party, they spent 56,849 for leader Raoul Hedebouw. Overall, Degraux said he found that the extreme right is spending almost 10 times the amount per advertisement than the far left, which focuses more on microtargeting among certain key demographics. A separate Euronews analysis found that in Europe overall, while far-right parties such as Vlaams Belang and Hungary's Fidesz lead the field in social media ads, other parties are also spending large sums on Google ads ahead of the poll. Degraux found in Belgium that the spending of these two parties on Facebook and Instagram ads accounts for roughly 47 per cent of all the social media political advertising done in the country in the three months before the election. Only political parties in Denmark and Sweden pay more per user on Facebook than those in Belgium, at 6.55 and 5.79, according to another analysis by Degraux. Metas advertising standards say theyve restricted advertisements in EU countries that discourage people from voting in elections, call into question the legitimacy of an upcoming election, and prematurely claim an election victory. The policy also includes advertisements about any current or future elections. It applies equally to elections where the results have not yet been finalised and officials have yet to be sworn into office. Euronews Next reached out to Vlaams Belang and the Workers Party of Belgium but did not receive a reply by publication. Degraux said he didnt notice any high advertising spending on TikTok by far-right parties in Belgium. They are storytelling all the time In March, Belgiums constitutional court ruled that 16 and 17-year-old teenagers have to vote in the upcoming European Elections or face a fine. What that means is parties like Vlaams Belang are taking to the digital campaign trail to win over the younger generation, and it is leading to a separation in the political landscape, according to Degraux. The extreme right really bet on social media to make a difference in their campaigns, Degraux continued, unlike moderate parties that are working with both traditional and new technologies to get to their voters. They show themselves, they face the camera, they [are storytelling in] their day-to-day life its normal for young people to be exposed to that content, so for [that audience] it could be a trick. They are humanising themselves a lot and are storytelling all the time, Degraux said. They show themselves, they face the camera, they [are storytelling in] their day-to-day lifeits normal for young people to be exposed to that content, so for [that audience] it could be a trick. Their campaigns resemble that of former US President Donald Trump, the Republican Partys nominee for that countrys 2024 elections, Degraux continued. Vlaams Belang experiments with short, campaign catchphrases that that accelerate the content going viral. Despite both parties using similar storytelling techniques, Degraux said the far left invests much more in individual candidates than the far right, which is concentrated on elevating the platform of their president. An informal agreement not to air far-right voices Belgiums far-right parties are also relying on social media during their campaign to get around a so-called cordon sanitaire, a long-standing, informal agreement between French-language broadcasters where legacy media will not give a platform to members or parties with racist or discriminatory views. The cordon sanitaire was first mentioned when Flemish voters noticed the support behind Vlaams Blok (the precursor for Vlaams Belang) in the 1988 community elections, according to the Research Centre for socio-political information (Crisp). But the agreement wasnt fully in force until 1991 when Vlaams Blok received 10.3 per cent of votes in Flanders and took 12 of the 212 seats in the countrys chamber of representatives in what they refer to as black Sunday". Politicians from the five major parties at the time signed another version of the agreement, where they consented to not creating political agreements with far-right parties. Pascal Delwit, a political science professor at the University of Brussels, told the French newspaper Nouvel Obs that the cordon sanitaire is still efficient because the far-right parties are excluded from live-streamed leadership debates in French during the campaign, which gives them less visibility. That was seen in the 2019 election, Delwit continued. Belgiums populist Peoples Party, although having a huge social media presence, had very little effect on their results on election day, where they did not break the five per cent vote threshold for any elected representatives in regional parliaments. The party was dissolved shortly after. Degraux pointed out, however, that there is no cordon sanitaire for social media or on established search platforms like YouTube or Google. The Biden administration announced Thursday it will award nearly $900 million for clean energy school buses to hundreds of school districts across the country. Through the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, the agency selected more than 500 school districts to receiving the funding to replace diesel fueled school buses. The funding will also allow schools to purchase more than 3,400 new clean school buses, 92 percent of which will be electric. The initiative is focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting childrens health from pollution, the EPAs release said. The funding will go to school districts in 47 states and Washington, D.C., as well as several federally recognized tribes and U.S. territories, the EPA said. Nearly half of the funding will go specifically to school districts in low-income, rural and tribal communities. With todays latest round of funding, we are transforming the nations school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargoour kidssaving school districts money, improving air quality, and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. Regan will join Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson in Jackson, Miss., Thursday to officially announce the program. This initiative ensures that children have a cleaner, safer, and more efficient means of school transportation and contributes to protecting our environment, Thompson said in a statement. By making meaningful progress and offering valuable opportunities for our students, we are paving the way toward stronger student success. The clean school bus program was part of the bipartisan infrastructure law passed in Congress and signed by President Biden in 2021 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE PHOTO: U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein speaks during a press conference after meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut FILE PHOTO: U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein speaks during a press conference after meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A land border agreement between Israel and Lebanon implemented in phases could dampen the simmering and deadly conflict between the two countries, a senior adviser to President Joe Biden said on Thursday. Attacks between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon have led to worries of a deeper war across the Middle East. The two sides have been engaging in regular exchanges of missile fire and airstrikes since the start of the war in Gaza last October. "I'm not expecting peace, everlasting peace, between Hezbollah and Israel," Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to Biden for energy and investment, said in an interview with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "But if we can reach a set of understandings and ... take away some of the impetus for conflict and establish for the first time ever, a recognized border between the two, I think that will go a long way." Hochstein brokered an Israel-Lebanon maritime boundary agreement in late 2022, after two years of talks, that opened the way for both countries to develop natural gas and other resources in the region. Hochstein has been working on a demarcation of the land border between the two countries that could have a number of phases. The first would be to allow for people in northern communities in Israel to return to their homes and those in southern communities in Lebanon to return to their homes, Hochstein said. Part of that would require a strengthening of the Lebanese armed forces, including recruiting, training and equipping forces, Hochstein said without detailing how that would happen. The second phase would involve an economic package for Lebanon, "making sure that the international community demonstrates to the Lebanese people that we're invested in them." Lebanon's power grid, for example, only operates a few hours per day, at an enormous detriment to its economy. "We have a solution for that, we've put together a package that could create a solution that would take them to 12 hours of electricity in a ... short amount of time," Hochstein said. The last phase would be a land boundary agreement between Lebanon and Israel, he said. If politics and the economy are stabilized in Lebanon, it could help reduce Iran's influence there, he said. "The ability of outside forces of any consequence to influence Lebanon will diminish dramatically," Hochstein said. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Hugh Lawson) Biden allows Ukraine limited use of US arms to strike inside Russia, say US officials FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden discusses ongoing student protests at U.S universities during brief remarks at the White House in Washington By Steve Holland, Humeyra Pamuk and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON/PRAGUE (Reuters) -President Joe Biden quietly has authorized Kyiv to launch U.S.-supplied weapons at military targets inside Russia that are supporting an offensive against the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, four U.S. officials said on Thursday. The decision marks a policy shift by Biden, who had steadfastly refused to allow Ukraine to use American weaponry for strikes inside Russia. Russia's embassy in Washington and Russia's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Biden's decision applies only to targets inside Russia near the border with the Kharkiv region, where an offensive launched by Moscow on May 10 has overrun some villages. "The President recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them," said one U.S. official. Russia is building up forces near the northern part of the region, but it lacks the troop numbers to stage a major push, Ukraine's top commander said on Thursday. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, is 19 miles (30 km) from the border with Russia. It is the second time this year that Biden has quietly relaxed his policy on weapons supplies for Ukraine, bending to calls to send long-range missiles known as ATACMS to Kyiv. "The Biden administration has come a long way from their hypersensitivity to and misunderstanding of the risk of escalation," said Alexander Vindman, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and former director for European affairs at the White House National Security Council under the Trump administration. He applauded the shift in Biden's policy, which he said "unties Ukraine's hands." "Of course it's the right move," Vindman said. The U.S. is the biggest supplier of weapons to Ukraine in its battle against the full-scale invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022. The officials said that U.S. policy would continue to prohibit the Ukrainian military from using ATACMS, which have a range of up to 186 miles (300 km), and other long-range U.S.-supplied weapons for deep strikes inside Russia. Biden's decision also does not mean the U.S. now approves of drone attacks that Ukraine has been launching against Russian petroleum facilities, they said. Some NATO allies and U.S. lawmakers have been calling on Biden to relax the restriction on U.S. weapons to allow Ukraine to strike missile launchers and other military sites inside Russia that are backing Moscow's drive toward Kharkiv. Russia jetfighters flying inside Russia out of reach of Ukrainian air defenses have been supporting the offensive by loosing highly precise glide bombs at Ukrainian defense lines and into Kharkiv, where they have caused numerous civilian casualties. Putin on Tuesday warned NATO members against allowing Ukraine to fire their weapons into Russia and he raised anew a risk of nuclear war. Some experts dismissed his remarks as bluster. They noted that Putin has failed to act on similar threats in the past and already has committed the bulk of his conventional forces to Europe's biggest land war since World War Two. "I don't think we can or should be bullied by Vladimir Putin," said U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. "Is he really willing to risk nuclear war and a conflict with NATO?" Connolly co-signed a May 20 letter with Representative Michael Turner, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and other lawmakers urging the Biden administration to allow Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to hit strategic targets inside Russia. For some time, critics have urged NATO allies to relax restrictions on use of their weapons against military targets inside Russia. Those voices have grown within the alliance since Russia launched the Kharkiv offensive. Countries that have called for relaxing restrictions or done so for their own arms sent to Ukraine include Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, the Baltic states, Finland, Denmark, Germany and France. Biden faced the potentially embarrassing prospect that as he hosts a NATO summit in July, Russian forces would be advancing on Kharkiv and in Ukraine's east as the alliance marks its 75th anniversary, analysts said. (Reporting by Steve Holland, Humeyra Pamuk and Phil Stewart; additional reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York; writing by Jonathan Landay; editing by Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio and Leslie Adler) President Joe Biden is approaching a change in position to authorise Ukraine to strike Russian territory with American weaponry. Source: European Pravda, citing The New York Times The publication writes that after months of calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to lift restrictions, the White House has begun a formal and seemingly rapid reassessment of whether such a risk is worth taking. Some of Biden's advisers say they consider a change in his position inevitable. However, as the publication points out, if the US president does change his stance, permission to strike Russia will be tied to strict limitations on the use of American weapons provided to the Ukrainians. The NYT suggests that strikes employing the US-made weapons would be restricted to military targets within Russia's borders, from where occupying forces attack Ukraine. It is also stated that Biden is likely to maintain a prohibition on the use of American weapons for strikes deep into Russian territory or against critical infrastructure. American officials, speaking anonymously, say that if Biden changes his position, he is unlikely to announce it. Instead, American artillery shells and missiles "will just start landing on Russian military targets." Background: Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted that the Biden administration may be open to allowing Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons to strike Russian territory. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg asked that the allies review the constraints on Ukraine's ban on using Western weaponry against the Russian Federation in the midst of border fighting in Kharkiv Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Being as simple as they are delicious and ubiquitous, it seems like nachos have always been around. A handful of freshly fried tortilla chips, smothered in melted cheese and topped with fresh, crispy, spicy jalapenos. Together, with a touch of the oven, its the perfect and constant snack on the menu of almost any restaurant, whether in the United States, Mexico (not without a few sidelong glances) and, by extension, halfway around the world. However, the history of nachos is short and surprisingly traceable. They were invented 80 years ago in a small border town between the United States and Mexico and yes, the old joke about eating Ignacios (Nacho is a nickname for Ignacio) is based in truth: their creator was a Mexican cook named Ignacio Anaya. Their success has been undeniable. While many would first perhaps think of tacos, guacamole or even burritos, a recent YouGov survey found that, in the first quarter of 2024, nachos were the most popular Mexican dish in the U.S. CNN considers them the sixth most-popular dish in the country, behind only Thanksgiving turkey, the cheeseburger, a Reuben sandwich, hot dogs, and the Philly-style cheese steak sandwich. Nearly 240 million Americans eat tortilla chips every year, and when the Super Bowl comes around, consumption soars by 35%. Its name is so popular that the main ingredient, the tortilla chip, called totopo in Mexico, is known simply as nacho in countries like Spain or Colombia. In less than a century, its popularity has crossed borders and it even has a festival named after it that has been held for the past 30 years. But every success has its share of controversy: are they a Mexican or an American dish? And that question can be followed by another: does it really matter? Edgar Salgado is the director of the Escuela de Gastronomia Mexicana, one of the most important cooking schools in the country, founded 17 years ago and privately owned. He recognizes that in Mexico, nachos are present as a dish, but not in a popular way in the streets; it is more in restaurants, in North American food chains. For him, they represent the purest form of Tex-Mex. In this case the legend is very precise, but it is not as clear how they crossed the border and consolidated themselves as Tex-Mex food, reflects Salgado. Nachos with Wisconsin cheese and jalapenos in Piedras Negras, Coahuila. Municipio de Piedras Negras In the opinion of the gastronomic historian, until a few years ago Tex-Mex was considered internationally as being Mexican. People thought of Mexican cuisine and thought of nachos, tortillas, as internationalized by chains such as Taco Bell, he acknowledges. But it is indeed fusion cuisine, because there are very marked elements in it as part of traditional Mexican cuisine. For years, as the expert explains, the U.S. has been a great exporter of what has been considered Mexican cuisine, and as such it has imposed enormous influence on it. Now more and more effort is being made to showcase the real food, of which there is a vast amount. As a megadiverse country, we have a lot of resources, Salgado says. Nachos were created in Piedras Negras, a town in the state of Coahuila, which borders Eagle Pass, Texas: the Tex and the Mex. In addition, they were invented by a Mexican cook for some Texan women who were visiting the town. Adriana Reyna, director of Municipal Tourism in Piedras Negras, offers the official version. They were created in 1943 in a well-known restaurant in town [Club Victoria, which closed in 1961]. Ignacio Anaya was the maitre d and the restaurant was closing up when some foreign women showed up, the wives of military men from the border city. The guests were hungry and Anaya, with the stoves already turned off, had no choice but to improvise. He took some tortillas, made them into triangles and fried them, added Wisconsin cheese, put them in the oven and added jalapenos, says Reyna, who also explains how they came to get their name: They asked him what the dish was called, but mishearing the question, he replied: My name is Nacho. And the dishs ad hoc baptism was left for posterity. People remember the taste because it unites several elements that represent the people: the crunchiness of the totopo, the spiciness of the jalapeno, although it is mild, the cheese... It is a complete meal Edgar Salgado, director of the Escuela de Gastronomia Mexicana Salgado acknowledges that the story has its dose of local romanticism, but also that the recipe had everything to gain. First, because the dish stayed on the menu and continued to be served without anyone knowing that it was a circumstantial dish. Then there was the law of demand as word spread, first on a small scale, and then on a larger scale, he explains. The location of the restaurant, on the border between the two countries and on a major trucking route, also helped the dishs expansion. The recipe would later reach many more U.S. states. The combination of ingredients was also a success. People remember the taste because it unites several elements that represent the people: the crunchiness of the totopo, the spiciness of the jalapeno, although it is mild, the cheese... It is a complete meal, says Salgado, who believes that with the simplification of eating habits it is fast, easy, economical cuisine that is also malleable, because it can be personalized and developed to suit personal tastes. He also stresses the issue of sharing: not only what you eat, but with whom you eat it. And if anything is easy to share, its nachos. There was another key element in their quick spread: Ignacio Anaya never registered anything, says Adriana Reyna. He didnt get any financial benefit. The world's largest nacho being cooked up in a special comal by dozens of people in the municipality of Piedras Negras, Coahuila. Municipio de Piedras Negras That expansion was dazzling. The oldest restaurant in the city of Los Angeles the epicenter of Mexican-American culture par excellence El Cholo has been running for 101 years and has been serving the original style nachos for 65. They are a hit. They also have Sonora Style Nachos, with sour cream, guacamole and beans, but customers ask for one as much as the other, and they ask for them a lot. Between pictures of Jack Nicholson and menus from the days when tap beer cost 15 cents, the plates come out blazing with crispy tortilla chips, a layer of cheese and a good helping of jalapenos. Oscar Cruz, who has worked at El Cholo for 35 years and is now its manager, says that they first appeared on the menu in 1959. In L.A. lore a waitress named Carmen Rocha invented the dish; everything fits after the Mexican-Texan origin of the original nachos came to light 15 years ago. Of course, she was from Texas, says Rocha. The head of Piedras Negras tourism recognizes that the success was resounding from the beginning, among other reasons because they hit the nail on the head with a mix of ingredients that underpins the cuisine of the region. Our gastronomy is very Tex-Mex: what the restaurants sell most are golden tacos, hamburgers, nachos... This is not southern Mexico, with tlacoyos and quesadillas, she laughs during a telephone conversation with EL PAIS. For Piedras Negras, the dish is key, because it puts the town more and more on the map. Anaya died in the mid-1980s and has no descendants in the city, but his relatives continue to visit, especially during the Festival del Nacho or, as it is popularly called, simply El Nacho. The festival, which in October will hold its 30th edition, offers precisely what its name promises: the fried and well-seasoned totopo is king. A Nacho Board of Directors with 15 members maintains the festival as an entity independent of whatever political party governs and seeks to boost the relevance and knowledge of the dish and the event. People eat nachos and nobody knows what they are or where they come from, and they said to themselves: We have to do something, Reyna recalls. They created a Miss Tourism contest, then the best exotic nacho competition, and also the best traditional nacho: corn tortilla chips fried in oil with Wisconsin cheese and jalapeno, nothing else. We dont have a beach or anything like that; we made this ourselves Adriana Reyna, director of Municipal Tourism in Piedras Negras, Coahuila Then came the Guinness record. And they beat it, year after year. In 2023 an immense totopo five and a half meters long on each side was created. It is cooked on a special comal, then it is cut and given to everyone present, explains Reyna, who is proud that the city receives more than 4,000 visitors from northern Mexico and Texas, but also from Oklahoma, Arkansas, nearby universities... As the head of tourism explains, Piedras Negras has been the second-safest city in Mexico and the safest on the border for eight years; it needs and promotes a different kind of tourism than that with which many people associate Mexico. And we see it reflected. We have medical tourism with more than 300 dentists, cosmetic doctors and pediatricians, with 70% of the clientele from the U.S., and also business tourism, with 40% hotel occupancy year-round. We dont have a beach or anything like that; we made this ourselves. The world's largest nacho, created in the municipality of Piedras Negras, Coahuila. Municipio de Piedras Negras And they do not look down on Nacho or his Tex-Mex origins, far from it. Nor does Edgar Salgado believe that the average Mexican, in general, rejects the humble and mixed origin of the dish. I dont think anyone thinks about it, they accept it without any misgivings. The academic world is more complex: liberals like him accept it and treat it as a historical entity, while anthropologists are more purist; their definition of cuisine is that of an inherited tradition. But when anybody, on either side of the border, sits down in front of crispy, spicy, cheese-laden tortilla chips, they only use their mouths to eat. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's campaign immediately sought donations following the Trump verdict - AP Joe Bidens re-election campaign has already begun fundraising on the back of Donald Trumps guilty verdict on Thursday night. The US presidents official White House spokesman, Ian Sams, released a brief statement shortly after the jury in Manhattans verdict was released. We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment, he said. White House aides suggested the US president would not be directly addressing his Republican opponents conviction. However, Mr Bidens campaign began fundraising over the shock verdict within hours of it being handed down. In a gleeful statement, Michael Tyler, the campaigns communications director, said: Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. There's only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box. Donate to our campaign today: https://t.co/aJXS9oti0a Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 30, 2024 Mr Bidens senior aides have been carefully debating whether the president should refer to his opponent as a convicted felon, fearful that any political opportunism could backfire on them. On Thursday night, senior Biden sources suggested he may let other Democrats attack Mr Trump over the case while he focuses on bread and butter issues. Senior Democratic officials were quick to crow over the news. Adam Schiff, a California congressman who led the first impeachment of Mr Trump, said: First, a court found Donald Trump to be a sexual abuser. He was then found to be a fraudulent business owner. Now Donald J. Trump is a convicted felon. All are an affirmation of the rule of law. And Trumps unfitness for office. Mr Biden has relied on campaign surrogates including 80-year-old Robert De Niro. The Hollywood star held a surprise press conference on behalf of the Biden campaign outside the Manhattan courthouse this week. He appeared to go off script when he proclaimed Trump was guilty and should go to jail before the jury began deliberating. The fact is whether hes acquitted, whether its hung jury, whatever it is, he is guilty, and we all know it, De Niro said. 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. As a Manhattan jury slapped Donald Trump with 34 felony counts on Thursday afternoon, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were getting situated somewhere near their residence in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where they're expected to spend the weekend together. But, rest assured, they got the message. In a statement from Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler, the keyed up news of Trump's verdict was met with the following relatively straight-faced response: In New York today, we saw no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But today's verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator 'on day one' and calling for our Constitution to be 'terminated' so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans' freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November." Biden himself has yet to issue a statement, but Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House counsel's office, tells CBS News, "We respect the rule of law." Biden camp warns convicted felon Trump could still get re-elected with unhinged campaign of revenge Donald Trump is now a convicted felon but that wont stop his unhinged bid for another four years in the White House, President Joe Bidens campaign warned voters Thursday night. In a statement issued not long after a New York City jury convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records, Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said the verdict against the felonious ex-president vindicated the American system of justice. In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, he said. Tyler noted that Trump had operated under a mistaken belief that he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, but he stressed that the verdict against the ex-president will have no effect on the simple reality that will be faced by the American people when they vote for a president in just over five months. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, he said. Tyler added that Trump has never been a greater threat to American democracy, citing his increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, his pledge to be a dictator on the first day of his term if elected, and his calls to terminate the US constitution as a way for him to regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November, he said. There was no immediate reaction to the unprecedented verdict from Biden, who was with family in Delaware marking the ninth anniversary of his late son Beau Bidens death from brain cancer. The 46th president has so far refrained from speaking out about criminal matters involving Trump, who still faces three other cases against him in three separate jurisdictions. A White House official told The Independent that Biden would not be speaking about the result at this time, but left the door open for him to do so in the future. A spokesperson for the White House Counsels Office, Ian Sams, issued a statement stating the following: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. But the strong statement from Bidens campaign is an indicator that he and his surrogates will not shy away from describing Trump as a convicted felon, even as he runs to regain his former position as president. The case against Trump, which was based on his falsification of business records to conceal a hush money scheme meant to cover up a sexual affair from voters in order to win the 2016 election, was considered the least serious of the four cases against him, which include two sets of federal charges stemming from his alleged unlawful retention of national defense information and his alleged effort to illegally remain in office despite losing the 2020 election. According to an NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist poll released on Thursday, 67 percent of voters said a guilty verdict would make no difference in their voting intentions, while 76 percent said the same about a not guilty verdict. But the same survey found that 17 per cent of respondents said a guilty verdict against Trump would make them less likely to vote for him. After visiting the church where his son is buried, President Joe Biden also stopped by the nearby Veterans Memorial Park to lay flowers Evan Vucci/AP Joe and Jill Biden walk into church for a private service to mark the ninth anniversary of Beau Biden's death on May 30, 2024 Joe Biden paid tribute to his late son, Beau Biden, on Thursday, May 30 the ninth anniversary of his death. President Biden, 81, and his wife Dr. Jill Biden, 72, brought their family to visit St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del., where their son Beau the states former attorney general, who died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46 is buried. The first couple arrived at the church around 7:30 a.m., joined by other members of their family, including the president's second son, Hunter Biden, who is set to stand trial for firearm charges on June 3. Roughly an hour after arriving for a private service, the Bidens departed the church grounds to head to the nearby Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle, Del. Evan Vucci/AP Joe and Jill Biden walk into church for a private service to mark the ninth anniversary of Beau Biden's death on May 30, 2024 The president departed the motorcade without his loved ones and greeted former Delaware state Sen. Nancy Cook, who was present with her son Thomas Cook, CEO of the Delaware River and Bay Authority. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty President Biden's son and grandchildren attend a private service honoring Beau Biden. Beau's son, 18-year-old Robert "Hunter" Biden, is pictured in the center wearing a light gray sweater Biden propped flowers against the memorial and had a brief conversation with the former politician, thanking her for contributing to his success. In photos captured at both locations, Biden is seen wearing a blue suit with a striped tie. At the memorial park, he wore sunglasses and also greeted Delaware National Guard Maj. Gen. Michael Berry. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Former Delaware state Sen. Nancy Cook embraces President Joe Biden on May 30, 2024, at the Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle, Del. 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 presidents visit came to an end around 9 a.m. when the motorcade reached the airport at the Delaware Air National Guard and he boarded Marine One. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty President Joe Biden stands with Delaware National Guard Maj. Gen. Michael Berry at the Veterans Memorial Park on May 30, 2024 In 2020, Biden spoke with PEOPLE about coping with the loss of his son. You've got to find purpose particularly a purpose that is consistent with what the person you've lost would want you to be doing," he said while on the campaign trail in Iowa. "Part of going through it publicly is ... it puts you in a position where you either are going to walk away from trying to give hope and comfort to somebody ... or you engage it and it's hard," he said. Related: All About Joe Biden's 4 Children "But at least you get satisfaction, in my case at least, from knowing that that's what my deceased wife would have wanted me to do; that's what my son would want me to do," he added. Beau and Joe Biden at the 2008 Democratic National Convention Last year, Biden mentioned Beau, who was deployed with the Delaware Army National Guard for a year in Iraq from 2008 until 2009, during his Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery, according to CNN. Related: Biden Campaign Sees Florida as Winnable After States 6-Week Abortion Ban Threatens Women in the Southeast Tomorrow marks eight years since we lost our son Beau, he said at the time. Our loss is not the same he didnt perish in the battlefield, it was cancer that stole him after being deployed as a major in the United States Army National Guard in Iraq. As it is for so many of you, the pain of his loss is with us every day, but particularly sharp on Memorial Day. Beau was Delaware's attorney general from 2007 until 2015. He received a Bronze Star Medal during his tour and delegated his daily duties as attorney general while serving in the Middle East. At the time of his death, he was seeking the Democratic nomination for Delaware governor. Beau and his brother, Hunter, survived the 1972 car crash that killed President Biden's first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and their infant daughter, Naomi. Biden also shares a fourth child, daughter Ashley, with Jill. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Biden to make his first state visit to France after attending D-Day 80th commemorations next week FILE - France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden during a family photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron's office said Thursday that U.S. President Joe Biden will make his first state visit to France next week after attending D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy. Macron will be hosting Biden and his wife Jill on June 8, the statement said. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP, File) PARIS (AP) French President Emmanuel Macron's office said Thursday that U.S. President Joe Biden will make his first state visit to France next week after attending D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy. Macron will be hosting Biden and his wife Jill on June 8, the statement said. Both presidents will discuss the need for unwavering, long-term support for Ukraine at a time when war has returned to Europe, 80 years after the landings that led to the liberation of France and the continent from Nazi Germanys occupation, Macrons office said. In Normandy next week, major commemorations will draw 25 heads of state and government, along with dozens of World War II veterans, to honor the nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the United States, Canada and other nations that landed on June 6, 1944. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is among those expected to attend. Biden's state visit will allow close coordination between France and the U.S. on world crises ahead of international events including the summit of the Group of Seven major economies next month in Italy and the NATO summit in Washington in July. Discussions also will include climate-related issues and will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, space and nuclear fields, the statement said. Macron and his wife Brigitte went on a state visit to the U.S. in Dec. 2022. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 29: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris introduces U.S. President Joe Biden during a campaign rally at Girard College on May 29, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Biden and Harris are using today's rally to launch a nationwide campaign to court black voters, a group that has traditionally come out in favor of Biden, but their support is projected lower than it was in 2020. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA For the first time this year in Pennsylvania, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris participated in a campaign event together, in the battleground states biggest city. The joint appearance at Girard College announcing the launch of Black Voters for Biden-Harris underscores the importance of Black voters to the Biden-Harris campaign, a crucial voting bloc that helped the ticket win Pennsylvania in 2020. In 2024, with your voice and your power, we will win again, Harris told the audience Wednesday. We beat Donald Trump once and were going to do it again. Biden and Harris were joined at the event by Black leaders including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Congressional Black Caucus Chairperson U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. Hello Philadelphia, Biden said to chants of four more years from the audience. Its good to be almost home. Biden echoed Harris, crediting Black Americans for his victory in 2020 and said with their vote they will make Donald Trump a loser again. Biden and Harris touted their administrations efforts on a wide range of issues including passing an infrastructure law, passing a law addressing gun violence, lowering healthcare costs, canceling student loan debt, and appointing progressive judges to the courts. Both of them slammed former President Donald Trump for attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act during his time in office, appointing Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, passing his tax reform law, and for questioning former President Barack Obamas citizenship. Following the speech at Girard College, Biden traveled a few blocks to South Restaurant, according to pool reports, to attend a small business event with the Black Chamber of Commerce. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis introduced Biden at the restaurant saying the stakes of this election are just too damn high. Having the support of Black voters has been key for Democratic presidential tickets for decades. Biden said Black voters had placed enormous faith in me throughout his political career. Ive tried to do my best to honor that trust, he said Wednesday. In 2020, Pennsylvania exit polling shows 92% of Black voters supported Bidens candidacy, while 7% voted for former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP nominee. However, recent polling finds that Biden does not appear to be garnering that same level of support this cycle, potentially putting his reelection bid in danger in Pennsylvania and beyond. To that end, the campaign has renewed its focus on courting Black voters. Harris gave the keynote address to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) convention in Philadelphia last week, as the group elected its first Black woman president. Earlier this month, Biden delivered the commencement address at Morehouse College in Georgia, a historically Black college. He pledged to continue supporting HBCUs, touting that during his administration, the federal funding for HBCUs has surpassed $16 billion. And both the Biden and Trump campaigns have aired ads focused on Black voters in battleground states, including Pennsylvania. As early as last fall, the Biden-Harris campaign was running ads in swing states focused on Black voters, part of a $25 million campaign in key battleground states. The Trump campaign has taken a slightly different approach, according to a campaign spokesperson. President Trumps outreach to minority voters is straightforward: he shows up, listens, and makes it clear that well be better off with him as President, just like we were four years ago, Janiyah Thomas, the Trump campaigns director of Black Media, told the Capital Star in an email. Team Trumps outreach to minority communities is a stark contrast to Joe Bidens failing campaign whose only tactic is to gaslight minority voters with desperate ads and pandering speeches that fail to address Bidens terrible policies. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) is on the Biden-Harris National Advisory Board and has campaigned for the ticket across Pennsylvania, as well as in South Carolina and Wisconsin. The Presidents consistent outreach is about treating people with respect, not telling them they have to vote, making a case for why they can vote, Kenyatta told the Capital-Star. Im beyond confident that he and the Vice President are more than capable of doing that, and that were going to be successful in large part because this president has a record of success and Donald Trump only has a record of cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans. Biden last appeared in Philadelphia at the end of a weeklong swing through three Pennsylvania cities in April, ahead of the states primary election. He received the endorsement of several members of the Kennedy family at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center in North Philadelphia. During that visit, he discussed sitting behind the resolute desk and having busts of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., saying he thinks of what they would do in difficult situations. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Biden volunteered at Philadelphia food bank Philabundance alongside Mayor Cherelle Parker, the third time hes visited there on the holiday since winning the presidential election in 2020. Also this year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, several Pennsylvania elected officials including Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey were at Girard College for what is described as the nations largest Day of Service event honoring Kings legacy. Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, who helped propel Biden to victory in the Palmetto States primary election in 2020, has campaigned for the Biden-Harris ticket in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh this year, in an effort to boost support among Black voters. Clyburn is widely credited with helping Biden clinch the Democratic nomination in 2020, as the influential Congressman was an early endorser of Bidens campaign. Wednesday is Bidens eighth visit to Pennsylvania this cycle. This is Harriss fifth visit to the state in 2024, four of them in the southeast. During Harriss speech in Philadelphia last week, there were chants of Free Palestine from some members of audience. While there were no similar chants from the crowd during Wednesdays appearance, a local elected official in attendance said the ongoing Israel-Hamas War in Gaza could affect Bidens chances of securing a second term. Philadelphia City Councilmember Nicolas ORourke, who delivered the Working Families Partys response to Bidens State of the Union address in March, said compared to Trump, Biden is the best candidate on issues like womens reproductive rights and voting rights. But ORourke added he believes Bidens response to the war could cost him. As a citizen of the United States, and as someone who does not want to see a second Trump term, its important, it is incumbent upon the president to heed the calls of the people, ORourke told reporters Wednesday. Obviously, continue to do the good things that are being done, but there must be a meaningful response on the constant loud cries to see a cessation of violence and peace. Trump has made three visits to Pennsylvania so far in 2024, appearing in Philadelphia once, to announce a new line of Trump-branded sneakers. Although Trump hasnt visited the Keystone State since his April rally in the Lehigh Valley, he rallied supporters in Wildwood, New Jersey earlier this month before an audience with plenty of Pennsylvanians in attendance. The latest polling shows Trump with a slight edge over Biden, and with U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) holding a narrow lead over Republican challenger David McCormick. Casey was in attendance for the rally on Wednesday. McCormick was scheduled to participate in a fireside chat in the Lehigh Valley hosted by Moms for Liberty, with former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Pennsylvania Capital-Star is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Pennsylvania Capital-Star maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kim Lyons for questions: info@penncapital-star.com. Follow Pennsylvania Capital-Star on Facebook and Twitter. The post Biden and Harris campaign in Philadelphia with focus on Black voters appeared first on New Jersey Monitor. Vice President Kamala Harris introduces President Joe Biden during a campaign rally at Girard College on May 29, 2024 in Philadelphia. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA For the first time this year in Pennsylvania, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris participated in a campaign event together, in the battleground states biggest city. The joint appearance at Girard College announcing the launch of Black Voters for Biden-Harris underscores the importance of Black voters to the Biden-Harris campaign, a crucial voting bloc that helped the ticket win Pennsylvania in 2020. In 2024, with your voice and your power, we will win again, Harris told the audience Wednesday. We beat Donald Trump once and were going to do it again. Biden and Harris were joined at the event by Black leaders including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Congressional Black Caucus Chairperson U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. Hello Philadelphia, Biden said to chants of four more years from the audience. Its good to be almost home. Biden echoed Harris, crediting Black Americans for his victory in 2020 and said with their vote they will make Donald Trump a loser again. Biden and Harris touted their administrations efforts on a wide range of issues including passing an infrastructure law, passing a law addressing gun violence, lowering healthcare costs, canceling student loan debt, and appointing progressive judges to the courts. Both of them slammed former President Donald Trump for attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act during his time in office, appointing Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, passing his tax reform law, and for questioning former President Barack Obamas citizenship. Following the speech at Girard College, Biden traveled a few blocks to South Restaurant, according to pool reports, to attend a small business event with the Black Chamber of Commerce. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis introduced Biden at the restaurant saying the stakes of this election are just too damn high. Having the support of Black voters has been key for Democratic presidential tickets for decades. Biden said Black voters had placed enormous faith in me throughout his political career. Ive tried to do my best to honor that trust, he said Wednesday. In 2020, Pennsylvania exit polling shows 92% of Black voters supported Bidens candidacy, while 7% voted for former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP nominee. However, recent polling finds that Biden does not appear to be garnering that same level of support this cycle, potentially putting his reelection bid in danger in Pennsylvania and beyond. To that end, the campaign has renewed its focus on courting Black voters. Harris gave the keynote address to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) convention in Philadelphia last week, as the group elected its first Black woman president. Earlier this month, Biden delivered the commencement address at Morehouse College in Georgia, a historically Black college. He pledged to continue supporting HBCUs, touting that during his administration, the federal funding for HBCUs has surpassed $16 billion. And both the Biden and Trump campaigns have aired ads focused on Black voters in battleground states, including Pennsylvania. As early as last fall, the Biden-Harris campaign was running ads in swing states focused on Black voters, part of a $25 million campaign in key battleground states. The Trump campaign has taken a slightly different approach, according to a campaign spokesperson. President Trumps outreach to minority voters is straightforward: he shows up, listens, and makes it clear that well be better off with him as President, just like we were four years ago, Janiyah Thomas, the Trump campaigns director of Black Media, told the Capital Star in an email. Team Trumps outreach to minority communities is a stark contrast to Joe Bidens failing campaign whose only tactic is to gaslight minority voters with desperate ads and pandering speeches that fail to address Bidens terrible policies. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) is on the Biden-Harris National Advisory Board and has campaigned for the ticket across Pennsylvania, as well as in South Carolina and Wisconsin. The Presidents consistent outreach is about treating people with respect, not telling them they have to vote, making a case for why they can vote, Kenyatta told the Capital-Star. Im beyond confident that he and the Vice President are more than capable of doing that, and that were going to be successful in large part because this president has a record of success and Donald Trump only has a record of cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans. Biden last appeared in Philadelphia at the end of a weeklong swing through three Pennsylvania cities in April, ahead of the states primary election. He received the endorsement of several members of the Kennedy family at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center in North Philadelphia. During that visit, he discussed sitting behind the resolute desk and having busts of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., saying he thinks of what they would do in difficult situations. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Biden volunteered at Philadelphia food bank Philabundance alongside Mayor Cherelle Parker, the third time hes visited there on the holiday since winning the presidential election in 2020. Also this year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, several Pennsylvania elected officials including Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey were at Girard College for what is described as the nations largest Day of Service event honoring Kings legacy. Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, who helped propel Biden to victory in the Palmetto States primary election in 2020, has campaigned for the Biden-Harris ticket in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh this year, in an effort to boost support among Black voters. Clyburn is widely credited with helping Biden clinch the Democratic nomination in 2020, as the influential Congressman was an early endorser of Bidens campaign. Wednesday is Bidens eighth visit to Pennsylvania this cycle. This is Harriss fifth visit to the state in 2024, four of them in the southeast. During Harriss speech in Philadelphia last week, there were chants of Free Palestine from some members of audience. While there were no similar chants from the crowd during Wednesdays appearance, a local elected official in attendance said the ongoing Israel-Hamas War in Gaza could affect Bidens chances of securing a second term. Philadelphia City Councilmember Nicolas ORourke, who delivered the Working Families Partys response to Bidens State of the Union address in March, said compared to Trump, Biden is the best candidate on issues like womens reproductive rights and voting rights. But ORourke added he believes Bidens response to the war could cost him. As a citizen of the United States, and as someone who does not want to see a second Trump term, its important, it is incumbent upon the president to heed the calls of the people, ORourke told reporters Wednesday. Obviously, continue to do the good things that are being done, but there must be a meaningful response on the constant loud cries to see a cessation of violence and peace. Trump has made three visits to Pennsylvania so far in 2024, appearing in Philadelphia once, to announce a new line of Trump-branded sneakers. Although Trump hasnt visited the Keystone State since his April rally in the Lehigh Valley, he rallied supporters in Wildwood, New Jersey earlier this month before an audience with plenty of Pennsylvanians in attendance. The latest polling shows Trump with a slight edge over Biden, and with U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) holding a narrow lead over Republican challenger David McCormick. Casey was in attendance for the rally on Wednesday. McCormick was scheduled to participate in a fireside chat in the Lehigh Valley hosted by Moms for Liberty, with former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Multiple national ratings outlets, including the Cook Political Report, rate the presidential race as a toss-up in Pennsylvania. The 19 electoral votes on the line make it the largest swing state in this category for the 2024 cycle. This report was first published by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, which like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom network. The post Biden and Harris campaign in Philadelphia with focus on Black voters appeared first on NC Newsline. President Biden will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings with remarks in France next month, the White House announced Thursday. Biden will travel to Normandy on June 5 and give his remarks the next day. He then will participate in other engagements with first lady Jill Biden for the anniversary, which will include greeting American veterans and their family members to honor those who landed at Utah and Omaha beaches in Normandy in 1944. The president celebrated the 79 anniversary of D-Day last year with a statement, saying the service members who served that day represent the greatest generation in our history. On June 7, the president will deliver remarks at Pointe du Hoc, France, and then travel to Paris on June 8 for a state visit with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte. King Charles III is also planning to travel to France for British ceremonies to mark D-Day. Bidens engagement with foreign leaders is a break from his domestic travel to campaign ahead of November. The president this week traveled to Philadelphia and visited Massachusetts and New Hampshire last week. When he returns to the U.S. later in June, he has major fundraising events with former President Obama in Los Angeles and former President Clinton in Virginia. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Biden mocks reporter: Did you fall on your head or something? Biden mocks reporter: Did you fall on your head or something? President Biden responded to a shouted question about whether he would serve a second full term by questioning if the reporter who asked had fallen on his head. Are you OK? Are you all right? Youre not hurt, are you? Biden said after landing in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Biden first paused and pointed to his head before speaking in response to a question shouted at him asking, Will you be serving your full four-year term or handing your power over to Vice President Harris? Steven Nelson, a New York Post reporter, was heard in audio of the exchange asking if Biden could approach the assembled media members so they could hear his answer. I said, are you OK? Did you fall on your head or something? Biden said, without moving toward the media. Biden was standing beside Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) during the interaction. Biden, 81, has faced concerns over his age and if hes up for another four years as president a term that would end when hes 86 years old. Harris, when questioned about whether shes up for the job, said shes ready to serve in an interview in February. The presidents heath was in the spotlight at the time, after special counsel Robert Hurs report on Bidens handling of classified documents called the president an elderly man with a poor memory. Biden is no stranger to snapping back at White House reporters. In August, the president told Fox Newss Peter Doocy that he asked a lousy question when he asked about his son, Hunter Biden, and his business dealings. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Bidens remark Wednesday. Updated: 2:25 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. John Waters said: If you go home with somebody, and they dont have books, dont fuck them! Today there is a new, more demanding version of this advice: If he doesnt go to therapy, dont go to sleep with him. Its not just a joke. Now that therapy has seeped into all aspects of life, its even used in Tinder profiles as a way of showing you are emotionally responsible, as reported by U.S. media outlets such as The New York Times. Today, psychological terms are commonly tossed about in everyday conversation expressions such as red flag, gaslight and trauma. Even rappers have embraced this world in their music. Jay-Z mentions his therapist in songs like 4:44, while Kendrick Lamar went a step further by structuring his album Mr. Morale (2022) as a series of therapy sessions. Drake also alludes to his abandonment issues in Churchill Downs, a collaboration with Jack Harlow. It would be easy to relate this trend to the rise of self-absorption. The success of selfies in contemporary art, of autofiction in literature and the autobiographical in music (did someone say Taylor Swift?) would reinforce the thesis that we love to talk about ourselves. But therapy goes one step further, because it addresses real suffering and symptoms that often constitute mental illnesses. Victims or mentally ill? The appearance of these symptoms in millions of young people, almost simultaneously and during an economic cycle marked by pessimism and precariousness (the so-called mental health epidemic), leads many experts to believe that we are facing a collective and generalized malaise which, in the words of the philosopher Amador Fernandez-Savater, is an overflow malaise caused by a triple collapse: psychic, social and ecological. Amid this crisis, the question is whether people are seeking help from therapists, and if therapy is of any help to them. The situation in the United States is not encouraging: studies warn that the rise in mental health treatment has not led to an increase in the psychological well-being of citizens. Quite the contrary Psychiatry is the most controversial discipline within medicine. Historically it has been seen as a double-edged sword because in certain contexts (especially political) it has functioned as a device to control patients instead of relieving their pain, and its foundations are still debated. Recently, Dutch psychiatrist and scientist Jim Van Os explained to EL PAIS: There is too much heterogeneity and variation for people to fit into a diagnosis. Woody Allen fue uno de los primeros 'influencers' de la terapia. LMPC (LMPC via Getty Images) Specialists have been searching for neurobiological markers for mental illness for decades; markers that would allow mental illness to be assimilated to other diseases and would confirm the suitability of standardized pharmacological treatments. However, so far this evidence has not been forthcoming and the behavior of patients continues to be the most important factor when making a diagnosis. For the vast majority of mental health conditions, no biological markers have been found, so we do not have any biological test to verify any type of psychiatric diagnosis, explained British psychologist James Davies to EL PAIS in 2022. This brings us to another great contemporary paradox about therapy: when it becomes more visible in our lives and terms such as anxiety, trauma and red flags become more popular, thats just when there was a shift against psychoanalysis, which was developed by Sigmund Freud and later developed by Jacques Lacan. At least, this is what has happened in certain areas such as hospitals and university departments, which have been relying on cognitive-behavioral therapy and drugs for years. In a column published in EL PAIS in 2023, psychiatrist and biologist Cristian Llach asked himself: Will the day come when psychiatrists will stop interpreting subjectively, improvising and functioning through trial and error? These are questions that are managing to leave their traditional ivory towers: laboratories, universities and research circles. But will they ever be able to reach mental health clinics? Sigmund, analyze this Psychoanalysis influenced the culture of the last century like nearly no other current of thought. Its legacy extends from the works of Proust to todays culture news headlines, where television critics exclaim Freud was right! if its revealed that one of the characters was driven by sex. However, it is discredited in many sectors. The discrediting of psychoanalysis and the place that wants to consider it a pseudoscience is above all academic, explains Manuel Gonzalez Molinier, a psychiatrist. The reason is obvious: both the cognitive-behavioral method and the neurobiological explanations of mental illness are experiencing a moment of certain failure, meaning they believe their spheres of power are under threat and attack with more violence the only discipline that is based on working with the singular factors of each case. Psychoanalysis has never lent itself to the kind of manualization that is easily sold by American insurance companies, that you apply 20 sessions, talk about these things and you will cure the patient in those 20 sessions. It is not a drug. Indeed, the defenders of psychoanalysis are the most critical of the trivialization of therapy and argue that, as it has been practiced in recent years, it often becomes self-help. We are moving towards a hyperpsychologized society, but psychoanalysts think that the fundamental issues are not being addressed, says Gonzalez. He also recognizes that what Freud proposes is still controversial or unpopular because it appeals to childhood traumas and argues that there are a lot of unconscious factors that we do not control. But the truth is that in consultation we continue to take into account the existence of unconscious processes, and working with words continues to be essential. You have to make an individual suit with the biographical factors of each patient, paying close attention to childhood. Jara Perez, psychologist, also practices psychoanalysis and believes that this is one of the few forms of therapy that makes the patient take responsibility for the process. She does not believe that the culture of therapy is giving rise to egocentric or selfish individuals, as the cliche suggests, but, rather, to lazy people in search of quick solutions: I find it very problematic that we are constantly looking for people to help us. I solve the problem: I go to a psychologist to receive advice, I go to a nutritionist to teach me how to eat, I go to a personal trainer to teach me how to exercise... in this way, a large part of our autonomy is lost. And what psychoanalysis does is put that autonomy on the table. Therapy or union action What today is labeled as depression, is rather a generalized desertion, says Fernandez-Savater. Thousands of people ask for work leave for depression and, in reality, their low mood has to do with bad working conditions, a meaningless job, a shitty job as David Graeber says. It is common to read in X that therapy is useless against these issues, and that a worker does not need therapy, but to join a union, says Fernandez-Savater. What that alternative means is that the evils are objective-structural. I believe that the situation is more complex: the malaise not only has objective causes, but comes from a relationship with the world, with the internalization of the logics of performance and competitiveness. Gonzalez gives a concrete example: Sometimes the patient needs both because the reason why they arise from their helplessness has unconscious elements. For example, in the case of [Spanish economist] Nevenka Fernandez, it took a psychoanalyst for her to see what was obvious to others: that she was a victim of sexually harassment. In the end, a psychiatrist referred her to a psychoanalyst and the psychoanalyst worked with her until she could take charge of her own body, come out of her depression and, when that awakening occurred, report [her abuser]. For Perez, there is no reason why political activism and therapy cant be compatible, quite the opposite: Everything is done in a place: what I work on in therapy has to do with how the structure has developed my subjectivity, but in the union I do something else, the social struggle is something very different. Another question is whether the therapeutic culture has become a control device, with that I totally agree, because mainstream therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy has a lot of it is not what happens, but how you see it, since it works with thoughts and behaviors. Theres a lot of blaming going on there. So, is the therapy of today precisely what is most harmless to the system and least useful to solving patients problems? Effectively, the psychologist answers. In the end, what mainstream therapy does is adjust you so that you keep producing, and it is completely benign to the system, because it does not help you analyze reality. Amid this context, Fernandez-Savater proposes to bringing back the Freudian concept of sublimation and collectivizing it. The philosopher concludes: Freud called sublimation to know what to do with discomforts, to convert what harms us into transformation energy. He reserved it for artists and geniuses, and that seems to me to be a mistake. Collective action is not only transformative, it is also possible for everyone and, in this sense, therapeutic. Maybe that could also be put on Tinder. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Biden secretly allows Ukraine to strike Russian territory with US weapons US President Joe Biden has covertly approved Ukraine to strike the territory of the Russian Federation using American armaments, but only at the borders of Kharkiv Oblast, Politico says. Source: Politico Quote: "The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them." Details: A source told Politico that US doctrine on long-range strikes within Russia had not altered. Updated: Politico's sources cited the deteriorating conditions for Ukraine on the battlefield - namely, Russia's advance and improved positions in Kharkiv Oblast - as the reason for Biden's decision. Politico writes Ukraine can now utilise American weapons to take down missiles aimed at Kharkiv, strike clusters of personnel directly from the Russian side of the border near Kharkiv, and target Russian bombers dropping bombs into Ukrainian territory. A US official stated that Ukraine cannot use these weapons to strike civilian infrastructure or launch long-range missiles at military targets deep within Russia. Earlier, The New York Times reported that President Joe Biden was approaching a change in position to authorise Ukraine to strike Russian territory with American weaponry. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg asked that the allies review the constraints on Ukraine's ban on using Western weaponry against the Russian Federation in the midst of border fighting in Kharkiv Oblast. Some European countries have already indicated open support for this strategy, while the United States and Germany, in particular, are opposed. Support UP or become our patron! The Biden administration has quietly given Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia solely near the area of Kharkiv using U.S.-provided weapons, two U.S. officials and two other people familiar with the move said Thursday, a major reversal that will help Ukraine to better defend its second-largest city. The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them, a U.S. official said, adding that the policy of not allowing long-range strikes inside Russia has not changed. Ukraine asked the U.S. to make this policy change only after Russias offensive on Kharkiv began this month, the official added. All the people were granted anonymity to discuss internal decisions that havent been announced. In the last few days, the U.S. made the decision to allow Ukraine flexibility to defend itself from attacks on the border near Kharkiv, the second U.S. official said. In effect, Ukraine can now use American-provided weapons, such as rockets and rocket launchers, to shoot down launched Russian missiles heading toward Kharkiv, at troops massing just over the Russian border near the city, or Russian bombers launching bombs toward Ukrainian territory. But the official said Ukraine cannot use those weapons to hit civilian infrastructure or launch long-range missiles, such as the Army Tactical Missile System, to hit military targets deep inside Russia. Its a stunning shift the administration initially said would escalate the war by more directly involving the U.S. in the fight. But worsening conditions for Ukraine on the battlefield namely Russias advances and improved position in Kharkiv led the president to change his mind. The National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Biden administration hinted that a decision had either been secretly made or forthcoming in recent days. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who supports a restriction lift, became the first U.S. official to publicly hint that Biden may shift course and allow such strikes, telling reporters that U.S. policy toward Ukraine would evolve as needed. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby later did not rule out a potential change. Those messages came after top U.S. allies, such as the United Kingdom and France, said Ukraine should have the right to attack inside Russia using Western weapons. Lawmakers from both parties also supported the move publicly and privately, while top U.S. military officials briefed Congress behind closed doors that relaxing the restriction had military value," POLITICO first reported. Some officials are concerned that Ukraine, when it attacks inside Russia using its own drones, has hit military targets unrelated to Russias invasion. The U.S. has strongly delivered the message that Kyiv must use American weapons only to directly hit Russian military sites used for its invasion of Ukraine, but not civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian officials, from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on down, have pushed for the Biden administration to change its policy ever since Russia launched a large assault on Kharkiv. For weeks theyve said an inability to attack Russian troop positions over the border complicated Ukraines defense of Kharkiv and the country writ large. In a discussion with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov made a hard push to use U.S. weapons in Russia, according to a person with knowledge of the call. President Joe Biden pummeled Donald Trumps long history of racism during a campaign rally on Wednesday in an effort to drum up support from Black voters. Biden spoke alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and several other Black elected officials during the afternoon event at Girard College, a majority-minority boarding school in Philadelphia. The rally marked the launch of Black Voters for Biden-Harris, a campaign initiative to generate support among Black Americans. Biden began his criticism by talking about Trumps characterization of Jan. 6 insurrectionists as patriots whom he plans to pardon if reelected. Think about this: What do you think wouldve happened if Black Americans had stormed the Capitol? I dont think hed be talking about pardons, Biden said. Biden: What do you think Trump would have done on January 6 if Black Americans had stormed the Capitol? I don't think he would be talking about pardons. This is the same guy who wanted to tear gas you as you peacefully protested George Floyd's murder. pic.twitter.com/cCqa4BcYb0 Acyn (@Acyn) May 29, 2024 Its the same guy who wanted to tear gas you as you peacefully protested George Floyds murder, Biden continued in his barrage against Trump. The same guy who still calls the Central Park Five guilty, even though they were exonerated. Biden then attacked Trumps history in real estate, as well as his association with neo-Nazis, referencing a recent Trump campaign video that calls for a unified reich. Hes that landlord who denies housing applications because of the color of your skin, Biden said, referencing the Justice Departments 1973 lawsuit against Trump for racial discrimination in housing rentals. Biden added, Hes that guy who wont say Black Lives Matter and invokes neo-Nazi, Third Reich terms. Biden also brought up Trumps long history of touting the false birther conspiracy against former president Barack Obama, and Trumps frequently-repeated claim that hes the greatest president for Black people in the history of America, including Abraham Lincoln. I think he injected too much of that bleach, I think it affected his brain, Biden quipped, referencing Trumps gaffe early in the Covid-19 pandemic when he dangerously suggested injecting the chemical would clear the body of the virus. Recent polls from The New York Times and Siena College have shown Biden lagging behind Trump in multiple swing states, with Trump garnering more than 20 percent of Black voters support. Bidens recent campaign efforts, including a commencement speech at HBCU Morehouse College, have worked to close that gap. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Senate Bill 591 would also increase the settlement payments, some by $1 million. (Annmarie Timmins | New Hampshire Bulletin) This story was updated May 30, 2024 at 2:50 p.m. to include a statement from Attorney General John Formella. Significantly more people abused at the former Youth Development Center would be eligible for compensation from the state under a bill headed to the governors desk. Senate Bill 591, which cleared the Legislature Thursday, would also increase the settlement payments, some by $1 million. The bipartisan legislation was supported by not only the Attorney Generals Office, which negotiates settlement amounts with victims, but also two attorneys who represent more than 1,000 victims. The lawyers said they would encourage clients to drop their lawsuits and settle with the state if the legislation becomes law. Attorney General John Formella expressed confidence Thursday that Gov. Chris Sununu would sign the bill. While each victim retains their choice as to how to proceed and the re-worked process may not work for every victim, we believe this new process will provide a good alternative to traditional litigation for the vast majority of victims, Formella said in a statement. Currently, the $100 million fund created in 2022 covers claims for only sexual and physical assault, and it caps awards at $1.5 million for sexual assault or a combination of sexual and physical assault and at $150,000 for physical abuse alone. The legislation would create a new category for egregious sexual abuse, defined as wanton or cruel abuse, that goes beyond what most victims experience. Those claims would be capped at $2.5 million. Victims of non-egregious sexual and other abuse, another new category, could be paid up to $1.5 million. Other abuse would include unlawful restraint, confinement, strip searches, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The same cap would apply for claims of non-egregious sexual abuse alone. If a victim filed a claim for only other abuse, the cap would be $250,000. The bill would also add $60 million to the fund and extend the December deadline to file a claim by six months. It would not be retroactive. The post Bill expanding payments, eligibility for YDC abuse claims headed to governor appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin. Both HB 1569 and HB 1370 are worded to take effect immediately, meaning they would affect the state primary on Sept. 10 and the general election on Nov. 5. (Kate Brindley | New Hampshire Bulletin) New Hampshire Republican lawmakers are continuing to push to require residents to produce a birth certificate, passport, or other citizenship document to register to vote. Proponents say the measures would ensure that people could vote only if they had definitively proven they were eligible. But according to some experts, the proposed laws would also be unique to the Granite State. No other state has a law requiring documentary proof of citizenship in order to register to vote, said Alex Tischenko, senior policy adviser for the Institute for Responsive Government, speaking against the bills at a press conference May 24. And the one state to pass one in recent history Kansas saw it struck down in federal court, he noted. Every other state allows voters to register and vote by attesting under penalty of perjury to their U.S. citizenship, said Tischenko, who previously served as an attorney in the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice under Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. And theres a good reason for that: Requiring everybody to retrieve a rarely used document that proves U.S. citizenship is guaranteed to disenfranchise thousands of U.S. citizens. The proposals to tighten voter registration requirements have appeared in two separate bills this year, both of which passed the Senate last week. One is heading to Gov. Chris Sununu; the other is set for further negotiations between the House and Senate. The first bill, House Bill 1569, would require a birth certificate, passport, or other proof of citizenship in order to register to vote for the first time in New Hampshire, and also eliminate any exceptions to the states voter ID law on Election Day, and require a voter to obtain their identification or not vote at all. That bill is heading to the governors desk. The second, House Bill 1370, creates similar requirements to the first bill. But it also directs the Secretary of States Office to create a hotline-style service with the Attorney Generals Office and the Division of Motor Vehicles that would in theory allow town election officials to ask state officials whether there are state documents proving a voter at the polls is a citizen and eligible to vote. Sen. James Gray, a Rochester Republican and the chairman of the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee, said the hotline could be effective. It is estimated that using the databases that we came up with in meetings with the Secretary of State, the Attorney Generals Office, and the DMV, that there will be very, very few people who will not be able to answer the questions about citizenship, about age, and about domicile, Gray said on the Senate floor on May 16. HB 1370 will not head directly to Sununu; the changes must survive committee of conference negotiations with the House and Senate. The House has already requested a committee of conference; the Senate will decide Thursday whether to agree to that request and open and send negotiators. Senate Republicans have presented the bills as an opportunity for Sununu to choose between two options: a more rigid version without compromises for voters who dont have documents, and a more flexible version intended to allow state officials to help voters prove their citizenship if their documents are lost. But voting rights supporters say even with the addition of the hotline, HB 1370 would create risks of preventing certain residents from voting due to a lack of clear documents. The state databases would not help people who were born in other states and did not have a birth certificate, they noted. And they say the hotline itself would likely face functional challenges, particularly for remote towns on Election Day. Both HB 1569 and HB 1370 are worded to take effect immediately, meaning they would affect the state primary on Sept. 10 and the general election on Nov. 5. When asked about them, Sununu has suggested he doesnt support the bills, telling reporters that he does not see any need for new election laws. But he has not explicitly promised to veto them. Supporters of the bills say they will help close loopholes that allow people to cast ballots and sign legally binding affidavits to attest that they are who they say they are and eligible to vote at that polling place, on penalty of perjury. Even though the Attorney Generals Office can follow up with an investigation and prosecute anyone who lied about their voting qualifications after the election, the bills advocates say that enforcement cant stop the vote from being counted. But Tischenko and others say the bills as worded could go too far in the other direction and block thousands of people who should be allowed to vote from doing so. To substantiate that, Tischenko has pointed to the experience of Kansas. The state passed a law in 2013 that required residents to submit citizenship paperwork to register to vote, and a state legal expert found that between 2013 and 2018, more than 30,000 people in the state were prevented from registering to vote, according to the Associated Press. After the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations filed a lawsuit, a U.S. District Court struck down the law in 2018. That decision was upheld by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2020, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal. Similar to the proposals in New Hampshires HB 1370, the state of Kansas also attempted to assist residents with proving their citizenship and identity in the months up to Election Day, Tischenko said, but those efforts did not stop thousands from being blocked from voting. Meanwhile, opponents of the bills have also been skeptical about how effective the assistance hotline might be in practice especially on Election Day. The state hotline would necessitate reliable internet service at every polling place, argued Dan Healey, the Nashua city clerk and current president of the New Hampshire City and Town Clerks Association. The community I came from prior where I was a clerk for quite a few years, one of the polling locations had no cell phone service, he said, speaking at the May 24 press conference. It was very spotty. You had to go into the parking lot, the middle of the parking lot, to get any reception. Some residents who moved within the state might have documents held by the city or town they had moved away from, but accessing another municipalitys database often incurs fees, Healey said. And the bill would require additional training for election workers, Healey said. We have many of our voters that come in that dont have their proof with them, but they are eligible, Healey said. They are citizens. They do live in Nashua, but they dont always bring that proof. But those advocating for the bills say that they would simply require additional steps for new registrants. Those who were motivated to vote would take those steps, they argue. Certainly, this bill recognizes that its hard for people, said Gray. But remember, it is still the person who needs to prove that they are meeting the criteria. And all this bill does really is it takes the affidavit out of the process. The post Bill to require citizenship documents for NH voter registration would be unique in US appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin. Majority Floor Leader Rep. Jon Echols speaks during a special session of the house at the Oklahoma state Capitol in Oklahoma City, Monday, June, 12, 2023. A bill that would require local school boards to create guidelines for religious classes during school hours is headed to the governor's desk. House Bill 1425 was passed 38-7 by the Oklahoma Senate in April, and the measure was narrowly approved by the House, 51-40, on Wednesday. The bill, with Rep. Clay Staires, R-Skiatook as principal author in the House, requires each school board across Oklahoma to create a policy excusing students to attend a course in religious or moral instruction taught by an independent entity off school grounds. The measure establishes certain perimeters, such as allowing schools to excuse students from attendance for up to three class periods per week or a maximum of 125 periods per year to attend the courses. Under the bill, students would receive credit for the classes and would only be excused to take the courses only if their parents have given permission. Also, the parents or the group offering the off-site classes would be responsible for funding and students' transportation. A LifeWise Academy bus transports public school students to and from the nonprofit's Bible classes. The House debated the bill at length, with both Democrat and Republican representatives voicing their opposition. In advocating for the bill, Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, said it is already legal for public schools to allow students to attend "release time" religious and moral classes off school grounds due to a 1952 U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Zorach v. Clauson), and he said Oklahoma law already lines up with this ruling. More: The Satanic Temple wants to provide chaplains in schools under proposed bill. Lawmakers say it doesn't qualify But Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, argued that the bill takes away from classroom instruction time and put the state in the position of awarding course credit for classes the school doesn't offer classes that have no established curriculum. Every other elective course for credit has a state-established and approved curriculum. Fugate likened the religious instruction courses to a year-round vacation Bible school that he said would do little to improve students' test scores in reading, history, math and science. He said the measure seemed to indicate that legislators had little faith in the ability of parents and churches to ensure that children receive moral and religious guidance. "We have no faith in our families, no faith in our churches, no faith in our religion, no faith in our God," Fugate said. "Any religious organization could establish an after-school program to offer religious instruction. ... But there are some who have zero faith that would work, so instead, what we are here today talking about is how we can turn Monday school into Sunday school." Meanwhile, several Republican legislators like Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tulsa, and Dick Lowe, R-Amber, said their constitutients had contacted them to express reservations about the bill. "I think this bill forces some things on a school board," Lowe said. "I think this bill is truly setting up our school boards to be sued." Sterling said the majority of the school superintendents that he spoke to in his district told him they were adamantly opposed to the measure. Lowe said his opposition to the bill had nothing to do with his Christian faith and he didn't disagree with another legislator's comments about the "moral decay of the country." Rep. Dick Lowe "But, as we look at this, is this the answer?" he said. "I do love the Lord. I love my church. I love my school. I don't think this helps any of them further on down the road." Several opponents of the measure also described the bill as too vague, with Rep. Jared Deck, D-Norman, saying the bill seemed designed for "undefined religious instruction." Norman also said he didn't like the bill because it would take hours away from schools to provide education and give it to independent entities. Like Fugate, Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, also spoke against the bill, saying that when she was growing up, students received religious instruction when their parents took them to places like their church, Sunday school and vacation Bible school. Countering arguments against the measure, Staires urged legislators to approve the bill by describing it as good for Oklahoma, good for schools and good for religious liberty. And, he reiterated Echols' statement that it is already legal for public schools to allow for "release time courses" to be taught by independent organizations off school property during the school day. "This bill does not invent something new. It does not legalize something that is illegal and it does not create a new right for parents," Staires said. "What it does is very simple. ... It provides guidelines. Setting up one of these programs is complex, and it's possible to mess it up and unintentionally run afoul of the U.S. Constitution." Staires said by passing HB 1425, legislatures could "ensure every public school district in Oklahoma has a policy that respects the First Amendment, helps schools avoid violating existing mandates and respects the authority of local communities." "This bill is not a heavy lift. It's not a hard decision," he said. Nonprofit wants to offer classes Leaders of LifeWise Academy, a Columbus, Ohio-based organization that offers Bible classes to public school students in a dozen states, said they were thrilled that HB 1425 was approved by the Legislature and they hoped to offer their religious classes in Oklahoma soon. "I was beyond excited," Joel Penton, chief executive officer of LifeWise, said Wednesday. "We've been advocating for the bill for quite some time." Penton said Lifewise, a nonprofit founded in 2018, is currently serving 323 schools in 12 states and would like to be able to teach Oklahoma students the basic Bible. Penton said when he and other leaders of the organization learned that Oklahoma was considering HB 1425, they traveled to Oklahoma several times to provide answers to the legislators' questions. The LifeWise leader said the passage of HB 1425 is important for local communities because it gives them answers to practical questions that are often raised about offering such "release time" classes. He said these include questions about how many times per week a student may be off school grounds to attend the classes, which is addressed in HB 1425. "That's what we've seen happen in other states is when the laws are in place, then communities feel the confidence to offer it to their students and their families," Penton said. He said LifeWise's curriculum is gospel-centered and also character-focused because students are taught that the gospel transforms character. He said the initial classes typically start with elementary school students but the programs are often expanded to serve additional grades. "We provide basic Bible teaching, Bible-based character education," Penton said. "We teach students through the whole Bible Genesis through Revelation and teach them what the Bible says, how it all connects to Jesus." A legal foundation for 'released time' During a recent House debate over HB 1425, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and an Oklahoma law were cited as the measure's applicable legal foundation. In 1952, the Supreme Court's ruling in Zorach v. Clauson upheld New York Citys "released time" policy permitting public school students to leave campus during school hours to attend religious instruction and services. Justice William O. Douglas said the policy did not violate the free exercise or Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Oklahoma passed HB 1384 into law in 2014. Known as the state's Parental Bill of Rights, the law allows parents to have the right to make final decisions about their childrens religious training, education, mental health care and medical care. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma bill requiring guidelines on religious study near final approval Black People Beware: These States Are Blocking Us From Video Recording Police Brutality Holding police accountable for unnecessary violence toward Black people is nearly impossible without video evidence. That was the case more than 30 years ago in the shocking footage that showed cops beating the hell out of Rodney King (though a mostly white jury acquitted the officers), and more recently, with the cellphone video of the 2020 police murder of George Floyd. But if some states have their way, capturing footage of police brutality will be more difficult, if not impossible. On Tuesday, Louisiana joined several other Republican-controlled states in passing legislation authorizing a buffer zone between officers and bystanders with cameras. WWL-TV reports that hard-line conservative Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill making it a misdemeanor to be within 25 feet of an officer who lawfully engages in the execution of his official duties if the officer orders the individual recording to step back. Violators face up to two months in jail. Supporters of the law say it has nothing to do with protecting officers from alleged police brutality, but was intended to prevent bystanders from harassing or attacking cops. However, opponents see it differently. The twenty-five-foot buffer legislation fundamentally seeks to curtail Louisianians ability to hold police accountable for violence and misconduct, the American Civil Liberties Union stated in a response to Louisianas new law. If law enforcement officers were operating in a manner that safeguarded the well-being and constitutional rights of the public, there should be no objection to being observed. Despite constitutional questions, states are making every effort to hinder people from recording police brutality. In 2023, a federal judge struck down legislation in Arizona on First Amendment grounds. The law would have criminalized video recording police officers within 8 feet or from public property if the officers claimed that it was unsafe or interfered with their work. Even after the judges ruling, Floridas Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two similar bills in April. One creates a 25-foot no-go zone around police and other first responders. The other bill further limits police accountability by giving local law enforcement officials control of civilian-led police oversight boards. Like the others, a law in Indiana, which took effect in July 2023, creates a 25-foot perimeter around police officers. But local media outlets filed a lawsuit asking the federal courts to halt its enforcement. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Courts conservative justices may have to decide the constitutional issue involved. Whats at stake is losing an important tool for police accountability. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. When Mustafa Barghouti, 70, a Palestinian doctor and politician, thinks of his land back in 1967, what he remembers is a people already occupied by the Israelis; also a nation that had lost hundreds of thousands of people since the declaration of the state of Israel in the late 1940s. Then came the Six-Day War and more upheaval. Barghouti, who was visiting Madrid on behalf of the Novact Institute, admits that his childhood came to an abrupt end. I realized that others would not solve our problems, he says. At the beginning of the 2000s, Barghouti founded, together with the philosopher Edward Said, the Palestinian National Initiative. As a member of this party, he came in second place in the 2005 presidential elections, behind Mahmoud Abbas, leader of Fatah and current president of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Two years later, Barghouti would lead the Ministry of Information. Question. How does the recent recognition of the state of Palestine by Spain, Ireland and Norway affect the identity of its people? Answer. Recognition will not bring us identity. Identity brought us recognition of 146 countries. Its an important moral step. Its also important psychologically because it means we are not alone. We appreciate the role of the Spanish government because they lobbied others to recognize Palestine. We know that because of the Spanish decision, other countries will join, like Malta and Slovenia and probably Belgium. And maybe this will make France feel jealous [laughs] and also recognize Palestine. On the other hand, we know that this is not enough. What we are subjected to now is not only occupation and the system of apartheid, but barbaric genocide and war crimes: genocide, ethnic cleansing and collective punishment, with Israel even using starvation as a weapon. And for that, in addition to the recognition, we need immediate punitive acts, sanctions on Israel to force it to respect and implement the International Court of Justice Resolution to stop the war Q. What does your Palestinian state look like, the one you dream of and for which you have worked for so many decades? A. A democratic state with equal rights for everybody, where there is no discrimination because of religion, nationality or ethnicity, where people have equal opportunities. A country that will definitely prosper because we have very talented people. All we need is freedom. Its up to the Israelis if the future will be two states or one state. Q. You defend the one-state solution, even when the two-state solution seems impossible. A. Spain, Ireland and Norway not only recognize Palestine, but also our right to self-determination, whether in two states or one. Some tell me that Israelis will never accept one democratic state. And my response is that they dont accept the two-state solution either. [Far-right Israeli minister Bezalel] Smotrich, who calls himself a fascist homophobe, says they will fill the West Bank with settlements and settlers until the Palestinians lose all hope of having a state of their own. Then Palestinians will then have to choose between leaving Palestine, which is ethnic cleansing, or accepting a life of subjugation to the Israelis, which is apartheid, or die, which is exactly what they are trying to do now in Gaza, which is genocide. Israel has to decide what do they want. If they want to separate us, they have to agree to end their occupation and settlements. But they dont want to do that. We can live together in one democratic state. Q. One state for everyone with the same rights. Right now, that seems difficult. A. What is easy? My friend [composer] Daniel Barenboim once told me something very interesting: sometimes the impossible is easier than the difficult. Nobody can claim to support the two-state solution without the removal of the occupation; the removal of all settlers from the occupied territories; reversing the decision to annex East Jerusalem, and finally allowing Palestinian refugees to come back home. Without this, anybody who talks about a two-state solution is practicing hypocrisy. Its only a slogan to give Israel time to finish the job of annexation. Q. Is the PA the best possible actor to run a Palestinian state? A. No, it is a structure which is lacking democracy and needs to be reformed. Governance reform means the right of the Palestinian people to democratically elect their leaders. Q. Can this democratic process be developed in the midst of war? A. No, when the war is over. But until this happens, we need a government of national consensus, accepted by all parties, so that it can work and maintain the unity between the West Bank and Gaza. A government that is interim. Once the war is over, it has to prepare for free democratic elections. In 2021, we were about to have elections, but Israel obstructed them and the United States did not support them. The PA made a huge mistake by not accepting what we proposed, elections in Jerusalem without Israeli permission, to turn it into an act of non-violent resistance. The Palestinian Authority was itself afraid of the elections, so they canceled them. If we had had elections in 2021, no party would have won a majority. It would be a pluralistic and democratic structure. We would not have had this war, because we would have had a unified government for the West Bank and Gaza, and, probably, this would have improved the possibility of lifting the siege on Gaza. See what kind of opportunity we lost. We could have saved the lives of 45,000 Palestinians. Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti, who visited Madrid with the help of the Novact Institute. Alvaro Garcia Q. One of the political actors in Palestine is Hamas, the main objective of the Israeli offensive. A. Israel claims so, but their target is not Hamas. Their target is all the Palestinian people, to ethnically cleanse Gaza. Netanyahu said they should evacuate everyone to the Sinai, to Egypt. For him, the war was not about October 7 [the date of the Hamas attack on Israeli territory that left more than 1,200 people dead and dozens kidnapped]. For him, it was an opportunity to solve the demographic problem by ethnically cleansing the inhabitants of Gaza. Q. Have you seen a war like the current one in your 70 years? A. No. Weve never seen anything so barbaric, so drastic, so cruel and so criminal. Not in 1967, not in 1948. This is the most vicious war ever waged. And the target is the civilian population. My heart breaks because I see the results. It is not only 36,000 people that Israel has killed, but 46,000 because there are 10,000 who are still under the rubble decomposing. This is the longest war in the history of Israel. They destroyed all the universities, the schools, most of our medical facilities, 34 out of 36 hospitals. They killed 500 of my colleagues, doctors, nurses, health professionals. They prevented journalists from entering Gaza. And then they killed 144 Palestinian journalists. Its a terrible genocide: 81,000 people were injured and many of whom will not survive because there are no medical services to help them. Q. We talk about the recognition of Palestine, the ceasefire, negotiations, borders, but peace is something else: reconciliation, forgiveness, responsibility... How long will it take for the Palestinians to overcome this? A. It will take time. But we will not be hostages to the fact that we are the victims. We are victims, but we will not sit in that corner. We will have to find solutions so that no more attacks like this happen again; so that no more Palestinians are killed, and so that there are no more genocides. Thats why I say now, thank you for the recognition, but please impose sanctions. Q. What sanctions do you propose? A. Military and economic. It is unacceptable that any country would provide military equipment or buy military equipment from a country that is committing genocide. Furthermore, the European Union must suspend the EU-Israeli Association Agreement. They can do that because it is shameful to continue to support the Israeli establishment, which is committing genocide and war crimes. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition (KRON) A California court has certified a class-action lawsuit alleging severe and pervasive race harassment against Black workers at a Tesla factory, according to an order filed on May 17. The court said that approximately 500 declarations submitted for and against the motion suggest that over the span of about eight years, Tesla employees at the factory in Fremont heard the N-word and otherwise experienced conditions that might reasonably be characterized as race harassment. In 2017, Tesla created a centralized internal tracking system to document complaints and investigations, the suit claims. Despite having a formal complaint system at the factory, the plaintiffs declarations suggest that Tesla failed to take immediate and appropriate corrective action regarding them. Court filings reveal new details in lawsuit against HGTV stars companies According to the order, over 200 plaintiffs working at the Fremont factory reported hearing the N-word, with 112 claiming they have filed a complaint to management and 16 formally filed written complaints in total. Of the more than 200 Black workers who gave sworn statements, about two-thirds said they saw anti-Black graffiti, including nooses, racial slurs and swastikas. About three-quarters said they heard Tesla workers refer to the Fremont plant as the plantation or the slave ship, according to a court filing. A quarter also allege higher-ups called them the N-word. Some of the other complaints include the following: Plaintiff Adrianna Leaks said that she complained to a supervisor. The supervisor was terminated, and there was no change in racist behaviors. Plaintiff Albert Blakes claims he complained to human resources, and there was no change in racist behaviors. Plaintiff Alvin Patterson asserts he complained to leads and supervisors, and they denied that racism was a factor in promotions. Patterson also contends that he complained about his supervisor, was referred to HR, then received more harassment from his supervisor and was warned by HR about his own workplace conduct. Formal rebuttals Tesla submitted declarations to the court, saying if it was informed about racist incidents, it took immediate and appropriate corrective action to deal with them appropriately. Tesla declarant Robert Brown is a supervisor who states that he has observed workers use the N-word. In 2017 or 2018, Brown said he observed an incident involving the word and reported it to HR. He also claims that in 2019, he counseled his team that music with the N-word was not appropriate for the workplace. Federal grand jury to hear from Diddy accusers: report Tesla declarant Philip Buchannan is a supervisor who states that an employee reported to HR that a coworker called him a monkey, that HR promptly investigated, and that Tesla terminated the employee who used the inappropriate language. Tesla declarant Jeremiah Clark states, I personally have seen graffiti using racial slurs. When I see it, I see that it is removed quickly by the building facilities team. Future action The lawsuit claimed that pre-Civil Rights Era race discrimination was standard procedure at the Tesla plant and that race harassment both continued and became widespread because Tesla, despite being aware of it, did nothing to stop it. Tesla said in a 2022 blog post that it strongly opposes all forms of discrimination and harassment and claimed that it has always disciplined and terminated employees who engage in misconduct, including those who use racial slurs or harass others in different ways. Since this is a class action, the lawsuit will now revolve around whether there was a pattern of widespread racial abuse at the Fremont factory, whether Tesla knew or should have known about it, and if Tesla did know, whether it failed to take immediate and appropriate action to stop it. 58827009_05_17_2024_Order_Granting_in_Part_Motion_of_Plaintiffs_for_Class____v6-OCRedDownload The hundreds or thousands of workers who may wish to seek damages from Tesla over their treatment at the factory must file separate, individual lawsuits and answers to the three questions would establish common facts to simplify those cases, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Noel Wise wrote. There is much work to do, but we believe we will succeed in showing at trial that there has been a pattern and practice of pervasive race harassment at Teslas Fremont factory, that Tesla knew or should have known about it, and that Tesla did not do enough to clean it up and stop it from happening again and again, said Matthew Helland, of Nichols Kaster, LLP, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Biden partially lifts ban on Ukraine using US arms in strikes on Russian territory, US officials say WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden has given Ukraine the go-ahead to use American weaponry to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, according to four U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The officials, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter, underscored that the U.S. policy calling on Ukraine not to use American-provided ATACMS or long-range missiles and other munitions to strike offensively inside Russia has not changed. Biden's directive allows for U.S.-supplied weapons to be used for "counterfire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them," one official said. Ukrainian officials have stepped up calls on the U.S. administration to allow their forces to defend themselves against attacks originating from Russian territory. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Russian border. Biden's decision was first reported by Politico. Ukrainian officials, most notably Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have been increasingly vocal in arguing that the restriction was putting Ukrainian forces in an untenable situation as Russia intensified attacks around the northeast Kharkiv region. The advances came with Russia exploiting a lengthy delay in replenishment of U.S. military aid and as Western Europes inadequate military production has slowed crucial deliveries to the battlefield for Ukraine. Talks about changing the policy intensified inside the Biden administration more than two weeks ago, after Russia stepped up its offensive around Kharkiv, according to one of the officials familiar with the White House deliberations. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held a secure video conference with their Ukrainian counterparts in which the Ukrainian side pressed for permission to use U.S. weaponry to hit Russian positions across the border that were being used to attack the Kharkiv region, according to a U.S. official familiar with the White House deliberation. Following that May 13 meeting with the Ukrainians, Sullivan, Austin and Brown huddled and agree to make a recommendation to Biden to alter the policy. Sullivan presented the recommendation to Biden two days later, making the case that it was common-sense for the Ukrainians to be able to strike back to counter the attacks on their land that were originating from Russian territory. Biden agreed. Later on May 15, Biden had a follow-up conversation with Gen. Christopher Cavoli, who leads U.S. European command, Austin and Sullivan and asked them to move forward on finalizing the details to the change in policy. Meanwhile, during Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit to Kyiv two weeks ago, Zelenskyy made his case for using American weapons to strike back at positions in Russia that were launching attacks into north and northeast Ukraine. Blinken was convinced and brought that message back to Washington, according to three U.S. officials familiar with the top U.S. diplomat's thinking. Blinken met with Biden and Sullivan on May 17, following his visit to Kyiv, and shared what he heard from Zelenskyy and made clear that he also supported giving the Ukrainians more leeway to strike back on Russia. Still, Biden remained cautious and asked for due diligence before giving final approval. Sullivan convened the administrations national security leaders for a conversation the following week, and they all agreed to move forward. Sullivan received final approval from Biden several days ago, but the guidance did not go into effect until Thursday, the official said. It wasn't an easy decision to make. Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Biden has been steadfast in his opposition to Ukraine's offensive use of American-made weaponry, concerned that the action could be seen as provocative and lead to Moscow widening the war. Blinken said in Moldova on Wednesday that U.S. policy on how Ukraine deploys American weapons is constantly evolving, hinting that Washington may alter its unwritten prohibition on Ukraines use of them for attacks on Russian territory. On Thursday, Blinken joined NATO foreign ministers for a meeting in Prague, where during a tour of a Czech military base he saw armored vehicles that are being sent to Kyiv. Although U.S. officials insist there is no formal arms ban, they have long made clear that they believe the use of American weapons to attack targets inside Russia could provoke an escalatory response from Moscow, something that Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised. That position, Blinken noted, was a hallmark of the Biden administrations stance on Ukraine to adapt and adjust as needed. As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how its pursuing its aggression, escalation, weve adapted and adjusted, too, and Im confident well continue to do that, Blinken said at a news conference in Moldova. Were always listening, were always learning, and were always making determinations about whats necessary to make sure that Ukraine can effectively continue to defend itself, and well continue to do that," he said. Calls for a change in policy have been mounting. Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that Western countries should not object if Ukraine needs to strike inside Russia to defend itself. Stoltenberg reaffirmed that position on Thursday. I believe that time has come to (re)consider some of these restrictions to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves, he said. We need to remember what it is. This is a war of aggression launched by choice by Moscow against Ukraine. The right to self-defense, he said, includes also striking legitimate military targets outside Ukraine. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said at a NATO-related event Thursday in Prague that Ukraine needs resources to counter Russias relentless assault. Ukraine cannot fight against Russia with one hand tied behind its back, he said. Ukraine must be able to fight against Russias barbaric invasion even on Russian territory. Political resolve must be backed by credible capabilities. Norways foreign minister, Espen Barth Eide, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that his country believes Ukraine has a crystal-clear right under international law to attack Russia inside Russia as part of the defense of its territory. Biden's decision comes as he's set to travel to France early next month to attend D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy, a watershed moment in changing the course of World War II. Zelenskyy is among dozens of world leaders expected to attend the D-Day commemorations. ___ Lee reported from Prague. Associated Press writers Karel Janicek in Prague and Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Moldova on May 29, where he met with President Maia Sandu and announced support worth $50 million to help Chisinau transition away from Russian energy dependence and further integrate with the EU, amid warnings of heightened hybrid threats from Russia. This support will "bolster the ability of Moldovans to resist Russian interference, to hold free and fair elections, to continue down the path to the European Union and Western integration, to create more economic opportunity," Blinken said. Sandu, a pro-European and pro-Ukrainian politician, has been president since 2020 but faces reelection and a referendum on Moldova's accession to the EU in October. The EU agreed to start accession talks with Moldova and Ukraine at the end of 2023. According to Blinken, the U.S. has provided Moldova with $774 million since February 2022 to help strengthen Moldovan institutions, resist Russian disinformation, and defend against hybrid attacks, including supporting a cyber security academy. The U.S. and Moldova will also soon conclude negotiations for a new embassy compound in Chisinau, which "both symbolically and practically reflects the depth of our relationship," Blinken said. Tensions between Moscow and Chisinau have been mounting since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine amid fears that the war may spill into Moldova via Transnistria, an unrecognized breakaway territory that has illegally hosted Russian troops since 1991. Read also: Timothy Garton Ash: Were at the beginning of a new era. What we do now is particularly important Moldovan officials have repeatedly accused Russia of election interference and destabilization attempts, even of allegedly fomenting an attempted coup, since February 2022. Blinken pointed to the "extraordinary resilience from Moldova's leadership and especially from its people" in the face of "bullying from Russia, of interference, efforts to spread misinformation, disinformation, weaponizing corruption," and "manufacturing anti-government protests." Ned Price, deputy to the U.S. representative to the U.N., told reporters in April that the U.S. is deepening cooperation with the Moldovan government in light of the threat of Russia's "well-rehearsed set of tactics." Moldova has also long been dependent on Russian energy, but is now shifting to enhance connectivity with Europe and increase the use of renewables, Blinken said. Sandu said that the U.S. provided assistance worth $80 million in the first winter of the full-scale invasion, which allowed the Moldovan government to compensate for the rising costs of energy bills. According to Blinken, the U.S. has provided Moldova with "about $110 million in direct budget support to help compensate" for higher electricity prices over the last two years, which have been driven by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. "We will also be dedicating $85 million part of the $300 million USAID effort to support energy infrastructure to help you enhance things like battery storage, as well as the high voltage transmission lines that we've already dedicated some funds to," Blinken said. Sandu thanked Blinken for the "very strong sign of support for our country as well as for the path of peace, democracy, and prosperity that we have chosen." The visit to Moldova follows Blinken's two-day visit to Ukraine earlier in May. Read also: Georgian parliament overrules presidents veto of foreign agents law Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) The body of a boater who had been missing in Marion County since Wednesday evening has been recovered, authorities said. Officers and investigators with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources found the body of Earl Dennison, 63, of Georgetown County early Thursday afternoon in Dogs Lake off of the Great Pee Dee River, according to Marion County Coroner Jerry Richardson. Richardson said it is uncertain whether there will be an autopsy but that it appears that Dennison drowned. He could not swim and did not have a lifejacket on the boat. Crews began searching for Dennison after he went on a fishing trip Wednesday morning and did not return, the DNR said Thursday morning in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Download the News13 app to stay updated on the go Sign up for WBTW email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WBTW.com for the Grand Strand and Pee Dee. No additional information was available. Count on News13 for updates. * * * Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. * * * Jackie LiBrizzi is a multimedia journalist at News13. Jackie is originally from Hamilton, New Jersey, and was raised in Piedmont, South Carolina. Jackie joined the News13 team in June 2023 after she graduated as a student-athlete from the University of South Carolina in May 2023. Follow Jackie on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. The remains of two young American missionaries killed in Haiti by armed gangs were returned to the United States on Thursday on a Miami-bound American Airlines flight. The bodies of Davy and Natalie Lloyd, both in their 20s, were flown through Miami International Airport from Port-au-Prince back home to their family in Kansas City, Missouri. The couple, married for only two years, were killed on May 23, along with Judes Montis, the Haitian director of their Oklahoma-based Missions in Haiti when armed gangs swarmed their compound and later set fire to a house where the three had taken refuge.. Their deaths have served as a reminder of Haitis ongoing struggle against the growing power of violent gangs, which has increasingly concerned a U.S. government eager to put a lid on the Caribbean nations long-running security crisis. The gang insurgency blanketing the capital has paralyzed all activities, and in early March led to the suspension of commercial flights by American, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines, the three major U.S. airlines servicing the country. On Thursday, American became the first U.S. carrier to restart operations between South Florida and Port-au-Prince. Gianna Urgo, a spokeswoman for American Airlines, confirmed the transport of Davy and Natalie Lloyds remains. She said the airline was honored to do so and extend our sympathy to their families during this difficult time. The Lloyds were killed north of Port-au-Prince in an area surrounded by several warring gangs. Getting their bodies out of the compound was a delicate operation that began the morning after their deaths when David Lloyd, Davys father and the founder of the mission, made arrangements for a funeral home in nearby Croix-des-Bouquets to travel to the crime scene and retrieve all three bodies. The operation was confirmed to the Miami Herald and McClatchy by several sources, including Haitian police who are investigating the killings. After the funeral home pulled the bodies out of the incinerated home, they were delivered to a private ambulance service, HERO Client Rescue, which had been contacted by the Lloyd family. A source involved in the rescue said that although the U.S. Embassy in Haiti was aware of the operation, which involved the ambulance crossing multiple gang territories and blocked roads, embassy personnel were not involved. The bodies were eventually transported safely to a private morgue. Since then the embassy had been working with the family to have the bodies returned to the U.S. U.S. officials in Haiti have worked around the clock to assist, in line with the families wishes, with making arrangements to transport the deceased and their personal effects back to the United States, a State Department official told McClatchy. AA flight 819 marked the resumption of service between Miami and Port-au-Prince by a major U.S.carrier in nearly three months. American, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines all suspended their daily service into Haiti on March 4 after armed gangs targeted both Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the capital and the adjacent domestic airport, Guy Malary. Maulik Radia, who lives in New Jersey and runs a business in Haiti, was one of the passengers who arrived at MIA on Thursday aboard American Airlines flight 819 from Port-au-Prince. Since the suspension of commercial flights, Haitians and others visiting the country either had to wait it out in the capital or risk traveling through dangerous roads to leave Haiti either via the neighboring Dominican Republic or U.S. government chartered flights operating out of the smaller international airport in northern Haiti. On Thursday, while the 156-seat American Airlines flight flying back into Haiti only had 18 passengers, the return flight to Miami was nearly full. Among them was a traveler who would only give his name as Lafontant. A resident of Croix-des-Bouquets, the same sprawling suburb where Missions in Haiti is located in the community of Bon Repos, he described daily life in the country as one of great uncertainty. In the morning, it can be calm, he said, referring to the gang violence that has made the sound of automatic gunshots part of daily life. But in the evening, its hot. The gangs control everything and theres no police to protect the people, the visitor, who plans to stay in the U.S. for six days before returning to Haiti, said. The situation is very scary. A Haitian airport worker pauses Wednesday, May 15, 2024 as he mops the floor in an empty main terminal at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Like Lafontant, Walter Stocker, 84, also plans to return to Haiti. Stocker, who is Swiss and lives in Port-au-Prince with his Haitian wife, came to attend one grandchilds graduation and to meet another one for the first time. Stockers daughter, Carime Torres, 40, was among the family members waiting inside Terminal 4 for her father to step out. Im very happy and very glad my father is able to leave Haiti, Torres said before Stocker walked out after clearing Customs. Torres said having both her father and her mother stay behind in Haiti hadnt been easy. Its been super hard, she said. Its been a long three months. After walking out of the Customs area, Stocker hugged his daughter. I feel like Ive been released, said Stocker, who usually travels to the United States or elsewhere once a month. Its like I was in prison. American Airlines said it will continue to operate daily service to Haiti, but plans to monitor the security situation. JetBlue Airways, which operates flights out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, says it plans to restart service on June 5. Spirit Airlines said it will resume its daily service between Port-au-Prince and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on June 6. We will continue to closely monitor the situation in Haiti and adjust our schedule as needed, Nicole Aguiar, a spokeswoman with Spirit Airlines, said. In addition to the landing of American Airlines on Thursday in Port-au-Prince, a charter flight brought desperately needed medical kits for the World Health Organization. The return of flights at Toussaint Louverture is something U.S. officials have been striving for, ever since armed gangs decided to target the structure in an effort to topple the government. To protect the airport, members of the countrys small army were deployed to assist the Haiti National Police. The army is also patrolling the northern perimeter as part of the security upgrades the Haitian government has made since the gang insurgency. Those upgrades include spending more than $2 million to tear down homes that were being used by gangs to shoot at the runway. Those upgrades were surveyed ahead of Thursdays resumption of service by security consultants working for the three major U.S. carriers. The Transportation Security Administration also surveyed the airport to see whether U.S. flights could restart. An aircraft with emergency medical supplies from the World Health Organization arrives in Port-au-Prince on Thursday, May 30, 2024 on the same day that American Airlines resumed its daily service between Miami and a troubled Haiti. Getting Toussaint Louverture International Airport operational again has been a priority for the United States, which has assisted Haitian authorities in securing its grounds to prevent it from being overtaken by armed gangs. While the Doral-based U.S. Southern Command, for example, has coordinated the arrival of military aircraft to show that it is safe and to bring supplies for the construction of a support base for a a multinational security force, the TSA has also assisted with equipment upgrades. TSA has spent numerous hours engaging with Haitian government officials and federal partners. TSA led a delegation of Haitian aviation community officials to TSA HQ, spent several days working on updated aviation security plans for the airport and for TSA to consider, the agency said in a statement. TSA also provided important perspective on how decisions impact the overall security at Port-au-Prince airport. Miami Herald Caribbean Correspondent Jacqueline Charles contributed to this report. The South Duff Walmart in Ames is seen Thursday, May 30, 2024. Police said they found a dead body in a burning car the day prior on May 29. Editor's note: The Ames Police Department provided an update on Monday, June 3, that the individual found in the burned vehicle died as a result of the fire. Authorities found a dead body inside a burning car Wednesday evening in Ames. The Ames Police Department and Ames Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle fire around 6:48 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29 in the Walmart parking lot at 534 S. Duff Avenue. The deceased individual was found inside the vehicle. The Ames Police Department's public information officer, Sgt. Amber Christian said the individual's death was because of the fire. The individual's identity is being withheld by law enforcement so they can properly notify the next of kin. Ames Police said they do not believe there was or is any ongoing threat to the public. Authorities were still on the scene more than 45 minutes after arriving. Police urged residents to stay away from the area in a social media post at 7:43 p.m. Wednesday. More: Geothermal energy estimates concern Ames City Council, housing may come to research park The South Duff Walmart in Ames is seen Thursday, May 30, 2024. Police said they found a dead body in a burning car the day prior on May 29. Ames Police, Ames Fire investigate cause of fire Christian said the car was not involved in an accident, though authorities do not know how the fire started. The Ames Police Department, along with the Ames Fire Department, ATF, Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, and the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner, is investigating the cause of the car fire. Anyone with information on the vehicle fire is asked to call the Ames Police Department at (515) 239-5133 or the anonymous tip line at (515) 239-5533. Individuals may also contact Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at (515) 223-1400. Anonymous tips may also be submitted online at www.crimestoppersofcentraliowa.com. More: Story County receives disaster declaration from President Biden after last week's tornado Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Police investigate dead body found in burning car outside Ames Walmart Body Found Floating in Washington River in 2022 Identified as Missing 34-Year-Old Man from Georgia The remains belonged to 34-year-old man Pierre Pearson, whose body was found by two fishermen in the Columbia River, according to police Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Pierre Pearson. Authorities in Washington say a body found in a local river in 2022 has been identified as a missing 34-year-old man. The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office announced in a news release on Wednesday, May 29, that the remains found in the Columbia River belong to Pierre Pearson, originally of Georgia. Two fishermen found the remains near Martins Bar in Woodland on June 2, 2022, Troy Brightbill, Chief Criminal Deputy of the CCSO, said in the release. Pearson was believed to have been without a permanent home in Portland, Oregon, before his death, authorities said. He was last in contact with family in April 2021, more than a year before his body was found in the river. Related: 2 Bodies Found During Search for Father and Son, 12, Who Went Missing on Hike in Scotland It remains unclear at this time when and how Pearson died. Authorities said he last contacted his family in April 2021. The Cowlitz County Coroners Office, which examined the body, said the remains showed no signs of trauma, according to Brightbill. However, the coroners office was unable to conduct facial identification or collect fingerprints due to the level of decomposition the body had undergone. There was no identification found with the body, either. 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. Detectives began working with Othram, a private laboratory in Texas, in December 2022 to identify the man using advanced forensic DNA testing, Brightbill said. The victim's dental records were later obtained after Pearson's stepmother and father were contacted about the case. A forensic odontologist then used the records to determine that the remains belonged to Pearson. Related: Remains of Missing Texas Woman in Her 60s Found Inside Alligators Jaws, Officials Say There is no indication that Pearson died as a result of a crime, Brightbill said. "The investigation will be closed." The Coroners Office will now work with his family to turn over Pearsons remains. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Body of missing swimmer recovered from Massachusetts pond, police say Police are urging the public to be cautious in local waters after a missing swimmer drowned in a pond in Harvard early Thursday morning. The swimmer, whose body was recovered just after 2 a.m. Thursday, has not been identified. We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased during this incredibly difficult time, police said in a statement. At approximately 12:28 a.m. Thursday, the Nashoba Regional Dispatch received an urgent 911 call reporting a potential drowning at Bare Hill Pond, near Barbas point, police said. The caller told police that their friend, who had gone swimming, was no longer visible approximately 250 feet from the shoreline. When emergency crews arrived, they accessed the area through a long trail behind the Bromfield School, police said. The District 8 Mutual Aid Dive Team deployed several boats to search the waters of Bare Hill Pond. The team includes personnel from several area fire departments, including Lunenburg, Sterling, Rutland, Barre, Leominster, Fitchburg and West Boylston. Boxborough Police and Massachusetts State Police also responded. Police also activated the Harvard Public Safety Drone Team for an aerial search. Nearly two hours later, at approximately 2:09 a.m., crews recovered the missing swimmers body. We urge the public to exercise caution and adhere to safety guidelines when engaging in recreational activities in and around water bodies, police said. The drowning remains under investigation. Further details will be released as they become available, police said. Harvard is a small town in Worcester County, located about 25 miles northwest of Boston. 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 Bond granted for couple accused of beating man to death, hiding his body DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) A Houston County Judge has set hefty bonds for a couple accused of killing a man and hiding his body under a house. 33-year-old Courtney Ingram and 31-year-old Richard Bishop Jr. are both charged with one count of murder and one count of abuse of a corpse in the death of Patrick Parrish. On Wednesday, Judge Benjamin Lewis issued an order granting Bishop a $1.5 million bond and Ingram a $500,000 bond. Police say Parrishs body was found under his house in the 1300 block of Coe Dairy Road after officers conducted a welfare check on May 8. The suspects were arrested nine days later in Eufaula. According to the prosecution, Bishop had an undefined rocky relationship with Parrish, who was in love with Ingram. During the hearing, prosecutors claimed the three argued on the day of the murder, leading to Bishop hitting Parrish in the head with a large wrench three times. They say Bishop hit Parrish so hard that his eyeball popped out after the first hit; however, Bishop is claiming he was not trying to kill Parrish. Ingrams defense team says their client had nothing to do with the murder or the cover-up and was forced to go to Eufaula with Bishop. The state argued against Ingrams claims of innocence, saying she was complicit in the murder. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. Is it better to have a clock that doesnt work at all, or one that loses a minute a day? This riddle appears in Alice in Wonderland by mathematician Lewis Carroll, when the Mad Hatter has tea with Alice. It is also one of the questions that Vanesa Guerrero, 25, asked ChatGPT in two different ways. First, the artificial intelligence (AI) chose the clock that went loses a minute a day, but when the question was rephrased, it changed its mind. Guerrero uses the Mad Hatters question to explain that ChatGPT chooses one answer or the opposite depending on how the question is formulated. The same goes for the mathematical models she works with. With my research I seek to develop tools, algorithms, methodology, models, equations that allow you, through data, to make informed decisions, that are interpretable and coherent and that do not discriminate, she explains. Guerrero was one of the winners of the LOreal-UNESCO For Women in Science awards for her work on algorithmic fairness in functional data. She has a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Seville in Spain and is a professor of Statistics at the Carlos III University of Madrid. Guerrero seeks to ensure that her algorithms make fair decisions based on functional data, such as a persons salary or blood pressure. She explains that she does this by first defining what equity means in a specific context, then writing the mathematical formulation and seeing how to solve and apply it. In her daily life, Guerrero deals with professionals from other sectors such as insurance companies or banks to shape their equations and solve different problems. In her world of algorithms, there is a range of difficulties: Often whats most complicated is the use of language itself, being able to understand what the needs are, even within mathematics itself, she says. Fair algorithms Can algorithms ever be completely fair? Guerrero says she is working on it, but explains that biases are inherent to the data. Artificial intelligence is reproducing the biases that are in the data. It will evolve, just as society is evolving. Just as we now speak in a more inclusive language, which 20 years ago was unthinkable, the same will happen with these types of tools based on artificial intelligence. Both in statistics and in AI models, Guerrero warns that the selection of data is crucial so that they are representative of what you want to study. In cases where ChatGPT has given results biased by gender, such as in disease prediction, Guerrero says a more nuanced approach to the data is needed. If you want your algorithm or your model to be accurate when predicting a disease, but also for [it to be accurate] among your sensitive groups, such as men and women, you have to balance the total prediction error with the error of the groups, she explains. In other words, creators must know how the algorithm behaves in a specific group, globally, and correcting the errors it finds among the sensitive groups. Furthermore, Guerrero is also committed to gender equality in technological teams: Today there are more men than women. We need teams where there are men, women and people of different religions. Each one has experienced something that they later put into their work. Vanesa Guerrero at Carlos III University of Madrid. Sandra Benitez Pena Failure to control the responses of artificial intelligence also poses a risk to knowledge in general. The new generations are going to educate themselves by reading what ChatGPT gives them back, says Guerrero. The mathematician, as a teacher, is in favor of using the tool, however, she focuses on algorithmic architecture: Research is needed so are models and methods that correct [biases] until it is achieved naturally. Regulate black boxes Another way to address the problems of artificial intelligence is with the ethical governance of systems. Last Tuesday, the European Union definitively approved the Artificial Intelligence Act, which will be applied progressively until 2026. The law establishes different obligations for AI applications depending on the risks of their use. We do not have to stop the evolution of this technology, far from it, but rather assess the risks and regulate so that it does not negatively affect society, she says. Guerrero defines artificial intelligence models created by big technology companies, such as OpenAI or Google, as black boxes. These devices are characterized by their large amount of data and lack of transparency. Not knowing whats behind it makes you vulnerable, why are they telling me this? Maybe they are using my private data. That all these tools are in the hands of large private technology companies is also a risk. Guerrero believes in open science and also in open source tools, in order to involve everyone who wants to understand, contribute and develop the initiative. Regulation is needed so that they cannot do what they want without going through some control, adds Guerrero. Is a clock that tells the time exactly once every two years better than a clock that is right twice a day? On this occasion, ChatGPT chose the stopped clock, and although it may seem that a clock that is one minute behind a day is better than a broken one, the latter gives the exact time once every two years, while the former does so twice a day. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition An American Airlines flight leaving for Bostons Logan International Airport was ordered to abort takeoff to avoid crashing into another landing plane. The incident happened around 10:21 a.m. Wednesday morning at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. An air traffic controller canceled the takeoff clearance for American Airlines Flight 2134 because another aircraft was cleared to land on an intersecting runway, the FAA said in a written statement. The FAA will investigate. It was a smaller King Air plane. Tower: American 2134 cancel takeoff clearance. (inaudible) zero, alpha, alpha, go around, go around. American: Rejecting the takeoff 2134. King Air: Zero alpha alpha, cannot go around, we are already on the ground. Tower: American 2134 do you want to go back to the gate? American: We need to talk to maintenance, but yeah, I think we were above 80 knots so were going to have to get an inspection. It was just a month ago that a similar incident took place at Reagan when a JetBlue plane and a Southwest Airlines plane almost collided as they crossed over the same runway. The FAA is investigating both situations. Aviation expert Tom Kinton, President of Kinton Aviation and former CEO of Massport said yesterdays incident could have been even worse than the one at DCA a month ago. This was even closer even though the distance was not. the fact that American was going 110 knots and had to slam the brakes on. almost got to what they call a point of no return where the aircraft is going too fast and you have to commit to take the airplane off because if you try to stop it youre going to go off the runway. So it clearly the system did an alert on that one because in the aircraft, you can hear the controllers yelling abort, abort, and asking the King Air which was the landing aircraft to go around but they said it was too late, were already on the ground. So the controllers clearly lost separation of these two airplanes. Kinton shared this close call is something to be concerned about. He said the system is calling out for help right now and although there have been second chances now, the control towers might not always be so lucky. Theres been incident after incident around the country of these near misses and loss of separation in the control tower. and you only get so many chances until you ultimately are going to have the worse scenario which is two aircraft impacting each other on an active runway. American Airlines said in a statement, The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and were grateful to our crew for their professionalism. We will support the FAA in its 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 WASHINGTON D.C. - For the second time in six weeks, a Boston-bound flight was forced to slam on the brakes to avoid a potential collision with another plane at Reagan National Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. At about 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, American Airlines flight 2134 was cleared for takeoff with more than 100 passengers and crew on board. A private plane was cleared to land on an intersecting runway. That plane, a King Air, was told to abort its landing but was already on the ground. The American Airlines flight was going 80 knots, or just over 90 mph, when it was forced to stop, leaving the pilot to tell air traffic control an inspection would be needed. The flight eventually left four hours behind schedule and landed safely at Logan Airport in Boston. American Airlines officials said in a statement, "The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and we're grateful to our crew for their professionalism. We will support the FAA in its investigation." April close call at Reagan National The FAA is already looking at a close call at Reagan National in April that involved a Southwest Airlines jetliner and a JetBlue Boston-bound flight. In that incident, an air traffic controller instructed the Southwest flight to cross a runway while the JetBlue flight was starting its takeoff roll down the same runway. The planes ended up about 300 feet from each other. No injuries were reported. Second American sentenced after ammo found in luggage in Turks and Caicos U.S. may allow Ukraine to hit Russian territory with American weapons, Blinken signals Supreme Court allows NRA free speech lawsuit to move forward Higher education Amid scrutiny of its handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus earlier this month, George Washington University hired Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman to work on higher education issues. Work began May 6, according to the new registration, two days before police cleared the encampment and the House Oversight and Accountability Committee canceled its hearing on the demonstrations with the Washington, D.C., police chief and mayor. Lobbyists on the account include former Reps. Greg Laughlin (R-Texas) and Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) as well as Yvette Cravins, a former staffer and lawyer for the House Oversight Committee. This also marks the first time the university has brought on outside lobbyists since 2009, according to the Lobbying Disclosure Act database. Health care Ozempic-maker Novo Nordisk hired Arnold & Porter to lobby on issues related to manufacturing capacity and supply chain resilience. There is currently limited availability of certain injections for the weight-loss drug Wegovy, according to the Food and Drug Administration, although availability has rebounded after shortages of both Ozempic and Wegovy last summer. The Danish drugmaker has boosted its federal lobbying spending as it pushes Congress to pass a bill that would remove restrictions on Medicare coverage of weight management treatments: the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act. One of the lobbyists on the account is Eugenia Edwards Pierson, a former clerk on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where the House version of the bill has been sitting since it was introduced last summer. Streaming Streaming giant Fubo has hired TeleMedia Policy Corp., its first outside lobbyist, to work on competition and communications issues impacting distribution. Fubo is part of the Preserve Viewer Choice Coalition, which has been pushing back on efforts to try to apply broadcast rules to streaming platforms. The lobbyist on the account is Justin Lilley, a former staffer and counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is responsible for setting communications and technology policy. TikTok The TikTok Coalition, which describes the popular video-sharing application as a threat to National Security on its website, hired Iggy Ventures to lobby on the so-called TikTok bill in early April. The lobbyist on the account is Rick Lane, a 21st Century Fox and Chamber of Commerce alum. Biden signed the bill, which would force China-based parent company ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face a U.S. ban, as part of a broader foreign aid package late last month. TikTok sued to block the law earlier this month, arguing its 270 day timeline to find a new owner was unrealistic and calling the bill an extraordinary and unconstitutional assertion of power. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) The child who was shot in the face near Alger Middle School returned home from the hospital this week. Javeon Childreys mother said he went home Monday, six days after the 13-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the cheek. Blessed my baby is still here, Bianca Bridgeforth told News 8 on Thursday. Shooting near Alger Middle School was an accident, mom says The shooting, which police described as accidental, happened May 21 in a bathroom at the Alger Park splash pad, which is on the same block as the school. His mother previously told News 8 that Javeons friend, also an eighth grader, shot him though she doesnt think he meant to. He was just playing. Yeah, he pointed the gun and shot him, but I dont think that he actually knew how it was going to go down especially if he ran behind him (to get help), Bridgeforth told News 8 last week. I dont think it was actually purposely, purposely, cause dont no kid got that much hate in him, I hope. Police say after the shot was fired, both boys ran to the front doors of the school, where school staff started first aid and emergency responders soon arrived. Grand Rapids Public Schools has not released information about how the boys got out of the school building in the middle of the day. Grand Rapids police have not released any additional information about where the gun came from or whether any adults may face charges after it made its way into a childs hands. How Alger Middle parents can talk to their kids about shooting Bridgeforth said her son will not be returning to Alger Middle School as a student next year. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Authorities held a press conference announcing an arrest in Davis case. You can watch it above. DADEVILLE, Ala. (WRBL) The search for 30-year-old Quanisha Davis from Alexander City, Alabama, ended in tragedy as her remains were discovered Thursday morning in a wooded area off Herren Street in Dadeville, Alabama. Davis, who had been reported missing on May 24, was last seen on May 17. The Alexander City Police Department, Dadeville Police Department, Tallapoosa County Sheriffs Department, and the State Bureau of Investigation jointly conduct the investigation. Early this morning, at approximately 7:45 AM, Davis remains were located, leading authorities to transition the missing person case to a homicide investigation. During a Thursday afternoon press conference, the law enforcement agencies first offered condolences to Davis family and friends. Sheriff Jimmy Abbett of Tallapoosa County announced Robert Lee Young, 55, of 243 Aster Street, Dadeville, was arrested and charged with murder. Young, who was in a dating relationship with Davis, remains in the Tallapoosa County Jail pending a bond hearing scheduled for later this week. Investigators say at this time they cannot comment on the evidence that led to Youngs arrest. The victims body has been transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Davis 2006 White Ford Explorer was also found on May 29, around 6:40 PM, in another wooded area off North Loop Road in Dadeville Authorities are urging anyone with additional information regarding Quanisha Davis whereabouts prior to her death to contact the Alexander City Police at (256) 234-3421 or Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Brawling migrants battered, bit cops who turned up to break up fight at Roosevelt Hotel Two NYPD officers were injured in an altercation with migrant residents of the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown last week. Two groups of brawling migrants ganged up on a pair NYPD officers who arrived to break up a fight in the Roosevelt Hotel on May 19 battering the cops and biting one, law enforcement sources told The Post. Both cops were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and four migrants were arrested three of whom were free after prior arrests, according to sources. Police responded to the storied 45th Street hotel, which has been converted to house asylum seekers, around 2:15 p.m on May 19 in response to a reported dispute between the migrants there, sources said. Inside the hotel, the cops were surrounded by the two groups similar to the Times Square attack on NYPD officers in January, sources said. One officer was bitten in his left arm and was bruised on his left leg. Migrants have been living in Midtown Easts Roosevelt hotel since last spring. Stephen Yang for N.Y.Post Another cop suffered injuries to his head, right elbow and wrist. One of the assailants also tried to steal his hat as a trophy, according to sources. One of the officers cameras fell off in the fracas and someone stole it. Both officers were transported to Mount Sinai West in stable condition. Hotel resident Kennedy Jesus Mavarez Lugo, 29, was charged with assaulting a police officer. There have been a number of violent incidents reported at the hotel, which has been converted to house asylum seekers. Matthew McDermott Nicol Cedeno, 24, who also lives at the hotel, was also charged with assaulting a police officer. He was previously charged twice for stealing clothes and kitchenware from a Midtown TJ Maxx and Marshalls in February, sources said. Alexander Ayala, 24, a Roosevelt resident, was charged with attempted robbery for trying to grab the police officers had. He has a previous domestic violence assault charge from December. Yhonneiber Milano, 19, was charged with robbery and obstructing governmental administration charges. He was arrested in February for criminal possession of stolen property. Prosecutors requested between $10,000 and $30,000 partially secured bonds for each defendant. All were granted supervised release by a judge. The brawl was the latest of several violent encounters between migrants and New Yorks Finest. People gather outside the Roosevelt Hotel on April 9, 2024. Jonah Elkowitz / New York Post Last month, a group of five Venezuelan migrants attacked NYPD officers after they were caught red-handed stealing from an Upper East Side Target, sending one officer to the hospital. Four out of the five repeat offenders were cut loose and are back on the streets. In January, a mob of migrants attacked NYPD officers in Times Square. So far seven individuals have been charged in connection to the incident and several were offered plea deals earlier this month. A massive, multi-use mega-tower is expected to replace the run-down and overcrowded Roosevelt Hotel, which is owned by the government of Pakistan, once the migrants move out possibly by the end of the year. Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Pool photo by Seth Wenig/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Jurors in New York state court on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star ultimately to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president wrapped up in Manhattan, marking an extraordinary moment in American history not only for a former leader, but for one who is seeking to again hold the Oval Office. Trump, the Republican Partys presumed 2024 presidential nominee, is now a convicted felon. The jury deliberated for more than 11 hours, beginning Wednesday just before 11:30 a.m. Eastern and delivering the verdict to Justice Juan Merchan just after 5 p.m. Thursday, according to reporters at the courthouse. New York does not allow recording in the courtroom but provides public transcripts of the proceedings. States Newsroom covered the trial in person on May 20. Trump now faces penalties ranging from probation to up to four years in prison for each charge of falsifying business records in the first degree. Merchan set a sentencing date for July 11 at 10 a.m. Thats just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be officially nominated as the partys presidential candidate. New York state prosecutors charged 34 felonies against the former president for each of the 11 invoices, 11 checks, and 12 ledger entries tied to reimbursing his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen, often referred to as Trumps former fixer, said during trial testimony that he wired $130,000 to adult film star and director Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Three criminal cases, two federal and one in Georgia, also still hang in the balance for Trump, but the likelihood of another trial happening before Novembers election is slim. Trump speaks after verdict Trump briefly spoke to news cameras outside the courtroom, criticizing the proceeding as a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said in remarks live-streamed and cataloged on C-SPAN. As he has repeated almost daily for the cameras, Trump again called Merchan a conflicted judge and falsely claimed the case was done by the Biden administration. The charges were brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whom Trump described during his post-verdict comments as Soros-funded, a common mantra from Trumps party referring to Hungarian-American billionaire philanthropist George Soros. During his roughly three-minute remarks, Trump also referred to immigration at the U.S. Southern border, a major campaign rallying cry for Republicans. We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. Were a nation in decline, serious decline. Millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now, Trump said before exiting the hallway without answering shouted questions from reporters. Despite being a convicted felon, Trump will still be able to vote in November in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he is registered, as long as he is not incarcerated. Thats because Florida law only bars voting for convicts tried in a separate state if that state also restricts them; a 2021 New York law restored voting rights for convicted felons following a release from prison and regardless if they are on parole, according to reporting by PolitiFact. House speaker sees shameful day in American history Republicans in Congress and other top GOP officials gathered with Trump at the courthouse for support during the trial and members of the GOP immediately decried the verdict. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who was among those who made the trek, released a statement saying the verdict marked a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon, Johnson wrote. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. Johnson was referring to the testimony from Cohen, who served time in prison for campaign finance crimes related to hush money payments. Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, blasted it as the result of an unfair political process. This was never about justice. It was always about politics, she wrote on X. Americans see through Democrats weaponization of our justice system and this sham trial as a desperate attempt to persecute Trump and block his re-election. The Trump campaign almost immediately solicited donations following the verdict, posting a link on his Truth Social platform to his WinRed donation portal. Trumps son Eric Trump reacted on X with May 30th, 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J. Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election. Video posted from reporters outside the courthouse showed a black SUV driving slowly outside the courthouse while members of the news media held cameras and some scattered in the crowd waved Trump flags and shouted we love you. The jury has spoken In a Thursday evening press conference, Bragg thanked the jurors and his team of prosecutors. While affirming the cases historical importance, Bragg said his office worked the case as they would any other, countering the GOP narrative that the case was politically motivated. The case was decided on the evidence and the law alone, he said. Donald J. Trump is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election, he said. While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today at this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes to the courtroom doors: By following the facts and the law, and doing so without fear or favor. Bragg praised the 12 everyday New Yorkers, who paid careful attention to a complicated documents-based case to reach a unanimous decision. The jurors service represented the cornerstone of the phenomenal U.S. system of justice, he said. Asked if he wanted to respond to any of the personal attacks Trump launched against him and his prosecution team, Bragg declined. Another reporter asked Bragg about criticism of his investigation of the case and his decision to bring a prosecution. I did my job. Our job is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favor. And thats exactly what we did here, he said. Many voices out there, he added. The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury. And the jury has spoken. Trials in limbo in D.C., Georgia, Florida The verdict brought to a close the historic first criminal proceeding against a former sitting American president, albeit at the state level. Trump is currently mired in a fight for absolute immunity from federal criminal charges accusing him of scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. A U.S. Supreme Court decision on his immunity claim is pending. Justices heard arguments in the case on April 25. Meanwhile in Florida, federal District Judge Aileen Cannon has indefinitely postponed the U.S. case against Trump for mishandling and refusing to return classified documents that he hid at his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left office. Trump faces another state case in Georgia, along with several co-conspirators, on racketeering and conspiracy charges related to the states 2020 presidential election results. The case has been held up due to pretrial disputes over alleged misconduct by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Biden campaign reacts A spokesman for President Joe Bidens campaign, Michael Tyler, said in a statement that the verdict showed no one is above the law and that Trump remained a threat to democracy whom voters should reject. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, Tyler wrote. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater, Tyler continued. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November. The Biden White House had much less to say. Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House Counsels Office, said in a one-sentence email: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. Members of Congress speak out House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, said in a statement the guilty decision from the jurors represented a devastating defeat for any American who believes in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind. This verdict will not withstand an appeal, and was only brought as an attempt to interfere with the 2024 election, Scalise wrote. The radical partisan Democrats behind this abuse of our justice system will not prevail. The voters will settle this on November 5th. Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committees federal courts subcommittee, released a statement saying that an individual who has been convicted of 34 felony counts and shows zero respect for the rule of law is not fit to lead the greatest nation in the world. Its only in honest courtrooms that the former president has been unable to lie and bully his way out of trouble, Whitehouse said. Americans trust juries for good reason. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis posted on social media that he was shocked by the verdict considering that this case should have never been brought forward. From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals, Tillis wrote. I expect and hope that President Trump will appeal this verdict to address fundamental questions, including whether President Trump received a fair trial and whether the Manhattan D.A. even had jurisdiction on a federal election matter. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said the jurys decision showed that Americas justice system functioned the way it was supposed to. Today our system of justice worked, and former President Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts by a jury of American citizens, McCollum wrote on social media. No person is above the law. A sham or an affirmation? Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds wrote in a statement the trial was a sham. For years, Democrats like Alvin Bragg have been trying to put President Trump in jail with complete disregard for our democracy and the will of the American people, Reynolds wrote. The only verdict that matters is the one at the ballot box in November where the American people will elect President Trump again. Florida Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz wrote on social media that the jurys guilty verdict wasnt political. A former president being convicted is nothing to be celebrated, but it is an affirmation that nobody is above the law, Moskowitz wrote. This verdict was reached by a jury of Trumps peers, by citizens of the American justice system, not by a judge or by a political opponent. Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, rejected the verdict, writing on social media it was a travesty of justice. The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Bidens failing radical policies, Jordan wrote. Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine posted on social media the verdict is proof that no one is above the law in this country. Its also tragic in this way Americans put the reins of leadership in the hands of a person whose character is so far beneath the office that no rational adult would ever encourage young people to emulate his behavior, Kaine wrote. Trumps lack of character has caught up to him, Kaine added. And Americans once again have received a clear warning about a person who wants to seize leadership once again. I pray that we heed the warning. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said Thursday was a sad day for all Americans. This verdict in New York is another example of Democrats being relentless in their pursuit to weaponize the courts, abuse Americas judicial system, and target President Joe Bidens political opposition, Comer wrote. One thing is clear: Democrats are afraid to face Donald Trump. Americans will make their voices heard this November. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the Republican nominee for the states open U.S. Senate seat, urged restraint in a social media post. Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process, Hogan wrote. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders regardless of party must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law. Jacob Fischler and Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report. The post Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts in NY hush money trial appeared first on Kansas Reflector. Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Jurors in New York state court on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star ultimately to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president wrapped up in Manhattan, marking an extraordinary moment in American history not only for a former leader, but for one who is seeking to again hold the Oval Office. Trump, the Republican Partys presumed 2024 presidential nominee, is now a convicted felon. The jury deliberated for more than 11 hours, beginning Wednesday just before 11:30 a.m. Eastern and delivering the verdict to Justice Juan Merchan just after 5 p.m. Thursday, according to reporters at the courthouse. New York does not allow recording in the courtroom but provides public transcripts of the proceedings. States Newsroom covered the trial in person on May 20. Trump now faces penalties ranging from probation to up to four years in prison for each charge of falsifying business records in the first degree. Merchan set a sentencing date for July 11 at 10 a.m. Thats just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be officially nominated as the partys presidential candidate. New York state prosecutors charged 34 felonies against the former president for each of the 11 invoices, 11 checks, and 12 ledger entries tied to reimbursing his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen, often referred to as Trumps former fixer, said during trial testimony that he wired $130,000 to adult film star and director Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Oregon leaders react Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon: Justice has spoken in the courtroom today, but that wont change the fact that one of our countrys two largest political parties is backing a convicted felon as its nominee in a presidential election. Democracy is on the ballot this November. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon: The jury has spoken. Trump broke the law and used his money, power, and privilege to conceal the crime. For the first time in his life, Trump has been held accountable for his misdeeds. Justice had a good day. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, posted a photo on Facebook posing with an altered bottle of Snoop Doggs 19 Crimes brand of wine. His bottle features a photo of Trump with prison bars drawn over his face and the 19 crossed out and replaced with 34. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon: Donald Trump was convicted in a court of law by a jury of his peers. Even former presidents must be held accountable for criminal acts. The Oregon Republican Party, on X: Perversion of justice. The banana republic has arrived in the USA. The partys official account also shared a photo of an upside-down U.S. flag and retweeted a Trump campaign video captioned RIGGED. Three criminal cases, two federal and one in Georgia, also still hang in the balance for Trump, but the likelihood of another trial happening before Novembers election is slim. Trump speaks after verdict Trump briefly spoke to news cameras outside the courtroom, criticizing the proceeding as a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said in remarks live-streamed and cataloged on C-SPAN. As he has repeated almost daily for the cameras, Trump again called Merchan a conflicted judge and falsely claimed the case was done by the Biden administration. The charges were brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whom Trump described during his post-verdict comments as Soros-funded, a common mantra from Trumps party referring to Hungarian-American billionaire philanthropist George Soros. During his roughly three-minute remarks, Trump also referred to immigration at the U.S. Southern border, a major campaign rallying cry for Republicans. We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. Were a nation in decline, serious decline. Millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now, Trump said before exiting the hallway without answering shouted questions from reporters. Despite being a convicted felon, Trump will still be able to vote in November in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he is registered, as long as he is not incarcerated. Thats because Florida law only bars voting for convicts tried in a separate state if that state also restricts them; a 2021 New York law restored voting rights for convicted felons following a release from prison and regardless if they are on parole, according to reporting by PolitiFact. House speaker sees shameful day in American history Republicans in Congress and other top GOP officials gathered with Trump at the courthouse for support during the trial and members of the GOP immediately decried the verdict. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who was among those who made the trek, released a statement saying the verdict marked a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon, Johnson wrote. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. Johnson was referring to the testimony from Cohen, who served time in prison for campaign finance crimes related to hush money payments. Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, blasted it as the result of an unfair political process. This was never about justice. It was always about politics, she wrote on X. Americans see through Democrats weaponization of our justice system and this sham trial as a desperate attempt to persecute Trump and block his re-election. The Trump campaign almost immediately solicited donations following the verdict, posting a link on his Truth Social platform to his WinRed donation portal. Trumps son Eric Trump reacted on X with May 30th, 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J. Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election. Video posted from reporters outside the courthouse showed a black SUV driving slowly outside the courthouse while members of the news media held cameras and some scattered in the crowd waved Trump flags and shouted we love you. Trials in limbo in D.C., Georgia, Florida The verdict brought to a close the historic first criminal proceeding against a former sitting American president, albeit at the state level. Trump is currently mired in a fight for absolute immunity from federal criminal charges accusing him of scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. A U.S. Supreme Court decision on his immunity claim is pending. Justices heard arguments in the case on April 25. Meanwhile in Florida, federal District Judge Aileen Cannon has indefinitely postponed the U.S. case against Trump for mishandling and refusing to return classified documents that he hid at his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left office. Trump faces another state case in Georgia, along with several co-conspirators, on racketeering and conspiracy charges related to the states 2020 presidential election results. The case has been held up due to pretrial disputes over alleged misconduct by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Biden campaign reacts A spokesman for President Joe Bidens campaign, Michael Tyler, said in a statement that the verdict showed no one is above the law and that Trump remained a threat to democracy whom voters should reject. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, Tyler wrote. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater, Tyler continued. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November. The Biden White House had much less to say. Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House Counsels Office, said in a one-sentence email: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. Members of Congress speak out House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, said in a statement the guilty decision from the jurors represented a devastating defeat for any American who believes in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind. This verdict will not withstand an appeal, and was only brought as an attempt to interfere with the 2024 election, Scalise wrote. The radical partisan Democrats behind this abuse of our justice system will not prevail. The voters will settle this on November 5th. Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committees federal courts subcommittee, released a statement saying that an individual who has been convicted of 34 felony counts and shows zero respect for the rule of law is not fit to lead the greatest nation in the world. Its only in honest courtrooms that the former president has been unable to lie and bully his way out of trouble, Whitehouse said. Americans trust juries for good reason. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis posted on social media that he was shocked by the verdict considering that this case should have never been brought forward. From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals, Tillis wrote. I expect and hope that President Trump will appeal this verdict to address fundamental questions, including whether President Trump received a fair trial and whether the Manhattan D.A. even had jurisdiction on a federal election matter. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said the jurys decision showed that Americas justice system functioned the way it was supposed to. Today our system of justice worked, and former President Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts by a jury of American citizens, McCollum wrote on social media. No person is above the law. A sham or an affirmation? Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds wrote in a statement the trial was a sham. For years, Democrats like Alvin Bragg have been trying to put President Trump in jail with complete disregard for our democracy and the will of the American people, Reynolds wrote. The only verdict that matters is the one at the ballot box in November where the American people will elect President Trump again. Florida Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz wrote on social media that the jurys guilty verdict wasnt political. A former president being convicted is nothing to be celebrated, but it is an affirmation that nobody is above the law, Moskowitz wrote. This verdict was reached by a jury of Trumps peers, by citizens of the American justice system, not by a judge or by a political opponent. Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, rejected the verdict, writing on social media it was a travesty of justice. The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Bidens failing radical policies, Jordan wrote. Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine posted on social media the verdict is proof that no one is above the law in this country. Its also tragic in this way Americans put the reins of leadership in the hands of a person whose character is so far beneath the office that no rational adult would ever encourage young people to emulate his behavior, Kaine wrote. Trumps lack of character has caught up to him, Kaine added. And Americans once again have received a clear warning about a person who wants to seize leadership once again. I pray that we heed the warning. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said Thursday was a sad day for all Americans. This verdict in New York is another example of Democrats being relentless in their pursuit to weaponize the courts, abuse Americas judicial system, and target President Joe Bidens political opposition, Comer wrote. One thing is clear: Democrats are afraid to face Donald Trump. Americans will make their voices heard this November. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the Republican nominee for the states open U.S. Senate seat, urged restraint in a social media post. Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process, Hogan wrote. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders regardless of party must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law. Jacob Fischler and Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report. The post Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts in NY hush money trial appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle. Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 ,in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Jurors in New York state court on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star ultimately to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president wrapped up in Manhattan, marking an extraordinary moment in American history not only for a former leader, but for one who is seeking to again hold the Oval Office. Trump, the Republican Partys presumed 2024 presidential nominee, is now a convicted felon. The jury deliberated for more than 11 hours, beginning Wednesday just before 11:30 a.m. Eastern and delivering the verdict to Justice Juan Merchan just after 5 p.m. Thursday, according to reporters at the courthouse. Nebraskans react See sidebar at bottom of story for reaction from Nebraska elected officials and political candidates. Comments will be added as they are issued. New York does not allow recording in the courtroom but provides public transcripts of the proceedings. States Newsroom covered the trial in person on May 20. Trump now faces penalties ranging from probation to up to four years in prison for each charge of falsifying business records in the first degree. Merchan set a sentencing date for July 11 at 10 a.m. Thats just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be officially nominated as the partys presidential candidate. New York state prosecutors charged 34 felonies against the former president for each of the 11 invoices, 11 checks, and 12 ledger entries tied to reimbursing his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen, often referred to as Trumps former fixer, said during trial testimony that he wired $130,000 to adult film star and director Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Three criminal cases, two federal and one in Georgia, also still hang in the balance for Trump, but the likelihood of another trial happening before Novembers election is slim. Trump speaks after verdict Trump briefly spoke to news cameras outside the courtroom, criticizing the proceeding as a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said in remarks live-streamed and cataloged on C-SPAN. As he has repeated almost daily for the cameras, Trump again called Merchan a conflicted judge and falsely claimed the case was done by the Biden administration. The charges were brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whom Trump described during his post-verdict comments as Soros-funded, a common mantra from Trumps party referring to Hungarian-American billionaire philanthropist George Soros. During his roughly three-minute remarks, Trump also referred to immigration at the U.S. Southern border, a major campaign rallying cry for Republicans. We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. Were a nation in decline, serious decline. Millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now, Trump said before exiting the hallway without answering shouted questions from reporters. Despite being a convicted felon, Trump will still be able to vote in November in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he is registered, as long as he is not incarcerated. Thats because Florida law only bars voting for convicts tried in a separate state if that state also restricts them; a 2021 New York law restored voting rights for convicted felons following a release from prison and regardless if they are on parole, according to reporting by PolitiFact. House speaker sees shameful day in American history Republicans in Congress and other top GOP officials gathered with Trump at the courthouse for support during the trial, and members of the GOP immediately decried the verdict. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who was among those who made the trek, released a statement saying the verdict marked a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon, Johnson wrote. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. Johnson was referring to the testimony from Cohen, who served time in prison for campaign finance crimes related to hush money payments. Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, blasted it as the result of an unfair political process. This was never about justice. It was always about politics, she wrote on X. Americans see through Democrats weaponization of our justice system and this sham trial as a desperate attempt to persecute Trump and block his re-election. The Trump campaign almost immediately solicited donations following the verdict, posting a link on his Truth Social platform to his WinRed donation portal. Trumps son Eric Trump reacted on X with May 30th, 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J. Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election. Video posted from reporters outside the courthouse showed a black SUV driving slowly outside the courthouse while members of the news media held cameras and some people scattered in the crowd waved Trump flags and shouted we love you. The jury has spoken In a Thursday evening press conference, Bragg thanked the jurors and his team of prosecutors. While affirming the cases historical importance, Bragg said his office worked the case as they would any other, countering the GOP narrative that the case was politically motivated. The case was decided on the evidence and the law alone, he said. Donald J. Trump is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election, he said. While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today at this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes to the courtroom doors: By following the facts and the law, and doing so without fear or favor. Bragg praised the 12 everyday New Yorkers, who paid careful attention to a complicated documents-based case to reach a unanimous decision. The jurors service represented the cornerstone of the phenomenal U.S. system of justice, he said. Asked if he wanted to respond to any of the personal attacks Trump launched against him and his prosecution team, Bragg declined. Another reporter asked Bragg about criticism of his investigation of the case and his decision to bring a prosecution. I did my job. Our job is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favor. And thats exactly what we did here, he said. Many voices out there, he added. The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury. And the jury has spoken. Trials in limbo in D.C., Georgia, Florida The verdict brought to a close the historic first criminal proceeding against a former sitting American president, albeit at the state level. Trump is currently mired in a fight for absolute immunity from federal criminal charges accusing him of scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. A U.S. Supreme Court decision on his immunity claim is pending. Justices heard arguments in the case on April 25. Meanwhile, in Florida, federal District Judge Aileen Cannon has indefinitely postponed the U.S. case against Trump for mishandling and refusing to return classified documents that he hid at his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left office. Trump faces another state case in Georgia, along with several co-conspirators, on racketeering and conspiracy charges related to the states 2020 presidential election results. The case has been held up due to pretrial disputes over alleged misconduct by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Biden campaign reacts A spokesman for President Joe Bidens campaign, Michael Tyler, said in a statement that the verdict showed no one is above the law and that Trump remained a threat to democracy whom voters should reject. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, Tyler wrote. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater, Tyler continued. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November. The Biden White House had much less to say. Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House Counsels Office, said in a one-sentence email: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. Members of Congress speak out House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, said in a statement the guilty decision from the jurors represented a devastating defeat for any American who believes in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind. This verdict will not withstand an appeal, and was only brought as an attempt to interfere with the 2024 election, Scalise wrote. The radical partisan Democrats behind this abuse of our justice system will not prevail. The voters will settle this on November 5th. Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committees federal courts subcommittee, released a statement saying that an individual who has been convicted of 34 felony counts and shows zero respect for the rule of law is not fit to lead the greatest nation in the world. Its only in honest courtrooms that the former president has been unable to lie and bully his way out of trouble, Whitehouse said. Americans trust juries for good reason. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis posted on social media that he was shocked by the verdict considering that this case should have never been brought forward. From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals, Tillis wrote. I expect and hope that President Trump will appeal this verdict to address fundamental questions, including whether President Trump received a fair trial and whether the Manhattan D.A. even had jurisdiction on a federal election matter. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said the jurys decision showed that Americas justice system functioned the way it was supposed to. Today our system of justice worked, and former President Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts by a jury of American citizens, McCollum wrote on social media. No person is above the law. A sham or an affirmation? Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds wrote in a statement the trial was a sham. For years, Democrats like Alvin Bragg have been trying to put President Trump in jail with complete disregard for our democracy and the will of the American people, Reynolds wrote. The only verdict that matters is the one at the ballot box in November where the American people will elect President Trump again. Florida Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz wrote on social media that the jurys guilty verdict wasnt political. A former president being convicted is nothing to be celebrated, but it is an affirmation that nobody is above the law, Moskowitz wrote. This verdict was reached by a jury of Trumps peers, by citizens of the American justice system, not by a judge or by a political opponent. Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, rejected the verdict, writing on social media it was a travesty of justice. The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Bidens failing radical policies, Jordan wrote. Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine posted on social media the verdict is proof that no one is above the law in this country. Its also tragic in this way Americans put the reins of leadership in the hands of a person whose character is so far beneath the office that no rational adult would ever encourage young people to emulate his behavior, Kaine wrote. Trumps lack of character has caught up to him, Kaine added. And Americans once again have received a clear warning about a person who wants to seize leadership once again. I pray that we heed the warning. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said Thursday was a sad day for all Americans. This verdict in New York is another example of Democrats being relentless in their pursuit to weaponize the courts, abuse Americas judicial system, and target President Joe Bidens political opposition, Comer wrote. One thing is clear: Democrats are afraid to face Donald Trump. Americans will make their voices heard this November. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the Republican nominee for the states open U.S. Senate seat, urged restraint in a social media post. Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process, Hogan wrote. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders regardless of party must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law. States Newsroom reporters Jacob Fischler and Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report. Reaction from Nebraska U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb.: Weaponizing our judicial system for political gain is beyond the pale. This trial and its outcome were carefully manufactured for political retribution not equal justice under the law. President Trumps critics believe theyve wounded him, when in fact, theyve only wounded our country. I expect this conviction will be appropriately overturned. U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb.: This trial was brought about to boost DA Braggs political career and to hurt President Trumps re-election efforts. It is terrifying to see an institution so central to our republic taken over by activists trying to manipulate the democratic process. This trial has undermined American confidence in our judicial system. I look forward to Donald Trumps appeal and hope that process will be more fair than what we have seen to date. 1st District U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb.: This is just the first step in the judicial process. I fully expect that President Trump will appeal this decision and I urge people on all sides of the political spectrum to respect the rule of law as the process continues to play itself out. 2nd District U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.: Sad day for the country. This is an unprecedented prosecution for a crime very seldom charged, led by a prosecutor who campaigned on going after Trump. That undermines the credibility of the verdict. I have trust in our legal system which includes the appeals process. 3rd District U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb.: Todays verdict is based largely on discredited witnesses and prosecutorial indiscretion, and demonstrates once again that there are two systems of justice in President Bidens America. I trust that President Trump will appeal and I support that effort. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Preston Love Jr.: After reviewing the results of the case against Mr. Trump, there wasnt a doubt in my mind about the result. The former president, now a convicted felon, has brought our democracy and justice system to the brink. Thats nothing to celebrate. State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, 2nd District Democratic U.S. House candidate: Everyone is entitled to due process under the law, and Donald Trump has been found guilty of 34 felony counts. Don Bacon has endorsed a criminally convicted felon for President and enabled this lawlessness. That level of judgment has no place in the United States Congress. Nebraska Examiner political reporter Aaron Sanderford The post Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts in NY hush money trial appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. Surviving a fall from 5,220 meters holding onto a fragment of an aircraft did not turn Larisa Savitskaya into a news headline, but rather an unwanted witness of an air disaster the USSR wanted to hide. On August 28, 1981, she and her husband were returning from their honeymoon on Aeroflot Flight 811 when the plane an Antonov An-24 collided mid-air with a Tupolev Tu-16K strategic bomber over Amur Oblast in the Soviet Union, which is now Russia. Savitskaya, who was only 20 years old at the time, was the only survivor. Not only did she survive the eight-minute fall and crashing into trees, she also survived three days out in the open with her injuries. But Soviet authorities wanted to cover up her incredible story. Maintaining its tradition of secrecy and lack of transparency, it declared the incident classified. Savitskaya herself did not find out what had happened until the fall of the Soviet Union, 10 years later. Now, 40 years after the accident, a new documentary called Eight Minutes to the Ground is looking at this story of survival and secrecy a tale that is also the focus of the Russian film (or One), which will be released in Spain next year. More information Confessions of the Boston soccer mom who was secretly a Russian spy They didnt tell me anything. They only addressed my mother and told her: Forget what happened, Savitskaya tells EL PAIS. My mother signed some documents. For 10 years, I didnt know what had happened. Neither the number of passengers [who had died] nor any side of the story, says the survivor, who, over time, has been able to recover from the trauma of that day and move on with her life. Now I am good, I am a happy person, she says. The first article about the air disaster was published in 1985. It blamed the pilots and said that one of the aircraft was still flying. It was not until the 1990s that the investigation was declassified, and only then did the terrible mistakes of the Soviet air force come to light. The flight plan of the Tu-16K bomber crossed into the civilian route of the An-24 passenger aircraft. But the pilots of the bomber were not notified and the air controller at the military base who should have been supervising the Tu-16K did not use radar assistance to track the aircraft. Visibility was good beyond 10 kilometers, but the bomber collided with the passenger plane as it was mid-ascent. A total of 37 people died: 31 on board the AN-24 and the six crew members of the Tu-16K. The crash occurred five years before Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev launched his campaign for glasnost a drive to improve transparency in the murky Soviet administration. Despite this, secrecy within the powerful Russian military never disappeared, nor did the zeal for covering up its mistakes. The accident reports from the crash remained under lock and key and Gorbachev himself did not set a good example when it came to telling the truth. It took him one month to appear before the press after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. Government secrecy in Russia continues even today: in 2019, while the city of Arkhangelsk expressed alarm about a spike in radiation levels, the Russian government remained silent for four days before revealing that there had been an explosion in a laboratory for new, nuclear-powered weapons. They didnt tell me anything. They only addressed my mother and told her, Forget what happened Plane crash survivor Larisa Savitskaya All for secrecy, says Savitskaya, who points out that there was no coordination between military and civilian air traffic control at the time of the 1981 crash. Several more cases like this happened in the country. The sole survivor of the air disaster was paid 75 by Aeroflot, officially known as Russian Airlines. That was the equivalent of $110 or $330 (287) by todays standards. She was given another 150 for the death of her husband. Larisa was introduced to her husband Vladimir Savitskaya by a mutual friend, and they began to date when she was studying at the Pedagogy Institute in Moscow. They married soon after and spent their honeymoon with Vladimirs parents. When they boarded the plane in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in the east of the USSR, to return to Blagoveshchensk, near the border with China, the aircraft was half empty and they chose seats at the back to be more comfortable. A flight attendant invited them to sit further up, but they refused and switched seats with other passengers who did want to be closer to the front. Savitskaya would later see her original seat fly off during the accident. I woke up in the aisle, she says. The collision with the bomber had torn off both of the planes wings and some of the aircraft itself. The part of the plane she was in began to turn but did not tip over. Savitskaya returned to her seat and buckled her seatbelt. Vladimir was in the seat beside her. I knew at that moment that my husband had died. He had blood on his head, on his suit she says. The passenger plane began to break apart as it plummeted to the ground. Due to the decompression, it was extremely cold dozens of degrees below zero. Savitskaya was conscious of everything. She saw the last moments of several passengers. People were screaming, she says. She held on tight to her seat as best she could, as it started to come loose from the floor. Her head filled with images of a film she had seen with her husband the year before, Miracles Still Happen (1974), where the protagonist saves herself by doing the same thing as Savitskaya. Luckily, the birch trees softened the blow of the impact. There are things you dont forget, says Savitskaya today. It doesnt matter how much I have tried, the plane accident will always be with me. After hitting the ground, she woke up in the middle of the woods. She had fractures to her arms, ribs and five points in her spinal cord, and she had broken her teeth. The snow falling around her turned the forest into a dream-like landscape, one which held the body of her dead husband. It doesnt matter how much I have tried, the plane accident will always be with me Plane crash survivor Larisa Savitskaya I didnt know where to go, I was surrounded by trees. It was terribly cold and it was raining quite a bit. I wanted to sleep but I couldnt because of the pain, recalls Savitskaya, who decided to wait for the rescue team. She covered herself in blankets she found among the wreckage and used plastic to protect herself from mosquitoes. To quench her thirst, she drank from a puddle. I was soaked, I only wanted to get warm, she says. A helicopter flew over the area and she tried to signal it, but no one came to her aid they had mistaken her with some geologists who were working in the region. On the third day, she lost hope of being found, and in her weakened state, began to walk. She had not gone very far when she was at last discovered by rescuers. The next thing she remembers is waking up in a hospital. After the accident, she had to remain silent. She also received no psychological help. That concept didnt exist, Savitskaya explains. Who helps you in this type of situation? Mom and dad. When I moved to Moscow to learn psychophysiology, I studied myself. I was able to help myself. Savitskaya has never worked as a psychologist with other victims of accidents, but her experience with post-traumatic stress has helped her to support the veterans of the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989). They have a similar mental state, she says. Understanding that I was not the only one, that more people have survived similar things, helped me. Savitskaya was able to start her life again after the crash. When she looks around her now, she sees a loving husband, a job, a son and a granddaughter. Whats more, the accident hasnt made her afraid of flying: Lightning doesnt strike twice in the same place that phrase applies to me. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 30: Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Jurors in New York state court on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star ultimately to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president wrapped up in Manhattan, marking an extraordinary moment in American history not only for a former leader, but for one who is seeking to again hold the Oval Office. Trump, the Republican Partys presumed 2024 presidential nominee, is now a convicted felon. The jury deliberated for more than 11 hours, beginning Wednesday just before 11:30 a.m. Eastern and delivering the verdict to Justice Juan Merchan just after 5 p.m. Thursday, according to reporters at the courthouse. New York does not allow recording in the courtroom but provides public transcripts of the proceedings. States Newsroom covered the trial in person on May 20. Trump now faces penalties ranging from probation to up to four years in prison for each charge of falsifying business records in the first degree. Merchan set a sentencing date for July 11 at 10 a.m. Thats just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be officially nominated as the partys presidential candidate. New York state prosecutors charged 34 felonies against the former president for each of the 11 invoices, 11 checks, and 12 ledger entries tied to reimbursing his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen, often referred to as Trumps former fixer, said during trial testimony that he wired $130,000 to adult film star and director Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Three criminal cases, two federal and one in Georgia, also still hang in the balance for Trump, but the likelihood of another trial happening before Novembers election is slim. Trump speaks after verdict Trump briefly spoke to news cameras outside the courtroom, criticizing the proceeding as a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said in remarks live-streamed and cataloged on C-SPAN. As he has repeated almost daily for the cameras, Trump again called Merchan a conflicted judge and falsely claimed the case was done by the Biden administration. The charges were brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whom Trump described during his post-verdict comments as Soros-funded, a common mantra from Trumps party referring to Hungarian-American billionaire philanthropist George Soros. During his roughly three-minute remarks, Trump also referred to immigration at the U.S. Southern border, a major campaign rallying cry for Republicans. We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. Were a nation in decline, serious decline. Millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now, Trump said before exiting the hallway without answering shouted questions from reporters. Despite being a convicted felon, Trump will still be able to vote in November in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he is registered, as long as he is not incarcerated. Thats because Florida law only bars voting for convicts tried in a separate state if that state also restricts them; a 2021 New York law restored voting rights for convicted felons following a release from prison and regardless if they are on parole, according to reporting by PolitiFact. House speaker sees shameful day in American history Republicans in Congress and other top GOP officials gathered with Trump at the courthouse for support during the trial and members of the GOP immediately decried the verdict. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who was among those who made the trek, released a statement saying the verdict marked a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon, Johnson wrote. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. Johnson was referring to the testimony from Cohen, who served time in prison for campaign finance crimes related to hush money payments. Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, blasted it as the result of an unfair political process. This was never about justice. It was always about politics, she wrote on X. Americans see through Democrats weaponization of our justice system and this sham trial as a desperate attempt to persecute Trump and block his re-election. The Trump campaign almost immediately solicited donations following the verdict, posting a link on his Truth Social platform to his WinRed donation portal. Trumps son Eric Trump reacted on X with May 30th, 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J. Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election. Video posted from reporters outside the courthouse showed a black SUV driving slowly outside the courthouse while members of the news media held cameras and some scattered in the crowd waved Trump flags and shouted we love you. Trials in limbo in D.C., Georgia, Florida The verdict brought to a close the historic first criminal proceeding against a former sitting American president, albeit at the state level. Trump is currently mired in a fight for absolute immunity from federal criminal charges accusing him of scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. A U.S. Supreme Court decision on his immunity claim is pending. Justices heard arguments in the case on April 25. Meanwhile in Florida, federal District Judge Aileen Cannon has indefinitely postponed the U.S. case against Trump for mishandling and refusing to return classified documents that he hid at his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left office. Trump faces another state case in Georgia, along with several co-conspirators, on racketeering and conspiracy charges related to the states 2020 presidential election results. The case has been held up due to pretrial disputes over alleged misconduct by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Biden campaign reacts A spokesman for President Joe Bidens campaign, Michael Tyler, said in a statement that the verdict showed no one is above the law and that Trump remained a threat to democracy whom voters should reject. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, Tyler wrote. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater, Tyler continued. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November. The Biden White House had much less to say. Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House Counsels Office, said in a one-sentence email: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. Members of Congress speak out House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, said in a statement the guilty decision from the jurors represented a devastating defeat for any American who believes in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind. This verdict will not withstand an appeal, and was only brought as an attempt to interfere with the 2024 election, Scalise wrote. The radical partisan Democrats behind this abuse of our justice system will not prevail. The voters will settle this on November 5th. Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committees federal courts subcommittee, released a statement saying that an individual who has been convicted of 34 felony counts and shows zero respect for the rule of law is not fit to lead the greatest nation in the world. Its only in honest courtrooms that the former president has been unable to lie and bully his way out of trouble, Whitehouse said. Americans trust juries for good reason. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis posted on social media that he was shocked by the verdict considering that this case should have never been brought forward. From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals, Tillis wrote. I expect and hope that President Trump will appeal this verdict to address fundamental questions, including whether President Trump received a fair trial and whether the Manhattan D.A. even had jurisdiction on a federal election matter. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said the jurys decision showed that Americas justice system functioned the way it was supposed to. Today our system of justice worked, and former President Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts by a jury of American citizens, McCollum wrote on social media. No person is above the law. A sham or an affirmation? Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds wrote in a statement the trial was a sham. For years, Democrats like Alvin Bragg have been trying to put President Trump in jail with complete disregard for our democracy and the will of the American people, Reynolds wrote. The only verdict that matters is the one at the ballot box in November where the American people will elect President Trump again. Florida Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz wrote on social media that the jurys guilty verdict wasnt political. A former president being convicted is nothing to be celebrated, but it is an affirmation that nobody is above the law, Moskowitz wrote. This verdict was reached by a jury of Trumps peers, by citizens of the American justice system, not by a judge or by a political opponent. Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, rejected the verdict, writing on social media it was a travesty of justice. The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Bidens failing radical policies, Jordan wrote. Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine posted on social media the verdict is proof that no one is above the law in this country. Its also tragic in this way Americans put the reins of leadership in the hands of a person whose character is so far beneath the office that no rational adult would ever encourage young people to emulate his behavior, Kaine wrote. Trumps lack of character has caught up to him, Kaine added. And Americans once again have received a clear warning about a person who wants to seize leadership once again. I pray that we heed the warning. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said Thursday was a sad day for all Americans. This verdict in New York is another example of Democrats being relentless in their pursuit to weaponize the courts, abuse Americas judicial system, and target President Joe Bidens political opposition, Comer wrote. One thing is clear: Democrats are afraid to face Donald Trump. Americans will make their voices heard this November. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the Republican nominee for the states open U.S. Senate seat, urged restraint in a social media post. Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process, Hogan wrote. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders regardless of party must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law. Jacob Fischler and Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report. The post Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts in NY hush money trial appeared first on NC Newsline. Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Jurors in New York state court on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star ultimately to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president wrapped up in Manhattan, marking an extraordinary moment in American history not only for a former leader, but for one who is seeking to again hold the Oval Office. Trump, the Republican Partys presumed 2024 presidential nominee, is now a convicted felon. The jury deliberated for more than 11 hours, beginning Wednesday just before 11:30 a.m. Eastern and delivering the verdict to Justice Juan Merchan just after 5 p.m. Thursday, according to reporters at the courthouse. New York does not allow recording in the courtroom but provides public transcripts of the proceedings. States Newsroom covered the trial in person on May 20. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Trump now faces penalties ranging from probation to up to four years in prison for each charge of falsifying business records in the first degree. Merchan set a sentencing date for July 11 at 10 a.m. Thats just days before the Republican National Convention where Trump is expected to be officially nominated as the partys presidential candidate. New York state prosecutors charged 34 felonies against the former president for each of the 11 invoices, 11 checks, and 12 ledger entries tied to reimbursing his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen, often referred to as Trumps former fixer, said during trial testimony that he wired $130,000 to adult film star and director Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Three criminal cases, two federal and one in Georgia, also still hang in the balance for Trump, but the likelihood of another trial happening before Novembers election is slim. Reaction starts rolling in Indianas Third District Congressman Jim Banks immediately released a statement saying, Its a sad day for our country, as Joe Biden and his liberal cronies have advanced their election interference plot. Joe Biden is behind all of this because he knows he cant beat him at the ballot box. Its a complete and total SHAM, and it has been since the beginning. Indiana Republican gubernatorial nominee and U.S. Sen. Mike Braun also weighed in. This case was a blatant abuse of our justice system as a political weapon by a radical prosecutor trying to interfere in the election, and the verdict proves that this was just a show trial all along. Trump is going to win in November because Americans are sick of these political games when the price of everything has doubled in 4 years, and the world is at war because of Joe Bidens weakness and incompetence. But Michael Tyler, communications director for the President Joe Bidens re-election campaign, said the jury shows no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, Tyler said. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November. This developing story will be updated. The post BREAKING: Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts in NY hush money trial appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle. NEW YORK When Sen. Bob Menendez stood trial on corruption charges in 2017, he claimed the lavish vacations and private jet flights he received from a friend and political donor werent bribes they were gifts. It worked, with jurors failing to convict him. Now, as New Jerseys senior senator faces another trial in federal court, his co-defendants are employing the same legal maneuver. Only theyre not accused of flying the senator to exotic locales. Instead, prosecutors say they plied Menendez and his wife with a luxury car, gold bars and piles of cash. At the end of the day, what the government is trying to do here is to criminalize gift-giving, Lawrence Lustberg, an attorney for one of Menendezs two co-defendants, Wael Will Hana, said at the start of the current trial. Don't let them say that every gift is a bribe. Lawyers for Hana and the other co-defendant, North Jersey developer Fred Daibes, have not denied giving the senator and his wife piles of cash and gold bars. But they say that prosecutors have overstated their meaning. Thats the same argument made six years ago by lawyers for Dr. Salomon Melgen, a Florida eye doctor and longtime Menendez friend and donor. There are key differences between the trials, but in the best-case scenario for Menendez his political career is now ruined by the generosity of friends piquing prosecutors interest. In the worst-case scenario, hell soon be heading to prison. In Menendezs 2017 trial, attorneys said that the senator and Melgen had been longtime friends. So they argued that the doctors private jet flights, lavish hotel stays and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations were not why Menendez had gone to bat for the doctors business interests. At the end of the trial, an attorney for Melgen made a plea to the jury. Is there, in this case, a duffel bag stuffed with cash somewhere? the doctors attorney said . No, he said, answering his own question, theres none of that. But this time around, federal investigators found a black duffel bag stuffed with $133,000 in cash during a search of the senators home office. That 2022 search of Menendez and his wifes home also turned up cash inside boots, jackets with the senators name on them, a plastic bag and a safe, which also contained gold bars. Prosecutors say at least some of the cash and gold, along with mortgage and car payments that benefited the Menendezes, were bribes from a trio of New Jersey business people to the senator, who put his power up for sale. Hana and Daibes both argue they, too, are longtime friends with Menendez or his wife, Nadine Menendez. Hana and Nadine Menendez were like brother and sister, Lustberg told jurors in his opening statement. Daibes and Menendez have been genuine friends for more than three decades, Daibes attorney Cesar de Castro said, adding that the developer likes to gift gold. Mr. Daibes is not going to deny that the money and gold that the government has connected to him was given by him, de Castro told the jury. Yes, gold bars were given by him. Yes, cash was given by him. But what we do challenge is that gold or money was given to pay Senator Menendez to engage in any official senatorial acts. Neither Hana nor Daibes have detailed how much they gave and when, but its a similar claim from the opening statements of Menendezs 2017 corruption trial. Defense attorneys worked then to convince jurors that prosecutors were misinterpreting gifts Menendez got from Melgen, who was such a good friend he was considered family. Im here to tell you that every single thing my client shared with his friend and every single political contribution he gave was out of friendship done out of sincere belief that Senator Menendez was good for this country, the attorney, Kirk Ogrosky, said at the time . During that trial, a defense attorney asked Rob Menendez the senators son who is now himself a member of Congress how he knew Melgen. He said hed known Melgen since he was a child and referred to him as doc, Dr. Melgen, and also occasionally as tio. It means uncle in Spanish. The current trial, however, has some key differences particularly how Menendez is responding to the alleged gift-giving. In their opening statements, Menendezs defense team has not acknowledged that the senator received these items. Instead, they are arguing that at least some of the cash was his own and that the gold and other cash was found in Nadines closet. Menendez has said he keeps cash on hand because of his familys history in Cuba, where the government confiscated property. Avi Weitzman, one of Menendezs attorneys in this case, told jurors that the cash and gold bars smells a bit weird, but he said evidence would show innocent explanations for both. Weitzman said Nadine Menendez had financial concerns she kept from Bob. He also thought some of the gold was her family gold, not given to her by Daibes. The cash, Weitzman said, had been withdrawn over the course of decades by Bob Menendez, whose grandfather was a Cuban refugee who fled with nothing except for cash hidden in a grandfather clock. Thats a sharp contrast to Menendezs approach to the 2017 trial. This case isnt really about what happened, its about why it happened, Menendezs then-attorney Abbe Lowell said at the time. The nature of what was given by Hana and Daibes is also in dispute. Prosecutors say Hana paid off Nadine Menendezs mortgage payment as a bribe, although his attorneys described it as a loan. What prosecutors call a bribe in the form of a low- or no-show job for Nadine at Hanas company was, Hanas attorneys argue, a legitimate job from which Nadine was fired. And while prosecutors unsuccessfully relied on circumstantial evidence to connect Menendez to bribes in the 2017 trial, this time they have a star witness in Jose Uribe, who was initially charged in the case and has pleaded guilty to bribery charges. Little is known about Uribe, a business person in the trucking and insurance industry. But prosecutors say he offered bribes to Menendez to help disrupt a state criminal case and would give first-hand accounts of the alleged crimes. He will give you an inside look at one part of the bribery scheme, said federal prosecutor Lara Pomerantz during opening statements. A spawning male sockeye salmon is seen in July 2010 in the Wood River, part of the Bristol Bay watershed. Bristol Bay is the site of the worlds largest sockeye salmon runs. (Photo by Thomas Quinn/University of Washington, provided by the Environmental Protection Agency) As we write, tens of millions of salmon are swimming their way back to Bristol Bay. And for the second year running, those who work the 15,000 jobs the salmon provide each year can celebrate that the proposed Pebble mine no longer threatens to contaminate the headwaters of the greatest wild sockeye salmon fishery in the world. At least for now. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued Clean Water Act protections for this amazing fishery in January 2023. That news was welcomed by residents of the region and scores of businesses that are reliant upon the Bristol Bay fishery, along with its $2.2 billion annual economic impact. Since then, Pebble and the state of Alaska have filed four lawsuits in an attempt to keep this ill-conceived, acid-producing mine on life support. Math and science arent on their side not only would the mine irreversibly harm a fishery that could, if not contaminated, continue to produce and provide jobs for centuries to come, but the state of Alaska made a basic math error in one of its lawsuits, leading it to inflate the amount theyre suing American taxpayers for by $630 billion. Clearly, those seeking to exploit Bristol Bay at the risk of its sustainable fishery arent taking no for an answer. Fortunately, on May 1, Rep. Mary Peltola introduced the Bristol Bay Protection Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would codify EPAs Clean Water Act protections, which protect the headwaters of Bristol Bay, where the Pebble deposit is located, from mining activity. Rep. Peltolas bill makes the protections Tribes, fishermen and Alaskans fought for in a decades-long battle over the fate of the worlds greatest sockeye salmon fishery more difficult to overturn by administrative action alone. Thank you, Rep. Peltola, for this much-needed legislation. Weve each been involved in Bristol Bays fishery for decades, one in the lodge business and one running a commercial fishing and direct marketing business. One of us brings people to the fish and the other brings the fish to people. Between the two of us, weve got nearly 70 years of hard-won experience in Bristol Bay. Were not antidevelopment. Weve both worked in Alaskas oil fields. And weve both traveled to our nations capital to testify in front of Congress about the wonders of Bristol Bay and how its too valuable to risk losing. The proposed Pebble mine is an issue that not only cuts across party lines: it obliterates them. The late Sen. Ted Stevens called Pebble the wrong mine in the wrong place, and Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have both expressed their opposition to Pebble. The Army Corps of Engineers denied a key Pebble permit in 2020, during the Trump administration. These are historic positions for Alaska politicians to take, but facts, science, and public opinion are in Bristol Bays corner. In addition to Alaskas leaders (absent our current governor, Mike Dunleavy), the last three presidents of the United States have all taken actions to protect Bristol Bay and prevent the advancement of the Pebble mine. The EPA began its Clean Water Act review under Obama; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied Pebbles permit under Trump; and the EPA finalized Clean Water Act protections under Biden. Rep. Peltolas bill is the next, desperately needed step. It also reflects that the majority of Alaskans have consistently opposed this uniquely dangerous project. For roughly 20 years, the dark cloud of uncertainty that Pebble cast over the region has united local residents, subsistence, recreational and commercial fishers. That coalition, born in Bristol Bay, is backstopped by organizations, businesses and individuals from coast to coast. Over the course of this campaign, more than 4 million public comments have supported protections for Bristol Bay. Whether youre a catch and release angler, a big game hunter, someone who loves watching the brown bears snatch salmon mid-air, or whether you just enjoy eating delicious, nutritious wild Bristol Bay sockeye, all those who have spoken in favor of protecting this amazing region can support the Bristol Bay Protection Act. Alaska Beacon is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alaska Beacon maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Andrew Kitchenman for questions: info@alaskabeacon.com. Follow Alaska Beacon on Facebook and Twitter. The post Bristol Bay salmon would benefit from added protection in federal law appeared first on Washington State Standard. A political candidate running in Britains general election appears to have been dropped by the Labour Party over her activity on social media, with one of her alleged transgressions relating to a like on a post containing a Jon Stewart sketchprompting the comedian to weigh in in her defense on Wednesday night. Faiza Shaheen, a socialist academic who has been likened in the U.K. media to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has been banned from standing for Labour to contest a parliamentary seat in London, a party source told The Evening Standard. Her reported ouster comes as Labourwhich is widely expected to defeat the ruling Conservatives in the July 4 electioncontinues to try and convince the electorate it has transformed since the departure of its former leader Jeremy Corbyn whose tenure was mired by allegations of antisemitism within the party. People on the left of the party have described it as a purge. Music Trolls and Rain Wash Out U.K. PMs Big Election Gamble The row involving Shaheen began with reports in Britains rightwing press alleging that she had liked a post on X which said that anyone who said anything even mildly critical of Israel is immediately assailed by scores of hysterical people who will make claims of antisemitism. The post also said such people are mobilized by professional organizations and talked about the Israel lobby. The post also contained a clip from a Jon Stewart sketch in which he is repeatedly shouted down while trying to talk about Israel and its war against Hamas in Gaza. Appearing on the BBCs Newsnight on Wednesday, a visibly distressed Shaheen said shed been called to a meeting the day before to discuss 14 tweets since 2014 and had since been told her candidacy had been blocked, according to the broadcaster. They briefed the press before they even had the decency to call me, Shaheen said, adding: Honestly, Im just so shocked right now to be treated this badly. Honestly Im so shocked right now, to be treated this badly Faiza Shaheen, who was set to stand for Labour, describes hearing that her candidacy had been pulled over liking a series of Tweets which she claims Labour said would frustrate its campaign#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/JtMIywDz2N BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) May 29, 2024 Before the show aired, The Times reported that Labour was poised to suspend Shaheen for liking several tweets which dismissed antisemitism accusations, apparently including the one referring to hysterical people. The report also claimed people close to Labours incumbent leader, Keir Starmer, were preparing to drop Shaheen after they were made aware of other posts she liked or shared which variously expressed support for the Green Party, claimed Labour was institutionally Islamophobic and accused Israel of genocide. According to The Guardian, one of the posts was one that Shaheen liked about a friend being selected as a Green candidate in 2014, before Shaheen was a Labour Party member, and another was about her own experiences of Islamophobia in the party. Shaheen also said herself on Newsnight that she did not remember liking the post containing the Jon Stewart sketch and said she had liked it late at night. She did also acknowledge that professional organizations reference plays into a trope, and I absolutely dont agree with that and Im sorry about that. Journalist Mehdi Hasan brought the row to Stewarts attention on X, saying Shaheen had been suspended tonight from the Labour Party for liking on Twitter this old Israel video sketch of yours. (Hasan later linked to the original post Shaheen allegedly liked rather than just the video itself. The Daily Beast has asked Labour if Shaheen has been suspended from the party as Hasans post claims, or if she is just no longer being supported as a candidate.) This is the dumbest thing The UK has done since electing Boris Johnsonwhat the actual fuck Stewart wrote in response to Hasans original post. The dispute involving Shaheen comes amid a larger reckoning inside Labour about moving on from the Corbyn era and allegations of antisemitism within the party. Corbynwho led the party to a crushing defeat in the 2019 general electionis now running as an independent candidate against Labour in the current election. Corbyn was suspended from the party in 2020 after he claimed political opponents had dramatically overstated the scale of antisemitism in Labour. This week, he also agreed that it appears Starmer, his successor, is now trying to purge the left of the party and said he was disturbed by the treatment of veteran Labour lawmaker Diane Abbott. Abbott, a close ally of Corbyn, was suspended as a Labour MP last year after she claimed that Jewish, Irish, and Traveller people dont experience racism all their lives. She was reportedly readmitted to the party this week but has since claimed she has been banned from running for Labour in the looming election, a claim which the party leadership has denied. 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. Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the UN, addresses the General Assembly, while a screen displays an image of Raisi - EDUARDO MUNOZ/REUTERS Britain boycotted a minutes silence observed by the United Nations for Ebrahim Raisi, the late Iranian president. The UNs General Assembly drew criticism for Thursdays tribute to Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash earlier this month. A Foreign Office spokesman said: The UK did not attend the UN General Assembly meeting to pay tribute, following the death of President Raisi. The UK has diplomatic relations with Iran, but President Raisi had an appalling human rights record. It is right we consider that when making decisions like this. The meeting was also boycotted by the US, France and Israel, while protesters outside the UNs New York headquarters chanted shame on the UN. Protesters outside the UN's headquarters on Thursday - EDUARDO MUNOZ/REUTERS It is convention that the General Assembly honours any head of state of a UN member who dies in office, such as former North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il in 2011. Following the minutes silence for Raisi, Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the UN, offered his condolences to the families of all those who died in the accident on May 19. I wish to assure that the United Nations stands in solidarity with the Iranian people and in the quest for peace, development and fundamental freedoms, he said. For that, the United Nations will be guided by the Charter to help realise peace and security, sustainable development and human rights for all, he added. No representative of a Western country spoke at the tributes. Mr Guterres taking part in the minute's silence - EDUARDO MUNOZ/REUTERS Raisi was known as the Butcher of Tehran for his role in executing thousands of opposition prisoners in the late 1980s. After he was elected as president in 2021, he oversaw a crackdown on protests that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, who died in the custody of Irans morality police after being arrested for not wearing a proper hijab. Nate Evans, spokesman for the US delegation, said: The UN should be standing with the people of Iran. Raisi was involved in numerous, horrific human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killings of thousands of political prisoners in 1988. Some of the worst human rights abuses on record took place during his tenure. However, British and American diplomats took part in an initial minutes silence at a meeting of the UN Security Council on May 20. 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. You dont have to agree with everything Nigel Farage said this week about immigration, Islam, and multiculturalism to think he opened up a subject that needs discussing. And when are we going to discuss these things if not in an election campaign? Yet most Conservatives have said little on these issues, even though I find them very much on the minds of Tory voters actual, potential, and (perhaps especially) previous. Its not hard to see why. Get your words wrong and the Left will jump on you and call for you to be cancelled. Its easier to stay quiet especially when past statements about multiculturalism, not just by Tories, but the likes of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Trevor Phillips, are seemingly now beyond the pale. But it really isnt good enough. Politicians need to talk about these issues, rejecting unwarranted and often ignorant sweeping statements about minority communities on the one hand, and glib its all going basically fine generalisations on the other. Last autumn, Rishi Sunak described Britain as a fantastic multi-ethnic democracy. He was right. With the serious exception of resurgent anti-Semitism, racism is rightly at the extreme margins of politics and Britain has a strong record in ensuring people from all ethnic backgrounds can get right to the top. But thats not the same thing as being a successful multicultural society. I am not even sure large numbers of voters want us to be a multicultural society. Everyone, I think, wants us to be a society where all opinions, beliefs and practices are tolerated, within the law. But many proponents of multiculturalism seem to disavow the very concept of a mainstream British culture, history and ideas to which migrants must accommodate themselves if they are to have a successful life here, and to oppose any attempt by the state authorities to maintain one. I simply dont agree with that. If we are to discuss all this honestly, the major political parties need to set out what they really think. That is especially true for the Conservative Party for if we do end up in opposition, Labour will seek to portray all criticism of its agenda, for example its dreadful proposed Race Equality Act, and any debate about the success of integration, as far-Right. If we dont want this, then we need a proper sense of our own values, of what we are ready to defend and what we arent. So, with that in mind, here are my proposed five principles to help guide us. First, everyone in Britain should have the right to practise their religion, or no religion, and no one should be disadvantaged for it. Equally, everyone should be able to criticise any religion and seek to persuade or dissuade others of its merits. Value judgments about religions or their practices should be perfectly legal. There should be no blasphemy laws and to be explicit the simple act of defacing a Koran is discourteous but should not be against the law. Intimidation, threats and violence are illegal and need to be policed as such, even if it is inconvenient to the authorities. Second, this is a country with a clear mainstream culture, originally founded on Christianity, and with its history and its physical and political attributes heavily shaped by it. Our laws overwhelmingly, and rightly, reflect our Judeo-Christian and Enlightenment heritage and values. Public policy can and should reasonably reflect that and seek to maintain it as an essential part of mainstream British culture. Third, UK law should take precedence over any religious or other cultural practice if they come into conflict. Subject to that, minorities should have the absolute right to toleration one of the great benefits of living in this country but should adapt to and support the mainstream culture, for example in areas like language. They should not press for the mainstream culture to change to accommodate them. Fourth, public policy can and should reasonably consider the extent to which particular communities have generally integrated into broader British society, and seek to foster such integration. That should include teaching a neutral and comprehensive story of British history, including the role of Christianity, and expecting all citizens to pay appropriate respect to British institutions. If we are to have national service in some form, it should be part of a broader effort to restore social cohesion in Britain and apply also to new citizens of whatever age. Finally, on immigration, numbers and source countries matter. Absorbing migrants takes time and risks failing if too many people come too quickly. So immigration needs to be dramatically reduced to give time to integrate those here. Moreover, some cultures and countries fit in more easily with the mainstream British culture, and immigration policy can and should reasonably distinguish between them (as we already do with visit visa requirements), with the needs of this country in mind. This may be uncomfortable for some. But that cant be a reason not to discuss it. If we dont have the debate in the political mainstream, then others not in the mainstream will have it instead. And that will be worse for all of 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. Brockton man with suspended license caught driving with 6 pounds of weed, police say A routine traffic stop turned into a drug bust early Saturday morning after a man was found allegedly traveling with large quantities of marijuana. Alexandre Mackens, 25, of Brockton, is charged with possession of a class D substance, operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, and driving without an inspection sticker. According to State Police, Trooper William Rolls was traveling on Route 95 southbound in Canton just before 2 a.m. when a Chevrolet Spark hatchback caught his attention. Trooper Rolls reportedly ran the plate and saw no inspection sticker on record. After conducting a traffic stop, an alleged strong odor of marijuana was wafting from the vehicle. The driver, Mackens, was asked to step out of the Chevrolet. A search of the vehicle was conducted and several vape pens, THC oil canisters, loose cash, and over 6 pounds of packaged marijuana were found in the car, according to investigators. Mackens was arrested and arraigned in Stoughton District Court. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW SOUNDVIEW, The Bronx (PIX 11) The Bronx community gathered at P.S. 107 Wednesday to shape the future of a new skate park in Soundview at a community input meeting. Construction has not yet started, but when it does, the skatepark will be completed within the next two years. Right now, the city hopes to hear from the community and get input on their vision for the project. Ashton Smith, 9, has been skateboarding for four years. You know how theres a lot of skateparks in Brooklyn and Manhattan, asked Smith. I think it would be really cool if the Bronx were included as a borough to go skate. Smith is one of dozens of skateboarders who attended the meeting. The citys Department of Parks and Recreation has been working with the nonprofit The Skate Park Project to bring the new plaza to life. More Bronx News Theres just an incredible skate community here, and there arent enough parks to service them, and if your community doesnt have a skate park, then kids are out skating the street, and sometimes thats great, and other times thats dangerous, said The Skate Park Project CEO Ben Bashein. There are currently eight city skate parks in the Bronx. The new project is part of the citys effort to bring four new skateparks to the Bronx and Brooklyn. Avid skateboarders came to the meeting to share their hopes for the project even using clay to sculpt what they wanted the park to look like. Destiny Balisage lives in New Jersey but comes to the borough to skateboard with the organization Bronx Girls Skate. I think I want to see a pump track, Balisage said. I dont really see enough pump tracks in most parks, so this would be nice. It would be nice to have one here. Councilmember Amanda Farias said the $7 million project will revitalize a dilapidated section of Soundview Park and provide a necessary outlet for the youth, reimagining the space for future generations of Bronxites. Instead of having a ponding water with sewage or with mosquitos building over the spring and summer, were now going to have real investments to create proper sewage to have a recreational spot to invite a new form of recreation for young people and adults. Farias said she hasnt heard from anyone who opposes the skatepark so far, adding that measures will be in place to minimize potential noise concerns. She hopes the skatepark will be a space the entire community can embrace. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Sino-U.S. relations, which have been increasingly tense of late, have experienced a brief respite: the Washington Zoo has announced that a pair of pandas will arrive from China later this year to occupy the enclosure built especially for these animals, which had remained empty since Beijing repatriated the last pair, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, and their son Xiao Qi Ji, in November last year. Its official, the pandas are coming back to Washington DC! announced First Lady Jill Biden, hugging a teddy bear, in a video to announce the official agreement between the institution and Chinese authorities. The two new pandas, Bao Li (Energetic Treasure) and Qing Bao (Green Treasure), are both two years old and are now in the reserves designated for these animals in the mountains of Chengdu, their natural habitat. Bao Li, the male, has a special connection to Washington: he is the grandson of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, and his mother, Bao Bao, was born in the U.S. capital. Two-year-old female giant panda 'Qing Bao' in Sichuan, China, on May 17. Roshan Patel (AP) This historic moment is proof positive our collaboration with Chinese colleagues has made an irrefutable impact. Through this partnership, we have grown the panda population, advanced our shared understanding of how to care for this beloved bear and learned whats needed to protect wild pandas and preserve native habitat, said Washington Zoo Director Brandie Smith. Once the animals arrive in Washington, transported by cargo plane, they will spend 30 days in quarantine in their enclosure at the zoo. After that time, they will spend several weeks getting used to their new home before being presented to the public, something for which the institution has not yet announced a date. As is usual in these types of agreements between Western zoos and Chinese authorities, the pair of pandas will be on loan to the Washington institution for a decade, until 2034. During this period the Smithsonian Institution, of which the zoo is part, will pay $1 million per year to China for its investment in research programs on these bears. One of the hopes is that the pair will procreate, either naturally or through artificial insemination. In that case, their offspring will remain at the Washington Zoo until they are four years old. But the agreements provide that the cubs will be considered Chinese property, at which point they will have to be repatriated to their country of origin. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian had four cubs over two decades: in addition to Bao Bao and Xiao Qi Ji, Tai Shan was born in 2005 and Bei Bei in 2015. All of them were returned to China at the age of four. China's ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, speaks to the media from the Smithsonian Zoo in Washington, May 29. Ken Cedeno (REUTERS) The departure of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian was part of a widespread repatriation of the pairs of pandas that China had given to U.S. zoos, in what was interpreted as a symbol of the deterioration of relations between the two governments. Beijing uses the endangered black-and-white animals as a diplomatic tool and often gives them to countries with which it has good relations, or where it is interested in strengthening them. At a press conference at the zoo Wednesday to confirm the announcement, Chinas ambassador to Washington, Xie Feng, urged Americans to take care of China-U.S. relations like they take care of pandas. For the wellbeing of both peoples and the future of the world, China and the United States should choose to be partners, not rivals, said Xie. Panda-huggers (a term used in diplomatic circles to describe Beijing sympathizers) should not be stigmatized. If there should be any protectionism, then lets protect biodiversity. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition MABANK, Texas (KETK) Brookshire Grocery Company announced on Thursday they are deploying the Community Kitchen to serve free hot meals to the East Texas community. Roofs blown off houses, major damage in Canton after storms According to a release, the Community Kitchen and team of employees will serve free meals to those still recovering from this weeks storm on Thursday in Mabank. The mayor of Mabank Randy Teague saw a need and reached out to Brookshires for help, and they answered. We want to help those in the towns that we operate, so if theyre hurting and the mayor calls we come running, CEO/chair of Brookshires Brad Brookshire said. The grocery company said a team will be serving free lunch starting at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Brookshires on South Third Street in Mabank. ALERT Academy volunteers help with Smith County storm clean up Its a blessing, we just found out through word and through there because we have no way to cook or anything, so we thought ok we will go up here and see what we can do, Payne Springs resident Cheri Davis-Fite said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. You brought her into this world, and you took her out: Reactions after Tampa mom accused of strangling daughter to death TAMPA, Fla., (WFLA) Police released more information about a Tampa mother who was accused of strangling her daughter to death. On Tuesday, the Tampa Police Department announced Rotesha Silveus charges were upgraded to first-degree murder. Police said her 18-year-old daughter, Natavia Sanders, called 911 in the early hours of May 11 and said she had been strangled and just woke up from being passed out. Then the call was disconnected. You can have her: Florida mom tried to sell 10-year-old for $20, sheriff says When officers arrived at the home on East 23rd Avenue, they found the victim in critical condition. She died two days later, according to police. Police said Silveus did not cooperate with officers. After a brief struggle, she was arrested and charged with resisting an officer with violence and aggravated battery with great bodily harm. I cant imagine that. Its just crazy, because its like, you brought her into this world and you took her out, said a neighbor, Jamarcus Hudley. Hudley works in the area and said he noticed Silveus acting strange earlier that day. Very weird, like out of the ordinary. She was like outside screaming, he said. I felt like either the mom was going to get hurt or she was going to hurt someone else. I didnt think she was going to hurt her own family. Video of Lakeland police officers punching teen sparks outrage Hudley said there was a huge police presence lining the street. You could not get from right there to right there, you could not cross right here, he said. Police said they tried to give Sanders CPR after finding her on the kitchen floor, unresponsive. She was rushed to Tampa General where she died on May 13. Silveuss charges were upgraded to first-degree murder. It took me by surprise. To be honest, I never really thought, nobody would think anything like that would happen. Since Ive been here, there wasnt nothing. Didnt hear any screaming or fighting, or anything, Hudley said. Silveus had a pre-trial detention hearing scheduled for Thursday, but the defense filed a motion requesting a psychological evaluation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Two long-time Carlsbad public figures will square off for the District 55 seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives in the June 4 primary election for the Republican nomination, with no Democrat challenger running against the winner in the November General Election. Incumbent Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R-55) was elected to the post in 2010 and rarely faced a challenger since for the district that covers the southeast corner of the state including Eddy and Lea counties. This year, Browns challenger comes from within the GOP as former-Eddy County Commissioner Jack Volpato is vying for the seat in the Legislature. Artesia Mayor and Eddy County Commissioner Jon Henry was running uncontested for the GOP nomination to House District 54, representing parts of Eddy, Chaves and Otero counties, while Christian Scott Ehmling was running for Libertarian nomination. Incumbent Rep. Jimmy Mason (R-66) was running uncontested for the seat that represents Eddy, Chaves and Lea counties, with no other party nominating a candidate. Volpato said his experience as a county commissioner from 2006 to 2014, and as an advocate in Santa Fe for the regions key industries since he left the post made him an ideal candidate for District 55. Volpato said he could work across the aisle with the Democratic Party which holds the majority in both the House and Senate. He said economic issues should be the focus of the office, and compromises will be necessary to defend industries like oil and gas, potash mining and southeast New Mexicos growing nuclear corridor from over-regulation by the State. You can work with common ground on social issues, but when they start attacking our industries, its really hard to find common ground, Volpato said. You really have to stick to your guns and educate lawmakers on why these are important. Jack Volpato, candidate for District 55 of the New Mexico House of Representatives, is pictured outside his pharmacy, Jan. 26, 2024 in Carlsbad. Hes built several contacts and relationships in the capital throughout his career as a public servant, Volpato said, and he hoped that experience will help him rise quickly through the ranks of the Republican Party. More: Roads, school and national debt: Here's what Eddy County representatives hope to make law Every year we went up to Santa Fe to meet with lawmakers and cabinet secretaries. These are people I have relationships with. I have a working knowledge of Santa Fe. Ive testified in committees, Volpato said. Its not like Im going into something completely cold. Im aware Ill be the low man on the totem pole, but I still know people and I still know how to get things done. Brown warned voters that if she is defeated in the primary, southeast New Mexico will lose a key figure in the Legislature for conservative values and the needs of the region, as she has the fifth-highest seniority in the House. She pointed to her position on the House Finance Committee, which Brown said is the most powerful committee in Santa Fe, along with ranking member of the House Transportation, Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee, a post Brown said allowed her to direct millions of dollars in road funds to the district. Cathrynn Brown. That really helps our district. We lose that if Im not sent back, she said. There are a lot of advantages to my returning. If the other gentleman is elected, he would start at ground zero. Where do Brown, Volpato stand on southeast New Mexicos key issues? Brown touted several accomplishments she said benefitted southeast New Mexico during her years in office, including $700 million spent in road improvements across the state, which Brown said came largely from the oil and gas industry centered in her district, including improvements to the deadly U.S. Highway 285 from Malaga to the Texas State Line. She also pointed to social security reform, cutting taxation for most senior citizens and saving an average of $700 a year, along with work to reform on how lodgers tax is allocated to increase payments to municipalities were businesses are headquartered instead of where they operate. She said shes also been a voice for conservative values, opposing Democrat-led gun restrictions and planning a public safety package for the upcoming special session called by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as on public safety. Many Republicans worried Democrats would attempt further restrictions on gun owners, but countered the session should instead focus on border security issues. Overall, Id say Ive really tried to keep our constitutional rights in place, Brown said. I think keeping 2nd Amendment rights intact is very important as a matter of public safety. State Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R-55) speaks during a candidate forum on April 25, 2024 in Carlsbad. She is being challenged by Jack Volpato in the June Republican primary election. More: Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties chose nominees to replace Sen. Gay Kernan Brown also represents a vote against overregulation, she said Democrats frequently propose on New Mexicos businesses, namely oil and gas extraction which Brown argued provided more than $13 billion in state revenue in the last fiscal year to fund public services from roads and infrastructure to education. She said under the administration of Lujan Grisham and Democrat control in the Legislature, New Mexico was becoming less business friendly, especially after lockdowns imposed by the administration amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Im definitely front and center on the battle of making this a more business-friendly state, Brown said. Economic development is a big issue in this state and were just not treating businesses well. Its the small businesses that are having the tougher time. Youve got to make it a good place for businesses to locate and operate. Her (Lujan Grishams) administration doesnt seem to understand that. Volpato agreed that oil and gas was a crucial sector in New Mexicos economy, and questioned if Democrats had any plan to replace dollars lost as lawmakers opted to transition the state away from fossil fuels. Jack Volpato, candidate for State House District 55, talks issues during a candidate forum on April 25, 2024 sponsored by the Eddy County NAACP Branch. Theres nothing to fill that void. You can be as progressive as you want, but without the money for your social progressive agenda People need to understand the money is the main thing with oil and gas, Volpato said. Youve got to be able to meet with them and state your case in a way that people understand if this money goes away, whats going to happen to education? Whats going to happen to infrastructure? He also said he supported stronger border security policy and ending what Volpato called catch and release in an apparent reference to arrests at the border that do not result in incarceration and returning local control to local school districts while limiting the authority of the Public Education Department in decision making for districts. The needs of Carlsbad are very different from the needs of Santa Fe, Volpato said. I think you get a better result when your school board manages your school district locally. Theyre accountable to the voters. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Brown, Volpato ready for GOP primary for New Mexico House seat Editor's note: This is one of two stories looking back at the history of soon-to-be-demolished buildings in Downtown Jackson. The other looks at the neighboring site of the former First Christian Church. An October 1986 publication of Southern Living magazine featured an article on "Jackson's Lady of Letters," Eudora Welty, and celebrated the grand opening of the downtown building bearing her name. "It will naturally belong to the people of Jackson as well. When they enter, however, they can feel Miss Welty's presence even if she's not on hand combing the shelves for more volumes to devour," the article reads. The building featured is the Eudora Welty Library, named after the Pulitzer Prize-winning literary legend. Located on the corner of North State Street and Mississippi Street, the library first opened in 1986 when Welty was 77. Now, the building's time is drawing to a close, slated for demolition in the near future. In 1977, the City of Jackson purchased the building for just over $878,000. Renovations of the former Sears department store, which first opened in 1946, started shortly after the 1977 purchase, including the addition of a 42-foot-long circulation desk. The first floor was 60,000 square feet, filled with reading areas, a magazine room, a children's book collection and a large meeting room. The second floor housed records, videotapes and adult non-fiction collections, as well as more study areas and offices. The one-time flagship library of the Jackson-Hinds Library System, the Eudora Welty Library on State Street in Jackson, is seen Tuesday, May 28, 2024. It is scheduled to be demolished. The land will be used as green space to connect to the nearby Mississippi Two Museums. According to a 2022 article in the Northside Sun, the Jackson Friends of the Library, led by activists Janet Clark, Pat Ross and Betty Jolly, campaigned to name the library after Welty. Clark stated that "Miss Welty was interrupted during a speech at Agnes Scott College with the news that Jacksons newest library had been named in her honor." "The opening of the Eudora Welty Library initiates a new era in library services for Jackson and symbolizes the citys commitment to library improvements," a Feb. 9, 1986 article in The Clarion Ledger stated. Renovated as an art deco showplace at a cost of $2.9 million, the building will serve as an information center and a community gathering place. Because of the care lavished on its preparation, the building will be a pleasure to visit and to use, a visible celebration of the joy, necessity, and power of a library. The end of an era But 38 years later, and with the approval of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees in April, the building is set to be demolished along with the neighboring First Christian Church. "I think there's been a lot of lament from people (about the library being demolished), that's a good word for it, and on the library board as well," said Peyton Smith, the chairman of the Jackson Hinds Library System. "We feel that this is kind of a tragic outcome for that building, but there's bright days ahead for the library system and that area." In the near future, the yellow brick, two story building will be a distant memory. A green space called Crigler Park will take its place. "It was a building full of life for many, many years and has served the community well. There's a lot of kids that grew up going to story time in that building, my kids grew up going to story time in that building," Smith said. Katie Blount, the executive director of MDAH, previously told the Clarion Ledger the public green space will better connect both the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History to downtown Jackson. The park will also be available as a space for public events such as the Mississippi Makers Fest, as well as a place to rent for other events. To be sure, the city's flagship library saw better days. Most recently, the library has been closed since June 2023 due to a broken air conditioning unit that caused unsafe temperatures for the library staff. Over the years, the building was closed on-and-off due to other various maintenance issues such as flooding and leaking pipes in the building. Back in 2009, the library was ravaged by a fire and had to close for repairs. In September, the City of Jackson announced plans to part ways with the library. A few weeks later, the Jackson City Council approved the transfer of the library to MDAH. All the books and files inside the library have been temporary moved to the Jackson Medical Mall as the city, the council and JHLS figure out where the next Eudora Welty Library will be located. So far no building has been selected, Smith said, but the goal is to keep it in downtown Jackson. In March, JHLS received $3.75 million in federal grant funds that will partly help with renovating a new downtown location, Smith said. "The Eudora Welty Library has a lot of stories and memories that hopefully will travel with the library to our new home," Smith said. "Even though there's a lot of memories there, hopefully our new home will be able to create a lot of new memories for folks as well." This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: 'A building full of life:' Jackson MS flagship library to be demolished OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) For the fourth time since August, Oklahoma House of Representatives Democrats are asking for an investigation into the State Department of Education and State Superintendent Ryan Walters. House Democrats filed House Resolution 1052 Wednesday that requests Speaker of the House Charles McCall (R-Atoka) to form a bipartisan committee to investigate Walters. The Resolution would be put up for a vote on the House floor for members to decide whether to create the committee. Oklahoma Democrats are hellbent on creating an educational environment that is not aligned with Oklahoma values or Oklahoma voters. Dan Isett, Oklahoma State Department of Education Director of Communications The first informal call for the committee happened in August of 2023. Over the last [several] months, Republicans who hold power in both legislative chambers and the governors mansion have done nothing to listen to and address the concerns of Oklahomans who want to protect our public schools, said Representative Cindy Munson (D-OKC). It is now way past time to act. Outlandish, bombastic: OK lawmakers pass ban on OSDE public relations spending There is a fast approaching deadline to this House Resolution. It has until Friday at 5 p.m. to be heard on the floor. In addition to the bipartisan investigative committee request, House Democrats have asked the Oklahoma Attorney General to request an investigative audit of OSDE. This is Epic 2.0. It took years and this caucus refused to be silent. We got those same questions when we first came in. Were pushing to start that audit. If we dont continue to push, its just not going to happen. Thats why we feel compelled to step up and speak, said Representative Melissa Provenzano (D-Tulsa). Specifically, House Democrats called for an audit to answer the following questions: Is OSDE in violation of SB36x for failing to file for federal grants, for allowing federal grants to expire, and/or for failing to oversee federal grants? Has OSDE appropriately administered federal grants, including ESSER grants, since Ryan Walters took office? Has OSDE spent federal set-aside dollars funds not distributed to schools but kept at OSDE for administrative purposes in accordance with federal program requirements? Were going to need an outside referee on this one. The legislature has demonstrated over and over again that theyre willing to kick the can down the road. But if we get a full investigative audit and show the numbers to the legislature, it will be irrefutable, in my estimation, that there is a serious violation of SB36x and several other structural problems in the way money moves through the State Department of Education, stated Representative John Waldron (D-Tulsa). The AGs office told KFOR the questions House Democrats outlined in their investigative audit request do not meet the requirements for one. Oklahoma Senate votes to override Gov. Stitt veto of police pension bill Legislative leaders are vested with appropriate oversight authority to answer these questions, and all federal funds are audited each year as part of the Single Audit, said the AGs office Tuesday night. It sounds to me like that everybody knows approach but without real action. Were going to keep pushing this issue and well call upon the people who can actually ask for an audit to do something because its irresponsible to let things continue the way they are. Representative John Waldron, D-Tulsa Rep. Munson said since filing the resolution, House Democrats have not had any correspondence with Speaker McCall nor other Republicans. Representative Mark McBride (R-Moore) told KFOR while he disagrees with Walters on various topics, he does not see a reason for an investigative audit nor a bipartisan investigative committee. Do I think hes done anything criminal? Currently, nobody has shown me anything criminal that hes done, stated Rep. McBride. I think [Walters] is probably one of the most investigated guys Ive seen in the last couple of years with all the federal questions and the attorney general and different ones. I dont think hes getting off scot free. Rep. McBride said he doesnt see either route of investigation as something most Oklahoma Republicans would want. Do I think something needs to be done? Probably. But Im not sure about the enforcement mechanism, said Rep. McBride. At the end of the day, I think when all this is hashed out and everything comes to light, I think, yes, were going to find that there are problems with the applications for federal grants and other things. Rep. McBride told KFOR the line in the sand for there to be a need for an investigative audit or bipartisan committee would be if Walters committed a felonious crime. When News 4 asked OSDE about the request for an investigative audit and bipartisan committee, Isett said House Democrats have relentlessly sought to use our schools to promote woke indoctrination, fought against accountability and improvement in failing schools, defended sexual deviancy in the classroom, and peddled porn in school libraries. Superintendent Walters will not be bowed by the radical left and neither will the people of Oklahoma. Speaker McCall was not available for comment Wednesday afternoon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Business courts coming to Oklahoma City, Tulsa? Task force to consider Stitt's request Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat listens to legislators during a budgetary meeting at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City, on Monday, May 13, 2024. The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday passed a measure that would create business courts in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Senate Bill 473 passed by a vote of 37-6 and awaited consideration in the House as lawmakers tried to finish business this week. During budget negotiations last week, Gov. Kevin Stitt said the creation of business courts was on his ask list in exchange for an agreement not to veto the budget. The measure creates an 11-member task force charged with studying the implementation of a business court system in Oklahoma. Business courts specialize in resolving complex disputes or litigation. The task force would be required to submit a final report to the governor and legislative leaders by Jan. 1, 2026. Why Senate leader says Oklahoma should follow other states and implement business courts Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said other states have implemented business courts. Treat is the Senate author. Corporations will locate in states with business courts because they can quickly settle disputes, Treat said. The study shall include the existing Oklahoma court structure and business court structures in other states. Over half of states have courts that specialize in resolving business disputes, a study shows. The task force report is expected to issue recommendations, including matters that may and may not be heard in business courts and how appeals would be handled. More: Bill requiring policies for religious classes during school hours heads to Gov. Stitt's desk Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, said Oklahoma already has specialty courts such as juvenile courts and drug courts. Boren said that while she supported the idea of a task force, she hoped the panel would not be penned just to justify the creation of business courts. Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, voted against the measure. She said the idea had not been vetted. I have not learned enough about it yet, she said. She said she was concerned it would just make it easier on businesses and could provide special treatment. Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC, Tulsa business courts to be considered by Oklahoma task force When you can buy and set off fireworks in Shawnee County TOPEKA (KSNT) Fireworks? I sure hope it does! It may be a month out, but firework season is just around the corner. On Thursday, May 30 Shawnee County commissioners approved the timeframe for when fireworks can be bought. Stands can open shop starting at 8 a.m. on June 27, according to the Shawnee County Planning Director Joni Thadani. Pair discuss Topeka Mosaic Pairs program Thats also when you can start setting them off in the county. In the city limits of Topeka, fireworks can only be set off after 10 a.m. on July 3 and Independence Day on July 4. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Nazrin Abdul At a press conference alongside Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted the prospects for enhanced cooperation in "clean" energy between Azerbaijan and Pakistan ahead of COP29, Azernews reports. Bayramov expressed optimism about the forthcoming 8th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Pakistan joint intergovernmental commission, scheduled for later this year in Islamabad. He emphasized that this meeting would provide a significant boost to economic cooperation, inviting Pakistani business representatives to explore the opportunities presented by international transit corridors passing through Azerbaijan and the Baku International Sea Trade Port. He also mentioned the advantageous conditions and privileges offered by the Alat Free Economic Zone for Pakistani partners. Moreover, Bayramov underscored the importance of the direct air connection between the two countries in fostering tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Currently, there are six weekly flights from Baku to Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. He noted that last year, Azerbaijan welcomed 55,000 Pakistani tourists, with an expected number of 20,000 in the first four months of 2024. Looking ahead to COP29, slated to be held in Azerbaijan in 2024, Bayramov emphasized that this event would offer additional opportunities for collaboration in "clean" energy and the transition to a "green" economy. Donald Trump ridicules electric cars and Elon Musk champions them with Tesla. However, this divergence does not seem to have proven an obstacle for both to have developed a growing ideological harmony, to the point that the former president and Republican candidate for the election on November 5 is considering adding the X and SpaceX owner to his team if his bid to return to the White House is successful. This was revealed Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal, which reported Trump and Musk have discussed the possibility of the latter playing an advisory role in a hypothetical second presidency. Musk has sometimes been portrayed as a libertarian, but his shift to the right appears unstoppable. He has displayed support for Brazils Jair Bolsonaro or Argentinas Javier Milei, participated in an event that included the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the leader of Spanish far-right party Vox, Santiago Abascal, and during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections he openly called for a vote for the Republican Party. After taking control of Twitter, he not only readmitted the former president to the social platform, but also opened the doors to extreme right-wing hoaxes and conspiracy theories, which he himself has frequently spread. He scornfully rails against woke ideology and relentlessly attacks President Joe Biden, even if he has to resort to fake news to do so. Musks relationship with Trump has had its ups and downs, but now appears to be a bed of roses, according to The Wall Street Journal. The New York daily states that the hypothetical role of the entrepreneur has not been fully fleshed out and may not materialize at all, but that Trump has talked to him about ways to assign him a possible formal role so that he has influence over policies related to border security and the economy two issues on which Musk has repeatedly spoken out. According to the same publication Musk along with billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, an activist who has waged an unsuccessful shareholder battle at Disney has also briefed Trump on a plan they have developed to invest in a data-driven project to prevent voter fraud. Peltz and Musk have also informed Trump of an ongoing campaign in which the Tesla chief and his political allies are organizing meetings of powerful business leaders from across the U.S. and trying to convince them not to support Bidens re-election. Talks on those topics took place at a March meeting at Montsorrel, Peltzs Palm Beach mansion located near Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence. It was an appointment at which other billionaires participated and that was reported on by The New York Times, but without the details of the conversations having been revealed. During Trumps presidency, Musk participated in meetings of business leadership groups at the White House, but withdrew from them as a sign of disagreement with the then-presidents decision to renege on commitments to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Support from billionaires The former president has been regaining favor with numerous billionaires who turned their backs on him after the January 6, 2021 assault on Capitol Hill. Peltz himself then publicly regretted voting for Trump. Last March, however, he said he would vote for the Republican because he was concerned by the 81-year-old Bidens mental state. Peltz turns 82 next month. Last week Blackstone Group CEO Steve Schwarzman, one of Wall Streets most relevant figures, announced he would vote for the former president. He also distanced himself from Trump after the Capitol riot, acknowledged the election result, and called for a peaceful transfer of power, but has since pivoted. The dramatic rise of antisemitism has led me to focus on the consequences of upcoming elections with greater urgency, he said in a statement forwarded to the digital publication Axios. I share the concern of most Americans that our economic, immigration and foreign policies are taking the country in the wrong direction. For these reasons, I am planning to vote for change and support Donald Trump for President. In addition, I will be supporting Republican Senate candidates and other Republicans up and down the ticket, he added. Musk, for his part, has spread conspiracy theories that the assault on the Capitol was staged and has come out in defense of those prosecuted for the insurrection. The businessman seemed to show more sympathy in the Republican primaries for the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, to whom he lent his social network for the launching of his presidential campaign in a conversation he hosted himself, although it turned out to be a fiasco. He also seemed at times to commune with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, now unreservedly devoted to Trumpism. Once Trumps path to the nomination was clear, Musk dedicated himself to the cause of helping the former president defeat Biden. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition (KRON) A lockdown at California High School in San Ramon has been lifted, according to the San Ramon Police Department. The school had been locked down for several hours due to a bomb threat. Following an extensive search, the campus was cleared. Homeowners pack Orinda town hall amid insurance crisis According to police, Cal High staff got a call from a man who said that explosive devices had been placed throughout the school. The man also told staff someone would be arriving shortly to shoot up the school. The school was immediately placed on lockdown. San Ramon PD officers arrived and secured a perimeter around the school, along with the San Ramon Olympic Pool and Aquatic Park. Bomb-detecting K-9 units from several agencies were deployed to the site, according to police. Officers searched the campus with the assistance of the explosive-detecting K-9s. Law enforcement extended the campus search to include parking lots and exterior sports fields. To ensure the utmost safety of everyone, this will be an extensive search and may take an extended amount of time to complete, SRPD said. According to the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, school officials worked with law enforcement to keep the campus secure. The school district asked parents to remain calm and not to call or go to the school as no one was allowed to enter or exit the campus at the time. The lockdown was lifted at 12:38 p.m. Out of an abundance of caution, SRPD officers are expected to remain on campus throughout the day. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert! CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ADVANCE BILL BARRING LGBTQ PARENTAL NOTIFICATION POLICIES Via Andrew Sheeler and Jenavieve Hatch... After an emotional, and at times testy, Senate Education Committee hearing Wednesday, the Democratic-controlled committee voted to approve AB 1955, San Diego Democratic Assemblyman Chris Wards bill to ban school districts from passing blanket parental notification policies. Ward, though, had a different description for them. Ward unveiled AB 1955 last week, saying the forced outing policies add to the suffering and the challenges that LGBTQ youth are feeling. The bill has been a lightning rod among the right wing, with Chaya Raichik of the X account Libs of Tik Tok highlighting it and billionaire Elon Musk calling it an absolute showstopper in a post on that platform. He didnt mean that in a good way. Three parents of children who are trans, or who previously identified as trans, spoke on the Capitol steps against Wards bill. When my daughter was 13, she was secretly socially transitioned from her school, said Erin Friday, a parents rights activist, attorney, and chief architect of the parental notification policies that have made their way through California school districts. I pulled her from the public school and got her the help that she needed, and she returned to comfort in her female body. I found out what the school was doing before the identity completely solidified. Other parents will not be so lucky if AB 1955 becomes law, Friday said. Parental notification policies require that school staff inform a students parents if their student asks to use a different pronoun, name, or school facility such as a locker room or bathroom that does not align with their biological sex. Also in attendance was Beth Bourne, a Davis parent and Yolo County chapter president of Moms for Liberty, whose activism has isolated her from her trans child. Ive always believed that its important to speak out when something is not right and when people are being harmed, Bourne said, warning that, if AB 1955 passes, school staff will be empowered to hide information from, or lie to, district parents. Wednesdays at-times raucous hearing saw testimony on both sides of the issue, including Kristi Hirst, a parent of three who founded Our Schools USA in response to Chino Valley Unified School Districts first-in-the-state passage of a parental notification policy (several other conservative-controlled school boards have since followed suit), and California teacher Shaye Stephens in support and Aurora Regino, mother of a Chico Unified School District child who sued that district, alleging it hid her childs transgender identity from her, and Dr. Arthur de Lorimier, a pediatric gastroenterologist at UC Davis, in opposition. The districts job is not to protect the feelings of parents, its to ensure the safety of all students, Hirst told lawmakers at the hearing. Hirst said she has heard from many students who are afraid for their safety in school districts where parental notification is the policy. Nearly 1,500 people contacted a mental health hotline her group set up in response to the policies, she said. Stephens said that parental notification policies place teachers in a difficult, even potentially dangerous predicament. Even the mechanics of notifying a parent are unrealistic, she said. Logistically, this is a nightmare, she said. The opposition argued that AB 1955 is a parental secrecy law. This drives a wedge between parent and child, Regino said in her testimony. Regino told lawmakers that if she hadnt found out that her child was going by different pronouns at school, the child would probably still be identifying as transgender today. Her child continues to struggle with mental health, she said. De Lorimier, who is not a gender care specialist, also testified Wednesday. According to his UC Davis bio, his practice focuses on gastrointestinal disorders. De Lorimier testified that he has seen a number of transgender patients in his practice and that many just wanted to get attention tht they felt they couldnt get in their sex assigned at birth. After lengthy, and at times emotional testimony for and against the bill, it was lawmakers turn to weigh in. Sens. Steven Glazer, D-Contra Costa, and Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, both quickly threw their support.. Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, R-Yucaipa, at times choking up while she spoke, said that it was encouraging to see everyone in the room caring for children. Everyone is trying to do what they feel or understand to be best for their child, she said. Ochoa Bogh said that she felt that parents have a right to know about their children, and that no parent would reject their child if they found out they were transgender. They might not accept, but they will definitely respect that child, she said. That isnt the case for many parents of trans children, as we reported earlier this month. Committee Chair Sen. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, disagreed with Ochoa Bogh in his remarks, saying that it clearly is not the experience of many children that parents are loving and supportive. According to LGBTQ advocacy group the Trevor Project, LGBTQ youth are over-represented among homeless youth in America nearly a third (28%) of LGBTQ youth reported experiencing homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives. Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, said he felt that AB 1955 was punishing the majority of parents who are good. Sometimes I think we penalize the 97% of parents that are good to go after the 3% that are bad, he said. Ultimately, Ward declared all the con side arguments to be a distraction from the main point of his bill. It is not about gender dysphoria (the condition of feeling uncomfortable in ones sex assigned at birth), it is not about medical decisions, Ward said. ...This is about harmful policies. At the end of debate, the committee voted 4-1, with Wilk voting no and Ochoa Bogh abstaining, to advance the bill to the Senate Health Committee. CALIFORNIA LOCAL UNEMPLOYMENT WAS OFTEN HIGHER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE Via David Lightman... Local unemployment rates in California were often higher than the national average last month, a new Bureau of Labor Statistics report said Wednesday. Three California metropolitan areas had rates of more than 10%. El Centros April rate of 15.7% of the labor force was the nations highest local unemployment number. Other state metro areas in double digits were Merced at 10.5%, down from 11.6% in March but up from 9.3% a year ago and the Vallejo-Fairfield area, 10.8%, up from 9.5% in April 2023. The state of California had the nations highest jobless rate last month. The states Employment Development Department reported a seasonally adjusted 5.3% rate in April for the third straight month, though the number of payroll jobs grew slightly. A year earlier, the state rate was 4.5%. The national April rate this year was 3.9%. Californias continuing unemployment has several roots. Among the reasons cited by economists are reductions in federal spending, layoffs in the tech sector and slowdowns in consumer spending. Some unadjusted local area rates were lower than a year earlier. The San Luis Obispo areas unemployment was 3.5%, down somewhat from March but up from 2.9% a year earlier. The Sacramento area had a 4.5% April rate, down slightly from March but up from 3.7% last April. Many others were above the state average. Fresnos rate was 8.4%, down from 9.2% in March but up from 7.2% the previous year. Modesto came in at 7%, up a percentage point over the year but down 7.5% from March. The nations lowest unemployment rates last month were in Ames, Iowa; Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Jackson, Mississippi, each at 1.4%. QUOTE OF THE DAY Justice Alito claims that the Jan 6 flags outside his homes were displayed at his wifes insistence. Maybe so. But that is not the issue. Its his insistence that he sit on cases where his impartiality is so plainly at issue. Its his ethical judgment in question, not hers. - Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, via X. Best of The Bee: Trans youth ballot measure fails to get enough signatures for Californias November election, via Jenavieve Hatch . Newsom administration releases plan that could speed up California insurance price increases, via Stephen Hobbs . California Democrats arent sold on Gavin Newsoms plan to cut the budget deficit. How they disagree, via Lindsey Holden. California lawmakers on Wednesday announced a joint budget plan that would restore some funds for homelessness and social safety net programs while cutting money from state prisons. The spending proposal from Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, would address the states estimated $45 billion budget deficit, but it differs in significant ways from the one Gov. Gavin Newsom presented earlier in the month. Many of the changes correspond to concerns lawmakers expressed regarding cuts to housing and homelessness initiatives, subsidized child care and social safety net programs that Newsom included in his revised spending plan. The Legislature must pass a budget by June 15 for lawmakers to receive their paychecks. That budget could serve as a placeholder while leaders continue to negotiate with Newsom. The governor must sign the budget bill by June 27, said Jason Sisney, Assembly budget advisor, in a Thursday Substack post. The new fiscal year starts on July 1. Rivas said in a statement the legislative plan restores funding to build more homes, supports K-12 classrooms and rejects many of the cuts that impact our most vulnerable residents. The legislative budget would provide $1 billion for another round of Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program grants. Newsoms budget proposed cutting $260 million in extra funds for the latest round of the program and did not contain money for future grants. Lawmakers also want to reject the governors proposed cuts to programs that help fund local housing planning and multifamily rentals for low income residents. Legislators are pushing to restore funding for some subsidized child care slots after Newsoms revised budget froze an expansion of the program indefinitely. They also reject some of the governors cuts to CalWORKs the states welfare program and foster care initiatives, in addition to restoring millions in public health dollars Newsoms revised budget eliminated. The governors spending plan would have stripped billions in Medi-Cal provider rate increases that were to come from a managed care organization tax hike that helps the state draw down additional federal dollars. Legislators instead want to preserve some of the new investments and delay them from Jan. 1, 2025 until Jan. 1, 2026. As progressive Democrats have suggested, the legislative proposal would cut more funding from the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The Senate version of the joint legislative plan said lawmakers propose $1 billion in CDCR reductions. The Assemblys version said this includes substantial new reductions and incorporates the governors plan to cut more than $80 million by deactivating unused prison beds. The legislative proposal does preserve some elements of Newsoms budget. It accepts a plan to suspend net operating loss tax deductions for businesses earning more than $1 million in California and cap business tax credits for three years. But lawmakers would start the suspension and cap in 2024, rather than 2025. The Legislature also supports the governors plan to cut state operations budgets and vacant positions. Newsom recently reached an agreement with the powerful California Teachers Association over education funding that would provide schools with more money in the future, as Politico first reported. Lawmakers did not yet endorse that agreement, with both the Senate and Assembly versions of the budget agreement saying the Legislature continues to examine the new proposal. California lawmakers are pushing hard to pass legislation aimed at tackling rising retail crime across the Golden State before a coalition of community members advances their own agenda. State Assembly Democratic Caucus chair Rick Chavez Zbur announced this week that the California Retail Theft Reduction Act, introduced in February, was unanimously passed by the Assembly and is now on its way to the State Senate for approval. More from Sourcing Journal AB 2943, co-authored by Zbur, chairman of the Assembly Public Safety committee Kevin McCarty and speaker of the California State Assembly Robert Rivas, would create a new crime classification for possessing stolen merchandise with the intent to resell, carrying a prison sentence of up to three years. With an eye toward addressing serial offenders, the bill creates a framework for aggregating the value of multiple thefts from different victims to a charge of grand theft. The proposal is just one in a bipartisan package of seven bills under the header of Californians Against Retail Theft. The other six bills have also advanced to the Senate, and if passed, will head to Governor Gavin Newsom for a final sign-off in June. We know that retail crime is an emotional issue for many of our constituents. Business owners fear for their livelihoods, workers fear for their wellbeing, and members of the public worry it may no longer be safe or convenient to frequent their neighborhood stores, Zbur said. In developing these proposals, we have worked hand in hand with the Speakers office, the Governors office, the Public Safety Committee, and key stakeholdersincluding retailers, workers, criminal justice reform advocates, and law enforcementto find effective solutions to address retail crime, while preserving reforms that have kept our communities safe, he added. The reforms Zbur alluded to include Prop. 47, a ballot measure passed in 2014 that reclassified certain felony crimes to lesser charges. Under the provision, also known as the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, thefts of property valued under $950 were reduced to misdemeanors, with the stated goal to ensure that prison spending is focused on violent and serious offenses, to maximize alternatives for non-serious, nonviolent crime, and to invest the savings generated from [the proposition] into prevention and support programs in K-12 schools, victim services, and mental health and drug treatment. Some Democratic officials across the state who have watched retail crime escalate within their districts have grappled with how to address the issue without rolling back what they view as a necessary reform to the criminal justice system. Prop. 47 served to address the issue of prison overcrowding while also redirecting resources into community-building programs and preventative measures aimed at deterring crime, they believe. But there are plenty of others who disagree. Lawmakers like Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, a Democrat who represents the South Bay of Los Angeles County, has been adamant about restoring balance to the justice system by lowering the felony threshold for property theft. Muratsuchi has introduced several bills aimed at reforming Prop. 47 in recent years. Law enforcement, too, has been vocal about the issue. In 2014, Prop. 47 was packaged as a Safe Neighborhood and Schools Act, and for the last decade this disingenuous title has plagued California businesses by taking the punishment teeth from theft crimes, San Bernadino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said earlier this year. Others charged with chasing down thieves for a living have evinced similar sentiments. As it turns out, many California constituents, business owners, local officials, law enforcement bodies and community organizations agree. In January, a coalition known as the Californians for Safer Communities coalesced to take matters into their own hands. The advocacy group introduced a petition dubbed the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, which would, among other things, reverse Prop. 47. The petitioners including Mayor London Breed of San Francisco, Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose and Assemblymember James Ramos of San Bernadinonumber in the hundreds of thousands. In fact, Californians for Safer Communities has said it has garnered more than 900,000 signatures. A total of 546,651 signatures from registered voters is needed for the petition to qualify as a ballot measure in the November election. The deadline to qualify is June 27, and the signatures are currently being reviewed. With the issue likely headed to the polls, pols against Prop. 47 reform are rushing to push their own measures across the governors deskand they are likely to find a sympathetic ear, as Newsom too has sidestepped a full-on revision of the provision in his efforts to combat retail theft. According to Zbur, his bill preserves the good elements of criminal justice reform so that were not putting people in prison needlessly. The House and Senate will try to work out an agreement on cannabis legalization during a committee of conference. (Getty Images) The New Hampshire House voted Thursday to send a marijuana legalization bill to further negotiations, after cannabis supporters voiced deep frustrations with changes to the bill by the Senate. In a 261-108 vote, the House requested a committee of conference with the Senate to help bridge disagreements over how the state should regulate retail cannabis. Later Thursday, the Senate agreed to the committee. The bill is the primary legislation this year to legalize cannabis, a year after Gov. Chris Sununu said he would sign a cannabis legalization bill that met certain conditions. Both the House and Senate versions of the bill would allow people 21 and older to possess and consume cannabis in New Hampshire. But when it came to authorizing retail sales, the Houses version of the bill had included a licensee model, which would have allowed business owners to purchase licenses and run retail outlets with certain freedoms. In its version, the Senate replaced that approach with a franchise model, which would allow private businesses to run stores but empower the states Liquor Commission to exert stronger control over the layout of stores and the advertising of the products. That Senate change and others such as one introducing criminal penalties for public consumption of cannabis and another allowing retail stores to sell therapeutic cannabis have turned many House cannabis supporters against the Senates version of the bill. Speaking on the floor, Rep. Kevin Verville, a Deerfield Republican, said he was staunchly in favor of cannabis legalization, a position he said he had held since being a teenager. But this is not the New Hampshire solution, he said of the Senate bill. This bill is not what were looking for. Verville argued the Senates franchise model would benefit large national businesses. The bill would authorize 15 retail licenses across the state, and allow individuals or companies to purchase up to three licenses each. If I was big pot, I would love this bill, too, Verville said. But Im not big pot; Im little pot. Some supporters had argued the House should pass the Senates bill because it has the best chance of being approved by Sununu. In a radio interview this week, Sununu said he would sign the Senates version of the bill if the House agreed to it, according to New Hampshire Journal. But Verville contested the notion that this year was the only chance to pass cannabis legalization. I do not subscribe to the premise that something is better than nothing, he said. Rep. John Hunt, a Rindge Republican and the chairman of the House Commerce Committee, made an effort to convince the House to pass the Senate amended bill, even despite the disagreements. He said the Senate had made the changes to scare the House away. Thats the whole point of what the Senate did, Hunt said. The Senate made this bill the ugliest, most government-intrusive, most overregulated marijuana statute they could amend at the midnight hour, for one singular purpose: For you to vote no. If you vote no, they won. They got what they wanted, which is to kill this bill. The argument was not persuasive; the House voted overwhelmingly against the motion to concur with the Senates changes without negotiating, 117-252. But the chamber also voted against killing the bill outright by nonconcurring with the Senate changes, 173-196. The formation of the committee of conference means representatives of the two chambers four from the House and three from the Senate will have until the end of the day on Thursday, June 6, to come up with a final amended bill that all negotiators can agree to. If the committee can agree, the bill will go to final votes in the House and Senate. If the committee cannot agree, the bill will die. Speaking after the vote, Rep. Erica Layon, a Derry Republican and the prime sponsor of the original version of HB 1633, said she hopes the committee can agree to certain fallback provisions mechanisms by which the legalization provisions can be salvaged even if the retail approach proves faulty. But she said she mostly hopes the Senate is interested in negotiating. Now the ball is in their court, Layon said. Its clear that the House wants legalization, but they wont do anything just to get legalization. Does the Senate want to work with us? And is the governor willing to work on something? Thats the big question. The post Cannabis legalization set for negotiations after frustrations among House supporters appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin. Chad Daybell was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the 2019 killings of Joshua "J.J." Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell John Roark/Post Register/Pool/AP Chad Daybell Chad Daybell has been found guilty of murdering his second wife Lori Vallow's two youngest children and his first wife. Chad, 55, was charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the 2019 killings of 7-year-old Joshua "J.J." Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and his first wife 49-year-old Tammy Daybell. In addition to the murder and conspiracy charges, Chad was also convicted of insurance fraud. The jury deliberated for less than 6 hours in Ada County, Idaho. The capital murder trial lasted nearly two months and included testimony from multiple witnesses, including Chad's two adult children. It was live streamed by Judge Steven W. Boyce on YouTube. Prosecutors said that Daybell, a self-published author of doomsday-themed books, believed that both of Loris children as well as Tammy were possessed by dark spirits and that Daybell and Lori's life together revolved around a small doomsday cult. John Roark/Post Register/Pool/AP Chad Daybell More than anything else Chad's obsession with Lori was rooted in her adoration for him, Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood said at the beginning of the trial in April. He called her an exalted goddess. On Oct. 19, 2019, Chad reported Tammys death, saying she had gone to bed with a cough and didn't wake up. Rexburg Police Department; Tammy Daybell/Facebook From left: Joshua "J.J." Vallow, Tylee Ryan and Tammy Daybell She was found dead in her bed and although her manner of death was initially ruled as natural, it was later determined and revealed during Loris trial that she died by asphyxiation, PEOPLE previously reported. By that point, it had been weeks since J.J. and Tylee had disappeared. Related: Lori Vallow Daybell Found Guilty of Murdering Her 2 Children and Conspiring to Murder Husband's 1st Wife Facebook Chad and Tammy Daybell. "You will hear from multiple witnesses that Chad predicted multiple times that Tammy would die an early death," Wood said during opening statements. Chad and Lori then married in November of that same year. On June 9, 2020, the remains of J.J. and Tylee were found on a Rexburg, Idaho, property belonging to Chad. J.J. was wrapped in plastic and bound by duct tape; Tylee was dismembered and burned. The children were last seen in September 2019. Madison County Sheriff's Office via AP; Rexburg Police Department via AP Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell Related: 'Attraction from the Very Beginning': Inside the Courtship of Lori Vallow & Chad Daybell During Chads trial, his two adult children, Emma Murray and Garth Daybell, testified in his defense. Murray testified that her father, who was married to Tammy for nearly 30 years and had five children with her, was distraught over Tammy's death. Id never seen him more upset than in that moment, Murray told the jury, 12News reported. I know the grief was real. He may not have had the same romantic relationship that he had with my mother in the past, but I know he valued her as a person and seeing her die was very traumatic. 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. Murray told the jury that her mothers health began to get worse leading up to her death. Garth Daybell also testified that his mother was getting tired extremely easily, got winded often and had fainting spells, according to KSL. Chad's trial took place nearly one year after Lori was found guilty of murdering J.J. and Tylee and conspiring to murder Tammy. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in July 2023. Lori did not face the death penalty. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Police found the bodies of Joshua "J.J." Vallow (L) and Tylee Ryan on doomsday author Chad Daybell's Idaho property after a monthslong search. File Photo courtesy of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children May 30 (UPI) -- A jury on Thursday found Chad Daybell guilty for the murders of his first wife and his second wife's two children. The verdict in the Idaho murder trial followed seven weeks of testimony revealing what prosecutors called a plot to pursue "money, power and sex." Prosecutors said they plan to pursue the death penalty for Daybell. His sentencing hearing began Thursday afternoon but could take days. Daybell was convicted on eight felony counts, including the first-degree murders of his then-wife Tammy Daybell and his second wife Lori Vallow's two children, Joshua "J.J." Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, in a so-called "doomsday plot." His conviction comes more than a year after Vallow was convicted on six felony counts for her role in the murder of her children and Tammy Daybell. She is serving a life sentence in prison without parole. Judge Steve Boyce, who presided over both cases, granted a motion from Vallow's defense to dismiss the death penalty before her trial took place. Daybell, who is an author of books about the apocalypse, promoted spiritual beliefs to justify the triple-murder and claimed that all three were possessed and "marked" for death, according to prosecutors. "Three dead bodies ... and for what? Money, power and sex. That's what the defendant cared about," prosecutor Lindsey Blake said in closing arguments Wednesday. Prosecutors said Daybell and Vallow met at the religious conference and carried out a monthslong affair before Tammy Daybell was found dead in her bed in 2019. Around that time, Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed her previous husband, Charles Vallow, during a confrontation at their Arizona home, and her children went missing soon after, prosecutors said. Vallow and Daybell married in Hawaii just 17 days after Tamara Daybell's body was found. Police were investigating Cox's claims that he shot his brother-in-law in self-defense, but Cox died of natural causes months after the incident. After a monthslong search, Idaho police in June 2020 found the children's remains buried in shallow graves on Daybell's Idaho property. "Chad said the plan was for he and Lori to be together unencumbered by earthly relatives, earthly obstacles," Blake said. Early in the testimony of Daybell's trial, prosecutors played a recording of a phone call between Daybell and Vallow from around the same time officers were searching the property for the remains of her children. "They're searching the property," Daybell told Vallow in the call before telling her to pray and saying "I love you so much." Daybell now faces up to two weeks of jury deliberation over additional evidence to determine whether or not he should receive the death penalty. Vallow also was indicted in 2021 on one count of first-degree murder for the killing of Charles Vallow and one count of first-degree premeditated murder for allegedly plotting to kill her niece's ex-husband Brandon Boudreaux. Her trial in those cases in scheduled for August. She has pleaded not guilty to both charges. Chad Daybell sits at the defense table after the jury's verdict in his murder trial was read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. | Kyle Green Chad Daybell was found guilty on Thursday of murdering his new wifes children 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan as well as his former wife Tammy Daybell following a monthslong trial in Boise. The 12-person jury also found him guilty of conspiring to murder each of the victims, grand theft and two counts of insurance fraud. EastIdahoNews.coms Nate Eaton said people were crying as the verdict was read in the full courtroom, though Chad Daybell showed very little emotion. Outside the courthouse, Eaton said there was cheering from people listening to the stream as each guilty was read. Eaton said Tammy Daybells father, attending the trial for the first time, hugged Larry and Kay Woodcock, JJs grandparents, as they cried outside the courtroom. Larry Woodcock, gets a hug after the verdict in the Chad Daybell murder trial was read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Daybell was convicted of killing his wife and his new girlfriend's two youngest kids in a strange triple murder case. | Kyle Green Twelve jurors received the case after closing arguments Wednesday afternoon and deliberated about seven hours, over two days, before reaching a verdict. Because prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, the same jury will now be tasked with deciding whether the death penalty is appropriate. About an hour after the verdict was read, Judge Steven Boyce gave instructions for the sentencing phase to the jurors. The judge told them prosecutors have the burden of proving there is an aggravating circumstance that merits the death penalty beyond a reasonable doubt. Six of the charges against Chad Daybell are capital charges, including the three murders and conspiracy to commit each of those murders. Boyce said Chad Daybell will be sentenced for other offenses at a later date. Eaton said the jurors have been kept sequestered, and are staying in a hotel since the case was passed to them on Wednesday. Bailiffs have been ensuring that they have no communication with anyone outside the jury at any time. Boyce said they will continue to be sequestered through the entire sentencing phase of the case. He said it will be up to the jurors what the schedule is after this point, and they can choose to continue the trial through the weekend if desired. Prosecutors will begin calling witnesses on Friday morning. During closing arguments, Fremont County prosecutor Lindsay Blake painted a picture for jurors of Chad Daybell as the leader, gatherer or mastermind of the deaths. Lori Vallow Daybell his then-girlfriend, now wife her brother Alex Cox and Chad Daybells other followers sought direction from him, as the self-appointed leader of the Church of the Firstborn. She said Lori Daybell and multiple witnesses at the trial looked to him as he rated whether others were light or dark his perception of their countenance, or, as witnesses explained, how close a person is to being exalted, like God as he rated their death percentages. They said Chad Daybell used death percentages when individuals had perceived demons inside them, meaning the person was closer to death. He convinced Lori Daybell that the two of them were married in previous lives and, because of that, it was OK for them to be together and eventually marry again. Blake said he manipulated Lori Daybell into believing he was providing protection for her, and threatened to take it away when she once ignored him. When she stopped ignoring him, he promised her his protections were back. Blake said Chad Daybell called the shots. Daybell gave religious blessings, including one to Cox in November 2019, after the three deaths, telling him, Youve already assisted us in ways that can never be repaid. And you will continue to do so. Chad Daybell also told Cox, in the blessing, that his actions were approved by Jesus, who wanted to tell him, Well done. Blake said it was Chad Daybell who taught the group about castings and told them that after a successful casting, a body would die or naturally expire. Each time, she said, the body of those who were declared dark would die. In court, Chad Daybell shook his head no a contrast to his blank face while she talked about his manipulation. Blake said Chad Daybell used all these manipulations to declare 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, Tammy Daybell and Lori Daybells husband Charles Vallow as dark, zombies, possessed, or as people with a low death percentage. And because of that, Blake said Chad Daybell essentially declared: Tammy had to die, and Tylee has to die, and JJ has to die. All three victims gone too soon, the prosecutor said. She reminded jurors they dont have to be convinced Chad Daybell murdered the three himself to be found guilty, but that he advised, assisted, encouraged, commanded or coerced the deaths to happen. Blake argued that Daybell planned to get rid of the obstructions so that he could have money, power and sex with Lori Daybell. She said the children and their spouses were obstacles, using a word from Chad and Lori Daybells text messages. Defense attorney John Prior pointed blame at anyone other than Chad Daybell in his closing arguments, saying Chad Daybell was duped by Lori Daybell and others around her. He was just the next victim. Prior said his client had no idea the two children were buried in his own backyard until officers uncovered the bodies on June 9, 2020, and he blamed Lori Daybell and Cox for setting up Chad Daybell. He said Cox, Lori Daybells brother whose cellphone data placed him in Chad Daybells backyard near where the bodies were found the day after each of them were last seen, had motive to kill JJ and Tylee because the children had witnessed him murdering Charles Vallow. Prior said Chad Daybell, as Lori Daybells fifth husband, was set up to provide the next life insurance payout for her and was set up as a fall guy for the murders. Prior painted Chad Daybell as a man with unique beliefs who liked to share them a pot-stirrer who was targeted as the culprit in this case by officers who did not like his beliefs. He said confirmation bias led them to look at Chad Daybell as the only suspect and not at other players in the case. He said officers absolutely failed in their investigation. If they had looked more at location history and DNA, Prior said investigators would have connected Melanie Gibb, a woman who was staying with Lori Daybell when officers believe JJ was killed, to his death. He said Gibb was the real religious ringleader. Prior was also adamant Tammy Daybells death was not homicide, but that she died of natural causes. He said it would be impossible for Chad Daybell to kill her the way prosecutors claim he did. Ultimately, the jury agreed with the prosecution and convicted Chad Daybell on all charges. Lori Daybell was found guilty of the murders of Tylee and JJ, and conspiracy to murder them and Tammy during a trial last year. She was given five sentences of life in prison for her crimes. Testimony of the victims is scheduled to begin Friday at 8:30 a.m. The city of Charlotte has reached an understanding with Norfolk Southern to use the companys railroad tracks to connect Lake Norman communities to uptown via the Red Line project, Charlotte City Council member Ed Driggs confirmed. The goal is for the deal, first reported by Observer news partner WSOC, to be completed by September, according to Driggs, who chairs the councils transportation committee. We are therefore optimistic that theres a way forward towards realizing the Red Line, he said. The 25-mile LYNX Red Line would connect uptown Charlotte to Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson and Mooresville via commuter rail. The Charlotte Area Transit Systems plan for the line would utilize the O Line a set of rarely used freight tracks owned by Norfolk Southern. For years, Norfolk Southern held its ground on not giving CATS access to the tracks, repeatedly saying Freight operations are long distance and customer-driven, which precludes passenger only operating windows. A letter sent to city leaders in July and first reported in October indicated the company was finally willing to negotiate access to the tracks. Since then, CATS held a series of public meetings to gather input on the Red Line as part of an effort to update the plan ahead of a potential deal with the railroad. A map shows the current stops planned along the Red Line. The plan is under reevaluation are stalling for years, and CATS is seeking public input on changes. City Manager Marcus Jones notified Mecklenburg County and other area town managers of a non-binding agreement in an email sent on May 15, WSOC reported. The news of a deal with Norfolk Southern comes a day after the Charlotte City Council approved a revised agreement managing the regions public transit system, something Driggs said at that meeting he was hopeful could bring progress on getting a sales tax referendum to fund transit needs. Theres still another major hurdle: the N.C. General Assembly. Charlotte has discussed trying to get a sales tax increase on the ballot for transportation projects, but the city needs legislative approval to do so. Republican leaders in Raleigh have yet to be won over, saying the city should focus on roads first. Conversations with the legislature about the tax are ongoing, and there could potentially be a referendum on the ballot in November 2025, Jones said at Tuesdays council meeting. Theres positive work happening in this space, he said. In our CLT Politics newsletter, we offer exclusive insight into Charlotte-region politics sent to your inbox on Thursdays. Subscribe for free. Story idea? mramsey@charlotteobserver.com. KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2024 - 08:56 | All, Japan A Japan Self-Defense Forces member died Thursday after he was hit by shrapnel from a hand grenade thrown by another SDF member during a training session at a facility west of Tokyo, the Ground SDF said. Sgt. Taku Yamamiya, 29, of the GSDF's 1st infantry regiment, was taking part in an exercise at an outdoor training area for grenade tossing, the GSDF said, adding an investigative panel has been set up to determine what happened. In the training that began at 8:30 a.m. at the Kitafuji Exercise Area training ground in Yamanashi Prefecture, Yamamiya was next to the thrower, acting as marksman in a U-shaped trench about 1 meter high, with both set to take cover in the trench after the toss. The training involved using hand grenades designed to lethally disperse shrapnel. The person next to Yamamiya was responsible for removing the pins and throwing the grenades, which weigh approximately 450 grams, at a target 25 meters to 30 meters away. The incident occurred around 8:40 a.m. during the fourth throw of the training. Yamamiya was rushed to the hospital unconscious but was pronounced dead around two hours later, according to the GSDF. The GSDF believes the grenade exploded near the target as expected and is investigating whether Yamamiya properly took cover. While there were no other injuries among the 23 personnel participating in the exercise, the GSDF said all live ammunition exercises have been suspended until their safety can be confirmed. "This should never have happened as an organization that handles weaponry, and we take it very seriously," Gen. Yasunori Morishita, chief of staff of the GSDF, said at a press conference while pledging to find the cause of the incident and prevent a recurrence. The site straddles the municipalities of Fujiyoshida and Yamanakako and connects to another training facility in neighboring Shizuoka Prefecture. Related coverage: Recruit fatally shoots 2 SDF instructors, hurts 1 at Japan gun range CHEATHAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) An undercover investigation resulted in the arrest of an Ashland City man on charges of soliciting a minor. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said their Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force worked with the FBI in July 2023 and identified a man who had been communicating with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl, but was actually an undercover special agent. READ: Convicted sex trafficker back in custody The man, identified as 20-year-old Keith Taualii Choate, reportedly sent sexually explicit messages and pictures to the perceived girl and asked her to send sexually explicit photographs of herself back to him, according to investigators. The TBI said Choate was arrested in Williamson County with help from the Ashland City Police Department and the Cheatham County Sheriffs Office. Keith Taualii Choate (Source: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) Choate is charged with one count of solicitation of a minor and one count of soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means. He is being held in the Cheatham County Jail on a $50,000 bond. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee Anyone with information regarding online child exploitation should contact the TBI tipline at 1-800-TBI-FIND, TipsToTBI@tbi.tn.gov, or report via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) cyber tipline at CyberTipline.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has refused to meet with lawmakers regarding their concerns over Justice Samuel Alitos ability to impartially judge Jan. 6 cases. In a short letter responding to Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), majority whip and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), chair of the Judiciary subcommittee on federal courts, Roberts wrote that he would respectfully decline your request for a meeting. As noted in my letter to Chairman Durbin last April, apart from ceremonial events, only on rare occasions in our Nations history has a sitting Chief Justice met with legislators, even in a public setting (such as a Committee hearing) with members of both major political parties present, Roberts wrote. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances. A meeting with leaders of only one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the Court simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable, he added. The lawmakers concerns were prompted by reports that Alito has flown at least two flags associated with the 2020 Stop the Steal movement and the Jan. 6 riot outside of his properties. The concerns are timely given that the court is currently weighing two cases related to the Jan. 6 riot. One would potentially grant former President Donald Trump immunity from prosecution on alleged crimes related to his role in 2020 election subversion efforts, and another could hinder the Justice Departments ability to prosecute participants in the Capitol riot under the crime of obstruction of an official proceeding. Last week, Durbin and Whitehouse sent a letter to Roberts requesting a meeting as soon as possible and urging him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol. The request followed a letter from 40 House Democrats calling for Alito to recuse himself from the cases. On Wednesday, Alito responded to the outcry with a firm refusal to recuse himself from the cases, and blamed his wife for the flags presence at his homes. As I have stated publicly, I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of that flag, Alito wrote. I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention. As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused. My wife is fond of flying flags. I am not, he added. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts rejected an invitation from two Democratic senators to discuss ethics on the court as well as the controversy surrounding Justice Samuel Alito and the controversial flags flown at his homes. I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting ... apart from ceremonial events, only on rare occasions in our Nations history has a sitting Chief Justice met with legislators, he wrote. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances. On Wednesday, Alito sent a letter to the senators as well as to House members telling them that he wouldnt recuse himself from cases concerning former President Donald Trump and the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Earlier this month, The New York Times reported that an upside-down American flag favored by election deniers was flown outside the home of Justice Alito in Alexandria, Virginia, in January 2021. The justice said his wife had flown the flag amid a neighborhood dispute. Another flag used by Capitol rioters, known as an appeal to heaven flag, was seen outside Alitos New Jersey beach house. Alito wrote that he found that the flags, which he said had been flown by his wife, didnt mean that he had to recuse himself. He noted that she had been unaware of the appeal to heaven flags connection to the insurrection. Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse wrote to Roberts a week ago to request the meeting and that Roberts take measures to push Alito to recuse himself from any cases reaching the Supreme Court that concern the January 6 riot or former President Donald Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Judge Roberts wrote to Durbin and Whitehouse that individual Justices decide recusal issues, meaning that its up to Alito to decide if hell recuse himself. United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito pose for an official portrait on 7 October 2022 (Getty Images) He added: The format proposed - a meeting with leaders of only one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the Court - simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable. Alito is not alone in having rejected calls to recuse himself. Fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas has also refused to recuse himself from matters concerning the 2020 election after his wife Ginni Thomas backed efforts to overturn the results. Not for the last half-century has public trust in the Supreme Court been this low. The court is reviewing two cases connected to the Capitol riot, including whether Trump has immunity from prosecution on charges of election interference and charges against the rioters who took part in the insurrection. Judicial ethics codes state that judges have to be independent and that they should avoid making political statements or sharing opinions on issues on which they may have to make rulings. The Supreme Court didnt adopt a code of ethics until last year as it faced criticism over some justices accepting hitherto unknown free trips and gifts. The code is not enforceable and the Senate Judiciary Committee last year approved legislation to place stricter ethics requirements on justices but Republicans have opposed such measures. The Associated Press contributed to this report Chief Justice John Roberts declines to meet with Democratic lawmakers about ethics flap and Alitos flags Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday rejected a meeting request from Democratic lawmakers who wanted to discuss two provocative flags hoisted at Justice Samuel Alitos properties. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances, Roberts wrote in a letter released by the Supreme Court. The chief justices letter landed a day after Alito told lawmakers in his own letters that he will not recuse in cases involving the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Alito said that his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, hoisted an upside-down American flag at their Virginia home in January 2021 in response to a neighborhood spat. He said she also raised the Appeal to Heaven flag at their New Jersey property last summer. My wife is fond of flying flags, Alito wrote. I am not. Both flags have become associated with supporters of former President Donald Trump and were waved at the Capitol during the riot. Alito said in his own letters Wednesday that he was not aware of their modern political meaning. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, had demanded Alitos recusal in those cases and also sought the meeting with Roberts to discuss additional steps to address the Supreme Courts ethics crisis. In his brief response Thursday, Roberts wrote that a meeting with leaders of only one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the court only served to underscore his belief that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable. (Republican leaders of the Judiciary Committee were copied on the meeting request and Roberts response.) The Supreme Court is considering two appeals tied to the 2020 election and the attack on the US Capitol. In one, the justices are weighing Trumps claim of immunity from special counsel Jack Smiths election subversion charges. In another, a January 6 rioter is challenging an obstruction charge filed against him by prosecutors, arguing that Congress intended that law to apply to people destroying evidence, not storming a government building. Whitehouse posted on social media that the work must continue until the Supreme Court applies honest fact-finding and neutral decision-making to itself. That really should not be hard, Whitehouse posted on X. Its a tell that theyve made it so hard. This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is politely refusing to meet with Democratic senators regarding his colleague Samuel Alito's ethical issues, writing in a letter Thursday that to so would raise concerns about the separation of powers and itself create an appearance of impropriety. "I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting," Roberts wrote to Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.. Apart from "ceremonial events," Roberts wrote, "only on rare occassions in our Nation's history has a sitting Chief Justice met with legislators, even in a public setting." The letter came in response to a request for a meeting from Durbin and Whitehouse, sent May 23, following The New York Times' reporting on the flags flying outside Alito's two homes: one an upside-down American flag, the other an "Appeal to Heaven" banner, both adopted by the far-right and supporters of former President Donald Trump. "By displaying or permitting the display of prominent symbols of the 'Stop the Steal' campaign outside his homes, Justice Alito clearly created an appearance of impropriety in violation of the Code of Conduct for Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States ... that all nine justices adopted last year," they wrote. "He also created reasonable doubt as to his impartiality in certain proceedings, thereby requiring his disqualification in those proceedings as established by the Code of Conduct and federal law." Last November, following reports that Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas had accepted gifts from wealthy Republican donors, the Supreme Court adopted a Code of Conduct that states as one of its five ethical canons: "A Justice Should Avoid Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in All Activities." Another canon states that justices "Should Refrain from Political Activity." In his own letter to the senators, Alito blamed his wife for both pro-Trump symbols being raised outside their homes, which he asserted were not political in nature but a product of his wife being "fond of flying flags." But former neighbors and a police phone call directly contradict his claim that the upside-down flag was a response to an interpersonal squabble, not the January 6 insurrection and President Joe Biden's coming inauguration, which Alito did not attend. Alito said he would not recuse himself from cases involving Trump, including one regarding his claim of immunity from prosecution. Roberts, in his response to the senators, wrote that it was his "understanding" that Alito had already sent a letter to them "addressing this subject." He said it would be improper to meet with "leaders of only one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the Court," saying the appearance of partisanship (no Republican senators have objected to Alito's actions) "simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable." Chief justice will not meet with Democrats to discuss ethics concerns about Samuel Alito Chief Justice John Roberts (L) told Senate Democrats that a meeting of a justice with leaders of only one political party would be "inadvisable." File Photo by Eric Lee/UPI May 30 (UPI) -- Chief Justice John Roberts refused Thursday to meet with Senate Democrats to discuss Supreme Court ethics issues stemming from two controversial flags flown over Justice Samuel Alito's properties. In a letter to Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Roberts said he must "respectfully decline" their request for a meeting. "Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances," the letter read. "Moreover, the format proposed -- a meeting with leaders of only one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the Court -- simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable." Roberts noted in the letter that he made the same decision last year not to meet with Durbin about ethics issues for similar reasons. Roberts' response comes a day after Alito sent his own letter telling Democrats he would not heed their call for him to recuse himself from cases involving former President Donald Trump. In the letter, Alito said the matter of the two flags seen on his properties do not "meet the applicable standard for recusal." Alito said his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, was responsible for raising an upside-down American flag at their Virginia home in the days after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. The justice also said his wife raised the "Appeal to Heaven" flag at their New Jersey vacation home last summer. "My wife is fond of flying flags," Alito wrote. "I am not." Both flags have been flown by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, and Democrats said they create an appearance of bias that required Alito to recuse himself from all cases involving Trump. Alito said he was not familiar with the flags' connection to Trump and that his wife did not fly them to show support for that movement. The Supreme Court is considering two cases tied to the 2020 presidential election. Justices are currently weighing Trump's claim of presidential immunity to charges of election subversion. In another case, justices are hearing an appeal from a Jan. 6 rioter who claims an obstruction charge filed against him only applies to people destroying evidence, not storming a government building. WASHINGTON Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday said he's not getting involved in Justice Samuel Alito's refusal to step aside from Supreme Court cases related to the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol. In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Roberts, without commenting on Alito's choice, said recusal decisions are left to the individual justices under the court's ethics code. Roberts also declined the committee's request to meet to discuss ethics questions swirling around the court, citing the need for "judicial independence" and the fact that the invitation came solely from the committee's Democrats. A meeting with leaders of only one party "simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable," Roberts wrote to Sen. Dick Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who chairs the committee, and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, the Rhode Island Democrat who heads a panel on the federal courts. Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court Alito is under fire following media reports that flags associated with the "Stop the Steal" movement flew from his homes in Virginia and New Jersey. Like Roberts, Alito on Wednesday similarly raised the issue of partisanship when explaining in a letter to congressional Democrats why he was not recusing himself. The justice said anyone not motivated by political or ideological considerations and not trying to affect the outcome of a case would agree that recusal isnt warranted. Related Justice Alito rejects demands that he step aside from Jan. 6 cases because of flags Alito said the flags were raised by his wife and were not in support of the "Stop the Steal" movement. "My wife is fond of flying flags," Alito wrote. "I am not." The high court is deciding two cases related to attempts by former President Donald Trump and his supporters to overturn the results of the 2020 election, decisions that will affect the criminal election interference charges pending against Trump. Durbin said Alito's refusal to recuse shows why the ethics code the court adopted last year needs an enforcement mechanism. More: Samuel Alito flew an 'Appeal to Heaven' flag outside his Long Beach vacation home: report Flying the American flag upside down at his home is a signal of defiance, which raises reasonable questions about bias and fairness in cases pending before the Court, Durbin said in a statement Wednesday. Durbin has been under pressure from liberal groups to crack down on the court following recent ethics controversies that have also involved posh vacations taken by Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Justice Roberts says Alito solely responsible for recusal choice Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday rejected a request by Democratic senators to discuss Samuel Alitos impartiality following concerns about a pair of January 6aligned flags that had been spotted flying at two of the justices residences. In a letter addressed to Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Roberts claimed that the format proposeda meeting with leaders only of one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the courtsimply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable. The rejection follows a similar shutdown by Alito himself, who issued a letter to the pair on Wednesday stating that he would not recuse himself from lawsuits relating to the 2020 presidential electionspecifically, Trump v. United Statesand claiming that his impartiality had not reasonably come into question. Alito was accused of compromising the courts impartiality after a Stop the Steal upside-down U.S. flag was spotted at his house in Arlington, Virginia, and an Appeal to Heaven flaga Revolutionary War symbol adopted by Christian nationalistswas seen flying at the justices New Jersey vacation home. Alito has attempted to wipe his hands of both incidents, blaming the controversial messaging on his wife, whom he described as fond of flying flags. Her reasons for flying the flag are not relevant to his ability to weigh in on the immunity case, he said in his letter to Durbin and Whitehouse. But Democrats arent letting up on the issue, digging up alternative pathways to hold Alito to account that dont rely on his having the final say. In a New York Times op-ed published Wednesday, Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin argued that the executive branch could still step in to challenge the judiciarys ethics. The U.S. Department of Justice can petition the other seven justices to require Justices Alito and [Clarence] Thomas to recuse themselves not as a matter of grace but as a matter of law, Raskin posited. This recusal statute, if triggered, is not a friendly suggestion, Raskin continued. It is Congresss command, binding on the justices, just as the due process clause is. The Supreme Court cannot disregard this law just because it directly affects one or two of its justices. Ignoring it would trespass on the constitutional separation of powers because the justices would essentially be saying that they have the power to override a congressional command. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A former school custodian facing a federal child pornography charge is having difficulty understanding the criminal charge against him, according to his attorney. This week, the attorney representing Bradley Arkesteyn asked that his client undergo a psychiatric examination. Report: Child porn suspect fired from massage job after complaint Arkesteyn was arrested in March after he allegedly shared child porn with a undercover FBI agent. Prior to his arrest, Arkesteyn had been working with the Forest Hills School District. According to court records, he admitted to receiving and sending child pornography. His attorney is asking that a June trial date be put on hold so Arkesteyn can undergo a forensic evaluation. A hearing is scheduled for Friday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. By Keita Nakamura, KYODO NEWS - May 30, 2024 - 10:53 | World, All, Japan Japan and North Korea on Wednesday marked 10 years since the announcement of a landmark deal toward the settlement of the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s, but little progress has been made since. With the U.S. presidential election in November approaching, North Korean affairs experts say the potential return to power of Donald Trump, who brought up the abduction issue at the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit, might provide an incentive for Tokyo and Pyongyang to pursue a new round of negotiations. Still, the experts say prospects for a breakthrough in the long-standing problem at a possible summit between Japan and North Korea, whose leaders have not met for 20 years, remain dim unless Tokyo is willing to make concessions. In May 2014, Japan and North Korea reached an accord in Stockholm over principles for negotiations to resolve the issue. Tokyo eased sanctions on Pyongyang, which in turn promised to launch a fresh full-scale investigation into the abductions. Nevertheless, North Korea repeatedly postponed releasing the results of its inquiry, before disbanding its investigation team and suspending the probe after Japan levied further sanctions in February 2016 in reaction to nuclear and missile tests by Pyongyang. The two countries last held a leaders' meeting in May 2004, following the first-ever in September 2002, both in Pyongyang between then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, father of current leader Kim Jong Un. In the 2002 talks, Kim Jong Il admitted North Korean agents abducted 13 Japanese nationals mainly to train spies in Japanese language and culture and allowed five of them to later return to Japan. But he claimed the others had died, including Megumi Yokota, who was abducted on her way home from school in 1977 at age 13 and has become the issue's symbolic figure in Japan. The aging of the abductees' families increases the urgency for the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who became Japanese leader in October 2021 and resolved at the time to meet with Kim Jong Un without any preconditions. "Nowadays I feel like possibly I will not be in this world next year," Sakie Yokota, the 88-year-old mother of Megumi, said in a recent interview with Kyodo News, emphasizing the importance of a quick resolution. Kishida pledged in May 2023 to establish high-level negotiations with North Korea, prompting Pyongyang to issue a statement that month saying there is "no reason" for the two countries "not to meet." In January this year, Pyongyang apparently began indicating a willingness to improve bilateral ties with Japan, with Kim Jong Un sending a rare message of sympathy to Kishida over a powerful earthquake that hit central Japan on New Year's Day. The leader's sister Kim Yo Jong, a senior official in North Korea's ruling Workers' Party of Korea, also said in a statement in February that there "may come a day" Kishida visits Pyongyang if Japan does not make the abduction issue an "obstacle" between the two countries. The issue did not fade in importance, however. Tokyo reiterated it cannot accept North Korea's view that the abduction issue has been resolved. In her statement that followed in March, Kim Yo Jong said a summit with Japan is not in North Korea's interests. Atsuhito Isozaki, a professor at Keio University, said Pyongyang is likely to have "almost given up" on holding a summit with Japan by now, judging that Tokyo's policy remains unchanged even after sending "positive" messages to see if Kishida is serious about meeting, he said. Trump was the U.S. president for four years from 2017 and met with Kim Jong Un in Singapore in June 2018, in the first-ever leaders meeting between the United States and North Korea. Contact between the two nations stalled after their second summit in Hanoi in 2019 ended without a deal. The two leaders did meet again in person that year when Trump traveled to the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea in June, with the U.S. president briefly and symbolically stepping onto North Korean soil to shake hands with Kim Jong Un. North Korea believes then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration urged U.S. officials not to let Trump make "ill-considered concessions," and practically spoilt the Hanoi summit, Isozaki said. He says Pyongyang anticipates Tokyo could get in the way of its engagement with Washington and therefore has tried to improve relations with Japan before Trump's possible second term as president. Whether a Kishida-Kim summit will take place in the future depends on whether the Japanese leader is willing to make concessions toward the settlement of the abduction issue, but it would be a difficult move for him to make due to the likely public backlash in Japan, Isozaki said. Tomoki Iimura, a research fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs, warns that the trilateral relationship among the United States, Japan and South Korea could weaken if Trump wins the election. During his first presidential term, Trump had less interest in strengthening security alliances in Asia than his predecessors and put pressure on Japan and South Korea to shoulder more of the burden of hosting U.S. military bases. Another demand of that type from Trump could strain three-way ties, which have strengthened recently, especially since South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May 2022, Iimura said. An absence of a united front between the three governments on North Korea means they would have less "bargaining power" against Pyongyang, he said. The experts also said Pyongyang would put Tokyo and Seoul on the back burner if it returns to direct engagement with Washington. Japan's best chance of restarting talks with North Korea would come from regularly requesting Trump bring up the abduction issue during his administration's engagement with Pyongyang, Iimura said. "If Mr. Trump becomes the president and reaches some sort of a deal with North Korea, he would presuppose Japan's and South Korea's support in funding (denuclearization). I think Japan can make demands regarding the abduction issue, in return for supporting his deal," Iimura said. (Junko Horiuchi contributed to this story.) Related coverage: FOCUS: Asia security may be at risk if Japan-South Korea ties sour again FOCUS: Kishida's U.S. trip may raise odds of Japan going to polls in June FOCUS: Biden and Kishida future-proof bilateral ties in uncertain times COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A new report has revealed the number of children who went missing in Ohio increased in 2023, and highlights unsolved disappearances dating to 1928. The Ohio Missing Children Clearinghouse is a repository for statistics and information about missing children in the state. All 50 states have missing child clearinghouses, which provide resources for missing children, their families and the professionals who serve them, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Weeks after being added to historical buildings list, former Columbus bakery is razed In its report for 2023 issued by the Ohio attorney general, the clearinghouse documented 22,374 people went missing in Ohio; an increase of 1,757 people compared to the year prior. Of the missing people, 17,405 were missing children 1,850 more than the state saw in 2022. Of the children reported missing, 9,571 were females and 7,829 were males. 15,692 were aged 13 through 17, 1,541 were aged 6 through 12 and 172 were aged 0 through 5. Authorities reported that 98% of the missing children, or 17,033, were recovered safely by the end of the year. Five of the missing children were found dead. 367 children are still missing. In missing child cases where the circumstances were specified, 9,469 cases involved a runaway, 35 cases involved an abduction from a noncustodial parent and 15 cases involved abduction by a stranger. Law enforcement officials issued 13 Amber Alerts in 2023, involving 17 children. Sixteen children were safely recovered, and one child, 16-year-old Keshaun Williams, remains missing. Ten Endangered Missing Child Alerts were also issued, involving 12 children. These alerts are used to seek assistance for a missing child when law enforcement cannot determine whether the child was abducted, but the disappearance otherwise meets Amber Alert criteria. All 12 children were recovered safely. Changing the stigma of mental health among first responders Northeast Ohio experienced some of the highest numbers in the state, with over 5,400 missing child reports originating from the Cleveland, Akron, and Canton areas Cuyahoga County accounted for 2,959 of those cases. Central Ohio followed behind with 4,090 missing child reports, with over half of those coming from Franklin County (3,252). The counties that saw the highest number of missing children reports in Ohio, Franklin and Cuyahoga, are also the most populous counties in the state. (Photo Courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office) In Ohio, the report states there were 12 attempted child abductions in 2023, which involved seven girls and five boys, and resulted in eight arrests. The suspects were driving in a vehicle in 58% of the attempted abductions. Among the incidents where the suspects method is known, 66% used physical force or a weapon and 33% engaged the child in conversation by asking for help or directions. The report also highlights four unsolved cases of missing children, all who have been missing for over a decade. Melvin Horst went missing from Orrville in December 1928 at 4 years old. At the time of his disappearance, he took a small red toy truck and went to play with four friends a block from his home. His friends told authorities that Horst left to walk home. He never arrived at his house, but the toy was found in his front yard. Today, Horst would be 99 years old. How community leaders are working to reduce summer violence in Columbus Ashley Norah vanished from Columbus in June 2002 at 17 years old. While the report provided little details surrounding her disappearance, it states her ears were pierced, she had a birthmark on the back of her leg and braces when she was last seen. Today, she would be 39 years old. Glenna White went missing from Alliance in June 2009 at 17 years old. She had a tattoo on her right arm of a Yin-Yang and sunburst, a scar on her left wrist and her nose, lip and ears were pierced. She was last seen wearing a green tank top, black pants and black shoes with red hearts on them. A local man was charged with killing White after she was allegedly last seen with him, which ended in a mistrial. A body has never been discovered. Zaden McKnight went missing from Dayton in March 2014 at 4 years old. McKnight was last seen with his mother, Nichelle, who was shot to death. The main suspect in Nichelles death died by suicide. Zaden was last known to be wearing blue jeans, a yellow hat, a yellow and blue coat, and red velcro shoes with Lighting McQueen on them. Today, he would be 14 years old. Melvin Horst around the time he went missing (Photo Courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office). Photo of Horst age progressed to 94 years old. Anyone with information may contact the Orrville Police Department at 330-684-5058 (Photo Courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office). Ashley Norah around the time she went missing (Photo Courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office). Photo of Norah age progressed to 33 years old. Anyone with information may contact the Columbus Division of Police at 614-645-4545 (Photo Courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office). Glenna White around the time she went missing (Photo Courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office). Photo of White age progressed to 27 years old. Anyone with information may contact the Stark County Sheriffs Office at 330-430-3800 (Photo Courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office). Zaden McKnight around the time he went missing (Photo Courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office). Photo of McKnight age progressed to 8 years old. Anyone with information may contact the Dayton Police Department at 937-333-2677 (Photo Courtesy/Ohio Attorney Generals Office). Data from the clearinghouse report is taken from missing child reports from law enforcement, which is entered into the National Crime Information Center database. Once a child is found, the report is closed and the case is updated in the database. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. China promises aid for Gaza and praises relations with the Arab world Palestinians fleeing unsafe areas in Rafah arrive with their belongings on Trucks and cars in Khan Yunis, further north in the southern Gaza Strip, following Israeli strikes. Naaman Omar/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday promised help for the Gaza Strip and spoke in favour of a peace conference, at a meeting with top representatives of Arab countries. China supports full UN membership for Palestine and the convening of a larger, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference, Xi said in Beijing on Thursday. Xi said Beijing intends to help with post-war reconstruction and would donate $3 million to the the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). "The war should not continue indefinitely, justice should not be permanently absent," the Chinese head of state and Communist Party leader said. Beijing has taken a neutral stance in the current conflict in Gaza and has repeatedly called for negotiations on a ceasefire without directly condemning the attacks led by Palestinian militant organization Hamas on October 7 which triggered the conflict. On Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing once again expressed concern about Israel's offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and called on the "relevant parties" to end the fighting. China has had good relations with the resource-rich Arab world for years. Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, Tunisian President Kais Saied and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan travelled to Beijing for the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Beijing is investing money in number of projects in the region via its "Belt and Road Initiative." Xi listed green technologies and artificial intelligence as other potential areas of cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during an event in Berlin. Maurizio Gambarini/Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH/dpa Chinas Xi Jinping calls for peace conference and justice over war in Gaza as Arab leaders visit Beijing 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. Chinese leader Xi Jinping decried tremendous sufferings in the Middle East and called for an international peace conference as leaders from Arab nations visit Beijing this week amid mounting global concern over Israels war in Gaza. Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing the people into tremendous sufferings. War should not continue indefinitely. Justice should not be absent forever, Xi said Thursday at the opening of a meeting between top diplomats from China and Arab states, also attended by several leaders from the region. He also reiterated Chinas call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, as well as Beijings support for a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference. The diplomatic gatherings in Beijing come as Israels war in Gaza remains an urgent global focus, as Israeli forces intensify operations in the enclaves southern city of Rafah and a humanitarian crisis worsens by the day. Delegations from 22 Arab states met at Beijings Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, according to Chinese state media. Later Thursday, Chinese and Arab-nation ministers adopted a strident joint statement condemning Israels aggression against the Palestinian people and in Rafah, according to the document as published by Chinese state media Friday. The statement which adopted some of Chinas most pointed language to date on the conflict decried what it described as a deadly famine and blockade that has cut off all livelihoods and systematic destruction of residential areas, hospitals, schools, mosques, churches and infrastructure in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly defended its operations in the enclave as necessary to eradicate the militant group Hamas. China, which has sought to deepen its relations across the Middle East in recent years, has positioned itself in alignment with the Arab world and the broader Global South on the nearly eight-month-long conflict, criticizing Israel and calling for a ceasefire. Its stance has put it at odds with the United States, long a key power in the region and a primary backer of Israel. Chinese officials have used the conflict to hit out at Washington fitting into a larger message from Beijing that frames the US as an aggressor unfairly dominating the current world order. Xi in his remarks hailed a common desire for a new era of China-Arab relations and said their relations could be a model for maintaining world peace and stability. In this turbulent world, peaceful relations come from mutual respect, and lasting security is built on fairness and justice, said the Chinese leader, who has pushed for an alternative model for global security to the alliance-based one backed by the US. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and Tunisian President Kais Saied are in China for state visits that coincide with the ministerial meeting. War in Gaza on the agenda Following the gathering, Wang told reporters the strongest call of the meeting was one to firmly support the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights. The joint statement puts forward a just voice to promote the speedy resolution of the Gaza conflict and the comprehensive, fair and lasting resolution of the Palestinian issue, Wang said, according to Chinese state media. Israel declared war on Hamas in Gaza following the militant groups October 7 attack on its territory that killed some 1,200 people and saw more than 200 taken hostage, according to Israeli forces. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israeli military operations in Gaza, according to its health ministry. Since the start of the war, Beijing has positioned itself as a champion for the broader issue of a two-state solution, which would see the international recognition of a Palestinian state. The stance is in line with the countrys recognition of the Palestinian state in 1988. China has also dispatched rounds of envoys to the region to meet Arab counterparts and supported calls for a ceasefire in the United Nations. It has not explicitly condemned Hamas for the October 7 attacks. Beijing last month hosted representatives from rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas for reconciliation talks. In Thursdays joint statement, China and its Arab-nation counterparts also called for the end of the occupation of the territory of the State of Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. It also condemned the US for using its United Nations Security Council veto to block a resolution that would have recommended granting full Palestinian UN membership. With its diplomacy this week, China wants to demonstrate leadership, consolidate ties, and call for ceasefire (in Gaza). It wants to be a particularly strong leader on this issue, at least rhetorically, according to Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Washington-based Stimson Center think tank, speaking ahead of the meeting. China has chosen to side with Palestine and the Arab countries. The choice is deliberate as it does suggest a desire to align with Arab countries, and the Global South. But China didnt create the crisis. It only capitalized on it, she added. Even as Beijing has sought to tighten ties throughout the Middle East in recent years, observers say its influence in the region remains limited. Beijing has also appeared unwilling to take certain steps to respond to regional effects of the conflict. For example, it said it did not deploy additional naval assets to secure Red Sea shipping lanes that were under attack in recent months by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Xi during his opening remarks pledged China will provide an additional nearly $70 million to alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to supporting post-conflict reconstruction, adding to roughly $14 million already contributed, as well as $3 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in support of its emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Thursdays ministerial meeting is the first such gathering since China held its first joint summit with Arab leaders in late 2022 in Saudi Arabia. Then, Xi was welcomed to the Gulf state with fanfare cutting a sharp contrast to a tense visit from US President Joe Biden earlier that year amid American outrage over Riyadhs alleged role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside its consulate in Istanbul. Xi and other top Chinese officials also held bilateral talks with visiting leaders this week, and announced that China would hold the second China-Arab States Summit in 2026. CNNs Xiaofei Xu contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Insights from the BBC, Haaretz, The Guardian, The Diplomat The News Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for an international peace conference to end the Israel-Hamas war following talks with Arab heads of state in Beijing. The remarks, in which Xi reiterated Chinese support for a two-state solution that would see the establishment of a formal Palestinian state, showcase Chinas growing efforts to engage in Middle Eastern diplomacy. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Xi has been angling for Middle East influence Source: The Guardian China has deep economic interests in the Middle East, where it has spent years pitching its Belt and Road Initiative, Beijings global infrastructure project. Its diplomatic ties, however, are less secure, and Xi is likely angling for more influence in the area. Chinese intervention in Middle Eastern politics is rare, and some may view it as an attempt to challenge Washingtons role in the region, The Guardians diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour recently noted. But China sees its actions as a natural extension of the role it played last year in ending the nine-year diplomatic stand off between Saudi Arabia and Iran, he wrote. Ties between China and Israel weakening Source: The Diplomat Despite years of close relations between Israel and China, the nations appear to be further apart than ever, one Middle Eastern studies scholar recently argued. The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas deepened an existing rift between the two countries, with Beijing lagging behind other nations in directly condemning the attack. Beijing has also repeatedly voiced support for Gaza and Palestinian statehood. Chinas support for the Palestinians and Iran angers Israel. It is obvious that China-Israel relations have fallen into a vicious cycle, wrote Hongda Fan. There is no doubt that both China and Israel can exist without each other, but this is the worst outcome for both countries. War in Gaza could go on all year Sources: BBC, Haaretz As the Israel-Hamas war enters its eighth month, Israeli officials are suggesting that they are nowhere near the end of the conflict. The fighting in Gaza will continue for at least another seven months, Israels national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, recently said. But officials in the US, Israels closest Western ally, have said that the nation must prioritize reaching a hostage deal as soon as possible. Waiting for a deal until the end of the war in seven months time risks the deaths of the remaining hostages: Every passing day increases the likelihood that they wont come back alive, one senior US official told Haaretz. By Laurie Chen and Mikhail Flores BEIJING/MANILA (Reuters) -China's defence ministry on Thursday strongly condemned the deployment of a U.S. intermediate range missile system in the northern Philippines during military drills in April, saying it "brought huge risks of war into the region". Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told a press briefing in Beijing that China remained highly vigilant and opposed the deployment, the first in the Indo-Pacific region. "The United States and Philippine practices put the entire region under the fire of the United States (and) brought huge risks of war into the region," Wu said, adding it "seriously undermined" regional peace. "Intermediate-range missiles are strategic and offensive weapons with a strong Cold War colour," Wu said. China deploys its own advanced intermediate-range missiles as part of an extensive conventional ballistic missile arsenal. The U.S. said last month it had deployed its Typhon missile system to the Philippines as part of their Balikatan or "shoulder-to-shoulder" military drills. Philippine military official Col. Michael Logico said in April that the missile system, which can fire Tomahawk land attack and SM-6 missiles, was brought to Laoag city in Ilocos Norte province in the northern Philippines. The Philippines and U.S. military did not fire the missile system during the exercises, but Logico said it was shipped to test the feasibility of transporting the 40-ton weapon system by air. Logico confirmed on Friday the missile system remains in the Philippines, but did not say where it is deployed and for how long it will stay in the country. The annual drills this year involved around 16,000 Filipinos and U.S. soldiers, some of which were staged in northern Philippine islands near Taiwan and in western waters facing the South China Sea, where China is in dispute with the Philippines and other regional claimants. The exercises irked China at the time and it warned of destabilisation when countries outside the region "flex muscles and stoke confrontation". Philippine and U.S. officials had said the exercises were meant to improve interoperability between their forces and were not directed at any third country. (Reporting by Laurie Chen in Beijing and Karen Lema and Mikhail Flores in Manila; Writing by Greg Torode; Editing by David Holmes) From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch Editors note: Just as we were about to hit send on this newsletter, former President Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts he was facing in his New York criminal trial. Nick will have lots to say on the verdict in tomorrows edition of Boiling Frogs. When you reach middle age, you find yourself reflecting on the choices youve made. How, one wonders, did I arrive at the place where I am in life? Today Im wondering how the hell I ended up making arguments for voting for Joe Biden on a website run by Jonah Goldberg and Steve Hayes. I havent undergone an ideological conversion. Im not a Biden fan, assuming such a thing exists outside the presidents immediate family. There are matters of policy, like immigration, in which the warts-and-all approach of a second Trump administration would be preferable to the Biden administrations strategy of pretending that a crisis doesnt exist and hoping nobody notices. I have to make another choice in November. Given my lack of enthusiasm about the president, why shouldnt I choose not to choose? Choosing Not to Choose is the title of a new piece by Matthew Franck published today on the site. Trump is wholly unfit for office, Franck allows, but so is Biden for different reasons. And its important that Americans not vote for a political candidate they believe is unfit, as ones vote inevitably influences ones character. Invest in a corrupt political cause on lesser-of-two-evils grounds and eventually, by feeling obliged to defend it and perhaps embrace it, you too will be corrupted. Im tempted to scoff at that and counter that voting isnt an act of moral validation, just a hard-nosed preference for one of two (usually terrible) options placed before you. But what is this newsletter if not a daily chronicle of how the rights political investment in Donald Trump eight years ago has led to its utter moral corruption? Vote for the lesser evil, as Republicans did in 2016, and youre still voting for evil. Potentially a lot of it, as we discovered after the 2020 election. In fact, the point of yesterdays column was that there is, and should be, a limit for classical liberals on how much norm-busting theyll tolerate from Democrats in the name of defeating the orange menace. Remember: No one is truly Never Trump. Theres a point at which the left might behave so irresponsibly as to make choosing not to choose the only defensible option. But its not a defensible option this year. My dispute with Franck is simple. I disagree with how hes framed the choice before voters. The question isnt Biden or Trump? so much as its Should we continue with the constitutional order as weve known it or try something radically different? Ill guarantee here and now that if Trump becomes president again and remains in good health hell try to extend his term in office past 2029. I wont guarantee that hell succeed, but the attempt will be made as surely as youre reading this. Trump is less a person than a personality type and his type is compelled to pursue its own interests remorselessly above all things. I think hed honestly find it hard to comprehend why someone in his position shouldnt try to extend their time in power. Biden wont do that if reelected. (And not just because he might be catatonic by 2029.) He wont defy court orders. He wont stock the leadership of the Justice Department with fanatics who have sworn an oath of allegiance to him personally. He wont call the military out into the streets to confront people protesting him. And, contra Franck, I dont believe hell claim a mandate if he wins, since hes all but certain to do so with fewer electoral votes than he received in 2020 and with a Republican takeover of the Senate. All of that is on the table if Trump is reelected, along with even darker insanity that you and I cant imagine but Stephen Miller assuredly can. If you view the choice before voters the way Franck does, as one between candidates, I can understand not wanting to invest emotionally in the outcome. If you view it the way I do, as a choice between systems, I cant imagine declining to do so. Joe Bidens policy agenda might be a bad cause, to borrow Francks language, but classical liberalism is not. You should be emotionally invested in its survival. And I suspect most Biden voters see the stakes of this election my way more so than his. The emotional investment of many voters in both Trump and Biden is very high, Franck writes at one point. We form attachments to the candidates we vote forespecially if they win and wield power. We feel instinctively that we should defend what they do, evenor especiallywhen defending them is hard. That does indeed describe my experience with Trumps voters; it does not at all describe my experience with the other guys. The opposite is closer to the truth: Hardly anyone is emotionally invested in defending Joe Biden. A poll taken in February found 73 percent of his own party believes hes too old to serve as president. Another survey published in April saw 57 percent of Democrats say hes done a good or great job as president versus 82 percent of Republicans who said so of Trump. Bidens job approval over the first three months of this year was the lowest of any modern president in his 13th quarter in office. The biggest story of the year in politics to date is the presidents own base bristling at his policy on Israel. The election is a scant five months away and theres still chatter about replacing him as nominee at the Democratic convention in August. (Had I the power, Id do so immediately.) Franck is correct that investing heavily in a corrupt politician will corrupt ones own characterbut where is that investment in Bidens case, precisely? In October 2020, Pew asked voters whether they intended to cast their ballot as a show of support for their preferred candidate or as a show of opposition to the alternative. Among Trump voters, 71 percent said they were voting for Trump versus 29 percent who said they were voting against Biden. Among Biden voters, 36 percent said they were voting for Biden versus 63 percent who said they were voting against Trump. That split among the presidents voters will be even more lopsided this November, I suspect. No one is investing in Joe Biden by supporting him. Theyre investing in keeping a fascist out of power. As they should. Theres another reason not to choose not to choose this year. A vote to defeat Trump is a signal to the American right that they must get off the ideological track theyre on if they want to win national elections. Thats the only incentive left that could conceivably steer them away from authoritarianism. Appealing to them morally has failed. Charging Trump criminally has failed. We face the choice that we do in November only because Republican voters insisted on renominating a coup-plotting twice-impeached civic derelict. Theres no reason to think theyll stop nominating derelicts until theyre convinced that they cant win by doing so. In that context, remaining neutral between Trump and Biden amounts to reassuring Republicans that no matter how low they sink, theyll never lose your support completely. However flagrantly authoritarian and illiberal they become, youll never be so offended by it as to cross the aisle and vote for an establishment Democrat. For all the emphasis in Francks piece about conscience and character, maintaining a degree of formal neutrality toward the ongoing perversion of American conservatism also has certain character implications, no? This is normally the point in the debate at which none of the above voters challenge the premise that Joe Biden is mainstream. The more ideologically extreme the president seems, after all, the easier it is for a conservative voter to justify neutrality. Franck is no exception. Never a strongly principled man even in his prime, Biden has long enjoyed an undeserved reputation as a moderate Democrat because he is a trimmer, he writes. Now his sails are trimmed to capture the wind that blows from his partys hard left. As populism is the GOPs most energetic element, progressivism is the Democrats. True enough on that last point. But most of Bidens major legislative achievements, beginning with the infrastructure bill, have enjoyed bipartisan support in the Senate. Hes supported Israel from the start of its war with Hamas despite ferocious pressure from the left to do otherwise. And hes right in line with the spirit of solidarity that Reaganites feel for Ukraine with respect to Russia. Hes considerably left of where Id prefer a president to be, but he aint Elizabeth Warren. With due respect to Franck, my sneaking suspicion about conservatives who insist on neutrality in this election on ideological grounds is that no Democrat will ever be centrist enough for them to justify voting for. Thats because, as nominee, even a moderate liberal would need to take care not to be too hostile toward progressives lest they begin hemorrhaging votes from their base. And so that nominee canand wouldbe attacked on the right as owned by the left and therefore unsupportable in good conscience. Our own Jonah Goldberg has wondered at times why Never Trump conservatives who intend to vote for Biden dont use their electoral leverage to drag him to the right on policy. People like me are cheap dates, hes suggested, insofar as were pledging our support to the party of the left in exchange for nothing. I take the point. But Id say its less a matter of my vote being cheap than his vote being a little too expensive under the circumstances. The truth is that I dont have much leverage over Democrats, and its Republicans fault that I dont. Had the GOP nominated someone somewhat less objectionable, like Ron DeSantis, I would have felt more comfortable making demands of the left for my vote. Id prefer not to be governed by an uncharismatic post-liberal, but the prospect of a DeSantis presidency isnt so terrifying that Id support Biden no matter what. But when Ex-President Putsch is the nominee? I cant say it enough: Preserving the constitutional order is not just another issue set. Im not in a position to barter with Biden over it, such that if he doesnt give Ukraine all of the weapons Id like it to receive, say, then Ill have no choice but to be neutral about a Trump dictatorship. Ill never be neutral about that. Its a matter of conscience and character, to borrow a phrase from Franck, not a negotiation. And insofar as one insists on viewing it as a negotiation, we might consider how the none of the above faction might be inadvertently making it harder for Biden to make concessions to the right. The more doggedly conservatives insist upon neutrality, the more reasonable it is for the White House to assume that no amount of concessions will ever win over the Matthew Franck bloc. (A vote for Biden would be contrary to an adult lifetime of conservatism, he writes, tellingly.) Theyll always find some excuse to avoid abandoning their right-wing tribein which case Biden, desperate to find votes somewhere, has little choice but to make concessions to the left instead. The more recalcitrant the center is, the more politicians need to pander to the fringe. If moderates were cheaper dates, America might be better off. Hopefully needless to say, Francks neutrality between our two choices this year is more defensible than voting for Trump. If every traditional conservative in this country followed Francks lead and left the top of their ballot blank in November, I suspect the outcome would be a good one. But neutrality is complicity in the post-liberal project to return Trump to power. Dont kid yourself. Franck ends this way: What we double haters (in [Ramesh] Ponnurus phrase) can at least say is that whatever happens after this election, we are not responsible for it, for only a cast ballot can impute responsibility. The year 2025, we can presumptively say now, will begin with the inauguration of a truly terrible president, and it will be a rocky four years from then on. Whichever man is in the Oval Office, I will be able to say, with grim satisfaction, that I have nothing invested in him and my conscience is clear. If you cant muster a vote against Trump, your conscience should not be clear. Its a matter of answering this question: When you had the chance, did you do everything in your lawful power to spare America from the completely foreseeable authoritarian nightmare that awaits? You didnt? You couldnt be bothered to check a box on a piece of paper that might have prevented it, knowing full well that some battleground states in 2020 were decided by as little as 10,000 or so votes? Well, then youre partly responsible for what comes next. Not responsible like Fox News is responsible, of course, or like Tim Scott and Marco Rubio are responsible, or like the 80 million or so people who plan to vote for Trump are responsible, but youre responsible. Im tempted to give you the famous quote here from Edmund Burke about how evil triumphs, but since thats not an authentic Burke quote Ill offer you one from Rush instead (not Limbaugh, the other one): If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. My own conscience will be clear only if Ive done everything I thought I could to stop Trumpism from prevailing. Vote as if your ballot determines nothing whatsoeverexcept the shape of your own character, Franck writes at one point. I couldnt agree more. 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. In the spring of 2012, I found myself alone for several minutes in a network green room with Ben Bradlee, the legendary editor of the Washington Post, who was at the helm of the paper during its glory days of the Pentagon Papers and Watergate. It being an election year, our conversation turned to politics and Bradlee told me something that was utterly surprising coming from a veteran Washington editor: that he didnt vote in elections. Why? He didnt want to compromise his judgment as a journalist and editor by forming an attachment to candidates hed voted for and would later have to publish stories about. Though outwardly I nodded my head politely, I remember inwardly scoffing. Come on, I was thinking. Youre famously liberal, and the paper you ran for years has been a reliable organ of the center-left in this country, with documented bias in its news pages, let alone its editorial voice. But I didnt say any of that, and shortly afterward others were in the room. Bradlee, who was already over 90 at the time, died a few years later. It was the only time our paths crossed. Im not sure Bradlee was honest about not voting, but I now think there is something true about his stated rationale. We do form attachments to the candidates we vote forespecially if they win and wield power. We feel instinctively that we should defend what they do, evenor especiallywhen defending them is hard. When the president, or the senator or governor, is my guy because I voted for him, I feel something of my own integrity at stake. Im inclined to rise in his defense. He has enemies? Of course he doeshes in politics. They will be my enemies too. As I said, I dont know whether Bradlee was putting me on. He had a close personal friendship with John F. Kennedy from the time JFK was a senator, and he even wrote a book about it a dozen years after the presidents death. Did he really not vote for him in 1960? Maybe Bradlee settled on his habit of nonvoting in later years. But if he did at any time give up voting, then it freed him, as a journalist, to report on liberals as well as conservatives when the story wouldnt be flattering to them. Liberal he might be, but perhaps not personally invested in any particular politicians success. For at the end of the day, that is what voting is: a kind of investment. Not of our money, but of ourselvesour will, our intention, our passion, and our conscience. Of course, our investment can be a light matter to us, if we cast our vote in a throwaway mood, thinking better this guy than the other guy. Then we might cut our emotional losses when he disappoints us. Live and learn. Yet paradoxically, if it took a great effort to screw your courage to the sticking place, as Lady Macbeth put itif, that is, you had to swallow hard to vote for a candidate, and he wonyou may find your investment in him very heavy, and your felt need to defend him equally so. Eight years ago, I published an essay for Public Discourse about why I could not vote for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. Vote as if your ballot determines nothing whatsoeverexcept the shape of your own character, the piece concluded. Vote as if the public consequences of your action weigh nothing next to the private consequences. The country will go whither it will go, when all the votes are counted. What should matter the most to you is whither you will go, on and after this Novembers election day. There is nothing in what I said then that I would now retract. I rejected the idea that I, as one individual, must treat my choice as confined to the binary of Clinton versus Trump, as though the weight of the outcome were on me alone. It is frequently the case that we vote for one major-party presidential candidate principally because we are against the other oneusually because we find our guy a less than optimal choice but the other guy strongly repellent. But when we conclude that both of them are wholly unfit for office, our habitual partisan commitments, and our fond hope that the one representing our side will be normal, or guided by normal people, do not compel us to cast a vote in that direction. What we must consider, I argued, is not our role in the outcome of the election (which is negligible, and unknown to us when voting), but the effect on our conscience and character of joining our will to a bad cause. The last eight years have made me more certain I was right. In 2020, although the Trump administration had done some things I could applaud (Supreme Court appointments topping the list), I still found Trump himself wholly unqualified for an office he had never learned to respect or master. This was even before the insurrection of January 6, 2021, which, I have argued, constitutionally disqualified him. And Joe Biden? Please. He became my senator shortly before I entered high school, and I had long watched his career with consternation and loathing. I didnt want to have to defend, even to myself, having cast a vote for either man, and once again I threw away my presidential vote on a hopeless write-in. And here we are in 2024, with the same choice again. Only this time the overwhelming majority of voters have already voted at least oncesuccessfully!for these feckless men. That means the emotional investment of many voters in both Trump and Biden is very high, since each has a term as president to be defendedwhich aint easy to do in either case. Trumps signature qualities were incompetence and recklessness, constrained to positive effect only by Congress, the courts, and many of his own appointees. Then he did his utmost, up until the evening of January 6, to steal the election from Joe Biden. A second term for Trump would be a four-year master class in indecency and mendacity, strongly inflected by an urge to authoritarianism that may sorely test our civic institutions. Biden, as all can see, is showing many of the weaknesses of his advanced years (though here, Trump appears in better shape only by comparison). Never a strongly principled man even in his prime, Biden has long enjoyed an undeserved reputation as a moderate Democrat because he is a trimmer. Now his sails are trimmed to capture the wind that blows from his partys hard left. As populism is the GOPs most energetic element, progressivism is the Democrats. Thus the worst excesses of the Elizabeth Warren faction in economics and of the intersectional rainbow factions in cultural issues are fully on display in the Biden administrations governing agenda. A second Biden term would feature more of the same, unless the presidents freedom from electoral concerns enables him to move to the center. I see little hope of that. Yet, barring some unforeseen event in the lives of these candidates, one of them is going to win in November and be inaugurated next January. Is the responsible course of action to grit ones teeth and choose one of them? Not necessarily. In the Washington Post, conservative columnists Ramesh Ponnuru and George Will have both made the case that a Bartleby approach (I would prefer not to) is a perfectly responsible choice. As Ponnuru writes, a candidate should meet your threshold of acceptability in order to earn your vote. And Will asks us to imagine a dramatic upsurge in nonvoting that was explainable as a principled protest. In an election year that features Cornel West and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as off-brand fringe choices, writing in a name, skipping the presidential line on the ballot, or just staying home looks pretty good. A vote for Biden would be contrary to an adult lifetime of conservatism. But I could write that sentence again almost verbatim, only substituting Trump for Biden. For a conservative like me, who has refused twice to vote for Trump, it is not that hard to refuse a third time. (Whats disappointing is the number of people I know who will vote for him a third time, despite everything.) Will voters who similarly sit on their hands, raising them for neither, determine the outcome? Possibly, in some sensebut that is not how matters will be seen when the dust clears in November. The winning candidate will claim, as winners do, a mandate no matter what. What we double haters (in Ponnurus phrase) can at least say is that whatever happens after this election, we are not responsible for it, for only a cast ballot can impute responsibility. The year 2025, we can presumptively say now, will begin with the inauguration of a truly terrible president, and it will be a rocky four years from then on. Whichever man is in the Oval Office, I will be able to say, with grim satisfaction, that I have nothing invested in him and my conscience is clear. I am certain I have friends who will have voted for Trump, others for Biden. The hardest thing to do, I expect, will be to refrain from saying I told you so over and over. And like the late Mr. Bradlee, Ill be able to criticize without casting doubt retrospectively on my judgment. 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. A Christian lifeguard is suing the city of Los Angeles for "severe emotional distress" after he was stationed near a Pride flag last year. Jeffery Little, who has worked for the city for 22 years, filed a lawsuit on Friday claiming he is being discriminated against for his evangelical faith by being made to stand in the same vicinity as the Progress Pride flag. Little alleges he was suspended from his role with the departments background investigation unit last year after he took down three LGBTQ+ flags during Pride month. The Los Angeles county board of supervisors voted last year to require the rainbow banner be flown during the month of June at government buildings, which includes lifeguard stands. Little, who claimed the flags present a direct conflict with his religious beliefs, fought to be placed at stations that would not fly the flag, as they did not have the right flag poles to fly any banner. Little arrived to his station at Dockweiler Beach on June 21, 2023 and found three nearby facilities displaying the flag, ordered by the lifeguard division's chief, according to the complaint. After he removed them, Little said he was given a "direct order" from the chief to ensure the flag was displayed throughout the month. Little is accusing the department of religious discrimination and retaliation," alleging that officials did not substantively engage" with his objections and instead threatened "discipline and eventual termination for failure to raise the Progress Pride flag. He is asking for damages based on "severe emotional distress" and a standing exemption from raising the flag. The lifeguard seemed particularly triggered by the turquoise and pink stripes on the original Pride flag designed by Gilbert Baker, which represent magic and sex, respectively. Those two stripes are, notably, not on the Progress Pride flag, the subject of Little's suit. Still, Little claimed that queer identity goes against the "purpose of the human person." The Progress Pride Flag symbolizes and advances a range of disputed viewpoints, both religious and moral, regarding the family, the nature of marriage and human sexuality, the promotion of certain sexual practices, and the identity, nature, and purpose of the human person," the lawsuit reads. "Additionally, particular aspects of the Progress Pride Flag were originally intended by its creators, and echoed by the Board in its motion, to signify sex, magic, and spirit, among other ideological and spiritual notions. Little typically works at Will Rogers Beach, long considered a safe space among LGBTQ+ beach goers. The beach is so popular with queer residents and visitors that it earned the nickname "Ginger Rogers Beach." KYODO NEWS - May 30, 2024 - 11:21 | World, All, Japan North Korea fired more than 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday, the South Korean military said, just days after a satellite rocket launch by Pyongyang ended in failure. The Japanese Defense Ministry said the "multiple" ballistic missiles were fired in a northeasterly direction by North Korea around 6:13 a.m. from an inland location and all were believed to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, with no damage to aircraft or ships reported. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the projectiles were launched around 6:14 a.m. from the Sunan area of Pyongyang and were estimated to have flown about 350 kilometers before falling into the sea. In Tokyo, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters his government had lodged a protest with Pyongyang, condemning North Korea for violating U.N. Security Council resolutions that prohibit it from conducting launches using ballistic missile technology. "We will continue to gather information and conduct monitoring and surveillance, while closely collaborating with the United States and South Korea," Kishida said. At least one of the missiles reached a maximum altitude of about 100 km, the Japanese ministry said. Senior officials of Japan, the United States and South Korea held phone talks over the launches, criticizing North Korea for "threatening the peace and stability of the region and the international community." The rare launch of over 10 missiles in succession followed the explosion after liftoff on Monday of a North Korean rocket carrying a military reconnaissance satellite. The latest firings also came after the North on Tuesday night sent massive balloons carrying trash across the border into South Korea, according to the South Korean military. Related coverage: Kim's new rocket quest linked to possible Trump return: think tank North Korea's Kim vows to continue military spy satellite development North Korea fails in its latest attempt to launch military satellite City of Austin could take on mail theft as stolen master key issue persists AUSTIN (KXAN) A resolution brought forward by Council Member Paige Ellis could direct the city manager to find ways to educate the public on, and address mail theft. According to that resolution, three Austin-area mail carriers have been robbed for their arrow key since 2023. Those are also known as master keys which can open a variety of mail boxes. KXAN has previously reported on the issue in Austin and surrounding areas. Stolen arrow keys are pervasive in the Austin area and are used by suspects in most reported mail thefts, the resolution said. Thieves using USPS master key to steal mail in Leander The resolution asks the city manager to gather neighborhood representatives, law enforcement, the postal service and other groups to look for solutions to mail theft. Those would be brought back to city council in October of this year. It also asks the city manager to add related changes to its federal legislative agenda, send a letter to U.S. Postmaster Louis Dejoy regarding Project Safe Delivery in the Austin area, and directs city staff to create a mail theft awareness campaign heading into the holiday season. Other steps being taken Ellis is not the first Austin City Council member to ask for better answers from the U.S. Postal Service and push for solutions. In April of last year, City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly issued a memo requesting action on preventing mail theft in Austin. And Congressman Lloyd Doggett has now several times written the postal service. According to letters posted under the city council item on this weeks agenda, Doggett wrote the regional U.S. Postal Inspection Service in April and then Dec 2023. Since rampant mail theft continues to plague Austin, I seek an update on your June response to my April inquiry about the serious problem impacting so many of my constituents, the letter said. We understand and share your concerns about mail theft within your district, Scott D. Fix, the Inspector in Charge, wrote back from the Houston Division. As stated in the previous letter, to help address this issue, we launched Project Safe Delivery, a joint initiative between the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service the law enforcement and security arm of the Postal Service. You can read the full response here. Part of Ellis resolution requests an update on Project Safe Delivery in the Austin-area. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Mayor Oscar Leeser and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar hosted a press conference to celebrate over $2 million for three community projects secured through the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations packages, the City of El Paso announced in a news release. The press conference was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 29 at El Paso City Hall, City Council Lobby, 300 N. Campbell. The three projects are as follows: Sun Metro Micro Transit $720,000 The funding would be used to purchase a small fleet of electric micro-transit vehicles, charging infrastructure and auxiliaries. Terminal Bridge Reconstruction $850,000 The funding would be used to develop the Terminal Bridge Reconstruction Project. The Project includes design and reconstruction of the Terminal Bridge, which serves as the primary exit from the El Paso International Airport. Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) $500,000 The funding would be used for the BOSS program, which is a collaborative business services one-stop shop providing business education, technical and legal support, and tailored financial products for small and micro business owners, entrepreneurs and foreign direct investors. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Wooded debris is piled on the Tainter gate on the Black River Canal the afternoon of Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Officials said the gate was damaged after it was opened to floodwaters in late January. A presentation on the issue was expected at Monday's City Council meeting. It will be a few more weeks before it looks like anything is physically being done on site about the Black River Canal gate since winter floods damaged it and rendered the waterway impassable to boaters this season. However, Port Huron city officials said that doesnt mean a host of preparations arent going on behind the scenes. That was the general message from city administration to local boaters during a crowded round table discussion late Wednesday at Caseys on the Plaza downtown. City Manager James Freed recounted the late January icedam on the upper river that sent a surge of floodwaters down the canal, spurring a rare reversal in flow back toward Lake Huron and enabling the Tainter gate east of Gratiot Avenue to be damaged and torn down by debris. Months later, the gate remains askew from its superstructure in the water, and officials said theyve only recently learned from the states environmental agency what was required to remove the infrastructure and ultimately, determine whether it can be salvaged or must be replaced. This is pretty unique. All the rivers and streams in the Great Lakes flow out to a great lake. We have a canal that actually takes water from a great lake, Freed said of the canal. The Tainter gate itself is an 80-year-old, 6,000-pound structure, and because of the complexity of its early construction built in rivets and free of welding the city administrator said its remained in place to prevent the lake from pushing sand further west into the canal. Although theyve been in contact with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy since three days after the January flood incident, Freed said they only learned recently that theyd need a floodplain hydraulic study from the Federal Emergency Management Agency It took us a month to find out what we needed. Then, we had to go to FEMA and request the (study), he said Wednesday. So, we got that last Thursday at four oclock, immediately handed it off to our engineers. (Consulting firm) DLZ has it. What they have to do is take the cofferdam system and inject that into the model to demonstrate the cause and effect of putting those dams in the Black River and possible flooding upstream and downstream. We are now waiting to have that hydraulic modeling completed," Freed added "Its going to take about three weeks. Were hoping it shows it doesnt really have a material factor in the Black River. Port Huron City Manager James Freed addresses a small crowd of local boaters during a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Casey's on the Plaza downtown. Then, what happens? Freed said the city hopes for a swift permit response, having taken time for due diligence to ensure any application submitted isn't set aside by EGLE. When it comes, he said theyll be ready with a plan, working with local welders wholl consider a quick fix on the Tainter gate, as well as other engineers on a new one. City officials were met with questions from roundtable attendees, including lining up contractors, the cost, and whether something will be in place before early spring floods next year. Some also questioned the impact of a closure on the canal and its inclusion in a nationally recognized island loop for kayakers. Freed said they believe the gates superstructure was fine, but that theyll better asses its foundation when the gate is removed. At that point, of the gate, he said, they hope it can be fixed. Because as common as those sorts of release gates are to stormwater flood control systems, Freed said the citys would be proprietary to the size of the canal and require some lead time to be fabricated anew. Brent Moore, the citys engineering manager, said when they talked to the consulting engineers from firm DLZ, they learned based on its design that the Tainter gate needs to be replaced with a new mechanism on top and wind system. Freed said the city has $500,000 for a canal fix in the budget for the next fiscal year starting July 1. As they expect a higher cost around $1 million or more, he added theyd approach neighboring townships down the road about sharing the cost. You dont come to the maritime capital of the Great Lakes and say, Canals going to be closed all summer. Like no thanks. So, we have been trying to get this thing back open, but its going to take probably another month, a month and a half before we actually see real work happening in the canal, Freed said. It is my goal that when we build this, we build it back better and stronger, so that this never happens again. Boaters also touched on city marina operations, dredging, condition of the Black River, and more, and officials agreed to look at holding a roundtable with boaters on an annual basis moving forward. Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: City weeks away from identifying fix for closed Black River Canal gate EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated with the correct name for the location of the citys Juneteenth celebration. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) The City of Mobile announced plans for their annual Juneteenth Celebration. Dangerous and deadly snakes in South Baldwin Countywhat you need to know this summer The annual celebration will take place on June 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico. LOCATION: This embedded content is not available in your region. Dr. Shana Lewis will serve as the events guest speaker. She will discuss financial wellness and entrepreneurship. Crestview World War II reenactors plan 80th anniversary observance for 2025 Juneteenth, which is celebrated on June 19 each year, commemorates the end of slavery. The Africatown Drummers will also be in attendance to provide the music. There will be resources related to retirement, insurance, investing and other vendors. You can RSVP online to secure your spot. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Clark County issued its first sidewalk vending business license to a Las Vegas man and his family on Wednesday. The milestone comes more than a month after commissioners voted to approve street vendor regulations in unincorporated Clark County. New street vendor regulations approved by Clark County On Wednesday afternoon, Paletas y Aguas Owner Jose Manuel Carrera was greeted by Clark County Commissioners Tick Segerblom, Marilyn Kirkpatrick, and William McCurdy, along with Clark County Director of Business License Vince Queano who delivered the business license. Carrera was also given a one-year membership to the Vegas Chamber. On Wednesday afternoon, Paletas y Aguas Owner Jose Manuel Carrera was greeted by Clark County Commissioners Tick Segerblom, Marilyn Kirkpatrick, and William McCurdy, along with Clark County Director of Business License Vince Queano who delivered the business license. (KLAS) Carreras Paletas y Aguas will be located in the southwest Las Vegas valley at the corner of Cactus Avenue and Dean Martin Drive. He also owns an ice cream shop in North Las Vegas called LV Michoacana which serves ice cream bars, sorbets, aguas frescas, and lemonade slushes. The process was nice and smooth, as long as we meet the requirements I dont see any issues, Carrera shared. For people out there that are trying to get a business license, you know everything is possible, we wish you guys the best of luck. In 2023, Nevada passed SB 92, a law that required each jurisdiction to make its own rules which consisted of what kind of insurance and permits would be needed, to where they can and cannot vend. The ordinance was approved on April 15 and then went into effect on April 30. Clark County also hosted sidewalk vending workshops in the weeks following the ordinance approval. The workshops give would-be vendors a step-by-step guide on the requirements to apply for and obtain a business license. For more information click HERE. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. FILE- Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill is sworn in before taking the stand to testify during the Alex Murdaugh jury-tampering hearing at the Richland County Judicial Center, Jan. 29, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. Hill faces 76 counts of ethics violations that say she used her office for personal gain. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier via AP, Pool, File) COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina officials have filed 76 counts of ethics violations against the court clerk who handled the Alex Murdaugh murder trial. The 25 pages of allegations accuse former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill of allowing a photo of Murdaugh in a holding cell to be taken to promote her book on the trial, giving herself bonuses, and using county money to buy dozens of lunches for her staff, prosecutors and a vendor. Hill also struck a deal with a documentary maker to use the county courtroom in exchange for promoting her book on the trial, which later she admitted had plagiarized passages, according to the South Carolina Ethics Commission complaint earlier this month. The commission will hold a hearing similar to a trial in December on the accusations unless Hill and her lawyer settle the case before then. Hill could have to reimburse the expenses and face thousands of dollars or more in fines. And if the commission thinks she broke any laws, they can forward the information to prosecutors. A criminal investigation into whether Hill tampered with the Murdaugh jury or misused her office continues, the State Law Enforcement Division said Thursday. Hill resigned in March during the last year of her four year term, citing the public scrutiny of Murdaugh's trial and wanting to spend time with her grandchildren. She hasn't publicly addressed the ethics allegations and her lawyer didn't return a message Thursday. Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and younger son after a six-week trial in Colleton County last year. The case involved power, danger, money and privilege and an attorney whose family lorded over his small South Carolina county for nearly a century. Murdaugh is appealing his conviction and life without parole sentence in part accusing Hill of trying to influence jurors to vote guilty and being biased against Murdaugh for her book. Murdaugh is also serving decades in prison for admitting to stealing millions of dollars from settlements for clients who suffered horrible injuries or deaths and from his family's law firm. An initial appeal was denied, but the judge said she wasn't sure Hill told the truth about her dealings with jurors and was attracted by the siren call of celebrity. The ethics allegations against Hill say she bought lunches for prosecutors and then paid herself back with county money. One count said she spent $543.89 for food and alcohol for a going away lunch for an employee in a local prosecutor's office. None of the allegations mention spending for public defenders or defense attorneys. Hill gave herself nearly $10,000 in bonuses from federal money that is meant to improve child support collection but has few rules on how it is spent, according to the complaint. The former clerk used public money to buy meals for her staff, her family, judges, court employees and others 36 times. She reimbursed herself for gifts bought for jurors and her staff on Valentine's Day and for her employees on Mother's Day, Father's Day and Easter, the complaint said. Expenses included $481 for a 50th birthday party for a staffer and dog food, bones and a pet bed for another, ethics officials said. In all, Hill is accused of spending nearly $20,000 in county money in ways she shouldn't, according to the complaint. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) It was a busy Memorial Day for a couple of U.S. Coast Guard crews along Lake Michigan. Two teams of Coasties responded Monday to rescue a man aboard a sinking sailboat approximately 25 miles off the coast of Grand Haven. In a social media post, the USCF Sector Lake Michigan said an air team from the Traverse City station responded and worked with a team from Milwaukee on the rescue. They were able to pull the sailor to safety at 5:45 p.m. on Monday moments before the boat sank. The boat is now presumed on the lake floor, approximately 300 feet below the surface. In the post, the Coast Guard said, Looking for heroes on the water? We have them! Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Two people were taken to the hospital after a gunfight with police at a Kroger grocery store in Colerain Township on Wednesday. On Friday, the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office unveiled criminal charges against the man arrested in the shooting. Here's what to know about the shooting, the subsequent investigation and the alleged gunman who is now facing felony charges. A suspect and a bystander were shot and taken to the hospital after a shooting at a Kroger in Colerain Township on Wednesday. What prompted the shooting? Colerain Township police were conducting a drug investigation near Colerain Avenue and Springdale Road on Wednesday afternoon when officers saw Joseph Van Niman carry out an alleged narcotics deal, prosecutors said. Police tailed Van Niman into the parking lot of the Kroger on Springdale Road. However, Van Niman responded to officers' commands to stop by facing them gun in hand and adopting a "shooting stance," according to the prosecutor's office. When the officers drew their weapons, Van Niman ran into the store and took cover near the entrance, where he exchanged gunfire with police, prosecutors said. More officers approached from a different entrance and shot Van Niman before he could retreat deeper into the store. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment, along with a bystander who was struck by shrapnel during the firefight. Whats the condition of those injured? Colerain police said on Thursday both Van Niman and the bystander, whose identity hasn't been released, are expected to survive. The officers involved were not injured. How has Kroger responded? We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at our Colerain Marketplace Kroger store located at 3636 Springdale Road, a Kroger spokesperson wrote in a statement to Enquirer media partner Fox19. "We are cooperating with local law enforcement, who has secured the store and parking lot. The store will remain closed while the police investigation continues, and we have initiated counseling services for our associates. A suspect and a bystander were shot and taken to the hospital after a shooting at a Kroger in Colerain Township on Wednesday. Whats the status of the investigation? Per department policy, the officers who exchanged fire with the suspect have been placed on administrative leave. The Colerain Township Police Department requested that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation conduct an independent review of the incident, officials said. Officials have yet to release the identities of the officers involved. We will release more information (as it) becomes available, but we do want to emphasize that careful investigation takes time, and we want to ensure that only accurate information is released, the department said in a news release Thursday. In a statement on Friday, Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers said her office is responsible for reviewing all police use of force cases in the county and that the review of this incident isn't complete. "To everyone who was present at the store that day, my heart breaks for you. No one should fear for their safety going out to buy groceries," Powers said. What do we know about alleged shooter? Van Niman, 42, has been indicted on numerous charges, including attempted murder, felonious assault, carrying concealed weapons, illegal weapons possession, possession of criminal tools and inducing panic. He faces a maximum possible prison sentence of 76 to 81 years if convicted as charged, prosecutors said. "I want it known that we intend to prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent possible for his actions," Powers said. "This defendant tried to take an officers life; were going to make sure his life ends in a prison cell. Court records show Van Niman has a criminal history in Hamilton County dating back to at least 2003, including a 2021 conviction for carrying concealed weapons that netted him a year in prison. His other felony charges were either dismissed or ignored by a grand jury. It's currently unclear when Van Niman is expected to appear in the courtroom. He is not listed as an inmate at the Hamilton County Justice Center, according to jail records. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Kroger shooting: What to know about investigation When people think about the risks of climate change, the idea of abrupt changes is pretty scary. Movies like The Day After Tomorrow feed that fear, with visions of unimaginable storms and populations fleeing to escape rapidly changing temperatures. While Hollywood clearly takes liberties with the speed and magnitude of disasters, several recent studies have raised real-world alarms that a crucial ocean current that circulates heat to northern countries might shut down this century, with potentially disastrous consequences. That scenario has happened in the past, most recently more than 16,000 years ago. However, it relies on Greenland shedding a lot of ice into the ocean. Our new research, published in the journal Science, suggests that while Greenland is indeed losing huge and worrisome volumes of ice right now, that might not continue for long enough to shut down the current on its own. A closer look at evidence from the past shows why. Blood and water The Atlantic current system distributes heat and nutrients on a global scale, much like the human circulatory system distributes heat and nutrients around the body. Warm water from the tropics circulates northward along the U.S. Atlantic coast before crossing the Atlantic. As some of the warm water evaporates and the surface water cools, it becomes saltier and denser. Denser water sinks, and this colder, denser water circulates back south at depth. The variations in heat and salinity fuel the pumping heart of the system. If the Atlantic circulation system weakened, it could lead to a world of climate chaos. How the Atlantic Ocean circulation would change as it slowed. IPCC 6th Assessment Report Ice sheets are made of fresh water, so the rapid release of icebergs into the Atlantic Ocean can lower the oceans salinity and slow the pumping heart. If the surface water is no longer able to sink deep and the circulation collapses, dramatic cooling would likely occur across Europe and North America. Both the Amazon rain forest and Africas Sahel region would become dryer, and Antarcticas warming and melting would accelerate, all in a matter of years to decades. Today, the Greenland ice sheet is melting rapidly, and some scientists worry that the Atlantic current system may be headed for a climate tipping point this century. But is that worry warranted? To answer that, we need to look back in time. A radioactive discovery In the 1980s, a junior scientist named Hartmut Heinrich and his colleagues extracted a series of deep-sea sediment cores from the ocean floor to study whether nuclear waste could be safely buried in the deep North Atlantic. Sediment cores contain a history of everything that accumulated on that part of the ocean floor over hundreds of thousands of years. Heinrich found several layers with lots of mineral grains and rock fragments from land. The sediment grains were too large to have been carried to the middle of the ocean by the wind or ocean currents alone. Heinrich realized they must have been brought there by icebergs, which had picked up the rock and mineral when the icebergs were still part of glaciers on land. The layers with the most rock and mineral debris, from a time when the icebergs must have come out in force, coincided with severe weakening of the Atlantic current system. Those periods are now known as Heinrich events. As paleoclimate scientists, we use natural records such as sediment cores to understand the past. By measuring uranium isotopes in the sediments, we were able to determine the deposition rate of sediments dropped by icebergs. The amount of debris allowed us to estimate how much fresh water those icebergs added to the ocean and compare it with today to assess whether history might repeat itself in the near future. Why a shutdown isnt likely soon So, is the Atlantic current system headed for a climate tipping point because of Greenland melting? We think its unlikely in the coming decades. While Greenland is losing huge volumes of ice right now worryingly comparable to a midrange Heinrich event the ice loss will likely not continue for long enough to shut down the current on its own. Icebergs are much more effective at disrupting the current than meltwater from land, in part because icebergs can carry fresh water directly out to the locations where the current sinks. Future warming, however, will force the Greenland ice sheet to recede away from the coast too soon to deliver enough fresh water by iceberg. Greenlands ice loss, measured from the Grace and Grace-FO satellites. NASA The strength of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, is projected to decline 24% to 39% by 2100. By then, Greenlands iceberg formation will be closer to the weakest Heinrich events of the past. Heinrich events, in contrast, lasted 200 years or so. Instead of icebergs, meltwater pouring into the Atlantic at the islands edge is projected to become the leading cause of Greenlands thinning. Meltwater still sends fresh water into the ocean, but it mixes with seawater and tends to move along the coast rather than directly freshening the open ocean as drifting icebergs do. That doesnt mean the current isnt at risk The future trajectory of the Atlantic current system will likely be determined by a combination of the decelerating but more effective icebergs and the accelerating but less influential surface runoff. That will be compounded by rising ocean surface temperatures that could further slow the current. So, the Earths pumping heart could still be at risk, but history suggests that the risk is not as imminent as some people fear. In The Day After Tomorrow, a slowdown of the Atlantic current system froze New York City. Based on our research, we may take some comfort in knowing that such a scenario is unlikely in our lifetimes. Nevertheless, robust efforts to stop climate change remain necessary to ensure the protection of future generations. 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: Yuxin Zhou, University of California, Santa Barbara and Jerry McManus, Columbia University. Read more: Yuxin Zhou received funding from the International Ocean Discovery Program Schlanger Fellowship. Jerry McManus receives funding from the United States National Science Foundation. KYODO NEWS - May 30, 2024 - 14:17 | All, Japan Holders of Japan's "My Number" national identification card will be able to use their iPhone in place of the physical card from next spring, the government said Thursday, as authorities look to encourage the take up of the system that was introduced to streamline administrative procedures. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook confirmed the change during a teleconference Thursday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told the media. The development comes after the functionality was added to Android smartphones in May 2023. Those with a My Number will be able to use their smartphone in place of the card when interacting with public service providers like their municipal or tax office. Kishida asked Cook to allow iPhones to perform the functions of the My Number card during a December 2022 meeting, government sources said. Under the My Number ID card system, launched in 2016, a 12-digit number is issued to each resident of Japan to centralize a range of personal data, such as tax and social security information. The government says the cards make administrative applications easier for holders, allowing them to, for example, obtain official documents at convenience stores or apply for childcare benefits online. The government is also set to scrap the current health insurance certificates and integrate them on My Number cards in December, meaning everyone in Japan would be required to obtain the cards because the country's health insurance system covers all residents. It also aims to incorporate driver's licenses into the system by March 2025. Nearly 74 percent of the Japan's population has applied for their My Number card as of end of April, according to the government. Authorities have faced headwinds in encouraging the public to apply for My Number cards following revelations of mishandling of personal data, such as having health insurance data erroneously registered and available to people other than the owner. Related coverage: Japan lower house passes bill for criminal checks for jobs with kids Japan lower house OKs bill to secure foreign trainees as society ages Law change lets Japan police crack down on rule-breaking cyclists TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) New College of Florida is planning to discipline students, including withholding degrees, for disrupting a May 17 graduation ceremony after several students were accused of booing a commencement speaker. In an op-ed published Monday in the Wall Street Journal, New College President Richard Corcoran said students will face consequences, including withholding degrees until students issue apology letters or take mandatory classes on civil discourse to suspension or expulsion. That students intermittently disrupted the proceedings was a disheartening reflection of prevailing intolerance for diverse viewpoints in todays society, Corcoran wrote. But that illiberal attitude hasnt and wont rule New College. Joshua Epstein said hes been working for years to graduate college at 18 years old. He wrote a 90-page thesis and accumulated more than 120 credit hours. My proudest accomplishment in life is that degree, and its really sad that theyre trying to go after it, he said. Epstein said that people were cheering throughout the event, and then some students booed at one point. Theyre only punishing the people that booed, he said. So theyre saying that cheering is fine, but booing gets your degree taken away. Some students began talking amongst themselves when the commencement speaker, billionaire and founder of TD Ameritrade, Joe Ricketts, was having issues with his microphone, Epstein said. Some students, unfortunately, disagreed, interrupting his speech with scattered boos and chants, Corcoran wrote. Nonetheless, civil discourse and free speech will prevail at New College. Epstein wanted to hear what Ricketts had to say but said there were issues with the microphone, causing Ricketts to stop speaking. Not what I signed up for: New College puts students in hotels amid mold concerns Eliana Salzhauer, Epsteins mother, praised the students for how they handled graduation, adding that what happened was nothing compared to what other colleges across the country experienced. They didnt say anything egregious, she said. I was there. Nobody was hurling any F-bombs, nobody was physically getting in anybodys way. Nothing, absolutely nothing, rose to the level of a conduct violation. Salzhauer said that there were no issues during the rest of the ceremony. They walked to the stage, they respectfully crossed when their name was called, they got their diploma, she said. There were no antics. There was no disrespect. Epsteins college experience was marred by change after Gov. Ron DeSantis restructured the board in 2023 and appointed a majority of conservatives, who then fired the president and appointed Corcoran. I wouldve liked a normal college experience, and I didnt get that experience at New College because these people came in and took everything over, he said. He noted that many professors and students left due to the changes. It was a hostile takeover, and they really ruined my college experience, Epstein said, who was hoping to put the experience behind him and move on with his life. When I graduated, it felt like I had overcome everything they threw at us, and now for them to kind of be reaching out of the swamp like a swamp monster to pull us back in, its really scary, he said. Epstein said when he logs on to his portal, it shows that he has earned, and was awarded his degree. Now hes told he must have a hearing to determine his punishment. The letter, which was viewed by News Channel 8, states that a complaint was filed against him for failure to respond to instructions and disruptive conduct. He must make an appointment with the Office of Community Education and Standards by June 4 to have a hearing. When my son got this email, I was appalled, Salzhauer said. I was appalled and I was embarrassed for the school that they wouldnt just leave it alone. Just let these kids move on with their lives. Its shameful whats happened to the education system in Florida, and its shameful that this administration is pursuing these kinds of charges against these hard-working, respectful students that have earned their degrees. Salzhauer said the entire ordeal is upsetting. This is an egregious overstepping that is so upsetting as a parent, she said. My son and all of these graduates worked so hard to get their degrees. They had their high school time ruined by COVID, they had their college experience ruined by a takeover, but they stuck it out. Nothing any of the students did rose to the level of a conduct violation, Epstein said. Its petty, its vindictive, and they need to lead by example and be the bigger people here, she said. And you cannot say that you are protecting free speech and then punish people for expressing that free speech. Some students, Salzhauer said, chose to protest by not showing up to graduation, adding that these students showed up out of respect for their professors and the institution. What happened is they were baited into a trap, she said. They invited a speaker who was extremely obviously holding views that most of the students were not in agreement with. Salzhauer said the school missed an opportunity to celebrate the students, including her son who graduated at such a young age. Instead of the school celebrating that and saying Wow, look at the amazing kids we attract and what we can do, theyre trying to make sure theres not a single good taste left in his mouth about his experience there. As for whats next for Epstein, he plans to go to law school and become a lawyer. This experience is motivating me more than I was before to be a lawyer, to fight when people try to violate constitutional rights and bully others using the law, and to fight for the underdog, he said. These students have a lot to offer, and its OK for us to say Lets listen to them, Salzhauer said. And thats something that this administration has never done. We support and protect the right of free speech while resolutely insisting upon civil discourse, the college told SNN in a statement. Disruptive activities by a few individuals at a ceremonial event attended by hundreds is not representative of either of these principles. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. New College of Florida's students are being treated like political pawns. Again. As New College of Florida (NCF) faculty members who attended the official 2024 commencement on May 17, we would like to correct the record about the alleged disruption of the evenings ceremony during a speech by Joe Ricketts. This matters because our students futures are at risk and so are the principles of free speech and due process. Joe Ricketts, the billionaire founder of TD Ameritrade, gave the commencement address during New College of Florida's May 17, 2024, graduation ceremony. Ricketts' address was met with boos from some of the graduating students in attendance, and a small number turned their backs during his speech. Ricketts' Great Books classical studies curriculum has been implemented as an online degree program at New College. More: New College of Florida set to punish student protesters following boos at commencement While New College graduations have long been joyful and boisterous affairs, this years commencement was rather subdued from the outset. The administration had let us know that there would be exceptional security measures in place and that tickets were required, limiting who would be able to attend. A number of graduates simply opted out. Those who did attend were there to celebrate their commencement. They were there to celebrate the completion of their undergraduate degrees and the beginning of the next stage in their lives and contrary to New College of Florida tradition, many chose to wear the caps and gowns that were offered. Students normally have input in choosing a commencement speaker, but this time as was the case last year the New College administration imposed a speaker on the campus without consideration for the graduating students preferences. When the administration proposed conferring an honorary degree on Ricketts, NCF faculty leaders were unanimous in their opposition. While Ricketts did seem to want to deliver an encouraging speech one highlighting his own impressive financial success the administrations heavy-handed approach meant he was addressing a decidedly skeptical audience. Then things really went wrong. The audio-visual system went out and a fan behind the podium made it hard for the speaker to hold down his notes. Few in attendance could hear much of what Ricketts hoped to say; after about 15 minutes, he gave up. Campuses across the country have been roiled by protests in recent months, which have led to disruptions at graduations and even the cancellation of some ceremonies. Yet the New College campus has been markedly quiet up to and including the May 17 commencement. Here's why: The NCF administration has been successful in squashing free speech on campus, driving away 27% of last years otherwise continuing students and punishing student leaders. In addition, the administration has encouraged an exodus of educators; upward of 30% of the NCF faculty had left by last summer. Sadly, another cohort of talented students and dedicated faculty are leaving at the end of this academic year. More: New College of Florida and Joe Ricketts: What to know about their new partnership Were there some students who heckled the speaker? Yes. However, it was scattered and short-lived; there was nothing that was coordinated and nothing that threatened violence. Frankly, the voices of the adults who responded by shouting down the students were louder and more profane. Still, the New College administration seems intent on scapegoating a handful of our students; it is alleging that their behavior disrupted graduation and it is threatening punishments before any disciplinary review. This is especially concerning because, in fact, the problems resulted from the administrations following choices: Imposing an unpopular commencement speaker on the graduating class. Hiring an inexperienced audio-visual firm. Failing to simply ask the speaker to pause his speech and the audience to remain patient while the technical issues were resolved. On Jan. 6, 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis decided to make the New College of Florida campus Ground Zero in his attack on public education. Every day since then, our students have faced changes that have made our campus less welcoming and presented seriously challenging barriers for graduation. And yet some 140 of our students persevered; they completed their degree requirements and were approved unanimously by the New College of Florida faculty on May 15. These students do not deserve to be treated once again as pawns by politicians seeking to score political points. They did indeed complete their programs of study, and they did indeed graduate. As New College of Florida's latest alums, they should be supported and guided not torn down. This guest column was jointly authored by New College of Florida faculty members Katherine Walstrom, Amy Reid, Sonia Labrador-Rodriguez, Sarah Hernandez, David Gillman and Amy Clore. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New College students wrongly vilified for school's graduation debacle COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Police Department (CPD) is seeking information about a juvenile who went missing over two months ago. Phoebe Ussery, 17, was last seen Tuesday, March 19, at about 6 a.m. in the 900 block of Celia Drive. Police describe Ussery as standing at 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing 175 pounds. She has blonde hair and green eyes and was last seen wearing a black top and blue pajamas. Celia Drive is five minutes from Stanford Court, the location where two other 17-year-old females went missing in March. Emily Standridge has been located. The Columbus Police Department confirmed Taylor Ross is still missing. According to CPD, all three girls went missing from group homes. Standridge and Ross lived together in one, while Ussery lived in another. Police are asking anyone with information to call 911 or the Special Victims Unit at 706-225-3488. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Column: Trump is officially a convicted felon, but that may not stand in his way Former President Trump leaves a Manhattan court after being found guilty Thursday on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. (Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images) Former President Trumps conviction on 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records in New York is an ignoble first. No former president has ever been tried, much less found guilty, for felonies before. But Trump's new status as a convicted felon probably wont significantly affect his chances of winning the 2024 presidential election. That too is a strange historic first: a presidential candidate convicted of felonies, but suffering little if any political damage in the process. However sensational the charges, which stemmed from hush money payments made to an adult film actor, many voters will react to the Manhattan jurys decision with a shrug. The conviction wont prevent Trump from staying in the race until election day, and if he wins, he stands a good chance of avoiding serious penalties while hes in the White House. It wont be easy to spin a conviction on 34 felony counts as a victory, but there are plenty of ways Trump can mitigate the consequences. He'll continue to claim that the process was unfair and politically motivated, as he did on his way out of the courthouse Thursday evening. "This was a disgrace," he said, standing behind a steel barricade. "It was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge. ... This was done by the Biden administration to wound, to hurt a political opponent." Read more: Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes There is no evidence that the Biden administration has played any role in the case, which was brought by a state prosecutor with no involvement by the federal Justice Department. "The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people," Trump said, referring to election day. If he appeals the verdict, as expected, that will allow him to argue correctly that a conviction isnt final while its under challenge. Not incidentally, it will also keep him out of jail, at least for a while. After the verdict, Judge Juan M. Merchan scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Lawyers said it was unlikely that Merchan would order Trump jailed if an appeal is pending. Under New York law, Trump's lawyers have 30 days to file a notice of appeal and six months to file briefs supporting the appeal a period that would extend well past election day. Several polls in recent weeks have suggested that a guilty verdict could shift a significant number of voters away from Trump, but pollsters and strategists in both parties doubt that any such effect will be significant or lasting. "If I were betting, I'd bet on no impact or on a flutter in the polls, followed by a return to the status quo," Democratic pollster Mark Mellman said. In an ABC News/IPSOS poll last month, 16% of Trump's current voters said they would reconsider supporting him if he were convicted in the New York case. Only 4% said they would definitely stop supporting him. But voters are often unreliable predictors of their own reactions, the pollsters said. Read more: Donald Trump puts America on notice again: If he loses, he won't go quietly Trump voters have proved fiercely loyal to their favored candidate, felon or not. Trump himself has marveled at the phenomenon. I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and wouldnt lose any voters, OK? he said in 2016. Its, like, incredible. Read more: Column: Trump's hush-money criminal trial could be a cure for 'Trump amnesia' Within minutes of Thursday's verdict, Republican leaders in Congress echoed Trump in denouncing the trial a sign that GOP ranks are likely to close around their presumptive nominee. Today is a shameful day in American history," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a prepared statement. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), another Trump ally, predicted that the trial "will backfire tremendously" on Democrats and added: "I expect this case to be reversed on appeal." Trump himself used the verdict to solicit donations from supporters. "I am a political prisoner!" he declared in an email and a social media post. (He has not been imprisoned; he returned to his Trump Tower apartment after the trial concluded on Thursday.) The presumptive Republican nominee has primed his supporters for months to ignore a guilty verdict by relentlessly attacking the cases against him as politically motivated. "If I were trying to design a court case that would be easy for Republicans to dismiss as a partisan witch hunt, I would design the New York case, Republican pollster Whit Ayres said, noting that Manhattan Dist. Atty. Alvin Bragg is not only a Democrat but a vocal Trump critic. Six months ago, any of the four criminal cases against Trump could have threatened his presidential campaign: a federal prosecution stemming from his supporters invasion of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; a federal case on charges he illegally retained highly classified documents; a Georgia election interference case; and the New York business fraud case. Even with the New York verdict, Trump and his lawyers have postponed any final reckoning until after election day: Three trials are delayed and he will probably appeal his verdict in the fourth, a process that would last far beyond the election. Those charges aren't going away, but if Trump becomes president, he can order the Justice Department to halt the two federal cases. Some career Justice Department officials might refuse to carry out those orders, but a newly inaugurated president will presumably be able to find or appoint someone willing to do his bidding. And under most legal precedent, state courts would put his prosecutions in New York and Georgia on hold while hes in the White House. If he takes office in January and completes a full term, none of the cases would be decided before 2029, when hell be 82. Being the first former president ever convicted on criminal charges is a dubious achievement, to be sure. Equally unprecedented and potentially more damaging to democracy Trump has given future politicians a dangerous example: He has shown that felony convictions need not stand in the way of success. Read more McManus columns on Trump: Trump has big plans for California if he wins a second term. Fasten your seatbelts Trump wants to round up over a million undocumented migrants from California. Heres how he might do it Trump loves fossil fuels; California wants clean energy. Cue collision 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. Combat medic and public activist Iryna Tsybukh was killed while on rotation near the front in Kharkiv Oblast on May 29, just a few days before her 26th birthday, Hospitallers Medical Battalion said on social media on May 30. "This is an indescribable pain and an incredible loss not only for the battalion, but for all of Ukraine," Hospitallers wrote. Tsybukh had over 19,000 followers on Instagram and regularly appeared in the media, where she shared her experiences of the war and her work as a volunteer combat medic. President Volodymyr Zelensky presented Tsybukh with an Order of Merit in November 2023 for her work as a combat medic, something she described as feeling "unexpected and unreal." Tsybukh regularly took part in public discussions on issues like the role of women who serve on the front line and how to best memoralize of those who had been killed in Russia's invasion. Before the full-scale invasion, Tsybukh worked as a media trainer and as a manager for Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster. Read also: Who was Pavlo Petrychenko, the prominent activist recently killed in combat? Originally from Lviv, Tsybukh worked with children and had made a film about children growing up in villages in in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, which was supposed to be shown in Kyiv on February 25, 2022. Tsybukh volunteered to join Hospitallers after the full-scale invasion began on Feb. 24, 2022, having previously served several rotations with the battalion since 2014. "I never wanted to be in a war," Tsybukh told Elle Ukraine in an interview published in July 2022. "I am a girl who likes to travel and do educational projects for children. I am not a person who dreamed of working as a paramedic all my life. But Russian aggression forced me to defend my country," Tsybukh said. Read also: The road from death to life: Medics evacuate wounded Ukrainian soldiers amid intensified fighting (Photo) Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Community Colleges for Iowa has released its recommendations for DEI positions and activities at community colleges. (Photo illustration by iStock/Getty Images Plus) The state association of community colleges has released information and recommendations on diversity, equity and inclusion practices and roles, prompted by legislators and supported by community college leaders. The recommendations touch on DEI-related roles and councils, activities, campus climate and culture and hiring and promotion practices, according to Community Colleges for Iowas Response Regarding DEI. The document also includes details on various federal and state laws and regulations relating to diversity, equity and inclusion. Community Colleges for Iowa Executive Director Emily Shields said she believes colleges are approaching DEI efforts from a place of trying to comply with the law while keeping their missions of education and access for all in mind. I think this will give them some specific things to think about and look at, and maybe more than anything, be able to articulate what theyre doing in terms that make sense to everyone and language that makes sense to everyone, Shields said. The association recommends that colleges review their practices to ensure compliance with accreditation standards from both the state of Iowa and the Higher Learning Commission, as well as Title IX and Titles III, V and VI, which require Iowa colleges to meet the needs of specific student populations in order to be eligible for funding. After reviewing positions and activities connected to diversity, equity and inclusion, the recommendations state that colleges should adjust any role responsibilities that are found to not be necessary for accreditation or following the law and make sure their purpose is transparent to the community. DEI councils and initiatives should be reviewed to ensure that no group or individuals rights are being infringed upon, academic freedom is protected, and that they are fiscally sustainable and tied to the colleges mission. The response stated that initiatives should be backed by research that shows their impact on educational outcomes. No one should be compelled to provide their pronouns, a DEI statement or other proof of participation in DEI activities, the response stated, unless a statement or proof is required for compliance or accreditation. Colleges should review their recruitment materials to confirm there is no specific ideology being promoted, and there should be no program, class, training or other events that restrict participation based on sex, race, ethnicity and other traits. Hiring and promotion practices should also be reviewed by colleges to ensure no applicant or employee is made to provide evidence of their adherence to specific ideology or political viewpoints at any point. At a time when political polarization is high and enrollment is largely flat, it is important to take steps to ensure that campus environments (physical and online) are welcoming to everyone, creating a sense of belonging that contributes to student success, the response stated. Rep. Carter Nordman, R-Panora, said in a statement that he and other lawmakers had discussions with Community Colleges for Iowa during the legislative session, and while no laws were passed touching on DEI practices at community colleges, the organization committed to taking a look at their current practices and making recommendations internally. Nordman is chair of the House appropriations subcommittee for education. As weve worked to address this topic in the Legislature, our goal has been to refocus Iowas higher education system on preparing and growing our workforce, Nordman said in his statement. All individuals in Iowa deserve access to secondary education that doesnt focus on division, but rather ensures Iowa students can pursue their dreams and are prepared to fill jobs needed right here in Iowa. While community colleges didnt see changes to DEI efforts coming from the Statehouse, Iowas public universities are now barred from starting, maintaining or funding DEI offices that arent required by law or accreditors. Separate directives from the Iowa Board of Regents prompted Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa to eliminate their main DEI offices. Des Moines Area Community College President Rob Denson said the recommendations saw unanimous support from community college leaders across the state when they were discussed last week at the Presidents Retreat. We felt that it was important that the system come out with a statement, Denson said. Obviously, we have to follow up accreditation, follow the law. It allows us to do what we need to do, which is to work to recruit students for our area businesses and give them the training that gives them a better life. Denson said the recommendations are consistent with what DMACC is currently doing, though he and others at the college are always looking for ways to improve and aid in student success. DMACC is focused on connecting with struggling students earlier in an effort to head off thoughts of discontinuing their education, a goal he said is shared by colleges across the country. With the recommendations now out for colleges to utilize, Shields said Community Colleges for Iowa will continue to keep an eye on regulations surrounding DEI and offer direction when needed. I think its an ongoing conversation for sure because we have important work to do, Shields said. For example, there are new Title IX regulations that were reviewing right now, so this will be an ongoing discussion for sure. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Community college group recommends review of DEI positions, activities appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. Former Trooper Alicia Bragg said she was fired in retaliation, and the Montana Federation of Public Employees filed an unfair labor practices complaint. (Provided photo.) The Montana Highway Patrol fired a trooper and union president in retaliation after she provided a workplace climate survey summary to union staff, according to allegations in an unfair labor practice complaint. The complaint was filed against the Montana Department of Justice and its Montana Highway Patrol division. The DOJ denies the allegations and argues the trooper was fired for disseminating the document in violation of a direct order. The Montana Federation of Public Employees made the allegations last month on behalf of Trooper Alicia Bragg. In a statement, MFPE President Amanda Curtis said the Highway Patrols actions constitute retaliation against a decorated officer. It is illegal to retaliate against a union president for sharing information related to her members working conditions with her union staff, Curtis said. Were working to address this excessive punishment, get Alicias job back, and tackle MHPs rapidly deteriorating working conditions for all troopers. Montana law prohibits state agencies from interfering with or coercing employees from exercising their union rights. Trooper: Investigation was a witch hunt Earlier this year, the Montana Highway Patrol issued a climate survey in response to low morale, high turnover, and the need to make improvements at the agency, according to an earlier interview with an agency employee. The results reflected poorly on management and indicated a lack of support for employees. The response rate was roughly 80%. As part of a steering committee formed to address results, then-Trooper Bragg received a copy of the summary. A 10-year employee at MHP, Bragg said multiple troopers told her they feared retaliation for their responses to the survey, and in her role as president, she helps enforce working conditions which appeared to be eroding. Those working conditions are part of the bargained contract the troopers union signs with the state. As such, Bragg sent a copy of the summary to her field consultant. Theres no daylight between troopers and our union, Bragg said in an interview Wednesday. Were one and the same. Were always working together day and night for better working conditions. The summary became public on March 29 after the Daily Montanan published a story about it. A short time later, Bragg lost her job. The Montana Highway Patrol put Bragg on leave on April 9 and terminated her April 19, and the complaint and an internal grievance are pending, according to related records. In my initial hearing, MHP leadership asked me who would have my back in a dark alley now, Bragg said in a statement. I realized their investigation was a witch hunt, and they didnt care about using troopers survey input to improve our working conditions. Yes, as union president, I communicated about this survey whether or not troopers truthful participation could be grounds for disciplinary actions with my union staff. And I was fired for it. In addition to allegations the Highway Patrol retaliated against Bragg, the complaint alleges the agency is intimidating troopers and obfuscating negative working conditions by keeping survey results under wraps. It is the Federations position that information contained documentation of the working conditions of troopers (and) is a public document given that it was the product of a climate survey that was paid for with public funds and is not a confidential document, the complaint said. DOJ: Responses to employee misconduct The DOJ did not respond to an email from the Daily Montanan about this complaint, but Bragg and the union provided the response filed with the Department of Labor and Industry. Respondent generally denies all the allegations of the complaint, and asserts that all alleged actions, to the extent that they were actually taken as alleged, were warranted responses to employee misconduct, said the letter to DLI. The response on letterhead of Attorney General Austin Knudsen is signed by Chief Human Resource Officer Melissa Gardner and General Counsel Chad Vanisko with the DOJ. In the letter, the DOJ said a climate survey document was distributed to a small committee made up of Highway Patrol employees, and all members were ordered by commanding officers, both in writing and verbally, not to disseminate the document until it was authorized for release. The DOJ said when the summary became public, all committee members were asked if they disseminated it, and Bragg acknowledged she shared it. DOJ said she did so despite direct orders. MHP troopers, as law enforcement officers, are subject to strict rules regarding orders of commanding officers and obeying the same, the DOJ said. The DOJ agreed a public employer is obligated to bargain in good faith, but it argues the union is confused about the climate survey, the DOJ didnt interfere with communication, and contract negotiations werent underway anyway. The parties were not in the process of bargaining at any relevant time herein, the DOJ said. Bragg: Good troopers need to stay Bragg, from Great Falls, worked as a dispatcher for 8.5 years for three different agencies in Montana before heading to the law enforcement academy. It was just the natural progression, in my mind, to move to the other side of the radio, she said. Shes worked for the Highway Patrol since 2014, and her face has been on DOJ posters hanging in district offices. In her tenure, she earned a Hedstrom Award for providing life-saving efforts as an officer and an Unsung Hero award for Special Olympics volunteering. Three years ago, Bragg was elected union president for her local, and she said the pipeline between her and her field consultant was wide open. They shared contract negotiation information, new policies and documents related to discipline procedures. She provided the survey summary to her field consultant in the same light, she said, and she never imagined she would lose her job in the course of doing union business: Absolutely not. She said the consultant who conducted the survey told the steering committee a full report was nearly 400 pages. However, Bragg said she doesnt believe it has been released despite a promise it would be and a commitment to full transparency with results. The Daily Montanan has requested the full report from the DOJ. The DOJ has not provided it. On Monday, April 8, Bragg said her captain called her back to Helena from a detail in Bozeman, and after a meeting with superiors on April 9, she was put on leave. Bragg said she suspected retaliation ahead given the quick action in her case compared to others. However, Bragg said she was also disappointed because she had believed she was helping to improve working conditions for Montana Highway Patrol employees. She shared her story of being fired on Facebook, and it has been shared 111 times. I was extremely frustrated because I had worked so hard and communicated with troopers throughout the state about it being a safe process for them to share their opinions about the Highway Patrol, Bragg said. Bragg, who had union staff present in her interview, said she had convinced people who feared retaliation to respond to the survey: It was really frustrating to me to be the first one to be taken out by the survey. Grievance, complaint, unfold Bragg wants her job back despite the allegations the Montana Highway Patrol treated her unfairly and illegally. The good troopers need to stay, Bragg said. Theres quite a few troopers that are leaving. Some are quitting because of the climate at the Highway Patrol, but Bragg said shes been telling troopers since her termination that Montanans and those who travel through it need good officers to stay and cultivate new growth and a new culture at the agency. She said she wants troopers to serve citizens without fear. I dont want them to feel any stress about going to work because theyre worried about retaliation or anything ugly coming out of the survey, Bragg said. An internal grievance and the complaint are pending. It could be nine months before the complaint is resolved, but the grievance could result in Braggs job being restored and even back-pay if it resolves in her favor. In the meantime, Bragg said she and her husband are planning summer with their 14-year-old, an adopted foster child. She also enrolled in seminary and is working on a bachelors in ministry. Its just another way of helping people along the way, Bragg said. The post Complaint: DOJs Montana Highway Patrol fired trooper in retaliation appeared first on Daily Montanan. A Frostproof man has filed to challenge Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, citing what he says are examples of mistreatment by law enforcement as his motivation. Theodore Pink Tie Murray filed to run in the November election as a nonpartisan candidate against Judd, a Republican. Judd, seeking a sixth four-year term, did not face any opponent in the past two elections. Murray, 46, ran for the U.S. House in District 17 the past two elections, receiving less than 2% of the vote each time. In discussing his reasons for running, Murray described three episodes two from Polk County in which he claims law enforcement either wrongly arrested him or failed to properly investigate crimes of which he was a victim. In the most recent case, Murray says that longtime associates forged deeds to take ownership of his properties in Frostproof and in Gulf County in 2022. He filed complaints in both counties but says the Polk County Sheriffs Office has not charged the alleged perpetrators, despite what he says is plentiful evidence. Murray, a building contractor, shared copies of deeds transferring ownership of the Polk County properties, with signatures that appear noticeably different from his signatures on other documents. Murray said that the case has been passed among three detectives. Scott Wilder, a spokesperson for the Polk County Sheriffs Office, said that investigators have devoted considerable time to the case, which remains open, but have not found probable cause to pursue criminal charges. He said an examination by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement of the supposedly forged documents was inconclusive. The parties who took control of the properties say that Murray signed over permission to them, something that he denies. Wilder said that Murray might be able to pursue a civil lawsuit. Murray said he was a victim of arson and robbery in 2019 involving his property in Frostproof. He said that thieves broke into a safe, stealing guns, a gold ring, 2,000 ounces of silver and other items. He said the Polk County Sheriffs Office investigated with a bare minimum of effort at best. Franklin County incident The other episode that partly fueled Murrays desire to run for sheriff began in 2022 with a police incident in Franklin County, in the Panhandle. In Murrays description, he was driving into Port St. Joe when three unfamiliar vehicles boxed him in and began slowing as if to make him stop. Murray said he eluded the vehicles and sped away in search of a law enforcement officer to report the incident. Reaching Apalachicola, he came up behind a police vehicle and flashed his lights to get the officers attention, he said. FDOT is planning a 210-mile walking and biking trail from Polk to Collier County An arrest report from the Franklin County Sheriffs Office provides this version of events: About 1:50 a.m. on June 19, 2022, an officer noticed a truck approaching him from behind at such high speed that he feared the truck would ram his vehicle. The officer accelerated repeatedly to avoid an impact before stopping and ordering the trucks driver to pull over as another officer arrived. Murray made strange statements, and the original officer asked if he had been drinking. Noticing that Murrays eyes were watering and his speech appeared to be slurred, the officer asked him to take field sobriety tests, and Murray refused. When Murray declined orders to leave the vehicle, an officer handcuffed him and the two officers eventually pulled him from the truck. Officers found two loaded handguns in Murrays vehicle, along with two boxes of ammunition, $6,843 in cash and a green leafy substance that appeared to be marijuana by look and smell. Murray said he had a concealed carry permit for the guns. He was charged with reckless driving, resisting an officer without violence and possessing more than 20 grams of cannabis. Murray claimed that the officer provided no reason for the initial arrest and questioned why his body camera did not capture the entire incident. The officer wrote that he did not switch on the camera at first because he was focused on dealing with Murray. Psychiatric commitment Court records show that a doctor in July 2022 deemed Murray incompetent to proceed with pre-trial hearings and in need of treatment. He was committed to Florida State Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Chattahoochee. Murray claimed that while in Chattahoochee, he was abused and beaten by security guards. After his release, court records show that Murray was adjudicated guilty of reckless driving and resisting arrest and sentenced to just over one year, with credit for time served. The unauthorized transfer of his property occurred while he was incarcerated, Murray said. He said the perpetrators deeded ownership to their relatives and are now living in his former home in Frostproof. Court records from Polk County show that Murray was arrested for voyeurism in 2003, resulting in misdemeanor probation. 'Someone who's been wronged by the system' Along with those personal experiences, Murray strongly criticized Judd in explaining his decision to run for sheriff. He faulted the longtime sheriff on many grounds: not ordering dashboard and body cameras for deputies, delivering harsh opinions about suspects in news conferences that damage their reputations even if they are not convicted and for creating a culture of excessive violence by deputies. Who better to have represent the people than someone who's been wronged by the system and is looking to make sure that other people aren't wronged by the system, whether they're murdered, whether they're fraudulently attacked, whether their stuff is stolen? Murray said. Murray acknowledged that he has no law enforcement experience, which means he is not sullied. Asked whether he has run an organization, he mentioned his experience leading crews on a rebuilding effort in the Panhandle after a hurricane. As of Wednesday, Judd had reported about $493,000 in campaign donations. A political committee, Friends of Grady Judd, also reports more than $374,000 in contributions. Murray has not reported any contributions. The deadline for qualifying is June 14. Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk sheriff candidate fueled by complaints about law enforcement In the Spotlight is a Modesto Bee series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email tips@modbee.com. The California Department of Public Health declared an immediate jeopardy at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto over the use of nurse anesthetists to sedate and monitor surgical patients, according to an internal update sent to hospital medical staff. The state has been investigating complaints at the 394-bed hospital since last week. The hospital has been canceling or rescheduling dozens of surgeries and procedures. An update Tuesday said the use of certified registered nurse anesthetists, or CRNAs, has been put on hold because they were granted privileges for procedures they had not previously performed at the hospital. According to in-house communications, the hospital will redo a credentialing process for CRNAs that assesses their abilities to safely care for surgical patients. Regulators declare an immediate jeopardy when health and safety violations have potential to harm patients at a medical facility. The CDPH and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services wont lift the order until the hospitals plan for mitigating the situation is approved. The CRNAs will not be returning to the hospital until the plan of correction is accepted by CMS, the update to staff said. Doctors Medical Center is trying to cover as many surgeries as possible with physician anesthesiologists. CRNAs are nurses who hold an advanced degree to provide anesthesia services and have gained broad acceptance in health care. But they have been under scrutiny in Modesto since last year. State regulatory surveys in August and January blasted Stanislaus Surgical Hospital on Oakdale Road for giving too much authority to CRNAs. For failing to comply with nine conditions of participation in Medicare, Stanislaus Surgical was removed from the program, effective April 30, but political support from Central Valley congressmen served to reverse the decision. Complaints about anesthesia-related errors The state turned next to investigating complaints at Doctors Medical Center. Physicians connected to the hospital said some complaints are about anesthesia-related medical errors. But the public wont know for months if those complaints were substantiated. The hospital has not commented on the investigation since releasing a statement Friday. We are collaborating with the California Department of Public Health on our action plan to address the items identified by the CDPH and will await a follow-up survey. The statement said patient safety is the hospitals top priority. DMC will continue to participate in the Medicare and Medi-Cal programs during the review, the statement said. While CRNAs still were working in the hospital last week, the anesthesia chairman at Doctors imposed requirements to protect patients by having a physician present for starting anesthesia and intubations and to document anesthesia records, according to an internal directive obtained by The Modesto Bee. A physician was also required to co-sign orders in the post-anesthesia care unit. The in-house directive said the requirements were in compliance with the ongoing CDPH survey and would be closely audited by the state health agency. According to another communication, the survey found fault with the medical centers credentialing process for CRNAs. Credentialing is a process for assessing the academic qualifications and clinical skills of healthcare providers to ensure patient safety. Every nurse anesthetist will have to undergo proctoring that tests their knowledge and skills for 10 surgeries or procedures. The hospital hasnt said how long that will take. Doctors Medical Center has a contract with Fresno-based Valley Regional Anesthesia Associates for providing CRNAs and anesthesiologists for surgeries. For months, the provider contract has sparked vitriol from physician anesthesiologists who claim CRNAs are heavily used as a cost-saving measure for the hospital. Corporate officials for Valley Regional did not respond to calls from The Modesto Bee. The recent surveys at Stanislaus Surgical and DMC are being watched by medical professionals throughout the state. I venture to say this probably arose (at Stanislaus Surgical) because you had CRNAs that were not supervised in the proper manner as the law states in California, said Dr. Antonio Hernandez Conte, president of the California Society of Anesthesiologists. The state requires CRNAs to work under prescriptive orders of a surgeon, he said. Increasing role of nurse anesthetists Some background might help with understanding the landscape. In 2009, then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter to the federal government for California to opt out of a Medicare program policy requiring that physicians be available in hospitals to oversee the work of nurse anesthetists. California joined rural states such as Alaska, Idaho and Iowa in opting out, but the governors concern was the scarcity of anesthesiologists in rural areas of the Central Valley and in mountain counties. The California Medical Association and other physician groups contested the issue in court, arguing that CRNAs are not as well trained and are more prone to mistakes, especially in caring for patients with complex medical conditions or handling emergencies. The legal challenge failed, and nurse anesthetists have since claimed autonomy in California while inviting detractors to cite research findings of safety issues. The practices of CRNAs were lambasted in the regulatory surveys at Stanislaus Surgical Hospital. The surveys concluded that CRNAs operated outside their scope of practice at the surgical hospital. The first survey in August noted that a resident nurse anesthetist in training at Stanislaus Surgical wore studded earrings not covered by a surgical cap in the operating room and wore several rings and prescription glasses without protective covering. Those items increase the risk of infection and the potential for leaving a foreign object inside a patient, the survey said. The CDPH, which conducted the surveys on behalf of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, disagreed with Stanislaus Surgical policy that nurse anesthetists were independent practitioners who provided medical service as if they were licensed physicians. During interviews with CDPH inspectors, one nurse referred to herself as the chief CRNA and said she managed the anesthesia group at the hospital. The state survey rejected the hospitals stance that CRNAs had full authority to handle diagnoses and prescribe drugs. The survey report described CRNAs working alongside students studying to be nurse anesthetists, in one case changing a doctors order for general anesthesia for surgery to a higher-risk spinal anesthesia and sedation. It was one of a number cases in which there was no record that patients gave consent for a change in anesthesia drugs, the report said. When the patient was moved to an inpatient room after surgery, records show he became lethargic, fell back on the bed and was unresponsive. His blood pressure plummeted and a doctor gave the order to call 911 and transfer him by ambulance to another hospital. Patients were jeopardized The state agency issued an immediate jeopardy order at Stanislaus Surgical on Jan. 17, citing the potential harm to patients posed by unsupervised CRNAs. It did not lift the order until a plan was approved Feb. 2 that put physician anesthesiologists in charge of anesthesia services at the surgical hospital. According to a Jan. 19 memo to health providers at Stanislaus Surgical, the hospital implemented changes in order to continue using CRNAs. It required an anesthesiologist to place pre-op orders for surgeries and surgeons to consult with nurse anesthetists regarding orders for patients recovering from anesthesia. In addition, there were new credentialing requirements for CRNAs at Stanislaus Surgical. Hernandez Conte, the California Society of Anesthesiologists president, said if theres a problem during or after surgery, its important to have a physician anesthesiologist there to address the issue. Between medical school, a four-year residency and other training, anesthesiologists have 16,000 hours of training, while a nurse anesthetist has a 10th of that. Hernandez Conte said nurse anesthetists are valuable because of the workforce shortages, and the gold standard for care is a team model consisting of an anesthesiologist, surgeons and CRNAs. In the example of a rural hospital with three operating rooms, the anesthesiologist would work with a nurse anesthetist in each OR, see every patient before the surgery and be available in critical portions of each operation. KYODO NEWS - May 30, 2024 - 22:34 | Japan, All Two high school teachers and a retired colleague were given prison terms of two years each on Thursday over the deaths of seven students and a fellow teacher in an avalanche that struck during a mountaineering lesson north of Tokyo in 2017. Considered an unusually heavy sentence for an educational setting, the three, who conducted the lesson, were convicted of professional negligence resulting in the eight deaths and injuries to five others in the town of Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture on March 27, 2017. Their defense team had sought an acquittal. In handing down the ruling at the Utsunomiya District Court, Presiding Judge Toshifumi Takioka said the defendants -- Shuichi Inose, 57, Hisao Sugamata, 55, and 61-year-old Hironori Watanabe -- should have been more attuned to the risk of an avalanche, adding "It was a man-made disaster caused by a serious degree of carelessness." "The danger of an avalanche could easily have been anticipated," the judge said, noting that at least 30 centimeters of fresh snow had piled up at the site on the day of the accident. The defendants were not vigilant "and carried out the walking exercise in a sloppy and desultory" way, Takioka said. He said the prison terms are not suspended as there is no exceptional reason to consider in the defendants' favor. According to the ruling, on the morning of March 27, 2017, the three defendants changed the content of the day's activities from climbing to a walking exercise due to the snowfall the previous night. It went on to say that Sugamata and Watanabe, who were accompanying the students, did not give clear instructions on how to avoid hazards or share information on the radio. Fifty-five students and teachers from Otawara High School and six other high schools in Tochigi Prefecture were taking part in the lesson when the avalanche, one of Japan's deadliest in decades, struck. In the criminal trial that began in October 2022, prosecutors demanded a four-year prison sentence for the three, arguing they should have foreseen the possibility of an avalanche following 30 cm of fresh snow the previous day on an area prone to avalanches due to its steep slopes and sparse vegetation. Their negligence was "serious," as they went ahead with the lesson without due diligence, prosecutors said. The defendants' lawyers insisted it was impossible to predict an avalanche and argued the trio had carefully told each group where to conduct the lesson. "I've had many sleepless nights, but the support of those around me has kept me going. I hope this ruling will lead to measures that prevent such incidents in the future," Akiko Takase said tearfully at a press conference following the ruling. The 57-year-old lost her 16-year-old son Atsuki in the accident. Hirohisa Mori, a professor of sports law at Daito Bunka University, said that the heavy prison sentence likely took into account the seriousness of the negligence given the number of lives lost. "Club activities and other educational settings have historically been treated as sanctuaries, meaning it was rare for teachers to be held criminally accountable. However, in recent years, cases where negligence has been evident have led to prosecutions and guilty verdicts," said Mori. In June 2023, following a civil lawsuit, the district court ordered the Tochigi prefectural government and the prefecture's high school athletic federation to pay 290 million yen ($1.8 million) in damages to the families of five of the victims. But it dismissed claims against the three defendants, citing the State Redress Law, which states damages claims against public servants should be shouldered by municipalities. The ruling has been finalized. Related coverage: School official admits lapse in judgment over avalanche deaths A view of dried cannabis flowers lying on a stone. Union justice ministers call for improvements to the cannabis law. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa Conservative state-level ministers in Germany have criticized what they call a loophole in the country's recently enacted marijuana legalization law. The new law has created problems for prosecuting people who illegally import narcotics, because certain types of evidence is no longer admissible in German courts, the justice ministers from the German states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin said in a joint statement. All are members of the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc, which is the main opposition party in Germany's national parliament. In early April, a regional court ruled that encrypted chats seized by police could not be used as evidence against a man accused of smuggling a total of 450 kilograms of marijuana into Germany. The court cited provisions in the new Cannabis Act. Germany's highest appeals court for criminal matters, the Federal Court of Justice, has not yet ruled on the issue. The German Association of Judges also expressed support for the proposed changes. The group's leader, Sven Rebehn, said the new Cannabis Act is causing considerable legal uncertainty. "We are now seeing regulatory loopholes that many experts warned about during the legislative process," he said. The government should not turn a blind eye to the proposed changes, he said: "After all, the declared aim of the Cannabis Act is to curb organized drug crime and dry up the black market, not to make business easier for dealers." The Justice Ministry has previously defended its position by saying that the methods used by law enforcement had to be proportionate to the crime. A spokeswoman described telecommunications surveillance and online searches as "very intrusive investigative measures" that are only permissible in the case of serious or particularly serious offences. Could Donald Trump go to prison after being convicted? Donald Trump has been found guilty in his hush money trial in New York. He has become the first former president to be convicted of a crime, after the jury returned that verdict on all 34 counts. His lawyers and supporters will wonder how this affects their clients chances in Novembers presidential election, but the more pressing issue will be his sentencing on July 11. The 77-year-old, who is already liable for half a billion dollars following a string of civil losses, could face a further hefty fine. A prison sentence, though highly unlikely, is also possible. The hush money case is one of the four indictments that Mr Trump has been facing. Served consecutively, the potential sentences would mean hundreds of years in prison. But how likely is it that Mr Trump will be convicted? Can he run a campaign or take office if he is behind bars? And will he become the first US president to serve time in prison? New York In the Manhattan case, Donald Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records allegedly to conceal hush money payments to the adult film star Stormy Daniels with whom he allegedly had an affair. Prosecutors claimed that the then-Republican candidate intended to corrupt the result of the 2016 election by suppressing a damaging story, breaching state and federal campaign finance laws. Michael Cohen, Mr Trumps fixer, was said to have paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to keep the story of their alleged relationship quiet, and was later reimbursed by his boss. Falsifying business records is normally classed as a misdemeanour in New York, but Mr Trump has controversially been charged with a Class E felony instead, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. John C Coffee, of Columbia Law School, downplayed the likelihood of Mr Trump serving time in prison, noting that he is 77-years-old and had never been criminally convicted before. Although it is conceivable that a judge particularly one that Trump has regularly insulted would impose some jail time to underline the culpability of Trumps conduct, the betting is no jail time, but a high fine and a sentence to probationary conditions, Prof Coffee told The Telegraph. Washington, DC Mr Trump has also been charged with four criminal counts over the events that led to the storming of the Capitol on Jan 6 2021. Most legal commentators see it as the most serious case against the former president. According to a 45-page indictment brought by special counsel Jack Smith, Mr Trump attempted to reverse his election loss by pressuring officials in key states to assemble fake electors to ignore the popular vote and pushing the justice department to open sham inquiries. He has been charged with two counts of obstructing an official proceeding which could mean up to 20 years in prison - along with conspiracy against the right to vote and defrauding the United States, which could mean up to 10 years each. Mr Smith signalled he was seeking a speedy trial, but his hopes were dashed when it was put on hold as lawyers acting for Mr Trump argued he was immune from prosecution as a former president. The arguments were given short shrift by Tanya Chutkan, the DC district judge presiding over Mr Trumps trial, and the appeals court. However, it has made its way up to the Supreme Court, where three justices took issue with the ruling of the lower courts and signalled they could send it back down. As such it threatens to delay the case beyond Novembers presidential election and if Mr Trump takes office, he could theoretically dismiss the charges against him. Prof Coffee believed the delays to the Jan 6 trial and other cases meant the New York case was the only game in town. The argument in the Supreme Court suggests that the Jan 6 case will be sent back to the lower court and thus this New York case will be the only verdict before the election, he said. If Trump wins the election, he can duck the other federal trials and possibly the Georgia state case as well. In April, conservative justices on the Supreme Court appeared sceptical with the use of the obstruction charge in an appeal brought by a Jan 6 rioter. Some seemed inclined to agree that the law, brought in after the Enron accounting scandal, was being applied too broadly in relation to Congresss certification of Joe Bidens election victory. Not only could its decision mean hundreds of appeals by rioters, but it accounts for half of the charges brought against Mr Trump in the Jan 6 case. Some commentators believe it will put a further obstacle in the way of the proceedings. Georgia Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney who brought the Georgia case against Mr Trump, has made no secret of her hope to see the Republican behind bars. We have a long road ahead, she wrote in an email to defence lawyers in November 2023. Long after these folks are in jail, we will still be practising law. The road ahead would be longer than she realised. Mr Trump has been charged with 13 racketeering counts related to an alleged bid to overturn the result of the 2020 election in Georgia under the Rico (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations) Act. The law was designed to dismantle Americas Mob families, and ironically was used to great effect by one of Mr Trumps co-defendants, Rudy Giuliani, against New Yorks five Mob families in the 1980s. In a leaked call with Brad Raffensperger, Georgias Republican secretary of state, Mr Trump appeared to plead with him to find thousands of votes that would allow him to win the crucial state. If convicted, he faces 20 years in prison. Ms Willis had proposed that the trial start by August 5, anticipating it would take many months to reach a verdict. However, the case has been hit by one issue after another, leaving proceedings in limbo and the date looking increasingly uncertain. The key issue concerns a relationship between Ms Willis and Nathan Wade, whom she tasked with leading the prosecution of the former president. Mr Trump and other defendants argued that she had paid him handsomely for taking on the case, before benefitting personally when he paid for them to take luxury holidays. Ms Willis denied improper behaviour and claimed to have paid Mr Wade back. Judge Scott McAfee eventually ruled that Ms Willis could continue the prosecution but only if her former partner withdrew from the team. The case is on hold as the Georgia Court of Appeals considers whether to hear Mr Trumps appeal against the decision. Three of the initial charges against Mr Trump have also been dismissed by Judge McAfee, saying they provided insufficient detail. Even if the presumptive Republican presidential candidate takes office, he could not dismiss the trial because it is a state case. Some believe, however, that he could order the Justice Department to challenge his sentence. Department opinions have concluded that a sitting president could not be imprisoned. Steve Sadow, acting for Mr Trump, has argued in court that a potential trial would have to be delayed until 2029 if his client wins the presidential election, citing the Constitutions federal supremacy clause. Florida The stakes are high for Mr Trump in Florida. He faces 40 felony charges on mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort, which have a maximum sentence of between five and 20 years each. However, that may not matter if Donald Trump can make it to the presidential election in November before a trial can be held. If he takes office again, he would be able to throw it out because it is a federal case. The indictment accused Mr Trump of removing state secrets from the White House and storing them haphazardly around his Florida resort. Some of the documents were said to have been stacked in a ballroom and even a shower, and contain information about nuclear programmes, as well as the defence capabilities of the US and its allies. Special counsel Jack Smith appears to be frustrated with the pace that the Florida case is moving, and has implored Judge Aileen Cannon to expedite it. He has accused Mr Trumps legal team of trying to use the Stormy Daniels trial in New York to delay the classified documents case as much as possible. The trial was originally set to begin on May 20. Judge Cannon heard arguments about setting a trial date in March but is yet to clarify when it will be. Prosecutors had suggested starting it on July 8 instead, while Mr Trumps lawyers say it should begin after the November election. They have also raised August as a possibility, however. Commentators are now questioning if, let alone when, the case will reach trial. 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. Biden thinks this is a victory he may be disappointed Donald Trump spoke to the media after the guilty verdicts - Seth Wenig/POOL AP Donald Trumps conviction is the biggest moment in this presidential race and any other in living memory. He had claimed to be a political martyr and bragged that the charges against him were a great badge of honour. But even Teflon Don will not welcome becoming the first former US president to be convicted of a crime. His conviction does not bar him from seeking or taking up the presidency again, nor even prohibit him casting a vote, himself. But Trump must now wage his battle for the White House as a convicted felon, and convince voters it does not morally disqualify him from the job. The trial itself may also have chipped away at some of Trumps crucial strongman image. In Manhattans criminal court, Trump, 77, was more like a caged bear glimpsed behind security barricades, and at the mercy of 12 men and women of his native New York. Under the unflattering glare of the industrial lighting, he was forced to sit silent at the defence table as lurid claims about his personal life were combed through. Occasionally, he appeared to fall asleep. The former president, of course, argues the Manhattan case was rigged, and a politically-motivated witch hunt. Mother Teresa could not beat the charges, he said when the jury began its deliberations. Mr Trump's team argued the Manhattan case was a politically-motivated 'witch hunt' - Jane Rosenberg/REUTERS But it was a jury of Mr Trumps peers, and not a cabal of Democrats, who found him guilty on all counts. That they did so leaving no doubt, no wriggle room as to their view of his behaviour is a further blow, and raises the prospect of a harsh sentence. However unlikely, the spectre of a prison term now hangs over him. His Teflon Don moniker has been left in tatters. An acquittal would have been a formidable rallying cry for his campaign, a message of strength that would have wrong-footed his Republican critics and tempted back sceptical GOP donors. Speaking in the courts hallway on Thursday, a red-faced and clearly stunned Trump declared he was a very innocent man who had been subject to a rigged disgraceful trial. Trumps argument is still a potent one which holds sway with many Republicans. Trumps senior aides say that his conviction will only fire up his MAGA base and turbo charge their fundraising potential. That may well be true, but it is undecided voters who will make or break Novembers White House race, and polls suggest a conviction may damage his standing among them. Still, if Joe Bidens campaign believes this will secure their victory, they may be left disappointed. This was the weakest of the four criminal cases Trump could have faced before Novembers election. Few Americans have punctiliously followed the trial day-by-day. For many, the possibility of a Trump conviction has already been priced into their decision. And for those still making up their minds, the evidence so far suggests a conviction would only shift the race by a few points. A recent survey for PBS said 10 per cent of Republicans and 11 per cent of independents would be less likely to vote for Trump in the event of a conviction. That could prove decisive in a close race, but it is not the electoral albatross for Trump that the Biden campaign had hoped it would be, nor may it be enough to salvage the 81-year-old presidents own faltering re-election bid. A prison sentence, which would further tilt the scales, is extremely unlikely. Trump will almost certainly appeal his conviction immediately, likely delaying the serving of his sentence until after November. Mr Biden now faces a dilemma in how to respond to the trials outcome. The countrys deep political divisions have only been further strained by the verdict. His senior aides have been carefully debating whether the president should refer to his opponent as a convicted felon, aware that explicitly seeking political opportunity from the case could backfire. On Thursday night, senior campaign sources suggested Mr Biden may let other Democrats attack Trump over the case while he focuses on bread and butter issues. Despite its outcome, the end of the trial brings one major benefit for Trump: no longer bound to the courtroom, he is now free to return to the campaign trail. As Trump said himself on Thursday night, the real verdict will be election day on November 5. This is far from over, he said. 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. Ongoing, in-depth coverage from the Belleville News-Democrat on issues that matter most to metro-east residents. A brick storefront stood at 1013 W. Main St. in Belleville for about 160 years, housing a saloon, shoemakers shop, millinery, meat market, dry-goods store, bakery and real-estate office. It took less than a day to demolish it. Workers with Hayes Contracting used a track hoe with a giant clawed bucket to tear out 2 1/2 stories of brick, wood, walls, ceilings, floors, insulation, plumbing and electrical fixtures on Wednesday. Wow, that was fast, said mailman Terrell Cobb, who was walking along the sidewalk across the street. Workers started at about 7 a.m. One man operated the track hoe while a second used a hose to spray water and keep down dust. By 3:30 p.m., the storefront had been reduced to a pile of rubble. It went just like I thought it would, said Brian Hayes, owner of the excavation company. No surprises. Storefronts on either side were still standing, despite worries by some people that they would be destroyed or damaged in the demolition. All three buildings were constructed in the 1800s. Throughout the day, cars passed by on West Main Street, seemingly oblivious to what was happening on the block. A few spectators stopped to watch or take photos. Some bemoaned the loss of a historical building. Others were happy to see it go. They should have taken all those buildings out, said Jim Prather, who was visiting a friend in the neighborhood. Theyre just too old. They just look horrible, and theyre not safe anymore. One man recalled taking guitar lessons on the second floor of the storefront when he was a boy in the 1970s. He pointed to a stairway that he climbed. Minutes later, the track hoe pulled it down. Workers plan to return Thursday to haul away debris and trash before back-filling the hole, according to Hayes. Well finish up on Friday, he said. Claws on the giant bucket of a track hoe pull down the facade of a 2 1/2-story brick storefront covered with tan siding on Wednesday at 1013 W. Main St. in Belleville. The building was constructed in the 1860s. The storefront at 1013 W. Main St. was built during the Civil War. It was on one of the few remaining blocks in Belleville with all original buildings intact, albeit some covered with facades or siding. The block is part of Town of West Belleville Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The county foreclosed on the storefront and took ownership in November. Previous owners had stopped paying property taxes 10 years ago, and their delinquent tax bills got tied up in bankruptcies. Scott Tyler, the city of Bellevilles director of health, housing and building, had complained about the storefronts derelict condition. The city blocked off the sidewalk out front with barricades due to loose bricks falling from areas where tan siding was peeling off. They were going to hit somebody in the head, Tyler said. The county is paying Hayes $35,800 to demolish the storefront and clean up the lot. Its using money from a $2 million state grant thats designed to eliminate unsafe and blighted buildings. Belleville Historical Society opposed the demolition. But leaders stopped fighting it after seeing photos of the decaying interior and determining that renovation would likely be cost-prohibitive. It doesnt look good, said Larry Betz, president of the Historical Society, on Friday. I think were going to have to concede that (the demolition) is probably is going to happen. The photos showed holes in ceilings and floors, rotten wood, mold and other water damage, insulation billowing out of walls and debris covering dilapidated furniture and office and household items. West Belleville was a town established in 1852. Due to financial problems, it merged with Belleville in 1882. Bob Brunkow, historian for the Historical Society, believes Jacob and Rosalie Schlupp, German immigrants from France, built the storefront at what is now 1013 W. Main St. between 1860 and 1866, when they sold it for $4,000 to Philip Weber, who operated a saloon. This 1910 photo shows the business district of West Belleville, by then part of Belleville. Buildings to the right, 1007-1021 W. Main St., were all still standing until 1013 was demolished on Wednesday. HACKENSACK The city was justified in stripping two police officers of their jobs after a 2016 warrantless search of a Prospect Avenue apartment, the state appellate court ruled last week. The ruling is the latest court decision in a lengthy legal battle over the fates of the officers Detective Rocco Duardo and Officer Victor Vasquez since the city dismissed them six years ago. Duardo and Vasquez were among seven officers accused of illegally entering a third-floor apartment in December 2016 without a warrant, mishandling evidence and falsifying reports. Story continues below photo gallery At the time of the search, the officers claimed that they were investigating a tip about drug activity in the area and entered the apartment through an unlocked door after being told an unattended child was inside. But an anonymous letter spurred the department to open an internal investigation into their conduct, and a surveillance video seemed to contradict their account. The officers were suspended without pay and in 2017, Gurbir Grewal, then the Bergen County prosecutor, dropped the charges in eight active criminal investigations. Their actions cast doubts on their credibility and any testimony they may give in court, the prosecutor said. Former member of the Hackensack Police Department, Detective Rocco Duardo,is seen in the beginning before Administrative Law Judge Andrew Baron during the hearing at the Administrative Law Court in Newark on 06/26/19. The two highest-ranking officers involved retired, and in 2018, the city moved to fire Duardo, Vasquez, Justin De La Bruyere, Mark Gutierrez, and Joseph Gonzalez, who later resigned. The officers fought for lesser penalties, and eventually Duardo and Vasquez were suspended by the Civil Service Commission, which upheld the city's decision to fire De La Bruyere and Gutierrez. City attorneys have argued in two separate yearslong cases that the officers are not fit to serve. Had been reinstated in 2022 Duardo and Vasquez were reinstated to their positions in 2022 after the appellate court ruled the two officers should not have been fired and instead upheld the six-month suspensions imposed by the Civil Service Commission. Hackensack appealed to the state Supreme Court but in May 2022 the court ruled against the city, deferring to the Civil Service Commissions decision. In the most recent case, the city sought to overturn a decision by a state administrative law judge who ruled that the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, in labeling the officers as "Brady Officers" meaning their alleged history of lying would have to be disclosed to defense attorneys in criminal cases denied them due process. In the decision issued last week, the three state Superior Court Appellate Division judges affirmed the commissions conclusion that the officers had conducted a warrantless search and were untruthful during the ensuing investigation. As a result of these actions, the officers cannot testify in any criminal court without a prosecutorial disclosure of the Brady issue, which reduces their ability to serve as a police officer," the judges wrote. "This clearly constitutes behavior which adversely affects the morale of the HPD and undermines public respect. The inability of the BCPO to present the officers as a witness in any criminal trial eliminates the officers' ability to perform central functions of their job making arrests and testifying in court, they wrote. A Brady designation alone does not always suffice as grounds for termination, the judges wrote in the ruling. But here, where the BCPO had already dismissed multiple pending Superior Court cases and directed the municipal prosecutor to refrain from prosecuting any matters in which the officers were involved, there were sufficient grounds to support the city's decision to terminate the officers, the judges said. Hackensack officials said the courts ruling validates the citys decision to dismiss the officers. Reforming the Hackensack Police Department is critically important to the future of our community, and we will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure that the department can move forward with accountability, transparency and professionalism, no matter what obstacles are in the way, Mayor John Labrosse said in a statement. The officers were terminated immediately following the ruling. We are committed to moving forward with a police department that our residents can trust and depend on, said Ray Guidetti, the police director. We are committed to moving forward with a police department that our residents can trust and depend on, said Ray Guidetti, the police director. Charles Sciarra, the officers attorney, said he plans to appeal. Two separate trial judges, over seven years, seeing all the evidence and hearing from all witnesses, rejected the charges and reinstated these officers, Sciarra said. The city used its endless finances and kept appealing and appealing and eventually prevailed in a decision that says explicitly that police officers have no due process rights in New Jersey to challenge an allegation against them. Only the state Supreme Court can answer that issue and we are asking them to do so. Ray Wiss, the citys labor attorney, said the city will likely fight any appeal. Law enforcement officers must be held to a higher standard of conduct, he said. The city fully believes that the appellate division has gotten it right and there was a substantial violation of public trust, he said. It was a long, arduous course, but to the credit of the town fathers and mothers they stuck with it until we got this result. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Court says Hackensack was justified firing 2 police officers Navy Chief Petty Officer Bryce Pedicini, who was convicted of attempted espionage in April, has been sentenced to 18 years in military prison, the service confirmed in a statement released Thursday. In addition to his prison sentence, which comes after a conviction on charges of attempted espionage and failure to follow a lawful order, the statement from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service also said that Pedicini was given a dishonorable discharge and a reduction in rank to E-1. In earlier statements, NCIS said that the sailor "engaged with the foreign government representative under the guise of writing research papers," but officials never disclosed the identity of the country. Read Next: Unprotected: Troops Spent Decades Elbow-Deep in Dangerous Chemicals to Keep Nuclear Missiles Working When Pedicini was first charged, the Navy released documents that showed he was accused of delivering two sets of classified national defense documents -- referred to as "Article 1112" and "Article 1223" in the legal paperwork -- to "a citizen and employee of a foreign government" between November 2022 and February 2023 in Hampton Roads, Virginia. The charging documents went on to say that these "articles" were broken up into smaller sections, which Pedicini then delivered over several instances. Pedicini also provided "images of a [secret-level classification] computer screen to a citizen and employee of a foreign government" in mid-May in Yokosuka, Japan. He was previously stationed aboard the destroyer USS Higgins, which is homeported in Yokosuka. When the case was first charged, Pedicini faced allegations of espionage, but he was convicted of the lesser offense of attempted espionage. Officials have not explained why this occurred. Regardless, the conviction is a high-profile win for Navy prosecutors who have struggled to get convictions in major cases in the past few years. In 2022, Navy prosecutors lost their criminal case against Seaman Ryan Mays -- a junior sailor accused of setting the fire that led to the loss of the USS Bonhomme Richard -- when he was acquitted of charges of willful hazarding of a vessel and aggravated arson. The Navy had chosen to press forward with the court-martial despite the fact that the legal officer who presided over the initial hearing recommended against the case going forward. In 2019, Navy prosecutors also failed to convict Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher of most charges in a highly publicized war crimes trial despite him publicly admitting to some of the key facts. The lead prosecutor in that case was also removed from the case after it was discovered that he was embedding tracking code in emails to journalists and defense teams in an effort to suss out the source of leaks to the media. Years after the trial, one legal expert told Military.com that he felt that prosecutors badly bungled the case. Pedicini, who is originally from Tennessee, first enlisted in 2008. His awards include a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, three Good Conduct Medals, and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons. Related: Navy Chief Petty Officer Convicted of Attempted Espionage at San Diego Court-Martial KYODO NEWS - May 30, 2024 - 09:38 | All, World The U.S. national zoo said Wednesday it will welcome a new pair of giant pandas from China, six months after Americans bid a fond farewell to three of the rare black-and-white bear species. China will send two 2-year-old giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, to Washington by the end of this year, according to an announcement by the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. The gesture comes at a time when relations between the two countries remain fraught with tensions. A light-hearted video unveiling the new pair's planned arrival featured first lady Jill Biden, who said she cannot wait to celebrate "this historic moment here in our nation's capital." The sooner-than-expected return of the beloved bamboo-chewing species to the Washington zoo will happen as the United States prepares for the Nov. 5 general election, with tough policies against China often floated by both President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump, the two main candidates. In a meeting with U.S. business leaders last November during a trip to the San Francisco area that included face-to-face talks with Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping hinted that new pandas could be sent as "envoys of friendship." Bao Li, whose name means "treasure" and "energetic" in Chinese, has connections with Washington as his mother, Bao Bao, was born at the national zoo in 2013. Qing Bao is female and her name means "green" and "treasure." The departure of two giant pandas and their cub from the zoo to China last November due to the expiry of loan agreements left Zoo Atlanta as the sole remaining facility on U.S. soil to have pandas. But its four giant pandas are set to return to China later this year, while the San Diego zoo is due to welcome two new pandas. China's so-called panda diplomacy with the United States began in 1972 when it first gifted a pair to the national zoo after then President Richard Nixon made his historic trip to Beijing, which paved the way for the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. In welcoming the new pair this year, Brandie Smith, the zoo and biology institute's director, said in a statement, "This historic moment is proof positive our collaboration with Chinese colleagues has made an irrefutable impact." A new cooperative research and breeding agreement between the zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Association is now in effect through April 2034. The terms of the loan are similar to previous agreements, with all cubs born at the zoo to remain under the ownership of China and move to China by age 4, according to the Washington zoo. The zoo said it will pay $1 million each year to the Chinese association to help its research and conservation efforts. Related coverage: Biden hits Chinese EVs, other key goods with much higher tariffs U.S., China each voice concerns in 1st dialogue on safe use of AI Antony Blinken starts China trip to stabilize ties amid tensions Court sets bail for former head of Odesa Oblast enlistment office at almost $3.5 million A court set the bail for Yevhen Borysov, the former head of Odesa Oblast's military enlistment office, at Hr 140 million ($3.4 million), Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation said on May 30. Borysov has been under investigation for corruption since July 2023 and is accused of illegally enriching himself with more than Hr 142 million ($3.5 million) through his official position. Besides the bail announcement, the State Bureau of Investigation also said that Borysov had been served an indictment on charges of illegally enriching himself on May 29. Following an investigation by Ukrainska Pravda that alleged Borysov had bought a property in Marbella, Spain, during the full-scale war valued at almost four million euros ($4.4 million), he was dismissed from his position. Borysov claimed that the property was for his retired mother. Borysov was detained again on May 28 after he posted a Hr 12 million bail ($297,000) after the State Bureau of Investigation said it had received information that he was planning to hide and possibly flee the country following his release. The fallout from the news prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to order a probe into the practices of military enlistment offices throughout the country, which revealed widespread abuses. Zelensky ordered the heads of all the regional offices to be dismissed as a result. Beyond the two charges of illegally enriching himself, Borysov is also accused of failing to show up for military duty and evasion of military service through deception. If convicted of all four offenses, he could face up to 24 years in prison. Read also: Ex-deputy head of Presidential Office suspected of illicit enrichment released on bail Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. In a recent essay in the journal Monash Bioethics Review, oncologist Vinay Prasad and health researcher Alyson Haslam provide a comprehensive after-the-fact assessment of the federal government's rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines. Their basic takeaway is that the vaccines were a "scientific success" tarnished by flawed federal vaccine policy. The two argue the tremendous benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines for the elderly were undercut by government guidance and messaging that pushed vaccines on the young, healthy, and previously infected when data suggested that wasn't worthwhile (and was in some cases counterproductive). Worse still, the government even pushed vaccine mandates when it was increasingly clear the vaccines did not stop COVID-19 transmission, they argue. To correct these errors for future pandemic responses, Prasad and Haslam recommend performing larger vaccine trials and collecting better data on vaccine performance in lower-risk populations. They also urge policy makers to be more willing to acknowledge the tradeoffs of vaccination. That's sound advice. We'll have to wait and see if the government adopts it come the next pandemic. There is one policy that they don't mention and doesn't totally depend on the government getting better at judging the risks of new vaccines: Charge people for them. Had the government not provided COVID-19 vaccines for free and shielded vaccine makers and administrators from any liability for adverse reactions, prices could have better rationed vaccine supply and better informed people about their risks and benefits. Without prices, people were instead left with flawed government recommendations, incentives, and rationing schemes. Those who recall early 2021 will remember the complex, often transparently silly eligibility criteria state governments set up to ration scarce vaccine supplies. This often involved prioritizing younger, healthier, often politically connected "essential workers" over elderly people. Prasad and Haslam criticize this as a government failure to prioritize groups at most risk of dying from COVID-19. "While the UK prioritized nursing home residents and older individualsthe US included essential workers, including young, resident physicians," write Prasad and Haslam. "Health care workers face higher risks of acquiring the virus due to occupation (though this was and is offset by available personal protective equipment), but this was less than the elevated risk of death faced by older individuals." Yet if the government hadn't assigned itself the role of distributing vaccines for free, it wouldn't have been forced into this position of rationing scarce vaccine supplies. Demand for the vaccine is a function of the vaccine's price. Since the vaccine's price was $0, people who stood to gain comparatively less from vaccination and people for whom a vaccine would be lifesaving were equally incentivized to receive it. Consequently, everyone rushed to get in line at the same time. The government then had to decide who got it first and predictably made flawed decisions. Had vaccine makers been left to sell their product on an open market (instead of selling doses in bulk to the federal government to distribute for free), the elderly and those most at risk of COVID-19 would have been able to outbid people who could afford to wait longer. Perhaps more lives could have been saved. Over the course of 2021, the supply of vaccines outgrew demand. At the same time, as Prasad and Haslam recount, an increasing number of people (particularly young men) were developing myocarditis as a result of vaccination. Nevertheless, the government downplayed this risk, continued to urge younger populations to get vaccinated, and failed to collect data about the potential risks of vaccination. That's all a failure of the government policy. Even if the government was slow to adjust its recommendations, prices could have played a constructive role in informing people about their own risk-reward tradeoff of getting vaccinated. If a 20-year-old man who'd already had COVID-19 had to spend something to get vaccinated, instead of nothing, fewer would have. Prasad and Haslam argue that would have been the right call healthwise. Without prices, that hypothetical 20-year-old's decision was informed mostly by government guidance, and, later, government mandates. The government compounded this lack of prices by giving liability shields to vaccine makers. As it stands right now, no one is able to sue the maker of a COVID-19 vaccine should they have an adverse reaction. (Unlike standard, non-COVID vaccines, people are also not allowed to sue the government for compensation for the vaccine injuries.) If pharmaceutical companies had to charge individual consumers to make money off their vaccines, and if those prices had to reflect the liability risks of the side effects some number of people would inevitably have, consumers would have been even better informed about the risks and rewards of vaccination. One might counter that individual consumers aren't in a position to perform this risk-reward calculation on their own. That ignores the ways that other intermediaries in a better position to evaluate the costs and benefits of vaccination could contribute to the price signals individuals would use to make their own decisions. One could imagine an insurance company declining to cover COVID-19 vaccines for the aforementioned healthy 20-year-old while subsidizing their elderly customers to get the shot. (This is, of course, illegal right now. The Affordable Care Act requires most insurance plans to cover the costs of vaccination for everyone.) Instead, the financial incentives that were attached to vaccination were another part of the federally subsidized vaccination campaign. State Medicaid programs paid providers bonuses for the number of patients they vaccinated (regardless of how at risk of COVID-19 those patients were). State governments gave out gift cards to those who got vaccinated and entered them in lotteries to win even bigger prizes. Leaving it up to private companies to produce and charge for vaccines would have one added benefit: It would make it much more difficult for the government to mandate vaccines or otherwise coerce people into getting them. One of the things that made it easy for local and state governments to bar the unvaccinated from restaurants and schools was that they also had a lot of free, federally subsidized doses to give away. People didn't have a real "excuse" not to get a shot. Had people been required to pay for vaccines, it would have been more awkward and much harder (politically and practically) to mandate that they do so. Economist Alex Tabarrok likes to say that a "price is a signal wrapped up in an incentive." They signal crucial information and then incentivize people to act on that information in a rational, efficient way. By divorcing COVID-19 vaccines from real price signals, we were left with an earnest, government-led vaccination effort. That effort got a lot of lifesaving vaccines to a lot of people. But it also encouraged and subsidized people to get vaccinated when it was probably not a necessary or even good idea. When not enough people got vaccinated, governments turned to coercive mandates. The post The COVID-19 Vaccines Shouldn't Have Been Free appeared first on Reason.com. (COLORADO SPRINGS) In previous coverage, FOX21 News has highlighted the need for more funding for departments across the city, such as the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) as the city continues to see rapid growth. Now, more funding is needed to keep a crucial unit up and running, which responds to mental health-related calls, before the funding is set to expire by next summer. The Community Response Team (CRT) is a unit that consists of one CSFD paramedic, a CSPD officer, and a mental health technician. The program has been up and running for eight years, and responds to calls that present high mental health challenges. The CRT aims to help get folks the proper care they need without allocating more resources than needed, according to Fire Chief Randy Royal. Previously we used to transport all of these patients to the hospital, which wasnt really the right place for them to be and didnt get the right care, Chief Royal said. And so now, 60% of the time, we de-escalate them on scene and were able to leave them with family or friends. Chief Royal said that 25 percent of the time, CRT crews take people directly to an inpatient or outpatient behavioral health facility, and even a smaller percentage of people who need a higher level of care are medically transported to a hospital. Because of the high volume of calls CSFD responds to daily, they have freed up more resources like engines and ambulances by implementing this program, allowing the department to continue to respond swiftly to calls that take higher priority, like wildfires or medical emergencies. So weve gone from 100 percent transport down to 15 percent, which is huge, Chief Royal said. It costs $400,000 a year to keep this program going. Currently, it is funded through a grant from the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (CBHA), but due to new statutes, this funding will not be available in the future. Its scheduled to run out in June of 2025 with no re-upping of that. Part of that is the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration is moving away from having any funding associated with something thats tied to law enforcement, Chief Royal explained. And because we have that law enforcement officer, theyre, in the future, looking like theyre not going to be willing to fund that. Chief Royal said they are currently looking at other grant options, but ideally would like the funding to be sustainable long-term. He explained the recent proposal to Colorado Springs City Council regarding CSFD taking over medical transport; if council members pass it, it could solve the issue without costing taxpayers a dime. The transport enterprise that were working on and one of our goals with that is if council ends up voting that through and we get that support, we plan to fully fund all of our community public health under the enterprise because it has a direct impact on ambulance, transport and the amount of transports that we need, Chief Royal said. Which frees up the resources for more critical calls. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Anyone whos dined at Wichitas Bella Vita Bistro at 120 N. West St. over the past nine years has probably been waited on by smooth-talking waiter Steve Limberis or overheard him at a nearby table and wished he was waiting on them. Limberis, who would travel through the dining room playfully chiding his customers in his Greek accent or enthusiastically extolling the deliciousness of chef Adrian Prud Homme DeLodders latest Northern Italian special, was so charming that he was still best friends with his ex-wife, Bella Vita owner Lory Wooley. He moved to Wichita to work for her as a server in 2015. But earlier this month, Limberis died suddenly at age 71, shocking not only his coworkers and friends but also his longtime customers. Wooley described one diner who came in not long after Limberis death and started crying when he heard the news. He cried through his entire meal and left $200 toward Limberis funeral expenses when he left. Its hitting people very, very hard, said Wooley in between her own tears earlier this week. This has had a big, big impact on people because everyone knew him. Thats the reason that Wooley has planned a celebration of Limberis life at the restaurant. The casual gathering will happen from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, when Bella Vita would normally be closed. Customers and those who knew Limberis are invited to drop in, have a bite and share their memories . Wooley said she was finishing up a vacation in the Caribbean with her husband, Paul, when she received a text message from her grandson saying there was an emergency at home. It was nearly 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, and Limberis was late for work. He was never late for work. Limberis had been cat sitting for the Wooleys while they were out of town and was staying at their house, but he wasnt answering the door, even though his car was parked outside. Lory told her grandson where to find a spare key, and Chef Prud Homme DeLodder and another Limberis friend went over to check on him. When they entered the house, they found Limberis dead in his bathrobe. Paramedics later said he died of natural causes, though no specific cause was identified. Limberis, a diabetic, hadnt been feeling well for a few days, Lory said, so it could have been any number of causes, but he died sometime between the time he returned home from work on Monday, May 6, and the following morning. Customers are invited to stop by Bella Vita Bistro on June 9 to share their memories of affable waiter Stephano Steve Limberis. Lory said shes still having trouble accepting the death of her friend and top employee, who she first met in Florida in the 1980s. Limberis, she said, was born in Istanbul. His father was Greek, and his mother was Turkish. The family fled Turkey when he was 12, and he grew up in Canada. As a young man, he worked as an accountant, but he didnt like it. His love of people drew him to the service industry. He met a woman from Florida when he was younger and moved there to marry her. That marriage didnt last, but Limberis stayed in Florida. Thats where he met Lory, who at the time was going through a divorce and was dating a man Limberis worked with. Limberis would tag along on some of his friends dates with Lory, who soon realized that Limberis treated her better than the man she was dating. I fell in love with him long before we even started dating, she said. She was on another date a few years later when she ran into Limberis at a nightclub. Her date was a jerk, so Lory took Limberis to the dance floor. They stayed there all night, she said, and Lory never talked to her original date again. She and Limberis dated for about eight months then got married when Lory was 28. In 1994, they started a restaurant together an Italian place in Hudson, Florida, called Stefans. But the stress of running the business eventually broke them up after about 14 years of marriage. Lory moved to Michigan and met Paul Wooley. Limberis moved to Las Vegas, where he stayed until the two agreed he should move to Wichita and work at Bella Vita. Bella Vita Bistro is a hidden gem at 120 N. West St. that serves Northern Italian fare. Despite their breakup, Lory and Limberis remained close. When he moved to Wichita, Limberis was absorbed into her family and spent every Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Wooley household. Since his death, Lory said, shes been hearing from people all over town who also loved Limberis. The people at the bank, the people at his pharmacy, and even Limberis favorite waitress at Village Inn, where he would eat breakfast every Thursday morning, have reached out to express their grief. That Village Inn waitress even has been filling in as a server at Bella Vita while Lory decides how to make up for Limberis absence. Lory said she has a picture of Limberis sitting in her house, and every morning she talks to him over coffee. Shell never stop missing him, she said, and neither will the restaurant. He just had the biggest of hearts, she said. He loved everybody, and everybody loved him. He would do anything for you if you needed him too. New Cuyahoga Falls chief sizes up challenge of taking lead in changing police environment Cuyahoga Falls Police Chief Christopher Norfolk talks about his new job May 16 at his office. It's been three months since Christopher Norfolk became police chief in Cuyahoga Falls, rising to the top spot in the department after a 10-year run by his predecessor, Jack Davis. The move was an adjustment, starting with his swearing-in on March 1, Norfolk said in a recent interview at his office. "It was a bit surreal," Norfolk said. "Finally, after 2 1/2 months, it's settling in." Norfolk knew in high school he wanted to be a police officer Norfolk heads a department of 74 officers in the second-most populous city in Summit County after starting his career in law enforcement with the Falls police as an officer in 2001. "Since high school I realized I wanted to be a police officer," he said. "My best friend's dad was an officer." But becoming chief wasn't on his mind until he became a captain in 2020, he said. Cuyahoga Falls Police Chief Christopher Norfolk gestures as he talks May 16 about how policing has evolved over his 22 years on the job. He was sworn in as chief March 1. "When I became captain, I realized it was a possibility," he said. Changes in policing, hiring challenges Policing has changed since he began his law enforcement career, Norfolk said. For one, law enforcement agencies are still recovering from a wave of protests four years ago. More recently, the Akron police were scrutinized for the Jayland Walker shooting in June 2022, which led to the establishment of a Citizens' Police Oversight Board. Cuyahoga Falls police haven't had anything comparable to the Walker shooting, but like every agency in the area, the department felt the effects of the 2020 national and 2022 Walker protests. In the short term, at least, one effect has been that fewer individuals are considering a career in law enforcement. Some who might be interested have been deterred from applying, he said. "When I came into the service, there would be a civil service test and there were 400 or 500 people [who applied]," he said. That has made hiring new officers more difficult for his department, a challenge Norfolk shares with other departments in the county. In neighboring Akron, Police Chief Brian Harding, who was sworn in this week, has said he believes a stronger focus on community engagement can help with recruitment and retention. 'We expect police officers to wear even more hats' Former Cuyahoga Falls Chief Jack Davis said in a phone interview Tuesday he also saw hiring becoming more and more of an issue. "Trying to get people into law enforcement changed," said Davis, who spent 34 years on the police force. " We had to market, had to try to attract people to us. If you look at the way police have been portrayed, it's no longer the profession you want to be in." Norfolk said the job of an officer, too, has evolved since he started his law enforcement career. "Now we expect police officers to wear even more hats than we did at the time," he said. One of those hats is understanding the role of mental health in crime and knowing how to deal with affected suspects. "We're almost expected to be a mental health expert," he said. That's more of a challenge than a problem for the chief, who said he believes in constant education and training. 'Something different every day,' says former Chief Jack Davis Both Norfolk and Davis said wide community support has helped the department perform its duties over the years. Davis said being chief was a demanding job. He served for 10 years, well beyond the norm for a police chief. Estimates of the average length a chief serves vary. A 2022 study by the Police Executive Research Forum placed the average at about 7.3 years. A 2019 paper by the Police Quarterly put that figure at four to six years. Davis said the job doesn't have an off switch. "It was something different every day," he said. "It was stressful. You couldn't turn off; it's hard to turn off. That comes with the job you expect it." 'Sometimes you miss that adrenaline' Norfolk said the department's needs range from must-do-now requirements to endeavors that can take months or years to fully implement. "[I] deal with things that need immediate answers now, and I deal with long-term projects," he said. "Everybody needs you, but everybody needs something different." As much as he enjoys the job, Norfolk said he occasionally misses the more direct crime-fighting life of an officer on the streets. "Sometimes you miss that adrenaline and that excitement," he said. The chief said he tells his officers the department's reputation has been earned "one interaction at a time." "Leave that situation better than [you] found it," he said. As for the glamor of being top gun in the department, Norfolk said he gets a reality check every day. "At work I'm the police chief, [but] I go home and it's a humbling experience with three teenagers," he said. "They're all great kids, but they're all teenagers." More: New DNA technology, genealogy research leads to arrest in teens 1987 killing Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj or Facebook at www.facebook.com/alan.newsman. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cuyahoga Falls police chief talks about how job, policing have changed Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad looking for new leader as CEO Joe Mazur plans to retire Joe Mazur, president & CEO of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, walks through the Fitzwater Yard on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in Valley View. The train ride is about to come to its final stop for the leader of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Joe Mazur announced Thursday that he plans to retire after seven years at the scenic railroad that makes excursions through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Mazur arrived at the railroad in 2017 after running the International Soap Box Derby in Akron. More: Feasibility study begins on possible scenic railroad extension between Akron, Cleveland The scenic railroad's board, that plans to launch the search for a new CEO, credits Mazur for having navigated through some tricky turns. A global pandemic and flooding issues inside of the national park sidelined trains during his tenure. But there were also bright spots including an expansion of special event excursions and the acquisition of California Zephyr Vista Dome passenger cars. "I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, and I am confident that CVSR will continue to thrive in the years ahead," Mazur said in a statement. James Virost, CVSR board chairman, said Mazur will assist in the transition to a new leader for the organization. "Under his leadership, the organization went through a period of innovation, growth, and transformation. We are extremely grateful for Joes many contributions and wish him well, Virost said. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad CEO Joe Mazur to retire Czechias Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky has said that Russia continues to pursue its goal to undermine European security architecture, and the West has to show that it understands this. Source: Jan Lipavsky in a comment to journalists, as reported by European Pravda Details: An informal meeting of the NATO foreign ministers is taking place in Prague on 30-31 May; the goal of the meeting is to prepare for the NATO summit in Washington, DC, this June. "We have to send a strong signal to Russia that we will not go back to the security architecture that existed before 1997 [the year of NATOs expansion in Europe ed.]. Because that was one of Russias demands when it started its aggression against Ukraine in 2022," Lipavsky said. According to Lipavsky, this, alongside the redrawing of Russias borders, is the key objective of Russias military aggression, and the Alliance has to understand Russias tactical actions as tools intended to bring Russia closer to realising that goal. "Putins goal is not to capture Kharkiv or another city in the east [of Ukraine]. His goal is to redraw the borders and fundamentally change European security architecture," Lipavsky said. Background: The NATO foreign ministers meeting is taking place in Czechia because the country has assumed a key role in coordinating military aid for Ukraine. For example, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive 50,000-100,000 large-calibre artillery shells a month under the Czech initiative. Czechia has also supported lifting the ban on Ukraine that prevents it from striking military targets in Russia. Support UP or become our patron! KYODO NEWS - May 30, 2024 - 23:00 | All, World, Japan The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Teachers given prison terms over 2017 Japan avalanche deaths UTSUNOMIYA, Japan - Two high school teachers and a retired colleague were given prison terms Thursday over the deaths of eight people in an avalanche that struck during a mountaineering lesson north of Tokyo in 2017. The Utsunomiya District Court sentenced the three defendants, who conducted the lesson, to prison terms of two years for professional negligence in the deaths of seven students and a teacher in the town of Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture on March 27, 2017. ---------- North Korea fires over 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles SEOUL/TOKYO - North Korea fired more than 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday, the South Korean military said, just days after a satellite rocket launch by Pyongyang ended in failure. The Japanese Defense Ministry said the "multiple" ballistic missiles were fired in a northeasterly direction by North Korea around 6:13 a.m. from an inland location and all were believed to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, with no damage to aircraft or ships reported. ---------- SDF member dies after grenade thrown by another during training TOKYO, Japan - A Japan Self-Defense Forces member died Thursday after he was hit by shrapnel from a hand grenade thrown by another SDF member during a training session at a facility west of Tokyo, the Ground SDF said. Sgt. Taku Yamamiya, 29, of the GSDF's 1st infantry regiment, was taking part in an exercise at an outdoor training area for grenade tossing, the GSDF said, adding an investigative panel has been set up to determine what happened. ---------- Apple to allow iPhones to function as "My Number" cards from spring TOKYO - Holders of Japan's "My Number" national identification card will be able to use their iPhone in place of the physical card from next spring, the government said Thursday, as authorities look to encourage the take up of the system that was introduced to streamline administrative procedures. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook confirmed the change during a teleconference Thursday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told the media. ---------- Barrier at viral Mt. Fuji photo spot to be replaced after holes found KOFU, Japan - A black screen set up by a central Japan town to block a scenic view of Mt. Fuji following troublesome behavior by tourists will be replaced after multiple holes were found in it, the town's mayor said Thursday. The new screen will be made of stronger material and possibly changed to blue or green, as black "has a negative image," Mayor Hideyuki Watanabe of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, said at a press conference. ---------- Argentina mulls withdrawal from 2025 World Expo in Japan OSAKA - Argentina is considering withdrawing from the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, sources close to the matter said Thursday, as the South American country is struggling to secure funding for the construction of its pavilion. If Argentina withdraws, it will be the fourth country to do so after Mexico, Estonia, and Russia. ---------- Toyota global output falls 4.0% in April, hit by Prius recall NAGOYA - Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday its global production for April fell 4.0 percent from a year earlier to 756,254 vehicles, marking the third straight month of decline, as the automaker halted production of the Prius hybrid car due to a recall. Domestic production dropped 7.9 percent to 251,485 units as Toyota announced production of the popular gasoline-electric vehicle will be halted until it can resolve a door handle issue. ---------- China lifts ban on five Australian beef exporters SYDNEY - China has lifted its import bans on five major Australian beef producers with immediate effect, the Australian government said Thursday, amid improving ties between Canberra and Beijing. Eight beef processing facilities have had suspensions on their exports to China lifted, while two facilities remain suspended, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Trade Minister Don Farrell and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said in a joint statement. Video: World's first wooden satellite completed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavsky speak during a press conference following their meeting. ulova Kateina/CTK/dpa The Czech foreign minister told reporters on Thursday that his country has "no problem" with Ukraine using munitions supplied by Prague to strike targets on Russian territory. "Czechia has no problem with Ukraine defending itself against an aggressor," Jan Lipavsky said before a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague. That includes "attacks which necessarily need to take place in a Russian territory," he said. "This is the rule for the delivery which comes from Czechia." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavsky speak during a press conference following their meeting. ulova Kateina/CTK/dpa High school students and members of the public rallied in support of DACA in Los Angeles in 2019. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) It's been three months since Miguel has been able to work at his job as a sustainability and inclusion manager at a professional services firm in San Francisco. The 32-year-old Philippines native, who asked that The Times not identify his company or use his full name, wasn't fired or laid off. Instead he was placed on temporary unpaid leave all because of a bureaucratic backlog in processing work-permit applications for participants in DACA, the Obama-era program that offered deportation protection to immigrants without lawful status who arrived as youth. Recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program must reapply every two years for protection and work permits. But many of the roughly 530,000 current DACA holders have recently reported lengthy processing delays. Read more: Why these DACA recipients traded living in the U.S. for other countries For some, like Miguel, that has meant a months-long unemployment as he and his employer awaited the necessary paperwork. The delays have cost others their jobs, immigrant advocates say. "The whole situation just brings me back to imagining the worst-case scenario," he said, referring to fears of one day being deported to a country he hasn't considered home since age 7. "Recently I went into a pretty depressive state as a result of all those 'what ifs.'" U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services aims to process each renewal fairly and efficiently, said spokesman Matthew Bourke. But he acknowledged that some DACA recipients have experienced processing times beyond 120 days in recent months. He blamed delays on technology updates, but said the issues have been resolved and that the majority of DACA renewal requests are processed within the 120-day goal period. Agency data show the median processing time doubled from two weeks in fiscal year 2022 to one month last year. This year the median is just under two months, as of April 30. In a letter last month, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and 27 other senators urged USCIS director Ur Jaddou to process renewal applications in a timely manner. "DACA recipients face significant uncertainty given litigation challenging the DACA program, and threats by presidential candidate Donald Trump to end the program," Padilla and the other senators wrote. "Delays in processing DACA renewals are adding to the instability and uncertainty that DACA recipients already face each day. Program administrators encourage DACA recipients to apply early for renewals. Nearly 87% of renewals are filed later than the recommended minimum time frame of 120 days, Bourke said. Assuming the process would be as quick as previous renewals, Miguel filed his application in early January. Two months later, his work permit expired and his company was forced to place him on leave. He sought the help of elected officials, requested to have the case expedited and called U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services several times. He checked for updates online daily. Read more: Cost of work visas surges, upping the ante for multitude of California's small businesses Filing fees recently increased by $60 to $555, and those who pay a lawyer to review their application can spend hundreds more. The immigration agency recommends that DACA recipients reapply between 120-150 days before their work permits expire. But there's a downside to applying too early. New permits kick in as soon as the agency approves them, meaning recipients lose any leftover time remaining under the old permit. That "pretty much turns it into a one year permit if you do it too early," Miguel said. Miguel said that growing up undocumented means he is used to dealing with the uncertainty of the immigration process. But the delays made him think about what will happen after the DACA case is taken up by the Supreme Court. Former President Trump moved to end DACA soon after taking office, but the program narrowly survived when the Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that his administration had done so improperly. A case challenging its legality is expected to reach the Supreme Court, where some legal experts predict the conservative majority will strike it down. Many DACA recipients see the renewals this year as potentially their last. That also contributed to decisions to wait beyond the recommended filing times, said Karen Tumlin, director of the immigrant advocacy organization Justice Action Center. If Trump is elected to a second term and DACA ends, those in the program are angling for as many days as possible with protections before his administration institutes mass-deportation plans. "They all lead with, 'I need this before the election,'" she said. Tumlin said she's in touch with a DACA recipient who applied for renewal in October. When his work permit expired in January, he lost his job at the university he attends in the South. Another person, who filed 105 days before her permit expired, got her renewal in the mail the day before a work trip and narrowly avoided losing her job. "For each individual, the result is catastrophic," she said. "It's not like you can always get rehired." Tumlin said advocates have worked hard to make sure DACA recipients understand the agency is backlogged across the board. Still, she said the delays are unusual she doesn't recall ever hearing about as many in the program's history. But even some of those who applied on time experienced delays. That's what happened to Edvin Dapcevic, 35, an executive who leads a sales team at a major tech company in Los Angeles. Dapcevic asked that The Times not name the company publicly. Born in Yugoslavia (now Montenegro), Dapcevic grew up in Chicago from age 4. After reading online about other DACA recipients who had experienced delays, he filed his renewal application in November, five months in advance. Still, his work permit expired at the end of March, forcing him to take a leave of absence from work for two weeks. "These chronic delays are just another example of how DACA is not a permanent solution," he said. "You live your life two years at a time." One solution, advocates said, would be for USCIS to implement automatic extensions of DACA renewals. The agency has done so for certain categories of work permit applicants, such as asylum seekers and those with temporary protected status, extending their validity by 540 days. But Bourke, the agency spokesman, said regulations limit automatic extensions to employment authorization categories that don't require processing an underlying application. DACA, therefore, doesn't qualify. An avid journaler, Miguel began listing out his fears if the renewal failed to come through: losing his job; ending up in debt; no longer being able to financially support his parents. The situation also brought up the question of marriage. Miguel is in a relationship with a U.S. citizen. "I've always viewed marriage as a sanctity," he said. "I don't want to feel pressure just because I need a document." Miguel has managed financially with his savings, a small loan and emergency support through his company's foundation, which helped him pay rent and utilities. On Wednesday, the permit finally arrived. Relief washed over him. He said he hopes to return to work in the next week or so. And those chronic worries about "what ifs" have dissipated for now. 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. Daniel Hyman, Ramapo's next police chief, learned about public service from his dad RAMAPO Daniel Hyman's father inspired him to pursue a career in public service. His father worked for years as a New York City firefighter and visits to the firehouse allowed Hyman to see firsthand what service was all about as he grew up in Ramapo. Hyman will reach a career pinnacle when he takes the badge of Ramapo police chief on June 15 with the retirement of Martin Reilly, who took the job in June 2021. "Spending time with him at work sparked my passion for public service, particularly in emergency services," Hyman said of his father. "As a teenager, I would accompany him at work and I saw firsthand how rewarding it was to serve the public." Ramapo Police Capt. Daniel Hyman officially becomes police chief on June 15, 2024 Hyman's career started with Spring Hill youth squad Hyman kicked off his public service volunteering with the Spring Hill Ambulance Corps Youth Squad. He rose to captain and became an EMT, an emergency medical technician. He became a lieutenant with the senior ambulance corps, riding the ambulances to countless emergencies. In 1987, just three weeks after his 20th birthday, Hyman took the oath as an officer with the NYPD. He said he worked the streets of the South Bronx and later neighborhoods in West Harlem. "Being a police officer was more than just a job to me, it was a calling," Hyman said. "It provided an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others." After two years of learning the ropes on the city streets, Hyman took his calling to Ramapo. The town hired him in 1989 as a police officer. Ramapo Police Department is Rockland's second-largest force. Rising through the Ramapo ranks Hyman has risen through the ranks from sergeant to captain. He was assigned as a community police officer and promoted to communications sergeant before being named lieutenant and then administrative captain in 2019. He completed courses and training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, in 2012. In 2003 and 2004, Hyman co-managed the department's accreditation program from the state. Ramapo Police Capt. Daniel Hyamn, his wife, Sgt. Margaret Sammorone, and their three children at Hyman's promoted during a Town Hall ceremony on July 11, 2019 He's married to retired Ramapo Sgt. Margaret Sammarone, who also had retired as deputy director of the Rockland District Attorney's Office's Crime Analysis Center. They have three children. Hyman becomes Ramapo's ninth police chief in the department's 93-year history. He succeeds Reilly, a Bronx native who joined the department in 1987 and worked 34 years with his predecessor, Brad Weidel. Reilly's salary is $304,740. Hyman's captain's salary is $287,148. He is one of three captains with Kevin Lee and Michael Colbath. Incoming Ramapo Chief of Police Martin J. Reilly and retiring Chief of Police Brad R. Weidel, are pictured in their office in Suffern, June 1, 2021. Reilly's final day is June 14, a day before Hyman takes over the department. The Ramapo Town Board, which named Hyman as chief, will host a promotion ceremony on June 6. Hyman has Reilly's endorsement. "Over the years, he has consistently demonstrated his commitment to our department and community," Reilly said. "His dedication to serving everyone who lives and works here with integrity and professionalism is evident in his actions." Hyman credits Reilly for exemplifying leadership. "Chief Reilly has been an exemplary leader and mentor," Hyman said. "I am honored to follow in his footsteps and continue the legacy of excellence he established. I look forward to serving the Ramapo community and working with our dedicated employees to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents." Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Ramapo NY names Daniel Hyman police chief as Martin Reilly retires 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. A sixth grader at McKinley Elementary School in Davenport got a big honor from the American Automobile Association (AAA) for the state of Iowa. Lucas Deters won AAAs School Safety Patroller of the Year for Iowa. Deters was one of McKinleys captains of safety patrols. He was responsible for organizing the other patrol members and reporting safety concerns to adults. His teacher nominated Deters for the award. Deters won the award based on his leadership qualities, safety knowledge and school and community involvement. For more information, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle to its "Frontline" list of vulnerable incumbents. (Hoyle campaign) The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Wednesday moved Oregon Rep. Val Hoyle to its frontline list of vulnerable incumbents, signaling to donors that the first-term representative from Eugene may need help to keep her seat. Hoyles 4th Congressional District, based in Eugene and along the southern coast, is one of three Oregon swing districts that could prove crucial to determining which party controls the U.S. House. She won her 2022 election by 7 percentage points and President Joe Biden carried the district by nearly 13 points in 2020, but Republicans have targeted her as a weak candidate because of her prior connections to a troubled marijuana company that gave money to many Oregon Democrats campaigns and played a key role in the political downfall of former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan. Fellow freshman Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, has been on the DCCCs frontline list for more than a year, and replacing Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, with Democratic state Rep. Janelle Bynum is a top priority for national Democrats. The DCCC quietly added Hoyle and California Rep. Josh Harder, who won his 2022 reelection bid by nearly 10 points, to its list on Wednesday. Hoyle acknowledged the news in a fundraising email, saying it meant the DCCC recognized her race as one of the most competitive in the country. This race is key to taking back the House majority, her fundraising email said. National Republicans are so desperate to unseat me and expand their narrow majority that they have launched attack after attack at my campaign and poured resources into opposition research. The National Republican Congressional Committee jumped on Hoyles frontline designation, saying it proved Oregon voters are ready to elect her Republican opponent, Air Force veteran Monique DeSpain. Val Hoyles D.C. party bosses swooping in to prop up her campaign shows Oregonians see Hoyle for what she is: a corrupt, scandal-ridden politician who cares more about enriching herself than delivering results for them, NRCC spokesman Ben Petersen said. The nearly $1.3 million Hoyle has raised for her campaign lags Salinas ($2.6 million) and Chavez-DeRemer ($3.3 million). Its still nearly five times as much as DeSpain raised for her challenge, though Republican funding is expected to flow to DeSpain now that shes the official nominee. In 2022, Hoyle defeated Republican Alek Skarlatos despite being outspent by nearly $2 million. Republicans plan to continue attacks on Hoyle over two racial discrimination lawsuits filed against the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries during her tenure as labor commissioner and documents showing she pushed for the bureau to give a $554,000 grant to a nonprofit organization founded by Rosa Cazares, a campaign donor and co-owner of the troubled cannabis company La Mota. The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating La Mota and its ties to Oregon politicians for more than a year. DCCC spokesperson Justin Chermol declined to address the reason for adding Hoyle to the frontline list in an emailed statement, focusing instead on Democrats optimism about winning the House. House Democrats are well-positioned to win back the majority, needing to flip only four seats this November, Chermol said. Our Frontline program ensures our battle-tested incumbents have the resources necessary to communicate their records of delivering real results. The post DCCC identifies Oregon Rep. Val Hoyle as vulnerable incumbent appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle. Earlier this month, the White House announced its intention to place marijuana in a less restrictive class of drugs. The move reflects a significant legal and political shift, as well as public sentiment today, more than eight in 10 Americans believe marijuana should be legalized for medical or recreational use. It has also once again thrust the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) into the public spotlight any discussion about marijuana inevitably involves DEA. But the agencys mission is much broader, more complex, and impactful than many realize. Marijuana is not that important DEA was established in 1973 in response to the growing threat posed by illicit drugs, including marijuana, and consolidated multiple government agencies with similar mission sets under a single, unified command structure. Early on, the agency became associated with reefer madness, and it has struggled to shed its reputation as a marijuana-centric organization. In reality, marijuana while still illegal under federal law is not a priority for DEA and hasnt been for quite some time. Like every organization, DEA has limited resources and must prioritize the most significant threats. While marijuana still poses problems, the number of federal marijuana arrests has been declining for years, and today, DEA is far more concerned with deadly synthetic drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine that continue to wreak havoc throughout the U.S. DEA has the largest law enforcement footprint in the world MONTEBELLO, CA OCTOBER 14: Drug Enforcement Administration acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea , along with other law enforcement officials, holds a news conference to announce the largest domestic seizure of methamphetamine in the divisions history. According to DEA the seizure of controlled substances, 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine, 893 pounds of cocaine and 13 pounds of heroin occurred on Oct. 2 by agents who served search warrants at multiple narcotic stash houses in Moreno Valley and Perris. The operation was the result of an investigation into a large-scale drug-trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, warehouse on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020 in Montebello, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Irfan Khan DEAs primary goal is to protect Americans from illicit drugs and their suppliers. Most DEA personnel and offices are located in the U.S. and are laser-beam focused on domestic drug issues. But DEA also recognizes drug trafficking is a global issue that requires a global response. Over time, DEA has wisely established outposts all over the world there are currently 93 DEA offices in 69 countries staffed with highly-trained liaison officers selected for their ability to work by, with, and through host-nation counterparts. While many DEA offices are concentrated in the Western Hemisphere where most of the drugs bound for the U.S. originate, it deploys personnel all over the world to conduct joint investigations, build capacity, and combat transnational organized crime all with less than 5,000 total Special Agents. There is more to DEA than Special Agents Administrator Milgram at the 2023 DEA Memorial Service: Every single day, the men & women of #DEA are putting their lives on the line to protect us, our communities, our national security and to protect the next generation of Americans. Photo via X DEA Special Agents the sworn federal law enforcement officers who carry a gun and a badge are often the most visible part of DEA and the (mostly) fictional stars of Netflix shows. In real life, they execute high-risk search warrants, arrest violent criminals, and seize large quantities of narcotics. Today, DEAs Wall of Honor recognizes the 87 men and women of DEA who have been killed in the line of duty, most of whom served as Special Agents. DEA Special Agents are the tip of the spear and they are very good at what they do. But behind every Special Agent is a dedicated team of elite support staff of Intelligence Analysts, Diversion Investigators, Chemists, Administrative Specialists, Attorneys and many others, all striving for the same goal. The military knows this well. DEA is forward-leaning DEA arrests Viktor Bout in 2010. Photo: Department of Justice Unlike most law enforcement agencies, DEA is single mission, meaning it is exclusively focused on drug trafficking. But with its global reach, extraterritorial jurisdiction and risk-taking culture, DEA has earned a reputation for punching above its weight and apprehending some of the worlds most notorious criminals involved in weapons trafficking, money laundering, and narcoterrorism. For example, in 2011, after years on the run, DEA nabbed Viktor Bout the so-called Merchant of Death in a sting operation after he agreed to supply weapons to terrorists opposed to the U.S. More recently, in 2021, DEA facilitated the arrest of Alex Saab, a close confidant and money laundering associate of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, for stealing over $350 million in a money exchange scheme. In these cases and many others, DEA did what no one else could. The prevailing view of DEA is often a backward-looking, heavy-handed law enforcement agency concerned with low-level drug dealers and substance abuse users. The truth is the men and women of DEA care deeply about public safety and recognize illicit drugs are the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45. For all its faults and there are many DEA has evolved from fighting yesteryears drug war to tackling todays greatest national security threat. View comments A defendant in the Feeding Our Future case took the stand Wednesday, the only one of the case's seven defendants to testify in their own defense. Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, 33, of Burnsville, talked about his dream of becoming an entrepreneur and building several businesses in Seattle, years before he moved to Minnesota and got involved with the meal programs at the center of the federal fraud investigation. "I've always wanted to do business and entrepreneurship," he told his attorney, Frederick Goetz, who began questioning him Wednesday. Goetz asked him if the consulting company Shariff started years before he moved to Minnesota was a shell company to collect money from the federal child nutrition programs, since prosecutors allege defendants in the case laundered money through shell companies. "Absolutely not," Shariff said. Shariff's testimony was another surprise in the six-week federal trial, following the announcement Tuesday by six of the seven defendants that they would rest their case without calling any witnesses. Shariff's testimony will continue Thursday, followed by cross examination from prosecutors. Closing arguments in the case are expected on Friday, with the jury deliberating on Monday. The trial is the first one in a broader investigation that led to charges against 70 people who are accused of stealing federal money meant to fund meals for kids in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors say it's one of the largest pandemic-related fraud cases in the United States, with more than $250 million stolen from programs run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reimburse schools, daycares and nonprofits for feeding low-income children after school and during the summer. Prosecutors allege the defendants created shell companies to launder money, submitted rosters of made-up children's names and inflated meal claims to receive more than $40 million for 18 million meals at food sites from Rochester to St. Cloud. They claim that defendants used the money instead on lavish purchases, including a $1 million lakefront Prior Lake property, luxury cars and gold jewelry. In the past month, prosecutors have called more than 30 witnesses, many of whom said they didn't see many people, if any, receiving meals at other food distribution sites run by the defendants. On Wednesday, Shariff's attorneys called several witnesses who said they recalled families in long lines of cars receiving bags of groceries from Shariff and his team in a parking lot of Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington. Eight witnesses testified, including that Shariff's company purchased more than $1 million worth of food for the meal programs and distributed food to hundreds of families at the mosque. "Any time I was there, it was being distributed," imam Abdirahman Kariye said, adding that it seemed "possible and very likely" that the meal site served 2,000 to 3,000 kids on average each day as it claimed throughout 2021. Worshippers come from across the Twin Cities to the mosque, many of whom are low-income with big families. The need for food assistance rose drastically during the pandemic when schools shuttered, four members of the mosque testified, including a mother of four who received the food. "There were a lot of cars," said Khalid Omar, who works at the mosque. "There was a great need." Under questioning by prosecutors, mosque members said they didn't count the number of people at food distributions. Prosecutors pointed out inconsistencies in the testimony, with some witnesses recalling food distributions on Saturdays and others saying the meals were given out several days a week. The other defendants in the case are Said Shafii Farah, Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, Mohamed Jama Ismail, Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin and Hayat Mohamed Nur. All seven were charged in 2022 with wire fraud and money laundering, among other charges. Their food sites were largely overseen by St. Paul nonprofit Partners in Nutrition (also known as Partners in Quality Care), as well as St. Anthony nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which is at the heart of the case. On the witness stand Wednesday, Shariff spoke clearly and confidently, looking at the jury while answering Goetz's questions. He said he's always been drawn to starting businesses, ranging from selling items on eBay as a teen to running a shipping business on the side while working at Microsoft as a software engineer. Shariff, a married father of two, said he was born in Somalia and fled to the U.S. with his family during the country's civil war when he was 5 years old. He's one of 17 kids in a large blended family who grew up in a tough neighborhood in Boston before moving to a small city in Maine, he said. As a young adult, Shariff moved to Seattle, studied computer science and started a consulting company in 2018 to help small businesses with digital marketing. He said he also helped rebuild a website for Somalia's embassy in Seattle. Shariff's attorneys also called a sales consultant from Sysco, the national food supplier, to testify about providing hundreds of cases of milk, crackers, cereal and other produce in 2021 to Afrique Hospitality Group, Shariff's company the sales consultant's largest account at the time. Shariff's attorneys also questioned University of Minnesota Prof. Paul Vaaler about his extensive research on migrants' finances, related to defense attorneys' arguments in the trial that the defendants relied on informal transactions that aren't reflected in the financial data that prosecutors have relied on. Vaaler said many refugees are more comfortable with informal transactions done with family or friends based on trust and verbal agreements, not detailed written contracts. While that may seem irregular to some, it isn't illegal, he said, likening the informality to someone holding a garage sale but not claiming the sales on their taxes. "Your word is your bond," he said. "Trust is so central to business transactions." In his cross-examination, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson questioned Vaaler about how he hadn't reviewed the evidence in this case and wasn't giving opinions about the criminal charges. Vaaler said yes. "This case is not a garage sale ... [it's a] very different situation here?" Thompson asked. Vaaler said yes. State prosecutors in the University of Idaho student homicide case relied on a federal grand jury to obtain dozens of subpoenas to build their case against suspect Bryan Kohberger, it was revealed for the first time at a hearing Thursday. As many as 71 sealed federal subpoenas produced potential evidence, Latah County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Jennings disclosed in court, in the case against Kohberger, who is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and faces the death penalty if convicted. The materials collected from those subpoenas have all been turned over to the defense, she said. But Kohbergers public defense team said it wants the subpoenas themselves and demanded that the judge in the case order the state and the federal government acting on its behalf to turn them over. The federal grand jury, overseen by the U.S. Attorneys Office, led to what could prove to be pivotal evidence at trial and is included in the probable cause affidavit for Kohbergers arrest, the defense said. They used a subpoena to get one of the most critical pieces of evidence in this case, and they know that, and they are going to use that, Elisa Massoth, one of Kohbergers attorneys, told the court at one of two scheduled hearings Thursday. Elisa Massoth, left, and Anne Taylor are two of the three attorneys who make up Moscow homicide suspect Bryan Kohbergers public defense team. Massoth did not specify which piece of evidence against Kohberger that may be, and declined to provide the date of that federal subpoena in the public hearing. What I can tell you is that for the majority we did state search warrants, and weve received many of these records that way, Jennings responded. The prosecution contacted the U.S. Attorneys Office about the subpoenas, and was told they wont be turned over, she said. U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho Josh Hurwit and his office did not respond Thursday to email and phone requests for comment from the Idaho Statesman. Kohberger, 29, is accused in the stabbing deaths of four U of I students at an off-campus home on King Road in Moscow in November 2022. The victims were seniors Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and junior Xana Kernodle and freshman Ethan Chapin, both 20. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, who is leading the cases prosecution, seated a grand jury in the county in May 2023 exclusively to review the Kohberger case. The grand jury a confidential prosecutorial tool returned a unanimous indictment against Kohberger on the four murder charges and one count of felony burglary. Kohberger stood silent at his arraignment a week later. The judge in the case, Judge John Judge of Idahos 2nd Judicial District in Latah County, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Judge has yet to set a trial date for Kohberger. Defense presses for more video footage More than 100 search warrants were obtained by Moscow and Idaho State Police detectives in their investigation into the student homicides that shocked the rural college town, the state and the nation. The FBI assisted in the investigation, including with producing DNA evidence that police and prosecutors said links Kohberger to the crime scene. A separate, closed-door hearing was held later in the day Thursday so the two sides in the case could make arguments before Judge over sealed evidence records. The defense aimed to have some of the DNA records from the FBIs use of an advance police technique known as investigative genetic genealogy, or IGG, be made public, which prosecutors opposed. But the revelation Thursday that the U.S. Attorneys Office helped obtain evidence for the Kohberger case is yet another wrinkle that further emphasizes the level of federal involvement in the high-profile case. During the three-hour early afternoon hearing, Kohbergers defense lawyers said they are working toward filing several motions to suppress search warrants and evidence against their client, largely based around the timeline of police work leading up to Kohbergers arrest. He was taken into custody in Pennsylvania at his parents house seven weeks after the students deaths. Additional information, including the dates of those federal subpoenas, will help the defense establish that timeline and support their attempts to have evidence tossed from the case, Massoth said, which would block its use from the eventual trial and consideration by the jury. That timing is everything for the defenses case, she added. We are desperate to find out the timeline in this case and when the state knew what and when, Massoth told the court. Theres no question that motions to suppress are coming. Through the legal process known as discovery, Kohbergers defense also is seeking from the prosecution more video footage that police obtained from around the Moscow community in the days and weeks after the killings. Security and surveillance camera footage that was acquired during the investigation from approximately 79 area businesses and 10 private residences contributed to investigators suspicion of Kohberger as the alleged perpetrator. Judge John Judge, bottom, of Idahos 2nd Judicial District, listened in as Moscow police Cpl. Brett Payne, top right, answered questions from defense attorney Anne Taylor during a pretrial hearing for Moscow college student homicide suspect Bryan Kohberger, on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho. Anne Taylor, Kohbergers lead public defender, said her team still lacks a number of those videos some of which may include evidence that could help her clients defense. Two Moscow police officers who were integral to the investigation testified one last week and one today that they were each unaware where the missing footage may be. I need to know where these videos are, Taylor said Thursday. Theyve been collected, but nobody can tell me where. Among other pieces of evidence Kohbergers defense said theyre still due from prosecutors are some highly technical cellphone tower data and reports, missing work product from Moscow police detectives and FBI investigators, and all other information that the state relied upon for each affidavit used to justify all warrants. Thats like a big one, Judge quipped. Some of the defenses discovery requests are for records that either dont exist or that the prosecution is still working to retrieve, including from the FBI, Jennings said. The state will deliver everything that prosecutors are required to provide to the defense under Idaho criminal rules and court precedents, she said. We cant give over what we dont have, Jennings told the court. An aerial drone photo taken on May 27, 2024 shows the China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School in Jinping County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) by Xinhua writers Wang Ze, Lyu Chengcheng MALABO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- China and Equatorial Guinea are good friends and partners, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday during his talks with Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, in Beijing. Since establishing diplomatic relations 54 years ago, China and Equatorial Guinea have been helping each other through thick and thin, and maintained friendly cooperation and exchanges in various fields, yielding fruitful results. HOPE PRIMARY SCHOOL The friendship between both peoples has also strengthened. During talks with President Obiang in Beijing, President Xi expressed appreciation for the kindness the Equatorial Guinea people have shown to the Chinese. "We will always remember your kindness to the people in the Wenchuan earthquake disaster area and your donation to the construction of Hope Primary School in Jinping County, Yunnan Province," Xi said. "Such mutual support between the two countries is a vivid illustration of the sincere friendship and joint development between China and African countries," he added. In April 2015, President Obiang announced during his visit to China that Equatorial Guinea would donate a school in Jinping County in China's southwestern Yunnan Province as a gesture of goodwill and solidarity with the Chinese people. The construction of the China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School was completed in 2016, and it has since stood as a testament to the enduring friendship between the two countries. "The children found themselves in spacious and bright classrooms within a five-story building, and the once muddy hillside was transformed into a well-built playground," said Ran Hongyan, the school's principal. Ran added that the school, which now accommodates over 2,000 students from 16 different ethnic groups, has a special exhibition room to display the children's photographs, crafts and paintings about the friendship between the two countries. "Our teachers would tell us about the history and friendship between our school and Equatorial Guinea," said fifth-grader Ma Ziyi. "Talent is the future," Obiang told Xinhua in a recent interview before his China trip, expressing his satisfaction with the children's education and the school's facilities. "In this regard, we share a profound consensus with China, and that is precisely why we donated this elementary school." SEEDS OF FRIENDSHIP Since 1977, China has been accepting students from Equatorial Guinea, which has helped strengthen cultural exchanges between the two nations. In order to deepen educational cooperation and foster mutual understanding, the two countries decided in a joint statement on the establishment of an all-round partnership of cooperation in April 2015 that China will "continue to provide government scholarships to Equatorial Guinea" and the two countries will run a Confucius Institute at the National University of Equatorial Guinea. Milagrosa Ada Micha, an Equatorial Guinean beneficiary of a Chinese scholarship, pursued her university studies in China. While at the University of International Business and Economics, she established a magazine named "Real Equatorial Guinea," which served as a platform for introducing her country to classmates and teachers in Chinese, English and Spanish. After she returned to Equatorial Guinea, the magazine became an official media outlet showcasing news about both countries. Later, she launched an electronic version with daily updates and more diverse content, including increased news coverage about China. Ada Micha not only acquired professional knowledge but also learned about the self-discipline, diligence, and wisdom of the Chinese people. "China is my second homeland. What I saw and learned in China changed my life," she said. "I hope more young people can learn about China, the country of the future." In January 2016, the Confucius Institute was established at the National University of Equatorial Guinea, providing young people like Ada Micha with more opportunities to learn about Chinese culture. "When I was a child, Chinese people came to our village to teach farming techniques," said Jose Antonio Nguema, a 21-year-old student. "They were very friendly and taught me to say 'hello' and 'goodbye' in Chinese." Since then, a "seed of friendship was sown in my heart," Nguema said. Upon entering university, Nguema was delighted to find a Confucius Institute on campus and eagerly enrolled in Chinese classes. "I have traveled to China twice through the 'Chinese Bridge' program. To me, China represents the future," he said. "After graduation, I hope to pursue further studies in China, focusing on education." "The cooperation between the two countries promotes cultural exchanges, enhancing mutual understanding," said Fernando Garcia, the Equatorial Guinean director of the Confucius Institute at the National University of Equatorial Guinea. "I believe the bridge of cultural exchange between the two countries will become wider, bringing the hearts of the people closer together." FRIENDSHIP OF MUTUAL SUPPORT Over the decade, China has also been helping the African country with its development, particularly in infrastructure. A tall, silver-white building with an arched roof stands on the northern coast of Bioko Island, where the country's capital city of Malabo is situated. As travelers disembark, tourists raise their phones to snap pictures of the impressive new terminal of Malabo International Airport. Constructed by a Chinese enterprise, the airport was inaugurated in May 2022. "This airport has given us a new vision and is our pride," said a resident, Maria. Maria, who did not give her full name, said the old airport was small and outdated, providing a subpar experience for international visitors. The new airport is modern and beautiful, emerging as a shining symbol of the country. "Many of our infrastructure projects are undertaken by Chinese companies, and we are very reassured," said Alejandro Micha Nsue, director of the National Office of Project Planning and Monitoring Project of Equatorial Guinea. The country's former Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Obama Asue said that through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, China has implemented a series of projects that fosters the development of African countries. In a small restaurant north of Bata city, 50-year-old owner Constancia Ondo retrieved a cold beer from the fridge and brought it to a customer's table. A stable electricity supply and a functioning refrigerator were once luxuries for her but are now routine. Ondo said that she and many residents have benefited from the construction of the Djibloho Hydropower Station. In Centro Sur Province, the Wele River rushes forth from the dam of the hydropower station, creating a deafening roar as it cascades down. Built by a Chinese enterprise, the station is the largest hydropower facility in Equatorial Guinea, supplying 90 percent of the electricity for the continental region. Its operation marked the end of an era when streetlights did not work, and every household relied on a generator. "With China's help, our national construction is displaying Equatorial Guinea features, which means closely linking national development with people's well-being," said Micha Nsue. Cooperating with China has given Equatorial Guinea and Africa hope and ambition for unity and revitalization. China has launched the Initiative on Supporting Africa's Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa's Agricultural Modernization and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development, which are effective ways for African countries to address development challenges and can genuinely help African countries develop, Obiang said. Looking back over more than half a century since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Equatorial Guinea have always treated each other as equals, respected each other and supported each other, creating a model of South-South cooperation. Looking ahead, China and Equatorial Guinea will join forces with other African countries to contribute even more to building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. "I appreciate President Xi Jinping's initiative to help African countries," said Obiang. "I believe it is the most effective way for Africa to overcome all the difficulties it faces today." Liu Anwen (R), a surgeon of Chinese medical team to Equatorial Guinea performs a surgery with the assistance of his Equatorial Guinean colleague on a patient at Malabo Regional Hospital in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, May 24, 2024. (Chinese medical team to Equatorial Guinea/Handout via Xinhua) Fernando Garcia, the Equatorial Guinean director of the Confucius Institute at the National University of Equatorial Guinea, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, May 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Han Xu) This photo taken on June 16, 2023 shows a view of the Djibloho Hydropower Station in Equatorial Guinea. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui) Students take a Chinese class at the Confucius Institute at the National University of Equatorial Guinea in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, May 17, 2024. (Xinhua/Han Xu) This photo taken on May 15, 2024 shows an exterior view of Malabo International Airport in Equatorial Guinea. (Xinhua/Han Xu) An aerial drone photo taken on May 27, 2024 shows a five-story building of the China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School in Jinping County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) This photo taken on Dec. 26, 2022 shows a view of the China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Hospital in Niefang, Centro Sur Province, Equatorial Guinea. (Xinhua) Students take a class at the China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School in Jinping County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A Delano man was arrested for murder in connection to a homicide after the victim was found inside a home in Tulare, according to police. The Tulare Police Department said officers were called to a home in the 700 block of South R Street just after midnight Wednesday for a report of suspicious circumstances. The department said officers arrived and found two men in the driveway of the home. Police identified them as Steven Elizondo, 26 of Delano, and Sakuma Lockhard, 48, of Tulare. Officers said the two appeared nervous and had blood on their clothing. Reports detail kidnapping of 70-year-old Delano woman Investigators said a victim was found inside the home and appeared to be a victim of homicide and Elizondo and Lockhard were believed to be involved. The victim was identified by police as Travis Womack, 48, of Tulare. Police said the two men were arrested and booked on suspicion of murder and conspiracy. The homicide is under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to Det. Dan Scott at 559-685-2300 x2153, Sgt. Eddie Hinojosa at 559-684-4390 or the Tulare Police Departments anonymous tip line at 559-685-2300 x4445. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. Traffic zips by a crosswalk on Atlantic Avenue in Ormond Beach recently. The metro area of Volusia County again ranks among the nation's worst when it comes to fatal pedestrian accidents, according to a semi-annual report that advocates for safer streets through transportation design. The metro area of Volusia County again ranks among the nation's worst when it comes to fatal pedestrian accidents, according to a semi-annual report that advocates for safer streets through transportation design. "Dangerous By Design," a report by Smart Growth America, cited the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach metro area as being tied for fifth-worst in the United States when it comes to pedestrian deaths over the five-year period ending in 2022. The area was rated the nation's worst in the 2022 report and has been among the most dangerous going back to at least 2017. Calvin Gladney, president and CEO of Smart Growth America, called the pedestrian fatalities an "epidemic" and drew a comparison between the safety of walking on America's sidewalks to flying in airplanes. Where there were 358 aviation deaths in 2022, and none were on commercial flights, more than 7,500 people died while walking nearly 20 people every day. Read the Report: Dangerous By Design 2024 Places Volusia Metros among worst places for pedestrian crashes "If 20 people a day fell out of the sky, we would shut down the aviation industry," Gladney said. "Unfortunately, we have built an automobile-centric culture in this country where we allow for, and for whatever reason, we just believe it's a cost of doing business that people walking get killed every day." The report notes that the United States is seeing a historic shift. In 1994, 79% of crash deaths involved persons inside a vehicle, while 21% were outside a vehicle. Today, the proportion is 64% inside versus 36% outside. Worst metro in the worst state for walking If going from No. 1 worst to tied for No. 5 worst sounds like an improvement, it is at best a mixed bag. The number of pedestrian fatalities dropped from the 2022 report, to 134 from 140. But comparing the most recent five-year period (2018-2022) to the previous five-year stretch (2013-2017), the Volusia metros saw a 25% increase in pedestrian deaths, going from 107 to 134. Also, the Deltona-Daytona-Ormond metro area was cited as the worst in Florida, which has a claim to the worst state for pedestrian safety, with eight metros among the 20 most dangerous, topping California, which had five. The only Florida metro area outside the worst 20, Lakeland-Winter Haven, was tied for 21st. The five worst were: 1. Memphis, Tennessee; 2. Albuquerque, New Mexico; 3. Tucson, Arizona; 4. Bakersfield, California; 5. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach tied with Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The 20 worst metro areas are nearly all in the southern half of the continental United States, with Sacramento, California, landing as the northernmost. There are several explanations for this. Florida is a state with weather warm enough to invite walking outdoors nearly the entire year, as opposed to, say, Provo, Utah, or Madison, Wisconsin, or Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, the three safest places to walk. Pedestrians walk along busy U.S. 1 between the Iron Horse and Broken Spoke saloons in Ormond Beach on March 2. Large events such as Bike Week mix large numbers of pedestrians with vehicular traffic in Volusia and Flagler counties. "It appears that places that have high pedestrian traffic per capita have the most fatal pedestrian crashes per capita," said Lt. Jim Beauford, chief of public affairs for the Florida Highway Patrol. "In another words, areas with great weather and high tourism have more pedestrians year round than areas that dont." Beth Osborne, vice president of transportation and thriving communities for Smart Growth America, said the concentration of pedestrian accidents in the southern United States reflects development patterns of the second half of the last century. "The bulk of development and growth in these regions took place post-1960 and therefore when we are deep into the auto era," she said. Smart Growth America has long advocated for states and communities to plan and retrofit roads where cars and pedestrians mix to employ designs that slow traffic, such as narrower lanes, curves, sharper turns and medians. "Design has a huge impact on how people drive. It's more influential than the posted speed limit, which only pops up every quarter of a mile or so," Osborne said. "When you're on a roadway, and your lane is wide ... and it's straight and you're looking way down to the end of that roadway, you are being told the design is screaming at you that you can go fast," she said. "When that roadway is narrowed ... and there's trees along the side and there's buildings brought up close and there's a median and things like that, that make the driver feel constrained, you don't need a speed limit sign to indicate that you should go slower. It becomes natural to go slower, and we have chosen in this country to not utilize those well-known principles." Racial, age disparities in pedestrian fatalities The report notes that Black and Native American people are more than twice as likely to be killed while walking than white, non-Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Islander people. Gladney said many places in the South developed after the 1950s, when America's car culture had become established, while "structural racism" was part of decisions on where to build roads and how they should be designed going through poor neighborhoods which had less political clout and going through them as fast as possible. "That's why you see a lot of the disproportionate inequity and the disproportionate pedestrian fatalities that occur in the South because of where those streets and those arterials, those non-interstate arterials, were put and that was by design." Also, people from low-income neighborhoods have a greater chance of being killed by a motor vehicle than those in well-to-do areas. This graphic in the 2024 Dangerous By Design report shows where people live makes a difference in their chances of being killed by a vehicle crash. Meanwhile, age disparities also are seen in the data: Children are far less likely to be killed in pedestrian accidents than older adults. People between ages 50 and 64 have the highest likelihood, 2.89 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000, while those 75 and older are close, at 2.79. Those between ages 0 and 19 have a rate of 0.4 deaths per 100,000. A pedestrian crosses State Road A1A, or Atlantic Avenue, at Rockefeller Drive, in a crosswalk using a pedestrian hybrid beacon, a new safety device installed by the Florida Department of Transportation earlier this year. Efforts under way to make improvements Cindi Lane, public information director for the Florida Department of Transportation's Central Florida district, said in an emailed response to questions that safety is the agency's top priority. "Every FDOT project is a safety project that considers all users, and the department is adding more safety features to our transportation system all the time," she said. One of those is the Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon, a device that reduces pedestrian deaths by 55%, according to the Federal Highway Administration. The beacon helps pedestrians cross high-speed roadways at midblock crossings by allowing someone on foot to press a button that activates a yellow, then a red signal, stopping traffic. The FDOT Central Florida district's first Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon was installed on International Speedway Boulevard just east of Clyde Morris Boulevard, near Mainland High School and Daytona State College, while have been added throughout the district, Lane said. Florida has added other safety features, including Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon crosswalks, lowered speed limits in some areas and added subtle lane alignment shifts, bicycle lanes, mid-block crosswalks, raised crosswalks, shared use paths and sidewalks, Lane said. Some of these and other enhancements were added to a stretch of Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, between Holden Avenue and 34th Street, which had 55 pedestrian accidents, including nine fatalities and 14 serious injuries, from 2018 to 2023. "Since these added improvements were completed last year, there have been no fatalities in this section of Orange Blossom Trail," Lane said. FDOT completed a pedestrian safety project on a 1.5-mile stretch of State Road A1A south of Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach, adding a new crosswalk and Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon, audible pedestrian signals, detectible warning pads and seven new mid-block crosswalks with beacons. Future projects might also be designed with pedestrians in mind. Last year, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded both the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization and City of DeBary grants totaling $320,000 and $263,600, respectively, for studies. The Safe Streets and Roads for All program is in the middle of a five-year program to distribute $5 billion to communities to "address the preventable crisis of deaths on our nation's roads, streets and highways," all part of the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act of 2021. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Beach metro area lands among worst in fatal pedestrian crashes William Robertson casts his vote in the presidential primary election on Super Tuesday in Denver, March 5, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline) With one month until the primary election, Democratic candidates in Colorados 4th Congressional District are making a case for their strengths against U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in the general election. All three candidates invoked the controversial congresswoman, and political extremism in general, in their remarks Wednesday during a virtual candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Colorado. I am the woman to defeat that other woman, Lauren Boebert, in November, said Trisha Calvarese in her opening statement. Third-time candidate Ike McCorkle said his campaign has a poll showing him ahead of Boebert in a head-to-head matchup. Boebert, who currently represents Colorados 3rd Congressional District on the opposite end of the state, is one of six candidates competing for the Republican nomination for the seat, left open by former Rep. Ken Bucks resignation earlier this year. Though she has not secured the nomination, Democrats are anticipating her primary victory. The balance of power in Washington could very well be decided right here in District 4, and we must take full advantage of this opportunity, McCorkle said. Republicans hold a slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX But the district, which includes the Eastern Plains and most of Douglas County, is the most Republican-leaning in the state, and a Democratic victory in November is unlikely. According to a 2021 analysis of recent elections, it sways nearly 27 points to the right. Buck won his seat in 2022 with over 60% of the vote. Boebert is facing Logan County commissioner and former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, state Rep. Mike Lynch, radio host Deborah Flora, state Rep. Richard Holtorf and businessman Peter Yu in the Republican primary. Still, Democrats on Wednesday held an optimistic tone that voters in the district want a level-headed representative who cares more about policy than political theater and that they can deliver that. People are genuinely worried about a second Donald Trump term, about Lauren Boebert becoming their next representative and about the waves of Republican extremism that are engulfing our country, said John Padora, an addiction recovery advocate. Voters in the district will make choices in two different elections for the seat on June 25: one for the primary and one for the special election to complete the rest of Bucks current term. Calvarese is the Democratic nominee for the special election, and former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez is the Republican nominee. The two winners of the partisan primaries will face each other in November. The entire LWV forum is available to watch on the organizations Facebook page. The organization will host a forum for the Republican primary candidates on June 5. Cost of living A pervasive theme during the forum was the cost of living in Colorado and nationwide as households struggle to keep up with housing, transportation and grocery prices. The common denominator I hear at the doors every day is just that the economy simply isnt working for working people. Greedflation and corporate monopolies have their boots on the neck of the American worker, Padora said. Those economic concerns bleed into health care, small business costs, housing and daily essentials, he said. He said he would support policies such as an increase of the federal minimum wage, kicking corporate investors out of the housing market, infrastructure investment to spur job creation and a progressive tax policy. Calvarese, a former congressional and campaign staffer, said the federal government should take a bigger role in safeguarding against price gouging, including a congressional inquiry into the issue. This is America. People should always be able to rise (into the middle class) on the merit and their hard work and dedication, she said. McCorkle said he supports enforcing antitrust laws to break up corporate monopolies. We (need to) use that antitrust legislation and a windfall profits tax to tamp down on the excessive price gouging and profiteering that is being conducted on the backs of average, blue collar, working class American citizens, he said. On bipartisanship Each candidate said they would be willing to work across the aisle on a variety of issues, while acknowledging the current gridlock and dysfunction in Congress due to partisanship. I would work with my colleagues in the GOP on passing the Farm Bill, which would include a federal right to repair and would include a fertilizer and equipment subsidy assistance program so that our farming and ranching community can be successful, McCorkle said. Calvarese spoke about her work as a speechwriter at the AFL-CIO when Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I think Ken Buck was doing some really great work taking on tech monopolies. I would love to pick that up, she said. War in Gaza The three candidates were split on whether they support American military aid to Israel for its war against Hamas. McCorkle supports continued military assistance, while Calvarese and Padora do not. I look at what happened on Oct. 7 as an absolute tragedy for the Israelis. But Ive watched the aftermath of Israels occupation and military conquest into Gaza, and its completely against every international law that we have. Were witnessing genocide, Padora said. He said he wouldnt support increased funding until Israel stops killing those innocent people and allows humanitarian aid into Gaza. McCorkle said he supports the Biden administration as it pushes the Israeli administration in the right direction when it comes to mitigating civilian deaths, but the United States should continue to make sure Israel has access to weapons and military support. The three candidates all said they support a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. They also all said they support military support for Ukraine. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST The post Democrats pitch their strengths in a Boebert matchup during 4th District forum appeared first on Colorado Newsline. The images are hard to forget. Charred and mutilated bodies of children as a result of the Israeli shelling of Palestinians who were in the Israeli-designated safe areas. The bombs used were made in the United States, according to weapons experts. The world community, global agencies, and Israels best ally all warned against the ground invasion of Rafah precisely because of the dense population, which tripled in size due to the escape from the Israeli shelling in earlier attacks in the north and center of Gaza. The Israeli strike on a Rafah tent camp killed 45 innocent civilians who had taken refuge in the tents after being instructed to go there by the Israeli army. For its part, Israel has issued a half-baked public acceptance of responsibility while at the same time offering excuses and justifications for what happened. Israel insists that the damage was due to a spark from a shell landing nearby that hit a fuel container. Even if thats true, the whole idea of avoiding shelling populated areas is exactly to prevent accidents like this. Calling it a mistake doesnt bring back precious lives. The Israeli war of revenge is based on two stated goals. One, rescuing Israelis held hostage by the Islamic movement, is something any country would do. At one point, Hamas was prepared to do this, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. But the second, the destruction of Hamas as a political-military movement, is unattainable, as Benjamin Netanyahu surely knows. As the Israeli war on Gaza has continued, international pressure escalated, with the World Court issuing a strong statement calling on the Israeli army to stop. International leaders have made similar statements, and various efforts to stop or delay the delivery of weapons were taking place or being seriously considered (although not by the United States). After more than seven months of war, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, said that he had reasonable grounds to believe that five menNetanyahu, his defense minister, and three Hamas officialsbear criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. He submitted to a tribunal a recommendation for their arrest. The U.N. Security Council president, Pedro Comissario Afonso of Mozambique, was asked by Riyad Mansour, the permanent representative of Palestine, to convene the council, and Algeria circulated a draft resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. But despite all the international efforts, as well as the growing protest movement in Israel calling for the resignation of the Netanyahu government and early elections, nothing happened on the ground. The Biden administration continued diplomatic efforts for the parties to accept a cease-fire allowing for the exchange of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. But the Biden administration made clear at the same time that even the grotesque Rafah assault didnt cross its red line for the Israeli government of not launching a massive ground attack. The Palestinian Prisoners Club said that 8,900 Palestinians are incarcerated, among them 3,500 held without charge or trial. The club also said that 14 Palestinian prisoners died in Israeli jails and noted that over 600 children and 24 women were being held, most of them administratively. But despite the meeting of the head of the American CIA, the prime minister of Qatar, and the head of Israels Mossad in Paris, Bidens hope of an agreement among the warring parties continues to be hampered by Israels insistence on not ending the war, despite the rising casualties both among Palestinian civilians and the occupying Israeli soldiers. The massacre of innocent Palestinians has not yet moved the U.S. president to demand an immediate cease-fire. He clearly shares the ambitions of the Israeli leadership to annihilate Hamas, even though his own security officials have repeatedly said that the Israeli goals are untenable, as has Biden himself on occasion. A backhanded effort to suspend military delivery to Israel failed to cause a dent in the efforts of an Israeli prime minister who knows that the end of the war will mean the end of his political career and may even end his personal freedom due to four criminal cases of corruption awaiting him. Most of Europe is also frustrated but has yet to do anything substantial. One way to send a political message to the Israelis has been spearheaded by Spain, Ireland, and Norway, which decided collectively to recognize Palestine. According to Palestinian leaders, many other European countries are considering joining them. The recognition of Palestine by Western countries is aimed at telegraphing to Israel that there needs to be a political solution to the conflict and not a military one. The events since October 7 have raised global and generational awareness of the 75 years of the 1948 Nakba (catastrophe) that caused the Palestinian refugee problem. The Israeli violence led to 750,000 Palestinians being forced to leave their homes and towns, and they have not been allowed to return since. Western foot-dragging has also led to the continuation of the 57-year occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the decade and a half of an unlawful siege of the Gaza Strip. Despite the bloodbath in Rafah and the stubborn Israeli refusal to accept a cease-fire that can produce the release of their men and women, there continues to be a major responsibility for Western countries, the United States obviously chief among them, that have for decades sheltered Israel from criticism and have directly or indirectly been accomplices to the oppression, occupation, and settler colonialism that has existed in the occupied Palestinian territories. The time has come to end this war on Gaza and to work diligently to ensure that peace based on justice and equality replaces the lull in fighting and war that has been the hallmark of the situation in Palestine-Israel for decades. DENVER (KDVR) Wednesday is a Pinpoint Weather Alert Day because of severe thunderstorms in the Denver weather forecast that could produce damaging wind and large hail east of the metro. A severe thunderstorm watch continues until 9 p.m. Wednesday east of the Denver metro and across the Eastern Plains, which could see damaging wind and hail. 1 dead, 1 hurt after severe storms hit Greeley Weather tonight: Severe storms to the east Storms with rain and lightning will head across the Denver metro area late Wednesday afternoon and move east toward the plains. The worst activity will be on the plains in areas like Fort Morgan, Akron and Deer Trail, with damaging wind gusts, lightning and hail possible. Thunderstorms roll out of the area around 6-8 p.m. Lows will fall into the 50s in the Denver metro area. Weather tomorrow: Afternoon showers Thursday starts with morning sunshine with clouds building in. Some showers are possible in the afternoon, with thunderstorms possible around the evening drive. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Thursday will not be as warm with highs topping around 78 in Denver, which is normal for this time of year. Looking ahead: Drying out, heating up The pattern continues Saturday as temperatures heat into the mid-80s with a slight chance for afternoon showers. Conditions dry out on Sunday, when highs reach the upper 80s and remain there on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Deputies searching for suspects accused of breaking into multiple storage units Deputies are asking for the publics help searching for suspects accused of breaking into multiple storage units in Miami County. The Miami County Sheriffs Office issued arrest warrants for Robert A. Bragg, age 47, and Heather J. Patrick, age 44. The duo is suspected of being involved in multiple thefts and storage unit break-ins in Miami County and surrounding areas. >> Mother of 3-year-old rescued from roach-infested Fairborn apartment changes plea Deputies said the duo are also known to steal guns. Bragg and Patrick are believed to be traveling in a dark green colored Pontiac G6 with Indiana registration 718-CUL or a silver or gray Scion hatchback with Ohio registration KHW-6312, according to the sheriffs office. If you have information about their whereabouts deputies ask that you call local law enforcement or contact Detective Steve Hickey at 937-440-3987 or email at hickey.stephen@miamicountyso.com. Anonymous tips can be left on our website at www.miamicountyohio.gov/sheriff. Deputys best friend: Learn all about the K9s in one of SCs largest police dog units K9 Bali, a 10-year-old Belgian malinois, crouches in the grass, waiting for his handlers command. He knows that if hes patient and obedient, hell get his reward. But its not treats or toys Balis after. Hes waiting for a chance to achieve what his handler, Sgt Josh Newsom, says is the ultimate reward for a K9 apprehension dog like Bali the chance to bite and hold the arm of his target. Bali and Newsom are part of the Richland County Sheriffs Departments K9 Unit, which is made up of 26 dogs and their handlers, Newsom said. Its one of the largest law enforcement K9 units in South Carolina. We are, if not the largest, probably in the top two, Newsom said. Having such a large K9 team allows the sheriffs department to hold long manhunts, even on hot summer days when dogs may get tired quickly and can be relieved by other dogs. Investigator Drake Cobia said many criminals wouldnt have been apprehended if the sheriffs department didnt have as many dogs as it does. The sheriffs departments team has two dogs to detect explosives; five to detect human remains; and one to detect electronics, which is commonly used in child pornography cases. The rest of the dogs are full-service, which means they are trained in multiple skills, including tracking, apprehension, article search and narcotics detection, according to Newsom. Bali is a full-service dog. In a recent training session, he practiced article search, where he was tasked with finding hidden objects based on human odor, and apprehension bites. At Newsoms command, Bali lunged from the ground and latched onto the arm of Deputy Zaid Abdullah, who wore a bite suit, a protective garment used in training. K9s are taught to bite a suspects right tricep, which often disarms someone holding a gun in their right hand. Newsom said the goal of an apprehension dog is not to hurt the suspect but to hold them in place until the officers can reach them. If the suspect is compliant, they will usually not suffer trauma from the bite. Newsom said the suspect will be left with a bite mark two small holes on the top and bottom of the arm. In Balis case, it would be three holes because hes missing a tooth. During the recent training session, Newsom called out commands to Bali in Dutch, the language Bali was trained in. Many of the K9s are trained in foreign languages, as the sheriffs department purchases dogs from Holland, France, and the Czech Republic. It also has a German shepherd from Germany. The departments labradors and one patrol dog were born in the United States, Newsom said. The sheriffs department has moved away from using American-bred German shepherds in favor of the Belgian malinois, which are less prone to health problems and have thinner coats that are better suited for sweltering South Carolina days. Malinois also tend to have more drive than German shepherds, Newsom said. The cost of a K9 An innate, controlled drive is essential in a police dog, according to Newsom. In addition to handling Bali and another K9 a yellow lab named Beans Newsom leads the sheriffs departments K9 unit. Hes been responsible for training new dogs and leading team training for the last six years. When screening dogs for the K9 team, Newsom said he looks for qualities like confidence and a desire to stay busy. He needs a stable, controlled dog willing to fight when needed but not aggressive toward people who dont pose a threat. All of the sheriffs departments K9s live to work, Newsom said. Some of them become so excited to go to work that they refuse to eat. Newsom had one dog that sometimes needed to be fed in the back of his patrol car. He said thats the inherent desire to work he wants in a K9. We can channel drive, we can focus it, but you cant manufacture it, Newsom said. Thats part of the reason the sheriffs department is highly selective in choosing dogs to join its team. Its also partly why the dogs are so costly, Newsom said. A certified, trained full-service dog typically costs around $17,000 to $17,500, he said. Richlands team has mostly moved away from training dogs in-house because of the time and manpower required, but Newsom said even dogs that have been purchased with training still need an additional few weeks of in-house work to meet the sheriffs departments standards. In addition to the initial cost of a K9, the equipment costs another $2,000 to $3,000. Thats before factoring in the cost of the protective vests K9s wear, which cost $3,800 each, Newsom said. The sheriffs departments K9 unit is almost 100% funded by donations and fundraisers, according to Newsom. A non-profit called the K9 Godmothers does much of the fundraising for the team, he said. Carmen Hudson founded The K9 Godmothers after K9 Fargo was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2011. I picked up the phone and called the sheriff and said Youve gotta let me help, Hudson said. She said there wasnt an organized system at the time for collecting donations specifically for the K9 unit. None of the dogs had protective vests and they lacked other safety equipment. The group has since acquired vests, eye protection, ear protection, cooling units, trauma and first aid kits, the opioid overdose drug Narcan, a treadmill and other equipment for the team. It also recently purchased thermal scanners after K9 Kobe was shot in March. We just love the dogs, so if we hear something or the handlers say they need something, were all about making sure they get it, Hudson said. The making of a K9 K9s participate in regular training sessions for the entirety of their careers. Newsom said there is some form of K9 training held every day. Group training sessions are held every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and handlers spend an hour or more a day in one-on-one training sessions with their dog. A minimum of 16 hours of training is required for dogs and their handlers per month, according to Cobia. Dogs assigned to special units may have training that looks different from that of full-service dogs. For example, K9 Buddy, a yellow lab handled by Cobia, practices detecting explosive devices. Buddy can detect about 25 explosive odors, Cobia said. Live explosives are used during training, except for products that are too unstable to be handled. For these, an odor print is used that mimics the real thing. When Buddy finds an odor, hes trained to sit down in front of it. Then, hes given a reward, which is often a toy and a few minutes of play. Dogs and their handlers are required to be re-certified every year. Dogs are tested on skills like obedience, control and their ability to track the odors theyve been trained in. Dogs are tested with their handlers to ensure the human and K9 work well together, and an outside agency is used for certifications to maintain impartiality. Human officers hoping to join the K9 unit also undergo an intensive screening process. Newsom said officers need to be motivated self-starters. He looks at body camera footage of potential K9 handlers to review how theyve handled stressful situations in the past and reviews their reports to ensure theyre articulate. Officers working with the K9 unit encounter some of the most violent and stressful situations, so potential K9 handlers must be ready for that, Newsom said. Visits are also made to the officers houses to ensure their living environments are suitable for dogs. The Marriage Newsom compared the dog-handler relationship to a marriage. When pairing dogs and handlers together, he said its important that their personalities align. Dogs are like people in that everybodys got a slightly different personality. And beyond that, how a dog acts with one handler is not how its going to act with another one, he said. Newsom described Bali as hard-headed and a little grumpy. He wouldnt be a good fit for an inexperienced handler. Alternatively, a dog that is more easy-going but doesnt have very high initiative might not work for Newsom, he said. When dogs and handlers are found to be a good match, the dog lives with the handler at home. Between living with the dogs and spending 12-hour days in training and on calls, Cobia said some days they spend more time with the dogs than with their families. Although that isnt ideal, it creates a bond thats hard to describe, Cobia said. Newsom agreed. If youve never run a dog that you have absolute confidence in, in a situation thats extremely dangerous, its very hard to describe what thats like to have a partner you have that much trust, that much confidence in, he said. Newsom said the K9 handlers at the sheriffs department can detect subtleties in their dogs body language that others wouldnt pick up on. Its a deep understanding that comes from spending so much time together. Retirement In Newsoms experience, dogs dont usually retire with post-traumatic stress or heightened levels of aggression. But theres typically a three-month period when the dogs dont understand why they arent working anymore. They can become frustrated and feel like theyre being punished. But as time passes, they adjust to their new lives. Most of them turn into very good couch potatoes after three or four months, Newsom said. Dogs are usually retired when they develop health issues that make work difficult or painful for them, Newsom said. Most handlers permanently adopt their K9s when they retire. Newsom said during his time with the K9 unit, hes never seen a handler turn down adopting their dog. Cobia and Newsom both plan to adopt their K9s after the dogs retire. As grumpy as Bali is, hes still my baby. Im going to keep him after he retires. Thats my boy. Were going to sit on the porch together, Newsom said. TEHRAN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Registration for Iran's 14th presidential election began on Thursday morning under the directive of Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi. The registration process will continue for five days until June 3, and those who want to be candidates must come to the Iranian Interior Ministry in Tehran to submit their registrations, according to a statement published on the ministry's website. Vahidi stated that the vetting process would take seven days, starting from June 4, after which qualified candidates would have 14 days to conduct their electoral campaigns. The election is scheduled for June 28. Iran's Election Headquarters issued a statement on Sunday specifying the conditions and qualifications required for candidacy. Candidates must be between 40 and 75 years old, of Iranian origin, hold Iranian nationality, and have a good track record and reputation. They must also be committed to Iran's principles and the official religion, Islam. Additionally, candidates must possess at least a master's degree and have a minimum of four years of experience in senior official, state, managerial, or military positions. They must also be in good health and have the necessary capabilities to perform presidential duties. The 14th presidential election was originally slated for 2025 but was moved earlier due to the unexpected death of President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage in a helicopter crash on May 19 in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan. According to Article 131 of Iran's Constitution, the first vice president assumes the executive role if the president is unable to perform duties. The interim president, currently Mohammad Mokhber, is required to organize a new presidential election within a maximum of 50 days. Partners assured Kyiv that the Washington summit would define a specific position for Ukraine's membership in NATO, namely its irreversibility and the roadmap toward it, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said on May 29. Kyiv did not receive the much-desired invitation nor a firm deadline to join the alliance during the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, even though NATO took steps to tighten cooperation. Ukrainian officials have voiced hope that the Washington meeting, scheduled for July 9-11, will bring a more definite signal. "There are assurances from the allies, in particular, the United States and other countries that directly play a key role in the preparation of the summit, that the summit decisions will include a specific position on Ukraine's membership in NATO, on its irreversibility and the roadmap for such membership," Stefanishyna said on national television. Kyiv expects that the summit in Washington should become a platform for making strategic decisions on Ukraine's air defense and other relevant consultations at the bilateral level, according to the deputy prime minister. "We are testing the alliance to see whether NATO can coordinate these efforts to close the Ukrainian sky through bilateral decisions or more comprehensive solutions," Stefanishyna said. The upcoming event can be "highly focused" on the creation of a roadmap for Ukraine to join the alliance in the future, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in April. NATO's July summit in Washington will also contain new language regarding Ukraine's membership in the alliance, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said during a briefing in Prague on May 29. "It (NATO's declaration) will not look exactly the same as the one we had last year. We have to agree on this. The alliance has some very important and useful ideas, some interesting proposals," Julianne said. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the alliance's former secretary general, said that NATO's invitation to Ukraine "would be a controversial and at least an unprecedented decision to take." Rasmussen nevertheless suggested that this step could serve as "an instrument" to ending Russia's war. Read also: Ukraine urges allies to lift Western arms ban on hitting targets inside Russia. Will they? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Oklahoma Senate has rejected Gov. Kevin Stitt's nomination of Susan Bergen (left) to the OSU/A&M Board of Regents. Sen. Rob Standridge (right), who sponsored her nomination, did vote for Bergen on the Senate floor. The Oklahoma Senate has resoundingly rejected one of Gov. Kevin Stitts nominees to the board of regents that governs Oklahoma State University, just eight days after the Senate Education Committee unanimously recommended her confirmation to the post. The Senate voted 32-13 Wednesday against confirming Susan Bergen, of Norman. Among the senators who opposed Bergens nomination were eight members of the Education Committee Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa; Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston; Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City; Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle; Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee; Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa; committee Vice Chair Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore; and Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond. All were part of the 12-0 committee vote that advanced Bergens nomination on May 21. Education Committee members who voted for Bergen on Wednesday in the full Senate included committee Chair Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond; Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair; Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville; Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt; and Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin. All previously had voted to confirm Bergen except for Daniels, who was not present when the committee voted on Bergens nomination on May 21. None of those who switched their votes could be reached immediately for comment. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, also voted for Bergens confirmation, as did Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, who sponsored Bergens nomination in the Senate. Earlier: Stitt's nominees for OU, OSU, regional university boards are unopposed in Senate committee Had she been approved, Bergen would have succeeded Rick Davis, of Guthrie, who had served since May 2011 on the nine-person OSU/A&M board, which governs Oklahoma State University, Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami and Connors State College in Warner. Bergen is a Boston native, but has lived in Oklahoma for four decades. She serves as the chief executive officer of Bergen Enterprises, a multi-generational, family owned company. Among its businesses are Prairie Dirt Solutions and Eco Wood Solutions, Oklahoma City companies that offer services to create sustainable preservation opportunities. When he nominated Bergen, Stitt said her incredible experience within Oklahomas agricultural and business community made her a strong choice to serve on the OSU/A&M board and that he looked forward to seeing how her business acumen will uplift students across Oklahoma. During the May 21 committee meeting, Bergen addressed senators for fewer than 80 seconds, speaking about the ranch and farm operations in which shes involved and saying she understands the importance of quality food. She later said that, Everyone in this room is involved in agriculture because you ate this morning. No senator asked her a question or engaged in debate concerning her nomination. So-called Tier I executive nominations, such as those for the OSU/A&M board, receive individual votes in the Senate and often are formalities, especially after a unanimous positive committee vote. The Senate voted down a female agricultural leader and business owner who dedicates significant amounts of her time and talents to ensuring that school children around the state have access to nutritious meals," Stitt said in a statement. "It seems like a weird person for the Senate to make an example out of, but Susan will keep serving her community and the Senate can feel victorious in their effort of keeping another qualified and willing Oklahoman from serving at the state level. In reply to an email Stitt sent Wednesday to Treat that discussed other executive nominations that weren't considered by the Senate, Treat noted Bergen's nomination "failed on the floor today (despite my vote for her)" but didn't address the reasons for the nomination's failure. A Senate spokesman and the governor's office said they were unaware of the reasons. Treat concluded his response to Stitt by saying, "While we have found most of your nominees this session qualified and exemplary, we will not hesitate to decline to advance nominees that we believe are unqualified or a bad fit for the position you have appointed them to." Other key education nominees by Stitt gain final approval from Senate The Senate did approve Stitts other nominee to the OSU/A&M Board, Chris Franklin, of Arcadia, along with the nominations of Kenneth Waits, of Tyler, Texas, to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents; Thomas Kupiec, of Edmond, and Chuck Perry, of Broken Arrow, to the Regional University System of Oklahoma Board of Regents; Ken Levit, of Tulsa, to the board of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; and Nellie Tayloe Sanders, of Kingfisher, as the states secretary of education. The Senate also approved the nomination of Zachary Archer, of Hammon, to the Oklahoma State Board of Education, but six Democrats voted against confirming Archer, who has served since October on the board led by state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Senate rejects Gov. Stitt nominee to OSU Board of Regents New details in investigation of skull found in Bayou St. John NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) The LSU FACES Lab is now assisting in investigating a skull found by a magnet fisherman in Bayou St. John. According to a police report obtained through a public records request, a man flagged down an officer on the afternoon of May 18 to report that he had pulled a human skull, a gun barrel and a handgun from the water. Houma Police investigates abuse allegations, leaving six-week-old infant in critical condition The report stated the officer found what seemed to be a completely decomposed human skull, missing both the jaw and the upper row of teeth. The skull was reportedly wrapped in what looked like a shirt or cloth, secured with a padlock and key, and fastened to a 15-pound dumbbell. After gathering evidence at the scene, homicide detectives handed over the skull to the Orleans Parish Coroners Office and recommended that the incident be reported as an unclassified death. Suspicious death of Pearl River man under investigation On May 21, the NOPDs Special Operations Unit searched the area with dogs and divers. The Louisiana State University FACES Lab confirmed they are assisting in the investigation. Anyone with information can contact NOPD Third District detectives at 504-658-6030 or Crime Stoppers at 504-822-1111. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. Seattle Police detectives are investigating a homicide in Queen Anne after discovering a body Wednesday night. At 11:16 p.m., police responded to the 500 block of West Roy Street with the Seattle Fire Department, who were providing medical aid to a man who had been stabbed. The man was transported to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition. A police K9 team arrived on the scene and conducted an evidence track. They located a deceased man inside Kinnear Park that had also been stabbed. Officers cordoned off the area until homicide detectives and the Crime Scene Investigations unit arrived. The circumstances that led up to the stabbings are under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the SPD Violent Crime Tip Line at (206) 233-5000, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. MACKINAC ISLAND Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced his support Thursday for At-Large Detroit City Councilmember Mary Waters, who's running to unseat U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit. "Our future is in Washington and we need somebody in Congress who fights for us. And right now, I don't feel like we got any help from our congressman," Duggan said during a press briefing on Mackinac Island where the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual policy conference is being held this week. He described Waters as a tenacious politician who fights vigorously for a range of policies from housing to workforce training. He hugged Waters after announcing his support for her campaign, which marks her fourth congressional bid. Waters celebrated the endorsement, saying the 13th Congressional District she seeks to represent "has been neglected." Her colleagues, when she served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006, nicknamed her the "quiet storm," Waters said. "So look out Washington, D.C., Mary Waters is coming," she said, prompting applause from her supporters in the crowd. Thanedar defended his record Thursday and criticized Duggan for endorsing Waters. "While Mayor Mike Duggan is interested in playing political games, I am focused on continuing to deliver for the people of Detroit and am confident they will send me back to Washington for another term," he wrote in a text message to the Free Press. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced his support for At-Large Detroit City Councilmember Mary Waters' congressional bid May 30, 2024. In launching her campaign earlier this year, Waters emphasized her support for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, cutting defense funding and increasing Social Security payments. She confronts a serious fundraising disadvantage as she tries to deny Thanedar another term. "The money's coming," she said. "And let me tell you, (Thanedar) has to spend what I've already earned and that's the goodwill from the people." Thanedar had more than $5.1 million in cash on hand as of March 31, the date of the last finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. He has largely self-financed his campaign, loaning himself more than $3.3 million. Meanwhile, Waters had raised less than $10,000 in about two months of fundraising and had about $5,000 at the end of March when Adam Hollier was still a major factor in the race. Duggan's endorsement comes after prominent Democrats had backed Hollier to defeat Thanedar, taking the rare step of supporting a challenger to an incumbent lawmaker running for reelection. But the Wayne County Clerk this month knocked Hollier off the primary ballot for the 13th Congressional District Aug. 6 because a review found he failed to submit enough valid voter signatures to qualify. On Thursday, the state's elections bureau denied an appeal from Hollier, according to a spokesperson for the Secretary of State's Office. Hollier received the second-highest vote share after Thanedar in a crowded primary field in 2022 in the heavily Democratic congressional district where a Democrat is almost certain to win the general election. This time, Hollier sought to coalesce support around his candidacy for the upcoming election. Some members of Detroit's City Council and metro Detroit state lawmakers stood beyond Duggan to show their support for Waters: Councilmembers Angela Whitfield-Calloway, Scott Benson, Latisha Johnson, Fred Durhal III and Coleman A. Young II, along with state Reps. Alabas Farhat, of Dearborn; Kimberly Edwards, of Eastpointe, and Tyrone Carter, of Detroit. Benson, Carter and Durhal had previously endorsed Hollier, according to his campaign's website. Michigan Politics: Whitmer announces new Michigan housing, energy programs: What it means The 13th Congressional District Democratic Party has already gone in a different direction, endorsing Thanedar after Hollier was disqualified from the ballot, according to the group's chair, Jonathan Kinloch. Thanedar's campaign also announced a round of new endorsements Thursday from Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives: Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar. The 13th District includes part of Detroit, the Grosse Pointes and some Downriver communities. Attorney Shakira Lynn Hawkins has also filed to run in the Democratic primary. With Hollier disqualified, Thanedar and Waters are the candidates with the highest profile left in the race. Staff writer Todd Spangler contributed to this report. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen. Looking for more on Michigans elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit's Mike Duggan endorses Mary Waters for Congress Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters at the Mackinac Policy Conference, May 30, 2024 | Kyle Davidson On the porch of the Grand Hotel on Thursday, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced his endorsement of Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters ahead of the Democratic primary in November. Waters, a former state lawmaker, and attorney Shakira Lynn Hawkins are challenging the 13th Congressional Districts current officeholder, U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) in the August primary. Republican Martell Bivings, who opposed Thanedar in the 2022 election, is the sole Republican seeking the primary. Former State Sen. Adam Hollier also sought to challenge Thanedar, but was disqualified from the ballot after Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett determined Hollier failed to submit enough valid signatures to make the ballot, as Garrett found a number of signatures submitted by the campaign were fraudulently written by the same person. During the announcement, Duggan said he didnt feel Detroit was getting any help from Thanedar. Hes not a bad person; hes just not helping, he said. We cant afford to carry a congressperson who isnt responsive, Duggan said. Flanked by other members of the Detroit City Council and Democratic state Reps. Tyrone Carter (D-Detroit), Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe) and Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn), Waters voiced her commitment to supporting each community within the 13th Congressional District, saying the district had been neglected. Weve got to have somebody who understand[s] what the issues are, what peoples concerns are. Weve got to have somebody that has the compassion, not just spending millions of dollars saying, Look at me; vote for me, Waters said. Do the work and show people that you deserve their support, and it has not happened. Theres been neglect in the 13th Congressional District. But not anymore. Not anymore, Waters said. Thanedar told the Advance in a text message that hes proud of the work Ive done for Detroiters and said hes delivered over $6.6 million in community project funding for critical areas like revitalizing our neighborhoods, protecting our water, replacing lead lines and more. My office provides top-notch constituent services to Detroiters, as people can reach me 24/7 on my website and someone always picks up the phone during the day, Thanedar continued. While Mayor Duggan is interested in playing political games, I am focused on continuing to deliver for the people of Detroit and am confident they will send me back to Washington for another term. Thanedar also said that hes honored to have won the Detroit vote in every election hes run in. Detroit has always stood with me and I remember that everyday in Congress. Im confident that the people will choose me again to represent them in Washington and I will be honored to continue to fight for them, he said. There are two congressional districts that include Detroit, the nations largest African-American city, but neither has a Black representative. Thanedar immigrated from India and the 12th District seat is held by U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), who is Palestinian-American. In an interview after the press conference, the Michigan Advance asked Waters how important representation for African-Americans is in the congressional seats that cover Detroit. Well, it is because when its all said and done, weve got to have somebody there who understands the unique needs of African Americans. Because we do have some unique needs some of the things that we should be fighting for, when it comes to voting rights, for example, Waters said. Advance Editor Susan J. Demas contributed to this story. The post Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan endorses Detroit Councilwoman Mary Waters for Congress appeared first on Michigan Advance. Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, did not answer questions from members of a Senate ethics committee on May 7, 2024. Her attorney, Bruce Ringstrom Jr., said Mitchell was pleading the Fifth Amendment. Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin on Thursday morning called for Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, to resign. DFL Gov. Tim Walz later joined Martins call for Mitchells resignation, the Star Tribune reported. Mitchell has been embroiled in scandal ever since she was arrested in April for allegedly breaking into her stepmothers Detroit Lakes home to steal some sentimental items of her late father, including his ashes. The first-term senator was charged with first-degree burglary a felony which comes with a mandatory 180-day jail sentence and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $35,000 fine. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 10, but her attorney Bruce Ringstrom Jr. has asked the judge to push the date back to July 1 because he will be in a trial in another county and said he needs more time to review the evidence, according to court records. While Sen. Mitchell is entitled to her day in court, her continued refusal to take responsibility for her actions is beneath her office and has become a distraction for her district and the Legislature, Martin said in a statement. Now that her constituents have had full representation through the end of the legislative session, it is time for her to resign to focus on the personal and legal challenges she faces. Martins call for Mitchells resignation is likely to increase pressure on her to quit, as the longtime DFL Party chair can use his vast political and fundraising network to ice out Mitchell, while damaging leaks to the media are also a possibility. Ringstrom in a statement said that Mitchell still doesnt intend to resign. Sen. Mitchell has served her constituents, including during the final weeks of the 2024 Minnesota Legislative session, and plans to continue serving them now that the session has adjourned, Ringstrom said. Sen. Mitchell has heard from many in her community who support her work and believe in her right to due process under the law. Therefore, until her criminal case is fully and finally adjudicated, Sen. Mitchell will continue to serve her constituents as the duly elected state senator from District 47. If Mitchell resigns by June 8, a special election to replace her could be held on Nov. 5 along with the rest of the general election ballot. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, decried Martins statement, saying Democrats, who control the Senate 34-33, are only now calling for Mitchells resignation because they were able to use her vote to pass their agenda during the recently ended legislative session. Democrats abused their political majority and embraced Sen. Mitchell because it served their political purposes instead of working in a bipartisan way for Minnesotans. Anyone paying attention could see this coming now that they no longer need her vote, they are ready to cast her aside, Johnson said in a statement. This shameless pursuit of political power is not what Minnesotans deserve from their elected leaders. A Senate ethics committee earlier this month delayed taking action on an ethics complaint against Mitchell. Senate Republicans in the complaint argued that Mitchell had violated the Minnesota Senates standards of ethical conduct when she allegedly broke into her stepmothers home. The Senate ethics committee is scheduled to meet again on June 12, but that date could be pushed back if Mitchells next court appearance is delayed. In a statement published the day after her arrest, Mitchell said she was conducting a welfare check on her stepmother and startled her. Mitchell denied stealing anything from the home and said her stepmother has Alzheimers and associated paranoia. The post DFL Party Chair Ken Martin, Walz call for resignation of embroiled Sen. Nicole Mitchell appeared first on Minnesota Reformer. What you didnt know about the Jenna Ellis case, and what it means Jenna Ellis, former legal advisor and counsel to former President Donald Trump, speaks during the election night party for Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano at The Orchards on May 17, 2022, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Attorney Jenna Ellis once again was disciplined for professional misconduct this week. Colorado authorities could have disbarred Ellis, who helped former President Donald Trump spread false information after the 2020 election, and the three-year law license suspension imposed on her as part of a plea agreement does not appear commensurate with the harm she helped inflict. Even she admits election falsehoods caused millions of Americans to lose faith in the integrity of elections. But court documents obtained by Newsline give a detailed view of discussions between Colorado officials and Ellis, and they indicate factors that might have helped shape the terms of discipline. The documents, which chart Ellis journey from a stop the steal conspiracist to remorseful Trump antagonist, also put into relief the danger of persistent election denial by her former associates. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, which investigates allegations of lawyer misconduct, concluded its first case against Ellis last year, when Presiding Disciplinary Judge Bryon M. Large, who handles lawyer discipline cases in Colorado, agreed to censure Ellis for 10 misrepresentations she made when she worked alongside another former Trump attorney, Rudy Giuliani, as Trump tried to overturn President Joe Bidens 2020 win. Officials with the counsels office brought a second round of misconduct allegations against Ellis in January after she pleaded guilty to a count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings in a Fulton County, Georgia, case over Trumps allegedly criminal attempt to remain in power. Those allegations resulted in the three-year suspension that was announced this week. In both cases, harsher discipline might have been expected, and disbarment was contemplated as a possible sanction by Ellis herself during the second investigation. But twice she escaped the worst outcome. Court documents reveal that attorneys representing the state during the first case had in fact identified 52 false statements by Ellis about the election not just 10. Ellis defended those statements generally as opinion, commentary, and argument protected by the First Amendment. In December 2022, Ellis lawyer at the time, Michael Melito, informed state attorneys that she was under investigation by a grand jury in Georgia, well before her involvement in that case was publicly known. This appears to have been an important factor, because it meant that Ellis, to avoid incriminating herself, would restrict what she would say to the Colorado investigators. Court documents also reveal that Ellis gave statements to Special Counsel Jack Smiths team, which is prosecuting Trump in a federal election interference criminal case. There is one factor that appears to have weighed in her favor: remorse. What role Ellis status as a defendant in Georgia played in her censure agreement, or why state attorneys dropped 42 alleged false statements from the investigation, is not clear. Asked to explain this week, Jessica Yates, who heads the counsels office, said the office does not comment on the internal rationale for its stipulation decisions. Oddly, a similar complication arose in this years investigation. Ellis informed state attorneys that she had been communicating with the Arizona attorney generals office as part of an investigation into a 2020 fake elector scheme. According to Colorado court documents, she claimed that Arizona prosecutors told her she was not a target of the investigation, but then on April 23 she was informed that she would be indicted in the case. Her lawyer said she was double crossed. What did that mean for the Colorado investigation? Once again, she worried about incriminating herself, this time in Arizona, by speaking with Colorado investigators, court documents show. What this factor meant for the new set of discipline terms is, again, unknown. But there is one factor that appears to have weighed in her favor: remorse. Ellis is among several of Trumps big-lie attorneys who have faced professional repercussions, including Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman. But she is alone in denouncing Trump, disavowing previous election falsehoods and, at least to some degree, showing contrition. State attorneys this week noted that Ellis expressed remorse and has recognized the harm caused by her misconduct and has taken significant, concrete steps to mitigate the harm her misconduct has caused. During a deposition with Colorado investigators earlier this month, Ellis said, according to a transcript, I had been very willing to cooperate with the Department of Justice, was very willing to cooperate with Arizona attorney general, and everywhere that I could, including with you here to the extent that my attorney advises me that I can. Later she added, Im not aware of anyone else on the Trump team who has either taken responsibility or has repudiated Trump himself and the campaign and the efforts to the extent that I have. Eastman still publicly says the 2020 election was stolen. So does Giuliani. Trump, of course, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, still says it all the time. Most distressingly, one-third of American adults say they think President Joe Bidens win was illegitimate. A boundless campaign of lies is poised to erase democracy in America. Ellis is partly to blame for this, and history will remember her grave misdeeds. Her remorse might be insincere, the outcome of forced-hand calculations, and the scale of her misconduct seemed to warrant, at least, disbarment. But in comparison to her former colleagues, she has returned from election-lie derangement. Think of how different the national conversion would be if other election deniers had taken or were coerced down a similar path, not just lawyers like Giuliani and Eastman, but also big-lie all stars like Mike Lindell, Michael Flynn, Steve Bannon and their ilk. A broad repudiation of Trump by former enablers could have sunk his political aspirations. But all we have is Ellis. And how did MAGA repay her? She tells us in court documents: I have received death threats and other threats of a disgusting, obscene nature, so my reputation with that group is not so positive. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST The post What you didnt know about the Jenna Ellis case, and what it means appeared first on Colorado Newsline. Married Welsh couple Ann and Bernard McDonagh failed to pay bills at five restaurants South Wales Police Ann and Bernard McDonagh. A married couple from Wales have been jailed after a series of dine and dash offenses. Ann McDonagh, 39, and Bernard McDonagh, 41, from Sandfields, Port Talbot, U.K., have been sentenced following "several incidents of non-payment of restaurant bills and shoplifting," per a May 29 press release shared by South Wales Police. Ann was charged with five counts of fraud and four counts of theft (shoplifting), while her husband was charged with five counts of fraud, the release stated. Ann has been sentenced to one year in prison, and Bernard will spend eight months behind bars. The charges come after the pair pleaded guilty to the charges at Swansea Magistrates Court on Wednesday, May 8. South Wales Police/Youtube Bernard McDonagh has been jailed amid charges. Police confirmed the affected restaurants included Bella Ciao and River House, Swansea; La Casona, Skewen; Golden Fortune, Port Talbot; and Isabellas, Porthcawl. Ann also pleaded guilty to shoplifting charges affecting Tommy Hilfiger and Sainsburys at McArthurGlen Bridgend Designer Outlet and Tesco Extra, Swansea, as well as "obstructing a police officer in the course of their duty at Queens Road Police Station, Bridgend," per the release. Inspector Andrew Hedley said, The prolific and brazen offending of Ann and Bernard McDonagh rightly caught the attention of a large percentage of the local public. It is great to see that justice has now been served in the form of these sentences and thank those members of public who assisted with the investigation," seemingly referencing the images of the couple that have been circulating online in recent months. They deliberately ran up huge bills at restaurants which they had no intention of paying. This had a significant impact on the premises they targeted, one of which was newly-opened at the time. Reducing and preventing business and retail crime is a priority within Swansea City, and any crime will be fully investigated, with those found offending, brought to justice," Hedley added. Ann and Bernard McDonagh clearly felt that the law did not apply to them. This sentencing shows that it does," he continued. According to outlets including RTE, the Guardian, and the BBC, the restaurant bills totaled more than $1,271 (1,000). They reportedly used more than 40 names and 18 dates of birth between them. Per RTE, the couple would order expensive food and drink before leaving without paying, sometimes leaving a child in the restaurant while claiming they were going out to an ATM to get cash. The children would then run off, the outlet claimed. 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. Ann also took items worth over $1,293 (1,017.60) at stores including Tommy Hilfiger, the outlet stated. The offenses took place from fall 2023 to spring 2024. "You were not going to these places to feed you and your family, it was criminality for criminalitys sake - to see if you could get away with it," Judge Paul Thomas said during the sentencing, per RTE, calling them using children to wait in the eateries "ruthlessly exploitative." South Wales Police didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. WASHINGTON During a hearing in March, Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) told House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) that his impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden had been a bust. The American people, regardless of party, should know that an investigation was conducted into whether Joe Biden did anything wrong, Porter said. We followed the evidence to where it led: a dead end. So this impeachment inquiry should end today. It wasnt a particularly new sentiment. Many Democrats had already declared the impeachment inquiry over. But Porters remarks took a turn: She said the committee should work in a bipartisan manner to crack down on influence peddling by politicians and Comer responded. Ms. Porter, I think you are sincere, and I look forward to working with you on that legislation, Comer said. Neither lawmaker said another word about it until last week, when they unveiled the Presidential Ethics Reform Act, a bill that, among other things, would require presidents and vice presidents to disclose payments and gifts from foreign sources made within two years of entering or exiting public office. Ethics rules already require the president and vice president to put out annual statements detailing their income, assets and liabilities; the new bill would expand the requirements to family members, and it would cover loans like the ones Joe Biden extended to his brother and son a major talking point in Republicans impeachment inquiry. So were talking about siblings, parents, sister and brother-in-laws, Porter said on CNN. Weve seen more presidents involve their adult children, involve their family, and we think thats likely to continue in the future. Former president Donald Trump gave his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner roles in his administration, and Kushner then struck an enormous payday with the Saudi government after having overseen favorable policy toward Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The draft bill specifies that a son-in-law would be covered by the new reporting requirements, though its not clear if payments to a company rather than to the individual family member would be covered. Another provision affecting Trump would require disclosure of his tax returns, an unofficial presidential tradition that hes always refused to follow. The legislation represents a surprising collaboration not only because Comer has led the Republican impeachment inquiry against Biden, but because the oversight committee has been the scene of some of the nastiest partisan brawling in Congress over the past two years. The latest example of the bad blood: Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crocketts bad-built butch body comment about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) earlier this month., after the Georgia Republican made mocked Crocketts eyelashes. For Comer, the legislation is an outgrowth of his pursuit of corruption allegations against Biden. Hes used his subpoena power to document the presidents sons receipt of several million dollars from foreign nationals, but not shown that the president himself had anything to do with his sons overseas business dealings. For Porter, the bill builds on her reputation as a proponent of ethics in government. She has previously advocated for a stock trading ban for members of Congress, and earlier this year based her ill-fated bid for an open California Senate seat partly on a good-government agenda that called for banning lobbyists from making campaign contributions. The Comer-Porter pairing won the bill a lot of media attention, but so far it lacks cosponsors. Republicans have been quiet about the legislation, while Democrats have been passive-aggressive, with the oversight committees top Democrat, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), introducing a rival ethics bill specifically targeting Trumps receipt of millions from foreign governments during his presidency. The White House doesnt like the Comer-Porter bill, either. Spokesman Ian Sams told reporters that the administration is always happy to look at Congressman Comers bright ideas, but that Biden has already released 26 years of his tax returns and has been a model of ethics. It seems unlikely the presidential ethics bill could become law this year. Asked if it would get a committee hearing, Comer said it needed airtime first, explaining that he and Porter were doing TV interviews to publicize it. Theyve got to explain it to people, Comer told HuffPost. When she proposed the committee work on an influence peddling bill during that hearing in March, Porter said they should consult with good-government groups such as Common Cause, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Public Citizen. Those organizations said they were not consulted on the proposal but offered mild praise for the draft bill. It should have a stronger enforcement mechanism, but its excellent for a disclosure law, Public Citizens Craig Holman said in an interview. The legislation offers no criminal penalties for failing to comply with its requirements, a shortcoming noted by Holman and others. Im not sure why the members pursued this process in this way, but I think the bill has some strengths, but also a number of places where it could be strengthened significantly, said Donald Sherman, executive vice president and chief counsel at CREW, noting that the covered period for disclosures could be longer. Aaron Scherb, senior director of legislative affairs at Common Cause, said elements of the bill resembled elements of other bills Common Cause has supported, such as the For the People Act, a sweeping ethics package that Democrats pushed through the House in 2021. (Rather than merely demand disclosure, that bill would require presidents to divest from assets that present conflicts of interest.) These are not pulled out of a hat, Scherb said. So I think this language, at first glance, seems to be a step in the right direction. Related... Hit TV series puts Xinjiang's millennia-old nomadic culture under spotlight Xinhua) 08:42, May 30, 2024 Ethnic Kazak herdsmen move their livestock to summer pastures in Fuhai County of Altay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Sadat) URUMQI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- For thousands of years, many herders in today's Altay Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have been following a nomadic life, leading their livestock on journeys to different pastures at certain times throughout the year. Recently, this millennia-old tradition has been thrust back into the spotlight following the release of "To the Wonder," a TV series adapted from Li Juan's prose collection "My Altay." The show, which aired lately, became an instant hit. The spring migration in Altay has basically concluded, and the summer migration will begin in early June. A month ago, 600 heads of livestock belonging to Adalbek Beldumulati, a Kazak herder from a village in Altay, were loaded onto multi-deck trucks and transported to a pasture over 200 kilometers away from the village. After a five-hour drive, they arrived at the Sarbulak spring pasture in Altay's Fuhai County. "In the past, it would take at least a week to complete the migration. Now, we can leave in the morning and arrive in the afternoon," said Adalbek Beldumulati, who is in his 50s. Sarbulak, meaning "yellow spring," is a place where melting ice and snow form rivers that flow through the mountains. At the foot of these mountains, lush green grasslands stretch out, dotted with herds of cattle and sheep. The TV series has scored 8.8 out of 10 on China's popular rating platform Douban. The series portrays nomadic life during migration journeys, highlighting the collision of old and new ideas and the integration of traditional and modern ways of life, drawing significant attention to the nomadic culture in Altay. Altay, one of the pastoral areas in Xinjiang, is home to vast grasslands stretching between the Altay Mountains and the Junggar Basin. Nomadic ethnic groups migrate in search of water and grass throughout the year, leading their livestock on long-distance journeys to different pastures based on the growth cycle of the grass. This unique nomadic culture has existed for thousands of years. Even today, the herders in Altay maintain different pastures for each season. Every year, they migrate back and forth from south to north, and vice versa, covering distances ranging from a few dozen kilometers to more than 1,000 kilometers. In the spring of 2024, over 2.2 million livestock in Altay were part of this migration. In the vertical mobile grazing practiced by the Kazak ethnic group, migration allows for the efficient use of forage resources. "The grazing style is adapted to the fragile alpine grassland natural ecosystem," said Chen Xiangjun, professor at the School of Ethnology and Sociology in South-Central Minzu University. Tourists ride horses in Hemu Village in Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ma Kai) In recent years, local government has increased investment in infrastructure in the pastoral areas, transforming some traditional pastoral trails into highways to facilitate the transportation of herders. Over 100 posthouse facilities have also been established along the herders' migration routes, providing them with easier access to services such as accommodation, food and bathing, as well as supplies for their livestock. Today, many herders use modern equipment, such as motorcycles and walkie-talkies, and the younger generation enjoys communicating with the outside world through the internet. Bota, a "post-90s" herder in Altay, has an innate love for pastoral life. She often livestreams and creates videos while grazing, capturing everything from making felt blankets to preparing food with modern kitchenware and electricity. Through her videos, netizens can experience the scenery of the Altay pastures and see how modern life preserves traditions while embracing change. The nomadic culture has also become a tourism attraction in Altay, drawing visitors and shutterbugs alike. An important stopover for herders during their migration journeys, Sarbulak town in Fuhai has been hosting a migration-themed tourism festival for years. Traditional activities like horse racing and wool knitting offer tourists from home and abroad a chance to immerse themselves in the nomadic culture. "An increasing number of tourists have been coming to the pasture to experience the slow-paced life and the unique folk culture," said Waspan Malek, owner of a homestay in Altay's Burqin County. He added that when he first started the business, there were only two to three guest rooms, but with Altay's increasing popularity, he had to expand the homestay to encompass more than 50 guest rooms. Jilin New Village, a filming location of the series "To the Wonder," located in Altay's Habahe County, welcomes nearly 5,000 tourists daily. Among them is An Meimei, 21, who hails from central China's Hubei Province. "I was drawn by the breathtaking scenery portrayed in the TV series. While I had previously seen images of the migration, witnessing the herders' journey firsthand allowed me to truly grasp the essence of their nomadic lifestyle. It's an epic tale of harmony between people and animals," An said. According to the bureau of culture, sports, radio, television and tourism of Altay City, Altay Prefecture recorded over 1.05 million tourist visits from May 13 to 19, up 70.07 percent year on year. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu has sent a letter of congratulation to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28-Azerbaijan's Independence Day. Azernews presents the letter: "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Excellency, On the occasion of Azerbaijans Independence Day, I extend my congratulations to you and the citizens of Azerbaijan. I wish your country continued progress, prosperity, and peace. I deeply value the strong relations between the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and I reaffirm my countrys commitment to further deepening our bilateral dialogue. We will always remember how, in times of need, you were there for us. I am confident that, through joint efforts, Moldova and Azerbaijan will fully capitalise on the opportunities to enhance our cooperation in crucial areas such as energy, transport, agriculture, trade and investment, ultimately benefiting citizens of both our countries. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend your decision to host the 29th session of the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP29). I firmly believe that this event will advance our collective efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and fostering a greener future. With my best wishes, please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration. Maia Sandu President of the Republic of Moldova" ULAN BATOR, May 30 (Xinhua) -- An event promoting China's tea culture and tourism was held on Thursday at the Chinese Cultural Center in Mongolia's capital of Ulan Bator. Titled "Tea for Harmony: Yaji Cultural Salon," the event features tea culture demonstrations and an exhibition of a variety of teas, tea sets, and photos showcasing China's tea culture and tourist destinations. The "Tea for Harmony" cultural salon is a global event aimed at promoting Chinese tea culture in celebration of the International Tea Day, which is observed annually on May 21. UPDATE: This story has been updated to reflect a request for comment from Judge Ballou. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The Clark County District Attorney has filed a motion to prevent a judge from presiding over criminal cases prosecuted by his office. District Attorney Steve Wolfson filed the motion for the recusal of Clark County District Court Judge Erika Ballou on Wednesday. Wolfson referred to an ethics complaint he filed with the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline on April 30 accusing Ballou of five ethics violations. In his motion filed in the Eighth Judicial District Court, Wolfson referred to Ballous behavior as egregious, and wrote, The stakes are extraordinarily high for Judge Ballou since one potential outcome of this ethics complaint could be her removal from judicial office. Wolfson also wrote, The recusal of Judge Ballou from all criminal matters involving the District Attorneys office, while the ethics complaint is pending is the only way to ensure impartiality for these criminal cases. Las Vegas judge responds to state judicial ethics complaint, denies allegations of bias, prejudice against police As first reported by the 8 News Now Investigators, the Nevada Supreme Court ordered Clark County District Court Chief Judge Jerry Wiese to remove Ballou from a criminal case on May 3. Ballou had not followed two previous orders from Nevadas high court regarding the same case. The May 3 order pointed to the district courts failure to comply. The district attorneys office filed a motion for Ballou to recuse herself from the case. A judge should not take action on a case after that filing, according to Nevada state law. Ballou still took action on the case, court records show. The 8 News Now Investigators reached out to Ballou. A district court spokesperson said she is not available for comment at this time. The 8 News Now Investigators first reported the criminal case in question involving Mia Christman who was part of a violent crime spree at the age of 18. She pleaded guilty to two felony charges and was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison. Las Vegas judges controversial decision at center of womans case In an appeal, Christmans attorney, Betsy Allen argued that Christman was the victim of sex trafficking and childhood trauma. Ballou vacated the sentence in 2021 resulting in Christmans release from prison before she finished serving the original term. It felt like somebody took a chance on me, Christman told the 8 News Now Investigators in an exclusive interview. The Clark County District Attorneys office continued to fight for Christman to serve the remainder of her sentence and argued that Christman was manipulating the system again. Christman failed to cooperate and disappeared twice before her guilty plea, according to prosecutors. NV Supreme Court orders removal of Las Vegas judge from case The Nevada Supreme Court reversed Ballous order in 2022. Ballou did not send Christman back to prison. The Nevada Supreme Court issued an order again in 2023. Ballou still did not send Christman back to prison. Allen and Christman went to the pardons board in March which denied their request. Nevada Supreme Court Justice Douglas Herndon expressed frustration. This is kind of turning our pardons process on its head, Herndon said. The walls are closing in on the district court that is shockingly refusing to do its job. After the Nevada Supreme Court ordered Wiese to remove Ballou from Christmans case, Clark County District Court Judge Eric Johnson ordered Christman to surrender on May 7th. She surrendered the next day. In addition to Wolfsons ethics complaint, Ballou already faced ethics charges for several separate incidents including a photo of Ballou in a hot tub with two public defenders. Las Vegas judge posed in hot tub with public defenders, faces ethics charges Ballou served as a public defender for over 15 years before being sworn into the bench in 2021. Her current term ends in 2027. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The window has allowed doctors to both monitor his progress and test new and better scanning methods for assessing brain health. Photo by AdobeStock/HealthDay News California skateboarder Jared Hager has become the first person to receive a transparent skull replacement, which allows doctors to better view the function of his brain. The window has allowed doctors to both monitor his progress and test new and better scanning methods for assessing brain health. Hager, 39, of Downey, Calif., sustained a traumatic brain injury from a skateboarding accident at a Palm Springs reservoir in April 2019. "I just went down this hill without even looking at it, which is like a really dumb thing to do," Hager told ABC News. During emergency surgery, half of Hager's skull was removed to relieve pressure on his brain. Doctors had planned to replace the skull bone once Hager recovered, but the pandemic derailed those plans. Elective surgeries were halted, leaving Hager with just skin and connective tissue protecting his brain for two years. "Even if a stick hits my head, it's just my brain right here. It's just my brain." Hager recalled. But the timing made Hager a perfect candidate to receive an experimental skull implant made of a material that resembles plexiglass. Through this "window," doctors have tested new ultrasound and CT techniques that produce high-resolution brain images. These brain imaging scans collect data on brain activity by measuring changes in blood flow or electrical impulses. They can provide key insights into how the brain works, both in healthy people and those with brain damage or disease, researchers said. "This is the first time anyone had applied functional ultrasound imaging through a skull replacement in an awake, behaving human performing a task," said Dr. Charles Liu, director of the University of Southern California Neurorestoration Center. Researchers asked Hager to solve a "connect-the-dots" puzzle on a computer monitor and play a few melodies on his guitar, using functional ultrasound imaging to track his brain activity. "The ability to extract this type of information noninvasively through a window is pretty significant, particularly since many of the patients who require skull repair have or will develop neurological disabilities," Liu said in a university news release. Researchers believe that ultrasound and CT techniques using such a window could provide better information than MRI or EEG scans through opaque bone or skull replacements. "In addition, 'windows' can be surgically implanted in patients with intact skulls if functional information can help with diagnosis and treatment," Liu added. "If we can extract functional information through a patient's skull implant, that could allow us to provide treatment more safely and proactively." For example, such a window could help doctors track the progress of a patient who's received an electrode implant or some other type of brain surgery. "One of the big problems when we do these surgeries is that a blood clot can form underneath the implant, but having a clear window gives us an easy way to monitor that," said researcher Dr. Jonathan Russin, director of cerebrovascular surgery at Keck Hospital of USC. The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The researchers praised Hager's open-mindedness in agreeing to the transparent skull replacement. "Jared is an amazing guy," Liu said. "His contributions have really helped us explore new frontiers that we hope can ultimately help many other patients." More information Indiana University Bloomington has more on neuroimaging. Copyright 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Former President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he lands at Quad City International Airport en route to Iowa March 13, 2023, in Moline, Illinois. Trump, who is running for the GOP presidential nomination, was indicted on federal charges. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images On May 30, 2024, former President Donald Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Previously, he was indicted on 37 counts by the U.S. Justice Department for mishandling classified documents he kept after leaving office, some of which were labeled "top secret," and then obstructing the governments efforts to recover them. (Trump has said he is innocent.) This is the first time that a former president has been indicted on federal charges. Trump also faces criminal probes by the Fulton County district attorney in Atlanta. According to federal statute 18 U.S. Code 2071, anyone found in possession of top-secret files would not only be subject to fines and jail time but would also "be disqualified from holding any office under the United States." So, what does that mean for Trump, who is running for president again in 2024? If Trump is indicted on criminal charges, wouldn't he receive a lifetime ban from the White House? Not so fast, say legal experts. Under the U.S. Constitution, which lays out the qualifications for holding the nation's highest office, the only limitations are you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 35 years old. It's really hard to disqualify someone from running for president, even a convicted criminal. Demonstrators gather outside of Manhattan Criminal Court March 21, 2023, as the Manhattan district attorney decides whether to charge former U.S. President Donald Trump. Scott Olson/Getty Images The Constitution Versus Federal Law Federal laws, and the consequences for breaking them, are written by Congress, but Congress doesn't have the final word. Even a federal law that's been on the books for decades can still be struck down by the Supreme Court if it's found to be in violation of the Constitution. The Constitution (Article II, Section 1, Clause 5) clearly lays out the qualifications for the presidency: No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States. The question is, can Congress write a law that adds qualifications for federal office or disqualifications in this case to what's already written in the Constitution? Almost certainly not, said Derek Muller, a law professor at the University of Iowa College of Law and a contributor to the Election Law Blog. We spoke with him back in 2022. "There's a pretty robust understanding of law that says Congress cannot add qualifications for federal office," said Muller. "You can imagine, as a practical matter, why that would be a problem. Congress could pass a statute that disqualifies its political enemies or makes it more difficult for its disfavored candidates to win." So even if a federal law says that violators will be disqualified from holding office, it could be challenged in court. And odds are very good that the Supreme Court justices would strike down the "disqualification" part as unconstitutional and let the person run for office again. What About the 14th Amendment? There is, however, a previously little-known clause in the Constitution that disqualifies people from office who have committed one specific crime: insurrection. Supporters of former President Trump pose with a demonstrator who identifies himself as Steven Daniel Wolverton (dressed like the Q-Anon Shaman) outside Trump Tower on March 21, 2023, in New York City. Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images Section 3 of the 14th Amendment reads: No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. "That's the only other place in the Constitution that says, this is prohibited conduct and we don't want individuals serving in government who have assisted in some sort of rebellion," explained Muller. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was written in the wake of the Civil War, when Congress wanted to prevent any officials who served in the Confederacy from holding federal or state office again. In 1872, that disqualification (or "disability" in legal language) was lifted by Congress for most of the banned officials. The "disqualification clause" of the 14th Amendment was collecting dust until the Jan. 6, 2020, attack on the Capitol and accusations that former President Trump incited the insurrection. But what exactly would it take for Trump or another government official who had "previously taken an oath ... to support the Constitution of the United States" to be disqualified from office under the 14th Amendment? "There's a lot of debate about that," said Muller. Does the individual need to be convicted of inciting or supporting a rebellion? Does Congress have to pass a separate "enabling statute" that identifies the individuals who participated in the insurrection or rebellion? There are even people who question whether the disqualification applies to the presidency at all. Yes, You Can Run for President From Prison Muller added that the framers of the Constitution consciously set a "very low bar" of entry for running for office. Unlike European aristocracies, American officeholders didn't have to own land or be wealthy. That's the beauty of American-style democracy. "Just about anyone can run," said Muller. And that goes for convicted felons and other criminals. In the 1920 presidential election, the outspoken socialist Eugene Debs campaigned for president from a federal prison in Georgia. Debs was charged and convicted of sedition in 1918 for his fiery speeches denouncing America's participation in World War I. Running as "Convict No. 9653," Debs won 3.5 percent of the vote in 1920. Eugene Debs smiles as leaves the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, on Christmas Day, 1921. Debs ran for president five times, including from the federal prison. Library of Congress More recently, the fringe politician Lyndon LaRouche ran for president three times in the 1990s and early 2000s after serving seven years in a federal prison for defrauding the IRS. Running Is One Thing, But What About Actually Winning and Serving? As Muller said, just about anybody can run for political office in America, but is there a difference between running and winning? And if a criminal or suspected traitor is elected to office, are there other ways to remove them or disqualify them from running again? Yes, said Muller. Impeachment is the big one. According to the Constitution, Congress has the authority to launch impeachment proceedings against "The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States." If a majority of the House votes to impeach, that's followed by a trial in the Senate. If the Senate votes to convict the official of "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors," the person is removed from office. Civil officers who have been impeached by the House include 15 federal judges; three presidents (Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump who was impeached twice); a cabinet secretary and a U.S. senator, according to the U.S. House of Representatives. Only eight of this group, all federal judges, were convicted and removed from office by the Senate. Disqualification from future office is an optional punishment with impeachment. In its history, the Senate has only barred three people from serving again in the federal government, all federal judges. Impeachment is the only legitimate constitutional tool to bar someone from office, but that doesn't mean that Congress hasn't experimented with other methods. In the 1960s, an outspoken Harlem congressman named Adam Clayton Powell embarrassed his colleagues in the House with some "suboptimal public dealings," noted Muller. First, the House voted to strip Powell of his committee posts, and then it took an unprecedented step the House voted to "exclude" Powell from the next Congress. In other words, they tried to disqualify him from office. Powell sued and the case made it to the Supreme Court, which ruled that the House's actions were unconstitutional. (Powell was so popular in his home district that he was elected back to Congress with 86 percent of the vote.) Congress could try to do the same thing with a president. In 2020, on the same day as the Jan. 6 insurrection, 147 Republican congressmen and women raised objections to certifying President Joe Biden's victory over allegations of voter fraud. Congress came close, in other words, to refusing to seat an elected president. "You're really in uncharted territory at that point," said Muller. "If a majority of the Electoral College, which represents the people and the states, has chosen a president, it's very hard for Congress to turn around and say we're going to reject that as a political matter, which is different from the legal question." Now That's Ironic While prisoners and felons can run for office, millions of Americans behind bars or with felony convictions on their record are barred from voting by state disenfranchisement laws. Original article: Does a Criminal Conviction Bar You From Running for U.S. President? Copyright 2024 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company ADAMS COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) An Adams County man who supplied a gun that was used in a homicide has been sentenced, the Department of Justice announced. Donovyn Smallwood, 25, of McSherrystown, was sentenced Wednesday by United States District Court Judge Jennifer Wilson to a year and one-day imprisonment, according to a news release. Smallwood was convicted for straw purchasing four firearms for people who were not legally allowed to possess them. Adams County woman tries to avoid arrest by fighting constable in creek, police say One of those firearms that Smallwood supplied was used in a homicide and a separate carjacking, the DOJ says. In September 2021, Smallwood bought four 9mm handguns at two different times from a licensed firearms dealer. The DOJ says Smallwood falsely stated he was the actual one buying the guns. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Baltimore Police Department investigated the case. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Morning Weather This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. A Chinese national allegedly pocketed roughly $99 million by selling access to millions of home computers around the world including hundreds of thousands in the United States to cybercriminals, federal officials say. YunHe Wang, 35, crafted malware used to compromise more than 19 million residential Windows computers worldwide, including nearly 614,000 in the U.S., the Department of Justice announced on Wednesday. From 2014 through July 2022, Wang and others ran a botnet that "facilitated cyberattacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats and export violations," Attorney General Merrick Garland stated in a news release. Wang was arrested last week on criminal charges stemming from his deployment of malware and creating and operating a residential proxy service known as "911 S5." The service let cybercriminals bypass financial fraud detection systems to steal billions from financial institutions, credit card issuers and federal lending programs, including more than $5.9 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims in the U.S. during the pandemic, authorities said. The scheme's nearly $100 million in profits allegedly paid for luxury cars, watches and real estate. Wang faces a maximum of 65 years in prison if convicted of charges that include conspiracy to commit computer fraud. The Treasury Department issued financial sanctions against Wang and two others for activities associated with 911 S5, which was taken offline in July 2022 before reemerging as Cloudrouter in October 2023, officials said. To determine if you are a victim of 911 S5 malware, please visit www.fbi.gov/911S5. Second American sentenced after ammo found in luggage in Turks and Caicos Supreme Court allows NRA free speech lawsuit to move forward How prosecutors secured a conviction in Trump "hush money" trial A man accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death in Casselberry this week was stoic as he appeared before a Seminole County judge Thursday afternoon. WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS However, new body camera video released by Casselberry Police shows it was a different scene as they took 37-year-old Farel Torres into custody Wednesday. Investigators said Torres stabbed his girlfriend, 34-year-old mother of two Vanessa Marie Santiago, in the head at her home on San Jose Circle. READ: Seminole County Clerk announces new Domestic Violence Service Center According to police, Torres then called 9-1-1 on himself to confess. According to the police report, Torres kept saying Im sorry as he was taken into custody. That body camera video shows him uncontrollably sobbing as he was later taken to the Seminole County Jail. Investigators said there was a history of domestic violence between Torres and Santiago. Santiago was a mother to two children, one of whom she shared with Torres. Police said they were called in March of this year, after Torres reportedly stole Santiagos phone. Santiago did not press charges at the time. Casselberry police said in 2021 Seminole County deputies also filed a report that cited violence between the couple. READ: Suspected drug dealer charged with manslaughter for fentanyl overdose death Domestic Violence advocates said this case represents the worst case scenario which they try to help women avoid. When youre working with a domestic violence service provider, like Harbor House, or Help Now or Safe House of Seminole. The likelihood that someones going to survive that domestic violence situation is so much higher, because she has someone on their side, said Michelle Sperzel, the CEO of Harbor House of Central Florida. According to some studies, it takes about seven attempts to leave an abusive relationship for good. Sperzel said she frequently works with women trapped in cycles of abuse who feel forced to stay. She said a number of external factors often contribute to why women stay, including financial pressure, housing concerns, and childcare. Organizations like Harbor House can help women safely make getaway plans. READ: Suspect in shooting that killed 2 at illegal after-hours club in Pine Hills arrested in Nashville If you or someone you know is suffering from Domestic Violence, there is help available. Harbor Houses 24/7 Confidential Crisis Line: (407) 886-2856 Florida Domestic Violence Hotline :+1 (800) 500-1119 National Domestic Abuse Hotline: +1 (800) 799-7233 Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Republicans are raging against the Manhattan jury which found former president Donald Trump guilty on all criminal counts at his hush money trial on Thursday. Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an effort to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election. He was accused of covering up reimbursement payments to then-attorney Michael Cohen for $130,000 in hush money to Stormy Daniels, whose story about having sex with Trump threatened to derail his campaign. Republicans in the highest and lowest ranks in the party decried the guilty verdict as election interference or an attempt to keep Trump off the campaign trail. Trumps eldest son Donald Trump Jr was among the first to react on social media. Donald Trump Jr shared an inside look at the room where former President Donald Trump awaits the verdict in his hush money trial (Screenshots / TikTok / Donald Trump Jr) Such bulls***, Don Jr said. On Wednesday, he had shared a video with his father from inside the Manhattan courthouse joking about writing mean tweets. Guilty on all counts, Don Jr added. The Democrats have succeeded in their years long attempt to turn America into a third-world shithole. November 5 is our last chance to save it. Such bullshit. Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 30, 2024 Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served as Trumps lawyer, also decried the ruling, trashing the city he led for eight years. This city has been politically corrupt for most of the past 150 years, he said. You knew on day one Trump was going to be convicted. Throughout the trial, numerous Republicans made the trek to New York City to show their solidarity with the twice-impeached-quadruple-indicted former president. Everyone from back-bench members of the House of Representatives, to governors and attorney generals appeared at the courthouse. Many Republicans did so in the name of circumventing the gag order that Judge Juan Merchan placed on Mr Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed the Biden administration even though the case was carried out by New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents, he said. Trump for his part said on Truth Social that his fate will truly be decided at the ballot box. VICTORY ON NOVEMBER 5TH. SAVE AMERICA!!! Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia proceeded to post an image of an upside down flag, a symbol of Stop the Steal after the 2020 presidential election. Joe Bidens campaign orchestrated a rally outside of the courthouse in New York City supporting a potential conviction of President Trump, she posted on X. This case has been rigged from the start and we all knew it. This isnt a prosecution, its a persecution. We must end the weaponization of government in America. This is what happens in third world countries! Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley criticized the trial as well. Todays verdict, handed down by a partisan and biased judge, is an indictment on the Democrats campaign to weaponize the judicial system to attack President Trump, he said. The real verdict will take place on November 5 when Americans vote for a president they trust to bring down prices, secure the southern border, restore Americas leadership around the world and Make America Great Again. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida posted a campaign donation link on X in response to the conviction. This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA, he said. We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who is considered a potential running mate for Trump, posted a video of himself criticising the verdict. This isn't just ridiculous, he said. This actually erodes the confidence that Americans have in the justice system. Unbelievable unfreaking believable. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a key figure in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, called the verdict a travesty of justice. The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Bidens failing radical policies. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who traveled to New York to support the former president, called the trial a witch hunt. Whether you consider the lopsided jury, the gag order issued to silence only President Trump, the prosecutions failure to outline the alleged underlying crimes, or the lack of a unanimous verdict required for conviction, this trial was a complete joke and a massive misuse of taxpayer dollars, he said in a statement. Representative Lauren Boebert, who along with Mr Gaetz and other hard-right Republicans, went to New York to show their support earlier this month, criticised the decision. If this were happening in another country, Biden would be asking Congress to authorize a war to reinstate democracy abroad, Ms Boebert, who faces a tough primary challenger after switching districts, said on X. Make no mistake, this is Communism. Donald Trump Asks for Donations After Being Found Guilty on All Counts in Criminal Trial, Lashes Out Calling the verdict "disgraceful," the former president-turned-convicted felon also appealed for campaign donations Shannon Stapleton-Pool/Getty Donald Trump Donald Trump is using his guilty verdict as a fundraising opportunity and lashing out at the justice system. On May 30 in Manhattan, a jury delivered a guilty verdict in his six-week criminal trial. The former president, 77, was found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Immediately after the guilty verdict was read, Trump the presumptive Republican nominee for president in the November 2024 election released a fundraising call on Truth Social, calling himself a "political prisoner" and blasting the court as "corrupt." A defeated-looking Trump also spoke briefly outside of the courthouse as he departed, once again blaming the Biden administration for charges brought by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office. (A claim that has no evidence.) This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, he said. Well fight to the end and well win. When a reporter asked Trump why Americans should vote for a convicted felon, he did not respond, according to The New York Times. Related: Publisher David Pecker Testifies About Trump Team's Alleged Role in Burying Stories During 2016 Election The jury that determined Trump's fate comprised seven men and five women representing a variety of backgrounds and ideologies. The group deliberated for two days before reaching their decision. Trump now faces up to four years in prison. As a first-time offender of a non-violent offense, he is likely to get off easy with probation and a fine, but sentencing is ultimately at the discretion of Judge Juan Merchan, with whom Trump has repeatedly sparred. AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah Donald Trump arriving at the courthouse for his criminal trial on April 15, 2024. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office brought an unprecedented case against Trump that aimed to prove he not only falsified financial records "with intent to defraud" in this instance, to mask a $130,000 hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels in the final days of his 2016 presidential election but that he did so in order to conceal a second crime, which elevates the charges from misdemeanors to felonies. 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. In falsifying the records, the DA's office argued, Trump was more broadly attempting to bury evidence of an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Donald Trump Breaks Silence After Being Found Guilty: 'Our Country Has Gone To Hell' Former President Donald Trump has finally spoken out after being found guilty of 34 counts of felony in his hush money trial. A jury comprised of 7 men and 6 women from New York came to the historic decision, making Trump the first president in US history to be convicted of a crime. Donald Trump notably refused to testify in his own trial, saying he did not see the need to because, according to him, the prosecution "had no case." Donald Trump Speaks Out After Guilty Verdict MEGA Trump, like most times, wasted no time in addressing the historic verdict in his criminal trial. The former president vented his frustration at the jury's decision while repeating the claim that the trial was orchestrated by the incumbent president, Joe Biden. The billionaire mogul also stated in his speech that the fight is not over, implying his intention to appeal the verdict. "Our whole country is being rigged right now," Trump told the press outside the courtroom. "This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound, to hurt an opponent. A political opponent. And I think it's just a disgrace, and we'll keep fighting, we'll fight till the end, and we'll win because our country has gone to hell. We don't have the same country anymore, we have a divided mess ." He continued, "We are a nation in decline, serious decline of people pouring into our country right now. From prisons and from mental institutions. Terrorists and they're taking over our country. We have a country that's in big trouble, but this was a rigged decision right from day one, with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. Never!" Trump concluded his statement: "We will fight for our constitution. This is far from over. Thank you very much." Donald Trump Was Found Guilty Of 34 Counts Of Falsifying Business Records MEGA The jury in Trump's hush money trial has found the former president guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in payments made to former adult film star Stormy Daniels. On Thursday, the jury pronounced the verdict in the historic trial after deliberating for only two days. The hush money trial was filled with several dramatic moments, including multiple outbursts from the Republican presidential hopeful about the gag order placed on him at the start of the criminal trial. The jury's shocking verdict makes Trump the first president in history to be convicted of a crime. Now he faces up to four years in prison, but as a first-time offender, the billionaire mogul could be given a lighter sentence. Trump's sentencing has now been scheduled for July 11, 2024. Donald Trump Jr. Speaks Out After His Father's Guilty Verdict MEGA One of Trump's family members has already spoken out about the ex-president's conviction. Donald Trump Jr. broke his silence on his father's guilty verdict, proclaiming that it is a "sad day for America." Donald Jr said, "Obviously [it's] just a sad day for America. Crazy what's going on in this country. Obviously [no one was] probably expecting anything different with this jury, with this biased judge, whose daughter is profiteering from this stuff." He added later added, "The Democrats have succeeded in their years-long quest to turn our country into an absolute cr-p hole. They've done that. They've been trying for a long time. There's literally no other way about it at this point." Donald Trump Refused To Testify In His Trial MEGA Trump, who had earlier made known his intention to take to the witness stand in the criminal trial, later backed out, claiming that the hush money judge's "rulings [make] it difficult to testify." The former president further noted, "Anything I did, anything I did in the past, they can bring everything up. And you know what, I've had a great past." Trump then reiterated a stance predating his trial as another reason for his decision to abstain from testifying. "The other reason is because they have no case," he added. "In other words, why testify when they have no case There's no crime so when you say, 'Why not testify,' they have no case, other than it's a corrupt system." Donald Trump's MAGA Followers Proclaim Their Support Of Him After Guilty Verdict MEGA Trump's guilty verdict seems to have further energized his MAGA supporters, as many have taken to social media to proclaim their support for the convicted ex-president. One person wrote online, "These verdicts pissed off MILLIONS of Americans who are tired of our two-tiered bullsh-t justice system and basically ensures your fathers re-election. LETS GOOO." Another stated, "Trump will only get more popular! A completely corrupt trial. Hand-picked Liberal Judge and Liberal Jury." "Pretty much secured another Trump victory come November. That will make 3 straight wins for Trump. Watch the ballot box. America. Its their only hope, and they will do it again," a third claimed. YAOUNDE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that it is facing a funding shortfall to address the humanitarian needs of Sudanese refugees in Chad. Nearly 185,000 Sudanese have crossed the border into Chad and continue to await relocation from dangerous border areas, particularly in the Adre border town of the Central African country, UNHCR said in a statement. "The first rains have started in Adre. It is an expected but devastating news as tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees still do not have suitable shelter to protect themselves from the impending rainy season. In Chad, rains often bring catastrophic flooding, render roads impassable and limit humanitarian access," the statement quoted Laura Lo Castro, UNHCR representative in Chad, as saying, stressing that an additional 17 million U.S. dollars is urgently needed to relocate and accommodate 50,000 refugees in the area. "We call on the generosity of our donors to urgently cover the most critical gaps to protect and save lives," Castro added. Since April 2023, the conflict in Sudan has forced nearly 600,000 people to flee to Chad. Overall, the United Nations and its partners require 630.2 million dollars to respond to the urgent needs of Sudanese crossing the border, but only 6 percent have been secured so far, the statement added. Former U.S. President and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts in the New York hush money trial on May 30. Trump was convicted on all 34 counts in relation to falsifying business records related to hush money payments made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the lead up to the 2016 presidential election. The guilty verdict marks first time in the country's history that a U.S. president has been convicted of a felony. All 12 jurors unanimously convicted Trump following nearly 12 hours of deliberation in the New York City courthouse. Following the verdict, Trump addressed reporters stating that the verdict "was a disgrace." "This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt, Trump told reporters, without providing any evidence. "The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people, Trump added, referring to the upcoming U.S. presidential election scheduled for November 4. Sentencing is scheduled to be held on July 11, just four days ahead of when the presumptive Republican nominee is set to be nominated at the Republican National Convention. Throughout his campaign for president, Trump has repeatedly claimed he could stop the war in Ukraine "in 24 hours" though he has never publicly stated how he would do this. Trump has said he would not commit to providing Ukraine with defense assistance if he won the 2024 election. Trump's sway over the party contributed to the six-month deadlock of the $61 billion in U.S. aid for Ukraine. The Washington Post wrote on April 7, citing anonymous sources, that Trump had privately said he could end it by pressuring Ukraine to cede Crimea and Donbas to Moscow. According to the Washington Post, Trump also said he believes that both Moscow and Kyiv "want to save face, they want a way out," claiming that Ukrainians in Russian-occupied territories would not object to being part of Russia. "If the deal and the idea is simply to give our territories, then it is very primitive," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in response. He previously described Russian President Vladimir Putin's move to launch the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as "genius" and "savvy" in 2022. As the presumptive Republican nominee, Trump will face incumbent President Joe Biden in a rematch of the 2020 election. Read also: Trump again claims he could have stopped Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A first-of-its-kind conviction could lead to an equally unprecedented sentencing as the former president faces possible prison time for falsifying business records to conceal other crimes Michael M. Santiago/Getty Donald Trump, pictured in the Manhattan criminal court on May 21, 2024, was charged with 34 felony counts of falsified business records Donald Trump is now a convicted felon after a jury delivered a guilty verdict in his historic criminal trial on Thursday, May 30. The former president, who spent the last six-plus weeks in a Manhattan courtroom, was found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The jury that determined Trump's fate comprised seven men and five women representing a variety of backgrounds and ideologies. The group deliberated for two days before reaching their decision. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Donald Trump, pictured in the Manhattan criminal court on May 21, 2024, was charged with 34 felony counts of falsified business records Related: Donald Trump Spreads Misinformation About His Jury Selection Process to Cement 'Witch Hunt' Narrative Prior to the verdict reading, New York Judge Juan Merchan addressed the courtroom, saying, Please let there be no reactions, no outbursts of any kind." Trump and his team, who were smiling moments before the jury announced they had come to a conclusion, grew suddenly serious at the news, according to multiple reporters in the room. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Bloomberg via Getty Donald Trump returns from a break on the first day of his Manhattan criminal trial on April 15, 2024 Many had braced for a hung jury which happens if jurors fail to unanimously agree on a verdict given the likelihood that at least one person on the panel would refuse to turn against the Republican presidential candidate. In the event of a hung jury, a mistrial would have been declared and Trump's charges would remain in limbo, which would be considered a victory for the former president. With a jury conviction, Trump's claims of a baseless criminal case were rejected and he now faces up to four years in prison. As a first-time offender of a non-violent offense, he is likely to get off easy with probation and a fine, but sentencing is ultimately at the discretion of Merchan, with whom Trump has repeatedly sparred. Related: N.Y.C. Mayor Eric Adams Says Rikers Island Will 'Be Ready' if Donald Trump Gets Jail Time Elizabeth Williams via AP A courtroom sketch shows Donald Trump and Judge Juan Merchan listening as the defense grills Stormy Daniels on May 7, 2024 The Manhattan District Attorney's Office brought an unprecedented case against Trump that aimed to prove he not only falsified financial records "with intent to defraud" in this instance, to mask a $130,000 hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels in the final days of his 2016 presidential election but that he did so in order to conceal a second crime, which elevates the charges from misdemeanors to felonies. In falsifying the records, the DA's office argued, Trump was more broadly attempting to bury evidence of an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election. Related: Publisher David Pecker Testifies About Trump Team's Alleged Role in Burying Stories During 2016 Election Prosecutors provided jurors with strong evidence of falsified business records, but proving that they could be attributed to Trump and charged as felonies was more difficult, relying heavily on witness testimony to shed light on the former president's involvement and intentions. The defense argued that prosecutors' primary witness, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, could not be trusted to tell the truth, attempting to place doubt in the jurors' minds. Related: MSNBC's Ari Melber on What's at Stake in Donald Trump's Hush Money Trial (Exclusive) Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Michael Cohen leaves his apartment to testify at the Manhattan criminal courthouse on May 14, 2024 Colloquially called Trump's "hush money" trial, given that Daniels' hush money payment anchored the narrative, the Manhattan case went far beyond white-collar crime. It was the first of four criminal cases brought against the former president in 2023 three of which hit on themes of election interference. Through hard evidence and exhaustive witness testimony, Manhattan prosecutors painted a portrait of a former reality TV star who unlawfully tilted the 2016 presidential election in his favor by conspiring with powerful friends to suppress information from voters. Jurors' guilty verdict signals that beyond a reasonable doubt the evidence presented to them supported the prosecution's story. 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. Trump's sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention begins. He is expected to appeal the conviction. The former president's remaining three criminal cases continue to face court delays and are unlikely to go to trial before the November election. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A jury in New York City today found former president Donald Trump guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to keep a potential sex scandal from derailing his first presidential campaign. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, just days before the start of the Republican National Convention. More from Deadline The verdict, in the only one of four criminal cases against Trump to go to trial to date, could have far-reaching effects on his bid to recapture the White House in November. The first impact is likely to be a tidal wave of reaction across broadcast and social media to the outcome of a trial with no precedent in U.S. history. As the verdicts were read, Trump sat motionless between his attorneys, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove. Blanche asked for all of the jurors to be polled, and they all affirmed their guilty verdicts. The judge, Juan Merchan, then rejected Blanches motion to set aside the verdict. RELATED: Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg Says Donald Trump Conviction Was Reached Without Fear Or Favor As he left, Trump told reporters that the verdicts were a disgrace, a common refrain during the trial. This was a rigged disgraceful trial, he said. He also continued to blame the trial as the work of Joe Biden, but the charges were brought in New York state court by Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg, not the Justice Department. Trump faces up to four years in prison for each count but its unclear whether Merchan will call for time behind bars at sentencing. RELATED: Watch The Trump Verdicts As They Are Announced Live On Fox News, CNN & MSNBC The late-afternoon jury verdict galvanized the media, with cable news networks, fixated on the Manhattan courthouse for much of the day, joined by broadcast networks with special reports. Anchors quickly noted the historic importance of the moment, as Trump is now the first former president to be a convicted felon. Whats unclear is what the ultimate impact of the verdict will be politically. Cable news punditry and analysis, which had been offering non-stop commentary on the likely outcome of the case, turned to whether the conviction would have a substantial sway on the electorate. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch defender of the former president, called the verdict a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. The Trump campaign posted a fund-raising pitch just minutes after the verdict. RELATED: See Each Of The 34 Felony Charges In Donald Trump Hush-Money Trial Ian Sams, a White House spokesman, said, We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. Bidens presidential campaign spokesman, Michael Tyler, said in a statement that Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face the consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. Convicted felons can still run for office, and the Constitution also does not bar a convicted felon from serving as disqualifying a person from the presidency. RELATED: 2024 Presidential Election Debate Schedule: Dates, Times, Wholl Be There And Who Wont Outside the Manhattan courthouse after the verdict, the scene was of a heavy police presence, with a helicopter buzzing overhead. Across the street, a park set aside for protests was more filled with people since the trial started. There were some heated exchanges between pro- and anti- Trump demonstrators, but few raised voices. If anything, the surprise was how relatively quiet it was, given the circus-like atmosphere outside at other moments of the case. The scene outside the Manhattan courthouse after the verdict. Jurors in the six-week trial saw a procession of witnesses from several walks of Trumps life. They included a former tabloid publisher, David Pecker, who helped Trump keep embarrassing stories from coming out, and a former trusted political adviser, Hope Hicks, who wept on the stand remembering a conversation with her White House boss. A group of Trump Organization employees, testifying under subpoena, were called to help prosecutors trace a money trail that was critical to their case. The most closely watched and harshly cross-examined witnesses were Stormy Daniels, the porn star who accepted $130,000 to stay quiet about her claim of a one-night stand with Trump; and Michael Cohen, the roving Trump lawyer and fixer who paid Daniels, and testified that Trump repaid him with faked billing for legal work he never performed. The trial turned over a rock on a seamy information trade complete with payouts and non-disclosure agreements that provided a template for Pecker paying former Playboy model Karen McDougal and Cohen paying Daniels for their silence about alleged sexual encounters with Trump. Jurors heard that Pecker and his deputy, The National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard, paid five and six figures to tipsters with scandalous claims about celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Charlie Sheen. They didnt always publish dirt, Pecker testified; sometimes they held it over a celebrity to persuade them to sit for interviews or cover shoots in Peckers gossip and lifestyle publications. With this network of gossip exchange at his disposal, Pecker promised to be his longtime friends eyes and ears for any salacious claims about Trump that might surface during his presidential campaign. Prosecutors said that Trumps victory in 2016 was partly a product of the criminal conspiracy they alleged in their indictment, as Trump and Cohen resorted to a proven catch and kill hush-money strategy to buy Daniels silence in the campaigns last days. With the GOP nominee reeling from the October surprise of the infamous Access Hollywood tape, and Daniels threatening to step forward, Cohen sent $130,000 to Daniels lawyer, Davidson, on October 27, 2016 using a fake real estate consulting shell company. The $420,000 in total that Cohen received from then-President Trump during 2017 was his reimbursement for the deal with Daniels, prosecutors said. It was not, prosecutors argued, monthly taxable income for ongoing legal work under a retainer agreement, as it was made out to be in 34 invoices, ledger entries and checks with attached pay stubs. Trump signed checks to Cohen that traveled in express mail envelopes between Trump Tower in New York and he White House, with stopovers at the Washington, D.C. home of a Trump bodyguard, Keith Schiller, who followed his boss from the private sector to the countrys highest office. Jurors saw scans of the checks bearing Trumps spiky signature. The 34-count indictment rested on a law against falsifying business records and an obscure statute prohibiting election influence by unlawful means. Legal observers called the prosecutions strategy novel because it required jurors to climb a kind of statutory ladder with one of the rungs being a rarely cited, and possibly never before prosecuted, state law against election conspiracies. For each felony count, jurors would have to find beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump, either on his own or in league with Cohen and others, falsified the paperwork for Cohens repayment and did so with an intent to defraud that included promoting his candidacy through the aforementioned unlawful means. Merchan, in his instructions to the jury, gave them three options to pick and choose from for checking off the unlawful means box: Cohens $130,000 payment to Daniels as a violation of the contribution caps for individuals ($2,700) and corporations ($0) in federal elections that were in force in 2016; other falsified business records including for a phony shell company set up by Cohen to wire hush money to Davidson for Daniels; and deliberately misleading information provided in tax returns connected to the money that circulated between Cohen, Daniels and Trump. Jurors had to conclude unanimously that Trumps and Cohens actions met the unlawful means test, but wouldnt have to be unanimous as to which unlawful means; they could pick and choose. If they cleared all these hurdles they could find him guilty. The trial was conducted under a heavy veil of security, with metal barricade fencing ringing the Manhattan Criminal Court building, and uniformed court officers joined by members of the New York Police Department and the Secret Service to keep watch on people and activity at a courthouse that was filled with journalists covering the trial while still going about its regular daily business. Protests were confined to a public park across the street carved up with barricades into separate pro- and anti-Trump camps. Trump blamed the paltry daily showing from supporters on the security, complaining in his regular addresses to pool reporters in the courthouse hallway that the area outside looked like Fort Knox. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Donald Trump has been convicted on all charges - STEVEN HIRSCH/AFP Donald Trump has been found guilty in his hush money trial of falsifying business records to buy the silence of a porn star, a historic verdict that could influence the US elections. The Republican nominee was convicted by a New York jury on all 34 charges of falsifying business records, after weeks of testimony in a New York trial that veered from the implausible to the obscene. Trump becomes the first former president to be convicted of a crime. He is almost certain to appeal his conviction, which does not disqualify him from running for office or serving as president if elected. Trump, 77, now faces potential jail time over his convictions for covering up payments to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, to buy her silence over an alleged affair. He blamed the Biden administration for his conviction. He has become the first former president to be convicted of a crime, but is almost certain to appeal his conviction. Donald Trump, pictured earlier in the trial, has been found guilty - Mark Peterson/REUTERS Trump condemned the verdict outside court, calling the trial a disgrace. He described himself as a very innocent man, adding: This was a rigged decision, right from day one.. He told reporters that the case was long from over and vowed to fight for our Constitution. The real verdict is going to be Nov 5 by the people, he said. He will be sentenced by Judge Juan Merchan on July 11, 4 days before the Republican national convention. Outside of jail term, more lenient punishments include probation, which would require him to clear any out-of-state travel with a probation officer, or home confinement. Trump has repeatedly described his prosecution as a witch hunt which he claims has been orchestrated by Democrats who hope to stop his presidential campaign ahead of Novembers election. The New York jury deliberated for almost ten hours before handing down a unanimous verdict on all 34 counts. Trump accused Mr Biden, the US president and his opponent in Novembers election, of orchestrating his conviction. This was done by the Biden administration in order to vote to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent, he said. And I think its just a disgrace. And well keep fighting. Well fight till the end and well win. Mr Bidens campaign responded immediately after the verdict, arguing that it showed that no one is above the law and accused Trump of an unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box, a campaign spokesman said. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The US president immediately launched a fundraising push. A spokesman for the White House counsels office said: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. The charges centred on a $130,000 (102,000) hush money payment that Trumps former fixer Michael Cohen made to Ms Daniels days before the presidential election in 2016. Cohen said he made the payment at the behest of his former boss to silence Ms Daniels about an alleged tryst with the former president, amid concerns it would be damaging to his campaign. Trump was accused of lying on his business records to disguise payments to Cohen to reimburse him, which were written down as fees for legal services rendered. To convict Trump on each charge, the jury had to find that the former president had created a fraudulent entry in his companys records, or caused someone else to do so, and that he did so with the intent of committing or concealing another crime. The jurors found that Trump had violated New York election law, section 17-152, which makes it illegal for two or more conspirators to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means. Polls show his conviction is unlikely to have a major impact on the result of the election. One survey of swing states conducted on behalf of The Telegraph found that his support would increase if he was found guilty. While the jury was required to unanimously agree that something unlawful was done to help Trumps election campaign, they did not have to agree on what exactly had taken place. Each charge brought by the Manhattan District Attorneys office was based on a business document. There were 11 falsified invoices, 12 falsified ledger entries and 11 falsified cheques, nine of which Trump signed himself from the White House. A Trump Organisation general ledger entry inputting Michael Cohen's monthly $35,000 payment for May 2017. It states the payment was for a 'retainer' The 12-strong jury began its deliberations on Wednesday morning, but few expected a verdict to be delivered after two days of discussion. Throughout the trial, the 12 New Yorkers heard testimony from a cast of colourful characters including Ms Daniels, a disgraced publisher and former members of Trumps inner circle. Ms Daniels herself recounted lurid details of the alleged affair, including that he had invited her to a hotel room and that she had smacked his bottom with a magazine bearing his face on the cover. She claimed that her previous statement denying the affair was false, and had been made on the request of Trumps inner circle. The prosecution alleged Trump, Cohen and former tabloid boss David Pecker conspired to corrupt the 2016 election through a catch and kill scheme to bury negative stories about Trump and promote negative ones about his opponents. Jurors were told of three hush money payments. The first was a $30,000 pay-off made by American Media Inc (AMI) to former Trump Tower doorman Dino Sajudinfor a false story about Trump having an illegitimate child with a maid. That followed a $150,000 payment to former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal, who alleged she had had a years-long affair with Trump. That fee was also paid for by AMI. Finally, there was the critical payment Cohen made to Ms Daniels weeks before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in Lake Tahoe in 2006. Prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorneys office argued the scheme could have led to Trumps 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton. This scheme, cooked up by these men, at this time, could very well be what got President Trump elected, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said in his closing argument. Cohen testified that Trump had approved the payoff after the fallout from the infamous Access Hollywood tape leak in which Trump boasted he could grab women by the p----. He claimed Trump agreed to a scheme to reimburse him through monthly instalments disguised as legal fees, and the pair had discussed the plan during a meeting at the Oval Office in 2017. The prosecution provided reams of evidence to bolster Cohens claims of criminal activity, including phone logs, text messages and secret recordings of Trump appearing to discuss a payoff to Ms McDougal. But the substance of their damning arguments relied on the testimony of a convicted perjurer, and two scribbled Trump Organisation documents appearing to map out the repayment plan. Throughout the trial, Trumps lawyers attempted to tear into Cohens credibility. He is literally the greatest liar of all time, defence lawyer Todd Blanche told during his closing argument. Ultimately, the jury decided otherwise, and Trump must now await his fate at sentencing on July 11. 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 YORK Donald Trump was found guilty of falsifying New York business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in a conspiracy to defraud the 2016 electorate, a historic verdict making Trump a felon and the first American president to suffer the indignity of a criminal conviction. Jurors found Trump guilty on felony counts of falsification of business records tied to his reimbursement to Michael Cohen in 2017 for paying off the adult film star two weeks before his victory against Hilary Clinton to stay silent about her claims of an extramarital liaison in a Tahoe hotel room a decade prior. The jury found Trump guilty on all 34 felony charges. Trump, 77, could receive a sentence of up to four years in prison when sentenced, or a term of probation. The verdict caps the first of four criminal cases facing the 45th U.S. president and the only one expected to resolve before the election in November and determines he committed felonies during his last successful bid for the White House. The panel of seven men and five women, who heard from 22 witnesses, got the case mid-day Wednesday, following a monthlong case in which prosecutors presented extensive testimony about a plot to influence Trumps candidacy devised in August 2015 at Trump Tower between the newly-minted candidate, Cohen, and David Pecker, the former chairman of American Media, Inc., or AMI, who spent four days on the stand. Front-page stories lauding the presidential candidate with input from Trumps campaign that ran in the AMI-run National Enquirer were part of the ruse to boost Trumps candidacy and hit jobs maligning his opponents. Pecker, the media magnate friendly with Trump for decades, told the court he agreed to keep watch for stories that could harm his chances with voters, leading to payoffs silencing Daniels, former Playboy model Karen McDougal, and a doorman at Trump Tower about a series of alleged sex scandals. In the states closing argument, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked the jury to hold the ex-president to the same standard as every citizen and find him legally accountable for causing the filing of bogus business records to disguise a conspiracy to hide information from voters, in violation of New York election law, to get him elected. A lot of people say this: Who cares? Who cares if Mr. Trump slept with a porn star ten years before the 2016 election? Plenty of people feel that way, as I said. But, its harder to say that the American people dont have the right to decide for themselves whether they care or not, that a handful of people sitting in a room can decide what information gets into those voters hands, Steinglass said. There is no special standard for this defendant. Donald Trump cant choose someone during rush hour on 5th Avenue and get away with it. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in April 2023 and vehemently denied knowledge of the false entries documenting his bloated payback to Cohen monthly $35,000 checks logged in the books as compensation for legal services. Defense attorney Todd Blanche, in his final statements to the jury, denied the existence of the catch and kill scheme to influence the election or that his client knew about internal bookkeeping practices at the Trump Organization. There is no other way to categorize an invoice from a lawyer to President Trump than to call it a legal expense. The Government has criminalized that, has said that that was a crime Thats absurd. Its not a crime, Blanche said. Campaigns want to amplify the good things about their candidate and expose the bad things about their opponents. Again, this is a campaign. This is an election. This is not a crime. Trump still faces 54 felonies in three cases in Washington, D.C., Fulton County, Georgia, and Fort Pierce, Florida, which respectively allege he plotted to overturn Bidens 2020 win, subvert the results of that election in Georgia, and mishandled highly sensitive classified documents and thwarted efforts by law enforcement to recover them. Hes pleaded not guilty to all counts. ___ After former President Donald Trump was found guilty in his Manhattan criminal trial Thursday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris campaign applauded the unanimous verdict. The verdict came after a six-week-long trial that proved Trump covered up hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The 12-person jury found the former president guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, prompting both cheers and outcry from people across the country tuning in live to watch the decision. Biden-Harris campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler said in a press release after the decision was announced that, despite the verdict, the threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater and urged the public to vote for Biden in the November 2024 election. In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, Tyler said. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. A spokesperson for the White House Counsels Office simply said: We respect the rule of law and have no additional comment. Trump, who has already called the trial a scam and vowed to appeal the decision, expressed his outrage on the social media app Truth Social. The former president said that his civil rights have been totally violated with the highly political, unconstitutional, and election interfering witch hunt. This was a disgracea rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt, he wrote on the social media platform. We will fight for our constitutionthis is long from over! Read More: What Happens if Trump Is Convicted? Your Questions, Answered The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, said on X that Thursday was a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one, Johnson said. The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents. The American people see this as lawfare, and they know it is wrongand dangerous, he continued. President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdictand he WILL WIN! And Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell echoed: These charges never should have been brought in the first place. I expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal. Republican politicians and Trump allies quickly condemned the verdict, with some calling it an affront to justice and a travesty of justice. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine criticized the political underpinnings of the case, while Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio described it as a disgrace and election interference. Sen. Tim Scott, who is reportedly in contention to be selected as Trumps running mate, reacted with a video on social media urging followers to stand against Biden and with Trump. Absolute injustice. This erodes our justice system. Hear me clearly: You cannot silence the American people. You cannot stop us from voting for change. Joe Biden youre fired. We the People stand with Donald J. Trump. pic.twitter.com/lqylAh1Bze Tim Scott (@votetimscott) May 30, 2024 This is a dark day for our countrywhere the very justice system that had been a hallmark of justice for hundreds of years, has been replaced with a two-tiered system based on politics! Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, wrote on X. I do have faith that the American people will not tolerate this! Read More: Republicans and Democrats Try to Cash In on Trumps Conviction Meanwhile, billionaire Elon Musk criticized Trumps conviction in a post on X, the social media platform he owns, saying: If a former President can be criminally convicted over such a trivial mattermotivated by politics, rather than justicethen anyone is at risk of a similar fate. Some Democrats commended the verdict, including California Rep. Eric Swalwell, who said the decision was a victory. Donald Trump is a convicted felon, Swalwell wrote on X. This verdict is not a win for any single person. Its a win for an idea. The idea that we all follow the same rules. The rule of law won today. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the charges against Trump, thanked the jurors and prosecution team during a press conference Thursday night after the verdict was announced. While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial, and ultimately today at this verdict, in the same manner as every other case that comes through the courtroom doorsby following the facts and the law and doing so without fear or favor, Bragg said. I did my job. We did our job. Many voices out there. The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury. And the jury has spoken. When asked about sentencing for Trump, Bragg said, Im going to let our words in court speak for themselves when we get to the sentencing Trump supporters crowded outside the Manhattan courthouse and screamed their objections after the verdict was announced. NOW: TRUMP FOUND GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS Trump supporters outside the courthouse in Manhattan react to the verdict pic.twitter.com/0r6QuMrZ0Z katie smith (@probablyreadit) May 30, 2024 There is no justice in this country! one yelled. Not f-cking guilty! another screamed. Meanwhile, anti-Trump protesters gathered outside the courthouse to count the charges that Trump was found guilty on. Many held signs saying, Not Above The Law and Lies Have Consequences. #NOW Anti-Trump protester COUNT THE CHARGES that Trump was found guilty on, outside NYC Court pic.twitter.com/YyIQOAEsYb Oliya Scootercaster (@ScooterCasterNY) May 30, 2024 Outside of the political arena, late night comedian Jimmy Fallon reacted to the verdict with a parody music video portraying Trump singing, I fought the law, and the law won. Trumps sentencing hearing is set for July 11. Chad de Guzman and Koh Ewe contributed reporting. Contact us at letters@time.com. As The Blast reported, a verdict was finally reached in former President Donald Trump's criminal trial on Thursday, May 30, 2024. The hush money trial lasted five intense weeks, with Trump in attendance every day. The jury, consisting of seven men and six women from New York, delivered their decision after only two days of deliberations. Judge Juan Merchan told the courtroom not to react as the verdict was read. After being found guilty on all 34 counts, Trump is now a convicted felon. Now, his son, Donald Trump Jr., is breaking his silence. Donald Trump Jr. Calls The Judge 'Bias' MEGA The jury in Trump's hush money trial has found the former President guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to former adult film star Stormy Daniels. Moments after the verdict was read, Donald Trump Jr. broke his silence. "Obviously [it's] just a sad day for America," Trump Jr. said in his statement. "Crazy what's going on in this country. Obviously [no one was] probably expecting anything different with this jury, with this biased judge, whose daughter is profiteering from this stuff." "The Democrats have succeeded in their years-long quest to turn our country into an absolute cr-p hole," he later added. "They've done that. They've been trying for a long time. There's literally no other way about it at this point." Donald Trump's Guilty Verdict Is 'Election Interference,' According To Donald Trump Jr. MEGA The jury determined that Trump had falsified records to hide the true purpose of money given to his former fixer, Michael D. Cohen. The fabricated records misrepresented the payments as regular legal expenses, whereas, in reality, the former President was reimbursing Cohen for a $130,000 hush-money agreement made with p-rn star Stormy Daniels to suppress her story of a sexual encounter with Trump. "We are getting exactly what these people have voted for, and it's not going to work out well," Trump Jr. continued of the verdict. "If you think they can do it to Trump, they can do it to anyone, okay?" "This is honestly a sad day for our country. It's an absolute fr-ggin' disgrace, and I think everyone knows it." Trump Jr. then called the verdict "election interference." The Former President Calls Guilty Verdict A 'Disgrace' MEGA Shortly after hearing the verdict, Donald Trump spoke to the media. "This was a rigged trial, a disgrace," he said. "They wouldnt give us a venue change. We were at 5 percent or 6 percent in this district and this area." "This was a rigged disgraceful trial and the real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here," the former President continued before claiming he is a "very innocent man." "Im fighting for our country. Im fighting for our Constitution," Trump added. "Our whole country is being rigged right now." 'This Is Long From Over' MEGA The former President did not stop there; he blamed President Joe Biden and his administration. "This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent," he told the press. "And I think its just a disgrace, and well keep fighting and fighting till the end and well win because our country has gone to hell." "We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess," he added. "Were a nation in decline, serious decline, millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now from prisons and from mental institutions, terrorists, and theyre taking over our country." "We have a country thats in big trouble, but this was a rigged decision right from day one. With a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case," Trump said. "Never. And we will fight for our Constitution." Trump then promised, "This is long from over." Donald Trump's Sentencing Has Been Scheduled MEGA This makes Trump the first president in history to be convicted of a crime. He now faces up to four years in prison, though as a first-time offender, the billionaire mogul might receive a lighter sentence. Trump's sentencing has now been scheduled for July 11, 2024. Neither the conviction nor any sentence prevents Trump from serving as president. Donald Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts in New York gave way to a stark reality: The former presidents pre-election odyssey through the criminal justice system may have come to an end. Though there are still three criminal cases pending in Washington, D.C., Florida and Georgia, Trump is poised to face voters before he comes close to any trial on the graver charges prosecutors leveled in those cases. And if he wins in November, he may never face those other cases at all. That dynamic began to dawn the instant the word guilty was rattled off in court on charges that Trump falsified business records to hide his efforts to prevent porn star Stormy Daniels from disclosing their alleged affair. The charges carry a potential jail sentence, but Trump is sure to ask for no prison time and to remain free while he appeals the case to New Yorks higher courts. If his appeal succeeds, it means Trump is unlikely to face criminal consequences before the 2024 election. And he could use a victory at the polls to stave off those potential consequences for years if not forever. The New York result is a vindication of sorts for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who once seemed unlikely to charge Trump at all and later seemed likely to postpone his case to make room for the federal ones brought by special counsel Jack Smith. Yet Smiths two cases both seem unlikely to advance before November f Trump is elected, theyre all but certain to unravel entirely. In one, Trump is charged with seeking to disenfranchise millions of voters in order to seize power in 2020 despite losing reelection. In the other, Trump is charged with stashing some of the nations most sensitive military secrets in his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving the White House and then seeking to obstruct the government from reclaiming them. In both cases, judges appointed by Trump himself are in positions to issue decisive rulings that could shield him from further prosecutions before Election Day. The Supreme Court is currently considering whether Trump is immune from the 2020 election charges he faces in Washington, D.C., and Trumps three appointees to the high court seem likely to rule in his favor or at least rule in a way that makes a 2024 trial impossible . In Florida, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, another Trump appointee, indefinitely postponed a May 20 trial date in the classified docs case and has allowed a backlog of complex issues to clog the docket. In Georgia, state prosecutors also charged Trump over the 2020 election, claiming that he orchestrated a racketeering conspiracy to corrupt the states election results as part of his national scheme to stay in power. That case, which prosecutors initially attempted to put on in March, is now indefinitely postponed as a Georgia appeals court considers whether to disqualify lead prosecutor Fani Willis. The judge in the case, Scott McAfee, has yet to set a trial date. For the first time in his life, Donald Trump has been held accountable. Predictably, after he was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal to undermine an election, the former president spouted the same tired talking points. He claimed the case was rigged, a word he uses every time he loses, like in 2020 and since. He claimed the country was being overrun by undocumented immigrants being let out of prisons. He said the case should have not been tried in Manhattan. He said the judge was conflicted and should not have been allowed to try the case, though he was very low energy as spoke outside of the Manhattan courthouse. In short, he sounded and looked like a loser. Again. Hes set a couple of presidential records that wont ever be broken. Hes the first president to be impeached twice, and the first former president found guilty of felonies in a criminal court. Those are fitting honors for a man as corrupt as Trump. He may have tens of millions of followers who will stick with him no matter what, he wont be able to erase those stains from his legacy. There is nothing his followers can do about that. I dont know whats going to happen in November or in the other more serious criminal cases likely wont play out before the election. I dont even know what sentence the judge will hand down. A scheduling hearing is scheduled for July 11, only days before the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is expected to become the GOPs official nominee. But I know Trump has finally been held to account, for something. Hes spent a life doing illegal and immoral things and running businesses into the ground while maintaining wealth and power, if only the illusion. That illusion was forever punctured at about 5 p.m. Eastern time on May 30, 2024 at the hands of 12 men and women in downtown New York where Trump made his name, no less who seemed to have little trouble finding him guilty. They deliberated for maybe a dozen hours, which feels like lightning speed given how complex legal analysts kept telling us such as case was. It meant that the jury decided not to fall for the subterfuge from Trump and his lawyers. No one really believed Trump didnt have an illicit affair with a porn actress or that his top attorney, Michael Cohen, committed crimes related to the case all on his own without the awareness or direction of The Boss. The jury decided to say that the emperor didnt have new clothes, but was just a naked man trying to get away with obvious crimes he had long been able to commit with little or no recourse. Its a good day for the country. If nothing else, it shows no man is above the law, that its not just an empty slogan. (Well, there is the behavior of a certain Supreme Court justice we need to grapple with.) Maybe Trump will avoid prison time. Maybe he will only receive probation. The judge has more than a month to consider the appropriate punishment. For the record: Im not a big fan of long-hard sentences for anyone who dont commit ugly-violent acts. I maintain that stance even for Trump. And we should be careful with how we talk about convicted felons, to not inadvertently dehumanize millions of Americans because of glee about Trumps convictions. I dont believe he should be president. Though I believed that before this verdict, I believe all Americans should now consider what it would mean to make a man convicted of crimes like these president. We would be more of a laughingstock around the world than weve already become. Trump doesnt have to go to prison to be fully punished. But we should not punish ourselves be sending him back to the White House. Issac Bailey is a McClatchy opinion writer based in South Carolina. Donald Trump is now a convicted felon: Can he still run for president? Donald Trump is the first former president convicted of a crime in U.S. history, but it won't stop him from running for president again. His conviction on Thursday does not bar him from seeking a return to the Oval Office in the meantime, even if his possible sentence makes that more difficult. Twelve Manhattan jurors found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records after prosecutors showed he covered up reimbursements to his former lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to stay quiet about an alleged sexual affair ahead of the 2016 election. Trump denies taking part in a tryst with Daniels. He is expected to appeal the verdict. Live updates: Former President Donald Trump found guilty on all counts in hush money case Trump supporters rally outside the criminal court where former President Donald Trump is on trial on May 29, 2024. Can Trump run for President? The U.S. Constitution only lists three necessary qualifications for being president: the candidate must be a "natural born" citizen, at least 35 years old and a resident of U.S. for at least 14 years. There is no requirement that the president not be a convicted felon. A few presidential candidates in history have campaigned after an indictment or conviction: Socialist candidate Eugene V. Debs ran for president for the fifth time in 1920 while in prison for sedition. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry ran for president alongside Trump in the 2016 Republican primary after being indicted two years earlier for abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public official, but he dropped out of the race a few months into the primary. What if Trump is in jail? Judge Juan Merchan scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11, and he is out free until then. Trump will also likely to remain at liberty until the election. As a first time felon and given it is a non-violent crime, his sentence could be as light as probation. Even if he does receive a jailtime sentence, he probably push it off until the appeal is resolved. What happens to Trump now? Experts say states are unlikely to succeed in passing additional eligibility requirements for a candidate to get on the presidential ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court already rejected an effort from several states to bar Trump from the ballot based on the 14th Amendment, which prevents anyone who has engaged in insurrection after swearing to uphold the Constitution (by being sworn into office, for example), from holding office again. Trump can probably vote for himself in Florida The high court did not want a state-by-state patchwork of rules for Trump's eligibility. The variety of state laws on voting rights for convicted felons could impact Trump's ability to cast a vote for himself, but not in this case. Florida, where Trump is registered to vote, gives felons the right to vote if the state where they were convicted allows it. New York only removes a felons right to vote while they are imprisoned, and as Trump may not receive jail time at all, let alone before the election, he will likely remain eligible. Contributing: Natasha Lovato, Ella Lee, Karissa Waddick, Aysha Bagchi, Maureen Groppe, Bart Jansen This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump is now a convicted felon: Can he still run for president? HELSINKI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Volcanic activity in the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland has declined following eruptions that occurred on Wednesday, local authorities confirmed on Thursday. The Icelandic Meteorological Office assessed on Thursday that three-fourths of the magma that had accumulated underground in the area had erupted, national radio RUV reported. The total amount had been estimated at 20 million cubic meters of magma, with 15 million having erupted. Fannar Jonasson, mayor of Grindavik, a town near the eruption site, told RUV that the defensive walls around the town have withstood the magma flows. While the town remained without electricity, the water piping system was undamaged. Representatives of businesses were permitted to return to the evacuated town to collect essential materials, such as fish products. The Icelandic Environment Agency reported that some volcanic gas reached the capital Reykjavik on Wednesday night, but did not affect air quality. How will Donald Trump's guilty verdict hit his reelection bid? Is his political fallout here? NEW YORK Former President Donald Trump's 2024 White House campaign now enters unknown territory: Voter reaction to the first major party nominee to be convicted of crimes. Trump must now convince Americans he deserves a second term even after a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts tied to falsifying business records as part of a plan to influence the 2016 presidential election. While the challenge is unprecedented, Trumps approach is very familiar: Attack the legal system. "This was a rigged decision, right from day one," Trump told reporters at the courthouse on Thursday less than an hour after being found guilty and echoing past comments the Republican has made designed to brace voters for the possibility of a guilty verdict. Expect that effort to continue now that a jury has found the former president guilty, while supporters of President Joe Biden will likely argue that the unprecedented verdict proves Trump is unfit for another four-year term. On point, the Trump campaign sent out a series of fundraising solicitations within minutes of the verdict. I am a political prisoner! he told potential donors. More rallies, more fundraisers So what comes after Trump's historic conviction? Sentencing will come on July 11, just four days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee where Trump is set to accept the GOP presidential nomination. Don't expect that looming decision to stop the former president and his campaign from holding rallies and fundraisers, giving him more chances to argue that the judge and prosecutors played politics in pursuing the hush money case against him. Trump will also be preparing for a couple of important events. There's a June 27 debate with Biden hosted by CNN in Atlanta, as well as the decision on selecting a running mate. The former president has said he will probably announce his pick at the Republican convention, scheduled for July 15-18 in Milwaukee. In the meantime, pollsters associated with Trump and Biden will pore over data to assess how voters react to the first-ever conviction of a former president and current presidential candidate. One thing Trump likely won't have to worry about anytime soon: Prison. He plans to appeal the verdict, and that process could drag out for years. GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - APRIL 02: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event on April 02, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Trump delivered a speech which his campaign has called "Biden's Border Bloodbath", as recent polls have shown that immigration and the situation at the U.S. Southern border continue to be top issues on voters' minds going into the November election. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Target: Independents The coming campaign will be directed at a relatively small number of voters: Independents who are on the fence between Trump and Biden. Campaign officials and independent pollsters have said for months that the verdict will have no impact on Trump partisans; nor will it affect solid Biden voters. Everybody else? No one really knows how they will react to a convicted felon running for president. After all, it's never happened. But even a small percentage turning away from Trump could make a difference in tightly contested battleground states like Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. At the same time, Trump has suggested that even a guilty verdict could help him because "the people of the country see this as a rigged deal." It's a pitch that still has to play out, but the trial itself does not seem to have hurt Trump much. The former president is leading Biden slightly in many polls nationwide and in battleground states, although most of those leads are within margins of error. During the six-week trial, Trump was able to campaign and do fundraisers on Wednesday, the court's off-day, and on weekends. Now look for him to work on the campaign just about every day of the week. That starts with a press conference Trump is planning for Friday at his namesake tower in midtown Manhattan. Robert De Niro speaks in support of US President Joe Biden outside of Manhattan Criminal Court as former president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends his criminal trial on May 28, 2024. The Biden campaign also enters a new phase Trump will also have to contend with a more aggressive Biden campaign, which is relishing the idea of running against the former president following a conviction. During the trial, Biden officials said they don't plan to focus exclusively on the guilty verdict, but the full panoply of allegations against Trump. The former president has been indicted in three other criminal cases, including two accusing him of trying to steal the 2020 race for the White House. In civil court actions, Trump has been found liable for bank fraud and sexual abuse. Michael Tyler, the Biden campaign's communications director, said the Trump guilty verdict proves that no one is above the law, but the election will be decided on issues like the former president's threat to be a dictator on day one and his willingness to promote authoritarianism and violence. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box, Tyler said. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. One thing is clear: Trump and Biden's post-conviction playbooks will be put to the test this summer as the candidates both seek a second term. Sarah Longwell, who as founder of the organization Republican Voters Against Trump has conducted many focus groups, predicted that the verdict wont be a public opinion earthquake. But she said it could still be significant. In an election where inches will matter, she said, this just created a new barrier for undecided swing voters: voting for a convicted felon. More trials? Who knows? Another unknown is whether Trump will face another trial before Election Day on Nov. 5. The former president is facing federal criminal charges in Washington accusing him of trying to steal the 2020 election from Biden. But that trial was delayed when the Supreme Court agreed to hear Trump's claim that he should be immune from prosecution for presidential actions. The court is expected to rule around the start of July, and a decision against Trump could mean a trial before Election Day perhaps in the middle of the fall campaign season. A favorable Trump ruling would almost certainly push the trial past Election Day. There are also no trial dates scheduled for Trump in the South Florida federal case over allegations the former president mishandled classified information and obstructed justice and the one in Georgia over his attempts targeting the 2020 election results in the Peach State. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump's hush money conviction and reelection bid: What it means The Trump hush-money jury deliberated for 4.5 hours Wednesday before breaking for the day. First thing Thursday, they'll get read-backs of key testimony by David Pecker and Michael Cohen. The read-back request suggests day one of deliberations ended deep in the election-conspiracy weeds. Former President Donald Trump's Manhattan jury deliberated for four-and-a-half hours on Wednesday and their first note to the judge shows they were deep in the hush-money conspiracy weeds before breaking for the day. First thing Thursday, they'll be back in the courtroom, listening to their requested read-backs of four sections of testimony about 30 minutes worth in total that deal with the origins of Trump's alleged 2016 election interference scheme. The five-woman, seven-man jury asked to hear testimony by two key prosecution witnesses, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and former Trump attorney and "fixer" Michael Cohen. They also asked that the judge re-read the one-hour jury charge they heard Wednesday morning. These instructions explained the felony falsifying business records charge that Trump faces 34 counts of, plus the underlying federal and state laws relating to that charge. To convict, jurors must find that Trump falsified business records in order to hide an intent to commit an underlying state election conspiracy law that itself requires an intent to commit yet more "unlawful" behavior. Trump pleaded not guilty and has denied any wrongdoing. Wednesday's lack of verdict meant there would be no immediate decision on this alleged Russian nesting doll of wrongdoing. "We've received a note," New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan announced after the defense and prosecution filed back into the courtroom. The note was sent out just after 3 p.m., he said. In it, jurors asked for four read-backs from the prosecution case. Karen McDougal Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images 'Karen is a nice girl' First, they asked to hear Pecker's testimony "regarding the phone conversation with Donald Trump while David Pecker was at the investor meeting," the jury note read. They were asking, in other words, for the "Karen is a nice girl" testimony. In this chunk of testimony from April 25, Pecker recounted being at an investor meeting in New Jersey in late June 2016. Pecker testified that Trump called him during the meeting, eager to talk about Karen McDougal, the former Playboy Bunny who was threatening to go public with a story before the 2016 election denied by Trump of a nearly yearlong affair with the then-Apprentice star in 2006. This read-back is significant in that Pecker's testimony positions Trump at the center of what prosecutors call a "catch and kill" conspiracy to illegally influence the 2016 election by hiding salacious stories from voters. "When I got on the phone, Mr. Trump said to me: 'I spoke to Michael. Karen is a nice girl. Is it true that a Mexican group is looking to buy her story for $8 million?'" Pecker testified. Pecker testified he told Trump he "absolutely" didn't believe a Mexican group was planning to buy McDougal's story for that much money. "And then he said, 'What do you think I should do?'" Pecker's testimony continued. "I said, 'I think you should buy the story and take it off the market.'" Michael Cohen en route to testify against Donald Trump at the hush-money trial in New York. Reuters/Mike Segar 'The boss is going to be very angry' The second chunk of the transcript to be read back Thursday morning concerns still more of Pecker's testimony. It's the former supermarket tabloid publisher's take on a failed deal with Trump, who wanted to buy the life rights for McDougals's alleged affair story from the National Enquirer for $125,000. Trump was concerned that should anything happen to Pecker "He could get hit by a truck" Trump was caught on tape joking the National Enquirer's secret records might not be secure, prosecutors have argued. Pecker described speaking to his own attorney, deciding not to sell McDougal's rights after all, and then breaking the news to Cohen just one month before the 2016 election. Cohen began "screaming at me," Pecker told jurors in the testimony section to be read back Thursday. "And he said excuse me, Michael Cohen said 'The boss is going to be very angry at you.'" The read-back is significant in that it again shows Trump directly involved in the catch-and-kill conspiracy that prosecutors say underlies the indictment. Trump, prosecutors allege, caused 34 Trump Organization records to be falsified to hide a series of reimbursement payments he made to Cohen throughout 2017, his first year in the White House. Cohen had fronted a $130,000 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, buying her silence just 11 days before the 2016 election, according to the prosecution's case. Trump has denied any sexual encounter with Daniels. Cohen's reimbursement including nine checks Trump personally signed were falsely logged in Trump Org's books as legal fees to disguise their true, election-altering origins, prosecutors allege. A court artist's sketch of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Reuters/Jane Rosenberg That secret Trump Tower meeting The third and fourth read-backs on tap for jurors Thursday morning concern Cohen and Pecker's testimony describing a secret August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower. Trump had just announced his candidacy for president, the two witnesses testified and had called a meeting at his Manhattan skyscraper, where he kept offices for the Trump Organization and his budding campaign. For around 20 minutes, in Trump's 26th-floor office, they discussed with Trump how the National Enquirer could help get him elected, Cohen and Pecker testified. It was at this meeting that the illegal campaign conspiracy underlying Trump's indictment was hatched, according to the witnesses. Under the alleged conspiracy, Pecker, Trump's longtime friend, would alert Cohen when negative stories arose. Pecker testified he also agreed during the meeting to publish favorable stories about Trump and unfavorable stories about Trump's opponents, including a story falsely claiming that Republican primary opponent Ted Cruz had five mistresses. Cohen and Pecker's testimony about this pivotal meeting cuts both ways. On cross-examination, Pecker conceded that he had been using the National Enquirer to help Trump in similar ways for years, without any connection to campaign strategy because these kind of stories simply sold well. Jurors were told to return to court at 9:30 a.m. local time and to expect to deliberate until 4:30 p.m. unless they ask to work late, in which case they could stay until 6 p.m. local time. Read the original article on Business Insider Since the beginning of the day the number of combat clashes in the combat zone has risen to 49. The Russians are the most active on the Pokrovsk front in Donetsk Oblast. Source: report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 14:30 on 30 May Quote: "On the Pokrovsk front the aggressor maintains a high intensity of attacks and has attempted to improve the tactical positions 12 times. The hottest spot of the combat zone is the area in and around the village of Novooleksandrivka in Donetsk Oblast where our troops are repelling three enemy assaults at the moment. The fighting is also ongoing near the settlements of Yevhenivka and Umanske. The occupiers attack in the direction of the settlement of Prohres has been stopped." Details: The General Staff reports that two combat clashes have occurred on the Kharkiv front. One Russian attack was repelled. In another area of the combat zone Ukrainian forces are taking active measures to strike the Russian occupiers. On the Kupiansk front, the number of attempted assaults of the Russians has increased to three. A combat clash is ongoing near the settlement of Ivanivka. The Russians are currently active on the Siversk front as well where the Russians conducted seven attacks already. Three Russian assaults are being repelled near the settlement of Rozdolivka, another fight is ongoing near Bilohorivka. Ukrainian troops are repelling Russian attacks and keeping the situation under control, the General Staff says. On the Kramatorsk front, the number of combat clashes has increased to six. Russian assaults near the settlements of Kalynivka, Klishchiivka and Nove have been repelled. A combat clash is ongoing near the settlement of Andriivka. On the Kurakhove front Ukrainian forces have repelled as many as eight Russian attacks since the beginning of the day. Two combat clashes are ongoing near Krasnohorivka where the Russians are trying to break through Ukrainian defences. Two combat clashes are ongoing near the settlement of Urozhaine. In total, the Russians mounted three attacks on the Vremivka front on 30 May. Three combat clashes are ongoing on the Orikhiv front. A Russian unit is conducting an assault from the settlement of Myrne in the direction of the settlement of Mali Shcherbaky. Another place of confrontation is the village of Novoandriivka. The situation is under control, the Russians have been met with a powerful response. On the Prydniprovske front the number of combat clashes near the Ukrainian positions on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River has increased to three. Quote: "On the rest of the fronts there were no significant changes to the situation. Our soldiers are ready to disrupt the plans of the enemy." Support UP or become our patron! Craig Smith, at left, stands next to his attorney, Kip Guinan, during his plea hearing and sentencing in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on Thursday. On July 18, 2023, Betty Funk was riding her bicycle on the sidewalk, along Harrison Avenue in Green Township, when a pickup jumped the curb and struck her head on. Funk, 33, survived the collision. At a sentencing Thursday for the driver of that 2022 GMC Sierra, she said doctors initially weren't sure she would live. Doctors told her daughter that. Funk suffered multiple broken bones, nearly bled out on the sidewalk, she said, and was told she may never walk again. She has titanium rods from her left hip to her left ankle. Pins and screws hold the leg together. She likely will have to wear a brace on her left foot for the rest of her life. A plate and bar in her left arm have been removed, but she has difficulty holding anything with that hand. Funk was in a wheelchair for about eight months, then used a walker after that. Recently, she has been able to walk unassisted, although with a limp. "I came a long way," she told 36-year-old Craig Smith, the driver of the pickup, Thursday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. "But I don't hate you." "I hope the mistake you made, you don't do it again," she said. "Because the next time, someone may have to pay the ultimate price." Smith was driving while intoxicated that day. He was living and working in Georgia at the time and was visiting family locally. His 7-year-old daughter was in the pickup with him. Court documents say Smith's blood alcohol content was at least 0.17 when the crash happened, more than twice the legal limit. Documents say it happened in daylight, shortly after 6 p.m. Officers at the scene said there was "a strong odor" of alcohol coming from Smith, and his eyes were "bloodshot and glassy." The documents also say Smith dumped out a cooler containing beer behind a building near the crash. Smith pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular assault and child endangering. A part of the plea, both prosecutors and Smith agreed on a sentence of two years in prison. Judge Jody Luebbers imposed that sentence Thursday. Luebbers told Smith he had changed Funk's life forever and that he "made a terrible, tragic mistake on that day." "There's a penalty for what you did," she said, adding: "Some behavior is simply unacceptable." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bicyclist nearly killed in drunk-driving crash offers forgiveness After five years and an investigation that spurred a wild true-crime saga, Idaho Doomsday author Chad Daybell had been convicted of killing his first wife and his second wifes two children. Daybell, 55, was found guilty on Thursday of all charges against him, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, grand theft, and insurance fraud, in connection with the 2019 murders. Jurors deliberated for just six hours and Daybell, who was dressed in a blue shirt and yellow tie, appeared emotionless as the verdict was read out. He now faces the death penalty. Prosecutors alleged that Daybell and his paramour-turned-wife, Lori Vallow, were fueled by their apocalyptic religious beliefs to murder her two children, 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, in September 2019. A month later, the couple buried the children in Daybells backyard and killed Daybells first wife, Tammy, prosecutors said. Weeks later, they went to Hawaii to start their new life. Vallow was sentenced to life in prison last year in connection with the case. Money, power, and sex. Thats what the defendant cared about, Fremont County prosecutor Lindsey Blake told jurors during closing arguments. Witness Undercuts Doomsday Dad Chad Daybells Story of Wifes Death Defense lawyers, however, insisted that there was no evidence to prove Daybell was directly tied to any of the murdersor even that Tammy Daybell didnt die from natural cases. During closing arguments, they noted that several witnesses, including Daybells own children, spoke about his normal life and his love for Tammy before he met Vallow in 2018. [Lori] pursued him. She encouraged him, defense attorney John Prior said during opening statements, adding that the pair eventually had an affair while they were both still married to other people. Throughout the seven-week trial, however, witnesses testified that Daybell and Vallow had a shared religious belief and labeled people who stood in their way as zombies and dark spirits. If someone's dark and they're an earthly obstaclethe body has to die. Knowing that, Lori still brought her children to Idaho, closer to Chad Daybell, Blake said, paraphrasing the pairs beliefs. Chad labeled her children dark. Their bodies were buried on his property, hidden from those looking for them. With them gone, he could be with Lori. Her time was completely free for him. Blake said that the couple were married in Hawaii on Nov. 5, 2019, but were immediately thrust into controversy after JJs grandmother reported her missing. "They had money, power, sex, and no obstacles and, specifically, no earthly relatives, no encumbrances. However, they left a wake of destruction and tears for those that had trusted them," Blake said. Vallows children were found in June 2020 buried on Daybells Idaho property. Witnesses described the harrowing details: JJ was found smothered with a plastic bag duct-taped over his head in Daybells pet cemetery, while Tylee was discovered in a fire pit. Tammy Daybell was asphyxiated in her Idaho home and her death was initially deemed due to natural causes, a medical examiner said. 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. A jury has found Chad Daybell guilty in the murders of his first wife and his second wife's two children in what prosecutors in Idaho said was a plot to pursue "money, power and sex." The verdict in the capital murder trial followed seven weeks of testimony and comes more than a year after Daybell's second wife, Lori Vallow, was also convicted of murdering her two youngest children -- Joshua "J.J." Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16 -- in a so-called doomsday plot. The jury began deliberations Wednesday evening, during which they were sequestered, before reaching a verdict midday Thursday finding him guilty on all counts. Prosecutors have said they plan to pursue the death penalty for the murder charges. The sentencing phase of the trial is set to begin Thursday afternoon. MORE: Chad Daybell's pursuit for 'sex, money and power' led to 3 murders, prosecutor claims in opening statement Prosecutors claimed that Vallow and Daybell thought the two children were "dark spirits" and "zombies" and conspired with Vallow's now-deceased brother, Alex Cox, to murder them in 2019, approximately a year after the couple met at a religious conference. Daybell, 55, was also charged with murder and conspiracy in the death of his former wife, Tamara "Tammy" Daybell, 49, who died Oct. 19, 2019. Her cause of death was asphyxiation, prosecutors revealed during Vallow's trial. PHOTO: Chad Daybell sits at the defense table after the jury's verdict in his murder trial was read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on May 30, 2024. (Kyle Green/AP) Prosecutors said Daybell, the author of books about the apocalypse, promoted spiritual beliefs to justify the three murders and had claimed that all three were possessed and "marked" them for death. "Three dead bodies ... and for what? Money, power and sex. That's what the defendant cared about," prosecutor Lindsey Blake told jurors during closing arguments on Wednesday. Prosecutors said Daybell's communications showed he never intended to divorce Tamara Daybell, whom he had been married to for nearly 30 years and had five children with before carrying on an affair with Vallow. Vallow and Daybell married in Hawaii 17 days after Tamara Daybell was found dead in her bed, prosecutors said. At the time, Vallow's previous husband, Charles Vallow, was also dead -- fatally shot by Cox -- and her two youngest children had not yet been reported missing, they said. Ryan was a child from Vallow's third marriage while J.J. was Charles Vallow's nephew, whom they adopted. "Chad said the plan was for he and Lori to be together unencumbered by earthly relatives, earthly obstacles," Blake said. PHOTO: Lori Vallow Daybell stands and listens as the jury's verdict is read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, May 12, 2023. (Kyle Green/AP) The children's remains were found on an Idaho property belonging to Daybell in June 2020 following a monthslong search after extended family members reported them missing, prosecutors said. Ryan's DNA was found on a pickaxe and shovel that were in Daybell's garage, Blake said. During closing statements, defense attorney John Prior told jurors that prosecutors showed only a "handful" of text messages that talked about "light and dark" and "death percentages" out of thousands between Daybell and Vallow to try and insinuate that there was a murder plot. "At no time did the prosecuting attorney show you a text message that said, 'Let's kill the kids, let's kill Tammy,'" he said. Prior further argued that prosecutors failed to provide proof that there was any agreement to commit a crime or any evidence tying Daybell to the deaths. During the trial, Prior's witnesses included a forensic pathologist who believed Tamara Daybell's cause of death should have been classified as "undetermined" and one of Daybell's children, who told jurors that his mother had been sick before she died. PHOTO: A picture of Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow is seen on a fence opposite the property where their bodies were found in 2020, on April 4, 2023 in Rexburg, Idaho. (Natalie Behring/Getty Images) Daybell was also found guilty of two counts of insurance fraud related to life insurance policies he had on Tamara Daybell for which he was the beneficiary, prosecutors said. Daybell did not take the stand during the trial. He pleaded not guilty to his charges. His case is being presided over by the same judge from Vallow's trial, Judge Steve Boyce. Boyce sentenced Vallow to life in prison without parole after the jury in her trial found her guilty of all charges. The judge had granted the defense's motion to dismiss the death penalty in her case before her trial began. MORE: Lori Vallow Daybell found guilty in murder of her 2 children Vallow has also been accused of conspiring to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was fatally shot by Cox in 2019 during a confrontation at her Arizona home. Police were investigating claims that Cox shot his brother-in-law in self-defense when Cox died from natural causes months after the fatal shooting. She was indicted on one count of first-degree murder by a Maricopa County grand jury in 2021 in connection with the fatal shooting. She was also charged with first-degree premeditated murder for allegedly plotting to kill the ex-husband of her niece. She pleaded not guilty to both charges last year. Her trial is scheduled to begin in August. Doomsday author Chad Daybell found guilty in triple-murder case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Chad Daybell, right, stands with defense lawyer John Prior as the jury's verdict in his murder trial is read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Daybell was convicted of killing his wife and his new girlfriend's two youngest kids in a strange triple murder case that included claims of apocalyptic prophesies, zombie children and illicit affairs. (AP Photo/Kyle Green, Pool) BOISE, Idaho (AP) An Idaho man was convicted Thursday of killing his wife and his new girlfriend's two youngest kids in a strange triple murder case that included claims of apocalyptic prophesies, zombie children and illicit affairs. Jurors deliberated just six hours before finding Chad Daybell guilty, capping a case that began in 2019 and spanned at least four states. Daybell, standing and wearing a long-sleeve dress shirt, was stoic as the verdicts were read. Now jurors will be tasked with deciding if Daybell, 55, should die for the murders of Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow. The nearly two-month trial's penalty phase resumes Friday. Everything was addressed, every item was guilty, and for that, I'm happy," JJ's grandfather Larry Woodcock told The Associated Press. I'm still sad for the loss there were four lives lost in this for no purpose, no reason but my wife and I are just so satisfied with the verdict. The childrens' mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, was sentenced to life in prison without parole on the same conspiracy and murder charges last year. She married Chad Daybell just two weeks after Tammy Daybell was killed. She's now awaiting trial in Arizona, charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. Charles Vallow was JJ's father. The judge in the case has issued a gag order prohibiting attorneys on both sides from talking to the media until the trial is complete. The case drew widespread media attention, and the judge moved the trial from the rural Idaho community where the killings occurred to Boise in an effort to ensure a fair and impartial jury. In the penalty phase, prosecutors will attempt to show that the crimes merit a death sentence because they were especially depraved, heinous or cruel or that they meet one of other aggravating factors detailed in state law. Daybells defense, meanwhile, will try to provide the jury with mitigating circumstances to show a lighter sentence is more appropriate. The investigation began five years ago, after JJ's grandparents Kay and Larry Woodcock became concerned that Vallow Daybell was refusing to let them have phone calls with the boy. Though they lived in different states, JJ and his grandparents had always been close, sharing regular video calls since he was about three years old. JJ was very bright and also autistic, Larry Woodcock said, and whenever he ran out of things to say he'd tell them, Mawmaw, Pawpaw, I don't know.' In the last couple of years of his life, he was developing his wit and his personality. If there's anything that I miss, it's his wit, Larry Woodcock said. There's not a day that goes by now that my wife and I don't turn to each other and say, Mawmaw, I dont know,' or Pawpaw, I dont know.' In 2019, Kay Woodcock asked police to check on the child. Investigators soon realized both children were missing, and a multistate search ensued. The investigation soon took several unexpected turns. Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were having an affair when both of their spouses died unexpectedly, investigators said. Vallow Daybells husband, Charles, was shot to death by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona in July 2019; the brother told police it was in self-defense. He was not charged. Vallow Daybell, her kids JJ and Tylee, and Cox subsequently moved to eastern Idaho to be closer to Daybell, a self-published writer of doomsday-focused fiction loosely based on Mormon teachings. In October 2019, Tammy Daybell died. Chad Daybell initially told police she was battling an illness and died in her sleep, but an autopsy later determined that she died of asphyxiation. Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell married just two weeks after Tammy Daybell's death, surprising family members. Nearly a year after the children went missing, their remains were found buried on Chad Daybells property in eastern Idaho. Investigators determined both children died in September 2019. Prosecutors say Cox conspired with Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell in all three deaths, but Cox died of natural causes during the investigation and was never charged. Prosecutors called dozens of witnesses to bolster their claims that Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell conspired to kill the children and Tammy Daybell because they wanted to get rid of any obstacles to their relationship and obtain money from survivor benefits and life insurance. Prosecutors say the couple justified the killings by creating an apocalyptic belief system that people could be possessed by evil spirits and turned into zombies, and that the only way to save a possessed persons soul was for the possessed body to die. Fremont County prosecutor Lindsay Blake said Daybell styled himself a leader of what he called The Church of the Firstborn and told Vallow Daybell and others that he could determine if someone had become a zombie. Daybell also claimed to be able to determine how close a person was to death by reading what he called their death percentage, Blake said during closing arguments on Wednesday. With these elements, Daybell followed a pattern for each of those who were killed, Blake said. They would be labeled as dark by Chad Daybell. Their death percentage would drop. Then they would have to die, she said. Blake also said Daybell manipulated Vallow Daybell and her brother, Cox, into helping with the plan, at times bestowing spiritual blessings on Cox and warning Vallow Daybell that the angels were angry because she was at times ignoring him. Daybells defense attorney, John Prior, rejected the prosecutions descriptions of Daybells beliefs. He described Daybell as a traditional member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a deeply religious man who talked about his spiritual beliefs every chance he could get. Prior said police looked only for things they could use against Daybell rather than the actual facts of the case and he claimed that the childrens late uncle, Cox, committed the crimes. He noted that Cox had killed JJ Vallows father in Arizona and that the two children were the only witnesses to that shooting. He also said Cox tried to frame Daybell by burying the slain children in Daybells yard. During the sentencing phase, jurors will be asked to decide if Daybell should receive a death sentence Idaho law allows execution by lethal injection or firing squad or life in prison. Woodcock said he will be satisfied with either option. That's what you get for murdering children. That's what you get for murdering your wife. Chad made his decision he knew it was wrong," Woodcock said. The logo of the Rheinmetall armaments group can be seen on the facade of the company's headquarters. Federico Gambarini/dpa Borussia Dortmund's fan department said on Thursday that it had raised concerns about the sponsorship deal with arms manufacturers and technology company Rheinmetall before it was finalised and announced. A statement said that the fan department was informed in a monthly meeting with club leaders and asked for feedback, with the matter to be treated confidential. "In a subsequent open dialogue with representatives of BVB's management, the fan representatives expressed general concerns about the explosive nature of the partnership and its communication, as well as doubts about its compatibility with Borussia Dortmund's values," the statement said. "We value the established dialogue structures that enable the club and fans to regularly discuss even controversial topics with each other in a spirit of trust. It is not always possible to reach a consensus in these dialogues - as was the case in this instance." Dortmund announced a three-year partnership with Rheinmetall on Wednesday, with club CEO Hans Joachim-Watzke naming security and defence "fundamental cornerstones of our democracy" and speaking of a "new normality." The announcement drew sharp criticism but also support, while Mona Neubaur, minister for economic affairs in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Dortmund and Rheinmetall are based, spoke of "mixed feelings." She told dpa that companies like Rheinmetall are needed "to be able to defend our democracy and our freedom in an emergency. And yet the defence industry is not like any other industry. I can therefore understand that many fans have mixed feelings about the sponsorship." PROVO, Utah (ABC4) One man was seriously injured early Thursday morning, May 30, after an SUV jumped a curb, causing it to roll in numerous parked cars. The Provo Police Department said the crash happened just after 4:30 a.m. near 1700 North and State Street. The SUV was driving at a high rate of speed when it hit the curb. The SUV was then launched into a nearby dealership where it struck several cars and rolled onto its roof. Progressively worse: Cracks in Eagle Mountain home growing, family unable to relocate Provo PD spokesperson Janna-Lee Holland said the driver, identified only as a 28-year-old man, was the only person in the car. Emergency responders extricated him out of the car and he was taken to Utah Valley Hospital with serious injuries. Holland said there are no expected road closures or delays expected for the morning commute as a result of the crash as the scene has been contained to private property. Investigators remain on the scene. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. DENVER (KDVR) As of Wednesday morning, pro-Palestine protesters on the University of Denver campus had cleared their encampment. According to the schools administration, the students decided to remove their camp, which had been on the campus for about 20 days. The school cited a lengthy dialogue with the group on safety and peace on campus. The only signs of the encampment are areas where the grass was damaged by lack of sun much the same as where a similar encampment at the Auraria Campus once was. Students claim assaults, antisemitism present on University of Denver campus The school administration reported that they sat down with representatives of the protesting group to talk about the schools ongoing concerns about their and the wider communitys safety, as well as our call for the encampments immediate removal. We shared that the University would not meet their demands for practical and policy-guided reasons. The protesters, in turn, shared the deep dedication and passion for the cause that brought them together in the first place, the DU administration said in a release. This area is where pro-Palestine protesters camped on the University of Denver's campus for about 20 days. In a letter posted to Instagram, the DU for Palestine student group said they believe the fight is not over and called DUs board of trustees, chancellor and administration cowards who continue to support genocide. We are disgusted by the actions of our administration as they continue to fall short of any sort of ethical compass, the group wrote. Over the past 20 days, the University of Denver has shown they would rather use subtle force, police intimidation tactics, and repression than listen to their students and a global movement calling for divestment from the terrorist and illegal state of Israel. DU has also shown their blatant disregard for the lives and experiences of Palestinian students and have consistently prioritized the comfort of Zionist students. Protest is not here to make you comfortable, it is here to bring about change when great injustices are occurring like we are seeing in Palestine, the group wrote. DU Chancellor Jeremy Haefner used his letter to the DU community to call for individuals to assume the positive intent of our community members and work together for the greater good. As we move forward, I encourage all students, faculty and staff to engage in meaningful and respectful discussions. Together, we can impact positive change while maintaining a constructive and safe environment, Haefner wrote. Let us recommit to fostering an atmosphere of thoughtful dialogue and intellectual humility one that upholds our values and commits to the safety and belonging of our entire campus community. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox The Auraria Campus reported that the now-shuttered encampment on their grounds cost the campus an estimated $290,000 in damages, canceled events and other related costs. DU did not have an estimate for how much the grass replacement would be for where the camp had been, as the grounds crews were still evaluating whether the grass could be revived or if the area would need to be re-sodded. Non-protesting students said protesters assaulted them The camps removal comes after some non-protesting students said the encampment was growing rowdier, and others said they were assaulted by protesters. I was just walking around with an Israeli flag, you know; I wasnt saying anything hateful toward the camp at all, DU freshman Jack Burkman told FOX31s Rachel Saurer. And then I just got shoved really hard. Some students said they have seen instances of antisemitism increase. I had friends who were called slurs directed at Jewish people, Burkman told Saurer. Auraria Campus says it will likely have to replace grass after encampment On Monday, a fence was placed around the encampment. The university said the fence was to protect the protesters, not the non-protesting Jewish students on campus who say theyve been the target of the protesters. Previously, pro-Palestine protesters said that DU administrators have prioritized the voices of the Zionist sect of Judaism on campus while restricting staff support to the Jewish students who are currently at the greatest risk. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk, Mauritania's minister of foreign affairs, cooperation and Mauritanians abroad, and Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, meet the press after the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk, Mauritania's minister of foreign affairs, cooperation and Mauritanians abroad, co-chaired the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) in Beijing on Thursday. Foreign ministers and representatives of Arab countries attended the meeting, taking part in in-depth exchanges on accelerating the construction of a China-Arab states community with a shared future oriented to the new era. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that since the first China-Arab States Summit, significant progress has been seen in the construction of a China-Arab states community with a shared future, and China-Arab states relations have entered their best period in history. To earnestly implement the consensus reached by the heads of state of China and Arab states and the outcomes of the meeting, Wang said the two sides need to focus on four major tasks: enhancing strategic mutual trust and firmly supporting each other's core interests; deepening practical cooperation and promoting mutual benefits at a higher level; strengthening international coordination and working together to maintain the correct direction of global governance; and strengthening the construction of the forum and opening bright prospects for the China-Arab states community with a shared future. All parties in attendance said that the Arab states and China share common principles and ideas, and have made common propositions. Mutual respect, sincere friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation have always been the main themes of Arab states-China relations. The Arab states are willing to strengthen strategic coordination with China to achieve deeper strategic mutual trust, higher-quality mutual benefits, and higher levels of inclusiveness and mutual learning, they said. The flags of Arab countries and the League of Arab States that were sent to the Chinese space station were displayed at the meeting, and they will be presented to the Arab states after the meeting as permanent reminders of the China-Arab states friendship. The meeting issued the Beijing Declaration, the CASCF execution plan for 2024-2026, and a China-Arab states joint statement on the Palestinian question. During the conference, China also signed a number of bilateral and multilateral cooperation documents with the participating countries and the General Secretariat of the Arab League. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk, Mauritania's minister of foreign affairs, cooperation and Mauritanians abroad, co-chair the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk, Mauritania's minister of foreign affairs, cooperation and Mauritanians abroad, co-chair the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk, Mauritania's minister of foreign affairs, cooperation and Mauritanians abroad, and Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, meet the press after the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) Durham refused to pay judgment against officer. Why the city just paid him thousands. The city of Durham paid retired police Capt. Darrell Dowdy $350,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused city officials of abandoning him after losing a lawsuit linked to wrongful murder convictions. In that case, a jury ordered Dowdy to pay $6 million for a faulty investigation that resulted in a man spending nearly 24 years incarcerated, according to Dowdys attorney. Dowdy, who retired in 2007, settled with the city around April, attorney Tom Comerford confirmed. The city also agreed to pay Howard nearly $8 million, The News & Observer has revealed. After the city refused to pay the settlement, Dowdy faced threats to foreclose on his home and other potential actions to recoup some of the money. It was just a very difficult time for Capt. Dowdy, Comerford said. Darrell Dowdy The settlements mark an end to a decades-long case that goes back to Darryl Howards 1995 double murder and arson conviction. Howard spent nearly 24 years of his 80-year sentence behind bars after being convicted of the second-degree murders of Doris Washington and her 13-year-old daughter Nishonda. Howards sentence was cut short in 2016 after lawyers from the Innocence Project took his case and helped get his convictions overturned, citing police and prosecutorial misconduct. Then, in 2021, Howards attorneys convinced a federal jury that Dowdy fabricated evidence and inadequately investigated the murders. The jury ordered Dowdy to pay Howard $6 million. After the civil trial, city officials said they wouldnt pay the judgment on Dowdys behalf or Howards attorneys fees, which had reached about $4 million with interest, according to interviews and court documents. The move was a first for the city, City Attorney Kimberly Rehberg has said, as it was the first time that a jury has determined that an officer acted in bad faith. Senior Assistant City Attorney John Roseboro didnt immediately respond to questions about the settlements. Darryl Anthony Howard with his wife Nannie Howard (right) leave the Durham County Detention Center victorious with their lawyers and family after Judge Orlando Hudson vacated his conviction on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. Howard, 54 when he was freed, was convicted in 1995 of two counts of second-degree murder at a Durham public housing complex. Critics of the decision not to pay, which includes Howard and Dowdy, say it was wrong for the city to spend millions on attorneys fees defending the officer and then abandon him after the judgment Dowdy has maintained that he did an adequate investigation of the murders. His 2023 lawsuit said city officials used him as a pawn in the litigation, despite his 28 years of working for the city. Dowdy retired in 2007. Rather than protect him, as it promised to do and is required to do, the City has abandoned and turned its back on its officer, Dowdys lawsuit states. Comerford also pointed out that police officials lost key pieces of evidence in the case, which complicated the case against Dowdy as he had to testify in 2021 to events that had happened nearly 30 years before. The citys conduct resulted in Dowdy suffering depression, anxiety, embarrassment and severe emotional distress as the judgment threatened to drive him into bankruptcy, his lawsuit states. Essentially forfeiting all he has worked for and accumulated in a lifetime of services as a police officer, the lawsuit states. Virginia Bridges covers criminal justice in the Triangle and across North Carolina for The News & Observer. Her work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The N&O maintains full editorial control of its journalism. More than two years after a federal jury awarded Darryl Howard $6 million for spending nearly 24 years incarcerated after a faulty police investigation, Howard was finally able to cash a settlement check from the city. The city of Durham sent a $7.75 million check to Howard earlier this month, his attorney Bradley Bannon confirmed Thursday. The settlement is not cause for celebration, Bannon wrote in an email. It should be a day of reflection for everyone on how easy it is for our system to get it wrong, and how hard it is for our system to make it right, if ever, Bannon wrote. Darryl Anthony Howard with his wife Nannie Howard (right) leave the Durham County Detention Center victorious with their lawyers and family after Judge Orlando Hudson vacated his conviction on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. Howard, 54 when he was freed, was convicted in 1995 of two counts of second-degree murder at a Durham public housing complex. History of Howards conviction The 29-year-injustice goes back to Howards 1995 double murder convictions, which were overturned, appealed, and overturned again before Howard was set free in 2016 after his Innocence Project attorneys brought evidence of police and prosecutor misconduct. In 2017, Howard sought compensation by suing multiple city officials, including the lead detective in the case, Darrell Dowdy, who retired as a police captain in 2007. In 2021 a federal jury awarded Howard $6 million after finding Dowdy fabricated evidence and performed an inadequate investigation that led to Howards wrongful conviction of two counts of the second-degree murders. The charges stemmed from the 1991 killing of Doris Washington and her 13-year-old daughter Nishonda in a now demolished Durham public housing complex. Dowdy still maintains he did an adequate investigation, his attorney said in a recent interview. Howard and his legal team were disappointed at the end of the federal trial, saying Durhams attorneys successfully attacked Howards character. They alleged that resulted in a jury award that was lower than other wrongful conviction awards. Then things got worse. Howard and his team were later shocked to learn that the city, which paid for Dowdys attorneys, refused to pay Dowdys judgment, meaning they wouldnt cover the $6 million jury award or Howards $4 million in legal fees. A U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling gave Howard another chance to seek damages In 2023. It said the trial judge improperly dismissed two other Durham police officers, Scott Pennica and Michelle Soucie, before his civil case went to trial in 2021. Howard contends they failed to share vital evidence in his post-trial process that would have allowed him to be released from prison sooner. The appeals ruling allowed Howard to seek damages from those officers. Also, in 2023, Dowdy filed his own federal lawsuit against the city, contending Durham officials abandoned him after using him as pawn in the litigation, despite his 28 years of working for the city. In settlement discussions that followed, the city agreed to pay Howard nearly $8 million, which includes attorney fees, to close the case. In addition, the city paid Dowdy $350,000 in a related settlement, his attorney Tom Comerford said. Bannon said that this shouldnt have taken years. But now that it has, Darryl Howard is ready to move on and try to rebuild a life that was stolen from him by the state three decades ago, Bannon wrote. Senior Assistant City Attorney John Roseboro didnt immediately respond to questions about the settlements. Retired Durham Police Detective Darrell Dowdy walks out of the courtroom on Dec. 1, 2021 with his attorneys after a federal jury found he fabricated evidence and performed an inadequate investigation into a 1991 double murder that resulted in Darryl Howard spending 23 years in behind bars Howard always said he was innocent From the beginning, Howard insisted he was innocent, saying members of a gang raped and killed the women due to the mothers drug debts. Over time, evidence supported his claims. Testing in the 1990s excluded Howard from DNA found in Nishondas rape kit. Testing in 2010 revealed undetected sperm in Doris Washingtons rape kit. That DNA wasnt linked to Howard or the previous identified DNA. Using a federal DNA database, investigators found a match to a man who was 16-year-old at the time of the killing and a member of the gang that Howard contends killed the mother and daughter. In 2011, Pennica and Soucie took steps to get a DNA sample from the man. In an interview with police, the man said he didnt know Doris Washington, but claimed he was dating her daughter. Police left the man alone in an interview room, which recorded phone calls where he made incriminating statements indicating he did know Doris and that he didnt want to rat on anybody. Afterwards, officers didnt send the report to the Durham County District Attorneys Office, despite a 2011 court order requiring the information to be shared with Howard, according to court documents. Howard knew about the DNA results, but he didnt learn about the interview or the mans incriminating statements until 2016, 21 years after he was convicted. Virginia Bridges covers criminal justice in the Triangle and across North Carolina for The News & Observer. Her work is produced with financial support from the nonprofit The Just Trust. The N&O maintains full editorial control of its journalism. A Huntington Beach man, along with several other victims selling electric bikes on Facebook Marketplace and other online platforms, were taken for thousands of dollars by a conniving thief using counterfeit cash made for the movies. Earlier this month in Huntington Beach, a man identified only as Daniel, was contacted by a person interested in the Talaria Sting MX4 e-bike hed put up for sale. It was a Saturday, like a weekend a half ago, he explained. The guy hit me up, he seemed interested. We exchanged messages back and forth a little bit. He called me on the phone and he seemed like a serious buyer. Daniel eventually invited the potential buyer to check out the e-bike at his Huntington Beach garage. We talked for a while and he just seemed super nice, seemed super trustworthy, he said. Clearly, he had been coached very well. Daniels price tag for the lightly used Talaria e-bike was $4,200. Hes acting like he doesnt know how to use it and, Oh, how do you do this and how do you do that? and Im just kind of walking him through it. He was like, Can I take it for a test drive? and Im like, Sure. Counterfeit cash made for feature films that was given to the seller of an e-bike in May 2024. (KTLA) A suspected believed to have used counterfeit cash made for films to steal an e-bike in May 2024. (viewer photo) A suspected believed to have used counterfeit cash made for films to steal an e-bike in May 2024. (viewer photo) A Talaria Sting MX4 e-bike stolen from a seller on Facebook Marketplace in May 2024. (viewer photo) Before Daniel let the man take the ride, though, he told him that he would need the cash in hand first. Thats when the thief handed over an envelope full of what appeared to be hundred dollar bills. Its kind of dim in here, it was late in the day on Saturday, Daniel said of his garage. I glance in the envelope and see a bunch of hundreds in there, it looks good. So, Im like, Okay, buddy, do your thing. The suspect took off and never came back. It didnt take Daniel long to realize hed been robbed. After a closer look at the money, he took off looking for the thief. It says, For motion picture purposes only in real small fine print right here, Daniel said, showing KTLAs Omar Lewis the counterfeit cash. Daniel filed a police report and after posting about the theft online, he received messages from several other victims who recognized the scammer. I got it confirmed from a guy in Redondo Beach, a guy in L.A., Escondido, Daniel said. Detectives with the Huntington Beach Police Department told KTLA they are working to catch the suspect. In the meantime, Daniel is warning other online sellers across Southern California to be cautious of this counterfeit criminal who is still on the run. Southern California family broken after girl, 6, killed in marked crosswalk Id say, Quit while youre ahead, bud, because the walls are closing, Daniel said when asked if he had a message for the suspect. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Huntington Beach Police Department. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. EARLY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) A 13-year-old was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with burglary of a motor vehicle and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The Early Police Department reported that at about 8:00 a.m. on May 29, police arrested a 13-year-old boy. The boy was charged with three counts of motor vehicle burglary and one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. A firearm was found in a stock tank near the boys residence, and another was discovered at a relatives house in Brownwood. The relatives were unaware of the firearm hidden there. Both firearms were stolen from separate vehicle burglaries. Other items, such as a purse, sunglasses, and a wallet with a drivers license and credit cards, were recovered during an initial call. Due to the suspects age, his name will not be released. He was transported to the Brown County Juvenile Probation Office, and the case will be turned over to the Brown County Attorneys Office and the Brown County Juvenile Probation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. ANC to lose majority for first time since Mandela led South Africa Voters near a memorial to Nelson Mandela outside a community centre polling station in Imizamo Yethu in the Western Cape - Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg The African National Congress is on course to lose its parliamentary majority in South Africa for the first time since Nelson Mandela led the party to victory. The ANC has won national elections every five years since the monumental vote in 1994 after apartheid, which marked the end of white minority rule and the start of Mandelas term as president. But mounting anger over high unemployment, crime and corruption has seen the party fall from grace. Early polling results from 20.4 per cent of polling stations on Thursday put the ANC on 43.4 per cent of the vote and the pro-business Democratic Alliance (DA) on 24.9 per cent. The Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party was at 8.8 per cent, while former president Jacob Zumas party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), was trailing at 8.1 per cent. The final results are due on Sunday, but as it stands the ANC is on course to lose its majority and require the help of at least one of the other parties to govern. Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC leader, said: 'I have no doubt whatsoever in my heart of hearts that the people will once again invest confidence in the African National Congress to continue to lead this country' - Alaister Russell/Reuters Experts say such a result could lead to political volatility, while the DA has already ruled out joining a coalition with certain parties. We will do everything in our power to prevent an ANC, MK and EFF coalition, Helen Zille, the former DA leader and current chairperson of its federal council, told Reuters. That would spook investors, it would tank the economy, it would be a disaster for South Africa. So we are very committed to prevent that outcome, she said. South Africans went to the polls on Wednesday, with turnout high for the countrys seventh election since the end of apartheid. Long queues at polling stations across the country signalled a high and peaceful turnout. But many are feeling frustrated at a system that has failed to deliver on its promises. I want to see change in South Africa, Bongile Mkunqa, 53, an unemployed man who went to vote in Langa, the oldest black township in Cape Town, told Reuters. We must get more jobs. I am not feeling happy now because I am struggling. It has been a long time since the ANC has been in charge in the country, but it didnt change. Disillusionment is widespread among poor black voters who feel they have not benefited from the end of white rule - MICHELE SPATARI/AFP via Getty Images) South Africa is grappling with high levels of unemployment and crime, crumbling infrastructure and public services. Disillusionment is widespread among poor black voters who feel they have not benefited from the end of white rule. Unemployment is at 33 per cent overall, but far higher for the young, while the murder rate is around 85 per day. All this has eaten away at support for the ANC in recent years. In towns and centres, the waning appeal of the ANC is most apparent, but early results skew towards rural areas where the ANC is relatively strong. Voters dance with campaign placards outside a polling station in Hopetown in the Northern Cape - Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters Pollsters and two of the countrys three main broadcasters were predicting that the final results would confirm that the ANC - which won 57.5 per cent of the vote in the previous election in 2019 - had lost its majority. Under South Africas proportional voting system, parties shares of the vote determine the number of seats they get in the National Assembly, which then elects the next president. With the ANC still on course to be the largest party, that is likely to be Cyril Ramaphosa, the current president. However, his failure to pass the 50 per cent threshold would trigger two weeks of intense coalition horse-trading. If the ANC comes close enough to 50 per cent, it will try to make a deal with small or medium parties to form a government. Analysts say the socially conservative Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which is strong in KwaZulu-Natal province and was polling at about 5 per cent nationally on Wednesday, could be the ANCs first choice, although the IFP leader says it would rather not prop up the ANC. The two parties were in violent conflict during the final years of apartheid but worked together in the government of national unity formed after the 1994 election. Other potential partners include the small Muslim party Al Jama-ah and the Patriotic Alliance, which draws its support from the mixed-race community. Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, has pledged to redress persistent racial and economic disparities - Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg If the ANC is not near 50 per cent, it may have no choice but to seek support from the DA or the radical EFF, which has vowed to redistribute white assets, like farmland, if it gets into power. Financial markets would prefer the former and most experts believe that would be the most palatable option for the ANC. But Roger Southall, a political analyst from the University of the Witwatersrand, said its the ANCs national executive committee (NEC) that would have the final say. This means the EFF is a real possibility, but this would not mean the EFF would hold any economic portfolios, certainly not the ministry of finance. The EFF is looking for office and like it or not, the ANC and the EFF are in a way, relatives. Julius Malema [the EFF leader] has long-term ambitions and sees himself as president one day. Yet, even Mr Malema, a divisive figure who has pledged to redress persistent racial and economic disparities, might be straight-jacketed by a coalition. He would do what the ANCs NEC wanted him to do. There wouldnt be any real serious change in the economic direction because the debt burden is increasing, there are definite moves towards some form of basic income grant, and there could be concessions on land reform, more symbolic than anything else. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. MEMPHIS, Tenn. After months of battling an ethics complaint and what the City of Memphis Board of Ethics called a conflict of interest, Memphis City Councilwoman Dr. Michalyn Easter-Thomas has stepped down from her position with the Memphis River Parks Partnership. The ethics complaint process wrapped up Wednesday during Dr. Easter-Thomas ethics hearing when the attorney representing the board said the councilwoman had submitted her resignation from the MRPP. County Commissioner Charlie Caswell was there to show his support for the now-former Councilwoman. She took lesser pay and continued to work part-time with the City Council to serve her constituents, Caswell said. I hope that the City Council would just dismiss this thing and be able to move on and move forward as she has. WATCH LIVE: Jury finds Trump guilty; first U.S. president convicted of felony crimes Issues surrounding Dr. Easter-Thomas surfaced back in February when a complaint was filed against her alleging her employment with MRPP and her role as a city council member were a conflict of interest in violation of the city charter. Lets say for the record a conflict of interest is not illegal. Its illegal when its not properly disclosed, Former City Council Chairman Martavius Jones said. Jones served as chairman when several council agenda items linked to MRPP came up such as whether to reallocate $3 million for Mud Island Park and the reappointment vote of Memphis Parks Director Nick Walter. But were there any red flags and did the councilwoman do enough to avoid a conflict of interest? When I served with her in any type of contract or any type of vote that affected or that was involving MRPP, she made a point to recuse, Jones said. Swift murder trial, Day 3: Accusations of hot tub parties Still, questions are being asked about what comes next for Dr. Easter-Thomas with the Board of Ethics and the Memphis City Council. WREG has learned that the attorney representing the board is not only recommending it accept Dr. Easter-Thomas resignation but that the board should recommend to the city council that she be censured too. Its a decision thatll be made by the council as the spotlight is placed on the elected leaders and the issue of conflicts of interest. WREG reached out to Councilwoman Easter-Thomas attorney for comment on Thursday but has yet to hear back. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Protesters gather in opposition to the closure of the neonatal intensive care unit at Holston Valley Medical Center, a Ballad Health hospital, in 2019. (Photo: Dani Cook) Protesters gather in opposition to the closure of the neonatal intensive care unit at Holston Valley Medical Center, a Ballad Health hospital, in 2019. (Photo: Dani Cook) Tennessee gets a lot of knocks on health and health care metrics, and the state shares, if not owns, responsibility for many of them. The closure of 16 hospitals since 2010 can in large part be attributed to the legislatures refusal to accept billions of dollars earmarked for the state through the expansion of Medicaid, for instance. One of the shameful actions of the Republican-led legislature is the creation of Ballad Health in 2018, a deal that was suspect from the start. State lawmakers used a regulatory tool called a Certificate of Public Advantage, or COPA, to approve the merger of Mountain State Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System, organizations rooted in upper East Tennessee and southwest Virginia. The Federal Trade Commission opposes COPAs, describing them as measures designed to limit competition among health care providers: Hospital mergers subject to COPAs can result in higher prices for patients without improvements in quality of care, reduced patient access to healthcare services, and lower wages for hospital employees who face fewer employment options. Higher fees, reduced access to health care and lower wages for employees: its difficult to find anything beneficial to consumers about COPAs like the ones responsible for Ballad. Suspicions about the state-sanctioned monopoly appear to have been well-founded, given the information emerging about the care or lack thereof dispensed at Ballads 20 facilities. KFF Health News reporter Brett Kelman and the Lookouts Sam Stockard and Adam Friedman and have reported over the last year on Ballads failures, which are numerous. Emergency room wait times have tripled at Ballad hospitals since the 2018 merger, with the median wait time now approaching 11 hours. In September, Kelman and KFFs Samantha Liss reported Ballad has failed to meet 80% of the benchmarks designed to improve quality of care for patients, including rates of infection and death. Additionally, the health care system has failed to fulfill its annual charity care obligation company leaders agreed to and has taken thousands of patients to court to collect on unpaid bills. In October, a Carter County commissioner told Friedman that Ballad officials threatened to pull funding for a private ambulance service after community members expressed frustration about the companys closure of the countys only intensive care unit. Yet, as Kelman reported this week, the Tennessee Department of Health continues to give Ballad top-notch ratings despite facilities continuing to miss targets. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skmretti, whose office shares oversight responsibility for Ballad, told the Lookout in November that we need to make sure the arrangement is working. But his office recently declined to speak to Kelman, directing Kelman back to the Department of Health. And in the most recent legislative session, a bill spurred by complaints about Ballad that was intended to halt any further medical monopolies stalled out in the House Health Subcommittee due to Republican pushback. As is the case with many Tennessee issues rooted in politics, its wise to follow the money. State Sen. Rusty Crowe, a Johnson City Republican, sponsored the 2018 merger bill that created Ballad. At the time, Crowe was working for Mountain State Health Alliance and has continued to work for Ballad since the merger although financial disclosures dont show what role he plays for the company. Johnson City Republican Sen. Rusty Crowe is a consultant for Ballad Health. In 2018, he sponsored the legislation creating Ballad through a merger of two healthcare companies. (Photo: John Partipilo) Crowe has also received $6,000 in campaign donations from Ballad, which may not sound like a lot, until you consider that he serves in no caucus leadership position (he is chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee) and that only two state lawmakers have taken in more Ballad money than he has. The others? House Majority Leader William Lamberth, a Portland Republican, has garnered $10,000 in campaign contributions from Ballad. But Gov. Bill Lee is the big beneficiary. According to the Lookouts Cash for Clout political spending database Lee has taken in $84,500 in donations to his campaign and inaugural accounts collectively from the Ballad Health: Mountain States Health Alliance PAC and from Ballad CEO Alan Levine. Levine personally contributed $25,500 to Lee while the PAC kicked in $59,000. And, Levine has benefited from the merger. According to KFF Health News, his compensation has nearly doubled from his prior role as a health care executive in Florida, reaching $4.3 million annually with Ballad. Lee appointed Levine to serve on the Tennessee Charter School Commission, created one year after the Ballad merger. Theres nothing unusual about elected officials appointing big donors to serve on boards and commissions, but its difficult not to draw conclusions about Ballads relationship with state officials particularly given the health departments apparent willingness to overlook flaws with Ballad hospitals. In interviews, Levine has defended the 2018 merger that created Ballad, saying Our critics say, No Ballad. We dont want Ballad. Well, then what? Levine said. Because the hospitals were on their way to being closed. In a way, Levine is right. Im betting that if given the option of fewer hospitals or a monopoly, most Tennessee residents would pick the monopoly. Some health care facilities are better than none, after all, and not all outcomes at Ballad facilities are negative. But the Ballad monopoly offers no choice of provider to residents in the 29 Tennessee and Virginia counties it serves. Theres no market incentive for Ballad to improve service, a flaw aided by the apparent reticence of the Department of Health to hold the company accountable. Sick and injured people need to be able to trust that a visit to the hospital will give them their best shot at health and healing. But with Ballad, thats not something patients can count on. The post Editors notebook: Continued issues with Ballad Health mean concerns for patients appeared first on Tennessee Lookout. El Paso police homicide detectives continue working to piece together what lead up to a fatal "road rage" shooting last week on the Patriot Freeway. The man shot and killed in the freeway confrontation was publicly identified as Agustin Avila, 45, of Northeast El Paso, by police officials on Thursday, May 30. A police spokesman, on the day of the shooting, said that a 38-year-old man had been detained in connection with the shooting, but since then, no arrests have been announced. The man's name was not disclosed and it is unclear if he has been charged. -- Detectives with the Crimes Against Persons Unit continue investigating the homicide, officials said Thursday. More than a week since the daytime roadway shooting, El Paso police officials have yet to disclose further details on the deadly public gunplay on U.S. 54 on the afternoon of May 22. El Paso man killed in Patriot Freeway 'road rage' shooting About 3:11 p.m. on May 22, police received several 911 calls reporting a shooting involving motorists on the northbound lanes of U.S. 54. Gun violence: Man wounded in road rage shooting on Loop 375 freeway in far East El Paso The vehicles ended up stopping on the Fred Wilson exit just north of the Cassidy Gate entrance to Fort Bliss. Avila was taken to a hospital, where he died, police said. Traffic was backed up on U.S. 54 near Pershing Drive following a fatal "road rage" freeway shooting on May 22 in Central El Paso. A police spokesman said that the shooting was believed to be "a road rage incident." It remains undisclosed how investigators believe the confrontation started and the sequence of events leading up to the shooting and afterward. Why is it named the Patriot Freeway? The north-south U.S. 54 highway is named the Patriot Freeway as it runs from Central to Northeast El Paso in front of a portion of Fort Bliss. The Patriot Freeway was named in 1991 following the Gulf War victory in recognition of the U.S. Army's Patriot missile air-defense system from Fort Bliss, which gained worldwide fame as "Scudbusters" during Operation Desert Storm following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. How to avoid road rage A more than decade-old survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 9 in 10 respondents felt that aggressive drivers were a "somewhat" or "very serious" threat to safety. Archives: Driver killed in Doniphan 'road rage' shooting; father, sons arrested on murder charges The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recommends three guiding principles to avoid road rage. They are: Don't offend: Avoid driving behaviors that may anger other drivers, such as cutting off other drivers, driving too slow on the left lane, tailgaiting and making gestures. "Almost nothing makes another driver angrier than an obscene gesture," AAA stated, which recommends being a cautious and courteous driver. Don't engage: Steer clear and give angry drivers room. Avoid eye contact. If a driver is following you trying to start a fight, call police. Adjust your attitude: Forget winning, driving isn't a game. Put yourself in the other driver's shoes. If you have an anger problem, seek help. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso man killed in US 54 freeway 'road rage' shooting identified BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Trade between China and the Arab League has witnessed robust expansion as the two sides bolstered economic cooperation since the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was established 20 years ago, customs data showed. Total goods trade volume between China and members of the Arab League surged to 2.8 trillion yuan (about 393.75 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023 from 303.81 billion yuan in 2004, an increase of 820.9 percent, according to China's General Administration of Customs (GAC). In the first four months of 2024, China's imports and exports with the Arab League climbed 3.8 percent year on year to a historic high of 946.17 billion yuan, accounting for 6.9 percent of the country's total foreign trade value. The United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are China's top six trade partners in the Arab League in terms of trade value. They took up 84.8 percent of the total China-Arab trade in the first four months, GAC data revealed. China is the largest source of automobile imports, as well as textiles and garments, to the Arab League. Between January and April this year, Chinese exports under these two catalogs increased by 66.3 percent and 3.2 percent year on year, respectively. The Arab League is China's largest import source of energy products. In the first four months of 2024, China imported 397.29 billion yuan worth of energy products from the Arab League, or 38 percent of China's total energy product imports in this period. Also, in the first four months of this year, trade between China's private enterprises and the Arab League totaled 497.14 billion yuan, up 16.3 percent year on year. In the same period, it accounted for 52.5 percent of the total China-Arab trade, an increase of 5.7 percentage points compared with a year ago. The 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was held in Beijing on Thursday. During the conference, China signed a number of bilateral and multilateral cooperation documents with the participating countries and the General Secretariat of the Arab League. Getty Images. Two candidates will appear on Ohioans ballots this November under the names they use in daily life but werent born with. Arienne Childrey and Bobbie Arnold, both trans women, went through the process to legally change their name, but an obscure provision in Ohio law requires them to list any prior names on their candidate petitions. Although both candidates are Democrats running in safe Republican districts, their story highlights a blindspot in state law. The candidate declaration form makes no mention of the requirement. It leaves no space for previous names either. Meanwhile, for many people who transition, shedding their so-called deadname is both an affirmation of who they have become, and a way to protect their mental and physical health. The incident has prompted competing legislative fixes. One measure, sponsored by Childrey and Arnolds Republican opponents this November, would make protests easier by allowing voters of any party to challenge a persons candidacy. Another, backed by Democrats, would create an exemption for candidates who changed their legal name through an Ohio court. Proponents testimony At a hearing last week, a pair of county elections officials spoke in favor of the measure expanding candidate protests. Robert Wood, from the Preble County board of elections, defended the prior names requirement as another in a long line of standards meant to protect the public. Minimum ages, maximum ages and prohibitions for felons holding office are perfectly reasonable, Wood argued. It is self-evident that those committing felonious acts in the past should be barred from holding an elected office creating and or upholding law, Wood said. I wouldnt have I wouldnt hire an accountant with an embezzlement conviction, a financial advisor with a securities fraud conviction or a doctor with malpractice charges. In that vein, he argued a new name is not a new person, and if there are prior issues with a candidate, the public should know. Ironically, during this years primaries, the state supreme court allowed a candidate who previously committed a felony to run for a state House seat. The former Republican lawmaker, Steven Kraus, argued that conviction was expunged, although it had only been sealed. Kraus lost the election to incumbent, Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron. Putnam County board of elections member Tony Schroeder argued trust is earned through transparency, and that more information, not less, builds trust. Schroeder insisted the prior names requirement is well known and well understood. However, Rep. Michele Grim, D-Toledo, pushed back. She pressed Schroeder on testimony from several candidates that neither they, officials at their local board or long-serving campaign attorneys had ever heard about the requirement. Nobody really knows about it, Grim said. Its not in the candidate handbook. Its not stated anywhere, and you are talking about transparency. I would argue that that that not being in the candidate handbook or anything is not very transparent. Schroeder acknowledged its entirely possible some boards dont know about the requirement, and argued more explicit disclosure of it is a simple, technical fix the Secretary of State could handle. Rep. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, voiced support for disclosing prior names but questioned the existing exception for people whose name changed through marriage. I dont really understand why we have that exception, he said. Because if Mary Smith had accumulated a long criminal record under the name Mary Smith, and now shes married to Tony Jones, why wouldnt the voting public want to know that? Notably, while Schroeder and Wood sought to vindicate the existing requirement to disclose prior names, they didnt say much about what the bill would actually do allow people from either party to challenge a persons candidacy. In an allusion to a county boards even partisan split, Schroeder suggested it would extend limited means of check and balance to the ballot access process, eliminating partisan advantage. Rep. Richard Brown, D-Canal Winchester argued it would likely do the opposite and open the door to baseless candidate protests. Brown asked if Schroeder would support an amendment that would penalize someone either civilly and or perhaps criminally, for filing a protest with reckless disregard for the truth or falsity of something, for the for the purpose of harassing somebody. I follow the law, Schroeder replied, I dont make it. Opponent testimony Schroeder was the only individual to speak in opposition to the competing bill which would provide and exception for candidates who changed their name legally in Ohio. He noted in many elections undervotes ballots where voters make no selection for an office or question outnumber any of the candidates or options. Voters should have the opportunity to fully vet a candidate who is asking for their vote, he argued. The more voters know about a candidate, the more likely they are to vote for the candidate or to choose another candidate. I would ask you to remember that hidden participant, the under vote, and to vote in favor of more, not less information for the electorate. Schroeder argued two of the most important sources of information about candidates available to voters are the ballot and the candidates petition. Although the Putnam County board of elections website allows voters to preview their ballot, they do not post candidates petitions. Grim pressed Schroeder on his opposition, describing how rigorous the process is for people who legally change their names. Schroeder said he was worried about people who recently moved to Ohio and changed their name elsewhere. This bill only lets people who have legally changed their name in the state of Ohio (get an exception), Grim explained. So, if someone moved from Indiana, or Michigan or Kentucky, they would still have to disclose. She argued that court process is more complicated than getting married, and went on to note that Ohio allows candidates to use a nickname on the ballot. Whats the difference between putting a nickname thats not my real name on the ballot? she asked, Because thats where they would be researching this candidate as opposed to the declaration of candidacy. Schroeder acknowledged it as a good point, and allowed that to the extent that (Grims bill) does not limit the information available to potential voters, as youve described, I think that would be absolutely fine. Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Election officials weigh in on candidate deadnaming bills prompted by transgender candidates appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. Elizabeth Warren warns of efforts to limit abortion in states that have protected access U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday warned about additional attempts to curb access to abortion efforts that she said could ultimately target states like Massachusetts that have worked to protect abortion rights. Warren held a field hearing in Boston along with fellow Democratic Sen. Edward Markey, also of Massachusetts, to highlight some of those concerns following the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade. Even in states that have tried to enshrine abortion rights in 2022, Massachusetts lawmakers passed a shield law designed to protect abortion providers from out-of-state legal actions when they provide care to people living in states with abortion bans further restrictions loom, Warren said. Im furious that millions of women have lost fundamental rights. Im furious that their freedom to make their own decisions has been taken away by a small number of extremists, Warren said, adding that shes even more concerned about what could happen if Donald Trump wins back the White House. Markey said hes also concerned about the direction of the nations high court. The Supreme Court has two more cases before it that could imperil abortion care nationwide including here in Massachusetts, he said, We are in a multi-generational war. One of those Supreme Court cases involves a challenge from conservative groups seeking to reverse the federal approval of the drug mifepristone a medication used in the most common method of abortion in the United States or roll back policies that have made it easier to obtain. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell is among the critics who say that decision could end up making it harder for people in Massachusetts, where abortion is legal, to get their hands on the drug. Not everyone in Massachusetts is opposed to increased restrictions on abortion. Myrna Maloney Flynn, president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, said elected officials opposed to limiting mail-order abortion medicine fail to consider potential health problems women could face by removing a physician from the equation. She also faulted political figures like Warren and Markey for their criticism of pregnancy resource centers, which she described as community nonprofits that exist to offer safe, cost-free, compassionate choices women deserve. Critics say the centers can be confusing and are designed to persuade women not to get abortions. It might come as a shock to Sens. Warren, Markey and Attorney General Campbell, but not every woman experiencing an unexpected pregnancy wants an abortion, Flynn said. Any serious roundtable discussion would consider such women and include ideas for serving them, too. Warren also pointed to efforts around the country that would expand legal and constitutional protections for embryos and fetuses, a long-time goal of the anti-abortion movement. She said some abortion opponents, buoyed by the defeat of Roe v. Wade, are hoping to expand the protections nationally, including into states that have protected abortion rights. 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 (Reuters) - Elon Musk has settled his latest legal fight with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by agreeing to testify for the regulator's probe into his 2022 acquisition of social media site Twitter, according to a Thursday court filing. Musk and the SEC have agreed on an undisclosed date when the Tesla chief executive will undergo questioning, they said in court papers. Musk also agreed not to appeal the court decision that ordered him to comply with the agency's subpoena. The SEC sued Musk in October to compel him to testify after he refused to attend a September interview for the investigation. The billionaire said the SEC was trying to "harass" him through unwarranted investigations. The probe concerns whether Musk broke federal securities laws in 2022 when he bought stock in Twitter, which he later renamed X. It is also reviewing statements and SEC filings he made in relation to the deal, the agency has previously said. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware and Jody Godoy in New York, Editing by Nick Zieminski) Paula Lamas learned to overcome adversity when political turmoil left her family suddenly immigrating to the United States. Now through her work, she shares stories like hers about Tri-Cities Latinos building resilience and finding opportunity and hope in their own communities. In her early 20s in 2001, Lamas traveled with her mother from Venezuela to California and Nevada to celebrate the holidays. By the end of the trip, it became clear that she and her mother couldnt safely return home to Venezuela due to political unrest there. We went to Miami to wait until the political situation got better, Lamas said. It continued to get worse and worse. Lamas mother, a former consultant for the Venezuelan military, later received a call telling them not to return for security reasons. The uncertainty was the worst part because we werent prepared mentally, physically and economically to immigrate. She and her mother moved into an apartment with her aunt and cousins for four months, and Lamas began a job as a hostess at a restaurant in Miami. At the same time, she enrolled at South East University and started taking night classes in communication. In Venezuela, she studied at Santa Maria University. Paula Lamas is the creator and host of the bilingual podcast and radio show, Power Moment with Paula Lamas, which launched in 2019. She soon began an internship at a local radio station, Caracol Radio 1260-AM. On her first day, she proposed a list to her supervisor with the things she felt she could do to contribute to the newsroom. Now a Richland resident, Lamas received an Emmy Award nomination for Best News Anchor from the National Academy of Television Arts and Science Northwest chapter for her work with Univision. Lamas is the first Latina journalist in Washington to receive the nomination. The recipient will be announced on June 1. Journalist Paula Lamas In her 20-year broadcast career, Lamas worked at Univision Seattle, CNN Latino Miami, CNN en Espanol and Fox Business News, among other television and radio newsrooms. Lamas was a reporter and producer at Univision Seattle for over eight years. It was the only local Hispanic newscast in the Puget Sound region before shutting down in December 2023. Working in Seattle, she had a mission to share positive news about Hispanic communities. I didnt feel like I was losing something when Univision Seattle closed because I already lost everything when I became an immigrant. I knew the community was going to lose its only Spanish newscast, but thanks to technology, people can still be informed. News is going to transform, she said. Lamas is the creator and host of the bilingual podcast and radio show, Power Moment with Paula Lamas, which launched in 2019, and manages a Hispanic marketing consulting company. In Tri-Cities, she is working on connecting with local nonprofits, schools and through social media. She sees an opportunity to tell stories about Latinos as the Hispanic population grows in Tri-Cities. I try to showcase the accomplishments and contributions of Latinos in the Tri-Cities, and serve as a bridge between Latino heritage and American culture, particularly for younger generations, fostering better cross-cultural understanding, Lamas said. The show provides a platform for Latino voices and stories, fostering a sense of belonging and community, she said. Personally, I choose guests who could be role models, highlighting stories of overcoming adversity. The show can inspire Latinos of all ages to persevere through their own challenges, and equip listeners with tools and strategies for navigating their own challenges. Power Moment with Paula Lamas is available on the radio every Saturday at noon in La Z 96.7-FM and on digital platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. To learn more, visit paulalamas.net. New EMT program coming to the Bluefield Center at Southwest Virginia Community College BLUEFIELD, VA (WVNS) Southwest Virginia Community College will offer its Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program in Bluefield, Virginia beginning in August 2024. The program is designed to serve students from the colleges Bluefield Center and provide an educational opportunity in emergency medical services that can be completed in a single semester. More than $3 million announced for EMS communication system upgrades in Tazewell County The EMT program is designed to produce entry-level EMTs the capability of providing basic out-of-hospital care. Once students complete the course, they will be eligible for National Registry testing and certification. Completion of the course leads to EMT certification in Virginia and most other states. EMT training is incredibly valuable. Weve had coal miners reach out because they need EMT and first aid training for their shifts. Additionally, medical school applicants often seek EMT certification to enhance their chances of admission. Whether youre a coal miner or an aspiring physician, this program benefits everyone. William Bill Akers | Program Director Students acquire a Career Studies Certificate upon completion. The coursework and training prepares students in cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Students who complete the program will be prepared to perform current techniques in pre-hospital emergency care, assess and care for victims of trauma incidents, and demonstrate basic life support skills. They will also be trained to conduct physical assessments on emergency patients and intervene in medical emergencies such as poisonings, drug overdoses, and infectious diseases. Job opportunities for students that complete the program include positions with ambulance services, hospitals, fire and rescue services, and a variety of government agencies. Sen. Manchin announces $24.7 million to improve healthcare services throughout West Virginia Students may qualify for financial assistance. Residents in McDowell, Mercer, Summers, and Greenbrier counties qualify for in-state tuition. Classes begin on August 26, 2024 and will be held on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. until December 20, 2024. For more information on the EMT program at the Bluefield Center, contact Denver Riffe, Bluefield Site Coordinator, at 276-964-7787. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Officials at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina are looking into the possibility of erecting physical barriers to protect F-15E Strike Eagles there from drones. Officials at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina are looking into the possibility of setting up physical barriers to help protect F-15E Strike Eagles there from being attacked by small drones. The anti-drone barricade idea underscores the danger that drones present right now to U.S. military facilities and critical civil infrastructure domestically, as well as to American forces overseas . It also speaks to how the U.S. military is still lagging in efforts to address these still-growing threats at home and abroad, as well as continued legal, regulatory, and other challenges. The U.S. Air Force's 4th Contracting Squadron, part of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson, put out its request for information (RFI) about potential options for "Counter Small Unmanned Aerial System Barrier" yesterday. The facility in North Carolina is one of two bases in the United States that host operational F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons. F-15Es are some of the Air Force's most in-demand tactical combat jets . In April, forward-deployed Strike Eagles, including from Seymour Johnson's 335th Fighter Squadron, played out an outsized role in defending Israel from incoming Iranian threats by downing more than 70 drones . F-15Es on the flight line at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in 2022. USAF "Problem Statement: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (s-UAS) disrupt airfield operations and agencies have limited response capabilities due to restrictions on counter measures posed by the Federal Aviation Administration (Section 130i, Title 10, USC)," the notice says. We will come back to that latter point. "The requirement: Build a passive barrier that will prevent a Group 1 or Group 2 sUAS from making physical contact with an F-15E Strike Eagle using commercial off the shelf material," it adds. The U.S. military breaks uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) down into five groups based on maximum weight, operating altitude, and top speed. Group 1 includes drones with weights up to 20 pounds, that can fly up to 1,200 feet, and can reach speeds of up to 100 knots. Group 2 is the next tier up covering uncrewed aerial vehicles that weigh between 21 and 55 pounds, can get up to 3,500 feet, and hit top speeds of up to 250 knots. The requirements for the proposed anti-drone barriers at Seymour Johnson include that it "needs the strength to stop [a] 55lb drone traveling at 125 mph [nearly 109 knots]" and that "any space/gaps in material or design should not exceed six inches." How exactly the barriers might be emplaced is not entirely clear, but mention is made of existing flight line shelters with simple canvas covers, suggesting that this would be add-on protection for those structures. A look at the kind of open canvas-topped shelters in use on the flight line at Seymour Johnson now (seen here after a snowstorm in 2022). USAF The "weight of material should be kept to a minimum to reduce structural load and facilitate rapid open/closing," the RFI does note, adding that whatever the barriers are made of needs to be flame retardant. The "system [also] needs to be tightly secured in both open and closed positions." Whether or not any specific drone incidents at Seymour Johnson have prompted this barrier requirement is unknown and The War Zone has reached out for more information. What is known is that drone incursions over or near U.S. military bases and training ranges , as well as critical civilian infrastructure , across the United States ( including its outlying territories ) have been an increasingly serious issue for years now, as The War Zone regularly reports . Just in March, we were the first to reveal that Langley Air Force Base in Virginia had been swarmed by drones for weeks last year. Those incidents prompted a major whole-of-government response, which you can read more about here . Though many such drone-related incidents to date have appeared to be innocuous, they reflect very real potential threats that are only expected to grow in size and scope going forward. The barrier to entry to employing small drones, as well as weaponizing them to differing degrees, is also very low . The conflict in Ukraine has forced this reality fully into the mainstream consciousness, especially through the use on both sides of highly maneuverable first-person view (FPV) kamikaze drones. These are exactly the kinds of threats officials at Seymour Johnson now look to be seeking to address in part through physical barriers which is also one of the many anti-drone countermeasures that have already emerged in Ukraine . At the same time, it is important to stress again that these threats are not new or unknown to the U.S. military , and they are rapidly growing in frequency and sophistication . "One day last week I had two small UASs that were interfering with operations... At one base, the gate guard watched one fly over the top of the gate check, tracked it while it flew over the flight line for a little while, and then flew back out and left," now-retired Air Force Gen. James "Mike" Holmes, then head of Air Combat Command (ACC), said back in 2017 . Imagine a world where somebody flies a couple hundred of those and flies one down the intake of my F-22s with just a small weapon on it," Holmes added at the time. As we noted at the time , jets just sitting idle and exposed on the flight line would be even easier targets for drones. In this way, an adversary could potentially knock out large numbers of aircraft on the ground, even in the United States using commercially available technology, before they ever have a chance to get in the fight. Four years later, AFWERX, an internal Air Force technology incubator, put out a broad call for proposals for ways to defend the service's bases at home and abroad from drones. As the new contracting notice from Seymour Johson Air Force Base shows, the U.S. military continues to be very much playing catch-up to addressing these now well-established threats. Another look at an F-15E under an open shelter at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. USAF You can only report what you see, and so thats part of the challenge, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters at the Pentagon just earlier this month when asked about drone threats to domestic facilities, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine . "But Id say thats usually two or three a week, total across the U.S. And its never primarily in one part of the country or another." Part of the issue, at least domestically, continues to be the morass of overlapping authorities, as well as competing legal and regulatory requirements. Back in 2017, Gen. Holmes noted that "I have no authority given to me by the government to deal with that [drone incursions]." Even in 2017, efforts were being made to try to expand the authorities available to base commanders in the United States to respond to potentially hostile drones. The U.S. government has made additional domestic counter-drone policy changes since then . However, as the new contracting notice from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base makes clear, there continue to be hurdles to taking more proactive measures to address drone threats. Section 130i, Title 10 , as cited in the Seymour Johnson anti-drone barrier RFI, does provide authority for "action" to be taken to include measures to "disrupt control of the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft, without prior consent, including by disabling the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft by intercepting, interfering, or causing interference with wire, oral, electronic, or radio communications used to control the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft" and the "use reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft." Air Force security personnel train with 'guns' designed to jam the link between a drone and its controller at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. USAF However, the statute also stipulates that "the Secretary of Defense shall coordinate with the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration before issuing any guidance or otherwise implementing this section if such guidance or implementation might affect aviation safety, civilian aviation and aerospace operations, aircraft airworthiness, or the use of airspace." The FAA continues to impose significant limitations on the use of active anti-drone countermeasures in many domestic contexts. The War Zone has also highlighted in the past how obtuse and convoluted the existing mechanisms are for securing authorization to take action against uncrewed aerial threats within the United States can be, and that situation does not look to have improved substantially in recent years. "The first problem is that our nation lacks adequate drone detection capability. We still rely on the early warning radars that served us so well during the Cold War," Senators Jack Reed and Roger Wicker, wrote in a joint op-ed in the Washington Post in April. "Today, though, they are unable to detect, identify and track small aircraft at both high and low altitudes. Inside the United States, we can hardly track anything other than commercial aircraft. Almost none of our domestic military bases have the sensors to identify small drones." It's worth noting here that the filter gates on various air defense radars in North America were altered in February 2023, which immediately resulted in the tracking of a large amount of additional aerial activity. The radar changes followed a Chinese spy balloon intruding into U.S. airspace and soaring across the country over a period of days before being shot down over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina. Within a week, U.S. fighters had brought down three more still-unidentified objects flying in U.S. and Canadian airspace, as you can read more about here . Members of the Senate subsequently demanded a review of the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) aerospace warning and control mission and procedures." An unclassified map showing various NORAD air defense nodes in the contiguous United States, including certain early warning radar sites. DOD "If we fixed our tracking problem, though, a second issue would arise. U.S. agencies lack clear lines of authority about which agency is responsible for stopping these incursions. Instead, a dizzying maze of overlapping jurisdictions and inflexible bureaucracies confuses, rather than clarifies, crisis response," Senators Reed and Wicker, a Democrat from Rhode Island and Republican from Mississippi, respectively, who are also the top members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, continued in their recent op-ed. "Government officials from an alphabet soup of agencies Defense Department, Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration spend hours if not days simply discussing who can take action when a UAS is identified. Too often, low-altitude incursions are treated as a law enforcement matter instead of as a national security issue." Whether Seymour Johnson ultimately gets anti-drone barriers or not remains to be seen. If these added defensive measures are implemented there, they could quickly become commonplace at other bases. Regardless, the new contracting notice underscores the U.S. military's ongoing efforts to respond to the now well-established threat posed by uncrewed aerial systems, and its continued struggle in doing so. Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com In Reality Check stories, Star-Telegram journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? RealityCheck@star-telegram.com. Cheryl Bean narrowly lost her bid for Republican nominee for Texas House District 97 to John McQueeney Tuesday night, despite a number of influential endorsements in her corner. In addition to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare and a slew of other state and local elected officials, Bean also boasted the backing of tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that are legally prohibited from making political endorsements. Among the endorsements listed on Beans campaign website are the 501(c)(3) nonprofits For Liberty & Justice, Texas Home School Coalition, Moms for America and the NRA. Tax-exempt organizations with 501(c)(3) status are prohibited from endorsing political candidates, according to the IRS. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes, the website says. For Liberty & Justice was founded by District 93 Rep. Nathan Schatzline, a Republican whose district includes much of northern Fort Worth. The organization listed Bean alongside John OShea who lost his bid for a North Texas congressional seat to Craig Goldman on Tuesday as Friends & Family Candidates on its website. But Schatzline does not call it an endorsement. This is not an endorsement, however, we do highlight candidates who are in relationship with us, which is totally legal and under the law, he said. As for Bean calling the organizations support an endorsement, Schatzline said, I cant speak for other peoples campaigns, but were really proud to support Cheryl on our Friends & Family list. Beans campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. For Liberty & Justice, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by state Rep. Nathan Schatzline, is listed among Cheryl Beans endorsements on her website. Here's what else we've Reality Checked: Migrant crime in Tarrant? We got the numbers. Did American Airlines really blame child for a flight attendant trying to film her in toilet? What Texas law says about people selling puppies in parking lots The flyer listing the candidates has the accompanying text: Disclaimer: This is not an endorsement. These are candidates that are involved in their local church and share our values (see reverse) In every case, we encourage you to take the time to pray and research then vote! The disclaimer does not disavow For Liberty & Justice of the act of endorsing Beans campaign, according to Mark Jones, a political scientist from Rice University. I dont think the disclaimer gets them off the hook, he said. Had the organization posted more educational material meant to inform voters of where Bean, OShea and their opponents stood on policy issues, the public display of support could have been written off as a highlight and not an endorsement, Jones said. I think theyve gone over the line here, he said. This strikes me as them advocating for voters to cast a ballot for John OShea in District 12 and Cheryl Bean in District 97, and 501(c)(3)s are clearly prohibited from endorsing in this way. Calvin Jillson, a political science professor at SMU, also saw the flyer as skating right up to the line of an endorsement of Beans candidacy, but added that there are likely no real-world consequences for such activity. The Federal Election Commission is too mired in polarization to be effective in such cases, Jillson said, with Democrats and Republicans regularly blocking each other from taking enforcement actions. The only option would be for an opponent to litigate the matter on their own dime. You couldnt make a complaint to the FEC or to the Texas Ethics Commission very effectively, he said. And so youd have to have a candidate that wanted to litigate this distinction and was willing to pay in order to have a court declare, yes or no, this is an endorsement or merely a, whatever. Moms for America told the Star-Telegram in an emailed statement that Beans campaign appeared to have made a mistake. The endorsement was made by Moms for America Action, which, as a 501(c)(4) organization, can legally endorse a candidate. Calling the mistake a typo, the organization said, We will alert Cheryls team immediately to make that correction. The Texas Home School Coalition and the NRA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Andie Perdue, Melinda Ball and Thad Holcombe have been among environmental activists opposed to Baker University's sale of land adjacent to the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center and a nearby proposed housing and commercial development that would be located in the Wakarusa River floodplain. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) Andie Perdue, Melinda Ball and Thad Holcombe have been among environmental activists opposed to Baker University's sale of land adjacent to the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center and a nearby proposed housing and commercial development that would be located in the Wakarusa River floodplain. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) LAWRENCE Andie Perdue and a corps of other environmental activists were appalled to learn Baker University was contemplating selling to developers more than 15 acres of open ground across the street from the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center. Jarring images came to mind of nondescript apartment buildings a stones throw from what little remained of a vast wetland ecosystem mingling with the Wakarusa River south of Lawrence. Migrating waterfowl and the many nocturnal residents would find their habitat overwhelmed by day-to-day influences of humans drawing the development noose tighter and tighter around their domain. And, all of this economic activity would emerge in or near a floodplain Lawrence and Douglas County policy guidelines had considered off limits. Light pollution. More trash and runoff. Noise, said Perdue, an advocate of prairie and wetland preservation. Even for the people visiting the Discovery Center, it would no longer be a peaceful natural space. On Tuesday, the Baker University board of trustees agreed to retain ownership of the parcel north of their Discovery Center following extensive data gathering and deliberation. Leaked details about the potential sale were met with campus protests in Baldwin City and pointed opposition from regents at Haskell Indian Nations University, which controls a wetlands area incorporated into its Lawrence campus. The larger environmental challenge associated with the Wakarusa valley, which ties into Baker Wetlands, remained the nearby 177-acre effort by owners of New Boston Crossing to build commercial properties and hundreds of residential units on agriculture land at the junction of the South Lawrence Trafficway and U.S. Highway 59. About half of New Boston Crossings site rests in the floodplain, but the companys attorneys and consultants have sought to navigate through objections raised at the city, county and federal levels. The Wichita-based companys idea has been to gain consent for fill-and-build construction on ground elevated by rock and soil to hypothetically rise above inevitable flooding. The elevation material would come from digging an 18-acre pond. Clinton Lake was built decades ago to the west in an effort to control flooding in the Wakarusa valley, but heavy rains continue to feed streams in the region and trigger higher-volume lake releases into the same system that eventually reaches the Kansas River. Major flooding could be expected once a decade or so. Even if New Boston Crossings properties eluded disaster, questions have been raised about consequences of exacerbating the potential of flooding on property downstream or on the other side of the Wakarusa River. Melinda Ball, an opponent of New Boston Crossings project, said it was puzzling a majority of local officials were willing to accept the risk of opening a gate to the floodplain with such a large development. Just as important as the ecological things, people need to realize this is a taxpayer issue, Ball said. Flooding is the most expensive natural disaster there is. This area is to absorb water and, if that area is removed and the capacity is removed, the water doesnt just magically disappear. Green light, red light The Lawrence City Commission voted in March to approve eight rezoning requests filed by New Boston Crossing for the controversial development. Six had to be approved by a supermajority of the commission, or a 4-1 margin, because the changes didnt receive majority backing from the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission. Bart Littlejohn, the city commissioner currently serving as mayor, said he was swayed by the potential of New Boston Crossing adding to the citys insufficient stock of single-family homes. The project could bring at least 150 housing lots to the marketplace, he said, in addition to apartments and townhouses. We direly need housing. Weve got a larger population with a dwindling inventory, Littlejohn said. I know developers get a bad rap. We do need housing projects. Commissioner Amber Sellers, who also endorsed zoning changes, expressed concern the Lawrence City Commission had done little in the past decade to incentivize construction of affordable housing. She shared disappointment the type of affordable homes envisioned by New Boston Crossing might cost more than $300,000, which would be a sum far beyond what families living on a modest income could afford. Commissioner Brad Finkeldei, who also voted for the zoning changes, said the citys approach to regulating floodplains was more restrictive than most communities. Vice Mayor Mike Dever, who acknowledged a floodplain wasnt the best place to build, said nothing would be constructed without New Boston Crossing securing consent from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. New Boston Crossing applied to FEMA for approval of the fill-and-build method, which isnt without critics. Commissioner Lisa Larson stood alone in opposing a majority of the rezoning requests, primarily because she viewed it as folly to encourage builders to dive into the floodplain on the southern edge of the city. She offered support for two of eight zoning adjustments. In February, the Douglas County Commission voted 2-1 to reject an amendment to the joint city-county comprehensive plan, known as Plan 2040, that would have revised the land-use map regarding floodplains when considering residential and commercial developments. The tweak was intended to accommodate New Boston Crossings entrance into the Lawrence retail and housing market. County Commission Chair Karen Willey said the proposed New Boston Crossing site would be prone of flooding and the threat would grow as the capacity of Clinton Lake to contain floodwater was diminished by layers of silt. Commissioner Patrick Kelly argued the county should support the citys quest for expansion of housing and business, despite his personal reservation about making use of floodplain to accomplish those goals. The countys rejection of the Plan 2040 amendment didnt kill the project, because the document was considered guidance rather than a legally binding mandate. Lawrence city planner Sandra Day said the citys code didnt forbid building in a floodplain if the developer complied with specific design criteria. The land for the New Boston Crossing was annexed into Lawrence during 2023. No crystal ball Philip Struble, president of Landplan Engineering and part of the New Boston Crossing development team, said the project had gone through a series of iterations in a bid to make it palatable. The current vision involved retail spaces, including a gas station, and an array of housing options. Much of the development would be located on ground raised to exclude it from the regulatory floodplain, he said. He said developers had sought FEMA approval of the elevated construction concept that would allow the property upon completion to be formally excluded from the floodplains boundary map. The developers recently engaged in conversations with Tenants to Homeowners about inclusion of affordable housing in the development, Struble said. Lawrence is in need of residential lots, Struble said. They are not in need of one particular kind of lot. Theyre in need of all of them. Thad Holcombe, who worked against the New Boston Crossing development and the Baker Wetland property sale, said it would be a mistake to open the floodplain and the broader valley to housing and commercial development. He said environmental harm would accelerate and permanently damage the ecosystem. Growth for its own sake, thats wrong, said Earl Bates, who lives about 1 mile southwest of the New Boston Crossing site. The new Boston Crossing will flood. It will take away from downtown and other business interests. Its going to clog traffic, pollute the water, air and soil. Courtney King, a graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University, said she was alarmed city and county officials dismissed assertions land associated with the development previously belonged to Haskell. The four-year tribal university that was founded in the 1880s as a residential boarding school for Native American children. She urged local government officials to require surveys with ground-penetrating radar to determine whether children that disappeared from Haskell long ago were buried in the area targeted for new housing and businesses. Children are buried in the Wakarusa River valley, she said. They deserve justice and the city commission must work to right these wrongs. The post Environmentalists dodge wetlands threat, but larger floodplain development lurches ahead appeared first on Kansas Reflector. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) As levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continue to increase, atmospheric scientists are investigating the risks and benefits of artificially shading the Earths surface to slow global warming. Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) is one solar radiation modification method being proposed by some scientists to offset the worst effects of global warming, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. What exactly is Marine Cloud Brightening? NOAA describes it as the injection of salt spray into shallow marine clouds to brighten them, increasing their reflection of sunlight and reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the water below. A controversial MCB experiment in Alameda was halted by the City Council earlier this year. The initial tests were held on the deck of a decommissioned aircraft carrier. Scientists from the University of Washington sprayed sea-salt particles into the air until the city intervened over health and environmental concerns. The Alameda City Council is slated to vote on June 4 to decide if experiments can proceed in Alameda. On Thursday the Center for International Environmental Law called on the Alameda City Council to reject the highly contentious geoengineering experiment. Deployed at scale, Marine Cloud Brightening would not reverse the climate crisis, and instead create a different climate change potentially exacerbating droughts, hurricanes, and flooding, CIEL claims. Mary Church of CIEL said, Geoengineering our planet does nothing to solve the root causes of climate change. Geoengineering experiments, like the Marine Cloud Brightening project in the Bay Area, set a dangerous precedent and risk legitimizing a highly-speculative and harmful technology. We strongly urge Alameda City Council members to consider the wider consequences of this project when they meet on June 4, and say no to geoengineering and yes to a healthy planet. Current MCB proposals rely on saltwater spray. NOAA explains, Ideally, droplets in the saltwater spray evaporate to produce fine particles that are carried up to the cloud layer by turbulent and convective air motions. The City Council is set to vote on the issue during its meeting on Tuesday, June 4. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing on Thursday. Xi noted that the UAE is an important comprehensive strategic partner of China. In recent years, China-UAE relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, setting a good example for China-Arab states relations in the new era. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, Xi said, adding that it is an important juncture for China-UAE relations to build on past achievements and forge ahead. He said China stands ready to work with the UAE to continue to grasp the general direction of bilateral relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, and ensure the vigorous development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. Xi said that China supports the UAE in pursuing an independent development path and safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and is willing to consolidate political mutual trust and strengthen cooperation with the UAE to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity. He said China stands ready to work with the UAE to continuously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen synergy of development strategies, and take the establishment of a high-level committee on China-UAE investment and cooperation as an opportunity to push for more outcomes in bilateral cooperation. Xi called on the two sides to consolidate cooperation in areas such as trade, energy and infrastructure, expand cooperation in high-tech fields such as information technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy and new energy, and strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation. Xi noted he had recently replied to letters from Chinese language learners in the UAE, encouraging them to master the language, get to know more about China and contribute to promoting friendship between the two countries. China is willing to continue to support the "Hundred Schools Project" of Chinese language education, push forward the construction of a Chinese culture center in the UAE, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and promote mutual understanding and friendship, he added. Noting that at present the trend towards a multi-polar world is unstoppable, Xi said multi-polarization in essence should mean mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among different civilizations, systems and paths. Countries in the Middle East are an important part of developing countries and an important force in the multi-polarization of the world, he said, adding that China supports countries in the region to continue to follow their development paths suited to their national conditions, firmly follow the path of unity and strength, peace and reconciliation, resolve differences through communication and consultation, and hold their future and destiny in their own hands. Xi said China is ready to work with the UAE and other Arab countries to host the second China-Arab States Summit and promote the building of a community of shared future between China and Arab states. China is willing to strengthen its strategic partnership with the UAE, expand multilateral cooperation and safeguard the common interests of countries in the Global South, he added. Mohamed said that he was very happy to once again visit China, his second hometown, and attend the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum together with President Xi. He said the relations between Arab and Gulf countries and China boast a solid foundation. Deepening and developing relations with China conforms to the common aspiration and fundamental interests of the people of Arab and Gulf countries. Mohamed said that UAE-China relations are based on mutual trust, mutual respect and common interests, and cooperation in various fields has reached an extraordinary level. The UAE attaches great importance to developing relations with China, places China at the top of its diplomatic priority and regards China as a long-term and reliable strategic partner, he said, adding that the UAE is willing to take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to further deepen and expand cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, investment, energy, science and technology, education and culture. The government of the UAE firmly adheres to the one-China policy, opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form and supports China's efforts to achieve national reunification, he said. Mohamed added that the UAE highly appreciates and actively supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi, will continue to actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, and is willing to work closely with China in multilateral communication and coordination to promote peace, development and prosperity of the region and the world at large. The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi stressed that the top priority is a comprehensive ceasefire and cessation of fighting to ease the humanitarian crisis, and the international community should unanimously support an early negotiated settlement of the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-State solution. Xi said China and the UAE have the same stance on the Palestinian issue and should work together to push for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the issue. After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields including investment, jointly building the Belt and Road, science and technology, peaceful use of nuclear energy, Chinese education, culture and tourism. Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that they will give four Central Illinois school districts rebate funding for new, zero-emission school buses. 28 Illinois school districts have been selected in total for the 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition. The program is funded by President Bidens Investing in America agenda. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for school districts and produce cleaner air. President Biden believes every child deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and breathe clean air, and his Investing in America agenda is designed to deliver just that, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said. With todays latest round of funding, we are transforming the nations school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargoour kidssaving school districts money, improving air quality, and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time. Urbana High School honored for solar energy advocacy The EPA says transitioning to clean school buses can help lessen the risk of asthma and other health conditions in both students and community members. U.S. EPAs Clean School Bus Program is making a positive impact in Illinois by providing cleaner transportation for our states most vulnerable residents, our students, said Illinois EPA Director John J. Kim. We continue to be encouraged by the interest of so many school districts ready to transition to electric school buses, which not only benefits the districts, but also the environment for everyone in their region. The following Central Illinois school districts are receiving rebate funds for cleaner school buses: A-C Central CUSD 262 $420,000 for two clean school buses Springfield SD 186 $7,935,000 for 23 clean school buses Hoopeston Area CUSD 11 $690,000 for two clean school buses Urbana SD 116 $3,060,000 for 15 clean school buses Other Clean School Bus Program awardees can be located here. Ensuring that our students get to and from school in a safe and healthy way should be one of our top priorities, Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) said. Im excited to join the Environmental Protection Agency in announcing additional resources for Illinois as a part of the Clean School Bus Program. These resources will help our communities buy new, clean school buses that not only help the environment, but protect students health from tailpipe emissions. Kicking off Our Town 2024: Looking back on Hoopestons history Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said these buses can provide a lasting, positive change for Illinois communities and the air we breathe. No child should have to breathe diesel fumes on their way to school. These School Bus Grants represent a commitment to a healthier, greener future for our children, Durbin said. By transitioning to electric school buses, we are reducing harmful diesel pollution and investing in the sustainability of our communities. I am glad to see that more Illinois School Districts will receive this funding and encourage every Illinois School District to apply for the next round. This marks a significant step forward in our collective responsibility to provide a healthier and more environmentally conscious education system for generations to come. For school districts that did not apply or were not selected for the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program, the EPA welcomes applications for the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program until July 25. An up-to $932 million grant will be offered, with 70% of the funding available to help pay for new, zero-emission Class 6 or 7 school buses. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. People camp on public lands on Oct. 13, 2023 just outside Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. Capitol Reef is the national park most affected by Utah's biggest regional haze polluters. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) Utahs coal-fired Hunter power plant is No. 1 in the country for contributing to haze in large national parks and national wilderness areas. The nearby Huntington plant ranks 12, according to a Sierra Club database. However, a state plan to combat haze pollution hasnt been reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency since it was deemed complete in 2022. But that may change this year, as a result of a settlement with environmentalists. The EPA missed its 2023 deadline to take final action on Utahs implementation plan to protect its national parks from visibility impairment from man-made air pollution. But, following a lawsuit from the Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Association, the agency has proposed a settlement to make a final evaluation of Utahs strategy this fall. Under the Clean Air Act, states should implement a plan to protect their national parks and wilderness areas from haze. That rule has, however, seen a lack of enforcement, according to the lawsuit. Environmentalists argue that haze is an issue in 98% of national parks across the country and states such as Utah, Wyoming and North Dakota have produced do-nothing plans to avoid certain pollution controls on coal-fired power plants or have legally fought the rules requirements, according to the Sierra Club. This settlement is a step forward for communities who have already waited years for action on smog and particulate matter pollution that harms lung function, worsens asthma attacks, and puts sensitive groups at extreme risk, Laurie Williams, Sierra Clubs beyond coal director, said in a statement. Now, every deadline in this settlement helps ensure EPA follows the laws established by Congress, disapproves of do-nothing plans, and restores clean air to national parks and communities across the country. Now, the EPA has proposed deadlines to approve, disapprove, partially or conditionally approve plans from 33 states to reduce haze pollution in national parks and wilderness areas, according to a proposed consent decree posted to the Federal Register in March. As the EPA missed Utahs deadline in August 2023, it must sign a final notice in November 2024, as part of the settlement. If the EPA rejects the state plan, the federal agency must issue its own implementation plan describing how the state should address haze pollution, as the Clean Air Act mandates. However, environmentalists are not the only ones who challenged the EPA because of its delay. Utah also sued the EPA in 2023, asking the agency to issue a final decision on its implementation plan. The Utah Division of Environmental Quality imposed new control measures, such as a plant-wide enforceable mass-based nitrogen oxide limit on PacifiCorps Hunter and Huntington Power Plants, according to the suit. The DEQ also proposed the installation of flue gas recirculation on the Riley Boiler at the US Magnesiums Rowley Plant and a closure date for some units at the Intermountain Generation Station, among other measures. Though the Utah Air Quality Board adopted the plan in 2022, the regulated sources cant plan compliance with the new requirements without the EPAs final nod, according to the document. The Administrators delay leaves uncertainty about control requirements that may apply to various sources if the Administrator disapproves Utahs SIP (state implementation plan) and imposes a federal implementation plan that requires different controls, the legal challenge reads. The holdup also creates confusion in implementing Clean Air Act requirements and difficulty complying with overlapping requirements, the state argued. PacifiCorp filed an additional suit with similar claims after Utahs challenge. Let us know what you think... However, according to Natalie Levine, interim campaigns director at the National Parks Conservation Association, those plans that Utah is fighting to implement on time may not be sufficient to combat the haze. At least NPCAs opinion is that those three states (Utah, Wyoming and North Dakota) propose plans that will do nothing to get us to that natural visibility in our parks and wilderness areas in these three states, in the next 10 years of the program, Levine said at a virtual meeting on Tuesday. She also encouraged people to submit public comments to the EPA to express their opinion on the regional haze plans. The Sierra Club, for example, is asking for pollution controls on the largest polluting sources, such as coal plants, as well the inclusion of a broader range of large sources that have been left out of the state plan, such as concrete or oil and gas production facilities, said Lindsay Beebe, a Sierra Club lobbying and advocacy representative, at the Tuesday virtual meeting. According to the Sierra Clubs Beyond Coal Campaign database, which takes into account electric generating units that lack firm plans to retire prior to 2031, Capitol Reef National Park is the most affected area by both the Hunter and Huntington plants located in Emery County which lack modern, industry-standard haze controls. The next most impacted national parks are Canyonlands and Arches. The pollutants that cause visibility impairment are the same pollutants that cause respiratory illness and heart disease, Beebe said. When we cut pollutants for visibility, its the same pollutants that were talking about for public health. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported a settlement had been reached with the EPA over review of haze mitigation plans. A settlement has been proposed. The story was also updated to reflect the correct date the Federal Register posted the consent decree. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post EPA proposes new deadline to review Utahs plan to combat regional haze in national parks appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. Fox News Eric Trump repeated his fathers false claim Wednesday that the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan once made a post on X depicting the president-turned-defendant behind bars. Trump, whounlike his indicted fatherisnt prohibited by a gag order from talking about the daughter of the judge in the ongoing criminal trial, appeared on Sean Hannitys show where he rattled off a list of grievances after the first day of jury deliberations. His daughter is reportedly making millions and millions of dollars and reportedly has a screenshot on her, you know, social profiles of my father behind bars, Trump told the Fox News host incredulously. And he wont recuse himself after voting to stop Republicans? It wasnt clear what reports Trump was referencing, but if any did describe Merchans daughter as having made such a post, they would be false. Trump Rages at Naive Fox News Anchor for Refuting His Lawyer After Donald Trump wrote a Truth Social screed in March targeting her, a spokesperson for the New York Office of Court Administration told The Daily Beast that what he had claimed was not rooted in reality. The X, formerly Twitter, account being attributed to Judge Merchans daughter no longer belongs to her since she deleted it approximately a year ago, OCA spokesperson Al Baker said. It is not linked to her email address, nor has she posted under that screenname since she deleted the account. Rather, it represents the reconstitution, last April, and manipulation of an account she long ago abandoned. The fact that Merchans daughter is president of a political consulting firm that has done work for Democratic candidates has been exploited by Trumps allies to allege bias by Merchan. That continued in full force on Hannity Wednesday, where the namesake host and Trump confidant whined that Merchan is clearly trying to help the prosecution get this across the finish line despite no evidence of any crime. 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. Ernst seeking third term in U.S. Senate, but open to role in a Trump cabinet Sen. Joni Ernst, shown here speaking at an event in Cedar Rapids on Oct. 20, 2023, says she's planning to seek a third term in 2026. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers. CARROLL Two-term U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, a Red Oak Republican and the first female combat veteran to serve in the Senate, says she will seek a third term in 2026. In an interview in Carroll with Iowa Mercury and the Carroll Times Herald following an economic-development event on Wednesday, Ernst, 53, left the door open to a possible cabinet position in a second Trump administration if the former president prevails in November. Trump vetted Ernst in the 2016 cycle as a possible vice presidential running mate. Asked directly if she planned to seek reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2026, and to rate her likelihood on a scale of 1 to 10 for a third-term bid (with 10 being most likely) Ernst said, That is my intent. So I would say, yes, 10 very likely. I love representing the people of Iowa, and it really has been a very fulfilling position for me to be able to fight for rural America. Of course, important to me as well are our veterans and Armed Services. Ernst said she would wait until after the 2024 election cycle to get a little closer to 2026 before announcing. The Republican senator said shes fundraising for the 2026 race. As to potential consideration as the vice presidential candidate for Trump, Ernst gave no indication that she is being vetted, and her name has not emerged on many reported pundit and insider lists, where several of her Senate colleagues, Tim Scott of South Carolina, J.D. Vance of Ohio and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, are mentioned. I dont think thats possible, Ernst said of the Trump running mate turn. But I would be honored if I would be considered for a position in the administration. Of course Id be honored. Anyone would be honored to be thought of. Ernst said her focus is on the Senate, where she is now seeking the No. 3 leadership spot in her party there, the Senate Republican Conference chair. Who knows what the future brings, she said. In 2016, I wrote a column for Des Moines Cityview with an analysis on why Ernst would be Trumps strongest running mate. The column title: 10 reasons Trump should select Joni Ernst as running mate. That year, I asked Ernst, as part of a wide-ranging interview on a raft of topics, about the possibility of her being on a vice presidential selection list. Thats really nice of you, Ernst said in 2016. I think my mother would be really excited to hear you say that. But right now, Ive just spent one year in the United States Senate, and I feel that I have been an influential member in the Senate, given that Im a first-year freshman. In 2015 Ernst succeeded long-time U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, after she defeated then-Congressman Bruce Braley in 2014. Ernst won reelection to the Senate in 2020 by 6 points in a race with Democrat Theresa Greenfield, now a top U.S. Department of Agriculture official. No prominent Iowa Democrats to this point have engaged in public jockeying for a Senate race in 2026 with Ernst. This column was originally published by Douglas Burns blog, The Iowa Mercury. It is shared here through the Iowa Writers Collaborative. Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the Iowa Writers Collaborative and member authors blogs to support their work. The post Ernst seeking third term in U.S. Senate, but open to role in a Trump cabinet appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. Lava erupts from the crater of a volcano near the mountain Litli-Hrutur, about 40 kilometres southwest of Reykjavik. Philipp Schulze/dpa The situation around a volcano in Iceland has become calmer after another eruption north of the coastal town of Grindavik. The strength of the eruption has decreased significantly, the Icelandic broadcaster RUV reported on Thursday. No more explosive events were observed and there was only very low seismic activity. All defences held overnight, it added. A powerful volcanic eruption occurred on the island on Wednesday, the fifth since December. After numerous earthquakes had shaken the area and there was already enormous pressure underground, an eruption occurred in the afternoon near Sundhnuk, north of Grindavik. The lava flow moved towards the town and also to the north and west. Lava shot out of the kilometre-long fissure into the air at enormous pressure. Experts had predicted the eruption based on measurements. Hours earlier, the authorities had ordered the evacuation of the town of Grindavik and the popular tourist attraction Blue Lagoon, an outdoor thermal pool. Around 700 to 800 visitors were still staying there on Wednesday morning. After the outbreak, the authorities declared a state of emergency. Grindavik is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, around 55 kilometres south-west of Reykjavik. During an eruption in January, lava hit three houses on the northern foothills of the village of Grindavik, which has a population of 4,000. Estonian President Alar Karis officially enacted a law on Thursday that allows Russian assets frozen under sanctions to be used for reparations payments to Ukraine. The measure was passed by the parliament of the Baltic EU and NATO country in Tallinn earlier this month. It allows the assets of Russian companies and individuals who can be proven to have contributed to the military aggression to be used as compensation for the damage caused by Russia's invasion. Karis admitted in a statement that the confiscation of assets due to involvement in military aggression raises unresolved legal questions. However, he said that parliament must be able to make political decisions even in such a grey area. Critics of the law argued that it may be unconstitutional and that its implementation would be difficult and time-consuming. Estonia is the first European country to pass such a law. "Regardless of what one thinks of the solution chosen in Estonia, there is no doubt that we need to find effective ways to ensure the right of victims of aggression to compensation from those who caused the damage," Karis said. Due to legal concerns and fears of retaliatory measures from Moscow, many EU states are showing restraint when it comes to the use of Russian assets. So far, the EU has only been able to agree to transfer the interest income from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. Estonian President Alar Karis promulgated on May 30 a law that allows the use of frozen Russian assets for funding Ukraine's war efforts and reconstruction, according to the Presidential Office's website. The Estonian government estimated in October 2023 that it held about 38 million euros ($41.3 million) of frozen Russian assets. Estonia's parliament, the Riigikogu, passed the bill on May 15 despite some experts disagreeing with it because it supposedly conflicted with the country's Constitution. "Although the chosen method of compensation is innovative, it aims to protect the prohibition of aggression as a fundamental rule of international law," Karis said in a statement. "This was one of my messages when I promulgated the 'Act on Amendments to the International Sanctions Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts' adopted two weeks ago in the Riigikogu." Property can only be used to compensate for damage if an unlawful act or aiding such act has been identified and sufficiently proven, according to the law. If the assets have been frozen because of international sanctions, this is not sufficient for the transfer of property, the president added. Karis said that the law should be interpreted to apply to those who actively participated in committing military aggression or violating the rules of war. The president added that such confiscation of property "creates unresolved legal issues" but called on the parliament to make "policy choices in such an ambiguous situation." "Regardless of what one thinks of the solution chosen in Estonia, there is no doubt that we need to find effective ways to guarantee the right of victims of aggression to obtain compensation from the perpetrators of the damage," he said. Read also: G7 announces progress on Russian frozen assets but work still to be done Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Then Saxon candidate for the Green Party's European list Anna Cavazzini stands in front of the Leipzig Energy Cooperative's photovoltaic system on the roof of the Hupfeld Center. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa EU energy ministers on Thursday gave final approval to withdraw the European Union from a controversial energy treaty heavily criticized by environmentalists. Anna Cavazzini, a German EU legislator from the Green party, said the decision means the EU can "take decisive action for a climate-neutral future without the constant threat of multibillion-dollar corporate lawsuits." The Energy Charter Treaty entered into force in 1998 and was designed to protect investments from companies in oil, gas and coal projects by offering legal security. For example investors may take legal action against states before arbitration tribunals. The unanimous decision for a joint withdrawal comes after the European Parliament voted in favour of exiting the accord in April. Germany already decided to withdraw from the treaty at the end of 2022. Other EU countries such as France, the Netherlands and Spain had also announced their withdrawal, while Italy had already withdrawn in 2016. The withdrawal period lasts 20 years. Europe must develop a holistic strategy to contain Russia and put an end to ad hoc approaches. Source: Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky in an interview with Euractiv, European Pravda reports Details: Lipavsky called for an end to non-systematic approaches, including at the EU level, and for NATO to develop a comprehensive strategy to contain Russia. "I would welcome every measure, meaning we can contain Russia. Part of the containment of Russia is also logically and definitely supporting Ukraines right to defend itself from Russian aggression," the Czech minister said. Speaking about the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague, which begins on 30 May, Lipavsky said that its main goal is to "compare notes" on the upcoming NATO Washington Summit in July, "where the real results should be presented." With regard to Ukraine, several components are currently being discussed, including the idea of a 100 billion military support fund, the institutionalising of ad hoc coordination platforms, the appointment of a NATO representative in Kyiv, as well as membership and bilateral security arrangements. The discussion is also likely to focus on Western countries lifting restrictions on the use of Western-made weapons to strike Russian territory. "We have a variety of opinions in NATO on support for Ukraine," the Minister said, adding that he, as the host of the meeting, was looking for a "common denominator". Regarding the creation of a 100 billion fund, "we all understand that there are countries which are very sceptical," the minister said. When asked about his approach and relations with Russia, the Czech Foreign Minister said: "This is a very, very, very complex discussion, and definitely, we are not leading the kind of discussion on the level of the EU or NATO yet." Asked if he was concerned about Russias reaction to NATOs new interest in increasing lethal military assistance to Ukraine, he said: "It is not NATO that would be escalating [tensions]; its Russia that is escalating," adding that it is in Europe's interest to ensure security for Ukraine. Background: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the three main topics of the Washington summit would be deterrence and defence, support for Ukraine and the Alliances global partnership. Stoltenberg asked that the allies review the constraints on Ukraine's ban on using Western weaponry against the Russian Federation in the midst of border fighting in Kharkiv Oblast. In addition, the Secretary General said that NATO as an institution has no plans to send troops to Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Evanston City Council members are considering how to address homeless encampments, including one under the CTA tracks near Howard Station, but concerns remain about the cost and whether spending would be effective. A funding source has not been determined for the proposal as of the May 28 meeting. Councilmember Devon Reid put together the proposal, arguing that some camped there require housing assistance. Reid said the goal is to make the space feel safer by deterring people from gathering by deploying cameras, which are already set to be installed. The video feed would be shared with the CTA and the Evanston and Chicago police departments. He also hopes to get new commercial tenants in the commercial spaces that have been vacant for decades. Others say the issue isnt one of homelessness but of drug use, stating those camping there are openly using and selling drugs. Councilmember Krissie Harris, whose mother lives in the area, described the encampment as a gauntlet that those hoping to take the L have to walk through. She argued its a large amount of money that in the end wont fix the core issues. I see people nodding, about to pass out in the street and almost get hit, Harris said. Its not a good place to be. I dont think its housing. She expressed concern about this being a gateway to Evanston and is often the first thing people see when arriving in south Evanston from the CTA Red Line. I try to take the train and its always a problem, she said. Im not worried about me. Im worried about my mother. Im worried about the kids that have to take the transportation to and from school. Reid conceded there may come a point where police intervention is needed to tackle the issue of drug use and selling in the area. Evanstons Director of Parks and Recreation Audrey Thompson said outreach workers are on the site twice a day, seven days a week. Based on several different definitions if someone is living on someones couch, they are unhoused, she said. By those definitions, we would say they are unhoused. Those in the encampment are working to clean up the site, according to Thompson, in response to all the drug activity. Despite these efforts, Thompson said drug use is still being seen in the area. That is happening, Thompson said. My fear is that if we dont resolve the biggest issue there, which is substance abuse disorder, then weve got other concerns. Even if we house them, then we have other issues because that means a landlord that is going to be very upset with the city that housed an individual in an apartment that is not ready to maintain an apartment. Reid said next steps would be to get documentation on those camping there to see what resources each person needs. The proposal would provide $200,000 in funding to Evanston/Skokie School District 65 to address the needs of homeless students. According to district social worker Allie Harned, 389 students in D65 were considered eligible for McKinney-Vento services, meaning they were experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness. Since her last report to council in August 2023, the district has lost 76 of those students, whether that be because they found housing elsewhere or moved away for other reasons. She stated some of those families could have been matched with a placement via a statewide referral network. There are zero places where people can move in a statewide referral network in Evanston, Harned said. If they get a match with a statewide referral network, it means that theyre leaving Evanston. The district requested the funding to replace funds received during the pandemic. It hopes to use it over the next year to pay emergency housing expenses, cover administrative costs and provide wraparound services including funding for transportation and tutoring for students beyond what is typically provided by the district. The discussion will continue at the June 10 City Council meeting. BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- "Taiwan independence" means war, a Chinese military spokesperson said on Thursday, stressing that China's reunification is an irreversible trend of history. Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media query related to Taiwan's new leader Lai Ching-te's debut speech. Lai's speech is a confession of his attempts to seek "Taiwan independence" by force and by relying on external forces, Wu said, adding that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) firmly opposes this and has responded with strong countermeasures. "Separatist activities seeking 'Taiwan independence' constitute the biggest real threat to peace across the Taiwan Strait," Wu said. The PLA shoulders the mission of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is fully prepared, remains highly vigilant, and is ready to take resolute actions to counter any "Taiwan independence" separatist attempts and thwart foreign interference, Wu noted. Even With Trump Convicted, His 'Mini-Trumps' Still Make Him Dangerous to Black People Donald Trump appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on May 29, 2024, in New York City, for his hush money trial. - Photo: Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images (Getty Images) Donald Trump just became the first former U.S. president to be found guilty of a felony, having been convicted of all 34 counts of his hush money trial on Thursday afternoon. However, the law of the land says hes still eligible to be elected to a second presidential term and his supporters will certainly be out in full force to support him on November 7, leaving many Democrats scratching their heads, wondering how its possible that Trump is a viable candidate for president following a conviction not to mention the strife and violence he caused while in office. especially because a second Trump presidency would be a greater disaster, especially for Black people. Fortunately, theres no inevitability about Trump winning the White House in 2024. Polls show that his early lead over President Biden is marginal at best. And theres no telling how his 88 criminal indictments will play out in the courts and among independent voters who will likely decide this close presidential race. Still, even if Trump is not elected president, he has puppets in high places who have unabashedly shown their allegiance to him and Trumpism. In a stunning revelation, The New York Times reported that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito flew an upside-down U.S. flag outside his Alexandria, Va., home after Trump supporters attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. MAGA Republicans have coopted the inverted flag that the military has used to signal distress. Unsurprisingly, some of them flew it at the riot, but it was shocking to see a Supreme Court justice boldly display his alliance with the insurrection. Alito blamed his wife for displaying the controversial symbol. But a week later, The Times reported that Alito also flew the Appeal to Heaven flag, another MAGA symbol, two years after the insurrection from his vacation house in New Jersey. A second provocative flag linked to Jan. 6 was flown at a home of the Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito. The justices beach house displayed an Appeal to Heaven flag last summer, a symbol associated with a push for a more Christian-minded government. https://t.co/QtgjAp2jlu The New York Times (@nytimes) May 23, 2024 Alito, a staunch conservative, has written opinions against voting rights for African Americans and opposing abortion and LGBTQ rights. Yet, he claims that liberals pose a threat to freedom. As a Trump loyalist, hes now poised to hear cases involving the Capitol riots and whether the former president has immunity for his role in sparking the insurrection. If Trump fails to win the White House, his mini-me, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is waiting in the wings for a 2028 presidential bid after losing the 2024 GOP primary to his boss. Trump and DeSantis are sometimes allies and sometimes enemies. Recently, the pendulum swung back to allies in April when the governor met privately with Trump and kissed his ring. According to The Washington Post, they buried the hatched, and DeSantis agreed to help Trump retake the White House. Like his mentor, DeSantis has fashioned himself into a right-wing political warrior in his war on woke, which amounts to attacking diversity, silencing discussions about racism, whitewashing Americas racist history and reversing progressive policies. DeSantis is the evil wizard behind a series of anti-Black policies in Florida that prompted the NAACP to warn that the Sunshine State is dangerous for Black people. Meanwhile, the second person in line for the presidency, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, created, what the Associated Press described as a remarkable moment in modern American politics, when he traveled to Trumps hush money trial in New York to condemn the court system as corrupt. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is the highest-ranking Republican to show up at court with Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters, Johnson criticized the U.S. judicial system, attacking the hush money case against the former president. pic.twitter.com/P981FsoEQc The Associated Press (@AP) May 14, 2024 Indeed, Johnson has a history of supporting Trumps mess. According to NBC News, he was instrumental in aiding Trumps efforts to overturn Bidens 2020 presidential victory. Its a shameful about-face for Johnson, who said in 2015 that Trump was unfit to serve as president and could be dangerous. Since then, his dependance on Trump has grown. In November, Johnson sought the GOP boss help to save his speakership when hard-right Trump allies in the House threatened to remove him for joining with Democrats to avert a government shutdown. Trump is a puppet master. Johnson, DeSantis, Alito, and many others are undoubtedly ready, willing, and able to carry out his bidding. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Philanthropist Melinda French Gates has announced that she's investing $1 billion over the next two years to causes that pursue women's rights and gender equity on a global scale. The ex-wife of billionaire Bill Gates and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation said Tuesday that $200 million of the investment will go toward organizations fighting for reproductive and gender rights in the U.S. In a New York Times guest essay, French Gates said that she's compelled to support reproductive rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. "For too long, a lack of money has forced organizations fighting for women's rights into a defensive posture while the enemies of progress play offense," she said. "I want to help even the match." The new grants will be distributed through her organization, Pivotal Ventures, to groups such as the National Womens Law Center, the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the Center for Reproductive Rights. Melinda French Gates is pictured. What organizations is Gates' funding? According to her guest essay, French Gates is giving $20 million of her $1 billion investment to a diverse group of 12 global leaders who will distribute the funds to organizations of their choosing. Another $250 million of investments will be announced in the fall for organizations that promote women's mental and physical health. The 19th, a nonprofit news organization reporting on women and the LGBTQ+ community, is receiving a three-year multimillion dollar grant from French Gates. In response to the grant, the group wrote that the grant "will bolster our critical politics and policy coverage in a seismic election year, allow us to make strategic investments in our audiences and our future, and lay the foundation for our long-term sustainability in a turbulent time for our industry." MomsRising, a grassroots organization that supports the economic security of women and families in the U.S., received a multimillion dollar grant from French Gates, along with the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing 50 women in lawsuits challenging abortion restrictions in multiple states. Because I have been given this extraordinary opportunity, I am determined to do everything I can to seize it and to set an agenda that helps other women and girls set theirs, too." French Gates wrote in the New York Times. Last month, she announced that she was stepping down from the famous Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest charitable institutions in the world. June 7 is her last day of work with the global health and development charity. Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Melinda French Gates to donate $1 billion to women's rights groups Everglades City officials want to sort a messy and often drawn-out code enforcement process that frequently ends in reduced fines and forgone administrative fees. The city's code enforcement board on Tuesday cut one landowner's code violation fees to $7,500 from $75,250, plus administrative costs. It also continued for a second time the amount of administrative costs the owner of the Railroad Depot needs to pay so the board can ask City Council to set a standard rate for administrative fees for such cases. Board says code fines aren't meant to be city money makers The city's code enforcement fines are not meant to be a money maker but to ensure code compliance, board members have said repeatedly, which is why they tend to lower fines for building owners when they comply. However, staff time should be taken into consideration, they agreed. Terry Smallwood, head of the city's code enforcement department, said costs to send certified letters of code violations to Bill Odrey, owner of the historic but dilapidated Railroad Depot, were $36. The board said that's not enough what about Smallwood's time? And Clerk Dottie Joiner's time? And then the city attorney?Smallwood said staff will present a proposal for a standard administrative fee to City Council. Waiting for admin costs Meantime, Odrey and Nathan Everett Terry, who owns property at 202 Allen Ave., will wait to find out what they need to pay the city. "I think it's about time they set a baseline for administrative fees, but I don't think they should use Bill as a guinea pig," said Glenda Hancock, who works as the property manager for the 1928-built Railroad Depot. "How are they going to go back and make this retroactive? Are they going to double charge? Are they going to charge because they were doing their job?" Hancock said in a telephone interview Wednesday that she was surprised the attorney gave the board the option to set a fee amount Tuesday or wait until City Council sets a standard fee. "Why did I have to go to a meeting when they didn't have it figured out," Odrey said in the same telephone interview. "I think I'm the chosen one." Everglades City's old Railroad Depot building has been sitting in disrepair since 2019. Mayor Howie Grimm Jr. and city council members want action now; owner Bill Odrey says he is determined to save the building but need money and time. In April, the code enforcement board reversed fines on Odrey of nearly $7,000 that were imposed in February for safety concerns, lack of mowing and failing to repair the building in a timely manner. Michael Cruz, captain of fire and life safety for Greater Naples Fire and Rescue said in November that the building was too dangerous for fire and rescue to enter if there was a fire. After securing a roofing permit in January, the board agreed Odrey need only pay the administrative costs the city spent because he had complied with a deadline to apply for the permit. The building is flanked by docks and a seawall that are falling into the water, but Odrey doesn't own those. The old Railroad Depot building in Everglades City, photographed here on Thursday, May 9, 2024, has been sitting empty and in disrepair for years. Terry was fined for work done at the residential home without permits, including building a concrete pool and building a handicapped ramp in the city's right of way. The board reduced the fine because Terry didn't receive the certified letters beginning in May 2023 that were sent to the address of record in Montana, and now had the proper permits. Terry's wife, Mary Terry, attended Tuesday's meeting via Zoom and said the couple was unfamiliar with all the rules in Florida for building. She asked where to change their address and to whom, how and when to pay the fine. Odrey had the same issue. Certified letters about compliance meetings were being sent to his home in Atlanta, as shown on the Collier County Property Appraiser website and as required by state statute. City attorney Lenore Brakefield said Tuesday that the owner address for the depot remained in Atlanta. A check Wednesday by the Naples Daily News shows the address is now P.O. Box 232, Chokoloskee, which is just outside of Everglades City. Odrey, on Tuesday asked for an itemized list of costs once the administrative fee is set. "When you do a statement, I want to know the hourly pay," he said. Were the employees using a county vehicle? If so, "I want the GPS records." More: Did Everglades City Railroad Depot owner get reprieve on code enforcement fines? Previously Everglades City approves lien on historic Railroad Depot This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Everglades City works to sort code enforcement, recoup admin costs Trump Is a Felon as Hes Found Guilty on All 34 Counts Welcome back to Everythings Political, Capital Bs weekly news, culture, and politics newsletter! In this edition, learn about Donald Trumps guilty verdict, the grief looming over Pride, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas alarming concurring opinion in a recent case, and the push to turn Black Wall Street into a national monument. Now, on with the show. Trump and Accountability Donald Trump is now the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime. On Thursday, a Manhattan jury found him guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a hush-money scheme involving Stormy Daniels, an adult film star. For Black Americans, this moment might feel like that rare instance when the powerful are held to account. As Marcia Chatelain, an Africana studies professor at the University of Pennsylvania, put it to me last year, Trump reminds people that if youre white and have money, you get to play by a different set of rules. His sentencing has been set for July 11 at 10 a.m. ET. In the meantime, check out my Capital B Atlanta colleague Chauncey Alcorns recent article on Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney who won her Democratic Party primary earlier this month and has brought a racketeering case against Trump. A Not-So-Joyous Pride Season Pride month is right around the corner. Its one of my favorite seasons of the year a time of joyous queer kinship. This year, however, sadness and anger prevail. Tayy Dior Thomas, Kita Bee, Starr Brown these are the names of some of the Black transgender women whove been killed in the past few weeks alone. On Tuesday, the trial of a man accused of the fatal 2022 shooting of Regina Mya Allen, also a Black transgender woman, began in a Milwaukee County courtroom. As the U.S. prepares for high-stakes elections, these deaths are a sobering reminder of not only Prides roots in queer Americans quest for social and political equality, but also the heightened danger the community has faced in recent years. State lawmakers introduced a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills in 2023, largely targeting education and access to gender-affirming care. Our trans communities of color continue to bear the brunt of anti-LGBTQ+ violence and policy, as Tori Cooper, the director of community engagement for Human Rights Campaigns Transgender Justice Initiative, put it after Bees death, which is still being investigated. Like all trans people, Kita deserved to live a long and fulfilling life in safe and affirming environments. Clarence Thomas Chilling Concurrence A week on, Im still thinking about the blow that the U.S. Supreme Court dealt to Black South Carolinians when it concluded that a congressional map isnt racially discriminatory. In particular, I cant tear my mind away from Justice Clarence Thomas concurring opinion. As if the courts decision werent destabilizing enough, Thomas argues for banning federal courts from reviewing allegedly racist maps; he believes that this is a job purely for politicians. Additionally, Thomas rails against Brown v. Board of Education, insisting that the court exactly seven decades ago latched onto extravagant uses of judicial power to combat Jim Crow segregation. Put simply, what Thomas is advocating for is the evisceration of legal precedent that has allowed Black Americans to chip away at racial inequality. Thomas opinion might seem beyond the pale. But wed be wise to remember it, since a dissent or concurrence can become the opinion of the majority in the future. In fact, the South Carolina case exemplifies this possibility. As Justice Elena Kagan notes, Justice Samuel Alitos majority opinion making it all but impossible to strike down a racist gerrymander was the dissent in 2017s Cooper v. Harris. Tulsa and the Fight to Preserve History Friday marks 103 years since a white mob laid siege to the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma, killing as many as 300 people and leaving thousands more homeless. To confront this history and honor the Black community that was wiped out, descendants of Tulsa Race Massacre survivors went to Capitol Hill this month to push for the passage of legislation that would designate Greenwood as a national monument. A bill has bipartisan support in the Senate; a companion bill is expected to be introduced in the House this year. Im not just excited. Im ecstatic, Tiffany Crutcher, whose great-grandmother narrowly escaped the assault on Tulsa, told me. If we get this monument designation, we will echo the voices of the survivors who are no longer with us and the voices of the ancestors who built Greenwood. You can read my story on the battle to turn Greenwood, known as Black Wall Street, into a protected landmark here. Preparing for Pride by revisiting The Stonewall Reader, Brandon Tensley This story has been updated. The post Trump Is a Felon as Hes Found Guilty on All 34 Counts appeared first on Capital B News. A former aide to Melania Trump said former President Donald Trump will definitely be bothered by the question that one reporter has asked him every single day of his hush money trial in New York. And that question is, Wheres Melania? Stephanie Grisham, who served as the former first ladys chief of staff and press secretary before becoming the Trump White House press secretary and then communications director, told CNNs Erin Burnett that the Trump family is really focused on optics. That includes Melania, she continued, and that is why she and Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump havent shown up to support the presumptive GOP presidential nominee at the trial. I think Ivanka and Melania are both thinking of their own optics, said Grisham. Burnett acknowledged the focus of the trial Trumps alleged payout to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her over their alleged affair is embarrassing for Melania Trump but argued her presence would make a huge statement in Trumps favor. Grisham replied, I would be absolutely floored if she showed up, theres just no way. In her mind, I think she would think she was caving or even look weak to suddenly show up now, she added. Trumps campaign and the ex-president himself have likely asked Melania to attend, said Grisham. Trumps children Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump have attended this week. Jury deliberations in the trial are ongoing. Watch the interview here: Related... An ex-California official quietly stole over $1.5 million of water in a heist that lasted decades, but mysteries remain An ex-California official quietly stole over $1.5 million of water in a heist that lasted decades, but mysteries remain An ex-California official pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal water from the federal government. Dennis Falaschi's plea represents only a fraction of the original $25 million believed by prosecutors to be stolen. The plea raises more questions about who was responsible and benefited from the decades-long heist. A former California official pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal more than $1.5 million of water, but the decadeslong water heist case still has more questions than answers. Dennis Falaschi served as the general manager of the Panoche Water District in Fresno and Merced Counties, located in central California, from around 1986 to 2017. The public water district bought water from the federal government and collected drainage water from farms, both of which it then legally sold to farmers in the area, according to a statement issued by the US attorney's office for the Eastern District of California on Tuesday. But after Falaschi discovered some of the federally owned water was leaking from an old pipe into a separate canal, the pipe was modified so it could be open and closed, allowing water to be taken "on demand," prosecutors said. The US attorney said Falaschi was responsible for stealing somewhere between $1.5 million and $3.5 million worth of water. Prosecutors also said that between 2011 and 2016 Falaschi was paid for water that he had sourced legally, but he did not report the income on his tax returns. In a plea agreement filed Thursday, Falaschi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to take federally owned water and one count of filing a false tax return. A lawyer for Falaschi did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. His sentencing is set for September. While the plea provides some answers, many questions remain in the case that farmers in the San Joaquin Valley have been watching for years. When Falaschi was indicted in 2022, prosecutors painted him as the mastermind of a plot that lasted from around 1992 to 2015 in which more than $25,000,000 worth of water was stolen from the federal government, or more than 130,000 acre-feet of water. The indictment said proceeds from the theft, which should've gone to the federal government, instead when to Falaschi and eight co-conspirators in the form of "exorbitant salaries, fringe benefits, and personal expense reimbursements." The Los Angeles Times, which published a deep-dive into the alleged heist in April, reported that while some farmers were angry with Falaschi, others described him as the "Robin Hood of irrigation," ensuring they could get the water they needed. Falaschi's plea agreement claims he's responsible for stealing only a fraction of the original $25 million prosecutors accused him of taking in the original indictment. The plea agreement also said Falaschi was one of several people involved in the misconduct and that he was unaware of the full extent of the misconduct. Of the water Falaschi took, the plea agreement said almost all of it was taken to "blend down and reuse drainage water, which helped protect farmland and improve water quality in the San Joaquin River." "The improved water quality contributed to the San Joaquin River being removed from the list of impaired waters under California's Clean Water Act," the plea agreement said, adding, "There was no evidence that Mr. Falaschi directly benefitted from the misconduct." The Times reported the plea raises even more questions about who was stealing the water, who was making money off of it, and why it took the federal government so long to notice. The mystery surrounding the case continues as water use in the state coms under increasing scrutiny, with droughts and water shortages forcing California officials to reconsider how water is used and allotted. Read the original article on Business Insider Andrii Smyrnov, a former deputy head of the Presidential Office who is accused of illicit enrichment, was released from custody on bail of Hr 10 million (around $245,000), Hromadske reported on May 29, citing the High Anti-Corruption Court. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) said on May 22 that an ex-deputy head of the Presidential Office had been charged with illicitly enriching himself with Hr 15.7 million ($386,000) while in his former position but did not name the suspect. Later in the day, Ukrainska Pravda reported that, according to its sources, the suspect in question was Smyrnov. After his release from custody, Smyrnov is not allowed to leave Kyiv without special permission, is obliged to notify the authorities about changing his residence and workplace and deposit his passport or other documents for traveling abroad. Smyrnov must also arrive at every request to a detective, prosecutor, and court. The obligations imposed on Smyrnov will remain in force until June 28. Smyrnov held the position of the Presidential Office's deputy head from September 2019 until March 2024, when President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed him without naming a reason. According to NABU, the suspect acquired assets worth more than Hr 17 million (around $418,000) between 2020 and 2022, although he officially reported his salary and savings for the time period as Hr 1.3 million (around $32,000). Smyrnov reportedly purchased two luxury cars, two motorcycles, several parking spaces, an apartment in Lviv, and a plot of land in Zakarpattia Oblast. In an apparent effort to obfuscate his ownership of the assets, NABU said that he transferred the majority of the property assets to his brother but secretly retained access. Read also: Former head of Odesa Oblast enlistment office detained again after posting bail Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III is working at the Nevada Governors Mansion in Carson City while serving his 3-to-10-year prison sentence, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned. Ruggs, 25, was sentenced on Aug. 9, 2023, after pleading guilty to driving drunk at 156 mph and crashing into a car killing 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog. The crash happened in November 2021. Prosecutors had said Ruggs blood-alcohol level was 0.16, which is twice the legal limit. Ruggs is serving his sentence at Stewart Conservation Camp in northern Nevada, a facility which houses minimum custody and community trusty inmates. Ruggs is classified as a community trusty, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections. In that job, community trustys work for government offices making $2.50 an hour. Community trusty inmates represent a limited potential to misbehave and represent a low risk to escape while assigned to employment within the community, according to the department. They are assigned to jobs in buildings and grounds work, parks and recreation, and the Governors Mansion which includes cleaning, groundwork and help with events. Former Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs appears in court Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Las Vegas. Ruggs plead guilty to driving his car drunk before causing a fiery crash that killed a woman. (AP Photo/John Locher) Approximately four inmates are assigned to the Governors Mansion, according to the department. Ruggs began serving his sentence at the High Desert State Prison northwest of Las Vegas, records showed. The prison, the largest in the department, is a 45-minute drive northwest of Las Vegas. He was later transferred to Stewart Conservation Camp last September. Ruggs, who was initially charged with DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in bodily harm, two counts of reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, and possession of a firearm while under the influence, accepted a plea deal last May. Ruggs is up for parole in August 2026. He is eligible for credit for time served as part of his work program, the spokesperson said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. A former criminal justice professor who set at least seven fires during a year featuring some of Californias most destructive wildfires including igniting a blaze near the 2021 Dixie Fire was sentenced Thursday to five years and three months in prison, prosecutors said. Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, pleaded guilty to three counts of arson on federal property in February. Prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum that Maynard exhibited wanton and deliberate actions while setting fires designed to harm individuals. He intentionally made a dangerous situation more perilous by setting some of his fires behind the men and women fighting the Dixie Fire, potentially cutting off any chance of escape, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert said in a statement announcing the sentence. Maynard was arrested in August 2021 after investigators tracked his black Kia Soul for hundreds of miles through Northern California He filmed himself igniting blazes for which he hasnt been charged, prosecutors wrote. Authorities first came across Maynard during July 2021s Cascade Fire, reported on the western slopes of Mount Shasta. The fire was contained from spreading beyond 100 to 200 square feet in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Siskiyou County, according to previous Bee reporting. The next day, investigators encountered tire tracks similar to those made by a Kia hatchback near a fire burning by Everitt Memorial Highway in Mount Shasta, previous reporting said. Authorities fastened a tracking device to Maynards car and, by also monitoring his EBT card usage, followed him around California. They pinpointed him near where the Ranch and Conard fires ignited in the Lassen National Forest. He was finally caught settling blazes in an evacuation zone behind firefighters battling the Dixie Fire, Californias second-largest wildfire, prosecutors said. Maynard suffered from untreated mental health issues and was homeless when arson spree began, according to a sentencing memorandum filed by his attorneys. He has been attempting to treat his illnesses while in custody and will continue his treatment in prison, the defense wrote. Maynard taught at various schools, including as an adjunct faculty member in Santa Clara Universitys sociology department and as a lecturer at Sonoma State University specializing in criminal justice, cults and deviant behavior. By Katie Paul NEW YORK (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google and augmented reality startup Magic Leap are forming a strategic technology partnership and working on building immersive experiences that blend the physical and digital worlds. Magic Leap said in a blog post on Thursday that the two companies have agreed to a partnership. A Google spokesperson confirmed the agreement. While short on details, the announcement adds to signals that Google may be plotting a return to the market for augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies that it so far has largely yielded to rivals Meta and Apple. The partnership would combine Florida-based Magic Leap's expertise in optics and device manufacturing with Google's technology platforms, Magic Leap said. "We've shipped a couple of different versions of augmented reality devices so far, so we're out there delivering things, and Google has a long history of platforms thinking," Magic Leap's Chief Technology Officer Julie Larson-Green told Reuters in an interview ahead of the announcement. "So we're thinking, putting our expertise and their expertise together, there's lots of things we could end up doing," she said. Google is an investor in Magic Leap, which is majority owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The startup was an early darling in the AR headset space, but struggled to find a consumer niche and more recently started exploring arrangements to license its technology or produce components for others. Magic Leap and Google both declined to say whether the partnership was expected to yield a consumer AR device. Google also has been collaborating with Samsung Electronics since early last year to develop mixed reality technologies, which the Google spokesman said was unchanged by the deal with Magic Leap. Larson-Green said she was especially eager to work with some of the "cool AI tie-ins" with augmented reality that Google announced at its annual developer conference earlier this month. In a video at that event, Google showed off an AI agent called Project Astra by having someone don a glasses prototype and ask the agent questions about what that person was seeing. The agent gave answers in both audio form and as digital text overlaid on the lenses. That functionality is similar to what Meta is planning for its Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, which added an AI assistant last year and in April received a software update enabling the agent to identify objects seen by the wearer in audio form. FIRST MOVER If Google were to jump back into making AR glasses, it would be yet another dramatic twist in the company's on-again, off-again relationship with the technology. Google was a first mover in what it pitched as an AR revolution more than a decade ago, when it introduced its Google Glass smart glasses. Its enthusiasm then was so great that it unveiled the device in an elaborate 2012 demo involving skydivers using the glasses to live stream a jump on to a San Francisco building. However, consumers recoiled at the product's clunky design and privacy concerns, to the point that those who wore it were sometimes called "glassholes." Google retreated from the consumer market in 2015 and later abandoned the enterprise market as well. Two years ago, though, the company came back with a preview of a new set of glasses that it said would display real-time translations of conversations in English, Mandarin, Spanish and American Sign Language. The future of that project was thrown into doubt in January, when Google laid off hundreds of employees in its hardware units, including the majority of its AR team. (Reporting by Katie Paul; Editing by Kenneth Li and Muralikumar Anantharaman) BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China will promote the construction of overseas warehouses and expand cross-border e-commerce exports, He Yadong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, said on Thursday. Cross-border e-commerce serves as a vital force for boosting the development of China's foreign trade. Over the past five years, China's cross-border e-commerce trade has grown more than tenfold, He told a regular press conference. The ministry will push for the release of guidelines on expanding cross-border e-commerce exports and advancing the construction of overseas warehouses, he said. During the first quarter of 2024, China's cross-border e-commerce trade reached 577.6 billion yuan (about 81.23 billion U.S. dollars), rising 9.6 percent year on year, of which exports amounted to 448 billion yuan with a growth rate of 14 percent. China has over 120,000 cross-border e-commerce entities and more than 1,000 cross-border e-commerce industrial parks. The number of overseas warehouses has surpassed 2,500 so far, covering a total area of over 30 million square meters. Inside the US effort to bring home two young American missionaries killed in Haiti The first US commercial flight to Haitian capital Port-au-Prince in months made a bleak roundtrip on Thursday morning, returning with the bodies of a young American couple who were killed by a gang last week. The remains of Davy and Natalie Lloyd were accompanied in an American Airlines jet by US Ambassador to Haiti Dennis Hankins and US security agents, according to a source with knowledge of the operation. After flying from Haiti to Miami, they will be sent onward to their families. This morning, the remains of Davy and Natalie Lloyd safely took off on a flight back to the United States there will be a series of layovers, and they will safely reach Neosho, Missouri tomorrow afternoon, read a statement posted by their families on the X account of Natalies father, Missouri State Rep. Ben Baker, requesting privacy during the transfer. We are praising the Lord for his hand of protection over this nightmare. Funeral services will be early next week, with more details to come tomorrow, the statement also said. Their return follows a week of extraordinary negotiation between the US government and Haitian authorities, local organizations and even gang leaders, sources say all in a city crippled by the criminal groups that have shut off the import of vital humanitarian supplies, destroyed medical facilities and blocked key roads. A State Department spokesperson told CNN that it had been working around the clock to assist in arranging the return, and on Thursday afternoon confirmed that both bodies had arrived in the United States. The Toussaint Louverture International Airport, which has reopened after being closed for nearly three months due to gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on May 20. - Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters This months reopening of Toussaint Louverture International Airport a former target for coordinated gang attacks marks an important step in connecting Haitis capital city to the rest of the world, after months of violence in the gang-ravaged Caribbean nation. Local carrier Sunrise resumed flights earlier in May. But the progress has been overshadowed by last weeks killing of three missionaries the Lloyds and Haitian mission director Jude Montis in a high-profile incident that attracted the close attention of US officials and the White House. The three were attacked in the early evening at the Missions in Haiti church and orphanage compound in Port-au-Princes Lizon neighborhood, in what began as an armed robbery by one gang that left their compound rampaged and their supplies and aid stolen. A second gang later arrived on the scene and came under fire, precipitating a deadly retribution against mission staff, according to Davy Lloyds father and Missions in Haiti founder David Lloyd, who was on the phone with his son that evening. Montis and the Lloyds barricaded themselves inside their residence on the compound, but it was not enough, Lloyd told CNN. Missions in Haiti announced their deaths that night. US officials mobilize to recover bodies In the frantic hours following the attack, staffers from the office of Missouri US Rep. Eric Burlison, Missouri US Sen. Josh Hawley and the US National Security Council reached out to the State Department and US Embassy in Haiti. As soon as I found out about the situation, we immediately reached out to the State Department to try and get assistance. Unfortunately, aid was not able to get there in time to prevent the tragedy, Burlison said in a statement to CNN. Since their murder weve been working closely with Sen. Hawleys office, State Department, and airlines to bring them home to their families, he added. I want to thank everyone who is helping in these efforts. Natalie Lloyds mother, Naomi Baker, is a staffer in Burlisons office and her father, Ben Baker, is a state representative in Missouri. After the shock of the deaths, it became clear early on Friday morning that Davy and Natalies bodies needed to be recovered urgently an operation that would be carefully orchestrated by the US government, according to multiple sources. There was no time to spare. The bodies could have been either desecrated or kidnapped, one person involved in the operation told CNN. So we pulled them out of a crime scene. US Ambassador to Haiti Dennis Hankins walks after Haitis transitional council ceremony, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti on April 25, 2024. - Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters The family of Davy Lloyd contacted private ambulance service HERO Client Rescue to retrieve the bodies on Friday morning, according to a HERO staffer who requested anonymity due to concerns for their safety. The rescue group agreed to coordinate the mission and kept the US embassy updated on it, the staffer also said. But attempts to reach the site were blocked in the road by armed gang members, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, who told CNN that there was an extraordinary intervention by US officials in Haiti, who quickly acted to broker negotiations between multiple gangs in the area to clear access to the bodies. On a phone call with multiple gang leaders, Vitelhomme Innocent a gang leader whose armed group Kraze Barye was not involved in the attacks but controls an area around the US embassy asserted a claim to the bodies of the two Americans. Following the call, I did everything possible to communicate with the people in control of the area, to get access to retrieve their bodies, Innocent told CNN. He added, It was a sad story when I learned that a Haitian and two Americans who came to serve the population died in a terrible situation. Innocent himself is the subject of a $2 million bounty for alleged kidnappings of American citizens, which he disputes, saying he hopes to defend himself one day. A funeral procession for mission director Judes Montis, killed by gangs alongside the two US missionary members, makes its way to the cemetery after his funeral ceremony in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday. - Odelyn Joseph/AP Emergency vehicles were soon allowed to continue onward to the charred site where they found the three bodies. The remains of Davy, 23, and Natalie Lloyd, 21, were ultimately transferred to a local hospital morgue for safekeeping, according to HERO. Sources involved in the operation told CNN that inspection of the bodies revealed signs of blunt force trauma and severe burns on Davy, but no apparent bullet wounds. To remove human remains from a crime scene is a significant breach of protocol, even in a city plagued by lawlessness. However, Haitian officials agreed to inspect the remains after they were relocated, a source told CNN. Haitis National Police did not respond to CNNs request for comment for this story, but in a statement last week, police spokesperson Gary Desrosiers told CNN that authorities would work with international law enforcement to investigate and prosecute the killings. Eunide Majeur Montis, the wife of slain mission director Judes Montis, cries after attending his funeral service on May 28. - Odelyn Joseph/AP Farewell to the bodies Missions in Haiti director Jude Montis, 45, was laid to rest in Port-au-Prince this week. Local press showed large crowds gathered outside the church where his funeral services were held, and a mournful band in the procession could later be seen following his hearse down the street. But the bodies of the Lloyds have been waiting to travel back to Missouri until now. Natalies father Ben Baker described the continuing hurdles to bring back his daughter and son-in-law on his Facebook page, in a message signed by Bakers spokesperson Cassidy Anderson. Currently, we are working to retrieve the bodies of Natalie and Davy. We have to obtain a waiver that will allow their bodies to be transported without being fully embalmed due to the lack of facilities that provide that service in Haiti. After that, we have to find an airline that will be willing to do the transport. Prayers that this will all go smoothly, it read. The last remaining hospital in Port-au-Prince with the resources to perform the embalming would be the General Hospital near Champ de Mars, sources told CNN but urban warfare between gangs and police have turned the iconic downtown park area into a volatile no-mans land. Waiting for news of the bodies safe return has strained the nerves of family and supporters with Hawley over the weekend releasing a public letter demanding that the Biden administration assure their security. Natalie and Davys bodies will need to be transported to the final point of departure, and until that time, there are major risks. The situation on the ground in Port-au-Prince remains anarchic, he warned. But Thursday morning, the bodies of Davy and Natalie Lloyd finally began their long journey home. This is a developing story and has been updated. Correction: This article has been updated to clarify that American Airlines conducted the first US commercial flight to Port-au-Prince since violence erupted earlier this year. CNNs AnneClaire Stapleton, Hande Atay Alam, Natalie Barr and Nikki Carvajal contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Tom Polansek CHICAGO (Reuters) -U.S. farmers will be able to test bulk supplies of milk from their dairy cows for bird flu rather than milk from individual cows before gaining approval to ship them across state lines, the Agriculture Department said on Thursday, in a move aimed at expanding testing. The change shows how government officials are trying to contain the disease while minimizing economic damage to farmers after the bird flu virus spread to cows and three dairy workers since late March. But some veterinarians warn the bulk tests may be insufficient. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in late April began requiring lactating cows to test negative before being shipped across state lines. It later said the order likely helped prevent the spread of the virus to new states. USDA reported 2,492 pre-movement tests as of Wednesday but said that number does not equal the number of animals tested. A pilot program for bulk testing milk aims to ease the burden of pre-movement testing while reducing the spread of the virus, said Eric Deeble, USDA's acting senior advisor for bird flu. Farmers can start enrolling in it the week of June 3, he told reporters on a call that confirmed details of the program first reported by Reuters. USDA expects it may see an increase in herds testing positive because of the voluntary program and wants to encourage more testing, Deeble said. "This program is not loosening restrictions," he said. Agriculture officials in six states told Reuters on Wednesday they were reviewing USDA's plans for the program. USDA has confirmed the H5N1 virus in cattle in nine states. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimated that 20% of the U.S. milk supply shows signs of the virus, indicating a wider spread is likely. "Once it has support and participation from farms, the USDA program could help reduce the threat of H5N1 in dairy herds, further mitigate risk among farm workers, and continue to protect our nation's commercial milk supply," the International Dairy Foods Association said in a statement to Reuters. Farmers said testing milk from bulk storage tanks offers the chance to collect a sample from all the cows within a herd and would be more efficient than testing samples from individual animals. Under the new program, farms with herds that test negative for three consecutive weeks using bulk tank milk samples will be able to move cattle without additional pre-movement testing, USDA said. Farmers then need to submit milk samples from bulk tanks weekly to maintain their status, according to the agency. USDA said in documents seen by Reuters that it could establish disease freedom in states or regions if enough farmers participate. If a herd tests positive in the program, there would be an epidemiologic investigation and evaluation of movement for animals considered to be low risk, according to the documents dated May 24. The program would mostly benefit large dairies that move animals, veterinarians said. Three weeks of testing milk from bulk tanks is not enough to confirm a herd is free of bird flu, though, said Gail Hansen, a veterinary and public health consultant. Samples from healthy cows could dilute samples from a small number of infected cattle in the same herd when their milk mixes in the tank, she said. "It may give people a false sense of assurance," Hansen said. USDA said it is identifying states to participate in the pilot program, while state officials said they have questions about how it will operate. "Indiana's biggest concern is: How will the information gathered be used? Any finding in Indiana could place us in the affected-state category, subjecting Hoosier producers to increased restrictions from other states," said Bret Marsh, Indiana's state veterinarian, using a nickname for state residents. Michigan, which has the most confirmed cattle infections, is interested, said Tim Boring, director of the state's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The last two dairy workers to test positive were in Michigan. "One of the basic safeguards here is to look at restricting animal movement," Boring said. "The last thing we want to be doing is moving sick cattle around in different farms and thereby spreading the disease further." (Reporting by Tom Polansek. Additional reporting by PJ Huffstutter; editing by Caroline Stauffer, David Evans and Rod Nickel) Expected plea deal for former Avon Police Chief Joseph Geer derailed, for now Former Avon Police Chief Joseph Geer heads into federal court with his wife, Shannon, on Tuesday. A plea deal involving the former police chief in the town of Avon was expected this week, but instead ended up with prosecutors and the defense trying to see whether it can be salvaged. Former Chief Joseph Geer was in federal court Tuesday for an expected plea, but the specifics of the agreement became an issue as the proceeding continued. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wolford, seeing the lack of alignment with what prosecution and defense thought the agreement was, did not accept the plea. Geer also worked as a school resource officer for the Avon Central School District, and that role has led to allegations of misuse of public funds. WROC-TV (Channel 8) reported that Geer said in court that he would leave the school district job to fulfill duties as the chief of police. Apparently, these claims triggered the questions about the foundation of the plea. Geer has yet to be charged. It's not uncommon for the initial unveiling of a criminal charge to be concomitant with a plea agreement. When announcing Geer's resignation earlier this year, Avon Mayor Robert Hayes said the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office were investigating Geer's "scheduling and time reporting" in his capacity as a school resource officer for the Avon Central School District. News of that investigation first broke in March, when Geer was placed on an unpaid suspension. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Joseph Geer, former Avon Police Chief, plea deal derailed for now Before law enforcement officers encounter dangerous situations involving people potentially dealing with mental health issues, most have received specific training in how to respond, according to a criminal justice expert. Certainly, officers get training on mental health to some extent in their academy training and most police agencies do offer or require some training on handling people with mental health issues or recognizing the signs, said Jacinta M. Gau, a professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida. On Tuesday, a man armed with a steak knife and reportedly threatening others was shot and killed by Holly Hill police, according to the Volusia Sheriff's Office. On Wednesday, he was identified as 40-year-old Michael Anthony Edminson, in a Facebook post by the Sheriff's Office. A Holly Hill officer responded to the scene after reports of a man "having a violent episode" at an apartment in the 400 block of Ridgewood Ave., according to the Sheriff's Office. The man had reportedly "armed himself with a steak knife and was threatening to harm himself and others. Michael Edminson, 40, who charged at police while armed with a knife was fatally shot on Tuesday. Most police departments offer training for officers in dealing with subjects coping with mental illness. "The reporting party indicated the subject had threatened to kill her in the past and was about to go outside and stab a female victim," according to the Sheriff's Office. More: Judge in earlier case ruled man shot by Holly Hill police was competent and released him Expert: Deadly force sometimes a necessary outcome Although Gau, a UCF professor whose research focuses on police public contact and use of force, declined to comment on Tuesdays fatal officer-involved shooting, she pointed out that deadly force is sometimes a necessary outcome in the name of public safety. If somebody is really threatening somebody elses life and there is a clear danger there, officers do have to act to end that threat, regardless of whatever mental health issue might be happening, she said. This has to be acknowledged, and it does get lost in the conversation sometimes. Also overlooked, at times, is the toll that such an incident has on the officers involved, Gau said. The location of an officer-involved shooting in Holly Hill Dealing with ramifications of taking a life can be very, very challenging, even if its a justified situation, she said. It can still weigh very heavily on someone afterward. Officers see stuff that the rest of us, thankfully, dont have to cope with and they are doing it as part of their job. Just like everybody else, theyre only human. Training in mental health situations provided to Holly Hill Police Training to deal with mental health-related situations has been provided to the Holly Hill Police Department by Daytona Beach-based SMA Healthcare, said Nicole Sharbono, the companys chief operating officer. The company has provided similar training to other law enforcement agencies in the area, she said. Although unable to provide the specific date of the most recent Holly Hill training session, Sharbono said that the 40-hour programs cover topics that include recognition of signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis, de-escalation tactics for dealing with those in crisis as well as education about the Baker Act and Marchman Act, two forms of involuntary treatment. The Volusia Sheriffs Office has been providing temporary operational oversight of the Holly Hill Police Department since the resignation of Police Chief Jeff Miller and the suspension of three other officers earlier this year. A call to the department from a News-Journal reporter on Wednesday was directed to VCSO spokesman Andrew Gant, who didnt return text and voicemail messages. Volusia Sheriff's Office also offers programs related to mental illness On its website, the Sheriffs Office outlines a series of programs and officer training related to dealing with situations arising from potential mental illness. In 2022, the Sheriffs Office started a program that embedded a mental health crisis counselor at the agencys 911 call center to provide expert insight on calls involving those in mental health crises. The embedded SMA Healthcare crisis care manager is available to assist on calls throughout the county and city jurisdictions, according to the website. The focus is direct certain mental health calls to SMA Healthcares 24/7 Mobile Response Team, potentially reducing the number of calls where law enforcement response is necessary. Sheriffs Office dispatchers receive special training for callers in mental health crisis, according to the website. Since 2021, 911 operators have received a specialized, 3-day Emergency Mental Health Dispatching course taught by a mental health professionals with Michigan-based 911 Training Institute. SMA Healthcare provides 40 hours of crisis intervention training to all deputy recruits in the VSO Training Academy, in addition to ongoing crisis training provided to deputies. Statewide, the Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition, a nonprofit network devoted to improving the lives of those with mental illness, supports crisis intervention training for law enforcement thats available to all police and sheriffs organizations, said Gayle Giese, Coalition president. In addition, the Coalition supports 988, a phone number for suicide and behavioral health crises. Counselors at that number can de-escalate situations over the phone or send a mobile response team. In less than 2% of cases nationally do they need to transfer to 911 for emergency dispatch, Giese said, adding that 988 provides an appropriate and effective behavioral health response. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Expert: Most police trained to react to mental health issues President Joe Biden lamented earlier this week the "devastating" and "heartbreaking" images of the carnage in the southern Gaza city of Rafah after an Israeli airstrike engulfed a makeshift camp of displaced Palestinians in flames and killed 45 people, calling on Israel to better protect civilians. But even after applying pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's war cabinet, Biden's administration indicated Tuesday that the attack had not crossed the "red line" he established that would lead the United States to take action and impose consequences an assertion that's confounded foreign policy experts. "If this doesn't count as a red line, what does? What does it actually take to cross the red line?" Dr. Sarah Parkinson, an associate professor of political science and international affairs at Johns Hopkins University, told Salon, adding later: "Is the standard so extreme so as to be completely meaningless for any protection of civilian life or invocation of international humanitarian law?" The president drew a line in the sand for Israel in an interview with CNN earlier this month, threatening to withhold shipments of some U.S.-manufactured munitions, including controversial 2,000-pound bombs, if Israel proceeded with its invasion of Rafah and attacked population centers. In response to Sunday's bombing, White House spokesman John Kirby on Tuesday said that Israel had not begun a "major ground operation" in Rafah. State Department spokesman Matt Miller also said that the Israel had not carried out the sort of offensive that it waged in Gaza City and Khan Younis, where the ground incursions killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians in a day and destroyed buildings. We still dont believe that a major ground operation in Rafah is warranted. We still dont want to see the Israelis, as we say, smash into Rafah with large units over large pieces of territory, Kirby said, according to The Washington Post. The Sunday tragedy, he continued, speaks very clearly to the challenge of military airstrikes in densely populated areas of Gaza, including Rafah, because of the risk of civilian casualties, which of course happened terribly in this case, a horrible loss of life. Taking note of the 37-pound bombs Israel said it had used in the attack, intended to kill Hamas officials it said were present in the city, Kirby added that if "it is in fact what they used, it is indicative of an effort to be precise and targeted" given the bombs' relatively smaller size. But Kirby's response to the horror at the refugee camp is "mincing words" and "splitting hairs," argued Parkinson. Neighborhoods like Tal al-Sultan, the site of the tent encampment burned Sunday, and Al-Mawasi, another southern Gaza area designated for displaced Palestinians in which an airstrike Tuesday killed 21 people (Israel has denied responsibility for the bombing), are "functionally" the population centers that Biden's red line was intended to safeguard, she explained. More than one million Palestinians, in response to Israeli orders, have evacuated Rafah to areas that have "almost no infrastructure, no sanitation, no water, no commercial centers" and have since been attacked "without forewarning." "By any objective measure I can think of, the red line that was laid out by this administration has been crossed," Parkinson said. "So now if the Biden administration does not follow through with what it promised it would do if this red line was crossed, it's a loss of credibility. It makes it look like Biden is incredibly weak in a partnership with what is considered to be one of the U.S.'s closest allies." For several weeks this spring, the Biden administration held meetings with Israeli officials in an effort to persuade the country to pursue targeted raids and strikes in Rafah instead of conducting a full-scale ground invasion, the Post reported. U.S. officials voiced concerns over the how a major operation in the city would affect the around 1.3 million Palestinians who were sheltering there after eight months of violence and multiple displacements. As part of those talks, U.S. officials warned that Israel could not further displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Rafah without providing basic infrastructure, food and water. But since the beginning of the Israeli military's push into the city, about 1 million Palestinians have evacuated Rafah without those provisions, the Post notes, and both Israel and Egypt have limited aid into Gaza. Israel began its ground invasion of Gaza in October after Hamas militants conducted an attack, killing nearly 1,200 Israelis and seizing around 250 hostages. Israel's counteroffensive has since killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry and the United Nations, and its occupation of the territory has caused Gaza's health system to collapse and created a humanitarian crisis characterized by a worsening famine and increased risk of disease. Though Biden and his aides sought to avoid the mass death and destruction that the war has seen images of charred bodies and parents burning alive as their children screamed added to the gruesome picture over the weekend his staunch support of Israel and the growing Palestinian death toll has deepened his political challenges, the Post noted. "Biden has been in a bind from the very beginning because he was going to pay a political price, regardless of what policy he adopted," Dr. Stephen Walt, a professor of international affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, told Salon. "If he put real pressure on Israel, which he hasn't done, he was going to pay a price from [the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee], various parts of the Israel lobby and wealthy donors who he wants to contribute to his campaign. "But if he takes the other path, which is basically what he's done, he's alienated young people and he's alienated the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, and he's made himself look every bit as heartless as Donald Trump," Walt said. In the days before the airstrike, Biden administration officials felt they had influenced Israel's operational plans in Rafah enough to prevent a massive loss of civilian lives, three U.S. officials told Axios Monday. White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan had several hours of discussions with senior Israeli officials about the Rafah operation while in Israel last week. One senior U.S. official told Axios that Sullivan felt that Israel's updated plans for the Rafah invasion had adequately addressed many of the administration's concerns, allowing them to see the possibility of the operation occurring without crossing Biden's "red lines." That determination led the U.S. to pull back some of the opposition it had to the expansion of the Rafah invasion, which included Sunday's strike. Biden believed that expressing unconditional support for Israel would lend to increasing his influence over the country, encouraging Israeli leadership to listen to him, Walt speculated. "But eight months have gone by, and there's no evidence that Netanyahu and his cabinet are listening to Biden or [Secretary of State Antony Blinken] at all," he argued. "Instead, they've both humiliated Biden and Blinken repeatedly, but they've also pursued a course of action that is isolating Israel and not getting rid of Hamas." If Biden were to "pay a political price regardless" of his policy toward Israel, then "he should have done what was in America's interest and what was in the interest of international law and international order," Walt explained. The Biden administration "hasn't even tried to explain how its policy is good for America, how it's making America more secure, or more prosperous, or defending a set of values that we claim to uphold," he said. "But they don't even bother to make that case because you can't." Sunday's airstrike marked the deadliest event in the southern Gaza city since Israel began its attacks there, taking place just days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to immediately cease all military operations in Rafah. Officials with the Gaza health ministry reported that women and children were among those killed in the blaze. Netanyahu on Monday said the airstrike was a "tragic mistake" and was not intended to cause civilian casualties. The Israel Defense Forces announced an investigation into the bombing and said the strike had been carried out based on intelligence that senior Hamas officials planning attacks in the West Bank were present. On Tuesday, Kirby highlighted Netanyahu's comments and said the Biden administration would wait for the IDF to release the results of its investigation, according to The Post. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. But as they wait and Israel's offensive in Rafah continues, more people and entities state-side and internationally grow increasingly outraged with Israel and by association, with the Biden administration's policy regarding Israel and Gaza. The Saudi Arabian government on Tuesday denounced in "the strongest terms the continuous genocidal massacres" committed by the IDF, affirmed the military's "violations of all international and humanitarian resolutions, laws, and norms" and emphasized how it places the "credibility of the institutions of international legitimacy at stake," in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter. Its condemnations follow Spain, Ireland and Norway each officially recognizing a state of Palestine in a concerted effort to pressure Israel to curtail its assault in Gaza as well as protests in Israel against Netanyahu over his handling of the war. In the U.S., young people, a demographic key to Biden's 2020 electoral victory, have pressured the president for months to change course lest he threaten his prospects for re-election in November. Prominent progressive lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. called the airstrike "an indefensible atrocity," adding on social media that "it is long past time for the President to live up to his word and suspend military aid." Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., joined Ocasio-Cortez in her opposition, writing on X: "Horrific and gut wrenching images coming out of Rafah last night. How much longer will the U.S. stand by while the Israeli military slaughters and mutilates Palestinian babies?" The additional foreign policy impact of Biden's support of Israel, then, is that the U.S. is "rapidly losing credibility," Parkinson said, arguing that "a lot of the world is actually looking down the line to November and thinking about the foreign policy implications of a Biden loss in November as well." "The administration is trying to have it both ways," Parkinson added, highlighting as a sign Kirby's exchange with a reporter who questioned how many "charred corpses" Biden would have to see before he considers a change in policy. "It doesn't want to have any risk of being portrayed as not standing with Israel, but it is also trying to demonstrate, theoretically, some care for international humanitarian law protection of civilian life as well as for the long standing ramifications of this level of violence occurring in the region." But Biden's approach, Walt warned, could result in the "worst of all possible outcomes here" when his administration eventually feels "they have to really crack down" on Israel. "If they do that, then they will pay a political price here at home but only after thousands of people have died and after America's image in much of the world has been shredded," Walt said. Jurors in the Manhattan criminal trial came to a swift verdict Thursday to find Trump guilty of 34 charges of falsifying business records and legal experts tell Salon they expect Trump to file a vigorous appeal following sentencing set for July 11. Retired federal trial judge Gregory Mize, a jury trial expert teaching at Georgetown University Law Center said even as its long faced attacks, the nation's jury system represents "the best lie detector system ever invented." "They're testing each other's memory, and they're challenging each other, Mize told Salon. And they're trying to persuade each other. Why their view might be the best and in that process, people change their mind. And you I believe it's just a beautiful process, where beliefs and assessments and credibility are challenged. You need to persuade or be persuaded about credibility. I can't think of any better way of getting to the truth. Manhattan prosecutors alleged that Trump disguised $130,000 in hush money as a legal expense as part of a scheme to keep information about alleged extramarital sex from voters and unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election. In April 2023, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that a grand jury indicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Trump denied the charges, as well as the claimed sexual encounters. Jurors were tasked with deciding unanimously whether Trump is guilty or not guilty on each of the 34 counts. Bennett Gershman, a Pace University law professor and former New York prosecutor called the verdict "a total vindication of the decision by District Attorney Bragg to bring the criminal charges, a masterful presentation of the evidence by the prosecution, and a brilliant summation. The jury should be saluted for their diligence and courage." Ty Cobb, a former member of the White House legal team who reported to Trump, told Salon: "I think the speed of the verdict and the fact it was unanimous as to all counts suggests that they didn't really have much difficulty in terms of going with their gut." "Whether it impacts him politically, I'm not optimistic that it will have much impact," Cobb said. "But you would think being a convicted felon would not enhance your presidential resume." Heres a run-down of what to expect now that the case is out of the juror's hands. WHAT HAPPENS NOW THAT TRUMP HAS BEEN CONVICTED? Judge Juan Merchan has set sentencing for July 11 the same week as the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin, where Trump has planned to accept his party's nomination for president. Whether Trump's team will push to delay sentencing is unclear. Fordham School of Law professor Cheryl Bader said typically sentencing may be scheduled "a month, two months" out, or longer, after a verdict. That's something that the judge will work out with prosecutors and the defense, Bader said. Each of the 34 count carries up to four years in prison but legal experts say Trump would likely serve concurrently if convicted, and would likely face less than a four-year sentence given his lack of a criminal record. Merchan himself said this week: "A prison sentence is not required for the charges in this case in the event of a guilty verdict." Bader said she expects prosecutors and the defense will submit filings ahead of sentencing. They'll each submit their requests, submissions, pre-sentence documentation or advocacy pieces, Bader said. Bader said the probation department would also provide the judge with background information on Trump. Trump is a very known character, but that's the process, Bader said. Gershman said the public should expect Trump to fight the verdict in the court of public opinion. "Trump and his handers are getting the disinformation machine into high gear to spread false and utterly ridiculous accusations about the judge and his instructions to the jury," Gershman said. ON WHAT GROUNDS COULD TRUMP APPEAL? Trump is expected to appeal any conviction. They're gonna throw in everything, Bader said. If you're going to appeal you're going to raise every plausible issue. Bader said that after sentencing, Trumps defense team could file a notice of appeal and submit briefs to the appellate division. There's an automatic right of appeal, Bader said. Trump could appeal based around discovery issues including what was turned over to the defense pre-trial. Trumps lawyers, as expected, filed unsuccessful motions throughout proceedings asking the judge to dismiss the case including arguing that Cohen was not credible. Trump lawyer Todd Blanche used most of his closing arguments to call Cohen who served time in federal prison on perjury and tax fraud charges a liar. Anything that was denied I'm sure they'll appeal, Bader said. According to Politico, Merchan asked Trumps lawyers if they would argue that Trump was relying on advice of counsel as a defense. The judge ruled that Trumps team couldnt use their suggestion of relying on a presence of counsel defense. On May 21, Merchan admonished Trumps lawyers for asking him to instruct jurors to weigh the involvement of counsel when considering Trumps intent in a scheme to have the National Enquirer pay hush money to model Karen McDougal, who claimed she had a months-long affair with Trump. My answer hasnt changed, and honestly I find it a little disingenuous for you to make this argument again, Merchan told Trump lawyer Emil Bove, according to Politico. Bader said Trump may raise that issue again on appeal. Bader added that Trump could also appeal on the jury charge itself from any information that was omitted to the language of the jury instructions. Jury instructions are fertile ground for appeal, Bader said. If a judge is explaining the law to the jury... that's going to possibly trigger an appeal. She said Merchan likely relied on New Yorks model jury instructions and precedent. Here, the judge is also instructing them on campaign finance, which you don't have in the typical criminal case, Bader said. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. The defense decided not to call their campaign finance expert as a witness after Merchan reaffirmed a pretrial ruling that would prevent the expert from interpreting election law. Bader said Trump could appeal based on that decision. The trial judge has a certain amount of discretion in allowing in evidence, and so evidentiary rulings are often not quite as fertile grounds for winning an appeal as strict issues of law, Bader said. Because the rulings have to have actually compromised the fairness of the trial. So an appellate judge might think: Well, I would have ruled a little differently on this, but that doesn't undermine the whole trial. Whereas if the jury is improperly instructed as to what the law is, that could undermine the trial itself. Trump's social media posts have also listed other qualms: including Merchan's gag order limiting what Trump can say about witnesses. Trump and surrogates stationed outside the courthouse have argued the trial is a politically-motivated witch-hunt and questioned why it took him so long to be charged. Bader said an appeals court wouldnt interfere with issues like credibility or what witnesses believe. Those are questions for the jury, she said. But if it's about how the law is stated and if it was an error, that could lead to a new trial, Bader said. WHAT EXACTLY WAS TRUMP CONVICTED FOR? Merchan's instructions in part read: "Under our law, a person is guilty of falsifying business records in the first degree when, with intent to defraud that includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof, that person: makes or causes a false entry in the business records of an enterprise." Prosecutors alleged Trump made or caused the falsification of business records, including invoices and checks to Cohen some of which have Trump's signature on them. Prosecutors also alleged that 2017 Trump Organization general ledger entries falsely described 2017 payments to Cohen as a legal expense. Trumps defense team argued that the former president knew nothing about Cohens payments or reimbursement at the time and that the business records accurately showed payments for legal services to Cohen, who says he did less than ten hours of legal work for Trump in 2017. Prosecutors pointed to pieces of evidence corroborating Cohens testimony including handwritten notes appearing to show Trump employees detailing an outline of a plan to reimburse Cohen to the tune of $420,000 in monthly installments in 2017 for the $130,00 payment to Daniels on top of other costs, including taxes and a bonus. "Based on everything that Trump has said and done, do you think there is any chance, any chance that Trump would have paid $42,000 an hour for legal work by Mr. Cohen?" prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said in closing statements. "That would be a pretty sweet hourly rate." Jurors weighed whether Trump caused the falsification of records with an intent to defraud, defined as "a general intent to defraud any person or entity" that can include, but isn't limited to, depriving another of property or money. And the judge gave them a very broad instruction saying that they could consider almost everything on intent, that they can take in all the circumstances and their common sense about why someone falsified business records, said Jeffrey Abramson, emeritus Professor of Law and Government at the University of Texas at Austin. I thought that was a telling moment that was probably good for the prosecution. Cobb said that the jury instructions were favorable to the prosecution "but not unfairly so." The instructions said that the intent to defraud has to include committing, aiding or concealing "another crime." Another crime could be any crime," Adam Shlahet, director of the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Center at Fordham Law, said. "They don't need to have succeeded in that crime. And they don't need to have failed in that crime." Prosecutors alleged that Trump intended to commit, aid or conceal a violation of state election law section 17-152. That statute "provides that any two or more persons who conspire to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means means and which conspiracy is acted upon by one or more of the parties thereto, shall be guilty of conspiracy to promote or prevent an election." HOW DID FEDERAL CAMPAIGN LAW FACTOR INTO A STATE CASE? Merchan said jurors could consider three unlawful means under New York's election law conspiracy statute: a violation of federal election law, falsification of other business records or violation of tax laws. Merchan said that under state law, jurors didn't have to unanimously agree on what constitutes "unlawful means" under the election conspiracy statute. Abramson said that cuts in favor of the prosecution", making it "potentially easier for the jury to reach unanimity. Outside the courtroom Thursday, Trump quoted MSNBC analyst Catherine Christian, who on Wednesday said: "This has never been prosecuted before. Falsified business records prosecuted all the time... But it's usually grand larceny insurance or a tax fraud. It's never been done this way." Christian also said: "If theres a conviction, it will be appealed just on the fact that its never been prosecuted before. So its a very nuanced argument for the prosecution to make." Shlahet told Salon: "Whether or not the New York law is a fair one, or is drafted in a fair way, is something that they're going to have to take up on appeal." Trump, for his part, has repeatedly questioned why a county district attorney is prosecuting him on allegations concerning violations of federal election law. Cobb said he expects the indictment will "be closely scrutinized on appeal." He said the defense could raise "strong" constitutional concerns. "They may not win on that but it will be seriously considered," Cobb said. "Whether it holds up on appeal is a little more of a toss-up than it typically is on conviction. But it is not by any means an uncertainty." Prosecutors alleged that Trump was trying to bury other negative stories by having Cohen pay hush money to Daniels and having the National Enquirer pay hush money to McDougal and a former Trump Tower doorman who falsely claimed Trump had a child out of wedlock. The jury instructions delved into the Federal Election Campaign Act, and stated that it is "unlawful for an individual to willfully make a contribution to any candidate with respect to any election for federal office, including the office of President of the United States, which exceeds a certain limit." "It is also unlawful under the Federal Election Campaign Act for any corporation to willfully make a contribution of any amount to a candidate or candidates campaign in connection with any federal election, or for any person to cause such a corporate contribution," read the instructions. And the instructions stated: "If the payment would have been made even in the absence of the candidacy, the payment should not be treated as a contribution." Cohen testified that in 2018, at a time of federal scrutiny over hush-money payments made on Trump's behalf, then-President Trump assured him that then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions was "in his pocket." Cohen in 2018 pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to eight counts that included one count of causing an unlawful campaign contribution, and another count of an excessive campaign contribution, in connection with the payment to Daniels. According to The Associated Press, federal prosecutors agreed not to prosecute the National Enquirer's publisher in exchange for its cooperation. In 2021, the FEC failed to support their general counsels recommendation to investigate payments to Daniels amid partisan deadlock. Also in 2021, the FEC fined the National Enquirer $187,500 for violating campaign finance law by paying hush money to McDougal. Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, testified that he was aware that coordinating with a candidate or campaign to make expenditures to influence an election is unlawful. "We didn't want the story to embarrass Mr. Trump or embarrass or hurt the campaign," Pecker said. Jurors on Thursday asked to again hear parts of testimonies from former Trump fixer and personal attorney Michael Cohen and former National Publisher David Pecker. "Most experienced trial lawyers would recognize that the jurors were going to look at the chronology that the government set forth, and the government accurately portrayed Pecker's testimony during the closing," Cobb told Salon. "Once the jury corroborated that, they were sort of on the path to conviction." In his closing arguments, Blanche argued that agreement is "evidence of nothing as it relates to President Trump's guilt." Jury instructions said that jurors could only use that agreement to assess Pecker's credibility and to "help provide context for some of the surrounding events." Blanche said there is "no evidence, none, no evidence of a willful violation of" the Federal Election Campaign Act. At least one legal expert, Boston University law professor Jed Shugerman, questioned the decision to allow jurors to consider whether Trump used 2017 tax records to promote his 2016 candidacy. "Maybe fatal on appeal," Shugerman said on X. "The judge and DA think it's plausible that tax documents recorded in 2017 were a 'means' of promoting a candidate in the 2016 election. Maybe call them a cover-up. But that's not the question Merchan sent to the jury." Shugerman retweeted a post citing a 2011 U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit case that says, in part, that "risk of jury confusion" could warrant requiring jurors to unanimously agree on the means of a crime. Meanwhile, Steinglass used his closing arguments to remind jurors that the prosecution's case is about a "conspiracy and a coverup" allegedly devised in 2015 and extending to 2017. Steinglass stressed that prosecutors have shown "overt election fraud." "It's hard to say that the American people don't have the right to decide for themselves whether they care or not, that a handful of people sitting in a room can decide which information gets into those voters' hands," he said. Steinglass pointed jurors to allegedly falsified tax documents that he said furthered the election conspiracy. "You don't have to pay taxes on a reimbursement, so you don't have to report them as income," Steinglass said. "So the result of reporting them as income is the more taxes are getting paid then are owed. But as the judge will tell you, it's a crime to prepare false tax documents, regardless, even when doing so does not result in underpayment of taxes. And preparing these false tax documents is yet another unlawful means that the defendants and his cohorts were willing to engage in to conceal their election conspiracy." Steinglass stressed that jurors could also look to other business records: "They still try to argue that the payments to Cohen in 2017 were for legal services rendered, because to say anything else is to admit that the business records were false. And they can't do that." Steinglass said that internal business records are important whether for review by tax professors, or government and election regulators. "The Defendant used his own business records as the vehicle to disguise the reimbursement because he didn't want anyone finding out about the conspiracy to corrupt the election," Steinglass said. "Everything Mr. Trump and his cohorts did in this case was cloaked in lies," he said. "Lies in the DJT and Trust business records themselves. Lies in the phone invoice from IAS about a flat fee. Lies in the bank account opening documents about the true nature of these accounts. Lies in the bank paperwork for the wire transfers. Lies in the 1099s. Pseudonyms, shell companies, encrypted apps, a paper lease HELOC to fund the deal. The defendant refused to use email to avoid leaving a paper trail. Misleading and an outright false denial about Pecker, Davidson, Daniels, Cohen and his lawyer, all in a last ditch effort to prevent the truth from coming out." By Jack Queen (Reuters) - Donald Trumps criminal conviction for illegally covering up a hush money payment to a porn star will not prevent the Republican candidate from pursuing his campaign to retake the White House, even if he were sentenced to prison before the Nov. 5 election. Here's why. HOW CAN TRUMP BE PRESIDENT DESPITE THE CONVICTION? The U.S. Constitution only requires that presidents be at least 35 years old and U.S. citizens who have lived in the country for 14 years. Neither a criminal conviction nor a prison sentence would affect Trump's eligibility or his ability to become president. In theory, he could be sworn in from jail or prison if he were to unseat Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election. Jailhouse presidential campaigns are not unprecedented in U.S. history. Socialist Eugene Debs unsuccessfully ran for president from prison in the 1920 election, though unlike Trump he was not a serious contender. WILL TRUMP GO TO PRISON? It is not yet known what sentence, if any, the judge will impose. Trump is a first-time offender for a nonviolent crime, and it is rare for people with no criminal history who are convicted only of falsification of business records to be sentenced to prison in New York. Punishments like fines or probation are more common. The maximum sentence for Trumps crime of falsifying business records is 1-1/3 to four years in prison, but in cases involving prison time, defendants are typically sentenced to a year or less. If punished beyond a fine, Trump could be placed under home confinement or subjected to a curfew rather than imprisoned. As a former president, he has a lifetime Secret Service detail, and the logistics of keeping him safe behind bars could be complicated. Trump could also be released on bail while appealing his conviction. HOW COULD THE GUILTY VERDICT AFFECT THE ELECTION? While the hush money case is widely seen as the least consequential of the four criminal prosecutions Trump faces, the guilty verdict could have implications for the election. Opinion polls show a guilty verdict could cost him votes in an election that will potentially be decided by just tens of thousands of votes in a handful of battleground states. One in four Republicans said they would not vote for Trump if he was found guilty in a criminal trial, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll of registered voters in April. In the same survey, 60% of independents said they would not vote for Trump if he was convicted of a crime. (Reporting by Jack Queen; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Howard Goller and Daniel Wallis) Former U.S. President Trump's criminal trial on charges of falsifying business records continues in New York By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -After the jury in Donald Trump's New York criminal trial returns a verdict, the judge likely will lift his gag order barring the Republican presidential candidate from speaking publicly about witnesses, jurors and others involved in the case. The former U.S. president has complained about the gag order throughout the trial and when Justice Juan Merchan removes it, Trump can return to lashing out in public remarks and on social media, say legal experts who have been following the trial. "It's totally unconstitutional. I'm not allowed to talk but people are allowed to talk about me," Trump said outside the courtroom on April 23, one of the many times he has inveighed against the order. "I'd love to say everything on my mind." Trump has struggled to contain his furor, leading Merchan to hold him in contempt and to fine him $10,000 after determining that 10 posts and statements in media interviews violated the gag order. He faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide reimbursements to his former lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she claimed she had with Trump a decade earlier. Trump denies criminal wrongdoing and denies having sex with Daniels. WHAT DID THE GAG ORDER ENTAIL? Judges can impose gag orders to protect court proceedings from outside influences. While they are not common in New York state court, federal judges imposed them in the criminal trials of Trump's former 2016 campaign manager Paul Manafort and Trump ally Roger Stone. "When it comes to Trump, he has an extraordinary amount of power in terms of the visibility of his social media posts," said New York-based criminal defense attorney Richard Willstatter. "It's extraordinarily dangerous to expose people to that. The court has an institutional interest in protecting not just these jurors, but in protecting other people who might do jury service," he said. Merchan on March 26 granted prosecutors' request for the gag order. On April 1, he extended it to cover his own family members and those of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, after Trump called Merchan's daughter a "Rabid Trump Hater" over her political consultancy work. The gag order did not restrict Trump's statements about Bragg or Merchan. HOW HAS TRUMP TESTED THE LIMITS OF THE ORDER? Trump during the trial made public statements that prosecutors said ran afoul of the judge's order. On his Truth Social platform, Trump shared links to articles that made negative comments about witnesses including Cohen, who served prison time over the hush money payment and testified against Trump. It was the second case in which Trump was found to have violated a gag order. In a civil fraud case last year, a different New York state judge fined him $15,000 for twice violating an order barring comments about court staff. Trump's attorneys in the criminal case complained the gag order prevented him from responding to political attacks. "We have never before had a former president who is on trial, and we have never before had someone who is running for president," said Anna Cominsky, director of the Criminal Defense Clinic at the New York Law School. "It can't be compared to any other situation." WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Although Trump will be largely free to verbally attack witnesses, the jury and court staff after the trial, there are still some topics that could be off limits. A March 7 protective order prohibits Trump or his attorneys from disclosing the names, business and residential addresses of the jurors. Legal experts said they expected Merchan to leave this order in place. Trump faces a separate gag order imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., where he faces charges of trying to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, additional reporting by Luc Cohen; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller) This photo taken on May 15, 2024 shows an exterior view of Malabo International Airport in Equatorial Guinea. (Xinhua/Han Xu) "Today, if we talk about the development of transportation infrastructure, including roads, ports, and airports, Chinese companies have been deeply involved," Alejandro Micha Nsue, president of the National Office of Planning and Project Monitoring of Equatorial Guinea said. MALABO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Equatorial Guinea's cooperation with China is fruitful, with an upward momentum that can help the country improve in all aspects and bring about more changes, an Equatorial Guinean official has said. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Alejandro Micha Nsue, president of the National Office of Planning and Project Monitoring of Equatorial Guinea, recalled that Chinese companies arrived in his country during his childhood to construct the Nkue-Mongomo road. "Today, if we talk about the development of transportation infrastructure, including roads, ports, and airports, Chinese companies have been deeply involved," Nsue said. Over the past half a century since China and Equatorial Guinea established diplomatic ties in 1970, Chinese enterprises have constructed hydroelectric power stations, airports, roads, and housing projects, serving as the foundation for the country's development and progress. Nsue praised such cooperation projects as the new terminal at Malabo International Airport and the new national university campus. "Equatorial Guinea's characteristics are being shaped through its cooperation with China," he said. In Nsue's view, the cooperation between China and Equatorial Guinea is "sincere." "The countries that colonized Africa exploited and plundered it, taking away all its resources and leaving the countries in ruins," said the official, adding that in contrast, "China's cooperation is different." Cooperation with China has brought "substantial changes" to many African countries, ranging from infrastructure development, industrial growth to the promotion of talent cultivation, he said. Deeply impressed by China's modernization, Nsue expressed his belief that by leveraging its workforce and modernization expertise, China can help Africa and Equatorial Guinea a lot. "China has a highly skilled talent pool," Nsue said, voicing his desire for enhanced collaboration in talent cultivation between the two countries. HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN) Alabama Highway and Marine Patrol reported today that they were currently investigating six traffic and one boating deaths that each occurred between Friday morning and Monday night. Four drivers, one passenger, and a motorcyclist. Three of five individuals wore their seatbelts, and the motorcyclist used a helmetand one boater on Lake Logan Martin. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said they hope the tragic loss of their lives during the holiday weekend will place a renewed vigilance in adhering to traffic laws to keep all motorists and boaters safe. During the holiday weekend, ALEAs efforts included increased patrols, checkpoints, and widespread public awareness campaigns to reduce fatalities and injuries. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it will launch an investigation after two passenger airliners nearly collided on a runway Wednesday at Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington. American Airlines flight 2134 was cleared for takeoff about 10:20 a.m., at the same time a King Air flight was cleared to land on a crossing runway. The American flight was quickly called off, narrowly avoiding a collision between the planes. An air traffic controller cancelled the takeoff clearance for American Airlines Flight 2134 because another aircraft was cleared to land on an intersecting runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, an FAA spokesperson told The Hill on Thursday. A replay of flight tracking at the time shows the American Airlines flight beginning its takeoff while the King Air flight landed, before the American flight stops in the middle of its takeoff sequence. The near miss follows a similar occurrence at the same airport last month. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) was relieved over the news that nobody was hurt in the incident, but he said it speaks to wider concerns about the flight capacity at National Airport. Im relieved no one was hurt. But this incident underscores again that DCA is at capacity, Kaine said in a post on the social platform X. This shows why Senate action to jam even more flights into DCA was so dangerous. The FAA must resist any new flights that compromise safety. The House passed the FAA reauthorization bill last month which included adding five long-distance flight slots to National Airport, despite strong opposition from Virginia and Maryland lawmakers, including Kaine. Kaine argued on the Senate floor last month that the previous near-miss at the airport was already a sign that National Airport is overcrowded. He and other critics of the legislation said adding more flight slots was a safety risk. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FAA launches investigation after two planes nearly collide on DC runway - the latest airlines safety concern A Boston-bound aircraft had to slam on the brakes while taking off to prevent a collision with another plane at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. A Federal Aviation Administration investigation is underway after the incident involving American Airlines flight 2134 as it was attempting to leave for Logan International Airport on Wednesday morning. Pilots for the flight, which was cleared for takeoff, were forced to brake while going roughly 90 miles per hour to prevent a collision with the other aircraft, CBS News reported. Uh, were going to, we need to talk to maintenance, but yeah I think, uh, we were above 80 knots so [were] gonna have to get an inspection, the pilot said as he was hitting the brakes, according to NBC News. The other aircraft was a private plane that was initially cleared to land, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Air traffic control later told the private plane to abort the landing, but it was already on the ground, according to CBS News. In a statement to CBS News, American Airlines said they would support the FAA in their investigation. An American Airlines flight pictured landing at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside of Washington, DC. An American Airlines flight almost collided with a private plane on Wednesday morning after both flights were cleared to use intersecting runways (Getty Images) A nearly identical incident happened at the same airport last month. Air traffic control instructed a Southwest flight to taxi across a runway after a Jet Blue flight had begun take-off on an intersecting runway. The planes did not collide, missing each other by just 400 feet. Also last month, a quick-thinking pilot faced a similar situation and prevented a collision between four planes, including his own, at New Yorks JFK International Airport. Audio of the incident revealed air traffic control cleared a Swiss Air flight for takeoff. The pilot, realizing he would collide with several other planes, quickly aborted. The FAA is also investigating that incident. New research suggests general anxiety around flying may be on the rise this summer, NBC Bay Area reports. This uptick comes amid increasing concerns over aircraft manufacturer Boeings safety procedures. Earlier this year, Boeing was thrown into the national spotlight after a door plug fell off one of their planes mid-flight. Then, in April, Boeing whistleblower Sam Salehpour testified to Congress about several safety concerns. The quality engineer told a congressional committee that Boeing has a culture of retaliation when employees speak up about their concerns. When asked if the planes are safe, Mr Salehpour testified: Its like an earthquake. When that hits the building ... [it has] to be prepared to accommodate that type of shake-up...Right now, from what Ive seen, the aeroplanes are not being billed per spec, and per requirements. I was repeatedly mentioned in a May 27 guest column written by Rick Piccolo, the CEO of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, and I offer this as a response to his piece. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rejected the sale of airport land to New College of Florida in early April. The FAA clearly wasn't convinced that the airport would be better off getting $11.5 million by selling the land, instead of keeping it for future airport terminal-related use. John Schussler More: Why the FAA rejected the New College of Florida and Sarasota Bradenton Airport land swap In his column, Rick correctly stated that I handled the airport's land sale to New College in 2007; however, that 3-acre site was not nearly as close to the airport terminal as the 33 acres that the airport authority now wants to sell. In addition, the airports situation in 2007 was much different than it is today. From 1990 to 2018, the airport's annual passenger traffic was flat at about 1.5 million passengers; today, it draws an estimated 4.3 million annual passengers. So I question Ricks position that because the FAA allowed 3 acres to be sold in 2007, it must allow 33 acres that are much closer to the airport's terminal to be sold in 2024. Indeed, I believe selling that land would put future airport needs at risk. The expansion of New College was announced by the state in 2023, but the school doesn't own enough land to expand upon. That is not the airport authoritys problem, but political interests are trying to make it one anyway. This is evident when you study the land sales agreement and see how much it favors New College. In his column, Rick wrote that "no evidence" to support concerns about the land deal has ever been provided, and that they are solely based on my personal opinion. Whoa! I sent the FAA a voluminous document in October 2023, which was followed by 18 addendums to it over the past eight months. The material I have submitted cites airport authority source documents, and the evidence I have provided is factual, specific and detailed. Among other things, the evidence shows that: Airport planners never considered alternative land uses. New College should be held in default of its 99-year lease because it has not maintained the buildings as required. The only street access to New College would be across airport land. Perpetual easements are being improperly used. The appraisals did not consider the airport authority's remainder interest in the buildings. The comparable land sales weren't comparable. Rick ignored these issues and many more in his guest column. The more Rick insists politics is playing no role in the land sale, the more citizens are beginning to realize it probably is. The airport authority is appealing the FAA's decision, and who knows what kind of lobbying it and New College's administration are doing with state and federal government officials in an effort to force the FAA to reverse its position. Sarasota Bradenton International Airport CEO Rick Piccolo Rick also referred to me as an individual who is part of an organization "that wants to change how citizens vote for their representative government. Ill explain: New College's request to buy airport land should have been quickly rejected by the airport authority. But when one political party controls a state's government with supermajorities in the Legislature and also controls the governorship and other major offices it is predictable that overreach will lead that single party to use state government to pursue its political objectives. And it is clear that changing New College has become a political objective of our state government. But while such overreach is clearly occurring in a Republican-controlled state like Florida, it is also happening in countless Democrat-controlled states, too. That's why I support nonpartisan election reforms, and why I'm neither a Democrat nor Republican. The bottom line is the land deal between the airport authority and New College clearly favors the school, and that's why it was rejected by the FAA. John Schussler is the former director of properties at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: FAA acted wisely in rejecting airport-New College land deal Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. As visitors explore the recently opened Perth Museum and Art Gallery in Scotland, they come face-to-face with the past. Lifelike digital facial reconstructions of people who lived across the Perth and Kinross region of Scotland centuries ago blink and change their expressions as museumgoers pass by. The reconstructions, which combine art, anthropology, technology and archaeology, are on permanent display at the museum, which opened on March 30. The reconstructions are based on skulls found across Scotland, including a woman from the Bronze Age who lived about 4,000 years ago, an Iron Age man from AD 500 and men and women who lived during Scotlands medieval period in the 14th and 15th centuries, such as a young male murder victim. Skulls were used to digitally reconstruct the faces of an Iron Age man (left), a woman from the Bronze Age and a young male murder victim from the medieval period. - Perth Museum, Culture Perth & Kinross/Chris Rynn The museum collaborated with Dr. Chris Rynn, a craniofacial anthropologist and forensic artist, as well as University of Aberdeen researchers to study the ancient remains and bring them back to life in a unique way that can connect local visitors more deeply with their heritage, said Mark Hall, collections officer at Perth Museum and Art Gallery. Visitors can see every step of the process of making the facial reconstructions, from viewing the skulls on display to using accessible screens that show how anthropologists reassemble skulls, create digital models and arrive at the final product. Museumgoers will be able to digitally build the facial models themselves and see the results, even having the ability to tweak hair and eye color for some recreations. Ive been working with Perth Museum on seven skulls, Rynn said, making forensic facial reconstructions of each to be turned into these interactive touch-screen displays so that visitors to the museum can go through the entire process of estimating and sculpting a face. The museums collections are intended to tell the story of the people who have lived in Perth for the last 10,000 years, Hall said. As part of our approach to try and humanize that story, weve recreated faces from the past using the evidence of human skulls and applying techniques of whats called forensic anthropology, Hall said. What we can learn about a particular place by studying the people is how they related to each other, what sort of relationships they had, what sort of life they lived, how well were they connected with the rest of the world. And archaeology and anthropology kind of unearths lots of evidence which tells us about those things. Uncovering Scotlands past She lived somewhere between 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, yet a woman from the Bronze Age with her facial reconstruction resembles someone who wouldnt appear out of place in modern society. I think seeing faces from hundreds of years ago or thousands of years ago can teach us how little people have changed over that time, Rynn said. Her remains were originally found after a tractor broke through a burial chamber beneath Lochlands Farm in Perthshire in 1962. Her body was discovered in a crouched position, and the lower left-hand side of the facial bones had been cleanly cut away. The excavator speculated that a desperate injury had been inflicted that possibly caused the individuals death, according to information that the museum shared. Recent research of the remains, including a DNA and dental analysis, revealed the woman was in her 30s when she died. Her bones showed joint degeneration in her lower back, suggesting she suffered from back pain. A depression was also found on the right frontal bone of her skull that was likely caused by a blunt force. Given that the injury didnt penetrate the internal cranium, researchers believe the injury just before her death was accidental, and perhaps she bumped her head on something hard. Another skull belonging to an Iron Age male, likely in his 40s when he died, was discovered during construction work in the early 1980s in Perthshire. His remains date back to the sixth century, and scientists think he was a Pict, an ancient group native to Scotland. Analysis of his bones revealed that he spent his childhood on Scotlands west coast and later did rough agricultural work, eating pork, wild fowl and freshwater fish. He moved to Perthshire late in life, and his grave was sealed with a quernstone, which is used for hand-grinding grain. During the construction of a concert hall in the early 2000s, adjacent to the Perth Museum and Art Gallery, archaeologists unearthed the complete skeleton of a young man who died between the ages of 18 to 25 sometime in the late 14th century. The skeleton was found stuffed into a shallow pit beneath the foundations of old tenement buildings. While depressions in his skull likely came from a hasty burial, new research suggests he died a violent death and was likely a murder victim. He sustained two blunt force injuries to two ribs as well as multiple rib fractures, likely from substantial forces being exerted on his chest during a confrontation. An analysis of his bones didnt reveal any chronic illnesses, but researchers noted that he experienced several disruptions to his growth during childhood, which may have been due to illnesses or malnourishment. Two silver coins were found with his skeleton, dating from 1279 to 1322 and 1367 to 1371. Resurrecting ancient faces Rynn made physical and digital models during his reconstruction work after studying the shape of each skull, which helped him determine and estimate the shape of each face. Dr. Chris Rynn, a craniofacial anthropologist and forensic artist, used digital scans of the skulls during the facial reconstruction process. - Perth Museum, Culture Perth & Kinross/Chris Rynn Each skull took about 50 hours to reconstruct. For each skull, a 3D scan was made. Digital scans allowed Rynn to fill in gaps or pieces missing from the skulls by mirroring what was on the other side. Dental patterns also allowed him to reconstruct part of the missing jaw of the Bronze Age woman. After reconstructing each skull digitally, Rynn added layers of tissue, estimating tissue depths by studying each skulls shape. For me personally, while Im sculpting them and working on the faces, it feels like Im meeting someone as well as it comes to the end of the sculpture, Rynn said. Then, he sculpted the facial muscles in white wax, scanned them in 3D and digitized them to reassemble the faces. At the end of his reconstructions, Rynn used an algorithm to animate the faces, allowing them to blink or change expressions. Finally, you have to kind of bring them to life, Rynn said. So what I do is turn that 3D model into a photorealistic portrait and then use an algorithm to make the portrait that I made blink and look around a little bit. While the process is methodical, it results in something lifelike that Rynn saw mirrored around him in the real world. When youre in Scotland, if youve got Scottish ancestry, quite often people can tell and can guess which clan that ancestry comes from by taking a look at your face, Rynn said. I was walking around Perth, and Id see people who looked like one of the reconstructions that I was working on, and I felt like I was meeting people that I was sculpting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com DOOCY: Thank you, Karine. Are you guys here at the White House in full-blown freakout mode? (Laughter.) JEAN-PIERRE: What are you talking about? DOOCY: There's a JEAN-PIERRE: What are you talking about DOOCY: There's a Politico story JEAN-PIERRE: Peter? DOOCY: It sounds like Democrats outside the quote is, "Biden's stubbornly stubbornly poor polling and the stakes of the election 'are creating the freakout.'" JEAN-PIERRE: So, again, I'm going to be mindful. I'm not going to comment on 2024 election. I will say this. The President has never forgotten where he comes where he came from, who he is. He understands what the American people are going through as they're sitting around the kitchen table. You ta- you hear the President talk about his time growing up where he watched his family having to sit around the kitchen table making incredibly difficult decision. And the President has always said he's going to fight for communities that have been forgotten. And you see that in the policies economic policies that he's put forward. He's going to continue to fight for the middle class. He's going to continue to fight in every way that he can. You heard me at the beginning talk about junk fees. Incredibly import- and he's going to continue to fight and to make sure, you know, that corporation greed doesn't continue to take hold. He is that is something that he's been very clear about, while Republicans are doing the opposite. They put out a policy where they want to give a big tax break to the wealthiest among us billionaires and and corporation. That's not what the President wants to do. DOOCY: On another topic. Why did President Biden have a private meeting with a witness who plans to testify in court against his son? JEAN-PIERRE: Can you say more? DOOCY: Hallie Biden is a key government witness who allegedly disposed of a gun that Hunter is accused of buying illegally. President Biden JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. DOOCY: was at her house this week. JEAN-PIERRE: I think the American people should also be told the full breadth of this, not just a part of this question here. As you all know, the President actually spoke to this yesterday during his Memorial I think, impactful, powerful Memorial Day address where he talked about he talked about the passing the anniversary the ninth anniversary of the passing of his son [Beau Biden]. And he visited her as that anniversary is approaching. He visited her days before the anniversary of the passing of his son. And she is family. She was married, obviously, to his late son. And I think that is something also to mention, as you're asking your question to me. DOOCY: So so, they did not talk about her testimony? JEAN-PIERRE: This was not about that. This was about, literally, the ninth anniversary of the passing of his son DOOCY: One more. JEAN-PIERRE: that is upcoming in days, Peter. DOOCY: We learned today there's going to be a book coming out this summer by Lunden Roberts. According to the press release, the book is about protecting the long-unacknowledged grandchild of the sitting President of the United States. Do you know if President Biden has met that grandchild yet? JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything to share. Factbox-Donald Trump's New York trial: Five moments that could decide his fate Former U.S. President Trump's criminal trial on charges of falsifying business records continues in New York (Reuters) - A panel of 12 New York jurors will for a second day on Thursday weigh evidence in the criminal trial of Donald Trump, the former president accused of falsifying documents to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Here are five milestone moments from the historic first trial of a former U.S. president: STORMY'S STORY Daniels, whose given name is Stephanie Clifford, described her alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump in unflattering detail, telling jurors that she blacked out briefly before waking up on the bed with most of her clothes off. She said she was not coerced into having sex with him but did not find the experience enjoyable. "I was trying to think about anything other than what was happening there," Daniels testified. Trump's lawyers moved for a mistrial, saying her testimony would only inflame the jury and was irrelevant to a case about business records. Justice Juan Merchan, overseeing the case, agreed that some of her testimony "probably would have been better left unsaid" but denied their request. Daniels' detailed account could undermine the argument of Trump's lawyers, who say the two never had sex. 'JUST DO IT' Michael Cohen, Trump's estranged former fixer, told jurors on May 13 that Trump personally approved the $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels. "He expressed to me: 'Just do it,'" Cohen said. He said Trump was worried about alienating female voters if the story got out, not any fallout he might experience at home. "He wasn't thinking about Melania. This was all about the campaign," Cohen said, referring to Melania Trump, his wife. Cohen said Trump approved a plan to reimburse him for the Daniels payment at a meeting at Trump Tower after the election. His testimony formed the central pillar of prosecutors' case. They have argued that the altered records amount to a felony crime because they covered up evidence of a payment that corrupted the 2016 election. Trump's lawyers have suggested the payment for Daniels' silence could have been made to protect Trump's family from embarrassment rather than to boost his political prospects. Prosecutors say the payment was effectively an illegal campaign contribution. COHEN'S LYING AND STEALING During cross-examination, Trump's lawyers highlighted Cohen's criminal record and history of lying to paint him as a turncoat who hates Trump and is eager to see him imprisoned. Cohen admitted that he lied to journalists and Congress and lied under oath while pleading guilty to federal tax evasion charges. Cohen said he pleaded guilty in that case to prevent his wife from being charged, even though he agreed at the time he had not been coerced. Cohen also admitted that he stole money from Trump's company by pocketing cash meant for a vendor, because he thought his annual bonus should have been bigger. Those admissions could undermine the credibility of Cohen, the prosecution's most important witness. TRUMP'S SIGNED CHECKS On May 7, prosecutors displayed Trump's tall, looping signature in thick ink on nine separate $35,000 checks to Cohen. Prosecutors say those payments were reimbursements for the Daniels payoff, but were disguised as legal fees to avoid making a record of the allegedly illegal campaign contribution. Cohen testified that those payments were meant to reimburse him for the Daniels payoff, rather than legal work. Prosecutors did not call any witnesses other than Cohen who could testify that Trump deliberately sought to obscure those payments as legal fees. The one person who might have been in a position to do so, former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, is serving a five-month jail sentence for lying under oath. MERCHAN WARNS TRUMP THAT HE RISKS JAIL On May 6, Merchan warned Trump that he would put Trump in jail if he continued to violate a gag order that bars the former president from criticizing witnesses and jurors, as well as relatives of both the prosecutors and the judge. Trump had spent the previous weeks testing the limits of that gag order in media interviews, campaign rallies and impromptu press conferences outside the courtroom. Merchan ruled that Trump had violated the terms of the gag order 10 times and fined him the maximum allowed by state law: $1,000 per violation. That, Merchan noted, did not serve as much of a deterrent to someone as wealthy as Trump and he warned that tougher sanctions might be needed. I do not want to impose a jail sanction and have done everything I can to avoid doing so. But I will if necessary, he said. If he had followed through, that would have been the first time a former U.S. president spent time behind bars. The dramatic moment will not affect the outcome of the trial, as jurors were not in the room to witness it. (Reporting by Andy Sullivan and Luc Cohen; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller) (Reuters) -The winners of India's April 19-June 1 general election are expected to form a new government by the middle of June after votes are counted on June 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to win a third straight term after voting ended on Saturday, exit polls showed. Here is a look how votes are counted and what happens after that. VOTE COUNTING Vote counting is decentralised and done simultaneously at counting stations in each of the 543 constituencies around the country. Counting begins at 8 am (0230 GMT) on June 4 with the tallying of postal ballots that only select groups can use, including people with disabilities, or those involved in essential services including security forces and some government officials. After paper ballots, votes recorded in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) are counted, which India has used since 2000, moving away from paper ballots for national and state elections. CRITICISM OF THE PROCESS Along with the electronic record of each vote cast through the EVM, a corresponding paper slip is also produced, which is visible to the voter, and then stored in a sealed box. The poll watchdog, the Election Commission of India (ECI), counts and verifies these paper slips against electronic votes at five randomly selected polling stations - drawn by lots - in different segments of each constituency. While critics and some members of civil society, including some political parties, want verification to be done at more booths to increase transparency, the Supreme Court has declined to order any change in the vote-counting process. The ECI has dismissed allegations that EVMs can be tampered, calling them foolproof. FORMING THE GOVERNMENT Results are announced for each constituency as soon as counting is completed. India follows the first-past-the-post system, under which a candidate with the highest number of votes wins, regardless of garnering a majority or not. Result trends generally become clear by the afternoon of counting day and are flashed on television news networks. The official count from the ECI can come hours later. After the ECI announces the results for all 543 seats, the president invites the leader of the party, or an alliance, which has more than half the seats to form the government. The party or coalition with 272 or more seats then chooses a prime minister to lead the government. In the 2019 elections, Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party won 303 seats and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners secured about 50 more. Meanwhile, the main opposition Congress won just 52 seats, with another 91 seats going to its allies. If no political party or alliance gets a simple majority, leading to what is called a "hung house", the president asks the party with the largest number of seats to form a government, and prove a majority on the floor of the house later. A new Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, has to be in place before its current term ends on June 16. EXIT POLLS Most exit polls on Saturday projected the NDA could win a two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament. A summary of five major exit polls projected the NDA could win between 353 and 401 seats. Exit polls, which are conducted by polling agencies, have a patchy record in India as they have often got the outcome wrong, with analysts saying it is a challenge to get them right in the large and diverse country. (Reporting by Chris Thomas in New Delhi; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Michael Perry) A person shows stamps marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 31, 2024. Pos Malaysia, the national courier service provider and sole licensee for universal postal services in the country, unveiled a set of special joint commemorative stamps on Thursday to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China. The commemorative stamp features iconic plants from both countries, namely the Merbau, Malaysia's national tree, and the Greeting Pine, one of China's most famous trees, symbolizing the strong relationship and warm hospitality between the two countries, it said in a statement. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Pos Malaysia, the national courier service provider and sole licensee for universal postal services in the country, unveiled a set of special joint commemorative stamps on Thursday to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China. The commemorative stamp features iconic plants from both countries, namely the Merbau, Malaysia's national tree, and the Greeting Pine, one of China's most famous trees, symbolizing the strong relationship and warm hospitality between the two countries, it said in a statement. "This golden milestone celebrates half a century of friendship, trust, and mutual respect. As we celebrate this significant anniversary, the future of Malaysia-China relations remains bright and mutually beneficial, with continued collaboration and shared prosperity," it said. China and Malaysia established diplomatic relations on May 31, 1974. A customer purchases stamps marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 31, 2024. Pos Malaysia, the national courier service provider and sole licensee for universal postal services in the country, unveiled a set of special joint commemorative stamps on Thursday to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China. The commemorative stamp features iconic plants from both countries, namely the Merbau, Malaysia's national tree, and the Greeting Pine, one of China's most famous trees, symbolizing the strong relationship and warm hospitality between the two countries, it said in a statement. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) A person shows stamps marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 31, 2024. Pos Malaysia, the national courier service provider and sole licensee for universal postal services in the country, unveiled a set of special joint commemorative stamps on Thursday to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China. The commemorative stamp features iconic plants from both countries, namely the Merbau, Malaysia's national tree, and the Greeting Pine, one of China's most famous trees, symbolizing the strong relationship and warm hospitality between the two countries, it said in a statement. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) Facts and figures: The European elections and the European Union People cast their votes on the first day of the advance voting of the European Parliament election. Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva/dpa With just a week to go until the European Parliament elections, here are the key facts about the continent-wide poll and the European Union. When? Votes for the members of the European Parliament are being cast from June 6-9 across the European Union, but vary by country. The Dutch will kick things off on Thursday, June 6. This will be followed by Ireland on June 7, and then Latvia, Malta and Slovakia the next day. The Czech Republic and Italy vote across two days: June 7-8 and June 8-9 respectively. In the rest of the EU, elections will be held on Sunday, June 9. Who votes? There are almost 360 million eligible voters in the EU. The minimum voting age varies, but for most European countries it is 18. For the first time in Germany, minors are also allowed to vote, as the country's voting age for the European elections has been lowered from 18 to 16. This has increased the number of eligible voters in Germany from around 61.5 million in 2019 to just under 65 million this year. Who is elected? A total of 720 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be elected from among many thousands of candidates. This is fewer members than in the last election, partly as the parliament shrank when the United Kingdom left the EU in 2020. Where is the parliament based? The European Parliament has two seats - in Brussels and in Strasbourg, France. Most of its full "plenary" sessions, where all MEPs gather to vote on legislation, are held in Strasbourg. The Brussels parliament is mainly used for other day-to-day parliamentary business. Are voters choosing who will be in the other EU legislative bodies? No, the elections will only decide who gets to sit in the European Parliament. The EU's other main legislative body, the Council of the EU, represents the member states. In it, national ministers come together in various formations, for example all 27 EU foreign ministers or education ministers, to discuss topics of common interest. The European Commission - which proposes draft legislation for the other two institutions to scrutinize, change or even reject - is unelected. It is led by 27 commissioners, including the commission president, each of whom is nominated by his or her country after the European elections. How big is the EU? The population of the EU's 27 countries as a whole is just under 450 million. The countries have a combined GDP of almost 17 trillion ($18.5 trillion) and account for around 15% of global trade. How old is the EU? The 1957 Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community, an EU precursor. Since the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, the group of countries has used the name European Union. More countries gradually joined the EU since then. Its most significant expansion occurred in 2004 with the accession of 10 mostly central and eastern European countries. The UK is the only country to have left. Insights from The New York Times, Inside Higher Ed, and USA Today The News The consequences of the pro-Palestinian protest encampments on US college campuses (many of which are still going) for universities and the students and grads involved are starting to come into focus. In the immediate term, protest-related arrests have surpassed 3,000, while many US universities face lawsuits related to their handling of the protests. In the longer term, the US Congress has launched investigations into colleges over allegations of antisemitism. Meanwhile, some companies have balked at hiring recent graduates who were involved in the protests, and foreign adversaries have seized on the moment to stoke domestic political tensions. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Alumni protestors could learn a difficult lesson on the job market Sources: The New York Times, Intelligent.com College graduates are entering the job market, and some who took part in the protests are learning a difficult lesson: What flies on campus doesnt necessarily pass in the real world, a New York Times columnist wrote. In a recent survey, 22% of employers said were less likely to hire recent grads who attended pro-Palestinian protests, and many cited concerns about the potential for confrontational behavior at work. But its not so clear cut: a similar margin, 21%, indicated they would prefer to hire graduates who were involved, citing graduates outspokenness, strong values, and dedication to a cause as assets. Lawsuits against colleges will test limits of free speech policies Source: Inside Higher Ed Litigation against universities responses to the protests will provide a first test of the many new free speech policies universities adopted after white supremacists wreaked havoc on the University of Virginia in 2017 with the Unite the Right rally. The new spate of lawsuits exposed the limits of those policies, which sought to balance free speech and safety on campus. The thing a university does to protect a class of students is exactly the thing thats going to trigger a lawsuit, one law professor said. US adversaries use protests to sow discord Sources: The New York Times, USA Today Russia, China and Iran have seized on the protests as a way to stoke tensions within the US and elsewhere, researchers found, framing the issue as proof the US abandoned Israel and doesnt care about free speech. Some of these attempts come from the highest levels of government: Irans supreme leader on Thursday praised the student protesters saying they are standing on the right side of history. His comments drew swift backlash from US lawmakers, including Speaker Mike Johnson, who posted on X that When youve won the Ayatollah, youve lost America. Ultimately, internal divisions could help these adversaries get away with more, said the director of Clemson Universitys Media Forensics Hub. Families reclaim the remains of 15 recently identified Greek soldiers killed in Cyprus in 1974 Family members watch as a soldier holding a photograph of a Greek soldier whose remains were recently identified leads an honor guard at a funeral service at Ayios Panteleimonas Orthodox Church in the Cypriot capital Nicosia, Thursday, May 30, 2024. The service was held for 15 recently identified Greek soldiers who died in Cyprus fighting against invading Turkish troops nearly half a century ago.(AP Photo/ Philippos Christou) NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) The remains of recently identified Greek soldiers who fought in Cyprus against invading Turkish troops nearly a half-century ago were returned to their families on Thursday. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides attended a funeral service in the capital, Nicosia, for the 15 Greek soldiers before their remains were contained in Greek flag-draped coffins. Christodoulides said it was the least the state can do to honor and pay respect to the memory of those who died. Eight of the 15 soldiers will be reinterred back in Greece. The families of another six opted to have their remains reinterred at a mass grave in the Cypriot capital that stands as the countrys prime monument for the war. No family members have been located for one of the soldiers, according to the state broadcaster. Turkey invaded in July 1974, a week after supporters of union with Greece mounted a coup backed by the Greek junta then ruling the country. The invasion resulted in Cyprus ethnic cleave, with Turkish Cypriots later declaring independence thats only recognized by Turkey, which still maintains more than 35,000 troops in the breakaway north. Of the 2,002 people who disappeared in 1974 and the preceding decade amid ethnic violence, the remains of 1,033 have been identified and returned to their families since U.N.-led search efforts began in earnest in 2006. U.N. officials said this marks the second-best success rate in the world, after the former Yugoslavia. A total of 769 Greek Cypriots and 200 Turkish Cypriots are still listed as missing and officials say the passage of time poses a huge challenge. The mother of a slain 101st Airborne soldier at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and a Latino civil rights organization are offering a combined $55,000 award for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case. Pfc. Katia Duenas-Aguilar, 23, was found by local law enforcement at her off-base residence in Tennessee on May 18. Local law enforcement ruled Duenas-Aguilars death as a homicide the next day. On May 25, the League of United Latin American Citizens, one of the countrys oldest Latino civil rights groups, announced at a press conference its intention to give $25,000 to anyone who provides information to find Duenas-Aguilars killer. Carmen Aguilar, the soldiers mother, also announced her pledge of $30,000 in addition to LULACs reward. LULAC stands with Carmen Aguilar, mother of the young woman, an army soldier serving her country far from home, whose life has been taken, and we must have justice, LULAC President Domingo Garcia said in a statement. For this mother to commit, not just money but her total soul, to finding whoever did this deserves our complete and unequivocal support. The death of Duenas-Aguilar echoes memories of the 2020 homicide of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, Garcia said in the statement. Guillen was murdered at Fort Cavazos, Texas by Spc. Aaron Robinson. During the investigation, LULAC also pledged $25,000 for information that led to an arrest and conviction of Guillens killer. Guillens family said she experienced harassment and assault at the base, and her death sparked outrage that led to the I am Vanessa Guillen Act. The legislation revamped how the military looks into cases of sexual harassment and assault by putting investigations in the hands of independent investigators outside the chain of command and making sexual harassment punishable in the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. President Joe Biden signed the provision as part of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act in December 2021. Duenas-Aguilar enlisted in the Army in 2018 as an information technology specialist, completing basic training at Fort Eisenhower, Georgia. Duenas-Aguilar moved to Fort Campbell in 2019. She was from Mesquite, Texas. She is survived by her mother and 4-year-old son. Those with information or additional video footage are asked to contact Detective Hofinga of the Clarksville Police Department at (931) 648-0656, ext. 5720, according to a statement from the Clarksville Police Department. Those who prefer to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward can call the Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Tipsline at (931) 645-8477, or go online and submit a tip at P3tips.com/591. A family spent 3 months rebooking flights home from Bali after being incorrectly marked as a no-show by Turkish Airlines. Now, they might lose $5,000. A family spent 3 months rebooking flights home from Bali after being incorrectly marked as a no-show by Turkish Airlines. Now, they might lose $5,000. Justin Parfitt's family spent $12,093 on Turkish Airlines business-class tickets to Indonesia. Their tickets permitted changes, but when they went to extend the trip, the system didn't allow it. Parfitt said his family was incorrectly marked as a no-show, and he's spent months trying to rebook the flights. Justin Parfitt has sent 47 emails, called more than 30 times, and spent an estimated six hours on the phone with Turkish Airlines in an attempt to change his family's flight home from Indonesia to France, he told Business Insider. Last October, Parfitt purchased semi-flexible business-class tickets for $12,093, but he said his family couldn't adjust their return flights home due to a system error. Now, ticket prices have increased, and the Parfitt family is looking at flights that cost $5,000 more than initially planned. "At the end of the day, it's not like a life is on the line," the 54-year-old said. "But you're thinking, 'Am I going to lose all this money? How are we getting home?' It's been stressful and frustrating." Turkish Airlines did not respond to a request for comment from BI. The Parfitt family. Justin Parfitt A canceled flight caused the family to be marked as no-shows Parfitt, who runs a short-term vacation rental company out of Bali, started planning his family's trip to Indonesia last fall. While the family lives outside Toulouse, France, Parfitt said they found better flight prices out of Madrid. In October, the family spent $12,093 on four business-class tickets for a January flight on Turkish Airlines. The route would take them from Madrid to Indonesia, with a layover in Istanbul. Their return trip, scheduled for February, would bring them back home to France. BI confirmed the price and itinerary. Parfitt said his family decided to splurge on the business-class tickets, which included a flexible fare flight policy. The family could change their flights for a fee, which Parfitt said was about $100 per ticket. On January 4, the family made it to Madrid and boarded their flight to Istanbul, where they would catch a final flight to Denpasar, Indonesia. But after sitting on the plane for one and a half hours, the flight was canceled due to operational issues, Parfitt said. Parfitt said the Turkish Airlines staff handled the situation "quite well." The stranded passengers boarded a bus to a hotel. With no available Turkish Airlines flights, airline staff rebooked the Parfitt family on an Emirates flight to Denpasar with a layover in Dubai the next day. Parfitt said Turkish Airlines paid for these changes, along with the hotel and transportation. But this last-minute change meant the Parfitt family wasn't seated together in business class for the two long-haul flights. For both flights, seven hours and nine hours long, their 8-year-old daughter and Parfitt sat alone. Parfitt's wife Annabelle sat with their 3-year-old child. Parfitt said he thought their flight troubles were over once they reached Denpasar. Still, four weeks later, the family decided to extend their Indonesia trip to the end of June so Parfitt and his wife could expand their short-term vacation rental business in Bali. Parfitt figured this would be simple. He said he purchased semi-flexible tickets for this reason and was happy to pay the change fee. He went online to move their return flights to France, but the system wouldn't let him. He tried changing them via chat, which didn't work either. Parfitt said he called the airline, and multiple customer service agents told him this change was not permitted on his account. February 22, the date of their return flight, was approaching, and Parfitt had "these four expensive business-class seats that are about to go up in smoke," he said. After 13 calls to Turkish Airlines, Parfitt said an agent finally discovered the issue: The family had been incorrectly marked as no-shows on the second leg of their original Turkish Airlines flight. If an airline discovers a passenger hasn't boarded a flight, the system may mark them as a no-show. Depending on the airline, this may trigger future flights like a return flight to be canceled, and airlines may cancel a frequent flyer status, Simply Flying reported. This may also happen if an airline suspects a passenger is "skip-lagging," when a person books a cheaper ticket with a layover as their intended destination and skips the second flight. Companies like American Airlines previously announced they were cracking down on the practice. Turkish Airlines' no-show policy states that a business-semi-flexible ticket isn't automatically canceled; it "may be reused for a specified fee, no refunds." The airline does not state the cost of the no-show fee online. Parfitt said discovering this mistake reignited his hope. Their return flight was five days away, but now that they knew the issue, he hoped the solution would be easy. At the time, Parfitt said the agent told him he couldn't change it in the system but would call back with an update. Parfitt said he didn't receive a follow-up, so he continued contacting Turkish Airlines. On March 13, he said a different representative told him the airline could not fulfill the change requests. Parfitt told BI it was money "his family could not afford to lose." So he continued calling and emailing. Finally, on April 26, Turkish Airlines sent Parfitt an email acknowledging the error. In the email, which BI viewed, the airline representative said they would waive the family's no-show fees. The email does not state how much the no-show fee costs, and Parfitt said he hadn't been told the price either. In the email, the representative added that Parfitt may still need to "pay change fee, fare and tax differences and ticketing service fee." The Parfitt family celebrates their daughter's birthday. Justin Parfitt Parfitt estimates it could cost over $5,000 to change the flights Parfitt said Turkish Airlines' fix isn't good enough. "Now, the fare difference is thousands more and the idea that this is somehow a solution after three months ... I was livid," he said. Parfitt estimates that the flights are about $5,000 more than they were at the beginning of February, and he would still be required to pay about $400 in change fees. "I don't know how often this set of circumstances would happen, but it can happen," he said. "And there is no adequate way of dealing with this particular set of circumstances." In addition to the extra cost and hassle, Parfitt said he believes his family is owed about 176,108 points with Turkish Airlines. When he booked the tickets, he said he was told that each passenger would receive 21,527 points for the flight between Madrid and Denpasar, but the airline never issued his family those points since they were rerouted with Emirates. Parfitt said the airline did give him 30,000 points for the overall rerouting inconvenience, but no one else in his family received them. It's been over three months since Parfitt first contacted the airline to adjust the flights. After this inconvenience, Parfitt believes Turkish Airlines should rebook them on a flight to Toulouse at no additional cost. "I'm just amazed that this big company, this award-winning airline, is taking this tack," he said. "It's not addressing its customers' legitimate needs." Do you have an experience to share about flying? Business Insider would like to hear from you. Email mhumphries@businessinsider.com . Read the original article on Business Insider GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) May 31, 2024 is the 26th anniversary of the famous derecho thunderstorm outbreak of 1998. A derecho (Spanish for straight) is a fast-moving line of severe thunderstorms that produces a wide and long swath of significant wind damage. Around 5 a.m. that Sunday, the storms blasted through West Michigan with winds estimated as high as 130 mph in Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Walker. According to the Storm Prediction Center, this episode ranks as one of the top thunderstorm events in world history ! From the Storm Prediction Center: The leading edge of the derecho reached the eastern shores of Lake Michigan around 4:45 a.m. EDT Sunday and blasted across Lower Michigan at a speed of about 70 mph. It reached the Thumb area in a little over 2 hours (Figure 1). Winds of 60 to 90 mph were common; in some areas, winds were estimated to have reached 130 mph. Of all the regions affected by the derecho, the greatest damage and the greatest number of casualties occurred in Lower Michigan. In this region four people were killed and 146 were injured (not including those who self-treated). Total damage was estimated to be $172 million (1998 U.S. dollars). Approximately 250 homes and 34 businesses were totally destroyed, and over 12,000 homes and 800 businesses were significantly damaged. About 860,000 customers lost electrical power in Lower Michigan. This was a new historical record, slightly exceeding the number of customers that lost power during the Southern Great Lakes Derecho of 1991. In some locations power was not restored for up to 10 days. For Consumers Energy, the utility company that serves much of western and middle Lower Michigan, this derecho was the most destructive weather event in the companys history. Besides the loss of hundreds of power poles and lines, five of the companys 345-kilovolt transmission towers were blown down between Ludington and Grand Rapids. These massive towers were designed to withstand continuous winds up to 90 mph and gusts to 110 mph. A large area of significant wind damage occurred from South Dakota all the way to the East Coast. At one point, not a single stoplight was working between Grand Rapids and Baldwin. The toll would have been much higher if the storms came in the afternoon instead of in the early morning when most people were asleep in their homes. Radar loop of the storms as they blasted across the Midwest and Great Lakes The initial supercells formed in South Dakota Saturday afternoon the 30th. These supercells eventually formed the line that raced from eastern S.D. to Massachusetts and out into the Atlantic Ocean. Twenty years later you could still identify swaths where most of the trees were blown over (White Lake exit on US 31 the Spring Lake Cemetery). Heres a radar loop from South Dakota to Michigan. Read more here, here, and here. Storm Reports here (pages 2 8). The 1998 storm was a once in a lifetime event. I went out to visit Spencer, South Dakota, where the worst tornado occurred as the supercells first formed. That small town was pretty much wiped out. Only two blocks in the entire town were spared significant tornado damage. The tornado was an EF4 and was the most destructive tornado in the history of the state. The tornado occurred at sunset and afterward it was soon dark. It was mid-morning before some of the victims were found. A portable Doppler radar indicated winds of 220 mph with that tornado. In a town of 315, there were six fatalities and nearly half the town residents who where there that night were injured. The population of the town dropped to 145 after the tornado, as some people decided to leave and rebuild elsewhere. Wind damage reports from May 31, 1998 Map above shows the area of Lower Michigan affected by the worst damage from the May 31, 1998 derecho. Each plus sign is where significant wind damage occurred, based on a damage survey by Grand Rapids NWS Forecast Office meteorologists. Radar of the derecho crossing Lower Michigan I talked with Robert Johns, who was a lead forecaster at the Storm Prediction Center. He said they issued tornado watches instead of severe thunderstorm watches for Wisconsin and Michigan, anticipating tornado-like damage from the derecho. Actual record wind gusts in red, estimated in tan. The numbers on the map above are wind gusts from the storm. Those marked in red were measured gusts; those in tan were estimated wind gust speeds. The estimated gusts were based on damage surveys by Grand Rapids NWS Forecast Office meteorologists. Thirteen Michigan counties (noted in black lettering and within light blue border) together were declared a Federal Disaster Area by the Federal Emergency Managers Association (FEMA). The purple S represents where a seiche took place on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Derechos crossing Lake Michigan occasionally produce what is called a seiche (pronounced as say-sh). A seiche is a pronounced oscillation of the lake surface. Such oscillations can at times change the water level at a given point by as much as 10 feet. The May 30-31, 1998, derecho produced a seiche as the water level rose on the east side of the lake because of the intense westerly winds. At the time the derecho hit the east shore, a tug boat, the Stephen M. Asher, was traveling through a channel between Lake Michigan and White Lake north of Muskegon (the purple S above). The sailors on board the tug noticed the surge and the rise in water level as the derecho winds moved through. However, after the winds had subsided, the boat received an even higher surge from the opposite direction as the water in White Lake tried to return back down the channel into Lake Michigan. It was this return surge that overturned and ultimately sank the boat. Fortunately, the sailors were able to reach the bank of the channel and no one drowned. I would be surprised if we saw an event of that intensity (130 mph wind gusts in Grand Haven and Walker) and widespread area again in my lifetime. Heres pictures from Grand Haven after the storm. Damage to condominiums in Spring Lake Frequency of Derechoes in the United Sates Heres a summary of fatalities and injuries from the Iowa derecho of Aug. 10, 2020. This does not include injuries that occurred after the event (there are sometimes more injuries after a derecho than during the storm). A final note: In 1998, there were four major derechos across the Great Lakes states. This one was the worst. Storm Team 8 will be tracking storms this summer. We have an EL Nino morphing into a La Nina. This pattern usually produces a more active severe weather season in the spring and summer in the U.S. and a more active Atlantic hurricane season in the summer and fall. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions now that the former president has been found guilty of all 34 felony charges in his hush money trial. Donald J. Trump has become the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. In a historic decision, a 12-person Manhattan jury found the former president guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in an effort to disguise a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump is also the first major party candidate and the 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee to run for president as a felon. Heres what the guilty verdict means for Trump: What could Trumps punishment be? Judge Juan Merchan scheduled Trumps sentencing for July 11 at 10 a.m. ET when hell decide whether the former presidents punishment will include prison time. Trump was convicted on 34 counts, which means he could face a maximum of four years in prison for each count, totaling a maximum prison sentence of 136 years. But New York state caps prison sentences at 20 years for this type of offense. If the judge decides to issue prison time for more than one conviction, Merchan will also have to decide if Trumps sentence will run concurrently or consecutively, one after another. Legal experts say its unlikely that Trump would face jail time because Trump does not have a criminal record and the charges against him are nonviolent felonies. Merchan could impose other punishments instead of prison time, such as probation. Trump would have to report to the New York City Department of Probation in person on a regular basis, which would create a major scheduling snafu for the GOP presidential candidate on the campaign trail. If Trump committed other crimes under probation, he could be sent immediately to jail. Trumps conviction also means the charges against him are punishable by up to $5,000 per offense; if Judge Merchan decides to go that route, Trump could face up to $170,000 in fines. Merchan could also issue a conditional discharge. In such a scenario, Trump would be free and not require probation supervision as long as he doesnt get into additional trouble. Can Trump run for president and serve in the White House as a convicted felon? Yes. A guilty felony conviction doesnt prevent Trump from running for president. Under Article II of the U.S. Constitution, there are only three qualifications that need to be met for the office of the presidency: The person must be at least 35 years old, be a natural-born citizen and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years. It would be a different story if Trump were charged with crimes of an insurrection under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment; such an offense would disqualify him from holding public office if found guilty. Could Trump pardon himself in this case if hes elected president? No, he could not pardon himself in this New York case or in his Georgia election interference case. The powers of the presidential pardon dont extend to state crimes and the president of the United States can only pardon federal crimes, according to Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution. In the Manhattan hush money case, only New York Gov. Kathy Hochul could pardon him. That would be highly unlikely given that she is a Democrat. Can Trump vote for himself in the November election? Trump is registered to vote in Florida. Convicted felons can only vote in the state after they have completed their sentence, which could be prison time or paying a fine. However, Florida also honors the voting laws in the state where the felony conviction occurred, which in this case is New York. In New York state, convicted felons are not allowed to vote only when they are imprisoned. So unless Trump is behind bars on Election Day, which is unlikely, then hell probably be able to vote for himself. Can Trump appeal the convictions? Yes, and Trumps legal team plans to appeal the guilty convictions. Trump attorney Todd Blanche said on CNN Thursday evening that the appeal of the convictions would be filed as soon as we can. After Trump's sentencing in July, his defense team will have 30 days to file a notice of appeal, and then theyll have six months to file the appeal. Another Trump attorney, Will Scharf, told Fox News that the former presidents legal team is considering all options for an appeal. This case is replete with reversible error going back to the very first day, continuing through jury instructions," Scharf said. "Every aspect of this case is ripe for appeal. We are going to appeal as quickly as we can. We will seek expedited review of this case. When they do, it remains to be seen if Merchan orders a stay in Trumps sentence, or puts a pause on it, until the appeals process plays out, which could go beyond Election Day. What about Trumps gag order? Judge Merchan issued a gag order on Trump before the trial began on March 26 that barred him, or directing others, from publicly speaking about jurors, trial witnesses, lawyers and aides, court staffers and family members of the previously mentioned people. The gag order doesnt prevent Trump from making statements about Judge Merchan or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office brought the case. Merchan added a provision to the gag order on April 1 that barred Trump from talking about Merchan and Braggs family members. Trump had violated the gag order 10 times during the trial and was forced to pay a total of $10,000 in fines. It remains to be seen when the gag order will be lifted. What about Trumps other legal troubles? The former president is facing three other criminal cases, which are unlikely to go to trial before Election Day. Georgia election interference case: Last August, state prosecutors brought charges against Trump and 18 of his allies for their alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the state of Georgia. The case is currently caught up in appeals regarding District Attorney Fani Willis being allowed to stay on the case and six counts against Trump being thrown out. A trial date hasnt been set. Federal election interference: Last August, special prosecutor Jack Smith charged Trump with four criminal counts over his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election after he lost. This case is on hold until the Supreme Court rules on whether Trump can claim presidential immunity in the case. Federal classified documents case: In a separate case, Smith brought charges against Trump for allegedly mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., after he left the White House. The case was scheduled to go to trial in federal court in Florida, but U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon said the trial was indefinitely postponed due to ongoing legal issues. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Two months after a shooting at a Douglass Community Center left a teenager dead and another injured, the Shelby County Juvenile Court has ruled the shooting as justifiable homicide. On April 16, WREG aired a story about a fight that resulted in two male teenagers being shot. In the statement provided by Judith Black Moore, the Vice President of Public Relations for the Carter Malone Group, the Shelby County Juvenile Court announced that after an investigation by the Homicide Bureau, the shooting was justifiable. Neighbors say fight led to fatal shooting near community center The Bureau made the determination based on evidence that indicated that the 16-year-old individual was attempting to rob the 17-year-old, resulting in the use of force in self-defense. Consequently, after careful consideration, prosecution was declined by either the investigators or the District Attorneys office, and the matter was not brought before Juvenile Court, Moore said. The statement also said that the possession of the firearm in question was classified as a misdemeanor. We asked Mayor Paul Young if this decisions sends the wrong message to youth in the community. There are unfortunately young people who have access to guns legally and illegally weapons and we have to do more as a community to get them out of their hands, Young said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (WVNS) A Fayette County man was sentenced to prison for felony sex crimes involving children. 38-year-old Jody T. Blankenship, of Oak Hill, was sentenced on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 to ten to 20 years in prison for the felony crime of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian, or person in position of trust to a child, and for five to 25 years in prison for the felony crime of first-degree sexual abuse involving a child under the age of twelve. One person dead after shooting in Raleigh County On January 29, 2024, Blankenship pleaded guilty to the felonies, and his sentences will need to be served consecutively. He must spent 15 years in prison before he is eligible for parole, and once he is out of prison and done with parole, he will have 50 years of extended probation that could be turned into a prison sentence if the parole conditions are violated, which includes having no contact with children. A member of the Fayette County Sheriffs Office Detective Bureau received a report on April 14, 2022 from a school resource officer about a student who told a school counselor that Blankenship sexually molested her step-sister. The student also told the school counselor that three minors lived in the house, and the children were interviewed at the Just for Kids Child Advocacy Center. It was discovered during the interviews that two of the children in the house were sexually molested by Blankenship. One person injured after Lincoln County shooting During the investigation, a search warrant was gathered for Blankenships cell phone and the childrens cell phones. Blankenship told officers that he sold the childrens cell phones, and multiple cell phones were recovered from Blankenship. Data recovered from Blankenships cell phone revealed messages between Blankenship and the two minors that were sexual in nature. After Blankenship was charged, a third victim reported that she was sexually molested by Blankenship. Prior to the incidents, Blankenship was found guilty of third-degree sexual assault that also involved a minor. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni has sent a letter of congratulation to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28-Azerbaijan's Independence Day. Azernews presents the letter: "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. President, On the occasion of the celebration by the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan of its National Day, I am glad to extend to Your Excellency my warmest congratulations, as well as my best wishes of happiness and prosperity for the friendly people of Azerbaijan. I sincerely hope that the relationship between Cambodia and Azerbaijan will further strengthen and develop on issues of common interest, particularly with regard to serving peace and security in the world. Sincerely, Norodom Sihamoni King of Cambodi" BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) adopted the Beijing Declaration, the CASCF execution plan for 2024-2026, and a China-Arab states joint statement on the Palestinian issue in Beijing on Thursday. During the conference, China also signed a number of bilateral and multilateral cooperation documents with the participating countries and the General Secretariat of the Arab League. The Beijing Declaration reviews the important consensus and progress in implementing the outcomes of the first China-Arab States Summit and clarifies the practical path for promoting the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. It reaffirms that China and Arab states will continue to support each other on core interests, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and expound on their shared positions on political resolution of regional hot issues, dialogue among civilizations, global governance, counter-terrorism, human rights, artificial intelligence, climate change, etc. The execution plan charts the course for strengthening the building of a forum mechanism in the next two years and promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation in fields such as politics, economy and trade, investment, finance, infrastructure, resources and environment, cultural exchange, aerospace, education and health. The joint statement expresses deep concerns of China and Arab states over the prolonged conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in a humanitarian crisis. It emphasizes the firm stance and important consensus of the two sides in promoting a ceasefire in Gaza, ensuring humanitarian aid, opposing the forced displacement of Palestinian people, supporting Palestine's full membership in the United Nations, and steadfastly working toward an early resolution of the Palestinian issue based on the two-State solution. FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (WVNS) A Fayette County man was sentenced to life in prison with a recommendation of mercy for First-Degree Murder that occurred in 2022. Fayette County man convicted of first-degree murder 21-year-old Kayce R. Simms, of Mount Hope, was sentenced on May 30, 2024 to life in prison with a recommendation of mercy for the felony crime of First-Degree Murder and sentenced to ten years in prison for the felony crime use or presentment of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Simms sentences will be served consecutively, and he will need to spend at least 17 years and six months in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Members of law enforcement responded to reports of a shooting in the Glen Jean area of Fayette County on November 21, 2022. After arriving on scene, police discovered that 37-year-old Ashtin Owens was suffering from two gunshot wounds. Owens later died from his injuries after being airlifted to a trauma center in Charleston, West Virginia. One person dead after shooting in Raleigh County An investigation revealed that earlier that day, Owens was in an argument with Simms grandmother. Simms later got a gun from an acquaintance and showed up at Owens house where he argued with Owens about not respecting his grandmother. Simms shot Owens twice with the gun after an argument before fleeing the area. When Owens was shot, there were three witnesses in the house, two of which were able to confirm that Simms was the shooter. Simms was in prison since he was arrested on December 2, 2022, and evidence revealed during the sentencing hearing showed that Simms received a large amount of write ups while in jail. Some of the write ups included making threats to correction employees, assault and battery on correction employees, and possession of a weapon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. A South Dakota man has been arrested by the FBI on charges related to his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, including shoving a giant metal sign toward police. William George Knight, 37, of Rapid City, S.D., was arrested Sunday and has been charged with two felonies and five misdemeanor offenses related to the riot, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wednesday. His misdemeanor charges are entering and remaining in a restricted area, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted area, engaging in physical violence in a restricted area, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and act of physical violence in the Capitol area. Knights felony charges are obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, according to the DOJ. After the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, according to the DOJ, Knight and others watched as the United States Park Police took an individual into custody. Knight pursued park police into a glass structured screening facility, where he aggressively approached the glass and put his middle fingers up to the glass and pointed menacingly at the police. Knight then headed toward the Capitol and was one of the first rioters to breach restricted areas and arrive on the West Plaza, the DOJ said. Knight was pulling forcefully on bike rack barriers that were set up in the area as a police line. Court documents say Metropolitan Police Department officers had to deploy chemical spray to stop him. Knight then jeered at the police line for several minutes, pointed at them aggressively multiple times, and yelled at the police, We aint leaving! We aint going nowhere! the DOJ said in its press release on the arrest. Knight and other rioters pushed a giant metal-framed sign that read TRUMP toward the police and later shoved a police officer. He was part of a group that pushed against the police line that collapsed and the rioters made their way up to the Capitols Lower West Terrace. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. attorneys office for the District of Columbia and is being investigated by the FBIs Minneapolis Division, Rapid City Resident Agency and Washington field officers. Since the Jan. 6 attack, nearly 1,500 individuals have been charged related to the breach of the Capitol. Knight now joins about 500 others charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement officers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The American Airlines plane had been traveling up to 100mph when it was ordered to break immediately. The American Airlines plane had been traveling up to 100mph when it was ordered to break immediately. Photograph: Daniel Slim/AFP/Getty Images The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident at Ronald Reagan Washington national airport in which a plane was forced to brake to narrowly avoid a collision with another plane, the second near-collision at the airport in less than two months. At around 10.20am on Wednesday, Boston-bound American Airlines flight 2134, carrying approximately 100 passengers and crew, was cleared for takeoff and began to accelerate. Related: Lawsuit claims American Airlines asked Black passengers to deboard flight The plane was then forced to abort as it was scheduled at the same time as another plane, a private King Air flight, was cleared to land on an intersecting runway. The American Airlines plane had been traveling up to 100mph when it was ordered to break immediately, NBC 10 reports. In air traffic controller recordings obtained by the outlet, an air traffic controller can be heard saying: American 2134, cancel takeoff clearance! Zero, Alpha, Alpha, go around, go around! Rejecting the takeoff, 2134, another voice said. Zero, Alpha, Alpha cannot go around, we were already on the ground, someone who appeared to be the pilot from the King Air plane said. In a statement an FAA spokesperson said: An air traffic controller canceled the takeoff clearance for American Airlines Flight 2134 because another aircraft was cleared to land on an intersecting runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. American Airlines said it was working alongside the FAA in its investigation, adding, The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and were grateful to our crew for their professionalism. The Virginia Democratic senator Tim Kaine tweeted: Im relieved no one was hurt. But this incident underscores again that DCA [Ronald Reagan Washington national airport] is at capacity. This shows why Senate action to jam even more flights into DCA was so dangerous. The FAA must resist any new flights that compromise safety. Wednesdays incident marks the airports second near-collision in six weeks. On 18 April, a Southwest Airlines plane and nearly collided with a JetBlue plane after an air traffic controller instructed it to cross the runway while the JetBlue plane was getting ready to take off. No injuries were reported and the FAA said at the time it would investigate. A slew of issues have beset the global aviation industry in recent months. Last week, one passenger died and dozens were injured following intense turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight heading from London to Singapore. A few days later, eight people were hospitalized following another bout of turbulence on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin. In March, United Airlines had at least four safety incidents within a week, with flights being forced to make emergency diversions due to issues with hydraulic systems, planes rolling off taxiways and on to grassy lawns and a tire falling off mid-flight. Federal funding to help area school districts get clean-energy buses Federal funding is bringing clean-energy school buses to several Pittsburgh-area school districts. The EPAs Clean School Bus Program made $900 million in rebates available to school districts across the country, including $55.7 million in Pennsylvania. The money will help selected schools purchase clean school buses, accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and replace older, diesel-fueled school buses. Districts in western Pennsylvania that received funding include Pine-Richland, Bethel Park, Moon Area, Plum, South Fayette, Woodland Hills, Homer-Center and Kiski Area. The money will help the districts bring in 77 new clean-energy buses into use in our area. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: First Pavilion at Star Lake concert sold out; heavy traffic expected 1 dead, 7 hurt after explosion in downtown Youngstown Diocese of Greensburg opens investigation after parish cemetery employees arrest VIDEO: Hill District business owner recognized by City of Pittsburgh DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Charybdis, the vessel Dominion Energy will use to construct its offshore wind project once the ship is done being built in Texas. (Courtesy of Dominion) A federal judge has rejected a legal attempt to put a pause on Dominion Energys offshore wind project that many see as a critical tool to address the root causes of climate change and provide clean energy to Virginia. Judge Loren L. AliKhan, for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, on Friday denied the request for a preliminary injunction from plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which included two conservative groups The Heartland Institute and the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) and the fossil fuel-funded Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT). The three plaintiffs sought the delay because of potential harm to the North Atlantic Right Whale, an endangered species that migrates through the 113,000-acre project area located about 29 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. The project is expected to be finished in 2026. The groups did not demonstrate that they will suffer irreparable harm in the absence of a preliminary injunction or administrative stay, wrote AliKhan in her order. That is a sufficient basis to deny their motion. Dominion, which opposed the delay request alongside the federal government that gave approvals for the project, said the utility, agree[s] with the Courts decision. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) performed a thorough environmental review and the environmental protections we have in place for Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) are protective of the environment and marine wildlife, utility spokesperson Jeremy Slayton said in a statement. Craig Rucker, president of CFACT, said there were inconsistencies with the judges decision, considering the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration made a recent request for vessels near Virginia Beach to voluntarily slow down out of concern for the North Atlantic Right Whale. The groups suing said the National Marine Fisheries Service opinion didnt take into account cumulative effects of other projects proposed along the East Coast that could cause the biological opinion to reach a different conclusion. The NMFS had issued a biological opinion in September that stated the piledriving of the 176 wind turbines foundations had the potential to disturb, but not a potential to injure the species, and put construction restrictions in place to minimize disturbances. Restrictions on the project include: limiting construction from May through October, when the Right Whales are unlikely to be in the area; pausing construction when a whale is spotted; and establishing a comprehensive Vessel Strike Avoidance Plan and mitigation plans. Plaintiffs have not explained why these measures would not be sufficient to protect the Right Whale during the pendency of this litigation, AliKhan wrote. In order for a pause to be issued, AliKhan explained in her order, the plaintiffs must show that the pause is needed to prevent irreparable harm, among other considerations. AliKhan did say the plaintiffs have standing to continue the suit, by Rucker demonstrating that he has a trip planned for December to observe whales. Not considering cumulative effects could have resulted in a deficient opinion, leading to a hindrance in his ability to observe the Right Whale. But, the biological opinion from NMFS states, no mortality or permanent injury (auditory or other) is expected, and the plaintiffs were unable to seriously contest that conclusion, beyond Rucker stating the project, with others, may cause the species to disappear. Such equivocal statements fall short of showing an injury that is certain or actual for purposes of a preliminary injunction or stay, AliKhan wrote. The judge also noted that the plaintiffs timing in seeking the injunction on the eve of in-water construction beginning was unwarranted because of previous case law that states a delay implies a lack of urgency and irreparable harm. The broader case over concerns about North Atlantic Right Whale harm, which research says isnt coming from offshore wind development, is still alive, with the judge reviewing the initial lawsuit to determine if there was a procedural issue with the biological opinion that didnt evaluate the effect of all the other projects, Rucker said in an interview with the Mercury. A final decision could come later this year, but the plaintiffs are considering whether or not to request an expedited appeal to the judges latest order preventing a project delay. Dominion has its priorities which is to make money, Rucker said, evidenced by the utility beginning construction before the judge issued a final decision on whether a delay was needed or not to protect the whales. Amid the legal troubles of a potential injunction, Dominion installed the first monopile foundation on May 22 with DEMEs heavy lift vessel called Orion. The utility wasnt able to do any work prior to May, because of protections for the Right Whale, and had to wait for Orion to arrive as well as safe weather for work. Dominion Chair, President and CEO Bob Blue said the day the first monopile was installed was monumental for the $9.8 billion project that is on budget and on schedule to provide our customers with reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy. Blue added that the company is taking extensive precautions to make sure the project protects the environment and the whales. The monopiles are stored at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal as installation continues through the fall of 2024, before resuming May of 2025, consistent with the prohibition between Nov. 1 and April 30. Dominion, which said over 800 Virginia workers have been involved with the project and over 1,000 will be engaged for the ongoing operation over its 35-year lifespan, is using a bubble curtain to reduce noise impacts. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Federal judge denies request to delay Dominions offshore wind project appeared first on Virginia Mercury. The Justice Department is suing Oklahoma City Public Schools on behalf of an Air Force reservist, alleging the school system barred him from resuming his job as a teacher after he returned from deployment. By refusing to reinstate Senior Airman Michael McCullough to a teaching position, DOJ officials alleged in a legal complaint Wednesday, the school district is in violation of federal law the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994. USERRA requires employers to promptly reemploy anyone returning from more than 90 days of military service to their same position or an equivalent one. This is the second time McCullough has had to fight for reemployment at OKCPS after leaving for military duty, DOJ said in the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. The school district was aware of USERRAs reemployment and anti-discriminatory provisions, the complaint said. This lawsuit reinforces the Justice Departments strong commitment to protecting the rights of those who wear the uniform proudly, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in a release. USERRA provides important reemployment protections, and we must act when any employer denies them an opportunity to earn a living because they are called to duty. OKCPS officials said their legal team is reviewing the lawsuit but declined to provide further comment. The district will work through the legal process accordingly, officials said. McCullough began teaching music at Oklahoma Citys Fillmore Elementary School on Jan. 3, 2022, and was under contract for the remainder of the school year, according to the complaint. A month later, he received unexpected written orders to report for duty beginning Feb. 14, 2022, DOJ said. When he informed his principal of that immediate requirement, the complaint said, she responded by email: Im trying to wrap my mind around this and Im very concerned. So Im paying you all year and have to have a sub? It would make it so much easier to fill this with a music teacher if you resign. But this is your choice. McCullough also informed the districts employee relations department of his military orders. On March 10, 2022, McCullough received a letter from the school district informing him that his contract would not be renewed. Regardless, he emailed human relations personnel and others in April of his intent to return, and asked where he would be teaching. In July, the airman emailed OCPS to share that his orders had been extended through Dec. 30, 2022, but that he could return to teaching after the Christmas break. But McCullough wasnt reinstated, and was told he had to apply for positions through the normal teacher recruitment process. He filed a complaint with the Labor Departments Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), which opened an investigation into the airmans troubles and concluded in June 2023 that OKCPS had violated federal law. After VETS unsuccessfully tried to reach a resolution with the school district, the case was referred to the Justice Department. In the midst of that fight, McCullough in April 2022 settled with the school district on a different USERRA matter: another refusal to allow him to return to teaching following a separate deployment the previous year. He had worked as a band teacher at Capitol Hill Middle School during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years, then left for military training in April 2021. He requested reemployment when he returned, but wasnt offered an employment contract for the 2021-2022 school year. Justice officials are asking the district court to require OCPS to compensate McCullough for lost wages and other benefits, including retirement benefits; to employ McCullough in the music teacher position he had before he left for military service, or an equivalent position; and to award extra damages as an apology for multiple refusals to reemploy him after military service. Though the complaint doesnt list McCulloughs current military job, a 2022 Air Force release noted McCullough joined the service in 2021 and worked in avionics at the 513th Maintenance Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The senior airman was so determined to join the Air Force, the release said, that he lost more than 200 pounds while navigating a troublesome iron deficiency, the military medical waiver process and a divorce. My whole life, I take those struggles and obstacles and change them into opportunities. As a teacher, thats what I teach my students, because were always going to have those struggles, McCullough, who worked as the Capitol Hill Middle band director at the time, said in the 2022 release. But they dont have to be struggles. You can use them as a platform to go someplace. From his grandparents' home in Detroit, the feds say, Jibreel Pratt was meticulously building a dream to join a terrorist group in the Middle East. He wanted to fight for ISIS, officials say, and bought airline tickets, special boots, a gas mask and other gear to prepare for his mission; videotaped himself pledging his allegiance to ISIS; and wrote goodbye letters to his family, telling his father: "Things just weren't working out for me." "In Pratts own words, he planned on 'leaving everything behind' because 'these people are savages. Like rabid dogs,'" federal prosecutors allege in court documents. But what the 25-year-old didn't know while he was plotting his mission, the government says, is that the FBI was watching. Jibreel Pratt, 25, of Detroit, is charged with providing support to the ISIS terrorist organization as part of an alleged bigger plot to join the group. Federal agents seized his phone and found this image of Pratt holding a weapon. Feds: Pratt confided in undercover informant; hid cellphone and gun in dogfood In U.S. District Court this week, Pratt was indicted on charges of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in the spring of 2023 after months of communicating with an undercover informant who pretended to be a travel facilitator with ISIS. Pratt was arrested Tuesday morning after federal agents raided his grandparents' home where they found, among other things, a loaded gun and cell phone hidden in a container of dog food, and ammo stashed inside a wall. This is especially noteworthy, the government says, because Pratt isn't supposed to have any guns under the bond conditions of his other criminal case: He was charged nine months ago and released on bond for allegedly participating in a cryptocurrency fraud scheme that the government says kept him financially afloat. "Pratt had sporadic employment over the last few years, but was still able to accumulate several firearms, ammunition, combat gear, an apartment and sophisticated computer equipment," prosecutors allege in court documents. "And his cellphone showed that he had somehow accumulated over $102,000 in Bitcoin." 'Delete Everything ... I was captured' Prosecutors disclosed this information as part of a broader effort to keep Pratt locked up on his latest criminal charges, arguing he is a danger to society and a flight risk. "Just before he was arrested on his federal crypto case, Pratt told the (informant) that 'I am ready to leave this place, for good.' And these were not empty words," Assistant U.S. Attorneys ... wrote in their latest filing, stressing Pratt went to great lengths to avoid detection. After getting bond, Pratt "immediately got a new phone" and sent this message to the informant:DELETE EVERYTHING ... I WAS CAPTURED AND NOW RELEASED. I WILL CONTACT YOU SAFELY SOON. In the next days, Pratt followed up with: The future is uncertain, I need to leave brother. According to prosecutors, Pratt's crypto charges "did not dissuade him from his path to ISIS." 'They should be worried about me' "Instead," prosecutors allege, "he told the (informant) that his 'drive and determination has not lowered butincreased' ... (and) warned that 'I am no longer worried about these people, if anything, they should be worried about me.' Pratt was ordered temporarily detained pending a Thursday hearing. His lawyer, Benton Martin, was not readily available for comment. Federal prosecutors, meanwhile, have offered a detailed look into Pratt's alleged plot to join what U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison has described as "one of the most brutal terrorist organizations in the world. These charges reflect our commitment to hold accountable anyone who tries to help terrorists, Ison said in a statement Tuesday. FBI agents seized multiple weapons, including these, as part of an investigation that triggered terrorism charges against Jileel Pratt, 25, of Detroit, who is accused of aiding ISIS and plotting to join the group in an effort to help advance terrorist attacks. Suicide drones, explosive remote control cars, bitcoin transfers According to court records, Pratt engaged in numerous criminal acts as part of his alleged plan to join ISIS, including: He devised a scheme to use suicide drones and remote control cars loaded with deadly explosives. He sent an FBI informant more than 30 handwritten personal plans stating he wanted to create a specialized unit for intelligence based operations that will kill or kidnap without detection. He sketched and sent tactical diagrams for fighting against and using explosives in doorways to kill American soldiers. He twice sent bitcoin payments to the informant to support ISIS: One was for $350, the other for $546 though both went into a government wallet. He "targeted and doxed a citizen who he mistakenly identified" as the federal agent who arrested him in the crypto case. He plotted to flee after his arrest in the crypto case, buying a Delta Airlines ticket to Istanbul, Turkey, and a passport photo from a CVS to be used in a fraudulent passport that would include a fake name and fake date of birth, but fairly accurate height, weight, hair and eye color. 'He was willing to create a terrorist cell here' Pratts case began in early February 2023, when he used an encrypted WhatsApp number to contact an informant who was posing as an ISIS travel facilitator. His WhatsApp profile picture was a photo of Anwar al-Awlak, an Islamic lecturer and Al-Qaeda leader who helped plan the foiled 2009 bombing of Northwest Flight 253, bound for Detroit from Amsterdam on Christmas Day. In the months that followed, the government says, Pratt repeatedly expressed his support for ISIS and his desireto leave America and serve as an ISIS leader overseas. "Pratt said he was already 'doing something illegal here' like 'stealing crypto, and that he had a computer hacking skill called 'Penetration Testing,' which means to 'breach companies' systems,'" prosecutors allege in court filings. "Pratt said he would 'be a big asset' for ISIS." According to the government, Pratt also communicated with a second FBI informant in late 2023, sharing with him his plan to join ISIS. While Pratt's main goal was to serve ISIS overseas, the government says, "he was also willing to create a terrorist cell here," and developed plans for ISIS "to operate in the shadows" so the group could kill as many non-Muslims as possible. And he was armed. He hid weapons in his home, including an an AR-style semiautomatic rifle, and carried a handgun that he was willing to use, the government says, alleging Pratt "bragged" to an informant that "he was packing," and once threatened to shoot a man who raised his voice to him at a gas station. Pratt has not been charged with carrying out any violent acts, or actually joining a terrorist groups. The government says this doesn't matter. Feds: Pratt's unfulfilled goal is irrelevant "The fact that Pratt has not yet fulfilled his goal of traveling to fight for ISIS does not lessen his danger to the community," prosecutors allege. "Quite the opposite. Pratt told the (informant) that he wanted to start here . . . and create the cell here because if my job is related to cells, we should establish here prior to my departure. In early July 2023, Pratt moved from his grandparents Detroit home on Bentler to an apartment on Tamarack Street in Wixom. He was still collecting money for his overseas trip. By the end of August 2023, he told the informant: "I am ready to leave this place, for good. But the FBI had other plans. On Aug. 26, 2023, FBI agents arrested Pratt at Detroit Metro Airport for his alleged role in a computer fraud scheme involving an illicit online marketplace named Genesis Market. According to the government, Pratt used the market to buy nearly 14,000 stolen credentials containing banking and cryptocurrency account information. At the time of his arrest, Pratt was headed to New York, but wound up in federal court instead. He was released on bond, unaware that he was the target of a broader investigation involving his support of ISIS. A farewell letter to his father While searching his Wixom apartment in 2023, the FBI found undated handwritten letters inside Islamicbooks on the windowsill of Pratts bedroom, next to the bed. One letter was addressed to "PawPaw," an apparent reference to his grandfather, whom he thanked for all he had done for him. The other letter was marked for "Dad." Take care of yourself and be safe," Pratt wrote to his father. "Things were just not working out for me no matter what I did or tried. We all have our own paths in life while mine could be cut short, I just hope one day you come to know true Islam so we can meet in Jannah. If not, I love you and it was nice meeting you and the many laughs. Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Feds: Detroit man hatched terror plot out of grandparents' house The U.S. Labor Department on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Hyundai, accusing the auto manufacturer of oppressive child labor in its Alabama supply chain. The complaint alleges that a 13-year-old worked up to 50-60 hours a week on the assembly line of a Hyundai supplier in the city of Luverne. The factory there produces parts, including body panels, that go onto SUVs built at Hyundais plant an hour away in Montgomery. Officials say an unspecified number of other minors also worked at the supplier, Smart Alabama. Hyundai announced last year that it was divesting its ownership in Smart after Reuters published an investigation into child labor at the factory. The Labor Department says it documented 5,800 children illegally employed during the most recent fiscal year, an 88% increase since 2019. The children who worked at the Smart plant were hired by a staffing company, according to the complaint. But the Labor Department argues that Hyundai is ultimately responsible for any violations since the Smart facility existed at ... [Hyundais] discretion. Nearly all, if not the entirety, of the component parts that SMART manufactured during the relevant period were shipped to ... [Hyundai] in Montgomery, Alabama, the lawsuit states. That facility produces the automakers Tucson and Santa Fe models. The Labor Department also sued Smart and the staffing company, Best Practice Service. Officials are asking that a judge issue an order permanently enjoining the companies from employing children, and requiring them to disgorge all profits related to their use of oppressive child labor. Hyundai released a statement through a spokesperson saying that it worked over many months to thoroughly investigate this issue and took immediate and extensive remedial measures. The company argued that there was no legal basis to hold it responsible for a suppliers alleged violations, and said it would defend itself in court. The Hyundai plant in Alabama produces SUVs, including the Tucson. DON EMMERT via Getty Images Unfortunately, the Labor Department is seeking to apply an unprecedented legal theory that would unfairly hold Hyundai accountable for the actions of its suppliers and set a concerning precedent for other automotive companies and manufacturers, Hyundai said. U.S. officials have said that they are facing an increase in child labor cases, often involving migrant kids who fled Latin American countries and were hired onto the U.S. workforce. Last year, The New York Times reported a series of stories about migrant children working dangerous jobs in meatpacking and roofing. The Labor Department says it documented 5,800 children illegally employed during the most recent fiscal year, an 88% increase since 2019. The complaint against Hyundai alleges that the 13-year-old girl worked for a period of six to seven months at the factory when she should have been attending middle school. Jessica Looman, the head of the Labor Departments Wage and Hour Division, said in a statement that the case shocks the conscience. As we work to stop illegal child labor where we find it, we also continue to ensure that all employers are held accountable for violating the law, Looman said. Defendant Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff arrives at the Diana E. Murphy federal courthouse in Minneapolis on the 14th day of testimony in the Feeding Our Future trial Friday, May 17, 2024. Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer. The director and imam for the Dar Al-Farooq mosque in Bloomington testified Wednesday that they saw long lines of people get bags of food at the mosque during the pandemic, and believed Feeding Our Future defendants claims to have given out several thousand meals per day. But an employee of a school in the mosque building and a mother who lives nearby and picked up food on Saturdays contradicted the witnesses, saying they only saw food distributed on Saturdays, not every day of the week. The witnesses were all called to testify by the attorney for Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, who is one of seven defendants charged in a Shakopee-based scheme to fraudulently get reimbursed $49 million in federal funds by vastly inflating the number of meals served. Prosecutors say they used the reimbursement money to buy luxury cars, houses, jewelry and property overseas and very little food. Six of the seven defendants told the court they are opting not to call witnesses or testify in their own defense. Shariff began testifying Wednesday about his background and journey to the United States and Minnesota. His testimony continues Thursday. Dar Al-Farooq mosque is one of 50 sites statewide where the defendants are accused of claiming they gave out 18.8 million meals as part of a federal child nutrition program. The programs regulations, which were supposed to be enforced by the state Department of Education, were eased during the pandemic to expedite food delivery. The mosques director, Khalid Omar, and imam, Abdirahman Kariye, testified that they saw long lines of cars there to pick up bags of groceries. Omar said he wasnt sure exactly how many people got food, but said thousands per day was accurate. Kariye who has been friends with defendant Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff for over 10 years and has traveled abroad with him extensively said he believes its possible up to 3,500 people per day got food based on what he saw when he began serving as the imam in June 2021. He said many of the mosques members were out of work from low-income jobs, leading to widespread food insecurity. Amina Adan, who lives near the mosque and knows Shariff as a member of the mosque community, testified that she used to pick up food on Saturdays, but couldnt say whether people got food on the other days. Abdikadir Haji, dean of the Success Academy, a charter school within the mosque, testified that he saw food distributed from a truck on Saturdays but only Saturdays. A nonprofit affiliated with the defendants claimed to serve 2,000 meals every day in January 2021, and that number grew to over 3,500 every day in November 2021. The FBI raided homes and offices in January 2022, unveiling the federal investigation, freezing accounts and ending state payments to defendants. As the six other defendants attorneys said they would rest their case without calling witnesses, some jurors looked puzzled, given some of the attorneys repeatedly said they would call witnesses and show photos and videos of hordes of people getting food. Instead, the defense attorneys offered evidence of meal distributions while cross-examining prosecution witnesses. When Shariff took the stand Wednesday, most of the jurors grabbed their pens and paper and began taking notes. Shariff testified about immigrating from Somalia to the U.S. as a boy, his upbringing on the East Coast, and his various jobs in software engineering before the trial adjourned for the day. He will continue testifying Thursday, along with another witness. Closing arguments could happen Friday and jury deliberations Monday. Professor talks about how Somalis do business differently On Wednesday, jurors also heard from a University of Minnesota professor who talked about how East African immigrants do business in less formal way and often send desperately needed money back to their home country. Professor Paul Martin Vaaler*, who teaches at the universitys business and law schools, was hired by defense attorneys to share his expertise about diaspora businesses. Vaaler explained why many East Africans create multiple limited liability corporations, hire each other as consultants and wire money overseas. In addition to the seven defendants currently on trial, another 63 have been charged, and most are of Somali ancestry. Eighteen have pleaded guilty. In a kindly, gentle tone, the gray-haired professor gave the jury a lesson in Minnesotas history of welcoming immigrants, from Vietnam and Liberia to Somalia and Ukraine. Vaaler said one reason he became interested in studying East Africans is that the Carlson School of Management abuts the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, which has long welcomed new Americans, including his Norwegian ancestors. Im a fourth-generation Norwegian and my ancestors wouldve been in that same Cedar-Riverside community 100 years ago, Vaaler said. The nearby Norwegian Memorial Church, or Mindekirken, still holds a service in Norwegian, he said. In Somalia, the civil war and attendant breakdown in institutions and lack of a secure banking system led to a more informal economy, with verbal contracts. Your word is your bond, and violations of trust are met with ostracization, he said. Norwegian immigrants also had an aversion to insurance, which is how the Lutheran Brotherhood fraternal benefit society came to be, Vaaler said. For refugees, often their home countrys government was less a helping hand and more of a grabbing hand that would sweep through their bank accounts when there was a budget deficit, he said. Consequently, there may be a preference for doing (business) outside the gaze of the government. Migrants tend to be entrepreneurial about a quarter of all self-made businesses are founded by migrants, he said both because they may have a harder time getting jobs in their new homes and because an entrepreneurial spirit is often required to survive in their home countries, too. East African migrants often juggle multiple businesses and open LLCs, sometimes long before starting a business. Jurors took copious notes as he explained how Islamic law forbids financing which is considered usury so many Somalis are reluctant to use credit cards or finance purchases, and cash is king. Instead, theyll often engage in profit-sharing agreements or lease agreements. Vaaler explained that immigrants often transfer money abroad as is alleged in this case as part of money laundering allegations to friends, family and business partners. Such remittances far exceed all other foreign aid, Vaaler said. Its the best foreign aid in the world because it doesnt go through government, he said. Its also not unusual for money to be sent by courier in suitcases of cash or for brokers to be repaid with goods, such as rice, shoes or bikes. Its also common for migrants to go to community centers and find lawyers, accountants and people who have made it and hire them as consultants and advisors. Some of the defendants created LLCs and billed each other as consultants. Vaaler didnt analyze the evidence in the Feeding Our Future case, however, and under cross-examination by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson, he said those small remittances were not the same as wiring over a million dollars to build an apartment building in Kenya, as prosecutors allege happened in this case. Vaaler also acknowledged that sometimes people wire money abroad for relatives to hold for them, and that its illegal to send the proceeds of a crime abroad. Cultural center was built Jurors also heard from Jacob Steen, a lawyer who helped Shariff get property zoned for a cultural center called Afrique, which prosecutors allege was a shell company used to launder federal child nutrition funds. Afrique emails and marketing materials that prosecutors previously showed jurors said the center would be buttressed by large, consistent revenue with high profit margins from the federal child nutrition program. Steen and others testified that the East African event center was built although its development was halted by the federal charges. Its since been taken over by Yusef Ali and now operates as the Zawadi Center, which has a coffee shop, restaurant, event center and offices. Ali testified he invested about a half million dollars to get the venture going last year, but didnt know how Shariff financed the initial construction. Prosecutors allege over $900,000 came from federal food funds. A sales consultant for Sysco also testified that Shariff bought over a $1 million worth of food and supplies from him in 2021 and 2022 for Afrique, and it was delivered weekly. Shariff is sure to shed more light on that when he takes the stand again Thursday. *Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled Paul M. Vaalers name. The post Feeding Our Future defense witnesses offer contradicting stories about food distribution appeared first on Minnesota Reformer. Few farmers opted for excess river water to reduce well pumping east of Modesto area. Why? Above-average storms have allowed the Modesto Irrigation District to offer Tuolumne River water to nearby farmers who normally tap wells. It is getting few takers. The program is designed to boost the stressed aquifer generally east of Waterford, just outside MID boundaries. The district board on Tuesday debated whether to drop the price to spur interest, but a majority voted to leave it unchanged. The discussion came amid a state mandate to make groundwater use sustainable by about 2040. MID does not have a major problem within its territory, which stretches west to the San Joaquin River. But it is part of a regional effort to comply with the 2014 law. This includes out-of-district sales of Tuolumne water in years when MIDs own farmers have plenty. That was the case in 2023, one of the wettest years on record, and this year thanks to storage in Don Pedro Reservoir. Only four outside farmers sought MID water The district staff planned on outside sales this year of up to 60,000 acre-feet of water. Only four farmers applied, for a total of 1,500. An acre-foot is enough to cover an acre a foot deep. Crops typically need three to four over the growing season. The price is $200 per acre-foot, set by the board last August. Board member Larry Byrd on Tuesday suggested reducing it to $60 for the rest of the irrigation season. No ones taking a drop of water, he said. ... Its not going to work at $200. Byrds motion got support from board member Nick Blom. Janice Keating, Robert Frobose and John Boer voted against it. Defenders of the $200 price said it is the same as the Oakdale Irrigation District, just north of MID on the Stanislaus River. Frobose said the reduced price would amount to subsidizing outside farmers. Some of them are not near the canals, so they have to install pipelines and other infrastructure. Boer said he did not want to change the price in the middle of irrigation season. Water price was an issue last year, too A similar issue arose when the MID board established the program last year. The board initially discussed $80 for the first acre-foot and $60 for each of the next three. It was approved at $200 after critics complained about undervaluing the water. The program allows outside farmers to sign 20-year contracts for MID river water, which helps them invest long-term in the infrastructure. It is available in years defined as wet or above normal, projected to be seven out of the 20 years. Average and drier conditions will mean no access to the MID canals for these farmers. The state law is the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. It will require reductions in well pumping along with recharge projects. The latter can include building basins where storm runoff can seep into the ground, spreading excess water across farm fields, and restoring floodplains along rivers. Why doesnt MID just save the water for itself? MID could keep the excess water in Don Pedro to guard against a drier 2025 for its farmers. But the reservoir is still relatively high for this time of year, and the snowmelt will go on for several weeks. As of Tuesday, Don Pedro was at 94% of its capacity and 117% of the historical average for May 28, the California Department of Water Resources reported. MID leaders have said the region can best comply with the state law by putting excess river flows into the ground whenever possible. ZAGREB, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The European Union's (EU) high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) could negatively impact the long-term development of the European automobile industry, warns a Croatian political analyst. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Kresimir Macan stated that the United States' (U.S.) influence on the EU's tariffs for Chinese EVs would not benefit the European economy. He noted that the tariffs, which have historically proven "harmful" to the global economy, would continue to negatively impact the electric automotive industry. On May 14, U.S. President Joe Biden announced new tariffs on a variety of imports from China, including EVs, in addition to existing tariffs under Section 301. The additional levy will raise tariffs on Chinese EV imports to 100 percent this year. Last October, the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of EVs from China, and is set to determine whether punitive tariffs should be imposed to protect EU manufacturers from Chinese competitors. According to statistics from the European Federation for Transport and Environment, around 20 percent of all-electric cars sold across the EU last year, or 300,000 units, were made in China. More than half of them come from Western carmakers, such as Tesla, Dacia and BMW, which produce them in China for export. Macan argued that European consumers will ultimately suffer from the EU's tariff policy which would only lead to European products being more expensive and less technologically advanced. This, he argues, will make them less attractive compared to their Chinese counterparts. "Only healthy competition to produce a quality and affordable product can sustain the world economy," Macan said. Moreover, Macan expressed concerns about the broader implications of the tariffs on the global green transition. He said that such measures could undermine efforts to stimulate the production of environmentally friendly cars. Despite the EU's potential tariff hike, Macan said he believes Chinese EVs will find markets elsewhere due to their competitive pricing and quality. He urged the EU to focus on cooperation with China rather than imposing high tariffs, suggesting that collaboration would lead to better results for the development of the EV industry. "High tariffs harm cooperation and healthy competition, but cooperation benefits all and always yields great results," Macan said, adding that for the EU, cooperation with China and other countries in this sector is "more than necessary" to boast the production of high-quality, technologically advanced EVs. Correction appended May 31 COLUMBUS, OHIO The dire problems facing Columbus City Schools can be illustrated by comparing two buildings: Como Elementary School and Hamilton STEM Academy. Built as identical schools in 1954, they sit less than 2 miles apart, about 4 miles north of downtown. Como has never undergone a significant renovation. Original floor tiles that an official said contain asbestos still cover a majority of the school, many of its plexiglass windows are no longer translucent and wires snake through the hallways, crudely affixed to the top of cinder-block walls. While the building has been retrofitted with air conditioning and a new playground, We cant do everything, admits T. Alex Trevino, the districts director of capital improvements. In addition to its obvious physical shortcomings, the school, with a capacity of 400 students, has only 243. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Meanwhile, a $3.5 million renovation last year has transformed Hamiltons 47,000-square-foot building, adding flooring that cuts down on noise, new windows and furniture, and walls full of cubbies with doors that make classrooms look neater. Freshly painted hallways are dotted with inspirational sayings. The kids are excited about the building. Its changed the school culture, says principal Christopher Brady. Still, Hamilton is only two-thirds occupied, with just under 400 students in a building with a capacity of 575. Six schools, including Hamilton, have undergone extensive renovations, with two more planned this summer. But in a district with 113 schools most of them built before 1975 the buildings are deteriorating faster than the city can fix them. The district spends some $544,000 on facilities and maintenance for each school every year, $86,000 more than the national average. Hamilton STEM Academy underwent a $3.5 million renovation last year. (Wayne DOrio) Like nearly every urban school district in the country, Columbus has significantly fewer students than it did just six years ago. At its peak in the 1970s, the district educated 110,000 students. By 2017, that figure had shrunk to 50,000. Today, the district has an enrollment of about 45,400. Some of those students transferred to charter or private schools. An expansion of a state program has let more families use public dollars to pay for tuition. While 26,400 people applied for vouchers last school year, that number skyrocketed to 91,100 in the current school year. At the same time, the districts schools were rated the worst in central Ohio. Columbuss overall rating was a 2 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, ranking it last among 49 districts in Franklin County. Its clear that Columbus City Schools is facing challenges that defy easy solutions. But the course of action officials have settled on closing schools and redrawing attendance boundaries has been tried twice before, and failed. Earlier this year after voters approved a $100 million levy to fend off teacher layoffs and fund infrastructure improvements and renovations as federal COVID funds run out the district hired a consultant for $500,000 to assess its buildings. It also created a 22-person task force to consider which schools to shutter. But theres no guarantee this solution will work. Closing schools is the least popular action a district can take, and this marks the third time since 2016 that Columbus has tried to overhaul its operations. Both previous efforts were stymied, and a list of 20 possible school closures has already generated criticism from residents and union members. Ive been on a school closing committee, says Douglas Harris, the Schlieder Foundation Chair in Public Education at Tulane University. Sometimes it can be in the best interest of the district, but its the last thing anybody ever wants to do. No one knows the reality of the situation better than Jim Negron. In 2018, he led the committee that proposed closing schools and redrawing attendance zones a plan that was rejected by the Board of Education. The president of CK Construction is co-chairing this years task force as well, and he remains optimistic these decisions will set the district up for success for the next 20 years. Hallway in Como Elementary School. (Wayne DOrio) This is really important work. Theres something special happening in Columbus, he says. There is a reason for Negrons optimism. Columbus is the fastest-growing city in the country, according to a new study by the Bank of America Institute, and more people are likely coming. Intel is planning a $20 billion manufacturing plant in New Albany, about 15 miles from downtown. Honda and LG Energy Solution are teaming up to create a plant about 45 minutes southwest of the city to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles. New zoning rules will allow about 80,000 housing units to be built in Columbus. All this makes some, including teachers union president John Coneglio, question why the district isnt looking to spruce up more of its schools instead of closing them. Were dismantling schools without a plan to grow the district, he says. He worries that unused buildings might be turned into parochial or charter schools, which would siphon off more students from the district. Already, parents are getting texts from charter schools with offers to help fill out their paperwork, he says. Will the city leave neighborhoods empty and ripe for charters to take our kids? he asks. Coneglio, who was originally on the task force but resigned, says the districts efforts have a predetermined outcome, and their goal is to guide you to that outcome. When the task force revealed at a May 7 meeting the 20 schools that might be closed, so many union officials and city residents attended that the district had to create an overflow room so everyone could watch the proceedings, according to a story in The Columbus Dispatch. Theres a lot more work to be done here, board President Christina Vera said at the meeting. This is not going to be an easy lift. Afterward, Superintendent Angela Chapman tried to head off criticism when she answered a question about upset parents by saying: I would say to take a deep breath. These are initial recommendations that have been submitted to begin the conversation about where we go from here. These are not the final recommendations. The task force is slated to send a final list to the seven-member Board of Education in June. Any changes would take effect in fall 2025. Even before the task force made its initial recommendations, co-chair Al Edmondson admitted that informal lobbying had begun. People call and say, Dont close my school down. My mom went there, I went there. But these buildings are old. Something needs to happen. Harris says he has found that closing schools works best when a district considers the effect on the community and not just how much money can be saved. He urges leaders to find ways to keep teams together, because bonds among families, teachers and principals are hard to re-create. A study conducted by Harris and two colleagues found that closing the lowest-performing elementary schools can improve student achievement, but not if children are placed in worse schools. While Harris admits the disruption of changing schools can impair learning, this is offset by transferring to a better school, he says. And future cohorts of students, such as kindergartners, would attend the better school without disruption. But this is contingent on closing the lowest-performing schools which doesnt often happen, he adds. Columbuss board policy calls for the task force to consider 14 factors in deciding which schools to close; the first on that list is teaching and curriculum. Other items include the age and condition of the building, the number of students who will need to be relocated and enrollment trends. Task force members are also to make sure closures dont disproportionately affect one section of the city. Before the meeting, Negron said he had already heard from a lot of residents, and he expects and hopes to hear from more before the final recommendation next month. Theres a lot of passion around the task at hand. Thats not unexpected. I expect to hear more, and I welcome that. Correction: Students from Columbus City Schools have transferred to both charter and private schools. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Local auto repair and maintenance shop, Mikeys Total Car Care, will be closed for the foreseeable future as its owner, Michael Chavez, and his staff work to reopen after a devastating fire earlier this week. You may remember that FOX21 News first featured Mikeys Total Car Care in March while Chavez and his team were collecting submissions for a free car giveaway. At the end of April, a winner was selected; a single mother of three, Kim. She told FOX21, We feel blessed, and thanked Mikeys for fixing up the car, which Chavez repaired out of his own pocket. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Mikeys Total Car Care selects winner for free car giveaway Courtesy: FOX21 Chief Photojournalist Mike Duran, Kim stands next to Michael Chavez, owner of Mikeys Total Car Care. Courtesy: FOX21 Chief Photojournalist Mike Duran, photo shows the winner of the free car giveaway from Mikeys Total Car Care, as her daughter sits next to her. Courtesy: FOX21 Chief Photojournalist Mike Duran, photo is of Kim, who won the free car giveaway with her daughter, Leaunna. Reading stories was heartbreaking, it was really emotional, Chavez told FOX21 in April, adding that the need in Southern Colorado was evident. One car out of 300 people is pretty overwhelming and we wanted to do more, telling FOX21 he hoped to do something similar to the free car giveaway at least once a quarter. Fast-forward to today and Chavez said he and his staff are devastated about the fire, which happened in the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 28 around 3:30 a.m. He thanked a local business nearby which called in the fire and said if that hadnt happened, it could have been much worse for the business. Courtesy: Michael Chavez Courtesy: Michael Chavez Courtesy: Michael Chavez Courtesy: Michael Chavez Chavez thanked the community for its support and posted to the companys Facebook page, writing in part, Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, as I dont know when I will be able to recover from this. He continued, If you had an appointment with me I apologize but we will not be able to service your cars until we can be temporarily opened. Chavez told FOX21 that he and his staff are working out of a separate trailer and it could be a month or longer for the closure due to smoke damage inside the building. While Chavez hopes insurance will cover the costs, he said hes grateful for the communitys support, and that customers have since set up a GoFundMe to help. Courtesy: Michael Chavez Courtesy: Michael Chavez The cause of the fire is under investigation but if youd like to help or donate to the business, click on the GoFundMe link above. Mikeys Total Car Care has been around since 2017 and is located at 6180 Lake Shore Court, just south of the North Powers Boulevard and Constitution Avenue intersection. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Firefighters in Seguin, Texas, climbed into a storm drain to rescue a kitten that had been trapped underground for a few days. Photo courtesy of the Seguin Fire Department/Facebook May 30 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Texas went underground to rescue a kitten that was trapped in a storm drain for multiple days. The Seguin Fire Department said on social media that C-Shift crews from Station 3 responded Wednesday to a report of a kitten that had been trapped in a storm drain "for a few days." "As soon as crews were informed, they got to work," the post said. The department shared photos showing firefighters removing two different manhole covers so they could descend into the drain to find the feline. The kitten was successfully brought out into the daylight. "Another reminder that no job is too big or small," the department said. First African Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa will host a day of events on June 9 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of "Bloody Tuesday," a pivotal moment in the city's civil rights movement. The events will kick off with a special service at 3 p.m. at First African Baptist Church, 2621 Stillman Blvd. More: Civil rights activist Maxie Thomas honored with Tuscaloosa street renaming The service, organized by the Bloody Tuesday Committee, will observe the anniversary of Tuscaloosa's "Bloody Tuesday" march, which was designed to protest segregated facilities at the then-new Tuscaloosa County Courthouse. That day, June, 9 1964, Tuscaloosa law enforcement officers and an angry mob of white citizens brutalized a group of peaceful protesters. Teleah Byrd welcomes parishioners to the Bloody Tuesday and Unity Week Commemoration service held at First African Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Sunday June 5, 2016. On June 9, 1964, in Tuscaloosa, a group of peaceful civil rights activists were beaten, tear gassed and arrested by the Tuscaloosa law enforcement officers when they attempted to march from First African Baptist Church to the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse in protest of segregated drinking fountains. The theme of this year's service will be "Where Do We Go From Here," and the program will include singing, dancing and fellowship. U.S. Rep. Teri Sewell will serve as the guest speaker. Other special guests will include Charles Steele, executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference who previously served on the Tuscaloosa City Council and the Alabama Legislature. Aftet the service, the church will host a march beginning at 4:15 p.m. The march will start at First African Baptist Church and end at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, 714 Greensboro Ave. Participants will include Tuscaloosa leaders, organizations and foot soldiers from the 1964 march. TheRev. Walter Hawkins, pastor of Dry Creek Baptist Church in Fosters, will speak at the courthouse. After the march, participants will return to the church. A photograph on the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History Trail marker in front of First African Baptist Church shows Rev. TY Rogers being arrested on Bloody Tuesday. The commemorative events will conclude with a reception at 5:30 p.m. at First African Baptist Church. The reception will feature a book signing with University of Alabama associate professor of history John Giggie. Giggie will present his book,"Bloody Tuesday: Civil Rights History and Memory in Tuscaloosa," which is built on more than 100 oral histories, backed by media accounts and official records. The reception will also feature conversations and photo opportunities with prominent leaders and civil rights foot soldiers. Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: First African Baptist Church to commemorate 60th anniversary of Bloody Tuesday Community members welcome home veterans who took part in the Wednesday, May 29 Honor Flight of the Ozarks trip to Washington, D.C. A large crowd greeted Honor Flight of the Ozarks veterans at the Welcome Home celebration Wednesday night at the Springfield-Branson National Airport. The 81 veterans, 81 guardians and volunteer flight staff agreed that it was a great experience in Washington, D.C. to see the military memorials and make new friendships. Mayor Ken McClure and Congressman Eric Burlison shook hands with each veteran as they deplaned to thank them for their service and welcome them home. Leading the group into the airport was 98-year-old World War II veteran Marvin W. Puett of Billings. Flight Coordinator David Snider said, "It made my day when he walked into the terminal with me." Puett had addressed his fellow veterans with words of faith and his belief that God made it possible for all of them to be there together. Flight Coordinator David Snider, left, walks with 98-year-old World War II veteran Marvin W. Puett of Billings, one of the veterans who took part in the Wednesday, May 29 Honor Flight of the Ozarks trip to Washington, D.C. In addition to Puett, there were 16 veterans from Korea, and the remainder of the 81 veterans on the flight were from the Vietnam era. Three of the veterans were women. Plans are now underway for the second Honor Flight of the year, Aug. 14. Springfield Mayor Ken McClure, right, welcomes home veterans who took part in the Wednesday, May 29 Honor Flight of the Ozarks trip to Washington, D.C. There is no charge for a veteran to go on an Honor Flight. Any veteran who lives in southwest Missouri or northwest Arkansas who received an honorable discharge from the military is eligible. The veteran must have served during World War II, Korea, the Vietnam era or the Gulf War. They did not have to serve overseas. Guardians who accompany the veterans take the trip for $500. Veteran, guardian and volunteer applications are available at honorflightoftheozarks.org. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Veterans on first Honor Flight of 2024 return to Springfield airport First results in South Africas election suggest it is heading for biggest political shift since apartheid Early results from South Africas election suggest the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party could lose its majority for the first time in 30 years. With results in from 22% of polling stations at 4 p.m. local time, support for the ANC stood at 43.5%. The official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), had 24.7% of the vote, while the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) a splinter party of the ANC had 8.9%, data from the countrys electoral commission showed. The respected research group CSIR modeled the ANC winning less than 45% of the national poll as of mid-morning on Thursday. Officials of the Independent Electoral Commission have stressed that the official tally could take several days and some larger voting wards could take more time to be tallied. People watch live voting results on the National Ballot results board at the IEC National Results Center on May 30, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. - Chris McGrath/Getty Images In past elections, results from rural areas where the ANC has major strongholds have come in later, boosting results for the party. Once all the votes are counted, if the ANC remains below 50% it will be forced to enter a coalition with one or more parties. Depending on how low its support dips, it may need to form a deal with one of the larger opposition parties such as the DA or EFF to remain in power. Another ANC splinter party, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK), led by former President Jacob Zuma appears to be on course to do well in KwaZulu-Natal, the eastern coastal province where Durban is located. At 10am local time, it had 42.3% of the votes there compared to 20.1% for the ANC. Zuma a fierce critic of current ANC leader and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was forced to resign as leader in 2018 and served a brief stint in jail in 2021 for contempt of court. The 82-year-old was barred from running for parliament last week after the countrys Constitutional Court ruled that five years must have elapsed since the completion of his sentence. However, his face remained on the ballot. South Africas electoral commission has seven days to declare the final results by law. However, they are usually announced sooner than that. This year, the commission has set Sunday, June 2, as the final results day. If the ANC does lose its majority, it will have 14 days once the final results are declared to form a new government before a new parliament must convene to elect the nations president. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Viktor Orbans ruling party was put on the defensive on government-controlled state television as contenders for next months European Parliament election held the first televised debate in the country in 18 years. Most Read from Bloomberg Opposition politicians jostled to outflank one another in criticizing the erosion of the rule of law and alleged graft under Orbans self-styled illiberal rule since 2010. There were 11 candidates speaking on Thursday evening for eight minutes each on topics ranging from immigration to democracy. Voters can choose to keep Hungary a family-owned company where the prime ministers family gets to own a large share of the countrys wealth, or we can build a new country, brick by brick, said Peter Magyar, an upstart opposition politician whos soared in polls. But it was the fact that debate took place at all which was remarkable in Hungary, where Orbans media dominance, including of state TV, had effectively shut out the opposition from the airwaves. The last time an election debate was held on state TV was in 2006. Read more: A Fresh Upstart Takes On Orban in Hungary The event on Thursday only went ahead after Magyar threatened to stage a demonstration at state television headquarters if his demand for a live debate was ignored. The fact that a debate is taking place on state television is in and of itself evidence of the squeeze on Orbans Fidesz party, said Agnes Urban, an associate professor at Corvinus University and director of Mertek, a media watchdog. Orbans ruling Fidesz party has been buffeted by a series of scandals this year, a patchy economic recovery and a runaway budget deficit before the June 9 European ballot, which takes place alongside municipal elections in Hungary. Magyars appearance on the political scene and his ability to capitalize on the political momentum have raised the stakes in the ballot contests, which come halfway through Orbans fifth term in office. Media Control Executives at state media, where the political messaging is tightly controlled, declined to respond to emailed questions to explain the decision to stage the debate. Orban didnt take part since he doesnt helm Fideszs list for EU parliament though hes actively campaigning in the vote that the opposition is casting as an unofficial referendum on his rule. The premier has called for a large rally in Budapest on Saturday. Orbans party, along with a satellite offshoot, is on track to win 11 of 21 European Parliament seats up for grabs in Hungary, according to the latest Europe Elects projection published on the Euroactiv website. While that still puts it in first place, its estimated 44% share of the vote would mark the worst result in an EU election for Fidesz, which had won more than half the vote in the past three ballots since 2009. Magyars Tisza party is projected to win six seats in the same poll, which would eclipse all other opposition parties and open a path for the political neophyte to claim the mantle as Orbans main challenger in the 2026 parliamentary election. Magyar, a former diplomat who entered into politics just a few months ago, was hoping to win over potential Fidesz voters in his first prime-time appearance on state television. Hes said he wont take up his seat in the EU parliament and will stay in Hungary instead to build out his party over the next two years. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Flight forced to abort takeoff at Reagan National Airport to avoid another plane. Its the second such incident in 6 weeks An American Airlines flight bound for Boston was forced to abort takeoff at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday morning to avoid another plane that was landing. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said its investigating what happened. Its the second such incident at the Washington, DC, airport in the last six weeks. An air traffic controller cancelled the takeoff clearance for American Airlines Flight 2134 because another aircraft was cleared to land on an intersecting runway, the FAA said in a statement about Wednesdays scare. Air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net captured the moment. American 2134, cancel takeoff clearance, an air traffic controller told the American Airlines pilot. Rejecting the takeoff 2134, the pilot responded. The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and were grateful to our crew for their professionalism. We will support the FAA in its investigation, American Airlines said in a statement. The flight eventually made it to Boston, arriving four hours late, according to the plane tracking website FlightAware. In mid-April, the FAA launched an investigation after two jetliners were put on an apparent collision course as they were leaving Reagan National Airport, prompting air traffic controllers to urgently radio each plane to stop. Wednesdays aborted takeoff came in the wake of multiple safety issues with airlines reported Memorial Day weekend, amid a record number of travelers. After a string of aircraft accidents or mechanical issues on recent flights, the incidents over the long weekend have drawn fresh attention to air safety. While the FAA and others are investigating, aviation experts say commercial flights remain one of the safest ways to travel in the US. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Agricultural scientists from 15 countries and several international organizations gathered in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss how to further strengthen cooperation to promote the green, high-quality and sustainable development of agriculture through sci-tech innovation, and ensure global food security. It is necessary for agricultural scientists to work together and share their knowledge and experience to deal with challenges in global food security and sustainable agricultural development such as climate change and resource scarcity, Wu Kongming, president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), said at a symposium jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) With the support of the NSFC, the CAAS launched cooperation with the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in 2011, focusing on the exploration and utilization of excellent traits in crops and livestock, as well as the analysis of disease resistance mechanisms. Cooperation and exchanges were also carried out in areas such as dryland agriculture, agricultural economy and agricultural information, according to Wu. With funding from the BMGF, the CAAS initiated a project to breed new rice varieties named "Green Super Rice", which have been introduced to 18 countries and regions in Asia and Africa to help reduce hunger and increase the incomes of farmers, Wu said. "Through cooperation with the BMGF, we have shared China's successful experience in early warning of crop pests with developing countries, helping Africa establish a practical agricultural plant protection testing system," said Wu. China has also helped African countries such as Mali and Nigeria establish and improve their rice seed industry and research systems with China's experience in rice breeding, Wu added. "We hope to work with our partners to provide new and effective solutions for ensuring world food security, promoting global poverty reduction and sustainable agricultural development through innovation and application of science and technology," Wu said. The symposium, held by the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning of CAAS, has attracted agriculture experts from countries including France, Britain, Belgium, Egypt, Brazil and Burundi, as well as international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the CGIAR. Focusing on topics such as agricultural information technology, innovative seed research and development, and Sino-Africa agricultural cooperation, the two-day symposium aims to discuss the agricultural technological innovations and their promotion and application in key regions around the world, build platforms for international cooperation and exchange, and promote the global green development of agriculture. Insights from Al Jazeera, the Financial Times, Reuters, and The Guardian The News More than half a million people have been forced to flee their homes due to flooding in southern Brazil, in what officials have described as the worst disaster in the areas history. The floods, which have killed at least 160 people, are the latest example of an extreme weather event that scientists say will increase with climate change. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Disinformation is warping perception of the catastrophe Source: Al Jazeera The floods have been a breeding ground for a coordinated, industrial-strength disinformation campaign designed to delegitimize the government, Brian Mier, an editor at Brasilwire, told Al Jazeera. In many cases, its actually sabotaging some of the relief efforts. Some articles have falsely claimed that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been blocking aid from reaching the region, while social media posts have attempted to discredit the governments $10 billion pledge to help affected areas. Other sources have spread doubt about the volume of the rainfall: This may have stopped people from donating or volunteering to help, media professor Rogerio Christofoletti told the outlet. Extreme weather events are a feature of the climate crisis Sources: The Guardian, World Resources Institute, FloodList The nature of the intense rainfall in southern Brazil is typical of the climate crisis, Anderson Ruhoff, a professor specializing in hydrology, told The Guardian. The rains were very intense with a large volume of water concentrated in a short period. Brazil has to adjust to the new reality of these extreme events, wrote Cristiane Fontes of the World Resources Institute, as regions across the world have been similarly impacted. Some of the most recent deadly flash floods when the rain falls so fast the ground cant absorb the water properly have hit Afghanistan, Oman, and Indonesia, according to flood tracker FloodList. Worsening weather impact will affect Brazil for years Sources: Financial Times, Reuters Worsening weather conditions in Brazil have been affecting people in different ways. In the flood-hit southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, livestock has been decimated, soy crops disrupted, and local populations are facing food and water shortages. Elsewhere in the country, heat, lack of rain, and disease have hurt the vital orange industry: The decline in orange production will likely increase costs for consumers, industry experts told the Financial Times. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) An Orlando man was arrested earlier this month after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said he was caught dumping thousands of tires and shooting at an alligator. According to the FWC, officers were patrolling a private property where they previously found thousands of tires dumped in Orange County. The officers said they witnessed a man enter the property and shoot at an alligator from the window of his truck before throwing more tires from his vehicle. (FWC) According to an incident report obtained by WOFL, Arisleyder Reina Tornes told investigators that he was shooting at the alligator because it was going to attack him. Mr. Reina-Tornes was still in his vehicle when he was first shooting at it, and the alligator never made any threatening movements toward him, and when we approached the alligator, it never approached us, the report said. Mr. Reina Torres was caught in several lies, even admitting to us that he had lied, and it appeared most of what he was telling us was untruthful, so we decided to no longer continue our interview. The FWC said Reina Tornes was arrested for tire dumping attempting to take an alligator, operating an unregistered vehicle and driving while in possession of an open container. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A man was arrested after police in Florida said he hid small cameras in his ex-girlfriends daughters bedroom and bathroom. According to the Ocala Police Department, a concerned mother contacted officers after she found a small camera hidden in an electrical outlet in her daughters bathroom on May 17. The Ocala officer called to the scene found the device blinking and saw a small lens from inside the electrical plugs bottom ground outlet. Police said the outlet was directly facing the shower and toilet. Two days later, police were called to the same house because another hidden camera was found. Police said the camera was disguised as a Wi-Fi repeater in the daughters bedroom. The router was said to be installed by 58-year-old John Butler, the womans ex-boyfriend who had lived with them for a time. (Ocala Police Department) Detectives said they began thoroughly investigating the case and established probable cause to arrest Butler for installing the hidden cameras in areas where privacy is to be expected. Detectives arrested Butler and charged him with video voyeurism, the police department said. He was taken to the Marion County Jail on May 22. Crimes like this will not be tolerated and we will always strive to bring perpetrators to justice, the police department said. Remember, always be aware of your surroundings to protect your personal privacy. Hidden cameras can be discreetly placed in everyday items like electrical outlets, routers, smoke detectors, and other household objects. Inspect your personal spaces, especially bathrooms and bedrooms, for suspicious devices. If you find anything suspicious, report it to the police immediately. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Wildlife agents say you might start seeing more flamingos around Florida thanks to wetland restoration. Wildlife experts say it was common for flamingos to come in from the Bahamas, Cuba, or Mexico and eventually fly south. Now, many of the birds are staying in Florida year-round. Read: New report finds that killer whales arent attacking boats but are bored, playful teens Experts say this is an excellent indication that decades of wetland restoration is working. Flamingos are the first big indicators to us that water flow now being directed in a proper way that creates a habitat, flamingos need a certain level of water and certain levels of food. If we cant maintain that, theyre gonna leave, said Ron Magill with Zoo Miami. See: Experience an all-new animal adventure like no other at Discovery Cove Wildlife experts hope flamingos will start nesting in the wild again as they did more than a century ago. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. PARIS, Ill. (WCIA) WCIA has learned more about an investigation into a Central Illinois superintendent who was raided by the FBI. According to documents received through a FOIA request, the District Court for the Central District of Illinois subpoenaed the school district last June for a representative to testify in front of a grand jury. Among the documents requested for the testimony include the employee files for two employees (whose names were redacted), ethics acknowledgements policies of employees of the district, and the receipts for reimbursements of more than 100 checks. Mt. Zion Superintendent awarded 2024 Superintendent of Distinction It also asked for the school district to produce the physical items for several items ordered in 2020 and 2021, including Roombas, a Google Nest, a 75-inch TV and an iPad. All materials were presented to a federal grand jury in Peoria later that month. An FBI spokesperson confirmed last year that FBI agents were searching the home of then-superintendent Jeremy Larson for court-sanctioned activity. An Illinois State Board of Education audit found more than $3 million dollars spent in unallowable expenses from different grants. The Paris School District later came up with a payment plan to repay the grant money. Larson agreed to a mutual separation agreement with the district at the end of 2023. He has not been charged with any crime. The school district has since hired on a permanent superintendent, who will start later this summer. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. How did a confirmed measles patient get to Tulare County from Munich? TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) The international route taken by Tulare Countys first confirmed measles patient in eight years has been released, with those who may have been in close contact told to monitor their symptoms. So far, Tulare Countys Health and Human Services Agency says the unidentified patient has traveled through the German city of Munich, Los Angeles, Fresno, and most recently Tulare County. They also confirmed that the patient is not from the United States. Were you inside Fresno Yosemite International Airport on May 19? On Thursday, health officials in Tulare County confirmed that the international traveler with measles was the same person who flew from the German city of Munich into Los Angeles on May 19 and then flew to Fresno that same day. The patient traveled through both Los Angeles International Airport and Fresno International Airport, prompting both the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Fresno County Department of Public Health to issue warnings about the possibility of infection for anyone who possibly had close contact with the infected person. That includes: Anyone at LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal from approximately 3:04 p.m. to 9 p.m. Anyone inside Fresno Yosemite International Airport from 8:12 p.m. to 9:12 p.m. Passengers who may have been exposed on the flights taken by the unidentified patient will be notified by their own local health departments, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), officials say. Health officials warn about measles after infected passenger on LAX to Fresno flight Dr. Geetha Sivasubramanian, an infectious disease specialist with UCSF Fresno, says measles is highly contagious. If you have 10 unvaccinated people in the vicinity of someone with measles, theres a chance nine out of 10 will end up with the infection if theyre unvaccinated, said Sivasubramanian. So, it can live up to two hours in the airspace of an infected person. So, even if they have left the area for the next two hours it could still spread. This most recent confirmed case of measles is prompting Tulare County health officials to start identifying who may have been exposed to the virus, trace their routes and determine whether or not they have been vaccinated for the disease. Tulare County health officials say they cannot currently share the exact locations where they believe exposure took place. However, we can tell you that our public health nurses have already made efforts to contact those who may have been exposed with instructions to avoid any intruders, said Dr. Thomas Overton with Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency. Overton recommends residents get to know their vaccination status for measles and for anyone who is not vaccinated for measles to get vaccinated. Those who do not know if they have been vaccinated are encouraged to have a blood test to find out for certain whether or not they have been vaccinated. The most important thing for everyone to know is that when we have a confirmed case of measles in our county, Overton said. We recommend everyone know their vaccination status for measles and get vaccinated with the highly effective MMR vaccine. The common symptoms of measles include: High fever (higher than 101 F) Cough Runny nose Red and watery eyes Tiny white spots that may appear inside the mouth 2-3 days after symptoms begin. Rash 3-5 days after other signs of illness. The measles rash typically starts at the face and then spreads down to the rest of the body. The last measles case confirmed in Tulare County was in 2016. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. By Hummam Sheikh Ali DAMASCUS, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Syria has showcased its rich antiquities across China in recent years, fostering cultural exchange between the two ancient civilizations, said Mohammed Nazeer Awad, head of Syria's General Directorate for Antiquities and Museums. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Awad emphasized the significance of exhibiting Syrian antiquities in China. He noted that such events introduce Syrian culture to a global audience, enhance cultural ties with the Chinese people, and strengthen the bond between the two nations through mutual learning and collaboration. "We wanted the expo showcasing Syrian antiquities in China to be accessible to visitors worldwide to get to know Syrian civilization," Awad said. He noted that there was a decision to extend the exhibition in China, saying the decision was based on the credibility and effective management observed during the events, with the artifacts presented elegantly and with the aid of technology. Furthermore, Awad mentioned plans to participate in a conference organized by the Shanghai Museum, focusing on intangible heritage. It indicates an expansion of cultural cooperation between Syria and China in various areas, including heritage, arts, theaters, and hosting artistic groups, he said. Since June 2021, hundreds of Syrian cultural relics, including stoneware, bronzeware, and statues from the Syrian National Museum and other museums, have been displayed at multiple sites across China. The event was jointly organized by the China Cultural Relics Exchange Center and the Directorate for Antiquities and Museums in Syria. The Syrian cultural relics have traveled to over 10 sites, reaching approximately 1 million Chinese visitors. Several relics unearthed in ancient Chinese sites are also displayed with Syrian antiques to highlight the historical cultural and trade exchanges between China and Syria. BATH, N.Y. (WETM) The former Addison Village Clerk was seen in Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one charge after the Steuben County District Attorney said she stole more than $1 million from the village over 19 years. According to Steuben County District Attorney, Brooks Baker, Ursula Stone pleaded guilty to three counts of corrupting the government in the 1st degree, a class B felony, after taking a plea deal on Wednesday, May 29. Baker said that Stone faces up to three to nine years in prison, and will be required to pay back money to the government, with Baker saying the payment will be around $1 million. Village of Addison clerk charged in stealing $1.1 million over 19-year span Baker added that Stone will forfeit her New York State Employee Pension, with this being the first case since 2019 where a state employee forfeited their pension after conviction. In a new conference held in Bath on Thursday, November 2, 2023, Stone, the former village clerk/treasurer and resident of Addison, was arrested following an investigation into an alleged 19-year scheme of taking money from the village for personal gain. Baker said Stone used a complicated and elaborate scheme to cover her work until the New York State Comptrollers Office discovered it. Police said that Stone used her position within the local government to make false documents to steal the money before covering it up. Just to put this in a little proportion, and show you the magnitude of her theft, if you take the money shes alleged to have stolen, it would have funded the village police department for over four years, said Nelson Sheingold, counsel to the New York State Comptroller, during the news conference in November. Village of Addison locals and officials give no comment Stone was originally charged on 192 counts, including grand larceny in the first degree, money laundering in the second degree, falsifying business records in the first degree, corrupting the government in the first degree, and attempted public corruption. Stone is scheduled for sentencing on August 1, 2024. Baker told 18 News on Thursday he wanted to thank the New York State Comptrollers Office, saying this wouldnt have been possible without their help. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Nan Whaley, former mayor of Dayton, will serve as the next CEO of the Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region. Nan Whaley, Daytons former Democratic mayor and one-time gubernatorial nominee, will soon take over as the new leader of Planned Parenthood in Southwest Ohio. The two-term ex-mayor, a staunch advocate for abortion rights, made the issue the cornerstone of her unsuccessful campaign for Ohio governor in 2022. She'll become CEO on July 1 of Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region, which operates a clinic in Cincinnati that provides a wide range of health services, including abortions. During her campaign for governor against Republican incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine, Whaley openly opposed Ohio's six-week abortion ban and other restrictions on the procedure and said that she would advocate for a constitutional amendment to enshrine Roe v. Wade protections. Ohio voters approved such an amendment last November, pushing back against decades of GOP restrictions and shoring up protections more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Planned Parenthood said that in her new role, Whaley will work to advance and expand access to reproductive health care, as well as relationship and sexual education. The organization says it is focused on expanding its newfound role as Ohio has become a haven state and first point of access for patients from southern states in need of abortion. Because the Supreme Court's ruling allows states to decide whether abortion should be legal, banned or heavily restricted, women in many states no longer have access to abortion or must drive hundreds of miles to a clinic. Ohio clinics, like those in other states where abortion still is legal, have seen increases in out-of-state patients seeking abortions they can't get in their own states. "We're going to continue to see an increase in need," Whaley said Thursday. "At the same time, I want to be sure we're really providing top quality care throughout the region we serve." The choice of a longtime politician to lead Planned Parenthood is in line with the politics today that still swirl around the issue. Some Republican lawmakers, who dominate Ohio's Statehouse, have vowed to push back on the constitutional amendment by continuing to seek restrictions on abortion where possible. Several abortion-related cases remain tied up in Ohio courts. "I don't think the fight will ever be over in Ohio as long as we have a state Legislature that refuses to pay attention to the people's vote," Whaley said. "And that's what we're seeing on this." Ohio long has been at the center of the abortion debate in America and the state's politics still reflect the intensity of that debate. Right to Life, one of the nation's most influential anti-abortion organizations, was founded in Ohio, and the state was for decades a testing ground for some of the most restrictive abortion legislation in the country. On the campaign trail in 2022, Whaley spoke often about her belief that abortion should remain legal in Ohio in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling that the procedure is not a constitutionally protected right. At the time, DeWine and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, also a Republican, had imposed a 2019 Ohio law that banned doctors from performing abortions after cardiac activity is detected. It was one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation. "It really is the only thing we're really talking about. We think it is the issue," Whaley said a few weeks before the 2022 election. "A fundamental right has been taken away, and we have a governor who has been waiting his entire long career to make that happen." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Planned Parenthood names Nan Whaley new CEO for Southwest Ohio region Marion Councilwoman Ruth Herbel waits Aug. 11, 2023, in the Marion County Record office following the raid on the newsroom and her home. Herbel was the only city council member who opposed Kari Newell's request for a liquor license. Marion Councilwoman Ruth Herbel waits Aug. 11, 2023, in the Marion County Record office following the raid on the newsroom and her home. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Former Marion Councilwoman Ruth Herbel alleges in federal court that city officials orchestrated an illegal raid of her home alongside the raid of the Marion County Record as part of a conspiracy to silence criticism. The Institute for Justice, a Virginia-based law firm that says it represents everyday people in opposition to abuses of government power, filed the lawsuit on Herbels behalf against former Mayor David Mayfield, former Police Chief Gideon Cody, Sheriff Jeff Soyez and other local authorities. Ruth ran for city council in Marion at age 76 because she was tired of her local governments dishonesty and lack of transparency, the Institute for Justice says in the lawsuit. She quickly learned, though, that the men with the power in Marion were resistant to change, and public scrutiny. Herbels lawsuit is the fifth to be filed in response to the Aug. 11, 2023, raids by city and county law enforcement of the newspaper office, the publishers home and Herbels home. Recent court filings show the cases could be eventually consolidated. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the actions by law enforcement, local officials and journalists before turning findings over to special prosecutors who will decide whether to file criminal charges. Herbels lawsuit alleges violations of constitutional rights to free speech and protections from unreasonable searches and seizures. The narrative is consistent with a lawsuit filed April 1 by Marion County Record editor and publisher Eric Meyer, whose mother, Joan, the papers co-publisher, died of stress-induced heart failure a day after police raided her home. Copies of a newspaper on a table The lawsuits accuse Mayfield of seeking vengeance for criticism of his actions. As mayor, he once called Herbel a bitch during an executive session of the city council, her lawsuit contends. Mayfield asked the city attorney send a letter warning her that it would be illegal to speak about city business without the councils full approval. He threatened to admonish her in a public meeting. The lawsuit recalls Mayfields failed attempt to gather signatures for a recall election against Herbel, as well as a harebrained scheme to convince her she could be fired as an at will employee, even though she was a duly elected councilwoman. In a July 25, 2023, social media post, Mayfield said it was not Black people, Asians, Latinos, women or gays but rather journalists who were the real villains in America. A local restaurateur who asked the council for a liquor license became the unwitting catalyst for the raids when a resident pointed out that she had been driving on a suspended license, apparently with local law enforcement knowledge, after a drunken driving conviction. The resident distributed a copy of a government agency letter that outlined the situation. Mayor Mayfield and his allies hatched a plan to use the letter as pretext to punish Ruth and the Record, according to Herbels lawsuit. The theory they came up with was that, because the letter listed the restaurateurs drivers license number, simply possessing the letter was illegal and that someone obviously stole the restaurateurs identity to get the letter. But instead of a real investigation, the lawsuit alleges, the mayor worked with the police chief and sheriff to maliciously procure baseless warrants that were based on lies and omissions. No one even swore the allegations were true, according to the lawsuit. Cody, the police chief, didnt sign the affidavits under oath, as required by federal and state law, and his unsworn signatures on the four affidavits appear to vary. Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody's signature appears to vary from one search warrant application to another The lawsuit accuses local officials of judge-shopping for somebody who would sign the warrants. Instead of taking them to the district judge for the county, they sent them to Magistrate Judge Laura Viar, who also had a history of drunken driving. Viar falsely asserted the applications were sworn to before me when she signed them an action that is now subject to a complaint before the states judicial ethics panel. The warrant failed to note that Herbel had received the letter from a tipster, that it was publicly available on Facebook, that the information included in the letter is a matter of public record, that she shared the letter as a public official in advance of a city council vote, or that police were knowingly allowing someone to drive on a suspended license. To make things worse, the warrants were also absurdly overbroad, the lawsuit alleges. But that hardly mattered because the police just took every phone and computer, without bothering to limit their searches to the terms of the overbroad warrants they drafted. The warrants, after all, were just a means to punish their critics. The search of Herbels home traumatized her husband, Ronald, who suffers from dementia. Police knowingly left the couple without a phone to contact their children or doctors. He remained on the couch for hours after police left and wouldnt eat. The experience intensified his depression and anxiety. He couldnt eat or sleep in the days after the raid. He would pace the house and cry. The lawsuit contends it should have been obvious that there was no reason to search Herbels house. Her supposed crimes were identity theft and official misconduct, which involves the use of confidential information to intentionally harm someone. Simply obtaining a copy of a KDOR record on social media is not a crime, her attorneys say the in the lawsuit. The lawsuit says the news medias spotlight on the raids spared Herbel from arrest. Cody sent an email to county prosecutor Joel Ensey with the subject line: Crimes? The email outlined five possible ways they could charge Herbel with a crime. As the lawsuit puts it, the descriptions of supposed crimes betray Chief Codys willful and malicious misunderstanding or disregard of the law. The conspiracy started with the defined goal of silencing Ruth Herbel and Eric Meyer, and the conspirators worked backward from there to find the closest thing to a crime that would let them achieve that goal, the lawsuit contends. The post Former Marion councilwoman files federal lawsuit over conspiracy to silence her and newspaper appeared first on Kansas Reflector. CASSVILLE, Mo. A former Cassville educator is facing criminal charges for child sex crimes. Makensie Koehler, 33, is charged with first degree child molestation, possession of child pornography, and more. Court documents say Koehler had a sexual relationship with an underage male in the summer of 2023. Authorities say when they searched Koehlers Snapchat account, they discovered nude photos, mostly close up images of a girl under the age of 14. Koehler had been working as a teachers aide for the Cassville School District, but resigned the post in March. A probable cause affidavit filed with Barry County Court says the investigation began on March 18. Shes being held without bond in Douglas County. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Former MS teacher sentenced to 192 years in jail for sexual abuse of former students MEMPHIS, Tenn. Toshemie Wilson, a former educator in the Amory School District, was sentenced to 192 years in prison on Wednesday following his conviction for multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Wilson was also ordered to pay $123,353.34 in restitution to the victims of the offense and a $5,000 trafficking assessment. In December 2023, a jury in Greenville, Mississippi found Wilson guilty of eight counts of sexual exploitation of children based on his conduct while he was employed as a teacher by the Amory School District. Testimony at the trial revealed that Wilson used his position as a teacher and advisor for the student group Technology Students of America (TSA) to groom students to eventually produce child sexual abuse videos and pictures in exchange for money and drugs. MSCS superintendent stands firm on jobs restructuring During the trial, seven witnesses testified that Wilson approached them while they were students and solicited them to make masturbation videos in exchange for pay between 2005 and 2014. The witnesses identified multiple places Wilson had them make videos, including the school bathroom, an office space rented specifically for the purpose and the Amory Walmart bathroom. Several witnesses stated they were induced to make videos while on out-of-town school trips with TSA. An investigation into this case initially began when a former student reported the abuse to a counselor. That counselor then reported the statement to law enforcement. Former Dyer County deputies testify in Swift murder trial The investigation of this case was a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Attorney Generals Office and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies. Following a sentencing hearing in Greenville today, Chief U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Wilson to 192 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Parents and children should be able to trust teachers, and Toshemie Wilson profoundly betrayed that trust and deserves every hour of every day that he spends in prison, U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner said. I cannot say enough about the courage of the victims who came forward, and I commend AUSA Parker King for leading the prosecution and the efforts of the Mississippi Attorney Generals Office, the FBI, and our local law enforcement partners. Wilson is now exactly where he belongs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Former Northern Kentucky corrections officer in custody after allegations of sexual abuse A former Kentucky juvenile corrections officer is in custody after failing to appear in court following allegations of sexual relations with an inmate. Police began searching for Neil Moorman, 30, of Fort Mitchell, on May 21 for missing his arraignment in court after allegedly engaging in two counts of sexual abuse to the first degree at the Campbell Regional Juvenile Detention Center, according to records obtained by The Courier Journal. The Campbell Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Newport He was arrested Tuesday and is in custody in Hamilton County, Ohio, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Kentucky State Police spokesperson Matt Sudduth said an investigation was opened by Post 6 in Dry Ridge on May 31, 2023 after authorities from the detention center requested one for allegations of sexual misconduct. Findings suggested Moorman "engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a juvenile." More: Nurses sue Kentucky, officials over alleged cover-up of abuse at juvenile detention center Related: DOJ to investigate Kentucky youth detention centers after scathing audit The case was presented to the Campbell County Grand Jury and Moorman was summoned on May 9 for a May 21 appearance in circuit court with original charges to the second degree. A warrant was issued for his arrest on May 22 after he failed to appear. Moorman remains in custody and the investigation is ongoing. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky corrections officer arrested for alleged sexual abuse of facility teens Donald Trump becomes 1st US president tried and convicted of crimes Donald Trump, the second-generation New York business mogul who led one of the most consequential right-wing populist movements and changed the face of presidential politics, was found guilty of 34 felonies in his home city Thursday, becoming the first president in American history to be criminally convicted. It took the jury 10 hours to come to their decision. Trump, who was impeached twice while in office, faced four indictments as he geared up for the 2024 race. The case in Manhattan dealt with a hush money payment to a porn star and his attempt to hid salacious information from voters to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election. PHOTO: Illustration (ABC News ) The former president pleaded not guilty and denied all wrongdoing. After the verdict was read, Trump railed against the judge, and called the trial "rigged [and] disgraceful." "The real verdict is going to be November 5, by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here," Trump said to hallway cameras after angrily exiting the courtroom following his conviction. PHOTO: Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives at his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on May 29, 2024. (Doug Mills/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg commended the jury Thursday for their work in the historic case. "While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today at this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes to the courtroom doors by following the facts and the law, and doing so without fear or favor," he said at a news conference later in the evening. The verdict caps a yearslong legal saga that began not too long after Trump declared presidential run in 2015. The 'catch and kill' deal that started it all In August 2015, National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified that he met with Donald Trump and Michael Cohen in Trump Tower to discuss how his "magazines could do to help the campaign." Pecker told jurors that he agreed to serve as the "eyes and ears" of Trump's presidential campaign by identifying negative stories about Trump related to women. "The entire purpose of this meeting at Trump Tower wasto manipulate and defraud the voters, to pull the wool over their eyes in a coordinated fashion," Manhattan prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told jurors during his closing statement about the alleged scheme. MORE: Timeline: Manhattan DA's Stormy Daniels hush money case against Donald Trump To honor his agreement, Pecker testified that his company caught and killed two stories to help the campaign paying $30,000 to a former Trump property doorman who falsely alleged that Trump had a child out of wedlock and $150,000 to Karen McDougal, who alleged a months-long affair with Trump, an alleged affair the former president has long denied. PHOTO: David Pecker is questioned by prosecutor Joshua Steinglass during former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in Manhattan state court in New York City, April 26, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. (Jane Rosenberg via Reuters) In October 2016, Pecker also flagged to Michael Cohen that adult film actress Stormy Daniels was shopping a story of her 2006 alleged sexual encounter with Trump, though Pecker declined to buy the story himself. Michael Cohen testified that he brought the story directly to Trump speaking with the then-Republican nominee nearly two dozen times in the month ahead of the election and ultimately paid for the story out of his own pocket on Trump's orders. Trump later reimbursed Cohen in 2017 by making a series of $35,000 payments, labeled in business records as legal expenses pursuant to a retainer agreement. Prosecutors alleged that Trump's description of the payments disguised their true purpose so voters would never learn about the hush-money payment, though a 2018 Wall Street Journal report uncovered the payment. PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and attorney Michael Cohen during a visit to the Pastors Leadership Conference at New Spirit Revival Center, Sept. 21, 2016, in Cleveland. (Evan Vucci/AP) "Of course, we will never know if this effort to hoodwink the American voter made the difference in the 2016 election, but that's not something we have to prove," Steinglass said. "The point is that the reimbursement to Cohen was cloaked in false business records to hide the conspiracy." A long road to indictment When Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III was conducting his investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election, his office referred Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen to federal prosecutors in New York's Southern District. It remains unclear what exactly prompted the referral, but by April 2018, the FBI had raided Cohen's office, hotel room, and home. In August of that year, Cohen pleaded guilty to skirting campaign rules when he made payments to Daniels and McDougal. MORE: The Manhattan DA's investigation into Trump and the Stormy Daniels hush payment, explained The plea deal was seen as a major shock as Cohen has dutifully stood by Trump for years through numerous scandals and legal quandaries. PHOTO: Michael Cohen, the former lawyer to President Donald Trump, exits the Federal Courthouse in New York City, Aug. 21, 2018. (Yana Paskova/Getty Images, FILE) Trump himself was referenced in Cohen's indictment as "Individual-1" who directed him to make the payments, but federal prosecutors opted to not charge Trump due to a longstanding guidance against indicting sitting presidents. When Trump left office, prosecutors never reopened their investigation or brought charges against the former president. Next door from the federal prosecutors, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. who had begun investigating Trump's hush money payments in 2018 opted to continue the investigation. By 2021, Vance authorized his prosecutors to pursue a criminal indictment based on Trump's exaggeration of his net worth. That investigation was ongoing when Vance left office, leaving the decision to his successor Alvin Bragg. Bragg, however, determined that the case "wasn't ready for takeoff," prompting the resignation of two top prosecutors. PHOTO: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg listens at news conference in New York, Feb. 7, 2023. (Seth Wenig/AP) At the time, the case appeared dead in the water, but Bragg shook up his legal team and found success in the prosecution of the Trump Organization for a 15-year tax fraud scheme and a guilty plea from Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg. By 2023, a new case theory centered on the testimony of Michael Cohen emerged, and prosecutors successfully convinced a grand jury to indict the former president. PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump arrives for an arraignment hearing at NYS Supreme Court, April 4, 2023, in New York. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) In April 2023, Trump became the first current or former president to be criminally indicted. He pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges of falsifying business records stemming from his hush payment to Daniels. The New York indictment became the first of four criminal cases against the former president. The other cases relate to his alleged conduct during the 2020 election and how he dealt with classified documents. He has pleaded not guilty in those cases and denies the charges. Trump's past takes center stage After months of back and forth, including multiple attempts by Trump's attorneys to have the case dismissed or delay the case, the trial began on April 15. Prosecutors called 20 witnesses including some of Trump's closest advisors and deputies to try to prove their case against the former president. MORE: Ahead of summations in ump trial, here's a brief look at what every witness said on the stand Prosecutors first called Pecker, who went into detail about the catch-and-kill agreement he made with Trump and Cohen during and after the 2016 campaign. The former publisher also described how after securing the presidency, Trump kept tabs on the women he and Cohen had paid off. Rhona Graff, Trump's longtime assistant, testified that she recalled seeing Daniels in the reception of the executive floor of Trump Tower. Daniels would eventually take the stand, coming face to face with the former president for the first time in over a decade, and recounted their alleged sexual encounter, which Trump continues to deny. "I told very few people that we had actually had sex because I felt ashamed that I didn't stop it, that I didn't say no," Daniels told jurors. Trump attorney Susan Necheles got into a heated cross-examination with Daniels questioning the validity of her claims and arguing she was making it up to extort money from Trump. "You have a lot of experience of making phony stories about sex appear to be real?" Necheles asked. PHOTO: Stormy Daniels is questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger before Justice Juan Merchan during former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in Manhattan state court in New York City, May 7, 2024 in this courtroom sketch. (Jane Rosenberg via Reuters) "The sex in the films is very real, just like what happened to me in that room," she said on the stand. Things got even more heated when prosecutors concluded their their case by calling Cohen himself. Cohen contended that Trump ordered him to "just do it," referring to the payoff during the end of the campaign, as word of the alleged affair with Daniels would have been "catastrophic." "He stated to me that he had spoken to some friends, some individuals, very smart people. It's $130,000. Just pay it," Cohen testified. Defense attorney Todd Blanche launched an attack on Cohen's credibility noting his previous perjury convictions and lies to the press. PHOTO: This courtroom sketch depicts Michael Cohen being examined by defense lawyer Todd Blanche during former U.S. President Donald Trump's criminal trial in Manhattan state court, May 20, 2024, in New York. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters) Specifically, he accused Cohen of lying about a phone call he said he had with Donald Trump on Oct. 24, 2016, showing phone records that indicated Cohen called Trump's bodyguard. Defense lawyers presented evidence that Cohen actually made the call to complain to Trump's bodyguard about a teenage prank caller. Cohen, who remained calm during his time on the stand, stood by his testimony and said the bodyguard gave the phone to Trump. Trump chose not to take the stand in his own defense, however, he was very vocal as the trial unfolded. Drama inside and outside the court Ever since the indictment was handed down to him, Trump repeatedly lashed out against key players in the case including Cohen, Daniels, Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the case to the press during rallies and on social media. Trump's frequent attacks ultimately prompted the Merchan to issue a limited gag order prohibiting Trump from making public comments about the witnesses, jury, and family of Bragg or Merchan. PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump's defense lawyer Emil Boveand prosecutor Matthew Colangelo stand before Justice Juan Merchan, during Trump's criminal trial in Manhattan state court in New York, on May 21, 2024. in this courtroom sketch. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters) During the trial, Merchan found Trump in criminal contempt ten times for Trump's repeated violations of the gag order, threatening to imprison the former president for future violations. MORE: Contempt hearing puts renewed focus on Trump's rhetoric about witnesses, jurors in hush money trial Cohen would also slam Trump on social media and his podcast before and during the trial despite being a key witness set to take the stand. Trump's defense used Cohen's comments and social media posts during their cross-examination to argue that he was seeking payback against Trump. Trump's allies show up for support The police prepared for huge throngs of Trump's supporters to rally outside the Manhattan courthouse during the trial, going as far as to set up a barricaded section, but the crowds were small. PHOTO: Doug Burgum, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Vivek Ramaswamy look on as former President Donald Trump talks to the media outside Manhattan criminal court in New York, May 14, 2024. (Curtis Means/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Among the Trump supporters who did travel to New York to back him and criticize the investigation were House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Tommy Tuberville and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. MORE: 'Shameful': Republicans quickly come to Trump's defense after his conviction Johnson said in a statement after the verdict that it was a "shameful day in American history." "This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one," he said in a statement. "President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdictand he WILL WIN!" The fundraising page for Trump's campaign went down for a few minutes after it was made public following the verdict. The campaign is claiming the platform was shut down "due to overwhelming amount of support." Trump attended a campaign fundraiser hours after the verdict. "He was fired up," a person exiting the fundraiser told ABC News. Another insider told ABC News the mood of the fundraiser was "very upbeat." What's next This is not the end of Trump's legal challenges. The former president was indicted twice by Special Counsel Jack Smith on federal charges related to Trump's his alleged interference with the 2020 election and alleged keeping of classified government documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump is also facing state charges in Fulton County, Georgia, over his alleged interference with the 2020 election. The former president has pleaded not guilty to those charges and denied all wrongdoing. ABC News' Aaron Katersky, Rachel Scott, Kelsey Walsh and John Santucci contributed to this report. Donald Trump becomes 1st US president tried and convicted of crimes originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Kansas and Missouri Republicans embraced former President Donald Trump on Thursday as a New York jury found the presumptive GOP nominee for president guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn star just before the 2016 election. The verdict marked the first time in American history that a former president has been convicted of a felony. But the extraordinary moment only reaffirmed the staunch support Trump enjoys among top Republicans in both states, who have long cast the criminal cases against him as a political persecution. Soviet-style show trials have predictable results, Sen. Eric Schmitt said on social media. What happened in New York today is no different. The American people will reject this unprecedented lawfare in November. Kansas and Missouri are solidly Republican states in presidential elections and Trump appears in no danger of losing either. Polls have shown him leading several key battleground states and its unclear how voters in those areas will react to the verdict. As recently as a decade ago, appearing on the same ballot as a top-of-the-ticket criminal nominee would have been an excruciating experience for candidates. Today, however, many Republicans believe the conviction poses little danger to their own campaigns and, if anything, may encourage angry Trump supporters to head to the polls. Kansas and Missouri Democrats as a whole have said relatively little about the legal cases against Trump. The state parties have not used the trial as a cudgel against Republican candidates, and Kansas City-area Democratic Reps. Sharice Davids and Emanuel Cleaver have refrained from making frequent comments about the case. GOP lawmakers have long dismissed the credibility of the trial, claiming it was a politically motivated attempt to hurt Trumps chances at reelection. Prosecutors alleged Trump falsified business records to cover up an alleged affair that could have potentially damaged his campaign in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, equated the verdict to authoritarian regimes, calling it the most egregious miscarriage of justice in our nations history. The true judge and jury will speak loudly in November, and Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States. Two Missouri lawmakers Schmitt and Rep. Eric Burlison traveled to New York to lend their support to Trump over the course of the trial. And Will Scharf, a Republican candidate for Missouri attorney general, is a member of Trumps legal team and has been in court multiple times. Burlison remained steadfast in his support for Trump following his trip to New York claiming all of the cases brought against Trump not just in New York, but in Georgia, Florida and Washington as well were falling apart. Asked whether there was a red line in which he would stop supporting Trump, Burlison said none of the allegations against Trump have crossed that line. Hes the one taking the punches for us, Burlison said. If he had sat on the sidelines his entire life, he would be a happy, rich billionaire, living his best life. But hes not. His giving himself up for political service, giving up his paycheck while being President of the United States. Kansas and Missouri Republicans embraced former President Donald Trump on Thursday as a New York jury found the presumptive GOP nominee for president guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn star just before the 2016 election. The verdict marked the first time in American history that a former president has been convicted of a felony. But the extraordinary moment only reaffirmed the staunch support Trump enjoys among top Republicans in both states, who have long cast the criminal cases against him as a political persecution. Soviet-style show trials have predictable results, Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Missouri Republican, said on social media. What happened in New York today is no different. The American people will reject this unprecedented lawfare in November. Kansas and Missouri are solidly Republican states in presidential elections and Trump appears in no danger of losing either. Polls have shown him leading several key battleground states and its unclear how voters in those areas will react to the verdict. Shortly after the verdicts were announced, Will Scharf, a Republican candidate for Missouri attorney general who serves on Trumps legal defense team, vowed to speedily appeal. As recently as a decade ago, appearing on the same ballot as a top-of-the-ticket criminal nominee would have been an excruciating experience for candidates. Today, however, many Republicans believe the conviction poses little danger to their own campaigns and, if anything, may encourage angry Trump supporters to head to the polls. Rep. Jason Smith, a Republican from Salem, responded to the verdict by sending out a link to Trumps campaign fundraising page. I am SEVERELY disappointed in the lack of nobility shown in our justice system today! Smith wrote on social media. Finding Trump GUILTY is a grave mistake. Kansas and Missouri Democrats as a whole have said relatively little about the legal cases against Trump. The state parties have not used the trial as a cudgel against Republican candidates, and Kansas City-area Democratic Reps. Sharice Davids and Emanuel Cleaver have refrained from making frequent comments about the case. Rep. Davids has always said that no one is above the law and she trusts the justice system to work as it should, said Zac Donley, Davids communication director. GOP lawmakers have long dismissed the credibility of the trial, claiming it was a politically motivated attempt to hurt Trumps chances at reelection. Prosecutors alleged Trump falsified business records to cover up an alleged affair that could have potentially damaged his campaign in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election. For months, Republicans have cast charges against Trump as an attempt by the Democratic Party and President Joe Biden to weaken the standing of his political opponent. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, said the trial was a dangerous abuse of the political process and instantly laid the blame on Biden, even though the case was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, equated the verdict to authoritarian regimes, calling it the most egregious miscarriage of justice in our nations history. The true judge and jury will speak loudly in November, and Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States. Two Missouri lawmakers Schmitt and Rep. Eric Burlison traveled to New York to lend their support to Trump over the course of the trial. Burlison remained steadfast in his support for Trump following his trip to New York claiming all of the cases brought against Trump not just in New York, but in Georgia, Florida and Washington as well were falling apart. Asked whether there was a red line in which he would stop supporting Trump, Burlison said none of the allegations against Trump have crossed that line. Hes the one taking the punches for us, Burlison said. If he had sat on the sidelines his entire life, he would be a happy, rich billionaire, living his best life. But hes not. His giving himself up for political service, giving up his paycheck while being President of the United States. Trump has loomed over all statewide Republican primary races in both Kansas and Missouri. Republican candidates have over the past several months aligned themselves with the former president, hoping to earn his endorsement. Trumps grip on statewide politics is perhaps most visible in the Republican contest for Missouri attorney general. Incumbent Andrew Bailey has cast himself as a staunch defender of the former president while Scharf, his opponent, serves on Trumps legal team. Bailey on Thursday said he was outraged by the sham verdict. This is the result of a rigged system, where the judge manipulated the process to turn jurors against President Trump, Bailey alleged on social media. Scharf, in a statement to The Star, said it was a tragic day in the history of the American Republic. We will speedily appeal, and we will win on appeal because this case is meritless, baseless, and should have never seen the inside of an American courtroom, he said. While Republicans swiftly denounced the verdict Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, called it a victory for the rule of law. I hope that my fellow Americans will take this moment to reflect deeply on the road we walked to reach this point and which direction we want to take moving forward, Cleaver said in a written statement. (FOX40.COM) A former professor was sentenced to over five years in prison Thursday after he was convicted of setting fires while firefighting crews battled the Dixie Fire. The U.S. Department of Justice said Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, of San Jose, admitted to starting four fires in Northern California between July 20, 2021 and August 7, 2021. Houseboat catches fire at Sacramento River boat launch Those fires burned in Shasta Trinity National Forest and near Lassen National Forest where crews were battling the Dixie Fire. Maynard went on an arson spree on federal land while California faced one of the worst fire seasons in history, said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. He intentionally made a dangerous situation more perilous by setting some of his fires behind the men and women fighting the Dixie fire, potentially cutting off any chance of escape. Maynard was sentenced to five years and three months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $13,081 in restitution. The Dixie Fire started on July 13, 2021, and burned roughly 963,309 acres over the next 104 days. According to CalFire, one emergency crew personnel died while responding to the Dixie Fire and three others were injured. No civilian injuries or casualties were reported. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. KUNMING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- At the crack of dawn, 72-year-old ranger Yu Jianhua began his journey into the depths of the mountains. His workday begins when he locates the black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys. He then follows them around till the sun goes down. The Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Yunnan Province is home to a rare species of snub-nosed monkeys. Known as the Yunnan golden hair monkeys, these unique creatures exhibit human-like faces and feature black-and-white hairs. Blessed with the tireless work done by "monkey guardians" like Yu and the broader conservation efforts, the species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species has not only survived but also thrived in the high-altitude alpine forests. Preliminary data showed that the population of Yunnan golden hair monkey inhabiting the Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve has jumped from about 540 in 1985 to about 2,500 today. After 28 years of working tirelessly as a monkey guardian, Yu has nurtured a deep emotional bond with the primates. "A day without seeing these creatures would leave me missing them terribly." However, Yu used to be a hunter like many other villagers and generations before them. Since the Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve was launched in 1983, local villagers have foregone hunting as their way of living and turned to other trades. Yu joined the monkey guardian teams and has since worked as a front-line conservation staffer. The monkey guardians overseeing the Xianggujing section of the nature reserve work in two teams, each made up of 10 team members. Their duties include dropping food around monkey habitats and guiding tourists and researchers to precise locations of these creatures. During an interview, dozens of Yunnan golden hair monkeys were seen frolicking in the forests, some foraging for usnea, a kind of lichen and the species' "staple food," and some were fed hand-picked fruits by the monkey guardians. Yu recalled how in the past human activities, such as hunting and logging, deteriorated the monkeys' habitats, forcing them to retreat further up the mountains. However, with years of efforts, the nature reserve staff and monkey guardians have managed to attract a monkey troop from higher altitude habitats of over 3,500 meters to lower regions between 2,300 meters and 3,000 meters. This move aims to enhance their reproduction chances, with 10 baby monkeys having recently been born within the troop. In addition to human guardians, technology has played an increasingly pivotal role in the conservation of Yunnan golden hair monkeys. High-resolution cameras installed in the nature reserve allow staff members to monitor the movements of monkey troops from behind screens. Infrared cameras, drones, and remote sensing technology are also being utilized in the conservation work. The "monkey face" automatic recognition and automatic monitoring technology has been developed to realize dynamic monitoring of the monkey population, according to Lai Jiandong, director of the wild animal rescue station at the nature reserve. China has created more than 11,000 natural protected areas, covering 18 percent of the country's total land areas, and with dedicated funding and management in place to conserve biodiversity. Former TikToker Convicted of Killing Wife and the Man He Thought She Was Cheating with in 2021 Ali Abulaban was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, and will be sentenced on June 28 Facebook Prosecutors say TikTok star Ali Abulaban shot and killed his wife, Ana Abulaban, and Rayburn Cardenas Barron in October 2021. A former TikTok star from San Diego has been convicted by a jury for the 2021 murders of his estranged wife and the man he thought she was cheating with. Ali Abulaban was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for his wife, Ana Abulaban, 28, and her male friend, Rayburn Barron, 29, on Wednesday, May 29, reports local affiliates NBC 7, CBS 8, and Fox 5. In court, Ali, who performed skits under the handle Jinnkid and had nearly 1 million followers on TikTok, became emotional after hearing the verdict, wiping tears from his face as the gallery cheered, NBC 7 reports. Ali confessed to killing Ali and Barron during the trial and has been in prison since the October 2021 murders. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28 and could receive up to life in prison. Related: TikTok Star Accused of Killing Estranged Wife After Allegedly Spying on Her with Daughter's iPad The jury began deliberating after closing arguments on Friday, May 24 about a month after the trial began and returned with the guilty verdict Wednesday morning, per Fox 5 and NBC 7. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, using a firearm, as well as a special circumstance charge for killing multiple people, according to NBC 7. While deliberating, the jury decided he was guilty of first-degree murder, "an intent to kill with malice aforethought," instead of second-degree murder, which is "intending to do so with malice, not premeditated," criminal defense attorney Gretchen Von Helms said, per CBS 8. Related: How 'Flirting' at a Wedding Celebration Led to Best Man Being Shot and Grooms Arrest facebook Ali and Ana Abulaban Ali and Ana had been having issues in their marriage at the time of the killings, prosecutors previously said. He was living in a hotel and had been stalking Ana after she told him to leave their apartment. Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast said ahead of the trial that Ali was convinced Ana was cheating on him, so he snuck into the apartment when she was away and downloaded an app with a listening device on his 5-year-old daughter's iPad, according to the Los Angeles Times. Ali previously said that while listening to the app, he heard Ana talking to another man. He went back to the apartment, shot Barron three times and struck Ana in 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 trial, Ali's mother Dalal Warra testified that moments after the crime, he called her and confessed to committing the double murder. Ali also took to the stand on May 21 and testified that his and Ana's relationship was tumultuous, and confessed to using drugs. He also admitted to physically abusing Ana in a previous incident, stating, "I was just very impulsive." The two were together for seven years and shared one child. 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. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. When they were comparing data to create the annual 15 Top Health Systems list, Fortune magazine and PINC AI found none better than Intermountain Health, headquartered in Salt Lake City. The 2024 ranking marks the second time that Intermountain Health has made the top 15 ranking and the first time it has been ranked No. 1. In the annual reckoning, Intermountain which has facilities in six states earned five stars out of a possible five each for clinical outcomes, operation efficiency and patient experience. Others in the top five were Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; Houston Methodist in Houston; HCA Continental Division in Denver; and Sutter Health in Sacramento, California. The large category included 173 health systems. Im beyond proud of our entire team of caregivers who have put in the work to make this possible, Rob Allen, president and CEO of Intermountain Health, said in a written statement. This ranking is a tribute to their expertise and dedication to helping people live the healthiest lives possible. In the medium health system category, HCA Mountain Division, also headquartered in Salt Lake City, ranked No. 1, scoring five stars for clinical outcomes, five stars for operation efficiency and three stars for patient experience. The rest of the categorys top five are CHI Saint Joseph Health in Lexington, Kentucky; Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa, Oklahoma: Munson Healthcare in Traverse City, Michigan; and Ascension Sacred Heart Health System in Pensacola, Florida. The medium category included 92 health systems. In Utah, the HCA Mountain Division hospitals are branded MountainStar. This is the second time the HCA Mountain Division made the list. Besides Utah, the division has facilities in Alaska and Idaho. This tremendous accomplishment belongs to our entire team, Evan Ray, president of HCA Healthcares Mountain Division, said in a written statement. This recognition is the result of the skill and compassion on display in each of our 1.5 million annual patient interactions, and also of the thoughtful coordination and shared purpose across our team of 10,000 professionals. St. Mark Hospital's Lone Peak Emergency Center on Tuesday, May 25, 2010. HCA Mountain Division, headquartered in Salt Lake City, ranked No. 1 in the medium health system category in new rankings by Fortune Magazine. | Scott G. Winterton About the rankings The top 15 health systems list includes five hospitals each in the large, medium and small categories. The data analysis was done by PINC AI, the health care company Premiers technology platform, using publicly available Medicare data. To be included, a health care system had to have at least two general, acute-care hospitals. In all, 2,778 hospitals in 355 health systems were considered, based on Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data and some core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services Hospital Compare website, among other factors. Fortune emphasized that healthy systems and hospitals do not apply for the awards and winners do not pay to market this honor. According to Fortunes announcement of the top health systems, The analysis took into account data from every hospital within a system, and considered eight performance indicators, like inpatient mortality and average length of stay that measure an organizations clinical outcomes, operational efficiency and patient experience. The top-ranking systems, divided into three groups large, medium and small outperformed their peer systems on all eight measures. These were meaningful differences: Rates of hospital-acquired infections and inpatient mortality, for example, were both 21% lower for winning systems than non-winning peers. For the best-performing large systems, inpatient mortality was 32% lower, according to the study. Fortune said that if all the health systems performed as well as the top-rated hospitals, there would be 220,000 fewer patient deaths and 196,000 fewer patients to suffer complications during their hospital stay. The article noted that hospital stays would be shortened by a half-day, on average, and the cost of care would be 2% lower. The magazine noted that Mayo Clinic, now No. 2 in large health systems behind Intermountain Health, has been in the top five a dozen times. Four Arkansas school districts set to receive $11 million-plus from EPA for clean-running school buses LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A federal program will provide millions of dollars across four Arkansas school districts to provide clean-running school buses. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that $11,030,000 is provided in Arkansas through its 2023 Clean School Bus Program. According to EPA officials, the funding will purchase 36 new and clean school buses to replace older, diesel-fueled school buses that they said were linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and communities. More and faster: Electricity from clean sources reaches 30% of global total The EPA selected the Quitman School District to receive $820,000, the Little Rock School District to receive $8,625,000, the Batesville School District to receive $365,000 and the Farmington School District to receive $1,220,000 to fund electric, propane, and natural gas-powered buses. The funding is issued to school districts as rebates for bus purchases. Cyberattacks against water utilities across US are rising, EPA warns Todays announcement is good news for children in Arkansas, especially those in underserved areas who are often exposed to more air pollution and health risks such as asthma,EPA Region 6 Administrator Earthea Nance said. Replacing diesel-fueled buses with clean school buses reduces harmful emissions and improves air quality in communities throughout the nation. EPA officials said the agency is partnering with other agencies through the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to provide school districts with technical assistance to ensure effective implementation. Watchdog: EPAs lead pipe fix sent about $3 billion to states based on unverified data EPA officials report that the agency has funded almost $3 billion to purchase 8,500 school buses since the initiation of the Biden administrations Investing in America agenda. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Four Sacramento-area men with ties to a former Internal Revenue Service worker have been sentenced to a federal prison term for their role in a plot to fraudulently obtain more than $3 million in pandemic relief aid, according to authorities. Frank Mosely, 58, of Oakland, along with his brother, Reginald Mosely, 60, of Sacramento, orchestrated the scheme, which saw them obtain Paycheck Protection Program loan funds by filing documents on behalf of shell companies they and four others falsely certified had dozens of employees and hundreds of thousands of dollars in monthly payroll expenses, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Oakland said in a news release. The brothers along with Aaron Boren, 56, of Roseville; Scott Conway, 52, of Rocklin; and Marcus Wilborn, 50, of Elk Grove pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud earlier this month. In addition, the brothers pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and advising in the filing of false tax returns. A sixth person Kenya Ellis, 55, of Los Angeles pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. The brothers were sentenced to two and a half years in prison, Wilborn to a year and a half, and Boren, Conway and Ellis to one year, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. At the height of a global pandemic wreaking havoc on American businesses and families, these defendants fraudulently obtained millions of dollars in aid money intended to help those who desperately needed it and used that money to enrich themselves, U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey said in a statement. That one of these defendants was a former IRS revenue officer makes their crime that much more concerning. These sentences should help rebuild some of the public trust eroded by the defendants greed. Frank Mosely, in addition to his stint with the IRS, worked as a tax enforcement officer in Oakland. The brothers, Boren, Conway and Wilborn admitted that they used the PPP funds for personal expenses and investments and to pay credit card bills, according to authorities. In August 2020, the brothers submitted a fraudulent loan application on behalf of Forward Thinking Investors Inc., an entity they controlled, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. They received over $1 million in PPP funds, and Reginald Mosely thereafter recruited acquaintances who owned companies prior to the pandemic to follow suit. Boren, Conway and Wilborn agreed to kick back at least 15% of the funds they received to the brothers for their help in preparing the applications, according to authorities. Ellis, for her part, admitted that she aided and advised the brothers and the others in connection with their bogus PPP loan applications, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. In addition, Ellis admitted to obtaining nearly $300,000 in PPP funds and other relief aid in connection with an entity she lied about owning, according to authorities. The PPP was administered by the Small Business Administration as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic, or CARES, Act. The federal law was enacted in March 2020 to provide billions of dollars in emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans suffering from the economic effects of the pandemic. The program provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other qualified business expenses. In addition to sentencing all six defendants to prison, a judge ordered each of them to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution in an amount to be set at a later date. Immediately after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on Thursdaymaking him the first president to be a convicted criminalFox News described the verdict as warfare while descending into full freakout mode. The conservative cable giants hosts and pundits didnt just stop there, though. Besides suggesting that Trumps conviction amounted to war, the right-wing networks personalities also fumed that it could lead to the undoing of our country and represented America going over a cliff. Shortly after the verdict was released, which resulted in loud cheers outside the courthouse, Fox News anchor Shannon Bream seemingly tried to soften the blow to MAGA viewers by pointing out that President Joe Bidens son will soon be standing trial. If they are, as we talked about, going to start referring to former President Trump as convicted felon Donald Trump, and whether they are going to use that language that we also know Hunter Biden is facing two federal trials, which we can talk about, as well, one of them starting on Monday, Bream noted. Bream also noted that a conviction for the younger Biden could lead many people across the spectrum to feel that the political discourse had turned into legal warfare, prompting pro-Trump host Jeanine Pirro to double down on that comparison. Weve been calling it lawfare, I think lawfare is far too soft, its far too benign, Pirro exclaimed. This is warfare! A longtime acolyte of Trumps, Pirro continued to rage over the verdict, which she called a gut punch handed down by a kangaroo court. At the same time, she also asserted that Trump was the victim of a justice system akin to Third-World countries and that the deck was stacked against him. I want to believe that Americans believe in justice, and I think that in their gut, they realized that there is something that is very wrong here, she groused. We have gone over a cliff in America. This verdict is a verdict of someone who was forced to fight a 1,000-pound gorilla with both hands tied behind his back. Moments later, the former president walked out of the courthouse and, naturally, ranted that the whole country was rigged against him. Pirro also took aim at the prosecutions key witnesses in the trial, complaining that the testimony of a hooker and serial perjurer resulted in the conviction of the ex-president. Manhattan prosecutors accused Trump of fraudulently paying off adult film star Stormy Daniels to stay quiet about an alleged affair prior to the 2016 election, an arrangement that was handled by his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen. Fox News having a normal reaction to the Trump verdict Fox contributor Trey Gowdy: This new era of so-called progressive prosecutors .. I think it may be the undoing of our country. Fox anchor: That feels very ominous. pic.twitter.com/UuQf4sA05J Lis Power (@LisPower1) May 30, 2024 While Bream grumbled that the gag order against Trump during the trial had been stretched to its limits, Fox News host Trey Gowdy said that the ex-president could throw Trumps conviction back into the face of Biden and Democrats. President Trump or his surrogates will say, perhaps I am a convicted felon, you are unconvicted felons! You have engaged in egregious conduct, he proclaimed. It just hasnt resulted in us using the court system to go after you. He went on to warn that in this new era of so-called progressive prosecutors and defense attorneys masquerading as prosecutors, the Trump verdict could lead to the undoing of our country. 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. Fox News anchor Shannon Bream pushed back hard at Alina Habbas claim that President Joe Biden is responsible for the hush money trial against Donald Trump. (Watch the video below.) The exchange even caught the attention of the presumptive GOP presidential candidate, who called Bream anti-MAGA and stupid. As the jury deliberated on Wednesday, Bream and Habba, now a legal spokesperson for Trump after serving as his lawyer, verbally sparred outside the Manhattan courthouse. This is exactly a Biden show because hes got to distract the American people, Habba said. But the Biden administration is not responsible for this trial, Bream corrected her. How can you say the Biden administration is not responsible? Habba asked. Its a state trial, Bream explained. Its [Manhattan District Attorney] Alvin Bragg. Whether you think theres a political motive for him, its not connected to the DOJ. I mean, the feds passed on these election charges. Habba continued to try to make her case by asserting that state prosecutors have visited the White House. Bream held her ground. The feds passed on these cases, is the point Im making, Bream said. Habba attempted to link Braggs interest in the case to political motivation and accused Biden of exploiting the trial for publicity after actor Robert De Niro appeared outside the courtroom on Tuesday on behalf of the incumbents campaign. She said Biden has plans to speak publicly when a verdict comes down for Trump. Bream, also an attorney, noted that any president would want to weigh in on the unprecedented criminal trial of a former president. The jury began deliberations Wednesday in the case, in which Trump is accused of disguising hush money payments to a porn star as legal expenses to keep their alleged affair out of the public eye before the 2016 election. Trump lawyer Alina Habba: This [trial] is exactly a Biden show because he's got to distract the American people. Fox News anchor Shannon Bream: The Biden administration is not responsible. ... It's not connected to the DOJ. I mean, the feds passed on these election charges. pic.twitter.com/8xMHUhU3Rj The Recount (@therecount) May 29, 2024 Related... France may soon send military instructors to Ukraine, despite concerns from some allies and criticism from Russia, media reports indicate. Source: Reuters has learned this from its sources, European Pravda reports. Details: The agency's sources claim that France may announce its decision next week during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The diplomats reported that Paris hopes to form and lead a coalition of countries that will offer such assistance to Kyiv in its military efforts, even though some of its European Union partners fear that this could make direct conflict with Russia more likely. The two diplomats said France would initially send a limited number of personnel to assess the feasibility of the mission and then send several hundred instructors. The sources noted that the training will focus on demining, equipment maintenance and technical expertise for military aircraft. Paris will also finance, arm and train a Ukrainian motorised brigade. Quote: "The arrangements are very advanced and we could expect something next week," one of the sources said. Background: Earlier, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces, said that France was ready to send its instructors involved in training Ukrainian soldiers directly to Ukraine, and the first of them would soon come to get an overview of the capabilities of Ukrainian training centres. Afterwards, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces stated that the deployment of French military instructors to Ukraine to train soldiers is still under consideration. In mid-May, The New York Times reported that some North Atlantic Alliance members were privately discussing the prospect of deploying military instructors or contractors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian soldiers and assist with equipment repairs. Support UP or become our patron! MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A free day in Kiddieland will be hosted by the Central Valley Community Foundations Central Valley Opportunity Fund (CVOF) following an over $200,000 grant, officials announced. Officials with CVOF announced $250,000 has been awarded to the Kiwanis Club of Greater Merceds Kiddieland. In addition, the Kiwanis club has matched CVOFs generosity with a matching grant of $250,000. The Central Valley Opportunity Fund is proud to contribute to the timeless joy Kiddieland brings to generations of Mercedians. Kiddieland embodies the unique charm that defines Merced as a distinctive community. Lets continue to nurture this charm and build a brighter future for all, said Kim Garner, Merced Regional Director of CVOF. The funds will be used to ensure ADA accessibility at the park, enhance visitor safety and comfort, as well as to update the train, its flagship attraction that provides rides around Applegate Parks perimeter. As a result, officials with CVOF announced they will be hosting a free day at Kiddieland on June 1, where families and friends can celebrate. The festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. with a check presentation, which officials say will symbolize Merceds commitment to the ongoing development of this beloved community asset. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. BAGHDAD, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Two separate attacks involving sound grenades struck branches of American and British companies in Baghdad overnight Thursday, according to a statement from the Iraqi military's Security Media Cell. The first attack occurred at 1:20 am local time (2220 GMT Wednesday) in the Jadriya neighborhood, targeting the local branch of U.S. heavy machinery company Caterpillar. Ten minutes later, a second sound grenade detonated in Palestine Street, eastern Baghdad, outside the British Cambridge Institute, a language education center. The statement confirmed no casualties resulted from the attacks. The Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC), through the Security Media Cell, condemned the incidents, calling them "a desperate attempt to harm Iraq's reputation." The JOC emphasized its commitment to pursuing "all those who tamper with security and social peace and violate the law and public and private property." Responsibility for the attacks remains unclaimed. However, local observers have drawn a link to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, suggesting the targeted companies represent nations perceived as backing Israel. These incidents follow a series of attacks targeting American fast-food establishments in Baghdad over the past week, including two KFC branches and an American-style restaurant, according to local media reports. FT: NATO has only 5% of air defense required to defend eastern flank More than two years into Russia's full-scale war on Ukraine, the air defense capabilities of NATO's eastern flank are only at 5% of the amount seen as necessary to deter an attack, the Financial Times (FT) reported on May 29, citing sources. NATO members located in central and eastern Europe have publicized plans in recent weeks to improve their collective air defense in response to the Russian threat. Yet, according to unnamed sources who spoke to the FT, the current air defense capabilities of NATO's eastern flank are far from sufficient. Air defense is a "major part of the plan to defend eastern Europe from invasion," a NATO diplomat told the FT. "And right now, we don't have that." Russia's usage of drones and glide bombs against Ukraine has further highlighted the need for NATO to improve its air defense capabilities. "(Air defense) is one of the biggest holes we have," another NATO diplomat told the FT. "We can't deny it." Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite said earlier in May that a group of countries, including the Baltic states, Poland, Norway, and Finland, have agreed to create a "drone wall" to help defend their collective borders. The announcement came after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland had signed a contract to join the European Sky Shield Initiative, which currently includes 21 countries. The initiative aims to create an Iron Dome-style air defense system covering NATO members across Europe. Read also: Timothy Garton Ash: Were at the beginning of a new era. What we do now is particularly important Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The U.S. will soon finalize a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, which may be aimed at helping mend the current "tense" relations between the two countries, the Financial Times (FT) reported on May 30, citing sources. Over 30 countries have joined the Group of Seven (G7) Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine so far. The U.K., Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Belgium, and Portugal have already signed bilateral agreements with Kyiv. Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, said earlier in May that "tangible progress" had been made on a similar agreement with the U.S. The news comes as unnamed Ukrainian officials told the FT that relations with the U.S. had reached their lowest point since the beginning of the full-scale war. "We are farther apart than ever since the war started. It is very, very tense," one unnamed Ukrainian official said. Other officials pointed to discontent coming specifically from President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has reportedly become "emotional and nervous" over the battlefield situation and what he sees as a growing U.S. willingness to hold negotiations with Russia. Zelensky "thinks (the administration of President Joe Biden) want(s) the war to go away before the (U.S.) election," the official said. The tension broke out into the open after reports surfaced that Biden would not attend the upcoming global peace summit in Switzerland in June. "I believe that the peace summit needs President Biden, and other leaders need President Biden because they will look at the U.S.'s reaction," Zelensky said. "(Biden's) absence would only be met by an applause by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, a personal, standing applause by Putin," he added. At the same time, U.S. officials told the FT that Ukraine had scheduled the summit despite being informed that Biden would not be able to attend. A yet unannounced senior official will attend in his place. U.S. officials have also expressed concern about Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory and oil facilities, such as the recent drone strike on an early-warning Voronezh M radar system in the Russian city of Orsk, Orenburg Oblast, on May 26. An unnamed source told the Washington Post that the radar systems are "sensitive locations because Russia could perceive that its strategic deterrent capabilities are being targeted, which could undermine Russia's ability to maintain nuclear deterrence against the U.S." There has been a growing call among Ukraine's allies in recent weeks to end the restriction on Western-supplied weapons being used to strike Russian territory, but Biden has yet to officially endorse the move. Read also: NATO summit declaration to contain new language on Ukraines membership, US ambassador says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Just two weeks after opening, FunCity Adventure Park voluntarily closed over Memorial Day weekend. According to the Kansas Department of Labor, the issue was that the indoor playground, one of several FunCity locations across the United States, did not have the required permits. To operate amusement rides, such as trampoline courts, inflatables and more all of which Wichitas FunCity has operators are required to obtain amusement ride permits from KDOL. According to Becky Shaffer, communications director at KDOL, FunCity did not have all the necessary permits upon opening. The Industrial and Health Division of the KDOL informed them of this and instructed them to engage a third-party vendor to conduct the necessary inspections, Shaffer said via email. Upon the inspection, FunCity received a report highlighting what it needed to correct, the department said. The location, near 21st and Woodlawn, voluntarily closed over Memorial Day weekend. Shaffer said that once the corrections are made, the KDOL will be able to issue the permit necessary for it to reopen. When asked about the buildings temporary closure on Tuesday, an employee at FunCity said the indoor park is closed for construction but declined to elaborate, saying I cant give you that information. When asked why, the employee said, Theres not really a reason. I mean, I just dont think we need to provide that information for you. In a follow-up call on Thursday, another FunCity employee did not offer any more information about the temporary closure or when the location would reopen. This situation follows another abrupt FunCity locations closure in Algonquin, Illinois. The location closed two weeks after opening upon the Illinois Department of Labor finding multiple violations, such as unsafe equipment and construction, according to Shaw Local. The Algonquin location remains closed. The Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide funding to help school districts purchase clean school buses, most of them electric. Shown is a yellow electric school bus plugged into a charging station. (Photo by TW Farlow/Getty Images) WASHINGTON As part of its ongoing effort to replace diesel-fueled school buses, the Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide approximately 530 school districts across nearly all states with almost $1 billion to help them purchase clean school buses. The initiative, part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, will give funds to school districts in 47 states and the District of Columbia to help them buy over 3,400 clean school buses. Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada are not part of this round of funding. Nearly all of the clean school buses purchased will be electric, at 92%, according to the administration. This announcement is not just about clean school buses, its about the bigger picture, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said during a call with reporters on Tuesday, prior to the announcement. We are improving air quality for our children, reducing greenhouse gas pollution and expanding our nations leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future. Low-income, rural and tribal communities accounting for approximately 45% of the selected projects are slated to receive roughly 67% of the total funding, per the administration. Regan noted how low-income communities and communities of color have long felt the disproportionate impacts of air pollution leading to severe health outcomes that continue to impact these populations. As for business and economic opportunities, Regan pointed to the development of new, well-paying manufacturing jobs and investment in local businesses stemming from the increasing demand for these clean school buses. As more and more schools make the switch to electric buses, there will be a need for American-made batteries, charging stations and service providers to maintain the buses supercharging and reinvigorating local economies, he added. The Clean School Bus Program has now collectively awarded nearly $3 billion to fund approximately 8,500 electric and alternative fuel buses for over 1,000 communities across the United States, according to the administration. The program started through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, which includes $5 billion over five years to transform the countrys existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models, per the EPA. Among many negative health and environmental effects, especially for communities of color, diesel exhaust exposure can lead to major health conditions such as asthma and respiratory illnesses, according to the EPA. Exposure to diesel exhaust can also worsen existing heart and lung disease, especially in children and the elderly, the agency said. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Funds for clean school buses coming to hundreds of districts, White House says appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. Funds for clean school buses coming to hundreds of districts, White House says The Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide funding to help school districts purchase clean school buses, most of them electric. Shown is a yellow electric school bus plugged into a charging station. (Photo by TW Farlow/Getty Images) WASHINGTON As part of its ongoing effort to replace diesel-fueled school buses, the Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide approximately 530 school districts across nearly all states with almost $1 billion to help them purchase clean school buses. The initiative, part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, will give funds to school districts in 47 states and the District of Columbia to help them buy over 3,400 clean school buses. Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada are not part of this round of funding. In Virginia, 18 school districts will receive a total of $36,720,000 as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, President Joe Biden announced May 29. The designated school districts, found in every region of the state, will use the funds to purchase new school buses, most of them electric. Here are the districts that will take part in the clean buses program, and their award amounts: Alexandria City Public Schools, $400,000 Arlington County Public Schools, $1,020,000.00 August County Public Schools, $400,000.00 Brunswick County Public Schools, $1,725,000.00 Charlottesville City Public Schools, $420,000.00 Culpeper County Public Schools, $800,000.00 Falls Church City Public Schools, $400,000.00 Fredericksburg City Public Schools, $3,490,000.00 Harrisonburg City Public Schools, $600,000.00 Henrico County Public Schools, $3,450,000.00 Loudoun County Public Schools, $3,975,000.00 Manassas County Public Schools, $1,200,000.00 Martinsville City Public Schools, $1,725,000.00 Northampton County Public Schools, $1,380,000.00 Virginia Beach Public Schools, $450,000.00 Westmoreland County Public Schools, $2,070,000.00 Wise County Public Schools, $1,725,000.00 Nearly all of the clean school buses purchased will be electric, at 92%, according to the administration. This announcement is not just about clean school buses, its about the bigger picture, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said during a call with reporters on Tuesday, prior to the announcement. We are improving air quality for our children, reducing greenhouse gas pollution and expanding our nations leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future. Low-income, rural and tribal communities accounting for approximately 45% of the selected projects are slated to receive roughly 67% of the total funding, per the administration. Regan noted how low-income communities and communities of color have long felt the disproportionate impacts of air pollution leading to severe health outcomes that continue to impact these populations. As for business and economic opportunities, Regan pointed to the development of new, well-paying manufacturing jobs and investment in local businesses stemming from the increasing demand for these clean school buses. As more and more schools make the switch to electric buses, there will be a need for American-made batteries, charging stations and service providers to maintain the buses supercharging and reinvigorating local economies, he added. The Clean School Bus Program has now collectively awarded nearly $3 billion to fund approximately 8,500 electric and alternative fuel buses for over 1,000 communities across the United States, according to the administration. The program started through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, which includes $5 billion over five years to transform the countrys existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models, per the EPA. Among many negative health and environmental effects, especially for communities of color, diesel exhaust exposure can lead to major health conditions such as asthma and respiratory illnesses, according to the EPA. Exposure to diesel exhaust can also worsen existing heart and lung disease, especially in children and the elderly, the agency said. The post Funds for clean school buses coming to hundreds of districts, White House says appeared first on Virginia Mercury. Funds requested for proposed park to connect downtown Sacramento to the riverfront (FOX40.COM) Sacramentos Congresswoman Doris Matsui has requested $5 million in federal funding to study the construction of a park connecting downtown Sacramento and the Sacramento River. The project, which includes the city and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, proposes a 4-acre park built on a deck that would be atop Interstate 5, which primarily runs along the rivers shoreline. Starbucks permanently closes downtown Sacramento location When the interstate was built in the early 1960s, it severely limited access to the waterfront and removed several neighborhoods, including Japantown. The stretch of the interstate south of Old Sacramento lies at a lower elevation than surrounding streets, and this is where the project proposes building the park. California DMV will no longer process these services at offices Reclaiming this space for the people of Sacramento will create a signature public commons at the gateway to Californias capital city capable of hosting both special events and passive recreation, and will serve to enhance the quality of life and social connectivity of everyone in the region, reads a statement from Scott Ford, economic development director of Downtown Sacramento Partnership. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. A Columbus, Georgia man was arrested after police received a tip about several dogs being chained outside his home without proper shelter or access to water. On Tuesday, May 28, just before noon, the Columbus Police Departments Special Operations Unit executed a search warrant in the 500 block of Chesterfield Avenue. While walking through the backyard, officers saw several dogs that appeared underweight, lacked access to food and water, and showed signs of injury. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Equipment on his property suggested the dogs were potentially used in dog fighting. Police were told about other dogs inside the home, which prompted them to get a search warrant for inside the house. During their search of the property, they found a Kia K5 sedan that was reported stolen in Atlanta, over a kilogram of marijuana, 7.7 grams of methamphetamine, and 2 grams of spice. Animal control officers rescued seven adult dogs and 10 puppies. The animals are being treated by a veterinarian for injuries. Akahime Jordan, 32, was arrested and charged with 17 counts of aggravated animal cruelty, financial transaction card theft, identification fraud, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of spice, theft by receiving stolen vehicle, and possession of drug-related objects. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Patritsia Paneva, Gyunesh Ali, Tsvetka Todorova were among three who admitted stealing upwards of 50m A gang who systematically plundered the UKs welfare system in the largest benefits fraud ever uncovered have been jailed for a total of 25 years and five months. Galina Nikolova, 39, Stoyan Stoyanov, 28, Tsvetka Todorova, 53, Gyunesh Ali, 34, and Patritsia Paneva, 27, all admitted stealing upwards of 50 million of taxpayer money over a four and a half year period. False claims were made using an array of forged documents for Universal Credit with real people who were nearly always living in Bulgaria and who were complicit and also gained financially. On Thursday, at Wood Green Crown Court, Judge David Aaronberg said the sums involved were eye watering. You systematically plundered the states support mechanism for the needy in order to fund your lifestyles and those of many others, he continued. Fraud on an industrial scale Judge Aaronberg said that it was fraud on an industrial scale which had resulted in the loss of many millions of pounds to the taxpayer. It falls to me to sentence you today for your involvement, along with others not before the court, in the largest fraud of its type ever to be prosecuted in this country. Nikolova and Ali, the leading architects of the fraud, were jailed for eight years, and seven years and three months respectively. Ali and Nikolova were told they were also banned from being company directors for 12 years and were liable for deportation following their release from prison. Gang leader revelled in vast amounts of cash Ali was said to have revelled in the vast amounts of cash he was making through his dishonesty and which he used to fund a lavish lifestyle. The judge said he rejected entirely claims made by Nikolova that she had been forced to carry out the fraud out of fear of others who had not been prosecuted. Paneva, who said she worked from a windowless office at the back of a grocery store processing claims for the gang, was sentenced to three years and two months. The judge said she had been recruited by Nikolova because of her naivety and there was no evidence she had enjoyed a lifestyle like the other defendants. Stoyanov, described as a trusted subordinate, was seen laughing in the dock before he was jailed for four years. The court heard Stoyanov, Nikolovas partner, was a conduit for those higher up in the chain. Todorova, who was operating her own fraud with a similar methodology, and stole just under 300,000 was handed a three year sentence. However, because she had already served 18 months in prison on remand, half of her sentence, she was able to leave court on licence. Woefully inadequate checking systems Judge Aaronberg said the gang had been able to operate for so long because of woefully inadequate checking systems at the Department for Work and Pensions which failed to identify repeated use of the same names, addresses and telephone numbers The fraud was only uncovered after a lone policeman in Sliven, Bulgaria, tipped off British authorities when he noticed his city was suddenly awash with cash and criminals were living like barons. The Telegraph previously revealed that thousands of people living in Sliven, of whom many had never visited Britain, were receiving up to 2,500 a month in benefits from the UK. Inspector Vassil Panayotov, who alerted police in Britain, said the true scale of the fraud is likely to be hundreds of millions of pounds higher than estimated. Judge Aaronberg, thanked the Bulgarian authorities for their assistance and cooperation in the case. Fraud costed taxpayer more than 53 million Tom Little KC, prosecuting, previously said there were currently ongoing investigations in the UK into multiple other people suspected of involvement. Judge Aaronberg said that the sentencing guidelines envisaged a maximum fraud of 2 million. He added: In respect of you, Mr Ali and you, Ms Nikolova, I am dealing with losses to the taxpayer which exceed by more than ten times the highest amount of money specified in the guideline. At a previous hearing the judge speculated that those making the sentencing guidelines may never have contemplated the possibility that there could be a benefit fraud as big as this. The gang were charged with conspiracy to make false representation, which carries a maximum ten year sentence and were entitled to credit for their guilty pleas and time served. Ben Reid, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, said: For a number of years, these defendants conspired to commit industrial-scale fraud against the Universal Credit system, costing the taxpayer more than 53 million. Submitting thousands of false claims, the organised criminals enriched themselves from government funds designed to protect and help the most vulnerable people in our society. The CPS Proceeds of Crime Division and DWP will now pursue confiscation proceedings against the defendants, to remove from them any available criminal benefit from this enterprise. 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. Samantha Power, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), gave a stark warning about the conditions in Gaza this week as war rages in the region between Israel and Hamas. Our humanitarian partners working in Gaza tell us that conditions are worse now than ever before, Power wrote in a Wednesday post on the social platform X. Israeli military operations & closed crossings are making it extremely difficult to distribute aid. Her statement comes after a recent Israeli strike on the southern Gaza city of Rafah set fire to a displaced persons camp and killed 45 Palestinians and injured 200. The Israeli military claimed the attack targeted two senior Hamas officials. The move has resulted in international fury aimed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long rejected calls for a cease-fire in the conflict. Following the backlash, Netanyahu acknowledged the strike was a tragic mistake and called for an investigation. In remarks during a virtual event with donor countries, Power said the catastrophic consequences that the U.S. foreshadowed are now becoming real as Israel pushes further into Rafah. For months now, President Biden and officials across our administration, myself included, have made clear to Israel that a major ground military operation in Rafah would put civilians at immense risk and imperil the humanitarian response, the USAID leader said. Despite currently more limited military operations around Rafah and the Egypt-Gaza border, the catastrophic consequences that we have long warned about are becoming a reality, Power added. Biden threatened earlier this month to stop supplying Israel with offensive weapons, like bombs and artillery shells, if Israels military launched an invasion into Rafah without a plan to safely evacuate civilians. The move angered conservatives, and House Republicans advanced legislation to undo the weapons freeze, which the president has said he would veto. Power said groups on the ground in Gaza said they feel like the war is beginning all over, reiterating that conditions are worse now than at any period before. She also noted that 95 percent of the population hasnt been able to access clean water for months, and more than 1 million people are confronting catastrophic levels of hunger. According to Palestinian officials, more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began following Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which killed more than 1,100 people and resulted in more than 240 people taken captive. In light of these catastrophic conditions, we are in daily conversation still with the Government of Israel and our humanitarian partners about the urgency of protecting those remaining in Rafah, and those who are again being displaced, Power added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. HEFEI/SHANGHAI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The German state of Lower Saxony is very interested in expanding economic relations with China and expects to strengthen cooperation in various fields, said minister president of the state, Stefan Weil, during his ongoing visit to China. Weil, who heads a delegation of over 60 people from Lower Saxony, arrived in China earlier this week to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the sister-state relationship with the eastern Anhui Province. This partnership was among the earliest established between a German state and a Chinese province. On Wednesday, the delegation attended a celebration ceremony in Hefei, provincial capital of Anhui, joined by over 100 people including local officials and business representatives from about 170 local companies. Germany and China are both known for their strong industrial base and high levels of innovation, said Weil in his speech at the ceremony. He also noted a shared responsibility for jointly combating climate change for the planet's future. Lower Saxony, home to the headquarters of German automaker Volkswagen Group, has established a comprehensive value chain in Hefei stretching from R&D and production to sales and services. Juergen Hasenpusch, chief finance officer for Volkswagen Anhui, said at the ceremony that the support from Anhui and cooperation between Lower Saxony and Anhui have contributed significantly to the company's rapid and successful local development. Hasenpusch applauded China's rapidly growing automotive industry, especially the NEV sector, saying that despite fierce competition, it has provided the German carmaker with more opportunities and set higher standards. Last October, the European Union launched an anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of battery electric vehicles from China. As a tariff decision is pending, Weil told Xinhua that many in business and political circles in Germany are skeptical about tariffs, and instead favor fair international competition over protectionism. Before arriving in Hefei, the delegation, comprising more than 40 German company representatives, spent two days in Shanghai. Weil emphasized the strong economic ties between his state and Shanghai, noting that around 500 companies from Lower Saxony are active in the city. Among these is SAP, a leading IT company whose Shanghai office the delegation visited on Tuesday. Weil said the company is making great efforts in artificial intelligence (AI), adding that AI "is certainly a topic that will shape further developments in both China and Germany." The delegation also visited the Shanghai-headquartered Chinese shipping giant COSCO Shipping Group. Weil noted that, given Lower Saxony hosts Germany's only deep-water port, the JadeWeserPort, there are abundant opportunities for cooperation with COSCO. Weil recalled his first visit to Shanghai in 2010 during the World Expo. He believes Shanghai, which has grown into a global metropolis, reflects China's rapid economic development in the past decade or so. He also said that he would discuss with his colleagues back home how to better utilize the platform offered by the China International Import Expo, which has been held in Shanghai for six years, to introduce more German products to China. Israel's war in Gaza and US support for it has become a major issue in the 2024 election. Some voters are threatening to stay home or cast protest votes over Biden's handling of the issue. But Trump would likely be even more supportive of Israel if he gets a second term. Israel's ongoing war in Gaza and President Joe Biden's continued support for it has become a major issue in the 2024 election. After Hamas killed more than 1,200 people in its October 7 attack, Israel launched a counteroffensive aimed at eliminating the group. That's led to the deaths of over 35,000 Palestinians, mass displacement and looming famine in the Gaza strip, and an international investigation into whether Israel is committing genocide. Here's a guide to where President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump stand on Israel and why some are threatening to stay home or cast protest votes in November. Where Joe Biden stands on Israel In general, Biden has remained staunchly supportive of Israel as it has waged its war in Gaza but over time, he's gradually pushed the country to change its tack in the war. His administration has pushed for a six-week cease-fire, conditioned upon Hamas agreeing to release the remaining Israeli hostages. In February, he described Israel's conduct in the war as being "over the top," and one month later, he announced the establishment of a temporary port in Gaza while urging Israel to do more to allow the passage of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. In March, the US abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire and the release of hostages, allowing it to pass though the administration quickly downplayed the significance of that vote. Biden described Israel's conduct of the war as "over the top" at a February press conference. Nathan Howard/Getty Images In May, his administration halted the shipment of some weapons to Israel amid concerns about the impending invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge. He also threatened to halt further shipments of offensive weapons if a large-scale invasion proceeds, though he has insisted that he will continue to supply the country with defensive weapons. Yet the Biden administration has also cut off US funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the primary source of humanitarian aid in Gaza, over concerns that members of the organization may have been involved in the October 7 attacks. Where Donald Trump stands on Israel Trump, the all-but-certain GOP nominee for president in 2024, has been somewhat murky on the present conflict, criticizing Israel numerous times over the optics of the war. "I think Israel made a very big mistake," he told Israel Hayom in March. "These photos and shots. I mean, moving shots of bombs being dropped into buildings in Gaza it's a very bad picture for the world." At the same time, Trump said in that same interview that Israel should "go and do what you have to do" and that "you have to finish up, you have to get the job done." Trump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2020. Doug Mills/Getty Images As president, Trump was even closer with Israel than Biden is, and he took several steps that benefited the Jewish state, including relocating the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. His administration also recognized the Golan Heights a disputed territory claimed by Syria as part of Israel. Trump has also said numerous times that any Jewish person who votes for Biden or other Democrats should "have their head examined" a missive that many have found offensive, but that signals he would be more staunchly supportive of the country than Biden. The former president has also reportedly pledged to deport pro-Palestinian protestors on college campuses. "If you get me reelected, we're going to set that movement back 25 or 30 years," Trump told a group of Jewish donors in May, according to the Washington Post. Why some voters might cast protest voters or stay at home Given that Trump is broadly more supportive of Israel, one might expect voters who are concerned about Israel's war in Gaza to vote for Biden. That's especially true given that many of the most vocal opponents of Biden's Israel stance are Arab and Muslim Americans, who have long been a scapegoat for Trump's brand of politics. Trump has also made vague pledges to expand upon the so-called "Muslim ban" that he enacted when he was president. But many voters aren't doing that. Hundreds of thousands of voters who might otherwise support Biden have cast "uncommitted" ballots in Democratic presidential primaries this year in protest of his handling of the conflict. While a solid chunk of those voters are likely to vote for Biden in the general election anyway, many say they're still waiting to see Biden change course. Some are even saying it's too late that Biden has supported what they consider to be a genocide, and that there's no way they can vote for him again. For these voters some of whom may have even had family members killed in Gaza they argue that the war outweighs all other considerations. Abdullah Hammoud, the mayor of the predominantly-Arab city of Dearborn in Michigan, told Business Insider in March that even though he believes Biden has been a "transformative" president in terms of his domestic agenda, some of his constituents will never vote for Biden now. "A genocide outweighs all of this," said Hammoud. "Aiding, abetting, defending, and supporting a genocide outweighs all that transformative legislation." Rather than cast votes for Biden or Trump, these voters may simply stay home, or cast so-called "protest" votes for third-party candidates who have no chance of winning, such as Green Party candidate Jill Stein or independent candidate Cornel West. Read the original article on Business Insider A lifeless body of a Palestinian child, Oday El-Ghusain, 3 months, lies on the ground before transporting to the mortuary of Al-Aqsa Hospital for burial. Ali Hamad/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Israel's military has taken control of the entire section of the Gaza Strip along the border with Egypt, army spokesman Daniel Hagari said late on Wednesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had gained operational control of the area known as the Philadelphi Corridor, on the border between Egypt and Rafah, Hagari said. The IDF had found about 20 tunnels used by the Palestinian militant group Hamas to smuggle weapons into Gaza there, Hagari said. The information could not initially be independently verified. Fighting has continued in southern Gaza despite continuing calls from world leaders for Israel to halt the operation immediately. Three Israeli soldiers were killed when a booby trap exploded in a building in Rafah, Israeli media reported on Wednesday. The Israeli army confirmed that three soldiers from the Nahal infantry brigade had been killed in fighting the previous day. During the operation, Israeli soldiers went from house to house in search of weapons, the military said, without elaborating specifically on where or how they died. Local media said it was in a booby-trapped building in Rafah. According to the army, the incident on Tuesday means that 639 Israeli service members have been killed and more than 3,600 others injured since the massacres by Hamas of October 7 and Israel's subsequent air and ground campaign in Gaza. Hamas fired on an Israeli border community from the West Bank, a video released by Hamas on Wednesday showed. Israel's Army Radio reported there were no casualties in Bat Hefer, a village located near the barrier that separates Israel and the occupied West Bank, but there was damage to property. The attackers, who could be seen wearing Hamas headbands, came from a refugee neighbourhood in the Palestinian city of Tulkarm in the West Bank. The Israeli army has repeatedly carried out raids in Tulkarm and other Palestinian towns and cities in the West Bank. Since the start of the Gaza war following the Hamas massacre on October 7, the situation in the West Bank has grown more tense. According to the Ministry of Health in the West Bank, around 500 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, confrontations or their own attacks since then. Israeli settlers have also taken violent action against Palestinians. In Gaza, more than 36,100 people have been killed so far by Israel since the beginning of the war, according to the Hamas-run health authority. The war is likely to continue at least until the end of the year, according to Israel's national security advisor. "We can expect at least seven more months of fighting this year," Tzachi Hanegbi told the Israeli Kan channel. This was necessary to destroy Hamas' rule and military capabilities, he said. The army had defined 2024 as the "year of fighting" in its plans, Hanegbi said. "We need staying power and stamina." The border area between Egypt and the Gaza Strip had become a "smugglers' paradise" over the past 17 years, he added, saying together with Egypt, it was necessary to ensure that there was no more arms smuggling there in future. Egypt has said a total of 1,500 tunnels in the border area had been destroyed since 2013. Israel's advance into the corridor represents a further test for its relations with neighbouring Egypt. The two countries signed a peace treaty in 1979, establishing the corridor as a buffer zone. Egypt in January said that an "occupation" of the corridor by Israel would be a violation of the treaty. Hanegbi said that Israel was likely to maintain security control in the long term "because there are no other volunteers," adding that Israel is not seeking civilian rule in the coastal strip and hopes for a new Palestinian leadership. For Israel, though, this would only be possible on the "day after Hamas." The Israeli leadership continues to insist on its aim to eliminate the last battalions of Hamas. Consumer Reports is continuing to sound the alarm on plastic chemicals in food, with the advocacy group again targeting General Mills for producing a range of products found to contain risky and unintended ingredients. Advocates on Thursday delivered a petition signed by more than 30,000 to General Mills' headquarters in Golden Valley, Minnesota, calling on the company to address potentially hazardous plastic chemicals in its food. At issue are plasticizers, a chemical that makes plastic more flexible and resilient, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies have linked the substances to potential health risks including interfering with the production of estrogen and hormones, and diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers and birth defects. "Given that steady exposure to even very small amounts of these chemicals over time could increase health risks, we urge Annie's and General Mills to immediately take the necessary steps to monitor and eliminate the presence of these chemicals across all of your brands," the petition stated. Thursday's event follows tests by Consumer Reports earlier this year of 85 different foods. It found the highest concentration of phthalates the most commonly used plasticizer in a canned plastic product made by Annie's Homegrown, an organic brand owned by General Mills. In addition to Annie's Organic Cheesy Ravioli, other General Mills products found to contain the plasticizer included the Yoplait, Cheerios, Green Giant and Progresso brands. In a letter sent to the company in February, Consumer Reports also alerted General Mills to "concerning" levels of phthalates in several of its products. "We did test a variety of foods, and some of the highest concentrations were in General Mills' products," Brian Ronholm, director of food policy for Consumer Reports, told CBS MoneyWatch. The company needs to identify the source of the chemicals, which could stem from products supplied by third parties or during its production processes, Ronholm said. Plastic chemicals wind up in food primarily through packaging and exposure to plastic and tubing, with conveyor belts and plastic gloves possible culprits, Ronholm noted. "Food safety is our top priority at General Mills. All our products adhere to regulatory requirements, and we review our ingredients, packaging and suppliers on a regular basis to ensure quality," a spokesperson for the company said in an email. Plastic chemicals are nearly impossible to avoid, but consumers can limit their exposure by using glass instead of plastic storage containers and water bottles, Ronholm said. "There are no regulatory requirements at this point," said Ronholm, who also urged federal regulators to devise rules covering the substances. The Food and Drug Administration allows nine phthalates to be used in food production, but doesn't permit the chemicals to be directly added to food, a spokesperson for the agency told CBS News. The FDA in 2022 requested information for scientific research on how phthalates are used in food, including the chemicals authorized for usage as a "plasticizer" an additive in plastic food wrapping. "The agency may use this information to update the dietary exposure estimates and safety assessments for the permitted food contact uses of these phthalates," the FDA spokesperson said. How Secret Service would protect Trump if sent to prison Trump found guilty on all 34 counts in "hush money" trial Biden rebukes Trump's response to New York conviction Georgia man flew the coop after breaking into NY chicken restaurant, nabbed by police days later A Georgia man has been arrested in New York after deputies said he broke into a chicken restaurant in the southern tier of the state. He apparently wanted more than just a late-night snack. The Chemung County Sheriffs Office posted surveillance photos of the man inside Curlys Chicken House restaurant in Horseheads, New York, to its Facebook page that was taken the night of May 26. Investigators said the man broke in through a window at the pick-up counter and tried to steal cash from the register. Deputies said he left the register drawer behind because it didnt fit in the backpack he was wearing at the time. The video showed that the man stole several other things from inside the restaurant before jumping back out the window he broke out. TRENDING STORIES: The suspect suffered a cut upon entering the building that bled profusely, the sheriffs office said in a Facebook post. After seeing the post from the Chemung County Sheriffs Office, officers in nearby Elmira spotted the man and arrested him. Christopher Brown, 22, was interviewed by sheriffs investigators and confessed to the burglary. Brown has been charged with burglary in the 3rd degree. Investigators did not say what part of Georgia Brown is from. He has been released on his own recognizance and ordered to reappear before the court at a later date. The sheriffs office said Brown could be facing additional charges. IN OTHER NEWS: Georgia man sentenced for taking fentanyl, cocaine to sell in Florida A Georgia man pleaded guilty to buying a large amount of drugs in Atlanta before taking them to Florida to sell them. According to court documents, Leonel Bautista Solis, 29, was caught in March 2023 traveling from Georgia to Jacksonville, Florida. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office Middle District of Florida say federal agents found 1,600 fentanyl pills, cocaine packaged for sale and six guns in Bautistas car. They say he admitted that he bought the drugs in Atlanta and was taking them to Jacksonville. TRENDING STORIES: He also admitted that he would be delivering the guns with the drugs. He pleaded guilty in February and was recently sentenced to seven years and eight months in federal prison for distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: A Georgia state representative is speaking out after Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. accused her of falsely misrepresenting herself as a member. State Rep. Angela Moore, who told her side of the story in an email to 11Alive, gave an her explanation as to why college records dont show that she is a member of the historically Black sorority. The Georgia representative said there is confusion about her records because her current name doesnt match her former married name. I am in the process of having the national chapter investigate and confirm my membership, Moore told 11Alive. WSB-TV also did an investigation into the matter and reached out to Moore. They report, At first, Moore said she was not lying about being a Delta and that her opponent was trying to smear her name. She said she pledged under her former married name and that her current name doesnt match her membership records. Then she said she had her membership card and paperwork to show Washington. On a third call, she said she didnt have the documents. A WSB-TV reporter asked Washington, Are you a Delta? She answered with, No, Im not. Later in the day, she responded via text message and said, I am in the process of having the national chapter investigate and confirm my membership. A WSB-TV interview as scheduled on Friday, but Moore did not show up. Moore just won re-election against Dee Haigler, a member of Delta Sigma Theta. How can your judgment be trusted, Haigler told WSB-TV when asked about the controversy. How can you have any credibility? She said, I am not the one who told everyone that she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta. She did, so she needs to take ownership for her own actions. Moore initially came under scrutiny after Amaris L. Johnson, the southern regional director of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., addressed the issue in a recent statement. According to NewsOne, Johnson said in her letter that there had been misinformation about which candidates were Delta Sigma Theta members. Leadership for Delta Sigma Theta made a statement on GA State Rep. Angela Moore: Although Ms. Moore continues to represent herself in various forums as a member of Delta Sigma Theta; there are no records to support her membership. She was reelected for another term yesterday https://t.co/b18SVJlUFc philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 22, 2024 As it relates to the election of the Georgia State Representative District 91, there is only one candidate (Dee Dawkins-Haigler) that is a duly initiated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Johnson wrote. Johnson added that several people emailed her about Moore, questioning her membership status. Although Ms. Moore continues to represent herself in various forums as a member of Delta Sigma Theta; there are no records to support her membership, Johnson wrote. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. also released a statement to confirm that Moore is not affiliated with the sorority. We conducted an extensive review of our membership records and conferred with the alleged initiation chapter, the organization told 11Alive. We also contacted Ms. Moore several times to obtain additional information to support our search. We can confirm that Ms. Angela Moore is not, and has not ever been, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A video from earlier this year shows Moore throwing up the Delta Sigma Theta pyramid hand sign as she salutes another person while recognizing Georgia Municipal Association Day at the Capitol. When she went to social media in 2022 to celebrate Justice Ketanji Brown Jacksons confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court, Moore gave another Delta Sigma salute, saying You go sister soror!, 11Alive reported. Delta Sigma Theta, founded by 22 female students at Howard University in 1913, has played a key role in advocating for key issues, including womens rights, education, home ownership and financial literacy. Georg Baetzing, Bishop of Limburg and Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, speaks during a press conference. Arne Dedert/dpa Despite opposition from the Vatican, German Bishop Georg Batzing believes that women will be allowed to be ordained as deacons in the Catholic Church. Batzing, the chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, expressed confidence that the change would be made at some point in the future. "But please don't tie me down to a specific time," Batzing said. The bishop addressed the issue on Thursday at a packed panel discussion at the German Catholic Days event, a major gathering of German faithful which is being held in the central city of Erfurt. In a recent interview, Pope Francis answered with a direct "no" when asked whether a Catholic girl would one day have the opportunity to become an ordained deacon. Batzing said he was irritated by the pontiff's comments. He said he has spoken to Pope Francis several times about the question of women deacons and had never heard him talk like that before. Batzing, however, made it clear that the Catholic Church in Germany would not press ahead with the ordination of women without the support of the Vatican. "That rupture has happened," said Batzing, the bishop of Limburg. "Unfortunately, we experienced that 500 years ago." He expressed his commitment to a worldwide universal Catholic Church, but also said that some decentralisation is necessary. Catholics in Germany tend to be more liberal than fellow believers around the world. The German Bishops' Conference has been at odds with the Vatican over a series of proposed reforms - known as the Synodal Path - that would share considerable decision-making power with lay believers. Clergy currently hold dominant power within church institutions. Joining Batzing in the panel discussion on Thursday was Irme Stetter-Karp, the president of the Central Committee of German Catholics, the country's largest lay group. She once again called for greater speed in the reforms of the church on Thursday. "We need a church that is attractive and that people feel drawn to," Irme Stetter-Karp said. She said that the Catholic Church has lost incredible amount of trust as a result of the sexual abuse scandals. "Of course we can't be indifferent to that," she said. Karp cited survey results according to which 96% of Catholics in Germany urgently want reforms, and she described her frustration at the lack of progress in the Synodal Path reform process. But she added: "I probably wouldn't be a Christian or couldn't call myself one if I didn't believe in transformation." Earlier in the day, German Catholics gathered outside despite the rain to celebrate Corpus Christi mass outdoors in front of the imposing 12th century Erfurt Cathedral. Erfurt Bishop Ulrich Neymeyr led the service on the Catholic feast day, which was dedicated to the motto of the 103rd Catholic Day conference, "The future belongs to the man of peace," which comes from the Books of Psalms. "Commitment to justice and peace - this is something we urgently need, both in society and in politics," said Neymeyr. Among those attending the service was Bodo Ramelow, the left-wing state premier of the German state of Thuringia, which includes Erfurt. Unlike in some other parts of Germany, Corpus Christi is not a public holiday in Thuringia, where the Reformation icon Martin Luther spent much of his life. The region is traditionally Protestant and also sits in the former communist East Germany. Around 20,000 German Catholics are expected to make the trip to Erfurt for the Catholic Day events, which opened on Wednesday and will continue through Sunday. Rain storms in the forecast for the coming days could force changes to the schedule, as many of the events are held outdoors. Bishop of Erfurt Ulrich Neymeyr (3rd L) leads the Corpus Christi service for the 103rd German Catholics Day on Erfurt Cathedral Square. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa Catholics gathered in the central German city of Erfurt celebrated Corpus Christi mass outdoors on Thursday in front of the imposing 12th century Erfurt Cathedral. Erfurt Bishop Ulrich Neymeyr led the service on the Catholic feast day, which was dedicated to the motto of the 103rd Catholic Day conference, "The future belongs to the man of peace," which comes from the Books of Psalms. "Commitment to justice and peace - this is something we urgently need, both in society and in politics," said Neymeyr. Among those attending the service was Bodo Ramelow, the left-wing state premier of the German state of Thuringia, which includes Erfurt. Unlike in some other parts of Germany, Corpus Christi is not a public holiday in Thuringia, where the Reformation icon Martin Luther spent much of his life. The region is traditionally Protestant and also sits in the former communist East Germany. Around 20,000 German Catholics are expected to make the trip to Erfurt for the Catholic Day events, which opened on Wednesday and will continue through Sunday. Rain storms in the forecast for the coming days could force changes to the schedule, as many of the events are held outdoors. Catholic leaders addressed far-right politics ahead of the mass. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been polling particularly well in Thuringia, as well as other parts of the former East Germany, and is expected to make strong gains in upcoming state parliamentary elections in September. "In this secular city, in the difficult situation before the state elections in Thuringia, we want to make the diversity of Catholic life visible in the coming days," said the leader of the Central Committee of German Catholics, Irme Stetter-Karp, before the start of the service. Bishop of Erfurt Ulrich Neymeyr (2nd R) leads the Corpus Christi service for the 103rd German Catholics Day on Erfurt Cathedral Square. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa A procession moves across the cathedral square during the service for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi at the 103rd German Catholics' Day. Jan Woitas/dpa The German government is cautiously withdrawing its reservations about allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike military targets in Russia. Source: a person familiar with the German government's position told this to Politico on condition of anonymity, European Pravda reports Details: The source has the information that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz supports allowing the use of Western weapons against targets in Russia. However, the source did not provide any more details. At the same time, German federal government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit told reporters that "Defensive actions of Ukraine are not limited to its own territory, but [may] be extended to the aggressor's territory," and stressed that he could not disclose the exact agreements with Kyiv on the use of German weapons because they are "confidential." In addition, he noted that Scholz's statement a year ago, in which he said that there was a "consensus" that Ukraine would not use German weapons on Russian territory, was a "statement of fact" that was true at the time, but not necessarily true in the future. On Tuesday, the German Chancellor stressed that Ukraine "has every opportunity under international law to do what it is doing", and Western countries that help Ukraine with weapons "have revealed all the rules for their use, which are based on international law." However, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius pointed out that "in the interests of military tactics and strategy, it should be clear that we should not publicly discuss what is possible, what is allowed, what we would like to see and what we wouldn't." Several European countries have no objection to Ukraine using their weapons against Russia, EU diplomat Josep Borrell said the day before. French President Emmanuel Macron, in particular, said that Ukraine should be allowed to strike at Russia. Support UP or become our patron! by Wu Yue, Chen Dongshu COLOMBO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China's high-quality production capacity has greatly assisted Sri Lanka, and the narrative of "China's overcapacity" is nothing but an act rooted in trade protectionism, contravening principles of fair competition and market economy, Yasiru Ranaraja, Sri Lankan international affairs expert and founding director of the Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka, told Xinhua recently. Ranaraja said he believes that China's leading position in the field of new energy vehicles stems from its comparative advantages and aligns with market laws that dictate more efficient global resource allocation. He said that China's technological advantage and its capacity to supply the global market have promoted green and sustainable technologies in developing countries, benefiting the global green transition and providing key support to global technological innovation and climate goals. He said U.S. hype-up of the "China's overcapacity theory" hinders normal market activities and represents an "ethical wrongdoing by the U.S. government." As for Sri Lanka-China cooperation, Ranaraja said that collaboration between Sri Lanka and China in infrastructure has greatly benefited the Sri Lankan people, improving transportation, energy security, healthcare services, agricultural development and economic growth. He stressed that Sri Lanka looks forward to expanding all-around cooperation with China, as both sides have enjoyed fruitful cooperation in many areas. Sri Lanka and China could explore ways to enhance cooperation in marine resource, manufacturing, logistics, automation technology, finance and services, he said. "By focusing on these areas, Sri Lanka and China can deepen their partnership, leading to significant economic growth and development, benefiting both nations and contributing to regional stability and prosperity," Ranaraja said. German Defence Minister announces new 500 million military aid package while on visit in Odesa On 30 May, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has arrived in Ukraine on an unannounced visit. While in Odesa, he reported on the preparation of a new package of military assistance to Ukraine worth half a billion euros. Source: DPA, as reported by European Pravda Details: During a meeting with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umierov, Pistorius revealed a fresh package of German armaments worth half a billion euros to help Ukraine. Quote: "We will continue to support you in this defence campaign," he stated. Updated at 20:45: The amended DPA report quoted Pistorius as saying regarding the aid package's contents. It will have a "large number of missiles" for Iris-T SLM medium-range air defence systems and less for SLS shorter-range systems. The package includes reconnaissance drones, spare equipment components, more Marder infantry fighting vehicles, armoured combat vehicles, anti-aircraft and electronic warfare systems, hundreds of sniper rifles, and one million rounds for small arms. According to the head of the German Ministry of Defence, 18 wheeled howitzers will be supplied beginning in 2025, as well as training for Ukrainian technicians, satellite communications, and the repair of 19 Spanish Leopard tanks, which will be transferred to Ukraine by Spain. The German Defence Minister's visit to Odesa was kept secret until the evening of 30 May for security concerns. Germany has earmarked more than 7 billion in military support for Ukraine by 2024. This amount was recently boosted by an additional 3.8 billion. Earlier this month, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Ukraine that Germany would continue to support it. Support UP or become our patron! Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (C) answers a question for ZDF during a meeting with Gundbert Scherf (L), CEO and co-founder of the software company Helsing, and product manager Niklas Koehler (R). Jorg Blank/dpa German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced a new German arms package worth 500 million ($542 million) to support Ukraine during a visit to the port city of Odessa. He met with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss Kiev's military needs. "We will continue to support you in this defensive campaign," Pistorius said on Thursday evening at a meeting with Umerov in Odessa. Pistorius added that some of the materials were already about to be delivered. The package contains a large number of missiles for medium-range IRIS-T SLM air defence systems and a smaller number of SLS missiles with shorter ranges. It also includes drones for reconnaissance and combat in the Black Sea as well as urgently needed spare parts such as replacement barrels for the artillery systems supplied by Germany and replacement engines for Leopard battle tanks. One million rounds of ammunition for small arms will also be made available. Details of the German minister's visit were kept secret ahead of his arrival for security reasons. The visit comes amid advances by Russian forces in parts of Ukraine and heavy Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities. Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (L) signs the guest book in the presence of his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerow (R), Ukrainian Minister of Defence. Jorg Blank/dpa Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (Back 2nd R) meets with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerow (Front L), Ukrainian Minister of Defence, in Odessa. Jorg Blank/dpa German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth 500 million euros ($542 million) on May 30 during an unannounced visit to the port city of Odesa, Berliner Zeitung reported. Pistorius arrived at a time when Kyiv is raising pressure on its allies, urging them to lift restrictions on the use of Western-provided weapons against military targets inside Russia. Berlin repeatedly opposed the idea due to fears this would lead to an escalation of the war. The new package will reportedly include ammunition for Iris-T air defense systems and shorter-range SLS missiles, as well as reconnaissance drones, 1 million rounds of small arms ammunition, Leopard 1 battle tanks, and Marder armored vehicles. Berlin will also send to Ukraine spare parts for artillery systems and Leopard battle tanks, Pistorius said. Some of the materials are about to be delivered, he added. We will continue to support you in this defensive struggle, the German minister said during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov. This marks Pistorius' third visit to Ukraine since the outbreak of the full-scale war in February 2022. The trip to Odesa was not announced in advance due to security reasons as Russia intensified its air strikes and launched the offensive in the country's east, the newspaper wrote. The minister previously visited Kyiv in November 2023. Pistorius said in mid-May that Berlin would supply Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense system without specifying the delivery date. Kyiv is also expected to receive another Iris-T air defense system. Initially a hesitant partner, Berlin has become Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S., although Scholz is still reluctant to supply some key capabilities, namely Taurus long-range missiles. Berlin plans to up its military aid to Ukraine by another 3.8 billion euros ($4.13 billion) in 2024, Reuters reported on May 21, citing its unnamed source. Read also: Germany delivers Leopard 1 tanks, drones, ammunition, other aid to Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Anna Luehrmann Germany Minister of State at the German Foreign Office, speaks at a press conference. Luehrmann said in statements to the German News Agency (dpa): The German government believes Ukraine meets all the requirements that enable it to begin negotiations to join the European Union next June. Therefore, we are pushing for a rapid agreement between all member states on the negotiating framework. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa The German government has said that Ukraine has fulfilled the reform requirements necessary to initiate discussions about joining the European Union. "In the view of the German government, Ukraine fulfils all requirements to be able to open EU accession negotiations in June," German Minister of State for Europe Anna Luhrmann told dpa. "We are therefore urging all member states to quickly agree on the negotiating framework," said Luhrmann, a member of the Greens. EU leaders in December agreed to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and reaffirmed their commitment to continue providing strong support to the country and its people for as long as necessary. However, the most recent commission report revealed that Ukraine is falling short in implementing some reforms, especially in combating corruption and protecting minorities, which has led to the agreement that all reform requirements must be met before negotiations could begin. EU ambassadors plan to meet next week to discuss a potential negotiating framework. Hungary is seen as a potential obstacle. Ukraine, together with neighbouring Moldova, had applied to join the bloc in early 2022 in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion. After two and a half months, the German Armed Forces have ended an airdrop aid mission over the embattled Gaza Strip. A German A400M transport aircraft took off from Jordan for the last time on Thursday, the military said. Since mid-March, the air force had dropped around 315 tons of food, water, hygiene products and other aid supplies to help the suffering population. Going forward, the international community is trying get more supplies to the Palestinian coastal territory via land and sea routes. "By joining forces, we were able to make our contribution to alleviating the plight of the people in the Gaza Strip," said German Air Force chief Ingo Gerhartz. Germany participated in the initiative with Jordan, the United States, France and other countries. Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (Back 2nd R) meets with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerow (Front L), Ukrainian Minister of Defence, in Odessa. Jorg Blank/dpa German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced a new arms package - including missiles, artillery, drones and spare parts - worth 500 million ($542 million) to support Ukraine during a visit Thursday to the port city of Odessa. "We will continue to support you in this defensive campaign," Pistorius said on Thursday evening at a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov in the Black Sea city. Pistorius said that some of the materials were already about to be delivered. The new package from Germany contains a large number of missiles for medium-range IRIS-T SLM air defence systems and a smaller number of SLS missiles with shorter ranges. It also includes drones for reconnaissance and combat in the Black Sea as well as urgently needed spare parts such as replacement barrels for the artillery systems supplied by Germany and replacement engines for Leopard battle tanks. One million rounds of ammunition for small arms will also be made available. The delivery of 18 modern wheeled howitzers is to follow from 2025. Germany will also finance industrial training courses for Ukrainian technicians. The package also includes funding for interference-free satellite communications. Based on previous commitments by Berlin, further Leopard A1 and Leopard II A4 main battle tanks will be delivered from Spain this year. A total of 19 tanks will be made available to Ukraine from Spain, with Germany contribute 1 million to the restoration, maintenance and repair of each tank. Also already in the works from Germany are additional Marder infantry fighting vehicles, armoured combat vehicles, anti-aircraft tanks and equipment for electronic warfare command and control capabilities. Details of the German minister's visit were kept secret ahead of his arrival for security reasons. It was the third visit by Pistorius since Russia's all-out invasion in February 2022. The visit comes amid advances by Russian forces in parts of Ukraine and heavy Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities. Kiev is especially struggling to halt Russia's offensive in the north-eastern Kharkiv region. Umerov stressed the importance of further arms deliveries by allies. "Our partners must supply us with weapons so that we can push the enemy back behind the internationally recognized borders [of Ukraine]," he said. by Xinhua writers Ma Zheng, Guo Peiran, Huang Ningjing BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- "It was extraordinary to have such a shared chemistry, a kindred spirit, because that's important as we build and forge our relationship that will be able to withstand the test of time," said Nurul Izzah Anwar, vice president of Malaysia's People's Justice Party. As this year marks the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations, Malaysia and China could bolster cooperation across different sectors and build a more robust relationship, she said in an interview with Xinhua during her recent visit to Beijing. "It's more than just trade ties. It's more than economic linkages. It's an appreciation that we speak to common ideals, common aspirations and a shared future for the betterment of not just economy and GDP per capita alone, but the betterment of people-to-people connection," she said. On her China tour, Nurul said that China's poverty alleviation experience is very inspiring. She focused on villages in northwest China's Shaanxi Province to "learn from the economic empowerment that benefits households, the ordinary people, as well as poverty eradication programs that have taken place there." While in Shenzhen, known as China's capital of innovation, Nurul was impressed by technological advancement. "We want to give that strength of innovation and frontier to all our members," Nurul said. China has recently decided to extend the visa-free policy to Dec. 31, 2025, for citizens of countries including Malaysia. This is exciting and matters a lot because people are provided with ease of travel, Nurul said with a big smile, describing herself as a beneficiary of the policy. Looking ahead, Nurul voiced hope that Malaysia and China, with their complementary advantages, could deepen linkages in tourism, trade, and investments and make the relationship more meaningful. Enditem (Xinhua reporter Mao Pengfei in Kuala Lumpur also contributed to the story.) Rocket Mortgage founder Dan Gilbert speaks at the Mackinac Policy Conference on May 29, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols The takeaway from Michigan billionaire Dan Gilberts 40-minute appearance Wednesday during the Detroit Regional Chambers Mackinac Policy Conference was think big and make big bets. The Rocket Mortgage founder and philanthropist offered his opinions and thoughts on everything from life after a stroke; what he is most proud of in terms of his financial commitment to Detroit; state policy, which included transportation; corporate responsibility; and Detroits economic future more than 10 years after its municipal bankruptcy. He was interviewed by Dennis Archer Jr., a Detroit Regional Chamber board member, business owner and son of former Detroit Mayor and Michigan Supreme Court Justice Dennis Archer. Forbes magazine estimates that the 62-year-old Gilbert, who was born in Detroit and raised in Southfield, is worth $27.9 billion. His holding owns at least 100 buildings in downtown Detroit. His Gilbert Family Foundation has made multiple investments in Detroit this year, including $15 million to the Strategic Neighborhood Fund and $1.8 million to Greening of Detroit, an effort to plant trees in neighborhoods and develop green spaces. When he was asked about how state government can help business, Gilbert was direct. We need both sides of the aisle in the state Legislature to get together and work on economic packages that are long-term, he said. We gotta stop doing short-term, year-to-year stuff. That doesnt work. The Legislature is currently controlled by Democrats for the first time in about 40 years. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is also a Democrat. Gilbert talked openly about his stroke in 2019. He said that the stroke was more genetic and not stress-related. Im in the office two or three days a week; I can get around with my cane a little bit, Gilbert said. I have a great physical therapy team around me and my family around me. It takes a village, Ill tell you what. When asked about what he was most proud of from a business standpoint, Gilbert was candid. I just like building things, building companies and watching all of our people come together as a team and build a building, Gilbert said. Theres nothing more exciting than that and deploy that wealth into communities that we live in. Im very, very excited about the philanthropy side and the business, as well. Gilbert was asked about the importance of public policy cooperation. I think the big three things they have to look at are affordable housing, he said. Thats not just for young folks, thats for everybody. We need to have vibrant, densely populated urban areas where there is action. The third one is transportation. All transportation. We need transportation to and from the suburbs, to and from the airport, to Ann Arbor, to Chicago, eventually. Transportation everywhere. if you look at any big city, any metropolitan area who doesnt have some type of regional transportation efforts going on. We are one of the fewest who doesnt. Thats another reason that we have to think big. But this takes multiple facets of groups, multiple leaders from private foundations, to city [government], business leaders the federal government needs to be shown that we can get our act together and create funding for transportation. And when asked about the future of Detroits Renaissance Center, after recent news that General Motors will move its world headquarters out of the iconic skyscraper to his Hudsons Detroit development downtown thats being built, Gilbert was optimistic. I couldnt tell you the actual specific uses, but I will tell you that the mayor, and the city government, as well as General Motors, ourselves and the county everybodys interested in making sure that that waterfront is redeveloped in a beautiful way, if it is redeveloped, he said. Maybe part of it is converted to some other use, he added. But I think that everybody is interested in keeping some very exciting, and promising, development on that property. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Gilbert optimistic about Ren Centers future after GM moves to his Hudsons Detroit development appeared first on Michigan Advance. FILE PHOTO: Gilead Sciences Inc pharmaceutical company is seen during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in California (Reuters) -Gilead Sciences said on Thursday its drug Trodelvy, tested in patients with bladder cancer who previously received chemotherapy and other anti-cancer therapies, did not meet the main goal of a late-stage study. Shares of Gilead fell 3.3% in extended trade after the company said the drug did not meet the main goal of overall survival. In the overall study population, there was a higher number of deaths due to adverse events with Trodelvy, which belongs to a class of treatments known as antibody-drug conjugates, compared to chemotherapy, Gilead said. The deaths were primarily observed early in treatment and related to neutropenic complications - that involve lower-than-normal levels of a type of white blood cell - including infection. "There are no changes to the known safety profile of Trodelvy for the approved breast cancer indications or other investigational uses," the company said. The drugmaker is continuing to analyze the data and will discuss the results and next steps with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it said. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials, including this late-stage trial, the California-based company said. The study tested the drug versus chemotherapy in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer or bladder cancer. (Reporting by Sneha S K; Editing by Alan Barona) Girls have been getting their periods earlier and earlier for more than half a century. And as early onset increased, it has taken longer and longer for menstrual cycles to become regular. Both of those facts carry the possibility of health challenges as the girls get older. A new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers published this week in JAMA Network Open documented the change in average menarche among 71,341 women born between 1950 and 2005 to track the trends in menstrual cycle onset. The researchers grouped them by the decades in which they were born and again by the time it took for cycles to be regular, which used to happen within a couple of years but now often takes longer. The trends were even stronger in girls who were Black, Asian and Hispanic and those of lower socioeconomic status. The adverse health outcomes of early period onset cited by the researchers include cardiovascular disease, cancers, spontaneous abortion and premature death. Some of the risk factors some believe lead to early menarche are also risk factors linked to the health challenges, such as high body mass index when young; the U.S. has a childhood obesity problem. But, according to the study, whether obesity is the primary factor underlying the trends in menarche remains debatable. Whether and to what extent the trend in menarche is attributable to changes in early-life body mass index (BMI) remains to be determined, though researchers said thats at least part of the story. Longer time to regular cycles, which signals maturation of the reproductive axis, is itself linked to health problems, including longer menstrual cycles and higher risk of metabolic conditions and all-cause death, the study reported. Our findings can lead to a better understanding of menstrual health across the lifespan and how our lived environment impacts this critical vital sign, co-principal investigator Shruthi Mahalingaiah, assistant professor of environmental, reproductive and womens health at Harvard T.H. Chan School, said in a news release on the study. Study nuts and bolts The researchers used the Apple Womens Health Study, described as a longitudinal study of menstrual cycles, gynecological conditions and overall womens health conducted by Harvard Chan School, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Apple. The study used cycle-tracking data from Apple watches and iPhones, augmented by surveys. Researchers also got data on weight and height at time of first period from a subset of 9,865 study participants. Health risks with early period, late regulation The average age of menarche was 12.2 years, but close to 13% had periods start before age 11. The report found that the share of girls having periods before 11 or having very early periods before age 9 were higher in the youngest age bracket groups in the study. Between the oldest group, born between 1950 and 1969, and the youngest, born between 2000 and 2005, the number experiencing early menarche rose from 8.6% to 15.5%. And the number having late menarche dropped from 5.5% to 1.7%. As for regularity within two years once considered the norm the share in the older group was 76.3%, while for the younger group, the share dropped to 56%. Among those who hadnt reached regular cycles, the share in the older group had been 3.4%. Among the younger, it was 18.9%. We found that children are experiencing longer time to regularity, Zifan Wang, the studys lead author and a postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told The Washington Post. This is also very concerning because irregular cycles are an important indicator of later-in-life adverse health events. It alarms us. We need to do more early counseling and intervention on irregular cycles among children and adolescents. Seeking the why While obesity likely accounts for some of the drop in age of menarche, it doesnt account for all of it, the study said. And most of the decrease in the average age at which girls got periods occurred before the obesity epidemic, suggesting that other factors need to be explored to explain these trends and disparities. The studys list of potentials includes environmental factors, such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, metals or air pollutants, which could impact the timing of puberty. And since racial and ethnic minority groups tend to have higher exposures, that could help explain why they also have higher rates of early puberty. The list also notes the impact of what people eat, including sugar intake. Again, those of lower socioeconomic status and even some racial groups may have eating habits that play at least some role. Researchers also list psychosocial stress and adverse childhood experiences as likely contributing at least something to the trends. They said more study is needed into early interventions, as well as on the role of BMI and other possible factors. Among the studys limitations was the fact that all of the information on that first period was self-report, sometimes after many years. And they didnt learn a lot about early-life factors that could contribute to the trends. They noted that the results may not be generalizable because of potential selection bias. The participants were not a random sample. Other explorations of menarche But the findings mirror other research, including a 50-year look at menstruation age among white and Black women based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a government report on health trends, as The Washington Post reported. In 2021, University of California San Franciscos Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics featured an article on possible drivers of early menarche. The article noted that in the 1890s, menarche began at 17, and by the 1950s had fallen to 12. That universitys study found that lower socioeconomic status was a significant predictor of early puberty and menarche among Asian Americans, Black people, Hispanics and white people. The study, led by Dr. Robert Hiatt, who regularly looks at social risk factors for breast cancer, examined the link between lower socioeconomic status and obesity, as well as povertys ability to introduce adversity into young lives, possibly triggering the so-called thrifty gene hypothesis. As the article explained, nature favors survival of the gene pool over that of the individual, so when the body perceives a threat to survival, it sends a signal to hurry up and procreate. He said thats supported by earlier research that shows girls who grow up without a father also reach puberty earlier. It remains for future work to disentangle socioeconomic status from another risk factor for cancer: chemical exposures. Research has shown that people in lower-income neighborhoods have higher exposures to industrial chemicals. But girls from more well-to-do families may have higher exposures to the endocrine-disrupting chemicals often found in household products and cosmetics, Hiatt said, per that article. Giuliani hits the livestream after Trump verdict and claims New York has always been thoroughly corrupt - except when he was mayor Rudy Giuliani railed against Donald Trumps historic criminal conviction on Thursday, describing the guilty verdict against his close ally as a very sad day for America in a post-decision livestream. In the same video, Giuliani, the disgraced former mayor of New York City whos currently under indictment and mired in money woes, insisted the city is historically corrupt. Thats despite the fact that he served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1983 to 1989 before becoming mayor. The simple fact is that theyve certainly in New York, for 150 years, with a couple of exceptions [under Fiorello] La Guardia, me, [Michael] Bloomberg been a thoroughly corrupt city, ruled by a Democratic dictatorship, Giuliani told his audience of nearly 9,500 viewers. Its no exagerration, any smart New Yorker knows it. Giuliani, who has served as both a campaign and a legal adviser for Trump over the years, offered no evidence as he painted the jurys guilty verdict as part of a wider Democratic plot. On Thursday, the 12 jurors convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. You want to save the American justice system, you have to vote this demented dictator our of office, he continued, accusing the prosecutors who brought the case of being the real criminals and Joe Biden of furthering a Marxist plot to take over the country. Donald Trump, for his part, sounded a similar note, calling the decision a disgrace in a statement to The Independent. The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people, the statement continued. After raging against the verdict, Giuliani, a former US attorney for New York, called todays developments a sad day for the US justice system. I am dedicated to the impartial administration of justice as maybe the single most important part of our system of laws, he said. When it goes, well no longer have a system of laws. Well have a system of deranged men who can decide our fatee and change the laws. According to officials across the country, it is actually Giuliani who has ignored the rule of law. He has been indicted or named as an unindicted co-conspirator in Georgia, Nevada, Michigan, and Arizona for his alleged involvement in the Trump campaigns efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. (He denies any wrongdoing.) He was ordered in December to pay $148m to a pair of Georgia election workers whom he defamed after the 2020 campaign. And most recently, a group of creditors accused Giuliani of gross mismanagement of his finances after declaring bankruptcy late last year. Earlier this month, the judge overseeing the case said he was disturbed at how little progress Mr Giuliani had made in resolving his financial issues. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money trial on Thursday afternoon. Trump became the first former U.S. President to be convicted of felony crimes, specifically for falsifying business records to illegally influence the presidential election in 2016. Our whole country is being rigged right now: Trump reacts to guilty verdict As news of the verdict broke, many politicians chimed in, reacting to the results. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, just moments after the verdict was read. Todays verdict represents the culmination of a legal process that has been bent to the political will of the actors involved: a leftist prosecutor, a partisan judge and a jury reflective of one of the most liberal enclaves in Americaall in an effort to get Donald Trump That this caseinvolving alleged misdemeanor business records violations from nearly a decade agowas even brought is a testament to the political debasement of the justice system in places like New York City. This is especially true considering this same district attorney routinely excuses criminal conduct in a way that has endangered law-abiding citizens in his jurisdiction. It is often said that no one is above the law, but it is also true that no one is below the law. If the defendant were not Donald Trump, this case would never have been brought, the judge would have never issued similar rulings, and the jury would have never returned a guilty verdict. In America, the rule of law should be applied in a dispassionate, even-handed manner, not become captive to the political agenda of some kangaroo court. Meanwhile, Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., released his own, but much shorter statement, on the platform. Such bull****. Immediately following the verdict, Trump spoke to reporters in Manhattan outside the courthouse. Our whole country is being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent. Heres when Donald Trump is set to be sentenced He followed the statement up by saying hell continue to fight, before claiming that the country is a divided mess. So whats next? Trumps sentencing will begin on July 11 at 10 a.m., however, his legal team is expected to try to push he date back as he continues to pursue re-election this November. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Then-President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis. Source: Governors Office Quality Journalism for Critical Times Gov. Ron DeSantis defended former president Donald Trump minutes after a jury found him guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The governor took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say that the case should not have taken place and that it had been influenced by political actors on the left. The five-paragraph post went up minutes after the jury convicted Trump. Todays verdict represents the culmination of a legal process that has been bent to the political will of the actors involved: a leftist prosecutor, a partisan judge and a jury reflective of one of the most liberal enclaves in America all in an effort to get Donald Trump, DeSantis posted on X. That this case involving alleged misdemeanor business records violations from nearly a decade ago was even brought is a testament to the political debasement of the justice system in places like New York City. This is especially true considering this same district attorney routinely excuses criminal conduct in a way that has endangered law-abiding citizens in his jurisdiction. It is often said that no one is above the law, but it is also true that no one is below the law. If the defendant were not Donald Trump, this case would never have been brought, the judge would have never issued similar rulings, and the jury would have never returned a guilty verdict. In America, the rule of law should be applied in a dispassionate, even-handed manner, not become captive to the political agenda of some kangaroo court. DeSantis has expressed support for Trump since he paused his own bid for the presidency in January. Other leading Florida Republicans took the same tack, assailing the American justice system in general and the Trump trial in particular. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio had this to say: Marco Rubio The verdict in New York is a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our system of justice. A political show trial conducted by an openly pro-Biden judge whose daughter makes money off the case, a jury from the most liberal county in America, absurd and ridiculous charges and outrageous jury instructions that guaranteed guilty verdicts. Biden and the Trump deranged left will stop at nothing to remain in power. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott: This was a sham trial and the clearest example weve ever seen of election interference. I am furious and no American is safe from Democrat political persecution. Joe Biden and the Democrat machine manufactured a legal case against Trump to win an election. I went to New York to stand with President Trump and the American voters will stand with him this November. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis: Banana republic. To orchestrate charges in an election year for something years earlier just to try and take out a political opponent this is what people have been fleeing in 3rd World countries for decades. Embarrassing. Low point in American history. Sad day. Trump should be granted clemency immediately. This is outrageous. Evan Power, chairman, Republican Party of Florida: From a corrupt District Attorney to a rigged judge making a mockery of our judicial system, President Trumps guilty verdict comes as no surprise. Trump Derangement Syndrome was alive and well in that New York courtroom, but here in the real world, Donald Trumps support only grows stronger. Polling shows that the majority of Americans will NOT be swayed by this outcome. (emphasis in the original). This political witch hunt does nothing more than make fools out of the Democrats. They cant win with a failing, senile old man on the ballot, so they must resort to election interference. Americans see right through it! We look forward to taking back the White House this November and putting an end to Bidens disastrous policies on the border, the economy, and crime. Florida will lead the way in bringing the RED wave to vindicate President Donald J. Trump once and for all! Meanwhile, Democrats argued the system worked fairly. U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz: A former president being convicted is nothing to be celebrated, but it is an affirmation that nobody is above the law. This verdict was reached by a jury of Trumps peers, by citizens of the American justice system, not by a judge or by a political opponent. The post Gov. Ron DeSantis slams Trumps guilty verdict on hush money trial appeared first on Florida Phoenix. PARIS (Reuters) - Nearly 130 countries recommitted on Thursday to save the first pillar of a global tax deal on highly profitable multinationals by the end of June, the co-chairs of a three-day meeting in Paris said after the talks failed to produce an agreement. Officials from 127 countries and jurisdictions have struggled for months to finalise the terms of an international treaty about how to reallocate taxing rights across borders, mainly on U.S. big digital companies. The co-chairs of the meeting at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said in a statement that countries were "nearing completion of the negotiations", adding the aim was still to finalise an agreement by the end of June. The multilateral treaty is supposed to replace hotchpotch of national digital services taxes opposed by Washington, which sees them as unfairly targeting U.S. digital giants. If the absence of an agreement, a standstill deal on national digital services taxes could expire in July, triggering their return and potentially reigniting trade tensions between the U.S. and some of its European allies. The treaty codifies how governments are to reallocate taxing rights on about $200 billion in profits from the biggest and most profitable multinationals to the countries where their sales occur. It is the first pillar of a landmark two pillar 2021 deal, which also included plans to set a global minimum rate for corporate taxes at 15%. The second pillar is in the process of being implemented. Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said this month that the first pillar negotiations would not be finalised as planned in June, citing reservations from the United States, India and China. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters on the sidelines of a G7 finance ministers meeting last week that the United States had "red line" issues in the talks about transfer pricing. She said India "will not engage with us" and said China was "all but absent" in the negotiations. (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Alison Williams) Graham County will receive $20 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for Corridor K, a construction project, decades in the works, that aims to improve transit and mobility in Western North Carolina's mountains, Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards announced in a May 28 news release. The $20 million funding for Graham Countys construction of Corridor K is great news for WNC. The Appalachian Mountains make up the vast majority of our beautiful district, and Im grateful that the U.S. DOT agreed with me about the merit in funding to build this highway and give the region the necessary resources to boost economic development in an underserved area of the district," Edwards said in a May 28 news release. Back in January 2002, contractors cleared the way for a stretch of Corridor K from near the Swain-Graham county line to near the Stecoah community in Graham. This section crossed a portion of Fontana Lake. Corridor K, a project the North Carolina Department of Transportation estimates will cost around $680 million, is part of the Appalachian Development Highway System that was established by Congress in 1965 to provide safe and efficient transportation across the region. Corridor K, which broke ground in Robbinsville in 2022, extends from I-75 in Cleveland, Tennessee, to Dillsboro in Jackson County, North Carolina, according to the NCDOT website. The grant was given to the NCDOT by the U.S. DOT through the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Programs. A map showing the general location of the Corridor K Highway Improvement Project from the North Carolina Department of Transportation's website. The section of the ADHS is among the last to be completed due to "challenges associated with the region's mountainous terrain and sensitive natural habitat," according to NCDOT. Construction for two parts of Corridor K in Graham County have been completed, with three sections currently under construction, according to NCDOT's latest State Transportation Improvement Plan. One part that spans from West of Stecoah Road to East of Gunters Gap Road in Graham has not started construction. The additional $20 million in funding will go toward the Stecoah Road to Gunters Gap section, NCDOT spokesperson David Uchiyama told the Citizen Times May 28. The money is expected to be received by NCDOT by the end of the year. NCDOT welcomes the financial assistance to help develop the unfunded portion of Corridor K in Graham County, Division 14 Engineer Wanda Payne said. This grant shows how people, organizations and partnerships can work together to improve the lives of our citizens and visitors in Western North Carolina. Division 14 makes up Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Polk, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties. Funding is still required for Corridor K, including some sections from U.S. 19 Business in Andrews to U.S. 129 in Robbinsville, Payne said. NCDOT "remains hopeful" it can close the funding gaps as "construction savings are realized" from other sections that have already been funded and seen construction, Payne said. Some sections are not eligible for funding because of "mileage restrictions" included in the ADHS, Payne said, noting that a schedule for completion would be established "once funding is secured." More: Asheville Southside farm sees community support after housing authority pushes for removal More: Woodfin's Whitewater Wave likely to be completed in 2024 as only wave in WNC 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: Graham County receives $20 million grant for Corridor K section; Greene says Dems need to go after people on Epstein list instead of Trump. Its not going well Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has made it no secret that she blames Democrats for former President Donald Trumps legal issues as he awaits the verdict in the New York City hush money trail that centers around payments made to porn actress Stormy Daniels. In a post made Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter, Greene said the same demented democrats that are abusing our justice systems to try to make Pres Trump a felon refuse to prosecute Epsteins client list. The same demented democrats that are abusing our justice systems to try to make Pres Trump a felon refuse to prosecute Epsteins client list. Just think about that. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) May 30, 2024 The reaction is likely not what Greene was expecting. Since the late billionaires transgressions were brought to light, Trump has been an ever-present figure in that case. Mar-a-Lago, the former commander-in-chiefs private-club-turned-southern-White-House in Palm Beach, was the backdrop for Epsteins introduction to one of his dozens of teenage victims, according to court records. In a short-lived lawsuit that Trump decried as categorically false, a California woman sued Trump and Epstein in federal court in New York City, claiming the two business tycoons raped her when she was 13 years old. In January, hundreds of pages of documents related to a lawsuit involving Epstein were released. RELATED NEWS: The documents provided some more context to Epsteins relationships he had over the years. The list of powerful men he had ties with includes former presidents Bill Clinton, Trump and Prince Andrew. Though they are named in the report, it does not mean that they are guilty of any wrongdoing. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges that he sexually abused and exploited dozens of girls between 2002 and 2005. In 2021, a jury convicted Epsteins former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, of helping to recruit young girls for sexual abuse. She was sentenced last summer to serve 20 years in prison. Greenes post had at least 1,500 comments, many of which pointed out that Trump was on the list. RELATED NEWS: by Nurul Fitri Ramadhani JAKARTA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Walking out of Tegalluar station of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR), locally known as Whoosh, in Indonesia's Bandung city, people will find a number of kiosks selling snacks, food and beverages. The area outside the station is now busy with food sellers. The situation was much different a few months ago, precisely in early October last year, when Whoosh was first launched and the station had just completed construction. It was quiet and all that could be seen were rice fields and barren fields. Siti Fatimah, 30, one of the kiosk owners, told Xinhua that she opened her kiosk at her 18-square-meter house near the station when the Whoosh train started operation. She sells fried snacks and some meals. In the morning she usually has porridge on her menu. She was previously a housewife with one daughter, while her husband is a construction worker. "Before I opened this kiosk, I had no income. Now I can earn even more than my husband, particularly during holidays," she said. Next to Fatimah's kiosk is a stall owned by 43-year-old Suprijatna which sells beverages, including coffee and tea. He has opened his kiosk since March. With the operation of Tegalluar station, Suprijatna saw an opportunity to sell beverages to earn additional income, while still working in the rice field for at least two days a week. "Now I can earn more to fulfill my family needs. Before selling beverages, I could only earn 500,000 rupiahs (30.76 U.S. dollars) a month. Now I can obtain at least 1 million rupiahs (61.53 dollars). The presence of this station is a blessing for local people like us," he told Xinhua. Suprijatna said most of his customers were construction workers who worked for the station, but recently there were more HSR passengers shopping at his kiosk before continuing their journey by shuttle buses. Not only outside the station, there are also dozens of stalls and kiosks selling food and beverages inside Tegalluar station. Passengers can enjoy a variety of culinary delights served by local micro and small-medium enterprises (MSMEs). The Whoosh high-speed train has a design speed of 350 km per hour, connecting Halim station in East Jakarta to Tegalluar station in Bandung. Many reports said that the train raised curiosity from Indonesian public transport users as it could shorten the journey between the two cities from over three hours to about only 40 minutes. In the inauguration of Whoosh last year, Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed optimism that the HSR would bring many benefits to the Indonesian people. "It will provide multiplier effects, from new job opportunities, especially for local communities, to economic growth in areas crossed by high-speed train lines," he said. Being the first of its kind in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, the Whoosh high-speed train reported a surge in passengers at every holiday moment. PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC), a joint venture consortium between Indonesian and Chinese state-owned firms that constructs and runs the HSR, reported that the train hit the mark of transporting 2 million passengers in early March. During a long-weekend holiday last week, KCIC also recorded a spike in the volume of passengers, with an average of 21,000 passengers per day or a 30 percent increase compared to normal days. "We had predicted this increase in passengers during the long holiday. That was why we operated 48 trips with 28,000 available seats per day," KCIC General Manager Corporate Secretary Eva Chairunisa said in a statement. Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin has said that local MSME players had filled various kiosks at Padalarang station, a stop for the HSR before Tegalluar, and Tegalluar station. "West Java residents welcome the Whoosh train and it must be utilized as best as possible to improve the community's economy. Ahead, we hope the MSMEs can also work with tourism associations to provide tour packages in Bandung," he said. The Cass Review into NHS gender services for children and young people provided a huge wake-up call for most but not all of our main political parties. It spelt out how children have been let down by remarkably weak evidence on medical interventions in gender care. The now-discredited treatments involved puberty blockers, which Cass reported pose potential risks to neurocognitive development, psychosexual development and longer-term bone health. This amounts to a scandal of epic proportions. No surprise then that Dr Cass findings triggered furious back-pedalling across the political spectrum. The Conservatives, who presided over this mess while sitting in government, wholeheartedly welcomed the review. Indeed, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins wrote in the Telegraph of a culture of secrecy and ideology over evidence and safety, adding that today, Im saying enough. Labours Wes Streeting admitted that he had got things wrong in the past and called the review a watershed moment for the NHS. Even in Scotland, the previously gung-ho SNP belatedly welcomed the findings and it is hoped that changes will be made to provision there. But sadly, that wake-up call does not appear to have been heard by the Greens. In the Scottish Parliament Green MSPs now stand completely isolated on the Cass findings. Their co-leader, Patrick Harvie, was reluctant to even accept the report as a valid scientific document. In London, Zoe Garbett, the Green mayoral candidate last month (who now sits as a London Assembly Member after her predecessor resigned her seat just days after getting elected) joined Harvie in attempting to undermine the findings. Apparently without even a pause for reflection over the monstrous way vulnerable young people had been let down by the NHS, she put out an upbeat and bouncy but completely nonsensical video dismissing the Cass Review as really worrying and saying that while its widely recognised there are problems with trans healthcare, this review does not speak to the heart of those. This casual dismissal of such a landmark report was absolutely gut-wrenching for me. I had twice stood as the Green Partys candidate for mayor of London and spent 16 years representing the Greens as a London assembly member. Throughout that time, childrens health featured high on my list of priorities, whether it was pushing for tough measures on air pollution or fighting for better homes for families living in overcrowded conditions. How dare leading Greens be so dismissive of a well-researched, scientific review tackling a shameful medical scandal. I reacted with fury. Vote Green if you want to completely ignore medical evidence and see more children pumped full of harmful drugs. I wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in response to that awful, glib video from Garbett. I knew at the time it would put my 37-year membership of the party in jeopardy. Numerous women in the party have already been suspended or expelled but I was not going to sit back and stay silent while leading members of the Green Party went out of their way to rubbish the Cass Review. The Green Party has also accused me, erroneously, of endorsing the Labour candidate in Brighton Pavilion. I have not, although I will admit to calling some of my erstwhile colleagues science-denying loons. Well, if the cap fits. I am beyond despair that the political party Ive been a member of for decades, that has always said trust the science when it comes to climate change or air and river pollution, is apparently putting ideology before science when it comes to pushing untested medical treatments for children. By suspending me this week, the Green Party perhaps hopes it can bully me into silence in the run-up to the general election. They will not succeed. Whether they decide to lift the temporary suspension they have slapped on me or expel me on a more permanent basis, I will not stop speaking out on this grotesque medical scandal that has harmed many vulnerable young people and harmed the credibility of the political movement Ive spent most of my life fighting for. Darren Johnson was a Green Party London assembly member (2000-2016) and twice served as chair of the Assembly 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. Television news reporter Greg Barnes, who covered community fundraisers, car crashes and hurricanes in southeastern North Carolina for WTVD with equal enthusiasm for nearly 35 years, died Wednesday after an illness. He was 73. Barnes started the stations Fayetteville bureau in 1983 and ran it until he retired in 2017, becoming a trusted source and a local celebrity. As additional reporters came to work at the bureau, Barnes taught them the ropes and gave them the advice he tried to follow when they had to stand in front of a camera: Just be yourself. Greg was the best, said Rob Elmore, now president and general manager at WTVD. From 1998 to 2015, Elmore was news director of the station. Greg was passionate about his work and committed to the Fayetteville community, and he was a great performer, Elmore said. Much of on-air news reporting is performing, Elmore said: being comfortable in front of a camera and explaining a situation with or without a script. He made something that is very unnatural look natural and easy, Elmore said. Thats a real talent. Gilbert Baez, now at WRAL, worked with Barnes at WTVD for 17 years and then competed against him covering the same region until Barnes retired. They both got their starts in radio, which Baez said was great training for when an anchor throws to a reporter in the field to summarize a days events or describe an ongoing situation. Its one thing to cover a murder, Baez said. Those facts are laid out there. But when you have to cover the event as its going on, Greg Barnes was the best. Greg Barnes favorite stories Barnes got his first on-air news job at age 15, when he was hired by WAGR AM radio in Lumberton, his hometown. Your ability to be in a radio booth with a microphone, an inanimate object, and make it sound like youre talking to 1,000 people in a room, is a gift, Baez said, and Barnes had it. You bring that capability to being in front of a camera. It seems so natural, like that person is talking not to a camera. Theyre talking to one person in a living room, and it feels like theyre talking to me. Viewers did believe Barnes was talking to them; when Baez posted about Barnes death on Facebook, more than 600 people responded, many as though they had lost a friend. When he retired, Barnes told the News & Observer that some of his favorite stories to cover had been embedding with the 82nd Airborne from Fort Bragg now Fort Liberty when troops deployed overseas, and soldiers homecomings on the Green Ramp at the former Pope Air Force Base when they returned. But he was well known for his weather coverage as well, especially when tropical storms or hurricanes threatened North Carolinas southeastern coast. A vast knowledge of the Carolina coast The Weather Channels Jim Cantore might have flown into the region when the local forecast looked bad, but Greg Barnes would get there first. Barnes had a vast knowledge of the Carolina coast, Elmore said; he owned a cottage at Oak Island, and when a storm looked imminent, he would take half a day off work to go board it up. He understood about wind speeds and currents and beach erosion, Elmore said, and he had the ability to talk to viewers for literally hours on end. He could go on and on and on and it be meaningful and impactful. On the beat, Barnes generally always wore a coat, a tie, and a pair of cowboy boots, the boots being as useful as they were recognizable. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lynne Barnes; daughter, Heather Barnes Barker and her husband, Tom Barker of Clayton; son, Joshua Lee Barnes of Lumberton; and five grandchildren. Floyd Mortuary and Crematory is handling arrangements. Group that sued Kristi Noem says she was threatening while trying to avoid being served South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem discusses the drug cartel presence in the states tribal lands during press conference on Friday, May 17, 2024, at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota. The group that sued Governor Kristi Noem for her promotion of a Texas dental office wants the lawsuit reinstated and says Noem was evasive and threatening while she attempted to avoid being served with legal documents. Noems spokesman Ian Fury has since responded on social media, writing that Noem is warm and loving to everyone she interacts with. If these attorneys had ever met with her, theyd know that. More proof than ever that they never served her. The lawsuit is from Travelers United, a consumer advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. It alleges Noem may have violated the law by failing to disclose any potential financial relationship she has with Smile Texas. Noem released a 5-minute video March 11 on social media showcasing the dental work she received there. Fury recently released a statement to South Dakota media saying Governor Noem has never received compensation for any alleged advertisements. Travelers United said in a recent court filing it has received no proof of that defense. Travelers United has made it very clear to defendants counsel that we would drop this case if Ms. Noem was able to provide a receipt that Ms. Noem paid in full for her cosmetic dental procedure, wrote the groups lawyer. Defense counsel is yet to provide a receipt. Serving of paperwork debated The judge overseeing the lawsuit recently dismissed it, writing that Travelers United failed to serve in other words, personally deliver the lawsuit paperwork to Noem by the required deadline of May 13. The court file shows no proof of service before that date. Furys statement said the dismissal reflects the baseless nature of Travelers Uniteds claims. Their actions have exposed them as a fake watchdog group filing frivolous claims intended as a smear against the Governor, Fury wrote. He added, If Travelers United continues to engage in baseless lawfare, then Governor Noem will use every resource at her disposal to hold them accountable. Lauren Wolfe, attorney for Travelers United, hopes the proof of service document she filed on Tuesday convinces the judge to reinstate the case. The document outlines numerous attempts to serve Noem and mentions Noems comments about the case on social media, all of which adds up to sufficient proof of service, Wolfe argues. Travelers United hired One Legal, a process serving company. The problems it allegedly encountered while attempting to serve Noem with the lawsuit papers are detailed in Wolfes filing. The process server who served Ms. Noem said Noem was highly evasive and also threatening, the document reads, adding that Ms. Noem has recently been in the news for shooting and killing her dog. The process server felt legitimately threatened. The mention of the dog is a reference to a story Noem divulged in her recently published book, No Going Back, about fatally shooting her dog after it failed at hunting pheasants and killed some of a neighbors chickens. Attempts to serve Noem outlined Wolfes court filing says representatives of One Legal, acting as a process server, made numerous attempts to serve Noem. On April 10, a process server visited the Governors Office but was unable to make contact with anyone who could accept the documents. On April 18, a server stopped by Noems personal residence in Castlewood. Her husband, Bryon Noem, said the governor was not home and discussed arranging a more suitable time for the service. He assured me that we would make this happen one way or another, reads correspondence included in the court document from One Legals representative. The server told Bryon Noem that the next attempt to serve Gov. Noem would be at a public luncheon. On April 19, the process server attended the luncheon to serve Noem as she exited. Her security allegedly intervened, surrounded the server and escorted her away. On May 1, server Katie Big Eagle returned to the Capitol but found the offices locked due to a meeting. She returned the next day and reported encountering Office Manager and Executive Assistant Judy Davis, Constituent Services Representative Lisa Lei and Administrative Specialist Lana Blair. All three were adamant they were not authorized to accept service on behalf of Noem and refused to touch the documents, according to Big Eagle. Big Eagle also attempted to call Noem on five occasions in early April, according to the court filing. Tensions escalated after Noem wrote Tuesday on social media that the baseless lawsuit was dismissed. Travelers United takes that as an indication that Noem has been served. Given that Ms. Noem clearly knows about this lawsuit based on her tweets as of today, Tuesday, May 28th, 2024, and hiring of counsel that have met multiple times before this filing, Travelers United believes there has been sufficient service in this case, Wolfe argued in her filing to the court. Travelers United also has a pending lawsuit against Smile Texas, accusing the company of running advertising campaigns lacking required disclosures, including the one involving Noem. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Group that sued Noem says she was threatening while trying to avoid being served Group that sued Noem says she was threatening while trying to avoid being served South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks at the Monument Leaders Rally hosted by the South Dakota Republican Party before introducing former President Donald Trump on Sept. 8, 2023, in Rapid City. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks at the Monument Leaders Rally hosted by the South Dakota Republican Party before introducing former President Donald Trump on Sept. 8, 2023, in Rapid City. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) The group that sued Governor Kristi Noem for her promotion of a Texas dental office wants the lawsuit reinstated and says Noem was evasive and threatening while she attempted to avoid being served with legal documents. Noems spokesman Ian Fury has since responded on social media, writing that Noem is warm and loving to everyone she interacts with. If these attorneys had ever met with her, theyd know that. More proof than ever that they never served her. The lawsuit is from Travelers United, a consumer advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. It alleges Noem may have violated the law by failing to disclose any potential financial relationship she has with Smile Texas. Noem released a 5-minute video March 11 on social media showcasing the dental work she received there. Fury recently released a statement to South Dakota media saying Governor Noem has never received compensation for any alleged advertisements. Travelers United said in a recent court filing it has received no proof of that defense. Travelers United has made it very clear to defendants counsel that we would drop this case if Ms. Noem was able to provide a receipt that Ms. Noem paid in full for her cosmetic dental procedure, wrote the groups lawyer. Defense counsel is yet to provide a receipt. Serving of paperwork debated The judge overseeing the lawsuit recently dismissed it, writing that Travelers United failed to serve in other words, personally deliver the lawsuit paperwork to Noem by the required deadline of May 13. The court file shows no proof of service before that date. Furys statement said the dismissal reflects the baseless nature of Travelers Uniteds claims. Their actions have exposed them as a fake watchdog group filing frivolous claims intended as a smear against the Governor, Fury wrote. He added, If Travelers United continues to engage in baseless lawfare, then Governor Noem will use every resource at her disposal to hold them accountable. Lauren Wolfe, attorney for Travelers United, hopes the proof of service document she filed on Tuesday convinces the judge to reinstate the case. The document outlines numerous attempts to serve Noem and mentions Noems comments about the case on social media, all of which adds up to sufficient proof of service, Wolfe argues. Travelers United hired One Legal, a process serving company. The problems it allegedly encountered while attempting to serve Noem with the lawsuit papers are detailed in Wolfes filing. The process server who served Ms. Noem said Noem was highly evasive and also threatening, the document reads, adding that Ms. Noem has recently been in the news for shooting and killing her dog. The process server felt legitimately threatened. The mention of the dog is a reference to a story Noem divulged in her recently published book, No Going Back, about fatally shooting her dog after it failed at hunting pheasants and killed some of a neighbors chickens. Attempts to serve Noem outlined Wolfes court filing says representatives of One Legal, acting as a process server, made numerous attempts to serve Noem. On April 10, a process server visited the Governors Office but was unable to make contact with anyone who could accept the documents. On April 18, a server stopped by Noems personal residence in Castlewood. Her husband, Bryon Noem, said the governor was not home and discussed arranging a more suitable time for the service. He assured me that we would make this happen one way or another, reads correspondence included in the court document from One Legals representative. The server told Bryon Noem that the next attempt to serve Gov. Noem would be at a public luncheon. On April 19, the process server attended the luncheon to serve Noem as she exited. Her security allegedly intervened, surrounded the server and escorted her away. On May 1, server Katie Big Eagle returned to the Capitol but found the offices locked due to a meeting. She returned the next day and reported encountering Office Manager and Executive Assistant Judy Davis, Constituent Services Representative Lisa Lei and Administrative Specialist Lana Blair. All three were adamant they were not authorized to accept service on behalf of Noem and refused to touch the documents, according to Big Eagle. Big Eagle also attempted to call Noem on five occasions in early April, according to the court filing. Tensions escalated after Noem wrote Tuesday on social media that the baseless lawsuit was dismissed. Travelers United takes that as an indication that Noem has been served. Given that Ms. Noem clearly knows about this lawsuit based on her tweets as of today, Tuesday, May 28th, 2024, and hiring of counsel that have met multiple times before this filing, Travelers United believes there has been sufficient service in this case, Wolfe argued in her filing to the court. Travelers United also has a pending lawsuit against Smile Texas, accusing the company of running advertising campaigns lacking required disclosures, including the one involving Noem. Proof of Service Kristi Noem (1) A proof of service document filed by the attorney for Travelers United. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Group that sued Noem says she was threatening while trying to avoid being served appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. NEW YORK Donald Trumps conviction Thursday makes him the first former president to become a felon and he will be the first to assert in a presidential campaign that its even more reason to elect him again. That act of campaigning on his criminal conviction began the moment Trump exited the courtroom in Manhattan, turning to the scrum of reporters and speaking of the verdict in terms of a larger war he is engaged in. I'm a very innocent man, and its OK, Im fighting for our country. Im fighting for our constitution. Our whole country is being rigged now, Trump said after stepping out of the courtroom, calling the proceedings a rigged, disgraceful trial. Well fight to the end and well win, he continued. Because our country has gone to hell. We dont have the same country anymore. After all 34 guilty counts were read, Trump sat glumly in his chair. When the judge asked each juror individually to confirm that they agreed with the verdict, Trump turned and strained his neck to see them, one by one, agree that they had found him guilty. Depending on his sentence, which has yet to be determined, a conviction may change little about Trumps existing, grievance-filled campaign strategy. At rallies and in public remarks for more than the past year, Trump has described sinister, Democratic forces coming after him and warned his supporters, without evidence, that the powers that be will also come for Americans whose beliefs are similar to his. Trump is the only one who can stop them, he says. Trumps guilty verdict, despite having been determined by a jury of average New Yorkers, will only further fuel his claims that he is being targeted through the legal system as a way to prevent him from winning back the White House. President Joe Biden has said little about Trumps legal woes other than making some indirect comments and jokes about Trump being tied up with trial and sending surrogates to the courthouse on Tuesday, though he is expected to change tactics now that Trump has been convicted. Shortly after the jury delivered the verdict, Bidens communications director, Michael Tyler, said in a statement that todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. Bidens campaign also posted a campaign fundraising solicitation on social media. Trump and his team in recent days were already setting expectations ahead of a possible guilty conviction, suggesting that one was likely (Mother Teresa could not beat these charges, he said a day prior), but seeking to downplay its significance with voters (The average working American has already acquitted Donald Trump, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a Trump surrogate, told Fox News outside the courthouse as the jury deliberated Thursday). But he now will have to embrace his status as a felon and, as he has long said, a victim of weaponization of the justice system and political persecution as Trump continues with his presidential campaign including the first televised general election debate in less than a month. Trump has remained ahead of Biden in swing state polling throughout the trial, which he and his campaign have argued is a sign that Americans are not swayed by the prospect of him being convicted. A campaign video released Thursday morning, featuring dramatic shots of Trump walking, and footage of him at rallies and greeting supporters, flashed a message on screen: Theyre trying to hold him back. Its not working. TRUMP WONT BE STOPPED. Trumps lawyer Alina Habba, who is not representing him in the New York case but who has regularly attended court with him, told reporters before the decision that her message to Trump supporters is: Be patient. Don't look at the verdicts that we get. Wait. We will go and appeal, Habba continued. We will show them what really happened. A person with knowledge of the strategy said earlier this week that the Trump campaign, anticipating any outcome, had prepared to campaign on a guilty verdict. Trump throughout the trial sought to capitalize on his confinement to court by sending out fundraising emails and text messages seemingly narrating his court experience that he was entering the courtroom for the day, that he had just stormed out of court, that he was holding an emergency press conference at the end of the day. Theres no clear evidence that Trumps conviction will have a drastic effect on the presidential election, and polling surrounding the case and its impact on voters has been limited. Since the trial was not televised, the proceedings remained opaque to those outside the courtroom which was nearly everyone in America and coverage of the verdict and the subsequent sentencing and expected appeal could have more of an impact on public opinion. Polling over the last month and a half has offered mixed information about how closely voters were following the news of the trial but overall, has shown that Americans see the Manhattan criminal case as less serious than Trumps other three, which may not go to trial before the November election. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted in mid-May found that while 46 percent of respondents believed Trump had done something illegal in the hush-money payment case, 29 percent said it was something unethical but not illegal, and 21 percent said Trump did nothing wrong the latter two groups amounting to a combined 50 percent. Those numbers were similar to polling conducted at the start of the trial, showing news reports about the case have only done so much to change public opinion about Trumps behavior. Trump will undoubtedly use the conviction to further accuse President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party of political persecution, a line of attack he employed long before the trial even started. The trial unfolded as Trump has enjoyed a months-long lead over Biden in critical swing state polling. A leading gun control group accused the National Rifle Association of acting to fan the flames of extremism by choosing former congressman Bob Barr as its new presidentciting a long-acknowledged speech to a white supremacist group Barr gave while serving as a U.S. representative from Georgia. The fact that the NRA board of directors handpicked a president who was the keynote speaker at a convention of blatant white supremacists tells you everything you need to know about the state of the organization, Emma Brown, executive director at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, told The Daily Beast of Barrs 1998 speech to the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC) in Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1985, the CCC espouses racist views prominently, including opposition to interracial marriage, which one member, writing a website column around the time of Barrs speech, called genocide via the bedroom chamber that would turn the U.S. into a slimy brown mass of glop. Brown added: The NRA and their friends in the gun industry fan the flames of extremism to spread fear and boost sales. They turn a blind eye to mass violence because it helps them line their pockets. Giffords will continue working to expose the industry and hold bad actors accountable. Giffords was founded by the former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot and seriously wounded in 2011. Trump Ends NRA Speech With Horror Warning Set to Dramatic QAnon Music The NRA suffered a public relations blow during the scandal-plagued downfall of Wayne LaPierre, its longtime chief executive, but it remains the most powerful pro-gun group in the U.S., extending influence over politicians including Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who addressed NRA members in Dallas earlier this month. The appointment of Barr also demonstrated the close ties between the NRA and the GOP establishment. On his appointment, Barr, 75, said: I have been a fighter my whole life and I commit to boldly fight for our Second Amendment rights on behalf of the millions of NRA members. We need to grow our ranks, especially in this election year, and I pledge to focus my attention on doing just that. Barr was a federal prosecutor before becoming a Republican congressman, representing the 7th District of Georgia between 1995 and 2003 and playing a lead role in the failed impeachment of President Bill Clinton. In 2008 he was the Libertarian nominee for president, winning just under 524,000 votes. Ten years before that, however, Barr endured a scandal of his own when he was forced to acknowledge and explain his speech to the CCC. In December 1998, The Washington Post reported that Barr, a sitting congressman, was a keynote speaker at the CCC convention. The Post quoted a columnist on the CCC website as writing: "Take 10 bottles of milk to represent all humans on earth. Nine of them will be chocolate and only one white. Now mix all those bottles together and you have gotten rid of that troublesome bottle of white milk. There too is the way to get rid of the world of whites. Convince them to mix their few genes with the genes of the many. Genocide via the bedroom chamber is as long lasting as genocide via war." Barr told the paper he had not known the group to have such extremist positions when he agreed to address it, saying: "The group does harbor some very unusual views that neither I nor any member of Congress endorses. The NRA Is at Rock BottomAnd 15 Years of Tax Filings Tell the Story He also told the Post a CCC youth group discussion he attended, at which racist ideas were discussed, gave me serious pause [but] I was there and I [decided I] would speak to them and leave. A senior CCC official rejected that version of events, telling the Post Barr knew what we were all about before he spoke to us and adding: We don't invite people and let them walk into the dark on us." The Posts reporting touched off a scandal that also engulfed Trent Lott of Mississippi, then the Republican leader in the U.S. Senate, who had also addressed the CCC. Barrs speech was first raised in a complaint to the House Judiciary Committee chair by the well-known lawyer Alan Dershowitz, arising from his testimony against the Clinton impeachment. Barr told reporters then: It is no coincidence that, days before a vote on impeachment, one of President Clintons most ardent supporters is falsely accusing me of harboring racist views. Asked for comment about Barrs appointment and whether the NRA would ever endorse the views held by the CCC, a spokesperson for the pro-gun group pointed The Daily Beast to the time passed since Barrs speech. As reported by The Washington Post 26 years ago in 1998, the spokesperson said, Congressman Barr disavowed any association with the group. The NRA has no association with them whatsoever. Asked if Barr would comment now on his speech to the CCC, the NRA spokesperson did not reply. 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. After a high-speed pursuit and gunfire, a Muscatine County incident remains under investigation, according to a news release. (Jackson Rozinsky, OurQuadCities.com) About 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers with the Muscatine County Drug Task Force began the process of serving a search warrant on a Muscatine residence. (Mike Colon, OurQuadCities.com) (Mike Colon, OurQuadCities.com) The subjects of the investigation took off in a car when law enforcement approached them, and by law enforcement, and led police on a high speed pursuit on Highway 61 around Muscatine, the release says. (Jackson Rozinsky, OurQuadCities.com) The fleeing vehicle was involved in a traffic crash at the intersection of Highway 61 and Cedar Street about 3:40 p.m. The suspects ran off, and, shortly afterward, several gunshots were fired at the scene, according to the release. (Jackson Rozinsky, OurQuadCities.com) The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident. (Jackson Rozinsky, OurQuadCities.com) In addition to the Muscatine County Drug Task Force, the agencies involved or lending support include the Muscatine County Sheriffs Office, Cedar County Sheriffs Office, Muscatine Police Department, Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Muscatine Fire Department, and University of Iowa AirCare. (Jackson Rozinsky, OurQuadCities.com) The situation was quickly contained and there is no active threat to the community, the release says. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Heres what happens if the jury doesnt agree in the Trump trial (NEXSTAR) Twelve people have a big decision or more like 34 big decisions to make in a New York courtroom. The jury in the trial against former President Donald Trump is deliberating whether to convict or acquit him on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The jury began deliberating mid-day Wednesday, and was dismissed for the day after about four hours. The deliberations were expected to pick back up behind closed doors Thursday morning. The jury is required to come to a unanimous decision on each count. They can convict on some charges and acquit on others, but in each case they need to all agree. Will Trump go to prison if convicted in hush money trial? But what happens if they dont all agree? If jurors send a note saying they cant come to a unanimous decision, the judge, in consultation with both sides, must decide what to do next. Defense lawyers might seek an immediate mistrial. That could be granted, but often, the response is to call the jury in for some form of instruction to keep trying. This is sometimes called an Allen charge or a dynamite charge. The judge may urge them to take their time, carefully reexamine their own views, and try and find away to come to an agreement. Donald Trumps 34 criminal charges: A closer look If deadlock notes continue, the message to keep trying may be repeated or tweaked. Arguments for a mistrial may also come up repeatedly. Theres no hard-and-fast rule about how long a jury must keep attempting to resolve differences before a mistrial can be declared. If a jury cant reach an agreement, its called a hung jury. In that case, the judge may be forced to declare a mistrial. It would then be up to the prosecutors how theyd like to proceed. They would have to decide on the spot if theyd like to start over, BBC reports. Jurors can keep deliberating as long as they need to. The standard court day runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a break for lunch (jurors meals will be delivered). But judges sometimes extend the hours if jurors wish. Theres no limit on how many days deliberations can continue. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. What happens now after Trump guilty verdict and when will he be sentenced? The former president is facing a slew of legal challenges that could post a threat to his 2024 White House bid Donald Trumps bid for re-election to the White House has been blown apart after a court in New York found him guilty on 34 charges in his hush money trial. The former president the first in US history to be convicted of a criminal offence falsified business records to buy the silence of a porn star. Mr Trump will now be sentenced on July 11. He could face a prison sentence, though this is unlikely. He could also face a significant fine. The historic verdict that could influence the US election but it is not the only legal danger Mr Trump is in. Mr Trump is staring down the barrel of potential jail time and is also due to stand trial in three other criminal prosecutions. He was cleared by the Supreme Court to appear on the 2024 ballot ahead of Super Tuesday, in a major boost to his campaign. The court unanimously banned states from excluding Mr Trump from the vote over allegations that he incited an insurrection, overturning a previous ruling by Colorados Supreme Court. But Mr Trump has quickly turned his attention to another major case after the Supreme Court said it would consider his claims of presidential immunity from prosecution. The court, which has a 6-3 Republican majority, said it would take up the matter, beginning on the week of April 22, with a decision likely no later than the end of June. As the first former president to face a criminal trial after leaving the White House, he has faced off against a special federal prosecutor appointed solely to bring cases against him. Criminal charges Georgia election January 6 Documents Stormy Daniels Civil charges Fraud E Jean Carroll Mr Trump a property tycoon who is no stranger to the courtroom has used the cases as a campaign tool, telling his followers that they are an attempt to discredit his brand of MAGA Republicanism and block his path to power. The charges against him have raised unprecedented constitutional questions, and prompted fierce debate over whether he could even attempt to govern from jail. Here are the key cases, whats going on, and where this could all finish. Stormy Daniels hush money Mr Trump was found guilty on 34 felony charges in his hush money trial. He will be sentenced on July 11. The multiple counts of falsifying business records carry a maximum four-year jail sentence, though legal experts believe a custodial punishment is unlikely. Mr Trump was last year charged in New York with 34 counts of fraud in relation to hush money paid to the porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair. The former president was found by a jury to have falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 payment. According to the 16-page indictment, the payments aimed to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity from American voters before and after the 2016 election. Mr Trump is accused of paying Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair - Ethan Miller/Getty Images Michael Cohen, Mr Trumps former lawyer, was sentenced to three years in prison in 2018 after admitting tax evasion and campaign finance violations in relation to paying off Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to the 34-count indictment, which he called a political witch-hunt, trying to take down the leading candidate, by far, in the Republican Party. The case was the first of the former presidents criminal cases to go to trial, after a judge turned down Mr Trumps requests to delay. Judge Juan Merchan scheduled the trial to begin with jury selection on 15 April. It is expected to last around six weeks. Mr Merchan also imposed a gag order that forbids Mr Trump from attacking witnesses, prosecutors or jurors involved in the criminal trial. Georgia election Mr Trump has been charged with 13 counts relating to his alleged bid to overturn the election result in Georgia in 2020. He has been charged with racketeering, violating an oath of office, and other crimes. A total of 19 co-defendants were indicted alongside the former president and four have pleaded guilty in a deal with Fulton County prosecutors. They are former Trump attorneys Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, alongside bail bondsman Scott Hall. Under the plea deals, the former defendants may have to testify against Mr Trump in forthcoming trials. Other high-profile co-defendants include his White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, and lawyer John Eastman. Mr Trump has always denied he acted improperly in Georgia in the aftermath of the election, as he sought to overturn the result in the state after narrowly losing the vote to Mr Biden. In a leaked call with Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state, Mr Trump pleaded with him to find thousands of votes that would allow him to win the crucial state. Theres nothing wrong with saying, you know, um, that youve recalculated, Mr Trump is reported to have said. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state. The former president also had a historic booking photo taken Mr Trumps legal team unsuccessfully argued that Fani Willis, a Georgia district attorney, should be barred from bringing charges against him and that a grand jurys report should be thrown out. The grand jury spent eight months interrogating some 75 witnesses and filed a lengthy report on Mr Trumps conduct last year. Mr Trump surrendered at a Georgia jail in August to be arrested in connection with the charges, after his bail was set at $200,000 with strict conditions attached to it. The judge has not yet set a trial date for Mr Trump, but Ms Willis has proposed courtroom proceedings commence on Aug 5 2024 for the remaining defendants. If successful, this means the trial would begin just months before the US presidential election in November. That timetable has been thrown into doubt over allegations that Ms Wallis faced a conflict of interest over her romantic involvement with lawyer Nathan Wade, whom she hired to spearhead the case. Mr Wade, who earned close to $700,000 for his work on the case, took the district attorney on expensive holidays throughout 2022 including a cruise with his mother. Ms Willis denied any conflict of interest and said she had repaid Mr Wade in cash. Mr Wade eventually stepped aside after a ruling by Judge Scott McAfee, who did not find a conflict but criticised Ms Willis tremendous lapse in judgement and unprofessional manner while testifying. Mr Trump subsequently announced he would challenge the decision not to dismiss Ms Willis, which a Georgia appeals court agreed to hear in May. The developments have further kicked a trial date into the long grass and if Ms Willis is removed from the case, Georgia will have to find another prosecution team. A trial before Novembers presidential election now looks unlikely. Other 2020 election and Jan 6 charges Aside from Georgia, Mr Trump has been charged with four criminal counts over the events that led to the riot at the US Capitol on Jan 6 2021. In a 45-page indictment brought by special counsel Jack Smith, he was accused of trying to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election. He allegedly did so by pressuring officials in swing states where he had lost to assemble fake electors to ignore the popular vote, and pushing the Justice Department to open sham election inquiries. Six co-conspirators are referred to in the indictment but have not been named. However, Mr Giuliani appears to be the individual named as co-conspirator number one. Prosecutors say the former president also tried to convince Mike Pence, the then vice-president, to reject legitimate Electoral College votes. Mr Trump faces two counts of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, having allegedly tried to block Congress from confirming Joe Bidens victory. Mr Trump has been charged with four criminal counts over the events that led to the riot at the US Capitol on Jan 6 2021 - Jose Luis Magana/AP The felony charge was used against numerous rioters who stormed the Capitol. He has also been charged with conspiracy against rights, which criminalises any joint effort to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate others in an effort to stop them exercising their constitutional or federal rights. Mr Trumps campaign said the persecutions were reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. It added: These un-American witch-hunts will fail and President Trump will be re-elected to the White House. Mr Trump pleaded not guilty in a federal courthouse in Washington DC at the start of August. Mr Smith, who the former president has labelled as deranged, said he would seek a speedy trial over the four criminal counts. Even if Mr Trump is convicted, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination has insisted he will continue to run for the presidency. There are no mandatory minimum sentences for any of the crimes Mr Trump is accused of. Conspiracy to defraud the government is the least punitive of the four charges and is punishable by up to five years in prison. Conspiracy against rights carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, while conspiracy to obstruct and obstructing an official proceeding both mean up to 20 years in prison. In October, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan hit Mr Trump with a gagging order that prohibits him from publicly disparaging witnesses, prosecutors and court staff members involved in the case. In response to an appeal from Mr Trump, the gagging order was partially upheld, but restricted, by the judge in a ruling in early December. In January, Mr Trump launched an appeal against the case in Washington, arguing that he should be immune from prosecution because his actions took place while he held the presidency. Prosecutors then asked the court to issue a mandate to limit Mr Trumps efforts to further delay the trial. But the Supreme Court subsequently agreed to consider Mr Trumps case for absolute immunity, with oral arguments taking place on April 22. The court is expected to make its ruling before the end of June, and at least three justices including the chief justice, John Roberts seemed inclined to send the issue back to the lower courts for another round of legal battles. This means the case is unlikely to reach trial before the November election, which could give Mr Trump the chance to pardon himself before a verdict is reached if he secures the presidency. Classified documents Mr Trump faces 40 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The indictment accused him of endangering national security by removing US secrets from the White House and storing them in a ballroom, a bathroom and shower at his Florida club. Some were said to contain information about nuclear programmes, along with the defence and weapons capabilities of the US and foreign powers. Boxes of classified documents in a bathroom at Mar-a-Lago - US Justice Department/AFP via Getty Images In July, three further charges were added after it was claimed that Mr Trump and two employees tried to delete Mar-a-Lago security footage before it could be handed over to the FBI. A Trump spokesman has dismissed the case as a continued desperate and flailing attempt by the Biden administration to harass President Trump and those around him. The trial was originally set to commence on May 20 2024 in Fort Pierce, Florida, but this timeline was scrapped by Judge Aileen Cannon just two weeks before proceedings were meant to get underway. It is now delayed indefinitely. Judge Cannon said it would be imprudent and inconsistent with the courts duty to finalise a trial date while there was still a myriad of pre-trial issues to resolve. She scheduled pre-trial hearings to run through July 22. Prosecutors had previously hoped for a July 8 start date. Mr Trumps lawyers have called for the case to be postponed indefinitely or at least until after the election, citing the challenges of juggling a criminal trial and campaigning. They now look likely to get their wish. Only two of the charges that Mr Trump faces carry a possible prison sentence of fewer than ten years the charges for scheming to conceal and making false statements and representations. The 31 charges under the Espionage Act the wilful retention of documents carry a sentence of up to ten years in prison. Prosecutors will have to prove that Mr Trump or his team he is being tried alongside two co-defendants knowingly mishandled materials to impede, obstruct or influence the investigation. The prosecution has also filed notices detailing the FBI agents they intend to call forward as expert witnesses. These agents will be asked to describe evidence found on the phones of Mr Trumps co-defendants. Charges for obstruction of justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record and concealing a document in a federal investigation could all mean a prison sentence of up to 20 years. All charges are listed with a maximum fine of up to $250,000 (198,000). Civil cases New York fraud case Mr Trump was in September found to have exaggerated his net worth and the value of his properties, including Trump Tower and his Mar-a-Lago resort. In February 2024, Donald Trump was fined almost $355 million and effectively banned from serving as a director of his own company for three years. After pre-trial interest was added, the mammoth fine climbed even further, being formally set at more than $454 million. In his ruling in mid-February, Judge Arthur Engoron also barred the former US presidents adult sons from running the family firm for two years. Eric and Donald Jr were also ordered to pay more than $4 million each. However, he stopped short of a life ban, which was described as a corporate death sentence, although the judgment does present the family with logistical problems in running the former presidents property empire over the next few years. Mr Trump announced he is appealing against the ruling by a crooked New York state judge and accused Laetitia James, the New York Attorney General of being horribly corrupt and election interference. Mr Trump has attacked Judge Engoron as unhinged, deranged and a political hack. The former president had already been hit with a $15,000 fine by Mr Engoron, after he insulted the presiding judges clerk on social media, violating a gag order in the case. An appeals judge denied Mr Trumps request to pay only $100 million of the full $454 million fine but agreed to lift a ban on the former presidents ability to obtain loans from New York banks. In March Mr Trump was handed an eleventh-hour lifeline after he won a bid to pause the half-a-billion-dollar judgment hours before Ms James office could have started seizing his assets. An appeals court ruled he could post a $175million bond within 10 days instead of having to secure the funds for the full fine. E Jean Carroll E Jean Carroll, a former magazine columnist, has been awarded $83 million damages from Mr Trump after he called her a whack job a day after he was found to have sexually abused her in a civil lawsuit. Ms Carroll claimed that Mr Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. The civil jury rejected the rape claim but ordered the former president to pay $5 million in damages for sexual abuse in May 2023. In a televised town hall hosted by CNN the following day, Mr Trump accused her of telling a made-up story. He told the audience at the event: What kind of a woman meets somebody and brings them up and, within minutes, youre playing hanky-panky in a dressing room, OK? Ms Carrolls lawyers claim he persisted in maliciously defaming Carroll yet again. Ms Carroll can proceed with her defamation claim against Mr Trump after the Justice Department ruled his presidency did not shield him from liability. It said it no longer believes Mr Trump could claim his comments about the right were carried out as part of his presidential duties. A US judge ruled that Mr Trump was liable for making defamatory statements against Ms Carroll and her second lawsuit would be for damages only, in a defeat for the former president. The former magazine columnist had already won $5 million from Mr Trump after he was found in May to have sexually abused and defamed her. Mr Trump posted a $91.6 million bond to cover the verdict in early March. He is in the process of appealing the ruling. Could Trump be banned from the ballot? Mr Trump had previously been the subject of another appeal at the Supreme Court against attempts by several states to ban him from the election ballot over claims that an obscure constitutional amendment would prevent him from running for a second term. However, Mr Trump was cleared to run for president in a unanimous decision by the court on the eve of Super Tuesday, a series of votes that could secure his Republican nomination. In a speech at his resort in Miami, the former president praised the unifying and inspirational ruling after the Supreme Court agreed it would be incongruous to give individual states the power to disqualify candidates for the presidency. In mid-December, the Colorado Supreme Court had ruled that Mr Trump was disqualified under the 14th Amendment, which prevents individuals guilty of insurrection from holding high office. Maine followed suit on Dec 28, with Secretary of State Shenna Bellows disqualifying Mr Trump from the ballot in her state, leading Mr Trump to appeal the decision. The amendment was originally designed to ban confederate generals from running for the presidency, but fell into obscurity until it was revived by legal scholars in 2023. Since then, several states had begun proceedings to see Mr Trump taken off the ballot papers in the 2024 election in both the primary race and the general election. The Supreme Court heard legal arguments in February and appeared sceptical over Colorados arguments before overturning the proceedings. However, they are also considering Mr Trumps claim that he has immunity against all criminal charges. At the beginning of February, a federal appeals court rejected his claim and ruled he should face trial for a criminal indictment accusing him of seeking to overturn his loss to Joe Biden. 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. On Tuesday, Harvard officials announced that the university would adopt a formal stance of ideological neutrality on political events and other controversial issues. The decision comes after months of tumultuous campus protests over the war between Israel and Hamas. Earlier this month, a faculty-led working group published a report that strongly recommended adopting a neutral stance on topics that do not directly concern the university itself. "The university has a responsibility to speak out to protect and promote its core function. Its leaders must communicate the value of the university's central activities. They must defend the university's autonomy and academic freedom when threatened," the report stated. "The university and its leaders should not, however, issue official statements about public matters that do not directly affect the university's core function." The report hinted at what is likely the prevailing reason behind Harvard's push toward neutralitythe immense pressure faced by school officials to weigh in on Hamas' October 7 attack against Israel, and the ongoing war in Gaza. The report noted how, if officials make statements about one topic unrelated to the university's core function, the school opens itself up to demands it comment on every other controversy. "If the university and its leaders become accustomed to issuing official statements about matters beyond the core function of the university, they will inevitably come under intense pressure to do so from multiple, competing sides on nearly every imaginable issue of the day," said the report. "This is the reality of contemporary public life in an era of social media and political polarization." Survey results released last week by The Harvard Crimson indicate widespread faculty support for neutrality. The survey found that more than 70 percent of Arts and Sciences faculty supported a shift to formal neutrality and more than half reported feeling "somewhat negatively" or "negatively" about "the current state of academic freedom at Harvard" The announcement was met with widespread praise from free expression advocates. "For better or worse, what Harvard does, others follow," Angel Eduardo, senior writer and editor at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, wrote on Tuesday. "The principles outlined in the Institutional Voice Working Group's report don't just bode well for Harvard's future on free speech and academic freedomthey may also signal a significant sea change in colleges across the country." On Wednesday, Syracuse University also announced that it would adopt the recommendations of a similar working group and take an official neutral stance. "We embrace the guiding principle that the remedy for speech that some may find hurtful, offensive, or even hateful is not the disruption, obstruction, or suppression of the free speech of others, but rather more speech," a statement from the university reads. "Except under the most extraordinary circumstances and with the sole purpose of protecting its mission of discovery, improvement, and dissemination of knowledge, the University does not make institutional statements or pronouncements on current controversies." The post Harvard Announces It Will Stop Releasing Political Statements appeared first on Reason.com. By Bayram Elshadov, Day.az French senator Valerie Boyer cannot live a day without thinking about Azerbaijan. Sometimes it seems that the successes of Baku haunt the pro-Armenian politician and she is unable to live a single day without fictitious accusations against Azerbaijan. So it is this time. On her social network X, Madame Boyer again started talking about some prisoners who are languishing in Baku prisons, while keeping silent about the fact that the prisoners are real criminals with documented crimes. Ursula von der Leyen also suffered from the French senator, whom the Frenchwoman accused of turning a blind eye to the violations of Azerbaijan by the head of the European Commission. Living in her cozy echo chamber, Madame Boyer will never understand the simple truth. Her opinion doesn't matter to anyone at all. Not in Baku, not in Europe, not even in Armenia. After all, for the Armenian diaspora it is simply a tool with the help of which Armenians try to achieve their political goals. She won't be there, another Valerie will appear. So the value of her opinion is zero for all parties. As for the real impact on the situation, the possibility and probability of such an outcome is zero. After all, if Madame Boyers endless stream of spam on social networks would have already had an effect. Even if you write a thousand times on social networks, nothing will change, because politicians know perfectly well what is happening, where it is happening and how it is happening. And the desires and personal ambitions of any senators do not greatly concern political heavyweights. And what is the French senator trying to achieve in this situation, besides proving that she is the most pro-Armenian among all the senators? Well, maybe the Armenians will give her more money, but thats all it will be. And since we are talking about human rights, why is Madame Boyer keeping silent about the events in New Caledonia? Does she really think that there were no violations there? Or does her distorted perception of the world around her prevent her from noticing the obvious? Boyer, like her colleagues in the Senate, would do well to solve problems within their competence before teaching life to other countries. Editor's note: This week Xinhua is releasing a series of five commentaries about the United States' "forced labor" accusations against China, and the following is the third piece. BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The repeated accusations by U.S. politicians of "forced labor" practices in China's Xinjiang might bring to mind horrific pictures of chained-up people toiling under the crack of whips. However, such scenes are nowhere to be found in modern-day Xinjiang. Instead, they can be easily spotted in the pages of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, which to this day stands as a testament to America's dark history involving the worst form of forced labor. For one-third of its 248-year history, slavery was woven into the very fabric of the American nation. According to German data firm Statista, there were about 700,000 black slaves in the United States in 1790, and by 1860, this number had surged to over 3.95 million. The primitive accumulation of capital in the early days of the nation was the result of the blood and sweat of black slaves, who were sold into brutal conditions and forced to work. For example, in just six decades, from 1800 to 1860, the ruthless exploitation of slave owners saw cotton production in the United States increase 130-fold. Ironically, the U.S. now frequently highlights, and even fabricates, claims of forced labor in the cotton harvesting and textile industries of other countries. This focus on external targets diverts attention from its own labor issues, raising questions about its true intentions. While the U.S. Civil War is celebrated for abolishing the archaic system of chattel slavery, it has failed to fully eradicate the exploitation of labor. Instead, insidious forms of modern slavery have emerged, continuously plaguing American society. Even the U.S. government acknowledges that forced labor persists to this day. The Department of Homeland Security notes that victims of forced labor in the U.S. can be citizens or individuals from nearly every region of the world, regardless of their legal status upon entry. The U.S. claims to be a "melting pot" and a "paradise" for immigrants, but for many, this illusion may shatter upon arrival. The Associated Press reported that for many years, immigrants smuggled into the U.S. have been forced to work long hours on farms, live in dirty, crowded accommodation, suffer from a lack of food and clean drinking water, and frequently face violent threats from overseers. The exploitation of immigrants has drawn attention from the UN. In 2018, UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery Urmila Bhoola highlighted in her report the issues of forced and bonded labor, sexual violence and deportation threats against women migrant workers in U.S. tomato farms. Another long-standing issue is child labor. American mines, tobacco farms, and textile factories began hiring and exploiting children over a century ago. Despite laws and regulations supposed to protect minors put in place, the problem persists. Last year, the U.S. Department of Labor found 5,792 minors working in violation of child labor laws in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the highest level in nearly two decades. Packers Sanitation Services Inc., one of the largest food safety sanitation services providers in the U.S., paid 1.5 million dollars in penalties after it was found to have employed more than 100 children aged 13 to 17 to clean slaughterhouses, using caustic chemicals to wash razor-sharp saws and other high-risk equipment. The United States' poor labor record has a spillover effect as corporate America outsources production to regions around the world. In 2019, The Washington Post put child laborers on West African cocoa farms into the spotlight. Some of the biggest and best-known brands, including Hershey and Mars from the U.S., could not guarantee that any of their chocolates were produced without child labor, the newspaper reported. American tire maker Goodyear was sued multiple times by foreign workers at its Malaysian factory for unpaid wages, unlawful overtime and the denial of full access to their passports. With forced labor issues within its borders and its firms' labor abuses across the globe, the United States stands in no position to discredit other countries and propagate false claims about "forced labor." By hurling mud at Chinese companies in the textile and other sectors, the U.S. just provided another vivid example of its hypocrisy and double standards. The "forced labor" rhetoric increasingly appears to be merely Uncle Sam's tool for political manipulation and economic coercion. "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." Washington should clean up its own backyard and stop telling others what to do or making fabricated accusations to serve its own interests. A student displays the Palestinian flag on his mortar board as graduates take their seats in Harvard Yard during commencement at Harvard University, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Cambridge, Mass. Harvard University said Tuesday, May 28, 2024, that it would no longer take positions on issues that are not relevant to the core function of the university. | Charles Krupa After months of turmoil and sharp criticism from some alumni and donors, Harvard University said Tuesday that it would no longer take positions on issues that are not relevant to the core function of the university. In doing so, the Ivy League school has not fully embraced institutional neutrality but is stepping away from statements that express solidarity and empathy, such as those the university issued after Russias invasion of Ukraine and Hamas attack on Israel, and other potentially divisive topics that have nothing to do with education. In other words, Harvards leadership has been suddenly stricken with a bout of common sense. Cynics might say that the decision was necessary given public outcry over Harvards handling of student protests and the resulting withdrawal of financial support from wealthy donors like Bill Ackman and Kenneth Griffin. Even the resignation of former President Claudine Gay did little to stifle criticism of Harvard and other elite universities for enabling a climate in which antisemitism could fester. And some Republicans seized the upswell of anti-Ivy-League sentiment to argue that the schools should not have public support. But even if the change is motivated by self-interest, in reversing course, Harvard has a chance to emerge from the turmoil as a leader, the shaper of values and thought that universities have historically wanted to be. Its a long shot, but it also has an opportunity to win back the support of social conservatives. Its safe to say that wasnt on anyones bingo card for this year. In steering the public conversation toward the core function of institutions, Harvard is giving Americans something we desperately need: hope that we might someday return to a world in which our academic and corporate overlords arent preaching the gospel of progressivism. Its not that big an ask, really. The events of Oct. 7 largely overshadowed everything that happened earlier in 2023, but many of the headlines before Israel was attacked involved social conservatives pushing back against the progressive agenda that was being force-fed to them by companies determined to not just sell them stuff, but ideas. Boycotts against Target and Bud Light had nothing to do with the quality of the goods being sold, and everything to do with the way they were being marketed. In fact, the boycotts were effective precisely because the boycotters liked Target and Bud Light; they just didnt like companies seeming to take a stand on social issues, through relentless greenwashing, pinkwashing and bluewashing. Similarly, for all the outcry about elite universities corrupting Americas youth, Ive never known a parent who didnt speak with pride of a child getting accepted into Harvard or Yale. Theres still a mystique about our great universities that persists despite the best efforts of the outrage machine. Thats one reason that there is something resembling relief in social media posts applauding Harvards decision. Book learnin and common sense, it seems, can coexist again. Yesssssss! Harvard adopts a policy of institutional neutrality, or more specifically, a version of it, that addresses key issues of "institutional voice" in a very thoughtful manner!!!! A great day for @Harvard and higher education!! https://t.co/ygEnYLetre Jeffrey Flier (@jflier) May 28, 2024 Others approvingly noted on social media that the new Harvard policy, while not applicable to students, would apply to anyone authorized to speak on behalf of the university: That should include the president, provost, and all deans as well as heads of departments, centers, and programs; it should also in principle extend to university governing boards and faculty bodies (such as faculty councils and the faculties of schools and departments acting collectively). Further, Harvards working group advised: There will be close cases where reasonable people disagree about whether a given issue is or is not directly related to the core function of the university. The universitys policy in those situations should be to err on the side of avoiding official statements. While in retrospect, many people might wonder why the best and the brightest are just now figuring out this last bit of wisdom, I think we can all agree on better late than never and hope that this policy proves infectious. This approach reminded me of a remark made by President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who once said, On contested issues, we (should) seek to moderate and to unify. Perhaps avoid official statements and seek to moderate and to unify arent exactly the same thing, but both approaches help to lower the temperature of our inflamed discourse in the public square. If Harvard wants to lead us to a place where corporate America and higher ed focus on their core missions alone, Im all in especially if the school can bring others along. Earlier this year, The Free Press published an essay by Harvard alumnus and donor Bill Ackman titled How to Fix Harvard. That was a remarkably hopeful headline at the time, conveying Ackmans belief that Harvard could, in fact, be fixed, despite the burn it all down cries coming from so many on the right. The statements coming out of Harvard this week suggest a welcome course correction, and despite some complaints that Harvard isnt going all in on institutional neutrality, the turn of events deserves a grudging nod of respect, if not our full-throated applause. The former Hollywood producer attends a hearing on May 29 ahead of his sexual assault retrial - Angela Weiss Manhattan prosecutors are evaluating more claims of sexual misconduct made against Harvey Weinstein and could potentially seek a new indictment before his scheduled retrial for rape and sexual assault charges. Nicole Blumberg, an assistant district attorney, told a judge on Wednesday that additional people have come forward with assault claims and prosecutors are currently assessing which allegations fall under the statute of limitations. She said potential survivors that were not ready to step forward during Weinsteins first New York trial may now be willing to testify. Asked if there was a possibility of prosecutors filing a new indictment by by Judge Curtis Farber, Ms Blumberg replied: Yes, your honour. The assistant district attorney added that prosecutors would be in a better position to update the court at the end of June. The judge has set the next hearing date for July 9, with Weinsteins retrial for the rape charge tentatively scheduled for some time around the beginning of September. Arthur Aidala, Weinsteins lawyer, told reporters outside the courthouse that his client was confident no additional accusers would be found to bolster the prosecutions case. Hes never done anything like this [Weinstein] knows hes never done anything like this, Aidala said. The Hollywood producer appearing in the same New York City courthouse as Donald Trump entered the court in a wheelchair, which he has used at other hearings since his 2020 conviction was tossed out. According to his lawyers, Weinstein suffered medical problems throughout his time in jail, most recently at the citys Rikers Island jail complex. Judge Farber addressed a letter earlier in the hearing sent by prosecutors last week that requested the court remind Weinsteins lawyers not to discuss or disparage potential witnesses in public ahead of the retrial. The office of Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, has argued that Mr Aidala previously made statements meant to intimidate Miriam Haley, a former production assistant that Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting. However, Mr Aidala apologised to the judge and said he did not intend to intimidate anyone. Lies were told at the last trial He added his client is also entitled to a vigorous defence as lies were told at the last trial and accused the prosecution of holding press conferences criticising Weinstein throughout the legal ordeal. Who gets to stand up for Harvey Weinstein? he asked in court. Who gets to be his voice? In response, the judge directed both sides to refrain from pandering to the press, saying the case will not be decided in the court of public opinion. Miriam Haley did not attend Wednesdays hearing and has expressed reluctance about going through the trauma of testifying again. Gloria Allred, her lawyer, said outside the courthouse that her client has not made a decision about whether she will participate in the retrial. Who gets to stand up for Weinstein? Weinsteins lawyer was called upon to apologise to Ms Haley for his alleged attack on her inside the courtroom on Wednesday, but Mr Aidala declined. Speaking on May 1, Mr Aidala accused Ms Haley of lying to the jury about her motive for coming forward and said his team was planning an aggressive cross-examination if she dares to come and show her face here. At his 2020 trial, Weinstein was convicted of raping Jessica Mann, an aspiring actor, and of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley. Last month, New Yorks highest court overturned the convictions after determining the judge had unfairly allowed testimony against Weinstein based on allegations from women not part of the case. Weinstein, 72, has maintained that any sexual activity was consensual. The Hollywood titan, who had been serving a 23-year sentence in New York, was also convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and is still sentenced to 16 years in prison in California. 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. Hawaiis largest utility company is launching a new initiative involving advanced power shutoffs in an attempt to prevent wildfires following last years deadly fires. As part of Hawaiian Electric Co.s (HECO) public safety power shutoff program, the company may preemptively shut off power in areas with forecasted high winds and dry conditions, the company announced Wednesday. This program is our last line of defense to keep communities safe and may result in extended power outages, the company wrote in a statement. The company said it may expand beyond areas of higher wildfire risk factors in the future and hopes to eventually cover all high-risk areas it serves. More than 48,000 Hawaiian Electric Co. customers could begin seeing these advance shut-offs starting July 1, the company said. The Maui wildfires last August killed 101 people, while damaging or destroying more than 2,000 structures and burning more than 2,000 acres, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. An estimated 4,500 people were displaced, and the damage is estimated to cost around $5.5 billion. HECO came under scrutiny for not having a shutoff plan in place ahead of the fires, and it later acknowledged its downed power lines started the first Maui blaze. Wildfires have been recognized as a top hazard facing Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric has responded with a multi-pronged approach to mitigating wildfire risk, Jim Alberts, HECOs senior vice president and chief operations officer, said in a statement. The company asked residents in the boundaries of the new shutdown program to have their own plan in place should an extended outage occur, The Associated Press reported. About 1,180 medically vulnerable customers in the new boundaries have registered with HECO to allow the company to work with them directly during an outage, AP added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Improvements are being made to many Ingham County Parks, including one thats a very popular summer destination. Hawk Island County Park a place where officials are working on two major projects to increase accessibility. (WLNS) I believe this is the most popular park we see about six or 700,000 people a year come through, Brian Collins, Deputy Director of Ingham County Parks. According to Collins, they have seen a 25 percent increase in people in all county parks- since the pandemic. First project: 2 new shade structures Accessible paths along the waterfront New asphalt Fishing docks Boat rental dock And an accessible kayak launch. Second project: Replacing the boardwalks And putting in a new floating dock. The entire area will also be reseeded with native plantings. According to Collins, these renovations are made possible because of grant and millage funds upward to 3 million dollars- three from the Michigan DNR, and two from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Collins said he thinks its money well spent- as people are seeing the benefits of park recreation- from both a physical and mental state. Its a place where the whole community can come in and, you know, within a five, ten-minute drive, they can be here and enjoy themselves, Collins said. The Hawk Island Projects are set to be completed in mid-August. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Here's how to apply for federal aid in wake of Bartlesville May 6 tornado Damage on the north side of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, during a confirmed tornado on May 6, 2024. In the aftermath of the tornado that struck Bartlesville on the night of May 6th, damaging over 1,200 homes, FEMA declared Washington County a disaster area, allowing citizens to apply for individual assistance. This declaration will provide essential federal aid to residents affected by the disaster. FEMA Disaster Survivor Teams will be in town over the next few weeks to canvass the impacted areas and assist residents in starting their recovery process. These teams will be going door to door to help citizens apply in person for relief. Washington County Emergency Management (WCEM) officials urged all citizens affected by the storm to register with FEMA in person, online or over the phone. "Even if you are underinsured or if you have losses that aren't covered by your insurance, you could still be eligible for some of the assistance," Director of WCEM Cary Cox said. "In the past, if you had insurance of any type, you weren't eligible that has changed now." Here are the steps FEMA recommends to begin the recovery: Take photos of your damaged home and belongings. Make a list of damaged or lost items. Save yourself time: if you have insurance, you must file a claim with your insurance company. If you do not have insurance, skip this step. Three ways to apply for assistance: Online at disasterassistance.gov Through the FEMA app Call 1 (800) 621-3362 or TTY 1 (800) 462-7585 Residents are urged to begin these steps promptly to ensure they receive the support they need during this challenging time. "There are lots of different programs that you might be eligible for, some that we may not even know about, but the people with FEMA will be able to figure out which programs best fit your needs," Deputy Director of WCEM Melissa Mayer said. "Get registered this also applies to businesses, not just individuals." Crews remove heaps of debris from Hampton Inn, following a tornados devastating strike on the Bartlesville hotel. WCEM officials said FEMA hopes to set up an on-site local at Bartlesville High School, but dates and times haven't been set yet. Cox had one more piece of advice for anyone registering for assistance. "Apply for everything; no matter what it is, apply for everything they will let you apply for," Cox said. "You don't have to accept it, but if you don't apply for it, then that door closes." "It's a one-time shot," he added. This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Here's how to apply for federal aid for tornado damage SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) San Angelo Police Department Lt. Mike Hernandez, a candidate for San Angelo Police chief, will hold a press conference on Friday, May 31, just days before the start of early voting for the runoff election. Starting at 10 a.m. in the lobby of the Cactus Hotel, Hernadez will present My First Days. According to a press release, this presentation is a pledge to voters outlining several initiatives he will pursue if immediately elected. Early voting dates announced for SAPD chief runoff election Hernandez is also expected to accept endorsements from multiple current and retired SAPD members during the conference. Afterward, he will be available to answer questions. Hernandez and Sgt. Travis Griffith have been locked in a close race, with only 199 votes separating them during the May 4 general election. Hernandez secured 3,279 votes, narrowly leading Griffiths by 3,080 votes. Early voting for the June 15 runoff election begins Monday, June 3. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. HERRIMAN, Utah (ABC4) Police released the identity Thursday of a suspect in the alleged fight that led to the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old boy in Herriman. According to a press release, Herriman Police have identified several people involved in a fight that led to the fatal stabbing of a Valley High School student. Police released the identity of one person believed to be involved in the incident. PREVIOUS STORY: Homicide investigation underway after 16-year-old stabbed to death Keith Tyree McClendon, 19, has been arrested and is facing one count of aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony. He may face additional charges as the investigation develops. Police detained five other people suspected to be involved in the altercation and one other turned himself in for questioning. One 18-year-old male fled the scene and has not yet been located, however, police do not believe he is a danger to the public. While police suspect eight people not including the victim were involved in the alleged fight, McClendon is the only person facing charges at this time. Police say the victims identity will not be released due to his age. On Wednesday, May 29, the Herriman Police Department responded to the area near 14800 S Beckenbauer Ave. after receiving several 911 calls. Police said they located a 16-year-old with a stab wound to his chest at the scene. Despite, life-saving measures, the 16-year-old died on the scene. Witnesses told police a fight had occurred near Solo Street and several people had fled the scene. Based on witness information, police located seven of the eight people involved two of which were in the hospital being treated for a knife wound to the face and an injury to the hand. Through the investigation, police say they learned four people including McClendon and the victim had gone to the Valley High School graduation to confront two people. According to a probable cause statement, McClendon was with the victim at the scene when police arrived and told them he had brought the victim and two other friends with him to assault another student. During the confrontation, police say the 16-year-old victim received a stab wound to his chest and retreated to the car where he died from his injuries. The press release said that there have been ongoing and documented issues between these persons, with this being at least the third similar fight between them within the past year. This is an ongoing investigation. Police will release additional information if more charges are filed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WJMN) A piece of Manistiques history will have a new home on Thursday. The Manistique Public Safety Department issued a traffic detour notice on Wednesday night ahead of the move. The building itself is moving from River Street to Pioneer Park. Traffic on M-94 will be re-routed between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Authorities say while traffic will be blocked, access to businesses along the route will not be affected. Manistique Public Safety shared that only the immediate area around the building on the route will be closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic. They also ask anyone who wants to watch the operation, to please respect all safety zones and barriers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com. Historical photos capture the strength of Asian American activism and its impact throughout US history The term "Asian American" was first coined in 1968 amid the rising voices of the Third World Liberation Front student movements in California. With tensions from protests against the Vietnam War and calls for universities to invest in ethnic studies programs, the Asian American identity was born out of advocacy for multiethnic unity among the Asian diaspora. The new identity also became a form of resistance against the otherness of being labeled as "Orientals" and fighting back against US imperialism in Asia. Historical photographs showcase the history of Asian American resistance movements from the 1960s to the 1980s, demonstrating the strength and resilience of the Asian American community among tenants, students, and laborers. The impassioned fight for justice depicted in the photos contrasts the societal stereotype of the obedient and subservient Asian. They also remind us of the civil rights and labor rights won by Asian Americans with the sheer power of the collective. Delano Grape Strike (1965) Cesar Chevez's Huelga Day March in San Francisco, 1966; (l/r) Julio Hernandez (UFW officer), Larry Itliong (UFW director), Cesar Chavez (NFWA founder). Gerald French/Corbis / Getty Images One of the most important labor movements in US history was the Delano Grape Strike, a collaborative effort between Filipino American and Mexican American farm workers in California. On September 8, 1965, Filipino-American farm workers, members of the Agricultural Labor Organizing Committee, walked out and declared a strike against Delano-area table and wine grape growers in Bakersfield, California. They demanded a raise in their hourly wage from $1.25 to $1.40 and in the pay rate per packed box of grapes from 10 cents a box to 25 cents. Pickets gather at edge of grape field here to urge workers to join strike but these two ignored the call. The word "Huelga" is Spanish for strike. Bettmann/Getty Images Labor organizers of the Agricultural Labor Organizing Committee enlisted the help of the National Farm Workers Association, and in 1966, the two unions merged to form the United Farm Workers. For the next five years, Filipino and Mexican American workers continued to strike for economic justice for all farm workers. In his statement before the US Senate Subcommittee on Migratory Labor in 1966, Cesar Chavez, a labor organizer with the National Farm Workers Association, said the "whole system of occupational discrimination must be killed just like the discrimination against people of color is being challenged in Washington." "This, and nothing more, is what farmworkers want," Chavez added. Grape pickers carry American flags and National Farm Workers Association banners as they march along a road from Delano to Sacramento to protest their low wages and poor working conditions. Ted Streshinsky Photographic Archive / Getty Images Third World Liberation Front Strikes (1968) The Third World Liberation Front strikes ignited the first Asian American activist movement. Held at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1968, the five-month strike was led by a coalition of student groups demanding ethnic-focused courses be added to the university's curriculum. As police move in, student strikers and supporters start to run in Berkeley, California, after trying to disturb a meeting of the University of California Regents in the building at left. Slava J. Veder / AP Photo Though initiated by the Black Student Union, the coalition was made up of African-American, Asian-American, Latin-American, and Native-American students. These students were unified not only through their shared colonial and imperial struggles across Asia, Africa, and Latin America but also their experiences as people of color in a predominantly white, Eurocentric institution. A student reads from an informational packet during a demonstration at the UC Berkeley campus. Garth Eliassen/Getty Images During the strikes, the students conducted large rallies, teach-ins, sit-ins, and picketing on the campus. In response, the university called the police, and riot squads began mass arrests of students. The same year, Yuji Ichioka and Emma Gee, both graduate students and key organizers of the Asian American Political Alliance, coined the term "Asian American." This term was created to "unify Asian ethnicities together based on their shared experiences under Orientalist US racism." In 1969, the first Asian American studies curricula were established at the UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and the University of California, Los Angeles. Protests Against the I-Hotel Evictions (1977) A crowd of protestors marched and chanted outside the International Hotel before evictions. Dave Randolph for the San Francisco Chronicle / Getty Images International Hotel, or I-Hotel, in San Francisco's Kearny Street was a residential hotel for older Filipino and Chinese people, immigrant workers, and families who had been there since they immigrated in the 1920s. With real estate development rapidly growing in the late 1970s, what was once a 10-block stretch of Manilatown was reduced to a single block anchored by I-Hotel. At 3 a.m. on August 4, 1977, the San Francisco police went in and staged a mass eviction of the I-Hotel residents. At least 3,000 residents confronted 400 riot-geared police outside the building. Over 100 tenants and supporters barricaded themselves inside the building. Police broke into the windows of apartments and removed the remaining older tenants. Sheriff Richard Hongisto used a sledge hammer to knock open the door to a tenant's apartment at the International Hotel during evictions. Terry Schmitt/San Francisco Chronicle / Getty Images With the last vestige of Manilatown destroyed after the building was demolished in 1979, community members and supporters of the former I-Hotel residents continued to resist local real estate developers. Organizations such as the Chinatown Community Development Center and the Manilatown Heritage Foundation formed as a result of the community's efforts to fulfill social needs and fight for grassroots housing for their fellow residents. Emil de Guzman, tenants association secretary, resist while being dragged from the second floor of I-Hotel. Terry Schmitt/San Francisco Chronicle / Getty Images Garment Worker Strikes (1982) One of the largest protests in New York City's Chinatown history took place in 1982 when 20,000 garment workers went on strike. Whispers of striking spread among the workers, predominantly young Chinese immigrant women. They no longer tolerated the low wages, little to no benefits, dangerous working conditions, and long hours. Chinese immigrant women ply their trade in a Chinatown garment factory. Poor working conditions and low wages propelled these garment workers to go on strike. Bettmann / Getty Images In late June, they crowded Columbus Park and made their demands, and their employers signed the new International Ladies Garment Workers Union contract. With the help of city councilmen, local businesses, and community advocates, the garment shop employers began to sign the contract. They managed to get the signatures of every manufacturer by mid-afternoon. Despite the swiftness and scale of the strike, May Chen, one of the ILGWU strike organizers, said she believes the strike's success remained "invisible up to the millennium" given the limited media coverage on Asian American communities and issues at the time. Members of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union Local 23-25, stand on 5th Avenue during the Labor Day parade. Walter Leporati / Getty Images Conviction of Chol Soo Lee (1982) Chol Soo Lee, a 21-year-old Korean immigrant, was wrongfully convicted of first-degree murder in 1974 after a local gang member, Yip Yee Tak, was shot to death in Chinatown. After being misidentified by eyewitnesses, Lee was sentenced to life in prison. Chol Soo Lee at San Quentin State Prison, where he was imprisoned for a decade. John O'Hara/San Francisco Chronicle / Getty Images K.W. Lee, founder of the Korean American Journalists Association, brought Lee's case to public attention. After investigating the case, he was convinced of Lee's innocence and began a series of writings advocating for his freedom. This caught on with Asian Americans nationwide, and the "Free Chol Soo Lee Defense Committee" was created. The committee raised more than $120,000 to support Chol Soo's appeal of his initial murder conviction. The collective effort of Lee's supporters won him a retrial, which successfully led to the overturning of his murder conviction. Supporters of Chol Soo Lee at the Hall of Justice. Jerry Telfer/San Francisco Chronicle / Getty Images After spending a decade in prison, Lee spent the next 30 years working as a union organizer and advocate for the Asian American community. "When you go through that kind of experience, and you see inhumane acts of violence going through that brings out deeper humanity and compassion for other people," Lee said in a 2008 interview with Asian Week. Murder of Vincent Chin (1982) Vincent Chin was murdered on the night of his bachelor party at the age of 27. Courtesy of The Estate of Vincent and Lily Chin On the night of his bachelor party on November 2, 1983, Vincent Chin, then 27, was brutally beaten to death by two white men in Detroit. Chin, who was Chinese-American, was targeted by the men who blamed Asians for job losses in the American auto industry amid the success of Japanese automakers. Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz denied the attack was racially motivated and were charged with manslaughter after pleading to a second-degree murder charge. They left with three years of probation and a $3,000 fine and did not spend a single day in jail. The judge presiding over the trial said Ebens and Nitz "aren't the kind of men you send to jail You fit the punishment to the criminal, not the crime." Activist and founder of American Citizens for Justice, Helen Zia, at Vincent Chin Rally, Detroit, 1983. Photo by Victor Yang; Courtesy of Vincent and Lily Chin Estate As a result of this sentencing, Asian Americans in Detroit protested the sentence and denounced the city's legal system. A second investigation was initiated by the Department of Justice and the FBI after mass mobilization. In 1983, a federal grand jury ruled that the attack against Chin was racially motivated and found Ebens guilty, sentencing him to 25 years in prison. Chin's murder contributed to the landmark passing of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expanded federal civil rights protections to safeguard American minorities against hate crimes. American Citizens for Justice rally for Vincent Chin after his murder. Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice; Courtesy of the Estate of Corky Lee Read the original article on Business Insider Gov. Eric Holcomb speaks at the Indiana Global Economic Summit in downtown Indianapolis on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb departed Thursday for his next economic development trip this time to the Netherlands, Belgium and France to build on discussions and deepen relationships within the microelectronic and semiconductor industries, according to his office. Its the governors third international economic development trip this year his second visit to France and Belgium and first visit to the Netherlands and his 23rd such trip as governor. His last privately funded international trip, in April, took him to Brazil and Mexico. Holcombs travel is being paid for through private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation. Coming on the heels of our second Indiana Global Economic Summit, its more top-of-mind than ever that our international partners have been key to the record-breaking levels of investment coming into Indiana in the last few years, Holcomb said in a statement. These three countries have helped us level up in semiconductors and microelectronics and have forged new and prosperous relationships with our higher education institutions. Holcomb will be joined by First Lady Janet Holcomb, Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg and representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, his office said. Also in tow are representatives from the Bloomington-based Applied Research Institute, including David Roberts, CEO; Jimmy Costa, senior vice president of innovation and semiconductor strategy; and Roger Reeves, vice president of industrial relations. The group is scheduled to return to Indianapolis June 8. In the Netherlands, the delegation will meet with the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, as well as the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Belgium, the group will meet with Redwire, a space satellite design and development company, and the Chamber of Commerce Antwerp. Holcomb and the delegation will also meet with imec, a research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. In 2023, imec committed to work with Indiana officials and Purdue University to advance research and development in the states semiconductor sector. In December 2023, imec additionally opened a new research and development hub on Purdues campus. Also on Holcombs Belgium agenda are meetings with representatives of the European Union External Action Service, and the Minister-President of Flanders, Jan Jambon. The governors office pointed to a 2023 memorandum of understanding between Indiana and Flanders to further strengthen cooperation on semiconductors, life sciences and energy. Later, in France, Holcomb will pay respects to members of the armed forces during a visit to Normandy and attend the U.S.-France D-Day Anniversary Ceremony. Hell also visit Utah Beach with Carver McGriff, a Hoosier D-Day veteran, according to his office. There are 1,050 foreign-owned businesses in Indiana, according to the governors office. Last year, those companies committed to investing $20.49 billion to locate or expand operations in Indiana a 182% increase from 2022 which created approximately 8,500 new Hoosier jobs. The post Holcomb embarks on Europe trip for continued discussions around manufacturing, energy appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle. UNITED NATIONS, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials of the United Nations (UN) on Thursday paid tribute to late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, saying he led Iran at a challenging time for the country, the region and globally. Raisi, together with his entourage, died in a helicopter crash on May 19. Speaking at a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly in memory of Raisi, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres extended his condolences to the families of the deceased, and to the government and people of Iran. "President Raisi led Iran at a challenging time for the country, the region and globally," said Guterres. "In these difficult times, international and regional cooperation is needed more than ever. Such cooperation is critical to building confidence, preventing conflict, and resolving disputes." The United Nations stands in solidarity with the Iranian people and in the quest for peace, development and fundamental freedoms. For that, the United Nations will be guided by the UN Charter to help realize peace and security, sustainable development and human rights for all, said Guterres. UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis also paid tribute to Raisi at the plenary meeting. Raisi held significant roles in Iranian society and government throughout his career, said Francis, adding that as president, Raisi led his country's contribution to shaping the tenets of our multilateral system and international cooperation. Francis also paid tribute to late Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who died in the same helicopter crash, praising him as "a consummate diplomat who faithfully stood alongside President Raisi in representing Iran on the global stage." Deep in the heart of central Wyomings 2.2 million-acre Wind River Indian reservation, home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribal nations, a dozen wild buffalo are lazily grazing on green and yellow grass. Fog swirls over rock faces, patches of sagebrush prairie are starting to look like bogs, and rain soaks through jackets. But Xavier Michael-Young, 22, and a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, looks at the buffalo, also known as bison, and says theres nowhere hed rather be. Buffalo are the coolest animal ever. Theyve been my favorite since I was a kid. Now, to be able to work with them every day is a gift that Im always grateful to just have, Michael-Young said, grinning ear-to-ear. I see myself in all the people that come out here and want to get close to the buffalo. A beaded buffalo dangles from the windshield of a WRTBI side-by-side Michael-Young is far away from home, serving as the Administrative and Finance Coordinator for the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative (WRTBI). The WRTBI supports the buffalo restorations efforts of the Wind Rivers Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho nations, who are both member tribes of the Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council, a consortium of over 80 tribes dedicated to reestablishing bison herds on tribal lands across the United States. Sign up for Your Vote: Text USA TODAY reporters and the elections team by joining our SMS service. The passion and urgency behind buffalo restoration stems from the animals history, role in Americas ecosystems, and cultural significance to Native Americans. Bison historically numbered over 60 million, with a range that spanned as far as the Carolinas, Northern Mexico, and portions of Canada. Systematic slaughter by European settlers, encouraged by the federal government and carried as a means of warfare against American Indians, reduced the buffalo population to a few hundred by the turn of the 20th century, according to the Smithsonian Institute. Tribes across the continent traditionally utilized buffalo parts for everything from clothing to cooking containers to glue, and they are central to the rituals and ceremonies of the Eastern Shoshone, Northern Arapaho, and many other tribes. Bison meat has less fat, calories, and cholesterol than beef, and the restoration is part of a broader return to Indigenous food systems, and away from processed foods. Patti Baldes, a Northern Arapaho tribal member of Northern Paiute and director of the Wind River Native Advocacy Center, says the importance of bringing back the buffalo cannot be overstated due to the animals vital role in Indigenous food systems and culture. More: Native representation in the Wyoming legislature rests on Ivan Posey's shoulders Theyre a being thats in all of our lives since birth. We talk about them, pray to them, with ceremonies and songs, but we never really had them. Baldes said. Buffalo munch on grass on the Wind River Indian Reservation A project this ambitious has a dizzying number of moving partsputting up miles of fence, negotiating land purchases, growing hay, monitoring migration patterns, sourcing buffalo with conservation genetics (many remaining buffalo have been bred with cattle), and then hauling them in from around the country, grant-writing, and more. The Initiative is also focused on the non-human impacts of bison restoration. Albert Mason, an Eastern Shoshone tribal member, is a graduate research student at the University of Wyoming and works with the WRTBI studying the ecological benefits of bison restoration on land impacted by large-scale cattle grazing. It brings back a lot of the animals that we were also seeing dwindle. There are some hawks and ospreys that are kind of synonymous with buffalo and use some of their [buffalo] hair to get their eggs at just the right incubation, Mason said. Colleen Bell, enrolled Eastern Shoshone, points toward a faraway group of buffalo WRTBI founder and executive director Jason Baldes, Eastern Shoshone, sees buffalo restoration as indicative of a cultural revitalization across the continent. We want to get kids to really understand what it means to have sovereignty and self-determination, Baldes said. Our reservations have been diminished so much that we want to protect and restore whats been taken from us. Cy Neff reports on Wyoming politics for USA TODAY. You can reach him at cneff@usatoday.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CyNeffNews This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Big animals, bigger meaning: buffalo restoration on Wind River Homeless people are being sent out of Scotland's capital to make room for Swifties Taylor Swift will be performing at Murrayfield in Edinburgh in June. Lewis Joly/AP; Alberto Pezzali/AP Homeless people in Edinburgh are being relocated to make room for Taylor Swift fans. People in temporary housing are being sent to Aberdeen, Glasgow, and even England. The surge in visitors for Swift's shows has caused a significant increase in hotel demand. A number of homeless people have been sent out of Edinburgh to make room for tourists visiting the Scottish capital for Taylor Swift's upcoming shows, according to BBC News. Swift will perform for three nights at Murrayfield Stadium, from June 7 to 9, as part of the European leg of the "Eras" tour the first concert tour to gross over $1 billion. According to Edinburgh Live, some 210,000 Swifties are expected to attend the Edinburgh shows, which could bring more than $125 million to the Scottish economy. This surge in visitors has led to a significant increase in hotel demand, according to the Daily Record. Shelter Scotland told BBC News that a shortage in available accommodation has meant that some homeless people it supports have been relocated to other cities, such as Aberdeen and Glasgow. The charity said that one person was even offered temporary accommodation in Newcastle, across the border in England. In a statement provided to Business Insider, Shelter Scotland's director, Alison Watson, said that people experiencing homelessness have been put in "direct competition" with tourists. She described the situation as a "blatant injustice." "It simply should not be the case that hosting a major event at Murrayfield has significant knock-on effects for people experiencing homelessness in Edinburgh," Watson added. Late last year, Edinburgh became the first city council in Scotland to declare a housing emergency. This month, the Scottish government declared a national housing emergency. In Scotland, people declared homeless must legally be offered emergency temporary accommodation, which can include hotels. In an email to BI, a spokesperson for the City of Edinburgh Council said it is not moving tenants out of temporary accommodation to make way for Swifties. Instead, they said the council was struggling to secure available accommodation for homeless residents during the"Eras" tour weekend. In a statement, the council's housing convenor, Jane Meagher, said: "It is a symptom of the housing emergency we face in Edinburgh that at times we must use tourist accommodation to house homeless households." "We know it won't be available year-round," she added, "particularly over the busy summer months, so we use it reluctantly as a last resort." Meagher said the council is working with affected households to find appropriate, alternative accommodation. Taylor Swift's representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Protesters burn a sign celebrating the 70th anniversary of China during an anti-government rally in Hong Kong on Oct. 1, 2019. On Thursday, a court in Hong Kong convicted 14 pro-democracy protesters on sedition charges. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI May 30 (UPI) -- Fourteen Hong Kong pro-democracy demonstrators were convicted Thursday of conspiring to subvert the state under a controversial national security law over holding unofficial primary elections. The ruling from the Beijing-backed court is expected to further fray relations between China and the West, with many nations having repeatedly condemned the former British colony's precipitous slide from democracy. Forty-seven politicians, activists and demonstrators were accused of sedition in connection to the unofficial primary elections they held in 2020, with 31 of them pleading guilty. Of the remaining 16 defendants, 14 were found guilty Thursday while two were acquitted. They now face lengthy prisons sentences up to life behind bars. According to a press release from the court, the defendants were accused of participating in a scheme to win a majority in Hong Kong's Legislature Council in order to veto laws, such as the budget, in order to force the city's chief executive to resign. The court asserts that if successful, the scheme would "necessarily amount to or involve the commission by the successful candidates of a serious interfering in, disrupting or undermining the performance of duties and functions in accordance with the law by the government of the HKSAR." HKSAR are the initials for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the city's official name. The dozens of demonstrators were charged under a draconian national security law that China imposed on Hong Kong in early summer 2020. That law was instituted following mass pro-democracy protests that rocked the city and brought it to a standstill a year prior. The dozens of defendants were arrested in early January 2021 sweep. The majority had participated in unofficial primary elections to ensure they had the strongest candidates possible in order to win a majority in the Legislative Council. The ruling on Thursday comes in the largest case yet brought under the controversial national security law. Their arrests also came amid a silencing of opposition in the Hong Kong. "All Hong Kong people -- and their representatives and activists convicted today -- wanted was a chance to freely elect their government," Maya Wang, interim China director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. "Democracy is not a crime, regardless of what the Chinese government and is handpicked Hong Kong court may say." Insights from Associated Press and South China Morning Post The News A Hong Kong court on Thursday convicted 14 pro-democracy activists of subversion. It marks the most severe use of a 2020 Beijing-imposed National Security Law that effectively silenced freedom of speech in the territory. In 2021, authorities arrested 47 pro-democracy organizers and lawmakers, accusing them of trying to paralyze the Hong Kong government after they mobilized more than 600,000 people to cast votes in an election in favor of a pro-democracy group seeking to regain a majority in the citys legislature. Of those arrested, 31 pleaded guilty to national security offenses. The court said the activists plan would have created a constitutional crisis. Two campaigners were acquitted, but the prosecution said they would appeal the decision. The ruling solidifies Beijings grip over Hong Kongs once-independent judicial system, and further isolates it from the West. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Verdict tests limits of Hong Kongs security law Source: Associated Press Hong Kong maintains that its judicial system is independent of China, but the verdict reflects how the National Security Law has remade the judiciary to crack down on Hong Kongs political opposition, according to the Associated Press. The verdict also shows how great a threat Beijing sees non-violent protests, one Georgetown University researcher said. Negative political perception impacts Western tourism Source: South China Morning Post The number of tourists traveling to Hong Kong from the United States as well as countries like France, Germany, and the Netherlands has halved from 2019, the same year that pro-democracy demonstrations rattled the city for several months, according to the South China Morning Post. Hong Kongs government has blamed the decline on the exchange rate between the US dollar and euro and the Hong Kong dollar, with Western tourists prioritizing trips to Japan because of the weak yen. But visitors to Singapore a city as expensive as Hong Kong are increasing. Rather, one couple told the outlet that they were a bit apprehensive to travel to Hong Kong because of the political situation. More than a dozen of Hong Kongs leading democracy figures were found guilty Thursday on subversion charges, following the largest national security trial since Beijings sweeping crackdown on the once free-wheeling city. The 14 activists and politicians were convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion for their roles in holding an unofficial primary election in 2020 to decide who should contest city lawmaker elections. They were among 47 defendants in what became known as the trial of the Hong Kong 47 a closely watched, landmark prosecution under a national security law Beijing imposed on the city in the wake of mass anti-government protests the previous year. Those on trial represented a broad swathe of Hong Kongs now dismantled democracy movement and most pleaded guilty during the prosecution process. But 16 activists and politicians decided to fight the charges, opting for a full trial which lasted for more than a year. Two were acquitted on Thursday and walked free from the court. The remaining 45 now await sentencing at a later date and could face a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. Thursdays verdict offers one of the clearest windows into how the national security law has rewritten the citys political landscape, with a once-permitted pro-democracy opposition now decimated and dissent all but erased. The Hong Kong and Beijing governments have repeatedly denied the national security law is suppressing freedoms, arguing it has ended chaos and restored stability to the city. In an executive summary outlining the convictions, a panel of judges ruled the prosecution had proved the defendants were engaged in a conspiracy to disrupt the governments duties and functions with a view to subverting the state power. Supporters of those convicted maintain they were simply taking part in the kind of oppositional politics that was once allowed to flourish in Hong Kong, and Thursdays verdict signals Chinas control of the once-outspoken city is all but complete. Since the national security law came into effect in 2020, civil groups have disbanded, and independent media outlets have been shut down. The citys legislature now comprises only of pro-Beijing loyalists, while most pro-democracy figures are either in jail or in exile overseas. The 47 defendants were first arrested in dawn raids on January 6, 2021 1,240 days ago and most have been held in detention for more than three years. They include seasoned politicians, elected lawmakers and young protest leaders, as well as academics, unionists, journalists and medical workers. They hail from multiple generations and a wide political spectrum - from moderate democrats to those who advocate for Hong Kongs self-determination. Among those who pleaded not guilty and were convicted on Thursday were former journalist Gwyneth Ho, 33, who famously live-streamed an attack on pro-democracy demonstrators inside a subway station, and former lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, 68, known by the nickname Long Hair, a left-wing activist who began his long political career campaigning against British colonial rule. Following the verdicts, some family members cried openly in the courtroom and waved to the defendants. Some defendants smiled and waved back, others looked resigned. The two acquitted were former district councilors Lawrence Lau and Lee Yu-shun, who took part in the unofficial primary held by democrats in 2020. Today, I shouldnt be the focus of attention. I hope everyone will continue to pay attention to other friends in the case, Lau, a barrister, said after he walked free from the court. Thank you very much for the concern over all the defendants of this case, please, please carry on your concern and give them love. Lee, sporting a golden chain and a tiger print shirt, said he could not say much even after being acquitted. Because the Department of Justice has indicated that it may appeal, I cannot make any comments or give any opinions on the ruling or this case at this stage. he said. So I can only tell you that I feel very calm and thank you for your concern. Now I want to go have dimsum with my family because I havent been able to see them yet. Hours later, the prosecutors confirmed in court they would appeal against the acquittals. Human Rights Watch condemned the convictions, arguing the democracy leaders were prosecuted for peaceful activism and that the verdict showed utter contempt for both democratic political processes and the rule of law. Lee Yue-shun speaks to media after being acquitted on national security charges in Hong Kong, China, on May 30, 2024. - Jessie Yeung/CNN A vicious plot? The case of the Hong Kong 47 arose from an unofficial primary election held by the pro-democracy opposition in July 2020 for the citys legislature. The goal was to narrow down their best chances for candidates to try and win a majority, much like similar polls found in other democracies around the world. But Hong Kong authorities said the primary vote was a vicious plot intended to paralyze the government and undermine state power and accused those who took part of intending to use their mandate to block legislation indiscriminately. The Legislative Council election which the defendants had hoped to win by holding the primary vote was postponed to 2021 due to Covid health concerns cited by the authorities during the pandemic. During the postponement, Beijing and Hong Kong authorities rewrote the citys electoral rules, putting in place a stricter screening system to weed out candidates deemed unpatriotic. Hong Kongs Legislative Council currently has no pro-democracy lawmakers, and the upcoming district council elections, to be held in December, also do not feature any pro-democracy candidates. In the face of a trial without jury, 31 defendants pleaded guilty, a move that in Hong Kong usually leads to a reduced sentence. But that strategy is now in doubt after another local national security law enacted earlier this year curtailed access to reduced sentences for guilty pleas. Those who pleaded guilty included Joshua Wong, 27, who gained international fame as the face of Hong Kongs years of student-led democracy protests and was labeled an extremist by Chinas state media, Benny Tai, 59, a former law professor and co-founder of the 2014 Occupy Central movement, and Claudia Mo, 67, a former journalist-turned-reform minded legislator. Foreign diplomats are among the about 200 members of public queuing outside the court on Thursday morning. - Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images Sweeping changes Hong Kongs democracy activists are no strangers to courtrooms. Many served time for their activism. But the trial of the Hong Kong 47 showed how the legal system has changed under the national security law, which criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign powers and carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. Its wording, as well as its application, is more in keeping with laws in mainland China, where courts are tightly controlled by the ruling Communist Party and have a conviction rate above 99.9%. In contrast, Hong Kong follows a common law system that had been kept intact after the former British colony was handed back to Chinese rule in 1997. Nearly 300 people, aged between 15 and 90, have been arrested under the Beijing-imposed national security law since it was enacted, according to police. Like all national security cases so far, the trial of the Hong Kong 47 was heard without a jury, deviating from the common law tradition, a power granted by the Beijing-imposed law. It was also presided over by a bench of three High Court Judges designated by the citys Chief Executive to handle national security cases. The law also places a higher threshold for bail. Thirty-two defendants have been denied bail and have been in detention since 2021 a highly unusual practice for cases that do not involve murder. Only 15 were granted bail, but two of them had their application revoked later for breaching bail conditions. The trial brought the imposition of mainland legal concepts, mainland law into the common law system into sharp relief, said John Burns, emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong. Its absolutely clear that the national security law reduced the independence and the autonomy of the judiciary. No juries, much more difficult to get bail those are all things that previously were determined by the judges. Legal scholars and Western governments have lamented how the national security law has dealt a blow to the citys judicial independence, but authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong have warned foreign parties against interfering in the citys internal affairs and judicial system. Before the trial began in February, the Hong Kong government called criticism on the trial scandalizing of the criminal justice process and a blatant act undermining the rule of law of Hong Kong. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com SCHUYLER COUNTY, N.Y. (WETM) A woman from Horseheads pleaded guilty last week after a release from the Schuyler County District Attorneys Office claims she stole thousands of dollars from her employer. According to the release, 39-year-old Jerri J. Thomas (Baxter) pleaded guilty in Schuyler County Court on Thursday, May 23, to grand larceny in the third degree, a class D felony. Man sentenced on meth charges following investigation The guilty plea stems from her being charged with stealing more than $3,000 from her employer. The release states that Thomas must pay $36,000 in restitution fees for her guilty plea. Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on August 22, 2024, in Schuyler County Court. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, MAY 30, 2024.....Boston would gain 205 alcoholic beverage licenses and an opportunity to bolster restaurants and revitalize neighborhoods and communities of color, under legislation that the House approved Thursday afternoon. The redrafted bill (H 4696) steers 180 non-transferable licenses over three years to 12 ZIP codes in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, East Boston, Roslindale, West Roxbury, Hyde Park, Charlestown and Jamaica Plain. The licenses must be awarded to establishments that prepare food on-site, according to Blake Webber, spokesman for the House Ways and Means Committee, which released the bill Thursday. Each of the ZIP codes would get three non-transferable restricted licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises and two non-transferable restricted licenses for the sale of wines and malt beverages to be drunk on the premises annually over a three-year period. Three non-transferable licenses are also earmarked for the Oak Square neighborhood in Brighton, with another 15 non-transferable licenses designated for community spaces, including outdoor spaces, theaters and nonprofits. The bill also carves out seven transferable licenses that do not have location restrictions, Webber said. Bill sponsor Rep. Chris Worrell called the legislations momentum game-changing and an incredible win for spurring economic opportunity for communities of color. Worrell invoked the potential of Blue Hill Avenue, describing it as one of the busiest streets in the commonwealth but one with only about three to five sit-down restaurants. Restaurants that gain coveted liquor licenses could double their profits, the Boston Democrat said. I think its a great win, Worrell told the News Service. Any day when youre fighting for one (license) every time, and now youre getting 205 for the city of Boston. Its an incredible win. I think the demand is there. As the House approved the bill during a sparsely attended informal session, Worrell told staffers in the chamber, There you go guys -- we did it. The redrafted bill slashed 45 liquor licenses for targeted communities contained in the original filing, Worrell said. Webber, asked about the cut, told the News Service, We will reevaluate the effects of the legislation after the 3 years is up. After speaking with the Boston Legislative delegation, 15 licenses per zip codes over three years is what delegation members from those areas felt was an appropriate step, especially given the food provision being a requirement for those particular licenses, he said. The Legislature often passes bills that grant cities and towns just a handful of additional liquor licenses, even as municipalities look for greater control to boost economic activity. While Gov. Maura Healeys office in January previewed a policy allowing local governments to set their own liquor license quotas and bypass the existing home rule petition process, the governor ultimately did not include the reform in her Municipal Empowerment Act. During an October committee hearing on Beacon Hill, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and city councilors lamented the scarcity of licenses and the hefty $600,000 price to purchase a license from an establishment going out of business. The dynamic has helped fuel a racial wealth gap and disproportionately concentrated restaurants and bars in wealthier Boston neighborhoods, such as the Seaport, elected officials said. Poorer neighborhoods, in turn, have been left with fewer dining options, especially sit-down restaurants. We are, I believe, in such dire need of licenses across the board that we very well may be coming back to you in the future as we see where things go, Wu told the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure on Oct. 3. Im confident that with this first threshold and first set of permits, well be able to make some significant headway on that and very likely we will need more as the success grows. The committee on Oct. 30 had reported out Worrells bill favorably, accompanied by Sen. Liz Mirandas parallel proposal (S 2380), and shipped it to the House Ways and Means Committee. Wu, in a statement to the News Service Thursday, expressed appreciation for House lawmakers, saying the bill they advanced will help provide economic opportunity and vibrancy to neighborhoods across the city. These needed liquor licenses will help bring new life to vacant retail spaces in neighborhood commercial districts and strengthen our economy and community, Wu said. The parameters in the legislation tying nontransferable licenses to specific zip codes will help counter the current inequities where licenses are concentrated in a few areas and are unavailable or unaffordable for new entrepreneurs due to scarcity from the cap. Worrell implored the Senate to see the urgency of the bill. I dont even drink, but I know the importance of this legislation, Worrell said. Miranda, in a statement, applauded the Houses action. This legislation is essential in rebuilding sit-down restaurants in our community an essential piece of thriving neighborhoods, which have become a distant memory for so many in our community, the Boston Democrat said. Whether its Mass Ave in South End and Lower Roxbury, or down Blue Hill Ave from Roxbury to Mattapan, many neighborhoods in my district were once the cultural hubs of the City of Boston known for their unique restaurants, nightlife, and strong sense of community. The secondary market, without this measure as a first step, has perpetuated the racial wealth gap, but also created an ecosystem in our City where only affluent property and restaurant owners can afford the cost of operating. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW KABUL, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs said on Thursday that police have arrested five suspects in connection with human trafficking in the country's western Herat province. The suspects were arrested during a military operation conducted by police in the province's Kashak district on Wednesday, Mufti Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the ministry, said on social media. The detained suspects had planned to smuggle a money exchanger, Qani said. Meanwhile, the ministry said that police have apprehended 26 people on the charge of involvement in criminal activities including murder and theft cases in the provinces of Faryab, Takhar, Samangan, Badghis, Kunduz, Herat and Paktia. The chair of the House subcommittee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic is asking for Anthony Faucis private emails and cellphone records related to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, EcoHealth and the origins of the coronavirus. The letter sent by Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) on Wednesday is as part of an escalating probe into the viruss origins that lawmakers say has uncovered efforts to hide official government correspondence, evade Freedom of Information Act requests and avoid public transparency. Fauci is slated to appear in front of the subcommittee Monday, his first congressional appearance since retiring from government service as the longtime head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Committee Republicans have accused officials at the National Institutes of Health of orchestrating a potential conspiracy at the highest levels. The panels investigation hasnt yielded new evidence definitively linking U.S. health officials to the origins of the coronavirus, but its raised troubling questions about officials efforts to avoid transparency. The committee has released a series of private emails that suggest at least some agency officials, including a top adviser to Fauci, deleted messages and used personal emails in an effort to skirt public records laws. David Morens, a former Fauci aide, testified last week that he may have sent information on government business to Faucis personal email address. I can either send stuff to Tony on his private gmail, or hand it to him at work. He is too smart to let colleagues send him stuff that could cause trouble, Morens wrote in a 2021 email released by the committee. In a separate email, Morens referenced a secret back channel he would use to communicate with Fauci outside the public eye. We are concerned that current and former NIAID officials have and are continuing to seriously undermined public trust by concealing vital information to the American people, Wenstrup wrote. He asked for a response by June 12. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The District of Columbia has long been a favored object of Republican outrage, thanks to its special status, which gives Congress the last word on its laws. In the past, Democrats in Congress and the White House have leapt to defend the citys home rule, which was only established in 1973. But two recent attacks on that autonomy by House Republicans and the force with which the White House has pushed back may raise questions about that commitment. In one case, the White House said it opposed a bill but stopped well short of threatening to veto it. In the other, the White House was officially silent. I was surprised by the lack of a veto threat on a bill to limit the citys right to change its criminal sentencing laws, Del. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-D.C.) told HuffPost. In the arcane back-and-forth between the White House and Capitol Hill, the president can make it clear how much he dislikes a bill coming up for a vote. The official statements on where the administration stands on a particular bill can range from an outright threat that the president would definitely veto it if it got his desk to the less-vehement notice that his advisers would recommend a veto, leaving some leeway for milder forms of opposition. These variations also serve as a signal to Democrats of how important it is that they vote in concert with the presidents position. Voting for something the president has said hell veto would likely be noted within any White Houses legislative affairs shop, Republican or Democratic. Norton said she didnt know why the White House didnt issue a veto threat on the bill limiting the District of Columbias authority over its sentencing laws. In the end, the House voted 225 to 181 in favor of it, with 18 Democrats voting with 207 Republicans. Norton condemned the bill and said about 50 bills with anti-D.C. provisions have been introduced so far in this Congress. D.C. laws are matters for the duly elected D.C. Council and mayor, not unaccountable members of Congress who do not represent D.C. residents. The almost 700,000 D.C. residents are worthy and capable of governing their own local affairs, she said in a statement. The districts status and history give it particular importance for Democrats. Though Washingtons population is no longer majority African American, it retains the Chocolate City moniker from those days. And until home rule in 1973 allowed its residents to vote for a mayor and district council, it was the virtual fiefdom of a committee of Congress and had an appointed commissioner. Norton serves as a non-voting delegate in the House, and the districts residents have no representation in the Senate. Congress still retains veto power over all of the districts proposed law changes, a power it exercised in March 2023 when it overturned a criminal code overhaul that Republicans disliked. President Joe Biden signed the reversal. It was the first time in 30 years that Congress had directly rolled back a District of Columbia law. Many Democrats felt they were left out to dry politically in that episode after the White House indicated it would oppose the bill, but Biden later told senators he would sign it. The bill saw 173 Democrats voting against it in the House prior to Bidens reversal. The sentencing bill and the criminal code overhaul were not the only bills limiting the districts autonomy in the current Congress. On May 23, 52 Democrats joined with 210 Republicans to pass a bill that repealed a district law allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections. On that bill, the White House did not issue an official position for or against, one factor that probably played into the large amount of Democratic defections. It would have been good to have a veto threat issued, said Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), a member, like Norton, of the Congressional Black Caucus. I am not sure this will make it to his desk. Republicans said the bills were necessary corrections to bad policy in the District of Columbia. On the voting bill, its sponsor, Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) said, My legislation restores the sanctity of the voting process and ensures that only American citizens are voting in our Nations capital. Non-citizens are already barred by federal law from voting in federal elections, and the district sought only to allow them to vote in local elections. With the Senate in Democratic hands, its unlikely that either the sentencing bill or the voting one will advance beyond the House. Still, Black voters remain a crucial part of the Democratic base and Bidens reelection campaign, as evidenced by Biden holding a rally Wednesday in Philadelphia to launch a Black Voters for Biden-Harris coalition. And being seen as soft on D.C.. could become a problem. Though the White Houses defense of the District of Columbia may not be as aggressive as expected, Frost said he wasnt too worried. I think the president has been really clear on what his beliefs are on this. Hes been one of the most vocal people also on ensuring home rule in D.C., he said. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), whose support was key to Bidens campaign in 2020, also indicated he was unconcerned so far. While Congressional Republicans have been trying to distract from their inability to govern by attacking DC, Congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris Administration have time and again worked to preserve the Districts independence by voting against harmful policies, Clyburn said in a statement to HuffPost. I recognize the historical context surrounding DCs treatment and I am confident that President Biden is committed to addressing our long-standing concerns, including the treatment of DC residents, he said. Related... House leaders have subpoenaed Ryan Walters for a second time. What did they ask for? For a second time in six months, leaders in the Oklahoma House of Representatives have issued a legislative subpoena to state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, saying Walters failed to provide information they'd requested numerous times. House Speaker Charles McCall confirmed Thursday afternoon Walters had answered the subpoena. The subpoena issued May 23 and signed by Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, and McCall, R-Atoka, sought "any contracts relating to Matt Langston's work on behalf of the Oklahoma State Department of Education, the Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters, and/or the State of Oklahoma." The subpoena asked for "offer letters of employment, applications for employment, and job descriptions for employment" for Langston, who lives in Texas while serving as Walters' chief adviser. McCall said Thursday that Walters told him Langston had no employment contract. The subpoena gave Walters, who's also a Republican, until June 3 at 9 a.m. to produce the information. A legislative subpoena has roughly the same authority as one issued by law enforcement. The subpoena is straightforward, McBride told The Oklahoman, before he learned it had been answered. Im seeking information about Matt Langston. Ive asked multiple times and the speaker was copied in the last email that was sent. He stated before that we should be communicated with, and if youre not going to communicate, if this is what it takes, then were going to do it. McCall echoed that sentiment. "Secretary Walters and I, I thought, had an understanding the last time (this happened)," McCall said. "Listen -- you'll never receive one of these from the House if you just deliver the information. We all have to be transparent. ... When one branch (of government) or one agency within a branch is unwilling to release information, it creates suspicion and speculation that something's not right. The best thing is transparency and communication." In a May 22 email to Andrea Fielding, a former deputy director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation whos now the chief of operations for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, McBride said hed attempted on four previous occasions requesting a copy of Matt Langstons employment agreement/contract. McBride said the email would serve as my final informal request and that his next request will be a very formal request for this document. McBride said he asked McCall for the subpoena and he granted it immediately. Langston previously worked for Walters campaign and often has a combative messaging style. In an email concerning McBride in December, Langston said, Ive never seen a more whiney Democrat in my life. McBride continues to cry for attention while promoting failed policies, backing woke indoctrination, and promoting porn in schools while working hand in hand with the Democrats and the liberal media. Hes made every union leader and liberal extremist proud. No Oklahoman can take him seriously. Walters' letter to McCall, in response to the subpoena, said it "outlines items that have already been responded to by my office." Walters claimed McCall "has received unprecedented access to my office and my staff" and told the speaker that, "McBride has lied to you and your office." "He continues to demonstrate hostility and demands that we've not seen from any other elected officeholder other than the democrats," Walters said, using a lowercase 'd.' It should not surprise you that even when we distill the information down to a simplified response, that he has trouble understanding it. As a teacher, I have much experience helping those in the classroom understand complicated issues, so I have not minded spending more time with those that need it." Fielding, in an email response to McBride on April 3, said Langston served as a temporary employee at the agency from Jan. 13, 2023, through June 30, 2023, and that since July 1, 2023, he has been a part-time employee with benefits. Due to the nature of his employment, his hours fluctuate monthly, leading to variations in his gross pay. In his response to McCall, Walters called Langston "a 'direct hire with my agency. As such, he did not complete an application, and he did not sign a contract for employment." Legislative subpoenas are rare, but are authorized by the state Constitution Under Article 5, Section 42 of the Oklahoma Constitution, the Legislature has the authority to issue subpoenas, but its rarely used. Before December, when McBride, McCall and state Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, issued the first legislative subpoena to Walters, historians contacted by The Oklahoman couldnt immediately recall any instance of an elected state officer receiving such a subpoena from the House. McBride is entering his 12th and final year in the House and has frequently clashed with Walters on issues of transparency since Walters took office in January 2023. McBride is the chair of the Houses Appropriation and Budget Education Subcommittee and a member of the House Education Committee, of which Baker is the chair. Baker, a former middle school teacher, has served in the House since 2016. The December subpoena contained a list of questions to which McBride said Walters had failed to provide answers, despite months of requests for the superintendent to do so. Walters complied with that subpoena and provided the information about a week after it was issued. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma House issues a 2nd subpoena to Superintendent Ryan Walters A photo taken in 1960 of deteriorating steel drums containing radioactive residues near Coldwater Creek, by the Mallinckrodt-St. Louis Sites Task Force Working Group (State Historical Society of Missouri, Kay Drey Mallinckrodt Collection, 1943-2006). Offering compensation to thousands of Americans across nine states exposed to radiation from the nations nuclear weapons program would be too expensive, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnsons office said Wednesday. With less than two weeks until the existing Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expires, a spokesperson in Johnsons office said the speaker supports renewing the program where it already exists but not expanding it, creating a huge obstacle for advocates and cancer patients from St. Louis to the Navajo Nation who were exposed to bomb testing or nuclear waste. House Republican Leadership is committed to ensuring the federal government fulfills its existing obligations to Americans exposed to nuclear radiation, the spokesperson said in a statement to The Independent. Unfortunately, the current Senate bill is estimated to cost $50-60 billion in new mandatory spending with no offsets and was supported by only 20 of 49 Republicans in the Senate. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA, originally passed by Congress in 1990, offers compensation to uranium miners and civilians who were downwind of nuclear bomb testing in Arizona, Utah and Nevada. It expires June 10, and for months, advocates and members of Congress especially from Missouri and New Mexico have been lobbying Congress to expand it. U.S. senators have twice passed legislation that would expand RECA, but it hasnt gone anywhere in the House of Representatives. The legislation would add the remaining parts of Arizona, Utah and Nevada to the program and bring coverage to downwinders in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Guam. It would also offer coverage for residents exposed to radioactive waste in Missouri, Tennessee, Alaska and Kentucky. Dawn Chapman, who co-founded Just Moms STL to advocate for communities affected by World War II-era nuclear waste that contaminated parts of the St. Louis area, called Johnsons statement shocking. I think thats a pitiful excuse, Chapman said of the limited Republican support. I think that there isnt even an excuse for the fiscal conservatives that say, Put America first, because they clearly didnt do that. Chapman and supporters of the legislation believe the $50-60 billion price tag is an overestimation, and she noted that cost is spread over five years. She said supporters have worked to cut the costs of the program, including narrowing the list of health conditions that would qualify for compensation. If costs were a concern, Chapman said, Johnson should have met with advocates to work on further cuts. Chapman said shed return to Washington, D.C., next week, and the least he can do is meet with us for 10 minutes. Johnsons position was revealed Tuesday evening on social media by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, and sparked outrage among the states congressional delegation. U.S. Reps. Cori Bush, a Democrat from St. Louis, and Ann Wagner, a Republican from the nearby suburbs, vowed to oppose any extension of RECA that didnt add Missouri. On social media Wednesday afternoon, Hawley said the federal government has not begun to meet its obligations to nuclear radiation victims. (Missouri) victims have gotten zilch, Hawley said. Parts of the St. Louis area have been contaminated for 75 years with radioactive waste left over from the effort to build the worlds first atomic bomb during World War II. Uranium refined in downtown St. Louis was used in the first sustained nuclear chain reaction in Chicago, a breakthrough in the Manhattan Project, the name given to the effort to develop the bomb. After the war, waste from uranium refining efforts was trucked from St. Louis to surrounding counties and dumped near Coldwater Creek and in a quarry in Weldon Spring, polluting surface and groundwater. Remaining waste was dumped at the West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, where it remains today. Generations of St. Louis-area families lived in homes near contaminated sites without warning from the federal government. A study by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry found exposure to the creek elevated residents risk of cancer. Residents of nearby communities suffer higher-than-normal rates of breast, colon, prostate, kidney and bladder cancers and leukemia. Childhood brain and nervous system cancers are also higher. This story is republished from the Missouri Independent, a sister publication to the Kentucky Lantern and part of the nonprofit States Newsroom network. The post House Speaker Johnson opposes radiation compensation for Missouri, New Mexico appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. Housing groups launch new homelessness council after Stitt dissolved the official one Trace Karpe interviews a woman Jan. 25 behind a group of buildings during the Oklahoma City Point-In-Time survey, coordinated by the Homeless Alliance, to count the homeless population. A year after Gov. Kevin Stitt dissolved a statewide council on ending homelessness, providers have launched an independent group to collect data and coordinate services in Oklahoma. The Interagency Council on Homelessness of Oklahoma launched this month and will fill the hole left by the former Governors Interagency Council on Homelessness, which was created by an executive order more than two decades ago. Stitt cited a need for smaller government last year when he dissolved the council that worked to coordinate funding and services between providers as the number of unsheltered Oklahomans continues to grow. The group was made up primarily of volunteers and state employees and received no recurring funding from the state. Everyone in this room knows we have not solved the problem of homelessness, said Linda Love, director of planning and development for KI BOIS Community Action Foundation in southeast Oklahoma, during a launch meeting on May 22. That is why the former executive committee of the (Governors Interagency Council on Homelessness) has worked to put together a private council in Oklahoma to continue the work that needs to be done. More: Why Oklahoma's homeless population is sacrificing health care for daily survival Advisory members of the new Interagency Council on Homelessness of Oklahoma pointed to issues like the states high eviction rates, growing numbers of people experiencing homelessness in metro areas and the end of pandemic relief programs. The scale, magnitude and reach of the issue of homelessness requires people from different sectors and locations to work together, said Greg Shinn, an assistant executive director with the Oklahoma City Housing Authority who served on the governors former council. What the independent homelessness council will do and what it can't do The new council will craft a statewide plan to address homelessness, track data to share with the state and federal governments and bring together agencies and providers from across the state to coordinate funding and programs, Shinn said. Interagency councils exist across the country to coordinate services and report data. Without an executive order from the governor or a mandate from the Legislature, the new council wont be able to require participation from government agencies like the Oklahoma Department of Corrections or the Oklahoma State Department of Education, said Dan Straughan, director of special projects with the Homeless Alliance. But the group, which is running as a nonprofit with funding from the nonprofit incubator Give Help, may eventually ask the Legislature to formalize its efforts. More: OKC nonprofit ensures that 'no kid sleeps on the floor' in their town Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said coordinating around an issue as complex as homelessness should be a core state government function. While the state has invested in housing affordability programs, lawmakers are also approving new state laws prohibiting unauthorized camping on state-owned lands and debating how to more quickly remove squatters. Two of Kirts bills this session one to create a state affordable housing commission and another to extend timelines in the eviction process didnt get a hearing on the Senate floor. There is a lack of interest in real solutions in this area, Kirt said. Thats why we need this bigger picture, coordinated thinking. The Frontier is a nonprofit newsroom that produces fearless journalism with impact in Oklahoma. Read more at www.readfrontier.org. A spokeswoman for Stitts office said the governor would be supportive of Oklahomans coming together to work towards solutions on homelessness. Several other states also have independent councils to address homelessness. A spokeswoman from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness said the national group will work with Oklahomas new council despite it being considered unofficial. The new council will decide its voting members by the end of June and have its first meeting in July. The Frontier is a nonprofit newsroom that produces fearless journalism with impact in Oklahoma. Read more at www.readfrontier.org. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Groups create homelessness council after Stitt dissolves official one A Houston teacher has been accused of allegedly busting it wide open for OnlyFans while on the clock. According to Fox 26 Houston, an unnamed teacher was seen in a shocking video filmed at Lamar Consolidated Gray Elementary in Richmond, TX, stripping and exposing herself in the classroom and in the schools bathroom. The womans name has been omitted because criminal charges have not yet been filed. However, the news outlet does state that an investigation into the incident is underway. Community activist Quanell X spoke to Fox 26, where he detailed his disgust at the released videos of the teacher exposing herself at the school during teaching hours, saying, It was horrible. It was unbelievable. When I saw the first video, I was shocked and appalled and just horrified. And you look at the video, she pulls down her top, picks out these big, big, huge breastscrazy as hellshakes them, and then she turns around and pulls down her pants and then pulls her panties down, spreads her cheeks and cellulite and pubic hair was everywhere. This is sickening. This is going on at a school now. X went on to state that children can be heard in the video during the classroom portion of the OnlyFans recording. X and fellow activist Candace Matthews gave a press conference on Wednesday (May 29) regarding the incident, where they called for the teacher to have her license revoked and essentially blocked from ever teaching again. The New Black Panther Nation activists also demanded that the district contact law enforcementto make sure that the students that she taught are interviewed to make sure that she didnt do additional things in the classroom that may be inappropriate, unethical, unprofessional or dangerous in the environment of those children. Additionally, Gray Elementary released a statement addressing the unnamed womans pornographic ventures on the clock. Lamar CISD stated that they are in possession of the two videos from the unnamed woman and reiterated that they are fully cooperative in the authoritys investigation of the matter. Our officers have opened an investigation and, upon initial review, do not believe that children were present during the filming of the videos, the statement reads. However, the investigating officer is working to verify the timestamp and circumstances surrounding the recordings. If the district finds that criminal behavior or conduct violating the Texas Administrative Code Educators Code of Ethics has occurred, we will engage with the appropriate reporting agencies. Based on the description of the video and the womans alleged actions, a copy of the footage appears to have surfaced on the Internet. Take a look at the alleged video below. GRAPHIC: Disturbing footage has just surfaced of a former elementary teacher at @LamarCISD setting up her camera to film a p**n*graph*c video at school. She filmed herself shaking her bare b*tt and b*easts and tw*rk*ng for the camera. .@GregAbbott_TX how can Texans be assured pic.twitter.com/2VCirDSQPv Real Life Footage (@RealLifeFootage) May 29, 2024 More from VIBE.com People wave Hungarian national flags next to the Danube river, in Budapest, Thursday May 30, 2024, where politicians took to the debate stage ahead of the European Parliament elections. The debate, where the leaders of 11 party lists running in the June 9 elections, is the first to be broadcast by Hungary's public media since 2006, while protesters outside demonstrated against the public broadcaster that is hosting the event. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos) BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Nearly a dozen politicians took to the debate stage in Hungary's capital Thursday to make their pitch to Hungarian voters ahead of European Parliament elections. Outside, protesters demonstrated against the public broadcaster that hosted the event. The debate, between the leaders of 11 party lists running in the June 9 elections, is the first to be broadcast by Hungary's public media since 2006, when Prime Minister Viktor Orban last appeared face-to-face with an opponent to appeal for support ahead of elections. Orban, who has been accused by critics of cracking down on Hungary's media and violating democratic norms, later lost that election to the Socialist incumbent before winning the next ballot in 2010. He has been in power ever since. The path to holding the first debate on public television in 18 years was fraught with controversy. The public broadcaster is widely believed by Orbans opponents to be subservient to his governing Fidesz party, and some participants disagreed with the decision to allow all 11 party list leaders to appear on stage, as well as with the narrow topics the broadcaster allowed to be discussed. One of the most vocal critics of the public media and its organization of the debate was Peter Magyar, a new arrival in Hungarian politics whose sudden rise has him poised to become the countrys largest opposition force. Before the event, Magyar told several thousand supporters outside the debate venue in Budapest that the public broadcaster has lied morning, noon and night for 14 years. How can it be that there is a political party, a community already supported by millions of Hungarians whose taxes support the public broadcaster, and it hasn't invited me onto public television for a single minute? he said. The public broadcaster earlier announced that the topics to be discussed during the debate would be limited to EU defense and security, migration and asylum, agriculture and/or democracy and the rule of law something Magyar and other candidates disputed. Peter Ember, one of the demonstrators, said he believes the candidates should be able to clash their positions to better inform voters of their choices in the election. There is finally a debate, but the circumstances are not what we would have liked. We feel that the parties and the people have not been given a say in how the debate should be, he said. They defined what they could talk about. I hope theres someone who will be brave and talk about more important things. Polls show that Magyar's new party, Respect and Freedom, could take around 25% of the vote in the EU elections, while Orban's Fidesz appears poised to take the most votes. Hungary's public broadcaster agreed to host the event after Magyar said he would hold a mass demonstration outside its headquarters if it did hold a live debate. A Long March-3B rocket carrying a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2024. The satellite has entered its planned orbit. (Photo by Liu Yanan/Xinhua) XICHANG, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China successfully launched a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan using a Long March-3B rocket, with the launch taking place at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan, at 8:12 p.m. Thursday. The satellite has entered its planned orbit. The launch was the 524th mission of the Long March rocket series. A Long March-3B rocket carrying a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2024. The satellite has entered its planned orbit. (Photo by Liu Yanan/Xinhua) A Long March-3B rocket carrying a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2024. The satellite has entered its planned orbit. (Photo by Liu Yanan/Xinhua) A Long March-3B rocket carrying a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2024. The satellite has entered its planned orbit. (Photo by Liu Yanan/Xinhua) Hurricane season 2024: Know your evacuation zone and when it's time to evacuate The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30 with the peak of the season on Sept. 10. The most activity happens between mid-August and mid-October, according to the National Hurricane Center. An overheated Atlantic Ocean and a rising La Nina have forecasters predicting a highly active hurricane season, one that could rival one of the busiest years on record. The key to getting through storm season is being prepared. That's why The Palm Beach Post has compiled tips, lists, contact numbers, graphics and maps that should help you prepare for a storm, and, if need be, get through it fine. When to evacuate in Palm Beach County If a major storm threatens, it could take days to evacuate some areas, especially if the storm is forecast to run parallel along the east or west coast of the Peninsula, hitting several major cities. That means perhaps millions of evacuees could flood highways, causing major backups throughout the state. Authorities work closely with the National Hurricane Center when deciding evacuations, but some storms are hard to forecast. Four days before landfall, Hurricane Andrew was an ill-defined, weak storm far out at sea. Emergency managers dont want motorists stalled in bumper-to-bumper traffic as the hurricane comes ashore. You should not stay home if you live in an evacuation area. Should I go to a hurricane shelter? What to know to make your decision Palm Beach County hurricane evacuation maps Palm Beach County evacuation zones To hone in on a specific area of the county to see what evacuation zone you are in, go here. https://bit.ly/4bqdFJ3 Palm Beach County has an evacuation zone look-up tool. Here's how to access it. If you stay home during a hurricane Make sure your home is as reinforced as possible. Consider the houses condition and whether your family is healthy enough. If you stay with friends or relatives during a storm Hurricane Survival Checklist: How do I prepare my house and yard for a hurricane? Make arrangements far in advance. Check again as the storm approaches to make sure your hosts arent on vacation or renovating. Take some things that youd take to an emergency shelter. If you leave home as hurricane approaches Some Palm Beach County residents evacuated to the storm shelter at Forest Hill High School as Hurricane Irma rolled into South Florida on September 9, 2017. No place in Florida is safe from a storm. It could envelop much of the state or march up the coast and turn toward your destination. In 1995, Erin threatened Miami, and thousands fled to Orlando, where Erin struck. Decide your destination and get a hotel room before you go. Rooms fill quickly. Flying may not be an option. Airports will close well in advance of the storm. Trains will fill quickly and will stop running once conditions deteriorate. Check your car. Fill tank, check tires, fluids and brakes. Get a current map of backup routes. Leave early. If roads are already jammed, go back home or to a shelter. If the storm is 24 hours from landfall or closer, its too late to try to leave town. Tell someone where you are going. Leave a phone number. Evacuation map information Floridas Turnpike: Monitor www.floridasturnpike.com for the latest details. More evacuation route information: Call 850-414-4100 Call 511: The Florida Department of Transportation offers its free 511 service for travel information and roadway conditions, including road and bridge closures, toll suspensions and major evacuation routes. For more, go to www.FL511.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: When to evacuate: 2024 hurricane evacuation zones in Palm Beach County A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted Wednesday for the fifth time since December, spewing massive lava flows that threatened to cut off the town of Grindavik and prompting the evacuation of the world-famous Blue Lagoon. The eruption began around 1 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET) Wednesday following an earthquake at the Sundhnuks crater, Icelands public broadcaster RUV reported. Icelands Meteorological Office had earlier warned that a volcanic eruption was likely following intense seismic activity at the crater and a build-up of magma in its underground reservoir. Dramatic video and images from the scene showed fountains of red-hot lava shooting into the air along a 3.4-kilometer (two-mile) fissure near Mount Hagafell on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Lava flows initially cut off two out of three roads leading to the fishing town of Grindavik and were steadily moving along a defensive barrier built to save the town and key infrastructure from being destroyed, Icelands Meteorological Office said. But the situation had improved by Thursday, the mayor of Grindavik said. The town remains without electricity, but both hot and cold water are running in the town with no apparent damage to the piping system, RUV reported. I like the situation quite well compared to how it looked at the beginning of the eruption yesterday, Mayor Fannar Jonasson said. Initial monitoring by the Met Office warned the start of the eruption was more vigorous than previous times, but the lava activity had significantly decreased overnight, it said. A volcano spews lava in Grindavik, Iceland, after a series of earthquakes. - Marco di Marco/AP Just hours before, Viir Reynisson, from Icelands Civil Defense, had told RUV that lava is flowing outside the defense walls at Grindavik in several places, and lava is also starting to flow outside the walls at Svartsengi. He warned that Grindavik was at risk of becoming completely cut off, though he added that the defense barriers were holding. The houses in the west and farthest part of the town would have gone under the lava if it werent for the defensive walls, but they are still standing and defending, Reynisson reportedly said. Grindavik, a town of about 3,000 people, was mostly evacuated before a previous eruption in December. Residents and responders who remain in the town have been urged to leave while they still can, though police told RUV that three residents are refusing to evacuate. Electricity to Grindavik was cut on Wednesday as a protective measure as lava flows closed in on high-voltage lines and hot and cold pipes in the ground, Kristinn Hararsonar, production manager at energy company HS Orka, told RUV. Most of the high-voltage lines are gone, the pylons are badly damaged and some are on fire, the Civil Defenses Reynisson later said. Red lava flows from a volcano in Grindavik, Iceland, which caused the town to evacuate. - Marco di Marco/AP Benedikt Ofeigsson, from the Met Office, told RUV that the beginning of this eruption was more powerful than previously due to more accumulated magma in the chamber. Its a lot more lava flow than weve seen before, he reportedly said. This is reflected in todays massive lava flows. Icelands Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X that there was no disruption to international or domestic flights. But for the third time in just over two months, the countrys famous geothermal spa and tourist hotspot the Blue Lagoon was evacuated, according to its operations manager. Just under an hours drive from Icelands capital and largest city Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon is one of the countrys most popular tourist attractions. The site is part of southwest Icelands Reykjanes Peninsula a thick finger of land pointing west into the North Atlantic Ocean from Reykjavik. Iceland is one of the most active volcanic areas on the planet. Rather than having a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley, with lava fields and cones. Another volcanic eruption is seen for the fifth time since December on the Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland. - Almannavarnadeild/Anadolu/Getty Images The environment agencys air quality meters are green across Iceland, indicating there is currently no air pollution from the eruption, the monitoring website shows. However, Icelands national police warned a westerly wind could carry gas pollution from the eruption eastward on Thursday into Friday, which might affect areas in South Iceland. According to the Icelandic Met Office, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the amount of gas emissions from the eruption site, the police said in a statement. While the gas pollution forecasted in Reykjavik on Wednesday never materialized, police encouraged residents to monitor real-time air pollution levels online. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Jury deliberations began Wednesday in the triple murder trial of Chad Daybell, a case Idaho prosecutors claim was fueled by power, sex, money and apocalyptic spiritual beliefs. Daybell has pleaded not guilty to murder and conspiracy charges in the deaths of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and the children of his second wife, Lori Vallow Daybell - 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow. Authorities have said they believe Tylee and JJ were killed in September 2019 the month they were last reported to have been seen and that Tammy Daybell was found dead in her Idaho home on October 19, 2019, a few weeks before Chad Daybell married Lori Vallow Daybell. Tammy Daybell was initially believed to have died in her sleep. Law enforcement found the remains of Tylee and JJ on Chad Daybells Fremont County property in June 2020, authorities said. The jury was read its instructions Wednesday morning before closing arguments. During closing arguments, Chad Daybells lawyer, John Prior, said there wasnt enough direct evidence against Daybell and others were responsible for the deaths. If convicted, Daybell could face the death penalty. Vallow Daybell was convicted by a jury in May 2023 of the murder of her children and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She also was convicted of conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell. Vallow Daybell has appealed her convictions to the state Supreme Court, with her legal team raising the issue of whether she was mentally competent to stand trial. Jurors deliberated for just over two hours Wednesday and will resume at 8 a.m. Thursday. 2 children and a wife died weeks apart During opening statements, prosecutor Rob Wood described Chad Daybell as a seemingly ordinary man who wrote books about the apocalypse, a person who craves significance and worked as a sexton in a graveyard. Two dead children buried in the defendant Chad Daybells backyard, Wood said in his first words to the jury. The next month his wife is found dead in their marital bed. Seventeen days after the death of his wife, Tammy Daybell, this defendant is photographed laughing and dancing on a beach in Hawaii at his wedding to Lori Vallow, a woman who was his mistress and the mother of the children buried in the graves on his property. Three dead bodies. When Daybell had a chance at what he considered his rightful destiny, Wood said, he made sure that no person and no law would stand in his way. His desire for sex, money and power led him to pursue those ambitions, the prosecutor added. And this pursuit led to the deaths of his wife and Loris two innocent children. Tylee Ryan was a normal, vibrant teenage girl who loved her friends and her little brother JJ, who was on the autism spectrum and required special care, according to Wood. In October 2018, Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell met at a religious conference in Utah and he began to craft an alternate reality where his obsession for glory was rooted in her adoration for him, Wood told jurors. Soon, Wood said, they viewed their spouses and even their children as obstacles that stood in their way. Anyone who opposed them were labeled sometimes as dark spirits or even zombies, the prosecutor said. During opening statements, Prior, the defense attorney, described his client as a religious man who wrote books about his faith, premonitions, good and evil, and the coming of the end of things when his savior, in his mind, is going to come back. Prior said Daybells life began to change after he met Vallow Daybell, a beautifully stunning woman who starts giving him a lot of attention and eventually lured him into an inappropriate and unfortunate extramarital relationship. Prior told the jury about Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox, who died in December 2019, and his history of violence including the shooting and killing of Vallow Daybells former husband, Charles Vallow, in July 2019. The Maricopa County medical examiner in Arizona said Cox died of natural causes, CNN affiliate KPHO/KTVK reported. Alex Cox was Loris protector, Prior said. Alex Cox would do anything and everything to protect, aid and assist Lori Vallow Whenever there was a problem or a threat to Lori Vallow, you will hear testimony that Alex Cox came to the rescue. DNA and forensics experts suggested Coxs fingerprint was found on plastic wrapped around JJs body, Daybells defense attorney said. No DNA or hair belonging to Chad Daybell was found with the childrens bodies, and the exact cause of Tammy Daybells death could not be determined, Prior said. Couple believed they were religious figures Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell called themselves James and Elaina and believed they were religious figures and had a system of rating people as light or dark, a prosecutor told jurors during Vallow Daybells trial. The state accused the couple of using their doomsday religious beliefs to justify the killings. In particular, Daybell and Vallow Daybell exchanged texts about Tammy Daybell being in limbo and being possessed by a spirit named Viola, according to the indictment. People close to the couple said they had been involved in strong religious ideologies. In addition, Daybell was connected to a religious doomsday prepper website which described itself as a series of lecture events focusing on self-reliance and personal preparation. The publishers of the site said they decided to pull content featuring either Daybell or Vallow Daybell after the childrens disappearance. The disappearance of the children made national headlines Vallow Daybells two children from a previous marriage were last seen on different days in September 2019. In late November 2019, relatives asked police in Rexburg, Idaho, to do a welfare check on JJ because they hadnt talked to him recently. Police didnt find him at the familys house but did see Vallow Daybell and Daybell, who said JJ was staying with a family friend in Arizona, according to authorities. When police returned with a search warrant the next day, the couple was gone. They were ultimately found in Hawaii in January 2020. In June 2020, law enforcement officials found the remains of Tylee and JJ on Daybells property in Fremont County, Idaho. Vallow Daybell and Daybell were indicted on murder charges in May 2021. Tylee was believed to have been killed between September 8 and 9, 2019, and JJ between September 22 and 23, according to prosecutors. After Vallow Daybells indictment and not guilty plea in 2021, a judge ruled she was incompetent to stand trial, but she was deemed fit to proceed with trial after spending nearly a year in a mental hospital. Vallow Daybell has maintained her innocence. When Vallow Daybell was sentenced last year, she denied having killed her children and cited religious texts and beliefs. She said she had spoken to Jesus, her children and her husbands wife after their deaths and said they were happy and extremely busy in heaven. Jesus Christ knows that no one was murdered in this case, Vallow Daybell said. Accidental deaths happen, suicides happen, fatal side effects from medications happen. Judge Steven W. Boyce said at the sentencing hearing: I dont believe that any God in any religion would want to have this happen. The judge said she justified the killings by going down a bizarre, religious rabbit hole. And clearly you are still down there. Vallow Daybell has appealed her convictions to the state Supreme Court, with her legal team raising the issue of whether Vallow Daybell was mentally competent to stand trial. CNNs Dave Alsup contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Jim Dietz was turkey hunting on May 24 in the tangled brambles and thickets of the Snake River bottoms near the town of Blackfoot, Idaho, on BLM land. A resident of nearby Rexburg, hed taken the day off from his construction job to try for a Merriams the final subspecies that would complete his Grand Slam. It was late afternoon, and I was out enjoying the woods, walking, looking and scouting for turkeys, Dietz tells Outdoor Life. There were only a few days left in the Idaho season. I was moving through some brush near a creek I didnt know was there when I heard a loud roar, like a bear. There are bears in the Snake River bottoms, and that roar got my attention. Thats when I saw a cow moose stand up in front of me. She just rose out of the brush . Id unknowingly cornered her and her two calves against the creek. I startled her, and she charged. The moose was close, and immediately rushed Dietz. He knew it was a real-deal charge, and quickly fired two shots in front of the attacking cow trying to scare her away as she closed the distance. My first shot in front of her at the ground was about 18 yards, and she didnt flinch, says the 36-year-old hunter, who was carrying a 12-gauge loaded with three No. 6 turkey loads. My second shot to the ground in front of her was about 10 yards away from me. But it had no effect. When I fired my last round, she was tackling me. She was right on top of me. My gun barrel was only six inches from the top of her head when I fired that last load at her skull. The third shot halted the moose charge. The cow turned and trotted back to her two calves, disappearing in the dense brush. Dietz was banged up, scraped and bruised. He was hurt, but miraculously had no broken bones or serious injuries requiring medical attention. I felt like Id been body slammed by an NFL linebacker, said Dietz, who is 6 feet, 3 inches tall and 263 pounds. A week after the attack and Im still hurting. Dietz (right) with his dad on an Eastern turkey hunt. Photo courtesy ofJim Dietz The moose ran away from the area and Dietz saw her at a distance, bedded in brush. She was bleeding from her head, but he says his last shot didnt appear to be fatal. As he was leaving the area he spotted the cow standing in cover with her two calves nursing, about 400 yards away from where the attack occurred. Read Next: Watch: Turkey Hunter Calls in Florida Panther to 10 Yards After leaving the area, Dietz reported the incident to the Idaho Fish and Game, which later issued a statement on the incident. IDFG spokesperson Jennifer Jackson told Outdoor Life on Wednesday that the cows condition is unknown, and that wildlife officers have not tried searching for the family of moose. She adds that its a good sign the cow was still able to nurse its calves. Its a tricky proposition with moose in spring, Jackson explains. We want to keep our distance because she has calves and we dont want to stress her, and perhaps orphan her young. Read Next: Alaska Wildlife Photographer Killed by Cow Moose Died Doing What He Loved Most, Family Says Jackson says encounters between moose and people happen every spring in Idaho, and most of these incidents involve cows with newborn calves. The same can be said for moose in other states, and a recent incident when a cow with two calves killed a photographer in Alaska is a reminder of how aggressive these critters can be. With these dangers in mind, Jackson recommends that people carry bear spray and know how to use it when spending time outdoors. Wild animals dont need to have sharp teeth and claws to be formidable animals that can be dangerous, Jackson says. Moose are a joy to observe, but they are not cute and cuddly. They are wild, and in spring are more defensive and [they] present a different level of danger that people should know about. Dietzs turkey hunting season was over after the moose attack, as he mended his body and reflected on his close call with the cow. Thinking about it all now, if Id shot directly at her with my first round at 18 yards, that might have made her turn away sooner, he says. It might have saved both of us some pain. This story was updated on May 31, 2024 to include comment from Jim Dietz. View comments Illinois lawmakers again failed to take action to keep dangerous hemp products out of the hands of children, prompting a call from Gov. J.B. Pritzker to regulate the industry. The measure had bipartisan support and easily passed the Senate, but stalled in the House of Representatives at the end of the legislative session Wednesday. Divisions among factions of the cannabis business community again torpedoed the bill. Pritzker called for regulating hemp products, which can be intoxicating and are widely sold without age restrictions. I believe that an unregulated product like this, which has clearly caused some health problems, ought to be regulated by the state, he said. Hemp, defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC, the component that gets users high, is legal under federal law. But producers have found ways to chemically derive intoxicating byproducts such as delta-8 and delta-9 THC that are sold in vape shops and gas stations. As a result, in some cases, adolescents have ended up being hospitalized for overdoses. The current unregulated market undermines social equity license holders who have long worked to establish a legal, well-regulated business, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford said. As we move toward regulation of hemp and delta-8 products, we must do so in a way that is equitable and provides opportunities within the evolving industry. Unlicensed hemp business owners feared that Lightfords proposed restrictions, while protecting hemp beverage makers, would have put many of them out of business. Hemp advocates again called for requiring testing and labeling of products, and establishing a minimum age for customers to be 21 or older, which they say responsible companies already do. It feels good to still be alive, said Charles Wu, owner of ChiTiva, a hemp grower and retailer. But the problems have not been solved. We want regulations for 21-plus and packaging and labeling standards, but theres never been a compromise. A separate controversy arose in the licensed cannabis industry over a wide-ranging omnibus bill would have allowed all dispensaries to sell to medical patients without imposing a retail tax. Instead, medical patients will remain restricted to getting the discount at only the 55 original medical dispensaries in the state. That means both that the market favors large established companies that own most of the medical dispensaries, and that some patients remain in rural dispensary deserts where they have to travel more than 25 miles to get their products. The proposal also would have allowed curbside pickup and drive-thru windows, remote online doctor exams, reduced barriers to people with criminal records working in the industry, and repealed certain cultivator and craft grower taxes. The Cannabis Business Association of Illinois, which represents many large companies, supported both a hemp crackdown and the expansion of medical cannabis. We are disappointed the House failed to pass needed reforms to our states cannabis laws and will continue to allow synthetic hemp products that are sickening children and adults to be sold with no oversight, Executive Director Tiffany Chappell Ingram said. Despite overwhelming bipartisan support for these measures in the Senate, there is clearly more work to do to educate legislators about these important matters. The Cannabis Equity Coalition of Illinois blamed large Chicago-based cannabis company Green Thumb Industries (GTI) for lobbying to oppose medical dispensary expansion. The nonprofit coalition, which represents small business owners and advocates, called for a boycott of GTI products and Rise dispensaries, saying they were under siege by corporate greed! The Illinois Independent Craft Growers Association wrote a letter to the governor, calling for expanding medical marijuana discounts to all dispensaries. GTIs opposition to this change is an attempt to maintain their monopoly on being able to offer the tax advantages to medical card holders, preventing new and smaller dispensaries from entering the medical market, which limits competition and harms patients and local craft growers, the letter stated. This has to stop. Our legislators need to focus on the 140,000 medical patients and not on those companies that lobby the hardest. Green Thumb issued a statement that it has always supported patient access to legal cannabis. We have a history of championing patients, including leading advocacy efforts to ensure patients could access their products during the pandemic, and most recently, preserve curbside pickup services for patients, the statement read. The proposed measure, HB 2911, GTI said, included language that was neither operationally viable nor comprehensive enough for what Illinois patients deserve, such as requiring patient lanes or offering delivery services. Illinois legislators recognized the concerns and will continue working on this with the goal of passing it during veto session (this fall). PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. (WFRV) Authorities in southern Wisconsin say an Illinois woman was arrested after she was allegedly seen street racing prior to leading police on a pursuit. According to a release from the Pleasant Prairie Police Department, officers reported seeing two vehicles racing on 75th Street. One vehicle is said to have pulled over while a black Ford Fusion refused to pull over and began leading police on a pursuit. Officials say the pursuit was initially called off due to safety reasons, however, while taking a break at a local coffee/donut shop, police saw the same Ford Fusion at a nearby gas station. Zero tolerance for reckless behavior: Wisconsin man leads deputies on 125MPH+ pursuit after fleeing a traffic stop Officers then attempted to corner the car at the gas station but were unsuccessful as the driver reportedly took off and hit another vehicle in the gas stations parking lot. Despite hitting another vehicle, the pursuit continued before police eventually caught up with the car. A 26-year-old woman from Illinois was then arrested without further incident on the following charges: 2 counts of Fleeing/Eluding 1st Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety Possession of THC Obstructing an Officer No other information about this incident is available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Motorists who speed through work zones like this road-widening project on Route 32 in Howard County could face stiffer penalties. File photo by Bruce DePuyt. Motorists who speed through highway work zones in Maryland will soon pay more if they get caught. A new law that takes effect Saturday increases the current $40 fine to $80. The new fines are only temporary. Related Stories Beginning January 2025, the penalties increase, ranging from $60 to $1,000. The tiered system implemented next year will be based on vehicle speed. The fines will double if highway workers are present. The new fines and use of automated speed cameras were part of a series of recommendations made last year by a work group charged with finding ways to reduce deaths on state roads and highways. Suggestions by the panel, led by Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D), a former transportation engineer, were incorporated into SB 479 and the identical HB 513. Both bills were signed into law in April by Gov. Wes Moore (D). The work group was commissioned by Moore following the March 22, 2023, deaths of six highway workers, including a father and son, in a work zone on a stretch of Interstate 695 in western Baltimore County. On average, there are roughly 300 work zones on highways around the state. Last year, the state recorded a total of 610 roadway-related deaths. It was the first time in nearly two decades that the state reached that grim milestone. A dozen of the deaths that year, including the six on I-695, involved in crashes in work zones, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration. So far this year, eight people have died in work-zone crashes, the agency reported. There were nearly 7,200 work-zone crashes in the state between 2018 and 2022, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration. Forty-four people died in those crashes and another 2,769 people were injured. The post Increased enforcement, fines take effect this weekend in highway work zones appeared first on Maryland Matters. Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick speaks to reporters Jan. 23 about a critical report of the Secretary of State's office (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent). Independence School District Superintendent Dale Herl feels targeted by the state for moving to a four-day school week. On Wednesday, Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick announced a plan to audit the district. Independence schools arent accused of wrongdoing, and no one asked for an audit. Rather, its Fitzpatricks first foray into conducting more routine audits of some of the states 518 school districts, something he promised during his campaign and inauguration. Fitzpatrick initially said he wanted to investigate schools teaching about sexuality, gender or critical race theory which has become a catchall term for race- or diversity-related concepts that parents or politicians may find objectionable. So far, he hasnt emphasized that in the Independence audit. The combination of them being a large district that has a four-day week thats in the Kansas City area was a big factor in choosing to audit Independence, he said. The auditors office has held expanded power to audit school districts for more than a decade, but has rarely used it. Fitzpatricks decision to flex that power comes as a bill further expanding the auditors authority to investigate other government bodies without an invitation awaits Gov. Mike Parsons signature. The formal announcement of the audit to the school board on May 14 came shortly after Parson signed legislation to require school districts in charter counties and cities over 30,000 in population to seek voter approval if they want a four-day school week. Independence switched to a Tuesday-through-Friday schedule for the 2023-24 school year to better recruit teachers and other staff. Herl said its already been successful. The law doesnt affect most of the more than 150 districts in the state that, like Independence, switched to a four-day week, because most of them are rural. But it requires Independence, by far the largest district in the state to go to a four-day week, to win voter approval or return to a five-day week. The new law and the audit announcement come as Independence is wrapping up its first school year on the four-day schedule. It does feel like we were certainly targeted because we are (on) a four-day school week, Herl said. Making audits routine The state auditors job is to check state agencies, circuit courts and local governments for waste, fraud and inefficiencies. School districts are required to have regular financial audits, conducted by an independent auditor. But audits from the state typically look beyond finances and dont follow a set schedule. While the auditor has had expanded power to audit school districts since 2008, school audits have most frequently happened when citizens collect signatures to petition for an audit or in response to specific concerns. Of six school district and charter school audits completed since 2019, half sprang from citizen petitions, two were requested by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and one was requested by a charter schools board. Older audit reports dont always state why they were initiated, but Fitzpatrick said auditors have conducted an average of one to two school district audits a year since 2008. The Beacon confirmed those numbers are accurate based on online audit reports when you leave out follow-up reports, charter school audits and higher education audits. K-12 education is one of the states biggest expenses. Fitzpatrick said, we spent almost none of our audit resources auditing the recipient of those funds. He wants routine audits of school districts to become more common and has been adding staff for that work. We are going to use more of our discretionary audit resources to do audits of school districts, Fitzpatrick said. The role that school districts play in preparing the next generation of Missourians for the workforce is incredibly important. Fitzpatricks office is also auditing the Kingston K-14 school district in Washington County because of a citizen petition and the Francis Howell school district in St. Charles County because of concerns with management and efficiency issues, particularly with recent building projects. Both districts are on the eastern side of the state, which influenced the decision to add a Kansas City-area district to the mix, Fitzpatrick said. Costs and benefits Herl said he expects the audit report will be clean and that it could include useful suggestions. But the audit is also a burden. When auditors ask for documents, Herl said, we need to stop what were doing as far as payroll or ending our fiscal year out to make sure that were complying with their requests. The process is very cumbersome for our staff, but something well gladly do, Herl said. If there are things that we could do better, we certainly want to know that. Neither Herl nor Fitzpatrick could estimate how many staff hours the audit will take. Fitzpatricks office takes on any direct costs to pay for the audits. He estimated it could use $70,000 to $80,000 worth of staff time from his office. That would be what they would be paid regardless of whether were (auditing) Independence or some other district or some other entity, he said. The report could be public by late 2024 or early 2025, Fitzpatrick said. If the audit reveals the district is well-run, that should be something that the community should be happy about, and should instill confidence in the people in charge of the district, he said. Superintendent Dale Herl participates in a meeting of the Independence school board. (Zach Bauman/The Beacon) When auditors get involved, schools are more likely to follow the rules and function in a more austere way, said Dustin Hornbeck, an assistant professor of leadership and policy studies at the University of Memphis. Hornbeck has studied the expanding role of some state auditors in education, particularly as theyre called on to hold charter schools accountable. While audits impact can be positive, Hornbeck said theyre also conducted by political, partisan officials in states like Missouri where the auditor is elected. The ability to do performance audits at will could lead districts to wonder whether the auditor is trying to send a message with the timing of an audit, he said. Its fascinating and kind of startling to think that the auditor just gets to pick and choose at random whomever they decide they want to audit, he said. You could use it as a political ax to grind or to go after political adversaries. In Independence, audit staff are figuring out how to approach an audit without a specific problem area in mind. Theyre talking with school board members, surveying upper-level staff and distributing contact information so community members can leave tips. Questions so far have focused on the four-day school week and finances, Herl said. There will be some emphasis on curriculum as well, Fitzpatrick said. Todd Schuler, a Missouri audit manager who presented to the school board, said the final audit report wont mention any topic unless theres a recommendation related to it. It wont rule on whether the four-day week is good or bad, but might examine how the decision was made. Its a bit unusual, Schuler told the school board. This is pretty rare that we dont go out with at least some known issues or concerns. This article first appeared on Beacon: Kansas City and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. The post Independences four-day school week draws Missouri auditor probe appeared first on Missouri Independent. Girls cover their heads as they walk on a street near a landfill site on a hot summer day during a heatwave in New Delhi Girls cover their heads as they walk on a street near a landfill site on a hot summer day during a heatwave in New Delhi By Sakshi Dayal and Priyanshu Singh NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Delhi recorded an all-time high temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.22 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday as extreme heat conditions gripped the north and western parts of India, causing students to faint in schools and drinking water taps to dry up. A heat wave alert has been in place for large parts of India since last week but on Wednesday the temperature in Mungeshpur, a densely packed corner of Delhi, crossed the 50 C mark, the weather office said. The Indian capital has had temperatures of over 45 C in previous years but never gone as high as 52.9 C. Streets in Mungeshpur in northwest Delhi were deserted and most shops were shut as people stayed indoors to avoid the searing heat, while residents handed out free cold drinks in Narela after temperatures went up to 49.9 C on Tuesday. "When we go outside it seems like someone is slapping our faces. It has become difficult to live in Delhi," said resident Akash Nirmal. India Meteorological Department (IMD) said it is examining the data and sensors to look into Mungeshpur's temperature which was an outlier compared to other stations. "There is so much heat in Delhi that students are fainting, some are falling sick, some are facing dehydration. The students are facing a lot of trouble in this heat. The fans don't work in our institutions," said Nidhi, a student, who gave only their first name. An unusual transition from El Nino to La Nina and the lack of winds bringing moisture, has resulted in prolonged heating, leading to record temperatures, Gufran Beig, chair professor at the Indian Institute of Science told Reuters. El Nino is the warming of Pacific waters that is typically accompanied by drier conditions over the Indian subcontinent while La Nina is characterised by unusually cold temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. "We suspect that it is all associated with climate change," he told Reuters. A spot of light rain in other parts of Delhi later on Wednesday brought some respite and weather officials expect the heat to ease later this week over northwest and central India. India declares a heatwave when the maximum temperature is 4.5 degrees C to 6.4 degrees C higher than usual and a severe heat wave when it is 6.5 degrees C higher than normal or more. Local government authorities have set curbs on water supply in Delhi, citing a shortage, and imposed a fine of 2,000 rupees ($24) on those wasting water, such as by washing cars. Authorities in the eastern state of Bihar directed schools to be shut till June 8 after reports of students fainting at a government school. Video footage by news agency ANI showed a girl lying on a classroom bench as teachers sprinkled her face with water and fanned her with a book. Asia has sweltered in a hotter summer this year - a trend scientists say has been worsened by human-driven climate change. Rajasthan in central India has also been reeling under scorching heat with mercury touching 50 degrees C in some districts. Government data shows 4 people have died since March with 451 cases of heat stroke reported on Wednesday itself. In a sharp contrast, parts of northeastern India have been battered by heavy rain in the aftermath of cyclone Remal, with at least 27 people killed in Mizoram after the collapse of a stone quarry and multiple landslides. Parts of Assam, bordering Bangladesh, are also inundated. ($1=83.3221 Indian rupees) (Additional reporting by Tora Agarwala in Guwahati, Jatindra Dash in Bhubaneswar and Arpan Chaturvedi; writing by Tanvi Mehta; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Clarence Fernandez, Alexandra Hudson) A visitor takes photos of a Chinese canopy bed during the exhibition of Ivan Skusek's collection at the Slovene Ethnographic Museum in Ljubljana, Slovenia, May 29, 2024. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) LJUBLJANA, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Over a century after its arrival in Slovenia, a stunning Chinese wooden model depicting a three-bay ancient gate with a saddle roof made its public debut in Ljubljana on Tuesday. It is one of the 130 exhibits showcased at the Slovene Ethnographic Museum, all belonging to the collection of late Slovenian collector Ivan Skusek who brought them from China a century ago. "I cannot imagine how happy he (Ivan Skusek) would have felt if he could see this exhibition today. His dream came true," Skusek's great-nephew Janez Lombergar told Xinhua. Skusek lived in Beijing between 1914 and 1920 where he met his wife. They had planned to build a private museum in traditional Chinese architectural style in Slovenia to demonstrate their collections from China. Several Chinese experts from China's Palace Museum spent months assembling the ancient gate and decorative partition, which were in small wooden pieces when brought to Slovenia by Skusek, who died in 1947. "I grew up with this collection. My granddad ... kept telling me Ivan's story and his collection," Lombergar said. When he was a child, Lombergar sometimes took a nap in the Chinese canopy bed decorated with dragons which is also on display at the exhibition that opened on Tuesday, Lombergar told Xinhua. Unfortunately, Skusek's dream did not come true during his lifetime. He was not wealthy and many artifacts he bought in China were lost or damaged during his family's multiple moves. Some 500 Chinese artefacts were donated to the country after Skusek and his wife Marija passed away. "It (the exhibition) features exquisite objects such as a model of a Chinese house, selected pieces of carved furniture, a collection of Buddhist statues, textiles embroidered with gold thread, musical instruments and many mysterious objects," Natalija Polenec, director of the Slovene Ethnographic Museum, told Xinhua. The Slovene Ethnographic Museum hosted the exhibition in cooperation with the Slovenian Confucius Institute, the Chinese Palace Museum, the Science and Research Centre Koper, and several other academic research institutes. Polenec said the Chinese experts' assistance was essential because the restoration process was extremely precise and could not be done without experts familiar with ancient Chinese architecture. Guo Fuxiang, curator of the Court History Department of the Palace Museum, told RTV Slovenia that the artifacts showed Skusek's strong desire to set up a museum. "He had a plan of how to do it. He made good and careful decisions on what to buy, which shows that he planned to present China to the Slovenian public by choosing objects representing Chinese culture and art. ... This is a nice example of the connection between the two states. Skusek was a cultural envoy," Guo said. Skusek is recognized as one of the first collectors of Chinese furniture in the West. He was interested in the daily life of the Chinese people, so his collections include postcards, fans, snuff bottles, pipes and wine bottles. Polenec said the exhibition will help people learn from the past. "The exhibition exposes people to different worldviews, prompting them to explore their own culture from a fresh perspective." "It can help break down cultural barriers, promote social inclusion, and contribute to a more inclusive society," she said. Lombergar said the exhibition will bring Chinese culture closer to people in Slovenia and culture is the basis for any connection between nations. People view exhibits during the exhibition of Ivan Skusek's collection at the Slovene Ethnographic Museum in Ljubljana, Slovenia, May 29, 2024. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) This photo taken on May 29, 2024 shows a piece of the Chinese interior wooden decoration, which has been restored by Chinese experts from China's Palace Museum, during the exhibition of Ivan Skusek's collection at the Slovene Ethnographic Museum in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua) The Indian Citizenship Act is 100 years old. What lessons have we learned? Many people understand taking pride in being an American, while also honoring other parts of their identity. While we are proud to be citizens of the United States and our tribal nations, we are perhaps more aware than most of how important it is to demand and protect our citizenship. This week, were celebrating an important milestone in that struggle: the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act, which was approved by Congress in 1924. The legislation provided dual citizenship to members of federally recognized tribal nations. This landmark federal law paved the way for additional protections for Native Americans and settled a previously open question. In fact, some states resisted giving full access to Indians until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 clarified that all citizens must be given access to the ballot. Oklahoma, Choctaw Nation sign latest tribal compact: What to know about the deal Think about that: nearly 40 years after being given full citizenship, our people were still fighting for the most basic American right, the right to vote. When I think of this, I am reminded of two lessons. The first is that being an American is precious, and all citizens must be vigilant in projecting their own rights, as well as others rights. This collective desire to expand freedom and equal protection under the laws is one of the hallmark ideas that sets America apart from the rest of the world. As Choctaw Nation delegation traveled to France, it was a time of reflection for chief My other takeaway is that all Americans, but especially tribal members, must do more than just talk about what citizenship means to them. They must act. And the easiest way to consistently demonstrate their love of the nation is to vote. This means staying informed and filling out a ballot often. Not just when a presidential election rolls around every four years, but every midterm when were selecting our representatives in Congress, and in the many local elections that truly have an impact on our daily lives. Im proud of my Choctaw heritage, and Im proud to also be a citizen of the greatest nation the world has ever known. And whether were celebrating a major historical event or were choosing local officials, I show my pride by researching candidates and voting. I urge every other member of the Choctaw Nation and the United States to do the same. Choctaw Chief Gary Batton speaks at a press conference as the leaders of Oklahomas largest tribes endorse Joy Hofmeister for governor in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Gary Batton is the chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Choctaw Nation chief on Indian Citizenship Act: Vote often for America A man rides his cycle near a landfill site on a hot summer day during a heatwave in New Delhi By Sakshi Dayal, Tanvi Mehta and Anushree Fadnavis NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Animals collapsed, people jumped on water tankers with buckets amid shortages and government employees changed their work hours as blistering summer heat kept its grip on north India on Thursday. Although Thursday's readings were marginally lower in Delhi than the previous day when one area recorded an all-time high of 52.9 degree Celsius (127.22 Fahrenheit), the region still saw temperatures touching 47 C (116.6 F). Delhi, which has a population of 20 million, recorded its first heat-related death on Wednesday, with a 40-year old labourer dying of heatstroke, local media reported. Authorities said they are investigating if the 52.9 C reading in the Mungeshpur neighbourhood on Wednesday was caused by a sensor error at the local weather station. Television images showed people chasing water tankers or climbing on top of them in parts of the city to fill containers amidst an acute water shortage that the government blames on low levels in the Yamuna River - Delhi's primary source of water. Along the river's banks, women in shanties endured stifling conditions in their homes as their cooking stoves aggravated the sweltering weather. "The heat is worse this year. We work like this everyday so we get into the habit," said Seema, 19, who cooks for her family twice a day. In the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh, a policeman used CPR to revive a monkey that he said had fainted and fallen from a tree because of the heat, pumping its chest for 45 minutes, local media reported, and Delhi also saw cases of heatstroke among birds. As more people chose to order food and groceries by home delivery instead of venturing out in the heat, delivery personnel have been spending more time on their scooters and motorbikes, their employers said. "Order frequency has been higher during the afternoon when people are avoiding stepping out," said Ateef Shaikh, a delivery fleet manager at a Swiggy delivery app store in Mumbai. Zomato and its grocery delivery business, Blinkit, have taken additional measures to help delivery workers, including providing refreshments and comfortable clothing, their spokespersons said. Blinkit is installing air coolers in the waiting areas of all its stores, the spokesperson added. The extreme temperatures have also sparked more fires in several parts of the country, including in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir, where authorities are using drones to monitor forest fires. The country, which is nearing the end of multi-phase national elections, is not alone in experiencing unusually high temperatures. Billions across Asia are grappling with the heat and in neighbouring Pakistan the temperature crossed 52 C (125.6 F)this week. Scientists say this trend has been worsened by human-driven climate change. India, the world's third-biggest greenhouse gas emitter, has long held that, as a developing nation, it should not be forced to cut its energy-related emissions but has set a target of becoming a net-zero emitter by 2070. (Additional reporting by Dhwani Pandya in Mumbai; Writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by YP Rajesh and Frances Kerry) Solar panel in Meridian Township | Susan J. Demas A ballot initiative seeking to reverse clean energy siting policy that was approved by the Legislature last year has fallen short of the necessary signatures to make it onto the ballot this November. Citizens for Local Choice needed to turn in 356,958 valid petition signatures to the Michigan Bureau of Elections by Wednesday, May 29, at 5 p.m., but were unable to do so. However, the group says it is not giving up the effort. The Citizens for Local Choice ballot campaign has engaged thousands of volunteers across the state and has issued tens of thousands of petitions for signatures in an effort to restore local control of large-scale wind and solar operations, the organization said in an emailed statement. The campaign is strong and robust and while we have not reached the required signature threshold to make the 2024 ballot, we will continue our ambitious effort to leverage our legal 180-day window and work to secure a placement on the 2026 ballot. In Michigan, signatures submitted on a qualifying petition must have been collected within a 180-day period immediately preceding the date of filing. Signatures which are dated more than 180 days before the petition was filed are considered to be invalid. The effort sought to repeal an impending law that gives the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) authority over permitting for large scale solar wind and battery storage developments. The change was made possible by passage of House Bill 5120, which is scheduled to take effect on Nov. 29. The bills sponsors have argued the changes it creates will help expand the build out of clean energy and would allow farmers who may have been blocked from leasing their land to energy developers, to secure additional income by hosting solar panels or wind turbines. However, supporters of the Citizens for Local Choice initiative contend the new law will allow corporations to supersede local control across our state for utility-scale wind and solar projects. Organizations that publicly backed the effort included the Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Association of Townships, Michigan Association of Counties, and Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan. While critics say the bill removes control over large scale renewable energy projects from local governments, advocates have noted that it still requires energy companies to work with municipalities whose permitting process mirrors that of the state, giving the two parties 120 days to reach an agreement. They can also apply for an extension for another 120 days. Electrical providers can submit a permitting application to the MPSC if the impacted community fails to approve or deny an application in a timely manner, if the local zoning process is stricter than the standards outlined in the bill, or if a project meets the standards outlined in the bill, but the application is denied. One supporter of that change was Clara Ostrander of Milan Township in Monroe County, who owns and operates two Centennial farmsteads. Ostrander was a guest speaker last November at a bill signing event featuring Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Ostrander said renting the farm to another farmer for raising corn and soybeans, helped assist with paying the taxes, but it didnt leave much more for helping with the maintenance on the rest of the farm. So when we were first approached about the idea of leasing our land for a large solar farm, we were very skeptical as we didnt want to do anything to harm the farm, she said. But after several months of research, we learned that solar would not harm our land, but rather it would allow the land to rest while helping the environment by harvesting the sun for clean energy. However, Ostrander said the townships interpretation of their solar ordinance prevented them from moving forward for two years, until ultimately the ordinance was amended to prevent her from leasing the land and taking away our landowner rights. She said the bills allow small farmers like herself to now have the option to keep their family heritage and not have to resort to selling their land. One of the groups that had opposed the initiative was the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council, which welcomed the news that the issue would not be on the ballot this November. The council called the reforms critical and said they will help avoid higher energy costs for the average Michigan household while creating jobs and making our economy more competitive. Also opposing the ballot initiative were the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America Michigan Chapter, Evergreen Action, Michigan Environmental Council, Sierra Club, Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action, Vote Solar, and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. The post Initiative to repeal renewable energy siting reform fails to get on November ballot appeared first on Michigan Advance. Kyrieanna Liles was overwhelmed with emotion sitting next to her attorney Thursday morning in a Sacramento courtroom. The 24-year-old woman has spent the past six months incarcerated and accused of trying to run over a Sacramento County sheriffs deputy during an encounter last year outside her Rancho Cordova home. She cried out of happiness after a jury found her not guilty of assault with a deadly weapon a vehicle upon a police officer. The jury also acquitted Liles on two lesser charges of assault with a deadly weapon and assault, options the jurors could have chosen had they felt she was guilty of any wrongdoing in that encounter with the deputy. The jurors reached their verdict after about two hours of deliberation. Deputy Public Defender Carrie Claremon, who represented Liles in her criminal trial, has argued that sheriffs body camera video shows Liles hit the brakes as soon as she saw Deputy Matthew Bollinger run in front of her vehicle. I think the jury obviously did the right thing, Claremon said outside of court moments after the jurys verdict was announced. Shes been an innocent woman from the beginning. In her closing arguments Wednesday, Deputy District Attorney Jenna Forster told the jury that Liles had been roaming her neighborhood carrying a chefs knife with a 6-inch blade and tried to break into a neighbors home searching for her missing dog. The prosecutor said Liles aimed her car at the deputy, who was running to cover, moments after she drove the vehicle onto the front lawn to make her escape. She drove that vehicle at Deputy Bollinger, Forster argued. When you drive a car straight at someone, you can make (the vehicle) a deadly weapon. In a video of body-worn camera footage released by the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, a deputy is seen trying to pull Kyrieanna Liles from her vehicle on Nov. 20 on Malaga Way in Rancho Cordova. Liles then drove her car away from deputies, who fired upon her during the escape. Liles suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and was later charged with resisting arrest and assault on an officer. The Nov. 20 confrontation between Liles and three deputies occurred outside her home on Malaga Way, but the incident began to unfold about 30 minutes earlier that morning. About 10:20 a.m., Liles called authorities to report her dog was missing, and that she believed her neighbor stole her dog, which she could hear barking from their backyard. She hung up the call before dispatchers could ask her any more questions. Forster told the jury that dispatchers repeatedly tried calling Liles back, but she didnt answer. She answered her phone several minutes after her initial call, telling dispatchers she got her dog back and quickly hung up. About 10:45 a.m., Rancho Cordova police were called to an Augibi Way home, where residents reported an unknown woman with a knife searching for her dog was trying to break into their home. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office is contracted to have deputies provide police services for Rancho Cordova. The neighbors Ring doorbell camera captured Liles on their front lawn holding the chefs knife. The prosecutor said its unclear whether Liles was suffering from a mental health crisis or under the influence of drugs when she armed herself to look for her missing dog. She argued the deputies had to investigate; ignoring it wouldve been wrong. Forster told the jury the deputies tried to speak with Liles when they first approached her sitting in the drivers seat of her white Dodge Challenger in the driveway, but she was uncooperative and turned on her car and started to pull out of the driveway in reverse despite the deputies attempts to de-escalate the situation. Liles then drove the car forward on the driveway. The Sheriffs Office in January released body camera video that showed deputies firing their guns 10 times at the Liles as she drove away from them in her car. Bollinger and Deputy Spencer Hettema, a trainee at the time, each fired their service weapons. Liles was wounded. Pursuing deputies caught up to Liles several blocks away and took her into custody without further incident. A Dodge Challenger and a Rancho Cordova police vehicle are seen on Folsom Boulevard near Mather Field Road following an officer-involved shooting Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, which contracts police services for the city, said two deputies fired on a woman. The defense attorney argued that Liles was a distraught woman looking for her dog who called police for help, and that she was later assaulted by the deputy who grabbed her by the wrist to try and pull her out of her parked car in her own driveway without any legal justification. Claremon told the jury on Wednesday that Liles made a split-second decision to get away from this assault by first pulling out of the driveway in reverse, before driving forward onto the driveway and then the lawn to avoid any deputies or patrol vehicles behind her. She implored the jurors to tell law enforcement they did it wrong this time. Thats bad police work, Claremon argued. The law is you dont have to comply with the police when theyre not acting in a lawful performance of their duties. Liles has been held in custody at the Sacramento County Jail, with her bail amount set at $500,000. After the not guilty verdict was announced Thursday, Judge Shellyanne W.L. Chang ordered Liles to be released from jail as soon as possible and exonerated her bail. The defense attorney asked the judge to release Liles immediately, so she could walk freely out of the courtroom. The judge rejected Claremons request, saying she wasnt going to override any sheriffs procedures required to release an inmate. So, the court bailiff handcuffed Liles again and escorted her back into custody. Outside the courtroom, Claremon said it could be another several hours before Liles is released from custody. She should be free to walk out of this courtroom with me, to see her family, Claremon told The Sacramento Bee. Shes a free woman now, and shes obviously still not free. Officers shoot at a car driven by Kyrieanna Liles, 24, in Rancho Cordova. The jury never saw video of the deputies firing their guns at Liles in her car as she fled. The judge excluded that evidence from the trial on the grounds it was irrelevant to the criminal charge filed against Liles; over repeated objections from the defense attorney. The prosecutor argued the deputies were not on trial in this case; Liles was. Outside the courtroom, Claremon said it was obvious to anyone watching video of the shooting that the wrong person was on trial. I wish the jury got to see the video and the shooting part as they shot at her 10 times as she was fleeing their assault, Claremon said. Its totally unfair and a miscarriage of justice that they didnt get to see the shooting. While in custody, Liles filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sacramento County and the Sheriffs Office that accuses the deputies of using excessive force in the November incident. That case is pending and due back in court July 12 for a defense motion to dismiss Liles case. Bollinger and Hettema are among the defendants listed in the lawsuit filed in February by Sacramento civil rights attorney Mark Merin. Merin said Thursdays not guilty verdict means Liles will be seeking more damages in the civil rights lawsuit, considering she had to remain in jail for six months and go through a criminal jury trial to prove her innocence. I thought it is was really wrong to exclude evidence of the shooting, Merin said about the criminal trial. It was amazing that the jury still saw through the prosecutions attempt to show this was a lawful contact. Its time past time that Tulsas historic Greenwood neighborhood be granted national monument status, said Tiffany Crutcher, a native of the Oklahoma city that more than a century ago was the site of a white supremacist massacre. Her hope is that the district, known as Black Wall Street, will soon secure that history-honoring and legacy-preserving designation, as the country prepares to observe the 103rd anniversary of the attack on Friday. The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committees Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing this month considering a bipartisan bill that would establish Greenwood as a protected landmark. Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, who introduced the legislation last December with Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, testified. Also on Capitol Hill fighting for Greenwood to receive monument status was Crutcher, whose great-grandmother escaped the assault in Tulsa. She trusts that the bills cross-aisle support bodes well for its passage. The House is expected to introduce companion legislation this year. Im not just excited. Im ecstatic, Crutcher, the co-chair of a coalition thats been pushing Congress and the White House on the issue for years, told Capital B. If we get this monument designation, we will echo the voices of the survivors who are no longer with us and the voices of the ancestors who built Greenwood. We will never let anyone bury our story again. Read More: Project 2025 and the Movement That Could Erode Black Equality Over the course of about 24 hours starting on May 31, 1921, a white mob laid siege to Greenwood, burning the once-prosperous district to the ground. As many as 300 people were killed, and thousands more were left homeless. State and federal policymakers later described the slaughter as a riot in order to circumvent having to help revitalize the district, according to a 2021 Brookings Institution report. For decades, a culture of silence surrounded the attack. Black Tulsans were afraid to bring up what had occurred, since no one had ever been held accountable for the killings. (Crutcher didnt learn about the massacre until she went to college, when several people referred to her hometown as Black Wall Street. She finally asked her father, whose grandmother was the one who almost didnt make it out of Greenwood, what they were talking about. The story shocked and angered her.) White Tulsans also avoided confronting the past, driven partly by a sense of shame. Crutcher described Greenwoods spectacular rise to affluence in the early 20th century as something like a love story one of the greatest of all time. During Jim Crow, a community one generation removed from slavery developed one of the most prosperous neighborhoods in the country. It was an example of Black excellence, she said. They did that by caring for one another. They did that by fighting for one another. And thats what true love is really about. Tulsa Race Massacre survivors Lessie Benningfield Randle (from left), Viola Fletcher, and Hughes Van Ellis sing together at the conclusion of a June 1, 2021, rally during commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the attack in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Van Ellis died in October 2023 at age 102. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) The two remaining survivors of the attack Lessie Benningfield Randle, 109, and Viola Ford Fletcher, 110 have been locked in a yearslong struggle for reparations. Black Tulsans continue to suffer from a lack of economic power: Racial disparities in employment, education, and wealth have roots in the massacre, per a 2020 Human Rights Watch report. Last month, the survivors entered the Oklahoma Supreme Court to appeal a judges 2023 dismissal of their lawsuit seeking restitution. They said in a joint statement that their now-weary bodies have held on long enough to witness an America, and an Oklahoma, that provides race massacre survivors with the opportunity to access the legal system. Its unclear when the justices will come to a decision on the matter. Hughes Van Ellis, Fletchers younger brother and another survivor, died of cancer last October at 102 years old. On the centennial of the assault, the World War II veteran testified to Congress, declaring that he didnt want to leave this earth without obtaining justice. An attorney for the survivors, Damario Solomon-Simmons, argued that Oklahoma wont do the right thing without pressure from the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice. Theres never been a criminal investigation into the massacre, and the federal government has the ability to do that under the Emmett Till Cold Case Act of 2007, he told Capital B last year, after a judge tossed out the case. The federal government has a duty, while my clients are still alive, to come in and use its awesome powers to give this community some form of relief. Gaining monument status for Greenwood wont win justice for the survivors or their descendants. But it would provide much-needed solace. The country doesnt need any more studies, Crutcher explained. It doesnt need any more commissions. It needs healing. But we cant get to that place of healing and reconciliation without first acknowledging the truth. And that looks like so many things: cash payments that can help close the racial wealth gap, scholarships for the descendants, land reclamation, memorials, and on and on, she said. I believe that if we want to be on the right side of history, then America the city of Tulsa needs to make it right. The post Inside the Battle to Preserve Black Wall Street appeared first on Capital B News. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland was joined on an official visit to Acadia National Park in 2021 by Maine's Congressional Delegation and Governor Janet Mills. (NPS photo by Jay Elhard) Interior Secretary Deb Haaland will deliver the keynote address at the Maine Democratic Party convention on June 1, the party announced Thursday. Haaland, a former U.S. representative from New Mexico, was one of the first Native American women elected to Congress. She was then nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021 to head the U.S. Department of the Interior, which protects natural resources and stewards public lands, becoming the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history. As secretary, Haaland also came to Maine in 2021 to pay an official visit to Acadia National Park. The Maine Democratic Party said in a news release that Haaland will focus her speech around the stakes of the upcoming 2024 election. With Mainers fundamental freedoms on the line, we are confident [Haalands] address will energize our attendees and galvanize our efforts to build a more just, equitable and prosperous Maine and ensure we deliver the state for President Biden and Vice President Harris once again this November and reject Donald Trumps extremism once and for all, Bev Uhlenhake, chair of the Maine Democratic Party, said in a statement. The Maine Democratic Party Convention will take place on May 31 and June 1 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The event will feature speeches from various party leaders and a presentation of the partys platform, among other actions. Correction: The original version of this story said the party platform would be discussed at the convention. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Interior Sec. Deb Haaland to deliver keynote at Maine Democratic Party convention appeared first on Maine Morning Star. Kids exposed to peanut products during infancy, as early as 4 months old, are less likely to be allergic to peanuts later in life, according to a UK study published Tuesday. They cracked the case. Kids exposed to peanut products during infancy, as early as 4 months old, are less likely to be allergic to peanuts later in life, according to a UK study published Tuesday in the journal NEJM Evidence. Researchers from Kings College London observed over 500 children to age 12. They found that kids who were fed peanuts as a paste or puree until they turned 5 were 71% less likely to develop a peanut allergy than children who avoided peanuts. Kids exposed to peanut products during infancy, as early as 4 months old, are less likely to be allergic to peanuts later in life, according to a UK study published Tuesday. Shutterstock Another study yielded similar results but only examined children up to the age of 5, which wasnt clear that that was necessarily enough time to prove long-term tolerance, Michelle F. Huffaker, one of the authors of the new research and the director of translational medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, told the Washington Post. Both studies were sponsored and co-funded by the National Institutes of Healths National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Researchers from Kings College London observed over 500 children to age 12. They found that kids who were fed peanuts as a paste or puree until they turned 5 were 71% less likely to develop a peanut allergy than children who avoided peanuts. Shutterstock The latest research found that 15.4% of kids who avoided peanuts developed an allergy by age 12, compared to just 4.4% of those who were exposed to peanuts. Todays findings should reinforce parents and caregivers confidence that feeding their young children peanut products beginning in infancy according to established guidelines can provide lasting protection from peanut allergy, NIAID director Jeanne Marrazzo said in a statement. If widely implemented, she added, this safe, simple strategy could prevent tens of thousands of cases of peanut allergy among the 3.6 million children born in the United States each year. Gideon Lack, lead investigator and professor of pediatric allergy at Kings College London, told CNN that he was not surprised by the findings. Peanut allergy develops very early in most children between six and 12 months of life, Lack said. If you want to prevent a disease this needs to be done before the disease develops. This biological phenomenon is based on an immunological principle known as oral tolerance induction, he continued. We have known for many decades that young mice or other experimental animals who are fed foods such as egg or milk or peanut cannot develop these allergies later. Guidelines say peanut butter can be spread thinly, or mixed with breastmilk, formula, or puree. Health officials warn that whole peanuts or chopped peanuts can cause choking hazards. Shutterstock Though parents have been advised to give their infants peanuts, many still worry about exposing their kids to the legume, a recent study found. Guidelines say peanut butter can be spread thinly, or mixed with breastmilk, formula or puree. Health officials warn that whole peanuts or chopped peanuts can cause choking hazards. There are a number of options, but plain old peanut butter mixed in warm water can work for a 4-month-old it doesnt need to be anything fancier than that, study author Huffaker said. Jason Keith will be Iowa State University's next provost, pending approval from the Iowa Board of Regents. Iowa State University's next provost "can't wait" for his new position. Jason Keith was named the school's next senior vice president and provost on Tuesday, May 21. Keith will succeed Jonathan Wickert, who announced his resignation in January. The hire is dependent on approval from the Iowa Board of Regents. Keith has spent the last 10 years as dean of the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University. He was previously director of Mississippi State's Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering and led the MSU Energy Institute. More: Iowa State University selects Mississippi State's Jason Keith as next provost Noting similarities ISU's newest provost sees several similarities with the Ames campus and Mississippi State a land-grant university with a high level of community engagement. "When I saw the job description and read through the position profile, it looked like they were writing a job description for something I'd been doing for the last 20 years," Keith said. "I was very interested in that opportunity." Keith was ultimately selected from a pool of four candidates. He sees Iowa State as a "very innovative institution" in terms of scholarship, engagement and outreach. Keith will begin his Ames tenure on Aug. 1. As provost, he will oversee seven academic colleges as well as the ISU graduate college, Parks Library, enrollment management, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and the Office of the Vice President for Extension and Outreach. "Being part of a university that has such a wide range of majors in undergraduate and graduate level, and opportunities for hiring outstanding faculty who are leaders in their field is something very appealing to me," Keith said. More: Iowa State University selects Mississippi State's Jason Keith as next provost New provost doesn't plan on immediate changes Keith visited the Iowa State campus and interviewed for the position in April. Because he's "only had a glimpse" of what's happening across the university, Keith doesn't plan to make any immediate changes. The vice president hopes to immerse himself in the community to better understand the university's specific strengths. He will also chat with the faculty, staff and administration to learn what they think Iowa State's areas of pride are and where they see potential for growth. "Until I get that opportunity to really understand the pulse of the university, I don't want to come in and immediately start making changes," Keith said. "That's not the leadership style I have. I try to bring in feedback." More: Iowa State University will start interviewing provost candidates next week on campus Bringing past experience to Iowa State Keith has been the dean of Mississippi State's engineering college since 2015, where he also serves as professor and Earnest W. and Mary Ann Deavenport, Jr. Chair. He's helped Mississippi State progress through new degrees like petroleum engineering and biomedical engineering, while the school has also added degrees in artificial intelligence and cyber security. Keith said Mississippi State works hard to support student success, much like Iowa State. "We have a great reputation, as does Iowa State, to bring in students that have a great ability to be successful, teach them the tools they need to be successful," Keith said. "But then we also give them opportunities to do experiential learning through laboratories, cooperative education, internships, senior or capstone design projects for those students to be solving real world problems." Iowa State's Student Innovation Center is a resource Keith believes the school can lean on for transcendent ideas. More: Iowa State University provost Jonathan Wickert will step back after 12 years Securing funding for research Last year, Mississippi State's engineering college helped secure an all-time high of $300 million in research expenditures. The college also helped support its students by generating a record $43 million in external gifts and grants from alumni and companies. Keith hopes to use his experience to obtain more research and scholarship opportunities in Ames. "I want to develop strategies for multi-disciplinary research objectives at Iowa State that can really cement as a leader nationally and internationally," Keith said. Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Who is Iowa State University's next provost? Iran is hiring criminal gangs to target Israeli embassies in Europe, Mossad claimed on Thursday. The plots include grenade attacks on the embassies in Belgium and Sweden, according to a statement from Israels national security headquarters. An investigation conducted with European intelligence agencies revealed that gangs were hired directly from Iran to carry out terrorist attacks, it said. The Iranian regime employed criminals from Foxtrot, a Swedish gang known for drug-trafficking and murder, to throw a grenade at the Israeli embassy in Stockholm in January. Last weekend, two grenades were similarly hurled at the embassy in Brussels. Israel says Kurdish-Swedish gangsters Ismail Abdo and Rawa Majid were behind some of the Iran-backed attacks Ronen Solomon, an Israeli intelligence and security analyst, said the use of criminal gangs was typical of Irans tactics. He told The Telegraph: Its not new that Iran is using proxies, and gangs is no different. They use them for all sorts of illicit purposes from drugs to weapons and they use people from countries such as Turkey and Kurdistan to do it, so Iran already has this network of criminal gangs. He said the recruits have been as young as 14, including those arrested earlier this month for the Stockholm embassy attack, or come from poor backgrounds that make them vulnerable to enticements. Theyre poor people, easy to recruit, and the Iranians know how to use it, said Mr Solomon. Theyve managed to infiltrate all across Europe, usually using routes from the Balkans and Turkey to Europe. He said the decision to release details of the investigation so soon after its completion was intended to send a message to Turkey, a key location for Iran to base operations and intelligence gathering as a bridge to Europe. Mossad knows that Turkey is turning a blind eye to Irans activities through Europe and this is sending a strong message, he said. Turkey is known to host Hamas leaders in Istanbul. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clash with riot police in front of Israel's embassy in Brussels on Wednesday - HATIM KAGHAT/AFP Last year, David Barnea, the director of Mossad, revealed that Israel had foiled dozens of plots against Jewish and Israeli targets, from Europe to South America. Irans use of proxies and taking advantage of the intensifying wave of acts of anti-Semitism against Israel is Irans way of avoiding a state fingerprint in the terrorist acts it promotes, in order to reduce the political-legal-public consequences it may pay, said Israels national security headquarters. Despite these efforts, the terrorist organisations in Iran are failing in this mission and, thanks to international cooperation between the intelligence and enforcement agencies around the world, the Iranian fingerprint and its intentions to carry out terrorism are exposed time and time again. Last month, Iran launched an unprecedented direct attack against Israel, sending 350 drones and missiles towards the Jewish state, in what it said was a retaliation for an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria. 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. MALABO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Equatorial Guinea's cooperation with China is fruitful, with an upward momentum that can help the country improve in all aspects and bring about more changes, an Equatorial Guinean official has said. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Alejandro Micha Nsue, president of the National Office of Planning and Project Monitoring of Equatorial Guinea, recalled that Chinese companies arrived in his country during his childhood to construct the Nkue-Mongomo road. "Today, if we talk about the development of transportation infrastructure, including roads, ports, and airports, Chinese companies have been deeply involved," Nsue said. Over the past half a century since China and Equatorial Guinea established diplomatic ties in 1970, Chinese enterprises have constructed hydroelectric power stations, airports, roads, and housing projects, serving as the foundation for the country's development and progress. Nsue praised such cooperation projects as the new terminal at Malabo International Airport and the new national university campus. "Equatorial Guinea's characteristics are being shaped through its cooperation with China," he said. In Nsue's view, the cooperation between China and Equatorial Guinea is "sincere." "The countries that colonized Africa exploited and plundered it, taking away all its resources and leaving the countries in ruins," said the official, adding that in contrast, "China's cooperation is different." Cooperation with China has brought "substantial changes" to many African countries, ranging from infrastructure development, industrial growth to the promotion of talent cultivation, he said. Deeply impressed by China's modernization, Nsue expressed his belief that by leveraging its workforce and modernization expertise, China can help Africa and Equatorial Guinea a lot. "China has a highly skilled talent pool," Nsue said, voicing his desire for enhanced collaboration in talent cultivation between the two countries. Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei applauded U.S. campus pro-Palestine protesters, telling them they are standing on the right side of history and theyve created a branch of the Resistance Front against the Jewish state. Khamenei penned a letter expressing support for protests that have sprung up across the the U.S. on college campuses, praising the students for their courageous defense of the Palestinian people. You have now formed a branch of the Resistance Front and have begun an honorable struggle in the face of your governments ruthless pressure a government which openly supports the usurper and brutal Zionist regime, Khamenei said in the letter. He called Israel an apartheid Zionist regime that is committing genocide in Gaza. Iran sees Israel as an enemy state and has vehemently opposed the Jewish states bombardment of Gaza, which started following Hamass Oct. 7 attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 250 taken hostages. Since then, Israels military operation has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gazan health authorities. Tehran has been accused internationally of relying on its proxies, like Hezbollah and Houthis in Yemen, to go after Israel. Tensions in the region escalated more after Irans embassy complex in Syria was attacked allegedly by Israel, killing senior officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The attack caused Iran to retaliate against Israel in mid-April with drones and more than 300 missiles. Khamenei, who has suppressed any dissent coming from the nations interior, has also said the solidarity some professors have shown to the protests is a significant and consequential development. This can offer some measure of comfort in the face of your governments police brutality and the pressures it is exerting on you, he said in the letter. I too am among those who empathize with you young people, and value your perseverance. The protests on college campuses in the U.S. kicked off at Columbia University, with the movement spreading to other institutions around the country and beyond. Students were protesting Israels military operation in Gaza and pressed schools to divest from organizations that are making a profit from the conflict in the Gaza Strip. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) reacted to Khameneis remarks on the social media platform X, saying that When youve won the Ayatollah, youve lost America. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said American student protesters were standing on the right side of history - Reuters Irans supreme leader has praised American students for embarking on an honourable struggle by holding demonstrations on their college campuses in support of Palestinians. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told student protesters they were standing on the right side of history and railed against US support for Israel. In an open letter he told them, You have now formed a branch of the resistance front, and under the brutal pressure of your government which openly defends the usurping and ruthless Zionist regime you have started an honourable struggle. Campuses across America were paralysed by pro-Palestinian encampments aimed at pressuring university officials to divest from organisations profiting from the conflict. The protests, which began at Columbia university and spread across the US and Europe, were largely peaceful and reminiscent of the college movement against the Vietnam war. However, at times they turned ugly as fights broke out with counter-protesters and police dressed in riot gear used forceful means to break up crowds and make arrests. Pro-Palestinian protestors hold a rally outside of Columbia University in New York City - Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Khamenei said: The great resistance front in a distant place has been fighting with your current perception and feelings for years. The goal of this struggle is to stop the obvious oppression that a terrorist and ruthless network called Zionists has inflicted on the Palestinian nation years ago and has put them under the most severe pressures and tortures after occupying their country. Irans Revolutionary Guards founded Hezbollah, a militant Lebanese Shiite group, in the 1980s and along with Hamas in Gaza, forms an alliance of groups waging a war against Israel. Tehran has reiterated its support for Hamas since the outbreak of war on Oct 7, and engaged in an increasingly fiery war of words and threats with Israel and its Western backers. Last month those words gave way to unprecedented action as it launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel in response to an Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria. On Thursday, Reuters reported that the United States will boycott a United Nations tribute to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed earlier this month in a helicopter crash. The 193-member General Assembly traditionally meets to pay tribute to any world leader who dies in office. But the tribute, which will feature speeches about Raisi, will not see the US attend in any capacity, the official said. Irans mission to the United Nations in New York declined to 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. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is thanking college students in the U.S. for joining Tehrans resistance front against Israel and the U.S. with their protests over the mounting death toll in Gaza. In an open letter published Thursday, Khamenei addressed American students directly, telling them, This message is an expression of our empathy and solidarity with you. As the page of history is turning, you are standing on the right side of it. He went on to praise them as newfound allies of Iran, writing: You have now formed a branch of the Resistance Front and have begun an honorable struggle in the face of your government's ruthless pressure. In addition to battling the U.S. government and Israel, he used a common antisemitic trope to note that the resistance front is also taking on the global Zionist elitewho owns most U.S. and European media corporations or influences them through funding and bribery. The fact that college professors have backed campus protesters, he said, is a significant and consequential development. I too am among those who empathize with you young people, and value your perseverance, he said, before closing his message to students with one last tip: My advice to you is to become familiar with the Quran. The endorsement from a man whose regime has repressed its own citizens for decades sparked shock and mockery on social media, where many questioned if student protesters in the U.S. were familiar with Khameneis track record. When youve won the Ayatollah, youve lost America, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) wrote on X. Khameneis praise for U.S. protests also comes less than two weeks after Iran executed three men who were swept up during anti-government protests in late 2022. They joined four others whove been hanged since December as part of Tehrans brutal response to protests against the Islamic Republic. 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. Israel could have used smaller weapons against Hamas to avoid deaths in Gaza tent fire, experts say FILE - Palestinians fleeing from the southern Gaza city of Rafah during an Israeli ground and air offensive in the city, May 28, 2024. Defense experts who've reviewed debris images from an Israeli airstrike that ignited a deadly fire in a camp for displaced Palestinians question why Israel didn't use smaller, more precise weapons when so many civilians were nearby. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi, File) WASHINGTON (AP) Defense experts who have reviewed debris images from an Israeli airstrike that ignited a deadly fire in a camp for displaced Palestinians questioned why Israel did not use smaller, more precise weapons when so many civilians were nearby. They said the bombs used were likely U.S.-made. The strikes, targeting Hamas operatives, killed as many as 45 people sheltering in a temporary displacement camp near the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Sunday and have drawn international condemnation. Israel is investigating the attack but says the Hamas targets were 1.7 kilometers (1 mile) away from a declared humanitarian zone and that its review before the strike determined no expected harm to civilians. But displaced civilians were scattered throughout the area, and Israel had not ordered evacuations. So even if the tents that burned were not inside the marked humanitarian zone, the civilians there thought it was safe. Israel, which was attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, has not said where the burned tents were in relation to the compound it bombed on Sunday, but has released one satellite image showing there were some known civilian shelters located about 180 meters (600 feet) away. It emphasized that while there were no tents in the immediate vicinity, due to unforeseen circumstances, a fire ignited tragically taking the lives of Gazan civilians nearby. Footage released by the Israeli military appears to show people walking next to the targeted buildings before the blast. The footage also appears to show tents nearby. Israel has not identified the bombs it used, but Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman, has emphasized that the country chose the smallest munition its jets could carry with 17 kilograms (37 pounds) of explosive material each and that an unintended secondary explosion may have caused the fire. Even the smallest jet-launched munition may be too big when civilians are near because of how they explode and can send fragments far, defense experts said. Images posted on social media from the tent camp on Monday and verified by The Associated Press showed a CAGE code, a unique identifier assigned to U.S. government suppliers, on pieces of the exploded weapons. Based on those images and satellite photos of the debris field, two defense experts said the bombs used were likely U.S.-made 250-pound (113-kilogram) GBU-39 small-diameter bombs. Though they're smaller than many other weapons the U.S. has provided to Israel, these bombs can still create a wide swath of damage. The entire 250-pound shell and components are designed to spew fragments that can travel as far as 2,000 feet (600 meters). You essentially have two bombs they use that the fragments can travel 600 meters in a densely packed area. So that just doesnt check out if theyre trying to limit casualties, said Trevor Ball, a former Army explosive ordnance demolition technician. Ball said the serial number on the pieces of the tail kit and the shell debris shown in the photographs identify the munitions as the 250-pound GBU-39. Its unusual to describe a bomb by its explosive load in this case, 37 pounds instead of its total weight, according to Ball and Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps Reserves colonel and senior adviser to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The debris field in Gaza is indicative of the bombs possibly being set to detonate before impact, which would ensure their intended targets were killed but also risk unintended deaths, Ball and Cancian said. The images showed a small hole where shrapnel was found. The GBU-39's fuse settings can be adjusted to have the bomb explode on impact, which would create a crater at the site, or set for a delayed blast if the goal is to have it more deeply penetrate a target first. They can also be set to detonate in the air, right before impact, to ensure multiple targets are hit. But that setting also maximizes area damage, which could explain a secondary explosion even if weapons or other flammable materials were some distance away, Ball said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Wednesday during a visit to Moldova that the U.S. is waiting for an investigation to show what weapons were used and how they were deployed. Even if that confirms Israel used a small-diameter weapon, "we also see that even limited, focused, targeted attacks designed to deal with terrorists who have killed innocent civilians that are plotting to kill more even those kinds of operations can have terrible, horrific, unintended consequences, Blinken said. The defense experts said Israel had better options to turn to than the GBU-39 when civilians were nearby. The Israelis have previously deployed drones to launch weapons that are smaller and more precise, Cancian said. These precision airstrikes used over the years have caused little damage beyond the immediate target. Israel, for example, in this strike could have used a smaller anti-personnel weapon called the mini-Spike, which would not have created as wide an area of debris, if it was targeting specific Hamas leaders, Cancian said. The U.S. has withheld a shipment of even larger 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) bombs from Israel out of concern they would be used in Israel's Rafah operation, where more than 1 million Palestinians crowded after Israel bombed other parts of Gaza. Now, that same number of people have escaped Rafah and are scattered across makeshift tent camps and other areas. Sunday's strike shows that even the smaller 250-pound bombs the U.S. has continued to provide can be too large for use near densely packed refugee areas, Cancian said. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday that the U.S. was still trying to gather information from Israel about the deadly Rafah strike. He declined to discuss the specific munitions used by Israel but said Israels public comments about the munitions used certainly indicate a desire to be more deliberate and more precise in their targeting. ___ Federman reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Prague, Ellen Knickmeyer and Zeke Miller in Washington and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut, Lebanon, contributed. Egypt warns it is ready to respond after Israels seizure of Philadelphi corridor Israeli soldiers gesture from a military vehicle in southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip - JACK GUEZ/AFP Egypt has warned it will not hesitate to respond militarily after Israeli forces took control of a buffer zone along its border with the Gaza Strip. Daniel Hagari, Israels chief military spokesperson, said Israeli forces had gained operational control over the Philadelphi Corridor, using the Israeli militarys code name for the 14 km-long (nine-mile) corridor along the Gaza Strips only border with Egypt. The Philadelphi Corridor served as an oxygen line for Hamas, which it regularly used to smuggle weapons into the area of the Gaza Strip, Mr Hagari said. Hamas is the armed Palestinian group that governs the blockaded territory. Mr Hagari did not spell out what operational control referred to but an Israeli military official earlier said there were Israeli boots on the ground along parts of the corridor. The border with Egypt along the southern edge was the Gaza Strips only land border that Israel had not controlled directly. Palestinians fleeing with their belongings ride atop their vehicle in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip - BASHAR TALEB/AFP/GETTY IMAGES Relations between Israel and its key Arab ally Egypt are now fraying, according to the Wall Street Journal, with Egypt telling Israel it will not hesitate to respond militarily if it feels its security has been threatened. Israel has claimed there are at least 20 tunnels in the Philadelphi corridor. A high-level Egyptian source said in response: Israel is using these allegations to justify continuing the operation on the Palestinian city of Rafah and prolonging the war for political purposes, according to state-linked Al-Qahera News. Egypt has denied the existence of the tunnel network linking Egypts Sinai and the Hamas-controlled strip. Just days ago, Egyptian forces posted at the Gaza border opened fire on Israeli forces operating in Rafah in what is believed to have been a revenge attack for the humanitarian crisis unravelling in Gaza. In the resulting exchange of fire, an Egyptian soldier was killed. The tensions pose a risk to Israels efforts to free its 125 remaining hostages held by Hamas, with Egypt a key mediator between Israel and Hamas along with Qatar and the US. Both Israel and Egypt remain ideologically united on the goal of eliminating Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood but, amid global allegations that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza with 36,000 Palestinians reportedly killed since October 7, it is becoming harder for Egypt to side with its neighbouring country. Israel has continued to move deeper into Rafah, in spite of an order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to end attacks on the area where half of Gazas 2.3 million people had previously taken refuge. The US claimed the operation had not crossed its red lines. Mr Hagari said Hamas positioned rocket launchers in the Philadelphi Route to dissuade Israel from striking close to the Egyptian border as the conflict in the southernmost part of the strip continued. Rafah offensive Earlier on Wednesday, Israel sent tanks on raids into Rafah. They had moved into the heart of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday despite an order from the top United Nations court to immediately halt the assault on the city. The ICJ, the UN World Court, said Israel had not explained how it would keep evacuees from Rafah safe and provide food, water and medicine. Its ruling also called on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7. Rafah residents said Israeli tanks had pushed into Tel al-Sultan in the west and Yibna, and near Shaboura in the centre, before retreating towards a buffer zone on the border with Egypt, rather than staying put as they have in other offensives. We received distress calls from residents in Tel al-Sultan where drones targeted displaced citizens as they moved from areas where they were staying toward the safe areas, said Haitham al Hams, the deputy director of ambulance and emergency services in Rafah. Palestinian health officials said 19 civilians had been killed in Israeli airstrikes and shelling across Gaza. Israel accuses Hamas militants of hiding among civilians, something Gazas ruling Islamist group denies. Majed Abu Raman, the health minister, urged Washington to pressure Israel to open the Rafah crossing to aid, saying there was no indication that Israeli authorities would do so soon and that patients in besieged Gaza were dying for lack of treatment. Fighting in Gaza will continue throughout 2024 at least, said Tzachi Hanegbi, Israels national security adviser, signalling Israel was not ready to end the war as Hamas has demanded as part of a deal to exchange its hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The fighting in Rafah is not a pointless war, Mr Hanegbi said, reiterating that Israel aimed to end Hamas rule in Gaza and stop it and its allies attacking Israel. Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, said Israel needed to craft a post-war plan for Gaza or risk lawlessness, chaos and a Hamas comeback in the enclave. The US, Israels closest ally, reiterated its opposition to a major ground offensive in Rafah on Tuesday while saying it did not believe such an operation was under way. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels Gaza offensive, the enclaves health ministry said. Israel launched its war after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on Oct 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Hostage release talks There was no word on Wednesday on developments in the ceasefire and hostage release talks. Hamas has said talks are pointless unless Israel ends its offensive on Rafah. The armed wing of Hamas, and that of allies Islamic Jihad, said they confronted invading forces in Rafah with anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs. They said they blew up explosive devices that had been planted, resulting in numerous successful hits. The Israeli military said three Israeli soldiers were killed and three badly wounded. Public broadcaster Kan radio said an explosive device had been set off in a Rafah building. Palestinian health officials said several people were wounded by Israeli fire. They said stores of aid were set ablaze in eastern Rafah, where residents said Israeli bombardment had destroyed many homes in an area Israel has ordered to be evacuated. Around a million Palestinians who had taken shelter in Rafah at the southern end of the Gaza Strip have now fled after Israeli orders to evacuate, UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees reported on Tuesday. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said it had evacuated its medical teams from its field hospital in the Al-Mawasi area, a designated civilian evacuation zone, because of continued bombardments. PRCS said two of its staff were killed when an ambulance was struck while on a mission to rescue people in Rafah. In another Israeli air strike on a house in Gaza City, medics said five other Palestinians were killed. In the nearby city of Khan Younis, an Israeli air strike killed three people overnight, including Salama Baraka, a former senior Hamas police officer, medics and Hamas media said. Another killed four people, including two children, medics reported. In northern Gaza, Israeli forces shelled Gaza City neighbourhoods and moved deeper into Jabalia, where residents said large residential districts were destroyed. Malnutrition has become widespread in Gaza as aid deliveries have slowed to a trickle. The UN, which has warned of famine, said on Wednesday the amount of humanitarian aid entering the enclave has dropped by two-thirds since Israel began its assault on the Rafah region this month. 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. Benny Gantz has said he would not support Mr Netanyahu's continued war in Gaza without a post-war plan - ABIR SULTAN/AFP A member of Benjamin Netanyahus war cabinet has moved to dissolve Israels government to unseat the prime minister. Benny Gantzs National Unity Party submitted a bill to dissolve parliament on Thursday, citing the disaster of October 7. He added the need to restore the peoples trust and to establish a broad, stable unity government that can safely lead in the face of the tremendous challenges in security, in the economy and in Israeli society after the Hamas invasion, which claimed the lives of 1,200 in a single day. The bill was also submitted by Israels other opposition parties, meaning it could be brought to a vote immediately. The application came just days after Mr Gantz said he would not support Mr Netanyahus continued war in Gaza without a post-war plan. There have been weekly mass protests across Israel calling for the resignation of the countrys longest serving prime minister, Mr Netanyahu. Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war in Gaza until the elimination of Hamas and the return of the remaining hostages - OREN BEN HAKOON/AFP However, in a survey published Wednesday by Israels Channel 12, Mr Gantz, the former defence minister, did not emerge as a shoo-in to succeed the incumbent prime minister. Results showed that 36 per cent of people named Mr Netanyahu, the head of the Likud party, as the most suitable prime minister against Benny Gantz, who received 30 per cent of the votes in a run-off between the two. However, on a party level, the results were much closer, showing the National Unity Party would receive 25 seats just four seats fewer than the previous survey while Likud under Mr Netanyahu would receive 21 seats. Yesh Atid under Yair Lapid would be the third-largest party with 13 seats and Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu, and the Labour Party would each receive 10 seats. Fellow war cabinet member Gadi Eisenkot also called for elections later this year. On Thursday, the decorated military veteran said: I think the final quarter of this year is pivotal for rebuilding trust. Once the intensive fighting process in Gaza concludes in a few weeks, we need to establish a mutually agreed-upon election date. If not, make every effort to democratically expedite elections and rekindle trust in all political parties. Arrest warrants have been issued for the Israeli prime minister and his defence minister, Yoav Gallant - ORI AVIRAM/AFP With global pressure on the government mounting amid the war in Gaza, including arrest warrants being issued for the prime minister and his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, it adds yet more pressure on Mr Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister has vowed to continue the war until the elimination of Hamas and the return of the remaining 125 hostages in Gaza. The Likud party said that breaking up the unity government is a reward for [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar, a capitulation to international pressure and a fatal blow to efforts to release our hostages. In the middle of a war, Israel needs unity and not division. 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. I moved to Los Angeles after living in San Francisco, NYC, and Chicago. Here are the 5 worst things I experienced in LA. I moved to Los Angeles after living in San Francisco, NYC, and Chicago. Here are the 5 worst things I experienced in LA. Stevie Howell is an artist who has lived in LA for about five years. She enjoys the city's creative scene and the many produce that can be grown in the area. Howell says the isolation, dullness, traffic, and lack of green spaces and community is bad in LA. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Stevie Howell, an artist and business owner who lives in Los Angeles. It's been edited for length and clarity. I moved to Los Angeles about five years ago from San Francisco, and I previously lived in New York City and Chicago. I expected my move would be easy since I'd still be living in California but I've been surprised that I haven't seen a lot of things in LA that I've seen in a smaller city like San Francisco. LA has many positives beyond the great weather that lets you do outdoor activities year-round. The city also attracts creativity it's home to great design, art, and comedy. This area also has amazing produce you can grow almost anything here, so it's lemon trees and passion fruit vines galore. But these are the five of the worst things that I've experienced while living in Los Angeles. 1. LA has horrible urban planning LA's urban planning could be so much better. Decades ago, the planners made huge mistakes that destroyed this city. They removed most of the canals that made Venice, Venice; took away the streetcars; built freeways that cut through all the low-income areas; made too many huge streets that aren't walkable and buildings that aren't human-scaled; and put strip malls everywhere instead of charming storefronts to walk by and window shop. In general, it seems as though LA doesn't value urban beauty. Beauty happens inside here, behind walls, and in private homes. I've noticed that there aren't enough green spaces. LA lacks great parks compared to other cities like San Francisco and New York City. If only Frederic Olmstead had made a couple of trips to Southern California. Driving around LA I can see how the neighborhoods change. Some areas receive more attention and infrastructure while others don't. 2. The city feels dull For a bustling city, life in LA can have a surprising lack of vibrancy. It doesn't feel urban the way cities like NYC or SF do I don't feel an urban buzz or excitement. People-watching is a rarity here unless I count DIY photoshoots set up in front of pink walls. While I love overhearing the occasional only-in-LA style conversation or hearing my neighbors practice lines in their backyard, the conversations generally involve too much talk about traffic. The traffic makes it so hard to get places that I end up doing a lot less than I'd do in other big cities. For me, this means less going to museums, galleries, shows, talks, or even just a dinner on the other side of town. Often the same museum shows exhibited in LA will travel to other cities, and there have been times when I've missed the entire duration in LA but see it on a quick trip to NYC or Chicago. 3. I feel isolated LA felt socially distant even before COVID and before "socially distant" was a thing. It feels like a sprawling mass of suburban enclaves next to each other. People are kind of in their own worlds, doing their own thing. It's common for me to go months without seeing my closest friends here. This is another thing that mostly has to do with traffic and how sprawling the city is people seem to stay in their neighborhoods and homes. 4. Driving sucks here We all know traffic is a huge problem in LA after all, LA is home to 11 of the top 25 worst traffic corridors in the US. Good luck ever seeing your best friend who lives 12 miles away. Going from the east to the west side or vice versa can be excruciating, even with an arsenal of great podcasts loaded up. Walking isn't really an option in most cases because of huge streets and extreme distances, and every time I try, I almost get hit by a driver who just doesn't expect there to be someone walking even in a crosswalk. And on the rare day it rains, everyone forgets how to drive. A drizzle adds about double the commute time. 5. I don't feel any sense of community I don't feel a strong sense of community in LA. It lacks cohesion that brings the whole city together, and I think this is why people have to work to find a sense of community. Because it's such a driving culture, I don't interact with people as much as I do in other cities I've lived in. I don't ride the subway and get to sit next to someone who lives a completely different life than I do. Because of this lack of interaction with a wider demographic range, it's hard to feel connected to the city as a whole. If you moved to a new city or state and want to share your experience, email Manseen Logan at mlogan@businessinsider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) A man from Jacksonville has been sentenced to 14 months in prison after prosecutors said he made threats toward President Biden and other federal officials. Adam Ray Mouser, 40, was sentenced this week after pleading guilty in January, prosecutors said. He was indicted on a single count of threatening the President of the United States, but prosecutors said he made threats against others that were connected to his threat toward Biden. Evidence presented in court showed that Mouser used social media to threaten violence against Biden, his family, an unnamed former President of the United States, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and various members of Congress. Mouser was arrested on Aug. 28 of last year and has been in custody since then. Accused Hervey City murderer pleads not guilty At Mousers sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen R. Lawless said that words matter, adding I believe it is common sense to not threaten to kill another individual. She noted the threats continued and escalated, even as the U.S. Secret Service visited Mousers home to investigate the threats. Threatening the President of the United States is a crime that can be punished with up to five years in prison, three years of parole and a fine of up to $250,000. For pleading guilty, Mouser was sentenced to 14 months in prison, which will be followed by two years of parole. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. KABUL, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-seven percent of Afghans remain in food crisis or emergency, an organization under the United Nations said on Wednesday. The Food and Agriculture Organization said it has distributed wheat seeds to at least 9 million Afghans since this year. Afghan households are generally large with a growing number of newborn children. Local news outlet Tolonews reported Tuesday that a resident of the southern Uruzgan province, Mohammad Sadiq, 56, has expressed frustration over his inability to properly feed his 57-member family, including 52 children. The reports of polygamy and fathers with dozens of children surfaced amid extreme poverty in Afghanistan as about three out of 10 children in Afghanistan, according to aid agency Save the Children on Monday, were forecast to experience a crisis level of hunger this year following floods, drought and the return of Afghans from Pakistan and Iran. BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) James Madison High School is celebrating the legacy of one of its most distinguished graduates, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In a ceremony filled with pride, James Madison High School in Midwood unveiled Ruth Bader Ginsburg Way on Wednesday. Affordable housing building for older adults opens in Brooklyn The newly named corner of Avenue P and Bedford Avenue serves as a permanent tribute to Ginsburgs remarkable achievements. Faculty, community members, and students gathered to pay homage to the trailblazing jurist who shattered glass ceilings and tirelessly fought for gender equality. For Yelenny Cruz, a senior in the James Madison Law Institute and a member of the Moot Court team, the renaming holds a special significance. It means a lot to us, especially as women, she says. The whole Law Institute really appreciates the fact that not only do we get the opportunity to learn at such a prestigious school, but we get to learn in the same place where she learned. Hannah Gavrilov, a junior and fellow Moot Court member, echoes Cruzs sentiments. Were privileged to be in a place where we can take or pass on her legacy, she states. During the ceremony, Ginsburgs daughter received flowers, while Principal Jodie Cohen shared heartfelt reflections on Ginsburgs impact. For them to be able to walk the exact same hallways of a woman who really made an impression and left her mark, its something that they aspire to be, Cohen said. From Pulp Fiction to Creed Pluto TV brings free films with NYC cityscape as backdrop Frieda Gottfried Weitz, an alumna from the class of 1954, had the honor of interviewing Ginsburg for the school newspaper during her time as editor. By the time it was over, I realized that she really deserved to be recognized in this way. Streets were being named for important people, and we loved her, Weitz recalled. The newly christened street serves as a powerful source of inspiration for students, friends, and community members. Yelenny Cruz says it motivates them to follow in Ginsburgs footsteps: We are learning her word, we are reading her word. Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Jamestown man pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of firearms, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced Wednesday. Officials say that on October 12, 2023, 68 grams of fentanyl were found concealed under 41-year-old Samuel Arrington IIIs infant child. New York State Parole Officers also found 105 grams of cocaine, two firearms, ammunition, five cell phones, drug paraphernalia and $2,301 in cash in his Jamestown residence. Arrington is legally prohibited from possessing firearms after being convicted of drug felonies in 2006 and 2019, in Chautauqua County court and in Erie, PA court. Arrington faces a maximum of 40 years in prison, a minimum of five years and a $5 million fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 11. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Rep. Jennifer Konfrst is running unopposed for reelection to the Iowa House District 32 seat. Konfrst, a Democrat serving her third term, is the only candidate on the ballot for the district, which covers parts of Clive and Windsor Heights. Konfrst has served as the House minority leader since 2021. To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal and Des Moines area legislative candidates running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity. The primary election is scheduled for June 4 ahead of the Nov. 5 general election. More: Early voting has started for Iowa's June 4 primary election. Here's what you should know: Who is Jennifer Konfrst (incumbent)? Jennifer Konfrst Age: 50 Party: Democrat Grew up: Johnston Current town of residence: Windsor Heights Education: Johnston High School, Drake University (Master of Public Administration and bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication) Occupation: Professor Political experience and civic activities: Iowa House Democratic leader, state representative, communications leadership at IPTV and PTA, mock trial volunteer What would be your top issue should you be elected? Konfrst: Improving support for public education. What policies would you support to improve Iowas education system? Konfrst: Im a proud product of Iowas public education system. Public schools are the heart of Iowa communities, but weve lost ground. Public school kids are losing out and teachers are leaving the classroom. Heres what we should do: Fully fund public schools to keep up with rising costs and guarantee every kid in every ZIP code gets a great education. Make sure every child who needs it has access to special education services. Stop shifting public money to private schools. What do you think Iowas tax policy should be? Do you believe the states priority should be on lowering rates or spending on services for Iowans? Konfrst: We need a fair tax system for everyday Iowans, not more giveaways to the rich and corporations. Too many Iowans still struggle to make ends meet today. Their paychecks simply arent keeping up with the rising costs of health care, food, child care, and utility bills. The system is rigged against them. At the same time, the wealthy and corporations are hoarding cash. There are now 756 billionaires in America who just keep getting richer. Corporate profits are at record highs, all while continuing to raise prices. In 1989, the CEO-to-worker pay ratio was 59-1 and today it is 399-1. What policies would you support to improve school safety in Iowa? Konfrst: Iowans want common-sense gun laws to protect our kids and our families, both in and out of school. They are proven to reduce crime and the risks law enforcement may face. Thats why gun owners, including law enforcement, support laws that reduce gun violence and improve safety. Instead of arming teachers, we should pass common-sense gun laws to keep kids safe: Upgrade school safety infrastructure. Require background checks for gun purchases. Invest in mental health programs. Limit access to guns for individuals at an elevated risk of harming themselves or others. Encourage safe storage awareness. What next steps do you believe the Iowa Legislature should take when it comes to abortion? Konfrst: Everyone deserves the right to make their own health care decisions, especially when it comes to reproductive care and abortion. I agree with the strong majority of Iowans who support reproductive freedom and believe that private health care decisions belong between an individual, their family, and their doctor. Its simple: politicians have no place interfering in someone elses decisions about when to start a family. Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Jennifer Konfrst runs for reelection to Iowa House District 32 Montgomery County on Wednesday introduced a Job and Family Services On the Move Mobile Unit dedicated to connecting residents to resources and essential public assistance. >> 2 Ohio cities among the unhealthiest in the nation this year This new mobile unit isnt just about bringing resources to people, but also hope and the knowledge that they do not have to navigate their hardships alone, county JFS Director Michelle Niedermier said in prepared comments. We are here to help them gain access to the resources that can enhance each of lives. A special ribbon cutting for the specialty vehicle was held Wednesday at the Employment Opportunity Center, just days after the fifth anniversary of a deadly tornado outbreak that brought 19 tornadoes to the greater Miami Valley on Memorial Day in 2019. Three of those tornadoes hit Montgomery County, the largest being an EF-4 tornado that brought 170-mph winds, leaving widespread damage in Trotwood, Harrison Twp., Brookville, Dayton and Riverside. When JFS employees saw how many Family Assistance and Child Support clients were affected by the tornadoes, they deployed the OTM team to a Red Cross shelter at Corinthian Baptist Church in west Dayton, Morton Middle School in Vandalia, the Ridge Church in Brookville, Trotwoods Fire Station and other locations. The Memorial Day tornadoes showed just how quickly an emergency can impact thousands. Montgomery County quickly mobilized to address citizen needs for shelter and emergency cash assistance, medical assistance and food, county Commission President Debbie Lieberman said in prepared comments. Having this vehicle will expedite and amplify our rapid response should it be needed again. The pandemic changed the way people can access resources from Child Support, Children Services, Adult Protective Services and Family Assistance. It highlighted how large the barriers to support services can be from both a transportation and a technological standpoint, JFS officials said. The new bus is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and accessibility features, Commissioner Judy Dodge said. This effort aims to empower individuals to take advantage of all the opportunities available to them. Features of the 38-foot vehicle include: * Eight mobile workstations, * A conference room, * Wi-Fi and printing services, * An accessible workstation and a power lift for wheelchair users * Additional supports in the on-board restroom. * A retractable awning * And a 40-inch exterior monitor for multimedia messaging. This new vehicle demonstrates our commitment to accessibility and our recognition that everyone deserves the chance to reach their full potential, said Commissioner Carolyn Rice. . . . we are investing in the well-being of our community as a whole and ensuring that all residents have access to the resources they need to thrive. Farber Specialty Vehicles manufactured the vehicle. The total cost of $422,000 was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. The OTM Mobile Unit will also be used to recruit foster parents and new employees. The first event will be at the Fatherhood Initiatives Celebrate Fatherhood Picnic at Levitt Pavilion on June 15. If you want the OTM Mobile Unit at events, fill out an inquiry form online or email JFSOTM@jfs.ohio.gov. A Johnson County couple who fell ill after eating at the Hereford House in Leawood have sued the restaurant after a worker allegedly contaminated food that was later served to customers. Michael and Diane Fogarty filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Johnson County District Court against the Hereford House Restaurant Co.mpany of Kansas Inc., claiming they fell ill within hours after eating at the restaurant in April. The lawsuit is the fourth to be filed against the Hereford House after Johnson County prosecutors charged 21-year-old Jace Christian Hanson of Kansas City with one felony count of unlawfully adulterating or contaminating food while working at the restaurant at 5001 Town Center Driver in Leawoods Town Center Plaza. The lawsuit is similar to those filed by Chad Christopher of Clay County, McHarlan and Barbara Bishop of Jackson County, and Blair and Dawn Hawkins of Rogers, Arkansas, who contend they also fell ill after eating at the restaurant. All the lawsuits contend that the restaurant was negligent and breached an implied warranty that its food would be safe. The lawsuits also contain a strict liability claim alleging that the contaminated food is a defective product and the restaurant should be held liable for serving it to customers. Ill within hours of eating In their lawsuit, the Fogartys contend that they ate dinner at the Hereford House in Leawood on April 29. Within two hours of leaving the restaurant, the couple contend they became ill. Michael Fogarty experienced extreme nausea and diarrhea for several hours and continues to experience gastrointestinal issues, according to the lawsuit. Diane Fogarty experienced extreme nausea and diarrhea for a day or two. The symptoms, the lawsuit contends, were consistent with food poisoning. Since becoming aware of the alleged contamination of food at the restaurant, the Fogartys contend they suffered additional emotional and psychological distress. They also continue to experience anxiety and distress, including the fear of future illnesses or medical harm. They are seeking an unspecified amount in damages and have asked for a jury trial. Diners continue to contact police When charges were filed against Hanson in late April, the Johnson County District Attorneys Office and Leawood police asked customers who fell ill after eating at the restaurant between March 26 and April 25, which is when the crime is alleged to have happened, to contact them. Leawood Police Chief Brad Robbins said that as of Wednesday morning, 382 people who ate at the Hereford House during that period had contacted police. The influx of people contacting us has dropped considerably from last week, but we continue to receive a few each day and our investigation is continuing, Robbins said. Those who ate at Hereford House during that time can continue to contact Leawood police via an online form. Hereford House later narrowed the timeline for the alleged tampering to 12 days, roughly April 6 and 23, based on Hansons statements to police. According to court documents, Hanson allegedly posted videos on a website under the name Vandalizer that showed a man urinating in restaurant-style food bins and rubbing food on his genitals and buttocks. A tip to the Federal Bureau of Investigation led to the discovery of the alleged crime, and the agency allegedly tied the videos posted online to Hansons cellphone. When confronted, Hanson allegedly told detectives that he contaminated food in more than 20 incidents. He reportedly said he started contaminating the food because he didnt enjoy the job. Hanson was arrested on April 25 and booked into Johnson County jail, where he is currently held on a $100,000 bond. A motion has been filed asking that Hansons bond be modified so that he could be released without bail or have his bond reduced. If released, he plans to live with his mother near Casper, Wyoming. Hanson is scheduled to appear in court next week. Jon Stewart had some choice words for the Labour Party of the U.K. Parliament this week. The former Daily Show host, who returned to the program last year after stepping away in 2015, expressed outrage Wednesday after Labour candidate Faiza Shaheen was suspended from her post for liking a tweet that linked to a 2014 Daily Show segment about Israel. This is the dumbest thing The UK has done since electing Boris Johnson... what the actual fuck, Stewart wrote Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in response to a tweet from former MSNBC pundit Mehdi Hasan. Hey @jonstewart, Hasans tweet read, not sure if youre following the Jon-Stewart-related news out of the UK but Labour parliamentary candidate and Muslim woman @faizashaheen has just been suspended tonight from the Labour Party for liking on Twitter this old Israel video sketch of yours. Shaheen joined Labour in 2015 and became a star of their parliamentary constituency in Londons Chingford and Woodford Green constituency in 2018. The economist, who hoped to roll back conservative welfare reforms, was endorsed in 2019 by actor Hugh Grant. Those ambitions stalled Wednesday when, following weeks of door-to-door campaigning with her newborn baby, Shaheen learned via email that the Labour Party had dropped her, after the Jewish Labour Movement flagged her social media activity as allegedly antisemitic. The Daily Show clip showed Stewart trying to discuss Israel when his colleagues in a parody of furious defenders of Israel and Palestinians alike repeatedly shouted him down, accusing him of being a self-hating Jew, a Zionist pig and various other epithets. Labour Party candidate Faiza Shaheen, seen here campaigning in 2019, is now blocked from running in this year's election. Nicola Tree via Getty Images Shaheen liked a May 12 tweet from Substack writer Philippe Lemoine that linked to the Daily Show clip. In the tweet, Lemoine wrote: Every time you say something even mildly critical of Israel, youre immediately assailed by scores of hysterical people who explain to you why youre completely wrong, how youre biased against Israel. Lemoines tweet also suggested that the people who harshly condemn any and all criticism of Israel are not just random people, but are mobilised by professional organisations a claim reminiscent of various antisemitic conspiracy theories, which Shaheen acknowledged Wednesday during an appearance on BBC Newsnight. I know whats wrong with it, of course the line thats there about the, you know, theyre in professional organizations, she told presenter Victoria Derbyshire. It plays into a trope, and I absolutely dont agree with that and Im sorry about that. Im just in a bit of a state of shock, to be honest, Shaheen said elsewhere on the program. Ive worked that seat for a long time. I just had a baby. I went back, I had a C-section. I was on doors, knocking, six weeks after my baby was born ... Suddenly, Im out campaigning and my phones blowing up. Last year, Scream star Melissa Barrera was fired from an upcoming installment in the slasher series after making pro-Palestinian statements that drew accusations of antisemitism. Oscar-winning director Jonathan Glazer, who is Jewish, was also the object of widespread condemnation after he criticized Israels ongoing bombing campaign in Gaza. Related... Jon Stewart Wades Into Row Over UK Election Hopefuls Israel Tweets: Dumbest Thing The UK Has Done Since Electing Boris Johnson Jon Stewart has waded into a row about the UK Labour Party blocking election candidate Faiza Shaheen from running for Parliament over her historical tweets relating to Israel. Stewart shared a Twitter (now X) post from former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan, in which Hasan claimed that Shaheen had been suspended from Labour for liking a tweet that featured Stewarts famous 2014 We Need to Talk About Israel sketch. More from Deadline This is the dumbest thing The UK has done since electing Boris Johnsonwhat the actual fuck Stewart, who is Jewish, told his 1.7M followers. This is the dumbest thing The UK has done since electing Boris Johnsonwhat the actual fuck https://t.co/n6Ekibi5is Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) May 30, 2024 The reality of the situation is a little more complicated than Hasans post suggested, however. Shaheen has not been disciplined for simply liking Stewarts skit. In an interview with BBC Newsnight on Wednesday, Shaheen said she has not been selected as Labours candidate for the Parliamentary seat of Chingford and Woodford Green in London ahead of the July 4 election. Shaheen said the Labour party had concerns about 14 tweets over the past decade. This included a tweet she liked, which linked to Stewarts sketch and claimed that critics of Israel are assailed by professional organisations who inflict non-stop harassment and accuse you of antisemitism. The Israel lobby influences policy in various ways, but while people focus on campaign contributions, I don't think it's the main mechanism. If you ask me, this video perfectly illustrates how it more often works, which is far more mundane. Basically, every time you say pic.twitter.com/GSqORgyAe6 Philippe Lemoine (@phl43) May 12, 2024 The social media activity reportedly prompted complaints to the Jewish Labour Movement and Shaheen acknowleged on Newsnight that the tweet was problematic. I dont remember liking this tweet, she said. I know whats wrong with it, of course. The line thats there, about theyre in professional organizations, that plays into a trope and I absolutely dont agree with that and Im sorry about that. Shaheen, who has previously been backed by actor Hugh Grant, has been a supporter of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Keir Starmer, the current Labour leader, has made it one of his central missions to distance the party from allegations of antisemitism that dogged Corbyns tenure. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Juan Merchan, the judge Donald Trump calls a hater, once gave money to Joe Biden Justice Juan Manuel Merchan began his legal career in 1994 after graduating from Hofstra University School of Law - Seth Wenig/AP The judge overseeing the hush-money criminal case against Donald Trump has crossed legal paths with the former president before. In 2022, Justice Juan Manuel Merchan presided over the tax fraud trial that led to the conviction of Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organizations chief financial officer. He is also the judge in the fraud and money laundering case against Trump ally Steve Bannon. But Mr Trumps hush-money trial is by far the highest profile case of Justice Merchans 17 years on the bench. Mr Trump has been charged with falsifying business records ahead of the 2016 election to cover up a $130,000 payment made to stop Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, talking about their alleged affair. He has pleaded not guilty and denied the affair. Who is Justice Juan Merchan? Justice Merchan has overseen the former presidents case since he was indicted in April last year, including Mr Trumps failed attempt to move the case to federal court, two attempts to have the judge recused from the case, and numerous other attempts to delay proceedings. Justice Juan Merchan presides over a hearing ahead of the trial of Donald Trump over charges that he falsified business records - Jane Rosenberg/Reuters He began his legal career in 1994 after graduating from Hofstra University School of Law. Before being appointed a family court judge in 2006, Justice Merchan served in the New York County District Attorneys Office and as an assistant attorney general in both Nassau and Suffolk counties. Since 2009, he has presided over criminal matters while serving at the New York County Supreme Court. The $15 Biden donation Not long after Mr Trump was arraigned, it emerged that Justice Merchan had donated $35 to the Democrats in 2020, including $15 to Joe Biden. Despite the donations being small, they raised questions about his impartiality. According to federal election records, Justice Merchan sent $15 to the Biden campaign, as well as two $10 contributions to the Progressive Turnout Project and Stop Republicans. In New York state, judges are barred from making donations to political organisations or candidates, but the donation was viewed as trivial given its sum. Justice Merchan did not recuse himself from the case when the issue came to light. Daughter has worked for Democrats Justice Merchans daughter, Loren Merchan, is the president of Authentic Campaigns, a firm that has worked on digital fundraising and advertising for Democratic clients. Her list of previous clients includes Mr Biden and Representative Adam Schiff, who led impeachment efforts against Mr Trump. The revelation led Mr Trump to push to have Justice Merchan removed from the case. What has Trump said about Justice Juan Merchan? Mr Trump has been extremely outspoken against both Justice Merchan and his daughter. In a televised address from his Florida mansion of Mar-a-Lago in April last year, Mr Trump accused the judge of having a Trump-hating family with ties to Kamala Harris. He said: I have a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and family, whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris, and now receives money from the Biden-Harris campaign and a lot of it. His attacks against Ms Merchan on social media led Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney, to request an expansion of the former presidents existing gag order to include the judges family. Mr Trump decried the order as a violation of his constitutional right to free speech. 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. Judge Agrees to Allow DNA Testing of Evidence in Effort to Hold New Trial for Convicted Murderer Scott Peterson Peterson was convicted in 2004 of murdering his wife Laci and their unborn son Conner in 2002 ZUMA Press/ZUMAPRESS.com Laci Peterson and Scott Peterson Convicted murderer Scott Peterson won a legal victory in his bid to clear his name in the 2002 killings of his wife Laci Peterson and their unborn son, Conner. During a hearing on Wednesday, May 29, a judge ruled that DNA testing can be performed on only one piece of evidence from the initial investigation that Peterson's new lawyers from the Los Angeles Innocence Project claim would help prove his innocence. The judge determined that a piece of duct tape found on Laci's pants could be re-tested, according to NBC News, CBS News and ABC News. "There is absolutely no forensic evidence implicating Peterson," his lawyers argued in court, Brian Entin of News Nation reported on X (formerly known as Twitter) from the hearing at San Mateo County Superior in Redwood City. David Harris, a Stanislaus County deputy district attorney, said there is no need for a new trial. The people know the truth, he said, The Mercury News reports. They know hes guilty of murdering his wife and unborn son. Peterson, 51, appeared via livestream video from Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, Calif., where he is serving a life sentence for killing Laci, 27, and Conner. During the hearing, his lawyers argued for the testing of DNA found on items from the investigation that were never tested. ZUMA Press/ZUMAPRESS.com Laci Peterson just before Christmas 2002 One such item is a bloody mattress found inside a burned-out van near the couples Modesto home. The van was set on fire on Dec. 25, 2002, the day after Laci vanished. Peterson's lawyers claim Laci was killed in that van by two men she witnessed robbing a house on her street on the morning she disappeared. Inside the van was a mattress with what appeared to be blood stains. The Los Angeles Innocence Project claims it has new evidence showing that the van didn't have a mattress inside it before it was stolen prior to Laci's killing, KRON4 reports. SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO Van that was burned on Dec. 25, 2002 Peterson's lawyers also wanted to test a tarp and plastic bag found near Laci's body that was recovered from San Francisco Bay, as well as duct tape and twine found on Conner's body, KTVU reports. Related: Scott Peterson Back in Court After L.A. Innocence Project Claims Evidence Suggests He Didn't Kill Wife Laci Prosecutors said the case ended long ago and will not turn over any evidence unless the court orders them to do so, KRON reports. Scott said he was fishing in San Francisco Bay when his wife vanished. Related: Where Is Scott Peterson Now? Inside His Life in Prison Amid L.A. Innocence Project Case Scott became a person of interest when massage therapist Amber Frey came forward in Jan. 2003 saying she had been romantically involved with him for a month before Laci vanished. Frey said Scott told her he was a widower. He was arrested on April 18, 2003, four days after Laci and Conner's remains turned up in San Francisco Bay. He pleaded not guilty when charged with their murders. Related: Relative Is Angry After L.A. Innocence Project Takes Scott Peterson's Case: We'd Like to 'Take Him on a 1-Way Fishing Trip' On Nov. 12, 2004, a jury found Scott guilty of two counts of murder. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. In 2005, he was sentenced to death. But in 2020, that sentence was overturned and the following year he was resentenced to life in prison without parole. Related: Why Scott Petersons Former Defense Attorney Thinks He Could Be Exonerated In the summer of 2023, Scott reached out to the nonprofit Los Angeles Innocence Project, asking the organization to take on his case. In a letter to the court in November 2023, he wrote, "I have discovered that critical exculpatory evidence was ignored, overlooked, or never investigated at all, and in other instances was suppressed at the time of my trial," KRON4 reports. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A California judge has approved a request for additional DNA testing on duct tape that was found on the body of Laci Peterson, whose husband was infamously convicted of murdering her and their unborn baby decades ago. Though the San Mateo County judge on Wednesday approved the request by Scott Petersons defense team, she rejected similar DNA testing requests for more than a dozen other items. The Los Angeles Innocence Project, a nonprofit that took up Petersons case in January, argued to the court that the tape was found with human DNA on it when it was discovered in 2003 but that the DNA was not of an acceptable quality to generate a profile at the time, according to ABC News. Scott Peterson, left, is seen addressing a San Mateo County judge from prison in March. Peterson has continued to profess his innocence in the murders of his wife and their unborn child. via Associated Press Thanks to more advanced testing available today, LAIP, which works to free wrongfully incarcerated people in California prisons, said it may be able to exonerate Peterson, who has pleaded his innocence in the deaths of his wife and their unborn son, Conner. There is no direct evidence implicating Scott Peterson in this case. It was a circumstantial case from the beginning, attorney and LAIP Director Paula Mitchell told the judge, according to the Courthouse News Service. The Stanislaus County District Attorneys Office had objected to turning over the DNA evidence for new or additional testing, arguing that there was overwhelming circumstantial evidence presented during Petersons murder trial that proved his guilt in 2004. A memorial in honor of Laci Peterson is seen outside the house she shared with husband Scott Peterson in Modesto, California, in 2004. via Associated Press The people know the truth. We know that Scott Peterson is guilty, special prosecutor David Harris told the judge. LAIP argued in a court motion, obtained by local station KRON4, that its own investigation resulted in important leads to evidence supporting Mr. Petersons claim that his wife was alive on December 24, 2002, which was when he claims to have last seen her. The remains of Laci Peterson and her baby were found washed ashore in separate locations along the San Francisco Bay in April 2003, ending a four-month search. Scott Peterson told police that his wife, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her death, vanished in 2002 on Christmas Eve while he was out on a solo fishing trip near where the bodies would later be discovered. Scott Peterson, seen at center in 2004 with his defense attorneys, was convicted of first-degree murder for his wife's death and second-degree murder for the death of Conner. via Associated Press He was found to be having an extramarital affair with a woman who contacted police to assist with their investigation upon learning about Laci Petersons disappearance and of his marital status. In secret recordings with the woman, Scott Peterson didnt confess to his wifes killing but was heard lying about his whereabouts claiming that he was in Paris for New Years Eve on a night when he in fact attended a vigil for his then-missing wife and expressing his hopes that he could be with the woman for the rest of our lives. Scott Peterson was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder for Laci Petersons killing and second-degree murder for the killing of Conner. He was initially sentenced to death before that sentence was reduced to life in prison without parole. Representatives for LAIP and the Stanislaus County District Attorneys Office did not respond to HuffPosts requests for comment Thursday. Related... A destroyed car is seen after being bombed in Homs city, central Syria, May 30, 2024. A car bomb detonated in a residential area of Homs, central Syria, on Thursday, injuring at least one person, the Syrian national TV reported. (Str/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, May 30 (Xinhua) -- A car bomb detonated in a residential area of Homs, central Syria, on Thursday, injuring at least one person, the Syrian national TV reported. Citing a police department statement, the report said the car went off in the al-Shamas neighborhood, with no further information about the perpetrators or the owner of the car. Additionally, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported an explosion caused by a car bomb on the outskirts of Homs city, saying three people were injured. The incidents come just five days after a car bomb on Damascus' Mezzeh Highway killed one person inside the vehicle. Three nearby parked cars were also destroyed. So far, no groups have claimed responsibility for the explosions. Judge rules duct tape found on Laci Peterson can be retested as Scott Peterson seeks new murder trial After lawyers argued for new DNA testing in the murder case against Scott Peterson, a California judge ruled Wednesday that only retesting of DNA on duct tape that adhered to his wife Laci Petersons pants will be permitted, while testing of other new and prior evidence in the decades-old case will not be allowed. Scott Petersons latest bid for a new murder trial comes about 20 years after his conviction. Peterson was convicted of murder in 2004 in the deaths of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner. He was sentenced to death but that was later overturned and he was resentenced to life without parole. San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hill said she was only making a determination about evidence, not if Peterson can have a new trial. The duct tape, approximately 15 inches long, was found adhering to Lacis pants on her right thigh. According to the motion, a section of the duct tape that was folded over onto itself underwent DNA testing and the presence of human DNA was found, but no DNA profile could be obtained. On Wednesday, during the post-conviction DNA testing hearing, lawyers for the Los Angeles Innocence Project who had taken up Petersons case in January presented evidence they argued was either never looked at or simply omitted from the trial. Of the 14 items requested for retesting, Judge Hill only granted one item - the duct tape found on Laci Peterson. In a still photo taken from a video, a missing poster for Laci Peterson is seen. - KGO/POOL/San Mateo County Superior Court Petersons defense team requested DNA testing on stains found on a mattress discovered in the back of a burned-out van. The charred vehicle was found one day after Laci disappeared roughly one mile from where the Petersons lived in Modesto. The lawyers also wanted to examine evidence from a burglary that happened across the street from the Peterson home. They claim Laci may have run into the burglars while they were committing a crime a theory that suggests she was murdered because she witnessed the burglary. The judge denied requests for those items. The prosecution argued Scott Peterson is guilty and revisited evidence that led to his double murder conviction. We were right then and we are right now, and [it] is inappropriate for the defense to continue to try and find the things to drag this case out, said Dave Harris with the Stanislaus County District Attorneys office. The state of California has a powerful interest in the finality of its judgements, Harris said. Peterson reported his pregnant wife missing from the couples Modesto, California, home in December 2002. Less than four months later, the bodies of Laci and Conner were found washed up in the San Francisco Bay. In November 2004, after a nearly six-month trial, Peterson was found guilty of first-degree murder for Lacis death and second-degree murder for Conners death. Prosecutors alleged that Petersons motive for the murders was to escape married life and upcoming fatherhood. The jury recommended the death penalty, which Judge Alfred Delucchi followed. Following Governor Newsoms moratorium on executions in 2019, Petersons death sentence was overturned by the California Supreme Court in 2020. A few months later, the California Supreme Court ordered the San Mateo County Superior Court to reexamine Petersons murder convictions because a juror did not disclose involvement in other legal proceedings, including but not limited to being the victim of a crime. He was resentenced to life without parole in 2021. In 2023, Petersons attorneys filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in which they alleged violations of state and federal constitutional rights and state statutory rights, including a claim of actual innocence that is supported by newly discovered evidence. The Los Angeles Innocence Project, a nonprofit that works to exonerate people who are wrongly convicted, later announced it was investigating Petersons claim of actual innocence. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com NEW YORK The jury considering the charges against former President Trump in his hush money trial must peel back several layers in deliberating whether he is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. The Manhattan district attorneys offices contention is that Trump illegally covered up a hush money payment his then-fixer, Michael Cohen, made to porn actor Stormy Daniels in the weeks before the 2016 election to ensure her silence about an alleged affair from a decade prior. The case is complicated enough that the jurors sent a note Wednesday, just a few hours into their deliberations, requesting the judge repeat his legal instructions. To reach a guilty verdict, the jurors will have to go through several steps to reach the first criminal conviction of a former U.S. president. If the jurors all agree one of the steps wasnt proven, they must return a not guilty verdict. If they cant reach agreement, the trial will end in a hung jury. Heres what needs to happen, step-by-step. Did Trump cause false business record entries? The first thing the jury must determine is whether Trump caused false business record entries related to the hush money payment. Each of the 34 counts Trump faces for falsifying business records corresponds to a document generated when Trump later allegedly repaid Cohen for the hush money to Daniels. Trump denies the affair. The counts fall into three buckets: 11 invoices Cohen filed to Trump, 11 checks sent back to Cohen and 12 ledger entries reflecting those transactions. Prosecutors say Trump falsely recorded the reimbursements to Cohen as a legal expense in order to cover up the hush money payment. The former presidents attorneys, meanwhile, say the records were truthful because the payments were for Cohens services as personal attorney to the president. Even if they were false, Trump maintained a degree of separation from his underlings, the defense argues, suggesting Cohen went rogue in an aim to impress his boss. To reach a guilty verdict, jurors will have to decide the records are false and that Trump was responsible for them. Did Trump have an intent to defraud? Even if the jury decides the records were false and Trump caused their entry, reaching a guilty verdict requires it also find he had an intent to defraud. A person acts with intent to defraud when his or her conscious objective or purpose is to do so, Judge Juan Merchan told the jury. In order to prove an intent to defraud, the people need not prove that the defendant acted with the intent to defraud any particular person or entity. A general intent to defraud any person or entity suffices. Prosecutors contend Trump defrauded the voting public, ensuring the hush money payment to the porn actor fits into a larger scheme to kill negative stories about Trump before Election Day to clear his path to the White House. The defense argued that any efforts by Trumps allies to quash bad press and boost stories detrimental to his opponents could be chalked up to running a presidential campaign. Did Trump have an intent to commit, conceal or aid another crime? Prosecutors are seeking the felony version of the falsifying business records charge, which includes an additional requirement, often referred to as the bump up. To reach a felony conviction, the jurors must find the former president falsified the 34 records with an intent to commit, aid or conceal another crime. Under our law, although the people must prove an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof, they need not prove that the other crime was in fact committed, aided, or concealed, Merchan told the jurors in his instructions. Prosecutors accuse Trump of intending to violate a provision of New York election law that makes it a crime to conspire to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means. Did Trump conspire to promote his candidacy by unlawful means? The district attorneys office presented three different theories of unlawful means to the jury. First, prosecutors noted violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), which restricts corporate and individual contributions to federal political candidates. In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to violating FECA when he made the $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels, exceeding the $2,700 individual contribution cap in place at the time. Prosecutors have also highlighted how the parent company of the National Enquirer violated FECAs ban on corporate contributions by paying former Playboy model Karen McDougal $150,000 in hush money to stay quiet about her salacious accusations against Trump, which he also denies. Second, prosecutors argue other business records were falsified. They point to paperwork generated when Cohen set up bank accounts under false pretenses and when he later wired the hush money to Danielss lawyer. Prosecutors also cite 1099-MISC forms the Trump Organization later issued to Cohen. Third, prosecutors cite violation of tax laws, arguing the reimbursements to Cohen were miscategorized as income. In instructing the jury, Merchan said the jurors do not have to all agree that a single one of the theories stands. Instead, he said they must all agree that one of the theories works, meaning some could agree with the prosecutors first arguments, others with the second and others with the third. Although you must conclude unanimously that the defendant conspired to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means, you need not be unanimous as to what those unlawful means were, Merchan told the jury Wednesday. Trump and conservatives have latched on to the instruction, insisting the defendant is not receiving a fair trial since jurors can disagree on which of the three unlawful means prosecutors proved. Trumps lawyers had objected, but the judge last week agreed with prosecutors that the defenses request would amount to rewriting the law. We understand the defense opposes that, but theres sort of well-established New York law that a jury does not have to be unanimous about unlawful means, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said in court last week as the parties debated the jury instructions. Colangelo argued that establishing such a requirement would amount to rewriting the law from what the court would do in every other case. I agree, the judge responded. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Jury deliberating whether Daybell orchestrated killings or was set up by new wife and her brother Chad Daybell listens as his attorney, John Prior, presents closing arguments in his murder trial on Wednesday. | Judge Steven W. Boyce, via YouTube. Jurors will continue deliberating whether Chad Daybell is guilty of three killings Thursday morning after listening to a full day of closing arguments Wednesday and 30 days of testimony. The case was handed to the jury at 4:31 p.m. after five jurors were chosen as alternates. The remaining 12 deliberated for about two hours before taking a break until 8 a.m. Thursday morning. During closing arguments earlier in the day, Fremont County prosecutor Lindsey Blake told jurors Chad Daybell cared most about money, power and sex. She began her wrap-up of the case by replaying a call from Lori Vallow Daybell, who was in jail, to her husband, Chad Daybell, on the day the childrens bodies were found in his Salem, Idaho, backyard. When Lori Daybell asked if he was OK, Chad Daybell responded: "No. They're searching the property." She also shared a recording of an earlier call when the couple referred to a "project." Chad Daybell tells Lori Daybell he had "absolute confidence" things will work out, calling it a "marvelous plan." Blake said the Daybells' plan was to remove their earthly obstacles her children and his then-wife and find freedom. "Three dead bodies on the defendant Chad Daybell's property two of them children his mistress' kids. Joshua Jackson Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found buried in the defendant's backyard. Tammy Daybell was found dead in their marital bed. Money, power and sex. That's what the defendant cared about," Blake said. Blake went through a timeline of the case from Oct. 26, 2018, when then-Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell met. Both had spouses who were alive and well, until both of their spouses were dead and the remains of Lori Daybell's children were discovered. She emphasized how witnesses throughout the trial testified about how Lori Daybell and those people close to her would always seek their guidance and information from Chad Daybell. "Chad is the one that is a self-proclaimed visionary," Blake told the jury Wednesday, adding that he was the self-appointed leader or "gatherer" of his Church of the Firstborn. She said Chad Daybell is the one who declared that Charles Vallow, Lori Daybell's husband, was "dark" and possessed by a demon. He taught that if there was an evil entity in a body, that body would need to die. She said Charles Vallow was shot and killed "because he was dark." After the killings, Blake said Lori and Chad Daybell, along with Lori Daybell's brother Alex Cox, showed no signs of remorse or grief. Tylee and JJ's deaths Blake said Lori Daybell moved with her two children to Idaho after Chad Daybell had already declared that the children were "dark." "If someone's dark and they're an earthly obstacle the body has to die. Knowing that, Lori still brought her children to Idaho, closer to Chad Daybell," Blake said. She also said Lori Daybell asked Chad Daybell to rate the "death percentages" for her children on multiple occasions. Chad Daybell responded with numbers for each of them and, at one point, he claimed he was turning Tylee's pain up and encouraging 7-year-old JJ to follow someone into the light. "Tylee is a 16-year-old girl. He's turning the pain up to 10," Blake emphasized. She said Cox trusted Chad Daybell 100%, according to witnesses at the trial, and she reminded jurors about his location history the mornings after Tylee and JJ were last seen. Both times, there were cellphone data location points near where the children's bodies were eventually found. "Chad labeled her children dark. Their bodies were buried on his property, hidden from those looking for them. With them gone, he could be with Lori. Her time was completely free for him," Blake said. She also said that had those bodies not been found, Lori Daybell would continue receiving Social Security checks for the children. Fremont County prosecutor Lindsey Blake gives closing arguments in the murder trial for Chad Daybell on Wednesday. | Judge Steven W. Boyce via YouTube Tammy Daybell's death Chad Daybell told Lori Daybell in a text that it was encouraging his wifes death percentage has fallen steadily, the prosecutor said. Afterward, Chad Daybell said his wife had some kind of spirit in her, texting: Not fully sure of the timing for removal, but once her actions verify the differences, I dont want to wait. Chad Daybell shook his head "no" after Blake emphasized that Tammy's body was dark, that she had to die and he did not want to wait. He listened attentively for most of the presentation, showing little emotion, but shook his head "no" again later when Blake said he had taught "dark people, possessed people (that) the body has to die." Blake said Cox's cellphone was at a church near the Daybell home for about half an hour on the night Tammy Daybell was killed. She said Chad Daybell's story of his wife's death was inconsistent with emergency responders and friends at his home the morning of his wife's death and at the funeral. Although he had said Tammy Daybell had been having fainting spells, on a life insurance claim form, he wrote her health first became impaired on the day before her death. A little over 24 hours after his wife's death, Chad Daybell sent a message to Lori Daybell that said: "I'm feeling sad, but it isn't for the reason everyone thinks!" Chad and Lori Daybell give no answers Blake said Chad and Lori Daybell were married in Hawaii on Nov. 5, 2019, but their "bliss didn't last long" because JJ's grandmother reported the boy as missing later that month. When officers arrived at Lori Daybells home to search for him, she said the woman immediately told police lies about how well the couple knew each other and where JJ was. Blake said Chad and Lori Daybell consistently told others that the childrens disappearance was all a misunderstanding that would be cleared up, but neither provided any information about where the kids were before their bodies were eventually found in June 2020. While Lori Daybell said JJ was "safe and he's happy," the young boy was actually found "discarded in Chad Daybell's backyard" months later, she said. "They had money, power, sex, and no obstacles and, specifically, no earthy relatives, no encumbrances. However, they left a wake of destruction and tears for those that had trusted them," Blake said. She said in December of 2019, while Tammy Daybells autopsy was being conducted, the children were missing, Cox had just died of natural causes, and Chad and Lori Daybell were living together in Hawaii. Blake told jurors that Chad Daybell didn't have to personally and physically cause the deaths in order to be found guilty of first-degree murder, but he is guilty if they conclude that he "advised, assisted, encouraged, commanded or coerced" the deaths to occur. Defense attorney John Prior gives his closing argument during Chad Daybell's murder trial on Wednesday. | Judge Steven W. Boyce via YouTube Defense says Chad Daybell was the 'next victim' In his closing arguments, defense attorney John Prior said Lori Daybell directed her friends how to respond to police and said "the dupe on Chad Daybell" was that the kids were fine, and it would all be cleared up. "Chad didn't know where the kids were until that fateful day on June 9 when they're discovered on his property," Prior said. He said until then, only Lori Daybell knew what had been going on. "(Chad Daybell) is saying the kids are safe because Lori told them the kids are safe. He's saying there's a simple solution because this was a custody fight," Prior said. He said Cox had the motive, and that he had killed Tylee and JJ, who had "become expendable" after being witnesses to the murder of Charles Vallow. "The one thing that can cause Alex Cox to spend the rest of his life, or far worse, in Arizona is a 16-year-old girl and an autistic 7-year-old little boy," Prior said. "Alex Cox had a motive." He emphasized that Chad Daybell's cellphone location was not found at his property while Cox was there, and said he was not there when "JJ's body was dumped in the ground by Alex Cox." He also said it would have taken a bonfire to burn Tylee's body, and no neighbors reported seeing one and not all of her body was found. "There was no bonfire, it wasn't there. I can't prove to you where Alex Cox burned this body, I don't know," Prior said. Prior also said Chad Daybell "husband No. 5" was the next victim of Lori Daybell's desire for money. He claimed Chad Daybell was the target of an attempted shooting by Cox weeks before Tammy Daybell's death. "Alex Cox is a murderer, and he is not shy about shooting people. He shot at Brandon Boudreaux, he murdered Charles Vallow. Chad Daybell was next, and to make the plan nice and neat, let's bury the bodies on Chad Daybell's property," Prior said. Prior said Blake "insinuated" that the plan discussed by Chad and Lori Daybell in text messages was to kill the kids, but really the plan was to gather the sick and impoverished to Rexburg. Prior said multiple times that Chad Daybell had a right to believe what he wants to believe. He said Chad Daybell was a "pot stirrer" who talked about uncomfortable religious things and that made him a target. He began and ended his arguments by saying that the burden is on prosecutors to prove that Chad Daybell is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and that there is reasonable doubt. "If you have doubt about what happened here, the verdict has to be not guilty. That's what the law says," Prior said. Confirmation bias Prior said jurors have been shown a handful of text messages about dark spirits, about a plan, and about references to light and dark ratings, but were not shown thousands of other messages related to the case. "You can always find a text message or a message of some kind that may be slanted, or turned in a way to benefit one position or another," Prior said. The defense attorney claimed investigators were influenced by confirmation bias. He emphasized that the man who performed the autopsy on Tammy Daybell did not reach out to her children to ask about her health. He said the doctor and the officers who had testified picked a target, and looked only for proof that he was guilty. "These officers failed this investigation. They absolutely failed in their investigation looking up the facts of this case," Prior said. Prior said Melanie Gibb, who was staying at Lori Daybells apartment when investigators believe JJ was killed, was actually the source of the unusual religious beliefs. He said she ironically left Lori Daybells home with her boyfriend, David Warwick, about 10 minutes after Cox left for Chad Daybells property, and claimed they actually went to help bury the 7-year-olds body. Prior said the plastic bags JJ was wrapped in had a handprint from Cox and a hair from Lori Daybell. He also said there were blond hairs that did not belong to Lori Daybell, and Prior claimed that hair belongs to Gibb, although it was not tested. Prior argued that Tammy Daybells death was not homicide. He said it would have been impossible for Chad Daybell to smother or asphyxiate her the way the prosecutors claimed, as it would require 600 pounds of pressure. Chad Daybell listens as his attorney, John Prior, presents closing arguments in his murder trial on Wednesday. | Judge Steven W. Boyce, via YouTube. Prosecutors ask jurors to focus on facts Blake contested multiple statements made by Chad Daybell during her rebuttal closing argument, encouraging jurors to consider the facts and "go where the evidence leads." She said Chad Daybell didn't believe the missing children were safe. He was heard speaking in the past tense when someone asked where Tylee was, saying she "didn't like me." Blake also said Chad Daybell knew that JJ wasn't with his grandmother, yet told others that he was. She also said there was no evidence to indicate that Gibb went to the Daybell home. The prosecutor also told jurors that while Chad Daybell is not implicated in Charles Vallow's death, he was killed 10 days after he threatened that he was going to confront Tammy Daybell about the affair Chad and Lori Daybell were having. She also said Chad Daybell was texting with Lori Daybell just before Vallow was killed, and throughout that day. To address the claim that Cox was the only killer, Blake replayed a clip from a religious "blessing" Chad Daybell gave to Cox in November 2019. He called Cox a "defender" for Lori Daybell, saying he had earned the privilege of being part of the Church of the Firstborn. "You've already assisted us in ways that can never be repaid. And you will continue to do so," Chad Daybell told Cox in the blessing. Chad Daybell is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of JJ, Tylee and Tammy Daybell. He is also charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder of each of the victims, grand theft and two counts of insurance fraud. If Chad Daybell is found guilty, the same jury would hear testimony during a penalty phase, to determine whether he should receive the death penalty. Lori Daybell was found guilty of her role in a trial last year and was given five sentences of life in prison without parole. Chad Daybell was found guilty Thursday of first-degree murder and conspiracy charges in the deaths of his first wife and two children of his second wife in a case Idaho prosecutors claim was fueled by power, sex, money and apocalyptic spiritual beliefs. Daybell could face the death penalty. Daybell had pleaded not guilty to the charges in the deaths of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and the children of his second wife, Lori Vallow Daybell - 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow. Wearing a light blue shirt and yellow tie, Daybell showed no emotion as the verdict was read just after 2 p.m. local time. Authorities have said they believe Tylee and JJ were killed in September 2019 the month they were last reported to have been seen and that Tammy Daybell was found dead in her Idaho home on October 19, 2019, a few weeks before Chad Daybell married Lori Vallow Daybell. Tammy Daybell was initially believed to have died in her sleep. Law enforcement found the remains of Tylee and JJ on Chad Daybells Fremont County property in June 2020, authorities said. The state is seeking the death penalty. That phase of the case began Thursday afternoon, with Judge Steven Boyce giving jurors preliminary instructions. Proceedings were to resume Friday morning. After the verdict, JJs grandfather, Larry Woodcock, told reporters, Its a sad day. JJ would have been 12 years old, guys. For what? Woodcock remembered the victims, and asked the same question, over and over. What did they accomplish? Nothing. What did they do? They destroyed families, Woodcock said of Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell. But the defendants, Woodcock said, could not destroy the memories relatives have of the victims. They cant take that, he added, growing emotional at one point. When he heard the jury verdict in court, he said, he felt like he couldnt breathe. Deliberations began Wednesday and lasted for a little more than two hours. Deliberations resumed just after 8 a.m. local time on Thursday. After deliberating about two hours, the jury asked the court for a missing instruction related to the first-degree murder count in the death of Tammy Daybell. They resumed deliberations shortly after receiving the instruction from the court. Idaho prosecutors claim the killings were fueled by power, sex, money and apocalyptic spiritual beliefs. The prosecutors wrote in a court document that each homicide was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity. Defense attorney John Prior in closing arguments Wednesday said there wasnt enough direct evidence against Daybell and others were responsible for the deaths. His wife, Vallow Daybell, was convicted by a jury in May 2023 of the murder of her children and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She also was convicted of conspiring to kill his former wife, Tammy Daybell. Vallow Daybell has appealed her convictions to the state Supreme Court, with her legal team raising the issue of whether she was mentally competent to stand trial. Sex, money and power were key focuses in the trial During opening statements, the prosecutor and defense attorney painted contrasting portraits of the defendant. The state described him as a power-hungry and grandiose man who would stop at nothing for what he considered his rightful destiny. His defense lawyer portrayed Daybell as a religious man driven into an unfortunate relationship by a beautiful, vivacious woman who knew how to get what she wants. Two dead children buried in the defendant Chad Daybells backyard, prosecutor Rob Wood said in his first words to the jury. The next month his wife is found dead in their marital bed. Seventeen days after the death of his wife, Tammy Daybell, this defendant is photographed laughing and dancing on a beach in Hawaii at his wedding to Lori Vallow, a woman who was his mistress and the mother of the children buried in the graves on his property. Three dead bodies. When Daybell had a chance at what he considered his rightful destiny, Wood said, he made sure that no person and no law would stand in his way. His desire for sex, money and power led him to pursue those ambitions, the prosecutor added. And this pursuit led to the deaths of his wife and Loris two innocent children. Tammy Daybell was initially believed to have died in her sleep, and Chad Daybell remarried less than three weeks after her death in 2019. Prior, the defense attorney, said Daybells life began to change after he met Vallow Daybell, a beautifully stunning woman who starts giving him a lot of attention and eventually lured him into an inappropriate and unfortunate extramarital relationship. Vallow Daybells two children from a previous marriage were last seen on different days in September 2019. Tylee Ryan was a normal, vibrant teenage girl who loved her friends and her little brother JJ, who was on the autism spectrum and required special care, according to Wood. In late November 2019, relatives asked police in Rexburg, Idaho, to do a welfare check on JJ because they hadnt talked to him recently. Police didnt find him at the familys house but did see Vallow Daybell and Daybell, who said JJ was staying with a family friend in Arizona, according to authorities. When police returned with a search warrant the next day, the couple was gone. They were ultimately found in Hawaii in January 2020. In June 2020, law enforcement officials found the remains of Tylee and JJ on Daybells property in Fremont County, Idaho. Vallow Daybell and Daybell were indicted on murder charges in May 2021. Tylee was believed to have been killed between September 8 and 9, 2019, and JJ between September 22 and 23, according to prosecutors. We are filled with unfathomable sadness that these two bright stars were stolen from us, and only hope that they died without pain or suffering, the families of the children said in a statement after the remains were found. During the preliminary hearing, Wood said Daybell helped hide evidence. Those bodies were concealed, one of them was destroyed, they were located on Chad Daybells property, Wood said. Prior, however, argued the state didnt come close to having enough evidence to prove Daybell concealed the bodies of JJ or Tylee. Theres been no indication of any evidence that this act took place on the night of the 22nd or 23rd, or whatever day it was, Prior said. Couple believed they were religious figures During opening statements, Wood described Chad Daybell as a seemingly ordinary man who wrote books about the apocalypse, a person who craves significance and worked as a sexton in a graveyard. In October 2018, Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell met at a religious conference in Utah and he began to craft an alternate reality where his obsession for glory was rooted in her adoration for him, Wood told jurors. Soon, Wood said, they viewed their spouses and even their children as obstacles that stood in their way. Anyone who opposed them were labeled sometimes as dark spirits or even zombies, the prosecutor said. During opening statements, Prior described his client as a religious man who wrote books about his faith, premonitions, good and evil, and the coming of the end of things when his savior, in his mind, is going to come back. Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell called themselves James and Elaina and believed they were religious figures and had a system of rating people as light or dark, a prosecutor told jurors during Vallow Daybells trial. The state accused the couple of using their doomsday religious beliefs to justify the killings. In particular, Daybell and Vallow Daybell exchanged texts about Tammy Daybell being in limbo and being possessed by a spirit named Viola, according to the indictment. People close to the couple said they had been involved in strong religious ideologies. In addition, Daybell was connected to a religious doomsday prepper website called Preparing a People, which described itself as a series of lecture events focusing on self-reliance and personal preparation. The publishers of the site said they decided to pull content featuring either Daybell or Vallow Daybell after the childrens disappearance. Defense points to Vallow Daybells brother Prior told the jury about Vallow Daybells now-deceased brother, Alex Cox, who died in December 2019, and his history of violence including the shooting and killing of Vallow Daybells former husband, Charles Vallow, in July 2019. The Maricopa County medical examiner in Arizona said Cox died of natural causes, CNN affiliate KPHO/KTVK reported. Alex Cox was Loris protector, Prior said. Alex Cox would do anything and everything to protect, aid and assist Lori Vallow Whenever there was a problem or a threat to Lori Vallow, you will hear testimony that Alex Cox came to the rescue. DNA and forensics experts suggested Coxs fingerprint was found on plastic wrapped around JJs body, Daybells defense attorney said. No DNA or hair belonging to Chad Daybell was found with the childrens bodies, and the exact cause of Tammy Daybells death could not be determined, Prior said. How it compares to Vallow Daybells trial After Vallow Daybells indictment and not guilty plea in 2021, a judge ruled she was incompetent to stand trial, but she was deemed fit to proceed with trial after spending nearly a year in a mental hospital. Vallow Daybell has maintained her innocence. When Vallow Daybell was sentenced last year, she denied having killed her children and cited religious texts and beliefs. She said she had spoken to Jesus, her children and her husbands wife after their deaths and said they were happy and extremely busy in heaven. Jesus Christ knows that no one was murdered in this case, Vallow Daybell said. Accidental deaths happen, suicides happen, fatal side effects from medications happen. Judge Steven W. Boyce said at the sentencing hearing: I dont believe that any God in any religion would want to have this happen. The judge said she justified the killings by going down a bizarre, religious rabbit hole. And clearly you are still down there. Vallow Daybell has appealed her convictions to the state Supreme Court, with her legal team raising the issue of whether Vallow Daybell was mentally competent to stand trial. CNNs Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Supporters of the former US President Donald Trump continue their vigil outside the Trump hush money trial waiting for the verdict. Andrea Renault/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa A jury in New York has found Donald Trump guilty of falsifying business records in his hush money trial, making him the first former US president convicted of a criminal offence. Trump, who is seeking the White House again in this November's election, was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of a scheme involving his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen to conceal a $130,000 pay-off made to porn star Stormy Daniels. Judge Juan Merchan was to announce Trump's sentence on July 11. The former president faces a prison sentence of several years, which could also be suspended, or a fine. The Republican can appeal - and run in the presidential election in November even if such appeal were to fail. Supporters of the former US President Donald Trump continue their vigil outside the Trump hush money trial waiting for the verdict. Andrea Renault/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa A jury in New York on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty of falsifying business records in his hush money trial, making him the first former US president convicted of a criminal offence. Trump, who is seeking the White House again in this November's election, was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of a scheme involving his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen to conceal a $130,000 pay-off made to porn star Stormy Daniels. Judge Juan Merchan is set to announce Trump's sentence on July 11. The former president faces a maximum of several years behind bars, but most legal experts expect he will get a fine. After the verdict, Trump described his conviction a "disgrace," claiming without any evidence that Merchan was "corrupt." "The real verdict is gonna be November 5th by the people," he added, referencing the date of the US presidential election. "I am a very innocent man," Trump added. Daniels said the money was given to keep her quiet about an affair she had with the Republican in 2006. He has admitted to paying her on the eve of the 2016 election to stop her "false and extortionist accusations" but denies any sexual encounter. At the trial, Cohen testified over the course of several days that he worked at Trump's direction to orchestrate the payments to buy the silence of Daniels. Cohen made the $130,000 payment out of his own pocket. At the crux of the case was how Trump's real estate company falsely logged the reimbursements to Cohen in its financial records and whether Trump had full knowledge of the scheme. Crucially, the prosecution argued that because the pay-off was made to keep the public from learning about the alleged sexual encounter ahead of the election, the cover-up involving the financial records amounted to illegal campaign financing. This allegation elevated what would have been a lower-level misdemeanour case to felony charges. Trump has claimed without any evidence that he is a victim of political persecution orchestrated by Democrats to keep him from the White House. The Constitution does not prevent a felon from running for the presidency. This is a breaking news story. Check back to idahostatesman.com for updates. To sign up for breaking news alerts, click here. Investigators for years have believed that Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell conspired to kill two of her children, along with Chad Daybells first wife. The lengthy criminal case is one step closer to ending after an Ada County jury convicted 55-year-old Chad Daybell for the murders Thursday. Now, that same jury will decide whether the Rexburg man should be sentenced to death. Chad Daybell was convicted on eight felonies, including the first-degree murders of his then-wife Tammy Daybell and Vallow Daybells two youngest children: 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. He was also convicted on three counts of conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of insurance fraud for increasing Tammy Daybells life insurance coverage. What Chad and Lori cant take from us is our memories, JJs grandfather Larry Woodcock told reporters Thursday. They cant take that. They cant destroy it. They cant erase it. Our memories are what we have. The bodies of Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found buried in shallow graves on Chad Daybells property, investigators said. The 12-person jury reached the verdict after roughly six hours of deliberation shorter than it took the jurors to find Lori Vallow Daybell guilty. Lori Vallow Daybell was convicted on six felony counts in May 2023 and sentenced to life in prison. Chad Daybell will now face an additional week or two of additional evidence where the same jurors, who have been sequestered, will decide whether he should be sentenced to death. That phase of the case began Thursday afternoon and will continue Friday. In August 2019, Vallow Daybell moved to Rexburg, Idaho, from Arizona just months after her fourth husband was shot and killed. In the months that followed, her children went missing, and Tammy Daybell died in her home. Tammys death wasnt initially investigated, but her body was exhumed two months later. Utah Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and ruled her death a homicide. Following a lengthy investigation, the Rexburg Police Department discovered the bodies of JJ and Tylee in June 2020. Tylees burned and dismembered remains and JJs bound body were buried in shallow graves on Chad Daybells eastern Idaho property. Larry Woodcock, the grandfather of JJ Vallow, speaks to reporters after the guilty verdict of Chad Daybell outside of the Ada County Courthouse. Authorities have said they believe Vallow Daybells brother Alex Cox who acted as her protector killed or conspired to kill Tylee, JJ and Tammy Daybell, according to witness testimony. During both trials, evidence presented to the jury showed that Coxs cellphone was on Chad Daybells property on the days the children were killed, and that he attempted to fire a gun at Tammy Daybell. The jury didnt have to prove Chad Daybell physically committed the killings to be convicted, Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake said during the prosecutions closing arguments Wednesday. The jury must only believe he advised, assisted, encouraged, commanded or coerced someone to do it someone like Cox. Alex does what Chad asks of him, Blake said. Chad Daybell, right, talks with defense lawyer, John Prior, before his verdict was read at his murder trial at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise on Thursday. A member of The Church of Latter-day Saints, Chad Daybell believed he received personal revelations from God that told him certain people including Vallow Daybells children and Tammy Daybell were possessed by dark spirits and would need to be cast out, or killed, according to witness testimony. The prosecution accused the Daybells of using religion as a tool to manipulate others, including Cox, saying in the indictment that they espoused religious beliefs for the purpose of justifying or encouraging the homicides. No one here is charged because of their religious beliefs, Madison County Prosecuting Attorney Rob Wood said during Vallow Daybells trial. They are charged for using those religious beliefs for the purpose of murder. Chad Daybell now faces death penalty The Daybells, who had a monthslong affair before getting married, were expected to be tried together last year, but 7th District Judge Steven Boyce severed their cases because of new DNA evidence. Boyce removed the death penalty as an option for Lori Vallow Daybell just before her 2023 trial in an unprecedented move. The decision came after prosecutors filed large volumes of evidence past deadlines, which could have impeded the defenses ability to prepare for trial. Boyce said he wanted to make sure Vallow Daybells constitutional rights were protected. Im happy its over, and its 99.9% over theres one stage left, Woodcock said outside the courthouse. And I will say this: Whatever sentence the court and the jurors decided on, I will absolutely live with it. Larry Woodcock, grandfather of JJ Vallow, reacts to the guilty verdict of Chad Daybell outside of the Ada County Courthouse on Thursday. Samuel Newton, associate professor of law at the University of Idaho, told the Idaho Statesman in a phone interview that the death penalty phase typically takes a few weeks. It will be the defense teams job to humanize Chad Daybell during this part of the case, Newton said, adding thatitll likely bring in a mitigation specialist who investigated Daybells entire life, looking for anything that could help his case, such as any mental health issues or generational trauma. Throughout the trial, Daybells attorney, John Prior, argued that he was innocent, but now hell need to pivot and instead prove that Chad Daybell doesnt deserve the death penalty, which Newton called a conflated strategy. These are just tough choices, that the defense has to figure out how theyre going to do it, Newton said, adding that its common for the defendant to continue to proclaim his innocence. The jurors were briefly brought back into the courtroom Thursday following the verdict. Boyce read several instructions to the jury and reminded them that the prosecution must prove at least one aggravating factor to sentence Chad Daybell to death. Under Idaho law, some of those factors could include: The defendant committed more than one murder at the time of the crime. The murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity. The defendant exhibited utter disregard for human life. Theyre going to look for his history of dangerous behavior or things that would indicate that he deserves the death penalty, Newton said. The jurors will be back at the Ada County Courthouse at 8:30 a.m. Friday. Larry Woodcock hugs someone after the jury convicted Chad Daybell of murdering his grandson JJ Vallow. Visual Journalist Sarah Miller contributed. NEW YORK The jury in the Donald Trump hush money trial has notified Judge Juan Merchan that it has reached a verdict but needs time to complete filling out the forms. The verdict will be read shortly. Earlier Thursday, the jury in the former presidents historic hush money trial returned to a Manhattan courthouse, hearing a readback of testimony about the 2015 meeting at Trump Tower and the infamous catch and kill scheme that lies at the heart of the states case. The testimony, from the first and last witnesses to testify against Trump, included the August 2015 meeting where Trump, David Pecker and Michael Cohen allegedly agreed to carry out the catch and kill scheme to suppress negative stories about Trump in the lead up to the 2016 election. I was going to be the eyes and ears of the campaign, Pecker testified last month. They also heard testimony regarding what Pecker said was a phone call from Trump in June 2016 about former Playboy model Karen McDougal and media interest in her allegations of their months-long affair. Two court stereographers read back important sections of testimony at the request of jurors, who had asked for the refresher on Wednesday Jurors took copious notes during the readback of Peckers direct examination concerning the Trump call. One man reacted with an amused smile when the stenographers said they were moving onto Peckers cross-examination, which the panel took fewer notes on. After the readback wrapped, jurors went back to resume deliberations. Smaller entourage Trump walked into court Thursday at 9:25 a.m. with a smaller entourage than hes had over the last weeks, including his son, Eric Trump, and various lawyers and associates. Trump stood by the courtroom well chatting with a Secret Service agent and his legal spokeswoman Alina Habba before taking his seat at the defense table. He slammed the case to reporters in the hallway, saying this is a very sad day for America. To start the day, Merchan read aloud to the jury instructions on the law and how to deliberate, which the jury asked for on Wednesday. Jurors looked deeply engaged and took notes as the judge read his charge. Among the sections they asked Merchan to repeat was an analogy they heard Wednesday on how they can draw inferences from facts with the judge describing how someone can infer that it rained when they wake up in the morning and see wet umbrellas and raincoats, even if they didnt witness raindrops fall. The first note of the day from the jury on Thursday was a request for headphones to listen to audio and video exhibits on the computer they were issued to look through evidence they heard during the trial. The judge asked them if they wanted a speaker, too. The background Trump, 77, has pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment alleging he falsified New York business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels as part of a plot to hide damaging information about his past from the voting public. Prosecutors say Trumps 2017 reimbursement to Michael Cohen for paying off the porn star two weeks before the 2016 election to keep secret her allegations of a seedy sexual liaison were masked as payment for legal services to disguise a conspiracy to unlawfully influence his election. To find Trump guilty of the felony-level charges, jurors must determine hes responsible for the fraudulent filing of 11 checks to Michael Cohen, 11 corresponding invoices, and 12 entries in the Trump Organizations general ledger or for others causing those filings. In his instruction to the jury before they got the case early Wednesday, the judge said they must be unanimous in their determination of Trumps role in regard to the business records, but they can have varying opinions on the unlawful means employed to boost his candidacy. The presumptive GOP nominee vehemently denies being a philanderer, plotting to win the White House by breaking the law, or paying Cohen for hush money and not genuine work carried out as his personal attorney. ___ CARACAS, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) on Tuesday revoked an invitation to an EU mission to observe the South American country's July 28 presidential elections. The CNE said on Wednesday that the EU "aims to interfere" in the body's decisions. Describing the EU as "insolent," CNE President Elvis Amoroso said that the considerations issued by the council "are the exclusive responsibility of Venezuelans." The EU said it "deeply regrets" the unilateral decision by the electoral body, and noted that its role as an observer was part of the Barbados Agreement. The agreement, signed by the Venezuelan authorities and the opposition in October 2023, aims to ease dialogue between the two sides as well as promote negotiations aiming at free and fair elections in the country. In response, Amoroso said that the elections will have "an extensive program of oversight and accompaniment from dozens of prestigious international organizations, as well as more than 250 personalities." Who is Justice Samuel Alito and which president appointed him to the bench? Controversy again engulfs the U.S. Supreme Court over allegations of unethical and partisan activity outside the Court Chamber as Justice Samuel Alito is scrutinized over flags flown at two of his properties on the heels of fellow Justice Clarence Thomas 2023 ethics scandals. However, it is not the first time the 74-year-old conservative justice has attracted strong criticism. More: Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito refuses calls to recuse himself from key Jan. 6 cases Who is Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito? Samuel Alito was born in 1950 in Trenton, New Jersey. A graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School, he served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal and later clerked for Judge Leonard A. Garth on the U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit. Justice Samuel Alito and his wife Martha-Ann stand during a private ceremony for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Ginsburg, 87, died of cancer on Sept. 18. He has also served as U.S. Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney of the District of New Jersey, Assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General, and Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel. He has been married to Martha-Ann Bomgardner since 1985, and the pair has two children. More: Samuel Alito flew an 'Appeal to Heaven' flag outside vacation home. Why is it controversial? Justice Samuel Alitos partisan 2006 appointment The process to fill Sandra Day OConnors seat on the bench proved rocky from the start. President George W. Bushs first nominee withdrew her nomination in the face of conservative opposition, opening the door to Samuel Alitos nomination and eventual appointment. Alito served on the U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit for 15 years before his Supreme Court nomination. His judicial record during that time came into question during his confirmation hearings, with the American Civil Liberties Union opposing his nomination, citing a willingness to support government actions that abridge individual freedoms. The Senate vote confirming Justice Alito was one of the most expensive and partisan decisions at the time. He succeeded with a vote of 58 to 42, with all but five Democrats opposing. Ethics controversies: Luxury fishing trip and beach house flags While Supreme Court justices of every ideological ilk receive criticism over their voting records, it is more unusual for members of the highest court to land in the middle of ethics investigations and public debate. But 2023 reports of Alitos undisclosed luxury fishing trip with a GOP billionaire whose hedge fund had repeated business before the court sparked just that, leading to an outcry. These investigations also called into question Justice Clarence Thomass relationships with partisan figures, and Democrats, in turn, pushed for a code of ethics. Alito has vehemently denied wrongdoing, calling the article false and misleading in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal. And more recently, flags linked to the Stop the Steal movement were seen flying from his homes in Virginia and New Jersey over the past few years, according to reports published in the New York Times this month. A flag at the United States Post Office on Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce flew upside down Wednesday, May 22, 2024, days after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito faced criticism for pictures of his home with the same sight, a symbol used by some who deny the 2020 presidential election results. An upside-down American flag flown outside Alitos Virginia home last summer has become a well-known symbol expressing support with election deniers. An Appeal to Heaven flag flown outside the justices Long Island home last year is linked to Christian nationalist groups and was carried by some of the Jan. 6 Capitol attackers. Kathryn Palmer is an elections fellow for USA TODAY. Reach her at kapalmer@gannett.com and follow her on X @KathrynPlmr. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Who appointed Justice Alito? A closer look amid flag controversy Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia politicians on both sides of the aisle have been reacting fast and furious to President Donald Trump being found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. Action News Jax has gathered remarks posted by local and state officials on social media. RELATED: President Biden, Speaker Johnson react to Trump guilty verdict You can read them in full below: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) (post on X): Todays verdict represents the culmination of a legal process that has been bent to the political will of the actors involved: a leftist prosecutor, a partisan judge and a jury reflective of one of the most liberal enclaves in Americaall in an effort to get Donald Trump. That this caseinvolving alleged misdemeanor business records violations from nearly a decade agowas even brought is a testament to the political debasement of the justice system in places like New York City. This is especially true considering this same district attorney routinely excuses criminal conduct in a way that has endangered law-abiding citizens in his jurisdiction. It is often said that no one is above the law, but it is also true that no one is below the law. If the defendant were not Donald Trump, this case would never have been brought, the judge would have never issued similar rulings, and the jury would have never returned a guilty verdict. In America, the rule of law should be applied in a dispassionate, even-handed manner, not become captive to the political agenda of some kangaroo court. RELATED: Trump found guilty on all counts in hush money trial Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) (post on X): The verdict in New York is a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our system of justice. A political show trial conducted by an openly pro-Biden judge whose daughter makes money off the case, a jury from the most liberal county in America, absurd and ridiculous charges and outrageous jury instructions that guaranteed guilty verdicts. Biden and the Trump deranged left will stop at nothing to remain in power PHOTOS: Trump found guilty on all counts in hush money trial Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak to the press after he was convicted in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A panel of 12 New Yorkers were unanimous in their determination that Donald Trump is guilty as charged -- but for the impact on his election prospects, the jury is still out. The Republican billionaire was convicted of all 34 charges in New York on May 30, 2024, and now finds himself bidding for a second presidential term unsure if he'll be spending 2025 in the Oval Office, on probation or in jail. (Photo by Seth Wenig / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SETH WENIG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump walks to speak to the press after he was convicted in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush money case on May 30, 2024 in a seismic development barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House. (Photo by JUSTIN LANE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN LANE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) A member of the media holds a phone displaying a news broadcast after the verdict was read at Manhattan criminal court in New York, US, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. A New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of multiple felonies at his hush-money trial, making him the first former US president to be convicted of crimes. Photographer: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/Bloomberg via Getty Images Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves Manhattan Criminal Court in his motorcade after he was convicted in his criminal trial in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A panel of 12 New Yorkers were unanimous in their determination that Donald Trump is guilty as charged -- but for the impact on his election prospects, the jury is still out. The Republican billionaire was convicted of all 34 charges in New York on May 30, 2024, and now finds himself bidding for a second presidential term unsure if he'll be spending 2025 in the Oval Office, on probation or in jail. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) People react after former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in his criminal trial outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A panel of 12 New Yorkers were unanimous in their determination that Donald Trump is guilty as charged -- but for the impact on his election prospects, the jury is still out. The Republican billionaire was convicted of all 34 charges in New York on May 30, 2024, and now finds himself bidding for a second presidential term unsure if he'll be spending 2025 in the Oval Office, on probation or in jail. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) Pro-Trump and anti-Trump protesters clash outside the Manhattan Criminal Court Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York City. (Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) Trump supporters react as a verdict was reached in the criminal trial of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in Collect Pond Park across the street from Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Jurors return May 30, 2024 to a second day of deliberations in Donald Trump's criminal trial, leaving the Republican presidential candidate and the country waiting for a decision that could upend November's election. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) People react after former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in his criminal trial outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush money case on May 30, 2024 in a seismic development barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) Trump supporters react as a verdict was reached in the criminal trial of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in Collect Pond Park across the street from Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Jurors return May 30, 2024 to a second day of deliberations in Donald Trump's criminal trial, leaving the Republican presidential candidate and the country waiting for a decision that could upend November's election. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) People react after former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in his criminal trial outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush money case on May 30, 2024 in a seismic development barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) A Trump supporter reacts as a verdict was announced in the criminal trial of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in Collect Pond Park across the street from Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The jury in Donald Trump's hush money trial announced Thursday in a note to the court that it has reached a verdict, indicating that this would be delivered in less than an hour. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) People react after former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in his criminal trial outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush money case on May 30, 2024 in a seismic development barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) Trump supporters react as a verdict was reached in the criminal trial of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in Collect Pond Park across the street from Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Jurors return May 30, 2024 to a second day of deliberations in Donald Trump's criminal trial, leaving the Republican presidential candidate and the country waiting for a decision that could upend November's election. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) Spectators outside Manhattan Criminal Court watch for the verdict against former President Donald Trump, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Former President Donald Trump comments to members of the media after being found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree at Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool) Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool) A supporter of former President Donald Trump and an anti-Trump protester fight outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) In this courtroom sketch, Thursday May 30, 2024, a courtroom stenographer seated in witness box, left, reads back testimony that the jury requested, as the jury, far right takes notes. Jury deliberations in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial entered their second day on Thursday. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump returns to the courtroom during his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. Jurors return May 30, 2024 to a second day of deliberations in Donald Trump's criminal trial, leaving the Republican presidential candidate and the country waiting for a decision that could upend November's election. (Photo by JUSTIN LANE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN LANE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to the media during his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. The jury in Donald Trump's hush money trial announced May 30, 2024 in a note to the court that it has reached a verdict, indicating that this would be delivered in less than an hour. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) A supporter of Donald Trump reacts to the guilty verdict announced against the former President outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) People react to the guilty verdict announced against former President Donald Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Jacksonville City Council member Jimmy Peluso (D) (post on X): Guilty on all counts. No one is above the law. #jaxpol #FlaPol #TrumpTrialThursday Jacksonville City Council member Rory Diamond (R) (post on X): Trumps just guaranteed his re-election. America wont stand for this. Florida State Rep. Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville) (post on X): Guilty on all counts. May justice be served. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Georgias 1st Congressional District) (post on X): The verdict in President Trumps trial in New York is the result of a baseless trial with drummed up charges. Democrats have completely weaponized our justice system. RELATED: Here are the 34 counts of which Donald Trump has been found guilty Republican Party of Duval County (Facebook post): Todays verdict is a sad day for America. Alvin Bragg campaigned on pursuing a witchhunt against President Trump, and unfortunately, he succeeded. Its a stark reminder of the Democrats relentless pursuit of political gain, even at the expense of our justice system. The truth of the matter is: Americans know that this sham verdict will be overturned on appeal and this entire trial will be remembered as a miscarriage of justice. This campaign is not about today; its about Joe Biden and the Democrats failing record on border security, high prices, and a world that is less safe than four years ago. These issues will decide this election, not a conviction based on bogus charges in a deep blue city. We look forward to President Trumps re-election and Republican victories up and down the ballot. If you stand with President Trump, please visit duval.gop to volunteer and contribute. Chairman Dean Black, Republican Party of Duval County [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Republican Party of Georgia (Facebook post): DISGRACEFUL DECISION IN NEW YORK KANGAROO COURT Todays outcome was preordained by a partisan judge and prosecutor who have critically damaged public confidence in our criminal justice system, perhaps irrevocably. Republicans should not have to fear living in jurisdictions that elect Democrats who will then prosecute them for the crime of being Republican, but that is what has happened today. The polling numbers have long shown that President Bidens reelection chances are dwindling by the day. This entire case was nothing but a politically motivated Hail Mary pass from the Biden Administration via the New York City District Attorney. The list of norms broken by this judge has been nothing short of stunning in the eyes of all impartial legal observers and attorneys across the country. The fact that he gave the jury a multiple choice question about the supposed underlying crime that turned a bookkeeping issue into 34 felonies is absurd. Not to mention the laundry list of political and financial conflicts involving him and his own family that clearly demonstrates he was not fit to preside over this farce. Im confident there is zero chance this conviction will stand on appeal, but the prosecution and judge knew that all along. That wasnt the point of this exercise. This has always been about stopping Republicans from retaking the White House under the leadership of Donald J. Trump. Fortunately, the majority of the American people see through this disgusting charade. Ultimately, this show trial that we would think of occurring only in places like the former Soviet Union will make Donald Trump stronger because it demonstrates that if we do not elect him, this politicization and undermining of our justice system will accelerate. In the end, todays verdict will take its place alongside other historic mistakes and abuses in our judicial system but primarily will be remembered for how it will make his victory this November even MORE historic. Georgia Republicans fully stand behind our nominee Donald J. Trump. The stakes being raised by these Democrats who have placed their party over their country will only lead to us working even harder to get President Trump elected! We MUST turn away from these disturbing Democrat attempts to make America a third rate banana republic. Sincerely, Josh McKoon Chairman Georgia Republican Party [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] The genie is out of the bottle. This trial was always about taking President Trump off the ballot because Biden has nothing else to run on. Democrats tried to remove Trump off the ballot in Maine & Colorado. They unleashed a politicized justice system against him. This judge, jurisdiction, and jury instructions preordained Presidents Trumps legal fate. Americans see right through this and will continue to fight to elect him back to the White House! Heres the new, sad chapter to our country. If Political Opponents Can Do This To The Former President, They Can Do It To Anyone After today, you dont just put your reputation on the line when you enter politics against the Democrats, you now put your freedom on the line. U.S. Rep Kat Cammack (R-Floridas 3rd Congressional District) (1st of 2 posts on X; 2nd of 2 posts on X): It goes without saying that our justice system must never be weaponized to target a political opponent. Yet, that is precisely what has happened to @realDonaldTrump. I firmly believe the American people will not be deceived by this sham trial and will overwhelmingly vote to re-elect Donald Trump in November. If you are upset, frustrated, depressed, shocked and/or pissed off with todays BS ruling against Trump, then help us. Get involved. Go to your local county supervisor of elections website and register to be a poll worker/poll watcher or serve on the canvassing board. Stopping law-fare and political persecution will require all hands on deck in November. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Kansas voters, including people using this Lawrence polling station, cast ballots Tuesday in races for U.S. House and U.S. Senate. For the first time, Lawrence residents are part of the 1st District stretching to the Colorado border. The shift devised by the GOP-led Legislature was to dilute influence of left-leaning Lawrence in congressional contests. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab warned potential candidates that the deadline for filing is approaching. This election cycle, legislative seats are up for grabs, and Democrats have declared their intent to break the supermajority. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Secretary of State Scott Schwab on Thursday encouraged Kansans to run for office ahead of Mondays registration deadline. Candidates who are running for seats at the national, state, county, township and precinct level have until noon Monday to file for the Aug. 6 primary. To those who are eligible, I encourage you to run for office, Schwab said. Whether its a local or state position, public service is a meaningful way to contribute to your community and state. Monday also marks the deadline for voters to change their party affiliation before the primary election. The states 2024 election cycle already is heating up, with all 40 Senate and 125 House seats up for grabs this cycle. In 2022, more than half of House candidates didnt even face an opponent in November. This year, Democrats at the local and national level have vowed to put up more of a fight in Kansas legislative races in an attempt to break the Republican supermajority in the House and Senate. In January, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, a national group focused on winning Democratic seats in state Legislatures, announced they would hone in on Kansas. And political action committees are expected to use Medicaid expansion as a political wedge in primary and general election races. Medicaid expansion would expand state health insurance coverage to an estimated 152,000 Kansans. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government covers 90% of the extra cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to those who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty rate. Expansion is supported by a majority of Kansans, including Republican voters, but GOP legislative leaders have blocked the move for years, clashing with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly over the issue. Kansas Republicans decade-long obstruction illustrates the dangers of their unchecked power in the Legislature hundreds of millions of federal dollars are being left on the table, and peoples lives are at stake, said DLCC spokesperson Abhi Rahman after efforts to advance a Medicaid expansion bill failed in April. Republicans must be held accountable for their refusal to act on this common sense policy. The DLCC is sounding the alarm on the urgency around breaking the Republican supermajority and defending Gov. Laura Kellys veto power in 2024. The post Kansas candidate filing window closes Monday for primary races appeared first on Kansas Reflector. A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer who appeared high while responding to a call last year has lost his state police certification. James Shepherd started with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department in January 2018. According to court documents filed in a federal lawsuit in October, Shepherd responded to a child custody dispute in January 2023. Shepherd appeared to be under the influence of some type of substance as he had to lean on the wall for support, was speaking so fast that Plaintiffs could hardly understand him, his face was flush, he was blinking his eyes at an unusual frequency, was slurring his words, and just generally acting strange, the lawsuit alleged. A video of the encounter was posted on social media. Criminal charges were declined and the lawsuit was dismissed in January. The Kansas Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Trainings, or CPOST, which certifies officers in the state, received a complaint about Shepherd, which included the recording. The commission arranged an interview with Shepherd to determine if any prescription drugs impaired his ability as a police officer. Shepherds attorney then told the commission he would not be attending the interview, according to CPOST documents. The commission can withdraw an officers license if they do not cooperate with an investigation. Shepherds certification was revoked May 9, records show. Nikki Richardson, co-founder of Justice for Wyandotte, said the organization was aware of the January 2023 incident. Justice for Wyandotte has continued to affirm that KCKPD should continually be held accountable, especially at any point in time where a law enforcement officer isnt fit to police, she said. Richardson said she believed the revocation by CPOST was the appropriate response. I would hate for the police officer to leave here and go somewhere else and equally do damage, she said. The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. TOPEKA (KSNT) The Kansas Office of Judicial Administration announced the backlog of paper filings caused by a cybersecurity incident last year has been caught up. On Oct. 12, 2023, a sophisticated foreign cyberattack on the states Judicial Branch temporarily stalled any technological court systems, making the courts go back to a paper filing system. A thorough examination of the files that were accessed during the incident completed by cybersecurity experts and the Office of Judicial Administration was concluded by April 23, 2024. Those experts found some files accessed in the incident contained personal information for around 150,000 people. As a result of the incident, 104 county courts in Kansas switched to paper filings. Courts had to reduce hours to court clerk offices and held a statewide workshop to work through the backlogs. After the cybersecurity incident, our first goal was to restore all court information systems safely and securely, Chief Justice Marla Luckert said. Once these systems were restored, district court staff then had to work through a backlog of paper filings to bring the district court case management system up to date. That work is now complete. Kansas Courts cyber attack impacts 150,000 people By Aug. 2023, all district courts except for Johnson County had transitioned to the Kansas Court case management system. The Office of Judicial Administration said the system makes it possible to search most court information online through the Kansas District Court Public Access Portal. The system now has information for the period when the courts were operating on paper. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. At last, were getting a special session. As expected though a touch later than expected Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday called a special session of the Legislature to take place in June. The hope here is that the Democratic governor and the GOP-controlled legislature can use the overtime period to maybe, hopefully, finally strike an agreement on cutting taxes for Kansans. By working together, the governor said in a press release, we can swiftly come to a compromise to put more money back into Kansans pockets. Maybe? But that might be a tall order: Kelly has already vetoed several tax packages this year. She wants to limit the total cut to $425 million, while Republicans say the state can handle cuts up to a cool half-billion dollars. The two sides dont exactly seem terribly thrilled with each other. Now she says shes ready to work with the legislature? Ottawa GOP state Rep. Rebecca Schmoe scoffed on social media. Weve already compromised multiple times and sent her true bipartisan tax plans. So yeah. The spirit of compromise doesnt exactly seem ascendant. Still, it would be good news for Kansans if the two sides can reach an agreement. The states coffers are flush with extra money. Some of that should go back to the people who actually earned it. Everybody seems to agree on that much, at least. Just one problem, though, with Kellys decision to bring legislators back to Topeka: Theres just so much opportunity for mischief. Chiefs stadium, blocking trans health care on agenda? Why? Because once lawmakers get together, even for a special session, theres nothing that keeps them from passing any law they like. So maybe well get a big tax cut. Maybe not. We could also get some stuff thats not on Kellys agenda. Legislators could decide to authorize financing for a new Johnson County stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs, for example. Or we could get yet another attempt by Republicans to ban gender-affirming care for transgender kids in the state. Efforts on both fronts faltered before the clock ran out on the Legislatures regular session earlier this spring. That was a good thing, to my mind. Now, though, lawmakers get another bite at the apple. They might even be eager for the opportunity. Thats the risk of a special session, Senate President Ty Masterson said earlier this month. As a matter of fact, we would be incentivized if we come back to deal with the (tax) issues. If she vetoes anything that we pass in main session, it just gives us a new opportunity to take another swing at it. Perhaps thats an idle threat. But we cant say we werent warned. The beauty of the part-time Kansas Legislature is that lawmakers have limited time to do damage a regular session lasts just 90 calendar days in even-numbered years. You can squeeze only so much flour into that bag. That forces a certain amount of priority-setting. Yes, legislators have plenty of leeway to play with culture war issues and grandstanding that doesnt help anybody, but theyve also got to do the business of the state. Budgets must be passed. Schools must be funded. Roads must be fixed. In a special session, though, lawmakers are free to really follow their muse. To be fair, it doesnt often work that way in practice. The four special sessions between 2013 and 2021 lasted two days or fewer. Legislators dont necessarily want to spend a lot of extra time at work, particularly during an election year. These arent exactly normal political times, though. Anything can happen. Ive already written that Kelly is risking her twin legacies for fiscal rectitude and middle-of-the-road moderation by rejecting the Legislatures tax bills and calling senators and representatives back to the statehouse. The other risk is that the special session could spiral out of control. Kelly and Republican leaders in the capitol dont often seem to be on the same page. Why would this be any different? Joel Mathis is a regular Kansas City Star and Wichita Eagle Opinion correspondent. He lives in Lawrence. Formerly a writer and editor at Kansas newspapers, he served nine years as a syndicated columnist. Gov. Laura Kelly participates in a ceremonial signing of a workers compensation reform law on May 29, 2024. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA The state is set to bolster benefits for families of workers who have been killed and for workers who have been permanently disabled, marking change for the first time in more than a decade. Kansas workers will see the effects of the change in little more than a month, following the passage of legislation overhauling what have been some of the lowest workers compensation rates in the country. Senate Bill 430, a bipartisan law formed after vigorous negotiations with business and labor groups, will go into effect July 1. Lawmakers sent the bill to the governor in March, and she signed it April 11. Gov. Laura Kelly held a second ceremonial signing Wednesday to reiterate the laws importance, surrounded by lawmakers, labor groups and members of the National Guard. Kelly estimated the last meaningful updates to workers comp happened 13 years ago, and it took 24 years of work before that to achieve change. I remind you of this so we all truly appreciate how big a deal this really is, Kelly said. A family of a worker killed on the job will receive up to $500,000 in death compensation benefits, up from the previous cap of $300,000. For a worker with an injury resulting in a permanent and total disability, benefits will be capped at $400,000, up from $155,000. Compensation benefits for a temporary total disability will go from the previous cap of $130,000 to $225,000. The benefits will also undergo cost-of-living adjustments starting in 2027. The bills language is the result of countless hours of effort by representatives of injured workers, industry, and the state to craft much-needed and meaningful updates to the Kansas Workers Compensation Act, said Anton Andersen, a defense attorney and director for the Kansas Self Insurers Association. Other changes include extending workers compensation coverage to those in the Kansas National Guard and decreasing the Social Security retirement offset for certain disability benefits. This legislation is a significant step in achieving a balance between the needs of workers and the realities of the business world, said Kansas Department of Labor Secretary Amber Shultz. We are proud to play a part in the creation of a more fair and equitable system. SB 430 also allows for the settlement of workers compensation cases without a formal court hearing and limits use of independent medical examinations, among other provisions. It has been way too long since we have revised our worker compensation laws, Kelly said in an interview after the signing. This was absolutely necessary. We were one of the states with the lowest workers compensation of any state in the country. The post Kansas raising death benefits for families of killed workers in truly necessary overhaul appeared first on Kansas Reflector. EL DORADO, Kan. (KSNW) The Butler County Sheriffs Office is hoping the public can lead them to the bodies of two men who have been missing for decades. Franklin Punkie Harrod (courtesy Butler Co. Sheriffs Office.) In July 1997, the Butler County Sheriffs Office began investigating the disappearance of Franklin Punkie Harrod, and his wife, Kelly Harrod, reported him missing. Investigators eventually uncovered a murder-for-hire plot involving Kelly and two others. All three were sentenced to prison, but Franklins body was never recovered. Kelly and one of her co-conspirators have served out their sentence and been released, while the third person, believed to have committed the act of murder, remains in prison. During the investigation into Franklins disappearance, detectives learned that the disappearance of a second man nearly a decade before was connected. Man charged in chase that injured Augusta officer Ricky L. Nelms (courtesy Butler Co. Sheriffs Office) Ricky L. Nelms, originally from Trinity in northwest Alabama, had moved to the Wichita area to work as a roofer. His family last saw him in February 1988 when he left with an old friend to return to Wichita. After six months without a word from him, Nelms mother reported him missing to Alabama authorities. His disappearance remained unsolved. Fast forward to 2005, when the investigation into the disappearance of Franklin led to the arrest of his wife and two accomplices. Our sister-station WHNT in Huntsville, Alabama, reports that the investigator looking into Nelms disappearance learned that the friend he was last seen with heading back to Wichita in 1988 was a relative of one of the suspects arrested in the disappearance and murder of Franklin in Butler County. At that point in time, we started investigating it further and questioned people who were acquaintances with Mr. Nelms, and tried to gather all the information that we could, said Capt. McWhorter. The information that we were getting was somewhat of hearsay and rumors that he might have been killed while residing in Kansas. Sentencing scheduled for July in fatal Old Town shooting WHNT says that information led investigators in Kansas to look at a possible burial site for Nelms. However, when investigators went to search the area near Wichita, a shopping center, a new housing development had been built. The Butler County Sheriffs Office believes both men may be buried somewhere in Butler County. The department says Sheriff Monty Hughey is offering a substantial reward for information that leads to the location of Franklin and Nelms bodies. Tips can be submitted by telephone at 316-322-8817 or 866-484-5924 and by email at crimetips@bucoks.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. A Kent School District labor group is calling for the resignations of the districts top leaders, Superintendent Israel Vela and School Board President Meghin Margel. The Kent Labor Alliance, which is made up of several unions that represent school workers, said it had no confidence in the districts executive leadership and school board members, according to the groups written document. This letter is an expression of our Vote of No Confidence in Israel Vela and Meghin Margel and their ability to function in leadership roles in the district, the document wrote. The alliance listed eight concerns it had, including failures of the Capital Projects and Technology Levy. Voters rejected a levy that would have supported health and safety upgrades, facility equipment replacement and improvements and technology education, the alliance said. Instead of recognizing there is a lack of trust from the community, the alliance added, the districts leadership blamed the failures due to voter apathy and taxation fatigue. Leaders of the group also pointed to the passage of Resolution 1669. The alliance said the resolution silenced a board member, whose wife works as a teacher within the district, from speaking on all union contract negotiations, even though he recused himself from speaking on negotiations involving teachers. The resolution was passed before the board spoke with all labor groups; the alliance added. The Board refused to consider this information before forcing the vote to silence Director Cook and the community that he represents, the alliance wrote. The Kent Labor Alliance also accused the district of replacing union employees with non-represented workers and disregarding the concerns from constituents and stakeholders. In addition to the concerns, the alliance said Superintendent Vela also failed to address the lack of support staff and resources to support students mental health, staffing shortages and the lack of supplies and properly working equipment. KIRO 7 News spoke with Tim Martin, the president of the Kent Education Association, which is part of the Kent Labor Alliance. We would like the superintendent and the school board to change their position on Resolution 1669 because ultimately whats going to happen is its going to cause difficulty in retaining our teachers and other staff in the district, said Martin. But we would be happy if they would change their position on 1669 as well as helping to improve the learning conditions and safety for our students and staff. Its an anti-labor passage. Thats what this resolution truly is, he said. The unions president also said the current working and learning environment for staff and students are not ideal. Mental health. We need counseling. We need more support. We need more accountability and that goes on all levels. Is it the best learning environment? No. Do we want to improve it? Yes, he said. Our students need more support. Our staff need more support. Martin said the alliance has reached out to Vela and Margel, but they have not heard back. There hasnt been a response. The school board president has not responded in any way through email or through conversations or phone calls. My phone is open Megan. Give me a call. Israel Vela, nothing has come from that, he said. We also spoke with Jason Powell, the president of Teamsters Local 763, which represents around 150 Kent School District bus drivers and transportation assistants. In multiple occasions, bonds or levies have failed. That shows that the community members are not buying what the current superintendent and board are selling them. They are not reaching the voters in a way that at their level of leadership they need to have the ability to do, he said. While the union has a good relationship with transportation management and other departments, Powell said, its important for them to support other union workers. An injury to one is an injury to all, he said. You either take responsibility or you dont. If you take responsibility, you got to be able to fix it. And if over some time youre not, then its time to move on. I think they had an opportunity to lead the district in the right direction, and the only direction theyve gone so far is the wrong direction, he added. KIRO 7 News also spoke with parents to get their thoughts. Manmohan Singh, a Kent School District parent, said he understand the concerns shared by the unions, but he doesnt necessarily agree. There should be enough evidence or other stuff before you go in with any of this stuff because any time youre making a change, its cost money, like everything else associated with it, he said. KIRO 7 News reached out to the superintendent and the school board president. Were still waiting to hear back. We also reached out to the district and requested an interview. A spokesperson declined our request, but said, We remain committed to working with our labor partners on any issues pertaining to their collective bargaining agreements. Martin told KIRO 7 News the alliance has a meeting scheduled with the district in early June. A contestant performs Chinese martial arts in the finals of the 23rd "Chinese Bridge" Competition in Sri Lanka in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, May 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wu Yue) by Chen Dongshu, Wu Yue COLOMBO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The finals of the 23rd "Chinese Bridge" Competition in Sri Lanka have recently concluded in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. During the talent show segment, 30 contestants showcased a variety of Chinese cultural performances, including Huangmei Opera, ethnic dances, kuaiban (a form of oral storytelling), and performances on the Hulusi (a traditional Chinese wind instrument). Ma Zhongwu, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Colombo, told reporters that a major highlight of this year's competition was the comprehensive and diverse experience of Chinese culture. Mandarin has become one of the priorities for Sri Lankan students learning foreign languages. The contestants shared their reasons for their love of Chinese culture. For Visaka Dewsara, communication deepened her interest. Dewsara, who had previously studied in a Chinese martial arts community, performed a solo saber routine during the talent show segment, with clean and crisp moves full of rhythm and intensity. A year ago, she participated in an exchange program between the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka and Southwest University in Chongqing, China. In Chongqing, she not only improved her Chinese language skills but also received a special gift: a dark blue horse-face skirt from her Chinese teacher. She carefully kept this skirt in her wardrobe until this year's "Chinese Bridge" Competition, when she finally took it out to wear. For Jinali Wijekoon, a student at Sabaragamuwa University, learning Chinese provided more options for personal development. During the speech competition segment, many contestants mentioned landmark projects of BRI in Sri Lanka, such as the Port City, Hambantota Port, and Lotus Tower, and Wijekoon was no exception. She said that these projects brought numerous job opportunities to Sri Lanka, so learning Chinese was highly beneficial. Wijekoon said the spirit of cooperation and the concept of mutual benefits embodied in these projects best exemplified the competition theme "One World, One Family." As a senior set to graduate this year, she has already secured a job as a translator in a Chinese company. "I want to continue studying Chinese culture and communicate more smoothly with my Chinese colleagues," she said. Contestant Madhavi Weerasekara performed a four-minute Peking Opera showcase in the finals, which reflected the efforts and support of her entire family. The ornate phoenix coronet she wore during her performance was made together with her parents, sister and brother using two pieces of cardboard, with each stroke and pearl meticulously hand-painted and threaded, taking a full week to complete. Weerasekara has been studying Chinese for eight years. To her, her family and teachers are the best role models for promoting Chinese culture. "Many of my relatives study Chinese, and they all say that Chinese is useful and interesting. My sister speaks Chinese very well, and I started learning Chinese in middle school with great support from my parents," said Weerasekara. "I also want to promote the Chinese culture that I love, just like my sister and teachers, and I hope that one day I can go to China to perform Peking Opera," she said. Ji Lili, counsellor of the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka, said at the award ceremony that language is the best key to understanding a country. By learning Chinese and participating in the "Chinese Bridge" Competition, one can gain a richer understanding of China. She hopes that Sri Lankan Chinese language talents will contribute to further deepening China-Sri Lanka friendship and cooperation. A contestant takes part in the finals of the 23rd "Chinese Bridge" Competition in Sri Lanka in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, May 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Wu Yue) A contestant takes part in the finals of the 23rd "Chinese Bridge" Competition in Sri Lanka in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, May 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Wu Yue) A former Kentucky juvenile corrections officer is in custody after failing to appear in court following allegations of sexual relations with an inmate. Police began searching for Neil Moorman, 30, of Fort Mitchell, on May 21 for missing his arraignment in court after allegedly engaging in two counts of sexual abuse to the first degree at the Campbell Regional Juvenile Detention Center, according to records obtained by The Courier Journal. He was arrested Tuesday and is in custody in Hamilton County, Ohio, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Kentucky State Police spokesperson Matt Sudduth said an investigation was opened by Post 6 in Dry Ridge on May 31, 2023 after authorities from the detention center requested one for allegations of sexual misconduct. Findings suggested Moorman "engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a juvenile." The case was presented to the Campbell County Grand Jury and Moorman was summoned on May 9 for a May 21 appearance in circuit court with original charges to the second degree. A warrant was issued for his arrest on May 22 after he failed to appear. Moorman remains in custody and the investigation is ongoing. Related: DOJ to investigate Kentucky youth detention centers after scathing audit This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky corrections officer arrested for alleged sexual abuse of facility teens A Kentucky teacher has been charged with illegally having sexual contact with a minor. Kentucky State Police obtained a warrant charging Craig E. Callen, 50, with third-degree rape, third-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse and using an electronic device in the crimes, according to Trooper Shans Jacobs, spokesman for the post covering Bell County. State Police did not identify Callen as a teacher or release information about the alleged victim. However, Tim Crawford, the attorney for Middlesboro Independent Schools, confirmed Callen was a social studies teacher at the high school. Crawford said the district fired Callen on Friday. The rape and sodomy charges against Callen apply in cases in which a person of authority including a teacher meets a victim as a result of that position, which could indicate the victim in the case against Callen was a student. Radio station WRIL-FM in Bell County reported the victim was a female student. Jacobs said State Police received a complaint about Callen on Wednesday morning, interviewed witnesses and obtained a warrant before the end of the day. Callen lives in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, which is near Middlesboro. The Claiborne County, Tennessee, sheriffs office arrested him. The roster of the jail there shows Callen was booked in at 8:03 p.m. Wednesday. Callen was being held Thursday as a fugitive from Kentucky. Authorities will have to extradite him to face the charges in Bell County. Kenyan president Ruto defends cost of private jet for US trip while calling for prudent spending Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, top of stairs from right, hosts a welcoming ceremony for Kenya's President William Ruto at the Pentagon in Washington, Friday, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) Kenyan President William Ruto said Thursday the cost of hiring a private jet for his state visit to the U.S. last week was $76,000 as opposed to the $1.2 million reported by Kenyan media outlets. Ruto said some friends offered him a cheaper jet after he made inquiries and offered to travel using the state carrier Kenya Airways. The president undertook a four-day trip to the U.S. last week, where his host President Joe Biden praised him for bold leadership. Rutos delegation of about 30 people including musicians, actors and a comedian provoked an uproar back home over the cost even as he called for prudent spending. The president on Thursday said he was a very "responsible steward. Ruto had earlier said the cost of using the private jet was lower than flying on Kenya Airways, without providing evidence. Ruto has been calling for reduced spending in government since the public called out his administration for increasing taxes without reducing expenditures. The government is increasing taxes on basic goods in the next financial year while seeking to raise an additional $2.3 billion to finance the budget. Earlier in May, Ruto defended the new taxes saying: Im not going to preside over a country in debt distress. We have to cut our spending. Alongside Baltimore City fire engines and inflatable rescue boats in a Locust Point garage rests a beloved mural, created to honor the victims of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The 11 massive canvases that made up the painting had sat in a patch of grass across from a Royal Farms convenience store in Hawkins Point, part of a sprawling homemade memorial to the six construction workers who perished when the bridge fell. But after nearly two months outside in the elements along Fort Smallwood Road, it came time Tuesday for the mural to move indoors, allowing its Texas-based artist Roberto Marquez to step back from his role as guardian of the shrine, which evolved into a serene gathering place for those impacted by a far-reaching tragedy. The murals fate isnt clear. But already, at least one museum has shown interest: the Baltimore Museum of Industry, which has started assembling a collection focused on the history of the bridge. Marquez said he is open to a museum hosting the artwork, but no final decision has been made. In the meantime, city and state officials helped Marquez find a storage location next door to the museum, an old Baltimore City Fire Department repair shop on Key Highway, with a wide-open garage large enough to fit the murals 7-foot-tall panels. Much of the memorial will remain in place about 2 miles from the collapsed bridge, at the request of some victims families: the six tall crosses, adorned with photographs and mementos; the flags representing each of the four countries the victims hailed from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico alongside a large American flag; perhaps even the bright red truck, painted to mimic the vehicles that the workers were sitting in when the bridge fell from beneath them. The relocation of the mural, filled with the families handwritten messages of grief and loss, was a difficult moment for some of them, Marquez said. But it was time. Im not with an organization. Im not a millionaire. I decided to help them, but eventually its getting real difficult, Marquez said. Marquez recently witnessed the sudden removal of a similar memorial he created for workers in Ocala, Florida, after just a few days. While the owners of the land where the mural sits now have not asked for its removal, Marquez said he needs to leave Baltimore and move on to other projects. He was concerned that vandals could damage the memorial if left unattended, or that it could end up in the trash. An official with Talen Energy, which owns the land the memorial stands on and the nearby Brandon Shores power plant, previously said the company respects both its presence and meaning to the community. Marquez said he has installed replacement canvases where the mural once stood, allowing families to continue writing and painting messages if they wish. A new section has been added, too, honoring the victims of the high-speed crash on Interstate 695 last year that also killed six road workers, some of whom had Latino heritage as well. Los Olvidados reads a painting beside the six new crosses: The Forgotten Ones. Over the past few months, Marquez has traveled back and forth between his hometown of Dallas and Baltimore numerous times to attend to family matters, including his fathers health problems and the birth of a grandchild. But when in Baltimore, he spent 12-hour days guarding the mural, and ensuring that arriving family members always had a person to talk to and a shoulder to cry on. He travels with a single rolling bag stuffed with clothes, and stays at the home of Bernardo Vargas, a local roofer who helps him maintain the memorial. Vargas is part of a hodgepodge team of locals who keep the memorial site clean and welcoming, including Mary Babington, a nurse who travels there with jugs of water in between shifts at the hospital, to water the flowers planted in the soil. After the collapse, Babington said she couldnt help thinking about the six workers and the terror of their final moments all because they signed up to do a job few others want to do. I probably passed these guys coming home from work one night, she said. And I didnt even realize it. Babington said she hopes the site can remain a memorial, not least because it adds beauty to an area that is heavily industrialized, including a medical waste incinerator and other facilities. The murals panels tell the story of the bridge disaster in bright, abstract imagery, evoking the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. It begins with a scene at Americas southern border, with soldiers violently arresting a traveling migrant. Steel bridge trusses emerge from the melee, and a red truck is visible in a sea of blue. The next panel features the large face of a weeping woman, cradling a human body in her hands. The face of Spanish artist Salvador Dali represents the cargo ship that caused the disaster. And a final panel shows the survivor of the collapse being rescued, as hands reach up to him from beneath the waves. Several staff members from the Museum of Industry have visited the mural, said spokesperson Claire Mullins, and were very moved by seeing it in person. While the museum would be honored to take the mural, and the artist has expressed interest in that option, our understanding is that at this moment no firm decision has been made, Mullins wrote in an email. Ultimately the BMI will defer to the wishes of the artist and the families about the future of the mural. The Museum of Industry also would be interested in accepting other items that were on display at the memorial honoring the victims, if they are donated by the families, Mullins said. While Marquez supports finding the mural a permanent home in a museum, he expressed interest in keeping a memorial for victims families to visit standing long-term maybe at the same location or elsewhere. Anay Orduno, a friend of Jose Mynor Lopez, who died on the bridge, said that in the disasters immediate aftermath, she visited the memorial site with many of his close family members nearly every day as they anxiously awaited news that Lopezs body had been recovered. He was the last to be found, six weeks after the collapse. Related Articles On Saturday evening, one day after a memorial service for Lopez, they returned again. As night fell, Orduno and several of Lopezs family members shared their memories of him, some with beers in hand. She comforted Lopezs aunt, who took care of him as a child in Guatemala, and who he later brought to join him in the United States. The site has given the families a place to grieve collectively, said Orduno, adding that she hopes it can remain a memorial. In our culture in Spanish culture we take care of people when we are all alive, and when we are not, said Orduno, who lives in Rosedale. Perhaps Lopez, who friends called by the nickname Chepe, would have appreciated the gatherings. A father to four children, Lopez loved to spend time with his family and friends, sharing carne asada and beers. He was incredibly fun, she said. Shell always remember him sitting in the hammock on her porch, beer in hand. As preparations were underway for the mural to be relocated, many longtime visitors stopped by Saturday for a final look. Family members wrote their last messages on the canvas, as children played in the tall grass nearby. Charles Mills and his family brought fresh watermelon and corn for the group. The Glen Burnie resident said he has come to the memorial many times, dropping off candles, flowers and snacks. He hopes it remains. Theyve adopted us into the family, he said. After the mural was placed in storage Tuesday, its panels resting against a wall in the garage, one final message was written in permanent marker. It was from Jorge Cuctiul, one of the workers who helped move it. He wrote it in an indigenous language from Guatemala called Qeqchi, in hopes that his countrymen might see it and understand. Greetings to those who are going to see these words, his message said. It is me, Jorge, and I am with our compatriots, who died on the 695 bridge. You know the saying, Rules are meant to be broken? Well, apparently thats become King Charless new mantra because the 75-year-old monarch will break a major royal tradition at this years Trooping of the Colour, which is set to take place on Saturday, June 15, in London. Though His Majesty is currently undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the senior royal will attend the annual celebration. Per Hello! Magazine, the king will inspect the soldiers from a carriage (alongside his wife, Queen Camilla) as opposed to from a horseback during the ceremony. Last year, King Charles rode on horseback (the traditional method) alongside his oldest son, Prince William, and two siblings, Prince Edward and Princess Anne. According to People, His Majesty was the first monarch to ride on horseback since the passing of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who switched from riding on horseback to taking a carriage during the ceremony in 1986. ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile, other members of the British royal family ride in carriages. Back in June 2023, Kate Middleton rode alongside her three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 6. Buckingham Palace hasnt confirmed whether or not the Princess of Wales will participate in the festivities this year. However, the palace did announce that Lieutenant General James Bucknall will carry out the role of Inspecting Officer (on behalf of the royal princess) for the traditional Colonels Review on June 8. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Aside from this years Trooping the Colour, King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William will also attend ceremonies for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in June. But the remainder of the royal familys summer schedule remains unclear because they recently announced that they will be postponing some engagements to accommodate the upcoming U.K. general election, which will take place on July 4, 2024. I Just Realized Why King Charless Haunting New Portrait Looks Familiarand Now I Cant Unsee it Stay up-to-date on every breaking royal family story by subscribing here. Rohitha Bogollagama, High Commissioner for the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, presents his credentials to Britain's King Charles III, accompanied by his wife Deepthi Bogollagama, during a private audience at Buckingham Palace, London, Thursday May 30, 2024. (Yui Mok/Pool Photo via AP) LONDON (AP) King Charles III will take part in his official birthday celebrations in a little over two weeks, as the monarch eases his way back into public duties while continuing to undergo cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday. The news came amid reports that Prince Williams wife, Kate, will miss a public rehearsal for the event as she, too, receives treatment for cancer. It remains unclear whether the Princess of Wales will attend the main ceremony, known as Trooping the Colour, on June 15, Britain's Press Association reported. Kate has revealed few details about her illness or treatment since announcing her cancer diagnosis on March 22. Charles had been returning to public duties before Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week called a snap election. That forced the king to postpone engagements that might divert attention from the campaign, raising questions about whether he would attend the birthday celebration. Trooping the Colour is a 460-year old tradition in which troops in full dress uniform parade past the king with their ceremonial flag, also known as their colour. Charles is likely to travel to the event by carriage with Queen Camilla and is expected to watch the Trooping ceremony seated on a dais, rather than on horseback as he did last year. King Charles III, Patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), and Queen Camilla, (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) Its usually royal family drama in the spotlight, but yesterday the King was able to enjoy being a spectator as he watched student actors perform a play about family betrayal. In recent years, the Windsors have been at the centre of some very public rows, but on Tuesday night the 75-year-old was allowed to watch another dramatic tale unfold. Attending his first major public event since Rishi Sunak called a general election, Charles and Camilla visited a student performance of House Of Ife by Beru Tessema at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada). The play follows a family in the wake of the sudden death of their eldest son. The tense story sees characters forced to confront the traumas they have long tried to bury. As the sun beats down on their North London flat, and the authoritarian head of the family arrives from Ethiopia for the funeral, tensions rise, cultures clash and past betrayals are unearthed, the RADA website describes the production as. King Charles III, Patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), and Queen Camilla, speaking to students (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) David Harewood, Radas president who appeared in hit TV series Homeland, told The Telegraph that Charles really seemed to enjoy the production and said he spotted him giggle at one point. The play marked the 120th anniversary of the world-famous drama school which has trained leading actors including Sir Anthony Hopkins, Imelda Staunton and Tom Hiddleston. Rada was founded in 1904 by actor-manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in rooms above His Majestys Theatre in Londons West End, and today provides vocational training for actors, stage managers, designers and technical stagecraft specialists. The King was named as Radas new patron earlier this month, succeeding Queen Elizabeth II who had been its figurehead for 70 years. King Charles III, Patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), and Queen Camilla, watching an extract of a play performed by third year acting students (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) The King was told that Rada receives around 4,000 applications for a handful of acting places, and joked: Do you put them through the most horrendous auditions? After watching the play, they toured Radas workshops where sets and backdrops are designed, built and painted by the students. Mr Harewood said after the royal visit: I think drama is dropping off the school syllabuses right now, which is really sad to see, so to have (a) reigning monarch who is a champion of the arts, in favour of the arts, supporting the arts, I think is really, really exciting. (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) The Queen also shared some fond memories of the theatre on the visit, saying it reminded her of a fantastic secret night with her grandchildren. Speaking to student Daniel Mays spent around 12 months playing Nathan Detroit in the musical Guys And Dolls, she recounted the outing. The actor said afterwards: She loved it and she took all her grandkids and they said they had the most incredible night. Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry speaks during his inauguration ceremony at the State Capitol building in Baton Rouge Gov. Jeff Landry speaks during his inauguration ceremony at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge on Jan. 7, 2024. (Matthew Hinton/AP Photo, Pool) The Louisiana Legislature gave final passage to a bill allowing the governor to directly appoint the leaders of over 100 boards and commissions. The Senate endorsed House changes Thursday to Senate Bill 462 by Sen. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs. sending it to Gov. Jeff Landrys desk for certain approval. The senators approval came as a surprise because it involved restoring language they had previously stripped out of the measure. Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, who previously predicted the Senate would reject the changes, said senators got more comfortable with the proposal once they learned it only applied to boards for which the governor appoints a majority of members. It does not apply to boards statewide elected officials chair, such as the State Bond Commission. Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, dubbed Hodges proposal the King Landry bill, a reference to former Gov. Huey Long, nicknamed the Kingfish for the immense power he exercised over the state. After Longs tenure, the state eventually passed a series of reforms designed to temper the governors authority, though Louisianas chief executive still exerts more control over state government than governors in other states. Critics have raised concern that giving the governor further power over the states five higher education boards could have an impact on college and university accreditation, a fundamental need for the functioning of a school that allows it to access federal funds. Hodges argued her bill does not give the governor any additional power but rather moves up the timeline for the governors control of a board. Presently, most boards have staggered terms for their members. This design acts as a check on executive branch power and means a governor has to wait sometimes years before he or she has appointed every member of a particular board. Landry, a Republican who supports the bill, has said it is about higher education. This fight is all about universities, Landry said in an April interview with WAFB-TV. The people of this state are ready for these universities to start taking some responsibility for putting out students that are graduating with degrees that they cant even get a job for. Governors already appoint members of the four university and college system boards of supervisors. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the accrediting body for Louisiana universities, requires that governing boards for its accredited schools remain free from undue external influence. A violation of the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation is determined by the SACSCOC board. It could impact accreditation if it violates the principles, Rosalind Fuse-Hall, director of legal and governmental affairs for SACSCOC, said in an interview. The board looks at everything on a case-by-case basis. Giving the governor the ability to appoint higher education board chairs could impact accreditation if the governor seeks to use that power to influence the operations of a college or university. The organization has given notice to several schools where politics have played an outsized role. In 2020, the organization Gov. Henry McMaster, also a Republican, had undue influence on the University of South Carolinas search for a new president. In 2017, it gave the University of Louisville two years to right the ship after then Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican, exercised undue influence by abolishing the University of Kentuckys governing board. In 2021, SACS opened an inquiry into the University of Florida denying professor requests to serve as expert witnesses in a voting rights case. Hodges has not denied that the intentions behind the bill are political. We need to align policy initiatives on the boards and commissions with the Republican governor that we elected to get the job done, Hodges said. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post King Landry bill: Legislature increases governors power over state boards appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. By News Centre Haluk Gorgun, head of the Defence Industry Agency (SSB), stated that the Defense Industry Products Exhibition, where products in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces are displayed, is significant in demonstrating the point our country has reached in the defense industry to the whole world. According to a statement from the head of Defense Industries (SSB), EFES-2024, which is Turkiye's largest joint exercise, started in Seferihisar, Izmir. With the participation of over 1,500 foreign personnel from 50 countries, along with TAF elements, a total of 11,000 personnel are involved in the exercise. The Defense Industry Products Exhibition, where products produced with domestic and national capabilities by 47 defense industry companies coordinated by SSB and included in the TAF inventory, is located in the exercise area. In his evaluations included in the statement, President of Defense Industry Gorgun stated: "As part of the EFES-2024 Exercise, many platforms built with domestic and national capabilities and integrated radars, electro-optics, ammunition, subsystems, payload, electronic components, and software developed by our defense industry are also included. The Defense Industry Products Exhibition, where products in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces are displayed, is significant in demonstrating the point our country has reached in the defense industry to the whole world. On this occasion, I would like to express my gratitude to the valuable personnel of the Turkish Armed Forces who have served with great dedication at all stages of planning and execution of the exercise, as well as to the main contractors, subcontractors, and SMEs who have developed and produced indigenous and national systems for our security forces for their outstanding efforts." The exercise will allow participant countries to see the capabilities of Turkish defense industry companies, which have developed and produced many systems ranging from UAVs to helicopters, from warships to ammunition, and from electronic warfare systems to radar systems, and presented them to the service of security forces. BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The State Council on Thursday announced the appointment of two officials and the removal of one. Wang Bao'en was appointed vice minister of water resources; and Cao Jun was named vice minister of veterans affairs, replacing Qian Feng. The fatal shooting of Roger Fortson by a Florida sheriffs deputy when the Air Force senior airman opened his door armed with a handgun pointed down happened almost a month ago, but the information released so far hasnt clarified why the officer was directed to his apartment. The Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office has released the deputys body camera video of the May 3 shooting and redacted 911 calls and reports, but not the deputys name. The agency also has not said if the deputy has made any statement to investigators. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating, but since its probe is ongoing, it wont comment. Fortson was Black. The deputys race has not been released. Lawyer: Deputy who fatally shot Florida airman had wrong apartment Fortson, 23, had no criminal record, and there is no evidence he was involved in the disturbance that led to the deputy being called to the apartment complex. Fortson was alone in his apartment, and his girlfriend has said she and Fortson were having a normal video conversation when the deputy began pounding on the door. Ben Crump, the familys attorney, has called the shooting an unjustifiable killing, and Matt Gaetz, the areas staunchly Republican congressman, said Fortson did nothing wrong. Here are some of the key issues surrounding the case: Why was the deputy at Fortsons apartment? Just before 4:25 p.m. on May 3, a female employee of the Elan Apartments in the Florida Panhandle community of Fort Walton Beach called the sheriffs office, saying a resident had reported a loud argument that had been going on for 20 minutes. It was said that it sounded like it was getting physical and that it happens often. She gave Fortsons fourth-floor apartment as the location of the disturbance, but he was home alone. At the operators suggestion, the employee walked near Fortsons unit and reported that she didnt hear anything. The deputy arrived about three minutes later, according to body camera video. He went into the office, where a man directed him to the parking lot. A woman met him there. On video she sounds like the employee who told the operator she would meet the deputy. Her face has been blurred out in the video. Are they fighting or something? the deputy asked. She responded that there was an apparent argument in one of the apartments and it is getting out of hand. He asked which apartment. I dont know. So Im not sure, she responded. She then told the deputy that two weeks earlier she heard someone yelling and cursing in the apartment, followed by a noise that sounded like a slap, but she hadnt reported it. The deputy again asked which apartment, and this time the woman gave Fortsons apartment number. The deputy repeated the number. She confirmed the apartment was on the fourth floor and gave the deputy directions. Fortson lived alone and had no visitors at the time of the shooting. That has raised questions over whether the deputy was directed to the wrong apartment. County 911 dispatch records show deputies had never been called to his apartment before. However deputies had been called to another fourth-floor apartment 10 times in the previous eight months, including once for a family disturbance. A 911 call made by a resident apparently just after the fatal shooting referenced arguing between a man and woman in an apartment where a child lives. Crump has said he believes police were sent to the wrong apartment. Its not clear if he is referencing the apartment where police had previously been called. What happened when the deputy arrived at Fortsons door? The deputy arrived outside Fortsons door less than three minutes after he got to the complex. He listened silently for 20 seconds outside, but no voices inside are heard on his body camera. Bodycam footage shows deputy shot airman seconds after opening door He then pounded on the door, but didnt identify himself. He then moved to the side of the door, about 5 feet away. He waited 15 seconds before pounding on the door again. This time he yelled, Sheriffs office open the door! He again moved to the side. Less then 10 seconds later, he moved back in front of the door and pounded again, announcing himself once more. Fortson opened the door, his legally purchased gun in his right hand. It was at his side, pointing to the ground. The deputy said Step back then immediately began firing. Fortson fell backward onto the floor. Only then did the deputy yell, Drop the gun! Fortson replied, Its over there. The deputy called for paramedics, but Fortson died a short time later at the hospital. What happened after the shooting? In the hours after the shooting, the sheriffs office issued a short press release that offered few details. It said the deputy had responded to a call about a disturbance and had heard it himself, which is not corroborated by the body camera audio. He reacted in self defense after he encountered a 23-year old man armed with a gun and after the deputy had identified himself as law enforcement, the statement said. The shooting gained little media attention for several days. It wasnt until Fortsons family questioned how an airman with no record could be shot by a deputy in his doorway and hired Crump that it gained national notice. Hundreds pack funeral for slain airman Roger Fortson One thing is clear from the body cam and should be stated unequivocally: Roger did not deserve to die. He did nothing wrong, Rep. Gaetz said in a statement. Hundreds attended Fortsons funeral near his family home in suburban Atlanta, with fellow airmen filing past his flag-draped coffin as they paid their respect. The apartment where Fortson lived is about 8 miles from Hurlburt Field, where Fortson was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron as a special missions aviator serving on an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. One of his roles was to load the planes 30mm and 105mm cannons during battles. For 22 years, I taught a course on antisemitism and the Holocaust at the University of Washington, Tacoma. Students studied the long history of antisemitism and how that ideology led to the genocidal violence of the Nazis and their collaborators in WWII. Beginning in the late 19th Century, antisemitism and mounting violence against Jews was the context for the emergence of the Zionist movement for a Jewish state in Palestine. The idea was passionately debated among Jews. Many felt they would be better off in the diaspora. The Zionist argument gained credibility with Britains Balfour Declaration of 1917 for the creation of a national homeland for the Jewish people, and the Holocaust settled the matter for the vast majority of Jews. Identifying with Israel has become deeply ingrained in the cultural, emotional and political lives of Jews everywhere. In the U.S., the horror of the Holocaust along with Jewish activism led to wide support for Israel as an ethical and political obligation. This support, however, also contributed to a neglect or dismissal of the price paid by Palestinians mass expulsion, living under an oppressive occupation, the isolation and virtual imprisonment of Palestinians living in Gaza and much more. Since Hamass shocking and horrific attack on October 7 and Israels brutal response, Americans, including American Jews, are now painfully divided. Critics allege Israel is deliberately targeting civilians and, as the death toll continues to mount, is committing genocide. Defenders of Israels war in Gaza say Hamas must be destroyed, even though many despise Netanyahu and are critical of his failure to prioritize return of the hostages. Speaking ones truth and taking a stand should not in principle foreclose trying to understanding the positions and emotions of ones opponent. War makes such understanding nearly impossible. Yet how can we dismiss the moral passion motivating the protesters as the collective punishment in Gaza continues unabated? The specter of genocide acquires alarming plausibility. The forced displacement of 85% of the population of Gaza with no safe place remaining; the almost total destruction of dwellings, hospitals, and schools; the use of starvation as a weapon of war; and the attacks on humanitarian convoys and aid workers cannot be credibly denied. For those defending Israels war in Gaza, the growing criticism of that war now becomes the outrage. Among the various allegations, the most incriminatory is that the criticism and protests against Israel are antisemitic and that they are fueling a resurgence of antisemitism. Certainly, the enduring strength of antisemitism should never be underestimated. Examples proliferate and not just among far-right extremists who commit violence against Jews or chant Jews will not replace us. Some antisemites likely do mask their anti-Jewish attitudes as anti-Israeli. Neither should the fears of a hatred that spurred centuries of violence and then the Holocaust be simply discounted. Yet the allegation that criticisms of Israeli policies are by themselves antisemitic (along with repeated references to the Holocaust to drive home the point) should be forcefully challenged. The political purpose of such a claim is to slander opponents of Israeli war policy and thereby censor their voices. Non-Jewish as well as the many Jewish protesters refuse to be silenced. It should be noted that only a few of the critics fail to condemn Hamas for October 7. Most understand that just as Israels right to self-defense does not justify total war against civilians, the right to resist cannot justify the slaughter of Israeli civilians or the taking of hostages. If Americans lose their right to protest an unjust war; if we allow ourselves to be intimidated and our passionately held moral commitments made illegitimate, if laws are passed that repress our voices, and if sanctions are leveled on those who do speak out, we will find ourselves in a renewed McCarthyism we thought had been defeated. Americans must strongly reject the attempt to use the charge of antisemitism to silence protest against Israels war in Gaza or against U.S. military and diplomatic support for that war. Robert Crawford is a professor emeritus and founding faculty at University of Washington, Tacoma, where he taught politics, human rights, history and culture. He is a recipient of UWTs Distinguished Teaching Award and the Retiree Excellence in Community Service Award. Biden nominee, Kevin Ritz, set for Senate confirmation vote. What to know about the Memphis prosecutor President Joe Biden's nominee for the soon-to-be vacant Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals judge position is nearing a confirmation vote on the Senate floor. It is not exactly clear when current U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Kevin Ritz based in Memphis will see his nomination taken up by the Senate, but the vote has been placed on the executive calendar after a committee vote in early May. Here is what you need to know about Ritz, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the judge vacating the bench ahead of the confirmation vote. United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Kevin Ritz speaks while surrounded by FBI Memphis Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Departments Criminal Division Nicole Argentieri and ATF Director Steven Dettelbach at a press conference announcing the Violent Crime Initiative is being brought to Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Who is Kevin Ritz? Ritz is the current U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, making him the top federal prosecutor in West Tennessee. He was nominated to the role by Biden in July 2022 and the Senate confirmed his nomination in September that same year. Born and raised in Memphis, Ritz graduated from White Station High School and went on to attend the University of Virginia. From 2002 until 2005, Ritz clerked for Judge Julia Gibbons on the Sixth Circuit Court. If confirmed, Ritz will be taking Gibbons' position on the bench. U.S. Attorney General for the Western District of Tennessee Kevin Ritz speaks during a press conference announcing that an indictment is pending in federal court for the five now-former Memphis police officers involved in the Tyre Nichols case in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Ritz began working in the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Tennessee in 2005, holding a number of positions including appellate chief from 2018 until 2022, criminal appellate chief from 2010 to 2018 and special counsel to the U.S. Attorney from 2011 until 2022. As U.S. Attorney, he spearheaded the federal criminal case against five Memphis police officers charged with violating Tyre Nichols' civil rights, was part of the announcement that the Department of Justice had launched a pattern-or-practice investigation into the Memphis Police Department and brought a new program to Memphis that targets organized crime. Where does Ritz's confirmation stand? Ritz was nominated by Biden in late March. A hearing happened in mid-April, and a subsequent committee vote sent the confirmation to a full Senate confirmation vote. Senate Republicans on the Judiciary Committee grilled Ritz over a complaint filed with the Office of Professional Responsibility that alleged he did not act ethically when prosecuting a case. He also faced questions over promoting a federal prosecutor who was facing allegations of unethical conduct. Ritz said he stood by that prosecutor and denied knowing of the OPR complaint. Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat and chairman of the committee, pointed out that the complaint against Ritz was likely not brought to Ritz's attention because it was dismissed by ethics investigators. Tennessee Republican Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty have voiced opposition to Ritz being confirmed to the Sixth Circuit, despite supporting his nomination and confirmation to the U.S. Attorney role. Much of the back-and-forth between Democrats and Republicans during the committee meeting focused on "blue slips," which senators from the home state of a nominee sign in support of a nominee's confirmation. These papers have been a courtesy that would not allow a nominee to move forward without the approval of home-state senators. U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz can be seen speaking about results from their targeted crime reduction operation during a press conference involving federal and local partners on Friday, October 20, 2023 at the U.S. Attorneys Office in Downtown Memphis, Tenn. The blue slip policy for circuit court judicial nominations was established under former President Barack Obama's administration but was ended during former President Donald Trump's administration. Ritz was ultimately confirmed in committee along an 11-10 party-line vote, and his confirmation in a Senate floor vote was placed on the executive calendar. What is the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals? The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is a federal court that hears appeals on cases coming from federal district courts. Tennessee, for example, has three federal district courts one in West Tennessee, one in Middle Tennessee and one in East Tennessee. The Sixth Circuit hears cases from multiple states and is charged with hearing appeals coming from Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. The court is based in Cincinnati and has 16 judges that sit on the bench. There are currently three judges from Tennessee who sit on the bench. Gibbons, who was appointed in 2002, is from Memphis. Judge Jane Branstetter Stranch, appointed in 2010, is from Nashville. Judge Andre Mathis, appointed in 2022, is also from Memphis. Courts news: Federal judge to rule on admission of Tyre Nichols character evidence, separate trials More: Shelby County Juvenile Court temporary offices established amid mold, asbestos remediation Both Gibbons and Stranch are vacating the bench, with Biden nominating, in late May, attorney Karla Campbell of Nashville to fill Stranch's seat. There are 12 appellate circuit courts, each of which is the final stop before a case can reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Who would Ritz replace on the Sixth Circuit Court? Ritz, should he be confirmed on the Senate floor, would replace Gibbons on the bench. Also a University of Virginia graduate, Gibbons followed a similar path to Ritz after graduating and clerked for Judge William Ernest Miller on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She would go on to practice at a private law firm before being brought on as a legal advisor to former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander's staff in 1989. Alexander appointed Gibbons to the Tennessee Fifteenth Circuit Court in 1981, and she would go on to be elected to the position in 1982. She was the first woman to serve as a trial judge in Tennessee. In April 1983, Gibbons was nominated by former President Ronald Raegan, and confirmed by the Senate, to the bench in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. She would sit on that bench for nearly two decades, eventually becoming the court's chief judge. She was nominated by former President George W. Bush to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2001 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate. She began that role in 2002. Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. HPe can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com, or (901)208-3922, and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter, @LucasFinton. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Biden nominee, Kevin Ritz, nears Senate confirmation vote. What to know Kremlin: Ukraine must not use NATO weapons to hit Russian territory The Kremlin once again warned Ukraine's allies against allowing Kiev to hit Russian territory using Western weapons, with President Vladimir Putin's spokesman promising "consequences" if such strikes were to occur. "It will ultimately be very damaging to the interests of those countries that have chosen the path of escalating tensions," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. The question of whether to let Kiev use Western weapons to hit military targets in Russia has loomed larger as fighting intensifies along certain sections of the Ukraine-Russia border. Kiev is especially struggling to halt Russia's offensive in the north-eastern Kharkiv region. Foreign ministers from the 32 countries of the NATO defence alliance were meeting in Prague on Thursday to discuss the issue, among others. Western weapons have so far been aimed primarily at Russian positions in the areas of Ukraine occupied by Moscow's forces. In Vienna, Russian diplomat Konstantin Gavrilov warned the West against crossing "red lines," saying Moscow has the right to use nuclear weapons in response to aggression - even in the case of an attack with conventional weapons. He spoke at an event organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). DAVENPORT, Fla. (BLOOM) Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has teamed up with the Sunshine Foundation to launch a Digital Dozens fundraising campaign aimed at making dreams come true for children with severe health care needs. Starting today and running for three weeks, Krispy Kreme will donate 50% of each Original Glazed dozen sold through their Digital Dozens website to the Sunshine Foundation. This campaign supports the foundations mission to fulfill the dreams of children with severe chronic illnesses and conditions. One of the beneficiaries of this initiative is Colton, a 7-year-old diagnosed with level 3 severe autism and visual impairment. Colton dreams of building spectacular creations at LEGOLAND Florida and visiting Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World.Participation is simple and delicious: Order: Visit the Krispy Kreme Digital Dozens website and purchase a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts. Support: Know that 50% of your purchase will help fulfill Coltons dream. Enjoy: Relish in the iconic taste of Krispy Kremes Original Glazed doughnuts while contributing to a worthy cause. Sunshine Foundation is dedicated to making dreams come true for children with lifelong severe chronic illnesses and conditions, including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, severe epilepsy, and trauma from abuse, among others. Unlike other wish-granting organizations that require a life-threatening diagnosis, the Sunshine Foundation answers the dreams of children who might otherwise be overlooked.The foundations most requested dreams include visits to Legoland, Universal Studios, Disney World, and SeaWorld, with families often staying at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village near Disney. They also fulfill special dreams such as shopping sprees, outdoor playsets, family trips, and adaptive equipment for special needs.Since its inception in 1976, the Sunshine Foundation has made a significant impact, fulfilling dreams for over 42,500 children across the United States. The organization is proud to be recognized as the top-rated wish-granting organization in America, boasting a perfect 100% score on Charity Navigator and an A rating on CharityWatch.For more information or to make a donation, visit Sunshine Foundations website.Enjoy a sweet treat and make a difference in a childs life by participating in Krispy Kremes Digital Dozens fundraising campaign today! Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Kentucky Republicans in Congress rushed to condemn a New York Citys jurys decision Thursday to convict former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sexual relationship that may have threatened his 2016 campaign. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a brief statement one that didnt mention Trump by name saying the charges never should have been brought in the first place. I expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal, he posted on X, the website formerly known as Twitter. The relationship between McConnell and the 45th president has long been tense, though Kentuckys senior senator did ultimately endorse Trump for president in March. Sign up for our Bluegrass Politics Newsletter A must-read newsletter for political junkies across the Bluegrass State with reporting and analysis from the Lexington Herald-Leader. Never miss a story! Sign up for our Bluegrass Politics newsletter to connect with our reporting team and get behind-the-scenes insights, plus previews of the biggest stories. Sen. Rand Paul questioned the survival of the republic. How long can our republic survive once partisans have taken over the judicial process? Paul, who has not endorsed Trump, posted on X. This verdict will tragically undermine Americans confidence in impartial justice. A sad day for America. U.S. Rep. Andy Barr of Kentuckys 6th District blasted the Manhattan prosecutor who brought the case as corrupt and the tactics used during the trial unconstitutional. Barr dubbed it a sham trial ... marked by outrageous and unconstitutional tactics. It wont stop me and millions of Americans from acquitting the president of these politically motivated charges and sending him back to the White House in November, Barr added. My full statement on the sham conviction of President Trump . pic.twitter.com/gt4TkhGTIP Andy Barr (@barrforcongress) May 30, 2024 Randy Cravens, Barrs Democratic challenger in November, said in a statement Barrs comments showed he has lost his way in his fervent support of Trump. In doing so, the GOP incumbent from Lexington threw decency to the side, and venom toward our justice system and its impartial jurors. Trump echoed Barrs sentiment in a statement after the verdict telling reporters, The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5th by the people. Rep. James Comer, a Republican in Kentuckys 1st Congressional District, similarly branded the jurys decision as a Democratic Party pursuit to weaponize the courts, abuse Americas judicial system and target President Joe Bidens political opposition. Northern Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie said there was no underlying crime in Trumps case. Partisan hacks serving as judges, investigators and prosecutors have turned our legal system into a farce at both the state and federal level, Massie posted. Guilty on 34 counts, but no underlying crime. Partisan hacks serving as judges, investigators, and prosecutors have turned our legal system into a farce at both the state and federal level. pic.twitter.com/It2tcRHpxG Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 30, 2024 Rep. Brett Guthrie called the trial an outlandish abuse of our criminal justice system and a kangaroo court. This was a baseless trial brought by a partisan hack prosecutor solely to stop President Trump from regaining the White House, the 2nd District representative wrote online. And Rep. Hal Rogers, the dean of the U.S. House, echoed McConnells assessment that it would be reversed on appeal. It is a weaponization of the courts for political gain. Biden forces claim victory, but it will backfire and elect Trump. They claim they won this battle, but we will win the war, Rogers said in a statement Thursday evening. Meanwhile, Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Louisville the commonwealths lone Democrat in Congress said the trial shows no one is above the law. Donald Trump is now a convicted felon, the 3rd District representative wrote in a statement. He is also the presumptive Republican nominee for president and he is unfit to serve in any public office, especially president of the United States. Trumps sentencing is scheduled for July 11, days before Republicans will convene in Milwaukee to formally nominate him for president for a third straight time. He is almost certain to appeal the verdict, prolonging the case for months. Diane Abbotts work as the first British black woman MP and as a driving force in the Labour partys black sections first changed the face of the Labour party, then changed the face of the Tory party when David Cameron realised that the Tory opposition had to look more like Britain if it was to succeed electorally. This alone should guarantee Ms Abbott a celebrated status in the recent history of the Labour party. It is one of the central reasons that her contemporaries as MPs such as Harriet Harman and Ed Balls and even renowned Blairites like me have consistently called for Dianes rapid return to the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) after her suspension last year. How has Keir Starmers Labour party responded? They have shown disdain for Ms Abbott and subjected her to a seemingly more tortuous suspension than any other Labour MP who has been accused of misconduct over the last five years. This has culminated in the manifest absurdity of the last couple of days in which Diane has been both formally informed by the party that her suspension from the PLP has been lifted and also read in a briefing to The Times that she has been barred from standing as a Labour candidate in the general election on 4 July. The brutal truth is that there is no contradiction in these actions. There is a deeply misconceived, malevolent, and wicked operation to humiliate Diane. And it is virtually impossible to detach that from the fact that she is a black woman. As the only black girl in her class at grammar school, and the only black woman in her class at Cambridge, and as a woman MP used to receiving perhaps half of all the abuse on Twitter directed at all woman MPs Diane knows the feeling and the force of difference. But it leaves a bitter taste when she receives it from the party of solidarity. It breaks my heart to see the way Diane is being treated. I say that as someone from a different wing of the Labour party but one who knows that all planes only fly with two wings. And I say it as a Londoner, proud of how this city has made itself globally great by fighting and defeating racism the real enemy within. I have always been someone who believes in cock-up not conspiracy, but for the first time I see a clear and malicious plot. We now know that the Labour party was dragging things out, trying to run down the clock so that Diane could be bounced into a decision that she would stand down if she was readmitted into the PLP. There is no other explanation as we say in Scotland, I didnt come up the Clyde on a bicycle! Call Diane what you want, she was never going to fall for that! For myself, I call her proudly unreasonable because nothing is changed by modest quiet women struggle causes change, which is why the labour movement and Labour party were created. The thing is the Labour apparatchiks lost their bet! Not because of Diane, though she would have outstared them. But because of her greatest legacy Rishi Sunak! He ran for the exit before the Whips Office ground Diane down. And in all good conscience the party should concede to Diane if she wants to stand again she can. Its her choice. At its heart this case exposes fissures in Labour that are significant for the future. While the leadership chases votes in the Red Wall, do they get how much the UK has changed? Do they understand that our future is multi-faith, multi-ethnic, and feminised? Do they read the polls that show the right the Conservatives and Reform fighting over 25 per cent of the vote while the massive majority of voters are progressive Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green or nationalist? What signal does the treatment of Diane Abbott send to those voters? In the end, this isnt about the past neither the struggles of the left in the 80s or their undoubted triumph with Corbyn in the 2010s. Its a fight about the future. Confident parties celebrate their elders rather than persecuting them. The corrosive truth at the heart of this is that everyone at the centre of the Labour party knows who is driving this agenda against Diane Abbott and they suspect they know why. Electorally triumphant parties and Starmer will win well are always brought down by their own flaws, not their enemies attacks. In the Labour movement across the board we see the problem and unless addressed it will drag down a government that could be great. A crisis reveals and this is a crisis the Labour Party should show Diane Abbott the respect she deserves. 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. So far Keir Starmer has managed to avoid the elephant trap of allowing Britians future relationship with the EU to become a major election issue. But the question surely cannot be dodged for much longer. Nobody should be in any doubt that a future Labour government will wish to drag Britain back into the orbit of Brussels. Right now, leading pro-EU Labour campaigners such as Sadiq Khan and Stella Creasy are stepping up demands for all kinds of new agreements to force the UK into following the lead of the European Commission. Labour Movement For Europe, of which Creasy is national chair, is supported by many Labour MPs and candidates. One of its key campaigns is for the party to implement a Europe-wide Youth Mobility Visa that looks very much like a rebadged, qualified version of the EU obligation of free movement, albeit for younger people. Khan has just pledged to press a new Labour government hard on the issue, declaring: I cant introduce a youth mobility scheme without the government supporting this. So one of the points Ill be making to a new Labour government is how a skill shortage and the labour shortage is affecting our economy. Ought we Brexiteers to be reassured by the Labour leaders headline undertakings not to restore free movement or to take Britain back into the EU customs union or single market? Hardly. In the run-up to the 2017 election, Starmer then Labours Brexit spokesman solemnly declared that the party would accept and implement the Brexit referendum verdict as a matter of principle. But by the run-up to the 2019 election, he had forced the adoption of a policy of holding a second referendum at which the option of scrapping Brexit and remaining in the EU would be on the ballot paper. So one hardly needs to ask whether Labour under his leadership can be trusted not to reverse Brexit. Of course it cant. Starmer is as rampantly pro-EU as any major party leader has ever been. In office, the only thing that will prevent him from re-entangling the UK in the tentacles of Brussels is if he perceives there will be a heavy electoral price to pay for doing so. That probably precludes a referendum on restoring full membership in a first Starmer term. Such a move would be akin to opening an all-consuming can of worms and Starmer is surely not foolish enough to do that. Yet, as we have seen, his word is far from being his bond on this issue and nothing else is guaranteed to be off the table. By far the most likely prospect is that he will restart the sovereignty salami-slicing machine that saw more and more powers transferred from the UK to the European Commission during the years of our membership. Only Starmers version of the machine will see sector-by-sector and subject-by-subject incremental handovers of sovereignty under the guise of closer cooperation or normalised relations with Brussels. The UK will probably not end up back in the formal customs union anytime soon. But could the Facilitated Customs Arrangement proposed by Theresa May in her abortive Chequers deal be back on the table? Absolutely. And that plan was so close to customs union membership as to amount to a distinction without a difference. Across the board, this is the approach we can expect Labour to take on everything from trade to immigration, foreign policy to environmental standards especially if it has a landslide majority. The days of Labour having even a handful of prominent pro-Brexit MPs are long gone; Kate Hoey now sits as a crossbencher in the Lords, while Frank Field is sadly with us no more. Far from accepting the Brexit referendum verdict and embracing a new national democratic paradigm, Labour politicians have doubled down on their ideological preference for continent-wide decision making. Can the fragile flower of Brexit for so long prevented by its parliamentary enemies from coming into bloom withstand the worst that a House of Commons dominated by would-be rejoiners can throw at it? According to the opinion polls, we may be about to find out. Anyone expecting Sir Keir Starmer, who is in reality among the most ardent pro-EU fanatics of all, to hold the Brexit line as a matter of principle cant have been paying much attention to politics in recent years. It is high time the election debate moved on to the custodianship of the most important and profound democratic decision the British people have taken so far this century. 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 worker works at the Shuguang toothbrush factory in the township of Hangji in the city of Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 10, 2023. (Xinhua) NANJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- At the Shuguang toothbrush factory, busy employees man the production line, inserting the bristles into handles, while in a nearby office, the general manager holds a video conference with a German client. Shuguang is just one of about 4,000 enterprises involved directly or indirectly in making toothbrushes in the township of Hangji in the city of Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. So dedicated is the place to its specialism that the scent of toiletries hangs in the air. However, few people are aware that this small town, covering less than 40 square kilometers, produces around 7.5 billion toothbrushes each year. They are exported to more than 80 countries and regions, meaning that one in three toothbrushes produced in the world comes from Hangji. Toothbrush manufacturing started here in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), when a farmer improved toothbrushes by making them with pig bristles. Established in 1976, Shuguang is among the oldest toothbrush factories in Hangji. Tu Xinye is from the third generation of workers in Shuguang, and has witnessed the growth of the plant, which now has more than 400 employees. "Many senior workers were my father's colleagues and watched me grow up," he said. "So we have the senior workers paired up with the younger ones and teach them skills." Innovation is important for old factories like Shuguang. In 2019, at an expo in Frankfurt, Germany, Shuguang presented a toothbrush with a handle made from straw. The biodegradation rate of the toothbrush was 30 percent. A German clinic asked if it was possible to raise the rate to over 90 percent. Tu and his team raced against time to find a solution to this problem, finally opting for polylactic acid as the material. After repeated attempts, they finally managed to ensure the toughness of the toothbrush handles and the resilience of the bristles. However, while voicing their satisfaction with the biodegradation rate, the client asked if they could get rid of the unpleasant smell of the new material. Shuguang adjusted the materials used and sent them more than a dozen batches of samples, before ultimately winning orders from the clinic. Today, the German clinic has become a long-term client of Shuguang. Meanwhile, the company also exports toothbrushes, single-tufted brushes, dental floss and other products to other countries, including the United States and Sweden. The oral-care products from Hangji can be found not only in European clinics and luxury hotels in Dubai, but also onboard China's research icebreaker Xuelong, for use on its Antarctic expedition. The industry has been profitable for the township, as well as creating plenty of job opportunities. Many local people work in the industry, while others from elsewhere were attracted to Hangji. According to Yu Hong, an official with the Hangji Township, about 30,000 people from other areas have found jobs here. Lin Qing from Fujian Province found employment at Shuguang after an online recruitment process. Lin, 28, has been disabled since contracting polio when he was young. But the hard-working man soon learned the sales techniques of e-commerce, and became the owner of two online shops, earning about 10,000 yuan (about 1,380 U.S. dollars) a month. "I am grateful to the factory, where I can earn both a salary and a sense of achievement," he said. Hangji is not the only place in China that has profited from focusing on a particular industrial sector. Other locations have also reaped the rewards of industrial agglomeration, including improved supply chains and product innovation. The mountainous town of Shuijiang in east China's Jiangxi Province boasts 93 wig enterprises that sell their wares to dozens of countries across the globe. In the Zixi County of Jiangxi, nearly half of the 100,000 permanent residents are engaged in the baking industry, creating over 60 bakery brands, with stores in more than 1,000 cities and towns across China. Meanwhile, Caoxian County is China's biggest production base for Hanfu, or traditional Chinese dresses, making about 40 percent of the total units in the domestic market. "Towns and counties with 'characteristic industries' could expand the market quickly with high production capability, while at the same time attracting domestic and foreign scientific research institutions to collaborate, so as to boost development of the enterprises, upgrade their brands and increase product competitiveness," said Zhang Shiyu, an official with the Hangji high-tech industrial development zone. Lancaster County sheriffs attorney was innocent bystander when shot in arm, SLED says The staff lawyer and public information officer at the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office shot Wednesday night was an innocent bystander when he was hit by gunshots, officials said. Doug Barfield told The Herald he was shot in the arm but is recovering. The State Law Enforcement Division has charged Tyrone Lamar Gilford, 23, of Kershaw, with two counts of attempted murder, according to a SLED statement and arrest warrants. Kershaw, in southern Lancaster County, has a population of around 2,000 people. Barfield was driving his truck around 8 p.m. Wednesday on North Matson Street in Kershaw when he was shot, according to a SLED statement. Barfield pulled into a parking lot of a store after being wounded, according to SLED. Barfield was not working at the time, Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile said. Gilford fired the shots during a foot chase of another person that SLED has not named, according to SLED documents. It is a scary feeling knowing one of your own has been hurt and we are extremely grateful that Dougs injuries are not life threatening, Faile said. We are thankful for all the other law enforcement agencies and first responder services that came to assist. Both the agency and the Barfield family are appreciative of everyone who has reached out to offer their thoughts and prayers. The sheriffs office requested SLED to handle the investigation, SLED spokesperson Renee Wunderlich said. Before going to work at the sheriffs office, Barfield was a prosecutor for 30 years at the 6th Circuit Solicitors Office, which handles criminal cases in Lancaster, Chester, and Fairfield counties. He was the top prosecutor in the three counties from 2006 until 2015. Gilford remains in the Lancaster County Detention Center without bail, jail records show. State officials recommend residents call 911 via their mobile device instead of a landline due to service disruptions on May 30, 2024. (Photo via Getty Images) A water pipe break at Lumen Technologies was causing disruptions Thursday in landline 911 service, internet and phone services. The pipe break occurred early Thursday morning in the companys building in Des Moines. Our techs are working hard to fix a service disruption, caused by a water pipe break, which is affecting landline 911, phone, and Internet service for some customers in Central and Eastern Iowa. Restoring impacted services is our top priority. Well provide regular updates, and we appreciate your patience and understanding, Mark Molzen, Lumen global issues director, told WHO-13. Calls coming from landline phones are not being received but wireless 911 calls are, the Des Moines Police Department said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. ***ATTENTION*** Administrative phone lines are not properly functioning at this time. 911 remains operational. Until updated, if you need any police, fire, or mental health services, please call 911. pic.twitter.com/4RAvc5CK00 Des Moines Police (@DMPolice) May 30, 2024 Issues with 911 services and other phone services were being reported throughout the state. Iowa Radiology sent an email to patients reporting a metro wide phone outage caused by a water line break. State officials encourage residents to call or text 911 via their mobile devices for emergencies. No timeline has been released for when the issue will be resolved. This is a developing story. Check back for more updates. The post Landline 911 services experiencing issues across Iowa, water pipe break to blame appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. Before we began our interview, Greg Landsman wanted me to watch something. The Democratic congressman from Cincinnati pulled up video on his cellphone. It was footage from the Oct. 7 Hamas militants surprise attack on Israel. It was difficult to watch. The video, much of it from GoPro body cameras the attackers used to record their assaults, shows Israelis being gunned down, rooms full of dead Israelis, slain women who had apparently been sexually assaulted. U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Cincinnati, views video of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel. "Youll see some of the women with their pants down look at all these bodies." He assured: "I wont make you watch too much." He continued, then warned as another scene played: "You dont want to watch that." It was a Hamas attacker trying to cut off the head off a dead Israeli civilian, to take it home as a souvenir. Landsman was among members of Congress who watched about an hour of such footage on Nov. 14. Rep. Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland, said afterward: "Its a nightmare. Its a nightmare." "I literally could not talk for hours," Landsman recounted. "It was several hours before I could communicate." Some 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas attacks in Israel, with another 250 taken hostage. Israels response has led to more than 36,000 deaths in Gaza, including many women and children, according to Gaza health officials. Israel has drawn rising condemnation both internationally and on American college campuses. "There have been mistakes that are being investigated by the IDF (Israeli Defense Force), but this is Hamas targeting civilians," said Landsman. "Israel only targets Hamas, and tragically, civilians have been killed." U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Cincinnati, looks into Gaza in a visit to Israel two months before Hamas militants attacked. Landsman had been to Israel less than two months before the attacks, his second trip there last year. He had been to the Kfar Aza kibbutz, a cooperative established nearly seven decades ago along the Gaza border, where Hamas attackers on Oct. 7 went house-to-house, killing more than 60 people, including grandparents and children, according to The New York Times and other news media accounts. Nearly 20 hostages were taken there. Landsman returned to Israel in another congressional visit in February, and plans to go back in another congressional group in June. Landsman concerned about rising antisemitism Hes been very active in speaking out for Israel and against antisemitism; the Harvard Divinity School-educated theologian is among 33 Jewish members of Congress. The recent resurgence in antisemitism is alarming in a historical context. "There is something that happens that those of us who have studied its history agree will never be fully understood," Landsman said. Why does this happen and why does it happen on repeat every hundred or 200 years? " Then theres always a question as to why it spreads so quickly, turns so dangerously. It goes from zero to a gas chamber in a staggeringly short amount of time," Landsman said. "In this moment, there are pieces of it that have contributed any moment that involves the Jewish people will bring whats below the surface to the surface. Helping fuel antisemitism now is social media, such as TikTok, Facebook and the X platform, highlighting accusations of genocidal occupiers, and resurfacing long-time Jewish "Replacement Theory" claims and "blood libel" accusations to spread more, he said. Landsman suspects Iran, Russia and China contribute to social media campaigns because they oppose a secure Israel in a stable Middle East. To promoters of Jewish conspiracy theories, Landsman points to estimates that there are only 18 million Jews in the world; fewer than the populations of four U.S. states. Some 80% of the worlds Jews live either in the United States or Israel. "Its not the number of Jews," he said. Landsman has been getting threats Landsman postponed a November town hall in Lebanon, in Warren County, after receiving security warnings. His office has received other threats, he said, a first for him after joining Congress from serving on Cincinnati City Council. Theyre part of an overall rise in recent years in threats against members of Congress. Landsman has continued to hold town halls and "house parties" with his constituents. Security guards are usually present at his gatherings, which is reassuring to him and his family as threats continue to pop up. An anonymous caller recently warned he "would find me Its very disturbing." He reports the threats to congressional security and hopes nothing violent comes of them. He said protests on college campuses are "very much American and democratic," but they shouldnt be sites for hate speech, violence and "chaos." But he thinks pro-Palestinian protesters arent hearing both sides on campuses. Landsman, whos been a teacher, in April met with some 50 students at Xavier University, where two protesters would be arrested May 11. When he started the conversation by asking them about their issues and concerns, he found they talked first about their personal near-term futures, not the Israel-Hamas war. "It was a lot about housing and worrying about being able to afford to live where they want to go to work, rents so high in some of these places, and what houses are going for." Landsman advises students "to find an issue they feel deeply about and go hard; just dont break the law. Dont get yourself suspended or expelled or arrested. Thats not the most effective way to make change." While the events of the past eight months have certainly "hardened some hearts" on Israel and related issues, Landsman, 47, still has hope that years from now, "we will look back and remember a time when it was chaos and scary and there was this horrible, awful war, and my hope is that this is the last one. "Im a big believer in a future for both Palestinians and Israelis where there Is peace and stability and folks are living side by side," Landsman said. "Out of this awfulness must emerge a new Middle East. "We get to a stable, secure, peaceful Middle East and all of a sudden, we have a fundamentally better world Were going to find a way. I refuse to look away." EXTRA POINT Landsman faces battle to keep House seat The first-term Democrat knows he will face a spirited and likely well-funded challenge to reelection this fall, in whats expected to be one of Ohios most-contested congressional races. House Speaker Mike Johnson set a May 30 fund-raising visit to Southwest Ohio. Reds owner Bob Castellini and former House Speaker John Boehner of West Chester Township will join him to raise money for the "Grow the Majority" political action committee. Orlando Sonza launches his campaign at the Golden Lamb Inn in Lebanon Johnson plans separate fund-raising stops in Landsmans 1st House District to benefit his Republican challenger, Orlando Sonza. Landsman ousted long-time Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot with more than 53% of the vote in the 2022 general election in the newly redrawn district that includes Cincinnati, eastern Hamilton County and Warren County. Landsman, in our interview about Israel and Gaza, said: "If I have the good fortune of being able to stay in this job, I want to be part of what happens next and the generation of leaders that ultimately achieve peace." Dan Sewell is a regular Opinion contributor. Contact: dsewellrojos@gmail.com This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Congressman Greg Landsman stunned by Hamas attack scenes LARNED, Kan. (KSNW) A man from Larned has been found competent to stand trial for intentional second-degree murder, among other charges. According to Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett, the defense counsel for 67-year-old Michael Reynolds of Larned requested a competency hearing. It was held via Zoom on Tuesday. Reynolds competency evaluation was performed by staff from the Center for Counseling and Consultation on April 20. The standard of competency to stand trial in Kansas is whether or not, because of mental disease or defect, the Defendant is unable either to understand the nature and purpose of the proceedings against him or make or assist his attorney in making a legal defense, said McNett. Due to a possible conflict of interest, Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman recused himself from the case. Senior Judge Nancy Parrish of Topeka presided over the hearing. One arrested in alleged road rage shooting on I-135 Following the presentation of evidence, Judge Parrish found Reynolds competent to stand trial and remanded the case to the magistrate judge for a preliminary hearing. A status hearing has been scheduled for June 13. Reynolds has been charged with the following for the fatal shooting of 52-year-old Dr. Tomas Garza of Larned: One count of Intentional Murder in the Second Degree One count of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon One count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm Reynolds is being held without bond in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriffs Office. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A judge set bail Thursday at $750,000 for the woman accused of running over and killing her boyfriend while she was high on fentanyl and after finding another womans tampons in the trash. The 8 News Now Investigators first reported 30-year-old Julie Bushs arrest for open murder. Bush was originally charged with DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm, domestic battery, attempted murder and drug possession after police arrested her on Friday, May 24. In court Thursday, prosecutors said Bush will likely face charges of both open murder and DUI resulting in death. On Friday, a person called police alleging Bush intentionally ran over her boyfriend, Richard Penardo Jr., 51, with a car near Oakey Boulevard and Eastern Avenue in the east valley, documents said. After the incident, the witness reportedly saw Bush leaning over [the man] crying hysterically. Penardo later died from his injuries. Prosecutors said a doorbell camera captured the entire incident, which they said shows Bush driving directly into Penardo. Prosecutors asked Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Noreen Demonte to set bail at $500,000. Bushs public defender said there are several defenses to present in her clients case. She asked the judge to set bail at $15,000. Demonte set bail at $750,000, noting it is unlikely Bush can afford such an amount and adding in part, The facts in this case are incredibly terrifying. Should she post bond, Bush will be required to be on electronic monitoring. She would also be required to stay away from the victims family. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 27. Bushs public defender noted Penardos violent history. Penardo served prison time on charges of forgery, accessory to felony, conspiracy to commit murder and insurance fraud, records said. In his most recent case, a judge sentenced Penardo to 3-10 years in prison for unemployment insurance fraud. The claims were filed while Penardo and his codefendants were incarcerated, officials said at the time of his sentencing. Before that, Penardo took an Alford plea, meaning he did not admit guilt but agreed prosecutors had enough evidence to convince a jury to convict him, for his role in the death of Maria Marino in 2008. Marino died from ligature strangulation in 2008. Penardo then helped two women, including his then-wife, despose Marinos body on Mt. Charleston, documents said. Judge Carolyn Ellsworth sentenced him to 2-5 years in prison. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. A man who helped commit a firebombing attack at an Orange County abortion clinic and plotted other attacks in hopes of igniting a race war has been sentenced to six years in federal prison. Tibet Ergul, 22, of Irvine, was the last of three defendants in the 2022 firebombing attack at a Planned Parenthood in Costa Mesa to be sentenced. His co-conspirators, Chance Brannon, 24, of San Juan Capistrano, and Xavier Batten, 21, of Brooksville, Florida, were sentenced to prison earlier this year. Ergul and Brannon began plotting the attack at Planned Parenthood in the early months of 2022, targeting the clinic specifically because it provided reproductive health services and performed abortions. On March 12, 2022, Ergul and Brannon assembled a Molotov cocktail in Eerguls garage and then drove to the clinic in Costa Mesa after midnight. An image of a Molotov cocktail was provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. The pair, dressed in dark clothing to hide their identities, lit the explosive device and threw it at the facility entrance. A fire on the property broke out and the clinic was forced to temporarily close and reschedule dozens of patient appointments. According to prosecutors, the two wanted to make a statement about abortion while scaring pregnant women, intimidating abortion providers from offering the procedure and encouraging similar violent acts. The men chose the Costa Mesa clinic after also discussing other possible targets, including the Anti-Defamation League in San Diego a Jewish advocacy organization, authorities said. Ergul admitted in his plea agreement that they had planned on using another Molotov cocktail to attack another Planned Parenthood following the United States Supreme Courts decision to overturn the landmark court decision Roe v. Wade, which ruled that women had a constitutional right to abortion. Suspects wanted by the FBI for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at an Orange County Planned Parenthood on March 13, 2022. (FBI) The two came very close to following through with those plans, even driving to the location of the undisclosed clinic, but abandoned the plot after seeing law enforcement near their target. Ergul and Brannon, who at the time was an active-duty U.S. Marine and said he was inspired by the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and neo-Nazi ideology, considered many targets for future attacks, including an electrical substation in Orange. The two hoped to debilitate Orange Countys power grid, officials said, using Molotov cocktails and firearms that Ergul kept in his garage. Ergul and Brannon discussed surveillance, drone operations and firearms with an associate and in March 2023, Ergul told others that he had located a substation to attack. He then sent that associate aerial photos of the facility and suggested doing a drive-thru at 3 a.m. In a letter sent to Brannon, Ergul discussed his hopes of igniting a race war and voiced a desire to murder politicians and journalists. The two also plotted an attack on an LGBTQ+ pride night celebration at Dodger Stadium in June 2023, discussing sabotaging the event with a device that could be detonated remotely. They exchanged sabotage manuals and talked about visiting the stadium prior to the event to scout the venue, the DOJ said. Both Brannon and Ergul were arrested two days before that event and have remained in custody since. Ergul pleaded guilty on Feb. 29 to one felony count of conspiracy to damage an energy facility and one misdemeanor count of intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility. He received a 72-month sentence after taking a plea deal. This defendants hatred toward others led him to plotting and carrying out violence, said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada in a news release. We will not allow bigoted intolerance to divide us. My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes motivated by hate in order to keep our community safe. Ergul was the last person to be sentenced in connection with the Costa Mesa Planned Parenthood attack. Brannon was sentenced last month to nine years in federal prison for his role in the attack and subsequent plots. He pleaded guilty last November to counts including conspiracy, possession of explosives and intentionally damaging a reproductive health services facility. Earlier this month, Batten, the Florida resident, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for advising Ergul and Brannon on how to construct the Molotov cocktails used in the original attack. He pleaded guilty for his role in the attack back in January. During his sentencing, the judge called Battens crimes cowardly and said they showed no empathy for women and their rights. Amir Ehsaei, acting assistant director in charge of the FBI field office in Los Angeles, said the FBI and its partners will continue to seek out violent extremists before they strike and urged anyone with information about potential attacks to contact authorities immediately. Mr. Ergul chose violence and destruction while targeting a wide array of innocent victims with whom he disagreed ideologically, putting their lives at risk, Ehsaei said. Last fall, another California man was sentenced to federal prison for targeting Planned Parenthood in the wake of the Roe v. Wade decision, calling clinics and threatening to bomb the facilities and murder employees. Following the reversal of the landmark ruling, abortion clinics across the country saw a sharp increase in threats and attacks, particularly in states that offer greater access to the procedure, according to a report from the National Abortion Federation. The DOJ has been tracking those acts of violence as well. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Palestinians walk through the destruction in the wake of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Jebaliya, northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Enas Rami) Slovenias government endorsed a motion Thursday to recognize a Palestinian state and asked the parliament to do the same. It comes just two days after Spain, Norway and Ireland recognized a Palestinian state, a move that was condemned by Israel. In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians in the border city of Rafah have reported heavy fighting in recent days as Israels military widens its offensive in the south, seizing control of the entire length of Gazas border with Egypt. Beyond Rafah, Israeli forces were still battling militants in parts of Gaza that the military said it wrested control of months ago potential signs of a low-level insurgency that could keep Israeli troops engaged in the territory. Fighting in Rafah has spurred more than 1 million Palestinians to flee, most of whom had already been displaced earlier in the war. They now seek refuge in makeshift tent camps and other war-ravaged areas, where they lack shelter, food, water and other essentials for survival, the U.N. says. Gazas Health Ministry said Thursday that 53 people killed by Israeli strikes had been brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours, as well as 357 wounded people. Israels war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas Oct. 7 attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people mostly civilians and abducted about 250. Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more. Currently: Slovenias government endorses recognition of a Palestinian state. The U.S.-built pier in Gaza broke apart. Heres how we got here and what might be next. China leader Xi Jinping pledges more Gaza aid at a summit with Arab leaders. A ship attacked by Yemens Houthi rebels was full of grain bound for Iran, the groups main benefactor. Follow APs coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war. Here's the latest: U.S. MILITARY SAYS FIGHTING AND WEATHER HAVE HALTED AIRDROPS WASHINGTON The U.S. Central Command says the military has not airdropped humanitarian aid into Gaza since May 9, with a Pentagon spokesperson blaming weather and Israel's offensive in the southern city of Rafah. The lack of U.S. airdrops comes as a U.S.-built pier to deliver aid by sea broke apart in strong winds and heavy seas just over a week after it became operational. The solution is to open the land routes, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Thursday. We need to see those land routes open. We need to see more trucks getting in. Gazas land crossings are now entirely controlled by Israel. Fighting in Rafah has made it nearly impossible for humanitarian groups to import and distribute aid to southern Gaza, and the Rafah crossing with Egypt has been closed since it was seized by Israeli forces on May 6. The Israeli military says it has allowed hundreds of trucks to enter through its nearby Kerem Shalom crossing during the Rafah operation, but aid groups say its extremely difficult to access that aid on the Gaza side because of the fighting. Although strong winds and weather have been an issue for the airdrops, the ongoing challenge is the Rafah operation in Gaza's south, Singh said. We cannot do some airdrops when the IDF is conducting operations, she said, using an acronym for the Israeli military. We dont want civilians running into an active battlespace. So there hasnt been airdrops recently. Amid clear skies Thursday, a Jordanian-flagged military cargo plane could be seen airdropping aid to the city of Khan Younis in central Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are dependent on the aid to survive, and U.N. officials say parts of the territory are experiencing famine. The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for two of Israel's top leaders for allegedly using starvation as a weapon of war and other crimes related to the fight against Hamas in Gaza. U.N. WARNS ISRAEL'S RAFAH OPERATION IS SEVERELY RESTRICTING AID UNITED NATIONS The U.N. food agency is warning that Israels military operation in Gazas southern Rafah area has severely restricted aid deliveries and risks causing the same catastrophic levels of hunger seen in northern Gaza. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Thursday that the World Food Program is also reporting that hunger levels in central and southern Gaza are deteriorating fast. WFP is calling for all crossing points to be opened to get desperately needed food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza as the Israeli incursion in Rafah continues to have a devastating impact on civilians and on humanitarian operations, the spokesman said. WFP also reports there is little the Rome-based agency can do in Rafah, with stocks very low and mobility severely restricted, Dujarric said. The U.N. spokesman said humanitarian officials report that aid workers are facing movement restrictions, including to border areas, and repeated denials of access and delays including to collect supplies from the Kerem Shalom crossing on the Gaza side which is in an area where fighting continues to escalate. We need Israeli authorities to swiftly facilitate access to the crossing so that aid workers can safely reach the crossing to pick up supplies, Dujarric said. We also need safe and unimpeded passage to distribute that assistance to scale to people in need, wherever they may need it in Gaza. He stressed that providing humanitarian assistance in a war zone requires security for aid workers and also requires passable roads, adequate fuel, reliable communications, and sustained access. JERUSALEM HOLDS LGBTQ+ PRIDE PARADE AS OTHER CITIES SCALE BACK FESTIVITIES JERUSALEM Tens of thousands of people marched in Jerusalems annual Pride Parade carrying rainbow flags through the streets of the city. Thursday's parade kicked off a month of events for the LGBTQ+ communities across Israel. Many other cities and towns, including Tel Aviv, which usually throws a raucous weeklong party, opted to scale down their events due to the war in Gaza. Organizers in Jerusalem said that it was especially important to hold the parade this year because minorities are often inordinately impacted by emergencies. This is a way for the queer community to acknowledge we are here for anyone, said Eldad, a participant in the Jerusalem parade who declined to share their last name. At the front of the parade was a rainbow banner reading Born to be free carried by members of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a grassroots group that advocates for returning the hostages in Gaza. Other marchers held signs with anti-war messages in English and Hebrew with slogans such as No Pride in War & Occupation. The march in the conservative city is always tense and tightly secured by police, and has been wracked by violence in the past. Police said around 2,000 officers were deployed along the route. About a dozen people protested against the parade, including Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Aryeh King, who denounced the parade as being part of an anti-God agenda. BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS ISRAEL'S RAFAH OFFENSIVE STILL ISN'T A MAJOR OPERATION WASHINGTON Israels widening offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah has yet to amount to a major operation in the eyes of the Biden administration, a U.S. State Department spokesman said Thursday. Deputy spokesman Vedant Patel was responding to questions about what actions in Israel's 3-week-old Rafah offensive would cross the red lines that the Biden administration had earlier warned Israel about regarding a full-fledged invasion of the city. The truth of the facts on the ground is that we have yet to see a major operation into Rafah, Patel told reporters Thursday. We have been clear about what this isnt, which is a major military operation. Israel has deepened its incursion into Rafah, and intensifying violence in recent days has killed scores of Palestinians. The military said a fifth brigade up to several thousand soldiers joined troops operating in the city on Tuesday. The U.S. continued to urge Israel to allow humanitarian access and spare civilians, Patel said. Biden administration officials had issued repeated warnings before the Rafah operation expanded that the U.S. could cut the supply of some offensive weapons to Israel if Israeli forces struck population centers in Rafah. It's unclear how many civilians are still in Rafah. At least 1 million people have fled since Israel launched its offensive into the city, which was crowded with roughly 1.3 million Palestinians, most of whom were already displaced from other parts of Gaza. The top U.N. court ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah last week as part of South Africa's case accusing Israel of committing a genocide against the Palestinians. Israel strongly denies the charges. Administration officials have largely declined comment on reports of Israeli tanks moving into the center of Rafah and the Philadelphi corridor along the border with Egypt, saying they have no on-the-ground knowledge of the circumstances. Officials have expressed sorrow at recent days deadly strikes on tent camps housing displaced Palestinians, but said they await the full results of Israeli investigations. SWEDEN ACCUSES IRAN OF USING GANGS TO TARGET ISRAELI OR JEWISH INTERESTS STOCKHOLM, Sweden The Swedish domestic security agency has accused Iran of using established criminal networks in Sweden as a proxy to target Israeli or Jewish interests in the Scandinavian country. The accusations were raised at a news conference Thursday by Daniel Stenling, the head of the SAPO agencys counterespionage unit. Stenling, without offering specifics or evidence to back up his assertion, said the agency can establish that criminal networks in Sweden are used as a proxy by Iran. It is very much about planning and attempts to carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish interests, goals and activities in Sweden, he said, adding that the agency sees connections between criminal individuals in the criminal networks and individuals who are connected to the Iranian security services. Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer and Hampus Nygards, deputy head of the Swedish polices National Operations Department, were also at the online news conference. Stenling and the others made no mention of the recent episodes connected to the Israel Embassy in Stockholm and stopped short of naming any criminal groups or suspects. In late January, the Israeli Embassy was sealed off after what was then described as a dangerous object was found on the grounds of the diplomatic mission. Swedish media said the object was a hand grenade. The embassy was not evacuated and the object was eventually destroyed. No arrests were made and authorities did not say what was found. On May 17, gunshots were heard near the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm and the area was cordoned off. No one was arrested. Sweden has grappled with gang violence for years and criminal gangs often recruit teenagers in socially disadvantaged immigrant neighborhoods. WAR CABINET MEMBER GANTZ'S PARTY MOVES TO FORCE EARLY ELECTIONS TEL AVIV Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantzs centrist party has called for a vote to dissolve the parliament in an attempt to force early elections. Thursday's announcement deepens a divide in Israels leadership more than seven months into a war. But it appears unlikely to threaten the current parliament. Even to put the request on the agenda requires majority consent from parliament, which would need at least five members of the governing coalition to defect and vote in favor. Parliament member Pnina Tamano-Shata, the head of the National Unity party, submitted a bill on Thursday to dissolve the Knesset. Oct. 7 was a tragedy the requires us to come back and receive the trust of the people, and to create a wider, stable unity government that can lead us safely against the immense challenges in security, economy, and especially Israeli society, Tamano-Shata said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party denounced the bill, saying it was a prize for (Hamas leader Yahya) Sinwar, a surrender to international pressure, and a fatal blow to efforts to release the hostages. Last week, Gantz threatened to resign from the government if Netanyahu does not put forth a new plan for the war in Gaza by June 8. His departure would leave Netanyahu more beholden to far-right allies who believe Israel should occupy Gaza and rebuild Jewish settlements there. SLOVENIA'S GOVERNMENT ENDORSES RECOGNITION OF PALESTINIAN STATE LJUBLJANA, Slovenia Slovenias government on Thursday endorsed a motion to recognize a Palestinian state and asked the parliament to do the same. The decision by Slovenias government comes just two days after Spain, Norway and Ireland recognized a Palestinian state, a move that was condemned by Israel. Prime Minister Robert Golob said that his government sent the recognition proposal to parliament, which could convene as early as next week. All the world should act in the direction of peace, Golob said after the government session. The way to achieve peace is a two-state solution. The decision is not directed against anyone, not even Israel, but that it is a message of peace, he added as the Palestinian flag was displayed on the government headquarters in Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital. Parliamentary approval is necessary for the move to take effect. Golobs ruling liberal coalition has a comfortable majority in the 90-member assembly and the vote should be a formality. With its move, Slovenia is set to become the 10th member of the 27-nation European Union to officially recognize a Palestinian state. Norway isnt an EU member, but its foreign policy is usually aligned with the bloc. Slovenia first began the recognition process in early May, but said it would wait until the situation in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza improved. Golob said this week that he was expediting the process in reaction to Israels latest attacks on Rafah, which have caused more than 1 million Palestinians to flee. More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state more than two-thirds of the United Nations. SURVEY FOUND MOST ISRAELIS BELIEVED CAMPAIGN AGAINST HAMAS WAS RIGHT OR NOT FAR ENOUGH WASHINGTON A Pew Research Center survey conducted in late winter and early spring shows a majority of Israelis believed at the time that the Israeli military campaign against Hamas in Gaza was either about right or hadnt gone far enough. The poll, released Thursday, was conducted in March and early April. That was before the Israeli military offensive in the southern city of Rafah and renewed operations in parts of Gazas north after Hamas militants resurfaced there. The survey shows that roughly two-thirds of Israelis expressed confidence at the time that Israel will either probably (27%) or definitely (40%) achieve its goals against Hamas. However, majorities of Israeli adults were worried about some aspects of the conflict: 61% said they were extremely or very concerned about fighting spreading in the region, and 68% said they were extremely or very concerned about the war going on for a long time. Forty percent of Israelis then thought that Israel should govern the Gaza Strip, while 12% thought the Palestinian Authority should. Fourteen percent thought the people of Gaza should decide that. At the time, only 26% of Israelis said that Israel and an independent Palestinian state could coexist peacefully. Thats down from 35% last year before the war, and about half as many who thought so when the question was asked in 2013. The survey questioned 1,001 adults between March 3 and April 4. It has a margin of error of 4 percentage points. ISRAELI MILITARY REVIEWING EVENTS THAT KILLED RED CRESCENT WORKERS TEL AVIV, Israel The Israeli military said Thursday that it was reviewing events that killed two workers with the Palestinian Red Crescent in the Gaza city of Rafah. The Gaza Health Ministry said the two medics were killed Wednesday when the ambulance they were traveling in to evacuate casualties came under Israeli fire. The Israeli military said a suspicious vehicle approached soldiers, posing a threat to the forces. A tank then fired at the vehicle, the military said in a statement. The statement did not specify whether the vehicle was an ambulance. The area of Rafah, where Israel is deepening its offensive, has seen intensifying fighting in recent days that has killed dozens of Palestinians. Israel has come under fierce international criticism for the high civilian death toll during the war. Scores of aid and medical workers have also been killed. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 19 workers have been killed in Gaza since the war began. Israel accuses Hamas of embedding itself in civilian areas and using ambulances to transport its members. MORE THAN 4,000 PALLETS OF AID REACH GAZA FROM CYPRUS NICOSIA, Cyprus Over 4,000 pallets of humanitarian aid have been shipped from Cyprus to Gaza via the U.S-built pier and causeway offshore the Palestinian territory, a Cypriot official said Thursday. Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said Thursday some 14,000 pallets of aid have been collected in the east Mediterranean island nation for eventual shipment to Gaza as part of the maritime aid corridor initiative. Of the 4,134 pallets that have already reached Gaza, approximately half have been picked up by humanitarian aid groups for distribution to civilians in need. The other half has been offloaded and stored. The aid includes food, hygiene items, shelters and pharmaceuticals. Donor countries include the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy and Romania. Other donors include the European Unions Civil Protection Mechanism and the U.N.s World Food Program and the International Organization for Migration. The Cypriot official said the initiative that started May 9 is ongoing, with ships still departing with loads of aid, despite the recent damage to part of the U.S.-built pier that suspended operations. The pier is expected to come back on line by the middle of next week. POLICE CLEAR OUT A PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTER TENT CAMP AT A UNIVERSITY IN SWEDEN COPENHAGEN, Denmark Swedish police cleared out a tent camp Thursday outside a southern Sweden university where pro-Palestinian students have been camping since May 16. Police say that some 40 people are suspected of disobeying law enforcement during the early morning action and video shows police carrying away people who refused to leave the area outside Lund University. Swedish broadcaster SVT said that there were about 100 people in the camp. In a statement, police said everything has gone smoothly. In recent weeks, there have been campus protests by pro-Palestinian activists across Europe and in the United States as some called for a break in academic ties with Israel over the war in Gaza. 2 SOLDIERS KILLED IN CAR-RAMMING ATTACK IN THE WEST BANK, ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS TEL AVIV, Israel The Israeli military said Thursday that two soldiers were killed in a car-ramming attack in the occupied West Bank. The military said it received a report late Wednesday about the ramming near the Palestinian city of Nablus. The military said the attacker fled the scene and that soldiers had launched a search for him. On Thursday, the military said the soldiers who were struck had died and that top military officials conducted an initial inquiry into the attack. Israeli Army Radio reported that the attacker had turned himself in to Palestinian security forces, which could not immediately be confirmed. Violence in the West Bank has surged throughout the war in Gaza. Israel has been conducting raids into Palestinian cities and towns in the territory to crack down on militancy and the incursions have led to the deaths of more than 500 Palestinians. Most of those killed have been in clashes with the military. But people throwing stones as well as others not involved in the confrontations have also been killed. Palestinian attacks against Israelis have also been on the rise in the territory. CHINA PLEDGES MORE AID FOR GAZA DURING THE OPENING OF ITS SUMMIT WITH ARAB STATES BEIJING Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated calls for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and promised more humanitarian aid for people in Gaza as he opened a summit with leaders of Arab states Thursday in Beijing. Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing people into tremendous suffering, Xi said in a speech opening the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. War should not continue indefinitely. He restated Chinas backing of a two-state solution and pledged 500 million yuan ($69 million) in humanitarian aid for Gaza. He also promised to donate $3 million to a United Nations agency that provides assistance and relief to refugees of the Israel-Hamas war. Beijing and the Arab states back Palestinians in the conflict, where Israel is facing growing international condemnation after its strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah in which at least 45 people were killed over the weekend. The overall Palestinian death toll in the war exceeds 36,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Beijing has long backed Palestinians and denounced Israel over its settlements in the occupied territories. It has not criticized the initial Hamas attack on Oct. 7 which killed about 1,200 people while the United States and others have called it an act of terrorism. However, China has growing economic ties with Israel. IRAN OPENS REGISTRATION AHEAD OF JUNE 28 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iran opened a five-day registration period Thursday for hopefuls wanting to run in the June 28 presidential election to replace the late Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash earlier this month with seven others. The five-day period will see those between the ages of 40 to 75 with at least a masters degree register as potential candidates. All candidates ultimately must be approved by Irans 12-member Guardian Council, a panel of clerics and jurists ultimately overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 85, who maintains final say over all matters of state. The panel has never accepted a woman, nor anyone calling for radical change within the countrys governance. Who will run and potentially be accepted remains in question. The countrys acting president, Mohammad Mokhber, a previously behind-the-scenes bureaucrat, could be a front-runner, because hes already been seen meeting with Khamenei. Also discussed as possible aspirants are former hard-line President Mohammad Ahmadinejad and former reformist President Mohammad Khatami but whether theyd be allowed to run is another question. The five-day registration period will close on Tuesday. The Guardian Council is expected to issue its final list of candidates within 10 days afterwards. That will allow for a shortened two-week campaign before the vote in late June. New law with bipartisan support weans American power plants from Russian uranium: 'A great win for America's people and for America's energy future' A new law passed in May could be the push that America needs to build a domestic market for enriched uranium and smaller, safer nuclear reactors, the New York Times reported. Signed into law by President Joe Biden on May 13 after a year of delays in Congress, the bill bans the import of Russian-enriched uranium. Despite many setbacks, the bill passed unanimously, the Times reported. The delays came about because it was being used as a bargaining chip in other, unrelated political negotiations. The new ban will take place in August, unless a lack of enriched uranium would cause a nuclear reactor to shut down, the Times revealed. In that case, the company can receive a waiver to extend the deadline to 2028. In the past, the U.S. had a thriving industry for enriching uranium for use in nuclear reactors. However, the government struck a deal with Russia to buy Russian uranium at a low cost to encourage Russia to use its nuclear assets peacefully. Decades later, the U.S.-enriched uranium industry is nonexistent, and the country spends about $1 billion per year on Russian imports. Senator John Barrasso, the Wyoming congressman who wrote the bill, said during remarks on the Senate floor that the bill's passage is "a great win for America's people and for America's energy future." He added, "Putin's war machine has now lost one of its cash cows." However, since the country is still transitioning to energy sources that don't pollute the air, we need enriched uranium to run nuclear reactors. Nuclear is especially important because, unlike wind and solar, it's available day or night without regard for the weather and without needing extensive battery storage. According to the Times, nuclear plants provide more than half of our current non-polluting electricity. That's why the new bill frees up $2.7 billion in federal funds to reawaken America's enriched uranium industry. The project will take years, but it could supply all the material we need to keep the lights on. Not only that, but this could spur the development of more concentrated enriched uranium for smaller, more efficient, and safer next-generation reactors. As Dan Leistikow, spokesperson for Centrus Energy the main U.S. company involved in enriching uranium told the Times: "Waivers are urgently needed in the short term, but ultimately, the only solution is to invest in new American capacity." Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. New York State Trooper Christopher Skinner was making what should have been a routine traffic stop on Interstate 81 in the Broome County Town of Chenango on May 29, 2014, when another motorist deliberately struck and killed the 13-year state police veteran. On Wednesday, representatives from the state police and other law enforcement agencies, along with the state Department of Transportation and Skinner family members, gathered at the crash site between Castle Creek and Whitney Point in a private ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy. Skinner, 42, of Kirkwood, was a member of the Troop C Traffic Incident Management Detail and was patrolling a construction zone along I-81 when he pulled over another vehicle. Members of New York State Police and family members of state Trooper Christopher Skinner gather for a memorial service Wednesday, May 29, 2024 along Interstate 81 in Broome County to mark the 10th anniversary of Skinner's death. While Skinner was interviewing the other driver, Florida resident Almond Upton, who reportedly had been driving more than 90 mph, swerved his vehicle over to the side of the road, striking the trooper and killing him instantly. No motive was given for Upton's actions, but his attorneys claimed he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and was going through a "manic episode" at the time. Business Lockheed Martin helicopter program gets boost with funding, Intel partnership in Owego More than two years after the fatal crash, Upton was convicted of first-degree murder following a trial in Broome County Court, and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. Judge Joseph Cawley said during the sentencing Upton's act was "nothing less than an assassination," and a wanton killing "for absolutely no reason." Upton died Dec. 9, 2018 at the age of 64 while serving his sentence at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. Law enforcement vehicles line the shoulder of Interstate 81 in northern Broome County on Wednesday May 29, 2024 for a memorial service to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of state Trooper Christopher Skinner, who was struck and killed while making a traffic stop. Skinner, who had several children and was engaged to be married at the time of his death, was a Binghamton native and a 1989 graduate of Chenango Valley High School. After graduating from SUNY Cobleskill in 1993, he worked for several years as a product support manager for CASE International. In 2001, Skinner graduated from the New York State Police Academy and was initially assigned to Troop G in Latham. Since Skinner's death, his memory has been kept alive through an annual blood drive. An I-81 bridge one mile north of the deadly crash was also named in his honor. Follow Jeff Murray on Twitter @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: State police mark 10th anniversary of trooper death in Broome County Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo, New Mexico. (Photo by Danielle Prokop / Source NM) Hospital acquisitions are growing across the country, and thats leading to higher prices for patients. Many of those deals involve private equity, which often makes cuts to certain care to drive up profits, or religious organizations that might refuse types of care that they dont support. New Mexico is at an especially high risk for deals that could limit health care. It also has a new law that could curb that. Last year, the only hospital in Otero County, Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, signed a merger agreement with a Catholic nonprofit with very little local input. The county also contains the Holloman Air Force Base and the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Bold Futures New Mexico Religious Refusals Coordinator Kat Sanchez said that deal cut back residents health care options, especially for care that the Catholic Church doesnt support. Weve heard from folks that they had already started canceling vasectomies that were scheduled before the paperwork had even been signed for the merger to go through, she said. Advocacy groups like Bold Futures and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico called for players in the deal to slow it down, outline what the impact would be on residents and seek community input. One of the things that we heard was leaders saying very clearly that they had no voice in the acquisition that happened there, Sanchez said. Once the deal went through, she and her colleagues knew there wasnt anything they could do to roll it back, but they saw it as a warning for what could happen to health care in other vulnerable New Mexico communities. Seemingly, the mergers and acquisitions are happening more often around the country and theyre happening in rural areas, she said. New Mexico is particularly at risk. President of the New Mexico Hospital Association Troy Clark told legislators last year during a Legislative Finance Committee interim hearing that over two thirds of New Mexico hospitals had been in the red in the 12 months prior. And it is not news to many New Mexicans that the state lacks health care providers. All but one of its 32 counties are facing a general shortage of health care professionals, according to the Rural Health Information Hub. House Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski said she gets a lot of calls in particular about maternity care, which one third of New Mexico counties currently lack. Weve had a number of hospitals around the state that have either ceased providing those services entirely or have gone to very limited hours. All of that has been of great concern to the community, she said. Szczepanski said New Mexico health care providers are strapped for cash. Were, in some ways, a unique market for health care, if you look at it from an economic point of view, in that we have a lot of folks in our state covered by public programs, both Medicaid and Medicare, she said. Those programs tend to bring in less money than private insurers. Szczepanski says she has concerns that financial instability is attracting interest from potentially predatory groups, like private equity firms. Earlier this year, a report also put New Mexico at the top of alist for private equity risk. That model is fundamentally at odds with a public good focus on health care, said Chris Noble, policy director for the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, which issued the report. He said that when private equity in particular gets involved with health care, leadership focuses on making a quick profit for investors over improving the functions of the hospital. Usually, they do that by cutting back staff, even if the staff is already struggling to keep up with the needs of patients. Or, theyll cut corners or raise prices. Noble said more state governments are taking notice of the impact thats having on public health. You see a big proliferation of these laws in the last few years, he said. Most states require some notice of a transaction involving a health care organization, and many require an approval from the state. New Mexico is joining that group this year. State Senator Katy Duhigg and Representative Reena Szczepanski co-authored the Health Care Consolidation Oversight Act, which gives the state a say in hospital mergers and acquisitions. Senator Duhigg said the states lack of regulations in this area has made it vulnerable. It was ripe for the picking, and that made it a very attractive area for these companies to come into because they could basically do whatever they wanted, she said. The law says the leadership of organizations seeking to merge has to give notice to the superintendent of insurance. It also has to show that the transaction wont lead to bad outcomes for patients, like higher prices or limited availability of services. This is really a monopoly issue, Duhigg said. This is an antitrust issue, and we dont have great antitrust laws here in New Mexico. The law is only in effect until July 1, 2025. Duhigg said that is because she and her colleagues are working on a more comprehensive one with more community input and ideas from other states with the goal of getting it through next years longer, two-month legislative session. She said the current law isnt enough. It really doesnt have teeth. It has no enforcement mechanism. It has no transparency, she said. But for now, Duhigg said this gives the state a way to keep track of transactions and where they might be harming the states health care, which it didnt have before. This coverage is made possible by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and KUNM listeners. The post New law gives state officials more oversight on hospital acquisitions appeared first on Source New Mexico. Zhong Yuanzhang (1st L) communicates with colleagues on an experimental platform in Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) Zhong Yuanzhang shows a model of Hualong One reactor at Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) This file photo taken in August 2017 shows the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of the No.5 unit of China National Nuclear Corporation's Fuqing nuclear power plant in southeast China's Fujian Province. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua) Zhong Yuanzhang shows a nuclear reactor part at Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) This file photo taken in August 2017 shows the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of the No.5 unit of China National Nuclear Corporation's Fuqing nuclear power plant in southeast China's Fujian Province. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua) Zhong Yuanzhang (2nd R) communicates with colleagues at an experimental platform in Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) Zhong Yuanzhang (C) communicates with colleagues at Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) Zhong Yuanzhang shows a 3D-printed nuclear reactor part at Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) Zhong Yuanzhang (3th L) communicates with colleagues on an experimental platform in Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) Zhong Yuanzhang shows a model of Hualong One reactor at Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) Zhong Yuanzhang (1st R) communicates with colleagues on an experimental platform in Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) Robert Zullo/ States Newsroom Gov. Jeff Landry has signed a bill into law that intervenes in a north Louisiana land dispute between an interstate power line company and a wealthy property owner. The legislation that created the law, Senate Bill 108, sponsored by Sen. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, is scheduled to take effect Aug. 1. The law is tailored in ways that would effectively prohibit a single business from exercising its expropriation rights, which allow governments and utilities to force the sale of private land for public use. Expropriation is typically used for development of a project that serves a greater public need, such as a new highway or, as in this case, a power line. The company cant just take the land but has to prove the importance of the project to a local jury and pay the landowner a minimum of fair market value. Seabaugh crafted the legislation to target Pattern Energys Southern Spirit Transmission line, a 320-mile, high-voltage line that would begin at a power station in DeSoto Parish and deliver wind-generated electricity from the Texas grid to a power station in Choctaw County, Mississippi, crossing through north Louisiana. Wind has been the cheapest source of electricity for the past several years in the United States and around the world, according to a study by the financial firm Lazard. Seabaugh has argued the power line would not deliver one watt of electricity to Louisiana. Although the power line would end in Mississippi, it would deliver electricity into Louisiana by way of the regional Midcontinent Independent System Operator grid. The MISO grid covers most of Louisiana and Mississippi and spans into a large swath of the Midwest and parts of Manitoba, Canada. This allows utility companies across state lines to share electrical loads and adjust to demand spikes and other incidents that could cause service interruptions. The senator has acknowledged he sponsored the bill upon the request of at least one Louisiana landowner who is opposed to Pattern Energy. One of those landowners is Paul Dickson Sr., a principal owner and former board chairman of the Shreveport-based Morris & Dickson Co., one of the nations largest pharmaceutical distributors that federal authorities charged with mishandling thousands of large orders of prescription opioids during the height of the nations opioid crisis, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Last year, the Associated Press reported on secretive negotiations between Dickson and a top DEA official. Dickson, a major GOP donor and Jeff Landry backer, worked out a deal with the agent in 2016 to allow the company to keep its distributors license. The agent has since left the DEA and received a $3 million consulting contract from Morris & Dickson. Dicksons company kept its license until May 2023 when the AP uncovered the negotiations, prompting the DEA to revoke the license. Negotiations were also at the front of Dicksons mind at a House committee hearing on the bill in April. He told the lawmakers he supported Seabaughs legislation because it would give him and other landowners a greater advantage in negotiations with Pattern Energy. It will get done well, Dickson said. Right now, the landowners hands are tied behind his back. Senate Bill 108 gives the landowner the ability to negotiate by removing the threat of expropriation. Pattern Energy executives initially said the new law will stop the Southern Spirit Transmission project, which has been under development for nearly a decade, though for now it appears the project remains intact. Reached for comment Wednesday, Pattern Energy executive Adam Renz said the company hasnt yet decided how to proceed. Despite the passage of SB 108, we remain committed to Southern Spirit Transmission, and we are evaluating the best path to building this critical project that will create a valuable connection to diverse energy resources, enhance grid reliability during extreme weather events, and provide low-cost clean energy to consumers, Renz said in an email. The law doesnt actually block the power line project but would merely prevent the company from using the expropriation process to acquire the land, stopping the company from taking the land of Louisiana landowners against their will, Seabaugh said. Louisianas expropriation statutes dont give companies direct power to take land against an owners will. Rather, they allow a company to file an expropriation lawsuit. The process works its way through state court in the parish where the land is located, allowing landowners the opportunity to contest it and placing the decision in the hands of a hometown jury. Some experts, such as Louisiana Public Service Commission Executive Secretary Brandon Frey, have expressed concern that Seabaughs measure could violate federal law. Interstate transmission power lines are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). If Pattern Energy or some other party files a lawsuit over Seabaughs law, the state would be the defendant. Louisiana taxpayers could bear the cost of legal fees for what is essentially a private land dispute that the landowner would have otherwise paid for if lawmakers had not gotten involved. The post Law will help wealthy Louisiana landowner in dispute with power line builder appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) Several Democratic members of Congress are demanding answers about the Border Patrols longtime use of Critical Incident Teams, or so-called shadow units. These investigation groups (CITs) had been assigned to incidents involving Border Patrol agents and have been accused of intimidating witnesses and destroying or falsifying evidence as a way to shield agents from civil or criminal liability. A May 13 report from the U.S. Office of Government Accountability Office states the units were widespread used in seven of nine U.S. Border Patrol sectors, including San Diego, on the southwest border and operated for years with little to no oversight. These shadow units, which were ordered disbanded in 2022, left U.S. Customs and Border Protections Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) in charge of investigating critical incidents incidents involving CBP personnel that result in a serious injury, a death, a use of deadly or excessive force, or widespread media attention. In a letter to Biden administration officials, U.S. Reps. Juan Vargas, Sara Jacobs and Scott Peters, of the San Diego region, and Joaquin Castro, of Texas questioned how these units operated for so long with little to no oversight. Border Patrols investigative shadow units back under the spotlight In 2021, Vargas and his colleagues called for an investigation into the CITs after allegations surfaced about the agency having special, secretive units that worked to cover up any wrongdoing when agents killed someone or otherwise used force in potentially problematic ways. The GAO agreed to conduct an investigation. Watchdog group says Border Patrol uses shadow units that tamper, destroy and alter crime-scene evidence This report raises serious questions about how these units were able to operate for so long with little to no oversight, Vargas said. The American people deserve nothing less than full transparency Its imperative that CBP take steps to ensure that something like this never happens again. With CITs recently disbanded and OPR in charge of investigations, the GAO report suggests that CBP needs to take additional steps to strengthen its response to incidents involving its personnel. GAO found that OPR did not have sufficient resources to carry out these activities but has since increased its capacity to include nearly doubling its investigator workforce. The report also found that while Border Patrol sectors disbanded CITs, their personnel still investigate non-critical incidents such as vehicle crashes with no injuries but they approach them inconsistently. GAO recommends that Border Patrol implement guidance that standardizes sector approaches to noncritical incident response and monitor adherence to the guidance, and that OPR develop guidance for investigators on identifying potential impairments to their independence and train investigators on how to apply the guidance, the report states. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border Full implementation of these recommendations is especially important for our constituents who live near the United States-Mexico border, many of whom regularly interact with CBP officials as they make their way between the United States and Mexico to work or visit family, Vargas said. The Border Patrol says it is working daily to ensure the publics trust, something it says is vital to its mission. The agency issued the following statement in regard to the GAOs investigation: We look forward to addressing CBPs commitment to transparency and accountability with the GAO and Congressional committees. CBP continually evaluates and improves upon its policies, practices, and procedures to ensure they are consistent with the law, and adhere to the highest standards. CBP has made tremendous strides improving oversight and training, and in reducing incidents involving the use of force. The men and women of CBP strive to carry out our homeland security and law enforcement mission with honor, integrity, and professionalism. When incidents do occur, investigations are conducted thoroughly and with proper oversight, ensuring that appropriate action can be taken in response. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Kinsley Burkhalter, 9, dances with Krystal Haltom on the south plaza while waiting for the marchers to arrive in March 2023 during a rally and walk to the Capitol by Oklahoma Providers for Privacy to remove mental health from the Health Information Exchange mandate. In the end, it came down to one word: "may." A bill, which moved quietly through both Houses of the Oklahoma Legislature this year, eliminated a controversial state law that required health care providers to supply patient information to the Health Information Exchange. The measure sparked the dismissal of a lawsuit that had challenged the constitutionality of the law. Last year, the state's largest police union and several physicians sued the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. The lawsuit alleged that mandatory participation by the state's health care providers in the Health Information Exchange was unconstitutional and a blatant invasion of privacy. The lawsuit also sought a temporary injunction to stop the transfer of any medical information until a court could decide the fate of the information exchange. The law sparked pushback and protests from advocacy groups. More: Is Oklahoma's health information exchange an invasion of privacy? A look at the arguments in a lawsuit And even though the district judge hearing the case dismissed three of the plaintiffs' claims, he kept the case alive for trial in February. Three months later, on May 1, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 3556. That measure eliminated the HIE requirement by changing a single word from "shall" to "may" in the law, making participation in the exchange voluntary Bob Burke, historian, author, lawyer holds one of his recent books, "What a Ride: The Life of Hal Smith." A single word change in the law led to dismissal of lawsuit, attorney says Bob Burke, the attorney represented the physicians in the case, said he was pleased the Legislature solved the problem. "The lawsuit has been dismissed because the Legislature changed one word in the law ... from 'shall' to 'may,'" Burke said. "The Legislature is to be applauded for being sensitive to complaints about mandatory participation in the HIE system." Dr. John Munneke, one of physicians who filed the lawsuit, said his group's objective was simple: prevent the state from forcing every health care provider to participate in the HIE. "It is now optional," Munneke said. "If a doctor or hospital, with the patient's permission, wants to upload medical records to the HIE, he or she can. We believe it was unconstitutional for the state to force us to do so." More: Oklahoma counselor: There's no need for state to obtain mental health data In his earlier ruling District Judge Anthony Bonner dismissed the claim that the health information exchange statute violated the Oklahoma Constitution. He said that was because all health care providers that registered an exemption would be granted one and because health care providers can opt out of accepting Medicaid and Medicare. Medical providers are not compelled to participate in the HIE directly or indirectly," the judge wrote. Bonner also ruled that the fee levied against those medical providers who joined the exchange was not a tax. This court finds that the subscription and connection fee is not a tax with the intention of revenue raising purposes, but is assessed primarily for regulatory purposes, the judge wrote. Echoing Burke, Austin Vernier, the attorney for the Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police, said he "was thrilled that the Legislature listened to first responders, doctors, dentists, physical therapists, and other medical service providers and corrected a mistake." "We have instructed police officers to tell their medical service providers to not upload medical records even if the provider chooses to join the HIE," Vernier said. "That will protect private medical records of officers from being uploaded into a system that could have been hacked and cause great harm to the officer." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma quietly makes health information exchange voluntary Rep. Mike Johnson, standing at the House podium on Feb. 28, 2024. (Allison Allsop/Louisiana Illuminator) The Louisiana House of Representatives advanced a bill amended behind closed doors to keep some records related to the governors travel plans from public view. House Bill 268 by Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Pineville, was originally intended to clarify that public employees home addresses and personal telephone numbers are not public records. Johnson asked lawmakers to reject changes the Senate made to the bill, sending it to a conference committee where three lawmakers from each chamber met privately to reach a compromise. In the final days of session, lawmakers sometimes use these closed-door conference committee meetings to revive stalled priorities, which is exactly what happened with Johnsons bill. Language inserted to his bill would exempt some details related to the governors schedule from public view until eight years have lapsed, sending the records to the state archives. The language is identical to that in a bill carried by one of the conference committee participants, Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, that passed the Senate but never got a House committee meeting. The language is the last remnant of a series of much broader proposals that would have eroded Louisianas Public Records Law, including one that stalled in the Senate to shield nearly every record at every level of government. The new bill was approved by the House on an 85-12 vote Thursday and now only needs Senate approval before it goes to the governors desk for action. Public records laws protect the publics right to know what governments are doing. Theyre part of sunshine laws that every state and the federal government has put in place to ensure transparency. The exemption in Johnsons bill specifically applies to any record of the office of the governor pertaining to the schedule of the governor, his spouse, or his child that contains security details that if made public may impair the safety of the governor, his spouse, or his child. If taken literally, that exemption doesnt pose a concern to Steven Procopio, president of the good government group Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, which advocates for sunshine laws. Im afraid the governors office will take an overly broad interpretation, Procopio said. If you read the whole thing in context, you should be able to know the meetings the governor went to and how he got there so if they follow that, it should be fine. But Louisiana governors, not just this one, have expanded their interpretation beyond whats on the page. Presenting the changes to the House of Representatives, Johnson emphasized his intent was not to shield all details related to the governors travels and schedule. He said this is why the conference committee preserved language making records related to the governors schedule public after seven days. In an interview, Miguez echoed this intent not to shield all records related to the governors travel just those about him and his family related to their personal lives that could put their safety at risk if they were made publicly available. Records for his official and political engagements would still be subject to public records requests after the seven-day period that currently exists in state law, Miguez said. If he was speaking at a university or traveling to a conference, that would become available after seven days, Miguez said. That he spoke at XYZ university, and he used the state helicopter or his SUV or whatever. But records such as when the governor and the first family visit the gym or where they eat lunch would be concealed, Miguez said. This would make it more difficult for someone to suss out their patterns, making it more difficult to plan an attack. Also protected would be school schedules for the governors children, Johnson said when the bill came up on the House floor. In a statement to the Illuminator, Kate Kelly, a spokesperson for Landry, railed against journalists, not mentioning that the public also frequently uses public records. Its concerning the media wants to know details that, if made public, would impair the safety of the governor and his family. In todays world with the divisiveness and hatred exhibited by many, why would the media purposely want to report on things that would impair the safety of a family? The bill clearly states that meetings, events, or transportation must be made public other than those that may impair the safety and security of the First Family. While journalists do use public records requests to report on public officials work, watchdog organizations of all political leanings and private citizens also use public records to investigate government efficiency and wrongdoing. Any citizen with an interest in how their government operates has the right to request public records. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Lawmakers revive public records exemptions for Louisiana governors security appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. The second session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature adjourned sine die late Thursday afternoon, one day before it was required to do so by the Oklahoma Constitution. And though normally the sine die of legislative session sine die is Latin for "without a date fixed" is the chance for both lawmakers and state officials to catch their breath, thank their staffs and put the final touches on spending and policy issues for the next year, this year's session was filled with an extraordinary amount of Republican infighting and power struggles between the governor's office and the Legislature. In addition, the session became the capstone to a yearlong debate over income tax cuts and only a handful of significant policy issues all framed against an upcoming presidential election this fall. "It's been a helluva ride," said one legislative staff member, who asked not to be identified. "And it got worse as the session went on." Piles of bills and a Stetson hat sit on the desk of Rep. Blake Stephens on Thursday in the Senate chambers at the Oklahoma Capitol. What happened in the final hours of the legislative session Thursday afternoon, both the House and Senate passed several last-minute budget bills and a handful of policy related issues. The Oklahoma Senate adjourned the session for the year at 5:19 p.m. Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd made the motion to adjourn, which was answered with shouts of 'yes!' The House of Representatives roughly an hour later. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the Legislature is required to adjourn by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 31. Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat said he thought the session was very successful. Treat pointed to Legislature's adoption of conservative policies and the passage of a $12.5 billion state budget. "I'm very pleased with how things turned out," he said. Piles of bills sit on desks Thursday in the Senate chambers. Treat, who is completing his tenure as the Senate's leader and as a member of the Oklahoma Senate, said his caucus set goals at the beginning of session and delivered on those goals. "We've hit all those markers of success, delivered the largest tax cut in state history through the grocery tax and provided a transparent budget process, kept $1 billion in cash free and clear from all other savings accounts and passed the Mason Treat Act," he said. "It's been a very successful and rewarding session though a taxing one but very successful. I'm very pleased." More: House, Senate GOP leaders reach agreement on budget with no income tax cut Though Treat was quick to acknowledge the general public may not embrace the political fights between chambers and the public rancor involved in the process, he praised the Senate's record of bipartisan effort in "getting things done" and passing substantial legislation. "You see the fighting," he said. "But the differences between here and in D.C. is we actually like each other and we're getting things done." House Speaker Charles McCall said lawmakers sent more than 430 bills to the governor this session, including bills to address illegal immigration, codify the Women's Bill of Rights and prohibit ranked-choice voting within the state. "I have always said that the House is the body closest to the people, and we showed that once again this session by passing multiple pieces of legislation that were priorities of our constituents," McCall said. "Throughout my time in the Legislature I have taken service to my district, and the citizens all across our state, very seriously, and it has been an honor to serve as Speaker of the House for the past eight years. President Theodore Roosevelt said, Nothing worth having comes easy. I have seen that to be true through both highs and lows during my time in the House, but I am proud to say that without a doubt our state is in a better place now than it was when I was first elected. That is only possible through the effort of my Caucus, and I am thankful for their support over the last decade as we have made Oklahoma a better place to live, work and raise a family." McCall who is term-limited, said the House also launched an online budget dashboard that details appropriations for the previous fiscal year, state agencies' budget requests and each chamber's official negotiating position. The House Budget Transparency Portal has given Oklahomans an unprecedented amount of access to the budget process, McCall said. "Through the hard work of House staff, Oklahomans have been able to see every step of the budget process play out, and can see exactly where their hard earned tax dollars are being spent. Although the House would have preferred to see an income tax cut included, the budget passed by the Legislature is a good budget that funds core services and decreases government spending from last year. Im proud of the House negotiating team for their hard work throughout the process, and confident that Oklahomans will be pleased with the result. Senate Education Committee Chairman, Sen. Adam Pugh said he, too, was pleased lawmakers finished their work done effectively 'landing the plane.' "It was a little bumpy and maybe some passengers got hurt because of a little bit of turbulence at times," he said. "But I'll say this, every morning when I walk in I remind myself that tension is a feature of our system. It's meant to be hard to get stuff done." Pugh said he was glad that lawmakers made another investment in education. He pointed to the graduation pathways legislation and major revisions to the reading sufficiency act as examples of legislation passed this year that would improve the state. Democrats, however, called the session a missed opportunity. "The budget is, of course, our Number One priority. It's the one thing we're constitutionally required to do when we're in session," Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd said. "And this year it has been different and we believe, unfortunately, it was a missed opportunity even with the new system." People watch the Senate on Thursday at the Oklahoma Capitol. Floyd praised the Senate leadership's efforts to make the budget process more transparent, but said the Senate missed an opportunity to protect the initiative petition process. "We had the opportunity to protect the voice of the people, and we missed that opportunity when the bill was run," she said. Floyd was speaking about House Bill 1105, which extends the protest period on initiative petitions from the current 10-day time frame to 90 days. Democratic leaders say they were left out of budget conversations Like her colleagues in the Senate, House Minority Leader Cindy Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said the FY 25 budget did not prioritize the needs of working Oklahoma families. Republicans, Munson said, put the governor's priorities first: putting $20 million in the Governor's Quick Action Closing Fund that has little oversight or accountability, tribal litigation fund to continue fighting with tribes, attacking our judiciary by keeping judicial salaries below the regional average, and creating an unnecessary business courts task force. "This budget missed opportunities to make significant investments in child care, mental and behavioral health care, and public education," Munson said. "With record savings, we could have put more money back into the pockets of everyday, working Oklahomans by modernizing the Sales Tax Relief Credit, but instead, put more public tax dollars into private schools and private businesses." More: Lawmakers give Oklahoma oil and gas industry $50 million in budget agreement Piles of bills and a cowboy hat sit on the desk of Rep. Blake Stephens on Thursday at the Oklahoma Capitol. Munson also criticized the way the budget was developed, saying Democratic leaders were left out of the conversation, which kept many priorities important to Oklahomans out of the budget. "While the process has been more transparent than in the past, improvements to be more inclusive and balanced are necessary to truly address the challenges of our state," she said. "My hope is that with new leadership on the horizon, we will find ways to work together to ensure the needs of everyday Oklahomans are met through our state budget." Echoing Floyd, former state Rep. Joe Dorman, the executive director of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, said lawmakers had every opportunity to do the right thing, by passing House Bill 1028, which would have ended the use of corporal punishment on children with certain disabilities. We gave the Legislature, specifically the Oklahoma House of Representatives, every opportunity to do the right thing, Dorman said during a press conference on the fifth floor of the Capitol building Thursday afternoon. By even the most conservative count, there are enough bipartisan votes in the House to have passed the bill. Sadly, the leadership team of the House refused to bring the bill up, killing it in the proverbial "smoke-filled room. The version of HB 1028 representatives would have considered had already passed the Oklahoma Senate by a healthy margin. All that was left was two separate votes, one to accept the Senate amendments to the bill and then a vote on final passage, to send the bill to Gov. Stitts desk. Failure of the House leadership to allow the votes has again made Oklahoma a national embarrassment, Dorman said. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma legislative session 2024 session ends one day early Behind a new bus stop on Broadway Street in Lawrence is something new thats blocking a memorial of great value to many that some in the city find deeply disrespectful. Its Moore Square - hes a WWII veteran, a POW, a Purple Heart a Bronze Star, said David Goulet of Lawrence. The memorial sign was placed here to honor Phillip Moores bravery and courage during the Second World War. Its blocking it completely. Its two feet in front of it. So, from the road you cant even see it anymore, said Goulet. David Goulet lives in Lawrence and helps maintain veterans monuments all over the city. He says the problem is the bus stop blocks the sign commemorating Phillip Moore. Veterans and his family want to know why the sign couldnt have been placed 20 to 30 feet down the streets instead. Moores sign was placed here as part of an agreement when Burger King bought the property. Its the former site of the landmark Cedar Crest Restaurant and where Moore worked as a short-order cook. When Moores family saw the bus stop they couldnt believe their eyes. Theyre beside themselves, said Goulet. Goulet reached out to the city calling everyone including the mayor but got no where. Ive never gotten a return phone call. Ive been pushed off, he said. Goulet and Moores family want the city to take action to restore the dignity they say this bus stop took away. Im just really taken aback by how this happened. I dont want the sign moved. I want this bus stop the whole thing moved to the right twenty feet over, said Goulet. Boston 25 reached out to the mayor to ask how this happened but so far have not heard back. 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 STURGEON, Mo. A mid-Missouri officer faces a federal lawsuit after bodycam footage showed the officer fatally shooting a blind and deaf dog earlier this month. The dogs owner, Nicholas Hunter, filed the lawsuit Tuesday against police officer Myron Woodson and the City of Sturgeon, Missouri, according to court documents obtained by FOX 2. The lawsuit identifies Woodson as a Sturgeon police officer and claims he violated Hunters Fourth Amendment rights through his use of force. It also accuses the City of Sturgeon of not adequately training, supervising, or disciplining its officers. Whistleblower lawsuit alleges retaliation by Missouri House speaker According to the lawsuit, one of Hunters neighbors called the City of Sturgeon on May 19 after she found Teddy, a 13-pound Shih Tzu dog, in her yard. The neighbor sought assistance in finding Teddys owner and keeping him safe until he was reunited. Bodycam footage, shared by mid-Missouri TV stations last week from the City of Sturgeon, shows Teddy wandering around a yard and an officer making some attempts to catch him with a snare pole. After several unsuccessful attempts to catch the dog, the bodycam footage shows an officer firing two shots at Teddy, who was later pronounced dead. One day after the shooting, the City of Sturgeon claimed in a Facebook post that the officer, now identified as Woodson, feared the dog may have rabies. Unfortunately, the animals lack of a collar or tags influenced the SPD Officers decision to put the animal down due to his belief that the animal was injured, sick and abandoned, the Facebook post reads, in part. The lawsuit describes what unfolded as a warrantless seizure of Teddy and unnecessary, callous, and egregious. It contends that Teddy did not show aggression toward Woodson, and never barked or growled at him. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News On May 23, the City of Sturgeon released another statement on Facebook over the shooting death, reading in part: The City believes that the officer acted within his authority based on the information available to him at the time to protect against possible injury to citizens from what appeared to be an injured, sick, and abandoned dog. One day later, the City of Sturgeon announced its mayor, Kevin Abrahamson, had resigned from his role. Mid-Missouri TV station KMIZ reports that Woodson is currently on leave from Sturgeons police department. The lawsuit also alleges that Woodsons improper use of the catch-pole, incompetence using the device [and] clear lack of understanding of how the device operated led up to Teddys death. It also cited several citizen complaints over Woodson and his job performance in six months with the police department. Attorneys Daniel J. Kolde of St. Louis County and Eric C. Crinnian of Kansas City filed the lawsuit in United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri on behalf of Nicholas Hunter. The lawsuit seeks a reward for all compensatory damages, attorneys fees [and] expenses. NOTE: Viewer discretion is advised in the bodycam video linked in the story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Utah Education Association President Renee Pinkney speaks at a press conference near the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The UEA is announcing a lawsuit over the state's voucher program. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Utahs largest teachers union is suing over the states school choice program. State lawmakers passed a bill implementing a voucher system in 2023. Known as the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program, the measure would give eligible K-12 students up to $8,000 to use for private school tuition and other costs. The program is slated to take effect in the 2024 to 2025 school year. The Utah Education Association, along with plaintiffs Kevin Labresh, Terra Cooper, Amy Barton and Carol Lear, filed the suit Wednesday morning in the 3rd Judicial District Court in downtown Salt Lake City. The suit named Gov. Spencer Cox, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and Alliance for Choice in Education as defendants. Coxs office declined to comment as did the Utah attorney generals office. The Alliance for Choice in Education did not immediately respond for a request for comment. The suit claims the voucher program violates requirements found in the Utah Constitution. It diverts income tax revenues to fund private schools that are (1) not free, (2) not open to all students, and (3) not controlled and supervised by the State Board of Education. Plaintiffs are seeking that the court declare the voucher program unconstitutional and prevent the enforcement and implementation of the program. UEA President Renee Pinkney held a press conference to announce the suit on the east steps of the Scott Matheson 3rd District Courthouse on Wednesday morning. The lawsuit is based on the grounds that the Utah Fits All Voucher Program does not fit all and in fact, harms public school students and educators, said Pinkney. It violates Utahs Constitution, which clearly states that education should be free and open to all schools. Calling it a decisive step in defending the integrity of education, Pinkney said the program diverts $82.5 million in taxpayer money toward private schools. She said public schools in the state are experiencing teacher shortages and have scarcity of resources as it is. It siphons critical resources from already underfunded public schools to pay for private schools, said Pinkney, adding that she thought it was a deliberate undermining of public education. When asked to respond to an argument proponents of school choice make that it opens up more choices for families Pinkney said the organization opposes public tax dollars being used for private schools. Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said in a statement that school choice gives children the ability to thrive academically. Our commitment to public education is clear: from 2014 to 2024, Utah state education funds increased by $2.5 billion, a 94.7% increase. We learned during COVID that parents needed more options for their kids, said Adams. The Utah Fits All Scholarship expands education opportunities to include additional educational paths for parents to use their taxpayer money to select what is best for their kids. The scholarship program is a transformative step toward providing comprehensive educational opportunities for all Utah students. Adams said, Supporting this scholarship means advocating for a future where educational choice is a right, not a privilege. Robyn Bagley, executive director of Utah Education Fits All program, released a statement expressing condemnation of the suit, calling it noisy activism and a shameful attempt to strip away education options from students and families in Utah. The Utah Education Fits All group describes itself as a nonprofit advocacy watchdog for the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program and isnt the manager of the voucher program. Were very confident their efforts will not succeed, said Bagley. Utahs legislature did its due diligence to pass responsible legislation that was consistent with Utahs Constitution. Bagley said she believes parents and children should have access to education that fits their families needs. Were in a new day of centering the agency of families in education and look forward with optimism to that movement growing in Utah and beyond, continued Bagley. Labresh, one of the plaintiffs who is a Davis County resident and school psychologist, told the Deseret News in an interview that he joined the suit because this hits me on multiple levels, both as a parent and as a school psychologist in a public school district. Labresh said he has a son who receives special education services and before he went to public school, he was kicked out of a couple private preschools. They were very upfront that they just didnt have the resources or the training to able to deal with him, said Labresh. When Labreshs son received access to a psychologist, counselor and qualified teachers and paraprofessionals in the public school system, Labresh said his son was able to get individualized support. He thinks students in need of special education services are disproportionately harmed by the public education system because the private setting isnt under the same regulations. I want to be clear that my argument is not with school choice, said Labresh. Ive worked with a lot of families with students who have been successful in another setting. ... My main struggle is with how that choice is being funded, and I dont think it should come at the expense of our public education students, which makes up over 90% of Utah children. Lear, a member of the Utah State Board of Education, spoke as an individual. Shes also a plaintiff in the suit. Lear said the voucher program isnt supervised by the board in the same way public schools are. Teachers are closely monitored, said Lear. They have to have background checks and meet certain competencies to be teachers, and none of that applies to this voucher program. It is disappointing that the UEA is putting politics above meeting students and teachers needs, said Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Draper. He said hes confident that the program is constitutional and that it doesnt take away money from public education. Utah boasts some of the finest public schools and most dedicated teachers in the nation, and we in the Legislature remain dedicated to providing our public education institutions with the utmost support. However, our goal is not only to ensure the overall success of schools; its also about guaranteeing that every child has the opportunity to thrive, said Cullimore. The Utah Fits All Scholarship Program empowers kids who might struggle in traditional academic settings by providing them with the resources they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. Support for school choice across the state In 2007, Utah voters put a school voucher law up to a vote and defeated it. Sixty-two percent voted against school choice and 38% voted in support of it. Since then, there hasnt been an equivalent vote, but theres been some survey data that shows Utahns are mixed in their support for school choice. A Deseret News and Hinckley Institute of Politics poll in 2023 indicated that 49% of Utahns support school choice, 45% said oppose it and 6% said they dont know what they think about it. While some oppose school vouchers for reasons listed earlier this article, others support the policy. Christine Cooke Fairbanks, education policy fellow at Sutherland Institute, said she thinks the three most compelling arguments for school choice are students can get an individualized education, parents can be involved in a meaningful way and it shows a commitment both to education and pluralism. Its a broader commitment to saying that we want an educated younger generation, and theyre going to be those who serve us later, said Fairbanks. And however, we can meet their needs, thats the important part. She said students who need special services, who have unique interests or skills or who are at risk often benefit from school choice. Lower-income students unfortunately dont have the same education choices that students from wealthier families do, said Fairbanks explaining that you can create opportunities through legislation for these students to have access to better schools for them. Opponents of school choice will sometimes say it doesnt give the state or federal government enough oversight. Fairbanks said accountability is important and there are mechanisms in place for school choice programs to be accountable to taxpayers and parents. As far as academic accountability and oversight, parents can observe how their students are doing and make choices and have more autonomy there to do whatever is best for them whatever theyre needing. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, justifying his decision not to recuse himself from two cases relating to the January 6 attack on the Capitol, has claimed that he was "not even aware" of an upside-down American flag that he said was flown by his wife in response to a neighborly dispute rather than as a political statement in support of pro-Trump insurrectionists. But The New York Times reported Thursday that, while legal experts welcomed Alito's willingness to explain himself, they were not persuaded by his alibi. "I agree that Justice Alito's wife has a First Amendment right to express her views," said Amanda Frost, a law professor of the University of Virginia. "But if she does so on their shared property, in a way that would lead a reasonable person to question his impartiality, then he should respond by recusing himself." If Alito's version of events makes his non-recusal suspect even at face value, a different story told by his neighbors and corroborated by local police further tarnishes his explanation by confirming that the incident that Alito claims provoked his wife occurred a month after the flag was raised and then taken down. And Alito has also been questioned about the flags flying on his other property on New Jersey's beachfront, which includes an "Appeal to Heaven" banner used by right-wing Christian nationalists. On Wednesday, Alito sent a letter to Democratic lawmakers claiming that his wife "is fond of flying flags," while he was not. "She was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years," he maintained. James Sample, a law professor at Hofstra University, suggested that even if explanations by justices are a positive development when they are "thorough," Alito's submission did not meet that standard. "Explanation is unwelcome if its hyper-selective and borderline dishonest," he told the Times. This is not the first time Alito has had to explain his alleged conflicts of interest. Last year, he opined in the Wall Street Journal that he was not required to disclose a free trip on the private jet of a billionaire whose cases frequently appeared before the Supreme Court, arguing that he had occupied a seat on the plane that, "as far as I am aware, would have otherwise been vacant. Lehigh Acres man, 23, fatally shot after breaking into four cars Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno touched base on a Lehigh Acres incident during a hurricane preparedness press conference on Thursday, May 30, 2024. A Lehigh Acres man is dead after authorities say he broke into at least four vehicles and a home before a resident fired the lethal bullet. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno identified the suspect who was gunned down as Ja'Darian Graham, 23. "He wakes up and decides, 'Today's the day,'" Marceno said. "He carjacked four different people at four different locations." Marceno said the first carjacking happened off Lee Boulevard. The sheriff said Graham forced his way into the vehicle but failed to use it as his getaway car. Graham then fired several shots into the ground, Marceno said. The sheriff said Graham then went to a second vehicle in the parking lot, driving the vehicle "for a very, very short distance." He then fled on foot. Out-of-state arrest: Father who didn't turn Fort Myers daughter over to DCF arrested in Texas Marceno said Graham attempted to carjack a third vehicle, which was a stick shift, but decided he couldn't drive it. The sheriff said Graham then broke into his fourth and final vehicle and drove to a "known location nearby to people he knows inside that residence." Marceno said Graham exited the vehicle and began firing, striking the homeowner in the shoulder. In return, Marceno said, the homeowner shot and killed Graham. It's unclear where the resident struck Graham. "No criminal history," Marceno said of Graham. "The (question) is, 'Why?'" Marceno said Graham's spree is a rarity. "We were about a minute behind him on each incident," Marceno said. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Lee sheriff: Lehigh Acres man gunned down during rampage KATHMANDU, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Nepal Army teams sent to collect waste on mountains have retrieved two more bodies, including one from Mount Qomolangma, the world's tallest peak, the national force reported on Wednesday. One body was recovered at an altitude of 8,420 meters on Mount Qomolangma, while the other was found at 7,900 meters on Mount Lhotse, the fourth highest peak in the world. The bodies have been handed over to the forensic lab at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, according to an army statement. On May 16, the army teams recovered two other bodies and skeletal remains on the two peaks. In addition to the bodies, the teams have collected 11,000 kg of waste by Wednesday. Starting on April 11, the Nepal Army deployed three teams to pick up waste on Mount Qomolangma (8,848 meters), Mount Lhotse (8,516 meters), and Mount Nuptse (7,861 meters) with the support of Nepali Sherpa climbers. The Nepal Army planned to collect 10 tons of waste and retrieve five bodies from the peaks. This year's cleaning campaign is scheduled to conclude on June 5. The Nepal Army began collecting waste on various mountains in 2019, but the mission was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Let them come home: Michigan family pleads with U.S. to adopt out of Haiti PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) A Portage family in the process of adopting a child from Haiti is desperate to get him out of the country quickly. Ten-year-old Dieumy is in a country where gangs have taken over most of the capital city, Port-Au-Prince. The Bryant family is concerned for their sons safety but arent sure when theyll be able to bring him home. While theyve only known him for a few months, Rachel and Nick Bryant already feel a loving bond with Dieumy. Their only way to communicate is through an app called WhatsApp, something they do every Monday. Couple collects donations for Haitians amid political unrest Even through an app, we receive love back from him, Nick Bryant said. The adoption process started in December of 2020. The Bryants knew it would be a long journey to adopt their little boy. They thought the journey would be over soon with Dieumy coming home at the end of this year or early next year. But that has been slowed by the recent chaos in the country. The offices there were ransacked, paperwork everywhere, Rachel Bryant said. Haiti has been in turmoil for decades and the gang problem is worse than ever. Armed groups have burned down police stations and freed prisoners. Pretty much put that process in a halt, Rachel Bryant said. The Bryants are fearful for what could happen. We are concerned about his safety and know hes in danger, said Rachel Bryant. She has lost sleep over this. We are thousands of miles away from Dieumy, but I worry about him every minute of every day, said Rachel Bryant. Hundreds mourn gang killings of a Haitian mission director and a young American couple But this couple isnt just sitting and waiting around. They are busy, working to try to bring Dieumy home. Daily, we are sending messages to those representatives offices, emails to the state department, asking whats next, what can we do, Rachel Bryant said. In a statement, Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, said his office is working with West Michigan families adopting internationally. Dieumy and 70 other Haitian children who are in the process of being adopted would be allowed in the country if the U.S. government declares a humanitarian parole. We are just asking the U.S. government to see this legal pathway through, said Nick Bryant. In a statement, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said it was working as quickly as possible while meeting laws of the U.S., Haiti and Hague Convention obligations. Certain children identified by (the Department of State) and (the Department of Homeland Security) with final adoption orders issued by Haitian authorities were allowed to travel to and be considered for parole into the United States. Decisions and procedures pertaining to humanitarian parole are functions of DHS. We continue to work to identify solutions for children who do not have an adoption decree, the spokesperson wrote. Just let them come home, let them be here, said Rachel Bryant. Our hearts are ready, our house is ready, This family of four hopes to become a family of five soon. But they arent sure when that will happen. Daughter, son-in-law of Missouri politician among 3 killed in Haiti Yesterday he said, we asked him, Whats the one thing youre looking forward to? and he said, Love and affection, said Nick Bryant. The Department of States full statement is below. The Department of State is working as quickly as possible to identify options for continued case processing and assisted departure for Haitian children in the intercountry adoption process, while meeting U.S. laws and regulations, Haitian laws, and our Hague Convention obligations, as well as minimizing the risk of Haitian children coming to the United States with no clear path to legal status. Due to significant security concerns in Haiti, the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) coordinated to assist certain adopted Haitian children who were already in the Hague Adoption Convention process to depart Haiti. Certain children identified by DOS and DHS with final adoption orders issued by Haitian authorities were allowed to travel to and be considered for parole into the United States. Decisions and procedures pertaining to humanitarian parole are functions of DHS. We continue to work to identify solutions for children who do not have an adoption decree. We encourage adoption service providers to continue case processing in Haiti when circumstances permit. Prospective adoptive parents should remain in regular contact with their adoption service providers in the United States. U.S. State Department spokesperson Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Letters to the Editor: The Rafah refugee camp strike is part of an endless cycle of death Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike on a refugee camp in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Monday. (Jehad Alshrafi / Associated Press) To the editor: The firestorm on Sunday upon a Palestinian refugee camp in Rafah was a "tragic accident," according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel says the attack killed two Hamas leaders hiding near the refugees. It's the same old story. Hamas terrorists embed themselves among Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. Israel kills dozens of noncombatants in the hopes of destroying a few Hamas outposts. The world reacts in horror at the slaughter of innocents. This escalating cycle of violence makes perfect sense to the Hamas propaganda campaign, using innocents as pawns for their political purposes. It also makes sense to Netanyahu supporters who show no pity toward Palestinian residents. Peace can only come when both the Hamas leaders and members of the Netanyahu regime are renounced and imprisoned. Only then can the innocents of Palestine and Israel reconcile with each other as neighborly children of God, equally the victims of God's enemies. David Glidden, Riverside .. To the editor: These days it's becoming hard to tell who really is the chief executive of the United States. Our president draws "red lines" for a dependent foreign country, and the leader of that country derisively rejects those red lines and continues to inflict mass death and destruction using armaments gifted to him by our president and paid for by our tax dollars. Not only does our president look the other way helplessly; our House speaker invites the foreign leader to address Congress. The American people want to know if our country is in reality being led by our elected chief executive, or by a criminally indicted, recalcitrant chief executive of a dependent foreign country. Saif M. Hussain, Woodland Hills .. To the editor: Any civilian casualty in war is tragic those in Rafah recently, those in Israel on Oct. 7, and those in Dresden, Germany, in 1945. Should we have not bombed Dresden? Or Hiroshima and Nagasaki? I am the Jewish daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and a proud supporter of Israel, my people's homeland. I am also no fan of Netanyahu. Still, I have to ask, why is Israel the only nation on Earth expected to secure the rights and safety of the adversary that savagely attacked it? This travesty would end immediately if Hamas would surrender, stop launching rockets into Israel and return the Israeli civilians they kidnapped on Oct. 7. Then legitimate leadership could be elected in Gaza that could ensure Palestinian civilians could thrive peacefully in their land. Jane Drucker, Studio City .. To the editor: Tragic mistakes, investigations, clarification, condemnations, regrets, accountability and finger pointing hollow words and actions, none of which will bring back the children blown to pieces. Cease-fire, please. Susan Straughn Harris, Woodland Hills This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Letters to the Editor: There's no excuse for using medical research done by Nazi doctors To the editor: UCLA medical professor Dr. Kalyanam Shivkumar's work to replace the widely used anatomical atlas by Nazi physician Eduard Pernkopf is commendable, and others in the medical field should aggressively follow his lead. There must be numerous examples of ethically bankrupt medical research resulting in seemingly indispensable contemporary reference documents. As a high school science teacher, I had an ethics lesson that asked students to examine the moral conundrum of the contemporary use of hypothermia research done by Nazi scientists on non-consenting Allied airmen, in violation of medical ethics and the Geneva Conventions. My objective was to get them thinking about questions of whether good could come from evil. In this case, I could let my students off the hook because the so-called researchers were sadists and their scientific rigor was poor, rendering their results unscientific. Today we have tremendously sophisticated diagnostic and computational tools to examine the human body, and abundant ways to obtain new and better medical knowledge. Ethically compromised resources should be ferreted out and replaced, wherever they occur. David Seidel, Beverly Hills .. To the editor: My father, a Jewish general surgeon, was totally enamored of his Pernkopf anatomy texts, which he felt were far better than those by Dr. Frank Netter or even Gray's Anatomy. When I became a surgeon, he gave them to me. I have known about their origins for 10 years and have struggled over whether or not to burn them. I decided to keep them not only to honor my father, but also to "never forget." Judith Braslow Zacher, M.D. Palm Desert This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Diane Abbott at the Labour Party Conference when she as Shadow Home Secretary, 2018 - Heathcliff O'Malley/Heathcliff O'Malley SIR Sir Keir Starmer and his shadow cabinet have been unable to resolve the Diane Abbott situation decisively and elegantly (Diane Abbott says she will not be intimidated as she vows to remain MP, report, May 30). How, then, will they cope with the much more weighty and complex issues that will face them if Sir Keir wins the keys to No 10 on July 4? Natural supporters of the Conservative Party and its traditional philosophy should think very seriously before they give the Tories a bloody nose. John Kellie Pyrford, Surrey SIR It is concerning to witness the prolonged mistreatment of Diane Abbott by the Labour Party. Following an investigation into her comments, for which she apologised, she received a formal warning and completed an online anti-Semitism course in February. Yet, despite her compliance and dedication, she was left uncertain about her candidacy for the upcoming election. In 1987 she became the first ever black female MP, and has devoted her life to her party and country. Labours recent antics are not only unfair to her but also to the constituents of Hackney North and Stoke Newington, who deserve clarity and representation. Sir Keir Starmer and his acolytes should hang their heads in shame for their unjust behaviour. Labour needs to acknowledge Ms Abbotts contributions and treat her with the respect she deserves. K Harvey Proctor Conservative MP, 1979-1987 Grantham, Lincolnshire SIR Sir Keir Starmer waved the white flag and restored the whip to Diane Abbott (report, telegraph.co.uk, May 29) one half of the Left-wing dream team. So we may well get change after the election: vote Starmer, get Corbyn. Gordon MacKenzie Whitehaven, Cumbria SIR It is increasingly clear that Labour candidates in the forthcoming election have been briefed to answer any awkward questions about their taxation proposals with the stock response: We will not be putting up taxes for working people. This begs the question: Well, where will you be putting up taxes? But frustratingly, interviewers on television and radio never seem to follow up with this. Logic suggests that the next Labour government will be targeting unearned income and raising council tax so lets have some more penetrating questions regarding these. Adam Anstice Limpsfield, Surrey SIR Sir Keir Starmer holding a baby. Angela Rayner stopping a plane. Rishi Sunak and Mel Stride in a pub. And Ed Davey hurtling downhill on a bike. Could someone pass me a bucket? Tim Rann Mirfield, West Yorkshire NHS election pledges SIR Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, promises to reduce pressures on the NHS by using the private sector, but this is not enough (I will outdo Blair to clear NHS backlog, Commentary, May 29). One of the biggest pressures now, which will increase dramatically by the end of the next parliament due to our ageing population, is the need to radically improve end-of-life care. Most dying people want to be at home but a postcode lottery means those struggling with pain and other symptoms are forced to rely on A&E when community care isnt available. I havent seen a plan from any political party that addresses this. Talking about death might make politicians uncomfortable, but palliative and end-of-life care should be at the top of the health policy agenda for the next government. Dr Laura Chapman Medical director, Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool SIR It is clear that Wes Streeting understands the need for increased funding and changes in the way the NHS works. In the past he has appealed to NHS staff to report the stupid things that need to be stopped. One such thing is being implemented by NHS England right now. The number of patients for every full time-equivalent, fully trained GP has risen from 1,950 in 2016 to 2,298 in 2024. Despite these GPs offering more consultations, we have unacceptable waiting times. And yet GPs completing training are finding that there are not enough vacancies for them to join practices. This is because NHS England is providing funding for other staff who can offer consultations to specific groups of patients, such as paramedics and physiotherapists, but not for GP posts. This group can provide some of what a GP can, but not the long-term management of complex patients with multiple medical conditions, which forms the backbone of GP work. Other medical professionals are welcome additions to primary care, but we need more GPs as well. Please could Mr Streeting require NHS England to fund a safe number of GPs for every practice? Dr Phil Taylor Kilmington, Devon Road surface failure SIR For those of us who live in south Buckinghamshire, signs saying failed road surface (Letters, May 30) are a common sight. In fact I have two in the road I live on at the moment. Their main purpose is to ensure that making a claim against the council for tyre or wheel damage is more difficult. They will argue: We told you. Most signs remain in place for at least six months before any half-hearted repairs are carried out. Frank Russell Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire Dulcet admin SIR Eight years ago, while working in Colorado, I dislocated my hip. The hospital administrator, armed with a clipboard, met the ambulance at the entrance to the emergency room, asking for personal and insurance details. Finally she said: Please keep talking, I love your accent (Letters, May 29). Lynn Billings Hertford SIR I asked my colleague at the hospital: Where in Ireland are you from? Reply: Malta. Peter Pears Coleshill, Warwickshire Ofwat and sewage SIR Water companies have got into unaffordable debt to pay for shareholder dividends (and, in turn, bigger bonuses for directors) while ignoring the necessary capital investment to fund their businesses responsibly. The result is that sewage pollutes our rivers at an ever-increasing rate. Yet instead of tackling the root cause of the pollution, Ofwat appears to suggest more pollution should be allowed in effect to pay for excessive dividends and bonuses (Sewage dumping limits may be eased for failing water firms, report, May 30). If these companies are unrecoverable, they should be allowed to fail and be taken over by competent management. How long before another head of Ofwat is awarded a highly paid directorship at one of these very polluters? Declan Salter Chenies, Buckinghamshire Sir Jims ethos SIR What a pity that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not running HMRC, the DVLA, the Probate Office and the Civil Service in general (Return to office or quit Ratcliffes ultimatum, Sport, May 29). His approach would immediately be more successful in getting staff back into the office and working more efficiently for the taxpayer. Joanne Stanley-Jones Waterlooville, Hampshire SIR How is it possible for HMRC to clear Angela Rayner, Labours deputy leader, so quickly when my co-executor and I have been waiting more than 18 months for a letter from HMRC to finalise my late fathers estate (Angela Rayner cleared by HMRC over second home row report, telegraph.co.uk, May 30)? Sue Beale Maidenhead, Berkshire Lost translation SIR In my early teens I got my head down to work through War and Peace (Letters, May 30) as a rite of passage. It was hard but after four sittings I made it past half way, only to leave my copy on the bus. The replacement was a different translation, and I lost my mojo for Tolstoy. I learnt three things from the episode: translations matter; its not necessary to plough through a book for the sake of it; and flicking chewed paper balls at Stephen Innes is more fun than teenage intellectual snobbery. Tim Wright Rampisham, Dorset The gentle pleasures of soulful Salcombe Bobbing about: an aerial view of boats in Salcombe Harbour in Devon - Adam Burton/Alamy SIR Madeleine Ross describes Salcombe as expensive, souless and empty (Money, telegraph.co.uk, May 28). It seems to be open season for rubbishing this popular middle-class resort, but my wife and I have holidayed there every year since 1976 and have made lifelong, much-treasured friends. True, the restaurants may be overpriced, but there are still three pubs and barely any shops selling cheap tat and trinkets. Perhaps your writer was seeking thrills that stylish Salcombe was unable to supply. Martin Henry Good Easter, Essex Its sophistry to compare Hamas with the IRA SIR The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, explaining his decision to seek warrants for the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, notes that the British government didnt bomb the streets of Ireland to take out the IRA (report, May 27). He forgets to mention that the IRA never had a charter that had as its main purpose the destruction of the UK or that the IRA never accumulated thousands of rockets to fire at British civilians in London, Manchester and Glasgow. He also fails to note that, in 2005, Israel removed all Jews from Gaza, allowing the Palestinians to start building the state they say they want without interference. Hamas violently displaced the Fatah government, with its members murdering their Palestinian brothers and sisters. It then started a war of attrition against Israel by firing thousands of rockets at Israeli towns and civilians itself a war crime. It carried out the pogrom of October 7, the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The last time Britain was the victim of rocket attacks, the RAF bombed German cities in return, including Dresden when the war was effectively over and Nazi Germany on the cusp of total defeat. Unfortunately, Hamas is not yet near defeat without which peace between Israel and the Palestinians is not possible. Henry Tobias Maale Adumim, Israel SIR Since attaining the right to vote in 1968 I have always exercised it. Now, for the first time, I will not be voting. I have been horrified at the major political parties stance on the situation in Gaza, and their unwillingness to call Israel to account. I absolutely agree that any sovereign state has the right to defend itself, but this cannot be done at the cost of so many innocent lives. Jennifer Cooney Wargrave, Berkshire Letters to the Editor We accept letters by email and post. Please include name, address, work and home telephone numbers. ADDRESS: 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0DT EMAIL: dtletters@telegraph.co.uk FOLLOW: Telegraph Letters @LettersDesk NEWSLETTER: sign up to receive Letters to the Editor 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. DONETSK REGION, Ukraine The artillery fire begins just before dawn. A soldier steps into a darkened trench and lights a cigarette, carefully cupping the flame with his free hand. A boom and crackle of outgoing fire sound in the distance. Viktor, the infantryman, ducks his head under a canopy of camouflage netting and looks up at the brightening sky. The incessant buzz of a drone sounds overhead, moving a dozen meters from one end of the trench to linger just above him. Viktor swallows. A moment later, the buzzing sound moves on. One of ours, the 37-year-old soldier says, bringing the cigarette back to his lips. More: Russia opens new front in Ukraine war. Is Ukraine losing the war with Russia? The sun finally rises and the noise of war picks up. For weeks, Viktor has barely slept as Russian drones and artillery continually target his position. During the day, he watches for attempts by Russian troops to cross a minefield that separates the two sides. At night, he picks up a shovel to dig and fortify his trench. Theyre constantly firing, constantly probing, he says. We have to survive somehow, and we have to hold the line. It is the start of another draining day on Ukraines eastern front line. Monitoring his scratchy radio, Viktor will try to move as little as possible in a trench less than 800 meters from where Russian soldiers are massed. For seven months, Viktors unit has held this sector of the front, repelling a relentless onslaught of Russian assaults. Now in the third year of full-scale war, Ukraines top military leaders openly admit that the battlefield situation on the eastern front has deteriorated. Two years of war have sapped Ukraines ammunition and manpower, while the countrys failed counteroffensive last year sank morale. More: Ukraine war: Blinken visits Kyiv as Russia ramps up military offensive As Reuters traveled along the eastern stretch of Ukraines 1,000 kilometer front line in April, soldiers in infantry, artillery and drone units all expressed exhaustion. They spoke of an acute shortage of ammunition and an urgent need to replenish troops. A new push by Moscow in May near Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, is likely to further divert precious ammunition and personnel from other sections of the front, stretching Kyivs military thin at a critical moment in the war. Though Congress finally greenlit a long-delayed $60 billion U.S. military package in April, analysts say that a severe worldwide shortage of artillery shells means Ukraine will likely be outgunned by Russia for the remainder of the year as Kyivs allies ramp up production. Reuters could not independently establish how much new U.S. weaponry has made it to the front line. On a May visit to Kyiv, Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Ukraine that the delayed aid was now on the way and some had already arrived. More: Trump reportedly would pressure Ukraine into ceding land to Russia to end war Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said recently there were no reports of artillery shortages. But in an interview last week with Reuters, he called on Western allies to speed up aid, saying every decision theyve made on military support for Ukraine has been late by around one year. With the possibility of Donald Trump, who has questioned American military aid to Ukraine, returning to the presidency later this year, many Ukrainians fear the continued support of their most powerful ally hangs in the balance. More: Ukrainian Olympic weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko dies in war with Russia Russia, meanwhile, has continued to batter Ukraine with seemingly endless resources. Russian President Vladimir Putin, riding high as he begins his fifth term, has redoubled his war effort. In 2014, Russian-backed separatists staged a battle to control the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Since 2022, Putin has made clear his aims to annex the entirety of the area, known as Donbas. To that end, Russian forces have made steady advances in recent months. In February, they captured the eastern city of Avdiivka. Now, Russia is trying to seize Chasiv Yar, a strategic hilltop city that, if captured, would allow its troops to more easily advance toward the remaining cities of the Donetsk region. Russias recent incursions in Kharkiv have distracted the worlds attention from the heavy battles being waged in the Donetsk region, Zelenskyy told Reuters. The Ukrainian armed forces and the Russian defense ministry did not respond to questions for this story. More: Putin admits 'radical Islamists' were behind Moscow massacre, but still blames Ukraine Freezing in the trenches Before Russia launched its full-scale invasion two years ago, Viktor, the infantryman, was working as a window framer outside of Uman, a city in central Ukraine. His wife had just given birth to a baby daughter. (Like all of the Ukrainians profiled in this report, Viktor asked to be identified by his first name only, in keeping with military protocol.) Viktor received his mobilization notice four months after the beginning of the war. He was quickly sent to an area in northern Ukraine that borders Russia to dig trenches. Later, he was transferred to Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, where mercenaries from Russias Wagner group were fighting to capture the city. Last September, Viktor was handed a Browning machine gun and taught how to clean and maintain the weapon. A week later, he was transferred to the front in Donetsk without having fired a single practice round. When Viktors infantry unit first arrived here, thickets of oak and birch trees lined the grassy fields. There were still birds in the trees then and the leaves were just starting to change color. The soldiers dug trenches into the tough black soil but had no time to cover them with wooden planks before the Russian bombardment started. Through winter, the Russians near-constant shelling reduced the trees and fields to ashes, leaving only a tangle of charred stumps. In winter, temperatures in Viktors trench fell as low as minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit. On warmer days, shin-high water pooled at the bottom of the canal, mixing with the earth to turn into slushy mud, soaking everything. All the while, Russian drones flew overhead, hovering above the open trench and dropping grenades. At the beginning of this year, Russian forces attempted yet another assault, driving an armored personnel carrier into a field just meters from Viktors position. He fired at the vehicle with his machine gun and diverted it to a minefield, where it detonated a mine and exploded. Several of the Russian soldiers died in their vehicle, Viktor and his commander said. Others survived with serious injuries and tried to crawl through the minefield back toward the Russian positions. One of them, a former convict from Russias Buryatia region, was taken prisoner, Viktor says. Immediately afterward, Russian attacks on Viktors position intensified. So of course the Russians were angry. They lost equipment, lost people, so of course they started shelling with everything they have, Viktor says. In the heat of battle, all you can do is pray, he says. Around his neck, Viktor wears silver medallions of the Virgin Mary and the crucifix. But when the situation is truly dire, he will pray to every God he knows. More: Biden highlights US commitment to Israel, Ukraine in West Point Speech After Russias failed assault, their drones started dropping gas canisters into Viktors trench. A colorless, odorless gas would quickly fill the trench as Viktor and his partner fumbled in the dark for their gas masks. Coughing and sputtering, Viktor would crawl into a hole dug into the side of the trench just tall enough for him to crouch in and grab his phone. There, using candlelight, he would flick through photos and videos of his now 2-year-old daughter. The Ukrainian military says Russia has ramped up its use of riot-control chemical agents to clear trenches on the front line. The U.S. State Department says Russia is deploying a choking agent called chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops, in violation of the international chemical weapons ban. The U.S. allegations were unfounded, the Russian foreign ministry said. When spring finally came, nothing flowered. All Viktor sees now are the outlines of blackened tree trunks on the horizon. His exhaustion is palpable the result of months spent holding the line against an enemy with seemingly endless manpower and weaponry. Death and injury are constant and every day is a reminder of the asymmetry of the war. More: Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine president leads embattled nation in fight against Russia A declassified U.S. intelligence report in December assessed that Russia had lost as much as 90% of the personnel it had at the start of the 2022 invasion, with 315,000 soldiers killed or injured. Despite the losses, Russia is still estimated to have almost 500,000 servicemen in Ukraine, according to Ukraines military intelligence agency, and has continued to replenish its troops, recruiting heavily from prisons and from the general public. Ukrainian officials say Russia is planning to add an additional 300,000 soldiers in time for its summer offensive. Russias new defense minister said there were no plans for a new mass call-up of troops. Russian officials also say Western estimates of Russian losses are inaccurate. Zelenskyy recently signed off on a long-debated mobilization law to bolster Ukraines armed forces, which number around 800,000. The law, passed in April, lowers the draft age to 25 from 27. The government hasnt said how many new conscripts the law would yield, and how soon they can reinforce the troops already on the front line. Its not like how it looks on a map, with all these pretty lines and arrows, Viktor says. I see my friends, whats happened to them, what were fighting. Its hell. Its worse than hell. 'Death can come at any moment' In February, the constant Russian assaults, sleep deprivation and fear finally got to Viktor. He woke up one morning frozen with terror, physically unable to go to his position. I couldn't calm myself down, he says. Not even that I didnt want to go, but I couldnt go. I was physically and mentally tired. Viktor was paralyzed by anxiety. What if he failed to do his job properly, what if something went wrong with his gun, what if he let down his comrades, whom he calls his brothers and considers his second family? He shared his concerns with his company commander. Despite a severe shortage of soldiers on the front, the commander gave Viktor a few days of rest and time to talk with a psychologist. That short reprieve saved him and helped reframe his fear of death. More: Left behind: a volunteer army rescues the animals of Ukraine | The Excerpt In the past, he used to think of death as a distant possibility. But in a war, youre completely unprotected, he says. Death can come at any moment. Im starting to get used to the idea of death that it can happen, and you cant escape it. The psychologist said that a person who has faith understands that in death the spirit leaves the body and only a shell remains on earth, he says. Viktors ideas are blurrier when it comes to what follows death, but he knows, with certainty, that there is no salvation for the Russian soldiers who marched into Ukraine. I think theyre churning in hell, he says. Viktors eyes suddenly flick up. The whistle of incoming artillery makes him duck for cover. Get in the hole! he yells, his voice drowned out by a shattering boom as he flattens himself against the dirt floor of the trench. Another whistle, this time closer, then a sound of impact, of metal meeting earth. The dirt walls of the trench vibrate. Then all is quiet for some time. A little while later, the exhausted voice of a Ukrainian soldier crackles over the radio, asking for help. The soldiers position, a few hundred meters away from Viktors trench, has been hit by what appear to be Russian suicide drones, which smash into their targets laden with explosives. One 200, three 300s, the soldier says over the radio, using military code: one dead and three wounded. More: Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping condemn US, pledge closer ties as Russia advances in Ukraine What are my instructions? he asks, panting slightly. The soldier is ordered to hold his position and not attempt to cross the minefield. Plus plus, he sighs, acknowledging the order. A few minutes later, the same soldiers voice returns to the radio. What are my instructions? he asks again, audibly out of breath. Hes concussed, Viktor says, noting the soldiers confusion and slurred speech, signs of possible head trauma. Residents and neighbors carry belongings out of a house hit by recent shelling in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on Nov. 30, 2023, amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He slumps against the white sandbags that line the walls of his trench and takes off his helmet. Theyre not going to be able to rescue them until dark. Over the radio, the injured soldiers are told to wait until nightfall more than eight hours for a medevac team to extract them. From there they could be taken to a stabilization point, a medical facility close to the front line where wounded soldiers receive emergency aid. The commander says another group of men will be transported to hold the position at the same time. Do not leave your post, he tells the soldier on the radio, instructing him to drink water and stay awake. Several more explosions are heard from the injured mens position. Theyre trying to finish them off, Viktor says, as the radio crackles again with the voice of the soldier. Several more Russian drones are swooping on their position and dropping munitions. More: Vladimir Putin proposes moving Russian defense chief in surprise reshuffle amid Ukraine war Viktor takes another drag of his cigarette. Hes lost count of the soldiers hes seen injured or killed. There was a cheerful soldier in his 20s he shared a trench with last fall. He was killed in a heavy mortar attack while Viktor was away from the position for a few days of rest. Asked for the young soldiers name, Viktor hesitates and squeezes his eyes shut. I cant even remember, he says after a pause. I cant even remember where he was from. More than anything, Viktor wishes he could go home, but he says the chances of another soldier replacing him soon at his front-line position are slim. The final mobilization law passed in April did not include a provision in an earlier version that would have rotated out soldiers who had already served 36 months of duty. Ukraines Defense Ministry is now considering a new law that will address demobilization. More: Russia says it's deploying tactical nukes in drills as Ukraine cries 'blackmail' Even with the mobilization push, many young Ukrainian men do not want to be sent to challenging front-line trenches like Viktors, soldiers and officers in his brigade say. No one will trade with us, Viktor says. Who would want to come here? So, he stands guard at his Browning, listening and watching. For hours, the radio crackles on as the injured soldiers wait for the skies to darken. Viktor, ever alert in his trench, looks up at the midafternoon sky. A deeper buzzing sound can be heard approaching, a sound that resembles a larger drone carrying a heavier payload. The sound comes closer, then hovers, suspended above the trench. Viktor strains to hear against the wind. The buzzing moves away, toward the Russian position. Ours, he says. More: NATO troops in Ukraine? French proposal brings a warning from Russia Drones dominate the war Drones have been used in wars before, but their use has exploded in the war in Ukraine. Russian and Ukrainian forces are now racing to develop and deploy a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, that can carry out precision attacks, destroying everything from dugouts to multimillion dollar tanks. Ukrainian soldiers and commanders say aerial vehicles initially gave them an edge over Russia. They now say Moscow is far outpacing their ability to produce them, in particular the lower-cost first-person view drones, or FPVs, which can be laden with explosives and crashed into targets. One of the most potent weapons in the war has been FPV drones. A building burns where at least three people were killed in a "massive" wave of Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine early on February 7, 2024. They have made it almost impossible for both Ukrainian and Russian troops to move on the battlefield without being spotted from above. These drones, which carry explosives, can be guided to a target kilometers away, and cost as little as $500 to produce. Russia, like Ukraine, aggressively targets soldiers positions and equipment with FPVs. Doctors and staff working at medical stabilization points in Donbas now say most of the battlefield injuries they treat are from such drones. There are no reliable estimates of how many FPV drones Russia is able to manufacture every month. Ukraine plans to produce a million FPVs this year, but soldiers and commanders in drone units say they need to double or triple this number if they hope to keep up with Russian troops. More: Ukraine president says time of political decisions directly impacts 'real defeats' To more quickly supply Ukrainian brigades with drones, former jewelers and mechanics sit in a village house near the front line, soldering parts for FPVs that can immediately be deployed. Brigades also collect downed Russian drones, which are then taken apart and examined by army engineers who are desperate to keep up with the pace of development on the Russian side. If I see someone is dead, if weve killed someone, I have zero moral satisfaction, its just like a video game, says Roman the 38-year-old commander of a drone platoon. Often, he wonders what will actually satisfy the anger and sadness that he feels. So your friend is gone. How many invaders do you have to kill to avenge him? 10? 100? 1,000? Youre not going to get your friend back, he says. Though hes not interested in demobilizing and leaving his men behind, Roman agrees that Ukraine needs a way to help fighters rest. Some of Ukraines most motivated men and women were the first to volunteer in 2022. Now, so many of them are dead, injured, or exhausted. Its not enough just to draft more people to take their place, Roman says; they need to be properly prepared and trained. More: Trump reportedly would pressure Ukraine into ceding land to Russia to end war You cant keep the same people constantly on the front line, he says. But the decision of Ukrainians like him to continue fighting isnt really a choice, he says. Its a question of life or death for his people and his country. And if Russia prevails in Ukraine, hes convinced no one in Europe will be safe. For Europe and the whole world, were on the front lines defending it, Roman says. Putin will never stop just in Ukraine, he adds. If you let him get away with it, hes not going to stop over here. 'It's endless' In an area north of Romans command center, artillery units defending Ukraines eastern front waited for new deliveries of ammunition to arrive. Ukraines shortage of artillery shells has become a decisive factor in its struggle to repel Russian advances. Russias new offensive outside of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine is likely to put further strain along the eastern front, where artillery units have been carefully prioritizing targets and rationing shells. In an April interview, Zelenskyy said Russia was firing shells at a ratio of 10 to 1 to those of Ukraine. One of Russias targets is Kupiansk, a northeastern city in the Kharkiv region that was captured by Russia in early 2022 and retaken by Ukrainians later that year. Today, Russian forces are about 10 kilometers away. Oleksii, a soldier in an artillery unit in the 57th Motorized Brigade, is preparing to return to his position in the city after spending a few days resting in a nearby village house. Oleksii, 27, volunteered to fight five years ago after Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea. Since then, the town in the Zaporizhzhia region where he grew up has been reduced to rubble. His comrades are all motivated and want to fight, he says, but their biggest concern is the acute shortage of shells. Related: Georgia defies EU and 'returns to past' with Russia-style law that sparked mass protests When you work and when you have enough shells, you can work and you understand you are destroying the enemy, Oleksii says. In 2022, one artillery installation could fire 40, up to 100 shells a day. Now, the number has been reduced to two or three shells a day, maybe a dozen on a busy day, he says. In February, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had received just 30% of the 1 million shells the European Union promised to deliver by March. The European Commission did not respond to questions about the shell delivery. By the time Oleksii arrives at one of the brigades artillery positions, a spring storm has started. Rain is falling and thunder cracks overhead. The hulking 2S1 Gvozdika, a self-propelled howitzer, sits hidden under a cluster of branches and khaki netting, while soldiers take shelter in a dugout nearby. Stirring a cup of tea, one of the soldiers says the monthslong shell shortages have made Ukrainian forces on the front lines exceedingly vulnerable. Without shells, artillery units like theirs are unable to cover for infantry on the front lines. Related: Slovakia's pro-Russia Prime Minister Robert Fico wounded in apparent assassination attempt If the Americans had passed the package sooner, Russians wouldnt have gotten so close to Chasiv Yar, says Yurii, the 53-year-old commander. They wouldnt have taken so many villages, and we wouldnt have to fight to take back these villages. Russians have factories across their country where they can produce all manner of weapons and ammunition, Yurii says, while Ukraine is largely reliant on the goodwill of Europe and the U.S. More: Did the pope encourage Ukraine to surrender? Francis rankles many with 'white flag' comment Russians can shoot their artillery like its a machine gun, the commander says. Its endless. As the wind picks up outside, the men argue over the U.S. election in November and what Trumps possible return would mean for the war. But he wont win! exclaims one of the soldiers. Even if he did, hell still have to help Ukraine, another says. When hes president he wont be able to ignore the opinions of his people. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told Reuters that the former president would make negotiating an end to the war a top priority in a second term and that European nations need to pay more of the cost of the conflict. The problem, Yurii says, is that even after all of the horrors of the past two years of war, there are still so many people in Europe and the U.S. who do not accept all that Putin and the Russian military are capable of. The horrific images of civilians slaughtered in Bucha after its occupation, the pulverized cities of Mariupol and Bakhmut. The tens of thousands killed, the endless portraits of dead Ukrainian soldiers shared on Facebook and Instagram, the never-ending funeral processions for fathers and brothers, the videos of children draped over their coffins. Its not possible, I guess, just by looking at the photos to comprehend the horrors, Yurii says. The men fall quiet. They sit side by side on narrow military cots, taking sips from their cups. Suddenly, the radio comes alive with an order. The soldiers dash out of their dugout and prepare to fire. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Life on Ukraines front line: Worse than hell as Russia advances Security guards Gregory Winfrey, left, and Benedicto Barnachea raise the Progress Pride Flag over the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in June 2023. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) A longtime Los Angeles County lifeguard stationed in Pacific Palisades near a stretch beloved by gay beachgoers is suing the county for requiring him to work feet away from a Pride flag last summer and punishing him for taking three of the flags down. The lawsuit , filed in federal court May 24 a week before this year's Pride month kicks off, brings the countys sparkling coastline squarely into the nation's culture wars. Jeffrey Little, an evangelical Christian who has worked for the county for more than 22 years, is represented by attorneys from the Thomas More Society , a conservative Catholic legal group known for challenging abortion rights, the 2020 election results and same-sex marriage . In a show of support for LBGTQ+ constituents, officials with both the city of Los Angeles and L.A. County have recently pushed to raise the Pride flag at government buildings. Last year, the county board of supervisors voted to require that many government buildings fly the Progress Pride flag throughout Pride month. That included the lifeguard facilities where Little worked at Will Rogers Beach , which is home to a historically LGBTQ+ friendly section known as Ginger Rogers Beach . A spokesperson for the L.A. County fire department, which oversees lifeguards, said the agency does not comment on personnel issues or ongoing litigation. Little, a captain with the county's lifeguard division, told higher-ups in June that he wanted to be exempt from the county policy ordering the raising of the flag , which is a modified version of the traditional rainbow flag with extra stripes representing people of color and transgender and nonbinary people. He informed them that he was a devout evangelical who adheres to traditional Christian beliefs regarding the moral illicitness of same-sex activity, the immutability of sex regardless of gender identity, and the view that all people are children of God regardless of their skin color according to the lawsuit. The views commonly associated with the Progress Pride flag on marriage, sex, and family are in direct conflict with Captain Littles bona fide and sincerely held religious beliefs on the same subjects, the suit said. Last June, some of the countys lifeguard stations werent flying the Pride flag because they didnt have the right flagpoles, according to the suit. At Little's request, his bosses initially agreed to give him a religious accommodation and change his shift so he could work at a site that didn't have a flag, the lawsuit said. When he arrived at Dockweiler Beach on June 21 one of the sites he alleged was supposed to be flagless Little said he found the Pride flag hoisted at three nearby facilities, according to a complaint he filed with the county. He was informed that a chief had dropped off the flags and ordered they be flown, which Little alleged was a form of religious discrimination. I was confused [as] to why they were flying as I was under the impression that I would not have to deal with working in these conditions, he wrote in the complaint filed June 22. He took down all three flags, according to the suit. The next day, Fernando Boiteux, the chief of the lifeguard division, hand-delivered him a direct order to ensure the Pride flag was flown through June. The day after, according to the lawsuit, Little was suspended from his role with the department's background investigation unit, which investigates "emergency incidents" on the beach. Little also said he later received a death threat in the mail at his home calling him a fascist pig and threatening his children, according to a copy of the note attached in the lawsuit. This spring, Little asked again for accommodations so he wouldn't have to work near the Pride flag, according to the suit. He said the county has not substantively engaged with him and warned him he would be subject to discipline and eventual termination for failure to raise the Progress Pride flag. The suit, which names the fire department as well as three higher-ups in the lifeguard division, accuses the county of discrimination and trampling on Little's religious freedom. Little is asking a judge to order the county to give him a standing exemption from raising the Pride flag and for damages for severe emotional distress, among other demands. Little earned $210,000 last year, according to publicly available salary records , and also works as a certified financial planner . According to his business' website, he serves on the board of the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Assn., which advocates for county lifeguards , and is a member of a county committee overseeing employee retirement plans . Attorneys Charles S. LiMandri and Paul M. Jonna, who both have their own law firms and serve as special counsel for the Thomas More Society, did not respond to a request for comment. In 2021, LiMandri represented a church that was violating L.A. County COVID prohibitions against indoor services. The county agreed in a settlement to pay $400,000 to the church. 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. Editors Note: The video at the top of this story shows the largest school districts in the KXAN viewing area. AUSTIN (KXAN) School is out for the summer, but that means some children might not have a way to get consistent meals. According to Feed the Children, millions of kids will go hungry without the free or reduced-price meals they receive during the school year. The organization says one in five American children is food insecure. RELATED: This online tool shows where your child can get food over the summer Here is a list of school districts in Central Texas that are giving out free meals this summer to children. Oftentimes, no registration or identification is required for kids to grab a meal. Austin ISD Austin ISD said it will connect kids 18-years-old and younger and enrolled students with disabilities up to 21-years-old with free summer meals at more than 30 schools. Kids in the community can enjoy free summer meals regardless of household income and without any registration or identification, according to the district. They do not have to be enrolled in Austin ISD either. The meals are served in the cafeteria and must be eaten on campus during the designated service times. You can view all meal sites, dates and times online here. Many campuses started giving out meals on May 28, with some ending on Aug. 2. Meal services will pause July 1-5 since district offices and campuses will be closed. The schedule and sites are subject to change, according to the district. Del Valle ISD Del Valle ISD said it will provide free summer meals to children ages 18 and younger at sites throughout the district. The locations are listed below, and they will offer meals Monday through Thursday from June 1-27: Del Valle High School Ojeda Middle School Smith Elementary School Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary School Mustang Mesa (Creedmoor, lunch only from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.) Breakfast will be served from 7 to 8 a.m., and lunch will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Meals must be eaten on location, according to the district. Del Valle ISD said it will share dates and locations for July once the month draws near. Georgetown ISD Starting May 28, the school district said it will serve free meals to students who are 18-years-old and younger at select campuses: Purl Elementary: May 28-Aug 9 Mitchell Elementary: May 28-Aug 9 Cooper Elementary: May 28-Aug 9 Forbes Middle School: May 28-June 28 Wagner Middle School: May 28-June 28 Tippit Middle School: May 28-Aug 9 East View High School: May 28-Aug 9 Georgetown High School: May 28-Aug 9 Those meals are available Monday through Thursday from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The district said participating families do not have to register or provide identification. More details can be found on the Georgetown ISD website. IDEA Public Schools IDEA Public Schools said it will give out free meals this summer to any child in the community starting May 28 through July 26 (Monday through Friday), regardless of whether they are an IDEA student. The meals will include breakfast and lunch and must be eaten in the cafeteria of any IDEA campus. Breakfast will take place from 7:30 to 9 a.m., then lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can find an IDEA school near you by typing your ZIP code into this map on its website. Meal services will be closed on federal holidays, as well as July 1-5. Lockhart ISD Lockhart ISD Food and Nutrition Services will help out with lunches starting June 3 at the Dr. Eugene Clark Library. Meals will be provided Monday through Friday from 12 to 1 p.m. Any child 18-years-old and younger can grab a meal. Manor ISD The district said it will give out free breakfast and lunch this summer to any child 18-years-old or younger or any enrolled student with disabilities up to 21-years-old. It all starts in June. Meals will be served at the locations listed below, and a full schedule with dates and times can be found on the Manor ISD website here. Oak Meadows Elementary Presidential Meadows Elementary Manor Middle School New Tech High School Manor Early College High School All sites will close on June 19 and July 1-5. The district said kids in the community can enjoy free meals regardless of household income and without registration or identification. Adults can also buy meals for themselves breakfast for $2.75 and lunch for $4.75. The district said its not allowed to provide bundled meals (breakfast and lunch), multi-day meal packs, to-go meals, weekend meals, or curbside services. If you have more questions, you can reach out to Manor ISDs Food and Nutrition Services Department at (512) 278-4080. Marble Falls ISD The district said it will provide summer meals at no cost to kids 18-years-old and younger and enrolled students with disabilities up to 21-years-old. Three campuses have been designated as distribution sites, according to a release from the district: Highland Lakes Elementary Marble Falls Elementary Marble Falls High School Marble Falls ISDs summer meals program starts June 3 and runs through July 18. Pflugerville ISD Pflugerville ISD is providing summer meals at seven campuses starting June 3. Any child under the age of 18 can snag a meal, and they do not need to register or be registered in a summer school program. Children will not need to provide proof of age, income or residence, according to the district. Visitors are asked to sign in at each school for security reasons. Below is the current schedule. Meal services will be closed on July 4 and 5. Caldwell Elementary: June 3 through Aug. 9 Breakfast: 8:30 to 9 a.m. Lunch: 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Ruth Barron Elementary: June 3 through Aug. 9 Breakfast: 8:30 to 9 a.m. Lunch: 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bohls Middle School: June 3-27 (Monday through Thursday only) Breakfast: 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wieland Elementary: June 3-18 and also July 8-23 (Monday through Thursday only) Breakfast: 7:30 to 8 a.m. Lunch: 10 to 10:30 a.m. Timmerman Elementary: June 3-27 Breakfast: 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. Lunch: 10 to 10:30 a.m. River Oaks Elementary: June 3-7; June 10-14; June 17-20; June 24-27 Breakfast: 7:30 to 8 a.m. Lunch: 11 to 11:30 a.m. Weiss High School: June 3-19 (Monday through Friday); June 20-27 (Monday through Thursday only) Breakfast: 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Round Rock ISD Round Rock ISD said 12 of its campuses will provide children who are 18-years-old and younger and students with disabilities up to 21-years-old with free summer meals starting June 3 through Aug. 2. Services will be available Monday through Friday with meals to be eaten on-site. Families who wish to participate dont have to apply, register, be registered in a summer school program or provide identification. You can view the full meal schedule with school locations online here or on the Round Rock ISD website. The district recommends that parents call the schools to confirm dates, times and details of the meal service, as some schedules could change. San Marcos CISD San Marcos CISD will serve free breakfast and lunches Monday through Thursday starting June 3. Children 18-years-old and younger can participate. The school district is not only serving meals at schools, but also has a few off-site locations like churches and libraries. You can view locations and their schedules in the image below. San Marcos CISD summer meals program 2024 All sites will be closed July 1-5. You can call San Marcos CISD Child Nutrition at (512) 393-6940 for more details. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. GEORGIA (WRBL) Summer is here and some school districts are offering free school breakfast and lunches to students during the break. Heres a look at three local Georgia school systems offering free meals through a summer feeding program. TROUP COUNTY The Troup County School System is offering summer meals to all children 18 and younger every Monday or Wednesday. The program starts on June 3 and will last until July 24. The school system says participants will be provided with 7 days worth of breakfast and lunch at multiple sites. The route for the drop-off of food goes as follows. Route one will travel through LaGrange and stop at: Lees Crossing Apartments from 9 a.m. -9:20 a.m. LaGrange Memorial Library 9:35 a.m. 10 a.m. Laurel Crossing 10:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Wood Glen Apartments 12 p.m. 12:20 p.m. Sword of the Lord 12:30 p.m. 12:45 p.m. Route two will travel through Hogansville at the following locations: Hogansville Housing (403 W. Boyd Rd.) 9 a.m. 9:15 a.m. Hogansville Housing (200 W. Boyd Rd.) 9:20 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Hogansville Housing (200 Lawrence St.) 9:45 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Gods Bread Basket 10:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Hogansville Library 10: 35 a.m. 11 a.m. Route three will travel through West Point and visit the following places: West Point Sportsplex 9 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Bethlehem Baptist Church 9:45 a.m. 10:15 a.m. West Point United Methodist Church 10:25 a.m. 10:45 a.m. The school system noted that parents/guardians and recipients must call the nutrition office at 706-883-1588 to pre-order meals every Wednesday for the upcoming drop-off days. HARRIS COUNTY The Harris County School District (HCSD) also offers free meals through its Seamless Summer Feeding Program. During this summer, the school district is providing two free meal options: On-site meals will be served at Harris County High School and must be consumed in the schools cafeteria. The on-site meal option will be available to students from June 3 through June 27. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Lunches will be served from 10 a.m. to noon. Weekly pick-ups for seven days worth of breakfast and lunches will be available at Park Elementary starting on June 3 and continue on June 10, 17th, 24th and July 8 and 15th. The school district requires a parent/guardian to pick up meals. Both options are available to children 18 and under. For more information about HCSDs Seamless Summer Feeding Program contact Harris County School Nutrition Director Brad Johnson at 706-628-4172 or Johnson-brad@harris.k12.ga.us. MUSCOGEE COUNTY The Muscogee County School Districts School Nutrition Program is participating in the Seamless Summer Option. Through the program, the school district is offering meals to students under the age of 18 throughout the summer. The school district only requires the meals to be eaten on-site. All breakfast meals will be served from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. at the following schools on June 3-6, June 10-13, June 17, 18th, 20th, 21st, June 24-27 and July 1-3: Blanchard Elementary School Clubview Elementary School Double Churches Elementary Fox Elementary School Lonnie Jackson Academy Rigdon Road Elementary School South Columue Elementary School Waddell Elementary School Wesley Heights Elementary School All breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. at the schools listed on June 3-6, June 10-13, June 17, 18th, 20th, 21st, June 24-27: Baker Middle School Double Churches Middle School East Columbus Middle School Midland Middle School Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts Rothschild Leadership Academy For more information about the program contact the school districts nutrition office at 706-748-2386. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Lithuania joined an allied coalition supporting Ukraine's air defense capabilities, the country's President Gitanas Nauseda announced on May 30. The initiative, led by Germany, France, and the U.S., was launched in mid-February with 15 countries joining it at the time. Vilnius will provide Kyiv with mobile air surveillance radars, Nauseda said. The approximate date of their arrival in Ukraine, as well as the amount of Lithuanian contribution, were not specified. "Military support to Ukraine is crucial. Ukraine needs weapons, not promises. Let's walk the talk," Nauseda wrote on X. Kyiv has been calling on its partners to provide additional air defenses amid intense Russian aerial strikes. Over the weekend, a Russian attack against a supermarket in the city of Kharkiv killed 19 civilians and injured 54. "Lithuania's contribution is very valuable to us. Promptly strengthening Ukraine's air defense is key to combating Russian aggression, protecting our people, and defending our frontline positions," President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Lithuania, one of Kyivs staunch supporters, announced the creation of the demining coalition in July 2023. The country also joined the Czech-led ammunition initiative and backs Ukraine's right to strike targets inside Russia with Western weapons. Read also: Netherlands wants to deliver Patriot system to Ukraine jointly with partners Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has vowed to raise the issue of discrepancies in the actions and statements of Ukraine's allies, who fail to promptly deliver necessary military assistance, on international platforms. Source: Nauseda during an event in the Lithuanian city of Kaunas, as reported by European Pravda, citing Delfi, a Baltic states news website Details: Nauseda referred to Czech data indicating that only four of the 18 countries that joined the Czech-led initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine have fulfilled their obligations. "It's a pity that some decisions are voiced loudly, but the real result cannot even remotely compare to the declarations. This is a major problem, and our friends from Ukraine have repeatedly highlighted it," he said. Nauseda believes that Ukraine's allies should realise that if Ukraine fails, "we will all become targets". The Lithuanian president called for everything to be done "to ensure that Ukraine succeeds and that it gets everything it needs today". "And I will do my best to talk about it at the Peace Summit and at the summits of the European Council and NATO," he pledged. Background: In February, Czech President Petr Pavel said that Czechia had found a way to acquire 800,000 (122mm and 155mm) shells for Ukraine outside the European Union and NATO structures. The latest reports indicate that Ukraine will receive 500,000 shells under the Czech-led initiative by the end of the year. Support UP or become our patron! KIEV, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Russia fired 11 cruise missiles, eight surface-to-air missiles and 32 Shahed combat drones at targets in Ukraine early Thursday, the Ukrainian Air Force said in a Telegram post. According to the post, the attack targeted military facilities and critical infrastructure across the country. Seven cruise missiles and all drones were intercepted in nine regions in western, central and southern Ukraine. The air strike damaged energy infrastructure in the western Khmelnytsky region, leaving about 10,000 people without electricity, said the state-run energy company Ukrenergo. In the eastern Kharkiv region, a gas infrastructure facility and a farm were hit, and seven people were injured, said regional governor Oleg Synegubov. The government-run Ukrinform news agency also reported that explosions were heard in the central Dnipropetrovsk region during the attack. The former president was found guilty of falsifying business records on Thursday. The two leading presidential candidates traded remarks on Friday, a day after former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to influence the 2016 election. Trump once again claimed his historic hush money trial was "rigged" after he was found guilty in a Manhattan court but President Biden said the verdict proves "that no one is above the law." "Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself," Biden told reporters hours after Trump spoke from Trump Tower, where he maintained his innocence and slammed Judge Juan Merchan, Biden and prosecutors, among others. While both presidents have shared opposing responses to the guilty verdict, there's one thing they do agree on: that this November's presidential election will be monumentally important. Trump said the "real verdict" will come on Election Day, while Biden's camp warned, "There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box." After deliberating over two days, a New York jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts related to a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The prosecution had alleged Daniels was paid to keep secret a 2006 tryst she had with Trump in order to influence the results of the 2016 election, which Trump ultimately won. Trump vowed to appeal the verdict. His sentencing has been scheduled for July 11. LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER 120 updates Biden reaffirms Trump's guilty verdict: 'No one is above the law' President Biden on Friday commented on former President Donald Trump's guilty verdict in his criminal hush money trial, reaffirming that "no one is above the law." Biden acknowledged that his political rival can appeal the decision "just like everyone else has that opportunity." Trump spoke to reporters earlier in the day from Trump Tower in New York, asserting, "This is a scam. There's a rigged trial. It shouldn't have been in that venue. We shouldn't have had that judge." In his remarks on Friday, Biden excoriated the former president, saying "it's dangerous, its irresponsible" to claim that the trial was rigged. Trump's legal team plans to appeal his guilty verdict. How could the timeline play out? Trump attends a press conference on Friday, the day after a guilty verdict in his criminal hush money trial, at Trump Tower. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Hours after Donald Trump was found guilty Thursday on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, his legal team vowed to appeal. Trumps lead defense attorney Todd Blanche said on CNN Thursday evening that the appeal of the convictions would be filed as soon as we can. Blanche also told NBCs Today that they expect to win on appeal. Read more from Yahoo News here about what an appeal timeline could look like. House Judiciary chair calls for Manhattan DA, top prosecutor to testify House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan is demanding that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and prosecutor Matthew Colangelo testify about Trump's trial. Jordan's subcommittee on weaponization wrote in an X post on Friday that a hearing on "the unprecedented political prosecution of President Trump" is set for June 13. #BREAKING: @Jim_Jordan will demand Alvin Bragg and Matthew Colangelo to appear for hearing on June 13, 2024 to testify about the unprecedented political prosecution of President Trump. Weaponization Committee (@Weaponization) May 31, 2024 This is not the first time Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, has gone after Bragg or Colangelo. Jordan first requested testimony from Bragg back in March 2023, which Bragg resisted appearing for. Jordan also looked into Colangelo's hiring in April 2023 and tried again last month. Colangelo's resume lists numerous cases that involve Trump. Trump verdict dominates headlines around the world Trump's guilty verdict, announced by the Manhattan jury on Thursday evening, dominated front-page headlines worldwide. It is the first time a U.S. president has been convicted of criminal charges. Via Freedom Forum Via Freedom Forum Via Freedom Forum Via Freedom Forum Via Freedom Forum Trump says he will appeal the verdict Trump said he will be appealing the guilty verdict, which aligns with what his defense lawyer Todd Blanche has said. After Trump's sentencing in July, his defense team will have 30 days to file a notice of appeal, and then theyll have six months to file the appeal. Yahoo News has more on the appeals process here. Trump slams Biden, judge, prosecutors and more Donald Trump speaks at Trump Tower on Friday. (Julia Nikhinson/AP) Trump has continued to verbally attack people including President Biden, Judge Juan Merchan, his former lawyer Michael Cohen and the prosecutors. He also criticized the case and its conclusion, insisting it was a "rigged" trial. Trump speaks to press at Trump Tower Donald Trump attends a press conference, the day after a guilty verdict in his criminal trial at Trump Tower in New York City on Friday. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Trump is currently speaking to reporters and supporters at Trump Tower in Manhattan after he was found guilty of 34 felony counts on Thursday. So far, he has repeated the complaints he made about Judge Juan Merchan throughout his trial and lamented being under a gag order, which he incorrectly said was imposed by President Biden. Trump campaign says it has raised over $34.8 million following verdict The Trump campaign said it received $34.8 million since yesterday's guilty verdict. In a statement, Trump campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said, "President Trump is fighting to save our nation and November 5th is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict." Here's a look at what happened yesterday After deliberating over the course of two days, the 12-member jury in Manhattan found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Just before 4:30 p.m. ET, Judge Juan Merchan was set to send the jury home for the day if they didn't have a verdict. The day started with portions of witness testimony being reread to the jury The jury then spent the rest of the day deliberating It looked like the jury was going to be sent home but Merchan received a note saying jurors had reached a verdict Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records The judge scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11 at 10 a.m. ET Following the jury's decision being read, Trump called the trial "rigged" and "a disgrace," and said the "real verdict" will be decided on Election Day. Trump lawyer Todd Blanche: 'As soon as we can appeal, we will' Attorney Todd Blanche (Michael M. Santiago/Pool via AP) Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche, who delivered the closing argument for the defense, said in a Thursday interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins that the former president would appeal the jury's guilty verdicts handed down in the hush money trial. "As soon as we can appeal, we will," Blanche said, noting that the defense still had court issues to resolve with Judge Juan Merchan before they would file their appeal. While Blanche complimented the jury as hard-working and attentive, he said it was "very hard for us to get a fair trial" because "every single person on that jury knew Donald Trump." Asked whether it was a mistake not to have Trump take the witness stand in his own defense, Blanche noted that it was "ultimately" Trump's decision. "I don't think there was a conviction because he did not take the stand," Blanche added. As to the prospect that his client could be sentenced to prison by the judge in the case, Blanche continued to defend his client. "Somebody like President Trump should never, never face a jail sentence," he said, adding that he planned to keep working on Trump's legal team in the other criminal cases in which the former president is charged. Cohen: 'Donald needed to be held accountable' In an interview Thursday on MSNBC, former Trump lawyer and key witness Michael Cohen said he was not surprised by the jury's guilty verdicts on the 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, and called the case "important" and "legitimate." "Donald needed to be held accountable," Cohen said of his former boss. Asked by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow about the withering attacks on his character by Trump's lawyers during the trial, Cohen acknowledged that he sometimes got "hot-tempered," but added that he was able to remain calm during his testimony. "I was nervous because so much was riding on the result of this," Cohen said, while praising the prosecutors who called him to testify despite his past convictions on tax evasion and bank fraud charges. Cohen had a less glowing appraisal of Trump lawyer Todd Blanche, who coined the acronym "GLOAT" greatest liar of all time to describe Cohen during his closing argument. "I was going call him a 'SLOAT,'' Cohen said of Blanche, "the stupidest lawyer of all time." In part, Cohen said, that was because Blanche seemed to base the bulk of Trump's defense on attacking him. EXCLUSIVE: Michael Cohen speaks for first time about the historic Trump guilty verdict. pic.twitter.com/f49gqcD0YU MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 31, 2024 Republican leaders angry at Trump conviction Republican leaders reacted with anger Thursday evening at the conviction of former President Donald Trump. According to the Associated Press: House Speaker Mike Johnson said it was a shameful day in American history and the charges were purely political. Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance said the verdict was a disgrace to the judicial system. And Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, said that the decision was a defeat for Americans who believe in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind. Read more about the Republican reaction. Video: Trump guilty on all 34 counts in hush money trial what happens now? Yahoo News political reporter Andrew Romano weighs in on what's next following the guilty verdict against former President Donald Trump, who remains the leading Republican contender for the White House in 2024. Trump to hold press conference Friday morning Trump announced on Truth Social that he will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. ET tomorrow at Trump Tower in New York City. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks after Trump's guilty verdict Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office brought the 34 felony charges against Trump, delivered a statement following the guilty verdict decided by 12 Manhattan jurors and thanked them for their service. "While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today at this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes through the courtroom doors," Bragg said. When asked by reporters about a potential prison sentence for the former president, Bragg noted that sentencing is set for July 11 but declined to comment further, adding that the hush money case is still ongoing and active. Read the jury's verdict sheet Here is the complete verdict sheet filled out by the jury, indicating the verdicts on each of the 34 felony counts against Trump. This embedded content is not available in your region. Photos: Scenes from outside the courthouse After the guilty verdict was announced, people were seen gathering to celebrate. The New York Police Department restricted access to the area around the courthouse as helicopters circled above. Photos show demonstrators cheering in lower Manhattan, waving signs that read "Trump Convicted" and simply: "Guilty." A demonstrator reacts to the guilty verdict on Thursday in New York. (Julia Nikhinson/AP) (Mike Segar/Reuters) (Mike Segar/Reuters) Trump donation website back online after reports of it crashing The Trump campaign's online portal to accept donations, run by Republican platform WinRed, reportedly crashed shortly after the guilty verdict came down. So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trump's campaign that the WinRed pages went down," the Trump campaign posted on X. The website appears to be up and running again, with a picture of Trump's mug shot from his criminal case in Georgia with "Never Surrender" as the caption. Trump Media shares sink following guilty verdict in hush money case Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) fell 9% in after-hours trading following the announcement that a jury had found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, CNN reported. Michael Cohen: 'Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law' Michael Cohen. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters) Michael Cohen, Trump's former attorney turned key trial witness in the case against him, responded to the jury's guilty verdict, per New York Magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi: Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law. While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters. I want to thank my attorneys Danya Perry and Joshua Kolb for their invaluable guidance and support throughout this process," Cohen, who served jail time for tax evasion and bank fraud, said. Cohen's testimony about paying adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to buy her silence about an alleged extramarital affair with Trump was at the center of the prosecution's case. FAQ: Can Trump still run for president? Can he still vote? Here's what the guilty verdict means Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court in his criminal hush money trial on Thursday. (Mark Peterson/Pool via AP) Donald Trump has become the first former or sitting U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. In a historic decision, a 12-person Manhattan jury found the former president guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in an effort to disguise a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Trump is also the first major party candidate he's the 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee to run for president as a convicted felon. Judge Juan Merchan scheduled Trumps sentencing for July 11 at 10 a.m. ET. The judge will then decide whether the former presidents punishment will include prison time, fines, probation or a combination of those. Read more from Yahoo News here for the answers to frequently asked questions, like whether Trump can still run for president or if he'll be allowed to vote for himself in November. Biden campaign responds to Trump verdict President Biden's campaign spokesperson released a statement following Donald Trump's conviction, according to the New York Times, saying "no one is above the law." "There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box, Michael Tyler, the Biden campaign's communications director, told the Times. "Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president." The campaign posted a similar statement on X. Bragg marks Trump's guilty verdict on X Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. (NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx via AP) Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the criminal charges against Trump, marked the jury's guilty verdict in a post on X on Thursday afternoon. "Today, a jury found Donald J. Trump GUILTY on ALL 34 felony counts," Bragg, whose decision to charge Trump had been second-guessed by some legal analysts, wrote. Today, a jury found Donald J. Trump GUILTY on ALL 34 felony counts. Alvin Bragg (@ManhattanDA) May 30, 2024 A breakdown of each of the counts against Trump Trump calls trial 'a disgrace' after verdict read Donald Trump comments to members of the media after being found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree at Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday. (Seth Wenig/Pool via Reuters) Speaking from the courthouse after the guilty verdict was announced, Trump said: "This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt." "The real verdict is going to be November 5," he said, referencing the 2024 election. "I'm a very innocent man," Trump said, claiming he didn't get a fair trial. Trump to be sentenced on July 11 Moments after the jury's guilty verdict was read in court, Judge Juan Merchan announced that Trump would be sentenced on July 11 at 10 a.m. Trump found guilty on all 34 counts The former president has been convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. Here's a breakdown of each of the charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Court is back in session Judge Juan Merchan has taken his seat on the beach and the jury is filing into the courtroom. Manhattan district attorney enters the courtroom Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has entered the courtroom, alongside his team of prosecutors, according to reporters in the courtroom. Jury requests 30 minutes to fill out verdict forms The Associated Press reports that the 12-member jury has asked Judge Juan Merchan for 30 minutes to fill out the appropriate forms. Jury has reached a verdict Judge Juan Merchan announced that the jury had sent him a note saying that they had reached a verdict. "Please let there be no reactions, no outbursts of any kind," the judge told the courtroom audience. Judge set to excuse jury for the day Judge Juan Merchan will excuse the jury at 4:30 p.m. ET if they haven't reached a verdict, the Associated Press reported. Trump supporters await a verdict outside the courthouse Trump supporters gathered outside of Manhattan criminal court on Thursday as the jury continues to deliberate in the former president's historic criminal case in which prosecutors allege he covered up hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Photos from the scene in lower Manhattan show pro-Trump supporters waving flags and wearing MAGA gear. Trump supporters outside Manhattan criminal court on Thursday. (Mike Segar/Reuters) A devout Christian shows his support for Donald Trump. (Julia Nikhinson/AP) A demonstrator at the courthouse sports "Trump 2024" sneakers. (Julia Nikhinson/AP) It has been 11 hours since the jury got the case The jury that will decide whether Trump is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records stemming from his $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels has now been deliberating for 11 court hours. Even if convicted, Trump is unlikely to go to jail anytime soon Trump arriving at Manhattan criminal court on Wednesday. (Doug Mills/Pool via AP) As we await the jury's verdict in Donald Trump's hush money trial, it's worth remembering that even if he is convicted, he is unlikely to be sent to jail anytime soon. Throughout the course of the trial, Trump has been free on bail. If he is found guilty, there's little reason to believe Judge Juan Merchan would change that status ahead of handing down Trump's sentence, especially given the fact that this would be the 77-year-old's first felony offense. In the event of a guilty plea, Merchan will have to decide whether to fine Trump, put him on probation or supervision or sentence him to prison. The maximum sentence for the felonies Trump is charged with is four years. Trump would almost certainly appeal a guilty verdict and that process could take months or years to play out, possibly further delaying the possibility that he would ever spend time behind bars. Trumps supporters vent anger over judges jury instructions Judge Juan Merchan as seen in a courtroom sketch on Thursday. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters) Supporters of former President Donald Trump, many of them commentators on right wing news outlets like Fox News and Newsmax, have taken issue with the instructions Judge Juan Merchan gave to the jury, sometimes falsely claiming that the judge is allowing them to convict Trump without coming to a unanimous decision. On Wednesday, Fox News host Jesse Waters proclaimed that Merchan had told the jury they can pick whatever crime they want, and they can all disagree on the crime and its still a unanimous decision. ... Its like a buffet! Fox News co-host Jeanine Pirro, a former judge, said his jury instructions were unheard of. But in his remarks to the jury, much of which he repeated on Thursday, Merchan told jurors that they "must conclude unanimously that a defendant conspired to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means. What he did leave partially open to interpretation, however, was the specific means jurors could conclude Trump had used when he carried out his alleged conspiracy. While falsifying business records is usually a misdemeanor charge, it rises to a felony when the false reporting is done in furtherance of another crime. In this case, the judge told the jurors that while they needed unanimous agreement that a second crime had been committed, they could choose from one of three options: violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act, the falsification of other business records or the violation of tax laws. Because Trump is not specifically charged with those crimes, jurors do not have to vote unanimously on them. Instead, he is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records relating to the $130,000 hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. For those charges, the jury must vote unanimously. University of Texas law professor Lee Kovarsky explained the judges instructions to the jury this way: If a law says NO VEHICLES IN THE PARK & list of vehicles includes mopeds and motorcycles, all the instruction means is that you need unanimous conclusion of vehicle but not unanimous on whether vehicle was moped or harley, he wrote in a post on X. Why the names of the jurors in the trial have been kept anonymous Former President Donald Trump sits in Manhattan criminal court in New York on Wednesday. (Jabin Botsford/Pool via AP) It is now up to a New York jury to determine whether former President Donald Trump is guilty on 34 felony counts brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, but the public may never learn the identities of those who will make that decision. That's because Judge Juan Merchan ruled in March that their names would be revealed to the lawyers in the case but, out of safety concerns, not be made public. Anonymous juries are somewhat rare in the U.S. Out of more than 100,000 jury trials in the country, just about a dozen a year keep the identities of jurors hidden from the public, USA Today reported in 2021. Read more from Yahoo News. As the jury deliberates, Trump claims Pecker testimony backs him up After the jury was read testimony given by former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker about a June 2016 phone conversation he had with Trump, the former president posted a message on his social media network claiming that it showed he did not pay hush money to keep negative stories about him from being published. "Testimony conclusively showed that I clearly stated, 'I DONT BUY STORIES!' Not that there would be anything wrong with doing that NDAs are PERFECTLY LEGAL AND COMMON!" Trump wrote Thursday. The testimony in question concerned Pecker alerting Trump to former Playboy model Karen McDougal's claim that she had an extramarital affair with Trump. Pecker, who later paid McDougal for the exclusive rights to the story, initially advised Trump to purchase it. Here is what Pecker said on the witness stand about the conversation: "'This story about Karen, since she's claiming that she has a relationship with you, should be taken off the market.' And Mr. Trump said, 'I don't normally I don't buy stories because it always gets out.' And then I said, 'I still think you should buy the story.' And Mr. Trump said to me, 'I'll speak to Michael [Cohen], and he'll get back to you.'" Trump exits the courtroom Donald Trump walks out of the courtroom as the jury in his criminal trial continues to deliberate at New York State Supreme Court in New York. (Justin Lane/Pool via Reuters) Following the read-back of testimony requested by the jury and their exit to continue deliberations, Trump, his legal team and some of his closest confidants also left the courtroom, heading to a holding room where they will have to wait to see what comes next. Jury excused to continue deliberations With the read-back of testimony concluded and the judge having repeated his instructions on rendering a verdict, the jury left the courtroom to resume deliberations. Jurors hear Michael Cohen's testimony about Trump Tower meeting The jury requested to rehear another portion of testimony concerning Michael Cohen's account of a meeting between himself, Trump and thenNational Enquirer publisher David Pecker in August 2015. It was at this meeting, both Cohen and Pecker testified, that the "catch and kill" agreement was hatched. Pecker testified that he told Trump he would keep an eye out for anything negative" and work to keep such stories from public view. Cohen corroborated that account. Portions of David Pecker's testimony read to the jury David Pecker, in this courtroom sketch. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters) Court stenographers are rereading portions of testimony from David Pecker, the former National Enquirer publisher. Here's what he said when he took the stand during the trial: Pecker revealed a 2015 plan he reached with Trump to assist his presidential campaign The National Enquirer published negative stories about Trump's rivals that were fed to the publication by members of Trump's team The publication would buy the rights to a story to ensure it wouldn't be published, in an arrangement known as "catch and kill" Pecker spent $30,000 on a story that was ultimately fake because of the potential embarrassment it could've caused Trump Court behind the scenes Trump sits in the courtroom on Thursday morning. (Michael M. Santiago/Pool via Reuters) Cameras are not allowed in court, but photographers are given a small window (less than a minute) each morning to take photos of Donald Trump once he enters the room. Yahoo News' David Artavia spoke to Spencer Platt of Getty Images about what that moment is like. It's kind of weird and awkward too, because the court gets really quiet. Its just the sound of cameras and jostling photographers. You can hear a pin drop," Platt said. Read more on the process of photographing Trump in his historic trial each morning here. Mark Peterson/Pool via Reuters Jury has multiple requests in morning note In a note submitted this morning, the jury is asking for Judge Juan Merchan to reread his instruction on how it should consider facts and what it can infer based on the evidence presented, according to CNN. The jury also asked to hear the instructions related to the charges for count one, and requested headphones to use with an evidence laptop. What to expect today Before deliberations kick off, Judge Juan Merchan is expected to reread instructions to the jury, which jurors had requested on Wednesday, according to the New York Times. The jury also asked to hear portions of testimony read back to them, so actual deliberations are expected to start in about an hour. Court is back in session; jurors have sent a new note Court is back in session this morning, and Judge Juan Merchan said jurors have submitted a third note, according to reporters in the courthouse. Trump's lawyers hoping for lengthy deliberations, hung jury: ABC News Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. (Seth Wenig/Pool via AP) As day one of jury deliberations wrapped up yesterday, Donald Trump's lawyers were reportedly happy court was dismissed without a verdict. Sources told ABC News that Trump's legal team believes the longer jurors deliberate, the more likely the case would lead to a hung jury. One person close to Trump's defense told the outlet: "We want chaos ... we want evidence of strong disagreements." ABC News reports: While it wouldn't be surprising to Trump's team for there to be a verdict Thursday, their hope is that deliberations will extend into next week as an indication there could be serious doubts among jury members that could result in a hung jury, the sources said. Here's what happened on Wednesday Day one of jury deliberations in Trump's hush money trial ended without a verdict. But the 12 jurors on the panel that will decide whether Trump is guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records did get down to work. Here's a recap of what transpired: Before court resumed, Trump attacked Judge Juan Merchan and appeared to again violate his gag order by going after witness Michael Cohen. "Kangaroo court! A corrupt and conflicted judge," Trump wrote in all caps on Truth Social. "There was no crime, except for the bum that got caught stealing from me!" When court began, Merchan instructed the jury on how they should go about rendering a verdict in the case. "You and you alone are the judges of the facts," he said. Jurors should not "speculate about matters related to sentence or punishment," Merchan said, adding that he alone would be responsible for deciding those questions if Trump was found guilty. "If you are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt of the charged crime, you must find the defendant not guilty," Merchan told the jury. Merchan then went over the specific charges Trump is facing. "A person is guilty of falsifying business records in the first degree when with intent to defraud, which includes the intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof, he makes or causes a false entry in the records of a business enterprise." He then sent the jury to begin their deliberations. After nearly four hours, the jury sent the court two notes. One requested that portions of the testimony be reread. The second asked the judge to repeat his instructions. Judge dismisses jury for the day Judge Juan Merchan has dismissed the jury for the day. Jurors had been brought back into the courtroom to have testimony they requested reread, but the court had not finished compiling all of that material. Merchan advised them not to discuss the case or to read about it. And with that, the first day of deliberations ended without a verdict. Deliberations will pick back up again at 9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday. Jurors return to courtroom The jury has returned to the courtroom to hear portions of the trial testimony read from the transcripts. Show more updates So farewell, Lloyd Russell-Moyle. No longer will the corridors of power echo with your squeaking indignation. No more will the ancient Commons be treated to your histrionic stage-kid socialism. Its new pastures for you now. Yes, Mr Russell-Moyle has been given the heave-ho by Labour. The MP for Brighton Kemptown is the latest leftie nut to be swept out by Keir Starmers new broom. What will become of public life in the absence of his ear-melting orations remains to be seen. We shall persevere. Russell-Moyle was suspended from the party following a complaint about his behaviour. It relates to something he did eight years ago, apparently. He says the complaint is vexatious and politically motivated and designed to disrupt the election. Shorter version: Im being oppressed! Already, the very online Left is treating him as a radical martyr, as if he were Rosa Luxemburg in a Next suit. To these Fisher-Price Marxists, Starmer is Stalin 2.0 wielding a metaphorical ice-axe against the great radical thinkers of our time. Like, erm, Diane Abbott. Russell-Moyle made a statement to Novara Media shortly after learning about his suspension. Well, how else to reach the self-righteous middle class? So bereft are Novara types and other millennial leftists that theyve even paused their frothing commentary on Israels genocide to mourn the purging of Russell-Moyle and the others. The whole thing is too ridiculous for words. It is historically illiteracy on stilts to talk up an internal party spring-clean as some kind of McCarthyite war on the Left. Then theres the hypocrisy. Russell-Moyle and his shrill allies are damning Starmer for his autocratic meddling in party democracy. Yet these people were more than happy to trounce actual democracy with their ceaseless efforts to void the vote for Brexit. Russell-Moyle was very much on the Remoaner wing of the party. He once chaired a meeting of MPs titled Love Socialism, Hate Brexit. He agitated for a second referendum. Lets never forget what that would have entailed: the scrapping of 17.4 million ballots for Brexit; a forced re-run of the whole thing. Imagine the brass neck it must require to bleat about your own democratic rights when you yourself spent years being cavalier about everyone elses. Maybe democracy is only for good, woke people like Lloyd, not us lot in the gammony masses. It is tempting to view Russell-Moyle as a comical figure. I, for one, have never watched one of his speeches without laughing. Who can forget his General Election acceptance speech in 2019 when, in full puffed-up, finger-jabbing mode, he said of the Tories: We will fight them in the Parliament, we will fight them in the courts, we will fight them in the workplaces. He sounded like a whoopee-cushion Winston Churchill. Then there was the time when, in a fit of pique over Brexit (of course), he grabbed the ceremonial mace in the Commons and tried to make off with it. The mace is the symbol of the monarchs authority. Without it the Commons can pass no laws. It was a bourgeois temper tantrum disguised as a parliamentary protest, a self-regarding stunt masquerading as principle. Apparently even his mum told him off. Labour was once a party of real men. Some even worked down the mines and in other hard graft before going into politics. Now it has double-barrelled donuts like Lloyd Russell-Moyle whose hands have never done anything more toiling than tweet received opinion. Yet behind his Mr Bean demeanour, Russell-Moyle also embodies many of the nastier elements of the new Left. He is living proof of just how unkind the #BeKind Left can be. His every utterance drips with the holier-than-thou self-righteousness of a left that is more concerned with bigging up its own virtue than levelling up the working class. Remember his rage with Conservative MP Miriam Cates last year? All she did was raise concerns about the impact that gender self-ID laws will have on womens safety. And Russell-Moyle exploded. He branded her transphobic. Believing in womens rights is bigotry now, apparently. Then he crossed the floor of the Commons and stared menacingly at Ms Cates. It was the most sanctimonious of glares. In his wide, judging eyes, we saw woke intolerance in all its vainglory. I hope his mum told him off for this, too. The moral rot of the modern Left was best captured in the antics of Russell-Moyles then head of policy, Carly-May Kavanagh, in late 2022. At a pro-trans protest, Ms Kavanagh called a father and his baby fascists. Youre raising a little fascist, she said to dad. This is the depth to which the Left has sunk. So I wont shed any tears over Russell-Moyles suspension. If it saves us from his moaning about Brexit, his barking at women who question the trans ideology and his thin pontificating about evil Tories, Im all in. Laters, Lloyd. 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. Loaded guns and a grenade found with airport passenger at SEA on Tuesday On Tuesday TSA officers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) found three loaded firearms and an inert grenade during routine passenger screenings. Around 5:15 a.m. a man was found with a loaded .45 caliber Glock handgun in his carry-on. He was headed to Newark, NJ. The second firearm, a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P 9 pistol, was found in a mans carry-on at around 8:30 a.m. He was headed to Spokane, WA. Then around 10:20 p.m. a loaded 9mm Canik TP9 Elite SC pistol was found in the carry-on of a female passenger. She was headed to San Antonio. All three passengers met with Port of Seattle Police and were eventually allowed to continue traveling. We dont know if they were allowed to take their guns. TSA says a grenade was also found in a passengers carry-on at SEA on Tuesday. It was found to be inert. We dont know if that passenger was permitted to continue traveling. Grenades are not permitted in carry-on or checked bags. Passengers are allowed to transport unloaded firearms on commercial airplanes if they are locked in a hard-sided case and placed in checked baggage. Travelers are asked to use a non-compliant TSA lock on the case to ensure that only the owner of the firearm has access to it during their travels. Guns are never permitted in carry-on bags, this includes replicas. So far in 2024, TSA officers at SEA have found 49 firearms in carry-on luggage and 91% of those have been loaded. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Tennessee veterinarian is sounding the alarm after seeing multiple cases of a tick-borne illness. So far in the Arlington area, two dogs have already been diagnosed with the potentially fatal illness, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. One of those affected dogs is a golden retriever named Stella, whose owner said she experienced some scary moments after being bitten by a tick last month. She got pretty sick, she probably started around maybe a Monday or Tuesday looking a little lethargic, and by Wednesday she was clearly not well, Christie Pellegrin said. While speaking with WREG, she told us that the change in Stellas behavior was enough to warrant a trip to the vet. We thought she was protected from fleas, ticks and heartworms, Pellegrin said. So, it was quite a surprise when she came back positive for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Despite Pellegrin giving Stella preventative medications, she still had to stay overnight at the Arlington Pet Hospital. As it turned out, Stella was the second case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever the medical facility had treated. 120 dogs in West Memphis shelter need homes Though two cases may not sound like a lot, veterinarian Dr. Charles Rahm says it is the equivalent of what the clinic sees in three to four years. Whenever I see RMSF in an animal it is concerning because it means that the pet owner has the potential to have been exposed as well, Dr. Rahm said. However, pet owners are not the only ones susceptible. RMSF is a health concern for anyone in Tennessee. It should not be taken lightly, especially in Tennessee, one of the states where RMSF is most prevalent. Dr. Rahm is the same veterinarian who treated Stella. If left untreated, Dr. Rahm said it could lead to severe complications. 1 arrested, 1 wanted after alleged $134K check forgery Its a disease not normally tested for, Dr. Rahm said. Its not as easy to diagnose if you are not looking for it. Dr. Rahm said thats because theres no one specific symptom. Pellegrin can attest to Dr. Rahms assessment as she saw the disease affect Stella in multiple different ways. Its that loss of energy, loss of interest in eating, Pellegrin said. For Stella, it was more neurologic. She was drooling a lot more, she wasnt swallowing properly. Since being treated, Pellegrin said that Stella is doing much better. However, Dr. Rahm says this is a reminder for pet parents to keep up with their tick and flea medications. There are different options, Dr. Rahm said. There are topical (medicines) or even a collar that works well. So, its really dependent on what works best for you and your situation. While Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is common amongst dogs, Dr. Rahm told WREG that cat parents should be mindful as well since any animal is susceptible to getting infected. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) Ten local students from Sullivan County and Kingsport City Schools are headed to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy. State sets new Washington County, Tenn. tax rate at $1.41 Each student had to write a letter to a soldier who fought in World War II on D-Day. Some of them chose to write about their relatives who fought during the invasion. I wrote to my great-grandfather, Eden Vineyard, a rising senior at West Ridge High School said. So I wrote to him from my perspective, basically talking about how I really didnt get to talk to him a whole lot about his experience because he really didnt like sharing about it. But learning about it with my grandfather, it was just a really good experience to find out, like what he went through and just to be grateful for where my family is because of his sacrifice. Mark Sago, a recent graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School, said his great-grandfather was a combat engineer on the Invasion of Normandy at D-Day. My letter really was about expressing my thanks for him, for the risks he took and the sacrifices hes made to serve our country and both the sacrifices hes made also to our family, Sago said. And so I just was really appreciative of all the things hes done. PREVIOUS: Winners revealed in Eastman D-Day letter competition Katelyn Shoemaker, a rising senior at West Ridge High School, said she feels strongly about how her great-grandfather survived the landing on D-Day. She found out he was a little older than most drafted soldiers, being in his mid-twenties. Among 10 area students headed to Normandy next week are Katelyn Shoemaker, Courtney Good, Eden Vineyard, Natalie Carr, Garrett Crowder and Mark Sago. (Photo: WJHL) I think thats why he actually made it through the landing because he saw people like obviously drowning because of the backpacks, not even being killed in the water they couldnt swim to the shore because of the backpacks, Shoemaker said. So he took his off and that obviously had everything in it he needed. He had no weapon or anything but he took his off, so he could get to the shore and then took someone elses that had already died. Which it was a really sad story, but thats what he had to do. Some students decided to write about other soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy. I wrote about a rifleman in the 26th regiment of the First Infantry, Natalie Carr, a rising senior at Sullivan East High School said. His name was Edward Duncan Cameron and I wasnt related to him. But after doing a lot of research, I found him and I found letters that he had written to his family. So I decided to talk about his time as a rifleman storming the beaches of Normandy. Courtney Good, a rising senior at West Ridge High School, said she wrote about a soldier named Private Colton. I just was researching on veterans and he popped up and he seemed very interesting to me, Good said. And so I started to write about him. The students will get to meet veterans still living who fought on D-Day. Wood Construction, Tenn. AG in talks to resolve lawsuit Garrett Crowder, a recent graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School, will enter the Naval Academy just two weeks after the trip and is honored to get to meet these veterans. I think that meeting with these veterans and actually experiencing from them a little bit what D-Day was actually like, will possibly allow me to gain further appreciation to the challenges that Ill be going through at the academy, he said. The students will get to visit Omaha Beach, one of the landing sites of D-Day. Both Shoemaker and Vineyard said their great-grandfathers landed on Omaha Beach. I was hoping to bring maybe a photograph of him to take a picture with him on the beach and send it back home, Shoemaker said. Sago, Shoemaker, and Vineyard said all of their families were excited for them to win this competition to visit Normandy. They really egged me on to enter into the competition, so they were ecstatic when Id finished and submitted my letter and they were able to read it, Sago said. Especially, my grandparents on my fathers side, which is where my great-grandfather who fought is from. They were just so, so happy for me. All of the students learned about D-Day in their history classes. Eric Rowe, history teacher from West Ridge and Josh French, history teacher at Dobyns-Bennett will be chaperoning on the trip. Its an incredibly humbling experience, especially because theres only a select few of us that were chosen from this country, Carr said. And Im incredibly grateful for the opportunity to go and meet other kids from different countries and leaders. Its just a great experience and its a real blessing. The students thanked their teachers, Eastman Chemical Company, Delta and representatives from Normandy for making this trip possible. They depart for Normandy on Saturday, June 1 and will arrive back to the states on Friday, June 7. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Lone dog continues to guard ruins of house after Russian attack photos A dog on guard next to what once was his masters house Photo: 4TH SEPARATE TANK BRIGADE The Ukrainian military has found a dog guarding the ruins of his house. Source: The photos of the lonely animal were shown by soldiers of the 4th Separate Tank Brigade. Details: The military told UP.Zhyttia that the dog lives in Lyman, Donetsk Oblast. The red mongrel dog doesn't even have a collar but is faithfully sitting in the house's yard. Quote: "He was left alone, and after another bombardment, he did not leave his house, guarding the ruins," fighters from the tank brigade said. A dog on the ruins of a house in Lyman 4TH SEPARATE TANK BRIGADE His house was probably hit by a cluster munition, which damaged the facade and roof and destroyed the rooms. Nearby, there are similarly destroyed houses with no windows, doors, rooms or roofs. The military is feeding all the local animals but hopes that animal protection organisations will evacuate them. A dog on the ruins of a house in Lyman 4TH SEPARATE TANK BRIGADE Quote: "If you have the opportunity to evacuate them, we can coordinate it," the military adds. The brigade's contact page on social media is here. Lyman after Russian bombardments 4TH SEPARATE TANK BRIGADE Background: In September 2022, a surviving dog named Krym [Ukrainian for Crimea ed.] was waiting for his family in the ruins of a house in Dnipro. Its owners were killed in a Russian attack. Unfortunately, the animal's heart could not stand the separation - in a month and a half, it gave out. Support UP or become our patron! In a historic decision, Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on nearly three dozen charges of falsifying business records in a courtroom on Thursday. The presumptive Republican party nominee for president was charged with 11 falsified invoices, 12 falsified ledger entries, and 11 checks falsely recording the repayment as legal retainers, according to the indictment. Here are the 34 counts of which Donald Trump has been found guilty Both Massachusetts and New Hampshire politicians are reacting to the groundbreaking news. Congressman Seth Moulton calls the verdict a serious moment for American politics: Donald Trump, one of only forty-four others who have held the highest office in the land, has spent his entire career walking right up to, and over, the line of legality. It was only a matter of time before his actions led him to face our justice system. To be clear: whether or not you like this verdict, this is how our system is supposed to work. This is how a healthy democracy is supposed to work. No one is above the law, not even a former president. This is also no time to gloat. Were in uncharted waters now that a convicted criminal is still a frontrunner for the presidency. For Democrats, the stakes could not be higher. We have so much work to do to build trust across all Americans. Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said in a statement the rule of law was upheld today: Trump made deception a cornerstone of his campaign for the White House, she said. And now, he will go down in history as the president who has two impeachments and 34 felony convictions to his name with more trials to come. The American people deserve so much better. Representative Stephen Lynch said the following: I am very grateful to Judge Merchan and the members of the New York jury in The People of New York vs. Donald J. Trump, for unanimously upholding the rule of law in rendering 34 verdicts of guilty on all felony counts against former President Donald J. Trump, thereby sustaining the Constitutional precept that no man is above the law New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan calls the verdict striking and somber, saying in part, In the United States, no one is above the law. The former President had a trial just like every American has the right to expect when charged with a crime and in that trial, the jury weighed the evidence, considered the facts of this case, and found the former President guilty. It's official: Trump is a convicted felon! Found guilty on all 34 counts.https://t.co/geWnkdJ3Yp Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) May 30, 2024 In a statement, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley says this has been a long time coming: Despite the relentless efforts by the former occupant of the White House to undermine and delegitimize these fair and measured legal proceedings, todays unanimously guilty verdict is an important step toward accountability. Make no mistake, Donald J. Trump is not a man persecuted because of his politicshe has been defrauding people, exacting harm, and evading legal accountability for decades. From discriminating against Black tenants to defrauding small businesses, to bribery, hush money schemes, election interference, and insurrection, this man has broken the law to advance his own interests at the expense of other people and to the detriment of our democracy Accountability is welcome and long overdue. This man is undoubtedly unfit to serve in public office. The threat he poses to our nation and our democracy cannot be overstated. Congresswoman Lori Trahan echoed similar sentiments to Senator Hassan, tweeting on X that No one is above the law. No one is above the law. Lori Trahan (@RepLoriTrahan) May 30, 2024 Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Longmont to do away with parking minimums LONGMONT, Colo. (KDVR) Longmont is the first city in Colorado to do away with parking minimums for new buildings, according to energy groups. Now, new buildings wont be required to have a certain number of parking spaces, only what the building owner deems necessary. In a vote on Wednesday, Longmont council members swapped out parking minimums in favor of maximums, which vary depending on the building type and number of units. Colorado ExpressToll transponders will now work in these 3 states Earlier this month, Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law to do away with parking minimums for multifamily builds going up near bus stops and RTD rail stations. Advocates said Longmonts decision will help cut down car emissions, encourage public transportation, help reduce housing costs and support economic development. Those against the measure worry about the unintended consequences of limited parking. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Deputy Director of China's National Development and Reform Commission Zhao Chenxin addresses the U.S.-China High-Level Event on Subnational Climate Action in Berkeley, California, the United States, May 29, 2024. Climate leaders from the United States and China got together on Wednesday in Berkeley, the U.S. state of California, to discuss climate action and progress at the sub-national level. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) SAN FRANCISCO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Climate leaders from the United States and China got together on Wednesday in Berkeley, the U.S. state of California, to discuss climate action and progress at the sub-national level. The U.S.-China High-Level Event on Subnational Climate Action, hosted by the California-China Climate Institute, attracted local officials, business representatives, and a delegation from China's Greater Bay Area. The sub-national climate forum was announced in the Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis, released by both countries last November. At the forum, leaders from both countries emphasized the action and progress under the Sunnylands Statement, stressing the critical role of subnational governments, including states, provinces, and cities, in fighting the global climate crisis. This photo taken on May 29, 2024 shows a scene of the U.S.-China High-Level Event on Subnational Climate Action in Berkeley, California, the United States. Climate leaders from the United States and China got together on Wednesday in Berkeley, the U.S. state of California, to discuss climate action and progress at the sub-national level. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) U.S. District Court Judge Larry Hicks, 80, died at a hospital on Wednesday after a vehicle fatally struck him near the federal courthouse where he worked for more than two decades Washoe Sheriff/X U.S. District Court Judge Larry Hicks, who was fatally struck by a vehicle on May 29, 2024, at the age of 80 U.S. District Court Judge Larry Hicks was struck and killed by a vehicle outside the Reno, Nevada, federal courthouse on Wednesday, May 29, according to local police. He was 80 years old. The Reno Police Department responded to a call around 2:15 p.m. local time reporting that there had been a vehicle-versus-pedestrian collision near the Bruce R. Thompson Courthouse and Federal Building. Hicks was rushed to a local hospital, according to News 4, where he died. The outlet reports that the driver who allegedly struck the judge stayed at the site of the accident to cooperate with police. "Today, our community lost an extraordinary man," wrote his son, Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks, in a statement obtained by multiple outlets. "To us, he was first and foremost, a man who put nothing before family. He was a hero in all manners, a loving husband of nearly 59 years, a doting dad, an adoring Papa, and brother. His loss is beyond comprehension." Related: Indiana Town Council Candidate Dies on Election Day After Collapsing While Greeting Voters at Polling Site Hicks launched his career at the Washoe County District Attorney's Office in 1968, beginning as a law clerk and rising through the ranks to become the DA. He spent two decades at a private practice, until President George W. Bush appointed him to serve as a judge for the U.S. District of Nevada in 2001. Hicks earned senior judge status in late 2012. "On the behalf of the men and women of the Reno Police Departments, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Judge Hicks," said Reno Police Chief Kathryn Nance, according to News 4. "Tragedies like this leave a lasting impact on our lives, particularly when they involve cherished members of our community." 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. Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam also paid respects in a statement posted to X on Wednesday evening, writing, Larry Hicks was a one of a kind man, revered in our community and, most importantly, beloved by his family. On behalf of my family and the men and women of the Sheriffs Office, we extend our deepest condolences to Larrys son Chris, the current District Attorney, and all of Larrys family. Judge Hicks legacy will forever be noted in Washoe County." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A Waynesville man and longtime area school administrator is facing charges in a Beavercreek sexual assault case involving a juvenile. Chad Hill, 54, was indicted by a Greene County grand jury last week on one count of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition, according to court records. >> Trump found guilty on all counts in hush money trial Hill appeared in court on Thursday for his arraignment. There, he pleaded not guilty to the charges. His bond was set at $500,000 and court records indicate he has since posted bond and been released from jail. Beavercreek police were called out to a home on March 9 about a sex offense, according to an incident report obtained by News Center 7. Police confirmed that the victim in the case was a juvenile. Hill was employed at Greene County Educational Service Center (ESC) at the time of the alleged offense, but police confirmed the victim was not a student. >> Mother of 3-year-old rescued from roach-infested Fairborn apartment changes plea News Center 7 reached out to Greene County ESC about Hills employment. Governing Board President Erik Eppers confirmed Hill resigned for personal reasons on May 10. Hill has worked for several schools over the years. A spokesperson for the Dayton Regional STEM School confirmed performed part-time contracted treasurer services for the school from July 2019 to December 2023. Hills LinkedIn profile shows he previously served as the high school principal for Vandalia-Butler City Schools and New Lebanon Local Schools. He also previously worked at Huber Heights City Schools, Tecumseh High School, and Madison Local Schools. Hes scheduled to appear in court next on June 11. Take a look at 'The Beast,' the $1.5 million bulletproof presidential limousine used by Trump and Biden US presidents are driven in a heavily armored limousine nicknamed "The Beast." It features a secure communications system and fridge stocked with the president's blood type. Military cargo aircraft transport the presidential limousine for use abroad. When US presidents aren't flying on Air Force One or taking helicopter trips in Marine One, they're driven around in a presidential limousine nicknamed "The Beast." Weighing in at 20,000 pounds and outfitted with advanced security and communications systems, the newest model of "The Beast" debuted during the Trump administration in 2018. It reportedly cost around $1.5 million to build. Take a look inside the famous vehicle. US presidents travel in a secure limousine nicknamed "The Beast." The presidential limousine "The Beast" waits on the tarmac as President Joe Biden disembarks Air Force One in Helsinki, Finland. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz US presidents rode Lincoln limousines for most of the 20th century until the 1980s, when the Reagan administration switched to Cadillacs. The latest model of the presidential limousine was commissioned by the US Secret Service in 2014 and used for the first time in 2018 by President Donald Trump. Designed to look like a longer version of a Cadillac XT6, the chassis of the car is actually that of a Chevrolet Kodiak truck produced by General Motors, NBC News reported. The vehicle weighs around 20,000 pounds and cost around $1.5 million to build. The heavily armored vehicle is bulletproof, blast-resistant, and sealed to withstand biochemical attacks. Members of the Secret Service open the doors to the presidential limousine. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images While details about the limousine's security measures remain classified, NBC News reported that the vehicle features a night-vision system, tear gas firing capabilities, and door handles that can be electrified to prevent intruders. The windows are believed to be 3 inches thick and the vehicle's armor around 8 inches thick. "The Beast" is also equipped with medical supplies, including a refrigerator stocked with the president's blood type. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris pose for a photo as they ride in the presidential limousine. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz The limousine's secure communications system is able to dispatch the launch codes for nuclear weapons. The presidential seal appears throughout the design of the car. The presidential seal is seen inside the door of President Joe Biden's limousine as he arrives in West Palm Beach, Florida. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) The seal, featuring an eagle holding an olive branch and 13 arrows in its talons below a banner reading "E Pluribus Unum" ("Out of many, one"), appears on both the interior and exterior of the passenger door. The limousine can seat up to seven people. Joe Biden and Jill Biden wave as they ride in the presidential limousine. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz The interior features water bottle holders and plush leather seats. Previous presidential limousines have also included a fold-out desk, according to the US Secret Service. "The Beast" travels with the president. The president's limousines are loaded aboard a US Air Force C-17 in preparation for a trip. US Secret Service Presidential limousines are transported by military cargo aircraft, such as US Air Force C-17s, for use during the president's travels, according to the US Secret Service. When abroad, the presidential limousine flies the American flag and the flag of the host country. The US presidential state car, nicknamed "The Beast," at Windsor Castle in the UK. Pool/Max Mumby/Getty Images When Biden visited the UK in June 2021, the presidential limousine flew both the American flag and the Union Jack. On Inauguration Day, Secret Service agents change the car's license plates as a new president takes power. Secret Service agents change license plates on Inauguration Day. Alex Brandon/AP Some presidents have used the Washington, DC, "End Taxation Without Representation" license plates, while others have removed the slogan, Axios reported. Accompanied by the presidential motorcade, "The Beast" remains an instantly recognizable symbol of the power of the presidency. President Joe Biden looks out the window of the presidential limousine on Inauguration Day. Official White House Photo by Ana Isabel Martinez Chamorro "It is safe to say that this car's security and coded communications systems make it the most technologically advanced protection vehicle in the world," the assistant director for the US Secret Service's Office of Protective Operations said of "The Beast, " according to the US Secret Service's official website. Read the original article on Business Insider Take a look inside Staatsburgh, a 30,000-square-foot Gilded Age mansion whose owners held tickets for the Titanic Staatsburgh was the home of financier Ogden Mills and his wife, socialite Ruth Livingston Mills. The Gilded Age mansion, completed in Dutchess County, New York, in 1896, features 79 rooms. The Mills had tickets for the Titanic's second trip, which never happened since it sank in 1912. When New York City socialite Ruth Livingston Mills inherited her family's country estate known as Staatsburgh in 1890, she felt it wasn't grand enough to entertain her sophisticated friends. With the help of her husband, financier Ogden Mills, she oversaw a massive renovation that transformed the home into a Gilded Age mansion modeled after the royal palaces of Europe. Located in Staatsburg, New York, about 100 miles from New York City, Staatsburgh is now a museum that continues to preserve the home's extravagant furnishings and rich history. Take a look inside. Staatsburgh, once the fall home of Ogden Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills, offers guided tours of the historic estate. Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Adult tickets for hour-long tours cost $10 each and can be reserved online. The full schedule is available on Staatsburgh's official website. I entered through the gift shop, which was full of apparel, accessories, and books about the Hudson Valley. The gift shop at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Unlike other historic mansions I've toured where the visitor's center is located in what was once a guest house or carriage house, Staatsburgh's reception desk is on the ground floor of the original home itself. The tour began in an exhibition space on the first floor, where our tour guide gave us a brief history of the Mills family. The room where Staatsburgh tours begin. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Ruth Livingston Mills came from "old money." The Livingston family descended from Scottish nobles, and their ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War and signed the Declaration of Independence. Ruth's great-grandfather, Morgan Lewis, served as the third governor of New York and purchased the Staatsburgh estate in 1792. Ruth inherited the home in 1890, according to Staatsburgh's official website. Ogden Mills was known as "new money," a financier who served as President Herbert Hoover's Secretary of the Treasury. Ruth and Ogden wed in 1882 and had three children. The room also featured a section about the Titanic, which the couple had tickets for. A Titanic display at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Ruth and Ogden Mills had tickets for the Titanic's second voyage, but it never happened since the ship sank on its maiden voyage in 1912. Staatsburgh offers special "Tales of the Titanic" mansion tours led by costumed guides. We then walked outside, where our guide shared that the grass surrounding the opulent home used to be farmland. A view of the Hudson River on the grounds of Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider When Ruth inherited the house, the backyard was planted with corn. In order to prepare the residence for entertaining her posh New York City guests, she had the crops replanted elsewhere on the property. The estate grounds are now known as Mills Memorial State Park. Our guide also pointed out ongoing preservation efforts on the home's exterior. Restoration efforts at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider In the 1950s, Staatsburgh's exterior was sprayed with gunite to preserve the facade. However, the active ingredient in gunite is asbestos, and it turned the house gray. The white area in the photo above shows where the asbestos has been abated. Most of the front of the home has been restored, but the project is ongoing. Staatsburgh's two wings were added in 1895, expanding the home from 25 rooms to 79. Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The renovation cost $350,000 in 1895, or about $11 million in today's dollars. When I walked into the entrance hall, the well-preserved decor transported me back to the Gilded Age. The entrance hall at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The English oak wood paneling on the walls was meant to evoke the decor of English royalty. Ruth hung portraits of her prominent ancestors in the entryway to impress her guests. Portraits of Ruth Livingston Mills' ancestors at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The portrait on the far left depicts Morgan Lewis, the third governor of New York and Ruth's great-grandfather. Next to him is his daughter, Margaret. Next to Margaret is Judge Robert Livingston, a statesman and attorney, followed by Chancellor Robert Livingston, who helped draft the Declaration of Independence, swore in President George Washington, and negotiated the Louisiana Purchase under President Thomas Jefferson. The grand staircase was reminiscent of the one on the Titanic. The grand staircase at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The last three steps were wider than the others to leave room for women's gowns to cascade behind them in elegant, dramatic entrances. A side table featured an issue of The Boston Daily Globe with a headline about the Titanic sinking, emphasizing the family's connection to the tragedy. A newspaper with a headline about the Titanic sinking at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Ruth's cousin, John Jacob Astor, was the richest man in the world when he died in the Titanic disaster. His body was recovered two weeks later, identified by the initials sewn into his jacket and the engraved gold watch in his pocket. Ascending the stairs provided a wider view of the entrance hall. The entrance hall at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The furniture was arranged differently when the Mills family took up residence there, but everything in the room was original to the home. The painted ceiling on the stairwell concealed a 10,000-gallon water tank above. A painted ceiling at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider. The home had its own water system with a pump house on the property that filtered water into a steel-reinforced tank. Female visitors stayed in guest bedrooms upstairs, while male visitors slept downstairs. A guest room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Alice Roosevelt was good friends with the Mills' twin daughters and a frequent guest at Staatsburgh. A replica of a maid's room was built on the second floor by lowering the ceiling and narrowing the walls to display the smaller space. A servant's room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Maids slept on the third floor, while male servants such as footmen and butlers slept downstairs. Servants at Staatsburgh worked six days a week and had their own rooms, a rarity in the Gilded Age. The male servants' quarters on the ground level included a dining room, lounge, and kitchen suite. The servants' quarters at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The male servants' quarters were used as the New York State Parks Taconic Regional Headquarters until 2009, and the area is undergoing restoration. Before dinner, guests would line up in the oval room to be escorted into the dining room. The oval room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider A detail-oriented hostess, Ruth would be at the front of the line to be escorted into dinner by the highest-ranking gentleman. Our tour group gasped in awe upon walking into the stunning dining room, exactly as Ruth Mills intended. The dining room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The green Italian and French marble walls were decorated with 18th-century Belgian tapestries. The Mills would also decorate the room with plants from their greenhouse. The floor was constructed with 1-inch-thick Vermont marble to deaden the sounds of the kitchen below. The table was set with the Mills family's original Tiffany & Co. china. Tiffany & Co. table settings in the dining room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The table could seat up to 30 people when fully extended. Meals lasted around two hours and included eight to 10 courses of mostly French cuisine. The gilded ceilings were embellished with ornate gold designs. Gold ceiling decorations in the dining room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Typical of the Gilded Age, even the ceilings were works of art. The base of the fireplace was decorated with Chinese guardian lion statues known as foo dogs. Decorative lion statues in the dining room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The bronze lion statues had brass eyes that glowed when the sun shone on them. Servants took food to the dining room via a dumbwaiter in the butler's pantry. The butler's pantry at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Located off the dining room, the butler's pantry featured a speaking tube for communication with the kitchen. The butler's pantry included a display of Titanic china set replicas. Replicas of Titanic china at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Different classes of passengers on the Titanic dined off different china patterns. We then moved into the drawing room, named for where the family and guests would withdraw after dinner. The drawing room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Our tour guide described the drawing room as Ruth's "she shed" where female family members and guests would socialize and take tea. Our guide pointed out how the backs of the chairs were not as faded as the seats because of the upright posture women maintained. A chair in the drawing room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Women's corsets in the Gilded Age didn't enable them to fully sit down. She also pointed out the oldest artifact in the room: a set of three ancient Greek urns. Urns in the drawing room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The urns date back to 400 to 600 BCE. The Mills family would play games of bridge in their ornate library. The library at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Their collection of books included rare artifacts such as George Washington's diaries. Ruth also had a French-style boudoir, a private space to write correspondence and plan parties. The boudoir at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider A large portrait of Ruth hung on the wall on the left. Ruth's bedroom was modeled after royal palaces in Europe, with her bed up on a pedestal and the walls upholstered with damask silk. Ruth Livingston Mills' room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Her and Ogden's suites were on the main level, which was unusual in the Gilded Age, but Ruth had a heart condition that made it difficult for her to go up and down flights of stairs. The tour ended with Ogden's room, which was noticeably smaller and less ostentatious than Ruth's. Ogden Mills' room at Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Ogden called Ruth "Tiny," and her nickname for him was "Sweet." Even though Staatsburgh was just a two-hour drive from New York City, I felt like I'd visited a European palace. Staatsburgh. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider According to our tour guide, 95% of the items inside Staatsburgh are authentic to the home and the Mills family, providing a historically accurate portrayal of how the wealthiest members of high society lived during the Gilded Age. Read the original article on Business Insider May 30 (UPI) -- A British mountain rescue team used a raft and "some aggressive swimming techniques" to save a lamb stranded on a precarious slope above deep water at Peak District National Park. The Edale Mountain Rescue Team said on social media a team leader and a swift water rescue technician responded to evaluate the situation when an animal was reported "stuck above deep water and on a near vertical and loose slope in the Edale Valley." A plan was put in place, but the team was side-tracked by a call for a human rescue and they returned later to find "the lamb had managed to get in a more awkward spot than before." Rescuers used an inflatable raft and "some aggressive swimming techniques" to reach the young sheep and secure it in a rescue bag with some "gentle lamb wrangling." The lamb was then hoisted to a bridge over its location. The lamb was not injured, the team said. "All ended well with a very happy farmer, and a quite nonchalant ewe, quite unaware of where her baby had been for the last eight hours," the post said. America's most insane occupational licensing law is about to get a whole lot better. Louisiana is the only state in the country that requires florists to be licensed by the government. A bill that is now on the way to Gov. Jeff Landry's desk sadly won't change that fact, but it will eliminate the mandatory test that prospective florists in Louisiana must pass before being allowed to earn a living by placing different types of flowers together in an arrangement. Going forward, obtaining a florist license will require only the payment of a fee to the state. The bill cleared its final legislative hurdle with a unanimous vote in the state House on Wednesday. Landry, a Republican who has supported other licensing reforms, is expected to sign it. Requiring any sort of government permission slip before someone can work as a florist is obviously ridiculous, and Louisiana's florist-testing regime was a uniquely perverse and protectionist scheme. This week's passage of state Rep. Mike Bayham's (RChalmette) reform bill is the culmination of a two-decade battle to eliminate it. That effort began in the early 2000s, when the Institute for Justice filed a lawsuit challenging the florist licensing law. One of the plaintiffs in that case, a woman named Sandy Meadows, had been fired from her job at a Baton Rogue grocery store when state inspectors discovered she had been arranging flowers without the proper license. She tragically died, unemployed and in poverty, before the case could be heard. Several subsequent lawsuits and legislative efforts have failed to kill the florist licensing law, although Louisiana lawmakers did adopt changes in 2012 that put an end to the practical portion of the licensing exam. Yes, before that, would-be florists were not only quizzed on their knowledge of the profession but also on their subjective skills at arranging flowers. The judges for the exam, naturally, were already-licensed florists. Even after the exam was pared back to being only a written test, the requirements were still quite onerous, Sarah Harbison, general counsel for the Pelican Institute, a free market think tank that supported the reform bill, told Reason this week. The test would be offered only a few times a year, and would-be licensees had to travel to Baton Rouge to take it in person. The arguments for maintaining the florist license strain credibility. During a Louisiana Senate hearing on the reform bill earlier this month, Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain fretted about the risk of "pest and disease problems" if the licensing requirement was removed. Louisiana does not require a license to sell cut flowerswhich would presumably carry the same, truly terrifying risksbut does require a license if you want to arrange different types of flowers into a bouquet. And if Louisiana is protecting the public from the danger of unlicensed floristry, why isn't there mass chaos in the 49 other states where florists can work without first passing a government-issued test? "This will lead to greater sales of flowers. This will help people get jobs. This will expand opportunities for people to sell flowers, and this will get rid of a needless regulation," Bayham said last month when the House first approved his bill. Good riddance to Louisiana's absurd florist licensing exams. But this week's reforms do leave one dilemma: What will be America's worst licensing law now? The post Louisiana Finally Fixes America's Dumbest Licensing Requirement appeared first on Reason.com. Protesters gather outside the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge during a 2020 rally against Louisiana's stay-at-home order early in the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdown. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) In another measure that could run afoul of the First Amendment, the Louisiana Legislature approved a bill Wednesday to outlaw protests, demonstrations or any other gatherings within 50 feet of anyones home even on a public street if it threatens to disrupt a persons use of their home. House Bill 737, sponsored by Rep. Kellee Hennessy Dickerson, R-Denham Springs, received final passage in a 72-14 House concurrence vote on a Senate amendment that narrowed the proposal. The measure prohibits anyone from petitioning, picketing or assembling with others within 50 feet of a home in a manner that interferes with or threatens to disrupt a persons right to control or use their home. This could apply to gatherings as small as two people. The bill is silent on whether the person living in the residence would need to file a complaint or if police could simply enforce the law based on their own belief that a gathering threatens to disrupt a nearby residence. Anyone who violates the provision would face a fine of up to $500 per day. Lawmakers held Wednesdays vote with no discussion of the measure. Most of the debate occurred during a previous floor vote in April during which Dickerson, a freshman lawmaker and former TV news anchor, struggled to see any issues with what was then a much broader bill. At that time, Dickerson told her colleagues the law would apply only to protests directed at an individual in a way that makes the person feel unsafe or uncomfortable, but the wording in her bill included none of those limitations. Instead the wording would have prohibited any gatherings that interfere with an individuals right to enjoy his residence, leaving that phrase open to interpretation. The original version of the legislation also had no proximity limitations and would have applied to any gatherings near someones home. The Senate amended it to apply only to protests within 50 feet of a residence. Dickersons bill is the latest among several the Legislature has passed this year involving First Amendment rights. On Wednesday, lawmakers passed House Bill 383 to make motorists immune from lawsuits if they run over or kill protestors because they feel threatened. That same day, Gov. Jeff Landry signed House Bill 173 into law, making it a crime to come within 25 feet of a police officer upon command. On Tuesday, lawmakers approved House Bill 127 to establish harsher punishment for anyone who organizes a protest that ends up disrupting traffic. Dickersons bill will head to the governor for executive approval. Landry has signed similar legislation and has long criticized political demonstrations, even peaceful ones. He has also called for harsh punishments against protestors with the exception of those involved in the violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The post Louisiana passes bill to outlaw protests near residences appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. Love it or hate it, here's everything you need to know about Wisconsin's state flag In mid-May, Minnesota raised its new flag over the state Capitol, featuring the North Star for Minnesota's motto, dark blue to represent the state's shape and light blue for its many lakes. That may have left some Wisconsinites wondering: Is it time we redesign our state flag? In our very unscientific survey of more than 200 Journal Sentinel readers, about 45% said it should be changed. Just under half said the flag is fine as it is, and 5% weren't sure. The results were tight, as are most polls in Wisconsin. To vexillologists people who study flags and some readers, Wisconsin's flag is too cluttered, and the use of lettering goes against good design standards. Others have the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality or believe lawmakers already have enough to argue over. As Wisconsin celebrates its 176th year of statehood, and its 161st year with an official flag, here's what to know about the history, symbolism and redesign efforts behind the state flag: The Wisconsin state flag has been around in some form since 1863. When did Wisconsin get a state flag, and why? Wisconsin didn't get a state flag until 1863, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. Civil War regiments wanted one design to unite them, rather than flying a variety of flags. A five-member committee was tasked with creating "a description for a proper state flag." Wisconsin was one of the earlier states to adopt a flag, according to a 1980 Wisconsin Magazine of History article. By 1876, eight of the then-38 states had official emblems. Only three of them, including Wisconsin, used their state's coat of arms. Why is Wisconsin's state flag blue? Why Wisconsin's flag is blue is also connected to the Civil War. Most, but not all, of the 20 state flags with blue backgrounds are northern states. That derived from regiment or militia flags, explained Ted Kaye, secretary of the North American Vexillological Association. Kaye was involved in Minnesota's redesign, and Milwaukee's city flag redesign a few years ago. Who are the two men on Wisconsin's state flag? And what is Wisconsin's coat of arms? The two men on the state flag are a sailor holding a coil of rope and yeoman resting on a pick, according to the Wisconsin Blue Book. They represent labor on water and land in Wisconsin. The two men, and the rest of the symbols, are part of Wisconsin's coat of arms. Wisconsin's flag is one of about 20 state flags that use the "seal on a bedsheet" design coined by vexillologists. One argument against using the seal is that the design is indistinguishable from other flags at a distance, which is the fundamental purpose of a flag, Kaye said. The second argument is that using the seal creates a flag that represents the government, rather than the people of the state. The flag's "principal feature, the coat of arms, is not even a creation of the Legislature, but of three leading citizens who acted independently in 1851," the Wisconsin Magazine of History notes. Changing Wisconsin's flag wouldn't change the state's coat of arms, or the similarly designed great seal, Kaye pointed out. What do the other symbols mean on Wisconsin's flag? There are other symbols in the state's coat of arms that also appear on the state flag. According to the Blue Book, the shield at the center is divided into four quarters with symbols that represent agriculture (a plow), mining (a pick and shovel), manufacturing (an arm and hammer) and navigation (an anchor). At the center of that shield, a small shield and the E Pluribus Unum band around it "symbolize Wisconsins membership in and loyalty to the United States." Under the shield is a horn of plenty that "represents prosperity and abundance" and a pyramid of 13 lead ingots (blocks or bars of metal) that "represents mineral wealth and the 13 original states." Above the shield is a badger, the state animal and a nickname for Wisconsin's historic lead miners. The badger wasn't designated as the state animal until about a century after the seal was created. More: Why is Wisconsin the Badger State and do actual badgers live here? Why does Wisconsin's flag say 'Forward'? Above the badger is a banner that reads "Forward" the state's motto, which was adopted in 1851. It reflects Wisconsin's "continuous drive to be a national leader," according to the state Historical Society. Why does Wisconsin's flag say 1848? The bottom of the flag says "1848" in white letters. That's the year Wisconsin became a state. The word "Wisconsin" is also in white letters at the top of the flag. Those elements were added in 1979 to help distinguish Wisconsin's flag from other state flags. But that's not good flag design, Kaye said. Using lettering that isn't reversible means a thicker, more expensive flag, too. "When you have to write the name of your place on your flag, then your symbolism has failed," Kaye said. "Can you imagine a country flag saying 'France' on it?" More: Wisconsin just celebrated 175 years as a state. Here are some key historical facts you should know. When did the Wisconsin flag get redesigned? Adding those two elements in 1979 was the most recent redesign of the state flag. All flags made after May 1981 had to include the new design, per state law. Before that, the flag was changed in 1913 to include Wisconsin's updated coat of arms. Lawmakers also formally added the flag to state law. As the story goes, an assistant attorney general found the state had accidentally repealed the law that included the state flag in 1878. But the Wisconsin Magazine of History found that story is flawed, because the flag was created by resolution which can't be repealed rather than by statute. Still, lawmakers wrote a long description of the flag into state law, including: Relative dimensions of 2 to 3, hoist to fly. A background of royal blue cloth. The state coat of arms, as described under s. 1.07, in material of appropriate colors, applied on each side in the center of the field, of such size that, if placed in a circle whose diameter is equal to 50% of the hoist, those portions farthest from the center of the field would meet, but not cross, the boundary of the circle. Optional trim on the edges consisting of yellow knotted fringe. Still, flags acquired by the state Historical Society typically didn't follow those regulations. By 1914, no manufacturers were making inexpensive flags for use in schools. The flag became more popular around the time of World War II. In 1955, a state bill proposed a totally new design, but the legislation didn't succeed. People had felt the "flag was not distinctive, that it looked like too many other state flags, and, worst of all, that its symbols did not at first glance connote Wisconsin," according to the Wisconsin Magazine of History. Could Wisconsin redesign its flag like other states? Wisconsin's neighbor, Minnesota, is the latest state to redesign its flag and state seal, replacing one that drew criticism for its negative depiction of Native Americans. Utah unveiled a new flag last year, featuring a beehive and snowy mountains. But there have been no formal efforts in recent memory by Wisconsin state lawmakers to revisit the state flag design. More: Capturing the (paper towel) flag: an investigative report into Green Bay's coolest flag More: 7 redesigned Wisconsin flags got an F in a survey of flag scholars and enthusiasts Still, ideas for new state flags have been floated in Wisconsin, from Madison-based publication Isthmus in 2016 to Reddit threads. One humorous design featured a deer surrounded by orange construction barrels. For those worried the seal's symbols could be lost if Wisconsin's flag is redesigned, Kaye pointed out the difference between symbols and symbolism. Choice of colors can be symbolic, he said, instead of using the state seal. But some may prefer the seal. "I am of the admittedly rare opinion that our flag is alright as it is, and that this flag reform movement is mostly a fad. I wouldn't mind a change to the flag that would retain the coat of arms, which I quite like, however," Jason from Milwaukee said in response to our survey. Sophia Creary-De La Cruz got interested in changing the flag while working on a project as a senior last year at Logan High School in La Crosse. She has lived in both Wisconsin and Ohio, where people are much more impressed by the state's uniquely shaped flag. She'd like to see more diversity represented in Wisconsin's flag. "Most people are kind of neutral about it, because it's a very neutral flag," she said. "Because they don't think about it, they don't see how it could be so much better and how it could be actually representative of our state." Creary-De La Cruz added that another redesign will happen eventually, whether it's tomorrow or 50 years from now. It could give the state more publicity, there would be high demand for the outgoing design, and students and the public could get involved in submitting ideas, she said. If Wisconsin lawmakers choose to redesign the flag, Kaye says, they should be aware that designing a new flag is the easy part. The politics are harder. "The process is about 10% design, and 90% politics and public relations," he said. "I like to say that in every poorly designed flag, there's a good flag trying to get out. But in Wisconsin's case, I would start from scratch." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's state flag: Everything you need to know about it Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing on Thursday. Hailing China and Egypt as good friends and partners of solidarity and mutual assistance for joint development, Li said that China is willing to work with Egypt to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the traditional friendship, continuously strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and push the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level. Li pointed out that China firmly supports Egypt in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions and safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and development interests. Guided by high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China is ready to work with Egypt to deepen cooperation in traditional areas and foster new growth areas of cooperation, further facilitate bilateral trade and investment exchanges, and help Egypt strengthen the internal driving force for economic development to achieve win-win results, Li said. He also called for expanding people-to-people exchanges regarding think tanks, young people, education, and tourism to consolidate public support for good friendship between the two countries. China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Egypt in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, work together to end the fighting in Gaza and ease the humanitarian crisis there as soon as possible, and make unremitting efforts for a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, Li said. Sisi said that since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and China 10 years ago, the two countries have achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields. Egypt firmly abides by the one-China principle, firmly supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and supports China in combating terrorism, he said. Sisi expressed the willingness to work with China to further expand cooperation in agriculture, trade, new energy, communications, and high technology under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and better benefit the two peoples. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Editors note: A previous version of this story erroneously identified the man who filed the lawsuit as Desmond Brown of the Macon Water Authority Board. The man who filed this lawsuit is not on the board. The Telegraph regrets this error. A local man alleges Macon-Bibb County government is violating copyright law by using his name in documents and has sued the government for $2 million, according to his lawsuit filed Tuesday. Desmond Brown argued in his lawsuit that Bibb County Superior Court unlawfully used his copyrighted name, Desmond Lee Brown, three times in a letter and once in an envelope he received last year. He alleges that each violation is worth $500,000 under copyright law. The letters from superior court referred to a now-closed case in which he was deemed an interested party in a lawsuit from the Macon-Bibb County tax commissioners office. The lawsuit sought to take a blighted property on Rocky Creek Road because taxes hadnt been paid on the property. The lot was given to the tax commissioners office, and the office sold it, according to court records. Court documents indicate Brown had his name copyrighted in Florida. In the case from the tax commissioners office, Brown wrote that no federal, state or local codes, ordinances or regulations applied to him. Although his response was not found in online superior court records, he attached it to his lawsuit in federal court. In alleging that his copyright was violated, he cited a Uniform Commercial Code governing commercial transactions. There is no question the copyright of the trademark was violated so I would suggest reading through the default terms immediately to avoid more serious penalties, wrote Brown in an invoice to the government and the superior court which was attached to the lawsuit. Im not trying to get any more money than what is rightfully and lawfully owed to me. I can come to the Bibb County Courthouse and pick up the payment in the form of a check. He also didnt pay a filing fee for his lawsuit, and has asked the court to carry on without it, which is about $405. He said in his lawsuit he is unemployed, has not received income in the past year and isnt expecting to receive any in the next month. He also says he doesnt have any assets. He only has $10 in his checking account, according to his request. Although Brown declined to give details on the lawsuit as he wanted to keep this a private matter, he told The Telegraph that he trademarked his name to take control over his identity since he doesnt trust the U.S. government. Lawsuits only present one side of a legal argument, and Macon hasnt filed a legal reply to Browns assertions. Efforts from The Telegraph to reach out to the county attorney representing Macon government were unsuccessful. French President Emmanuel Macron will meet with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on June 8 during Biden's first state visit to France, the White House announced on May 30. The two will meet after the U.S. leader's participation in the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings on June 6. Other Western leaders and President Volodymyr Zelensky are also expected to visit the D-Day commemoration, although Kyiv has not yet officially confirmed the presence of Ukraine's president. Macron and Biden will discuss long-term support for Ukraine, as well as ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in economic, space, and nuclear spheres, the French presidency said in a statement, the Associated Press reported, citing Macrons office. The meeting will take place amid discussions about lifting the ban on Ukraine's right to strike targets on Russian soil with Western weapons. This move has already been publicly supported by more than 10 countries, including France. Washington and Berlin, the top two providers of military aid to Ukraine, have been hesitant to allow Kyiv to strike Russian territory. The U.S. officials have repeatedly said that they do not support or encourage Kyiv's strikes with American weapons on Russian soil, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz outright said that the policy won't change. However, both countries are now signaling a potential change to their long-standing policy, according to recent statements and two articles published by Politico on May 29. Read also: Washington, Berlin signal potential policy change, paving way for permission for Ukraine to strike Russian territory Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Macron to host Biden on state visit to France next week US President Joe Biden (L) speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron, after a family photo on the second day at the G7 Summit. Michael Kappeler/dpa US President Joe Biden is travelling to France next week for a visit lasting several days. Biden will be in France from June 5 to June 9, the White House said on Thursday. On June 6, the US president will first attend ceremonies in Normandy to mark the landing of Allied troops there 80 years ago in World War II. On June 7, Biden will give a speech - also on the French coast in Normandy - on the importance of defending freedom and democracy. Finally, on June 8, Biden and his wife Jill will be received by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on an official state visit in Paris. The state visit reflects the close ties between the two countries, according to the White House. Biden and Macron plan to discuss a wide range of global challenges and bilateral issues. The French government said that among the topics on the agenda for talks is further support for Ukraine in its defence against the Russian invasion. This would also serve to prepare for the G7 summit in Bari, Italy, in mid-June and the NATO summit in Washington in July. Macron went to Washington on a state visit in 2022. At the time, the French leader was the first foreign guest to be honoured in this way during Biden's term of office. Macron pushes for coalition of countries that will send military instructors to Ukraine French President Emmanuel Macron is working to form a coalition of states willing to send military instructors to train Ukrainian soldiers directly in Ukraine, but no final decision has been made. Source: Le Monde with reference to diplomatic sources, as reported by European Pravda Details: Macron discussed sending instructors to Ukraine during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier this week, though neither leader publicly confirmed it. "According to our information, the French authorities are trying to form a coalition of willing countries to train the Ukrainian military, which is under siege by the Russian army," the French newspaper writes. According to Le Monde sources, negotiations on this matter may accelerate in the coming days "with a view to a possible announcement during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to France on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings on 6 and 7 June." According to France's plan, "several hundred specialists from several countries" will arrive in Ukraine to train sappers or "even help in training a new motorised brigade." It is believed that certain Baltic countries, as well as the United Kingdom, will join the Paris plan. Le Monde's report follows a Reuters story that France may soon send military instructors to Ukraine, despite concerns from some allies and criticism from Russia, media reports indicate. In mid-May, The New York Times reported that some North Atlantic Alliance members were privately discussing the prospect of deploying military instructors or contractors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian soldiers and assist with equipment repairs. Support UP or become our patron! ISLAMABAD, May 30 (Xinhua) -- A gas cylinder explosion injured at least 40 people, mostly women and children, in Pakistan's southern Sindh province on Thursday, police said. The incident happened in Hyderabad district of the province where the explosion happened in a shop selling gas cylinders, the district's police told media. The explosion sparked a massive fire that quickly spread to several nearby houses, giving residents little time to escape, the police added. The injured people were shifted to a nearby hospital where 10 individuals were reportedly in critical condition. An investigation into the incident is underway, police said. Madison's controversial fleet of F-35 fighter jets is conducting all-day and evening flight training on Thursday, May 30, and Friday, May 31. The jets, known for their noisy single engines, have regularly flown over Madison's north and east sides during the morning and afternoon hours for over a year. The F-35s are part of the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing and fly out of Madison's Truax Field Air National Guard Base at the Dane County Regional Airport. The 115th Fighter Wing announced it will conduct increased training flights during extended evening hours on Thursday and Friday. The jets will fly between approximately 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. on the two days. "Training flights normally take place during daylight hours, but pilots and maintenance personnel are required to conduct nighttime operations as a part of their overall readiness," the 115th wrote. "Pilots will follow flight paths designed to minimize noise to area residents." Citizen and activist groups in Madison have criticized the disruptive noise and other potential threats posed by the F-35s for nearly a decade. Many residents say the noise has disrupted their work, children's education and daily lives. According to the non-profit activist group Safe Skies Clean Water Wisconsin, which strongly opposes the jets' presence in Madison, some residents living near Truax Field have even chosen to move away due to the noise. More: Why are F-35 fighter jets flying over Madison, and why are they so loud? A F-35 Lightning II takes off during the EAA AirVenture show on Thursday, July 25, 2019, at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. How will I know when the F-35 jets are flying over Madison? Citizens can sign up for email or text notifications from the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs to stay informed on future deviations from the F-35 fighter jets' normal flying schedule. Click here to subscribe to Flight Operations Alerts for the Madison area. A woman plugs her ears as a F-35 Lightning flies above during the EAA AirVenture air show on Monday, July 22, 2019, at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. F-35 jets have caused controversy in Madison for many years The F-35s arrived at Truax Field on April 25, 2023, to replace the 115th's aging fleet of F-16s, which were built in the late 1980s and left Truax in October 2022. Truax has hosted numerous military aircraft since 1948, regularly updating its fleet. The 115th was the second Air National Guard fighter wing to receive the F-35, which had been in development for almost two decades. It was first announced in June 2016 that Truax was under consideration as a base for a fleet of the $100-million jets. Despite community protests, it was officially announced in April 2020 that the F-35s were coming to Madison. Like the F-35s, the F-16s often flew over communities in north and east Madison, but multiple residents say the F-35s are noticeably louder. There has been debate surrounding how loud the jets are and whether the noise levels predicted and reported by officials have been accurate. But, one study found the F-35's peak noise to be as much as four times louder than that of the F-16. According to an environmental impact study conducted by the Air Force in 2020, the F-35s cause over 2,200 Madison residents to experience an average sound level of 65 decibels each day. The Federal Aviation Administration has determined 65 decibels to be "the threshold of significant aircraft noise as well as incompatible residential land use." A large number of Madison residents affected live in poverty. A July 2022 open letter to Sen. Tammy Baldwin sponsored by Safe Skies Clean Water pointed out that children at the 35 schools and daycare centers within two miles of Truax Field could experience disruptive and potentially dangerous effects due to the jets. Baldwin announced support for the jets early on, saying in a statement that the F-35s would provide security and economic benefits to the state. "The F-35 fighter jets arriving in Madison helped maintain the 1,600 existing jobs at Truax Field, in addition to creating 64 new jobs," Baldwin's office said in an email. "The base contributes around $100 million to the region's economy each year and supports over 1,650 in-state jobs ... With the withdrawal of the F-16s, losing fighter jets at the base would have meant thousands of jobs leaving the area and hundreds of millions in economic loss for the region." Meanwhile, those opposed to the jets argue the disruptions they cause will overall negatively impact the economy. Some F-35 opponents also criticize the jets for causing pollution. Additionally, Safe Skies Clean Water argues that the jets' nuclear capability "could increase the possibility of Madison being an enemy target." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why are F-35 jets flying over Madison Thursday and Friday nights? Watch: Britons brawl in Majorca as islanders vow to block tourists from beaches About 10,000 islanders marched through the streets of Palma, the capital of Majorca, last weekend - MJS/SOLARPIX.COM Eight British men on a stag party were arrested after brawling on a Majorca beach on the same day locals vowed to take to the sands to protest against rowdy tourists. Islanders in Majorca have vowed to block tourists from every centimetre of beach this weekend as protests against the effects of over-tourism intensify. Tourism has brought great wealth to the Balearic Islands but locals now say that they are being choked by traffic congestion, high prices, overcrowding and unaffordable rents. After about 10,000 islanders marched through the streets of Palma, the capital, last weekend, protesting against saturation tourism, new demonstrations are planned for this weekend. It came as dozens of British tourists kicked and punched each other outside a bar on a beach in Majorca on Thursday. Video showed some two dozen people scuffling in the sand and in the sea, throwing each other to the floor, some with beer cans still in hand. The brawl occurred at 7:30pm on the Illetes beach in Calvia after a waiter reprimanded the group for throwing cans of beer and rubbish into the sea, Diario De Mallorca reported, citing City Hall sources. The party responded violently and attacked the waiter, prompting other staff and beachgoers to get involved. Groups of police arrived and eight of the Britons were arrested. The waiter was taken to a medical centre after being hit on the head and knocked unconscious, while two police officers also suffered injuries. Locals say that they want to take back their beaches from the millions of tourists who descend on the island each summer - MJS/SOLARPIX.COM Locals say that they want to take back their beaches from the millions of tourists who descend on the island each summer. Many residents were furious when a Spanish politician suggested that they could no longer expect to enjoy their own beaches in July and August, at the height of the tourist season, and instead they should make way for international visitors. I understand the discontent but us Mallorcans, who live directly or indirectly from tourism, cannot expect to go to the beach in July and August like we did years ago, said Manuela Canadas, a member of the far-Right Vox party in the Balearic Islands regional parliament. She warned islanders not to bite the hand that feeds them. There are other, more attractive destinations and we can end up going hungry because here theres a lack of jobs. In reaction to those comments, activists are urging locals to occupy beaches on Saturday. Under the hashtag OcupemLesNostresPlatges Catalan for Lets Occupy Our Beaches a campaign group called Mallorca Platja Tour (Majorca Beach Tour) wrote on social media: We invite all residents near the beaches to go for a swim, recover our beaches and enjoy them as before. The beaches are for everyone! Manuela Canadas, a member of the far-Right Vox party, warned islanders not to bite the hand that feeds them in driving away tourists - Joan Llado/GTres/SplashNews.com One supporter suggested staging a protest on a beach called SArenal near Palma. Come to SArenal and dont leave a single centimetre for the guiris, he said, using a local derogatory word for foreign visitors. Another local wrote: Lets fill the beaches! The protest on Saturday is intended as a warm-up for a bigger demonstration on June 16, with activists saying that they intend to fill the beach with Mallorcans. In response to the growing disquiet over the effects of mass tourism, on Thursday, Palmas city council was due to discuss a range of new measures suggested by Jaime Martinez, the mayor, to try to tackle the problem. They include limiting the number of cruise ships allowed to dock in Palma, banning the biggest cruise ships, imposing new taxes on cruise ship passengers when they disembark, restricting the number of rental cars that can enter the city at a time, and limiting and banning party boats and booze cruises. The next protest on Saturday is intended as a warm-up for a bigger demonstration on June 16 - MJS/SOLARPIX.COM During the protest in Palma last weekend, some participants booed tourists who were drinking and eating in bars and restaurants. They held placards, one of which read: Salvem Mallorca, guiris arruix Catalan for Lets save Majorca, foreigners out. Another read: Enough Mass Tourism. Javier Barbero, one of the organisers, told local media: This is just the start of things. If measures arent taken, we will continue taking to the streets until we see action. There were similar protests in Ibiza and Minorca, the two other Balearic Islands. Last year, the archipelago attracted more than 14 million visitors. Tourism accounts for about 45 per cent of the islands GDP, according to data from Exceltur, an industry organisation. The protests in the Balearic Islands follow similar demonstrations in the Canary Islands in April. 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 at the Mall at Wellington Green: A kiosk for mango lovers and a streetwear boutique WELLINGTON A fast-casual eatery focused on mangoes, two trendy boutiques and a store featuring imported kitchen tools are now open at the Mall at Wellington Green. Over the last years, the signature retail destination of Palm Beach County's western communities has brought more family-owned, small businesses to its lineup of storefronts at State Road 7 and Forest Hill Boulevard. This summer, the mall will also be home to two children's camps, one by the Leader Learning Center and the other by The Palm Beach Museum of Natural History. The CMX movie theater will host a Kids Summer Film Fest from June 18 to August 8 offering $1.99 tickets for 10 a.m. movies. Three new food outlets open at the Mall at Wellington Green Fresh Mangos, a Palm Beach County healthy snack joint, opened its fifth location at The Mall at Wellington Green. Fresh Mangos: A kiosk resembling a farmers market stand sells cups of sliced mangoes topped with salt, lime and hot sauce; salt, vinegar and pepper; or condensed milk, cinnamon and coconut flakes. It also serves blend-to-order fruit smoothies, acai bowls and boba drinks and offers serves sandwiches, salads and avocado toast. It is the fifth location for owners Carlos and Jessica Tafur, who also recently opened their fifth Fresh Mangos location at the Tanger Outlets in West Palm Beach. Fresh Mangos is on the first floor across from California Pizza Kitchen. For more information, call (561) 847-4504 or visit myfreshmangos.com. Scoops & Beyond: The specialty ice-cream shop offers gelato, sherbets, milkshakes and banana-splits. It also serves sugar-free, gluten-free, lactose-free and kosher options. It is located on the first floor by the open play area. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: The national fried chicken chain opened this year its first location in the village at The Mall at Wellington Green. It serves chicken wings, tenders and their signature chicken sandwiches. Popeyes is in the mall's food court. For more information, visit popeyes.com or call (561) 783-9983. Five new stores open at the Mall at Wellington Green Cream, a men's fashion and streetwear store, opened a 2,200-square-foot boutique at The Mall at Wellington Green. Cream: The 2,200-square-foot, boutique-style retailer prides itself in stocking "hard-to-find" mens fashions and streetwear, selling brands such as Billionaire Boys Club, which was founded by Pharrell Williams, plus Psycho Bunny and Homme + Femme, a hip-hop and sports-inspired clothing brand. Owners Bellal and Gehad Shatara opened the store on April 12 on the lower level near Macy's. They also manage a similar location at the Boynton Beach Mall. For more information, call (561) 732-1141 or visit creamstreetlife.com. Trendy by A&A: A 1,200-square-foot women's apparel and accessory boutique that features collections ranging from casual outfits and gala attire to sportswear complemented with stylish handbags, shoes and jewelry. Venezuelan entrepreneur Anna Cammarta and her mother-in-law Anna Rosas unveiled the store on May 4. They are both passionate about finding fashion trends at affordable prices. It is located on the first floor, next to Charlotte Russe and near Macy's. For more information, call (561) 646-2834 or visit trendybyaa.com. Our collection is carefully curated to reflect the diversity and beauty of femininity," the owners said. "We believe that each garment tells a story, and we seek to empower women of all ages, helping them express their individuality through fashion. Trendy by A&A, owned by a duo of sister-in-laws named Anna, is a 1,200 women's apparel boutique opened on May 4, 2024 at The Mall at Wellington Green. Lifetime Kitchen: A family-owned business is a one-stop-shop for all kitchen tools imaginable. The store sells Japanese knives, Italian espresso makers and Dolce & Gabbana cookware. It also has a selection of over 15 olive oils, imported coffee beans, pastas and chocolate truffles. Owners Javier Perez and Marianna Gaiani, a couple with over 10 years in the cookware industry, operate the store, located on the second floor, between Tommy Bahama and Hollister. They promise to match online prices on their products, including Amazon. For more information visit lifetime-kitchen.com. Lifetime Kitchen, owned by a couple with 10 years in the cookware industry, is a one-stop-shop for kitchen tools at The Mall at Wellington Green. The Inspiration Co.: This is a national jewelry store that specializes in the engraving of inspirational messages in bracelets and other accessories. Its kiosk is among those on the bottom floor. For more information, call (954) 257-8944 or visit inspirationco.com. Daniel Jewelers: The family-owned jewelers opened its third Florida location at The Mall at Wellington Green. It sells wedding rings and fine jewelry, as well as offers gifts for as low as $7. The store is on the first floor, facing Starbucks. For more information, visit danielsjewelers.com or call (561) 944-6042. Summer activities for children at the Mall at Wellington Green The Palm Beach Museum of Natural History has a dinosaur exhibit at the Mall at Wellington Green this summer, and even a day camp for children who want an up-close experience with the prehistoric reptiles. Jurassic Camp: The Palm Beach Museum of Natural History will hold a six-week program where children will learn about prehistoric life, including studying a 65-million-year-old insect trapped in a fossil amber and meeting Cheryll, the museums 68-million-year-old Triceratops, and South Florida's only dinosaur skeleton. Ages: Children 5 through 8. Dates: June 17 to July 26. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $250 per week and a $30 registration fee. For information, visit pbmnh.org. Leader Learning Center Camp: The Leader Learning Center will offer an educational summer camp focused on reading, math, chess, and neurogymnastics. It encourages leadership, teamwork and personal development for kids 5 and older. Camp activities will focus around reading, math, chess, and neurogymnastics. Ages: Children 5 and older. Dates: June 3 to Aug. 2. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $300 per week. For information, visit leaderlearning.us/camps. CMX Cinemas at The Mall Wellington Green will host a Kids Film Festival this summer 2024. CMX Kids Summer Film festival: The movie theater will offer $1.99 tickets for weekly screenings of animated films from June 18 to Aug. 8, every Tuesday through Thursday at 10 a.m. Movies include "Despicable Me," "Shrek" and "How to Train Your Dragon." Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Palm Springs and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: New at Mall at Wellington Green: Popeyes, Cream, Lifetime Kitchen A 34-year-old man is facing life in state prison after breaking into his estranged girlfriends home and allegedly stabbing her more than 20 times, leaving her with critical injuries, authorities announced Wednesday. The violence unfolded May 23 around 4:30 a.m. in the Shadow Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office. Nick Pasqual is accused of repeatedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend, 35-year-old Allie Shehorn, a makeup artist and special effects producer known for her work in feature films, including Rebel Moon, Mean Girls, and Babylon, who had recently filed a restraining order against him. Shehorn was discovered by her surrogate mother who happened to be staying with her that night. The 35-year-old suffered multiple slashes to her neck and was cut up and down her arms and across her abdomen, friends told KTLA. She has since endured several surgeries to stop the bleeding and repair severed tendons and remains hospitalized. Hollywood special FX makeup artist stabbed repeatedly After the vicious attack, Pasqual fled to Texas and was later taken into custody at the United States-Mexico border checkpoint in Sierra Bianca, Texas, the release noted. Pasqual has been charged by the DAs office with one count of attempted murder, one count of first-degree residential burglary and one count of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiance, boyfriend, girlfriend or childs parent. Southern California family broken after girl, 6, killed in marked crosswalk An arrest warrant for more than $1 million was issued for Pasqual on May 24. An arraignment has not yet been scheduled. My thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the victim in this horrific incident, District Attorney George Gascon said. Our office, including our Bureau of Victim Services, extends our support and resources to her as she embarks on the long and difficult journey of healing from both the physical and emotional trauma inflicted upon her. This heinous incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence. We will ensure that the individual responsible for this egregious act is held accountable for their actions. If convicted as charged, Pasqual faces a maximum prison sentence of life. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The man accused of killing another man during a robbery near Catholic University in July of 2023 was charged on Wednesday. The U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) for D.C. said in a news release that 19-year-old Jaleil Jones was charged for killing Robert Lavender on July 17, 2023. Scofflaws beware: DPW program boots, tows hundreds of vehicles A news release said that Jones and one other person saw Lavender on a bench. Lavender, who was a manager of a Burgers Grilled Right restaurant, was waiting for a ride home after work, according to the USAO. The USAO said that Jones and the other person then agreed together to rob Lavender. Jones was accused of shooting Lavender in the head during the robbery. Lavender died at the hospital. The USAO said that a D.C. grand jury indicted Jones on charges of conspiracy, first degree murder while armed (felony murder), robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Man accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death in Casselberry to face judge Thursday A man accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death in Casselberry is set to go before a judge for the first time on Thursday. Police said the deadly attack happened Wednesday afternoon at an apartment complex on San Jose Circle. Police said Farel Torres attacked his girlfriend, Vanessa Santiago, and stabbed her in the head. Original report: Police: Man stabs girlfriend to death at Casselberry apartment complex Torres was found standing outside the apartment when police arrived and was arrested. Officers said Torres and Santiago have a child together, and the child was not home at the time. Watch: Ohio family caught in middle of gunfire from large Kissimmee house party while on vacation Police havent said what led up to the incident but confirmed that there is a history of violence between Torres and Santiago. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Man arrested after NYPD traffic agent sprayed with fire extinguisher in Harlem HARLEM, MANHATTAN (PIX11) A man was accused of spraying an on-duty NYPD traffic agent with a fire extinguisher in Harlem on May 23, according to authorities. Ammar Alhesheshi, 18, was arrested in connection to the incident, police said. 3 men launch fireworks inside Long Island 7-Eleven: NCPD The 43-year-old agent was in uniform near St. Nicholas Avenue and West 118th Street when someone in a gray sedan sprayed the fire extinguisher into his face, according to authorities. The car fled northbound on St. Nicholas Avenue. The agent was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. Video: Man, woman steal $55K worth of jewelry from Brooklyn mall kiosk Police previously identified another suspect in the incident, 19-year-old Escarlin Polanco Gonzalez. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. IROQUOIS COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) A man from the suburbs of Chicago is under arrest in Iroquois County after the Sheriffs Office said that he stole a car and led deputies on a 90-minute chase up I-57 on Wednesday. Officials said deputies were dispatched to intercept a car that had been reported stolen from Rankin. They found the car a 2010 Chevy Impala near Cissna Park and tried to pull it over. Officials said the driver, identified as 30-year-old Nicholas Czarny of Lockport, refused to stop. Accused Hervey City murderer pleads not guilty Officials said Czarny got on northbound I-57 and led law enforcement on a chase that went across 100 miles of Iroquois, Kankakee and Will Counties. The police departments of Bourbonnais, Crete and University Park also joined the chase, which ended with Czarny being arrested at a University Park gas station. Czarny is facing charges of possessing a stolen vehicle, aggravated fleeing and eluding, reckless driving and driving under the influence, along with numerous tickets for traffic violations. In addition, officials said Czarny was charged with possessing a stolen vehicle in Ford County and was wanted on an outstanding warrant. Czarny remains in custody at the Iroquois County Jail, awaiting his next court appearance. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. SINGAPORE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China's Global Security Initiative (GSI) can not only play a role in promoting more multipolar global governance but also serve as a framework for conflict mediation and dispute resolution, experts said ahead of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue scheduled from Friday to Sunday in Singapore. Bringing together defense ministers, senior officials, business leaders and security experts worldwide, the dialogue will discuss security challenges across the Asia-Pacific region. Drawing significant attention, the Chinese delegation will elaborate on China's approach to global security, including the GSI that highlights the country's commitment to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. The China-proposed GSI holds significant importance in fostering a robust security and development environment in the region, Zhong Tianxiang, a regional media professional, told Xinhua in Singapore. The people of this region are looking forward to China's GSI making a positive contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind, as well as global peace and well-being, he said. China's GSI has the potential to significantly promote stability and cooperation in today's volatile world, said Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute. By advocating mutual respect, sustainable security, and multilateralism, the GSI can contribute to mitigating bloc confrontations and fostering a more harmonious international environment, which is the dire need of Asia-Pacific with the world's largest and fastest-growing economies and crucial maritime trade routes, Malindog-Uy said. Conversely, experts said, the Western security concept, represented by the United States, often overly emphasizes self-security, neglecting the aspect of common security. Bambang Suryono, president of the Jakarta-based think tank Nanyang ASEAN Foundation, said the bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks established by the United States to maintain its dominance in the Asia-Pacific region pose a significant threat to regional peace and stability. Senior Colonel Zhang Chi, an associate professor at the National Defense University of China, stressed a noticeable rise in U.S. strategic anxiety. Zhang, also a member of the Chinese delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue, added that the Chinese delegation will effectively use the international multilateral platform to further promote China's GSI, as well as the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind. Seven plenary sessions, two ministerial round-table meetings and six simultaneous special sessions will be held during the three-day dialogue, with the participation of more than 550 delegates from over 40 countries and regions. EAST FLATBUSH, Brooklyn (PIX11) A man was caught on camera trying to run over Jewish students with his car outside of a Brooklyn yeshiva Wednesday morning, according to the NYPD. The man, identified by police as 58-year-old Asghar Ali, was driving on East 55th Street in East Flatbush around 11:30 a.m. He drove up onto the sidewalk, right on the heels of Jewish students who scrambled for safety, the video shows. Ali also allegedly spewed antisemitic slurs from behind the wheel before he was arrested at the scene, police said. 12-year-old arrested on hate crime charges in attack on Jewish boys in Brooklyn: NYPD Gov. Kathy Hochul praised the NYPD for the arrest on social media, saying, Hate crimes have no place in New York, and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. 2 15-year-olds shot in Queens: police Ali was charged with attempted murder as a hate crime, according to the NYPD. Hate crimes targeting Jewish and Muslim people were up by 100% in April over the same time last year, according to NYPD crime data. 3 men accused of robbing, attacking 2 subway riders with brass knuckles in Queens: NYPD A rally was held outside City Hall on Thursday to call on council members to take new action in preventing antisemitic attacks. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A DUI suspect accused of killing a 14-year-old girl in Newport Beach was charged with her murder Wednesday. The suspect was identified as Joseph Alcazar, 30, of Fontana, according to the Orange County District Attorneys Office. The victim was Rosenda Elizabeth Smiley, 14, from Rialto. The crash happened on Saturday, May 25 near Balboa Boulevard and Palm Street at around 6:49 p.m., about a block away from the Balboa Fun Zone. The girl was crossing the street on E. Balboa Boulevard with two other people at the time, Newport Beach police said. An oncoming driver stopped to let the group of pedestrians cross the road. However, Alcazar decided to drive around the stopped car and continued through the street. Thats when his car struck Smiley as she was walking, while also running over the foot of a 13-year-old girl, officers said. Emergency crews rushed to the scene where Smiley was pronounced dead. Joseph Alcazar, 30, of Fontana, has been charged in the fatal DUI crash of a 14-year-old girl in Newport Beach. (Orange County District Attorneys Office) Fourteen-year-old Rosenda Elizabeth Smiley was killed in a suspected DUI crash in Newport Beach on May 25, 2024. (KTLA) A 14-year-old girl was struck and killed while crossing the street near Balboa Village in Newport Beach on May 25, 2024. (KTLA) A 14-year-old girl was struck and killed while crossing the street near Balboa Village in Newport Beach on May 25, 2024. (KTLA) A 14-year-old girl was struck and killed while crossing the street near Balboa Village in Newport Beach on May 25, 2024. (KTLA) A 14-year-old girl was struck and killed while crossing the street near Balboa Village in Newport Beach on May 25, 2024. (KTLA) A 14-year-old girl was struck and killed while crossing the street near Balboa Village in Newport Beach on May 25, 2024. (KTLA) Investigators discovered Alcazars 8-year-old daughter and another man were inside his car during the deadly crash. He was allegedly driving with a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit. Alcazar had previously been convicted of two DUI incidents including one related to a crash that left him seriously injured, police said. He was arrested at the scene and charged Wednesday with: One felony count of murder One felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing great bodily injury with two previous prior convictions One felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol with a BAC of .08 or higher with two previous prior convictions One misdemeanor count of willful endangerment of a child A 14-year-old girl living the California dream enjoying a day of sun and sand at the beach with friends to kick off the beginning of summer is dead because of the selfish decision of a stranger, said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. A repeat drunk driver not only took the life of a little girl, but he also endangered the life of his own daughter by getting behind the wheel after drinking and traumatized her and the other young girls who witnessed him hitting and killing a teenager. Instead of a summer of memories with their daughter, the family of Rosenda Smiley is now forced to live with the harsh reality that the only memories they will ever have were what could fit into the short fourteen years of her young life. If convicted on all counts, Alcazar faces up to 15 years to life, plus six years in prison. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Man found not guilty by reason of insanity in grandfather's murder in Palm Coast Luke Ingram A college student was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the "brutal" killing of his grandfather two years ago in Palm Coast. Luke Ingram, 21, was found not guilty on charges of first-degree murder, sexual assault with a weapon with victim over 12, battery by strangulation, resisting officer without violence, resisting officer with violence, and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. Circuit Judge Terence Perkins made the rulings after a non-jury trial Wednesday at the Flagler County courthouse in Bunnell. Ingram was charged with first-degree murder and sexual assault in the killing of his 85-year-old grandfather Darwin Ingram in Palm Coast. The killing occurred in the early morning of Nov. 9, 2022, when Luke Ingram, a college student in Georgia at the time, was visiting his father and grandfather at their residence on Clermont Court. Clint Ingram, 50, found his father, Darwin Ingram, unresponsive and went to call 911. Luke Ingram then confronted his father and the two fought. Luke Ingram twice placed Clint Ingram in a chokehold to the point the father felt he would pass out. But the father was able to escape. After his arrest, Luke Ingram struggled with deputies and tried to flee an interview room. Luke Ingram twice bit a Flagler County Sheriffs Office detective and tried to bite other law enforcement officers while threatening, I will kill you. Luke Ingram had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, his father told deputies according to a report. Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly described the killing at the time as a "very brutal, gruesome attack." This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Man found not guilty by reason of insanity in murder in Palm Coast Man gets 15 to life for human trafficking of Bakersfield teen BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A man convicted of trafficking a Bakersfield 16-year-old girl was sentenced Thursday to 15 years to life in prison. Rico Herring, 32, was found guilty of three felony counts earlier this month, including human trafficking of a minor. She was sold across California: Prosecutor details case against man convicted of trafficking Bakersfield teen Prosecutors said Herring conversed online with the teen in December 2022. Days later, he bought her a bus ticket to meet him in Sacramento. Herring then advertised the teen for sex online, prosecutors said. When she told him she wanted to quit a week later, he assaulted her and stranded her for a week in Fresno, according to the District Attorneys Office. Prosecutors said Herring returned and took her back to Sacramento, where she was forced to commit multiple sex acts for money a day. He threated to kill her and a family member if she disobeyed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. Andalusia man attacks his own mom with machete after argument, police say ANDALUSIA, Ala (WDHN) An Andalusia man is behind bars after police claim he attacked his mother with a machete. Ashley Scott Moore, 44, was arrested on Wednesday, May 30, and charged with felony elder abuse in the second degree. Early Wednesday morning, Andalusia Police rushed to a home on Carver Circle after receiving a report that a woman had been hit with a machete. Reports show Andalusia Police Chief Paul Hudson said a witness, Moores sister, told police he had hit their mother with a machete after the two got into an argument. Advance EMS transported Moores mother to the hospital and airlifted her to a hospital, where she was treated and released. Stay with WDHN for updates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. Man linked to former state senator sentenced to 40 years on child porn charges The Quentin Burdick federal courthouse in Fargo, North Dakota. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) A man who pleaded guilty to child pornography charges and is linked to a former North Dakota state senator was ordered to serve 40 years in prison. Nicholas Morgan-Derosier, 36, was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Fargo. Chief Judge Peter Welte went beyond the 30-year sentence recommended by prosecutors in the case, in part citing the need to protect the public. Nicholas Morgan-Derosier (Provided by Grand Forks County Correctional Center) Morgan-Derosier, of Grand Forks, pleaded guilty last September to seven criminal charges related to possessing and distributing child pornography. While Morgan-Derosier was jailed on child porn charges in Grand Forks, he and former Sen. Ray Holmberg exchanged 72 text messages over two days in August of 2021, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead first reported in April 2022. Holmberg, a Grand Forks Republican, told The Forum at the time the messages were about patio work Morgan-Derosier did for him. Holmberg, who served in the Legislature for 45 years and was chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced he would step down June 1, 2022. Holmberg was indicted in October 2023 on federal child sex tourism and child pornography charges. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is set to go to trial Sept 9. Holmberg also gave Morgan-Derosier a ride to Bismarck in October 2020 when Morgan-Derosier had a meeting with the Attorney Generals Office regarding construction fraud allegations, The Forum reported in September 2023. Holmbergs attorney, Mark Friese, declined to comment at the time. Prosecutors and defense lawyers in the Morgan-Derosier case were far apart on a recommended sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl asked for a sentence of 30 years, at the bottom of the court systems sentencing guidelines. She cited the horrific content of the pornography, Morgan-Derosiers online chats about sex with children and trips to have sex with adolescent boys. Prosecutors said they have identified 11 victims in the case but have not been able to find all the victims among more than 6,000 images of pornography. Public defender Christopher Bellmore asked for a sentence of 12 years as just punishment, saying that the guidelines were too harsh and similar cases often had a shorter sentence than what the guidelines recommended. Holmbergs name did not come up during the sentencing hearing Wednesday and Thursday. The hearing included testimony from two people who said they were abused by Morgan-Derosier, though they were not victims in the charges that led to the guilty plea. Morgan-Derosier also gave a statement, saying that during his time in the Cass County jail as the case has been prosecuted, he has realized how disgusting and reprehensible his crimes were. After Wednesdays hearing, Welte chose to delay announcing a sentence until Thursday morning. Before announcing the sentence, Welte thanked Morgan-Derosier for his statement but felt it did not go far enough. I think there is still some deflecting, Welte said. He added that he hopes a sex offender treatment program will help Morgan-Derosier. Welte sentenced Morgan-Derosier to serve the sentence at the Englewood federal prison in Colorado that has a sex offender program. Welte and Puhl said during the hearing that there likely will be an appeal in the case. Bellmore declined to comment after the sentencing. Welte cited a broad variety of offenses in Morgan-Derosiers criminal history, including theft and serial driving offenses, as well as an apparent disregard for rules while the defendant was in the Cass County jail. Three of 10 counts against Morgan-Derosier were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Morgan-Derosier will have to pay $39,000 in restitution. He also will have to register as a sex offender. There is no opportunity for parole in the federal prison system. The post Man linked to former state senator sentenced to 40 years on child porn charges appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. Man pleads guilty to making more than 12,000 harassing phone calls to members of Congress A man pleaded guilty in Washington, DC, to making more than 12,000 harassing phone calls to members of Congress as well as threatening to kill a congressional staff member, the Justice Department and US Capitol Police announced Thursday. New Yorker Ade Salim Lilly, 35, was arrested in Puerto Rico in November and pleaded guilty Thursday to two charges, including interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure as well as repeated telephone calls. The targets of the phone calls were not named in court filings. Authorities say Lilly masked his phone number to trick congressional staff into answering his calls. Most of these phone calls were answered by congressional staff members or interns, the Justice Department said in a statement Thursday. In some of these telephone calls, Lilly became angry and used vulgar and harassing language towards the individual who answered the phone. Congressional staff repeatedly asked Lilly to refrain from calling. U.S. Capitol Police informed Lilly on multiple occasions that his phone calls were unwanted, and due to a harassing nature, were prohibited by law. In one call, authorities said Lilly threatened a staffer, saying: I will kill you, I am going to run you over, I will kill you with a bomb or grenade. He also called one member of Congress more than 500 times over two days, authorities said. CNN has reached out to Lillys lawyer for comment. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WISE COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) The man accused of the 2021 murder of Big Stone Gap Officer Michael Chandler pleaded guilty Thursday. Michael Donivan White, 36, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Wise County Circuit Court. PREVIOUS: Man accused of killing Big Stone Gap officer seen smiling in court According to Commonwealths Attorney Brett Hall, White faces 40-100 years imprisonment at sentencing. Big Stone Gap Officer Michael Chandler (Photo: Town of Big Stone Gap) On November 13, 2021, Chandler responded to a welfare check on Orr Street in Big Stone Gap around 4 a.m. The house was a known spot for police responses, Hall noted in the release. When Chandler arrived, he found a vehicle outside. White then fired eight shots, hitting Chandler twice. Chandler returned fire but died that night from his injuries. White was later arrested in Kingsport and found with a pistol, which was later confirmed by testing to be the one used to shoot Chandler. As of Thursday, White is being held at the Western Regional Jail in Salem, Virginia. He is set to appear at a sentencing hearing on August 21. Todays plea was a pivotal event in Wise County history, Hall said in a statement. I have to thank the entire law enforcement community in Southwest Virginia and agencies in Northeast Tennessee for their work in this case. Specifically, Agent Michael Rose with the Virginia State Police, Agent Corey Duke with the ATF, Sheriff Grant Kilgore and the entire Wise County Sheriffs Office, Chief Steve Hamm and the Big Stone Gap Police Department, and so many others put thousands of hours into this case. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, Steven Davis, and I look forward to sentencing the defendant and getting as much closure as possible for the family of Officer Michael Chandler. Chandlers widow, Wise County Sheriffs Office Investigator Natasha Chandler, said that while nothing will bring her husband back, there is a level of closure after Whites plea. Michaels death has left an irreplaceable void in our lives, a void that words cannot adequately describe. The pain of his absence is immeasurable, and every day without him continues to present challenges for myself, our families, and our loved ones. No process can bring Michael back to me, but todays plea helps bring a sense of closure. I will continue to fight to ensure this murderer spends the rest of his life behind bars where he can never hurt nor devastate any other family the way he did mine. I am thankful for the continuous support from the community, my family, my church family, my work family, my close friends, and the love and strength I have received from our Lord, Jesus Christ. I will be forever grateful for every agency that played a role in this case. A special thank you to the Wise County, Scott County, Lee County, Washington County, Smyth County, and Harlan County KY Sheriffs Offices; Norton, Wise, Big Stone Gap, and Kingsport Police Departments; UVA-Wise Campus Police, Virginia State Police, the Wise County and City of Norton Commonwealths Attorneys Office, ATF (Bristol, VA Office), United States Marshal Service (Abingdon, VA Office), the Drug Task Force, the Office of the Virginia Attorney General, and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. Natasha Chandler, widow of Big Stone Gap Police Officer Michael Chandler In October 2022, federal prosecutors also identified White as a suspect in a conspiracy that flooded Southwest Virginia with drugs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Stone Age mammoth bones buried in a wine cellar were uncovered in Austria and dated between 30,000 to 40,000 years ago. The bones of three different mammoths were discovered stacked on top of each other, all in the same location. Experts believe finding so many different mammoths in the same spots could mean the site served as a mammoth trap. Modern-day humans have grown accustomed to setting mouse traps. Our ancestors from the Stone Age went for something a little larger, with a find of mammoth bones in an Austrian wine cellar suggesting the site was once a giant trap for the oversized mammals. We know that people hunted mammoths, but we still know little about how they did it, Hannah Parow-Souchon, Austrian Academy of Sciences researchers, says in a statement. We may have just gotten a bit of a clue. The discovery of mammoth bones dated 30,000 to 40,000 years ago came after winemaker Andreas Pernerstorfer started a renovation project at his Lower Austrian cellar in Gobelsburg, west of Vienna. I thought it was just a piece of wood left by my grandfather, Pernerstorfer tells the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, according to BBC. But then I dug it out a bit and then I remembered that in the past my grandfather said he had found teeth. And then I immediately though it was a mammoth. In the neighboring cellar, a mix of flint artifacts, jewelry fossils, and charcoal was found about 150 years ago. Pernerstorfer reported the discovery to the Federal Monuments Office, which sent him to the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Science. Archaeologists from the academy found that layers of mammoth bones were on top of each other, offering up bones from three different mammoths in one spot. Mammothsan extinct relative of todays elephantslikely existed mainly in Europe, Asia, and North America from about 300,000 years ago until about 10,000 years ago, according to National Geographic. The 15-foot-long tusks offer a key feature of an animal known for foraging through vegetation for prized food. Such a dense layer of bone is rare, Parow-Souchon says. It is the first time that we can examine something like this in Austria using modern meansa unique opportunity for research. The last find of this magnitude dates well over 100 years ago, Parow-Souchon says. A dense layer of bones with three different mammoths represented may mean that the location where the bones were found was the same place the animals died, Parow-Souchon says. This modern-day cellar could have once been a giantyet ancientmammoth trap. You Might Also Like SEWARD COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) The Kansas Highway Patrol says a 29-year-old Oklahoma man died from his injuries after falling out of a UTV. It happened around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Liberal. This embedded content is not available in your region. The KHP says the UTV carrying three men was traveling north on a campus road and turned the corner to travel to the east. One of the men, identified as Jacob G. Still of Tyrone, Oklahoma, was riding in the bed of the UTV, lost his balance and fell out. He was taken to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita for his injuries and later died. Motorcyclist critically injured in west Wichita crash The driver and second passenger had no apparent injuries. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. The National Museum for Modern Chinese Scientists officially opened to the public on Thursday, featuring inaugural exhibitions honoring prestigious Chinese veteran scientists. #XinhuaNews TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A 30-year-old man is in critical condition after police said he set himself on fire inside a Plant City Publix Wednesday evening. Shortly after 6:30 p.m., the Plant City Police Department was called to a disturbance at the Publix Supermarket in the Walden Woods Shopping Plaza at 2202 James L. Redman Parkway. A caller told police the man set himself on fire inside the store. Several people rushed to the mans aid and worked to put out the flames while waiting for Plant City Fire Rescue to arrive. The 30-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital, where he is listed in critical condition. You can have her: Florida mom tried to sell 10-year-old for $20, sheriff says Its unclear what led up to the incident. Plant City police and the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services are investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Plant City Police Department at 813-757-9200. 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. Do you know of something newsworthy happening in your community? Report It! Send in tips, photos videos and other information here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. TIMES SQUARE, Manhattan (PIX11) A man was stabbed with a machete in Times Square in New York City Thursday, police said. The stabbing happened at West 45th Street and Broadway in Manhattan around 1 p.m., according to the NYPD. More New York City news The man was stabbed in both legs with a machete, police said. He was hospitalized and is expected to survive, authorities said. Three suspects have been taken into custody, police said. Everyone involved in the incident knew each other, according to authorities. Additional information about the stabbing wasnt immediately available. Earlier this month, a tourist from Pennsylvania was randomly stabbed in the chest in Times Square, sources said. The tourist was walking with her daughter at West 43rd Street and Eighth Avenue when she was stabbed unprovoked on May 11, according to sources. Police arrested a 61-year-old man in the incident, authorities said. A man was sentenced to prison earlier this month for another high-profile machete attack that happened near Times Square on New Years Eve in 2022. Trevor Bickford was sentenced to 27 years on May 9 for attacking three NYPD officers with a machete in a premeditated attack. Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said Wednesday he will not enter the governors race in West Virginia, shooting down speculation the retiring senator might be considering a last-minute bid for his old job. My support is with Steve Williams, Manchin said about the Democratic nominee, who won the uncontested primary race in the state. Hes been a friend of mine for 40 years, and weve worked together. I know how good he is, I know how competent he is, and I know how hard hell work. So, Ive been supporting Steve, he added while speaking to local reporters at an opening ceremony for a public outdoor fitness court at the University of Charleston on Wednesday, the Herald-Dispatch reported. Manchin a conservative Democrat who served as the states governor from 2005 to 2010 has recently been rumored to be mulling a possible bid for his old job, a race he could enter only as an independent or in the event he persuaded Williams to step aside. Some West Virginia Republicans have encouraged Manchin after they were unhappy with the results of last weeks GOP primary which saw West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey narrowly defeat former state lawmaker Moore Capito, the son of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), for the nomination. Manchin said, however, he did not know how rumors about a possible bid began. I dont know how this came about, Manchin told the reporters. But I appreciate it. Its humbling, and Im very proud to have people that think that my public service was truly about public service. Thats all Im about, and I want my state to succeed. I want to help anybody I can in the position they might be in, whether its a governor, or whether its a U.S. senator, or congresspeople. I want to be able to help them do the best they can to represent our state, he added. Manchin announced in November that he planned to retire from the Senate, after long toying with rumors about a possible third-party bid for the White House. He said he had accomplished what I set out to do for West Virginia but noted the decision not to run again was one of the toughest decisions of my life. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The trial of Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in their off-campus home in 2022, will take place in the capital city of Boise rather than the college town of Moscow. The decision to change the venue and a new judges deliberations over whether to change the date of Kohbergers quadruple murder trial, which for now is set to begin in June 2025 are among the latest pretrial developments. Its been a long and winding road since the four students Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen were fatally stabbed in the overnight hours of November 13, 2022, at a home just off the schools main campus in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger, a Washington State University graduate student in criminology, was arrested in the killings on December 30, 2022, in his home state of Pennsylvania. He was charged with four counts of murder; a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf in May 2023, and his attorneys have indicated the 29-year-old intends to present an alibi as part of his defense. The progression of the case has been slowed by a series of pre-trial motions and hearings that have frustrated the family of one of the victims as well as the judge overseeing the case. The hearings largely fall into a few different buckets. One relates to the defense attorneys access to evidence, particularly how the prosecution used investigative genetic genealogy in building the case. A second set of hearings concerns Kohbergers proposed alibi for his innocence. Third, there have be a number of hearings related to a gag order that restricts what the parties can publicly say about the case. Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen were killed in the attack. - Obtained by CNN Heres a timeline of some of the notable pre-trial developments and decisions so far: June 9, 2023: A coalition of media organizations and the family of a one of the victims came to court to challenge the gag order placed on the parties in the case. June 23, 2023: Latah County Judge John Judge denied both requests but issued a revised gag order that allows the parties to discuss topics that do not have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing or otherwise influencing the outcome of the case. August 2, 2023: Kohbergers attorneys said they would use an alibi defense but couldnt pin down their clients specific location on the night of the killings because he was driving during the late night and early morning hours. Mr. Kohberger is not claiming to be at a specific location at a specific time; at this time there is not a specific witness to say precisely where Mr. Kohberger was at each moment of the hours of the attacks, his attorneys said in a court filing. October 26, 2023: The judge denied a request to dismiss the grand jury indictment after the defense argued there was an error in the grand jury instructions. December 18, 2023: The judge denied a second motion to dismiss the indictment after the defense argued prosecutors failed to comply fully with state rules on jury selection and the jury questionnaire. February 28, 2024: Defense attorney Anne C. Taylor asked the court to allow three defense experts and others to view the investigative genetic genealogy evidence, which has been sealed, to understand the full timeline of how police began to focus on Kohberger. Genetic genealogy is a practice that blends DNA analysis in the lab with genealogical research, such as tracing a persons family tree. In this case, investigators found a single source of male DNA on the button snap of a leather knife sheath left at the crime scene, according to a probable cause affidavit. FBI investigators loaded the DNA profile to public genealogy sites to search for a match and then sent a tip to investigate Kohberger, according to a prosecution court filing. The judge initially declined to give the defense investigators extended access to the investigative genetic genealogy, saying he would rather the experts already approved to view the material give justification for digging deeper. April 4, 2024: The judge criticized Kohbergers defense attorney, saying she commissioned phone surveys to potential jurors that could hinder Kohbergers ability to get a fair trial. However, Taylor said the judge violated her clients right to due process by ordering a stop to the anonymous survey without hearing the defenses side first. Judge said in April he wants a hearing at least every month, noting the importance of cleaning up the legal proceedings. April 17, 2024: Kohbergers defense lawyers filed a court document saying they plan to offer a cell phone tower and radio frequency expert to partially corroborate his proposed alibi that he was out driving west of Moscow on the night of the slayings. April 19, 2024: The judge allowed surveys conducted with potential jurors to continue without modification after temporarily pausing them. April 29, 2024: The prosecution asked the court to deny Kohberger the opportunity to add to his alibi and to preclude anyone other than the defendant to testify as to his whereabouts on the night of the killings. May 2, 2024: Kohbergers defense had asked for an upcoming evidentiary hearing with witnesses be made public, while the prosecution asked that it be sealed. The judge ruled that it will be closed to the public. After the hearing, the family of Goncalves, one of the victims, criticized the slow pace of the proceedings. This case is turning into a hamster wheel of motions, hearings, and delayed decisions, adding they were incredibly frustrated. May 23, 2024: Taylor, the defense attorney, questioned a Moscow police detective about the preparation of visual cell phone logs and methods for searching for certain videos. The testimony was related to two motions to compel prosecutors to share discovery with the defense, but the contents of the motions are sealed, so it was not clear what they were requesting. May 30, 2024: The Moscow police detective leading the investigation and a defense expert in cell phone location data testified that the defense has not received some key evidence in the case. Cpl. Brett Payne, the lead investigator on the case, testified he and other investigators collected thousands of hours of video surveillance as they tried to locate a white Hyundai Elantra connected to the suspect. The videos are saved on various thumb drives, but there is no central inventory of the videos, he testified. He also said investigators did not see on any of the videos the Elantra going south from Moscow toward Pullman, Washington, in the early morning hours after the killings. The probable cause affidavit used in the case alleges Kohberger drove south toward Pullman after he committed the four killings. Sy Ray, an expert on cell phone geolocation data, testified that he has not been provided the underlying AT&T source data and list of nearby cell towers that was used by detectives to create a map of Kohbergers movements with his cell phone. Based on the data he had received, he believed some statements in the records were not accurate, and he said the missing data could be helpful to the defense. Because of the piecemealing of the data, because of the missing data, because of data that Im reviewing that is incredibly inaccurate, everything that is missing is absolutely to the benefit of the defense right now, he said. June 7, 2024: After previously restricting who had access to the investigative genetic genealogy evidence, the judge ruled to allow unnamed defense investigators to view the material. June 27, 2024: The parties set a trial date of June 2, 2025. Judge set aside about three months for the trial, including two weeks for jury selection, eight weeks for the trial and two weeks for potential post-conviction hearings and sentencing. This is a great step to set these deadlines and hearings so that we can move through this, he said. July 22, 2024: Kohbergers defense team filed a memorandum in support of moving the case out of Latah County, saying he cant receive a fair trial there because of the extensive publicity that is ongoing and inflammatory. The defense suggested the trial be moved to Ada County, which includes Boise, about 300 miles south. August 13, 2024: Prosecutors objected to the defense teams change of venue motion, arguing the defense failed to prove that Kohberger would not receive a fair trial in the county. The Court should deny Defendants motion and instead, focus on crafting remedial measures to ensure that a fair and impartial jury can be seated in Latah County, the prosecution argued. August 19, 2024: In a reply to the states objection, Kohbergers defense said moving the venue to Ada County is supported by expert analysis, precedent and results of a survey in Latah County showing a mob mentality. The traumatized town of Moscow is understandably filled with deeply held prejudgment opinions of guilt, the defense wrote. August 29, 2024: At a hearing on the change of venue request, four expert witnesses testified for the defense about potential biases among the local jury pool. The prosecution did not call any witnesses. September 5, 2024: Kohbergers defense team filed 13 motions aimed at removing the death penalty from his case. Attorneys argued the death penalty is unconstitutional because it violates international human rights law and prevents the right to a speedy trial. They said the methods used to put inmates to death in Idaho equate to cruel and unusual punishment and the practice violates the publics evolving standards of decency. Kohberger could be executed by firing squad if hes sentenced to death and if the state cannot obtain the drugs necessary for a lethal injection. The court has set October 10 as the deadline for the states response. September 9, 2024: Judge John Judge granted the defense motion to move the trial out of Latah County due to concerns the local community is prejudiced against him. Considering the undisputed evidence presented by the defense, the extreme nature of the news coverage in this case, and the smaller population in Latah County, the defense has met the rather low standard of demonstrating reasonable likelihood that prejudicial news coverage will compromise a fair trial in Latah County, the judge wrote. The judge also highlighted logistical issues with holding such a high-profile case in Latah County. September 12, 2024: The Idaho Supreme Court ruled to move Kohbergers trial to Ada County, which surrounds the capital city of Boise and is the most populous county in the state. District Judge Steve Hippler will take on the case, the court ruled. September 26, 2024: The new judge in the case told lawyers he was weighing whether to change the trial date. Ada County District Judge Steve Hippler would prefer to move the trial scheduled to start in June to either May or September, because he anticipated issues with keeping a jury intact during a lengthy summer trial, he told prosecutors and defense attorneys during his first hearing in the case. The gag order that was issued when the case was in Latah County would remain in place, Hippler also said. October 9, 2024: Ada County District Judge Steve Hippler moved Kohbergers trial date two months later, setting it to begin August 11, 2025. The voir dire portion of the jury selection process will start July 30, 2025, Hippler ordered. CNNs Jean Casarez, Jim Sciutto, Taylor Romine, Veronica Miracle and Jeffrey Kopp, Brammhi Balarajan, Cheri Mossburg and Cindy Von Quednow contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Marine scientists discover remarkable importance of seagrass in preventing heavy metal contamination: 'It's an environment we cannot lose' Scientists in Australia have discovered that seagrass is stashing away thousands of tons of heavy metals, protecting people in the local community for now. Hakai Magazine reported that an operation of an ore smelter in Port Pirie, South Australia, over more than a century has led to dangerous heavy metal pollution in the air, on playground surfaces, in children's blood, and in the local mangroves' mud. While mapping a submarine deposit of heavy metals like zinc, cadmium, and lead, marine ecologist Anna Lafratta and her colleagues made a surprising discovery: Seagrass within a 42-square-mile area off of Port Pirie has trapped thousands of tons of these heavy metals in its soil since smelting began. This has protected local residents from increased exposure to these contaminants. For instance, even low levels of lead in the blood of children can lead to behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and anemia, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Unfortunately, Port Pirie's seagrass is susceptible to the consequences of an overheating planet, such as rising sea levels, storm surges, and hotter temperatures. If the seagrass were to die or diminish, it would release those contaminants back into the sea. "It's an environment we cannot lose," Lafratta told Hakai. "As long as the seagrasses are there, the metals are safe and trapped in the sediments." In addition its heavy metal trapping capabilities, seagrass is also a carbon-capturing superstar, helping us in our fight against rising global temperatures. In fact, experts estimate that seagrass provides roughly $88.3 billion worth of carbon storage services every year, according to Phys.org. Plus, seagrass is an important habitat and food source for a number of organisms like fish and juvenile crustaceans. In fact, a sudden resurgence in seagrass off of south Florida has helped support endangered manatees who rely on this vegetation for food. Seagrass meadows also oxygenate water and help recycle nutrients. Though it may be difficult for local conservationists to stave off climate-related threats to Port Pirie's seagrass, Alice Jones, a marine ecologist at the University of Adelaide, told Hakai that minimizing damage from things like dredging, trawling, and the runoff of excess nutrients from land will help. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Marion County woman was sentenced to 57 years in prison Thursday after her guilty plea to murder and attempted murder in Marion County court, the 12th Circuit Solicitors Office said. Deborah Michelle Anderson, 43, was previously charged with the murder of 38-year-old Jeffery DeMarus McFarland, and the attempted murder of 51-year-old Cheryl Woodberry. McFarland was pronounced dead at a Marion County hospital after being shot in the head as he sat in the passenger seat of Woodberrys car, at a stop light on Highway 76 in front of Pee Dee Academy Dec. 9, 2021, the release said. Woodberry was also struck by gunfire but survived her injuries. Woodberry was able to identify Anderson as the shooter and told law enforcement that she followed them in a Crown Victoria after they pulled away from McFarlands residence. Woodberry further stated that after she and McFarland were waiting on the light to turn green, Anderson pulled along the passenger side of her car and began firing, killing McFarland, the release said. In court, it was revealed that McFarland and Anderson were in a prior relationship, but not seeing each other at the time of the murder. It was further stated that Anderson had purchased the 9 mm handgun with which she used to shoot both victims six months prior to the incident, the release said. Additionally, during the plea, 12th Circuit Assistant Solicitor J. Ryan White told the court that while I am aware that the defendants guilty plea spares the victims families the ordeal of a trial, her actions that day endangered not only the victims, but those who were also traveling in proximity on Highway 76. Pee Dee Academy and MUSC hospital, located across the street from the stoplight where the shooting occurred, also went into lockdown as a safety precaution. Its a miracle that more people werent injured. Anderson entered her guilty plea under N.C. v. Alford. In addition to the 57-year sentence she received for McFarlands murder, Judge Nettles also sentenced Anderson to 30 years for the attempted murder of Woodberry, with sentences to be served concurrently. Under South Carolina law, Anderson will not be eligible for parole. Jury selection had been scheduled for June 3, in Marion County, the release said. * * * 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. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly addresses the media after touring a Planned Parenthood clinic in Tempe on May 29, 2024. Photo by Gloria Rebecca Gomez | Arizona Mirror U.S. Senator Mark Kelly wants to codify abortion rights at the federal level to stabilize the procedures constantly changing legality in Arizona. Weve got to get these rights back, he said at a news conference held shortly after he toured Planned Parenthood Arizonas Tempe clinic on Wednesday. The Democrat vowed to look into the possibility of enshrining Roe v. Wade into federal law, denouncing the rollercoaster Arizona women have dealt with since the constitutional right to abortion was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022. Since then, the Grand Canyon State has swung between a 15-week gestational ban with no exceptions for rape or incest and a near-total ban from 1864 that punishes doctors with mandatory prison time. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Arizona legislature repealed the 1864 law earlier this month, following a ruling from the state Supreme Court that it was once again enforceable. But, because legislative actions are delayed until 90 days after the session ends, the 160-year-old law is still expected to go into effect in September. Reproductive rights advocates in the state are using legal maneuvers to push that effectiveness deadline as far as possible, until voters have a chance to weigh in on an abortion rights ballot measure that could preserve access up to 24 weeks, with ample exceptions beyond that point for a patients life, physical and mental health. Angela Florez, the CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona, said the states legal whiplash has left patients confused and fearful about their future access to abortion care. The organization is Arizonas largest abortion provider, running four of the states nine health clinics that offer the procedure. Florez shared that some women have expressed concerns about being prosecuted for obtaining an abortion, and others have sought to keep their procedures as private as possible, even foregoing anesthesia so they can drive themselves home. Patients have lost trust that they can receive basic health care in this state, she said. Patients are calling our health clinic and asking if they can still come to their scheduled abortion appointments. Theyre strategizing to self-manage their abortions and asking if Planned Parenthood can provide them with follow-up care. Abortions in Arizona are currently legal up until 15 weeks of gestation, after which only emergency procedures to prevent death or permanent injury can be performed under state law. Abortions for the sole reason of the fetuses genetic abnormality are prohibited. No Arizona law punishes women for receiving an abortion. Kelly pointed out that, along with the immediate harm threatened by Arizonas restrictive abortion laws for women, the bans create a hostile legal environment for doctors and theyre already impacting the states future health care workforce. A recent analysis from the Association of American Medical Colleges found that the number of applicants for OB-GYN residencies has fallen dramatically in states with abortion bans. In Arizona, the percentage rate of applications dipped by 1.8% in 2022-2023, the first year after Roe was overturned and Arizona was plunged into uncertainty. And from 2023 to 2024, when the Grand Canyon State teetered between the 1864 near-total ban and the 15-week law, residency applications plummeted by 26.4%. Were going to be suffering the effects of this, potentially for decades, Kelly lamented. He said on Wednesday that the solution to the fragile legality of abortion care in Arizona, and the best way to prevent future attacks, is the passage of abortion protections in Congress. Weve got to codify Roe at the federal level, he said. I think that is truly the path forward. But thats easier said than done in a divided, highly partisan Congress thats likely to see another shakeup in November. Democrats, with the help of a few Democratic-leaning independents, hold the U.S. Senate with a razor thin majority and the lower chamber is controlled by Republicans by just 217 to 213. Both chambers are up for grabs this election, and Democrats are campaigning hard on abortion access, counting on the issue to mobilize voters and award them a trifecta. On Wednesday, Kelly advocated for U.S. Senate hopeful Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, and said voters focused on reproductive autonomy wont be swayed by former President Donald Trumps bid for the White House, despite President Joe Bidens lagging popularity. President Biden has a record to run on on this issue, Kelly said. He wants to take us forward, he wants to fix this, he wants to get Roe codified. His opponent wants to take us back to 1864. Trump has stated he supports the rights of states to regulate abortion procedures on their own, though he has previously signaled an interest in a 15-week federal abortion ban. Meanwhile, his allies have floated the idea of using the Comstock Act, a federal law from 1873 that prohibits the mailing of abortifacients, as a way to completely wipe out abortion access across the country. On top of the uncertainty of next years political makeup, pro-abortion advocates in the state Senate must also contend with the likelihood of a filibuster if Democrats dont secure more than majority control in November. Without 60 votes, Democrats in the upper chamber will be unable to break through a potential filibuster from anti-abortion Republicans and move forward with codifying Roe. Kelly said that, just as he did when voting rights legislation was being considered in 2022, he would support a move to override the chambers rules around filibusters. For some issues, allowing 40% of the United States Senate to prevent something that maybe 59 of us would want doesnt make a lot of sense to me. We had a vote on voting rights, where I voted to change the rules temporarily for this issue, because I think it was important for the health of our democracy. In this case, this is important for the health of American women so I would take the same steps, he said. Kelly added that he would support efforts to award federal grants to Planned Parenthood Arizona to bolster its work in the state, but noted that doing so would require overcoming federally enacted hurdles. The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal money from being used to fund abortion care, with narrow exceptions under Medicaid for emergency procedures. But Kelly said he would be willing to back a bid to end that prohibition. As with the effort to codify the standard in Roe, however, such a move would be dependent on the outcome of the November elections. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST The post Mark Kelly pledges to codify Roe abortion rights appeared first on Arizona Mirror. Arizona can reduce its budget deficit by reining in the universal school voucher program, critics said at a Capitol news conference on Wednesday, surrounded by examples of what they called the program's out-of-control spending. From golf clubs to an espresso machine to an inflatable bounce house, members and supporters of the Save Our Schools organization assembled what looked like a high-end yard sale on the state Senate lawn. They wanted to highlight items bought with taxpayer dollars through the Empowerment Scholarship Account program. "This is not an appropriate use of our taxpayer dollars," said Beth Lewis, director of Save Our Schools. She read through a list of aggregated expenses, such as $35 million in purchases from Amazon, $2 million for musical instruments and $1.2 million for martial arts instruction, all drawn from public records first compiled and reported by ABC Channel 15. "A budget without ESA voucher reform is no budget at all," Lewis said, a refrain echoed by supporters at the news conference. The organization argued the program has cost $800 million this year, at a time when the state budget is facing a $1.3 billion deficit spanning two years. ESA scholarships are paid out of the general K-12 budget, at 90% of the funding for public school students. But in almost all cases, the program adds to the state's cost because of the way the funding formula is written. An analysis last year by the Arizona Association of School Business Officials found there are savings only when a student from a public charter school transfers over to an ESA account. Tom Horne, the state schools superintendent, said the ESA program is a small percentage of Arizona's overall school population: 75,000 students compared to 1.25 million in public schools. "ESAs are not a threat to public schools," Horne said in a statement. "But the competition they provide causes public schools to perform better as opposed to being a government monopoly which SOS prefers. Save Our Schools unrolls a scroll of names that have signed a petition to put guardrails on Arizona's universal voucher program Horne's office administers the program. Rep. Analise Ortiz, D-Phoenix, joined the news conference to say ESA reforms are needed now to stop the strain on state coffers. Ortiz questioned why an ESA recipient can spend taxpayer dollars on a piano that stays in a family's living room while public schools can't provide individual pianos for students. To her right was a stand-up piano keyboard with a $4,000 price tag on it. The items on display came from Save Our School supporters, who brought items from their own homes that are similar to the items purchased through the ESA program. Is Arizona school voucher reform in the cards? Ortiz said the program has to be curbed now. "We need this in the budget this year," she said of proposals from Gov. Katie Hobbs to put some guardrails on a program that has grown from 12,000 students two years ago to 75,250. The likelihood of that happening are faint. The GOP majority in the Legislature strongly supports the ESA program and has rejected calls to roll it back to serve only selected populations of students, such as disabled children or foster youth. Save Our School supporters display items that have been bought with taxpayer dollars through the voucher program House Speaker Ben Toma, R-Glendale, is perhaps the program's staunchest advocate. He sponsored the 2022 legislation that expanded the ESA program to all Arizona school-age students. He said lawmakers are open to some "process improvements," but rejected any notion of reducing the program's reach. "Gov. Hobbs has been very clear about her stance on things," he said of Arizona's Democratic governor. "So have I." Hobbs at the beginning of the year proposed a number of policy changes that she said would bring some transparency and accountability to the program. They included mandatory fingerprint background checks for teachers who instruct ESA students and a requirement that private schools report graduation rates and chronic absenteeism rates. Changes to the ESA program are part of the ongoing closed-door budget talks, but not a dominant issue, Toma said. Lawmakers and Hobbs need to reach an agreement on a budget by the end of June, so a spending plan is in place when the new budget year begins July 1. The dominant piece is having the numbers work," Toma said. "Thats the reality. The math has to be real. That math has to erase a $650 million deficit for the current fiscal year and $676 million for the coming year, according to an April report from the legislative budget staff. Cuts to state agencies are inevitable, although there has been consideration of leaving the departments of Public Safety and of Child Safety untouched, as well as the K-12 budget. Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on Threads as well as on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @maryjpitzl. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona school vouchers: Critics decry budget impact from ESA program High-voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Maryland is one of 21 states joining a Biden administration to push modernize the nations aging electric grid in the face of growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images Maryland is one of 21 states joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power-generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar, and severe weather. The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, which is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces. In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines. That means, in part, focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases. There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean-energy trade group. Those include reconductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies. In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year. Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said. The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs and lower Americans utility bills. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies. And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines. More tools than ever To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree. Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines and a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high-capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026. Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month, the administration also announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years and the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing. The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said. Besides Maryland, states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin. The post Maryland joins 20 states, administration in bid to modernize nations aging power grid appeared first on Maryland Matters. Maryland police recover 15,000 stolen construction tools, some believed to be from Pa. Did someone steal your construction tools? If so, they might have ended up in Howard County, Maryland where police recently recovered more than 15,000 stolen construction tools, according to a news release. The Howard County Police Department in Maryland has recovered about 15,000 stolen construction tools. Police believe the thefts occured in the region, including Pennsylvania. It is "believed to be one of the largest and most expansive theft cases in the region," the Howard County Police Department release states. It estimates the value of the tools between $3 million and $5 million. #HoCoPolice have recovered approximately 15,000 stolen construction tools totaling $3-$5 million in what is believed to be one of the largest and most expansive theft cases in the region in recent years. More info and to recover stolen tools: https://t.co/ecfD8G2eFP pic.twitter.com/eHv5n8qqzQ Howard County Police Department (@HCPDNews) May 23, 2024 "Detectives believe the tools were stolen from retail stores, businesses, vehicles, residential properties, and construction sites primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania," the release states. "The stolen tools were mostly kept in storage units in Howard County and detectives believe they were sold at a variety of locations and through different means." Police have identified more than 80 victims so far in the investigation, which remains ongoing, the release states. No charges had been filed as of earlier this month. Believe your stolen tools might have been recovered in this case? Submit an online form through the department. Anyone with information about the case may contact police at (410) 313-STOP or HCPDCrimeTips@howardcountymd.gov. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Police recover 15,000 construction tools stolen from states including Pennsylvania By Alimat Aliyeva The United States has condemned North Korea's launch of short-range ballistic missiles, Azernews reports. "The United States condemns these actions and calls on North Korea to refrain from illegal and destabilizing actions. We continue to monitor the situation. The U.S. commitment to protecting the Republic of Korea and Japan remains unwavering," the statement said. In turn, the representative of the US State Department called on Pyongyang to refrain from provocative actions and return to diplomacy. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that North Korea's launch of ballistic missiles violates UN Security Council resolutions. "Japan strongly condemns these actions, we have already protested," he stressed. It should be noted that today North Korea launched 10 ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan. The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., announced Wednesday it will receive two giant panda cubs, one male and one female, from China by the end of the year. #XinhuaNews Massachusetts Fugitive Known as 'Bad Breath Rapist' Arrested in California After 16 Years on the Run "The unwavering dedication by law enforcement to locate and arrest [Tuen Lee] hopefully brings peace of mind to the victim and her family," said inspector Sean LoPiccolo cbs news Tuen Kit Lee A convicted rapist who was on the run for more than 16 years has been taken into police custody. Tuen Kit Lee, wanted in Massachusetts, was found and arrested in the San Francisco Bay Area on Tuesday, May 28, per a press release issued by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS). The USMS Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (PSWRFTF) in northern California assisted the USMS Massachusetts Fugitive Task Force, the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS), and the Quincy (Mass.) Police Department to arrest Lee, 55. He was taken into custody after he was identified as the man who was convicted in the 2005 kidnapping and raping of a young woman at knifepoint in Quincy, Mass. Lee was found guilty in a September 2007 trial but fled before he was sentenced. Additionally, the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) previously offered a reward of up to $10,000, and he was featured multiple times on America's Most Wanted. After he fled, he was dubbed the "Bad Breath Rapist" once it was revealed that a piece of evidence noted Lee was identified as the assailant because of his foul breath and DNA, per an MSP press release. Related: FBI Arrests Fugitive Wanted for Attempted Murder After 32 Years on the Run Getty Images Stock image of crime scene barricade covering. After MSP investigators learned that a fugitive was staying in Diablo, Calif., a couple of miles away from the East Bay suburb of Danville, Calif., they went to California to work with the Danville Police Department and the PSWRFTF to determine that Lee was the fugitive. On Tuesday, Lee was taken into custody after Danville officers conducted a motor vehicle stop. He first provided a fake name, but authorities pressed him, and shortly after, he confessed his true identity, which was confirmed with fingerprints. Lee was transported to Danville PD for booking and will be held until he is transported back to Massachusetts. Lee's female companion of nearly 15 years did not know his true identity, police said. Related: Missing Airman with Top-Secret Clearance Found 35 Years Later Living Under New Identity 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. "There are violent offenders out there who believe they can commit crimes and not be held accountable for their actions," said acting PSWRFTF commander Chief Inspector Sean LoPiccolo, per the USMS press release. "Tuen Lee was on the run for more than 16 years and the unwavering dedication by law enforcement to locate and arrest him hopefully brings peace of mind to the victim and her family." "I greatly appreciate the work of the Massachusetts State Police Fugitive Unit and the men and women of the U.S. Marshals Service who made this arrest possible," Quincy Police Department Chief Mark Kennedy said in the release. "Someone who has been on the run for 17 years has probably gotten pretty comfortable," said Chris Tamayo, senior inspector for U.S. Marshals Service, reports CBS News Bay Area. "It's unique that there hasn't been additional crimes that maybe we haven't seen, especially with something as violent as it was." If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Easton Police Department released an update Thursday afternoon clarifying that the massive police manhunt Thursday started with thefts from Hertrich Chevrolet of Easton and in Baltimore City, adding that it was not known if one suspect being sought was still at large. Here's what the department shared in the latest update. On May 30, at about 4:14 am, officers of the Easton Police Department were dispatched to Hertrich Chevrolet, 7677 Ocean Gateway, Easton, in reference to suspicious activity. The caller informed dispatchers that they had seen a suspicious person and a truck driving around the parking lot. As officers responded, they noticed a white Chevy Silverado displaying Virginia registration leaving the parking lot. Officers followed the truck and conducted a traffic stop at U5 Foods, 8117 Ocean Gateway, Easton. As the driver was detained, officers noticed a broken passenger side window. They also noticed ammunition and equipment that appeared to be law enforcement-related. Units from Maryland State Police, MSP Aviation, the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, Dorchester County Sheriffs K-9 and Fruitland K-9 search a large, wooded area off of Nanticoke Road near Fire Tower Road for a subject that fled police after a pursuit Thursday from Easton. While the officers continued to investigate, they were informed that a second suspect was seen fleeing into the wooded area behind Hertrich Chevrolet. Upon arrival, officers noticed a passenger side window broken to a marked Dorchester County Sheriffs Office vehicle that was parked in their lot. Due to these observations, it was unclear if the suspect(s) might have obtained a firearm. Maryland State Police Aviation and the MSP K9 team along with a Dorchester County Sheriffs Office K9 were called to assist with a track of the wooded area. After attempts to locate the second suspect were unsuccessful, the search in that area was suspended. At about 6:26 am, Easton officers were dispatched to the 29000 block of Hawkes Hill Road, in reference to a 2024 Chevy Traverse being reported stolen. Because of the close proximity to Hertrich Chevrolet, it is believed that the person who stole this vehicle was the same suspect that fled into the wooded area earlier. It is unclear at what time the vehicle was stolen. Homicide investigation underway: Homicide investigation underway after Salisbury woman reported missing found dead in home Somerset man charged in fatal crash: Somerset County man charged with murder in fatal Salisbury hit-and-run of utility worker Law Enforcement agencies were notified of the stolen vehicle and the Chevy Traverse was later located in the Hebron area by the Maryland State Police. At this time, it is unknown if apprehension was made. Further investigation revealed that the white Chevy Silverado was stolen on May 29 at about 11 p.m. from Baltimore City. This investigation is currently ongoing and active. This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Auto thefts from Hertrich dealership, Baltimore led to manhunt: Police Mexico's campaign season came to a bloody end as a gunman shot dead an aspiring mayor at a rally on Wednesday, days before the country is expected to elect its first woman president. His murder brings the number of candidates who have been murdered to at least 23 during what has been a particularly violent electoral process in the Latin American nation, according to an official count. Alfredo Cabrera, a mayoral candidate for an opposition coalition, was gunned down in the southern state of Guerrero, causing chaos and panic among people attending the rally. Cabrera's murder was captured on camera, with the footage showing him smiling and flanked by fans before he was shot several times. The state prosecutor's office said that "the alleged assailant was killed at the scene." Three people were also injured and two others detained, according to witnesses. Members of the National Guard custody the crime scene of the mayoral candidate of the opposition, Alfredo Cabrera, murdered during his electoral campaign closure in Las Lomas, Guerrero, Mexico on May 29, 2024. / Credit: FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP via Getty Images Cabrera belonged to the same opposition coalition as presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez, who expressed indignation over his murder. "He was a generous and good man," she wrote on social media. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), part of the opposition coalition, accused the government of having "not made even the slightest effort to guarantee the safety of the candidates." Cabrera's death came just one day after a mayoral candidate in the central Mexican state of Morelos was murdered, while another one was wounded by gunfire in western Jalisco state. Last week, nine people were killed in two attacks against mayoral candidates in the southern state of Chiapas. The two candidates survived. Earlier this month, six people, including a minor and mayoral candidate Lucero Lopez, were killed in an ambush after a campaign rally in the municipality of La Concordia, neighboring Villa Corzo. One mayoral hopeful was shot dead last month just as she began campaigning. Around 27,000 soldiers and National Guard members will be deployed to reinforce security on election day. New leader will face crisis of cartel violence Tackling the cartel violence that has convulsed Mexico and turned it into one of the most dangerous countries in the world will be among the major challenges facing the next leader, along with managing migration and delicate relations with the neighboring United States. More than 450,000 people have been murdered and tens of thousands have gone missing since the government deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006. Barring a major upset, a woman appears almost certain to be elected leader of the world's most populous Spanish-speaking country when millions of Mexicans vote on Sunday. Frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum, from the ruling Morena party, ended her campaign with a rally in the capital's main public square. "We're going to make history," Sheinbaum told the cheering crowd. "I say to the young women, to all the women of Mexico -- colleagues, friends, sisters, daughters, mothers and grandmothers -- you are not alone," the 61-year-old said. Mexican presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during a banking convention in Acapulco, Mexico, in this handout distributed on April 19, 2024. / Credit: Difusion Fuente Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo / Handout via REUTERS Sheinbaum has pledged to continue outgoing left-wing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's social programs and strategy of tackling crime at its roots -- a controversial policy that he calls "hugs not bullets." At her closing rally in the northern city of Monterrey, Galvez promised a tougher approach to cartel-related violence. "You will have the bravest president, a president who does confront crime," she said. Galvez accused Lopez Obrador of implementing "a security strategy where hugs have been for criminals and bullets for citizens." Woman poised to be next president Sheinbaum, a former Mexico City mayor and a scientist by training, enjoys a sizable lead in the polls with 53 percent of voter support, according to research firm Oraculus. Galvez, a center-right senator and businesswoman with Indigenous roots, is second with 36 percent. Presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez of 'Fuerza y Corazon por Mexico' coalition speaks, during the 2024 closing campaign event at Arena Monterrey on May 29, 2024 in Monterrey, Mexico. / Credit: Medios y Media / Getty Images The only man running -- long-shot centrist Jorge Alvarez Maynez -- has 11 percent. Thousands of Sheinbaum's supporters massed Wednesday to hear her speak, with many wearing purple -- the color of the ruling party. "The people have woken up. We don't want the old governments to rob us anymore because the poor come first," said Soledad Hernandez, a 23-year-old housewife from the southern state of Oaxaca. Sheinbaum owes much of her popularity to Lopez Obrador, widely known as AMLO -- a close ally who has an approval rating of more than 60 percent but is only allowed to serve one term. "People from the countryside had nothing and now they're better off with AMLO," said Maria Isabel Zacarias, 55, a street food seller who came from the south to hear Sheinbaum speak. Bertha Diaz, a 71-year-old Galvez supporter, said she feared that if Sheinbaum wins, "it will be more of the same like with Lopez Obrador, who has sunk Mexico and wants to turn it into another Venezuela." Nearly 100 million people are registered to vote for president, members of Congress, several state governors and local officials, in the biggest-ever elections in the country of 129 million. Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said Tuesday -- before Cabrera's murder -- that 22 people running for local office had been killed since September. Some non-governmental organizations have reported an even higher toll, including Data Civica, which has counted at least 30 killings of candidates. Second American sentenced after ammo found in luggage in Turks and Caicos U.S. may allow Ukraine to hit Russian territory with American weapons, Blinken signals Supreme Court allows NRA free speech lawsuit to move forward McConnell says Biden should let Ukraine use US weapons across Russian border U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks Thursday to members of the Kentucky National Guard. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Jamie Lucke) FRANKFORT U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that President Joe Biden should allow Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to launch attacks inside Russia. McConnell said hes consistently argued with the administration that its restriction against Ukraine launching U.S. weapons across the border into Russia doesnt make any sense at all. I think they should be allowed to hit the Russians in Russia. Later in the day, Politico reported that Biden has quietly given Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia with U.S. weapons but only in the area around Kharkiv. McConnell was speaking to media at a Kentucky National Guard hangar after an event in which Gov. Andy Beshear and General Haldane Lamberton, Kentuckys adjutant general, thanked the states longest-serving U.S. senator for his role in bringing federal funds to military projects in Kentucky. U.S. Congress in 2024 has appropriated: $38M for Ft. Campbell to construct a large-scale vehicle/aerial gunnery training range. $5.5M for Ft. Campbell to construct a new airfield fire and rescue station. $3.15M for Ft. Campbell to construct an equipment staging area to support overseas deployment operations. $1.7M for Ft. Campbell to conduct the design and engineering of a runway extension project. $7.7M for Ft. Knox to construct a new fire station. $16.4M for the Kentucky National Guard to construct a vehicle maintenance facility in Burlington. $7M for the Kentucky National Guard to construct a new machine gun training range at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville. $2M for the Kentucky National Guard to complete a state administrative building in Frankfort. $3.3M for Blue Grass Army Depot in Madison County to conduct engineering of a new ammunition warehouse to help expand its mission following closure of the chemical-weapons demolition site. Source: McConnell office During his remarks to a crowd that included about 40 uniformed Guard members, McConnell renewed his warnings that Russia, China and Iran pose dangers to democracy. He likened todays international challenges to the period before World War II. We thought it would all go away if we just ignored it. Thats clearly not going to happen again this time, at least not without me making the contrary argument. McConnell called for increased defense spending as a deterrent to aggression and thanked the National Guard members for their service. McConnell is stepping down at the end of the year as his partys leader in the U.S. Senate but will continue to serve as a senator from Kentucky. He hasnt said if he will seek reelection in 2026. Speaking briefly to media after the event, McConnell noted that the Biden administration was considering lifting its restriction to allow Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to launch counterattacks on installations and military personnel inside Russia. The restriction was intended to reduce the risk of the war escalating into other countries. McConnell said the Ukranians should be free to defend themselves with U.S. weapons, calling Ukraines self-defense a way to stand up to the Russians without losing American personnel. Hours later, Politico, citing unnamed officials and others familiar with the situation, reported that Biden has eased but not lifted the restriction. The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them, one of the U.S. officials said, adding that the policy of not allowing long-range strikes inside Russia has not changed. In response to questions, McConnell said the rising isolationism among Republicans in Congress also is similar to before World War II and even after the war when Republicans opposed NATO and the Marshall Plan. The election of Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a general and leader of Allied forces in World War II, changed that, McConnell said. What China, North Korea, Russia and Iran have in common is they are authoritarian dictators. Its sort of a potential war between the authoritarians and the democracies. All of us who are threatened elect our leadership and so authoritarians are the people that were standing up to and we have to convince them the price of taking us on is too big a price for them to pay. McConnell said the U.S. and its many democratic allies from Europe to the Indo-Pacific are all in this together. The whole democratic world needs to stand up and they look to us for leadership. McConnell also said, The cheapest way to be ready is to have your defense budget high enough and industrial base built enough that you never have the conflict in the first place. This story has been updated with information about action by the Biden administration. Kentucky National Guard members listen to Sen. Mitch McConnell Thursday at the Kentucky Guards aviation support facility in Frankfort. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Jamie Lucke) The post McConnell says Biden should let Ukraine use US weapons across Russian border appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Saudi Arabia on June 1 to mobilize support for the global peace summit in Switzerland next month, the German news agency DPA reported on May 30, citing an undisclosed diplomatic source at the Ukrainian embassy in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia hosted an international summit on the peace formula in August 2023. The country has also played an important role in negotiating prisoner exchanges with Russia, allowing Ukraine to achieve a major exchange involving nearly 300 people in September 2022. At the same time, Saudi Arabia has maintained close economic ties with Russia, which have strengthened following the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Russia's subsequent economic isolation from the West. Sign up for our newsletter Ukraine Weekly By Olga Rudenko Sign up The Ukrainian president will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the monarchy's de facto ruler, and other senior officials during the visit to the port city of Jeddah, the source said. The previous meeting between Zelensky and bin Salman was held in February. The parties discussed the implementation of Ukraine's peace formula, among other topics. The peace summit will be held on June 15-16 in the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland. Some 90 countries have confirmed their participation in the event, according to Zelensky. Read also: Reuters: US to participate in peace summit, official says without specifying delegate Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Highway 22 and the Intracoastal Waterway have been reopened after a medical incident Thursday morning prompted authorities to halt all traffic in the area. Horry County Fire Rescue responded at about 10:30 a.m. to the incident in the area of Highway 22 near N. Kings Highway in Horry County. Authorities have not provided any additional information about the incident. Horry County police, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Coast Guard and the North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach fire departments assisted at the scene. * * * Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. DIGHTON The following students were named to the top 10 of Bristol County Agricultural High School's Class of 2024. The school's graduation ceremony is slated for Thursday, May 30. Julianna Dufresne (valedictorian) is graduating in the top 10 of the class of 2024 at Bristol County Agricultural High School. Julianna Dufresne (Valedictorian) Fall River Julianna is the Bristol Chapter FFA president and has competed in veterinary science and prepared public speaking. She will be attending Johnson and Wales University in the Fall to double major in Biology and Public Health, with hopes to pursue a career in infectious disease. Ava Freitas (salutatorian) is graduating in the top 10 of the class of 2024 at Bristol County Agricultural High School. Ava Freitas (Salutatorian) Carver Ava is the Senior Representative of the Student Council and leads the Bible study club, as well as a member of the National Honor Society, a Student Ambassador, and a member of BA Voice. She was Jr. President and Student Advisor of the FFA Bristol Chapter before becoming a Massachusetts FFA State Officer. She plans on attending Bridgewater State University to major in Biology with a minor in Audio Production, before attending veterinary school to specialize in Equine Surgery while continuing her music career. Lily Ferry is graduating in the top 10 of the class of 2024 at Bristol County Agricultural High School. Lily Ferry Westport Lily is a member of the National Honor Society, participated in various FFA events, and was honored to receive the MAVA Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year Award. She plans on obtaining an Ag- Ag-Business degree from an online Texas A&M program to further her education in the agriculture industry, in hopes of returning to her family's dairy farm where they milk 400 cows. Avery Botelho is graduating in the top 10 of the class of 2024 at Bristol County Agricultural High School. Avery Botelho Rehoboth Avery Botelho was a member of National Honors Society and a participant in floriculture FFA. She plans to attend Roger Williams University to study Marine Biology. Kaydence Rhodes-Wallace is graduating in the top 10 of the class of 2024 at Bristol County Agricultural High School. Kaydence Rhodes-Wallace Taunton Kaydence has been an active member of student government and has served as the treasurer of her class since junior year. She is also a member of our School's National Honors Society and has been on co-op at Pomfret Florist since the fourth semester of her junior year. Kaydence will be attending Bridgewater University this fall and plans to major in Biology. Emily Price is graduating in the top 10 of the class of 2024 at Bristol County Agricultural High School. Emily Price Taunton Emily is a member of the National Honor Society, a Stone Soup Delegate, a Varsity Softball Captain, and a Certified Nursing Assistant which she received through night classes at Bristol Community College. Emily has volunteered countless hours at Sturdy Memorial Hospital and the Rehoboth Food Pantry. Emily dedicates her achievements to her parents, Mary and John Price, for supporting her in everything she does. She plans to attend Endicott College in the fall, where she will be majoring in Nursing. Sarah Rodrigues is graduating in the top 10 of the class of 2024 at Bristol County Agricultural High School. Sarah Rodrigues Rehoboth Sarah is an active participant in the local and regional barrel racing community. At Bristol Aggie, she was the captain of the Drill Team, and in 2022 placed first in the state for FFA Horse Evaluation. She's ranked 7th in the class and will be attending college to study accounting and financing. Riley Farland is graduating in the top 10 of the class of 2024 at Bristol County Agricultural High School. Riley Farland New Bedford Riley is a four-year honors student who completed two AP classes this year. She plans to attend Bridgewater State University and major in Anthropology with a minor in Archaeology. Abigail Chace is graduating in the top 10 of the class of 2024 at Bristol County Agricultural High School. Abigail Chace Swansea During her time at Bristol Aggie Abigail Chace has been a part of FFA for three years serving as Chapter office historian and sentinel. She also attended the Mass FFA State Convention three years in a row and the FFA National Convention in 2023. Abigail served as the NHS treasurer this past year. She has been a part of the softball team for four years and plans to attend the University of New Hampshire where she intends to study Animal Science. Brody Del Deo is graduating in the top 10 of the class of 2024 at Bristol County Agricultural High School. Brody Del Deo Swansea Brody is an avid participant in FFA, competing in arbor skills and forestry events. He plans to work in the production arboriculture industry while obtaining a business and entrepreneurship degree from Southern New Hampshire University. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Meet Bristol Aggie's top 10 graduates of the class of 2024 Two candidates are running to represent Iowa Senate District 20, which includes Altoona, Pleasant Hill, part of Des Moines' east side, a portion of southern Ankeny and sections of unincorporated Polk County, such as Norwoodville, Berwick and the area around Saydel High School. Incumbent Sen. Nate Boulton, a Democrat, is seeking a third term in the Iowa Senate. Mike Pike is running in the Republican primary. Boulton and Pike are expected to face each other in the November general election. To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal and Des Moines area legislative candidates running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity. The primary election is scheduled for June 4 ahead of the Nov. 5 general election. More: Everything you need to know about the June 4 primary election, including voting absentee Who is Nate Boulton (incumbent)? Nate Boulton Age: 44 Party: Democratic Current town of residence: Des Moines Education: Simpson College, Drake Law School Occupation: Attorney Political experience and civic activities: State senator and Democratic whip Who is Mike Pike? Pike did not respond to the Register's survey. What would be your top issue should you be elected? Boulton: Creating a better quality of life for the next generation of Iowans with strong schools, job opportunities with excellent wages and benefits, and safe and thriving communities. That includes making Iowans one of the leading states in the nation on paid family leave, refocusing on improving public schools, and investing in public safety, accessible quality health care and mental health care, and revitalizing our communities infrastructure. What policies would you support to improve Iowas education system? Boulton: For generations, Iowa has led the nation in public education. Sadly, the past four years have seen our schools underfunded and undermined by Republican efforts to push tax dollars into private school tuition and dismantle our Area Education Agencies that provide special education and support services across the state. We need to get serious about recruiting and retaining the best teachers, giving students the classroom resources they need to excel, and stop pushing divisive political agendas into our schools and libraries. What do you think Iowas tax policy should be? Do you believe the states priority should be on lowering rates or spending on services for Iowans? Boulton: We need a fair tax system that targets tax relief to the working Iowans. That means income and property tax relief that actually helps stimulate economic activity by targeting the impact of tax reform to those who need it most. Ive voted for income and property tax relief these past two sessions, while also being an outspoken critic of our states use of massive tax credits, exemptions, and giveaways to the wealthiest corporations in the world. By getting a handle on those handouts to huge out-of-state corporations we can continue to fund essential services to educate our kids, keep our communities safe, and rebuild our state's infrastructure. What policies would you support to improve school safety in Iowa? Boulton: Our most important duty as a state is giving our children access to a quality education so they reach their full potential when they graduate. That means funding for exemplary educational opportunities and ensuring further success with a strong system of state universities, small independent colleges, community colleges, and skilled trades apprenticeships. But students first must be safe in their learning environments. We have to act on causes of school violence with access to mental health services and address bullying and cyberbullying with early intervention. I support allowing schools to employ school resource officers but cannot support school staff carrying firearms in our schools. What next steps do you believe the Iowa Legislature should take when it comes to abortion? Boulton: The state has taken too many extreme steps in placing major obstacles for women to get access to quality reproductive health care services in Iowa. This goes beyond being pro-choice and protecting the rights of Iowa women to make the right, informed decisions for their own situations. Actions in recent years have pushed OB-GYN doctors out of Iowa, threatened in vitro fertilization services for families struggling to have children, and created labor and delivery deserts. Prior to these drives to outlaw abortion and undermine reproductive health care, Iowa was in a good place. These anti-choice efforts have had far-reaching consequences that will continue as long as the laws are in place. Chris Higgins covers the eastern and northern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_ This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet the candidates running for Iowa Senate District 20 Two candidates are running for Iowa Senate District 24, which represents parts of Dallas County, including Perry, and Boone County, including Boone. Incumbent Republican Sen. Jesse Green and Democrat Margaret Liston are running for the seat. To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal and Des Moines area legislative candidates running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity. The primary election is scheduled for June 4 ahead of the Nov. 5 general election. More: Early voting has started for Iowa's June 4 primary election. Here's what you should know: Jesse Green Who is Jesse Green (incumbent)? Age: 39 Party: Republican Where did you grow up: Harcourt Current town of residence: Boone Education: Southeast Webster High School and Emmaus Bible College Occupation: Farm Political experience and civic activities: Webster County Farm Bureau/treasurer & chair of Dayton Rodeo for six years/junior high Bible teacher for three years at Community Christian School Fort Dodge. Currently I volunteer at Trinity Lutheran School in Boone and serve on the Central Iowa Expo Board. First elected to Iowa Senate in 2020. Margaret Liston Who is Margaret Liston? Age: 69 Party: Democratic Where did you grow up: Beaver Current town of residence: Ogden Education: GED from Harlan, surgical technology from DMACC, Associate Degree in nursing from DMACC, Bachelor of Science of nursing from University of Phoenix. Masters in Public Administration from Drake Occupation: Ogden City Council Political experience and civic activities: City Council, numerous volunteer initiatives in Boone County and the city of Ogden What would be your top issue should you be elected? Green: Property tax relief. Liston: Fully funding Iowa's public education and their AEAs so that we can once again be first in the nation in public education. What policies would you support to improve Iowas education system? Green: We must keep supporting policies that support higher teacher pay and lowers class sizes. Studies are showing that the old target of 18-22 students per class is too high. Also I believe we can do more to allow more flexibility and responsibility for school boards with how they can spend their property tax dollars. We can't have a real conversation about property tax reform without talking about reforming the school funding formula. As I examine other states, my appreciation for how many elected school boards and districts we have in Iowa grows. We must allow these elected board members to have more responsibility. We do have a great formula but that doesn't mean we can't make it better. Liston: Fully funding our public schools, eliminating the private school voucher program, restoring local control to our communities, and making sure our schools are safe. Ensuring that the state government respects the public education system and its tremendous professionals. What do you think Iowas tax policy should be? Do you believe the states priority should be on lowering rates or spending on services for Iowans? Green: Tax policies should be focused on attracting business and workforce which broadens the tax base. High quality services should always be our focus and responsible tax policy complements that. Liston: I believe that we can do both Iowa's system of taxes benefits the rich and corporations while doing little for our middle-class workers. I would advocate for a fair tax system that lowers the burden for Iowa's working families while having enough revenue coming in to fund our public services while investing in the future of our state. What policies would you support to improve school safety in Iowa? Green: Continual assessments of every school's security and making certain that those needs are addressed and funded. We have already done so much in this regard. School security ties back into the first education question. I believe data shows that class sizes need to be smaller than what studies used to indicate due to the increased needs of our students today. More one-on-one time with teachers will help identify potential issues the students are facing and allow schools to address them more adequately. Liston: Perry is in my district and I was born there, so this issue hits close to home. No parent should ever have to worry about if their child will be the victim of a school shooting. To improve school safety, I would ensure that schools provide top-notch mental health services to the students and work with every district to have a school resource officer present to protect the kids in case anything happens. What next steps do you believe the Iowa Legislature should take when it comes to abortion? Green: We must see how the court rules on the heartbeat bill, which I supported, before this question can be answered completely. I supported it because I believe most of our society understands that a heartbeat signifies that a life is present, which we should always protect and the law should reflect this. We must always protect and support the life of the baby as well as support the health and well-being of the mother, the exemptions within the bill reflect this balance as well as our other legislation that we have passed to increase support to new mothers. I will always fight for life at conception with exemptions for the health of the mother. Liston: I would return Iowa to the standard set by Roe vs Wade. The six-week ban being heard by the Iowa Supreme Court is out of touch with where Iowans are at on this issue. Another example is that the current law is nine weeks more conservative than the position of former Vice President Mike Pence, which shows how extreme the abortion law supported by Iowa Republicans is. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Who is running for Iowa's Senate District 24 in Perry, Boone Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Tunisian President Kais Saied at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Kais Saied, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Tunisian President Kais Saied in Beijing on Thursday. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Tunisia, Li said, noting that over the past 60 years, China-Tunisia relations have maintained sound and steady development, benefiting the two peoples. China is ready to work with Tunisia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the tradition of friendship and mutual trust, advance exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and work together to pave the way for an even better future for the two countries, Li said. He noted that China firmly supports Tunisia in actively exploring a development path with Tunisian characteristics and firmly opposes external interference in Tunisia's internal affairs. China is ready to work with Tunisia to deepen practical cooperation guided by high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, make solid progress in key cooperation projects, and expand cooperation in trade and renewable energy, Li said. China is willing to import more quality products from Tunisia and will continue to encourage competent Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Tunisia, Li said, calling on the two sides to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in health, youth education, tourism and archaeology, and continue to enhance the friendship between the two peoples. China is ready to work with Tunisia to make every effort to build a China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era and promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, Li said, urging joint efforts from the two sides to strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation to safeguard the common interests of developing countries. Saied said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have achieved rapid development and pragmatic cooperation has achieved fruitful results. Tunisia firmly abides by the one-China principle, unwaveringly supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely opposes the interference of external forces in China's internal affairs, Saied said, adding that Tunisia greatly appreciates China's high-level cooperation projects in Tunisia and looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in infrastructure construction, health care, tourism and other fields. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Tunisian President Kais Saied at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Kais Saied, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) The Memo: What happens if Trump trial ends in hung jury? The jury in former President Trumps New York trial completed its first day of deliberations Wednesday without reaching a verdict. If that indecision continues for several days, it will open up one of the more politically intriguing scenarios. A hung jury, and a declaration of a mistrial, would become a real possibility. The political contours are fairly clear if Trump is either convicted or acquitted. The former verdict would hand President Biden a powerful piece of ammunition in this years election, and the latter would put new wind into Trumps sails. The electoral ramifications of a hung jury are harder to game out. Republican and Democratic observers agree that Trump would claim victory in the event of the jury being unable to come to a verdict. GOP strategist Alex Conant argued that a hung jury would, politically speaking, have much the same impact as an acquittal. Either scenario would amount to Trump escaping a guilty verdict and would energize the former presidents base, Conant said. From the Republicans perspective, it would mean that the liberals tried everything they could to put Trump in jail and he beat them. For Democrats, there is widespread skepticism that a hung jury would have much political impact at all. They are keenly aware of how little the election-related opinion polls have shifted during the trial, and they tend to see even the more lurid allegations regarding Trump and adult film actor Stormy Daniels as having little new impact on voters. Views of the former president are pretty baked in, said Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky. If you think that he is a crook who has broken laws, there are plenty of other court cases to prove that point. If you think he is being unfairly prosecuted or persecuted as [Trumps] supporters would see it there are plenty of cases you can point to there too. The one person whose life would be significantly complicated by a hung jury would be Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D). A mistrial would mean that he would then have to decide whether to mount a second trial. Bragg faced some second-guessing, even from Trump critics, when in April 2023 he became the first prosecutor to indict the former president. The New York case is widely seen as the least serious of the four Trump faces and as the one where the prosecution has the weakest argument. Even if Bragg decided a second trial was worthwhile in the event of a hung jury, such a showdown would likely not happen before the 2024 election. Prosecutors decided against pursuing a second trial in an old political case that has some parallels with the Trump-Daniels matter. Back in 2012, former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) was prosecuted in a case centered on money that had been paid by his allies to support a woman with whom he had an affair, and with whom he had fathered a child. Prosecutors argued the payments were illegal campaign contributions because, at the time, Edwards was a candidate in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, ultimately won by former President Obama. Edwards faced six counts. The jury acquitted him of one and deadlocked on the remaining five. Soon after, the Justice Department announced it would drop the case. In Trumps New York case, a conviction or an acquittal requires unanimity among the 12 jurors. There is no rigorous deadline for the jury to reach a verdict. But it can safely be assumed the 12 New Yorkers have some eagerness to complete their duties and get back to their normal lives, given that the trial began in mid-April. Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The case revolves around a $130,000 hush money payment made to Daniels in the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign. If jurors fail to reach a verdict after several days and tell Judge Juan Merchan they are not making progress, Merchan could resort to a method known as an Allen charge. Legalese aside, this mechanism basically amounts to a plea from the judge for jurors to try harder to reach a verdict. It does not weaken the requirement for unanimity. If there was still no sign of a 12-0 verdict one way or another, Merchan would have no choice but to declare a mistrial. It is possible the jury could reach a decision on some of the 34 charges and deadlock on others though most of the 34 counts are fairly similar. Opinions on the Trump case split along starkly partisan lines. An Economist/YouGov poll this week asked whether people viewed the investigations in the Trump hush money case as fair or unfair. Among Democrats, 78 percent saw the probe as fair. Among Republicans, 72 percent saw it as unfair. Independents were split three ways, almost evenly: 36 percent fair, 32 percent unfair and 32 percent unsure. Democratic strategist Mark Longabaugh said he believed that the election would ultimately be decided by political, rather than legal, factors including each candidates performance in the upcoming debates, the first of which is set for June 27. There are a lot of political events yet to play out, Longabaugh said. At the end of the day sad as it may be this trial wont change the equation from where we are. The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Prosecutors aimed Wednesday to demonstrate how Sen. Bob Menendez's younger, blonde paramour inserted herself in his political activities soon after they began dating in 2018. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) The federal prosecutors now trying Sen. Bob Menendez for corruption have long described his wife as the go-between who linked New Jerseys senior senator with the businessmen accused of giving him gold bars, cash, and other bribes for favors. Wednesday, they painted a far fuller picture of Nadine Menendez, suggesting through scores of texts, emails, and calls that she became such a greedy complainer that those involved quickly realized she had a key role in securing the senators support. It is extremely important that we keep Nadine happy, attorney Howard Dorian texted a man involved in one alleged bribery scheme. Prosecutor Paul Monteleoni and FBI special agent Michael Coughlin spent Wednesday expanding the chain of correspondence they began building for jurors the day before, aiming to demonstrate how the senators younger, blonde, Lebanon-born paramour inserted herself in his political activities soon after they began dating in 2018 and expected to be compensated in return by those who benefited. She introduced Sen. Menendez to her longtime friend Wael Will Hana, an Egyptian American businessman whos now one of the senators co-defendants. Prosecutors allege Hana bribed the couple to entice the senator to release U.S. military aid and arms to Egypt and otherwise help Egyptian officials, thereby ensuring Hana could get a lucrative monopoly on halal meat exports to Egypt. Menendez was ranking member and chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee before he surrendered his leadership role on the committee shortly after he was indicted last September. But as Hana succeeded, his relationship with the senators wife soured, texts and emails show. She complained to Menendez and his friends that Hana was a lying a** hole who had reneged on his promises to bail her Englewood Cliffs home out of foreclosure and give her a $10,000-a-month consulting gig, health insurance, new carpeting, and other items. Can you believe Will said he does not need me to make appointments with you to go see you at your office and dinner with you, she texted Sen. Menendez. The man has gone crazy after everything I have done for him!!!!! She told Dorian, who had represented Hana, that she was quite disappointed. Wael asked me for a very important dinner and meetings in Washington for next week Monday which I agreed to among other things and he still has not delivered on any of his promises, she texted Dorian. Dorian, in turn, worried about putting out fires. Its really important that we make sure Nadine stays happy because shes not. Shes going to cancel the meetings that Wael has set up with Senator Menendez for Monday, he texted one associate to prod him to act. The texts also show Nadine Menendezs role went beyond scheduling meetings. At Hanas direction, she suggested talking points to the senator, one message shows. In your speech, could you please say Egypt now in the right direction with the new government now. With the International Monetary Fund and all the new developments, new capital and the new Suez Canal. Egypt is important to the United States, she texted Sen. Menendez. She also claimed to have participated in many of the meetings herself. I am in meeting with head of intelligence for Egypt. Soo sorry, she wrote to one acquaintance trying to reach her. Prosecutors also presented correspondence to show how Menendez tasked his Senate staff with his wifes personal business, like drafting her resume when she set up a company to work for Hana that she called Strategic International Business Consultants LLC. When the business became official with a taxpayer number and a bank account, Nadine Menendez texted a screenshot of its account to her son and daughter, saying, My consulting company. Every time Im in the middle person for a deal, I am asking to get paid and this is my consulting company. Nadine Menendez also was indicted, but Judge Sidney H. Stein postponed her trial until at least July because shes battling breast cancer. Prosecutors spent part of Wednesday linking co-defendant Fred Daibes, an Edgewater real estate developer, to the Egypt scheme. They introduced as evidence a letter from attorney Andy Aslanian to an Egyptian general offering Daibes help in Egypts effort to buy several townhouses in Washington, D.C., to house Egyptian government officials. And Hana told another Egyptian official in an encrypted message that Daibes wanted to partner with an Egyptian company to build a resort near the Red Sea in Egypt, invest in U.S. real estate developments with an Egyptian company, and invest in Egyptian manufacturing facilities. Coughlin is expected to continue testifying Thursday at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan federal courthouse in Manhattan. The post Men accused of bribing Sen. Menendez had to keep Nadine happy, trial testimony shows appeared first on New Jersey Monitor. What to know about Mexico's massive elections on Sunday People cheer while listening to former Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum at a rally in Mexico City. Sheinbaum, who worked on her PhD in California, is the front-runner in the presidential election. She would be Mexico's first woman elected president. (Ginnette Riquelme / Associated Press) Tens of millions of Mexican citizens go to the polls Sunday in a historic election in which they will most certainly elect the country's first woman president. Voters in Mexico's largest-ever election will also choose a new Congress, eight state governors, the Mexico City mayor and some 20,000 local office-holders nationwide. At stake is the political legacy of populist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is limited to a single term under Mexican law but who seeks the continued domination of his National Regeneration Movement, known by the acronym Morena the leftist political bloc that he founded and turned into Mexico's reigning political colossus. Lopez Obrador has managed to be both an extremely polarizing figure denying repeated accusations of authoritarian tendencies and a popular president, enjoying 60% or greater approval ratings through much of his six-year term, thanks largely to robust support from poor and working-class Mexicans. But he frequently condemns those who disagree with him as snobs, racists or corrupt. Both main presidential candidates, including his ruling-party protege, have vowed to unite a deeply divided population and try to solve the country's myriad crises they would face upon succeeding Lopez Obrador. Read more: Bullets before ballots: Dozens of Mexican candidates have been killed as cartels seek more control Who are the main presidential candidates? Mexican presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum greets supporters at a campaign rally in Mexico City this month. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM Frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum, 61, a scientist, academic and former mayor of Mexico City, is widely viewed as Lopez Obrador's handpicked successor. She's ahead in polls by double digits. Sheinbaum is seen as lacking the charisma, oratory skills and political acumen of her mentor. But she touts a lifetime of political activism, a doctorate in environmental engineering with four years of study at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California and what she calls a successful run as mayor of Mexico's capital, one of the world's most populous cities. Read more: This woman is the front-runner to be Mexico's next president Lopez Obrador, who highly values loyalty, clearly viewed Sheinbaum as most likely to continue what he labels as his "transformation" of Mexican society away from corruption and a wealthy "mafia of power" assertions his critics dismiss. Sheinbaum, the granddaughter of emigrants from Bulgaria and Lithuania, would be Mexico's first president of Jewish ancestry, in addition to its first female president. Mexico is no longer written with the M of machismo," she said before she was chosen as Morena's candidate, "... but M of mujer. Presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez waves to supporters at a campaign event in Huixquilucan, Mexico, just outside Mexico City, last month. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) XOCHITL GALVEZ RUIZ Xochitl Galvez Ruiz, 61, a high-tech entrepreneur and senator with Indigenous roots, heads a center-right bloc of parties united only in their opposition to Lopez Obrador. Read more: I have enough ovaries to apply the law. The language of gender enters the Mexican presidential race Galvez, who has promised to strengthen checks and balances in the government, has run a feisty campaign. In the initial presidential debate, she attacked Sheinbaum as an "ice queen" and has called the president a "machista." Early in the campaign, Galvez told reporters: You need many ovaries like the ones I have to confront such a powerful man." But the prevalence of traditional, corruption-tainted parties in her "Strength and Heart for Mexico" coalition has dogged Galvez. Her campaign has struggled to make headway against Morena's well-oiled political machine. JORGE ALVAREZ MAYNEZ Former Rep. Jorge Alvarez Maynez of the Citizen's Movement party is running a far-distant third in the presidential election. (Fernando Llano / Associated Press) The congressman from the north-central state of Zacatecas a historic hub of emigration to the United States rose from virtual anonymity to make a name for himself as the presidential aspirant of the center-left Citizens' Movement. Alvarez, 38, has been an animated presence at presidential debates and on the campaign trail, appealing especially to the youth vote. Though polls show him a distant third in the race, he seems to have already come out a winner a likely future player in national politics. What about Lopez Obrador? Dolls representing presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador are for sale at a campaign rally in Mexico City. (Aurea Del Rosario / Associated Press) The dominant figure in Sunday's elections is probably the outgoing president, widely known by his initials, AMLO. Many view the vote as a referendum on his leadership. Lopez Obrador, 70, calls himself a political "Lazarus," having come back from losses in two consecutive presidential contests to score a landslide victory in 2018 as an anti-corruption, pro-change advocate. A key question: Once he leaves office in October, will Lopez Obrador retire to his ranch in southern Mexico and bow out of politics, as he has promised? Or will he remain heavily involved and possibly interfere in the national conversation? Read more: Mexico's president says the U.S. is suffering from moral decay. He offers some advice What does the election mean for the United States? Lopez Obrador regularly assails Washington's policies and even U.S. culture denouncing "abusive meddling" and what he regards as U.S. moral decay but he has mostly cooperated on key issues, though his decision to limit U.S. anti-drug agents' access to Mexico has left hard feelings. But the countries are deeply linked, sharing a 2,000-mile border, growing economic interdependence, deep social and cultural ties and a sometimes-rocky partnership on security concerns such as immigration and drug trafficking. Read more: Migrants from around the world have made this stretch of California the top place to enter the U.S. illegally The White House has relied increasingly on its neighbor's capabilities to deter U.S.-bound migrants traversing Mexico. That dependence, which gives Mexico considerable political leverage with Washington, seems likely to continue, especially as immigration and the border are key political issues in the United States. The candidates vying to succeed Lopez Obrador have all stressed Mexico's close ties to the United States and their intentions to further friendly relations. All have reached out to Mexican immigrant communities in the United States, but have said little about how they would handle the increasing numbers of migrants arriving in Mexico en route to the United States. A big question for the incoming Mexican president will be who wins the U.S. presidential race in November. Former President Trump, who has railed against migrants and free trade, once threatened to slap tariffs on Mexican imports if the country didn't move forcefully to halt U.S.-bound migrants, sending shock waves through the Mexican economy. What challenges will the new president face? Mexico's economy is buzzing, bolstered by so-called near-shoring, as many foreign firms relocate operations from Asia and elsewhere to Mexico, with its proximity to U.S. markets. The Mexican peso has been among the world's strongest currencies. Read more: Soldiers and civilians are dying as Mexican cartels embrace a terrifying new weapon: Land mines But Lopez Obrador will leave his predecessor with a number of crises, including dire water shortages, a struggling healthcare system, stubborn inequality and violence from criminal gangs and cartels so severe that the U.S. State Department warns its citizens not to travel to many Mexican states. Lopez Obrador's controversial "hugs not bullets" strategy prioritizing social programs for the young over confrontations with cartels has failed to stem the country's violence, although homicides have fallen some during the last six years. Security is by far Mexicans' main concern, polls show. Has the violence affected the election? More than 30 candidates mostly mayoral hopefuls have been assassinated in this election cycle, according to human rights advocates and Mexican media counts. And far more have been threatened or intimidated as cartels seek to insure their preferred candidates take and then cede power. The president has vowed that citizens will be able to vote "calmly, safely and without fear," and officials plan to deploy some 27,000 troops on election day to reinforce security. How do candidates say they'll reduce violence? All have vowed to fight crime and cartel violence, but have offered few specifics. Galvez, of the opposition coalition, has signaled her intention to scale back the Mexican military's contentious and growing role. As a candidate, Lopez Obrador once vowed to send the military back to the barracks but he ended up increasing military dominance in public security, infrastructure projects and many other aspects of Mexican life, drawing intense criticism. Read more: Mexicos military gains power as president turns from critic to partner Galvez has said she would increase police at local and state levels and bolster police salaries, declaring: "Enough with hugs for criminals." Sheinbaum has said her experience battling crime in Mexico City makes her qualified to tackle cartel violence, though she hasn't distanced herself from Lopez Obrador's disputed policies. But experts question whether her strategies expanding community policing and professionalizing cops would transfer to a national level. When will results be known? The count will begin after the polls close at 6 p.m. Mexico time on Sunday. Whether definitive results will be available Sunday evening for key contests depends on various factors, including how close the vote is and if any major irregularities emerge. Unlike in many Latin American nations, there is no second round in Mexican elections: Whoever receives a plurality of votes is declared the winner, whether or not he or she garners an absolute majority. When will the new president be inaugurated? Mexico's new president will begin a single, six-year term on Oct. 1. Times special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez Vidal contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Police officers patrol following the killing of Armando Perez Luna, National Action Party (PAN) mayoral candidate, who was gunned down by unknown assailants, in Maravatio, Michoacan state. February 27, 2024. REUTERS/Ivan Macias - Ivan Macias/Reuters Several attacks against political candidates have been reported in Mexico as the campaigning period for the countrys largest election in history draws to a close. With just hours before the electoral campaigns officially conclude on Wednesday, a string of violent acts against candidates and their staff have been reported across the country, from Jalisco in the west to Chiapas in the south. In Morelos, a state in south-central Mexico, the attorney-general reported that Ricardo Arizmendi Reynoso, a substitute opposition candidate for the municipal presidency of the city of Cuautla, was assassinated in a shooting on Tuesday. In Jalisco state on the same day, Gilberto Palomar, the ruling Morena partys candidate for the mayorship of the town Encarnacio de Diaz, was hospitalized after an attack by armed individuals on the partys local offices. In the central State of Mexico, the truck of a mayoral candidate for Chalco, Eduardo Diaz, was shot, according to a local representative of the Green Ecologist Party. Meanwhile, in Puebla, central Mexico, Juan Sandoval, a Citizen Movement candidate in the municipality of Tehuacan, was attacked outside his campaign office but was unharmed, his team reported. As of Wednesday, no arrests have been reported. Several organizations have reported that the run-up to this election has been the most violent in the countrys recent history. However, figures from independent groups and firms differ from those of the Mexican government. The research group Data Civica has reported 31 homicides, Consultora Integralia has reported 34, and consulting firm DataInt registered 38 in a report published on May 21. The Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodriguez, acknowledged on Tuesday the deaths of 22 candidates during the 2023-2024 electoral process, of which eight victims were candidates accredited by the National Electoral Institute (INE) or before local electoral bodies, according to the official. The Mexican government had previously reported on April 2 that there had been at least 15 candidate deaths since the electoral process began on October 1. On Wednesday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador claimed that the electoral violence is the result of a link between past governments and criminal groups. What we are suffering in the case of electoral political violence still has to do with that links that were established between the authorities and crime, the Mexican president said in his morning press conference. International electoral observers, accredited by INE to witness Sundays general elections, have expressed concern about the violence plaguing the country ahead of the polls. Certainly, this is more of a call to investigate the facts and take measures so that these issues do not tarnish the elections and do not cause damage to Mexican democracy, Jose Miguel Insulza Salinas, head of the Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States, said Wednesday. Mexico will hold its general election on June 2, when nearly 100 million people will be called to vote. There are 20,375 positions on the ballot, of which 19,746 are local and 629 are federal, including the presidency. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Miami-Dade County Public Schools is hosting a job fair seeking to fill teaching positions from pre-K to 12th grade. By the end of the pandemic, Florida had up to 9,000 vacant teacher positions. By 2023, there were still 5,000 unfilled positions, Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega said at the time. In Miami-Dade, teachers for English, Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Special Education are needed, as well as English as a Second Language. There are also job opportunities at M-DCPS for librarians and multimedia specialists. They are hiring support staff, like administrative assistants and accountants, as well as school bus drivers. The starting salary for teachers is $52,470 and Miami-Dade Public Schools offers a 401-K retirement plan and a pension. The Miami-Dade County Public Schools job fair takes place on Saturday, June 1 at Miami Northwestern Senior High School, located at 71st Street and NW 11th Avenue. Those interested in attending can register online at app.brazenconnect.com or in person at 8:30 a.m., half an hour before the start of the event, which runs until noon. Candidates can meet employers in person and ask questions about job opportunities and benefits. It is recommended to bring several copies of your resume and certifications or documents that prove your skills. Job applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, and priority is given to military veterans, according to the announcement. If immigrants do not yet meet the requirements to work as teachers in the Miami-Dade public school system, those with a degree from their country can take intensive courses to become teachers, offered by the Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) from Miami Dade College. They can complete the courses in eight or 10 months and then can be hired by the countys public school system. The other options is to obtain the foreign credential equivalence at the office of Josef Silny & Associates, authorized in South Florida to determine the U.S. academic equivalent of studies completed outside the United States.. Miami-Dade Public Schools Job Fair, June 1, 9 a.m. to noon, Miami Northwestern Senior High School, 1100 NW 71 St., Miami. Michigan state trooper accused of fatally hitting a fleeing suspect with an SUV is charged with murder A Michigan State Police detective has been charged with murder after investigators say he fatally struck a fleeing suspect with an unmarked SUV last month near Grand Rapids, state prosecutors announced. Detective Sgt. Brian Keely on April 17 tried to arrest the suspect, 25-year-old Samuel Sterling, but Sterling fled and was chased by law enforcement officers by vehicle and on foot, according to the Michigan Department of the Attorney General. As Sterling was running through a fast food restaurant parking lot in the suburb of Kentwood, the detective driving an unmarked SUV turned and struck Sterling with the vehicle, prosecutors said. Samuel Sterling - Courtesy Sterling Family Sterling fell to the ground and began yelling and groaning about pain in his back, body-worn police camera footage shows. He was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries, the attorney generals office said. Keely, 50, has been charged with one count of second-degree murder, which carries a life sentence, as well as an alternative charge of involuntary manslaughter, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday. Alternative charges are typically lesser charges brought by prosecutors as a backup in case they cant prove the most serious offense. Detective Sergeant Keelys actions that day were legally, grossly negligent and created a very high risk of death or great bodily harm, which could have otherwise been prevented, Nessel said. Keely was suspended from his position following the incident, Michigan State Police Director Col. James Grady II said last month. CNN has sought comment from state police on his employment status following the murder charge. The case comes amid a national push for greater scrutiny of police use of force, especially against people of color. Grady announced in April the agency would investigate the fatal collision and acknowledged the pain many in the community were grappling with. Detective Sgt. Brian Keely - Michigan State Police As an African American male and a father, its not lost on me that this is the death of another young African American male following an interaction with police, Grady said. After the charges against Keely were announced, Sterling family attorney Ven Johnson said, We applaud and appreciate Attorney General Dana Nessel for doing the right thing based on the overwhelming evidence that Keely broke the law when he ran over Samuel Sterling. Keelys attorney, Marc Curtis, said in a release, It is unfortunate that in this time of political correctness, Michigans Attorney General has chosen to ignore the facts of this incident and rely on political pressure. Video shows moment SUV hits Sterling On May 10, state police announced the investigation was complete and all evidence had been turned over to the attorney generals office. That same day, the agency released an edited compilation of body-worn and dashboard camera footage of the incident. The footage shows at least one officer chasing Sterling on foot into a Burger King parking lot when a large grey SUV veers into the lot and hits Sterling, appearing to pin him against the restaurant wall. After the SUV reverses away from him, several officers converge on Sterling and order him to put his hands behind his back. Sterling repeatedly screams, My back, and groans in pain. After his hands are cuffed in front of him, Sterling continues to complain that his back and entire body hurt. Dont move man, an officer says. Officers ask him where he feels pain and repeatedly tell him not to move until emergency medical personnel arrive. Another officer says, We dont want you to move your back. Sterlings family was stunned and appalled when they watched the footage, their attorney said in a statement to CNN affiliate WWMT. No one person should be able to appoint themselves as judge, jury and executioner, yet deaths from police brutality and excessive force continue to occur too often. We will continue to seek justice for his family and hold accountable those responsible for his death, Johnson said. While the basic standard is that law enforcement officers can only use deadly force against a suspect if they pose an imminent threat of death or serious injury, this case presents an unusual set of circumstances, said CNNs Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller. The case will hinge on several factors: Would a reasonable person with Keelys police training believe that hitting Sterling with the car would have a likelihood of causing serious injury or death? Was that use of force reasonable under the circumstances? he said. The law requires officers to consider the totality of circumstances, Miller noted. For instance, in the case of chasing a burglary suspect or shoplifter, deadly force should not be used to stop them, Miller said. But if police located a serial killer or an armed active shooter who was running away and their escape posed an imminent threat to others that they might attack or kill, the use of deadly force to stop them could be justified. At the time of the encounter, law enforcement officers representing multiple departments, including the US Marshals Service, were working a fugitive arrest operation in an attempt to arrest Sterling, who was wanted on multiple warrants, Grady said in April. Authorities did not reveal the nature of the charges. Keelys attorney said Sterlings loss of life is tragic and can never be replaced but argued his death was an accident that could have been avoided had Mr. Sterling simply turned himself in before a task force was assigned to catch him. This accident could have also been avoided if Mr. Sterling would have simply complied with the commands of the Detectives, Curtis said. Keely will be arraigned in Kentwood district court, though the date has not been set. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com When you get a prescription from your doctor or pharmacist, you expect them to factor in your overall health along with potential interactions with other prescriptions you may already be taking. You expect your pharmacist to not only look for these potentially harmful interactions, but to also warn you about them, to protect your health. You would think regulators charged with protecting us from life-threatening pollutants would take the same approach by not letting multiple polluting facilities into our communities, especially those inundated with hazards. That would mean using whats called cumulative impact assessments. But thats not how state regulators currently operate. A barbed wire and chain link fence surrounds a hazardous waste landfill in Wayne County's Van Buren Township on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. More: Ambassador Bridge seeks expanded ability to allow across flammable, corrosive materials Right now, when the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) gets a request from a company to expand or operate in a community, they dont measure the pollution already in the community. Nor do they consider the rates of asthma, heart disease, cancer or other illnesses the community struggles with. While Detroits asthma rate is twice as high as the rest of the state, current rules say regulators neednt take that into account when granting permits to potential polluters. To protect our health, we need EGLE to use the best science available, and consider the combined health effects of exposure to multiple pollutants and chemicals, as well as the communitys health when making permitting decisions or other decisions that impact Michiganders health. Studies show that combined pollutants can cause our health to deteriorate quickly over time. The National Institute of Health (NIH) is one of many groups of scientists who affirm we can and must stop health damage from multiple pollutants. The first page of the NIH report: Role of the Synergistic Interactions of Environmental Pollutants in the Development of Cancer tells us three things: Combined pollutants are dangerous because of the way they can interact in our bodies, causing disease and death. These dangerous effects are underestimated by regulators. Current rules to protect health are inadequate. More: State regulators order response for corrosive ooze near former McLouth site In short, to save ourselves, we need to change how we measure and regulate pollution. The NIH study also proves, contrary to what industrial polluters and some regulators tell us, that it is quite possible to measure the health damage from exposure to multiple pollutants, and therefore to protect ourselves from harm, using the best science available. EGLE must use cumulative impact assessments to protect our health. This is crucial for the hardest-hit communities Black, Brown and low income as they typically face multiple health threats. But in our opinion, EGLEs current rules favor companies seeking permits to pollute. EGLE engages with corporations early and often, but only meets with the public after permitting decisions are made. Many times, these companies seem more willing to sacrifice human health than make even minor expenditures to prevent releasing pollutants and chemicals into the air, water or soil. State regulators need to listen to those directly affected by the pollution, instead of those who directly profit from it. More: Former Detroit incinerator smokestack imploded From Detroit, with myriad sources of pollution, to the Straits of Mackinac, where Indigenous people lead a struggle to protect the Great Lakes from pipeline oil spills communities of color across Michigan are exerting their rights to live healthy lives. Weve made strides in protecting the health of hardest hit communities like shutting down the incinerator in Detroit. Our air will be cleaner and our climate safer, since we forced Michigans major energy utilities to stop pollution and carbon emission from burning coal and gas earlier than planned. Still, EGLE needs to do a better job by following the lead of states like New Jersey, which are already seeing benefits from their historic enactment of cumulative impact assessments. Were very encouraged that House Majority Leader Abraham Aiyash plans to reintroduce a cumulative impacts bill, House Bill 4777. That would, for example, provide realistic health protections for South Dearborn residents working to combat health damage from compound pollution from corporations like Cleveland Cliffs steel factory and the nearby slag company. Health Department study: North Kent County residents have high PFAS contamination in blood Everyone, regardless of race, income, or ZIP code, deserves the same level of environmental protection. For already overburdened communities, this means considering existing health issues and emissions when it comes to regulators making decisions about pollutants and chemicals that are emitted into our communities, just like the pharmacist checking for potential drug interactions when filling prescriptions. The health of every Michigander ought to be our top priority. Those charged with protecting our health must provide realistic health protections. Please join us in contacting EGLE at EGLE-Assist@Michigan.gov, and demand regulators protect Michiganders health by using cumulative impact assessments. Juan Jhong-Chung is executive director at Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition. Devon Payne-Sturges is an associate professor at the University of Maryland's Department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan pollution and cumulative impact assessments: Why we need change MUSKINGUM COUNTY Callie Baker has worked hard for everything shes got.At just 18 years old, shes earned her electrical technologies certification from Mid-East Career and Technology Centers and graduated from her home school of Tri-Valley High School with honors. Shes blazing new trails as the first woman to work in the field of her full-time job at TWC Enterprises Electrical and she just bought her first home in the New Lexington area. Throughout her high school career attending Mid-East, she carried a 4.0 GPA each year, earning the Mid-East equivalent of National Honor Society in the National Honor of Scholars. She was top of her electrical technology class, went to state competition for SkillsUSA, participated in Drug Free Clubs of America, was part of Mid-Easts STAR group, and was given a plaque by Tri-Valley for her academic achievements. Callie Baker said she was stripped of most of her cords just before Tri-Valley High School's graduation, including the maroon sash and two yellow cords from Mid-East's National Honor of Scholars; the red, white, and blue cord for state level competition at SkillsUSA; the blue and white cord for Drug Free Clubs of America; and the medal for being top of her class in the electrical technology program at Mid-East. She said was only allowed to wear the Tri-Valley black and red cord for having a 3.75 to 3.9 GPA. But when she crossed the Tri-Valley stage on May 24, she wasnt allowed to show any of it. She said she was stripped of her cords just moments before the ceremony began, and was told to either take them off or she wouldnt be allowed to walk. It really hurt, she said. I feel Ive worked very hard for all the cords I have earned. I was super excited and made sure they were all put in place. I was taking selfies, and I was excited. It hurt that I had to remove them, especially last minute. She was the ninth to receive her diploma that day and no one saw her name in the program for her high honors, no one saw the cords that represented her hard work, and only she knew the choice she had to make just minutes before, she said. Her question now is: Why did I even have to make that choice? I just hope that Tri-Valley, as well as other (school districts associated with Mid-East) discuss the cords being worn, Baker said of the longstanding Tri-Valley High School policy that only cords earned at Tri-Valley are allowed to be worn at the main ceremony, and cords earned from other programs or service-oriented organizations such as Mid-East, Boy Scouts of America, military service, college associate degrees or the like, are not permitted. No other kid should have to go through what I went through, she said. However, according to Baker and Tri-Valley Superintendent Mark Neal, multiple students had to be told to remove cords that were earned someplace other than Tri-Valley. I didnt realize in the moment that (other students) had also gotten (their cords) pulled as well, said Baker, citing a student whose military cords were pulled, anothers whose college associate degree cords were pulled, and other Mid-East students whose cords were pulled. There were a lot of upset people in the moment. All of it occurred in the moments just before the ceremony was set to begin. The problem was, were an hour before commencement starts and all of a sudden, we see cords from all these other places, said Neal. Its too many, and you cant explain to people what they are. Asking (teachers and those helping with graduation) to make a game-time decision about (being allowed to wear other cords) puts them in a difficult position. Neal said that despite multiple accounts of students not realizing they couldnt wear outside cords, he did confirm with the senior class adviser that students were told at graduation practice and senior class meetings that they could only wear Tri-Valley cords. Baker disputes that, saying it was never mentioned at the graduation practice, nor did she see it mentioned in any emails or Google classroom communications, though Mid-East students were having technical difficulties accessing the Google platform. Baker concedes she was not present at the senior class meeting, but her mother was, and they claim it was not mentioned there, either. But even if it had been, she said, the bigger issue beyond communication errors is the policy itself. Im a very strong-minded person, which is why I stood up for myself in the moment, said Baker. If I would have (known about the policy in advance), I would have made it known that I didnt agree with that policy, and I would have tried to change it. Neal said the policy has been around for as long as he can remember. The official statement he provided to The Times Recorder reads: The practice of not allowing any banners/sashes/decorations other than what was awarded by the school district has been in place for decades. It is not a TV Board of Education Policy, it is simply a longstanding practice of maintaining uniformity and decorum at the ceremony. Those in attendance at commencement witnessed Mid-East Students and those who have enlisted in the military, be recognized multiple times during the ceremony. He also said individual organizations or schools, like Mid-East, have their own ceremonies for students to display non-school district cords. That is where they have the opportunity to wear (them), Neal said. Kim Tatman, the public information coordinator for Mid-East, said they do hold a separate ceremony. What we have is a certificate ceremony, she said. Because we are an extension of our partner schools, students earn credentials from us, but they graduate from their partner schools. Baker did have the opportunity to wear all her cords at the Mid-East certification ceremony just three days earlier on Tuesday, May 21. Bakers counter to that is simple: We have to wear our Tri-Valley gowns to the Mid-East ceremony, she said. I dont know why it cant go the other way. Its a statement confirmed by Tatman, who said Mid-East students are required to wear their home school gowns as a form of acknowledgement to those schools. Other schools who partner with Mid-East do allow the cords to be worn, while some dont, which Neal acknowledged. I think different schools do it different ways, he said. But its never been brought up (as an issue at Tri-Valley) before. This is nothing new. Tatman confirmed to The Times Recorder that every single one of their 13 partners has its own policy regarding whether a Mid-East student can wear their Mid-East-earned cords during the home school graduation. When it comes to this (issue), they are all very different, said Tatman. Some of them have traditions that theyve done for a very long time. Some completely include the (Mid-East) kids (and allow them to wear their Mid-East cords). Its not a policy we can influence. The Times Recorder reached out to John Glenn, Maysville, Philo, West Muskingum, and Zanesville high schools for their cord policies. Philo High School Principal Troy Dawson responded by email saying: We permit students to wear cords from Mid-East and the military. We have had students wear cords from the Red Cross before, I believe. I permit educational cords to be worn. Libby Hitchens, principal of Zanesville High School, said her district has a similar policy. Zanesville High School students are allowed to wear their honors cords and regalia from our educational partnerships (and others), she said, including, but not limited to, Mid-East, Ohio University, the armed forces, and Eagle Scouts. She said there is also a partnership with the American Red Cross, where seniors who donate blood three times in their senior year are given a red cord to wear. We allow all honors theyve earned to be worn. The other schools have yet to respond. Neal said he was surprised by Bakers reaction and noted he even recognized her in his speech about how well she had done at Mid-East. I recognized her at the podium, and I stated that in my remarks, he said. According to Baker, what he said was that two students at Mid-East had earned high honors. He didnt say our names, we couldnt wear our medals, no one knew it was me, said Baker. I got a 4.0 for four years straight and they wouldnt even put me in the (program) because I didnt go to that school every day. She said after she was sent to the office for questioning the policy and told she couldnt wear her cords she was instead offered the National Honor Society sash to wear. I declined because that was not something I earned, said Baker. And those students should get recognized because they earned their sash, as I should be recognized because I earned my sash, which I had to remove. Baker said the issue runs deeper than just the policy itself or the communication surrounding it. She said students who choose other pathways outside the traditional sports, education, and school clubs model are often considered outside of the system and are treated accordingly. It doesnt feel like were still part of the school when we leave (to go another place like Mid-East or participate in clubs not part of the school system), Baker said. They kind of let you fall a little bit. Neal said Tri-Valley is supportive of all the students who attend non-traditional programs outside the school and recognize them in many ways. We dont want anyone to feel slighted, said Neal. We work hard to recognize them, and we did recognize them at graduation. Baker said thats not enough and believes the cord policy is an antiquated rule that should be changed. Were in a whole new age than what schools ever used to be in, she said. I feel in the age of 2024, us wearing cords should not be what gets them all riled up. Besides, its our graduation, not theirs. She noted that changing traditional graduation policies is something Tri-Valley has done before. The policy of girls wearing yellow gowns and boys wearing black gowns was changed due to a student complaint and now every graduate instead wears black gowns with yellow-tipped sleeves, she said. So, you can change that policy, but we cant examine this policy about not being able to wear cords from (other programs and organizations)? Baker asked. That person had an opportunity to change something, and it did change for good. And I think that can happen with the cords and medals. A statement provided by Neal reads: We are always willing to listen to and consider new ideas, especially when it pertains to recognizing the accomplishments of our students. We wish the Class of 2024 nothing but the best as they continue to make their mark on the World. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Mid-East grad hopes Tri-Valley updates policy on cords at graduation Military drill tempo picks up in Asia, but China still lags U.S. and allies, report says By Gerry Doyle and Greg Torode HONG KONG/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The United States and China have significantly increased the volume of military exercises across Asia amid roiling regional tensions in recent years, though Beijing's drills still lag in scale and complexity, a new study has found. In a survey of military exercises in Asia between 2003 and 2022, the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies said drills are expanding at an increasing rate, driven in part by U.S. and Chinese efforts to test capabilities and boost strategic diplomacy. The IISS study "Scripted Order", released on Friday, charted some 1,113 U.S. exercises involving Asian countries, compared with 130 run by China. Noting that the U.S. military may eventually lose its edge over China in the region, the study says China is challenged by a lack of combat experience and that its exercises "remain underdeveloped and over scripted for a regional contingency". "The U.S. will seek to maintain its lead via plethora of military exercises with almost all regional countries," the study notes. "China will try to narrow the gap by deepening its exercise ties with a small number of regional partners." More broadly, military deployments across the region have been rising for several years amid tensions over Taiwan, which China claims as it own, and territorial disputes in the vital trade waterways of the East and South China Seas. Diplomats and analysts say they are watching the trend closely, with some noting that drills serve many purposes: promoting freedom of navigation in disputed waters, signalling deterrence and reassurance, and improving diplomacy. The drills also create opportunities to probe rivals' capabilities and communications, with both U.S. and Chinese ships and planes frequently shadowing each other, said three military attaches, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. China, North Korea and Russia have all complained that the increasing tempo of U.S. drills, with and without its allies, is driving up tensions in the region and triggering arms buildups. The U.S. says the exercises are needed to build confidence and improve interoperability. Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said on Thursday that Beijing's goal was to strengthen its defence capability against "aggression" and enhance regional trust. RISK TO ENERGY SUPPLIES Chinese drills with other forces often involve parallel operations rather than interoperability, which the United States promotes with its allies and partners. The IISS noted China's growing focus on the Indian Ocean, where some analysts have warned it would struggle to defend its vital energy supplies in an East Asian conflict. It noted the complexity of naval drills with Pakistan in the Arabian Sea in November 2023 involving China's most advanced Type-052D destroyers. Washington's focus on competition with China since the mid-to-late 2010s sparked changes, the report says, and its operations with allies Japan, the Philippines and Australia are more important. "The shift towards more frequent and larger exercises with more partners followed prior trends but along a much steeper trajectory that is set to continue beyond 2024," the report says. "Washington did not pursue this shift independently; it could not have occurred absent the rising threat perceptions of some Asia-Pacific states that had been clashing for years with an increasingly assertive China." Singapore-based scholar Ian Storey, who has carried out his own survey of China's interactions with Southeast Asian militaries, says Beijing's involvement spiked in 2023 and is expected to continue to rise. "While the increased tempo of China's defence engagements with Southeast Asia looks impressive, they should be viewed in perspective," said Storey, of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, referring to the relatively small number of Beijing's exercises compared with the U.S. More broadly, the exercise trend's effects on regional security depend on who is doing them and why, said Euan Graham, a senior analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. As a result, he said, risk "is in the eye of the beholder". Some Southeast Asian countries, he noted, don't see allied exercises as reassuring, but rather as spurring the other side - China in this case - to hold more exercises of their own. But some of its regional allies had made "a very strong demand for reassurance" from the U.S., he said. (Reporting By Greg Torode in Hong Kong and Gerry Doyle in Singapore; additional reporting by Josh Smith in Seoul and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by Sharon Singleton) Anastasiia Volkova, a war correspondent for the Ukrainian broadcaster FREEDOM, was killed in Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, on 30 May. She was 31. Source: FREEDOM media outlet Details: Anastasiia worked in the hottest spots of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. She was very dedicated to her work and had no intention of moving to a safer place. She grew up in Luhansk and dreamed of being the first Ukrainian journalist to report from the liberated city. Anastasiia had been working as a war correspondent for Ukrainian state broadcasting channels since 2018. She was awarded the Order of Merit, third class, in June 2022. According to sources of the Institute of Mass Information, a Ukrainian NGO, Anastasiia died in a car accident. The editorial board of Ukrainska Pravda expresses its sincere condolences to Anastasiia's family and colleagues. Support UP or become our patron! KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian businesses are expecting favorable business conditions in the second quarter, with the confidence indicator maintaining a positive trajectory of +0.7 percent, an official survey showed Thursday. The Department of Statistics Malaysia said in a statement that the industry sector continues to be optimistic about business performance, with a confidence indicator of +5.3 percent for the corresponding quarter. The improved outlook in the industry sector is influenced by three subsectors -- mining, manufacturing, and electricity and water, which predict encouraging business conditions in the reference quarter. However, the construction, wholesale and retail trade, and services sectors foresee challenging business conditions in the second quarter. The death of a servicemember is one of the most tragic outcomes of military duty and something none of us want to think about. But when it happens, fortunately, there are services and resources available to help surviving spouses and dependents through their tragedy. In addition to bereavement services offered by the military, AAFMAA (American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association) provides Survivor Assistance Services during times of greatest need for military families. It can be overwhelming and challenging for surviving family members to navigate the government agency claims processes to acquire benefits earned through military service. And when someone is processing the death of a loved one, this is the last thing they want to be focused on. Making a plan ahead of time for a worst-case scenario means you and your loved ones will be prepared in the event of a tragedy. When an AAFMAA Member passes away, an AAFMAA Survivor Benefits counselor can assist with the various time-critical next steps, including notifying DFAS (Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and the VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) of the Members passing. They also assist survivors with any necessary forms and survivor benefits, initiating the AAFMAA Life Insurance policy death claim and settlement options, and contacting other life insurance companies and associations listed within the Members profile. One way to make the time easier is to address certain aspects of the process beforehand. AAFMAA offers a free Military Survivor Checklist to help you prepare in advance for any contingency and to organize the information and resources your family members will need should the time come. The checklist covers documents that should be copied and organized, including birth certificates, death certificates, wills, powers of attorney, estate plans, civil service pensions, notifications of disabled adult children, life insurance policy information, and more. It can be a lot to take in, which is why the checklist and the personalized support services exist. As part of AAFMAAs Survivor Assistance Services, Members get help organizing necessary documents, forms, and resources. The team can also file claims on your behalf. Additionally, they will continue to follow up with your survivors throughout the process and ensure that benefits are paid in full. From expeditious payments to life insurance, you can count on AAFMAAs Survivor Assistance team to help with logistics and financial support during the bereavement process. AAFMAA also advocates for surviving family members, making initial inquiries and following up in claims disputes. That support continues after servicemembers are gone, with personalized reports on their benefits and entitlements. Just because a servicemember passes away does not mean their surviving family is alone. AAFMAA is there to ensure survivors are advocated for and supported during one of their most challenging experiences. Become an AAFMAA Member today to ensure your family will have everything they need in place when the time comes. View comments These Milwaukee restaurants and bars will be closed to the public during the RNC The Republican National Convention is coming to Milwaukee July 15 through 18 and is expected to bring an estimated 50,000 people to the city, according to the host committee. The main event will be held at Fiserv Forum, closing down the arena and the surrounding area inside the hard security perimeter to people who do not have the appropriate credentials (the border of that zone has not yet been announced). For those who don't have credentials, the question remains of which bars and restaurants will be open to the general public, and which are booked for private events and will be closed. Six weeks out from the event, only a handful of bars and restaurants in the area could confirm they would be closed. Some restaurant groups have plans in the works, but do not have details yet on what times or places private bookings might take place. That includes Trinity, Harp, Vagabond and Water Street Brewery (all owned by Matt and RC Schmidt) and Wild Planet Hospitality group, which owns Red Rock Saloon and McGillicuddy's. Other restaurants do not have any private bookings, including bars and restaurants inside the larger security footprint near Fiserv Forum like Who's on Third, Old German Beer Hall, Oak Barrel Public House, Local Pub and Third Street Tavern. These spaces will be open to the public if they are not inside the hard security perimeter. But a few places have begun to report that they have private bookings finalized. Here's a look at the bars and restaurants that have and will be fully or partially closed to the public during the RNC. This list will be updated as bookings are announced. If your bar or restaurant will be closed to the public during the RNC, please email jordyn.noennig@jrn to be added to this list. Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen, 320 E. Clybourn St., serves up cocktails and spirits from Central Standard Craft Distillery, plus food and a full bar. 320 E. Clybourn St. Co-owner Evan Hughes said Central Standard's three-level space is completely booked out Monday through Wednesday evenings during the RNC, and is in negotiations for Thursday and lunch bookings. Hughes said they are considering throwing late-night parties during the RNC that would be open to the public. 2301 S. Logan Ave. In March the Mothership announced it would be closed for the RNC in a stance against what it called the "tomfoolery" of it all. The social media post said that the bar could be rented out for private events for "free to dirt cheap prices." 1044 N. King Drive, 1048 N. King Drive Owner Jake Dehne said his two King Street bars are booked for a private group July 15 and 16. The Tuesday event is for three delegation groups that are hosting a private event together. On Monday, a group is renting both spaces and might allow public access, Dehne said. RWB's would likely remain closed Wednesday and reopen Thursday, per its usual schedule. Lucky Clover would reopen to the public Wednesday. Turner Hall 1040 N. Phillips Ave. The restaurant on the first level of the Milwaukee Turners building closed in April after Turning Tables Tavern decided not to renew its lease. The restaurant will remain closed through the summer, and the entire building will be rented out for the duration of the RNC, according to Milwaukee Turners Executive Director Emilio De Torre. 1110 N. King Drive Whitetail has a private booking for all four days of the RNC, according to owner Edward DeShazer. But the space will close to the public even earlier, on July 1, for a remodel. It will reopen to the public July 19, the Friday after the RNC. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: These Milwaukee restaurants and bars will be closed during the RNC Milwaukee's Lake Drive is getting protected bike lanes. That has some homeowners angry A long stretch of Milwaukee's North Lake Drive will be getting protected bike lanes over the objections of some of the street's homeowners. The bike lanes, to be separated from car lanes with 2-inch high, 8-inch wide curbs, will be built as part of the reconstruction of Lake Drive between East Edgewood Avenue and East Newberry Boulevard. That $9.8 million project, with $9 million provided by federal and state funds, is to begin in late summer. Protected bike lanes help prevent car-bicycle crashes, according to cycling advocates. They also slow down car speeds, which improves safety for motorists and pedestrians. North Lake Drive's upcoming reconstruction will include adding protected bike lanes between East Newberry Boulevard and East Edgewood Avenue. The protected bike lanes are opposed by some Lake Drive residents. They're afraid they'll make it more difficult to turn out of their driveways; affect the city's ability to plow snow and respond with emergency vehicles, and mar their historic district's appearance. Opponents also are unhappy about the elimination of a parking lane on Lake Drive's west side. More: Milwaukee's National Avenue will see its auto lanes cut. Other safety changes are coming Those arguments were aired during a Thursday meeting of the Common Council's Public Works Committee. The committee voted 4-1, with Ald. Milele Coggs opposed, to recommend an assessment to pay for the project's sidewalk improvements. The full council is to consider the assessment at its June 11 meeting. The reconstruction project has been in the planning stages since 2020, and has already received funding approval from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. WisDOT oversees the project because Lake Drive is a state highway. The Milwaukee Department of Public Works and WisDOT held two meetings, in 2020 and 2022, to obtain public input. At that latter meeting, a concern was raised about why the plans didn't include protected bike lanes, said David Tapia, DPW's major projects manager. That led to revised plans to include the lanes, Tapia told committee members. Letters were sent to around 150 homeowners about that revised design, resulting in just two responses, he said. With construction to begin this summer, Tapia said any major change to the project would likely result in WisDOT postponing that work. Lake Drive's reconstruction would go to the back of the line for state highway projects delaying it for around 10 years, he said. Street homeowners told committee members they want the road reconstructed. But they said they didn't know until recently about the revised plans to include protected bike lanes, which involves eliminating the west side parking lane. And they loudly voiced their unhappiness throughout the committee meeting prompting a warning from Ald. Robert Bauman, committee chair, that he would clear the room if the proceedings were disrupted. The opponents include Jennifer Abele, a former city lobbyist and wife of former Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. She said city officials weren't transparent about the design changes that included the protected bike lanes. "It's a complex change in how the roadway will be used," Abele said. Other residents, such as Laura Pfaff, said they're worried about the parking lane elimination which she said could cause problems for people using Lake Park on weekends. Tapia said a city survey showed parking use was less than 50% on the street. He also said the protected curb wouldn't block access to driveways or crosswalks, and would be designed to accommodate snowplows and emergency vehicles. Protected bike lanes have been installed in other Milwaukee neighborhoods without causing problems, supporters said. "We have evidence these kinds of changes make our streets safer," said Anna Bailliekova, a member of the city Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee. Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook. Subscribe to get the BusinessWatch email newsletter. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's Lake Drive getting protected bike lanes over homeowner objections Polish photographer Marcin Ryczek points at his famed "A Man Feeding Swan" image during an exhibition of his work on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the International Convention Center, Jeju Island, South Korea. His work was being exhibited during the three-day Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity. Photo by Darryl Coote/UPI JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, May 30 (UPI) -- Award-winning Polish photographer Marcin Ryczek is known for his minimalist, symbol-rich pieces that create a sense of peace through harmony, but for his latest exhibition on display for world leaders and geopolitical experts congregating on a South Korean island, he included images that resonate with the current moment of conflict and war. Presented by the public diplomacy Korea Foundation nonprofit, Harmony: Marcin Ryczek's Photography is being held Wednesday through June 14 at the International Convention Center Jeju, on South Korea's resort island of Jeju. Its opening was planned to coincide with the start of the three-day Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, which began Wednesday. World leaders, government officials and experts, totally some 3,000 in all, are expected to attend the forum, and Ryczek told UPI he took this into consideration when choosing which of his pieces to line the walls of the center's gallery. "First, I thought to put peaceful photos, like buddhists, like this photo with the swans," he said, referring to his best-known piece, A Man Feeding Swans, a harmonious black-and-white image of white snow and swans contrasted by a man seen in the same black as the water the birds he is feeding swim on. Polish photographer Marcin Ryczek points at one of his images on exhibition Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the International Convention Center, Jeju Island, South Korea. His work was being exhibited during the three-day Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity. Photo by Darryl Coote/UPI Though that yin-yang image is included in the exhibition, Ryczek said he wanted to also showcase beautiful images that are weighed with historical significance. "For example, the border of our neighbor, Ukraine," he said. Polish photographer Marcin Ryczek (L) and Piotr Ostaszewski, the Polish ambassador to South Korea, embrace on Wednesday May 29, 2024, at the International Convention Center, Jeju Island, South Korea. It was the opening of Ryczek's exhibition at the center during the three-day Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity. Photo by Darryl Coote/UPI Hanging on the wall across from Swans was a vertical image of a soldier mid-step over a white line painted on cobblestones entitled Border - road to Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Kiev - Ukraine. The symbolism of the piece is clear -- a man crossing a "border" or line. Ryczek took it in 2014. But Russia's invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, and the ongoing war has given its meaning even more significance, he said. Guests look on Marcin Ryczek's famed A Man Feeding Swan" image during an exhibition of his work on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the International Convention Center, Jeju Island, South Korea. Ryczek's work was being exhibited during the three-day Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity. Photo by Darryl Coote/UPI Piotr Ostaszewski, the Polish ambassador to South Korea who attended the gallery's first day, told UPI it was the image that most resonated with him. He said it represents borders in our own lives that we cannot go back after crossing. But because of where it was taken, it is also imbued with historical significance. Polish photographer Marcin Ryczek gives remarks at the opening of his "Harmony: Marcin Ryczek's Photography" exhibition at the International Convention Center, Jeju Island, South Korea. Ryczek's work was being exhibited during the three-day Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity. Photo by Darryl Coote/UPI Russian President Vladimir Putin "crossed the line, there is no way back for him," he said, while adding that for Ukrainians it could mean "somebody crossed the line and they have to defend themselves to recover the line." Ryczek explained that the image -- like all his images -- is not "reportage, it's metaphorical" and its meaning is up to the viewer. Polish photographer Marcin Ryczek's "Border - road to Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Kiev - Ukraine" hangs on the wall Thursday, May 30, 2024, during the exhibition of "Harmony: Marcin Ryczek's Photography" at the International Convention Center, Jeju Island, South Korea. Ryczek's work was being exhibited during the three-day Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity. Photo by Darryl Coote/UPI Yang Jeongsun, curator for the Korea Foundation's KF Global Center in Seoul, said this is what caught her attention about his work. "[His] photos are characterized by leaving room for each viewer's interpretation," she told UPI in an email. "We hope that through the photographs of Marcin Ryczek, everyone can explore the possibilities of 'Acting Together for a Better World,'" she added, referencing the theme of the forum. Ryczek said this element of leaving room for the viewers' interpretation is why he redacts the locations of where the photos were shot from the information that accompanies his photographs in galleries. "I don't put too many information with this photo because I would like to put something universal," he said. However, with Border and other historical war-connected images donning the center's walls during the peace forum it was important for him the viewers knew where it was shot. "It's good to remember this situation," he said. A 23-year-old man killed and dismembered his pregnant sister in Lakeville, Minnesota last week because he believed she was no longer innocent, according to authorities. Jack Joseph Ball is charged with two counts of second-degree murder for the slaying of Bethany Israel, 30, and her unborn child, prosecutors said Tuesday. The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing and horrificwords cant describe what our law enforcement partners encountered during the investigation, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena said in a press release. A criminal complaint relays how Israel vanished after going over to Balls home to have dinner with him last Thursday. Her family became worried after she didnt return home that night, and a relative drove over to Balls home, where they observed him fleeing the scene. The relative entered the house and called police after encountering a significant amount of blood, according to the affidavit. Officers who responded to the call discovered bloody knives and several dismembered body parts believed to be Israels, the affidavit states. Another apparent body part was later found on a neighbors front porch. Ball was eventually found in the backyard of a nearby home, bloodied and apparently suffering from a self-inflicted wound to the neck, according to the complaint. He was transported to a hospital for treatment. Israels death was determined to have been the result of complex homicidal violence, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner. She was somewhere between 17 and 18 weeks pregnant. Also found at Balls home by investigators were several journals. In one of them, Ball had scrawled that he was furious his sister had become pregnant, as it meant she was no longer innocent, according to police. Ball remained hospitalized on Tuesday, with plans having been made to transfer him to the Dakota County Jail once he is medically cleared. His bail has been set at $2 million without conditions and $1 million with conditions, according to online records. His next court date is set for June 10. A GoFundMe started for Israels family had raised more than $30,000 as of Wednesday. Bethany was not only a cherished wife, daughter, sister, and an expectant mother but also a beloved figure in the volleyball community, the fundraising page reads. Bethanys radiant spirit and unwavering kindness touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. 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. Video above: Florida has about 1.2 million alligators TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Police are investigating after a missing womans remains were found inside the jaws of an alligator Tuesday morning. Houston police were searching for the woman, who was believed to be in her 60s when they discovered the reptile in the Horsepen Bayou outside Houston around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, according to a press release. When police neared the gator, they saw the womans remains in its mouth. An officer fatally shot the alligator to prevent it from doing more damage to the remains, police said. Most alligator-infested lakes in Florida A dive team recovered the womans remains and the gator from the bayou. The Houston Police Department said its awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death. At this time, its unclear whether the alligator killed the woman or if the woman was already dead when the gator found her. The womans identity has not yet been revealed and the incident is under investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Mississippi anglers can soon fish without a license, officials say BILOXI, Miss. (WKRG) Mississippi residents over the age of 16 are required to have a fishing license to fish in the fresh or marine waters of Mississippi, but as summer approaches with it comes opportunities for anglers without a license. Gulf Shores Surf Rescue team rescues 7, finds 18 missing people over busy Memorial Day weekend There are two timeframes that the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources highlighted for those who do not have a fishing license: National Fishing and Boating Week and the Fourth of July. Fishing without a license National Fishing and Boating Week Anglers without a fishing license can soon fish for free in Mississippi public waters as National Fishing and Boating Week approaches. According to a release, the first weekend of National Fishing and Boating Week, which runs from June 1-9, is designated as Free Fishing Weekend. Thus, on the weekend (June 1 and 2), anglers may fish without a sport fishing license in all public waters in Mississippi. The Fourth of July But National Fishing and Boating Week does not mean the end of fishing for those without a license in Mississippi, the release said. July 4 of each year is designated as Free Saltwater Sport Fishing Day on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The release stated, Any person may saltwater sport fish without a recreational saltwater fishing license on July 4 in the marine waters of Mississippi (waters south of Interstate 10). Rules in place Although anglers are not required to have a recreational saltwater license for the dates above, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources emphasized that size and possession limits are still in place. More information on recreational size and possession limits can be found on the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources website. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes, the release said. For more information on fishing licenses in Mississippi, visit the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. Mississippi sheriffs office to conduct review after details of a Goon Squad message group were revealed in news report The Rankin County Sheriffs Office says it will conduct a review and analysis after a Wednesday report from The New York Times and Mississippi Today detailed messages in an encrypted WhatsApp group chat between known Goon Squad members and other law enforcement officers, some of whom are still employed by the county. The Goon Squad was the name a group of deputies gave themselves because of their willingness to use excessive force and not report it, federal prosecutors said in court documents. Some of the messages discuss brutalizing and demeaning suspects, as well as exchanging disturbing crime scene photos and pictures of rotting corpses, the report said. In one exchange from a 2022 domestic violence arrest, then-Deputy Hunter Elward wrote, Did you Tase him in the face!? Fellow Goon Squad member Daniel Opdyke asked if they had shocked the man in the anus. Another deputy said the suspect would have gotten more lovings, seeming to indicate they held back because of potential witnesses, saying, All the neighbors were outside watching. Chat members also discussed taking nude pictures of a woman they had arrested, the Times reported. Another exchange discusses deputies getting points for shooting someone. The reporting on a WhatsApp group chat is believed to contain information from a former deputys private cell phone. Since we cannot compel any employee to turn over his / her private cell phone data, we have requested the full private text thread from the New York Times for use in an internal review and analysis, an attorney for the Rankin County Sheriffs Office said in a statement to CNN. There are three individuals who remain employed with this Department that were added to this private group chat by a former deputy, and none are alleged to have violated someones constitutional rights or committed any criminal act, the statement said. Former deputies and Goon Squad members Elward, Opdyke and Jeffrey Middleton all participated in the chat reviewed by the Times and Mississippi Today. Former Deputy Brett McAlpin is also mentioned in one exchange, according to the report. McAlpin, Middleton, Elward and Opdyke, along with former Deputy Christian Dedmon and Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield have all pleaded guilty to the sexual assault and kidnapping of two innocent Black men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, in Rankin County in January 2023. They are serving concurrent state and federal prison sentences. The planning of the assaults on Jenkins and Parker took place on WhatsApp, according to the Department of Justice. It is unclear if the group chat referenced by the Justice Department is the same as the one on which the Times and Mississippi Today reported. CNN has not obtained the full group chat that was described in the report. One member of the group chat, who no longer works for the sheriffs department, called his messages absolutely all jokes, in an interview with the New York Times. Neither the department nor Sheriff Bryan Bailey knew of the existence of a shift of officers who called themselves the Goon Squad until a bill of information was filed in federal court, the sheriffs office statement said. The statement continues, It was also around this time we learned that the five former deputies coordinated their criminal activity via private text messaging, presumably in an attempt to avoid detection by this Department and Sheriff Bailey. In March, after the sentencing of the former law enforcement officers, CNN spoke with attorney Jeff Reynolds, who represents Opdyke. Reynolds noted Opdyke cooperated in the case by sharing the WhatsApp encrypted text messages. The explanation by some that they were just joking about torturing people in their what they thought were secret WhatsApp texts rings hollow given the multiple incidents of torture that have now been documented, Reynolds said Wednesday in a statement to CNN about the latest report. CNN has reached out to attorneys of the other Goon Squad members alleged to have taken part in the chat for comment but has not received a response. Malik Shabazz, the lead attorney for Jenkins and Parker, said the latest revelations regarding the Rankin County Mississippi Goon Squad text messages are not surprising at all. For years, the lawlessness of Rankin County deputies, especially the night shift, had become notorious to residents. Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker were not shot and tortured in a vacuum. There will be much more to come, Shabazz said. It was just unbelievable, Angela English, president of the NAACP Rankin County chapter, told CNN, speaking about the report. What I have read is extremely disturbing we will not give up the fight. Mary Asa Lee, communications director for Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, told CNN in an email the office does not comment on open investigations. The office of US Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi Todd Gee also declined to comment on the current investigation. But earlier this month, Gee, along with members of his criminal and civil rights divisions, held a listening session in Rankin County inviting residents to share accounts of police misconduct. We know from members of the public who have already called that there have been a lot of other incidents here in Rankin County over the years, Gee said. I cant emphasize enough to you, please let us know what has happened to you, what has happened to your friends, what has happened to your family. CNNs Ryan Young contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com ST. LOUIS As temperatures increase and insects such as cicadas reign in the area, it may not be an uncommon sight to see an increase in armadillo sightings, especially along highways. With the warmer weather, we see more insect activity, and with that, more armadillo activity as they search for insects as their primary food source, says Dan Zarlenga with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Also, we are experiencing an abundance of insect resources right now with the 13-year periodical cicada emergence underway, Zarlenga says. St. Louis is coming out of a lighter winter, and the armadillo population may be higher as these shelled mammals survive better in milder temperatures. Whistleblower lawsuit alleges retaliation by Missouri House speaker Though the Missouri Department of Conservation does not make special efforts to track armadillos, Zarlenga says they have received observational reports of dead armadillo sightings along Interstate 44. Armadillos are not originally native to Missouri, and therefore have not been a species of focus for MDC, Zarlenga says. However, they are not colonizing on their own with time and are sort of becoming naturalized wildlife now. He also mentions that armadillo populations are trending upward and expanding more northward over time. When encountering an armadillo, Zarlenga says its best to give it space and not try to harness or capture it, as with all wildlife. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Since armadillos have poor eyesight, they tend to jump straight up when startled. Unfortunately, this often puts them into a head-on collision with vehicle grills, which is why we tend to see so many dead ones on the side of the road, Zarlenga says. This instinctual behavior may benefit them against a predator in the wild, but not so much against a moving vehicle. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. (AP) As the school year drew to a close, Daken Kramer worried about children who owed money for meals at his school. So the enterprising fifth grader decided to do something about it. Daken, 11, posted a video last month challenging friends, family, and even strangers and businesses to pay off the meal debt at Thomas Ultican Elementary School in Blue Springs, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. He was apparently convincing: He raised $7,370 more than double his original goal of $3,500. It paid off all the debt at his school and provided nearly $4,000 to reduce meal debt at Blue Springs High School, as well. Daken, in a phone interview Wednesday, said he simply wanted to do something nice. It was my last year, the soon-to-be middle schooler said. I just wanted to do something kind to say thank you to the school. Missouri fifth grade student Daken Kramer, 11, holds an award at Blue Springs High School in Blue Springs, Kansas. (Vanessa Kramer via AP) Missouri fifth grade student Daken Kramer, 11, stands during an award ceremony on May 21, 2024 at Blue Springs High School in Blue Springs, Kansas. (Vanessa Kramer via AP) Nearly 30% of the 15,000 students in the Blue Springs School District are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, according to state data. Even at that lower cost, some students at the districts 20 schools cant keep up. Overall, the district has a meal debt of around $235,000. Nationally, the School Nutrition Associations 2024 survey of member school districts found that the median district meal debt as of November was $5,495, up from $5,164 a year earlier. The survey found that debt amounts can reach up to about $1 million for some districts. This online tool shows where your child can get food over the summer During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal aid provided free school meals nationwide, but that ended in 2022. Dakens mom, Vanessa Kramer, said she learned that the pandemic-era program was the only time some students in the district got breakfast. That kind of stuck with me because I grew up in a food-insecure home, Vanessa Kramer said. There were a lot of times that even as a high schooler, I was getting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Dakens video was posted April 12 on his moms Facebook page. Daken wanted to do something special as a thank you to his school, and has VERY high hopes for this project. Im so proud of him for wanting to help others, Vanessa wrote at the time. When his efforts made the local news, donations began to pour in from across the country. Great job Daken looking out for the less fortunate in your community you saw a problem and rose to the occasion to help, wrote a New Jersey donor who gave $100. You are a great leader and a role model. His school agreed. During fifth grade graduation May 21, Dakens teacher, Kristi Haley, announced that an annual award will be named after him the Daken Kramer Legacy Award to honor students who go above and beyond. Applesauce maker files Chapter 7 bankruptcy amid lead recall lawsuits Its your heart, your drive, your determination and your grit to help others that inspires us, Haley said at the ceremony. It was amazing, Daken said. It definitely made me feel special. Eight states California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Vermont make school meals free to all students regardless of income, even after the pandemic. Vanessa said that it would be great if Missouri joined them and that if not, maybe her sons act of kindness can inspire others. Im trying to teach my kids that if the people who have the power to make a difference wont, its OK to step up and be that person that will make a difference, Vanessa said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing on Thursday. Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China-UAE relations have entered a new stage of comprehensive, rapid and in-depth development under the strategic guidance of the two heads of the state. Noting that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Zhao said China is ready to work with the UAE side to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, promote the further development of China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership, and elevate China's cooperation with the Arab states and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Exchanges and cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries is an important part of bilateral relations, Zhao said, adding that the NPC of China is willing to strengthen exchanges with the UAE Federal National Council to provide legal guarantee for bilateral cooperation in various fields. Mohamed said that the two sides enjoy a profound and solid comprehensive strategic partnership with global influence. The UAE firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to become a strong and active partner in the Belt and Road cooperation to benefit the two peoples. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) A man has filed a lawsuit against the town of Sturgeon, Missouri, a little more than a week after a police officer shot and killed his small, blind, and deaf dog. In a federal lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Nicholas Hunter alleges that Officer Myron Woodson and the city of Sturgeon violated his Fourth Amendment rights when Woodson killed Teddy, his 13-pound blind and deaf Shih Tzu, shortly after finding the dog wandering in a neighbor's yard on May 19. "Woodson's warrantless seizure of Teddy was unnecessary, callous, and egregious as it was unwarranted by law and violative of Plaintiff Hunter's most fundamental and guaranteed of constitutional rights," Hunter's lawsuit says. "At no time during the encounter between Teddy and Defendant Woodson did Teddy show any aggression towards Defendant Woodson. Teddy never barked, growled, or even moved towards Defendant Woodson. Instead, the small, blind and deaf dog simply kept trying to walk away, oblivious to the danger that Defendant Woodson posed to him." The shooting has outraged the town's residents, especially after body camera footage obtained by a local news outlet contradicted the officer and city officials' narrative of events. The mayor of Sturgeon resigned last Saturday evening after defending the shooting for several days, and Woodson has been placed on leave. The shooting, though, is only an egregious example of a phenomenon that is so common that it has its own tag on Reason's website: "puppycide." No one knows exactly how many dogs police shoot around the country, but every year there are more cases of wanton killings that, besides terrorizing owners, generate huge lawsuits, viral outrage, and in rare instances result in officers being fired, such as the case of an Arkansas officer who casually killed a nine-pound dog. The incident in Sturgeon started when Teddy dug under Hunter's backyard fence while Hunter was out at dinner and escaped, leaving its collar behind in the process. A neighbor called a county dispatch center to report that the dog had wandered into their yard and to get help finding its owner. According to Hunter's lawsuit, the caller responded, "No, not at all," when asked if the dog was aggressive. The town of Sturgeon's official Facebook page actually posted an alert on May 19 about the missing dog, along with photos of Teddy: "Do you know this doggie? Joint communications has been notified. The doggie seems in need of medical attention." Medical attention was not what the doggie received. Woodson arrived on the scene, and a few minutes later he shot Teddy twice. In the meantime, Hunter had been called and told about the Facebook post. He was on his way to pick up Teddy, but arrived too late. A day later, the city of Sturgeon posted on Facebook about the incident, defending Woodson's decision: "Based on the behavior exhibited by the dog, believing the dog to be severely injured or infected with rabies, and as the officer feared being bitten and being infected with rabies, the SPD officer felt that his only option was to put the animal down," Sturgeon wrote. "It was later learned that the animal's behavior was because the animal was blind. Unfortunately, the animal's lack of a collar or tags influenced the SPD Officer's decision to put the animal down due to his belief that the animal was injured, sick and abandoned." Both Hunter and the neighbor filed complaints with the city. "I cannot stress enough that this animal was in no way a threat to others," the neighbor, whose complaint was obtained by local news outlet ABC 17, wrote. "Woodson discharged his firearm multiple times in a residential area without a threat presenting itself, without warning." ABC 17 also obtained Woodson's body camera footage, which showed that Teddy was never aggressive and didn't bark or growl. Woodson tried to lasso Teddy with a catch polea common tool used in animal controlbut the dog simply shook its head free of the rope and trotted away. After fumbling the catch pole several times, Woodson drew his gun and killed Teddy. ABC 17 reported that Woodson's entire encounter with Teddy, from exiting his car to putting two bullets in the animal, lasted three minutes and six seconds. After body camera footage was released, Sturgeon doubled down. "The City believes that the officer acted within his authority based on the information available to him at the time to protect against possible injury to citizens from what appeared to be an injured, sick, and abandoned dog," Sturgeon posted in a follow-up Facebook post. Of course, it would have been embarrassing to admit the real reason that the officer resorted to using his gun: He was unable to snare a blind, deaf dog and was too poorly trained to come up with a solution besides shooting a harmless animal. But police habitually lie about the behavior of dogs that they shoot. Dogs are almost always described in incident reports as snarling, aggressive, or lunging, and because department policies typically allow police to shoot dogs when they feel afraid for their safety, these shootings are almost always deemed justified. For example, last year in Missouri a police officer shot a family's dog and dumped it in a ditch. Similar to Hunter's case, the dog had gotten loose during a storm, and a neighbor called to report it missing. In another case last year, Detroit cops killed a woman's dog and dumped its body in a trash can. An Arkansas woman also filed a lawsuit after a cop accidentally shot her while trying to kill her Pomeraniana toy breed that resembles a Koosh ball with legs. This is the sort of behavior that's flagged as sociopathic when committed by anyone who's not represented by a police union. And it's the sort of behavior that can cost a small town like Sturgeon quite a lot of money, as city officials are surely fretting now. After Sturgeon's mayor resigned last Friday, the acting mayor posted on Sturgeon's Facebook account: "Like you we were just as appalled by what we saw. The actions of the Officer involved are not the values and beliefs of the residents of Sturgeon or the board of Alderman. Currently I have made calls to the Boone County Sheriff to meet and discuss an investigation." The city of Sturgeon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The post A Missouri Police Officer Shot a Blind and Deaf Dog. Now He's Being Sued. appeared first on Reason.com. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Missouri voters will see a familiar question on the ballot later this year regarding police funding. Last month, the states highest court said voters were misled by a constitutional amendment that was on the 2022 ballot. Amendment 4, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters, would require Kansas City to increase the amount of money it spends on its police department. Its a question Missourians will get to decide on again in August. Because its a constitutional amendment, all voters, even outside of Kanas City, get to vote on this referendum during the Aug. 6 primary. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Modesto City Schools teachers will get a salary bump. Heres how much and how it happened Modesto City Schools officials and the Modesto Teachers Association reached a tentative agreement on a new contract after more than a year of negotiations. The new contract gives teachers a 7.25% raise in salary. In addition, starting in January 2025, teachers will receive an extra $150 a month for health insurance. Members of the Modesto Teachers Association ratified the 2023-25 Tentative Agreement on Friday, May 17 with 82.4% in favor. The contract is also retroactive to the beginning of the just-completed school year. Members of the Modesto Teachers Association strongly recommend that Modesto City School Board trustees ratify the 2023-25 tentative agreement, said Modesto Teacher Association President Chris Peterson. Modesto teachers had been working without a labor contract since the end of the 2022-23 school year. The union sought an 11% salary increase to help cover the rising cost of living and health insurance. Before the $100 increase in the districts contributions to health insurance premiums in January teachers had to spend between $12,355.68 and $22,552.80 a year to cover themselves and their partners, depending on the plan they chose. To cover themselves and their families, including children, teachers would need to pay between $18,942.36 and $32,198.64 per year, depending on the chosen level of coverage. Hundreds of people teachers and others picket outside the Modesto City Schools board meeting Monday afternoon, March 4, 2024. In March, around 400 Modesto Teachers Association members picketed outside a school board meeting, calling for the increase. At the time, the district offered only a 6.25% salary increase. Because the union and the district reached an impasse, a state mediator came in to help with negotiations. The Board of Education is set to vote June 3 to put the new 2023-25 contract in effect. I am also proud that despite the bumpy financial road ahead for school districts throughout California, teachers at Modesto City Schools will receive a significant salary increase, Superintendent Sara Noguchi told The Bee in an email. Moline native joins Augustana police force Augustana College, Rock Island, officials gathered May 14 to swear in Ryan Tone as a police officer for the Augustana College Police Department. From left, Augustana Chief of Police Tom Phillis, Officer Ryan Tone and Dean Wes Brooks. (Augustana College) Augustana Police Chief Tom Phillis and Dean Wes Brooks led the ceremony, which was attended by Tones family. We are excited to add Ryan Tone to the Augustana College Police Department, Phillis said. Ryan comes to us with a wealth of experience which well use to further the law enforcement side of our mission. Tone said he is excited to join Augustanas department. Im thrilled to be a part of Chief Tom Phillis public safety team at Augustana, the Moline native said. Students come here to earn an excellent education we keep them safe. After attending Moline High School, Tone graduated from Augustana in 1985 with a degree in public administration. He worked as a corrections officer for Scott County Jail before being hired by the Illinois State Police in 1986. He worked as a state trooper for several years and served on the Illinois State Police Drug Interdiction team code named Valkyrie. The initiative removed illegal drugs and guns from the street and secured arrests of those involved. Tone was assigned to the FBI Federal Gang Task Force of the Quad Cities, where he worked on significant drug, gun and gang violence cases. Most recently, he served as police chief for the Village of Hampton. He is married to Pam, and the pair share two children and four grandchildren. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. My mom is my coworker. I get to see her more, but we keep it professional in the office. Greg Bockman is the Senior Events Manager at AT&T. His mom, Kathryn Bockman, is the company's Assistant Vice President of Accounting. Greg said Kathy sometimes acts as his mentor and sometimes acts as his mom. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Greg Bockman, senior events manager at AT&T, and his mother Kathryn Bockman. It has been edited for length and clarity. Sometimes when I'm at work in the AT&T office in Dallas, the elevator will open and my mom will stroll out. It's not a crazy coincidence or an issue of mom overstepping: we both work for the same company and in the same building. If I bump into my mom coming out of the elevator or in the hall, we'll give a quick embrace, but not the type of mother-son hug we save for family events. Since we work in different departments it's rare that we're in a meeting together. If we are, we acknowledge each other with a polite smile or nod the same way we greet coworkers who aren't family. We've learned that it's important to keep up professionalism. And yet, working with my mom has been a really cool growth opportunity. I know her better because I get to see her as a professional and mentor, not just a mother. I wouldn't want to report to my mom directly I never expected to be working with my mom. Growing up I knew she worked at AT&T and had a lot of loyalty to the company, but our interests were totally different: I love planning events, while she's focused on numbers and finance. Even after I graduated college and looked for a job in the corporate world, my mom didn't intervene. She didn't want anything to be spoon-fed to me. And yet, I felt a familiarity with life at AT&T, and when a job presented itself at the company where my mom is in leadership, I took it. Luckily, I've never had family or coworkers give me a hard time about working with mom. I don't report to her and we rarely cross paths professionally. I'm glad we maintain that division. I see my mom a lot more since we work together Like most moms, mine would appreciate it if I saw her more. Outside work we get together probably two to three times a week. I'll head to her house for dinner and catch up with the rest of the family, including the dogs. That doesn't give us too much time. So, bumping into her once or twice a week at work has really strengthened our relationship. We even have the opportunity to put a lunch date right on each other's company calendar, which makes keeping in touch much easier. Having a mom and mentor in one can be complex In our situation, I get a mentor and a mother. There's no doubt that my mom is good at her job, and seeing her in this environment as a career woman has really enriched my understanding of who she is. Because of that, I really value her professional mentorship. There's a definite difference in her tone when she's speaking to me as a mom, versus as a mentor. As a mother, she tries to be understanding and soften the blow of any tough love. As a mentor, she's a straight shooter, reminding me to buckle up and get the job done. There's love in both deliveries, but sometimes it can be hard to take advice from my mom. Once or twice she's told me things I didn't want to hear. I might get annoyed with my mom about that, but at the same time I appreciate the honesty from my mentor. My mom has a great understanding of my work In a big company like AT&T, it's easy to let other departments handle their areas of expertise, without really understanding why they're important. The same can happen with family we often only have a vague idea what our loved ones do. My mom has told me that since we work together, she has a better understanding of the value that my area of the company has. It's taught her about an area that she might not be aware of, if she didn't have family working within it. That can strengthen the organization because we recognize the potential for collaboration, and the value that everyone brings to the table. Read the original article on Business Insider Mom and Daughter Dead, 4 Others Left 'Clinging' to Vessel After Wave Hits Fishing Boat on Louisiana Lake The victims have been identified as 27-year-old Macy Richard and 57-year-old Jerilyn Hebert of Opelousas Macy Richard/Facebook Jerilyn Hebert (left) and Macy Richard A mother and her daughter have died after a fishing boat capsized in Louisiana with six people onboard, according to authorities. The Sabine Parish Sheriff's Office (SPSO) said in a statement posted to Facebook that it was alerted to the incident in the Pirates Cove area of Toledo Bend Lake just before 12 p.m. local time on Tuesday, May 28. According to a news release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the incident occurred after a wave hit the pontoon boat, causing it to capsize and sink. Related: Remains of Missing Texas Woman in Her 60s Found Inside Alligators Jaws, Officials Say Authorities said Tuesdays incident began shortly after wind and waves suddenly picked up on Toledo Bend Lake. Five people had chartered the boat earlier that day, joined by a guide. The fishing boats guide was able to call 911 after a wave hit the boat, according to the LDWF. Afterward, the guide and three of the charter guests were found clinging to the capsized vessel when help arrived around 1 p.m. The SPSO noted that two others reportedly drowned. The LDWF then located and identified the deceased victims as 27-year-old Macy Richard and 57-year-old Jerilyn Hebert of Opelousas. Their bodies were transferred to the Sabine Parish Coroners Office, which will determine their official causes of death. Hebert and Richard were mother and daughter, according to multiple posts on Facebook. Sabine Parish Sheriff's Office Authorities on Toledo Bend Lake in Louisiana after a boat capsized, leaving two people dead Related: Father and 14-Year-Old Son Drown in Lake After Dad Tried to Rescue Teen: '2 Beautiful Souls' 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. Macy was the kindest soul, Megan Dupuis wrote on her Facebook page. She loved hard just like her Mamma, who absolutely ADORED her daughter. An investigation into the incident, led by the U.S. Coast Guard, is ongoing, according to the LDWF. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy, the LDWF added in a Facebook post. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Money, not capacity, main issue for ammo supplies to Ukraine, Czech official says By Jan Lopatka and Sabine Siebold PRAGUE (Reuters) - The slow pace of donor contributions poses the main obstacle to shipping desperately needed ammunition to Ukraine faster, a leading official in the Czech drive to supply Kyiv said on Thursday. Speaking on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Prague, Tomas Kopecny said Ukraine would need large-calibre ammunition worth 7 billion euros to 10 billion euros ($7.6 billion to $10.8 billion) annually, equal to about 200,000 rounds per month. That would get it on par with Russia, which is also sourcing supplies in some of the same markets, Kopecny said. The Czech government's envoy for Ukraine and one of the key figures behind the Czech-led initiative to raise contributions from allies to supply Ukraine said there was a single-digit million number of shells available on the global market over a one-year horizon. "The pace of deliveries depends on a single thing," Kopecny said. "Availability of financial resources." Kopecny said the Czechs so far had payments or firm commitments for around 1.7 billion euros from 15 donor countries, which was enough for half a million rounds to be delivered by the end of the year. About 20 countries have pledged to take part in the Czech initiative, but only five have so far delivered payments, he said - Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal and Canada, with Germany leading the pack. "We have the five who are dedicated enough and fast enough, then we have 10 who are dedicated enough, have clear commitment ... and then we have a few who have not shown much of an action," he said. Kopecny said the Czechs had arranged shipping of 1.3 million artillery rounds to Ukraine from the start of the war until the February 2024 announcement of the current initiative, showing the pledges made since were somewhat underwhelming. The ammunition is sought on a global market often open to all sides, he said. Speed is therefore essential to make prepayments - with other traders or even Russia competing for them. Kopecny reiterated Ukraine would get the first shipment under the umbrella of the Czech initiative in June, and said the amount would be between 50,000 and 100,000 rounds. The Czech initiative is not the only effort to arm Ukraine. The United States and other countries send ammunition through other channels, and Ukraine is also producing and procuring ammunition on its own. Kopecny said the amounts needed paled in comparison with how much governments had spent on measures amid the coronavirus pandemic or the cost of the war in Afghanistan. "It's so frustrating when you compare it with the expenses and with the loans used for COVID. Hundreds of billions of euros there - and here we're struggling with hundreds of millions," he said. ($1 = 0.9224 euros) (Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Sabine Siebold; Writing by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Alison Williams) Montana Sen. Steve Daines speaks to reporters after being elected to Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate on Nov. 16, 2022. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt of States Newsroom). WASHINGTON U.S. Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana is blocking the nomination of a lawyer who, if confirmed by the Senate, would be the first Native American to serve as a federal judge in the state. Daines objected to the White Houses nomination of Danna Jackson, a tribal attorney for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Pablo, Montana, because the Biden administration did not consult with him prior to her nomination, Rachel Dumke, a spokesperson for Daines, said in an email to States Newsroom. Daines did not return his blue slip on Jacksons nomination to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The slip is given to senators of the same state as a federal judicial nominee so they can express an opinion about the nomination. In the Senate, its a long-standing tradition for both senators to agree on a judicial nominee before moving forward with the confirmation process. Daines objection to Jacksons nomination was first reported by Bloomberg Law. Senator Daines believes confirming federal judges with lifetime tenure is among the most important decisions he will make and that these individuals must be trusted to not legislate from the bench and protect the Montana way of life, Dumke said. However, the White House pushed back on Daines objections. Daines team interviewed Jackson six months ago, but Daines refused to meet with her, White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in an email to States Newsroom. This claimed lack of consultation seems to be little more than pretext, and its shameful that Senator Daines is depriving Montana of the talents of a principled, fair, and impartial jurist like Danna Jackson, who would make history as Montanas first Native American federal judge, Bates said. Nominated in April The White House announced her nomination on April 24. Jackson did not appear during Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearings on May 22. A spokesperson for the committee deferred to the White House and Daines office on Jacksons consultation process, as thats between them. Jackson did not respond Thursday to a voice mail message left with the legal office for the Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Judicial nominees usually do not talk to the media. Following her nomination, Jackson had the support of Montanas Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. As a born-and-raised Montanan, her extensive experience at every level of Montanas legal system makes her well qualified to serve our state and Im looking forward to getting her nomination across the finish line with bipartisan support in the Senate, Tester said in a statement in late April. Legal experience Jackson previously worked at the U.S. Department of the Interior as a senior counselor to the director of the Bureau of Land Management. She also worked as the chief legal counsel at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation in Helena, Montana, and as an assistant U.S. attorney and tribal liaison in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Montana. According to her biography from the White House, Jackson also worked as a counsel at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP from 2005 to 2010, after serving as a legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate from 2002 to 2005 and a staff attorney at the National Indian Gaming Commission from 2000 to 2002. She received her bachelors degree and law degree from the University of Montana. The Biden administration has worked to boost a diverse judiciary bench, appointing 201 federal judges as of last week. There are four federal judges who are Native American and two who identify as partly Native American, according to the American Bar Association. Those judges represent four-tenths of 1% of federal judges, according to the ABA. But there is still more work to be done, and President Biden remains steadfast in his commitment to nominate and appoint individuals who have excelled in their professional careers, who reflect the communities they serve, and who apply the law impartially and without favoritism, the White House said in a statement following the milestone of a 200th federal judge confirmation. The post Montana senator holds up nomination of states first Native American federal judge appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. More homes on the way at Tehaleh after land deals made with two separate builders Land sales totaling more than $25.1 million will bring more homes to the Bonney Lake-area Tehaleh development. Three transactions totaling 91 parcels were recorded May 22-24 between a Brookfield Properties/Tehaleh-affiliated LLC and two different builders. Brookfield Properties acquired Tehaleh master plan developer Newland Communities in 2021. Richmond American Homes of Washington purchased 56 parcels for a combined $15.4 million in two transactions, while Holt Holdings WA LLC of Vancouver, Washington purchased 35 parcels for just over $9.7 million. According to documents filed with Pierce County recording the sales, the parcels are for the construction of homes in Glacier Pointe at Tehaleh. Glacier Pointe plans started to take off early last year, following the purchase of more than 150 parcels by an LLC affiliated with home builder Shea Homes Washington from an LLC affiliated with Brookfield Properties for $28.2 million. Richmond American advertises new homes at Tehaleh on its website, priced between around $800,000 and $1 million. Its paired homes, or duplexes, start at around $500,000. Holt Holdings, affiliated with Holt Homes, is a new addition this summer to the Tehaleh roster of builders. Holt lists its real estate at Glacier Pointe as coming soon. The builder notes that its work at Tehaleh is its first Puget Sound-region project. The bulk of Holts developments are in Southwest Washington and Oregon. Earlier this year, Marita Benedict, Pacific Northwest marketing director of land and housing development for Brookfield, told The News Tribune in response to questions via email that 304 home sales are expected at Tehaleh in 2024. On Wednesday, Benedict told The News Tribune in response to questions there is another builder under contract to buy parcels, but the deal is not yet closed. She added that there are almost 20 model homes on display now. The Richmond American/Holt parcel sales were first reported by The Registry real estate monitoring website. News Tribune archives contributed to this report. BERLIN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Several German ministers have expressed concerns about possible European tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), as the European Union (EU) is due to reveal the results of its so-called "anti-subsidy investigation" soon. The senior German officials expressed concerns that the move could backfire, harming Europe's largest economy and its carmakers and undermining fair international trade, rather than protecting the EU's industry as intended, according to local media reports on Wednesday. The United States announced new tariffs earlier this month on a variety of imports from China, including EVs, whose tariffs were raised to 100 percent in addition to existing ones. Last October, the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of EVs from China. Imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs to protect the European industry would be the "wrong approach" to promoting international competition, Volker Wissing, Germany's Federal Minister for Digital and Transport, told Euractiv in an interview. Wissing strongly suggested that it is global competition that incentivizes German car manufacturers to build better and more affordable products and that he is confident that the German vehicle industry would survive the competition. Wissing criticized the European investigation, saying that it is based on mere suspicion and asserting that the EU's approach is wrong. The right approach "must always be to create fair competition instead of working to hinder it," he said. "I am puzzled that some people are now calling for competition to be restricted by the state," said the minister, adding that the move has deviated from a market economy. Robert Habeck, Germany's economics minister and vice-chancellor, also warned of damage to the EU's interests through tough tariffs against China. He told the Rheinische Post on Wednesday that he calls for fair, open and equally competitive world trade, instead of protectionism. Habeck noted that China has long been an important trading partner for the EU, and when considering tariffs on Chinese EVs, the EU "needs to consider in the medium and long term." The German news agency DPA quoted the country's Finance Minister Christian Lindner as saying that the possible tariffs should be considered measuredly, insisting that the free and fair world trade should not be weakened. Previously, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also cautioned against European tariffs on Chinese EVs. He expressed reservations about possible tariffs at a press conference in Stockholm two weeks ago, when asked whether he supported the EU in following the U.S. lead with hefty levies. Scholz stressed the importance of trade between the West and China, noting that 50 percent of electric car imports from China come from Western brands that produce cars there. "There is an exchange from both sides. European and even some North American manufacturers are successful in the Chinese market," Scholz said. "We have to take that into account." More pretrial releases in Oklahoma County to be handled by TEEM, commissioners decide Oklahoma County commissioners on Wednesday authorized District Attorney Vicki Behenna to finalize plans allowing a nonprofit to take over most pretrial release services from the county. Commissioners made their decision after Behenna and Brigitte Biffle, Oklahoma County's interim public defender, told them consolidating those services under one roof would help streamline efforts to allow some defendants to obtain pretrial releases before their cases are heard. Increased numbers of pretrial releases over time have worried some, especially after a recent incident where a defendant being monitored by The Employment and Education Ministry was arrested by authorities after being accused of repeatedly raping a Lyft driver. It is expected as many as six employees who conduct criminal background checks on potential prerelease candidates will stay employed by the county. Their positions will either be moved to the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office or the Criminal Justice Authority's jail staff. That's because those employees do criminal history screenings on arrestees being considered for pretrial release using the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (OLETS) databases, functions required to stay with law enforcement agencies by state law. More: Oklahoma County jail has third inmate death of 2024 But people holding other positions in the office who haven't already left will be offered similar roles at TEEM, Executive Director Kris Steele said. Another eight employees who supervise other individuals sentenced to perform community service or required to work in Oklahoma County's SHINE program also would be moved to TEEM. In some cases, community service/SHINE participants are just looking to build their resumes, showing they are willing to show up to work for future employers, Steele said. "The opportunity to be involved in that program is something I am excited about," Steele said. An exhaustive review of services provided by TEEM and the county's court services division showed most could be handled by TEEM, Behenna said. She said her office would continue to evaluate arrestees to determine if they should be released on their own recognizance for medical reasons when they are brought into the jail or a crisis center. The recommendation to consolidate was endorsed by a pretrial release advisory panel she assembled to evaluate the issue, Behenna said. "Our pretrial release program is at critical mass right now ... many people left court services, and I don't know if (anyone there) is doing supervision, right now," she said. Too many pretrial releases, not enough supervision, critics have said When commissioners discussed the consolidation plan April 24, members of the county's court services office and several residents objected to the plan. Court services' objection primarily was related to the criminal background checks issue, while others criticized the processes TEEM uses to vet defendants for pretrial releases and to supervise them once they are in the program. A page on Facebook named Diversion Programs Gone Wild regularly posts criticisms about the TEEM program and the work that it does. More: What's next after OKC Council says no to new county jail proposal? Steele told commissioners in April that his program had supervised 1,234 individuals who had been released into its care in 2023, with only 2.75% of them failing to comply with pretrial conditions. Once someone accused of a crime is released by a judge on a TEEM bond, the nonprofit works with the individual to help that person meet employment, housing and educational needs with the goal of avoiding further involvement in the state's legal system, he told them. While 12% of those participants in 2023 failed to appear at required hearings, TEEM was working to improve that mark, Steele said. Kris Steele speaks during the April 3, 2023, Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority meeting. How TEEM would help prosecutors, public defenders and judges evaluate eligibility Steele provided commissioners with TEEM's proposed criteria for pretrial release programs if the county follows through with its plan, saying they would comply with requirements set forth in Oklahoma's Pretrial Release Act. As required by law, Oklahoma County would continue to do criminal history checks and provide those to prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges and to TEEM. From there, TEEM would evaluate where candidates live, work and go to school (if applicable), information about their close family members, their medical, substance abuse and mental health histories and what types of services it could provide to help them succeed if they were released before trial. As part of that process, TEEM also would use a validated, evidence-based assessment to evaluate each individuals risk of failing to meet program requirements. The results would be released to judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys before a pretrial release determination is made. Each quarter, TEEM would provide a report to Oklahoma County's presiding judge and the county's court clerk showing total numbers of people screened, evaluated or otherwise considered for pretrial release and recommendations that were made, as well as numbers of people in pretrial release who failed to appear for required screenings, counseling sessions or court hearings. It would immediately notify judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys if someone on pretrial release violated terms of that agreement. Once a defendant is authorized for pretrial release, TEEM would work as it currently does with that individual by assessing his or her needs for housing, transportation, medical care or treatments for mental health or substance abuse issues. Beyond addressing those needs, its counselors also would help each person obtain educational opportunities, jobs and guidance to help them navigate Oklahoma County's judicial process. TEEM case managers also would ensure each person authorized for pretrial release meets required appointments for care, counseling, drug screenings and court hearings, and regularly check the Oklahoma Supreme Court Network's case filing system to see if any additional charges or holds were placed on clients. For individuals who are required to wear a GPS ankle monitor, TEEM case managers would explain the conditions of their release and would be required to immediately report to the judge, the district attorney and defense counsel any observed violations. Law enforcement would be given full access to location information for all TEEM participants who are assigned to GPS monitoring, the proposed policy states. "That is a critical need law enforcement requires," Behenna told commissioners. A contract between Oklahoma County and TEEM and related memorandums of understanding would be brought before commissioners for approval before the end of June, Behenna told them. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Nonprofit TEEM to take over pretrial release services in Oklahoma County Today, we bring you the latest updates from across Ukraine, report live from the NATO meeting in Prague, discuss the implications of Vladimir Putins reshuffle, and we speak to Ukrainian volunteer Dimko Zhlutenko on the ground in Lviv. 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 over 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. Moscow: Visits by Putin to Vietnam and North Korea being planned Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Not Pictured) attend the expanded bilateral meeting at the Kuksaroy Presidential Palace. -/Kremlin/dpa Long-announced visits by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea and Vietnam are at an advanced planning stage, state media cited Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko as saying on Thursday in Moscow. Speaking on the fringes of a Russia-China conference, Rudenko did not give a date. There was also no confirmation that Putin could be travelling to Vietnam as early as June. When asked how far the plans had progressed, Rudenko said they were "at an advanced stage." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had previously said that Putin was planning to travel to North Korea and Vietnam. North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un invited Putin to the neighbouring country during his visit to Russia in September. Putin and his counterpart had also emphasized their willingness to intensify cooperation in the field of military technology. The United States accuses North Korea of supporting Putin in his war against Ukraine with weapons and ammunition. At last year's meeting, Kim expressed his conviction that Russia would win the war, which he described as a "fight against imperialism." A statue of Sojourner Truth sculpted by Woodrow Nash stands at the center of Sojourner Truth Plaza, which was dedicated during a ceremony Wednesday night. After decades of planning, several hundred people remembered the impact of the abolitionists courage and wisdom at the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plazas dedication Wednesday night in Akron. What a celebration, said Towanda Mullins, chair of the Sojourner Truth Project, which led the plazas efforts. Sojourner Truth was one of the early voices for the suffragette movement, the abolitionist movement. One of the early voices that went out and sojourned because she thought of you and me. The 10,000-square-foot plaza, located at 37 N. High St. in a former parking lot of the United Way of Summit & Medina, opened 173 years to the day after Truth advocated for the rights of Black women with her Ain't I A Woman? speech in nearly the exact location. Truth, who was born into slavery as Isabella Baumfree, traveled the country after freedom to spread her message of racial and gender equality. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, United Way of Summit & Medina CEO Jim Mullen, 13th District Rep. Emilia Sykes and Truths fifth-generation grandson Cory McLiechy were several of the events nearly dozen speakers. Food trucks, T-shirt vendors and community groups lined High Street with booths. Vocal performances followed the Truth statue unveiling and plaza ribbon cutting. When I look around this plaza, I see the power of our community. I want to tell you, with all of us here in this plaza and everyone who is not here, there is nothing in her legacy and in history that we cannot do together, Malik said. The site is located close to the site of the 1851 Ohio Womens Convention, where Truth spoke to a crowd outside the Universalist Old Stone Church that once sat on High Street. From where Mullins stood near the center of the plaza, she said she could throw a stone with her non-dominant hand to the place Truth once stood. It is easy for us to get up and speak to the community, but imagine what it was for [Truth], Mullins said. Never should we forget the courage it took for Sojourner Truth. This is why we have a strong legacy of women in Summit County today. Its because of Sojourner Truth. Towanda Mullins leads the opening ceremony for the Sojourner Truth Plaza dedication Wednesday in Akron. The space features walkways, places to sit, high points to observe from and historical pieces to read. A life-size, 6-foot-tall statue of Truth holding a Bible, created by Akron artist Woodrow Nash, sits in the center of the plaza. An impala lily, which is designed into the brick ground and spreads out into the space, honors Truths ancestors from Ghana. On the bottom of the statue, a plaque reads "Mother, activist, suffragist." Woodrow Nash, an Akron-born sculptor and the creator of the Sojourner Truth statue in Sojourner Truth Plaza, speaks during the plaza's opening ceremony Wednesday in Akron. Four pillars, each displaying large prints of the words faith, activism, power and identity, surround the statue. Quotes from Truth appear throughout the plaza. On one side of the Faith pillar, Truth is quoted saying: I carry no weapon; the Lord will preserve me without weapons. I feel safe even in the midst of my enemies; for the Truth is powerful and will prevail. Mullins emphasized the importance of continuing to spread the story of Truths legacy, mentioning the creation of the Sojourner Truth Legacy Scholarship given by the Akron Press Club. Demetrion Duvall, a senior from Buchtel Community Learning Center in Akron, received the inaugural $5,000 in April. Creation and impact The Summit Suffrage Centennial Committee, which created the Sojourner Truth Project-Akron, started the planning process. The projects cost totaled $2.5 million, led by $1 million from United Way, said Andrew Leask, associate vice president of marketing and brand management for United Way of Summit & Medina, in an email. Property, brick and mortar is great, but this is about the power of people, Mullen said. At United Way, we are 100% committed to making sure the city is a place where people feel safe, where they can gather, where they can share, where they can learn, and most importantly, they can be together and fellowship. Jim Mullen, president and CEO of United Way, addresses the crowd during the Sojourner Truth Plaza opening ceremony Wednesday in Akron. Landscape architect Dion Harris from Summit Metro Parks designed the space. The Ruhlin Company completed construction, and GPD Group offered architectural assistance. I wanted to make every aspect mean something, Harris said. I wanted to mix human elements and some of the natural elements with historical elements and try to tie everything together. I want people to go and look at her sayings and look at what they really meant. We want to make sure the truth is told. Over 100 other donors, including the city of Akron and the Knight Foundation, contributed to the plazas creation. United Way will handle upkeep of the space, Leask said. People can aid future maintenance by visiting the plaza's donation page. Lisa King, executive director of Summit Metro Parks and a member of the Sojourner Truth Projects committee, worked closely with the Akron Community Foundation, along with a group of women from the committee, to raise money for the statue and, later, the plaza with the help of United Way. An Akron resident of more than 30 years, King said the landmark is vital to the community on many levels. All of the things that she stood for are just as important, if not more important, today: equality and diversity and everyone having a voice and everybody having respect for one another, she said. Bringing that in a more tangible way for ... our students in order to learn, we needed something like that in our community. Reporter Isabella Schreck can be reached at ischreck@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza on High Street in Akron opens Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing girl Madalina Cojocari, testified before a jury in Mecklenburg Countys Superior Court Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Madalina Cojocaris 2022 disappearance didnt make much sense, the still-missing girls stepfather Christopher Palmiter said in court Wednesday, but things hadnt made much sense in his home for some time. Her mother, Diana Cojocari, had lots of theories, Palmiter said during his second day on the witness stand in Mecklenburg Superior Court for his own trial. Michael Jackson and Vladimir Putin wanted to marry her for land she had back home in Moldova. Russian entities were watching her. Cellular 5G waves and WiFi signals were dangerous. Her 11-year-old daughter, Madalina, needed to be hidden. I think Diana took her somewhere, maybe with her Moldovan family, I dont know, but I think Diana has tucked her away somewhere she wont be found, Palmiter told his court-appointed attorney, Brandon Roseman, as he sat on the witness stand Wednesday. Palmiter, 61, was charged alongside Cojocari with failing to report Madalina missing in December 2022. Since then, the couple has given conflicting information to police. Madalina was last seen Nov. 23, 2022, police say, but Cojocari and Palmiter didnt report her missing until Dec. 15, 2022, when Bailey Middle School administrators called them in to investigate Madalinas lengthy absence following Thanksgiving break. Palmiter maintains that he didnt know Madalina was missing until the school authorities started questioning her whereabouts. He thought she was at home, he testified, because Cojocari had told him she was sick, and the light had been on in her room for weeks. Now, the 13-year-old is still missing, and her mother last week pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to report her missing, for which she had already served the maximum sentence for while awaiting a hearing in jail. Cojocari, who was expected to be deported back to her home country of Moldova following her plea, spent the night at Palmiters house Tuesday evening, Palmiter told assistant district attorney Austin Butler as he began cross examining Palmiter Wednesday afternoon. She was also in court Wednesday, though she did not go inside the courtroom where Palmiter continued to speak about their unique marriage. He built upon the narrative he started sharing with the 12-person jury on Tuesday. Palmiter had met Cojocari through an online dating and marriage site called GlobalLadies in 2008. Following a two-year gap in communication and Dianas pregnancy with Madalina, the two reconnected and eventually married in 2016, Palmiter said Tuesday. Their marriage, while free of sex and affection, was relatively normal for some time, he said. They took trips to the mountains, to Arizona, to Utah and to Niagara Falls. They acted like a family, Palmiter said, until 2022. Thats when Cojocari became more spiritual, and things took a turn. Jurors on Tuesday learned Cojocari recently subscribed to Elizabeth Clare Prophets cult-like teachings from the 1970s through the 1990s. Cojocari would chant prayers into the night and burn items in the firepit out back and shed teach Madalina to do the same, Palmiter testified on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Palmiter said Cojocaris beliefs made less sense as time went on. She thought a Stop Human Trafficking flier sent home from school was directed toward Madalina, specifically. She thought the Cornelius public school was indoctrinating children. She became weary of having phones nearby during conversations about hiding Madalina. Palmiters lawyer flipped through Palmiters text messages, call logs and photos during the two-week period Madalina disappeared. He took a trip to Michigan to get some of Madalinas winter clothes, which had been left with his family in Lansing. Then, he came back, and he never saw Madalina again, he said in court. He would go to work early in the morning and come home around her bedtime. At the time, he didnt think much of it, he testified. He says he has no idea when Madalina disappeared. Palmiter will return to the witness stand at 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning, when an assistant district attorney will ask questions about Madalinas still-mysterious disappearance. Police have arrested a man on suspicion of murder after a mother and son were found dead in their home in Essex. Villagers paid tribute to the pair, named locally as Maria Nugara, 53, and Giuseppe Morreale, 29. Mrs Nugara lived with her builder husband Calogero Nugara in Cambridge Road, Ugley, near Bishops Stortford, Essex. Her son lived nearby. A friend of Mrs Nugara said: She was an amazing woman, kind, caring, and such a beautiful nature, and she just does not deserve what has happened to her, nor does Joe. Everybody is just so shocked, I have known her for nine years. I know the whole family. Maria was a beautiful person, she would not hurt a fly, she was always there for her family. Lovely woman, it is so sad, just awful, I cant believe this. Flowers have been left at the front gates of the property on the edge of the village. A friend laying flowers said: She was a beautiful person inside and out, to be honest. She didnt deserve to be murdered. Her note read: To my beautiful friend Maria, words cannot describe how we are all feeling. Tragically and brutally taken away from us all. Your son by your side defending you, Guiseppe a true hero. May you rest in peace together. Miss you very much. On Thursday, a police car and other vehicles could be seen parked up the driveway of a house set in sprawling grounds as forensics officers in hazmat suits were spotted. A 63-year-old man from Ugley remains in custody. Essex Police said: We received a call at 9.50pm on Tuesday reporting two people had been seriously injured at an address in Cambridge Road. Officers found a woman in her 50s and a man in his 20s injured and, sadly, they were pronounced dead at the scene. [We] can confirm we have applied for a warrant of further detention for the suspect arrested, which allows our officers an additional 36 hours to keep them in custody. This will be in place until about midnight on Friday. Det Insp Lydia George of Essex Police added: My thoughts are with the loved ones of the two people who were killed in Ugley last night. This will be an unimaginably difficult time for them and they will be supported by specialist officers. I know this incident will cause concern in the local community but I want to reassure them that we have a team of experienced detectives and staff investigating. At this stage, we do not believe this incident poses a risk to the wider public and were not looking for anyone else in connection with it. Essex Police are appealing for help from anyone with information relating to the incident. 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. MoveOn.org is endorsing Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic nominee for Senate, in her bid against former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican. File photo by Danielle E. Gaines. The Maryland Senate race is already the third most expensive Senate race in the country and its about to get more expensive. MoveOn.org, a political action committee that supports progressive candidates, announced Wednesday that it will endorse Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic nominee for the states open U.S. Senate seat. Analysts said the interest from national groups reflects the fact that Marylands Senate race, once safe for Democrats, has been scrambled by the GOP nomination of former Gov. Larry Hogan, a two-term governor who was highly popular when he left office. MoveOn conceded that in its announcement. We need to elect Alsobrooks to the Senate to keep the Supreme Court from going further to the far-right, to protect our freedoms and our democracy, and to stop a national abortion ban, Britt Jacovich, a MoveOn spokesperson, said in a press release announcing the endorsement. That was echoed by Alsobrooks. We know whats at stake in Maryland the Senate Majority. And we are committed to ensuring we defend our Democratic majority, Alsobrooks said in the press release. But an analyst with Inside Elections said the fact that MoveOn is taking that plunge is a clear indicator that this is a race Democrats are taking seriously and understand they will need some financial firepower to help Alsobrooks. I do think that we will absolutely see other Democratic outside players get involved here, said Jacob Rubashkin, the deputy editor of Inside Elections. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Senate Majority PAC, which is the big Senate super PAC, I would anticipate that both of those committees will be heavily engaged. It comes in a race that is one of the most expensive in the country, according to OpenSecrets.org, in large part because of the tens of millions that Rep. David Trone (D-6th) spent in a losing primary bid against Alsobrooks. The Federal Election Commission reported that Trone had spent more than $51 million as of April 24, and he ultimately spent more than $60 million, according to the Washington Post. Alsobrooks won some major national funders, like EMILYs List and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, for her pro-abortion stance during her primary faceoff with Trone. But MoveOn is among the first to come out for the general election. Maybe MoveOn is stepping in to sort of indirectly allow the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee or Senate Majority PAC not to come in, said Kyle Kondik, the director of communications at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. The Senate map is basically all Democratic defense, so at the very least Democrats have an extra seat to defend and thats the service that Hogan has provided to Republicans in the Senate, whether he wins or not, Kondik said. Patrick Gonzales, an experienced pollster and data analyst in Maryland, explained the rarity of a moment like this in the state where a Republican is a threat to a Senate seat. Typically Maryland would not even be in play. Maryland has not elected a Republican in the United States Senate since 1980, Gonzales said. The former governor, Larry Hogan, is a threat. And so theyre going to have to devote time and resources that they otherwise would probably put in another state. Democrats are probably not thrilled that theyre having to spend a little bit or a couple of slices of their pie in Maryland, where theyd rather go to a Pennsylvania, Gonzales said. The post MoveOn backs Alsobrooks, the start of a likely expensive race for funding appeared first on Maryland Matters. MP from Scholz's party calls for Ukraine to be allowed to use German-supplied weapons against Russia Michael Roth, Chairman of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party, has called for Ukraine to be authorised to use weapons supplied by Germany and other Western countries to strike targets in Russia. Source: German TV news service Tagesschau, as reported by European Pravda Details: Speaking on the air Deutschlandfunk radio about fears in the West of an escalation in connection with this step, he stressed that there is only one person responsible for escalations of the violence Russian ruler Vladimir Putin. "I strongly advise that you follow the lead of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who has made this proposal," Roth said. Background: Earlier, Politico quoted a source as saying that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in favour of allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons against targets in Russia. However, the source did not provide details. On Tuesday, Scholz stressed that Ukraine "has every opportunity under international law to do what it is doing" and that Western countries that provide Ukraine with weapons "have discovered all the rules for their use, which are based on international law". However, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius pointed out that "in the interests of military tactics and strategy, it should be clear that we should not publicly discuss what is possible, what is allowed, what we would like to see, and what is not [allowed]". NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has urged the allies to reconsider the restrictions on Ukraine striking Russia with Western weapons amid border fighting in Kharkiv Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! MEMPHIS, Tenn. Memphis Police say they are working diligently to get reckless drivers off the streets. This past Memorial Day weekend, numerous drivers were arrested for the offense. At least nine people were arrested and cited across the city for reckless driving and illegal street racing. Numerous cars were towed to the city lot. MPD: Suspects with machine gun crash stolen car, hide in Family Dollar Mayor Paul Young says this was all a part of the plan. We are not going to allow vehicle takeovers. We want to make sure that we are holding those individuals accountable, he said. Police say the arrests were a part of the Memorial Day Weekend Campaign to combat reckless driving. They have confiscated vehicles, said Mayor Young. Theyre making sure that they are capturing those that are committing those acts, creating the chaos and wreaking havoc in our community. One of the people arrested was 22-year-old Jordan Proctor who was found in a stolen vehicle with multiple juveniles in the area of Hollywood and Sam Cooper. Reports say after striking a stop sign, Proctor, a 16-year-old, and two 17-year-olds ran from the car. All four were taken into custody. Guns and drugs were found inside the car. A spokeswoman for the Memphis Police Department says all of the vehicles will be returned once the investigation is complete or when they are no longer considered evidence in a case. Police arrest man accused of drag racing, driving over 100 mph Aaron H. lives near a parking lot on Thomas Street in Frayser. He says nearly every weekend, people gather by the dozens to watch others hop in their high-performance cars to do donuts and speed in the parking lot. Ive seen people come out here in little family SUVs turning donuts in the middle of the morning, said Aaron. All of a sudden, cops come from every direction. Theyre flashing their sirens and everything. People just bug out. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Mayor Young says the public can expect to see more campaigns such as the one from Memorial Weekend in the near future. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. RIYADH, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi Arabian government on Thursday announced that it would sell a new stake in state oil giant Aramco that could raise as much as 13.1 billion U.S. dollars. According to a statement by Aramco, Saudi Arabia is offering about 1.545 billion Aramco shares, about 0.64 percent of the company, with an expected price range between 26.70 and 29.00 Saudi riyals (7 to 7.7 U.S. dollars). If an over-allotment, or greenshoe option, is exercised, the Saudi government could sell nearly 1.7 billion shares, or a 0.7 percent stake, which would raise the deal's value to 13.1 billion dollars at the top end. The sale on the local bourse will commence on Sunday, Aramco said. The offering is part of Aramco's years of efforts to sell part of the company to help diversify the country's economy after its record-setting initial public offering in 2019. Mullins man accused of going on crime spree with suspect in killing of Marion County paramedic, New Mexico officer MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Marion County authorities have arrested a man accused of going on a crime spree with the man whos accused of killing a Marion County paramedic and a New Mexico State Police officer earlier this year. Joshua Antwain Johnson, 30, of Mullins, is believed to have joined up with Jaremy Smith after Smith allegedly kidnapped and killed Phonesia Machado-Fore in March, the Marion County Sheriffs Office said Thursday in a news release. The two men then continued on a spree of criminal activity in Marion County before heading toward New Mexico, where authorities said Smith gunned down Officer Justin Hare. Timeline: Whats happened so far in the case of slain Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore Johnson, who was arrested on Wednesday, is charged with first-degree burglary, grand larceny, conspiracy, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and five counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. He is in the Marion County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing in circuit court. Authorities said Johnson was not involved in Fores killing but that he traveled to Texas with Smith, who left him at a convenience store there before going on to New Mexico. Smith, 33, pleaded not guilty on April 18 to several federal charges, including carjacking resulting in death; causing death by the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; kidnapping resulting in death; and interstate transport of a stolen vehicle. Double-murder suspect Jaremy Smith He will remain in custody until his trial. If convicted, he faces a mandatory life sentence or death for the kidnapping resulting in death charge, and any number of years up to life or death for the carjacking and discharge of firearm offenses. He could also face state charges in New Mexico, according to New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez. Smith was arrested on March 17 by Bernalillo County sheriffs deputies in an Albuquerque neighborhood after deputies shot him several times following a brief foot pursuit. He also is facing 17 charges in the killing of Machado-Fore. * * * Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Multiple Jacksonville agencies are looking to hire at the Jax Authority Career Fair. That includes the City of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Aviation Authority, Duval County Public Schools. CareerSource Northeast Florida, JEA, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, and JAXPORT. JTA told Action News Jax it will be raffling off a bike and several monthly bus passes. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Its happening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bethel Institution Multipurpose Center located at 215 Bethel Baptist St. Anyone can attend, but you must create a profile here. If you have any questions, email jbox@careersourcenefl.com or call 904-356-5627 ext. 2204. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. FILE PHOTO: Soldiers from the rebel Karen National Liberation Army patrol in the Myanmar border town of Myawaddy FILE PHOTO: Soldiers from the rebel Karen National Liberation Army patrol in the Myanmar border town of Myawaddy (Reuters) - Myanmar's ruling junta has lost control over vast tracts of territory, including access to much of its international borders, allowing ethnic armed groups to expand and consolidate regions under their control, two reports assessing the conflict said on Thursday. The country of 55 million people has been in turmoil since February, 2021 when the military ousted an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking widespread protests. The street demonstrations, which were met with a brutal crackdown, morphed into an armed resistance movement that has combined with many of Myanmar's ethnic rebel armies to pose the most significant challenge to the military in decades. The junta does not have effective control of Myanmar, having lost complete authority over townships covering 86% of the country's territory that are home to 67% of the population, according to the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M). A junta spokesman did not respond to a call from Reuters seeking comment. "The military junta does not control enough of the territory of Myanmar to uphold the core duties of the state," the SAC-M, an independent group of international experts set up after the coup to support the return of democracy, said in a briefing paper. "The junta has abandoned significant territory and has been forced into a defensive posture in most parts of the country where it remains present." Operation 1027, a coordinated offensive last October led by three ethnic armies, marked a key moment that exposed a weakened military, which ceded swathes of borderlands in Myanmar's north. A series of offensives by ethnic armies since have pushed the junta out of peripheral areas all the way from the country's border with Thailand to coastal tracts along the Bay of Bengal. "The ethnic armed groups that have achieved many of these military victories are consolidating control of their expanded homeland areas, with many well on the way to establishing autonomous statelets," the non-profit Crisis Group said in a report. The military's mounting losses and growing dismay among the elite in the capital Naypyidaw has left junta chief Min Aung Hlaing's future in serious doubt, although he has packed senior ranks with officers loyal to him, according to Crisis Group. "He might thus be able to keep his job, but given the level of discontent, he could nevertheless face a plot to remove him," it said. With the junta losing control of almost all the country's borders and non-state administrations likely to expand, neighbouring states, regional blocs and the international community should widen their engagement with resistance groups, both reports said. Internal displacement in Myanmar has reached a record high, with over three million people forced out of their homes because of the escalating conflict, according to UN agencies. "The international community must understand this reality and work directly with resistance authorities and civil society to deliver urgent aid and assistance to the Myanmar people," said Yanghee Lee, one of SAC-M's founding members. (Reporting by Reuters staff, Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) Mysterious plague is wiping out sea urchins across the globe, scientists say A mysterious sea urchin plague has spread across the world, causing the near extinction of the creature in some areas and threatening delicate coral reef ecosystems, a new study suggests. The research, published in the scientific journal Current Biology, found populations of two sea urchin species the long-spined Diadema setosum and the banded-spiny Echinothrix calamaris may have been completely wiped out in some parts of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Western Indian Ocean. The deaths have been attributed to an egg-shaped single-celled microorganism with hairlike attachments, which causes the sea urchins to lose spines, experience tissue breakdown, and eventually die within as little as two days. Tel Aviv University marine biologist and lead author of the study, Dr Omri Bronstein, told The Independent that witnessing the mass deaths was heartbreaking. These are the animals we know and love very much, he added. When they are alive, the family of sea urchins affected by the disease are completely black with very long and sharp spines, but when they die, they lose their spines and tissues, showing their completely white and smooth skeleton. They almost look like bleached corals but more severe in the sense that the spines are also gone - imagine seeing a human with no hair with their inner skeleton exposed. Its a hard sight. One of the most notorious sea urchin mass deaths took place in the Caribbean Sea in 1983, affecting a black-spined urchin species called Diadema antillarum . At the time, scientists were unable to identify the cause of the event because of limited technology. Nearly four decades later, another mass death event of the same species took place in the Caribbean Sea in 2022. Initially, researchers were unable to find any traces of bacterial or viral infections in the creatures, but eventually identified the microorganism behind the disase. Following the Caribbean die-off, the first known mass mortality of Diadema setosum, a species related to Diadema antillarum, was reported in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in 2023, with the same pathogen found to be responsible. A mysterious sea urchin plague is spreading across continents, according to a new study published in Current Biology (Getty) Now that the disease-causing microorganism has spread to multiple regions in the Middle East, researchers of the study are asking for immediate monitoring and conservation action to protect these sea urchins. Functionally, the sea urchin family attacked by this pathogen is already extinct in the Red Sea, he said. It's a serious threat now for the entire Indo Pacific. He added there is a real risk of these urchins becoming functionally extinct all over the world: All you need is one vessel that cruises down the Red Sea and a few weeks, and the pathogen is there. Dr Bronstein warned the mass deaths could result in a rapid increase in algae, which urchins normally feed on. This may in turn disrupt the health of coral reefs in affected regions. My worst fear is that we would have significant algal bloom, leading to coral reefs being suffocated and dying in overfished and less protected areas around the world, he said. Once this happens, even if the sea urchins returned, it would be too late for the reefs. The affected sea urchins play an important role in the health of coral reefs by eating the algae on them. (Getty/iStock) Dr Bronstein also told The Independent the loss of coral reefs would impact people in Europe and the West just as much as it would affect those living next to these marine rainforests, disrupting political stability, food security, cancer drug research, and economies in addition to biodiversity. He added: Were still trying to figure out several key questions - for example, why here, why now? How did this pathogen really travel from the Caribbean to the Red Sea? He is working with colleagues to complete a study that he hopes will answer these questions and manage the crisis. NASA Starliner launch: Best places to see from Sebastian, Vero, Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach Godspeed, Starliner. After an initial attempt, Boeing's maiden crewed flight has been rescheduled, delayed and now possibly ready to launch. Boeing is preparing to launch its Starliner capsule on its first crewed mission from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. And the Treasure Coast may get a peek at the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifting off into the sky. As of Thursday, May 30, Starliner has a launch date of Saturday, June 1 (see below). If the launch time and date changes, this story will be updated. On board the ULA Atlas V rocket will be two NASA astronauts. Flying this commercial crew mission are Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, both Navy test pilots. They have each flown in space twice (more info about them below). Day or night, watching a rocket launch on the beach is so Florida. But can you see a rocket launch liftoff from Cape Canaveral all the way in Sebastian, Vero Beach, or even up to Fort Pierce? Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, yes. We have suggestions on where and how to watch a rocket launch from Indian River County to Martin County below if you keep scrolling and information on the historic Starliner launch. What is Boeing's Starliner? Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore pose for the Starliner CFT crew portrait. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will transport NASA astronauts. The company calls it the Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner, or simply Starliner." Set to launch no earlier than Saturday, June 1, 2024, it will make history as the first spacecraft to ferry humans from Space Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral. The launch pad has been the site for historic missions beginning with the Titan rockets in 1965 and including the New Horizons deep space probe, the Voyager spacecraft, and even the Curiosity Mars rover. Starliner will be launched with the help of a United Launch Alliance (a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin) Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V rocket has launched from the site since 2002, but this will be the first time it carries astronauts to space. What launches from where? Years after space shuttle retirement, Florida chases nearly 70 launches a year Who are the NASA astronauts flying into space for Starliner launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida? The two NASA astronauts flying this commercial crew mission are Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams. Both are Navy test pilots. They have each flown in space twice and both bring a wide variety of experiences to the flight. Williams was originally a helicopter test pilot before switching to flying jets. She's preparing to fly to space for the third time, as the crew test flight pilot. This will be Wilmore's third spaceflight as well. Before becoming a NASA astronaut, Wilmore was a U.S. Navy captain, fighter pilot, and test pilot, accumulating more than 8,000 hours of flight time. Wilmore flew the FA-18 Hornet and T-45 Goshawk, playing a role in missions during Operation Desert Storm, Desert Shield and Southern Watch. Is there a rocket launch in Florida? NASAs Boeing Starliner crewed flight test Mission: NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will fly aboard a Boeing Starliner spacecraft and a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station. Launch: no earlier than 12:25 p.m. EDT Saturday, June 1 (postponed after a May 6 scrub) Location: Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Trajectory: Northeast Live coverage: Starts at noon EDT Saturday, June 1, at floridatoday.com/space. You can download the free app for iPhone or Android or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser Where can I see a Florida rocket launch in Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County? The best views to watch a rocket launch is along the beach. Visibility in Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County, part of the Treasure Coast, will depend on weather conditions and cloud cover, and people should make sure not to block traffic or rights of way on bridges and to follow posted rules at beaches. Look due north. Pretty much anywhere in neighboring Brevard County, you'll get a view of the rocket launch. That includes Melbourne Beach, which borders Indian River County, or from Grant-Valkaria along the Indian River Lagoon. Sebastian Inlet Park, 9700 S. State Road A1A, Melbourne Beach (there is a cost to enter) Wabasso Beach Park, 1808 Wabasso Beach Road, Wabasso Ambersands Beach Park, 12566 N. SR A1A, Vero Beach (free parking) South Beach Park, 1700 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach (free parking) Merrill Barber Bridge in Vero Beach Alma Lee Loy Bridge in Vero Beach Fort Pierce Inlet, 905 Shorewinds Drive Blind Creek Beachside North and South, South Ocean Drive or SR A1A on Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce Blue Heron Beach, 2101 Blue Heron Blvd., Fort Pierce Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, 3600 S. Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce Dollman Park Beachside, 9200 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach Herman's Bay Beach, 7880 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach John Brooks Park Beachside, 3300 S Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce Middle Cove Beach, 4600 South Ocean Drive, Fort Pierce Normandy Beach in Jensen Beach Pepper Park Beachside, 3302 N. SR A1A, Fort Pierce Walton Rocks Beach, which has a dog park, 6700 South Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach Waveland Beach, 10350 S. Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach House of Refuge and beach, 301 S.E. MacArthur Blvd., Stuart State Road A1A causeway in Stuart Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 This article originally appeared on Florida Today: NASA Starliner rocket launch in Florida: Treasure Coast spots to see it Nassau County is looking for school crossing guards to join the team. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< If you love working with children and positively impacting your community, then you can apply now at www.nassauso.com. The county is looking for crossing guards in these specific areas and times: Callahan Elementary School - morning from 7:15 a.m. to 8 a.m. Fern Beach Middle/High School at 14th and Hickory St. - afternoons from 3:25 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. You can keep kids safe and create a safer community, one crosswalk at a time, the Nassau County Sheriffs Office said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A national wing of the Democratic Party that aims to regain seats from Republicans in state legislatures around the country has turned its focus on an eastern Idaho House race this fall. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has backed Mary Shea, who is a repeat candidate running for the District 29 position A seat, on its shortlist of key races in state legislatures for the November general election. The Democrats have chosen to challenge a powerful Republican House member in one of Idahos few swing districts. Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, is caucus chair of the House GOP the fourth-highest ranking position in the GOP caucus. Currently serving his third term, Manwaring is in one of Idahos few legislative districts where Democrats have recently been competitive against Republicans. The two other incumbents of District 29 Rep. Nate Roberts and Sen. James Ruchti are both Democrats. Shea is a civil rights and child welfare lawyer, according to a release from the DLCC, and lost a race against Manwaring in the 2022 general election by close to 4.5%. She is running to support mental health resources in schools, remove unnecessary obstacles to voting, and rework Idahos extreme abortion ban that endangers pregnant patients lives. Mary Shea, a Democrat, is running in November against Republican Rep. Dustin Manwaring for District 29s House seat A in Pocatello. I think it is important for people to understand that most folks in Idaho are not extreme, Shea told the Idaho Statesman by phone. She said that while Republican and Democratic legislators in the Pocatello area often vote similarly, Republican lawmakers are beholden to a party that has lurched further to the right, and pushed for school voucher initiatives, a new law assigning civil liability to librarians, and the restrictive abortion bans. Those are all efforts she views as out of step with typical residents. Manwaring in 2021 voted for Idahos heartbeat abortion law, which banned the procedure after a fetal heartbeat can be detected before many women know theyre pregnant and this year voted in a House committee to advance a bill that would send state funds to privately educated children. The bill failed. Manwaring also supported the bill to allow lawsuits against libraries over content deemed harmful to minors. Theyre tied to a platform and tied to leadership that dont always let them vote the way most Pocatellans would like them to vote, Shea said. Most people just want common sense government. Forty-four percent of Pocatellos registered voters are Republicans, and 15% are Democrats, according to Idaho Secretary of State records. Thirty-nine percent of voters are unaffiliated. Idaho Democrats have also worked in recent years to increase the number of candidates challenging Republicans across the state. And previous Idaho legislative candidates backed by the DLCC in recent years have won their elections. The DLCC backed Ruchtis Senate campaign two years ago, when he handily won and pulled in nearly $148,000 for that race, according to campaign finance records. The committee also supported Muffy Davis, a Ketchum Democrat running for the House, in 2018. Davis raised close to $80,000 that election and beat incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Miller. Davis left the Legislature after her second term, to be replaced by Rep. Ned Burns, another Democrat, who won his race by 37 votes. Idaho a hotbed for extreme abortion laws The backing from national Democrats often comes with more financial support from out of state. The DLCC raised $50 million and highlighted hundreds of candidates in the last midterm election, according to its spokesperson Samantha Paisley. The group aims to raise $60 million and spotlight 180 candidates this cycle. It raised nearly half of that goal as of April. Shea said she hopes most of her donors will be from Idaho but that candidates battling far-right politics will need broad support. We cannot push back on the far right if we are not talking to people out of state and getting them to pay attention to whats happening here, she said. As Democrats have in other races around the country, the DLCC is focusing on abortion to drive turnout. Idaho has some of the strictest abortion bans, with laws banning nearly all abortions outright, as well as a law that bans minors from leaving the state to obtain an abortion. Idaho has unfortunately become a hotbed for some of the most extreme Republican attacks on reproductive freedom. Republicans unchecked power in the Legislature has enabled them to veer towards the worst MAGA policies, said DLCC President Heather Williams in a Thursday news release, referring to former President Donald Trumps Make America Great Again slogan. To stop these horrendous attacks on fundamental freedoms from taking form and spreading, building Democratic power across the country is essential. The DLCCs strategy of focusing on abortion is not new. The organization set out in 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, to take advantage of broad support for abortion rights, national polling showed, in tight races challenging Republicans. In addition to gaining control of state legislatures in purple states, the Democratic outfit aims to win in competitive districts in Republican-leaning strongholds. National Democrats target one seat at a time District 29 includes most of Pocatello. Prior to redistricting after the 2020 census, the district included a swath of rural Bannock County to the south. The district has had competitive races between Democrats and Republicans for decades, according to legislative records. Ruchti, who previously held one of the districts House seats, beat out a Republican by 174 votes in 2006, the same year Democratic Sen. Diane Bilyeu was also elected in the district, according to Idaho Secretary of State records. Ruchti was later elected to the Senate. Manwaring was elected to an open House seat in 2016, then lost re-election to a Democrat in 2018. He easily won the seat back again four years ago. In the 2022 election, he beat Shea by 644 votes. Manwaring told the Statesman in an email that he will work hard to earn and keep the respect of voters again. He said his campaign has emphasized conservative budgeting, low tax burdens, and fiscal responsibility, particularly how policies impact families and small businesses and whether there are viable alternatives other than government action. I often campaign independently and have not tied myself to other campaigns in the primary or general elections, he said. I believe this has helped demonstrate a level of political autonomy that is attractive to constituents in Pocatello. Currently serving in his third term, Manwaring is in one of Idahos few legislative districts where Democrats have recently been competitive against Republicans. The two other incumbents of District 29 Rep. Nate Roberts and Sen. James Ruchti are both Democrats. Republicans control all statewide offices in Idaho and have a supermajority in the Legislature: Out of 105 lawmakers at the Capitol, 18 are Democrats. Republicans also control more legislatures across the country, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Majorities are made one seat at a time, the organization wrote in a 2022 memo. Well invest anywhere theres a competitive district to build towards winning more majorities later in the decade. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Snyder Act, three prominent Native American organizations IllumiNative, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), and the Native Organizers Alliance (NOA)have declared a National Day of Action and Reflection on Sunday, June 2. This day will highlight the ongoing struggles and achievements of Native peoples in the United States. The Snyder Act of 1924 granted U.S. citizenship to all Native Americans born in the country. However, it did not immediately secure their right to vote, sparking a protracted battle for voting rights that continues to this day. Native Americans still face substantial obstacles in accessing election services, and new legislation often seeks to disenfranchise Native voters. This centennial serves as an important moment to reflect on these issues and promote a unified narrative about this critical chapter in U.S. history. IllumiNative, a Native-woman-led organization dedicated to racial and social justice for Native communities, alongside NARF, the nations leading Native-led nonprofit law firm, and NOA, the largest network of grassroots Native voting organizers, are spearheading this initiative. They are launching an online campaign inviting individuals and organizations to join the National Day of Action and Reflection. The campaign encourages people to educate themselves on the Snyder Act, check their voter registration status, and support the Native American Voting Rights Act (NAVRA). "The centennial of the Snyder Act is a crucial moment to deepen awareness and foster meaningful dialogue around the complex and multifaceted realities of U.S. citizenship and Tribal citizenship for Native peoples," said Crystal Echo Hawk, Founder and CEO of IllumiNative. "Through our National Day of Action and Reflection, we aim to honor our history, address the enduring challenges, and celebrate the advancements within our communities." Judith LeBlanc, Executive Director of Native Organizers Alliance, emphasized the importance of dual citizenship. "The federal government unilaterally conferred U.S. citizenship with the hopes of trading land for the vote. And way too many are now trying to restrict our right to vote on our own territories," she said. "Our power and possibility of achieving self-determination and sovereignty comes from being dual citizens, both U.S. and Tribal citizens. We will provide a path towards sovereignty by exercising both citizenships at the ballot box and through organizing Native grassroots political power to achieve self-determination and sovereignty." Jacqueline De Leon, Senior Attorney for NARF, highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Native Americans. "It has been 100 years since the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act, but Native Americans are still treated as second-class citizens and denied an equal opportunity to vote," she stated. "The resulting lack of representation has consequences. We have worse infrastructure, health outcomes, education, and food access. Thats why the Native American Rights Fund is fighting every day in courts and in Congress to protect Native American sovereignty and claim Native Americans place in Americas Democratic Republic. Democracy is Native, and Native people will fight for the power it confers." About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net By Sabine Siebold PRAGUE (Reuters) - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will ask allies to pledge a minimum of 40 billion euros ($43.37 billion) annually to fund military aid for Ukraine, an alliance source told Reuters on Thursday, as NATO foreign ministers gathered for talks in Prague. He has not publicly proposed a figure before but NATO officials previously floated a sum of 100 billion euros over five years, or 20 billion euros annually. With uncertainty over future U.S. support for Ukraine lingering due to the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House, foreign ministers will on Friday discuss ways to put military aid for Ukraine on a more solid long-term footing. The talks will focus on hammering out the details of a Ukraine support package, meant to be agreed at NATO's Washington summit July 9-11, that will also include changes to the way weapons and ammunitions supplies are organised. "We need to sustain that current level of support as a minimum to provide the predictability Ukraine needs, for as long as necessary," the NATO source said, adding that allies had provided some 40 billion euros per year since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper said earlier on Thursday, Stoltenberg was seeking a pledge of $40 billion per year. Stoltenberg has proposed that NATO take on coordination of international military aid for Ukraine, giving the alliance a more direct role in the war against Russia's invasion, while stopping well short of committing its own forces. The Kremlin said on Thursday that the United States, NATO and some European countries were encouraging Ukraine to continue what it called Kyiv's "senseless war" with Russia and accused them of escalating tensions in recent weeks. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly said Western allies are taking too long to make key decisions on military support for Ukraine. DONATED WEAPONS NATO would take over coordination of arms donations and supplies from the U.S.-led Ramstein group, an ad hoc coalition of some 50 nations named after a U.S. air base in Germany where it first convened in 2022. The move is widely seen as an effort to provide a degree of "Trump-proofing" by putting coordination under a NATO umbrella. But diplomats acknowledge such a move would have limited effect, as the U.S. is NATO's dominant power and provides the majority of weaponry to Ukraine. So if Washington wanted to slash Western aid to Kyiv, it would still be able to do so. NATO will also have to overcome resistance from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has made clear his country will not take part in the new effort, arguing it brings the alliance closer to a catastrophic war with Russia. The NATO ministers are also expected to address what is seen as the latest shift in Western support for Ukraine, with several allies lifting restrictions that banned Kyiv from using donated weapons to strike targets inside Russia - a move that Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West against. As the U.S. administration is weighing its position, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is certain to be quizzed by his counterparts in Prague on whether Washington will follow their example. On Wednesday, he became the first administration official to signal that the U.S. might be looking to change its stance. "I think what you've seen over the last two-plus years is as the nature of the battlefield has changed, as the locations, the means that Russia is employing have changed we've adapted and adjusted to that," Blinken said in Moldova. "That's exactly what we'll do going forward," he added. Washington has been by far Kyiv's biggest financial and military supporter since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February but it has repeatedly said it neither encourages nor enables strikes outside Ukraine. ($1 = 0.9223 euros) (Reporting by Sabine Siebold, Andrew Gray, Humeyra Pamuk, Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Alison Williams) Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) GAZA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 36,224, according to a statement by health authorities in the Palestinian enclave on Thursday. During the past 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 53 Palestinians and wounded 357 others, bringing the total number of injuries to 81,777 since the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in October 2023. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage. Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that allies should consider lifting restrictions on the use of NATO weapons by Ukraine to hit targets in Russian territory. "I believe that the time has come to consider some of these restrictions to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves," Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech in Prague, ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. Some NATO countries supply arms to Ukraine without conditions, but others stipulate they must only be used against targets on Ukrainian territory. Ukraine argues that Russia is launching strikes on Ukraine from the Russian side of the border. Stoltenberg said that earlier in the war, most of the fighting took place "deep into Ukrainian territory. But now - the last weeks and month - most of the heavy fighting has taken place actually along the border between Russia and Ukraine." Earlier in the day, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky told reporters his country had "no problem with Ukraine defending itself against an aggressor" and letting Kiev use munitions supplied by Prague to strike targets on Russian territory. Some attacks "necessarily need to take place in Russian territory," he said. In a video posted to X by the Hungarian government's chief spokesman, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said it was a "crazy idea for the Ukrainians to fire Western weapons into Russia's interior." "I think it's a crazy idea because, as we've seen so far, the Russians will fire back," he said. Hungary has consistently opposed sending weapons to Ukraine. The Kremlin once again warned Ukraine's allies against allowing Kiev to hit Russian territory using Western weapons, with President Vladimir Putin's spokesman promising "consequences" if such strikes were to occur. "It will ultimately be very damaging to the interests of those countries that have chosen the path of escalating tensions," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. In a meeting expected to span Thursday and Friday, NATO foreign ministers are expected to try to make progress in talks over a 100 billion ($108 billion) plan to transfer responsibility for combined aid from an informal, United States-led initiative to the formal structures of NATO itself. At the moment, NATO itself is not officially providing any lethal aid to Ukraine's defensive war against Russia's invasion of its territory. Instead, NATO member states have been coordinating military aid through the Ukraine Contact Group (UCG), an initiative chaired by the US. The idea behind the UCG is to help defend the position that NATO is not a party to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. But the UCG's reliance on US coordination has European allies worried that it could falter if November's presidential election returns Donald Trump to the White House. There are doubts about Trump's willingness to support Ukraine in the long term, particularly after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Trump ally, said the former president "will not give a penny" to the Ukrainian war effort. In April, Stoltenberg refused to be drawn on whether his proposal had anything to do with the possible return of Trump. He said the point is to make military aid to Ukraine more stable and predictable. The proposal met resistance, in part because some allies prefer to continue supplying military aid outside of NATO. Another is that commitments made through NATO could be more strongly binding. On Thursday, dpa learned that Stoltenberg is now asking the alliance's member states guarantee they will at least maintain - if not increase - their current level of support over the next few years. He puts the total value of allies' support over the last two years at 80 billion ($87 billion) - an average of 40 billion per year. NATO allies are also expected to discuss air defence on their eastern flank. Also looming over the meeting is the question of who will be the next secretary general after Stoltenberg, who hopes to step down in July. The candidate with the most support is the outgoing prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, but every NATO country has a veto - a candidate needs unanimous support to get the job - and Hungary has refused to support Rutte. Another candidate is Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attends a joint press conference with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (not pictured). Krumphanzl Michal/CTK/dpa NATO doesn't have enough air defenses to protect Eastern Europe from an invasion: report NATO doesn't have enough air defenses to protect Eastern Europe from an invasion: report NATO members have less than 5% of the air defenses needed to protect Central and Eastern Europe, per the FT. A NATO official said their air defense "stockpiles have been reduced." Putin hinted on Tuesday that he might attack NATO members calling for Ukrainian strikes on Russia. Central and Eastern European countries may find themselves vulnerable during an invasion because of NATO's weak air defenses, per a new report from the Financial Times. Members of the military alliance only have less than 5% of the air defense capabilities needed to protect those regions from attacks, the FT reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with NATO's defense plans. When asked about the report, a NATO official told BI that its "capability targets and defense plans are classified" but noted that its air defense "stockpiles have been reduced." "NATO's new defense plans also significantly increase air and missile defense requirements in quantity and readiness," the official said. The official added that the organization is confident its deterrence against Russia "remains strong." The FT's report comes amid heightened concerns that NATO could find itself at war with Russia following the latter's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In February, Estonia's foreign intelligence service said it expects a "significant increase in Russian forces near the Estonian border in the coming years." "The Kremlin is probably anticipating a possible conflict with NATO within the next decade," the intelligence agency said. On Tuesday, Russian leader Vladimir Putin hinted that Russia could retaliate against European countries that are calling for Ukraine to attack Russia directly. "So, these officials from NATO countries, especially the ones based in Europe, particularly in small European countries, should be fully aware of what is at stake," Putin told reporters. "They should keep in mind that theirs are small and densely populated countries, which is a factor to reckon with before they start talking about striking deep into the Russian territory," he said. "This unending escalation can lead to serious consequences." June 5, 5:00 a.m. This story has been updated with responses from a NATO official. Read the original article on Business Insider A NATO flag flies in the wind during the "National Guardian 2024" exercise as part of the "Quadriga" series of Bundeswehr exercises at the Oberlausitz military training area. Robert Michael/dpa Foreign ministers from the 32 countries of the NATO defence alliance are scheduled to meet in Prague on Thursday and Friday to discuss how they coordinate military aid to Ukraine. Ministers are expected to try to make progress in talks over a 100 billion ($108 billion) plan to transfer responsibility for combined aid from an informal, United States-led initiative to the formal structures of NATO itself. The plan was proposed by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in April. At the moment, NATO itself is not officially providing any lethal aid to Ukraine's defensive war against Russia's invasion of its territory. Instead, NATO member states have been coordinating military aid through the Ukraine Contact Group (UCG), an initiative chaired by the US. The idea behind the UCG is to help defend the position that NATO is not a party to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. But the UCG's reliance on US coordination has European allies worried that it could falter if November's presidential election returns Donald Trump to the White House. There are doubts about Trump's willingness to support Ukraine in the long term, particularly after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Trump ally, said the former president "will not give a penny" to the Ukrainian war effort. In April, Stoltenberg refused to be drawn on whether his proposal had anything to do with the possible return of Trump. He said the point is to make military aid to Ukraine more stable and predictable. Another open question is whether weapons supplied by NATO countries should only be used to strike targets on Ukrainian territory, or whether Ukraine's forces could also use them to hit targets in Russia. While some of Ukraine's allies fear that allowing their weapons to be used against targets in Russia would be an escalation, Ukraine argues that Russia is launching strikes on Ukraine from inside its own borders. NATO allies are also expected to discuss air defence on their eastern flank. Also looming over the meeting is the question of who will be the next secretary-general after Stoltenberg, who hopes to step down in July. The candidate with the most support is the outgoing prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, but every NATO country has a veto - a candidate needs unanimous support to get the job - and Hungary has refused to support Rutte. Another candidate is Romanian President Klaus Iohannis. Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euroatlantic Integration for Ukraine, has outlined Kyiv's expectations from the upcoming meeting of NATO leaders in Washington in July. Source: Stefanishyna during the national joint 24/7 newscast Details: Stefanishyna was responding to a question about speculation in the media that Ukraine was being asked not to request an invitation to NATO this year. Quote: "Our allies, including the US and other countries that play a key role in preparing the summit, assured us that there will be a specific position on Ukraine's NATO membership at the summit, its irreversibility and the roadmap for such membership." More details: Stefanishyna noted that Kyiv specifically emphasises that the summit in Washington should serve as a platform for making strategic decisions on Ukraine's air defence, with relevant consultations taking place bilaterally. "We are testing the Alliance to see if NATO can coordinate these efforts to protect Ukrainian skies either through bilateral decisions or using more comprehensive solutions," she said. Background: US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith reported that important changes in the wording regarding Ukraine's membership prospects will be made at an upcoming meeting of NATO leaders in Washington. Ambassador Smith said that NATO has agreed on the need to send a political signal about Ukraine's pathway to NATO membership, and that this signal will be part of the overall package of assistance to Ukraine. On 28 May, Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euroatlantic Integration for Ukraine, discussed potential decisions at the NATO Summit in Washington, which will guarantee the irreversibility of Ukraines NATO membership, with Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General. Stefanishyna also participated in the Ukraine-NATO Council meeting held in Brussels on 28 May. Support UP or become our patron! On Tuesday, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren spoke for the first time about sexual harassment allegations by his vice president that became public last month. He denied any wrongdoing and said accusations are not true. Vice President Richelle Montoya said in April that she was harassed and bullied last August, but did not name the alleged perpetrator. Nygren confirmed at a press conference he is the accused. Montoya said the incident took place during a meeting in Nygrens office last August. Following the incident, Montoya wrote a statement detailing what happened. She later talked about the incident on a Facebook live video in April. I was made to feel that I had no power to leave the room. I was made to feel that what I was trying to accomplish didnt mean anything that I was less than, she said. She said in her statement that Nygren refused to let her leave the office and that she asked four times. Montoya had recently separated from her husband, Olsen Chee, and she said Nygren told her to let him know if she becomes serious with another person in the future. He then hugged her before she left. Nygren admits to giving her a side hug but in the Navajo spirit of Ke, meaning compassion and kindness. We have always embraced and addressed each other in the spirit of Ke as Nali (grandma), he said. She is my Nali by clan, she has never suggested to me that this gesture is in any way unwelcome or offensive to her. He said this incident has been taken out of context. Im deeply offended that I have been shamelessly slandered about this meeting. This has led to unnecessary confusion, he said. He said that during that meeting, he was offering her a moment of support in the recent news of her divorce. I assured the vice president that I would be equally transparent with her about any challenges in my own life. I believe the president and vice president must support each other, and I wanted to extend that support, he said. Montoya said in her Facebook Live that when she was asked by a staff member what she wanted from filing this claim she replied I did not want to be alone with this person ever. And that I dont want him to talk to me, or apologize or try to explain it, or anything. Montoya expressed that it was hard to come out with this claim but she said it was important. To show my daughters, to show my granddaughters that yes, bad things happen, she said. But you gotta tell somebody, you got to try and come up with solutions. Ethel Branch, attorney general for the Navajo Nation, is currently conducting an investigation into the allegations to determine if there have been any legal violations. KUNM has reached out to Montoya, but she did not offer a comment. Despite Nygrens denial regarding the allegations, he said hes committed to strengthening protections for Navajo employees. He said hes implementing a workplace safety policy. He also wants the Navajo Nation Council to strengthen laws to define unacceptable behavior and also give employees a year to file claims. Support for this coverage comes from the Thornburg Foundation. The post Navajo Nation president denies alleged sexual misconduct appeared first on Source New Mexico. Naval drones operated by Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) hit two Russian patrol boats, likely the KS-701 Tunets (Tuna) model, in occupied Crimea overnight on May 30, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent. The military intelligence agency publicly confirmed the statement soon after, publishing a video of the attack and saying that the two vessels had been destroyed. The agency said that its Group 13 unit attacked a boat depot with Magura V5 naval drones in Vuzka Bay, which lies at the Chornomorske town on Crimea's western coast. In order to thwart the attack, Russian forces scrambled their aircraft 32 times, including Su-27/30/35 and MiG-29 jets, Be-12 and An-26 aircraft, and Ka-27/29 and Mi-8 helicopters, the statement read. 0:00 / 1 Russian troops also responded "randomly" with fire from small arms and 30 mm cannons. Earlier the same day, Russian authorities claimed that a Ukrainian missile attack damaged two transport ferries in the port city of Kerch in eastern Crimea. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Russian air defense downed eight long-range U.S.-supplied ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles and eight drones overnight. Ukraine has carried out a number of successful attacks against Russian targets in Crimea and its vicinity, heavily degrading the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Magura drones destroyed the Russian Sergey Kotov patrol ship on March 5, and the Ropucha-class landing ship Caesar Kunikov was sunk by drones on Feb. 14. Read also: Source: SBU has a new weapon Grad-equipped Sea Baby drones Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Residents homes and possessions are submerged in floodwater following significant rainstorms in Coldspring on May 4. Credit: Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribune The arrival of Hurricane Beryl in Texas was a reminder that this year's hurricane season is supposed to be a busy one. Texans should know that should severe weather damage their homes this season they can apply for federal assistance. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an 85% chance for an above-average season, with the potential for between four to seven Category 3 hurricanes, with winds averaging 111-129 miles per hour. Damage incurred from hurricane season is often inevitable, but programs like the Federal Emergency Management Agency can make handling damage afterwards easier. FEMA provides financial assistance to communities rebuilding after a disaster when a disaster declaration request from the governor is approved by the U.S. president. However, the FEMA application process is an extensive process that requires verifying information, documenting damages and coordination with insurance claims. Here is a guide on how to navigate applying for FEMA assistance. What types of assistance may I receive? There are several types of assistance, these include: Funds for a rental or temporary housing situation Funds to repair damages and to restore your property to a functional state Funds for a replacement home or property (under rare conditions) Funds for non-housing assistance, such as transportation or funeral needs It is important to remember that FEMA cannot cover the entire cost of damages. While most forms of assistance are not required to be paid back, some assistance is provided through loans. You can communicate with FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 to understand what assistance you receive and the terms of the assistance. Am I eligible to receive assistance? Before applying to FEMA, check to see if you are eligible to receive assistance and have the necessary paperwork to proceed. To be eligible, people must be a United States citizen, non-citizen national (from a U.S. territory not considered part of the U.S.) or a qualified non-citizen, such as a legal permanent resident or refugee, and provide a social security number. Your identity will be verified through public records. If FEMA is not able to verify your identity through public records, they may request supporting documents, such as a marriage license or passport. I need assistance, now what? Documenting all damages as soon as possible is key to post-disaster recovery. Make sure to take pictures and keep receipts of all damage incurred as it may be necessary information for an insurance company or FEMA to assist you. Individuals with insurance should first file a claim through their existing policies. People cannot receive disaster and insurance assistance for the same damages. Doing so would be considered insurance fraud, according to FEMA. Filing a claim and applying for FEMA should be done as soon as possible to ensure the quickest response. All settlements from your insurance provider should be sent to FEMA to prevent duplicate coverage. Individuals without insurance will have an agent inspect the damages to their property. What should I expect during the application process? To start your application, you may either call the toll-free number 1-800-621-3362 or register online at fema.gov. You will then be asked to provide addresses, income, damages to property and any housing needs. An application number will then be provided to locate your file. You may also create an account for the FEMA Disaster Assistance Center online to track the status of your application, upload necessary files and communicate with FEMA. A FEMA inspector will arrange to check the damages and verify that an eligible citizen is present at your property a few days after applying. After further evaluation, you should receive a check or direct deposit with instructions on how to use your assistance. What can an SBA loan do for me? People in disaster areas may work with the U.S. Small Business Administration, regardless of if they are a small business owner or not. Homeowners may receive upwards of $200,000 and businesses may receive upwards of $1.5 million in loans, which means the borrower has to eventually repay the government. Who can help me get assistance? There are several groups on the ground in Texas that can assist in providing support, from helping you receive medical care to help with insurance claims. FEMA may match you with a local group to assist you in your recovery. For additional information on preparing for natural disasters, check out this guide. Weve added new speakers to the stellar lineup of leaders, lawmakers and newsmakers hitting the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Get an up-close look at todays biggest issues at Texas breakout politics and policy event! Chuck Todd, Chief Political Analyst at NBC News speaks at the Mackinac Policy Conference on May 29, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols) Living in a battleground state, Michigan voters have an influence on who wins the U.S. presidential election and can be unpredictable in which candidate they grant 15 electoral votes. In 2016, voters chose former President Donald Trump but reversed course in 2020 to elect Democratic President Joe Biden. With a 2020 Trump vs Biden presidential rematch around the corner this November, Chuck Todd, a political analyst for NBC News, spoke with WDIV-TV news anchor Devin Scillian on Wednesday about the upcoming national election. We would only be so lucky to be in a coma for the next six months, Scillian said, referencing the stress associated with the upcoming election. The conversation was on the agenda for the second day of the annual Detroit Regional Chambers Mackinac Policy Conference. Scillian said he believes whoever wins Michigan in the presidential race will win the election. It does feel like Michigan is a bit more volatile, Todd responded. He said he flips back and forth between Michigan and its neighbor, Wisconsin, on which state is more decisive in the bigger picture of the election. Todd attributed the volatility to a divided Republican party in the state, a question on turnout for the election and the potential for a protest vote against Biden over how the administration has handled the situation in Gaza. Todd did talk briefly about the impact of progressive voters frustration with how the Biden administration addressed Israels military attacks against Hamas militants in Gaza that have resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths. He said Wisconsin could also pull an impactful protest vote. However, the U.S role in Israel may not be as salient of an issue come November if there is a ceasefire in the meantime, according to Todd. Environmental concerns and cost of living will be bigger issues for Generation Z voters, Todd said. Its their own version of sustainability, Todd said. For them, economic sustainability and climate change are interlocked. Scillian and Todd discussed several other issues that could sway the election, including Trumps ongoing criminal trials, perceptions of the economy, ballot initiatives for abortion rights and third-party candidates. Whether or not Trump is convicted in his ongoing criminal trial will not have a huge influence on his fate in the presidential election, according to Todd. Voters may not see Trumps personal affairs as an important factor in their decision. Voters already knew who they were electing in Donald Trump in 2016, Todd said. The Access Hollywood tape was not kept secret. That was a very well-known fact, and they elected him anyway. However, voters across the aisle care about the economy, a topic Biden is not really campaigning on, Todd said. Bidens campaign focuses on labeling himself as good for democracy. But Todd said most people who are invested in democracy already support Biden. If you are in the dispassionate middle or not paying attention, youre just trying to live your life, Todd said. And whats in front of you: cost-of-living. Generally, U.S. voters seem dispassionate about their options in the upcoming election, and some have looked for paths to another nominee. Todd said there are no other realistic options at this point, but he referenced some other candidates who might be better fits for a White House run, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is at the conference. Todd and Scillian also discussed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a buzzy third-party candidate. If debates between Trump and Biden are messy, Todd predicts more voters will become Kennedy curious. While RFK Jr. doesnt really have a shot at the top office, he could pull votes away from either of the main party candidates. While the Kennedy family members are important figures in the legacy of the Democratic Party, Todd predicts that connection will matter less to voters. Instead, he said some Republicans, specifically the ones invested in conspiracy theories, will vote for Kennedy over Trump. What are you afraid of Joe Biden? Todd said. If you think you are dealing with one conspiracy theorist, dont you want the conspiracy theorist vote split in two? Voters may not feel too excited to cast ballots for Trump or Biden, but the chance at expanding abortion access through a ballot initiative could reinvigorate them. Many Democratic politicians are running on increasing abortion access, and states across the country, including Missouri and Florida, will most likely have a question on the ballot for voters pertaining to that issue in November. Todd said abortion access, and the chance to vote on it, could increase voter turnout and bring energy to the Democratic Party on Election Day. I look at my own daughter, whos 20, goes to school in the state of Florida, is now figuring out how to register to vote in the state of Florida, because of that initiative, Todd said. Todd and Scillian also talked about the role of journalism in the U.S. and how to improve the industry. Todd said journalists should see themselves as a public service for people and connect national news to local news. The post NBCs Chuck Todd calls Michigan more volatile than other states ahead of presidential election appeared first on Michigan Advance. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Community Change) North Carolina Democratic legislative leaders called on their Republican colleagues in the General Assembly Thursday to expand funding for childcare providers as federal grant money that helped centers weather the pandemic is set to expire this summer. Childcare providers and state officials have been urging lawmakers to address the funding gap, warning that without intervention, hundreds of facilities may be forced to shut down. House Democratic minority leader Robert Reives speaks about child care funding Senate Democratic Leader Dan Blue and House Democratic Leader Robert Reives said on Thursday at a press conference that the state should be funding childcare centers instead of expanding private school vouchers. Blue characterized efforts by Republican legislative leaders to eliminate the waitlist for Opportunity Scholarships, which Republicans have made a top priority this short session, a manufactured crisis that should not distract us from the real urgent needs of North Carolinas working families. Rather than ensuring that every child in North Carolina has access to high quality education and childcare, theyre funneling taxpayer dollars into private school vouchers, said Blue. Blue said childcare is not just a convenience, its a foundational issue that for some families it can literally mean the difference between success and failure. Its critical and essential to high economic development, job creation and job performance. Republicans are proposing to allocate an additional $463 million over the next two years and to clear the waiting list for 55,000 families seeking private school vouchers for this fall. Reives said the federal grant money has been a lifeline for working families and the business community, helping ensure childcare centers continued to function and working parents could balance work and family life. With that money ending, now the state needs to step up and bridge the divide. But instead, the focus of this session so far has been to subsidize private school education for millionaires. A February survey by the North Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Council found that 88% of childcare providers say they expect to increase parent fees when federal funding ends. Forty percent said they would have to raise parent fees immediately. Nearly half said they would lose administrative and teaching staff, and about two-thirds said they would have difficulty hiring new employees with comparable experience and education. One-third of childcare programs said they would have to close within a year. Kim Shaw, founder of A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center in southeast Raleigh, said the center may be forced to shut down this summer if the state does not step in and fill the funding gap. The parents of these children play a vital role in supporting the economy of North Carolina, knowing that their children are in safe, nurturing hands, Shaw said. We do not recognize the importance of public education until the children are 5 years old. The North Carolina General Assembly has the financial resources to fund early childhood education adequately. With the money Republicans are spending on private school vouchers, Reives said the current waitlist for children in need of childcare could be eliminated, pre-K programs could be expanded, and early education could be provided to thousands of students. In this building, we have had our priorities backward, said Reives. How much more of an impact would hundreds of millions of dollars for childcare centers have on our state than handouts to wealthy families for private school tuition. Its a ridiculous, to me, supposition, that what we need to do is take care of the wealthiest of us, Reives concluded. I think that responsible people here corporations agree with this, the NC Chamber agrees with this, wealthy people agree with this. But for some reason, we decided that were going to prioritize our top 1 percent economically and just tell the other 99 percent figure it out as you go. The post NC Democratic leaders call on GOP colleagues to address looming childcare crisis appeared first on NC Newsline. TEHRAN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Thursday his country and Syria should further expand their cooperation to overcome political and economic pressure from the United States and Europe. He made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his accompanying delegation in the Iranian capital Tehran, according to a statement published on the leader's website. He said Iran's Interim President Mohammad Mokhber would continue to promote cooperation between Tehran and Damascus, emphasizing that the two countries are among the resistance front's pillars. The resistance front is a term often used to refer to an unwritten regional coalition comprising mainly Shiite countries and groups in West Asia, which seek to fight Israel and end its occupation of the Palestinian territories and free the region from the West's domination. He said resistance was Syria's defining identity, which gave it a distinguished standing in the region, and urged Syria to maintain this feature for national unity. Khamenei said the Westerners and their "stooges" in the region sought to destroy Syria's political system and omit the Arab state from regional equations, but they failed to do so, adding, "They still seek to eliminate Syria from the region's equations through resorting to other methods, such as giving promises they would never fulfill." The Syrian president, for his part, extended condolences over the deaths of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage, describing Syria-Iran ties as strategic. He praised the late Iranian president for deepening relations between Syria and Iran after Raisi took office in August 2021. Assad stressed that his government's position had always been that retreating in the face of the West would only further embolden it. Both Iran and Syria are under sanctions imposed by the United States and some European countries. When the U.S. Air Force Academys Class of 2024 arrived on the Colorado Springs campus in 2020, the ordinary freshmen faced an extraordinary challenge: navigating the first full school year at the services four-year university as the coronavirus pandemic raged around the globe. Parents were unable to give their cadet a proper goodbye at dropoff, Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Richard Clark said. Air Force special operations boss tapped to run service academy They basically had to kick you out of the door and keep driving, Clark said, recalling the uncertainty of the pandemics earliest days, when testing lockdowns, quarantines, virtual classes and plexiglass partitions became ingrained in daily life, and students were forced to forgo visits home during the holidays and spring break. Four years later, an undergraduate journey that began with tumult ended in cheers Thursday as nearly 1,000 seniors celebrated at a commencement ceremony at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs. Of the 1,164 cadets inducted into the academy in June 2020, 974 graduated Thursday, bringing the total number of academy graduates to more than 56,600 since 1959, according to statistics provided by USAFA. Though many uncertainties of the pandemics early days have lifted, the newly minted second lieutenants are entering the military as the Pentagon faces another set of unknowns: rising tensions in the Middle East as the war between Hamas and Israel has intensified, Russias war in Ukraine passes the two-year mark, and the potential for competition with China to boil into conflict in the Pacific. Biden tells Air Force Academy grads their leadership is needed Those challenges come as the Air Force races to modernize for a global fight, one that Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told cadets he believes they are ready to take on. You are beginning your careers during a strategic competition that is the greatest challenge our country has faced in modern times perhaps in our entire history, Kendall said. [China] has designed and built its armed forces with the goal to deter and defeat the United States ability to project power, particularly in the western Pacific. The Class of 2024 included 70% men and 30% women, a gender breakdown similar to that of recent years, USAFA data shows. Still, the graduating class is less racially diverse than others in recent years, at a time when the Air Force is trying to overcome gender and racial disparities within its ranks. In 2022 and 2023, 31% of USAFA graduates were minorities; that number fell to 25% in 2024. This years graduates include 136 Asian cadets, 127 Hispanic cadets, 70 cadets who identify with at least two races, 65 Black cadets, 23 Pacific Islanders and seven Native Americans. Rising number of pilot hopefuls among 2022 Air Force Academy grads Of 387 graduates headed for rated career fields, 357 are assigned as pilots, 12 as drone operators, 12 as combat systems officers, and six as air battle managers, the school said. Academy graduates owe the military at least five years of service, depending on their career path. Those who become pilots must fly in the Air Force for at least 10 years. The academy is also sending 92 cadets to the Space Force, bringing that total to 485 graduates who have headed to the militarys newest branch since it was established in 2019. Six students are commissioning into the Army or Marine Corps. Each time a speaker mentioned the Class of 2024 during Thursdays ceremony, cadets yelled Roy acknowledging their chosen exemplar, or an aerospace leader who students pick to emulate as part of school tradition. This years exemplar was Maj. LeRoy Homer Jr., a 1987 USAFA graduate who flew the C-141 Starlifter. Homer joined United Airlines in 1995 and was the first officer on Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Shanksville, Penn. on Sept. 11, 2001. Homer was among those on the flight who fought back against Al Qaeda terrorists who attempted to hijack the plane and attack the U.S. Capitol. Vice President Kamala Harris, the days keynote speaker, brought Homers wife and daughter to Thursdays ceremony as honored guests, telling the graduates she believes his vision and spirit lives within them. Wherever you go from here you are ready. You all are ready. You already you have the skills. You have the knowledge and the strength of character to meet any challenge. You are warriors, Harris said. You have dedicated yourselves to the service of our nation and Americas security relies on you. I know you will make our country proud. Air Force Academy expels 22 cadets for 2020 cheating scandal The day also closed a chapter for Clark, who became USAFAs first Black superintendent in 2020 and will retire from military service on Friday. But first a selfie. Clark invited Harris to join him in the frame as he angled his phone toward the sea of seniors to snap the memento. You have a great ability to lead through uncertainty and overcome adversity, and those traits will prove invaluable throughout your career in the Air Force and Space Force and throughout your lives, Clark told graduates. Equally valuable will be your development as leaders of character. Always remember to put integrity first and live honorably in every aspect of your lives. Nearly $7 million in state funding awarded to help improve area housing The area will receive state funding to help improve housing access. >>New contract approved by local school district means no raises for teachers The Montgomery County Land Bank will get nearly $7 million in grant funding to purchase and rehabilitate some area homes, according to State Rep. Willis Blackshear. The funding is part of the Welcome Home Ohio program which will invest a total of $100 million in state grants over two years to help landbanks purchase, rehabilitate, or build homes for income-eligible Ohioans. These dollars will make 64 single-family units available in our county and will help improve access to affordable housing in our community, said Rep. Blackshear in a statement. The state will award at least $29 million in total to 17 counties to support the creation of 263 single-family homes. For more information, visit this website. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the Biden administration for not backing sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the Israel-Hamas war. Im surprised and disappointed, because I think its to the detriment, not only of Israels interest, I think its to the detriment of Americas interest, because Israel may be attacked first by the ICC, but youre next. Americas really the target, Netanyahu said in a clip of an interview on SiriusXMs The Morgan Ortagus Show, which is set to air Sunday. The White House pushed back against a sanctions proposal from Congress on Tuesday, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying the White House does not believe sanctions on the international court are an effective or an appropriate path forward. And the terrorists who are attacking us, and the mobs who support them in America, they chant, Death to Israel, death to America, Netanyahu continued in the interview. When that is backed by a rogue prosecutor in the ICC, its in Americas interest, for Americas security and for our common values, to sanction the ICC. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan made requests for arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, earlier this month. Khan has said Netanyahu and Gallant have criminal responsibility for starvation as a method of war, intentionally targeting civilians, extermination and persecution, alongside other war crimes. Netanyahu has expressed his displeasure with the ICC prosecutors decision to request the warrants multiple times and compared it to charging former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and former United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II. I think these charges are exactly as President Biden called em, theyre outrageous, Netanyahu said in an interview on CNNs The Lead with anchor Jake Tapper. Theyre beyond outrageous. This is a rogue prosecutor that has put false charges, and created false symmetries that are both dangerous and false. The Hill has reached out to the White House. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be openly bullying President Joe Biden after the latter rejected a Republican effort to sanction the International Criminal Court. Netanyahu told the Sirius XM radio program The Morgan Ortagus Show in an interview set to air Sunday that he was surprised and disappointed that Biden would not be supporting sanctions against the ICC, according to Politico. The publication obtained a clip of the interview, which took place on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the White House said it would reject the GOP-led effort in Congress to reprimand the ICC after its chief prosecutor filed warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and top Hamas leadersa startling reversal of previous statements from Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The United States said that they would, in fact, back the sanctions bill, Netanyahu said. I thought that was still the American position because there was bipartisan consensus just a few days ago. Now you say theres a question mark, and frankly Im surprised and disappointed, Netanyahu told host Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokesperson under Donald Trump. While Biden previously called the ICCs move outrageous, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that sanctions on the ICC are not an effective or appropriate tool to address U.S. concerns. Netanyahu and the rest of Israels leadership have little to gripe about, as the country has enjoyed nearly unceasing diplomatic and military support from the Biden administration since its brutal assault on Gaza began in October, after a Hamas invasion of southern Israel. Israels latest assault on displaced Palestinians in Rafah hasnt resulted in any policy changes, despite gruesome images of charred and burned civiliansand a new report that the bombs used were made in the United States. While shocking, Israels new offensive is a continuation of what experts have described as war crimes from Netanyahu and the rest of Israels leaders, who recently said that their war could last another seven months. If Netanyahu and co. arent getting the message from the ICC or international protests to stop adding to the conservative estimate of more than 36,000 Palestinians killed, perhaps Biden needs to stand up to Netanyahus humiliation and take a more concrete step: ending weapons shipments to Israel. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Prosecutors with the Nevada Attorney Generals Office have filed a brief explaining why they believe the six Republican electors who submitted false electoral certificates in 2020 for then-President Donald Trump should be tried in Las Vegas and not northern Nevada. The filing includes several points, including the Nevada GOPs office in Las Vegas and alleged communication before the Dec. 14, 2020, Carson City signing event, which prosecutors said occurred in Clark County. In December, a Clark County grand jury indicted the group of six on charges of offering a false instrument for filing and uttering a forged instrument, stemming from the submission of the documents in 2020. Both charges are felonies. State prosecutors charged Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald, Clark County Republican Party Chairman Jesse Law, Jim DeGraffenreid, Durward James Hindle III, Shawn Meehan and Eileen Rice. All six have pleaded not guilty. During a hearing earlier this month, Judge Mary Kay Holthus asked the state to provide her with more information about why the case should be heard in her courtroom. The six Republican electors signed paperwork signaling their support for Trump in a symbolic ceremony devoid of any legal merit and coinciding with the official state-sanctioned tally.(Twitter/KLAS) In the prosecutors filing dated Wednesday, they said the Nevada GOPs mailing address and headquarters are both in Las Vegas. They also add McDonald and Law are Clark County residents. DeGraffenreid mailed the certificates from a Minden, Nevada, mailing address, the 8 News Now Investigators reported in 2021. The return address on the envelopes was the Las Vegas office, prosecutors noted. Prosecutors also said then-Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, a Republican, was in Las Vegas when her office received a copy of the documents. During the May 15 hearing, Holthus indicated she believed either side would appeal her ruling on the legalities of the grand jury indictment and venue to the state supreme court either way. Lawyers for the defendants can now respond to the prosecutors filing. The filing includes several points, including the Nevada GOPs office in Las Vegas and alleged communication before the Dec. 14, 2020, Carson City signing event, which prosecutors said occurred in Clark County. (KLAS) The six electors signed paperwork signaling their support for Trump in a symbolic ceremony devoid of any legal merit and coinciding with the official state-sanctioned tally. The purpose of the documents was to force Congress to decide the presidential election, according to people whom Congress Jan. 6 committee interviewed. A legal advisor to the Trump campaign, Kenneth Chesebro, emailed DeGraffenreid about the plan, the committee found. In documents filed earlier this year, lawyers for the six fake electors claim Law was not in Nevada in the days before the event nor is there evidence McDonald was in Clark County in the certificates drafting phase. The lawyers argue that the first time the evidence shows defendants engaged in any acts relating to the documents at issue was in Carson City, documents said. In the days after and in filings since, the six Republican electors said they filed the certificates due to the then-ongoing legal battles from the Trump campaign. However, in mid-December 2020, no legal case remained open in Nevada. The Nevada Supreme Court ruled against the Trump campaign on Dec. 8, 2020, six days before the Dec. 14 ceremony. However, lawyers claim the U.S. Supreme Court had yet to weigh in, though the panel ultimately did not. Nevada law requires the secretary of state to oversee the certification of the states electoral certificates. Cegavske oversaw the official certification process, which featured then-President-Elect Joe Bidens slate of electors, on the same day as the Republican event. The Nevada GOP repeatedly denied requests from 8 News Now to review their evidence of allegations of fraud throughout the fall of 2020. At a news conference on Nov. 5, 2020, where surrogates from the Trump campaign announced a federal lawsuit, speakers told reporters to find the evidence for themselves. That lawsuit was later dropped. During the sole hearing in that case, a lawyer provided no evidence of fraud and did not verbally bring up any evidence to the federal judge. Holthus tentatively scheduled a trial for January 2025. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. A Newsmax host defended Donald Trumps description of his critics as human scum by comparing it to when former President Barack Obama used the N-word to discuss racism. (Watch the video below.) In a Greg Kelly Reports episode earlier this week, host Kelly appeared irked by media reaction to Trumps Truth Social post wishing a happy Memorial Day to all, including the Human Scum that is working so hard to destroy our Once Great Country such as the judges in his three criminal cases. The approach was on-brand for Trump, and Kelly called it pretty harsh. But its the sort of rough talk he does better than others, the host argued. And the aforementioned scum, presumably liberals trying to throw that man in jail, deserve it, he said. He then veered further off the rails. What about when Obama said the N-word? Thats pretty well, for some people that would be unforgivable, but Obama is just cool, right? Kelly griped. You mean when Obama, a Black man, bluntly mentioned the word to illustrate that racism is still thriving in 2015, even though its not socially acceptable to say the N-word now? Thats not the measure of whether racism still exists or not, Obama said on a podcast, which Kelly played on-air. Its not just a matter of overt discrimination. Societies dont, overnight, completely erase everything that happened 200 to 300 years prior. Sure, Greg, thats the same thing as a former president, who wants the job again, marking a holiday to honor fallen soldiers with a shoutout to human scum. Fast-forward to 6:00 for the segment featuring Kellys odd comparison: Related... Angeles Florez Peon Angeles Florez Peon, who has died aged 105, was thought to be the last militia woman of the Spanish Civil War; known as Maricuela, she spent four years in prison and 55 years in exile, becoming a symbol of the Spanish women who fought, and continue to fight, against fascism. Her story began when her eldest brother, Antonio, was among the 24 martyrs of Carbayin murdered in Asturias by government troops during the general strike of October 1934. They killed them with bayonets, she said. When they found my brothers body, his jaw was missing. The atrocity inspired her to join the Socialist Youth. When civil war broke out in July 1936, Angeles Florez Peon was playing the protagonist Maricuela in Jacinto Sanchezs play Arriba los Pobres del Mundo (Up with the Poor of the World) and her characters name stuck. She enlisted in the militia, recalling that men and women were treated equally. We moved between shootings and bombs and slept with our clothes on so we could run when necessary. I remember that one of the things I enjoyed most when I came home on leave was sleeping in a bed with sheets, she said. While she did not bear arms, she was never afraid of General Francos bullets. To her regret, women were withdrawn from the front and she was instead deployed to a field hospital as a nurse. After the fall of Asturias in October 1937 she was arrested at home during dinner: They took my sister and me we were not even 20. They put us on the truck and they took an accordion that had belonged to my brother Antonio and they played it. During a 15-minute court hearing Angeles Florez Peon was accused of killing two soldiers. They were lies. What was true is that I belonged to the Unified Socialist Youth and that I went to the front as a volunteer, she said. Jailed for 15 years, later reduced to nine, she was guarded by nuns at Saturraran womens prison. From her cell she could hear fellow prisoners being taken out to be shot. What truly keeps me alive and active is that desire to remember all those women who were tortured, murdered without trial and erased from history, she later said. In 1939 her boyfriend, Quintin Serrano, was shot and killed. She did not return to Spain until 2003, when she was hailed as a heroine Released on parole in August 1941, Angeles Florez Peon joined her sister in the Basque town of Baracaldo, working in a pharmacy. In 1946 she married Graciano Rozada Vallina, a miner and union official who had been captured while serving with Republican forces. Before their nuptials she told him: If you want to get married, Ill get married, but Im not going to be another piece of furniture in the house I believe in the equality of women and men. With disappearances and arrests continuing, her husband fled to France in August 1947. A few months later Angeles Florez Peon learnt that she was being sought as a terrorist and joined him, arriving by boat with her 10-month-old daughter in her arms. After presenting herself to the French authorities she was fined 1,000 francs for entering the country illegally. Angeles Florez Peon was born in Blimea, northern Spain, on November 17 1918, the fourth of five children of Jose Florez Llusia, a miner, and his wife Restituta Peon Iglesias, a midwife. They separated when she was young and by the age of nine she was earning a living scrubbing floors. I never had a doll and I never went to school, she said, adding that she learnt to read in prison. After Francos announcement in 1960 that those without blood on their hands could return to Spain, she decided to visit her mother but was detained at the border. Eventually a kindly colonel allowed her to pass, though the experience deterred her from trying again until her husbands death in 2003, when she returned to Gijon, in Asturias, to bury his ashes. Now hailed as a heroine, she remained. One of her first acts was to persuade socialists and communists to stop celebrating separately the annual tribute to the martyrs of Carbayin. Latterly she was honorary president of the Socialist Youth of Asturias. Determined that the world should not forget the women of the Spanish civil war, she published two books: Memories of Angeles Florez (2009), relating the hardships she had known; and Maricuelas Surprises (2013), describing the good things that had happened since her return. At 97 she opened a Facebook account, saying: Without memory we are nothing. Angeles Florez Peon continued to stand up for her beliefs, taking part in Pride marches and joining protests to protect pension rights, though she maintained that the fascists are still there to undermine freedoms. She is survived by a daughter and a son. Angeles Florez Peon, born November 17 1918, died May 23 2024 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. How an NHS doctor could help prevent 100,000 meningitis deaths across Africa each year Dr Loyse, far right, and her team of African researchers devised the project Dreamm Driving Reduced Aids-associated Meningo-encephalitis Mortality - Dr Angela Loyse Some 100,000 meningitis deaths could be prevented each year across Africa if a revolutionary yet simple intervention designed by an NHS doctor is rolled out more widely, research has found. The infectious disease attacks the brain and central nervous system, and kills roughly 200,000 people who are already suffering from HIV/Aids annually. But in a trial in Malawi, Tanzania and Cameroon, mortality rates were cut from 30 per cent to 24 per cent over five years with simple shifts in clinical practice. What were showing is a huge reduction in mortality using existing diagnostic tests and medicines, said Dr Angela Loyse, a global health expert based at St Georges, University of London, who led the project. I think health system strengthening needs to be made more attractive. Theres a different angle here, a different vision. Its challenging, and it takes time, but Im very convinced by what weve achieved, she told The Telegraph. While there has been great progress in tackling the HIV/Aids pandemic, progress is stalling in some of the regions worst hit. Globally some 38 million people still live with HIV, while the majority of the 1.7 million new infections found each year are in Sub-Saharan Africa, with 60 per cent of all Aids-related deaths found in the region. HIV destroys the immune system, leaving those with the virus vulnerable to an array of potentially life-threatening infections including meningitis. Theres a lot of work that still needs to be done. These public hospitals have not been invested in for decades, said Dr Loyse. Dr Angela Loyse is a global health expert based at St George's University of London - Dr Angela Loyse The first antiretroviral drug a treatment to keep the HIV virus dormant in the body, preventing it from developing into Aids was introduced on the NHS in 1987, but it wasnt until 1996 when antiretroviral treatment brought about a substantial decrease in patient deaths. Failures in health systems are still causing preventable and unacceptable deaths, said Dr Loyse. When we rolled out antiretroviral therapy in the West, the problem went away. There was a feeling that it would be the same in low income countries, but thats not what weve seen. An average of 630,000 people in Africa die from HIV-related causes each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Of these deaths, around a third are caused by meningitis. Meningitis is treatable and even preventable, but barriers in diagnosis and training of medical staff means that Aids-patients that have contracted meningitis too often die swiftly after being admitted to hospital. The infections deterioration from a bad headache to death is so rapid that hospital care often comes too late, with the fatality rate for adults reaching up to 40 percent, even with treatment. Symptoms also include a fever, a stiff neck and sickness. Dr Loyse and her team of African researchers designed the project Dreamm (Driving Reduced Aids-associated Meningo-encephalitis Mortality) to cut the number of deaths from Aids-related conditions caused by infections. Dreamm was applied in five public hospitals across Africa with very underdeveloped health systems and poor access to essential tests and medicines. I wanted to see what could be done to bridge the gap, said Dr Loyse. The numbers of patients presenting as critically unwell at these hospitals were off the charts, she said. Were talking 80 percent and above. We wanted to design new interventions to get an earlier diagnosis. Africa-led health system strengthening The Dreamm study looked at a range of HIV-related conditions, but cryptococcal meningitis was the most prevalent, a rare but serious bacterial illness contributing up to 20 percent of HIV-related deaths. The study recruited 365 adults living with Aids who had been admitted to hospital with a suspected first episode of meningitis. Dreamm focused on two main interventions. The first was transforming the basic clinical and laboratory processes in the public hospitals. In the observation phase before Dreamm, Dr Loyse and her researchers found that many of the diagnostic tests and medicines were not available on the wards. Mortality was very high, said Dr Loyse. For example, critical brain scans and lumbar punctures used to diagnose meningitis by taking a sample of fluid from the spine to check for bacteria were not being done in some hospitals, often due to poor communication between the clinical and laboratory staff. Missing a meningitis diagnosis can be fatal. The rapid progression of the disease means that there is a very small window to successfully use targeted medicines. In some ways, meningitis is the most complex disease to manage, but the approach showed that it could be managed effectively and safely and it had a massive knock on effect on the other tests and programmes, such as paediatrics and non-communicable diseases, said Dr Loyse. Dreamm updated the bedside point of care tests that provide rapid testing results in the hospitals. This worked in conjunction with developing more detailed laboratory tests for faster patient diagnosis on admission, enabling health workers to begin targeted treatment when patients were still in the emergency area. The new effective tests and medicines saw huge mortality reductions, said Dr Loyse. But together with the lack of access, that wasnt what we were seeing in the routine care settings. So it was really about bridging that gap. After the Dreamm study, just under a quarter, 24 per cent, of people living with Aids and suspected meningitis died within two weeks of admission. This compared to 50 per cent mortality before the new interventions were introduced. The changes to the running of the hospitals cut the wait time from a patient coming to hospital and having a diagnostic test to within just one hour. A stark improvement compared to the observation phase, where most cases did not even receive a diagnostic test. Dr Loyse led the project with her team of researchers across five public hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa - Dr Angela Loyse Dr Cecilia Kanyama, part of the Malawi Dreamm team and a specialist in advanced HIV care, called the study integral for meningitis research. Although she warned that a limitation is bridging the gap between moving the new procedures from the trials into practice in the hospitals. This is where the second Dreamm intervention, inspired by the UK health systems approach, made a real change. Working together with the local hospital directors, in what she calls Africa-led health system strengthening, Dr Loyse and her team co-designed an education programme. The intervention provided tailored training and mentorship to give the staff and lab workers the confidence and know-how to diagnose the meningitis cases. From the very beginning, they were clear that they were not very keen on having a lot of theory, said Dr Loyse. They are really busy people being called to an emergency ward. So we focused on short, sharp workshops that could be done before the working day. Tools taught in the workshop included how to perform lumbar puncture and visual aids, such as posters, were used to promote clear guidelines, like the correct dosages of medicines for staff. The hospitals are really down to the staff, said Dr Loyse. But its not just one week of training that changes all of this. Dr Loyse is now planning to take her research further. She hopes to make the interventions and strategies used in Dreamm universal, so that they can be adopted in other settings within Africa and other low and middle income countries. Its the generalisability that makes the most impact, she said. Although Dr Loyse says that funding remains a major barrier. As backers prefer to channel their money into new medical technologies, rather than investing time into strengthening health systems, she said. She added: Africa-led health system strengthening is the way forward. It is the importance of local leadership that transcends these contexts with very limited resources. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security 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. Cancer vaccines which could cure the disease will be made available on the NHS as part of a world-first programme. The jabs will be given to patients who have already undergone surgery in an attempt to prevent the disease from returning. One patient, a 55-year-old old lecturer with bowel cancer, has already become the first to take the vaccine. Amanda Pritchard, the NHS chief executive, hailed the research as world leading and said it was the first step to being able to vaccinate patients against cancer. She said: Vaccine trials could one day offer us a way of vaccinating people against their own cancer. The NHS is in a unique position to deliver this kind of world-leading research at size and scale, and as more of these trials get up and running at hospitals across the country, our national match-making service will ensure as many eligible patients as possible get the opportunity to access them. The health service will recruit tens of thousands of patients over the coming years to trial multiple cutting-edge vaccinations simultaneously. The programme, called the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, will use a match-making service to partner eligible cancer patients with appropriate trials at nearby hospitals. The vaccine is currently being trialled to treat patients who have undergone surgery to remove a tumour, with the aim of alerting the immune system to the presence of cancer and triggering it to attack and destroy any remaining cancer cells, but its use is likely to be expanded in the future. Technology pioneered by Covid jabs The cancer vaccines use mRNA technology, first pioneered to create Covid jabs, and are custom-made for each patient. Scientists take a sample of the tumour during surgery and use DNA sequencing to create a jab specific to its mutations. The first of the trials is already under way with the NHS confirming on Friday that Elliot Pfebve, 55, is receiving the vaccine for bowel cancer at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which is one of several sites taking part in the trial. Researchers hope the vaccines will effectively be able to cure a patients cancer by stopping it from ever returning. Mr Pfebve, a lecturer and father of four, was diagnosed after a routine health check-up with his GP despite having no symptoms. He required surgery to remove his tumour and 30cm of his large intestine and was eligible for the treatment after blood tests revealed circulating tumour DNA, which could lead to cancer returning. He has now had chemotherapy and is undergoing 12 months of treatment with the vaccine, which is delivered intravenously in hospital every week at first and then tapered off to every six weeks. He said if the trial was successful it may help thousands, if not millions of people. Being part of this trial has been a really important decision in my life, both for me and my family, he said. Having been through the difficulty of diagnosis and debilitating chemotherapy, it felt wonderful to be able to take part in something which could lead to a new way of treating cancer, and if others can benefit from what the trial might discover then thats great too. The bowel cancer trial has been developed in partnership with BioNTech, a German biopharmaceutical company that co-developed the first ever mRNA vaccine, and is expected to recruit up to 10,000 patients. Separate trials using different vaccines and targeting different cancers are also expected to come online in the coming months. NHS officials are in discussions with BioNTech and other pharmaceutical manufacturers about initiating more trials, with lung, bladder and skin cancer among the different forms of the disease being considered. Details of several trials involving cancer vaccines will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference this week. Prof Peter Johnson, the NHS clinical director for cancer, said the vaccine launch pad would make sure the NHS is prepared and ready for the advent of this new technology and would fast track the vaccine to eligible patients around the country. The exciting thing about this technology is that by developing these personalised vaccines using mRNA technology, which weve all come to know from Covid, we could cut and paste the sequences which are abnormal in a tumour into a vaccine and then give it to somebody post operation to reduce the risk of recurrence, he said. The vaccines themselves are very innovative, this is very cutting edge technology starting to really bring our ability to analyse genetic abnormalities in cancer cells into use for vaccination. The analysis which allows you to go from a pattern of mutations [in a tumour] to a specific vaccine is really very new, and the algorithms that you use to do that matching the abnormalities to somebodys specific tissue type to construct a vaccine is all highly novel. So far, 30 hospitals have signed up to the launch pad programme in what the NHS says is one of the biggest projects of its kind in the world. Prof Rob Jones, lead investigator for the bowel cancer trial from the Velindre Cancer Centre and Cardiff University, said the potential was very exciting. With bowel cancer, if it comes back, most of the time its not curative. So youre then treating it in a palliative setting, he said. If we can make a significant impact, at the point of post surgery, post chemotherapy, to significantly change the cure rates, then thats fantastic for the patient, but it will also mean were not going to be treating patients further down the line when their cancer relapses. 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. HANOI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- A woman was arrested on Thursday in Vietnam's northern province of Thai Binh after a five-year-old boy under her care was forgotten on the school bus and died, VnExpress reported. A kindergarten employee was reportedly in charge of monitoring students on a 29-seat bus between the school and their homes. At 6:20 a.m. on Wednesday, she and the bus driver took the five-year-old boy to school by bus. When his uncle arrived at the school at 5:30 p.m. that day to pick him up, the boy was nowhere to be seen. Only then did people discover that he was still left on the school bus. He was rushed to hospital but declared dead upon arrival, according to Vietnam News Agency. According to police, the boy spent 11 hours in the sweltering sun on the bus and experienced respiratory failure as a result of hunger and heat. It was reported that the teacher took a photo of all the students in attendance and sent it to the school's software for monitoring and management. She noticed that the boy was absent but did not notify his family, Vietnam News reported. Who is Nicole Shanahan, RFK Jrs running mate? Details on VP pick and why she's in Maine Nicole Shanahan, the running mate of long-shot presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will appear at a rally in Maine on Thursday as the campaign continues its effort to qualify for state ballots nationwide. The rally, titled Who is Bobby Kennedy? aims to raise awareness about the third-party candidate and show voters that they have a third choice, according to the campaign. It will take place in Kittery, ME, a town just over the New Hampshire border on the coast. Who is Nicole Shanahan? Shanahan is a lawyer and philanthropist, leading a foundation that directs money toward womens reproductive science and criminal justice. She is a registered Democrat. Kennedy chose her to be his vice-presidential running mate in March. Shanahan is largely nationally unknown and has no governing experience, but she has ties to Silicon Valley. As the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, she is wealthy and had already donated over $4 million to Kennedys campaign before being chosen, including over half of his $7 million Super Bowl commercial. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, in Oakland, Calif., on Mar 26, 2024. Why is Nicole Shanahan in Maine? Shanahan will be in Kittery Wednesday for the first of three rallies for Kennedy in Maine. She is expected to speak to attendees and hold a Q&A. Her appearance comes as Kennedy continues to try to appear on state ballots nationwide. Kennedy is not yet on the ballot in Maine. According to Maines Secretary of State Office, the campaign has not yet turned in any signatures. But he still has time: the deadline to submit a non-party petition to get on the ballot in Maine is July 25. Kennedy will need to gather at least 4000 signatures from registered voters in Maine. Ballot petition access petitions will be available for voters to sign at each event in Maine. Where is RFK Jr. on the ballot? According to the campaign, Kennedy and Shanahan are officially on the ballot in seven states, including Utah, Michigan, California, Delaware, Oklahoma, Hawaii, and Texas. They said they have also collected enough signatures for ballot access in nine other states: New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, New Jersey and, most recently, New York. On Tuesday, the campaign announced it had collected over 135,000 signatures for ballot access in New York. Kennedy has not yet gotten on enough state ballots to garner the 270 electoral votes required to qualify for the presidential debates to be hosted by CNN and ABC. He must reach that number by June 20. While third-party candidates are unlikely to win the election, Kennedy could take votes from President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Who is Nicole Shanahan? More on RFK Jr.'s VP pick; why she's in Maine (The Hill) Nikki Haley, a former GOP presidential candidate and United Nations ambassador, wrote Finish them on an artillery shell while on a trip to Israel this week. Haley was photographed signing the shell Tuesday in a social media post by Danny Danon, Israels former ambassador to the United Nations and a member of the Israeli Parliament. The message on the shell read, Finish them! America [heart] Israel always, Nikki Haley. This is what my friend, the former ambassador, Nikki Haley wrote today about a shell during a visit to an artillery post on the northern border, Danon wrote in a post on social platform X. The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] will win! The post came shortly after an Israeli strike on the southern Gaza city of Rafah killed dozens of Palestinians and wounded at least 200 others earlier this week. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Rafah fire as tragic and said Israel is investigating it thoroughly and will learn from it, as is our policy and longstanding conduct. Bowman rips Haley for writing finish them on Israeli bomb: Disgusting The incident further fueled global outrage over Israels war in Gaza, which has killed more than 36,00 Palestinians since early October, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Israels war with Hamas has been raging for almost eight months, since the militant group launched a surprise assault against Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking another 250 hostage. Earlier this week, Haley toured sites in Israel near the northern border with Lebanon, where the artillery shell was reportedly signed, along with other sites that were targeted by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attacks. What I will tell all Israelis: America is with you. Americans are with you 1,200 people were brutally murdered. Lets not forget what happened on Oct. 7. Because Hamas has said theyre going to do it again. We owe it to make sure it never happens again, Haley said in a video posted by Danon. Dont listen to what is being said in the media. I reassure you: America stands with Israel! Danon quoted Haley as saying, in a separate post on X. Haley, during her time in the U.N. and for months along the campaign trail, repeatedly emphasized her support for Israel and its fight against Hamas. In an interview with the Israel Hayom newspaper this week, Haley urged the U.S. to simply support Israels efforts. We dont need to preach to Israel, we dont need to tell them how to win the war, we dont need to tell them what they can or cant do, she said, per a translation of the interview. We just have to say, what else do you need? Bottom line, thats it. This is what I want to see America do. Its called being a friend, a real friend. And we also need to make sure that all the other countries align with us. The Hill reached out to Haleys team for further comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The man accused of shooting another man numerous times and then repeatedly punching his lifeless body in front of multiple witnesses, including children, at a school parking lot last week will continue to be held without bail, a judge decided on Thursday. Prosecutors from the State Attorney's Office announced a day after the May 22 shooting death of Joseph James Juarez Coles that they intended to seek pre-trial detention for Roderick Kelvin Watson Jr. Circuit Judge Tim McCourt, who presided over Thursday afternoon's hearing, said he had concerns about the details of the crime, including the fact that it was carried out in broad daylight in front of people. Circuit Judge Timothy McCourt denied bail for Roderick Kelvin Watson Jr. The judge held the hearing Thursday inside his courtroom at the Marion County Judicial Center in Ocala. The judge said the savage beating of the victim concerned him. He said there's a danger to the community if Watson is released. The victim's children were among those children present. The judge felt if Watson was released on bail, he could have contact with them, and that would jeopardize the case's integrity. Lawyers make their cases in front of the judge Watson's lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Kathryn Hamilton, argued her client does not have an extensive criminal history, was cooperative with law enforcement, and was calm and forthright in assisting deputies to recover the firearm. Hamilton said Watson would not flee the county and has ties to the community. If Watson was released on bond, the court could impose protection for the witnesses. Assistant Public Defender Kathryn Hamilton and her client Roderick Kelvin Watson Jr. in court on Thursday. Assistant State Attorney Sasha Kidney told the court if Watson was to be released, then he could affect the case by having contact with the children and their mother. Sheriff's deputies said the children's mother is Watson's fiancee. At the first appearance hearing in this case, a judge told Watson he cannot have any contact with the woman. The same judge denied bail for Watson. Kidney said Watson has a failure to appear for a court appearance for driving while license suspended. He also has no significant connection to the community, has only been living in Marion County for three years, he admitted to committing the crime. The prosecutor said Watson's behavior was extremely egregious, reckless and dangerous. In court, she showed a short video of a man, believed to be Watson, beating someone lying on the ground. Assistant State Attorney Sasha Kidney in court on Thursday. A handcuffed Watson stood beside his lawyer watching the video. Asked by the judge if he wanted to say anything, Watson said no. Watson has been charged with second-degree murder. About the shooting Shortly after 6 p.m. on May 22, deputies were called to North Marion Middle School in reference to a shooting. When deputies arrived, they found Watson sitting on a bench. Approaching Watson, he put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed. File photo of the North Marion Middle School shooting on May 22. Watson told deputies the gun was in an older model weapon. Authorities said Coles was transported to HCA Ocala Florida Hospital, where he died. He was 32. At the time of the shooting, the school was hosting an end-of-year awards ceremony inside that was attended by parents and students. Watson's fiancee told law enforcement that Coles attended the ceremony. She, Watson and Coles were discussing who would have the children. The woman said Coles wanted to take the children with him. She said Coles grabbed her arm when Watson, who was in the vehicle, got out and shot Coles. After shooting Coles, the woman said, Watson, 34, punched the victim several times. File picture of the May 22 North Marion Middle School shooting. Other witnesses saw the shooting. One witness told deputies that Watson showed no remorse and looked happy. Parents and children had to remain inside until it was safe to leave the building. Some parents told a Star Banner reporter that they hid in other areas of the building during the shooting. They locked doors and stayed there until they were told to come outside. The parents said they were interviewed by law enforcement before leaving. Shooting death: Teen dies in shooting near Saddlewood Elementary Deputies found the 9mm handgun. Coles was shot at least six times in the upper body, officials said. Though Watson declined to be interviewed by detectives, a deputy said Watson claimed the incident was self-defense. Based on witness statements and evidence collected, detectives ruled out self-defense. Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Man charged with school parking lot shooting denied bail No, conservatives, Democrats did not call for a rainbow redesign of the American flag Fact-checkers have debunked claims online that Democrats are seeking to redesign the American flag to include rainbow stripes. Reuters fact-checkers found "no evidence" to support posts circulating on social media that claim "Democrats are calling to redesign the American Flag to make it more inclusive." The posts, from conservative pages, notably did not present any evidence to support their claims to begin with. Still, the claims triggered many among the far-right, who expressed their manufactured outrage in the comments. Democrats apparently are not Americans, one person wrote. These democrats are anti God! claimed another, despite the U.S. flag being secular. "The American flag is for Americans, they already have flags for the rest of the alphabet people," one person said, seemingly implying that LGBTQ+ people living in the country are somehow not part of it. One commenter apparently saw no irony in writing, "these people need to relearn proper history." The U.S. flag has remained unchanged since 1960, when it was only slightly altered to add a star representing Hawaii after it had just become a state, which the federal government itself will tell you. Fact-checkers also noted that no such plans are listed on the Democrats party platform, or on the websites of the House Democrats and Senate Democrats. Versions of the American flag with rainbow stripes are available through independent sellers online. The one featured in the post's photo is from an April 25, 2015 protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court, days before the hearing on marriage equality, and can be found on Getty Images. The flag in the picture features pink stars sewn on top of the traditional white stars, representing which states at the time had already enacted marriage equality, and which hadn't. At least one commenter on the initial post seemingly hadn't lost their head when they went against the grain to write: "The flag is already inclusive. E Pluribus Unum!" 'No One Is Above The Law': Biden Campaign Responds To Trump's Guilty Verdict A spokesperson for Joe Bidens presidential campaign said Thursday that Donald Trumps conviction in a New York court shows that for all his bluster and attacks on the legal system, Trump is subject to laws and will be held accountable when he breaks them. In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, Michael Tyler, the communications director for Bidens campaign, said in a statement. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts related to his efforts to hide a $130,000 payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election. Tyler said that despite the conviction, theres still only one way to keep the twice-impeached former president from returning to the White House: by going to the ballot box in November. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, he said. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November. Separately, Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House counsels office, said only that the president respects the law. We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment, Sams said in a statement. Why scientists say we need to send clocks to the moon soon Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Perhaps the greatest, mind-bending quirk of our universe is the inherent trouble with timekeeping: Seconds tick by ever so slightly faster atop a mountain than they do in the valleys of Earth. For practical purposes, most people dont have to worry about those differences. But a renewed space race has the United States and its allies, as well as China, dashing to create permanent settlements on the moon, and that has brought the idiosyncrasies of time, once again, to the forefront. On the lunar surface, a single Earth day would be roughly 56 microseconds shorter than on our home planet a tiny number that can lead to significant inconsistencies over time. NASA and its international partners are currently grappling with this conundrum. Scientists arent just looking to create a new time zone on the moon, as some headlines have suggested, said Cheryl Gramling, the lunar position, navigation, and timing and standards lead at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. Rather, the space agency and its partners are looking to create an entirely new time scale, or system of measurement that accounts for that fact that seconds tick by faster on the moon, Gramling noted. NASA is working with its international partners to come up with a method for tracking time on the moon, seen here from Kars, Turkey, on May 18. - Omer Tarsuslu/Anadolu/Getty Images The agencys goal is to work with international partners to set up a new method of tracking time, specifically for the moon, that space-faring nations agree to observe. A recent memo from the White House also directed NASA to map out its plans for this new time scale by December 31, calling it foundational to renewed US efforts to explore the lunar surface. The memo also asks that NASA implement such a system by the end of 2026, the same year the space agency is aiming to return astronauts to the moon for the first time in five decades. For the worlds timekeepers, the coming months could be crucial for figuring out how to accurately keep lunar time and reach agreements on how, when and where to put clocks on the moon. Such a framework will be crucial for humans visiting our closest celestial neighbor, Gramling told CNN. Astronauts on the moon, for example, are going to leave their habitats to explore the surface and carry out science investigations, she said. Theyre also going to be communicating with one another or driving their moon buggies while on the lunar surface. When theyre navigating relative to the moon, Gramling said, time needs to be relative to the moon. A brief history of Earth time Simple sundials or stone formations, which track shadows as the sun passes overhead, mark a days progression just as the shifting phases of the moon can log the passing of a month on Earth. Those natural timekeepers have kept humans on schedule for millennia. But perhaps since mechanical clocks gained traction in the early 14th century, clockmakers have grown ever more persnickety about precision. Exacting the measurement of seconds also grew more complicated in the early 1900s, thanks to Albert Einstein, the German-born physicist who rocked the scientific community with his theories of special and general relativity. Shown here is the old marble sundial at Palace Paco de Sao Miguel in Evora, Portugal. Sundials have kept humans on schedule for millennia. - Geography Photos/Universal Images Group/Getty Images Darn that Einstein guy he came up with general relativity, and many strange things come out of it, said Dr. Bruce Betts, chief scientist at The Planetary Society, a nonprofit space interest group. One of them is that gravity slows time down. General relativity is complicated, but in broad terms, its a framework that explains how gravity affects space and time. Imagine that our solar system is a piece of fabric suspended in the air. That fabric is space and time itself, which under Einsteins theories are inextricably linked. And every celestial body within the solar system, from the sun to the planets, is like a heavy ball sitting atop the fabric. The heavier the ball, the deeper the divot it creates, warping space and time. Even the idea of an earthly second is a humanmade concept thats tricky to measure. And it was Einsteins theory of general relativity that explained why time passes slightly more slowly at lower elevations because gravity has a stronger effect closer to a massive object (such as our home planet). Scientists have found a modern solution to all the complications of relativity for timekeeping on Earth: To account for imperceptible differences, they have set up a few hundred atomic clocks at various locations across the globe. Atomic clocks are ultra-precise instruments that use the vibration of atoms to measure the passage of time, and those clocks in line with Einsteins theories tick slower the closer to Earths surface they sit. The readings from atomic clocks around the world can be averaged for a broad but accurate as possible sense of time for planet Earth as a whole, giving us Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC. Still, occasionally leap seconds are factored in to keep UTC in line with slight changes in Earths speed of rotation. This methodical keeping of time helps make the modern world go round metaphorically speaking, said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator and program manager for NASAs Space Communications and Navigation Program. If youve researched time on the Earth, you realize it is the critical enabler for everything: the economy, food security, trading, the financial community, even oil exploration. They use precise clocks, Coggins said. Its in everything that matters in modern society. German-born physicist Albert Einstein, pictured here in 1939, developed the theories of special and general relativity. - MPI/Archive Photos/Getty Images Space, time: The continual question If time moves differently on the peaks of mountains than the shores of the ocean, you can imagine that things get even more bizarre the farther away from Earth you travel. To add more complication: Time also passes slower the faster a person or spacecraft is moving, according to Einsteins theory of special relativity. Astronauts on the International Space Station, for example, are lucky, said Dr. Bijunath Patla, a theoretical physicist with the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, in a phone interview. Though the space station orbits about 200 miles (322 kilometers) above Earths surface, it also travels at high speeds looping the planet 16 times per day so the effects of relativity somewhat cancel each other out, Patla said. For that reason, astronauts on the orbiting laboratory can easily use Earth time to stay on schedule. For other missions its not so simple. Fortunately, scientists already have decades of experience contending with the complexities. Spacecraft, for example, are equipped with their own clocks called oscillators, Gramling said. They maintain their own time, Gramling said. And most of our operations for spacecraft even spacecraft that are all the way out at Pluto, or the Kuiper Belt, like New Horizons (rely on) ground stations that are back on Earth. So everything theyre doing has to correlate with UTC. Astronauts at the International Space Station can use Earth time to stay on schedule.. - NASA But those spacecraft also rely on their own kept time, Gramling said. Vehicles exploring deep into the solar system, for example, have to know based on their own time scale when they are approaching a planet in case the spacecraft needs to use that planetary body for navigational purposes, she added. For 50 years, scientists have also been able to observe atomic clocks that are tucked aboard GPS satellites, which orbit Earth about 12,550 miles (20,200 kilometers) away or about one-nineteenth the distance between our planet and the moon. Studying those clocks has given scientists a great starting point to begin extrapolating further as they set out to establish a new time scale for the moon, Patla said. We can easily compare (GPS) clocks to clocks on the ground, Patla said, adding that scientists have found a way to gently slow GPS clocks down, making them tick more in-line with Earth-bound clocks. Obviously, its not as easy as it sounds, but its easier than making a mess. For the moon, however, scientists likely wont seek to slow clocks down. They hope to accurately measure lunar time as it is while also ensuring it can be related back to Earth time, according to Patla, who recently co-authored a paper detailing a framework for lunar time. The study, for the record, also attempted to pinpoint exactly how far apart moon and Earth time are, as estimates have wavered between 56 and 59 microseconds per day. Clocks on the moons equator would tick 56.02 microseconds faster per day than clocks at the Earths equator, according to the paper. Lunar clockwork What scientists know for certain is that they need to get precision timekeeping instruments to the moon. Exactly who pays for lunar clocks, which type of clocks will go, and where theyll be positioned are all questions that remain up in the air, Gramling said. We have to work all of this out, she said. I dont think we know yet. I think it will be an amalgamation of several different things. Atomic clocks, Gramling noted, are great for long-term stability, and crystal oscillators have an advantage for short-term stability. You never trust one clock, Gramling added. And you never trust two clocks. Clocks of various types could be placed inside satellites that orbit the moon or perhaps at the precise locations on the lunar surface that astronauts will one day visit. As for price, an atomic clock worthy of space travel could cost around a few million dollars, according Gramling, with crystal oscillators coming in substantially cheaper. But, Patla said, you get what you pay for. The very cheap oscillators may be off by milliseconds or even 10s of milliseconds, he added. And that is important because for navigation purposes we need to have the clocks synchronized to 10s of nanoseconds. A network of clocks on the moon could work in concert to inform the new lunar time scale, just as atomic clocks do for UTC on Earth. (There will not, Gramling added, be different time zones on the moon. There have been conversations about creating different zones, with the answer: No, she said. But that could change in the future.) The atomic clock CS2 is seen at the Physical Technical Institute PTB, the German National Metrology Institute, in northern Germany on April 11, 2008. Atomic clocks are ultra-precise instruments that use the vibration of atoms to measure the passage of time. - Focke Strangmann/AP The new time scale would underpin an entire lunar network, which NASA and its allies have dubbed LunaNet. You can think of LunaNet like the internet or the internet and a global navigation satellite system all combined, Gramling said. Its a framework of standards that contributors to LunaNet (such as NASA or the European Space Agency) would follow. And you can think of the contributors maybe as your internet service provider, Gramling added. Creating such a framework means bringing a lot of people across the world to the table. So far, Gramling said, conversations with US partners have been very, very positive. Its not clear whether NASA and its partners on this effort, which include the European Space Agency, will get a buy-in from nations that arent among US allies, such as China. Gramling noted those conversations would be held through international standard-setting bodies, such as the International Astronomical Union. A whole different mindset Accurate clockwork is one matter. But how future astronauts living and working on the lunar surface will experience time is a different question entirely. On Earth, our sense of one day is governed by the fact that the planet completes one rotation every 24 hours, giving most locations a consistent cycle of daylight and darkened nights. On the moon, however, the equator receives roughly 14 days of sunlight followed by 14 days of darkness. Its just a very, very different concept on the moon, Betts said. And (NASA is) talking about landing astronauts in the very interesting south polar region (of the moon), where you have permanently lit and permanently shadowed areas. So, thats a whole other set of confusion. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this view of Malapert Massif on March 3, 2023. The lunar mountain is a potential landing site for Artemis III, a NASA mission that could launch as soon as 2026 and put astronauts on the moon for the first time in decades. - NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University Itll be challenging for those astronauts, Betts added. Its so different than Earth, and its just a whole different mindset. That will be true no matter what time is displayed on the astronauts watches. Still, precision timekeeping matters not just for the sake of scientifically understanding the passage of time on the moon but also for setting up all the infrastructure necessary to carry out missions. The beauty of creating a time scale from scratch, Gramling said, is that scientists can take everything they have learned about timekeeping on Earth and apply it to a new system on the moon. And if scientists can get it right on the moon, she added, they can get it right later down the road if NASA fulfills its goal of sending astronauts deeper into the solar system. We are very much looking at executing this on the moon, learning what we can learn, Gramling said, so that we are prepared to do the same thing on Mars or other future bodies. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com None of your business: Palmiter claims he didnt know Madalina was missing None of your business: Palmiter claims he didnt know Madalina was missing CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Cross-examination started late Wednesday in the trial of Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing Cornelius girl, Madalina Cojocari. Palmiter is on trial for not reporting Madalina missing. The prosecution hammered Palmiter on how he could have been distant from Madalina and Diana when his own family helped bring them from Moldova to the United States, and he promised Madalinas grandfather hed take care of her. The defense went day by day with Palmiter in his testimony from November 21 when Madalina was last seen in public, until her mother, Diana Cojocari, Palmiters wife, went to her school on December 15 and reported her daughter missing after 23 days and only after school authorities started asking questions. At one point, Palmiter says Diana told him Madalina was sick and, in her room, but he testified that he never went to check on her. The prosecution says Palmiter had to have known Madalina wasnt home after he returned from a trip to Michigan on November 26, 2022, because after that, he never heard her jumping on her bed in her room like he usually did. You never heard her jumping on her bed after you returned from Michigan? asked Austin Butler, an assistant district attorney for Mecklenburg County. No, I dont think so, answered Palmiter. The defense showed a note from Palmiters phone that he took in the first or second week of December. It said, gone for two days and was signed by Diana. Palmiter says Diana grew more distant with him, confronting him about taking her things and accusing him of calling the police on her. Queen City News Finding Madalina Palmiter says when he confronted Diana about where Madalina was, Diana told him it was none of his business. Palmiters attorney asked him where he thinks Madalina is. I think Diana took her somewhere with her Moldovan family, I believe Diana has tucked her away somewhere where shes not going to be found, said Palmiter. Palmiter says he never had concern for Madalinas well-being because he didnt think Diana would harm her, and he believed she was with Diana hiking in the mountains after he returned to Michigan. The prosecution says Palmiter knew his daughter was missing school, and he had plenty of notices from the school. Palmiter says right before Thanksgiving, Diana insisted that Palmiter go to Michigan and retrieve Madalinas warm clothes for the winter. Palmiter says they were stored in that state because the couple made a plan for Madalina and Diana to hide out in Michigan because Diana felt that Russian entities were watching her and Madalina. That plan fell through, but Palmiter says he went to Michigan from November 23-26, 2022 to bring back the clothes. An FBI phone analyst testified Tuesday about texts, emails and phone calls found on Palmiters phone which indicate he knew Madalina wasnt showing up to school and searches from his phone about truancy laws days in December before Diana reported Madalina missing. Palmiter testified for the defense that he didnt know what truancy was and was researching it, and that prompted the search. Palmiters cross-examination continues Thursday morning. This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner testifies before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement at a hearing on May 29, 2024, in Grand Forks, N.D., as North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley listens. (Screenshot from House Judiciary GOP livestream) North Dakota needs more support from the U.S. Border Patrol and other federal agencies to deal with the impacts of border migration, two North Dakota sheriffs told a U.S. House subcommittee on Wednesday. Apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border surged in late 2023, peaking in December, according to data published by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The spike has coincided with an increase in narcotics trafficking in North Dakota, Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner said at a hearing held by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement. None of the Democratic U.S. representatives on the subcommittee participated in the hearing. In a statement to the North Dakota Monitor, ranking Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington accused Republican committee members of organizing the meeting purely for political gain, calling it a stunt. Still, the four North Dakota witnesses who spoke at the Grand Forks hearing had no shortage of grievances to air. Jahner said federal agencies like the U.S. Border Patrol appear to have less of a presence in North Dakota compared to years prior. Assistance from our federal partners when it comes to immigration and immigration enforcement has dwindled from what I was used to in the past, he said. Thats causing problems, since Border Patrol has historically provided in-person assistance to the county when it investigates suspected illegal immigration, according to Jahner. Now, interactions between the Cass County Sheriffs Office and Border Patrol mostly happen over the phone, he said. Renville County Sheriff Roger Hutchinson had similar complaints. He told the committee his county once had several Border Patrol agents. Now, we have one resident agent, Hutchinson said. Its not just migration on the southern border causing issues. Arrests of undocumented immigrants crossing the U.S.-Canadian border also soared in 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows. A March report by CBS News linked the increase in part to Canadian foreign policy. Attorney General Drew Wrigley said during the hearing that there were 548 attempted illegal entries into North Dakota from Canada stopped by Border Patrol in fiscal year 2021. In fiscal year 2023, that number was 4,444. Rebecca Davis, director of the Walhalla Chamber of Commerce, testified that a lack of adequate Border Patrol staff is harming her city. The Pembina County Sheriffs Department is now responding to more reports of undocumented immigrants which takes resources away from residents, she said. Without enough border agents, migrants are also in greater danger, Davis said. Families and individuals crossing illegally have been found in perilous conditions, she said. According to Davis, Walhallas economy has taken a hit, too. She said the port of entry hours were cut by Border Patrol during the COVID-19 pandemic and never restored. The restricted hours at our local ports of entry hinder the free flow of visitors, negatively impacting local businesses and tourism, Davis said. Jahner said he doesnt fault on-the-ground North Dakota Border Patrol agents for any procedural and staffing decisions contributing to these issues, noting these decisions would have come from higher-ranking federal officials. Weve worked with those individuals for a long time, and theyre good partners, he said. I think theyre being restricted, they dont have resources to accommodate our request. Wrigley, meanwhile, called for more federal resources to be directed toward arresting undocumented immigrants. It will take a concerted effort of attorneys general, large city DAs, people in law enforcement, sheriffs, chiefs of police, to band together to pursue a federal policy of rounding up, Wrigley said. Its a foul-sounding word, but its necessary. Other witnesses and committee members argued the United States does not need new immigration policies, it just needs to do a better job supporting the programs it already has in place. We have to figure out how to give them the autonomy to do their job, said Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., who organized the hearing. In an interview with the North Dakota Monitor after the hearing, Armstrong said that Congress could help enforce existing United States immigration policies by codifying them into law. Jayapal, the Washington representative, questioned whether the Republican subcommittee members really wanted to pursue solutions. Republicans on this committee and throughout the House have shown time and again that they have no interest in actually fixing our broken immigration system, she said. They would rather ignore the underlying issues and use immigrants as talking points and political ploys just like they did in this stunt hearing. She added that Congress needs to increase funding to the U.S. immigration system and expand options for legal immigration. The post North Dakota officials highlight border challenges to House subcommittee appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. North Korea fired at least 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Thursday, South Koreas military said. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the missiles were launched from the Sunan area at about 6.14am local time on Thursday towards the east. The statement said the missiles travelled approximately 350km (217 miles) before plunging into the sea. Seoul described the launch as a clear provocation from Kim Jong-uns government in Pyongyang, and one that seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. Japans prime minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that the suspected missiles were believed to have landed in waters outside of Japans exclusive economic zone and there were no immediate reports of any damage. He said Tokyo strongly condemns the launches, which are in violation of UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea. Thursdays missile barrage comes just days after Pyongyangs latest attempt to put a second spy satellite into orbit ended in failure after it exploded mid-air. A video released by South Koreas military and Japans public broadcaster NHK showed a projectile exploding into a fireball in the night sky. #USINDOPACOM Statement on #DPRK Missile Launch: "We are aware of the DPRKs ballistic missile launch and are consulting closely with the Republic of Korea and Japan, as well as other regional allies and partners." Read morehttps://t.co/yLA5AdImSx U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (@INDOPACOM) May 30, 2024 North Korea insists it has the right to launch satellites and test missiles, citing perceived US-led military threats. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un considers spy satellites essential for monitoring US and South Korean military activities and for bolstering the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated recently due to increased North Korean weapons tests and intensified joint military exercises by South Korea, the United States, and Japan. North Korea also recently launched a fleet of balloons reportedly filled with trash and excrement across the heavily fortified border with South Korea, sparking alarm in the neighbouring country. North Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Thursday, the South Korean military said, a day after sending hundreds of large balloons carrying trash and manure into the South. https://t.co/nshvGJmMqy Michelle Ye Hee Lee (@myhlee) May 29, 2024 More than 200 balloons are on the way, the South Korean military said and advised people to stay indoors. The US militarys Indo-Pacific Command also condemned the launches on Thursday and called on North Korea to refrain from further unlawful and destabilising acts, according to The Japan Times. Additional reporting by agencies North Korea fired a group of ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Thursday, the South Korean military said, days after an attempted North Korean military spy satellite launch failed. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said the North fired 10 ballistic missiles from near Pyongyang to the east into the sea. The suspected missiles flew about 350 kilometers, it said, adding that the South has increased vigilance on military activity in the region. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have increased in recent months as the pace of both North Koreas weapons testing and South Koreas combined military exercises with the United States and Japan have intensified. North Korea launched balloons filled with trash and manure toward the South beginning Tuesday in retaliation for South Korean activists sending anti-government propaganda leaflets to the North. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also warned of unspecified overwhelming actions against the South after it staged a military exercise with 20 fighter jets near the border just hours before North Korea attempted to launch the satellite. The satellite exploded just after takeoff, making an embarrassing failure for the Norths developing space capabilities. The North successfully launched its first military spy satellite in November, but Mondays failure posed a possible setback to Kims plans to launch three more military spy satellites in 2024. We will never tolerate any moves of the hostile forces to violate the inviolable sphere under the exercise of sovereignty nor step back from having access to the space reconnaissance capability which should be done surely no matter what others may say, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong said in a statement published on state media. The Associated Press contributed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. VIENTIANE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Officials from the Greater Mekong Sub-region countries have agreed to step up efforts to combat drug trafficking as synthetic drug markets in the region continue to grow. Representatives from Laos, Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, met in Lao capital Vientiane for the Senior Officials Committee Meeting of the Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding on Drug Control in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, which took place from Tuesday to Wednesday. The report titled "Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia: Latest Developments and Challenges 2024" was presented at the meeting, indicating the escalation in drug trafficking, according to the Lao Security News report on Thursday. Laos' Deputy Minister of Public Security Khamking Phuilamanyvong said the meeting is an important platform for enhancing the collective effort to fight the illegal drug trade in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. Despite the reported escalation in the drug trade, Khamking said "These cooperation efforts have enabled us to effectively deal with and solve the drug problem in the region." The meeting reviewed the implementation of the sub-regional action plan and the initiative on joint efforts to tackle synthetic drugs in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. For its part, the Lao government has intensified action to tackle the drug problem and remains committed to working with other countries in the region in this regard, said Khamking. North Korea launched around 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Thursday morning, South Korea's military said. Photo by Yonhap May 29 (UPI) -- North Korea fired around ten short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea early Thursday morning, Seoul's military said, one day after floating hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure across the inter-Korean border. South Korea's military detected the launch from the Sunan area near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang at 6:14 a.m., the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a message to reporters. The missiles traveled around 217 miles before splashing down in the waters east of the Peninsula. "Our military immediately detected, tracked, and monitored the North Korean missile launches and closely shared related information with the U.S. and Japan," the JCS said. "We strongly condemn North Korea's missile launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," it added. Hawaii-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said it was aware of the launch and is consulting with South Korea and Japan. "The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts," the command said in a statement. "While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or territory, or to our allies, we continue to monitor the situation." The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea. Japan's Defense Ministry announced that it had detected the launch, saying that the missiles had landed outside the waters of the country's exclusive economic zone. North Korea also conducted a GPS jamming attack for a second day, the JCS said in a separate message. The South's military detected the signal near the de facto inter-Korean maritime border in the Yellow Sea on Thursday morning, the JCS said. The jamming attempt lasted for about an hour and did not impact military operations, it added. The missile launch comes a day after the North sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure into South Korea, in what it called a "tit-for-tat" retaliation for activists floating leaflets across the border from the South. Earlier this week, Pyongyang attempted to place its second spy satellite into orbit but failed when a newly developed rocket engine exploded in flight. On Thursday, North Korea pushed back against condemnation of the attempted satellite launch by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called it a violation of Security Council resolutions. "We will never tolerate any moves of the hostile forces to violate the inviolable sphere under the exercise of sovereignty nor step back from having access to the space reconnaissance capability which should be done surely no matter what others may say," North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong said in a statement carried by official media. [Editors Note: In the video player above learn where the U.S. has spent the most on foreign aid.] SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Manure. Cigarette butts. Scraps of cloth. Waste batteries. Even, reportedly, diapers. This week, North Korea floated hundreds of huge balloons to dump all of that trash across rival South Korea an old-fashioned, Cold War-style provocation that the country has rarely used in recent years. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un confirmed Wednesday that North Korea sent the balloons and attached trash sacks. She said they were deployed to make good on her countrys recent threat to scatter mounds of wastepaper and filth in South Korea in response to the leafleting campaigns by South Korean activists. Experts say the balloon campaigning is meant to stoke a division in South Korea over its conservative governments hardline policy on North Korea. They also say North Korea will also likely launch new types of provocations in coming months to meddle in Novembers U.S. presidential election. NE Ohio familys Disney trip turns dangerous Heres a look at what North Koreas balloon launches are all about. WHAT HAPPENED? Since Tuesday night, about 260 balloons flown from North Korea have been discovered across South Korea. Theres no apparent danger, though: The military said an initial investigation showed that the trash tied to the balloons doesnt contain any dangerous substances like chemical, biological or radioactive materials. There have been no reports of damages in South Korea. In 2016, North Korean balloons carrying trash, compact discs and propaganda leaflets caused damage to cars and other property in South Korea. In 2017, South Korea found a suspected North Korean balloon with leaflets again. This week, no leaflets were found from the North Korean balloons. Flying balloons with propaganda leaflets and other items is one of the most common types of psychological warfare the two Koreas launched against each other during the Cold War. Other forms of Korean psychological battle have included loudspeaker blaring, setting up giant front-line electronic billboards and signboards and propaganda radio broadcasts. In recent years, the two Koreas have agreed to halt such activities but sometimes resumed them when tensions rose. WHAT DOES NORTH KOREA WANT? The Norths balloon launches are part of a recent series of provocative steps, which include its failed spy satellite launch and test-firings of about 10 suspected short-range missiles this week. Experts say the Norths leader, Kim Jong Un, will likely further dial up tensions ahead of the U.S. election to try to help former President Donald Trump return to the White House and revive high-stakes diplomacy between them. The balloon launches arent weak action at all. Its like North Korea sending a message that next time, it can send balloons carrying powder forms of biological and chemical weapons, said Kim Taewoo, a former president of South Koreas government-funded Institute for National Unification. Koh Yu-hwan, an emeritus professor at Seouls Dongguk University, said North Korea likely determined that the balloon campaign is a more effective way to force South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols government to clamp down on the Souths civilian leafletting. The point is to make the South Korean people uncomfortable, and build a public voice that the governments policy toward North Korea is wrong, Koh said. North Korea is extremely sensitive to leaflets that South Korean activists occasionally float across the border via their own balloons, because they carry information about the outside world and criticism of the Kim dynastys authoritarian rule. Most of the Norths 26 million people have little access to foreign news. In 2020, North Korea blew up an empty, South Korean-built liaison office on its territory in protest of South Korean civilian leafleting campaigns. McDonalds speaks out about $18 Big Mac meal WAS ANYTHING LEARNED FROM THE TRASH? North Korea is one of the worlds most secretive countries in the world, and foreign experts are keen on collecting any fragmentary information coming from the country. But Koh said that there wont be much meaningful information that South Korea can gain from the North Korean trash dumps, because North Korea would have not put any important items into balloons. If the manure is the kind made of animal dung, its examination may show what fodder is given to livestock in North Korea. Looks at other trash can provide a glimpse into consumer products in North Korea. But observers say outside experts can get such information more easily from North Korean defectors, their contacts in North Korea and Chinese border towns, and North Korean state publications. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS ON TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA? The Norths balloon activities may deepen public calls in South Korea to stop anti-North Korean leafleting to avoid unnecessary clashes. But its unclear whether and how aggressively the South Korean government can urge civil groups to refrain from sending balloons toward North Korea. In 2023, South Koreas Constitutional Court struck down a contentious law that criminalized the sending of anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets, calling it an excessive restriction on free speech. From Pyongyangs perspective, this is a tit-for-tat and even restrained action to get Seoul to stop anti-Kim regime leaflets from being sent north. However, it will be difficult for democratic South Korea to comply, given ongoing legal disputes over the freedom of citizens and NGOs to send information into North Korea, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. The immediate danger of military escalation is not high, he said, but recent developments show how sensitive and potentially vulnerable the Kim regime is to information operations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Remnants of ballistic missiles produced in North Korea have been found throughout Ukraine, further confirming U.S. accusations that Pyongyang is arming Russias war effort, according to a new unclassified report released Wednesday by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Since November, the West has assessed that North Korea has been providing artillery shells, rockets and missile to Russia to support the Kremlins war against Ukraine, a claim Pyongyang has staunchly denied. The shipments from North Korea are considered a violation of numerous U.N. sanctions on both countries. Using publicly available images, DIA analysts confirmed debris found in Kharkiv on Jan. 2 is from a North Korean short-range missile. A side-by-side analysis of the pictures shows that the missile debris in Ukraine is almost certainly of a North Korean ballistic missile, according to the report. Ukrainian officials earlier in January identified fragments of North Korean missiles, including the short-range Hwasong 11, which can fly as far as around 430 miles and is also known as the KN-23. The brief 12-page DIA report also highlights the evolving and strengthening relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un first met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September, a gathering U.S. officials say led to North Korea supplying Moscow with artillery rounds and rockets in return for critical technology and food. By November, South Korean lawmakers estimated Pyongyang had sent a million shells to Russia, as well as rockets and ballistic missiles. Such a military alliance is valuable between the two countries because it keeps Russia entrenched in the grinding war in Ukraine while bolstering North Koreas nuclear and space ambitions. Pyongyangs ongoing development of new military capabilities indicates the regime will pursue its defense modernization goals for the foreseeable future, which Russia is postured to support as a result of growing ties, the report notes. North Korea appears eager for such a win after a series of setbacks, including Mondays explosion of a spy satellite launch just minutes after liftoff. The incident was the third such failure in Pyongyangs last four attempts to put a satellite into orbit. That defeat set off an angry barrage of North Korea ballistic missiles at least 10 fired from Pyongyang into the Sea of Japan on Thursday, according to the South Korean military. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE - In this photo provided by Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters, balloons with trash presumably sent by North Korea, hang on electric wires as South Korean army soldiers stand guard in Muju, South Korea, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Jeonbuk Fire Headquarters via AP, File) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Manure. Cigarette butts. Scraps of cloth. Waste batteries. Even, reportedly, diapers. This week, North Korea floated hundreds of huge balloons to dump all of that trash across rival South Korea an old-fashioned, Cold War-style provocation that the country has rarely used in recent years. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un confirmed Wednesday that North Korea sent the balloons and attached trash sacks. She said they were deployed to make good on her countrys recent threat to scatter mounds of wastepaper and filth in South Korea in response to the leafleting campaigns by South Korean activists. Experts say the balloon campaigning is meant to stoke a division in South Korea over its conservative governments hardline policy on North Korea. They also say North Korea will also likely launch new types of provocations in coming months to meddle in Novembers U.S. presidential election. Here's a look at what North Koreas balloon launches are all about. WHAT HAPPENED? Since Tuesday night, about 260 balloons flown from North Korea have been discovered across South Korea. There's no apparent danger, though: The military said an initial investigation showed that the trash tied to the balloons doesn't contain any dangerous substances like chemical, biological or radioactive materials. There have been no reports of damages in South Korea. In 2016, North Korean balloons carrying trash, compact discs and propaganda leaflets caused damage to cars and other property in South Korea. In 2017, South Korea found a suspected North Korean balloon with leaflets again. This week, no leaflets were found from the North Korean balloons. Flying balloons with propaganda leaflets and other items is one of the most common types of psychological warfare the two Koreas launched against each other during the Cold War. Other forms of Korean psychological battle have included loudspeaker blaring, setting up giant front-line electronic billboards and signboards and propaganda radio broadcasts. In recent years, the two Koreas have agreed to halt such activities but sometimes resumed them when tensions rose. WHAT DOES NORTH KOREA WANT? The Norths balloon launches are part of a recent series of provocative steps, which include its failed spy satellite launch and test-firings of about 10 suspected short-range missiles this week. Experts say the North's leader, Kim Jong Un, will likely further dial up tensions ahead of the U.S. election to try to help former President Donald Trump return to the White House and revive high-stakes diplomacy between them. The balloon launches arent weak action at all. Its like North Korea sending a message that next time, it can send balloons carrying powder forms of biological and chemical weapons, said Kim Taewoo, a former president of South Koreas government-funded Institute for National Unification. Koh Yu-hwan, an emeritus professor at Seouls Dongguk University, said North Korea likely determined that the balloon campaign is a more effective way to force South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's government to clamp down on the Souths civilian leafletting. The point is to make the South Korean people uncomfortable, and build a public voice that the governments policy toward North Korea is wrong, Koh said. North Korea is extremely sensitive to leaflets that South Korean activists occasionally float across the border via their own balloons, because they carry information about the outside world and criticism of the Kim dynastys authoritarian rule. Most of the Norths 26 million people have little access to foreign news. In 2020, North Korea blew up an empty, South Korean-built liaison office on its territory in protest of South Korean civilian leafleting campaigns. WAS ANYTHING LEARNED FROM THE TRASH? North Korea is one of the worlds most secretive countries in the world, and foreign experts are keen on collecting any fragmentary information coming from the country. But Koh said that there wont be much meaningful information that South Korea can gain from the North Korean trash dumps, because North Korea would have not put any important items into balloons. If the manure is the kind made of animal dung, its examination may show what fodder is given to livestock in North Korea. Looks at other trash can provide a glimpse into consumer products in North Korea. But observers say outside experts can get such information more easily from North Korean defectors, their contacts in North Korea and Chinese border towns, and North Korean state publications. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS ON TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA? The Norths balloon activities may deepen public calls in South Korea to stop anti-North Korean leafleting to avoid unnecessary clashes. But its unclear whether and how aggressively the South Korean government can urge civil groups to refrain from sending balloons toward North Korea. In 2023, South Koreas Constitutional Court struck down a contentious law that criminalized the sending of anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets, calling it an excessive restriction on free speech. From Pyongyangs perspective, this is a tit-for-tat and even restrained action to get Seoul to stop anti-Kim regime leaflets from being sent north. However, it will be difficult for democratic South Korea to comply, given ongoing legal disputes over the freedom of citizens and NGOs to send information into North Korea, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. The immediate danger of military escalation is not high," he said, but recent developments show how sensitive and potentially vulnerable the Kim regime is to information operations. ___ Follow AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) Residents in Greeley were busy assessing damage and cleaning up Wednesday after a storm tore through northern Colorado on Tuesday night, dropping piles of hail and inches of rain. Mikey Kurk got her car stuck in floodwaters. I hit a puddle that was like a foot and a half deep, give or take, and it just shut off, she said. Denver weather: Severe storm watch until 9 p.m. with gusts, hail possible The car was towed to Phils Pro Auto Service in Greeley, but Kurk was not sure if it could be saved. It was dripping water all the way down here, she said. The owner of the car shop, Jon White, said hell assess the car. If it drives through water, sometimes we can save it, sometimes we cant. Id say 90% of the time the engine is going to be ruined, he said. White, as well as safety experts, say drivers should never drive through standing water. Some of the floodwaters still had not receded by midday on Wednesday. There were also piles of hail still seen around town. Residents were sweeping up debris and getting estimates on hail damage. The siding on Barb Zundels home was damaged by hail. I have my insurance coming to check the roof, she said. Photos: Northern Colorado hit with heavy flooding, hail Lee Harris does property maintenance and said it was a crazy day. We have properties where the hail was this deep, and we had to shovel it so people could get out the door, and lots and lots of branches down every here, Harris said. Today has been a mess. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Were not going anywhere: Florida Pride Month events proceed despite risk of violence Were not going anywhere: Florida Pride Month events proceed despite risk of violence KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WFLA) After the FBI warned of an elevated terrorism risk at LGBTQ+ events this Pride Month, organizers are pushing forward with their heads held high. The FBI notice published May 10 stated, foreign terrorist organizations or supporters may seek to exploit increased gatherings associated with the upcoming June 2024 Pride Month and warned of violence. Its a way of expressing that were here, were not going anywhere and get used to it, Pride organizer Josh Collins told NBC affiliate WESH. Collins is involved in putting together events in Kissimmee and St. Cloud, which are set to take place over the next week or so. The team behind the events says they feel safe with local and federal law enforcement watching their backs. Collins said the support organizers received from the community has been amazing. Our minds are blown right now with the amount of people who have shown interest, Collins told WESH. Its overwhelming, its thrilling and I cant wait for it to happen. Central Florida is no stranger to violence against the LGBTQ+ community. Orlando was the site of the Pulse nightclub shooting, in which a gunman swore allegiance to ISIS before opening fire, killing 49 people and wounding 53 more. As a community, we all have to continue to move forward and keep dancing and hold our heads up high because what can we do? Collins told WESH. You cant be scared, cant hide because if you do, they win. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Nursing professionals called it a dramatic example of what can go wrong when healthcare workers dont get enough sleep. Boston Police say that early the morning of May 17th, an officer arriving at Faulkner Hospital saw a heavily damaged white Grand Cherokee, part of Faulkners parking garage guardrail missing on the top floor and an injured woman being attended to by paramedics. Boston Fire told the officer that somehow the woman had driven the vehicle off the top floor of the garage. A source tells Boston 25 News that an exhausted, on-call nurse fell asleep after putting the car into reverse. However the police report said the woman hit the gas instead of the brake and the car toppled off the garage front-first. The woman told police she had finished working her shift, but was on call beginning at 11 PM. She decided that rather than go home, she would sleep in her vehicle. Around 1 AM she moved to get away from lights and that is when the incident happened. An employee at Faulkner tells Boston 25 News the vehicle landed on a nearby shed before tumbling into a brushy area off to the side. Massachusetts Nurses Association spokesperson Joe Markman confirmed the driver was a nurse. While this incident was particularly dramatic, MNA said it is not uncommon for nurses to be involved in accidents on the way home because of extreme fatigue brought on by long shifts, sometimes compulsory overtime and a lack of adequate help. (It is unknown what level of exhaustion this nurse was experiencing nor her working conditions.) Rebecca Furst knows all about dealing with fatigue. She recently retired after more than 40 years as a nurse most recently at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. I really sympathize with the nurse and I can certainly understand how it happened, said Furst. I dont think people realize how exhausting this job is. Furst said the public underestimates the physical and emotional toll on nurses just from doing their jobs: from moving heavy patients to the stress of engaging in life-saving procedures to coping with death. I mean, I have driven home from working nights with the window open, slapping my face to keep myself awake, Furst said. Nurses make up the largest portion of the U.S. healthcare team. But recent studies make clear that working conditions are having an effect on those numbers. In fact, the American College of Nursing recently reported that a quarter of registered nurses plan to leave the profession, one way or another, in the next five years. Mass General Brigham said they are investigating the incident but could not confirm the injured party was an employee, let alone a nurse. Furst said the incident is a cautionary tale that some things in nursing have to change. It was a 22-mile drive for me when I worked and I was exhausted, Furst said. And you know you dont want to get in an accident. Theres got to be a different way. Theres got to be a different way. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW MARION A Marion Municipal Court judge ruled Thursday that a city councilman should stand trial on charges he forcibly raped a 13-year-old girl after a nurse testified at a preliminary hearing that a sexual assault exam of the girl found evidence "consistent with her report." Marion City Councilman Ayers Ratliff was arrested May 20 on rape charges involving the teen girl, who texted a friend the night before saying Ratliff had raped her, witnesses testified during Ratliff's preliminary hearing Thursday. The friend told staff at their middle school, triggering a police investigation. Evidence was collected from Ratliff's home, and the girl underwent a three-hour sexual assault exam. Lab results for much of the evidence have yet to be processed. Released on a $500,000 bond, Ratliff resumed his duties at a Marion City Council meeting Tuesday night, where the charges against him were not mentioned by other council members, city officials or the citizens who came to speak on other matters. Speaking with The Dispatch after the meeting, fellow city council members and Marion Mayor Bill Collins said they weren't aware of any plans to remove Ratliff from his position, and that such a move may not be legally possible. Attorneys for Ratliff have said the allegations against him are false, and he will resist any action to remove him from the council. Ratliff is a Democrat who was first elected in 2005. Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan called a nurse, Marion Police Chief Jay McDonald, and an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) agent who helped process the crime scene to testify against Ratliff at the preliminary hearing. The girl and her mother had been subpoenaed to testify at the hearing, but ultimately neither one of them spoke or appeared in the courtroom. Sylvia Peyton, a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, said the girl told her during the exam that Ratliff put his hands up her shirt and then raped her on the evening of April 19. When asked if he had done this in the past, the nurse said the girl reported that Ratliff had fondled her and slapped her rear over the past few years. The girl told Peyton she had initially tried to fight off Ratliff, but was overpowered. Peyton said an examination of the girl showed physical abrasion evidence consistent with the teen's account of what happened. When an attorney for Ratliff asked whether something else could have caused what she saw, Peyton replied that a few other things could have, such as wiping the area roughly. BCI Special Agent David Hammond said investigators recovered several items of clothing as evidence after the objects glowed under ultraviolet light, indicating the presence of bodily fluids. Hammond said a pair of underwear matching the description of the pair the girl said she was wearing that night was stained with blood. Peyton had said the girl wasn't menstruating at the time of her exam. File photo: Ayers Ratliff appears at a Marion City Council meeting. (Marion Star file photo) An attorney for Ratliff argued that none of the evidence presented Thursday definitively showed Ratliff had raped the girl and the prosecution's case was solely "based on the word of a 13-year-old girl." After hearing the evidence, Marion Municipal Court Judge Teresa L. Ballinger ordered Ratliff's case be bound over to Marion County Common Pleas Court, where a trial date has not been set. bagallion@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Nurse, BCI agent testify against Marion councilman accused of rape Nurse Who Slept in Her Car Accidentally Drove Off Top Floor of Hospital Parking Garage The car plunged over the edge of the parking garage on May 17, according to a police report obtained by PEOPLE Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital/Facebook Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital A Boston nurse was injured after driving off the top floor of a parking garage earlier this month. It was around 1:30 a.m. local time on May 17 when authorities responded to the incident at Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain, according to a police report from the Boston Police Department that was obtained by PEOPLE. Responding officers found a heavily damaged 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee next to the garage, as well as a piece of railing that appeared to match the railing on the garages roof. Boston fire officials reportedly informed police that a vehicle had plunged off the top of the parking garage, though it was unclear how. Related: Woman Found Alive in Wrecked Truck 4 Days After Driving Over Cliff in California National Forest The woman involved in the crash sustained a broken arm and back as well as leg injuries in the crash, per the crash report. Massachusetts Nurses Association spokesperson Joe Markman tells PEOPLE the woman behind the wheel, who has not been publicly identified, is a nurse and a member of the Faulkner Hospital MNA bargaining unit. Markman went on to say that they have reached out to her but do not have any additional information to share at this time. Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital/Facebook 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 woman, who had already finished her regular shift and was on call beginning at 11 p.m., told police she decided to sleep in her vehicle instead of going home, according to the report. When she woke up sometime after 1:00 a.m. due to the overhead lights, she decided to move her vehicle and "accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake." As her car started to "teeter" she "attempted to put the car in reverse but was unsuccessful and landed on the ground below," police said in the report. A Mass General Brigham spokesperson tells PEOPLE an investigation into the incident is ongoing. The spokesperson also says, it is against policy for employees to sleep in their cars at the hospital, and those who do not wish to go home when on-call should be offered an on-call room. Related: Tourist Survives After Driving Car Off 60-Foot Cliff in Hawaii and Getting Washed Out to Sea The incident in Massachusetts comes as nurse staffing shortages continue in both the United States and across the globe. Burnout is among the main issues currently facing the profession. According to a 2022 study of over 50,000 nurses, more than 45% experienced feelings of burnout at least a few times a week or every day. Nearly 50% of respondents said they experienced fatigue, as well. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. By News Centre Turkish Eximbank has signed a credit agreement for the Turkiye Green Export Project, totaling 1 billion euros. According to the statement made by Turkish Eximbank, the bank has added another financing opportunity to support the investments exporters will make in green transformation. Under the guarantee structure of the Treasury and Ministry of Finance and the initial loss compensation structure of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a member of the World Bank Group, in the amount of 600 million euros, Turkish Eximbank has signed a credit agreement totaling 1 billion euros for the "Turkiye Green Export Project." The 10-year term loan, realized with the participation of Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, BNP Paribas, and ING Bank, is the largest borrowing transaction of Turkish Eximbank to date, and it is also the first guarantee transaction of IBRD supporting the green transformation of exporters. This financing transaction aims to help Turkish exporters overcome the difficulties that may arise as a result of the European Union's Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) through cooperation between IBRD, creditors, and Turkish Eximbank under the Turkiye Green Export Project. While the Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism of the European Union initially targets carbon-intensive sectors as of 2026, it will be implemented in other carbon-intensive sectors and carbon taxes in other export markets in the future. In addition to focusing on the mentioned green transformation, the loan also aims to support social goals such as financing companies supporting women's participation in the workforce and SME financing. "I believe it will support our country's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2053." Kerem Donmez, General Director of External Economic Relations at the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, stated in the statement that they attach great importance to providing exporters, the driving force of the economy, with access to appropriate conditional financing and supporting their adaptation to the European Union's Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism to increase the international competitiveness of exporters, and he added: "I believe that the Turkiye Green Export Project, developed for this purpose, will lead the green transformation of our country's exporters, create new employment opportunities, and support our country's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2053. We will continue to work with the World Bank and other development partners to support productivity-based and export-oriented qualified growth in the coming period." Humberto Lopez, World Bank Country Director for Turkiye, stated that the ongoing success of the export sector is vital for the Turkish economy and the transition towards sustainability remains a high priority for the government. Lopez said, "The World Bank is pleased to support initiatives that will not only contribute to the transition to a low-carbon future worldwide but also enhance both the competitiveness of firms and the country." "We will be pleased to support green exports through long-term financing." Ali Guney, General Manager of Turkish Eximbank, stated that they will be pleased to support green exports through the 10-year financing of 1 billion euros secured with the IBRD guarantee, accompanying Turkiye's efforts to adapt to climate change, and supporting Turkish exporters' green transformations and green exports through affordable long-term financing. Guney expressed that the Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) set by the European Union, which will subject Turkish-made goods to import tariffs in the form of "carbon taxes," will disadvantage our exporters in terms of competitiveness compared to companies using low-carbon production processes and potentially affect the marketability of their products in the European Union and other export markets. He made the following assessment: "This situation is expected to expand CBAM to include all sectors in the relatively near future, by 2030. Therefore, it is expected that our exporters will adapt and decarbonize their productions as much as possible to protect their export potentials. With the resources we provide, we will also do our part in drawing up a strategic roadmap for transitioning to low-carbon exports and preserving the competitiveness of exporters in sectors affected by CBAM." Orhan Ozalp, Country Director of Turkiye and General Manager of Deutsche Bank A?, stated that the 1 billion euro agreement provided to Turkish Eximbank is a landmark agreement demonstrating Deutsche Bank's commitment to Turkiye and the bank. Ozalp said, "Deutsche Bank's commitment to Turkiye will continue to grow with the improvement in the country's macro outlook." Ka?if Atun, General Manager of Standard Chartered, highlighted that this agreement assists Turkish Eximbank in providing long-term financing at very competitive rates, stating, "Supporting our clients and the communities we operate in on their journey towards energy transition and decarbonization is at the heart of our bank's strategy. We are grateful to be part of this transaction, which is very important for the country." Umit Leblebici, General Manager of Turk Ekonomi Bankas? (TEB), emphasized that TEB actively participates in providing financing for its customers' sustainability-focused investments and supporting their projects in this field, stating: "We provide consultancy support in the green transformation processes to our corporate customers, including exporters, and offer them the financing products they may need. We also benefit from the knowledge and experience of our global partner, BNP Paribas Group, in the fields of ESG and sustainable finance." Alper Gokgoz, CEO of ING Turkiye, stated that they position sustainability among their strategic priorities and believe that green transformation requires collective effort and action. Gokgoz expressed their belief that the green transformations of exporters in Turkiye are crucial for preserving their export capacities and gaining competitive advantage. Nan, Thailand, May 30 (Xinhua) -- An International Agricultural Forum was concluded in Thailand's Nan Province on Wednesday, aiming to explore the connection between biodiversity, sustainable community development and agricultural trade. Scheduled from May 27 to May 29, the forum was organized by Thailand's Rakpanan Foundation in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences Innovation Cooperation Center (Bangkok) (CASICCB) and seven other participating agencies, attracting over 600 participants in both the public and private sectors from 10 countries and regions. Located in northern Thailand, Nan Province has a vast national forest reserve and the Nan River is the source of the important tributary of Chao Phraya River, which is the most important river system in Thailand. However, due to deforestation and environmental degradation, the forests in Nan Province has reduced by 28 percent in recent years. "The protection of forests in Nan Province is significant to the local biodiversity and the environment to a large extent. And we hope to draw on China's advanced technologies in sustainable development such as the approach of returning farmland to forests and lifting farmers out of poverty," said Banthoon Lamsam, vice chairman of the Rakpanan Foundation and Chairman Emeritus of Kasikornbank. During the forum, 12 partner institutions from Thailand and China signed the Nan Declaration in order to jointly help Nan Province improve the quality of agricultural products and achieve sustainable forest restoration. China and Thailand have actively promoted cooperation in forest protection and agriculture in recent years. Thailand's Kasikorn Foundation signed a memorandum of cooperation with the CASICCB in January 2024, contributing to the rehabilitation of the forest and poverty alleviation in Nan Province by introducing China's advanced science and technology. Jiang Biao, chief scientific officer of CASICCB, said that the establishment of CASICCB was aimed at promoting the technology transfer and innovation cooperation between China and Thailand, and further applying the achievements into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He added that the center plans to leverage China's cutting-edge green technologies to help Thailand in restoring the forests in Nan Province. At the same time, it would explore ways to help Thailand reduce poverty and promote sustainable community development through green agriculture. BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The National Weather Service in Tulsa confirmed on Wednesday that at least four tornadoes touched down in Benton County on Sunday morning. An updated public information statement from NWS said there were two tornadoes in Decatur and two in the Centerton area. EF3 Decatur Estimated Peak Wind: 145 to 155 mph Path Length: 7.9 miles Path Width: 3200 yards or 1.82 miles NWS previously reported that the tornado started near Cherokee City in Delaware County in Oklahoma around 1 a.m. before making its way into the western parts of Benton County. The statement said the tornado damaged multiple homes, destroyed outbuildings, uprooted and snapped trees and power poles as it crossed into Arkansas near Welch Road in Gentry. PHOTOS: Aftermath of deadly storm, tornadoes in Benton County It intensified and widened as it entered Decatur near Carlton Drive and Coons Hollow Road where homes were destroyed, according to the report. Based on radar data, the tornado turned north-northeast and remained stationary for several minutes north of Highway 102 before dissipating at 1:21 a.m. north of Mt. Zion Road. KNWA/FOX24 Chief Meteorologist Dan Skoff confirmed with NWS that this tornado, at 1.82 miles in width, is the widest in recorded state history. It passed the April 25, 2011, EF2 tornado in Vilonia which was 2900 yards or 1.65 miles in width and traveled for 68.1 miles. Two injuries were caused by this tornado but no fatalities, according to NWS. EF2 Decatur Estimated Peak Wind: 120 to 130 mph Path Length: 5.4 miles Path Width: 650 yards or 0.37 miles The National Weather Service classified this tornado as anticyclonic and was occurring simultaneously with the EF3 tornado northwest of Decatur. Skoff says about one out of every 1,000 tornadoes are anticyclonic. It developed at 1:06 a.m. west of WPA Road and south of Falling Springs Road. As it moved southeast, it destroyed outbuildings, snapped trees and power poles and damaged homes. The tornado turned east then northeast as it neared Highway 59. WATCH: FEMA gives update on damage in Rogers after weekend storms Homes were damaged, storage buildings were destroyed, and numerous trees were snapped, the statement said. The tornado moved northeast and dissipated at 1:20 a.m. after crossing Little John Road. KNWA/FOX24 received exclusive video of this tornado on Monday. EF1 Centerton Estimated Peak Wind: 90 to 100 mph Path Length: 2.3 miles Path Width: 600 yards or 0.34 miles NWS said this tornado started west of N Tycoon Road at 1:23 a.m. before moving northeast across Bush Road and W Centerton Road damaging roofs of businesses and homes and uprooting trees. It dissipated at 1:28 a.m. Benton County launches disaster relief website EF2 Centerton Estimated Peak Wind: 115 to 125 mph Path Length: 2.4 miles Path Width: 1500 yards or 0.85 miles NWS previously reported EF2 damage in Centerton but released the full track on Wednesday. This tornado developed over Paw Paw Hollow at 1:24 a.m. south of Byers Road. It moved north-northeast and then north, dissipating near Bethlehem Road. A home was severely damaged, according to NWS. Several other homes were damaged along with outbuildings and numerous trees were uprooted or snapped. Other tornadoes EF2? Rogers Following Skoffs helicopter ride on Tuesday, he found a wide damage path in Rogers. Watch the video in the player above for more information on the path. EF1 Bull Hollow, Okla. NWS said this tornado developed near Bull Hollow over rugged terrain and moved across County Road 546 where trees were uprooted before dissipating near County Road 487. Benton County closings, cancellations following severe weather EF1 War Eagle Mill & EF1 Clifty Two tornadoes were confirmed near War Eagle Mill and Clifty, however, details on their paths have yet to be confirmed by NWS. EF3 Boone-Marion County Estimated Peak Wind: 140 mph Path Length: 21.1 miles Path Width: 1500 yards Vegetative debris drop site opened in Benton County While no other tornadoes have been confirmed in Benton County, drone footage from Skoff and the Your Weather Authority Team shows tree damage from likely another anticyclonic tornado north of Lowell. While only four tornadoes have been confirmed in Benton County so far, more could be confirmed in the coming days. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. NYC mom in need of bathroom repairs told she would have to wait a year NYC mom in need of bathroom repairs told she would have to wait a year EAST HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) A New York City mother says shes been waiting for bathroom repairs for weeks and was told she would possibly have to wait until next year for her fixes. PIX11 News first met 64-year-old East Harlem resident Margie Torres back in 2016, when she helped expose a day care where trash was being dumped outside its entrance every day. Then in August 2022, her building had water outages, and the elevator service was disrupted. PIX11 News helped expose and fix those problems. Exclusive: New affordable housing lottery to open for Bronx building Now Torres is dealing with issues in her bathroom. Torres said NYCHA crews came on May 17 to take down the wall in her bathroom due to mold problems, but they never came back. Torres just had surgery on her back and said she needs a grab bar to get in and out of her tub. PIX11 News reached out to NYCHA. An hour after PIX11 News left the apartment, Torres said she got a call. A NYCHA spokesperson told PIX11 News: NYCHA staff have contacted the resident and will be installing a tub enclosure and shower grab bar in the bathroom tomorrow. Residents in need of assistance are encouraged to call the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 or submit work tickets through the MyNYCHA application. If you have a story, reach out to Monica Morales at monica@pix11.com Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NYC schools could use gyms, other spaces to comply with class-size mandate as critics blast disaster in the making Girl Scouts and Brownies holding American flags and cheering at the Miami Beach Veterans Day Parade in Florida. As many as 500 schools could choose to repurpose gyms and faculty lounges as classrooms as the city scrambles to meet the states class size mandates amid soaring enrollment. The option is one of 12 suggestions for schools that are listed in a draft plan released by city Department of Education officials Tuesday. Principals could closely review the space available in their school, including spaces currently not used for instruction but capable of supporting classes, and identify new space available to create new sections to reduce class sizes, the plan said. 500 schools may have to repurpose gyms and faculty lounges as classrooms due to new class size mandates. andreaobzerova stock.adobe.com Deborah Kross, a representative for the Bronx on the Citywide Council on High Schools, told The Post that she thinks its a disaster in the making. Were going to potentially lose our libraries, our labs, our art rooms to make room for core subjects. Yiatin Chu who has a child that attends a school in Brooklyn said she and other parents shes spoken to are terrified at the uncertainty. Everything beyond the four core subjects are also really important for our childrens experience in the school, she said. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state lawmakers under intense lobbying from the United Federation of Teachers approved a law in 2022 requiring schools in New York City to slash class room sizes across the board by 2027-28. Under the law, K-3 class sizes max out at 20 students, grades 4-8 are limited to 23 students and grade 9-12 must be 25 students or fewer by the deadline. A representative for the Bronx on the Citywide Council on High Schools called this a disaster in the making. KOTO stock.adobe.com Some 537 schools may not be able to meet the new class size mandates in their existing space and enrollment configurations the plan revealed. Whether a space used for electives will need to be repurposed will depend on how the law is implemented in the coming years, the DOE said. School districts have been urged to increase their share of compliance by 3% stating the draft reduction plan provides clear, actionable steps to make this happen. Boosting the number of classes taught by assistant principals, staggering start times and virtual learning are also among the other suggestions made by the DOE. The law is so inflexible that if, lets say, youre in a high school, and you have 26 students in one class, as opposed to 25, and youre the principal youll be forced to create a second classroom, Queens parent Jean Hahn told The Post. Its an immense waste of resources, she added. K-3 class sizes must not exceed 20 students, grades 4-8 are limited to 23 students and grade 9-12 must be 25 students or fewer by the deadline. Cavan for Adobe stock.adobe.com Class Size Matters Executive Director Leonie Haimson who advocated for the law and was a member of a working group that provided advice to the DOE on how to implement the law said the plan is completely inadequate. There were many effective proposals made by the class size working group, almost none of which the DOE has adopted in their draft plan, Haimson said, noting that online learning and repurposing elective rooms were not part of the working groups suggestions. Haimson said despite her disappointment shed held high hopes for the plan claiming support for the law is strong, despite a small group of vocal opponents. Officials do not expect any major changes before September. Some 20% of Big Apple schools need to comply with the mandate for the 2023-24 school year and officials say theyve well exceeded that mark with about 40%. They say the draft plan will make it possible for schools to remain compliant for the 2024-25 school year but still requires sign-off by teachers and principals unions. Further, [the plan] provides targeted support for high-need schools and supports robust teacher recruitment powered by $182 million in new school funding, said Chancellor David Banks. UnityPoint Health-Jones Regional Medical Center is a 22-bed critical access hospital in Anamosa, Iowa. It averages about seven inpatients a night and provides emergency services to the small community northeast of Cedar Rapids. (UnityPoint Health) This story from KFF also appeared on Stateline. Facing ongoing concerns about rural hospital closures, Capitol Hill lawmakers have introduced a spate of proposals to fix a federal program created to keep lifesaving services in small towns nationwide. In Anamosa, Iowa a town of fewer than 6,000 residents located more than 900 miles from the nations capital rural hospital leader Eric Briesemeister is watching for Congress next move. The 22-bed hospital Briesemeister runs averages about seven inpatients each night, and its most recent federal filings show it earned just $95,445 in annual net income from serving patients. Yet Briesemeister isnt interested in converting the facility into a rural emergency hospital, which would mean getting millions of extra dollars each year from federal payments. In exchange for that financial support, hospitals that join the program keep their emergency departments open and give up inpatient beds. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX It wasnt for us, said Briesemeister, chief executive of UnityPoint Health-Jones Regional Medical Center. I think that program is a little bit more designed for hospitals that might not be around without it. Nationwide, only about two dozen of the more than 1,500 eligible hospitals have become rural emergency hospitals since the program launched last year. At the same time, rural hospitals continue to close 10 since the fix became available. A man in a dark suit Federal lawmakers have introduced a handful of legislative solutions since March. In one bill, senators from Kansas and Minnesota list a myriad of tactics, including allowing older closed facilities to reopen. Another proposal introduced in the House by two Michigan lawmakers is the Rural 340B Access Act. It would allow rural emergency hospitals to use the 340B federal drug discount program, which Congress created in 1992. The 340B program, named after its federal statute, lets eligible hospitals and clinics buy drugs at a discount and then bill insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid at market rates. Hospitals get to keep the money they make from the difference. Congress approved 340B as an indirect aid package to help struggling hospitals stay afloat. Many larger hospitals say the cash is used for community benefits and charity care, while many small hospitals depend on the drug discounts to help cover staffing and operational shortfalls. Currently, emergency hospitals are not eligible for 340B discounts. According to a release from U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, a Michigan Republican, the House proposal would correct this oversight. Backers of the House bill include the American Hospital Association and the National Rural Health Association. In Iowa, Briesemeister said the 340B federal drug discount program can be used for tremendous good. The small-town hospital uses money it makes from 340B to subsidize emergency services and uninsured and underinsured patients who frequent the emergency department, he said. Chuck Grassley, Iowas longtime Republican senator, shepherded the Rural Emergency Hospital program into law. His spokesperson, Gillie Maddox, did not respond directly to questions about why the federal law creating rural emergency hospitals omitted the 340B program. Instead, Maddox said the designation was a product of bipartisan negotiations. A survey conducted by the health analytics and consulting firm Chartis, along with the National Rural Health Association, found that nearly 80% of rural hospitals had participated in 340B and nearly 40% said they reaped $750,000 or more annually from the program. Sanford Health, a largely rural health system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, considered converting a handful of smaller critical access hospitals into rural emergency hospitals. Martha Leclerc, vice president of corporate contracting for Sanford, said the system analyzed how much revenue would be lost by closing inpatient beds, which is also a requirement of the emergency hospital program, and by being unable to file for drug discounts. In the end, she said, switching did not make a lot of sense. While many rural hospitals are clamoring for the 340B provision to be added to the rural emergency hospital program, opponents have said 340B can be a cash cow for hospitals that dont serve enough vulnerable patients. Nicole Longo is deputy vice president of public affairs for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the nations largest, most influential pharmaceutical lobbying group. She wrote in a recent blog post that hospital systems and chain pharmacies are exploiting the program and said patients have not benefited from the growth in the program. In an interview, Longo said PhRMA supports rural emergency hospitals being able to access 340B because they are treating vulnerable patients in underserved communities and are true safety net providers. PhRMA, she said, wants to encourage a thoughtful conversation about which types of hospitals should be in the program. Last year, PhRMA formed an unlikely pact with community health centers to create the Alliance to Save Americas 340B Program, or ASAP 340B. Vacheria Keys, associate vice president of policy and regulatory affairs at the National Association of Community Health Centers, said, There is a new day of openness, from all parties. Use of the drug discount program skyrocketed after provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, allowed hospitals and clinics to contract with an unlimited number of retail pharmacies, such as Walgreens and CVS, which are paid a fee to dispense the discounted drugs. Adam J. Fein, president of the industry research organization Drug Channels Institute, reports that the 340B program is the second-largest federal drug program, trailing Medicare Part D. The flow of drugs purchased under the 340B program reached $53.7 billion in 2022, about $9.8 billion more than in 2021. In response to the exploding use of contract pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers have restricted the drugs they offer at a discount through the pharmacies. That throttling is affecting rural hospitals like Labette Health, a Kansas hospital whose president asked President Joe Biden for help in dealing with the pharmaceutical companies. Rena Conti, an associate professor of markets, public policy and law at Boston Universitys Questrom School of Business, has studied the drug discounts for years and said she has significant worries about expanding the 340B program. There is a lot of money being generated in this program that we really cant understand exactly how much that really is and exactly who it is benefiting, Conti said. At the same time, said Conti, a health care economist, giving rural hospitals access to the federal drug discounts makes sense because they are hospitals that are serving particularly vulnerable patient populations. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism. 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. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST The post An obscure drug discount program stifles use of federal lifeline by rural hospitals appeared first on Alabama Reflector. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) Seven suspects who allegedly ransacked a pharmacy in San Franciscos Ingleside District were arrested last week, in part due to the efforts of an off-duty officer. According to the San Francisco Police Department, an off-duty SFPD sergeant was driving near the 700 block of Portola Drive around 8 p.m. last Friday. Although police did not name the business involved, the address appears to match that of a CVS Pharmacy at 701 Portola. The sergeant, police said, saw a large group of people walking toward a pharmacy carrying extra bags. The sergeant watched as the same group chaotically exited the store, SFPD said. One suspect was pushing a shopping cart full of merchandise. Skrillex, Fred Again SF rave Saturday expected to draw 20K people The off-duty sergeant relayed the information to SFPD dispatch and officers from the Ingleside Station swiftly responded. Officers detained six adults three men and three women and one juvenile suspect. Stolen merchandise recovered by officers included makeup, diapers, bath and body products, batteries, vitamins and other items. The suspects were arrested for organized retail theft. Although arrests have been made, police say the investigation remains active and open. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. A jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts on Thursday, marking the first time in U.S. history that a former president has been convicted of a felony. The jury reached its decision after deliberating for less than 10 hours. Judge Juan Merchan announced that Trump will be sentenced on July 11 at 10 a.m., mere days before the Republican National Convention will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump was accused of using his former fixer Michael Cohen to sweep an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels under the rug ahead of the 2016 presidential election. He faced 34 felony charges in the case for allegedly falsifying business records with the intent to further an underlying crime in the first degree. In order to find Trump guilty of felony-level falsification of business documents, the jurors had to unanimously agree that he did so in order to further an underlying or separate crime. But before entering the jury chamberand against the best efforts of Trumps legal teamMerchan ruled that the jury did not need to agree on what the separate or underlying crimes were. Trump listened to the verdict wearing a deep frown, while his attorneys looked away from their client. Just before the jury began deliberating Trumps fate, the former president slammed his own legal defense, seemingly disapproving of the strategy they had chosen. In frantic, back-to-back posts on Truth Social Wednesday morning, Trump suggested that he had wanted an advice of counsel defense, a strategy that negates the element of criminal fraud when the advice stems from reasonable reliance on the advice of a persons legal counsel. His attorneys had indicated in March that they had no intention of employing that strategy. Instead, they wanted to include evidence that centered around the lawyers in Trumps decision to dole out hush-money payments to porn actress Stormy Danielsa strategy that Merchan described as a presence of counsel defense and that he ultimately deemed would be too confusing for the jury to navigate. The outcome will have historic ramifications not just for Trump but for the entire country. If Trump does end up being sentenced to prison, it remains to be seen how the presumptive GOP presidential nominee will attempt to continue his bid for reelection from a jailhousea possibility that many of his followers are falsely claiming the Secret Service has already explored. Regardless, several prominent far-right politicians have already indicated that they will continue to support Trump even if hes convicted of a felony. In an embarrassing show during an August GOP primary debate, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, biotech investor Vivek Ramaswamy, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former Vice President Mike Pence all indicated that they would continue to support Trump as the Republican nominee even if hes found guilty in his criminal trials. Others have gone even further: In November, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene told Piers Morgan that she would absolutely continue to support Trumps presidency, even from a prison cell. And Americans are right behind them. An April NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that nearly two-thirds of Republicans would still vote for Trump even if he was found guilty. Only November will show if they make good on that promise. This story has been updated. Ohio GOP again attempts to go around voters, this time on redistricting and minimum wage Ohioans at the Statehouse. (Photo by Morgan Trau, WEWS.) Ohio Republicans are being accused of, once again, attempting to make it harder for citizens to have their voices heard. The GOP denies this, as they did the previous three times. It has been especially chaotic for the past week at the Ohio Statehouse as lawmakers debated how to get President Joe Biden on the ballot. They have continued to fail, so the Democratic National Committee got involved to solve the problem. The Biden campaign is going to make an announcement today that they have a path to put Joe Biden on the ballot working through the Democrats and the Democratic National Committee to assure that Joe Biden is on the ballot, Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said. Despite Biden now positioned to get on the ballot, there is still work to be done in special session which is why Laura Irvin drove two and a half hours from Lorain County to testify against House Bill 1. Those of us who want fair districts, which is the majority of Ohioans, we know what youre up to, Irvin told lawmakers in the Government Oversight Committee. There were two parts to the governors proclamation deal with Biden and address foreign contributions to ballot campaigns. The Ohio Elections Commission reports foreign contributions are already illegal, but Republicans argue there is no enforcement mechanism. GOP lawmakers have been proposing bills they say impact the oversight of donations, but opponents say the GOP is just trying to make it harder for citizens to access the ballot. H.B. 1 gives the attorney generals office oversight over investigating alleged foreign contributions if the Ohio Elections Commission (OEC) flags a case. It gives the attorney general very broad authority to step in with what could be frivolous complaints to the OEC, House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. To step in takes that prosecutorial authority from what has been with the county prosecutors to the attorney general I remind you that the attorney general also ultimately has to approve ballot language so he has a conflict of interest. Each of the individuals who testified against H.B. 1 Wednesday shared concerns that Attorney General Dave Yost will play favorites. According to Ohio law and numerous nonpartisan prosecutors we reached out to, Yost could petition a court to freeze a campaign account in order to conduct his investigation into foreign interference. It also gives new authority to the AG in investigating statewide and state school board candidate campaigns. Its not about foreign money this is about killing ballot initiatives, harassing the folks who are organizing those ballot initiatives and donating to those ballot initiatives, legitimate volunteers, legitimate donors, Russo said. But the biggest concern Irvin has is with House Bill 271, the Senates foreign money bill, which would make it harder for grassroots movements to access the ballot. They want to silence our voices, Irvin said. H.B. 271, when it was passed by the House, was actually an unrelated bill but the Senate amended it with their donation language. The lawmakers added in S.B. 215, a campaign finance bill. In early March, Republican senators passed legislation meant to stop foreign donations to state and local ballot-issue campaigns. This could be by directly donating from outside the country or by donating to an entity, like a political action committee (PAC). The bill also prohibits a lawful permanent U.S. resident, also known as a green card holder, from making contributions or expenditures regarding ballot issues or candidates. It requires any group rallying for a cause to register as a PAC, meaning filing disclosures with the government and making it more difficult to collect signatures. Under the original bill language, it would require all groups trying to get on a local or statewide ballot to register as a PAC; however, State Sen. Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said it was amended in H.B. 271 to only require registration for statewide ballot campaigns. If youre going to collect and spend money in support of signature gathering, in support of a ballot initiative, you got to report your money, McColley said. Irvin thinks this is a direct result of 2023. They definitely are mad because they keep losing, she said. The Republicans were 0/3 on ballot initiatives: protecting abortion rights, legalizing recreational marijuana and eliminating majority rule. Its been a problem for a long time it certainly went into overdrive on the three ballot issues last year, Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. We mentioned in the tens of millions of dollars that were spent. Before the Nov. 2023 election, the main group advocating for abortion rights Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights (OURR) raised three times the amount that opponents did. Since then, many Republicans like Huffman have used that as one of the reasons why Issue 1 passed. Data from the states campaign finance disclosure portal shows the 501(c)(4) spent about $11.5 million on the groups advocating for abortion access and keeping majority rule on ballot issues in elections. OURR and the organizations prior name, Ohioans For Reproductive Freedom, received about $6.4 million. One Person One Vote got around $5.1 million. Another $550,000 was spent on redistricting reform group Citizens Not Politicians. The fund, although it doesnt have to disclose its donors, has received over $200 million dollars from Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss since 2016, according to the Associated Press. But Huffman said the legislation isnt just about last year. I think this is a good time to do something about it, whether its the minimum wage redistricting, or any other ballot issues that may end up on the ballot before the end of the year, the president said. This is why redistricting reform is so needed, Irvin said. A proposal to end gerrymandering will likely be on the Nov. ballot. Right now, politicians like Huffman draw the maps, even though they directly benefit from the process. In a one-on-one interview after the November election, DeWine said that he wished he wasnt involved in the map-making process and that it was a mess. It isnt just redistricting on the ballot, it is likely minimum wage reform, too. As advocates are gearing up to put a proposal on the November ballot to increase the minimum wage in Ohio to $15, Republicans introduced their own wage-hike bill to fend off the constitutional amendment. This is an absurd situation, Russo said, because if the Republicans really cared about foreign contributions they would actually take the Democrats up on their numerous proposals to disclose where money comes from in elections. As former House Speaker Larry Householder, the now-convicted felon, learned the hard way dark money can be used in malicious ways and can be undetected (that is, until the FBI wiretaps your friends phone and whistleblowers go to fast-casual restaurants with a special agent). The will of the people Still, this is like a repeat of the August special election. The summers Issue 1 would have raised the threshold for constitutional amendments to pass from 50%+1, a simple majority, to 60%. This means that 40% of Ohioans would get to choose the law. It was directly related to curbing Novembers Issue 1 on abortion. Groups all over the political spectrum, including law enforcement, unions, teachers and social justice groups, opposed it because it impacted more than just abortion. Raising it to 60% would also make it harder for issues like redistricting reform, minimum wage increase and municipal bonds to pass. Some Republicans argued it was a big government play and a power grab. After it failed, next came abortion and recreational marijuana on the ballot in Nov. Dozens of Statehouse Republicans have spoken out or proposed legislation to prevent the abortion amendment from going into effect. Click here to view the timeline of every major statement or proposal. Statehouse leaders have backtracked and now say they have no current plans to overturn Issue 1, but lobbyists said that anti-abortion groups are planning a new constitutional amendment overturning Novembers Issue 1, and another is planning a 15-week proposal for the ballot. When it comes to marijuana, many citizens reached out to me, spoke at the Statehouse and rallied online to protest against the Senates major restrictions to weed policy. After facing backlash, McColley assured he wasnt going against the will of the people, since he believes that the voters didnt really know everything that they were voting on. These were just a few of the many examples, which is why Irvin is fighting hard for redistricting reform. What is next? It is unclear if either of these bills will be passed by the end of special session on Thursday, but the lawmakers say they will continue working on them before the summer recess. Also, there is still no permanent fix to the Biden debacle. DeWine is urging lawmakers to get a fix to the 90-day arbitrary deadline law by the end of this week. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook. This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Ohio GOP again attempts to go around voters, this time on redistricting and minimum wage appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. The study by political scientists from Stanford and Tufts universities appears just as a heated debate is flaring again in Congress over the partisan and racial impact of recent voting laws. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) In exchange for putting a sitting president on the state ballot, Ohios Republican leadership this week demanded that Democrats agree to a measure Republicans said would protect ballot initiatives from foreign money. However, the measures would do nothing to bring transparency to politically active 501(c)(4) dark money groups into which foreigners, corporations even criminal organizations can contribute unlimited cash without the general public being any the wiser. Two such organizations one of which was founded by a future aide to Gov. Mike DeWine funded the biggest bribery scandal in Ohio history. And many of the same politicians who now are warning of foreign money are ducking questions about massive support they received from those groups and company that funded them as they took actions that helped further the companys interests. Presidential problem The Democratic National Convention this year falls on Aug. 19, which is after Ohios Aug. 7 ballot certification deadline. Legislation was needed to move back that deadline if millions of Ohio voters were to be able to cast a ballot for the candidate of their choice. Its a problem previous legislatures fixed for both parties as a matter of routine. But this years Republican supermajorities demanded a quid pro quo if President Biden was to appear on the Ohio ballot. Republicans are coming off of heavy defeats last year in attempts to make it much harder for voters to initiate constitutional amendments and to block an amendment protecting abortions rights. Now Ohio Republicans wanted to use the ballot fix to again attempt to change rules surrounding ballot initiatives. Legislative Democrats declined to go along, and after a lengthy stalemate, Gov. DeWine on Thursday stepped in and said he was calling the General Assembly into special session. The legislature can only consider matters the governor puts on the call for a special session, but DeWine didnt limit himself to a clean call that would have only allowed members to put the sitting president on the state ballot. He also allowed it to consider laws changing the way ballot initiatives are financed. On Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee appeared to eliminate the need for any special session by announcing that it would meet virtually before the Ohio deadline and officially nominate Biden. But the session went ahead on Wednesday anyway. DeWine Press Secretary Dan Tierney denied that his boss used the Biden-ballot controversy as a trojan horse to sneak in unrelated legislation. The General Assembly had gone weeks without passing a fix to get the President on the ballot; it would have been foolish to limit the options for the General Assembly to get this done, he said in an email. Foreign funding The purpose of the unrelated measures, their Republican supporters say, is to ensure that foreign dollars arent driving voter-initiated ballot initiatives. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly evident that decisions intended to be made by Ohioans are being unduly influenced by foreign governments, pouring millions of dollars into our state, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said in a statement posted to social media Tuesday. To prevent foreign interests from manipulating our government for their own sinister agendas, foreign money must be barred from Ohio elections. It may prove difficult for lawmakers to agree on anything in the remaining hours of the session. Republican leaders in the Senate and the House couldnt even agree Tuesday on the order in which the bills must proceed through the two houses, or the numbers they should have. As to their merits, several observers expressed skepticism that the real motivation was keeping outside money from infiltrating Ohio politics. Last year, Secretary of State Frank LaRose said it was important to harshly limit citizens ability to amend the state Constitution to protect against out-of-state interests. Meanwhile, his side of the fight was heavily funded by an out-of-state billionaire who also happened to be a prominent election denier. Another reason for skepticism, said Common Cause of Ohio Executive Director Catherine Turcer, is the timing. If the bills being pushed in a special session ostensibly about putting Biden on the ballot are so all-fired important, why werent they passed by the supermajorities in a regular session? Why is this legislation such a priority now? she asked. Tierney, DeWines press secretary, said the mere fact that Democrats and others are opposing the legislation is proof that its needed and now. the behavior of opponents of the ban since the Governors announcement seems to indicate there indeed is foreign influence in these ballot initiatives and that some issue groups are counting on that support as part of their plans to campaign for or against these issues; the outcry would not make sense otherwise, he said. The statements and conduct of those opposing a ban have made it more clear to the Governor that such a ban is needed right away. Imposing burdens Among the measures being debated are requirements that groups supporting state and local initiatives form political action committees a move that University of Cincinnati political scientist David Niven said would be a massive imposition for what can be very humble ballot questions. If enacted, at least some of the proposals would take effect prior to the November election, when a constitutional amendment meant to address Ohios extreme gerrymandering is expected to be on the ballot. Just as LaRoses measure last year was meant in part to stop abortion-rights and anti-gerrymandering amendments, theres suspicion that some of the measures currently under debate are meant to stop this years gerrymandering measure. Niven said its a bigger deal than that. Its certainly an anti-citizens-voice effort, he said. And I think its consequences would be far grander than making it marginally harder (to put on the ballot and pass the anti-gerrymandering) amendment. Its creating campaign-finance requirements that would burden every ballot question from top to bottom no matter how obscure even things Republicans wouldnt object to. LaRose, the secretary of state, routinely ignores questions about his official actions and public statements as he did for this story. But in a May 9 press release calling to ban foreign influence over Ohios elections, he gave a hint of what he is trying to stop. It cited a press report saying that nearly $7 million to support the abortion-rights amendment came from the Washington, D.C.-based Sixteen Thirty Fund, which promotes causes such as voting access and the League of Conservation Voters. The fund counts among its more than 500 contributors Hansjorg Wyss, a Swiss billionaire, who has contributed more than $200 million since 2016, the press release said. If, as Husted said, such groups are manipulating our government for their own sinister agendas, Ohio voters of both parties apparently agreed with that of the Sixteen Thirty Fund. The abortion-rights amendment passed by a 14-point margin. Turcer, of Common Cause, said lots of organizations might find themselves similarly situated as the fund including ones aligned with LaRose. There is a public good in keeping foreign money out of Ohio elections, she said. But thats already prohibited through the rules of the Ohio Elections Commission. She added, The problem is in the enforcement mechanism. This becomes complicated. Corporations can spend money in a ballot campaign. Lets take British Petroleum. A good chunk of their money is from out of the United States. Or if the Catholic Church is involved to fight a pro-choice issue, is it possible that some of that money is from Canada or Mexico? There can be a prohibition, but it gets complicated really fast. The undisclosed elephant in the room Turcer was also frustrated that even after the biggest bribery and money laundering scandal in state history, the states Republican leaders have done nothing to bring transparency to the kind of entity that funded it 501(c)(4) dark money organizations. Such groups which include the Sixteen Thirty Fund dont have to name their donors. Theyre used by Republicans and Democrats to support political causes and their use has expanded wildly after the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v FEC. It said that corporations could make unlimited political donations. The only limitation was that the cash had to go to outside groups that werent allowed to coordinate their activities with campaigns. Then-President Barack Obama predicted it would lead to abuses, and starting in 2017 in Ohio, dark money fueled a massive abuse. For all the public knew, Vladimir Putin could have been pumping money into an epic effort to pass and protect a $1.3 billion nuclear bailout that mostly benefited Akron-based FirstEnergy. But in July 202o, the FBI arrested then-House Speaker Larry Householder, former Ohio GOP Chairman Matt Borges and three others and the public got a clearer picture of the moneys origins. The feds had used subpoenas, wiretaps, undercover agents and other means the rest of us dont have to determine that FirstEnergy itself paid more than $60 million to finance the effort. Ironically, that money was used to erect a foreign boogeyman of its own. Supporters of the bailout spent $36 million fighting its repeal, and some of that money financed TV ads falsely claiming that the repeal was Chinas attempt to take over the Ohio power grid. Sunlight At the time of Householders arrest, DeWine, Husted, Yost and LaRose each had long-standing ties to FirstEnergy, each received financial support from the company, each played roles in passing the the bailout or stopping the citizen-initiated repeal, and each was mentioned multiple times in Householders trial which netted him a 20-year prison sentence. However, theyve refused to answer important questions about their involvement. For example, DeWine said he didnt know about millions in dark money FirstEnergy spent supporting his 2018 campaign, while Husted has refused to talk about the $1 million the company spent supporting his. Turcer said that if the states leaders really were concerned about Ohio politics being polluted with money of unknown, criminal or foreign origins, theyd work to bring transparency to the dark money flooding the state. The thing thats really irritating is that its been nearly four years since Larry Householder was arrested, she said. It is very clear to the state legislature what happens when you dont have greater transparency and you let all sorts of things flourish in a dark money system. They have not taken action for years. Why havent they? Asked about this, Tierney, DeWines press secretary, said there could be constitutional problems. He said the governor would certainly entertain transparency reforms in this area if the General Assembly were to pass such a bill. The Governor has noted, however, that many proposals floated by advocates could conflict with United State Supreme Court caselaw and that the difficulty is indeed crafting a proposal that complies with the standing precedents. However, states such as Arizona have passed laws requiring that 501(c)(4)s that spend a certain amount on political campaigns disclose their donors. In February, a state judge dismissed a second attempt to strike down the law. Theres also the fact that in writing the Supreme Court opinion allowing unlimited corporate money in American politics, then-Justice Anthony Kennedy stressed the importance of transparency. The First Amendment protects political speech; and disclosure permits citizens and shareholders to react to the speech of corporate entities in a proper way, he wrote. This transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages. Niven, the political scientist, said that for Ohio Republicans, bringing transparency to dark money is just a bridge too far. Theres a very good reason why (the measures proposed in the special session) do nothing to dark money groups, he said. Dark money groups are the lifeline to the Republican bacchanalia here. They cant cut that off. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Ohio GOP leaders push to stop foreign money does nothing about transparency appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. MANILA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- A motorcycle driver and his passenger were killed after their vehicle crashed into a roadside electric post in Rizal province, east of Manila, early Thursday morning, police said. Police said the crash, which happened at around 1 a.m. local time in Pililla town, sent the two hurtled into the road, and the two sustained critical injuries. Police added that both victims died while being transported to a local hospital. An initial investigation showed that the riders were not wearing helmets during the accident. Ohio House changes ballot deadline for President Biden, Democrats say it comes with cost An effort to get President Joe Biden on Ohio's ballot has morphed into a fight over how to regulate ballot issue campaigns. The Ohio House voted Thursday to change the 2024 ballot certification deadline to 65 days before the election instead of 90. The move came weeks after Secretary of State Frank LaRose warned that Biden may not make the ballot because the Democratic National Convention takes place after Ohio's Aug. 7 deadline. After waiting on legislative action, the DNC announced this week that delegates will virtually certify Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris before the Aug. 19 convention. Ohio Democrats argued that made this week's special session ordered by Gov. Mike DeWine superfluous. But Republicans forged ahead to pursue an entirely different priority: Preventing foreign money in ballot issue campaigns. GOP lawmakers were uninterested in helping Democrats and the Biden campaign without getting something in return. Under that bill: Foreign nationals and green card holders could not directly or indirectly contribute to statewide issue campaigns. It's already illegal for foreign citizens to give money to candidates in Ohio, and federal law prohibits them from donating to any federal, state or local election. The ban does not apply to local issues such as liquor options. Any violations would start as a misdemeanor and could escalate to a felony charge, in addition to existing fines. The attorney general, rather than the Ohio Elections Commission, would prosecute cases involving foreign spending in campaigns. The Ohio Senate must sign off on the ballot fix and foreign money bill before they head to DeWine's desk. "We all know the OEC takes its jolly good time and frequently is unable to adjudicate anything before an election," Rep. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, said. The commission's executive director did not respond to a request for comment. An effort to get President Joe Biden on Ohio's ballot has morphed into a fight over how to regulate ballot issue campaigns. How Ohio Republicans want to change campaign finance law Democrats generally support keeping foreign money out of elections, but they believe the bill is too broad and could stifle citizen ballot campaigns. They also say it's irresponsible to give more power to the attorney general, who is a partisan elected official. The Ohio Elections Commission is a bipartisan body that handles potential violations of state campaign finance laws. Rep. Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, accused current Attorney General Dave Yost of attempting to squash ballot initiatives and noted that Yost has been sued by groups trying to put issues before voters. Yost was also close with former Ohio Republican Party Chair Matt Borges, who tried but failed to convince the attorney general to block a referendum over House Bill 6. "(Yost) has a vested interest in pushing back, in fighting back," Isaacsohn said. "Hes a statewide political actor. To give this kind of unbridled power to one person whos already proven that hes willing to use that power to political aims is deeply misguided." In a statement, Yost said Democrats are "protecting the flow of foreign money into Ohios elections." "I did not ask for the authority in this bill, and I don't care whether it is my office or someone else that does the work but the work must be done," Yost said. "We need to put a stop to this and do it now." Backers of the bill say Ohio should reinforce existing federal law and codify a 2021 Ohio Elections Commission opinion that prohibits foreign citizens from giving to ballot campaigns. Lawmakers first floated the idea after a progressive dark money group that received donations from a Swiss billionaire donated to Ohio ballot campaigns last year. Ohioans could vote this November on proposals to raise the state minimum wage and reform the mapmaking process for legislative and congressional districts. Democrats contend GOP leaders are trying to preempt more losses at the ballot box while failing to strengthen oversight of dark money in the wake of the House Bill 6 scandal. "The truth is that you the people have defeated various attempts by this body and the body across the statehouse to limit your personal freedoms," House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, said. "The truth is they are trying to do that again and changing the rules because they know what is ahead in November." Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio House passes Biden ballot fix, foreign campaign money bill "It's past time to act," says House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, calling again for an investigation into the actions of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. Oklahoma House Democrats are demanding again that Speaker Charles McCall form a bipartisan committee to investigate state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. Its the fourth time since last August that Democrats have called for an investigation into Walters, seeking what they say would be an accounting of public funds spent on education since the Republican took office in January 2023. The latest call came Wednesday, two days before the Legislature is required by law to adjourn its session. However, House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson said if a committee is formed, it could continue investigating Walters and the Oklahoma State Department of Education after the session ends. Republicans hold supermajorities in both the House and Oklahoma Senate, meaning they along ultimately have the authority to form such an investigative committee. House Speaker Charles McCall has often said it's the voters of Oklahoma who have the ultimate authority to hold state Superintendent Ryan Walters accountable. Now, in the final days of the regular session of the 59th Legislature, we are formalizing our request for a special bipartisan House investigative committee by filing House Resolution 1052," said Munson, D-Oklahoma City. Over the last four months, Republicans who hold power in both legislative chambers and the Governor's Mansion have done nothing to listen to and address the concerns of Oklahomans who want to protect our public schools. It is now past time to act." A spokesman for McCall didnt immediately respond to a request for comment, but McCall has said multiple times in the past few months that because Walters took office as the result of a statewide election, the voters of Oklahoma should be the ones to hold him accountable. McCall has said it would be an extraordinary action for the Legislature to begin such an investigation. More: Ryan Walters outside PR contract should be banned, GOP lawmaker says Oklahoma schools Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks to the press after a school board meeting at the Oklahoma Capitol complex in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Dan Isett, a spokesman for Walters, issued a statement shortly after Democrats held a news conference at the Capitol concerning the resolution. Oklahoma Democrats are hellbent on creating an educational environment that is not aligned with Oklahoma values or Oklahoma voters, Isett said. They have relentlessly sought to use our schools to promote woke indoctrination, fought against accountability and improvement in failing schools, defended sexual deviancy in the classroom, and peddled porn in school libraries. Superintendent Walters will not be bowed by the radical left and neither will the people of Oklahoma. During the news conference, Democrats touched on several subjects, including Walters efforts to tie school accreditation to high-stakes test results through the use of the administrative rules process, the agencys decision to not apply for some federal grants and what Munson called the possible misuse and abuse of federal tax dollars. House Democrats have been pushing McCall, R-Atoka, to investigate Walters since last Aug. 29, when they sent him a letter requesting he create a special bipartisan House committee to investigate whether sufficient grounds existed to impeach Walters. That request was denied. In mid-December, they asked again. After the current legislative session began, they again asked on March 27. The chaos that has ensued as a result of the state Superintendents leadership has harmed and concerned Oklahomans for a long time, said Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa. Our teachers and students deserve to feel safe and that they are in good hands. It scares me to think of the repercussions that have come and will come under the current State Superintendent. "We have seen bomb threats to Oklahoma schools, the death of an Oklahoma student due in part to harmful rhetoric facilitated by our state Superintendent, and now, we see the alleged mismanagement of federal funds that could go toward providing resources for Oklahoma schools. We can work together across the aisle to find a solution that will ultimately benefit Oklahomans, and that is what this committee aims to do. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Democrats call for House investigation into Ryan Walters Rep. Ajay Pittman introduces her mother, former Sen. Anastasia Pittman. Swearing in of the members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the Capitol Wednesday, November 16, 2022. A state representative has been fined more than $17,000 and ordered to repay another $18,000 to her campaign fund for state campaign violations, under a settlement agreement issued Wednesday by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. State Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, was ordered to pay $17,141 to the state by May 31, 2026, along with repayment to her campaign of $858.22. In addition, Pittman must pay $12,000 to her campaign fund by May 31, 2025, and make an additional $5,000 repayment to her campaign by this Friday. "These funds shall not be paid from the respondent's campaign fund accounts, but from the respondent's own personal fund account," the settlement said. Total cost of the fines and repayment: $35,000. Rep. Ajay Pittman spent campaign funds for personal use, according to settlement agreement Pittman admitted to spending nearly $18,000 for her personal use instead of campaign purposes according to a settlement agreement finalized Wednesday by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. Under the settlement, Pittman admitted to improperly withdrawing $17,858.52 in campaign funds through checking and automated teller accounts. She also admitted to inaccurately reporting about $30,000 in contributions in 2020 and $20,000 worth of contributions in 2022. Pittman will be allowed to reimburse her campaign accounts and pay a fine in three different payments over the next two years. Pittman's settlement also included a non-disparagement clause, where both parties agreed to "not disparage the other party or any present or former officer, director, agent or employee of either party, whether to any current or former employee of either party, the press or other media, or any other business entity or third party." More: House, Senate GOP leaders reach agreement on budget with no income tax cut Late Wednesday afternoon, Pittman issued a statement saying she was "pleased her campaign has reached an agreement with the state Ethics Commission regarding a clerical error in our campaign filings." "Although it is not uncommon for legislators to hire people to manage and file reports on their behalf, Pittman said. I am glad that the error was brought to my attention, as it provided us with the opportunity to take swift action, including making changes in campaign staff and working closely with the Ethics Commission to ensure that our campaign is able to update previous years' campaign filings that will ensure that we remain in compliance with all state ethics rules now and in the future. She said the agreement allows her campaign to move forward with a renewed focus on service to the constituents of House District 99. I would like to express my gratitude to the constituents and supporters of our campaign as we prioritize our important work on behalf of the people we serve," Pittman said Pittman is one of 20 Democrats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She was elected in 2018 and faces Brittane Grant in the June 18 Democratic primary election. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Rep. Ajay Pittman ordered to repay campaign, pay ethics fine The Oklahoma Legislature passed a spending limits bill to curtail the state Department of Education's use of funds to book national media appearances for state Superintendent Ryan Walters. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY State lawmakers have voted to limit public relations spending at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, saying state Superintendent Ryan Walters shouldnt use agency funds for self-promotion. Legislation that outlines the agencys yearly budget, Senate Bill 1122, includes a stipulation that no department funds can be spent for the purpose of securing media interviews, public relations, or other public promotional purposes unless required for a federal grant program. The bill passed the state Senate on Tuesday and the House on Thursday, the final day of the 2024 legislative session. It continues to the governors desk. Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, shakes hands with state Superintendent Ryan Walters before a budget hearing Jan. 10 at the state Capitol. McBride advocated for a bill to curtail Walters spending on public relations. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, said House leadership included the measure because of concerns over a contract Walters signed with a PR firm to book national media appearances. McBride said the funds should go to teachers and classrooms, not securing interviews on Fox News. This is our job to deal with this, McBride said on the House floor. Republican lawmakers received a letter objecting to the bill on Wednesday from the Education Departments general counsel, Michael Beason. Beason contended the bill is overly broad and lacks a clear definition of public relations. He warned the legislation could put agency operations and programs in substantial jeopardy, including its ability to have a website. Walters called the bill an unprecedented political attack from McBride. The lawmaker has been a vocal critic of Walters leadership at the Education Department. This is a sad and embarrassing day for the Oklahoma Legislature, Walters said in a statement. If their concern were truly for good government, they would apply the same restrictions on all state agencies. Instead, we have seen a term-limited politician ignore the Constitution to blow a going away kiss to the unions. Walters approved a contract in March between the state Education Department and the D.C.-based firm Vought Strategies to handle national media bookings, write speeches and opinion columns, coordinate national event appearances and assist with public relations. The department also employs a public relations spokesperson internally. Vought Strategies said it would charge $200 an hour or $5,000 a month, according to its bids submitted to the state agency. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said Walters contacted him personally about concerns with the bill. Treat said the Education Department has overblown the potential impact of the legislation. Theyll still be able to get their message out, Treat said. Theyll still be able to have a website. Theyll still be able to do the functions of the SDE. I think the intent of the Legislature is extremely clear. Just use your communications team like any other elected official can. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Oklahoma lawmakers seek to block Walters national PR spending appeared first on Oklahoma Voice. A Tulsa County sheriff's deputy, at left, and two Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police officers inspect the scene of an abandoned and stripped car in this July 2023 file photo. A task force launched by the governor studied issues that can arise between state and tribal police on tribal reservations. Replacing the hundreds of agreements that spell out how police work together on tribal reservations appears unlikely to happen, despite Gov. Kevin Stitts calls for uniform change. In its final report issued Wednesday, a task force formed by the governor recommended adding on to existing state-tribal police agreements instead of creating an entirely new deal. The add-ons could cover some of the most pressing issues facing law enforcement, such as making sure everyone has access to each others criminal justice data, the One Oklahoma Task Force suggested. The report lands five months after Stitt ordered the task force to help address the negative effects of the landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma decision. The 2020 Supreme Court ruling has led to the recognition of eight tribal reservations in eastern Oklahoma. Federal law limits the power state courts have over tribal citizens on tribal reservations, a fact Stitt has consistently denounced as unfair. A spokesperson for the governor had not responded to a request for comment about the task forces final recommendations as of Wednesday afternoon. Gov. Stitt pushed for cross-deputization and jail agreements In his Dec. 22 executive order creating the task force, Stitt directed the group to submit a report by June 1 that, among other things, contained uniform cross-deputization and jail agreements. Cross deputization agreements allow police to enforce one anothers laws in areas where their powers overlap, such as on tribal lands. The agreements mean an Oklahoma trooper can arrest a tribal citizen accused of breaking the law, for example, before that persons case is eventually forwarded to tribal or federal court. Many current cross deputization agreements are based off one signed by state, tribal and federal officials in 2005. Creating a new standard deal would require uprooting the 19-year-old base agreement, a process that appeared unlikely to gain support from tribal and federal officials, the task forces report concluded. More: Five Tribes come out against Oklahoma governor's state, tribal police task force Nevertheless, there remains an understanding among the task force, as well as certain tribes who were willing to communicate their concerns to members of the task force, the historic deputation agreement(s) fail to address the full complement of needs facing the state, county, municipal and tribal agencies in post-McGirt Oklahoma, the report said. Who was in the task force? The task force, which Stitt named after his anti-McGirt online campaign, was made up of lawyers, law enforcement officers and state officials. Public Safety Secretary Tricia Everest chaired the group. The governor also reserved two seats for representatives of tribal nations, but the spots went unfilled after several tribal leaders opted not to join. In addition to adding on to existing law enforcement agreements, the task force called for a review of those deals to ensure they complied with state law. The group also called on all Oklahoma law enforcement agencies to look into data sharing practices. The task force recommended state training for police officers cover the evolving laws surrounding state-tribal relations to ensure that law enforcement officers are prepared to make decisions in the field when facing issues regarding jurisdiction or tribal relations. Other recommendations were focused on the Legislature. The task force recommended lawmakers hold an interim study this fall to review relevant laws on state-tribal agreements. The group also suggested the Legislature look at passing a law that would standardize the daily detention rates charged by county jails, which can vary widely. Tribal nations do not operate jails and often contract with counties to detain people ahead of trial. Confusion over jail bookings flared in December, after Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police officers attempted to drop off a non-Native man who they had arrested on drug charges. Okmulgee County jailers initially refused to take the man into custody, and the argument eventually led to a physical altercation. Stitt called the incident a stark reminder of the broken system created by the McGirt decision and cited it as his reason for forming the task force. Molly Young covers Indigenous affairs. Reach her at mollyyoung@gannett.com or 405-347-3534. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma task force recommendations to fix police issues on reservations HOLLAND, Wis. (WFRV) Authorities in Sheboygan County say a dog was found dead following a house fire Wednesday night. According to a release from the Sheboygan County Sheriffs Office, a passerby called 9-1-1- at 7:45 p.m. to notify first responders of a house on fire at W3236 County Road A in the town of Holland. Crews sent to commercial building fire on Appletons North Walnut, contained to food smoker The passerby said that smoke and flames could be seen from the home and when fire crews arrived they determined that no one was inside the home. While no one was reported injured in this incident, firefighters say a dog was pronounced dead at the scene. At this time, there is no word on the cause of the fire and an investigation into the incident remains ongoing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. One injured in early morning shooting in Stockton (FOX40.COM) One person was injured in an early morning shooting in Stockton on Thursday, the Stockton Police Department said. According to the police, the victim, 19, was in a vehicle on Thorton Road around 3:40 a.m. when he was shot. Police said the victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Its been exactly one month since four law enforcement officers lost their lives in the Shannon Park shooting in east Charlotte. Several other officers were hurt in that shooting that had the neighborhood and community on high alert for hours back on April 29. Now, one month later, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. Frantic radio calls came in on a sunny afternoon on Monday, April 29, when a U.S. Marshals Task Force attempted to serve a warrant on a felon at a home on Galway Drive. The suspect, Terry Hughes, Jr., was shooting from a second-story window at the front and back of the home. Officers returned gunfire and struck the victim who was later pronounced dead in the front yard of the residence. MORE FROM QUEEN CITY NEWS Shannon Park Shooting CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer, North Department of Adult Corrections Investigators Sam Poloche and William Alden Elliott, and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks Jr., were all taken to local hospitals but didnt survive. Its been very tough knowing that you have families that are hurting right now, CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings said in the aftermath of the devastating shooting in east Charlotte. Well get through it, though. The immediate hours after the shootout were filled with shock and sadness but also with support from the Charlotte community and beyond. I know Charlotte and all of North Carolina is full of the kind of people who will rally and take care of each other, NC AG Josh Stein said. The next few days and weeks involved multiple processions and funerals for the fallen, each one more devastatingly heartbreaking than the next. To Joshua, thank you for giving me a beautiful life and for a beautiful son, Ashley Eyer said during his memorial services. We wont let you down. I love you so much, sunshine. One month later questions still remain about what happens now to the property and if any charges will be filed against the two women who were also found inside the home after Hughes was shot and killed. Its something CMPD says will take time to sort through and make sense of. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. One in six voters say Trump verdict could change their minds ahead of tight election, poll finds Around one in six voters say that a guilty verdict in former President Donald Trumps hush money trial will make them less likely to vote for him, according to a new poll. In the NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist poll released on Thursday, 67 per cent said a guilty verdict would make no difference in their voting intentions while 76 per cent said the same about a not guilty verdict. Seventeen per cent said a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for Trump. Jury deliberations have begun in the trial in which Mr Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult actor Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election to keep her quiet about an alleged 2006 affair. He has denied the 34 felony charges against him. While views of Mr Trump and Joe Biden appear largely set and unlikely to change for many voters, small numbers of those who say a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for Trump are among groups important to the former president in a tight election. Trump looks likely to lose some voters if hes found guilty in his hush money trial (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Among white voters without college degrees, 14 per cent said they would be less likely to back the former president if hes found guilty the same is true for 17 per cent of those living in small towns, 11 per cent of those who live in rural areas, and 10 per cent of Republicans. However, the poll also found Biden struggling with voters who brought him to victory in 2020, such as voters between 18 and 29 and voters under 45. In the last election, the younger group comprised about one-sixth of the electorate, while those under 45 made up about 40 per cent. Exit polls show that Biden won 18-29-year-olds by 60 to 36 per cent and those between 30 and 44 by 52 to 46 per cent. The NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist survey reveals that Mr Bidens current struggles with these groups may be the reason why the race is so tight and why he appears to be losing when third-party candidates are included. The poll found that Mr Biden leads Mr Trump 50 to 48 per cent in a head-to-head matchup. Among voters under 45, his lead is now down to four percentage points, while among Gen Z and Millennials, Bidens lead is down to six points. But things change when third-party candidates Robert F Kennedy Jr, Cornel West, and the Green Partys Jill Stein are added to the mix, with Trump leading Mr Biden by four points. When third-party candidates are included, Mr Trump leads by six points with Gen Z and Millennials and by eight points among those under 45. The director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, Lee Miringoff, said younger voters dont see a lot of connection to Mr Biden, according to NPR. Theyre worried about the cost of living, which isnt reserved just for them, but clearly, as they envision moving into adulthood, cost of living, housing costs, how to get into that next step seems to be an obstacle Theyre seeing the economy as a lot of other voters do laying it on Bidens doorstep at the moment. Among those between 18 and 29, only 24 per cent approve of Bidens job performance. Sixty-two per cent have an unfavorable view of Biden, while 42 per cent have an unfavorable view of Trump. With all voters, Trump has a higher unfavorable rating than Biden, 54 to 52 per cent. But Miringoff says who younger will back is still up in the air. This is the unsatisfied, unattached, disliking-of-the-candidates group. So its not that theyre racing to Trump, theyre just not where Bidens had this group in the past, he says. KIEV, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (GUR) claimed Thursday it has destroyed two Russian vessels in the Black Sea near the coast of Crimea. The vessels, preliminarily identified as high-speed boats KS-701 Tunets, were hit by the Magura V5 combat sea drones, the GUR said in a Telegram post. The operation was conducted by the GUR's Group 13 unit of maritime drone operators in Vuzka Bay on Crimea's western coast. According to the GUR, since the beginning of this year, Group 13 has sunk four Russian vessels in the Black Sea, namely guided-missile ship Ivanovets, landing ship Caesar Kunikov, patrol vessel Sergey Kotov, and high-speed patrol vessel Mangust. Operator of San Francisco's $700-a-month sleeping pods is beefing with the city over planning approval Brownstone says it has more than 50 people on the waiting list for its "pods." Brownstone Shared Housing The operator of San Francisco's sleeping "pods" lashed out at city officials amid an ongoing row . Brownstone Shared Housing says it's been waiting for approval for its $700-a-month pods for months. Planning officials say the company still needed to complete important safety upgrades. The company behind San Francisco's $700-a-month tiny sleeping "pods" has accused city officials of worsening the city's homelessness problem as it battles a lengthy investigation. James Stallworth, CEO of Brownstone Shared Housing, told Business Insider that San Francisco Planning Department staff had an "adversarial attitude toward housing." Brownstone says it is waiting for city officials to approve a change-of-use request so it can continue operating its 4-foot-high sleeping pods in Mint Plaza. City officials told BI that Brownstone still needed to complete important safety upgrades to comply with the law. The pods made headlines late last year after proving a hit with some tech workers seeking affordable accommodation in central San Francisco. Officials later claimed the pods were illegally installed without a residential building permit. Daniel Sider, chief of staff at the San Francisco Planning Department, said in a statement: "Brownstone built a Gen Z pod farm in the dark of night, got caught, and has shown an unwillingness to safely accommodate their tenants or follow the law." He said his staff had extended a "helping hand since day one" of the process. While Brownstone still operates the pods for existing residents, Stallworth said city planners had asked the company not to add more residents until it had approved the pods a process that's taken almost eight months. "The fact that the process has taken this long is an embarrassment to the city and highlights why there are still thousands of people sleeping on the street," Stallworth said in an email statement. City officials say Brownstone has "repeatedly failed" to provide basic drawings required for review, and "straightforward questions have gone unanswered." "Without their cooperation, we don't have a way to move things forward," Sider said. Growing waiting list Stallworth said the waiting list for the pods has grown to more than 50 people while the company waited to resolve the dispute with city officials. He said the list of applicants included several AI entrepreneurs who see the accommodation at Mint Plaza "as the best way to participate in the growing AI community in San Francisco." Tech workers who have lived in the pods have previously praised the accommodation for its affordable price and buzzy environment. Christian Lewis, a tech startup founder, posted photos of his experience in one of the pods on X, claiming that "several AI founders and indie hackers" also lived in the pods. He said in the post: "I'm just trying to stay within the city of San Francisco without paying $4,000 a month or getting stabbed, and I think this is a great solution so far. There's a lot of cool people here too." 'Nonsense' Stallworth said that he had felt building and planning employees were making the process too difficult. "It has taken nearly a year to get a simple change of use," he said. "The planning department is the reason why San Francisco's homelessness problem hasn't been solved." Sider called that claim "nonsense," adding that San Francisco was "an excellent location for new homes, and new rules from the state, the mayor, and our board of supervisors make housing dramatically more straightforward to build citywide." Read the original article on Business Insider As the only open non-believer in Congress, I want to thank Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. Not for repeatedly revealing himself as an unethical political partisan who poisons the credibility of the courtIm disgusted with that, and agree with those who are demanding his recusal in cases involving former President Donald Trump. But Alitos latest scandalflying the Appeal to Heaven flag at his New Jersey beach housemakes me grateful, because it might help save our imperiled American democracy. This proud and undeniable embrace of the extreme Christian nationalist movement sounds an alarm for a nation that has been sleepwalking into theocracy. Coming from a sitting Supreme Court justice, its like an air raid siren. And given how far weve gone down the road to theocracy, thats probably what its going to take. Justice Alitos Jan. 6 Flags Are a Desperate Wake-Up Call for the DOJ No one should be surprised that extreme Christian nationaliststhose who conflate Christian and American identity and fuse it with right-wing political ideologyhave infiltrated the highest echelons of government. The writing has been on the wall and the flags have been flying in front of the homes and offices of prominent national leaders. They have had so much success at packing courts and elevating elected officialsespecially since taking over the Republican Party under Trumpthat the leaders of this movement no longer bother to be subtle. The growing power and influence of Christian nationalism is what led me to do something unheard-of in national politics seven years ago: acknowledge publicly that Im a Humanist, which means instead of believing in God, I believe in science, reason, and doing good for its own sake. An "Appeal to Heaven" flag is seen outside of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson office on Capitol Hill on May 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. The flag was toted by rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Most recently the flag has been displayed outside of the home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images I would have gladly kept that private but for my unshakable concern over the extreme religious agenda I saw unfolding all around me, every day, in Washington. I felt compelled to be honest if I wanted to fully confront Christian nationalism as the anti-democracy, anti-America threat that it is. To advance this work, I co-founded and continue to lead the Congressional Freethought Caucus, which is now the most active group in Congress pushing back against Christian nationalism, defending the rights of religious minorities and non-believers, and upholding church-state separation. But despite our best efforts, most Americansand indeed most of our colleagues in Congressstill do not understand the scope and gravity of the Christian nationalist threat. Weve had previous wake up calls, including the very loud one at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Christian nationalism was at the heart of that violent insurrection: Appeal to Heaven flags and other Christian symbols were everywhere, as were Christian nationalist pastors who regaled rioters with prayers, prophecies, and citations from the Bible. Experts who have exhaustively studied the religious aspect of Jan. 6 confirm that Christian nationalism was not just part of the story, it was in many ways the story. Associate Justice Samuel Alito sits during a group photo of the Justices at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC on April 23, 2021. Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images But it remains untold. The media overlooked it, and even the dedicated House Select Committee, which produced an otherwise laudable 154-page report on the insurrection, said nothing about Christian nationalism. Why? Ive spoken to several members of the committee who acknowledge the evidentiary record. Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) put it bluntly in an interview: Had there not been some of these errant prophecies, this idea that God has ordained it to be Trump, Im not sure Jan. 6 would have happened like it did. But heres the cautionary tale: Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY)a profile in political courage for serving on the Committee and daring to speak the truth about Trumpopposed discussion of the subject, issuing a disingenuous public statement via her spokesperson that she wont sign onto any narrative that suggests every American who believes God has blessed America is a white supremacist. I admire Cheney for the courage she did show, but on this major element of the insurrection her personal religious ideology caused her to pull punches, resulting in a report that is partially sanitized and incomplete. An "Appeal To Heaven" flag flying at the Alitos house in August 2023. Google Maps Another wake up call came in February of this year, with the Alabama Supreme Courts bombshell ruling deeming frozen IVF embryos to be peoplea decision steeped in radical Christian theology. Americans were aghast to hear the states Chief Justice Tom Parker proclaim the United States a Christian nation and boast that he proudly embraces Seven Mountains Mandate theology, which calls for establishment of a theocracy with Christian dominance throughout society. Before NBA Stardom, Bill Walton Raised Hell as a Radical Campus Activist I was encouraged that the media was finally talking about this dangerous movement, but even that moment of candor missed the mark. Parker and his ruling were characterized as outliers with fringe positions. What most in the media missedand what the American public urgently needs to knowis that Judge Parker is not an outlier. There are many Christian nationalist judges at every level of the judiciary who share this extreme ideology, and I have dozens of colleagues in Congressincluding House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)who embrace the Seven Mountains Mandate. Perhaps Justice Alitos Appeal to Heaven flag scandal can finally break through the denial, deference, and latent Christian privilege that prevents a serious national conversation about the threat we are facing. This extreme religious movement has spent decades packing the courts with its allies, including Justice Alito. Indeed, Pastor Dutch Sheets, the Christian nationalist kingpin who exhumed the long-forgotten Appeal to Heaven flag and made it one of the most visible symbols of the movement, has an interesting history with Alito. Sheets claims it was his prayers and prophetic decrees that created the high court vacancies filled by Alito and Chief Justice Roberts. Alito has certainly answered Christian nationalists prayers. He was the driving force behind a stream of Supreme Court opinions that chip away at church-state separation and advance the movements theocratic goalsfrom requiring state governments to fund religious private schools, to forcing public schools to permit Christian prayers at school-sponsored events, to allowing corporations to use religion as an excuse for denying womens reproductive health care, to barely masking his personal anti-abortion extremism in the disastrous Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Now, with stunning impunity, Alito is flying Dutch Sheets Appeal to Heaven flag for all to see. He feels untouchable. The lines are drawn. Christian nationalists are showing their hand with swaggering arrogance, even previewing their dystopic policy agenda in the Project 2025 manifesto. Authoritarian theocracy is definitely on the ballot this November, even if our national discourse still suffers from a reticence to talk about it. Those of us who care about democracy and church-state separation must heed the warnings and spread the word. Church and State Separation Is Breaking Down Before Our Eyes As for Alito, of course he should recuse in cases involving Trump. But the Appeal to Heaven flag scandal reveals a broader recusal imperative. He openly embraces a political movement that rejects the constitutional separation of church and state and seeks to end our democracy. This is more than just the appearance of bias; he cannot render impartial justice in matters involving the Establishment Clause and religious freedom, and must therefore recuse in all such cases. Heres the good news. Whether youre a Christian, a follower of another religion, or a Humanist like me, the vast majority of us have common cause: we dont want to be ruled by a biblical theocracy. The American people will be with us if they understand whats at stake. 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. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., center, speaks with Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, left, and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., right, and others, before President Joe Biden arrives to deliver his State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 7, 2023. | J. Scott Applewhite In a recent interview with Jason Willick of The Washington Post, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema the outgoing once-Democratic and now-independent senator from Arizona defends the Senate filibuster on institutionalist grounds. The filibuster is a central facet of the Senates critical role in slowing down the legislative process and facilitating compromise, argues Sinema, and she laments that the filibuster will eventually be scrapped because there are fewer institutionalists in the Senate. But Sinema should not despair. There is still time for Senate institutionalists like her, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., to put the filibuster on more stable footing that may prevent its total obliteration. When leading institutionalists like Romney, Sinema and Manchin defend the Senate filibuster in its current operation, they neglect core precepts of institutionalism. Yuval Levin has explained that institutions earn and build trust when they competently shoulder their responsibilities. Institutions lose trust when those who inhabit them fail to live up to their assigned roles. In short, an institution derives its strength from doing its job. As the upper chamber of Congress, the Senates institutional role is to cool popular passions, deliberate on the weightiest issues of the day and forge solutions to the nations most daunting problems. As Robert Caro has written of the Senates golden years in the early 1800s, the likes of Daniel Webster, Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun fought battles over the most momentous issues of the age, and the Senate was often the dominant arena in which those issues were decided. That is no longer the case. The Senate is not living up to its role as Americas great deliberator and problem solver and the modern filibuster is a core contributor to its institutional decline. To be sure, there exist many reasons for the Senates institutional weakness. Partisan polarization is an obvious leading contributor. Romney, Sinema and Manchin cannot combat, let alone reverse, the realities of partisan sorting and polarization. But they can reflect critically on how polarization might interact with the Senates preexisting rules in ways that weaken the Senate and prevent it from performing its duties. They can then work to amend those institutional rules, like the filibuster, as needed. For example: If the parties are in near parity and dont agree on very much of importance, then an institutional rule like the filibuster which requires a de facto supermajority of 60 senators to pass most bills might be transformed from a useful moderating force into a near-insurmountable barrier. That is a problem. Romney, Sinema and Manchin will not be senators much longer. Sinema predicts, fatalistically, that the filibuster will be scrapped fairly soon after they have all departed. As things stand now, she is right at least whenever Democrats next control the House, Senate and presidency. But it is too soon for fatalism. Over half a year remains in each of their terms. Sometimes, reform is urgently necessary to ward off drastic change. Reforming the filibuster so that it can achieve its intended results even if that means tinkering with its current structure could save the filibuster and its institutional virtues. If these three senators want to do something meaningful to restore the Senates institutional strength without bringing about the legislative whiplash that they worry would follow the filibusters wholesale elimination, they would make reforming the filibuster their final priority with the time they have left in the Senate. We have our own ideas about what that reform should look like. Weve discussed them in detail here and here. But even if Romney, Sinema and Manchin find our particular reform proposal objectionable, these three institutionalists should not depart the Senate in a few months without taking a serious stab at filibuster reform. Given their courage and commitment to their institution, all three of these senators deserve our respect. Together they now have the chance to lead one last time to strengthen the institution about which they rightly care so deeply before its too late. Thomas Harvey and Thomas Koenig are recent graduates of Harvard Law School. Ki Soon Hyun, 83, died outside after her memory care facility allowed her to slip outside. (Family photo) Ki Soon Hyun, 83, died outside after her memory care facility allowed her to slip outside. Her family is suing the facility and the state in a wrongful death lawsuit. (Family photo) Ki Soon Hyun died alone last year of hypothermia on a frigid winter day in a wooded area about half a mile from her memory care facility in Sandy. The 83-year-old with dementia had wandered outside the day before, and staff at Mount Hood Senior Living didnt notice that she left. Search crews found her body on Christmas Day. Hyuns death has sparked a sweeping look at how the state cares for its vulnerable senior citizens and how the Oregon Department of Human Services regulates the long-term care industry. Her story and other accounts offer a starting point for potential legislation in the 2025 session to improve the system. An independent report and investigation by the Oregon Long-Term Care Ombudsman released in April faulted the state agency for its delayed response to complaints at Mount Hood Senior Living and found state regulators could have prevented Hyuns death. The state shut down the facility a month after she died, but had received complaints in July and August months before she moved there. There is an emptiness in my heart that will never be filled, Tim Hyun, her grandson, told the Senate Human Services Committee on Wednesday. The panel, chaired by Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D-Corvallis, heard from Hyuns family members and others about their experiences. Their insights could lead to changes in the states long-term care system and the Oregon Department of Human Services. Alex Smith, one of Hyuns daughters and a behavioral health nurse, said the facility and state failed her mother. I come to you today as an Oregonian and a health care worker urging our elected leaders in Salem and the Oregon Department of Human Services to do better safeguarding vulnerable seniors, Smith said. Smith encouraged state leaders to hold the Oregon Department of Human Services accountable with stricter regulations and an immediate safety review of all facilities to make sure they are properly secured and locked to keep vulnerable people with memory conditions from slipping out. Smith also asked lawmakers to consider other requirements, such as GPS tracking devices for residents and halting new admissions into facilities that lack adequate staffing. Our mothers death should not have happened, Smith said. Lack of urgency Smith said she supports the ombudsmans reports recommendation for an independent audit that looks at Oregon Department of Human Services and its licensing of facilities to ensure all laws are followed. Fred Steele, the states long-term care ombudsman, said the shortcomings uncovered in his offices investigation point to wider problems. Theres a lack of urgency within the system, Steele said. I want to be clear: Im not trying to blame individuals within the Department of Human Services. This is, I believe, a systemic problem within the Department of Human Services. Hyuns family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court against the Oregon Department of Human Services and the facility in April. Citing the pending litigation, Oregon Department of Human Services officials have declined to say anything about Hyuns case even before lawmakers. Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, director of the agencys Office of Aging and People with Disabilities, shared brief comments with lawmakers by acknowledging the families. There are no words, she said, as she pivoted back in her chair and looked at family members who just testified before her. Noting legal advice, Knight-Coyle said she cannot speak about the case or its related topics. And no lawmakers asked her questions, though she said she would try to take any questions to her team and the Oregon Department of Justice, which defends state agencies in lawsuits, to see what they could answer. When it is possible, I look forward to partnering with you all, she said. Gelser Blouin said its important for policymakers to talk about potential action for next years session and get input from the state, industry officials, workers and families. Treated by ODHS like cattle Steele, who led the report, found that problems with the Oregon Department of Human Services oversight of the Sandy facility persisted after the death. On Jan. 26, a month after Hyuns death, DHS officials told residents in the afternoon they would shut the facility by midnight. With just hours to prepare, residents were moved that night to other licensed facilities, hospitals and family homes. It didnt have to be that way. Steele said that by law the state agency could have taken the facility over and gradually shut it down over an extended period of time to avoid traumatizing residents. The Oregon Department of Human Services moved 13 of the 18 residents to potentially dangerous settings, including eight of them to facilities that had been previously cited by the state for having serious problems, Steeles report said. Some residents were moved without care plans, medications or wheelchairs, he said. Bonnie Everett, 72, was among those forced to move out. Her niece, Melissa Fisher, told lawmakers about the experience. They moved her to a facility that reeked of urine one they did not approve of. Nor did the facility have Everetts doctors order to check her blood sugar levels because she is diabetic. If the state had done a better job of planning to move residents, besides working with families before acting, not just hours before late on a Friday, all this could have been avoided, Fisher said. ODHS was negligent in its actions and added to the danger. Fisher said the state agency took away the rights of people at Mount Hood Senior Living as well as their family members. The Mount Hood Senior Living residents were treated by ODHS like cattle, not people, Fisher said. The post Oregon lawmakers weigh changes after woman freezes to death outside memory care facility appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle. ANKARA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained 90 suspects in nationwide raids over the past four days for alleged links to a coup attempt in 2016, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Thursday. The suspects are accused of links to the Gulen movement, blamed by Ankara for a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. Yerlikaya, posting on social media platform X, said that Turkish authorities also seized foreign currency, Turkish lira, digital materials, and organizational documents in operations spanning 17 provinces. The minister did not specify the timing of the raids. The detainees are suspected of involvement in the Gulen movement's "police structure, courthouse structure and current structure," Yerlikaya said. This echoes longstanding Turkish government claims of Gulenist infiltration within the judiciary and law enforcement. The Turkish government has long accused Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based cleric, of orchestrating the 2016 coup attempt, which resulted in at least 250 deaths. Following the coup, Ankara launched a widespread crackdown targeting individuals suspected of ties to the Gulen movement. Multnomah County voters sent a message in the district attorney's race that they want the job filled by someone who slowly makes reforms. (Getty Images) Oregons highest-profile primary elections did not appear to carry strong messages: Voters sporadically showed what they wanted or didnt. But there were exceptions. Two examples in particular, both on the county level in Multnomah and Yamhill counties, were notably clear in demanding a change of direction from what had been endorsed before. The message in both was unmistakable: Extremes in experiments and ideological projects are unwelcome, and whats wanted is a government that works. The race for Multnomah County district attorney concerned maybe the most embattled political figure in Oregon so far this decade: Mike Schmidt. Schmidt had prosecutor and policy experience when he was elected Multnomah DA in 2020 in a landslide. He ran clearly as one of several reform big-city prosecutors around the country. On election night that year, he said: The message from Multnomah County voters was loud and clear: They are ready for major reform in our criminal justice system. Problems multiplied fast even before he started and by the time his predecessor resigned. That was the summer of George Floyd demonstrations in Portland, of long-running rioting and vandalism, and in the months to come of increased homelessness and open drug usage in the wake of passage of Initiative 110. Schmidts professed approach, moving away from harsh enforcement, became much less popular. Several eventual statements from Schmidt calling for a crackdown on violence and vandalism didnt land well. His standing was damaged, too, by accusations of weak management. But the core complaint against Schmidt, reflecting widespread polling in Portland over the last four years, is that public safety conditions needed strong improvement, quickly and decisively. Schmidts opponent this year, Nathan Vasquez, who has been a prosecutor for 25 years, ran with the implicit call for a return to something like what Portlanders grew to expect during the three decades it was run by Mike Schrunk, who made gradual reforms along the way but operated in a mostly quiet and non-controversial but professionally effective, and politically popular way. The law and order message was so clear that it reached the White House. The website Politico reported, The defeat of a liberal Portland prosecutor at the hands of a tough-on-crime challenger has hardened a view among top White House officials that Democrats need to further distance themselves from their left flank on law-and-order issues. Local Republicans may take notice, too, especially of the areas of Multnomah that voted most strongly for Vasquez, on the east side around Gresham but also in parts of the west Portland area. A comparable message on competence and professionalism, with a very different background, emerged a few miles to the west in Yamhill County, in a race for county commissioner. The incumbent was Lindsay Berschauer, a media consultant who was elected to the Yamhill County Commission in 2020. With close ties to the countys effective Republican organization, she won a four-year term and aligned on the commission, generally, with Mary Starrett, a former Constitution Party candidate for governor in 2006. Berschauer, now chair of the commission, became contentious enough to become the target of a recall attempt just two years later; she won that by about the same percentage she had in 2020, around 52% to 48%. Berschauer did not adopt a cautious approach, however. She faced more controversy, with culture war issues and the commissions rejection of a proposed rail to trail project that cost the county $2 million. An editorial in the McMinnville News-Register said this year, Berschauer seems to relish being a lightning rod. A professional political consultant by trade, primarily in the Portland metro area, she publicly ripped members of the county staff in her first meeting. Her main opponent this year, David Bubba King, presented himself as an unaligned and nonpartisan contender, in opposition to ideologically driven anger and roiling local government battles. He engaged in efforts to tamp down some of those activities in his home Newberg area, such as in his local school district, and turned his attention to Berschauer late in 2023. In a three-person primary race, King fell short by only a handful of votes from winning outright, but Bertsschauers take of the vote dropped to about 44%. She is likely to fall short in the November runoff. The result was widely seen as a shift on what a majority of Yamhills voters are willing to tolerate. The county is well to the right of Multnomah, but the core message from the voters was similar: Pay attention to the countys work and put ideology to the side. If theres any similarity in attitude around the country this fall, that message could be meaningful in the upcoming general elections. The post Some Oregon primaries deliver a message: Ease up on the ideology appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon State Hospital is planning on hiring more security positions after a federal investigation found the hospital has failed to protect patient-to-patient physical and sexual assaults. The investigation was conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during an unannounced visit to the hospitals Salem and Junction City campuses in February and March 2024, as first reported by Willamette Week. The investigation was sparked after a serious incident of patient-to-patient aggression in February and led CMS to also review three other incidents from previous years, including cases of physical aggression between patients and sexual contact. The report states the hospital failed to develop and implement procedures to prevent physical and sexual assault, failed to ensure staff carried out their duties, and failed to ensure all high-risk patient areas were monitored 24/7 with security cameras. Heres how much Oregonians need to earn to qualify as middle class, study says After the investigation, CMS released a 102-page report of deficiencies they found at the hospital. According to the CMS report, four complaints against Oregon State Hospital were substantiated. The CMS report cited one patient grievance form from August 2023 in which a patient said they filed two grievances over a three-day period about another patients aggressive behavior. The behavior included one instance when the patient was punched in the head, and other cases when the instigator tried to provoke another fight with them and other patients. City failed to make changes after contractor overcharged Portlanders for board-ups, Ombudsman says In the grievance form, the patient claimed hospital staff failed to intervene, adding This is systemic supported abuse and violence. According to the CMS report, hospital staff resolved the issue, and the patients no longer live in the same unit. The report described another attack among patients in February 2024 in which one patient was in a chokehold in a patio area. The patient was found unconscious with a bleeding laceration on their face, the CMS report described, noting a Code Blue was called, along with 911, and the patient was taken to an emergency department. The patient who instigated the attack was under observation orders; however, there was a lack of staff to ensure observation assignments were followed, the report said, noting some staff contracts were terminated following the incident. Indictment alleges Jesse Lee Calhoun murdered three women in 50 days It was not known if security cameras showing the patio where the attack happened were being monitored at the time, the report stated, however, blind spots in the area were identified, including where the victim was thrown and laid, CMS said. During the investigation, CMS learned the Salem campus has around 1,083 security cameras, with three stations where staff monitor live camera feeds. Oregon State Hospital is working on a corrective plan, which includes hiring more staff to monitor the cameras. OSH told KOIN 6 News they initially planned on hiring 75 people to monitor the feeds but said that number may evolve. Campbell soup plant in Tualatin to close by July 2026 After CMS approves the corrective plan, the federal surveyors will make another unannounced visit to the hospital to ensure the plan is being implemented. In a statement regarding the investigation, Oregon State Hospital Interim Superintendent and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sara Walker, said There will always be things we can improve, and we will continue to do so, but what persists is our dedication to the humans we are privileged to care for. Plans to boost security come after CMS placed the hospital in immediate jeopardy status in late April following a patients death. The status was in place because Code Blue equipment including emergency gear such as a defibrillator, overdose reversal drug Narcan, and an oxygen tank was not stored in an organized manner, which posed a future safety risk. While CMS lifted the immediate jeopardy status in early May, Oregon State Hospital could have lost eligibility to receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement totaling $37 million to $38 million, or just over 4% of the hospitals biennial budget, if the status was not removed, officials told KOIN 6 News. The primary concern was that all Code Blue equipment for the admissions area was not in the same room. We have already rectified this, Walker said. I am confident that together we will make the necessary changes to provide a safer environment for patients. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon health officials are warning about a sharp increase in pertussis cases across the state urging Oregonians to get vaccinated amid a 770% increase in reported cases, the Oregon Health Authority announced Thursday. As of May 29, 178 pertussis cases have been reported to OHA in 2024, compared to 20 cases reported at that time in 2023. The warnings about pertussis also known as whooping cough come amid an increasing number of Oregon children falling behind on immunizations, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Heres how much Oregonians need to earn to qualify as middle class, study says Our concern is with how quickly we jumped to such a high number of pertussis cases, which tells us that the disease is doing what it does best: spreading fast and taking a greater toll on under-vaccinated persons, said Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at Oregon Health Authoritys public health division. Among the nine counties with reported cases to date, Lane County leads with 64 cases, followed by Multnomah County (41), Clackamas County (33), Deschutes County (15), Washington County (13), and Jefferson County (8). School-aged children and adolescents account for 92 (52%) of cases and among that group, 51 (55%) are up to date with pertussis vaccinations, OHA said. Armed bank robberies in Salem under investigation for possible connection Health officials noted there are a few factors contributing to the increase in cases. Part of it, at least, is that were no longer in the COVID era where we had all these restrictions; people masking everywhere, businesses closed, large gatherings precluded, Cieslak said. We had kind of a hiatus, a really low point in pertussis, we had never seen such low numbers during that period and now theyre kind of bouncing back to normal. While there is a sharp increase in cases, OHA said the number of cases so far in 2024 is roughly in line with the number of cases seen during similar time frames in the pre-pandemic years with 93 cases in 2019 and 248 cases in 2018. Portland police restocking riot shields, crowd-control munitions as 2020 stockpile expires Before COVID, we would have peaks in the disease incidence every three to five years and the case counts could get really high. Back in 2012, we had 910 cases for the year and that was a really bad year. Its too early to say whether this is going to be just as bad a year, but we are seeing a lot of cases right now, Cieslak said. Infants have the highest risk of pertussis-related complications and death, and have the highest incidence rate, OHA said. Between 2003 and 2023, infants made up 12% of cases and 76% of pertussis hospitalizations. Oregon pertussis deaths have been limited to infants, with five deaths that have occurred since 2003, according to OHA. Oregon State Hospital boosting security after federal report details patient assaults The state health agency encourages everyone to get the vaccine, noting those who are pregnant can get the Tdap shot, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. People who are 10 years old and older are also recommended to receive a single Tdap dose. The ones who tend to get hospitalized with [pertussis] are infants, especially infants who are too young to be vaccinated and thats why were putting the word out that cases are on the increase because that can be prevented if pregnant women will get vaccinated at 27 to 36 weeks gestation. They will make antibodies when they get vaccinated and pass them across the placenta to the baby and protect the baby right from the moment of birth, Cieslak explained. Among 16 infant cases reported in Oregon to date in 2024, one mother had a documented dose of Tdap during the pregnancy, according to OHA. Normally, we vaccinate infants at two, four, six months of age and then once again when theyre toddlers at 15 to 18 months and then another dose at pre-school. But its those infants who are less than six months of age that havent had the complete series [of the vaccine] that are really at risk, Cieslak furthered. Historic Gresham diner bids farewell to deteriorated plywood figures For adults, pertussis symptoms can include a cough, or coughing fits, that lasts longer than a typical cold, but for infants, the infection can be life-threatening, Cieslak said. Amid the sharp rise in pertussis cases, Oregon is also seeing an increasing number of children falling behind on their vaccines, according to OHA. Despite the CDC recommendation to prioritize early childhood well-child visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, a decreasing trend in up-to-date rates of childhood immunizations since the peak in 2020 highlight that an increasing number of children have fallen behind in their immunizations, according to OHA. Campbell soup plant in Tualatin to close by July 2026 This includes a series of vaccines against 14 potentially serious illnesses including diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B. In 2018, 68.8% of Oregon children were up to date on vaccines, which increased to 71.2% in 2019. This peaked in 2020 at 71.3% before declining to 68.3% in 2023. Amid an increasing number of Oregon kids falling behind on their vaccines, PCV has the lowest up-to-date rate among two-year-olds as of 2023, OHA said (Courtesy Oregon Health Authority.) Among vaccines in the recommended early childhood series, OHA said PCV which protects against pneumococcal disease had the lowest up-to-date rate, driving down the series completion date. Officials said this may be because of the four doses required to complete the PCV vaccine series and because the vaccine is not required for school. OHA notes some people may face barriers to vaccine access such as challenges getting an appointment at a local clinic or if they dont have insurance. Others may delay or forgo vaccination for religious or personal reasons. With 68% of kids vaccinated in 2023, OHA said they want all kids to receive immunizations noting some states have achieved vaccination rates greater than 95%. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Organized theft crew from New York arrested for stealing over-the-counter medications around Fairfax County FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) Fairfax County police arrested an organized theft crew from New York. The group had gone on a spree, stealing over-the-counter medications. The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) said it received a tip about a group of two men and a woman who had been targeting businesses around the county that sold over-the-counter medications. 3 townhomes damaged, 4 displaced by Woodbridge fire Since October 2022, Omovudu Iyesi, 49, Anthony Manley, 19, and Christen Jenkins Doyle, 20, have stolen over $120,000 in items, according to FCPD. On May 18, the crew returned to the county, and officers responded to a Safeway on Burke Centre Parkway for larceny reports. Officers found the trio nearby in a car and arrested them. Their charges include: Iyesi: 28 counts of grand larceny 7 counts of larceny with intent to sell 5 counts of conspiracy to commit larceny Petit larceny Manley: 2 counts of grand larceny 2 counts of larceny with intent to sell Conspiracy to commit larceny Jenkins Doyle: Grand larceny Larceny with intent to sell Anyone with information was asked to call (703) 246-7800 or submit a tip on the P3 Tips mobile app. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Prior to Tuesdays Charlotte City Council meeting, leaders from various towns surrounding Charlotte released a statement opposing a far-reaching transportation agreement that has taken months to coordinate. The line item the Metropolitan Transportation Commission wanted to see addressed was a commitment from Charlotte to repair so-called orphan roads. Theyre roads that arent maintained to the standards of either state or local government and have fallen through the cracks of responsibility. One example is Grand Palisades Parkway near Lake Wylie. Were saying that we are going to consider putting money aside to go in and complete a private road that a business neglected to complete, said At-Large Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield. Vehicle towed, multiple citations after Charlotte street takeovers City Council approved the new agreement, with only Councilman Malcom Graham opposing. Discussions at the meeting took a detour. There was development that took place in the expectation that it would be annexed under involuntary annexation, so the road was built to city specifications, and not to state specifications, District 7 Councilman Ed Driggs explained. Then, the legislature outlawed involuntary annexation, and annexation didnt occur. For that reason, the N.C. Department of Transportation will not take responsibility for the road until it meets state standards, putting the neighborhoods homeowners association and the city in a bind. Grand Palisades Parkway is an emergency route for the Catawba Nuclear Station and is used heavily by residents and students headed to school. City Manager Marcus Jones suggested an option outside the Interlocal Agreement of using new sales tax money toward those repairs. A provision dealing with orphan roads doesnt have a place, in my professional opinion, in this agreement, Jones said. Leaders seeking collaboration The revised transit agreement now heads to commissioners and other town boards for consideration. The Metropolitan Transit Commission met Wednesday afternoon. Area leaders expressed the importance of working together toward an agreement despite having some diverging interests. Matthews Mayor John Higdon agreed with Grahams statement that the $500,000 in discretionary funds was redundant. Those would be used to fund studies or commission reports related to the Charlotte Area Transit System. We are better with regards to discretionary amount with new verbiage as we were with old verbiage. We still have to go to city council and say, can we do this please, Higdon said. I dont think that engenders collaboration or trust. MTC Board Chair and County Commissioner Leigh Altman said the new agreement comes out of the issues like an undisclosed derailment, seen at CATS under previous leadership. The current document was agreed upon in 2005. After all these problems, we moved to take decisive action to make sure we could bring order and accountability and safety, Altman said. When the city of Charlotte unilaterally overruled, in my belief, improperly without unanimous vote for a third-party transit investigation, it revealed to this partnership for first time, if we ever disagreed with city of Charlotte, that Charlotte was going to act in a way that would render this body powerless. Altman reminded the board that the agreement was entered into in good faith and with the understanding that Charlotte has different priorities from the surrounding Mecklenburg towns. I know whenever a settlement occurs, if no one is 100 percent happy, then this probably a good settlement, because everybody has to meet halfway, she said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Fresno County CalFire units are battling the Mateo Fire, a 750-acre fire north of Mendota, according to firefighters on Wednesday. Fire officials say they responded to a fire on the north side of Highway 180, north of Mendota Wildlife Regufe on Wednesday afternoon. On Wednesday evening, firefighters say the initially reported 500-acre fire grew to 750 acres. Over 20 firefighters are on the scene battling the fire, as well as six fire engines and a water tender. No structures are threatened as of Wednesday evening, firefighters report. CalFire officials say one of the difficulties they have been facing is the access to the fire, given that the thick and tall grass is making it hard to drive through. As of Wednesday evening, there is no information regarding the cause of the fire. Officials say the fire is 50% contained. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. Overland Park officer who resigned over spending scandal investigation got new job nearby A sergeant who resigned from the Overland Park Police Department amid allegations that he and three others had misused funds is working for another Kansas agency. The Douglas County Sheriffs Office hired Deputy Tim Tinnin on Jan. 8, according to records from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Trainings, or CPOST, which certifies officers in the state. Prior to that, Tinnin had been with the Overland Park Police Department since January 2011. In May 2022, he and three other officers were placed on paid administrative leave during an investigation about questionable monetary benefits they received while board members of the Overland Park Police Officers Foundation. The allegations came to light when new foundation leaders ordered an audit, which found unauthorized payments to Tinnin, Sgt. Brandon Faber, Officer Brad Heater and Sgt. Rachel Scattergood. The audit found the board members had benefited from educational scholarships in violation of the organizations bylaws. Money went directly into two of the members pockets instead of the academic institutions, a move auditors found suspicious. Board members received other payments, earmarked for assisting families in financial distress following catastrophic injury or death, and used them for dental and veterinarian bills, the audit found. The officers received $27,000 for their own benefit, according to the audit. Findings were submitted to the Johnson County District Attorneys Office in spring 2022. Despite clear evidence the officers violated organizational bylaws concerning self-dealing and self-enrichment, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said in October 2023 that his office could not prove the officers knowingly collected money for unauthorized expenses or misused funds on purpose. He largely attributed that conclusion to a lack of record-keeping by the foundations leadership and its vague governing document. The officers also wiped their electronic devices clean of any data, the DAs office said. While charges werent filed, Howe added, We didnt say there wasnt shadowy behavior, because there was. The four officers resigned in December while the city was investigating them for potential policy violations. When an officer leaves a department, paperwork is submitted to the state. Employers select whether the officer voluntarily resigned, resigned under questionable circumstances or was involuntarily terminated. Meg Ralph, a spokeswoman for the City of Overland Park, said they marked that the four officers resigned under questionable circumstances. George Diepenbrock, a spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, said deputies go through a background investigation before receiving an offer. The office examined the foundation funds case, including interviewing individuals with intimate knowledge of the details of the investigation, Diepenbrock said. Their overwhelming belief was that Deputy Tinnin specifically had done nothing wrong and faced no criminal charges because of it, he said. Based on the outcome of the external information we obtained, Tinnin was hired as a DGSO patrol deputy in January, and since employment he has been an exemplary employee. Scattergood was hired by the Gladstone Police Department in February, but was no longer employed there by the end of the month. Faber and Heater are not working in law enforcement in Kansas, according to CPOST records. Pacific to pay over $430k in former professors suit, found not liable for discrimination, defamation (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) Pacific University is on the hook for a $436,000 verdict the latest development in the Forest Grove institutions ongoing legal battles. On Thursday, May 16, a jury found Pacific liable for inflicting emotional distress in the case of Richard Paxton, a now-deceased professor who claimed he was illegally ousted from his position. The school, however, was not found liable for employment discrimination or defamation, which the lawsuit also alleged. We must bring excitement: Portland City Council hears Keller proposals The initially $1.3 million lawsuit emerged after complaints were made against the tenured professor in 2020. Robin DesCamp, Paxtons attorney, said he was given an ultimatum: resign or face a Title IX investigation that could end in his termination. Pacific officials said the school received numerous complaints regarding comments Paxton made in the classroom about gender, gender identity, race or other protected characteristics. A Washington County Circuit Court judge declined to fully grant Pacifics motion to drop all the charges in July, choosing to dismiss the breach of contract, retaliation based on discrimination and Workplace Fairness Act violation claims. The judge also removed Jennifer Yruegas Pacifics former Title IX coordinator and associate vice president of human resources, who currently serves as the dean of the College of Business and general counsel from being a personal defendant in the case. Read more at PortlandTribune.com The Portland Tribune and its parent company Pamplin Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Paddling and fossil beds: Get outside this weekend with these Indiana events The calendar flips to June on Saturday and with that change comes Indiana's summer season, bringing plenty of outdoor opportunities for Hoosiers. State and local parks around Indiana are hosting bird-watching hikes, foraging tips, and paddling adventures. Theres even a B.I.N.G.O. game at O'Bannon Woods State Park with prizes. The first weekend in June might see some wet weather, but don't let that deter you. The National Weather Service in Indianapolis is predicting a slight chance of showers Saturday with highs in the upper 70s. Sunday will see a chance of thunderstorms with highs right around 80 degrees. IndyStar's Things to Do: Full list of events around Indianapolis Get out on the water this weekend or enjoy bird watching and other outdoor activities around Indiana. See snakes and beavers, ID leaves on Friday Snakes Alive, 11 a.m. at Chain O'Lakes State Park in Albion: Meet the parks naturalist outside the Nature Center and learn about native snakes and why they are so beneficial to Hoosiers. Discover the Fossil Beds Hike, 1 p.m. at Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville: Discover the wonders of the fossil beds with a park naturalist. See Devonian marine fossils and discuss how they lived, what they ate, how and why they were preserved. This free hike lasts 60 minutes. Meet on deck. Please wear shoes suitable for walking on rocks. Free fossil brochure will be provided to all participants. Leaf ID Hike, 2 p.m. at Potato Creek State Park in North Liberty: There are many ways to identify a tree. On this hike, learn how to identify trees based on their leaf shape. Meet at Quaking Aspen shelter to begin the one-mile hike on Trail 3. Leave it to Beavers, 2 p.m. at Chain O'Lakes State Park in Albion: Put on a detective cap and investigate what makes beavers so great at what they do, and how they influence biodiversity. Join the group at the historic Stanley Schoolhouse for a hike around Finster Lake and search for clues. Fun for all ages. Night Sky Wellness Walk, 9 p.m. at Prophetstown State Park in West Lafayette: Join a naturalist for a guided night walk. During this leisurely stroll, hikers fine tune their senses using sight, smell and sound. End the walk and stargaze with a telescope. Bring a blanket to lounge and enjoy. This walk is about 0.5 miles in length and takes place on flat, level ground. Meet at the Meadow View Picnic Area. Hit the water or clean up trails on Saturday Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society Bird Walk, 8 a.m. at Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton: Any level of birder can join the Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society leader and naturalist Dan Barriball at the Wilson Shelter parking lot for this 2-3 hour walk to look for spring bird migrants. Registration is required and participants must sign-up here: eventbrite.com/e/june-spring-migration-bird-walk-tickets-875787563177 Paddle Prowl, 9 a.m. at Chain O'Lakes State Park in Albion: Meet at boat rental for a family-friendly paddle hike. Dont forget your water shoes for this leisurely paddle prowl. You can rent a kayak or canoe, or you can bring your own for this tour. Non-motorized lake permit required. Trail Troopers, 10 a.m. at Holliday Park in Indy: Join a group of dedicated volunteers, the Trail Troopers, for a morning of cleanup, trash removal and weed wrangling. Meet in the Nature Center auditorium before hitting the trails. Register here: hollidaypark.org/volunteer Plants in History Walk, 10 a.m. CT at Harmonie State Park in New Harmony: Walk through time on a short section of Trail 2. Meet at the Nature Center at 10 a.m. central time and travel back hundreds of years in a matter of minutes. Learn about historic uses for plants and trees. Cedar waxwings, scat identification and more on Sunday Guided Hike, 8 a.m. CT at Willow Slough FWA in Morocco: The hike will follow the Savannah Loop in Area 14 of the property that provides 1.25- and 2.5-mile trail options. On the hike, view oak savannah habitat, wildlife and wildflowers. The hike will start at the Area 14 parking lot (14P) located off of N 600 W (approximate coordinates: 41.027360, -87.509054). The parking lot is just northwest of the Willow Slough FWA Shooting Range turn off, 1631 N 600 W, Morocco, IN 4796. Woodpecker Walk, 10 a.m. at Fort Harrison State Park in Indy: Join a park naturalist to learn about the variety of woodpeckers that may be heard and seen throughout the park. Meet at the Delaware Lake parking lot with water and comfortable shoes for a 2-mile hike. Binoculars optional but highly recommended. Nature B.I.N.G.O., 11 a.m. at O'Bannon Woods State Park in Corydon: Stop by the Hickory Hollow Nature Center to pick up a B.I.N.G.O. sheet. Take it outside and explore the surrounding areas to see if you can find items on the list to make a B.I.N.G.O. Bring your completed B.I.N.G.O. sheet back to the Nature Center for a prize. Discover the Fossil Beds Hike, 1 p.m. at Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville: Discover the wonders of the fossil beds with a park naturalist. See Devonian marine fossils and discuss how they lived, what they ate, how and why they were preserved. This free hike lasts 60 minutes. Meet on deck. Please wear shoes suitable for walking on rocks. Free fossil brochure will be provided to all participants. Tracks and Scat, 1 p.m. at Fort Harrison State Park in Indy: Have you ever wondered who's leaving those footprints in the woods? Have you ever questioned who's leaving scat in the bushes? Join the park naturalist in the program room for a presentation over common tracks and scat you might see throughout the park. Program will last 30 minutes, and a snack is provided. Meet a raptor, 2:30 p.m. at Eagle Creek Park in Indy: Join a naturalist at the Ornithology Center to discover the world of raptors! You will meet one of the parks Raptor Ambassadors and see a special training demonstration. These Sunday programs usually feature Freyja the Peregrine Falcon. Most programs will be outside, weather permitting. If the program is moved indoors, it will be limited to the first 5 people. Please call ahead if you plan to bring a large group: 317-327-BIRD. Free with park admission. Foraging 101, 3 p.m. at McCormick's Creek State Park in Spencer: Join Naturalist Jessie at the Trailside Shelter to learn about native summer edibles. Learn about DNR policy on foraging on public lands and how to sustainably harvest. Waxwing Walk, 3 p.m. at Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville: The end of May and early June is peak viewing for beautiful Cedar Waxwings. Bird watching enthusiast Mike Gibson will take participants to places where these birds feed. Bring binoculars or a camera with a telephoto lens. Free program meets in the picnic area. Wilderness adventure later in June Central Indiana Wilderness Club, 6:30 8:30 p.m. at Holliday Park in Indy: Founded in 1982, Central Indiana Wilderness Club is a nonprofit volunteer-run club organized for the purpose of providing education and affordable wilderness adventures. Meetings are open to the public, ages 16 and up. Visit www.ciwclub.org for more information. No registration required. Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Explore Indiana outdoors this first weekend in June with these events TOPEKA (KSNT) Convenor for Topeka United: A Movement Karen Hiller and Program Manager for Mosaic Partner Pairs Patrice Newton discussed the Kaw Valley River Float and Mosaic Partner Pairs on the 27 News Morning Show. Hiller spoke on the formation of Topeka United: A Movement and a program its working on called Mosaic Partner Pairs. Newton said the program pairs people who are similar on the inside and different on the outside. After being paired people will be asked personal questions that are shared with their partner. It creates a safe place for you to share experiences and you agree to listen to one another and you also agree to share and that you have to be authentic with each other, Newton said. From there, you are directed to go deeper into conversation. Orange maggots swarm into northeast Kansas farm fields Newton said some conversations might deal with topics that are hurtful or joyous. For more information on Mosaic Partner Pairs click here. You can watch the full interview above. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. PRAGUE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states gathered in the Czech capital on Thursday for a two-day informal meeting to discuss support for Ukraine and preparations for the July NATO summit in Washington D.C, the United States. Speaking at a joint press conference with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he expects leaders in Washington to make important decisions in three areas: strengthening NATO's defenses, deepening the alliance's partnerships, and increasing support for Ukraine. Fiala said that the Czech Republic had fulfilled its commitment to spend 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense this year and will continue to do so in the coming years. He also said his country will continue to supply Ukraine with ammunition into next year. Also on Thursday afternoon, several dozen anti-war demonstrators gathered in Prague's Hradcany square to protest the Czech Republic's involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Protesters carried drums and banners with slogans such as "Stop guns", "Let's get out of NATO" or "Stop NATO", the Czech News Agency reported. Palmiter cross-examination resumes in missing Cornelius girls case CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Cross-examination resumed Thursday morning in the trial for the stepfather of the young missing girl from Cornelius Madalina Cojocari who has not been seen since 2022. Palmiter claims he didnt know Madalina was missing Cojocari has been missing since November of 2022 and her stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, has pleaded not guilty to failure to report a missing child. On Wednesday the prosecution hammered Palmiter on how he could have been distant from Madalina and her mother and his wife while his family members were helping bring them over from Moldova to the United States. Prior to that, the defense Wednesday morning went day by day with Palmiter in his testimony from November 21 when Madalina was last seen in public, until Diana went to her school on December 15 and reported her daughter missing after 23 days and only after school authorities started asking questions. Palmiter said Diana grew more distant with him, confronting him about taking her things and accusing him of calling the police on her. Judge Osman is presiding over the case. Attorney Brandon Roseman is representing Palmiter. Attorney Austin Butler is prosecuting the case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Panther road kills are up this year. Why that is a good indicator for the state animal Maybe 2023 was a hiccup for Florida panthers. Road kills were at a worrisome low last year, but this year the number of road kills appears to be on pace with an average year. It's never good when a panther is hit and killed by a vehicle, but biologists have long said that more road kills can be an indicator of a strong population. There must be more cats in south Florida now than years ago as there are more road kills, the theory goes. Thirteen Florida panthers were hit and killed by vehicles through May 4, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, records. By comparison, four panthers had been hit by cars through the same period in 2023, and the entire year produced 13 road kills. Twenty-six panthers were hit and killed by cars in 2022, according to FWC records, while 21 panthers were killed on Florida roads in 2021. "We prefer to look at long-term trends when it comes to these (road kill) data," said FWC panther biologist Dave Onorato. "Well have a better sense of (whether) last year was an anomaly or not by the end of this year (and) when compared to previous years." The low number last year prompted concerns among panther support groups as some feared that fewer road kills might mean there are fewer panthers alive to be hit. If this year's rate continues, the total number of deaths will be just shy of 30, which is about average for the past six or eight years, according to FWC records. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists release a rehabilitated panther in the Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area in Palm Beach County. Thirteen panthers have been hit and killed by cars through May 4, according to FWC records. Most panther deaths this year have occurred in Collier County Six of this year's panthers were hit and killed in Collier County, with four deaths recorded in Hendry County, two in Glades and one in Broward. The population is threatened by habitat loss to development and neurological disease that sprang up in panthers and bobcats in 2017. Florida panthers were nearly wiped out of the Sunshine State, and by the 1990s there were only a few dozen cats roaming the historic Everglades. More: Can a wild cat replace the donkey? Florida Democrats hope new mascot brings good luck A male panther roams the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed on Feb.3, 2020. Males are often found north of Caloosahatchee River, but females stay further south. A second female panther with a young kitten was recently documented in Charlotte County. Panther advocates say this is good news for the recovering species. Texas cougars were introduced to Florida to increase genetic diversity But in 1997 the FWC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service introduced seven female Texas cougars into the Florida population to increase genetic diversity. Historically, Florida panther and Texas cougars exchanged genetics as their ranges connected in area like Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. So adding the Texas females did not change the Florida panther, although it is considered an endangered sub-population of the larger cougar family. Where often the deaths are attributed to starvation, intraspecific aggression (panthers killing panthers), and unknown causes, vehicle deaths are the only listed cause of death this year, according to FWC records. VIDEO: Whats making Florida panthers walk with a wobble? Panther, bobcat neurological disease still a concern A deadly neurological disease sprang up in panthers and bobcats in 2017, and scientists are still trying to understand the cause. Some panthers and bobcats have suffered and died from feline leukomyelopathy, of FLM, in the past several years, and cats here are still being documented with the disease. FWC biologists have tested for a litany of causes but have found no reason for the disease, which causes the cats to stagger and drag their hind quarters. "FLM is still a concern," Onorato said. "We continue to document cases but there has not been a noticeable uptick in FLM recently." This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida panther dying at typical rate this year from vehicle collisions A parade of planets is marching into the sky Monday morning. This is how you can see it A parade of planets is slowly marching into our night sky, and you might have the chance to view it firsthand early Monday morning. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming planetary alignment and how to see it. Planets on parade On Monday, June 3, a six-planet planetary alignment will take place. A planetary alignment, according to Star Walk, is an event where several planets gather closely on one side of the sun at the same time. A planetary parade is essentially when several planets are present in the sky in one night. The upcoming planetary alignment/parade will feature Jupiter, Mercury, Uranus, Mars, Neptune, and Saturn. The crescent Moon joins the planets Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in alignment over Melbourne Beach Friday morning, June 24, 2022. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK Where and when to see the parade of planets Although the best day to view the alignment may differ depending on your location, the best day for the New York area will be June 3, per Star Walk. However, the alignment is not limited to a single day and could extend several days before and after June 3. According to NASA, the best time to see it will be about one hour before sunrise looking east in the sky. The sun will rise at 5:25 a.m. in North Jersey on Monday morning, according to The Weather Channel, which, as of Thursday morning, was predicting showers on Sunday night and partly cloudy skies on Monday morning. How to see the parade of planets Don't stress if you don't have a telescope or fancy equipment on hand as three of the planets will be visible with the naked eye including Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter. However, it is important to note that tall buildings or high mountains could hide the planets from view. This is what you should look for to spot each of the six planets, according to Star Walk: Saturn will have a yellowish tint and will be located within the constellation Aquarius. Mars will have a reddish tint and will be located in the constellation Pisces. NASA advises skywatchers to look for Mars between Saturn and the crescent moon. Jupiter will be visible at dawn on the eastern horizon and will be the brightest celestial object in the sky aside from the moon. Mercury may be visible to the naked eye but will be more difficult to see as it is closer to the sun. It will be located in the constellation Taurus. Uranus and Neptune will only be visible through high-powered binoculars and will also be located in the constellation Taurus. When is the next planet parade? If you don't have a chance to view the upcoming planetary parade, do not worry! There are several other planetary alignments that will take place in 2024 and 2025 and will feature five to seven planets. Here are all of the upcoming planetary alignments, according to Star Walk: Aug. 28, 2024: a large morning alignment of Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune Jan. 18, 2025: a large morning alignment of Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn Feb. 28, 2025: a full evening alignment of Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars Aug. 29, 2025: a large morning alignment of Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn While it is still quite a few years away, a highly anticipated planetary alignment will take place on Sept. 8, 2040, when five naked-eye planets including Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will align in the sky and the crescent moon will be positioned between Venus and Saturn. The next time that all of the solar system's planets will gather on one side of the sun will be on March 15, 2161. Skywatching basics from NASA The term "skywatching" is defined by NASA as "observing the ever-changing variety of sights in the sky, at night in particular, but also in the day." According to NASA, some of the most common skywatching sights that you can see include: Planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are easily observed without a telescope Stars: Most of the brightest stars are relatively nearby in space The moon Meteor showers: Tiny bits of rock and dust shed by comets and asteroids in debris trails as they orbit our sun Eclipses: Solar and lunar Comets: Dusty, icy visitors that occasionally visit and do not stick around long Galaxies Satellites: Easiest to spot around dawn and dusk Auroras: Usually enjoyed by those who live at higher latitudes toward the north or south, although they were recently visible from New Jersey While you do not need fancy equipment to observe most of these things, a pair of binoculars or a small telescope can open up tons of possibilities. When it comes to location, NASA recommends that you get away from bright city lights. Wide open areas such as large fields or the shore of a lake or ocean make for good viewing spots. You can check out science.nasa.gov/skywatching/#h-what-to-look-for-in-the-sky for additional details about skywatching, skywatching tips, daily guides, and more. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: How to see the Parade of Planets June 3 The Broward School District is sharing more details about this summers demolition schedule for the Parkland school building where 17 students and staff members were killed in a 2018 massacre. The structure at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, known as the schools 1200 building, will be demolished within weeks. The demolition process, set to start either June 13 or June 14, is expected to take several weeks, the district said Thursday. Itll start just days after the last day of school, which is June 10. We understand this is a sensitive and difficult time for the families of those who were killed, those who were injured, and all of those who are forever impacted by the tragedy on February 14, 2018, the school district said in a statement. We will continue to keep the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School community informed and updated as we navigate this process together. The building will be taken down by pieces, a schools spokesperson said in early May. Aware that the three-story 1200 building would be removed this year, a select number of people, including some Congressional members and federal officials, have been inside the building in recent months. They walked past abandoned teddy bears, shattered glass, posters, yearbooks. The mass shooting happened on Valentines Day 2018, when a sole gunman entered the campus with an AR-15-style rifle and opened fire. In 2022, the killer was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash One last lawsuit. At least for now. The families of the slain and injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have waited six years to close out all the unfinished business that came after a gunman turned the hallways of the freshman building into his personal killing field. They sat through two criminal trials, neither ending the way they wanted. They settled two major lawsuits one against the FBI for its failure to follow up on warning signs that the gunman was about to go on a shooting rampage, the other against the school district for its inability to recognize the risk the gunman posed. The last lawsuit stemming from the 2018 mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas has no scheduled start date. There are 52 plaintiffs, representing the families of the 17 students and staff who were killed, the 17 injured, and 18 families of students who were terrorized and psychologically traumatized but not physically wounded. The defendants are the Broward Sheriffs Office and three men working at the school who, according to the plaintiffs, could have done more to stop the shooter and save lives. Four months ago, Broward Circuit Judge Carol Lisa Phillips rejected a motion to dismiss the case against School Resource Officer Scot Peterson and campus monitors Andrew Medina and David Taylor. That decision is under appeal. BSO is still the only agency that failed our families that has yet to have any accountability for what happened and has refused any meaningful conversation with the families since the shooting, said Fred Guttenberg, father of slain victim Jaime Guttenberg. The school district and FBI accepted responsibility years ago. As of right now, no hearings are set on the case. Its possible the building where the shooting happened will be demolished before the parties are back in the same room. Plaintiffs lawyers say they want the case to continue while an appeals court reviews Phillips ruling. But no motion has been filed and no date has been set for Phillips to consider it. Its not clear why the Broward Sheriffs Office didnt settle the case at the same time the Broward School Board did. State law requires the Legislature to authorize any legal settlements over $300,000. For the Parkland plaintiffs, that would have meant $300,000 split 52 ways, averaging $5,769 per person. But the school district sidestepped the law by characterizing the shooting as a civil rights infraction, which permitted them to authorize a $26 million payment whose distribution could take the severity of the injuries into account. Records in the remaining civil case show no indication that the Broward Sheriffs Office is even considering this approach. If the plaintiffs prevail and a jury awards more than $300,000, it will be up to the state Legislature to authorize the larger payment through whats known as a claims bill. In a statement posted on the agencys website, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said deputies are better trained and more prepared, leveraging technology, utilizing resources and consistently readying our first responders to protect our schools. The agencys Threat Management Unit has investigated more than 4,000 potential incidents and made 300 arrests since 2019, and its Real Time Crime Center uses school cameras to provide live feeds to first responders reporting to schools, according to Tonys statement. Neither has been tested in real life on the level of the Parkland shooting. The gunman, Nikolas Cruz, is serving 34 consecutive life sentences in state prison. Peterson, the armed deputy who was on site when the shooting began and criticized for not entering the 1200 building to find the gunman, was found not guilty of child neglect charges. He is retired and living out of state. School district officials have said they are planning to demolish the massacre site when the school year ends. The last day of classes is June 10. Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Gov. Kevin Stitt announced on Thursday a new partnership with Google that will provide over 10,000 Oklahoma residents with free AI training. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) Saying that artificial intelligence training will be key to the future of Oklahomas workforce, Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday announced the state has partnered with Google to offer residents a free 10-hour training. Stitt said one of his biggest priorities is building a workforce thats prepared for the future, and providing over 10,000 Oklahomans with free access to AI training will help do that. He said the Google AI Essentials Course teaches foundational skills, best practices and responsible usage at a time when artificial intelligence is expected to play a growing role in professions like health care, manufacturing, education and agriculture. Its a pathway for Oklahomans to take advantage of jobs of the future, Stitt said of the course. He said the training also could help prepare sidelined workers who are struggling to adjust to the changing technologies needed to thrive in todays workforce. Technology is truly reshaping every aspect of our lives right now, and our workforce has to adapt to this transition, he said. This partnership with Google will ensure Oklahoma is doing more than just keeping pace, Oklahoma is leading the charge. He said AI will help shrink state government, make it more efficient and help make employees jobs easier while they serve more Oklahomans. The opportunities for implementation are really endless, Stitt said. Google operates one of its largest data centers in Pryor. The company has invested about $4.8 billion in the state, he said. John Suter, Oklahomas chief operating officer, said the course takes fewer than 10 hours to complete and gives participants practical, hands-on experience using AI to help complete work tasks, videos, readings and interactive exercises. This will equip many Oklahomans with helpful skills in an emerging technology, he said. To sign up for the course, visit https://oklahoma.gov/omes/learnai.html SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Partnership between state, Google to give some Oklahomans free AI training appeared first on Oklahoma Voice. Pay what you can for electricity and gas? Why RI advocates are pushing for such a plan PROVIDENCE Advocates are again calling on the General Assembly to pass legislation that would allow low-income Rhode Islanders to pay only what they can afford for their utility bills. They say whats known as a Percentage of Income Payment Plan is needed to help customers of Rhode Island Energy, the states largest gas and electric utility, keep their lights, heat and air conditioning on and prevent them from being pushed into homelessness. People walk into my office every day ... and they simply cant pay their bills, Aaron Isaac, a policy analyst with the George Wiley Center, said at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. Right now, theres an affordability problem with utilities in Rhode Island, and its getting worse. A sign at Pawtucket's George Wiley Center, which advocates for policies to help low-income Rhode Islanders. Income-based rates are offered in other states The Pawtucket-based center has been at the forefront of a years-long campaign to create a statewide PIPP in Rhode Island that would offer discounted rates based on income levels to help prevent utility shutoffs. For a time in the 1980s, a pilot program was offered in Warwick, but it ended a few years after it began when funding ran out. Since then, discounted payment plans have been created in New Hampshire, Illinois, California, New Jersey, Maine, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The latter program was set up by PPL, the energy company that bought Narragansett Electric in 2022 and renamed it Rhode Island Energy. PPLs willingness to offer lower rates in Pennsylvania to qualified customers is one reason why supporters believe the time is right to do something similar in Rhode Island. Past attempts were stymied by National Grid, the previous owner of Narragansett Electric, which was opposed to any proposals for a PIPP. Rhode Island Energy, however, has taken a neutral position on the legislation introduced in the House by Rep. Scott Slater and in the Senate by Sen. Susan Sosnowski and indicated a willingness to work with utilities regulators on crafting a program. Our company is committed to working with policymakers, regulators, and other valued stakeholders to explore viable policy and regulatory pathways that support energy affordability for all customers, Nicholas Ucci, director of government affairs for Rhode Island Energy, said in written testimony submitted in the House. Climate advocates also support proposal for lower energy rates Whats also new is support from green energy advocates, who say that high electric rates are an impediment to people switching from fossil fuel-burning furnaces to cleaner electric heat pumps. Emily Koo, Rhode Island program director for the Acadia Center, said that transitioning buildings away from fossil fuels is key to reducing planet-warming greenhouse gases associated with buildings, which account for about a third of total emissions in the state. Without addressing the building sector, she said, Rhode Island wont reach net-zero emissions by 2050 as required by the Act on Climate, a state law enacted three years ago. She also said any concerns that lower rates might encourage people to use more energy could be addressed by capping the annual benefit or limiting lower rates to typical energy usage. Progress on both affordability and decarbonization must be made simultaneously and with haste, she said in written testimony. The Conservation Law Foundation supports a PIPP for similar reasons, as does the City of Providences Department of Sustainability. State regulators with the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers and the Public Utilities Commission raised no objections to the legislation. Members of the Rhode Island Business Coalition, including the East Greenwich and Greater Newport chambers of commerce, are opposed because of the prospect that the program would shift costs to other ratepayers and increase their bills. If bill passes, program would be designed with input from state utilities regulators Under the legislation: Qualifying customers would pay no more than 3% of their income on their electric bills and 3% on their gas bills If they use electricity for heating, too, then the cap would be 6% of their electric bills. Discounted pricing would be available to residential customers whose household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. While the bill would allow the discount to be covered by other ratepayers, on that issue and others it leaves it up to the Public Utilities Commission to make a final decision. At Tuesdays hearing, Sosnowski urged approval of the program. Its not just a handout, she said. Its helping people responsibly pay their bills. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI could adopt Percentage of Income Payment Plan for RI Energy customers The Pennsylvania SPCA is working to adopt out numerous dogs who formerly worked for the U.S. military and government Pennsylvania SPCA A former working dog in neglectful conditions, who is now searching for a home The Pennsylvania SPCA is looking for forever homes for 10 retired working dogs After their retirement, the dogs were taken in by a different organization, which did not provide the canines with proper care The dogs were found living in dirty cages without fresh water before they were moved to the Pennsylvania SPCA A Pennsylvania shelter wants 10 former working dogs to get a second chance at a good life. According to a May 24 Facebook post from the Pennsylvania SPCA (PSPCA), the retired canines all worked with the U.S. government or military when they were active working dogs. After retiring from their official capacities, a rescue organization offered to care for the dogs. The Pennsylvania SPCA added on social media that the organization that initially took in the retired working dogs promised the pets "a place to settle and find new forever homes." "But instead of receiving a blissful retirement, they were faced with the unfathomable. Respected dogs that once sacrificed everything for humankind were now subjected to a life of filth and neglect," the post shared. As a result, the Pennsylvania SPCA, which is now caring for the dogs, is seeking forever families for the canines who will be devoted to helping the dogs enjoy their remaining years. Nicole Wilson, the PSPCA's director of animal law enforcement and shelter services, told CBS News Philadelphia, "These guys need their retirement home, and we're looking to the public to help us with that." Related: Dogs in Abuse Case Up for Adoption After Rescue from Deplorable Conditions: 'You Couldn't Even Recognize Them' In its Facebook post, the PSPCA shared more about the conditions the dogs lived in after retirement and how the PSPCA came to care for the canines. "The Bureau of Dog Law conducted a routine inspection, they alerted our Animal Law Enforcement team with concerns. The dogs' kennels were covered in feces and blood and their water bowls were green from lack of cleaning. Bodies that were once lean and exuded strength now withered away with untreated medical conditions," the PSPCA wrote about the conditions the dogs were found in. Pennsylvania SPCA One the retired working dogs available for adoption through the Pennsylvania SPCA The post continued, "What was supposed to be a haven for these heroes ended up being the very opposite." According to the PSPCA, in February, the nonprofit took in close to 30 former working dogsGerman shepherds, Belgian Malinois dogs, and a Labrador retrieverfrom the Northumberland County facility. Of those dogs, 10 canines are still looking for homes. Several retired dogs recovered by the PSPCA have gone on to be adopted by their former handlers. Related: Delaware Makes Rescue Dog Official State Dog in 'Historic Moment' for Animal Welfare The PSPCA added in its Facebook post that the owner of the Northumberland County organization pled guilty to animal cruelty months after the dogs were found in neglectful conditions. The owner's kennel license was also revoked. "People start out on a path where they have the best intentions, but those intentions are lost when they are no longer able to say no and no longer able to see how they are creating harm now," Wilson told NBC10 of the deteriorated conditions within the shuddered rescue facility. 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. Wilson further noted to CBS, "For dogs that serviced us so well, the least we can do is provide them with the service of clean housing and medical care." "These dogs performed a service for us to keep the public safe, to keep our soldiers safe, and so our goal is to provide them with the retirement that they earned," she told the outlet, noting that the SPCA is seeking out potential adopters who have experience handling working dogs for the remaining canines. To learn more about the dogs and to support the Pennsylvania SPCA, visit the nonprofit's official website. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. (WHTM) Members of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard will assist with training Ukrainian forces as their war with Russia continues. According to the National Guard, the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, will mobilize to the Joint Multinational Training Center in Germany to assist with training. The brigade has been training for the last year for its mobilization. This instruction is foundational. We need to become the subject matter experts so that we can deliver this training to the Ukrainians, said Col. Christopher Costello, independence brigade commander. Knowing the process and the steps reduces fear and stress in Soldiers, ensuring they are confident in what they are doing, said Col. Stuart James, the First Army Senior Regular Army Advisor to the Pennsylvania National Guard. Thats why process is so important because we are all on the same page. If we all have a situational understanding, then were going to win. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Less than two weeks after its installation, the pier constructed by the United States to facilitate aid into Gaza has been completely removed after it broke apart in the water. The Pentagon admitted Thursday that the remaining parts of the $320 million boondoggle were dismantled after the pier was damaged in rough waters off the coast of Gaza on May 28, rendering it unusable. Israel has closed several land crossings, preventing aid from getting into the Gaza Strip, and the Israel Defense Forces have fired on food convoys and looked the other way as settlers have blocked aid from entering the remaining open land crossings. The U.S. has thus far resorted to aerial aid drops and, more recently, the manmade pier to facilitate aid, rather than demand Israel open up crossings and crack down on settler obstruction of aid delivery. Pentagon says IDF engineers have removed the remainder of the US floating aid pier. They say all sections of the pier have been removed and relocated for repair & that it should take over a week to rebuild. Even before the repairs, the pier cost an estimated $320 million. pic.twitter.com/rPwJETSpDp Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) May 30, 2024 Now, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, the pier is going offline for at least the next week as it is repaired and rebuilt in Ashkelon. Since its construction, the pier had allowed for only 1,000 tons of humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza. According to United Nations World Food Programme chief economist Arif Husain, northern Gaza alone requires 4,500 tons of food a month. At the beginning of May, prior to Israels Rafah offensive, the U.N. declared that northern Gaza had entered full-blown famine. The situation has worsened since then. Its clear that, even when operational, the pier had hardly made a dent in the dire situation. Now, battered, broken, and eventually towed ashore, it stands as a symbol of American fecklessness in the face of Israels assault on Gaza. Asked on Tuesday about the damage sustained by the costly pier, Singh said, If you want to characterize it as a failure, I leave it to you. MEXICO CITY, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Jose Alfredo Cabrera Barrientos, mayoral candidate for the municipality of Coyuca de Benitez, was assassinated Wednesday afternoon at the closing of his political campaign in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero, local media reported. The candidate of the PRI-PAN-PRD coalition died from gunshot wounds after an alleged hitman shot him multiple times at the end of his speech at the political event. Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection of Mexico reported on Tuesday that at least 22 candidates for elections scheduled for June 2 have been murdered in different regions of the country. People are going wild over a seemingly basic California house on the market for $2 million A dated-looking 1950s-era home in the tech-billionaire hot spot Palo Alto is listed for $2 million. Its listing agent posted a video tour that shocked people who said its look didn't match its price. The agent said the ask was typical in the area, where owners include Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Page. The adage "location, location, location" is especially true in California, where a property's ZIP code can significantly influence its price tag. Case in point: a newly listed 1950s-era home in Palo Alto that's causing a stir on social media not for its beauty but for its $2 million price tag. The front door of the home at 604 Chimalus Drive in Palo Alto. Courtesy of Olivia McNally/McNally and Associates The 1,134-square-foot three-bedroom home is in Palo Alto's Barron Park neighborhood, which the neighborhood-ranking site Niche describes as a hip residential area with a population of just under 5,000. One of the few original residences left on its block, the house has wood-paneled walls and vintage floral wallpaper, with floors covered in scuffed hardwood and green shag carpeting. When the property hit the market earlier this month, its listing agent, Olivia McNally, posted a video of it on Instagram, revealing its asking price would be $2 million. To McNally's surprise, her clip received 11.9 million views, 219,000 shares, and 40,500 comments. Many social-media users expressed disbelief that an outdated-seeming house in a modest-looking California neighborhood could fetch such a steep price. "You can buy 20 of those in the Midwest for the same amount," one user wrote. Another asked, "Is this a joke?" McNally, the real-estate agent in the San Francisco Bay Area who represents the home's seller, told Business Insider that the skeptics and naysayers simply didn't understand Palo Alto's real-estate market. The home's kitchen and living room. Courtesy of Olivia McNally/ McNally and Associates Palo Alto, a city of about 69,000 residents that's 35 miles southeast of San Francisco and known as the birthplace of Silicon Valley, lies at the center of the tech universe. Many firms, including VMware and HP, have their headquarters there, while others, including Amazon and Tesla, have major presences. It's also home to many billionaires, including the Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood. According to the US Census Bureau, Palo Alto's median household income as of 2022 was $179,707, above the US median household income of $74,580 in 2022. The presence of wealthy people, combined with an acute scarcity of housing inventory, has driven Palo Alto's property values to among the nation's highest. Redfin data shows the median sale price in Palo Alto reached $3.4 million in April, far above the US median sale price of $432,900 during the same time period. The home's only bathroom. Courtesy of Olivia McNally/ McNally and Associates Despite its condition, the home at 604 Chimalus Drive is incredibly desirable in part because of the land on which it sits. "In the Bay Area, there's hardly any land left," McNally told BI. "When land does become available, people will pay a premium for the dirt. That's really what they're buying here the dirt in this Barron Park neighborhood." McNally said that the home's seller inherited the property from her parents, who owned it for 59 years. Initially, she planned to keep it and rent it out. However, as managing the property became difficult, she thought it would be wiser to sell it and create generational wealth for her children. The home's backyard. Courtesy of Olivia McNally/ McNally and Associates The property has already attracted 10 offers, McNally said on Tuesday, nine of which are all cash and free of contingencies. With many offers surpassing the home's asking price, she foresees a bidding war and expects a swift sale. "When you find a property like this well under market value you can either do one of two things: either completely fix it up or tear it down and rebuild it," she said. "Obviously, a developer is going to rebuild it and sell it off to someone else." Correction: May 30, 2024 An earlier version of this story misstated where Apple's and Intel's headquarters are. They are in Cupertino and Santa Clara, respectively, not in Palo Alto. Read the original article on Business Insider Its going to be a white-knuckle hurricane season for many Floridians. Thats because meteorologists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict a record-number of storms will form. With so many storms forming, the chances increases of those storms becoming hurricanes and heading directly at us. And there is an extra layer of concern this year as all those storms form, a troubling perfect storm brewing for some Floridians. The unprecedented storms expected coincides with a growing number of Floridians who no longer have homeowners insurance either because they were dropped by their carrier or simply cant afford the exorbitant increases imposed on homeowners. The Insurance Information Institute estimated last year that 15% to 20% of Floridians have no insurance. The national average is 12 percent. The scenario is bleak. NOAA is predicting 17 to 25 named storms, with eight to 13 becoming hurricanes and four to seven becoming major hurricanes. Will hurricanes line up that way? Heaven help us. Thats because meteorologists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict a record-breaking season, with many storms forming, which increases the chances of those storms becoming hurricanes and heading directly at us. Thats always bad news, but there is an extra layer of concern this year, a troubling perfect storm for some Floridians. Thats because the record number of storms expected coincides with a growing number of Floridians who no longer have homeowners insurance either because they were dropped by their carrier or simply cant afford the exorbitant increases imposed on homeowners. The Insurance Information Institute estimated last year that 15% to 20% of Florida homeowners were forgoing coverage, more than the 12% national average, the Herald reported. The scenario is bleak. NOAA is predicting 17 to 25 named storms, with eight to 13 becoming hurricanes and four to seven becoming major hurricanes. Will hurricanes line up that way? Heaven help us. This surpasses the average season and is well above even the extremely active seasons in 2020 and 2022, when Southwest Florida was smacked by Hurricane Ian. With the potential for numerous powerful storms to aim at Florida, all residents need to prepare now for the challenges ahead. Needless to say, those likely most at risk are the estimated 600,000 Florida homeowners who have canceled their policies as insurers double and triple rates in some areas, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The average insurance premium cost for Florida homeowners is $6,000 a year, according to the institute. Thats more than triple the national average and about three times what Floridians paid on average in 2018. Without insurance, these families have no financial protection if their homes are damaged or destroyed by a hurricane. Youre on your own. As June 1 approaches, those still hunting for affordable coverage may find pickings even slimmer with insurers bracing for a torrent of claims. This hurricane season feels more like a horror movie than ever before. Rising seas and intensifying storms are fueled by the warm ocean waters that surround Florida. We can see that climate change is visibly and clearly impacting our weather like never before. Will it supersize our hurricanes? Heres where Floridians should get mad: Despite calling a special session on property insurance in 2022, the Florida Legislature has done little to lower premiums and residents are left to fend for themselves. If hurricanes hit multiple spots in Florida like a pinball, theyll have to step in and help. Lawmakers, too, should brace for this predicted mean season. All Floridians must take this warning seriously. Prepare your homes and finances the best you can for potential storm impacts now before disaster strikes. Those uninsured need to research assistance programs and start financial planning in case they take a direct hit. And Florida must find long term solutions to ensure the insurance market can still function with climate change. Half measures will no longer suffice major reforms are required to protect residents from future catastrophe. Lets hope this hurricane season is not a bitter lesson, but a warning. Click here to send the letter. An unidentified individual has died after getting caught or falling into the engine of a passenger jet departing from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the main international airport of the Netherlands, on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities have not yet released information on the victim or whether they were a passenger, employee, or someone else on the tarmac. The KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight had been scheduled to take off for BIllund, Denmark at 2:25 p.m., according to The Sun, when the person somehow became sucked into the engine of the Cityhopper Embraer E190. The aircraft was carrying as many as 104 passengers at the time, and witnesses reported hearing a "hellish noise" followed by plumes of smoke. "Many people saw it happen," one witness told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. The publication also spoke with an unnamed airport employee who claimed to have witnessed the person fall into the engine shortly after the crew had completed the safety instructions. The incident reportedly occurred during pushback, which is when the aircraft is pushed backwards from its parking position at the gate. Per the BBC, the victim may have been be an employee involved in pushing back the plane. Photos obtained by Dutch media likewise showed emergency services surrounding the plane on the apron, the area of an airport where aircraft are parked. "A horrific incident occurred today where a person became trapped in the engine of an aircraft," KLM said in a statement on Wednesday. "Our thoughts are with the loved ones and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this incident." "The Royal Military Police are currently conducting an investigation," the airport added. Pending the outcome of an investigation, a police spokesperson likewise said that it was too early to determine whether the incident was an accident or a possible death by suicide. While incidents like this are rare, they are not unprecedented. Earlier his year, employees at Salt Lake City International Airport discovered the body of a man inside a plane engine, though it was not running at the time. Other recent incidents involving employees getting sucked into plan engines on the tarmac include a death in San Antonio last June, and another in Montgomery in December 2022. A person has died after falling into an airplane jet engine at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Wednesday. An incident occurred this afternoon on the platform of Schiphol [Airport] where a person fell into a running aircraft engine and died, the Netherlands Royal Military police said in a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday. The police added that they are investigating the circumstances of the incident. It is not clear whether the person was a passenger or an employee. Passengers were on board the aircraft bound for Billund, in central Denmark, when the fatal incident occurred, a statement from air carrier KLM said. Dutch emergency services attend the incident on Wednesday. - Michel van Bergen/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The passengers and employees disembarked the plane and were given care, according to the military police. We are currently taking care of the passengers and employees who witnessed the incident at Schiphol, KLM added on Wednesday. Schiphol Airport, which is one of Europes busiest aviation hubs, described the event as a horrible incident in a post on X. Our thoughts go out to the relatives and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this, the statement said. Sadly, this is not the first example of someone dying in this manner. In December 2022, an airport worker died in an accident at the Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama after also being ingested into the engine of an aircraft. The aircraft, an Embraer 170 operated by regional carrier Envoy Air, was parked at the gate with the parking brake set when a ground support personnel was ingested, said government agency the National Transportation Safety Board. And in December 2015 an engineer at Mumbai airport died after being sucked into the engine of an Air India plane. The deadly incident happened as the Airbus A319 was being towed backward from the parking bay in preparation for taxiing out, an Air India official said at the time. The engineer who died was standing near the landing gear under the planes nose as he supervised the process. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The incident happened at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on Wednesday, May 29 Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty KLM Royal Dutch Airlines plane A person is dead after falling into the jets of a running engine at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, officials have announced. The incident happened on Wednesday, May 29, as a Cityhopper plane for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Flight 1341, an Embraer ERJ-190 jet, was preparing to fly to Billund, Denmark. The victims identity has not yet been released. Related: Ground Crew Member at Alabama Airport Killed After Being 'Ingested' Into Engine of Parked Plane Today there was a horrible incident where a person ended up in an airplane engine. Our thoughts go out to the relatives and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this. The Royal Military Police is currently conducting an investigation, Schiphol Airport said in a translated statement via X (formerly known as Twitter). A spokesperson for the Dutch military police, Marechaussee, told Reuters that it is too early into the investigation to say whether the persons death was an accident or a form of suicide. It is also not immediately known whether the individual was a passenger or an airport employee. Per the BBC and CBS News, the Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) showed a photo of the KLM airplane surrounded by fire trucks and ambulances on the scene next to the departure terminals. Getty The entrance of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol The Royal Military Police published a statement on X, writing, "A person fell into a running aircraft engine and died" and that "all passengers and employees of the flight in question have been disembarked and are being taken care of." "Terrible news about a fatal accident today at Schiphol," Denmark's Infrastructure Minister Mark Harbers wrote on X. Schiphol is said to be one of Europes busiest hub airports, with nearly 5.5 million passengers using the airport just last month. The airport recently made headlines after Nicki Minaj was arrested at Schiphol on suspicion of exporting soft drugs, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, May 25. She was on her way to Manchester, England, for the next show of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour when the incident occurred. 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. Several other plane engine-related deaths have made headlines in the U.S. in recent years including a mother of three named Courtney Edwards who was ingested by an engine while working at Alabama's Montgomery Regional Airport on Dec. 31, 2023. Earlier that year, 27-year-old David Renner died similarly at Texas San Antonio International Airport. However, a medical examiner ruled his death as a suicide. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. PFC. Jay Hansford: A WWII heros story through the eyes of his descendants (KSN/KODE) D-Day June 6, 1944. It marked the beginning of the end for Nazi oppression in France and the beginning of a mystery for a southeast Kansas family. It took decades, to answer their questions about a hero, who gave his life on the beaches of Normandy, France. The first time I remember having an awareness of grandpa jay was when I was nine years old, said Benjamin Newton, Jays great grandson. It was a trip to the D-Day Memorial in Virginia that Benjamin Jay Newton says led to an interest in WWII, family history, and the man he was named after: his great grandfather, Jay Hansford. And so my brother Caleb and I, we started digging into who grandpa Jay was and what role he had played in World War II. PFC. Jay Hansford, who previously, had been a mystery to the family was a member of the 146th Combat Engineer Battalion, Company A and one of the first men to land on the beaches of Normandy, on D-Day. For their unit, which was in the first wave, they were there to clear the obstacles on the beach. Before leaving for France, Jay was a native of Hockerville, Oklahoma. The oldest of eight children, Jay left school in his teens to take care of his family when his father died. He met his wife while working in the mines. His daughter, Zandra Marlow, says for Jay it was love at first sight. My mother and grandmother took the men some homemade ice cream and I guess it was said that when my dad saw my mother, he thought, Im going to marry her someday,' said Marlow. A promise he made good on. Zandra said it was only months later Jay learned he had been drafted to fight in World War II. His wife was able to stay with him while he was stationed in Texas. But soon he got his orders to ship out and learned she was pregnant. So it was decided Zandra would be born at home with family nearby. The trip to the bus station would be the last time his family ever saw Jay. Mom said that the soldiers had no problem at all getting rides. People would always pickup soldiers. So he got in a car, and the last time she saw him, he was waving to her out the back window of that car, said Marlow. On D-Day, Jays unit departed for Normandy and Omaha Beach. Zandra said that date will be one her family never forgets. Its the day my father died. Jays company was tasked with clearing obstacles the Germans had put in place to prevent the landings. He didnt make it very far onto the beach. He would have been one of the first men killed, said Newton. Benjamin said Jay had finished clearing his assigned area, and was going back to help others clear more when he died. Zandra tells us at first, he was simply listed as missing in action. Then later, I think it was around November, she got word that he had passed. Leaving behind a wife and a two month old daughter. While Zandra and her father never got to meet, her mother did send him a picture, taken just days after she was born, one he was proud to show to the men he served with. Zandras daughter, Teri Jo Newton said learning about the grandfather she never knew has, in a way, helped heal old wounds. I was fascinated, because of how its been a hole. Its a very strange feeling for your grandpa to be a 21-year-old in the dresser drawer, with just a few mementos, said Newton. The family has traveled to France, where Jay is buried and learned firsthand how grateful they are for the sacrifice made by Jay and so many others. They remember, and they care. I was just overwhelmed that they care that my grandpa gave his life. I never met anyone that really did, until I went over there, and they care immensely. Teri said Jay was a just a man with a job to do and thats what makes him a hero. He was just one boy with one baby girl, but he made a difference. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Photos show the final cruise of the USS Leyte Gulf as the US Navy phases out its cruiser fleet USS Leyte Gulf returned home after its last deployment, concluding nearly four decades of service. The guided-missile cruiser patrolled the South Atlantic to counter drug trafficking in the region. The ship is set to be decommissioned in 2027 as the Navy retires its aging Ticonderoga-class fleet. USS Leyte Gulf completed its final deployment earlier this month, concluding nearly four decades of service. The guided-missile cruiser returned to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 17 after three-and-a-half months in the South Atlantic on security operations and counter drug trafficking in the region. Photos of the Leyte Gulf's final deployment captured its port visits to Cuba and Brazil, its debut in the inaugural Fleet Week Miami, and the massive drug busts by the ship's crew. Norfolk, Virginia The Leyte Gulf departs Naval Station Norfolk for a deployment to the US 4th Fleet area of operations. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anderson W. Branch On January 28, the Leyte Gulf departed from Naval Station Norfolk to "maintain maritime security and interoperability" in the Caribbean and South America. The ship was crewed by more than 40 officers and nearly 350 sailors who "continued to display a high level of proficiency and readiness" while the Leyte Gulf spent the fall of 2023 in the Western Atlantic preparing for its last deployment, according to the Navy. "I admire the resiliency of the crew aboard Leyte Gulf," Vice Adm. Doug Perry, the commander of US 2nd Fleet, said in a statement. "Their commitment to the mission in the South Atlantic enhances maritime security through sustained naval presence." One final deployment Sailors wearing lifevests watch the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf depart Naval Station Norfolk. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anderson W. Branch The ship was named after the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle of World War II, in which the US Navy defeated the Japanese navy off the coast of Leyte Island in the Philippines. Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding, the Ticonderoga-class cruiser was delivered and commissioned in 1987. Propelled by four gas turbine engines, the ship can reach speeds of up to 32 knots and has a displacement of about 9,600 tons. The Leyte Gulf can carry more than 100 missiles for surface attacks, air defense, and anti-submarine warfare. It is also armed with deck guns, machine guns, and radar-guided air defense guns. The 567-foot vessel can also accommodate two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Sailors aboard the Leyte Gulf reel in the mooring lines as the ship departs US Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Najwa Ziadi On its way to the South Atlantic, the Leyte Gulf made a scheduled port visit to the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in mid-March. Sea-and-anchor evolution The commanding officer of USS Leyte Gulf, right, navigates the cruiser alongside the navigator as the ship arrives at US Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Najwa Ziadi Photos showed the crew aboard USS Leyte Gulf conducting a sea-and-anchor evolution, navigating and maneuvering the ship safely into Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. South Atlantic The Leyte Gulf is seen in the distance as sailors intercept a self-propelled semi-submersible drug smuggling vessel in the Atlantic Ocean. US Coast Guard Courtesy Photo/Released One of the main objectives of the Leyte Gulf's deployment to the South Atlantic was to keep "illegal drugs from reaching the shores of the US and its regional partner nations," according to a statement from the Naval Surface Force Atlantic. Patrolling the Caribbean US Coast Guard crew members patrol the Caribbean near USS Leyte Gulf. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Najwa Ziadi/Released With assistance from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50, known as the "Valkyries," and the US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment team, the cruiser intercepted three vessels in the Caribbean Sea less than a month after it deployed. Nearly 1,720 kilograms of cocaine were seized in the three interdictions throughout February, worth a total of more than $42 million, according to a Navy statement. On February 6, the Coast Guard boarding team and the Leyte Gulf's helicopter aircrew recovered 520 kilograms of cocaine. On February 15, they seized 600 kilograms of cocaine and another 600 kilograms of cocaine was recovered less than two weeks later. "Our Leyte Gulf team was ready when called upon to execute all three interdictions," Capt. Nathan Diaz, the ship's commanding officer, said in a statement. "The successful seizure of more than $42 million in illicit drugs is a testament to the interoperability of our partner nations, the Coast Guard and the Leyte Gulf team." A massive maritime drug bust US Coast Guard and US Navy sailors work together to intercept a narco-sub in the Atlantic Ocean. US Coast Guard Courtesy Photo/Released While patrolling in the Atlantic in late March, a Navy helicopter detected a 55-foot semi-submersible vessel likely smuggling narcotics about 132 miles off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago, according to court documents. The Coast Guard commandeered the boat and detained four individuals aboard. "Spotting this vessel was like finding a needle in the haystack," Lt. Cmdr. Travis Lee, Leyte Gulf's senior aviator, said in a statement. "I've been doing this for seven years and not once been able to find and acquire such an asset until now." In its largest drug bust of the Leyte Gulf's deployment, Navy and Coast Guard crews seized about 2,370 kilograms of cocaine more than 5,000 pounds in about 100 brick-shaped packages aboard the drug-smuggling boat, which was later used as a target for live-fire training. The four men three Colombian nationals and one dual French-Columbian were indicted on drug trafficking charges by a federal grand jury in Puerto Rico. Testing its unmanned fleet USS Leyte Gulf runs small boat operations with manned and unmanned vessels in the Caribbean during Operation Windward Stack. US Naval Forces Southern Command and US 4th Fleet/X USS Leyte Gulf ran small boat operations in support of the US Fourth Fleet's ongoing campaign to integrate unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) into the US Navy's manned fleet. Operation Windward Stack aims to achieve the US Navy's long-term vision of building a reliable hybrid fleet consisting of manned and unmanned vessels working together to conduct maritime operations. Last September, California-based drone company Saildrone first deployed 10 unmanned robotic boats, known as "Voyagers," off the coast of Key West, Florida, to test and refine the unmanned systems. It is difficult to spot drug-runners across the breadth of the Caribbean Ocean, especially when they are narco-subs whose bulk largely rides beneath the waves. More eyes, the thinking goes, will allow manned ships to detect more suspected drug runners and dispatch ships to intercept them. The Navy plans to use ocean drones to improve maritime domain awareness "by detecting and quantifying targets that pass within range of the Saildrones' sensors," according to a press release. The American Bureau of Shipping classifies the 33-foot Voyager as a light warship, which typically operates in riverine, coastal, or littoral environments. Aside from the Voyager, Saildrone operates two other ocean drone variants called the Explorer and the Surveyor. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Brazilian sailors from Frigate BNS Uniao tour USS Leyte Gulf following a passing exercise at sea in the South Atlantic. US Naval Forces Southern Command and US 4th Fleet/X While sailing through the South Atlantic, the Leyte Gulf made a scheduled port visit to Rio de Janeiro, where US and Brazilian sailors participated in joint training exercises. Moored at Base Naval do Rio de Janeiro for a four-day liberty port visit, US sailors worked with the Brazilian navy to "increase interoperability between the two Marines, enhance the level of training and readiness of their ships, and contribute to strengthening cooperation ties between the participating countries," according to the Brazilian navy. The @USNavy () cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55) has arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil () as part of its deployments with @Southcom. Her hull is looking a bit rough with rust, but its likely due to the long deployment to South America pic.twitter.com/w539ZYgUzh SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) April 11, 2024 The @USNavy () cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55) conducted exercises with the @marmilbr () frigate F Uniao (F-45) off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. pic.twitter.com/Xw991yuCio SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) April 24, 2024 Crews from the Leyte Gulf and Brazilian frigate Uniao conducted several operational exercises, such as "rapid response to the actual use of armaments; interrogation and approach with the ships' Visit and Inspection Groups; and flag communication," according to the Brazilian navy. The AH-11B Super Lynx, a Brazilian multi-role military helicopter, also ran landing drills aboard the Leyte Gulf. Miami, Florida USS Leyte Gulf arriving for Fleet Week Miami. WarshipCam/X The Leyte Gulf returned stateside to make a debut at the inaugural Fleet Week Miami, which previously took place in Fort Lauderdale for over three decades. For a week in early May, the vessel docked at Port Miami alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, and fellow Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Normandy. The Coast Guard's medium endurance cutter, USCGC Seneca, also made an appearance. A display of US naval power US Navy Master Chief Jason Kutsch, the Leyte Gulf's command master chief, stands in formation during a reenlistment ceremony at a Miami Marlins game. US Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Brett Norman More than 7,000 sailors and Marines participated in the Fleet Week festivities. "We've come through, flooding the zone, so that we can engage with the folks of Miami and let them understand what it's like to be part of the sea services," Navy Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander of the US Fleet Forces Command, said in public remarks. Norfolk, Virginia Sailors standby to assist the Leyte Gulf's return to Naval Station Norfolk. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Manvir Gill After three and a half months at sea, the Leyte Gulf returned to a warm yet bittersweet homecoming at Naval Station Norfolk on May 17. "I admire the resiliency of the crew aboard Leyte Gulf," Vice Adm. Doug Perry, commander of the US 2nd Fleet, said in a statement. "Their commitment to the mission in the South Atlantic enhances maritime security through sustained naval presence." 'A model for maritime teamwork' Lt. j.g. Alescia Austin greets her family as USS Leyte Gulf returns to Naval Station Norfolk. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Manvir Gill Perry commended sailors aboard the Leyte Gulf for completing the vessel's final deployment, calling the crew "a model for maritime teamwork" after conducting multiple drug interdictions alongside the Valkyries helicopter squadron and the Coast Guard. "This is a profound final chapter for one of the Navy's finest ships, and their crew should be proud of all they accomplished," Perry said. Diaz, the commanding officer of Leyte Gulf, echoed the sentiment, recalling the "generations of sailors who have manned the helm" of the storied warship. "This ship is full of history. Each period brings its own far-off journeys, along with generations of Sailors who have manned the helm," Diaz said in a statement. "Our last deployment was full of Sailors who made their own mark on the story of this great warship." "Though our namesake comes from a battle long ago, the US is still performing with a level of combat expertise and professionalism that we've always had as we protect the homeland," he added. Yorktown, Virginia USS Leyte Gulf arriving in Yorktown, Virginia. WarshipCam/X The Leyte Gulf briefly moored at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown for two days to offload ammo before returning home on May 22. Modernizing its cruiser fleet USS Leyte Gulf returns to Naval Station Norfolk, marking their final deployment. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Manvir Gill The Leyte Gulf is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2027 as the Navy retires its aging and costly Ticonderoga-class cruiser fleet. The Navy proposed retiring its aging and costly ships, like the Leyte Gulf, to grow its unmanned fleet and build more modern ships. The proposal drew some early opposition after Congress blocked attempts to retire ships ahead of schedule. The Navy faces yearslong delays on some of its highly anticipated shipbuilding projects due to supply chain issues and labor shortages. Lawmakers argued the aging yet operational ships should be kept in active service to prevent a capability gap in coming years, as adversaries like China and Russia grow their own naval fleets, threatening the US' global undersea dominance. China has already outpaced American shipbuilding, and the US Department of Defense said the country now has the largest navy in the world comprised of nearly 400 vessels and counting. Correction: May 31, 2024 An earlier version of this article misstated the length of its active service. It has been in the US fleet for approaching four decades. Read the original article on Business Insider Pittsburgh man sentenced for trying to export handguns to Haiti A Pittsburgh man was sentenced Thursday for his conviction of conspiring to violate federal export laws. >> Pittsburgh man pleads guilty for trying to export handguns to Haiti The Department of Justice said Derby Clerfe, 44, bought nine handguns and gave them to another person to export to Haiti. Export information required by federal law was not filled out. Clerfe was sentenced to one year of probation and received a $2,500 fine. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Construction worker dies in fall from scaffolding in Pittsburgh Fayette County woman charged with chaining intellectually disabled adopted daughter to bed Father of newborn charged for incident at Monroeville hospital VIDEO: Shadyside nursing home, rehabilitation center to close this summer DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The Will Rogers Courts complex is seen Wednesday. The complex has been the scene of three recent shooting and homicides in the last week. Law enforcement officials have arrested a man amid an investigation into a series of deadly shootings at a southwest Oklahoma City apartment complex. An 18-year-old, who according to police was known as "Psycho," was booked into the Oklahoma County jail Tuesday morning in connection with the killing of Anthony Ray Hines, 38. The Oklahoman is not naming the suspect because he has not been formally charged. Shortly after 2 a.m. on May 22, police were called to an apartment in Will Rogers Courts, a low-income apartment complex operated by the Oklahoma City Housing Authority near South Rotary Park. Officers found Hines dead from gunshot wounds on the front porch of the apartment off Westwood Boulevard. Another victim with gunshot wounds to his leg and thigh was found nearby and taken to a local hospital, but was treated and released. More: Oklahoma City police investigating 3 deadly shootings Witnesses told investigators Hines and several family members and friends were at the apartment celebrating a relatives high school graduation. The person that was arrested and at least three other people arrived as Hines was cooking on an outside grill, according to an arrest affidavit. A heated verbal altercation ensued before Hines was allegedly shot multiple times as he attempted to run into the house, according to the affidavit. Law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested the 18-year-old early Tuesday in Midwest City. Various witnesses to the shooting also alleged the man and his gang were already assaulting and robbing people at Will Rogers Courts, and that many of them feared retaliation if they identified him, according to the affidavit. Marcus Wren, 36, said Hines, his brother-in-law, had only recently returned to the area from Minnesota and was working as a cook at the Sheraton Hotel downtown. He was about to become a chef, man, Wren said. He was a good person. I knew he stayed out the way and didnt trip with people. He wasnt out here gang banging none of that. He was a cool cat. Related: Oklahoma City's largest public housing complex faces unknowns as federal funding slows Flowers are seen in a mailbox outside of an apartment at Will Rogers Courts on Wednesday. The apartment was the scene of a recent homicide Sunday. The arrest is the latest development in ongoing investigations after multiple deadly shootings at the same location in the past week. Two additional homicides occurred over Memorial Day weekend at the apartment complex. The first was reported about 5:30 p.m. Sunday at an apartment in the 1700 block of S Pettee Avenue, where 43-year-old April Coppock was found shot to death inside her home, only a block away where Hines died. Later that same night, police were again called to the complex, where another man had been shot to death about 10:30 p.m. The Oklahoma City Police Department had not publicly confirmed that man's identity by Wednesday afternoon. Officers also said they were uncertain if the 18-year-old arrested Tuesday was connected to the other two shootings. As of Wednesday afternoon, no other arrests had been made in connection to the shootings, and police were encouraging residents with any information to call the Homicide Tip-Line at 405-297-1200. Its still early in all of the investigations, said Sgt. Dillon Quirk, with the Oklahoma City Police Department. Were trying to see where all of the evidence and interviews will lead us. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: After 3 fatal shootings in 6 days at OKC apartments, suspect arrested Amidst a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, Chinese markets have shown resilience, particularly with recent governmental interventions aimed at stabilizing the housing sector. This context sets an intriguing stage for examining growth companies in China, especially those with high insider ownership which often signals confidence in the company's future from those who know it best. Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In China Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth KEBODA TECHNOLOGY (SHSE:603786) 12.8% 25.1% Suzhou Sunmun Technology (SZSE:300522) 37.6% 63.4% Zhejiang Songyuan Automotive Safety SystemsLtd (SZSE:300893) 20% 24.2% Arctech Solar Holding (SHSE:688408) 38.7% 24.5% Suzhou Shijing Environmental TechnologyLtd (SZSE:301030) 15.7% 54.9% Sineng ElectricLtd (SZSE:300827) 36.5% 39.8% Anhui Huaheng Biotechnology (SHSE:688639) 31.5% 28.4% Fujian Wanchen Biotechnology Group (SZSE:300972) 15.3% 75.9% UTour Group (SZSE:002707) 24% 33.1% Offcn Education Technology (SZSE:002607) 26.1% 65.3% Click here to see the full list of 405 stocks from our Fast Growing Chinese Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company based in China, focuses on the research, development, production, and sale of insulin analog active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and injections with a market capitalization of approximately CN28.24 billion. Operations: The company generates CN2.61 billion primarily from the development, production, and sales of insulin and related products. Insider Ownership: 35.7% Revenue Growth Forecast: 26.2% p.a. Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals has shown a significant turnaround, posting a net income of CNY 340.07 million for 2023 after a loss the previous year, with substantial revenue growth to CNY 2.61 billion. Insider ownership remains high, aligning interests with shareholders despite some dilution over the past year. Forecasts suggest robust future earnings growth at 45.77% annually and revenue growth outpacing the Chinese market significantly at 26.2% per year, although expected Return on Equity is relatively low at 9.7%. SHSE:603087 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Suzhou TZTEK Technology Co., Ltd specializes in the design, development, assembly, and debugging of industrial vision equipment in China, with a market capitalization of approximately CN6.54 billion. Operations: The company primarily focuses on the design, development, assembly, and debugging of industrial vision equipment in China. Insider Ownership: 15.4% Revenue Growth Forecast: 31.2% p.a. Suzhou TZTEK Technology, despite a recent net loss of CNY 38 million and a basic loss per share increase, maintains strong growth forecasts with earnings expected to grow by 27.86% annually. Revenue growth also surpasses the Chinese market average at 31.2% per year. However, the company's dividend coverage is weak, indicated by a dividend yield of 1.75% not well supported by cash flows. Notably, there has been no substantial insider buying or selling reported in the past three months. SHSE:688003 Ownership Breakdown as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Zhejiang Songyuan Automotive Safety Systems Co., Ltd. is a company that specializes in the manufacturing of automotive safety systems, with a market capitalization of CN6.78 billion. Operations: The company generates CN1.42 billion in revenue from its Auto Parts & Accessories segment. Insider Ownership: 20% Revenue Growth Forecast: 25.4% p.a. Zhejiang Songyuan Automotive Safety Systems Ltd. is poised for robust growth, with earnings expected to increase by 24.2% annually, outpacing the Chinese market's forecast of 23.1%. Revenue growth is also strong at 25.4% per year, significantly higher than the market average of 14%. Despite a modest dividend yield of 0.67%, which is not well covered by cash flows, the company's return on equity is anticipated to be high at 23.3% in three years. Recent financials show a substantial increase in net income and revenue compared to last year, reinforcing its growth trajectory. SZSE:300893 Ownership Breakdown as at May 2024 Next Steps Click through to start exploring the rest of the 402 Fast Growing Chinese Companies With High Insider Ownership now. Have you diversified into these companies? Leverage the power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to keep a close eye on market movements affecting your investments. Maximize your investment potential with Simply Wall St, the comprehensive app that offers global market insights for free. Seeking Other Investments? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years. Companies discussed in this article include SHSE:603087 SHSE:688003 and SZSE:300893. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Authorities arrested two parents accused of leaving their two children under 2 years old alone in their apartment for over an hour. 18-year-old Megan Bancroft and 21-year-old Justice Forsythe are charged with second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Bancroft was also charged with possession of a prescription drug. Officers responding to 345 Lake Avenue around 10:45 a.m. for a report of two children left unattended found a 5-month-old strapped in an infant swinging bed and a 1-year-old on the kitchen floor, according to Manchester Police. Investigators say both babies were unclothed and had visible bruises and marks on their bodies. Both children were taken to an area hospital for evaluation. The infants injuries were reportedly found to be serious and they were transported to a Boston hospital for further treatment. According to police, the apartment was in disarray with numerous household liquids, such as cooking oils and cleaning agents, on the floor, easily accessible to the children. A heat lamp was also allegedly turned on with a cord hanging to the side. Bancroft and Forsythe arrived at the apartment shortly thereafter. Police confirm that Bancroft is the mother of both children and Forsythe is the babys father. Both parents will be arraigned. No further information was immediately 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 Protesters chant in front of a line of Wayne State police officers shortly after university authorities removed a pro-Palestinian encampment from campus on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Detroit. (Marnie Munoz/Detroit News via AP) DETROIT (AP) Police broke up a pro-Palestinian encampment at a Detroit university and arrested at least 12 people Thursday while more than 100 graduates walked out of commencement at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the East Coast, the latest campus stress related to the Israel-Hamas war. Police in riot gear removed fencing and broke down tents erected last week on green space near the undergraduate library at Wayne State University. President Kimberly Andrews Espy cited health and safety concerns and disruptions to campus operations. Staff were encouraged to work remotely this week, and in-person summer classes were suspended. No individual or group is permitted to claim campus property for their own use and deny others access to that property, Espy said. The camp, she added, created an environment of exclusion one in which some members of our campus community felt unwelcome and unable to fully participate in campus life. An outdoor commencement ceremony at MIT in Cambridge, near Boston, was disrupted for 10 to 15 minutes when some graduates walked out. Wearing keffiyehs, the checkered scarves that represent Palestinian solidarity, over their caps and gowns, they chanted free, free Palestine and held signs that said, "All eyes on Rafah. There is going to be no business as usual as long as MIT holds research projects with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, said David Berkinsky, 27, who earned a doctorate degree in chemistry and walked out. There are no graduates in Gaza. There are no universities left in Gaza left because Israeli has bombed every single one. Eesha Banerjee, a 20-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama, who received her bachelors degree in computer science, engineering and physics and walked out, said she wants to pressure MIT to become a better place. It wouldnt feel right taking the degree without making clear to the administration and corporation that we still want the demands to be met. We are still watching what the administration does, she said. We want to send the message that this movement will continue. Students are still standing for those ties to be dropped. Banerjee said she never questioned her decision to leave commencement. While Im still here, I want to use every chance I can to push this institute to be better, she said. I want MIT to be the institution that it can be, and it cant be that until it drops its ties, drops its complicity. Some people at the event were upset by the disruption, swore at the protesters and yelled, Good riddance to Hamas terror fans. A pro-Palestinian encampment at MIT was cleared by the school on May 10. Protest camps sprang up across the U.S. and in Europe as students demanded their universities stop doing business with Israel or companies that they say support its war in Gaza. Organizers seek to amplify calls to end Israels war with Hamas, which they describe as a genocide against the Palestinians. In Detroit, as the Wayne State camp was cleared, at least 12 people were arrested for trespassing or other offenses, including one for assaulting a police officer, spokesperson Matt Lockwood said. The protesters chanted to police, Theres no riot here, why are you in riot gear? The protesters have demanded that the school divest from weapons manufacturers supplying Israel, provide a full disclosure of investments and cease delegation trips to Israel. Wayne State this week posted video of its efforts to invite protesters to private meetings with Espy and other officials if they would dismantle the camp. Lockwood said all of the university's efforts were rejected. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, visited the encampment site after it was broken up to offer support to the protesters. Ali Hassan, who represents WSU Students for Justice in Palestine, told WXYZ-TV this week that he believed the universitys shift to remote learning means the administration is taking notice of the student protests. The reason that they went remote is because we have put pressure on them, he said. The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on May 21 broke up a similar encampment after 30 days. ___ Associated Press writers Michael Casey and Steve LeBlanc in Cambridge, Massachusetts, contributed to this story. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post with more information as it becomes available. HERRIMAN, Utah (ABC4) A 16-year-old boy has died after being stabbed in Herriman Wednesday afternoon. Officers with the Herriman Police Department responded near 14800 S Beckenbauer Ave. after receiving a 911 call. According to Deputy Chief Cody Stromberg, officers found the 16-year-old with stab wounds on his chest in the drivers seat of a vehicle. Paramedics from Unified Fire Authority and the South Jordan Fire Department attempted life-saving measures, but the boy died on-scene, Stromberg said. Information is limited at this time, but Stromberg said they know there was some kind of altercation between the victim and somebody else. At this point officers have detained four people: two women, one man, and one juvenile. Two of the four have reportedly been hospitalized for injuries related to the incident. While law enforcement does not know who did the stabbing, all four were allegedly involved to some degree. Foothills Elementary was placed on lockdown Wednesday afternoon as a precaution. While the homicide investigation remains ongoing, police said there is no threat to the general public and they believe this is an isolated incident. There is no further information available at this time. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Police find parent of young child left alone at Sansom Park apartment complex In an update Thursday afternoon, North Texas police said they have located one of the parents of a young child who was found alone in Sansom Park on Wednesday night. The Sansom Park Police Department responded about 9:30 p.m. to a call about a boy being found at Sansom Ridge Apartments, in the 3100 block of La Junta Street. Officers went door to door and canvassed the area to try to locate the parents, police said in a news release. As of Thursday morning, the child was still in state custody because no parent had come forward to claim him. The boy was not able to tell officers his name, where he lives or who his parents are. Investigators believe the child was walking around the apartment complex since 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Further details were immediately available. Anyone with information on where the child lives or who his family is was asked to call the Sansom Park Police Department at 817-626-1921. More top stories from our newsroom: Trial opens for man accused of killing his adoptive parents in Crowley Tarrant chief deputy over jail says retirement unrelated to deaths First-of-its-kind house is being printed in this Fort Worth neighborhood One of Texas best cafes will reopen a popular restaurant. [Get our breaking news alerts.] LANCASTER, Pa. (WHTM) A man is facing attempted homicide charges after police say he fired shots at an occupied car and took off. Raymond Speller is facing charges after Lancaster City Police say they were called to a shots fired call around 12:44 p.m. Wednesday. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest Police accused Speller of firing at an occupied vehicle and fleeing. He was arrested later without incident. Police said the incident was not random, and there is no immediate threat to the public. Speller is charged with criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Police say man found dead on I-5 in Clackamas County was murdered PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon State Police say a Salem man was murdered on Wednesday morning in Clackamas County. According to OSP, Oscar Chaidez, 42, who was found dead on I-5 South near Exit 282 around 5:45 a.m., was the victim of a homicide. Unseasonably strong atmospheric river aiming for Pacific Northwest this weekend The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact OSP. This is a developing story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Police seek suspects who punched two men inside a restaurant in the Bronx THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) Police are seeking three individuals who allegedly assaulted two men inside a Mexican restaurant on East 170th Street on May 18. The attack reportedly happened at around 4:08 a.m. at Nuevo Azteca. Man attempts to run over Jewish students in alleged Brooklyn hate crime: NYPD A dispute broke out between the three suspects and a 30-year-old victim, police said. One of the suspects punched the victim in the face multiple times and stole personal property from the victims neck and wrist, according to the NYPD. A 35-year-old man tried to intervene but was also punched in the face, police said. The suspects fled west on East 170th Street. NYPD released the following surveillance images of the three suspects. 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). Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Police: Suspects attempt to steal ATM using U-Haul in Boston Police in Boston are searching for suspects who attempted to steal an ATM. Around 5:53 Thursday morning officers responded to the area of Talbot Ave and Southern Ave for a report of a robbery in progress. Police say the suspects attempted to steal the ATM by means of a U-Haul truck. The suspects fled the scene and the bank robbery task force was notified. Brandel Davis, working nearby, thought it was a refrigerator lying in the road. A neighbor told him otherwise. Oh wow, he said. Thats amazing. Its an ATM. One neighbor told Boston 25 News off-camera the theft was accompanied by a loud noise. But Billy Murphey, who lives nearby, heard nothing. He learned of the attempted theft when he saw police tape cordoning off the area. They pushed it all the way down to there, he said, pointing towards Southern Avenue. They made it out of (the bank). You can see the scrape marks all in the street over there. Murphey believes the plan was to load the ATM into the truck. The thing probably weighs six hundred pounds, Im sure... seven hundred pounds, he said. While the ATM may be replaced, for now, its gone inconveniencing bank customers such as Rula Allah. Normally I come in my car, he said. But now I gotta go in the bank to get the money. So its kinda messed up. No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A cross-party group of 50 influential politicians have urged foreign secretary Lord Cameron to end the UKs punitive and unfair ban on direct flights to the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The letter was sent to the foreign secretary as last ditch effort before Parliament is dissolved for the general election but had the support of Labours Jack Straw and Tory Sir Iain Duncan Smith among others. The move comes as Cyprus divided island is set to mark 60 years since the crisis which saw them split into rival parts and is still to be resolved. While the move is too late to influence the current government policy of not allowing flights or recognising the elected government in the TRNC, MPs, former MPs and peers hope that it will be a prompt for whoever wins the next election. Jack Straw supports direct flights to the TRNC As Labours foreign secretary Jack Straw oversaw the failed talks on the Annan Plan in 2004 which would have reunited the island but failed despite the north voting in favour because the Greek Cypriots in the south rejected the proposals in a referendum. He has spoken of his regret of the UK allowing Cyprus into the EU a week later when the Annan Plan had been a condition of entry. The parliamentarians past and present wrote to Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, raising serious concerns over the treatment of the TRNC and calling for the commencement of direct flights from the United Kingdom to Ercan International Airport - the largest airport on the island of Cyprus. They want the foreign secretary to end one of the most restrictive policies of any country in Europe when it comes to air travel to Ercan. MP and peers wrote to Lord Cameron (Lucy North/PA) (PA Wire) They point to the UK allowing flights to non-UN member states such as Kosovo, and to countries that it doesnt recognise such as Taiwan. The question is why not to northern Cyprus? They claim that air travel to the TRNC is not a risk and there is no history of poor safety. They claim that Ercan Airport abides by international aviation security standards, and safely hosts hundreds of thousands of passengers each year. But the parliamentarians from across parties have also warned that if the UK continues to fail to engage with the TRNC, it will risk letting countries such as Russia and Iran do so instead - fundamentally challenging the UKs strategic foothold in the eastern Mediterranean. The letter follows a call for action from the 300,000 strong Turkish Cypriot diaspora and comes as a new general election has been announced. Turkish Cypriots, their friends and families, will also be putting pressure on both the government and other major parties to commit to ending this unjust situation. The campaign has been spearheaded by TRNC president Ersin Tatar who has also led calls for a two state solution. Chet Ramadan, founder of Freedom and Fairness for northern Cyprus, said: It is time that the UK ends their regressive ban on flights to the TRNC. This is something that was promised 20 years ago and has yet to be fulfilled. Around 300,000 Turkish Cypriots live in the UK, and 15,000 British expats live in Northern Cyprus. The onerous and unnecessary flight rules only create a cruel burden for those wishing to visit family members or go on holiday. UK parties must commit to allowing direct flights to restart and we will repeat this call to whoever forms the next government. Such a move, though, will fiercely be resisted by the Cypriot government on the south of the island which is the recognised state and could threaten repercussions with the UKs relationship with the EU. The events six decades ago are still angrily disputed with Turkish Cypriots accusing the Greek Cypriots of starting the conflict with a military coup which aimed to unite Cyprus with Greece. This followed with what has been described as an attempt at ethnic cleansing with attacks on the Turkish Cypriot communities. Both sides had heavy losses in the conflict which followed with Greek Cypriots accusing Turkey of invasion and subsequent occupation of its territory in the north. The authorities in the TRNC insist that the Turks intervened to prevent Turkish Cypriots from being massacred and have remained as a protection force. Numerous attempts to bring the island, which gained independence from Britain in 1960, back together in a federal system have failed. Turkeys President Recep Erdogan now supports the TRNC demand for a two state solution, which is opposed by Cyprus, the UK and EU. Over the past year, the United States stock market has experienced a significant upswing, rising by 25%, while remaining steady in the last week. In such a thriving market, companies with high insider ownership can be particularly compelling as they often indicate strong confidence from those closest to the business. Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In The United States Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth GigaCloud Technology (NasdaqGM:GCT) 25.9% 21.3% PDD Holdings (NasdaqGS:PDD) 32.1% 23.2% Atour Lifestyle Holdings (NasdaqGS:ATAT) 26% 21.7% Cipher Mining (NasdaqGS:CIFR) 18.5% 58.8% Super Micro Computer (NasdaqGS:SMCI) 14.3% 40.2% Bridge Investment Group Holdings (NYSE:BRDG) 11.6% 98.2% EHang Holdings (NasdaqGM:EH) 33% 101.9% Carlyle Group (NasdaqGS:CG) 29.2% 23.6% ZKH Group (NYSE:ZKH) 17.7% 104.4% BBB Foods (NYSE:TBBB) 23.6% 92.4% Click here to see the full list of 177 stocks from our Fast Growing US Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: EHang Holdings Limited is a global company based in the People's Republic of China that specializes in autonomous aerial vehicle technology, with a market capitalization of approximately $1.00 billion. Operations: The company generates its revenue from autonomous aerial vehicle technology operations across various global regions including the Peoples Republic of China, East Asia, West Asia, and Europe. Insider Ownership: 33% Revenue Growth Forecast: 59.7% p.a. EHang Holdings, a pioneer in autonomous aerial vehicles, showcased substantial year-over-year revenue growth in Q1 2024 and anticipates a significant increase for Q2. Despite ongoing net losses, improvements are evident with reduced losses compared to the previous year. The company's strategic moves include successful demo flights in the UAE and partnerships for advanced eVTOL battery technologies, positioning it well within the high-growth urban air mobility market. However, share price volatility and recent shareholder dilution present challenges. NasdaqGM:EH Earnings and Revenue Growth as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Coastal Financial Corporation, serving as the bank holding company for Coastal Community Bank, offers a range of banking products and services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individuals in Washington's Puget Sound region, with a market capitalization of approximately $588.18 million. Story continues Operations: The bank's revenue is generated through its segments: CCBX at $174.24 million, Community Bank at $148.46 million, and Treasury & Administration contributing $9.32 million. Insider Ownership: 18.6% Revenue Growth Forecast: 53% p.a. Coastal Financial Corporation experienced an increase in net charge-offs to US$57.22 million this quarter from US$32.30 million last year, impacting earnings which declined to US$6.8 million from US$12.39 million. Despite these challenges, the company's revenue is growing at 53% annually, outpacing the U.S market forecast of 8.4%. Insider activities show more buying than selling over the past three months, aligning with a positive outlook as analysts project a 26.6% potential rise in stock price based on current valuations being significantly below fair value estimates. NasdaqGS:CCB Ownership Breakdown as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Youdao, Inc. is an internet technology company operating in China, offering online services across content, community, communication, and commerce sectors with a market capitalization of approximately $433.85 million. Operations: The company generates its revenue through various online services in content, community, communication, and commerce sectors. Insider Ownership: 20.3% Revenue Growth Forecast: 12.7% p.a. Youdao, Inc. recently posted a significant turnaround in its financial results for Q1 2024, with net income reaching CNY 12.43 million compared to a substantial loss the previous year. This improvement aligns with an anticipated profitability within three years and earnings growth forecasted at a robust rate annually. Despite trading at 87.7% below its estimated fair value, indicating potential undervaluation, concerns about financial sustainability persist due to less than one year of cash runway available. NYSE:DAO Ownership Breakdown as at May 2024 Taking Advantage Navigate through the entire inventory of 177 Fast Growing US Companies With High Insider Ownership here. Are these companies part of your investment strategy? Use Simply Wall St to consolidate your holdings into a portfolio and gain insights with our comprehensive analysis tools. Streamline your investment strategy with Simply Wall St's app for free and benefit from extensive research on stocks across all corners of the world. Seeking Other Investments? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years. Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqGM:EH NasdaqGS:CCB and NYSE:DAO. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Biden quietly allowed Ukraine to strike Russia with US arms but 'solely near Kharkiv,' media report Editor's note: The article was updated at 9:15 a.m. on May 31 with similar reports by ABC News and the Associated Press and with comments by the Pentagon. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration secretly lifted the ban for Ukraine to strike Russian territory with American weapons, but "solely near the area of Kharkiv," Politico reported on May 30, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The report was then confirmed by other outlets, including ABC News and the Associated Press (AP). The U.S. and German officials have repeatedly said that they do not support or encourage Kyiv's strikes with their weapons on Russian soil, reportedly due to fears this would lead to an escalation of the war. "The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv, so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them," an unnamed American official told Politico. The source added that Washington's policy of allowing long-range strikes "has not changed," and Ukraine cannot use U.S. weapons to hit military targets deep inside Russia. Ukraine can now use American-provided arms such as rockets to shoot down Russian missiles heading toward Kharkiv, at troops massing over the Russian border, or aircraft launching bombs at Ukraine's territory, Politico wrote, citing another U.S. official. Despite the media reports, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters on May 30 that Washington's policy on strikes inside Russia with U.S. arms has not changed, but she did not specifically mention attacks near Kharkiv Oblast. "The security assistance that we provide to Ukraine is to be used within Ukraine and we don't encourage attacks or enable attacks inside of Russia," she said. "We believe that Ukraine can be effective by focusing on tactical and operational targets that directly affect the conflict within its boundaries without going after larger geopolitical targets within Russia," she added. Calls for Ukraine to be allowed to strike military targets on Russian territory with Western weapons have grown after Russia launched a new offensive in Kharkiv Oblast on May 10, with 30,000 troops reportedly involved in the operation. "We see every point of concentration of Russian troops. We know all the areas where Russian missiles and combat aircraft are launched," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 26. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a declaration on May 27 that supported an end to restrictions that prohibited Ukraine's use of Western-supplied weapons against military targets inside Russia. The next day, French President Emmanuel Macron said at a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Ukraine should be allowed to strike military bases on Russian territory from which Moscow carries out missile attacks against Ukraine. Over 10 European countries also supported this move, with some saying that they did not set any restrictions on Ukraine's strikes with their weapons on Russian territory. Read also: Ukraine urges allies to lift Western arms ban on hitting targets inside Russia. Will they? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Politico: EU wants to punish Hungary for its obstructionism by limiting its roles in European Commission EU members who are unhappy with Hungary's obstruction of collective support for Ukraine plan to respond by limiting the country's roles in the next European Commission, Politico reported on May 30, citing sources. Budapest has repeatedly opposed Ukraine's accession to NATO and the EU, sanctions on Russia, undermined Western aid efforts for Ukraine, and maintained close relations with Moscow throughout the full-scale war. The ongoing Hungarian obstructionism has caused growing frustration from the EU, which is constrained by the need for unanimity on support for Ukraine. Sources told Politico that there is "no appetite" in the EU for allowing Oliver Varhelyi, a Hungarian diplomat and the current European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, to keep his position in the forthcoming composition of the commission. The role is influential and of crucial importance for Ukraine because of ongoing talks regarding its accession to the bloc. Varhelyi recently attracted controversy after Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze claimed that he had been "threatened" by an EU Commissioner earlier in May, saying the unnamed official had referenced the assassination attempt of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and told him to be careful. After the incident, Varhelyi said he was the official in question and expressed "very sincere regret" that "a certain part of my phone conversation was taken out of context." "After the disaster this time round with Varhelyi and the way Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is taking on (European Commission President Ursula) von der Leyen, there is no way she will hand over anything important (to) someone close to him," a diplomat told Politico. Read also: EU ministers frustrated as Hungary blocks $7 billion in military aid for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Poll: 71% of Russians think country is on right path, 87% approve of Putin A poll released on May 30 by the Levada Center, a Russian independent polling organization, found that 71% of respondents believed Russia is "going in the right direction," and another 87% said they supported Russian President Vladimir Putin. Polls conducted by Levada Center throughout the war have found a consistent and overwhelming majority of Russians support Putin and believe the country is on the right path. According to the latest poll, only 17% of respondents thought that Russia was going in the wrong direction, and another 13% said it was difficult to answer. The findings had a relatively consistent majority across age and other demographic groups, including those who said they "barely have enough food." Support for Putin has remained above 80% in the previous five polls that Levada Center conducted, dating back to December 2023. A majority of respondents also said they supported Russia's legislative branches, governors, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and the overall "Russian government." Putin was the most trusted politician, at 52% of respondents. Read also: Poll: 77% of Russians support war in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) After admittedly over-ordering a stockpile of crowd-control munitions in 2020, which is set to expire in January, the Portland Police Bureau is scaling back its order for new munitions in 2024. Portland Police Bureau Commander Franz Schoening told the Portland City Council Wednesday that PPB purchased a surplus of 9,624 crowd-control munitions during the 2020 protests without knowing when the munitions would actually arrive. We ordered a whole lot of munitions in 2020, not sure when wed actually be able to get them, Schoening said. We wanted to make sure we had them if we needed them. Oregon State Hospital boosting security after federal report details patient assaults The backorder of munitions came with a looming 5-year expiration date. Now, with potentially thousands of unused munitions set to expire in 7 months, PPB says it will use what it can for training purposes and dispose of the rest. In 2020 there [were] a lot of agencies around the country dealing with civil unrest, Schoening said. A lot of them placed orders for these types of munitions. There was a supply-chain issue so a lot of agencies overstocked or over-ordered these munitions. The Police Bureau is no different. Portland Police Bureau Commander Franz Schoening presents PPBs expiring crowd-control munitions and its now-approved order for 2024 to the Portland City Council. Descriptions of listed items provided at the bottom of this story. (City of Portland) Portland Police Bureau Commander Franz Schoening presents PPBs now-approved shields order to the Portland City Council. (City of Portland) Schoening presented the information to the city council as part of PPBs request for new shields and replacement munitions. The Portland City Council unanimously approved PPBs request Wednesday to spend $56,200 on 100 new riot shields (50 long shields and 50 rounds shields) and 1,150 crowd-control munitions. The funds to purchase the equipment will come from a $1.1 million budget approved for PPBs training and equipment expenses. Mayor Ted Wheeler called the equipment and PPBs protest response team essential for ensuring public safety amid current events and the impending general election. PPB is already managing multiple public order events each week and doing, in my opinion, a great job of supporting peaceful expressions of free speech while also working to hold criminal behavior accountable, Wheeler said. Heres how much Oregonians need to earn to qualify as middle class, study says PPBs Rapid Response Team, a group of roughly 50 officers that were at the forefront of policing local protests, disbanded in June of 2021, after the officers collectively voted to leave the unit. The officers resigned after PPB Officer Corey Budworth was indicted on one count of fourth-degree assault by a grand jury for allegedly using a baton on a freelance photojournalist during a declared riot on Aug. 18, 2020. Officer Corey Budworth (center) was indicted for fourth-degree assault in 2021, but the charges have since been dropped. (Courtesy: Oregon Justice Resource Center) The charges against Budworth were later dropped and Budworth publicly apologized for the incident. However, PPB continues to deal with consequences imposed by the City of Portland and the U.S. Department of Justice for its handling of the 2020 protests. PPBs use of force against protesters in 2020 resulted in numerous lawsuits filed against the City of Portland and its officers. In 2020, the Portland City Council passed a resolution requiring PPB to formally request its purchases of controlled items like the munitions and riot gear that the city council approved Wednesday. In 2022, PPB also agreed to a settlement with the Department of Justice, which required the city to hire a consulting firm to review its response to the riots of 2020. In accordance with those recommendations, PPB is now in the process of rebuilding its protest response team. Man shot by police while serving NE Portland search warrant While the city did not specify how much PPB spend on crowd-control munitions in 2020, PPBs order of 1,150 crowd-control munitions will cost the city roughly $27,700, The smaller order, Schoening said, better aligns with PPBs new tactics for handling unruly protests. I think it reflects not only that were going to be moving away from this tactic, hopefully moving forward, but also reflects mostly what our training needs are with some operational needs. PPB said that it plans to use fewer crowd-control munitions and attempt to de-escalate future protests using its Police Bureau Liaison Team. However, Schoening said that officer safety is still a priority. Because of this, PPB also requested to spend $28,500 on new riot shields. Were not going to be focusing heavily on using force or crowd-control munitions when were managing a facility in these First-Amendment events, he said. Were going to be using our demonstration liaison officers to facilitate those events. A look at PPBs approved 2024 order for new riot shield and crowd-control munitions: Tear gas 350 munitions Smoke/obscurant 50 munitions Kinetic Impact Projectile 350 munitions Kinetic Impact Projectile with chemical incapacitants 300 Flash sound diversion/distraction devices 100 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The southbound lanes of Interstate 35 in Liberty have reopened after a tractor-trailer overturned in a crash and potatoes spilled out of another truck as traffic backed up, according to a spokesman with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The interstate shut down shortly after 9:30 a.m. when the semi crashed and overturned, said Cpl. Justin Ewing with the highway patrols Troop A said. The crash was cleared by 1:30 p.m., the Missouri Department of Transportations Kansas City District said on X, formerly known as Twitter. The spuds and overturned semi have been removed, the Clay County Sheriffs Office later said in a follow-up tweet. The highway was closed when the driver of a semi hauling a load of snack food was headed south on I-35 and ran off the side of the road. The truck struck a concrete barrier and then overturned onto the highway, Ewing said. Ewing said the crash caused the highway to shut down and traffic to begin backing up. After the crash, a driver of another tractor-trailer slammed on the brakes because traffic was backing up, causing the potatoes the truck was hauling to shift and spill onto the highway, Ewing said. The spill was just something that occurred because of the traffic backup, Ewing said. Some of the potatoes were mashed, said Capt. Nathan Mulch with the Liberty Police Department. The truck hauling the potatoes had cleared from the area before noon. Meanwhile, crews worked to upright the truck that crashed and remove it. Ewing said the overturned truck didnt lose any of its load. While crews worked to clear the crash, the MoDOT urged drivers to find an alternate route. According to a map in a MoDOT tweet, the crash occurred in northern Liberty. At the time, traffic was reported to be slow-moving and bumper-to-bumper along southbound I-35 south of Kearney, according to Waze, a traffic and navigation app. (KRON) STIIZY, the best-selling cannabis brand in the U.S., is being sued for its deceptive marketing tactics behind its high-potency vape products and their connection to the increase of Cannabis-Induced Psychosis (CIP) cases, most particularly among youth aged 18 and younger, a lawsuit filed on Wednesday said. The lawsuit alleges that John Doe, an unnamed high school student in a prestigious school in Marin County, was a thriving high school student and athlete at age 15 before enduring long-term psychosis due to abusing cannabis, more specifically STIIZYs high-potency vape products. The plaintiffs representatives at Ribera Law Firm are suing STIIZY, alleging the product unjustly targets the youth through its marketing campaigns and that the company does not go out of its way to advertise the dangers associated with cannabis. Pittsburg PD shot man twice during mental health crisis: federal suit John Doe According to the suit, from 2020 to 2022, when he was approximately 15 years old, Doe was unhappy at school at the time and saw lots of STIIZY vaping products on Snapchat, promoting wellness and relaxation. At the time Doe began smoking the vape products, he was enrolled in a prestigious school in Marin County where he was an athlete and boasted a 4.6 GPA, the lawsuit states. Over the year, he started increasing the frequency, going from a couple of times a week with his friends to every morning before going to school, the lawsuit said. In the summer of 2022, Doe went on a family vacation where he stopped smoking for a month. When he arrived back home in Marin County, that was when the lawsuit alleges he immediately began demonstrating erratic behavior and, ultimately, signs of psychosis. On Monday, August 22, 2022, doe was at home having a violent outburst before school with a knife to his neck during a belligerent rant of delusional thoughts. His dad later wrestled him to the ground before the mother called 911, and local police arrived shortly after. The suit said Doe was exhibiting such psychotic symptoms that police couldnt interview him. Instead, police had no choice but to handcuff the plaintiff and take him directly to the psychiatric ward at Marin General Hospital. Doe was then involuntarily detained on a 72-hour psychiatric hold after testing positive for extremely high levels of THC. Believing people were out to kill him, Doe jumped out of the window half-naked and escaped from the psychiatric ward. Shortly after, his parents got a phone call from his old principal saying he was in her office talking about aliens trying to get him, the lawsuit said. He was then an inpatient at a psychiatric ward in Santa Rosa for 10 days under heavy medication and was instructed to take anti-psychotics until further notice. Despite no longer being in a ward, Doe was never able to come back to his normal state and still suffers from mental health issues to this day. Doctors told the family if Doe were to consume cannabis again, it would give him a 90% chance of permanent psychosis, the lawsuit states. Research Research confirms people who use cannabis are four times more likely to develop chronic psychosis or schizophrenia compared to people who dont. For people who smoke every day or use higher-potency products, the risk is up to six times higher. One study found eliminating marijuana use in adolescents would reduce global rates of schizophrenia by 10%. Much of these results, scientists believe, are due to the remarkable increase in potency. In the early 1990s, cannabis had an average THC concentration of 2-3%. Twenty years later, the average THC content of cannabis had more than doubled, reflecting a 202% increase through the year of 2014, as illustrated below. The average potency of STIIZY vape products that is, a concentrate of THC is approximately three times the strength of normal cannabis, the lawsuit states. This, as a result, exponentially increases the chances of CIP, especially among developing youth abusing the product. Child psychiatrist and addiction specialist at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, Dr. Christian Thurstone, explains, The studies we have so far clearly indicate that the risk for psychosis is dose-dependent, meaning that the more marijuana somebodys exposed to, especially in adolescence, the greater the risk of developing psychosis, schizophrenia and severe mental illness Allegations The lawsuit alleges STIIZYs marketing is focused on the youth. STIIZY advertises one of the main reasons people smoke their products is anxiety and stress. With the relaxed high, the worry fades, a blog post from their website said, allowing people to stay medicated on the go. In addition to cannabis products, STIIZY promotes itself as a lifestyle brand by selling sweatshirts, hats, and stickers, with the company actively [promoting] itself with the hashtag #STAYSTIIZY through social media, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit alleges cannabis advertising features attractive young people engaged in cool social activities from skateboarding to attending music festivals that are meant to evoke a larger, cannabis-using lifestyle. As a result of its marketing, the lawsuit alleges the perception of the risks associated with smoking cannabis is fading. According to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2021, approximately 34% of youth aged 12-17 perceived great risk of harm associated with smoking marijuana once or twice a week; for the same age group, this figure dropped to approximately 31.4% the following year. Nowhere in the blog post does STIIZY warn about the dangers of high-potency THC, especially to youth. STIIZYs website indicates warnings of the product being advertised to adults aged 21 or older, but there are no warnings about psychosis or the risks STIIZYs products present to teenagers and youth And even conceals, in part, by marketing its offerings as mental health products for the anguished teen. Looking Forward Californians voted to legalize pot in 2016. Three years later, emergency room visits for cannabis-induced psychosis went up 54% across the state, from 682 visits to 1,053, according to state hospital data. Opponents of the proposed warning labels say the requirements are excessive and expensive, especially since marketing to children is already prohibited in California and people must be 21 to buy. The lawsuit said it is seeking punitive damages for Doe and his family and for STIIZY to change its marketing practices by refraining from advertising to the youth. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. President Biden and First Lady to punctuate Pride Month with attendance at LGBTQ+ fundraiser in New York City President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will attend an LGBTQ + fundraiser at the end of June. The Bidens will participate in the 25th annual LGBTQ+ Leadership Council Gala, which will benefit the Biden Victory Fund and be held on June 28 in New York Cit y, according to an invitation obtained by The Advocate. The annual gala raises funds to support political initiatives and campaigns that promote equality and inclusion. The Biden Victory Fund has been instrumental in supporting candidates and policies that advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Last year, The Advocate accompanied Vice President Kamala Harris to the event, where she made headlines with a surprise visit to the historic Stonewall Inn before the gala. Harriss visit marked the first time a sitting vice president had stopped at the iconic bar, a symbol of the LGBTQ+ rights movement since the 1969 uprising. At last years event, Harris emphasized the Biden administrations commitment to fighting against anti-LGBTQ+ hate and supporting the community amidst increasing attacks from GOP state legislators and right-wing extremists. Harris assured attendees that the administration would continue to be vigilant and proactive in defending LGBTQ+ rights. Lets be clear about where this is headed, she said. These extremists have a plan to push their agenda as far and as wide as they possibly can. Their blueprint is to attack hard-won rights and freedoms state by state: to attack the right to live as your authentic self, to attack the right to vote, to attack the rights of workers to organize, to attack the right to make decisions about ones own body. She added, Heres the thing. I have news for these extremists. Were not having that! The Bidens attendance at this years gala underlines the administrations ongoing dedication to LGBTQ+ issues. The president and first lady are expected to address the communitys current challenges, including the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and the importance of protecting hard-won rights. The fundraiser comes at a dangerous time for LGBTQ+ people in America. According to the American Civil Liberties Union , Republicans have introduced 515 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation nationwide this year alone. The Biden-Harris administration has sought to lay out how attacks on bodily autonomy, such as restrictions on reproductive care and access to gender-affirming care, threaten the rights of all Americans. In recent months, the administration has taken steps to counter discriminatory policies and support LGBTQ+ individuals. The administration recently announced new Title IX rules protecting transgender students from discrimination in schools. This move has faced significant backlash, with more than 20 GOP-controlled states suing the administration over its efforts to ensure the safety and inclusion of all students. The 25th annual LGBTQ+ Leadership Council Gala promises to be a momentous occasion, bringing together leaders, activists, and supporters to celebrate progress and reaffirm the commitment to equality. As the nation gears up for another presidential election, the gala will also serve as a platform to mobilize support and resources for the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights. As Pride Month begins on Saturday, Biden is expected to issue a proclamation and host a Pride Month celebration at the White House. Last year, the White House hosted the largest Pride celebration in the presidencys history, welcoming over 1,000 guests to a picnic and concert by popstar Betty Who on the South Lawn. Harris will also host her annual Pride reception at the Naval Observatory in June. GOBankingRates Americans are spending increasingly more on healthcare costs that their health plans dont cover every year. In fact, Americans out-of-pocket spending grew 6.6% in 2022, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and has continued on an upward trend. Find Out: Im a Frugal Shopper: 4 Items I Always Buy Secondhand To Save Money Learn More: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy Additionally, at least 1 in 5 adults (around 21%) either skipped filling a prescription or purchased over-the-counter options instead due to costs and more people have cut doses in half, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. While there is no magic wand to make all your healthcare needs free, there are some ways to get free items or services from pharmacies. Become Pregnant or Have Children Pregnant people may be eligible for certain free vitamins and supplements programs, such as Good Neighbors pharmacys Free Vitamin Program. If youre eligible, you can receive free prenatal vitamins and multivitamins for children as well as for adults and seniors. Additionally, Health and Human Services offers resources for pregnant women for a variety of free and low-cost health services and items. Sams Club Plus and Krogers RX Savings Club Members For retailers with an attached pharmacy, through certain membership programs, you may also qualify for certain prescriptions for free. Some of these include Sams Club Plus membership and Krogers RX Savings Club membership. At Sams Club, the Plus membership will allow you to obtain the following generic versions of these drugs (and one vitamin) free, among others: Amlodipine Donepezil Escitalopram Finasteride Lisinopril Metformin Montelukast Pioglitazone Sertraline Vitamin D2 50,000IU Explore More: 5 Frugal Habits of Mark Cuban Order by Mail While you wont get free items, per se, your shipping is often free through pharmacies ranging from Walmart to OptumRX if you order your prescriptions online. Become a Senior Perhaps the best way to start taking advantage of free items and services is to achieve senior status. In some places, this may start as early as age 55, while in others it may be 62 and older. Many pharmacies, such as Rite Aid, Walmart and CVS, offer discounts and free items, ranging from percentages off your price to free vitamins and even samples of medications. Additionally, Medicares website offers a variety of pharmaceutical assistance programs for people who are struggling to afford needed medications. Get Your Vaccines/Immunizations at Pharmacies CVS and Walgreens are among the pharmacies that offer certain vaccinations for free to eligible customers, such as flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Story continues If You Dont Like the Taste of Medicine If you have a liquid medication that has an unpleasant taste, you can take it to Rite Aid pharmacies, where they will add a flavor compound to make that medicine go down easier, typically for free. You may want to check with your local Rite Aid first, however. Join a Rewards Programs Most pharmacies offer some kind of rewards program whereby, with a number of purchases, or just for being a loyal member, you receive discounts and freebies. Some of these include Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and Meijer. Take Advantage of Free Health Screenings Lastly, CVS Project Health offers free biometric screenings to help spot chronic conditions, which can be a boon for seniors or people with health concerns. Additionally, Texas-based H-E-B stores offer free blood pressure and blood glucose checks. If youre in a position to need free or low-cost pharmacy items or services, be sure to research assistance programs, and if all else fails, simply ask at your local pharmacy. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Ways To Get Free Items From Pharmacies Preventable errors have nearly doubled over the past decade in Minnesota hospitals, where staffing shortages and other pressures have left patients more vulnerable to disabling falls, assaults and surgical and laboratory mix-ups. The 610 adverse events in the 12 months ending last October remain rare, considering that Minnesota hospitals perform roughly 567,000 surgeries and procedures each year. Still, health care leaders said they are troubled by the increase post-pandemic. Sixteen patients died last year from reportable events, such as medication errors or device malfunctions, while another 222 suffered disabling injuries. Hospitals might need to go "back to the basics" and recommit to longstanding safety practices, said Rachel Jokela, director of the Minnesota Department of Health's adverse event surveillance system, which allows people to look up error totals by hospital. "With anything ... we do all the time, it just becomes so automatic that you might drift a little bit. You might not be paying as close attention," she said. The reporting system was a national pioneer when it was started 20 years ago. Publicizing medical errors helped usher in changes at hospitals, such as marking in ink incision sites for surgeries to prevent operations on the wrong body parts. Hospitals also shared lessons to prevent others from making similar mistakes. Reviews of recent adverse events show those safety efforts don't always work. The state reported 25 wrong-site surgeries last year despite the site marking protocols. Sometimes, Jokela said, clinicians marked the operation sites from memory, without the required verbal verifications or the double-checking of written records. Inattentive counting during surgeries also contributed to a record 42 incidents in which sponges and other items were left inside patients. Items in some cases were intentionally left in patients during their recoveries, but then hospitals forgot to remove them. Hospital leaders had hoped their safety efforts reached a turning point in 2019, when 366 reportable adverse events represented a rare annual decline. COVID-19 disrupted that progress, though, and errors have surged. Minnesota also reported a record 25 medication errors, which contributed to 22 serious injuries and three deaths, despite the routine use of barcode scanners to match prescription medications with patients' wristbands. The errors mostly occurred at the times drugs were administered, but some errors resulted from bungled prescriptions or transcriptions into patients' medical records. Almost one in five involved the wrong drug. One in three resulted from the wrong dosage. "So the barcode won't help you there," Jokela said, "because the barcode on the medicine will match the patient." M Health Fairview reported six medication errors across five Twin Cities hospitals, including one patient death. CentraCare reported four across three hospitals in central Minnesota. The Minnesota Hospital Association in a statement said its doctors and nurses are stretched thin, partly because a shortage of discharge options such as rehab centers leaves hospitals stuck with patients no longer needing inpatient care. The patient backlog cost Minnesota hospitals an estimated $480 million last year and also distracted clinicians from focusing on incoming patients with pressing medical needs, the association said. Doctors in some cases provided inpatient care to patients stuck in emergency rooms, and that change in environment increased the risk of errors. "The impact of discharge delays isn't just financial," said Jennifer Schoenecker, the hospital group's associate vice president for quality and safety. "Patients are also paying the price." Increases in prior years sometimes reflected new categories of errors that the state added, or new hospitals or outpatient surgery centers reporting data for the first time. Not this year. Hospital leaders said significant shifts within their facilities are presenting new challenges. Patients are getting older and sicker, and staying in inpatient beds for five days on average rather than four, increasing the risk of pressure sores. The state reported 284 of these wounds, which occur when bedbound patients aren't repositioned and their skin suffers prolonged pressure or friction. Among last year's reported cases, 31 caused disabling injuries while others required treatment or monitoring. Many occurred when patients' skin rubbed against medical devices or tubes. Some hospitals have been more aggressive in reporting bed sores, which limits the use of the data when comparing providers on their safety records. Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park is Minnesota's ninth-largest hospital by bed capacity, but its 52 adverse events last year were surpassed only by Mayo Clinic's 56. Methodist's report included a disabling burn, two severe medication errors, a serious injury to a newborn in a low-risk pregnancy and 37 bed sores that required treatment or monitoring but didn't cause serious injuries. The state also reported 96 fatal or disabling patient falls, which can reflect a shortage of nursing staff and aides to monitor and help frail patients. Many of the falls involved patients who didn't wait for help or misjudged their strength when trying to walk to the bathroom. The 16 patients or workers seriously injured by physical assaults last year also reflected a shifting reality in hospitals where delirious or confused patients can become combative, or distraught relatives or visitors can lash out. Minnesota reported 14 such assaults in 2022, but no more than seven in any prior year. PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) said Thursday that it arrested a second man in connection to a fatal shooting that happened at a car meetup last week. On May 19 at about 1:45 a.m., PGPD responded to a car meetup at a shopping center parking lot in the 6400 block of Marlboro Pike. There, they found 26-year-old John Phipps inside a car suffering from gunshot wounds. Shooting victim remembered during candlelight vigil He was pronounced dead a short time later. Another man was also shot, but his injuries were not considered to be life-threatening. Days after the shooting, PGPD arrested 22-year-old Raheem Adams of Stafford, Va., and charged him with Phippss murder, as well as other related charges. 1 dead, 2 injured after shooting in Prince Georges County On Thursday morning, police with the Prince William County Police Department arrested 21-year-old Carmon Harrell of Woodbridge, Va. at his home. Like Adams, he was charged with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree attempted murder and related charges. Harrell will be extradited to Prince Georges County from Prince William County. Anyone with information is asked to call PGPD at (301) 516-2512. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. WOODBRIDGE, Va. (DC News Now) Police arrested a teenager who was intoxicated and trying to get into peoples cars in Woodbridge. The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) said on May 26 at around 1:30 a.m., officers were in the area of Delaware Drive and Maryland Avenue when they saw someone trying to get into cars. Free childrens summer reading festival in Fairfax County When they confronted the person, officers found out he was 15 years old and that he was intoxicated. Officers then tried to detain him, but he resisted. PWCPD eventually took him into custody, but one officer reported minor injuries from the incident. The 15-year-old boy was charged with assault and battery on a law enforcement officer, obstruction of justice, intoxicated in public and two counts of vehicle tampering. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Transitions Homeless Center in downtown Columbia, pictured here Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, is one of the largest shelters in South Carolina. (File/Mary Ann Chastain/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Since pre-pandemic estimates in 2020, the homeless population has grown in the vast majority of states. Vermont has seen the starkest increase in homelessness since 2020, with its homeless population nearly tripling, while Maine saw its homeless population more than double. According to a 2007 estimate by the South Carolina Council on Homelessness, with me included, there were 6,759 homeless individuals in South Carolina on any given night, with children making up nearly 20% of the population. When one considers that Camden is home to slightly under 7,000 people, the scope of the issue becomes more apparent. The council also discovered that during a year, there have been over 17,000 recorded incidents of homelessness in South Carolina. Unrecorded occurrences might substantially raise this figure. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that between 2007 and 2022, the number of people living in shelters in Columbia/Midlands decreased by 64%. Even with these figures, several Columbia officials admitted they had not focused on the citys rising chronically homeless population. South Carolina ranks 11th overall on this list of states having high rates of homelessness, which is low. Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann recently requested that Gov. Henry McMaster include $10 million for a new homeless services hub in his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The plan called for Transitions and Oliver Gospel, the two prominent nonprofit organizations that assist the citys homeless population, to vacate their downtown locations. Lawmakers declined. The initiative received no funding from the House or the Senate in their spending plans. Freedom of choice is fundamental to American society, allowing individuals to make decisions that shape their lives and pursue their aspirations. However, it is essential to acknowledge that this freedom can sometimes lead to ethical dilemmas or prioritize personal desires over moral considerations. When it comes to political standpoints, such as those related to the economy, immigration, and abortion, it is crucial to strike a balance between personal beliefs and the more considerable societal impact. While it is natural for individuals to have differing opinions, it is essential to consider the collective welfare and ethical implications of our choices. While other political agendas are crucial, it is just as important to understand that rather than Republican or Democrat, for homelessness to rank amongst the top for voters of South Carolina, it has to first become popular within the communitys interests. Since I left South Carolina and got myself together, I feel obligated to give back to one of the several communities that once embraced me when I most needed it. As my contribution, I have spearheaded a campaign to encourage the public to encourage politicians to make homelessness a top concern, as they do with different priorities. Encouraging voters in South Carolina to prioritize homelessness is an essential step toward addressing the issue in the state. While South Carolina may currently have the 11th lowest rate of homelessness in the country, it is crucial to recognize that even one person experiencing homelessness is one too many. By prioritizing homelessness, voters can send a powerful message to politicians that this issue cannot be overlooked or ignored. This endeavor leads to increased funding and resources allocated toward homelessness prevention and assistance programs, ensuring that individuals and families in need receive the support they require. Furthermore, encouraging politicians in South Carolina to take action on homelessness can have a ripple effect beyond just the states ranking. By proactively addressing the issue, South Carolina can serve as a model for other states. It can showcase effective strategies and policies that policymakers can implement to prevent and reduce homelessness. Additionally, addressing homelessness can have positive social and economic impacts. It can improve the overall well-being and quality of life for individuals experiencing homelessness while also reducing the strain on public resources and services. Therefore, it is essential to encourage voters to prioritize homelessness and urge politicians to take meaningful steps toward addressing this issue, even if South Carolinas current ranking may seem relatively low compared to other states. The post Prioritizing homelessness: A call to action for SC voters and politicians appeared first on SC Daily Gazette. Pro-Israel influencer Montana Tucker is taking heat online after promoting a skincare product in a video purportedly mean to raise awareness for Israeli hostages. The video, posted to Instagram last week, shows Tucker interviewing Raz Ben Ami, who was taken hostage on Oct. 7 alongside her husband, Ohad, when Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel, killing 1,200 people. Ben Ami, who was held hostage in Gaza for 54 days, is seen sitting with her three daughters as they discuss the events of Oct. 7 and their efforts to ensure the safe return of Ohad, who remains in captivity. We miss him very much, Ben Ami, who is wearing a shirt calling for Ohads release, says in the video. Were working very hard to get him back. We hope hes still OK. The video then pans to Mickael Bensadoun, CEO of the Israeli skincare brand Fre, who is sitting next to Tucker. We are praying for the release of all hostages, Bensadoun says. This is the least we can do. Bensadoun goes on to explain that while Raz was in captivity, her daughter 27-year-old Yulie, had reached out to the company to ask if her mother could have some Fre products when she was released. Our head of customer support showed me this message. I think I wanted to give all Fre to you, Bensadoun says, to which Tucker responds: There are a million skincare brands, but I think what makes a brand so special is when there is a personal story. Towards the end of the video, Tucker asks if she can rub some cream from the brand on Ben Amis face, reassuring her that her hands are clean. Ben Ami responds, with a laugh, Ive been in Gaza. The video concludes with the group shouting, in unison, We love Fre! Tucker, who has more than 3 million followers on Instagram, published the video on Thursday, with the caption: Raz and Ohad have 3 beautiful daughters who did/do everything they can to bring back their dad/ remaining hostages, and take care of their mom. Montana Tucker (right) is seen sitting with Raz Ben Ami (left) and her daughter (Montana Tucker / Instagram) @freskincare is not only an incredible, clean, and Israeli skincare brand, but it is Razs favorite, she added. Since then, she has received intense backlash for the video, with human rights lawyer and Israel advocate Arsen Ostrovsky branding it vile and unconscionable. How dare you @montanatucker come here to Israel to profit of [sic] the grief and massacre of our people. Have you no shame? he wrote on X. Meanwhile, Yaakov Katz, the former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post, accused Tucker of capitalizing on the backs of people who have been to hell and back. After you thought youve seen it all, watch this video and see how some people and the brands theyre pushing apparently have no problem capitalizing on the backs of people who have been to hell and back, he wrote on X. Another social media user described the video as self centered and truly unbelievable. I agree this display of blatant and purely commercial promotion does not sit too well with all your efforts to sound touched not for fame or profit, another person wrote. You have unfortunately blemished your image with an embarrassing disguised advertisement. But others praised Tucker for the video, which was one of many she has created to raise awareness of the hostages still in Gaza. She has done so much for our cause in social media since the war started, and because she did something for someone in partnership with a brand, youre jumping down her throat, one user wrote in response to Ostrovskys post. Pick a fight with the correct people, this isnt one of them! Montana Tucker (center) with Raz Ben Ami, her daughters, and Fre CEO Mickael Bensadoun (Montana Tucker / Instagram) @montanatucker Do you even know how much this means to every Jew in the world?, another person said on Instagram. The fact that youre getting their stories out there for ALL to hear and see! Thank you so much for EVERYTHING youre doing for your community! A representative for Tucker told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the influencer was introduced to Ben Ami at a recent rally for the hostages release before they met up in the temporary housing where her family has been living following the destruction of their home on Oct. 7. She wanted her story told, her husbands story, told by Montana, the representative said. She always goes to their houses. The representative added that the idea for the video came from Fre and that Tucker was not paid to go to the house. It was totally a mitzvah thing, she said. She will always be there for the hostages until everyones home. The Independent has contacted representatives of Montana Tucker for further comment. Tucker shared the video as Israel Defense Forces soldiers recovered the bodies of three hostages from the city of Rafah, where Israel launched airstrikes that caused a large blaze at a camp for displaced people, killing at least 45 people, while hundreds more were treated for severe burns, fractures and shrapnel wounds. Millions of people had fled to the region amid Benjamin Netanyahus war on Gaza which he has vowed to continue despite calls from the international community for a ceasefire. As of this week, some 125 hostages remain unaccounted for in Gaza, with Netanyahu under increasing pressure to negotiate their release. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Netanyahus war on Gaza. Pro-Palestine protesters interrupted the Central Saint Martins graduate fashion show with banners, chants and sirens on Wednesday night. Activists heckled arrivals and unfurled tapestries featuring slogans over a balcony overlooking the catwalk and threw strips of paper with messages that accused the London fashion college of investing our tuition money into banks and business [sic] that finance the bombing of Palestinian universities and students, according to the London Evening Standard. Others said Money for jobs and education, not war and occupation, Artists 4 Palestine, Stop genocide, free Palestine, Ceasefire now, Get out of the Middle East and Silence is complicity. Security tried to stop demonstrators as they converged inside the college - Story Picture Agency The protest comes amid a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and camps spreading across British universities in an attempt to replicate the occupations that have swept through US campuses in recent weeks. Demonstrators at CSM have added to a growing number of tent camps protesting against the war in Gaza, which have also been seen at universities including Oxford, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds, Warwick, Swansea, Bristol and University College London (UCL). Protesting students are demanding the universities cut all financial ties with Israel. The activists gathered outside the college waving banners and heckling arrivals - Story Picture Agency Responding to the protests, a spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: If anyone assumes that anti-Israel campaigners will eventually take a break from spoiling every possible cultural event or intimidating others, they will be disappointed. This is even more the case on campuses, which have become venues for the glorification of antisemitic terrorism and support for groups opposed to Britain and our values. If our institutions believe that by ignoring, tolerating or appeasing these activists, they might disappear, they are sorely mistaken. Disruption and intimidation need to be challenged and penalised. Grayson Perry walked past protesters as he arrived for the show - Story Picture Agency A University of the Arts spokesman said: Last nights end-of-year show was able to proceed and our students showcased their brilliant work. We thank our staff and partners for carefully responding to any disruption. We passionately believe in academic freedom and free speech within the law while ensuring the safety and well-being of all in our community. We continue to monitor the situation and will take appropriate action if codes of conduct are breached. Central Saint Martins (CSM), part of the University of the Arts, based in Londons Kings Cross, is one of the most prestigious art schools in the world, with many of its alumni leaving the institution to become internationally famous, such as the late fashion designer, Alexander McQueen, Jarvis Cocker, and the fashion designers Stella McCartney and John Galliano. The CSM fashion show was attended by the artist Sir Grayson Perry, who frequently appears in public dressed as his alter-ego Claire and for whom CSM students have designed dresses. 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. Progressives should at least be honest about their quest to boot Supreme Court justices The condemnation of the Arizona Supreme Courts ruling on the 1864 abortion ban as ideological is farcical. It is especially rich coming from progressive groups using the opinion to demand the heads of two justices up for retention in November. That was made readily apparent this month when the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and Planned Parenthood announced Arizona as part of a $5 million campaign to oust state Supreme Court justices in various states this fall. No ideology there. Progressives are right to be angry ... at Ducey Gov. Doug Ducey speaks after being sworn in by then Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Scott Bales at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on Jan. 7, 2019. This is, however, not to say progressives are without basis. If anything, the targeting of Arizona Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King is a proxy war against former Gov. Doug Ducey. Progressives grievances rightfully lie with him. And not just because Ducey, aided by a GOP-controlled Legislature, expanded the high court to seven justices from five in 2016 even though the chief justice at the time pointed out that neither the courts caseload nor Arizonas population growth demanded the expansion. The governor used funding for the courts to play a blinking contest and won. (The play was all the more underhanded given that Republicans reneged on an agreed-upon deal and gave the courts less than promised.) They're still upset about Bill Montgomery Four of the five justices Ducey installed on the court upheld the 1864 near-total abortion ban. The fifth, Bill Montgomery, recused himself after drawing much heat over comments he made about abortion and Planned Parenthood as county attorney. Yet his appointment to the court accounts for a great deal of lingering anger for progressives. And understandably so. The merit system on judges theyre now attacking was also the same one that rejected Montgomery as unqualified when he was first considered for a Supreme Court position in early 2019. Ducey replaced a number of the members of that Commission on Appellate Court Appointments, including three who had voted against Montgomery. When the next opening came up, the revised (all Republican) panel advanced Montgomery as one of seven finalists, and Ducey appointed him. Supreme Court ruling was not 'ideological' Progressives probably see the Nov. 5 election as an opportunity for vengeance. But to call the high courts April 9 abortion ruling ideological is ludicrous. The ruling rested on no political or cultural beliefs or foundation. Abortion supporters main argument was the court must harmonize the 15-week ban Arizona lawmakers passed and Ducey signed in 2022 with an 1864 law that forbids a person from providing an abortion unless it was to save her life. The court declined to do so. The majority opinion noted the only way for the two laws to co-exist would be by: repealing the 1864 ban, which would be in violation of legislative intent, given that the 2022 legislation expressly said it would keep the earlier law intact contorting statutory interpretation, such as removing physicians who are, under the 2022 law, permitted to perform abortions up to 15 weeks from qualifying as a person under the 1864 law. Neither way seems tenable. Lawmakers spelled out intent of abortion law The fact is, reconciling the two laws makes little sense. Republican lawmakers passed the 15-week ban in anticipation that the U.S. Supreme Court would uphold a similar law that Mississippi lawmakers had adopted. That restriction, as are others like parental consent for minors, was predicated on a federal right to abortion. But the U.S. Supreme Court didnt just issue a semi-reversal of Roe v. Wade. It upended the whole apple cart and declared theres no established right to abortion. Judges are now targets: We should've seen this coming Which made the 1864 law, the most restrictive on the books, the law of Arizona. Gov. Doug Ducey and the Republican Legislature that passed the 15-week ban knew that. The provision to not repeal the 1864 law or independently recognize a right to abortion is Exhibit A. (For Ducey and Republicans to protest they supported only a 15-week ban represents revisionism or political malpractice.) Justices did their job. Policymakers did not Had the justices kowtowed to the man who appointed them, they would have done the politically expedient thing and bailed out the Republican leadership by ruling that the newer, less restrictive law prevails. Instead, the justices are persecuted for doing their job and for policymakers failure to do theirs. Progressive groups may feel righteous about punishing their enemies. And they and their supporters may rationalize, wrongly, that Arizona judges on the ballot are fair game. But they should be honest about their retribution. It has nothing to do with the justices abortion ruling being ideological or biased. Reach Abe Kwok at akwok@azcentral.com. On X, formerly Twitter: @abekwok. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Progressives should come clean about war with Arizona Supreme Court Prosecutors in the murder case involving a beloved Chicago character known as the Walking Man are asking to present evidence that the defendant who allegedly doused Joseph Kromelis with gasoline had thrown liquid on a CTA train operator two weeks earlier. Joseph Guardia, 29, is facing charges of murder and aggravated arson in connection with the attack on Kromelis, who died months after being set on fire on May 25, 2022, while sleeping under blankets on the street. On May 10, records show, a CTA operator reported that a young man had tossed liquid on him after asking a question about a train stop. The attack at the Oak Park Green Line station was captured on video, and court records show the operator later picked Guardia out of a photo lineup. Prosecutors did not charge Guardia in the CTA incident. But the states attorneys office is seeking to use evidence of his alleged involvement to help prove intent or state of mind in the later attack against Kromelis, according to a recent court filing. Prosecutors argued in their motion that both crimes have peculiar and distinctive features not shared by most offenses of the same type and which, therefore, earmarks the offenses as (one) persons handiwork. Kromelis, a distinctively dapper dresser often seen strolling alone along the streets of downtown Chicago, was attacked while he slept on the pavement in the 400 block of North Lower Wabash Avenue. He died several months later at age 75. The haunting crime was captured on video by a nearby hotel security surveillance system. Authorities released video stills of Kromelis attacker, who had a large dollar sign tattooed on his cheek, and police arrested Guardia two days later. At the time of his arrest, authorities said, Guardia was wearing the same clothing seen in the video. Guardia, of Melrose Park, told police in a recorded interview that he had found a cup filled with gasoline and set a pile of blankets on fire, according to court records. Guardia said he was not aware that a person was under the blankets, but prosecutors said Kromelis head and lower legs were visible. As for motive, Guardia said only that he was an angry person. In their court filing, prosecutors are seeking to admit the circumstances of the CTA encounter as evidence in the murder case to show modus operandi, state of mind, intent, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake and/or absence of innocent frame of mind. The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled such proof of other crimes motions may be granted in limited circumstances. Crimes committed in a similar manner suggest a common offender and strengthen the identification of the defendant, the motion argues. The train operator said he was stopped at the Oak Park station when a young man in his 20s approached him and said, Hey, bro, do you know where Harlem is at? according to a police report. After he told the man it was the next stop, the operator said, the man tossed an unknown liquid on him. The liquid did not have a smell to it, and the operator rinsed himself off with water, the police report said. He was not injured. Images taken from video showed the suspect had a large dollar sign tattooed on his cheek; records show the train operator identified Guardia in the photo lineup on May 27, 2022. In both incidents, the defendant was unprovoked when he poured a liquid substance on an innocent stranger, Assistant Cook County States Attorney Jane Sack wrote in her motion. The two incidents are not remote as the May 10 incident occurred only 15 days prior to the present case. Itll be up to a Cook County judge to determine if Guardias alleged involvement in the CTA attack should be admitted as evidence in the murder trial. The case is due in court for a status hearing later this summer. A Tribune review of his criminal record found more than two dozen arrests in three states and other police contacts dating back to 2013 related to allegations of retail theft, battery, burglary, robbery, criminal trespass, domestic battery, reckless conduct, resisting arrest, public intoxication and criminal damage to property. He had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and hospitalized for suicidal thoughts, records show. Guardia, who is being held without bond, is represented by the Cook County public defenders office. His attorney hasnt responded to the prosecutions request yet. An office spokesperson declined to comment. cmgutowski@chicagotribune.com Will AI Take Over Our Jobs? Bill Gates Asks If AI Can Support Blue Collar Jobs As It Is Already Doing For White Collar Jobs In a recent episode of his podcast, Unconfuse Me, Bill Gates hosts Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, to discuss the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on technological advancement, particularly regarding the workforce. While Altman states that AI is intended to assist employees and streamline tasks, the current impact of AI on white-collar jobs is already evident. Recent studies show that 37% of companies have replaced staff with AI technology, and 44% predict AI will lead to layoffs in 2024. Don't Miss: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement How do you compare ? Warren Buffett flipped his neighbor's $67,000 life savings into a $50 million fortune How much is that worth today? But it's not just about job elimination the focus is on transforming the workforce. An overwhelming 96% of companies hiring say that candidates will benefit from having skills in AI, and 83% say that current employees must embrace AI if they want to retain their jobs. With AI and ChatGPT replacing white-collar jobs, Bill Gates asks: Will AI and robotics do the same to blue-collar jobs? Altman explains that robotics were ahead of their time and needed other technologies to catch up before they could be successful. Historically, robotics referring to physical hardware like robotic arms and legs did not achieve its full potential due to the lack of advanced cognitive capabilities. However, this cognitive gap is closing with rapid advancements in machine learning (ML) and AI. If robots come into play, will they start replacing blue-collar jobs? Trending: Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are bullish on one city that could dethrone New York and become the new financial capital of the US. Investing in its booming real estate market has never been more accessible. Altman doesn't directly answer this question. Instead, he explains the exciting the possibilities of robotics. "We've started investing a little bit in robotics companies," Altman says. "On the physical hardware side, there's finally, for the first time that I've ever seen, really exciting new platforms being built there. At some point, we will be able to use our models with their language understanding and future video understanding, to say, "All right, let's do amazing things with a robot." However, he does indicate that robotics and AI could "change the job market for a lot of blue-collar type work, pretty rapidly." There's no question that AI, robotics, and machine learning (ML) will continue to impact the job market. As robotics become more sophisticated and cost-effective, industries that rely heavily on blue-collar workers could see significant changes. Story continues AI-powered robots could soon perform tasks requiring strength, endurance, and precision, leading to even further job displacement similar to what is happening in white-collar sectors. However, this evolving technology also presents new opportunities for different types of employment, particularly in roles that involve maintaining, programming, and overseeing these robotic systems. While the future of job displacement is real and sometimes feels like impending doom, integrating AI and robotics into the workforce doesn't necessarily spell the end for blue-collar workers. Just as white-collar workers must adapt and acquire new skills, blue-collar workers may find new opportunities in an automated world. The conversation between Gates and Altman highlights a critical issue: the future of work in an AI-driven world. It's difficult to gauge the total impact of robotics on blue-collar jobs, but technology is clearly moving in that direction. Blue-collar and white-collar workers must adapt to the ever-evolving technologies in their fields to ensure job security and a stable financial future. As we move forward, the question isn't whether AI will take over our jobs, but how we can harness it to create a future where technology and human labor coexist and thrive. Keep Reading: Are you rich? Heres what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. A new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends. Heres how you can invest today. "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Will AI Take Over Our Jobs? Bill Gates Asks If AI Can Support Blue Collar Jobs As It Is Already Doing For White Collar Jobs originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Protesters released from jail after being detained by police at WSU encampment Protesters detained by police Thursday morning when officers cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment on Wayne State University's campus were released hours later to applause, hugs and the sounds of honking horns and drums. At least 100 protesters gathered outside of the Detroit Detention Center, to await their release around 5 p.m. Thursday after the early morning police action. With arms linked, five detained protesters walked out of the Detroit Detention Center with their lawyers and family members. They were met with cheers and tears of joy from those who came to show support. The crowd's chants of "Free Palestine" hummed as they drew closer to those released. Pro-Palestine protesters who were arrested on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at Wayne State University after police cleared an encampment, locked arm with attorneys and walked from the Detroit Detention Center on Mound Road in Detroit after their release. Out of the five detained, four were students and four were women, according to attorney Amy Doukoure. She said they were released via a judge's court order. Possible charges are still pending. Some of the five and their family members declined comment Thursday, on advice from their lawyers. The remaining seven protesters of the 12 who were detained following the police action were issued trespassing tickets, Doukoure said. "Wayne State University, tried, through its police, to be complicit in a genocide," said attorney Fatina Abdrabboh to the crowd moments after those detained were released. "Shame," the crowd responded. "Students just trying to fight against the killing of babies and moms and kids in Gaza, and you send the riot police at them?" Abdrabboh said. The school's encampment was one of dozens that have popped up across the nation in protest of Israels monthslong assault on the Gaza Strip, where more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the area's health ministry. The war began after Oct. 7 when militants with Hamas, the group controlling the Gaza Strip, killed more than 1,100 people in attacks on kibbutzim, a music festival and elsewhere in southern Israel. Among the Wayne State protesters demands include the school to divest from "war-profiting companies" and for the university to call for a cease-fire. Matt Lockwood, a spokesman for Wayne State, said the protesters were given several warnings by police before they moved in. And in a statement Thursday morning, Wayne State University President Kimberly Andrews Espy said the encampment was causing safety problems and intruding on the rights of others. Wayne State police "made repeated amplified announcements to allow everyone time to gather their belongings and leave. Many people left," Espy said in the statement. Outside the detention center Thursday showing solidarity with those arrested was Dania Ayesh, 19, a student at Wayne State. She was at the encampment when the shutdown occurred and described a chaotic scene. She said students were sleeping when police arrived in riot gear and gave them little time to gather their things and leave. Ayesh said police surrounded the encampment, not allowing protesters to leave. Police, handcuffs in hand, soon closed in on the encampment, she said. She said most of the protesters were students. She said she saw police mostly targeted women. Police and protesters were chest-to-chest before some officers began running at the encampment, dragging and snatching students and other protesters, Ayesh said. In one incident, the hijab of a 19-year-old student was ripped off from the back while an officer attempted to arrest her, Ayesh described. The student was arrested, along with her cousin and aunt, Ayesh said Our people are dying, people in general are dying, she said. Instead, Wayne is sending violent police officers after us when we were just peacefully protesting Reporter Niraj Warikoo contributed to this report. Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted at 313-264-0442 orasahouri@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Protesters released after being detained by police at WSU encampment The city of Pueblo is getting a $270,000 grant from the Colorado Energy Office to install geothermal heat pumps at three new net-zero fire stations in town, which should help lower energy bills in the future. The funding is part of nearly $8 million in geothermal grants around Colorado that the state announced May 24. Gov. Jared Polis joined several state officials and other grant recipients from around the state at a press conference held at a fire station in Belmont. Heres why more geothermal energy is coming to Pueblo and what it might mean for the rest of the state. Gov. Jared Polis announces new geothermal energy grants at the Pueblo Fire Station No. 8 on Friday, May 24, 2024. What is geothermal energy? Much as solar energy can be deployed on individual buildings and for utility-scale installations, geothermal energy can be tapped into at small and large scales. Geothermal systems work in tandem with the earths heat to reduce energy costs. None of Colorados energy comes from geothermal production at this point, but its more prevalent in other states in the western U.S., Polis told the Chieftain. Polis has championed geothermal energy for several years, including launching the heat beneath our feet initiative as chair of the Western Governors Association in 2023. Parts of Colorado and other states in the Mountain West have some of the biggest potential for geothermal energy systems, according to a map from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Polis said geothermal energy could help complement other renewable energy sources in Colorado. The state has a goal of 100% clean power generation by 2040. There's a lot of new frontiers and new technologies that are going to be part of Colorado's low-cost renewable energy future, Polis said. The geothermal projects in Pueblo Geothermal systems are already installed at two of Pueblos fire stations, the citys Director of Public Works Andrew Hayes told the Chieftain, and the pumps help reduce energy bills. Three more new fire stations that are under construction in Pueblo are designed as net-zero buildings; power will not need to be purchased to heat and cool them, Hayes said. Andrew Hayes, director of public works for the city of Pueblo, speaks at a press conference where Gov. Jared Polis announced geothermal energy grants on Friday, May 24, 2024. One of the new fire stations on the West Side is part of the areas new growth, while two newer buildings will be replacing older stations in Belmont and on the East Side. The $270,000 grant from the state program is covering about one-third of the cost of the geothermal systems. Construction on the new station buildings will start this summer, Hayes said. Its unclear if geothermal energy could be viable as a replacement for the Comanche coal power plant in Pueblo, but test wells in other parts of the state, including near Mount Princeton, could help inform any future exploration in Pueblo. Earlier this year, a local committee identified advanced nuclear as the only viable option to replace the Comanche 3 coal power plant in Pueblo when it shuts down by January 2031. Polis said that people should keep an open mind on the next technology that will go in at Comanche, but that existing nuclear technology is not economical. The transmission infrastructure is already in place, so if there's an economical way like geothermal that can continue to be part of Colorado's energy future, that's great, Polis said. I don't think that today's nuclear technology is at that point: it simply isn't from a cost perspective. Whether in 10 or 15 years it is, (thats) anybody's guess. Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics at the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: How Pueblo plans to use $270,000 in Colorado geothermal grant funds Python Challenge dates and times announced for 2024. What to know Let the countdown begin, snake hunters. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the dates and times for the 2024 Python Challenge. The FWC posted on its website today (May 30) the annual Burmese python removal competition will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 9 and end at 5 p.m. on Aug. 18 Burmese python hunters work in proper disposal of a dead python. More: Python Q&A: What does a python bite look like? Snake hunter shares video of battle scars What is the Florida Python Challenge? Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and negatively impact native species. They are found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in South Florida where they prey on birds, mammals, and other reptiles. A female Burmese python may lay 50 to 100 eggs at a time. More than 18,000 Burmese pythons have been removed from Florida since 2000. The Python Challenge has been held annually since 2013, with the exception of 2017 and 2019. What were the results of the 2024 Python Challenge? The 2023 Python Challenge was held from Aug. 4 to 13 and resulted in the removal of 209 pythons by 1,050 participants. What are the prizes for the 2024 Python Challenge? The person who removes the most pythons as part of the competition will be awarded the Ultimate Grand Prize of $10,000 followed by the second-place prize of $7,500. Additional prizes will be given for the most pythons removed in individual categories. How to register for the 2024 Python Challenge Visit FLPythonChallenge.org to register for the competition, take the online training, learn more about Burmese pythons and the unique Everglades ecosystem. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: When is the 2024 Python Challenge in Florida Drivers will see a ramp closure in Clark County today. >>New contract approved by local school district means no raises for teachers The ramp from U.S. 40 West to U.S. 68 South will be closed due to road work, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. Crews will be working on the ramp bridge. The closure will take place from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., ODOT said. Drivers can take U.S. 40 west to Upper Valley Pike to U.S. 68 as an alternative route. A new ranking dings downtown Raleigh. Former city planner says he has the fix | Opinion Anyone who walks down Raleighs signature downtown street Fayetteville Street can see the lingering effects wrought by the pandemic. Fewer people work in downtown offices. Theres less street traffic. Some storefronts are empty. But the question is: Is the street and its adjoining blocks recovering like other cities? Research by the University of Torontos School of Cities says no. Of the North American cities its researchers track for recovery based on mobile phone data, Raleighs downtown core ranks 59th out of 66. Charlotte ranks 35th. Unlike many cities, the Fayetteville Street area is lagging both in activity during work hours and during evenings and weekends. Bill King, president and CEO of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, said the universitys criteria does not reflect downtowns progress. Its tracking, he said, is too narrowly focused on Fayetteville Street, while ignoring activity around the renovated Moore Square and Seaboard Station. He said activity slightly farther out in the Warehouse District and along Glenwood South is also left out. Our data does not exactly align with the University of Toronto data. In many ways downtown Raleigh is leading recovery for weekday visitation, and for weekend visitation, downtown Raleigh is at or in many cases above pre-pandemic levels, King said. Both versions of downtown are right. Its true that activity has picked up in the Fayetteville Street area, especially on weekends. And that area should not be divorced from Moore Square. Meanwhile, Glenwood South is booming on weekends and the Warehouse District is far more populated and active than it was before stores, restaurants and apartments opened where there had once been empty brick warehouses. But its also true that thousands of office workers havent come back to downtowns towers. A walk along Fayetteville Street at midday or later in the evening is often a lonely experience. The streets activity surged when it was reopened to traffic after years as a pedestrian mall, but now it looks worn and uninviting, especially to visitors in town for conventions. Kings group, along with the city, supported a consultants study of ways to improve the Fayetteville Street area. The studys recommendations include overhauling the streetscape encouraging more downtown housing and bringing in more restaurants and retail. How far the city will go to fill this gap in an otherwise vibrant city will be an issue in races for City Council and mayor this fall. Appropriately, one of the candidates will be the citys former chief planner and a former president of the American Planning Association, Mitchell Silver. Silver, 63, left Raleigh in 2014 to become New York City parks commissioner. He came back in 2021 to find a city that had become uncertain about how much to change and how much to conserve of its leafy, smaller city character. Silver thinks Raleigh needs to get its mojo back. We need big ideas. Things that should start a conversation, he said. Livable Raleigh, the advocacy group that opposes what it considers development that intrudes on neighborhoods, is not supportive of Silvers bid. The group called him a development lobbyist who will push the city to give developers all they want. Giving developers a green light could overwhelm the citys already fast-growing areas and further drain activity from its downtown core. But Silver said the best approach is to channel development, not resist it. One of the reasons Im getting more active is that I want to build up development activity where it makes sense and discourage it where it doesnt, he said. Theres good reason to be skeptical about giving developers more leeway across the city, but clearly the city needs to encourage more activity in the Fayetteville Street area. Its time for fresh and bold thinking about how to revive the heart of Raleigh. The winners in this falls election should be those who offer it. Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com Rare Oropouche virus spotted in several cities for the first time, Cuba authorities say Oropouche fever, a rare mosquito-borne viral disease mostly found in the Amazon region, has been spotted for the first time in Cuba, in Santiago de Cuba and Cienfuegos provinces, the islands health authorities said. Earlier this week, the Cuban Ministry of Health said it had confirmed cases of the illness in the rural town of Songo La Maya and Boniato, on the outskirts of Santiago de Cuba city. The countrys top epidemiology official, Dr. Francisco Duran, said on state television that cases were also found in four municipalities in the province of Cienfuegos in central Cuba: Abreu, Rodas, Aguada, and Cumanayagua. The virus is transmitted by a biting midge called Culicoides paraensis, which Duran said has yet to be found on the island, and by certain Culex mosquitoes that live in hot, humid places like Cuba. The symptoms could be mistaken for dengue fever, another viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that is currently affecting the island, he added. After an incubation period of up to a week, people with the virus may experience fever, headaches, sensitivity to light, rashes, vomiting and bleeding, the Pan American Health Organization said in a warning it issued this month about growing numbers of cases of the disease in the Americas. Usually, the infection resolves by itself in a couple of weeks, but rare complications include meningitis and encephalitis. There are few studies of the virus and no known reports of associated deaths. There are no known cases of the Oropouche virus in the United States. Since February, the Pan American Health Organization has been tracking the increase of cases in the region, including in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia, alongside widespread circulation of the dengue virus. The outbreak was first detected in Brazils Amazonas state and its capital, Manaus. Named after a region in Trinidad and Tobago, where it was first isolated in 1955, the virus uses sloths and primates as hosts. It passes to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito or midge. Scientists warn that because there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the disease, efforts to contain the virus should focus on prevention and control of the mosquito population. The Pan American Health Organization advises taking precautions like draining standing wate, protecting homes with fine-mesh mosquito nets and using repellents. In areas of transmission, insecticide spraying may be an additional measure, especially in urban and peri-urban areas, when technically advisable and feasible, the organization said in its May 9 alert. But Duran said that the fight against the mosquito cannot rely on big fumigation efforts, not because of lack of resources but because really what is needed is a community effort. In the past, Cuba has fought dengue outbreaks with massive fumigation campaigns. But that requires gasoline or another fuel to power the spaying machines, and the island has trouble paying for fuel even to keep the lights on. The severe economic crisis in Cuba makes fighting the disease difficult because of daily blackouts, shortages of medications and medical supplies in hospitals and the lack of affordability and availability of products like insecticides or mesh nets. The breakdown of the garbage collecting system around the country and the accumulation of water in street potholes also pose further challenges. Cubans commenting on social media quickly noted this in reply to Durans television appearance. And when will they fix the streets full of holes with rotten water and the disgusting garbage dumps? asked a YouTube user identified as Raquel Ramirez. No fumigation, for Gods sake.!!! We are going to die. By Felix Njini and Clara Denina JOHANNESBURG/ LONDON (Reuters) - Days after miner BHP launched its takeover bid for rival Anglo American in April, the CEOs of both headed for South Africa, where a condition to divest Anglo's local platinum and iron ore assets was causing a political storm. More than 20% of Anglo shares are held by South African investors, and the London-listed group's presence is deemed of national value in the country, where it was founded in 1917 and employs more than 40,000 people. While Anglo CEO Duncan Wanblad appears to have so far succeeded in enlisting support for his new turnaround strategy, the trip did not work out as well for BHP, which had been caught on the back foot by details of the offer being leaked. After it bowed out of the deal on Wednesday, more than half a dozen people, including investors and ex-mining executives, told Reuters that Anglo was able to rebuff BHP's approaches because the bigger group could not persuade key shareholders including South Africa's Public Investment Corporation to back it. "It's a combination of a structure that would have been extremely challenging to implement, which has significant risk embedded in it, and a lack of sensitivity to the environment in South Africa," said one source familiar with Anglo's defence strategy. "All of which, by the way, (could have been) anticipated." In his first public comments on the takeover bid, BHP CEO Mike Henry told investors at a mining conference in Miami that "our strong preference was to be able to hold these discussions with Anglo in private". "Rather unfortunately, it got leaked," he added. "So the first thing I did was jump on a plane." Henry flew to South Africa with his London banking advisors on May 1, hoping to calm investors after the April 24 leak. He also hoped to meet the government to fully communicate the strategy, a source familiar with the matter said. South Africa's government had been caught off-guard a month before an election by a takeover offer for a company deeply entrenched in the national economy, and mines minister Gwede Mantashe sharply criticised the plan to buy Anglo and spin off its South African assets. The source said the Australian miner had no intention of announcing the approach while South Africa was going through an election. "It should have been played out between the companies," they added. Henry has made no secret of his drive to get Anglo's giant copper mines in Latin America, where BHP also owns assets. Story continues A former director of AngloGold Ashanti, once listed in Johannesburg, said Anglo had known BHP's demands that Anglo Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore be unbundled immediately if a deal went through would face opposition. BHP's calculations underestimated the company's deep ties to South Africa, said Mandi Dungwa, a portfolio manager at Camissa Asset Management in Cape Town. "There is just a certain way these deals are done, particularly in South Africa, with the sensitivities government has - especially when it seems you want to take something away." PLAY ON LEGACY Anglo CEO Duncan Wanblad was meanwhile able to enlist support for his new strategy, unveiled two weeks later, which includes a spin-off of the same platinum mines in South Africa and the sale of coal and diamond assets. At around the same time Henry was flying into South Africa, Wanblad headed to Pretoria, where he had secured a meeting with Mantashe, who also chairs the governing African National Congress party. Anglo, which rejected all of BHP's proposals, including an increased $49 billion one, focused its defence strategy on the value of the deal, playing up how the costs of untangling its South African units would be borne by investors. Wanblad's offer to retain iron ore assets in South Africa was seen as being sensitive to its legacy there, said EMEA head of corporate intelligence at S-RM Ian Massey. Despite his opposition to BHP's plan to break up Anglo, Mantashe rallied to the CEO's new strategy even though it meant spinning off the platinum unit. "I'm happy that they (Anglo) rejected the BHP proposal, and I hope that they will continue resisting BHP," Mantashe told Reuters after Anglo rejected BHP's second approach. "But it is also important for Anglo to restructure itself to get optimal performance of every portfolio in their stable." PRESSURE ON DELIVERY If Anglo's market valuation stays depressed despite Wanblad's plan, the company could still be vulnerable to a takeover, Old Mutual portfolio manager Ian Woodley said. Anglo's shares cratered in November after it announced deeper cost cuts and scaled down its copper growth projections. Those challenges have led analysts to question whether the CEO will be able to improve operational efficiencies. "Duncan's track record hasn't been great, he hasn't demonstrated the ability to be a great performer," Camissa's Dungwa said. "So there is not going to be patience, because you said you can do better compared to what's on the table (from BHP)... that's going to be a tough challenge for him and his team." Anglo needs to meet its targets to sell coal assets, and spin off platinum mines, Woodley added. "If not, the company's vulnerable to all the usual suspects. As a shareholder that should mean a win either way." (Reporting by Felix Njini and Clara Denina; Editing by Veronica Brown, Catherine Evans and Jan Harvey) NEW YORK (Reuters) -A New York jury on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star, making him the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. Here are some reactions to the historic verdict: "This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt. ... We'll keep fighting. We'll fight to the end, and we'll win. ... The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5, by the people. They know what happened here. I am a very innocent man." CAMPAIGN OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON "Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents. "The American people see this as lawfare, and they know it is wrongand dangerous. President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict and he WILL WIN!" IAN SAMS, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL'S OFFICE "We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment." HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JIM JORDAN, REPUBLICAN OF OHIO "The verdict is a travesty of justice. The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Bidens failing radical policies. Americans see through Democrats' lawfare tactics and know President Trump will be vindicated on appeal." US REPRESENTATIVE JERRY NADLER, DEMOCRAT AND RANKING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE "Justice was served in Lower Manhattan... No one is above the law not even a former President. Donald Trump has now been justly convicted of election interference by a jury of his peers and can no longer escape the consequences of his actions. Our nation will not tolerate his attempts to hide his crimes from voters and subvert our elections. Todays conviction on all 34 counts proves what we have known to be true all along Donald Trump is unfit to serve in any elected office, let alone President of the United States." US REPRESENTATIVE ERIC SWALWELL, DEMOCRAT OF CALIFORNIA "Donald Trump is a convicted felon. This verdict is not a win for any single person. Its a win for an idea. The idea that we all follow the same rules. The rule of law won today." Todays verdict shows how corrupt, rigged, and unAmerican the weaponized justice system has become under Joe Biden and Democrats. I fully support President Trump appealing this decision and look forward to a higher New York Court to deliver justice and overturn this verdict. The facts are clear: this was a zombie case illegally brought forward by a corrupt prosecutor doing Joe Bidens political bidding in a desperate attempt to save Joe Bidens failing campaign." HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER STEVE SCALISE, REPUBLICAN OF LOUISIANA Todays verdict is a devastating defeat for any American who believes in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind. It was clear from the beginning that President Biden teamed up with heavily biased DA Alvin Bragg to go after President Bidens political opponent regardless of wrongdoing, while hardened criminals are set free in New York to commit more violent crimes against innocent citizens. This verdict will not withstand an appeal, and was only brought as an attempt to interfere with the 2024 election. The radical partisan Democrats behind this abuse of our justice system will not prevail. The voters will settle this on November 5th. US SENATOR CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, DEMOCRAT OF NEVADA We know that Donald Trump is willing to do anything to protect his own interests, including undermining our elections. No one is above the law, and Im glad to see justice served today." US REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN BOEBERT, REPUBLICAN OF COLORADO "As we all knew, this was ALWAYS about election interference and stopping President Trump from winning his rightful re-election to the White House. The American people see through the Democrat games and know this is a sham verdict. We stand with PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP!" DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY OF CONNECTICUT "Trump toadies are going to attack the jury and the court because they have a plan to dismantle our democracy and it relies on everyone believing the justice system is rigged. It isnt. Donald Trump committed a crime. He got caught. He got convicted. Thats the rule of law." US SENATOR RAND PAUL, REPUBLICAN OF KENTUCKY "How long can our Republic survive once partisans have taken over the judicial process? This verdict will tragically undermine Americans confidence in impartial justice. A sad day for America" US REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SCHIFF, DEMOCRAT OF CALIFORNIA "Guilty. Today, twelve ordinary American citizens found a former president guilty of dozens of felonies. Despite his efforts to distract, delay, and deny justice arrived for Donald Trump all the same. And the rule of law prevailed." FORMER TRUMP NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER JOHN BOLTON, NOW A TRUMP CRITIC "Today's verdict is a fire-bell in the night. The Republican Party now has one last chance to change course, and not nominate a convicted felon for president." US REPRESENTATIVE MATT GAETZ, REPUBLICAN OF FLORIDA "This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA. We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country. US REPRESENTATIVE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, REPUBLICAN OF GEORGIA "Radical leftists & Deepstate Operatives have been orchestrating this SHAM trial from the beginning... What do they do now that President Trump is leading in the polls, and their stunt is failing? You dont see this level of corruption in a banana republic, but its happening in our own backyard. There is NOTHING they fear more than another Trump Presidency. President Trump needs you now more than ever. Every Patriotic American must stand with Trump." "This was a sham trial and the clearest example weve ever seen of election interference. I am furious and no American is safe from Democrat political persecution. Joe Biden and the Democrat machine manufactured a legal case against Trump to win an election. I went to New York to stand with President Trump and the American voters will stand with him this November." US SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, REPUBLICAN OF SOUTH CAROLINA "Im confident that its gonna do more to help him win the White House than hurt him. THE LINCOLN PROJECT, REPUBLICAN ANTI-TRUMP GROUP KNOWN FOR POLITICAL ADS "With todays ruling, Trump is a convicted criminal whos running for president to roll back individual rights and wreck our democracy. Sadly, Trump cant be shamed into doing the right thing by stepping away from the nomination, while his MAGA sycophants care so little for the rule of law that they will join him in his quest for power no matter what laws he breaks or norms he destroys." US REPRESENTATIVE RONNY JACKSON, REPUBLICAN OF TEXAS AND WHITE HOUSE PHYSICIAN UNDER TRUMP "DEMOCRATS JUST DECLARED WAR! Everyone knows this is a POLITICAL VERDICT. This is ELECTION INTERFERENCE at the highest level!! With YOUR HELP - We will WIN & TRUMP WILL TAKE BACK THE WHITE HOUSE!! Please consider chipping in to President Trump; even just $5 can go a LONG WAY. STAND WITH TRUMP." FORMER MARYLAND GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN, NOW RUNNING FOR THE US SENATE "Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders regardless of party must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law." DONALD TRUMP JR. "Such bullshit." RIGHT-WING ACTIVIST TIM POOL "War." (Compiled by Jonathan Oatis; Editing by Daniel Wallis) People across the political spectrum are weighing in after former President Donald Trump was found guilty on counts in the hush money trial in New York. Following the verdict, Trump addressed the media saying he was a very innocent man. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said. Im a very innocent man, and its okay, Im fighting for our country. Im fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent. And I think its just a disgrace. And well keep fighting. Well fight till the end, and well win because our country has gone to hell. We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. Were a nation in decline, serious decline, millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now from prisons and from mental institutions, terrorists, and theyre taking over our country. We have a country thats in big trouble. But this was a rigged decision right from Day One. With a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. Never. And we will fight for our Constitution. This is long from over. President Joe Biden released a statement, saying: In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November. RELATED NEWS: Gov. Brian Kemp posted a comment on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: From the beginning, this prosecution and trial have been driven by partisan politics. Despite todays events, the ultimate verdict is up to the American people on November 5th when they will have a clear choice on the future of our country. In a statement from the head of the Georgia GOP, Josh McKoon said, in part: Todays outcome was preordained by a partisan judge and prosecutor who have critically damaged public confidence in our criminal justice system, perhaps irrevocably. Republicans should not have to fear being in jurisdictions that elect Democrats who will prosecute them for the crime of being Republican, but that is what has happened today. Rep. Nikema Williams, who is also the head of the Georgia Democratic Party, released this statement, saying: Nobody is above the law and todays verdict, while a long time coming, does not change our mission in 2024 to re-elect President Biden to continue his work investing in Georgia, creating jobs and producing more opportunities for everyone. Convicted felon, or not, Donald Trump is the Republican nominee for president, and Georgians cannot afford a second term of our freedoms being ripped away by an unhinged and even more dangerous candidate. Former Georgia U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler Twitter her reaction, saying: An outrage. The ruling party has commandeered the American justice system to keep their opponent from winning the 2024 presidential election. This is tyranny. And no matter what side of the aisle you are on, it is also the reason you MUST vote for Donald Trump this November. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene had this to say: Radical leftists & Deepstate Operatives have been orchestrating this SHAM trial from the beginning What do they do now that President Trump is leading in the polls, and their stunt is failing? You dont see this level of corruption in a banana republic, but its happening in our own backyard. There is NOTHING they fear more than another Trump Presidency. President Trump needs you now more than ever. Channel 2 Action News reached out to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for comment about the verdict, but she did not have one. Trumps Georgia attorney Steve Sadow had no comment as well. RELATED NEWS: Do we really believe in 'no taxation without representation'? Paul F. deLespinasse Americans leading our war for independence complained that they elected no members to the British House of Commons, which had attempted to levy taxes on them. "No taxation without representation" became a popular slogan, and is often still quoted. But do Americans really believe in this generalization? Before American women received the right to vote, were they subject to taxation? I believe they were not exempt. Black people, no longer slaves after the Civil War, still had to pay property taxes even though in many states they were prevented from voting by legislation and/or by sheer terror aimed at those who dared to cast a vote. And when the income tax came in, decades before the 1965 Voting Rights Act, they had to pay that, too. At the present time children are required to pay income tax if their incomes are large enough to to be taxable. And if they are employed, children who are too young to vote will have Social Security and Medicare taxes deducted from their paychecks. Likewise, people who are in prisons remain subject to income tax even though they are ineligible to vote in most states. And in a great many states, even ex-prisoners are not allowed to vote, but they must still pay all taxes due. Non-citizens residing in the United States, legally or illegally, are required to pay taxes, but they cannot vote. "Dreamers," brought without federal permission into the U.S. as young children, must pay income, Social Security and Medicare taxes, but are ineligible to receive Social Security and Medicare. And, of course, they cannot vote. Americans who travel to other parts of the country are often hit with state and local taxes on hotel rooms, auto rentals, etc. that are deliberately aimed at them, perhaps exactly because they cannot vote in those areas. It is hard to believe, given these facts, that Americans really believe in "no taxation without representation." But it is equally hard to see what could be done about reconciling the current facts with the popular slogan. One possible solution would be to allow anybody who pays taxes to vote, be they children, non-citizens, prisoners or former prisoners. While something might be said for allowing all adults to vote without regard to citizenship or imprisonment, extending this right to children would probably be unwise. It might be possible to allow eligible parents to cast additional votes on behalf of their minor children, which would be representation for the kids in some sense of the term. But it would complicate the administration of elections and would be difficult to sell politically. There are principled reasons why the right to vote should not be taken away as punishment for a crime, but unfortunately the Constitution implicitly allows this to be done and so it might require a politically difficult constitutional amendment. Even in states which initiatives have allowed former prisoners to vote, the measure may be sabotaged by the state legislature as has happened recently in Florida. Another approach to eliminating the conflict between our actions and the old slogan could be to amend tax laws to exempt people who are ineligible to vote from paying taxes. But this would create immense opportunities for people to avoid taxes by transferring income or property to their minor children. It would turn resident aliens, legal or "illegal," into privileged people. It would be a reward for crime, which would be inconsistent with the idea that criminals should be punished, not rewarded. On the whole, then, the inconsistency between the slogan "no taxation without representation" and our actual behavior will probably remain with us for the indefinite future. We must therefore conclude that although the slogan sounds good, we don't really believe in it. "Actions speak louder than words." Paul F. deLespinasse is professor emeritus of political science and computer science at Adrian College. He can be reached at pdeles@proaxis.com. This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Paul deLespinasse: 'No taxation without representation'? gorodenkoff / Getty Images You dont have to give up your daily Starbucks trip to save money. According to research from online savings platform Raisin, American households can save up to $11,402 without cutting their daily luxuries. Check Out: Mark Cuban Reveals Why He Keeps a Strict Budget Everyday Read Next: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money How can you save? Raisin explained that one of the easiest ways to save money is by cutting out unused subscriptions like gym memberships and streaming services, which can save about $414 per household, per year. Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them. Top Areas of Potential Financial Waste in America Here are some areas where your money may be wasted, according to Raisin: Bank account charges: $300 (per adult each year). ATM fees: $67 Credit card debt: $501 Low-yield savings accounts: $1,021 Unused streaming subscriptions: $153 Food waste: $610 Delivery service charges: $655 Tobacco: $406 Alcohol: $1,089 Typical financial advice usually tells people to avoid takeout, coffee, evenings out and other unessential expenses, but the best move is mindfulness over austerity, per Raisins report. Learn More: 5 Unnecessary Bills You Should Stop Paying in 2024 Trim the Excess Spending and Reset Your Money Story: Experts Raisin U.S. president Ben McLaughlin recommended that people trim the fat from their spending, rather than eliminate it completely. When we set unrealistic expectations for saving, we get discouraged and can go completely off track when we fail, McLaughlin said. Instead of saying, Im never going to go to a coffee shop or eat at a restaurant ever again, take stock of what small luxuries are truly important to you and enjoy them. Live your life. And make smarter choices in other areas. Recently, Americans have made big changes to their spending habits. A Wells Fargo survey found that most Americans have had to make major adjustments due to the economy. The inaugural Wells Fargo Money Study found that 67% of Americans say theyve had to cut back on spending, and 35% have dipped into savings and investments. According to Raisin, one way consumers can save without depriving themselves of their daily luxuries is to cut out unnecessary finance fees, such as ATM fees, as well as bank account fees like maintenance charges, withdrawal and transfer fees, and overdraft fees. Another option is to move your savings to a high-yield savings account. Raisin said Americans miss out on $1,021 per person by keeping their money in a low-interest account. Michael Liersch, head of advice and planning for Wells Fargo, said resetting your money story can be overwhelming because it might feel like you need to make big changes all at once. Story continues The fact is that its small, incremental changes like being more intentional about how you spend just on one thing, or saving even seemingly small dollar amounts like $50 or $100 per month that tend to make sustainable positive steps toward accomplishing your goals, Liersch explained. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How American Households Can Save Up To $11,402 Without Cutting Daily Luxuries A May 16 ralley featuring New Mexico Democrats Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, at the lectern, and Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, and Guams Republican House delegate, James Moylan, along with advocates. Downwinders and members of Congress are continuing to call on Republican leadershipt to vote on expanding Radiation Exposure Compensation Fund, which expires June 10. (Ashley Murray / States Newsroom) Republican House leadership flip-flopped on a program to compensate people the federal government exposed to radiation, as advocates held their stance that now is the best chance to adopt an expansion in the program. On Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-California) announced they intended to only continue the Radiation Exposure and Compensation Act for two years and would not support adding people from Missouri, New Mexico and elsewhere. In a statement, Johnson said he would not support the expansion passed by the Senate because it was too expensive and didnt include enough support from the Senate GOP. Unfortunately, the current Senate bill is estimated to cost $50-60 billion in new mandatory spending with no offsets and was supported by only 20 of 49 Republicans in the Senate, a spokesperson for the Speakers office gave to Source NM. Then, Johnson and Scalise walked back the decision to keep RECA as is and pulled a motion from the House calendar on Wednesday evening, citing conversations with Rep. Anne Wagner (R-Missouri). However, its unclear from Johnsons statements if any vote will be held on RECA before the fund is set to expire on June 10. His office did not respond to follow up questions clarifying his position on RECA. Advocates meanwhile are reframing this latest hurdle as another opportunity that could actually lead to New Mexicans and others across the country joining the RECA program and receive some justice for the generational harms caused by the U.S. atomic program. What is at stake Adopted in 1990, RECA is a fund set up by the federal government to pay lump-sum payments for people exposed to radiation and their descendents during decades of above-ground nuclear tests in the American West. Currently, the program only applies to uranium workers before 1971. It also helps civilians in specific counties of Utah, Arizona and Nevada and federal workers at nuclear test sites. A lot of people remain excluded. This includes St. Louis communities used as dumping grounds for Manhattan Project Waste, Southern New Mexicans who lived near the Trinity Site, uranium workers after 1971 or the others living downwind of nuclear testing sites. These communities, while experiencing cancers, diseases, deaths and more, have been neither recognized, nor compensated. Their chance to be recognized is held in proposed legislation before the House which seeks to increase the scope and life of the program. S. 3853 which passed the Senate in a 69-30 vote in March was carried by Missouri and New Mexico Congressmembers. The bill would incorporate the entire states of Nevada, Utah and Arizona, and further expands RECA to cover people in Idaho, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico and Guam. Uranium workers and their descendants on the Navajo Nation and Laguna Pueblo who worked after 1971 would also then be eligible for lump-sum payments for health care. House Speaker plays reverse card The reversal by Rep. Johnson exposes a tension: do advocates whove been fighting for inclusion opt to keep the current limited program, or continue to fight for expansion? Its time to fight for a more-inclusive RECA, said Tina Cordova, a longtime advocate for Southern New Mexicans and their families suffering from radiation exposure after the first nuclear test at the Trinity Site. That two-year extension was going to do nothing, but take away that momentum weve built, she said. Advocates accepted a two year extension of the program in 2022, she said, because there didnt feel like a better alternative. She said with bipartisan support, the stakes are higher in 2024. We cant allow them to pass an extension and think theyre going to move us along, she said. We knew what it was, its a further extension of the injustice done to so many people. Cordova, a cancer survivor, said that while the RECA fund is set to expire in June, that lawmakers said they can offer small extensions while negotiating the expansion under the Senate bill. In the last two years, weve lost so many people, she said. Whats worse is that more people are dying all the time, waiting. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.) told Source NM Wednesday that Johnsons move to pull the extension bill that excluded so many was the right thing. But that view relies on the House bringing forward the expansion proposal passed by the Senate. Lets vote on the bipartisan expansion bill that gives all victims of radiation exposure compensation before any more die, Leger Fernandez said in a statement. Leger Fernandez said Johnsons focus on costs ignores the injustice of harms caused by building and testing nuclear bombs, in New Mexico and elsewhere. Continuously pointing to the bills cost without good-faith negotiations is an additional insult on top of denying justice to radiation-exposed victims, she wrote. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said Tuesday that Congress cannot let the RECA program expire. The Tularosa downwinders and uranium miners have experienced the real-life costs of radiation exposure for generations. They dont need lectures now on costs from House Republicans; they need RECA reauthorized and expanded, Heinrich said in a written statement. Its long overdue for the House to take up and pass our legislation to get this done. Last week, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) brought forward an extension which would have admitted New Mexico and Missouri communities into the program. It failed after the objections of Republican Sen. Josh Hawley from Missouri and Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), who co-sponsored the RECA expansion bill. I want to be clear. I will not consent to any short-term stopgap, any half- way measure. I will not give my consent to it, Hawley said on the floor. Lujan said Lees bill was an attempt to undermine the strong bipartisan coalition, which passed the RECA expansion, and said he believed there was support in the House. Downwinders from Utah and beyond criticized Lees bill, saying that lawmakers were denying fallout had affected constituents across the state. After the measures failure, Lee said We have got to deal with this. I will be back. Cordova said she fully supported Lujan and Hawleys rejection of RECA expanding to only New Mexico and Missouri in Lees proposal, saying it is a point of solidarity with other downwinders. I fully trust that we will get the extension in the end, if necessary, she said. In a statement, Adan Serna, spokesperson for Lujan said the Senator is considering all possible options to keep the RECA program alive, including potentially bringing an extension. But focus is on what the House will do with the Senate legislation. The best possible option to strengthen RECA and provide justice for victims is for the House to pass the standalone bill, Serna said. The post RECA faces sunset June 10 while its future remains in limbo appeared first on Source New Mexico. With recanvasses behind them, two primary winners look to November A live feed shows Jefferson County Clerk employees conducting a recanvass Thursday. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) LOUISVILLE About a week after Kentuckys primary election, two races were recanvassed, but their outcomes did not change. Though results still need to be certified, Aaron Reed won the Republican primary in the 7th Senate District and William Woody Zorn won the Democratic primary in the 36th House District. Secretary of State Michael Adams said on social media that the elections had no changes. Both Reed and Zorn watched the recanvass at the Jefferson County Clerk Elections Center on Thursday. The districts include parts of Jefferson County. Senate District 7 Reed defeated incumbent Sen. Adrienne Southworth and Ed Gallerin, who was backed by Republican Senate leadership. Reed had 118 votes more than Gallerin, or about a 1% difference. After the recanvass concluded, Reed said he was glad that process was over. I think a lot of people thought I was the incumbent to tell you the truth because I had been running so long, Reed said. He added that he has been working on his campaign for three years, even before the 7th Senate District was redistricted to include part of Jefferson County and Anderson, Shelby and Henry counties. Reed said he resonated with voters in the district who are the average Joe, regular guys. Reed owns gun shops, is a retired Navy SEAL and is a father of six. He is now looking toward the November election as he faces Democratic opponent Rhonda Davis. Reed said he plans to get to know voters in Jefferson County more in the months ahead as he received 546 votes in that county. Reed said he will join the Senate with a few allies in the legislature, if elected. Rep. John Hodgson, the Republican incumbent in the 36th House District, joined Reed at the election center Thursday. The districts overlap and the two Republicans will have campaign events together. If elected to the Senate, Reed said he plans to focus on education. He supports a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would allow the General Assembly to fund nonpublic schools, known as Amendment 2. If the amendment passes in November, that topic is likely to move forward in the 2025 legislative session, which would also be Reeds first session if he wins the general election. Reed said implementing school choice in Kentucky could increase competition among schools. House District 36 Zorn, who defeated Colin Daugherty McDowell by a five-vote difference, said he will meet voters where they are to unify them behind him heading to November. Zorn will face Hodgson in the general election. Zorn said he ultimately won his primary because of his familys public service background. His grandfather, Wilson Wyatt, was mayor of Louisville in the 1940s and his father was a police officer. If elected to the House, Zorn plans to shine a light on issues facing public schools and actually have them do something about it. A teacher at Hebron Middle School, Zorn said the constitutional amendment about funding nonpublic schools is intertwined with his election. I think that they (voters) can make two moves against this by, one, voting against the amendment and, two, putting another public school educator into the legislature, Zorn said. Zorn said another lawmaker he will closely align with would be Rep. Tina Bojanowski. Shes another Louisville Democrat who is a public school teacher and serves on the House Education Committee. Kentuckys general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. The post With recanvasses behind them, two primary winners look to November appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. African grass rats, such as this one, may be suited to a warmer climate. Nik Borrow via Flickr Some species may be better able to withstand climate change than was previously thought. Thats because these species have changed little since the last warm period on Earth. By the end of this century, the planet is expected to be around as warm as it was 130,000 years ago. Species that arose during this time would be able to withstand a hotter climate, scientists say. This is particularly relevant in the tropics, where heat is reaching new extremes. Warming will diminish the variety of plants and animals residing in tropical lands, but by how much? Past research suggests these areas will see, on average, a 54 percent drop in the number of resident species. But a new modeling study, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, puts that figure at 39 percent. The study offers hope for some tropical species facing down a hotter future, though the findings are, researchers note, only a marginal improvement on previous estimates. The study also doesnt account for other threats to wildlife, such as pollution, overhunting, or the loss of wilderness. And for species in cold or even temperate climates, the findings offer little comfort. These species are already living at the limit of their climatic niche and will not be able to tolerate significantly warmer temperatures, said study coauthor Olivier Broennimann, of the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. That is a sure thing. ALSO ON YALE E360 Octopuses Are Highly Intelligent. Should They Be Farmed for Food? Remains of American missionaries killed in Haiti returning to U.S. (KSN/KODE) The remains of two missionaries killed in Haiti are headed back to the United States. Natalie and Davy Lloyd were murdered by gangs in Haiti last Thursday. Natalie is the daughter of Missouri State Representative Ben Baker. Weve learned Natalie and Davys remains left Haiti Thursday morning on a flight for the United States. They will make a number of layovers and their remains will arrive in Neosho Friday afternoon. The families have asked for privacy during the transport. Funeral services for Natalie and Davy will be early next week. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attempted to thwart those danged libs who keep trying to hold Donald Trump to account on Thursday. But it didnt go so well because of a little detail called evidence. It all started when the controversial Georgia congresswoman sent a social media post while a New York City jury deliberated in the former presidents hush money trial. Greene wasnt happy that the same demented democrats that are abusing our justice systems to try to make Pres Trump a felon are refusing the prosecute the people who are allegedly on a client list of notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein that so far has never been produced. (Court documents made public earlier this year did not link Trump to any wrongdoing.) The same demented democrats that are abusing our justice systems to try to make Pres Trump a felon refuse to prosecute Epsteins client list. Just think about that. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) May 30, 2024 Its possible Greene thought she had a solid case. Instead, many people reminded Greene that her fearless leader was actually pretty good friends with Epstein for a time. Donald Trump and his then-girlfriend, Melania Knauss (left), with Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Feb. 12, 2000. Davidoff Studios Photography via Getty Images And, yes, there were receipts. Good point, I'm sure Trump will be thrilled with more indictments Auntie Smartassy (@AuntSassyAss) May 30, 2024 Yeah, we are starting with Epstein's best friend. pic.twitter.com/1vrMUsSHJi Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) May 30, 2024 We are thinking about Trump and Epstein This your guy? https://t.co/QydZvqrF4t Travis Matthew (@Matthewtravis08) May 30, 2024 Related... Rep. Richard Hudson called the verdict in President Donald Trumps hush-money trial a complete and total SHAM after a jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The American people know that this verdict is election interference and the Biden admin is behind all of it, Hudson, a North Carolina Republican who leads the National Republican Congressional Committee, posted to social media, repeating conspiracy theories about Trumps 2024 opponent. I stand with President Trump. The trial was in a state-level case spearheaded by a New York district attorney, not one brought by the Biden administration at the federal level. Trump also faces federal charges in separate cases. Trump became, on Thursday, the first former U.S. president convicted of a felony. And North Carolina lawmakers reacted quickly in both social media posts and news releases. Many reactions defended Trump, insulted the prosecution and spread conspiracy theories. Others applauded the functioning of the judicial system. Trumps New York hush money trial Since April 22, jurors have listened to evidence and testimony accusing Trump of falsifying business records connected to $130,000 spent to stop adult film star Stormy Daniels from discussing an alleged sexual encounter she and Trump had prior to the 2016 election. On Thursday, those jurors announced that they had reached a verdict and that Trump was guilty on all counts. This came just moments before the judge was set to send them home for the evening. Rep. Deborah Ross, a Democrat from Wake County, wrote on social media that this is how the legal system is supposed to work. A jury of his peers deliberated the facts and came to this unanimous decision, Ross posted on social media. The bottom line is that no one is above the law. The prosecution laid out a case to the jurors that Trump made the payments to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election and committed tax fraud. Defense attorneys argued that Trump, who pleaded not guilty, made the payments to shield family members from embarrassment. Trump served as president from 2017-2021, but lost his 2020 reelection bid to President Joe Biden. That led to conspiracy theories of voter fraud and an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, where supporters of Trump tried to stop the certification of Bidens election. Trump faces another 54 charges across three cases, including some stemming from his role in the attempts to overturn Bidens election. Trump will be sentenced in this case at 10 a.m. July 11, just days before the Republican National Committees convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He is 77 years old. Reaction from NC politicians Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican, posted that he was shocked by the verdict and that the case should have never been brought forward. From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals, Tillis said. I expect and hope that President Trump will appeal this verdict to address fundamental questions, including whether President Trump received a fair trial and whether the Manhattan D.A. even had jurisdiction on a federal election matter. Republican Sen. Ted Budd called the verdict, a total disgrace and said other officials turned down prosecuting the case because Trump committed no crime. President Trump deserves the same Constitutional rights as any American, Budd said. But from the start, this was a rigged charade designed to weaponize the justice system to interfere in the presidential election and hurt President Trump. If Americans can be found guilty of a crime based on underlying allegations that were never charged, all of our constitutional rights are at risk. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican, said in a news release that the district attorney engaged in legal alchemy that has set a very damning precedent and said that the verdicts are steeped in partisan animus. She said she believes the verdicts will be thrown out on appeal, but the damage to Trump has been done. This is beyond outrageous, Foxx said. The rule of law has long served as the foundation for our country, but today, a dark, new chapter has been opened one where judicial warfare is given a higher priority than fairness. Rep. David Rouzer, a Republican, said the trial had weak evidence, questionable witnesses and bent rules. He called it a failure of what is suppose to be an impartial judicial process. Rep. Dan Bishop, a Republican, said Americans will have the ultimate verdict when they vote Trump back into office. Election Day is Nov. 5, and the conviction does not prevent Trump from running for office. Rep. Greg Murphy, a Republican recovering from surgery on a tumor near his brain, said, We are officially now a banana republic, using a derogatory term used to describe tyrannical countries in the tropics. Rep. Wiley Nickel, a Democrat, said in a news release that the American people had been lied to enough by the former President. Its no wonder that trust in government is at an all-time low, Nickel said. Im glad to finally have some honesty and truth from this verdict so that our country can begin to heal from President Trumps divisive rhetoric and extremism. Donald Trump should never be in a position of power again. The case Trumps trial began on April 15 with jury selection. Trump was required to attend each day, and was the first former president to ever be held in contempt of court for violating a gag order. The judge found Trump in violation of the gag order 10 times. Video cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, leaving the public to rely on reporters inside to detail what was happening. Trump chose not to testify during the trial. (Bloomberg) -- Top Republicans are warning the Biden administration against tapping into the nations strategic oil reserve to bring down gasoline prices with five months to go before the presidential election. Most Read from Bloomberg The message, sent in a letter Wednesday to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, comes as Biden administration officials have hinted they may be willing to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to tamp down gasoline prices amid forecasts for a spike this summer. The average price of gasoline in the US has surged 15% this year and the summer driving season is only beginning. It is clear President Biden, and the DOE will continue to use the SPR as a political tool to offset high gas prices with no regard to the implications on the energy and national security of the United States, the letter said. It was signed by Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Senator John Barrasso, the top Republicans on the respective House and Senate energy committees. The letter comes amid lingering anger among Republicans about the administrations move to release a record 180 million barrels from the reserve in 2022, which the GOP said was designed to lower gasoline prices before the midterm elections. The release contributed to a total sale of 290 million barrels from the reserve, bringing it to its lowest level since the 1980s. An Energy Department spokeswoman referred to remarks made by Granholm during congressional testimony last week, in which she reiterated the 2022 release was needed to respond to a disruption in global supply created after Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Biden administration has also said that a portion of the other sales were mandated by Congress as a means to pay for unrelated legislation. The Energy Department has been slowly refilling the more than 700 million-barrel-strong cache, which was created in the wake of the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s. It currently holds about 370 million barrels, according to government data. (Updates with Energy Department response in sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Fact checked by Nick BlackmerFact checked by Nick Blackmer Older women with heart disease are less likely to be treated with cholesterol-lowering drugs than men. Regardless of gender, guidelines suggest adults should try taking a statin, or should take a statin with another cholesterol-lowering medication, to manage or prevent heart disease. It's not clear why the disparity exists, but experts say it could have something to do with women being more reluctant to take statins over side effect concerns. Women are less likely than men to receive cholesterol-lowering drugs that could protect their health, according to a new study. Specifically, as compared to older men, older women with heart disease arent treated as often with statins or other cholesterol-lowering medications, despite the fact that the treatment is recommended for both genders. The new research also found that women are less likely to be prescribed both statins and ezetimibe, another cholesterol-lowering drug if statins alone arent helping. The findings were presented at a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) conference in April, but have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. While this is not the first study to show sex disparities in statin therapy, the first important thing to note is that despite studies showing this again and again, the problem is not getting better, said Alexander Turchin, MD, associate professor of diabetes, endocrinology, and hypertension at Brigham and Womens Hospital. We need to urgently understand why this is happening and how we can serve our female patients better, he told Health. Heres what experts had to say about the new research, why gender disparities persist in heart disease care, and how to best protect your health. dragana991 / Getty Images Proven Treatments for Heart Disease, But Fewer Women Use Them People with a specific type of heart disease called coronary artery disease often have elevated LDL cholesterol levels, putting them at high risk for heart attacks. Because of this, these patients can usually benefit from taking some kind of cholesterol-lowering drug. For people who can tolerate them, statins are usually a go-to treatment and work by reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood. If statins alone dont help someone get to optimal levels, patients are usually encouraged to add another cholesterol-lowering drug called ezetimibe to their treatment plan. Target levels for LDL cholesterol are the same for men and women. Though these guidelines are clear, this new research suggests a gap in treatment for women with heart disease. Researchers from Sweden looked at 1,037 men and 415 women who were diagnosed with coronary artery disease between 2012 and 2020. The male and female participants were, on average, 68 years old and 70 years old, respectively. None of them had experienced a heart attack. The research team followed up with participants three years after their diagnosis and found that 54% of women were using cholesterol-lowering drugs, as compared to 74% of men. And just 5% of women were taking a statin and ezetimibe, while 8% of men were taking both medications. Additionally, this research found that the sex disparity increases with time, with more women than men discontinuing statin therapy, Turchin explained. Across all ages, medication usage was highest after people were diagnosed, but it went down over the following yearsand the dip was most profound in women. For instance, 65% of women under 60 were taking cholesterol-lowering drugs the week after their diagnosis. Three years later, only 52% were still taking their medication. For men under 60, medication usage was much more stable79% were taking it immediately after diagnosis, and 78% still were years later. Overall, men were more apt than women to reach their LDL cholesterol targets. Our findings should be a wake-up call about the undertreatment of women with heart disease, Nina Johnston, MD, PhD, study author and researcher from Uppsala University in Sweden, said in a press release. Equal prescribing practices are needed so that women receive all recommended therapies and are protected from adverse outcomes. Related: How Is High Cholesterol Treated? A Pervasive Issue for Women with Heart Disease This new research follows a long line of studies that have found treatment disparities between men and women with heart disease. Over two decades ago, Michael Miller, MD, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine, similarly found that womens treatment for heart disease lagged behind significantly. The new study extends these findings by including non-statin therapies (such as ezetimibe), that were not available when our study was done, Miller told Health. More recently, a 2019 report noted 67% of women were on a statin compared to about 78% of men. That same study showed about 19% of the women said they hadnt previously been offered a statin compared to roughly 14% of men. Women were also more likely to decline statins and were less likely to agree that they drugs were safe and effective. Additionally, a 2023 study found that, among older adults with high cardiovascular risk, women were less likely to start statin therapy. Yet another trial showed that fewer women achieved their LDL cholesterol and blood pressure goals when researchers compared therapies. Related: Statins Can Help Prevent Heart Attacks and StrokesSo Why Aren't More People Taking Them? Why Are Women Less Likely to Be Treated for Heart Disease? Johnston told Health that her team is investigating why these disparities exist, and that further research is needed. One possible explanation, Johnston said, is that women may be less likely to undergo a revascularization process, or receive a stent. These patients are always evaluated by cardiologists, and tend to have higher usage rates of cholesterol-lowering drugs, especially as compared to patients who are only treated by primary care doctors, she explained. Concerns about side effects could be another driver of these disparities, experts agreed. For one, Johnston said, more women than men report side effects of statins. Hearing stories about these side effectswhich include muscle aches, fatigue, headache, and morecould make some women afraid to try the drugs, Turchin explained. Some women may believe that supplements can work better, or that statins have devastating side effects, neither of which are true except in very rare circumstances, Miller added. Another reason why women may hesitate: They typically develop heart disease at an older age than men do, and may be reluctant to add another medication to their routine, said Turchin. Older people are generally the most likely to get a heart attack or a stroke, he added. They need more protection from them, not less. Taking Charge of Your Heart Health Determining whether you need statins or other cholesterol-lowering medications depends on each individual. U.S. guidelines recommend doctors prescribe statins to anyone ages 40 to 75 who has a higher risk of a cardiovascular disease and at least one risk factor for heart disease, such as diabetes or hypertension. Statins should be started once a diagnosis of coronary artery disease is made, or earlier in patients at high cardiovascular risk, said Johnston. If youre concerned about how gender may be impacting your care, Miller suggested asking your healthcare provider to confirm that women should be getting the same treatment for heart disease as men. If the provider is unclear, seek out a different doctor, he said. Its also important that physicians take concerns about statin side effects seriously. If it means more women take the drugs, it may be helpful for doctors to slowly increase medication doses in female patients over time, Johnston explained. The importance of statin treatment in coronary artery disease needs to be explained to all patients, but especially women who appear to be more skeptical as to the benefits, she said. Related: Over 40% of US Adults With High Cholesterol Don't Know It and Aren't Getting Treatment For more Health.com news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Health.com. (Bloomberg) -- The American Civil Liberties Union alleged in a complaint to regulators that a large consulting firm is selling AI-powered hiring tools that discriminate against job candidates on the basis of disability and race, despite marketing these services to businesses as bias free. Most Read from Bloomberg Aon Consulting, Inc., a firm that works with Fortune 500 companies and sells a mix of applicant screening software, has made false or misleading claims that its tools are fair, free of bias and can increase diversity, the ACLU alleged in a complaint to the US Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday, a copy of which was reviewed by Bloomberg. In its complaint, the ACLU said Aons algorithmically driven personality test, ADEPT-15, relies on questions that adversely impact autistic and neurodivergent people, as well as people with mental health disabilities. Aon also offers an AI-infused video interviewing system and a gamified cognitive assessment service that are likely to discriminate based on race and disability, according to the complaint. The ACLU is calling on the FTC to open an investigation into Aons practices, issue an injunction and provide other necessary relief to affected parties.We are committed to building solutions that enable our clients to make inclusive hiring decisions, a company spokesperson said in a statement to Bloomberg. The design and implementation of our assessment solutions which clients use in addition to other screenings and reviews follow industry best practices as well as EEOC, legal and professional guidelines. We are monitoring new and proposed laws and regulatory guidance to ensure that our solutions remains in compliance.The spokesperson also pushed back on the ACLUs characterization of its personality test, saying Aon designed the system to avoid measuring clinical traits of autistic and neurodivergent individuals, consistent with the requirements of the Americans with Disability Act. A growing body of research and reporting, including an analysis by Bloomberg News, has found that artificial intelligence tools are prone to bias and can have unintended and far-reaching consequences in HR and hiring. But the tech is being actively marketed in these sectors as a solution to streamline recruiting. In an executive order last year, President Biden highlighted the risk of AI worsening hiring discrimination. To date, however, there has been little federal action on this issue. Aon isnt the only company that provides AI-powered applicant screening software to firms. The industry for automated applicant tracking systems has been around for over a decade, and includes other players such as human resource consulting firms Towers Watson & Co. and Mercer Human Resource Consulting LLC. But the ACLU, by analyzing publicly available technical documentation about Aons systems and other materials, was able to zero in on what it said were bias problems embedded in Aons software. The ACLU said the filing is part of its broader push to take on discrimination issues from AI hiring software and other automated technologies. Its a core priority, said Olga Akselrod, a senior staff attorney in the racial justice program at the ACLU, in an interview. The ACLU and other civil rights groups are carefully watching this space and are prepared to take action. A months-long investigation The ACLU said that Aon first came to its attention when the group agreed to represent an autistic, biracial job seeker who encountered some of Aons assessment services during an application process. The ACLU began an investigation into the companys practices around September. In one example, the ACLU said it found part of Aons ADEPT-15 personality test asked candidates to choose between two statements about their personality they most agree with, on a spectrum. Some of the statements in the test have significant overlap with statements in screening tools commonly used by clinicians to aid in the identification of autistic traits and to support a diagnosis, the ACLU said. (Aon pushed back on this characterization.) You cant discount the impact of being asked these questions that are so closely related to a disability you have and just feeling like the employer and the vendor are targeting you, said Brian Dimmick, a senior staff attorney in the ACLUs disability rights program. That reinforces a lot of the discrimination that people with autism and other mental health disabilities already face every day. In another example, the ACLU found that documentation for gridChallenge, Aons gamified cognitive assessment tool, showed applicants who were Asian, Black, Hispanic or Latino, or of two or more ethnicities, all scored lower than White assessment-takers on average. The largest disparity in average scores was between White and Black applicants who took the assessment, the ACLU said. People with disabilities and people of color already experience significant barriers in the job market and in the workplace, Maria Town, president and chief executive officer of the American Association of People with Disabilities, said in a statement. Aons employment tools exacerbate this discrimination under the deceptive guise of reducing bias. Once the ACLU uncovered these findings, it filed charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency enforcing laws that have made discrimination illegal in the workplace. At some point after this move, Aon made some of its technical documentation inaccessible to the public, Akselrod said. Screened out Among Aons global clients are Procter & Gamble, Deloitte and some parts of Amazon. The ACLU noted Aons marketing materials state that annually, the company administers more than 30 million assessments in over 40 languages across 90 countries. Though the consulting firm provides an array of human resource services to employers around the world, the ACLU said it was unclear which of Aons clients use the particular services that the organization identified in its investigation. Companies that rely on Aon for hiring software not only risk missing out on highly qualified candidates, but also on people who could bring diversity and a special perspective to the workforce that would otherwise be absent, Dimmick said. Applicants, meanwhile, are missing out on vital opportunities and may not even know it.People are not getting jobs that they are qualified for, and in many cases arent even having their qualifications judged by humans theyre just screened out by these tools, Dimmick said. They may never know why they were screened out. Larkin Taylor-Parker, the legal director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, said she has typically seen AI-powered assessment tools show up in entry-level roles. What this ends up doing is keeping members of our community from even getting a start in life, and from doing even the most menial kinds of jobs you can imagine, she said. That has a very real economic impact on disabled people in this country. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A transgender Pride flag is covered with the words "Hands Off Trans Youth" at Washington Square Park, where hundreds people gathered for a march to mark Transgender Day of Visibility. Hundreds of people gathered at Washington Square Park in New Orleans on March 31, 2023, for a march to mark Transgender Day of Visibility. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) A controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill restricting what names and pronouns transgender and nonbinary students can use in K-12 schools was approved Wednesday in the Louisiana Senate, placing it two steps away from becoming law. House Bill 121 by Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, prohibits the use of transgender and nonbinary youths chosen names and pronouns in K-12 public schools without parental permission. It passed on a 27-9 vote, with Democratic Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews of Monroe joining Republicans in supporting the bill. Crews bill would require teachers and other school personnel to use a students given name and pronouns that align with their birth sex unless a student has permission from their parents to use their chosen name. Though the proposal has been promoted as a parental rights bill, it also gives a teacher the ability to decline to use a transgender students preferred name and pronouns if the teacher has a religious objection. The bill was amended in the Senate to define a students legal name as a persons name as may be evidenced on his original birth certificate issued at or near the time of birth, meaning a teacher with a religious objection could decline to use a transgender students name and pronouns even if they have their birth certificate legally changed. By mandating discriminatory measures in our schools, this legislation not only strips trans students of their fundamental rights but also fosters a climate of fear and exclusion, Peyton Rose Michelle, executive director of Louisiana Trans Advocates, said in a statement. Louisiana deserves better than laws that undermine the dignity of its youth. In an interview, Crews said that while his bill supports parental rights, parents should not be able to eclipse somebody elses religious rights. Crews bill does not have an exception for those who have a religious objection to deadnaming or misgendering students. Deadnaming is when someone uses a transgender or nonbinary persons birth name or dead name against their wishes. Misgendering occurs when someone refers to an individual as a gender that they do not identify. This bill is a grave violation of parental rights by prioritizing the moral objections of others over the fundamental rights of transgender students to be recognized by their chosen names, pronouns and identities, SarahJane Guidry, executive director of LGBTQ+ rights group Forum for Equality said when the bill came up in committee. This legislation sets a dangerous and discriminatory precedent. While the bill would allow parents to request a classroom change if a teacher disregards their permission for their transgender or nonbinary child to use their name or pronouns, it does not require the change. Advocates have argued classroom switching might not be feasible in smaller schools. At the core of Crews proposal is his belief that parents have the right to know whether their children are transgender. Advocates for the LGBTQ+ community say the bill would force transgender youth to out themselves to their parents or else be deadnamed and misgendered at school. They have raised concerns about what happens when parents find out and dont approve. A survey from the Trevor Project found 38% of transgender women, 39% of transgender men and 35% of nonbinary youth have experienced homelessness as a result of parental rejection. When asked if he thought the bill would have a detrimental impact on transgender youth, Sen. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, who was tasked with carrying the bill in the Senate, argued it would have a positive impact. If theyre a male, and they want to be called she, theres probably something wrong with them, so lets call them a he, Seabaugh said. Seabaugh also argued the bill will reduce bullying, as he believes a transgender student is opening themselves up to bullying by identifying with a gender that differs with their sex assigned at birth. Crews bill has to go back to the House of Representatives for another vote because it was amended by the Senate, where it is likely to receive another vote of approval. The bill is supported by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Restrictions on transgender students pronouns, names clear Louisiana Senate appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. Retired Fayette teacher appeals decision to cut chorus at the school where he taught A retired teacher upset about the elimination of chorus at Lexingtons Morton Middle School said he is taking his appeal to the Fayette County Public Schools board. It will be the second round of such deliberations for the school board. On May 13, the board denied the appeal of a parent against the elimination of art courses at Cassidy Elementary School. The school council and superintendent made previous denials. Cassidy and Morton sit side-by-side on Tates Creek Road in one of Lexingtons high-end neighborhoods. Cassidy received the highest possible rating in Kentuckys school accountability system in 2022-2023, and Morton, the second-highest. The elimination of the courses at the two schools have led to criticism resulting in community initiatives to help mitigate the losses. After retired Morton teacher Mark Russell appealed the Morton decision making councils elimination of chorus, he received a letter May 21 from Fayette schools chief legal officer Shelley Chatfield saying his appeal had been denied. Chatfield said in the letter which Russell provided to the Herald-Leader that under district policies and procedures, an appeal of a school council decision has to be made within 10 days. In this case, Mortons council made the decision on March 18. Chatfields letter indicated that Russell did not make the appeal in time. Russell said he appealed the Morton school councils decision to Superintendent Demetrus Liggins one week before his appeal was denied. On Wednesday, Russell told the Herald-Leader he is appealing to the school board because the school district cannot offer a world-class education when school councils are allowed to cut programs such as art and chorus. This decision is forcing some parents to seek education in these areas in private schools, said Russell. In sum, I want Superintendent Liggins to stand behind the promise of a world-class education for all students. Art and chorus should not be viewed as courses that can be cut at will, but rather as indispensable to the education of all FCPS students. In response to Russell saying he would appeal to the School Board, district spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith said Wednesday, The board has not heard the appeal of Mark Russell, therefore there is no official statement from them. Earlier in May, the School Board approved a tentative $801.8 million budget. Davidson-Smith has previously said the district has not cut its budget. She said student enrollment numbers and projections directly impact the staffing allocation made for each school. If the student enrollment number goes up, the staffing allocation also goes up. If that student enrollment number goes down, so does the staffing allocations. School decision-making councils make decisions about staffing allocations. Free lessons offered Local musician David McLean is offering students free guitar lessons as a result of the cuts because arts education of all kinds is absolutely crucial. Im not arrogant enough to think that offering free lessons actually solves the problem, but its a step in the right direction. Im hoping other instructors art, dance, theater, music, literature will maybe join me by I offering free workshops or clinics or classes. Maybe that will peer pressure those in charge of budgets to fix the problem, McLean said. Clearly the arts are woven into being human. Given that, the idea of cutting arts education seems nothing short of ridiculous, he said. Reuters: France could soon send its military instructors to Ukraine, sources say Paris could soon send its military trainers to Ukraine despite concerns of some Western allies, Reuters reported on May 30, citing three undisclosed sources in diplomatic circles. France may announce its decision next week during a visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to Reuters. Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on May 27 that Kyiv has been discussing with France and other countries the possible presence of foreign instructors on the ground in Ukraine. Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said earlier on the same day that he had already signed documents "that will allow the first French instructors to visit training centers soon." "The arrangements are very advanced, and we could expect something next week," one of the sources told Reuters. Paris hopes to establish and lead a coalition of states to assist Kyiv in such a way despite the fears of some European Union partners that it may provoke a direct conflict with Russia. France plans to initially send a limited number of personnel to assess the modalities of a mission before involving several hundred trainers, Reuters said, referring to two diplomats. Training would focus on demining, keeping equipment operational, and technical expertise for warplanes to be provided by the West, the sources said. The French government would also finance, arm, and train a Ukrainian motorized brigade, according to the news agency. The Ukrainian president will arrive in Paris on June 6 on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied soldiers landed in Normandy to drive out Nazi German forces during World War II. The next day, Zelensky will hold talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Some NATO member states are discussing the possibility of sending military instructors or contractors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian troops and assist with equipment repairs, the New York Times reported in mid-May. Kyiv has asked the U.S. and other NATO countries to help train 150,000 soldiers closer to the front lines, the outlet wrote. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said in late May that "there are countries who are training soldiers on the ground already," without naming any specific countries or providing any further details on their purported operations in Ukraine. Read also: Macron says he would consider sending troops to Ukraine in case of Russian breakthrough, Ukrainian request Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Richmond Co. man sentenced to nearly 15 years in federal prison after drug trafficking, gun possession conviction AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) A Richmond County man has been sentenced to nearly 15 years in federal prison after being convicted on drug trafficking and gun possession charges. Kelvin Laron Howard, 68, of Augusta, was convicted by a U.S. District Court jury in December 2023 after an investigation by the Richmond County Sheriffs Office identified Howard as a heroin distributor in the Augusta area. According to authorities, during a search of Howards apartment, investigators state that they found enough heroin for more than 700 individual doses, along with drug scales and packaging materials, nearly $1,000 in cash, and a loaded semiautomatic pistol. ALSO ON WJBF: Robbery leads police on chase from Appling to Aiken Co., 3 suspects wanted According to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgias office, Howard was sentenced to 175 months and convicted on charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Howard was fined $2,500 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. The U.S. Attorneys Office states that this case was investigated by the Richmond County Sheriffs Office with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. New Ritas Italian Ice offering years supply ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (WJW) A new Ritas Italian Ice is opening in Northeast Ohio and will reward some of their first guests in line with free Italian Ice for a year! The new Ritas location is in Rocky River, at 21960 Center Ridge Road, and will open at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 31. McDonalds speaks out about $18 Big Mac meal This embedded content is not available in your region. A grand opening celebration will take place from 3 -5 p.m. The special event will include a prize wheel, merchandise giveaways, face painting for the kids, and a visit from Ritas mascot Ice Guy. Asian Lantern Festival returns to zoo this summer According to a press release, the first 50 guests in line will receive free ice for a year. The giveaway is limited to one per household in line, and only valid at the Center Ridge Road location. In addition, customers can receive a $2 Small Italian Ice and $3 Small Gelati from Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2. You can find other Ritas locations in Northeast Ohio, here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. (WFXR) The latest Roanoke College poll shows President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump neck-and-neck in the Commonwealth. Virginia Tech Professor and WFXRs political analyst Dr. Karen Hult says that a tied vote in Virginia likely leans in Trumps favor. In order to win the majority of electoral college votes, Mr. Biden needs to win all the states he won last time or at least not lose very many, she said. To the extent that Virginia was clearly in Bidens column last time, the fact that he has to spend money and time and mobilize voters here suggests that it really is going to be a close contest nationwide. Roanoke City School Board votes for schedule change, other transportation fixes Another statistic in the poll that Dr. Hult says Biden and Trump should be worried about is third-party voters. Between 14 and 20% of people polled say theyre looking outside the major parties. 8% said they would vote for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A lot of that reflects that a whole range of people are not satisfied with choices that we have in November, she explained. That means that theyre starting to look at other possibilities. That could mean write-in votes, it also could be other candidates on the ballot, and thirdly it could be not turning out at all. The poll is based on 711 likely voters in Virginia with a margin of error of 4.24%. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. VINTON, Va. (WFXR) On Wednesday, community leaders and the Chamber of Commerce held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new housing for foster kids in the Roanoke Valley. The celebration marks the commencement of affordable housing for teens who are aging out of foster care and others in Vinton in a collaborative effort between Impact Living, local government agencies, and dedicated people committed to improving the lives of vulnerable individuals in the community. The new housing will include 12 units and will give support to those 17 to 21 years old. Through affordable housing, those aging out of foster care can get used to living on their own and outside of the system. Officials with Impact Living Services say the need for this type of housing has greatly increased, especially as the cost of housing continues to rise. Roanoke City School Board votes for schedule change, other transportation fixes This project is a part of our future, said Impact Living Services Executive Director Adam Pavao. Right now, its two and a half million dollars. Two, or three years ago, it was half that and thats because of the number of young adults we get to serve. So being able to purchase property and build affordable housing to make sure we can do the work that we do forever. In the United States, Impact Living Services reports over 20,000 young people age out of the foster care system annually, facing challenges as they transition into adulthood. Affordable housing helps steer them away from devastating outcomes that can be faced by youth who age out of foster care, including homelessness and incarceration. This is one of six affordable housing locations that can help young adults make the transition. Impact Living also has facilities in Lynchburg, Roanoke, Richmond, and Virginia Beach, as well as in other areas. For more information about Impact Living, visit their website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday declined a request to meet with Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) about their push for Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from upcoming Supreme Court cases dealing with Jan. 6, 2021, and the effort to overturn the 2020 election. The two Democratic senators had asked for a meeting with the chief justice last week after reports emerged showing an upside-down American flag and an Appeal to Heaven flag were flown over Alitos homes in recent years, arguing the incidents add to a worsening ethics situation for the Supreme Court. Durbin and Whitehouse have been pushing for new ethics legislation aimed at Supreme Court justices for more than a year. Roberts declined the meeting, pointing to the lack of precedent for such a sit-down with legislators of a single party. I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in a letter. As noted in my letter to Chairman Durbin last April, apart from ceremonial events, only on rare occasions in our Nations history has a sitting Chief Justice met with legislators, even in a public setting (such as a Committee hearing) with members of both major political parties present. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances, Roberts continued. Moreover, the format proposed a meeting with leaders of only one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the Court simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable. The letter from Durbin and Whitehouse last week called for the meeting about Alitos potential recusal from upcoming cases before the court, including one concerning whether former President Trump has immunity from prosecution. It also argued that the flags flown over Alitos residences, which have in recent years become associated with the Stop the Steal movement aimed at overturning Trumps 2020 electoral loss, clearly created an appearance of impropriety that violated the justices code of conduct that the Court adopted last year. He also created reasonable doubt as to his impartiality in certain proceedings, thereby requiring his disqualification in those proceedings as established by the Code of Conduct and federal law, they wrote to Roberts. Alito on Wednesday told Durbin and Whitehouse in a letter that he will not recuse himself from the cases. He maintained that his wife, Martha-Ann, was responsible for hoisting the flags. I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of that flag. I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention. As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused, Alito wrote. My wife is fond of flying flags. I am not. My wife was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years. Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas have found themselves in a prolonged spat with the two Democratic senators, who have led the push for ethics reform at the court after reports indicated they have received lavish gifts and vacations from wealthy donors and benefactors. Alito fired back at them last year, arguing to The Wall Street Journal that Congress has no role to play in ethics concerns related to the justices. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Apple is about to get a new secret weapon that could lead to some juicy returns for investors: AI-focused phones. Bank of America analysts call them IntelliPhones, and in a Wednesday note, they argued that these high-powered devices will be an entirely new breed compared to the current raft of smartphones. Senior equity research analyst Wamsi Mohan and his team described a future where phones will need far more computing power in order to handle the daily use of AI agents that will help with everything from booking travel and real-time translation to scheduling and tutoring. For Apple and its installed base of over 2.2 billion active smartphones, that means a massive opportunity to sell customers on the latest and greatest AI tech. We see the introduction of AI smartphones (IntelliPhones) as a once in a decade upgrade event, Mohan and his team wrote, forecasting a multi-year upgrade cycle similar to the step function improvement driven by the introduction of smartphones. IntelliPhones are set to offer a new experience for consumers that smartphones wont be able to compete with, including augmented and virtual reality experiences, health monitoring, and more, according to BofAs analysts. As AI technology evolves the gap between IntelliPhones and traditional smartphones is likely to widen further by offering even more sophisticated and personalized functions driving the desire to upgrade, they wrote. Shares of Apple have risen just over 7% during the past 12 months, lagging compared to the S&P 500, and particularly, the soaring big tech sector. But with the era of AI-enabled phones on the horizon, Bank of America analysts expect a turnaround. Mohan and his team reiterated their buy rating and a $230 price target on shares of Apple Wednesday. Its an outlook that represents a potential 20% gain for Apple investors over the next 12 months, but that rise would also leave the Cupertino-based tech giant with a lofty valuation of 30 times its fiscal year 2025 earnings. Still, Mohan and his team said that they believe that higher valuation is justified given a multi-year [iPhone] upgrade cycle, large cash balance and opportunity to diversify into new end markets, increasing mix and diversity of services. We see IntelliPhones dominating edge AI, as compared to AI PCs, given their portability, features and cost, he added. One of the keys to the success of IntelliPhones will be AI developers, according to Bank of America. Mohan and his team said they believe that developers will build AI agents that will run on Apples phones, creating a new layer of monetization for the company. Story continues The comments echo the AI optimism that CEO Tim Cook described in Apples May 2 earnings call. We believe in the transformative power and promise of AI, and we believe we have advantages that will differentiate us in this new era, including Apples unique combination of seamless hardware, software, and services integration, groundbreaking Apple silicon with our industry-leading neural engines, and our unwavering focus on privacy, which underpins everything we create, he said. CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino also maintained his buy rating on shares of Apple Tuesday, citing improved iPhone sales prospects in China due to the companys AI push. After iPhone sales in China wavered in 2022 and 2023 amid rising geopolitical tensions with the U.S. and increased domestic competition, Apple managed to turn things around in April. iPhone sales jumped 52% from a year ago to 3.5 million units last month, and Zino believes Apples AI ambitions are likely to kickstart more growth. AAPL's ambitions towards greater AI capabilities ahead of the iPhone 16 launch this fall should appeal to China consumers and also better position it at the high-end of the market, he wrote. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com House Judiciary Committee Democrats asked Chief Justice John Roberts to detail how the Supreme Court plans to enforce its code of conduct, arguing Justice Samuel Alito violated its policies by raising flags connected to the Stop the Steal effort at his two homes. The group accuses Alito of violating one provision that bars justices from endorsing a candidate for office and another that requires recusal when their impartiality might reasonably be questioned. The code of conduct was adopted last year in the wake of another Supreme Court scandal documenting Justice Clarence Thomass acceptance of numerous vacations, gifts, and even payment of school tuition for a relative from a conservative mega donor. Alito rejects calls to recuse himself from Jan. 6 cases over flags controversy Adopting a code of ethics and failing to enforce [it] only serves to reinforce the perception that Supreme Court justices operate without consequences for clearly unethical behavior, ranking member Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and the committees Democrats wrote in the letter. Do you plan to request Justice Alito recuse himself from any cases related to Donald Trump? If not, why not? The panel likewise asks Roberts to detail when he learned of Alitos displaying of flags. The letter comes just hours after Alito rejected calls in the Senate for him to rescue himself from a pending case weighing whether former President Trump retains presidential immunity for actions he took in the lead up to Jan. 6. Shortly after the 2020 election, Alito flew an upside-down American flag, a symbol historically used to signal distress that was also used by those protesting former Trumps loss and that later became associated with the Stop the Steal movement, which tried to prevent the transfer of presidential power based on false claims of election fraud. And in 2023 at his vacation home in New Jersey, he flew an Appeal to Heaven flag which though it has origins in the Revolutionary War, has more recently served as a call for a conservative, Biblical-centered government and was spotted in the mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. While upside down flags can have other meanings, it is difficult to contemplate a situation in which Justice Alitos inverted flag had any meaning other than to convey political support for Donald Trump, the letter states. Alito said Wednesday it was his wifes decision to raise the flag at their home, saying she has a legal right to use the property as she sees fit and describing her as fond of flying flags. He also confirmed reporting from The New York Times that the couple was engaged in a spat with neighbors. The article separately reported that the feud was over yard signs posted following the election that were critical of Trump. Alito also told Fox News on Wednesday that the display included a F Trump sign. Democrats say the tit-for-tat over the signage is itself problematic. He has since acknowledged that this yard sign conveyed strong anti-Trump sentiment, implying that the Alitos felt the need to respond with a show of support for Donald Trump, their letter states. Last year, Thomas also faced calls for his recusal over the involvement of his wife, Virginia, in the push to overturn the 2020 election results. Like Alito, Thomas has declined to step aside. The Supreme Court did not immediately respond to request for comment Wednesday. The letter nonetheless asks Roberts to weigh a number of questions about the courts code of conduct, including how he plans to enforce them, given that no mechanism for doing so is laid out in the policy. Has this incident encouraged you to reconsider the absence of an enforcement mechanism in the Code of Conduct for Supreme Court Justices has no enforcement mechanism? they ask. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. FILE - Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts joins other members of the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022. Roberts has declined an invitation to meet with Democratic senators to talk about Supreme Court ethics and the controversy over flags that flew outside homes owned by Justice Samuel Alito. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) WASHINGTON (AP) Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday declined an invitation to meet with Democratic senators to talk about Supreme Court ethics and the controversy over flags that flew outside homes owned by Justice Samuel Alito. Roberts' response came in a letter to the senators a day after Alito separately wrote them and House members to reject their demands that he recuse himself from major Supreme Court cases involving former President Donald Trump and the Jan. 6 rioters because of the flags, which are like those carried by rioters at the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., a member of the Judiciary panel, had written Roberts a week ago to ask for the meeting and that Roberts take steps to ensure that Alito recuses himself from any cases before the court concerning the Jan. 6 attack or the Republican former president's attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat. I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote. Justices decide for themselves when to step aside from cases, Roberts noted. Alito said he concluded nothing about the flags, both of which he said were flown by his wife outside their homes in Virginia and New Jersey, required his recusal. Last year, Roberts declined to testify at a Judiciary Committee hearing on Supreme Court ethics, and he made mention of that Thursday in saying that chief justices only rarely have met with lawmakers. Moreover, the format proposed a meeting with leaders only of one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the court simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable, he wrote. Both Alito and an another conservative justice, Clarence Thomas, have rejected calls to recuse themselves from cases related to the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Thomas' wife, Ginni, supported efforts to overturn the election results. Public trust in the Supreme Court is at its lowest point in at least 50 years. Durbins office issued a statement downplaying Roberts concerns. Durbins only interest is restoring the credibility of the Court in the eyes of the American people, the statement said, adding that he would press efforts to pass an enforceable ethics code for the Supreme Court. The justices are considering two major cases related to the Capitol attack, including charges faced by the rioters and whether Trump has immunity from prosecution on election interference charges. The New York Times reported that an inverted American flag was seen at Alitos home in Alexandria, Virginia, less than two weeks after the attack on the Capitol. The paper also reported that an Appeal to Heaven flag was flown outside of the justices beach home in New Jersey last summer. Both flags were carried by rioters who violently stormed the Capitol in January 2021 echoing Trumps false claims of election fraud. Alito has said the inverted American flag was flown by his wife amid a dispute with neighbors and he had no part in it. He said she also flew the Appeal to Heaven flag but was unaware of its ties to the Capitol rioters. Judicial ethics codes focus on the need for judges to be independent, avoiding political statements or opinions on matters they could be called on to decide. The Supreme Court had long gone without its own code of ethics, but it adopted one in November 2023 in the face of sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices. The code lacks a means of enforcement, though, and the Judiciary panel approved legislation last year that would set stricter standards. But Republicans have been staunchly opposed to any efforts to tell the court what to do. ___ Follow the AP's coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court. Rockland law enforcement looking to buy firearms from residents to make streets safer SPRING VALLEY The Rockland sheriff wants your guns and he's willing to pay with pre-paid gift cards. The community gun buyback will be held on June 6 from 3 to 7 p.m. at St. Josephs Church, 245 N. Main St. in Spring Valley. Partnering with the Sheriff's Office are the Spring Valley and Ramapo police departments, the New York State Police, the Rockland County District Attorneys Office, and all local law enforcement agencies. Sheriff Louis Falco said removing illegally owned guns from the streets makes the public safer. Rockland Co. Sheriff Louis Falco offers comments during a press conference on gun violence and bail reform at Rockland County Sheriff's Office in New City on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. Senseless gun violence continues to plague our county, state, and the entire nation," Falco said. "Any firearms that we can remove from our streets can potentially prevent them from being used in criminal and other violent acts that negatively impact our communities." Spring Valley has the county's highest number of violent crimes. Guns can be turned in anonymously, no identification is required, and no questions are asked. Payments for surrendered guns will be made in prepaid gift cards: $250 for assault rifles; $150 for handguns, $75 for rifles or shotguns; and $25 for non-working or antique guns. Firearms are to be transported unloaded and in the trunk of a vehicle. Licensed gun dealers and active or retired law enforcement are not eligible to participate in this program. June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Hochul says gun violence is down Gun buyback events have been held by law enforcement across the state. Westchester County agencies are holding a gun buyback on June 1. Gov. Kathy Hochul said this month that law enforcement across the state has made sustained progress in the fight against gun violence. Hochul said shooting incidents with injuries and the number of shooting victims each decreased by more than 35 percent through April 2024, compared to the January to April average over the last five years, in the major metropolitan areas outside of New York City. She said the reduction reflects: 84 fewer shootings (143 vs. 227); 94 fewer victims (170 vs. 264), and 13 fewer lives lost to gun violence (29 vs. 42), as reported by law enforcement agencies participating in the states Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative. Hochul said these positive trends follow two years of progress, including a 35% reduction in shootings (816 vs. 1,262), 36% reduction in victims (963 vs. 1,508), and a 37% reduction in deaths (142 vs. 225) from 2021 to 2023. Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland NY police to buyback guns June 6 to make streets safer A tree is felled at Texas and Shelby streets in the Schnitzelburg neighborhood following strong storms that moved through the area, Sunday, May 26, 2024 Power has been restored to most LG&E and KU customers after weekend storms impacted Kentucky, said Liz Pratt, director of external and internal communications. As of Wednesday afternoon, around 9,075 customers were still without services, including around 3,000 in the Louisville area, according to the company's outage map. Pratt said the recent storm was the fourth most impactful across the company's service areas in 20 years, impacting nearly 190,000 customers. Since 9 a.m. Sunday, up to 1,200 LG&E and KU line technicians responded to more than 1,900 down power lines network-wide and 107 broken poles in the LG&E service area. As of Thursday afternoon, 2,588 were without power. The counties with the greatest number of customers still without power include Jefferson with 443, Muhlenberg with 1,443 and Hopkins with 620. Pratt said the area-wide restoration time for Louisville was 11 p.m. Wednesday, but could fluctuate depending on feedback from crews. "When the crews are at a customer's property and there's damage or damage to the customer's equipment, that would require repairs before we can safely restore power," she said. "We are notifying customers when that occurs, if a crew identifies property or equipment damages, as part of their assessment." Pratt encourages customers to check the outage map for frequent updates on restoration times and outages. Power Outages Two EF-1 tornadoes hit Kentucky during deadly weather outbreak. Here's what we know This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Power restored to most LG&E customers after Kentucky tornadoes Rudy Giuliani was once warmly embraced on New Yorks glamorous Upper East Side, mingling with press and public alike in its upmarket neighbourhood haunts. He was a regular at Tonys Di Napoli, a cavernous Italian restaurant just a few minutes from his apartment. Twenty years ago he was swarmed by reporters as he walked his mistress home from a meal there. Now mentions of Mr Giuliani draw blank stares and quizzical looks from its waiting staff, who are otherwise happy to name-drop their celebrity regulars. A waiter shook his head at a mention of the former New York mayor. Giuliani? he laughed and walked off. I dont like him. The reaction would have been unthinkable even a few years ago. Mr Giuliani burnished his reputation in the city, taking on the mafia as US attorney, tackling spiralling crime rates as mayor and racing for the World Trade Center when it was hit by the first plane on Sept 11 2001. Mr Giuliani prays during a ceremony following the 9/11 attacks in New York - AP Today he is a bankrupt 80-year-old who faces potential jail time from two criminal cases. Desperately short of cash, he is leaving the city where he built his reputation over decades. At The Mansion, an Upper East side diner known for its big portions and expansive menu, Mr Giuliani has not been seen for about five years. He used to eat there often with his son Andrew. The Mansions walls are filled with photographs of famous visitors including George W Bush, the former president, New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Michael Bloomberg, his successor as mayor. Mr Giulianis picture is conspicuously absent. He was forced to declare bankruptcy in December 2023 after losing a defamation case, and was scolded by a judge about his spending habits in May 2024. Americas Mayor is now brand of coffee Having led Donald Trumps legal efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, Mr Giuliani was recently served with a court summons in a second election interference case. He was known as Americas Mayor for steering New York and the rest of the nation through the aftermath of 9/11. Now Americas Mayor is a brand of coffee he fronts for $30 (24) a bag. Ken Frydman, press secretary for Mr Giulianis successful mayoral campaign in 1993, was appalled at the decline of a man he admired into a QVC-style coffee seller. With Donald Trump at a golf event in 2015 - GETTY IMAGES His former boss has not reached rock bottom yet, he believes. The bottom would come for Rudy if hes convicted, sentenced and imprisoned, he told The Telegraph. From Americas Mayor to Americas Convict. Mr Giuliani, already facing criminal charges in an election interference case in Georgia, pleaded not guilty in a similar case in Arizona this week. Prosecutors apparently struggled to find him to serve a court summons while he taunted them on social media. They eventually caught up with him as he left his birthday party in Palm Beach, Florida. In December 2023 he declared bankruptcy after being found liable for $148 million after defaming two 2020 election workers. The judge in his bankruptcy case said in May that he was disturbed that Mr Giuliani, having spectacularly overshot his $43,000-a-month budget, had done so little to sort out his finances. His lawyer suggested that no accountant would go near him. Tony's Di Napoli, an Italian restaurant in New York and . . . . . . The Mansion, in the Upper East Side. Mr Giuliani used to be a regular at both His name has also been mentioned repeatedly at Donald Trumps hush money trial in New York, allegedly as part of a pressure campaign on Mr Trumps former fixer, Michael Cohen. New Yorkers queueing outside the Manhattan Criminal Court for a front-row seat for Mr Trumps blockbuster trial were dismayed at what had become of the former hero of 9/11. One member of the public predicted he would die broke and in jail. Another said he could simply have stayed above the political fray, adding: All he had to do was do nothing. Surrendering Manhattan apartment Mr Giuliani is now surrendering his three-bedroom Manhattan apartment to his creditors, putting it on the market for $5.7 million this month. A few days earlier, he was sacked from his job as a New York radio host after claiming that the 2020 election had been rigged by Joe Biden. He now intends to move to Palm Beach to continue his podcasting career. Mr Giuliani's apartment building in New York - GETTY IMAGES It marks his final break with the city where he became famous. He dealt a stunning blow to organised crime as US attorney for the southern district in the 1980s by securing convictions for senior mafia figures, and cut crime massively while at city hall in the 1990s. Another of his coffee brands, Fighting for Justice, references his career as a crime fighter. The packaging shows a young Mr Giuliani alongside noire-style images of mobsters and the New York skyline He was probably the most effective mayor in the history of the city, Mr Frydman believes. When he meets people who only remember Mr Giuliani as Trumps lawyer he is compelled to tell them he was the guy who turned the city around. He added: He destroyed his own legacy with self-inflicted wounds. Thats a self-made tragedy. 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. Women work in a restaurant kitchen in Chicago in March 2023. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a new workplace anti-discrimination law that was passed by Congress with wide bipartisan support, has become fodder in the abortion rights battle between Republican-led states and the federal government. Nam Y. Huh/The Associated Press Natasha Jackson was four months pregnant when she told her supervisor she was expecting. It was 2008, and Jackson was an account executive at a rental furniture store in Charleston, South Carolina the only female employee there. I actually hid my pregnancy as long as I could because I was scared about what could happen, she said. When her doctor recommended that she not lift more than 25 pounds, her employer wouldnt let her move temporarily to a role where she didnt need to lift furniture, even though those roles were available, she said. She was forced to go on leave and then lost her job. Her marriage unraveled and she spent time after the birth in emergency housing. That hardship affected me years on, and it took away the joy of being pregnant, said Jackson. They made me feel guilty and ashamed for having a baby. Jackson, now 41 and a mother of four who owns her own cleaning company, has spent years working with advocacy groups to fight for better laws to protect pregnant workers. Last year, she was invited to speak at a White House event celebrating the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a new workplace anti-discrimination law for which she had advocated. But now this law, passed with wide bipartisan support, has become fodder in the bitter battle over abortion rights between Republican-led states and the federal government. The act fills gaps in state and federal protections by requiring employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and those who have recently given birth or have related medical conditions unless the employer can prove it would cause undue hardship on the business. Accommodations can include allowing an employee to take additional bathroom breaks, carry a water bottle, or sit instead of stand while on the job. After years of lobbying by nonprofit organizations and business groups, the federal law passed in December 2022. It went into effect last June. In its rulemaking process, the Biden administration included abortion as a related medical condition covered by the law. That means employees seeking abortion care can ask for accommodations from their employers, such as time off work for an appointment or recovery. This year, 19 Republican attorneys general including from Jacksons home state of South Carolina have sued the administration over that interpretation. (Getty Images) It seems quite ridiculous to me that some employers want so much control over employees to the point that they feel like they have the right to threaten their job security because of pregnancy or anything associated with it. Natasha Jackson, mom of four who once lost her job after asking for pregnancy accommodations The AGs argue the Biden administration is forcing abortion accommodations even in states where abortions are illegal. Under this radical interpretation of the PWFA, business owners will face federal lawsuits if they dont accommodate employees abortions, even if those abortions are illegal under state law, Arkansas Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement last month announcing the lawsuit filed by Arkansas and 16 other Republican-led states. But some advocates say the lawsuit threatens protections for all pregnant workers covered under the new law not just the small subset who need abortion care. These states are cutting off their noses to spite their faces, said Elizabeth Gedmark, an attorney and vice president of A Better Balance, a national nonprofit advocacy organization that provides legal services and has long pushed for a national Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. These attacks have very real consequences for peoples lives and for their economic security and health, she said. Jackson fears the lawsuit could lead to fewer workers accessing the care they need to be healthy. [Workers] should have the right to proper medical care during pregnancy, after childbirth, after having a miscarriage, or having an abortion, she said. It seems quite ridiculous to me that some employers want so much control over employees to the point that they feel like they have the right to threaten their job security because of pregnancy or anything associated with it. Into the fray After Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency known as the EEOC, had to hammer out a set of rules that clarify what employers can and cant do under the law. So last summer, the EEOC sought public comment on its proposed rules for how the new law would work. More than 100,000 comments were submitted over a two-month period. The flood of comments stemmed from opinions about whether the EEOC should include abortion in its definition of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions that are covered under the new law. The vast majority were nearly identical form comments, according to the EEOC. About 54,000 of the comments urged the EEOC to exclude abortion, while about 40,000 supported its inclusion. In a 3-2 vote, the EEOC ultimately adopted new rules that included abortion care in its definition of conditions covered under the law. The rules are set to go into effect June 18. But in April, a week after the EEOC announced its final rules, the 17-state coalition of GOP attorneys general argued in its lawsuit that the agencys erroneous interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act creates an abortion accommodation mandate. Jonathan Skrmetti When the law was passed by Congress, it was explicitly understood not to address abortion at all, and the text of the statute does not address abortion, said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who is co-leading the lawsuit with Arkansas Griffin. Skrmetti and the other Republican attorneys general point to comments made by lawmakers during debate on the measure that appear to signal Congress intent was not to impose abortion-related requirements in states where those abortions would be illegal. Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who sponsored the pregnant workers bill, said during debate that the EEOC could not issue any regulation that requires abortion leave, nor does the act permit the EEOC to require employers to provide abortions in violation of state law. The 15 other states joining the lawsuit are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia. More states have jumped into the fray. In mid-May, Louisianas and Mississippis attorneys general, both Republicans, filed their own lawsuit challenging the same provision. And in February, a federal judge in Texas blocked the EEOC from accepting complaints filed by Texas state employees under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. It was a win for Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who had sued the Biden administration last year. Protections at risk Skrmetti, the Tennessee attorney general, believes the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is a good law. It was passed with a degree of bipartisanship that you rarely see, he told Stateline, and it undermines the efforts of Congress and the popular will when agencies take laws and change them without the authority of the peoples representatives. The optimal outcome would be for the abortion-related pieces of the rule that arent supported by the statute to be vacated. But the law remains the law regardless of what the [EEOCs] rules are. Jonathan Skrmetti, Tennessee attorney general But Gedmark, of A Better Balance, said decades of legal precedent support including abortion as a related medical condition for pregnant workers. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act, a federal law passed in 1978, prohibits sex discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions a definition that the EEOC has long interpreted to include abortion. Proponents of the new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the EEOCs rules worry the lawsuits will sow confusion among employers and employees. Theres concern, Gedmark said, that a court could render more of the regulations invalid, beyond those that mention abortion. Skrmetti doesnt think the 17-state lawsuit will hurt the laws protections for pregnant, postpartum and lactating workers. The optimal outcome would be for the abortion-related pieces of the rule that arent supported by the statute to be vacated, he said. But the law remains the law regardless of what the [EEOCs] rules are. While states and the feds clash in court, Jackson said shes focused on making sure as many women as possible know about their new rights. Whenever shes out shopping and spots a pregnant store employee, she asks how theyre doing. She asks if they know about their workplace rights, and how to ask their employers for the accommodations they need. Whether a mother decides to have an abortion or not, she still needs medical care after the procedure, the same as she would need medical care if she had a miscarriage or regular childbirth, Jackson said. I believe that employers need to know the difference between personal [ideology] and business. This story is republished from Stateline, a sister publication to the Kentucky Lantern and part of the States Newsroom network of nonprofits. This story is republished from Stateline, a sister publication to the Kentucky Lantern and part of the nonprofit States Newsroom network. The post New rules protect pregnant workers, but red states sue over abortion provisions appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. Editor's note: The article was updated at 1:35 p.m. on May 30 with additional information from the Astra Telegram channel and Ukraine's military intelligence agency. An overnight attack on the port city of Kerch in Crimea damaged two transport ferries, Crimea's Russian-installed transportation chief Nikolai Lukashenko claimed on May 30. Kerch is located on the eastern tip of Crimea, across the water from Russia's Krasnodar Krai. Russia illegally constructed the Kerch Bridge to connect the peninsula with Russia after it occupied and annexed Crimea in 2014. Local Telegram channels reported that Kerch residents heard as many as 20 explosions. A car ferry and a railway ferry were damaged by downed missile debris "while repelling an enemy attack on transport infrastructure," Lukashenko claimed. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Russian air defense downed eight long-range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System), which the U.S. has supplied to Ukraine, and eight drones. There were no reports of casualties. Russian proxy authorities claimed at 7:30 a.m. local time that "vehicle traffic on the Crimean Bridge is temporarily blocked." Later on May 30, the Telegram news channel Astra claimed that in addition to the two ferries damaged at Kerch, a pilot boat was sunk and four patrol boats KS-701 were damaged in overnight attacks against Crimea. Ukraine's military intelligence said the same day that its naval drones had destroyed two KS-701 boats at Vuzka Bay, which lies on Crimea's western coast. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify all the claims. Russia uses the bridge and ferries across the Kerch Strait to transport military supplies for Russian occupying forces in Crimea and southern Ukraine. Ukraine claimed responsibility for attacks that inflicted serious damage on the bridge in October 2022 and July 2023. Read also: Naval drones destroyed 2 Russian patrol boats in occupied Crimea, military intelligence says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia is finalising work on 'retaliatory measures' against EU over ban on some Russian media MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday it was finalising a proposal for "retaliatory measures" against the European Union over the bloc's ban on the broadcast of four Russian media outlets on its territory. The EU said earlier this month it was suspending the distribution of the Voice of Europe, the RIA Novosti news agency and the Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspapers. The European Council said in a statement it was acting because the outlets "have been essential and instrumental in bringing forward and supporting Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine." Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had earlier warned of an extremely painful response to the ban. On Thursday, she told a news briefing that response was in its final stages of preparation and would be submitted for approval in the coming days. (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Editing by Andrew Osborn) A 19-year-old was arrested in connection to an identity theft case. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On January 2, police in Auburn said they received a report regarding fraudulent checks. Officers met with a victim who reported several checks were mailed to the intended recipients from a location in Auburn in December 2023. While in transit, authorities said the checks were stolen, altered and deposited into multiple bank accounts outside the Auburn Police Department jurisdiction. TRENDING STORIES: Police identified Miranda Lauren Masone, 19, of Atlanta as a suspect. She was found by College Park police and was arrested. Shes charged with identity theft and theft of property. Masone waived extradition and was taken to the Auburn Police Department on Sunday. She was later booked into the Lee County Jail and held on an $8,000 bond. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: (Bloomberg) -- Russia attempted to strike military targets in Ukraine overnight with a barrage of missiles and drones, after Sweden said it will provide Kyiv with surveillance aircraft to be deployed with fighter jets from other European nations. Most Read from Bloomberg Ukraine downed seven out of 11 cruise missiles fired from bombers flying over the Saratov region in Russia, military spokesman Andriy Kovalyov said on local TV Thursday morning. They were aimed at military facilities and critical infrastructure, he said without elaborating. Ukraine also destroyed all 32 explosive-laden Shahed drones included in the barrage, while another eight Russian missiles hit the Kharkiv region. The attack prompted speculation on anonymous Ukrainian Telegram channels monitoring the Russian barrages that most missiles and drones were headed toward a major military air base located in Starokostyantyniv, a town in Ukraines western Khmelnytskyi region. There were no official reports of damage in that area. The attack on Thursday was the third large-scale missile assault against Ukraine this month. On Wednesday, Sweden announced a record $1.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine including reconnaissance aircraft that can enhance capabilities of US-made F-16 fighter jets due to be supplied by European nations including Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. Russias defense ministry reported destroying eight ATACMS missiles over the sea of Azov, as well as eight drones and two unmanned cutter boats near Crimea overnight, with another five drones downed in the morning over Krasnodar region. Officials and military in Kyiv havent publicly commented on those claims. The administration of US president Joe Biden will adapt and adjust its policy on strikes by the Ukrainian military inside Russia using American-made weapons, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. The comments from the top US diplomat came amid increasing calls from Western officials to allow Kyiv to hit military targets inside Russia used to launch attacks on Ukraine. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have stressed that Russia is trying to manipulate the issue of prisoner of war swaps and use it as another tool to destabilise the situation in Ukraine. Source: ISW Details: Analysts noted that Russia had accused Ukraine of the recent several-month suspension of the prisoner-of-war swaps amid reports of widespread abuses by Russia against Ukrainian prisoners of war. Kremlin-appointed Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova accused Ukraine of making "far-fetched demands" that led to the pause in prisoner swaps over the past few months and said Russia was doing everything possible to maintain a dialogue with the Ukrainian government and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Petro Yatsenko, a representative of the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, noted in November 2023 that Russia had previously suspended prisoner swaps in the summer of 2023 for an unspecified reason. The last prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine took place on 8 February 2024 with the assistance of the United Arab Emirates. The experts noted that Ukraine was forced to open a third camp for Russian prisoners of war partly because of "the actual blocking of exchanges by the Russian side" and partly because of the growing number of Russian deserters who became prisoners of war. It was also stated in the report that in recent months, following the last prisoner swap, Russia had committed a number of apparent abuses against Ukrainian prisoners of war, including executions and the use of prisoners of war as human shields on the battlefield, as well as the alleged operation of a black market for the sale of Ukrainian prisoners of war to Russian paramilitary groups. Russia is also using a battalion consisting mainly of Ukrainian prisoners of war to fight in Ukraine, which is another blatant violation of the Geneva Convention. Therefore, the analysts concluded that Moskalkova's accusation that Ukraine was the party responsible for stopping prisoner swaps might be an attempt to shift the blame onto Ukraine and hide the many abuses committed by Russia against Ukrainian prisoners of war, which could lead to discontent in Ukrainian society and distract attention from Western support for Ukraine. It was suggested that the Kremlin was using the prisoner of war swap policy as another technique to undermine Ukraine's decision-making process. To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 29 May: Mykhailo Podoliak, advisor to the Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, stated that US-provided military aid has started arriving on the front line but that it will take "weeks" for the gradual increase in US-provided military aid to reach "critical volumes. Sweden announced its 16th and largest military aid package to Ukraine, worth 13.3 billion kronor (about US$1.25 billion), on 29 May. Western officials are increasingly suggesting that they support Ukraine's right to use Western-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russia. Russia blamed Ukraine for the recent several-month-long suspension of prisoner of war (POW) exchanges over the backdrop of reports of pervasive Russian abuses against Ukrainian POWs. Russian leader Vladimir Putin continues his efforts to prepare the Russian population for a protracted war effort. Belarus suspended its participation in the Cold War-era Conventional Armed Forces (CFE) in Europe Treaty on May 28. Russian forces recently advanced north and northeast of Kharkiv City, near Kreminna, Chasiv Yar, and Avdiivka. Russia continues efforts to expand social benefits for Russian military personnel, veterans of the war in Ukraine, and their families. Support UP or become our patron! Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russian forces launched an attack on the city of Kharkiv overnight on May 30, injuring six women and one man and damaging critical infrastructure, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Mayor Ihor Terekhov announced at around 3 a.m. local time that there was a fire at the site of impact, and a gas pipeline was cut off. Homes in the surrounding area also suffered. Four people were injured. The strike targeted two different locations, including a two-story building of a communal services company, resulting in a fire, the governor reported later in the morning. Emergency services and volunteers are working at the scene, and in the morning, there will be door-to-door home visits to clarify more information. Russia launched a new offensive on May 10 in northern Kharkiv Oblast with a reported 30,000 troops. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Moscow's forces had managed to advance as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) in the region but had been halted by the first line of defense. Russian forces regularly conduct ground shelling and aerial attacks against population centers in Kharkiv Oblast. Local Ukrainian authorities have also reported instances of civilian executions at the hands of Russian troops. Read also: Governor fears Russia may renew attack in another direction in Kharkiv Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A Russian attack against the village of Veletenske in Kherson Oblast on May 30 killed a man, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. The resident suffered serious injuries on the street and died while being transported to the hospital, the governor said. No further details were provided at the moment. Veletenske lies only a few kilometers across the Dnipro River delta from Russian-occupied parts of Kherson Oblast and some 15 kilometers (9 miles) west of the regional center, Kherson. Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated Kherson and other settlements on the west bank of the Dnipro River during a counteroffensive in the fall of 2022. Russian troops were pushed to the river's east bank, from where they have since been firing at the liberated territories, regularly resulting in civilian deaths, as well as large-scale destruction of homes and infrastructure. Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast injured six people overnight and on May 29, Prokudin said in his morning report on May 30. Read also: Death toll in Russias May 25 attack on Kharkiv rises to 19, Governor says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian emergency workers dealing with the aftermath of the Russian attack on Izium district. Photo: Ukraines SES in Kharkiv Oblast Russian forces attacked an educational institution in the frontline village of Borova hromada in Izium district (Kharkiv Oblast) on 30 May. (A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.). Source: Ukraine's State Emergency Service (SES) Quote: "The enemy attacked the frontline settlement of Borova hromada of the Izium district in the afternoon. The attack severely damaged a one-storey building of an educational institution and set fire to an area of about 600 sq.m." Details: Firefighters were working under the threat of constant Russian bombardment. Early reports indicate no casualties. Ukrainian emergency workers dealing with the aftermath of the Russian attack on Izium district. Photo: Ukraines SES in Kharkiv Oblast Ukrainian emergency workers dealing with the aftermath of the Russian attack on Izium district. Photo: Ukraines SES in Kharkiv Oblast Ukrainian emergency workers dealing with the aftermath of the Russian attack on Izium district. Photo: Ukraines SES in Kharkiv Oblast Support UP or become our patron! The ongoing drone wars in Ukraine may be entering yet another new phase. Video has emerged showing what is claimed to be a Russian First Person-View (FPV) drone attacking a Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel (USV) . It is the first time we have seen this kind of engagement. The 13-second video shows the FPV drone, rotors spinning, make a low approach toward the USV and crash into its port side. The video is undated and the Russian Telegram channel that first posted it implies that it took place on the Black Sea. This is when our guys can do it in a way that none of your foreign instructors can do for a lot of money, wrote the Russian Tactical_13 Telegram channel, which posted the video today. It'll be this way forever. Glory to the Black Sea Fleet! The drone boat seen in the video appears to be the Ukrainian MAGURA V . We can't say for certain if this was an actual strike or a staged event. Russia has claimed to have captured at least one MAGURA V and these boats have been used in large numbers against Russian naval interests. Russian has captured an intact Ukrainian MAGURA V drone boat Russian sources claim We showed the video to Lt. Gen Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR), who had never seen it before. He said the USV appeared to be a MAGURA V drone that was static in the water and had been lost at sea in a previous attack. However, he said Ukraine has lost a number of USVs to FPV drones already in attacks beginning a couple of months ago. He would not say how many have been lost that way. Budanov shrugged off the FPV attacks. "No," he said when asked if they concern him. "They're just drones." Regardless, it's indicative of a natural evolution in drone warfare in the conflict, where FPV drones, which have come to dominate the battlefield, move to the maritime interdiction environment focusing on countering Ukrainian long-range drone boat attacks. Aerial suicide drones have been used to attack boats before , but it's the first time we have seen them used against a USV. FPV drones have limited range and require continuous line-of-sight communications with their controllers, but for defending the approaches to key coastal areas, they are relevant. This is especially true because their range can be maximized due to the lack of terrain to interfere with their signal. Antennas elevated on shore, as well as aerial relays that can come in form of other drones, manned aircraft, or even aerostats, can extend their connectivity even further. Basically, they are capable of hunting for approaching drone boats while also acting as precision guided munitions that are nimble enough to chase them down and destroy them, although it's always harder than it looks. In the case of the video above, the target looks largely stationary. The threat posed by Ukrainian drone boats is only expanding as the assault on Russian-occupied Crimea heats up. A little more than a week ago, we wrote about how Ukraine has equipped its widely used Sea Baby USV with Grad-series artillery rockets. The rocket-armed boat has reportedly already been used to engage Russian vessels, although bombarding the shore is a far more plausible use. An unnamed SBU source told The Kyiv Independent that the rocket-armed USV was used in combat against Russian positions on the Kinburn spit, a thin stretch of coastal land near Mykolaiv on Ukraines southern Black Sea coast. This technological solution is already showing powerful results, the source said, adding that new surprises await the enemy. A rear view of a Sea Baby USV launching a Grad rocket while chained down during tests on land. SBU Earlier this month, we reported that Ukraine began rigging USVs with repurposed heat-seeking air-to-air missiles. That seems to have been designed to provide the USVs with protection (or a measure of deterrence) against the Russian helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that are increasingly being used to counter them. You can see one such encounter in the video below. Kamikaze USVs were largely pioneered by Iran, which then transferred the technology to Houthi militants in Yemen . These weapons really came into their own in the course of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine . The country's fleet of MAGURA V and other models destroyed or damaged multiple Russian warships and were used in the July 17, 2023 attack on the Kerch Bridge , Vladimir Putin's prized $4 billion span connects Russia with the occupied Crimean peninsula. The Kerch Bridge was severely damaged July 17, 2023 by a Ukrainian drone boat attack. Maxar Technologies Ukraine has become a laboratory for lower-end drone warfare in general. In addition to striking troops and equipment, drones eventually began to battle each other in the sky. The first such videos claiming to show those encounters began to emerge in October 2022 . You can see one purported aerial drone duel in this video below. These weapons are providing an asymmetrical advantage to a nation that has no real Navy anymore, with Ukraine continuing to press its USV attacks. Budanov told us the GUR carried out another such attack against Russian warships in Crimea overnight, destroying four KS-701 Tunets class high-speed amphibious transport vessels. The War Zone could not independently verify that assertion. You can see that attack, which the Russians tried to repel with fixed and rotary wing aviation, as well as small arms, in the video below. As we have said for years , in many cases, one of the best ways to counter an unmanned craft is with another unmanned craft. This can be types operating in the same domain or in different domains, such as the FPV drone versus the drone boat as seen in the video. As these systems gain more autonomy, this new reality of modern warfare will become much more pronounced. The systems are being modernized," Budanov said during a recent forum . "Technologies are being mastered. New technologies are emerging. Over time, we will probably see the complete dominance of unmanned vessels over conventional warships. At least in closed or semi-closed waters, such as the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, etc. This is definitely the way forward." As for defending shores from USVs with small explosive laden aerial drones, this may be one of the first examples of the tactic, but it is bound to quickly become a staple of coastal defense not just in the war in Ukraine, but elsewhere around the globe. Author's note: Tyler Rogoway contributed to this report. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Russians build up forces near Kharkiv Oblast, but they're not enough to break through defences Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Russian forces are increasing the number of troops near the settlements of Strilecha Lyptsi and Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, but these forces are not enough for a full-scale offensive. Source: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on Telegram Details: Syrskyi said that he had visited the brigades and battalions that are defending the Kharkiv front. Quote: "The enemy is continuing to build up the grouping of its troops on the line of the main Strilecha Lyptsi strike and in the area of Vovchansk, by transferring additional regiments and brigades from other fronts and training grounds. However, these forces are now insufficient for a full-scale offensive and a breach of our defence." Details: Syrskyi stressed that the Russians actions were complicated by the transfer of Ukrainian reserves to vulnerable areas and the strengthening of defence. He noted that the creation of an ammunition reserve and effective strikes on Russian manpower also contributed to the reduction of Russian offensive capabilities. Because of this, the Russians have switched to tactics of hitting Ukrainian positions with artillery and strikes with aerial bombs. "Under these conditions, the physical destruction of aircraft carrying the aerial bombs, reconnaissance UAVs, electronic warfare protection of our troops, camouflage and the use of mock-ups are of primary importance," Syrskyi said. He added that the military leadership was currently taking "urgent measures to improve the air defence control system, its automation and combination with the ground forces firepower along with electronic warfare systems." Syrskyi also said that during his visit to Kharkiv Oblast, he had "heard from each commander about their readiness for active operations, made decisions on problematic issues and checked how the battalion commander was performing in destroying the enemys firing position." Support UP or become our patron! Likened to oil in the 21st century, rare earth metals have long been pitched as game-changing materials for the global energy landscape. Mined for their magnetic properties, the 17 metals are used in everything from mobile phones to electric vehicle engines and wind turbines, and are a mainstay of clean energy technologies. Despite their name, the materials are commonly found, with deposits across China, the US, Australia, Chile and India, to name a few. They are, however, often found in small deposits and the process of separating them is notoriously dirty meaning resource-rich countries have so far been reluctant to set up processing plants, instead typically shipping ore to Asian nations for the separation process. Over the years China has cornered the market, but now Western governments are pushing to shift away from this reliance and instead strengthen domestic supply chains. Australia is emerging as a main competitor to Chinas dominance, with recent government funding signalling the nations focus on producing and processing more of its own rare earths. Here we take a closer look at Australias rare earths sector, and whether it can compete with lower-cost producers to bolster its supply chain. Rare earths investment in Australia Australia has seen an increasing interest in rare earths, with the governments recently released budget saying that over the next ten years, it will be investing A$556.1m ($367.88m) to progressively map Australias potential for critical minerals. Critical minerals are the 21st centurys oil barrels, says Martina Raveni, associate analyst in earth sciences at Global Data. Access to rare earth elements (REEs) is key to economic prosperity and national security. As part of this push, in February, the government announced an A$840m investment into Arafuras Nolans rare earth project in the Northern Territory. The funds will be used to establish a rare earths mine and processing facility that could, ultimately, provide a hub for all rare earth ore produced domestically. As Australia currently sends much of its rare earths to Malaysia and South Korea for processing, establishing its own separation site could be a game changer in terms of positioning the nation as a global supplier of clean energy technologies. Speaking about the investment, the Minerals Council said the project could place Australia at the forefront of sustainable mining and processing of rare earths. Building rare earth processing in Australia Typically, what the Australian mining sector does is dig stuff out of the ground, send it overseas for processing and then buy it back for a huge mark-up, says Peter Junk, professor of chemistry at James Cook University. Story continues We dont really have the manufacturing industry to support this development, but there is a new drive to set it up. This new A$840m investment may sound like a lot, but it is going to set up the manufacturing industry for quite some time. Indeed, it has never been a question of whether Australia has the resources to position itself on the global rare earths stage. The A$840 million loan comes two years after another miner, Iluka, was given A$1.25bn to build a rare-earth refinery in Western Australia (WA). It also comes a year after Lynas, the world's biggest producer of rare earth metals outside China, received A$20m to develop a rare earths site at Mount Weld in WA. Carl Spandler, a professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Adelaide, says Australias potential in the rare earths sector is enormous. Australia is one of the few countries outside of China with an active REE mining sector, he adds. The Mount Weld deposit alone accounts for approximately 5% of the world supply of REEs. Much of the continent is currently unexplored for REEs, partly because new ore deposit styles are just being recognised. Competition with China According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, China currently accounts for 70% and 85% of the worlds rare earth mining and processing capacities, respectively. However, the market has recently opened up, as a drop in Chinese demand for the materials caused prices to fall, with Lynas reporting a 74% fall in half-year profits in February. The recent crash has incentivised Western governments to ramp up efforts to regain control of the market a tempting opportunity, given the general belief that rare earths full potential remains untapped. Junk believes that, with the latest injection of government funding, the future of Australias rare earths sector looks rosy. Australia has been able to get about 1015% of the world's market in the last five years or so, says Junk. That is market share taken from China, because there are a lot of places in the world that would prefer to interact with countries like Australia. With this money that the Australian Government's injecting, these separation sites will be up and running in a year or two, and that has the potential to double output. What else can Australia do? While it is not expected that Australia will ever be able to surpass China in terms of production, it is set to ramp up output enough to gain independence over its rare earths supply chain, and meet a significant portion of global demand. China has vast reserves, technical know-how, established processing to manufacturing chains and cheap labour, but Australia has an advantage of being a reliable and ethically sourced supplier (to Western countries)," says Spandler. The latter will become more important as the mining industry continues to become more accountable and responsible for sharing wealth and opportunities created with stakeholders. Rather than competing directly, in some way Australia can offer a slightly different product. Similarly, Raveni says Australia has what it takes to compete with China, even though its rare earth industry is less developed, but government financing, regulatory support and international cooperation are essential. Simply having the right reserves is insufficient for Australia to position itself on the global critical minerals stage, she adds, with continued investment into downstream processing capabilities a cornerstone of establishing it as a global supplier. While well-positioned from a critical minerals reserves standpoint, the Australian strategy is lagging in becoming a favoured supplier to the downstream global market, Raveni says. More investments need to be made in its processing and manufacturing capabilities. While Australia may never out-produce China, the future for its rare earths sector looks bright. With the recent investments set to spark renewed progress in the nations manufacturing, it will soon become clear whether its capabilities can meet its ambitions. "Can Australia step up its rare earths game?" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Defence Forces of Ukraine's South, has reported that the Russians have started storming Nestryha Island (Kherson Oblast) once again after a pause. Ukrainian forces took control of the island on 28 April 2024. Source: Pletenchuk on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "We have [recorded] 19 attempted assaults, which is quite a lot. Twelve of them took place on the Orikhiv front. These are several settlements. Most of them were in the area of [the settlement of] Staromaiorske. In addition, seven assault attempts were made on the left (eastern) bank [of Kherson Oblast], including one on Nestryha Island and six on [the village of] Krynky." Details: The official said that the escalation on the battlefield is related to the preparations for the Peace Summit to be held on 15-16 June in Switzerland. "The enemy has been amassing its forces for some time in order to escalate [the situation] once again. This is primarily because preparations for the Peace Summit are underway. And this is a common way for Russians to exert influence in geopolitics." Background: On 29 April, in an interview with Hromadske Radio, Dmytro Pletenchuk reported that the regaining of control over the island of Nestryha in Kherson Oblast by Ukraine will significantly enhance the quality of counter-sabotage measures by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On 28 April, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, reported that the Defence Forces had established control over the island of Nestryha, located in the Dnipro delta, on the territory of the Bilozerka district in Kherson Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! The Russians have launched another strike on the city of Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast on the night of 29-30 May. A fire has broken out at the scene, with casualties reported. Source: Oleh Syniehubov, the Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration; Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov Quote from Syniehubov: "The occupiers are launching strikes. Kharkiv and the surrounding area, stay in shelters!" Details: Terekhov noted that it was "very loud in Kharkiv". Updated: Later, Syniehubov reported that the Russians landed at least five strikes, some of them targeting populated areas in Kharkiv Oblast. Terekhov noted that there was a strike on critical infrastructure in one of the districts of the city of Kharkiv. Quote from Terekhov: "There is a fire, a damaged gas pipeline and surrounding buildings. We see many broken windows. There will be a door-to-door inspection in the morning for us to discover more details." Quote from Syniehubov: "Updated information says two people sustained shrapnel wounds, and one experienced an acute stress reaction." "The enemy also attacked Mala Danylivka. Strikes on an outbuilding and a fire were recorded there." "In total, the Russians launched eight missiles at the city and the oblast from the territory of Belgorod." Updated: Terekhov reported at 03:52 that four people were affected due to the overnight attack. Background: On Saturday afternoon, 25 May, Russian forces struck the Epicentr home improvement hypermarket in Kharkiv. As of now, the death toll from the attack stands at 19 people as another injured person died in hospital. Support UP or become our patron! MUSCOGEE COUNTY, Ga. (WRBL) The Muscogee County Sheriffs Office is reminding locals not to become victims of law enforcement impersonator scams. Law enforcement impersonator scams are one of the most common scams that can lead to financial ruin for victims. Usually, the scams involve a person contacting the potential victim pretending to work with a law enforcement agency. During the scams, which can occur over the phone, through text, emails, or mail, the scammer will either claim the potential victim has a warrant out for their arrest or has missed jury duty. Regardless of how the scammers go about pretending to be law enforcement, all will request some form of payment. Whether it be through requesting a gift card, bank information or other personal information. Unfortunately, some scammers go as far as telling families of those under probation that they are at risk of being arrested and asking for money to prevent the arrest of their loved ones. To stay safe, the Georgia Attorneys General office provided tips on how to avoid becoming a victim: Law enforcement agencies do not solicit payment over the phone, allow for arrangements to be made over the phone to clear a warrant, and will never ask for payment for clemency considerations. No government agency or law enforcement office will ever ask you to make payments with gift cards, Green Dot MoneyPaks or mobile payment apps. In most cases, law enforcement will not call you if a warrant has been issued for your arrest. They usually come to your home to serve the warrant in person. Spelling, grammatical or other errors in a letter that purports to come from a government or law enforcement agency are red flags of a scam. Before you respond to any contact from a law enforcement office in which you are threatened or asked to pay money, hang up and then call the verified phone number for the law enforcement entity to find out whether the call you received was legitimate. The sheriffs office says they will never request money over the phone for any reason; nor do they accept the payments through email or mail. Arrest warrants and any other official documents will be served by MCSO deputies in person. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Above: An April 29 report from FOX 5 on the two giant pandas coming to San Diego. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The San Diego Zoo could be ready as early as June to welcome the newest set of visiting giant pandas from China, according to an application submitted by zoo officials to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Alliance earlier this year. The 168-page application, which was filed shortly after their return was announced in February and details the preparations zoo officials have been making since, offers new insight into the loan agreement with China and what San Diegans can expect when the beloved bears arrive. In the permit proposal, San Diego Zoo officials said their agreement with Chinese partners will last 10 years and carries strict instructions governing their care. The agreement, as detailed by the permit, stipulates that any panda cubs born during this 10-year stay in San Diego will remain at the zoo until at least the age of two, but will need to be sent to China before they turn four years old. Experience the San Diego Zoo after dark all summer long As a cornerstone of the agreement, the application also details some of the research and conservation activities the zoos wildlife teams hope to engage in throughout the duration of the panda bears stay in San Diego. This includes work on issues of panda health, well-being and reproductive output building on previous breeding work efforts that helped supplemented the population enough for the species to be downgraded from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2021. Zoo officials said they also hope to focus on research areas that could further aid the recovery of giant panda populations, such as human-wildlife coexistence, climate change impact mitigation and how technology can be leveraged to protect pandas and the health of their native habitats. Previous research conducted while caring for pandas at the San Diego Zoo included the development of a milk formula that was described as critically important to baby panda bears survival. So far, San Diego Zoo officials have announced they will be welcoming two young panda bears into their care under the current agreement, although they noted the bears habitat will have the space to accommodate upwards of four. In the application to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the zoo said it is in the midst of renovating the enclosure where the pandas used to reside before they left in 2018 to dramatically increase the space for these bears. According to the document, crews have been working to combine the two public sections of the existing enclosure and expand into an adjacent habitat space, significantly expanding its available space for both the bears and guests. The enclosure will be about 6,000 square feet in size, according to the application. While guest viewing capacity will be around 173 guests at a time, up from the previous enclosures 80 guests. Zoo officials said in the application the updated enclosure is expected to be complete by June. Blueprint of the existing panda bear habitat at the San Diego Zoo. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) Blueprint of the renovated panda bear habitat at the San Diego Zoo. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) The zoo is also in the midst of adding additional indoor holding space for the pandas, the application added, although a timeline for when that would be ready was not detailed. In case these spaces are not ready by the time the pandas arrive, the application said there are contingency plans in place, including placing them in another bear exhibit temporarily. While the zoo may be ready to welcome the set of panda bears by next month, the application will need to be approved by federal regulators before transportation from China can be finalized. Once they arrive, there will also be a quarantine period before they can be viewed by the public. San Diego Zoo welcomes first Francois langur baby in five years FOX 5/KUSI reached out to San Diego Zoo officials for further comment on where in the process they are in bringing the bears over, but did not receive a response. Last month, the San Diego Zoo unveiled the pair of pandas slated to make the journey across the Pacific Ocean: Yun Chuan (pronounced yoon chu-an) and Xin Bao (pronounced sing bao). The announcement came after zoo officials traveled to China to meet the bears. Photo of Yun Chuan. (Credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) Photo of Yun Chuan. (Credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) Photo of Xin Bao. (Credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) Photo of Xin Bao. (Credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) Yun Chuan, a four-year-old male, was described as mild-mannered, gentle and lovable. He also already has ties to the San Diego Zoo: His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the zoo back in 2007. His grandmother, Bai Yun, lived at the San Diego Zoo for 23 years. Xin Bao, a three-year-old female, was described as an introvert who is gentle, but witty. She has a sweet round face and big ears. Zoo officials said her name means new treasure of prosperity and abundance. Both pandas were born at the Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base in Sichuan, according to the zoo. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. The Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to hear a challenge to the Clean Water Act that has brought together two unlikely allies: San Francisco, the West Coasts famed bastion of progressive liberalism, and the bulk of the American business sector, which typically stands athwart it. In City of San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency, city officials told the justices that the supposedly vague requirements imposed upon San Francisco by an EPA water quality permit went beyond what the law allowed. These blanket requirements instead subject San Francisco to the crushing consequences of the CWAs enforcement machinery without prior notice of what the Act requires, the city protested, quoting a recent decision on the CWAs scope. National business groups, led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, agreed with that assessment. In their own court filings, they said that they represent nearly every business sector across the U.S. economy and are concerned about the devastating consequences of the Ninth Circuits wrongheaded decision, which approves such generic conditions. By persuading the justices to take up the case, the city of San Francisco may free itself from potentially onerous water quality regulations. But a victory for the city could also curb the agencys power to enforce those standards throughout the country, with major implications for everyone else. Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972 to address the urgent problem of water pollution throughout the United Statesa crisis that had become urgent by the late 1960s as some of the nations major rivers actually caught fire. That law allows the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate any pollutant discharges into the waters of the United States. One of the EPAs tools under the law is a permit system known as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. The agency uses NPDES permits to regulate certain sources of water pollution and set standards for what can be discharged into the waters of the United States. In California and other states, the EPA can issue the permits jointly with state water regulators. San Francisco, like many other U.S. cities, has a combined sewer system, meaning that it handles both sewage and stormwater through the same pipes. When the amount of stormwater goes beyond what the citys sewage treatment plants can handle, it overflows into surrounding waters. That overflow can consist of a mixture of stormwater, untreated sewage, and other biological and industrial pollutants. Treated water in San Francisco is discharged through either the Bayside system, which flows into the San Francisco Bay, or the Oceanside system, which flows into the Pacific Ocean. At issue in this particular case is the latter. When the EPA and the state of California renewed Oceansides NPDES permit in 2019, they required the city to abide by the water control standards laid out in Californias water control plans. Those standards set out a variety of characteristics and limits that the state seeks to achieve for its native waters. It includes a mixture of measurable criteria, like the levels of certain pollutants that are allowed to be present, as well as subjective criteria, like whether there were visible oil slicks or sewage debris. The city argued strenuously against this requirement, claiming that it imposed an unfair burden on the citys ability to meet the terms of its permit. The Generic Prohibitions make compliance with the CWA elusive, because a water bodys ability to meet water quality standards at any time depends on pollutants that all sourcesnot just San Franciscocontribute, the city argued in court filings. San Francisco consequently lacks advanced notice of how much it must control its discharges without violating the Generic Prohibitions. Instead, the city argued, the permit should specify how much it is allowed to discharge into the Pacific. For the city, this question is no mere technicality. The Clean Water Act can be enforced by both agency actions and private lawsuits against violators. At the same time, the law includes what is known as a permit shield provision. As long as a permit holder is in compliance with the terms of the permit, they are immune from private and public enforcement lawsuits. This allows permit holders to avoid potentially expensive litigation if regulations change during the term of their permit. San Francisco argued, however, that the generic prohibitions strip it of its protections by opening it up to enforcement in ways that it cannot predict. Since the permit shield only applies if it is in compliance with the terms of its permit, the city claimed, creating undefined criteria for compliance makes it difficult to determine whether it is protected. In a brief opposing the request for review, the Environmental Protection Agency said there was nothing vague about the restrictions in the permit. It noted that they were linked to specific requirements in Californias own water control regulations and that the city had not identified any language in any particular water quality standard that petitioner believes to be vague or insufficiently clear, pointedly paraphrasing from the citys own brief. The agency also argued that there was nothing particularly novel about its requirement. It noted that the agencys own policy for combined-sewer overflows, which was enacted in 1994, had long required that permits should at least require compliance with applicable water quality standards, expressed in the form of a narrative limitationi.e., a limitation stated in qualitative, rather than quantitative, terms. The EPA noted that Congress has allowed that approach to survive in subsequent legislation and that California has included the requirements in nearly every individual permit it has approved since the early 1990s. On those grounds, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the citys challenge to the permits last July. Judge William Fletcher, writing for a 21 majority, described the generic or narrative restrictions as a backstop. He concluded that they were designed to ensure that permitted discharges protect the water quality of the Pacific Ocean if the specific technological and water-quality based effluent limitations fail to achieve compliance with the CWA. Judge Daniel Collins dissented, pointing to a Second Circuit decision that had previously held that the EPA must be more specific in its NPEDS permits. Cheering on San Francisco are a variety of business groups and trade associations, including the National Mining Association, the American Farm Bureau, the American Petroleum Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Fertilizer Institute, and many others. The groups warned the court that allowing the EPA to impose generic requirements could open their members up to potentially ruinous consequences from public and private enforcement actions. Congress created the CWAs Permit Shield to allow regulators to impose the specific effluent limitations that are necessary to protect water quality, while providing permittees fair notice of their regulatory obligations and security from unexpected CWA liability, they told the court. They claimed that the Ninth Circuits ruling effectively eliminates these protections in the Nations largest circuit because operators now cannot know whether they are complying with their permits. There is good reason to believe that the Supreme Court will be sympathetic to these claims. Two years ago in Sackett v. EPA, the court ruled in a 72 decision that nearly half of the nations wetlands no longer came under the definition of waters of the United States and thus fell outside the CWAs protections. Justice Elena Kagan noted in her dissenting opinion that Justice Samuel Alito, the majority opinions author, eagerly accepted the plaintiffs narrative in that case. Congress, the majority scolds, has unleashed the EPA to regulate swimming pools and puddles, wreaking untold havoc on a staggering array of landowners, she wrote, with an undercurrent of sarcasm. Surely something has to be done; and who else to do it but this Court? It must rescue property owners from Congresss too-ambitious program of pollution control. If that perspective wins out again in this case, San Francisco will have a freer hand when it comes to dumping pollutants into the Pacific Ocean. So too may a variety of American businesses and industries that have chafed against the crushing burdens of environmental regulation. In trying to extricate itself from stricter water quality rules, one of Americas most liberal cities might make it harder for everyone else to enforce them. San Juan County man sentenced to 15 years in prison after 2022 death of 5-year-old girl SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A San Juan County man was sentenced on Wednesday after he crashed a stolen truck and caused the death of the five-year-old passenger in 2022, according to the District Attorneys office. Qwana McCook, 30, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, five years of supervised release and has been ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution. McCook admitted to stealing a truck from a victim whose five-year-old daughter was in the backseat and crashing it, which ejected and killed the child. PREVIOUS STORY: Ute Tribe member charged for alleged murder of 5-year-old in Utah According to the Department of Justice, McCook pleaded guilty to first degree felony murder and robbery in March 2024. The crimes happened on the White Mesa Indian Reservation. The DOJ said McCook took a vehicle from the victims mother without her permission while on the reservation. A press release said McCook did not return the child home, purchased alcohol and began to drink and drive. When he crashed, he was speeding. The child was ejected after the crash and was declared dead at the scene. This case is a horrific reminder that carjackings threaten the lives of innocent victims United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah said. McCooks senseless actions are reprehensible and caused the terrible death of a young girl. Higgins said her office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who threaten the communities of Utah with violence. McCooks extremely selfish decisions that day will forever impact a family who is left grieving the loss of their young daughter, Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI said. McCooks passenger and co-defendant pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and will be sentenced at a later date. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The Santaquin Police Department revealed a new fundraiser coin on social media Wednesday to honor fallen Sergeant Bill Hooser and help support his family. The coins are available for pre-sale for $20 each, and Santaquin PD said the orders are expected to be completed about three to four weeks after someone places an order. All orders should be placed by June 15, according to officials. PREVIOUSLY: Utah says farewell to Sgt. Bill Hooser The Santaquin Police Department revealed a new fundraiser coin on social media on May 29, 2024, to honor fallen Sergeant Bill Hooser and help support his family. Orders were asked to be made through Venmo, and all proceeds were said to benefit the fallen officers family. (Courtesy: Santaquin Police Department) Orders are being placed through the online service Venmo, and patrons are asked to provide their name and address in the comments of their Venmo payment. The Santaquin Police Department has asked that payments go to the Venmo account @Jerame-Baker-1. All proceeds of this coin will go to the family of Fallen Officer Sgt Hooser, Santaquin PD said on social media. ABC4.com has reached out to Santaquin PD to verify how the money will get to the family but has not yet heard back. The fundraising coin is officially sponsored by Santaquin Police Chief Rodney Hurst, police said. Who was Sgt. Bill Hooser? On May 5, 2024, Sgt. Billy Dean Hooser was struck and killed by a semi-truck on I-15 after initiating a traffic stop. Sgt. Hooser was a Utah native with eight years of experience in law enforcement, starting off in New Mexicos San Juan County Sheriffs Office. He joined the Santaquin City Police Department in 2017 and was promoted to Sergeant in February 2024. Sgt. Hooser is survived by his spouse, two children and one grandchild. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast announced Wednesday that John Patterson, husband of former Sarasota city and county commissioner Nora Patterson, a land preservation proponent, will leave the Conservation Foundation Land Fund with a portion of the family's estate. "Funds will be designated to Conservation Foundations Land Fund in memory of Noras impact and lasting mark on our community," spokesperson Sam Valentin said in a press release. The percentage was not identified. Nora Patterson, 79, died in February after years of public service. She was elected to the Sarasota City Commission, where she served for eight years, and then to the Sarasota County County Commission in 1998, and served until 2014. Patterson also served on the boards of Planned Parenthood of Southwest Florida, Sarasota Teen Court, and Sarasota United Way. The city and county commissions named a park at the north bridge to Siesta Key the Nora Patterson Bay Island Park in 2015, to recognize her advocacy for conservation. Based in Osprey, the Conservation Foundation works throughout Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota, Counties on land conservation programs. The foundation called the donation a "transformative gift." "Nora Patterson Land Fund quickens the pace of conservation when other public and private funding resources are unavailable," Valentin said. "Conservation Foundations Board of Trustees oversees the usage of funds, prioritizing initiatives related to water quality and quantity, native species protection, connectivity, and unique public access." Nora Patterson stands next to the sign proclaiming the name change for Nora Patterson Bay Island Park at the 2015 renaming ceremony, when park improvements ranging from a new sea wall to new benches, fishing rails and signage were also unveiled. Conservation Foundation President Christine P. Johnson said in a press release that as a board member from 2016 to 2021, Patterson was an integral to the creation of the Land Fund, which was recently renamed in her honor. "Her kindness, generosity, and unwavering support helped conserve thousands of acres during her lifetime," Johnson said. "Now, through the Nora Patterson Land Fund, her legacy will live on, forever protecting clean and abundant water, public access to open space, and habitat for wildlife across Southwest Florida. Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Contact him at ccasale@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @vanityhack This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Patterson family to give percentage of estate for land conservation SC boy accused of shooting a student when he was 12 is charged as adult, pleads not guilty It was almost exactly two years ago that 12-year-old Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson was fatally shot as he walked in the hallway of his middle school in Greenville. His accused killer, also then 12, Jordan Williams Jr. pleaded not guilty to murder Thursday in General Sessions Court, where he will be tried as an adult. Now 14, he was indicted earlier this month. Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Judge Jessica A. Salvini moved the case from Family Court to General Sessions based on the need for rehabilitation and protection of the community. Jackson died March 31, 2022 after being shot in the chest while at Tanglewood MIddle School. His family pressed for the suspect to be tried as an adult. They have filed a civil lawsuit against the Greenville County School District and Williams father, alleging Williams should not have been in school on that day with his record of misbehavior. GCSD is responsible for the supervision, security, and well-being of the students who attend Tanglewood Middle School, the lawsuit said. It has regularly failed to do so. The lawsuit also said Williams had a history of bullying and violence. When the shooting happened, the family released a statement saying, We are all devastated by todays tragedy. We love Jamari dearly. The suspect has been held at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia since his arrest. Williams was arrested while hiding under a deck at a house close to the school about an hour after the shooting. The gun used in the shooting was recovered there as well. The process to try a juvenile as an adult is lengthy and involves evaluation of the child and consideration of the seriousness of the charge. Safety of the child and the public are considered, state law says. South Carolina law says a juvenile of any age may be tried as an adult if the charge is murder. SC Supreme Court will have a woman justice again after last years all-male abortion decision South Carolinas Supreme Court will have one woman again. Appeals Court Judge Blake Hewitt dropped out of the Supreme Court race, leaving Appeals Court Judge Letitia Verdin as the only remaining candidate, Judicial Merit Selection Commission staff said. Richland County Judge Jocelyn Newman, a Black woman, withdrew from the race Tuesday. The JMSC nominated Hewitt, Newman and Verdin earlier this month out of a pool of six applicants. A maximum of three candidates can be forwarded to the General Assembly, which elects judges. Vote counters in the House said Verdin had secured more than 100 votes. With Verdins pending election, four out of the five justices will continue to be from the Upstate. Lawmakers are slated to return to Columbia on June 5 to hold the Supreme Court election to replace Justice John Kittredge, who is becoming the chief justice. Chief Justice Donald Beatty is leaving this year because of the states mandatory retirement age for judges. Beatty is currently the only Black justice on the state Supreme court. The make up of the Supreme Court had been criticized for being all male ahead of the court upholding the states 2023 fetal heartbeat law, which bans abortions after a heartbeat can be detected, which is usually around the sixth week of pregnancy, when a woman might not know shes even pregnant. Video above: 11 of 12 jurors wanted the death penalty for Parkland school shooter, parent Ryan Petty said in October 2022. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The building where the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter opened fire will be demolished this summer. In a new release from Broward County Public Schools on Thursday, officials said demolition for the schools 1200 building will either begin on June 13 or June 14. Lawmakers tour site of Parkland school massacre before experts recreate shooting inside The process is expected to last several weeks. We understand this is a sensitive and difficult time for the families of those who were killed, those who were injured, and all of those who are forever impacted by the tragedy on February 14, 2018, the school district said. We will continue to keep the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School community informed and updated as we navigate this process together. On Valentines Day in 2018, school shooter Nikolas Cruz fired around 140 shots using an AR-15-style rifle, that killed 17 students and staff. In October 2021, Cruz pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison without possible parole in November 2022. Parkland shooting 6 years later: What progress has been made on protecting students? In March, Vice President Kamala Harris toured the school and announced a $750 million grant program with training and technical assistance for states with red flag laws. The building was frozen in time, being preserved so Cruzs jury could tour it during his trial. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Schoolboy in Malaysia permanently disabled after teachers punishment gives him heatstroke, family says Schoolboy in Malaysia permanently disabled after teachers punishment gives him heatstroke, family says An 11-year-old boy in Malaysia was left disabled after a teacher punished him by making him stand in the sun for around three hours, his family says. The boy from Ampang Jaya outside Kuala Lumpur was made to stand in the sun from 10am to 12.50pm on 30 April and was later rushed to hospital. The boy has been declared Person With Disability (PwD) by the Ampang Hospital where he was treated, his mother AD Mogahana Selvi said. Ms Mogahana, 35, said the hospital has issued a letter assessing him as a PwD and said he needs to be sent to a school for children with special needs. The family is expected to file a civil suit and seek charges against the teacher. The 11-year-old is believed to have suffered neurological damage as a result of the heatstroke he suffered, reported the New Straits Times. "To be honest, I feel upset when I see my childs condition as he is now not normal. Previously, he used to play often with his siblings, but now he hides a lot and talks to himself, his mother said. "The hospital informed me that I cant send my son to a regular school anymore because of his health issues. They say I have to send him to a school for special needs children now," she told reporters. Their lawyer Dinesh Muthal said the incident has caused a lot of stress to the victims parents, especially the mother, who is three months into a pregnancy. "Apart from a civil suit, we want the teacher involved to be charged in court and be given an appropriate sentence (if found guilty)," he said. Police said they have concluded their investigation into the case and passed on the findings to the deputy public prosecutors office for further action. However, the lawyer has called the police investigation unsatisfactory. He said the school sent three warning letters to the parents of the boy for his absence from the school while he was being treated. But the school did not mention the issue of the boy being forced to stand in the sun with the parents. It comes as brutal heatwaves sweeping across Asia this year have caused alarm, forcing many countries to adopt emergency measures. Malaysia issued emergency orders in March as the temperature edged close to 40C. Since the beginning of April, dozens of countries in Asia from India to the Philippines have seen record-high temperatures leading to school closures and the triggering of urgent health warnings across the region. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A Department of Public Works (DPW) pilot program aimed at getting cars with outstanding fines off of D.C. streets has led to the booting and towing of hundreds of cars in the past two months. DPW calls the targeted vehicles scofflaw vehicles and is working with License Place Recognition System technology to identify cars with steep outstanding fines. Since the program started in April, teams have towed 69 cars with more than $600,000 in unpaid fines and booted nearly 800 cars with more than $1.5 million in unpaid fines, DPW said in a news release. FAA investigating near miss at Reagan National Airport Drivers who ignore citations endanger all roadway users by fostering a culture of disregard for our laws, stated DPW Director Timothy Spriggs. Identifying and impounding vehicles that have racked up significant fines can be complex, but our scofflaw search teams are getting results and are getting these vehicles off of our streets. DPW launched the program in areas where data showed clustering of vehicles with high and overdue fines. For example, DPW stated, a sweep in Ward 2 led to the booting of 46 cars with $92,000 in outstanding fines. DPW said it plans on expanding the pilot program to other areas in the District. Filipino restaurant Hiraya celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month DPW also said it hopes to secure an impound lot that can store about 300 more cars by the middle of the summer. This will enable DPWs parking enforcement teams to tow more scofflaw vehicles from the roadways, the agency stated. The department can boot or tow vehicles that have at least two 61-day-old unpaid tickets, according to D.C.s Department of Motor Vehicles. Cars that are booted are subject to towing if the outstanding tickets and boot fees go unpaid. You can pay outstanding ticket fees online or in person at 955 LEnfant Plaza SW. If your car has been booted or towed, head to DPWs website for information on how to retrieve or release your vehicle. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Voters in Eddy County will choose between two political adversaries vying to represent New Mexicos 42nd Senate District in the legislature months after the incumbent was appointed by the governor and sought reelection against a long-time member of the State House of Representatives. Sen. Steven McCutcheon (R-42) was appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to replace the retiring Gay Kernan and is running for his partys nomination to the post in the Republican primary on June 4 against Rep. Larry Scott (R-62). When a seat in the legislature is vacated, county commissions from within that district vote to recommend a candidate to the governor. In the case of Kernan vacating District 42, Eddy County nominated McCutcheon while Lea and Chaves both proposed Scott. McCutcheon, a former Eddy County Commissioner, was ultimately appointed and is hoping to win his first election to the seat in the November General Election. No Democrat nominee came forward for the primary. Also covering parts of Eddy County, District 41 saw incumbent Sen. David Gallegos (R-41) uncontested in the primary, while former Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell was running against Chad Hamill for Senate District 32, which includes a small sliver of northern Eddy County near Artesia but is mostly in Chaves County. More: Who is running in the June 4 primary election? A look at Eddy County candidates Rep. Jim Townsend (R-54) was running uncontested for the GOP nomination to Senate District 34, after Sen. Ron Griggs (R-34) said he would not seek reelection. For District 42, McCutcheon said the people of southeast New Mexico need an advocate for the oil and gas industry and the deep-red regions conservative values including border security and the rights of gun owners. He questioned his opponent Scotts record in the House since 2015, arguing Scott and other long-time Republican lawmakers proved ineffective at countering the agenda of New Mexico progressive Democrats. Steven McCutcheon The race is about the direction of New Mexico, and looking at where the oil and gas industry is as opposed to where it was 10 years ago, where education was, where taxes were, we think those things really give us the advantage, McCutcheon said. Those guys have been there for several years, and theyve proven to be ineffectual. Scott countered that he and other GOP leaders worked during the past decade of Democrat control of the House and Senate to counter bills that would limit economic development such as from the oil and gas industry, despite becoming an increasing minority. Weve been in a very significant minority in all but two sessions during my 10 years of service. Weve been very effective in the House playing defense, Scott said. You cannot advance conservative policy positions through a progressive legislature. It just doesnt happen. Weve held the line on those progressive policy positions in the senate. I believe I can have a better impact in the Senate. Candidates clash over Lujan Grisham affiliation Despite being recommended to the governor by the majority of the counties represented by District 42, Scott said Lujan Grisham chose his opponent because Scott proved to be heavy adversary for the governor and her supporters during his time in the House. State Rep. Larry Scott (R-62) introduced legislation in the 2023 New Mexico Legislature to provide a long-term fix for lost tax revenue in Carlsbad and Hobbs. The governor does not like me. The governor recognizes that I have stood squarely in the doorway of a number of her policy positions, Scott said. If she had an opportunity, which she did when they sent Mr. McCutcheons name came up, it was a no-brainer for her to select him over me. He contended the decision to appoint McCutcheon divided the conservative southeast region, diverting political resources away from campaigns against Democrat lawmakers and instead to the GOP primary for District 42. I believe it was a stroke of political genius on her part, Scott said. She pitted Republican resources against Republican resources that might have been otherwise focused on electing Republicans along the Rio Grande corridor which is where we need it. More: Short term state revenue loss for Hobbs passes committee, bills for Carlsbad stalled McCutcheon called Scott a hypocrite for seeking to capitalize on an appointment McCutcheon argued his opponent sought himself. McCutcheon said in his short time in the Senate, he has opposed the governor at ever turn, speaking out publicly against the states border policies, firearm reform and land management policies. Larry put in the for the exact same appointment. He was leaving a held representative seat when he was doing so, McCutcheon said. The governor may not have known who I was when she allowed me to fill that seat, but she knows who I am now. I stand for nothing that the governor stands for. Oil and gas, border safety top candidate agendas New Mexicos nation-leading oil and gas industry provided more than $13 million in state revenue in the last fiscal year, and continues provide a significant portion of the states economy with the industry based in southeast New Mexico and partially in District 42. McCutcheon said its essential for the person elected to the seat to not only tell the story of oil and gas in the region, but also bring legislation to proactively encourage continued expansion in fossil fuel production. He said the party must move past playing defense and create a platform that could flip seats and cut down on the Democrat majority. District 5 Eddy Board of County Commissioner Susan Crockett (left) and District 4 Commissioner Steven McCutcheon listen during a discussion during a March 5 commission meeting. I think were really sick of playing defense. As Republicans, we must be better. We must have better arguments. We have to create a vision that people hang on to, McCutcheon said. Were going to jump out and win seats and promote meaningful legislation for the people of New Mexico. Scott, an engineer with decades of experience in the oil and gas industry questioned McCutcheons knowledge of how fossil fuels are produced in southeast New Mexico. Scott said he would be the better of the two to continue pushing the fossil fuel narrative in the Senate and win support from across the aisle. New Mexico Rep. Larry Scott (District 62) speaks Aug. 7 at a public meeting on the state's methane strategy in Carlsbad. I dont believe he has the expertise in the petroleum industry to make the same considered arguments that I can make with respect to energy and its impact on our everyday lives, Scott said. I hope to be able to make reasoned arguments, thoughtful arguments on every piece of legislation that comes through that chamber. I hope to sway opposition over to my side using those arguments. Politics is the art of the possible. Both candidates advocated for more authority to local school districts and reforming New Mexicos tax law to send more money to local municipalities, while contending the State should do more to address crime they said was tied to immigration from the U.S.-Mexico Border. Although District 42 does not contain any part of the international border which stretches through part of southwest New Mexico, Scott and McCutcheon argued drug traffickers and other offenders allegedly originating at the border were flowing into the southeast corner of New Mexico. I will be the first Republican in 10 years to file comprehensive border security, McCutcheon said. Theyve (GOP lawmakers) failed to do that. People know how important the border is. Scott said Republicans will make a strong push in the upcoming special session to seek policies he said would be stronger in deterring crime at the border, work he said he would continue if elected to the Senate. I hope there are a few things we can do with respect to border security in this July special session, Scott said. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: McCutcheon, Scott vie for New Mexico Senate District 42 in primary REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KRON) A day-long hearing for convicted murderer Scott Peterson concluded when a San Mateo County judge ordered new DNA testing on one piece of evidence. Peterson had requested access to test 14 pieces of evidence for DNA that he believes could prove he did not murder his pregnant wife, Laci, two decades ago. On Wednesday, Judge Elizabeth M. Hill ordered prosecutors to hand over only 1 of the 14 pieces evidence for testing: a 15-inch-long strip of duct tape. The duct tape was found on Lacis pants when her autopsy was conducted in 2003. Scott and Laci Peterson An excised portion of that tape was DNA tested in 2003 and shown to have human DNA present. But the DNA was not of acceptable quality to generate a profile at that time, Petersons attorneys with the Los Angeles Innocence Project wrote. DNA technology has advanced since the last time the duct tape was examined. Peterson listened to the hearing via a live video feed from Mule Creek State Prison, where he is currently incarcerated. For his 2004 trial, Peterson was convicted by a jury of murdering Laci and their unborn son, Conner. Peterson claims that Laci was still alive on December 24, 2002 when he left their Modesto home to go fishing in the San Francisco Bay. The bodies of Laci and her unborn son washed up in the bay four months later. Scott Peterson is seen on a live video feed from Mule Creek State Prison on March 12, 2024. (Pool / Photo by Modesto Bee) When Lacis remains were found on the rocks at Point Isabel, she was wearing a bra and the remnants of cream-colored capri pants, Stanislaus County District Attorney prosecutors wrote in court documents. The 27-year-old womans remains were decomposed from exposure to a marine environment. Petersons attorneys with the Los Angeles Innocence Project requested new DNA testing to investigate Mr. Petersons claim of innocence, LAIP wrote. LA Innocence Project blasts DAs Herculean effort to stomp Scott Peterson case At Wednesdays hearing, special prosecutor David Harris told the judge that reviving the case is unfair to Lacis family, Peterson is guilty beyond the shadow of a doubt, and the District Attorneys Office is not legally required to help LAIP re-examine the case. Harris told Hill, The People know the truth. We know that Scott Peterson is guilty. He has been convicted of the murders of his wife and unborn son. Harris repeatedly cited Marsys Law, which entitles victims to finality in criminal cases post-conviction. Laci Peterson Peterson was sentenced to death by a San Mateo County judge in 2005. Three years ago, his death sentence was overturned by the California Supreme Court. The District Attorneys Office said it did not re-seek the death penalty because Lacis family did not want to endure another legal battle. Instead, Peterson was sentenced to serve life in prison without possibility of parole. At Petersons 2021 re-sentencing hearing, Lacis mother told her former son-in-law, You researched boat launch ramps in the San Francisco Bay. You dumped her body in the bay like a piece of garbage. How evil you are. No matter what happens in the future, there are two things that will never change: Laci and Conner will always be dead; and you will always be their murderer. Lacis mother said in 2021, I see no sorrow and no remorse from you at all. Lacis dead, Scott, because she loved you and trusted you. You betrayed her. Your evil, selfish act ended two beautiful souls. You just didnt want them anymore. You chose to get rid of her. You didnt want a baby, nor the responsibility of being a father. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Scott Peterson suffers big setback in effort to prove he did not kill wife, unborn son Scott Peterson appears via video call for a status hearing at San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City on March 12. (Andy Alfaro / Associated Press) Scott Peterson's quest to prove his innocence in the notorious killing of his pregnant wife and unborn son has been considerably narrowed. A judge weighing evidence in a last-ditch bid to exonerate Peterson in the killings ruled this week that one item collected 20 years ago in connection with his murder trial could be retested for DNA. The Los Angeles Innocence Project, a nonprofit legal group with a reputation for exonerating wrongfully convicted criminals, is seeking to clear Peterson in the killings of Laci Peterson and their unborn son, Conner. Peterson's new legal team had asked for testing of more than a dozen pieces of evidence they say could point to other suspects in the slaying. San Mateo County Judge Elizabeth M. Hill granted only one request for DNA testing, on a piece of duct tape found with Peterson's body, which had been dumped in the San Francisco Bay. New testing on a key piece of evidence a mattress recovered from a burned-out van used in a burglary near the Petersons' Modesto home was not granted. The duct tape that will be examined is about 15 inches long and was stuck on the right thigh of Laci Peterson's pants. It was tested in 2013, but Hill ruled that technological advances for even smaller pieces of DNA may yield previously unobtainable results. According to Peterson's lawyers, a section of the duct tape that was folded over onto itself underwent DNA testing and the presence of human DNA was found, but no DNA profile could be obtained. Peterson listened to the hearing from Mull Creek State Prison. Now 51, he was convicted in 2004 and initially sentenced to death in the murders, but that sentence was overturned and he is now serving life without parole. Read more: Scott Peterson in court as LA Innocence Project pushes for DNA testing and missing reports Laci Peterson vanished on Christmas Eve 2002 from their Modesto home. She was eight months pregnant at the time with the couple's first child. In April 2003, her body and that of the baby his umbilical cord still attached washed up on a rocky shore in San Francisco Bay. A woman walking her dog had found the remains a few miles from where Scott Peterson had told police he had been fishing when his wife disappeared. Four days later, Peterson was arrested for murder. Read more: The Scott Peterson Murder Trial Key to the Innocence Project's efforts in retesting evidence in the Peterson case is a stolen van that was set on fire on Dec. 25, 2002, in Modesto, a day after a burglary near the Petersons' residence. Inside the van was a mattress with what one investigator said appeared to be bloodstains. The Innocence Project alleges that it has evidence from the owner of the van which was found a mile from the Petersons' home showing it did not have a mattress inside before it was stolen. Prosecutor David Harris said Peterson's team was seeking a "do-over" and that it was not fair to the victim's family, who have been traumatized. He argued that testing showed no blood on the mattress and the defense lacked any "actual evidence." On Wednesday, Hill agreed with prosecutors in denying testing of the mattress and 12 other items submitted by the Innocence Project. The judge ruled that the mattress did not show signs of blood when it was tested in 2019. She also rejected testing for a hammer and a work glove recovered from a burglary near the Peterson home, as well as the contents of a Target bag found near Laci Peterson's body and a black tarp. Paula Mitchell, executive director of the Innocence Project, told the judge that Peterson's 2004 conviction was based entirely on circumstantial evidence with no murder weapon, no witnesses and no determination of the cause, time or date of death. She argued that new technology could yield DNA evidence, calling the testing "a no-brainer in this case." Hill has scheduled a hearing for July to determine exactly how the DNA examination will be carried out on the duct tape. 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. BRANCH COUNTY Michigan Leadership Institute consultant Chet Janik posted the job of county administrator to replace retiring Bud Norman on various websites, newspapers, and job boards, commissioners were told on Tuesday. With only a draft job description, two people have already applied, one from Indeed.com. All applications are due by July 1. Branch County Michigan Selection timeline Janik said he would compile all applications into a PDF and email it to the commissioners around July 5. The consultant suggests reviewing the applications the week of July 8, preliminarily categorizing candidates into those for interviews and potential interviews. A special closed meeting is targeted for the week of July 15 to determine who to interview. Until then, all the names are confidential. Question and answer interviews would start the week of July 22, to have finalists by July 29. There would be more dialogue with the finalists during the second-round interviews. Candidates may also meet with county staff during this process. Janik said the goal of final interviews is for commissioners to reach a consensus on the hire. Consultant Chet Janik Commission chair Tim Stoll would be authorized to negotiate an employment contract with the chosen candidate. Stoll hoped the new hire could join the county sometime in October, with an overlap with Norman to settle into the job. Because it's an election year, the initial contract can only go to Dec. 31 under state law. The contract can specify the new commission will review/extend it in January by the newly elected commission. Changes in the job Norman holds the title of administrator/controller. Under state law, the controller is responsible for the budgets and finances, and Michigan requires a supermajority or four commissioners to fire one. Early on, the commission determined the jobs would be separate in the future. Norman currently makes over $175,000 a year after nearly 18 years in his job. Part of the pay increases came because he took over direct supervision of the building permit department and emergency management. Those jobs will go to others under the new job description. Because of this, the top salary offered is $135,000. County Employment Website Job description Job requirements The job description states that the administrator supervises and is responsible for the work performed by the staff of the "General Services' Office, Payroll/Accounts Payable, Housing Grant Administrator, County Complex Manager, Technology, Veterans' Affairs, Commission on Aging, 9-1-1 Center, and Brownfield Authority." The commission is looking for a minimum "bachelor's degree but prefers a master's degree in public administration, public affairs, accounting, or related fields, and five years of progressively more responsible administrative/supervisory experience in county or local government." At its discretion, Branch County may consider an alternative combination of formal education and work experience as it did with Norman, who came out of the U.S. Army as a Colonel with Pentagon experience. The county cannot require its administrator to live within the county but can require residence within 20 miles of the county. Janik said the chair can negotiate some issues in the contract. Subscribe Follow this story. Subscribe to the Daily Reporter. Janik will be paid a fee not to exceed $10,250 to guide the commission through the process. Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Commissioners hope to name new county administrator by late August Second arrest made in April shooting that injured two in Salt Lake City SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Police have made a second arrest in connection to an April shooting in the Poplar Grove neighborhood of Salt Lake City that left two men injured. Christian Miramontes, 23, was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on felony charges of discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault and possession of a stolen firearm. Police believe Miramontes was directly involved in the shooting, which took place just after midnight on April 6, 2024, in the area of 1000 West and 300 South. When police initially responded, they said they found Miramontes walking away with gunshot wounds to his left arm and right leg. According to court documents, Miramontes was extremely uncooperative and did not easily explain what happened. RELATED: Man arrested in connection to April shooting in Salt Lake City Through their investigation, the Salt Lake City Police Department said they learned Miramontes had been in a physical altercation at a car meet with another man, later identified as Luis Alfaro, 24. Video surveillance in the area of the shooting reportedly shows the scuffle and what appears to be a muzzle flash from Miramontes hands. According to court documents, Alfaro can then be seen going back to his own car before going back to Miramontes car and extend[ing] his arm towards it, as if he were firing gunshots. Both cars then flee the scene at a high rate of speed. Police say during a search of Miramontes home they found a rifle that had been listed stolen. It is unclear if the rifle was used in the shooting. Miramontes was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on the aforementioned charges on Wednesday, May 29. Alfaro was taken into custody earlier this week. He faces multiple felony charges for discharging a firearm, aggravated assault, obstruction of justice, and unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Billionaire Bill Gates Has A McDonald's 'Gold Card' That Gives Him Free Food For Life Worldwide Few perks in fast food are as elusive and sought-after as the McDonald's Gold Card, which grants its holder free meals. However, the benefits of these cards can vary. While some are limited to local venues, others, like the one Bill Gates has, allow him to eat for free at any McDonald's globally. Warren Buffett, another notable recipient of this privilege, discussed his own McDonald's Gold Card during a 2007 CNBC interview, revealing the more localized nature of his card. During an interview with Becky Quck, Buffett showed what was in his wallet. "And, ah, here we have my McDonald's card which lets me eat free at any McDonald's in Omaha for the rest of my life. So that's why the Buffett family has Christmas dinner at McDonald's. It explains a lot of things," Buffett chuckled. Don't Miss: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement How do you compare ? Warren Buffett flipped his neighbor's $67,000 life savings into a $50 million fortune How much is that worth today? He added that while his card is restricted to Omaha, Gates' card is good worldwide. "There's just a few of them. Bill Gates has one. His is good throughout the world, I guess. Mine is only good in Omaha, but I never leave Omaha so mine is just as good as his," he explained. Despite the vast difference in the geographical scope of their cards, the idea behind them remains a testament to McDonald's appreciation of these individuals. Gates, with a net worth that could easily cover any meal, and Buffett, known for his frugal lifestyle despite his immense wealth, enjoy the simplicity and convenience of the fast-food giant. Trending: Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are bullish on one city that could dethrone New York and become the new financial capital of the US. Investing in its booming real estate market has never been more accessible. The exact number of McDonald's Gold cardholders is not publicly known, and the company keeps a tight lid on who else might be part of this exclusive club. Rumors suggest that other celebrities and business magnates may also have these cards, each tailored to the holder's lifestyle and preferences. In 2022, McDonalds tapped into the hype surrounding its mysterious Gold Card by offering a contest that turned the legend into reality for a few non-billionaires. "Our fans have been fascinated by the lore of the McGold Card and if it really exists," said Tariq Hassan, McDonalds USA chief marketing and customer experience officer. The contest awarded a few lucky winners the ultimate holiday gift a McGold Card to share with family and friends. Story continues Gates current net worth is estimated at around $124.1 billion, making him the 7th richest person globally. In a recent blog post, Gates expressed his love for cheeseburgers, calling them his "favorite food." Even with all the wealth in the world, sometimes the most incredible luxury is a simple cheeseburger. And for Bill Gates, that cheeseburger can be enjoyed anywhere in the world, on the house. Keep Reading: Are you rich? Heres what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. A new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends. Heres how you can invest today. "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Billionaire Bill Gates Has A McDonald's 'Gold Card' That Gives Him Free Food For Life Worldwide originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Michigan has recorded a second human case of avian influenza. The influenza A (H5) patient was a farmworker who worked closely with cows infected with the virus, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday. The person had respiratory symptoms but has been treated and is recovering, the agency said. While MDHHS did not specify at which farm the person worked, the agency said it was not the same as the previous case announced last week. The nation is seeing an avian influenza outbreak among birds and dairy cows in multiple states, though the virus has spread to only a few humans. MDHHS said its working with local health officials to watch closely for the sporadic cases among people who work with infected animals. With the first case in Michigan, eye symptoms occurred after a direct splash of infected milk to the eye. With this case, respiratory symptoms occurred after direct exposure to an infected cow. Neither individual was wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE), Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the states chief medical executive, said in a statement. This tells us that direct exposure to infected livestock poses a risk to humans, and that PPE is an important tool in preventing spread among individuals who work on dairy and poultry farms. So far, no cases have been spread from human to human in Michigan. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to highlight that the risk to the public remains low, a release from MDHHS said. So far, avian influenza has been detected in dairy herds, commercial poultry flocks and backyard flocks in western, mid- and central Michigan. While HPAI is almost always fatal in birds, the mortality rate is considered low in cows. Those who suspect avian flu in their domestic animals are asked to call MDARD immediately at 800.292.3939 during the day or 517.373.0440 after hours. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Georgetown County deputies have arrested another teen in connection to an attempted armed robbery that took place at McDonalds in Pawleys Island, authorities said. The alleged armed robbery attempt took place on March 31 and at the time of the incident, the suspect was 15 and is now 16 years old, Georgetown County deputies said. The teen is charged with attempted robbery and second-degree assault. The suspect is currently being transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia, deputies said. Another suspect, who is 12 years old, was arrested April 10. The two males are accused of demanding money from a female employee of the restaurant as she walked to her car after completing her shift. The 17-year-old female was then struck in the head with a rifle-style firearm after one of the suspects fired three shots at her. The suspects fled without stealing her purse, deputies said. The investigation into this matter is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call 843-546-5102. Count on News13 for updates. * * * 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. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. CORRECTS DAY OF WEEK TO TUESDAY INSTEAD OF MONDAY - Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., arrives at federal court, Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Menendez is accused of taking bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car in exchange for favors performed for several New Jersey businessmen. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) NEW YORK (AP) Prosecutors at Sen. Bob Menendezs bribery trial showed jurors hundreds of texts, emails and phone calls over two days that show his girlfriend-turned-wife's desperate financial situation before New Jersey businessmen she had long known came to the rescue. Prosecutors elicited the evidence through the testimony of an FBI agent for a second day Wednesday as they sought to show that Menendez, 70, conspired with three businessmen and his wife, Nadine Menendez, 57, in a bribery scheme that enriched the couple with gold bars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and a luxury car. The Menendezes and two of the businessmen have pleaded not guilty, while the third pleaded guilty and is scheduled to testify. Nadine Menendez's trial was postponed until July after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through the long presentation of communications that was expected to continue into Thursday, prosecutors have sought to trace the relationship between Menendez and the woman he began dating in early 2018, known then as Nadine Arslanian. Prosecutors say the trajectory of the relationship coincided with a bribery scheme that led the senator to help one businessman and codefendant, Wael Hana, win an exclusive contract with Egypt to certify all meat exported there from the United States as meeting religious requirements, while aiding two other businessmen financially and by helping them obtain favorable results with criminal cases in New Jersey. Jurors saw some text messages Wednesday in which Menendez and Arslanian exchanged loving sentiments, with a kissing or heart emoji. In one message Arslanian told the senator: You can never lose me because I will never let go. Other communications showed that during the summer of 2019, Arslanian was in danger of losing her home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, after missing nearly $20,000 in mortgage payments. Hana provided the money to save the home, where Menendez moved after marrying Arslanian in 2020. Prosecutors say the money was part of bribes the couple received as the senator helped Hana's company secure its monopoly on the certifying of meat exports to Egypt. Defense lawyers say Menendez did nothing outside the bounds of what politicians typically do for constituents. The 13 gold bars found in a 2022 FBI raid on the home belonged to Nadine Menendez, they say, and the reason there was $480,000 in cash stuffed in jackets, boxes and a safe was because the senator was traumatized by the loss of his family's fortune before he was born. Menendez has also said through his lawyers that his wife kept him in the dark about her financial troubles and he did nothing illegal. Among other charges, Menendez is accused of acting as a foreign agent of Egypt. After his fall arrest, he was forced to quit his powerful post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Amid bustling passengers and busy ticket counters, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Tuesday laid out details of a federal appropriation to introduce upgrades to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and billions to strengthen air travel in the Lone Star State. The ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which shepherded the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024, Cruz touted the $105 billion package as an effort to bolster on-the-ground technology at airports across the country, modernize equipment and infrastructure and protect passengers. Signed into law May 16 by President Joe Biden, the legislation will fund the FAA through 2028 and will begin an initial series of safety investments at airports across the country, including Austin. More: Austin airport to consolidate PreCheck, CLEAR to one TSA checkpoint. Here's why The biggest wins, Cruz said during a news conference Tuesday, will be new runway tracking technology soon to be introduced in Austin, a new direct flight between San Antonio and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and provisions to ensure airports have enough air traffic controllers. "This bill is not overtly partisan on one side or the other. We didn't go with any crazy right-wing or crazy left-wing ideas," Cruz said. "Listen, everybody wants aviation safety, everyone wants their kids to arrive safely where they're going. Everyone wants the aviation sector to be more efficient, to be more effective, for consumers to have lower prices, and so we focused on areas of agreement." Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, touts the the FAA Reauthorization Act at a news conference Tuesday at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The measure will include new runway tracking technology soon to be introduced in Austin. In total, Texas' airports from Midland to Corpus Christi will receive $4 billion in federal funds through the bipartisan package for infrastructure projects and improvements, Cruz said. Last year, more than 22 million passengers traveled through Austin's airport over 1 million more passengers than the previous record of just over 21 million in 2022, a record Cruz said influenced the investment in Central Texas' airspace. "This airport moves in designation from what's considered a midsized airport to a large airport because of the volume of traffic," Cruz said, complimenting Austin airport officials for handling the travel influx. "And that's directly driven by all the people coming to Austin, coming to Central Texas, all the companies moving their headquarters here and the traffic that is coming in." 'Close calls' in Austin Specifically, the FAA Reauthorization Act will deploy "surface situational awareness technologies" a technology known as Airport Surface Detection Equipment, or ASDE-X to track runway activity in hopes of avoiding collisions and the near misses experienced in Austin. "We are grateful to our partners at the FAA for prioritizing Austin airport as one of the first airports in the nation to receive this equipment," said Ghizlane Badawi, CEO of Austin-Bergstrom, during the news conference. The installation of the technology is expected to begin in July, Cruz said. Sen. Ted Cruz chats with passenger Brian Ponikvar, of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., after Tuesday's news conference at Austin-Bergstrom. Austin has seen multiple "close calls" over the past year, including a Southwest flight waiting for takeoff in February 2023 that was nearly hit by a FedEx cargo plane, which came within 100 feet of the passenger plane on the runway upon landing. More: Federal safety officials publish findings, interviews from close-call at Austin airport In September, the pilot of a Cessna Citation jet took evasive action after receiving an onboard proximity alert about a nearby F/A-18 fighter. The fighter also flew near a light, propeller-powered plane that was preparing for takeoff on a nearby runway. The pilot of the private jet made an evasive maneuver to steer clear of the fighter as both tried to land at the Austin airport, an FAA spokesperson said in October. Cruz highlighted those near "utterly tragic" incidents as an issue lawmakers and federal officials were focused on addressing through the aviation omnibus bill. More: Get real-time Texas primary runoff election results for key Austin area races "I can't count how many thousands of times I've sat on a Southwest plane getting ready to take off, and I don't think it's ever once occurred to me that a jet might land on top of us," Cruz said, emphasizing the need for new tracking technology. A Southwest Airlines plane on the tarmac at Austin-Bergstrom. Last year, more than 22 million passengers traveled through the airport. Women in aviation, right to refund Outside of safety concerns, the bipartisan package creates a new Women in Aviation Advisory Committee within the U.S. Department of Transportation to encourage more women to join the aviation industry. Additionally, Republicans and Democrats have touted the legislation's provisions tied to passengers, which ensures those who experience delays during travel are entitled to ticket refunds. Mirroring language recently introduced by the Transportation Department, passengers now have a statutory right to a hassle-free refund when an airline cancels or significantly delays a flight. Significant changes to a flight include departure or arrival times that are more than three hours domestically and six hours internationally; departures or arrivals from a different airport; increases in the number of connections; instances where passengers are downgraded to a lower class of service; or connections at different airports or flights on different planes that are less accessible or accommodating to a person with a disability, according to the Transportation Department. Cruz arrives to speak Tuesday at a news conference in the airport. The new law also prohibits airlines from issuing fees for those seeking family seating arrangements. "Passengers shouldnt have to jump through endless hoops just to get the refunds that they are owed, and corporations shouldnt rip off hardworking Americans through hidden junk fees," Biden said in a statement celebrating the bill's passage this month. "I want to thank members of both parties who worked together over many months to pass this long-term reauthorization" More: Severe thunderstorms, excessive heat expected in Central Texas on Tuesday, NWS says Further earmarks under the FAA Reauthorization bill include: $66.7 billion for FAA operations to fund key safety programs, from aircraft certification reform to air carrier oversight, and enable the hiring, training and retention of safety-critical staff like air traffic controllers and engineers. $17.8 billion for facilities and equipment modernization of key technologies and systems to "ensure the resilience and development of the worlds most complex airspace system." $19.35 billion for airport infrastructure improvement grants to support more than 3,300 airports nationwide. $1.59 billion for research, engineering and development to help America keep competitive in the global race for innovative and sustainable aerospace technology. $738 million in appropriations for the National Transportation Safety Board for fiscal 2024 through 2028. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Sen. Ted Cruz talks investment, improvements coming to Austin airport Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, Gov. Kevin Stitt and Speaker of the House Charles McCall during Gov. Kevin Stitt's Budget Conference with the Senate and House leaders at the Oklahoma Capitol, Thursday, May 9, 2024. The Oklahoma Senate has confirmed 143 of the 149 people nominated by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt for various posts in state government this year but the governor still isn't happy. Despite the large number of approvals, the governor said Wednesday he remained concerned by the confirmation process, saying the Senate had only partially finished its job and that he was deeply disappointed that some of his nominees were not confirmed. I appreciate the Senates work to confirm most of my appointments, but it doesnt make sense to celebrate a partially finished job," Stitt said in a message to The Oklahoman. "To-date, theyve left Commerce without a full time leader and multiple cabinet posts vacant, all without a compelling justification for their failure to hold a vote. Its clear politics have clouded the judgement of those with the duty of confirming executive nominations. It begs the question, who is pulling the strings of the Senate? The confirmation process, known as 'advise and consent' is similar to that of the federal government. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor has the authority to appoint members of his cabinet and to various agencies, board and commissions. Those appointments, however, must be confirmed by a majority of the Senate. More: Despite committee approval, Senate rejects one of Stitt's nominees for OSU regents' board Wednesday the Senate confirmed a wide variety of nominations, including Josh Cockroft for Secretary of State, Ellen Buettner as administrator of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and Matthew R. Burba to the Oklahoma Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board. Nominations that the Senate has rejected, or passed over And while most gubernatorial appointments are easily approved, a few nominees, such as Susan Bergen of Norman, were shot down by a 'no' vote this week. In other cases, the nomination never is voted out of committee, or the Senator designated to carry the nomination refuses. Stitt pointed to the nomination of Heather Turner, as director of the state Department of Commerce as an example of a nomination that should have been reviewed by the Senate, but wasn't. Turner's nomination had been assigned to the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, but Treat said last week there are some really big concerns about Turner. Because the committee didn't meet, Turner's nomination is essentially dead. On Wednesday Stitt responded, sending a terse email to Treat saying he was "deeply disappointed the Senate decided not to hear the nomination of Heather Turner as executive director of the Department of Commerce." "The Senates own rules state that nominations shall be referred for consideration to the standing committee which has in its jurisdiction the entity to which the nomination relates," the governor wrote. "The Senate has abdicated its duties by not even giving Heather Turner a hearing." More: Despite committee approval, Senate rejects one of Stitt's nominees for OSU regents' board Turner is a pillar in her community, Stitt wrote. He said Turner "sees the opportunity and momentum we must capture right now for Oklahoma and shares my vision for making us a top 10 state in everything we do." "She is perfectly positioned to drive stronger outcomes within Commerce, transform the agency, and support our shared vision to make Oklahoma the most business friendly state in the nation. There is no one better to continue to bring Oklahoma to the world stage," the governor said. "To not even give her a hearing is a startling emerging trend in the state Senate." The governor's email said the Senate also failed to give Chad Mariska a fair chance when he was appointed last year to the governor's cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. "Mariska took APS FireCo Holdings Company out of Tulsa and transformed it into one of the largest fire protection companies in the U.S. He is also a well-respected investor and philanthropist who understands that economic development not only creates jobs but can transform and uplift entire communities," Stitt wrote. "Only a few months into the position and in the midst of creating an economic development strategy for the state, the Senate failed to consider his nomination without a floor vote near the end of the 2023 session." The Senate, Stitt said, "sent a chilling message last year that has made it challenging to recruit top talent for the State due to a political move designed to extinguish a proven leader in economic development." Oklahoma Senate leader says action caused by Stitt's 'temper tantrum' over tax policy Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat replied that same afternoon in an email saying that the information the governor was operating under for the position of executive director of the Department of Commerce was erroneous. "The nominee in question was referred to the Business and Commerce Committee for consideration. It was the decision of the chair and several members of the committee that the nominee was not qualified and was unfit to serve in this role. Therefore, the nomination will not be advanced," Treat wrote. As for the Senate's action on Mariska, Treat wrote that action was caused by a "temper tantrum" the governor threw about tax policy. "Regarding Mr. Mariska last session, he was unanimously rejected in committee due to your actions to veto 20 Senate bills because of your temper tantrum about tax policy rather than being vetoed on the merits or lack thereof of the bills," Treat wrote. "Furthermore, Mr. Mariska was noticeably absent at the Capitol in the waning days of last session as we were working with you to land a large economic development project in northeast Oklahoma."Stitt countered that the failure of Turner's nomination had unfortunately put the state in the same position again. "Commerce has been without confirmed leadership for nearly two years, with the second in command at Commerce serving multiple roles, including as the executive director tasked with running the agency," the governor said. "I must ask: What message is the Senate trying to send to Oklahomans, to prospective leaders for any agency, and most importantly to job creators? Do you believe our States economic development efforts wont be hampered by the Commerce department going 18+ months without permanent leadership in place due to your actions, or lack thereof?" Treat said the Senate took its role to advise and consent on executive nominees very seriously. "It is not simply a rubber stamp," the pro tempore wrote. "While we have found most of your nominees this session qualified and exemplary, we will not hesitate to decline to advance nominees that we believe are unqualified or a bad fit for the position you have appointed them to." The second session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature adjourns at 5 p.m. Friday. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Senate approves most executive nominations as Stitt, Treat clash Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in a letter Thursday to exert his powers to pressure Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas to recuse themselves from cases related to former President Trump. Your position gives you substantial moral and persuasive authority to establish norms of behavior and to hold your colleagues to them, the senator wrote. I urge you to use that authority to convince Justices Thomas and Alito to recuse themselves in these cases critical to our democracy and the rule of law where their impartiality might reasonably be questioned' Blumenthal wrote his missive a day after Alito refused to recuse himself from Trump-related cases after Senate Democrats raised concerns about his impartiality due to the display of two flags associated with the Jan. 6, 2021, Stop the Steal movement at his Virginia home and New Jersey beach house. Alito in a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Wednesday argued the flag incidents failed to meet the standard for disqualification in the judicial code of conduct and claimed he had nothing whatsoever to do with flying an upside-down flag at his property after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. And he said he had no involvement in the decision to fly an Appeal to Heaven flag at his beach house, informing Durbin that his wife was the person who hoisted both controversial displays. My wife is fond of flying flags, he said. I am not. Blumenthal also cited Thomass refusal to recuse himself from Trump-related cases despite his wife Ginnis pro-Trump political activism and support for efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Justice Thomas did not recuse, the senator noted. He did not explain his decision. And the courts ethical shortcomings have only grown. Blumenthal says Roberts should compel Alito and Roberts to recuse themselves from the cases by using his authority to assign the writing of draft opinions and allot justices to circuit court work. I urge you not to assign opinions or circuit justiceships to Justices Alito and Thomas if they fail to recuse themselves from further participation in United States v. Trump and other cases relating to January 6th and the Stop the Steal movement, Blumenthal wrote. He warned that allowing them to preside over cases in which many Democrats fear they are biased in favor of Trump and his allies who attempted to block the peaceful transfer of power in January 2021 would further erode the courts credibility. When a justice openly flies flags closely associated with one political candidate, then fails to recuse himself once that candidate becomes a litigant, it contributes to the courts plummeting public trust, Blumenthal wrote. And each time you ask that justice to author and opinion of the court especially in a case about the allocation of electoral power you sanction that justices ethical lapses, he argued. Not merely a bystander to your colleagues misbehavior, you become a validator of their conduct. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The legislation could be reintroduced next session, one of its sponsors said. (Aristide Economopoulos For NJ Monitor) New Hampshire will not join the 47 other states that provide records of psychiatric hospitalization commitments for gun background checks at least for now. Thursday, Senate Republicans defeated a final attempt to submit that information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, saying the bill was flawed and would have violated the constitutional right to have firearms. Sen. Daniel Innis, a Bradford Republican, said the bill could have allowed the state to confiscate not only the guns owned by the hospitalized person but also guns owned by other people living in the house. Sen. Sharon Carson, a Londonderry Republican, also criticized the bills sponsors for not collaborating with gun rights groups in drafting the bill. Its important that their voices are heard, but theyre never included in this process, she said. So please, if youre going to bring things forward, include people who actually own guns and get their opinion. The bills prime sponsor, Rep. Terry Roy, a Deerfield Republican, is a gun owner, and until this bill, has never backed legislation limiting gun rights. He and House Democratic Rep. David Meuse of Portsmouth filed House Bill 1711 in response to the November fatal shooting of state hospital security officer Bradley Haas by a former patient. I continue to be a 2nd Amendment advocate, Roy said in a text following the Senate vote. But that does not mean that I cannot take extremely limited, constitutional, life-saving matters into consideration. The two are not mutually exclusive. Roy, who got his bill through the GOP-controlled House twice, has indicated hell consider reintroducing legislation should he return to the House. The Attorney Generals Office continues to investigate Haas shooting and has not said how the shooter, John Madore, obtained the gun he used to kill Hass. Madore was shot and killed by a state trooper who responded to the scene. Madore had his guns confiscated by the police in 2016, following an arrest and subsequent commitment to New Hampshire Hospital. At the time of the state hospital shooting, those firearms were still in police custody, according to the Attorney Generals Office. The bill was vehemently opposed by gun rights groups, including the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition, which argued the bill would allow an illegal confiscation of firearms without due process. However, the bill would have required a court hearing before guns were confiscated and only if a judge found the persons mental illness posed a danger to themself or others. Haas family did not testify on the bill or return messages from the Bulletin. The post Senate Republicans defeat gun background check bill again appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin. A bipartisan pair of US senators is pressuring the Biden administration to do more to crack down on how drug cartels use cryptocurrency to traffic fentanyl, a drug that kills tens of thousands of Americans each year. Sens.Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, have asked for information on specific actions the administration has taken regarding cryptos role in the fentanyl trade and what metrics the administration uses to measure success in a new letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration and White House obtained by CNN. The letter reflects growing anxiety in Congress about the fentanyl crisis and the ease with which Mexicos most dangerous drug cartels can cheaply buy ingredients online to make the synthetic opioid. A CNN investigation published in August examined the increasing use of cryptocurrency in the fentanyl trade and efforts by the DEA and other agencies to try to catch up to the threat in their investigations. Those efforts included federal agents poring over notes that drug traffickers left in stash houses and tracing crypto payments to accounts allegedly used by the cartels. Cryptocurrency transactions for fentanyl ingredients surged 450% in the year through April 2023, according to data from private crypto-tracking analysis firm Elliptic. The Biden administration has in the last year announced multiple initiatives involving law enforcement, intelligence gathering and anti-money laundering capabilities across the federal bureaucracy to track and intercept fentanyl proceeds. But now, Warren and Cassidy want to know what progress those initiatives are making, any roadblocks the administration is facing and what Congress can do to help. The senators expressed their ongoing concerns about how cryptocurrency helps fuel the deadly fentanyl trade. What statutory limits do you currently face? Do you have any specific recommendations for Congress to address this problem? the lawmakers wrote in the letter to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram and Rahul Gupta, the head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. CNN has requested comment from the White House and the DEA on the letter. Fentanyl continues to be an extremely delicate diplomatic issue in US relations with Mexico and China. Most of the fentanyl that enters the US comes from ingredients made in China that are then pressed into pills or packed in powder and smuggled in from Mexico by drug cartels, according to the DEA. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen led a delegation to Beijing last month where she touted a new working group through which US and Chinese officials can discuss money laundering concerns, including those related to fentanyl. William Kimbell, the DEAs chief of operations, told a Senate hearing last month that his agency needed more cooperation from their Chinese counterparts. We would like to see more cooperation from the Chinese where theyre actually sharing intelligence with us when they identify people in their own country that are breaking their money laundering laws so we can get a bigger picture of exactly the events that are transpiring, Kimbell said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com As summer travel season takes off, Boeing said it is committed to make flying safer. It comes after a midflight scare in January when a door plug flew off a months old Boeing 737 Max 9 plane. Today we shared our Safety & Quality Plan with @FAANews. See full statements from @Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun and Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope here: https://t.co/xvpu5W8agD pic.twitter.com/LhlifeLGxk Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) May 30, 2024 Thursday, top officials from Boeing including its CEO met with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) leaders in Washington, DC for three hours about its roadmap for fixing safety and quality control issues. Both groups agree that this is only the start of new safety efforts. Bottom line we will continue to make sure every airplane that comes off the line is safe and reliable, said Mike Whitaker, FAA Administrator. Today, I met with Boeings senior leadership to review their new safety roadmap. I made it crystal clear that they must follow through on implementing corrective actions and transform their safety culture. https://t.co/OSEMNqCBy9 pic.twitter.com/wbJXuYFGCw FAA Mike Whitaker (@FAA_Mike) May 30, 2024 Over the last three months, the company developed a new safety plan that aims to help identify hazards and reduce risks. The FAA required Boeing to provide an update on completed actions as well as mid- and long-term goals such as: Strengthening its Safety Management System, including employee safety reporting Simplifying processes and procedures and clarifying work instructions Enhanced supplier oversight Enhanced employee training and communication Increased internal audits of production system FAA leaders will also meet with Boeing weekly to review its progress. Weve increased our oversight and Boeing on its own has reduced production levels to make sure they have the resources they need, said Whitaker. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said the company has increased training and improved inspections. It is also adding more oversight in its factories. Calhoun announced those plans during Boeings annual shareholder meeting earlier this month. Story continues We are deeply committed to doing everything that we can to make certain our regulators, our customers, employees and - most importantly and always - the flying public are 100% confident in Boeing, said Calhoun. Calhoun said the company is also listening to input from staff. Were hosting quality stand downs to hear directly from our employees, and were committed to acting on their feedback at every step, he said. Earlier this month, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told our Washington News Bureau he wants Boeings culture to focus on safety. All of the other economic concerns production, profitability, all of that has to follow from safety and quality, not the other way around, said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. FAA leaders said Boeing has also agreed to strengthen its anonymous reporting system so employees can speak up freely about safety issues. Full statements from Boeing leadership after FAA meeting: Statement from Dave Calhoun, President and CEO, Boeing: After the Jan. 5 accident involving a 737 airplane, we took immediate containment and mitigation actions to ensure airplane safety. We also made the decision to slow production as we took a hard look across every facet of our operations. We listened to our employees, engaged transparently with our regulator, welcomed the findings and recommendations from the FAAs ACSAA panel review, and invited scrutiny from customers and independent experts. Based on that feedback and oversight, today we presented to the FAA our comprehensive plan to strengthen our safety management, quality system, safety culture and ODA responsibilities. Many of these actions are underway and our team is committed to executing on each element of the plan. It is through this continuous learning and improvement process that our industry has made commercial aviation the safest mode of transportation. The actions we are taking today will further strengthen that foundation. We thank Administrator Whitaker and the FAA team for their feedback today and we will continue to work under their oversight as we move forward. Statement from Stephanie Pope, President and CEO, Commercial Airplanes: Our plan is built on the feedback of our employees who know best how to design, build and deliver safe, high-quality airplanes. We also incorporated the requirements and feedback from our regulator and welcomed the recommendations from our customers and industry experts. Based on that feedback, our roadmap includes major investments to expand and enhance workforce training, simplify manufacturing plans and processes, eliminate defects at the source, and elevate our safety and quality culture, along with specific measures to monitor and manage the health of our production system. We are confident in the plan that we have put forward and are committed to continuously improving. We will work under the FAAs oversight and uphold our responsibility to the flying public to continue delivering safe, high-quality airplanes. We are also grateful for our customers patience as we implement this plan and return to predictable deliveries. KENOSHA, Wis. (WFRV) Seven teenagers were arrested in Wisconsin after investigators found they were running an alleged ghost gun manufacturing and distributing operation. According to the Kenosha County Sheriffs Office, on Wednesday, May 29, in the morning, deputies and other law enforcement personnel conducted five search warrants in Kenosha and Racine Counties. Zero tolerance for reckless behavior: Wisconsin man leads deputies on 125MPH+ pursuit after fleeing a traffic stop The operation uncovered a large-scale firearm manufacturing and distributing operation, and in total, seven individuals have been arrested. On April 2, 2024, deputies responded to a burglary in Paddock Lake, where several firearms were stolen. This burglary started the Kenosha County Sheriffs Offices investigation into this operation. On May 1, a concerned mother contacted authorities, stating her son was driving around Kenosha County in a car full of guns. At the same time, numerous citizens called in a shots fired report in the area of Silver Lake. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle, and the stolen firearms were recovered from the April 2 burglary. Following the traffic stop, two search warrants were conducted in Paddock Lake and Salem Lakes on May 1, where more stolen firearms were recovered. All the firearms recovered were confirmed to have been stolen from the Paddock Lake burglary. Wisconsin man beaten and robbed of vehicle after being dropped off at Park & Ride The investigation into this firearm manufacturing and distributing operation continued into May 29. These firearms were being sold to high school-aged individuals throughout Kenosha County. All those arrested in this case confessed to the manufacturing of firearms and selling. Those arrested were: 17-year-old Jacob Ehlert-Abbott 18-year-old George Shepherd Five other 16-year-old boys Criminal charges are being referred to the Kenosha County District Attorneys Office and include receiving stolen property, intentionally selling dangerous weapons to children, possessing a dangerous weapon under the age of 18, and carrying a concealed weapon. No additional details were provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Portions of the Panhandle, South Plains and Big Country will see an elevated risk for severe storms Thursday afternoon and evening, continuing an active weather week in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center forecasts an enhanced risk a level three out of five chance of severe weather for an area encompassing Lubbock, Plainview, Levelland, Abilene and Big Spring on Thursday. Amarillo, San Angelo, Midland-Odessa and Wichita Falls are included in the slight risk area, or a level two out of five chance of severe storms. "Scattered severe storms with large hail up to baseball size, damaging winds of 60-75 mph, and a couple of tornadoes are expected this afternoon into tonight from west into central Texas," reads a convective outlook statement from the Storm Prediction Center. "More isolated severe storms will be possible today from the Red River Valley into east Texas, and into southwest Texas." NWS Lubbock forecasts locally heavy rainfall associated with Thursday's thunderstorms could also cause flash flooding in some areas, especially in eastern portions of the South Plains and Rolling Plains. Severe weather continues into the weekend and next week Thursday's storms will follow an already destructive week of storms across West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. A straight-line wind event associated with an early morning thunderstorm Wednesday brought wind gusts topping 100 mph, wreaking destruction to buildings and infrastructure in and around Levelland and Tahoka. More: Levelland, Lynn County assess damage after potent thunderstorms A doll that was recovered from a storm-damaged mini-storage building at Second Street and Avenue G sits on the hood of a car Wednesday afternoon in Levelland. Parts of Levelland were severely damaged by Wednesdays storms. A supercell produced large hail and a possible tornado just before midnight MDT Wednesday near Cannon Air Force Base and Clovis in Curry County, New Mexico. NWS Lubbock predicts severe weather will continue through the weekend across the South Plains and West Texas. "The chance for thunderstorms will continue into the weekend and into early next week. Saturday currently looks like the day with the highest potential for widespread severe weather," a statement reads. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: South Plains, Big Country could see hail, wind, tornadoes Thursday (KRON) Former Mayor and current mayoral candidate Mark Farrell has unveiled a plan for universal childcare for San Francisco families as part of his campaign platform. Despite the proven efforts by current Mayor London Breed, he said he aims to do so by using underutilized taxes. In addition to the rising cost of living, the average family will pay about $25,000 annually for infant care and $21,000 for preschool care, according to reports. Farrell believes state reimbursement rates currently dont cover the true cost of care, especially for families still recovering from the pandemic. Potent cannabis product induces psychosis for Marin County teen, lawsuit alleges Right now, most families in our City cant catch a break, Farrell said. Childcare is too expensive and too hard to find. The status quo forces many parents, particularly mothers, to choose between their careers and caring for their children. In 2018, voters passed Baby Prop C, a proposition aimed at giving early care and education services for children aged 0-5 for low-income families. Due to legal challenges, however, tax revenue could not be spent until April 2021. Farrell estimates there is currently $400 million of unused funds accumulated from Prop C. He says he aims to use the funds to help subsidize childcare costs for over 13,000 children annually. Farrell believes the unmet need for universal childcare is a direct result of Mayor Breeds failure of leadership. The problem is not lack of funds; it is a lack of competence and accountability, Farrell said. In October 2022, Breed, in partnership with another SF supervisor, established the Department of Early Childhood (DEC) by merging First 5 and the Office of Early Care and Education to streamline services for children under six and their families. According to Breed, the CEC has since doubled the number of children receiving early care, has cut the waitlist for subsidized early care by 72%, built more than 40 early care and education facilities, and increased the salaries of over 1,600 educators, including a 47% increase in salary for educators at highest need centers over the last two years. In a desperate attempt at relevance, Mark Farrell has been digging through the recycling bin outside Mayor Breeds office for his policy ideas. His announcement today was lifted entirely from Mayor Breeds childcare and early education accomplishments and platform. Mark Farrell was absent for the last five years and is only claiming to care now because he wants to enrich himself with the office of mayor. Joe Arellano, Campaign Spokesman for Mayor London Breed, told KRON4 According to research, providing universal childcare via preschool is also a key component to improving third-grade literacy levels. Studies have shown that over time, the economic benefits of universal preschool outweigh the costs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. (KRON) Two minors have been arrested by the San Francisco Police Department on Tuesday in connection to a robbery committed on a man in the Mission District. Fairfield PD recovers assault rifle, handgun, 16K in cash from reckless dirt biker Police responded to Capp and 20th Streets, locating the victim bleeding from the face and going in and out of consciousness, police said. The victim told police his chain and laptop had been stolen from him. SFPD officers tracked the laptop using the victims phone. When police arrived at the area where the laptop was tracked near Church and 25th Streets, both suspects noticed the officers and started running away, police said. One of the suspects was soon after detained. A record check revealed he was a minor with an outstanding warrant. Police then tracked the laptop to the Tenderloin District. District officers responded to the location and took the second suspect into custody, police said. Both suspects were booked for numerous charges, including robbery, battery with serious injuries and conspiracy. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called former President Donald Trumps hush money trial sham show after Trump was convicted of 34 felony charges. This was a sham show trial, Abbott said in a post on X, formerly called Twitter. The Kangaroo Court will never stand on appeal. Americans deserve better than a sitting U.S. President weaponizing our justice system against a political opponent all to win an election. We must FIRE Joe Biden in November. Abbott was not available for an interview late Thursday afternoon. He was just one of Texas elected officials to weigh in on the guilty verdict in the case involving hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. This was a sham show trial. The Kangaroo Court will never stand on appeal. Americans deserve better than a sitting U.S. President weaponizing our justice system against a political opponent all to win an election. We must FIRE Joe Biden in November. Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 30, 2024 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said its a dark day for America following the verdict, also calling the trial a sham. It is nothing more than political persecution, Cruz said in a post on X. The only reason they prosecuted Donald Trump is because Democrats are terrified that he will win reelection. This disgraceful decision is legally baseless and should be overturned promptly on appeal. Any judge with a modicum of integrity would recognize that this entire trial has been utterly fraudulent. This is a dark day for America. This entire trial has been a sham, and it is nothing more than political persecution. The only reason they prosecuted Donald Trump is because Democrats are terrified that he will win reelection. This disgraceful decision is legally baseless and Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 30, 2024 Leaders in Tarrant County have begun speaking out too. County Judge Tim OHare called it the verdict a weaponization of our justice system by radical leftists and also called it a sham verdict. The weaponization of our justice system by radical leftists has resulted in a circus trial and a sham verdict. There will be more of this to come in the days ahead if Republicans and all freedom-loving Americans dont come out in droves in November. Our Republic is at stake. Tim O'Hare, Tarrant County Judge (@TimothyOHare) May 30, 2024 Republican Tarrant County court counterpart Manny Ramirez re posted Abbotts x post. Tarrant GOP Chair Bo French has tweet three times about the verdict since it happened including a poll asking if people were more or less likely to vote for Trump after the sham trial. BREAKING NEWS: Trump declared GUILTY by corrupt judge on sham trial. Thank you judge for guaranteeing @realDonaldTrump is elected as 47th President. Bo French (@Bo_French_TX) May 30, 2024 They are too stupid to realize what they have done. They have awakened a sleeping giant. November 5th is going to be a massacre. Bo French (@Bo_French_TX) May 30, 2024 State Sen. Tan Parker, a Flower Mound Republican, called the verdict a blatant weaponization of our justice system. The verdict against President Trump is a blatant weaponization of our justice system. This sham trial is nothing more than election interference. We must restore fairness and demand justice. Senator Tan Parker (@TanParkerTX) May 30, 2024 Texas Agriculture Sid Miller called it a deeply disturbing day for our nation. He said, This moment will echo through history and history will not be kind to the perpetrators and cheerleaders of this unparalleled sham. A deeply disturbing day for our nation, but I have every faith in the American people and @realdonaldtrump. This moment will echo through history and history will not be kind to the perpetrators and cheerleaders of this unparalleled sham. Sid Miller (@MillerForTexas) May 30, 2024 The guilty verdict is an absolute travesty of our judicial system, said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Patrick said Trump didnt commit a crime, the prosecutions star witness was a convicted liar and an admitted thief and that the judge was biased against Trump. This will be reversed at some point, but the Democrats got what they wanted - to prosecute and persecute a man they know they cannot beat in November, Patrick said. If the justice system can do this to a former president, it can do it to anyone in America. That should frighten every American. New York & Biden have turned our country into a third-world-styled justice system that goes after political opponents like you see in Russia or North Korea. Its a sad day for America. Today's guilty verdict against President Trump is an absolute travesty of our judicial system. There was no crime, and the prosecution's star witness was a convicted liar and an admitted thief. The judge was biased against President Trump throughout the entire trial. This Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) May 30, 2024 My statement on President Trumps verdict pic.twitter.com/emA571ftT0 Michael Burgess, MD (@michaelcburgess) May 30, 2024 U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, a Lewisville Republican, also said he thinks the judge was biased, in a statement shared on social media. He had made a decision long before today, Burgess said. Republicans across America will support President Trump and will fight for the judicial system that our founding fathers intended. A New York jury reached its verdict Thursday after deliberations that spanned two days. Judge Juan Merchan scheduled sentencing in the trial for July 11, according to the Associated Press. Democrats also weighed in on the verdict. Todays guilty verdict underscores that nobody is above the lawnot even a former president of the United States, said U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, a Fort Worth Democrat in a post on X. Todays guilty verdict underscores that nobody is above the lawnot even a former president of the United States.https://t.co/XOh1K2rd1a Rep. Marc Veasey (@RepVeasey) May 30, 2024 This is a developing story. Check back for updates. ROSSVILLE (KSNT) The Rossville pool will stay closed until further notice according to Shawnee County Parks and Recreation (SCP+R). Sean Zears is theSCP+R Marketing and Communications Supervisor. He told 27 News they noticed the water level dropped significantly just days after filling the pool. Zears said theyre looking into it but have yet to find an obvious cause for the leak. He also says they had to drain the remaining water to start looking. It would be nice to have a leak thats in a crack somewhere, Zears said, to be formed in the pool but thats not the case, so theyre not sure where the leak is coming from at this point. The County cant give an expected opening date until they know more and anyone with questions can reach out directly to Shawnee County Parks and Recreation. At least there is another area, Zears said, that is somewhat close to the Rossville pool that they can use. Most importantly were working as diligently as possible to get the issue fixed. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. FILE - Law enforcement officers stand near armored and tactical vehicles in Bowdoin, Maine, following a mass shooting, Oct. 26, 2023. An independent commission investigating the deadliest shooting in Maine history plans to hear more testimony from law enforcement sources on communications and coordination problems. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) PORTLAND, Maine (AP) A sheriff is rebutting an allegation that some of his officers arrived at a mass shooting scene reeking of alcohol, saying in a statement that all officers were on duty or had just attended training before Lewiston police requested their assistance. Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said in a statement Wednesday that he wholeheartedly" denies all allegations in a Portland police after-action report that suggested his officers had been drinking, had come from a funeral and dispatched themselves without orders. Joyce said it is unfortunate that he had to defend against unfounded allegations that arose after the deadliest mass shooting in state history as officers from across the state headed to Lewiston on Oct. 25, 2023. In the dark, a Cumberland County tactical vehicle nearly crashed into a Portland vehicle near where the gunman's vehicle was discovered after 18 people were killed at two locations. Joyce said the driver of the Cumberland County mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle was a police officer who had been on duty in his municipality before reporting to the scene. The leader of the Portland special response team wrote that he spoke to occupants of the Cumberland County vehicle and smelled intoxicants. He reported that they said they had come from a funeral and responded we don't know when asked who dispatched them to the scene. A Portland police spokesperson said Thursday that he had no further comment on the report. Joyce said in his statement that he was never made aware, until the Portland report surfaced six months after the shooting, of potential misconduct when he was at the police command post on Oct. 25 or in the weeks afterward. I am confident that our members responded to the mass casualty event in Lewiston in both a sober and professional manner. I am proud of my staff for their actions and response on that fateful day, the sheriff said. Shots fired after police in Wisconsin confronted by man who attacked officer BELOIT, Wis. (WFRV) Police in southern Wisconsin endured a particularly dangerous situation after shots were fired during a confrontation with a man who aggressively attacked an officer. According to the Beloit Police Department, officers responded to a call about an unwanted subject in the 800 block of Oak Street in the city of Beloit on Wednesday, May 29, at around 1:30 p.m. One dog found dead following Sheboygan County house fire Upon arrival, officers were confronted by the man, who police say aggressively attacked one of the officers. During the altercation, a firearm was discharged. There were no injuries suffered by either the officers or the suspect. The man was taken into custody without further incident. Fond du Lac man dies while working cable repairs caused by Door County tornado, contacted energized line We commend our officers for their quick and professional response to a potentially dangerous situation, ensuring the safety of all involved, said Beloit Police Chief Andre Sayles. This incident is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of police work and the bravery exhibited by our officers daily. The incident remains under investigation and no additional details were provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Sian Proctor Has Been Chasing Space Throughout Her Lifetime And Became The First Black Woman To Pilot A Spacecraft Representation in space exploration is crucial, and Sian Proctor stands among the luminaries. A woman on a mission, Proctor aspired to have an impact on society. The geoscientist had been chasing space throughout her lifetime, Space.com mentions. Born the same year Neil Armstrong made history with his first steps on the moon during NASAs Apollo 11 mission, and raised with a father working at the NASA tracking station on Guam, Proctor would go on to make her own significant contributions. Historical Firsts As previously reported by AFROTECH, Proctor became the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft. This was accomplished after she earned a Ph.D. along with a pilots license and SCUBA certification. She also completed a four-month mission in a building located near a Hawaiian volcano for an experiment imitating the conditions and stresses on a habitat like Mars in 2013. Ultimately, Proctors expertise, creativity, and dedication to her JEDI space initiative a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive space captured the interest of the judges for the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission, as noted on her website. I feel really fortunate, you know, Im a trained geoscientist, Dr. Proctor said, according to the National Geographic. But when I applied to go to space on Inspiration4, I said, Look, you need to send an artist and a poet. Because its such an important part of humanity going out into space. The human part of us is the art, the music, the dancing, the expression, the culture that we bring along with us. Its not just about the science, the technology, the engineering, and the math that gets us there. The Inspiration4 mission, led by commander, Jared Isaacman; mission specialist, Chris Sembroski; and medical officer, Hayley Arceneaux, lasted a span of three days, and $200 million was raised for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, per AFROTECH. In reflection, Proctor encourages women to believe that their dreams are achievable at any age. Dont give up on a dream, she said. A lot of times you think that after you raise your kids, or that when youre in your 40s, 50s or 60s, that the best part of your life has already passed you by, and that some of the things you had dreams of doing when you were a kid, you think youre too old to pursue them or that you cant achieve them now. She continued: So I just want to be a spokeswoman, not only for women and girls of color, but for women in general. We live longer than men. Its so important that we understand that our golden years can be some of our best years. Because were so much wiser, right? Youre in your 50s, and youre like, Look, Im unapologetic. The phoenix has risen. I am who I am, and Im so much wiser than I was when I was in my 20s and 30s. AFROTECH Future 50 We celebrate Proctor as a Future Maker on our 2024 AFROTECH Future 50 list for shattering glass ceilings and groundbreaking innovation within the technology sector. To view the full AFROTECH Future 50 list, click here. Since a billion-dollar plan to turn an industrial marine service hub in St. Petersburg into a village of condos, affordable housing and office, hotel and conference space fell through a few years ago, the property owners, workers and residents around Salt Creek knew it wouldnt be long before another outfit eyed the area for redevelopment. Rumors are swirling since two neighboring boatyards on the south side of the creek were recently bought up by two little-known companies for a combined $14.8 million. A third parcel next door also received an offer but no deal was made. One seller and a consultant for another property owner told the Tampa Bay Times that they do not know who exactly is on the other end of the transaction, nor do they know what the future plans are. It was only a matter of time until someone else came along, said City Council member Gina Driscoll, who represents the area just south of downtown and the Bayboro Harbor and has received frantic calls from boaters. Its just a fear of the unknown. If those boatyards cease operations, local boaters may lose nearby access to services while companies and workers who work at or sublease from those properties may be out of a job or workspace. Were going to lose the trades that support the 1,000 slips that the city owns or manages in downtown St. Petersburg and theres nothing we can do about it, said delivery captain Bill Herrmann. Boat guys, fiberglass guys, they dont make captain money but theyre making pretty good salary down there. Were replacing those with more opportunities for minimum-wage jobs. Sold properties Progressive Marine Service Inc. at 1351 Bay St. SE sold first in March for $4.8 million to Odyssey Real Estate Development LLC. Progressive boasts a 94-ton, 26-foot Beam Travel Lift on its website, ideal for hauling large boats. Progressive Marine owner Dan Jimenez did not return multiple requests, including calls, texts and a visit to the business, for comment. Johannes J. Helsen, who has operated Sailors Wharf since 1978, said he was offshore sailing and using satellite internet in April to download movies when an offer came in for the yacht yard at 1421 Bay St. SE. Two weeks later, the property sold for $10 million to Prometheus Maritime Investments LLC. What I do know is that theres a lot of money behind them, said Helsen, 77. I havent even met them. Helsen said he will operate his boatyard through hurricane season, until the last day of November. He previously was under contract with Royal Palm, the developers who had big plans totaling $2 billion for the area as recently as 2021, which he said wouldve been the best thing for this city. Story continues Developer and consultant Mario Farias said Salt Creek Marina at 107 15th Ave. SE received an offer during a conversation about a month ago, but no agreement was reached. He declined to say the price offered and said the Harborage on the north side of Salt Creek, which he also represents, did not receive an offer. I think theyve had that same conversation with everybody up and down the creek, he said. Were not that motivated to sell because of the operation that we run. Developer Blake Whitney Thompson bought Renovators Yacht Co. property along the creek at 1600 Third St. S. in March for $1.365 million, but he said he isnt part of a larger redevelopment effort and is letting the company continue operating. He said that since the sale closed, he has been contacted by six intermediaries with offers. Whoever is out there doing that, putting together an assemblage, theyre going to be happy, Thompson said. This area is going to flourish. Several owners and representatives for other properties along Salt Creek declined to comment or meet with a reporter. Bill Dahl, former president of the Old Southeast Neighborhood Association, said single-family homes appear to be targeted, too. A house was purchased in April for $500,000 by a company called Prometheus 2nd St S LLC. It appears, from different sources, a lot of commercial properties (and) the boatyards south of Salt Creek have been at least contacted, if not received offers, Dahl said. There appears to be activity with single-family residences. William Felder, the seller of that home, told a reporter he saw the buyer had proof of funds of $13 million. He said he was told that business associates would live at the home while purchasing more property in the area. Cullen Mahoney, whom Felder said acted as the buyer for the sale, is listed on LinkedIn as the director for real estate investments and development at Prometheus Partners. Were not really (making) a comment at this point, Mahoney said when reached by phone. Were trying to formalize a plan and go from there. Who are the buyers? Odyssey Real Estate Development LLC and Prometheus Maritime Investments LLC share a mailing address, an office in Clearwater. The building is owned by a company called Prometheus Restaurant Office LLC. The state database shows several companies using the name Prometheus with the same addresses and representatives. A company called Southeast Investment Property Holdings, an affiliate of Prometheus, lists Nicholas Peters as chairperson and Chris Suh as president. The website describes the company as a private real estate holding company that acquires properties occupied by nationally franchised restaurant and retail operators. A biography on the University of Tampas website says Peters founded Prometheus in 1996 and completed acquisitions for Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and IHOP. Peters and Suh are also both involved in the Armed Forces Families Foundation, which earns money through the annual Skyway 10K race over the Sunshine Skyway bridge. Peters is listed on the foundations website as its founder and managing director with Suh as a part of the leadership team. Peters biography refers to him as a Tampa-based entrepreneur and small business owner with significant investment, corporate finance, and management experience in building and growing small businesses. Suhs blurb says he has more than 20 years of experience working with small business management teams in the areas of corporate finance and development and investments in real estate. Peters could not be reached. Suh did not return calls and texts asking for comment. Mahoney, the buyer for the home sale, acknowledged that a reporter had been reaching out to Prometheus employees. Future of Salt Creek The land around Salt Creek is zoned institutional and allows for commercial, industrial and mixed-use development, including residences. Its also a low-lying area that is deemed a coastal high hazard and prone to flooding. Maria Sciddurlo, a lead technician in the citys Planning & Development Services department, said no permits or plans have been submitted for the sold properties. Salt Creek is within St. Petersburgs Innovation District, which is about to undergo a master planning effort. The City Council this month approved $450,000 to hire a planning consultant who will look at how to create a cohesive district around Salt Creek, Albert Whitted Airport, University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital and Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. Farias said the Harborage contributed toward that master plan. Innovation District executive director Alison Barlow said shes heard rumblings about plans for the purchased properties but nothing concrete. She said a mixed-use development would be a thoughtful way to use the space. We certainly want to see aspects of the maritime community continue, she said. Im anxious to get the master plan going so we can have a conversation. Itll really help us imagine whats possible. King Charles III is set to be present next month for Trooping the Coloura military parade marking his official birthdaybut he wont be on horseback for the occasion, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. The 75-year-old monarch, who is currently being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, is instead expected to inspect soldiers at the ceremony from a carriage alongside Queen Camilla. A military official will carry out the role supposed to be filled by Kate Middleton, who is undergoing preventative chemotherapy after she was also diagnosed with cancer, the BBC reports. King Charles Receives Standing Ovation Hours After Latest Health Update Trooping the Colour traditionally involves the Royal Family assembling on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. In 2023, Charles rode on horseback for the ceremonythe first time a British sovereign had done so since 1986. This year, on June 15, hell instead review troops from an Ascot landau carriage. The switch-up is understood to have been informed by doctors advice as he continues his cancer treatment, according to The Daily Mail. Its also not yet clear if Kate Middleton will attend the event in some capacity. At the Colonels Reviewa traditional rehearsal for Trooping the Colour which is set to take place on June 8her role of Inspecting Officer will be carried out by Lieutenant General James Bucknall, the former Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. Speculation about whether or not the Princess of Wales would be involved in Trooping the Colour has been rife since March. At the time, Britains Ministry of Defence indicated that she would be overseeing the rehearsal ceremony in what appeared to be an announcement of her first appearance since she stepped back from public events after an abdominal surgery in January. Sources in the princess office told The Daily Beast that Kensington Palace alone has the right to confirm her presence at events, and the defense ministry soon removed all references to Kate from its website. She revealed her cancer diagnosis in a video message released later that month. Last week, a source said it was possible that Kate would remain out of public life for the remainder of 2024. A Kensington Palace spokesperson also told the BBC she is not expected to return to work until its cleared by her medical team. Charles, meanwhile, has returned to some public duties following a three-month break following the announcement of his cancer diagnosis in February. 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. If you think a Dane County judge presiding over an Act 10 lawsuit is compromised because he signed a recall petition, keep in mind that we live in a state where Republican-backed justices have insisted on their right to remain on cases not only where theyve expressed opinions that sounded prejudicial, but where the parties involved have given millions to get them elected. | Getty Images Creative Reports that Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jacob Frost signed a petition to recall former Republican Gov. Scott Walker in 2011 set off a media storm this week. Frost is presiding over a lawsuit challenging the law that made Walker famous Act 10, which ended most collective bargaining rights for most public employees in Wisconsin. That fact that 13 years ago Frost endorsed the movement to recall Walker, which was driven by outrage over Act 10, represents a conflict, according to conservative talk radio personality Dan ODonnell, who dug up Frosts signature on the recall petition and publicized it Tuesday. ODonnell, after breaking the story, wrote on X that the judge has no choice but to recuse himself. Actually, Frost does have a choice. Under Wisconsin law, Frost does not meet any of the six criteria for automatic recusal. Hes not a relative of any party in the lawsuit; hes not a material witness; he hasnt previously represented any of the parties; he didnt prepare a legal paper whose validity is at issue; he didnt previously handle the case now on appeal; and he has no financial or personal interest at stake. The only reason he might recuse is under the section of the law that says if a judge determines that, for any reason, he or she cannot, or it appears he or she cannot, act in an impartial manner he should step aside. Before Tuesday, when ODonnell publicized his name on the recall petition, Frost had obviously determined he could be impartial. His situation was the same as every other judge who, as a private citizen, cast a vote in an election and later determined he could still fairly judge a case involving an issue that came up in that election. But now the news stories about Frosts signature on the petition years ago, before he became a judge, have made the appearance of impartiality an issue. And so maybe Frost should recuse himself. If he does, it will be because a story that started on rightwing talk radio created enough of an appearance of bias that he agrees he cant stay on the case. The same question confronts Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz, who has not said whether she would recuse herself from an Act 10 challenge. During her campaign, Protasiewicz acknowledged that the appearance of impartiality might be an issue: Given the fact that I marched, given the fact that I signed the recall petition, would I recuse myself? Maybe. Maybe, but I dont know for sure, she told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an interview. Wisconsins ethics rules allow judges to make the call themselves about whether to recuse in most cases. Judges are not even required to recuse themselves from cases brought by their own campaign donors, because of looser rules pushed through by conservatives on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, The University of Wisconsin Law Schools State Democracy Research Initiative has a helpful explainer on its website summarizing the state of judicial recusal in Wisconsin. Heres what it has to say about political and legal opinions expressed by judges: Wisconsins Code of Judicial Conduct requires a judge to recuse when the judge, while a judicial candidate, makes statements committing the judge to rule in a particular way, the paper states. The relevant precedent makes clear, however, that this provision only covers unmistakable promises or commitments and leaves judges free to express views on legal issues on the campaign trail and to participate in cases involving those issues. The law school explainer includes a brief history of Wisconsin Supreme Court justices recent refusal to recuse themselves from cases involving their donors. This provides a pretty interesting backdrop against which to evaluate the demands that both Frost and Protasiewicz recuse themselves from Act 10 cases. In 2007 now-Chief Justice Annette Ziegler declined to recuse from a case shortly after she was elected that involved Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, which spent more than $2 million on her campaign. Former Justice Michael Gableman denied a similar request to recuse based on $1.8 million WMC spent on his behalf during his 2008 campaign. Gableman also rejected a request to recuse in a criminal appeal based on concerns that his tough on crime campaign messages called into question his ability to be fair to the defendant. In 2015, the Republican-controlled Legislature loosened campaign finance laws, allowing political parties to make unlimited contributions to judicial candidates. In 2017, the Wisconsin Supreme Courts then-conservative majority rejected a petition to adopt a rule requiring the states judges to recuse from matters involving their financial supporters. None of this is to say that Frost shouldnt seriously consider recusing himself from the Act 10 case. But if you think Frost is compromised by supporting the recall, keep in mind that we live in a state where Republican-backed justices have insisted on their right to remain on cases not only where theyve expressed opinions that sounded prejudicial, but where the parties involved have given millions to get them elected. The Frost controversy is also playing out at the same time that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is insisting to Congress that the flags of insurrection that flew at his Virginia home and his New Jersey beach house symbols of insurrection and false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen do not mean he should recuse himself from cases involving the Jan. 6 attempt to overturn the election results. In a letter to lawmakers, Alito wrote that he is duty-bound to reject your recusal request. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been similarly defiant about recusing from cases involving big donors who showered him with money and gifts. Thomass speaking gigs for the politically powerful Koch network put him in the extraordinary position of serving as a fundraising draw for a network that has repeatedly brought cases before the Supreme Court, according to ProPublica. Wisconsin used to be different. Before money began pouring into state Supreme Court races, our judicial system was a model. The campaign finance arms race has overwhelmed that good government tradition, with business lobbyists, Republicans, Democrats and various interest groups turning judicial elections into massively expensive affairs. Wisconsins most recent Supreme Court race was the most expensive state judicial race in U.S. history. Against that backdrop, the debate about whether Frosts recall petition signature constitutes a breach of public confidence in an independent, impartial judiciary is pretty penny-ante stuff. The post Signing a recall petition doesnt disqualify the judge presiding over an Act 10 lawsuit appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner. Silver Line to Matthews left out of Charlottes new light rail plan A new sales tax plan to fund a light rail expansion in Mecklenburg County has its first casualty: the Silver Line extension to Matthews. Matthews Mayor John Higdon told Channel 9s Joe Bruno that the new sales tax plan no longer funds light rail to east Charlotte and Matthews. Instead, the plans call for Bus Rapid Transit from Charlotte to Matthews. RELATED > All aboard: City of Charlotte reaches historic agreement for Red Line, records show Channel 9 first reported Wednesday when the city of Charlotte reached an agreement to build the Red Line commuter rail project north toward Iredell County. That plan hinges on a sales tax increase referendum, as long as its approved by the North Carolina General Assembly. Higdon says hes opposed to the change in the sales tax plan. Matthews Mayor John Higdon tells me the sales tax plan no longer funds light rail to east Charlotte and Matthews. Plans now call for Bus Rapid Transit in this corridor. He is opposed to the change. The Silver Line light rail to the airport remains in the plans. @wsoctv Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) May 30, 2024 The Silver Line was announced nearly a decade ago, and an original plan would have it run along Independence Boulevard to Monroe Road, running through Matthews. Jason Schneider with the city of Charlotte said that the Metropolitan Transit Commissions plan for the southeast corridor back in 2002 was Bus Rapid Transit. He sent a statement to Channel 9s Joe Bruno on Friday saying that the city is focused on giving people more transportation options, adding that BRT can achieve many of the same benefits associated with light rail. If we focus on why we need to build transit, we can figure out a what works best for all our residents and businesses, the citys statement said, in part. In some cases, BRT may provide a better solution to transit in our respective communities by delivering high-capacity transit faster, at lower cost and with less disruption to the residents and businesses. Many of the same benefits associated with light rail are achievable with BRT and highly successful BRT systems have been built by our peers around the country and cities around the world. Additionally, there are national examples of BRT supporting transit-oriented development. Under the new plan, the Silver Line rail to Charlotte Douglas International Airport is still in place. Changing routes Mike Blackburn lives in east Charlotte, and he isnt surprised the plans are changing. Thats government for you, Blackburn told Channel 9s Joe Bruno. If they are going to raise taxes anyway, why not get the train? But while the tax increase might not go toward rail service to Matthews, local leaders say the substitution with BRT can work alongside the Red Line expansion to north Charlotte. It feels like we are making some traction in some ways that we have not in quite some time, said Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Dante Anderson, who represents part of east Charlotte. Anderson is thrilled with the new Red Line plan, and she says shes satisfied with the plan for better bus service instead of a train to Matthews. Ive lived in cities around the country and rapid bus transit is reliable, quick and safe, Anderson told Bruno. Despite the changes, neighbor Mitch Greenberg says the transit improvements for the region are still desperately needed. People need a way to get from A to B that is convenient and inexpensive. Go ahead and make the investment, it will pay off later, Greenberg said. Higdon says hes not happy about the Silver Line plans changing. He told Bruno he will oppose a sales tax referendum if light rail for his town is not included in the package. (VIDEO: Sullenberger Aviation Museum set to reopen this weekend in west Charlotte) After a monthslong search, the Simi Valley City Council stayed close to home when choosing a new city manager. The panel voted 5-0 Wednesday to start contract negotiations with Assistant City Manager Samantha Argabrite for the top spot. The council had met in a special closed session on the matter. Argabrite will succeed City Manager Brian Gabler when he retires June 30. Gabler, who told the council about his retirement plans in December, has worked for the city for 38 years, including as city manager for the last four years. The council is expected to vote on Argabrites contract on June 24, Gabler said. She will start her new position July 1. The salary range for the city manager position is $268,349-$322,020, he said. Argabrite has served as assistant city manager since January 2023. She joined the citys Community Services Department in 2007 and later became assistant to the city manager and deputy city manager. Her work involved areas such as media relations, labor negotiations and state legislative issues. Her goals as city manager include economic development and continuing to keep Simi Valley a safe community, she said Wednesday after the decision. Argabrite grew up in Simi Valley and is a Simi Valley High School graduate. She earned her bachelors degree in communications and her masters in public administration at CSU Northridge. During college, she worked part time with CountryWide and continued full time with the Fortune 500 company for about 10 years. She said she recruited employees for one of its technology divisions. But Argabrite, who described herself as a bit of a Pollyanna an optimist, in other words said she didnt feel satisfied with a job in the for-profit sector. I wanted to have a job where I could make a difference, she said. Working for the city gave me the opportunity to make a difference every day in the community. She lives in Simi Valley where she is raising a family with partner Dan Paranick. Dave Mason covers East County for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at dave.mason@vcstar.com or 805-437-0232. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Simi Valley chooses Samantha Argabrite as new city manager GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an attempted inmate escape and officer involved shooting that occurred on Saturday in Georgetown County, according to a news release by SLED. While an inmate was being transported, a corrections officer deployed a TASER and fired a service weapon. The inmate was not struck by gunfire and remains in custody. The officer was not injured, the release said. SLED was requested to investigate the attempted inmate escape and the officer involved shooting by Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver. The investigation into the matter is ongoing and no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time, the release said. The incident in Georgetown County was the 17th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2024, 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. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico speaks during a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Not Pictured) after their meeting at the Federal Chancellery. Fico, who sustained serious injuries in a recent assassination attempt, will not be transferred to another hospital, his medical team said. Kay Nietfeld/dpa Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who sustained serious injuries in a recent assassination attempt, will not be transferred to another hospital, his medical team said. Miriam Lapunikova, the head of the Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica, told journalists on Thursday that Fico wishes to be transferred to home care instead, as soon as his condition allows. However, Lapunikova was unable to estimate how long it would take until then. The left-wing populist prime minister was critically wounded by several shots on May 15 when he stepped outside to join supporters after a government meeting in the small town of Handlova. The attacker, who was detained immediately, is in police custody. During police questioning, the 71-year-old cited his disdain for Fico and governmental policies as justification for his actions. This emerges from a document that the competent court sent to dpa in upon request. The document had the man's name, residence, date of birth and other identifiers redacted. According to the document, the suspect said that he did not agree with the policies of the government led by Fico and its judicial and media policies as well as its "Judas attitude" towards the EU. Above all, however, he wanted Slovakia's military aid to Ukraine, which had been stopped by Fico, to be continued. That is why he had "decided to act." He did not want to kill Fico, but rather make him "unfit to continue his work," the document quoted him as saying. It is currently not foreseeable whether and when Fico will be able to resume his official duties. He has been able to eat again for the first time in the two weeks since the crime, government representatives said on Wednesday. Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Golob speaks at a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Not Pictured) after their talks at the Federal Chancellery. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa Slovenia's government said on Thursday it was joining the small handful of European nations which have recognized Palestinian statehood. Prime Minister Robert Golob said his government had agreed to recognize Palestine and will put the measure to parliament for final approval, likely next week, the STA news agency reported. Slovenia is following in the path of Ireland, Norway and Spain. Those countries formally recognized an independent Palestine earlier this week. Sweden took the step a decade ago. The moves have bolstered the worldwide Palestinian cause, even as it infuriates Israel. More than 140 out of 193 member states of the United Nations recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. Western European countries and the United States have long been the exception. Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Golob speaks at a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Not Pictured) after their talks at the Federal Chancellery. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa Slovenia on Thursday said it is joining the list of European nations that have recognized Palestinian statehood. Prime Minister Robert Golob said his government has agreed to recognize the state of Palestine and will put the measure to parliament for final approval next week, the STA news agency reported. A parliamentary spokesman said Slovenia's main legislative chamber, the National Assembly, will vote on the motion on Tuesday. Golob's governing left-wing coalition has a clear majority in the chamber. Slovenia is following in the footseps of Ireland, Norway and Spain, who formally recognized an independent Palestine earlier this week, sparking outrage in Israel. Sweden took the step a decade ago, while a number of Eastern European countries have also long recognized Palestinian statehood. Worldwide, more than 140 out of 193 United Nations member states recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. Western European countries and the United States have long been the exception, but momentum for has grown as the conflict in Gaza drags on. On May 30, 2024, a former producer for "The Apprentice," the reality TV series former U.S. President Donald Trump co-produced and starred in for 15 years prior to running for office, wrote in a Slate article that Trump had been recorded using the N-word during the show's filming. As the news began to spread across social media platforms, a similar claim about President Joe Biden using the N-word during his tenure as a U.S. senator began to spread across X: UNEARTHED VIDEO OF JOE BIDEN REPEATEDLY USING THE N-WORD. SICK! pic.twitter.com/TQPEEC0SIf Alex Bruesewitz (@alexbruesewitz) May 30, 2024 The videos shared on X, which included a recording of Biden's alleged comments, claimed he said: "In a confidential portions of your staff memo, they brought to your attention the allegation that important legislators, in defeating the Nunez plan in the basement said, quote, 'we already have a n----- mayor, we don't need any more n----- big shots.'" We previously fact-checked this claim in 2020, at which time we confirmed that Biden did say those words. As we also noted, however, nearly all of the clips that spread across X omitted crucial context, namely that he was reading a portion of a staff memo out loud. On June 5, 1985, Biden who was then a U.S. senator representing Delaware and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee was questioning William Bradford Reynolds during a series of confirmation hearings to consider whether he should be promoted to associate attorney general from being the head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. The Nunez plan that Biden referenced in the viral quote was a Louisiana redistricting plan that white state officials created that ruled out a majority-Black congressional district in New Orleans, as The Washington Post reported at the time of the hearing. Biden mentioned the Nunez plan to focus the hearings on voting rights as well as question Reynolds' credibility for the job, as the predecessor in his role at the Justice Department had called the plan a "a blatant racial gerrymander." Biden's efforts in opposing Reynolds were successful, as the Senate Judiciary Committee ultimately rejected his nomination for promotion. For further reading about the allegations of Trump using the N-word on "The Apprentice," we published an explainer breaking down what we know so far. We've also fact-checked other claims about whether Biden has used the N-word in political office, like the false claim he used the N-word in a 2021 recorded speech. Sources: "Joe Biden Was Quoting Racist Comments When He Used the N-Word in 1985." AP News, 24 July 2020, https://apnews.com/article/archive-fact-checking-9146840045. Lee, Jessica. "Did Joe Biden Use the N-Word in a Recorded Speech?" Snopes, 25 Feb. 2021, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/joe-biden-n-word-recorded-speech/. Pruitt, Bill. "The Donald Trump I Saw on The Apprentice." Slate, 30 May 2024. slate.com, https://slate.com/culture/2024/05/donald-trump-news-2024-trial-verdict-apprentice.html. "Reynolds' Foes Claim Moral High Ground." Washington Post, 28 Dec. 2023. www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1985/06/24/reynolds-foes-claim-moral-high-ground/2eedf0ef-fa4e-4f35-9a61-ef8662dcd974/. Key Insights LS 2 Holdings' estimated fair value is S$0.10 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of S$0.084 suggests LS 2 Holdings is potentially trading close to its fair value The average premium for LS 2 Holdings' competitorsis currently 1,598% Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of LS 2 Holdings Limited (Catalist:ENV) as an investment opportunity 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. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for LS 2 Holdings Crunching The Numbers We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (SGD, Millions) S$2.17m S$1.55m S$1.25m S$1.09m S$1.00m S$949.7k S$921.0k S$907.3k S$903.6k S$906.7k Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -41.44% Est @ -28.37% Est @ -19.23% Est @ -12.83% Est @ -8.35% Est @ -5.22% Est @ -3.02% Est @ -1.49% Est @ -0.41% Est @ 0.34% Present Value (SGD, Millions) Discounted @ 6.8% S$2.0 S$1.4 S$1.0 S$0.8 S$0.7 S$0.6 S$0.6 S$0.5 S$0.5 S$0.5 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = S$8.7m We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.8%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = S$907k (1 + 2.1%) (6.8% 2.1%) = S$20m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= S$20m ( 1 + 6.8%)10= S$10m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is S$19m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of S$0.08, the company appears about fair value at a 18% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf Important Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at LS 2 Holdings 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 6.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.020. 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. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it 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?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For LS 2 Holdings, we've put together three pertinent aspects you should explore: Risks: As an example, we've found 3 warning signs for LS 2 Holdings (1 can't be ignored!) that you need to consider before investing here. 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! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Singaporean stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Social Worker Molested Boy She Was Supposed to Help. When His Mom Called Police, Abuser Came to House with Gun Payton Shires could face more than 20 years in prison Colombus Police Department Payton Shires An Ohio social worker admitted to sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy she had been counseling. Payton Shires pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful sexual misconduct with a minor among other charges, according to reports from The Columbus Dispatch, WBNS and WCMH. Shires was first arrested in October after the victims mother found messages between the counselor and her son, regarding a video that authorities said was of the two having sex, according to previous reports. In the reported messages, Shires asked the child if he had deleted the videos and if his mother had seen the videos. WBNS reported that Shires also pleaded guilty to inducing panic with a firearm specification and one count of intimidation to a victim or witness. The outlets previously reported that Shires, after her initial arrest, showed up at the boys home with a gun. WBNS reported, citing court records, that Shires was sitting on the porch with the gun to her head when police arrived, yelling that she wanted to kill the boys mother and die by suicide. 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. Related: Social Worker Accused of Sex Abuse Allegedly Went to Boy's House with Gun, Threatened to Kill Mom: Reports The Dispatch reported the victims mother was on a controlled three-way call with Shires and police, on which Shires admitted to the abuse. Court records indicate that Shires sentencing is scheduled for June 27, and according to reports, could face more than 20 years in prison. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference with Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo (Not Pictured) after their meeting. Zelensky is visiting Belgium to sign a bilateral security agreement in Brussels. Dirk Waem/Belga/dpa Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Saudi Arabia on Saturday to drum up support for a planned peace summit in Switzerland next month, a diplomatic source at the Ukrainian embassy in Riyadh said. Zelensky will arrive in the Saudi port city of Jeddah for a short visit during which he will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the monarchys de facto ruler, and other senior officials, the source added on Thursday. The visit is part of Zelenskys efforts to secure wide participation in the Swiss conference. Switzerland has invited around 160 countries to a summit on June 15-16 to discuss possible ways to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. Russia, which invaded Ukraine more than two years ago, has not received an invitation. Saudi Arabia has tried to maintain a neutral stance in the Ukraine war. The oil-rich kingdom, a traditional ally of the United States, also maintains good ties with Moscow, and has repeatedly offered to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. Last August, Saudi Arabia hosted international security talks on Ukraine. In May last year, Zelensky attended an annual Arab League summit also held in Saudi Arabia. Title icon The News JOHANNESBURG South Africas ruling African National Congress looks set to lose its parliamentary majority for the first time since coming to power after the end of apartheid 30 years ago, according to projections based on early election results. Polls in Wednesdays election closed at 2100. On Thursday, with results received from 13.9% of polling stations, electoral commission data showed the ANC had secured 42.6% of the vote. The main opposition Democratic Alliance had 25.8% and the leftwing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) stood at 8.5%. Based on early results, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which provides projections to state broadcaster SABC, said the ANC is projected to have roughly 42% of the vote when the count has been completed. Failure to secure 50% of the 400 seats in the National Assembly would force the ANC which is still expected to be the largest party to form a coalition government with smaller parties. Title icon Know More Under the constitution, the new parliament must convene within 14 days of final results being declared. And parliaments first act must be to elect the countrys president. It means there will be up to two weeks of negotiations to form a government if the ruling party has fallen short of a parliamentary majority. The ANC has won every election since 1994, when Nelson Mandela led the party to power following the end of the apartheid regime. But the party has seen its support, and share of the vote, fall over the last 30 years. Back in 1994, it won 62.5% of the National Assemblys seats. At the last election, in 2019, it secured 57.5% of the vote. The election was fought on the key issues of the economy, power provision, and crime. The ANC has faced intense competition from dozens of rival parties, particularly the populist uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) led by former president Jacob Zuma, and the Economic Freedom Fighters, a Marxist party led by a former ANC youth leader that called for the nationalization of mines and expropriation of land. Semafor Logo (Bloomberg) -- These are the latest verified results from South Africas national election, released by the Electoral Commission of South Africa. Most Read from Bloomberg The tables show support for the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, uMkhonto weSizwe and some smaller parties. Never miss an episode. Follow The Big Take daily podcast today. About 27.7 million people registered to vote. For 2024, voters received two national ballots: A national ballot contested solely by political parties 200 National Assembly seats will be allocated from here. It contained 52 parties A new national-regional ballot, where independent candidates can for the first time contest for the remaining 200 National Assembly seats together with political parties. This paper differs from province to province, and there are six independents running in four provinces NOTE: The partial results may not be an accurate indication of the final outcome because counting from rural areas and townships where the ANC has historically had more support tends to take longer. Population density in the different voting districts can also be a variable. NOTE: The portion of results completed reflects the percentage of voting districts that have completed their count of the national ballot. Percentage share of vote on national and national-regional ballots For national, 4.4 million votes counted and verified, and 8,591 of 23,292 voting districts completed For national-regional, 4.36 million votes counted and verified, and 8,523 of 23,292 voting districts completed *Did not contest previous election Gauteng Registered voters: 6.54 million Votes tallied: 947,623 860 of 2,797 voting districts counted *Did not contest previous election KwaZulu-Natal Registered voters: 5.74 million Votes tallied: 565,071 1,330 of 4,974 voting districts counted *Did not contest previous election Western Cape Registered voters: 3.31 million Votes tallied: 943,457 897 of 1,572 voting districts counted *Did not contest previous election Eastern Cape Registered voters: 3.44 million Votes tallied: 708,827 2,312 of 4,868 voting districts counted *Did not contest previous election Mpumalanga Registered voters: 2.03 million Votes tallied: 375,797 757 of 1,811 voting districts counted *Did not contest previous election Limpopo Registered voters: 2.78 million Votes tallied: 285,183 799 of 3,216 voting districts counted *Did not contest previous election North West Registered voters: 1.77 million Votes tallied: 221,815 608 of 1,738 voting districts counted *Did not contest previous election Free State Registered voters: 1.45 million Votes tallied: 390,089 930 of 1,586 voting districts counted *Did not contest previous election Northern Cape Registered voters: 655,286 Votes tallied: 364,373 682 of 730 voting districts counted *Did not contest previous election Read this next: Apartheids Long Shadow Hangs Over South Africas Election --With assistance from Ana Monteiro. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. South Korea plans Mars landing in 2045 as it launches first space agency By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea plans to make a Mars landing by 2045 and spend 100 trillion won ($72.6 billion) until then on space exploration, President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Thursday at the launch of the country's first space agency. The Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) will lead the country's "space economy," with hundreds of businesses and enterprises working to catapult South Korea into the ranks of the world's top five space powers, Yoon said. "KASA will usher in a new space era by cultivating experts while intensively supporting the aerospace industry ecosystem and fostering challenging and innovative R&D," Yoon said. The country's first lunar lander is planned for 2032. South Korea became the seventh country to own an indigenous space launch vehicle and satellite development technology with the launch of the Nuri rocket in May last year that put a commercial grade satellite in orbit. The agency is aimed at streamlining policy and development functions shared among different government ministries and will bring under its structure the aerospace research institute that developed the Nuri and its precursor space launch vehicles. South Korea plans at least three more space launches by 2027 and has plans to launch military satellites. Yoon's announcement highlights the increasing efforts Asian nations are putting into space programs for practical reasons, such as honing rocket technology, and to bolster national pride. On Monday, North Korea launched a rocket but failed to put its second military spy satellite in orbit, which it blamed on a new type of engine failing. But one expert noted the attempt as a "huge leap" in the heavily sanctioned country's race for space. South Korea, Japan and the United States condemned the North's launch as violating U.N. Security Council resolutions banning it from developing ballistic missile technology. China's space program has developed heavy-lift rockets such as the Long March 5, the Tiangong space station, unmanned moon probes and the rover Zhurong that reached Mars in 2021. In January, Japan became the fifth country to place a lander on the moon. Last year, India became the fourth nation to land on the moon, after Russia failed in an attempt the same month. Japan also plans a rover mission to Mars. ($1 = 1,378.2400 won) (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) Southern California woman arrested again for attempting to kidnap children at park A Southern California woman who was previously arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a child from a Target store was arrested again Tuesday on similar charges. The suspect was identified as Yara Vanessa Pineda, 27, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Officers responded to Seoul International Park on the 3200 block of San Marino Street in the Koreatown neighborhood at around 5:14 p.m. Witnesses said Pineda had approached several children at the park playground and picked them up before letting them go after being confronted by their parents. The woman was reportedly seen fighting with the parents when they told her to leave. Witnesses recalled the frightening scene as the woman continued running around the park. Photo of Yara Vanessa Pineda, 27, wanted in connection with an alleged attempted kidnapping on Feb. 25, 2024, in L.A. (LAPD) Photo of Yara Vanessa Pineda, 27, wanted in connection with an alleged attempted kidnapping on Feb. 25, 2024, in L.A. (LAPD) Seoul International Park located on the 3200 block of San Marino Street in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. (KTLA) A witness captured the moment Yara Vanessa Pineda was arrested for attempted kidnapping at Seoul International Park on May 28, 2024. Seoul International Park located on the 3200 block of San Marino Street in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. (KTLA) LAPD Community Alert notification on Feb. 25, 2024. (LAPD) There was a crazy lady running around and she was picking up little kids and the kids were running from her, recalled a young boy named Anwar. They got scared. She was catching them and running away with them. She asked me for candy and I said, No! and I ran away. Anwar said the woman reportedly picked up his sister and later pushed her to the ground. A parent, Alberto Lopez, recalls intervening when the woman tried to grab his young son. She looked homeless, Lopez said. I said, Dont touch my boy, and she tried but I said, Dont touch him!' I just saw the lady and she creeped from the back and grabbed [my son] and I just screamed and she let him go, another parent recalled. I almost had a heart attack. I was scared. I just screamed. Parents called the police and kept an eye on her while awaiting their arrival. Pineda fled the area before officers could arrive. An LAPD airship spotted the woman running from the park toward Normandie Avenue. Officers confronted her and a taser was eventually used to subdue her and take her into custody. Witnesses said when police arrived, Pineda was seen throwing her bags at them and spitting at them. Pineda was previously arrested on Feb. 25 for allegedly trying to kidnap a 4-year-old boy from a Target store in Westlake. During that incident, Pineda allegedly grabbed the boy from behind and carried him out of the store before putting the child down after being confronted by his parents. The boys family told police they did not know the woman. She was released from jail about a week before the latest park incident, according to public records. Following the Koreatown park incident, Pineda was taken into custody on kidnapping charges. The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information can call the LAPD at 1-877-527-3247. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. About a week after a former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary provost was indicted on a charge of falsifying records, school officials confirmed that a staff member told another employee to make a report of sexual assault go away. The indictment and allegations at the Fort Worth theological school are the latest development in the U.S. Department of Justices investigation into sexual abuse and misconduct at Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated organizations. Matt Queen, former interim provost at Southwestern Baptist, was indicted May 21 after he failed to inform the FBI of a conspiracy to destroy evidence in the investigation and instead produced falsified records, according to a news release from the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York. According to a statement posted Wednesday by seminary President David Dockery, a Southwestern Baptist dean, Terri Stovall who was referred to as employee 1 in the indictment was the staff member who documented the report of a student committing sexual assault in November 2022. Stovall followed institutional procedures and notified the chief of the campus police, who took no further action, the statement says. The chief is no longer employed with Southwestern Baptist. The Burleson Police Department arrested the student who was accused of sexual assault. In January 2023, Stovall discussed the document she prepared regarding the assault with Heath Woolman, who was the seminarys chief of staff at the time, and Queen. It was in this confrontation that Woolman told Stovall to make the document go away, according to Dockerys statement. As of August 2022, all Southwestern Baptist employees were made aware of the DOJs investigation into SBC organizations, Dockery said. Employees were also told to provide any relevant documents in response to a subpoena. Dockery said in the statement that Woolman denied telling Stovall to make the document go away. Queen also initially told authorities and Dockery that he did not hear Woolman instruct Stovall to get rid of the document, according to the release. For nearly five months we operated within the tension of knowing that employees in whom we had confidence had differences of recollection regarding the January conversation, the statement reads. It wasnt until a follow-up interview with authorities in June 2023 when Queen admitted hearing Woolman give Stovall the instruction to destroy the document. Queen, who had pleaded not guilty to the indictment, resigned as interim provost shortly after and was placed on administrative leave. Woolman has not been charged in the investigation. Woolman resigned as the schools chief of staff on May 5, 2023, to accept a pastoral position. Dockery says that knowing what he knows now, he would have not vouched for Woolman as he previously did to help him earn his current position. Woolman is currently pastor of Fruit Cove Baptist Church in St. Johns, Florida. If asked to provide the same recommendation today, and based on information received subsequent to that time, I would not be able to provide the same recommendation, Dockery said. This episode is a matter of deep regret to me, Dockery said. I am, however, grateful that several employees in whom I placed great trust acted responsibly, especially Terri Stovall. I commend the service and integrity of these employees. We remain resolute to continue to cooperate fully with the Department of Justice in all aspects of this investigation. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (L) and the First Vice-President and Minister of Finance Maria Jesus Montero attend a plenary session in the Congress of Deputies in Madrid. Eduardo Parra/EUROPA PRESS/dpa The Spanish parliament on Thursday passed a controversial amnesty for Catalan separatists after months of political wrangling in Madrid. The "Law for institutional, political and social normalization in Catalonia" was approved by 177 votes to 172 in the Congress of Deputies, Spain's lower chamber. It will come into force in the next few days after publication in the government gazette. The bill has seen heated debates and several votes in both houses of parliament since November, when Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reached a deal with two separatist Catalan parties to support his re-election in return for the amnesty. It is set to apply to around 400 activists and politicians who faced legal consequences for their involvement in Catalonia's pro-independence movement, which reached a high point in late 2017 with an illegal independence referendum. Among the beneficiaries is Carles Puigdemont, the former regional president, who has been living in exile in Belgium since Madrid cracked down on the separatist movement following the referendum. Several separatists who remained in Spain were sentenced to prison terms of up to 13 years, although they have since been pardoned. Only a small number of crimes, including terrorism, are excluded from the amnesty. The bill has caused months of turmoil in Spain. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the leader of the conservative People's Party, called it a "national disgrace" and an "international embarrassment," accusing Sanchez of buying his re-election with the amnesty. Sanchez has defended the policy as helping to defuse tensions in Catalonia, amid signs the separatist movement is weakening. Parliamentary elections in the north-eastern autonomous community on May 12 saw pro-independence parties lose their absolute majority for the first time since 1980. Sanchez's Socialist Party won the most votes and seats in the Barcelona parliament. People's Party (PP) deputies applaud the party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo (R) during a plenary session in the Congress of Deputies in Madrid. Eduardo Parra/EUROPA PRESS/dpa The leader of VOX Santiago Abascal speaks during a plenary session in the Congress of Deputies in Madrid. Eduardo Parra/EUROPA PRESS/dpa Mr Sanchez has been accused of pardoning the Catalan leaders to stay in power - JAVIER SORIANO/AFP Spains Socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez was branded a traitor after parliament passed a controversial amnesty for Catalan leaders who unlawfully attempted to bring about the regions independence in 2017. Mr Sanchez said the amnesty for Catalan separatists would help to unite Spain but opposition parties reminded him that he had previously said such a step was impossible and unconstitutional. In a stormy session of Spains lower-house Congress, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the conservative main opposition Peoples Party (PP), accused Mr Sanchez of lying and laughing in peoples faces. Mr Feijoo said the amnesty was political corruption, whose sole purpose was to keep the Socialist prime ministers minority coalition in power, thanks to support from Catalan parties. Under Mr Feijoos leadership, the PP became the largest party in Congress after last years election, but Mr Sanchez managed to cobble together a slender majority with the backing of Left-wing, Catalan, Basque and other regional groupings. Mr Feijoo has accused Mr Sanchez of 'lying' and 'laughing in people's faces' - Alberto Gardin/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock/Shutterstock The seven MPs from the Catalan party Junts, whose leader Carles Puigdemont fled to Belgium to avoid arrest after declaring Catalonias secession from Spain, supported Mr Sanchez as prime minister in return for negotiating the terms of an amnesty. Having been passed by Congress previously and then rejected by the PP-dominated Senate, the amnesty was approved on Thursday with 177 votes in favour and 172 against. As Mr Sanchezs name was called by the speaker for his oral vote, there were calls of traitor. You are going to pardon your partners just to stay in power, Santiago Abascal, leader of the hard-Right Vox said, looking at the government bench. Mr Abascal argued that the amnesty legitimises political violence and also accused Mr Sanchez of attempting to cover up corruption. The embattled prime minister last month took a five-day leave of absence from his duties to consider his future, after a judge said he would investigate allegations of corruption and influence peddling against his wife, Begona Gomez. He said he would stay in office in order to regenerate democracy and accused conservative elites in politics, the judiciary and the media for smearing his wifes reputation. Mr Sanchezs U-turn on amnesty for Catalan separatists sparked a series of daily protests outside the Socialist Partys Madrid headquarters last autumn. At least 400 people are expected to benefit from the measure, which will paralyse judicial proceedings against individuals accused of participating in the unlawful referendum of October 1, 2017. Today is a victory for Catalonia Key among those to be offered a reprieve is Mr Puigdemont, who is being investigated for embezzling public funds and for terrorism-related offences as the alleged leader of a separatist protest movement accused of violence. Mr Puigdemont has said he will be in Barcelona for the debate to elect a new president of Catalonia once the regions new parliament sits next month,after elections held on May 12. A source from Mr Puigdemonts team told The Telegraph that the former Catalan president, who has since served as an MEP, will return for sure, whether he is arrested or not. The judge investigating Mr Puigdemont in Spains supreme court has requested the application of a European arrest warrant against the politician, but the Catalan leader has successfully fought against detention in Belgian and EU courts. The court will now receive a request from Mr Puigdemonts lawyers to drop all proceedings but could attempt to challenge the constitutional basis of the amnesty. Mr Puigdemont was due to make a statement live on social media on Thursday evening. Oriol Junqueras, Mr Puigdemonts deputy premier in 2017 , celebrated the passage of the amnesty law in Congress on Thursday. Today is a victory for Catalonia, for all Catalans and democrats around the world, said Mr Junqueras, who remained in Spain after the referendum and spent the best part of four years in prison, before he and six other Catalan politicians were pardoned by Mr Sanchezs cabinet. He remains barred from holding public office. Mr Junqueras recalled those who were beaten by police batons when voting in the 2017 wildcat ballot and called on Spains government to allow a legal referendum on Catalonias status. Mr Sanchez has promised that he will not agree to a referendum. 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. This roadside memorial on Texas Pike in Owen County marks the place where the body of Elizabeth "Bizzy" Stevens was found Sept. 14, 2021. On Mothers Day this year, Elizabeth Bizzy Stevens 3-year-old daughter hugged her mothers gravestone. Because thats the only way she can give her mom a hug, Julie Ferguson, Stevens mother, said during an emotional testimony at the Owen Circuit Court sentencing for the man convicted of murdering Stevens. Ferguson flipped through a stack of photos as she spoke Stevens daughter at her gravesite, the last photo of Stevens and her daughter together, and a photo of Stevens lying in her casket. Only five months old when Stevens died, the now-3-year-old will have to rely on photos to remember her mother, Ferguson said. Vickie Edwards helps display signs in Spencer in September 2021 at an Owen County Courthouse vigil for Elizabeth "Biz" Stevens, who was killed in Owen County. A judge on Wednesday sentenced 39-year-old Jay White to 60 years in prison for killing Stevens, a 26-year-old from Spencer. Judge Darcie Fawcett, a Monroe Circuit Court judge overseeing the case, also gave White a consecutive sentence of 360 days for obstruction of justice. Murder sentences range from 45 to 65 years in Indiana. White was found guilty of murder and obstruction of justice by a jury April 24, nearly three years after Stevens was killed Sept. 14, 2021. The testimony of Tyler Byers, Whites friend who was driving the Dodge Ram truck where Stevens was shot, was critical to the prosecutions case. He told the jury White had fired an AR-15 at Stevens head and left her body on a rural Owen County road. Whites defense attorney argued Stevens had shot herself in the head, an argument supported by experts who testified the bullets trajectory made it unlikely White had fired the shot. Whites attorney also pointed to Stevens missing wig, which had been left in an unsealed evidence bag, as well as police body camera footage that was taped over. Fergusons father, James Wood, has a trucking business and said he has worked with Whites familys logging business for 30 years. He recalled seeing White and his brother run around the yard when they were kids. Turning to face White, Wood called the man evil for taking the life of his youngest granddaughter. Theres always gonna be an empty chair at our table for Christmas and New Year's thanks to you, he said. Several members of Whites family took the stand to defend Whites character. His mother, Janet Lucas, said he loves his two kids. Whites wife, Amber, said White had supported her while she pursued nursing school. Family described him as loyal to a fault. During Fergusons testimony, she recommended the maximum sentence, claiming she saw White laugh and smile throughout the trial. Thats not a remorseful individual, she said. White declined to make a statement to the court, while his lawyer said she planned to appeal the decision. As people filtered out, Whites mother left the courtroom crying. Reach Marissa Meador at MMeador@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Judge gives Jay White a 60-year sentence for Owen County murder Spirit Airlines passengers say they were told to prepare for an emergency water landing in a chaotic flight to Florida Spirit Airlines passengers say they were told to prepare for an emergency water landing in a chaotic flight to Florida Passengers on a flight to Florida say they were told to prepare for an emergency water landing. The Spirit Airlines flight had to return to a Jamaica airport due to a suspected mechanical issue. Passengers say the flight descended into "total chaos" after they were told to put on life jackets. A Spirit Airlines flight reportedly descended into chaos after passengers were told to wear life jackets and prepare for an emergency water landing. Flight 270 from Montego Bay, Jamaica to Florida was forced to return to the airport shortly after takeoff due to a suspected mechanical issue on Sunday, according to the airline. Passenger Bettina Rogers told CNN the pilot had initially told passengers there was nothing to worry about when a beeping sound went off in the aircraft, before informing them the plane was returning to the airport. She said that as the plane turned back, passengers were told to "prepare for an emergency water landing," sparking pandemonium. "It was scary, and people were freaking out and panicking," Rogers said. Fellow traveler Andrene Gordon told Jamaican publication The Gleaner the aborted flight felt like a "near-death experience." "We never knew we would actually make it to the ground because all we were seeing was literal water it was total chaos," she said. In a statement reported by CBS News, Spirit Airlines said the flight had returned to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay "out of an abundance of caution following a suspected mechanical issue." The airline said safety was its top priority and apologized to passengers for any inconvenience. The airline did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment made outside normal working hours. Passengers on the flight were offered a new flight to Fort Lauderdale and reportedly given a $50 credit by the airline which Gordon described as a "slap in the face" after the "traumatic" experience. Passengers were told to put on life jackets before the plane landed safely at Jamaica's Sangster International Airport, and some recounted having difficulties accessing their buoyancy aids. "I would say 15 min from the first announcement we were told that we had to prepare for a water landing. Everyone went frantic on the plane," Shancy Faison told CBS News. "I tried to retrieve my life vest, and the case that the life vest was in it would not open. My husband then took his life vest off of him and placed it on me, and he still fought for it. Took about 4 of us to break open the box," she added. It's the latest mishap to hit a major airline in recent months. Aviation giant Boeing is facing a federal investigation after an Alaska Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing when a door plug came lose and a window on one of its 737-9 Max planes blew off mid-flight. Meanwhile, a passenger on a Singapore Airlines flight died, and several others were left in critical condition after the plane was hit by severe turbulence last week. Read the original article on Business Insider Janet Lynam cringes when she thinks about the hazardous waste buried in a landfill near Lake Marion, a sparkling reservoir and cornerstone of South Carolinas natural resources. During the 1980s and 1990s, she and her friends fought to close the Sumter County industrial waste dump, worried that it would one day pollute the 100,000-acre lake and cost the public big money to clean up. They eventually succeeded in their David-vs.-Goliath court battle no thanks, she says, to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. For years, DHEC failed to act on the communitys pleas to shutter the dump, doing so only after the court proceeding ended in the citizens favor. Now, the department she fought with for so long is being dissolved. And the question is whether a new agency being developed to replace DHEC will do any better. In the politics of South Carolina, it may not matter, said Lynam, a 76-year-old grandmother from Sumter. Its a concern other people have on their minds. On July 1, programs administered by the Department of Health and Environmental Control will be dispersed to other government agencies, including a new health agency and a new environmental department, as DHEC will cease to exist after 51 years of operation. The idea is to make environment and health protection more efficient by giving those duties to agencies that will be able to focus on core missions better than the sprawling DHEC bureaucracy. In 2023, the Legislature voted to split up DHEC, with the effective date in 2024. Among other things, the new Department of Environmental Services will be responsible for considering permits to discharge pollution to the air, land and water; monitoring contaminant levels in streams; overseeing the safety of drinking water; keeping track of aging and vulnerable dams; issuing warnings about polluted fish; and considering whether to approve development on the states coast. But like Lynam, some people who have dealt with DHEC for years are skeptical that the shift will make any difference, most notably on environmental protection. While DHEC sometimes gets good marks for its health protection efforts, the agency has been accused of bowing to business interests over safeguarding the environment and those pressures are still there. My personal concern is it more likely gets less effective in protecting the environment than more protective, said veteran Spartanburg lawyer Gary Poliakoff, an agency critic who has fought DHEC in court on multiple environmental issues. I am not a great fan of breaking it up. But I know there are people in the environmental community who think differently. Former state Sen. Phil Leventis, a Sumter Democrat and one of DHECs chief critics while in office, said splitting the agency may not make a difference without leadership that is committed to protecting the environment and public health in the face of political pressure. DHECs biggest problem through the years, he said, was a lack of courage by its leaders when big businesses and politicians pushed the agency to ease up on environmental protection. What you really needed (was) leadership committed to their charge, which is looking at public health and the environment, Leventis said, noting that the DHEC governing board proved to be little more than an arm of the state chamber of commerce. Leventis was among those opposed to the Lake Marion hazardous waste dump, which at one point, reportedly had buried 5.6 million tons of toxic refuse from around the Southeast. Leadership on environmental protection will now come from Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican who supported the breakup of DHEC. McMaster will have direct control over the Department of Environmental Services, which will absorb most of DHECs environmental duties. The new agency will be run by a director McMaster chooses. Since its inception in 1973, DHEC has been overseen by a board the governor picked, which allowed non-elected members to shrink into the background amid criticism. With direct control, the governor will have more influence on how he wants the agency to operate and will be directly accountable to the public, supporters of the restructuring effort say. The best thing you can do to ensure things are operating the way they should in the executive branch is to give accountability to an individual like the governor who is elected by all of the people, Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, said. Davis and Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, said people should expect improvement in the way services are provided. Davis and Frank Holleman, an environmental lawyer from Greenville, said McMasters impact on how the state handles protection of the air, land and water is the key. The Republican governor has through the years taken multiple stances to protect the environment, including efforts to preserve land and clean up water pollution. He also opposed offshore oil drilling because of the potential damage that spills could have on state beaches. Its a little bit out of the norm of the way people typically think of Republicans, Davis said of McMasters stances to protect the environment. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control is shutting down July 1, 2024, to be replaced by separate environmental and health agencies. McMaster, a former attorney general, took aim at DHEC in 2007 after The State reported on pollution at a nuclear waste dump in Barnwell County that was never fully revealed by the department. The newspaper, after reviewing previously sealed records, found high levels of radioactive groundwater contamination at the site and near a neighborhood. At the time, McMaster said DHEC had violated the states sunshine law when it initially allowed records to be sealed. He also said DHEC had done a poor job of providing information to the public about the pollution. Brandon Charochak, a spokesman for McMaster, said the governor expects the new environmental agency to be open and do its job according to the law. Being answerable to the governor will make the agency more accountable, transparent and effective in its mission, he said in an email. But future governors could have different views on how things should be run. And in getting rid of the DHEC board as part of the restructuring effort, people who disagree with staff enforcement and permit decisions will lose a public forum to challenge those decisions. Instead of first appealing decisions to the board, theyll have to go straight to the Administrative Law Court. Its a public process, like hearings before the DHEC board, but the administrative court can be more expensive and time consuming. Officials at DHEC, who will move to the new environmental services department, believe the upcoming change will be better for environmental protection. It will allow the Department of Environmental Services to focus solely on environmental issues, DHEC spokeswoman Laura Renwick said. As its own agency, SCDES seeks to have greater visibility and heightened public awareness of the critical roles it has with environmental protection, which will result in greater investment and preservation of South Carolinas natural resources, Renwick said in an email. Sumter County resident Janet Lynam. She and her neighbors fought a toxic waste landfill for years, eventually persuading a court that the dump should close. But they said the state Department of Health and Environmental Control never did much to help with their fight. In addition to the Department of Environmental Services, the dissolution of DHEC will also create the Department of Public Health. DHECs health division will become the new health department, continuing many of the same duties, including issuing birth certificates, developing public disease response plans and overseeing hospital expansions, among other things. Legislators are now wrestling with whether to add other health related departments, such as the Department of Mental Health, to the new health department. All told, DHECs approximately 3,500 employees will be dispersed mainly to the two new agencies, with the majority going to public health. The split will disperse some duties now provided by DHEC to agencies other than the Department of Environmental Services or Public Health. Some employees, primarily milk and food inspectors, will be shifted to the S.C. Department of Agriculture. Peeler and others say it makes sense for the agriculture department to regulate milk since it already has some oversight of farms. The cost of making the changes was initially estimated at $18 million, but that figure is likely to be higher. The state Department of Administration did not respond to a request for an updated cost of the DHEC breakup, but moving some of the agencies offices from Bull Street in Columbia to other sites is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars. Davis said in the long run, there will be savings. Meanwhile, DHEC says the public should not notice much change after the new agencies take charge. Initially, agency offices will for the most part remain in the same places they were under DHEC. The same services will be provided, officials say. Agribusiness gets a boost Although there is uncertainty on how the new environmental protection effort will work, at least one powerful interest group the S.C. Farm Bureau is pleased. Upset with how the state was overseeing water withdrawals from rivers for irrigation, the Farm Bureau urged lawmakers to take away what others said was a system of checks and balances intended to protect rivers from being dried up by withdrawals. The new Department of Environmental Services will now take on the duties of both studying the impacts of huge industrial scale farms on water supplies and approving withdrawals for large farms. As it stands, DHEC approves large withdrawals of water for farms, while the state Department of Natural Resources hydrology division studies how to protect rivers from overuse. The DNRs hydrology division will shift to the Department of Environmental Services. The two agencies have not always agreed on how to oversee farms that need water, and the DNR has received its share of criticism by the farming community. One key dispute is over the states surface water law and regulations that the DNR has said do not adequately protect rivers from overuse. The law, which could allow some rivers to be sucked dry by industrial scale farms, is in conflict with the federal Clean Water Act, South Carolina leaders have been told. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said two years ago that the states 2010 law was not scientifically sound, could allow rivers to be dried up by withdrawals and needed improvement. The DNR had generated similar questions through the years. But DHEC never raised public concerns and earlier this year, the agency said it would not seek changes in the water rules, saying they are adequate. Now, the DNRs water hydrology/water planning section and DHECs water permitting section will be under the new agency. The Farm Bureau, one of the most effective organizations at lobbying legislators, supported the breakup of DHEC, and was particularly vocal about what it considered a need to consolidate water duties, which it said would make government more efficient. Murphy Lybrand and Doug Busbee have expressed concern that a state water law will allow rivers like the South Fork of the Edisto to be sucked dry by industrial scale agriculture. They have been critical of the state Department of Health and Environmental Controls efforts to safeguard rivers. Creating government efficiency for all South Carolinians allows the state to leverage limited resources to better address the needs of all potential water users statewide by providing a holistic approach to water management, the Farm Bureau said in an email. Environmental groups have had a different view on consolidation of water duties under the new Department of Environmental Services. Placing the water planning and management role, and the water-regulatory role, within one agency would undermine the public trust, according to a letter from the state Nature Conservancy to legislators. Doug Busbee, who has for more than a decade pushed the state to better protect rivers, said legislators listened to the S.C. Farm Bureaus effort to consolidate the planning and permitting programs, which takes away checks and balances. I feel like they get a free pass, he said of industrial scale farms. Officials at DHEC who are moving to the new agency said the DNRs hydrology section should fit well within the new department. The programs can work collaboratively, Renwick said. No one in control The breakup of DHEC follows more than a decade of discussion, much of it spearheaded by Sen. Peeler, a Republican from Gaffney whose family once operated one of the most recognizable milk and dairy businesses in South Carolina. In at least one instance, a company associated with the Peeler family had a disagreement with DHEC. The department shut down a skim milk production line for two days in September 2008 until a handful of bacteria problems could be straightened out, The State reported in 2009. At the time, Peeler said he was unaware of the issue or why DHEC had cited problems at a bottler for his familys milk company. Peeler said his interest in breaking up DHEC is not related to any issue his familys companies had. He no longer has anything to do with milk production after the main business was sold some 25 years ago., he said Peeler, a conservative not associated with major environmental groups, said the department is outdated and a 1960s-model agency whose time has come. He said both the public health and environment will be better served by separate agencies. This is an effort to bring healthcare and environmental stewardship into the 21st century, Peeler said, adding that he does not think there is enough coordination and oversight at DHEC now. This is so convoluted. Its an old-timey way of doing things. In the past, the influential Peeler has said DHEC had too much turnover at the top and needed a stronger hand. He formerly chaired the Medical Affairs Committee, which reviews DHEC board members and candidates for director. He now chairs the Senate Finance Committee, one of the Legislatures most powerful committees. No one is in control at DHEC and hasnt been for quite some time, Peeler said in a 2020 news release announcing another attempt to split the department. This legislation will ensure government runs more efficiently and will give each agency clearly defined responsibilities. Protesters demonstrate outside the Department of Health and Environmental Controls offices in 2008. They were protesting a new coal-fired power plant. One of the few combined health and environmental agencies in the country, DHEC has been accused for years of being slow to respond to problems and of allowing some environmental issues to fester without resolution. As it stands, DHEC regulates everything from hospital expansions and tattoo parlors to hazardous waste landfills and seaside development. The agency also is responsible for protecting public health during disease outbreaks. The department has offices throughout the state, with a budget of more than $660 million, composed of federal and state funds, as well as some other funding. It is one of South Carolinas largest agencies. The Legislature created DHEC in 1973, merging the state health department and the Pollution Control Authority in an effort to provide better services. Many longtime employees have said DHEC has been unfairly maligned, in part because so much of its operation involves regulating businesses. Businesses often arent happy when they dont get the type of permit approvals they seek, while others say the agency is too quick to issue permits. The department rarely denies permit requests, but sometimes gives approval with additional restrictions. Holleman, who has fought DHEC in court over what he says is the agencys failure to more aggressively deal with pollution issues, said the department has plenty of capable people, but a lack of resolve. In my experience, most of the leadership at DHEC wants to keep its head down, Holleman said. They dont want to rock the boat. They dont want to make anybody mad. The State chronicled many of DHECs shortcomings in a 2008 investigative series. The newspaper found that DHEC had allowed massive amounts of pollution to pour from a coal-fired power plant; failed to seek enough funding to clean up groundwater polluted by underground storage tanks; issued a port expansion approval in Charleston before fully studying the environmental effects of having more ships at the port; failed to stop mega garbage dumps, despite public complaints; and allowed oceanfront development to occur in hazardous coastal areas, despite a state mandate to keep new construction back from the beach. But those are just some of the problems. Past troubles, future challenges In one instance, the agency knew for 20 years that lead had polluted the drinking water of a small poor community southeast of Columbia, but failed to ensure the problem was resolved. Only after the newspaper exposed the issue and found that some people had higher than average levels of lead in their blood did DHEC help provide clean drinking water to the community. In another, the departments board dropped a requirement that the operator of the hazardous waste dump Lynam and Leventis fought on Lake Marion sock away more than $100 million in cash for long-term monitoring and cleanup of the site after it closed. The dump eventually shut down in 2000, leaving the public to pay to prevent the site from leaking into the nearby lake and Sparkleberry Swamp, one of the most scenic areas of South Carolina. State taxpayers provide about $4 million a year to maintain the site to prevent leaks. So far, the landfill is not known to have leaked into the lake, but the state will have the responsibility to manage the site to prevent leaks for the next 80 years. Our level of frustration was as high as it could possibly be, Lynam said of DHECs oversight of the landfill. They ignored us. She said DHEC bowed to big businesses. They listened to the man with the suit and the briefcase. York County resident Betty Rankin wore a gas mask after odors from a paper mill wafted over her community. The New Indy paper company received approval from SC regulators to remove a pollution control device that contributed to the powerful odors. More recently, residents near Charlotte have blasted DHEC for failing to prevent a paper mill from sending nauseating odors over their community. The department signed off on a plan to bypass a pollution control measure, which contributed to the stench. DHEC also has been criticized for signing off on a plan to spread industrial waste on farm fields that were later found to have polluted groundwater that supply backyard wells in eastern South Carolina. Generally, the departments health side has received less criticism through the years, but it is not without blemishes. The agency sustained withering criticism during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic for what was considered a tepid response. In 2013, state senators blasted DHEC for what many considered a poor response to a school tuberculosis outbreak that affected dozens of children in Greenwood County. Some of the departments problems have centered on decisions by the board to choose legislative lobbyists to run DHEC, Leventis and other agency critics have said. Lobbyists were too prone to want to get along with the Legislature when sometimes they needed to stand up stronger for public health and the environment, critics say. It is not unusual for DHEC to refuse to provide positions on whether a policy is good or bad for the state. Leventis, the former Sumter senator, said DHEC has been an agency that never protected the environment as it should have. Now, DHECs time is about to end and it will take a while to determine whether the states efforts to protect the environment will improve with a new structure. Leventis and Holleman said they hope South Carolina will find an improved way of protecting the landscape. Its not like this is a slam dunk for the bad or a slam dunk for the good, Leventis said. Its a lot about the people you surround yourself with. Textile plants are a major source of hazardous forever chemicals, also called PFAS. National manufacturers shipped chemicals to places like Galey and Lord, seen here. It is a textile plant in Darlington County, South Carolina. Sludge from the plant was spread on farm fields as fertilizer, with the permission of South Carolinas environmental agency. Starbucks Made a Big Change and Now Lines Are Longer Than Ever Starbucks Made a Big Change and Now Lines Are Longer Than Ever The next time you go to Starbucks for an iced latte, you might want to bring a book. Customers at some locations are beginning to face extensive wait times. We're talking lines that can take up to 40 minutes. According to a new report in Bloomberg, the reason behind the slow down is understaffing. The locations are reportedly so understaffed because an algorithm Starbucks uses to determine how many workers should be at each location and when. The algorithm takes into account factors like order forecasts and product availability to staff the location. Employees have also claimed that a new company policy making baristas work at least 12 hours per week has cut down on how many employees are available at certain locations. Starbucks has denied allegations about its locations being understaffed. The company's chief reinvention officer, Frank Britt, told Bloomberg News that the chain improved its algorithm in the last year and a half so there was enough capacity to meet demand." Despite this staffing algorithm, wait times at many stores are rivaling that of a hot new ride at Disney, and customers are becoming increasingly fed up about it. Reddit is littered with posts from frustrated users questioning if 30-minute waits have become the new normal at the cafe. In one thread, a Starbucks customer recalled waiting over 30 minutes for an iced coffee when there were just three people in front of them in line. "At the worst my old store would sometimes be at 45 mins...I'm sure it's even worse now with how much they've cut labor to increase corporate profits," said one Redditor in response to their query. @Starbucks epic meltdown at your store 50480-274944. 40+ minute wait for 2 drinks. Sounds like a failure to plan for Mothers Day BOGO during a 6 hour window. No help. Lines out the door. #fail Jim Oser (@jimoser37) May 12, 2024 Dont even try to get a Mothers Day coffee at @Starbucks - theyre out of almost everything and its a 1.5 hour wait for a drink. Awful. Suzi Voss (@SuziVoss) May 12, 2024 On X, people have also expressed their frustration with lengthy waits. In what might be the worst example yet, one user claimed they were faced with a two-hour wait. "Nah the way @Starbucks had a 2 hour wait for some drinks & they didnt let me just cancel my order," they wrote. Have you noticed that Starbucks are longer now? Just how long are you willing to wait for a drink at Starbucks? You Might Also Like Britain's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? Faiza Shaheen could have proved a thorn in Keir Starmer's side if she had not been blocked from standing for Labour in Chingford and Woodford Green - Gareth Fuller/PA When Keir Starmer first became Labour Party leader, he and his team were fascinated by the emergence of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her squad of Left-wingers in US Congress. How did this group of four newly-elected Democrats, all women under-50 with no power or experience, acquire such potency and profile? Why did their agenda seem to attract so much attention that they were able to go up against (and defeat) their own party leadership? And who might present a similar threat to Labour? Having been in a television studio with Faiza Shaheen, I can see her potential. Shes young, articulate and fizzes with AOC-style energy (and politics). She is endorsed by celebrities and sought by television interviewers in spite of not even being an MP. She certainly would have been elected this time had she not been purged, at the last minute, by Labour HQ. Her offence? In theory, liking the wrong tweets. In practice, it was possession of two banned substances: charisma and socialist politics. If Starmer does end up with 400-odd MPs, as polls suggest, his real opposition will not come from whatever remains of the Tories. His challengers will likely emerge within Labour, probably from a Left flank which has already taken him to task over Israel. They may do so again on net zero, or any military action that involves working with Donald Trump. So Starmers team are asking: who might form the British version of AOCs squad? And how can they be dealt with now? Its wrong to think that Diane Abbott is merely being punished for a past offence: she is a potential future threat. She is an icon of the Left, one of the very few MPs whose portrait already hangs in the Commons. She has the clout, following and disposition to stoke a rebellion perhaps why the whip was withdrawn after a clumsily-worded letter to a newspaper. There were hopes for an unofficial deal: if she had the whip restored, shed exit gracefully and agree not to run for Parliament again. It seems Abbott the first black woman elected to Parliament did not want to play ball with Starmers boys. She now says she wants to stand, but her route back to power will be blocked. As was that of Lloyd Russell-Moyle. His candidacy was vaporised on account of an eight-year-old complaint against him. Chris Ward, a former chief of staff to Starmer, has been sent in his place. In theory, its all the work of an independent panel. In practice, the entire Labour Party can see whats happening. Its more Terminator than Godfather: acting before anyone has the chance to become a threat. Its been going on for years. Starmer has been winning pretty much every candidate selection battle. Having risen to the top of the UK legal bureaucracy, he is a master in how to exert power by tweaking the rules and thwarting enemies by procedure rather than open argument. So his targets suddenly find legalistic trapdoors opening underneath them, or discover that their usual routes have become blocked. And the result? In the space of just four years, Starmer has taken his party from smouldering post-Corbynite wreck to a seemingly unstoppable election force. The remaining Corbynites, like John McDonnell, Richard Burgon and Zarah Sultana, have been successfully terrified. They dare not make any serious fuss about Corbyns expulsion and have even been well-behaved on Israel knowing that Starmers team would happily purge them given the chance. This isnt just about liquidating ringleaders. Its about purging anyone with the potential to become one and on the slightest pretext. David Camerons famous A-list prioritised women and ethnic minority candidates and didnt much care about their politics. By accident, he ended up with a generation of Brexit-backing Thatcherites like Suella Bravermen and Kemi Badenoch. Starmer is prioritising politics and choosing solid types unlikely to rebel over anything. My colleague Katy Balls has called them the Starmtroopers. These have been treated over the past few months with regular awaydays and near-weekly Zoom tuition sessions on how to be a good MP. Some of the more experienced figures have been surprised by how pliable the new recruits all seem to be. After Ed Miliband and Rachel Reeves appeared on a call to explain their humiliating decision to drop the 28 billion-a-year green pledge, the questions-and-answer session was filled with flattery for how well they handled the debacle. There are a few more on his little list who may be struck off by Tuesday when Labours National Executive Committee meets to make a final decision on candidates. There had been talk of dropping suspected sex pests, but they are generally centrists not regarded as troublemakers. Separately, poor Liam Byrne, who wrote the now-infamous there is no money note when he was chief secretary to the Treasury, has long been on the endangered list. But theres always time to purge people after the election if Starmers majority is big enough. Only Angela Rayner is unsackable, insofar as the deputy Labour leader is directly elected by members. Perhaps this is why she can afford to blow some strategic kisses to Abbott. Starmer can afford to let her. He has the biggest opinion poll lead ever seen by an Opposition leader at the start of an election campaign, save for that secured by Tony Blair. Given that Starmer may never be more powerful as party leader than he is now, its striking to see what hes not doing. He could claim a democratic mandate for any serious agenda: tough-love welfare reform, for example, would be needed to reduce poverty. Deep NHS reform will be needed to stop its collapse. By pledging either now, Starmer would later be able to silence any parliamentary opposition. Under the so-called Salisbury Convention, manifesto pledges are never rejected by the Lords. Perhaps he thinks his majority will be so big and his backbenchers so pliant that his only problem in Parliament will be controlling the volume of applause. Tony Blair certainly tolerated a much broader church than Starmer is building now: some of the former Trots in his ranks the likes of John Reid and Alan Milburn went on to be his most trusted, reform-minded lieutenants. And thats the bigger risk: that a quest for the perfect Starmtroopers drains the flair, characters and thinkers any prime minister would need. A party without diversity of thought or internal debate will be a very dull party indeed. 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. State Rep. Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville, moves to final passage her bill that would ban abortion procedures at six weeks among other strict limitations, on May 6, 2021. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune State Rep. Shelby Slawson announced Thursday she is running for Texas House speaker, becoming the second member to challenge the chambers current leader, Dade Phelan, for control of the gavel. Slawson, R-Stephenville, launched her candidacy in a letter to fellow House Republicans, telling them she began last years session as a supporter of Phelan, only to grow disillusioned by what she described as his "tight-fisted, top-down leadership." She slammed Phelan's inner circle as an "arrogant leadership cadre" and said they had run the House in a way that continually overshadows our wins and puts us at odds with our grassroots supporters, other electeds, and our own members. Our reform-minded members outnumber the status-quo supporters, and our ranks have grown with new energy this election cycle, Slawson wrote. We are collectively up to the task of decentralizing the power structure in the House and wholly changing the culture that throttles us instead of empowers us. The announcement came two days after Phelan, R-Beaumont, narrowly survived a runoff challenge from the GOPs hard right, led by his top two political rivals, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton. Phelan told supporters Tuesday evening he intended to seek another term as speaker when the House reconvenes next January. Some of Phelans GOP allies remained defiant in support of the speaker following his runoff win. His political foes noted that this years record wave of House GOP incumbent defeats 15 in all had cost Phelan a chunk of his support within the chamber. Slawson, a 47-year-old attorney, is in her second term serving in the lower chamber. She joins state Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, who was the first to announce a challenge to Phelan. Oliverson, also a former Phelan ally, responded positively to Slawsons announcement. I welcome another reformer into the race for Speaker of the Texas House and applaud [Slawson] for her honest appraisal of the status quo, and optimism for the future, Oliverson posted on social media. The movement is growing! Slawson ranks among the Houses most conservative members. She is perhaps best known as the lead sponsor of Texas 2021 law, known colloquially as the heartbeat bill, that banned most abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, before many patients know they are pregnant. It also opened the door for almost any private citizen to sue abortion providers. The bill, enacted before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, banned the procedure once an ultrasound could detect what lawmakers defined as a fetal heartbeat a term medical and legal experts say is misleading because embryos dont possess a heart at that developmental stage. Slawson was one of 23 House Republicans who voted against Paxton's impeachment distinguishing her from Oliverson, who missed the vote, and Phelan, who backed the effort. The move has caused Phelan more heartburn than any other over the last year, making him a top target of Paxton and his allies, including former President Donald Trump. Slawson also is a proponent of private school vouchers, having voted against an amendment last fall that stripped a voucher program from a broader education funding bill. She is one of 20 House Republicans who last year voted against impeachment and for school vouchers; of the 17 who sought reelection, all won their primaries. In her letter to House GOP colleagues, Slawson contended that Phelan had put House Republicans in the position of facing our voters and defending various indefensible leadership mistakes, singling out the debacle of impeachment as the main example. She argued that impeachment had overshadowed all our many wins on conservative policy in the eyes of the GOP grassroots, and slammed Phelan for downplaying the issue. Insistence by the Speaker and his closest supporters that impeachment was a non-issue in elections, and/or is in the past and should be ignored, is self-serving and dangerous posturing that promises continued electoral warfare for its adherents, Slawson wrote. A spokesperson for Phelan did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Slawson also committed in her letter to a slate of reforms pushed by Phelans critics, vowing to seek the needed 76 votes to secure the gavel only through Republican support. She also voiced support for ending the practice of appointing Democrats to chair some House committees and establishing an effective workflow to secure our Republican priorities early in Session. Oliverson has promoted the same set of changes. Phelan, now in his second term as speaker, was easily reelected as House leader in January 2023, with all Democrats and almost all Republicans in support. Conservative rumblings of dissatisfaction had amounted to a paltry six votes for Phelans conservative challenger in a prior closed-door vote. But Phelans support for impeachment stirred months of sustained backlash from Paxton and the conservative grassroots, causing Phelans popularity to plummet among the GOPs most conservative wing, which includes most party activists and wields an outsize influence in Texas low-turnout primaries. Attacked by his enemies as a RINO, Phelan is also widely considered more conservative than his predecessors. He has secured passage of laws allowing the permitless carry of handguns, restricting transgender rights and testing the boundaries of Texas role in immigration law enforcement. The Texas Tribune answering reader questions about 2024 elections. To share your question or feedback with us, you can fill out this form. Weve added new speakers to the stellar lineup of leaders, lawmakers and newsmakers hitting the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Get an up-close look at todays biggest issues at Texas breakout politics and policy event! If public safety is a test, the capital city and county pass with flying colors based on evaluations from area leaders on the front lines of the battle for criminal justice. Police Chief Lawrence Revell, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil, Public Defender Jessica Yeary and State Attorney Jack Campbell were asked to grade public safety in the community during Capital Tiger Bay Club's latest session. Everyone dished out A's, except for Yeary who decided to award the city with a B. The four leaders were asked about drugs, high-tech policing and community trust Wednesday afternoon. Here are three takeaways from the panel's lunchtime discussion. Four stakeholders in Tallahassee and Leon County's criminal justice scene talk about the area's current state of public safety, May 29, 2024. Marijuana, fentanyl are the most dangerous drugs on our streets When determining what drug is the most dangerous in the community, Revell says there are two answers based on the way you define the word dangerous. Marijuana has long been a major driver of violent crime in the community, therefore increasing peril on the streets. But fentanyl's lethality is far more alarming and will soon be a very real issue in Tallahassee, Revell said. "We haven't seen the the widespread devastation in fentanyl calls that other communities have so far, but it's coming," he said. "We're doing everything we can to prepare for that now and address what we can on the front end." Yeary disagreed that the drugs were the main problem, countering that trauma is the largest problem plaguing the legal system. "If we don't start acknowledging the generational cycles and how people come to this situation, we're going to be right back here talking about the same issue," she said. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell and Public Defender Jessica Yeary sit on a panel discussing public safety in Leon County and Tallahassee, May 29, 2024. However, McNeil agreed with Revell that marijuana is largely behind the crimes his deputies handle every day and said his "greatest fear in terms of drugs is fentanyl." Campbell added that because of Florida State University and Florida A&M University, Tallahassee has a large young population that wants to experiment, and they are at risk. They become easy targets for armed robberies, in the case of marijuana transactions, and for drugs that could be laced with fentanyl, he said. "(The medical examiner) will tell you that we're probably having three to four overdose deaths a month right now in fentanyl," Campbell said. Real-Time Crime Center has changed the way the capital city, county does law enforcement Tallahassee's Capital Region Real-Time Crime Center opened in February 2023, and almost a year and a half later, law enforcement still sings its praises. The capital region's "nerve center" is equipped with more than 1,000 cameras, an active calls-to-service map and continuous data collection from FSU researchers and students. "I can't express to you how important it is to us fighting crime here in Tallahassee and Leon County to put those cameras in places where we can see criminals actually engaged in crime," McNeil said. "It's a game changer for us." There are numerous examples of homicides that were able to be solved in four to six hours because of the access to technology like video cameras and license plate readers, Revell said. And because of this, the center is looking to get more cameras from businesses and homeowners connected to the center to help law enforcement solve even more crime. Earlier this month the Democrat reported that TPD is launching a program called Connect Tallahassee, which will allow businesses and citizens to voluntarily share access to surveillance cameras and their recordings with TPD to aid in investigations. Law enforcement noticing more trust from the community While there still may be a hesitancy in the community to come forward with information that could help solve crimes, law enforcement leaders Revell and McNeil both said there seems to be an increase in trust over the years. Revell said the relationship between the Tallahassee Police Department and the community has gotten "much, much better" in the last four or five years, and McNeil said the Leon County Sheriff's Office has worked very hard to build what he considers a strong relationship with the people of Leon County. Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil and State Attorney Jack Campbell sit on a panel discussing public safety in Leon County and Tallahassee, May 29, 2024. But Yeary and Campbell said issues remain. Yeary said clients the public defender's office represents are often former victims of crimes themselves, making them reluctant to offer up information because "there's no understanding of what they've been through." "Then when they come back to the system, they're not given any benefit or there's no acknowledgment of their own trauma, their own victimization," Yeary said. "I think this plays a huge role." Campbell said he has also noticed that people are a lot more reticent to talk about what's happening in the community. He said he spends a lot of time convincing people, students in particular, to talk about what happened when investigating crimes. Nowadays, people will stand around videoing a crime instead of actually intervening, he added. "I hate it, the fact that I'm solving more crimes by electronic eyes than people," Campbell said. "We are working hard trying to get into the communities to work on those relationships." Breaking & trending news reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Key takeaways from Tallahassee Tiger Bay public safety forum An infant in Fayetteville, Ga., receives one of several routine vaccinations typically required for children entering K-12 schools. On the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic and with growing skepticism around vaccinations and government requirements, some state lawmakers want to end state vaccine mandates for children. (Angie Wang/The Associated Press) This story was originally published in Stateline on May 15. Louisiana Republican state Rep. Kathy Edmonston believes no one ought to be required to vaccinate their children. So, she wants schools to proactively tell parents that its their right under Louisiana law to seek an exemption. Its not the vaccine itself, it is the mandate, Edmonston told Stateline. The law is the law. And it already says you can opt out if you dont want it. If you do want it, you can go anywhere and get it. Although Louisiana scores among the bottom states in most health indicators, nearly 90% of kindergarten children statewide have complete vaccination records, according to data from the Louisiana Department of Health from last school year. Thats even as Louisiana maintains some of the broadest exemptions for personal, religious and moral reasons. The state only requires a written notice from parents to schools. Edmonston has sponsored legislation that would require schools to provide parents with information about the exemptions. The bill is intended to ensure parents arent denied medically necessary information, she said. Vaccines protect not only the patient, but also those around them. Science has shown that a population can reach community immunity, also known as herd immunity, once a certain percentage of the group is vaccinated. That herd immunity can protect people who cant get vaccinated, such as those with weakened immune systems or serious allergies, by reducing their chances of infection. In the past few years, however, COVID-19 vaccines have terrified some people who oppose requirements to get the shot, even though research shows the vaccines are far safer than getting the disease. Some lawmakers across the country are working to sidestep vaccine mandates, not just for COVID-19, but also for measles, polio and meningitis. Public health experts worry the renewed opposition to childhood immunizations will reverse state gains in vaccination rates. Meanwhile, cases of some diseases, including measles, have increased across the country. Were against the government telling us what to do with our own bodies. Louisiana Republican state Rep. Kathy Edmonston Edmonstons bill is one of dozens this session that aim to relax vaccine requirements, according to a database maintained by the National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonpartisan research organization that serves lawmakers and their staffs. Most of the bills have either died in committee or failed to advance, but a few have become law. Idaho enacted a law, effective in July, that allows students of majority age 18 in Idaho to submit their own immunization waivers to schools and universities, both public and private. And Tennessee passed a law, which took effect in April, that prohibits the state from requiring immunizations as a condition of either adoption or foster care if the family taking in a child has a religious or moral objection to vaccines. Conservatives have really moved towards that medical freedom position of where people need to be really educated about whatever vaccine that they are taking, said Tennessee state Sen. Bo Watson, who sponsored his states legislation. I think the public health community has really lost credibility during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Watson, a Republican. And theyre going to have to work really hard to restore some of that credibility. Other bills that would have allowed some exemptions passed legislatures but were stopped short by governors. In West Virginia, Republican Gov. Jim Justice vetoed legislation that would have allowed full-time virtual public school students, along with private and parochial schools, to avoid mandatory vaccine requirements. Justice said in his veto message that he heard constant, strong opposition to this legislation from our States medical community. Similarly, Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers vetoed legislation that would have required public colleges and universities to allow immunization waivers for health, religious or personal reasons. Edmonston said shes tried before with her legislation in Louisiana; it either died or got vetoed by former Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards. But now, with Republican Gov. Jeff Landry in charge, Edmonston is confident the bill will get signed into law. Its already passed the House and is being debated in the Senate. Both she and Watson said the push to relax requirements or create broader exemptions for immunizations is not tied to vaccines themselves. The debate tends to be centered around what many conservatives call an overreach of government. Were against the government telling us what to do with our own bodies, Edmonston said. After COVID, vaccine requirements resistance grew momentum The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends numerous vaccinations for infants as a standard regimen. And shots protecting against measles, mumps and rubella, chickenpox and hepatitis B, among others, are typically required to attend K-12 schools. States set their own requirements and exemptions, however, and there are variations. Pushback against vaccine mandates goes back more than a century to the early 1900s, shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court in 1905 ruled that states could require parents to vaccinate their children, according to Simon Haeder, an associate professor of public health at Texas A&M University, who has been tracking vaccine hesitancy for several years. Although the opposition tends to exist mostly along partisan lines, with Republicans more likely to support vaccine exemptions, Haeder noted that far-left groups which may tend to be skeptical of medicines in general also support the loosening of vaccination requirements. The scientific skepticism and opposition to state interference and the partisan nature of this issue has really escalated, starting during the COVID years, Haeder told Stateline. Its very hard for states right now wanting to increase vaccination requirements, he said. Among kindergartners, national coverage dropped from about 95% for all vaccines in the 2019-2020 school year to about 93% for all vaccines in both the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years, according to the CDC. Nonmedical exemptions account for more than 90% of all approved vaccination exemptions and are allowed in all but five states. Exemptions increased from 2.2% among kindergartners in the 2019-2020 school year to 3% in 2022-2023, and 10 states reported that more than 5% of kindergartners had an exemption from at least one vaccine. Jennifer Herricks, a microbiologist and founder of Louisiana Families for Vaccines, an advocacy organization in support of vaccines, has been tracking efforts to relax vaccine mandates since 2015. I became a mom. And then it became even more personal for me, especially having those little infants who are too young to get a lot of the vaccines, Herricks said. And then you realize that they are vulnerable to these diseases and that they are depending on the people around them to be vaccinated so that they dont get sick. But Jill Hines, co-director of Health Freedom Louisiana, a group that opposes vaccine mandates, said some parents just want the chance to opt out. Believe it or not, my children are fully vaccinated. We were never informed of the states exemption law, Hines told Stateline. She added that some in her group feel that vaccine reporting requirements are an invasion of privacy. We should not be denied access to society, access to a job, access to an education, simply because weve refused medical intervention, she said. Amid vaccine pushback, health professionals worry Mississippi, which sits near the bottom of state rankings on most health indicators such as obesity and heart disease, hasnt had a measles case since 1992. We have pushed back all the potentially fatal childhood infections from being commonplace in Mississippi to being extremely rare, Dr. Daniel Edney, the state health officer, said in an interview. Immunizations against childhood diseases have been required by state law since 1979 for entry into K-12 schools and day care centers. The mandate has helped Mississippi lead the nation with some of the highest rates of childhood vaccinations, including a vaccination rate of nearly 99% among kindergarteners. But last year, a federal judge ordered Mississippi to begin accepting religious exemptions after an interest group, Texas-based Informed Consent Action Network, sued the state in federal court. Since then, thousands of exemption requests have poured in. Mississippi is approaching the approval of more than 2,800 religious exemptions, Edney said. He expects other states also will see more exemptions as lawmakers elsewhere find success with legislation to relax vaccine mandates or increase requirements on opt-out information. If youre going to be against good, sound childhood vaccine policy the vaccinations that have been proven safe and effective for decades you need to be against clean water and against proper sewage and food protection, Edney said. Dr. John Gaudet, a Mississippi pediatrician for about three decades, said he worried the COVID-19 vaccine controversy would spill into the nations ongoing childhood vaccine debate. I think there was a point where you would go to the doctor, and you would just kind of take it almost as, Well, this is what the doctor recommended, he said. And so theres now more of a consumer mentality: Well, the doctor may say this, but maybe that doctor is not trustworthy. Across the country, meanwhile, measles has surged, with at least 132 measles cases reported so far this year, according to the CDC. Two-thirds of those cases are among people under the age of 19, and over half of them have resulted in hospitalizations. The cases have spread to 20 states. But not, so far, to Mississippi. 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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The post As states loosen childhood vaccine requirements, health experts worries grow appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun. SYDNEY, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "NAM DINH VIETNAM INVESTMENT PROMOTION & TRADE CONFERENCE 2024" took place at the Metro Maslow Sydney Central Hotel, Australia, on May 29th, 2024. The event aimed to introduce the potential, and investment opportunities in Nam Dinh province (Vietnam) to Australian investors, especially in the context that both nations have recently upgraded relations. On the sidelines of the event, Cat Tuong Group (CTGG), a leading real estate and industrial park developer in Vietnam, and WoolProducers Australia (WPA), the premier organization representing Australian wool growers, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This agreement is based on productive discussions in April 2024 and marks a significant milestone in fostering bilateral cooperation. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Vietnamese Consulate General in Australia, the Commercial Counselor of Vietnam, and a delegation from the Nam Dinh Provincial (Vietnam) Party Committee, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia with key representatives from both CTGG and WPA in attendance. This event also marked the elevation of CTGG and WPA's relationship to a Strategic Partnership, reflecting strong and sustainable development. This relationship has been strengthened by WPA's visit to Nam Dinh province in September 2023 and their participation in the SaigonTex & SaigonFabric 2024 exhibition in Vietnam. Key representatives from Cat Tuong Group and Wool Producers Australia Sign MOU to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation This partnership aligns with CTGG's strategic vision of sustainable industrial development and WPA's objective to diversify its wool processing chain. The collaboration is expected to significantly enhance the wool processing industry in Vietnam, integrating it into the global supply chain and boosting the domestic textile and garment sector's global standing. Following the MOU signing, CTGG and WPA will initiate projects and activities to facilitate the entry of Australian wool into the Vietnamese market. These efforts will focus on developing infrastructure, enhancing industrial park capabilities, and promoting sustainable practices in wool processing. "As the Developer of Rang Dong Textile Industrial Park (Aurora IP), we are thrilled to formalize our partnership with Wool Producers Australia through this MOU," said Mr. Tran Quoc Viet, Founder Chairman of the Board of Director of Cat Tuong Group. " "With the experience of Cat Tuong Group and the preferential policies and support of Nam Dinh province, Aurora IP can meet the expectations of global investors, especially in capturing the shift in the Australian wool value chain." Story continues Aurora IP is one of the names that stand out in in the planned Ninh Co Economic Zone of Nam Dinh Province, strategically with waterway connection system with many ports, and connecting roads to Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh. Aurora IP follows a green, clean, and sustainable industrial park model, specializing in the textile and garment industry. It can meet the standards for wool producers to set up early-stage processing facilities due to its ability to host textile facilities and wastewater treatment. Aurora IP can supply up to 170,000 m of freshwater and treat up to 110,000 m of wastewater per day. The industrial park focuses on attracting FDI investors from the textile and garment industry and has successfully closed deals with major enterprises from Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan, achieving nearly 40% occupancy in a short period of time. After the success of the "NAM DINH VIETNAM INVESTMENT PROMOTION & TRADE CONFERENCE 2024" and the signing of the MOU, senior leaders of both sides expressed their determination to work towards a common goal. They plan to spread information about the investment environment at Aurora IP and host more events to promote development cooperation between the two sides. Soon, many Australian businesses will explore and decide to invest in Aurora IP, further strengthening the bilateral cooperation between CTGG and WPA in particular, and between Vietnam and Australia in general. The event also demonstrated Aurora IP's commitment to building an extensive and comprehensive industrial ecosystem, contributing to the common prosperity of the locality and the nation. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cat-tuong-group-and-wool-producers-australia-sign-mou-to-strengthen-bilateral-cooperation-302159364.html SOURCE Cat Tuong Group WARNING: This article contains content about domestic violence. If you or someone you know is being abused, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. SAN DEIGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A man was handed a lengthy prison sentence in a San Diego court Wednesday for a brutal attack against a woman who was once his girlfriend. According to district attorney Summer Stephans office, Arturo Ulloa, 43, was sentenced to 50 years-to-life in prison for strangling the woman and then stabbing her repeatedly. Back in January, Ulloa was found guilty of premeditated attempted murder, aggravated mayhem, attempted carjacking, and child endangerment, court records show. Heres what happens if the jury doesnt agree in the Trump trial The district attorneys office explained that the violent incident took place one morning around 5:30 a.m. when the woman woke up to Ulloa strangling her. He reportedly stopped and then started strangling her again for about two minutes. When the woman tried to get away, Ulloa began stabbing her with steak knives. According to court records, the woman had over 20 stab wounds from the attack. To make matters worse, the victims children, ages 4 and 7, witnessed the violence. The children reportedly ran to a neighbors house for help while Ulloa fled. He was later located and arrested. Strangulation is common in domestic violence incidents and law enforcement in San Diego County has a coordinated community response on how to handle such cases. Studies have shown that episodes of non-fatal strangulation have a greater likelihood of leading to homicide, stated the district attorneys office in regards to the case. The North County Family Justice Center provides free support services to anyone who has experienced child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, hate crime, elder abuse, human trafficking, violent loss, family violence, or other abuse or victimization. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. While the author has decided to step away from teaching, she urges readers to support their public schools. (Getty Images) As classrooms close for the summer and families and teachers reflect on the experiences and the ways that their students have grown since August, I am preparing my classroom for a new, incoming teacher. After 11 years of service to the profession, I am stepping away from my beloved role as a public school teacher. In those 11 years, Ive personally participated in and witnessed countless examples of educators and families collaborating for the success of their students. Ive seen advocacy on behalf of greater educational equity. Ive seen students lives changed through daily, incremental rhythms of continuity of care and the deliberate, skilled expertise of teaching teams focused on increasing students social, emotional and academic gains. I, too, have watched the many ways that systemic structures shortcut the potential of teachers, and as such, their students. Striving for the utmost support of our teachers is paramount for a world in which each one of our students and local communities is better empowered to thrive. Be leery of anything or anyone sugarcoating the privatization or commodification of education. Lets recognize the role of Kansas public school teachers within our communities as cornerstones of our collective success. Our public school teachers are doing incredible work with what they are given. However, it is also true that teachers are systemically and rhetorically under-resourced. The beauty of a public school is that the public, when informed by experts in the field, has the potential to be a part of exponentially powerful redesigns. We all benefit from public policy that supports public school teachers. The beauty of a public school is that the public, when informed by experts in the field, has the potential to be a part of exponentially powerful redesigns. We all benefit from public policy that supports public school teachers. Whitney Morgan Kansas is at a critical juncture, one in which we are poised to blaze the trail forward. It is time we lead the way with a teacher supportive agenda. The following proposals would strengthen both educators and our state. Demand higher salaries for public school teachers. Equitably staff our public schools, including specialized support staff in the buildings. Finance individualized teacher professional development and continuing education with opportunities for rotating sabbaticals. Provide robust benefits, including paid parental leave and child care options. Adjust all teachers retirement packages to KPERS 2. Reduce teacher-to-student ratios. Create opportunities for flexible instructional hours and schedules. Reserve an elected position in our legislative government (specifically in education committees) and local school boards for active teachers. In the near future, I wont serve in the classroom daily, but I will be sending my child to a public school. I will continuously raise my voice for the teachers and for the policies that elevate teacher voices, wellbeing and expertise. When teachers succeed, their students do, too. When teachers are supported, their students are. May the heartland of our nation set the bar for unparalleled support of our public school teachers, our local public schools and our children. We know the way. Its time to link arms, drown out the noise of distracting ploys from out-of-state demagogues, and remind the rest of the world just what Kansas is: a state that invests in its people. For our people are our greatest asset, and the public school teacher teaches all. Whitney Morgan is the 2019 Kansas Teacher of the Year and taught ELA and ESOL at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. The post As I step away from the classroom, please support Kansas public school teachers appeared first on Kansas Reflector. Steven Seagal was happy to push Vladimir Putins agenda as he received an award from the Russian president on Thursday. In a ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, the American action movie actor was bestowed with Russias Order of Friendship honor for his great contribution to the development of international cultural and humanitarian cooperation. In video of Seagal accepting the award circulating on X, formerly Twitter, the Under Siege star listed an array of incendiary claims about Ukraine, where Russia has been trying to annex regions for years. Reading a statement straight from his phone, the martial artist said that before Russias early 2022 incursion, Ukraine was known for human trafficking, organ trafficking, narco trafficking, child sex trafficking, biochemical warfare labs, fascism and nazism. After Putin personally pins on his Russian Order of Friendship medal today, actor Steven Seagal reads a list of Kremlin propaganda about Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/Ov10D0bbsU Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 30, 2024 And these are the things that we still tried to make them our brothers, he went on. These are all poisons that can affect the entire world and not just us. Claiming international tensions could spark World War 3 elsewhere in his speech, Seagal also denounced America and other Western nations for their support of Ukraine. This war that we are currently embroiled in was started and financed by the West, and has come to involve the entire world in a fight against good and evil, the actor said. All religions, all nations and all people should unite instead of being controlled and fooled by the monster of fake press, he went on. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, gives the Order of Friendship to Steven Seagal during a May 30, 2024, ceremony at the Kremlin. While accepting the honor, Seagal aired some bizarre accusations against Russia's military opponent, Ukraine. Contributor via Getty Images Seagal has been chummy with Putin for some time now. In 2016, the actor was personally given a Russian passport from the president, a decision that led to him being banned from entering Ukraine for five years. Two years later, he was appointed as a special representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry in charge of Russian and American Humanitarian ties. Demonstrating his unwavering support for the Russian leader, Seagal attended the inauguration ceremony for Putins fifth consecutive term in office earlier this month in Moscow. Related... NATO allies should "consider" lifting restrictions on the use of NATO weapons by Ukraine to hit targets in Russian territory, the alliance's secretary general said on Thursday. "I believe that the time has come to consider some of these restrictions to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves," Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech in Prague, ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. Some NATO countries supply arms to Ukraine without restrictions, but others stipulate they must only be used against targets on Ukrainian territory. Stoltenberg said that as the war has moved closer to the Russian frontier, Russia has been able to attack Ukrainian forces from both sides of the border. He also highlighted shortcomings in NATO support so far. "Over the last months, we have seen serious delays in the provision of ammunition military support, and serious gaps, for instance, when it comes to air defence and ammunition," Stoltenberg said. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (R) receives NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the Informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Krumphanzl Michal/CTK/dpa Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (R) receives NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the Informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Krumphanzl Michal/CTK/dpa 'Stop this war': Message from mother, displaced 18 times, who is fleeing the fighting again Sumaya Samir Al-Tot, a mother-of-one in Rafah, Gaza, said she has been displaced 17 times. On Wednesday, she fled for the 18th. Sumaya is among one of the more than one million people, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), who have fled the southern city of Rafah in recent weeks. She left on Tuesday among streams of people heading for safety with their belongings piled high on top of cars and rickshaws, some pulled by donkeys, as families are once again fleeing the conflict. She said her mother, father and sister have all been killed in the conflict so far that began on Oct. 7, 2023. We have children, and they are afraid, there is no safety anywhere, as we are now going to Deir al-Balah, but there is no safety, there is no safety anywhere, the mother-of-one said. Israels assault on Rafah, which it says is essential to target Hamas battalions, has come under greater international scrutiny following a series of strikes on a refugee camp which killed at least 45 people on Sunday, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The strikes were described as a massacre by UNRWA, while Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they were a mistake. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a major fire that broke out was due to a secondary explosion -- possibly of a fuel or weapons container. MORE: World Central Kitchen pauses operations in Rafah, aid workers warn humanitarian response on brink of 'collapse' PHOTO: TOPSHOT-PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT (Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images) Two weapons experts who reviewed photos and video of fragments at the site told ABC News that the munitions used in the strike appear to have been made by a U.S. company. UNRWA, the U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, had effectively stopped working in Rafah, according to Salah al-Faram, who also fled Rafah with his children in tow. There is no aid, and we are not working because of the war, he said. Even when we work, we work for a day and stop for a week. The situation is bad here. I haven't slept for two days, the bombing is violent, although we are in Rafah, he said. But the bombing is intense. My little girl cries and cannot sleep, especially yesterday. This I will evacuate. In recent months ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have broken down and, at least for now, there is no end to the war in sight. Exhausted, Sumaya had a message for all the parties involved in this devastating conflict. I send a message to the whole world, to Hamas, and [Hamas leader] Sinwar to stop this war, because we are tired, she said. Children cannot sleep at night. 'Stop this war': Message from mother, displaced 18 times, who is fleeing the fighting again originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Small ripples of energy in the atmosphere will continue the chance for rain and thunderstorms over the next several days. With a lack of a cap or lid over the atmosphere, there is a slim chance a storm or two bubbles up over Central and Eastern Kansas through Wednesday evening. This will be sun-driven and wane after sundown. Next round forms from Colorado to Wyoming and tracks East into western Kansas and Southwest Nebraska later this evening. One or two of these scattered storms could produce large hail and damaging winds. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for a sliver of counties in western Kansas through 10 PM CDT Wednesday. This organizes into a complex of heavy rain and thunder, waning by the time it gets closer to I-135 deep into the overnight on its mission to the east/southeast. Thursday is a good chance of scattered rain and thunderstorms across Kansas. Some storms to the southwest could produce large hail and damaging winds. A tornado cannot be ruled out. Heavy rainfall is possible. Much of Friday will be dry with any leftovers in the morning fizzling before the kickoff of the Wichita Riverfest. It will be a warm and humid Friday evening. Another wave of storms will move into western Kansas Friday night. A storm or two could be stronger. Temperatures will build over the coming days. We will start to see a surge of 90-degree temperatures out west into early next week. The cycle of storms forming out west during the evenings and tracking to the east while decaying will continue. It will be a toasty start for the KSN Summer Road Trip with elevated humidity and highs in the 90s for much of the state. Next Tuesday, a potent cold front arrives, triggering a round of storms. Some of these storms may be severe. The humidity and heat will cutback next Wednesday before ramping up the end of next week. The pattern does not dry out with storms triggering at times. KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman: Wichita: Tonight: Partly to mostly cloudy. 40% chance of showers and storms late. Lo: 63 Wind: SE 8-18 Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy, breezy. 60% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 75 Wind: SE 10-20 Tomorrow Night: Mostly cloudy. 40% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 63 Wind: SE/NE 5-15 Wichita Weekly Fri: Hi: 76 Lo: 62 Mostly cloudy. 50% chance of showers and storms. Sat: Hi: 82 Lo 65 Partly cloudy, breezy. 30% chance of showers and storms. Sun: Hi: 86 Lo: 67 Partly cloudy, windy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Mon: Hi: 88 Lo: 67 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Tue: Hi: 91 Lo: 68 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms. Wed: Hi: 89 Lo: 67 Partly cloudy. Chief Meteorologist Lisa Teachman Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Florida A&M University could be looking at $9 million to $10 million in damage after Tallahassee was ravaged by three tornadoes on May 10, which also swept across the school's campus. FAMU President Larry Robinson shared the early estimate with the universitys Board of Trustees during a Budget, Finance and Facilities Committee meeting Wednesday. At the same time, FAMUs Chief Financial Officer/Vice President for Finance and Administration Rebecca Brown says the review is ongoing, and additional damage to buildings is being discovered every day. Its going to be a long time before the damage is properly assessed, Robinson said. FAMU President Larry Robinson. A few days ago, federal and state emergency management officials toured campus along with university staff to assess the damage and clean-up. As FAMU officials continue tracking expenses, they expect to be reimbursed for the damage costs, according to the university. Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College have not yet shared their estimated damage costs following the impact of the tornadoes on their campuses. The natural disaster damaged roofs, downed trees and utility poles, blocked roadways and knocked out power across FAMUs campus. As a result, the university kicked off its first week of summer classes remotely during the tornado recovery efforts before reopening in person May 20. More: Point of convergence: Tracking the Tallahassee tornadoes' havoc in maps, words and photos During Robinsons recovery updates to trustees Wednesday, he said there are still a number of damaged buildings on campus, including several with damaged roof. The FAMU Marching 100 Bands practice hall was flooded but is being restored in preparation for an upcoming summer band camp. Brown says her team is working diligently to make sure operations continue, but getting the campus back to its previous state before the tornadoes hit may take a while: It is going to be a few years if not longer. FAMUs Chief Financial Officer/Vice President for Finance and Administration Rebecca Brown. In addition, FAMUs Grand Ballroom, which is where the Board of Trustees usually meets for its in-person meetings, lost a lot of its roof and will be out of operation for some time. But despite all the damage, Robinson commended the universitys staff for the recovery efforts. He says a tremendous volume of debris is piled up at a collection site on the southeast end of campus near FAMUs Phase III Apartments. What you would notice today if you went on campus is that unless you knew there were some fairly large water oaks and other trees down, you wouldnt know the difference, Robinson told trustees. Our team under the leadership of Ms. Brown has done a tremendous job of removing debris. Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU damage costs after recent tornadoes could be up to $10 million Sylvia Gonzalez, a former Castle Hills, Texas, city council member, plausibly alleges that she was arrested on a trumped-up charge in retaliation for conduct protected by the First Amendment. So does Priscilla Villarreal, an independent journalist in Laredo, Texas. But in backing up that claim, Gonzalez, whose case will soon be decided by the Supreme Court, faces a problem that Villarreal does not: It is hard to say how often people engage in the conduct that police cited to justify her arrest, which involved putting a petition in her personal folder during a city council meeting. Villarreal, by contrast, was arrested for asking questions, something that journalists across the country do every day. Last January, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit nevertheless ruled, in an opinion by Judge Edith Jones that provoked four sharp dissents authored or joined by seven of her colleagues, that Villarreal's arrest was not "obviously unconstitutional." Thirteen briefs supporting Villarreal's petition for Supreme Court reviewsubmitted by an ideologically diverse mix of groups and individuals, including organizations ranging from the Manhattan Institute to the Constitutional Accountability Centerunderline the chilling implications of that astonishing conclusion. "No right is more fundamental to the practice of journalism than the one the Fifth Circuit declined to recognize: the right to ask public officials for information," a brief submitted by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 21 news organizations notes. They urge the Supreme Court to resolve the "chilling uncertainty" created by the appeals court's decision and "reaffirm the fundamental proposition that '[a] free press cannot be made to rely solely upon the sufferance of government to supply it with information.'" Villarreal, who is represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, is asking the Supreme Court to uphold that principle, which her arrest blatantly violated. Her alleged crime, the Institute for Justice notes, consisted of "peacefully asking a police officer to corroborate information for two developing storiesa routine due-diligence and newsgathering practice used by journalists across the country." The two stories, which Villarreal posted on her locally popular Facebook page, involved a public suicide and a fatal car crash. Villarreal asked a Laredo police officer to confirm information about those incidents that Villarreal had received from other sources. By doing that, police and prosecutors claimed, Villarreal committed two felonies. To justify those charges, police cited Section 39.06(c) of the Texas Penal Code, an obscure, rarely invoked law that applies to someone who "solicits or receives from a public servant" information that "has not been made public" with the "intent to obtain a benefit." The claim that Villarreal had violated that law was absurd for several reasons. First, Section 39.06(c), which deals with "misuse of official information," is part of a chapter addressing "abuse of office." Its roots go back to a 1973 law that applied to "a public servant" who "acquires or aids another to acquire a pecuniary interest in any property, transaction, or enterprise that may be affected by" information that "has not been made public" but to which "he has access in his official capacity." The statute also covered "a public servant" who "speculates or aids another to speculate on the basis of the information." Over the years, legislators broadened the definition of the offense, reclassified it as a felony, and expanded the law beyond government officials. But in light of its history and statutory context, Section 39.06(c) is clearly aimed at curtailing official corruption, not journalism. Second, the Texas Penal Code defines "benefit" as "anything reasonably regarded as economic gain or advantage." What "economic gain or advantage" did Villarreal allegedly seek to obtain by asking a cop about a suicide and an accident? According to the arrest affidavits, it was an increase in her Facebook traffic. Jones' opinion, which drips with contempt for Villarreal's "journalistic style," notes that she "boasts over one hundred thousand Facebook followers and a well-cultivated reputation, which has engendered publicity in the New York Times, free meals 'from appreciative readers,' 'fees for promoting a local business,' and 'donations for new equipment necessary to her citizen journalism efforts.'" This sweeping definition of "benefit" would apply to any journalist who attracts readers and/or earns money by publishing information that previously "has not been made public." Third, Section 39.06 defines "information that has not been made public" as "any information to which the public does not generally have access" that is also "prohibited from disclosure" under the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA). The arrest affidavits did not address the latter requirement at all. The 5th Circuit suggested the information that Villarreal obtained was covered by Section 552.108(a)(1) of the TPIA, which says government officials do not have to disclose information when doing so might compromise an ongoing investigation. While law enforcement agencies frequently invoke that vague provision, the information it covers is not "prohibited from disclosure." The TPIA explicitly gives agencies the discretion to release information even when they are not required to do so. The MuckRock Foundation, which "has helped thousands of journalists, professionals, and ordinary citizens request, share, and understand public records," notes that Laredo's reading of Section 39.06(c) would lead to "the absurd result of imposing liability not only on those who seek 'confidential' information, but on those who request information that the government may, but need not, make public." Under that interpretation, anyone who asks for information that is deemed to be covered by a TPIA exception is committing a felony. As a brief from half a dozen journalists (including me) explains, Texas agencies that don't want to disclose information frequently seek support from the state attorney general's office, which in 2015 "issued over 7,000 rulings based on 552.108(a)(1) alone." Yet the thousands of people whose TPIA requests are rejected each year have never been "arrested or prosecuted for their requests." Laredo cops investigated Villarreal for months, so they had plenty of time to consider whether their interpretation of Section 39.06(c) was reasonable. So did the prosecutors who signed off on the case. Yet they did not even bother to present a plausible argument that Villarreal's conduct met the elements of this offense, and they were unfazed by the obvious First Amendment problems with criminalizing basic journalism. The charges were ultimately dismissed by a judge who deemed Section 39.06(c) unconstitutionally vague. These cops and prosecutorswho, like Jones, were irked by Villarreal's "journalistic style"were determined to pin charges on her without regard to statutory requirements or constitutional constraints. Yet according to the 5th Circuit, they cannot be held accountable for their vindictive lawlessness because it was not "clearly established" that arresting a journalist for practicing journalism was unconstitutional. Since they supposedly had no way of knowing that, they received qualified immunity. The Supreme Court grafted qualified immunity onto 42 USC 1983, a federal law that authorizes people to sue government officials who violate their constitutional rights. The doctrine is supposedly designed to protect officials from unanticipated liability for "split-second" decisions in situations where they have little opportunity for careful reflection. That rationale, the Americans for Prosperity Foundation notes, does not apply to the sort of "intentional and slow-moving infringement of First Amendment rights" that Villarreal's case exemplifies. The protections offered by Section 1983, the brief says, "come to nothing where state actors may purposefully infringe First Amendment rights and then rely on prolix state law to trigger qualified immunity, claiming they did not know any better." In this case, that claim is risible. "Villarreal's arrest obviously violated the Constitution," the Institute for Justice notes. "No reasonable government official would think the First Amendment permits criminalizing plain speech or routine journalism." Contrary to what the 5th Circuit held, the Young America's Foundation and the Manhattan Institute say, it has been "clearly established for over 50 years" that "journalists and citizens" have a First Amendment right to "ask questions of their government officials." The Supreme Court has upheld that right in a line of decisions beginning with Branzburg v. Hayes in 1972. In that case, the Court rejected the idea that "news gathering does not qualify for First Amendment protection," without which "freedom of the press could be eviscerated." Seven years later in Smith v. Daily Mail, the Court ruled that West Virginia violated the First Amendment when it prohibited newspapers from publishing the names of juvenile offenders without judicial permission. The justices held that the First Amendment protects "routine newspaper reporting techniques" and that the government may not "punish the truthful publication" of "lawfully obtained" information. As dissenting 5th Circuit Judge James E. Graves Jr. noted, the Supreme Court "has made clear that the First Amendment protects the publication of information obtained via 'routine newspaper reporting techniques'which include asking for the name of a crime victim from government workers not clearly authorized to share such information." These longstanding precedents are not the only reason the cops who arrested Villarreal should have known better. As the brief I joined points out, police officers across the country are accustomed to fielding questions from reporters, and department policies frequently encourage them to "work in cooperation with the media," as a general order to Washington, D.C., officers puts it. "Based on the TPIA, police department regulations, officer training on responding to press inquiries, and personal experience dealing with reporters," the brief says, "a reasonable officer would know that journalists are permitted to ask police officers the names of accident and suicide victims. A reasonable officer would know that reporters ask for such information every day." You might think that Villarreal's arrest, which relied on a quirky reading of a little-used law, poses little realistic threat to journalists in Texas or elsewhere. But the briefs supporting Villarreal emphasize that police can always find an excuse to arrest journalists who annoy them. The brief I joined describes a couple of examples: the 2023 arrest of NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert for "trespassing" by covering a governor's press conference in Ohio and the 2020 arrest of radio reporter Josie Huang for "obstructing a peace officer" by using her phone to record an encounter between protesters and Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies. "Retaliatory arrests have become an increasingly common occurrence," the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) notes. "This trend is a byproduct of the ever-growing size of modern criminal codes." Thanks to those proliferating prohibitions, Justice Neil Gorsuch has observed, "almost anyone can be arrested for something." A cop "who may be inclined to punish a disfavored speakersuch as a journalist, as herecan therefore readily find a minor offense they committed and use that to justify an arrest," LEAP says. If police are emboldened to harass journalists this way, it warns, retaliatory arrests will become even more common. That threat is especially acute for reporters who do not have the backing of a professional news outlet. Independent journalists Avi Adelman and Steven Monacelli, who "have been arrested or detained by police officers while reporting on law enforcement's public performance of their duties," note that increasingly strict police control of information may force a reporter to rely on the sort of "backchannel source" that Jones condemned Villarreal for using. "If using alternative sources exposes journalists to the risk of official retribution," Adelman and Monacelli warn, "journalists will become little more than conduits for government public relations copy." Jones dismissed the idea that Villarreal is "a martyr for the sake of journalism." She seems to think independent reporters like Villarreal don't qualify as "real" journalists because they don't follow the rules that "mainstream, legitimate media outlets" do. In addition to criticizing Villarreal's use of a "backchannel source," a standard journalistic practice, Jones faulted her for "capitaliz[ing] on others' tragedies to propel her reputation and career," which is an apt, if cynical, description of what professional reporters routinely do. These criticisms make you wonder if Jones has ever watched the local news or noticed that "mainstream, legitimate media outlets" often carry stories that cite anonymous government sources. Contrary to Jones' take, the critics who are urging the Supreme Court to overrule the decision she wrote include "mainstream, legitimate media outlets" such as ABC, NBC, The Atlantic, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. It is possible they know a little bit more about how journalism works than Jones does. The post These Strange Bedfellows Want SCOTUS To Remind the 5th Circuit That Journalism Is Not a Crime appeared first on Reason.com. The News Nigerias president signed into law a bill to change the national anthem, sparking criticism from Nigerians. The new anthem returns to a version used from independence in October 1960 until 1978, a year before the first era of military rule ended. The lyrics and music of the former anthem, titled Nigeria We Hail Thee, were composed by two British women, Lilian Jean Williams and Frances Berda. Arise, O Compatriots, on the other hand, was created by five members of the Nigerian police band and has since been sung and played across the world for nearly 50 years. Know More The bill for the new anthem passed through parliament within a week. Ruling party supporters of the change say the old anthem helped shape national identity and unity, provoking feelings of nostalgia and fond memories of the countrys early years. The speedy amendment has rankled many Nigerians. Made official on the day of the presidents first anniversary, proclaiming a new-old anthem smacks of a hasty attempt at contriving a feel-good anchor to distract from a difficult year for residents. If only there have been similarly rapid solutions to the spiraling prices of food and medicine, and for achieving stability for a still depreciating currency. Supply of shells to Ukraine to increase sharply in June The Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive 50,000-100,000 large-calibre artillery shells a month under the Czech initiative. Source: Czechias Foreign Ministry officials, as reported by European Pravda Details: Czechias Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky confirmed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive the first batch of shells under the Czech initiative as early as June. "The first shipments will arrive in Ukraine very soon, we expect them in June," Lipavsky said. Tomas Kopecny, Czechias Governmental Commissioner for the Reconstruction of Ukraine responsible for the Czech initiative to supply shells to Ukraine, spoke about the same timeline. Kopecny also said he expects that the supply of shells to Ukraine will increase. "The first major increase in supplies will take place in June; tens of thousands [of shells will be supplied], between 50,000 and 100,000 shells a month," he said. The shells in question are large-calibre artillery shells. Background: In February, Czech President Petr Pavel said that Czechia had found a way to acquire 800,000 (122mm and 155mm) shells for Ukraine outside the European Union and NATO structures. On 28 May, Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that Ukraine will receive 500,000 shells by the end of 2024 under the Czech initiative. Meanwhile, Tomas Kopecny, Czechias Governmental Commissioner for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, said that the final number of shells that will be supplied under the initiative might change, rising up to 1.5 million shells or more. The debate about whether Ukraine should be allowed to use Western-supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia is ongoing, with more countries increasingly favouring lifting the ban that prevents Ukraine from doing so. Support UP or become our patron! BEIJING (AP) Chinas Commerce Ministry said Thursday it will restrict exports of some aviation and aerospace-related equipment and technology beginning July 1. A notice seen Thursday on the ministrys website said the move was to safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation. Exports of items designated under the new rules will require export licenses. The announcement was jointly released with China's General Administration of Customs and the Central Military Commission's equipment development department. It said the export controls would apply to aircraft and aerospace engines and structural parts, engine manufacturing related equipment, software and technology. They also will include tools, molds, fixtures and other processing equipment used to make certain materials such as superplastic bonded with titanium, aluminum and their alloys. Beijing and Washington have both moved to limit exports of products, technology and equipment considered vital to national security. China has also imposed sanctions against some U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturers to retaliate against sales of weapons to Taiwan, a self-governed island it claims as its territory. The U.S. has export controls in force on exports of aero gas turbine engines, some aircraft and instruments, navigation equipment and systems. The Commerce Ministry notice said the controls also would apply to technologies used in the development, making and use of the equipment, including design drawings, process specifications, process parameters, processing procedures, simulation data, and the like. The overall impact of the move is unclear. China exports engine parts and other aircraft and space components. It also has developed its own jet engines. But it still relies on foreign suppliers for key parts of aircraft it has begun to produce using its own technology and manufacturers. With Supreme Court decision on bribery imminent, judge puts off rulings in case against former executive connected to Madigan A federal judge on Thursday put off ruling on key evidentiary issues in the upcoming trial of a former AT&T Illinois president accused of bribing then-House Speaker Michael Madigan, saying it made more sense to wait to see how the U.S. Supreme Court comes down in a case that could fundamentally alter a federal bribery statute. Paul La Schiazza, 66, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in October 2022 with conspiracy, federal program bribery, and using a facility in interstate commerce to promote unlawful activity. His trial is set to begin in September. Earlier this month, prosecutors filed what is known as a Santiago proffer, detailing the statements of co-conspirators and other evidence they intend to use to prove that there was a scheme by La Schiazza and AT&T to secretly funnel money to a Madigan-connected ex-legislator to gain a competitive edge as the utility was seeking to pass a bill ending mandated landline service as well as another piece of legislation known as the small cell bill. Lawyers for La Schiazza, meanwhile, have argued that the governments proffer is devoid of any evidence showing La Schiazza or any other AT&T employee knew that seeking to influence Mr. Madigan was forbidden, as required by current Chicago-area case law. During a pretrial hearing Thursday, U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman said it would behoove everyone to wait for a Supreme Court decision in the case of James Snyder, the former mayor of Portage, Indiana, who is challenging his conviction under the same bribery statute at the center of La Schiazzas indictment. So much of that depends on the Snyder ruling, it doesnt pay to go into it at this point, Gettleman said. He set a status hearing for July 7, a week after the high courts decision is expected to come down. Also Thursday, Gettleman told parties for both sides that witness lists and the names of other people who will be mentioned at trial will have to be made public at some point, noting that many of them have already been reported in the media anyway. The gentlemen of the press and as you know I have a soft spot for the gentlemen of the press apparently know those names and have published them in the local newspapers, Gettleman said. So well keep them under seal for now . (but) we all know theres going to be names mentioned in this case. La Schiazzas trial is expected to last three weeks and will be sandwiched between two bombshell Chicago political events: the Democratic National Convention in August and Madigans own racketeering trial, which is set to begin in October at the same Dirksen U.S. Courthouse where La Schiazza is charged. According to prosecutors, La Schiazza and others at AT&T agreed to pay $2,500 a month to former state Rep. Edward Acevedo, a onetime member of Madigans leadership team whod recently left the General Assembly, at the same time the company was seeking passage of a bill known by the acronym COLR. The payments to Acevedo allegedly negotiated by Madigans longtime confidant, Michael McClain were made via a lobbying contract between AT&T and Thomas Cullen, a former Madigan staffer and longtime political strategist aligned with the speaker, according to prosecutors. Acevedo, who was a registered lobbyist at the time, did no actual work for AT&T in exchange for the payments, prosecutors alleged. During Thursdays hourlong pretrial hearing, Gettleman entertained a number of motions by both sides seeking to shape the evidence and arguments that will be presented to the jury. One motion by the defense asked Gettleman to bar prosecutors from referring to La Schiazzas alleged deal to pay Acevedo as corrupt. Gettleman, however, said that appeared to be the crux of the allegations and it wouldnt make sense to bar such arguments if they can be inferred from the evidence. Another motion, filed by the prosecution, asked that the defense be barred from arguing the deal was just politics as usual. Gettleman said hed have to wait and see how the testimony plays out, but either way, the political game in Springfield is bound to be front and center. Youre all going to be talking about how the political system works in Springfield, the judge said. Some of that in (prosecutors) view may be corrupt, depending on how thats defined, and the defense gets an opportunity to rebut that. So it could be interesting. Put it that way. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously backed the National Rifle Association in a First Amendment ruling that could make it harder for state regulators to pressure advocacy groups. The decision means the NRA may continue to pursue its lawsuit against a New York official who urged banks and insurance companies to cut ties with the gun rights group following the 2018 mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school that left 17 people dead. Government officials cannot attempt to coerce private parties in order to punish or suppress views that the government disfavors, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the most senior liberal, wrote for the court. Ultimately, the critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, Sotomayor added. The NRA claimed that Maria Vullo, the former superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, not only leaned on insurance companies to part ways with the gun lobby but threatened enforcement actions against those firms if they failed to comply. At the center of the dispute was a meeting Vullo had with insurance market Lloyds of London in 2018 in which the NRA claims she offered to not prosecute other violations as long as the company helped with the campaign against gun groups. Vullo tried to wave off the significance of the meeting, arguing in part that the NRAs allegations of what took place were not specific. Maria Vullo, the former superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, in November 2018 in Albany, New York. - John Carl D'Annibale/Albany Times Union/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images/File Vullo, who served in Democratic former Gov. Andrew Cuomos administration, said her enforcement targeted an insurance product that is illegal in New York: third-party policies sold through the NRA that cover personal injury and criminal defense costs following the use of a firearm. Critics dubbed the policies murder insurance. The decision will provide some clarity to government regulators both liberal and conservative about how far they may go to pressure private companies that do business with controversial advocacy groups. This is a landmark victory for the NRA and all who care about our First Amendment freedom, William A. Brewer III, a lawyer for the association, said in a statement. The opinion confirms what the NRA has known all along: New York government officials abused the power of their office to silence a political enemy. An attorney for Vullo said they were disappointed by the courts decision but noted that a lower court that previously sided with her on a different legal basis may ultimately reaffirm that decision. Ms. Vullo did not violate anyones First Amendment rights, the attorney, Neal Katyal, said in a statement. Ms. Vullo enforced the insurance law against admitted violations by insurance entities, and industry letters such as those issued by Ms. Vullo are routine and important tools regulators use to inform and advise the entities they oversee about risks. Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch and liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson penned two separate concurrences in which they said they agreed with the courts decision. In her six-page concurrence, Jackson stressed that cases like the one at hand turn heavily on the facts that give rise to the controversy. Whether and how government coercion of a third party might violate another partys First Amendment rights will depend on the facts of the case, she wrote. Different circumstances who is being coerced to do what, and why may implicate different First Amendment inquiries. The courts opinion made no mention of another pending and related case dealing with whether the Biden administration went too far in pressuring social media platforms like X and Facebook to remove content it views as misinformation. The cases were argued on the same day in March. While the NRA is more likely to be at the Supreme Court making Second Amendment arguments, it picked up unfamiliar allies with its First Amendment claim. The American Civil Liberties Union, which usually sits opposite the NRA in the debate over guns, agreed to represent the group before the Supreme Court. A US district court denied some of the NRAs claims but allowed its First Amendment arguments to proceed against Vullo. The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision, concluding that Vullos actions were not coercive. It also ruled that Vullo was entitled to qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that shields government officials from lawsuits in some circumstances. The NRA largely relied on a 1963 Supreme Court decision, Bantam Books v. Sullivan, that dealt with a Rhode Island commission that had threatened to refer distributors to police if they sold books deemed to be obscene. The Supreme Court held that such informal censorship was unconstitutional. This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON The National Rifle Association will get another chance to punish New York regulators who discouraged insurers and bankers from doing business with the gun advocacy group, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday. The NRA sued the New York Department of Financial Services, arguing regulators had coerced insurers against promoting policies by gun-rights group. But regulators, led by former Superintendent Maria Vullo, argued they were simply pointing out insurers might face legal exposure for doing business with a gun group during an era of mass shootings and major lawsuits and the NRA had no business peddling insurance. A U.S. District Court threw out most of the NRAs case but allowed a First Amendment fight over whether Vullo was simply voicing an opinion, as allowed under the First Amendment, or coercing businesses she regulated, which is not allowed. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the claim of coercion not plausible and dismissed the case entirely. But the Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the appeals court decision and allowed the NRA's case to continue. "Ultimately, the critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or, as alleged here, through private intermediaries," Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in the decision. A general view shows the National Rifle Association headquarters, in Fairfax, Virginia, on August 6, 2020. The NRA called the decision a stinging rebuke to the state's blacklisting campaign. This victory is a win for the NRA in the fight to protect freedom, NRA President Bob Barr said. This is a historic moment for the NRA in its stand against governmental overreach." David Cole, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union advocacy group that represented the NRA, said the ruling "confirms that government officials have no business using their regulatory authority to blacklist disfavored political groups." How did New York regulate the NRA? The NRA began marketing insurance policies in April 2017 called Carry Guard to cover legal expenses from using a firearm in self-defense. "Carry Guard" policies were administered by insurance broker Lockton and underwritten by insurers Chubb and Lloyds of London. But the NRA wasnt licensed to peddle insurance in New York and the Department of Financial Services began investigating in October 2017. Chubb and Lockton suspended the Carry Guard program the next month. By February 2018, after a horrific school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Vullo allegedly began meeting with insurance executives who did business with the NRA. What was said is disputed, but Lloyds of London decided to stop underwriting firearm-related policies that month. In short, she made it no secret that her purpose was to penalize an advocacy group because she opposed its political views, the NRA argued. The NRA sued Vullo, claiming she abused her regulatory muscle to punish the organization for its First Amendmentprotected speech and to suppress its future speech. In May 2018, two of the insurance companies admitted to unlawfully providing insurance in New York and agreed to pay $7 million from Lockton and $1.3 million from Chubb. In December 2018, Lloyds acknowledged violating state law and agreed to pay a $5 million fine. The NRA agreed to pay $2.5 million and to refrain from offering insurance in New York for five years. Carry Guard violated New York law in numerous respects, Vullos brief said. It provided coverage for intentional acts and criminal defense costs. The Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on February 28, 2024. What is the NRA's lawsuit about? The NRA argued regulators went too far in discouraging insurers from doing business with the group. On April 19, 2018, Vullo sent guidance letters to New York banks and insurers in the wake of several recent horrific shootings, listing Columbine High School, Sandy Hook Elementary School and a Las Vegas music festival. Vullo said the social backlash against the NRA and other gun-rights groups is demanding change now. The Department encourages regulated institutions to review any relationships they have with the NRA or similar gun promotion organizations, and to take prompt actions to managing these risks and promote public health and safety, the letter said. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, speaking for the Biden administration, said the first four paragraphs of the New York letter were fair comment under the First Amendment, simply meant to convince companies not to do business with the NRA rather than coerce them. But she acknowledged the final paragraph might have gone too far in targeting the NRA because of its viewpoint by encouraging businesses to consider reputational risks from dealing with the NRA or similar gun promotion organizations. Companies that fail to consider reputational risks to their businesses face the threat of multimillion-dollar fines from regulators. Because of disputes over what Vullo told Lloyds at the time, Prelogar said courts would have to gather more evidence before deciding whether she went too far with them. "The government has wide latitude to speak for itself, including by forcefully criticizing viewpoints with which it disagrees and encouraging citizens to disassociate from groups expressing those viewpoints," Prelogar wrote in her filing. "But the government may not punish or suppress such viewpoints; nor may it coerce others into inflicting the punishment or suppression for it." Legal experts call decision a win for free speech Legal experts called the decision a victory for the First Amendment. The Supreme Court has been clear that a government official cannot directly or indirectly coerce a private party to punish disfavored speech on the governments behalf, said Brent Skorup, a legal fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute, which filed an argument in the case. A unanimous Court ruled that the government cannot use intermediaries to punish speech, said Adam Candeub, a law professor at Michigan State University. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In NRA Supreme Court case, the justices unite against NY regulators Supreme Court sides with NRA in New York First Amendment case The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled that the New York Department of Financial Services violated the First Amendment rights of the National Rifle Association. File Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI May 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court Thursday unanimously ruled for the National Rifle Association in a First Amendment dispute with the New York Department of Financial Services. The decision allows an NRA lawsuit to move forward in state court with First Amendment claims against the agency and its former superintendent Maria Vullo. The Supreme Court decision held that when a government entity invokes legal sanctions and other means of coercion to "achieve the suppression" of disfavored speech it violates the First Amendment. "Government officials cannot attempt to coerce private parties in order to punish or suppress views that the government disfavors," Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in the Supreme Court opinion. Sotomayor wrote that Vullo, then superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services, did that by "allegedly pressuring regulated entities to help her stifle the NRA's pro-gun advocacy by threatening enforcement actions against those entities that refused to disassociate from the NRA and other gun-promotion advocacy groups. " Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the First Amendment was violated by "coercing DFS-regulated entities to terminate their business relationships with the NRA in order to punish or suppress the NRAs advocacy." File Photo by Eric Lee/UPI According to the Supreme Court filing in the case, the NYDFS oversees insurance companies. When a gun-control advocacy group filed a complaint against an NRA affinity insurance product called Carry Guard it ultimately led to the state agency violating the First Amendment through government coercion of private parties to punish the NRA's free speech. The court filing said the NYDFS started an investigation into the NRA in 2017. At Vullo's direction after the mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in 2017, insurers and banks regulated by the NYDFS were encouraged to disassociate from the NRA. The NRA sued over those actions. Even though the American Civil Liberties Union clashes with the NRA over the Second Amendment, the ACLU represented the NRA before the Supreme Court in this First Amendment case. According to the Supreme Court, a New York district court denied a motion to dismiss the NRA's First Amendment claims, holding in part that the NYDFS actions "could be interpreted as a veiled threat to regulated industries to disassociate with the NRA or risk DFS enforcement action." A federal appeals court -- the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals -- reversed the district court decision. That court concluded that the state agency actions "constituted permissible government speech and legitimate law enforcement, and not unconstitutional coercion." "At the heart of the First Amendment's Free Speech Clause is the recognition that viewpoint discrimination is uniquely harmful to a free and democratic society. The Clause prohibits government entities and actors from "abridging the freedom of speech," Sotomayor wrote. She said the Supreme Court ruling in this case doesn't give advocacy groups immunity from government regulation or investigation nor does it prevent government officials from using free speech to condemn views they disagree with. But Sotomayor wrote that Vullo "allegedly used the power of her office to target gun promotion by going after the NRA's business partners" with insurers following suit, "fearing regulatory hostility." The U.S. Supreme Court vacated the appeals court ruling, holding that the NRA plausibly alleged that NYDFS superintendent Vullo "violated the First Amendment by coercing DFS-regulated entities to terminate their business relationships with the NRA in order to punish or suppress the NRA's advocacy." The Supreme Court unanimously ruled Thursday that the National Rifle Association (NRA) can move forward in its free speech fight against a former New York regulator. Authored by liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the ruling revives the gun-rights groups First Amendment claim against Maria Vullo, who formerly ran the New York Department of Financial Services. Vullo began investigating the NRA in 2017, and the probe led her to encourage insurers and banks she regulated to sever ties with the gun-rights group after the Parkland, Fla., school shooting that killed 17 students and staff and reignited a national debate surrounding gun control measures. The NRA contended Vullos steps went beyond permissible advocacy and crossed into unconstitutional government coercion. Thursdays decision enables the NRAs case to proceed, but the gun-rights group wont necessarily pull out a victory in the end, as its legal burden will rise in later stages. The justices also made clear that a lower court could still find Vullo is entitled to qualified immunity, even if her actions were unconstitutional. Vullo was free to criticize the NRA and pursue the conceded violations of New York insurance law, Sotomayor wrote. She could not wield her power, however, to threaten enforcement actions against DFS-regulated entities in order to punish or suppress the NRAs gun-promotion advocacy, the opinion continued. Because the complaint plausibly alleges that Vullo did just that, the Court holds that the NRA stated a First Amendment violation. The case drew some unusual battle lines. Despite their deep disagreement on the Second Amendment, the American Civil Liberties Union represented the NRA before the high court in its fight, the first time the groups had teamed up. This is a landmark victory for the NRA and all who care about our First Amendment freedom, said William A. Brewer III, counsel to the NRA, in a statement. The opinion confirms what the NRA has known all along: New York government officials abused the power of their office to silence a political enemy. This is a victory for the NRAs millions of members and the freedoms that define America. Vullos lawyer argued that her investigation constituted permissible government speech and legitimate law enforcement. The regulator was investigating NRA-endorsed insurance programs, leading some companies to acknowledge their programs were unlawful. The NRA also took aim at comments Vullo made during an alleged private meeting with Lloyds, an insurance giant. We are disappointed by the Courts decision, said Neal Katyal, who argued the case on behalf of Vullo, in a statement. As the Courts decision makes clear, because of the posture of this case, this ruling required the Court to treat the NRAs untested allegations as true even though these allegations have no evidentiary merit, Katyal continued. The NRAs allegations about the Lloyds meetings are false, and Ms. Vullo did not threaten, coerce or retaliate against anyone in the performance of her duties. When the Supreme Court heard the case in March, several justices appeared persuaded by the NRAs arguments though Sotomayor, who wrote the majority opinion, at one point pushed back. She suggested to the NRAs counsel at one point it seems to me youre trying to break new ground in the courts First Amendment case law. Ultimately, the critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or (as alleged here) through private intermediaries, Sotomayor wrote in the high courts opinion Thursday. Though all of the justices joined Sotomayors opinion, two members of the bench also wrote separately. Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote a brief, one-paragraph opinion to further explain his understanding of the courts ruling. And liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a concurring opinion that the lower courts had improperly lumped together the NRAs censorship and retaliation claims, encouraging that they be disentangled as the case moves forward. On remand, the parties and lower courts should consider the censorship and retaliation theories independently, mindful of the distinction between government coercion and the ways in which such coercion might (or might not) have violated the NRAs constitutional rights, Jackson wrote. Updated at 11:47 a.m. EDT Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Survivors say Russia is waging a war of sexual violence in occupied areas of Ukraine. Men are often the victims Editors Note: This story contains graphic and disturbing descriptions of sexual violence. Within an hour of being arrested by Russian security forces, Roman Shapovalenko was threatened with rape. On August 25, 2022, the day after Ukraines Independence Day, he said three armed, masked officers from Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) stormed his home in the southern Ukrainian port city of Kherson, which was occupied by Russian forces at the time. They turned his house inside out searching for incriminating evidence. A message in Shapovalenkos phone that called Russian soldiers orcs a derisive reference to the evil forces in J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth books and a popular Ukrainian slur for the Russian army was enough for them. He said he was tied up, blindfolded and stuffed into an unmarked car. For days after, Shapovalenko said he was repeatedly electrocuted in his genital area, threatened with being raped with a glass bottle, and was even made to believe he could be sterilized. They seemed to have a fetish for genitalia. Sometimes the door would open, and they would say: Were going to take out our batons and were going to rape everyone here, the 39-year-old farm manager told CNN. Describing the graphic detail of his experience matter-of-factly, Shapovalenko sometimes paused to laugh nervously. He said his sense of humor is helping with what he knows will be a long recovery. The Russians, he said, hated it. I made a little joke, and they didnt like it. I got punched for that. Shapovalenkos experience of sexual violence at the hands of Russian forces is common among Ukrainians including civilians and soldiers who have been detained since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country more than two years ago. Human rights monitors have long reported on the rampant use of sexual violence by Russian police and security forces against prisoners and detainees in Russia. Now it seems Russia is exporting the practice to occupied Ukraine. A Ukrainian soldier walks through the basement of a restaurant that was allegedly used as a torture site by Russian forces during the occupation of Snihurivka in southern Ukraine. - Chris McGrath/Getty Images Few men have spoken publicly about their ordeal, but Ukrainian prosecutors and rights groups say male victims make up a growing proportion of cases. The crimes often go unreported because of the stigma and shame associated with them. The latest United Nations Security Council annual report into conflict-related sexual violence said that 85 cases had been documented in Ukraine in 2023 affecting 52 men, 31 women, one girl and one boy. A separate report from UN rights officials who interviewed 60 male Ukrainian prisoners of war following their release found that 39 were victims of sexual violence while in Russian detention. CNN interviewed four male survivors, two in person and two by phone, and obtained testimonies from two more, who were held by Russian units across five Ukrainian regions that have been occupied or annexed by Moscow: Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Crimea. All described being subjected to forced nudity, genital electrocution most often with wires from the Soviet-era military field telephone TA-57, known as Tapik and threats of rape. Their accounts tallied with cases documented by regional prosecutors in Kyiv, Kherson and Kharkiv and were corroborated by witnesses held in the same detention facilities in Kharkiv and Kherson. Taken together, their stories capture what prosecutors describe as Russias systematic and continuing use of sexual violence in occupied areas as part of its efforts to force the Ukrainian people into submission. We see it over and over again in different regions under occupation. They use the same method of committing sexual violence, the same method of humiliation, the same method of how they explain it to their victims, said Anna Sosonska, a Ukrainian prosecutor and the acting chief of the conflict-related sexual violence division in Ukraines Office of the Prosecutor General. Speaking to CNN from her office in Kyiv, Sosonska said that a significant number of documented crimes of sexual violence by Russian troops, including forced nudity, genital mutilation, rape and forced exposure to sexual violence against others, were being carried out against men. Especially by using electric current on genitals that is the top of the list, she said. They all laughed Roman Chernenko said he spent seven months in a punishment cell in a prison in the occupied city of Olenivka, in the eastern Donetsk region, after he was captured by Russian troops in Mariupol area. The 29-year-old intelligence officer with the Ukrainian military who goes by the call sign Omen described being tortured as often as three times a day, every day, for four months. Tapik is a military phone with two wires. One is connected to your balls, the other to your finger, and they just keep turning the current up, he told CNN. They just keep twisting it until the person tells them what they need. He said he believes officers from Russias GRU, the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) and the FSB, Russias main intelligence agency, all took part in the torture. Chernenko was released as part of a prisoner exchange in January 2024 and is still recovering from the ordeal. Speaking to CNN a few weeks after his release, on the day he proposed to his girlfriend, he said it was his thoughts of her and his mother that gave him strength to survive captivity. They laughed when they tortured me they told me that my mother was being f**ked by Chechens. They took me to be shot twice, they threatened me with rape, he said. CNN asked Russias Ministry of Defense, Interior Ministry, FSB, National Guard (Rosgvardia) and the military intelligence agency, known as the GRU, for comment on allegations of sexual violence at specific detention facilities, but has not received any response. A photo taken in Bucha shows a basement believed to have been used by Russian forces to torture and kill civilians. Ukrainian police said the bodies of five men aged between 24 and 54 were found there. - Kyodo News/Getty Images Rape and sexual violence are explicitly prohibited by the Geneva Conventions the set of international laws that regulate the conduct of armed conflict and can constitute a war crime. Mock execution is considered a form of torture under international law. Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), committing rape and sexual violence in a systematic or widespread way is considered a crime against humanity. According to Ukrainian prosecutors investigating conflict-based sexual violence and abuse, all available evidence indicates that it is a deliberate tactic, part of Russias modus operandi in Ukraine. Its in every region that was under occupation. Everywhere that Russian troops were located, were seeing cases of sexual violence and gender-based violence. The bottom line is that it looks like it is Russian policy, Sosonska said. As of early May, Ukraine has officially recorded 293 cases of sexual violence, although Sosonska said that it is impossible to estimate the real number of crimes that are being committed, particularly in occupied territories which remain inaccessible to its investigators and prosecutors. Some 37,000 Ukrainian citizens are unaccounted for, according to the Ukrainian ombudsmans office, with thousands believed to be held in Russian detention and at risk of torture and sexual violence. But the real scale of sexual violence committed during the war may never come to light. Only a fraction of victims tend to come forward and, according to the UN, this is especially true for men, some of whom may not initially realize that what happened to them was a sexual violence crime. Some male victims of sexual violence may describe what happened to them instead as torture. The distinction, Sosonska explained, is important for any future court cases and war tribunals. Her office is also trying to educate the public about the fact that men can be victims of sexual violence something Sosonska said may still not be fully understood. Anna Mykytenko, who heads the Ukraine team at Global Rights Compliance (GRC), an international legal non-profit, said that Ukrainian witnesses and survivors of sexual violence have testified that Russian troops told them it was a punishment. In several villages in the south we heard witnesses and survivors say that the Russian servicemen came in, occupied the village, and then looked specifically for the wives of Ukrainian soldiers, or their mothers or sisters, Mykytenko told CNN. GRC acts as the co-lead of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group, an initiative launched by the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom to provide Ukraine with assistance in the investigation and prosecution of atrocity crimes. Mykytenko said that while most cases of conflict-related sexual crimes that were reported and investigated earlier in the war concerned female victims, many of the cases recently recorded have been against male victims, especially against men held in captivity. Sexual crimes are fairly common in detention centers and its very common for prisoners of war or civilians to be threatened with rape or with the sexual abuse of different types, this is something thats almost normal for the Russian and Russia-related armed forces, she said. A systematic approach The Ukrainian ombudsmans office told CNN it believes that the Russian armed forces and Ministry of Defense, as well as the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, are the Russian government bodies officially responsible for what happens inside detention facilities. However, it is Rosgvardia a paramilitary police force deployed to keep order in occupied regions of Ukraine and the FSB that appear to be driving the campaign of torture and sexual violence against the Ukrainian people, according to the ombudsman and Ukraines military intelligence service. Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, the FSB has opened several regional offices in occupied Ukraine to recruit agents and gather intelligence. According to an official organizational chart published on its website, the FSB has directorates in the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics, in Crimea and in the occupied portions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Several survivors in these locations told CNN that the Russians who submitted them to sexual violence either identified themselves or were referred to by others as FSB officers. Meanwhile, members of Rosgvardia, part of the Russian security apparatus that reports directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, are working alongside the Russian military to detain activists, quash protests and spread terror among the civilian population in occupied areas. The SBU, Ukraines security service, has managed to track down several Rosgvardia and FSB officials who it said were either the direct perpetrators or the enablers of sexual violence against people held in detention. A Rosgvardia serviceman watches a parade in Russia. The force, which reports directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been deployed to occupied Ukraine to quash protests and opposition. - Aleksey Smagin/Sipa USA/AP The SBU and the Ukrainian regional prosecutors office in Kherson have identified Aleksandr Naumenko, the deputy head of Rosgvardia in Russias Rostov region, as a suspect in more than a dozen cases. Ukrainian authorities said last May he was responsible for overseeing a detention facility in Kherson during the occupation and that he personally ordered sexual torture of several victims who were electrocuted in their genital areas. The notice of suspicion against Naumenko, a legal document seen by CNN, alleges that his subordinates and other members of Russian armed forces acted directly on his orders when they sexually abused at least 17 victims. Two other Rosgvardia officers Oleksandr Chilengirov and Yehor Bondarenkov have also been accused of torture, including electrocuting at least 24 victims in their genitals at a different detention facility in Kherson. Dmitry Laikov, an officer with the FSBs Department for the Defense of Constitutional Order and Fight against Terrorism, is accused of overseeing genital electrocution of a detained Ukrainian citizen in a police station in the occupied city of Nova Kakhovka. All four men have been indicted and their cases are currently being heard in court, according to Kherson prosecutors. Their whereabouts are unknown. Ukrainian officials say that it is difficult, but not impossible, to track down individual perpetrators of sexual violence crimes. As of early May, Ukrainian prosecutors had issued official notices of suspicion against 42 Russian officers, filed 19 indictments against 28 individuals and sentenced five people. All of the trials took place in absentia, according to the prosecutors office. Sosonska told CNN a handful of cases are added to her file each month, and that investigations are progressing. However, none of the alleged perpetrators are in Ukrainian custody. Oleksii Butenko, a prosecutor in the Kherson regional prosecutors office, said he has no doubt that sexual violence was part of Russias strategy to subjugate the Ukrainian people in Kherson and to destroy the Ukrainian national identity. We can speak of a systematic approach 17 men were identified as having been sexually abused inside a single torture chamber, he told CNN. We can say that the leadership, not only the perpetrators but also the management, is responsible they gave permission or orders to commit these crimes. They were having fun Andrii, a Kherson resident who was held in one of the Russian detention facilities, still remembers the screams of his fellow detainees more than a year and half after he was released. We were kept in the basement of an office building. It was a small room with no furniture, we slept on cardboard and used a bucket to go to the toilet, Andrii said. Speaking to CNN in Kyiv, Andrii was clutching his hands nervously, looking away when describing what happened during his time in detention. He asked for his name to be changed and that no identifiable information about him be published. I was the last one to be taken in for interrogation, so I could hear them all being tortured in the next room. I couldnt hear the conversations, only the screams and the moans. It was impossible to sleep because of these screams, he said, recalling one particularly horrifying incident. I dont know who this man was and what happened to him he was taken out into the corridor, where he was raped with a baton so that everyone could hear and see him. A war crime prosecutor inspects a basement of an office building in Kherson where some 30 people were held for two months during the Russian occupation. - Anna Voitenko/Reuters According to Andrii, the threats of rape and genital electrocution were the norm among the Russian forces. They enjoyed it. They were having fun, he said. Ukrainian prosecutors have recorded incidents of Russian officials raping or attempting to rape victims using objects including batons, a pipe, a bottle, a handle of a shovel, a stick and a pen. Sosonska said her office is determined to bring to justice not just the direct perpetrators, but also those who were in charge whether they ordered them or failed to prevent them. Her office is focused on prosecuting individuals, but it is also collecting evidence that will be shared with international courts, including the ICC, which prosecutes individuals over grave offenses such as genocide and war crimes, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which hears cases brought up against states. The ICC has already issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Russias childrens commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, over an alleged scheme to deport Ukrainian children to Russia. The Kremlin has denied the allegations and called the ICCs actions outrageous. Sosonska said she believes that, just like the child deportations, sexual violence is part of what she called Russias genocidal campaign against Ukraine. It is happening now Oleksii Sivak knew the Russians were coming for him after his neighbor Shapovalenko, the farm manager, was taken. The 39-year-old sailor from Kherson had helped him put up Ukrainian flags around their neighborhood on Ukrainian Independence Day. Both men were civilian volunteers. Shapovalenko had been distributing supplies, helping people evacuate and sharing information about the location of Russian troops with Ukrainian military acquaintances, while Sivak ran a soup kitchen, organizing assistance, distributing leaflets and putting up posters and flags. We already knew about these torture rooms; we knew that people do not return from there. I went to deliver soup, warned the people I was helping, cut off all contacts and came home to wait for them, he said. Hiding or trying to go on the run was not an option, he added, saying he was aware Russian forces were targeting the relatives of people they were interested in. He said eight men came to arrest him four in military uniforms and four wearing civilian clothes, all with their faces covered. They took him to a local police station and then handed him over to what they said was the FSB. He recalled being beaten and tortured with an electric current from the same kind of field telephone described as being used in other detention facilities. They called it the lie detector and they were obviously having fun when spinning the dynamo, asking me do you want to call Zelensky? he told CNN in an interview in Kyiv. First, they put the clamps on my ears and while they were shocking me, they were also beating me with a stick, kicking me, and hitting me with their hands then they moved these wires from my ears to my genitals. They said, were going to sterilize you now and things like that, while they were electrocuting my genitals. Sivak believes he has a pretty good idea why the Russian troops chose to torture him in the way they did and threatened him with rape. They wanted to humiliate me. Its obvious. What do you do to cause a man the most pain? You hurt his wife or his genitals, he said. Of the dozens of men he was held with, Sivak said roughly half were subjected to sexual violence. Its a whole system. Four people (tortured me) but they were just the hatchet men. Yes, they have no brains, yes, they are animals, but even if they are imprisoned, what about their bosses? Someone was managing them; someone was giving them orders. Sivak said he and several other survivors have formed an informal support group and are trying to raise awareness of the fact that men can be victims of sexual violence. Sivak has attended meetings with government officials and conferences where he shared his experiences. Ukraine is prepared for a lengthy process to bring perpetrators to justice while protecting the victims. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Sosonskas prosecutors, as well as other civil servants and local government officials, have received specialized training on victim-oriented approaches, learning how to recognize conflict-related sexual violence, run investigations and communicate with victims. Some of the training programs have been provided by the UN in a direct response to the large number of sexual crimes occurring during the occupation. Others are run in cooperation with local non-governmental organizations and victim support groups. The UN has also co-sponsored a psychological helpline specifically aimed at male survivors. It can take years or even longer for courts to rule and victims to speak out. Some survivors of sexual violence committed by the Bosnian Serb army during the Bosnian war in the early 1990s are only now coming forward. Some survivors might be willing to testify within a few months, for some, it may never happen, they may never be ready, Sosonska said. As for Shapovalenko, he said he wanted everyone to know what happened to him and what is still happening to others. I want to tell everyone, tell the international community, that it is not like they came, occupied us, stood there with machine guns and left. No, it wasnt like that, he said. And the most terrible thing is not what I am telling you now. The most terrible thing is that it is happening now in the occupied territories. CNNs Svitlana Vlasova and Victoria Butenko contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) The state is seeking the death penatly against one of three suspects charged in the deadly shooting a Dothan man. Jacoiah Harrell is charged with one count of capital murder-burglary in the 2021 death of Sincere Tyson. He is charged alongside Solomon Cooper and Zycheria Russ. The Houston County District Attorneys Office announced on Wednesday that they intend to seek the death penalty if Harrell is found guilty. In October 2021, Tyson was shot to death while sleeping in his apartment at Abbey-Oaks shortly after celebrating his nieces birthday party at Doug Tew Park. Harrell was the last of the three suspects arrested in Tysons death. He was taken into custody in Muscogee County, Georgia, on separate charges and was later extradited to Alabama. As of Thursday morning, the Houston County DAs Office has not announced they will seekthe death penalty against Cooper or Russ. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. Suspect responsible for allegedly injuring two troopers in multi-county high-speed chase identified Two Florida Highway Patrol troopers are recovering after suffering minor injuries in a high-speed chase that spanned multiple counties on northbound I-95 Wednesday night. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The troopers have been released from the hospital, and the suspect has been identified as 42-year-old Alexandria Mason, according to records from the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the incident began when Mason, driving a pickup truck, fled from three FHP units and the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office. The pursuit took place along I-95, ending after FHP successfully executed a PIT maneuver near Atlantic Boulevard. The maneuver caused Masons vehicle to collide with an SUV. Fortunately, the driver of the SUV was not injured. Mason, who had an outstanding warrant from Citrus County, was charged with driving under the influence. Additional charges include reckless driving, aggravated fleeing and eluding, possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, and possession of a stolen firearm. FHP Spokesperson Dylan Bryan confirmed the charges, stating, Facing charges for reckless driving, driving under the influence, aggravated fleeing and eluding, possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, and in possession of a stolen firearm. Mason is currently booked into Duval County Jail with a bond set at $2,150. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. DENVER (KDVR) Arvada and Westminster police want to identify a suspect who allegedly attempted to rob two women on Saturday. On May 25 at 7:39 a.m., Westminster police officers were called to the 7300 block of North Federal Boulevard on reports of an attempted robbery. Police said a female victim was grabbing items from her car when she was approached by an unknown male who demanded money. The suspect was allegedly pointing a black handgun at the victim. Sheridan police investigating womans death Officers said the man fled the scene, walking northbound on Federal Boulevard. A few hours later at 11 a.m., the Arvada Police Department was called to West 64th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard on reports of a robbery. During this situation, police said a man approached a female victim and demanded money while pointing a black handgun at her. The man then allegedly attempted to steal the victims car before walking southbound on Sheridan Boulevard. In both instances, police said the suspect was described as the following: White male Wearing a bucket hat, gray shirt, gray vest, jeans and red shoes The agencies believe the man is the same suspect in both calls. Now, both Westminster and Arvada police want to identify and locate the man. If you recognize or have information on these cases, you are asked to call the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Cincinnati veteran, 80, is living in his car after selling his home to a company that offered sale leasebacks Fred Meisberger, an 80-year-old veteran, was evicted from his Greater Cincinnati home of 27 years after selling his property to a company that offered sale leasebacks. A sale-leaseback allows the owner of a property to sell it to an investor-landlord, who in turn, leases the property to the owner in what is typically supposed to be a long-term arrangement. While this practice can help cash-strapped homeowners struggling with some of the additional costs of owning property, some companies are reportedly taking advantage of consumers by purchasing their homes for cheap and charging tenants for shorter terms or exorbitant rental rates. Don't miss Commercial real estate has beaten the stock market for 25 years but only the super rich could buy in. Here's how even ordinary investors can become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger Cost-of-living in America is still out of control use these 3 'real assets' to protect your wealth today, no matter what the US Fed does or says These 5 magic money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2024 and you can complete each step within minutes. Here's how "They took almost everything I own," Meisberger told NBC 24, standing outside his former home. Hes now living behind a laundromat with his daughter, step-son and two dogs in a car he bought for $2,000, using the leftover funds from the home sale. The rest of the money went to credit card bills, attorney fees and back taxes. I just exhausted everything I had, Meisberger said. Now Im homeless. I just dont have no place to go. A predatory financial arrangement Meisberger sold his three-bedroom home in 2022 to an unnamed company that reportedly said it would purchase the property at a competitive price and relieve him of expenses, like property taxes, insurance and upkeep, while allowing Meisberger to continue living there for as long as he wished. It turns out that the company bought Meisbergers home for $147,500 even though Zillow estimated its value at $212,000 and kept six months worth of rent. Meisberger said after six months, the company started jacking up the rent until he couldnt afford it anymore. Its really hard, Meisberger said. It breaks my heart to think that I got myself in this situation. I dont know how I did it, but I did it. Meisberger and his family arent the only people who were impacted by the sale he had an apartment on his property that he was renting to a couple until they stopped making their monthly payments a year ago. Meisberger allowed them to continue living there since he didnt want them to be homeless, but now theyre living on the streets, too. Story continues The sale-leaseback company, which declined an interview with NBC 24, said its operations comply with Ohio law. But Russel Morgan, a real estate attorney from Morgan Legal Group, says some sale-leaseback companies are creating predatory arrangements by offering six-month terms instead of the standard 15-, 20- or 30-year terms. "They're targeting the elderly community," Morgan said. Read more: Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market and are betting on these assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds Exploiting house-rich, cash-poor consumers In December 2023, sale-leaseback company EasyKnock was accused of violating Massachusetts consumer protection landlord-tenant laws and exploiting house-rich, cash-poor consumers. The Massachusetts Attorney Generals office said in a news release that its investigation found that EasyKnock engaged in an unfair and deceptive equity-skimming scheme that involved purchasing the homes of cash-strapped consumers at bargain-basement prices and then renting them back to the consumers, at times for unfair rents. According to HousingWire, EasyKnock denied the allegations but entered into a settlement agreement to permanently end its sale-leaseback solution in Massachusetts, pay $200,000 to the state and return tens of thousands of dollars of improperly held funds to consumers. It also agreed to make some changes to its business practices, such as reducing rents for some existing tenants and complying with landlord-tenant laws. Its crucial that homeowners do their research, read the fine print and remain cautious when entering a sale-leaseback arrangement, just like they would any other financial agreement. Morgan recommended hiring an attorney to represent you if you are going to do a sale leaseback on your home. What to read next Car insurance premiums in America are through the roof and only getting worse. But 5 minutes could have you paying as little as $29/month Baby boomers bust': Robert Kiyosaki warns that older Americans will get crushed in the 'biggest bubble in history' 3 shockproof assets for instant insurance now The 5 most expensive mistakes in options trading and how to avoid them This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Sweden is considering unilaterally blocking imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) if Hungary prevents or manages to ease the EU's proposed sanctions against Russia. Source: Bloomberg with reference to Ebba Busch, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry of Sweden, on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting in Brussels Details: EU member states are discussing sanctions against key Russian LNG projects, as well as a ban on the use of EU ports for re-exporting supplies to third countries. Hungary opposed the proposal, and sanctions require the unanimity of 27 EU member states. "If the sanctions package doesnt fit its purpose we are prepared to navigate on our own," said Busch. She did not specify how the government would target energy imports from Russia. The rules require countries to take into account the energy security of the European Union. Although Swedish gas imports from Russia are small, any measures would reflect the growing impatience of member states with Hungary's constant obstruction of Ukraine's aid and sanctions. "The aim of this whole war on Russias side is to divide and conquer. But Sweden will not wait if we dont succeed with the 14th sanctions package," Busch added. She noted that one way to persuade Hungary to side with future energy sanctions would be for the EU to encourage new investment in the region's nuclear sector. She criticised the European Investment Bank for not doing more to provide concessional financing to the sector. Background: Earlier, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson expressed her belief that the European Commission's thorough preparatory work on a new package of sanctions against Russia and the gas agreement recently adopted by EU energy ministers should ensure smooth approval of restrictions on liquefied natural gas exports from Russia. The media previously reported that the European Commission had sent a draft proposal for the 14th package of sanctions against Russia to EU countries. This package includes, among other things, restrictions on LNG imports from Russia, although a full embargo is not planned. Support UP or become our patron! DUBAI (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a close ally, in Tehran on Thursday to offer condolences for the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's Student News Network (SNN) reported. Raisi died when his helicopter crashed on May 19 near the Azerbaijan border. Khamenei and Assad met last in 2022 in Tehran, during which both sides called for stronger relations. On Thursday, Assad and Khamenei said ties were strong, according to a statement by the Syrian presidency. Assad was able to turn the tide of Syria's civil war, which erupted from mass pro-democracy demonstrations in 2011, with crucial help from Iran's proxy militias and Russia's military intervention in 2015. Israel, whose existence is not recognised by the Islamic Republic, has mounted frequent attacks on what it has described as Iranian targets in Syria, where Tehran-backed forces including Lebanon's Hezbollah militia have deployed over the past decade to support Assad in Syria's war. (Reporting by Elwely Elwelly; editing by Gareth Jones and Mark Heinrich) Syria's main insurgent group blasts the US Embassy over its criticism of crackdown on protesters IDLIB, Syria (AP) The main insurgent group in rebel-held northwest Syria blasted the U.S. on Thursday over its criticism of a crackdown on protesters in areas outside government control. The group said Washington should instead respect protesters at American universities who have demonstrated against the war in Gaza. The statement by the U.S. Embassy in Damascus came after months of protests against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, in Syrias northwestern Idlib province by people opposed to the rule of the group that was once known as the Nusra Front, the Syria branch of al-Qaida. The group later changed its name several times and distanced itself from al-Qaida. Anti-HTS sentiments had been rising for months following a wave of arrests by the group of senior officials within the organization. Earlier this month, HTS members attacked protesters demanding the release of detainees with clubs and sharp objects outside a military court in Idlib city, injuring several people. Days later HTS fighters fired into the air and beat protesters with clubs, injuring some of them as protests intensified to demand the release of detainees and an end to the groups rule. The rebel-held region is home to more than 4 million people, many of them displaced during the conflict that broke out in March 2011 and has so far killed half a million people. The conflict began with protests against President Bashar Assads government before turning into a deadly civil war that left large parts of the country in ruins. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus posted on the social media platform X on Wednesday that it supports the rights of all Syrians to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including in Idlib. It added that we deplore Hayat Tahrir al-Shams regime-style intimidation and brutality against peaceful protesters as they call for justice, security, & respect for human rights. HTS responded in a statement saying that liberated areas enjoy a safe environment for the expression of opinion as long as they dont aim to destabilize the region and spread chaos. It added that the U.S. Embassy should back the Syrian people aiming to achieve freedom and dignity against a criminal regime. The rights of university students in the United States should be preserved and their demands in supporting the Palestinian people and Gaza should be respected, HTS said in a statement. Syrskyi: Russia building up forces near Kharkiv Oblast but not enough for breakthrough Russia is building up forces near Kharkiv Oblast, but they are not enough to break through Ukrainian defenses, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on May 30. Moscow launched a new offensive on May 10 in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Last week, the Ukrainian military reported that the Russian advance in the sector had been halted and that Kyiv's troops were conducting counterattacks. Russian forces are increasing the number of troops near the villages of Strilecha and Lyptsi, as well as the town of Vovchansk. These numbers are not enough to carry out a new offensive, according to Syrskyi. The commander-in-chief said that the Russian military's activities are complicated by the deployment of Ukrainian reserve units to the "hot" areas of the front line. The accumulation of ammunition supplies and degradation of Russian forces also reduced Russian offensive capabilities, Syrskyi wrote on Facebook. Subscribe to newsletter War Notes Subscribe "Therefore, the enemy has switched to the tactic of hitting our positions with artillery fire and strikes with aerial bombs," Syrskyi said. "In these circumstances, the destruction of the aircraft carrying the KABs (satellite-guided bombs), as well as reconnaissance drones and fire adjusters, electronic warfare protection of our troops, camouflage, and the use of mock-ups are of paramount importance." The commander added that the Ukrainian military leadership is currently taking "urgent measures" to improve the air defense control system, its automation, and its coordination with the Ground Forces' firepower and electronic warfare systems. Moscow is forming another grouping of forces near Ukraine's northern border, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 26. The Ukrainian military did not rule out a similar Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast. Read also: Russias new Kharkiv offensive pushes Vovchansk to the brink of annihilation Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Tacoma says it embraces anti-racism. Can it do that without also supporting Zionism? | Opinion The city of Tacoma recently passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Israels War against Hamas. The resolution was fairly generic and ultimately an expression of a desire to live in a better world. What was interesting about the resolution was the claim that its motive was derived, at least in part, from the citys broader commitment to anti-racism and to combating racist systems. The word Zionism was not invoked in the resolution, but given that it has become a slur for racist systems by ceasefire advocates and increasingly on college campuses, its worth reminding ourselves what Zionism actually is. Broadly speaking, Zionism the theory upon which Israel is built is a political/social theory that argues the Jewish people require and deserve a county of their own, in their native land, because so long as they are a stateless minority their lives and rights will be at risk. A Jewish state is therefore necessary to ensure equal treatment in the global community and to improve the fortunes of the Jewish people both within and beyond the borders of a Jewish State. There are secular and religious Zionists, right- and left-wing, but they all have that underlying common belief which has seemingly proven true by the experience of the Jews as well as other marginalized peoples. Anti-Irish sentiment and persecution was real in this country and beyond until The Republic of Ireland achieved independence in the 1920s. Shortly thereafter, hostility toward the Irish went into dramatic decline. Not surprisingly then, some of the founders of the Irish Republic were very sympathetic to the cause of Zionism, with some like Dublin Mayor Robert Briscoe actively promoting the cause and even providing tips on guerrilla warfare to Zionist leaders during Israels war for independence. Similarly, the American Civil Rights movement largely mirrored the decolonization of Africa, with actors on both continents drawing strength and legitimacy from each other as free African states dovetailed freedoms for African Americans. That generation of activists saw parallels in their situation with the Zionist, appropriating the language of the Hebrew experience to describe their own. Martin Luther King openly expressed support for Zionism, and a young Senator Bernie Sanders volunteered his labor to the cause of Zion by working on an Israeli Kibbutz. By confronting systemically racist systems, are certain activists asking us to undo the work of MLK and Sanders? As a Jewish person, I can confirm antisemitism is real, its here, and has been my entire life. But thanks to the successes of Zionism, its nowhere near what my parents or grandparents survived. Despite the normalization of fear and outrage, you would have to look back thousands of years to find a better time to be a Jew. Which begs several questions, including: Can a city truly commit to the principles of anti-racism and reject Zionism? If not, how can Tacoma expect Israel to achieve a durable peace with an opponent whose founding creed is its total destruction? Most importantly, recognizing the humanitarian situation is deplorable for the innocent people of Gaza, what excuse is there for the global effort to prevent civilians from fleeing to other countries for safety? The free world did not show its support for Ukraine by demanding their women and children remain on the battlefield for the sake of ensuring Russia would not erase their homeland. Why are Gazans different? How is the omission consistent with the tenants of anti-racism? Chris Van Vechten is an attorney and a former candidate for Tacoma City Council. China's military says Taiwan drills met goals but it is ready for further action A screen shows news footage of military drills conducted in areas around the island of Taiwan by the Eastern Theatre Command of the PLA in Beijing By Laurie Chen and Ben Blanchard BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) - China's military achieved its "expected goals" during two days of drills around Taiwan last week but is prepared for further action if provoked, a defence ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. China, which views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory, staged two days of war games around the island following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing calls a "separatist". Thursday's comments came hours after Taiwan warned that Beijing was trying to "nibble away" at its space and create a new normal with drills and other moves to exert pressure on Lai's new administration. The joint drills by the People's Liberation Army were "a measure to contain aggressive Taiwanese independence and separatist activities and a warning against foreign interference," the spokesperson, Wu Qian, said in Beijing. "We have reached our expected goals," he told a press briefing. "We are confident that despite turbulence and changes in outside situation, we will deal with everything with ease," Wu added, vowing "stronger countermeasures" by the military against any further moves by "separatist" forces. While the drills have formally ended, China's military activities have not, with Taiwan saying on Wednesday that Chinese warplanes and warships carried out a "joint combat readiness patrol". "The Chinese communists' pressure on Taiwan is all encompassing, especially diplomatically," Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters at parliament. Taiwan faces huge obstructions in its bid to participate in events held by world bodies, such as a major World Health Organisation meeting this week that it was kept out of, the minister added. Chinese pressure keeps Taiwan out of most international bodies. China says Taiwan is one of its provinces with no right to the attributes of a state, a position the government in Taipei strongly rejects. Lin pointed to other actions by China, such as unilaterally opening new air routes close to Taiwan-controlled islands next to the Chinese coast, and sending coast guard ships to Taiwan's east coast during last week's exercises. "The Chinese communists are continuing to change the status quo," he said. "They are creating a new normal, pressing on at every stage, trying to nibble away and annex (us)." China's Taiwan Affairs Office, at a routine news conference on Wednesday, reiterated its complaints about Lai being a dangerous supporter of Taiwan's formal independence, and threatened continued Chinese military activity. Lai's repeated offers of talks with China have been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future. China says Taiwan is a purely internal matter. Lin said stability was a matter for everyone. "The cross-Strait issue is not only about the Strait; it's a regional, or even global matter," he added. Taipei says Taiwan is already an independent country, the Republic of China. The Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's Communists who set up the People's Republic of China. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Laurie Chen in Beijing; Writing by Greg Torode; Editing by Michael Perry and Clarence Fernandez) Read the latest in our coverage of the death of Anthony Johnson Jr. and other issues in Tarrant County jail. The executive chief deputy of confinement for the Tarrant County Jail has retired from the Sheriffs Office, he said Wednesday. The departure of Charles Eckert, who had been with the Sheriffs Office for 32 years, marks a significant but necessary first step in addressing the alarming rise in jail deaths in the Tarrant County Jail, Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons said in a Wednesday night news release. Eckert told the Star-Telegram in a phone call Wednesday evening that his departure from the Sheriffs Office is simply retirement and has nothing to do with deaths at the jail or any sort of dissatisfaction or feeling unsupported. He said he was eligible for retirement during the COVID-19 pandemic but didnt want to leave those under his command while they were dealing with the increased difficulties that came along with the spread of the virus. This is a great agency. Its just after 32 years, I felt like it was a good place to retire, Eckert said in the phone interview. If I had retired in the middle of COVID, I would have been called a coward they would say I was running away. He added that the jail passing inspection and his winning an award for administrator of the year in Texas seemed like a good place to leave his career. The Tarrant County Sheriffs Office said in a statement that Eckert will be missed and they wish him the best in his retirement. He retired very honorably and we were blessed to have had him serve TCSO for 32 stellar years, the statement read. He just won administrator of the year in Texas and has many other positive accomplishments during his tenure. Simmons release did not specify why Eckert was leaving and left room to imply that his departure from the Sheriffs Office might be a result of the jail deaths. Eckert told the Star-Telegram that could not be further from the truth. A series of jail deaths Eckerts retirement from the jail comes more than a month following the death of 31-year-old Marine veteran Anthony Johnson Jr. after a large, heavy jailer put his weight on Johnsons back with his knee. Detention Officer Rafael Moreno was fired over the use of force and a supervisor, Lt. Joel Garcia, who filmed footage of part of the altercation was also let go. Both Moreno and Garcia were reinstated last week and placed on administrative leave. Randy Moore, an attorney representing Garcia, told the Star-Telegram he suspects the reinstatement and immediate assignment to administrative leave indicates the Sheriffs Office wants to terminate their employment the right way by following civil service rules, something he said wasnt done when they were initially fired. Simmons said there is more work to be done to address problems in the jail. While the long-time jail chief will be leaving after 32 years, systemic problems within the jail remain, Simmons said in the release. The ultimate responsibility for these issues lies with Sheriff Bill Waybourn. Not a political pawn Eckert told the Star-Telegram the news release from Simmons was a shock and that it was almost enough to ruin the first day of his retirement. He spent the day looking through old photos and files on his computer and moving them to a hard drive. Any insinuation that his retirement has something to do with his experience at the jail is wrong, he said. Eckert was promoted in December 2020 by Waybourn after several suspicious deaths, including the death of a newborn whose mother was an inmate. The Star-Telegram reported in October 2022 that the number of deaths in the jail had declined under Eckerts leadership. Eckert told the Star-Telegram that he is not a politician and doesnt want his retirement to be used for any political purposes. Im very disappointed that she put that out that way, Eckert said in the Wednesday phone call with the Star-Telegram. Im not a political pawn in any way. On May 23, Simmons supported calls for Waybourns resignation. Simmons said Waybourn must lead the effort to implement meaningful reforms that ensure the safety of those in custody and uphold their civil rights. She wrote that she and the other county commissioners also bear responsibility for the deaths and other problems in the jail and must work together to ensure the safety of the facility, the adequate training of staff and that constitutional rights are protected. Video of Anthony Johnsons death On May 16, the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office released partial video footage of the moments leading up to the death of Anthony Johnson Jr. on April 21. One video shows Johnson in an altercation with jailers, during which Waybourn said one jailer accidentally pepper sprayed himself. Officers also used pepper spray on Johnson. A second video shows Moreno put his knee on Johnsons back while Johnson was already handcuffed. Moreno stayed there for 90 seconds as Johnson made wheezing and gasping noises and at one point said he couldnt breathe. When Moreno stood up, Johnson was unresponsive. Morenos attorney has not responded to multiple requests for comment from the Star-Telegram. Both videos were combined and cut down before they were released. The edited video released by the department was just over 5 minutes. Johnsons family has said the full version of the video, which theyve viewed, is around 15 minutes. They said the full version is worse. Simmons noted that inmates awaiting trial in the jail are presumed innocent until they plead guilty or are convicted of a crime. No one should have to fear that a loved ones arrest for a low-level offense (or any offense) is a possible death sentence, Simmons wrote. These people are in our custody and control, and we have a legal and moral obligation to guarantee their well-being. She said the commissioners should work together to prevent any further deaths and restore trust in the jail and the countys justice system. The funeral for Johnson took place Friday. Three days later a woman died in Tarrant County Jail custody. Autopsy results are incomplete for both that inmate, Chasity Bonner, and Johnson. A Navy Federal Credit Union employee has been arrested after the Columbus Police Department discovered fraud activity amounting to more than $800,000, CPD said in a news release Wednesday. Police said Steven Verrett used legitimate customers at his desk as cover while he deposited counterfeit checks and opened fraudulent vehicle loans. Verrett would then funnel the money back to himself and co-conspirators, according to police. Police said the initial five checks were reported stolen from the mail and amounted to more than $800,000. Investigators have identified at least eight Navy Federal Credit Union accounts involved in the fraudulent activities, according to police. Police said Verrett was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with the following: Forgery third-degree (five counts) Identity fraud (three counts) Criminal attempt theft by deception (two counts) Theft by deception (two counts) Financial transaction card forgery Computer trespass Computer invasion of privacy Computer forgery Verrett is expected to appear in Recorders Court at 9 a.m. Friday, according to police. Police said additional charges for Verrett and arrests of co-conspirators are pending. Editors note: The story has been updated to reflect the updated number of minifigs that were allegedly stolen. DENVER (KDVR) Any Lego collector knows the bricks can be expensive, but how about $20,000 for 14 sets and 1,180 minifigures? Thats how much law enforcement says was stolen from the Bricks & Minifigs Lego shop in the 8900 block of West Bowles Avenue. The sheriffs office shared a photo of the suspect, wearing dark clothing and a face covering during the May 12 theft that happened around 4:30 a.m. Lego exhibit provides hands-on exploration at Longmont Museum That suspect has also been arrested. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said the 17-year-old from Denver will not be identified because of their age but said the suspect was booked into the Jefferson County Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree burglary, felony criminal mischief and felony theft. The suspect has since been released into an adults custody. The business owner celebrated the suspects arrest in a social media post on Wednesday. Thank you Jefferson County Sheriffs Office and all our loyal customers and followers! the store posted. Tips from several customers helped bring quick justice to this unfortunate situation! The agency said the individual first shook the front doors of the store, activating the alarm and causing the suspect to flee the area. After about an hour, deputies say the individual returned and tied a strap onto the door of the business that was connected to his cars bumper. He used his vehicle to pull the doors open, deputies reported, and caused severe damage to the storefront. Legos kits that were allegedly taken from a Jefferson County store on May 12. Legos and minifigures that were allegedly taken from a Jefferson County store on May 12. A suspect was caught on surveillance footage stealing Lego kits and bricks from a Jefferson County store. Once inside, the thief took 14 Lego sets and 1,180 minifigures that cost about $20,000 in total, the agency reported. According to the stores social media posts, the suspect took expensive Star Wars sets and Star Wars minifigures, and some Marvel and DC. The sets were reported to be new, in-box and some rare minifigures, including Cloud City Lando 2nd edition and Cloud City Leia with smooth hair. After the store owner posted to social media, a customer was able to connect some dots, helping lead the case toward an arrest. The customer reported seeing the exact same stolen items for sale online. Skimming devices found at Longmont stores over holiday weekend Jefferson County Sheriffs investigators contacted the person who listed the items for sale and made arrangements to buy the Legos back. This allowed investigators to confirm that the items sold were connected to the Bricks & Minifigs burglary. Investigators executed a search warrant at the suspects home in Denver and found nearly all of the Lego sets and minifigures, along with shoes, clothing and jewelry that connected the suspect to the burglary. The search warrant led to the juveniles arrest. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) on Tuesday signed a first-in-the-nation law to block adults from helping trans youth receive gender-affirming care without their parents consent. Under the law, known as House Bill 2310, anyone who helps a child access gender-affirming care within Tennessee state lines can be sued for compensation by the minor or the minors parents. There are exceptions for the childs own parents or legal guardians, for adults who have permission from the minors parents, and for transportation companies, like those that operate ride-sharing apps, buses or airlines, that a minor could take to get to a gender-affirming care clinic. A previous version of the law included a criminal penalty, making anyone who recruits, harbors, or transports an unemancipated minor within this state for the purpose of receiving a prohibited medical procedure chargeable with a Class C felony. Lees office did not immediately respond to HuffPosts request for comment. Tennessee had already banned gender-affirming care for minors measures that can include puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy and, in rare instances, gender-affirming surgery last July, when Lee signed an earlier bill, Senate Bill 1, into effect. I want to be clear that this in no way bars parents or legal guardians from helping their child access to medical care that they need out-of-state, Bryan Davidson, a policy director at the ACLU Tennessee, told HuffPost. I think that this is an attempt by the legislature to try to use misinformation and intimidation to try to get parents and families to self-censor themselves and to police their own behavior. That is the concerning part. If the problem of adults transporting minors across state lines were indeed a major issue, Davidson said, Tennessee already has a law on the books for that. Its called kidnapping, he said. The gender-affirming care ban, S.B. 1, was temporarily blocked for certain residents thanks to a legal challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union, but a federal appeals court ruled in the fall to allow the ban to stand. Advocacy groups are now waiting to see if the Supreme Court will take up the ACLUs challenge to S.B. 1, known as L.W. v. Skrmetti, and weigh in on the question of who is allowed to make medical decisions for minors seeking gender-affirming care. If this highest court does take up the challenge to Tennessees ban, it could have precedent-setting ramifications for other states restrictions on care. Lee signed a separate bill on Tuesday that penalizes abortion trafficking of a minor and makes it a misdemeanor offense for a person to help a minor obtain an abortion or abortion-inducing drugs without consent from the minors parents. Several GOP-led states most notably Idaho have passed similar laws since the reversal of Roe v. Wade two years ago. The two new laws go into effect July 1. Tennessees state legislature, which has a Republican supermajority, has long been an early adopter of new kinds of anti-LGBTQ legislation. As governor, Lee has never issued a veto on an anti-LGBTQ bill, and the state has far outpaced the rest of the country in terms of anti-LGBTQ legislation. During this years legislative session, Lee enacted at least eight new anti-LGBTQ+ laws. This includes laws that force school administrators to tell parents if their child asks to use a name or gender marker that differs from their birth certificate; allow people to refuse to perform same-sex marriages; permit foster families to discriminate against LGBTQ+ kids; and eliminate the states human rights commission. Last year, Tennessee became the first state to enact a drag ban, and blocked performances from taking place anywhere in public where children could be present. A federal judge ruled that ban unconstitutional, but the state Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is trying to argue for the ban to be applied in private spaces, as well. The state also garnered national attention last year after Skrmetti probed Vanderbilt University Medical Center for the records of trans patients both minors and adults after a Nashville-based right-wing media figure posted an inflammatory, misleading information on Twitter about the hospitals treatments for transgender children. The Department of Health and Human Services has since opened an investigation into Vanderbilts release of patient medical records. Tennessee has become a sort of policy laboratory for attacks on LGBTQ+ folks at the state level, said Davidson. The anti-LGBTQ legislation is largely driven to appease the small fringe activist base in Tennessee. Davidson added that Tennessee is one of the most egregiously gerrymandered states in the nation and has one of the lowest rates of voter turnout, allowing more extreme rhetoric and policy to flourish. Related... U.S. Sen. Jon Tester talks about plans to keep Missoula's mail processing site. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said Wednesday he has two ideas for making sure Missoulas mail processing center stays in Missoula not Spokane as the Postal Service once planned. First, the Montana Democrat said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is a lost cause who doesnt understand rural distances and mountain geography, and getting a new leader with a vision for mail in the 21st century would help. Secondly, Tester said a new bill he has proposed, the PARCEL Act Protecting Access to Rural Carriers for Every Location would prevent the U.S. Postal Service from consolidations when they dont make sense. Under the act, relocations would be allowed only if they dont move centers out of state, if they first examine mountainous geographies, and if they have public support. In this case, the public has loudly protested, including businesses delivering goods and veterans expecting medicine in the mail. The move could affect jobs in Missoula. Tester presented his ideas Wednesday at a press conference at the downtown post office in Missoula. He was joined by the Missoula City Council president, a union president, and a senior citizen. He said he will continue to fight to keep the USPS from closing the processing center and moving sorting to a different state over both Lookout Pass and Fourth of July Pass. If youre planning on going over that every day, Ive got news for you. It aint gonna happen every day. But someone with diabetes? You dont have an extra day, Tester said. Earlier this year, the Postal Service announced the consolidation plans from a review of 60 facilities out of 430 nationwide. However, the postmaster general backed off after pushback from Tester and U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a Montana Republican. The decision is on hold until at least January 2025. In an email, the U.S. Postal Service said nothing would change when it came to incoming mail, just outgoing mail. All incoming mail from around the nation and world bound for Missoula residents will continue to be received, processed, sorted and delivered by local employees at the Missoula facility when the mail move is implemented post-2024, said the USPS. This includes medications, checks, correspondence and packages without regard to the type of recipient. The only mail processing function we are moving out of the area is the outgoing or originating mail the mail sent by our customers to local or distant recipients. Tester said he knows the argument is that the U.S. Post Office will save money, but the agency hasnt provided details of its accounting, and trucks cost money, as does fueling them. This is a bad decision, and were going to push back, he said. The postmaster general has said the overall changes proposed would save $133 million to $177 million a year, and veering from the plan would affect those savings. At the press conference, Robert Hopp, president of the American Postal Workers Union Local 113, said the post office might be delivering fewer letters, but its processing more packages. He said the uncertainty has affected workers, especially younger people who have more at risk and are talking about moving even though a final decision hasnt been made. A lot of people are afraid, Hopp said. The post office used to have overnight delivery guaranteed, he said, but it doesnt anymore. Generally, he said, DeJoy is moving in the wrong direction. I think the postmaster wants to deteriorate it and deteriorate it until its nothing, and it needs to get better, Hopp said. Missoula City Council President Amber Sherill said the council passed a resolution that supports keeping the processing center in Missoula after hearing from businesses, veterans and elderly people. Sherill also said she has personal experience with the mountain passes because she has a child in sports. Ive had some of my most harrowing drives going over those passes, Sherill said. Steve McArthur, 76, said he doesnt want his mail ballot to have to travel all that extra time and distance for elections. He said he also doesnt buy the idea that people waiting on medication from Walmart wont experience delays with their packages traveling to Spokane and back. It doesnt make any sense. It doesnt pass the smell test, McArthur said. Tester agreed: Thats bullsh*t. Unless theyre moving mail with a jet, he said, which would be costly, they wont move mail 400 miles as quickly. That dog dont hunt. He also said the postal service is the only agency mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. In a letter in February, Sen. Daines also told the postmaster general to keep the processing center open in Missoula, although he said he appreciated efforts to modernize. The USPS is critically important for rural and urban Montanans alike, Daines said in the letter. Many rely on the USPS to help facilitate their small business transactions and deliver their vital prescription medicine, Social Security checks, tax refunds, and bills. Rerouting mail to a facility over 200 miles away will likely lead to increased service delays, decreased customer satisfaction, and job losses in Missoula. The U.S. Postal Service said the changes wouldnt be significant because some of Missoula mail is already going to Spokane to connect with the larger ground and air network. This change simply takes out the first handling, advancing the mail into the network earlier and more efficiently and at less cost, the USPS said. At the press conference, Tester said the time may come when consolidation makes sense if it saves money without impacting rural delivery. However, he said the recent proposal from the postal service isnt that plan. He said DeJoy put a hold on the plan shortly after he introduced the PARCEL Act and the letter followed other urging from him this year including a letter signed by him, Daines and 24 other U.S. senators. Tester said hell fight for a hearing, and he anticipates bipartisan support for the legislation. He said people in other rural states would be affected by the consolidation too, and mail customers dont like it. Anybody that has been in business knows the customer is always right, Tester said. Editors note: This story has been updated with comments from the U.S. Postal Service. The post Tester: Save Missoula mail processing, get rid of Postmaster DeJoy appeared first on Daily Montanan. The Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center in Monroe County. (Mia Hilkowitz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Attorneys in a lawsuit against Indianas near-total abortion ban jumped right into testimony Wednesday, beginning a trial in which plaintiffs are seeking to widen medical exemptions and strike down a requirement that stripped abortion clinics of their licenses to perform the procedure. The lawsuit comes almost a year after the state Supreme Court upheld the ban but left the door open for Hoosiers to sue over specific parts of the law. In the first session of the three-day bench trial in Monroe County, lawyers for the ACLU of Indiana and Indiana Attorney Generals Office questioned three witnesses for the plaintiffs; IU Health OB-GYN Dr. Amy Caldwell, D.C. based OB-GYN Dr. Steven Ralston, and All-Options Executive Director Jennifer Parker Dockray. Prior to Senate Bill 1s enactment, Caldwell performed abortions at the Planned Parenthood clinics in Indianapolis and Bloomington. She still performs abortions at IU Health hospitals. I am here on behalf of my patients who I believe will suffer on behalf of this legislation. Dr. Amy Caldwell The ACLU of Indiana which filed the complaint on behalf of Caldwell, Indianas Planned Parenthood, Womens Med Group and All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center is seeking three preliminary injunctions which would prevent the state from enforcing the law using clauses that they argue are unconstitutionally narrow and needlessly restrictive. The defendants are the Indiana Medical Licensing Board and six county prosecutors, who are represented by the Attorney Generals Office. Owen County Special Judge Kelsey Blake Hanlon, a Republican, is overseeing the proceedings. Hanlon previously issued the preliminary injunction to halt the states abortion ban in September 2022. But the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately ruled in June 2023 that the law was constitutional, though women have a right to an abortion when their life or health is at risk. Health or life exception The first clause at the center of the lawsuit, which attorneys called the Health or Life Exception, allows a person to receive an abortion only if the procedure is necessary to prevent death or a serious health risk to the pregnant persons life. Since the law went into effect, Caldwell said she has performed 12-15 abortions pursuant to this exception. Caldwell said in her testimony the laws definition of serious health risk is vague and incredibly unclear. She also said some of the terms used in the law including major bodily function are not terms used in the medical field. Due to this vagueness, she said she has been unable to provide abortions for patients who she believes have health risks, but is unsure if their conditions meet the exception. The plaintiffs argue this exception prevents people with conditions that could become life threatening over the course of their pregnancy from receiving abortions. In her testimony, Caldwell said the only way to resolve conditions such as hyperemesis gravidarum, placental abruption and placenta previa is by terminating the pregnancy. Caldwell also said the exception would not cover patients with conditions requiring treatment that would harm a fetus, such as cancer patients who require abortions before starting chemotherapy. The health or life exception also does not extend to patients with mental health conditions who require abortions either to protect their own mental health or continue taking necessary medications, the complaint alleges. The OB-GYN said she does not see abortion as the sole treatment for mental health, but rather as a therapeutic treatment. However, she said in certain situations where patients present a serious mental health concern such as self-harm or suicidal ideation abortion may be a reasonable response. The practice of good medicine is to not withhold appropriate care, she said. Hospital requirement The law also terminated licenses for abortion clinics and only allows the procedure to occur in a hospital or ambulatory surgical centers, a clause attorneys called the Hospital Requirement. According to the Indiana Department of Health 2022 terminated pregnancy report, 98.5% of abortion in Indiana were performed in abortion clinics. Caldwell said she is one of two physicians in Indiana still performing procedural abortions under the laws exceptions. However, she said patients must go to an IU Health or Eskenazi Health hospital located in Indianapolis to access this care. About 30 of Indianas 170 hospitals are Catholic-sponsored and follow directives by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which bar providers from performing abortions unless the purpose is the cure of a proportionately serious pathological condition of a pregnant woman. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US The ACLU argues the hospital requirement restricts residents from accessing care because many hospitals providing abortions under the bans exemptions are concentrated in and around Indianapolis. Of the 10 Indiana hospitals that reported performing abortions in 2022, five were located in Marion County, according to the states terminated pregnancy report. The remaining five hospitals were located in Allen, St. Joseph and Warrick counties. During the states questioning, Caldwell acknowledged there are some situations where abortions should be performed in a hospital setting, such as when there are risks of serious complications. However, she emphasized that complications during abortions are rare. It is certainly safer than the car ride I took today from Indianapolis to Bloomington, she said. During her testimony, the defense asked Caldwell about a patient who she performed an abortion on and died after the procedure. She pushed back on the assumption the patient died due to the procedure, stating the patient had pulmonary hypertension, which led to her having a cardiac event in the operating room. Caldwell performed this procedure in a hospital setting, and said the patient passed away even after being admitted to the ICU. Effect of ban In his testimony, Dr. Steven Ralston, an expert witness who performs abortions at George Washington University Hospital in D.C. and a womens clinic in Baltimore, said he has regularly seen patients coming from other states where abortions are banned. He said this has led to busier clinics and longer wait times for patients seeking the procedure. Ralston also said he believes Senate Enrolled Act 1 does not offer enough protection for doctors. He said even if a doctor can perform an abortion under the laws exception, they will likely delay care to get further clarification and this delay could allow patients to get sicker. Doctors are going to read this law and be very worried the care they do will be illegal, Ralston said. All-Options Executive Director Jennifer Parker Dockray, who also testified Wednesday, said since the new law went into effect, All-Options which operates the Hoosier Abortion Fund to help fund costs related to obtaining an abortion has only been able to fund one person to receive an abortion in Indiana. She said all other clients have had to go to Illinois, Ohio or Michigan to receive an abortion, which costs All-Options more to fund. On average, Dockray said, the Hoosier Abortion Fund spent around $225 per patient before the law went into effect. Now, the organization spends around $450 per patient. The litigants return to the courthouse Thursday for further testimony. The post Testimony begins in case against Indianas strict abortion ban appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle. "He and his girlfriend Alyssa had just announced on Facebook that they were expecting a baby girl later this year," his family told PEOPLE GoFundMe Carl David Blaylock III A 20-year-old man, who was expecting his first child, died by electrocution while trimming a tree on May 25. In an email to PEOPLE, an Arlington Police Department spokesperson said that the victim, identified as Carl Blaylock III by the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office, was working on a tree with a chainsaw in Arlington, Texas, when he apparently hit a power line and was electrocuted. He was pronounced dead at the scene, said authorities. Related: Couple Found Dead After Being Electrocuted While Creating Art Using Dangerous Method That's Popular on TikTok "At this time, we have no evidence that a criminal offense occurred, the Arlington Police Department spokesperson said in a statement. "This appears to be a very tragic accident. Authorities said Blaylocks family members had to be kept back from officers as firefighters worked to retrieve his body. 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. In a statement provided to PEOPLE, his family remembered Baylock as a hard-working man, who was also a dad-to-be. The family of Carl David Blaylock III (a.k.a. Trey) is devastated at the tragic loss they sustained when Trey cut into a power line hidden in a large tree," read the statement. "He and his girlfriend Alyssa had just announced on Facebook that they were expecting a baby girl later this year." "Trey was the first generation [in his family] to graduate high school at Timber Creek High School and was finding his footing in life but working contract jobs to earn money. This particular job would have made him $100," they added. Related: High School Senior Dies Days Before Graduation After Heavy Winds Cause Tree to Fall on Camper: A Loss A GoFundMe was established by Lynn Amante, Blaylocks step-grandmother, to pay for Blaylocks cremation and establish a trust for his baby on the way. Words cannot express what a good young man Trey was, Amante wrote in a message on the fundraiser. He has been in our lives since he was a young child. He leaves behind his devastated father, my daughter, his two sisters, Jasmine and Mya and his brother, Kayson. Related: High School Senior Dies in Crash After Hitting Tree During Lunch Break: 'Tragic End to a Beautiful Soul' In their statement, his family said they will always "remember Trey as a young man who loved his family, his dog and dirt bike." "He worked hard and was polite and helpful to all," they added. "Forever in our hearts." A service for Blaylock will be held on Saturday, June 1, in Hurst, Texas. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. AUSTIN (KXAN) Wednesday morning, the Texas Education Agency released a new set of state-owned and developed textbooks aimed at increasing student outcomes called Open Education Resources, or OER, textbooks. State legislators directed the agency to develop the material during the last legislative session as part of House Bill 1605, and its already been tested in multiple school districts. The legislation was passed during the last regular session amid a growing effort to ban books that some parents considered inappropriate from schools and public libraries across the state. The law also requires the State Board of Education to curate a list of state-approved instructional materials for school districts. The board announced Wednesday that it will start hearing from the public on more than 140 textbooks that have already been submitted for approval. In a statement, Gov. Greg Abbott said TEAs new educational materials would help students better understand the connection of history, art, community, literature, and religion on pivotal events like the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Movement, and the American Revolution. Senate bill would provide state teaching materials, citing learning gaps and teacher burnout Although the legislature directed TEA to create these educational materials, school districts are not required to use the textbooks or any materials the state board approves. However, districts that use the materials will receive additional state funding up to $40 per student and employment protections for teachers who use them in their classrooms. According to HB 1605, teachers who use materials approved by the state board of education cannot face disciplinary action for complaints related to teaching widely debated or currently controversial issues of public policy. The OER textbooks have already been used on multiple Texas campuses as a part of a pilot program, including schools within Temple Independent School District. Pilot districts and teachers who used the materials also provided feedback and proposed changes. According to Education Commissioner Mike Morath and Temple ISD Superintendent Bobby Ott, after the first full year using the OER textbooks, Temple ISD saw double-digit gains in the percentage of students reading on grade level. Morath said lower-performing students in the pilot program made the strongest gains. Low-income students are moving up much faster, to a point where they that if the trends continue, they will catch up and there will no longer be achievement gaps by race or by class, in the schools, Morath said. The agency published two OER textbooks, one focusing on K-5 reading and language arts and the other on K-8 algebra and math. Morath said during the pilot program, school districts rolled out the OER textbooks over three years starting on a small scale swapping out the instructional materials for an entire campus and then district-wide in the following year. Education advocates, like Monty Exter of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, said some teachers are concerned that OER will take away the thing they love most about their profession: the actual teaching. Meanwhile, Texas Public Policy Foundation CEO Greg Sindelar called the new instructional materials a game changer for stagnant student achievement. Theres no such thing as a silver bullet in public education; you still need very skilled teachers who love kids and know their content, Morath said. But if youre starting from this, this set of instructional materials, youre starting from a very strong foundation. Morath said many people were involved in helping create the OER textbooks, including a 10-person advisory board that includes former HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson and UT Austin Department of Special Education Professor Dr. Sharon Vaughn. The advisory board also includes Dr. Thomas Lindsey of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, former Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., and Dr. Andrea Ramirez, a National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference Committee member. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. State Rep. Greg Bonnen and his wife Kim Bonnen on the House floor during Sine Die, the last day of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin on May 29, 2023. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune On the morning of Tuesdays runoff, new Texas GOP Chair Abraham George called for an end to the Republican civil war. Lets all come together and row in the same direction, he said, urging the warring factions of the party to focus on defeating Democrats once the primaries were over. For George and his far-right allies, the call was contingent on GOP House Speaker Dade Phelan losing his runoff that evening, allowing Republicans to coalesce behind an even more conservative leader who would run the chamber by rejecting bipartisan compromise. Instead, Phelan eked out a win in his Southeast Texas district and vowed to keep control of the gavel next year and the facade of unity dissolved. Attorney General Ken Paxton, Phelans No. 1 enemy, quickly sent up a warning shot to Republicans in the House who might dare to support the speaker. My message to Austin is clear: to those considering supporting Dade Phelan as Speaker in 2025, ask your 15 colleagues who lost reelection how they feel about their decision now, Paxton said in a statement. You will not return if you vote for Dade Phelan again." Phelan, R-Beaumont, has been a lightning rod for the GOPs ultraconservative wing since he backed Paxtons impeachment on corruption and bribery charges last spring. The hard right, led by Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, accused Phelan of ceding too much power to Democrats and went all out trying to oust him and his allies in the primary. In the end, neither of the dueling GOP factions landed a clean knockout blow instead they both emerged from the rubble of the vicious primary season injured and emboldened, their grudges calcified. The partys far-right flank drove a record 15 House GOP incumbents from office, replacing most of them with new Phelan-hating recruits eager to upend the status quo and focus on social issues. At the same time, the hard right fell short of its biggest prize, allowing Phelan to scrape by. And while the anti-Phelan contingent expanded its numbers more than ever before, in doing so it may have entrenched the speakers support among GOP members who bristled at the attacks on the entire Houses conservative bona fides. It was a cutthroat primary season even by Texas standards, defined by relentless attacks on candidates integrity and distortions of their voting records, all amplified by historic levels of campaign ad spending. And it only seemed to lay the groundwork for more GOP chaos and strife, with no clear end in sight. Phelans House allies remained defiant in support of the embattled speaker, while his rivals cast the results in other runoffs six of Phelans allies lost their seats as a referendum for change. Like Republican voters in my own district in March, the voters here in [Phelans] district saw through the lies and deception and learned what we all know to be true the past two sessions, under his leadership, have been the most conservative sessions in the history of Texas, Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, said in a statement Tuesday evening. Leach was one of 11 GOP incumbents who were at Phelans side celebrating his win in Beaumont, a group that also included state Rep. Jared Patterson. The Frisco Republican told Lubbock radio host Chad Hasty on Wednesday that Phelan was the most conservative speaker in the history of Texas and predicted a majority of House Republicans would back him when their caucus meets in December to pick the speaker candidate they will nominate on the floor the following month, when the Legislature reconvenes. Phelans staunchest House critics dug in their heels, too, pointing to the mass turnover beyond the speakers runoff. Patrick, who presides over the Senate, pinned the incumbent losses on Phelan, arguing he threw them under the bus by failing to lead on passing school vouchers and by allegedly compelling members to impeach Paxton the two major flashpoints in the primaries. There are some Republicans out there, quite frankly, this morning who are choking on their own Kool-Aid, Patrick told Dallas radio host Mark Davis, referring to Phelans House allies. To say that, Oh we love Dade, hes great, hes wonderful, were going to bring him back. I'm sorry, then you're part of that team who wants to allow Democrats to control the [House] in a crimson red Republican state. The anti-Phelan bloc has organized behind a list of demands for the next speaker, dubbed the Contract with Texas, that would kneecap Phelans power, should he win, and further diminish the influence of Democrats in the chamber. Phelan has taken flak from critics who say he should have done more to stop Democrats from using parliamentary maneuvers to kill or delay GOP bills last year. He has also faced blowback for continuing a longstanding tradition of appointing Democrats to chair eight of the Houses 34 standing committees. Twenty-one Republican nominees have signed onto the contract, forming about one-fourth of the House GOP Caucus if they all win in November. The organizers of the contract released an unsigned statement Wednesday arguing that runoff voters loudly reaffirmed the message they sent on March 5th, invoking the GOP incumbents ousted in the first round of the primaries. Yesterdays election results herald the arrival of eight new reinforcements to our cause, the statement read, referring to the six incumbent challengers and two other signatories who won open primaries. The days of dysfunctional governance are numbered, as we vow to end the era of excuse-making and blame-shifting. State Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, wrote on social media that the runoffs were a HUGE WIN for the grassroots, adding that next years session is about to be WILD! One of only three members to vote against Phelan last year, Schatzline affirmed he would do so again when lawmakers reconvene in January. State Rep. Tom Oliverson once a Phelan ally said Wednesday that Phelans primary win was not changing his resolve to challenge him as House leader. The Cypress Republican pledged to take the fight all the way to the floor rather than backing out at the last moment if he didnt have the votes so that GOP members would get the chance to declare their preference for the status-quo or a new direction. Oliverson was joined in the speaker's race Thursday by state Rep. Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville, who offered a scathing assessment of Phelan's leadership style as she announced her bid in a letter to fellow House Republicans. Our reform-minded members outnumber the status-quo supporters, and our ranks have grown with new energy this election cycle, Slawson wrote. We are collectively up to the task of decentralizing the power structure in the House and wholly changing the culture that throttles us instead of empowers us. Patrick, who lives next door to Oliverson and shares a political consultant with him, has declined to weigh in on Oliversons candidacy. He told Davis he does not think Phelan will win back the gavel but vowed that if he does, we will be on his butt about giving Democrats any political power. Everyone's going to be watching him like a hawk, Patrick said. To be elected speaker, a House member must secure 76 votes, a majority of the 150-seat chamber. Democrats control 64 seats, meaning a speaker hopeful could theoretically win with full Democratic support and around a dozen of the 86 Republicans. To prevent this scenario, Phelans rivals have called for speaker candidates to only solicit support from Republican members. Leach said the House GOP Caucus bylaws require a candidate to secure 60% of the groups support at its December closed-door meeting to pick a speaker nominee ahead of session meaning Phelan would need the support of 52 Republicans under the Houses current makeup. Hurt feelings As the primaries receded, some of Phelans allies urged Republicans to set aside the acrimony so they could focus on Democrats in November. There are hurt feelings after every single primary, more so this time because of the lies and the vitriol [directed at] all kinds of candidates for office more than Ive seen in 15 years in politics, Patterson said. But we have got to come together. State Rep. Gary VanDeaver, the only anti-voucher Republican who won his runoff, acknowledged the primaries damaged relationships between House GOP lawmakers. But while there's no doubt [the House] is a different environment from the one we left, VanDeaver said, he argued that most members probably share his desire to move on from the campaign and be the adults in the room. VanDeaver, a Phelan ally who chairs the House committee in charge of education funding, said he absolutely supports Phelan and intends to vote for him next year. The New Boston Republican is one of the survivors of Gov. Greg Abbotts separate but parallel war against House incumbents who voted against school vouchers. Abbott endorsed VanDeaver the last couple election cycles, then spent more than $670,000 this year trying to deny him another term as part of the anti-voucher purge. The feuding turned nasty: Abbott accused VanDeaver of voting against legislation to protect his own financial interests, a charge he denied. The governor also called VanDeaver a fraud for running a TV ad that claimed Abbotts voucher bill would have given tax dollars to illegal immigrants, an argument Abbotts strategist dismissed as nonsense. VanDeaver said he is ready to move forward. I have experienced personal attacks, attacks on my character, VanDeaver said. That's one thing about a race like this. You learn who your friends are, but more importantly, you learn who they're not. Leach said he was also ready to turn the page, telling Davis, the Dallas radio host, that his fellow Republicans, whether I supported them in the primary or not, are not my enemy. My enemy is radical progressive Democrats who are working very hard, very aggressively, to take over the Texas House. After backing state Reps. Frederick Frazier, R-McKinney, and Justin Holland, R-Rockwall, in their runoffs, Leach sought to extend an olive branch to the two challengers who ousted them both of whom oppose Phelans speakership. "Keresa Richardson, Katrina Pierson are going to be wonderful members of the Texas House, I have no doubt about it, Leach told Davis. Left unmentioned was a third runoff winner, veteran and GOP activist David Lowe, who unseated state Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth. Leach seemed especially eager to see Klick win, labeling Lowe a porn industry profiteer and sexual degenerate on social media last week. (Lowe, accused of owning pornographic web domains, has said he once bought and resold web domains in bulk to make money.) Lowe, for his part, has suggested Leach is a closet Democrat and accused him of leaching off the Republican Party and concurrently turning his back on it. The two are poised to become House colleagues in January. The Texas Tribune answering reader questions about 2024 elections. To share your question or feedback with us, you can fill out this form. Weve added new speakers to the stellar lineup of leaders, lawmakers and newsmakers hitting the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Get an up-close look at todays biggest issues at Texas breakout politics and policy event! 'Textbook self defense': Thomas Brown acquitted by jurors in 20 minutes on day 8 of trial Jurors needed only 20 minutes Thursday morning to clear Thomas Brown's name. A jury of 12 Crawford County residents unanimously found Brown not guilty on all charges he had faced, which included felony murder and reckless homicide in the death of Sean Cassaro. The verdict proved that Brown had acted in self defense after being attacked by Cassaro in the early morning of Jan. 22, 2023. "This is textbook self defense," James Mayer III, defense attorney, said after his client's acquittal. "The state didn't even prove that Tom Brown killed him. Let me be clear: Tom Brown should never have been charged." 'The right to defend ourselves' Police found Cassaro's body in the driveway of 515 Tiffin St. in Bucyrus around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. They arrested Brown, 50, about an hour later. The man told officers that Cassaro had attacked him, then, after a few minutes of fighting, he had freed himself and fled in his car. Attorney James Mayer III uses a medical mannequin to demonstrate aspects of strangulation during a trial in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. Brown was home cleaning his wounds when the police knocked on his door, he testified during his trial. "The first thing I said was: 'Sean Cassaro called the cops on me?'" Brown told jurors. Brown said it was after his arrest that he learned his attacker had died. Special prosecutors Micah Ault and Drew Wood argued during trial that Brown should have been more gentle while protecting himself, an assertion the defense at one point called "preposterous." "What was he supposed to do?" Mayer asked prosecutors during his closing arguments. Victims should never be asked to protect their attacker during an altercation, Mayer said. "We, in the state of Ohio and everywhere else in this country, have the right to defend ourselves when we are put in a situation like Tom Brown was," Mayer said. "I cannot be more clear: this was textbook self defense." 'One of the greatest moments in my career' Brown is a longtime accountant and financial advisor in Bucyrus. During the trial, nearly 50 of Brown's family and friends sat behind him in the gallery of the Crawford County Common Pleas Court. "I have never represented a person in my entire career where I've had more people approach me and say nothing but good things about someone as I have during the time I've represented Tom Brown," Mayer said. Attorney James Mayer III quizzes Dr. Bill Smock about his medical opinion during a trial in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. Brown's supporting cast had grown to nearly 100 by Thursday morning when Mayer and fellow defense attorney Sean Boone stood with their client to hear the verdict. The seconds after the acquittal were the first the attorneys had ever seen Brown free from the weight of his charges. "I have to say, that was one of the greatest moments in my career," Mayer said. "There were signs of relief all over their faces. Today was the first time in the 17 months that I've gotten to know Tom Brown and his family that I finally saw a sense of relief and a thought that we can finally move on with our lives. I am so happy for them." Common Pleas Judge Sean Leuthold presided over the trial. ztuggle@gannett.com 419-564-3508 This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Thomas Brown found not guilty by jurors after 8 days in trial This article is part of a recurring series that updates the status of properties of interest in the Erie area. Have a suggestion? Email jmartin@timesnews.com. Shoppers traveling along upper Peach Street will soon have a chance to grab a quick oil change between visits to Walmart and Target. Construction continued this week on a Take 5 Oil Change franchise at 7541 Peach St., at the intersection with Downs Drive just north of Interstate 90. Summit Township officials confirmed the business' identity. A spokeswoman for Take 5's parent company, Driven Brands, said the business is tentatively set to open by late September. "It's a small lot but a great location," said Jack Lee, Summit Township supervisor. "They have some work to do to get it ready, but it's progressing." A construction crew works Tuesday on building a Take 5 Oil Change Service at the intersection of Peach Street and Downs Drive in Summit Township. Township officials confirmed the franchise's name but did not know when the business would be ready to open. Take 5 started 40 years ago near New Orleans Take 5 started in 1984 as Rapid Oil Change and currently has 60 locations, mostly in the southeastern United States. They offer quick oil changes, with the customer able to remain in their vehicle. The company plans to open eight new locations in Pennsylvania, including the one in Summit Township, in 2024. A sister company, Take 5 Car Wash, started in 2020. Summit Township intersection has seen increased traffic Lee said the intersection where the Take 5 Oil Change will be located has seen a marked increase in traffic over the past several years. "PennDOT did a 24-hour survey, I'd say six or seven years ago, and they found 22,000 vehicles went through the intersection," Lee said. "We were able to conduct a 24-hour survey on a Wednesday in the middle of last July, and found 33,000 vehicles had gone through the intersection." Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNBruce. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Take 5 Oil Change to open franchise on Peach Street in Summit Township Four years on from the pandemic, in the global north, vaccines remain the jewel in the crown of the Covid-19 response. Yet for some pandemic scientists, there was a missing piece in our outbreak efforts: therapeutics. While 71bn (or 95 per cent) of public funding was funneled into developing vaccines in 2021, only 3.6bn was spent investing in drugs like antivirals. Had this split been more equitable, with antivirals like Paxlovid or Molnupiravir available in June 2020 the same time vaccines were approved four million lives could have been saved. So says Prof Sharon Lewin, director of the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics (CGCPT) in Melbourne. At the World Health Organizations (WHO) 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva this week, she is among those extolling the key advantages of therapeutics over jabs: that theyre faster-acting (offering protection immediately, rather than a few weeks later), come in pill form, which makes both storage and rollout simpler, and only need to be given only to those infected, rather than the entirety of the at-risk population. The problem with Covid therapeutics is that they came too late, and they werent fantastic, Lewin says. A recent study published in Nature Communications showed that nine days after beginning a course of Molnupiravir, 48 per cent of patients had cleared the virus, compared to 56 per cent who did not take antivirals. Prof Michel Kazatchkine, special advisor to the WHO Regional Office for Europe, agrees that there was disappointment around the drugs that were developed in Covids wake, which very soon appeared ineffective to some of the mutations that occurred, particularly when the Delta strain switched to Omicron. When it comes to thwarting the next pandemic, in Lewins view, we really need to think about how we can make them better, [and] make them faster. Developing an effective jab for Covid happened quickly - but there will be situations when we cant develop a vaccine or it takes longer than we thought, or the vaccine isnt 100 per cent effective, says Lewin - making therapeutic development all the more necessary. She says conditions like HIV are very compelling, because it shows you what you can do with antivirals in the absence of a vaccine. HIV, along with Hepatitis C another chronic condition for which no successful vaccine has ever been made is basically now a manageable disease because of antiviral drugs. Kazatchkine says that while we need both efforts [vaccines and therapeutics] in parallel, vaccines were prioritised during the pandemic in part because of the subconscious idea that everyone has, that the vaccine is something that will free the world of a pathogen. The eradication of diseases like polio, smallpox and (until recent outbreaks) measles were fresh enough in collective memory to make vaccines seem the obvious first line of treatment, he adds. Plus, while therapeutics can help prevent morbidity and mortality, you do not stop the epidemic [with drugs alone]. Dr Birkneh Tadesse, associate director general at the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul, adds that since prevention is generally more cost-effective and more impactful than the treatment of a disease, the role vaccines play in preventing endemic or epidemic diseases is paramount. He points out that historically, the eradication of diseases has been mainly possible through enhanced vaccination efforts, and that the herd immunity following vaccination is crucial for preventing the transmission of disease, reducing antimicrobial resistance, and saving costs. (There are mixed opinions on whether rolling out vaccines or therapeutics is cheaper, though reducing disease levels in the population is undoubtedly beneficial for the public coffers.) Therapeutics also have limitations in mounting sustained herd immunity, Tadesse says. To bring therapeutic development in line with that of vaccines requires serious funding (the CGCPT was set up following a 130m donation in 2022). The technologies that we use to develop therapeutics havent really evolved much, notes Lewin, and we havent invested a lot of money into technologies that can give us therapeutics at speed. Still, there is optimism for what they might be capable of in future, research-permitting. Imagine if you had a really cheap, non-toxic antiviral drug, you could use it to block transmission, Lewin says, likening the idea to anti-malarials that you could take ahead of a trip. That would be the really amazing advance. Ditto mRNA therapeutics, that could be tweaked depending on the disease at hand; thats what wed like to have in 20 years time. Thats the high-level vision. All agree that global access to whatever the future of pandemic treatment looks like is vital. At the end of 2021, over 90 per cent of people in some high-income countries had been given two doses of the jab, compared to just 2 per cent in low-income nations a dearth of access that is thought to have caused more than one million deaths. Drugs for HIV and Hepatitis C have been made affordable via two-tier pricing models, Lewin says, thus a similar strategy could and must be deployed to combat other diseases. We just have to have a way of making sure that theres equitable access for all these products. That should have been enshrined in a legally binding treaty, or Pandemic Accord, which was proposed in March 2021 by a group of world leaders including Boris Johnson so that any future pandemic would be met with a coordinated and equal global response. But roadblocks appear to have scuppered that trajectory. The UK reportedly refused to sign the WHOs document in early May; while the WHA was set to open with the treaty in place, stalled negotiations mean that it could take another year to come to fruition, Kazatchkine says. (WHO member countries have only ever co-signed on one health treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003, which upped regulation of the industry and led to a decline in smoking rates.) On tackling the next pandemic, and focusing efforts beyond vaccines alone, there is work to be done, Lewin says. The conclusion has been that we need to do better. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security 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 2024 presidential campaign is full of drama, and pundits left and right say this is the worst weve ever seen either in action, tone or pettiness. It isnt, by far. Since our founding, American politics has been rough and tumble even downright nasty. Voters were told in 1800 that Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, would destroy the country and openly promote prostitution, incest and adultery. Jeffersons opponent, John Adams? Dubbed, His Rotundity and accused of wanting to start a kingly dynasty. Things werent any gentler in Congress, where verbal altercations between Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Marjorie Taylor Greene seem almost quaint compared to the legislatures violent history. A duel claimed Alexander Hamilton in 1804, but that didnt stop the practice among legislators. Representatives often carried guns and knives onto the House floor, and in 1838, Rep. William Graves of Kentucky shot Maine Rep. Jonathan Cilley to death in a duel. Congress banned dueling in 1839, but the violence didnt end. In 1856, Preston Bully Brooks, a representative from South Carolina, attacked Massachusetts Sen. Charles Sumner with a gold-tipped walking cane. The attack, in response to Sumners speeches against South Carolinas senator during debates over whether Kansas should be admitted a slave state or free, was brutal. It took Sumner three years to recover. Accusations of election cheating, also a near-daily occurrence in the current cycle, have a rich history as well. In 1824, Andrew Jackson won the popular vote but none of the four candidates had a majority of the Electoral College, so the election went to the House of Representatives. There, Speaker Henry Clay, who had been a candidate for president as well, had his electors pledge themselves to John Quincy Adams. Upon Adams swearing in, he appointed Clay to be secretary of state. You can imagine the howls over the corrupt bargain from Jacksons supporters. Our forefathers couldnt be counted on to take the high road, either. John C. Calhoun, a senator from South Carolina, is the only man to serve as vice president to two presidents back when the position was given to whoever got the second-most votes. As vice president to Andrew Jackson, Calhoun battled with Secretary of State Martin Van Buren for the presidents favor. When Jackson appointed Van Buren as ambassador to England in 1831, Calhouns supporters lobbied both for and against Van Buren to engineer a tie the only way Calhoun could cast his vote against Old Kinderhook. According to Hero Of Two Worlds, Mike Duncans biography of Gilbert du Motier the Marquis de Lafayette, a bit earlier in 1824, some of Lafayettes entourage encountered hard-core Jacksonian partisans in the Pennsylvania militia who threatened to take up arms if their man lost. After Jackson was defeated, those same Pennsylvania partisans demurred when asked if they were prepared to make good on their threat of violence. They responded, we went, in truth, to great lengths, but our opponents disregarded it and acted properly. Now that it is settled, all we have to do is obey. We will support Adams as zealously as if he were our candidate, but at the same time keep a close watch on his administration. Four years is soon past, and the consequences of a bad election are easily obviated. Violence erupted a few decades later when Abraham Lincoln was elected as a Republican, the party that replaced the Whigs. Democratic states in the South, fearing Lincoln would abolish slavery, seceded and took up arms. More than 600,000 Americans died. Despite hand-wringing about a civil war on Fox News and MSNBC, we are nowhere near where we were in the 1860s. The 2024 election will likely be filled with as much pettiness, name-calling and threats of violence as any prior. Thats politics. The rest of us should act as honorably as those Pennsylvania Jacksonians did in 1824: Fight for our candidates, respect results and vow to do it all over again in 2028. Patrick Tuohey is co-founder of Better Cities Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on municipal policy solutions, and a senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to Missouri state policy work. For those discovering Ohios mess of government dysfunction, heres a history of how we got here The Ohio Statehouse. (Photo by Jodi Jacobson / Getty Images.) The Democratic National Committee this week announced exactly what Ive expected all along in the Ohio Biden ballot debacle: Democrats will simply nominate him in a virtual convention before the actual Chicago convention and the president will be on the ballot for reelection in Ohio this November. If youll recall, this is precisely what I predicted in my April 18 column: Biden will be on the Ohio ballot. Most likely, national Democrats will have to hold a virtual mini-convention earlier than their Chicago convention, and the problem is solved. In 2012 and 2020, Ohio faced this same situation for both parties and lawmakers made temporary extensions to solve deadline problems. In 2024, Ohio Republican politicians are apparently just being as petty as possible. Its fitting for Democrats to solve their own problem because, frankly, they created the problem, so its theirs to fix. Ohios election law requires presidential candidates be certified in conventions at least 90 days before the general election, and the Democratic National Convention this year has been scheduled to take place in Chicago after that deadline. Moreover, the change to Ohios nomination deadline making it 90 days was passed when Democrats held the Ohio House and governorship while Republicans retained the Ohio Senate, as they have since 1985. It was a small but obviously consequential part of a 341-page bill, and Ive yet to see any decent explanation for why it was ever done in the first place. Nor have I seen a decent explanation why, when the problem came up in 2012, it wasnt permanently fixed. Even worse, when the problem came up a second time in 2020, it wasnt permanently fixed then either. Now that the same problem has come up for a third time in four presidential cycles, it would seem obvious that the legislature should just finally make a permanent fix and move on. But not this legislature. Oh no, dear world. Not good governance and fair elections in Ohio for their own sake. Thats not how things are done in Ohio these days. So step right up, folks, to The Great Ohio Big Top of State Government Dysfunction. Ive assembled here for your edification and amusement an exhaustive timeline to try to put some semblance of cohesion to all thats been happening in Ohio to bring us to this point. If youre ready to really try to wrap your head around the depth and breadth of Ohios debasement, buckle in, because its a lot. The Statehouse of Madness To begin, a little historical throat-clearing for the youngsters, then well ease our way into the headier stuff. 2009: Ohios split-control legislature and Democratic governor inexplicably roll back the presidential nomination ballot deadline to 90 days. Also 2010: The U.S. Census Bureau conducts its 10-year census, spurring another round of redistricting in 2011. Also 2010: The Tea Party wave brings back Republican control of the Ohio House and the Ohio governors office. 2011: Ohio Republicans create some of the most gerrymandered maps in the nation in a downtown Columbus secret hotel room bunker, ensuring them 10 years of supermajority control over the Ohio legislature. 2012: The Ohio legislature passes a temporary fix to the presidential ballot deadline to accommodate both the Republican and Democratic national conventions. 2015: Ohio voters pass anti-gerrymandering reform for Statehouse districts with more than 71% of the vote, but the reforms leave politicians in charge of drawing the districts. An ominous portent, Im afraid. 2018: Ohio voters pass anti-gerrymandering reform for U.S. Congressional districts with nearly 75% of the vote, but again, the reforms leave politicians in charge of drawing the districts. 2019: Newly elected Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs a six-week abortion ban for the state with no exceptions for rape or incest, but an injunction is quickly issued by a federal court preventing it from going into effect due to Roe v. Wade. Also 2019: Then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder ushers a $1.3 billion fossil fuel and FirstEnergy bailout through the legislature that DeWine signs the same day. Also 2019: The Ohio legislature includes a temporary fix to the presidential ballot deadline in the state budget to accommodate both the Republican and Democratic national conventions. Also 2019: An effort is launched by Ohio citizens to repeal the FirstEnergy bailout, but a ballot summary is rejected by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Their effort to get the repeal on the ballot ultimately fails. 2020: The U.S. Census Bureau conducts its 10-year census, spurring another round of redistricting in 2021. Also 2020: Then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four others are arrested in the biggest dark money political bribery and money laundering scandal in Ohio history. One of the other defendants is a FirstEnergy lobbyist named Matt Borges who had previously served as chair of the Ohio Republican Party. Mugshots of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, and former Ohio Republican Party chair and lobbyist Matt Borges. Householder is accused of orchestrating $60 million worth of bribes to elect FirstEnergy-favorable Republicans, make himself speaker, and pass the $1.3 billion bailout at the expense of ratepayers. The bill also destroyed Ohios renewable energy portfolio and propped up two failing coal plants, one of which is in Indiana. Borges is accused of attempting to scuttle the citizen repeal effort. 2021-2022: A bipartisan majority on the Ohio Supreme Court rejects Republican-drawn Statehouse district maps as unconstitutionally gerrymandered five times. As a member of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, Gov. DeWine goes along with the Republican legislative leaders gerrymandering. Also as a member of the commission, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose goes along with the gerrymandering as well, after campaigning in 2018 telling the nation he was against gerrymandering, and after, as a member of the redistricting commission, calling the maps asinine and texting his chief of staff, I should vote no, before ultimately voting yes, repeatedly. Also 2021-2022: A bipartisan majority on the Ohio Supreme Court rejects Republican-drawn U.S. Congressional district maps as unconstitutionally gerrymandered two times. 2021: Nearly a full year after his arrest, lawmakers expel Householder from the Ohio House. Also 2021: Ohio Republican lawmakers add party labels to Ohio Supreme Court races. 2022: Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission refuse to follow the bipartisan Ohio Supreme Courts order to draw districts that arent gerrymandered, thereby running out the clock after an anti-abortion lobbyist files a lawsuit in federal court to force Ohio voters to use the gerrymandered maps. Two Trump-appointed judges agree to force Ohio voters to vote under unconstitutionally gerrymandered maps. Also 2022: Swing-vote Republican Chief Justice Maureen OConnor is forced by law to retire due to age. As she ruled against Republican gerrymandering, there were discussions by Republicans about possibly impeaching OConnor. Also 2022: A right-wing majority on the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade nationwide. Ohios six-week abortion ban is quickly put into effect. Ohio makes international headlines as a 10-year-old rape victim is forced to flee the state for abortion care. Ohio Republicans question the 10-year-olds existence. Ten days later, the criminal case is confirmed. A couple months later, amid Ohio doctors submitting affidavits of horror stories caused by the law, Ohios six-week abortion ban is put on hold by a local county judge. Also 2022: Ohioans are forced to vote under unconstitutionally gerrymandered maps to elect our current 135th General Assembly (serving 2023 and 2024). Republicans increase their gerrymandered supermajorities in both chambers. Also 2022: A coalition of advocates start planning further redistricting reform. Meanwhile, another group makes plans to put a reproductive rights amendment on the ballot in 2023 for Ohio voters to consider. Polls show 59% support for abortion rights in Ohio. Shortly thereafter, Secretary of State LaRose and Republican state Rep. Brian Stewart announce a proposal to raise the threshold in Ohio for passing constitutional amendments from 50% to 60%. LaRose denies that the proposal is connected to abortion or gerrymandering, but in a memo Stewart writes to his colleagues, he lists only two reasons for them to support his proposal: stopping the abortion rights amendment and stopping any further anti-gerrymandering reform in Ohio. 2023: Ohios unconstitutionally gerrymandered legislature takes their seats. Republican Jason Stephens is elected Ohio House speaker with support from Democrats and a divided Republican caucus. This sparks a division among Republicans in the chamber that continues to this day, notably manifesting in term-limited Ohio Senate President Matt Huffmans expected challenge to Stephens speakership coming up in January 2025 when Huffman moves over to the House. The Ohio Republican Party votes to censure the Republican Ohio House members who supported Stephens. Also 2023: Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder is convicted of felony racketeering and sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the FirstEnergy dark money political bribery scandal. Former Ohio Republican Party Chair Matt Borges is convicted for his role as well, and sentenced to five years in prison. Also 2023: Ohio Republicans enact one of the most restrictive voter laws in the country. They also eliminate August elections. They make a play to put the 60% amendment threshold on the May ballot in Ohio, but fail. Later, they bring back a special August election to put the 60% proposal to voters. DeWine supports the proposal. Meanwhile, the Ohio reproductive rights proposal qualifies for the November ballot. DeWine is against it. Summer 2023: Secretary of State LaRose admits the August election is 100% about trying to stop the November abortion rights amendment. Summer 2023: Secretary of State LaRose and the anti-abortion lobbyist who sued to force gerrymandered districts on Ohio voters campaign together to try to convince voters to accept the 60% threshold proposal. LaRose also announces his run for the Republican primary nomination for U.S. Senate. August 2023: 57% of Ohio voters reject the proposal. Later that same month, a group called Citizens Not Politicians is formed to put forward a new anti-gerrymandering amendment proposal that would remove politicians from the process of drawing districts and replace them with a citizen-led commission. Retired Republican Ohio Supreme Court Justice Maureen OConnor and former Democratic Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown join together to spearhead the effort. They make plans to put the amendment ballot proposal before voters in November 2024. November 2023: 57% of Ohio voters pass the states new reproductive rights amendment. Moreover, 57% pass a new law for adult-use recreational marijuana. December 2023: The Ohio Senate proposes to overhaul the adult-use marijuana law just passed by Ohio voters, but a bipartisan coalition in the fractured Ohio House doesnt bite, with a majority remaining committed to the law as it was passed by voters. March 2024: LaRose loses his campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. April 2024: LaRose informs Ohio Democrats that the Democratic National Convention takes place after Ohios ballot deadline, and that unless the law is changed or the nominating convention is moved, he can not legally put Biden on Ohios November ballot. The Republican National Convention, taking place in July, is not affected. Also April 2024: A joint public records request from Floodlight, the Ohio Capital Journal, the USA Today Network, and Energy News Network reveals FirstEnergy gave $2.5 million to GOP governors dark money group backing DeWines 2018 candidacy and another $1 million to boost his eventual running mate, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. To put that in context, shortly after becoming governor in 2019, DeWine appointed a FirstEnergy lobbyist named Sam Randazzo to be Ohios top utilities watchdog. In a deferred prosecution agreement, FirstEnergy admitted bribing Randazzo $4 million. Shortly after winning election, DeWine and Husted had dinner with FirstEnergy executives the very night they drove over to Randazzos condo to bribe him. DeWine also appointed another FirstEnergy lobbyist named Dan McCarthy to be his legislative affairs director. Before he took that job, McCarthy was the principal of a dark money group FirstEnergy was using to funnel its bribes. DeWine has repeatedly defended his now-former aide, and last year appointed him to the Ohio Racing Commission. Also April 2024: Sam Randazzo died by suicide after being indicted and pleading not guilty to both federal and state charges related to the bribery scandal. He is the second defendant in the bribery scandal to die by suicide. The first was lobbyist Neil Clark, who died by suicide in March 2021 wearing a DeWine for Governor t-shirt. May 2024: LaRose and Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman decide to tie Bidens access to the ballot 2024 to a Republican-proposed elections law to ban foreign contributions to issues campaigns in Ohio, but thats not all. The Ohio Republican Senate proposal would also erect a variety of barriers to ballot initiatives overall. For instance, it would create onerous mandates to become a PAC for any citizen group that wants to create a ballot initiative, no matter how small. It would throw into confusion the possible international sourcing of all money, including legal money, for example from a multi-national corporation or, say, the Catholic church. It would prohibit a lawful permanent U.S. resident, also known as a green card holder, from making contributions or expenditures regarding ballot issues or candidates. Because foreign money is already prohibited by the rules of the Ohio Elections Commission, the question becomes a matter of enforcement. The Senate Republican proposal would turn a massive amount of power over to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. On Wednesday, a federal appeals court ordered Yost to stop blocking the path of a proposed constitutional amendment that would do away with qualified immunity for police officers and other government employees, the Toledo Blade reported. And as we reported Wednesday, Yost continues to refuse to answer questions about his role in shooting down the FirstEnergy bailout repeal effort in 2019. In closing remarks of the convicted felon Borges trial, federal prosecutors highlighted some claims made by Borges to a co-conspirator. Borges, you see, also used to be a political advisor and campaign manager for Yost. An Assistant U.S. Attorney paraphrased a June 26, 2019 text Borges sent saying he had dinner with Yost and put the (repeal) referendum issue on his radar. She quoted Borges: Dont repeat this. But (Yost) said, I would be out front opposing this if it werent for FirstEnergy support and your involvement. He thinks the issue is bad policy but he wants to be supportive. If theres any way that the law will allow him to reject the language, he will do it. Are you surprised this is the person Ohio Senate Republicans want to turn massive new authorities over to on ballot and elections issues? I, dear reader, am not. Please keep in mind, four years after the arrest of Householder and the news of the FirstEnergy dark money political bribery scandal first broke, Ohio Statehouse Republicans have done absolutely nothing to combat dark money or corruption in Ohio. With each new revelation, theyve remained recalcitrant. And, as we reported today, this proposal from Senate Republicans does nothing to provide transparency or accountability for the kind of dark money at the center of the largest political bribery scandal in state history. Friday, May 24, 2024: Amid continued legislative inaction (on the Biden ballot issue, not anti-corruption legislation lol), DeWine holds a grandstanding press conference to call a special session of the legislature to address the Biden issue, but instead of supporting a clean bill as advocated in the Ohio House, DeWine expresses his support for the Senate Republican plan to tie it to their attack on ballot initiatives as well. Also Friday, May 24, 2024: Both Ohio House Democrats and Republican Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens continue to say that it isnt the foreign interference ban that they are rejecting; it is the new restrictions on access to the ballot for citizens. Last week, Stephens put it this way: We have language that has input from campaign finance experts and important interested parties to deal with the issue. This is language that squarely and directly bans foreign influence in Ohios issue campaigns, while not also inadvertently limiting the rights of citizens to have their voices heard. That sounds reasonable to me. But it is apparently not an acceptable option for Ohio Senate Republicans, forcing one to conclude that their aim precisely is to limit the rights of citizens to have their voices heard, as it has been time after time after time. Tuesday, May 28, 2024: The Democratic National Committee announces a virtual convention before the Chicago convention in order to comply with Ohio law without relying on Ohio lawmakers. Through a virtual roll call, we will ensure that Republicans cant chip away at our democracy through incompetence or partisan tricks and that Ohioans can exercise their right to vote for the presidential candidate of their choice, DNC Chair Jamie Harrison says. Wednesday, May 29, 2024: The Ohio legislature continues to blunder forward with its special session anyway in an attempt to move their ballot issues attack under an emergency clause even though there is now no emergency. Clearly they arent attempting to pass a clean Biden ballot bill, much less even a clean foreign money ban. And they damn sure arent interested in seriously addressing the rampant dark money corruption that federal criminal convictions have proven Ohio to be suffering. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post For those discovering Ohios mess of government dysfunction, heres a history of how we got here appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Jerusalem on Thursday held its annual gay pride parade under heavy security and with a subdued vibe, given the solemn mood in Israel after months of war. LGBTQ+ supporters marched the streets of Jerusalem carrying rainbow flags, Israeli flags and yellow ribbons, a symbol for hostages still held in Gaza. Absent were the vibrant cheers and music that usually accompany the event. Organizers estimated that 10,000 people marched. Police said some 2,000 officers were on guard. The turnout was smaller than in previous years. Last year's parade in Jerusalem was estimated to have drawn 30,000 people. Netanel Shaler, executive director at Havruta, an LGBTQ+ group for those with a religious leaning, said the goal was to be sensitive to the overall security situation while still allowing people to march. In a video interview with Israeli news website Ynet, Shaler said he was serving as a military reservist and was on a special leave to participate. This year's parade adopted the slogan "Born to be Free," and was led in part by the forum of families and supporters of hostages abducted during Hamas' Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel that sparked the war in Gaza. Some protesters appeared on the sidelines holding signs against the parade. There were no unexpected incidents or violence, the organizers said. Yair Lapid, the opposition leader and former prime minister, took part in the event. "The march is more important this year than ever," he said. "Here we are reminded that we are not only fighting for the life of the state of Israel but also for what kind of country it will be. What its values are. What it believes in." (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Leslie Adler) 'The Washington Post' examined 22 schools that indigenous children were forced to attend For decades, numerous Native American children, already forced into Catholic boarding schools to be stripped of their cultural identities, suffered repeat sexual abuse at the hands of priests, brothers and nuns, a new report reveals. An article in The Washington Post spotlights the stories of many indigenous survivors. Now elderly, the survivors seek accountability for the years of abuse and the subsequent cover-ups. The Post reports that Native Americans were made to attend these schools, many of which were located in remote areas in states like Montana, South Dakota and Alaska, among others. The paper examined a total of 22 schools, out of more than 500 nationwide, and found that over a 91-year period, 18 of those employed at least one priest, brother or sister credibly accused of sexual abuse. In its reporting, The Post found that a total of 122 priests, sisters and brothers among the 22 schools were accused of sexual abuse involving more than 1,000 children dating back to the late 19th century. Most of the documented abuse, according to the research, occurred in the 1950s and 60s. They committed crimes under the cloak, Deborah Parker, whose family members attended boarding schools, told the paper. They did it in the name of God. Parker is the chief executive of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, a non-profit attempting to help heal communities affected by the abuse at the schools. One of the more damning revelations of The Posts reporting is presented via a chart examining the work history of Edmund J. Robinson, a priest accused of abusing multiple children. The chart shows that Robinson was re-assigned a dozen times to several Catholic schools or churches across four northwestern states, including repeat assignments at three different Native American schools in Montana and Washington. The Post reported that in a 2011 lawsuit, Robinson, who died in 2014, was accused of sexually abusing multiple children at a school in Hays, Montana. 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. Another chart plotted the number of individuals accused of sexual abuse at different schools across decades. One school in Montana had at least one person with a credible accusation against them assigned there for more than 60 straight years. The story also features first-hand accounts of survivors who bravely told their stories. The Post notes that many survivors don't want monetary compensation, but rather official recognition that they were abused. It was the acknowledgment they were wronged, attorney Vito De La Cruz, who represented multiple survivors, told The Post. Finally somebody said, Yes, youre right. The things that you buried deep inside your psyche and your soul were more our fault. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. As St. Petersburg grows, some businesses are feeling the pain. Three downtown restaurants recently closed, somewhat abruptly. After reports that EDGE District restaurant Bacon Bitch had closed and removed its St. Petersburg location from its website, a visit to the restaurant this week revealed a locked door and bare walls and countertops. There were people inside, but no one answered the door. On a return visit, the sign was down. A message sent to Bacon Bitchs social media accounts went unanswered. The restaurant has locations in Miami and Orlando, and one planned for West Palm Beach, according to its Instagram page. With a crass shtick and decadent breakfast sandwiches, the restaurant opened in 2020. But controversy regarding owner Chris Visos alleged involvement with the killing of a cat, which inspired a Change.org petition, polarized the publics reaction to the restaurant. Sundial-adjacent Rollbotto Sushi has also closed unexpectedly, and its employees were given no notice, said former kitchen manager Michael Daley. He said the owner abandoned the business two weeks ago and notified employees via a text message. Daley provided a screenshot of a group message that read: Im sorry to inform you about the final closure of Rollbotto Sushi. Therefore youre (sic) employment is terminated. Nicolas Lecompt. The week prior, Daley said Lecompt missed payroll and said it would be paid a week late. But according to Daley, no one got paid. A photo posted on a Facebook page showed four people in front of Rollbotto holding signs that read: Rollbottos employees unpaid. Lecompt has since left town, Daley said. Employees are owed thousands in wages and tips, he said, and some worry that they will not receive tax forms. Daley started a GoFundMe fundraiser to help them. Rollbotto opened in 2012. It was St. Petes first restaurant featuring robot chefs. According to records, the business was dissolved by shareholders in 2016 and NLC Food Service acquired the restaurant in 2023. State records indicate that Lecompt is the owner of NLC Food Service. Another surprising closing came just this week: Tropez, the eclectic downtown restaurant and bar with a front-row seat to the construction of rising behemoth The Residences at 400 Central, announced Wednesday it had closed. Tropez opened in 2019, just as construction projects were gearing up and before the pandemic closed restaurants down. It held on through all of that, even posting on social media about its Sunday brunch as recently as May 19. But on Wednesday, the restaurant posted this message on its Facebook page: It is with a heavy heart that we have to confirm the rumors you have heard about us closing. This was a very difficult decision that came about due to the constant rise in supply cost, competitive wages, the loss of foot traffic on Central Ave , the construction, while paired with minimal parking. We want to thank all of you for the memories over the years and look forward to seeing you when you stop in for a visit at Little Philly in Grand Central. Consumers Energy said it will file an electric rate increase request with the Michigan Public Service Commission on Friday for $325 million, which, if approved, would be about an $10 increase for the average household's monthly bill. The Jackson-based utility said if the rate increase request is approved, the money will be spent on burying power lines and infrastructure upgrades, along with prioritized tree trimming and equipment upgrades in areas where there is increased wildfire risk as part of its new wildfire risk mitigation plan. Consumers says it is the first energy provider in the Midwest to develop a plan for protecting customers from increased wildfire risk. A spokesperson said the utility will prioritize this work particularly in the northern central part of Michigans Lower Peninsula. A full crown wildfire burns in jack pine and red pine on the Fife Lake Outlet Fire on Sunday, May 28 in northern Wexford County. "Wildfire risk in Michigan has grown in recent years, due to changing weather patterns that result in longer than usual dry periods throughout the state," Greg Salisbury, vice president of electric distribution engineering for Consumers Energy, said in a Wednesday news release. "Our new plan aims to provide more reliable service to our customers while strengthening and protecting the grid against destructive wildfire risk throughout Consumers Energys service territory." If the rate increase request is approved, it would mark the start of work under the utility's five-year "reliability road map" plan that it announced in September. At the time, Salisbury said Consumers would invest "about $9 billion" as part of the plan and could bury an estimated 5,000 additional miles of low-voltage power lines underground. More on the "reliability road map:" Consumers Energy unveils plan to cut power outage durations, frequency More recent news on Consumers Energy: Consumers Energy agrees to $1M over faulty electric meters, billing practice As part of this proposal, Consumers will make "critical reliability asset investments" of $659 million for infrastructure upgrades, including wildfire mitigation, and fund $125 million of tree trimming, a Consumers Energy spokesperson said. Consumers said it will bury an additional 35 miles of power lines as part of this plan. In March, the MPSC approved a $92 million electric rate increase for Consumers Energy. As part of that increase, the utility said it will spend $24 million this year to invest in a series of line sensors and automatic transfer reclosers (ATRs) along parts of its grid and spend $3.5 million to upgrade 1,200 electric poles from wood to iron. About 1.8 million Michiganders receive electric service from Consumers, which is one of the largest electric utilities in Michigan alongside Detroit-based DTE Energy. DTE also recently filed an electric rate increase request in March. That request was for $456 million, funds DTE said are needed to improve reliability. Story continues Both Consumers and DTE have faced scrutiny from customers and lawmakers about the reliability of their services. Both have ranked among the worst-performing utilities nationally when it comes to how long it takes them to restore power after an outage, according to a review of reliability data. Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Consumers looks to raise electric rates over concerns of wildfire risk The Sacramento Homeless Union celebrated what their leaders called a victory in their fight to get the city to allow a tight-knit North Sacramento homeless encampment to stay put. Since the city announced the May 16 closure date of Camp Resolution, a community of about 50 people who live in city-issued trailers while trying to find housing, over a dozen camp residents have gone to City Hall with impassioned pleas for the council to direct city staff not to close the camp until they all find housing. Following the outcry, the city extended that deadline. The Sacramento Homeless Union, which represents the members of the camp, then filed a lawsuit against the city alleging the city was breaking the lease by ordering them to leave before housing everyone. On Wednesday, Camp Resolutions attorney shared a letter with The Sacramento Bee that showed communication from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board to the city. The letter stated that residents will be able to stay at the vacant North Sacramento city lot at least until Dec. 1. The Homeless Union and the residents are applauding the extension. We held firm, we organized, we sued and we won. But this fight is not over, Crystal Sanchez, president of the Sacramento Homeless Union, said in a news release Wednesday. We are making sure the city never again tries to close this camp until it has kept its promise of full housing. Mark Merin, head of the organization that leases the lot from the city to run the camp, said he has talked to the city attorneys office and the city will respond positively. The city is currently reviewing the new water board letter. The City has never taken a position that it will object to or oppose an extension of the variance. The Citys concern is that the lessee complies with the terms of the variance and the lease agreement, City Cttorney Susana Alcala Wood said in a statement. The litigation filed by the Sacramento Homeless Union should have been directed at (Merins organization). Instead, those who purport to be advocates for the homeless delayed actually helping those experiencing homelessness and instead spent their time filing needless litigation in court and preparing press releases. The city in 2022 signed a variance with the water board that allowed people to camp in trailers on the site, but prohibited them to camp in tents, due to vapor contamination. The type of contamination thats present is not harmful to people in vehicles because theyre raised off the ground, the water board said at the time. Some people lived in tents anyway, prompting District Attorney Thien Ho to threaten to sue the city, as he has in the past, which partly factored into the citys decision to close it. People are no longer living in tents on the property, said Joyce Williams, one of the camps leaders. As the state variance was close to expiring this spring, the city did not ask for an extension. Instead, the city wrote a letter to Merin that said everyone had to be gone by May 16. Following outcry, the city extended that deadline. The Sacramento Homeless Union, which represents the members of the camp, then filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging the city was breaking the lease by ordering them to leave before housing everyone. The camps residents have held several marches downtown to City Hall this month, holding signs that read nothing about us without us, and chanting: What do we want? Housing! When do we want it? Now! Since the city announced the May 16 closure date, over a dozen camp residents have gone to City Hall with impassioned pleas for the council to direct city staff not to close the camp until they all find housing. Most of Camp Resolution residents are over 45, and all of them have at least one chronic medical illness, Sanchez has said. All but four have a documented disability. Many are women, including Williams and Sharon Jones, a longtime married couple who opened the camp seeking community and greater safety than their camp by the river, where floods, rapes and falling trees are common. The camp, a Safe Ground, is unique because unlike other shelters, like the one at X Street and Alhambra that costs the city about $3 million a year to operate, the camp costs the city nothing. It is self-governed with its own set of rules and leaders, and relies on donations for water, food and supplies. The residents often hold events such as poetry nights and cookouts, where they build community and invite neighbors. Dozens of people on the camps waitlist are living along the adjacent bike trail. At times theyve blocked joggers and people using strollers from passing, one woman told the council during Tuesdays meeting, asking for more enforcement. Some of the people camping on the bike path are engaging in activities that would be against the camps rules, leaders have said. The new water board letter said no more extensions will be granted, but said a different pathway for the camp to stay put was possible. Its unclear whether Merin or the Homeless Union will try to get approval for the camp to be open past Dec. 1. Timeline of Diane Abbotts suspension: From her comments on racism to Labour election ban The Labour party has become embroiled in a political row following the fallout around veteran MP Diane Abbotts readmission to the party and lack of clarity over whether she can still stand for it. After being suspended from Labour for just over a year, Ms Abbott was readmitted to the party in late May, once again becoming a Labour MP. Ms Abbott has represented Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, securing a majority of over 33,000 at the last general election. For the latest political updates in the run-up to the General Election, follow The Independents live coverage Labour has not confirmed who its candidate will be for the constituency, leading to fears from supporters of Ms Abbott that she may still be deselected, despite her readmission into the party. Diane Abbott at a rally in Hackney, in front of a placard that reads I stand with Diane, March 15, 2024 (Getty Images) It remains unclear whether Ms Abbott will be able to stand for the party. The veteran MP has said shes barred from standing, a claim which Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has denied. Heres everything you need to know about how one of Labours longest serving MPs found herself at the centre of a political civil war: What did Diane Abbott say? Ms Abbotts suspension came after she penned a controversial letter about racism for The Observer newspaper. In it, she criticises a journalist who wrote in the Guardian that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people can all experience racism. The veteran MP argued that, while white people can experience prejudice, they do not experience racism. She suggests that the two words should not be used interchangeably. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism, she wrote. At the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships. What did Diane Abbotts letter say? "Racism is black and white Tomiwa Owolade claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from racism (Racism in Britain is not a black and white issue. Its far more complicated, Comment). They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus. In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote. And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships. Diane Abbott House of Commons, London SW1 Ms Abbott later apologised for the letter, withdrawing her remarks. On Twitter / X, she wrote: The errors arose in an initial draft being sent. But there is no excuse, and I wish to apologise for any anguish caused. Racism takes many forms and it is completely undeniable that Jewish people have suffered its monstrous effects, as have Irish people, Travellers and many others. How did Labour respond? Labour moved quickly, suspending Ms Abbott from the party the same day that her letter was published: April 23, 2023. A party spokesperson called the comments deeply offensive and wrong. They also confirmed that an investigation was underway. Labour leader Keir Starmer said Ms Abbotts suspension showed how far the Labour party has changed, adding that the party has zero tolerance of antisemitism. Criticism also came from across the political spectrum. The board of Deputies of British Jews called Ms Abbotts comments disgraceful, saying that her apology was entirely unconvincing. Meanwhile, Momentum co-founder Jon Lansman, who is Jewish, called the MPs comments disgraceful, adding that racism is not a competition. Ms Abbott was readmitted to the Labour party on May 28, 2024 401 days after her suspension. A lack of updates from the party led over this period to outcry from supporters of the long-standing London MP. During the time that Ms Abbott was suspended, Labour MP Kate Osamor was both suspended and readmitted into the party over the course of three months. Protestors gather outside Hackney Town Hall in support of Diane Abbott on May 29, 2024 (Getty Images) Asked why the investigation was taking so long in March, Sir Keir told LBC radio: There are aspects to process which take time. It needs to be resolved and that is an independent process its not my process and Im not going to interfere with it because I think thats a slippery slope. Every case is different, theyre looking at a resolution. It was a pretty offensive letter this wasnt just a casual remark. However, it was revealed in May that the investigation into Ms Abbotts comments had concluded in December 2023, with the veteran MP was given a formal warning and required to complete an antisemitism awareness course. Labours National Executive Committee (NEC) the partys governing body emailed Ms Abbott informing her that their formal warning was for engaging in conduct that was in the opinion of the NEC, prejudicial and grossly detrimental to the Labour Party. Ms Abbott completed the two-hour online e-learning course about antisemitism awareness in February, which was reportedly acknowledged by Labours chief whip at the time. It then took nearly four months for the MP to have the whip restored. Can Diane Abbott still stand for the Labour party? Following her readmission, Ms Abbott says she learned through the media that she would not be permitted to stand as a Labour MP. The national party is insisting that I be banned, she said at a rally outside Hackney Town Hall. They havent given a reason for banning me. They just want me excluded from Parliament. I am so shocked. And so alarmed about what is going on. Because it is as if you are not allowed to be a Labour MP unless youre prepared to repeat everything the leader says. However, Sir Keir has said its not true that Ms Abbott is barred from standing for Labour. Keir Starmer: Labour leader has denied that Diane Abbott is barred from standing for Labour (REUTERS) No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott, he said, adding: the process that we were going through ended with the restoration of the whip ... so she is a member of the parliamentary Labour party. Under Labours current candidate selection procedures, it is now the NEC who will directly select candidates in unfilled seats meaning Ms Abbotts fate is now in their hands. She has cast doubt on being selected successfully, criticising their reported move to bar left-leaning Labour MPs Faiza Shaheen and Lloyd Russell-Moyle from standing. The veteran MP has accussed Sir Keir of undertaking an appalling cull of left-wingers. Ms Abbott has not responded to queries about whether she will stand as an independent MP. A string of security, logistical and weather problems has battered the plan to deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza through a U.S. military-built pier. Broken apart by strong winds and heavy seas just over a week after it became operational, the project faces criticism that it hasnt lived up to its initial billing or its $320 million price tag. Militarys novel floating pier arrives in Gaza amid security concerns U.S. officials say, however, that the steel causeway connected to the beach in Gaza and the floating pier are being repaired and reassembled at a port in southern Israel, then will be reinstalled and working again next week. While early Pentagon estimates suggested the pier could deliver up to 150 truckloads of aid a day when in full operation, that has yet to happen. Bad weather has hampered progress getting aid into Gaza from the pier, while the Israeli offensive in the southern city of Rafah has made it difficult, if not impossible at times, to get aid into the region by land routes. Aid groups have had mixed reactions both welcoming any amount of aid for starving Palestinians besieged by the nearly eight-month-old Israel-Hamas war and decrying the pier as a distraction that took pressure off Israel to open more border crossings, which are far more productive. Its a side-show, said Bob Kitchen, a top official of the International Rescue Committee. The Biden administration has said from the start that the pier wasnt meant to be a total solution and that any amount of aid helps. Nobody said at the outset that it was going to be a panacea for all the humanitarian assistance problems that still exist in Gaza, national security spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday. I think sometimes theres an expectation of the U.S. military because theyre so good that everything that they touch is just going to turn to gold in an instant. We knew going in that this was going to be tough stuff, he added. And it has proven to be tough stuff. Before the war, Gaza was getting about 500 truckloads of aid on average every day. The United States Agency for International Development says it needs a steady flow of 600 trucks a day to ease the struggle for food and bring people back from the brink of famine. The aid brought through the pier was enough to feed thousands for a month, but U.N. data shows it barely made a dent in the overall need of Gazas 2.3 million people. Heres a look at the timeline of the pier, the problems it faced and what may come next: March: Announcement and prep March 7: President Joe Biden announces his plan for the U.S. military to build a pier during his State of the Union address. Tonight, Im directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters, he said. But even in those first few moments, he noted the pier would increase the amount of humanitarian aid getting into Gaza but that Israel must do its part and let more aid in. March 8: Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, tells reporters it will take up to 60 days to deploy the forces and build the project. March 12: Four U.S. Army boats loaded with tons of equipment and steel pier segments leave Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia and head to the Atlantic Ocean for what is expected to be a monthlong voyage to Gaza. The brigades commander, Army Col. Sam Miller, warns that the transit and construction will be heavily dependent on the weather and any high seas they encounter. Late March: U.S. Army vessels hit high seas and rough weather as they cross the Atlantic, slowing their pace. April: Construction and hope April 1: Seven World Central Kitchen aid workers are killed in an Israeli airstrike as they travel in clearly marked vehicles on a delivery mission authorized by Israel. The strike fuels ongoing worries about security for relief workers and prompts aid agencies to pause delivery of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. April 19: U.S. officials confirm that the U.N. World Food Program has agreed to help deliver aid brought to Gaza via the maritime route once construction is done. April 25: Major construction of the port facility on the shore near Gaza City begins to take shape. The onshore site is where aid from the causeway will be delivered and given to aid agencies. April 30: Satellite photos show the U.S. Navy ship USNS Roy P. Benavidez and Army vessels working on assembling the pier and causeway about 6.8 miles from the port on shore. May: The pier opens then closes May 9: The U.S. vessel Sagamore is the first ship loaded with aid to leave Cyprus and head toward Gaza and ultimately the pier. An elaborate security and inspection station has been built in Cyprus to screen the aid coming from a number of countries. May 16: Well past the 60-day target time, the construction and assembly of the pier off the Gaza coast and the causeway attached to the shoreline are finished after more than a week of weather and other delays. May 17: The first trucks carrying aid for the Gaza Strip roll down the newly built pier and into the secure area on shore, where they will be unloaded and the cargo distributed to aid agencies for delivery by truck into Gaza. May 18: Crowds of desperate Palestinians overrun a convoy of aid trucks coming from the pier, stripping the cargo from 11 of the 16 vehicles before they reach a U.N. warehouse for distribution. May 19-20: The first food from the pier a limited number of high-nutrition biscuits reaches people in need in central Gaza, according to the World Food Program. Aid organizations suspend deliveries from the pier for two days while the U.S. works with Israel to open alternate land routes from the pier and improve security. May 24: So far, a bit more than 1,000 metric tons of aid has been delivered to Gaza via the U.S.-built pier, and USAID later says all of it has been distributed within Gaza. May 25: High winds and heavy seas damage the pier and cause four U.S. Army vessels operating there to become beached, injuring three service members, including one who is in critical condition. Two vessels went aground in Gaza near the base of the pier and two went aground near Ashkelon in Israel. May 28: Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh says large portions of the causeway are being pulled from the beach and moved to an Israeli port for repairs. The base of the causeway remains at the Gaza shore. She also says that aid in Cyprus is being loaded onto vessels and will be ready to unload onto the pier once it is back in place. May 29: Two of the Army vessels that ran aground in the bad weather are now back at sea and the other two near the pier are being freed, with the aid of the Israeli navy. Whats next? In the coming days, the sections of the causeway will be put back together, and by the middle of next week will be moved back to the Gaza shore, where the causeway will once again be attached to the beach, the Pentagon says. When we are able to re-anchor the pier back in, youll be able to see that aid flow off in a pretty steady stream, Singh said Tuesday. Were going to continue to operate this temporary pier for as long as we can. AP writer Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Metro Nashville Police Department said in a press release that the Specialized Investigations Division TITANS detectives arrested a convicted felon on probation. Nakelvious Featherston, 27, was arrested Wednesday on a first-degree murder indictment for the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Anthony Barksdale, according to authorities. Barksdale was shot at an apartment complex on Oakwell Farms Lane in Hermitage on Nov. 19, 2023. NOVEMBER 2023 | Feels like I was murdered right along with my son: Mom of teen killed in Hermitage hopes for justice Barksdale was arriving at an apartment building when a gunman opened fire. The gunman then chased Barksdale to the front door and continued shooting as Barksdale tried to flee, per MNPD. Detective Kevin Guytons investigation ultimately led to the identification of Featherston as the suspect in this targeted shooting. Nakelvious Featherston (Source: MNPD) The press release added that detectives arrested Featherston without incident at an apartment complex on Mountain Valley Drive. He has prior convictions of aggravated burglary, facilitating attempted aggravated robbery and evading arrest out of Rutherford County. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Featherston also has pending charges in Nashville stemming from a January arrest for aggravated assault and unlawful gun possession by a convicted felon. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. State Superintendent Tom Horne has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 to cover everybodys legal tab in his thus-far failed but ongoing crusade against schools that are trying to help kids who dont speak English. Put another way: The taxpayers will have to pony up $123,910 to cover the hefty price of Hornes outsized ego. Horne, as may you recall, is on a quest to ensure that 93,000 Arizona school children be taught only in a language they dont understand. Never mind the dismal result. Horne wants students taught in English He contends schools that are teaching the children of immigrants in both English and their native language are violating a 24-year-old voter-approved law that mandates instruction be only in English. That law, Proposition 203, envisioned an intensive one-year English immersion program. But one year became multiple years as students didnt become quickly proficient enough in English to move into regular classes. Meanwhile, they fell behind in every academic subject. Finally, in 2019, the Legislature passed and then-Gov. Doug Ducey signed a law directing the state Board of Education to adopt alternatives within the framework of Proposition 203 programs based on evidence and research. Among the four new models the board approved for the states 93,000 English language learners: the dual language approach that allows children to be taught in both English and a second language, usually Spanish. The program has become popular, with more than two dozen school districts now offering that alternative to parents. He's on a losing quest to fight dual language Alas, Emperor Horne, the self-proclaimed champion of parental choice, does not approve. First, he threatened to defund any school district that offered dual language instruction, but Attorney General Kris Mayes pointed out that he doesnt have the authority to defund anything. Then he sued Creighton Elementary and nine other school districts to try to kill dual language instruction. But Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper dismissed his lawsuit, pointing out that Horne doesnt have the standing to sue. Only the state Board of Education, she wrote, can decide how to teach English language learners. And on Wednesday, Cooper ordered Horne (read: us) to pay the legal bills of everybody he sued, including Mayes ($38,360), Gov. Katie Hobbs ($44,247) and the schools ($41,303). Horne is suing again, with wife as attorney Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne during a news conference in Phoenix on May 7, 2024. Naturally, Horne insists that he is right and everybody else the Legislature, the governor, the State Board of Education, the school districts that offer dual language instruction, the parents who want dual language instruction for their children and Judge Cooper is wrong. Naturally, hes appealing Judge Coopers ruling. Naturally, hes doing it with our money. And if that doesnt work, hes already recruited a parent to file another lawsuit, asking that Creighton be ordered to teach non-English speakers only in English and that the school board be fired. Education official: Dual language lessons are the inferior and illegal The level of outrage among Creighton parents is apparently such that Horne had to go to Scottsdale to a parent whose son attends a Scottsdale school to sue the Phoenix school district. And the parents attorney? Hornes wife, Carmen Chenal Horne. Oh, the horror, that kids might get to spend a portion of their day actually mastering math and science in a language they can understand, while still spending half their day learning English. If he loses, we pay. But if he wins, students pay Arizona is the only state with an English-only law still on the books. Every other state that went down that road long ago came to realize it didnt work. As Arizonas own Republican Legislature and governor came to realize it didnt work. As the State Board of Education came to realize it didnt work. Just 55% of Arizonas English Learner students graduated from high school in four years in 2019-20, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Thats more than 20 percentage points below the states overall graduation rate. Only three states posted more depressing numbers. The median graduation rate for EL students nationwide was 69%. Yet Horne insists that we teach these kids only in a language they dont understand. If he continues to lose, of course, well pay for it. But if he wins, those children will pay. Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tom Horne's English-only crusade is costing Arizona taxpayers Tom Leek ad says 'billboard lawyers' are behind attacks on him; John Morgan disputes that The Friends of Tom Leek account on X tweeted a political ad saying "billboard lawyers" are behind attacks on Leek, an Ormond Beach Republican running for Florida Senate. One such attorney, John Morgan, responded with an expletive-filled attack on Leek. Orlando lawyer John Morgan who this week agreed to publicly support an amendment legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida and again hinted at a possible run for governor says he is also now interested in a state Senate race involving the powerful House Appropriations chair Tom Leek. Morgan had attacked Leek, R-Ormond Beach, in January, naming him and Gov. Ron DeSantis as culprits in the Florida homeowners' insurance crisis. Then this week, Friends of Tom Leek, a political committee headed by Leek, posted an ad that starts with a voiceover: "Who's behind the false attacks on Tom Leek? Democrat lovin, personal injury billboard lawyers. Morgan told The News-Journal Thursday in a phone call from his Ponce Inlet home he figured the ad was an attack on him, so he posted an expletive-laden tweet on X, suggesting Leek had kicked the hornet's nest. Attorney John Morgan, who attacked Florida Senate candidate Tom Leek in a prominent tweet Thursday, is shown speaking at an event hosted by the Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County in 2017, "Rep. Tom Leek AKA Tom Leech has begun to attack me as he gears up for a Senate run. I dont know why because I didnt give a (expletive) about his race. But now I do and he has awakened a sleeping dog," Morgan posted. Faces a Republican challenger Leek has three opponents in the Senate District 7 race, including Gerry James in the Aug. 20 Republican primary election. District 8 covers all of Flagler and St. Johns plus parts of Volusia and Putnam counties, and the seat has opened, as Travis Hutson has reached his term limit. Leek has all of the advantages of a front runner, with access to some $4 million between his campaign contributions and his political committees, plus the endorsements of all four sheriffs in those counties and House Speaker Paul Renner. Through March 31, James had raised about $100,000, which includes at least $55,000 in loans he provided himself. Morgan denies bankrolling James, and said he has no intention to donate to his campaign. "I'm laying down in a chair and all of a sudden some guy comes over and kicks you in the nuts," Morgan said. "Now I'm up. ... I'm going to educate the voters on who Tom Leek is." Did Leek, Legislature take right approach to property insurance crisis? Morgan contends Leek has harmed residents with legislation that only protects carriers of homeowners insurance and has done nothing for the homeowners who are paying $11,000 annually, the highest property insurance rates in the United States, according to the National Association of Realtors. Leek, who didn't respond Thursday to a message seeking comment, has previously defended the Legislature's approach to fixing the homeowners' insurance crisis, writing in a text in January: "Measures that increase competition in the insurance market and drive more carriers into Florida will benefit consumers. The Legislature's insurance reforms are taking hold. New carriers are entering the Florida insurance market for the first time in years." But Morgan said the Republican-led House and Senate never attempted to freeze rates. And one of their 2023 measures will harm homeowners, particularly when the next hurricane hits. Morgan called it "draconian," and said it's the reason Morgan & Morgan, his firm, will no longer take cases where homeowners are attempting to recover premiums when disaster has struck. Prior to the law's passage, if a homeowner plaintiff won in a case against an insurance company, the insurance company would have to pay the plaintiff's attorney's fees. Now, that burden has shifted onto the plaintiff, resulting in attorneys taking 33% to 40% of their clients' award. "There's no incentive for any insurance company to pay timely or to pay fairly, because there's no penalty," Morgan said. "The worst hasn't happened yet," he said. "Wait until the next hurricane hits and blue tarps are up and (insurers) don't have to do the right thing today. They can do the right thing in maybe three or four years. By then, the homeowner has lost his home." Morgan takes aim at Leek's wealth Morgan delivered another attack on Leek, targeting his personal wealth. "Look at (Leek's) net worth before he got to Tally and now. He works for an insurance company. Follow the money," Morgan tweeted. Leeks 2017 financial disclosure form showed a net worth of $852,000. His form dated July 3, 2023, states his net worth is more than $14 million, with his annual income having nearly tripled, to $615,000 at Foundation Risk Partners, a Daytona Beach insurance agency. Leek has previously said Foundation Risk Partners is a brokerage, which helps customers find the best possible rates and coverages, while also advocating for claims to be paid. Leek an attorney has been its chief legal officer since 2018, after a 21-year career at Cobb Cole, a Daytona Beach firm he had served as managing partner. Nonetheless, Morgan said he intends to raise questions about Leek's growing net worth while in office, as well as his critiques of the homeowners' insurance crisis. "Mr. Leech," Morgan tweeted, "I am awake. You kicked the wrong (expletive) dog for no (expletive) reason. This dog bites." This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Orlando lawyer John Morgan attacks Florida Senate candidate Tom Leek Too many people out there dying: Fentanyl-laced drugs behind overdose deaths GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Of the tens of thousands of lives taken nationwide by fentanyl each year, many had no idea they were taking the deadly opioid. That includes Amanda Nickelson, a 39-year-old Manistee woman remembered by her family as a devoted mother with a great sense of humor. Nickelson, who had moved to Grand Rapids, died last year after unknowingly taking fentanyl. It left her family in pieces and the alleged drug dealer facing the possibility of life in prison. Fentanyl now involved in most overdoses in Kent County Her younger sister, Shanna Nickelson, keeps a piece of her everywhere she goes. She wears a necklace containing her ashes and the ring she was wearing when she died. Her arm is tattooed with Amanda Nickelsons name. Shanna Nickelsons memorial necklace honoring her sister, Amanda Nickelson. (May 28, 2024) Shanna Nickelsons tattoo honoring her sister, Amanda Nickelson. (May 28, 2024) Shanna Nickelson said her family has been broken ever since the loss. My father, hes not the type of man to cry, Shanna Nickelson said. All he does is cry. We dont celebrate family holidays anymore cause shes not there. My mom she doesnt talk about it. If she talks about it, she cries. Doris Nickelson, Amandas mother, said she had a contagious smile that lit up a room and she was a good mother to her own daughter. She was also an organ and tissue donor. A medal honors Amanda Nickelson as an organ donor. (Courtesy Shanna Nickelson) Amanda Nickelson is honored as an organ donor. (Courtesy Shanna Nickelson) Like so many in West Michigan and nationwide, Amanda Nickelson was trapped by drug abuse. But for a long time, her sister says, she was clean and took care of her. She was her rock. She was a really good sister, Shanna Nickelson said. Amanda Nickelson suffered from depression and anxiety and didnt get the care she needed, which led to her drug use, her mother said. I know people are going to know that she fell in a hole, Doris Nickelson told News 8 during a phone call Wednesday evening. She was addicted, but she wasnt always like that. In February 2023, Amanda Nickelson bought heroin from Edreek Tornes of Muskegon, according to court records. The drug was laced with fentanyl, police said. Nickelson later overdosed in her home on McReynolds Avenue NW in Grand Rapids. Her family says her own daughter, just 4 at the time, found her passed out in her bathroom. It was pretty traumatic, Shanna Nickelson said. I got the call on Valentines Day that she had overdosed and she was in the hospital. She was in critical condition but later showed signs of improvement. I left that night, I thought she was going to pull through, Shanna Nickelson said. And then I got a call that night telling me she was completely brain dead and there was nothing more they could do. A toxicology report confirmed that she died of a fentanyl overdose, according to court records. I pretty much just closed myself off to everybody, Shanna Nickelson said. I didnt want to talk to nobody. I just stuck to myself. CDC: Drug overdose deaths hit new record in 2022 An undercover officer, using Amanda Nickelsons phone, later set up a drug deal with Tornes. As officers took him into custody, a field drug test confirmed his heroin tested positive for fentanyl, too. Tornes was later charged with delivery of a controlled substance causing death, a felony that carries a sentence of up to life in prison. The case has yet to go to trial. His attorney, a public defender, did not respond to News 8s email requesting comment. I hope he gets life, Shanna Nickelson said. I mean, our familys struggling. Our family is the one that has to struggle through it. I hope he gets life. He took my sisters. Doctor: Users dont know theyre getting zombie drug Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said the felony charge against Tornes, which carries up to life in prison, is rare. Its just one of two his office has prosecuted so far this year. None happened last year. Becker said law enforcement has taken an increasingly active role in investigating these cases, but they can be difficult to prove. Its essentially a homicide, Becker said. Thats a life offense. You have to be able to prove that and get that it caused the death. Beckers office often charges suspects with a lesser crime, delivery of a controlled substance, carrying up to 15 years. Unlike in the Tornes case, Becker says it can be difficult to go through phone records and tie a drug to a specific dealer. Its behind closed doors and police dont see it and you dont have any witnesses, Becker said. Its a circumstantial case you build. The Kent County Health Department says overdose deaths have dropped slightly in recent reports. There were 108 overdose deaths in 2022, dropping to 93 in 2023. But a national study last year led by the University of California Los Angeles found that overdose deaths from fentanyl-laced stimulants have risen 50-fold since 2010. Only 235 deaths in 2010 skyrocketed to more than 34,000 deaths in 2021. Fentanyl continues to drive a nationwide opioid crisis, with nearly 108,000 overdose deaths last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Old newspaper boxes become Narcan dispensers at Ferris State University Last August, a man was sentenced to several years in prison for giving his friend cocaine that was laced with fentanyl. Christopher Kramer, a 21-year-old in Kent County, died after ingesting the opioid. Richard Pazder heads the Southwest Enforcement Team for Michigan State Police, which focuses on catching drug dealers putting lethal drugs on our streets. Sometimes people think theyre paying for, theyre buying heroin or something thats not quite as lethal, Pazder said. While, in fact, most of whats called heroin on the street is actually fentanyl, which is highly lethal and very dangerous to our citizens. Pazders team sees fentanyl laced in many drugs. Sometimes its even possible for someone who believes theyre buying a different drug completely such as cocaine and meth, in some cases there have been instances where those drugs have also been laced with fentanyl, Pazder said. Sign up for the News 8 weekly recap newsletter Shanna Nickelson doesnt plan on missing a minute of the court proceedings against the man charged in Amanda Nickelsons death. I want to know what the outcome is and I want to be there for her, she said. I think she deserves justice. Amanda Nickelson. (Courtesy Shanna Nickelson) Amanda Nickelson and her daughter. (Courtesy Shanna Nickelson) Doris Nickelson said she wont get true justice for her daughter until whoever made the drugs is prosecuted. It outrages me people will put anything in that stuff to make an almighty dollar, she said. Theres too many people out there dying. The national substance abuse helpline can be reached anytime at 1.800.662.HELP (4357). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. OMAHA, NE (KSNT) A man convicted of killing a woman whose body was found south of Topeka was sentenced to life in prison. On Thursday, May 30 Scott was sentenced to life in prison for murder and 45 to 60 years in prison on two other charges. He has received credit for 532 days served, according to KETV in Omaha. The Douglas County Sheriffs Office of Nebraska announced in December 2022 that Aldrick L. Scott, 47, of Topeka was taken into custody in Belize. He was called a person of interest in the disappearance of Cari Allen, 43, of Nebraska. According to KETV, there was overwhelming evidence that Scott stalked and murdered Allen in 2022. Prosecutors said Scott drove from Topeka to Nebraska, followed Scott through SnapChat maps and waited for more than an hour at her home. Person of interest in missing Nebraska woman case found in Belize The defense argued that Scott acted in self-defense and ran in panic. Scott took the stand and said the two struggled over a gun before it went off, killing Allen, according to KETV. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. "If You Use Your Credit Card, You Do Not Want To Be Rich," Warns Mark Cuban On The Dave Ramsey Show American business owner, investor and panelist on ABC's Shark Tank, Mark Cuban, has warned against using your credit card if getting rich is your goal. Here's why Cuban feels this way. During an appearance on financial guru Dave Ramsey's show, The Ramsey Show, the two financial experts discussed the money-saving equation of income coming in and going out. Don't Miss: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement How do you compare ? A new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends. Heres how you can invest today. While discussing building wealth, Cuban told Ramsey, "If you use your credit cards, you do not want to be rich." Ramsey and Cuban shared a laugh after Cuban's remark, with Ramsey revealing that people will often share this remark with outrage or disbelief. He exclaimed, "Look what Cuban said!" But despite laughing, Ramsey agrees and repeats Cuban's remark, "So, cut up your credit cards. If you use a credit card, you don't want to be rich." Ramsey adds, "I like that line." Cuban agrees and reveals that it's his favorite line and that he always tells it to people. In response, Cuban explained that people would ask where to invest instead. He reveals that the "best place to invest is to pay off all your credit cards and burn them." You should do this because when you use your credit card, you know the return. For example, Cuban said that if you're paying 15 to 20% interest on your credit card and once you pay that down, you've just earned 15 to 20%. Trending: How much should you be earning to afford a $40,000 boat comfortably? The number is less than you think! Ramsey agrees wholeheartedly with Cuban's advice that you should not build wealth using a credit card. Ramsey reveals to listeners how to build wealth and warns listeners that he's told this to people about 100 times. He also notes that a Forbes survey found, "75% of wealthy people not your broke brother-in-law with an opinion but wealthy people say get out of debt and stay out of debt." Cuban reveals that high-interest charges on credit cards keep people in debt and prevent them from building wealth. Cuban's dislike of credit cards is nothing new. In fact, in 2014, Cuban told Business Insider that "credit cards are the worst investment you can make." According to Cuban, his best personal advice came from his father, who told him not to use credit cards. Ramsey echoes Cuban thoughts on credit cards and, in a blog post, writes, "Life is better without credit cards." Ramsey believes people don't need a credit card if they build emergency saving funds and use cash to pay for everything. Story continues Trending: Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved? The percentage may shock you. However, Cuban and Ramsey's advice may not work for many Americans, as using credit cards is a way for them to build a credit history. Colin Palfrey, chief marketing officer at Crediful, explains why: "For many average Americans, buying a home is a major part of their wealth-building plans, and not being able to establish a credit history will make it harder to get good rates." So, if you're going to use your credit card, you should do so responsibly. For example, using your credit card to build a credit score means paying your credit card bills on time, as payment history is calculated in your credit score. Cuban revealed that he wished he had followed this advice when he was younger, saying he "should have paid off my cards every 30 days." Another way to responsibly use credit cards is not to charge more than you can afford and pay your bills in full monthly. This means avoiding making minimum payments, which just add daily interest to your credit card bills. Read Next: Are you rich? Heres what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Warren Buffett flipped his neighbor's $67,000 life savings into a $50 million fortune How much is that worth today? "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article "If You Use Your Credit Card, You Do Not Want To Be Rich," Warns Mark Cuban On The Dave Ramsey Show originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. TOPEKA (KSNT) The Topeka Police Department (TPD) is investigating a possible shooting near the Kansas River that left one person injured. At around 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, Topeka Police responded to a shooting in North Topeka near the Topeka Rescue Mission. Topeka Police tell 27 News one individual was taken to the hospital after sustaining non-life threatening injuries. Topeka, Lawrence resident could get free paint services Topeka Police are currently investigating this shooting. KSNT 27 News will provide more information as it becomes available. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. PROVO, Utah (ABC4) Two people are injured after a truck crashed into a Provo residence Thursday morning, coming to a complete stop inside the home, according to the Provo Police Department. At approximately 10 a.m., a Ford truck veered off a road and drove into a house near 200 N 900 E in Provo. Officials say the driver a 61-year-old man was transported to the Utah Valley Hospital. They say he was conscious and breathing during the transportation but his current condition is unknown. Two people are injured after a truck crashed into a Provo residence Thursday morning, coming to a stop completely inside the home, according to the Provo Police Department. (credit: Provo Police Department) Two people are injured after a truck crashed into a Provo residence Thursday morning, coming to a stop completely inside the home, according to the Provo Police Department. (credit: Provo Police Department) Two people are injured after a truck crashed into a Provo residence Thursday morning, coming to a stop completely inside the home, according to the Provo Police Department. (credit: Provo Police Department) A man inside the home was also injured from the debris and was treated on scene. Police did not provide details on his injuries or condition. Officials are requesting space to assess [the] damage and stabilize the structure, instructing Provo residents and visitors to avoid the area. The northbound lanes near the residence are currently closed. The cause of the crash has not yet been disclosed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Truck hauling crane hits Enterprise Road overpass at I-4, backing up traffic for 7 miles Traffic backs up on eastbound Interstate 4 Thursday after a crane on a truck hit the overpass on Enterprise Road. The Enterprise Road overpass at Interstate 4 was closed Thursday after a crane on a truck hit it, causing a seven-mile traffic backup on I-4, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The incident occurred at 11:15 a.m. eastbound at mile marker 112. The overpass was closed to check for damage and the Florida Department of Transportation is on its way to inspect the bridge, said Trooper Migdalisis Garcia. FDOT classified the incident as "major." A photo from an FDOT camera shows an outside lane of eastbound I-4 also closed under the overpass. Seen from the Enterprise Road overpass, Interstate 4 eastbound was backed up for seven miles due to a truck carrying a crane hitting the overpass. "The crash involves a 2001 MACK flatbed truck hauling a crane," Garcia said in an email. "The crane collided with the Enterprise Road overpass." The 59 -year-old driver from Lake Helen was not injured, Garcia said Firefighters responding to the call said they found a significant amount of concrete in the eastbound lane of I-4. Firefighters communicating with emergency dispatchers said a chunk of concrete was broken from the bottom of the overpass but said they did not think the bridge would collapse. FHP said the accident remains under investigation. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida overpass on I-4 hit by crane on truck, traffic backed up (Getty Images) LINCOLN A truck driver was sentenced in Nebraska this week to 29 years in prison after he met a teenager through social media and transported the minor across state lines to engage in sexual activity. Nebraska U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr announced the sentencing of David Mark Platt, 58, formerly of Washington state. According to federal investigators, Platt in the spring of 2022 met a 15-year-old through a website called Quora, where the minor was posting about wanting to run away from home. Platt made a plan to pick up the minor from California and travel across the country together in his semi-truck, according to the investigators. Platt knew the teens age, investigators said. On May 12, 2022, he picked up the minor. Shortly afterward the minor was reported missing by family. On May 15, Platts semi was pulled over by law enforcement officers near Lexington, Nebraska. During the stop, Platt admitted touching the minor in a sexual manner, said the news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office. The minor was taken to a child advocacy center and disclosed that Platt had sexually assaulted the minor each day of the trip. Investigators said search warrant results from the social media platform revealed Platts expectation that the minor would have sexual intercourse with him and other various things he expected of the minor victim. The search warrant results additionally showed Platts preference for preteen to teenage girls and his pattern in attempting to find a child to travel with him for sex and his preference for BDSM sexual relationships, according to the media release. Platt was on the sex offender registry at the time of the crime, the release said. U.S. District Judge John Gerrard sentenced Platt for one count of transporting a minor to engage in illegal sexual. After his prison term, he is to have a lifetime of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay $29,000 in restitution. The post Trucker sentenced to 29 years for taking minor across state lines for sex appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. Donald Trump and Elon Musk have reportedly been in contact for months about possibly placing the Tesla CEO in an advisory role if Trump wins re-election this fall. The Wall Street Journal spoke with multiple sources who corroborated the conversations between the SpaceX founder and former president, saying Musk now calls Trump directly from his cell phone several times a month. Although the talks are preliminary and sources caution they could fall through Trump has expressed interest in finding a way to make Musk more involved with policy, possibly involving border security or the economy, two issues Musk has spoken on publicly. In turn, Musk would aid Trumps re-election effort, not only by contributing to the Trump war chest, but by leveraging power and influence with other wealthy donors, though he has stopped short of committing to a public endorsement. The two first met up this year at a donor breakfast in early March hosted at Montsorrel, the Palm Beach, Florida, residence of fellow billionaire Nelson Peltz. The New York Times was the first to report on the meeting, noting that Trump was seeking a cash infusion. According to The Wall Street Journal, the topic of Musk becoming a Trump adviser came up during the event, with one source likening it to former Marvel chairman Isaac Perlmutters advisory role within the Dept. of Veterans Affairs during the Trump administration. Following the Times report on the meet-up in March, Musk posted he was not donating to Trump or Biden. Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President, he wrote on X. Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 6, 2024 The following month, Musk hosted a dinner in Los Angeles with several prominent right-wing figures, including Peltz, Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and Steven Mnuchin, Trumps former treasury secretary. The dinner involved strategizing ways to stealthily fund the Trump campaign and convince other wealthy individuals to do the same, according to the report. Among the other topics that have been discussed by Trump and Musk are the U.S. Space Force, which was created during Trumps first term in office, as well as Musks tech companies, the electric-vehicle industry which Trump has criticized at his rallies and immigration. Trump has not publicly commented on the contact he has had with Musk. President Trump will be the only voice of what role an individual plays in his presidency, Trump campaign spokesman Brian Hughes told The Wall Street Journal. Elon Musk did not respond to their request for comment. The conversations mark a turning point in the relationship of the two power players. Shortly after closing his acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022, Musk made public fanfare over reactivating Trumps account, which had been suspended after the Jan. 6 insurrection. Trump ignored the gesture and continued to post on his own social media platform, Truth Social. As Musks political leanings have gone further to the right, driven by a rejection of what he has called the woke mind virus ideology, its not surprising that hes been willing to sit down with Trump. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in a New York hush money case. Greater Akrons immediate reaction to former President Donald Trumps convictions Thursday evening were predictably split, reflecting the larger political chasm dividing the country. Some celebrated, posting laughing emojis or memes of Bugs Bunny in a striped jail uniform. Others said the 34 felony convictions solidified their vote for a second Trump term. Trump was found guilty on all counts in his New York criminal hush money trial, which centered on allegations that he falsified business records to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime. More: Former President Donald Trump found guilty on all counts in hush money case: Live updates One person said on the Akron Beacon Journals Facebook page that their family would still vote for Trump. All they did was make him a martyr, he said. Another man responded to that this way: "If you and your entire family are ok with voting for a convicted felon, that says a lot about the character of you and your entire family. As residents duked it out in comments on Facebook, U.S. Senator J.D. Vance the Ohio Republican hoping to be named Trumps vice presidential running mate quickly denounced the verdict on X, the former Twitter platform. This decision is a disgrace to the rule of law and our Constitution, Vance said. Vance echoed the sentiments of Trump, saying that Democrats invented the felony charges to get Trump. He also said, without evidence, that the criminal case was rigged. This isnt justice, its election interference, Vance wrote. Ohios other U.S. Senator, Democrat Sherrod Brown, didnt immediately comment on social media about the verdict. Ohio Rep. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson, didn't mention the verdict on his Facebook page. But in the minutes after the Trump jury came back, Weinstein posted in all capital letters: "I love consequence culture," followed by an American flag emoji. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron-Canton area, Ohio reacts to Donald Trump felony convictions Donald Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records set off a political firestorm in Washington on Thursday, with Republicans furiously lambasting the verdict as a miscarriage of justice while Democrats commended New York jurors for rendering a fair judgment in one of the most historic trials in US history. Republicans unsurprisingly rallied around Trump, reiterating their baseless allegations that the Biden administration had engaged in political persecution of the former US president. Related: Donald Trump found guilty of hush-money plot to influence 2016 election Today is a shameful day in American history, said Mike Johnson, the Republican House speaker. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents. Congressman Jim Jordan, the pugnacious rightwing Republican chair of the House judiciary committee, similarly bemoaned the verdict as a travesty of justice, adding: The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process. Some of Trumps advisers and family members were even more blunt in their assessment of the verdict. Such bullshit, Donald Trump Jr, the former presidents eldest son, wrote on Twitter/X. A number of Trumps allies predicted the conviction would be reversed on appeal and would only mobilize Republican voters in the election, while at least one lawmaker suggested the verdict would set a dangerous precedent. This verdict says more about the system than the allegations. It will be seen as politically motivated and unfair, and it will backfire tremendously on the political left, said Republican senator and close Trump ally Lindsey Graham. I fear we have opened up Pandoras box on the presidency itself. Meanwhile, Democrats were more muted in their response to the verdict, framing the jurors decision as a reflection of the strength of the US justice system. In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, said Michael Tyler, the Biden campaign communications director. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the Democratic chair of the Senate judiciary courts subcommittee, argued the verdict confirmed that Trump was not fit to lead the greatest nation in the world. Its only in honest courtrooms that the former president has been unable to lie and bully his way out of trouble, Whitehouse said. Americans trust juries for good reason. Senator Chris Coons, a Democratic members of the Senate judiciary committee, added: I commend the jurors for their service and urge all Americans, no matter their party affiliation, to accept and respect the outcome of this trial. Hillary Clinton posted an image on Instagram of a mug with her cartoon outline sipping from a mug and the phrase turns out she was right about everything on it. The New Yorker also debuted a cartoon for the front cover of their upcoming magazine, showing handcuffs being put on Trumps exaggeratedly tiny hands. Eric Adams, the New York mayor, tweeted that the NYPD would be ready to respond to any and all circumstances, including large-scale protests. After dismissing the verdict as a disgrace, Trump immediately turned his conviction into a campaign issue, sending a fundraising email to supporters describing himself as a political prisoner. But with your support at this moment in history, WE WILL WIN BACK THE WHITE HOUSE AND MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! the email read. WE MUST MAKE JOE BIDEN REGRET EVER COMING AFTER US! The National Republican Senatorial Committee also issued a fundraising pitch after the jury issued its verdict, attacking the trial as a witch-hunt. Joe Biden himself declined to offer any comment or reaction to the verdict on Thursday; Ian Sams, spokesperson for the White House counsels office, said in a statement: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. But Bidens campaign team made it clear that the president would continue to prosecute his own case against Trump as the country looks ahead to November. Todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality, Tyler said. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. Official statement from Donald Trump: pic.twitter.com/tvEu7Z81VI Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) May 30, 2024 Trump issued a rambling statement on Thursday night calling himself a very innocent man and describing the trial as rigged. He blamed the Biden administration and what he called a Soros-backed district attorney for the verdict, a reference to billionaire George Soros who is a common target of right wing conspiracy theories and outrage. This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. Its a rigged trial, a disgrace, Trump stated. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. Trump could still vote for himself after New York conviction if he's not in prison on Election Day DENVER (AP) Donald Trump may be convicted of a felony and reside in Florida, a state notorious for restricting the voting rights of people with felony convictions. But he can still vote as long as he stays out of prison in New York state. Thats because Florida defers to other states disenfranchisement rules for residents convicted of out-of-state felonies. In Trumps case, New York law only removes the right to vote for people convicted of felonies when theyre incarcerated. Once theyre out of prison, their rights are automatically restored, even if theyre on parole, per a 2021 law passed by the states Democratic legislature. If a Floridians voting rights are restored in the state of conviction, they are restored under Florida law, Blair Bowie of the Campaign Legal Center wrote in a post, noting that people without Trumps legal resources are often confused by Floridas complex rules. So as long as Trump isnt sent to prison, he can vote for himself in Florida in Novembers election. His rights depend on his sentencing, wrote Michael McDonald, a University of Florida political scientist whos tracked his states felony disenfranchisement rules, on the social media site X, formerly Twitter. Trump was convicted Thursday of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. A lifelong New Yorker, Trump established residency in Florida in 2019, while he was in the White House. Even if he is elected president again, Trump will not be able to pardon himself of state charges in New York. The president's pardon power applies only to federal crimes. The conviction, and even imprisonment, would not bar Trump from continuing his pursuit of the White House. The Republican National Convention, which will open four days after his July 11 sentencing date in New York, adopted rules last year that didn't include any specific provisions if its presumptive nominee is convicted of a crime. Delegates could move to change their rules before formalizing Trump's nomination, but there's no evidence that a significant faction of the party would try to replace the former president on the GOP ticket. Trump commands loyalty across the GOP base, and the Republican National Committee is run by his loyalists, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair. Strategic seed and Series A investments into cellular agriculture and lab grown meat companies position the Company on leading edge of foodtech TORONTO, May 30, 2024 /CNW/ - CULT Food Science Corp. ("CULT" or the "Company") (CSE: CULT) (OTC: CULTF) (FRA: LN0), a disruptive food technology platform pioneering the commercialization of lab grown meat and cellular agriculture to reshape the global food industry, is pleased to showcase the recent and highly shareholder value additive advancements reported by its global investment portfolio. CULT has invested in 19 innovative and leading cellular agriculture companies including but not limited to: Opalia Foods, Eat Just, California Cultured and Melibio. Cult Food Science Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Cult Food Science Corp) Key Highlights CULT Food Science has invested over $3.5M into a global portfolio of 19 cellular agriculture and lab grown meat startups. Regulatory approvals in the U.S., Singapore and Israel signal a pivotal moment for the lab grown meat and cellular agriculture industry. CULT Food Science anticipates the portfolio will increase in value with the growth of the cellular agriculture industry and may unlock significant shareholder value and access to future non-dilutive capital as portfolio companies work towards achieving future liquidity exits. Melibio Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2024 Melibio continues to gain recognition for its groundbreaking work, being named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2024. Recently, Melibio secured a major $10 million distribution partnership with ALDI in Austria and Switzerland to supply plant-based honey, which will be used across ALDI's own brands and reach 75,000 stores throughout Europe. This partnership underscores Melibio's commitment to sustainable food innovation and its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving food technology landscape. California Cultured Partners with Japan's Largest Chocolate Manufacturer Meiji California Cultured has entered a 10-year commercial partnership with Japanese chocolate giant Meiji, incorporating the company's flavanol cocoa powder into several packaged goods distributed by Meiji. Dark chocolate is second only to beef in greenhouse gas emissions by food product and the chocolate industry also has a long history of contributing to mass deforestation and human rights abuses. California Cultured has developed a sustainable solution. The company makes cocoa in fermentation tanks, a climate-resilient approach that also addresses deforestation and labor exploitation. GOOD Meat Secures World's First Retail Listing for Cell-Based Meat Good Meat, the lab grown meat subsidiary of Eat Just, has secured the first retail listings for cell-based meat globally. Good Meat's cell-cultivated chicken sold under the Good Meat 3 brand will be on the shelves at Huber's Butchery in Singapore marking the first time cell-based meat is available for shoppers to purchase and bring home to cook. UMAMI Bioworks and Shiok Meats Merge to Spearhead Commercialization of Cultivated Seafood UMAMI Bioworks and Shiok Meats, two trailblazing entities in the cultivated seafood realm, have joined forces to form a consolidated entity poised to propel cultivated seafood towards commercial viability. This strategic merger, marking a pioneering endeavor in the cultivated seafood domain, amalgamates UMAMI Bioworks' cutting-edge production technologies with Shiok Meats' groundbreaking research in crustacean cell cultivation. By synergizing their respective competencies, the amalgamated entity anticipates optimizing go-to-market efficiencies, broadening commercial avenues, and expediting regulatory endorsements to introduce cultivated seafood products into the market. This collaborative effort not only promises to revolutionize the regional culinary landscape but also presents a sustainable alternative to conventional industrial fishing and aquaculture practices. Under the leadership of Mihir Pershad, CEO of UMAMI Bioworks, the newly formed company is poised to lead the charge in transforming the cultivated seafood industry. Opalia Secures CAD $2 Million to Accelerate Development of Animal-Free Milk Technology Opalia, a Montreal-based startup pioneering the development of real milk without cows through bovine mammary cell cultivation, has successfully secured CAD $2 million in capital. This infusion of funds will fuel the expeditious development of the company's inaugural product. With its groundbreaking and eco-friendly approach to milk production, Opalia stands uniquely positioned to carve a significant niche in the dairy market. By harnessing mammary cells instead of traditional animal-based methods, Opalia is primed to cater to the burgeoning demand for sustainable dairy alternatives without compromising on taste, functionality, or nutritional value. Unicorn Biotechnologies launches new cell lines, files patents, and wins grant funding Unicorn Biotechnologies, an innovative leader in automated, reliable, and scalable biomanufacturing solutions for human and planetary health, has made significant strides in advancing the cultivated meat industry. Through its subsidiary, Dragon Bio, Unicorn Biotechnologies has launched five cell lines tailored for the cultivated meat industry, facilitating the development of sustainable meat alternatives. Unicorn Biotechnologies has demonstrated its commitment to innovation through the filing of three patents, underscoring its dedication to advancing biotechnology. Additionally, the company's exceptional achievements have been recognized through the acquisition of over $1 million in grant funding, further validating its position as a frontrunner in the bio-manufacturing sector. Collaboration Opportunities CULT Food Science continues to leverage its relationships with portfolio companies to identify and pursue collaboration opportunities. By fostering synergistic partnerships among its diverse array of ventures, CULT Food Science aims to catalyze innovation, accelerate market penetration, and drive sustainable growth within the food science ecosystem. Management Commentary "We are thrilled with the exceptional progress of our portfolio companies and investments across the cellular agriculture ecosystem. We have a wide ranging, diversified portfolio that gives us exposure to alternative protein, dairy and food production that doesn't require factory farming. With continual regulatory approvals and near term commercialization opportunities, we believe we are uniquely positioned to benefit from our early bets on many of these promising companies. Cellular agriculture and lab grown meat is beginning to hit critical adoption and we are thrilled to have equity ownership in some of the most promising companies in food technology" said Mitchell Scott, CEO of CULT Food Science. About CULT Food Science CULT Food Science is a disruptive food technology platform pioneering the commercialization of lab grown meat and cellular agriculture to reshape the global food industry. CULT's robust portfolio of investments in cutting-edge, venture-backed cellular agriculture and lab-grown meat companies provides widespread investor access to the future of food. Backed by a team of experts with extensive experience in food technology and launching consumer food products, CULT is committed to being at the forefront of the food revolution. Additional information can be found by viewing the Company's website at cultfoodscience.com or its regulatory filings on sedar.com . On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company, CULT FOOD SCIENCE CORP. "Mitchell Scott" Mitchell Scott, Chief Executive Officer Forward-Looking Information: Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address a company's expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to the following risks: those associated with marketing and sale of securities; the need for additional financing; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers or directors with certain other projects; and the volatility of common share price and volume. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. For further information on risk, investors are advised to see the Company's MD&A and other disclosure filings with the regulators which are found at sedar.com . SOURCE Cult Food Science Corp Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2024/30/c7844.html The jury in Donald Trumps hush money trial will continue deliberating Thursday morning after failing to reach a verdict on the first day of their private discussions to decide the former presidents fate. The 12 members of the panel spent several hours deliberating for the first time Wednesday afternoon. No one knows how long the deliberations will take before jurors will reach a consensusmeaning Trump can now do nothing but wait to find out if hell become the first former American president to become a convicted felon. Trump Rages at Naive Fox News Anchor for Refuting His Lawyer The current presumptive Republican nominee faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in relation to a $130,000 made by Trumps former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election. Prosecutors claim reimbursements to Cohen were mislabeled as legal fees in order to hide the true nature of a scheme to stop Daniels from speaking out about a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier, ultimately in order to unlawfully influence the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denies having sex with Daniels. On Wednesday, jurors asked Judge Juan Merchan to let them review some of the trial testimony from Cohen and David Pecker. They specifically wanted to scrutinize what both men had said about a 2015 Trump Tower meeting in which Peckerthe former publisher of the National Enquireroffered to be the eyes and ears of Trumps campaign, identifying and burying potentially negative stories before they came to light. Prosecutors claim the arrangement was the start of the catch and kill scheme which is central to the case. They also requested some of Peckers testimony relating to Karen McDougal, the Playboy model who was paid $150,000 by the parent company of the Enquirer to buy the rights to her claims of an extramarital affair with Trump in the mid-aughts (Trump denies the affair took place). The jurors need to reach a unanimous decision on each of the 34 felony counts. Despite the high standard required for a convictionguilt beyond a reasonable doubtTrump appeared to be pessimistic about his chances Wednesday, claiming: Mother Teresa could not beat these charges! 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. Donald Trump has been found guilty in his Manhattan criminal hush money trial. After five weeks of testimony, a jury has found the former president guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. After the verdict was read, Trump called it a rigged trial and a disgrace, and said that the real verdict will be delivered in November when voters pick the next president. Sentencing for Trump will be on July 11. More from The Hollywood Reporter Over the past five weeks of testimony, the jury heard from a former tabloid publisher, a Hollywood fixer, the former presidents lawyer and a porn star. The former publisher of The National Enquirer, David Pecker, was the first witness and detailed a catch and kill scheme to influence the 2016 election that was hatched at a meeting at Trump Tower in August 2015. Pecker testified that just months after Trump announced he was running for president, he met with Trumps lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen and Trump himself, and said he would act as the campaigns eyes and ears, helping to identify negative stories about Trump while running negative stories on his rivals. On Wednesday, Judge Juan Merchan instructed the jury that they needed to set aside bias or personal opinions about Trump in considering their verdict. Trump entered court yesterday accompanied by his son, Donald Trump Jr., and his longtime friend Steve Witkoff and spent most of the morning with his eyes shut. This case, at its core, is about a conspiracy and a cover-up, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told jurors during summations Tuesday, later adding: Well never know if this effort to hoodwink voters made the difference in the 2016 election, but thats not something we have to prove. Trump, who could face four years in prison or probation, compared himself to Mother Teresa as he exited the courtroom Wednesday. Mother Teresa could not beat these charges. The charges are rigged. The whole thing is rigged, he told reporters. Mother Teresa could not beat these charges, but well see, he reiterated moments later. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Jurors in New York state court on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star ultimately to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president wrapped up in Manhattan, marking an extraordinary moment in American history not only for a former leader, but for one who is seeking to again hold the Oval Office. Trump, the Republican Partys presumed 2024 presidential nominee, is now a convicted felon. The jury deliberated for more than 11 hours, beginning Wednesday just before 11:30 a.m. Eastern and delivering the verdict to Justice Juan Merchan just after 5 p.m. Thursday, according to reporters at the courthouse. New York does not allow recording in the courtroom but provides public transcripts of the proceedings. States Newsroom covered the trial in person on May 20. Trump now faces penalties ranging from probation to up to four years in prison for each charge of falsifying business records in the first degree. Merchan set a sentencing date for July 11 at 10 a.m. Thats just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be officially nominated as the partys presidential candidate. What theyre saying in Washington state Jim Walsh, Washington Republican Party Chair, speaking ahead of the verdict This trial has been a circus from the start. If there is a conviction, it will very likely be overturned on appeal. What a mess. What a waste of taxpayers money. The only good part of this whole sordid affair is that the people see through the clown show. Its backfiring on the clowns whove produced it. Shasti Conrad, Washington Democratic Party Chair Convicted Felon Donald Trump is wholly unfit to lead our nation. His conviction today by a jury of his peers demonstrates the lengths Convicted Felon Trump will go to and the laws he will break to get what he wants another four years of power. Dave Reichert, Republican candidate for governor Regardless of party or ideology, age, creed, or gender, this is a sad day for the nation that merits reflection not rancor. Rest assured that if elected the next Governor of Washington State, I will do everything I can to bring people together, in common purpose, to resolve the challenges we face and the future we all want. Bob Ferguson, state attorney general and Democratic candidate for governor Laws matter in this country. America must not elect a convicted felon for president. Semi Bird, Republican candidate for governor The endless attacks against President Trump, both civil and criminal, have been targeted and specific to one purpose and one purpose only. To remove him from the presidential race. Democratic U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal Donald Trump is the first former president to become a convicted felon. It is a disgrace that he continues to attack the judge, the jury, and indeed the entire justice system. Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen Today, we saw the justice system work. In the United States, no one is above the law. Our justice system is designed to bring the facts and evidence to light and impartially determine if a crime occurred. Leslie Lewallen, Republican congressional candidate From day one, this trial has been a political witch-hunt carried out by a liberal DA and judge. In my opinion, this verdict does nothing to disqualify President Trump from holding office, and I look forward to casting my ballot for him in November. Joe Kent, Republican congressional candidate When the law only applies to one side its not the law, its a weapon used by those in power against their political rivals. This is far bigger than Trump. The system we fought for and many died for is being snuffed out before our eyes because the democrats only care about power. Tiffany Smiley, Republican congressional candidate This trial against President Trump has always been politically motivated, and the American people have been clear its not going to change their support. I do not believe this verdict disqualifies President Trump from serving another term in office, and polls show that it is actually bolstering his support. I, too, will continue to support his campaign and look forward to voting for him in the upcoming election. Jerrod Sessler, Republican congressional candidate This is a sad day in the history of America. The illegitimate Biden administration has rigged the American judicial system against President Trump with bogus cases handled by corrupt DAs and judges. I am even more proud to have this great warrior, President Trumps endorsement. I carry it with pride. He will have my full support when he wins in November. New York state prosecutors charged 34 felonies against the former president for each of the 11 invoices, 11 checks, and 12 ledger entries tied to reimbursing his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen, often referred to as Trumps former fixer, said during trial testimony that he wired $130,000 to adult film star and director Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Three criminal cases, two federal and one in Georgia, also still hang in the balance for Trump, but the likelihood of another trial happening before Novembers election is slim. Trump speaks after verdict Trump briefly spoke to news cameras outside the courtroom, criticizing the proceeding as a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said in remarks live-streamed and cataloged on C-SPAN. As he has repeated almost daily for the cameras, Trump again called Merchan a conflicted judge and falsely claimed the case was done by the Biden administration. The charges were brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whom Trump described during his post-verdict comments as Soros-funded, a common mantra from Trumps party referring to Hungarian-American billionaire philanthropist George Soros. During his roughly three-minute remarks, Trump also referred to immigration at the U.S. Southern border, a major campaign rallying cry for Republicans. We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. Were a nation in decline, serious decline. Millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now, Trump said before exiting the hallway without answering shouted questions from reporters. Despite being a convicted felon, Trump will still be able to vote in November in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he is registered, as long as he is not incarcerated. Thats because Florida law only bars voting for convicts tried in a separate state if that state also restricts them; a 2021 New York law restored voting rights for convicted felons following a release from prison and regardless if they are on parole, according to reporting by PolitiFact. House speaker sees shameful day in American history Republicans in Congress and other top GOP officials gathered with Trump at the courthouse for support during the trial and members of the GOP immediately decried the verdict. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who was among those who made the trek, released a statement saying the verdict marked a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon, Johnson wrote. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. Johnson was referring to the testimony from Cohen, who served time in prison for campaign finance crimes related to hush money payments. Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, blasted it as the result of an unfair political process. This was never about justice. It was always about politics, she wrote on X. Americans see through Democrats weaponization of our justice system and this sham trial as a desperate attempt to persecute Trump and block his re-election. The Trump campaign almost immediately solicited donations following the verdict, posting a link on his Truth Social platform to his WinRed donation portal. Trumps son Eric Trump reacted on X with May 30th, 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J. Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election. Video posted from reporters outside the courthouse showed a black SUV driving slowly outside the courthouse while members of the news media held cameras and some scattered in the crowd waved Trump flags and shouted we love you. The jury has spoken In a Thursday evening press conference, Bragg thanked the jurors and his team of prosecutors. While affirming the cases historical importance, Bragg said his office worked the case as they would any other, countering the GOP narrative that the case was politically motivated. The case was decided on the evidence and the law alone, he said. Donald J. Trump is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election, he said. While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today at this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes to the courtroom doors: By following the facts and the law, and doing so without fear or favor. Bragg praised the 12 everyday New Yorkers, who paid careful attention to a complicated documents-based case to reach a unanimous decision. The jurors service represented the cornerstone of the phenomenal U.S. system of justice, he said. Asked if he wanted to respond to any of the personal attacks Trump launched against him and his prosecution team, Bragg declined. Another reporter asked Bragg about criticism of his investigation of the case and his decision to bring a prosecution. I did my job. Our job is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favor. And thats exactly what we did here, he said. Many voices out there, he added. The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury. And the jury has spoken. Trials in limbo in D.C., Georgia, Florida The verdict brought to a close the historic first criminal proceeding against a former sitting American president, albeit at the state level. Trump is currently mired in a fight for absolute immunity from federal criminal charges accusing him of scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. A U.S. Supreme Court decision on his immunity claim is pending. Justices heard arguments in the case on April 25. Meanwhile in Florida, federal District Judge Aileen Cannon has indefinitely postponed the U.S. case against Trump for mishandling and refusing to return classified documents that he hid at his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left office. Trump faces another state case in Georgia, along with several co-conspirators, on racketeering and conspiracy charges related to the states 2020 presidential election results. The case has been held up due to pretrial disputes over alleged misconduct by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Biden campaign reacts A spokesman for President Joe Bidens campaign, Michael Tyler, said in a statement that the verdict showed no one is above the law and that Trump remained a threat to democracy whom voters should reject. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, Tyler wrote. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater, Tyler continued. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November. The Biden White House had much less to say. Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House Counsels Office, said in a one-sentence email: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. Members of Congress speak out House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, said in a statement the guilty decision from the jurors represented a devastating defeat for any American who believes in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind. This verdict will not withstand an appeal, and was only brought as an attempt to interfere with the 2024 election, Scalise wrote. The radical partisan Democrats behind this abuse of our justice system will not prevail. The voters will settle this on November 5th. Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committees federal courts subcommittee, released a statement saying that an individual who has been convicted of 34 felony counts and shows zero respect for the rule of law is not fit to lead the greatest nation in the world. Its only in honest courtrooms that the former president has been unable to lie and bully his way out of trouble, Whitehouse said. Americans trust juries for good reason. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis posted on social media that he was shocked by the verdict considering that this case should have never been brought forward. From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals, Tillis wrote. I expect and hope that President Trump will appeal this verdict to address fundamental questions, including whether President Trump received a fair trial and whether the Manhattan D.A. even had jurisdiction on a federal election matter. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said the jurys decision showed that Americas justice system functioned the way it was supposed to. Today our system of justice worked, and former President Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts by a jury of American citizens, McCollum wrote on social media. No person is above the law. A sham or an affirmation? Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds wrote in a statement the trial was a sham. For years, Democrats like Alvin Bragg have been trying to put President Trump in jail with complete disregard for our democracy and the will of the American people, Reynolds wrote. The only verdict that matters is the one at the ballot box in November where the American people will elect President Trump again. Florida Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz wrote on social media that the jurys guilty verdict wasnt political. A former president being convicted is nothing to be celebrated, but it is an affirmation that nobody is above the law, Moskowitz wrote. This verdict was reached by a jury of Trumps peers, by citizens of the American justice system, not by a judge or by a political opponent. Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, rejected the verdict, writing on social media it was a travesty of justice. The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Bidens failing radical policies, Jordan wrote. Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine posted on social media the verdict is proof that no one is above the law in this country. Its also tragic in this way Americans put the reins of leadership in the hands of a person whose character is so far beneath the office that no rational adult would ever encourage young people to emulate his behavior, Kaine wrote. Trumps lack of character has caught up to him, Kaine added. And Americans once again have received a clear warning about a person who wants to seize leadership once again. I pray that we heed the warning. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said Thursday was a sad day for all Americans. This verdict in New York is another example of Democrats being relentless in their pursuit to weaponize the courts, abuse Americas judicial system, and target President Joe Bidens political opposition, Comer wrote. One thing is clear: Democrats are afraid to face Donald Trump. Americans will make their voices heard this November. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the Republican nominee for the states open U.S. Senate seat, urged restraint in a social media post. Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process, Hogan wrote. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders regardless of party must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law. Jacob Fischler and Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report. The post Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts in NY hush money trial appeared first on Washington State Standard. Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Jurors in New York state court on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star ultimately to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president wrapped up in Manhattan, marking an extraordinary moment in American history not only for a former leader, but for one who is seeking to again hold the Oval Office. Trump, the Republican Partys presumed 2024 presidential nominee, is now a convicted felon. The jury deliberated for more than 11 hours, beginning Wednesday just before 11:30 a.m. Eastern and delivering the verdict to Justice Juan Merchan just after 5 p.m. Thursday, according to reporters at the courthouse. New York does not allow recording in the courtroom but provides public transcripts of the proceedings. States Newsroom covered the trial in person on May 20. Trump now faces penalties ranging from probation to up to four years in prison for each charge of falsifying business records in the first degree. Merchan set a sentencing date for July 11 at 10 a.m. Thats just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be officially nominated as the partys presidential candidate. New York state prosecutors charged 34 felonies against the former president for each of the 11 invoices, 11 checks, and 12 ledger entries tied to reimbursing his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen, often referred to as Trumps former fixer, said during trial testimony that he wired $130,000 to adult film star and director Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Three criminal cases, two federal and one in Georgia, also still hang in the balance for Trump, but the likelihood of another trial happening before Novembers election is slim. Trump speaks after verdict Trump briefly spoke to news cameras outside the courtroom, criticizing the proceeding as a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said in remarks live-streamed and cataloged on C-SPAN. As he has repeated almost daily for the cameras, Trump again called Merchan a conflicted judge and falsely claimed the case was done by the Biden administration. The charges were brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whom Trump described during his post-verdict comments as Soros-funded, a common mantra from Trumps party referring to Hungarian-American billionaire philanthropist George Soros. During his roughly three-minute remarks, Trump also referred to immigration at the U.S. Southern border, a major campaign rallying cry for Republicans. We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. Were a nation in decline, serious decline. Millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now, Trump said before exiting the hallway without answering shouted questions from reporters. Despite being a convicted felon, Trump will still be able to vote in November in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he is registered, as long as he is not incarcerated. Thats because Florida law only bars voting for convicts tried in a separate state if that state also restricts them; a 2021 New York law restored voting rights for convicted felons following a release from prison and regardless if they are on parole, according to reporting by PolitiFact. House speaker sees shameful day in American history Republicans in Congress and other top GOP officials gathered with Trump at the courthouse for support during the trial and members of the GOP immediately decried the verdict. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who was among those who made the trek, released a statement saying the verdict marked a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon, Johnson wrote. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. Johnson was referring to the testimony from Cohen, who served time in prison for campaign finance crimes related to hush money payments. Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, blasted it as the result of an unfair political process. This was never about justice. It was always about politics, she wrote on X. Americans see through Democrats weaponization of our justice system and this sham trial as a desperate attempt to persecute Trump and block his re-election. The Trump campaign almost immediately solicited donations following the verdict, posting a link on his Truth Social platform to his WinRed donation portal. Trumps son Eric Trump reacted on X with May 30th, 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J. Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election. Video posted from reporters outside the courthouse showed a black SUV driving slowly outside the courthouse while members of the news media held cameras and some scattered in the crowd waved Trump flags and shouted we love you. Trials in limbo in D.C., Georgia, Florida The verdict brought to a close the historic first criminal proceeding against a former sitting American president, albeit at the state level. Trump is currently mired in a fight for absolute immunity from federal criminal charges accusing him of scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. A U.S. Supreme Court decision on his immunity claim is pending. Justices heard arguments in the case on April 25. Meanwhile in Florida, federal District Judge Aileen Cannon has indefinitely postponed the U.S. case against Trump for mishandling and refusing to return classified documents that he hid at his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left office. Trump faces another state case in Georgia, along with several co-conspirators, on racketeering and conspiracy charges related to the states 2020 presidential election results. The case has been held up due to pretrial disputes over alleged misconduct by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Biden campaign reacts A spokesman for President Joe Bidens campaign, Michael Tyler, said in a statement that the verdict showed no one is above the law and that Trump remained a threat to democracy whom voters should reject. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, Tyler wrote. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater, Tyler continued. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence and the American people will reject it this November. The Biden White House had much less to say. Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House Counsels Office, said in a one-sentence email: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. Members of Congress speak out House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, said in a statement the guilty decision from the jurors represented a devastating defeat for any American who believes in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind. This verdict will not withstand an appeal, and was only brought as an attempt to interfere with the 2024 election, Scalise wrote. The radical partisan Democrats behind this abuse of our justice system will not prevail. The voters will settle this on November 5th. Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committees federal courts subcommittee, released a statement saying that an individual who has been convicted of 34 felony counts and shows zero respect for the rule of law is not fit to lead the greatest nation in the world. Its only in honest courtrooms that the former president has been unable to lie and bully his way out of trouble, Whitehouse said. Americans trust juries for good reason. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis posted on social media that he was shocked by the verdict considering that this case should have never been brought forward. From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals, Tillis wrote. I expect and hope that President Trump will appeal this verdict to address fundamental questions, including whether President Trump received a fair trial and whether the Manhattan D.A. even had jurisdiction on a federal election matter. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum said the jurys decision showed that Americas justice system functioned the way it was supposed to. Today our system of justice worked, and former President Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts by a jury of American citizens, McCollum wrote on social media. No person is above the law. A sham or an affirmation? Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds wrote in a statement the trial was a sham. For years, Democrats like Alvin Bragg have been trying to put President Trump in jail with complete disregard for our democracy and the will of the American people, Reynolds wrote. The only verdict that matters is the one at the ballot box in November where the American people will elect President Trump again. Florida Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz wrote on social media that the jurys guilty verdict wasnt political. A former president being convicted is nothing to be celebrated, but it is an affirmation that nobody is above the law, Moskowitz wrote. This verdict was reached by a jury of Trumps peers, by citizens of the American justice system, not by a judge or by a political opponent. Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, rejected the verdict, writing on social media it was a travesty of justice. The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Bidens failing radical policies, Jordan wrote. Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine posted on social media the verdict is proof that no one is above the law in this country. Its also tragic in this way Americans put the reins of leadership in the hands of a person whose character is so far beneath the office that no rational adult would ever encourage young people to emulate his behavior, Kaine wrote. Trumps lack of character has caught up to him, Kaine added. And Americans once again have received a clear warning about a person who wants to seize leadership once again. I pray that we heed the warning. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said Thursday was a sad day for all Americans. This verdict in New York is another example of Democrats being relentless in their pursuit to weaponize the courts, abuse Americas judicial system, and target President Joe Bidens political opposition, Comer wrote. One thing is clear: Democrats are afraid to face Donald Trump. Americans will make their voices heard this November. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the Republican nominee for the states open U.S. Senate seat, urged restraint in a social media post. Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process, Hogan wrote. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders regardless of party must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law. Jacob Fischler and Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report. The post Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts in NY hush money trial appeared first on New Jersey Monitor. Trump Goes to Bat for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in New Interview Donald Trump on Wednesday night heaped praise on Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, along with others on the recently scandal-scarred panel. In a wide-ranging and apparently last-minute interview with right-wing podcaster Dan Bongino, Trump also made his usual pronouncements about the sham hush money trial in Manhattanwhich is now in jury deliberations. The former president complained about his gag order, slammed the unbelievable judge (they got themselves a beauty) and even took aim at the jury for asking Judge Juan Merchan to repeat his instructions. Its very confusing to people, the bottom line is there is no crime, Trump claimed, noting, Its been good for poll numbers anyway. Trump Jurors Already Have Several Questions as Deliberations Begin He blasted President Joe Biden, claiming the trial, in which Trump faces 34 state felony counts for allegedly falsifying business records in order to cover up payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, absolutely comes from the White House, claiming, its the way [Biden] wants to win. But perhaps most notably in the interview, Trump expanded on comments he made earlier in the day on Truth Social lauding the Supreme Courtespecially Justice Alito, who has found himself in the middle of a scandal after it was revealed that a pair of flags tied to the Jan. 6 insurrection flew outside of his home in Virginia and a vacation home in New Jersey, respectively. Just hours earlier on Wednesday, Alito refused to recuse himself from any cases surrounding the 2020 presidential election or Jan. 6, 2021, riots, telling lawmakers in a letter obtained by NBC that the accusations, first reported by The New York Times, do not meet the conditions for recusal based on the Supreme Courts latest ethics code. I am therefore duty-bound to reject your recusal request, he wrote. The court is considering two major cases related to Jan. 6, including whether presidential immunity prevents Trump from being tried on election interference charges. Trump initially cheered the justices decision on Truth Social, congratulating Alito for showing the INTELLIGENCE, COURAGE, and GUTS to refuse stepping aside from making a decision on anything January 6th related. He continued: All U.S. Judges, Justices, and Leaders should have such GRIT - Our Country would be far more advanced than its current status as A BADLY FAILING NATION, headed by the Worst President in American History, Crooked Joe Biden! Justice Samuel Alito Throws His Wife Under the Bus for 2nd Flag Incident Boasting that he knows Washington better than anybody to Bongino, Trump called Alito a tough guy and very strong, when asked if he would take a ridiculous hush money conviction to SCOTUS. [Alito] put a great statement today..I gave him a lot of credit for it, Trump continued. Alitos great, [Clarence] Thomas is great, the three that I put in... I mean its a little early, but people are starting to warm up to them. But theyve got to be strong, theyve got to be tough. Alitos been a very tough, very good... and Thomas has been good... and were going to see how it all works out. The former president did take issue with the way they are treated. Trump ended the chat claiming it would be a very different world had he been elected president and instituted a variety of his favored policies. It is my honor to be fighting, he said as he finished the call. 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. Trump guilty verdict does not change US election race, Biden campaign says By Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's reelection campaign said Donald Trump's sweeping guilty verdict in his hush-money trial on Thursday proves that "no one is above the law," but will do little to change the dynamics of the Nov. 5 election. "There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box," Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said after the guilty verdict. Trump on Thursday became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. After deliberations over two days, the 12-member jury announced it had found Trump guilty on all 34 counts he faced. Unanimity was required for any verdict. Biden's campaign has been weighing how to handle the hush-money trial's outcome for weeks, and ultimately decided against changing course, arguing that a guilty verdict will not substantially change the dynamics of the election, campaign officials said. Instead, they said they plan to stay focused on their main campaign messages of threats to democracy and abortion access. "Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president," Tyler said. Biden, who is currently in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with his family, has no public schedule for the rest of the day. Biden's White House opted to say little after the verdict. "We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment," said Ian Sams, a spokesman for the White House Counsels ofice. Opinion polls show a guilty verdict could pose some danger for Trump in an election that could be decided by just tens of thousands of votes in a handful of battleground states. But some strategists say the threat to Trump may be overblown. Ive always suspected that the voters saying 'Id have to reconsider if he gets convicted of a crime' are pretending to be rational and thoughtful when in fact theyre still going to vote for him," said Jimmy Siegel, a Democratic strategist. "So I dont think its going to have a large effect." (This story has been refiled to add a dropped word in paragraph 1) (Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Leslie Adler and Deepa Babington) Scandals have swirled around former President Donald Trump since his first presidential campaign in 2016. But as of Thursday having been found guilty on all counts in his New York hush-money case he is now officially a convicted felon. Could that fact cut through all the other headlines and be a game-changer for the 2024 election? At first glance, there's some evidence from polls that this conviction will meaningfully erode Trump's support. An April survey from CNN/SSRS found that, while 76 percent of Trump supporters said they would support Trump regardless, 24 percent said they "might reconsider" their support for him if he was convicted. And a May poll from Emerson College found that 25 percent of voters said a guilty verdict in New York would make them less likely to vote for Trump. A few pollsters have also asked two versions of the standard "who will you vote for?" question in recent weeks: one straightforward one, and one that asked respondents who they would vote for if Trump was convicted in the New York case. On average, Trump went from leading by 1 percentage point in these polls without considering the conviction to trailing by 6 points with it. But Democrats would be wise to not get too excited about these numbers. Take another look at the wording of the CNN/SSRS poll: Twenty-four percent of Trump supporters said they "might reconsider" their vote. That's not the same as "will definitely change" their vote! In light of this conviction, many Trump supporters might simply have a crisis of confidence about their vote without outright switching to President Joe Biden. That's basically what another poll from ABC News/Ipsos found. Like CNN/SSRS, they asked Trump supporters what they would do if Trump was convicted in the New York case, but they provided options for both "reconsider" and "no longer support." Sixteen percent said they would reconsider supporting Trump, but only 4 percent said they would no longer support him. (Similar to CNN/SSRS, 80 percent said they would continue to support him.) Likewise, you should always be careful with polls like Emerson's that ask Americans whether something makes them more or less likely to vote a certain way. Respondents often don't take these questions literally; instead, they use them as a proxy for whether they approve or disapprove of the thing being asked about. Indeed, over three-quarters of those who told Emerson a conviction would make them "less likely" to vote for Trump had told the pollster on a different question that they were already voting for Biden. By contrast, only 11 percent of Trump voters said a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for him so the potential impact on his actual support is much smaller than it initially appears. Other polls also support the theory that this conviction won't cause mass defections to Biden. Those horse-race polls I cited above? They don't actually show many Trump voters switching their vote to Biden. Instead, most of the support Trump loses goes into the undecided column or to an unnamed, hypothetical "someone else": On average, Trump loses 6 points of support after a conviction is taken into account but Biden gains only 1 point. "Someone else" or undecided gains 5 points. That's consistent with the idea that this conviction will make some Trump supporters squeamish about the idea of pulling the lever for him, so they will stop identifying as Trump supporters for a while but most of them won't go so far as to vote for Biden. And that, in turn, could indicate that this drop in Trump's support will be short-lived. Sure, Trump supporters who abandon him after this conviction could conceivably abstain from voting or vote for a third-party candidate. But the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, so there's also a good chance that they will eventually get over their discomfort and return to Trump's side, especially considering there are still five months left until Election Day plenty of time for Trump to spin a narrative that helps voters overcome any hangups about voting for a convicted felon. We don't need to search far for a precedent for this. In October 2016, Trump's campaign was blindsided by the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape, on which Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women. Polls at the time showed that the tape made some Republicans uncomfortable about supporting Trump, and his national support in 538's polling average at the time fell by about 1 point. But Trump's support quickly recovered: Within three weeks of the tape's release, he was polling better than he was before it. That said, even if most Trump defectors only switch to undecided and eventually return to the fold, that doesn't mean the conviction will have zero effect on the race. That average 1-point gain for Biden isn't nothing in a close race (which 2024 is shaping up to be), it could mean the difference between winning and losing. But it's also important not to overstate the conviction's impact. If the hush-money trial ends up determining the presidential race, it will likely be because the campaign was a game of inches anyway. Irena Li contributed research. How Trumps guilty verdict will impact the 2024 presidential election originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records which are connected to Trumps role in paying porn actress Stormy Daniels hush-money to cover up a sexual liaison. He is the first president to be criminally convicted. South Carolina Republicans reacted with harsh statements against the decision, but some directly targeted President Joe Biden, trying to connect him with the prosecution. State Rep. Adam Morgan, R-Greenville, who is running for a Congress in District 4 against incumbent William Timmons, wrote via social media platform X the weaponization of government against President Trump is a travesty, then blamed Biden. The American people have seen the lengths that the Biden administration will go to attack its political enemies. We look forward to telling the Biden administration what we think in the November election. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., didnt directly go after Biden, but hinted at the president in her message via X. The outpouring of support for President Trump suggests one thing: this administration has broken our justice system, Mace tweeted. Now, it is in the hands of the American people to fix it. Her office sent a statement after she tweeted. The Biden administration has treated its authority like were in a third world, banana republic, leading to an unjust guilty verdict against Donald Trump. Men and women risk their lives for our democracy, not for it to be treated as disposable. This is a dark day for American justice, it said. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott,R-S.C., and former 2024 presidential candidate tweeted out a video of himself, where he wrote on X Joe Biden, youre fired. We the People stand with Donald J. Trump. Mark Burns, a pastor and congressional District 3 candidate, uploaded a video to X about the decision, saying the guilty verdict will re-elect Trump. He also blamed Biden. This is election interference at the highest caliber because Joe Biden is not man enough or even woke enough or cognizant enough to run his own campaign. He has to sink his DOJ gestapo order to go after Donald Trump. The leading candidate and the presumptive republican nominee, his number one opponent. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., did not accuse Biden, but said it was politically motivated. This verdict says more about the system than the allegations. It will be seen as politically motivated and unfair, and it will backfire tremendously on the political Left, Grahams email read. And Trump also blamed Biden. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent. And I think its just a disgrace. And well keep fighting. Well fight till the end, and well win because our country has gone to hell, Trump said outside the courthouse, later released in a statement. Trump and allies have long asserted that the former president is a victim of a Democratic-led conspiracy against him, without providing any proof. His criminal prosecution was recommended by grand juries, made up of members of the public. His federal cases are overseen by an independent special counsel under the U.S. Department of Justice. The sentencing will be July 12. Trump is expected to appeal the decision. Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records which are connected to Trumps role in paying porn actress Stormy Daniels hush-money to cover up a sexual liaison. He is the first president to be criminally convicted. South Carolina Republicans reacted with harsh statements against the decision, but some directly targeted President Joe Biden, trying to connect him with the prosecution. State Rep. Adam Morgan, R-Greenville, who is running for a Congress in District 4 against incumbent William Timmons, wrote via social media platform X the weaponization of government against President Trump is a travesty, then blamed Biden. The American people have seen the lengths that the Biden administration will go to attack its political enemies. We look forward to telling the Biden administration what we think in the November election. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., didnt directly go after Biden, but hinted at the president in her message via X. The outpouring of support for President Trump suggests one thing: this administration has broken our justice system, Mace tweeted. Now, it is in the hands of the American people to fix it. Her office sent a statement after she tweeted. The Biden administration has treated its authority like were in a third world, banana republic, leading to an unjust guilty verdict against Donald Trump. Men and women risk their lives for our democracy, not for it to be treated as disposable. This is a dark day for American justice, it said. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott,R-S.C., and former 2024 presidential candidate tweeted out a video of himself, where he wrote on X Joe Biden, youre fired. We the People stand with Donald J. Trump. Mark Burns, a pastor and congressional District 3 candidate, uploaded a video to X about the decision, saying the guilty verdict will re-elect Trump. He also blamed Biden. This is election interference at the highest caliber because Joe Biden is not man enough or even woke enough or cognizant enough to run his own campaign. He has to sink his DOJ gestapo order to go after Donald Trump. The leading candidate and the presumptive republican nominee, his number one opponent. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., did not accuse Biden, but said it was politically motivated. This verdict says more about the system than the allegations. It will be seen as politically motivated and unfair, and it will backfire tremendously on the political Left, Grahams email read. And Trump also blamed Biden. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent. And I think its just a disgrace. And well keep fighting. Well fight till the end, and well win because our country has gone to hell, Trump said outside the courthouse, later released in a statement. Trump and allies have long asserted that the former president is a victim of a Democratic-led conspiracy against him, without providing any proof. His criminal prosecution was recommended by grand juries, made up of members of the public, and an independent special counsel under the U.S. Department of Justice oversees his federal cases. Not all S.C. politicians had the same view of the guilty verdict. Democratic Congressman James Clyburn wrote on X, The jury has spoken. Justice has prevailed. The sentencing will be July 12. Trump is expected to appeal the decision. UPDATED, 2:10 PM: Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his criminal hush money trial. UPDATED, 1:39 PM: Jurors deliberating in Donald Trumps criminal hush money trial have reached a verdict. More from Deadline Judge Juan Merchan announced that the jurors had sent a note informing them of their decision. The verdict is expected to be read in about 30 minutes. The verdict follows nine hours and 44 minutes of deliberations, per CNN. PREVIOUSLY: Jurors deliberating in Donald Trumps New York criminal hush-money trial are slated to return to court this morning to have a batch of trial transcripts read back to them, and to re-hear the jury instructions the judge spent more than an hour delivering on Wednesday. The requests arrived in a pair of notes the jury sent to the presiding judge, state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, a few hours into their first day weighing 34 felony charges against the former president. If everything in the unprecedented trial is working as it should, jurors will have little or no idea of the small-scale conflict they set off with one of their requests, for a piece of trial transcript from the testimony of former tabloid publisher David Pecker. That ask prompted Merchan to send the jury home a half-hour early Wednesday, at about 4 p.m., and got the lawyers on both sides jockeying out of view over which excerpts, exactly, to give to jurors from Peckers testimony about an August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower in New York. We may need your help, Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said to Merchan shortly after 5 p.m., when the lawyers returned to open court. At issue was how expansively to interpret the jury request: Pecker talking just about the meeting that took place between himself, Trump and Trump lawyer Michael Cohen? Or also about actions arising from that meeting? Steinglass and Trump defense attorney Todd Blanche went page by page and line by line through disputed sections of transcript, with Merchan following along. Overall, Steinglass wanted fewer lines read back than Blanche. What were saying is none of it should come in, the prosecutor said of a particular passage that Blanche wants jurors to hear today. At moments the debate sounded existential, with Blanche speaking of things both said and unsaid at the Trump Tower meeting and their relevance to fulfilling the jurys request. Pecker ran American Media, the Florida-based publisher of the The National Enquirer newsstand tabloid and a group of lifestyle and gossip magazines. He was also longtime friends with his frequent Palm Beach neighbor Trump. In August of 2015, Pecker, Trump and Trumps bulldog lawyer, Cohen, met at Trump Tower. As Pecker and Cohen both testified, they agreed to work together for Trumps long-shot presidential campaign using Peckers media network to raise the candidates political profile and bury unflattering stories. Pecker volunteered to serve as Trumps eyes and ears. Prosecutors trace the criminal conspiracy laid out in their case against Trump to that meeting, and Peckers testimony in April was a key piece of the narrative they constructed for jurors over five weeks in court. So its not out of the ordinary that jurors would want a readback of Peckers testimony, along with Cohens about the same meeting. The juror note also asked for two other areas of Peckers testimony: a June 2016 phone call with Trump; and the disposition of a $150,000 deal with Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who was selling a story about a yearlong affair with the married real estate mogul and reality television star. Steinglass said he and Blanche were in agreement on what to provide jurors with from those three rounds of testimony. This is the tough one, Steinglass said of the Pecker-Trump Tower meeting testimony. At the end, around 5:30 p.m., Merchan said hed take the lawyers arguments under advisement and take the excerpts with him to read over and make a ruling. Jurors will spend at least a half hour hearing a court reporter read back more than 30 pages of transcript in open court this morning, based on an estimate from Steinglass. Merchan re-reading most or all of his 53 pages of instructions on the law, and how to apply it to the charges against Trump, could take at least an hour. Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a reimbursement to Cohen, after Cohen paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in the last days of the 2016 presidential campaign to remain silent about her claim of a one-night stand years earlier with Trump. Prosecutors say the Daniels payment was part of an illegal election conspiracy, and a reprise of the catch and kill strategy that Trump, Cohen and Pecker deployed earlier that year to keep two other inconvenient stories, including McDougals, from surfacing just not with Peckers money the third time around. Trump denies having sex with Daniels, and his lawyers say the $420,000 paid to Cohen during Trumps first year in office was taxable monthly income for ongoing legal work. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (Bloomberg) -- Didi Global Inc.s net loss grew in the March quarter, after climbing marketing costs and losses on its stake in electric vehicle-maker XPeng Inc. outweighed a revenue boost. Most Read from Bloomberg Chinas leading ride-hailing providers net loss grew to 1.35 billion yuan ($186 million) in the first three months of the year, reversing two straight quarters of profitability despite a 15% rise in sales. Didis net loss was 1.16 billion yuan a year ago. Driver operation fees in China rose in the March quarter, while higher consumer incentives also ate into the Beijing-based companys bottom line. It also recorded an investment loss of 1.8 billion yuan in the period, primarily from its equity stake in XPeng. Didis results come as the company undergoes a major transition at the top, with co-founder Jean Liu giving up her roles as president and board director after almost a decade. Liu, known for helping the company secure the backing of tech giants including Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Uber Technologies Inc., has become a permanent partner and will continue to report to Chief Executive Officer Will Cheng. Liu was replaced on the board by Alan Yue Zhuo, who served as the companys chief financial officer since 2021. Once feted as the national champion that drove Uber out of China, Didi has been trying to revive growth after Beijings campaign to rein in the countrys powerful internet industry. The company was forced to de-list in New York after moving ahead with a $4.4 billion initial public offering against Beijings objections, and was subsequently fined $1.2 billion in 2022 for data security violations. Its main apps returned to Chinese app stores early last year, allowing it to resume growth in the home market it still dominates. Read more: Inside Didis $60 Billion Crash That Changed China Tech Forever The company plans to list on Hong Kongs stock exchange this year and could benefit from Chinas recent supportive measures for overseas listings, Bloomberg News reported. Its shares, now traded only over-the-counter in New York, rose some 17% this year to $4.61, but its still well shy of its IPO price of $14 in 2021. Last August, Didi sold its smart-car development arm to XPeng in a retreat from the car-making business. That HK$5.84 billion deal also handed Didi a 3.25% stake in the EV maker. Story continues The company said it had repurchased and canceled shares worth $152.4 million under a previously-announced $1 billion buyback program. Its subsidiary, City Puzzle Holdings Ltd., also plans to repurchase shares worth $408 million. (Updates with details from earnings release. A previous version was corrected to show co-founder Jean Liu has already stepped down from her role as president and board director.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Insights from The New York Times, Politico, and The Washington Post The News In a historic moment, Donald Trump has been convicted on all 34 counts in his hush-money trial, the jury announced early Thursday evening. Hes the first-ever former president to be convicted of a felony crime. In the case brought by New York District Attorney Alvin Braggs office, Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal damaging information as part of a conspiracy to mislead voters ahead of the 2016 US presidential election. Trump, who is again the Republican forerunner for president, pled not guilty. The 12-person panel of Manhattan residents took two days to reach the verdict, which had to be unanimous. Trump will be sentenced on July 11 at 10 a.m. Eastern, days before the Republican National Convention begins. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Trump could serve prison time, but sentence remains unclear Sources: Politico, The New York Times Its unclear whether Trump will serve any prison time, although he could face as much as four years. Some legal experts say its unlikely; The charges are among New Yorks least-severe felonies, and he is a first-time offender. But this is an unprecedented case and Judge Merchan has discretion here. Knowing most judges in New York, theyre going to want to show that no one is above the law, one said, and to that end, some of Trumps behavior during the trial might come back to haunt him at sentencing, particularly his gag order violations. Trump will almost certainly appeal the conviction, meaning he would likely remain free until thats resolved. Trumps reaction could swing between martyr and vengeance Sources: The Washington Post, The New York Times Regardless of the verdict, Trump has sought to portray himself as a martyr. Seemingly anticipating a conviction, he told reporters on Wednesday Mother Teresa could not beat these charges. If he was acquitted, the Biden administration, and by extension, the courts, persecuted him for political gains and to punish his supporters, a frequent campaign refrain. Before the jury returned its decision, the New York Times predicted Trump would be angry and vengeful, citing his behavior following his past impeachments. Its not yet clear how or whether the conviction will affect the election Source: ABC News Trumps conviction could tip the scales in the upcoming presidential election: Polls suggest a fifth of Trumps current supporters would reconsider or withdraw support if he is convicted of a crime enough to make a difference in what is expected to be a nail-biter race. But not necessarily. People are really bad at predicting what is actually going to sway their vote in the end, ABC Newss senior editor and elections analyst said. They might say a conviction turns them off Trump a little, but still vote for him in the end. (Bloomberg) -- The New York jury weighing Donald Trumps hush money case ended its first day of deliberations after asking to review testimony about a Trump Tower meeting that prosecutors say was central to a criminal conspiracy to boost his 2016 presidential campaign. Most Read from Bloomberg After a lunch break, the jury sent New York state judge Juan Merchan a note asking for testimony about an August 2015 meeting attended by Trump, his former attorney Michael Cohen and National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. The jury also asked for testimony about what both Cohen and Pecker said when they described the meeting. Pecker testified he agreed then to help Trumps campaign by praising him in print, punishing his rivals, and buying and burying accounts of his extramarital affairs. The panel also asked to hear testimony of how Peckers company paid former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal $150,000 in 2016 to buy and bury her account of an affair with Trump a decade earlier. The request may suggest jurors are working through the chronology laid out by prosecutors. Trump is accused of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment that Cohen made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels just weeks before the 2016 election. Pecker was the governments first witness and jurors may want to refresh their memory about the meeting. Trump lawyer Todd Blanche argued in closing statements Tuesday that Cohen had contradicted key elements of Peckers testimony and shouldnt be credited. Testimony Excerpts Prosecutors and Trumps lawyers also spent more than an hour Wednesday haggling over what testimony the panel should hear. Merchan ended one dispute, ruling the jury should hear what Pecker told National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard about the arrangement he made with Trump. Blanche had argued the testimony wasnt relevant. I told him that we were going to help the campaign and if we were going to do that we wanted to keep that as quiet as possible, Pecker testified. Over Blanches objections, Merchan said the excerpt should be read because it summarizes what the plan was. The plan was to help the campaign. The 12-person jury got the case at 11:28 a.m., after Merchan instructed them on how to apply the law to the charges against the former president, setting the stage for a historic verdict that could impact Trumps campaign to return to the White House. In a second note, jurors asked to hear Merchans instructions again. But before jurors could review the testimony theyd asked for or the judges instructions, Merchan dismissed the panel for the day, saying deliberations will resume Thursday morning. The jury could deliberate for hours or days before reaching a verdict, which must be unanimous to convict or acquit Trump. Another potential outcome could be a mistrial, which happens when the jury cant reach a unanimous verdict. Rigged Case After the jury left the courtroom to begin deliberations, Trump told reporters that the case was rigged. Mother Teresa could not beat those charges, he said. But well see. Earlier, Merchan urged the jury to think of Trump as any other person who deserves to be treated fairly. You are asked to make a very important decision about another member of the community, Merchan said. I know you would not want to make that off what we call implicit biases. The six alternates were asked to stay in the courtroom as the main panel walked out and dont participate in deliberations. The judge thanked them for their attention to the trial but said that they need to remain in the courthouse in case their services are needed during the deliberations. The judge started the proceedings 30 minutes later than usual Wednesday morning after jurors agreed to stay until 8 p.m. Tuesday for eight hours of closing arguments. Read More: Trump Jury to Get Case in Hush-Money Trial. What Happens Next? Prosecutors, who have the burden of proof, spent about five hours summarizing the testimony and evidence presented over five weeks. Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass focused on testimony by Cohen, as well as Pecker, who both said they agreed at the Trump Tower meeting to help Trump identify and quash negative tabloid stories to help Trumps chances before the election. Invoices, vouchers and checks reflecting the former presidents reimbursements to Cohen in 2017 are at the center of the case. Prosecutors say Trump falsely claimed the checks were for monthly legal services. Blanche used his defense argument to undermine the credibility of Cohen, who previously pleaded guilty to lying under oath and other crimes. Blanche also said the payments to Cohen were valid and that Trump had nothing to do with how his company handled the transactions. --With assistance from David Voreacos. (Updates with testimony from National Enquirer publisher in sixth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- The New York jury that will decide Donald Trumps fate began its second day of deliberations Thursday by listening again to testimony about how the National Enquirer publisher took a negative story about Trump off the market. Most Read from Bloomberg The Manhattan jury was read earlier testimony by David Pecker, the chief executive officer of American Media Inc., discussing how he bought and buried a story in 2016 about a former Playboy model who said she had an affair with Trump. Pecker testified in April that he told Trump on a phone call that he would not publish the story about Karen McDougal. Pecker said that Trump called McDougal a nice girl, leading him to believe the story was true and it would have been very embarrassing to himself, and also to his campaign. The testimony, read back by two court reporters, was one of several items requested by jurors weighing whether the former president falsified business records to hide hush money payments before the 2016 election. Jurors must decide whether Trump had an intent to fake the records even as he planned to commit other election law or tax violations. Jurors resumed deliberations at 11:15 a.m. after hearing the testimony. They continued into the afternoon without sending any additional notes to the judge. Merchan has told them that they are scheduled to finish for the day at 4:30 p.m., but can ask to stay as late as 6 p.m. if they feel they are making progress. Read More: Meet the Manhattan Jury That Will Decide Donald Trumps Fate In addition, the jurors had asked to hear testimony about a key 2015 meeting at Trump Tower attended by Pecker and Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer, where they allegedly hatched a scheme to boost the billionaire real estate developers campaign. Pecker testified that he agreed to alert Cohen to damaging stories about Trump and women. Before the jurors heard the witness accounts, Justice Juan Merchan read them about half of legal instructions he gave them Wednesday. Just hours after hearing them the first time, the jurors asked to hear them again. Merchan defined intent as a conscious objective or purpose to break the law, as opposed to motive, which is why someone broke the law. Intent is always the heart of any white-collar case. Jurors must also agree unanimously that Trump intended to promote his election in 2016 by any one of three unlawful means. One method was a violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act, which set a limit on contributions to candidates at $2,700 a year. The second method was falsifying other business records, including the actions by Cohen in setting up shell companies to pay $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, an adult-film star. The third was violating New York City or state tax law by submitting fraudulent information related to any return. The requests may suggest jurors are working through the chronology laid out by prosecutors. Trump is accused of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal the $130,000 payment to Daniels just weeks before the 2016 election. Pecker was the governments first witness and jurors may want to refresh their memory about the meeting. Meanwhile, the crowd outside the courthouse in lower Manhattan has grown in recent days, with a sea of television crews from around the world lining the sidewalk across the street. The park behind them is home to a boisterous group of Trump supporters, some of them blowing horns, waving flags and hoisting signs claiming the trial was unfair. A maze of police barricades separates them from a much smaller group of anti-Trump protesters, one of whom holds a banner saying, Convict Trump already. Tourists, office workers and other curious pedestrians filter through the park to observe the scene. --With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron. (Updates with schedule in sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Former President Trump labeled Fox Newss Shannon Bream as naive Wednesday, after she pushed back on his attorneys assertion that his criminal hush money trial was in some way directed by the White House. Bream said in an interview with Trump attorney and spokesperson Alina Habba that President Biden is not responsible for the trial, pushing back on her false claims that the case is politically organized from the top. I never knew Shannon Bream was so naive, Trump said in a Truth Social post Wednesday, calling the idea that Biden isnt involved in the case stupid. Not only is he involved, he is virtually leading it, and all of the other Trials as well Meaning, his people, because hes not mentally sharp enough to lead anything! he continued. Just take a look at the DOJ/White House Thugs involved, and everything else. The former president added, Biden is incompetent, and feels that Weaponization is the only way he can win. Hes counting on the Shannon Breams of the World to get him there. Bad day for Shannon! Bream noted in the interview with Habba that the former presidents criminal hush money case is led by New York prosecutors, not federal prosecutors, meaning even if there was political influence on the case, it would not come from Biden. Its a state trial, Bream explained. Its [Democratic Manhattan District Attorney] Alvin Bragg. Whether you think theres a political motive for him, its not connected to the DOJ. I mean, the feds passed on these election charges. Federal prosecutors previously passed on charging Trump over the allegations that he illegally covered up hush money payments made in the weeks before the 2016 election to hide an alleged past affair, which he has denied. The former president has pleaded not guilty in the case, in which he faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, and his political allies have repeatedly said that the charges against him are political and meant to keep him from winning a second term in the White House this fall. A jury in New York began deliberating a verdict in the case Wednesday morning. Trump also faces two criminal cases one federal, one state over his efforts to remain in office after the 2020 election, as well as a federal case over his retention of classified White House records, and refusal to return them, after the end of his term. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Trump lashes out at "anti-MAGA" Fox News host who said Biden was "not responsible" for his trial With a New York jury deliberating on whether or not Donald Trump is guilty in his hush money trial, the defendant is acting like the verdict is a foregone conclusion, claiming without evidence that the case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is actually a witch-hunt perpetuated by Joe Biden. Even Fox News host Shannon Bream questioned that claim on Wednesday, prompting an angry Trump to attack her in a Truth Social post calling her "naive" and "stupid." "Biden is incompetent, and feels that Weaponization is the only way he can win," Trump wrote. "Hes counting on the Shannon Breams of the World to get him there. Bad day for Shannon!" The exchange that drew Trump's ire came during Bream's interview of Trump lawyer Alina Habba. "Joe Biden unfortunately can't really do anything in office, so he's gotta use the same means as somebody who's just trying to have a quick slip and fall and make money," Habba claimed. "And that's frankly what we're seeing right now." There is no evidence that Biden or his Department of Justice is the mastermind of a conspiracy against Trump, whose charges in this trial were brought by an independently elected prosecutor. The Biden campaign, which had avoided talking about the former president's legal troubles, only this week started using the trial as part of its messaging that Trump is crooked and contemptuous of the law. "The Biden administration's not responsible for this trial," Bream said. "It's a state trial ... it's Alvin Bragg. Whether you think theres a political motive for him, its not connected to the DOJ. I mean, the feds passed on these election charges." Bream's comment earned her the epithet of "anti-MAGA" by Trump in another Truth Social post, in which he suggested that she team up with colleague Neil Cavuto to co-host a low-ratings show. Donald Trump merchandise stores around the country have been selling Not Guilty t-shirts bearing the former presidents photo for weeks, manifesting their preferred outcome for his Manhattan criminal trial. If Trump is found guilty, however, they have a back-up plan. We got some new shirts in that say Free Trump, said Mike Domanico, the owner of Trump Store PA, adding: Kind of like that Britney Spears thing going on. Domanico, 64, owns one of more than a dozen Trump-themed stores around the country, which hawk everything from Lets go Brandon t-shirts to American flags reading God, Guns, Trump. He says business has been booming since the start of the trialone of four criminal cases against Trumpwith Trump 2024 election merch being a standout best-seller. Prosecutors Tell One Final Story About Trumps Sordid Dealings But the outcome of the New York criminal case could call for a pivot. If hes found guilty, the Free Trump [shirt] is perfect, Domanico said. I got 200 of them right now. Whitey Taylor of Boones Mill, Virginia, has one of the biggest Trump stores in the countrya 10,000-square-foot former church that now carries bobbleheads and metallic renderings of the ex-presidents testicles. The store sells four or five trial-related shirts, Taylor said, including the classic Not Guilty and another reading Never Surrender. But it also has between 2,000 and 3,000 blank shirts it can iron slogans onto overnight if news breaks. We got a guy whos made up a bunch of [t-shirts], and he can make more, he said, adding of the looming verdict: Im sure its going to be a big day. Other Trump trinket sellers said they werent paying much attention to the historic trial. Lynn Newsome, owner of Trumpville in McBee, South Carolina, told The Daily Beast he gets new items in all the time but that it has nothing to do with the trial. Were planning for 47the 47th president, he said, adding that his customers were not very interested in the courtroom drama. Asked about how the trial outcome could impact his business, he replied: It really doesnt matter. Ive got like five people in my little store right this minute, added. People love Trump, maam. Trump Called Apprentice Contestant Kwame Jackson N-Word, Producer Says Keith Lambert, who owns a chain of New England for Trump stores in Massachusetts, agreed. I havent really been following it, to be honest with you, he said about the trial. If Trump is found guilty, he added, he plans to just keep going forward. Whenever shit gets thrown at Trump, sales are good. Whenever Trump does well, sales are good, he said. People just wanna support him. Recent polling from NPR and PBS NewsHour found the verdict is unlikely to sway voters decisions in November, despite Trump facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and up to four years in prison for each in just the Manhattan case. Only 16 percent of voters, or about one in six, said a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for Trump. Some of those gathered outside the courthouse to support the former president previously told The Daily Beast they thought the trial was a sham designed to bring down their candidate. The shop owners seemed to agree. That certainly isnt a trialwe got a dictator up there, Newsome said, referring to the judge presiding over the trial, Juan Merchan. Taylor, meanwhile, said he wouldnt change his sales strategy based on the judgment of the jury. Well still sell the not guilty [tshirt], he said. Its all BS anyway. 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. This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. There are moments in American history that we all know matter, even if we arent clear at the time about their weight. Gerald Fords pardon of Richard Nixon. Republicans failed impeachment of Bill Clinton. George W. Bushs Wall Street bailout. These moments turned out to be political inflection points, the impact of which are still being debated even now. Another such moment just took place in lower Manhattan. Thursdays decision by a dozen jurors to find former President Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony crimes is an era-defining event, but how it will shape the age remains entirely uncertain. After all, Fords pardon gave permission for Nixons apologists to adopt and amplify his win-at-any-cost politics. And the fallout from Clintons affair with an intern shaped the 2000 elections in ways big and small, perhaps even paving the way for Bush, whose extraordinary measures to save the economy in the final weeks of his presidency set into motion a reactionary movement that soon became known as the Tea Party. One could argue each of those moments gave power and momentum to the forces that ultimately fueled Trumpisms rise and dominance. Its not clear just what the Trump verdict will yield next in our political system. There is, however, a very good chance that the repercussions bleed far beyond this discrete case and wont be fully appreciated in real time. Trump still faces other criminal prosecutions over trying to overturn an election and mishandling classified documents, but the trial that unfolded in New York state court was about allegations he improperly used Trump Organization cash to silence a porn star who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with him a decade before the 2016 election. (Trump has denied the allegations of infidelity and paying out hush money.) New York prosecutors successfully argued Trump knowingly used his business funds to conceal the alleged affair to help his presidential bid, a no-no under campaign finance laws and a fudged bit of bookkeeping to reimburse his longtime fixer that was equally as verboten. Each of the 34 charges carry a potential sentence of four years in prison and a $5,000 fine, although its highly unlikely the judge in this case would send an ex-President to jail for these crimes. Even if Judge Juan Merchan wanted to do so, it remains an open question whether the Secret Service could handle a protectee behind bars or what that might do to Trumps presumptive nomination. Merchan has been upfront from the start that he did not want to be seen meddling in politics. No one is above the law, but bogus bookkeeping mightnt be the most compelling reason to keep Trump from returning to the campaign trail to face voters as a newly-branded felon. To say the verdict is one for the history books may sound like hyperbole, but its tough to overstate just how many norms were perhaps forever broken with this trial. For one, no former President ever faced criminal charges like this. Ford preemptively pardoned Nixon in the wake of his Watergate-fueled resignation. Clinton agreed to an $850,000 out-of-court legal settlement and other concessions to finally close the book on a probe that started with a hinky land deal back in Arkansas but ended with a national discussion about his alleged sexual dalliances. Trump, meanwhile, could find himself staring down both a jail sentence and a second term as President. The next developments are uncertain, but some things are all but guaranteed. Trumps team has argued from the start that the case should never have been brought, and its a very good bet they have the draft an appeal at the ready in their war room. Trump will also work to frame the verdict as political payback. From the start, he has cast the New York caseand the three others, to be fairas a vile abuse of power orchestrated by President Joe Biden against his political rival for the White House in a bitter rematch. At other such moments, Trumps campaign has successfully parlayed bad days in the legal realm into very, very good ones in fundraising. Many of Trumps supporters have, to this point, believed Trumps cry of victimhood and political persecution and opened their checkbooks. But the political outlook is shakier now. Will Trumps supporters stick with him now that hes convicted? The polling suggests there could be some fracturing, but its one thing to claim in a survey that an unspecified criminal conviction matters and its another to actually ditch a thrice-married, sexual assault-bragging, history-indifferent vulgarian because of a verdict involving actions that may feel like ancient history to many. Trump has spun himself as a warrior for the wronged half of Americans, and Bidens vulnerabilities are not going to be solved by a Manhattan jury. For now, Americans will have to take a moment to process that their nation was led by a man now convicted of 34 felony charges. And, if polling in recent months is to be believed, the nation may once again have Trump atop the pecking order by January. The U.S. political system gives roughly 80,000 voters in a handful of swing states the ultimate say on the top of the ballot, while at least 40 states have already been largely written off as solidly partisan. How you think voters will respond to moments as historic as this verdict depends on your reference point. Ford lost his bid to stay in the White House to Jimmy Carter in no small measure due to his Nixon pardon. Then again, Clinton, who never faced voters again after his impeachment, left office with high approval ratings. Bush was also at the end of his political career when he chose to rescue Wall Streetand millions of Americans retirement funds and mortgagescementing his reputation as a Republican Benedict Arnold. He told former staffers at a reunion in April 2016 that he worried he was maybe the last Republican to hold the White House in his lifetime. (After witnessing Trumps rise, he would later regret that wasnt the case; he tellingly told fellow attendees at Trumps only inauguration so far that the speech they just heard was some weird shit.) In Trumps case, we have an election coming up that will tell us something about what this verdict means, but the exact message may be harder to pin down. Historians will debate how someone who once wielded so much power was held to account, and whether it actually helped or hurt his quest to claim it again. Given how Trump had dodged any real consequences for far worse, predictions of Trumps downfall may rely on a very misguided understanding of the id of the American electorate. This may be the day the Trump comeback became inevitable. Or maybe nothing of the sort happens, and the coming weeks surprise us in wholly unexpected ways. These are the moments when histories are at their richestand most pliable. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter. Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com. Project 2025 (and its auxiliary Trumps Agenda 47) are a plan by right-wing extremists and other authoritarians to end Americas multiracial democracy and to replace it with a White Christian nationalist plutocracy. A conspiracy is a plan by two or more people operating in private to advance their interests and goals above those of some other person(s) or in this context the American people. Project 2025 is not a conspiracy. These plans are exhaustively detailed in a book titled Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise and are regularly discussed at conferences, in interviews, and in other public forums. Project 2025 and its related plans, like Agenda 47, were not hatched overnight. As author and journalist Anne Nelson and other experts have been extensively documenting, Project 2025 and the other right-wing extremists and neofascists' plans to end Americas multiracial democracy have been years and decades in development: But ignore it at your peril. The massive tome is the latest iteration of a four-decade-long process of crafting right-wing policies to dismantle the federal government, deregulate industry and eliminate consumer protections and public health measures, while installing a regime controlled by fossil fuel interests and the Religious Right. Not coincidentally, the members of its advisory board have been making headlines attacking American institutions at a grassroots level, in preparation for the big takeoverranging from Moms4Libertys assaults on local public schools, to the Koch-founded Institute on Energy Researchs war on climate initiatives. Project 2025 lays out specifics for hundreds of policy objectives affecting every area of public life. Many of them affect three primary areas: first, the dismantling of environmental regulations, clean energy measures, and climate policy; second, a rollback of civil and political rights for women and LGBTQ populations and the elimination of public health measures; and third, a massive purge of career civil servants and the concentration of power in the Executive branch in the White House, to consolidate an entrenched authoritarian regime. Public opinion polls and other research have repeatedly shown that a large percentage of the American public remains unaware of the existential danger that Donald Trump and his MAGA movement and the other neofascists and authoritarians represent to the countrys democracy and freedom. It is the responsibility of the Fourth Estate to wake the American people up from their sleepwalking and political zombification. As an institution, the American news media has largely failed in this obligation. Fortunately, there are some news media outlets as well as individual journalists and others with a public platform who are continuing to sound the alarm about the escalating dangers of Trumpism and larger authoritarian campaign to end multiracial democracy in America. Pressed by Politico about Project 2025's extreme attacks on contraceptives, the Trump campaign was forced to issue a statement this week distancing the former president from the plan hatched by his former staffers: Asked if Trump plans to reimpose the contraception policies he had when president, the campaign referred POLITICO to his Truth Social post, in which he said, he will never advocate imposing restrictions on birth control, or other contraceptives. In a statement, Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles distanced the campaign from Project 2025s plans for a second administration, saying no policies are official unless theyre directly announced by the campaign. This is perilous work. If Trump takes over the White House in 2025, he and his regime will most certainly retaliate against any members of the news media who oppose him. The New Republic has a new must-read special feature called What American Fascism Would Look Like." This essential reporting and analysis go far beyond abstract questions and focuses on the severe harm a return to Trumps regime would cause to the day-to-day lives of the American people. In their article, The Day One Dictatorship, Federico Finchelstein and Emmanuel Guerisoli detail how fascism would be made legal in the United States by expansive claims of executive power and corrupting and capturing the countrys democratic institutions from within: This is why declaring a temporary dictatorial government can easily lead to a more permanent one. Trumps claim of ultra-brief dictatorial powers can easily morph into indefinite ones. Fascist dictators were not dictatorial heads of normal states. They unleashed illegal forms of extreme repression and terror that radically turned their political systems into unlimited, irreversible dictatorships. This change was made in the name of the one who incarnated the movement and its national revolution. This is why the Nazis claimed that the highest law in Germany was not the command of the dictator but his will. The legality of the old system was in total contradiction with the new legitimacy of the fascist leader. If Donald Trump becomes president, on January 20, 2025the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, of all datesthe United States might have a dictator only for that day. But this might be enough to turn the democratic world upside down. In The Permanent Counterrevolution, leading historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat looks to the Mussolini for insights about Project 2025 and the larger right-wing neofascist revolutionary project: Americans may believe that all this sounds fantastical. Yet the strongmans special talent is to bring the unthinkable into being. People around the world and throughout history have been caught by surprise at their methods and the scale at which they operate. Bannon, Roberts, Stephen Miller, and other American incarnations of fascism are convinced that counterrevolution leading to autocracy is the only path to political survival for the far right, given the unpopularity of their positions (especially on abortion) and their leaders boatload of legal troubles. This is why Project 2025 declares that that there is an existential need to make aggressive use of executive power. The alternative could be defeat. Mussolini understood that situation well. In 1923, when he was still prime minister of a democracy, he mused about the problem of having ones destiny decided by the whims of an electorate. Consent is as changeable as the sands of the seashore, he wrote, noting there was only one way to deal with discontented people who might vote you out: You prevent it by means of force; by surrounding the mass with force; by employing this force without pity when it is necessary to do so. Less than two years later, Il Duce announced the start of dictatorship in Italy, ending the right of the population to express its political will. From the noisy crowds with MAGA hats that fill Trumps rallies to the quiet fanatics in suits such as Miller and Roberts to a party leader who announces he will act as a dictator on day one of his administration, Trumpism is what fascism looks like in twenty-first-century America. If Trump returns to the White House, get ready for a new round of shocks to the system. Authoritarians often tell us what they are going to do, and Trump, the GOP, and the political operators of Project 2025 are open about their plans to occupy power and carry out a counterrevolution designed to keep them there indefinitely. In what could be a prequel or part of a directors cut of Alex Garlands much-discussed new film Civil War, Brian Stelter outlines a scenario where the autocrat Donald Trump and his regime basically outlaws freedom of the press and terminates the First Amendment. Ill never forget an interview I conducted on CNN, one week after crowd-size-gate, with Mahir Zeynalov, an analyst and journalist living in Turkey who was smeared, sued, and deported by the Turkish government in 2014 after reporting on a corruption investigation. Whenever I look at what President Trump and his team are doing here in the United States, Im like, wait a second. I have seen this movie before. Its all familiar to us, Zeynalov told me. And Im not talking about a country like Iran or China, where autocrats are crushing or strangulating the media. Im talking about Turkey, a country that was somewhat democratic a decade ago, with a somewhat independent media, and is now turning into a state where at least one journalist is being put behind barssince last summer, on averageevery day. He continued: And if theres anyone who is saying that this cannot happen here in the United States, they are significantly underestimating how leaders, including in democratic countries, can undermine media freedom, and, with that, democracy. Maybe you think Im overdoing it, and maybe I am. Maybe there will be no precipitating incident, no crackdown, no threat to Americas First Amendment tradition. But at a moment when the country desperately needs government oversight to stop generative AI from obliterating the media business and government support to salvage what remains of the local news economy, Trump is offering none of the above. Instead, he is vowing to investigate media outlets that challenge him. His fans have been primed for revenge and for freedom from fact. If the chill descends in 2025, no one can claim to be surprised. Jason Stanley, author of the bestselling book How Fascism Works, warns that Project 2025 is an assault on critical thinking and education meant to create compliant subjects who lack the emotional and intellectual skills to be responsible citizens in a democracy: The tactic of painting all of ones political opponents as Marxists and communists, and claiming that they dominate the institutions, is a hallmark of the classic European fascist regimes of the midtwentieth century. Today, it is employed as a justification to fire teachers and professors and replace them with loyalists and ultranationalists. Even a democratic nations greatest universities are not immune from being destroyed by this strategy, as one can see in India today. Now and in the past, schools and universities are and have been central targets of fascism. Attacks on education, including political works deemed obscene, are, to use a cliche, canaries in the fascist coal mine. Education in a liberal democracy introduces students to the diverse perspectives through a nations history, in order for people to foster a kind of empathy and understanding for one another; what my father in his work called civic compassion. Democracy is a system where we let ourselves be affected by our fellow citizens perspectives. Cutting students off from exposure to the perspectives of their neighbors therefore preempts democracy. Such erasures are more conducive to an education for authoritarianism, where an autocratic leader can more easily set groups against one another, relying on mutual estrangement and mutual misunderstanding. Parents rights is an expression used to cover for an illiberal public culture. Using the language of rights and freedoms to erase oppressed groups perspectives is a familiar vocabulary trick from Americas past (states rights). Stanley continues, Bringing educators under gradually more and more intrusive laws restricting their freedom creates a general climate of fear and intimidation. When such laws target anyone who challenges the greatness of a nation, or its heroes, its not a positive sign for democracy." Trump has made it abundantly clear that a far-right attack on education will be central to his new administration from its beginning, promising to sign a new executive order to cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children on day one of his administration. Eliminating the Department of Education is a goal of Project 2025, along with many other changes that would dramatically reduce the federal governments ability to intervene on potential civil rights violations. The honest teaching of Black history and protections for LGBTQ youth will be illegal in K-12 education. The American university system is the crown jewel of the worlds higher education system. As far as it is possible, a Trump-led federal government will seek to transform it radically at all levels, with Hillsdale College as its model. The intent is the burying of any civic compassion in the educational system. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Yet many in the mainstream news media refuse to use the correct and most accurate language to describe the danger or political reality more generally in the Age of Trump. Project 2025, the MAGA movement, todays Republican Party and the larger right-wing are not conservatives. In reality, they are radical reactionary extremists who are engaging in a campaign of cultural and political revolution to return the country to the Gilded Age if not before. To be certain, there is a growing number of voices among the mainstream news media who are finally, and directly, speaking out about Trumpism and neofascism and how the stakes in the 2024 election are existential for the future of the country and its democracy. However, many of those voices are too late and therefore lack the credibility to be taken seriously. This is especially true of the centrists and other establishment types who spent years denying that Donald Trump and the MAGA movement and this version of the Republican Party and the conservative movement were enemies of real democracy. Why believe such alarm-sounders now, when they have been so wrong for so long? I do not. I know I am not alone in that sentiment. To awaken from and escape the Age of Trump and this worsening democracy crisis, the American people need more pro-democracy journalism that illuminates, informs, and gives them solutions. Unfortunately, such work is an outlier in American mainstream news media that largely remains ill-equipped to meet the challenges of the Age of Trump, the global democracy crisis, and what comes next with the 2024 election and beyond. Amidst a backdrop of recent declines in the South Korean stock market, with the KOSPI experiencing notable downturns influenced by global economic uncertainties and interest rate concerns, investors are increasingly attentive to opportunities for stable returns. In this context, dividend stocks emerge as particularly compelling, offering potential resilience and yield in a fluctuating market environment. Top 10 Dividend Stocks In South Korea Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Kia (KOSE:A000270) 4.73% Shinhan Financial Group (KOSE:A055550) 4.55% KT (KOSE:A030200) 5.52% LOTTE Fine Chemical (KOSE:A004000) 4.36% KB Financial Group (KOSE:A105560) 3.89% Samyang (KOSE:A145990) 3.55% HANYANG ENGLtd (KOSDAQ:A045100) 3.14% Cheil Worldwide (KOSE:A030000) 5.95% Korea Cast Iron Pipe Ind (KOSE:A000970) 6.13% Hansae Yes24 Holdings (KOSE:A016450) 5.35% Click here to see the full list of 76 stocks from our Top KRX Dividend Stocks screener. Let's dive into some prime choices out of from the screener. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: S-1 Corporation specializes in providing safety and security services both domestically in South Korea and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately 2.09 billion. Operations: S-1 Corporation generates its revenue through safety and security services offered in South Korea and globally. 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KOSE:A105560 Dividend History as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: Cuckoo Holdings Co., Ltd. operates in the manufacturing and sale of electric heaters and daily necessities, serving both domestic and international markets, with a market capitalization of approximately 657.31 billion. Operations: Cuckoo Holdings Co., Ltd. generates its revenue primarily from the production and sales of electric heaters and daily necessities across global markets. Dividend Yield: 5.2% Cuckoo Holdings has a relatively short but stable dividend history, paying dividends for just under a decade with increasing payments. Despite its brief track record, the company's dividends are well-supported by earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios of 28% and 40.5%, respectively. The stock is currently valued at 76.3% below estimated fair value and offers a competitive yield of 5.16%, ranking in the top quartile of Korean dividend payers. Recent reports indicate consistent earnings growth of 9.6% annually over the past five years. KOSE:A192400 Dividend History as at May 2024 Next Steps Click here to access our complete index of 76 Top KRX Dividend Stocks. Have a stake in these businesses? Integrate your holdings into Simply Wall St's portfolio for notifications and detailed stock reports. Join a community of smart investors by using Simply Wall St. It's free and delivers expert-level analysis on worldwide markets. Ready To Venture Into Other Investment Styles? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include KOSE:A012750 KOSE:A105560 and KOSE:A192400. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Former President Trump is laying the groundwork to discredit a conviction or capitalize on an acquittal in his hush money trial in New York City ahead of a looming verdict. Trump has for months berated Judge Juan Merchan as conflicted and bashed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg as politically motivated, and he has relentlessly decried the proceedings as rigged. Trump has only escalated that messaging strategy as the jury deliberates following weeks of witness testimony. Mother Teresa could not beat these charges. These charges are rigged. The whole countrys a mess, between the borders and fake elections, and you have a trial like this where the judge is so conflicted he cant breathe, Trump said Wednesday minutes after the case was turned over to the jury. Its a disgrace. And I mean that. Mother Teresa could not beat those charges. But well see. Well see how we do, he added. The message from Trump echoes the same tactics he used around the 2020 election, when he spent weeks casting doubt on the reliability of mail-in voting and refused to commit to accepting the election results, ultimately dismissing his defeat as the result of a rigged process despite no evidence of widespread fraud. Verdict reached: Trump found guilty on all 34 counts in hush money case Experts and strategists said Trumps rhetoric around the trial allows him to spin a verdict either way: If Trump is found guilty, he and his allies will say he was facing a biased judge and a trial stacked against him. If he is acquitted, Trump will declare he beat the charges despite the rigged circumstances. Hes in a no-lose position, said Michael Eric Dyson, the renowned historian and author. He said if Trump is not convicted, hell be a hero to his side. And if he is convicted, he becomes a martyr. If he wins, its What did I tell you? And if he gets convicted, then its rigged, Dyson said. Live Updates: Jury finds Trump guilty on 34 counts; first president convicted of felony Opening arguments in Trumps trial began on April 22. The former president has attended court nearly every day since then, and hes been at work prepping for whatever happens with the jury. Each morning before court, and most evenings after its adjourned, Trump has addressed cameras outside the courtroom to rail against the case as political interference by Democrats, to blast the judge as conflicted and to claim there was no crime committed. Its all rigged. The whole thing, the whole system is rigged, Trump told reporters Thursday. Contrary to Trumps frequent claims, there is no evidence the Biden White House had a hand in the New York trial. And Judge Merchan rejected a push from Trumps team to have him recused from the case, saying the motion relied on a series of references, innuendos and unsupported speculation. Trump is facing the possibility of becoming the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony if he is found guilty. He is facing additional criminal cases in Washington, D.C.; Georgia; and Florida, though none of those are currently on track to go to trial before Election Day. That has raised the stakes of the New York trial, and polling has shown there is a sliver of voters who said they would be less likely to vote for Trump if he is convicted, though a majority say the outcome wont affect their vote. Hell spin the verdict to exactly what he wants, said one Democratic strategist who expressed concern that while the criminal trials were important, they would ultimately lose meaning because of the man at the center of them. This is a meta moment because it means so much, and ultimately, because of him and the spin hell put on this, it might mean nothing. Its reminiscent of the weeks after the 2020 election, when Trump refused to concede that hed lost to President Biden. Instead, he alleged there was widespread fraud and that the election was rigged. Multiple recounts in swing states confirmed the results, and several lawsuits were tossed out for lack of evidence or standing. Trumps rhetoric following the election came to a head on Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters violently stormed the Capitol to try and halt the certification of the election results. Trump has continued to claim the election was rigged in 2020, and he has said he would accept the 2024 results if everythings honest. Just as Trumps language around elections has rattled confidence in basic institutions, some officials have raised concerns that Trumps rhetoric around the trial is meant to weaken confidence in the legal system. I think theres a danger of questioning the integrity of all of our legal institutions this way, John Bolton, a former Trump national security adviser who later broke with the former president, said on CNN. And Trump only cares about Trump. He doesnt care if the institutions rise or fall. He just wants to know what Donald Trumps fate is going to be. Some Democrats have also criticized Trump. To save himself, hes trying to kill Americans faith in our system of justice, turning us against judges, prosecutors & any police who in doing their duty get in his way. This matters way more than the trial itself, former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) posted on the social platform X. Democratic strategist Joel Payne said even if Trump attempts to spin the verdict, it would still do damage to the former president in the long run. Almost as important as the legal consequences of a guilty verdict for Donald Trump would be the consequences to his brand, Payne said. The investment and insistence on never acknowledging defeat is a key feature of his political persona. The major difference is this isnt a ballot box, this is a court of law. You cant manifest or rhetoric your way out of a guilty felony verdict. Payne said time will tell if Trumps spin will work. But we know there is a population of general election voters who have consistently said that a guilty verdict will impact their vote, he added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Donald Trump has discussed a potential White House advisory role for entrepreneur Elon Musk if he is reelected in November, according to a new report in The Wall Street Journal. The publication, citing people familiar with their discussions, reported that Trump and Musk have held several phone conversations since a meeting in March at the Palm Beach, Florida, home of billionaire Nelson Peltz. Trump hasnt made any official offer, but a role could give Musk input on policies such as border security and the economy, the Journal said. Musk has already pledged that he will not donate any money to either major candidate for president, not Trump nor Joe Biden. But the Journal added that the owner of X, formerly Twitter, plans to use his social media power to persuade others in elite business and technology circles not to support Biden. The report is an about-face for the pair, who have had a testy relationship in the past. Musk served on a business council during Trumps presidency but left after Trump decided to withdraw the U.S. from the landmark Paris climate agreement. Trump called the Tesla CEO a bullshit artist at the time. Ive helped him when I was president, Trump said in March of Elon Musk. I helped him. Ive liked him. Apu Gomes via Getty Images The former president suggested to CNBC in March that the pair had overcome those frustrations, saying he had been friendly with Musk over the years. Ive helped him when I was president, Trump said at the time. I helped him. Ive liked him. Musk runs X, Tesla and SpaceX and has only grown more critical of the Biden administration since he declared in 2022 that he would begin voting for Republicans, saying Democrats had become the party of division & hate. Its unclear how Trumps recent attacks on electric vehicles will affect Musks support. A Trump campaign official told The Hill that the former president would be the sole arbiter of what role an individual plays in his presidency but did not rule out a position for Musk. It has been widely reported, and is demonstrated in a number of ways, that many of the nations important leaders in technology and innovation are concerned with the damage done to their industry by Bidens failure to handle our economy and his moves to overburden innovators with government bureaucracy and unrelenting regulation, the official told the website. Related... Donald Trump has reportedly sold one of his personal jets to a Republican donor. Trump's Cessna Citation X has changed registration to a Dallas-based real estate entrepreneur. The sale of the jet comes as Trump is facing almost $500 million in legal bills. Donald Trump has seemingly sold one of the planes from his prized fleet of private jets to a Republican donor. As Business Insider previously reported, on May 13, Trump's 1997 Cessna Jet was deregistered from the Trump Organization's DT Air Corp. It was then registered to a company called MM Fleet Holdings LLC, based in Dallas, Texas, Federal Aviation Administration records show. Mehrdad Moayedi, an Iranian-American real estate developer based in Dallas, has been identified by The Daily Beast as the owner of MM Fleet Holdings LLC. Aside from purchasing the private jet, Moayedi has previously used his earnings to regularly donate to the Republican Party. From 2019 and 2020, his donations to the Trump campaign totaled $245,000. In the last five years, he has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to other Republican candidates and organizations, including $50,000 to the Ted Cruz Victory Fund and $34,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Moayedi's new jet, which can accommodate up to nine passengers, was regularly seen along Trump's campaign trail in 2020 as its smaller size allowed it to fly into smaller airports. The plane's tail number, DT725, features a pair of personal details, with the 725 referencing the New York City address of Trump Tower, which sits at 725 Fifth Avenue, and the "DT" symbolizing Trump's initials. Trump's Boeing 757 has been a regular feature at campaign rallies. Gene J. Puska/AP Now, the presidential candidate will have to turn to the rest of his multimillion-dollar fleet, such as the famous Boeing 757 private jet known as "Trump Force One." It is not known how much the Cessna jet was sold for, but the model is estimated to cost around $10 million, according to private jet broker evoJets. It's not enough to make a significant dent in the $454 million fine Trump was ordered to pay by New York Court in March. The court found that the former president had committed fraud by overstating the value of his assets by more than $350 million. Trump has also been ordered to pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her during a civil trial involving sexual assault allegations. He has secured a bond to stop her from collecting the payment while he appeals the verdict. Read the original article on Business Insider A spokesperson for Donald Trump suggested the former president could seek revenge over his hush money trial should he win the presidential election in November. Fox News host Jesse Watters asked Karoline Leavitt, Trumps campaign press secretary, on Wednesday if there will be any revenge directed at the people who put the case together. Well, certainly people need to be held accountable for the crimes that have been committed over the last several years that weve seen them lie, weve seen them abuse our justice system, Leavitt said. Leavitt made the remarks on the day the jury began deliberations in the trial. The presumptive GOP presidential nominee faces 34 counts of falsifying business records connected to payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump has previously backed the idea of using the Justice Department to go after his political rivals in a second term, telling Univision in November that his foes released the genie out of the box. A number of his allies recently told Reuters theyre planning to overhaul the Justice Department so it could be used to act on conservative causes. Leavitt went on to claim that President Joe Biden has targeted innocent Americans such as the Jan. 6, 2021, rioters charged for their roles in the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol. Theyve thrown [them] in the gulag in Washington, D.C., said Leavitt, who added that Trump said hed pardon the rioters on day one of a second term. She continued, Yes, justice needs to be served for the good-hearted Americans across this country who want to see an equal application of the law, and this trial proves that we dont have that in America right now. Trump Campaign Press Secretary suggests Trump will seek revenge over his prosecutions. She also says that Biden targeted innocent Americans such as the protesters on January 6th who they've thrown in the gulags who she says Trump will pardon pic.twitter.com/DPFgWc6XWL Acyn (@Acyn) May 30, 2024 Related... NEW YORK The possibility of a verdict against Donald Trump loomed Thursday as the jury in the former presidents historic hush money trial returned to a Manhattan courthouse, hearing a readback of testimony about the 2015 meeting at Trump Tower and the infamous catch and kill scheme that lies at the heart of the states case. The testimony, from the first and last witnesses to testify against Trump, included the August 2015 meeting where Trump, David Pecker and Michael Cohen allegedly agreed to carry out the catch and kill scheme to suppress negative stories about Trump in the lead up to the 2016 election. I was going to be the eyes and ears of the campaign, Pecker testified last month. They also heard testimony regarding what Pecker said was a phone call from Trump in June 2016 about former Playboy model Karen McDougal and media interest in her allegations of their months-long affair. Two court stereographers read back important sections of testimony at the request of jurors, who had asked for the refresher on Wednesday. Jurors took copious notes during the readback of Peckers direct examination concerning the Trump call. One man reacted with an amused smile when the stenographers said they were moving onto Peckers cross-examination, which the panel took fewer notes on. After the readback wrapped, jurors went back to resume deliberations. Smaller entourage Trump walked into court Thursday at 9:25 a.m. with a smaller entourage than hes had over the last weeks, including his son, Eric Trump, and various lawyers and associates. Trump stood by the courtroom well chatting with a Secret Service agent and his legal spokeswoman Alina Habba before taking his seat at the defense table. He slammed the case to reporters in the hallway, saying this is a very sad day for America. To start the day, Merchan read aloud to the jury instructions on the law and how to deliberate, which the jury asked for on Wednesday. Jurors looked deeply engaged and took notes as the judge read his charge. Among the sections they asked Merchan to repeat was an analogy they heard Wednesday on how they can draw inferences from facts with the judge describing how someone can infer that it rained when they wake up in the morning and see wet umbrellas and raincoats, even if they didnt witness raindrops fall. The first note of the day from the jury on Thursday was a request for headphones to listen to audio and video exhibits on the computer they were issued to look through evidence they heard during the trial. The judge asked them if they wanted a speaker, too. The background Trump, 77, has pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment alleging he falsified New York business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels as part of a plot to hide damaging information about his past from the voting public. Prosecutors say Trumps 2017 reimbursement to Michael Cohen for paying off the porn star two weeks before the 2016 election to keep secret her allegations of a seedy sexual liaison were masked as payment for legal services to disguise a conspiracy to unlawfully influence his election. To find Trump guilty of the felony-level charges, jurors must determine hes responsible for the fraudulent filing of 11 checks to Michael Cohen, 11 corresponding invoices, and 12 entries in the Trump Organizations general ledger or for others causing those filings. In his instruction to the jury before they got the case early Wednesday, the judge said they must be unanimous in their determination of Trumps role in regard to the business records, but they can have varying opinions on the unlawful means employed to boost his candidacy. The presumptive GOP nominee vehemently denies being a philanderer, plotting to win the White House by breaking the law, or paying Cohen for hush money and not genuine work carried out as his personal attorney. ___ Donald Trump ranted about the whole country being rigged after he was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on Thursday, making him the first former president to ever be criminally convicted. This was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt, he said outside court. Its a rigged trial, a disgrace, they wouldnt give us a venue change... This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the peopleand they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here. Railing against the Biden administration and the Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Trump vowed to keep fighting to the end, promising it was long from over. He quickly turned his eye toward the future in a Truth Social post, writing: VICTORY ON NOVEMBER 5TH. SAVE AMERICA!!! His campaign team was quick to grab the baton, blasting out a fundraising email in which Trump claimed hed become A POLITICAL PRISONER just minutes later. The 77-year-olds impassioned rant stood in stark contrast to his muted reaction minutes earlier as the verdict was read aloud. He had been reliably on-message on social media earlier in the day, spamming all-caps cris de coeur about the WITCH HUNT going on against him. MY CIVIL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TOTALLY VIOLATED WITH THIS HIGHLY POLITICAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND ELECTION INTERFERING WITCH HUNT, he fumed in his last Truth Social post before the verdict. OUR FAILING NATION IS BEING LAUGHED AT ALL OVER THE WORLD! GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS! Trump a Convicted Criminal But now, shoulders slumped and wearing a vaguely doleful expression, he barely reacted from behind the defense table as Justice Juan Merchan polled and then thanked the jurors. You were engaged in a very stressful and difficult task, the judge told the panel. I could see how involved you were, how engaged you were... I thank you for that. None of the jurors looked at Trump as they filed back out. The former president puffed out his chest and arched his back slightly as the attorneys in the room haggled over procedural matters and a July 11 sentencing date was set by Merchan. A Daily Beast reporter then looked on as Trump rose, a frown on his reddened face, and turned to shake his son Erics hand. The former president and convicted felon moved for the courtrooms double doors. Though his exit down the aisle took all of a few seconds, it seemed to last forever. Trumps team has 30 days from Thursday to file a notice of appeal and six months to file their full appeal, something they are expected to swiftly do. And even given his conviction, he remains eligible to run for president and will be legally allowed to take office if elected. 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. By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Former President Donald Trump vows to appeal his historic conviction, with the focus likely on porn star Stormy Daniels' salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter as well as the novel legal theory that prosecutors used in the case. "We're going to be appealing this scam," Trump, the 2024 Republican candidate for president, said on Friday. He faces an uphill fight. His defense lawyer Todd Blanche told CNN on Thursday that Trump would appeal after his July 11 sentencing date, meaning it is unlikely to be resolved before his Nov. 5 election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden. Twelve jurors found the real estate mogul-turned-politician guilty on Thursday of falsifying business records to cover up his former lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels to illegally influence the 2016 election which he won. Trump pleaded not guilty and denies having had sex with Daniels, whose given name is Stephanie Clifford. He argues the Manhattan District Attorney's office, led by Democrat Alvin Bragg, brought the charges to derail his presidential campaign. To succeed on appeal, Trump, 77, must demonstrate that Justice Juan Merchan made significant errors overseeing the trial. If Trump's appeal in New York state courts proves unsuccessful, he could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump's attorneys would have to persuade at least four of the court's nine justices to hear his case. To prevail, Trump would then have to demonstrate that the state prosecution violated his federal constitutional rights and that his legal team followed proper procedures during earlier stages of his legal proceedings. Trump would not be able to bypass lower state courts to immediately appeal to the Supreme Court, but he might try to seek relief if, for example, he was subject to imprisonment in the middle of his election campaign. The court's 6-3 conservative majority includes three Trump appointees, and it has handled other Trump-related cases in ways that have proven helpful to his candidacy. When the court agreed in late February to take up Trump's claim that he has absolute immunity from prosecution for actions taken as president, they put off hearing the case until late April. That delay may prevent Trump's Washington trial on federal election subversion charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty, from taking place before the election. IS A MAGAZINE SPANKING RELEVANT? On appeal, Trump's lawyers will likely argue that Daniels' testimony about a Lake Tahoe hotel encounter went into too much detail for a case that hinged on whether Trump falsified documents rather than on whether he had sex with Daniels. On May 7, Daniels testified that she hit Trump's backside with a rolled-up magazine and that he did not use a condom. She mentioned the position she said they were in. She said she "blacked out" and did not remember how her clothes came off, though she said she did not consume alcohol or drugs and never said "no" to Trump during the encounter. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche twice asked Merchan to declare a mistrial based on her testimony, which he said prejudiced the 12-member jury. "How can we come back from this in a way that's fair to President Trump?" Blanche said outside the jury's presence on May 7. The judge denied both requests, in part because Blanche said in his April 22 opening statement that Daniels' account of an encounter with Trump was false. Merchan said that entitled prosecutors to elicit testimony to establish her credibility. Rebecca Roiphe, a professor at New York Law School, said none of Merchan's decisions stood out as obvious mistakes, lessening Trump's lawyers' chances of getting the conviction overturned. "I cant imagine an appeals court would say the newspaper spanking warrants a reversal," said Roiphe, a former prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney's office. NOVEL THEORY Besides Daniels' testimony, the defense could argue on appeal that the judge's gag order restricting Trump's public statements about witnesses violated his rights. Trump alluded to that on Friday, complaining about restrictions the judge imposed on potential testimony from an election law expert whom the defense ultimately opted not to call as a witness. "We're going to be appealing it on many different things. He wouldn't allow us to have witnesses. He wouldn't allow us to talk, he wouldn't allow us to do anything," Trump said. The defense is also likely to argue the charges were themselves legally improper. Some legal experts have said that the case could be vulnerable to such a challenge because the prosecution's legal theory has not been tested on appeal. Falsifying business records on its own is a misdemeanor in New York, but it is elevated to a felony if done to further or conceal another crime. In this case, prosecutors said Trump was seeking to cover up a conspiracy he and Cohen were involved in to promote a candidacy for public office through unlawful means, a misdemeanor in New York state. They say the hush money payment to Daniels was effectively a campaign contribution that exceeded the $2,700 limit on political donations in 2016. In urging Merchan to dismiss the case last year, Trump's lawyers argued that New York state law did not apply to federal elections. Merchan allowed the case to go forward, but Boston University law professor Jed Shugerman said the law was ambiguous on that point, potentially posing an issue on appeal. George Grasso, a retired New York state judge who attended the trial, said the defense would be unlikely to succeed in a challenge to that decision. "They'll try to appeal everything," Grasso said but added he thought the judge's decision was sound. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Howard Goller) Several companies have been delivering positive news to shareholders lately, including announcements of higher dividend payouts. A company opts to raise its dividend when confident in its current standing and cash-generating abilities. Of course, it also reflects the companys commitment to returning value to shareholders, which is undoubtedly encouraging. Three companies Advanced Drainage Systems WMS, Taiwan Semiconductor TSM, and Northrop Grumman NOC recently declared dividend hikes. For those with an appetite for income, lets take a closer glance at each. Taiwan Semiconductor TSM posted better-than-expected results in its latest release, exceeding the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate by nearly 7% and posting sales 2.7% ahead of expectations. Earnings grew 5% year-over-year, whereas revenue jumped 13% from the year-ago period amid hot demand. Shares popped following the release, adding to already impressive year-to-date gains. Up 50% in 2024, shares have widely outperformed relative to the S&P 500. Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The company announced a 10% boost to its payout, bringing the quarterly total to $0.45/share. TSMs commitment to increasingly rewarding shareholders has kept it a favorite among income-focused investors seeking technology and semiconductor exposure. Advanced Drainage Systems WMS shares have also delivered a considerably strong performance in 2024, gaining 22% in value compared to the S&P 500s 12% gain. Better-than-expected results have aided the move, with the company exceeding the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate by an average of 30% across its last four releases. Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The company recently unveiled a 14% boost to its quarterly payout, bringing the quarterly total to $0.16/share. WMS has long displayed a shareholder-friendly nature, boasting a 12% five-year annualized dividend growth rate. In addition, WMS is expected to continue its steady growth, with Zacks Consensus estimates suggesting 5.6% earnings growth on 5% higher sales in its current fiscal year (FY25). Peeking ahead to FY26, consensus expectations presently allude to a further 17% expansion in earnings paired with a 7% sales climb. Northrop Grumman Defense titan Northrop Grumman recently unveiled a 10% boost to its payout, upping the quarterly total to $2.06 per share. NOC shares havent fared as well year-to-date, down roughly 4% and underperforming relative to the general market. Zooming out further, NOC shares have lagged the S&P 500 over the last two years, down 2.2% compared to a 33% move from the S&P 500. Still, the company has been seeing positive earnings estimate revisions for its current fiscal year, providing fuel for shares to move higher. Story continues Its reasonable to expect NOC shares to see a turnaround story if positive earnings estimate revisions continue to hit the tape. Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Bottom Line Dividends soften the blow from drawdowns in other positions, provide more than one way to reap a return from an investment, and allow maximum returns through dividend reinvestment. And all three companies above Advanced Drainage Systems WMS, Taiwan Semiconductor TSM, and Northrop Grumman NOC have recently boosted their payouts. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (WMS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research A meeting between Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko and Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Levent Bilgen was held to address the consequences of Russias attacks on Ukraines energy systems. The parties discussed cooperation between the countries in repairing damages caused by the attacks, especially in the Kharkiv and Odesa regions. They focused on increasing the flexibility of Ukraine's power system and enhancing electricity generation capacity, including developing distributed and mobile generation capabilities. "For us, this is a matter of survival in the coming winter," Halushchenko said. Turkish companies expressed readiness to participate in these projects, with particular emphasis on installing mobile power plants. Previously, Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of Ukraine's parliament, visited Turkey on an official visit from May 13 to 15. The talks addressed the implementation of President Zelensky's peace formula and the reconstruction efforts in Ukraine, with a focus on engaging Turkey in the rebuilding process. Russian strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure have cost the state over $1 billion in damage, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on May 5 on national television. Read also: Governor fears Russia may renew attack in another direction in Kharkiv Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Two brothers plead guilty in hostage, smuggling case in New Mexico SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (KRQE) Two brothers have pled guilty in federal court to charges related to a smuggling and hostage incident in New Mexico. Saul Castorena, a 41-year-old, and 40-year-old Steven Castorena operated a smuggling stash house in Sunland Park, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) says. U.S. Border Patrol agents connected a house in Sunland Park to two groups of undocumented noncitizens that had been apprehended around January 2023. Those noncitizens told officials that they had been threatened and ordered to pay additional smuggling fees, the DOJ says. Albuquerque Police launch program to bring back retired officers Following the reports, Homeland Security agents surveilled the house and obtained a search warrant, the DOJ says. Inside, they found seven migrants being held against their will, including a child. Now, the two brothers connected to the house have pled guilty to related crimes. Saul Castorena admitted to intentionally taking people hostage as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm. Steven Castorena pled guilty to conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens. Steven faces up to 10 years in prison and Saul potentially faces life in prison. Both are being held before their sentencing hearing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Jamie Mills was sentenced to death for the 2004 murders of Fred and Vera Hill. (Alabama Department of Corrections) Barring intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court, Alabama will carry out its second execution of 2024 on Thursday. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals late Tuesday denied appeals from Jamie Ray Mills, convicted and sentenced to death for the 2004 murder of Floyd and Vera Hill in Guin. The appeals court said it found no error in an district court ruling last week rejecting Mills appeal. Mills is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection. The state in January executed Kenneth Eugene Smith by nitrogen gas. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The continued executions in Alabama have concerned civil rights and humanitarian groups that have consistently opposed the states efforts to impose the death penalty, which includes thousands of individuals signing petitions that are hand delivered to the governors office requesting that she grant clemency. There is a lot of evidence that shows that the death penalty is applied arbitrarily and in a racially disproportionate manner, said Mike Nicholson, a senior policy analyst with Alabama Arise. Those things can be mitigated extensively with unanimous jury sentencing. According to court documents, in 2004 Mills and his common-law spouse JoAnn drove to the Hills location and entered the residence under the pretext that they wanted to make several phone calls. Afterward, the four walked to the shed where the Hills stored items to sell as part of a yard sale. It was then that Mills beat Floyd Hill to the ground. The women returned to the shed, found Floyd on the ground. Mills then beat Vera on the back of the head with a hammer. Mills stole items from the residence that netted him $140. He was arrested in December 2004 and charged with three counts of capital murder: one count each for the individuals who were put to death, and another count because more than one person was killed during the course of a single conduct. A jury convicted Mills in 2007, and later sentenced him to death on an 11-1 vote.The conviction to this point has been upheld by state and federal courts. In late March Gov. Kay Ivey scheduled for Mills to be put to death between midnight Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday. This then prompted another round of appeals. One suit alleges that the prosecution misled the court by not disclosing a plea deal made with JoAnn Mills in exchange for her testimony. We think this sort of concealment, this sort of dishonesty, is the very type of thing that needs to be explored, certainly before Jamie Mills should be executed, said Angie Setzer, attorney with the Equal Justice Initiative, one of the attorneys representing Mills in the lawsuit. Another individual allegedly joined Mills and his common-law spouse in committing the crime. JoAnn Mills, who received a life sentence with the possibility of parole, told police in two different statements that she suspected another person had planted the weapons in their car and that he brought the stolen items to their home in the past. According to Mills attorneys, the district attorney made a plea deal with JoAnn Mills that spared her the death penalty and made her eligible for parole in exchange for her testimony. The attorneys said this should have been disclosed to Mills defense team. They have never denied these meetings happened, and these meetings are directly contrary to the meetings that took place at Mr. Mills trial in which the DA asserted that JoAnn Mills was testifying without any hope of a promise of a plea deal, Setzer said. Testimony from the common-law spouse was a critical factor during the trial, and Setzer accused the district attorney of falsely claiming there was no plea deal with JoAnn Mills when, in fact, one was made. The federal district court ruled against Mills in the case, saying Mills had filed the same claims before without evidence and that the new evidence uncovered was not filed in time and was not substantial enough to halt the execution. Another lawsuit that attorneys filed on Mills behalf in federal district court alleging the lethal injection protocol was unconstitutional because he would be strapped to the gurney for hours and that he was denied access to counsel because his attorneys could not be in the chamber with him as he is about to be executed. The federal district court ruled against him, stating that he did not file his claim in a timely enough manner. The judge also ruled that even if he had, Mills would not likely win on the merits of the case because the U.S. Constitution did not grant him a right to counsel and that strapping him to the gurney is part of the execution process and does not subject him to an unconstitutional level of pain. Mills planned execution is the second of the year of four that are planned for the year. Aside from the Smith execution in January along with Mills, the state also plans to put Keith Edmund Gavin and Alan Eugene Miller to death. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST The post U.S. 11th Circuit Court rejects Alabama death row inmates appeals appeared first on Alabama Reflector. Tamale, Ghana On a dusty airport tarmac in the northern Ghanaian city of Tamale, military special operatives from across Africa move stealthily. Shots ring out as they converge on the airport and apprehend armed militants holding it hostage. It's not a real attack, but just one of the exercises of "Flintlock," the U.S. military's premier counterterrorism training event in Africa, which is now in its 20th year. Special ops teams from the U.S. military's Africa Command, along with NATO allies, are conducting drills alongside soldiers from countries including Ghana, Ivory Coast, Chad, Mauritania, Nigeria, Libya and Morocco. In the exercise CBS News witnessed, the elite forces were rescuing hostages from a simulated attack on an airport. It's a very real scenario in the vast North African region known as the Sahel, which is considered the epicenter of the global fight against ISIS and al Qaeda franchises. A map shows the Sahel region stretching across the northern African continent. / Credit: Getty/iStockphoto The Sahel stretches from Mauritania in the west through Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, all the way to Eritrea and Djibouti on Africa's east coast, and it is home to the fastest growing and most deadly terror groups in the world. Ghana is one of the few countries in the region that has managed to dodge the rapid rise of violent extremism blocking any potential incursions before they reach its borders. Gen. Frank Tei of the Ghana Armed Forces told CBS News that was vital, because "once you allow terrorist activities in a particular country to fester and blossom, then that place can become a base from which a lot of other terrorist activities can spread across the globe." That's exactly what the U.S. fears and is trying to help prevent. The deputy AFRICOM commander, Lt. Gen. John Brennan, told CBS News that the Flintlock exercise is not only about training African forces to defend themselves and combat terrorism, however. "We offer things that are meaningful in the long term sharing democratic values, instilling rule of law," he said. But that hasn't worked out so well over the past decade. There have been 11 coups in the Sahel alone over that period, and at least 14 leaders of those armed government overthrows were trained at Flintlock. Brennan told CBS News the military tracks these leaders, and while there are strict rules of engagement with any country in which the government has been toppled by a military junta, "the hope is that you keep contact with the military partners and then you pull them away from military-led governments, which never last." So how can the U.S. ensure the skills taught at events like Flintlock are not later weaponized and used to subvert democracy? Brennan is quick to point out that executing a coup is a political maneuver, not a military one. "We teach them how to protect their forces in combat and then conduct successful counterterrorism operations. That has nothing to do with overthrowing a government. It's just some of the people we've trained are military and they're involved in some of the coups," he said. "But history has shown democracy ends up prevailing in a lot of countries." Flintlock has expanded to include maritime training including rappelling onto a moving warship hijacked by armed militants. American forces, along with Italian and Dutch soldiers, put African troops through their paces on a frigate off the Ghanaian coast. Soldiers rappel onto the deck of a moving warship during the annual U.S.-led Flintlock training exercises for African forces, hosted this year by Ghana, in late May 2024. / Credit: CBS News This aspect of the exercises is increasingly important, given that the Sahel region runs all the way to the Red Sea, where the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been launching attacks targeting international shipping and U.S. naval vessels. The annual Flintlock training operation hosted this year by Ghana could not have come at a more crucial time for the U.S. military, as American influence is arguably in deep decline across the vast African continent. The U.S. is up against stiff competition. China offers Africa's national leaders trade agreements and Russia offers military aid, and all with very few strings attached. Washington, meanwhile, has been booted off one key front line in the fight against terrorism, after the more than 1,000 troops AFRICOM had stationed in Niger were ordered to leave the country by September following a coup there last year. People, some carrying Russian flags, demonstrate in Niger's capital Niamey to show their support for the military rulers who seized power in a coup, on Aug. 3, 2023. / Credit: Djibo Issifou/picture alliance via Getty Images The U.S. has two military bases in Niger, including a drone command center in the city of Agadez that cost more than $110 million to set up. Russia quickly stepped in to exploit the power vacuum created by the coup. Mercenaries from the former Wagner Group, now called Africa Corps and run by the Russian government, arrived in Niger in April. In a scenario that was not long ago unimaginable, the Russian and American forces now occupy opposite sides of the same sprawling air base. That has sent alarm bells ringing in Washington, and U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer stressed to CBS News that African nations should understand that Russia's offer of security forces does not come completely without strings attached. "It's important that our African partners understand that what the Russians are offering is, maybe regime protection it's certainly not national security," Palmer said. She said African countries do pay for the services offered by Moscow, and at a cost that "is extraordinarily high." Niger is rich in uranium, which can be used to make nuclear weapons. What Russia provides is military muscle in exchange for mineral wealth, but unlike the U.S., the deal comes with no potentially tricky human rights questions being asked. "But time will tell that that decision is probably not a good one," Brennan said. "So, you don't feed your kids ice cream for dinner every night because they want it, right? You feed them vegetables, you feed them spinach, things that are good for them instant gratification is probably not a recipe for success." U.S. law restricts the provision of military aid to armed forces believed to be guilty of human rights abuses, but many leaders on the continent accuse Washington of having double standards saying the U.S. withholds aid from some African nations while giving Israel billions of dollars despite global condemnation of its actions in the war in Gaza. It's a charge that Brennan disputes. "I don't think there's a double standard," he told CBS News. "I can tell you our values and the people we do partner with even after coups we're still able to influence them." African countries argue that it isn't just training they need, but resources and modern military equipment if they hope to counter rising extremism. Brennan stressed that the U.S. carries with it the weight of the entire NATO alliance, unlike its competitors, but he conceded that Washington must "be able to resource our partners appropriately, and really expand the relationship with them ... to help make Africa prosperous, free and a partner of choice." With Flintlock, the U.S. promises long-term investment in the African continent. But that long-view security strategy is competing for African partnerships amid a fast-growing terror threat, on a battlefield crowded with malign actors. Second American sentenced after ammo found in luggage in Turks and Caicos Supreme Court allows NRA free speech lawsuit to move forward Video shows family being carjacked in their own driveway with children inside car in Mississippi Operation Buster-Jangle - Dog test with troops participating in exercise Desert Rock I. It was the first U.S. nuclear field exercise conducted on land; troops shown are a mere 6 miles from the blast at the Nevada test site in 1951. (Public domain) Policy, politics and progressive commentary U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnsons office on Wednesday scrapped a proposal to extend a compensation program for victims of radiation exposure without expanding it to thousands of Americans across nine states. In a statement that came less than four hours after Johnsons office said a proposal to expand the program was too expensive, a spokesperson said Republican leadership had decided not to bring the bill up for a vote next week. The statement said the decision came after discussions with U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a Republican from the St. Louis suburbs. Wagner said in a statement she was glad Republican leaders listened to my concerns and those of my constituents and pulled the floor vote on this misguided proposal. Were going to keep fighting for expansionso Missourians impacted by radiation get the support and compensation they deserve, Wagner said. The existing Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expires in less than two weeks, and as the deadline nears, federal lawmakers have been caught between the need to extend the program to keep it available for people who already qualify and pressure to expand it to cancer patients from St. Louis to the Navajo Nation. Members of Missouris Congressional delegation decried Johnsons plan to extend the program without expanding it. Early Wednesday afternoon, Johnsons spokesperson said Republican leaders were committed to ensuring the federal government fulfills its existing obligations to Americans exposed to nuclear radiation. Unfortunately, the current Senate bill is estimated to cost $50-60 billion in new mandatory spending with no offsets and was supported by only 20 of 49 Republicans in the Senate, the spokesperson said. Its unclear after leaderships reversal whether a vote on an expanded program will be held before the law expires. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA, originally passed by Congress in 1990, offers compensation to uranium miners and civilians who were downwind of nuclear bomb testing in Arizona, Utah and Nevada. It expires June 10, and for months, advocates and members of Congress especially from Missouri and New Mexico have been lobbying Congress to expand it. U.S. senators have twice passed legislation that would expand RECA, but it hasnt gone anywhere in the House of Representatives. The legislation would add the remaining parts of Arizona, Utah and Nevada to the program and bring coverage to downwinders in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Guam. It would also offer coverage for residents exposed to radioactive waste in Missouri, Tennessee, Alaska and Kentucky. This story was originally published in the Missouri Independent. The post U.S. House speaker reverses on radiation compensation bill appeared first on Nevada Current. A photo taken in 1960 of deteriorating steel drums containing radioactive residues near Coldwater Creek, by the Mallinckrodt-St. Louis Sites Task Force Working Group. (State Historical Society of Missouri, Kay Drey Mallinckrodt Collection, 1943-2006) U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnsons office on Wednesday scrapped a proposal to extend a compensation program for victims of radiation exposure without expanding it to thousands of Americans across nine states. In a statement that came less than four hours after Johnsons office said a proposal to expand the program was too expensive, a spokesperson said Republican leadership had decided not to bring the bill up for a vote next week. The statement said the decision came after discussions with U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a Republican from the St. Louis suburbs. Wagner said in a statement she was glad Republican leaders listened to my concerns and those of my constituents and pulled the floor vote on this misguided proposal. Were going to keep fighting for expansion so Missourians impacted by radiation get the support and compensation they deserve, Wagner said. The existing Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expires in less than two weeks, and as the deadline nears, federal lawmakers have been caught between the need to extend the program to keep it available for people who already qualify and pressure to expand it to cancer patients from St. Louis to the Navajo Nation. Members of Missouris Congressional delegation decried Johnsons plan to extend the program without expanding it. Early Wednesday afternoon, Johnsons spokesperson said Republican leaders were committed to ensuring the federal government fulfills its existing obligations to Americans exposed to nuclear radiation. Unfortunately, the current Senate bill is estimated to cost $50-60 billion in new mandatory spending with no offsets and was supported by only 20 of 49 Republicans in the Senate, the spokesperson said. Its unclear after leaderships reversal whether a vote on an expanded program will be held before the law expires. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA, originally passed by Congress in 1990, offers compensation to uranium miners and civilians who were downwind of nuclear bomb testing in Arizona, Utah and Nevada. It expires June 10, and for months, advocates and members of Congress especially from Missouri and New Mexico have been lobbying Congress to expand it. The current version of RECA provides compensation for Utahns who lived in 10 counties Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sevier, Washington or Wayne for two consecutive years from 1951 to 1958, or during the summer of 1962, and contracted certain types of cancer. However, research shows that the whole state was exposed to dangerous levels of radiation from nuclear weapons testing. Residents who worked in but didnt live in eligible counties were also excluded. U.S. senators have twice passed legislation that would expand RECA, but it hasnt gone anywhere in the House of Representatives. The legislation would add the remaining parts of Arizona, Utah and Nevada to the program and bring coverage to downwinders in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Guam. It would also offer coverage for residents exposed to radioactive waste in Missouri, Tennessee, Alaska and Kentucky. Dawn Chapman, who co-founded Just Moms STL to advocate for communities affected by World War II-era nuclear waste that contaminated parts of the St. Louis area, called Johnsons initial statement a pitiful excuse. Chapman and supporters of the legislation believe the $50-60 billion price tag is an overestimation, and she noted that cost is spread over five years. She said supporters have worked to cut the costs of the program, including narrowing the list of health conditions that would qualify for compensation. If costs were a concern, Chapman said, Johnson should have met with advocates to work on further cuts. Chapman said shed return to Washington, D.C., next week, and the least he can do is meet with us for 10 minutes. Johnsons earlier position was revealed Tuesday evening on social media by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, and sparked outrage among the states congressional delegation. U.S. Reps. Cori Bush, a Democrat from St. Louis, and Ann Wagner, a Republican from the nearby suburbs, vowed to oppose any extension of RECA that didnt add Missouri. On social media Wednesday afternoon, Hawley said the federal government has not begun to meet its obligations to nuclear radiation victims. (Missouri) victims have gotten zilch, Hawley said. Parts of the St. Louis area have been contaminated for 75 years with radioactive waste left over from the effort to build the worlds first atomic bomb during World War II. Uranium refined in downtown St. Louis was used in the first sustained nuclear chain reaction in Chicago, a breakthrough in the Manhattan Project, the name given to the effort to develop the bomb. After the war, waste from uranium refining efforts was trucked from St. Louis to surrounding counties and dumped near Coldwater Creek and in a quarry in Weldon Spring, polluting surface and groundwater. Remaining waste was dumped at the West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, where it remains today. Generations of St. Louis-area families lived in homes near contaminated sites without warning from the federal government. A study by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry found exposure to the creek elevated residents risk of cancer. Residents of nearby communities suffer higher-than-normal rates of breast, colon, prostate, kidney and bladder cancers and leukemia. Childhood brain and nervous system cancers are also higher. Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and Twitter. The post U.S. House speaker reverses on radiation compensation bill that excluded Missouri appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. Uh Oh, the Internet Is Reading the Tea Leaves on the Trump Jury Notes Were just two days into jury deliberations in Donald Trumps hush-money trial, but America is already on edgeanalyzing and guessing what could be going through the heads of the 12 jurors who will determine the ex-presidents fate. With the jurors identities concealed, and their deliberations shrouded in secrecy until they reach a verdict, the rest of us are left to fill the information vacuum with speculation about what we do know: the jurors already have a few questions for Judge Juan Merchan. The first came on Wednesday when they asked Merchan if they could re-hear some of the seven-week trials witness testimony and if he could repeat a portion of his jury instructions to them. More questions arrived Thursday morning, with jurors asking for more of the same. Trump Jurors Already Have Several Questions as Deliberations Begin Those queries are likely proof that the seven male and five female jurors, all New Yorkers, are taking their high-profile jury duty seriously. Still, as their questions stack up, and the waiting game intensifies, some of us are losing our darn minds... and resorting to jokes. The Babylon Bee, the right-wing copycat of the satire news site The Onion, ran an article Thursday with the headline, Jury Passes Note To Judge Asking To Review 14 Seasons Of The Apprentice. All of them, please. Every episode, jurors demanded in the fake note, according to the Bee. Were at a stalemate here, and theres really nothing to do here in this room. Please have someone provide us with all 14 seasons of The Apprentice, several 2-liters of Mountain Dew, and some bags of Doritos. And a large tub of Red Vines, please. This is very important to our deliberations. Others poked fun at jurors lengthy deliberation time, including the right-wing influencer NotKennyRogers. He posted to X, BREAKING: The Trump jury has sent a note to Judge Merchan: At what point will someone actually explain to us what were supposed to find him guilty of? Standup comic and Fox News Radio host Jimmy Failla also chimed in with a dig at jurors, assuming they must be inherently biased against Trump. Another Juror Note: Apparently they want to know how much a CNN Contributorship (sic) will pay if they ignore the facts and find Trump guilty, he quipped. Another Juror Note: apparently they want to know how much a CNN Contributorship will pay if they ignore the facts and find Trump guilty. Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) May 30, 2024 Also joining in on the fun was Ryan Teague Beckwith, a journalist at MSNBC, who wrote: Jury note just said judge merchan check here [ ] if you think Juror #8 is cute. As did the New York criminal defense attorney Robert Osuna, who wrote, Now comes the fun part in People v Trump. Jury notes. Can we have read back of direct and cross of every witness who testified please? While the jokes have been aplenty, theres also been legitimate analysis of the jurors actions during deliberations. An MSNBC reporter in the courtroom noted Thursday that, after jurors asked Merchan to repeat his juror instructions and he obliged, each juror appeared to be listening intently and taking notes. Each and every juror is engaged and their body language appears that they are focused on Judge Merchan and what he is reading. Several continue to take notes as Merchan speaks. Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) May 30, 2024 That note-taking is particularly important in a New York trial where, unlike most states, judges are barred from providing a written copy of juror instructions to jurors in the deliberation room. Jurors had spent more than ten hours deliberating by Thursday afternoon. Some legal experts have speculated that the longer deliberations continue, the more likely the panel is to convict Trump on at least some of his 34 criminal counts. Kristy Greenberg, a former federal prosecutor, posted to X that Wednesdays deliberations ending with a string of questionsand not a verdictwas a good day for Trumps prosecutors. Thats because, according to Greenberg, the jurors questions were in line with how prosecutors hoped deliberations would gothat is, analyzing damning testimony specifically from the former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who was key to Trumps alleged plan to buy and kill negative stories about him, including that of his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels. Still, other experts, like the former U.S. attorney Joyce Vance, have warned that reading too much into the slivers of info given by jurors through their notes can be a dangerous game. These requests for testimony track the road map prosecutors gave jurors for deciding if Michael Cohen could be believed, Vance told Salon. She agreed with Greenberg that the juror requests are a cautiously optimistic sign that jurors are working through the evidence in ways that the government proposed. However, she also warned, Its dangerous to read the tea leaves. Trump hasnt changed his tone online since the deliberations began. Hes unleashed a firestorm of posts to Truth Social to complain about the trial, Merchan, and the judges gag order, and to endorse GOP candidates running this fall. Very unfair that I am not being allowed to Campaign, he posted Thursday afternoon. Crooked Joe Biden Witch Hunt. Third World Country!!! If convicted, Trump could be sentenced to up to four years in prison even before his other trio of criminal trialsin Miami, Washington, and Atlantaeven begin. 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. Ukraine can use our F-16s to strike Russian territory, Danish foreign minister says Ukraine may use Danish-supplied F-16 jets to strike military targets in Russian territory, as this would be "within the rules of war," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters in Brussels on May 30. Denmark founded the "fighter jet coalition" for Ukraine with the Netherlands in July 2023. The group of countries pledged to provide Kyiv with F-16s and help train Ukrainian pilots and technical staff to operate the U.S.-made fourth-generation jets. The first batch of Danish F-16s is expected to be handed over to Ukraine this summer. Over recent weeks, Ukraine has called for its partners to allow strikes on Russian territory with Western weapons, a move that Washington and Berlin, the top two providers of military aid to Ukraine, have long been against. "This is not a carte blanche for Ukraine to use the F-16 to make arbitrary attacks into Russia," Rasmussen told reporters. "We are talking about an opportunity to weaken the aggressor by taking military installations out onto Russian territory." "It is completely within the rules of war that a country that is attacked must be able to answer for itself," Rasmussen said. "There is also no Ukrainian interest in taking over the kind of warfare you have from the Russian side, where you go after residential properties," referring to Russia's indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Read also: Belgium to provide Ukraine with 30 F-16 aircraft by 2028, first to arrive in 2024 Rasmussen also dismissed concerns that the move would escalate the war. "If we are talking about a risk of an actual attack on our territory, then it is not something I am worried about," Rasmussen said. Russia's Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin released a statement on May 29, claiming that "the use of Copenhagen-supplied weapons by Ukraine against targets inside Russia could lead to an uncontrolled development of the conflict." Barbin was responding to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who said on May 28 that Ukraine is allowed to use Danish weapons on Russian territory "if it is within international law." Calls for Ukraine to be allowed to strike military targets on Russian territory with Western weapons have grown after Russia launched a new offensive in Kharkiv Oblast on May 10, with 30,000 troops reportedly involved in the operation. Kyiv said it was unable to launch preemptive strikes on Russian forces amassing on the border due to the restrictions on how Western weapons may be used. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a declaration on May 27 that supported an end to restrictions that prohibited Ukraine's use of Western-supplied weapons against military targets inside Russia. The next day, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke at a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and said that Ukraine should be allowed to strike military bases on Russian territory from which Moscow carries out missile attacks against Ukraine. Scholz said at the press conference that Ukraine could use German-supplied weapons "within the framework of international law." Read also: Ukraine urges allies to lift Western arms ban on hitting targets inside Russia. Will they? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Multi-hyphenate business magnate Elon Musk is fine with offering Tesla shareholders personal tours to get them to vote on his multibillion-dollar pay package, but letting them listen to analysts? Now that he can't tolerate. In response to the proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis recommending shareholders reject Musk's exorbitant compensation plan which is valued as high as $56 billion Tesla has put the firm on blast, Bloomberg reports, issuing a strongly worded letter to investors tearing apart its analysis. Titled "What Glass Lewis Got Wrong About Tesla," the letter claims that the firm "omits key considerations, uses faulty logic, and relies on speculation and hypotheticals," per Bloomberg. It's also not above a little unabashed cheerleading of its vaunted CEO and one wonders how much of a say he had in the letter's messaging. "Tesla created over $735 billion of market value for stockholders from 2018 to 2023 because Elon helped Tesla achieve performance targets that were regarded by many as extremely difficult or impossible," it added (emphasis Tesla's). Musk's compensation was originally approved by shareholders in 2018, but was blocked by a Delaware judge due to concerns over its "unfathomable" size and Musk's "extensive" ties to the board. It's up for vote again at the upcoming shareholder meeting on June 13. Also on the agenda is the proposal to relocate Tesla's state of incorporation from Delaware to Texas a move undoubtedly motivated by the former state's decision to block Musk's payout. Glass Lewis advised against the payment package back then, and it hasn't changed its tune now. In a lengthy report, the firm warned that approving the compensation which is doled out in stock options would dilute existing shares in the company, as well as make Musk the largest stakeholder by a considerable margin. Beyond that, it also questioned Musk's "focus" on the company given that he pursues other lucrative (and less lucrative) ventures and the financial benefits of relocating Tesla to Texas. "The excessive size of the award, both on a pure dollar basis and in terms of the dilutive effect upon exercise, remains very much top of mind," the report said, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal. "The companys provided rationale does little to combat these concerns given their proportionate magnitude." Tesla's rebuke of the Glass Lewis letter confidently asserts that this is all hogwash. It also haughtily proclaims that Tesla is "one of the most successful enterprises of our time." But all that self-aggrandizing talk may not be enough to sway everyone in the Tesla camp. Musk is more polarizing than ever, and even though Tesla's valuation is still astoundingly high, it's suffering an absolute nightmare of a year, falling short of delivery goals last quarter and looking ever more inept with its shoddy Cybertruck. Story continues Perhaps the automaker should have bigger priorities than ensuring Musk, whose net worth already exceeds $200 billion, gets dozens of billions more. Many, however and that's perhaps a dwindling many believe he is inextricable from the company. More on Tesla: The Range of Teslas Drops A Shocking Amount In Just 3 Years, Study Finds Anna Luhrmann the Minister of State for Europe at the German Federal Foreign OfficePhoto: Getty Images The German government has announced that Ukraine has fulfilled the requirements for reforms necessary to start negotiations on joining the European Union. Source: Anna Luhrmann, Germany's Minister of State for Europe and Climate, in an interview with DPA news agency Details: The official urged all EU member states to agree on a draft negotiating framework as soon as possible. "The German government believes that Ukraine has fulfilled all the requirements in order to be able to start negotiations on EU accession in June," she said. Background: On 29 May, reports emerged that Hungary had blocked the approval of the draft negotiating framework for Ukraine's accession to the EU at a meeting of EU ambassadors over the issue of minority rights. The EU is still seeking to officially start accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova by the end of June, but this requires the unanimity of all EU states, including Hungary's consent. June is a crucial month, as Hungary's six-month presidency of the EU Council begins in July. Hungary could potentially use its presidency to slow down decisions on Ukraine. In addition, the EU-Ukraine intergovernmental conference, considered to be the start of the accession talks, will almost certainly not take place on 25 June, as had previously been announced in the media. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine may receive up to 100,000 shells next month under Prague-led initiative, Czech official says Ukraine may receive the first batch of 50,000 to 100,000 shells in June under the Prague-led initiative, Tomas Kopecny, the Czech envoy for Ukraine's reconstruction, said during a briefing on May 30, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported. Czech President Petr Pavel said in February that Prague had identified 500,000 155 mm shells and 300,000 122 mm shells outside Europe that could be bought and sent to Ukraine after the necessary funds were allocated to the initiative. Several countries, including the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Canada, and the Netherlands, have since contributed funds to the Czech initiative, which may result in the delivery of 1.5 million rounds to Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said in late March. To provide Ukraine with this number of shells this year, 1.7 billion euros ($1.8 billion) will be needed, the Czech official said. More than 1.6 billion euros ($1.7 million) have been allocated to the effort, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on May 28. Subscribe to newsletter War Notes Subscribe "The pace of supply depends on the availability (of shells) and funding. We can collect 1.5-2 million shells," Kopecny told journalists in Prague. Russia is still outpacing the West in securing artillery supplies on international markets, the Czech government said, fearing that delayed payments to arms companies could result in millions of munitions being shipped to Moscow rather than Kyiv, the Financial Times reported. "Russia is also hunting for shells. If we are faster, the shells go to Ukraine, and if we are slow, they go to Russia," Kopecny added. Michal Strnad, the owner and chair of the arms producer Czechoslovak Group, told the FT that issues with quality and rising prices are slowing down the deliveries. According to Strnad, 50% of the shells acquired by his company from Africa and Asia were in such a state that they could not be sent straight away to Ukraine without further work. "Every week the price is going up and there are big issues with the components," Strnad said. Pavel launched the initiative against the backdrop of Ukraine losing the key front-line city of Avdiivka in February amid a severe ammunition shortage. Russia has since intensified aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities and launched a new offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, which has reportedly been halted by the first line of defense. Read also: Washington, Berlin signal potential policy change, paving way for permission for Ukraine to strike Russian territory Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine can now use long-range weapons from the U.S. to strike targets in Russia near Kharkiv. As Ukrainian's second-largest city has been pounded by Russian missile, glide bomb and artillery strikes , officials in Kyiv have begged the U.S. to allow the use of donated long-range weapons to strike back across the border, into Russia directly. Now that is going to happen. In a major policy shift, the Biden administration recently approved Ukraines use of U.S.-supplied weapons on Russian territory, but only near Kharkiv, two U.S. officials confirmed to The War Zone. Ukraine has long been barred by the U.S. from using weapons it has donated against targets in Russia proper. The President recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them," a U.S. official told The War Zone. "Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of [ Army Tactical Missile System ] ATACMS or long range strikes inside of Russia has not changed. Fire fighters work on putting out the fire broke out after the Russian rocket attacks, which injured seven people, in the village of Mala Danilivka in Kharkiv district of Ukraine on May 30, 2024. (Photo by State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Anadolu via Getty Images) Politico was the first to report that news. Russia is staging its forces across the border and firing from there, this includes launching airstrikes using glide bombs from Russian territory. This would presumably allow Ukraine to now fire on all these target types, taking away this safe haven for Russian forces. Earlier in the day, the Pentagon said there was no change in the policy prohibiting Ukraine from using donated weapons like M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS and ATACMS short-range ballistic missiles inside Russia. Ukraine has been using both weapons to devastating effect inside its own borders. The security assistance that we provide Ukraine is to be used within Ukraine, and we don't encourage attacks or enable attacks inside of Russia, Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokesperson, told reporters, including from The War Zone Thursday afternoon. We believe Ukraine can be effective by focusing on tactical and operational targets that directly influence the conflict within its boundaries rather than going after larger, geopolitical targets within Russia. We believe that we've given them the capabilities and the systems to be effective on the battlefield right now, she added. The Pentagon maintains Ukraine cannot use its long-range weapons, like HIMARS, to strike targets in Russia. (Photo by Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) When asked about what changed since the press conference, the Pentagon deferred questions to the White House National Security Council. The policy shift comes as several U.S. allies have announced they will allow their long-range strike weapons provided to Ukraine to be used inside Russian territory. As we previously reported , the U.K. weeks ago said they have no qualms about Ukraine using its donated Storm Shadow cruise missiles. The U.K. is allowing Ukraine to use its donated Storm Shadow cruise missiles inside Russia, Crown Copyright Sweden, Finland, the Baltic countries, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Canada and others have said they have no problem with Ukraine's using their weapons to hit Russia, as well, Politico reported . France, which gave Ukraine SCALP EG cruise missiles, and Germany also agreed but issued caveats. French President Emmanuel Macron said Ukraine could neutralize targets in Russia "from which the missiles are fired, but not other civilian or military targets. Ukraine can use the weapons provided within the framework of international law, said German Chancellor Olaf, according to the publication. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen has announced that Ukraine will be allowed to use Danish-supplied F-16 fighter jets to strike military targets inside Russia, Ukrainian Pravda reported . Denmark says it is fine if Ukraine uses its F-16 Vipers over Russian territory. (Photo by Horacio Villalobos - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) Polish Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk told Polish news outlet Radio ZET that Ukraine can fight however they want with the MiG-29 fighters and other weapons it provided. We decided to help Ukraine in the conflict , Ukraine was brutally attacked, so it has the right to defend itself as it sees fit, said Tomczyk, according to the Kyiv Post . Tomczyk called on other allies to lift the restrictions placed on Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that there would be "serious consequences" if western weapons were used inside Russia, hinted that he could use nuclear strikes against small European nations if NATO allowed Ukraine to attack what he called deep in Russian territory, The Washington Post reported . He warned that NATO officials should be fully aware of what is at stake. If Europe were to face those serious consequences, what will the United States do, considering our strategic arms parity? It is hard to tell, he said, referring to U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals. Are they looking for a global conflict? Clearly all eyes will be on Moscow's reaction to this change in policy and how effective these strikes end up being, but one thing is for certain, this is a major shift that Ukraine has long asked for finally getting the official ok. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Insights from the Atlantic Council, Kyiv Post, and openDemocracy The News Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is on a new push for military aid to help stem Russias battlefield progress, turning to European allies as well as ongoing discussions over the potential use of funds from frozen Russian assets. Hopes that G7 leaders will reach a deal on the approximately $3 billion of Russian assets immobilized in the European banking system to fuel Kyivs war effort have buoyed since finance ministers cited progress in talks ahead of the mid-June G7 leaders summit. Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain have made new funding commitments as Kyiv even looks to sell its iconic Hotel Ukraine to drum up more cash, according to Le Monde. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Kyiv is desperate for funding Source: Atlantic Council, Kyiv Post Floated G7 plans may not be enough, but they are a big step that needs to be nailed down fast, wrote the Atlantic Councils Dan Fried. Russias targeting of Ukraines energy sector means Kyiv will face a brutal winter unless its essential services are kept running, Olga Khakova, an energy security expert at the Atlantic Council, added. The West must step up and create a long-term funding strategy that involves providing Ukraine with $100 billion a year in military, political, and humanitarian assistance, Anders Aslund argued in the Kyiv Post. Confiscating Russian assets could risk a chilling effect Source: Chatham House, The Guardian Permanently seizing Russian assets could spook countries like China, India, and Saudi Arabia by breaking the norm of sovereign immunity, and might even undermine G7 and Ukrainian leverage if and when they start to negotiate with Russia, Creon Butler of Chatham House argued. But doing so wouldnt change the incentives of governments that are not already planning a major war. By not seizing the funds, Western leaders are signaling that governments waging brutal wars of aggression can violate international law and simultaneously benefit from it to escape the consequences of their actions, Joseph E Stiglitz and Andrew Kosenko argued in The Guardian. Ukrainian civil society is filling the gap Source: openDemocracy, Proximate, Alliance magazine Most of Ukraines relief effort to date has been borne by Ukrainians themselves, reported openDemocracy, but community-led organizations receive only a pittance of the billions in humanitarian aid flowing into the country, the nonprofit magazine Proximate argued. Feminist initiatives leading frontline response efforts are underappreciated as well as under-resourced: Support of Ukrainian civil society is not only money, it is visibility and recognition of the work being done, Feminist Workshop told Alliance magazine. Elon Musk is playing catch-up in the AI race by ramping up his recruiting efforts for xAI, after investors valued the 10-month old startup at an eye-watering $24 billion. Even though Musk cofounded ChatGPT creator OpenAI in late 2015, he left the project after a disagreement with management and now finds himself in the rare situation of lagging behind competitors. But candidates need not apply for an xAI role if they disagree with Musk's brand of politics, since the entrepreneur hopes to differentiate xAI and its large language model (LLM) Grok from the Google Geminis of the world he feels are infected by a left-wing bias. Join xAI if you believe in our mission of understanding the universe, which requires maximally rigorous pursuit of the truth, without regard to popularity or political correctness, the mogul posted on his social media platform on Monday. Elon Musk said that if he gets 25% voting control of #Tesla, he will be comfortable with making Tesla the worldwide leader in AI. But how will that work if he owns xAI, which is also aiming to be the leader in AI? Wouldnt there be a conflict of interest? https://t.co/Zwj6tvathL Tesla and Doge (@TeslaAndDoge) May 27, 2024 It came a day after venture capitalists, including Sequoia and Andreessen Horowitz, stumped up $6 billion in cash despite Grok not currently being included in the ranks of the top LLMs alongside OpenAIs GPT, Anthropics Claude, Metas Llama, and Googles Gemini. Investors are continuing to line up for Musk, even after his Twitter investment has cost minority investors like Fidelity to report it has lost almost three-quarters of the value of its stake. Nevertheless, Musk chose a controversial juncture to fundraise for xAI. Amid a slowdown in EV sales, the Tesla CEO has begun pivoting his carmaker away from its core mission of transitioning the world to sustainable transport. He now strives to lead the industry in what he calls real-world AI: self-driving cars and humanoid robots. That means Musks two companies may end up competing with each other for computing power and skilled labor, a fact recently highlighted last month when a Tesla manager quit to join xAI. Musk claimed the employee was going to leave anyway so he was not responsible for the brain drain, but it sparked concerns. Story continues Neither am I. I would like this matter resolved. Tesla and Doge (@TeslaAndDoge) May 27, 2024 Fears over a conflict of interest Musk has been accused of treating Tesla like one of his privately owned companies where he can shift resources at will, as testimony in his pay deal case revealed earlier this year. A Delaware court in part voided his record compensation package from 2018 precisely because of claims that governance at the company is an afterthought, with the Tesla board sometimes only informed after Musk has already made a decision. Theres rarely been as egregious a flaunting of independent shareholder governance as this, New York City comptroller Brad Lander, who oversees five public pension funds with $242 billion in assets, told Fortune. Tesla did not respond to a request from Fortune for comment. CEO who already owns a $15b stake in competitive AI company demands $50b in compensation or else he will go and start a competitive AI company? Rob Schmied (@rschmied) May 28, 2024 At the Tesla shareholder meeting on June 13th, Musk will find out whether investors will once again approve the compensation deal that grants him the right to acquire 304 million shares worth $54 billion for $23.33 each, an 87% discount to the current stock price. Lander already signaled he would reject the boards proposal, while proxy advisor Glass Lewis recommended this weekend all other investors do as well. Many of his supporters fear Musk would no longer feel sufficiently motivated to run Tesla in the event of a no vote, and would shift his focus to xAI, SpaceX, and social media platform X, formerly Twitter. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his US counterpart Joe Biden will sign a bilateral security agreement in Italy on the eve of the Peace Summit to be held on 15-16 June in Switzerland. Source: Financial Times, citing its sources, as reported by European Pravda Details: "However, days before the peace summit, Zelenskyy and Biden are expected to sign a bilateral security agreement on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Italy next month," the Financial Times wrote, citing unnamed US officials. The summit of the Group of Seven leaders is scheduled to take place in Italy on 13-15 June. The sources did not indicate on what day the agreement would be signed. The Financial Times notes that the agreement was negotiated over several weeks amidst growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington. A senior government official appointed by Zelenskyy, who spoke to the Financial Times about US-Ukraine relations, said: "We are farther apart than ever since the war started. It is very, very tense". Volodymyr Zelenskyy's frustration with Joe Biden was revealed in a statement this week when the Ukrainian president chided his US counterpart for his intention to attend a Democratic Party fundraiser in California rather than the Peace Summit in Switzerland. Zelenskyy said it was "not a strong decision". Several Ukrainian officials said Kyiv's frustration with the lack of US support at the highest level for the Peace Summit initiative is just one of many friction points with Washington and other Western partners. More than a dozen current and former Ukrainian officials and G7 diplomats in Kyiv who spoke to the Financial Times point to a number of contentious issues. These include Congress' six-month delay in approving US military aid, the expected lack of significant progress on Ukraine's NATO membership at the Alliance's summit in Washington in July, the Biden administration's ban on Kyiv's use of US weapons in Russia, and Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. Other strains include the dismissals of Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in February, and Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov this month, as well as divergent visions of how Ukraine can achieve victory and what that victory might look like. Several members of Zelenskyy's government said they were beginning to be concerned about the methods used by the Ukrainian president to communicate with the US. One noted that Zelenskyy was "very irritated" with Biden, adding they were concerned about "openly provoking" the White House. "Do not bite the hand that feeds you," an unnamed Ukrainian official said. Background: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated earlier that the future bilateral security agreement with Ukraine would provide for military assistance in various areas and help bring Ukraine closer to NATO membership. In early May, President Zelenskyy said Ukraine was preparing seven new bilateral security agreements, including with the United States. Support UP or become our patron! Key developments on May 30: Ukraine hit 4 Russian patrol boats in occupied Crimea overnight, military intelligence says Ukraine hits Russian ferry crossing with ATACMS in Crimea, General Staff says Politico: Biden quietly allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US arms but 'solely near Kharkiv' Ukraine can use Danish-supplied F-16s to strike Russian territory, Danish foreign minister says German defense minister arrives in Odesa, announces $542 million aid package for Ukraine Syrskyi: Russia building up forces near Kharkiv Oblast but not enough for breakthrough Ukrainian Magura 5V naval drones destroyed two and damaged two more Russian patrol boats in occupied Crimea during the overnight attack on May 30, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said. All four boats are of the KS-701 Tunets (Tuna) model. "The occupiers used these vessels for logistics and patrolling the waters near the occupied peninsula," HUR said. The agency said that its Group 13 unit attacked a boat depot with naval drones in Vuzka Bay, which lies at the Chornomorske town on Crimea's western coast. In order to thwart the attack, Russian forces scrambled their aircraft 32 times, including Su-27/30/35 and MiG-29 jets, Be-12 and An-26 aircraft, and Ka-27/29 and Mi-8 helicopters, the statement read. Russian troops also reportedly responded with chaotic fire from small arms and 30 mm cannons. Earlier the same day, Russian authorities claimed that a Ukrainian missile attack damaged two transport ferries in the port city of Kerch in eastern Crimea. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Russian air defense downed eight long-range U.S.-supplied ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles and eight drones overnight. Magura drones destroyed the Russian Sergey Kotov patrol ship on March 5, and the Ropucha-class landing ship Caesar Kunikov was sunk by drones on Feb. 14. Read also: Ukraines Navy says it destroyed Russian sea minesweeper Kovrovets overnight Ukraine hits Russian ferry crossing with ATACMS in Crimea, General Staff says The Ukrainian military struck the Russian Kerch ferry crossing in occupied Crimea overnight on May 30, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported. The ferry crossing was hit with U.S.-provided long-range ATACMS missiles, according to the General Staff. Moscow "actively used" the ferry crossing to supply Russian troops in the occupied peninsula and defended it with Russian Pantsir, Tor, and Triumph air defense systems, the military said. Two ferries were significantly damaged, the General Staff said, sharing the photos showing traces of damage. One of the ferries was stranded and reportedly "blocked the functioning of the entire Kerch crossing." "Thanks to the successful combat work of Ukrainian missile launchers, the occupiers' military logistics on the peninsula have been significantly undermined," the General Staff's statement read. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims. Russia uses the bridge and ferries across the Kerch Strait to transport military supplies for Russian occupying forces in Crimea and southern Ukraine. Ukraine claimed responsibility for attacks that inflicted serious damage on the bridge in October 2022 and July 2023. Ukraine has repeatedly struck Russia's Black Sea fleet since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, including the sinking of the flagship cruiser Moskva in April 2022 and a devastating missile attack on the fleet's headquarters in occupied Crimea that reportedly killed more than 30 officers. Subscribe to newsletter War Notes Subscribe Politico: Biden quietly allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US arms but "solely near Kharkiv" U.S. President Joe Biden's administration secretly lifted the ban for Ukraine to strike Russian territory with American weapons, but "solely near the area of Kharkiv," Politico reported on May 30, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The U.S. and German officials have repeatedly said that they do not support or encourage Kyiv's strikes with their weapons on Russian soil reportedly due to fears this would lead to an escalation of the war. The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv, so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them, an unnamed American official told the outlet. The source added that Washington's policy of allowing long-range strikes "has not changed" and Ukraine cannot use U.S. weapons to hit military targets deep inside Russia. Ukraine can now use American-provided arms such as rockets to shoot down Russian missiles heading toward Kharkiv, at troops massing over the Russian border, or aircraft launching bombs at Ukraine's territory, Politico wrote, citing another U.S. official. Neither Kyiv nor Washington has officially commented on these reports. Calls for Ukraine to be allowed to strike military targets on Russian territory with Western weapons have grown after Russia launched a new offensive in Kharkiv Oblast on May 10, with 30,000 troops reportedly involved in the operation. "We see every point of concentration of Russian troops. We know all the areas where Russian missiles and combat aircraft are launched," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 26. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a declaration on May 27 that supported an end to restrictions that prohibited Ukraine's use of Western-supplied weapons against military targets inside Russia. The next day, French President Emmanuel Macron said at a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Ukraine should be allowed to strike military bases on Russian territory from which Moscow carries out missile attacks against Ukraine. Over 10 European countries also supported this move, with some saying that they did not set any restrictions on Ukraine's strikes with their weapons on Russian territory. Read also: Ukraine urges allies to lift Western arms ban on hitting targets inside Russia. Will they? Ukraine can use Danish-supplied F-16s to strike Russian territory, Danish FM says Ukraine may use Danish-supplied F-16 jets to strike military targets in Russian territory, as this would be "within the rules of war," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters in Brussels on May 30. Denmark founded the "fighter jet coalition" for Ukraine with the Netherlands in July 2023. The group of countries pledged to provide Kyiv with F-16s and help train Ukrainian pilots and technical staff to operate the U.S.-made fourth-generation jets. The first batch of Danish F-16s is expected to be handed over to Ukraine this summer. Over recent weeks, Ukraine has called for its partners to allow strikes on Russian territory with Western weapons, a move that Washington and Berlin, the top two providers of military aid to Ukraine, have long been against. "This is not a carte blanche for Ukraine to use the F-16 to make arbitrary attacks into Russia," Rasmussen told reporters. "We are talking about an opportunity to weaken the aggressor by taking military installations out onto Russian territory." "It is completely within the rules of war that a country that is attacked must be able to answer for itself," Rasmussen said. "There is also no Ukrainian interest in taking over the kind of warfare you have from the Russian side, where you go after residential properties," referring to Russia's indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Read also: Ukraine may receive up to 100,000 shells next month under Prague-led initiative, Czech official says German defense minister arrives in Odesa, announces $542 million aid package for Ukraine German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth 500 million euros ($542 million) on May 30 during an unannounced visit to the port city of Odesa, Berliner Zeitung reported. Pistorius arrived at a time when Kyiv is raising pressure on its allies, urging them to lift restrictions on the use of Western-provided weapons against military targets inside Russia. Berlin repeatedly opposed the idea due to fears this would lead to an escalation of the war. The new package will reportedly include ammunition for Iris-T air defense systems and shorter-range SLS missiles, as well as reconnaissance drones, 1 million rounds of small arms ammunition, Leopard 1 battle tanks, and Marder armored vehicles. Berlin will also send to Ukraine spare parts for artillery systems and Leopard battle tanks, Pistorius said. Some of the materials are about to be delivered, he added. We will continue to support you in this defensive struggle, the German minister said during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov. This marks Pistorius' third visit to Ukraine since the outbreak of the full-scale war in February 2022. The trip to Odesa was not announced in advance due to security reasons as Russia intensified its air strikes and launched the offensive in the country's east, the newspaper wrote. The minister previously visited Kyiv in November 2023. Pistorius said in mid-May that Berlin would supply Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense system without specifying the delivery date. Kyiv is also expected to receive another Iris-T air defense system. Read also: Timothy Garton Ash: Were at the beginning of a new era. What we do now is particularly important Syrskyi: Russia building up forces near Kharkiv Oblast but not enough for breakthrough Russia is building up forces near Kharkiv Oblast, but they are not enough to break through Ukrainian defenses, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on May 30. Moscow launched a new offensive on May 10 in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Last week, the Ukrainian military reported that the Russian advance in the sector had been halted and that Kyiv's troops were conducting counterattacks. Russian forces are increasing the number of troops near the villages of Strilecha and Lyptsi, as well as the town of Vovchansk. These numbers are not enough to carry out a new offensive, according to Syrskyi. The commander-in-chief said that the Russian military's activities are complicated by the deployment of Ukrainian reserve units to the "hot" areas of the front line. The accumulation of ammunition supplies and degradation of Russian forces also reduced Russian offensive capabilities, Syrskyi wrote on Facebook. "Therefore, the enemy has switched to the tactic of hitting our positions with artillery fire and strikes with aerial bombs," Syrskyi said. "In these circumstances, the destruction of the aircraft carrying the KABs (satellite-guided bombs), as well as reconnaissance drones and fire adjusters, electronic warfare protection of our troops, camouflage, and the use of mock-ups are of paramount importance." The commander added that the Ukrainian military leadership is currently taking "urgent measures" to improve the air defense control system, its automation, and its coordination with the Ground Forces' firepower and electronic warfare systems. Moscow is forming another grouping of forces near Ukraine's northern border, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 26. The Ukrainian military did not rule out a similar Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast. Read also: Washington, Berlin signal potential policy change, paving way for permission for Ukraine to strike Russian territory Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Russians have launched missile and air strikes on military facilities and critical infrastructure in Ukraine on the night of 29-30 May, using 19 missiles and 32 Shahed drones. All drones and seven cruise missiles have been successfully downed. Source: Ukraines Air Force Details: In particular, the Russians launched eight S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft missiles at Kharkiv Oblast, 11 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles from Tu-95 MS strategic bombers (Russias Saratov Oblast) and 32 Shahed drones from the Russian city of Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Cape Chauda in temporarily occupied Crimea. Quote: "As a result of combat efforts, seven Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles and 32 Shahed-131/136 attack UAVs were downed within Khmelnytskyi, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kherson, Kyiv and Vinnytsia oblasts." Details: Anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force, mobile fire groups and electronic warfare units of Ukraines Defence Forces were involved in repelling the Russian attack. Background: Four strategic bombers took off from the Olenya air base (Murmansk Oblast, Russia) on the night of 29-30 May. Later it was reported that they launched cruise missiles. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine's Defence Intelligence confirms destruction of 2 Russian boats in Crimea, 2 more damaged video The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has confirmed the destruction of two Russian high-speed amphibious assault boats in temporarily occupied Crimea. Source: DIU press service Quote: "The DIUs special unit Group 13, using Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drones, once again effectively attacked the ship and boat fleet of the Russian aggressor state in temporarily occupied Crimea on 30 May 2024. The successful special operation was made possible with the support of the United24 global platform. In order to down the attack drones on the approach to the Vuzka (Narrow) Bay, the Russian occupiers in Crimea scrambled aircraft 32 times, including Su-27/30/35, MiG-29, Be-12, An-26 planes and Ka-27/29 and Mi-8 helicopters. The invaders also chaotically used small arms and 30-mm cannons. However, nothing prevented the DIUs Special Forces from successfully performing a combat task. Details: Early reports indicate that the attack destroyed two high-speed transport amphibious boats KS-701 Tunets (Tuna). Updated: Based on the updated data, as a result of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine's mission, Group 13 special forces destroyed two Russian KC-701 Tunets boats in Crimea and hit two other vessels of the same type. Therefore, the total losses of the Russian state from the attack by Ukrainian Magura V5 strike marine drones amounted to four high-speed transport and landing boats KS-701 Tunets, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine says. The Russian troops used these vessels for logistics and patrolling the waters near the temporarily occupied peninsula, the intelligence officers said. Background: A source in the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said that Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drones attacked the Russian vessels near the village of Chornomorske in Yevpatoriia district on the night of 29-30 May. Support UP or become our patron! Two Russian vessels, suspected to be of the KS-701 Tunets (Tuna) type, were hit in temporarily occupied Crimea on the night of 29-30 May as a result of a special operation by Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Source: an Ukrainska Pravda source in Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Details: The source said that Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drones attacked the Russian vessels near the village of Chornomorske in Yevpatoriia district. Quote: "To counteract, the enemy actively used aircraft, small arms and artillery, but to no avail." Read more on the topic: Target and eliminate: How Ukraine's Magura drones devastate Russian ships Support UP or become our patron! Anastasiia Volkova, a military journalist with the Ukrainian state-run media outlet Freedom, died in Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, on May 30, Freedom reported. The Institute for Mass Information NGO reported, citing sources, that Volkova died in a traffic accident. Volkova had worked as a journalist in combat hotspots in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts since 2018. "I was born and raised in Luhansk and lost my native home," Freedom reported that Volkova had said. "So, professional activity is everything for me. For now, this is the meaning of my life. And when I can go to my native land for work, my heart is filled with a feeling of pain and thirst to do more to highlight the disaster that Russia has brought to Ukraine, to highlight the crimes of the Russian troops." Volkova was 31 years old. The Institute of Mass Information said that as of March 2024, more than 80 media workers have been killed in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. At least 10 were killed while doing their professional duties. Read also: Journalist-turned-soldier Oleksandr Mashlay killed in action near Avdiivka Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian and Russian forces clash 84 times across warzone, half of them on Kurakhove and Pokrovsk front Ukraine's General Staff Ukrainian and Russian forces have clashed 84 times across the war zone since the beginning of the day, half of them taking place on the Kurakhove and Pokrovsk fronts. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 19:00 on 30 May Details: On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian forces repelled seven Russian attacks. A fight near the settlement of Andriivka is underway. Russian terrorists delivered new airstrikes near Novoosynove (three guided aerial bombs) and Bohuslavka (one guided aerial bomb). On the Lyman front, the Russians launched ten guided aerial bombs (GABs): six near the village of Dronivka and four near the settlement of Yampil. On the Siversk front, combat engagements continue near the settlements of Rozdolivka and Bilohorivka. The Russians dropped four GABs on the village of Zakitne, two more on the town of Siversk, and one Russian guided bomb hit the settlement of Verkhnokamianske. Nine combat engagements took place on the Kramatorsk front. Ukraine's Defence Forces are keeping the Russians under fire control and are taking active measures. Quote: "On the Pokrovsk front, the enemy mounted 21 attempts to break through our defence lines with the support of aircraft. Combat actions continue in the areas of Sokil (in two areas), Novooleksandrivka and Prohres. The invaders hit Oleksandropil with five GABs, and another such bomb was used to bombard New-York (Donetsk Oblast). Umanske and Novoselivka were attacked with unguided aerial missiles, 12 and 11, respectively. On the Kurakhove front, Ukrainian forces repelled four Russian assaults near the settlement of Krasnohorivka. The Russians mounted a total of 21 attacks. Russia's losses on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove fronts combined are as follows: 155 Russian soldiers were killed in action, and 203 were wounded. Four tanks, seven armoured combat vehicles, five vehicles and one artillery system were destroyed. Two more tanks, three armoured combat vehicles, two howitzers and two vehicles were damaged. On the Vremivka front, the Russians fired 12 unguided missiles near the village of Staromaiorske. On the Prydniprovske front, Russian forces launched an attack with unguided missiles near Oleshky Sands." Support UP or become our patron! Boeing has pledged to fix its quality-control problems by strengthening internal audits, oversight and training, federal regulators said Thursday but it may not be enough to satisfy Boeings critics. The plan covers a range of improvements to internal audits, employee training, quality control and manufacturing processes at the company, which has faced a glaring spotlight in Washington in the months since a door panel blew off one of its passenger jets, Federal Aviation Administration officials said. The FAA is not releasing the plan, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker told reporters on Thursday, saying it was Boeings to share. This is a guide for a new way for Boeing to do business, Whitaker said, adding that the FAA and Boeing have been working together for months on the plan presented on Thursday. But he said that the flying public should be assured that the FAA is ensuring that those airplanes are safe, and increasing our oversight to an appropriate level. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but has previously pledged to fully work with the FAA and other regulators as their investigations continue. The manufacturer has also increased its own internal oversight, boosted employee trainings and shored up other production activities to focus on ways to improve safety and quality," the company has said previously. But its not the first time that Boeing has promised it will clean house following a disaster, and the plan submitted Thursday which Whitaker called a roadmap for continuous improvement is unlikely to quell concerns from the planemakers sharpest critics, who have argued that Boeing has for years prioritized profits over workmanship. Whitaker acknowledged that for Boeing, "implementation is the key word," and "thats really the hard part. He noted that the agency will continue to cap Boeings 737 MAX production line until it is satisfied, and that the FAA will continuously evaluate Boeings progress toward meeting its plan, including weekly meetings and performance metrics he said his agency will monitor in real time. Those changes must be across the board not just its 737 MAX line, which was the plane type involved in the Alaska Airlines incident, he said. Details released by the FAA are sparse, mostly hewing to broad categories, such as enhancing supplier oversight and simplifying process and procedures. Whitaker did not elaborate on most items, beyond saying he expected the plan to be comprehensive, detailed and something that deals with the things we know need to be addressed like quality management, more robust safety management system, an environment where employees feel that they can speak up and raise safety issues, and better manufacturing processes. Story continues Whitaker is set to meet with House Transportation Committee lawmakers next week to discuss the plan. The plan, which the FAA demanded earlier this year, is part of an effort to tighten oversight of Boeing following a January incident on Alaska Airlines where an incorrectly installed door plug flew off mid-air. That incident kicked off multiple federal investigations, attention from Congress and a leadership shakeup at Boeing itself. If that sounds familiar, its because it probably is Boeing was in a similar situation just a few years ago, after a new flight control software feature malfunctioned on two 737 MAX 8 planes, causing them to crash and claiming the lives of 346 people in 2018 and 2019 in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Congress ordered some changes to the way the FAA oversees the planemaker intended to force the agency to rely less on allowing Boeing to essentially certify large swaths of its plane designs, with the FAAs oversight. Some in Congress have pledged a fresh legislative response, but decided not to use the most logical legislative vehicle for it, a major aviation policy bill that was signed into law this month and now likely wont act until next year at the earliest. Whitaker said the plan is only the beginning for Boeing and its suppliers, who are expected to fine-tune their processes as time goes on. He said the FAA will continue its constant engagement with Boeing, including inspectors surveying the factory plant floor on a daily basis and regular meetings at all levels of the company. The approach is more hands on, he said, and includes talking to folks on the floor and getting a more accurate picture of what's happening. In February, FAA announced it was requiring the action plan from Boeing to address its systemic quality control issues. The agency also required Boeing to cap its production of the 737 MAX line, though Boeing said it already had production limits in place prior to the FAA edict. In addition to investigations from FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Justice Department which is currently determining whether to prosecute Boeing after concluding it breached a prior agreement with the agency Senate lawmakers have held two separate panels into Boeings recent safety lapses. And some intend to hold more. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in recent weeks told POLITICO he intends to hold another hearing before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which he chairs, in June and expects CEO David Calhoun to testify. Were expecting, at some point, representatives of Boeing to be there, Blumenthal said on May 22. And Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee, recently said he also wants to see more Boeing hearings before his committee. There are real concerns about Boeing, Cruz said earlier this month. I'd like to see an oversight hearing with senior executives from Boeing testify. Chris Marquette contributed to this report. Displaced Palestinian children walk between rubbish next to tents erected on the shore of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa Growing piles of rubbish in Gaza mean that families are fleeing to areas that do no have "acceptable living conditions," according to the UN. "Everywhere you look there is a pile of trash," the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) posted on its X account alongside pictures of rubbish in Deir al-Balah by the Mediterranean coast. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said overnight that around 1 million refugees from the city of Rafah were living in miserable sanitary conditions. The war, which has been going on for almost eight months, has massively worsened the living conditions of the approximately 2.2 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip. According to aid organizations, around 1.7 million people have had to leave their homes. Even prior to the war there were only two central waste disposal sites in Gaza to deal with around 1,700 tons of waste per day. The UN has warned of serious health effects of the waste crisis on the people in the Gaza Strip. There is also a threat of contamination of agricultural soils and groundwater. Rising temperatures in the region could further exacerbate the situation. The Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented massacre of more than 1,200 people by militants from the Palestinian Islamist Hamas group and other militants in Israel on October 7. According to the health authorities controlled by Hamas in Gaza, more than 36,100 Palestinians have so far been killed in the war. Under the Dome: What new poll says about president, governor races in NC Good morning! Heres what you need to know in North Carolina politics today, from our team and correspondent Stephanie Loder. NC governors race is close (as of now) A Cook Political Report poll shows that North Carolinas race for governor is close between Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Heres what to know about the poll and what it could mean for the state: In North Carolina, one of seven battleground states, unaffiliated voters make up the largest voting group, followed by Democrats and afterward, Republicans. The new poll changes Cook Political Reports prediction for the governors race, shifting their analysis of the race from one that leans Democrat to a toss up. The groups Swing State Project poll shows former President Donald Trump with a 7-point lead ahead of President Joe Biden. Swing voters are the ones who will determine this election, according to the Cook Political Report. But theres time to see how everything plays out since Election Day is still five months away. Get the full story from Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan here. WSSU NAMES FIRST WOMAN CHANCELLOR Bonita J. Brown was named the 14th chancellor of Winston-Salem State University on Wednesday, making her the first woman to hold the position. Brown, an attorney and longtime higher education leader, was announced at a press conference. Board of Trustees Chairperson Kathleen Kelly said there were more than 50 applicants, and Brown was one of three finalists presented to UNC System President Peter Hans for approval. She called Browns selection a milestone and a testament to the universitys commitment to being an inclusive institution. Browns appointment as WSSUs chancellor will begin on July 1. Get the full story from Vivienne Serret here. VinFast may face more delays Vietnamese electric carmaker VinFast is considering another delay to its proposed $4 billion Chatham County plant that stalled earlier this year. Reuters on Wednesday cited an unnamed source who said the facility may not open until after 2025. In 2022, local and state leaders, including Gov. Roy Cooper, Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, celebrated the announcement of VinFast building its first factory outside of Vietnam. Years later, the construction didnt proceed. Heres what we know: On Tuesday, Chatham County confirmed that no significant building has happened on the VinFast site, located 30 miles southwest of Raleigh near Moncure. In December, VinFast revised its assembly plant designs into a smaller footprint than the original. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating VinFasts first U.S. electric vehicle model VF8 after a fatal crash in April in California, according to Bay Area news reports. The company which was offered more than $1.25 billion in incentive benefits reported in 2022 that it expected to turn out 150,000 electric vehicles a year and employ 7,500 workers. Get the full story from Brian Gordon here. REFORMING THE NC PARDON PROCESS Does North Carolinas pardon process need to be reformed? Absolutely, according to one exoneree and advocates for people seeking pardons. The process, which allows people with criminal records to clear their names, is secretive and moves slowly. Gov. Roy Cooper has approved 17 as well as 10 commutations as he nears the end of his second term, his spokesperson said. Duke Law Professor Jamie Lau says Cooper has done a better job in his second term in exercising clemency power and granting pardons, but Lau adds the process remains opaque. Get the full story from Ryan Oehrli here. Thats all for today. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol news. You can sign up to receive the Under the Dome newsletter at newsobserver.com/newsletters . Want your friends to get our email, too? Forward them this newsletter so they can sign up. We want to know what you would like to see in the Under the Dome newsletter. Do you like highlights from the legislature? Political analysis? Do you have a question youd like The News & Observer team to answer? Tell us here. You can also email us at dome@newsobserver.com Students walk to and from classes on the Indiana University campus, in Bloomington, Ind. The state just enacted a new law calling on all Indiana public universities to study how they would implement a three-year bachelors degree program, if accreditors agree, to save students money and get them into the workforce more quickly. Darron Cummings/The Associated Press With college costs rising and some students and families questioning the return on investment of a four-year degree, a few pioneering state universities are exploring programs that would grant certain bachelors degrees in three years. The programs, which also are being tried at some private schools, would require 90 credits instead of the traditional 120 for a bachelors degree, and wouldnt require summer classes or studying over breaks. In some cases, the degrees would be designed to fit industry needs. Indiana recently enacted legislation calling for all state universities there to offer by next year at least one bachelors degree program that could be completed in three years, and to look into whether more could be implemented. The Utah System of Higher Education has tasked state universities with developing three-year programs under a new Bachelor of Applied Studies degree, which would still need approval by accreditation boards. More than a dozen public and private universities are participating in a pilot collaboration called the College-in-3 Exchange, to begin considering how they could offer three-year programs. The public universities include the College of New Jersey, Portland State University, Southern Utah University, the Universities of Minnesota at Rochester and at Morris, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and Utah Tech University. Proponents of the three-year degree programs say they save students money and set them on a faster track to their working life. But detractors, including some faculty, say they shortchange students, particularly if they later change their minds on what career path they want to follow. We think if we are partnering with industry and they help us develop it, I dont think it cheapens the degree. I think it creates a very specific degree. Geoff Landward, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education The Utah Board of Higher Education in March approved the new three-year degree category. Various areas of study would be tied to specific industry needs, with fewer electives required. These degrees are broader than two-year associate degrees, but narrower than a full four-year bachelors. We told the institutions to start working on them now and developing the curriculum, Geoff Landward, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, said in an interview. Also, we want them to find industry partners that would be willing to hire people with bachelors degrees of this type. He added: We created a sandbox for our institutions to play in. Once created, individual programs would need both national accreditation and state Board of Higher Education approval. Landward said he has taken note of criticism that the three-year programs might cheapen the bachelors degree by shortchanging students who wouldnt receive a broad college education. But he said students could save on tuition, get a head start in the workforce and meet the needs of industries that are looking for certain skilled workers to address shortages in the state. That includes nursing, he said, where requiring a four-year degree means taking lots of electives that have nothing to do with the career. Utah State Universitys current four-year nursing program, for example, suggests several electives along with the required anatomy, math and biology courses as prerequisites during freshman and sophomore years. We think if we are partnering with industry and they help us develop it, I dont think it cheapens the degree, Landward said. I think it creates a very specific degree. Robert Zemsky, a University of Pennsylvania professor and founding director of the universitys Institute for Research on Higher Education, began proselytizing for the three-year college movement about a dozen years ago. He said the idea has gotten traction recently because we are wading in the deep waters of righteous anger at colleges and universities because of the perception that four-year degrees are not worth their high costs. A Pew Research Center survey released last week found only 1 in 4 American adults said it is extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree as a means to getting a good-paying job. Only 22% of the respondents said the cost is worth getting a four-year degree even if the student or their family has to take out loans. Zemsky suggested that a shorter time span also would lead to higher college completion rates. More than a third of students who began seeking a bachelors degree in fall 2014 at a four-year school failed to complete their education at the same institution in six years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Zemsky said 27 colleges and universities have embarked on creating three-year pilot programs and predicted 100 would be doing so in another year. Over the past 10 years, Zemsky said, schools have been ignoring the desires of students and instead creating their curricula around the preferences of faculty which is where most of the opposition is coming from. Last year, at a conference of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, a bargaining unit for professors, President Kenneth Mash said the overwhelming number of college faculty nationwide have a visceral disdain for the idea. In an interview with Stateline, he said three-year programs would hurt students too, creating a two-tiered system under which wealthy students would get a full four-year education and lower-income students a cheapened three-year degree. If its not going to be a four-year degree, they should name it something that indicates its not a B.A., said Mash, who also is a political science professor at East Stroudsburg University. We dont know that employers will treat them the same. Im on board, as most faculty are, with the notion that people want to increase their job opportunities. But thats not all there is to a college degree, he said. Degrees prepare you to be a better citizen, a better parent, and on and on. And he said a broad education is what makes it possible for students to change jobs and careers many times during their working lives. Its really that baking in liberal arts that makes it possible for people to do different things in their lifetimes. Indianas new law Indiana enacted a law in March that requires each public institution that offers bachelors degrees to review all the four-year degrees with an eye toward making some of them three years. And the law requires that by July 1, 2025, each state university offer at least one bachelors degree that can be completed in three years. Indiana state Sen. Jean Leising, a Republican who sponsored the measure, pointed out that every extra year of college costs the students, their parents and the state. But she noted that not all degrees lend themselves to compressed curricula. If youve got a kid in pharmacy [studies], they are not going to be able to get through it in three years. Engineers arent going to be able to do it in three years. But some of the other kids will. Chris Lowery, Indianas commissioner for higher education, said the law will encourage schools to think about how to create 90-credit-hour bachelors degrees: How feasible is this, would you still have the quality, would you still have the agency? Three-year degrees allow for choice, he added. His daughter, for example, had enough AP credits after high school to make a college degree feasible in three years, but opted to go to school for four, because she wanted to have enough time to study so that she could get straight As as well as to have time for extracurricular activities. But for a lot of students, the finances are tighter, he acknowledged. Credentialing requirements At both public and private universities, the new three-year degree programs that require fewer credits would need national accreditation. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, a regional credentialing agency, accredited several three-year bachelors degrees at two private schools, Brigham Young University-Idaho and Ensign College, last year. The degrees are in applied business management, family and human services, software development, applied health and professional studies. Sonny Ramaswamy, the commissions president, said in an interview that the three-year programs underwent two years of evaluation before being awarded accreditation. He said the evaluation showed that competency in many professions could be attained in three years instead of four, and that graduate schools were willing to accept three-year bachelors as a credential for the pursuit of higher degrees. He noted that European college degrees often are completed in three years. We said, We will approve you, but this is a pilot, Ramaswamy said. The schools will provide data to show their students have earned a good education, he added. My intuition is that it will head in the right direction, he said. The public is calling for innovation. Michael Poliakoff, president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a nonprofit organization that says its mission is promoting academic freedom, excellence and accountability at colleges and universities, said fluff courses strengthen the case against a 120-credit hour bachelors degree. Let people get a good foundation with a strong general education core, strong skills and some electives, Poliakoff said in an interview. Thats what a responsible university should be doing. The council does an annual survey of higher education institutions and grades them A through F on what the group calls core curricula the proportion of courses dedicated to mathematics, literature, composition, economics, laboratory science, American history and government, and foreign languages. Poliakoff said the amount of debt students are accumulating over four years is sinful and unnecessary. Colleges and universities must meet the concerns of students and their families, he said. A 90-credit baccalaureate degree is a pretty good way to tighten up the bolts, he said. Editors note: This story has been corrected to restore dropped text in Kenneth Mashs quote on what to call three-year degrees. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Students walk to and from classes on the Indiana University campus, in Bloomington, Ind. The state just enacted a new law calling on all Indiana public universities to study how they would implement a three-year bachelors degree program, if accreditors agree, to save students money and get them into the workforce more quickly. Darron Cummings/The Associated Press With college costs rising and some students and families questioning the return on investment of a four-year degree, a few pioneering state universities are exploring programs that would grant certain bachelors degrees in three years. The programs, which also are being tried at some private schools, would require 90 credits instead of the traditional 120 for a bachelors degree, and wouldnt require summer classes or studying over breaks. In some cases, the degrees would be designed to fit industry needs. Indiana recently enacted legislation calling for all state universities there to offer by next year at least one bachelors degree program that could be completed in three years, and to look into whether more could be implemented. The Utah System of Higher Education has tasked state universities with developing three-year programs under a new Bachelor of Applied Studies degree, which would still need approval by accreditation boards. More than a dozen public and private universities are participating in a pilot collaboration called the College-in-3 Exchange, to begin considering how they could offer three-year programs. The public universities include the College of New Jersey, Portland State University, Southern Utah University, the Universities of Minnesota at Rochester and at Morris, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and Utah Tech University. Proponents of the three-year degree programs say they save students money and set them on a faster track to their working life. But detractors, including some faculty, say they shortchange students, particularly if they later change their minds on what career path they want to follow. The Utah Board of Higher Education in March approved the new three-year degree category. Various areas of study would be tied to specific industry needs, with fewer electives required. These degrees are broader than two-year associate degrees, but narrower than a full four-year bachelors. We told the institutions to start working on them now and developing the curriculum, Geoff Landward, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, said in an interview. Also, we want them to find industry partners that would be willing to hire people with bachelors degrees of this type. He added: We created a sandbox for our institutions to play in. Once created, individual programs would need both national accreditation and state Board of Higher Education approval. Landward said he has taken note of criticism that the three-year programs might cheapen the bachelors degree by shortchanging students who wouldnt receive a broad college education. But he said students could save on tuition, get a head start in the workforce and meet the needs of industries that are looking for certain skilled workers to address shortages in the state. That includes nursing, he said, where requiring a four-year degree means taking lots of electives that have nothing to do with the career. Utah State Universitys current four-year nursing program, for example, suggests several electives along with the required anatomy, math and biology courses as prerequisites during freshman and sophomore years. We think if we are partnering with industry and they help us develop it, I dont think it cheapens the degree, Landward said. I think it creates a very specific degree. Robert Zemsky, a University of Pennsylvania professor and founding director of the universitys Institute for Research on Higher Education, began proselytizing for the three-year college movement about a dozen years ago. He said the idea has gotten traction recently because we are wading in the deep waters of righteous anger at colleges and universities because of the perception that four-year degrees are not worth their high costs. A Pew Research Center survey released last week found only 1 in 4 American adults said it is extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree as a means to getting a good-paying job. Only 22% of the respondents said the cost is worth getting a four-year degree even if the student or their family has to take out loans. Zemsky suggested that a shorter time span also would lead to higher college completion rates. More than a third of students who began seeking a bachelors degree in fall 2014 at a four-year school failed to complete their education at the same institution in six years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Zemsky said 27 colleges and universities have embarked on creating three-year pilot programs and predicted 100 would be doing so in another year. Over the past 10 years, Zemsky said, schools have been ignoring the desires of students and instead creating their curricula around the preferences of faculty which is where most of the opposition is coming from. Last year, at a conference of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, a bargaining unit for professors, President Kenneth Mash said the overwhelming number of college faculty nationwide have a visceral disdain for the idea. In an interview with Stateline, he said three-year programs would hurt students too, creating a two-tiered system under which wealthy students would get a full four-year education and lower-income students a cheapened three-year degree. If its not going to be a four-year degree, they should name it something that indicates its not a B.A., said Mash, who also is a political science professor at East Stroudsburg University. We dont know that employers will treat them the same. Im on board, as most faculty are, with the notion that people want to increase their job opportunities. But thats not all there is to a college degree, he said. Degrees prepare you to be a better citizen, a better parent, and on and on. And he said a broad education is what makes it possible for students to change jobs and careers many times during their working lives. Its really that baking in liberal arts that makes it possible for people to do different things in their lifetimes. Indianas new law Indiana enacted a law in March that requires each public institution that offers bachelors degrees to review all the four-year degrees with an eye toward making some of them three years. And the law requires that by July 1, 2025, each state university offer at least one bachelors degree that can be completed in three years. Indiana state Sen. Jean Leising, a Republican who sponsored the measure, pointed out that every extra year of college costs the students, their parents and the state. But she noted that not all degrees lend themselves to compressed curricula. If youve got a kid in pharmacy [studies], they are not going to able to get through it in three years. Engineers arent going to be able to do it in three years. But some of the other kids will. Chris Lowery, Indianas commissioner for higher education, said the law will encourage schools to think about how to create 90-credit-hour bachelors degrees: How feasible is this, would you still have the quality, would you still have the agency? Three-year degrees allow for choice, he added. His daughter, for example, had enough AP credits after high school to make a college degree feasible in three years, but opted to go to school for four, because she wanted to have enough time to study so that she could get straight As as well as to have time for extracurricular activities. But for a lot of students, the finances are tighter, he acknowledged. Credentialing requirements At both public and private universities, the new three-year degree programs that require fewer credits would need national accreditation. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, a regional credentialing agency, accredited several three-year bachelors degrees at two private schools, Brigham Young University-Idaho and Ensign College, last year. The degrees are in applied business management, family and human services, software development, applied health and professional studies. Sonny Ramaswamy, the commissions president, said in an interview that the three-year programs underwent two years of evaluation before being awarded accreditation. He said the evaluation showed that competency in many professions could be attained in three years instead of four, and that graduate schools were willing to accept three-year bachelors as a credential for the pursuit of higher degrees. He noted that European college degrees often are completed in three years. We said, We will approve you, but this is a pilot, Ramaswamy said. The schools will provide data to show their students have earned a good education, he added. My intuition is that it will head in the right direction, he said. The public is calling for innovation. Michael Poliakoff, president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a nonprofit organization that says its mission is promoting academic freedom, excellence and accountability at colleges and universities, said fluff courses strengthen the case against a 120-credit hour bachelors degree. Let people get a good foundation with a strong general education core, strong skills and some electives, Poliakoff said in an interview. Thats what a responsible university should be doing. The council does an annual survey of higher education institutions and grades them A through F on what the group calls core curricula the proportion of courses dedicated to mathematics, literature, composition, economics, laboratory science, American history and government, and foreign languages. Poliakoff said the amount of debt students are accumulating over four years is sinful and unnecessary. Colleges and universities must meet the concerns of students and their families, he said. A 90-credit baccalaureate degree is a pretty good way to tighten up the bolts, he said. 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. The post Universities try 3-year degrees to save students time, money appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. CHICAGO The University of Chicago was Youssef Haswehs dream school. Its why the senior chose to work at its admissions office. He guided campus tours, answered phones for prospective students and spoke on admissions panels. The 22-year-old was set to graduate Saturday. But just hours after he completed his final exams Friday, Hasweh received an email informing him that his degree would be withheld pending a school disciplinary process related to his involvement with the universitys pro-Palestinian encampment. Three other seniors also received an email from the university, according to student group UChicago United for Palestine. I loved this university, Hasweh said. But this year made my UChicago dream a nightmare. A U. of C. spokesman said the school could not comment on individual student disciplinary matters, but noted that the process is standard practice after a formal complaint is reviewed by the universitys Disciplinary Committee. The recent protests on campus brought about multiple formal complaints alleging that students violated University policies, including by engaging in disruptive conduct, the university said. Once a formal complaint is received and, if the Disciplinary Committee faculty lead concurs that the complaint is credible, the matter may be referred to the Standing Disciplinary Committee on Disruptive Conduct to determine if policies have been violated. The four students are still able to participate in graduation and other end-of-year events, and their degrees can be later conferred depending on the resolution of the disciplinary process. But if the committee finds that certain policies have been violated, their degrees could be denied, despite four years of coursework and tuition. Undergraduate tuition for the prestigious institution exceeds $67,000, and rises to more than $93,000 after including housing, food and other miscellaneous expenses. The universitys pro-Palestinian encampment was erected April 29 as part of a nationwide movement sweeping college campuses in protest of the Israel-Hamas war. It was cleared by university police May 7, with school officials citing mounting safety concerns and disruptive conduct. No students were arrested. This is not a new tactic for the university, said Kelly Hui, 22, who also received an email. Theyve used these tactics of intimidation to try to scare us into silence. Theyre trying to jeopardize our future. The students said it was unclear why they were singled out from those who participated in the encampment. In an email to each senior, Associate Dean of Students Jeremy Inabinet said U. of C. had received multiple complaints regarding the quad encampment and that they had been identified as an individual that may have been involved. Im still processing it. Im just angry, said Rayna Acha, 22. This is just a way to continue to enacting repression and preventing people from speaking about Palestine. The disciplinary process includes a fact-finding stage, as well as a hearing and eventual vote by the universitys Standing Disciplinary Committee on Disruptive Conduct. Its unclear how long the process will take. Hasweh, who is Palestinian, called the email a slap in the face. He said he had participated in some of the negotiations with university officials during the encampment on the condition of amnesty. I have no words. I have nothing left here. Im done, he said. Just let me be a university student and administer my degree that I worked hard for over the last four years and paid for. Acha is holding out hope that her degree will still be conferred. Despite her frustration with the administration, she cant imagine leaving without it after four years of classes. Ideally were able to get our degrees, even though this institution is not somewhere that I am proud of being a part of, Acha said. Well be leaving here unemployed and possibly without diplomas. But I, personally, need to have a job. A petition started by U. of C. pro-Palestinian student groups, demanding that the seniors be granted degrees, has garnered more than 5,000 signatures from university community members. The solidarity that we have for Gaza cannot be suppressed or taken away from us, Acha said. Hasweh was also one of the 26 students arrested in November by U. of C. police during a sit-in protesting the universitys alleged ties to weapons manufacturers supplying arms to Israel. He was charged with a misdemeanor and was fired from his admissions office position. The charge was later dropped. He has no regrets. Hasweh said he has family in the West Bank who have been killed in the war. This sucks. It all sucks, Hasweh said. I wont get a degree, but there are people in Gaza that will never get a degree, and thats why were still fighting. _____ Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russian missile attacks on the Novobavarsky neighborhood of Kharkiv killed at least six people and injured 25 others, officials said on May 31. Russian forces attacked a multi-story residential building in the city of Kharkiv, killing one person and injuring 23 others, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Another person, a security guard at a sewing workshop, was also killed in a strike at a different location within the city, Suspilne reported. No details were provided on the other fatalities. According to Suspilne, Russian missiles struck three locations within the city - a five-story residential building, a sewing workshop, and a local shop. Two separate 12-year-old children were injured in the attack, Suspilne reported. The strike, which occurred around midnight local time, damaged three of the five floors of the building while causing a fire to break out, Suspilne reported. Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram that a subsequent strike on the same location within the city was a 'double-tap' attack - wherein Russian forces wait for first responders and law enforcement to arrive before hitting the same place again to inflict greater damage. At least one emergency medical worker was injured as a result of the attack. Russia recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv, which had a population of 1.4 million in 2021, with the use of missiles, glide bombs, and drones, destroying energy infrastructure and killing civilians. On May 25, Russian forces attacked a Kharkiv hypermarket, killing 19 and injuring 48. Russia launched a new offensive on May 10 in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Moscow's forces had reportedly managed to advance as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) into the region but had been halted by the first line of defense. Read also: 48 hours in Kharkiv, Ukraines most-bombed major city Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Swedish equipment manufacturer Epiroc has agreed to acquire the remaining 66% interest in US-based company ASI Mining for an undisclosed sum. Having previously acquired a 34% stake in 2018, Epiroc is now poised to take full ownership. Headquartered in Mendon, Utah, ASI Mining is a subsidiary of Autonomous Solutions. ASI Mining provides mining automation systems, which include remote control, teleoperation, and fully autonomous solutions. Notably, its technology is OEM-agnostic, compatible with various machine brands, and is particularly advantageous for mixed equipment fleets. Epiroc expects the integration of ASI Mining's solutions to bolster mine safety and productivity, simultaneously reducing emissions and the total cost of operation. ASI Mining generated revenues of around Skr300m ($28.2m) last year. Epiroc president and CEO Helena Hedblom said: Epiroc and the innovative team at ASI Mining are already collaborating closely to bring the most advanced automation solutions to mining customers. We look forward to complementing their solutions fully with our offering and together continue supporting customers on their automation journey. Subject to regulatory approval by US competition authorities, the transaction is anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2024. Last year, Byrnecut selected Epiroc to deliver underground mining trucks to deliver underground mining trucks for the Kathleen Valley lithium mine in Western Australia. These mining trucks will feature Epirocs telematics system, Certiq, which allows operators to have intelligent real-time monitoring of machine performance and productivity. The company will also provide parts and service support, including on-site service technicians. "Epiroc to acquire remaining stake in ASI Mining" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. The view of the state House chamber from the gallery on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024. (File/Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Specia to the SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA One of the most crowded primaries in South Carolina will decide if a ruby red Greenville County seat in the state House continues to be held by the hardline Freedom Caucus thats been warring with the chambers majority Republicans. With Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ashley Trantham, R-Pelzer, not seeking re-election, the 28th House District is up for grabs. And the six people who filed to run for it include five Republicans who will face off in the June 11 primary. The only other race with as many candidates is House District 93, south of Columbia, where the primary contest is between Democrats. House District 28 sits at the southern end of Greenville County (SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office/SC Daily Gazette) The Republican candidates are Kerri Smith, who says she wont join the uber-right Freedom Caucus; Chris Huff, Tranthams handpicked successor; and Troy Prosser, Daniel Rumfelt and Allen Kellett, who have not committed either way. A runoff between two of them is likely. In South Carolina, a candidate needs at least one vote over 50% to win a primary outright. Whoever wins the primary will face J. Fritz Wiebel, a self-described conservative Democrat, in November. None of the candidates have held elected office before. The race to represent the district, which encompasses much of southern Greenville County, is a microcosm of the intra-party GOP fight going on across the state, as the June primaries will decide whether the 17-member caucus launched two years ago grows or diminishes in strength next year. Four of them arent seeking re-election, including two running for Congress in the Upstate. Eleven are fighting GOP challengers to keep their seats. Only two are running unopposed with a guarantee to return. The 2022 elections gave Republicans supermajority control of the state House. Of the 124-member chamber, 88 are Republicans their largest majority since Reconstruction. But growing rancor between the Freedom Caucus and the majority Republican caucus meant debates in the chamber often devolved into GOP vs. GOP fights, with Democrats sometimes looking on with amusement. Freedom Caucus members say they are pushing the Statehouse to true conservative values. Their GOP critics counter theyre obstructionists who talk in bumper-sticker slogans to twist the truth. In the race to replace Trantham, Rep. R.J. May, a co-founder of the Freedom Caucus who makes his living running campaigns, is working to elect Huff. And Walter Whetsell, whose political consulting firm has become a go-to for Freedom Caucus challengers, is working to elect Smith. The running of campaigns to oust fellow Republicans is exactly what got the Freedom Caucus booted from the majority caucus after the November 2022 elections. The House Majority Caucus newly required members to sign a pledge not to work for GOP challengers. Freedom Caucus members, led by May, refused, keeping them outside of majority GOP caucus meetings since. A couple of Republicans left the Freedom Caucus amid the kerfuffle to stay with the majority. Trantham, first elected in a 2018 special election, was among Republican incumbents who refused to sign. And this year, the smaller caucus has aggressively recruited candidates to challenge incumbents and grow its ranks. May personally is working to defend several Freedom Caucus incumbents and help a handful of challengers unseat GOP incumbents. The Lexington Republican says he thinks the Freedom Caucus will not only keep its current seats, including Tranthams, but pick up a few more. Ashley was never one to take her marching orders from the people in Columbia. She took her marching orders from people back home, and I think she wanted to make sure the next representative from District 28 had that same mantra, May said. But the majority caucus is fighting back. Whetsell, whose firm is in Lexington, said he is working with a half dozen candidates who are challenging Freedom Caucus incumbents seeking re-election and another half dozen majority GOP incumbents being challenged by would-be Freedom Caucus members. They largely have the same political philosophy of the Freedom Caucus and their leaders of blowing the place up and being contentious and being rabble rousers to the point of losing any belief or sight of trying to accomplish anything productive, Whetsell said. The Freedom Caucus celebrated big wins on the last day of the regular session May 9, as members objections in the final hour managed to kill several bills advocated by GOP leaders in both chambers. That included proposals to streamline municipal elections and merge six agencies in an overhaul of the public health system. Some legislators want to try to resurrect both of those in extended sessions in June. Even Gov. Henry McMaster has weighed in, asking legislators to add the health care bill to the agenda. But amending what they can do when they return will take a supermajority vote in both chambers. And the Freedom Caucus itself may make that difficult. Thats a perfect example of the lack of direction that they have, Whetsell said. I mean, literally, this is a bill that consolidated state agencies, made them more efficient, and accountable to an elected official. May, who worked for Whetsell about a decade ago, said the blocking of the health bill was the fulfillment of promises to their constituents to oppose big government. Yes, it did give us a boost, and conservatives across the state a boost, that theres actually a group of legislators willing to fight for the people back home and not for special interests, he said. And of course, that comes with more arrows towards us. Other groups are being drawn into the back and forth. For example, the far-right group Palmetto Gun Rights, which faults the NRA as too liberal, is lining up behind Freedom Caucus members. On the other side is the anti-Freedom Caucus Palmetto Truth Project, in which Whetsell is involved. I think what youre seeing are the battle lines being drawn currently, May said. The candidates of House District 28 Chris Huff Huff, a retired pastor living in Pelzer, is running as the Freedom Caucus candidate. Huff did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the SC Daily Gazette. In one of two candidate debates, Huff said he wants to get rid of property taxes, which are levied by counties, not the state, to pay for local services and public schools. He also opposes the state providing incentives to lure economic development deals. What weve seen is the swamp has continued to get deeper, deeper, deeper, and more liberal and more liberal and more liberal, he said of the Statehouse in that debate. May said Huff met with the whole Freedom Caucus and was right on all the issues. Allen Kellett, Republican candidate for SC House District 28 (Provided by Allen Kellett) We have confidence that Chris makes it into the runoff. The question is with who, May said. After that, I think well find the majority of voters coalesce around Chris, because hes the only one I think in that race who will carry on Mrs. Tranthams conservative fighting spirit. Allen Kellett Kellett, 53 of Simpsonville, is a farmer and former president of the Greenville County Farm Bureau. He began campaigning in September of last year and said he likely would have run whether Trantham stepped down or not. His main concern is passing what he calls commonsense legislation, instead of getting bogged down in other fights, he said. Well have a bill that is a no-brainer, that should pass with no opposition, something thats good for the people of every district, he said. It doesnt make it through session and then they have to bring it up the next session. He wants to see judicial selection reform and more money for roads in the Greenville area. Kellett sad hell decide whether to join the Freedom Caucus after the runoff, if he makes it that far. I agree with about 95% of the things the Freedom Caucus agrees with, he said. Sometimes I dont agree with how they try to get things done. Troy Prosser Prosser, 51, of Fountain Inn, jumped into the race after he heard Trantham wasnt seeking another term. Prosser works in telecommunications and owns a 52-acre farm that grows a variety of crops, including flowers and produce, has chickens and makes money as an event venue and through festivals. He has also served on various boards, including the Canebrake Fire Commission. Troy Prosser, Republican candidate for SC House District 28 (Provided by Troy Prosser) Prosser said hes concerned about roads, taxes and expanding the states private school choice law. I firmly believe parents should have a choice on where they want to invest their dollars for their childrens education, he said. And while he says any candidate promising to change Columbia single handedly is lying, he thinks he can motivate constituents to come and lobby for what the district needs. As for the Freedom Caucus, Prosser said he would base his decision on what he is hearing from voters and so far, most want him to join, he said. I think, majority of the time, I would vote with the Freedom Caucus, he said. Daniel Rumfelt Rumfelt, 35, of Pelzer, said he is running to bring his generation back to conservative values. Rumfelt works in manufacturing for ZF Transmission and jumped into the race last fall. On the issues, Rumfelt is concerned about the spread of energy-hogging data centers in the state, agriculture damage from deer and hogs, and the state of roads in the district, among other things. Daniel Rumfelt, Republican candidate for SC House District 28 (Provided by Daniel Rumfelt) While Rumfelt describes himself as a major supporter of Trantham, he is skeptical of the Freedom Caucus. I wont want to become an ineffective leader for my district, he said. They have great concepts, but the way they conduct themselves is just not professional in my eyes. Kerri Smith Smith, 60, of Simpsonville, is the South Carolina regional president for the Self-Help Credit Union. She has worked with credit unions for 37 years, she said. Im stepping up to bring practical solutions and commonsense reforms to Columbia, she wrote in an email to the SC Daily Gazette. This is my first run for office, driven by a commitment to make South Carolina a place where every resident can flourish. Kerri Smith, Republican candidate for SC House District 28 (Provided by Kerri Smith) Smith said she wants to raise pay for law enforcement, expand the states school choice law, and invest in roads and high-speed internet. She describes herself as a staunch conservative and firmly anti-Freedom Caucus. This small, noisy faction pressures others to conform to their disruptive tactics and manipulates voters into believing theres a problem where none exists, presenting their obstructionist approach as the solution, she wrote. Whetsell said he has known Smith for years and did not recruit her to run. Smith said she reached out to his firm, Starboard Communications, when she decided to run for office based on the companys reputation. Fritz Wiebel Wiebel, 68 of Piedmont, is the lone Democrat in the race. He said hes been running for office for about half a century, since a school board run at 19 in 1976, but has never been elected. Wiebel is a retiree and an Air Force veteran. J. Fritz Wiebel, Democratic candidate for SC House District 28 (Provided by J. Fritz Wiebel) The self-described conservative Democrat is concerned about Duke Energys rising rates to customers. He wants to legalize marijuana, increase tax breaks for homeowners, and authorize casinos in the state. Hes almost certain not to win the staunchly Republican seat. But he said he wanted to make sure the Republican primary winner had competition in November. There will be no Republicans in my face without opposition, he said. Its going to cost them to keep (the seat). The post Upstate contest a microcosm of the civil war between Freedom Caucus and majority GOP appeared first on SC Daily Gazette. US announces new sanctions against 2 mining companies in Central African Republic over links to Wagner The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced new sanctions on May 30 against two mining companies based in the Central African Republic over links to the Wagner Group. The Wagner Group has long had an influence in the Central African Republic, where it reportedly has established a degree of control over the country's natural resources. Wagner forces have also been accused of committing war crimes in the Central African Republic, other African countries, Syria, and Ukraine. OFAC did not provide any further details on the two companies that were sanctioned. U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller commented on the sanctions, saying that the companies were "advancing the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group's security operations and its illicit mining endeavors in Africa." "We remain committed to countering Russia's destabilizing activities around the world," Miller added. Read also: WSJ: Ukrainian commandos fight Russian influence in Sudan Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. United Nations General Assembly holds a ceremonial tribute to Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi at the U.N. headquarters in New York United Nations General Assembly holds a ceremonial tribute to Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi at the U.N. headquarters in New York By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States boycotted a United Nations tribute to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday because it said he was "involved in numerous, horrific human rights abuses" and that the world body should instead stand with the people of Iran. Raisi, a hardliner who had been seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed when his helicopter came down in poor weather in mountains near the Azerbaijan border on May 19. The 193-member U.N. General Assembly traditionally meets to pay tribute to any world leader who was a sitting head of state at the time of their death. Speeches were made by countries and regional groups during the 50 minute tribute to Raisi. "The United States will not attend today's United Nations tribute event for President Raisi in any capacity," said Nate Evans, spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations. "Raisi was involved in numerous, horrific human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killings of thousands of political prisoners in 1988," he said. "Some of the worst human rights abuses on record took place during his tenure." As a young prosecutor in Tehran, Raisi sat on a panel that oversaw the execution of hundreds of political prisoners in the capital in 1988, as Iran's eight-year war with Iraq was coming to an end, rights groups say. Iran's U.N. mission in New York declined to comment on the U.S. boycott of the tribute. In a short statement, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the General Assembly that Raisi led Iran at a challenging time for the country, the region and globally. "The United Nations stands in solidarity with the Iranian people and in the quest for peace, development and fundamental freedoms," Guterres said. Iran's U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani reflected on the "profound impact" of Raisi and Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, who was killed in the same helicopter crash. "They were not just figures of authority, but also a symbol of hope, resilience and the enduring power of good governance and diplomacy," Iravani told the General Assembly. "We remain committed to upholding the principles of peace, security, justice and multilateralism that they tirelessly supported." A presidential election to replace Raisi has been scheduled for June 28. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols, Editing by Nick Zieminski) FILE PHOTO: Gurkhas stand guard at the entrance of the venue of the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore By Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The fraught relationship between China and the United States is expected to loom over Asia's top security meeting this week, as are the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and simmering South China Sea tensions. The Shangri-La Dialogue, which attracts top defence officials, senior military officers, diplomats, weapons makers and security analysts from around the globe, will take place from May 31 to June 2 in Singapore. About 600 delegates from nearly 50 countries will attend the meeting, which opens with a keynote address by Filipino President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, who has said new South China Sea rules outlined by China's coast guard were an escalation and "worrisome". Marcos told reporters on Wednesday it was significant that he was asked to talk about the South China Sea and that he would present his country's position on the issue. "This affects the region and it affects the world," he said. Apart from the U.S. delegation headlining Saturday's speech and China featuring on Sunday, this year's edition includes a special session by Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who has said Indonesia was very open to both the U.S. and China. Analysts say the dialogue is useful for the bilateral and multilateral military-to-military meetings on the sidelines of plenary sessions and speeches delivered by defence ministers. The Russians have been absent from the security meeting since 2022, when the Russian military invaded Ukraine. No Israeli delegation signed up to attend this year. Last year, China had declined to meet the U.S. delegation. The U.S.-Sino relationship has improved since the last Shangri-la Dialogue, however, and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, on Friday. Austin aims to cool tensions with China even as he brings up regional and global security issues, while reassuring Asian allies that Washington is committed to helping the region counter China. In Beijing, China's defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said on Thursday that Dong is heading to the Singapore conference but did not confirm a meeting with Austin. "China believes that high level China-U.S. strategic military communications helps stabilise military to military relations, China maintains an open attitude towards this," Wu said. Drew Thompson, a former Pentagon official who is now a scholar at the National University of Singapore, cautioned that the conversation might not lead to meaningful outcomes. "The U.S. and China have so little trust or consensus about common interests. It doesn't strike me that the dialogue is working towards achieving common objectives, so they are just reading talking points to each other, pushing positions without agreeing on where to go," he said. Collin Koh, a security scholar at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, agreed. "The schism between the two powers is so deep that the Sino-U.S. rivalry has become a structural reality," he said. "Maintaining strategic communications is perhaps the best thing we could hope to ensure this strategic contestation doesnt degenerate further." EYES ON CHINA Although analysts expect the strong Western turnout at the dialogue to keep some focus on Ukraine and Gaza, issues related to China will most likely be front and centre. Koh said Marcos' keynote would put South China Sea issues on the agenda and Taiwan Strait issues will also be raised by the U.S. and close allies. "Taiwan is surely a matter of international security concern, especially given the recent Chinese military exercises, but beyond the flagging of crisis stability risks and the potential spectre of tensions erupting into outright armed conflict, I suppose most regional participants will try to avoid making this the dominant agenda for discussion considering the political sensitivities," Koh said. Thompson said China had antagonised many of its neighbours, and these countries would look to the U.S. to provide security while deepening cooperation. "We've seen pretty rapid development of the security relationship between Korea and Japan, Australia and Japan, the Philippines and Japan, and South Korea providing more and more arms to the region, particularly Southeast Asia," he said. "This is largely in response to China and its much more aggressive foreign policy and its military build up, which is conducted in a very opaque way." (This story has been refiled to remove an extraneous letter in paragraph 21) (Reporting by Xinghui Kok; additional reporting by Flores Mikhail in Manila, Idrees Ali in Washington and Greg Torode in Hong Kong. Editing by Gerry Doyle) US concerned about drone strike on Russia's over-the-horizon radar as it could disrupt strategic stability WP The US has been concerned about Ukraine's strikes on Russian nuclear early-warning systems as it could "dangerously unsettle" Moscow at a time when the White House is considering lifting restrictions on the use of US-supplied weapons in cross-border attacks. Source: The Washington Post Details: A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that "the United States is concerned about Ukraines recent strikes against Russian ballistic missile early-warning sites". Quote: "Washington has conveyed its concerns to Kyiv about two attempted attacks over the last week against radar stations that provide conventional air defence as well as warning of nuclear launches by the West. At least one strike in Armavir, in Russias southeastern Krasnodar region, appeared to have caused some damage." "These sites have not been involved in supporting Russias war against Ukraine," a US official said. "But they are sensitive locations because Russia could perceive that its strategic deterrent capabilities are being targeted, which could undermine Russias ability to maintain nuclear deterrence against the United States." More details: A Ukrainian official familiar with the matter stated that Russia had been using radar stations to monitor the activity of the Ukrainian military, including Kyiv's use of aerial weaponry such as drones and missiles. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Defence Intelligence of Ukraine was responsible for the strikes. A Ukrainian official told WP that the strikes aimed to weaken Russia's ability to track Ukrainian military activity in Ukraines south. A drone targeting a radar station near Orsk in Russias Orenburg Oblast along the northern border of Kazakhstan flew over 1,100 miles, making it one of the deepest attempts to strike Russian territory. The Ukrainian official declined to inform WP whether the strike occurred on 26 May had caused any damage. The Washington Post noted that the US officials expressed sympathy for Ukraine. The administration representatives are actively considering whether to lift restrictions on the use of US-supplied weapons to strike Russian territory. However, a US official pointed out that if the Russian early warning system is affected by Ukrainian attacks, even partially, it could harm strategic stability in US-Russia relations. "Russia could think it has a diminished ability to detect early nuclear activity against it, which then could become an issue," the official mentioned. "It should be obvious to everyone that theres no intention whatsoever [by the United States] of using nuclear weapons against Russia. But theres certainly concern about how Russia could perceive its deterrent capabilities being targeted and early-warning systems being attacked." The Washington Post emphasised that some analysts were reportedly puzzled by the choice of targets: while Krasnodar is close enough to Ukraine to track missiles and drones, the radar station near Orsk is focused on the Middle East and China. Responding to questions about why they chose such a remote target for the attack, a Ukrainian government official stated that Russia "switched all of its capabilities for war against Ukraine". Background: A drone belonging to Defence Intelligence of Ukraine attacked the Voronezh M long-range target detection radar station located in the city of Orsk in Russias Orenburg Oblast on 26 May. Support UP or become our patron! US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) shakes hands with Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavsky as they exchange documents during a signing ceremony following their meeting. ulova Kateina/CTK/dpa The United States and the Czech Republic on Thursday signed a memorandum in Prague to cooperate on combating disinformation campaigns. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky signed the agreement, which is aimed at countering Russia. Blinken said the collaboration would help to "effectively deal with misinformation and disinformation, which is a poison injected into our democracies by our adversaries." Lipavsky said Russia is targeting democracies around the world with cyberwarfare, propaganda and other operations. He highlighted the pro-Russian propaganda network Voice of Europe, which the Czech Republic and the EU have recently placed on sanctions lists. Blinken is in Prague until Friday and is set to take part in an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers. He said the Czech Republic is still making an important contribution to the alliance, 20 years after joining. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavsky exchange documents during a signing ceremony following their meeting. ulova Kateina/CTK/dpa US defence intelligence shows evidence of Russian strikes on Ukraine by North Korean missiles photos In its report, the US Defense Intelligence Agency has identified evidence that Russia had used North Korean ballistic missiles to hit Ukraine. Source: European Pravda Details: US intelligence reached this conclusion by comparing photographs of missile wreckage discovered in Kharkiv during the Russian strikes on 2 January with images of missiles in North Korean state media in 2023. Quote: "The debris in Ukraine visually matches the missiles in the images from North Korean state media," the report states. Photo: US Defense Intelligence Agency report Among other things, analysts from the US Defense Intelligence Agency discovered similarities between the portions of the front engine, aft engine, cable tray, and ring connections in the images of missile wreckage in Kharkiv and missiles at the Pyongyang factory. Photo: US Defense Intelligence Agency report Photo: US Defense Intelligence Agency report Last month, UN experts said that the missile debris found in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on 2 January 2024, comes from a DPRK Hwasong-11 series missile and constitutes a violation of the arms embargo to and from North Korea. Russia and North Korea have strengthened their military cooperation over the past year. Moscow is believed to have received North Korean ballistic missiles and ammo, and in response, Pyongyang was promised its own satellite and missile technologies. The US is concerned that the "strong embrace" between the Russian Federation and North Korea will force DPRK leader Kim Jong-un to risk threats to South Korea, arms exports, and rejecting pleas for nuclear talks. Support UP or become our patron! RENO, Nev. U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush in 2001, died Wednesday after being struck by a vehicle in Nevada. He was 80. The Reno Police Department was called to a vehicle-pedestrian crash near the federal courthouse in downtown Reno at about 2:15 p.m. Hicks was transported to the hospital but died just after, authorities said. The driver involved in the crash remained on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation, authorities added. Impairment does not appear to be a factor in the crash. Officials paid tribute to Hick, who was remembered for his love of his family and Reno community. "Todays news regarding the Honorable Judge Larry R. Hicks who served Nevada for over 53 years is tragic," Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said on X. "Despite his notable accomplishments, Judge Hicks once stated, 'My greatest thrill in life is my family.' His life philosophy was based on a balance of family, work, and self." Larry Hicks was a one-of-a-kind man, revered in our community and, most importantly, beloved by his family. On behalf of my family and the men and women of the Sheriffs Office, we extend our deepest condolences to Larrys son Chris, the current District Attorney, and all of Larrys family. Judge Hicks legacy will forever be noted in Washoe County. On Wednesday night, the District Attorney's Office released a statement on behalf of the Hicks family: "Today, our community lost an extraordinary man. Judge Larry Hicks was a deeply admired lawyer and judge, a devoted friend, mentor, and a committed servant to the administration of justice. To us, he was first and foremost a man who put nothing before family. He was a hero in all manners, a loving husband of nearly 59 years, a doting dad, an adoring Papa, and brother. His loss is beyond comprehension." IN 2008: State Sen. William Raggio, left; District Attorney Dick Gammick and former District Attorney and future U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks attend a reunion dinner at the Peppermill Hotel-Casino 38 years after Raggio left the DA's office. The reunion was hosted by Raggio for his former colleagues affectionately known at Raggio's Raiders. District attorney, judge, family man Hicks was a former Washoe County district attorney and the father of Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks. In a video interview with his son in 2022, the judge talked about the quality he was most proud of that he got from his parents: "Devotion to family above and beyond all other qualities. My mother and father were totally dedicated to their children." In the interview, Hicks said he and his wife, with whom he also had two daughters, would be celebrating their 57th anniversary. Hicks was born in Evanston, Ohio, and his family moved to Reno from Los Angeles when he was 13. He graduated from Reno High School and became the first person in his family to attend college when he entered the University of Nevada, where he joined Sigma Nu fraternity, according to the interview. In 2020, Chris Hicks posted a tribute to his father after he won an award. "Recently, the State Bar of Nevada honored my dad, Judge Larry Hicks, with the Presidential Award recognizing his illustrious career," Chris Hicks wrote. "The prestigious award is presented to those whose conduct, honesty, and integrity represent the highest standards of the legal profession. "Congratulations Dad. There is no one more deserving! Thank you for being the father, mentor, and lawyer you are." Earlier this month, Hicks presided over a private investigator's lawsuit that claimed Sparks police detectives violated his rights by naming him as the person who put a tracking device on Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve's vehicle. Hicks called David McNeely's argument "unpersuasive and unsupported" and dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning a similar lawsuit cannot be refiled. The U.S. District Court said flags over the federal courthouses in Nevada will be flown at half-staff in honor of Hicks. This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: US District Court Judge Larry Hicks killed in crash near courthouse The U.S. government is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with Moderna to fund its bird flu mRNA vaccine trial as concerns remain surrounding the outbreak in poultry and cattle. The Financial Times reported Thursday that an agreement to fund Modernas late-stage trial of its bird flu vaccine has nearly been reached, citing sources close to the decision. According to the outlet, funding that could total several tens of millions would come from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Moderna confirmed last week that it was engaged in discussions with the federal government for funding its trials. The company did not comment on the Financial Times report. Moderna can confirm we are in discussions with the U.S. Government on advancing our pandemic flu candidate, mRNA-1018. The Phase 1/2 dosing of mRNA-1018 is complete, with data expected soon, the company said in a statement. The H5 vaccines in this trial cover the same clade as the currently circulating variant in the United States. We remain committed to using our mRNA platform to respond to public health concerns. The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately provide comment on the report when reached by The Hill. Major flu vaccine manufacturer CSL Seqirus announced Thursday it had been selected by BARDA to deliver nearly 5 million doses of a prepandemic vaccine that is matched to the currently circulating strain of the bird flu. The [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] maintains the risk to public health as low. We are closely monitoring the situation because we are acutely aware of the threat that influenza virus strains like H5N1 can pose and take seriously our role in preparedness efforts alongside our government and public health partners, Marc Lacey, global executive director for pandemics at CSL, said in a statement. The risk of human-to-human bird flu transmission is extremely low. Most cases are found in livestock workers who are in close proximity to infected poultry or cattle. Infections can be treated with antiviral drugs, with treatment recommended as soon as symptoms occur. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Foo Yun Chee and Elvira Pollina BRUSSELS/MILAN (Reuters) -U.S. investment firm KKR secured unconditional EU antitrust approval on Thursday for its up to 22-billion-euro ($24 billion) acquisition of Telecom Italia's (TIM) fixed-line network. The deal is significant as it marks the first time that a former phone monopoly in a major European country is divesting its landline grid. The European Commission's announcement confirmed a Reuters' story last week. "The Commission investigated the impact of the transaction on the market for wholesale broadband access services in Italy and concluded that it would not significantly reduce the level of competition," the EU executive, which also acts as the EU antitrust watchdog, said in a statement. TIM shares turned positive and closed Thursday's session 1.5% higher, reversing earlier losses following the Commission statement. KKR has sought to address concerns of Telecom Italia's rivals about those rivals' existing contracts put in place after the creation of FiberCop, Telecom Italia's last-mile grid unit, and has offered a pledge to keep them on the same terms and prices, people with direct knowledge of the matter have told Reuters. This informal remedy has also allayed EU worries, they said. The Commission said a master services agreement (MSA) that will govern the relationship between NetCo (the grid acquired by KKR) and TIM post-transaction is not an integral part of the transaction, as it is not an agreement through which KKR acquires control over NetCo. The network sale is part of a government-backed plan aimed at cutting TIM's heavy financial burden. The EU's green light will now allow the deal to be finalised shortly, Italy's Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said in a statement. ($1 = 0.9245 euros) (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee and Elvira Pollina, additional reporting by Giuseppe Fonte in Rome; Editing by Susan Fenton) AGADIR, Morocco (AP) The head of the U.S. military in Africa vigorously defended the countrys counterterrorism strategy on the continent and vowed to press forward with it despite a wave of criticism and a drift among African nations toward seeking security help from Russia instead. In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday at Africa Lion, a war games exercise in Morocco, Gen. Michael Langley blamed a tide of Russian disinformation for anti-U.S. sentiment in volatile regions. He said the military needed to reassert how its longstanding strategy can foster stability throughout the Sahel, the semiarid region south of the Sahara Desert. The 6,000 members of the U.S. military stationed in Africa are confronting new setbacks as governments in Chad and Niger two key regional allies embrace Russian forces and paramilitaries and push for them leave posts previously identified as critical to monitoring security challenges. There was negative sentiment across the last couple of years against one of our most valued allies France as you looked at all social media and looked all across media writ large, Langley said. A lot of that negative sentiment was fueled by the misinformation and disinformation of the Russian Federation." We need to get our narrative out there, he added. More than 11,000 deaths last year in the Sahel were linked to militant Islamist violence, continuing a trajectory that has seen them gradually increase since 2021, according to an Africa Center for Strategic Studies analysis of reports collected by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. Since 2020, military officers disillusioned with their governments record of stemming violence have overthrown democratically elected governments throughout the region. In the aftermath, countries including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger began to distance themselves from western powers and deepen partnerships with Russia. In northern Mali last November, soldiers accompanied by mercenaries from Russian military contractor Wagner retook territory that rebels had controlled for the past decade. The military junta governing Burkina Faso ousted French forces last year and turned to Russia and Wagner for security support. And similarly in Niger, Russian military trainers arrived weeks after the junta that took power last year ordered U.S. troops to withdraw from the country. Rather than soul-searching or a broad rethink of strategy, Langley said the United States planned to double down and re-engage with these countries," referencing its non-combat work addressing climate change and crop failure and managing tribal conflict and displacement. Langley said that the United States would stick with its whole-of-government approach stressing good governance and institution-building beyond military might. He insisted that the military supports African countries in ways they see fit rather than impose its ideas. But he argued that military juntas wouldnt counter terrorism or ensure stability long term. I dont want to call out any of these countries, but these are military regimes, Langley said. That fine line has differentiated the United States from other Great Powers deepening their involvement in Africa. Russia attaches few stipulations to countries it offers security assistance regardless of whether theyre ruled by military juntas or democratically elected leaders. China similarly stresses non-interference in making investments or loans to fund mines, ports, highways and rails. Of the U.S. personnel stationed throughout Africa, roughly 1,000 assigned to Niger and 100 to Chad are in the process of departing. Both countries have been integral to the militarys efforts to counter violent extremist organizations across the region, particularly Niger, which houses the continents largest surveillance drone base. Langley said that the U.S. forces were in the midst of a safe and orderly withdrawal from Niger and planned to determine future security partnerships later. He said the status of U.S. forces in Chad would be discussed once the country finishes establishing a new government based on elections earlier this month. Langley would not say whether the United States plans to relocate bases elsewhere in Africa but said its strategy would largely depend on guidance from west African countries about their security threats. In countries along the Atlantic coastline, Langley said officials have grown increasingly worried about violent extremism and want to ensure they can surveil developments in dangerous border regions. What the U.S. wants is what countries are asking for, he said. Were not prescribing anything. The U.S. Army on May 29 inaugurated the new Universal Artillery Projectile Lines facility in Mesquite, Texas, that will produce 155 mm artillery munitions and is part of Washington's effort to modernize its shell production. The news also comes as the West seeks to ramp up its artillery production capacities to backfill Ukraine's needs on the battlefield. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine has made a wide-reaching shift to NATO standard 155 mm artillery, as Kyiv's partners had a short supply in stock of Soviet shell calibers like 122 mm and 152 mm. The recent $61 billion aid package took months to pass through Congress due to political infighting, causing a gap that led to a drastic ammunition shortage for Ukraine. The Pentagon said previously it aims to reach a production target of 100,000 shells per month by the end of 2025. Factories in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, together make about 36,000 shells per month, while the new factory in Mesquite will produce 30,000 each month once it reaches its full capacity, according to the New York Times. The Mesquite factory will add about 350 jobs to the local economy when it reaches its total production capacity next year, company officials said. As the U.S. aid was stalled in Congress, the responsibility to keep at least some regular flow of ammunition to Ukraine had fallen on European countries. Czech President Petr Pavel said in February that Prague had identified 500,000 155 mm shells and 300,000 122 mm shells outside Europe that could be bought and sent to Ukraine after the necessary funds were allocated to the initiative. Several countries have since contributed funds to the Czech initiative, which may help to deliver as many as 1.5 million rounds to Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said in late March. According to Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, a total of 15 EU countries and NATO have already allocated more than 1.6 billion euros ($1.7 million) for the effort. Read also: PM: First batch of shells under Czech-led initiative may arrive in Ukraine in coming days Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The US Navy botched the design of its new $1 billion frigates: report The US Navy's guided-missile-frigate project faces delays because of a flawed design, a report has found. Construction for the $22 billion project started before the design was completed, causing issues. The Government Accountability Office has recommended prioritizing design quality and testing on land. A congressional report published Wednesday has found that the US Navy's designs for its guided-missile-frigate project are flawed, stalling construction and delaying the delivery of the first frigate. "The Navy had good reason to be optimistic that the frigate program was positioned to deliver capabilities on the schedule it promised," the report says. "Subsequent missteps, however, have jeopardized the Navy's ability to achieve these goals." In order to accomplish its ambitious goal of acquiring and delivering up to 20 Constellation-class guided-missile frigates over the course of 20 years an endeavor projected to cost more than $22 billion the US Navy began building the first frigate before its design was complete. But that was a big mistake, a congressional watchdog found. The US Government Accountability Office reported that this misstep resulted in design challenges that paused construction on the first ship, which began in August 2022, and would cause the frigate to be delivered to the service three years late. "To reduce technical risk, the Navy and its shipbuilder modified an existing design to incorporate Navy specifications and weapon systems," the report says. "However, the Navy's decision to begin construction before the design was complete is inconsistent with leading ship design practices and jeopardized this approach." In addition to scheduling delays and the halting of ship construction, the Navy has yet to demonstrate frigate propulsion and machinery control systems. But the report suggests that scheduling delays coupled with changes made to the frigate testing process may allow the Navy to test these two unproven systems on land. By doing this testing, there may be fewer problems once the ship is at sea. The future frigate was designed to be a multi-mission workhorse that carries air defense and strike missiles, as well as torpedoes to attack submarines. It's being built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin. A US Navy spokesperson said Thursday that the service added engineers to complete the frigate design sooner and will review ways to improve the workforce that builds warships. "The Navy recognizes the importance of a mature and stable design prior to construction start and the Frigate program challenges associated with delays in design completion," Lt. Cmdr. Javan Rasnake told Business Insider. "The Navy has established a collaboration site at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard and surged both Navy and contracted engineering design personnel to accelerate Frigate design maturity and support ramp up of production." GAO makes five recommendations in its report, including that the Navy prioritize measuring the quality of ship designs over the quantity of design deliverables. It also recommends that the Navy complete and assess the design before moving on to building the second frigate. The Navy agreed to accept four of the recommendations and one of them partially, which involved updating testing. Read the original article on Business Insider A new General Dynamics arms factory has opened, focusing on the production of 155mm artillery shells, in Mesquite, Texas. Source: Reuters; NYT; Voice of America Details: The Pentagon has reportedly set a goal of producing up to 100,000 artillery shells per month by the end of 2025 to supply Ukraine with weapons. The factories in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania together produce about 36,000 shells per month. The new facility in Texas can supply 30,000 units per month. The factory, which cost more than US$500 million to build, will consist of three production lines and provide 350 new jobs. It is designed for the flexible manufacturing of different types of ammunition with minimal adjustments, which will aid in achieving the army's modernisation goals. Another ammunition factory is currently being built in Camden in Arkansas. Additionally, the Pentagon plans to open a second shell production line at the military plant in Iowa and partially reopen a plant in Parsons, Kansas. US Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth emphasised the importance of this facility, noting the role of the factory in strengthening national defence by increasing production. "The work done in these production facilities contributes directly to our nation's defence and makes us stronger," Wormuth said at the opening ceremony. Support UP or become our patron! The US is understood to be nearing an agreement with Moderna to finance human trials for its experimental mRNA bird flu vaccine - Dado Ruvic/REUTERS The US government is poised to announce a multimillion-dollar investment in mRNA vaccines for H5N1 bird flu. The move comes as the virus continues to spread in mammals, threatening a new pandemic if it makes the jump to humans. The US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is understood to be nearing an agreement with Moderna to finance human trials for its experimental mRNA bird flu vaccine. The deal would include a commitment to stockpile millions of vaccines if the trials were successful, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. Senior officials at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva welcomed the news, amid fears the H5N1 outbreak, which has killed millions of animals in the last two years, could yet spread to humans. Jeremy Farrar, chief scientist at the WHO, said investing in mRNA jabs for H5N1 was an important step forward, while Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said it demonstrated active pandemic preparedness on the part of the Americans. The recent progress of H5N1 into US cattle was concerning, she added. H5N1, which has a human case fatality rate of 50 per cent, has been circulating for more than 20 years, causing thousands of human infections and more than 400 deaths primarily in people working with animals over that period. The H5N1 strain of avian influenza has infected cattle at a number of dairy farms in the US - Rodrigo Abd/AP In the last few years, it has surged again globally, infecting millions of wild and domesticated birds as well as mammals ranging from foxes and mink to penguins and seals. The infection of cattle across the US has experts worried that the virus could yet mutate to spread efficiently in humans, causing another pandemic. At least two US farm workers have become infected with mild disease and more are expected to be found as testing on US farms becomes more widespread. According to an unnamed source involved in the discussions, tens of millions of dollars of funding from BARDA could be made available to Moderna as soon as next month. The move comes as health ministers from across the world are gathered at the World Health Assembly in Geneva to consider how to improve pandemic preparedness. One of the major advantages of mRNA vaccines, as demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic, is their potential for rapid and relatively straightforward production. Currently, over 80 per cent of the worlds influenza vaccines are grown inside chicken eggs, a process that can take up to six months and is especially difficult with the H5N1 influenza strain. Jabs in the USs pandemic portfolio from GSK, Sanofi, and CSL Seqirus all provide immunity to H5N1, but rely on this time-intensive method meaning that if H5N1 begins to spread among humans, they may not be ready in time to fully combat the first wave of a pandemic. Eggs may also run short as chicken flocks contract the virus and are culled. In past influenza pandemics, including the Swine Flu outbreak in 2009, vaccines were often delayed until after the initial waves had already subsided. Prof Paul Kelly, chief medical officer of Australia, welcomed the news, saying it was important to learn the lessons of the Covid pandemic, think ahead on vaccine production, and ensure that not all eggs were in the same basket. An early investment by BARDA in mRNA vaccines for H5N1 would be appropriate and wise, he added. The US government is also said to be in talks with Pfizer over supporting the development of its mRNA vaccine in targeting H5N1, but no agreement has yet been reached. Dr Rick Bright, an immunologist and influenza expert, said the US government should consider more options, casting its net wide. While it a good to see BARDA considering partnerships with Moderna and Pfizer, its also important that they look at additional companies and technologies that could be helpful in pandemic response and even seasonal influenza vaccine impact, he said. For example, GSK and Curevac recently launched an H5N1 vaccine clinical trial and there are other companies that are developing influenza vaccines that can be delivered in the form of an oral capsule or skin patch, Dr Bright added. Bird flu has so far been detected in poultry farms across the world, including the UK. In the US, over 68 herds of dairy cattle across nine states have also become infected. So far this year, two dairy workers one in Texas, one in Michigan have tested positive for the virus. In the most recent case, the virus demonstrated a mutation that evidenced it has better adapted to spread between humans. The WHO still considers the risk to humans low but urged countries to rapidly share information to enable real-time monitoring of the situation to ensure preparedness as the virus continues to spread. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security 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. US says Algeria's proposed UN resolution on Rafah is not balanced By Daphne Psaledakis and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Algeria's proposed draft U.N. Security Council resolution on a Gaza ceasefire, which specifically calls for a halt to Israel's offensive in Rafah, is not balanced, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday, saying it does not blame Palestinian militant group Hamas for the conflict. "It is imbalanced and it fails to note a simple fact which is that Hamas is to blame for this conflict," a State Department spokesperson told reporters in a press briefing, without specifying if the U.S. would veto the resolution. Algeria's draft also calls for the release of all hostages held by Hamas. To pass, a council resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by any of its permanent members: the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China. The U.S. has so far shielded its ally Israel by vetoing three draft council resolutions on the war in Gaza. Algeria said the aim of the move was to "stop the killing in Rafah." Algeria is a council member for 2024/25. The Algerian draft text "decides that Israel, the occupying Power, shall immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in Rafah." It cites a ruling by the International Court of Justice last week that ordered Israel to immediately halt its military assault on Rafah, in a landmark emergency ruling in South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide. Israel denies genocide allegations. Israel's three-week-old offensive in Rafah has prompted an outcry from global leaders especially of an airstrike on Sunday that killed at least 45 people when a blaze ignited in a tent camp in a western district. The local Palestinian health ministry puts the death toll from the war in Gaza at over 36,000. There is also widespread hunger in the narrow coastal enclave and nearly its entire 2.3 million population has been displaced. Israel says it is acting in self-defense after the militant Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Kanishka Singh in Washington; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Cynthia Osterman) Insights from New Lines, Politico, and Forbes The News Germany announced Friday that Ukraine can use German weapons to hit targets on Russian soil, the latest reversal of policy after the US and a number of other NATO countries have given Kyiv permission to use their weapons to hit Russia. The Kremlin has warned that this amounts to a direct provocation by NATO, and would have inevitable consequences. The US has allowed Ukraine to conduct limited strikes on Russia to protect Kharkiv, but has restricted longer-range strikes. Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss told Semafor that the policy change is not enough and that the Biden administration should authorize all weapons to be used to strike any site within Russia that has military application, including energy infrastructure, troops, and industrial sites. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. US limits on weapon use could hurt Ukraine long-term Source: Atlantic Council, New Lines, and Politico Russias Kharkiv offensive highlighted the military absurdity of current restrictions on how US weapons are used by Ukraine, according to the Atlantic Council, enabling Russia to use its border with Ukraine as a safe haven for troops and supplies. As long as Ukraine cant use the weapons it has to defend itself by striking within Russia including the border region it is unlikely to win, argued one op-ed in global policy magazine New Lines. Its unfair that Ukraine is being asked to fight as the US armed forces would never fight, a military analyst at the Ukrainian National Institute for Strategic Studies told Politico. Putins nuclear saber-rattling may be just that Source: Chatham House, Forbes Actual use of nuclear weapons by Russia remains not impossible but highly unlikely, Russian military expert Keir Giles wrote in a recent Chatham House paper. Yet the Biden administrations caution in keeping NATO and the US out of direct involvement in Ukraine is essentially rewarding nuclear intimidation, and encouraging nuclear proliferation, if it continues, an expert at the Military Institute for Aerospace Studies aerospace think tank argued in Forbes. China, other nuclear-armed powers, and Iran are closely watching, he added. The US Senate Could Have Two Black Women For First Time In History The US Senate Could Have Two Black Women For First Time In History | Photo: Getty Images With the 2024 election being a pivotal vote for the countrys direction on various issues, one overlooked aspect of this political cycle is the chance for history to be made in terms of representation. Specifically, November could see the election of two Black women senators, which would double the number of Black women that have ever been elected to the U.S. Senate. Alsobrooks favored to win Maryland race for Senate As Blavity reported, Angela Alsobrooks achieved a solid victory in the Maryland Democratic primary against Rep. David Trone despite Trone spending over $60 million to fund his campaign. Now, Alsobrooks faces former Gov. Larry Hogan, a popular moderate Republican, in Novembers general election. While this will likely be a tough race, Maryland is heavily Democratic, making Alsobrooks the favorite to win. Alsobrooks recently tweeted that, if elected to the Senate, among her priorities, I will vote to codify abortion rights. I will vote to ban the sale of assault weapons. I will vote to abolish the filibuster. As Maryland's next Senator, I will not let the filibuster impede my work. I will vote to codify abortion rights. I will vote to ban the sale of assault weapons. I will vote to abolish the filibuster. Angela Alsobrooks (@AlsobrooksForMD) May 28, 2024 Blunt Rochester a heavy favorite in Delaware In her quest to become the next Black woman elected to the Senate, Alsobrooks is joined by Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester. Blavity reported Blunt Rochester announced her bid to run for U.S. Senate in June. Having represented Delaware since 2017 as the states only U.S. representative, Blunt Rochester has been seen as the favorite to win the states Democratic primary in September. That victory would make her the heavy favorite in President Joe Bidens heavily Democratic home state. In a recent interview with MSNBCs Katie Phang, Blunt Rochester discussed her excitement for the opportunity to join the Senate and work to protect reproductive freedom and democracy. Our movement is all about building a stronger economy, protecting our freedoms, and safeguarding our environment for all Americans. Thanks to @KatiePhang for having me on to talk about the stakes of our Senate race in Delaware. pic.twitter.com/FSJQWeE4QE Lisa Blunt Rochester (@LisaBRochester) May 28, 2024 Democratic Party support, often lacking, is strong for both women Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester have succeeded partly by winning support from the larger Democratic establishment, gaining critical endorsements from prominent Democrats in their respective states and national party figures. After being defeated by Alsobrooks, Trone gave her his endorsement, which the party hopes will lead to him contributing financially to her election as he did to his own. Blunt Rochester, meanwhile, is a co-chair of the Biden-Harris reelection campaign, giving her strong support from the administration. This support comes in contrast to major Black women candidates in past elections who have often been ignored by the Democratic Party, which helps explain why there have only been two elected Black female senators Carol Moseley Braun and Kamala Harris and no Black women governors. While the November election is months away and neither victory is guaranteed, both candidates go into their respective races favored to win. And the solid Democratic Party support for Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester could allow them to make history and open the doors for more Black women in politics. US State Department official resigns, says US report on Gaza inaccurate FILE PHOTO: An Egyptian truck carrying humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, is seen at the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel By Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. State Department official who quit this week said on Thursday her resignation was precipitated by an administration report to Congress that she said falsely stated Israel was not blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, prompting her to resign in protest of President Joe Biden's Israel policy. Stacy Gilbert, who served in the State Departments Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, was a subject matter expert working on the report. "There is so clearly a right and wrong, and what is in that report is wrong," Gilbert said in an interview. The United Nations and aid groups have long complained of the dangers and obstacles to getting aid in and distributing it throughout Gaza. As the Palestinian death toll in Gaza has exceeded 36,000 and a humanitarian crisis has engulfed the enclave, human rights groups and other critics have faulted the U.S. for providing weapons to Israel and largely defending Israel's conduct. The State Department submitted the 46-page unclassified report earlier this month to Congress as required under a new National Security Memorandum that Biden issued in early February. Among other conclusions, the report said that in the period after Oct. 7 Israel did not fully cooperate with U.S. and other efforts to get humanitarian aid into Gaza. But it said this did not amount to a breach of a U.S law that blocks the provision of arms to countries that restrict U.S. humanitarian aid. Gilbert, who worked for the State Department for over 20 years, said she notified her office the day the State Department report was released that she would resign. Her last day was Tuesday. U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters on Thursday that he would not comment on personnel issues but that the department welcomes diverse points of view. He said the administration stood by the report and continued to press the government of Israel to avoid harming civilians and urgently expand humanitarian access to Gaza. "We are not an administration that twists the facts, and allegations that we have are unfounded," Patel said. The Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Gilbert's accusations. Gilberts bureau was one of the four that contributed to a classified initial options memo, reported exclusively by Reuters in late April, that informed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Israel might be violating international humanitarian law. Gilbert said the State Department removed subject matter experts from working on the report to Congress when the document was a rough draft about 10 days before it was due. She said the report was then edited by more senior officials. In contrast to the published version, the last draft she saw stated that Israel was blocking humanitarian assistance, Gilbert said. Officials who resigned prior to Gilbert include Arabic language spokesperson Hala Rharrit and Annelle Sheline of the human rights bureau. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's air and land war in Gaza. Israel launched its offensive after Hamas fighters crossed from Gaza into southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year, killed 1,200 people and abducted more than 250, according to Israeli tallies. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Don Durfee and Cynthia Osterman) US support for Ukraine unwavering regardless of Peace Summit representation White House The White House has stressed that the United States' support for Ukraine will remain unchanged, regardless of who represents the US at the planned Peace Summit in Switzerland. Source: John Kirby, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, as reported by European Pravda Kirby was asked if President Joe Biden was concerned that not attending the summit might send the wrong signal to the global community about the importance of supporting peace in Ukraine. Quote: "The United States and President Biden have been there for President Zelenskyy and for the people of Ukraine, and that will continue regardless of who sits in what chair at the peace summit," Kirby noted. He said that since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, "no other leader has done as much and continues to do as much as President Biden does to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression." "And the President has made commitments to Ukraine to be there for the long term," Kirby added. Background: On 29 May, the White House confirmed that the US will participate in the planned Peace Summit in Switzerland. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the leaders of the US and China to personally participate in the Peace Summit. He also stated that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin would be pleased if Biden ignored the Peace Summit in Switzerland. However, media reports indicate that Biden is likely to miss the Peace Summit as it coincides with a fundraising event for his re-election campaign in California. Support UP or become our patron! The flag of the European Union flies outside the chateau in Versailles. Kay Nietfeld/dpa European Union leaders on Thursday agreed to impose high tariffs on imports of grain and other agricultural products from Russia and Belarus. The European Council said in a press release that the "prohibitive" new duties would effectively stop imports of cereals, oilseeds and derived products from the two eastern European countries. The EU's grain imports from Moscow have risen since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Figures from the Eurostat statistics office show that imports grew from under 120 million ($130 million) in 2020 and 290 million in 2021 to 440 million in 2023. Experts fear Russia is seeking to exploit the persistent struggles facing farmers in the EU by driving down prices with cheap agricultural exports. The measures aim to "prevent the destabilization of the EU's grain market, halt Russian exports of illegally appropriated grain produced in the territories of Ukraine and prevent Russia from using revenues from exports to the EU to fund its war of aggression against Ukraine," said Belgian Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem. The new regulation is not set to affect Russian exports transiting through the EU. European leaders aim to avoid causing price rises and scarcity in poorer regions more reliant on Russian grain. US Supreme Court boosts NRA in free speech fight with New York official By John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday revived the National Rifle Association's lawsuit accusing a New York state official of coercing banks and insurers to avoid doing business with the gun rights group in a ruling that warned public officials against wielding their power to punish speech they dislike. The justices, in a 9-0 decision authored by liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, threw out a lower court's ruling that had dismissed the NRA's 2018 lawsuit against Maria Vullo, a former superintendent of New York's Department of Financial Services. At issue is whether Vullo wielded her regulatory power to coerce New York financial institutions into cutting ties with the NRA in violation of protections under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment against government restrictions on free speech. The NRA accused Vullo of unlawfully retaliating against it for its constitutionally protected gun rights advocacy by targeting it with an "implicit censorship regime" following a 2018 mass shooting in which 17 people were killed at a high school in Parkland, Florida. "Ultimately, the critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or, as alleged here, through private intermediaries," Sotomayor wrote. The NRA, an influential lobby group closely aligned with Republicans, has opposed gun control measures favored by many Democrats and backed pivotal lawsuits that have widened U.S. gun rights. Its suit, seeking unspecified monetary damages, alleged that New York's "blacklisting" campaign sought to deprive the NRA of basic financial services and threatened its advocacy work. The case will now return to the lower courts for further analysis of the NRA's allegations under the standard articulated in the Supreme Court's ruling. 'DISFAVORED POLITICAL GROUPS' David Cole, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union advocacy group that represented the NRA, said the ruling "confirms that government officials have no business using their regulatory authority to blacklist disfavored political groups." Vullo, who was appointed to her post by a Democratic governor, called upon banks and insurers to consider the "reputational risks" of doing business with gun rights groups following the Parkland shootings. In the aftermath of the Parkland rampage by a 19-year-old former student armed with an AR-15 rifle, NRA officials lashed out at gun control advocates, arguing that Democratic elites were politicizing the shootings to erode gun rights. Vullo later fined Lloyd's of London and two other insurers more than $13 million for offering an NRA-endorsed product called "Carry Guard" that Vullo's office found was in violation of New York insurance law. The product provided liability coverage for policyholders who caused injuries from gunfire, even in cases involving the wrongful use of a firearm. The insurers agreed to stop selling NRA-endorsed products that New York considered illegal. The nonprofit group is organized under the laws of New York state, with its main offices in Virginia. The case did not involve the Constitution's Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case in March. A federal judge in 2021 dismissed all of the NRA's claims apart from two free speech counts against Vullo. The Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2022 said those also should have been dismissed, prompting the NRA's Supreme Court appeal. Vullo was sued in both her official and personal capacities. But the 2nd Circuit found that Vullo would be protected from suit under the legal defense of qualified immunity that shields officials from civil litigation in certain circumstances. Sotomayor in the ruling wrote that the 2nd Circuit "is free to revisit the qualified immunity question in light of this court's opinion." Neal Katyal, a lawyer representing Vullo, expressed disappointment at the court's decision but said that "we are confident Ms. Vullo's claim of qualified immunity will be reaffirmed." The NRA found an unlikely ally in the case in President Joe Biden's administration. Even though Biden has called gun violence a national embarrassment, his administration had urged the justices to let the NRA pursue its lawsuit. The Supreme Court by the end of June is expected to issue rulings in two gun rights cases. One involves a challenge to the legality of a federal ban on "bump stock" devices that enable semiautomatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns. The other involves a challenge to the legality of a federal law that makes it a crime for people under domestic violence restraining orders to have guns. (Reporting by John Kruzel in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham) U.S. Supreme Court justices pose for their group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington U.S. Supreme Court justices pose for their group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington By Andrew Chung (Reuters) -U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday rejected a request by two Democratic senators for a meeting to urge him to take steps to ensure that fellow Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recuses himself from pending cases related to the 2020 election. Alito has been under scrutiny following reports that flags associated with former President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss flew outside two of the justice's homes. Senators Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse had asked that Alito not take part in two cases - one involving Trump's bid for immunity from prosecution and another involving an obstruction charge against a Trump supporter who took part in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Durbin, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Whitehouse, a committee member, sent a May 23 letter to Roberts after New York Times reports that an inverted U.S. flag flew outside Alito's Virginia home and a flag bearing the slogan "Appeal to Heaven" flew at Alito's New Jersey vacation home. Alito created "reasonable doubt as to his impartiality," requiring recusal, by permitting the display of these flags, the senators wrote. Some Trump supporters carried such flags during the Capitol attack. The flags have become associated with the "Stop the Steal" movement based on Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him through widespread voting fraud. Roberts, in a letter to the senators, said that sitting chief justices meet with lawmakers only on "rare occasions." "Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances," Roberts wrote. Roberts added, "Moreover, the format proposed - a meeting with leaders of only one party who have expressed an interest in matters currently pending before the court - simply underscores that participating in such a meeting would be inadvisable." A spokesperson for Durbin said Roberts was wrong to invoke judicial independence as a reason to reject a meeting. "To the contrary, Chair Durbin's only interest - as it has been since he first raised this issue with the chief justice 12 years ago - is restoring the credibility of the court in the eyes of the American people," the spokesperson added. Alito on Wednesday, in separate letters to Democratic lawmakers including Durbin and Whitehouse, rejected calls to step aside in the cases. Alito wrote that the flag incidents did not meet the conditions for recusal adopted by the justices last year, and that he therefore had an "obligation to sit." Alito, a member of the court's 6-3 conservative majority, told the lawmakers that the flags at issue were flown by his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, and that he had no involvement. Alito said she was exercising her right to free speech under the U.S. Constitution. "She makes her own decisions, and I have always respected her right to do so," Alito wrote. Trump, the Republican candidate challenging Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 U.S. election, on Wednesday praised Alito's decision. Some critics said Alito's response underscored the lack of a built-in enforcement mechanism in the Supreme Court's code of conduct adopted last year following revelations of undisclosed luxury trips and hobnobbing with wealthy benefactors by some of the justices that raised questions about their ethics standards. Justices decide for themselves whether to step aside from cases. The two cases at issue already have been argued before the court, with rulings expected by the end of June. Trump has made a claim of presidential immunity from prosecution on federal criminal charges relating to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The other case is relevant to Trump because he faces the same charge being contested by a Pennsylvania man who was involved in the Jan. 6 riot. (Reporting by Andrew Chung; Additional reporting by John Kruzel in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham and Scott Malone) US and UK carry out strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen for first time in months The US and UK carried out a series of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Thursday for the first time in more than three months, according to US Central Command. In addition, the US unilaterally destroyed eight aerial attack drones over Yemen and the Red Sea. The coalition strikes targeted 13 Houthi targets in parts of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed terror group. They marked the fifth round of coalition strikes against the Houthis, who have repeatedly attacked US Navy ships and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The two waterways, separated by the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, are critical to international shipping routes. At least 16 people were killed and a further 35 wounded, by the US-UK airstrikes in the coastal city of Hodeida, Yemen, the Houthi-run news network Al-Masirah reported on Friday. The last round of strikes occurred on February 24, as the US and UK targeted Houthi weapons and radar sites. The US has tried to disrupt the Houthis ability to target commercial vessels and US warships by going after their primary weapons, including anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and one-way attack drones. The US has also destroyed maritime drones and underwater drones. The resumption of strikes follows an uptick in Houthi attacks over the last week. This week, the US destroyed Houthi missile launchers in Yemen and intercepted aerial attack drones. On Tuesday, three Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles struck a Greek-owned and operated merchant ship in the Red Sea, according to US Central Command. There were no injuries, according to Central Command, and the M/V Lax was able to continue its voyage. The US spearheaded Operation Prosperity Guardian in December to protect international shipping, banding together with other nations to intercept Houthi attacks. The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and a number of destroyers have patrolled the waters of the region to intercept Houthi launches. The USS Carney, a guided missile destroyer that recently returned from the Middle East, had 51 engagements in six months, which Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said last week was the most direct Navy engagement with a foe since World War II. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Samantha Power, head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said Wednesday that the catastrophic consequences the U.S. has warned about are becoming a reality as Israel expands its military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. For months now, President Biden and officials across our Administration, myself included, have made clear to Israel that a major ground military operation in Rafah would put civilians at immense risk and imperil the humanitarian response, Power said during a virtual event with donor countries discussing the situation in Gaza. Despite currently more limited military operations around Rafah and the Egypt/Gaza border, the catastrophic consequences that we have long warned about are becoming a reality. Power said groups on the ground in Gaza are saying it feels like the war is starting all over again, but conditions are worse now than at any period before. She noted that 95 percent of the population has not had access to clean water for months and more than a million people face catastrophic levels of hunger. More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, Palestinian officials have said. In light of these catastrophic conditions, we are in daily conversation still with the Government of Israel and our humanitarian partners about the urgency of protecting those remaining in Rafah, and those who are again being displaced, Power said. Her comments come after an Israeli strike set fire to a refugee camp in Rafah, the southern Gaza city where hundreds of thousands of civilians are sheltering from the war. The strike killed an estimated 45 Palestinians and wounded another 200 and fueled international outrage after world leaders and activists warned Israel not to attack civilians in Rafah. That followed President Biden earlier this month threatening to withhold offensive weapons from Israel if it invaded Rafah. Despite those warnings, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said that the strike did not cross a red line that would lead to a change in U.S. policy. When asked about Powers comments Wednesday, Kirby acknowledged that of course theres been catastrophe in Gaza. He said thats been true since the start of the conflict and blamed Hamas for initiating the war. After the strike in Rafah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the fire as tragic and said the military would learn from the incident. Israeli officials said shrapnel from a strike intended for Hamas leaders struck a nearby fuel tank near the refugee camp, resulting in the fire. Netanyahu has disregarded Bidens warning about invading Rafah and maintains the operation must be carried out to completion, with Hamas eliminated and remaining hostages freed. Multiple outlets reported Tuesday and Wednesday that Israeli tanks are pushing into central Gaza for the first time, while western parts of the city have come under heavy Israeli bombardment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. US official resigns over Gaza war and alleges racism towards Palestinians USAID Administrator Samantha Power (C) meets with members of the Egyptian Red Crescent and other officials in Dec 2023. (Getty Images) A contractor with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has resigned in protest over the Biden administrations support for the war in Gaza. Alexander Smith, a senior adviser on gender, maternal health, child health, and nutrition, told the Guardian he was given a choice of resigning or being fired after a presentation he was due to deliver on child mortality among Palestinians was cancelled by USAID leadership. In his resignation letter to the head of USAID, Samana Power, he alleged that the agency was treating the war in Gaza and Palestinians differently to other conflicts and humanitarian emergencies. I cannot do my job in an environment in which specific people cannot be acknowledged as fully human, or where gender and human rights principles apply to some, but not to others, depending on their race, he wrote in the letter, according to the Guardian. USAID has always prided itself on our programs supporting democracy, human rights, and rule of law, he continued. In Ukraine, we call for legal redress when people are victimised, and name perpetrators of violence We boldly state Slava Ukraini in peppy promotional videos. When it comes to the Palestinians, however, we avoid saying anything about their right to statehood, the abuses theyre currently suffering, or which powers have been violating their basic rights to freedom, self-determination, livelihoods, and clean water, he added. The resignation comes two weeks after The Independent published an investigation into dissent at USAID in response to the Biden administrations handling of Gazas hunger crisis. The investigation revealed that at least 19 internal dissent memos have been sent since the start of the war by staff at USAID criticising US support for Israels war in Gaza. In an internal collective dissent memo drafted this month by numerous employees of USAID, the staff assail the agency and the Biden administration for its failure to uphold international humanitarian principles and to adhere to its mandate to save lives. The leaked draft memo, seen by The Independent, calls for the administration to apply pressure to bring an end to the Israeli siege that is causing famine. Smith is the second person to resign from USAID over the war, and the second US official this week. Stacy Gilbert, a career official who worked in the State Departments Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, resigned over a department report that claimed Israel was not impeding humanitarian assistance to Gaza, the Washington Post reported. Palestinians flee Rafah due to an Israeli military operation, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. (REUTERS) The Independent has reached out to USAID for a response. Israel has vehemently denied that there is a hunger crisis in Gaza, or that it has restricted aid. It says fighting with Hamas, the militant group that triggered the current war when it killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages in Israel on 7 October, has hampered aid efforts. Cindy McCain, the US director of the UN World Food Programme, said in early May that there was a full-blown famine in Gazas north, and its moving its way south. Since then Israel launched an offensive in Rafah, which led to the closure of a major crossing for aid south of the city. The UN said Wednesday that thousands of children across Gaza are experiencing malnutrition. The amount of food and other aid entering Gaza, already insufficient to meet the soaring needs, has further shrunk since 7 May, with a daily average of 58 humanitarian aid trucks reaching Gaza between 7 and 28 May compared with a daily average of 176 aid trucks between 1 April and 6 May, the UN announced in an update . Georgia U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff will inspect a United States Postal Service distribution center in metro Atlanta tied to ongoing mail delays. Ossoff will be in Palmetto on Thursday to tour the facility and give an update on a Senate committees inquiry into the problems. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2 Action News has been reporting for months on the problems for Georgia families and businesses waiting weeks for their mail and packages to get delivered. Postal employees even sent us this video showing the matrix regional sorter, or MARS machine malfunctioning, sending mail and packages off the conveyor belt onto the floor. Its video like that, along with complaints from people all over north Georgia, that has lawmakers upset with USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. Postmaster General DeJoys refusal to cooperate with basic Senate oversight is baffling and disturbing. It suggests that in addition to being incompetent at delivering the mail on time, he doesnt care about the Georgians in distress as a result of his incompetence, Ossoff said in a statement to Channel 2 Action News earlier this month. RELATED STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The popular right-wing Twitter/X account Libs of TikTok called out the Logan School District last week, claiming it illegally distributed a survey to a student but the district disputes that, saying the survey was given legally under specific circumstances. The survey in question drew the attention from Libs of TikTok due to the sections that address suicidal ideation and the desire to be the opposite sex. Libs of TikTok is a social media handle that posts right-wing content including anti-trans sentiment that often provokes outrage among its followers. Libs of TikTok claimed the survey was sent to them by a parent of a middle schooler in the district and that the parents did not receive informed consent, which under state code would be illegal. However, the district told ABC4.com that this survey is called the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) and is not used for the general population of students, but rather to evaluate or reevaluate students who might be eligible for special education with certain disabilities. The district said the evaluation process which includes the survey begins after parents give written consent. READ NEXT: After getting spammed with 12,000 fake tips, state auditor to review 5 bathroom bill complaints A district spokesperson added that any non-academic survey administered to the student population as a whole would first be sent to the parents to review and give consent before giving it to students. The ASEBA website says the assessment is used in mental health services, research, schools, [and] medical settings. It is used to help diagnose potential mental or behavioral challenges as well as patterns of functioning, which the site says can help with diagnosis or special education. Utah Rep. Phil Lyman who is also currently running for governor commented on the Libs of TikTok post, saying God help us for what we failed to do to protect our kids! This is what Utah invited when Cox signed the DEI compact four years ago, and when we agreed to use COVID relief funds to implement DEI and SEL in our schools, Lymans comment read. So glad we have teachers who are standing in the gap and watching out for the kids. This is so bad! Utahs State Auditor John Frugal Dougall also chimed in on the conversation, reposting it with the caption Inappropriate! This is none of the schools business. I dont think schools should be collecting this type of information, especially without parental consent. READ NEXT: Utahs Olympic Committee presents compelling 2034 plan While the majority of comments on the post were from followers upset with the survey, a few Twitter/X users raised concerns over who would have access to the survey results and the data collected. The school district told ABC4.com that the responses are seen by the school psychologist and sent to the district to store securely. With the response, the school psychologist writes a summary report based on all the assessments conducted, which is then sent to parents and kept in the students special education file, the district said. When making the claim that the survey was distributed illegally, the Libs of TikTok account tagged Utahs Attorney General Sean Reyes. ABC4 reached out to Reyes office for comment and did not receive a statement by the time of publication. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Vatican Ambassador Donnelly to step down in July Vatican Ambassador Joe Donnelly plans to step down from his post on July 8 and return to his hometown of Granger, Indiana, he told POLITICO on Thursday. Its been an amazing privilege to serve the Country and the President, Donnelly said in a text message. Donnelly previously said he would stay in his post this year amid talk that the former senator and congressman was weighing a return to politics, running for senate or governor. The Hoosier Democrat and devout Catholic has found himself at the center of President Joe Bidens administrations efforts to manage diplomacy with Pope Francis amid Russias war against Ukraine and Israels war in Gaza. Last July, Donnelly accompanied Cardinal Matteo Zuppi to Washington for a meeting with Biden about providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and the Vatican's efforts to repatriate Ukrainian children. The Senate-confirmable position which Biden considers first among equals comes at a crucial time abroad for the White House amid an election year. The White House directed inquiries to the State Department. A spokesperson for the State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The move is likely to reignite talk that former speaker, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) could end her career by serving Biden at the Vatican. A spokesperson for Pelosi immediately threw cold water on the idea, posting to X a one-word message no. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, believes that a potential permission for Ukraine to use NATO-supplied weapons to target Russia would mean "uncontrolled escalation". Source: Parolin cited by ANSA, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Vatican Secretary of State believes that possible attacks by Ukraine on Russia with NATO weapons "should concern all those who care about the fate of our world." "This could lead to an escalation that no one else can control. This is a very worrying prospect," he added. Parolin recalled that the Vatican is assisting Ukraine with the repatriation of children to their homeland, among other humanitarian difficulties, and that "there is no other way." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg asked that the allies review the constraints on Ukraine's ban on using Western weaponry against the Russian Federation in the midst of border fighting in Kharkiv Oblast. Some European countries have already indicated open support for this strategy, while the United States and Germany, in particular, are opposed. According to The New York Times, President Joe Biden is approaching a change in position to authorise Ukraine to strike Russian territory with American weaponry. Support UP or become our patron! VB daycare provider sentenced to 28 years in connection with death of 4-month-old VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) A woman will spend 28 years in prison in connection with the murder of a 4-month-old baby. According to a release from the City of Virginia Beach, 43-year-old Shyan J. Csatlos was found guilty of second-degree felony murder and child abuse/neglect on Nov. 2, 2023 following a four-day trial. She was just sentenced on those charges, according to an update from the Virginia Beach Commonwealths Attorneys Office on May 30. Shyan Csatlos Evidence provided by the Commonwealth states that on Aug. 15, 2019, Csatlos began providing daycare at her home for then 3-month-old N.W. While under Csatlos care, N.W. had to be taken to the hospital on two separate occasions due to vomiting and extreme fussiness. N.W.s parents stated that prior to being under Csatlos care, he was a happy, healthy baby. On Sept, 17, 2019, N.W.s mother dropped him off at Csatlos home. Video showed the baby drinking from a bottle that morning. Just before noon, Csatlos called 911 to report that N.W. was unresponsive. First responders arrived to the home and transferred N.W. to the Childrens Hospital of Kings Daughters (CHKD) due to his temperature of 90.4 degrees Fahrenheit and his purple and blue appearance. N.W. remained at CHKD until his death on Sept. 21, 2019. Csatlos provided investigators with various different accounts of what happened, but was unable to provide an explanation for why N.W. was unconscious under her care. Several different medical professionals, including CHKD physicians, provided testimony, where they determined that N.W. suffered an abusive head trauma. Circuit Court Judge Afshin Farashahi sentenced Csatlos to 50 years with 22 years suspended, exceeding the Virginia State Sentencing Guidelines, which recommended a sentence no greater than 22 years and 8 months. Check with WAVY.com for updates Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. By David Ljunggren, Michel Rose, Allison Lampert and Tim Hepher OTTAWA/PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron personally intervened to persuade Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to give Airbus and other aerospace firms relief from sanctions on Russian titanium, according to three people familiar with the matter. The sensitive request was made during a phone call between the two leaders in March, weeks after Canada broke ranks with allies and slapped sanctions on the strategic metal, alarming France-based Airbus and others that still rely on Russian supplies in plants located in Canada or elsewhere. A source close to the French leader said Macron had made a "significant effort" to convince Trudeau to grant an exemption for European companies. "Many messages were passed at all levels," the source added, referring to broad diplomatic and industrial pressure. A Canadian source familiar with the matter said Macron raised the topic in a call with Trudeau on March 29 in the run-up to a visit by French premier Gabriel Attal, who also addressed the issue when he was in Canada. At least one other European government also weighed in to support the lobbying effort, a separate source said. Ottawa initially stood firm, but within days modified its policy by granting Airbus and others waivers. The climbdown, first reported by Reuters, triggered a political dispute over sanctions policy and drew criticism from Ukraine's ambassador. "It was not easy to get the sanctions lifted. I think if the French government had not raised it continuously at that level, we would have held pretty firm," the Canadian source said. Offices of both leaders declined comment and Airbus said it was "complying with all applicable sanctions related to Russia". The sources spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. CAUGHT OFF GUARD The high-level scramble to keep Russian titanium flowing highlights how difficult Western nations are finding it to punish Russia for its war against Ukraine without damaging the supply chains of industries that need to plan years ahead. Russia's state-backed VSMPO-AVISMA is historically the largest producer of aerospace-grade titanium, whose strength and light weight make it ideal for components that take the heaviest punishment, like engine parts and landing gear for big jets. Weaning industries off Russian titanium, and other critical minerals produced in countries like China, is proving difficult. "The problem is a new titanium mill ... takes years to build and it could take a year or two to get certified," said Kevin Michaels, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory. Story continues While the West has ratcheted up sanctions on Moscow, it has previously avoided blocking access to VSMPO's specialist alloys and forgings for fear of hurting its aerospace industries. Canada's unexpected decision to ban imports from VSMPO coincided with the second anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and caught the aerospace industry off guard. Fraught calls to Ottawa started "immediately, literally the same day," said a second Canadian source. Airbus found itself in the front line. All landing gear for its premier A350-1000 jet come from a single factory in Ontario. "Airbus was one of the larger voices lobbying and they did it through the French government as well," the first Canadian source said. Airbus and French officials declined comment. Canada's decision rippled down the supply chain. RIPPLE EFFECT U.S. aerospace giant RTX is responsible for building A350-1000 landing gear through its Collins Aerospace subsidiary's Oakville plant outside Toronto. Faced with Ottawa's decision to ban Russian titanium, Collins halted raw material shipments, the sources said. RTX declined comment. In April it took a $175 million charge to cover new supplies, partly related to the Canadian sanctions. Canada's sanctions could also have damaged Airbus' rival Boeing, but the U.S. planemaker was spared disruption thanks to a separate waiver awarded to French equipment supplier Safran, industry sources said. Boeing announced in March 2022 it had stopped buying titanium directly from Russia and is widely seen as less exposed to the politically sensitive topic than its European rival. But like Airbus, Boeing buys landing gear made in Canada for its 787 Dreamliner. Two industry sources said the Toronto-area plant run by Safran continues to rely on VSMPO titanium while the company develops new sources in Europe. Safran said last month it had won an exemption from the Canadian sanctions in a move that supply chain experts said would allow it to keep Boeing supplied with 787 landing gear. Safran declined further comment. Boeing referred questions about the Russian exposure of sub-contractors to its suppliers. "Boeing currently sources titanium predominantly in the U.S. ... and we continue to take steps to ensure long-term continuity," a spokesperson said. Airbus, which said in December 2022 it would drop Russian titanium in "months not years", said it was working intensively to reduce dependence, but declined to give a target date. "This is already well underway and being carried out as quickly as possible," a spokesperson said. Canada has not said when waivers will expire but a person familiar with the plan said it gave the industry three years. Ukraine has urged Western nations to deepen their sanctions. Some fear the Canada dispute could aggravate another dilemma for aerospace firms: complaints against sanctions highlight their dependence for strategic materials on exporting countries, which in turn could use that power to hit back at the West. China said on Thursday it would control exports of some sensitive aviation and space components from July 1. (Reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa, Allison Lampert in Montreal, Michel Rose and Tim Hepher in Paris; Writing by Tim Hepher; Editing by Joe Brock and Mark Potter) 'I can go from fully lucid to forgetful and back again within a few hours', says Maddocks - Christopher Pledger for the Telegraph One morning, about seven years ago, I woke up and forgot how to get dressed. I sat on the end of my bed in Cardiff, and simply didnt know what to do. I couldnt even remember how to get the clothes out of my wardrobe. After 15 minutes, everything came back to me, but this episode was frightening, and the point at which I started to worry seriously about my health. Two years before that, Id suffered the first of a series of three mini-strokes. I was 59, and working for the Environment Agency, having previously enjoyed a 30-year career with the police. Out of the blue, one side of my face dropped and I was unable to say the letters S and F properly. I also developed extreme fatigue, a tremor in my right arm and difficulties with my memory. At the time, my partner, H, and I were in a long-distance relationship in different parts of the country, and I wanted to continue living independently. I recovered enough to go back to work, where these memory lapses became more frequent. I couldnt remember how to log on to my emails; someone would show me, but Id forget again. When I asked a second time, they would say, But we just showed you, and lose their patience. Proud of my record and knowing I was still good at my job I vowed to continue to fight on. But by July 2016, I knew something was very wrong and I went to my GP. My doctor was dismissive, telling me, Youve had a stroke; your problems are physical, not mental, and I left my appointment in tears. Christine vowed to continue on after she was diagnosed with the condition and enjoys getting out as much as possible Eventually, my GP relented and I was referred to the elderly care unit. That name really upset me to be called elderly when I was barely 60 but after a series of scans and MRIs, I was diagnosed with vascular dementia. Part of me was relieved there was a name for what was wrong with me, but it also felt like a death sentence. I went home and cried for three months, barely leaving the house. It wasnt so much, Why me? but, Why me at the age of 60? I also recalled caring for my father, whod had Alzheimers disease. Dad had suffered from hallucinations seeing the ornaments on his mantelpiece move around, and insisting that a stranger was sitting in his armchair. He was so convinced of the fact that we had to put a dining chair on his seat to stop Bill sitting there. More than once, my dad called 999 to report imaginary burglars in the house. At one point, I had to sleep in his bed to stop him wandering outside in the middle of the night. Was this what the future had in store for me? I was terrified. The doctors told me to stop drinking caffeinated coffee, and to continue taking my blood pressure medication that was all the help they offered. My cognitive health continued to decline: I had no idea what to cook or how to do it, so I stopped eating anything except toast and cereal. Friends didnt know what to do or say so they drifted away; my brother and sister didnt have the capacity to look after me. Eventually, in October 2016, I was forced to take retirement for ill health, and I decided to move in with H, who lived in East Sussex. I hadnt wanted to impose my illness on H, but we both realised I couldnt put it off any longer. On the Eastbourne coast, H made me proper meals and I rallied a bit, but my overall health continued to decline. The pandemic hadnt started yet, but I lost my sense of taste and smell. I started bumping into doors, had restless and painful legs, and found it hard to sleep. Christine lost her sense of taste and smell, experienced pain in her legs and found it hard to sleep In the end, I nagged my new GP for a referral to a neurologist, and in 2020 I was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. The doctor then told me I almost certainly had a related condition called Lewy body dementia, but that could be confirmed only by post mortem examination. Im not ready for that yet, I replied. Lewy body dementia was the disease affecting Robin Williams when he took his own life in 2014. If hed been diagnosed, he might have understood his illness and still been alive now. At the time of my diagnosis which was later confirmed by a specialist nurse I read a leaflet saying I would live for only five years. Eight years later, I am still here. Lewy body dementia is different from Alzheimers in that there isnt that same continual, downward slope. Instead, my mental condition fluctuates I can go from fully lucid to forgetful and back again within a few hours. The best way of describing it is that a fog suddenly comes down, and I cant see through it. This is terribly frustrating. I used to be a terrific multitasker, but now, I have to do one thing at a time painstakingly. If H comes in, full of stories of the day, I feel overloaded and the noise bothers me. Sometimes, I walk into a pub and realise its too unbearable to stay, so I walk out again. A lorry drives past and I jump out of my skin. The other day, I forgot the word for watch, and had to describe it as that thing on your wrist that tells the time. I also get hallucinations from time to time and feel a presence next to me: my beloved cats died earlier this year, but I still see them on the sofa. Sadly, these episodes are becoming more frequent. Christine's cats died this year, but she still sees them on the sofa as a result of Lewy body dementia - Jim Holden But I havent given up on life just yet. When I got over the initial shock of my diagnosis, I told myself: you can either sit here and watch daytime television, or you can do something with the rest of your life. I took the latter option. At first, I did voluntary work in a hospice, but that ended with Covid. I am now an ambassador for the Alzheimers Society in fact, I am the first person to have had dementia on its board of trustees. I helped with the launch of KYN, a new dementia home in Bromley, Kent. I want people with dementia and their relations and friends to understand this illness. Dont put us on the scrap-heap. I was the same person the day after my diagnosis as I was the day before it so is your family member, so dont treat them any differently. A person with dementia may not remember everything that happens, but they will remember how you made them feel at the time. I personally enjoy hugs, and often ask for a cwtch, which is a hug in Welsh. Making the occasional visit to London to give a speech on my condition keeps me motivated. But these trips are often exhausting and I need to sleep for two days afterwards. Mostly, I spend time on the beach. I take myself down to the sea to watch the sunrise and listen to the birds; see the odd dog walker and fisherman. Ive even taken lessons in beach fishing, though Ive yet to catch anything edible. Christine enjoys wildlife, in particular listening to birds In the face of an uncertain future, spending time in nature gives me a sense of calm. Im 68 now, apprehensive about the long haul, but I refuse to give in to my illness. I try not to dwell on the things I cant do and have made the decision to enjoy the things I still can. As told to Miranda Levy Lewy Body Carers Week runs from 10-16 June 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. Ive no time for Diane Abbott, but the way Labour have treated her is a disgrace Diane Abbott stands with supporters who, along with unions, call for her confirmation to stand as a candidate - Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images Europe Sir Keir Starmer faced a backlash over his treatment of Diane Abbott this week, as he was accused of West Wing politics. Ms Abbott was given back the Labour whip on Tuesday -- but it has been reported she will not be allowed to stand at the upcoming general election, following her suspension from the party last year. She warned Sir Keir on Wednesday night that she would not be intimidated as she vowed to remain the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington. The majority of readers who took part in The Telegraphs exclusive poll voted against Diane Abbott being allowed to stand as a Labour MP, with many arguing that the party should not be seen to endorse previous comments shed made or backtrack on their initial decision. However, other readers suggested she has been treated unfairly by Sir Keir, with many questioning his leadership and how this could affect his election campaign. If Diane Abbott had any integrity about her, she would retire gracefully Reader Ray Collins supports Sir Keir putting his foot down, adding that Diane Abbott has repeatedly said stupid things throughout her career and has been allowed by some leaders to get away with it. Expanding on this, reader Andrew Kevill argues that Ms Abbott should be judged on her performance, which has nothing to do with the colour of her skin. A lot of people will be glad to see the back of her because she has made a laughing stock of herself over the years, as well as occasionally coming across as quite nasty, Andrew adds. He points out: Keir Starmer is also busy electioneering and she has of course become a pawn in his farcical attempt to show that he has cleared his party of anti-Semitism. Reader J Troughton summarises that Ms Abbott should retire gracefully after 37 years as an MP. Surely, she hopefully is intelligent enough to appreciate the damage that she would do to the Labour Party by standing as an independent candidate. This is an appalling case of double standards Wes Streeting said he was not particularly comfortable with the treatment of Diane Abbott on Wednesday. The shadow health secretary is the most senior figure in the party to voice his concerns about the handling of Ms Abbotts case. Reader Iain Donnelly agrees: Ive no time for Abbott for all of the aforementioned reasons, but she is the first British black woman MP and has endured years of abuse for it. The way they have treated her is an absolute disgrace. Similarly, reader Chris OConnor says that the Labour Party has treated Diane Abbott unfairly and points out: She has been a good and loyal servant of the Labour Party and a very good constituency MP over many decades. She should be allowed to run for Labour at the election. Anything less is a bit cheap and unworthy. Go Diane! For Norma Desmond, the situation doesnt make sense: Diane Abbott appears to have been made neither fish, nor fowl, nor good red herring. She has had the Labour whip restored but cannot stand as a Labour candidate in her constituency? Meanwhile, Jacqui Jay argues that this is an appalling case of double standards. She continues: I hope she stands as an independent and wins, purely to teach whomever made this stupid decision a lesson. Sir Keirs actions pour fuel on the fire that will eventually engulf him Tom Harris joined the conversation when he criticised Sir Keirs handling of the situation. He stated that the Diane Abbott saga has not been his finest hour, but that he should not cave in out of fear of a rebellion or criticism. Reader M. J. A. Church suggests that Sir Keirs actions pour fuel on the fire that will eventually engulf him. From his mentioning of Margaret Thatcher in his speeches, to the fact that he is chummy with Blair and Mandleson, they believe that hell be gone as Labour leader by Christmas. With an alternative view, reader Gav Green believes Sir Keir has actually made a very good decision and sent a powerful message to the grievance mob. He hopes this is the beginning of the end of obscene wokeness and the blow has been dealt with by Labour - which actually makes it stronger. Meanwhile, reader Donald Pump holds a similar view and concludes: Attacking Corbyn, Abbott, and the Labour left always looks good for their leader, as Tony Blair demonstrated many times. The difference now is that Keir Starmer follows it through with action. 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. Venezuela's electoral authorities on Tuesday revoked an invitation for a European Union mission to observe the country's upcoming presidential election, in which President Nicolas Maduro is seeking reelection. The head of the National Electoral Council, Elvis Amoroso, cited economic sanctions imposed by the 27-nation bloc as the reason for withdrawing the invitation. The EU had not yet accepted the invite that was extended earlier this year. Amoroso said Tuesday's decision is intended to show that EU representatives "are not welcome to come here to our country while the genocidal sanctions against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and especially its government, are maintained." The bloc, however, only maintains sanctions against more than 50 Venezuelans accused of acts of repression or efforts to undermine democracy, but not against the government as a whole. The announcement came two weeks after the EU temporarily lifted sanctions against four officials linked to the electoral body, including Amoroso, in recognition of the steps taken ahead of the July 28 election. But the relief was vehemently rejected by Venezuela's government and Amoroso, who argued it was selective and insufficient. An EU statement called on the National Electoral Council to reconsider its decision. "The Venezuelan people should be able to choose their next president in credible, transparent and competitive elections, supported by international observation, including that of the European Union, which has a long and distinguished record of independent and impartial observation," said the statement posted on the platform X. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks at the National Election Commission as he formalises his re-election candidacy. - Ariana Cubillos/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved In 2021, the EU accepted the invitation of Venezuelan officials to send a mission to observe regional elections that included gubernatorial and mayoral races. The mission concluded that the contest happened under better conditions than the country's elections in recent years, but that it was nonetheless marred by the use of public funds to benefit pro-government candidates. Election anomalies cited by the mission included delays in opening and closing voting centres, disproportionately favourable coverage for the ruling party on state television and the use of free food and other goods as political tools, among others. Venezuela's electoral body earlier this year set the presidential election for July 28 and extended invitations to various organisations to observe the contest. Those decisions fulfilled some of the provisions of an agreement signed last year between Maduro's government and the US-backed Unitary Platform opposition coalition. Under the agreement signed on the Caribbean island of Barbados, both sides vowed to work toward improving conditions for a free and fair election. Still, Venezuela's government continuously tested the limits of the accord, by, among other actions, blocking the candidacy of the president's chief opponent, Maria Corina Machado. Machado, a former lawmaker, won the coalition's October presidential primary with more than 90% of support. But the country's top court in January upheld an administrative decision blocking her candidacy. Her chosen substitute was barred from the ballot, too. Machado and the coalition are now backing former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. A verdict has been reached in Donald Trumps hush money trial, the first criminal trial of a former president of the United States. Watch the livestream above for updates, as the verdict is announced. (Update: Guilty, on all 34 counts.) More from TVLine The verdict was arrived at 29 hours after the New York jury of 12 first began deliberating on 34 felony counts against Trump, after theyd heard five weeks of testimony from 22 witnesses and eight hours of closing arguments. All told, there were about nine hours of deliberation. A felony conviction of a onetime POTUS and presumptive GOP nominee would be unprecedented. Trump in this matter was arrested in April 2023 and charged with 34 felony counts including a felony charge of falsifying business records related to hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, with whom he allegedly had sexual encounters in 2006. The charges brought by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg stemmed from Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen testifying that he paid off Daniels in 2016 and declared it a legal expense, as Trump pursued his first White House bid. Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker allegedly brokered the Daniels deal as well as used a catch-and-kill arrangement with Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep quiet her own 2006 affair with Trump. For Trump to be found guilty of a felony charge of falsifying business records, jurors must decide that he not only cause(d) a false entry in the business records of an enterprise while acting with intent to defraud, but also that the intent to defraud includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof. This was far from the onetime POTUS first scrape with the law. In June 2023, Trump was arrested and charged with 37 felony counts involving his alleged mishandling of classified documents after he left office in January 2021. That historic arraignment of a former president accused Trump of keeping classified documents in boxes stored at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, showing them to people without a security clearance, and not returning them when asked. On Aug. 1, 2023, a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. brought four charges against Trump, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy against rights. The indictment alleged that Trump pursued unlawful means of discounting legitimate votes and subverting the [2020] election results in an effort to remain in the Oval Office, despite the fact that he lost said election. It also covered Trumps alleged role in inciting the January 6th Capitol riot, where his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, attacking police officers and vandalizing the building in an effort to keep Congress from certifying Joe Bidens victory. And on Aug. 14, 2023, Trump was indicted for a fourth time in five months, charged with 13 felonies for allegedly conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Eighteen of Trumps allies, including Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis and Mark Meadows, were also charged in the indictment. Those charges stemmed from Trumps alleged attempts to claim victory in the state of Georgia in the 2020 election, despite the fact that he officially lost the state to Biden by 11,779 votes. Trump is set to debate incumbent President of the United States Joe Biden on Thursday, June 27, at CNNs Atlanta studios, with no audience present, and with CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash serving as moderators. Both presumptive candidates have also agreed to a second debate, to be held Sept. 10 and air on ABC, with David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC News as moderators. Best of TVLine Get more from TVLine.com : Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Newsletter Former President Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court Thursday morning in New York. The jury reached a verdict hours later: guilty on all counts. (Steven Hirsch / Associated Press) The sometimes-breathless gavel-to-gavel coverage of former President Trumps trial was no surprise, as a singularly divisive figure sat for more than a month at the defense table, the first president to face criminal charges and the possibility of a trip to jail. But for all the trials spectacle, many political observers predict that the impact of Thursdays 34 guilty verdicts will be muted and unlikely to change the dynamic in a presidential race that appears extremely close, just over five months before the last day of voting. The New York jurys verdict puts Trump in an unprecedented position: trying to win the White House as a felon, guilty of falsifying business records to bury the details of his extramarital one-night stand with a porn star. While a Trump appeal could still remove the threat of probation or jail, he still will have to explain to voters why a man convicted of a political cover-up should be entrusted with the most powerful office in the world. Read more: Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes Trump has provoked both admiration and despair depending on the audiences political leanings with his ability to survive what some judged to be fatal missteps. I already gave up my membership in the He-Certainly-Cant-Survive-This Club, David Axelrod, the top strategist in Barack Obamas two successful presidential campaigns, said in an interview. Look at how many other times he has gotten away with things. He is an extraordinary escape artist. (Axelrod and other experts spoke before the verdict.) In 2016, candidate Trump famously told a campaign crowd that he could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue in New York and shoot someone without losing his core supporters. Though the charges in the hush money case fell short of assault with a deadly weapon, they stand as a real-world test of Trumps seeming invulnerability from political norms. I already gave up my membership in the He-Certainly-Cant-Survive-This Club David Axelrod With about a month to go in the 2016 race, a previously secret video showed Trump boasting about his ability to sexually prey on women because of his fame. Many observers believed the Access Hollywood recording effectively killed his chances of winning the presidency. But Trump overtook front-runner Hillary Clinton in the final weeks of the race and won the presidency. When Trump was thrown out by voters in 2020 in favor of Joe Biden, some pundits again predicted Trumps days were numbered. But he pushed aside all his Republican primary challengers this year, despite a pair of legal setbacks: a jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996 and a judges order to pay a $454-million penalty for falsely inflating the value of his real estate empire. Trumps conviction plays out at a time when Americans are deeply divided, a fracture exacerbated by a sharply fragmented information ecosystem. Mainstream outlets parsed the detailed evidence presented by prosecutors in the trial, while right-leaning outlets bolstered Trumps claims that the charges amounted to a political hit job by Democratic prosecutors. After closing arguments Tuesday, one Newsmax cable television commentator suggested that the evidence in the case pointed to crimes not by Trump but by Stormy Daniels, who testified she had sex with Trump in 2006, and by prosecution witness Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer, who testified he helped facilitate the payments to keep Daniels quiet about the one-night stand. A Marquette Law School Poll completed in mid-May suggested the verdict might have some effect on the presidential race. When a national sample of voters was presented with the possibility that Trump would be found guilty in the New York case, 43% said they would vote for Biden, 38% would vote for Trump and 18% said they would vote for someone else or remained undecided. Presented with the opposite outcome, Trump being acquitted, the survey tipped in his favor, with voters preferring him by 44% to 38% over Biden. Again, 18% favored another candidate or were undecided. But both those results fall within the margin of error of more than 6%, said Charles Franklin, director of the Wisconsin-based poll. And previous experience suggests that public opinion about the hush money case might have been well settled for many voters long before the verdict, because the facts had been aired for many months, Franklin said. Read more: Column: Trump is officially a convicted felon, but that may not stand in his way Franklin compared the long run-up to the verdict with the prolonged public debate that occurred during Trumps first impeachment, when the onetime reality TV host was accused of soliciting foreign interference in a bid to help win the 2020 election. As the House considered the impeachment, then voted to impeach him and then the Senate voted to acquit him, the publics views [of Trump] and of the impeachment and then of the conviction didnt change, Franklin said. He predicted that future surveys about this weeks trial verdict were likely to show only a modest shift in voter sentiments. Charles Cook, a nonpartisan political analyst based in Washington, agreed that it was hard to imagine the verdict swaying many voters. Swing voters, particularly the pure independents who dont lean to either party, tend to be driven by other issues and have other priorities in mind when making their decisions to vote, Cook said via email. He said that the small group of voters who do not have hardened views on the 2024 race dont follow current events that much, believe all politicians and political parties are corrupt and are not particularly moved by this. The thought that Trump might entirely escape the wrath of voters seemed unfathomable to some. At some point, there is going to have to be a discussion of whether we want a liar and a convict in the Oval Office, said Ben Austin, a Los Angeles Democrat who worked in President Clintons White House. I mean, what kind of country are we? Reed Galen, a lifelong Republican who left the party and co-founded the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, wondered if GOP voters who once favored former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley might be put off by the revelations from the hush money case. Some of them were already highly skeptical of Trump, and this might take them off Trump Island, hopefully once and for all, Galen said. Read more: Q&A: Yes, Trump could be elected president as a convicted felon But Trump stalwarts say his detractors should have long ago recognized that he is impervious to critiques by mainstream media outlets and old-guard Republicans. Even those who have accepted that Trump is a flawed candidate said they find him preferable in a country they are convinced is going the wrong way under President Biden. By now, a lot of Arizonans are just numb to the trial and all of this, said Stan Barnes, a Republican who runs a public affairs and lobbying firm in the battleground state. Theyre a lot more focused on what kind of policies they want from the president. When Trump was in the White House, mortgage rates were [as low as] 2%, unemployment was [low]. And the southern border felt secure. Barnes said nothing that happened in the Manhattan courtroom would change those views, predicting that many Americans will be ready to vote again to promote Trump and his America first agenda. 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. At very least, Marion police raid on newspaper and officials home was elder abuse | Opinion Its like another day, another federal lawsuit against the city of Marion and its officials over their spectacularly ill-advised raid on the Marion County Record newspaper last August. The latest suit the fifth and final one expected in the case comes from Ruth Herbel, the former vice mayor who was targeted for standing up to Marions good-old-boy network and sharing information with the public about various municipal shenanigans that culminated in the raid. Most coverage to now, including my own, has focused more on the heavy-handed tactics directed against the newspaper and its owners using the color of authority to essentially steal their computers, phones and confidential records. That, and the fact that Joan Meyer, the 98-year-old co-owner of the paper, complained of stress after police invaded her home and died the day after the raid that she called (accurately) Hitler tactics. At the time, the newspaper was investigating Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody on confidential tips that hed been pushed out of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department on sexual misconduct allegations. The Record was also looking into a tip that local restaurateur Kari Newell who Cody called Honey in a phone conversation recorded on his body camera had an unresolved DUI from years ago on her record, while applying for a liquor license for her business. Like the paper, Herbel had received and looked into the DUI matter, sharing what she found with the city administrator. Unlike the paper, she didnt verify it against the state drivers license database, which was the genesis of an overblown identity-theft complaint by Newell. Through it all, Herbel has been kind of an asterisk on the case, a more-or-less forgotten victim, like when a plane crash kills a famous celebrity and two others. Herbels lawsuit differs from the others in that it alleges that the primary purpose of the plot was to get her removed from office, where shed repeatedly clashed with former Mayor David Mayfield and other powers that be in city government. Mistreatment by police, sheriffs deputies There are a lot of legal issues to unpack, but Im not going to do that today. This column is about the human tragedy of what happened on that sunny summer day when police officers and sheriffs deputies came along and upended the lives of those who disagreed with the way their city was being run. Herbel, and especially her husband, Ronald, suffered the same indignities and mistreatment at the hands of law enforcement that the Record owners and staff endured. The day of the raid, the officer, the sheriffs officer, appeared at my door to serve the warrant, Herbel said. My husband answered the door, and he has dementia, and I was unavailable. So he went through the house hollering either Honey or Ruth and looking for me. And when I caught up with him, he was really upset. The deputy demanded Herbels computer and cellphone, and stacked them on a table while waiting for Cody to come by and interrogate her in front of her husband, which further confused and frightened him. At the end of a half-hour of questioning and false accusations, Herbel inquired about her phone. I said you cant take my phone, its the only one I have and I need it in case I have to have an ambulance for my husband, Herbel said. And he (Cody) says Well, you committed a crime, I have to have it. So anyway, he took my phone and my computer. Cody called his chief lackey, Officer Zach Hudlin (now the citys acting police chief), to come bag it and tag it, Herbel said. I asked him at that time, Can I at least get the numbers off my phone, for medical numbers and my children? Herbel said. I didnt have these numbers anywhere else Hudlin told me No. Youll just have to go get another phone He said Go buy another one, like they grow on trees. She did, and five days after the raid, the county prosecutor ruled the search warrants were invalid and requested return of the seized items. In a tragicomic twist, the police gave Herbels devices to the Record and she had to track them down. Working with Wichita specialist to adjust meds Nine months later, the mental damage is ongoing for Ronald Herbel. It had a lasting effect on him and hes still very confused at times, Ruth Herbel said. We are still working with our specialist at Wichita to get his meds adjusted. The crime if there actually was one would have been minor at most. The Herbels were not a threat to flee or try to destroy evidence and basic police procedure dictates handling frail and elderly people with kid gloves. There was no conceivable reason to treat this 81-year-old city official and her 89-year-old husband like they were Bonnie and Clyde. Their lawyer, Jared McClain of the Institute for Justice, was right when he said it didnt have to be like this. When they refused to let Ruth get the numbers out of her cellphone, it almost seems like they could all tell what they were doing was wrong, but each, individually, didnt take the initiative to stand up and say, This is wrong, I can just open the cellphone right now and let this woman get the numbers for her medical providers out, he said. They all just went along, fell in line and I do think its endemic in these places were power is consolidated in too few people and there is not enough consequences to their actions. Theres a term for what law enforcement officers did to Ruth and Ronald Herbel and especially to Joan Meyer that day. Its called elder abuse. And then they had a pizza party afterwards to celebrate. Raiding the newspaper wasnt Marions first attack on democracy and the 1st Amendment | Opinion Most embarrassing leak ever: Marion police chiefs own video shows hes unfit to serve | Opinion Veterans at Risk of Losing Homes Could Get More Time as VA Urges Extended Pause on Foreclosures The Department of Veterans Affairs has "strongly encouraged" mortgage servicers to extend their pause on foreclosures of certain home loans guaranteed by the VA through the end the year, according to an update released Wednesday on the VA News website. The VA's call aims to give nearly 40,000 veterans more time to find ways to stay in their homes, and comes just ahead of the official start to the new Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase program, or VASP. Announced by the VA just last month, VASP will be a "last resort" for veterans who have defaulted on home loans and, because of those defaults, are not eligible for other VA loan assistance programs. Read Next: Unprotected: Troops Spent Decades Elbow-Deep in Dangerous Chemicals to Keep Nuclear Missiles Working Through VASP, the VA will purchase qualified veterans' loans from loan servicers, helping to make the loan more affordable for the homeowner. Mortgage servicers must have VASP fully implemented by Oct. 1. "Let me be clear, VASP is a last resort option that may be available when it is the most appropriate home retention option under VA's home retention waterfall," VA Under Secretary of Benefits Joshua Jacobs told reporters last month. According to the news release, veterans will not apply directly through the VA to use VASP benefits. Instead, the veteran's mortgage servicer is expected to submit a request to the VA, on the veteran's behalf. In 2023 alone, the VA backed more than 400,000 home loans and helped 145,000 avoid foreclosure. Currently, the department guarantees home loans for more than 3.7 million veterans. The VA said in November that it would ask mortgage service providers to pause foreclosures following a 2023 investigation by NPR that found thousands of veterans who'd used a COVID-era program designed to allow homeowners to defer payments were unexpectedly facing foreclosure. According to the report, roughly 6,000 veteran homeowners were in the foreclosure process and 34,000 were delinquent. VASP is part of the VA's response to rectify the fallout from the debacle. Military.com has previously reported that the VA expects VASP to be "net revenue positive" for the federal government, with a benefits reduction of $1.5 billion over 10 years, because "the savings associated with foreclosure outweighs the cost of purchasing the loans," according to Jacobs. In this week's news release, the VA advised veterans facing financial hardship to first contact their mortgage servicers to explore all available home retention options. For additional support, call the VA directly at 877-827-3702 or visit the VA Home Loans website. -- Kelsey Baker is a graduate student at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, and a former active-duty Marine. Reach her on X at @KelsBBaker or bakerkelsey@protonmail.com. Related: VA Introduces New 'Last Resort' Loan Program to Help Roughly 40,000 Veterans Keep Their Homes SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will be coming to San Diego on Friday for a political fundraiser, White House officials confirmed. Additional details about the trip have not yet been announced, including where in the county she will be traveling to and what time she is slated to arrive. The vice presidents San Diego visit will come one day after stopping at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs to deliver the keynote address at the schools graduation ceremony. Her remarks at the event were live streamed by the White House. New emergency alert system to address evacuation challenges in San Diego County Harris stop in San Diego on Friday will mark the first visit by either the president or vice president in over a year President Joe Biden last journeyed to the city for a meeting with the British and Australian Prime Ministers to discuss a historic defense deal. First Lady Jill Biden visited San Diego several months after that meeting for a private event supporting the presidents reelection campaign. The fundraiser was held at the Rancho Santa Fe estate owned by Allan and Megan Camaisa, according to the press pool at the event. Allan is an entrepreneur in biotech and security software, while Megan is a producer in film and Christian media. FOX 5 will have a team following Vice President Harris while she is in San Diego. Check back for updates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. The jury is still out, but Donald Trumps campaign has already suggested that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee will seek revenge against whoever was involved in his myriad legal trials. Speaking to Fox Newss Jesse Watters, Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that people need to be held accountable for their crimes committed against Trumpthat is, all the people who have attempted to prosecute Trump and give the former president the same legal treatment as they would any other private citizen. Lets say he does win reelection this November, will there be any revenge directed at the people that put this hoax case together? asked Watters. Well, certainly people need to be held accountable for the crimes that have been committed over the last several years. Weve seen them lie, weve seen them abuse our justice system, weve seen Joe Biden target innocent Americans across this country such as the protesters on January 6, who theyve thrown in the gulag in Washington, D.C., Leavitt said, referring to the Soviet Unionera work camps for criminals and political prisoners. President Trump said he will pardon those protesters on day one of his presidency. Yes, justice needs to be served for the good-hearted Americans across this country who want to see an equal application of the law, Leavitt said, seemingly insinuating that Trumps followers do not expect to be held to the law if they commit a crime. And this trial proves we dont have that in America right now. Trump Campaign Press Secretary suggests Trump will seek revenge over his prosecutions. She also says that Biden targeted innocent Americans such as the protesters on January 6th who they've thrown in the gulags who she says Trump will pardon pic.twitter.com/DPFgWc6XWL Acyn (@Acyn) May 30, 2024 Virtually complete Stegosaurus fossil goes on sale - but not everyone is happy A Stegosaurus skeleton described as the most complete and best preserved of its kind ever discovered is expected to fetch up to $6 million at auction this summer but not everyone is happy about it . The exceptional and virtually complete dinosaur fossil, which is 11 feet tall and 20 feet long, will be sold as part of Sothebys annual Geek Week. Paleontologists have questioned the sale of such specimens to private bidders, arguing that these finds should be preserved in museums or other public spaces. Nevertheless, that will not stop the auction of the 150-million-year-old fossil from going ahead in New York on July 17. Apex, as it has been nicknamed, is the finest Stegosaurus specimen to come to market, Sothebys said in a press release Wednesday. It is expected to fetch between $4 million and $6 million, making it one of the most valuable dinosaur fossils ever offered up for sale, the auction house added. Characterized by its distinctive shape, the Stegosaurus was a herbivorous dinosaur with a tiny head and bony plates marching down its back, ending in a spiked tail. A commercial paleontologist named Jason Cooper unearthed Apex on his private land in Colorado, and Sothebys said it was involved in the process from the outset. The auction house collaborated closely with Cooper to document the entire process, from discovery and excavation to restoration, preparation, and mounting, ensuring that the documentation and sale of the specimen is handled with the highest standards and transparency. This collaboration, it said, continues Sothebys legacy of pioneering Natural History auctions. The fossil, nicknamed Apex, was discovered by a commercial paleontologist on his private land in Colorado. - Sothebys Some, however, see it differently. Steve Brusatte, a professor of paleontology and evolution at Scotlands University of Edinburgh, described the specimen as an important dinosaur fossil, particularly as there are far fewer good (Stegosaurus) skeletons than other famous dinosaurs like T. rex and Triceratops. This, according to Brusatte, is part of the reason it should not end up in private hands. If what the auction house is saying is true, and what Im seeing in these photos is genuine, then this skeleton really does belong in a museum, where it can be conserved, studied by scientists, and put on display to inspire people from all walks of life, he said in an email to CNN Thursday. It is a great shame when a fossil like this, which could educate and rouse the curiosity of so many people, just disappears into the mansion of an oligarch. Apex was discovered in the Morrison Formation in Moffat County, Colorado - and very aptly close to the town of Dinosaur in May 2022. It took more than a year to fully excavate the specimen, which was found to have evidence of arthritis, suggesting it lived to an advanced age, with no signs of combat or predation-related injuries. The highest bidder will receive a copy of the dinosaurs scan data, plus a full license to use any 3D data however they choose. This, according to Sothebys, will allow primary information about the dinosaur to remain with the specimen and promote collaboration in future research and education. There were no signs of injury on the specimen but there was evidence of arthritis, which suggests the dinosaur lived to an advanced age. - Sothebys Brusatte argued, however, that research and education would be best served if the fossil was owned by an institution with an expertise in dinosaurs. The uber-wealthy will always be able to outbid museums when a dinosaur is sold on the open market, so my hope is that if there is somebody with the means to buy a fossil like this, and this fossil captures their fancy, that they donate it to a museum, said Brusatte. What a legacy that would be to have your dinosaur on public display, to have your name up in lights as the donor who saved the dinosaur for science, as kids and families stroll by and gawk at this awesome creature from prehistory. Londons Natural History Museum is home to Sophie, a comparable fossil - though Apex is at least 30% bigger, according to Sothebys. Cassandra Hatton, Sothebys global head of science and popular culture, described Apex as simply one of the best fossils of its kind ever unearthed. Visitors to Sothebys New York galleries will be able to see Apex as part of a free exhibition of some of the items on sale during Geek Week. Sothebys legacy of pioneering Natural History auctions, as it refers to it, includes the 2022 sale of an ancient skeleton of a Gorgosaurus, which sold for just over $6 million. It also sold the first standalone T Rex skull with Maximus in December 2022. Stan, the worlds most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, set a new world record in 2020 when it sold for $31.8 million at Christies. At the time of sale, paleontologists feared the fossil was lost to science, but in March the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism revealed plans for Stan to be a star attraction at a new museum of natural history, expected to open in 2025 in Abu Dhabi, as CNN previously reported. Kristen Rogers and Yenny Sanchez contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Over the past year, the United States stock market has experienced a significant uptick, rising 25%, though it has remained flat in the last week. In this context of expected earnings growth and stable recent performance, dividend stocks stand out as potentially appealing for investors looking to generate regular income while participating in market gains. Top 10 Dividend Stocks In The United States Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Columbia Banking System (NasdaqGS:COLB) 7.86% Resources Connection (NasdaqGS:RGP) 5.13% Silvercrest Asset Management Group (NasdaqGM:SAMG) 5.04% Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) 5.15% Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG) 4.91% Dillard's (NYSE:DDS) 4.71% CompX International (NYSEAM:CIX) 4.98% Ennis (NYSE:EBF) 4.86% First Bancorp (NasdaqGS:FNLC) 5.98% Franklin Financial Services (NasdaqCM:FRAF) 4.94% Click here to see the full list of 214 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener. We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: Ituran Location and Control Ltd. offers location-based telematics services and machine-to-machine products, with a market capitalization of approximately $551.65 million. Operations: Ituran Location and Control Ltd. generates its revenue primarily through location-based telematics services and machine-to-machine products. Dividend Yield: 5.7% Ituran Location and Control Ltd. recently affirmed a quarterly dividend of US$0.39 per share, reflecting a commitment to shareholder returns despite a 25% tax deduction on payouts. The company's financial health is underscored by its first quarter revenue of US$85.03 million and net income of US$13.04 million, both showing an increase from the previous year. With a payout ratio at 31.2% and cash payout ratio at 54.7%, the dividends appear sustainable, supported by consistent earnings growth and positive cash flow coverage, although historical dividend reliability has been questioned due to past volatility in payments. NasdaqGS:ITRN Dividend History as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: Entravision Communications Corporation is a global advertising solutions, media, and technology company with a market capitalization of approximately $192.91 million. Operations: Entravision Communications Corporation generates its revenue from three primary sources: audio, which brought in $52.39 million, digital at $973.74 million, and television contributing $119.17 million. Story continues Dividend Yield: 9.4% Entravision Communications offers a high dividend yield of 9.39%, ranking in the top 25% of US dividend payers. However, this attractive yield comes with concerns: the dividends are not supported by earnings or profit, as the company is currently unprofitable and dividends are not covered by earnings. On a positive note, with a cash payout ratio of 37%, the dividends are well-covered by cash flows, suggesting some level of sustainability despite broader financial challenges. Recent executive changes could signal strategic shifts but have yet to address underlying profitability issues. NYSE:EVC Dividend History as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: GeoPark Limited is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company with operations in countries including Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Ecuador, boasting a market capitalization of approximately $566.40 million. Operations: GeoPark Limited generates its revenue primarily from the oil and gas exploration and production segment, totaling approximately $741.59 million. Dividend Yield: 5.3% GeoPark Limited reported a slight increase in net income to US$30.2 million for Q1 2024, despite a revenue drop to US$167.4 million from US$182.5 million the previous year. The company recently raised its quarterly dividend to $0.147 per share, totaling approximately US$7.5 million, payable in June 2024. GeoPark's dividends are well-covered by earnings with a payout ratio of 26.2% and by cash flows with a cash payout ratio of 32.2%. However, its dividend history over the past five years has been marked by volatility and inconsistency. NYSE:GPRK Dividend History as at May 2024 Key Takeaways Unlock more gems! Our Top Dividend Stocks screener has unearthed 211 more companies for you to explore.Click here to unveil our expertly curated list of 214 Top Dividend Stocks. Are you invested in these stocks already? Keep abreast of every twist and turn by setting up a portfolio with Simply Wall St, where we make it simple for investors like you to stay informed and proactive. Join a community of smart investors by using Simply Wall St. It's free and delivers expert-level analysis on worldwide markets. Contemplating Other Strategies? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqGS:ITRN NYSE:EVC and NYSE:GPRK. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com When I used to complain about the divisiveness of American politics, my son, Henry, would often suggest I do something about it. Henry had been a poll worker during the 2020 elections, when he was 17. It was his first official job and he loved the experience. He even wrote about it in his college essays. After Henry was tragically killed in an accident on Aug. 29, 2022, I followed his lead and signed up to work that years midterms. It could have been a mistake committing to something this important when I was struggling with my grief. Instead, I became completely engaged in the work and learned, through my sons example, how we can all still find nonpartisan ways to better our political process and rise above our countrys fragmentation. Until November 2022, I never thought about the mild-mannered poll workers Id encountered and the herculean effort required to run an election. Assigned by L.A. County to be an election coordinator, I was responsible for auditing five voting sites in the week leading up to and on election day. I attended a one-day training session where instructors explained voting procedures, demonstrated the electronic poll book system, gave me a county-issued phone and helped fill my trunk with boxes of supplies. I was ready to go. That first morning, I arrived at Westminster Avenue Elementary School in Venice at 7 a.m., nervously clutching my clipboard, as the vote center opened. By 8 p.m., I was on hand to help the Venice Boys & Girls Club site complete its closing procedures. For the 13 hours in between, I audited each of my five assigned voting stations, driving a constant loop between Venice and Santa Monica. Was the official table set up with the required forms, flyers and guides? It was. Were the printers working? Check. Was curbside voting available? Yes. Did anyone need extra provisional envelopes, posters, registration forms, I voted stickers or scissors? If so, I had extras in my car. Everything about the work surprised me. The entire process had become digitized, with procedures in place to keep the voting data secure. Each evening, the team printed the voting reports, counted all the ballots (voted, provisional, conditional, curbside, write-in), packed away machines, printers and supplies into carts, and then locked them with scanned zip-ties to ensure the chain of custody. Finally, two people were required to drive the ballots to a central location. By then, it was usually close to 10 p.m. I assume the other poll workers had strong political opinions, as do I. But we didnt discuss the candidates or the endless propositions on the ballot. Everyone was calm and professional. We were an incongruous group, ranging in age from 16 to 70 and coming from every corner of Los Angeles. Most of us were paid a stipend, but no one was there for the money. It wasnt picture-book patriotism. There were no lofty speeches. I never heard the Pledge of Allegiance. But we were all on Team Democracy. I was proud to be a part of it. My experience tracks with data that found, Among the possible motivations for serving, a sense of civic duty and commitment to the election process were most important. Showing support for ones political party was a rarely stated motivation among poll workers. In short, there is nothing political about being a poll worker. Most of us worked consecutive 14- to 15-hour days, and things didnt always go as planned. We had to redirect crowds after a power outage during a storm. The county sent an electrician within hours to get the power back. Nevertheless, one woman barked that we were preventing her from voting and threatened to call her lawyer. Poll workers tried to stop several attempts at electioneering. Thats campaigning or soliciting votes within 100 feet of a vote center. The local school board candidates were the problem. One tried to hold up their campaign sign in the parking lot outside the polls. They were asked to move. Another handed out balloons to kids in the park next to the polls balloons printed with the candidate's name. There were several highlights for me. I drove a 94-year-old woman home the evening she voted. A group of election observers from Western Europe watched as we closed one night. They didnt ask questions, just looked on serenely as everything ran smoothly. I thought: We must be doing something right. An Iranian American man became tearful while casting his ballot. He spoke of women in Iran being killed defending their human rights. On election day, I arrived home exhausted, but fulfilled, close to midnight. Id found a small way to support our democratic process and it felt good. Id also honored my son and created a new shared experience for the two of us. I knew Henry was proud of me. Maybe I hadnt stopped complaining about politics. But Id done something to help. For both of us. Ill be working the polls again this November. Elizabeth Kopple works in content marketing and lives with her husband in Santa Monica. She is working on a memoir focused on the loss of her son. 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. Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris accepts a gift from the class of 2024 at the United States Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Parker Seibold/The Gazette via AP) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) Vice President Kamala Harris spoke Thursday to a sea of white-capped graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, looking back at U.S. airpower during D-Day and then forward to this generation's edge on technological innovation, such as artificial intelligence. Eighty years ago, over the beaches of Normandy, America won control of the skies, and we have kept it ever since, said Harris to the 974 graduates, the class that arrived in 2020 to pandemic lockdowns, masks, COVID-19 testing, plexiglass partitions and virtual classes. Our nation is counting on you to preserve and defend that strength, including, I will add, through your ability to innovate, said Harris. Harris praised the current roles the Air Force and Space Force are playing across the world, including U.S. air patrols deterring Russian on NATO's eastern flank, the rivalry with China in the Indo-Pacific, weapons shipments to Ukraine and defending Israel from attacks by Iran. Americas national security and global security depend on our strength in the sky and in space, said Harris to the arrayed cadets who will become second lieutenants in the Air Force or Space Force. America's security relies on you, I know you will make your country proud. Not a week before, President Joe Biden addressed U.S. Military Academy graduates, saying there's never been a time when the U.S. has asked it's military to do so many different things in so many different places around the world, all at the same time. Harris highlighted the graduates' technological literacy, having grown up with computers and the internet, and encouraged them to take up the torch of innovation, including around AI, as warfare evolves. The speeches, including Harris', were void of politics. Joking around, Harris said she waived any minor violations of the cadet disciplinary system, as the thousands of family and friends gathered in the sunbathed Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, chuckled. Harris reminded graduates that the oath they take is to the Constitution, not to a person or political party. Even in a world of continuous change, this oath, well it remains constant, said Harris. The class gifted Harris an honorary membership to the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2024. The commencement wrapped with graduates pitching their caps into the air as the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, roared past overhead. There is no more noble work than one can do than to serve our nation in uniform, Harris said. Today you join the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Vice President Kamala Harris arrived aboard Air Force Two on Wednesday evening, May 29, ahead of her commencement address at the Air Force Academy Class of 2024 graduation ceremony. VP Harris was announced as the 2024 commencement speaker in April. She arrived in Colorado Springs just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, and will speak before the nearly 1,000 graduates of the Air Force Academy on Thursday. When will the Thunderbirds be flying overhead this week? Courtesy: Colorado Springs Airport Courtesy: Colorado Springs Airport The graduation ceremony is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, and the City of Colorado Springs is warning drivers that there will be heavy traffic and road closures near Falcon Stadium between 5-9 a.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m. as a result of VP Harris motorcade. Following the commencement address and graduation ceremony, the Air Force Thunderbirds will perform a flyover above Falcon stadium, followed by an aerial demonstration. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) It was graduation day for cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday. I believe there is no more noble work that one can do than to serve our nation in uniform, Vice President Kamala Harris said. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the commencement address at the academys Colorado Springs campus. With a salute and a handshake, the vice president congratulated the cadets. Today you join the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen, Harris said. Traveling often on Air Force II, Harris knows the work that goes into having a smooth ride and a safe landing. Academy graduates have piloted her over more than 400,000 miles. So, it is my firsthand experience that this academy produces some of the greatest pilots in the world, Harris said. Vice President Harris address to graduates comes as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East play out. Around the world, our allies are in awe and our adversaries in fear, Harris said. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall posed this question to the graduates. Are you ready for those challenges class of 2024? Yes, I think you are, Kendall said. Next week marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Harris says it was Americas air power that changed the course of history. America won control of the skies, Harris said. Before congratulating the class of 2024, the vice president paused to pose for a selfie with the graduates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. ZEELAND, Mich. (WOOD) When one-half of a popular West Michigan morning DJ duo disappeared from the mic for several weeks last summer, their listeners had many questions. Tommy and Brooke have been a morning team duo in West Michigan for nearly two decades. Loyal listeners, no doubt, noticed Brooke suddenly disappearing from the airwaves last July and Tommys plea for prayers. The duo was eventually reunited, but Brooke feels called to share her journey over the last several months now, during Stroke Awareness Month. For listeners of Christian station JOY 99.3 in Zeeland, mornings mean Tommy and Brooke. For nearly 20 years, the duo has been partnered up on the airwaves across West Michigan. Off the airwaves, Brooke Taylors husband Chris, who she affectionately calls the Captain, is her partner. The couple loves spending time on their boat in Muskegon. Last July, it wasnt a wave that set them back but a health hurdle no one saw coming. She just finished taking care of me because I had hip surgery, so now it was my turn to take care of her, Chris said. It was probably three of four days before everything sunk in. I had a stroke, Im not going to be normal again, Brooke Taylor said. Home alone on a Tuesday night, Brooke realized something wasnt right. Something with her eyes, maybe her contacts. I kept trying to blink and get my eyes straightened out and I thought maybe my contacts are messed up, Brooke said. I stood up to go to my bathroom to change and put my glasses on and my contacts out. And when I stood up, I fell over. Not wanting to believe anything major was wrong, yet not being able to do something as simple as dialing 911. I couldnt figure out how to make my phone work. I kept hitting it, and it would go black, and I would try to open it, and I just started getting scared; I thought, what is wrong with my phone? Its the dumb phone, its not me, its my dumb phone, Brooke recalled. An hour and a half later, she was able to connect with Ottawa County 911. I remember saying to her, Please dont go through any trouble. I just think its something wrong with my contacts. I dont know. I just think I probably should be checked out. I dont think I should drive,' Brooke said. The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, urges people to learn the signs of a stroke with the acronym BE FAST. I remember always hearing FAST. F-A-S-T: face, arms, speech, time to get to the doctor, Brooke said. Since I memorized that, theyve added BE FAST, B-E-F-A-S-T, and the B is balance, and the E is eyes. Not even 60 years old, Brooke had not one, but two strokes. She thought she knew the signs but the added B-E to BE FAST were the strongest symptoms she was experiencing. Balance that fall when she attempted to get up and change her contacts. During the time she was fiddling with her phone, trying but failing to call for help, Brooke took some selfies pictures she didnt remember taking and didnt find until much later. Pictures that plainly showed the E in BE FAST eyes. It was kind of like a discovery over the next couple of days that I was not myself anymore, said she. Brooke threw herself into recovery with her radio partner holding down the fort. Tommy just kept going on the air saying Brooke is having some health challenges and well let you know more. Just be praying for her, said Brooke. She also had her Captain by her side. Its during these tough times when all are tested. Realize Gods in charge, his plan is established, Chris said. During her rehab, surgeries and doctors appointments, Chris was writing a poem about their journey. Although she desperately wanted to get back to her listeners, there was still doctors appointments and testing to be cleared. I can truly say with the prayers of Gods faith from within, all of youve been through, you can proudly say I win. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. A picture of a Purdue sign in reference to the hundreds of opioid settlements the company is embroiled in. Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, and its owners, the Sackler family, were among those who faced hundreds of lawsuits across the country related to the opioid epidemic. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Washington is so far set to receive around $1.6 billion in settlement funds from companies accused of playing a role in fueling the opioid epidemic. Thats according to the state attorney generals office and a database from KFF Health News, which tracks the largest opioid settlement to date $26 billion paid to states across the country by three pharmaceutical distributors and an opioid manufacturer. Local governments in Washington are expected to receive an estimated $373 million from the national settlement over the next two decades. Theyll also get about $645 million up until 2038 from $1.3 billion in various state settlements. The other half of the $1.3 billion will go to Washingtons state government. Other settlements still pending could yield additional money. More than $4.3 billion from the nationwide settlement had been distributed as of late February, about $57 million of which has gone to over 100 cities and counties across Washington. Here we take a look at how the money is getting used in five of the states counties. All five emphasized that they want to ensure programs created with the funds dont end when the money runs out and said they worked with community organizations, people affected by the opioid crisis and medical providers to guide spending. King County Money received from national settlement: $3,386,049 Estimated future payout from national settlement: $25,017,599 Estimated state payout to the county: $72,334,146 Estimated state payout including cities in the county: $134,842,936 King County anticipates spending an average of $3.4 million in opioid settlement funds a year between 2022 to 2038, with about 75% of the money going to community organizations, said Laura Meader, program manager at the Seattle & King County public health department. Those dollars are aimed at addressing disparities in the communities most affected by harms caused by the opioid crisis, Meader said, which means the funds are available not just for direct treatment, but for other surrounding supports, like organizations providing grief counseling for communities affected by overdose deaths. The county is reviewing the first round of applications from community groups and expects to launch another soon, with contracts for the first round granted this summer and the second round sometime in the fall. King County has also already spent around $200,000 on harm reduction services, including supplies like naloxone, an overdose reversal medication, and fentanyl test strips. Seattle has its own designated dollars about $13 million from the national settlement, $34 million in state funds and potential dollars from the citys ongoing litigation. The city is putting together its own plan, Meader said. Settlement dollars its a brand new space for all local and state municipalities, Meader said. Were all learning together and recognize that it can be challenging to program these funds when theres not existing infrastructure everywhere. We feel really fortunate here in King County. Find King Countys full plan here. Spokane County Money received from national settlement: $1,347,790 Estimated future payout from national settlement: $9,958,053 Estimated state payout to the county: $28,792,022 Estimated state payout including cities in the county: $45,968,924 Spokane County has approved $7.2 million in projects so far with opioid settlement funds, with $5.2 million going to expand the Spokane Regional Crisis Stabilization Center, including introducing 23-hour immediate crisis and stabilization services. The county hopes the project will help alleviate the burden left behind by the closure of four behavioral health facilities in Spokane County over the last several years. If someone has a need, they go to the ER, and thats not for behavioral health treatment, said Justin Johnson, director of Spokane County Community Services. Another $1.2 million will go to fund 16 beds at the center to expand treatment in the next two years while the center undergoes longer-term expansion and renovation. Meanwhile, the county wants to ensure families have somewhere to go after treatment: $600,000 will go to housing and treatment support such as child care and case management for parents and caregivers of infants affected by drug use. If were willing to support treatment, why arent we willing to support the comprehensive array of services to make sure its successful? Johnson said. Spokane County is also trying to help its neighbors. The county helps provide crisis and involuntary treatment services across six neighboring counties and is partnering with those counties to determine how to best use their opioid dollars. Find the countys full plan here. Snohomish County Money received from national payout: $1,673,218 Estimated future payout from national settlement: $12,362,456 State money received so far: $1.4 million Estimated state payout to the county: $35,743,947 Estimated payout including cities in the county: $61,189,456 Snohomish County officials, like those in Spokane, said one of the biggest needs is consistent access to addiction treatment, particularly in more rural areas of the county, where patients were traveling for hours to get to clinics in Everett. It literally was keeping [patients] from being able to hold a job, said Jason Biermann, the countys lead on its use of opioid settlement funds. But in western Washington, the cost of a new building would be too expensive to cover with the settlement funds, Biermann said. So instead, Snohomish County will spend about $600,000 a year to launch a mobile treatment van that will provide methadone and other medications for patients with opioid-use disorder. The state already funds several of these vans, but Snohomish Countys van will be entirely paid for with opioid settlement funds. Biermann said the county already believes there is a need for more than one van, and hopes that if the first is successful, they may be able to fund more vans with state dollars. Aside from funding staff and community organizations, the county has also funneled about $121,000 to its existing Leave-Behind program, which allows first responders to leave behind naloxone after responding to an overdose. Biermann said he hopes the public will understand that the settlement dollars are not the huge windfall they appear to be because they have to be doled out to so many different local governments and that Snohomish County, like most other counties, has other opioid epidemic-related investments, such as $8 million in federal pandemic aid going to brick-and-mortar treatment facilities. Settlement funds are one piece of a very complex puzzle, Biermann said. The countys full plan can be found here. Pierce County Money received from national payout: $1,752,106 Estimated future payout from national settlement: $12,945,316 Estimated state payout to the county: $37,429,187 Estimated total state payout including cities in the county: $62,293,102 Pierce County is still figuring out where its first round of settlement dollars will go. We want to have a robust plan in place before we start spending the money, said Margo Burnison, behavioral health manager for the county. Burnison said the county has some ideas based on what the state is doing, like mobile health treatment vans and behavioral health hubs where providers use shared space to provide comprehensive treatment for substance-use disorder. The county has ten cities that are all separately receiving opioid dollars. At least four are planning on pooling their money with Pierce County: Bonney Lake, Fife, Edgewood and Sumner. Of the countys jurisdictions, only Gig Harbor which is set to receive about $445,000 in state funds and $175,000 in national settlement funds has used any of its opioid dollars. Gig Harbor used some of its money to hire a housing, health and human services program manager, Shealynn Smiley. Smiley started in October last year and has since worked to bring in existing services across Pierce County into Gig Harbor. Being across the bridge and out here theres so many wonderful service providers like in Tacoma that havent had the opportunity to build that relationship in the Harbor, Smiley said. So that has really been my focus. Pierce County is also working with the city of Tacoma, which hasnt used any of its dollars yet about $6.7 million from the national settlement and $17 million from the state but has set aside about $100,000 a year for its therapeutic courts, which aim to reduce recidivism through intensive support in court, like offering treatment providers and peer counselors. Were trying to be very thoughtful and strategic about how to use this relatively small amount in comparison to the scope of the problem, said Jacques Colon, director of Tacomas Office of Strategy. Clark County Money received from national settlement: $1,093,998 Estimated future payout from national settlement: $8,082,932 Estimated state payout to the county: $23,370,427 Estimated total state payout including cities in the county: $35,100,864 Clark County is contracting with Carelon Behavioral Health, a behavioral health care management company based in Boston, to administer its settlement funds. The company has a close relationship with both local and state government in Washington: It provides behavioral health crisis services to eight different counties, including Clark County, and works with the states Health Care Authority to provide an array of services, including substance-use disorder services, to the states Medicaid patients. The countys opioid abatement council councils every county has by law that determine how to use the settlement dollars has also just awarded nearly $1 million to nine community organizations providing drug prevention, treatment programs and recovery services. Those grants include $270,612 to Clark County Jail Services to increase the number of eligible incarcerated people provided medications for opioid-use disorder and $53,975 for Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health to support its network of naloxone vending machines. Carelon is keeping all public information about its work administering opioid funds for Clark County here. The post How WA counties are spending millions in opioid settlement dollars appeared first on Washington State Standard. Nikki Haley shows her true colors: The former presidential contender, United Nations ambassador, and South Carolina governor visited Israel this week. A photo was taken of her writing "finish them" on artillery shells that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will use in either Lebanon or Gaza, along with "America [heart emoji] Israel always." (She was visiting the north, so using the artillery shells against Hezbollah seems more likely.) Finish them! , , . - , . " ! pic.twitter.com/qvLNCXPl7o Danny Danon ???????? (@dannydanon) May 28, 2024 Interpreted charitably, Haley could have meant "them" as Hamas, the terrorists responsible for perpetrating the October 7 attack which killed 1,200 Israelis and took 240 hostages, or Hezbollah, a terrorist group and key Hamas ally based in Lebanon that's been assaulting the north. But given how much criticism Israel has received from international onlookersincluding the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutor issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallantfor purported war crimes and conducting what has been described as a "genocide" in Gaza, "finish them" seems liable to misinterpretation. Her follow-up comments didn't exactly exonerate her. "Israel, they're the good guys," Haley said in an interview with the newspaper Israel Hayom (more coverage here). "And you know what I want Israelis to know? You're doing the right thing. Don't let anybody make you feel wrong." Haley then criticized the Biden administration's decision earlier this month to pause heavy bombs shipments to Israel over the military's Rafah invasion: "You can't hold back weapons from an ally. So if we want to be a friend to Israel, the best thing America can do is let Israel do its job and just support we shouldn't be preaching to Israel, we shouldn't be telling them how to win the war, we shouldn't tell them what they can or can't do." "We should just be saying, what else do you need?" Haley continued. Biden's side of the story: "Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those [2,000-pound] bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers," President Joe Biden said on CNN. "I've made it clear to Bibi [Netanyahu] and the war cabinet: They're not going to get our support, if in fact they go on these population centers." It's easy to look at Haley as nothing more than a war hawk and, indeed, her comments suggest that she wants the U.S. to provide fully unconditional support for Israelcontra how the Biden administration has been handling the situation. The "finish them" comment was probably referring to terrorists, not civiliansmaking it a bit less horrifying than some of the loudest voices would have you believebut Haley's inability to describe the situation with sufficient nuance is disturbing nonetheless, and more evidence of why her 2024 presidential campaign so sorely missed the mark. Military assistance: The U.S. provides Israel with $3.8 billion in military aid each year. This year, legislators here have already passed a supplemental $26 billion in funds for Israeli defense and humanitarian aid in Gaza. At least 25,000 Gazans have been killed so far, though there are disputes over the death toll (controversy explained here), with some 10,000 believed to be buried in the rubble that covers the Strip. U.S. taxpayer dollars are going toward Israel's attempt to wipe out Hamas, which includes a lot of horror and destruction, in the form of both civilian lives and an almost completely wiped-out Gaza Strip that will be hard for residents to inhabit if they're ever able to return. Roads, hospitals, schools, mosques, and all the buildings needed to support the functions of daily life have been obliterated over the last six months; it's not clear when the bombing will cease or what will be left when it does. Hamas, of course, is partially responsible for foisting this amount of destruction on the people they tyrannize (some of whom voted them into power years ago): They hide among civilians, whether it's putting entrances to their tunnel network on sacrosanct hospital grounds or storing weapons next to MRI machines. Some of the destruction is also a function of the dense geography of the Gaza Strip. But some of it is also surely due to Israeli military failures and a poorly calibrated sense of what is just: A recent strike near a displaced persons camp which took out two valuable Hamas members also killed 45 innocents via a fire that the airstrike accidentally started. (The bombs responsible were GBU-39s, designed and manufactured in the U.S.) When the act of finishing Hamas involves so much collateral damagein the form of civilian life especiallyit's fair to expect politicians not to treat the war in Gaza like a sporting match, or to decorate bombs with hearts. Scenes from New York: Policing discourse following the death, at the hands of cops, of 26-year-old Brooklyn resident Andre Mayfield, who was wielding two knives and appeared to be having a mental episode. Dispatch whomever you want. Cops would love to not be part of this. The problem here is 1) the armed man approached the cops. And 2) there are no workers who can or should approach a man holding a knife in each hand to "make clinical decisions and deliver care." https://t.co/KF3iOYIIyt Peter Moskos (@PeterMoskos) May 30, 2024 QUICK HITS Update on FlagGate: "My wife is fond of flying flags," Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito wrote in a letter to legislators who asked that he recuse himself from cases related to the January 6 insurrection. "I am not. She was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years." At issue is the fact that detractors claim that the flags were linked to stolen-election theories. Who is actually behind Elon Musk's business empire? A court in Hong Kong just convicted 14 pro-democracy activists using the Beijing-imposed national security law. Incredible immigration policy: The post War Hawk Autographs Bombs appeared first on Reason.com. In recent developments, Chinese markets have faced challenges with the Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 indices experiencing declines, amid broader global economic uncertainties and domestic policy measures aimed at stabilizing the property sector. In such a market environment, growth companies with high insider ownership in China may offer a unique appeal, as significant insider stakes often signal confidence in the company's future prospects from those who know it best. Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In China Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth KEBODA TECHNOLOGY (SHSE:603786) 12.8% 25.1% Suzhou Sunmun Technology (SZSE:300522) 37.6% 63.4% Arctech Solar Holding (SHSE:688408) 38.7% 24.5% Ningbo Deye Technology Group (SHSE:605117) 17.7% 28.4% Sineng ElectricLtd (SZSE:300827) 36.5% 39.8% Eoptolink Technology (SZSE:300502) 26.7% 39.4% Anhui Huaheng Biotechnology (SHSE:688639) 31.5% 28.4% Fujian Wanchen Biotechnology Group (SZSE:300972) 15.3% 75.9% UTour Group (SZSE:002707) 24% 33.1% Offcn Education Technology (SZSE:002607) 26.1% 65.3% Click here to see the full list of 403 stocks from our Fast Growing Chinese Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. Let's uncover some gems from our specialized screener. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Wuxi Chipown Micro-electronics Limited specializes in the research, development, design, and supply of analog and mixed signal integrated circuits in China, with a market capitalization of approximately CN4.22 billion. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from the design and supply of integrated circuits, totaling CN796.64 million. Insider Ownership: 34.8% Wuxi Chipown Micro-electronics, a growth company in China, shows promising financial trends with its revenue and earnings expected to outpace the broader Chinese market significantly. Despite recent share dilution, the firm's aggressive buyback strategy, including a recent repurchase of shares for CNY 31.75 million, underscores strong insider confidence and commitment to shareholder value. However, investors should note the forecasted low return on equity and the impact of substantial one-off items on earnings quality. SHSE:688508 Ownership Breakdown as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Netac Technology Co., Ltd. is a company based in the Peoples Republic of China that specializes in manufacturing and selling flash memory products globally, with a market capitalization of approximately CN4.74 billion. Story continues Operations: The company specializes in flash memory products, generating revenues predominantly from this sector. Insider Ownership: 12.3% Netac Technology, a Chinese growth company with high insider ownership, faces challenges despite promising forecasts. Its revenue is expected to grow by 53% annually, outpacing the market's 14%. Additionally, Netac is projected to become profitable within three years with earnings potentially increasing by 120.36% per year. However, recent financials show a downturn with a significant revenue drop and net losses in the latest quarterly and annual reports, alongside a highly volatile share price. SZSE:300042 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Semitronix Corporation specializes in characterization and yield improvement solutions for the semiconductor industry, operating both in China and internationally, with a market capitalization of CN9.96 billion. Operations: The company operates in the semiconductor industry, focusing on characterization and yield improvement solutions across both domestic and international markets. Insider Ownership: 33.8% Semitronix, a Chinese company with high insider ownership, shows potential despite recent setbacks. Its revenue is expected to grow by 38.3% annually, outperforming the market's 14%. Earnings are also forecasted to increase significantly at 47.5% per year. However, challenges persist as its latest quarterly results reported a shift from net income to a loss of CNY 22.9 million and lower profit margins compared to the previous year. The company has initiated a share buyback plan worth up to CNY 160 million to bolster shareholder value. SZSE:301095 Ownership Breakdown as at May 2024 Where To Now? Investigate our full lineup of 403 Fast Growing Chinese Companies With High Insider Ownership right here. Already own these companies? Link your portfolio to Simply Wall St and get alerts on any new warning signs to your stocks. Elevate your portfolio with Simply Wall St, the ultimate app for investors seeking global market coverage. Contemplating Other Strategies? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years. Companies discussed in this article include SHSE:688508 SZSE:300042 and SZSE:301095. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Sen. Elizabeth Warren is shown at the session on reproductive rights at the John F. Kennedy Federal Building in Boston on Wednesday, May 30, 2024. (Photo by Bhaamati Borkhetaria/CommonWealth Beacon) BOSTON U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey sounded the alarm about the negative impact that a Trump presidency could have on reproductive rights, even in Massachusetts where lawmakers have done a lot to codify those rights. Efforts [to limit abortion rights] wont be limited to the states where abortion is already restricted. They will be used to block abortion everywhere, including right here in Massachusetts, said Warren in her opening remarks on Wednesday at a panel hosted by advocacy group Reproductive Equity Now to discuss threats to abortion rights. The threats are real, the senator said at the informational session held in a conference room at the John F. Kennedy Federal Building. Im grateful to all of you who came today and for everyone who is focused on this issue and understands the immediate threat posed by all of the different ways in which extremist legislators and extremist jurors are hoping to impose an agenda on the rest of America that it does not want. It is our responsibility to fight back. Warren pointed to a bill currently in Congress that would declare that life begins at conception. The bill, according to the senator, has the support of a majority of Republicans in the House of Representatives. It could effectively lead to a total ban on abortions, she said. Markey raised similar concerns. We will show radical Republicans that their playbook will not work, he said. We will fight to protect the right to essential healthcare by law, and we will make radical Republicans reveal what GOP really stands for: Grossly oppressive politicians trying to intervene in the decisions of citizens in our country. Massachusetts ACLU attorney Carol Rose, a member of the panel, said the proposed federal law could also impact peoples access to IVF treatments, contraception, and gender-affirming care in the state. It would impact thousands of laws in so many different ways than we can imagine, from interrogating and criminalizing people for their actions while theyre pregnant to creating health legal nightmares, said Rose. Warren also said that there is a possibility that if Donald Trump becomes president he could begin enforcing an 1873 anti-vice law that bans the mailing of equipment that could be used to administer an abortion. The Comstock Act has not been applied in the last 50 years but any president could theoretically enforce it, Warren said. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are shown at the session at the John F. Kennedy Federal Building in Boston on Wednesday, May 30, 2024. (Photo by Bhaamati Borkhetaria/CommonWealth Beacon) The law would have a significant impact on Massachusetts, Rose said, because it would prevent providers from mailing out abortion medications to their out-of-state patients, make it difficult for pharmaceutical companies to mail abortion medication to the state, and prohibit the delivery of healthcare equipment required by abortion providers. It is a zombie law from 1873 that should frankly stay dead, said Rebecca Hart Holder, the head of Reproductive Equity Now. It is shameful that the Republicans are trying to resurrect it. It really goes to show you that they will use any means necessary to ban abortions if [Trump] does that. Trump has recently suggested that he would support a 15-week ban on abortions and has taken credit for overturning Roe v. Wade by putting three conservative judges on the Supreme Court. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, Massachusetts passed legislation to protect reproductive and gender-affirming care by creating protections for people seeking abortions and the physicians who provide them. Despite being a state with some of the most comprehensive protections for reproductive rights, Massachusetts still isnt safe from what happens at the national level, according to Rose. Its tremendously important as both a matter of healthcare, but also as a matter of law and as a matter of national politics, that we do sound the alarm, that we let people know that all of these things are under attack, said Rose. We have to think nationally, act nationally as well as thinking and acting locally. Attorney General Andrea Campbell highlighted the work that her office is doing to combat abortion restrictions. She formed a reproductive justice unit in her office to focus on advancing reproductive justice on the state and national level. She collaborated with Reproductive Equity Now, the Womens Bar Association, the ACLU of Massachusetts, and five law firms to launch a free legal advice hotline for patients seeking reproductive care. Campbell said she is also working with attorney generals in other states to codify abortion protections in other states. This article first appeared on CommonWealth Beacon and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. The post Warren, Markey say Mass. not safe in national fight over abortion appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Washington DC's National Zoo shared an exciting announcement on Wednesday, May 29th that left fans of pandas looking forward to seeing pandas there again by the end of 2024. NBC News correspondent Adrianne Morales explained 'panda diplomacy' in this video, and why it's huge news that pandas are making a comeback to the U.S. Listen in to learn why pandas are hard to come by for zoos here, and why China agreeing to send pandas back to the U.S. is a positive step for the relationship between the two countries, not to mention conservation efforts worldwide. Morales said that only one U.S. Zoo still had pandas and that's Zoo Atlanta. The National Zoo had to send their pandas back to China last year and are excited to be getting a pair back. As the little girl said in NBC's video, "They're so cute!" Fans at San Diego Zoo are also excited to welcome back a pair of pandas, too. Hooray for panda diplomacy! Related: China Zoo 'Dyes' Chow Chow Dogs to Pass Off As Panda Bears and People Are Outraged More About Pandas Returning to National Zoo A National Zoo press release stated that China will send a pair of 2-year-old pandas, male Bao Li and female Qing Bao, under a 10-year breeding and research agreement. Bao Li (BOW-lee), whose name means "treasure" and "energetic" in Mandarin Chinese and will be welcomed as family to the zoo since his father Bao Bao was born there in 2013. Bao Li is also the grandchild of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, who lived at the National Zoo for about 23 years before returning to China late last year. NBC shared on their website, "FedEx is set to fly the new pair to the United States via its Panda Express service. The animals will be quarantined for at least 30 days, and then allowed to settle in for a few weeks before the panda exhibit opens to the public." National Zoo director Brandie Smith said, This longstanding program, and this collaboration with our Chinese colleagues, is one of the reasons why giant pandas are no longer listed as endangered, but rather only vulnerable, on the global list of species at risk of extinction. But China isn't just handing over the pair of pandas, no strings attached. The National Zoo will pay the China Wildlife Conservation Association $1 million per year as long as the pandas remain here. The zoo also said it's hoping to raise $25 million "...to pay for renovations to the panda exhibit; maintain and upgrade the Giant Panda Cam; pay for costs of operating the panda exhibit and support conservation efforts." It's exciting to hear that pandas are heading back to the states! I live in Georgia near Atlanta and had no idea that they had pandas there! I can't wait to make a day of it to visit the zoo and see the pandas; I've always wanted to see one in person! Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is facing multiple attacks on his signature carbon-pricing program. He can look south for solace. California ran a strikingly similar obstacle course more than a decade ago on the way to establishing its cap-and-trade program, now an eminence grise with more than $28 billion in sales. Whether Washingtons program can navigate the same obstacles will shed light on the durability of state-level climate programs and to what extent ambitious Democrats like Inslee can continue trying to stake their reputations on tackling climate change. "We have the benefit of 10 years of California learning," said former Washington state Democratic Sen. Reuven Carlyle, who authored the state's 2021 law. "In Washington, we have the luxury of going second." Washington is currently facing a November ballot initiative to overturn its year-old program that's already spooked the market enough to send carbon prices down 50 percent from last year part of a series of attacks from conservatives on similar programs across North America. There's also a lawsuit from a former state employee who alleges officials are trying to suppress the program's effect on gas prices. And on the left, environmental justice groups are protesting Inslee's plans to link the market with California. California, which hurdled an industry lawsuit, another from environmental justice groups and an oil-funded ballot initiative, is cheering Washington on. I am optimistic that things are going to fall into place just as they did in California," said Katelyn Roedner Sutter, the Environmental Defense Funds California state director. "This is just some natural growing pains that Washington will grow out of. Washington's already learned some lessons that could help it at the polls, like calling the program "cap and invest" instead of "cap and trade as in California. Carlyle said the name change was meant to emphasize benefits. "We got to design a version 2.0, and a lot of the learning is that the investment dollars are the central drivers of value," he said. Inslee is leaning into that as well, pointing to state investments in things like transportation infrastructure and heat pump and solar installations. Families are now seeing the benefits," Inslee, a Democrat who leaves office in January, said in an interview last month. "They don't want to lose those benefits." Another point in favor of the growing-pains argument: While the fossil fuel industry backed the 2010 ballot initiative to overturn California's suite of climate programs, oil companies this time are either staying neutral or in the case of oil major BP, whichcontributed $1 million actively fighting the repeal effort. Were staying out of it, said Kevin Slagle, a spokesperson for the Western States Petroleum Association. Our focus has continued to be that we dont need to repeal it, we need to fix it, citing concerns about the supply of allowances being too tight and driving up prices. But the ballot initiative's backer, conservative hedge funder Brian Heywood, also took lessons from the Golden State. He contends the emissions-capping program has led to high gas prices in Washington a charge the Inslee administration rejects. I learned from California: That's why I'm trying to stop this damn thing before it becomes so entrenched that you can't get it out, he said. California voters soundly rejected a 2010 ballot measure seeking to suspend the states landmark climate law that established pollution reduction goals and a cap and trade program until unemployment dropped to 5.5 percent for at least a full year. California also survived two lawsuits against cap and trade at the outset: A 2009 challenge from environmental justice groups over the state's choice of cap-and-trade to reach its emissions targets and a 2012 challenge from the California Chamber of Commerce that, after multiple appeals, wrapped up in 2017. Washington voters have rejected emissions-capping programs at the ballot in the past. Polling on the current measure to repeal the program varies widely, with one conducted in April by a group opposing the ballot measure finding it would fail by 20 points and another more neutral one conducted earlier this month showing it with a 10-point advantage. The fact that California rode its wave of early turbulence to become a carbon-trading veteran is inspiring confidence in supporters of Washingtons program that they can push through. But the fact that carbon prices are low right now, from a political perspective, falling auction prices are not a bad thing for us, said Washington state Democratic Sen. Joe Nguyen, who co-sponsored the law. As long as we defend this program, well be OK. Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICOs California Climate newsletter. BOISE, Idaho (ABC4) After roughly seven weeks of testimony, Idaho jurors in the triple murder trial of Chad Daybell deliberated for less than six hours before finding him guilty in the deaths of his two stepchildren and former wife. RELATED A complete timeline for the Daybell, Vallow murders The 12 jurors deemed Daybell, 55, guilty of three counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and insurance fraud in the 2019 deaths of Tammy Daybell, 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow, and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Daybell stood stoically Thursday as the verdict was read in the Ada County courtroom. The expression on his face was blank, as it had been through most of the nearly two-month-long trial. But tears were in the eyes of the audience. Nate Eaton, of East Idaho News, reported that Larry and Kay Woodcock, the grandparents of JJ Vallow, cried in the hallway outside the courtroom. He added that Tammy Daybells father hugged Larry Woodcock and the two cried together. This has been nearly a five-year ordeal, and these families have waited for this day, Eaton said in an online broadcast. WATCH: Jury delivers guilty verdict Because prosecutors have pushed for the death penalty, the trial has now entered the sentencing phase, and same jurors who found Daybell guilty are tasked with deciding if his crimes meet the states legal threshold for capital punishment. Judge Steven Boyce read the sentencing instructions to the jurors on Thursday afternoon, and the proceedings are slated to continue Friday morning. Under Idaho law, there are eleven circumstances the jury must take into account when determing if the death penalty is warranted. One of them is if the murder was especially heinous, cruel or manifesting exceptional depravity. Another is if the defendant exhibited utter disrgard for human life during the murder or the circumstances surrounding it. The jury must find at least one of the circumstances exists beyond a reasonable doubt if Daybell is to be sentenced to death. The bizarre and complex case began in September 2019, when extended family members reported the JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan missing and law enforcement officials launched a search that spanned several states. The subsequent investigation took several unexpected turns. Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell were having an affair when both of their spouses died unexpectedly, investigators said. Vallow Daybells husband was shot to death by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona in July 2019; the brother told police it was in self-defense. He was not charged. Vallow Daybell, her kids JJ and Tylee, and Cox subsequently moved to eastern Idaho to be closer to Daybell, a self-published writer of doomsday-focused fiction loosely based on teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In October 2019, Tammy Daybell died. Chad Daybell initially told police she was battling an illness and died in her sleep, but an autopsy later determined that she died of asphyxiation. Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell married just two weeks after Tammy Daybell died, surprising family members. Nearly a year after the children went missing, their remains were found buried on Chad Daybells property in eastern Idaho. Investigators later determined both children died in September 2019. Prosecutors say Cox conspired with Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell in all three deaths, but Cox died of natural causes during the investigation and was never charged. Prosecutors called dozens of witnesses to bolster their claims that Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell conspired to kill the two children and Tammy Daybell because they wanted to get rid of any obstacles to their relationship and to obtain money from survivor benefits and life insurance. Prosecutors say the couple justified the killings by creating an apocalyptic belief system that people could be possessed by evil spirits and turned into zombies, and that the only way to save a possessed persons soul was for the possessed body to die. Fremont County prosecutor Lindsay Blake said Daybell styled himself a leader of what he called The Church of the Firstborn and told Vallow Daybell and others that he could determine if someone had become a zombie. Daybell also claimed to be able to determine how close a person was to death by reading what he called their death percentage, Blake said. With these elements, Daybell followed a pattern for each of those who were killed, Blake said. They would be labeled as dark by Chad Daybell. Their death percentage would drop. Then they would have to die, she said in her closing argument. Daybells defense attorney, John Prior, rejected the prosecutions descriptions of Daybells beliefs. He described Daybell as a traditional member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a deeply religious man who talked about his spiritual beliefs every chance he could get. Prior said police looked only for things they could use against Daybell rather than the actual facts of the case and he claimed that the childrens late uncle, Cox, committed the crimes. He noted that Cox had previously killed JJ Vallows father in Arizona and that the two children were the only witnesses to that shooting. He also said Cox tried to frame Daybell by burying the slain children in Daybells yard. Prior said that Vallow Daybell was only motivated by money and that she was conspiring with Cox to kill Daybell, who was lined up to be her next victim. Last year, Vallow Daybell was convicted of murdering her two children and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosectutors didnt seek the death penalty in her case. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. NEW YORK, NY (KSNT) Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty on 34 counts Thursday in regards to his hush money case. The Hill is reporting that a unanimous verdict was reached in Trumps hush money case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump was facing 34 counts of falsifying business records with this case. WWII bomber planes to fly over Kansas For more national 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 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A small single-engine airplane with two people on board made an emergency landing early Wednesday afternoon along a busy section of Highway 501 in Horry County, South Carolina, authorities said. The plane landed on the highway at about noon after the pilot reported an engine problem, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. Horry County Fire Rescue was dispatched at 12:12 p.m., and the plane was seen being towed away by a pickup truck a short time later. WBTW Video: Savannah Denton The fixed-wing Diamond DA40 aircraft is registered to Lift Aircraft LLC based in Indianapolis, Indiana, according to information on the FAAs website. The company operates a commercial pilot training academy in Myrtle Beach. While conducting a maintenance flight earlier today, one of our training aircraft experienced an in-flight event that resulted in an emergency landing near Myrtle Beach International Airport, Lift Academy spokesman Jon Austin told Nexstars WBTW in a statement. The pilot and mechanic aboard executed their checklist and safely landed without injury to anyone or damage to the aircraft. I was on the phone and I noticed there was a plane that was kind of coming down, it was flying really, really low, said Dylan Wadzinski, who captured footage of the plane landing. Like, it was struggling a little bit and I guess just naturally, I just kind of looked away like, Oh, thats weird. And then it hit me, like, wow, theres a plane landing on [Highway] 501. Ticketmaster data breach? Hackers claim over 500 million users compromised The plane landed safely, and there were no injuries, HCFR said. An image captured on a South Carolina Department of Transportation traffic camera shortly before 1 p.m. showed the plane being moved from the scene. Austin said the aircraft was taken back to the airport in coordination with first responders and that the rest of the schools operations were unaffected. According to flight-tracking website FlightAware, the plane took off from Myrtle Beach International Airport at about 10:45 a.m. and landed at 12:10 p.m. It appears the plane was doing touch-and-go landings prior to the emergency landing. Thank goodness, you know, there was a clearing there and nobody got hurt because I imagine, you know, it could have been much, much worse, Wadzinski said. Even going back and looking at the video, I mean, there were power lines. It couldve been devastating if, you know, if traffic was backed up like it normally is at Carolina Forest on 501. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety and Horry County police are assisting in the investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will also be investigating. WBTW will have updates online and on-air during our afternoon and evening newscasts as more information becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The Progress 88 freighter launches on its journey to the International Space Station on Thursday (May 30). A Russian cargo ship launched toward the International Space Station early Thursday morning (May 30). The robotic Progress 88 freighter lifted off atop a Soyuz rocket from the Russia-run Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday at 5:43 a.m. EDT (0943 GMT; 2:43 p.m. local time at Baikonur). Progress 88 is packed with about 3 tons of food, propellant, and other supplies for the astronauts living aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Related: Facts about Roscosmos, Russia's space agency The Progress 88 freighter launches on its journey to the International Space Station on Thursday (May 30) With the launch going according to plan, the freighter will now deliver this bounty to the ISS on Saturday (June 1). It's scheduled to dock to the space-facing port of the orbiting lab's Poisk module that day at 7:47 a.m. EDT (1147 GMT), according to NASA officials. You can watch this rendezvous live as well; coverage will begin Saturday at 7:00 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT). Progress 88 will stay at the ISS for about six months. Astronauts will then fill the freighter with trash and it will head back down toward Earth, ultimately burning up in our planet's atmosphere. The Progress 88 freighter streaks through the sky on Thursday (May 30) on its way to the ISS RELATED STORIES: ISS astronauts watch Russian cargo ship burn up in Earth's atmosphere (photos) Soyuz spacecraft suffers 'fairly substantial' leak at space station, cancels spacewalk by Russian cosmonauts Russia's replacement Soyuz spacecraft arrives at space station Three robotic spacecraft currently ferry cargo to the ISS: Progress, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus vehicle and SpaceX's Cargo Dragon capsule. Cygnus and Progress are designed for one-time use, whereas Dragon is reusable; it returns safely to Earth for parachute-aided ocean splashdowns. Two freighters are docked at the ISS at the moment Progress 87 and a Cygnus and Progress 86 just departed on Tuesday (May 28). The orbiting lab also currently hosts two crewed spacecraft: the Crew Dragon that's flying SpaceX's Crew-8 astronaut mission for NASA and a Russian Soyuz vehicle. Editor's note: This story was updated at 9 a.m. ET on May 30 with news of a successful launch. The former head of a district that controls the waterways that deliver water to farms in Fresno and Merced counties pleaded guilty to stealing water, prosecutors said Tuesday. Dennis Falaschi, 78, of Aptos pleaded guilty to two counts conspiring to take federally owned water and filing a false tax return from during his time leading the Panoche Water District, the U.S. Department of Justice said. He was the general manager from 1992 to April 2015 of the Panoche district that sold water to farms of 38,000 acres or larger. The district purchased its water from the federal government collected in the Delta-Mendota Canal, and collected drainage water, prosecutors said. The U.S. Interiors Bureau of Reclamation regulates that canal and other waterways. Prosecutors said Falaschi learned canal water was leaking from a standpipe within the district. Water district employees rigged the standpipe, fixing the leak but allowing the district to open and close the pipe so Panoche could access the water. Dennis Falaschi, former general manager at the Panoche Drainage District in the San Joaquin Valley, was indicted in connection with a scheme to steal water from the federal Central Valley Project. (John Walker/The Fresno Bee/TNS) The stolen federal water amounted to between $1.5 million and $3.5 million, according to prosecutors. He was initially accused of stealing more than that at $25 million. That fresh water was blended with reusable drainage water, prosecutors said. Authorities said in court documents that Falaschi wasnt the only one taking water, but did not specify who else was involved. Falaschi then began selling water privately between 2011 and 2016, which prosecutors said was water he was getting from a legitimate source outside of the district. But, Falaschi did not report the sales on his income tax return, according to prosecutors. The case comes as California has embarked on a years-long effort to conserve water use by passing a groundbreaking law to regulate groundwater pumping, encouraging urban users to replace thirsty lawns with more drought-friendly landscaping and ramping up water storage efforts to help the state navigate expected dry years ahead. The state moved to reduce groundwater use after overpumping led farmers to drill deeper for water and some rural wells to grow dry. The prospect of pumping limits has worried California farmers who grow much of the countrys fresh produce. Stealing Panoche Water District canal water and an audit The state controllers office in 2017 released an audit showing the financial controls at Panoche were too lax. Staffers were allowed to use district credit cards to buy Oakland As and Raiders season passes, and tickets to a Katy Perry concert, among other issues that began Falaschis legal trouble. A month after the audit, Falaschi left Panoche. The state attorney generals office charged him and three other former district employees in 2018 with embezzling $100,000 from Panoche and illegally burying toxic chemicals on district property. He was set to be sentenced on Sept. 16 before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, facing a maximum of five years in prison and $250,000 fine for the conspiracy to commit water theft. He also faces three years in prison and $100,000 fine for the tax charge. The Associated Press and Sacramento Bee contributed to this report. By Diego Vara PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (Reuters) - Waterborne diseases are now a risk in Brazil's southernmost state, authorities say, as residents begin to return to flooded homes and clean up after catastrophic floods that killed at least 169 people. Rains that started in late April swelled several rivers and lakes in Rio Grande do Sul state to record highs and more than 580,000 people were driven from their homes by the flooding, according to state officials. Leptospirosis, a disease largely caused by the presence of urine of infected rats in standing water, is currently health officials' biggest concern, said the head of the state's health surveillance center, Roberta Vanacor, adding there had been a rise in cases in recent weeks. Since the rains began, seven people have died from the disease. Another 10 deaths are under investigation as possibly caused by the disease. There have been early 2,300 potential cases reported, of which 141 were confirmed, according to the state's health authorities. To cope with the high demand for medical care, four field hospitals have been set up in the state, as well as mobile teams, which have already assisted thousands of people. According to the health ministry, the floods have allowed the leptospirosis bacteria to flourish, facilitating outbreaks of the illness. And as residents return to their homes, they may find an additional danger. "Snakes, scorpions and spiders, these venomous animals will also seek shelter from rainwater in drier places," said Vanacor. Officials are also warning of the mental toll the destruction has caused. "There's a certain fragility to this moment for the population," said Lieutenant Colonel Mauricio Specterow, who heads a field hospital in the state capital of Porto Alegre. One such person coming back was Joyce Fauth Correa, who burst into tears as she entered her home in the neighborhood of Navegantes, armed with rubber gloves and waders. Floodwaters, which she said had came up to her shoulders, have now receded to a thick layer of mud over the whole house. "You see everything you've achieved, that you've fought (to have), all your history, go to waste." (Reporting by Diego Vara; Writing by Peter Frontini; Editing by Kylie Madry and Frances Kerry) Gary Advocates For Responsible Development members were pleased to read the recent news that Fulcrum, the company that proposed construction of a trash-to-jet biofuel plant in Buffington Harbor, is going under. Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Fulcrum is on the verge of going under as the company recently laid off nearly all of its staff of about 100 and halted most of its operations. The companys Nevada plant suffered multiple issues and delays, including the creation of nitric acid that ate through the equipment and caused millions of dollars in damage, which led to the company defaulting on $289 million in bonds to build the plant, according to the Bloomberg article. When the Nevada plant issues began, Fulcrum stopped plans to sell $500 million of tax-exempt bonds through the Indiana Finance Authority to build a larger trash-to-fuels facility in Gary, Bloomberg reported. We welcome this news because we never thought it was a good idea for our city, said Carolyn McCrady, GARD board secretary. We feel vindicated. We didnt want this experiment brought to the city. We stuck with it and Im glad we did. In a statement, GARD President Dorreen Carey said the organization is not surprised that Fulcrum is going under. We said from the beginning that the technology they are promoting is unreliable, unproven, dangerous, and would not work. There was plenty of scientific evidence to support this view for any who cared to investigate, Carey said in the statement. Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said city officials have heard about the challenges Fulcrum is facing. We are currently assessing our next steps and will make decisions that are in the best interest of the City of Gary, Melton said. California-based Fulcrum Bioenergys claimed that its planned Centerpoint Biorefinery in Garys Buffington Harbor would turn household garbage and other organic materials into a more sustainable form of jet fuel. Announced in 2018, the still-unbuilt facility has been a great source of controversy among community activists, elected officials and community members. In September of 2022, GARD filed a petition with the Indiana Office of Environmental Adjudication alleging that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management inappropriately granted a Federally Enforceable State Operating Permit (FESOP) to Fulcrum for the Centerpoint facility in August of that year. The group filed an updated petition in December. GARD has claimed that IDEM failed to substantiate Fulcrums claims that the plants emissions of pollutants will be low enough to qualify for the FESOP, which can only be issued to facilities designated minor emissions sources under criteria outlined in environmental regulations. Story continues In November, GARD filed a motion for summary judgment to block an air permit necessary for the construction of the biofuel plant in Buffington Harbor as part of its ongoing litigation seeking to stop the project. The motion, filed on GARDs behalf by Michael Zoeller, an attorney with the Midwest-based Environmental Law and Policy Center, claims that IDEM relied solely on information provided by Fulcrum, which in some cases was incomplete, when calculating the proposed facilitys projected emissions levels in multiple key categories, and did not independently verify Fulcrums data. The motion further claims that IDEM cannot accurately predict the Centerpoint facilitys emissions without accurate information on the composition of feedstock used to produce the jet fuel, which Fulcrum did not provide, and that the FESOP granted to Fulcrum is not protective of public health as legally required. Zoeller cited elevated levels of particulate pollution and ozone already present in northern Lake County and argued that the Centerpoint facility, if built, would impair the health of its already overburdened residents. McCrady said GARD does not plan to drop the lawsuit anytime soon. Were not going to make any fast moves with this case, McCrady said. We have no plans to withdraw. Carey said the organization is hopeful this news will limit the expansion of other trash-to-jet biofuel companies. We hope that this is the end for Fulcrum and other groundless schemes that suggest you can magically turn mixed municipal garbage into aviation fuel, Carey said. akukulka@chicagotribune.com Wawa to start construction on its first Indiana store next week. Here's where it will be. Wawa will open 60 stores in Indiana over the next eight to 10 years. Wawa, a popular gas station chain known for its hoagies, breakfast sandwiches, snacks and coffee, will begin building its first Indiana store on the north side of Indianapolis next week. The location at 3835 E. 96th Street, formerly the address of Claddagh Irish Pub, will be the first of 60 stores the Pennsylvania-based company plans to open across the state. The company also plans to build locations in Noblesville and Westfield. Wawa locations are expected to open for customers by mid-2025. Trending now: IMS says TikToker should not have gotten access to pagoda after Indy 500. How it happened Binghui Huang can be reached at 317-385-1595 or Bhuang@gannett.com This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Wawa near me 2024: Gas station's 1st Indiana store set for Indianapolis FILE PHOTO: Boxes of Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London FILE PHOTO: Boxes of Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London By Patrick Wingrove (Reuters) -Novo Nordisk said on Thursday it had sued nine more medical spas, wellness clinics and pharmacies in the U.S. for selling products claiming to contain semaglutide, the key ingredient in its popular weight-loss drug Wegovy. The Danish drugmaker has now filed 21 lawsuits since June over the sale of copycat versions of semaglutide. Five sellers have been barred from selling their disputed products. One lawsuit has been amended after samples it tested were found to be as much as 33% impure. The new lawsuits name Aesthetic Maison, BOF Medical Center, DoctorsRx, G2 Telemedicine, GenericOzempic.com, MD Exam, MediOAK Pharmacy, Midtown Express, and Weight Loss MD as defendants. They were filed in federal courts in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Montana, Texas and Tennessee. The defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "Non-FDA approved compounded drugs claiming to contain semaglutide with high levels of known impurities and unknown impurities pose significant risks to patients and may lead to serious and life-threatening reactions," said Doug Langa, Novo's head of North America operations. Novo said in its lawsuit against Aesthetic Maison that the company was selling products claiming to contain semaglutide directly to patients without any prescription from a medical professional. Testing showed Midtown Express's drug contained no semaglutide and MediOAK's product was of a far lower strength than advertised, Novo claimed in its lawsuits against those entities. Novo also filed new allegations against Florida-based pharmacies TruLife and WellHealth, which it first sued in July. The drugmaker said that when it tested the products being sold by WellHealth, it found impurities of up to 24%, including formaldehyde adduct, dimers, and other unknown impurities. Novo said it found impurities in TruLife's products as well. Scott Brunner, CEO of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, said legitimate compounded drugs should not be confused or conflated with counterfeit or sub-par substances created by entities looking to exploit patient demand. Novo's biggest rival in the obesity drug market, Eli Lilly, has also sued several medical spas, weight-loss clinics and compounding pharmacies over the past year to stop them from selling products purporting to contain tirzepatide, the active ingredient in its weight-loss drug Zepbound. At least four of those lawsuits from Lilly have either been settled, withdrawn or dismissed. (Reporting by Patrick Wingrove; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Richard Chang) Rep.-elect Wendy Dant Chesser stands behind an Indiana Democratic Party-branded lectern. (Courtesy photo) Party insiders on Wednesday unanimously selected Jeffersonville economic development leader Wendy Dant Chesser to fill a vacant state House seat, according to the Indiana Democratic Party. She will take over for former Rep. Rita Fleming, who abruptly retired one week after an unopposed victory in this months primary election. Dant Chesser also won a concurrent caucus to be the partys candidate for House District 71 in the November general election. The district, which runs along the Ohio River, includes all of Jeffersonville and Clarksville, and part of New Albany. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity to represent my community at the Statehouse. I will work vigorously to uplift the reputation of our area in Indianapolis, Dant Chesser said in a news release. She said shed continue Flemings bipartisan legacy and that of her predecessor, former Rep. Steve Stemler of getting results for Southern Indiana. Dant Chesser currently works as the chief director of corporate strategy and external affairs at the River Ridge Development Authority. Shes responsible for ensuring the business environment within Indiana and River Ridge replaces the economic loss suffered when the U.S. Army closed its operations at the site, according to the release. Dant Chesser previously worked as president and CEO of 1si, the areas chamber of commerce and local economic development organization. I am confident that I can walk into the legislature on Day One with the key relationships and experience necessary to reestablish credibility for my community so that we can continue our economic achievements, she said. We must build economic prosperity for all families in Southern Indiana by attracting strong businesses and good jobs to our area. I will collaborate with educators to grow the pathways to lifelong learning, and use my experience to develop a workforce ready for the future, Dant Chesser continued. She holds a bachelor of science in business management from Indiana University Southeast. She and her daughter Joslyn live in Jeffersonville. The post Wendy Dant Chesser selected to fill vacated House seat appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle. West Michigan schools get federal rebates for clean buses GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Twenty-eight school districts across Michigan will receive rebate funding from the federal government to help transition existing buses to zero-emission vehicles. Several districts in West Michigan are among those receiving funding from the 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition: Comstock Public Schools: About $1.04 million in rebates to buy three clean school buses. Grand Rapids Public Schools: Nearly $5.18 million in rebates for 15 buses. Kent Intermediate School District: $3.08 million in rebates to buy 15 buses. Kentwood Public Schools: $800,000 in rebates for four buses. Three Rivers Community Schools: $400,000 in rebates for two buses. The Clean School Bus Program was created to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help student health, since diesel air pollution has been linked to asthma and other health conditions. Full list of school districts receiving rebate funding can be found here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. West Virginia Department of Health asks residents to use caution and protection against Lyme Disease CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) The West Virginia Department of Health is asking residents of the Mountain State to protect themselves and take preventative measures against Lyme Disease. West Virginia is one of the few states with free state parks Ticks are more active during the summer months. Since 2017, West Virginia has had high Lyme Disease rates. Lyme disease is a serious issue that could be devastating to your health and well-being if left untreated. I urge all West Virginians to take precautions against this infection and protect themselves outdoors, in areas where ticks are most commonly found, said Dr. Matthew Christiansen, State Health Officer. After being bit by a blacklegged tick, one can contract Lyme Disease or a bacterial infection. Common symptoms of Lyme Disease include: Expanding skin rash (usually in a target shape) Fatigue Headaches Joint swelling Fever If Lyme Disease is left untreated, it can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system. The best way to prevent Lyme Disease is to always remain cautious when going outside and to check yourself for ticks when returning inside. Early detection for removing ticks is crucial because it takes 24 hours or more for an attached tick to spread the disease. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) encourages these steps to protect yourself: Check clothing for ticks Closely examine gear and pets Shower shortly after being outdoors Check body for ticks Ticks can attach to any part of the body, but usually prefer hidden areas such as the scalp, groin, armpits, and tight fitting areas including the beltline. It is important to try and save ticks that may have bitten you in order to get the proper treatment and diagnosis. Medical treatments can help prevent severe complications if caught early. If you are concerned about Lyme Disease or think you may have it, make an appointment with your doctor. People receiving WIC now eligible for Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits in West Virginia Click here to learn more about Lyme disease. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Do you think he killed her? After Tammy Daybell died, thats the question a former neighbor asked a family member about Chad Daybell, Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake told the jurors in closing arguments Wednesday at the Ada County Courthouse. During Chad Daybells eight-week trial on murder and other charges, Steven Schultz, a mortician, testified that Chad asked him to help take Tammy Daybells body to Springville, Utah, for a funeral, which Schultz said he was honored to do, East Idaho News reported. But after arriving in Idaho, Schultz said he realized that something seemed off, and he went so far as to ask Tammy Daybells brother-in-law whether Chad could have killed his wife. This was one of several points raised by the prosecution Wednesday during its two-hour closing, in which prosecutors reminded the jury of all the evidence they say pointed toward Chad Daybell being complicit not only in the killing of Tammy, but in the deaths of two of his new wifes children. In August 2019, Lori Vallow moved to Rexburg, Idaho, from Arizona just months after her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed. Her youngest children 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan went missing less than a month later. Their bodies were found in shallow graves on Chad Daybells property in Salem, Idaho, in June 2020. By that time, Chad had become Loris fifth husband, their marriage taking place in Hawaii within weeks of Tammys death and the killing of the children. Investigators said they believe that Chad and Lori, as well as Loris now-deceased brother, Alex Cox, killed or conspired to kill all three. Lori Vallow Daybell, 50, was found guilty of murder and other charges against her last summer and is serving a life sentence. Chad Daybell was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Tylee, JJ and Tammy, as well as conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in all three deaths, according to an indictment. He was also charged with two counts of insurance fraud for allegedly increasing Tammy Daybells life insurance policies. He pleaded not guilty to eight felonies. There are a lot of people involved in the criminal cases against Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell. Heres some of the key people and who they are. Blake reminded the jury that the prosecution didnt have to prove Daybell ever physically committed the killings to be convicted, as long as they believe that he advised, assisted, encouraged, commanded or coerced someone to do it someone such as Cox. Alex does what Chad asks of him, Blake said. Daybells defense attorney painted a different picture. John Prior said the prosecution did not establish that that there was an agreement between the Daybells and Cox to kill the children, and said that Daybells religious beliefs a topic prevalent in both trials werent a crime. The Daybells were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but subscribed to whats been described as extreme, fundamentalist beliefs. Prior also pointed the finger at Cox, who died from natural causes in 2019, alleging that it was Cox and Vallow Daybell who were complicit in the killings. He also told the jury that even if Chad didnt believe the kids were safe or went along with things it didnt mean he committed a crime. Folks, if there is reasonable doubt and there is reasonable doubt you must according to the judges instructions return a verdict of not guilty, Prior said. I am respectfully asking all of you to return a verdict of not guilty. Its been nearly two months since Daybells criminal trial began, with over 70 witnesses called between the prosecution and the defense. Though many of the prosecutions witnesses mirrored Loris trial, the defense called several new witnesses, including some of Chad Daybells children and a pathologist who questioned the circumstances surrounding Tammy Daybells death. Prosecutors initially announced their intent to seek the death penalty against the Daybells, but two weeks before Vallow Daybells trial in 2023, 7th District Judge Steven Boyce removed it as an option in an unprecedented move. The decision came after prosecutors filed large volumes of evidence past deadlines, which could have impeded the defenses ability to prepare for trial. Boyce said he wanted to make sure Vallow Daybells constitutional rights were protected. Chad Daybell still could face the death penalty. If the 12 jurors return a guilty verdict on any of the murder charges, they will weight another week or two of additional evidence in a penalty phase of the trial, after which theyll decide whether Chad Daybell should be sentenced to death. The jury began its deliberations around 4:30 p.m. and went home just before 7 p.m., court officials said. Jurors will return at 8 a.m. Thursday. You go where the evidence leads: Prosecutions case The majority of the witnesses called were from the prosecution, including a variety of law enforcement personnel who established the timeline of their investigation, and former friends and family who testified about the Daybells religious beliefs. Idaho State Police forensic biologist Katherine Dace testified about several pieces of forensic evidence she tested, including a hair sample that belonged to Vallow Daybell and was found on JJs body, according to East Idaho News. None of the DNA evidence was connected to Chad Daybell. Throughout the prosecutions closing arguments, Blake painstakingly went over the timeline of events, from when the Daybells affair began in 2018 to when the childrens bodies were located in June 2020. She reiterated the prosecutions argument that the crimes were committed because of money, power and sex. Daybell believed he received personal revelations from God that told him certain people including Vallow Daybells children and Tammy Daybell were possessed by dark spirits and would need to be cast out, or killed, according to witness testimony. The Daybells met in 2018 at a Preparing a People conference in Utah, where Chad Daybell quickly told Lori that theyd been married in a past life, which Blake said was an attempt to justify their affair. Preparing a People is a fringe organization that, while not affiliated with the LDS church, is made up of some of its members who were preparing for the Second Coming of Christ. As the Daybells began seeing each other, Blake said Chad Daybell taught Lori and some of her female friends about castings and whether someone was light or dark. One of the people the Daybells thought was dark was Charles Vallow, according to the prosecution and witnesses. Chad Daybell initially thought Charles Vallow was possessed by a dark spirit named Ned, but after they performed a casting to expel the spirit from his body and he was still alive, Chad Daybell said hed been possessed by another spirit called Garrett, Blake told the jury. The spirit then became Hiplos, which Blake said Chad Daybell considered even darker, terming a new phrase zombie to describe the spirit. The escalation of these spirits coincided with Charles Vallow discovering the affair between Chad and Lori, and he told Lori that he planned to tell Tammy Daybell what was happening, Blake said. Within 10 days of that, Cox shot and killed Charles Vallow in July 2019. Prosecutors in Arizona have charged Vallow Daybell with conspiracy to commit murder for allegedly conspiring to kill Charles Vallow with Cox. During Vallow Daybells trial, the prosecution accused the Daybells of using religion as a tool to manipulate others, including Cox. Alex 100% believed in zombies, Blake told the jury Wednesday. Alex 100% believed Chad. Blake also pointed to evidence that showed Lori would reach out to Chad Daybell to learn what Tylee and JJs death percentages were how close they were to dying. Text messages presented during the trial showed that Chad said both Tylee and JJs percentages were low soon after the children were last seen. Tammy was found dead in Chads house. The kids were found dead in his yard, Blake said. You go where the evidence leads. Chad Daybell, right, confers with his attorney John Prior during his criminal trial. Hes accused of murdering and conspiring to murder two of his wifes children, along with his then-wife Tammy Daybell. Defense points to childrens testimony, expert witness Throughout Priors closing statement, he argued that there wasnt enough evidence to show Chad Daybell was tied to the conspiracy to kill the children, and highlighted testimony presented when defense witnesses were called that Tammy Daybells death wasnt a homicide. Initially, Tammys death wasnt investigated as a homicide, and the county coroner ruled she died from pulmonary edema because of a seizure-like episode. But her body was exhumed two months later. Utah Chief Medical Examiner Erik Christensen performed an autopsy and determined that she died from asphyxiation. Dr. Kathy Raven, a forensic pathologist, testified that Tammy Daybells death should have been classified as an undetermined death because there wasnt anything anatomically wrong with her. Raven also said that bruises found on Tammys body were nonspecific, East Idaho News reported. Christensen told the court during Vallow Daybells trial that Tammy Daybell had bruises that could be consistent with someone being restrained. Prior also reminded the jury of Chad Daybells childrens testimony, saying the children knew their mother better than witnesses who testified that Tammy seemed in good health. Two of Chad Daybells adult children said on the stand that they believed their father to be innocent. Emma Murray said that her mothers health had been in decline in the year before her death, and Garth Daybell, who lived at home at the time, said his mother hadnt been feeling well that night. Garth Daybell testified that he woke up the morning of Oct. 19, 2019, when he thought hed heard a thump, and then heard his dad ask him to come help him. That was when he saw his mom dead in her bed. Garths testimony was contradicted by a former co-worker, Jason MacKay Abegglen, who said Garth told him that he found his mother dead when he came home from work, and he didnt know where his father was, East Idaho News reported. Prior also addressed the Daybells faith, noting that it wasnt up to the jurors to judge Chad Daybells beliefs and that his religion wasnt a crime. He also called their beliefs traditional, despite experts and members of the LDS Church denouncing their views. This has nothing to do with religion, Prior said. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer talks with Michigan Advance at the Michigan Governor's Summer Residence on May 28, 2024 during the Mackinac Policy Conference. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols) In an effort to support the infrastructure of innovation, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told the Advance that she is committing to a shared network of 3D printers in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Project DIAMOnD, which stands for Distributed, Independent, Agile Manufacturing on Demand, was kickstarted in 2020 by Automation Alley, a tech business association. According to its website, the project was created with funding support from Oakland County to provide manufacturers access to 3D printing and training. Project DIAMOnD was inspired during the dark days of COVID, born out of frustration about supply chain issues and dependency on overseas manufacturing, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. It is giving Oakland County businesses access to 3D printing technology and training that is allowing them to dramatically cut production time and costs as well as keep manufacturing right here in Michigan. After our initial investment of $25 million over two phases, we are thrilled that Macomb, Wayne, and the State of Michigan are joining the program to make it a regional and statewide priority and an opportunity for global competitiveness Coulter said. According to the governors office, the goal is to expand the project into all of Michigans 83 counties. Todays commitment by Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties to expand Automation Alleys Project DIAMOnD will help us grow our economy, lower costs for small businesses, and build out the Infrastructure for Innovation we need to lead the future, Whitmer said. At this years Mackinac Policy Conference, I am focused on unleashing Michigan innovation to solve some of the biggest problems we face and grow the cutting-edge industries that will help us lead the future while recruiting and retaining top talent to Michigan, Whitmer said. Together, we will continue bringing public and private sector partners together to help local entrepreneurs and small businesses compete on a global scale. According to the governors office, this effort is part of the governors push to support the expansion of small businesses in the state through shared technology and resources. The expansion is expected to help more than 9,100 small manufacturers across the three counties lower costs and increase their production efficiency. The post New: Whitmer announces expansion of 3D printer network supporting small manufacturers appeared first on Michigan Advance. Why does John Morgan want weed to be legal in Florida? What to know about the TV attorney Attorney John Morgan the guy on all those billboards has come out in favor of Florida's recreational marijuana constitutional amendment on the ballot this November. Morgan announced Wednesday that he would be advocating for the amendment to make marijuana legal for Floridians 21 years of age or older in multiple audio ads. Which is not surprising, as Morgan, the so-called "Pot Daddy," has advocated for legalized marijuana for years and led the charge that resulted in legalized medical marijuana in the state. "I'm back for this amendment," Morgan said at a press conference in Orlando on behalf of Smart & Safe Florida, the group leading the amendment's campaign. "I believe in the people of Florida. I believe they're going to legalize it. I believe it's going to be tight." Who is John Morgan? Attorney John Morgan speaks at an event hosted by the Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County in 2017. John Bryan Morgan, 68, is widely known as the founder of Morgan & Morgan, which claims to be the largest personal injury firm in the country. Morgan has been seen photoshopped into racecars, bodybuilder beach bodies and superhero outfits, all while advertising the firm's work "For the People." Morgan was born in Lexington, Kentucky, but moved with his parents and four younger siblings to Winter Park, Florida when he was 14. Both his parents were alcoholics, he said, and as the family struggled Morgan started working at Dairy Queen, started several businesses, performed magic at Disney World and even put on the costumes and portrayed "The Jungle Book" orangutan King Louie, one of the Three Little Pigs and Pluto. He graduated from Winter Park High and, after seeing how Disney's lawyers "crushed" his brother Tim after he was injured while working as a lifeguard at Disney World's Polynesian Resort, he went on to get a bachelor's degree in arts from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law where he served as the elected president of the prestigious Florida Blue Key leadership society. Morgan & Morgan law firm billboards in Pensacola on Friday, October 7, 2016. Morgan started at the law firm of Billings, Morgan (no relation) & Cunningham in Orlando but left to co-found Griffin, Morgan and Linder in 1985. After three years he left to found Morgan, Collins & Gilbert, where he could be more aggressive with television and radio ads, still a relatively new thing at the time for lawyers. The firm rapidly grew as Morgan continuously pushed for more ads on TV, phone book covers and highways. In 2005 Morgan bought out his partners and renamed the firm Morgan & Morgan, bringing in his wife Ultima Ann Degnan as a partner. The law firm currently has over 1,000 attorneys and thousands of support members with offices in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. according to the company's website. Three of the couple's four children work for the firm. Morgan, a huge and longtime political donor, has worked as an advisor to political leaders and presidents and counts Barack Obama and Bill Clinton among his friends. For a time former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist worked for him. John Morgan and weed Marijuana does not have a more devoted advocate in Florida than John Morgan. When Morgan was 20, his then-18-year-old brother Tim dove into the pool at a Disney resort and broke his neck, leaving his arms and legs paralyzed. Only pot, Morgan said, seemed to help. "He suffers in ways I cannot begin to describe," Morgan said in 2014. "I asked him one time, 'What do they [the spasms] feel like?' He said, 'Like lightning up your body from the tip of your toe into the middle of your eyes.' When the pain becomes unbearable, he lights it [the marijuana]. He takes one hit, and all the pain goes away. Who wouldn't want their brother to be pain-free?" He also said that only marijuana helped his father ease nausea and pain when he was dying of cancer. In 2013, Morgan launched a campaign to get medical marijuana on the ballot, promoting it nonstop and even going viral with a profanity-laced rant at a pro-pot rally. It was opposed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, state sheriffs and major Republican leaders and donors and failed the next year. He tried again, sinking millions of his own money into the fight, and in 2016 medical marijuana passed with 71% of the vote. The fight wasn't over, though, as Florida legislators passed a law banning smokeable weed, something Morgan argued was against the will of the voters. Morgan sued the state and ultimately the law was dropped thanks to efforts from U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and new Governor Ron DeSantis. What I set out to do, Ive done to have medical marijuana approved in all forms for people who are sick in Florida, Morgan said, reported in Orlando Magazine. People come up to me and thank me and cry. Its one of the greatest things Ive done with my money in my life. He has also advocated for legal recreational marijuana nearly every year since. Watch John Morgan endorse Florida's recreational marijuana amendment Is John Morgan running for governor of Florida? Hard to say. But he does hint at it. Today, too many adults are sitting in our jails simply because they were using marijuana, and that is just wrong, Morgan said Wednesday. If I was your governor, I would free or parole any person in jail for possession, and then expunge everyones record. Reporters asked him about that during the press conference and he just said he was 68 and lived in Hawaii half the year. But he didn't say no. "I might, but if I did it would be the most unusual (campaign), it would only be third party, it wouldn't be like anything you'd ever seen before," he said. This is hilarious. And why we despise most politicians. @GovRonDeSantis fought me tooth and nail along with his usual suspects. Maybe I should run for Governor as an Independent. The Peoples Party. #ForThePeoplehttps://t.co/9FpgNlKDWA John Morgan (@JohnMorganESQ) January 4, 2024 It's not the first time he's floated the idea. In the runup to the 2018 election Morgan said he was considering a run. And this January, while criticizing DeSantis for taking credit for the state's minimum wage hike (which Morgan promoted), he tweeted "Maybe I should run for Governor... as an Independent." Contributing: Douglas Soule, USA TODAY Network-Florida This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Morgan & Morgan head endorses Florida recreational marijuana amendment Samantha Power used to be a vocal opponent of genocidal actionuntil her government underlings began resigning in mass protest over the Biden administrations continued support for the war in Gaza. At least 19 internal dissent memos have circulated within the U.S. Agency for International Development, where several employees have left their posts over the administrations refusal to address the atrocities in Gaza. One now former senior adviser, Alexander Smith, cited an environment in which specific people cannot be acknowledged as fully human. Smith told The Guardian that he was given a choice to resign or be fired after his presentation on child mortality among Palestinians was canceled by the agencys leadership. He resigned on Monday. USAID has always prided itself on our programs supporting democracy, human rights, and rule of law, Smith wrote to Power in a leaked letter obtained by the publication. In Ukraine, we call for legal redress when people are victimized, and name perpetrators of violence. We boldly state Slava Ukraini in peppy promotional videos. When it comes to the Palestinians, however, we avoid saying anything about their right to statehood, the abuses theyre currently suffering, or which powers have been violating their basic rights to freedom, self-determination, livelihoods, and clean water, he wrote. But Power was not always so complicit in state-sponsored violence. In fact, her tacit support for the Biden administrations actions appears to run directly against her own ethical code. The book sleeve of A Problem From Hell, Powers examination of Americas silent response to genocide in the twentieth century that won a Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction (among other awards), advertises the former ambassadors stance on government employees who fail to protect the people. Samantha Power poses a question that haunts our nations past: Why do American leaders who vow never again repeatedly fail to marshal the will and the might to stop genocide? the jacket asks. Bars from the Baden-Wurttemberg chocolate manufacturer Ritter Sport lie on the shelves of a supermarket chain. Ulf Mauder/dpa The boss of German chocolate manufacturer Ritter Sport, Andreas Ronken, has defended his company's decision to remain active on the Russian market despite the country's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. "Russian children also like to eat chocolate," he told Focus magazine on Thursday. Many Western companies pulled out of the Russian market after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ritter Sport, however, has continued to do business in Russia despite occasionally sharp criticism. Russia remains the company's second-largest market. Ronken argued that the war would not be won by putting restrictions on food products, including chocolate. "Our decision was the right one, and I would make it again in the same way," said the chief executive. He also pointed to potentially major ramifications for the business if it had shut down its Russia operations, including major layoffs at the company's headquarters in the south-western German town of Waldenbuch. "If we had gone out there, we would have had to lay off 200 people at the Waldenbuch site," Ronken told the magazine. Ritter Sport has previously justified the decision to remain in Russia by citing the impact on production, which would ultimately also affect cocoa farmers in West Africa, Central and South America. The company announced instead that it would stop additional investment in the Russian market, no longer advertise there and donate the profits from Russia to humanitarian aid organizations. Chocolate bars lie on a conveyor belt in production at the headquarters of Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG, on a conveyor belt. Anna Ross/dpa Why legislation that could have increased turnout, sped up results in SC is dead A sign with the words "Vote Here" over an American flag on a sidewalk A "Vote Here" sign outside a polling location at Dreher High School in Columbia on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 (Abraham Kenmore/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA Legislation that could have increased turnout in South Carolinas local elections while speeding up Election Day tallying died in the final minutes of this years regular session, despite both chambers approving it overwhelmingly. Statewide, there are more than 300 scheduled local elections yearly. And that doesnt even include special elections to fill a vacancy for whatever reason, according to the South Carolina Election Commission. Literally almost every Tuesday is an election day in this state, Director Howard Knapp told the SC Daily Gazette on Wednesday. I think there were two counties this week that had elections. The bill would have consolidated all municipal elections to two days yearly a Tuesday in early April or November and required county election offices to take over running elections for towns and cities that want to transfer the responsibility. The idea behind the consolidation was to reduce the time and money needed to run elections, while also improving turnout in contests that voters often simply dont know about because theyre so sporadic. It could have also possibly improved interest in candidates wanting to compete. In Barnwell County in 2022, a school board contest was decided by 24 voters total in a runoff after no one filed to run and two candidates who received one write-in vote apiece agreed to face off, according to The People-Sentinel. The legislation also wouldve allowed winners in municipal elections to take office even if a challenge is filed, rather than leaving the incumbent in the seat pending a decision. In Sumter, a challenge left a city council seat vacant for nine months. The incumbent had died, so there was no one to represent residents in that portion of Sumter while a challenge from the last-place finisher in a five-way race filed multiple appeals eventually settled by the state Supreme Court last year. House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, vowed to prevent what he called a unicorn situation from ever happening again in South Carolina. Another provision added by senators wouldve allowed early voting results to be uploaded at 7 a.m. on Election Day instead of 7 p.m. allowing for a quicker turnaround of results once polls close. Any or all of those fixes becoming law would have been an improvement, Knapp said. It would have cleaned up some issues. It would have improved elections in the state. Why did it die? The House voted unanimously to pass the bill in April 2023. But the Senate didnt take it up for a floor vote until May 8. It cleared the chamber with a 38-4 vote a day later the last day of the regular session. But since the Senate made changes, the bill had to return to the House for a final vote of agreement. With the clock ticking toward the mandated 5 p.m. close of the session, the House needed unanimous approval to take up the bill. And Rep. Rob Harris, a member of the chambers hard-right Freedom Caucus, objected, killing it. Harris, a Spartanburg County Republican, noted he was among those voting 111-0 a year ago to approve the municipal changes. I voted for that bill when it came through the first time, he said. But he said he wanted a discussion on the Senate changes allowing election officials to get a head start on counting ballots cast in person during the early voting window. Early voting results are stored on secure thumb drives. It can take just minutes or up to an hour each to transfer data from them into the system. In large counties with multiple drives, waiting until polls close at 7 p.m. to upload the results can significantly delay election results. People across the state may go to bed not knowing who won, according to Knapp and local officials. The Senates additions would have allowed the upload to start 12 hours earlier, at the same time election officials can start processing mail-in absentee ballots. They couldnt release any results, but it would have been, like, ready to go, Knapp said. Youve turned the ignition. You havent turned the car over yet, but its like right there. Senators also wanted to mandate that hand-audits be conducted publicly, something Knapp said election offices do not always do. Explaining his objection, Harris said he wanted a full debate on the Senates changes, and a full debate wasnt possible in minutes. So, the Wellford Republican was willing to let it die. Isaac Cramer, director of the Charleston County elections office, said hes hopeful that legislators might resurrect the bill when they return in the coming weeks to finalize the state budget. Amending the temporary law that governs what can be taken up during the extended session is possible with supermajority votes in both chambers. But legislative leaders arent optimistic. Trying to add anything to the agenda can open the floodgates of legislators wanting other proposals to be added. Im optimistic that it can be done, Cramer said. Weve been contacting our legislators, letting them know that this bill is really crucial to election officials. It would be a win ahead of a very busy summer and fall. Cramer said his office has operated early voting hours almost nonstop since January, with few breaks, due to the presidential primaries, local and special elections. Having set days for municipal elections would help, he said, and being able to upload early voting data before polls close would allow prompt results. If the bill doesnt pass, expect long delays on election night and people not knowing the result of elections when they go to bed, which is not the normal for South Carolina, he said. Knapp is not hopeful legislators will take up the bill again next year, when presidential, congressional and Statehouse elections wont be on any ballots. I dont know if theres going to be a lot of priority put on election reform or election cleanup bills next year, when nobody is on the ballot and the election is over, he said. Whats in the budget? The one thing legislators must do in the extended session is finalize a state spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1. Negotiations between the chambers differing proposals officially started Tuesday. A clause in the House plan would allow Knapp to step in and appoint an interim director for a county elections board if the local director leaves within 60 days of an election. Thats not in the Senate plan after it was ruled out of order. This November will be the first general election with a presidential contest for most of the local directors statewide, since 80% of them have been replaced since 2021, Knapp said. In Saluda County, the entire staff left earlier this year, leaving the office illegally closed from Jan. 3-7, according to an Election Commission spokesperson. It was then open with non-regular hours from Jan. 8-19 basically, whenever staff was available just two weeks before the Democratic presidential primary. State law doesnt give Knapp the authority to take over. I cant reach down into a county government office and run it, Knapp said. I just cant. Theres nothing in the law that allows me to do that. Lynn Teague with the state League of Women Voters said more state funding for local elections would be helpful. The state, and to some extent the feds, call the shots, and then the counties get beat up if something goes wrong, she said. We believe more consistency is required in municipal elections, Teague said. The post Why legislation that could have increased turnout, sped up results in SC is dead appeared first on SC Daily Gazette. Why mail ballot requests have dropped off a cliff in Miami-Dade (and why it matters) A recent change in state law has led to a drastic drop in the number of Miami-Dade voters requesting mail-in ballots, leading county officials and political organizations to scramble to try and make up the difference. As of Tuesday, roughly 194,000 voters in Miami-Dade County had requested vote-by-mail ballots, Supervisor of Elections Christina White told the Miami Herald. Compare that to 2022, when nearly 440,000 voters were registered to receive mail ballots. While Whites office is trying to remind voters interested in casting their ballots by mail to put in their requests sooner rather than later, she said the decrease has made it difficult to plan for this years elections, including the upcoming vote in August when prominent countywide offices including Miami-Dade mayor will be up for grabs. In the past, I had a pretty good sense of how many people had a request on file, so I could plan accordingly, White said. Right now, I dont have a good sense yet of how many people are actually going to be voting by mail. The drop-off in mail ballot requests could complicate or change strategies for campaigns and candidates, who target mail-in voters with advertisements and pitches. It also makes it difficult for election officials to estimate overall voter turnout. White said that its unclear whether voters are aware that they need to request a mail ballot, or if more people are simply opting to vote in person either early or on Election Day. What we dont know is have people changed their minds? White said. Are they deciding to now go in person, or are they just unaware that they need to register? Though they have been maligned across the country, mail-in ballots have helped cut down on lines at early voting centers and Election Day precincts in Miami-Dade and Florida, raising the question about whether a drop in voting by mail might lead to longer lines to vote in-person. But White said shes confident that her office will be able to head-off the kind of nightmare scenario that occurred in 2012, when Miami-Dades general elections were hampered by hours-long wait times at voting sites, a last-minute surge in absentee ballots and technological troubles that delayed the final vote count. She noted that things are different now: the early-voting period is longer now than it was then, voter check-in is done electronically rather than manually and there are more early-voting sites. There were variables then that dont exist anymore, White said. We look at history, we look at voter behavior, we infuse a lot of math into this, so well be ready for the turnout. A solution looking for a problem The sudden drop-off in mail ballot requests stems from a measure signed into law more than three years ago that requires Florida voters to re-register to receive mail ballots for each election cycle and canceled existing requests after the 2022 elections. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican state lawmakers billed the law as an effort to safeguard elections from potential voter fraud after former President Donald Trumps unsubstantiated complaints that the 2020 election was marred by fraud and malfeasance, especially when it came to early and mail-in voting. That year, as the pandemic led political parties to aggressively push mail voting, some 665,000 Miami-Dade voters requested a mail ballot. In total, more than 4.8 million Floridians voted by mail in 2020. The measure SB 90 was roundly criticized by some Florida elections officials and voting rights groups as unnecessarily onerous for voters and rooted in the false notion that elections are riddled with insecurities. White on Tuesday called the law a solution looking for a problem. Ibis Valdes, the president of the League of Women Voters of Miami-Dade County, said that even now, many voters arent aware that their mail ballot requests are no longer on file. Life is hard, she said. When youre at the kitchen table, organizing your utility bills, your mortgage there are so many things that having to re-register to vote by mail is just another nuisance for really no reason that is rooted in fact. Valdes said her organization is already reaching out to voters to remind them to request their ballots if they plan on voting by mail. White said that her office has been doing the same for well over a year by sending mailers to voters and, in some cases, reaching out by phone and email. Candidates and parties could also play a role in encouraging people to vote by mail, White said. Even Trump who railed against early, absentee and mail voting for years as a threat to election integrity has begun to encourage his supporters to vote by any means necessary. ABSENTEE VOTING, EARLY VOTING, AND ELECTION DAY VOTING ARE ALL GOOD OPTIONS. REPUBLICANS MUST MAKE A PLAN, REGISTER, AND VOTE! Trump wrote on his social media site Truth Social last month. White said shes hopeful that the number of mail-ballot requests will start to pick up after June 14, the deadline for candidates for county offices to qualify for the August ballot, when campaigns are political parties ramp up their voter outreach. Florida state Rep. Alex Rizo, the chairman of the Miami-Dade GOP, said that his party has already begun doing that work. He said that party members have been distributing mail-ballot request forms to voters throughout Miami-Dade County, and predicted that the number of requests on file would start ticking upward, especially as the August elections near. Theres confidence here in our elections department and in our secretary of states office to make sure we have the most secure elections in the entire country, Rizo said. Trumps prosecution is unprecedented in US but other countries have prosecuted former leaders A Manhattan jury on May 30, 2024 convicted former President Donald Trump on charges he falsified business records related to the cover-up of his relationship with a porn star. While this trial is now over, Trump still faces three other prosecutions: the state case against Trump and 18 others on charges they attempted to subvert the 2020 election in Georgia; the federal prosecution that charges Trump with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election; and a second federal prosecution on charges Trump illegally kept classified documents at Mar-a-Lago after his presidency ended and obstructed efforts to retrieve those documents. While charging a former president with criminal offenses was a first in the United States with Trump, in other countries ex-leaders are routinely investigated, prosecuted and even jailed. In March 2021, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to a year in prison for corruption and influence peddling. Later that year, a trial commenced of Israels longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu related to breaches of trust, bribery and fraud; it is ongoing. And Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa who was charged with money laundering and racketeering, likely faces trial in 2025 after years of delay. At first glance, prosecuting current or past top officials accused of illegal conduct seems like an obvious decision for a democracy: Everyone should be subject to the rule of law. But presidents and prime ministers arent just anyone. They are chosen by a nations citizens or their parties to lead. They are often popular, sometimes revered. So judicial proceedings against them are inevitably perceived as political and become divisive. Destabilizing prosecutions This is partly why U.S. President Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon, his predecessor, in 1974. Despite clear evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the Watergate scandal, Ford feared the country would needlessly be diverted from meeting (our) challenges if we as a people were to remain sharply divided over punishing the ex-president. Public reaction at the time was divided along party lines. Today, some now see absolving Nixon as necessary to heal the nation, while others believe it was a historic mistake, even taking Nixons deteriorating health into account if for no other reason than it emboldens future impunity of the kind Trump is accused of. Our research on prosecuting world leaders finds that both sweeping immunity and overzealous prosecutions can undermine democracy. But such prosecutions pose different risks for older democracies such as France and the U.S. than they do in younger democracies like South Africa. Mature democracies Strong democracies are usually competent enough and the judicial system independent enough to prosecute politicians who misbehave, including top leaders. Sarkozy is Frances second modern president to be found guilty of corruption, after Jacques Chirac in 2011 for kickbacks and an attempt to bribe a magistrate. The country didnt fall apart after either conviction, and Sarkozy now faces additional charges related to alleged illegal campaign financing from Libya. Sarkozy leaves court after being found guilty of corruption and influence peddling in 2021. Kiran Ridley/Getty Images In mature democracies, prosecutions that hold leaders accountable can solidify the rule of law. South Korea investigated and convicted five former presidents starting in the 1990s, a wave of political prosecutions that culminated in the 2018 impeachment of President Park Geun-hye and, soon after, the conviction and imprisonment of her predecessor, Lee Myung-bak. Did these prosecutions deter future leaders from wrongdoing? For what its worth, Koreas two most recent presidents have so far kept out of legal trouble. Overzealous prosecution versus rule of law Even in mature democracies, prosecutors or judges can abuse prosecutions. But overzealous political prosecution is more likely, and potentially more damaging, in emerging democracies where courts and other public institutions may be insufficiently independent from politics. The weaker and more beholden the judiciary, the easier it is for leaders to exploit the system, either to expand their own power or to take down an opponent. Brazil embodies this dilemma. Ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a former shoeshine boy turned popular leftist, was jailed in 2018 for accepting bribes. Many Brazilians thought his prosecution was a politicized effort to end his career, but Lula was elected in October, 2022. A year later, the same prosecutorial team accused the conservative former President Michel Temer of accepting millions in bribes. After his term ended in 2019, Temer was arrested; his trial was later suspended. Both Brazilian presidents prosecutions were part of a yearslong, sweeping anti-corruption probe by the courts that has jailed dozens of politicians. Even the probes lead prosecutor is accused of corruption. Depending on the perspective, Brazils crisis reveals that nobody is above the law or that the government is incorrigibly corrupt or both. With such confusion, it becomes easier for politicians and voters to view leaders transgressions as a normal cost of doing business. For Lula, a conviction didnt end his career. He was released from jail in 2019 and the Supreme Court later annulled his conviction. Lula won the 2022 presidential race against Jair Bolsonaro, with Bolsonaro now indicted related to fraud in his dealing with the pandemic. Stability versus accountability Historically, Mexico has taken a different approach to prosecuting past presidents: It doesnt. During the 20th century, Mexicos ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, established a system of patronage and corruption that kept its members in power and other parties in the minority. While making a show of going after smaller fish for petty indiscretions, the PRI-run legal system wouldnt touch top party officials, even the most openly corrupt. Impunity kept Mexico stable during its transition to democracy in the 1990s by placating PRI members fears of prosecution after leaving office. But government corruption flourished, and with it, organized crime. That may be changing, though. In early August 2022, Mexican federal prosecutors confirmed that it had several open investigations into former PRI President Enrique Pena Nieto for alleged money laundering and election-related offenses, among other crimes, which appear to remain active. A protester in Mexico City calls for the prosecution of several former presidents implicated in a corruption scandal. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images Mexico is far from the only country to overlook the bad deeds of past leaders. Our research finds that only 23% of countries that transitioned to democracy between 1885 and 2004 charged former leaders with crimes after democratization. Protecting authoritarians including those who oversaw human rights violations may seem contrary to democratic values, but many transitional governments have decided it is necessary for democracy to take root. Thats the bargain South Africa struck as apartheids decades of segregation and human rights abuses ended in the early 1990s. South Africas white-dominated government negotiated with Nelson Mandelas Black-led African National Congress to ensure outgoing government members and supporters would avoid prosecution and largely retain their wealth. This strategy helped the country transition to majority Black rule in 1994 and avoid a civil war. But it hurt efforts to create a more equal South Africa. As a result, the country has retained one of the worlds highest racial wealth gaps. Corruption is a problem, too, as former President Zumas prosecution for lavish personal use of public funds shows. But South Africa has a famously independent judiciary. Despite delays and appeals, Zumas prosecution continues, and he was prevented from contesting the presidency this year. How mature is mature? Israel is partly a testament to the rule of law and partly a cautionary tale about prosecuting leaders in democracies. Israel didnt wait for Netanyahu to leave office to investigate wrongdoing. But several court processes were fraught with delays, in part because Netanyahu used state power to resist what he called a witch hunt. Netanyahu tried unsuccessfully to secure immunity and stall while his Likud party cried foul. He was even reelected while under indictment. In December 2023, judges limited the number of trial days per week because of the war in Gaza, but the cases are ongoing. With Trumps Manhattan jury verdict, the process has revealed something fundamental about American democracy. As its repercussions play out, the verdict will likely be seen as both a matter of law and politics. This is a substantially updated version of an article originally published on March 16, 2021. 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: James D. Long, University of Washington; Morgan Wack, Clemson University, and Victor Menaldo, University of Washington. Read more: The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Insights from CNN, Wilson Center, The Hill, and the BBC The News Mexico goes to the polls on Sunday, June 2. The election is historic, both in terms of a record high of registered voters about 99 million and in that it is on the cusp of electing its first woman president. Claudia Sheinbaum, former Mexico City mayor, leads in the polls. She is a member of incumbent President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors party and his protegee. Under Lopez Obrador, Mexico has stopped being a distant and strange country and has become a close one, the director of the Center for US-Mexico Studies at the University of California, San Diego said. That could signal what a Sheinbaum administration will mean for the US over three key areas: trade, migration, and drug policy. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Mexico is the US largest trading partner Sources: CNN, Wilson Center Mexico overtook Canada and China and became the US largest trading partner in 2023. That growth is driven by a number of factors, including the US protectionist stance on China and the USMCA, a 2020 free-trade agreement between Mexico, the US, and Canada. It is set for renegotiation in 2026, bringing it under the auspice of the incoming Mexican government. Mexicos fluctuating compliance with the terms of USMCA has been a point of contention between Lopez Obrador and both US Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and the new Mexican president will inherit that issue. Leading candidates stance on migration unclear Sources: Pew Research Center, CNN, BBC During the Biden administration, more than 6.3 million people have been detained trying to cross the US-Mexico border, more than under former Presidents Trump or Barack Obama. But while immigration policy is a key issue in the 2024 US presidential race, its less clear where the leading Mexican presidential candidates stand. Sheinbaum says she will continue her predecessors policy and insist on tamping down illegal crossings and facilitating a legal path for migration to the US, but one analyst told CNN that neither of the candidates migration discourse is very strong [...] nor do they address much of what to do with the migrants who are in the country. The US needs Mexicos collaboration for drug policy enforcement Sources: Wilson Center, Semafor, The Hill Mexico is considered the primary source of illicit drugs flowing into the US and it needs the governments support to fight the trade. Outgoing President Lopez Obrador has taken a hugs, not bullets approach to organized crime and has denied involvement in fentanyl manufacturing multiple times. Sheinbaum, who leads in the Mexican election polls, has rebranded Lopez Obradors largely unpopular strategy to be more akin to a socioeconomic reform, and recently said her party plans to build peace instead of declaring war on cartels. Why an open government group is calling on Delaware to investigate embezzlement problems An open government group has asked the Delaware General Assembly to investigate an undisclosed embezzlement problem at the state Department of Labor's Division of Unemployment Insurance. John Flaherty, Delaware Coalition for Open Government board member, said the investigation request follows a May 6 story by WHYY News about a former Delaware Department of Labor supervisor who embezzled more than $181,000 from the state's unemployment insurance trust fund in 2023. The state did not reveal the embezzlement despite state law specifying the disclosure of illegal activity in their official reports, Flaherty said. John Flaherty, a board member with the Delaware Coalition for Open Government, said the open government group is calling on the Delaware General Assembly to investigate issues of undisclosed embezzlement in the state Department of Labor's Division of Unemployment Insurance. "The disclosure of all this came about through the article on WHYY radio," he said. "We felt that the news media should not have to be the one that would disclose these kinds of violations of public trust." The Delaware Department of Labor and state Auditor's Office were working to provide statements regarding the issue Thursday morning. UNLOCKING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: What to know about filing in Delaware According to the WHYY News' May 6 story, the state's Labor Department "acknowledged that former unemployment insurance administrator, Michael Brittingham, stole the money last year. Brittingham took his own life in April 2023 shortly after he was told he was under investigation." According to his obituary, Brittingham worked for the Delaware Department of Labor as a tax administrator. He was 37 at the time of his death on April 3, 2023. He'd been living in the Harrington area. Embezzlement discovery The Delaware Department of Labor did not provide a response to questions regarding this issue Thursday. State officials say the missing unemployment insurance funds were initially discovered by a labor department employee last year, and the case was referred to the Department of Justice. The justice department did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. Delaware State Auditor Lydia York When Delaware Auditor of Accounts Lydia York went to perform an annual comprehensive financial audit of the Division of Unemployment Insurance, internal and external auditors found material weaknesses and deficiencies in the internal controls of the division that prevented completing an audit, Yorks policy advisor Sam Barry said. That resulted in the auditors office releasing a special report in March that alerted state officials to an unprecedented disclaimer of opinion and independent auditors finding that the unemployment compensation fund was not auditable for fiscal year 2023, according to the report. Barry said the office lacked adequate, detailed records on the day-to-day accounting of the fund, which, as of June 30, 2023, had reported cash assets of about $390 million through contributions from the federal government and Delaware workers. We dont have detailed day-to-day records of money coming in and money going out, and we need those records to be complete and accurate in order for an audit to be completed, Barry said. He said that auditors are working with the Division of Unemployment Insurance and outside certified public accountants to piece together the accounting records, and once complete, the state auditor will go back and perform a comprehensive audit of the division. A breach of public trust According to the letter DelCOG sent to state lawmakers on Wednesday, it violates Delawares state code to withhold the disclosure of embezzled state funds. The failure to disclose this information severely damages transparency, accountability and confidence in state government, the group said. Its also a breach of the publics trust. Additionally troubling is that the embezzled funds consisted of contributions not only by Delaware employers, but also by the federal government, according to the letter obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal. Flaherty said there could be more than one instance of staff embezzling for all they know. So we'd like to find out how this situation occurred, what they're doing to stop it now and what they plan to do in the future, he said. DelCOG put the onus on the auditor's office for having needed to flag issues of embezzlement in the report it issued in March. Barry, the auditor's policy advisor, said the "special report" was not a "mandated report," and thus the office "chose to file and make public and send to the members of the General Assembly" in order to flag the "disclaimer of opinion" and explain why the office couldn't perform an audit on the division last year. By asking the General Assembly to exercise its legally allowable oversight of these state agencies, Flaherty said the hope is to give the public some answer about why this incident happened and assurance that it will not happen again. We're not looking to know the details, because that's really of no value, he said. But we just want to make sure that our oversight agencies are acting in the public interest and not trying to cover anything up here. As of 11 a.m. Thursday, Flaherty said hed not heard from any state lawmakers. Nobody has responded yet, he said. But we hope that they take this issue seriously and they give it the time and attention that it deserves to make sure that the public has full confidence that the public monies are being well protected and not just misused as it happened in this particular case here. Delaware Sen. Laura Sturgeon says the creation of an Office of the Inspector General is necessary given the latest issues of embezzlement coming out of the Department of Labor's Division of Unemployment Insurance. State Sen. Laura Sturgeon, who is the lead sponsor on Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 21 that would create an Office of the Inspector General, said while the General Assembly may have authority to investigate, lawmakers dont have the expertise nor does the legislative body have the staff to do a true investigation. Sturgeon said she is incredibly sympathetic and agrees that the issue should be investigated. This is the exact reason why I introduced Senate Bill 21 creating an Office of the Inspector General because situations like this keep coming up, she said. It would be incredibly helpful, and hopefully bring a greater sense of trust and confidence in government if we had a completely independent office whose sole job is to do these investigations. The Delaware senator noted that legislators could potentially convene hearings, similar to what lawmakers did following the botched school water testing for lead in 2022, that could take them to task on what happened and what went wrong and what we could do better in the future. Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries. Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Stolen money at Delaware labor department prompts investigation calls Why a state challenge to Pa.s mail ballot dating rule may succeed even though a federal one failed This article is made possible through Spotlight PAs collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. Sign up for Votebeat Pennsylvanias free newsletters here. Voting rights groups are trying again to invalidate Pennsylvanias requirement that voters write a date on their mail ballot return envelope, following a recent defeat in federal court. The ACLU of Pennsylvania and the Public Interest Law Center filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court on Tuesday against Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, this time arguing that the Election Codes requirement that voters write the date on their ballot envelopes violates the state constitutions clause on free and equal elections. The suit marks a new front in the long-running effort by voting rights groups to invalidate the date requirement, which they argue needlessly disenfranchises too many voters each cycle. The ACLU previously argued in a years-long federal case that the requirement violated the U.S. Civil Rights Act. Under current interpretation of state law, county election officials must reject any mail ballot that lacks a date or has an incorrect date on its return envelope. Of the approximately 715,000 mail ballots returned by voters in Aprils primary election, more than 4,400 were rejected for this reason. That number could greatly increase in November, when turnout is expected to be much higher. There are thousands of voters whose ballots are at stake, said Ben Geffen, senior attorney at Public Interest Law Center. People just really dont like to think they followed the rules and, for some reason of red tape or some technicality, their vote doesnt get counted. When that happens to you, its very upsetting. Pennsylvanias state constitution affirms a right to vote The ACLU and the Public Interest Law Center are suing on behalf of the Black Political Empowerment Project, POWER Interfaith, Make the Road Pennsylvania, OnePA Activists United, New PA Project Education Fund, Casa San Jose, Pittsburgh United, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, and Common Cause Pennsylvania. A spokesperson for the Department of State told Votebeat and Spotlight PA on Wednesday that the agency was reviewing the petition, but reiterated its view that the dating requirement is unnecessary. In the years of litigation over this issue, it has become irrefutably clear that the handwritten date serves no function in the administration of Pennsylvanias election, Matt Heckel, press secretary for the department, said. As a result, the Department has consistently argued in court that voters should not be disenfranchised for failing to write or incorrectly writing a date that serves no function. The suit also named Allegheny County and Philadelphia as defendants. Because the case is being filed against Schmidt a state official Commonwealth Court will hear the case initially, and a ruling there could set a standard statewide. Given the appellate courts track record of expediting election-related cases, Geffen is optimistic that a decision could come in time for the November election. When Pennsylvania passed its no-excuse mail voting law, Act 77, in 2019, it used much of the same language as the states absentee voting statute. Both laws require voters to write a date on their return envelope, and courts have interpreted that to mean that the date must be between the day the ballot was sent out and Election Day. Counties reached varying decisions during the April primary about whether a lack of 24 in the partly pre-filled space for the year constituted an incorrect date, or if it was simply incomplete and could be counted under current case law. As the use of mail voting expanded under Act 77, so too did the number of ballots rejected for lacking a proper date on the envelope. The organizations involved in the lawsuit argue that under the state constitution, this requirement is invalid. The argument relies on a constitutional provision that says elections shall be free and equal; and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage. Geffen said this affirmative right to vote in the state constitution gives the challenge a better chance of success than cases brought in federal court, since the U.S. Constitution does not contain an affirmative right to vote. The state courts for decades have interpreted the free and equal election clause as overriding highly technical requirements in the Election Code that block peoples ballots from being counted, he said. I think thats exactly the situation we see here. Pennsylvanias appellate courts have already shown that they are amenable to this argument. In 2022, state and national GOP groups brought a case, Ball v. Chapman, against the Department of State over its guidance to counties that they should count undated or incorrectly dated ballots if they are received on time. Most of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices agreed that a challenge under the clause would succeed. Failure to comply with the date requirement would not compel the discarding of votes in light of the Free and Equal Elections Clause, Justice David Wecht wrote in a footnote. Derek T. Muller, an election law professor at Notre Dame Law School, said state courts have become more open to these types of challenges in recent years. However, even with provisions like Pennsylvanias that affirm a right to vote, courts still need to weigh the interest of the state in setting rules to ensure elections run smoothly against the interest of voters to easily exercise their rights. Strictly speaking, any law abridges the right to vote, Muller said. For instance, if you say you only have 12 hours [to vote] or have to be a resident of that state for 30 days prior to the election. Still, the footnote in the Ball case does seem to suggest plaintiffs have a really good shot here, he said. Commonwealth Court challenge could be last remaining option The dating requirement has been continually challenged in court since Act 77 was implemented in 2020. Aside from the Ball case, litigants, including the ACLU, have primarily challenged the law in federal courts under a provision in the 1964 Civil Rights Act that was designed to ensure that voters werent denied the right to register to vote for reasons immaterial to their eligibility. Several federal judges have sided with that argument, but in March a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against it. The ACLU, which brought that case on behalf of the NAACP and other voting rights groups, has not decided whether it will appeal that ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, said Vic Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. The ACLU is also asking the district court judge in the case to allow it to expand on another part of its argument, an equal protection claim, which the 3rd Circuit did not strike down in March. But if both fail, the ACLU and Public Interest Legal Centers new free and equal elections claim could be the only path left for legal challenges to the dating requirement, leaving only a legislative fix on the table. State lawmakers have put forward a number of proposals to eliminate the requirement, but none have made it through Harrisburgs partisan deadlock. Geffen said the organizations did not want to bring the new claim to Commonwealth Court while the NAACP case was still in the U.S. district and circuit courts. You dont go to the ultimate backstop argument if there is a different solution that is available, he said. In light of that recent decision from the 3rd Circuit, this is the last remaining option to vindicate this right. BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Carter Walker is a reporter for Votebeat in partnership with Spotlight PA. Contact Carter at cwalker@votebeat.org. Macon is among only a handful of cities across the country where President Joe Bidens campaign recently aired an ad to rally Black voters and take direct shots at former President Donald Trumps comments that have been criticized as discriminatory. The New York Post reported that the ad has also aired in several cities much bigger than Macon: New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Detroit and Atlanta. Christopher Lawrence, professor and chair of Middle Georgia State Universitys political science department, explained how the ad could prove useful for Biden within Macons majority Black population, and affordable market. The bang for a buck for an ad in Macon is probably a bit higher than a lot of other cities in Georgia for its size, Lawrence said. The campaigns havent really kicked off yet in a lot of ways in terms of big investment in media, so part of it is about establishing a bit of groundwork. Not only are 54.3% of Macon residents Black, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, its also Georgias fourth-largest city. Its not as large as other cities, but its also one of the larger cities that has a fairly substantial African American population, and a state that really is going to make a difference in the election, Lawrence said. Since Bidens ad is not unique to Macon, it requires less work to produce the video than to obtain air time for a commercial, Lawrence said. Its not a huge investment once youve produced the ad for other cities, he said. A few token ads, as (the Biden campaign) did, could help rather than trying to get a saturation of coverage. Lawrence thinks Macons media market would reach more Georgians than cities that overlap into surrounding states coverage. If you picked Augusta, Columbus or Savannah, a lot of people watching those are going to be in states where their votes wont make so much of a difference, he told The Telegraph. Biden isnt alone in trying to target voters in Macon. Make America Great Again, Trumps political action committee, also recently aired a television ad in May in Middle Georgia that claimed Black, Hispanic and young voters abandon Biden. The ad also called immigrants illegals, and said Biden pays for their rent. The MAGA organization also launched a radio ad in March throughout Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania, according to MSNBC, called Our Communities. The segment uses a frequent Republican talking point, bashing Biden for issues at the U.S.-Mexico boarder and claiming the current president is letting Mexican cartels pump drugs and fentanyl into our streets. Its one of many questionable statements by the former president about a specific demographic, Lawrence said. States that border Georgia, like South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama, arent considered swing states because they consistently lean toward the same political party. That may not be the case for Georgia in November. Macons not as big as other cities where the ad airs, but its in a battleground state that just barely swung in favor of Biden in 2020 and is expected to be close again in November. Prior to the 2020 presidential election, Georgia consistently leaned Republican for several decades. Now, Biden and Trump are in a tight race in the newly-purple state. Trump has held a narrow polling lead leading up to the 2024 election, according to a poll in May by FiveThirtyEight. Biden and Trumps campaign teams did not respond to The Telegraphs request for comment. How effective is the ad? The ad alone isnt enough to garner many new supporters for Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, but its a start to his summer-long efforts to court the Black electorate, which has been a fairly committed voter base, to Democrats, Lawrence said. Its sort of a narrow target, but on the other hand focusing on a core demographic for Democrats in particular makes a lot of sense, Lawrence told The Telegraph. It might make sense for Republicans to focus on white evangelicals or something thats really committed to Republicans. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris began outreach efforts to Black voters in Pennsylvania Wednesday, as their support among Black adults has dropped from 94% when they started the term to 55%, according to a poll in March by the Associated Press Center for Public Affairs Research. We will continue to be aggressive, innovative and thorough in our work to earn the support of the very voters who sent Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House in 2020 and will do so again in 2024, Quentin Fulks, Bidens principal deputy campaign manager said, according to the AP. Bidens recent ad replayed a clip of Trump condemning the Central Park Five, a term often used to refer to five Black teenagers were wrongly convicted of sexually abusing a woman in New York. Of course I hate these people, Trump said of the teens during a 1989 interview with Larry King. It also displayed news headlines about Trumps response to the case that said, Bring back the death penalty. Bring back our police! The ad responded, Its why Trump stood with violent white supremacists, warned of a blood bath if he loses the next election, and if he is president again, vowed to be a dictator who wants revenge on his enemies. Bidens stark claims about Trump could be more about mobilizing voters, and less about gaining a vote, Lawrence said. Historically, voters normally dont like mudslinging, they dont like that sort of tactic, Lawrence said. Those negative ads are more about just raising awareness that there is a presidential race going on. This is serious. Reminding voters of a presumptive candidates past statements or actions could be more powerful to build contrast between opponents, Lawrence said. For Trump, his ads are probably more targeted toward trying to depress Black turnout, or to say theres not a difference between them so why bother voting for either, Lawrence said. Whereas for Biden, its more about emphasizing the contrast between them, that Trump has this fairly lengthy history of questionable statements. Why these women are the only ones to receive this high WWII honor WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Mary Bankston, Mary Barlow, Dolores Brown, and Elizabeth Richardson are the only women interred at the Normandy American Cemetery in France. Although women were not formally allowed to serve in the military until 1948, four years after the D-Day invasion, the significant contributions of these four women to the war effort have earned them the distinguished honor of burial at this cemetery. Bankston, Barlow and Brown were assigned to the Womens Army Corps 6888 Postal Battalion. Their work was to ensure the delivery of mail between the families and the service members, historian Anthony Folquier said. Elizabeth Richardson was in the American Red Cross. She was assigned to a clubmobile unit, a vehicle placed behind friendly lines so that the service men fighting for the cause could have a short moment of rest. Richardson would supply the men with newspapers, cigarettes, everyday items; but most importantly she brought them food. In those intervening times, Elizabeth came to be known as the big sister. Many of these men she met during the war used to share with her all the feelings they had such as missing home, missing family, loneliness, fear, anger. Not joyful feedings, but human feedings, said Folquier. Richardson did not die on the battlefield. She was killed [in] a plane accident while she was trying to reach the Red Cross headquarters in Paris. Her plane was taken in a storm, crashed in fog near the city of Rouen in Normandy, said Folquier. That was July 25, 1945. She was a civilian. This is a military cemetery. But for what she did during the war, her family had the same choice and her family decided to have their daughter resting here forever, said Folquier. There is no specific order to the arrangement of graves at the Normandy American Cemetery. People of any rank, religion, age or gender are honored equally for the sacrifice they made. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Vernon Brooks was drafted while he was attending high school at Sedgwick. He dropped off all of his books, left the high school, walked all the way to Wichita, and headed to the U.S. Army recruiters office. Courtesy: Vernon Brooks Brooks had experience in construction and building bridges before he joined the U.S. Army, and that experience came in handy when he was designated as a combat engineer bridge builder crew member. He was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for basic training. I went into service in 70 and was out in 72. Enlisted for two years as a combat engineer, construction of bridges. Like, we done construction of bridges like rope bridges, cable bridges, and log bridges to get our men and supplies across in our training and under fire, said Brooks. Because we were in the deep jungle is where were supposed to have been. Brooks never left Fort Leonard Wood. He trained and worked on building different kinds of bridges at the Army base for his entire two-year enlistment. And then theres other ones that were with pontoons, and what was pillars was sand that they had pushed up to get across and everything. And then beginning of regular bridges that they put in, and you got to make the road and everything for those bridges to be able to get the trucks and stuff across. But basically, thats what we did, said Brooks. When his two years of service were over, Brooks returned home to Wichita and went to work for Cessna. Courtesy: Vernon Brooks Came to Wichita and joined Cessna. Worked for Cessna, second shift. Drill press operator, where you ream and tap, drill the holes for parts, and whatever came of that, thats what I did, he said. After I left there, I ended up truck driving because my dad had been driving for 50+ years, and thats what I wanted before I went into the military anyway. Brooks says he hauled everything from hazardous explosives to apples. He was an over-the-road trucker for 43 years until hearing loss forced him off the road. Because I couldnt hear and everything, couldnt pass a physical. So, I had to take early retirement at 62, said Brooks. Brooks says he spends his days fishing and drinking coffee. Lots of coffee. He also joined American Legion Post 4, where he has found a new set of brothers. And he remembers his days in the Army. I think about it a lot. OK, how many brothers do you have on a city block? And Ill tell you what; the military has more than you can even count on a city block, said Brooks. Brooks has a message for those who are looking for direction or a purpose in their lives. U.S. Army Iraq War Veteran struggles with nightmares and PTSD Well, if you love the country, its the thing to do. Stand up for your country, he said. Like his father did during World War II. He was a hero. And what he done, he done truck tires and keeping transportation going by fixin tires and everything, and he was down there at Okinawa, said Brooks. And he was there from 1945 to 1954. He got out a year after I was born. Brooks son was in the Army and served in Kuwait, and his grandson just completed Army basic training. Hes waiting to be deployed. If you want to nominate a veteran for our Veteran Salute, email KSN reporter Jason Lamb at jason.lamb@ksn.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. German sparkling-wine group Schloss Wachenheim is doubling production capacity for its non-alcoholic sparkling wine to meet growing demand for alcohol alternatives, it said. Speaking to Just Drinks at the London Wine Fair last week (20 May 2024) Dan Harwood, UK and Ireland sales manager, said it was planning to buy a second dealcoholisation machine. The new machine, which produces non-alcoholic wine through vacuum distillation, is expected to be up and running by July. Hardwood said: We see the market growing, in fact, thats why we are putting up another dealcoholisation machine right now. So we are doubling capacity. The company has capacity to produce 40,000 litres of non-alcoholic wine a day, which will be doubled with the move. It opens up more markets for our products as well, Harwood said. Current export markets have capacity to absorp the increase in production, but the company is looking to expand into new geographical locations and new customers in existing markets, Harwood said. What we see in the UK, is that consumers start to drink more and more alcohol-free or dealcoholised, and they want more choices. They dont want to go to a shelf and be offered one option, its a white, red or rose, he said. We want to give consumers a choice to have different varieties like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. And the same principle with quality. You can have our everyday range, Signature, or you can spend a bit more if you are having a party or if you want something with food, go for Selection. We also have mulled (wine) for Christmas time. Schloss Wachenheim has subsidiaries in Eastern Europe, France, the UK and owns wineries and retail chains in its domestic market. It produces sparkling wine and RTDs and started to make non-alcoholic wine in the 1980s. It launched non-alcoholic brand Eisberg, available only in the UK, in 2001. Eisberg's premium line, Selection, retails for 8 ($10.17) a bottle, while its everyday line, Signature, has an RRP of 3.75 ($4.77) in the UK. Sparkling wine now forms around on third of the companys production, alcohol-free another third and the rest is formed by RTDs and other drinks. Schloss Wachenheims biggest markets for its RTD brands are Portugal and Asian countries for Bar Royal, and Eastern Europe, mainly countries such as Poland, Chechnya and Romania. Its group sales were approximately 234 million bottles in the 2022-23 financial year. Light Live is its biggest non-alc RTD brand in Germany. The companys portfolio includes wine-based cocktails and alcohol-free versions of those as well. It also offers spirit-based RTDs and spritzes. Story continues The businesss main markets are Germany, and the UK, but it exports globally into more than 80 countries. Its present in North America, Canada, and Australia as well. It has subsidiaries in Eastern Europe, France and the UK and wineries and retail chains in Germany. The enterprise sells approximately 250m bottles a year, and its annual revenue is approximately 450m a year. Most of this is made up of sales in Germany, and Eastern Europe is a big part of it as well said the commercial director. In the UK, the company sells approximately 2.2m bottles of drinks. Schloss Wachenheim founded in 1988 is headquartered in Trier, Germany. The company has multiple brands such as Eisberg, Nymphenburg, and Schwansee. Harwood said the company it's the market leader around the world in alcohol-free wine. Its brands include Faber, Feist, Light Live, Schloss Wachenheim, and Muscador and Opera in France and Cin&Cin and Dorato in central and eastern Europe. "Germanys Schloss Wachenheim to double non-alcoholic sparkling-wine production" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com. A revived bipartisan measure in the House of Representatives farm bill claims itll save Californias giant sequoias from worsening wildfires. The Save Our Sequoias Act, heralded by former Rep. Kevin McCarthy before he retired in 2023, would allow officials to take emergency actions to protect Californias iconic trees from catastrophic wildfires and other threats, including in Kings Canyon, Sequoia and Yosemite national parks. But many environmental groups say the act doesnt live up to the name. Rather, they say by circumventing normally-required environmental reviews, the act could cause unintentional harm. Its just a fictitious problem in search of a solution, said Brett Hartl, the government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Legislators from both parties and conservation groups say the bill addresses an urgent need to protect giant sequoias, which can live for thousands of years and are among the most fire-resilient trees. Nearly 20% of the largest, oldest giant sequoias were lost in recent fire seasons, experts told a House of Representatives committee last year. All Americans want to protect our environment, McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, said in a statement last year. The Save Our Sequoias Act offers a common sense, bipartisan solution to poor forest management and the burdensome regulations that make it extremely difficult to protect Californias historic Giant Sequoias. Part of the act would waive certain environmental reviews that require the federal government to study the impact of proposed actions before taking them. The government requires analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act. The concerns Hartl and others are concerned that forest management conducted without environmental review could have unintended consequences as well as speed up logging operations, which environmental groups say can harm the ecosystem. And the bill doesnt address climate change, they said, a driving force behind worsened fires. Lawmakers, particularly Republicans, Hartl said in an interview, just want to say, more logging. Is it unfortunate that its bipartisan? Yes, because its just not a good answer to the problem. Its not particularly well founded in facts. The groups are in favor of forest thinning and prescribed burns, said Hartl and Anna Medema, an associate director of legislative and administrative advocacy at the Sierra Club. But federal agencies are already allowed to conduct forest management, they say: Federal dollars should focus on bolstering agencies working in compliance with environmental laws. Thats really our major opposition to it, Medema said in an interview. Its not to oppose any management or any treatment in a sequoia grove, but its to oppose management and treatment thats done without proper scientific guidance and without public input as required by those two very important environmental laws. The Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity were some of more than five dozen groups who penned a letter to the House committee that works on the farm bill last week decrying the Save Our Sequoias Act and other parts of the sweeping agriculture and food legislation thats normally updated twice a decade. Legislators in favor of the act say that recent wildfire years have proven the need for swift intervention to protect Californias iconic trees sooner than an environmental review can be completed. Like many Californians, since the time I was a kid, have loved the sequoias, whether theyre in the Sierra Nevada or whether theyre further up in the North Coast, Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, said in an interview. When you see how they were impacted by recent fires that we had in Kings Canyon Sequoia National Park. This is part of our legacy. We have to do everything we can do from a forest management perspective to protect, preserve and save our redwoods, said Costa, an original Democratic co-sponsor of the bill. I think this legislation adds on to the Biden administrations efforts that are proactive measures to protect them, and that includes authority to states streamline NEPA. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, said in a statement last year when House lawmakers reintroduced the measure as a separate bill that the act will restore active management by empowering land managers with critical tools to expeditiously carry out fuels reduction and reforestation projects to save our precious sequoias for future generations. About 57% of California forests are federally owned; 40% is controlled privately, and 3% is held by the state. When not catastrophic, fires are part of regeneration for sequoias, many of which are between 250 and 300 feet tall. Fires on the forest floor cause the trees cones to dry out and release seeds. The fire timing burns off debris, exposes soil and allows for sunlight for new trees to grow if others in the surrounding area have fallen. The farm bill Congress is still a long way from reaching a final farm bill. The House, which has a slim GOP majority, and Senate, with a slight Democratic majority, are at odds on some of the largest spending in the bill for issues such as the supplemental nutrition assistance program, crop insurance and commodity prices. The sequoias measure, if passed as is through the farm bill, would grant authority to the existing Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition a group of federal, tribal, state and local agencies and organizations to oversee much of the process of protecting the groves. Medema expressed concern that extending authority to the group instead of having oversight within the Forest Service, a federal agency, could muddy the waters of the process and take some public engagement out of it because there arent as many strict laws for holding them accountable in a transparent process. A spokesperson for the Save The Redwoods League, a nonprofit that is an affiliate member of the coalition, declined to comment after The Bee reached out to multiple coalition members. The spokesperson pointed to remarks from the leagues Director of Science and Conservation Planning Joanna Nelson at a House committee meeting in May 2023. Today were hearing about the challenges of wildfires exacerbated by drought, climate change and practices of fire exclusion which are occurring at a frequency and severity that, if allowed to continue at current rate, could wipe out our irreplaceable and magnificent giant sequoia groves, Nelson said, saying that nearly 20% of the largest, oldest giant sequoia were lost due to recent catastrophic fire seasons in 2020 and 2021. We are short on time in this emergency, Nelson said. We also know what to do to meet this emergency. There is substantial evidence that active forest management reduces the risk of giant sequoia mortality in wildfire. Franklin High School. A member of the Williamson County School Board is pushing back on an updated law regulating school library books. (Photo: John Partipilo) A Williamson County School Board member is questioning the states updated law on age appropriate school books, calling it an unfunded mandate and likely unconstitutional. Board member Rick Wimberly, who is not seeking re-election after 13 years, told the Tennessee Lookout that as the Williamson County board tries to adhere to the law, it is finding the measure impractical. He made calculations showing if librarians spend 15 minutes each on just 15% of the districts 600,000 selections, it would take up 30% of their time for the year. Its quite cumbersome, and as our lawyers say, its constitutionally suspect. Its pretty clear that it is, Wimberly said. He expects the law to be challenged in court, even though the Williamson County School Board is trying to put together a policy to meet the requirements. The House initially approved the bill in April 2023, and Gov. Bill Lee signed the measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Susan Lynn of Mt. Juliet and Republican Sen. Joey Hensley of Hohenwald this April 23 after the House passed amendments adopted by the Senate in March 2024. Its a terrible idea, and I think its very unfortunate that were putting our librarians and teachers in a position where theyre having to work so hard to figure out how they need to interpret this kind of legislation. Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville The new law is more stringent than the measure passed in 2022 because it targets materials that in whole or in part contain nudity or descriptions or depictions of sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence, or sadomasochistic abuse and are inappropriate for students in K-12 schools. Items deemed patently offensive or that appeal to prurient interest for age and maturity levels wont be allowed either. Schools are required to keep a list of all materials in the library and post it on their website, and school boards must set a policy for reviewing books and other library items. If a parent raises questions about a book or library material, the school board is required to evaluate the item within 60 days and decide whether its appropriate for students who have access to it. Otherwise, a parent or guardian can ask the states textbook and instructional materials quality commission to evaluate the item. These challenges, which have been made in several districts statewide, can lead to removal of books and other materials from libraries. The McMinn County School Board in East Tennessee banned the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Maus, in 2022, a Holocaust-based novel that contains a drawing of a nude woman and contains inappropriate language. Critics of the law contend some items approved this year as Tennessees official books, such as the Bible and Roots, the classic novel written by Alex Haley about his ancestors life in slavery, could be removed from school libraries because they are filled with sex and violence. Lynn, though, scoffed at opposition, saying the bill requires only that sexually explicit books must be removed. Its a pity they feel there are so many sexually explicit books in their library that its gonna be an unfunded mandate for them, Lynn said. State Rep. Susan Lynn (R-Mt. Juliet) (Official photo, Tennessee General Assembly) She contended libraries containing sexually explicit books are an insult to taxpayers. Its shocking they would have such a struggle with this new law, but I guess thats why we need it, she added. The veteran Republican lawmaker initially said in an interview the law doesnt deal with books that contain violence, although it specifically pinpoints excess violence. She added, however, that the new law should clear up a lot of problems and said it should ensure schools have a wholesome environment where anybody could look at the library books and not be embarrassed. House Speaker Cameron Sexton defended the bill that passed in 2022, at one point asking reporters to read portions of Me, Earl and the Dying Girl, a story about a teen boy who befriends a girl suffering from cancer. The book contains some graphic words, and Sexton said books with that type of language shouldnt be allowed in school libraries. Opponents of the legislation argued this year that the updated law, which bounced off a bill proposed by Gov. Lee, is a form of book banning that could put the Bible at risk for censure. After meeting with a group of librarians this session, Democratic state Sen. Heidi Campbell said shes worried the new law could force librarians to clear their shelves because the law could affect more books. The bills language was changed to deal with selections that contain sexual references, nudity or violence in whole or in part. Campbell is concerned changes in the law are putting Tennessee in the same category as dictators who burned and banned books over the course of history. Its a terrible idea, and I think its very unfortunate that were putting our librarians and teachers in a position where theyre having to work so hard to figure out how they need to interpret this kind of legislation, she said. Democratic Rep. Sam McKenzie of Knoxville also believes the new law goes too far and accuses Republican lawmakers of being hell-bent on clearing libraries of any books they dont like. These are paranoid people that are doing way too much. We have to teach our children to think, to discern, think at a higher level, McKenzie said. Defining inappropriate books and materials is difficult, he said, and while a third-grader might not be mature enough to read Roots or Huckleberry Finn, a high school student should be able to handle it. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Williamson School Board member balks at age appropriate book law appeared first on Tennessee Lookout. Where are they? Californias U.S. Senate contest is down to Democrat Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey in the November General Election. But during primary season, I didnt see either of those candidates ads on the Spanish-language television in my tias living room (that of my aunt). I didnt see any Spanish-language commercials on the TV or on peoples phones or iPads when at the Mayahuel restaurant in downtown Sacramento. None of the U.S. Senate candidates had a lock on Californias 8.5 million eligible Latino voters in a primary where only 7.3 million Californians voted. Millions of Latino voters were left asking, who are these candidates? What are their platforms and stances on issues that matter to my family and my community? For Latino voters in California, the absence of political ads on Spanish-language television from Representative Schiff and ex-L.A. Dodger Steve Garvey, along with the rest of the field, was glaring and telling. Opinion Latinos are the largest ethnic population in the state and the second-largest in the country. We are also the fastest-growing demographic with 36.2 million eligible voters nationwide in 2024. To win, Democrats and Republicans must recognize our power and engage directly with us in a culturally- and linguistically-appropriate way. In the primary, Californias Hispanic community felt excluded from critical political conversation. This is poor civic engagement, its bad for the candidates, and frankly, bad political strategy. Latinos are no longer willing to be taken for granted by political campaigns. Our diversity, multifaceted nature and voting unpredictability make us a force to be reckoned with. This is a golden opportunity for the Senate candidates to win Latinos over, yet according to AdImpact, political advertising spending in the state was around $1 million for Spanish-language television stations. Compared to what the Wesleyan Media Project calculated was $31 million in U.S. Senate ad spending overall in California, that seems like an unforced error. Latino voters will shape Americas future. Californias Senate candidates, like many politicians, have yet to realize that Spanish-language media is the thread that connects Latino voters to each other, and to those in power. Despite Hispanics emerging in the 2020 presidential election as the largest non-white voting population nationwide, political campaigns allocate a mere two percent of their purchasing power to engage with this significant demographic. We deserve better. Outreach through Spanish-language outlets provides a platform and gives a voice to underrepresented voters. Latino voters deserve to be engaged with and informed. They deserve to have a seat at the table with their non-Latino neighbors. The conventional wisdom is that campaigns tend not to reach out to Latinos because they are not or have not been likely voters. But I believe Latinos arent likely voters because campaigns dont reach out to them. If campaigns engage with this community, my view is that they will stay with whomever first engaged with them. The future of California is in our hands. Senate candidates must connect with Latinos in order to win. If Senate candidates neglect Latino voters in California, they are effectively silencing a significant portion of the electorate with real needs. Latino voters are looking for candidates with solutions, but candidates simply arent looking for them. U.S. Senate candidates, U.S. House candidates, state legislative candidates should all do what is not only right for California Latinos, but what is strategic and smart to win. Roger Salazar is a former spokesperson for the California Democratic Party and the California Latino PAC who has served as a media spokesperson in the White House for the Clinton/Gore administration and for California Gov. Gray Davis. He is currently president of ALZA Strategies, a public affairs firm based in Sacramento. The winner of Brown Deer's treasure hunt reveals where he found the hidden medallion Justin Foren found the hidden medallion at Brown Deer's Village Park at 4920 W. Green Brook Drive. He found it around 5:10 a.m., just after the fifth and final clue had been published. Just before Justin Foren found the prized medallion hidden in Brown Deer, he'd been about to call it quits. The treasure had managed to elude discovery for two full weeks since the start of Brown Deer's first-ever Medallion Hunt, which boasted a $1,500 prize and complimentary meal at local restaurant and sponsor Cafe Corazon (at 4102 W. Bradley Road). The event was coordinated by the Brown Deer Community Foundation. Foren, a Milwaukee-based graphic designer and lifelong resident of Brown Deer, is the lucky winner of the prize, after finding the medallion at Village Park, 4920 W. Green Brook Drive. Foren, 34, said he plans to split the prize with his search partner Andrew Linnemann, 31. The two friends, along with their wives, spent over 20 hours combined scouring the 4.5 square miles of the northern Milwaukee suburb. "We were up at 5 a.m. every day a new clue would be released, and we'd search for hours," Foren said. All clues were posted on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's site and in regular Brown Deer communication channels every Tuesday and Friday at 5 a.m. until the medallion was found. The third clue, published on May 21, helped Foren and Linnemann narrow their searches to Village Park. The clue referenced "swimming at the lake" and "jump the fence;" Village Park is the only park in Brown Deer with a pond or body of water one could swim in, as well as a fence. When Clue No. 4 mentioned the medallion would be "300 feet away" from the Little White Schoolhouse, Foren used Photoshop and his graphic design skills to map out a perimeter of where that could be. Though Foren and Linnemann walked right by the spot where Foren would eventually find the medallion days later, they were unable to locate the small object, only three inches in diameter. Andrew Linnemann poses with the medallion after his friend and search partner Justin Foren found it on Tuesday, May 28. On Monday, May 27, they agreed to cease their search, saying they weren't going to look the next day. But the following morning, something drew them back to Village Park. When the fifth clue published, Foren and Linnemann were ready to go, waiting at the park at 5 a.m. He read it, and walked straight back to that spot near a clearing with fewer trees along the backside of the pond. Within minutes, Foren found the medallion tucked under the chain-link fence behind tall grass. "If you were walking on the path, you probably wouldn't have seen it. But I did, basically standing on top of it." "It was a lot smaller than I thought," Foren said of the medallion, which was crafted by local Brown Deer artist Jean Wells and designed to mimic the shape of Cafe Corazon's logo. Wells is the current president of Wisconsin Craft, a member of the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network and has been a professional potter for 30 years, according to a May 7 news release announcing the Medallion Hunt from Brown Deer Village Manager Tyler Burkart. Foren said he doesn't have plans for the prize money besides saving it, though he's excited to celebrate with Linnemann's family at Cafe Corazon. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brown Deer treasure hunt winner had almost given up on the search MADISON, (WFRV) Officials with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) say they are looking to hold a gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities, however, the event still needs a host. Green Bay Packers and Bellin Health partnering to kick off Training Camp According to a release from the DNR, local landowners across the state are being asked to apply to be the host for the Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities event that will take place from October 5 to October 13. Officials say the Gun Deer Hunt For Hunters With Disabilities started in 1992 and provides hunting opportunities for about 400 hunters a year. They add that this event is only made possible with the generous support of landowner sponsors. Year after year, this special hunt provides hunters with disabilities the opportunity to deer hunt during a time and in a place that is more accessible. We are so thankful for our landowner sponsors who are willing to partner with hunters and open their properties to allow more individuals to continue Wisconsins deer hunting tradition. Brooke VanHandel, DNR assistant deer and elk specialist Landowners looking to be a part of this event must have at least 60 acres of land available and be able to host at least three hunters. Those interested must give the DNR all the needed property information by filling out and completing an online application by July 1. Green Bay area students got a head start on college education through City Stadium Automotive Program For more information, visit the DNRs Deer Hunting For Hunters With Disabilities webpage. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) A 34-year-old Wisconsin man was sentenced to federal prison on Wednesday for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. According to the United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of Wisconsin, 34-year-old Jesse Turnmire from Durand was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for the crimes he previously pleaded guilty to back in February. Shots fired after police in Wisconsin confronted by man who attacked officer Court records show that on July 7, 2023, law enforcement was sent to the town of Clear Creek in response to a report of a man, later identified as Turnmire, slumping over his vehicles steering wheel at a stop sign. Officers investigating his condition suspected Turnmire was under the influence of drugs and searched his vehicle. During the search, they found a firearm wrapped in a restaurant uniform shirt, which was inside a bag that was hidden under the corner of the front bumper. Police also discovered a gun magazine in the center console containing seven rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. Turnmire is prohibited from legally possessing firearms because of multiple drug-related felony convictions in La Crosse and Trempealeau Counties, as well as state and federal convictions for possessing a firearm as a felon. One dog found dead following Sheboygan County house fire Judge James Peterson revoked Turnmires federal supervision and imposed a two-year sentence to run concurrently with the 51 months on his new conviction. The charge against Turnmire resulted from an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire County Sheriffs Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. TANNERSVILLE, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Police arrested and charged a woman after she allegedly assaulted employees at a gas station in Monroe County. On May 26th around 11:00 p.m., officers from the Pocono Township Police Department were driving on State Route 715 and heard an alarm coming from the ONVO gas station. Police said they pulled over and heard screaming inside the gas station by the employee side entrance. Officers stated they entered the store and saw a man and a woman, later identified as 37-year-old Nicole Loposky of Moscow in a fight on the floor. Two charged with fighting troopers during I-81 stop It was later learned that Loposky got to the business, and tried to force her way into the front door by banging her purse on the windows before running to the side and entering through the employee door, investigators said. Once inside Loposky allegedly assaulted staff members Loposky was arrested and taken to Monroe County Correctional Facility on the charges of burglary, simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. Woman jumps off Florida pier to avoid police after having sex in public, police say Woman jumps off Florida pier to avoid police after having sex in public, police say TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A woman jumped off a pier in Florida in order to avoid police after she and a man were allegedly caught having sex within view of children nearby on the beach, according to the Naples Police Department. Officers responded Monday to the Naples Pier after police said a woman called to report that a couple was having sex on the pier behind a gated area that had a no trespassing sign. The witness said that there were four children in the area between the ages of 7 and 15 who saw what happened when they looked at the pier from the beach, according to police. The caller said the children were asking questions about what the subjects were doing, according to a narrative from the arresting officer. The officer approached and told the couple to get dressed. The man, a 23-year-old, was completely nude and the woman, a 20-year-old, covered herself with a swimsuit, police said. The woman walked to the edge of the pier and jumped into the Gulf of Mexico after she was told not to jump. The woman was eventually taken into custody by beach patrol when she swam to the beach. The man stayed on the pier and complied with the officer. He explained that the pair swam to the end of the pier and climbed up to jump off, but they ended up having sex instead, according to police. The woman faces misdemeanor charges of trespassing, breach of peace and resisting without violence, police said. The man also faces charges of trespassing and breach of peace. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The next big thing at United Dairy Farmers is, well bigger stores, plus heated sandwiches. The iconic local chain of ice cream-selling convenience stores is upsizing its standard store from a range of 2,500 to 4,000 square feet to about 6,200 square feet. A rendering of the prototype for new, larger United Dairy Farmer stores. The privately-held Norwood retailer began tinkering with the new format in recent years, but now has made the strategic jump to build the bigger format for new locations and when rebuilding old ones. Out of 170 locations, 30 are in the new format, which offer a larger bakery section and a selection of heated breakfast and sandwich items, Jim Dwenger, vice president of UDF's retail operations, told The Enquirer in an email. Most people think of UDF as their local ice cream shop with scoops and shakes, (but) these larger format stores move us beyond convenience items," Dwenger said. "(Expanding) quality coffee, beverage and hot prepared food allows us to continue to evolve our brand." Some of the new menu items: a breakfast croissant with bacon, egg and cheddar; a country cheddar biscuit with sausage, egg and pimento cheese; a meatball pepperoni sub; an Italian sub; a grilled three-cheese sandwich; chicken fingers; mac & cheese; and tater tots. UDFs new store in Colerain Township will be the 31st new format store when it opens in late June. The basics of the new UDF in Colerain Address: 5560 Blue Rock Road in Colerain Township. Building type: Commercial retail. Developer and architect: Jonah Development and K4 Architecture + Design. Size: 6,300 square feet. Estimated cost: Unspecified millions What you need to know about the project The first UDF opened in 1940 and quickly put milkmen out of work by offering cut-rate milk worth the trip to the store. But the stores also offered an expanding variety of dairy products, including ice cream. Today, UDF is looking to entice customers with its heated oven-side food options (all-day breakfast items, sandwiches and sides) in addition to hand-dipped ice cream treats. Theyre not going full-blown deli or diner (relax, Izzys and Frischs), they wont custom-make items but will heat up items on demand. The larger-format stores also feature additional seating areas, more parking and extra gas pumps. This embedded content is not available in your region. Where the project stands and whats ahead The exterior structure construction is complete, including the canopy for gas pumps. The UDF sign and branding has been added to the store. Construction workers are currently doing interior finishes, paving and landscaping. After that, interior fixtures will be installed and products will get moved in days before opening June 21. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UDF building bigger stores for more bakery and heated foods Woman pleads guilty to stabbing, killing cousin in 2021 in York County YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A woman accused of stabbing and killing a relative in York County years ago pleaded guilty Tuesday. Ninoska Santos-Cruz, 25, of York, entered an open plea to third-degree murder for the deadly stabbing on Dec. 26, 2021, the York County District Attorneys Office confirmed. Charges of first and second-degree murder against her were withdrawn. York County babysitter claimed girl seduced me during rape investigation, police say Joselito Pagan-Ocasio, 36, was found dead at his home at the 300 block of E. King Street in York City. First responders were dispatched for a fatality that was originally reported from a shooting but turned out to be from a stabbing. An autopsy found Pagan-Ocasio died from a stab wound to the chest and the manner was ruled a homicide. Santos-Cruz, Pagan-Ocasios cousin, was then arrested three days after Pagan-Ocasio died. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania Santos-Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced in August. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Woman Poisoned Boyfriend to Death Thinking He'd Inherited $30M. Then She Found Out It Was All a Scam Ina Thea Kenoyer has pleaded guilty to murdering her longtime boyfriend, Steven Edward Riley Jr., by poisoning him with antifreeze Minot Police Department (2) Ina Thea Kenoyer in October 2023 mugshots. The North Dakota man believed he had inherited $30 million. So did his girlfriend. Soon after, he was dead. Only later was it revealed that there was no such inheritance. Police found a bottle of Windex filled with what investigators believed was antifreeze in the couples living room. A medical examiner later determined that Steven Edward Riley Jr. had died by poisoning, per police. On Wednesday, May 29, Ina Thea Kenoyer pleaded guilty to murdering her longtime boyfriend, per Minot Daily News, KFYR TV and KXNET. At the pretrial hearing, the woman in her late 40s from Minot, N.D., paused before entering her plea, according to Minot Daily News. Guilty, she said, leaning toward the courthouse microphone. Kenoyer faces up to life in prison without parole, per KFYRTV. Minot Police Department Ina Thea Kenoyer in October 2023 mugshot, following her arrest for the murder of her longtime boyfriend. In court this week, Kenoyer admitted to killing Steven Edward Riley Jr., 51, in September. Related: N.D. Woman Accused of Poisoning Boyfriend with Antifreeze Hours After He Inherited $30 Million The Minot Police Department arrested Kenoyer Oct. 30, 2023, charging her with the Class AA felony murder of her 51-year-old boyfriend, who later died at an out-of-town hospital. Police soon determined that Kenoyer had financial motives to murder Riley, per the departments press release at the time. But investigators now say they believe the inheritance was a hoax, Minot Daily News reports. In the arrest affidavit, obtained by KXNET, authorities say Riley planned to leave his girlfriend of about a decade. But on September 3, as he headed toward the airport with friends to meet with a lawyer about what he believed to be his newly-acquired wealth, Riley complained of stomach pain, per court documents obtained by the outlet. His friends said he seemed drunk, although later blood tests revealed no alcohol in his system. He began vomiting and could not walk, but, Kenoyer, who claimed she had medical training, said he had heat stroke and would recover with rest at home. At home, investigators found a Coors Light bottle and a plastic mug with green liquid matching that of the Windex bottle, per KXNET. 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. Learning from Rileys friends that Kenoyer had previously discussed poisoning her boyfriend with antifreeze, the coroner tested for its key ingredient and found toxic levels of ethylene glycol in his system, per the outlet. Questioned by police, Kenoyer claimed Riley had been day drinking and had gotten heat stroke. She also suggested several explanations for the poison-like symptoms. Citing an alleged Google search, she said heat stroke may mimic poisoning, per court documents obtained by the outlet. There was also the possibility that he had gone into the garage, dropped a cigarette in antifreeze and smoked it anyway, she told investigators. She proclaimed herself Riley's common law wife, and said she planned to split his newfound inheritance with his son. But in arresting documents obtained by the outlet, she became visibly upset after investigators told her the state would not recognize her as his common law wife. Finally, Kenoyer told investigators that she had in fact spiked his sweet tea with antifreeze before his meeting with the lawyer, per the arresting affidavit obtained by the outlet. Kenoyer was hospitalized at State Hospital in Jamestown as part of a competency evaluation earlier this year, Minot Daily News reported. She is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday, Aug. 14, per the newspaper, which noted that she may undergo another psychological evaluation ahead of her sentencing. 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. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Woman sentenced to 30 years for helping her mother kill pregnant teen: I could never apologize for what I did CHICAGO A Cook County judge on Thursday sentenced a woman to 30 years in prison for helping her mother kill a pregnant teen and cut the baby out of her womb, putting an end to the case more than five years after the brutal killing. Desiree Figueroa, 29, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in January with an agreement to testify against her mother, Clarisa Figueroa. Her testimony, though, was ultimately not needed because the elder Figueroa also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. The murder of 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa-Lopez in April of 2019 drew international attention after the teen was lured to the Figueroa household with the promise of free baby clothes, prosecutors said, but was then attacked by Clarisa Figueroa. With her daughters help, she strangled the teen with a cable, sliced open her abdomen from side to side, removed the baby from the womb and placed him in a bucket, according to prosecutors. The baby, Yovanny Jadiel Lopez, died months later. Desiree Figueroa spoke briefly during the court appearance at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, expressing regret while softly crying. Im sorry, she said. I could never apologize for what I did. Assistant States Attorney Jessie McGuire read into the record a statement from Ochoa-Lopezs husband, Yovanny Lopez, which referenced the fact that Figueroa gave birth to her own child after the murder. I pray that this child will never know (you), according to Lopezs statement, which added that he hoped the child would be protected from the mother. Vernon Schleyer, Figueroas public defender, said she has tried to better herself in prison with parenting classes and therapy. He noted that she accepted responsibility, and said she had a lot of horrifying challenges growing up. While ordering the sentence, Judge Peggy Chiampas, referencing mitigation materials, said Figueroa had a very difficult childhood. A lot of that has to do with your mom, Chiampas said. Though acknowledging the role her mother played, Chiampas also placed responsibility on Desiree Figueroa, saying her mother put her in this position and so did you. Youre right you can never apologize, Chiampas said, adding that Figueroas own child is alive. I want you to live the rest of your life with that. A third co-defendant, Piotr Bobak, the boyfriend of Clarisa Figueroa, last year pleaded guilty to a felony count of obstruction of justice and was sentenced to four years in prison. According to prosecutors, Clarisa Figueroa had planned to raise the baby herself, and tricked Bobak into believing the baby was his child, according to police and prosecutors. After cutting out the baby, Clarisa Figueroa called 911 and announced that she had delivered a baby who was not breathing, prosecutors have said. As paramedics arrived, she was holding the baby with its placenta and umbilical cord attached. Both were rushed to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The newborn had problems breathing and appeared blue. Ochoa-Lopez was last seen leaving her high school in the Little Village neighborhood, and about two weeks after that, detectives investigating her disappearance learned the teen had gone to the Figueroa home the day she disappeared. They went to the home and were told by Desiree Figueroa that her mother had recently had a baby, and found Ochoa-Lopezs car parked nearby. Detectives visited Clarisa Figueroa at the hospital, but she denied that the teen came to her home the day she disappeared. Police eventually used DNA to determine Clarisa Figueroa was not the babys mother. When detectives arrived to search the Figueroa home, Bobak was outside cleaning a rug with bleach and a hose, prosecutors said during a bond hearing in 2019. When Bobak saw the officers, he dropped the bleach and hose, and walked away, they said. Ochoa-Lopezs decaying body was found in a garbage can outside the Figueroa home with the coaxial cables used to strangle her still around her neck, prosecutors have said. _____ Woman Who Stole Police Car and Ran Over Officer While Naked Gets Acquitted with Insanity Defense A Cook County judge found Whitley Temple not guilty by reason of insanity on all charges related to a 2022 incident Getty A woman in Chicago has been found not guilty by reason of insanity on all charges related to a June 2022 incident in which she stole a police car and ran over a police officer, all while she was naked. Local news site CBS News Chicago reported that on Wednesday, May 29, Cook County Judge Tyria Walton found Whitley Temple not guilty on five charges related to an incident that occurred on June 13, 2022 when Chicago Police Officer Edward Poppish found her naked in the street West Garfield Park. When Officer Poppish exited the squad vehicle, Temple took the SUV before running him over and dragging him with the vehicle before speeding down an expressway at 90 mph, where she eventually crashed into four cars. The police officer had a concussion and required stitches to his head after the incident. Per CBS News Chicago and local news site WGN 9, Temple's charges included one felony count of attempted first-degree murder, one felony count of vehicular hijacking, one felony count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, one felony count of aggravated battery of a peace officer and one felony count of resisting or obstructing a peace officer. Per WGN 9, Temple, who is in her 30s, also faced one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license and got a citation for operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Her defense attorney told Judge Walton in the bench trial that Temple "was in a psychotic state" for days before the incident occurred and that her family had been concerned about her mental state, CBS News reported. 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. She reportedly had a "paranoid idea" that people were after her and attempting to kill the women in her family. Temple also thought she'd been sexually assaulted, her attorney said per CBS News. The verdict means that Temple will remain free, although she has to report to court for "a meeting with mental health officials on a treatment plan," per CBS News. If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A woman unmasked her catfisher after finding 2 more victims. They were surprised to find the catfisher's true identity. Anna Akbari fell for a man on a dating site. They never met in person as he kept canceling. She challenged him seven weeks after they met when she became suspicious about his identity. Akbari, who has now written a book, was catfished. She met other victims, and they got to the truth. Scrolling through the profiles on OkCupid, Anna Akbari was drawn to a man who seemed handsome, witty, and highly intelligent. The pair connected via Gchat and email. They'd write to each other for hours often throughout the night discussing everything from their past relationships, families, and careers to the state of the economy. Soon, Akbari fell for her admirer Ethan Schuman, who claimed to be a 35-year-old graduate of Columbia University and MIT and the pair arranged to meet in person. But they never did. Every time they made a date, Schuman canceled at the last minute for health, weather, or work reasons. Her suspicions were raised; she did some detective work and found that Schuman was not who he said he was. He was a catfisher a person who fakes their online identity to trick victims into thinking they are someone else. Akbari's new book, "There Is No Ethan," chronicles her traumatic experience. It tells how she was taken in but discovered he was too good to be true. She then tracked down two of his other targets. The conversations were flirtatious When she met Schuman in December 2010, the former professor at New York University told BI that she wanted a meaningful relationship. "He made it clear that he was looking for something real," she told Business Insider. "It sounded very promising and exciting." She said they typed lengthy emails or did instant messaging. "Gchat was popular because texting on phones wasn't as ubiquitous as it is today, " Akbari added. "It was easier to use your computer." The pair exchanged photographs, and their conversations occasionally turned intimate. "It wasn't raunchy, but it was flirtatious and sexual at times," Akbari said. Schuman, who said he split his time between Washington, DC, New York, and Ireland, talked about his stressful job in the financial industry. The pair never spoke on the phone Schuman had an Irish cellphone that was too expensive to call and decided not to video chat. "FaceTime didn't exist at the time, and Skype was grainy and weird," Akbari, a sociologist, told BI. They arranged two dates in New York City, but heavy snowstorms thwarted them. "He couldn't drive from DC to see me," Akbari said. Another time, Schuman canceled because he said he was sent on a business trip to Japan at the last minute. Meanwhile, important family occasions would happen out of the blue. "It was frustrating, but his excuses seemed plausible," she said. The catfisher said he had cancer Then, around two weeks after they met, Schuman said he'd been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. "I had lost my grandfather to cancer about a month prior, and Ethan knew how close we'd been," Akbari said. "Of course, once I learned that he was sick, I wasn't going to abandon him." Adding how she felt devastated for him. Akbari discovered that "Ethan" was too good to be true. Courtesy of Warren Talmarkes/Grand Central Publishing But Schuman fobbed her off when she asked to visit him during his treatment. He manipulated her by saying she was coming on too strong. Then he'd be remorseful and needy. "I was hooked. Ethan felt more like a drug than a boyfriend," Akbari wrote in her book. Then, after being strung along for almost a month, she contacted a friend in his mid-30s who was educated at the prestigious high school Schuman claimed to have attended. They also appeared to have overlapped at Columbia University. "They were big schools, but my friend was very social and heavily networked," Akbari told BI. "I said I was excited because I'd met someone he might know." She sent Schuman's photo, but the friend didn't recognize him. He asked his cohorts, checked yearbooks, and came up blank. "That's when I started to feel something odd here," Akbari said, who still gave Schuman the benefit of the doubt. But she finally lost patience a few days before Valentine's Day 2011. Schuman backed out of plans to spend the weekend at a friend's home as part of a house swap. She found more women who had been catfished Soon afterward, a stranger, Gina Dallago, contacted her friend from Columbia through Facebook. She'd also been involved with Schuman and searched online for other people who attended his supposed schools in overlapping years. Dallago sent the friend a photo of Schuman. The friend connected the two women since the man in the photo appeared to be the same man in the virtual relationship with Akbari. Gina Dallago, pictured in the 2010s, was one of an unknown number of targets of the catfisher. Courtesy of Grand Central Publishing They compared notes and discovered that Schuman had fed them an assortment of lies, including the cancer diagnosis and stories about serious car accidents that hadn't happened. They discussed his mentioning an on-off, long-distance relationship with a woman named Anna from the UK. The pair pieced together enough of the jigsaw to find Anna on Facebook. Akbari has honored her wishes not to disclose her last name. Schuman had managed to con Anna for two and a half years. He'd sent her a forged driving license, power points from his supposed job, and even copies of papers he claimed to have written at MIT. The women wondered how many other victims there were Worse, they shared their experience of Schuman's mind games the way he'd played hot and cold, toxically manipulating them into revealing their emotions and secrets. His other favorite tactic was to make them jealous of other women he claimed were in his life. "We didn't know who this person was or why they were doing it," Akbari told BI. "We thought, 'How many people are out there like us?'" Dallago confronted Schuman online. The women discovered they'd been catfished after he admitted adopting the fake name for the sake of "caution." It later transpired that he'd sent them photos of a high school friend, not him. Akbari wrote in "There Is No Ethan," "This was not one silly fake email he'd sent. This was months and hundreds of hours spent forging a real, intimate connection while presenting us with dramatic events and life-threatening illnesses, interspersed with very real verbal and emotional abuse all based on lies." Still, of all the revelations, the most shocking was that Schuman was a woman. Anna recalled Schuman once telling her about his "chill" cousin and former roommate, Emily Slutsky. They checked out Slutsky on LinkedIn even her Goodreads profile. Her interests and biographical details including her studies at Columbia and MIT mirrored Schuman's. Dallago called Slutsky's parents after finding their number on Spokeo. She posed as a friend who'd lost touch with his daughter. The dad said she was at medical school in Cork, Ireland, and gave her Slutsky's email and cell. "There Is No Ethan" by Anna Akbari Courtesy of Grand Central Publishing. The women sent a message to Slutsky's email. "Received," she simply wrote back. Next, she reverted to communicating on Schuman's email. "Emily was Ethan, and Ethan was Emily," Akbari wrote in the book. Akbari believed the mind games were about power Slutsky, now employed as an OB/GYN at a leading teaching hospital, spoke with Dallago and Anna on the phone. She came clean but didn't explain her actions or motives. Later, she claimed she imagined the trio as characters in a novel "in her head." Akbari and the others were not convinced. "I believe it had to do with power," Akbari said. "We know it wasn't for financial gain, but I can't speak to whether any sexual gratification was derived from this. As for Akbari's current trust in others, she said she hadn't given Slutsky the satisfaction of ruining her relationships. "I refuse to give away that power," she said. "The exploitation of one person is not going to scare me into not living a full life." BI contacted Slutsky for comment but has not yet received a reply. In the afterword of "There Is No Ethan," Akbari wrote that, as the book was going to print, Slutsky's lawyer sent a letter stating that "the events were in the past" and that publication of the book "would carry a very human cost." Read the original article on Business Insider Woman sentenced to 30 years for helping her mother kill pregnant teen: I could never apologize for what I did A Cook County judge on Thursday sentenced a woman to 30 years in prison for helping her mother kill a pregnant teen and cut the baby out of her womb, putting an end to the case more than five years after the brutal killing. Desiree Figueroa, 29, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in January with an agreement to testify against her mother, Clarisa Figueroa. Her testimony, though, was ultimately not needed because the elder Figueroa also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. The murder of 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa-Lopez in April of 2019 drew international attention after the teen was lured to the Figueroa household with the promise of free baby clothes, prosecutors said, but was then attacked by Clarisa Figueroa. With her daughters help, she strangled the teen with a cable, sliced open her abdomen from side to side, removed the baby from the womb and placed him in a bucket, according to prosecutors. The baby, Yovanny Jadiel Lopez, died months later. Desiree Figueroa spoke briefly during the court appearance at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, expressing regret while softly crying. Im sorry, she said. I could never apologize for what I did. Assistant States Attorney Jessie McGuire read into the record a statement from Ochoa-Lopezs husband, Yovanny Lopez, which referenced the fact that Figueroa gave birth to her own child after the murder. I pray that this child will never know (you), according to Lopezs statement, which added that he hoped the child would be protected from the mother. Vernon Schleyer, Figueroas public defender, said she has tried to better herself in prison with parenting classes and therapy. He noted that she accepted responsibility, and said she had a lot of horrifying challenges growing up. While ordering the sentence, Judge Peggy Chiampas, referencing mitigation materials, said Figueroa had a very difficult childhood. A lot of that has to do with your mom, Chiampas said. Though acknowledging the role her mother played, Chiampas also placed responsibility on Desiree Figueroa, saying her mother put her in this position and so did you. Youre right you can never apologize, Chiampas said, adding that Figueroas own child is alive. I want you to live the rest of your life with that. A third co-defendant, Piotr Bobak, the boyfriend of Clarisa Figueroa, last year pleaded guilty to a felony count of obstruction of justice and was sentenced to four years in prison. According to prosecutors, Clarisa Figueroa had planned to raise the baby herself, and tricked Bobak into believing the baby was his child, according to police and prosecutors. After cutting out the baby, Clarisa Figueroa called 911 and announced that she had delivered a baby who was not breathing, prosecutors have said. As paramedics arrived, she was holding the baby with its placenta and umbilical cord attached. Both were rushed to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The newborn had problems breathing and appeared blue. Ochoa-Lopez was last seen leaving her high school in the Little Village neighborhood, and about two weeks after that, detectives investigating her disappearance learned the teen had gone to the Figueroa home the day she disappeared. They went to the home and were told by Desiree Figueroa that her mother had recently had a baby, and found Ochoa-Lopezs car parked nearby. Detectives visited Clarisa Figueroa at the hospital, but she denied that the teen came to her home the day she disappeared. Police eventually used DNA to determine Clarisa Figueroa was not the babys mother. When detectives arrived to search the Figueroa home, Bobak was outside cleaning a rug with bleach and a hose, prosecutors said during a bond hearing in 2019. When Bobak saw the officers, he dropped the bleach and hose, and walked away, they said. Ochoa-Lopezs decaying body was found in a garbage can outside the Figueroa home with the coaxial cables used to strangle her still around her neck, prosecutors have said. On World No Tobacco Day, a renewed push to curb e-cigarette use by NC youth a young woman vapes while a smiling friend looks on Among middle school and high school students who currently use e-cigarettes, 1 in 4 use the devices daily according to the CDC. (Photo: Getty Images/iStock) Tricia Howard never expected her son would take up vaping. As the lead nurse for Durham Public Schools, she knew firsthand the addictive nature of e-cigarettes and the harms nicotine can pose for adolescents. But when Howard found a vape cartridge in her sons room, she confronted him and heard a story thats all too familiar with teen smokers. I was shocked, disappointed. What he shared was what all the kids that I speak to who vape share, that he was feeling stressed. He was feeling overwhelmed with the issues of being a senior and his life laying before him, Howard shared during a tele-town hall hosted by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Tricia Howard Howard said she knew his stress about getting into college was real, and she needed to hear him out before launching into a lecture about vaping. Take the time to gather your thoughts, try to approach them when youre calm so you can leave without judgment. This will keep the conversation going, said Howard. Wednesdays online conversation comes as the World Health Organization marks May 31st as World No Tobacco Day highlighting how the tobacco industry designs products that help addict the worlds youth. While traditional cigarette use by teenagers has declined in recent years, health professionals note that e-cigarettes are attracting and hooking a younger audience. More than two million U.S. students use e-cigarettes according to a 2023 survey. One in four of these students vape every day. The World Health Organization estimates globally 37 million youth (aged 1315) use tobacco. A vape pen uses a battery to heat up a special liquid into an aerosol that the user then inhales. The e-cigarette aerosol is not just harmless water vapor, explained Ray Riordan with the Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch at NCDHHS. We know that nearly all e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Of course, many of these contain high concentrations of nicotine as well. So, it makes it easier for folks to get addicted. Riordan said colorful packaging also offers an appeal to a younger audience. While some pens may resemble cigarettes or pipes, they may also look like USB flash drives, highlighter markers, or even toys. an e-cigarette that resembles the cartoon character Sponge Bob Last summer, the Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to more than a dozen online retailers that were selling e-cigarette pens in the shape of the cartoon characters SpongeBob and Nintendos Mario. But Riordan worries what really hooks young smokers is the taste. Flavors like fruit flavors, dessert flavors, menthol, mint, those sorts of things. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids notes that nearly 90% of youth e-cigarette users gravitate to products that are candy-flavored. And the better the taste, the longer a teen may spend smoking. But even with that sweetened allure, Howard said the problem is that the vape pens still contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Using nicotine when youre young can harm the parts of the brain that controls attention, learning, mood, and impulse control, Howard cautioned. Nicotine addiction can increase feelings of anxiety in youth. Middle and high school students most often say they vape because they feel anxious, stressed, or depressed. Nicotine addiction or withdrawal can make these feelings worse, which can lead to youth vaping to relieve these symptoms and can worsen the addiction, said Howard. The numbers seem to support that. More than 1 in 3 youth e-cigarette users reported using e-cigarettes at least 20 of the last 30 days, according to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Riordan said its important that parents help children find their why for quitting, while understanding how the habit-forming vice may interfere with their health and their own personal goals. Programs designed to help North Carolina youth quit e-cigarettes include Live Vape Free and Quit the Hit, a five-week program that uses Instagram to encourage 1317-year-olds to stop smoking. North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein was the first attorney general in the nation to hold an e-cigarette maker accountable for marketing its product to youth. Under the agreement, the state will receive $47.8 million from Juul that the Department of Health and Human Services will use to prevent e-cigarette addiction and fund e-cigarette research. The post On World No Tobacco Day, a renewed push to curb e-cigarette use by NC youth appeared first on NC Newsline. WP: US concerned about Ukrainian strikes on early-warning radars on Russian soil, official says Editor's note: The article was edited to correctly indicate the Washington Post as the source. The U.S. government is concerned about Ukraine striking radar stations on Russian territory as it could "dangerously unsettle Moscow," the Washington Post (WP) reported on May 29, citing an undisclosed U.S. official. A long-range drone operated by Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) attacked an early-warning Voronezh M radar in Russia's Orsk city in Orenburg Oblast on May 26, reportedly traveling a record-breaking 1,800 kilometers (around 1,200 miles) from the launch site. Ukraine's military intelligence also struck another Voronezh radar in the village of Glubokii, 12 kilometers (around 8 miles) from the town of Armavir, in Krasnodar Krai on May 23, causing a fire at the facility, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent. Washington expressed its concerns to Kyiv about the two attacks against radar stations that provide conventional air defense as well as warning of nuclear launches by the West, the article read. At least one strike against the town of Armavir in southeastern Krasnodar Krai has caused some damage, according to the WP. The U.S. official claimed that the facilities that were targeted had not been involved in the support of Russia's war against Ukraine. "But they are sensitive locations because Russia could perceive that its strategic deterrent capabilities are being targeted, which could undermine Russia's ability to maintain nuclear deterrence against the United States," the source told the WP. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Kyiv strikes early-warning radar system 1,800 kilometers deep inside Russia "It should be obvious to everyone that there is no intention whatsoever (by the United States) of using nuclear weapons against Russia. But there is certainly concern about how Russia could perceive its deterrent capabilities being targeted and early-warning systems being attacked. " A Ukrainian official familiar with the matter, in contrast, said Russia has used the radar sites to track the Ukrainian military's activities, particularly the usage of aerial weaponry, including drones and missiles. The Ukrainian official said that Kyiv strikes radar stations to diminish Russia's ability to monitor the Ukrainian military's activities in southern Ukraine. Russia "switched all of its capabilities for war against Ukraine," the source added. In early May, another Ukrainian long-range drone hit an oil refinery, Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat, in Russia's Republic of Bashkortostan. The drone, operated by the State Security Service (SBU), covered 1,500 kilometers (around 930 miles) to strike the target, a record-breaking distance for Ukraine at the time. In April, Ukraine hit production facilities in Russia's Tatarstan Republic, 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the state border. Read also: Naval drones destroyed 2 Russian patrol boats in occupied Crimea, military intelligence says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. TOPEKA (KSNT) Keep your eyes on the sky this June and you may just spot some WWII relics flying overhead. Two WWII-era bomber planes, the B-29 Doc and B-25 Berlin Express, are set to fly across Kansas as part of a flight tour in the Kansas City metro area. Both planes will take off from an airport in Wichita on June 12 on a trip to New Century Airport, passing over parts of northeastern Kansas. Josh Wells, B-29 Doc executive director, told 27 News the planes will fly in a direct line from their starting point in Wichita to their destination at New Century Airport. The planes will then be open for on the ground and flight tours. The North American Aviation Fairfax factory built B25-D model aircraft and was the foundation of Kansas Citys contribution to the fight during World War II, said Jeff Toline, the Experimental Aircraft Associations (EAA) director of aircraft operations. While B-25 Berlin Express was built in California as an H model, it came to the Fairfax factory twice in 1944 for modifications during its wartime service. This tour stop will give descendants of those B-25 factory workers a unique opportunity to see what their family members built and worked on to support the war effort. USPS pushes for jumbo mailbox changes nationwide People visiting the historic aircraft in Olathe can buy tickets to tour the interior of the bomber planes or reserve spots to ride on them. Admission costs for ground and cockpit tours will be $10 per person or $20 per family. Prices for flight tours on the B-29 can be found below: Bombardier ($1,500) Cockpit/Pilot Observer ($1,200) Radio Operator ($1,200) Navigator ($1,200) Master Gunner ($600) Gunner ($600 each, six seats) The combined missions of B-29 Doc, the EAA and the CAF are to ensure the legacies of those who designed, built, flew and maintained these historic warbirds live on for generations to come, Wells said. When we can partner with these world-class organizations who all share the same mission, were able to provide up-close and personal access to living history. We are looking forward to spending the weekend in the Kansas City metro area honoring the Greatest Generation. Orange maggots swarm into northeast Kansas farm fields You can learn more about the tour stop in Olathe and how to buy tickets by clicking here. The tour runs from June 13 to June 16. New Century Airport is located at 6 Aero Plaza in New Century. 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 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. PINEVILLE, WV (WVNS) A Pineville man pleaded guilty to strangulation on May 29, 2024. One person dead after shooting in Raleigh County On January 4, 2024, Chief Zackary Helmandollar of the Pineville Police Department performed an investigation after a woman got a Domestic Violence Petition against her husband, Shawn Stewart, 45, of Pineville, West Virginia. It was revealed from the investigation that Stewart attacked and choked his wife while they were arguing. Domestic violence is a crime we take very seriously in Wyoming County. We have no tolerance for violence in the home, and offenders will be vigorously prosecuted. I commend Chief Helmandollar for initiating an investigation into what was initially solely a call to serve a domestic violence petition. We are fortunate to have a police department in the county seat headed by a Police Chief who sincerely cares about its citizens. Gregory Bishop | Wyoming County Prosecutor Raleigh County Circuit Clerk faces lawsuit for harassment and discrimination Stewarts sentencing is scheduled for July 2024, and he faces one to five years in prison for strangulation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. COQUITLAM, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Grid Battery Metals Inc. (the "Company" or "Grid") (TSXV:CELL)(OTCQB:EVKRF)(FRA:NMK2) announces that it has completed the first phase of its spring/summer exploration program at its Clayton Valley Lithium Property near Silver Peak, Nevada, which includes a detailed infill soil sampling program and a previously announced MT geophysical survey. At the Clayton Valley Lithium Project, the Company contracted the services of Rangefront Geological ("Rangefront") to perform both a detailed infill soil sampling of the southern section of the claim block and to oversee a Magnetotelluric ("MT") geophysical survey to obtain information about subsurface resistivity and geology performed by KLM Geoscience LLC ("KLM") over the entire property. The infill soil sampling exploration work has now been completed and samples have been transported to the assay lab pending results. Together these geological techniques should help predict geological structure and possible locations for lithium accumulation. This is part of a methodical and systematic approach to high quality mineral exploration for this highly sought after metal in Nevada and will assist the Company in determining next steps for the overall exploration plan, including but not limited to a subsequent drilling program. Recent Infill Soil Samples Taken (Clayton Valley Lithium Project) The MT geophysical survey was performed by the KLM and was overseen by Grid's Qualified Professional, Mr. Steven McMillin P.G. MT survey profiles Mr. Steven McMillin P.G. comments "The MT survey was completed over eleven profiles. The results were plotted in horizontal slices at 250m, 500m and 750m with bedrock depths that range from 216 to 406 m within the Grid claims as announced on May 2, 2024. A major northeast fault interpreted from gravity bisects the claim block and is best apparent in the 500m slice even though the slice is below the basin floor. This suggests that the fault may be a fluid conduit at depth. The fault is less apparent in the strong near-surface anomaly in the 250m slice that may reflect a spread of fluids within the basin sediments away from the fault. The 750m depth slice is likely below the basin floor and conductivity is mostly focused near the basin bounding faults". Tim Fernback, Grid President & CEO comments "Now that the infill detailed soil sampling and MT geophysical survey programs are complete at Clayton Valley, we will gather as a group to interpret the geological data and assay lab results to plan our next steps at Clayton Valley. This next step will likely include a 3D Leapfrog model of the subsurface to identify additional drilling targets, and a subsequent drilling program later in the year to test the depth of the lithium bearing claystone. We are very excited about the results to date on the property." Prior Exploration Programs This current work associated with the first phase of the 2024 exploration plan compliments prior exploration work on the Clayton Valley Lithium Project which includes a soil sampling program over the entire property and an initial prior drilling program consisting of three reverse circulation holes totaling 356 meters (1155 feet). The holes were intended to test the presence of lithium bearing clay members of the lakebed sediments. Drillhole RCV-01, drilled to a depth of 130m (425 feet), was designed to twin a geothermal gradient hole drilled by a previous explorer. Results of this hole correlated with the log of the previous hole including intervals of volcanic ash and dark green clay. Hole RCV-02, located approximately 1260 meters north of RCV-01 was drilled to a depth of 135.6m (445 ft) and penetrated a section consisting primarily of rhyolitic volcanic ash and interbedded sediments. It penetrated a 4.5-meter section of dark green clay before entering the metamorphic alluvium. Poor drilling conditions and high-water flows ended the hole before reaching the target depth but after successfully evaluating the lake sediment section. Hole RCV-03, located 3,890m (12,762 ft) north from Hole RCV-01, was designed to look for a perched section of volcanoclastic sediments beneath an alluvial fan. Previous water well logs indicated a layer of clay, ash, and silt beneath the alluvium and above the bedrock. Apparently, this hole was located too close to the pediment and encountered metamorphosed dolomite at a depth of 56 meters (185 feet) and about the projected elevation of the sedimentary section. The hole lost circulation in an apparent karst horizon at 68.5 meters (225 feet) and was terminated at 79.2 meters (260 ft) without regaining sample return. Grid's Clayton Valley Lithium Project (RC Drilling Locations Identified) Tim Fernback, Grid President & CEO comments "Clayton Valley Nevada is home to North America's only lithium brine producer (Albemarle Corporation's Silver Peak Mine) and our property is immediately to the west of their lithium property and production facility. Recently, Century Lithium (our neighbor to the east of the Silver Peak Mine) has just released their Positive Feasibility Study by T. Lane et al. (2024). Measured and Indicated resources totaling 1,207.33 million tonnes (Mt) at an average grade of 957 parts per million (ppm) lithium (Li) containing 1.155 Mt of Li or 6.148 Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), a 40-year mine life and an after-tax NPV 8 of $3.01 billion. Additional information is in Century Lithium's NI-43-101 byFayram et al. (2020) 43-101 Report. With the MT survey that has just been completed, together with the results of the planned detailed soil sampling program in the southern area of our Clayton Valley claim block, these results will allow us to determine next steps for our exploration programs later in the year." It should be noted that results from any adjacent property(s) are not an indication of what may be found on the Company's property(s). About Rangefront Geological Elko Nevada-based Rangefront Geological has combined in-depth expertise with cutting-edge technology to provide mining consulting services, contract labor, field crew services, and vehicular support to the mining industry. With services available across North America, Rangefront works closely with its clients to provide high-quality mineral exploration services. About KLM Geoscience LLC KLM (https://www.klmgeoscience.com/) is an industry leading, Nevada-based geophysical exploration company. Established in 2014, KLM specializes in a wide array of geophysical methods. Using state of the art equipment, KLM's services include induced polarization (IP), natural-source magnetotellurics (MT, AMT), controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotellurics (CSAMT), passive seismic and magnetic potential field surveys. With a head office location in Nevada, this allows KLM to rapidly mobilize and begin work at a moment's notice throughout the Western United States and beyond. KLM has been a preferred vendor for Grid and its management team for many years. Qualified Person Mr. Steven McMillin, P.G. is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical information contained within this news release. About Grid Battery Metals Inc. Grid Battery Metals Inc. is a Canadian based exploration company whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's maintains a focus on exploration for high value battery metals required for the electric vehicle (EV) market. www.gridbatterymetals.com. About Texas Springs Property The Company owns a 100% interest in the Texas Spring Property which consists of mineral lode claims located in Elko County, Nevada. The Property is in the Granite Range southeast of Jackpot, Nevada, about 73 km north-northeast of Wells, Nevada. The target is a lithium clay deposit in volcanic tuff and tuffaceous sediments of the Humbolt Formation. A Phase 1 exploration program at the Texas Springs Property (Fall 2023) yielded average lithium grades of 2010 ppm, applying a 1,000 ppm cut-off, and up to 5,610 ppm Lithium. The Texas Spring property adjoins the southern border of the Nevada North Lithium Project - owned by Surge Battery Metals Inc. ("Surge") (TSXV: NILI, OTC: NILIF) and comprised of 725 mineral claims. Surge's first round of drilling identified strongly mineralized lithium bearing clays. The average lithium content within all near surface clay zones intersected in the 2022 drilling program, applying a 1000 ppm cut-off, was 3254 ppm. (Press release March 29, 2023). More recent results have shown higher grade lithium up to 8070 ppm on this property after initial drilling (Press release September 12, 2023). Our exploration results are on-trend with these results. About Clayton Valley Lithium Project The Company owns a 100% interest in 113 lithium lode and placer claims covering over 640 hectares in Clayton Valley. Clayton Valley is a down-dropped closed basin formed by the Miocene age Great Basin extension and is still active due to movement along the Walker Lane structural zone. As a result, the basin has preserved multiple layers of lithium bearing volcanic ash, resulting from multiple eruptive events over the past 6 million years including eruptions from the 700,000-year-old Long Valley Caldera system and related events. These ash layers are thought to contribute to the lithium brines extracted by Albemarle and are also likely involved in the formation of the exposed lithium rich clay deposits on the east side of Clayton Valley. Volt Canyon Lithium Property The Company owns a 100% interest in 80 placer claims covering approximately 635 hectares of alluvial sediments and clays located 122 km northeast of Tonopah, Nevada. References Prefeasibility Study Clayton Valley Lithium Project, Esmerelda County, Nevada, August 5, 2020, Amended March 15, 2021, Todd Fayram MMSA-QP (CMS), Terre A. Lane MMSA-QP (GRE), J.J. Brown, SME-RM (GRE), NI43-101 Technical Report for Century Lithium Century Lithium Announces Positive Feasibility Study for the Clayton Valley Lithium Project, Nevada, April 29, 2024, Terre A Lane MMSA-QP (GRE), Hamid Samari, Principal Geologist, Todd-Fayram, Sr. V.P Metallurgy-Century Lithium, Alan Drake, Process Engineering, Haiming (Peter)Yuan Principal Geotechnical Engineer, Paul Blauch, Technical Director, Farza Kossari, Cost Estimating Engineer, Century Lithium Press Release. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Tim Fernback" Tim Fernback, President & CEO Contact Information: Email: info@gridbatterymetals.com Phone: 604-428-5690 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 may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements. It should be noted that results from any adjacent property(s) are not an indication of what may be found on the Company's property(s). SOURCE: Grid Battery Metals Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com (Bloomberg) -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping outlined a range of areas including finance and technology in which his nation can enhance cooperation with Arab nations, underscoring Beijings push for greater influence in Middle East. Most Read from Bloomberg China will work with the Arab side as good partners to make our relations a model for maintaining world peace and stability, Xi said Thursday in a speech to the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing. He listed artificial intelligence, green tech and finance as sectors open for greater collaboration. Xi also touched on the fighting in Gaza, saying: War should not continue indefinitely, justice should not be absent forever. He reiterated Chinas support of UN membership for Palestine and for a peace conference to help end the fighting with Israel. China has stepped up its diplomatic efforts in the Middle East in recent years. In 2023, Beijing helped broker a surprise accord between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Islamic worlds biggest rivals. The detente has held even amid the strains caused by the Gaza war, and there are signs its been followed by an acceleration of investment between China and the Middle East. Beijing-based Lenovo Group Ltd. has announced a deal to sell $2 billion of convertible bonds to Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, and build research and production facilities in the kingdom. State oil firm Saudi Aramco is in talks to buy a $1.5 billion stake worth in a Chinese petrochemical firm, while carmaker China FAW Group is part of a push to make electric vehicles in Egypt. UBS analysts estimate that growing Chinese ties to the Middle East could add more than $400 billion to global energy-related trade by 2030. Heads of state from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Tunisia are among the attendees at the forum. Talks are likely focusing on fast-growing trade and investment, and regional security concerns amid the Israel-Hamas war. As the Biden administration backs Israel in the conflict, China supports an immediate cease-fire and recognition of a Palestinian state. That alignment with Arab states is helping Beijing to extend its political sway in countries that until recently saw China chiefly as an economic partner and win new allies in its global contest for influence with the US. Under Xi, China has pushed to build an alternative world order to challenge the US, embracing Russia and emerging economies in the so-called Global South. Beijing has cast itself as the leader of the BRICS bloc, which it has worked to expand. Iran, the UAE, Ethiopia and Egypt all accepted invitations to join this year. Read More: Xi Hosts Arab Leaders as Chinas Soft Power Expands in Mideast Xi hinted at that broader campaign in his speech on Thursday, saying that his nations ties with Arab nations could serve as a model for promoting good global governance. He added that he saw China and Arab countries both working to accomplish their historical missions of national rejuvenation and faster national development. Underscoring Chinas push for closer ties with Middle Eastern countries, Xi told Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing that his nation was willing to deepen economic and trade investment, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. China also said it would expand industrial investment in Egypt in areas including electric vehicle and solar panel manufacturing. Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, the Palestinian envoy to China, Fariz Mehdawi, described Beijing as friendly with nearly every nation in the region. It has no problem with anybody, not like our American friends, unfortunately, Im sorry to say that, he said. But this is what makes China more eligible to play a constructive, positive and not controversial role. China gets more than one-third of its crude from members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, with the lions share coming from Saudi Arabia. In overall trade, the UAE even though its economy is only half the size of Saudi Arabias has become a bigger partner for China. The UAE plays a key role in the Belt and Road Initiative Beijings global infrastructure drive and has more than 6,600 Chinese brands registered in the country, Bloomberg Intelligence wrote last week. Through the end of 2022, which is as far as Beijings official data goes, the UAE had gotten about $12 billion in Chinese direct investment four times as much as the Saudis. Read More: US and Saudis Near Defense Pact Meant to Reshape Middle East (Updates with comments from Xi and Palestinian envoy, and more context.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. After years of reports and complaints, Havasupai pack animals still in peril, say activists An emaciated horse belonging to a member of the Havasupai tribe, photographed in 2015. Courtesy: SAVE Havasupai Horses Policy, politics and progressive commentary When Californian Diane Phillips returned home from her trip to the Grand Canyon last year, her first impulse was to put up billboards notifying others of what she witnessed. I just thought if we let everybody see what is really going on, we could stop the abuse of these animals, she said of the pack mules and horses used by the Havasupai Tribe to transport tourists belongings, provisions, and other cargo in and out of Havasupai Village in the Grand Canyon. Instead of costly billboards, Phillips phoned and wrote to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, but heard nothing back. The Department of Interior, which includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs, did not respond to the Currents requests for comment. The abuse and neglect of the Havasupai pack animals is not new. They starve them, they whip them, and force them to run up an eight-mile, very steep, very rocky trail. Theyre tied together so tight, they cant even put their heads down to see where theyre putting their feet, says Susan Ash, founder of SAVE Havasupai Horses, an organization dedicated to helping the horses and mules. And when they get up there, even when its cold, theyre dripping in sweat, and they get no water. This has gone on for 50 years, and everybody is turning a blind eye. The tribe declined to provide information about animal welfare policies. The Havasupai Tribe is a sovereign nation, with its animal welfare code and enforcement policies, Abbie Fink, a public relations person hired by the tribe, told the Current. The tribe will not be providing a copy of the animal welfare ordinance. Ash, like Phillips, believes that without federal protection and isolated by tribal sovereignty, the pack animals are the collateral damage of a nation reluctant to further interfere in Indigenous culture. Most Americans acknowledge the U.S. government has historically treated Native Americans unfairly, and disagree with its decisions regarding Native tribes, according to a new YouGov Poll. The Havasupai people began farming and hunting in the Grand Canyon more than 1,000 years ago, according to historians, mostly unfettered by explorers until around 1880, when the U.S. forced the tribe to turn over almost all of its land, except for several hundred acres of almost inaccessible land at the bottom of the canyon. The tribe fought to regain its territory in court for much of the next century. In the 1970s the passage of the Grand Canyon National Park Endangerment Act returned some 185,000 acres to the tribe. Since then, the Havasupai people have turned to tourism for economic survival charging an estimated 30,000 visitors a year to camp, visit its famed waterfalls, and be transported in and out of Havasu Village. Today, some 600 tribe members work primarily in tourism, packing and working for tribal enterprises, says the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. The Arizona Office of Tourism says in 2019 some 6 million tourists spent $536 per travel party at the Grand Canyon. Following their excursion, about 13% of the Grand Canyons tourists visited Las Vegas, more than any other destination. In fiscal year 2023, some 21 Grand Canyon concessions operated by tribes grossed just over $200 million, and paid about $19 million to the National Park Service in fees. Trail of blood The Havasupai draw their strength from the land, which is sacred, says a website for the Inter Tribal Council. Visitors are asked to preserve the magnificence of the Havasupai homeland and respect their natural resources which contribute to their spiritual direction. But the horses and mules who carry as much as 200 pounds up and down the steep trail often get little in the way of food or water, much less respect. Phillips says she was horrified by the trail of blood, the crimson stream left in the sand by horse hooves that are no match for the rocky trail in and out of the canyon. In the village there was a corral with horses skin and bones just standing there. No food. No water. Packers equate the horses to work trucks, according to animal experts who help care for them. With 300 transports a day, theres little time for rest. The tribe does not enforce any animal welfare laws of their own, says Annoula Wylderich of Animal Protection Affiliates. They have an animal control agency, but officers have come and gone through the revolving doors. It is alleged that those who try to enforce laws are intimidated by the pack animal owners. Jurisdictional issues complicate efforts by federal authorities to police the treatment of pack animals. The Major Crimes Act, enacted in 1885 during the administration of Pres. Grover Cleveland, provides federal criminal jurisdiction over certain crimes if the defendant is Native American. The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over murder, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and most sexual offenses on tribal land. Ash and other activists want the law amended to include animal abuse, which they say would make enforcement of abuse and neglect laws easier. But given congressional paralysis, they have little hope. A staffer of Rep. Eli Crane, a Republican from Arizona whose district includes the reservation, told the Current she personally witnessed the abuse of pack animals on the trail. It was a bit concerning, said Julie Schreiner. Schreiner, a staffer in Cranes local office, told the Current she forwarded the concerns of Ash and other activists to legislative staff in Washington, D.C. Congressional representatives appear to be less than eager to get involved. Members of Nevadas delegation either declined to discuss the issue or failed to respond to requests for comment. In 2016, the federal government successfully prosecuted one case of animal cruelty on the Havasupai reservation against wrangler and tribal member Leland Joe. The government charged Joe with four felony counts of animal cruelty and knowingly failing to provide care after an FBI Special Agent visited Joes property and found no food or vegetation for five horses. One horse appeared extremely thin, malnourished and had open sores and wounds, according to news reports. Joe was sentenced to probation and prohibited from owning horses. It made the tribes so angry that by the end of that same year, they formed their own tribal court, says Ash. Now, if the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) brings charges, they have to go to tribal court. In 2017, a Havasupai packer charged with animal abuse in both federal and tribal court was offered a plea deal by the tribal court, which eliminated the federal governments jurisdiction. The defendant received six months probation and the ability to reclaim his horses. We are working diligently to identify those few tribal members who engage in this type of behavior and allow our tribal court system to prosecute such individuals, former Tribal Chairman Don Watahomigie told the Associated Press in 2018. Three subsequent cases have ended in convictions, but Ash says the consequences are minimal. Ash and other activists want Congress to put pressure on Haaland. If the BIA and some members of Congress would say to the tribal council Enough is enough. Youre going to come to the table, that could achieve results a lot faster than changing the law, she says, adding the animals dont have time to wait. Their lives are just so horrific. The post After years of reports and complaints, Havasupai pack animals still in peril, say activists appeared first on Nevada Current. OTSEGO, Wis. (WFRV) A 37-year-old Wisconsin man was taken into custody after leading police on a pursuit that reached speeds over 125 miles per hour. According to the Columbia County Sheriffs Office, deputies initiated a traffic stop on Thursday, May 30, at around 12:05 a.m. for a vehicle driving above the speed limit on County Highway A in the township of Otsego. Wisconsin man beaten and robbed of vehicle after being dropped off at Park & Ride As the deputy turned around to initiate the traffic stop, the suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Gregory Wylesky of Madison, increased his speed to around 128 miles per hour and continued to elude law enforcement. Wylesky was reportedly driving recklessly and extinguishing his headlights during the pursuit. The deputy in pursuit managed to identify Wyleskys license plate, and using that information, they opted to terminate the pursuit and have the Madison Police Department respond to Wyleskys residence. Officers with the Madison Police Department located Wylesky as he pulled into the address, and he was subsequently arrested without further incident. Wylesky was taken to the Columbia County Jail on felony flee and eluding charges alongside second-degree recklessly endangering safety and violation of his probation. He will also be receiving several traffic citations for his driving infractions. Wisconsin man sentenced to federal prison after possessing a firearm as a felon The Columbia County Sheriffs Office has zero tolerance for this type of reckless behavior that puts the operator and innocent motorists in danger, said officials on the Columbia County Sheriffs Office Facebook page. This is the fourth occurrence within the last month where pursuits reached over 120mph. We will continue [to] hold these drivers that make these poor decisions accountable for the danger they pose. No additional details were provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. (Bloomberg) -- Former South African President Jacob Zumas party signaled its open to a coalition deal with like-minded rivals, having won enough support in national elections to help erase the long-held majority of the ruling African National Congress. Most Read from Bloomberg Zumas uMkhonto weSizwe Party, which launched five months ago, is emerging as one of South Africas biggest political groups after Wednesdays poll. A projection model by the state research agency, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, suggests it may obtain 14% of the vote, compared with 42% for the ANC. Read More: South Africa in Uncharted Waters With ANC Set to Share Power A coalition can be formed with any party, as long as the ideology is the same, Sihle Ngubane, secretary-general of the so-called MKP, said in an interview near Johannesburg on Thursday. Anyone in politics with the idea of supporting the lives of the people, the marginalized, the middle and third-class stratas, we are willing to share power with them. If the forecast proves accurate, the result will mark the first time the ANC has failed to secure a parliamentary majority since it came to power at the end of apartheid three decades ago. That will force President Cyril Ramaphosas party to search for coalition partners in a bid to retain control. An alliance with the MKP could be doable as the new party has no real identity of its own other than the presence of Zuma, said Siphamandla Zondi, a politics professor at the University of Johannesburg. Ramaphosa was responsible for ousting Zuma as South Africas leader in 2018, however, and there remains considerable animosity between the two political heavyweights. Zuma, 82, formed the MKP after breaking with the ANC in December, having led the country during a nine-year tenure marred by corruption and mismanagement scandals. He was accused by a judicial panel of being at the center of the theft of billions of dollars in taxpayer funds during his presidency and jailed for contempt of court in 2021, yet retains significant support. Read More: Jacob Zuma Back to Shake Up South African Election at 82 The MKP performed particularly well in the KwaZulu-Natal, Zumas home province and key stronghold. With 14% of voting districts tallied there, electoral commission data shows the MKP garnered 43.4%, compared with 20.5% for the governing ANC and 19.4% for the opposition Inkatha Freedom Party. Voters are tired of the rhetoric of the ANC, the water shedding, the load shedding, the corruption, Ngubane said, using the local term for water and power supply outages. The mismanagement of the economy has been a big issue for our people. These are the areas in which we capitalized as the MKP. Read More: Apartheids Enduring Legacy in South Africa Puts ANC at Risk --With assistance from Rene Vollgraaff and Antony Sguazzin. (Updates with analyst comment in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Two astronauts in flight suits standing in front of a t-38 jet with cockpit open. they are on a tarmac with a structure in behind and buildings far in the back. The first Boeing Starliner astronauts are back at the launch site. NASA Crew Flight Test (CFT) astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday (May 28) ahead of their expected liftoff of Boeing Starliner on Saturday (June 1). NASA will hold a delta flight readiness review later today (May 29) to review the launch, officials have said; this is a bit more detailed than a standard review, to address technical concerns on Starliner arising from a helium leak. Assuming the mission passes that review and schedules hold, CFT will launch from the nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station no earlier than 12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 GMT), and you can watch the historic launch here at Space.com, via NASA Television. NASA will provide an update to reporters on Friday (May 31) at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) which you can also watch live here. Related: 'It's so complicated:' Boeing Starliner teams diagnosing helium leak ahead of June 1 astronaut launch It's not the first time the crew flew in to KSC on NASA T-38 trainer jets for a launch attempt; they first flew in on April 25 for what was expected to be a May 6 launch, but that effort was scrubbed just two hours before liftoff. As the stacked Starliner and United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket underwent troubleshooting, the crew still in quarantine returned to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston for a few weeks to continue training and await a firmer launch date. an astronaut in flight suit touching his hands in front of his chest. behind him is a jet with cockpit open NASA Crew Flight Test astronaut Butch Wilmore in front of a T-38 trainer jet, after arriving in it at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on May 28, 2024. (Image credit: NASA/Cory S Huston) Starliner CFT has had a long journey to the launch pad. NASA tasked both SpaceX and Boeing with billion-dollar-scale contracts in 2014 to send astronauts to the International Space Station by 2017. Both vehicles were delayed in that goal due to technical and funding challenges. SpaceX, borrowing from its cargo Dragon design that has flown ISS missions since 2012, finished its first crewed test in 2020. SpaceX has flown 11 other missions to the ISS since then. Starliner, a brand-new spacecraft, took longer. Starliner's first ISS mission in 2019 without astronauts got stranded in the wrong orbit due to software glitches and failed to reach its destination. A follow-up mission in 2022 made it safely after dozens of fixes, and delays due to the pandemic. Related: 2 astronaut taxis: Why NASA wants both Boeing's Starliner and SpaceX's Dragon a grey-and-blue cone-shaped spacecraft seen through a window with earth below CFT met another delay in 2023 after the parachutes were found to be able to carry less load then expected, and flammable tape was found on the wiring. NASA and Starliner officials have stressed the mission is developmental meaning not only that safety takes priority over any schedule concerns, which is true of all missions, but that course corrections will be needed as the design matures. Both CFT astronauts are also former U.S. Navy test pilots, and thus have participated in the development of other aerospace projects over the decades. smiling woman astronaut in a flight suit and hat in front of a jet plane, with cockpit open NASA Crew Flight Test astronaut Suni Williams in front of a T-38 trainer, shortly after arriving in it at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on May 28, 2024. (Image credit: NASA/Cory S Huston) Everything appeared on track for a May 6 launch attempt, but late in the countdown a "buzzing" valve was discovered aboard Atlas V, meaning the oxygen relief valve was opening and closing rapidly. That issue prompted ULA, Boeing and NASA to scrub the mission. Hours of troubleshooting resulted in the decision to pull the rocket back to its facility at Cape Canaveral for a valve replacement. That valve swap went to plan by May 12, but a tiny helium leak in an Aerojet Rocketdyne thruster aboard Starliner discovered after the scrub then underwent close scrutiny. Team representatives told reporters in a briefing last week that they had learned a few things in that process. The leak is not an immediate risk to a launch, since helium is an inert gas; both Crew Dragon and the space shuttle have launched safely with helium leaks, they noted. The concern is how that leak would affect the reaction control system (RCS); that is a set of 28 small engines aboard Starliner for modest maneuvers in orbit. The leak is in a button-sized area in the Starliner spacecraft less than 10 sheets of paper thick, in a rubber seal between two metal parts of a flange. The leak is roughly 50 psi to 70 psi depending on the pressurization around it, but that (apparently) high rate is relative to a tiny space, NASA and Boeing stressed in the briefing. a cone-shaped spacecraft on top of a rocket in a tall facility. a large bay is open to the air at the right showing scrub and swamp below Boeing's Crew Flight Test Starliner spacecraft atop the Atlas V rocket ahead of its first astronaut launch at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (Image credit: NASA) RELATED STORIES: Boeing's Starliner rolled off launch pad to replace 'buzzing' rocket valve (photo) Meet the crew launching on Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut flight Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will not fly private missions yet, officials say It was unsafe to open up this spot with Starliner stacked on Atlas V, but extensive computer analysis showed the leak appeared to be stable. The team did pressure changes on this area as well, to simulate changes in spaceflight, and were satisfied with the performance they saw. Additionally, the other 27 thrusters have no leak at all, creating a large buffer if other leaks arise, NASA's Steve Stich, program manager for the agency's commercial crew program, emphasized in the May 24 call. He added that engineers, however, uncovered a "design vulnerability" during the helium troubleshooting. Simply put, Starliner has three certified modes of returning the astronauts to Earth: One mode using the RCS thrusters, and two modes using orbital maneuvering and attitude control (OMAC) thrusters; the OMAC modes require two or four of those thrusters, depending on the situation. The RCS re-entry mode requires eight thrusters in adjacent "doghouses:" There are four of these assemblies around Starliner. But under rare helium leak circumstances, it may be that all thrusters in adjacent doghouses could fail simultaneously, meaning RCS would not be available any more to back up OMAC. The team thus created, and simulated with the CFT astronauts, a new re-entry mode that would require only four RCS thrusters at a time. The delta flight readiness review will confirm the certification of that new re-entry technique, among other matters. (WHTM) Those going to the Pennsylvania state website will see a new look that the Governors office says is designed to transform the Commonwealths digital services. The changing of the states homepage, as well as pages for the Governor and Lt. Governor, are part of the first phase of an ongoing transformation of all Commonwealth websites. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania The project is expected to be completed in early 2025. I believe that there should be no wrong door to access state government, and that state governments top priority should be serving Pennsylvanians. Since Day One, my Administration has worked to meet the people of Pennsylvania where they are both online and in their communities, said Governor Josh Shapiro. Last year the Governor signed an executive order establishing the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA). Whether you are looking to register to vote, find health insurance, start a business, or file their tax returns the new PA.gov will help you find human-centered, user-friendly, and faster digital services online that provide you with the opportunity to take advantage of all the resources and benefits the Commonwealth offers, said Shapiro. Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver said there were over 300 Pennsylvanians surveyed and hundreds of hours of interviews conducted to create the new website. The new PA.gov will provide a better user experience for every Pennsylvanian. We have fundamentally re-imagined our digital presence from the perspective of our residents, putting their needs at the forefront of every design decision, said Weaver. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. General view of the Europol building in The Hague BERLIN/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -Four people have been arrested in Ukraine and Armenia and more than 100 internet servers taken down or disrupted in a major sting operation targeting international cybercrime that has impacted thousands of people, Europol said on Thursday. Carried out between May 27 and 29, the European Union's law enforcement agency called it "the largest ever operation against botnets, which play a major role in the deployment of ransomware". Dismantled botnets included IcedID, Smokeloader, SystemBC, Pikabot and Bumblebee, it added. The sting, dubbed Operation Endgame, was initiated and led by France, Germany and the Netherlands. It involved several other countries, including Britain, the United States and Ukraine, Europol said in a statement. "With the international Operation Endgame, our investigative authorities have succeeded in dealing the biggest and most significant blow against cybercrime to date," German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said in a statement. The lengthy police investigation disrupted infrastructure "from which massive attacks with ransomware originate worldwide, in which data is captured, encrypted and then the victims are blackmailed," Faeser said, adding that such crime caused significant economic damage to Germany. "The thousands of victims (will be alerted) so that they can protect themselves from other ransomware attacks", the French prosecutor's office said in a statement. One of the arrests was made in Armenia and the other three in Ukraine, Europol said, adding that more than 2,000 domains were now under the control of law enforcement. Malware allows cybercriminals to secretly connect to people's computers for malicious purposes. One of the main suspects earned at least 69 million euros ($75 million) in cryptocurrency by renting out criminal infrastructure sites to deploy ransomware, according to investigators. ($1 = 0.9268 euros) (Reporting by Rachel More from Berlin, Charlotte Van Campenhout from Amsterdam; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, Giles Elgood and Bernadette Baum) Kia begins production of its first American-made electric vehicle here in GA Kia has begun production of their first American-made electric vehicle, the EV9, in West Point, Georgia. Kia announced it would build its first American EV production line in Georgia in July 2023, one year after the passage of federal domestic manufacturing policies. U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff celebrated the start of production with Kia officials today at their production facility. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Its the companys only manufacturing plant in the United States and the only carmaker in Georgia. Kia invested $200 million into its West Point plant and added 200 new jobs to manufacture the EV9, Kias first three-row electric SUV. I congratulate KIA Georgia on this huge milestone reached less than two years after the enactment of made-in-America manufacturing incentives we passed into law. I thank all at the state, local, and Federal levels who have for years supported KIAs success in our state. Georgians are proud these beautiful cars are produced in Georgia and made in America, said Sen. Ossoff. I caution those who have called for the repeal of made-in-America manufacturing policies: repealing these incentives will hurt Georgia. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Growthpoint Properties Australia implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price 64% of the company is held by a single shareholder (Growthpoint Properties Limited) Insiders have been buying lately A look at the shareholders of Growthpoint Properties Australia (ASX:GOZ) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 72% 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 Growthpoint Properties Australia, beginning with the chart below. View our latest analysis for Growthpoint Properties Australia What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Growthpoint Properties Australia? 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. Growthpoint Properties Australia already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Growthpoint Properties Australia's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Growthpoint Properties Australia. The company's largest shareholder is Growthpoint Properties Limited, with ownership of 64%. This essentially means that they have extensive influence, if not outright control, over the future of the corporation. With 2.5% and 1.0% of the shares outstanding respectively, The Vanguard Group, Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. are the second and third largest shareholders. 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. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Growthpoint Properties Australia The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. 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 data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Growthpoint Properties Australia in their own names. It is a pretty big company, so it would be possible for board members to own a meaningful interest in the company, without owning much of a proportional interest. In this case, they own around AU$15m worth of shares (at current prices). Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 26% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. 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. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Growthpoint Properties Australia (including 1 which can't be ignored) . 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. Two days ago, the pilot of a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B ejected from the stealth fighter soon after takeoff from Kirtland Air Force Base , New Mexico. Their survival was due, in no small part, to their Martin-Baker US16E ejection seat. The remarkable story of these aircrew escape systems stretches back to the immediate postwar period, and it was 75 years ago today that the first Martin-Baker seat was used for real. https://www.twitter.com/MB_EjectEject/status/1795858745513103622 On May 30, 1949, British test pilot John Oliver Jo Lancaster DFC was at the controls of an Armstrong Whitworth AW52 a pioneering experimental flying-wing design when he got into trouble. The jet-powered prototype was one of two that had been built to examine the high-speed characteristics of tailless aircraft with a highly efficient laminar-flow airfoil . The Armstrong Whitworth AW52. Public Domain Test pilot John Oliver Jo Lancaster DFC. Martin-Baker Lancasters landmark ejection, using a pre-series version of the initial Martin-Baker Mk 1 design made him the first British pilot to escape from an aircraft in this way. It also began an unrivaled series of lifesaving events attributed to the company. The pilot of the F-35B involved in Tuesdays incident was the 7,772nd to successfully eject using a Martin-Baker seat. That total includes pilots from 107 different operators and involves 188 aircraft types. The Martin-Baker Mk 1 ejection seat. Martin-Baker The Martin-Baker US16E ejection seat as used in the F-35. Martin-Baker However, Martin-Bakers place in aviation history began with the design and manufacture of aircraft, rather than their escape systems. As early as 1929, Sir James Martin, an Irish immigrant and engineer, began producing aircraft in the United Kingdom. By the mid-1930s, Martin was working together with Capt. Valentine Baker, a World War I flying ace who had gone on to a career as a civilian flight instructor and later test pilot. Together, the two men formed the Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Ltd., the first named product of which was the MB1 experimental lightplane. Experience gained with the MB1 fed into a series of fighter prototypes, starting with the MB2 that flew shortly before World War II and the MB3 and MB5 that were tested during the war. None of them received orders although they incorporated some innovative features. The MB5, in particular, offered excellent performance and has often been described as one of the most impressive fighters of World War II that didnt enter production. The Martin-Baker MB3. Public Domain It was the MB3 program, however, that would change the course of the company forever. In September 1942, Baker was testing the fighter which, with six 20mm cannons, was the heaviest-armed aircraft in its class up to that time. During the flight , the prototype MB3s Napier Sabre piston engine seized up. Baker attempted an emergency landing, but the fighters wingtip struck a tree stump and the aircraft cartwheeled, killing the pilot. Deeply affected by the loss of his friend, Martin went on to dedicate the rest of his life to pilot safety. Rather than further developing the Martin-Baker fighter series, the future of the company would from now on focus on aircrew escape systems ejection seats something that the firm had been looking at since the mid-1930s. Today, Martin-Baker is the most well-known producer of ejection seats, but it wasnt the first to develop them. Company founders James Martin (center) and Valentine Baker (left). Martin-Baker From very soon after the first crewed fixed-wing aircraft took to the skies, efforts had been made to improve the chances of pilot survival in case they had to abandon them. Early efforts focused on ways to propel the pilot away from the stricken aircraft, after which they could float down to the ground on a parachute. Different efforts around the world looked at bungee cords, catapults, or compressed air as the means of separating the pilot from the aircraft rapidly and (relatively) safely. By World War II, the need for such equipment to protect pilots lives was more obvious, with high-performance aircraft being much harder to escape from by simply bailing out, due to g-forces and rapid airflow over the airframe, among others. The first practical ejection seats were developed during the conflict by Heinkel in Germany and SAAB in Sweden. They used compressed air or an explosive cartridge to hurl the pilot in their seat out of the cockpit. In January 1942, German test pilot Helmut Schenk became the first person to escape from a stricken aircraft using an ejection seat, when they lost control of their Heinkel He 280 experimental jet fighter, which was flying as an unpowered glider at the time. The first prototype Heinkel He 280, which Helmut Schenk successfully ejected from in January 1942. Public Domain With jets entering service at the end of the war, the requirement for ejection seats became even more pressing, and as aircraft speeds increased, the chances of escaping from them by simply bailing out fell dramatically. Martin-Baker was now poised to take the lead in what would be a growth subsystem industry. In January 1945, Bernard Lynch, a company employee, volunteered for the first static ejection using a Martin-Baker pre-Mk 1 seat, and a specially built tower. Showing exceptional bravery, Lynch followed this up with a mid-air test ejection from a modified Gloster Meteor jet fighter, successfully propelling himself out of the rear cockpit at a speed of 320 miles per hour and an altitude of 8,000 feet, in July 1946. Lynch conducted another 16 test ejections. Bernard Lynch prepares for the first live Martin-Baker ejection seat test, out of a Gloster Meteor aircraft on July 24, 1946. Martin-Baker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFAw76CIcq8 The test pilots pre-Mk 1 ejection seat was put to use over Southam, Warwickshire, on May 30, 1949. With the flying-wing aircraft in a dive at 320 miles per hour, it began to encounter pitch oscillation, which quickly became incapacitating. With structural failure seemingly imminent, Lancaster opted to use his ejection seat, floating down safely on his parachute and landing just outside a pub. The AW52 project was canceled soon after, but Martin-Bakers ejection seat had been well and truly proven. A Martin-Baker Mk 1 pre-production ejection seat. This example is displayed in front of a Saunders-Roe SRA1 flying-boat jet fighter. Nimbus227/Wikimedia Commons Following this achievement, the Martin-Baker Mk 1 seat began to be fitted as standard in British military aircraft in the late 1940s. Manually operated, the Mk 1 seat had an adjustable seat pan to accommodate pilots of differing stature without changing the overall dimensions of the seat. Adjustable footrests were fitted, and integral thigh guards prevented the occupants legs from being forced apart by air blast. Four rollers running in a guide-rail assembly bolted to the aircraft structure and guided the seat at the start of the ejection process. In 2019, Martin-Baker celebrated the 70th anniversary of the first ejection with Jo Lancaster (center), who was also celebrating his 100th birthday. Lancaster died later in the same year. Martin-Baker Early seats, including those from Martin-Baker, relied upon a solid-propellant charge to eject the pilot, with the charge typically contained in a telescopic tube attached to the seat. Before long, however, the demands of extraction from aircraft approaching and then exceeding the speed of sound called for more powerful and compact solutions, leading to the introduction of rocket-propelled ejection seats. These new seats also introduced the possibility of zero-zero capability meaning they could be used safely even on the ground and with the aircraft not in motion. Tests of a Martin-Baker ejection seat destined for the Tempest sixth-generation fighter, using a ground-based rocket sled. BAE Systems While there have been occasional moves to develop new types of crew escape systems , ejection seats of the kind that were pioneered by Martin-Baker, among others, have endured. Three-quarters of a century may separate Jo Lancasters historic ejection and the F-35B pilot being punched-out on their US16E seat earlier this week. But the egress system in the stealth jet can be traced all the way back to World War II and, in particular, the commitment of Sir James Martin to improve aircrew safety in direct response to the loss of his colleague and friend. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A newly released app from Oregon wildlife officials is encouraging travelers to snap pictures of unlikely subjects in the name of making the roads safer for both people and animals. With the free app, users can send photos and reports of roadkill to state biologists through the iNaturalist Roadkills of Oregon Project, a collaboration between The Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). The data collected will aid in identifying roadkill hotspots and mapping them out so officials know where to place alternative crossing options for animals. Click here to download the free app and find instructions for submitting reports. Rep the Beavers with a new OSU license plate Crossing structures, underpasses, culverts and even simple things like strategically placed plants can save lives, for both people and wildlife, said Rachel Wheat, an ODFW connectivity biologist. The structures can also be big and expensive, so its critical to put them in the places where theyre most needed. This project helps us figure out where those places are. Currently, the state only tracks roadkill incidents involving larger animals like deer and elk. But officials say the roads can be just as deadly for smaller species, such as butterflies and frogs, even causing a sudden and steep decline in some populations. Roadkills are sad and dangerous. Nobody wants to see wildlife that way, said Shervin Hess, the Oregon Zoos conservation manager. This project gives Oregonians a chance to be a part of the solution and help make our state safer for us all. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. OpenAI and ChatGPT. What you need to know A new research study shows OpenAI's GPT-4 model is better at predicting future earning trends than professional financial analysts or state-of-the-art AI models trained to handle such tasks. The researchers indicate that GPT-4 didn't have access to qualitative data during the study. The study attributes GPT-4's performance to its economic reasoning capabilities and an in-depth analysis of economic trends and ratios. Generative AI is quickly gaining traction worldwide. Microsoft's latest Work Trend Index report indicates that top executives won't hire anyone without an AI aptitude, prompting "a 142x increase in LinkedIn members adding AI skills like Copilot and ChatGPT to their profiles." Likewise, Elon Musk admits that we're on the verge of the biggest technology revolution with AI, but we risk technology taking over our jobs and eventually ending humanity. While there's a 99.9% chance the latter will happen according to p(doom), it remains unclear if the technology will claim our jobs. Microsoft's Work Trend Index report further indicates AI is creating more job opportunities than losses, with company leads expressing concern over insufficient talent to fill vacancies. And now, according to a new study, OpenAI's GPT-4 model seemingly outperformed professional financial analysts in predicting future earning trends (via The Rundown AI). While we'll not delve into the intricate details of the study, the researchers provided the AI model with standard anonymized statements and prompted it to assume an analyst's persona to process important financial information from the statements. Aside from outperforming professional financial analysts, GPT-4 boasted better analytical capabilities than other state-of-the-art models specifically trained to handle and predict future earning projections. According to the study, the superior analytical capabilities stemmed from GPT-4's reasoning capabilities and an in-depth analysis of economic trends and ratios. It's worth noting that GPT-4 didn't have access to qualitative data during the study but still registered incredible results. The study aligns with Elon Musk's prediction, which paints a picture of a job-free future. Musk says AI will provide all the services and goods we might need, turning work into an 'optional' hobby. "If you want to do a job that's kind of like a hobby, you can do a job," added the billionaire. Musk isn't the only one who thinks AI will potentially render some careers obsolete in the not-so-distant future. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang indicated that coding might not be a viable career option for the next generation and recommended biology, education, manufacturing, or farming as better alternatives. Story continues Some professions, especially architectural jobs, are potentially on the verge of becoming redundant. Even though AI-powered tools like Image Creator from Designer (Bing Image Creator) have been lobotomized, they are certainly good enough to render graphic designers and architects redundant. Interestingly, Copilot, ChatGPT, and Midjourney can't generate a simple, plain white image. MORE ON AI Fertility remains a pressing concern around the world -- birthrates are down in many countries, and infertility rates (that is, the inability to conceive) are up. Rhea, a Singapore- and New York-based reproductive health service provider, aims to tackle this challenge by bridging the global value chain and using technology. Rhea said Thursday that it has secured $10 million in funding to continue expanding its service. Previous backer Thiel Capital led this latest infusion, with participation from LifeX Ventures, Blue Lion Global and FJ Labs. With the new money, Rhea plans to acquire more clinics in 2024, broaden its services in new markets, and grow its team of reproductive health professionals to establish a high-quality standard of fertility care across the globe. Rhea now has more than 380 staff across 12 markets. The latest funding came on the back of its initial $20 million in 2023 and an acquisition of Embryonics, an Israel-based startup that has built AI-based IVF software solutions, earlier this year. The startup also announced today its launch of Rhea, which is an end-to-end reproductive health service that connects prospective families in Asia with complementary operations in North America and Europe. Rhea's ecosystem is comprised of GenPrime, a global network of owned and partner clinics; Rhea Labs, an integrated technology platform that uses data to speed up time to market and incorporate quality product feedback to enhance patient outcomes; and a suite of fertility wellness partners, including Moom Health, Elix Healing and Madam Partum, to offer more comprehensive reproductive health services. Rhea has integrated Embryonics' AI-driven diagnostic tools into its product development pipeline and exclusive regional distribution rights with leading medical partners. Rhea Labs is also developing RheaX, a global gamete exchange company that develops creative solutions to improve the process of matching and transferring gametes. A partnership with Baylor College of Medicine, a health sciences university in the Texas Medical Center will help develop the exchange. Rhea was initially incubated by Recharge Capital in response to the growing trend of women and families globally desiring more flexibility and options in family planning, CEO of Rhea Margaret Wang told TechCrunch. Lorin Gu, the founding partner of Recharge Capital, founded Rhea, and Wang, who joined Recharge first as an advisor in January 2023, took over Rhea as CEO in September. GenPrime was originally planned to consist of a small roll-up of Southeast Asia-based clinics. However, the firm's members, based on their own experiences with fertility, wanted to build a company that would provide not just the clinical network (GenPrime) but also medical devices, insights and a comprehensive set of wellness services on the platform. "The traditional approach is one thats highly siloed and relies on third-party players -- were innovating around integration to link different parts of the value chain together and combining not just an elevated physical clinic experience but the application of technology along the way," Wang said. The world's lowest birth rates in Asia A recent report shows that global birth rates have decreased by half in the last 70 years, with more than half of countries below the replacement rate. (Some quick stats: South Korea has the world's lowest birth rate, Singapore fell below 1.0 last year and China, the largest market in the region, saw its population decline for the second consecutive year.) "Rapidly declining fertility rates around the world are a signal of a looming population decrease, the effects of which are particularly impacting countries in Asia," Wang said. In addition, each country has its own regulations, making it challenging to navigate the fertility journey with unique requirements. For example, China's National Health Commission prohibits single women from using assisted reproductive technology (ART), including egg freezing. The services are only available to married heterosexual couples in China. As a result, numerous Chinese patients need to journey across the Asia region to receive fertility services, Wang noted. In Singapore, elective egg freezing for women aged 21 to 37 was only legalized in July 2023. Rheas platform connects prospective families in Asia dealing with diverse regulatory challenges related to reproductive health. Despite the abundance of new options available, researching, gathering information and making informed decisions remains a daunting challenge due to the emotional and vulnerable nature of the experience, Wang explained. "On the clinic network side, we look to players like CCRM and Spring Fertility with their similar patient-first focus and, of course, IVI RMA and EuginGroup for the scale," Wang said when asked about its industry peers. "But these all are generally throughout Europe and the United States. In Asia, the groups are much smaller and either within single countries (which carry single-country risk) or across the microregion. But none are thinking about the end-to-end ecosystem, global first and the way in which we develop and integrate technology and devices. Rhea remains differentiated as it is the first integrated ecosystem for intended families centered in Asia." The outfit is currently in the growth phase, building on the assets it acquired last year and expanding its integrated model to reach wider customers. As an example, Rhea acquired a medical tourism company specializing in outbound demand from China for fertility services. "This company normally refers patients to partner clinics, but by joining our company, we can now direct demand to clinics we own, know and trust the quality of experience. The overall business margins improve because now we're not just capturing parts of the experience (lead generation referral or individual services) but rather that whole patient journey," Wang said. The company makes money from its clinic services, generating leads for partner clinics and companies, and holding exclusive distribution or development rights for technology and medical devices. To deliver an integrated ecosystem of service, Rhea introduced its senior advisory group that includes Dr. Milton Leong, a pioneer of IVF in Hong Kong and founding president of The Hong Kong Society for Reproductive Medicine; Cynthia Hudson, VP of clinical strategy at TMRW Life Sciences; Dr. Javaid I. Sheikh, Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar; Dr. Michael Coburn, professor and chair of the Department of Urology at Baylor College of Medicine; Bea Camacho, director of Southeast Asia for IDEO; and Weylin Liew, co-founder of Fertility Support SG and Global Sustainability Portfolio Manager and head of Active Engagement at Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC. Rich Guys Are Diving Down to the Titanic Again, Because Things Will Be Different This Time Ohio real estate billionaire Larry Connor has plans to partner with the Triton Submarines co-founder to dive to the Titanic in 2026. The Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer is designed to dive over 13,000 feet, enough to reach the ocean floor where the Titanic resides. Connor has long sought extreme adventures, having traveled to the Mariana Trench and the International Space Station. The last time a group of adventurers attempted to visit the Titanic, located about 12,500 feet below the oceans surface, it ended in a tragedy that echoed around the world. But that failure reportedly inspired an Ohio real estate billionaire to prove that a voyage to the Titanic on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean can be done safely. I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life-changing if you go about it the right way, Larry Connor tells The Wall Street Journal. To make it happen, the wealthy businessman, who has already visited the Mariana Trench and the International Space Station, will partner with Patrick Lahey, co-founder of Triton Submarines. The pair plan to join in the companys 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer to drop 13,000 feetthe depth the submersible is reportedly capable of handlingto explore the Titanic in summer 2026. Patrick has been thinking about and designing this for over a decade, Connor tells the newspaper. But we didnt have the materials and technology. You couldnt have built this sub five years ago. According to The Wall Street Journal, the OceanGate-owned Titans implosion inspired the mission. Connor contacted Lahey, a critic of OceanGate and its practices, in the aftermath of the summer 2023 news and said the two should prove to the world they were capable of something better. What we need to do is build a sub that can dive to [Titanic-level depths] repeatedly and safely and demonstrate to the world that you guys can do that, and that Titan was a contraption, Lahey tells The Wall Street Journal about what Connor told him at the time. The June 18, 2023, implosion of the 22-foot-long Titan submersible happened roughly one hour and 45 minutes into a mission to bring five people to see the Titanic. During the rescue attempt of the Titan, remotely operated underwater vehicles found a debris field from the Titan about 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic. The expected 2026 effort will take place in the Triton 4000/2 Abyss Explorer, named for its ability to send two people 4,000 meters (13,500 feet) into the depth of the ocean within the acrylic subs construction. The Triton submersible features what the company calls a Gull Wing design to improve versatility of movement. The wings retract for ascent and descent, while allowing movement through tight spaces. The wings can partially deploy to help the submersible silently glide and track objects, while fully deployed the wings raise the vehicles propulsion, managed by eight direct-drive thrusters. Cameras on the wing tips provide a fresh perspective on the surroundings. As a platform, the company boasts on its website, the Triton Abyssal Explorers capabilities are simply unmatched. You Might Also Like Rolls-Royce has secured a multimillion-pound contract to supply engines for a new class of Japanese warship. The British engineering giant confirmed on Thursday it will provide a propulsion system for Tokyos planned Aegis system equipped vessels (ASEVs). Each of the Japanese ships will have a propulsion system powered by two of Rollss MT30 engines. The pair of destroyers will help to defend Japan from ballistic missiles carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads, amid concerns about Chinas military buildup and rocket launches by North Korea. Rolls makes cores for the MT30 engines in Derby and assembles the final products at its defence campus in Bristol. Rolls's MT30 engines are made in Derby, before being assembled at its defence campus in Bristol - Gary Marshall The engines are already used by Japans Mogami-class of stealth frigates, the Royal Navys Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and Type 26 frigates, and the US Navys Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers and Freedom-class littoral combat ships. Sam Cameron, senior vice president for defence at Rolls-Royce, said: Were delighted the MT30 has once again been chosen to power the countrys vessels further reinforcing our long and successful history with Japan. MT30 is powering many of the worlds most advanced platforms including the [Mogami-class] frigate programme due to its power and propulsion providing shipbuilders and system designers with new options, choices and the ability to futureproof. We look forward to continuing to build on our relationship with Japan and grow the footprint of the MT30 globally. The pair of ASEVs being built for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force will act as ballistic missile defence warships, replacing a previously planned ground-based system. They will be equipped with the American-made Aegis combat system, named after the shield wielded by the god Zeus in Greek mythology. The advanced system, which has also been adopted by Australian, South Korean, Norwegian and Spanish navies, uses computers and radar to track and destroy airborne and sea-based targets, including short to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Japans ASEVs are being built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which will take delivery of the Rolls propulsion system and install it on the warships. Rolls has said it hopes for the MT30 to become the dominant engine of choice across the Pacific Rim. It is now used in ships operated by the American, Japanese, Australian and Korean navies. 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 first Russian photolithography tool, capable of producing chips with a 350 nm process technology or thicker, has been built in Russia and is undergoing testing in Zelenograd. This mature technology is currently used for some automotive and power chips, though it could be used for military equipment too. We estimate that the new piece of equipment is about 30 years behind the industry. "We assembled and made the first domestic lithographic scanner," Vasily Shpak, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia, told TASS. "It is currently undergoing testing as part of the technological line in Zelenograd." This development marks a significant milestone for Russia's technological capabilities in semiconductor manufacturing. Yet, a 350nm (350 micron) is an extremely outdated technology by world-class standards. Intel made its Pentium MMX, Pentium Pro, and initial Pentium II processors on this node in 1995 and 1997, respectively, whereas AMD used this node for its K6 processor in 1997. Even for Russia, a 350nm fabrication process may be considered outdated as two of the country's contract makers of chips Angstrem and Mikron do not offer this production node. Angstrem has a variety of technologies ranging from 250nm to 90nm, whereas Micron has processes ranging from 250nm to 90nm. For now, it is unclear how the Russian lithography tool can be used commercially, but we can guess that its main goal is to serve as a development vehicle for more sophisticated litho machines. Russia's semiconductor sector is developing at a much slower pace than the country's government announced in 2023. Previously stated short-term objectives include ramping up local chip production using 90nm technology by the end of the year, with a long-term goal of establishing 28nm manufacturing by 2027, and then 14nm node by 2030. An avid reader would ask why Russia needs advanced chipmaking tools if it cannot develop sophisticated chips due to a lack of local talent and the latest electronic design automation tools. It also does not have domestic raw materials to make chips on modern technologies. Furthermore, Russian entities can no longer license advanced CPU cores or chip IP, so they cannot even buy-in the technologies they need to build advanced processors. A Chinese commercial launch company sent four satellites into orbit on Wednesday (May 29) with the second sea launch of the Ceres-1 solid rocket. The Ceres-1 lifted off Wednesday at 4:12 a.m. EDT (0812 GMT; 4:12 p.m. Beijing time) from a sea platform off the coast of China's eastern province of Shandong. Aboard were the Tianqi 25-28 satellites , part of a planned constellation of Internet of Things (Iot) data connectivity satellites for Beijing-based company Guodian Gaoke. The satellites were sent into a low Earth orbit with an altitude of 528 miles (850 kilometers), Galactic Energy said in a statement . Related: China's record-breaking Gravity-1 rocket aces amazing debut launch from ship at sea (video) a rocket launches from a red ship at sea. The launch was the 12th to date for the four-stage Ceres-1 and its second from a sea platform. Galactic Energy gave the mission the codename Beautiful World, with sponsorship from social media platform Sina Weibo. China built sea launch capabilities at Haiyang in Shandong to provide another, flexible option for space launches. Galactic Energy is one of a number of commercial launch companies in China. It is planning four further Ceres-1 sea launches this year, according to Chinese media. It will also conduct land-based launches of Ceres-1. The firm aims to launch its first liquid-propellant rocket, called Pallas-1 , later this year as well. Galactic Energy plans to make the Pallas-1's first stage reusable. RELATED STORIES: China just launched a rocket with 5 satellites to orbit from a platform at sea China plans to take 'hack-proof' quantum satellite technology to new heights Watch China launch Smart Dragon-3 rocket from the sea (video) Wednesday's launch was China's 25th orbital mission of 2024. China's main space contractor said early this year that the country is planning around 100 launches across 2024, including about 30 commercial missions. The New York governor, Kathy Hochul, plans to introduce a bill banning smartphones in schools, the latest in a series of legislative moves aimed at online child safety by New Yorks top official. I have seen these addictive algorithms pull in young people, literally capture them and make them prisoners in a space where they are cut off from human connection, social interaction and normal classroom activity, she said. Hochul said she would launch the bill later this year and take it up in New Yorks next legislative session, which begins in January 2025. If passed, schoolchildren will be allowed to carry simple phones that cannot access the internet but do have the capability to send texts, which has been a sticking point for parents. She did not offer specifics on enforcing the prohibition. Parents are very anxious about mass shootings in school, she said. Parents want the ability to have some form of connection in an emergency situation. Related: What happens when a school bans smartphones? A complete transformation The smartphone-ban bill will follow two others Hochul is pushing that outline measures to safeguard childrens privacy online and limit their access to certain features of social networks. The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (Safe) for Kids act addresses algorithmic feeds. It would require social media platforms to provide minors with a default chronological feed composed of accounts they have chosen to follow rather than algorithmically suggested ones. The bill would also mandate that parents have more wide-reaching controls like the ability to block access to night-time notifications. If the bill passes, companies that breach the regulations would face fines of $5,000 per violation, and parents could sue for damages. This legislation will protect children and serve as an example for other states and countries to follow, said Letitia James, the New York attorney general, who is a co-sponsor along with the Democratic state senator Andrew Gounardes. Together with our partners, we are going to do everything possible to see these bills passed into law. The second bill, the New York Child Data Protection act, aims to restrict the collection of childrens personal data by online sites that have knowledge of a users age. The bill would not require companies to implement age-verification processes such as facial recognition or the uploading of identification documents. In New York, the bills have faced pushback from big tech, trade groups and other companies, which collectively spent more than $800,000 between October and March lobbying against one or both of them, according to public disclosure records. Meta is the largest of these, spending on lobbying $156,932 in New York in that time. The bills would require the social media giant to alter its platforms for very young users. They should know that as someone who is often subjected to millions of dollars of lobbying campaigns, it has no effect on me. So theyre wasting their money, Hochul said, adding that New York is a pro-tech state. Youre not going to profit off the mental health of children in the state of New York, she said. The two New York bills would increase the governments role in regulating social media platforms. This differs from other state-level bills across the country, which place some reliance on self-policing by tech companies to decide which features could be harmful by completing assessments of whether products are reasonably likely to be accessed by children. These addictive algorithms have been used against young people since 2011, Hochul said. If [social media companies] were going to self-police and manage this themselves, what has stopped them thus far? Clearly as a government, we need to step in. Meta has pushed back on the legislation. A statement from the company read: As we continue working with New York lawmakers, its crucial that we avoid quick fixes and, instead, support legislation that actually empowers parents and supports teens online. In the absence of federal action to protect children online, other states across the country are working to pass legislation similar to the bills proposed in New York. Related: Battle lines drawn as US states take on big tech with online child safety bills Maryland and Vermont passed their Kids Code bills earlier this year over staunch opposition from social media companies. Other states that have introduced similar online-safety bills include Minnesota, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico, South Carolina and Nevada. They follow Californias attempts to introduce the similar Age-Appropriate Design Code act, which was blocked by a federal judge. In its criticism of online child safety bills in other states, Meta has highlighted its development of child-safety tools, which focus on parents managing their childrens online experience on their platforms. The company did not issue a statement on the New York bills. The parental tools have not achieved widespread adoption, however. Meta itself admits its own parental controls arent widely used theyre often confusing and frequently fail to work as intended, said Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, a policy advocacy organization. The major social media firms have faced increasing scrutiny over harms against children, including sextortion scams, grooming by predators and worsening mental health. Metas CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, was told he had blood on his hands at a January US Senate hearing on digital sexual exploitation. Zuckerberg stood up and apologized to a group of assembled parents whose children had died by suicide after being targeted on social media. In December, the New Mexico attorney generals office filed a lawsuit against Meta for allegedly allowing its platforms to become a marketplace for child predators. The suit cited a 2023 Guardian investigation that revealed how child traffickers were using Meta platforms, including Instagram, to buy and sell children into sexual exploitation. As global markets navigate through fluctuating trends and economic signals, the Euronext Amsterdam continues to present intriguing opportunities for investors. In this context, exploring growth companies with high insider ownership can offer valuable insights into firms that demonstrate confidence from those closest to the helm. This article will highlight three such companies to watch in May 2024, providing a closer look at entities where leadership has significant skin in the gamea factor that can be particularly reassuring in uncertain times. Top 5 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In The Netherlands Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth BenevolentAI (ENXTAM:BAI) 27.8% 62.8% Envipco Holding (ENXTAM:ENVI) 15.1% 67.8% Ebusco Holding (ENXTAM:EBUS) 31.4% 115.2% MotorK (ENXTAM:MTRK) 35.8% 105.8% Basic-Fit (ENXTAM:BFIT) 12% 66.1% PostNL (ENXTAM:PNL) 30.8% 24.3% Click here to see the full list of 6 stocks from our Fast Growing Euronext Amsterdam Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. We'll examine a selection from our screener results. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Basic-Fit N.V. operates a chain of fitness clubs across Europe, with a market capitalization of approximately 1.45 billion. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from its fitness clubs in two segments: 479.04 million from Benelux and 568.21 million from France, Spain, and Germany. Insider Ownership: 12% Earnings Growth Forecast: 66.1% p.a. Basic-Fit, a prominent fitness chain in the Netherlands, has demonstrated resilience with a significant revenue increase to 1.05 billion in 2023 from 794.57 million the previous year, despite reporting a net loss of 2.68 million. The company's share price has been highly volatile recently, yet insiders have shown confidence by purchasing more shares than they sold over the past three months. Analysts are optimistic about Basic-Fit's potential, expecting substantial earnings growth and forecasting that its revenue growth will outpace the Dutch market average. ENXTAM:BFIT Ownership Breakdown as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: MotorK plc operates as a provider of software-as-a-service solutions tailored for the automotive retail industry across Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and the Benelux Union, with a market capitalization of approximately 274.65 million. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through its software and programming segment, which amounted to 42.94 million. Story continues Insider Ownership: 35.8% Earnings Growth Forecast: 105.8% p.a. MotorK, a growth-oriented company in the Netherlands, reported a slight decrease in quarterly revenue year-on-year to 11.25 million but showed an annual increase from 38.55 million to 42.94 million despite widening net losses to 13.25 million. The firm anticipates its Committed Annual Recurring Revenues to hit 50 million by 2024, reflecting strong future growth prospects. However, shareholder dilution occurred over the past year, and profitability is not expected for another three years. ENXTAM:MTRK Ownership Breakdown as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: PostNL N.V. offers postal and logistics services across the Netherlands, Europe, and globally, with a market capitalization of approximately 0.63 billion. Operations: The company's revenue is primarily generated from two segments: Packages (2.25 billion) and Mail in the Netherlands (1.35 billion). Insider Ownership: 30.8% Earnings Growth Forecast: 24.3% p.a. PostNL, despite its recent quarterly revenue dip to 763 million and a shift from a modest profit to a 20 million net loss, projects an encouraging earnings growth of 24.3% per year. The company anticipates normalized EBIT between 80 million and 110 million for 2024. However, it faces challenges with high debt levels and slower-than-market revenue growth at 3.4% annually compared to the Dutch market's 9.2%. Additionally, PostNL's dividend track record remains unstable amidst these financial adjustments. ENXTAM:PNL Earnings and Revenue Growth as at May 2024 Next Steps Click here to access our complete index of 6 Fast Growing Euronext Amsterdam Companies With High Insider Ownership. Have you diversified into these companies? Leverage the power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to keep a close eye on market movements affecting your investments. Enhance your investing ability with the Simply Wall St app and enjoy free access to essential market intelligence spanning every continent. Contemplating Other Strategies? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years. Companies discussed in this article include ENXTAM:BFIT ENXTAM:MTRK and ENXTAM:PNL. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com YouTube's Crackdown on Ad Blockers Is Making It Miserable to Use YouTube recently doubled down on its neverending campaign against ad-blocking services. But for ad blocker users who have lately experienced annoying glitches on the video-sharing platform, YouTube may not be the party to blame. In an April announcement, YouTube vowed to strengthen its anti-adblocker "enforcement," arguing that they violate the platform's Terms of Service and ultimately hinder creators. At the same time, the company has been greedily hiking up the prices of its Premium tier subscription service, charging as much as $14 a month for an ad-free experience a considerable price many users have balked at. Lately, it seems that YouTube is making good on some of its warnings, escalating its battle with its own loyal user base. According to folks on the r/YouTube subreddit, many ad-blocking YouTube users have recently seen a "not available" error code crop up on their browsers. While that error code is definitely the result of YouTube's crackdown efforts, other video-related issues think: missing audio, random timestamp skipping, or, as YouTube specifically warned, buffering problems may be caused by third-party ad blockers, and YouTube maintains those particular problems aren't its fault. The company told 9to5 Google some ad blockers may not be compatible with recent platform updates. "Ad blockers violate YouTube's Terms of Service, and we've been urging users for some time to support their favorite creators and allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium for an ad-free experience," YouTube told 9to5 Google. "An unrelated push to improve YouTube's performance and reliability may be resulting in suboptimal viewing experiences for ad blocker users." To be clear, Google has used tactics like slow-loading webpages to deter ad-block users in the past. But there's some recent history to support YouTube's latest white flag. Earlier this year, the company was widely blamed for similar adblock-related hitches. But as Ars Technica reported at the time, the consensus was ultimately that the issue was actually a bug in AdBlock Plus, one of the internet's most-used ad-blocking services. Other blockers, like uBlock Origin, were working just fine. And according to AndroidCentral, the same thing appears to be true this time around as well. Brave, an ad-blocking web browser, wrote in an X-formerly-Twitter post this week that it hasn't seen any issues. The same seems to go for uBlock users. In any case, YouTube's ad block war with its own users wages on and rest assured, no matter the glitches or the error codes, some ad-hating netizens aren't backing down. "At this point," said one r/YouTube commenter, "I'm just using my adblock out of spite." More on the internet: We Regret to Inform You That The Spinning "Loading" Icon Is Actually Called a "Throbber" Over the past year, the Indian market has experienced substantial growth, rising 43%, despite remaining flat in the most recent week. In this context, companies with high insider ownership can be particularly compelling as they often signal strong confidence from those closest to the business, aligning well with a market that shows promising earnings growth forecasts. Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In India Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Archean Chemical Industries (NSEI:ACI) 22.9% 28.1% Pitti Engineering (BSE:513519) 33.6% 28.0% Rajratan Global Wire (BSE:517522) 19.8% 33.5% Dixon Technologies (India) (NSEI:DIXON) 24.9% 27.9% Happiest Minds Technologies (NSEI:HAPPSTMNDS) 38% 22.9% Jupiter Wagons (NSEI:JWL) 11.1% 27.2% Paisalo Digital (BSE:532900) 16.3% 23.8% MTAR Technologies (NSEI:MTARTECH) 38.4% 46.2% Pricol (NSEI:PRICOLLTD) 25.5% 26.9% Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (NSEI:APOLLOHOSP) 10.4% 35.5% Click here to see the full list of 78 stocks from our Fast Growing Indian Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: AU Small Finance Bank Limited operates in India, offering a range of banking and financial services, with a market capitalization of approximately 481.51 billion. Operations: The bank's revenue is primarily derived from Retail Banking (91.18 billion), followed by Treasury (17.04 billion) and Wholesale Banking (11.61 billion). Insider Ownership: 24.3% AU Small Finance Bank, a growth-oriented entity with significant insider ownership, has demonstrated robust financial performance with a notable increase in net income to INR 15.35 billion this fiscal year from INR 14.28 billion last year. Despite recent regulatory challenges including minor penalties for procedural lapses, the bank maintains strong revenue growth projections at 24.8% annually, outpacing the Indian market average of 9.4%. However, its forecasted Return on Equity is relatively low at 16.9%, suggesting potential areas for efficiency improvement amidst its aggressive expansion strategies. NSEI:AUBANK Earnings and Revenue Growth as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Persistent Systems Limited is a global company that offers software products, services, and technology solutions across India, North America, and other international markets, with a market capitalization of approximately 536.16 billion. Story continues Operations: The company generates revenue from three primary segments: Healthcare & Life Sciences (20.88 billion), Software, Hi-Tech and Emerging Industries (45.95 billion), and Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) at 31.39 billion. Insider Ownership: 34.3% Persistent Systems, a key player in India's tech sector, has shown consistent financial growth with earnings increasing by 27% annually over the past five years. Forecasted revenue and earnings growth are expected to outpace the Indian market at 13.2% and 17.92% respectively. Despite this, earnings growth is not deemed significantly high as it remains below the 20% threshold. The company maintains a modest dividend yield of 0.71%. Recently, Persistent Systems faced minor regulatory issues in its Netherlands branch with no significant impact on operations but showcased proactive engagement through its conference presentations and innovative product launches like iAURA to enhance AI-driven business solutions. NSEI:PERSISTENT Earnings and Revenue Growth as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Titagarh Rail Systems Limited is a company based in India that specializes in manufacturing and selling freight and passenger rail systems both domestically and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately 188.45 billion. Operations: Titagarh Rail Systems generates revenue through two primary segments: Passenger Rail Systems at 4.36 billion and Freight Rail Systems, which includes shipbuilding, bridges, and defense, at 34.18 billion. Insider Ownership: 24.3% Titagarh Rail Systems, a prominent entity in India's rail industry, reported a substantial year-over-year increase in annual revenue to INR 38.93 billion and net income to INR 2.86 billion as of March 2024. This growth is supported by high insider ownership and strategic leadership changes, including the elevation of Shri Prithish Chowdhary to Deputy Managing Director, enhancing business development across its verticals. Despite this positive trajectory, shareholder dilution occurred over the past year, and the forecasted Return on Equity remains modest at 19.2%. NSEI:TITAGARH Ownership Breakdown as at May 2024 Seize The Opportunity Unlock more gems! Our Fast Growing Indian Companies With High Insider Ownership screener has unearthed 75 more companies for you to explore.Click here to unveil our expertly curated list of 78 Fast Growing Indian Companies With High Insider Ownership. Are these companies part of your investment strategy? Use Simply Wall St to consolidate your holdings into a portfolio and gain insights with our comprehensive analysis tools. Take control of your financial future using Simply Wall St, offering free, in-depth knowledge of international markets to every investor. Ready For A Different Approach? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years. Companies discussed in this article include NSEI:AUBANKNSEI:PERSISTENT and NSEI:TITAGARH Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Intermediate Capital Group (LON:ICG) Full Year 2024 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: UK904.7m (up 56% from FY 2023). Net income: UK467.4m (up 109% from FY 2023). Profit margin: 52% (up from 39% in FY 2023). The increase in margin was driven by higher revenue. EPS: UK1.63 (up from UK0.78 in FY 2023). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Intermediate Capital Group Revenues and Earnings Beat Expectations Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 6.7%. Earnings per share (EPS) also surpassed analyst estimates by 18%. The primary driver behind last 12 months revenue was the Fund Management Company (FMC) segment contributing a total revenue of UK602.8m (67% of total revenue). The largest operating expense was General & Administrative costs, amounting to UK390.5m (89% of total expenses). Explore how ICG's revenue and expenses shape its earnings. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 8.9% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 5.4% growth forecast for the Capital Markets industry in the United Kingdom. Performance of the British Capital Markets industry. The company's shares are up 1.4% from a week ago. Risk Analysis Before we wrap up, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Intermediate Capital Group that you should be aware of. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Israel gains operational control of Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza-Egypt border: spokesman Xinhua) 08:50, May 30, 2024 Israeli troops are seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on May 29, 2024. The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that it has gained full operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that it has gained full operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari said the corridor served as Hamas's "oxygen tube" through which they smuggled weapons into the Gaza Strip. During the operation, the forces located along the corridor dozens of loaded launchers ready to fire rockets and launch pits from which Hamas fired rockets and mortar bombs into Israel, Hagari said. "Hamas took advantage of the Philadelphi area and built these infrastructures just tens of meters away from the border with Egypt so that we wouldn't attack them," Hagari said. He added that the Israeli forces also located about 20 tunnels in the corridor area, which are being investigated and neutralized. The Philadelphi Corridor, spanning 14 kilometers in length and several hundred meters in width, was established following the return of the Sinai Peninsula from Israel to Egypt in 1982, as stipulated by the peace agreements between the two countries. It was under Israeli supervision until 2005 when the IDF left the Gaza Strip, and its control passed to the Palestinian Authority. After two years, Hamas took over the corridor until the current conflict. Israeli troops are seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on May 29, 2024. The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that it has gained full operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) Israeli troops are seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on May 29, 2024. The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that it has gained full operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) An Israeli tank is seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on May 29, 2024. The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that it has gained full operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) An Israeli armored vehicle is seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on May 29, 2024. The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that it has gained full operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) Israeli troops are seen near the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on May 29, 2024. The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that it has gained full operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, SMRT Holdings Berhad fair value estimate is RM1.90 Current share price of RM1.00 suggests SMRT Holdings Berhad is potentially 47% undervalued Peers of SMRT Holdings Berhad are currently trading on average at a 213% premium Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of SMRT Holdings Berhad (KLSE:SMRT) as an investment opportunity by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for SMRT Holdings Berhad Step By Step Through The Calculation We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last 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) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM44.4m RM46.7m RM49.0m RM51.1m RM53.3m RM55.4m RM57.5m RM59.7m RM61.9m RM64.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 6.07% Est @ 5.31% Est @ 4.78% Est @ 4.41% Est @ 4.15% Est @ 3.97% Est @ 3.85% Est @ 3.76% Est @ 3.70% Est @ 3.65% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 9.0% RM40.7 RM39.4 RM37.9 RM36.3 RM34.7 RM33.1 RM31.6 RM30.0 RM28.6 RM27.2 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM339m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. 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 (3.6%) 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 9.0%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = RM64m (1 + 3.6%) (9.0% 3.6%) = RM1.2b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM1.2b ( 1 + 9.0%)10= RM521m 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 RM861m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM1.0, the company appears quite good value at a 47% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at SMRT Holdings Berhad 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 9.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.851. 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 SMRT Holdings Berhad Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat No apparent threats visible for SMRT. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For SMRT Holdings Berhad, there are three additional items you should explore: Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 3 warning signs for SMRT Holdings Berhad you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does SMRT's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other 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 KLSE 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. The fresh newsletter for the International Community in Hungary - described by readers as a "Great read each week" - is now available for your interest and use via the link below. Hungary has received a total 184 billion forints (EUR 478m) worth of EU funding to be used for a pay hike for kindergarten and school teachers, the finance minister said. Mihaly Varga said 340 billion forints from central coffers had been used for the same purpose at the beginning of this year. Since last December, Brussels has released a total of 734 billion forints worth of funds withheld from Hungary before, Varga said on Facebook. Meanwhile, Agmin Calls for End to EU's 'Hypocritical Farm Policy' At the upcoming EP election on June 9 voters should put an end to the hypocritical agricultural policy of the EU, the minister of agriculture told public broadcaster M1. Istvan Nagy said while European producers are made to adhere to each single regulation, controls on products imported through the Ukrainian border have been lifted. Uncontrolled Ukrainian grain is pouring into Europe in large quantities, he said, adding that in April alone 1.4 million tonnes of maize and 750,000 tonnes of wheat had entered the European market. Nagy suggested that this years imports could even exceed last years record total. Ukraine has abandoned its traditional grain markets and is now shipping its grain to Europe rather than the Arab countries, the minister said. Competition is impossible because for European farmers it means as if they had to stand at the start line with a leg or hand cut off, Nagy said and called for creating fully fair market conditions. June 9 will offer a chance to replace all those that view agriculture through dark green spectacles and return to normalcy. He said the Hungarian EU presidency would offer a chance to reverse trends before the new bureaucracy in Brussels enters office we will have a chance to think freely without being influenced. Nagy noted that Hungary will host an informal meeting of his European counterparts in which participants would draft a recommendation for the communitys agricultural policy after 2027. MTI Photo: Szilard Koszticsak ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! The Hungarian Prime Minister has strongly criticised the idea of compulsory EU-wide military conscription - Orban dismissed the conscription proposal as "insane" and a "crazy idea". He said this after European People's Party Manfred Weber proposed reinstating mandatory military service across the European Union - see the video below. HungaryMatters.hu reports that Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister, on Tuesday called for rejecting "the very idea of European mandatory conscription", saying it must be made clear that "no one will take young Hungarians to the Ukrainian front". Speaking at a campaign event in Nagykoros, in central Hungary, Szijjarto said that with the EP election campaign in its home stretch, the war psychosis in Brussels has reached its peak. He said this was evidenced by several of his counterparts calling the French presidents remarks about the possibility of sending European troops to Ukraine an excellent idea at the EUs Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday. He said the idea of European conscriptions is obviously about taking young Europeans to the Ukrainian-Russian front to fight. And we know full well how this usually works: well, boys, the ones closest will be the first to go. And then theyll want to take young central Europeans and Hungarians to the Ukrainian-Russian front. Oh no they wont! The very idea of European conscription must be rejected, Szijjarto said. "Crazy proposals" to introduce the draft in Europe "are unacceptable", the foreign minister said after a meeting of his EU counterparts in Brussels. Building on the extraordinary success of the free fruit distribution initiative, which provided 25 tons of fresh fruit to feed around 45,000 children, Kifli.hu is proud to announce the launch of a new innovative programme to improve nutrition in kindergartens and schools. Building on the extraordinary success of the free fruit distribution initiative, which provided 25 tons of fresh fruit to feed around 45,000 children, Kifli.hu is proud to announce the launch of a new innovative programme to improve nutrition in kindergartens and schools. This ground-breaking initiative, born out of the overwhelmingly positive feedback from more than 400 nurseries, aims to revolutionise nutrition and health snacking among young people. "The feedback we received was quite impressive and confirmed the need for quality nutrition options in kindergartens," said Gabriel Makki, CEO of Kifli.hu. "This programme is not just about delivering food, but about fostering a healthier, more conscious generation." Highlights of the programme: Wide healthy choice: a specially formulated selection of fresh and nutritious foods designed to meet the unique nutritional needs of growing children. Time-saving convenience: a one-click shopping list tailored to fit busy school schedules, allowing easy and efficient ordering. Predictable punctuality: deliveries are made in up to 15-minute intervals and are available from early morning every day, ensuring fresh food is always on the table when you need it. Great value: mass shopping opportunities, over 2,000 products on sale every week, exclusive promotions and a unique cashback scheme where institutions receive credits for every purchase. Community building: each nursery receives 5% back in redeemable credits on orders of at least 100,000 Ft per month, and can earn additional credits through purchases made by parents using their child's nursery's unique code to enrich the nursery programme. "As a company with a deep commitment to community and health, launching a program that supports both is a natural next step for us," added Gabriel Makki. Kifli.hu is ready to serve kindergartens across Budapest agglomeration and rest of Kifli's current delivery areas to sign up for this transformational programme starting today. Together, we can make significant steps towards better nutrition and a brighter future for all Hungarian children. For more information, please click here Use the Xpatloop-2024 voucher for 1 month trial period on Premium membership here. About Kifli.hu: Kifli.hu is Hungary's leading online grocery store, aiming to deliver exceptional quality and freshness directly to the doorstep of customers. Committed to innovation and community support, Kifli.hu strives to improve the quality of life of all Hungarians through sustainable practices and proactive, health-conscious initiatives. Click here to virtually visit kifli.hu 2024-05-30 19:26 Lingnan: Beauty Beyond Borders | Recently, a group of journalists from Uzbekistan visited the #Guangzhou office of a leading #Chinese artificial intelligence company.On site, the staff input a command into the #AI model, asking the AI to generate an image of Iron Man eating some spicy Chinese #food. In a second, the AI completed the task. This sparked the interest of the #Uzbek journalists, and one of them asked a question. #SplendidLingnan Tata Altroz Racer Vs Regular Altroz: Tata Motors has confirmed the launch of a sportier version of the Altroz, the Tata Altroz Racer. The model will go on sale next month (June 2024) and will directly challenge the Hyundai i20 N Line, a sportier version of the regular i20. The Hyundai i20 N Line costs between Rs 10 lakh to Rs 11.49 lakh (ex-showroom). In terms of pricing, Altroz Racer is expected to be quite competitive against the i20 N Line. The Altroz Racer will receive cosmetic enhancements over the regular model along with a more powerfull engine. Engine Performance Altroz Racer will be getting a 1.2L, 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine, which is expected to produce 120bhp and 170Nm output, nearly 10bhp and 30Nm more compared to the regular Altroz iTurbo. For transmission duties, it is supposed to get a 6-speed manual gearbox. On the other hand, for the regular Altroz, buyers get three engine options: 1.2L, 3-cylinder NA petrol (85bhp), 1.2L, 3-cylinder turbo petrol unit (110bhp), and 1.5L, 4-cylinder turbo diesel (89bhp) with a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AMT. Features The standard Altroz comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system but the Altroz Racer can be equipped with a larger 10.25-inch unit, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Whereas, the 7-inch infotainment system, used in regular Altoz has wired smartphone connectivity. Altroz Racer can also feature a new fully digital drivers display over the semi-digital instrument cluster which comes in a regular model. Design The new Altroz Racer may offer a dual-tone paint scheme with a blacked-out roof, bonnet, and ORVMs, giving it a more sportier appearance along with a new rear spoiler and white racing stripes on the hood and roof. Inside the cabin, an all-black interior theme with red accents enhances its sportier feel. New Delhi: Kartik Aaryan's next big release 'Chandu Champion is making all the right kind of buzz. The film has been jointly produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Kabir Khan. While the trailer and the energetic first song 'Satyanaas' have already upped the excitement quotient, the makers are now here with the next song. Kartik Aaryan's massive transformation in the adrenaline-pumping 'Tu Hai Champion' song. The 'Tu Hai Champion' song features Kartik's stunning physical transformation, unlike anything seen before. As Kartik embodies resilience and determination, his physical journey from 39% to 7% body fat is nothing short of being awe-inspiring. 'Chandu Champion' is set for a June 14, 2024 release and is poised to leave an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences worldwide. RBSE Result 2024: The Rajasthan Department of Education (DoE) released the Rajasthan Board Class 8th results for 2024 at 3 p.m. today. Candidates who took the exam and want to check their results can go to the official website, rajshaladarpan.nic.in. Candidates who took the exam can view their results once they are announced by entering their login information, which includes their registration number, hall ticket number, district, and class name. Rajasthan Class 8 final exams were held in separate sessions from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The exam began on March 28 and concluded on April 4. Around 27 lakh students took this year's Class 5 and 8 final exams in Rajasthan. There are around 14 lakh Class 5 students and 13 lakh Class 8 students. RBSE Result 2024: Steps to download here Visit the official website rajshaladarpan.nic.in. Visit the Class 8th exam page. Go to the Class 8 results page. Enter your login information and submit. The results will be presented on the next page. Download the page and take a printout of the results for future purposes. The total pass percentage for Rajasthan Board Class 8 is 95.72 percent. JEE Advanced 2024: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) will release the JEE Advanced 2024 response sheet tomorrow, May 31, at 5 p.m. Candidates who took the exam will be able to access and download the response sheet from the official website of the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) 2024 at jeeadv.ac.in by providing their login credentials, such as application number and date of birth. The response sheet JEE Advanced 2024 would include the answers marked by the applicants during the entrance examination. Candidates can compute their anticipated JEE Advanced score by comparing the response sheet to the answer key published by the authorities. The exam was held on May 26, 2024, at multiple locations across India. IIT Madras is also the organising institute for JEE Advanced 2024. JEE Advanced 2024: Steps to download here Step 1: Visit the official website, jeeadv.ac.in, to download the JEE Advanced response sheet and answer key. Step 2: Open both the response sheet and the answer key pdf. Step 3: Record the proper choice ID and question ID from the answer key pdf. Step 4: Check that the option IDs in the response sheet PDF correspond to the same question IDs. Step 5: Add marks if the option ID matches. Step 6: If the Option IDs do not match, marks will be deducted. Candidates will be allowed to file objections if they have any doubts or concerns about any of the answers supplied in the answer key. The final answer key for JEE Advanced 2024 will be released based on objections received by the authority to the provisional answer key. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase Alex Brandon/AP "There could be hell to pay" if private credit markets wobble, Jamie Dimon said. He warned that there are bad actors in the industry, and they'll likely be the source of any issues. "I don't think it's systemic, but I do expect there to be problems." JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said private credit could spark turmoil if the opaque sector of financial markets weakens. "There could be hell to pay," he said at a conference on Wednesday. "I've seen a couple of these deals that were rated by a rating agency and, I have to confess, it shocked me what they got rated. So, it reminds me a little bit of mortgages." The private credit marketa corner of finance dominated by non-bank lenders who originate loans to private businesseshas grown rapidly in recent years. Although returns on these assets have increasingly outpaced the S&P 500 since the early 2000s, risks in the industry are not well known, the IMF noted in April. In Dimon's view, some players in the space are "brilliant," and the sector succeeds in filling financial needs for firms that may be overlooked by larger institutions. "But not all the people doing it are good," Dimon said. "And the problems in financial markets are often caused by the 'not good one,' the people that make the mistakes." Issues could start to crop up as retail investors are increasingly exposed to the space and come face-to-face with private-credit assets that might be illiquid, improperly marked, or not stress-tested, he said. "Retail clients tend to circle the block and call their senators and congressmen," Dimon said, and later concluded: " At the same time, JPMorgan is looking to step deeper into this space itself, with the bank looking to acquire a private-credit firm to grow its footprint in the sector, Bloomberg reported. According to the outlet, the lender has also put aside $10 billion for direct lending. Read the original article on Business Insider RBSE Result 2024: Rajasthan Class 5th and 8th results will be declared today (May 30) at 3 p.m. The Department of Education (DoE) Rajasthan will hold a press conference to announce the RBSE 5th and 8th grade results, and students' grades will be available on rajshaladarpan.nic.in. The RBSE Class 5 examination began on April 30 and concluded on May 4. Papers were held in single shifts from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Class 8 took place from March 28 to April 4, with papers from 2 to 4:30 p.m. This year, over 14 lakh students sat the Class 5 exam, with another 13 lakh taking the Class 8 exam. The RBSE 5th and 8th results will be announced during a press conference, along with pass percentages, candidate numbers, and other information. The Department of Education will not publish the toppers list. RBSE Result 2024: Steps to download here Visit the official website rajshaladarpan.nic.in. Open the Class 5 and 8 test pages. Go to the Class 5 or 8 results page. Enter your login information and submit. The result will be provided on the next page. RBSE Result 2024: Last year trends Last year, 97.30% of students passed the Class 5 final exam, up from 95.37% the year before. This year's Class 5 and Class 8 pass percentages will be released alongside the results. Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has been dealt a blow by the court in another case in Dungurpur. The court has now sentenced Azam Khan to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of 14 lakh on Thursday. During the hearing, the Samajwadi Party leader was connected from Sitapur jail via video conferencing. So far, 108 cases have been registered against Azam, out of which 80 cases are under trial. The court has sentenced the Samajwadi Party leader in six cases in the last 17 months. In 2019, people living in Dungurpur Basti filed 12 cases against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in the Ganj police station on charges of looting, theft, assault, among other sections, to vacate the Basti. Out of these, the decision has come in three cases. The Samajwadi Party leader has been acquitted in two cases, while in one case he has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan is currently lodged in Sitapur jail. In this case, the court had found Azam Khan and contractor Barkat Ali guilty on Wednesday. Both were sentenced on Thursday. In the last 17 months, Azam Khan has been sentenced in six cases. The criminal history of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan is becoming a major reason for his punishment. So far, 108 cases have been registered against Azam, out of which 80 cases are under trial. The court has sentenced the Samajwadi Party leader in six cases in the last 17 months. However, he has also been acquitted in four cases. One of the acquitted cases has been challenged in the High Court by the prosecution. Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has been a senior leader of the Samajwadi Party. He has been an MLA 10 times, a cabinet minister four times, a Rajya Sabha member once, and a Lok Sabha member once. Since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the difficulties of the Samajwadi Party leader have increased so much that he has not been able to overcome them till now. Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has a total of 108 cases registered against him in Rampur, Moradabad, Firozabad, and other districts, out of which 80 cases are under consideration in the court. Every yoga enthusiast who aspires to teach yoga needs to participate in a yoga teacher training course and acquire the knowledge and skills to make a living. Picking a suitable yoga teacher training retreat should be the number one priority of every yoga teaching aspirant. With so many YTTs available in Bali, the best yoga teacher training retreat will bring a life-changing experience in the picture-perfect land of the Gods. From instilling excellent yoga teaching to marketing skills, it will build a solid foundation to cherish in the years ahead. Consider What Inspires You To Take Yoga Teacher Training Bali yoga teacher training retreats are trending worldwide. Some people want to take a few weeks of a course in Bali and earn a certification, while others want to learn as much as possible about yoga. If quality education matters more to you, then you can explore the many teaching options of yoga in Bali. You don't have to spend much time searching if you just want to enjoy a relaxed vacation vibe while enjoying a seemingly magical location. Choose An Internationally Recognized Yoga Teacher Training School Creating a well-revised and refined yoga teacher training curriculum takes many years. The yoga curriculum is forever evolving based on students' feedback and science. For instance, many yoga teachers and retreat centers launched YTTs for financial support during the pandemic. Some have good curricula, while others need more experience creating, refining, and revising their curriculum. This is why you should only choose the best yoga teacher trainings in the world, like All Yoga Training. They have the time and experience to respond to all kinds of students' needs. Discuss About Experience Of Former Students You can use Facebook and Google pages to read reviews about what graduates of the yoga teacher training course are saying. You can gather information about the yoga teacher training school. You can also read the International Yoga School website reviews to learn what former students think about the course. You can even reach out to some reviewers who would willingly share their experience with you. This will help them accurately assess the quality of education. Consider Student-To-Teacher Ratio Building trust between a yoga student and teacher only happens somewhat naturally. A yoga teacher training group with many people can only offer individual time and attention to some students. You should always pick a yoga training retreat that teaches in small and intimate groups of 14 to 16 students. Twenty or more students with one teacher is also good. This is a must if you want much personal attention and maximum support. Cost Shouldnt Be A Deciding Factor You should not simply pick a yoga teacher training course because it's short and cheap. There are also many pre-recorded courses available online. Remember, when it comes to physical activities like yoga, you only get what you pay for. If you sincerely want to explore ancient traditional yoga, you need to invest in dedicated trainers, a supportive environment, and recommendations from satisfied yoga graduates. Dont Expect To Teach Yoga Right Away Some yoga students can teach yoga further. But simply doing a 200-hour yoga teacher training course and believing you are ready to teach yoga isn't wise. Yoga is a profession where learning never stops. It would help if you kept expanding your yogic vision. You can only grasp some things about yoga in a single month. Developing a true yogic vision takes time and a lot of patience. About One Of The Best Yoga Teacher Training Retreats In Bali All Yoga Training All Yoga Training is one of the best yoga teacher training retreats in Bali. This training retreat ensures a rewarding, transformative, and life-changing experience. The international yoga school in Bali empowers customers with useful yoga styles and comprehensive Ashtanga yoga practices to lead them on the inspirational journey of self-discovery. The 200-hour Yoga Alliance-certified yoga teacher training program by All Yoga Training aims to purify individuals' minds, bodies, and souls. The course will equip yoga students with the essential knowledge and expertise necessary to become yoga instructors anywhere in the world. Daily meditation, pranayama, kriya, and more will also help them get fitter and healthier. Conclusion In conclusion, you need to ask yourself why your heart truly aches for learning yoga teacher training. Once you know the true motivation behind your urge to learn yoga, you can develop a strong foundation that will lead you to discover everything yoga offers in depth. FAQs How much do yoga teachers make in Bali? Yoga teachers charge between $750 to $1500 USD per month in Bali. They must be certified yoga instructors to charge this much from training. Is yoga teacher training hard? Yes, yoga teacher training requires a significant amount of money. Students will also have to exert a lot of emotional, mental, and physical energy, spend a lot of time learning skills and information, and learn the philosophy and history of yoga. How many hours does a full-time yoga teacher have? A full-time yoga teacher works 20 hours to 26 hours a week. The full-time yoga teacher basically offers 20 classes a week. What is the highest level of yoga teacher training? The highest yoga teacher training level is Level 4 E RYT 500. This is the fourth and the highest level of a yoga teacher. You need time to complete your 200-hour yoga teacher training training to get the highest level of yoga teacher certification. (This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Ltds Consumer Connect Initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility, liability or claims for any errors or omissions in the content of the article. The IDPL Editorial team is not responsible for this content.) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has got a fresh opportunity to slam the Left and Congress alliance after two persons were detained at the Delhi International Airport for allegedly smuggling gold. The duo was arrested by the Delhi Customs with 500gms of gold. As per reports, one of the detainees identified himself as Shiv Kumar Prasad claiming to be the Personal Assistant to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. 'Tharoor's Aide' Detained With Gold As per reports, Shiv Kumar Prasad had come to the Delhi Airport to receive a person who arrived from Dubai. Both people were arrested when the passenger was trying to hand over around 500 Grams of gold to Prasad. The reports claimed that Shiv Kumar Prasad had an aerodrome entry permit card using which he entered the airport premises and received a packet. The duo were arrested at that time and 500 gm of Gold recovered from their possession. BJP Takes 'Smuggler' Swipe Union Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar reacted sharply to the incident. He criticized the Congress and the CPM dubbing them an 'alliance of gold smugglers'. "First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling, now Cong MP 'aide'/PA detained for Gold smuggling. CPM and Cong - both INDI alliance partners - alliance of gold smugglers," Chandrasekhar wrote on X. First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling Now Cong MP "aide"/PA detained for Gold smuggling CPM and Cong - both INDI alliance partners - alliance of gold smugglers https://t.co/TiCLWMZV0Z Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Modiyude Kutumbam) (@Rajeev_GoI) May 30, 2024 2020 Kerala Gold Scam Kerala was hit by a Gold Scam in 2020 after the seizure of 30 Kilos of Gold by Customs at the Thiruvananthapuram Airport from a diplomatic bag. The investigation was taken over by the NIA and M Sivasankar, the principal secretary to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, was suspended and removed from the post after it was alleged that he had links with one of the accused. BJP leader Chandrasekhar is the NDA candidate from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency and faces a stiff challenge from the former diplomat and senior Congress leader Tharoor, who is seeking a third term. The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has fielded CPI leader Pannyan Raveendran from the constituency, who won the seat in 2005. As peak summer season is here, Delhi is grappling with two major obstacles: intense heatwave and a worsening water crisis. Every year, these problems get worse: in the winter, pollution problems get worse, and in the summer, water shortages get worse. In a protest against the water crisis, members of the Delhi BJP Mahila Morcha took to the streets today. They set off fireworks outside the home Minister Atishi and raised slogans against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Delhi government is dealing with a serious water crisis right now. Even though Atishi has criticised the Haryana government, the political blame game persists and Delhi residents are still without access to water. In today's DNA, Zee News' Saurabh Raaj Jain, analysed the two significant challenges Delhi residents are facing as the summer sets in - extreme heat and a worsening water crisis. The Delhi government claims that it is receiving less water from Haryana, causing the water level of the Yamuna in Wazirabad to drop by 3.50 feet. All of Delhi's water treatment plants receive water from Wazirabad, resulting in a citywide water shortage. According to the Delhi Jal Board's Exclusive Summer Report, Delhi's water treatment plants can purify 956 million gallons of water per day. They are currently operating beyond capacity, purifying more than 990 million gallons per day. Despite this, Delhi is experiencing a water shortage. The reason is the city's inefficient government system. On May 29, the Delhi Jal Board received 1,294 water complaints, of which only 630 were processed. This means that approximately 50% of the complaints remained unresolved. Although water is available, complaints are not being addressed. The Delhi government, preoccupied with blaming Haryana, has left people with dry throats and empty water tanks. This situation highlights the urgent need for effective solutions to Delhi's annual water crisis. NEW DELHI: In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday accused him of lowering the dignity of public discourse and the gravity of the office of the PM by giving "hateful speeches" during the poll campaign. In an appeal to voters of Punjab ahead of the seventh-phase of Lok Sabha polls on June 1, Singh asserted that only the Congress can ensure growth-oriented progressive future where democracy and Constitution will be safeguarded. The senior Congress leader also hit out at the BJP government for imposing an "ill-conceived" Agniveer scheme on the armed forces. "The BJP thinks that the value of patriotism, bravery and service is only four years. This shows their fake nationalism," he said in a letter to voters of Punjab. Mounting an attack on Modi, Singh said, "I have been keenly following the political discourse during this election campaign. Modi ji has indulged in the most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive in nature. Modi ji is the first prime minister to lower the dignity of public discourse, and thereby the gravity of the office of the prime minister. "No prime minister in the past has uttered such hateful, unparliamentary and coarse terms, meant to target either a specific section of the society or the opposition. He has also attributed some false statements to me. I have never in my life singled out one community from the other. That is the sole copyright of the BJP," the former prime minister said. Modi had accused Singh of saying that Muslims have the first right on the country's resources. Singh said people of India are seeing through all of this. "This narrative of dehumanisation has now reached its peak. It is now our duty to save our beloved nation from these forces of discord," Singh said in the letter. New Delhi: Amidst the investigation in the Pune Porsche accident case, another allegation has been made against Maharashtra's MLA after Sassoon Hospital's dean Vinayak Kale claimed to have received a letter from a minister and an MLA earlier asking for the elevation of Dr Ajay Tawade as the head of the Hospital's Forensic Medicine Department. After the dean made serious allegations, he was sent on leave. The dean alleged that one of the two doctors, accused of replacing the blood samples of the teenager responsible for the Porsche accident case, was made head of the Forensic department on the endorsement of a state minister and the local MLA. MLA Sunil Tingre also faced allegations of visiting the Yerwada police station and asking officials to go easy in an accident case in which two people were killed. The hospital's dean, Vinayak Kale, addressed the press conference on Wednesday and said that Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif and Mr Tingre had asked that Dr Ajay Tawade be made the head of Sassoon Hospital's Forensic Medicine Department. Both Mr Mushrif and the MLA are from the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, which is in power in Maharashtra in an alliance with the BJP and the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the hospital's dean, Vinayak Kale, said Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif and Mr Tingre asked in their letter that Dr Ajay Tawade be made the head of Sassoon Hospital's Forensic Medicine Department, as per NDTV. Both MLAs are part of Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party which is currently ruling the state in alliance with BJP. Dr Kale was sent on compulsory leave by the Maharashtra government for failing to make proper decisions. This conclusion comes after a few hours of press conference. On Monday, Mr Tawade and Dr Shrihari Harnor, the Chief Medical Officer of Sassoon Hospital were arrested for replacing the blood sample of the minor accused with someone who did not consume alcohol. Dr Kale also said that Dr Tawade and Mr Ghatkamble have been suspended, while Dr Harnor's contract has been terminated. India reaffirmed its backing for the statehood of Palestine. Norway, Spain, and Ireland have recently recognized Palestine. Following these European nations' recognition of Palestine, India reiterated its long-standing stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Thursday. Spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal discussed India's longstanding support for the two-state solution and Palestinian statehood. When questioned about the coordinated recognition of Palestine by Spain, Ireland, and Norway, Jaiswal stated at a weekly press briefing, As you are aware, India was one of the first countries to recognise the state of Palestine in the late 1980s, and we have long supported a two-state solution which entails the establishment of a sovereign, viable, and independent state of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace. Amidst the Rafah attack, Israel has issued a warning that the Gaza war would last until the end of 2024. The European countries think that by recognizing Palestine, international efforts to bring about peace will pick up steam. "We had wanted to recognise Palestine at the end of a peace process," stated Irish Prime MinisterSimon Harris in a statement. But in order to preserve the miracle of peace, we have taken this action with Spain and Norway," calling on Israel to "end the humanitarian calamity" in Gaza. Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez insisted the move was "not against anyone, least of all Israel" and stressed that it was the only way to secure a future of two states living side-by-side "in peace and security." Israel has repeatedly condemned the decision, asserting it bolsters Hamas, the militant Islamist group responsible for the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on X on Tuesday, Sanchez, when you... recognize a Palestinian state, you are complicit in incitement to genocide against the Jewish people and in war crimes. India also expressed deep concern over the recent loss of civilian lives in the displacement camp in Rafah. Jaiswal remarked, "The heartbreaking loss of civilian lives in the displacement camp in Rafah is a matter of deep concern. We have consistently called for the protection of the civilian population and respect for international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict," noting that Israel has accepted responsibility and announced an investigation into the incident. The Israeli strikes on Rafah have sparked widespread condemnation. Local health officials reported that the strikes killed at least 45 Palestinians, including many displaced individuals living in tents that were set ablaze on Sunday. The incident has led to a widespread outrage and solidarity on social media. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 results are now just five days away and political parties have already started claiming victory. Be it BJP or Congress or their allies, political parties are openly claiming their victory after six phases of voting. So far, voting has been held for 486 seats while in the last phase, the remaining 57 seats will go to the polls on June 1. The exit poll data will be released on June 1 after 6.30 pm while the counting of votes will take place on June 4. While psephologist and political analysts have been issuing their predictions for the polls, five states hold the key to power in Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha Election Result The state with the most number of Lok Sabha seats is often touted as the key to power to government formation. The state has 80 Lok Sabha seats, around 15% of the total Parliamentary seats. In the 2014 polls, the BJP won 71 seats while Congress and Samajwadi Party bagged seven seats. In the 2019 polls, the saffron party bagged 62 seats, the Samajwadi Party won five, BSP 10 and Congress one. This year as well, both the NDA and the INDIA bloc are claiming to clean sweep the polls. Bihar Lok Sabha Election Result The northern state has 40 seats and the BJP-led NDA bagged 31 of them during the 2014 parliamentary polls. On the other hand, the Congress-led UPA won nine seats. In the 2019 polls, the NDA improved its tally to 39 seats. This year, there is a tight contest between the NDA and the INDIA bloc as RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is giving a tough fight to the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance. Maharashtra Lok Sabha Election Result The Western state has 48 seats and it went to the Lok Sabha polls with entirely different political dynamics this year. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP+Shiv Sena had won 41 seats while in the 2019 polls, they retained the same number of seats. However, this time, the Shiv Sena and the NCP have split into two factions - one is with the BJP and another is with the Congress, thus the election and voting pattern will be interesting to watch out for. Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha Election Result The Dravidian state has primarily been not a fertile land for the BJP. Despite the BJP forming an alliance with several regional parties on multiple occasions, it tasted less success in the state. In the 2014 polls, the AIADMK had won 37 of the 39 seats. However, in 2019, the DMK swept the polls winning 38 seats. This time, the BJP is hoping to make some inroads through the popularity of its two leaders - Narendra Modi and K Annamalai. West Bengal Lok Sabha Election Result Primarily a Left or TMC stronghold, the state has 42 Lok Sabha seats. In the 2014 general elections, the BJP had managed to win just two seats in the state. However, it made unprecedented gains in the 2019 polls winning 18 seats while the TMC bagged 22 seats. Both the TMC and the BJP are contesting on all the seats while the Congress and the Left went to the polls in an alliance. Thus, a triangular contest is on the cards in the state. These states have a total of 249 seats and the NDA had won 162 of these seats while the Opposition blog got 87 seats in the 2019 polls. Since the majority mark is 271, states like Rajasthan with 25 seats, Madhya Pradesh with 29 seats, Gujarat with 26 seats, and Karnataka with 28 seats will play a crucial role in the formation of a government at the centre. The Lok Sabha Election 2024 campaign came to an end today with both the big parties - Congress and the BJP making their last-ditch attempt to woo the voters for the 57 seats that will go to the polls on phase 1. The poll campaign started in the third week of March in a very familiar tone with both parties criticising each other with the usual rhetorics. However, after a low turnout in the first phase, the poll campaign took a road full of twists and renewed attacks. Some of the key poll slogans that made waves this election are here: 'Abki Baar, 400 Paar': Narendra Modi gave this slogan during the last Parliament session of the 17th Lok Sabha. The Congress fell for it and for the first three phases, the opposition focussed only on keeping the BJP away from achieving this number. It was only after the three phases of voting that Congress realized the BJP's mind game and started countering the slogan of '400 Par' with their poll predictions. 'Samvidhan Badal Denge': During the poll campaign, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the party's 'Abki Baar, 400 Paar'. He said that the BJP wants 400 seats to change the constitution and end the reservation. However, PM Modi said that no one can end the constitution. Mangalsutra: After the Congress party released its manifesto promising steps for the upliftment of socio-economic backward sections and Sam Pitroda's remark on inheritance tax, Narendra Modi made the 'Mangalsutra' remark during a rally in Rajasthan. He alleged that Congress would snatch half of the property, gold and even 'Mangalsutra' of the women if voted to power. Responding to Modi's remark, Priyanka Gandhi said that her mother sacrificed her 'Mangalsutra' for the country while her grandmother gave her gold to the country. 'Muslim League': Taking a dig at the Congress party and its manifesto, the BJP leaders alleged that the grand old party's manifesto is similar to the Muslim league. "The Congress manifesto reflects the same idea which was prevalent in the Muslim League during the freedom movement," said PM Modi on multiple occasions. Another poll issue that the BJP drew from the Congress-ruled states and Rahul Gandhi's 'Jitani Abadi, Utna Haq'. The BJP alleged that Congress is providing reservations to Muslims from the OBC, SC and ST quota, an allegation that Congress refused. 'Khata Khat Khata Khat': Rahul Gandhi during his poll campaign claimed that if Congress is voted to power, it will erase poverty in a stroke by providing Rs 8,000 per month to poor women. He said that the Congress party would provide this amount to poor's bank accounts 'Khata Khat Khata Khat'. Cryptocurrency has been controversial from the onset given that its a form of currency you cant ever lay your hands on, and because it tends to fluctuate wildly in value. Be Aware: 3 Types of Investments Predicted To Plummet in Value in Summer 2024 Find Out: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money Despite that, many investors have tried their hand at investing in cryptocurrency, especially when it appears on the upswing. Not everyone is so lucky, however. Sandy Clarin*, an investor from California, invested big in crypto and lost big, too. Read on to find out what lessons she learned in the process. Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them. Taking a Leap Clarin had started paying attention to cryptocurrency investing in 2017 when a client attained billionaire status investing in Bitcoin. In June 2020, she began researching Bitcoin and blockchain in earnest. She started by dabbling with a few Bitcoin investing apps, and then eventually moved a retirement account over to Bitcoin entirely. That retirement account, Bitcoin IRA, is insured against fraud, though its subject to the same whims of the market as any other retirement account. Read Next: Im a Self-Made Millionaire: 5 Stocks You Shouldnt Sell The Blockfi Catastrophe Clarin and her husband are no strangers to investing they have numerous investments in real estate rentals, 506c, stocks, funds, annuities, life insurance, gold, bonds and personal lending. She eventually decided to invest in a company called BlockFi, a digital asset lender, in 2021. I bought Bitcoin with Blockfi stablecoin and still earned interest. Its called interest farming. So now, instead of interest on your money, your interest on your coins and the coins themselves increase in value, she said. Bitcoin is not an infinite source of coin, however, she explained. It halves every four years or so, cutting the supply in half and potentially increasing in value. So when the miners find it, then its just basically holding gold and theyre not going to be able to mine anymore. So theoretically it increases in value. While she knew that Bitcoin could just as easily decrease in value, she said, The market was going bananas and so was cryptocurrency. BlockFi was doing great at the time she was investing. Unfortunately, she didnt learn that they were in financial despair in time to get her crypto out. FTX Contributes to BlockFis Downfall BlockFi had been collaborating with the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. If youve heard of anything in crypto, youve probably heard of FTXs complete disaster, she said. Story continues The company was ultimately accused of defrauding customers and its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, went to jail on fraud charges. When things went bad between BlockFi and FTX in October 2021, BlockFi froze everyones assets including Clarins Bitcoin, valued at around $250,000 and went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It was a horrific moment for our family for sure. My husband was like, what did you do? she said. In addition, the value of the coin dropped by about half, and now it is tied up in courts. She has no idea when, or if, she will see those coins again. While she has also lost more than $1,000 dollars just trading on Coinbase, nothing was as significant as this loss. Keep a Toe in Crypto Despite all this, she said, Im still a believer in Bitcoin though not all of crypto. Its an asset unless you cash it out. She still holds out hope that she may see some of her Bitcoin from BlockFi when the lawsuit plays out, and as far as shes concerned, Bitcoin will eventually increase in value again. Hold Your Own Keys Another lesson she learned the hard way is to hold onto your crypto keys. So you purchase your crypto on an exchange, through a coinbase or some other one like BlockFi and then you have the asset. But you dont have to leave your asset on that exchange. So my big mistake was leaving seven Bitcoin on the BlockFi exchange. That was the dumbest thing Ive done because I can take those seven Bitcoin and put them on a little USB key and then its not on their network so they cant freeze it, she said. She added, You have to understand how to hold your own coins because you cant have one hundred percent trust in the networks that are out there. The only good thing about the blockchain technology that makes cryptocurrencies work, is that there is a digital trail of every transaction that happens. But sometimes cashing out your crypto, as in her situation with BlockFi, is tricky. Avoid Altcoins Another tip Clarin had is to be cautious about altcoins, a term that means alternative coins. Coins such as Dogecoin fall into this category, which she called A stupid, made-up thing. In general, she urged caution: You can win a lot or lose a lot. And with cryptocurrency, its smarter to have used disposable money on a trading scenario. In hindsight, with such a large amount of money, she wishes shed kept it in stablecoin, which, while only earning 1%, would have kept her coin secured. Focus On Hard Assets, Not Soft For those who want to invest but arent sure about the instability of cryptocurrency, she recommended more hard assets, not soft assets. She doesnt find the stock market to be much more reliable than crypto, and envisions, if she should get her money back, investing it in something more tangible, like real estate or dividend-earning investments like annuities. Its best to educate yourself or seek financial advice before you sink a lot of money into cryptocurrency. *Sandy Clarin is not her real name. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Lost $250,0000 From Investing In Cryptocurrency Here Are 4 Things I Learned In "Truth About Honesty," Goswami digs into the delicate structure of personal integrity, demonstrating the critical role honesty plays for fostering societal harmony. Through painstaking analysis and fascinating anecdotes, he navigates the complexities of financial wealth, revealing modern society's delicate balance of truth and self-interest. With a sharp eye for detail and an unyielding devotion to the truth, Janu takes readers on a thought-provoking voyage of self-discovery and personal improvement. His incisive inquiry delves into the ageless value of honesty in handling life's problems, providing profound observations and timeless wisdom along the way. As readers immerse themselves in the pages of "Truth About Honesty," they get significant insights concerning integrity, societal ideals, and the never-ending pursuit of truth in an ever-evolving globe. Janu's astute analysis serve as a guiding beacon, reminding us that honesty is more than just a virtue; it is a compass for personal and societal growth. Embrace the wisdom of "Truth About Honesty" and go upon a journey that cultivates integrity and self-awareness. This captivating study, which is currently available on Amazon, promises to challenge perceptions and promote contemplation. BlueRose Publishers, under the expert guidance of Mr. Syed Arshad, has become a beacon for emerging authors and innovative literary works. Mr. Arshad's vision is to provide a platform for voices that challenge, inspire, and engage readers in meaningful ways. His commitment to quality and diversity in publishing has positioned BlueRose as a leader in the industry. Janu Goswami, a name rapidly gaining recognition in literary circles, is known for his eloquent and thought-provoking writing. With a unique voice and keen insights, Goswami has captured the complexities of human behavior and morality in his latest work. "Truth About Honesty" is a testament to his ability to weave intricate narratives that resonate deeply with readers. "Truth About Honesty" by Janu Goswami is a remarkable addition to the literary world, offering valuable insights into the nature of truth and integrity. Mr. Syed Arshad, CEO of BlueRose Publishers, wants to assist emerging writers with their unique literary works. His eyes light up when he sees a skilled author like Janu Goswami being published and marketed by BlueRose Publishers Pvt. Ltd. For more information or to purchase a copy of "Truth About Honesty," visit BlueRose https://blueroseone.com/store/product/truth-about-honesty (This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Ltds Consumer Connect Initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility, liability or claims for any errors or omissions in the content of the article. The IDPL Editorial team is not responsible for this content.) A police complaint has been lodged by National Award-winning filmmaker Luit Kumar Barman against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his controversial remarks against Mahatma Gandhi, news agency PTI reported. Barman claimed that Modi had made a "highly derogatory statement" about the Father of the Nation in his complaint, which was submitted on Wednesday night to the Hatigaon police station in Guwahati. According to the police, no formal complaint has yet been filed in this regard, and a preliminary investigation is ongoing. In a recent interview, Prime Minister Modi said, "that Mahatma Gandhi was a great person all over the world. Wasn't it our responsibility over the last 75 years to make sure the entire world knew about Mahatma Gandhi? I'm sorry to say that no one knows about him. When the film 'Gandhi' was first released, there was widespread interest in who this person was. We have not done this..." "This is a highly derogatory statement and cannot be accepted by a citizen of India," Barman said in his complaint. "We cannot tolerate insults to Mahatma Gandhi as citizens. No movie is required to introduce him to the world," said Barman, the producer of the Rajat Kamal-winning Assamese film "Boomba Ride" from 2021. "By comparing Mahatma Gandhi to a film, Narendra Modi has defamed both Gandhi and the people of India. I request that you take action against Narendra Modi under the relevant sections of the law," Barman added. "No FIR had been filed and a preliminary investigation is underway," PTI quoted Hatigaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Bijay Duwara as saying. In an industry where legacies often define trajectories, Rishaab Chauhaan stands as a testament to forging one's own path. Despite coming from a family renowned for their chain of schools in North India, Rishaab has chosen the world of acting to make his mark, distinct from his family's esteemed educational and business background. Hailing from a lineage of top-notch businessmen, Rishaabs journey is not just about capitalizing on his family's name- its about passion, perseverance, and carving out his own identity. Known for his compelling performances in the past, Rishaab has consistently proven his mettle as a talented actor. Now, he is geared up for something even more promising and widely lauded by industry insiders. Before embarking on this fresh project, Rishaab plans to seek blessings and spiritual guidance. The actor will head to the Ashram of Swami Avdheshanand, a place known for its serene environment and spiritual enlightenment. This visit underscores Rishaab's deep-rooted spirituality and belief in traditional values, traits that make him incredibly relatable to his fans. In a move that symbolizes an auspicious beginning, Rishaab will also be seen lighting 11,000 diyas at the Ganga Ghat. This act is not only a mark of respect and tradition but also a powerful statement of his faith and optimism as he steps into this new phase of his career. Rishaab Chauhaan's commitment to his craft, coupled with his spiritual high and adherence to traditional values, sets him apart in the bustling world of Bollywood. As he prepares for this new venture, fans and industry watchers alike are eagerly anticipating what promises to be a significant milestone in his career. Washington: The Harvey Weinstein case continues to reverberate through legal circles as prosecutors hint at the possibility of issuing a new indictment against the disgraced former movie mogul. Recent developments suggest that more women may be prepared to step forward with allegations against Weinstein, potentially reshaping the trajectory of his legal battles, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. As per the report by The Hollywood Reporter, Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg revealed this possibility during a session at New York criminal court, noting, "Some people who were not ready to speak out in 2020 now appear ready to do so in 2024." Blumberg emphasized the need for a July 9 hearing to facilitate discovery and compliance in light of these potential developments. The spectre of additional accusers prompted Blumberg to petition Judge Curtis Farber to urge Weinstein's defence counsel to refrain from making public statements about witnesses. This plea stems from concerns that such actions might deter new claimants from coming forward. Notably, Weinstein's attorney, Arthur Aidala, had previously held a press conference outside the courtroom, sparking controversy over his remarks regarding witness statements. Weinstein, present in court and confined to a wheelchair, listened as Aidala acknowledged the delicate balance between advocacy and ethical obligations, pledging not to overstep boundaries in the future. Judge Farber, meanwhile, admonished both parties against pandering to the media. The legal saga surrounding Weinstein gained fresh momentum after the New York State Court of Appeals overturned his previous rape conviction, citing prejudicial judicial rulings. Despite this setback, prosecutors reiterated their intent to retry the case swiftly, emphasizing its strength. Amid ongoing legal manoeuvring, Weinstein's physical health remains a concern, with Aidala highlighting his client's "very, very serious medical issues." However, Weinstein's mental acuity remains sharp, according to his legal team, confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. The presence of key figures from previous proceedings, such as accusers Jessica Mann and Miriam Haley, underscores the gravity of the situation. Mann's steadfast commitment to seeking justice was evident during the recent hearing, while Haley's attorney, Gloria Allred, stood in solidarity with her client. Weinstein's legal woes extend beyond New York, as evidenced by his prior conviction in Los Angeles. Despite a 16-year prison sentence, Weinstein's attorneys there are exploring avenues for appeal, particularly in light of developments in the New York case. Actor Sanya Malhotra has been nominated for the Best Actress award for her role in 'Mrs' at the upcoming New York Indian Film Festival 2024. Not only Sanya but the film's director Arati Kadav has also scored a nomination in the Best Director category. The particular update was shared on the official Instagram account of Jio Studios. "We're incredibly excited to share that our Hindi film 'Mrs', will be screening at the esteemed #NewYorkIndianFilmFestival2024! But wait, there's more! Our amazing Sanya Malhotra is up for Best Actress, and the brilliant Arati Kadav has been nominated for Best Director," she wrote. 'Mrs' is also up for the screening at the prestigious film festival. Excited about it, Sanya in a statement said,"It is a proud moment for me that Mrs has been chosen as the closing film for NYIFF. Playing Richa, a character grappling with the delicate balance between tradition and ambition, was an immense honour and responsibility, given that it embodies the struggles of so many Indian women. Our endeavour to breathe life into this story has been incredibly rewarding and I am eagerly awaiting to share it with the world." Director Arati Kadav also expressed her gratitude. She said, "I always look forward to films screened at NYIFF every year. Hence I feel truly privileged that we have been chosen as the closing film of such an esteemed film festival. Our aim with this film is to connect with Indian audiences living not just in India but abroad and this platform helps us reach the diaspora. I am thankful to our producers Harman Baweja, Baweja Studios, and Jio Studios who have supported the journey of this film and made this day possible." "I am also thankful for the hard work of the cast and crew and their sincerity that has made the film take these strides. We all are so happy and proud to represent our country and our stories on the world platform, and I feel very encouraged to keep working hard in all our endeavours," Arati added. Producer of 'Mrs', Harman Baweja said, "I'm deeply honoured to have 'Mrs.' chosen as the NYIFF closing film. NYIFF has a longstanding legacy of celebrating ground-breaking Indian cinema, and we're incredibly proud to be a part of it. We can't wait to share our labour of love 'Mrs.' with the audiences in New York" Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Pammi Baweja, and Harman Baweja, 'Mrs' is helmed by director Arati Kadav. New Delhi: The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued an urgent advisory about a critical flaw in TP-Link routers which is a widely used brand in Indias internet infrastructure. CERT-In is renowned for quickly identifying flaws in popular software and devices like Apple, Windows, Google Chrome and Mozilla has highlighted a critical threat which might not be obvious to most users. TP-Link routers which are essential for connecting devices like smartphones, laptops and tablets to the internet via Wi-Fi are at the centre of this concern. These routers serve as intermediaries between users and their internet service providers which allows seamless internet access without the need for physical cables. (Also Read: Poco F6 5G Smartphone Goes On Sale In India On Flipkart; Check Specs, Price And Discount Offer) What are the Affected TP-Link Routers? CERT-In has identified a vulnerability in TP- Link Archer routers with versions prior to C5400X(EU)_V1_1.1.7 Build 20240510. Hence, Tp-Link routers using older firmware versions have this security flaw. (Also Read: What Is India's EU-Like Anti-Trust Proposal That Irked Tech Giants Google, Amazon, Apple?) What's the root cause of the problem according to CERT-In? The issue stems from the improper neutralisation of a special element in a binary which is known as rf test. As outlined by CERT-In, this flaw exposes a network service to unauthenticated command injection. How to protect your device: To tackle this urgent matter, CERT-In recommends taking prompt action by patching TP-Link software without delay. Moreover, users are strongly encouraged to take proactive steps to bolster the security of their Wi-Fi networks and fend off potential threats: 1. Make sure to keep your router's firmware up to date by installing the latest security patches provided by the manufacturers. 2. Avoid potential exploitation by changing the default login credentials. Replace commonly used usernames and passwords with unique and strong ones. 3. Safeguard your data transmissions from interception by utilising WPA3 or WPA2 encryption protocols. 4. Minimise risks by turning off remote management features which could potentially be exploited by unauthorised parties. BERLIN: France and Germany issued a joint statement on Tuesday, advocating for Ukraine's right to utilise their weaponry to target Russian bases, which they allege are launching attacks on Ukrainian soil, CNN reported. French President Emmanuel Macron, during a press conference alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, emphasised that weapons supplied to Ukraine, including long-range missiles, are authorised to target Russian bases. "Ukrainian soil is being attacked from bases in Russia," Macron declared during his visit to Schloss Meseberg in Brandenburg, Germany. "So how do we explain to the Ukrainians that we're going to have to protect these towns and basically everything we're seeing around Kharkiv at the moment, if we tell them you are not allowed to hit the point from which the missiles are fired?" "We think that we should allow them to neutralise the military sites from which the missiles are fired and, basically, the military sites from which Ukraine is attacked," Macron continued, as reported by CNN. However, Macron stressed the importance of not allowing strikes on non-military or civilian targets in Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz echoed Macron's sentiments, affirming that Ukraine has the right to defend itself within the parameters set by the countries that have provided the weapons and international law. "Ukraine has every possibility under international law for what it is doing. That has to be said explicitly," Scholz asserted. "I find it strange when some people argue that it should not be allowed to defend itself and take measures that are suitable for this." The Western stance on the usage of donated weapons by Ukraine has long been contentious, with concerns among Western leaders that such actions could escalate violence and potentially draw NATO into a broader conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently sought permission from his allies to extend the use of provided weapons to target Russian territory. The United States, Ukraine's largest arms supplier, has previously refrained from endorsing Ukrainian strikes inside Russian territory due to concerns about escalation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted at a possible shift in policy, indicating that the US would continue to adapt its support for Ukraine in response to changing conditions. "We're always listening. We're always learning, and we're always making determinations about what's necessary to make sure that Ukraine can effectively continue to defend itself," Blinken stated. Despite this, Blinken reiterated that, at present, the US has not sanctioned Ukrainian strikes into Russian territory with US-provided weaponry. France has equipped Ukraine with SCALP cruise missiles, whose capabilities include a range of up to 155 kilometers (96 miles) and a 400-kilogram (881-pound) high-explosive penetration warhead. "The SCALP missiles have been provided to Ukraine with specific guidelines," Macron emphasised. "They are intended solely for targeting military installations from which attacks are launched into Ukrainian territory." In a similar vein, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron affirmed Ukraine's right to use the weaponry supplied to defend itself against Russian aggression. "In terms of what the Ukrainians do, in our view it is their decision about how to use these weapons, they are defending their country," Cameron remarked during a visit to Kyiv. "We don't discuss any caveats that we put on those things. But let's be absolutely clear: Russia has launched an attack into Ukraine, and Ukraine absolutely has the right to strike back at Russia." Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, contended that Ukraine's use of long-range weapons necessitates significant NATO support, which could potentially lead to a global conflict, according to CNN. "Long-range precision weapons cannot be used without space-based reconnaissance," Putin asserted during a state visit to Uzbekistan. "Final target selection or launch mission for Western systems need to be made by highly skilled specialists who rely on this reconnaissance data." "Officials from NATO countries, especially those based in Europe, should be fully aware of what is at stake," Putin cautioned. "They should keep in mind that theirs are small and densely populated countries, which is a factor to reckon with before they start talking about striking deep into Russian territory." Despite the tensions, Ukraine received pledges of support from Belgium and Spain, with both countries agreeing to supply military equipment to Kyiv. Belgium committed to providing 30 F-16 fighter jets over the next four years, while Spain announced a $1.08 billion weapons deal for Ukraine. These agreements underscored a broader coalition of Western nations standing in solidarity with Ukraine against Russian aggression. Alongside Belgium and Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Finland, and Canada have also signed security agreements, affirming their commitment to supporting Ukraine's defence efforts, CNN reported. John M. Chase / iStock.com Investing in ride-sharing companies may seem like a no-brainer. Ride-sharing stocks have climbed steadily over the past few years, with the two biggest names Lyft and Uber up more than 20% this year alone. Check Out: 10 Valuable Stocks That Could Be the Next Apple or Amazon Explore More: Become a Real Estate Investor for Just $1K Using This Bezos-Backed Startup If youre like many investors, you may be wondering which ride-sharing giant promises a destination with greater returns and more profits. Both Lyft and Uber have their particular selling points, but both also have potential drawbacks you should be aware of. Keep reading for a more in-depth look at investing in Lyft or Uber and which might be right for you. Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them. Should You Invest in Lyft or Uber? When choosing one over the other, its best to carefully consider the different selling points each offers. Lyft is positioned more as a purely ride-sharing company and has stayed within that niche. It hasnt ventured into as many offshoots as Uber, which means the company is less exposed to the kind of market risks that Uber, which has branched off into freight, grocery and delivery services, may face. Though both companies are projected to continue their upward trend in profitability and stock value, Ubers more diverse range of offerings means there are more things that could go wrong. The leaner, more focused and straightforward structure pursued by Lyft could give it an edge in profitability over Uber. On the other hand, Ubers business diversification could give it an edge over Lyft, if general ride-sharing demand decreases although both stock prices could take a hit in that case, Ubers ability to continue with other aspects of its business might leave it in a stronger position. Be Aware: 3 Types of Investments Predicted To Plummet in Value in Summer 2024 Is Lyft a Good Stock To Buy? If youre considering investing in Lyft, you could do a lot worse. The ride-hailing companys sales are expected to continue to expand this year by over 15%, and, though its early days for next years fiscal predictions, most analysts agree that the company will continue to be profitable. Though annual earnings-per-share are expected to stay above $0.60 this year and next, forward-looking market gurus are saying Lyfts stock may climb to almost a dollar earnings-per-share by the end of next year. While no stock is a sure thing, those are good odds and solid figures. Is Uber Stock a Good Long-Term Investment? If youre looking for a buy-and-hold stock, Uber may have a slight advantage. While Lyft operates solely in the U.S. and Canada, Uber has a reach stretching over 70 countries. This much broader customer base could mean Uber will have an easier time providing investors with long-term stability and potentially higher profits over time. Story continues Ubers more diversified operations mean its about much more than just getting a ride across town. With the success of Uber Eats, its carved out a significant place in the food delivery market. The company has also made significant investments in driverless technology, which could be a boon for investors. It could also prove to be Ubers bane. Driverless tech is a long way from perfect, and the technology remains unproven on a large scale. There are many safety and legal liability concerns, and as such, it is an inherently riskier proposition. Any problems with this, or any other aspect of the companys varied activities, could cause the stock to lose value. How Is Uber Stock Compared to Lyft? Comparing Uber stock to Lyft stock means more than just comparing their current stock prices. While Ubers overall market cap dwarfs Lyfts, it doesnt guarantee better performance or a safer investment. Recent performance has shown a degree of volatility with both stocks. Another thing to consider is that Uber has recently become a profitable company, leaving Lyft and many other delivery companies behind. Though Lyft is expected to become profitable in the short term, its still operating at a loss. This is a common problem for growth-oriented tech firms investing heavily in expansion, development and customer acquisition. Though Uber is finally in the black, its anyones guess if it will continue its profitable trend. Lyft vs. Uber: What Should Drive Your Decision As with any investment, your choice between Uber and Lyft largely depends on your personal investment goals and risk tolerance. If you prefer a company focused solely on ride-sharing and believe in its potential to turn profitable, Lyft could be your call. If Ubers better numbers and more diverse offerings appeal to you, that could be the right choice but remember that bigger isnt always better. No investment should be made lightly, and you should never invest more than you can afford to lose. Whichever stock you choose Lyft, Uber or both make sure your choices align with your investment strategy. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Lyft or Uber Stock: Which Is the Better Investment? Market forces rained on the parade of Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad (KLSE:MSC) shareholders today, when the analysts downgraded their forecasts for this year. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) forecasts went under the knife, suggesting analysts have soured majorly on the business. Following the latest downgrade, the three analysts covering Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad provided consensus estimates of RM1.4b revenue in 2024, which would reflect a perceptible 5.3% decline on its sales over the past 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to shoot up 45% to RM0.23. Prior to this update, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of RM1.7b and earnings per share (EPS) of RM0.27 in 2024. Indeed, we can see that the analysts are a lot more bearish about Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad's prospects, administering a substantial drop in revenue estimates and slashing their EPS estimates to boot. Check out our latest analysis for Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad The average price target climbed 22% to RM2.94 despite the reduced earnings forecasts, suggesting that this earnings impact could be a positive for the stock, once it passes. Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. These estimates imply that sales are expected to slow, with a forecast annualised revenue decline of 5.3% by the end of 2024. This indicates a significant reduction from annual growth of 9.8% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 7.3% annually for the foreseeable future. So although its revenues are forecast to shrink, this cloud does not come with a silver lining - Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad is expected to lag the wider industry. The Bottom Line The biggest issue in the new estimates is that analysts have reduced their earnings per share estimates, suggesting business headwinds lay ahead for Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad. Unfortunately analysts also downgraded their revenue estimates, and industry data suggests that Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad's revenues are expected to grow slower than the wider market. The increasing price target is not intuitively what we would expect to see, given these downgrades, and we'd suggest shareholders revisit their investment thesis before making a decision. Even so, the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for the value creation of shareholders. We have estimates - from multiple Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad analysts - going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here. Story continues Of course, seeing company management invest large sums of money in a stock can be just as useful as knowing whether analysts are downgrading their estimates. So you may also wish to search this free list of stocks with high insider ownership. 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 airline industry presents investors with an interesting set of choices. The industrys biggest names are also among the markets blue-chip names, while smaller, regional airlines may offer sound opportunities for investors willing to take on some added risk on airline stocks. The key to finding these lesser-known names lies in abandoning a US-centric approach and looking at secondary markets in the airline world. Latin America, with a total population near 665 million and its rising middle class, is one of those potentially rich secondary airline markets. Thats the underlying theory behind a recent report from Morgan Stanley on the transportation sector in Latin America, a sector that includes the regions airlines. Analyst Jens Spiess explains these airlines underlying strength, saying, Most airlines in Latin America have emerged stronger from the pandemic, as air travel has mostly recovered close to pre-pandemic levels The airline industry is notoriously competitive, in particular because airlines only incur marginal costs to occupy seats that would otherwise remain empty. As supply constraints are set to persist over in 2024 and 2025, we expect the airlines under our coverage to sustain above average profitability levels. The analyst looks forward from these comments to detail the attractive entry point that 2 Latin American airline stocks are offering investors right now. A look into the data, drawn from the TipRanks platform, bears this out; both stocks feature Strong Buy ratings from the analyst consensus, along with solid upside potential. Here are the details and the Morgan Stanley commentaries. Volaris (VLRS) Well first head to Mexico, where Volaris is based. This company is a leading discount airline in the Mexican air travel market, with operations extending into the US, Central, and South America. Volaris offers customers low-fare tickets with quality service, and holds an impressive 42% market share in Mexicos domestic airline sector. The company is its home countrys largest airline, calculated by passengers transported. Earlier this month, Volaris reported its April 2024 traffic results, a set of key metrics for an airline, and one of particular interest as the company is heading toward the summer high season. The company reported sharp declines year-over-year in Revenue Passenger Miles (RPMs) and Available Seat Miles (ASMs), attributed to an accelerated schedule of Pratt & Whitney engine inspections and consequent aircraft groundings. For April, RPM came to 2.24 billion, along with ASM of 2.64 billion. These figures were down 21% and 20% respectively. The airline reported carrying 2.3 million passengers during the month. Story continues While the key metrics were down in April, kicking off Q2, the companys 1Q24 report showed sound financial results. Revenue in the first quarter came to $768 million, up 5% year-over-year and beating the forecast by nearly $66 million. The bottom line figure, expressed as a GAAP EPS per American Depositary Share (APD) was 29 cents, 36 cents better than had been anticipated. We should note here that Volaris shares have been on a downward trajectory over the past year. In the last 12 months, the stock is down approximately 41%, and the year-to-date decline clocks in at 15%. This makes the stock a serious underperformer compared to the S&P 500, which is up 26% in the last 12 months and 11% for 2024 so far. Turning now to the Morgan Stanley view, expressed by analyst Jens Spiess, we find him laying out a simple outlook for the stock: a reduced share price for a company with sound prospects. He writes, . we see an attractive entry-point amid a challenging outlook. We believe the stock has reached deep-value territory. At 3.4x our 2025e EBITDAR, the stock is trading well below its historical average of 4.7x. While we acknowledge that the company will face fleet capacity constraints in 2024 and 2025 due to its exposure to GTF groundings, we see upside to consensus estimates as we think the market is underappreciated the favorable market conditions and the implication these will have on Volariss P&L. Unsurprisingly, Spiess rates VLRS shares as Overweight (Buy), with a $12 price target that implies a 50.5% upside potential on the one-year time horizon. (To watch Spiesss track record, click here) Volaris holds a Strong Buy consensus rating from the Street, based on a unanimous 6 positive analyst reviews set in recent weeks. The shares are priced at $7.97, and their $13.82 average price target suggests a robust 73% one-year upside potential. (See Volaris stock forecast) Copa Holdings (CPA) The second stock on our list is Copa Holdings, one of Latin Americas major discount airlines. The company acts as a holding firm, and through its subsidiaries, Copa Airlines and Wingo, is an important provider of passenger and cargo air services throughout the Latin American region. Copa Airlines is based in Panama, a strategic central location from which it offers over 300 daily flights to more than 70 cities in 32 countries across North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean. In addition, Copa had code agreements with several other airlines, including the industry legacy carrier UAL, under which it provides access to another 180 destinations. Wingo, the smaller subsidiary, is a low-cost regional carrier based in and around Colombia. On the key metrics, Copa reported 2.09 billion RPM for April 2024, up 11% year-over-year, and 2.42 billion ASM for the same period, up more than 9% from April 2023. These figures are system-wide, based on all of Copas passenger services. There is some worry about the companys future passenger metrics, as the company relies on an all-Boeing fleet and has made significant purchase commitments for 66 late-model 737 MAX aircraft the models under investigation for recent safety incidents for delivery between 2023 and 2028. Closely following the release of the April traffic numbers, Copa beat expectations with its 1Q24 financial results. The company generated a top line in the quarter of $893.5 million, up 3% from the prior-year quarter and beating the estimates by over $21.7 million. The company declared earnings of $4.19 per share by non-GAAP measures, a full 86 cents per share better than the forecast. For return-minded investors, its important to note that on May 15, Copa Holdings declared its most recent dividend payment, at $1.61 per share for a June 14 payment. The dividend annualizes to $6.44 per common share and gives a strong forward yield of 6.51%. In his coverage of this stock for Morgan Stanely, Spiess likes what he sees of the companys longer-term potential, writing of CPA, We expect Copa, the only FSC (full-service carrier) in our coverage, to continue benefitting from strong demand for international travel and premium offerings. Medium to long term, delivery delays of MAX-9s pose a risk to our passenger estimates, but we think the impact to earnings would be minimal from this given the incremental tightness it would place on capacity growth. On our 2025e EBITDAR, the stock is trading well below its pre-pandemic average of 7.3x. Quantifying this stance, Spiess rates CPA shares as Overweight (i.e. Buy) and names the stock as a Top Pick. His price target, at $140, points toward a 41.5% potential gain in the coming year. Copa Holdings is another stock with a Strong Buy consensus rating, also based on 6 unanimously positive recent analyst recommendations. The shares have a current trading price of $98.90 and their $162.67 average target price is even more bullish than the Morgan Stanley analyst allows, suggesting a 64.5% share appreciation in the next 12 months. (See CPA stock forecast.) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. An Aloha Air Cargo 767 cargo jet takes off from Los Angeles International Airport. Friday is the last day Aloha will operate a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu. (Photo: Shutterstock/Michael Gordon) Northern Air Cargo will furlough 18 pilots as a result of its recent decision to close down the route between Los Angeles and Honolulu operated on behalf of sister airline Aloha Air Cargo, according to a company official. FreightWaves reported three weeks ago that Aloha Air Cargo would stop the freighter service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Hawaiis capital, effective June 1, because of weak demand on a highly competitive traffic lane. Northern Air Cargo (NAC) and Aloha Air Cargo are subsidiaries of Saltchuk Resources, a diversified freight transportation, logistics and energy distribution holding company based in Seattle. Saltchuks leasing subsidiary, NAS Aircraft Leasing Co. LLC, recently acquired two Boeing 767-300 aircraft after they were retrofitted as cargo aircraft. NAS parked them because of the slow freight business in key markets where affiliated airlines are located. April Spurlock, director of marketing and communications for Saltchuk Aviation, said Northern Air Cargo will put 18 pilots with less seniority on unpaid leaves of absence at the end of the week because of the LAX lane closure. Aloha Air Cargo continues to transport freight and mail among the Hawaiian Islands using five Boeing 737-300 converted freighters and one 737-400. Northern Air Cargos primary service area is Alaska. Saltchuk Aviation also includes Miami-based StratAir, an air logistics provider that charters capacity from NAC. Click here for more FreightWaves stories by Eric Kulisch. Sign up for the weekly American Shipper Air newsletter here. RECOMMENDED READING: Aloha Air Cargo to cease Los Angeles-Honolulu freighter service UPS wins air cargo contract with Postal Service, replaces FedEx The post Northern Air Cargo to discharge 18 pilots on Hawaii route appeared first on FreightWaves. TransAlta Corporation (TSE:TA), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw a decent share price growth of 16% on the TSX over the last few months. Shareholders may appreciate the recent price jump, but the company still has a way to go before reaching its yearly highs again. As a mid-cap stock with high coverage by analysts, you could assume any recent changes in the companys outlook is already priced into the stock. However, could the stock still be trading at a relatively cheap price? Lets examine TransAltas valuation and outlook in more detail to determine if theres still a bargain opportunity. Check out our latest analysis for TransAlta What's The Opportunity In TransAlta? Great news for investors TransAlta is still trading at a fairly cheap price according to our price multiple model, where we compare the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. Weve used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because theres not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stocks ratio of 5.13x is currently well-below the industry average of 7.97x, meaning that it is trading at a cheaper price relative to its peers. TransAltas share price also seems relatively stable compared to the rest of the market, as indicated by its low beta. If you believe the share price should eventually reach its industry peers, a low beta could suggest it is unlikely to rapidly do so anytime soon, and once its there, it may be hard to fall back down into an attractive buying range. What kind of growth will TransAlta generate? Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. However, with an extremely negative double-digit change in profit expected next year, near-term growth is certainly not a driver of a buy decision. It seems like high uncertainty is on the cards for TransAlta, at least in the near future. What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? Although TA is currently trading below the industry PE ratio, the adverse prospect of negative growth brings about some degree of risk. We recommend you think about whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to TA, or whether diversifying into another stock may be a better move for your total risk and return. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on TA for some time, but hesitant on making the leap, we recommend you research further into the stock. Given its current price multiple, now is a great time to make a decision. But keep in mind the risks that come with negative growth prospects in the future. Story continues If you'd like to know more about TransAlta as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with TransAlta (including 1 which is a bit unpleasant). If you are no longer interested in TransAlta, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. 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. Member of the European Parliament for Alliance 90/The Greens (Bundnis 90/Die Grunen) Sven Giegold speaks at the Extraordinary National Council of the Greens on the outcome of the exploratory talks and the start of coalition negotiations after the Bundestag elections. Michael Kappeler/dpa Germany plans to alter or repeal the country's controversial gas storage fee charged at border crossing points with neighbouring countries, a senior German official at the Economy Ministry told EU counterparts in Brussels on Thursday. The levy was introduced in the autumn of 2022 and reimburses the company Trading Hub Europe, which is responsible for organizing the German gas market, for costs incurred to ensure security of energy supply. Getting rid of the levy would significantly reduce the costs of gas transit through Germany and support joint efforts by Germany's neighbours to move away from imported Russian gas, according to Sven Giegold, the top deputy to Economy Minister Robert Habeck. "We will be supporting greater integration of the energy markets in Europe," Giegold said. The levy not only affects companies and consumers in Germany, but also importers in neighbouring countries that purchase gas via German pipelines. Giegold said he assumes the levy will continue to be charged inside Germany to cover the costs of securing energy supplies. The levy was last extended until April 2027. Beginning in July, it is set to rise from the current 1.86 ($2.01) to 2.50 per megawatt hour. Giegold said Germany's government has agreed on repealing the levy. Because it would require a change to German law and could go into effect no earlier than the beginning of 2025. He said that it was never the German government's intention to hinder the integration of gas markets in Europe. "It's quite the opposite. This levy was used to finance the filling of gas storage facilities, which has helped us to maintain a more independent and stable market in Europe," he said. Central and Eastern European countries in particular have criticized the increased transit costs caused by the levy, which makes importing gas from Western Europe more difficult. Member of the European Parliament for Alliance 90/The Greens (Bundnis 90/Die Grunen) Sven Giegold speaks at the Extraordinary National Council of the Greens on the outcome of the exploratory talks and the start of coalition negotiations after the Bundestag elections. Michael Kappeler/dpa Germany plans to alter or repeal the country's controversial gas storage fee charged at border crossing points with neighbouring countries, a senior German official at the Economy Ministry told EU energy ministers in Brussels on Thursday. The levy was introduced in the autumn of 2022 and reimburses the company Trading Hub Europe, which is responsible for organizing the German gas market, for costs incurred to ensure the security of the energy supply. Getting rid of the levy would significantly reduce the costs of gas transit through Germany and support joint efforts by Germany's neighbours to move away from imported Russian gas, according to Sven Giegold, the top deputy to Economy Minister Robert Habeck. "We will be supporting greater integration of the energy markets in Europe," Giegold said. The levy not only affects companies and consumers in Germany, but also importers in neighbouring countries that purchase gas via German pipelines. Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic planned to raise their continued objections to the levy at the EU energy minister meeting. Giegold said he assumes the levy will continue to be charged inside Germany to cover the costs of securing energy supplies. The levy was last extended until April 2027. Beginning in July, it is set to rise from the current 1.86 ($2.01) to 2.50 per megawatt hour. According to calculations by the consumer comparison website Verivox, the gas storage levy will account for around 2% of a typical German household's gas bill after the levy increases in July. Giegold said Germany's government has agreed on repealing the levy. Because it would require a change to German law and could go into effect no earlier than the beginning of 2025. He said that it was never the German government's intention to hinder the integration of gas markets in Europe. "It's quite the opposite. This levy was used to finance the filling of gas storage facilities, which has helped us to maintain a more independent and stable market in Europe," he said. Central and Eastern European countries have criticized the increased transit costs caused by the levy, which makes importing gas from Western Europe more difficult. EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson has also criticized the levy and its impact on European energy markets. Simson said she sent multiple letters to Berlin over the policy. Giegold's comments provoked some criticism from within Germany's governing coalition. Michael Kruse, a politician with the free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP), called the remarks premature and expressed concern about the impact on German consumers. Story continues "It must be ensured that users of German gas storage facilities from abroad receive an appropriate share of the storage levy. These costs must not be passed on to German gas customers," Kruse told dpa. Trading Hub Europe, however, said that the impact on German gas consumers would likely be minimal, since calculations so far have assumed very low quantities of cross-border gas shipments moving through Germany. Austrian Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler called Giegold's remarks "good news." She said that cross-border shipments of gas from Germany to Austria had fallen drastically after Germany imposed the levy, making it harder for the country to shift away from buying Russian gas. "I am pleased that the many talks and also the pressure from neighbouring countries have helped and that the German government is now tackling this," she said. 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: Mizuho upgraded PayPal (PYPL) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $90, up from $68. The firm's analysis of PayPal's newly introduced Fastlane product shows potential for $1.0B-$1.5B transaction margin dollar lift over the medium-term given the $1.43 trillion of annual e-commerce spend that is addressable. BofA upgraded Datadog (DDOG) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $155, up from $143. The company is establishing itself as the "next high quality large cap stock" in software, the firm tells investors in a research note. Evercore ISI upgraded Okta (OKTA) to Outperform from In Line with a price target of $122, up from $102. The company reported strong Q1 results that exceeded tempered expectations, accompanied by a "much more upbeat tone," suggesting that prior missteps and execution issues are now behind Okta, the firm tells investors in a research note. Northland upgraded C3.ai (AI) to Outperform from Market Perform with an unchanged price target of $35 following the fiscal Q4 report. C3.ai reported accelerating subscription growth of 41% in Q4, providing evidence that the headwinds from a migration to a usage-based revenue model are abating, the firm tells investors in a research note. (Reuters) -Billionaire Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management has sold its entire stake in Walt Disney after a boardroom battle with the media giant, CNBC news reported on Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the matter. The hedge fund was Disney's fifth-biggest shareholder with a 1.77% stake as of March 31, according to LSEG data. It sold the stake at close to $120 per share, CNBC reported, adding that Peltz made about $1 billion. Trian declined to comment on the report, while Disney did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Disney shareholders had last month backed CEO Bob Iger and other company directors after a multimillion-dollar, mud-slinging battle launched by Peltz and Blackwells Capital. Their campaigns were separate, competing efforts, but both wanted change at Disney. Peltz, CEO of Trian Fund Management, and Blackwells were seeking five seats between them on the board, arguing that the media company has botched its CEO succession planning, lost its creative spark and failed to properly harness new technology. Iger received the backing of 94% of voting shareholders. Peltz was supported by 31%. Trian had said it was "disappointed" with the outcome, but noted that Disney's share price had risen since it launched its campaign. (Reporting by Sourasis Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Arun Koyyur) State regulators rejected most of an additional $7.9 million rate increase proposed by Peoples Gas, which was seeking to charge consumers to complete unfinished work in the paused pipeline replacement program. Instead, the Illinois Commerce Commission approved a $1.6 million rate increase for emergency work out of an abundance of caution, Chair Doug Scott said during an open meeting in Springfield Thursday. The Commissions decision today should in no way prohibit the company from performing necessary emergency work to maintain a safe and reliable system, Scott said. Peoples Gas was previously granted a record $304.6 million rate increase for 2024, but requested a rehearing in January to recover additional costs for pipeline projects already underway, as well as emergency repairs and public infrastructure work. The $304.6 million rate increase added about $8.20 per month in delivery charges to the average residential bill this year. The $1.6 million rate increase approved Thursday will increase customer bills by another 15 cents per month beginning this summer, the utility said. The utility was looking to add nearly $145 million in denied infrastructure funding back into the budget this year. Earlier this month, an administrative law judge recommended approving the additional funding and proposed rate increase. But the ICC decision Thursday reduced that total to $28.5 million for emergency work, disallowing everything else, including the entire $82.8 million budgeted by Peoples to complete pipeline replacement projects in progress. The Commissions decision risks the continued safety and reliability of Chicagos energy system, Peoples Gas spokesperson David Schwartz said in a statement Thursday. The proposal the Commission rejected today will harm our future efforts to address critical needs in the system. Peoples Gas initially filed for a record $402 million rate hike for 2024, in large part to continue funding its pipeline replacement program after a 10-year legislative surcharge enabling it to automatically pass the costs along to customers expired at the end of last year. In November, the ICC issued an order pausing the pipeline program and reducing the rate increase. When the ICC rejected an emergency motion by Peoples Gas in December to restore funding for projects already underway for 2024, the utility scrambled to cover holes in the ground and affix dangling meters before the work ground to a halt. Peoples Gas left 85 pipeline replacement projects unfinished at the end of last year, according to ICC filings. Story continues In January, when the ICC granted Peoples the rate rehearing, the utility took a leap of faith and went back to work on the unfinished pipeline replacement projects. Some of that pipeline work has been completed, but a number of ongoing projects are still unfinished, the utility said Thursday. Without approved funding, the incomplete pipeline work may remain in limbo. We will fully review the final order to determine its impact on our operations, Schwartz said. No new pipeline replacement projects will begin until the ICC finishes its review of the long-running program, which is expected to be completed in January 2025. Launched in 2011, the Safety (formerly System) Modernization Program to replace 2,000 miles of aging iron pipes below Chicago streets was plagued from the outset by delays and budget overruns. More than a decade later, the project is 38% complete and Peoples Gas says it will take until 2040 and cost about $8 billion to finish if the ICC approves its resumption. The replacement program was driven by pressure from the administration of former President Barack Obama to hold utilities across the U.S. accountable for aging pipeline systems following a 2010 explosion in San Bruno, California, that killed eight people, injured 58 and destroyed 38 homes. But consumer advocates have argued for years that gas pipelines may be obsolete by the time the infrastructure is updated, as the shift to electrification and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar gain traction. Consumer groups applauded the decision Thursday to withhold additional funding for any pipeline replacement work until the ICC review is completed. Not only did Peoples Gas fail to justify yet another rate hike, this proceeding provided further evidence that the Peoples Gas pipe replacement program is profoundly troubled, reinforcing why the commissions investigation is critically important, Abe Scarr, director of Illinois PIRG, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, said in a statement. Peoples Gas, which serves 891,000 customers in Chicago, was acquired by Milwaukee-based WEC Energy Group in 2015. rchannick@chicagotribune.com Perak Transit Berhad (KLSE:PTRANS) First Quarter 2024 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: RM44.6m (down 5.8% from 1Q 2023). Net income: RM17.7m (up 17% from 1Q 2023). Profit margin: 40% (up from 32% in 1Q 2023). The increase in margin was driven by lower expenses. EPS: RM0.016 (up from RM0.014 in 1Q 2023). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period Perak Transit Berhad Earnings Insights Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 9.3% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 4.6% growth forecast for the Transportation industry in Asia. Performance of the market in Malaysia. The company's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago. Risk Analysis Before we wrap up, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Perak Transit Berhad that you should be aware of. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Pilbara Ports has awarded two construction contracts for Lumsden Point project at the Port of Hedland in Western Australia (WA). Jan De Nul (Australia) has secured the contract for dredging and land reclamation. This contract will see the creation of a new access channel, a swing basin, and berth pockets, enhancing the port's capacity to accommodate non-tidally restricted vessels. Jan De Nul is set to mobilise to the site this month, with dredging expected to commence in September 2024. The second contract has been awarded to MGN Civil for the construction of a causeway that will link the new wharf to the proposed logistics hub area. Construction began earlier in April this year, following the recent completion of the seawalls in March. The development of Lumsden Point is expected to help the export of battery metals such as lithium and copper concentrates and the import of renewable energy infrastructure, including wind turbines and blades. It also aims to support the growth of direct shipping services to the Pilbara region. Infrastructure Australia is said to have recognised the expansion of Pilbara Ports as a national infrastructure priority. In addition, the Australian and WA governments are jointly investing in the Lumsden Point project to bolster trade and economic growth in the Pilbara and beyond. Specifically, the Australian Government is investing A$565m ($374.71m), with A$450m allocated for the development of new multiuser facilities and berths at Lumsden Point. The WA Government is contributing A$96.6m to this initiative. WA Ports Minister David Michael said: The Pilbara is the economic powerhouse of the nation, and the Lumsden Point project will ensure it remains that way well into the future. This vital infrastructure will facilitate trade growth at the port and position Port Hedland at the forefront of future green industries. The completion of the seawalls and recent award of the dredging and land reclamation and causeway construction contracts represent significant milestones in the project's advancement which will drive economic growth and regional employment opportunities. "Pilbara Ports awards construction contracts for Lumsden Point" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Billionaires from coast to coast are putting their influence and money behind Donald Trump, a wave of support that is helping the former president narrow his fundraising gap with President Joe Biden and seize new momentum in his race for the White House. Some have already donated millions to his campaign, some have announced plans to do so, and some are only saying for now that they will vote for him. Trump, meanwhile, is returning the favor. He is reportedly promising to make policy changes that would help their businesses and perhaps even rely on them as advisers if he returns to the White House. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Trump and Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk have discussed a formal advisory role for the billionaire if Trump should win. The close back-and-forth with billionaires is a notable departure from Trumps previous Oval Office runs that often focused more on smaller contributors. The website OpenSecrets tracks donations by size and found that "large contributions" made up about 14% of Trumps bankroll in 2016. That same figure this time around is more than 68%. The latest example of elite support came last week with the news that Blackstone (BX) CEO Steve Schwarzman, after years of keeping his distance from Trump, is now a supporter. Blackstone Group CEO Steve Schwarzman in 2019. (REUTERS/Gary He) (REUTERS / Reuters) The financier told Axios he's supporting Trump and will donate to him as a "vote for change." He is just the latest wealthy donor to overcome past objections to Trump's conduct and character. Schwarzman responded to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, by saying at the time that the "insurrection that followed the president's remarks today is appalling." Traditional GOP megadonors return to Trump The flip in GOP donor support to Trump comes after many billionaires tried to boost his Republican rivals, especially Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. But that quickly changed after the primary season ended. Haley ended her run in March and Trump then outraised Biden in April. That was largely due to a single event featuring an assortment of billionaires at hedge fund manager John Paulson's home in Palm Beach, Fla. The event raised more than $50 million in a single night. Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump arrive at the home of billionaire investor John Paulson on April 6 in Palm Beach for a fundraiser. (Alon Skuy/Getty Images) (Alon Skuy via Getty Images) In total, Trump raised about $76 million in April, besting Biden's $51 million. But Biden is still ahead when it comes to cash in the bank, with $192 million saved across his operation. A collection of familiar GOP names announced their support for Trump in recent months, in addition to Schwarzman. They include figures like hotel tycoon Robert Bigelow and activist investor Nelson Peltz. Story continues Both have donated to Republicans for years. Both distanced themselves from Trump after Jan. 6. Both are now back on board. Robert Bigelow, the billionaire owner of Budget Suites of America and founder of Bigelow Aerospace, previously backed DeSantis, but he has since made plans to give over $20 million to Trump. He also reportedly co-chaired the recent fundraiser at Paulson's Florida home. Nelson Peltz and Elon Musk attend a movie premiere in February in Los Angeles. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images) For his part, Peltz told the FT earlier this month he would vote for Trump, but donations may or may not be forthcoming. "I'm not happy about that," he told the paper, saying he still had misgivings about Trump but that they were outweighed by his concerns about Biden's fitness for office. Peltz who recently lost a high-profile proxy battle with Disney (DIS) and its CEO Bob Iger donated to Sen. Tim Scott during the presidential primary season. Peltz supported Trump financially and with his vote in 2020 but said on CNBC on Jan. 7, 2021, he was "sorry I did that." Some traditional GOP megadonors are still holding out, at least for now. Billionaire hedge-fund investor Kenneth Griffin told attendees at the Qatar Economic Forum earlier this month that he wants to see who Trump picks as his running mate first. Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal who has long bankrolled GOP campaigns, told the Atlantic late last year he wouldn't be giving any money to Trump or anyone else during this presidential campaign. Outreach to oil executives Trump has also received support from wealthy energy executives after what appears to be a concerted outreach effort to that industry. Trump has reportedly made direct appeals for donations in return for looser restrictions on things like oil drilling if he wins. That outreach may have pushed the limits of campaign finance laws, according to the Washington Post, with Senate Democrats promising to investigate. Trump and the industry are "conferring on how to trade campaign cash for policy changes," said Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Ron Wyden in a recent statement. "Such potential abuses must be scrutinized." But the promises appear to have allowed Trump inroads with oil executives. Harold Hamm, the founder and chairman of oil and natural gas company Continental Resources, has increased his alliance with Trump in recent months. Federal Election Commission (FEC) data shows a contribution of $614,000 from Hamm to Trump's joint fundraising committee at the end of March. Hamm had a relationship with Trump that stretched back for years, but he distanced himself after 2020 and gave money to Haley as recently as last year. Then-president Donald Trump gestures to Harold Hamm at a Shale Insight Conference in 2019. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) A beachhead of support in Silicon Valley Perhaps the most surprising source of potential billionaire support for Trump comes in traditionally deep-blue Silicon Valley. Multiple recent reports from The New York Times to Puck have chronicled ongoing efforts from venture capitalist David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya of Social Capital to organize a fundraiser on Mr. Trump's behalf. Whether the fundraiser and a possible appearance on the pair's podcasteventually comes together remains to be seen. But the news was especially notable given the long history the two men have of donating to Democrats. Palihapitiya gave Biden more than $250,000 during the 2020 campaign, according to FEC data. Other prominent figures like Marc Andreessen of Andreessen Horowitz and Shaun Maguire, a partner at Sequoia Capital, have lambasted Biden on their social media feeds but, as of yet, have declined to get behind Trump. Chamath Palihapitiya at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles in April. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Another closely watched figure is Musk. The current third-richest man in the world has unleashed an onslaught of anti-Biden commentary online this year and says he can't imagine voting for Biden this fall. The trend comes after years of Musk's deepening ties with Republicans. A new Wall Street Journal report this week demonstrated the increasingly warm relationship between Trump and Musk after Musk posted in 2022 that Trump should "hang up his hat & sail into the sunset." Musk met with Trump in March and, according to the report, now talks with Trump several times a month. The two men have even reportedly discussed giving Musk a formal advisory role on border security, an issue Musk is keenly focused on, as well as on the economy. What remains to be seen is whether Musk stays true to a promise he made in March when he posted, "I am not donating money to either candidate for US President." Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance The difference between Donald M. Johnson, Charles Ponzi, for whom the pyramid scheme is named, and disgraced late financier Bernie Madoff, who ran the largest Ponzi scheme of all, Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer said in court Thursday, is that some of Johnsons victims were repaid. You have lied to me since day one, Clymer told Johnson, appearing for a hearing to go through his finances and determine how he would pay his six victims back the money he owes them. Johnson, 59, of Porter, pleaded guilty on Jan. 25 to a single Class C felony charge of a broker-dealer registration violation, a deal under which Johnson will serve four years on probation and must pay $604,500 in restitution to all of his victims, not just the one from the guilty plea. If Johnson successfully pays his victims back and serves his probation, he can petition the court to have the case expunged from his record. After a Feb. 20 hearing that was supposed to settle how Johnson would pay his victims back, hes been paying $500 a month toward restitution, which started in March, according to an online court docket. When it became obvious that the court did not have the full picture of Johnsons finances, Clymer ordered the review of them on Thursday. Gabriel Brown, a special prosecutor with the Indiana Securities Division, laid out quite a bit about Johnsons finances. Johnson and his family members tried to file for bankruptcy multiple times; a federal bankruptcy judge barred Johnson and his mother from filing again for two years and five years, respectively, because they were so badly abusing the system. Johnson transferred his properties to family members and different trusts and partnerships, all with business addresses that led back to his business address in the 300 block of North Broadway in downtown Chesterton. That also was the business address for the vacation rentals he owns. All the businesses tracked back to the same bank account, too, also in Johnsons name, Brown said. In March, one month after Clymer ordered Johnson to leave his accounts as they were and not dispose of them or any property, Brown said Johnson switched his bank account. Its all a scheme to defraud creditors, Brown said of the various times Johnsons properties changed hands. The possibility that Johnsons probation could be revoked came up more than once, as did the question of where his money came from, where it was going, and if the trusts hed established for some of the properties were even legitimate. Story continues Johnson claimed to have a 10% interest in ownership of the various properties, which Clymer questioned, curious about who has the other 90%. In the bankruptcy filings, the judge said, Johnson wanted to claim full ownership of the properties, but in terms of his assets to settle with his victims, Johnson said he didnt have full ownership. It appears wherever the money came from, you put that into properties and put the properties in trust to avoid paying these victims, Clymer said. Mark Chargualaf, Johnsons public defender at least until the end of the hearing, when Clymer ordered Chargualaf discharged of his duties because Johnson wasnt indigent argued that any rent Johnson collected wasnt going back to him. Thats the problem. He doesnt receive these rents, Chargualaf said, adding they go into the partnerships. No its not, snapped Clymer. Brown also laid out the thousands of dollars Johnson earned each month from vacation rentals, including $8,122 in October when Johnson received a public defender, and said that selling even a couple of his properties could generate $200,000 to $300,000 in profit, funds, Clymer said, could go to his victims. Regardless of the trust agreements, he is deriving economic benefit from the rental of these properties, Brown said, adding Johnson also received $43,000 in unemployment insurance from the state. He was claiming to be unemployed? said Clymer. Brown said he hasnt had a chance to check with the state. Additionally, Brown said that, with a presentencing investigation interview pending in December, Johnson liquidated $600,000 in an investment account, which he didnt disclose to the probation department. Johnson hadnt been ordered not to liquidate the funds, Chargualaf said. I understand that, Clymer said. Im trying to understand where the money went. Johnson, Brown said, transferred ownership interest of his properties back and forth between bankruptcy filings. None of it makes sense unless youre trying to hide investments and defraud creditors, Brown said. One of the most heated moments in the hearing, which lasted almost two hours, came when Chargualaf put Johnsons son on the stand. Donald Matthew Johnson his father is Donald Marvin set up a bank account over which he had control, clarifying it was his account and not his fathers. He told Brown he set up the account because it has better benefits. Johnsons son owned the account, but was not the trustee or owner of the properties that were funding it, Clymer said. Im not positive, he said. Do you own the properties that your parents rent out? Clymer asked. Johnsons son said No. Why are you getting money for property that you dont own? Clymer asked, before both Chargualaf and Brown said Johnsons son had to be advised of his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. After that, Brown took a different approach. Are you claiming the income on your taxes? Brown asked. I plead the Fifth, Donald Matthew said, before stepping down from the witness stand. Brown said he saw two possibilities moving forward for restitution. One of them was having the court seize the properties, auction them off and pay the victims back. The other was for the court to appoint a receiver to take over administration of the property, pay back the victims and then turn them back over to Johnson or sell them. A receiver might be best, Chargualaf said, but he would want that determined at a future hearing because the receiver would only get Johnsons 10% of income generated by the properties. Selling off the properties could deprive the other owners of their rights. A receiver might be the best thing but Im concerned what might happen in the meantime, Brown said, rattling off Johnsons liquidation of his investment account at the cusp of the presentencing interview, among other other matters. Clymer went over the recent hallmarks in the case, which began when charges were filed in March 2014. Those include Johnson submitting a guilty plea in October, learning from Brown during a January hearing that Johnson might be hiding assets, and the February hearing in which Johnson was released on bond and ordered to pay $500 a month toward his victims, all he claimed he could afford at the time. Johnson was initially charged with 14 counts related to securities fraud, Class C felonies at the time. Two months later he was charged with one count of forgery, also a Class C felony, and two counts of theft, Class D felonies, in a related case. An appellate court ruling trimmed that to 15 counts after determining that the statute of limitations had run out for one of the victims claims but the rest of the charges could stand. The allegations stretch back to around 2007 and include multiple victims who, according to charging documents, lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in real estate investments gone bad when they did not get the returns they were promised and couldnt get back the money they put into the deals. Clymer also reminded Johnson that he is a convicted felon who had been ordered not to deplete his assets. Im trying to determine whether these are valid trusts or a Ponzi scheme and an attempt to draw victims into your scheme, Clymer said. The matter would be easier to determine, the judge said, if Johnson had different accounts for each property, instead of one bank account for all of them. Chargualaf said he could provide accounting for each trust in 30 days, and that the funds in Donald Matthew Johnsons account, from vacation rentals, could be transferred to his father in the next couple of days. If the properties fall into foreclosure, Clymer said, they will generate less at a sheriffs auction than they would if they were sold by a receiver. It benefits everybody if the properties are sold for the greatest value, he said. It makes sense to preserve the value of the properties for at least a short period of time. Clymer asked Johnson if he could open accounts for each property and only pay bills on that property from their respective account, and not pay anything but insurance or mortgage payments without the courts permission. Johnson said he cant because some properties are empty and others dont generate income consistently. Clymer set a July 19 hearing to appoint a receiver and said Johnson is not indigent, so Chargualaf was dismissed as his public defender. You have had money all along, he said. alavalley@chicagotribune.com Key Insights Significantly high institutional ownership implies Rathbones Group's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions 52% of the business is held by the top 9 shareholders Recent purchases by insiders A look at the shareholders of Rathbones Group Plc (LON:RAT) can tell us which group is most powerful. With 78% 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). 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. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Rathbones Group. View our latest analysis for Rathbones Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Rathbones Group? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. Rathbones Group already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Rathbones Group's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Rathbones Group. Our data shows that Investec Ltd., Asset Management Arm is the largest shareholder with 26% of shares outstanding. With 4.7% and 4.4% of the shares outstanding respectively, Rathbones Investment Management Limited and Lindsell Train Limited are the second and third largest shareholders. On further inspection, we found that more than half the company's shares are owned by the top 9 shareholders, suggesting that the interests of the larger shareholders are balanced out to an extent by the smaller ones. 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 plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Story continues Insider Ownership Of Rathbones Group While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Rathbones Group Plc. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own UK6.4m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. It is always good to see at least some insider ownership, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 22% stake in Rathbones Group. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Rathbones Group better, we need to consider many other factors. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Rathbones Group (of which 2 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about. 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. If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. With that in mind, the ROCE of Yancoal Australia (ASX:YAL) looks great, so lets see what the trend can tell us. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. To calculate this metric for Yancoal Australia, this is the formula: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.26 = AU$2.6b (AU$11b - AU$1.0b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023). Thus, Yancoal Australia has an ROCE of 26%. That's a fantastic return and not only that, it outpaces the average of 6.9% earned by companies in a similar industry. View our latest analysis for Yancoal Australia roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Yancoal Australia compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free analyst report for Yancoal Australia . The Trend Of ROCE Yancoal Australia has not disappointed with their ROCE growth. Looking at the data, we can see that even though capital employed in the business has remained relatively flat, the ROCE generated has risen by 104% over the last five years. So it's likely that the business is now reaping the full benefits of its past investments, since the capital employed hasn't changed considerably. The company is doing well in that sense, and it's worth investigating what the management team has planned for long term growth prospects. The Key Takeaway In summary, we're delighted to see that Yancoal Australia has been able to increase efficiencies and earn higher rates of return on the same amount of capital. Since the stock has returned a staggering 271% to shareholders over the last five years, it looks like investors are recognizing these changes. In light of that, we think it's worth looking further into this stock because if Yancoal Australia can keep these trends up, it could have a bright future ahead. Story continues If you'd like to know about the risks facing Yancoal Australia, we've discovered 2 warning signs that you should be aware of. High returns are a key ingredient to strong performance, so check out our free list ofstocks earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets. 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. CHELSEA, Manhattan (PIX11) Imagine being 13 or 15 years old and starting your nonprofit organization. Dozens of teens in the tri-state area have been doing just that with the help of fellowships from the Rileys Way Foundation. Wednesday night, the Foundation held a Gala at Chelsea Piers to celebrate 10 years of helping teens and young adults. The Call For Kindness Fellowships provide up to $5,000 in funding and developmental leadership training. Ian Sandler and his wife founded the organization ten years ago after their 9-year-old daughter Riley died suddenly at sleep away camp. The Sandlers donated her organs. More Manhattan News Were never going to truly know what happened. We were told it was something called Epiglottitis, which is when your epiglottis in your throat constricts, he said. Riley was just somebody who was going to have a big impact on this world, and we werent prepared to let her light go out. Our goal is to put kind leaders into every walk of life and slowly but surely change the world, Ian Sandler told PIX11 News. Eleventh graders Jia Michel and Taja Richardson started their nonprofit, myNetworkHer, in 9th grade. It connects teens with mentors. We have mentors from Puerto Rico to here in New York, and we have also brought speakers to communities in Malaysia even, Michel said. Richardson told PIX11 News that the Rileys Way grant money helped them. We were struggling to keep it going because keeping the domain was a lot of money, to keep the upkeep, to get speakers and to hold in-person events cost so much money, he said. Dylan Zajac, 21, founded Computers 4 People at age 15. He said he had a lightbulb moment when he realized corporations had old computers that he could refurbish and give to people in need. Zajac, also a fellowship recipient, said the money helped him grow his nonprofit to the point where he now has 10 employees and has helped 3,500 people access the Internet. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. (Corrects title of Mazen Al-Sudairi in paragraph 21) By Maha El Dahan and Michael Georgy DUBAI (Reuters) - At an industry event in Riyadh two years ago, the Saudi energy minister paused at about 9 p.m. in front of some 1,000 people and told them it was bedtime for Amin Nasser, the chief executive of giant state-owned oil producer Saudi Aramco. He was not joking. Over a career of four decades, Nasser has earned a reputation for a style of dedication that means he will be making sure he's ready for the challenges of the day ahead, not mingling into the early hours. "It was kind of embarrassing you know with protocol and all these things, but it goes to show his work ethic and all that he tends to do to stand out," said an industry source, speaking on condition of anonymity. Nasser has been patiently preparing for years for the order to sell more shares in Aramco, after managing the company's initial public offering in a record $29.4 billion listing in 2019. The landmark deal is a major part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's drive to diversify the economy away from oil. The Saudi oil giant is one of the world's most valuable companies. While juggling the daily management tasks of a company with over 73,000 employees, Nasser has also addressed the questions that surround how to meet the world's energy needs and become increasingly outspoken on the issue. HOMEGROWN TECHNOCRAT Under Nasser, Aramco has invested in refineries and petrochemical projects in China and elsewhere, expanded its retail and trading businesses, and sharpened its focus on gas, making its first foray into liquefied natural gas abroad last year. Before becoming CEO in 2015, the homegrown technocrat was an unknown quantity in the West. In contrast to other Aramco CEOs, he is not a product of a major U.S. university and instead climbed the company's ranks after receiving a Saudi education. Nasser began his career as a petroleum engineer. Before becoming CEO, he held positions including vice president of upstream when he led the company's largest capital investment programme in its integrated oil and gas portfolio. To steer the company smoothly, he has to retain the support of two of the most powerful figures in the kingdom: Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Yasir al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF who is also chairman of Aramco's board of directors. Nasser has become highly popular at Aramco by promoting a decentralised culture and spending time with both leaders and workers, analysts say. Story continues During the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, he makes a point of visiting an Aramco field or plant every evening and breaking the fast with crews. Pleasing the elite is also part of his job. That means keeping the petrodollars flowing, including for the ambitious economic diversification plan of Crown Prince MbS, as he is commonly known, that includes a massive urban and industrial development project nearly the size of Belgium to be built along the Red Sea coast, NEOM. "Nasser's job is way bigger than that of the typical oil company CEO. His job is not just producing and marketing oil, but also keeping the Saudi government supplied with the revenues necessary to remain afloat," said Jim Krane, energy research fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute and author of the book Energy Kingdoms. "The security of the Saudi royal family depends to a large extent on his success." One of Nasser's biggest tests came in 2019 when drones and missiles struck Aramco's Abqaiq and Khurais oil plants and halved Saudi Arabia's crude output. The United States and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the attack. Tehran denied any involvement. Nasser was at the Aramco emergency unit within seven minutes, said the industry source. He did not micro-manage and gave managers in the field the freedom to make decisions during a high-pressure moment. "Despite 50% of Aramco's operations being impacted by the attack, within a matter of a few weeks, Aramco was able to restore the bulk of its operations," said Mazen Al-Sudairi, recently appointed adviser to the general secretariat of the Saudi cabinet, said in 2022. He was formerly head of sell-side research at Al Rajhi Capital. "This was possible because he continued the strong risk management policy of the company that leaves no scope for leniency." (Editing by William Maclean) ETFs are not exactly the most exhilarating class of assets. Theyre the safe type of investment that your dad or financial planner tells you to load up onwhy bet on individual stocks when you can just own a slice of an entire sector, or even better, the S&P 500? For the topsy-turvy world of crypto, however, ETFs have been the most jolting spark of life since the NFT craze of 2021. As a brief recap, the crypto industry has been trying to trojan horse Bitcoin into traditional finance through ETFs since 2013, when the Winklevoss twins of Social Network fame first applied with the SEC to create an exchange-tradeable asset that would hold and track underlying Bitcoin. They were rejected, as was every other applicant, until last year, when the crypto firm Grayscale won a crucial court case in favor of the product. The SEC finally relented in January, sending crypto prices soaring. The initial class of 11 Bitcoin ETFs was among the most successful of all time, with BlackRock and Fidelitys offerings leading the charge. (The Winklevii never got their ETF, though their firm Gemini is serving as a custodian for one.) Always nipping at Bitcoins heels, Ethereumthe second-largest cryptocurrencyseemed like the natural next candidate. The success of Bitcoin had already signaled a new era of crypto, where massive investment managers like hedge funds could comfortably dip their toes into the sector. An ETF for Ethereum would cement cryptos status as a bona fide asset class accepted, or even subsumed, by traditional finance. For months, the dream seemed impossible. Unlike Bitcoin, which U.S. regulators have long conceded is a commodity, the twin agencies of the SEC and CFTC have tussled over whether Ethereum should be regulated as a commodity or a security. The SEC, under the controversial chair Gary Gensler, has made a number of sorties in the past weeks indicating he would claim Ethereum to be a security and under his severe remit. An ETF of an unregistered security, of course, would be impossible. Every prospective issuer I spoke with was convinced that the Ethereum ETF would be rejected. In April, I interviewed Jan Van Eck, the head of his eponymous firm, who told me the lack of engagement from the SEC meant they were likely to halt any progress. The question was not when an approval would eventually come, but who would advance the inevitable lawsuit challenging the rejectionas Grayscale once did with the Bitcoin ETFto force the SECs hand. Some were still optimistic. Two weeks ago, I caught up with Dave LaValle, the global head of ETFs for Grayscale, who told me he wasnt giving up hope. Even when I pressed on whether Grayscale would be willing to lead the charge of litigation once again, he said that we should wait first for a decision. I quit my day job of predicting what the SEC is going to do," he told me. Story continues LaValle ended up being right. As quickly as a memecoin goes to zero, the SEC seemed to change its mind right before its deadline for a decision, engaging with both the issuers and the exchanges that would list the products on crucial forms. Some speculated that the 180 came because of a series of political victories for the crypto industry in Congress, including the House approving a sweeping regulatory bill with bipartisan support. Regardless of the reason, the SEC approved all eight applications on Thursday. While there are still some last hurdles, trading is expected to begin in the coming weeks. The victory caps off a remarkable year for crypto, which has seen the industry rebound from the Sam Bankman-Fried trial to all-time highs buoyed by the launch of an inarguablyand uncharacteristically boring investment vehicle. Dont be surprised if a Dogecoin ETF comes next. Leo Schwartz Twitter: @leomschwartz Email: leo.schwartz@fortune.com Submit a deal for the Term Sheet newsletter here. Joe Abrams curated the deals section of today's newsletter. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Jeep owner Stellantis plans to offer electric vehicles in the U.S. at around $25,000 amid increasing competition from Chinese EV manufacturers. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI May 29 (UPI) -- Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said Wednesday the company plans to make a $25,000, all-electric Jeep available to American customers "very soon." Tavares, at a Bernstein Investor conference in New York, gave few details about the forthcoming vehicle other than its price, but insisted the new product would be feasible because Stellantis already profitably sells low-cost EVs in other markets. He noted the Citroen e-C3, an electric SUV, is available in Europe for about $25,200. "In the same way we brought the 20,000 Euro Citroen e-C3, you will have a $25,000 Jeep very soon," Tavares said. "We are using the same expertise because we are a global company, and this is totally fluid across the engineering world of Stellantis." The company's cheapest EV available in the United States is the $32,500 Fiat 500e. Jeep's first full-electric car, the Wagoneer S SUV is set to be revealed Thursday, followed by a launch later this year, but the company has not announced a price for it. Western automakers like Stellantis, Tesla and others have begun prioritizing bringing low-cost EVs to market, as Chinese competitors such as BYD and Nio continue to sell them in Europe and inch closer to the United States. China's biggest EV manufacturer, BYD, has plans to build a factory in Mexico and currently offers EVs starting at $10,000. "It's a very challenging period, very chaotic, very Darwinian," Tavares said of the global market. "We are in the storm, and this storm is going to last a few years." Tavares' remarks come amid fears that Chinese-made EVs will flood Western markets and undercut domestic EV production. President Joe Biden plans this summer to quadruple tariffs on Chinese EV imports, and the European Union on Friday is set to decide on an investigation into Chinese government subsidies for EV companies. Tavares said tariffs on Chinese imports might delay their expansion into the United States, but they won't stop it. "Putting you behind a protectionist bubble is not going to help you to be competitive. ... If your strategy is to shrink and stay inside of the bubble, it will buy you time, but certainly it will cut your future," he said. Stellantis, meanwhile, has its eye on the global market and has entered a joint venture with Chinese automaker Leapmotor to start selling EVs in Europe, South America, continental Asia and the Pacific region. Nomis payment infrastructure shortens Tellus payment cycle from as much as 30-60 days to just one day SALT LAKE CITY, May 30, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nomi Health, a company changing healthcare economics, is partnering with Tellus Wellness to streamline its provider payment process. Tellus Wellness provides a complementary care benefit program for employer-sponsored healthcare that lowers costs and gains access for its members. Tellus is leveraging Nomi to simplify payments and reduce administrative waste. Tellus providers receive payment in just 24 hours, a significant reduction from the healthcare industries approximate 30-60-day payment cycles. "Contracting with and retaining quality, talented providers hinges greatly on our ability to process provider payments on time -- a requirement shared by provider groups across the country," said Donna Goldin Evans, CEO and co-founder of Tellus Wellness. "Our providers have told us the benefit of being paid within days -- not months -- through a direct payment system is a game-changer." Nomi Health eliminated unnecessary payment delays by implementing streamlined electronic payment options, accelerating the payment process and relieving the revenue-cycle management strain on providers across the Tellus Wellness network. "Archaic payment processes to providers are unsustainable. They are wreaking havoc on provider groups across the country, making revenue management almost impossible," said Boe Hartman, CTO and co-founder of Nomi. "The good news is that this is 100% avoidable, and groups such as Tellus Wellness are leading the charge in adopting modern payment systems for the benefit of providers and their patients." A provider in the Tellus Wellness Network, Angela Cash, the business owner of Help with Massage and a licensed massage therapist focusing on medical and therapeutic massage, said: "I love the partnership we have with a team of people to back us up when we have questions and the turn-around time for our revenue cycle is amazing, almost unheard of next to cash pay." "With Tellus Wellness and Nomi Health, the benefits are straightforward, and we are reimbursed quickly and seamlessly," said Dr. Hunter Greenwood, owner of Chiropractic Plus and licensed in chiropractic and naturopathic medicine. Tellus Wellness currently offers its services in Southwest Missouri with plans to expand in Missouri and other states. Learn more about the partnership with Nomi Health in our article on LinkedIn. About Nomi Health Nomi Health powers a new model of healthcare for buyers of care and their partners. The company simplifies the business of healthcare with payment rails and programs built specifically for self-funded employers, governments and their partners, such as TPAs, brokers, and consultants. Story continues At Nomi Health, our long-term mission is to rebuild U.S. healthcare to run at half the cost. Nomi delivers actionable analytics, direct access to medical and pharmacy services, and real-time payment rails to transform how providers deliver great healthcare to plans and programs. Founded in 2019, Nomi Health serves more than 3,200 customers nationwide, impacting 30 million lives and influencing over $150 billion in healthcare spend. Learn more at nomihealth.com. About Tellus Wellness Founded in 2018, Tellus Wellness has created a value-based program that offers complementary medicine benefits through an excellent member experience that is cost-effective for members and for their employers who fund health benefits for employees and families. The program provides technology-enabled navigation to educate enrolled individuals on in-network, accredited complementary medicine providers and guide them to the specialties that evidence-based studies have shown have the greatest potential to positively impact their symptoms and desired health goals. Payment to the provider occurs in 24 hours or less with an innovative process operated by Nomi Health, a strategic partner of Tellus Wellness. Learn more at www.telluswellness.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240530583996/en/ Contacts Priya Shah mPR, Inc. for Nomi Health press@nomihealth.com There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com? So, the natural question for Falcon Metals (ASX:FAL) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves. Check out our latest analysis for Falcon Metals When Might Falcon Metals Run Out Of Money? A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. In December 2023, Falcon Metals had AU$15m in cash, and was debt-free. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$7.5m. Therefore, from December 2023 it had 2.0 years of cash runway. Arguably, that's a prudent and sensible length of runway to have. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time. How Is Falcon Metals' Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Falcon Metals didn't record any revenue over the last year, indicating that it's an early stage company still developing its business. So while we can't look to sales to understand growth, we can look at how the cash burn is changing to understand how expenditure is trending over time. With the cash burn rate up 32% in the last year, it seems that the company is ratcheting up investment in the business over time. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but investors should be mindful of the fact that will shorten the cash runway. Falcon Metals makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow. How Easily Can Falcon Metals Raise Cash? While Falcon Metals does have a solid cash runway, its cash burn trajectory may have some shareholders thinking ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn. Falcon Metals' cash burn of AU$7.5m is about 20% of its AU$37m market capitalisation. That's not insignificant, and if the company had to sell enough shares to fund another year's growth at the current share price, you'd likely witness fairly costly dilution. So, Should We Worry About Falcon Metals' Cash Burn? On this analysis of Falcon Metals' cash burn, we think its cash runway was reassuring, while its increasing cash burn has us a bit worried. Cash burning companies are always on the riskier side of things, but after considering all of the factors discussed in this short piece, we're not too worried about its rate of cash burn. On another note, Falcon Metals has 4 warning signs (and 2 which make us uncomfortable) we think you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies with significant insider holdings, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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. Amidst a backdrop of mixed performances in global markets, with particular stagnation noted in Germany's DAX index, investors may find stability and potential returns in dividend stocks. These stocks can offer regular income streams which might be particularly appealing given the current economic uncertainties and fluctuating market conditions. Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Germany Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Allianz (XTRA:ALV) 5.23% Edel SE KGaA (XTRA:EDL) 6.44% Deutsche Post (XTRA:DHL) 4.81% Sudzucker (XTRA:SZU) 6.54% MLP (XTRA:MLP) 4.75% Deutsche Telekom (XTRA:DTE) 3.56% DATA MODUL Produktion und Vertrieb von elektronischen Systemen (XTRA:DAM) 6.10% SAF-Holland (XTRA:SFQ) 5.03% Mercedes-Benz Group (XTRA:MBG) 8.10% Uzin Utz (XTRA:UZU) 3.25% Click here to see the full list of 29 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener. Let's take a closer look at a couple of our picks from the screened companies. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: MLP SE operates as a financial services provider catering to private, corporate, and institutional clients primarily in Germany, with a market capitalization of approximately 0.69 billion. Operations: MLP SE generates its revenue by offering financial services to a diverse clientele including private individuals, businesses, and institutions in Germany. Dividend Yield: 4.8% MLP SE, despite a volatile dividend history, reaffirmed its dividend at 0.30 per share as of March 2024, maintaining consistency from the previous year. The company's dividends are well-covered with a payout ratio of 62.6% and an even more reassuring cash payout ratio of 10.9%. Recent financials show a positive trend with Q1 2024 earnings rising to 27.76 million from 23.51 million year-over-year and sales increasing across recent quarters. Although trading below estimated fair value by 35.9%, its dividend yield at 4.75% ranks in the top quartile for German markets, highlighting an attractive aspect despite past payment inconsistencies. XTRA:MLP Dividend History as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: K+S Aktiengesellschaft operates globally as a supplier of mineral products for various sectors including agricultural and industrial, with a market capitalization of approximately 2.41 billion. Operations: K+S Aktiengesellschaft generates 3.67 billion in revenue from its Europe+ operating unit. Story continues Dividend Yield: 5.2% K+S Aktiengesellschaft's recent financial performance shows a significant drop in sales and net income, with Q1 2024 sales at 988 million and net income at 18.6 million, starkly lower than the previous year. Despite these challenges, the company maintains a dividend of 0.70 per share as of May 2024. However, its dividend sustainability is questionable as it is not well-covered by earnings or cash flows, reflecting a broader trend of volatility in its dividend payments over the past decade. Moreover, while K+S completed a substantial share buyback program by December 2023 for 198.6 million, this does not mitigate concerns regarding its long-term dividend reliability amidst fluctuating financial results. XTRA:SDF Dividend History as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: WashTec AG is a company that offers car wash solutions across Germany, Europe, North America, and the Asia Pacific, with a market capitalization of approximately 540.65 million. Operations: WashTec AG generates revenue primarily from its operations in North America, contributing approximately 98.39 million. Dividend Yield: 5.4% WashTec AG offers a dividend yield of 5.45%, ranking it in the top 25% for dividend payers in Germany. However, its dividends are not well-supported by earnings, with a payout ratio of 106.6%. Despite this, cash flows cover the dividends reasonably well at a cash payout ratio of 53.5%. The company's financial performance shows slight growth with net income reaching 27.97 million in 2023 from 26.36 million in the previous year, but recent quarterly results indicate a decline in sales and net income compared to last year's figures. XTRA:WSU Dividend History as at May 2024 Turning Ideas Into Actions Delve into our full catalog of 29 Top Dividend Stocks here. Have you diversified into these companies? Leverage the power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to keep a close eye on market movements affecting your investments. Enhance your investing ability with the Simply Wall St app and enjoy free access to essential market intelligence spanning every continent. Ready To Venture Into Other Investment Styles? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include XTRA:MLP XTRA:SDF and XTRA:WSU. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Amidst a backdrop of fluctuating global interest rates and their rippling effects on markets, Swiss stocks have recently shown a weak performance, reflecting broader economic uncertainties. In such an environment, investors often look towards companies with high insider ownership as these entities typically exhibit strong commitment from those who know the business best, potentially offering stability and growth prospects amidst market volatility. Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Switzerland Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Stadler Rail (SWX:SRAIL) 14.5% 23.4% VAT Group (SWX:VACN) 10.2% 21.2% Straumann Holding (SWX:STMN) 32.7% 21% Swissquote Group Holding (SWX:SQN) 11.4% 14.3% Temenos (SWX:TEMN) 17.4% 14.7% LEM Holding (SWX:LEHN) 34.5% 14.6% Sonova Holding (SWX:SOON) 17.7% 10.3% SHL Telemedicine (SWX:SHLTN) 17.9% 96.2% Sensirion Holding (SWX:SENS) 20.7% 78.3% Arbonia (SWX:ARBN) 28.8% 100.1% Click here to see the full list of 17 stocks from our Fast Growing SIX Swiss Exchange Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. Let's explore several standout options from the results in the screener. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: INFICON Holding AG specializes in developing instruments for gas analysis, measurement, and control, operating both in Switzerland and internationally, with a market capitalization of CHF 3.49 billion. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through its global supply of instrumentation for gas analysis, measurement, and control, totaling $673.71 million. Insider Ownership: 10.3% INFICON Holding AG, a Swiss company, demonstrates robust growth with its earnings and revenue rising steadily. Forecasted annual earnings growth of 9.85% and revenue growth of 7.2% per year outpace the broader Swiss market. Despite this positive trajectory, the growth rates do not reach the high threshold of over 20%. Additionally, recent financial results show a significant increase in net income and sales from the previous year, reinforcing its strong performance in a competitive sector. SWX:IFCN Earnings and Revenue Growth as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Swissquote Group Holding Ltd operates globally, offering a range of online financial services to retail, affluent, and institutional clients with a market capitalization of CHF 4.05 billion. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through leveraged Forex and securities trading, totaling CHF 101.09 million and CHF 429.78 million respectively. Story continues Insider Ownership: 11.4% Swissquote Group Holding Ltd showcases solid financial health with a notable increase in net income from CHF 157.39 million to CHF 217.63 million year-over-year, reflecting a growth of 38.3%. While its earnings are set to grow by 14.3% annually, outpacing the Swiss market's average of 8.4%, this rate doesn't meet the high growth benchmark of over 20%. Revenue is also expected to rise at 10.6% per year, faster than the market's 4.4%, yet below the high growth threshold. The stock is currently valued at approximately 24.2% below its estimated fair value, suggesting potential undervaluation amidst these growing figures. SWX:SQN Earnings and Revenue Growth as at May 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: VAT Group AG specializes in developing, manufacturing, and supplying vacuum valves, multi-valve units, vacuum modules, and edge-welded metal bellows globally, with a market capitalization of approximately CHF 14.42 billion. Operations: VAT Group AG generates CHF 782.74 million from its Valves segment and CHF 172.87 million from Global Service. Insider Ownership: 10.2% VAT Group, a Swiss company with significant insider ownership, reported a decline in both sales and net income for the full year 2023, with revenues dropping to CHF 885.32 million from CHF 1.145 billion and net income decreasing to CHF 190.31 million from CHF 306.78 million. Despite this downturn, earnings are projected to grow by 21.17% annually over the next three years, outpacing the Swiss market's growth forecasts significantly. However, VAT's share price has been highly volatile recently, which might concern some investors about its short-term stability despite long-term growth prospects. SWX:VACN Ownership Breakdown as at May 2024 Key Takeaways Click through to start exploring the rest of the 14 Fast Growing SIX Swiss Exchange Companies With High Insider Ownership now. Invested in any of these stocks? Simplify your portfolio management with Simply Wall St and stay ahead with our alerts for any critical updates on your stocks. Simply Wall St is a revolutionary app designed for long-term stock investors, it's free and covers every market in the world. Curious About Other Options? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years. Companies discussed in this article include SWX:IFCN SWX:SQN and SWX:VACN. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Anglo is planning to scale back investment at the Woodsmith Mine in North Yorkshire - Sirius Minerals Anglo American is facing a backlash from local Tories over catastrophic cuts proposed at a Yorkshire fertiliser mine owned by the FTSE 100 company. Anglo is planning to scale back investment at the Woodsmith Mine in North Yorkshire after seeking to fend off a 39bn takeover bid from rival BHP. Tory candidate Roberto Weeden-Sanz, who is campaigning for Scarborough and Whitby constituency where the mine is based, said the project should not become a sacrificial lamb for Anglos bid to fend off BHP. Cutting back investment at the site could mean up to 1,600 jobs are put at risk as the investment is downsized over the next two years. Mr Weeden-Sanz said: Despite public statements about spending this year, we are hearing locally that Anglo is moving quickly to demobilise contractors and put staff on notice. We urge them to pause and properly consider the catastrophic impact that losing so many high-quality jobs could have on our area. Local people have supported this fantastic project for many years and it should not be used as a sacrificial lamb to fend off a takeover from a bigger company. Anglo chief Duncan Wanblad unveiled plans earlier this month to leave Woodsmith at a near standstill - Ian Waldie/Bloomberg Anglo American chief executive Duncan Wanblad unveiled plans earlier this month to dial down investment at Woodsmith and leave it a near standstill. BHP is no longer chasing a bid for Anglo but the group has committed to the Woodsmith overhaul after complaints about its cost from shareholders. The FTSE 100 group is a major contributor to the local economy, contributing 305m last year. Since construction at the mine started in 2017, the Woodsmith Project, which is the largest private sector infrastructure project in the country, has generated 1.5bn to the Yorkshire economy. Ben Houchen, the Tees Valley mayor, said: Anglo American should not be rushing into decisions that put the livelihoods of hard-working and highly skilled Teessiders at risk. We want to hear from Anglo American directly and see them engage with government to make sure every option is considered before drastic measures are taken. The former MP for the Scarborough and Whitby constituency Sir Robert Goodwill previously warned over the impact of shutting Woodsmith. He told The Telegraph last month he was seeking assurances from BHP over the future of Anglo Americans Yorkshire fertiliser mine. Sir Robert is standing down at the next election. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Trouble is brewing at Samsung, and its serious enough that it has the potential to impact some of the companys future product releases. A workers strike has been announced by the National Samsung Electronics Union for June 7, when members will use an annual paid leave day to protest over salaries. The union says it has 28,000 members, which is around 20% of Samsungs total workforce. Should it go ahead, the strike would be the first of its kind for Samsung, and while a single day will help bring attention to the unions demands, a spokesperson quoted by The Guardian said it could lead to a general strike if action isnt taken, and this could be far more problematic. A report by the BBC says a full-scale strike could affect the firms computer chip manufacturing and impact the global supply chains of electronics. According to an April report by Techmonitor, the majority of the unions members work in Samsungs smartphone and semiconductor facilities, and an analyst at Gartner told the publication that disruptions in operations could have a major negative ripple impact across the entire semiconductor and electronics value chain, potentially creating undersupply and shortages that could lead to price hikes and product delays. Samsung is one of the worlds top producers of smartphones and chips, and it also works with multiple brands, from Xiaomi and Nvidia to Hyundai and Volkswagen. Its widely expected to launch the next Z Fold and Z Flip devices, along with the highly anticipated Galaxy Ring smart ring, at some point in July. Its unclear how any strike action would affect these releases, if at all, as Samsung has not dealt with this situation in the past. The National Samsung Electronics Union was formed in 2019, despite strong resistance from the companys late founder and following political changes in South Korea and the much publicized legal action against Samsungs Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong. The union is asking for a higher salary increase, a bonus linked to company performance, and additional annual leave. The announcement of the strike follows a series of protests at Samsung offices. However, not all unions are in favor of the action, and some smaller unions will not take part in the action, according to Reuters. Samsung states that discussions with the union are ongoing. A producer of waste collection trucks is planning to add more than 170 jobs to the region by investing $21 million for a new East Coast operation in Rowan County, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Thursday. Amrep Manufacturing Companys new 80,000-square-foot building in Salisbury will be adjacent to the current facility at 1405 Julian Road. It will make front load and automated side load trucks for curbside collection. Amrep is based in Ontario, California, and is a subsidiary of Wastequip, a Charlotte-based manufacturer of waste handing equipment. The business provides waste hauling, collecting, storing and transportation with manufacturing sites in 48 states and Mexico. Amrepexpanded its manufacturing operations several years ago, according to Eric Mattson, president of Wastequips Truck Division. The area provides opportunities for Amrep to have a skilled workforce and help from local and state officials, Mattson added. Salaries will vary by position, but the average annual wage is $57,490, according to a news release from the governors office. Some of the positions at the facility include fabricators, mounters, painters, supervisors, welders. The expansion in will be aided by a Job Development Investment Grant with a 12-year term. It was approved by the states Economic Investment Committee on Thursday. The company may receive a reimbursement of up to $1.61 million over 12 years based on a formula that includes tax revenue from the new jobs. Payments through JDIG will occur if Amrep meets job creation and investment targets. Amreps project is expected to add $335.2 million to the states economy, according to the governors office. A rendering of the Amrep expansion building in Rowan County was released Thursday by economic development officials. The project is expected to bring more than 100 jobs to the Charlotte region. Incentives continue in the region The project in Rowan County comes after a couple other incentive announcements and changes to incentives plans were made this week for the Charlotte region. J&L Machine and Fabrication is planning to create more than 30 jobs in Gaston County with a $2.1 million production expansion project. Cooper made the announcement on Wednesday. The business in Stanley provides steel parts for heavy industrial equipment and machines. In 2018, Charlotte-based financial services provider LendingTree had an incentive agreement with the state to add more than 400 jobs in Mecklenburg County with an average wageof more than $100,000. LendingTree would have received up to $8.3 million in future payroll tax benefits if hiring and investment commitments were met. But LendingTrees stock has declined along with annual revenues since 2021. The state terminated the deal at the companys request on Tuesday, as the company works to rebound from financial woes. Lending Tree did not create jobs through the agreement. State and local incentive money was not distributed to Lending Tree as well. Lending Tree offers online financial services like connecting borrowers to lenders, credit cards, mortgages and personal loans. It was founded in 1996. For the first time in a long while, the United States is serious about increasing domestic semiconductor ("chip") manufacturing. For years, the U.S. has been hyper-reliant on Taiwan for chip production; however, the threat that China will seek to reunify with the island, potentially by force, makes this a massive economic risk. Because of this, the U.S. introduced the CHIPS and Science Act, which provides monetary incentives to companies that increase manufacturing capacity domestically. The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) recently released a report predicting that domestic production capacity will triple by 2032. This is a gigantic boon, considering that U.S. capacity only increased by 11% from 2012 to 2022. The SIA reports 83 new endeavors, $447 billion in investments in 25 states, and over 50,000 jobs created since the CHIPS Act was introduced in 2020. Perhaps the most exciting development is the expected increase in domestic production of advanced logic chips used in artificial intelligence (AI). In 2022, the U.S. held a whopping 0% of the world's capacity. American advanced logic chip capacity will increase to 28% by 2032, according to SIA projections. Here are some companies that will benefit from the upcoming explosion in domestic manufacturing. Intel According to the SIA, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) has received the largest grant of any company thus far at $8.5 billion. It also received $11 billion in loans for projects in Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and Ohio. The total investment in these projects, which include new fabrication plants, expansions, and modernization, is expected to be $100 billion. These projects should have significant long-term benefits for Intel due to increased capacity and efficiency. Intel has fallen from its former glory after missing out on the smartphone revolution (the vast majority use Arm Holdings-designed chips instead of Intel's) and falling behind competitors like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM). The proof is in the pudding, or, in this case, the stock performance: INTC Total Return Level Chart Investing billions in modernization and increased capacity is critical as Intel plays catch-up in the industry. The question is whether it can do this effectively to catch the AI wave washing over the market. Advanced logic chips are critical to AI, and Intel is the only U.S. company that designs and manufactures them. The grants and loans will provide an important boost and defray some of the costs of expansion. Intel reported improved financials in the first quarter, with sales up 9% to $12.7 billion and a narrower operating loss. However, the company is not free-cash-flow-positive and is saddled with $48 billion in long-term debt. The stock trades with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 28, which is higher than TSMC's 25 P/E. Still, Intel has ambitious plans and significant backing from the government as it seeks to increase domestic capacity. The market opportunity is enormous, so it will ultimately come down to Intel's execution. Story continues Taiwan Semiconductor As you can see below, TSMC dominates the global foundry market share with more than 60%, but it isn't resting on its laurels. The company is building three new fabrication plants in Arizona, a $65 billion project financed partly through the CHIPS Act, with $6.6 billion in grants and $5 billion in loans. This diversification to U.S. manufacturing is critical due to Taiwan's geopolitical realities with China. Source: Statista. TSMC's Q1 revenue increased 13% year over year to $19 billion when measured in U.S. dollars. The company has a terrific business model with a 42% operating margin, $14 billion in cash generated from operations, and total assets that outweigh total liabilities by almost three to one. Taiwan Semi stock trades at a P/E of 30 (25 on a forward basis), compared to its five-year average P/E of 23. The market is pricing in the benefits of expansion and a new wave of spending related to AI. Still, this stock is an excellent long-term semiconductor play, so investors should watch closely to capitalize on any short-term dips. Vertiv Holdings Along with the direct beneficiaries of government assistance, there will be many adjacent companies that benefit. AI applications need data centers to process gigantic amounts of information, and data centers need high-performance chips produced by Intel and TSM. As more data centers come online, the companies that make the infrastructure will see tremendous demand. You may not have heard of Vertiv Holdings (NYSE: VRT), but the stock has far outpaced Nvidia over the past year, as shown below. VRT Chart Vertiv provides data centers with critical power, cooling, racking, cabling, other infrastructure, and monitoring and management software. Its Vertiv 360AI product covers all of these challenges in a comprehensive solution. The first quarter saw 8% year-over-year revenue growth for Vertiv, reaching $1.6 billion. But this wasn't the full story. The company reported a 60% increase in orders, pushing its backlog to $6.3 billion. This is a massive number for Vertiv, which earned $6.9 billion in total revenue in 2023 and expects to earn up to $7.7 billion this year. Vertiv's market capitalization of $37 billion isn't outrageous despite the stock's impressive run, given that the company is expecting operating profits of $1.2 billion this year -- $1.35 billion on a non-GAAP (adjusted) basis -- and free cash flow over $800 million. The company is also buying back its stock. It used $600 million to take more than 9 million shares off the market in Q1. Two of Vertiv's partners are industry giants Nvidia and Intel, so this data center infrastructure provider looks like a long-term AI winner. Should you invest $1,000 in Intel right now? Before you buy stock in Intel, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Intel wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $697,878!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of May 28, 2024 Bradley Guichard has positions in Arm Holdings. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends Intel and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel and short May 2024 $47 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. U.S. Chip Manufacturing Could Triple in Less Than a Decade: 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Set to Benefit was originally published by The Motley Fool UAW President Shawn Fain will oversee the unions Stellantis Department going forward, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. The move means the reassignment of those duties from Vice President Rich Boyer, who had been in charge of the department. Boyer will retain his oversight of the unions Competitive Shop/Independents, Parts and Suppliers departments, according to the sources who spoke to the Free Press on Thursday. The sources agreed to talk to the Free Press on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive issues. The UAW declined to comment on the move involving the union department connected to the company that owns the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands. The decision to move the Stellantis Department to the presidents office was not made through the International Executive Board, which is the union's top leadership body. One source described being frustrated with the presidents actions in making the change. UAW Vice President Rich Boyer has had his oversight of the Stellantis Department shifted to UAW President Shawn Fain's office. The union has three vice presidents. The other two, Mike Booth and Chuck Browning, are in charge of the General Motors and Ford departments, respectively. It wasn't immediately clear what precipitated the move. Boyer could not be reached for comment. Its the second shake-up of leadership duties on the International Executive Board in recent months following moves in February to reassign departments that had been under Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock. In that case, the Women's Department went to Region 1 Director LaShawn English and the Technical, Office & Professional Department went to Region 1A Director Laura Dickerson. Fain sent a letter to staff explaining the changes involving Mock as a reorganization of some departments and assignments. More: UAW President Shawn Fain reveals why he thinks Mercedes vote failed An activist group with the union, however, Unite All Workers for Democracy, had posted allegations against Mock on its Facebook page, such as accusing her of refusing to approve expenses related to last years strike against the Detroit Three. Mock said the allegations were not true, and that she must protect the sacred dues dollars that our members work so hard to earn and that they entrust to us to spend wisely in their best interest. Notably, Fain ran on the same reform slate as both Boyer and Mock in the UAWs first direct election that wrapped up early last year, ushering in a more activist approach to organizing and bargaining. That election was a result of the agreement with the federal government following the corruption scandal that sent numerous ex-UAW officials and auto executives to prison. Story continues Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: UAW shake-up: Fain now overseeing Stellantis Department A Georgia-based developer saw a vision of what an ugly piece of land in Phenix City could become. After more than two years of work on the land, the developer is beginning to construct a new retail and commercial development in the area. Located off Highway 280, near the Waffle House and ALDI, the real estate development firm Lindstrom & Company is investing $13.5 million to transform 11.6 acres into a development hosting a mix of national brands and essential services for the community. Local city officials with the city managers office, economic development and Chamber of Commerce were instrumental in working with Lindstrom & Company in making this development happen, said Phenix City Councilman Steve Bailey. Nothing happens without good relationships, Phenix City Mayor Eddie Lowe said during the groundbreaking ceremony. Phenix City Mayor Eddie Lowe speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning for a large development by Lindstrom & Company on HWY 280 in Phenix City, Alabama. 05/30/2024 Relationships are not one sided, he said. Relationships are wholesome (that includes) everyone. And thats what Scott (Lindstrom) has decided to do here in Phenix City. Filling a void for residents Tenants of the development include: AT&T Jersey Mikes Subs Peachtree Immediate Care Starbucks Chipotle Outback Steakhouse Valvoline Bringing these businesses to Phenix City feels a void felt by local residents, said Shaun Culligan, Phenix City economic development manager. Shaun Culligan, the Phenix City economic development manager, speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning for a large development on HWY 280 in Phenix City, Alabama. 05/30/2024 No one knows Mallory Davis, Culligan said, but the Phenix City resident will now be able to get Starbucks without driving to Columbus. Culligans pastor can now get his Chipotle fix without having to leave town. Another resident Culligan spoke with was happy to hear there will be a Jersey Mikes, he said, and Culligans wife is now expecting more date nights at Outback. The hardest part of my job in some cases is knowing things that my friends and family dont know that theyve been asking for for years, Culligan said. And this is one of those developments that did that. Along with a multitude of service jobs, the developments biggest economic benefit for Phenix City will be seen in a boost in sales tax revenue. The state of Alabama runs on sales tax, Culligan said. Property tax tends to be quite low, so sales tax is really the lifeblood of a community. This is true in Phenix City, he said, and the development is full of sales tax producing entities. The ugliest property Building developments like this in Phenix City has been difficult in the past because of topography, Culligan said, and its one of the reasons some developers passed by on the city in the past. After doing market research, the company realized Phenix City was a void for major retailers and restaurants in the Columbus metropolitan statistical area, said Scott Lindstrom, founder of Lindstrom & Company. Story continues Scott Lindstrom, owner and developer at Lindstrom & Company Real Estate Development, answers questions after a Thursday morning groundbreaking ceremony for their development along HWY 280 in Phenix City, Alabama. 05/30/2024 The potential of the land off Highway 280 wasnt immediately evident when Lindstroms broker first brought him to the location. Why are you bringing me to a hole?, Lindstrom asked his broker. But after looking more into the property, and acknowledging the potential challenges, Lindstrom determined developing the land was feasible. Some of the major topography problems with the site included wetlands and unsuitable soil. Lindstrom & Company Real Estate Development, along with community leaders, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning for their development along HWY 280 in Phenix City, Alabama. 05/30/2024 Working around heavy rains delayed the project as well. But now building construction will begin next month, Lindstrom said, and the developer expects to start opening businesses in late fall ahead of the holiday shopping season. (Lindstrom) took the ugliest property and made it look extremely well, Lowe said during the ceremony. Image source: The Motley Fool. UiPath (NYSE: PATH) Q1 2025 Earnings Call May 29, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET Contents: Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants Prepared Remarks: Operator Greetings, and welcome to the UiPath first quarter 2025 earnings conference call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. A brief question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. [Operator instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Allise Furlani, senior director of investor relations. Thank you, Elias. You may begin. Allise Furlani -- Senior Director, Investor Relations Good afternoon, and thank you for joining us today to review UiPath's first quarter fiscal 2025 financial results, which we announced in our earnings press release issued after the close of the market today. On the call with me are Daniel Dines, UiPath's founder and chief innovation officer; and Ashim Gupta, chief financial officer, to deliver our prepared comments and answer questions. Our earnings press release and financial supplemental materials are posted on the UiPath investor relations website, ir.uipath.com. These materials include GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations we will be discussing non-GAAP metrics on today's call. This afternoon's call includes forward-looking statements about our ability to drive growth and operational efficiency and grow our platform, as well as our financial guidance for the second quarter and full fiscal year 2025. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements due to many factors, and therefore, investors should not place undue reliance on these statements. For a discussion of the material risks and uncertainties that could affect our actual results, please refer to our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31st, 2024, and our subsequent reports filed with the SEC including our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended April 30th, 2024, to be filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements made on this call reflect our views as of today. Should you invest $1,000 in UiPath right now? Before you buy stock in UiPath, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and UiPath wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $697,878!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. Story continues See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of May 28, 2024 We undertake no obligation to update them. I would like to highlight that this webcast is being accompanied by slides. We will post the slides and a copy of our prepared remarks to our investor relations website immediately following the conclusion of this call. In addition, please note that all comparisons are year over year, unless otherwise indicated. Now, I would like to hand the call over to Daniel. Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer Thank you, Allise. Good afternoon, everyone. Thanks for joining us. I'd like to start today by addressing the announcement we made this afternoon and then I'll give a quick summary of our first quarter results and revised outlook including an update on our path forward. I will then walk through a few highlights from the quarter before I hand it over to Ashim to go through our financials and guidance in more detail. As you may have seen in our press release this afternoon, Rob Enslin is leaving the company and has also resigned as a member of the board. Rob played a significant role over the last two years, and I know I'm speaking for the entire company when I say that we are very grateful for his contribution to UiPath. With Rob leaving the company, I'm excited to step back into the CEO role and look forward to leading us through our next phase of profitable growth and innovation. During the past year, I had the privilege of immersing myself in our product and engineering efforts. This experience gives me invaluable clarity on our path forward. At the time, when companies are looking to optimize costs and drive efficiencies without sacrificing innovation, especially around generative our platform enables them to harness the power of the AI to achieve actionable outcomes. As we look to the future of automation, our focus isn't just on boosting productivity and efficiency, it's also about redefining what's possible with the breadth of our AI-powered platform as capabilities. The impact that the combination of generative AI and automation provides our customers is significant and it's expanding from our early customers like SMBC and Orange to customers that have grown and expanded significantly over the last year, like USDA and ACA, they continue to emphasize how the combination of automation and AI deliver through our platform is transforming their business and enabling them to thrive in today's environment. We view generative AI as a secular tailwind that will continue to benefit our business and the catalysts for continuing to innovate across our platform to expand our competitive moat. Turning to our first quarter results. ARR grew 21% year over year to $1.508 billion, driven by first quarter net new ARR of $44 million excluding the FX headwind of $3 million net new ARR totaled $47 million. Revenue grew to $335 million, an increase of 16% year over year, normalizing for the FX headwind of approximately $8 million, revenue grew 18% year over year. While our top-line results were generally in line with our guidance range, we are not satisfied with our performance and I'd like to give you more color on a few key factors that impacted first quarter results. First, while we had a healthy start to the quarter, we saw the pace slow as we progressed through the second half of March and into April. This was primarily due to the impact of a challenging macroeconomic environment that we see persisting with mid-market customers, as well as a change in customer behavior, particularly with large multiyear deals. As a result, several large expansion opportunities closed with the reduced size were pushed out of the quarter. Second, we saw inconsistent execution, which included contract execution challenges on large deals and certain sales compensation changes, which we are working to rectify. While customer behavior is often a function of the broader macroeconomic environment, execution is something we can control. And we recognize that we need to improve predictability on large multiyear deals. Third, our growth products such as IDP and test automation are producing positive results. However, there is a need to have a deeper execution strategy to scale these products to reach their full potential. And lastly, the investments we have made to reaccelerate growth have fallen short of our expectations, made us less agile in responding to customer needs, and created short-term pressure on operating margins, all of which we are committed to rectifying. Now let me address our outlook going forward. Our revised second quarter and fiscal 2025 guidance are not where we expect them to be. That being said, we don't expect the macro environment to improve materially in the near term. And we believe it is prudent to guide assuming variability we saw at the end of the first quarter will continue. It also takes into account the leadership transition, which can create some short-term disruption. As we look to the future, we are laser-focused on enhancing our execution including improved sales linearity and deal scrutiny, driving higher efficiency across sales and the broader organization, and driving a deeper and more execution-oriented strategy for our growth products. We are also shifting the way we engage with customers to reinvigorate our line of business engagement with an industry-tailored approach. Lastly, we plan to go back to our roots, building a truly customer-centric organization, where innovating with our customers and partners is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that this foundational work will help us better address customer needs, accelerate adoption of our platform, and position us to drive market share gains over the medium and long term. I want to be clear, we are optimistic about the role of our business automation platform plays in digital transformation. The core foundation of our business remains strong, and we are making progress on our long-term strategic plan, which includes releasing innovative new features and products like Autopilot continuing to deepen our relationships with meaningful partners like SAP, and building a strong community of developers. Lastly, despite some of the top-line challenges, we are still expecting to generate $300 million of non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow for the full fiscal year 2025. Turning to a few highlights from the quarter. I am energized by the incredible events we hosted, including our annual AI Summit, which once again proved to be a great success with over 5,000 registered attendees. We introduced new innovations focused around the key factors that business leaders are looking for when they embed AI in their automation program, business context, AI model flexibility, actionability and trust. These innovations included our family of large language models, or LLMs, DocPATH, and CommPATH, which combine the best of generative AI and specialized AI to empower our customers to understand and process any document and a huge variety of message types by narrowing the focus, but retaining the vast power of Gen AI, our specialized LLMs significantly outperformed the output accuracy of currently available out of the box LLMs. We also introduced context grounding a new feature within the UiPath AI trust layer that helps businesses improve the accuracy of Gen AI models by extracting information from company-specific data sets. And lastly, we announced exciting new updates for Autopilot, including the release of Autopilots for developers and testers into general availability in June. We have seen tremendous interest from our customers across diverse industries ranging from technology and automotive to pharmaceuticals and advertising and including some of the largest companies in the world, such as Dentsu, Wesco, and Cigniti. While still in its early days, Autopilot has already garnered positive feedback and excitement among customers for its innovative use of generative AI to take action across application stacks lowering barriers to entry and accelerating time to value. On the go-to-market front, momentum continued with our first UiPath on-tour event, AI at work public sector in Washington, D.C. The energy and engagement in the room were palpable with over 1,000 public sector leaders and implementation partners in attendance. It was truly inspiring to witness firsthand how our platform is empowering public sector agencies to modernize their IT infrastructure and navigate the cloud with confidence. We also had the opportunity to highlight our recently achieved FedRAMP authorization. This milestone creates opportunities for public sector organizations to elevate their operations through the transformative power of automation, and we are already seeing customer interest, closing several deals in the first quarter, including an existing customer who expanded as they plan to leverage FedRAMP to move to the cloud while purchasing document understanding to drive efficiencies throughout their organization. Moving on to our partner ecosystem. Partners continue to be a core pillar of our go-to-market strategy and GSIs are building long-term differentiated businesses with us. During the quarter, we had the great partner-supported expansion with WEC Energy Group, with consolidating their automation efforts onto our end-to-end platform with Accenture's continued strategic support, they are now planning to leverage our AI-enabled capabilities, including document understanding, aimed at enhancing customer care and agent productivity and driving additional operational efficiencies and insights. Partners are also driving new logo wins, including VHI Group, the largest private health insurer in Ireland. With the help of EY, we develop a plan to drive long-term digital transformation across their organization. They are in the process of leveraging document understanding to automate elements of their claims journey and core automation to drive the digitalization across the organization, strategic partnerships are an important element of our strategy, and we continue to strengthen our relationship with SAP, which provides us with access to large transformation budgets, new buying centers and the SAP enterprise sales machine. During the quarter, we saw continued success, including an expansion with an Italian eyewear conglomerate, who will be leveraging our platform capabilities to support their migration to SAP S/4HANA. They are also in the process of expanding their usage of Document Understanding to optimize invoice and payment processing. From a technical partnership perspective, just last week, we announced our expanded partnership with Microsoft, launching a powerful integration with Copilot for Microsoft 365. This integration enables joint customers to automate end-to-end business processes and enhance the end-user experience with UiPath. Our focus on innovation is consistently recognized by third-party research analysts. And over the last several months, we received multiple industry awards. This has included a recognition in Everest Group's intelligent document processing products, PEAK Matrix assessment 2024 where we were named a leader for the second year in a row, being recognized for our vision capabilities and market impact. Our leadership position in IDP is driving demand across our customer base. For example, Schaeffler Technologies, a customer since 2018, expanded to Communications Mining and Document Understanding in the quarter as they look to automate invoice processing, quality control documents, shipping documents maintenance records. Our continuous discovery capabilities are also fueling our momentum, and we were recently recognized as a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for process mining platform research report. Customers recognize that transformational outcomes they can achieve when they combine our discovery capabilities with our automation products, including a new logo this quarter with one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in North America. The customer had been using Celonis, but realized they needed a tool that not only identifies bottlenecks, but also gives them the ability to take action. Our outcome-focused messaging and full platform of capabilities resonated with the customer, resulting in competitive displacement. We see an opportunity to share our experience and passion for fostering the next generation of innovative technology solutions, and this includes our recent investment in the H Company. Founded by leading AI scientists and researchers, their vision is to reach full artificial general intelligence, as they commercially deploy foundational action models. In addition to our investment, we are collaborating with them on a commercial partnership. We believe what the H Company is building goes beyond the capabilities of LLMs and will be helpful as we drive a new era of agentic process automation where AI agents collaborate with workers dynamically to reinvent business processes. Personally, I am thrilled to be working with such an exceptional founding team on their journey. Before I turn it over to Ashim, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Raghu Malpani, our new appointed chief technology officer. Raghu comes to us with a wealth of experience in fostering and guiding forward thinking, collaborative, and customer-focused engineering teams. We are incredibly excited to have him on board and we are confident that his expertise will further elevate our team while delivering best-in-class innovative solutions to our customers. I am proud of the advancements we have made over the last year including the great talent we've added to our P&E team, and it gives me great confidence in their ability to drive our long-term product strategy while I am transitioning back to the CEO role. As I said several times, we are not satisfied with our results and outlook. As the founder of UiPath, I am energized to step back into the CEO role improve execution, and refocus the company on our customers and partners. We remain committed to driving durable growth while maintaining strong profitability. With that, I'll turn the call over to Ashim. Ashim Gupta -- Chief Financial Officer Thank you, Daniel, and good afternoon, everyone. Unless otherwise indicated, I will be discussing results on a non-GAAP basis, and all growth rates are year over year I also want to note that since we price and sell in local currency, fluctuations in FX rates impact results. Turning to the first quarter. ARR totaled $1.508 billion, an increase of 21% driven by net new ARR of $44 million. Excluding the FX headwind of $3 million, net new ARR totaled $47 million. We ended the quarter with approximately 10,800 customers, including new logos like Boomi, Flexjet, Zen business, True Consulting, and Calix. As we mentioned over the last several quarters, the vast majority of our customer attrition continues to be in smaller customers, which in aggregate represents an immaterial portion of our overall business. Moving on to customer metrics. Customers with $100,000 or more in ARR increased to 2,092, while customers with $1 million or more in ARR totaled 288. Our largest customers are also continuing to expand on our platform, and we added a record number of customers with $5 million or more in ARR. Dollar-based gross retention of 98% continues to be best-in-class and our dollar-based net retention rate for the quarter was 118%. The breadth of our platform capabilities continues to drive expansion across our customer base, including Red Bull, who began with core automation and expanded in the quarter, purchasing Test Suite and Document Understanding. They plan to leverage Test Suite to accelerate their S/4HANA migration while utilizing document understanding to automate various use cases across their finance operations and HR departments and Etihad Airways, who expanded to the full platform this quarter as they plan to leverage our platform to support and build more AI automations across commercial and operational functions. Revenue grew to $335 million, an increase of 16% year over year. Normalizing for the FX headwind of approximately $8 million, revenue grew 18%. Remaining performance obligations increased to $1.101 billion, up 22% year over year. Current RPO increased to $683 million. Turning to expenses. We delivered a first quarter overall gross margin of 86%, and software gross margin was 90%. First quarter operating expenses were $238 million. GAAP operating loss of $49 million included $89 million of stock-based compensation expense. Non-GAAP operating income was $50 million, resulting in a first quarter non-GAAP operating margin of 15%. Excluding the FX headwind of $6 million, non-GAAP operating income was $57 million or a non-GAAP operating margin of 17%. We are pleased with the progress we are making with our AI products such as Autopilot and our new LLMs and we plan to continue to invest in the necessary hosting costs to drive product development and adoption. The market is evolving rapidly, and we view these investments as key to unlocking growth opportunities in the future. That said, our first half spend is timing-related as we feel appropriately budgeted for the overall year. We expect to continue to drive strong cost discipline across the organization. First quarter non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow was $101 million. As of April 30th, we had $1.9 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and no debt. We remain committed to our $500 million buyback program as we repurchased 938,000 shares of our Class A common stock at an average price of $23.46 from February 1st, 2024, through April 30th, 2024. Turning to guidance. I'd like to provide context around our updated outlook for the second quarter and remainder of the fiscal year. As Daniel mentioned, in mid-March, we began seeing increased deal scrutiny and longer sales cycle with our large multiyear deals. Our updated guidance takes into consideration both the macroeconomic environment, our leadership transition and improved operating discipline, which will take time to implement. Because of the complexities of ASC 606, we run and manage our business on ARR, which is most representative of the underlying performance of our business. We are taking a prudent view on the contribution of large multiyear deals. And as a result, there is an outsized impact on our revenue guidance due to ASC 606 revenue recognition. This outsized revenue impact is the main driver of our reduction in non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow for the remainder of the year. Profitability remains a core pillar of our go-forward strategy, and we will continue to drive efficiencies across our business to generate strong operating margins and meaningful non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow. For the second quarter of fiscal 2025, we expect revenue in the range of $300 million to $305 million, ARR in the range of $1.543 billion to $1.548 billion. Non-GAAP operating income of approximately breakeven. And we expect second quarter basic share count to be approximately 574 million shares. For the fiscal full year 2025, we now expect revenue in the range of $1.405 billion to $1.410 billion, ARR in the range of $1.660 billion to $1.665 billion, non-GAAP operating income of approximately $145 million. And finally, we now expect fiscal year 2025 non-GAAP adjusted free cash flow of approximately $300 million. Thank you for joining us today, and we look forward to speaking with many of you during the quarter. With that, I will now turn the call over to the operator. Operator, please poll for questions. Questions & Answers: Operator Thank you. We will now be conducting a question-and-answer session. [Operator instructions] We ask that you limit yourself to one question and one follow-up. If you have additional questions, you may requeue and time permitting those questions will be answered. One moment please while we pull for questions. Thank you. Our first question comes from the line of Jake Roberge with William Blair. Please proceed with your question. Jake Roberge -- William Blair and Company -- Analyst Hi, thanks for taking my questions. Just if we could just start off, could you help us better understand kind of what's changed over the last few months? I understand the environment has gotten worse. But when you referenced the issues for those large multiyear deals, is that just scrutiny on deals? Are you seeing more competitive pressures that are causing customers to churn off of certain deployments or completely drop out of the pipeline? Just curious if you could flesh out some of those issues that you're seeing with the large deals. Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer Hi, Jake. Thank you for the question. Yes. I think that around six, seven weeks ago, we were starting to see some pressure, especially on the large multiyear deals. Some of them got shrank. Some of them got postponed. We are not seeing the cause as being from a competitive standpoint. I think it's a combination of factors. Macroeconomical environment is variable and customers are a bit more cautious, and they do more scrutiny into the deals. Another factor for us was a change in the sales comp that happened at the beginning of this fiscal year. And we incentivized a little bit less the multiyear deals, which in retrospect, it was an execution issue. And also, I would say, for us, some late-stage deal execution challenges were identified. To give you some examples, some kind of, in one deal, it was procurement error that happened late into the quarter. Another deal, it was a budget reprioritization that we got, were a little bit too late in the quarter. Jake Roberge -- William Blair and Company -- Analyst OK. Helpful. And then for the customers that are renewing at lower rates, how pronounced has that partial churn been in those contracts? And to the extent that you have visibility into it, why are customers turning off those use cases? Is it just digesting what they overbought in prior contracts? Or are there any other issues that play there? Ashim Gupta -- Chief Financial Officer This is Ashim. When you look at our churn rates, actually, when you look at it as a percentage of our renewable base, we've said this historically, they're relatively constant, right? So, I don't look at churn as something that is having an outsized impact versus our expectations. Of course, we always want to work harder to drive those numbers to have better benefits, so to speak, or have more productivity year over year with respect to those down-sells, but it is not actually a driver. So, we don't see customers turning off use cases, so to speak, to be -- Operator Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Mark Murphy with J.P. Morgan. Please proceed with your question. Arti Vula -- JPMorgan Chase and Company -- Analyst Hi, thanks for taking the question. This is Arti Vula for Mark Murphy. First question is, I think you mentioned during the prepared remarks, if I understood correctly, a shift toward sales motion that's more verticalized. I'd love to hear why you think that's like the right approach and why now and what the timeline is toward kind of making that happen. Thank you. Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer Yeah. So, we announced our strategy to verticalize our approach in go-to-market for quite some time, Mark. And I think with that happening in the AI world, it's even a better time today. For instance, we are seeing some of our best return on our investments in go-to-market in healthcare, in financial services, in public sector. And they were driven largely by our investments in AI, particularly in IDP. We built more than like 70 dedicated models, industry models that are really helping with our sales effort. Arti Vula -- JPMorgan Chase and Company -- Analyst Great. Thank you. And then just in some of the headwinds that you described, I know you called out macro versus kind of some internal things you guys are trying to improve on. Is there any way you can help us kind of understand, is it more macro, more than internal challenges to kind of get a qualitative sense of what the proportion is? Thanks. Ashim Gupta -- Chief Financial Officer Yeah. It really is a combination of both. It's very hard to quantify and give you an accurate distinction between the two. That said, I think we understand the macroeconomic environment is going to be variable. So, we're focused on what we can control. And as Daniel talked about, improving deal execution, driving increased alignment in terms of just across our overall teams, and being closer to the customer, we're confident both in our market leadership and our strategy. And if we nail those execution things. Those are the items that are in our control and positions us well for the long term. Operator Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Raimo Lenschow with Barclays. Please proceed with your question. Shell McMeans -- Barclays -- Analyst Hi, this is Shell McMeans on for Raimo. Thanks for taking our question. So, it seems like part of the issue is around lengthening sales cycles for large multiyear deals, and you discussed the change in sales comp incentivized these large deals less given the current macro, is the solution to break these deals down and land smaller? Or is it to incentivize larger deals more? And do you see a need to change the messaging there? Thanks. Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer Well, I think that there is a need to rectify some of the sales comp, but we are not going back to the same level as last year. So, Shell, I would say that I think we are tuning right now our sales comp. We went a little bit too much in the opposite direction and in regard to incentivizing multiyear deals. So, I think I am positive that we can land in a middle ground that will really help us in our growth rates for this year and into next year. Shell McMeans -- Barclays -- Analyst Understood. And a quick follow-up. Can you speak to the investment in HAI and how does that play into your overall AI strategy? And any color on the commercial relationship and maybe what's expected there? And then how do you see potential success around developing these models that are capable of reasoning and performing more complex tasks. Do you expect that to change the automation market? Thanks. Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer I'm very excited about our investment into HAI company. Actually, I was driving it directly from our side. And I got to know them pretty well. It's a great team of researchers. They have previous experience into relevant field in AI and we have kind of a common goal to advance our agenda of what we call right now, genetic process automation. And to me, it's the ability of a model to get the knowledge of a particular task and combine this knowledge with the ability to execute the task on the top of our platform. I think if we combine the assets that we have, our understanding of processes with their prowess in this dedicated research, we are in a very good position to build one of the most advanced agentic model today. To be clear, what I feel that this model has the most applicability is still in the personal productivity space where people are facing a lot of tasks with varied types of complexity, but the tasks are tougher in itself very diverse. And it's not economically feasible to go to have pay developers to go and automate these tasks. A lot of times, they have a lot of unstructured data, the steps in the tasks are extremely diverse. So, this is where, in my opinion, is going to be the sweet spot of this agentic process automation, especially in the first phase. If I can say I would think it more like self-driving cars that today, it's more of an assisted technology. And it requires a really significant leap into getting into autonomous self-driving. It's going to be, in my opinion, the same trajectory for agentic model. Operator Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Kirk Materne with Evercore ISI. Please proceed with your question. Chirag Ved -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst Hi, this is Chirag Ved on for Kirk. Thanks for taking the question. Following up on the first question that was asked, when you're thinking about large customers extending their cycles, are you seeing them stay on the sidelines as they're reevaluating their Gen AI strategies? And how do you see UiPath's positioning within these companies evolve as their AI strategies mature over time? Thank you. Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer I want to start by saying that the AI and Gen AI is a tailwind for us. And we have invested significantly over the years and in particular, over last year in Gen AI. In June, we are going to launch our first series of Autopilots in GA. And there is a lot of excitement around our customers about using our Autopilot to drive more adoption to reduce the time to value and overall reduce the total cost of ownership. This being said, I think that AI is creating a little bit of confusion with our customers. And they are evaluating what kind of tasks are better suitable to automate the AI, what tasks are better with using our platform. But what I hear from many of our customers. It's actually the combination between Gen AI and automation, it's something that makes a lot of sense to them. We said it before, but it's like the human body, and it's -- AI is the brain and our platform is the arms and the legs. And the combination makes a lot of sense for most of our customers. Chirag Ved -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst All right. Thank you. Operator Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Bryan Bergin with TD Cowen. Please proceed with your question. Bryan Bergin -- TD Cowen -- Analyst Hi, thank you. I wanted to ask, as far as the deal scrutiny goes, the smaller deal sizes, the postponements, is that broad-based across the business? Or has it been more so in particular industries or regions? Ashim Gupta -- Chief Financial Officer Brian, it's broad-based. I don't think -- it's not that we're zoned in on one particular area. So, from a multiyear deal perspective, that's broad. When we talk about the macroeconomic environment and the variability, we definitely see a more pronounced impact on the smaller mid-market customers as we've seen and been talking about historically. Bryan Bergin -- TD Cowen -- Analyst OK. And then on the execution issues of the strategic initiatives that were not working as intended here, you mentioned the sales comp dynamic. Are there other notable examples that you've identified you could talk about? And how are you thinking about the time frame over which some of the intended changes may take? Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer Well, I think the sales comp, it's fixable pretty quickly. And we see as having an impact into the second part of the year. There are other initiatives that we are focusing on. For instance, one of the big change that I want to bring to UiPath right now is to come back and become a fanatical customer-centric company. I think we went to a distance to go and pitch our business to C level, which is actually great. But the reality is that we have to increase our adoption by taking care of our traditional line of business customers within the CIO suite, which I think, will benefit a lot more for a new reverted customer-centric approach. Other things that work I think where segmentation was really working, and we feel positive about it. We have a lot to do in the partnership side of the business. We have also created some of our global structures that, in some ways, I think, are slowing down our decision-making process. So, I'm considering changes into and to bring some of our global teams into the regions. But overall, we have a strong foundation, both in product and go-to-market. And I am pretty bullish on what we can execute into this year and into subsequent years. Operator Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Matthew Hedberg with RBC Capital Markets. Please proceed with your question. Mike Richards -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst Hey, it's Mike Richards on for Matt. Thanks for taking the question. Maybe Daniel, going off your last answer there, maybe you could talk more to kind of what broader strategy changes you're going to make coming back into your role as CEO? And are you going to be stepping more away from the product side, especially with bringing in Raghu, would just love some more color on that. Thanks. Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer Yeah. Thank you, Mike. I'm actually quite happy to be back in the CEO role. I had time in doing the product and engineering for the past year or so to reflect on what I am doing best, how can I have the biggest impact? And I think that right now, I would like to bring more together the big functional teams in UiPath. I think when I say customer centricity, I don't mean only go to market. I mean, product go-to-market marketing and even HR and finance because, for instance, I don't think we pitch enough to our customers how well our internal automation program is, and it spans multiple divisions in UiPath. And also, there is something that is more maybe on the intangible side that I want to bring back in this company. And it's more on the joy of working together. I have a feeling that we've become maybe a little bit having the mentality of too big of a company, and we've become a bit siloed. So, I want to bring back the ethos of how we run in the business, how we grow our business. And it was when all our functions collaborated really well. Everyone in this company was willing to help, we communicated to each other. I see more fluidity. So, this is another important change that I want to drive. Operator Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Terry Tillman with Truist Securities. Please proceed with your question. Connor Passarella -- Truist Securities -- Analyst Great. How's it going guys? This is Connor Passarella for Terry. I appreciate you taking the questions. I just wanted to start, one, Daniel, you talked about the key pillar of go-to-market strategy being to partners kind of want to dig into how are you working with your partners to, I guess, promote solid execution through a continued shift in the go-to-market strategies, especially some of the bigger ones you mentioned SAP, Microsoft, Deloitte, just kind of curious on what's kind of driving the partnership ecosystem. Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer Yeah. I think that we have emphasized in the past, our focus on going with large GSIs. Accenture is, as you name it, is one of our biggest partner, and we continue to drive the deals with them. We have also named into our earnings transcripts and they help us lending sizable deals. Our partnership, I'm particularly bullish on our partnership with SAP. We are starting to see signs of improved pipe. And also, we have quite a good relationship between our leadership teams. And I'm seeing a positive impact, especially into next year from our SAP relationship. I would also talk a little bit about the Microsoft partnership and the recently announced cooperation with Microsoft Copilot, I think it's worth mentioning. And to my previous point about AI and automation interacting and delivering together value to the customer. This is actually a great example where the copilot can provide the necessary context to the automation that is taking the action. And in the recent Build 2024 show of Microsoft, both Satya and Scott Guthrie mentioned us in their keynote just to point out how important our relationship is to Microsoft and of course, to us. Connor Passarella -- Truist Securities -- Analyst Got it. That's helpful. Maybe just as a follow-up, $300 million in free cash flow, guide for the year. Balance sheet remains pretty healthy. Just kind of curious about the continued focus on capital allocation and what the strategy might be there. I know you're still buying back shares. Just curious on the appetite to continue doing that and also maybe some M&A? Just kind of curious on how you're thinking about the cash balance, free cash flow for the year. Thanks, guys. Ashim Gupta -- Chief Financial Officer Yeah. Look, I think that we're very happy with the free cash flow generation that we're able to provide here. We're committed to continuing to drive efficiency within the company. Like you mentioned, we have a strong balance sheet, which gives us a lot of optionality. And so, I think we're going to be opportunistic and do what's in the best interest of the company. And that's a discussion that we have every day and every week, and we'll just continue to have those discussions and make decisions as they become opportunistic for us. Operator Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Michael Turrin with Wells Fargo Securities. Please proceed with your question. Michael Turrin -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst Hey, great, thanks. Appreciate you taking the question. Maybe just a two-parter for Ashim, if I may. The free cash flow guide is down by less than the operating income guide. First part is just what's driving the difference. Any color there is helpful as we're recasting our models? And then just bigger picture, how you think about the trade-offs between shifting more toward margin if this more challenged environment remains more persistent versus investing into adjacent product opportunities given tangential interests and AI in other areas that you're closely associated with, which could help catalyze growth. Thanks. Ashim Gupta -- Chief Financial Officer Great questions. I'll take the first one that you mentioned and address it right off the top. The first is I want to remind everybody that we follow ASC 606 accounting. When you have multiyear deals that are impacted, that has a more or an outsized impact to revenue. And you can see that even the differential between our revenue growth rate and our ARR growth rate, right? Within our guidance, we're talking about a 14% ARR growth rate, which is significantly better than the revenue growth rate for the reasons that the complexities of 606, both deployment, as well as duration impacts our accounting. So, when you impact revenue, that obviously flows through down through operating margin. And conversely, revenue does not have an impact on free cash flow. So, our billings are collections. We do see some level of volume pressure, as we've talked about, between the macroeconomic variability, as well as the execution items that Daniel highlighted. So, that has just a lesser impact when you look at the pure volume equation. And we continue to run with operating discipline, which means free cash flow stays front and center. With regard to your second question, I'd phrase it that we don't believe that there's a fundamental -- there are opposing forces of being able to invest and being able to generate free cash flow. So, we stay committed to our long-term margins that we've talked about historically, and yet we're able to invest in the company. We're able to invest within our AI strategy. We're able to invest in great opportunities like HAI that Daniel talked about. And we're committed to investing in our platform got great response from our customers in terms of the breadth of capabilities that we continue to offer and continue to launch. So, we believe that we can do that while continuing to drive efficiencies across our company. And we believe that there are still efficiencies to be had, particularly in G&A and sales and marketing, and that's a discussion and an operating rhythm that we have with a lot of focus within the company. Operator Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Alex Zukin with Wolfe Research. Please proceed with your question. Ryan Krieger -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst Hi, guys. This is Ryan Krieger on for Alex. Thanks for taking the question. I just want to circle back to something you said in the prepared remarks. You talked about some deals getting pushed out of the quarter, particularly for large contract customers. Have you started to see some of those deals close in 2Q? And are they also closing smaller than maybe originally anticipated like you saw in 1Q? Or have some of them been lost completely? Are they still in the pipeline? Just any more context around that would be super helpful. Ashim Gupta -- Chief Financial Officer Yeah. We didn't -- I would say the color that I would give is it's a mixed bag. The only thing is we don't really see losses. When we look at the deals that customers are making decisions on, our win rate continues to be very strong and consistent with what we've seen historically. In terms of closure within the second quarter, yeah, there are some deals that are closing, and there are some deals that will continue to -- that we have a path that we're continuing to work through all of which we've contemplated in the guidance numbers that we have in front of us. That being said, overall, we've taken a more prudent view just given the macroeconomic variability and the timing to work through the execution items regarding our overall guidance for the year. Ryan Krieger -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst Great. Thank you very much. Operator Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Scott Berg with Needham and Company. Please proceed with your question. Scott Berg -- Needham and Company -- Analyst Hi, everyone. Thanks for taking my questions. Sorry, I'm going to take the slightly insensitive question because I know everyone is going to ask it, kind of a two-parter here. I guess first is can you give us any additional clarity in terms of Rob's departure because it is kind of sudden at least relative to, I think, everyone's expectations. And then, Daniel, how do you view your current term as CEO? Is this a longer-term endeavor or something that maybe little more short term because I know you're excited to kind of just go back and focus on product, but obviously, this is a pivot and change. Thank you. Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer Well, they are really good questions, Scott. No offense taken really. Look, Rob was leaving for personal reasons. Rob and I are in good terms, and he will continue to be an advisor to the company. We were partners in many of our strategic decisions and in a way that makes it a bit easier for me to step back into day-to-day operational role. And again, I had time to reflect on who I am, what I am, what I want from life and UiPath is such an important part of me that I cannot see myself separated from the company in all fairness. So, my intention is to stay CEO for the foreseeable future. I'm fully committed to the job. And if you look back, I was the CEO of this company since its inception for like 17 years, I drove the company from zero to $2 billion-plus through a successful IPO. I'm happy to be fully back in. Scott Berg -- Needham and Company -- Analyst Excellent. I look forward to those continued conversations with Daniel. And then just from a brief follow-up, Ashim, I appreciate all the 606 commentary and recognize the impact on the model in the short term. because it's certainly unique among most of our software companies. But how do we think about margin leverage kind of going forward? Is this really just a function of getting sales back on track maybe over the next couple of quarters and early next year, hopefully, when the environment kind of moderates and improves for you all? Or I guess there's some opportunities maybe to further adjust your cost structure as you maybe look into late this next year or late this year or next year? Ashim Gupta -- Chief Financial Officer Yeah. Thanks for the question. The first thing I would say is we have to recognize just given the accounting standard that we follow, I think free cash flow is a more appropriate measure of our overall margin for the company, which continues to be very robust at $300 million, right? That continues to be a very high margin rate -- free cash flow margin rate that is there. That being said, I think it comes both ways. We still feel excited about the market opportunity and the customer fit and the customer feedback that we see. It's why we're investing within AI and continuing to invest in our platform. We've had great response from our customers that have expanded like USDA, HCA and we've had great new logos or new customers that we're excited to see start the journey with us. So, we feel like growth is something that will continue to be a leverage lever for us as we go forward. That being said, like we talked about earlier in the Q&A, I think that there is ample opportunity both within G&A and sales and marketing for us to be able to continue to drive efficiencies and we do that smartly. We don't feel like we have to make abrupt decisions. And we're thoughtful about the overall strategic areas that we're investing in. So, I think we can both invest in the company while continuing to drive margins, while the environment continues to moderate, as you mentioned. Operator Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Jason Celino with KeyBanc Capital Markets. Please proceed with your question. Jason Celino -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst Great. Thanks for fitting me in. Maybe just one for Ashim. It looks like the ARR guide for the year is coming down by about 5 points. And it sounds like you're baking in some extra conservatism, but is there any way to unpack the impact from the macro degradation, the execution challenges you've talked about and then the management changes? Ashim Gupta -- Chief Financial Officer I think unpacking quantitatively, it's very hard to model distinctly. There's obviously reinforcing factors to all of the items, and it's hard to disaggregate them as I discussed. That being said, I think that our commentary earlier really holds. I think that the macroeconomic variability impacts those larger multiyear deals. And I think there's opportunity to offset some of that pressure with the actions that Daniel talked about, which we're committed to correcting on the execution front. So, I wouldn't disaggregate it. I think that there is a good opportunity where execution can continue to help moderate the impacts of the macroeconomic environment, which is what we've assumed in our guidance. Operator Thank you. There are no further questions at this time. I would like to turn the floor back over to management for closing comments. Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer Thank you so much, everyone, for taking the time. And I'm looking forward to meeting many of you over the next few days and going forward. Operator [Operator signoff] Duration: 0 minutes Call participants: Allise Furlani -- Senior Director, Investor Relations Daniel Dines -- Co-Founder, Chief Innovation Officer Ashim Gupta -- Chief Financial Officer Jake Roberge -- William Blair and Company -- Analyst Arti Vula -- JPMorgan Chase and Company -- Analyst Shell McMeans -- Barclays -- Analyst Chirag Ved -- Evercore ISI -- Analyst Bryan Bergin -- TD Cowen -- Analyst Mike Richards -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst Connor Passarella -- Truist Securities -- Analyst Michael Turrin -- Wells Fargo Securities -- Analyst Ryan Krieger -- Wolfe Research -- Analyst Scott Berg -- Needham and Company -- Analyst Jason Celino -- KeyBanc Capital Markets -- Analyst More PATH analysis All earnings call transcripts This article is a transcript of this conference call produced for The Motley Fool. While we strive for our Foolish Best, there may be errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this transcript. As with all our articles, The Motley Fool does not assume any responsibility for your use of this content, and we strongly encourage you to do your own research, including listening to the call yourself and reading the company's SEC filings. Please see our Terms and Conditions for additional details, including our Obligatory Capitalized Disclaimers of Liability. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends UiPath. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. UiPath (PATH) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript was originally published by The Motley Fool (Reuters) -U.S. Steel Corp and Japan's Nippon Steel have received all regulatory approvals outside of the United States for their proposed $14.9 billion merger, the companies said on Thursday. Nippon had clinched the deal to buy U.S. Steel last December, after edging out rivals including Cleveland-Cliffs, ArcelorMittal and Nucor. The steelmakers now need to secure an approval in the U.S., where the deal is facing regulatory scrutiny and increasing political opposition including from President Joe Biden, who wants U.S. Steel to remain domestically owned. The proposed transaction is also facing opposition from the powerful United Steelworkers union over fears of job losses, and is being scrutinized by the U.S. Department of Justice. Nippon had sought to address the concerns by pledging to honor all agreements in place between U.S. Steel and the union. It had also said it would move its own U.S. headquarters to Pittsburgh where U.S. Steel is based. The companies reiterated on Thursday that they expect the deal to be completed in the second half of this year. "U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel are committed to, as in the months past, continuing to fully cooperate with the examination of the relevant authorities and are determined to complete the transaction," they said. The proposed transaction has now received approvals from the European Commission and the regulatory authorities of Mexico, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Shares of U.S. Steel were up 1.7% at $37.77 in early trading. U.S. Steel shareholders had in April voted in favor of the deal, which would help Nippon the world's fourth-largest steelmaker move towards its goal of having 100 million metric tons of global crude steel capacity. (Reporting by Aatreyee Dasgupta in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar) KANSAS CITY, Mo. Waldo business owners are looking for answers after the streetscape and road improvement project theyve been wanting for years is causing harm in the short term. The 74th-79th Street Wornall Road reconstruction project started in December after the city set aside $14 million for new concrete pavement, curbs, gutters and sidewalks on Wornall Road from Gregory on the north to 79th Street on the south. Early phases are centered around parking lots between Broadway and 73rd Terrace and street upgrades along Wornall and were initially supposed to be finished in April and May 2024. Attack victim, mom react after Shawnee Mission East student pleads guilty to aggravated battery As of May 29, 2024, the parking lot aspect was three months behind schedule and the road work is four months behind schedule. I understand what theyre doing, but I dont understand how these [business owners] are staying in business, said customer Joe Dekat. Its gotta be destroying their business. Dekat braves the challenging sidewalks and parking situation every week for a standing lunch date with an old friend, but he understands why business owners like Social Owner Sean Larson are struggling. It really is hurting, said Larson. Its hurting not just our business but everybody in this whole block area and business in this whole Waldo area. Sean Anderson runs the Waldo Area Business Association and says its doing what it can to help businesses through with signs drawing customers through the construction and gift card giveaways to keep businesses going. He points out that the construction work is needed and that the neighborhood has been needing it for a while. Ancient mummies lead heart research at Saint Lukes Hospital in KC I dont even cross Wornall a lot of days with the traffic and the length of the crosswalks, blind spots, things like that, said Anderson. Were getting some work done and its very difficult obviously but were really really excited for what comes next. The worry for Larson and Leasa Caron at Jovitos Italian Cafe & Deli is that if the challenges keep mounting, their businesses or neighbors might not make it to what comes next. I think all the business do see that light at the end of the tunnel, the question is can they hang on long enough to be there at the end of the tunnel because nobody dreamed it would be this long, said Caron. On Wednesday, Caron says construction workers told her there might be another potential delay and she plans to be at a meeting Thursday morning where shes told the construction company and city will try to hash out the latest issue. Story continues The project website says the work in front of her business is slated to be finished in September when it was supposed to be wrapped up already. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Shares of shoe company Birkenstock (NYSE: BIRK) hit all-time highs on Thursday after the company reported financial results for its fiscal second quarter of 2024. The stock rose as much as 15% before settling for a 12% gain by the time the market closed for the day. This old company is still going strong Birkenstock clearly doesn't have a demand problem, which is encouraging for a shoe company that's been in business for 250 years. In Q2, the company had record revenue of 481 million euros (about $521 million), which was up 22% year over year. Birkenstock's Q2 gross margin took an unexpected step back. It had a 56% margin in Q2 compared to a nearly 60% margin in the prior-year period. But management pointed to temporary issues and still expects to hit a 60% gross margin in the medium term, which might explain why investors were willing to look past the issue. Investors are likely most excited about Birkenstock's full-year outlook. Management had previously expected 17% to 18% full-year revenue growth, but now it thinks it will grow the top line by 19%. And this increased outlook is what pushed the stock to new highs today. Can Birkenstock keep growing? Birkenstock went public in late 2023 and has put up dazzling results since then. The stock has surged to a price-to-sales valuation of about 6, which looks pricey for a shoe stock, generally speaking. However, its profit margins are good and its growth is ongoing, which usually earn a stock a higher valuation. The real question for long-term investors is how much room for expansion Birkenstock has. Its growth is fastest in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa -- up 42% in Q2. And that's encouraging because these regions currently only account for about 11.5% of the business. This points to continued growth potential and could be a good reason to keep holding for now. Should you invest $1,000 in Birkenstock Plc right now? Before you buy stock in Birkenstock Plc, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Birkenstock Plc wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $703,539!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. Story continues See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of May 28, 2024 Jon Quast has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Birkenstock Stock Hit an All-Time High Above $57 Per Share Today was originally published by The Motley Fool Colorado's second-highest court determined last week that a Weld County judge should not have instructed jurors to consider a car crash victim's subsequent pregnancies and the disruption they had to her treatment when deciding how much money she should receive for her injuries. A yearling and a heifer were killed in Grand County over the weekend, with evidence both died from wolf attacks, despite claims by a Colorado Parks and Wildlife official that the agency's non-lethal efforts to stop the killing have "ceased depredation." Lauren Boebert, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston troll each other over immigration; Boebert trails Democrat in another internal poll; Ron Hanks signs Libertarians' pledge | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW An internal poll conducted last week for one of the three Democrats hoping to deny U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert another term in Congress shows potential challenger Ike McCorkle leading the Republican by double digits in Colorado's 4th Congressional District. However, a whopping one-third of the voters surveyed said they were undecided. Editor's note: This article has been updated to include recent actions taken by the state regarding the complaints. El Paso County commissioner candidate David Leinweber faces accusations he has violated Colorado fair campaign practices in his bid for county office. Colorado Springs-based resident group Integrity Matters filed two complaints in under two weeks with Secretary of State Jena Griswolds office, alleging Leinweber has used his current position as an at-large Colorado Springs councilman to campaign for his election as the countys District 3 commissioner. The group filed the complaints on May 21 and on Wednesday. In its complaint filed Wednesday, Integrity Matters stated there have been numerous times when Leinweber has promoted city events on the Facebook page dedicated to his county commissioner campaign while serving in his capacity as a councilmember. For example, an April 3 post on his county campaign social media webpage encouraged residents to join him and fellow Colorado Springs Councilman Brian Risley for their second State of the Community town hall event, held at Red Leg Brewing Company on the western edge of the city. In a nearly 3-minute YouTube video clip Integrity Matters linked in its May 21 complaint, which the group states is from the April 3 event, Leinweber can be heard about 20 seconds in saying, Within my campaign, one of the issues that we have is, really, our homeless population, and really, the mental health crisis that we have. In the clip, Leinweber goes on to say the city has done innovative things to address the issue, including the Fire Departments Homeless Outreach Program that has helped move residents into permanent housing and take pressure off emergency services. Wednesdays complaint also said Leinweber has promoted on his campaign social media Colorado Springs 1,000 block parties initiative, an idea the councilman conceived. Youre not supposed to use your office to influence elections. ... This clearly crosses a line that I think is unfair to other candidates, said Integrity Matters co-founder Dana Duggan, who filed both complaints. Leinweber and his campaign manager Sarah Brittain Jack said Wednesday mental health has always been a part of Leinwebers platform. He has been vocal on the subject as a city councilman and also as the reason he launched his bid for county commissioner, they both said. Campaign is a word that can be used in a lot of ways. ... My campaign could also be my campaign to promote mental health, and making it a top priority for the community, Brittain Jack said. Leinweber repeated statements Wednesday that he is running for the Board of County Commissioners because on that board he can affect more positive change when it comes to improving mental health than he can as a city councilman. Featured Local Savings When I talk about mental health, its hard not to share the reason why he is running for county commissioner, Leinweber said. Speaking of the April 3 event, he added, I didnt bring campaign materials. I didnt announce anything in the end, but when we got into the mental health (aspect), the Public Health Department is ... at the county (level), so I think it just naturally flowed out. Brittain Jack and Leinweber likened the complaints filed by Integrity Matters to a campaign stunt and political gamesmanship, respectively. Brittain Jack said the complaints were filed just weeks ahead of the June 25 primary election. Ballots for the primary will go out to El Paso County voters starting next week. Integrity Matters Duggan also co-founded the resident wildfire watch group Westside Watch with Bill Wysong, who is among four Republican candidates in the District 3 race, including Leinweber. Wysong does not serve on the Integrity Matters board and the group does not endorse candidates, Duggan said Wednesday. The complaint was filed because (Leinweber) violated the rules, Duggan said. On Tuesday, June 4, the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's Office filed a motion to dismiss both complaints against Leinweber, which were consolidated into one. State officials said Duggan did not "allege sufficient facts" to support the complaint. She did not sufficiently support her claim that the City Council provided "anything of value" to Leinweber's campaign for county commissioner; the social media and website posts Duggan said Leinweber promoted on his campaign websites showed they were put on by the city and were not campaign events for Leinweber; and "there is no indication that (Leinweber) attended those meetings in anything other than his official capacity as a city councilmember," Chance Cochran, a campaign finance enforcement analyst with the state elections division, wrote in the motion to dismiss. While Leinweber said the phrase "within my campaign" while he responded to a question at the April 3 town hall, "the singular use of that phrase does not convert the 90-minute town hall event into a campaign event for (Leinweber)," Cochran wrote. Integrity Matters has filed previous campaign-related complaints against other candidates. For example, in early March 2023 the group filed a complaint with city officials alleging former Councilmember Wayne Williams, who last year ran for election as Colorado Springs mayor, violated city code by using city resources in a campaign ad he aired on Facebook. The city ultimately cleared Williams of the accusation, finding he did not violate local campaign code. Turkish Textbooks: Turning History on Its Head Turkey's Islamist government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is preparing to further indoctrinate Turkish schoolchildren in propaganda regarding Israel, Greeks, Armenians, Cyprus and other issues of history and geography. Pictured: Students participate in an event, held in an Istanbul primary school, for National Sovereignty and Children's Day, on April 23, 2024. ( Ilker Eray/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images)) Turkey's Islamist government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is preparing to further indoctrinate Turkish schoolchildren in propaganda regarding Israel, Greeks, Armenians, Cyprus and other issues of history and geography. New content, named "Turkey's Century Education Model", was added to this year's curriculum and only recently made available for public opinion by the Ministry of National Education. Additions were made, among other studies, to the "History of the Revolution of Turkish Republic and Kemalism", and geography, regarding Israel, Greeks, Armenians, Cyprus and others. Turkish history textbooks will include more content on "Palestine", Israel and Zionism. The misleading chapter on the subject matter, which already existed, has now been extended even further. The topic, previously addressed as "the Problem of Zionism", in now, in an expanded version, "Zionist movements, the Palestine issue and the transformation of colonialism". The new generation of Turkey's children is now being indoctrinated to become increasingly anti-Israel. Islamists in Turkey do not teach schoolchildren that Jews have been indigenous to Israel for nearly 4,000 years -- since the Bronze Age -- and that the reestablishment of Israel as an independent state in 1948 was actually an anti-colonialist step. "Zion" literally means Jerusalem. Zionism is a movement or idea that supports the Jewish right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland, the territory that is now the State of Israel. The truth that Turkish children need to know is explained by the American Jewish Committee (AJC): "As Israel continues to defend itself against the terrorist group Hamas, a war of information is unfolding around the world. One of the slogans most commonly used claims Israel is a 'settler colonial enterprise.' By charging Israel with colonizing Palestinians, Hamas and its supporters are manipulating the cause of racial justice to advance their terrorist goals - all while hoping no one notices Israel has been the homeland of the Jewish people since the Bronze Age. "The truth is that the Jewish people are indigenous to the land of Israel and first achieved self-determination there 3,000 years ago. "The Romans expelled the majority of Jews in 70 C.E., but the Jewish people have always been present in the land of Israel. A portion of the Jewish population remained in Israel throughout the years, and those who lived in the Diaspora yearned to return to the Jewish homeland and the holy Jewish city of Jerusalem, both of which are mentioned multiple times in daily Jewish prayers. This historical and religious link for Jewish people to the land of Israel is indisputable--even the word 'Jew' comes from Judea, the ancient name for Israel. "As Jews around the world faced increasing persecution at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, they began moving to what is now Israel in greater numbers. Since Israel's establishment shortly after the Holocaust, Jews have moved to Israel from all over the world, seeking a place to call home in which they can live freely and safely as Jews. At the same time, Jewish and Israeli leaders have consistently acknowledged the presence of Palestinian Arabs and have supported efforts to partition the land into Jewish and Arab states, from 1937 to the present day. The best-known attempt to divide the land came in the form of the 1947 UN Partition Plan, which was accepted by the local Jewish population but rejected by their Arab neighbors, who waged war to eliminate the Jewish state. More recently, successive Israeli prime ministers have offered to concede more than 90% of the West Bank and all of Gaza to create a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Palestinian leaders, however, have consistently rejected efforts at bringing about a two-state solution, as they did in 1947, and they continue to do so to this day. "'Settler colonialism' refers to an attempt by an imperial power to replace the native population of a land with a new society of settlers. It cannot describe a reality in which a national group, acting on its behalf and not at the behest of an external power, returned to its historic homeland to achieve self-determination while simultaneously supporting the creation of a nation-state for another national group alongside the creation of their own state." Meanwhile, Turkish government authorities have targeted their own indigenous peoples of Anatolia, namely the Pontic Greeks and Armenians. In the twentieth century, Ottoman Turkey largely exterminated these peoples through a genocide. Serious scholars, however, agree that Ottoman Turkey committed a genocide against Christians, namely Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians. In 2007, the International Association of Genocide Scholars issued a resolution, which said, in part: "It is the conviction of the International Association of Genocide Scholars that the Ottoman campaign against Christian minorities of the Empire between 1914 and 1923 constituted a genocide against Armenians, Assyrians, and Pontian and Anatolian Greeks." According to Dr. Gregory H. Stanton, President of Genocide Watch, denial is the last stage of genocide: "Denial is a continuation of a genocide because it is a continuing attempt to destroy the victim group psychologically and culturally, to deny its members even the memory of the murders of their relatives." The government of Turkey has aggressively denied this genocide ever since its founding in 1923. Many Turkish citizens have been tried in courts for publicly recognizing the slaughter as a genocide. Two human rights advocates with Turkey's Human Rights Association (IHD) -- Co-Chairman and Lawyer Eren Keskin and member of the IHD Commission Against Racism and Discrimination Gulistan Yarkn -- were recently tried and acquitted of charges of "insulting the Turkish state and nation" for saying what was done to Armenians in 1915 was genocide, during a 2021 commemoration event for the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Prior to the hearing, Keskin said: "We did not insult anyone. We think that what happened before Turkey was founded was a genocide. I believe that the state [of Turkey] continues this idea [implements similar genocidal policies]. We think this should be discussed. We think this will liberate this geography of ours. It will contribute to the democratization of this country. No law prevents us from expressing this. Turkey was convicted on this issue. "Normally, in [a country ruled by] the state of law, when this accusation comes before a prosecutor, he should say, 'There is an ECHR [European Court of Human Rights] decision, Turkey was convicted on this issue, I cannot open this case'. But this is not a [country ruled by the] state of law, anyway. I think 1915 was genocide. The Turkish state should also face this issue and compensate for the damages [done to the victims]. I do not accept the accusation [directed against me]." The Turkish government is also in denial about the history of the land of Turkey. Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians are indigenous peoples of the land, just as Jews are indigenous to Israel. Muslim Turks from Central Asia arrived in the Armenian highlands and Anatoli, which was the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire at the time, only during the 11th century. Through military invasions, Muslim Turks seized the towns and cities where indigenous Christians had lived for centuries. Ottoman Turks finally invaded Constantinople (today's Istanbul) in the fifteenth century, bringing the destruction of the Byzantine Empire. After that, abuses against Christian religious and cultural heritage became widespread. Hagia Sophia (Greek for "Holy Wisdom"), for instance, was built by Greeks in the 6th century as a church. Nearly 1,000 years later, Ottoman Turks converted the Hagia Sophia cathedral into a mosque, killing or enslaving the Christians inside. In 1930, the Turkish government converted Hagia Sophia to a museum, and in 2020, back into a mosque. This was the latest in a series of abuses against churches in Turkey and is part of a neo-Ottoman resurgence. The new Turkish textbooks also claim Greek and Cypriot waters in the Aegean Sea as belonging to Turkey. Through a doctrine that the government of Turkey calls "the Blue Homeland", they aim to seize Greek islands and maritime space in the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. This doctrine will be taught in geography classes at middle schools. The Greek newspaper Kathimerini reports: "The 'Blue Homeland' doctrine which envisages Turkish influence over large swaths of the Mediterranean and other seas at the expense of other countries in the region, including Greece, will be taught during the next school year, local media revealed. "According to the Turkish Education Ministry's recommendations that were made public by the Turkiye and Takvim newspapers, the maps and the Blue Homeland doctrine, as well another regarding influence in the air, will be taught in secondary school geography classes. "The recommendations state that 'the value of patriotism should be instilled as well as Turkey's justified struggle against demands that ignore its legal and geographical rights in the Sea of Islands [i.e. the Aegean Sea] and the Eastern Mediterranean'." Turkey has threatened to invade Greek islands since at least 2018. The draft curriculum, which includes suggestions for teachers, also addresses the history of Cyprus, which Turkey illegally invaded in 1974. It suggests that students prepare a report on the "injustices suffered by the Turks in Cyprus" to present at the United Nations. Apparently, in Turkey, black is white and white is black. Turkey has illegally occupied 36% of the Republic of Cyprus since it invaded the island country through a brutal military campaign. Greek Cypriots were killed, raped, tortured, unlawfully arrested, forcibly "disappeared," and put in labor camps. Around 160,000 Greek Cypriots fled their homes to escape the advancing Turkish army. To this day, the occupying forces impede the return of the forcibly displaced to their homes and property. Their property and possessions were forcibly seized and distributed to illegal settlers from Turkey. The Christian and Jewish cultural and religious heritage of the occupied area has largely been destroyed. Yet, the new curriculum in Turkey seriously suggests that teachers instruct students to write papers about the alleged "injustices against Turks in Cyprus"? Sadly, these textbooks will sow more hatred in Turkish children against Jews, Greeks, Christians, Armenians, Greek Cypriots and the State of Israel -- all based on misinformation, willful distortion, and historic revisionism. Indoctrinating Turkish schoolchildren with these unjust biases -- children who will oversee Turkish education and politics in the future -- will only make Turkey even more aggressive in its foreign policy and more vicious to its minorities and dissenters at home. Under clear skies in Falcon Stadium on Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris called on the Air Force Academy's Class of 2024 to uphold and build upon the nations dominance of the air. The vice president gave examples of U.S. air superiority, describing how the Air Force is helping to deter Russia on NATOs eastern flank, protecting the people of Ukraine with missile warnings and keeping the Indo-Pacific free and open. Additionally, the U.S. ensured that 99% of the 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran against Israel did not reach their target in April. Our nation is counting on you to preserve and extend that strength, Harris said. The graduates' familiarity with modern technology, such as artificial intelligence, will help ensure the countrys air power will never be matched, she said. I was particularly proud to learn last November you designed and launched your own satellite, she told the class. The work of the class of 974 students will build on historic excellence, Harris said, including the foundation for victory Americas pilots built ahead of D-Day, the World War II invasion on the beaches of France. It was our pilots, our planes and our air crews that knocked the enemy from the sky, she said. The WWII pilots also bombed train tracks and fuel depots to prevent German reinforcements from reaching the front lines, she said. In addition to outlining future challenges, such as deterring Chinas aggression, graduation speakers also lauded cadets for their years of training that started under strict COVID-19 restrictions. Retiring Superintendent Lt. Gen. Richard Clark said the cadets started their training abruptly the day they were dropped off by their parents in the fall of 2020. Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. They basically had to kick you out of the door and keep driving, he said. Then they faced the brain tickles of COVID testing, virtual classes, skipped trips home and eating with Plexiglas partitions. Clark stayed in the dorm with them and helped fill the hours playing video games and ping pong, he said. For 2nd Lt. Amber Norman, the year was "social isolation to the max." Life improved the following year when the restrictions ended. But the middle years were tough because there was no end in sight, she said. Norman and other said their graduation would likely take a while to feel real. "I have envisioned that moment, throwing my hat off with the planes coming over, for so long its just surreal," she said. The new officer plans to go on to study sociology at San Diego State and then pursue a career in intelligence. The retiring superintendent said he has enduring faith in the whole class. You have a great ability to lead through uncertainty and overcome adversity, he said. Among the thousands of people in the audience was the wife and daughter of the classs exemplar, Maj. Leroy Homer. The former Air Force Academy graduate was the co-pilot on United Airlines Flight 93 when it was hijacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall noted that Homer was a reminder of outstanding character. He stands as a symbol to you and reminder to the next generation of how we will never forget, he said. Pikes Peak Library District is celebrating a half-century of instilling and encouraging a love of reading while combating summertime learning loss in Colorado Springs-area students. The library systems annual summer reading program, 2024 Summer Adventure, will kick off at all 15 PPLD locations on Friday, according to a news release. Presented by Childrens Hospital Colorado, the two-month initiative combines a variety of activities and incentives to keep kids engaged during the summer months. With 2024 being an Olympic year, and PPLD celebrating its golden anniversary of summer reading programs, Go for the Gold is the theme for this years adventure. This year, PPLD is throwing out the age limits, opening up the program to kids, teens, adults and seniors, said district spokeswoman Carla Bamesberger. Theres no age limits whatsoever! Bamesberger said. Were encouraging everyone to Go for the Gold together, said Senior Librarian Christa Funke. That could mean as a family, with friends, co-workers, neighbors. Its a celebration, and we want the community to celebrate with us. Several studies have shown that kids who dont engage in some form of summer enrichment often struggle to keep up with their peers when they return to school in the fall commonly known as summer slide. Students who participate in programs like Summer Adventure retain more of what theyve learned and are more likely to hit the ground running when the new academic year begins. Its important to keep the brain engaged at any age, Funke said. But we talk about it a lot with kids during the summer because theres no school for a couple of months, and without that daily learning and engagement, they can fall behind when they get back to school. To complete the Summer Adventure program, participants will log a minimum of 30 days of reading and activities between May 31 and July 31. Reading is one of the primary forms of engagement, but there are other ways to keep the mind stimulated, Funke said. Were a library, so of course we encourage reading, she said. But we know that some people are just reluctant readers. There are other ways to get that engagement hiking, learning a new skill, taking on a hobby, trying a new recipe. The brain is a muscle, and if you dont use it regularly, then it loses some of its efficiency. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Reading and learning are vital to maintaining cognitive health, which is why seniors are encouraged to get in on the 2024 Summer Adventure, Bamesberger said. This is a really great opportunity for seniors to get out of their comfort zones and actively work on their cognitive health, Bamesberger said. We will have programs specifically for seniors in addition to the programs we're offering for kids, teens and adults. Participants aged 0-18 will earn a free book just for signing up, and they can earn another prize upon completion of the program, officials said. Adults ages 19 and over will be entered into a grand prize drawing upon registration. You dont need to be a library cardholder to join the program, but a library card gives you more access to books and makes completing the program that much easier, Funke said. Besides, its free, so why not get one? Participants can track and log their progress using the Beanstack app, or by using a game card that can be picked up at any PPLD location. At the end of the summer, the district will throw parties for all participants at the East and Fountain library branches, as well as the annual summer concert series at the Palmer Lake library. Last year, more than 17,000 children and teens signed up for the summer reading program, Bamesberger said. This year, with the age limits removed, PPLD officials are hoping even more El Paso County residents will consider adding the library to their list of summer activities. Weve been doing this for 50 years, Funke said. There are a lot of people in this community, myself included, who remember doing this when were growing up. Its been a long and loved tradition in our community. For more information, visit ppld.org/summer. Two groups of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the U.S. Air Force Academy at 7 a.m. Thursday morning ahead of its 2024 graduation commencement. Approximately 20 people, including members of the Colorado Springs People's Coalition and UCCS Students for Justice in Palestine, specifically protested this year's keynote speaker and current Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. aid to Israel as the war with Palestine continues. "We want President Biden and Vice President Harris to know that we won't be silent while they're here," Colorado Springs People's Coalition organizer Genevieve Richard said. "And we want to tell them that until they stop supplying military aid to Israel, they are compliant in genocide." Planning for the demonstration began shortly after Harris was announced as this year's keynote speaker. Richard said. Protesters set up an area supplied with food, water and signs just outside of the base on public property so as not to disrupt any procedures. Multiple chants directed at Harris, President Joe Biden and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rang out as cars pulled up to the academy's south gate entrance for commencement. Some cars honked while others shouted back in response to the protest. Richard said they expected their crowd to grow throughout the day and plan to continue the demonstrations until the ceremony is over. According to an Air Force Academy (AFA) spokesperson, the group originally set up their demonstration closer to the entrance before a member of the security force team asked them to relocate to a pre-approved protest zone for their safety from inbound traffic. The group obliged and relocated to the approved zone. The noise protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations held in Colorado Springs. In February, the Colorado Springs People's Coalition called on City Council to support a ceasefire to both Palestine and Israel while both UCCS and Colorado College held separate demonstrations demanding transparency for all divestments from the schools to Israel. "We've been really disappointed in our local officials to date," Richard said. "They (city council members) told us they don't want to get involved with international affairs, but they came and out in support of Israel shortly after the October attack." Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Around the same time further up north, a separate protest and car rally was conducted by the Colorado Springs Democratic Socialists of America and Colorado Palestine Coalition near the academys north gate. According to Maryah Lauer, a spokesperson for Colorado Springs DSA, about 30 volunteers drove their cars continuously through the two roundabouts on North Gate Blvd at approximately 7:45 a.m. Cars were plastered and painted with home-made signs displaying support for Palestine and messages directed towards Harris while protesters chanted, honked their car horns and played loud music. Lauer said their demonstration sought to disrupt the flow of traffic to the ceremony while publicly condemning the Vice President for militarily and politically aiding Israel and calling for a ceasefire. We wanted to bring attention to the conflict thats ongoing, the military industrial complex and Aaron Bushnell to some people who may not have known otherwise, she said. Bushnell, 25, was an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force who died by self-immolation outside the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C. in February in protest of the Israel-Hamas war. According to Lauer, multiple members of various law enforcement agencies arrived at the scene around 8:00 a.m., broke up the demonstration and temporarily closed Northgate Blvd leading to the Academys entrance. The AFA spokesperson told the Gazette that the north gate demonstration was not approved and that the lead driver was informed that their actions were illegal. The driver was then told they needed to depart or risk apprehension before continuously circling both roundabouts to disrupt traffic. Security forces and Colorado State Patrol then partnered to clear the protestors from the roundabouts and block them from re-entering, to allow normal traffic flow. Lauer said it ultimately worked in their favor by temporarily closing Northgate. So, they actually helped our cause in the end. The road was re-opened shortly thereafter around 9:00 a.m. This year marks Harris's first time speaking to Air Force Academy graduates. As vice president, Harris is part of the regular rotation of speakers for the academy, which is graduating 974 this year. Barry Fagin is an ACLU National Civil Liberties Award Winner, and a lay Torah reader at Temple Shalom in Colorado Springs. He is still waiting for his check from the International Jewish Media Conspiracy. Scenes from the Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The Graduation Ceremony will run from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday. It will conclude with a show by the Thunderbirds. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette) Tensions between Mason City school administrators and teachers are boiling over as negotiations over pay and benefits have degenerated in recent weeks. School board members say the district must be fiscally prudent amid a swirl of state developments, including the Legislature mandating pay raises for beginning teachers, restructuring funding for Area Education Associations and diverting millions in state funding to private schools. For years, the district's salary schedule set pay rates and raises for educators based on experience and qualifications. But the school board and administration intend to eliminate the schedule from teacher contracts for the 2024-25 school year. The school board also plans to eliminate a $300 monthly benefit that is either used to defray the cost of family health insurance plans or placed in individual tax-sheltered annuity (TSA) retirement accounts. Negotiations have been ongoing since February. Teachers are represented by Mason City Education Association, the local chapter of Iowa teachers union, the Iowa State Education Association. Now, after months of futile talks, the teacher's union will be forced to accept the board's offer by May 31st in order to comply with mandatory state limitations on the duration of the collective bargaining process. At the May 20 school board meeting, CarolAnn Eppens, MCEA president, said she felt the union and district administrators had a great relationship until the most recent negotiations began. Eppens has taught in Mason City for more than 30 years. "Every single board member sitting here was strongly supported and advocated for by myself and our entire association," Eppens said. "Myself and other members are feeling disrespected, and in a sense, feeling devalued. All this has begun to affect my mental health, and I know it's begun to affect others as well." Eppens fears she will make less next year than she did this year due to the loss of the TSA benefit. "An even bigger issue after that is there's no guarantee what will happen from year to year, what an educator in this district will make, how will you plan ahead? What about every year after that? Will it continue to go down after that?" she asked. Jason Enke, local ISEA representative for MCEA, said at Monday night's meeting he believes removing the salary schedule is an attempt to cut costs by lowering teacher pay in the future. But administrators and the school board say they're trying to be proactive in the face of challenges they didn't create. Tom Drzycimski, district human resources director, says future funding isn't as stable as it may seem. Administrators are concerned about declining enrollment, competition for state funds with private schools and increased costs tied to the AEA restructure. "It is a big change. We understand that. We're not making these changes just because we can. We're making changes because in the long term it's the responsible thing to do," Drzyimski said. Drzycimski continued, "Under our current proposal, no one is going to make less than they do today. A pay cut is not on the table." But despite a proposed $3,000 annual raise for all teachers, the loss of the annual $3,600 TSA benefit represents a de facto loss of $600 annually. Drzycimski said the TSA benefit costs the district more than $1 million a year. Superintendent Pat Hamilton stresses that the future for Iowa public schools is uncertain. Upcoming income tax cuts could reduce the money available for public schools. "(The state) is going to collect about a billion dollars less in income tax this upcoming year, so I don't think any of us are expecting a big increase in state supplemental aid for education," Hamilton said. "We have to project out to three and four years out. You can't budget a school just based year to year. What happens if you do, is you end up making big reductions because it catches up with you really fast." The teacher's union rejects the district's claims of financial distress, citing an $11 million surplus in the general fund and $400,000 in teacher salary supplemental funding from the state for the upcoming school year. The teacher salary supplement was included in the controversial education package Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law in late March. "You guys are sitting at the highest fund balance you have ever had in the history of the district, and then saying you're in crisis mode and might not be able to pay bills. That's just not real," Enke said. School board member Katherine Koehler disagreed. "I know for a fact that we're not just making this stuff up. ... I'm telling you, with the way things are going in this state and how we are funded, I have hope that things will get better, I do. But there's no other way of saying it -- it's hell right now. It's truly bad. If anyone thinks we have tons of money, we do not." Hamilton and Drzycimski say there already are needs the surplus in the general fund must address. "Our unspent balance is used primarily to pay off our special education deficit, which will run about four or five million right there. ... Our unspent balance isn't high for the size of school that we are," Hamilton said. Cherie Yoder, district financial director, said during the May 20 meeting that the surplus balance will be about $10 million by the end of June. "If you look at 2025, that $10 million that we're carrying over from this year to next year is going to help support next year's bills and funding, because we are losing 28% in property tax next year," Yoder said. Enke said the district was "losing" property tax revenue because it is unable to continue to levy property taxes at the current rate due to its budget surplus. The state recommends unspent balances and general fund balances stay around 5% to 15% of budget, and the Mason City school district is higher than 20% on both. "During 2023-24, the district imposed a $3.9 million cash reserve levy on taxpayers, which is the maximum allowed. ... They will now be over 20% in fund balance and cannot tax cash reserve again until it drops below 20%," he said. MCEA started a petition to have the school board hold a special session for public comments before negotiations came to an end. The petition had more than 700 signatures, forcing the board to call a meeting Friday, May 24. Educators and community members squeezed into the board room, with some attendees sitting on the floor. Industrial arts teacher Jessica Sutcliffe said during public comment that educators heard from multiple sources that teachers make too much and administrators make too little. "This has left us feeling sad, unappreciated, undervalued, and betrayed," Sutcliffe said. "It's not wrong to want to seek competitive pay for administration. But it is hurtful to promote that sentiment while cutting pay and benefits for your teachers, counselors, and nurses." Enke agreed the board's refusal to negotiate and insistence on removing the current salary schedule was creating a lot of hurt feelings. "When people don't feel appreciated, they do start to look toward leaving," he said. But Hamilton said the district isn't concerned about losing staff; Mason City schools has a very competitive benefits package and some of the highest average teacher salaries in the area. "People are always going to leave, there's always going to be turnover," Hamilton said. "We can't do anything about that." As of Tuesday the board has declined MCEA's latest offer, which included preserving the salary schedule, even though the union's offer had been altered to be equal in cost to the district's proposed settlement. Since negotiations have to end on May 31st to comply with state laws around collective bargaining, MCEA does not have time to make a counter offer and will have to accept the board's decision to remove the salary schedule. Enke said it was not a voluntary agreement, citing 2017 legislation that impacted the union's ability to bargain effectively. "Legally, they can do it. We're not able to stop it," Enke said. "Yes, they are getting what they want. But the big outcome will be a real strain on the relationship between the board and the teachers." The Mason City administration and board declined to comment further on the matter. Columbia Business School is known for its Finance education. The city offers hundreds of internship opportunities for students during the summer (FT students), further enhancing hands-on learning and career preparation. How amazing is this! If you are interested in applying to Columbias J term heres everything you need to know about the essay questions. Who should apply for the Columbia J term? 1. Career enhancers 2. Entrepreneurs 3. Members of family businesses 4. Company Sponsored Candidates Key Considerations for J-Term Applicants Lack of a summer internship: Accelerated Curriculum: The 2024-2025 Columbia Business School J-Term MBA Application Deadlines Are: : The Essays (What has changed!) Columbia MBA Essay Question 1: Through your resume and recommendation, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (500 words maximum) Tips for writing 1. Career plateau 2. Epiphany of goals - 3. Post-MBA goals have a time component - 4. Maturity - 5.Natural career break: When writing for the J term, please note that you will not have the opportunity to complete an internship. So your goals must not be such that you want to make a drastic shift into another field. Columbia MBA Essay Question 2: The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) is a co-curricular program designed to ensure that every CBS student develops the skills to become an ethical and inclusive leader. Through PPIL, students attend programming focused on five essential diversity, equity, and inclusion skills: Creating an Inclusive Environment, Mitigating Bias and Prejudice, Managing Intercultural Dialogue, Addressing Systemic Inequity, and Understanding Identity and Perspective Taking. Describe a time or situation when you had the need to utilize one of these five skills, and tell us the actions you took and the outcome. (250 words) Tips for writing An applicant's core principles and ethical compass are critical indicators of their potential to lead effectively and contribute positively to the business world. New change! Columbia MBA Essay Question 3: We believe Columbia Business School is a special place. CBS proudly fosters a collaborative learning environment through curricular experiences like our clusters and learning teams, an extremely active co-curricular and student life environment, and career mentorship opportunities like our Executives-in-Residence program. How would you co-create your optimal MBA experience at CBS? Please be specific. (250 words) Tips for writing Columbia has turned the tables and is asking candidates how they will contribute to the cohesive peer-to-peer learning experience at Columbia. Previously, the question included the specific elements of Why Columbia? which have now been replaced with Why you? Remember that the adcom has a long memory for other applicants. Therefore, your response should be a well-crafted narrative that reveals the many facets of your personality and ensures that you will be remembered by the adcom long after the other applicants have left. Perhaps you have an unconventional educational background, or your goals set you apart from others, or your sexual or family orientation can help you bring a unique perspective to class discussions. Skills or areas of expertise, industry focus, unusual or challenging backgrounds, or even personal traits such as the gift of humor can all be valid diversity points that make you an interesting addition to the Columbia classroom. Examples of Unique Perspectives 1. For example, if you have worked in the non-profit sector, you may have a unique perspective on social entrepreneurship, impact investing, and community development. 2. If you have served in the military, you may have a leadership style that is focused on teamwork, resilience, and strategic thinking. 3. If you come from a different culture or have lived in multiple countries, you may have unique ideas on globalization, cross-cultural communication, and international business. 4. If you have worked in a specific industry, such as healthcare, technology, or finance, you may have a deep understanding of the trends, challenges, and opportunities in that sector. 5. If you have started your own business, you may have much to say about innovation, risk-taking, budget management, and creativity. To craft a truly compelling essay, it's important to be authentic and vulnerable when sharing your personal story. Admissions committees are seeking candidates who can bring their whole selves to the classroom and contribute to the learning experience. Optional Essay If you wish to provide further information or additional context around your application to the Admissions Committee, please upload a brief explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or personal history. This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (Maximum 500 Words) Feeling uncertain about your chances of getting into top B-schools? Sign up for a free one-on-one personalized advice session tailored to your specific situation. Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) More Americans now consume marijuana on a daily basis than drink alcohol every day, according to a recent study. That's welcome news for an industry that has been unfairly demonized by opportunistic politicians since the days of Nixon. The findings based on data gathered between 1979 and 2022 are consistent with the wave of decriminalization under state laws, notably with California's Proposition 215 back in 1996. After the election that year, a law professor at Loyola was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying "this may be the baby boomers taking control." It wasn't the boomers prevailing, but pragmatism. About 1.3 million people in the U.S. are in state prisons. The most common reason for incarceration? Drug-related crimes. Given how much the country with the highest prison population loves pot, it makes sense to stop throwing people in jail for doing weed. Today the only states where cannabis is totally illegal are Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina and Wyoming. Earlier this month President Joe Biden announced plans to reclassify pot as a less dangerous drug. In short: "Just say no" is dead. Long live "pass the dutchie 'pon the left-hand side." The next important step in having policy actually reflect society would be for Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign the "munchie bill" that's likely to be headed his way soon. Last year Assembly Bill 374 which would make it legal for dispensaries to become cafes and offer food as well as host live events passed the Assembly 66-9 and the Senate 33-3. Surprisingly, Newsom vetoed the bipartisan bill in October, citing concerns about providing a smoke-free work environment for employees. That seems nonsensical, considering that it is already legal to consume marijuana in California dispensaries. AB 374 would have just made it possible to buy a bag of chips while you do it. Marijuana cafes have existed in Amsterdam since the 1970s. Last summer I spent a few hours listening to music and eating homemade desserts at the first marijuana cafe in North America. Fittingly called New Amsterdam Cafe, the popular hangout opened in Vancouver in 1998 and is as chill as Issa Rae's Hilltop Coffee. However, vibes are not the only reasons Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) introduced AB 374. For him it's also a matter of fairness and trying to level the playing field. "Small businesses have to follow every rule, and yet you're telling them they can't adapt and innovate and offer something people want," he said. "The ones who follow the rules should be able to offer an experience. People pay a lot to sit in a winery. We have cigar lounges. This is really no different." Despite law enforcement's best efforts, illegal pot is estimated to have pulled in more than $8 billion in 2020 compared with $4 billion for legal. However, it's the small-business owners who also have the burden of taxes, regulations and fines. All of which eats away at profits and businesses' ability to grow. Haney said his proposal not only would allow small business owners to diversify their income stream, but also would encourage people to come out of their post-pandemic cocoons and socialize again. California began liberating cannabis culture in 1996. It's only right the state continues to correct a narrative that was born not from science but from President Nixon's prejudice. It's because of that cloud hanging over cannabis that advocates of decriminalization had to sweeten the deal for voters by promising a financial windfall for the state, which of course is why legal pot is ridiculously overtaxed. Haney said he knows the cafes won't solve all of the problems that dispensary owners face because of competition from the black market, but it would at least provide owners with more ways to make money. Haney said he worked with both Newsom's office and the Department of Cannabis Control before reintroducing the bill. He said the new version, AB 1775, addresses the governor's concern for the work environment, and it also has union support. It recently passed the Assembly 49-4 and is headed to the Senate. My hope is that the munchie bill meets Newsom's approval. With proper ventilation for employees and customers alike, marijuana cafes could provide local artists with new venues and add another branch of tourism. "I'm one of the younger legislators, and I see how excited my friends are," 42-year-old Haney told me. "I have a couple of colleagues who represent suburban districts and one came to me and said, 'All the suburban moms are excited about your cannabis cafe bill.' Post-pandemic, it's been hard to get people to get out, and I think this just makes sense." It really does. A boisterous young clown fish and his overprotective father. Vegetarian sharks and surfer-dude turtles. An epic rescue mission across the deep blue ocean. Over 20 years ago, Pixar introduced us to the heart-warming, underwater tale of Finding Nemo. This spring dive back into the water again with Grandstreet Theatres musical production of Finding Nemo JR. The show opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. and runs through June 9. If you go ... What: Grandstreet Theatre presents Finding Nemo JR. When: May 31 June 9 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Where: Grandstreet Theatre, 325 N. Park Ave. Cost: Ticket prices range from $17-$27. Tickets can be purchased online at grandstreettheatre.com, by phone at 406-447-1574, or in person at the Grandstreet Theatre Box Office. Contact: 406-447-1574 Info: grandstreettheatre.com Join Marlin, an anxious father, on his journey across the ocean to find his adventurous son Nemo. With the help of optimistic and forgetful Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the eclectic Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves. Celebrating friendship, bravery and the love between a father and son, Finding Nemo JR. reminds everyone to just keep swimming. Its a fantastic story, said Liz Adler, director of Finding Nemo JR. Adler shared that rights to the production only became available about a year ago. It was one of Mariannes (Marianne Adams) favorites and so as soon as she saw that we jumped on it, Adler said of the show selection. This will be the 12th Grandstreet production that Adler has been involved with, including two other underwater shows as the musical director for both SpongeBob: the Musical in 2022, and The Little Mermaid in 2023. For Adler, her love of Finding Nemo is deeply personal as she relates to and appreciates many of the overarching themes and character struggles. Adler shared that when her daughter was born in 2009 the theme for her nursery was Finding Nemo. At the time it was because I really liked how resilient and strong Nemo turns out to be and being a new parent, I could relate to being afraid of all the things that Marlin is afraid of, said Adler. Marlin futurizes all the things that could go wrong and tries to smooth the road constantly for his disabled son and not knowing what that is going to be like when you suddenly have this child and what am I going to do and how am I going to be a parent and all those thoughts and feelings. Adler also appreciates Finding Nemo because it is a relatable and unifying story of disability. The most obvious disability is that one of Nemos fins is smaller than the other ones which creates mobility issues for him. We all have some level of something that is a challenge for us whether thats a physical disability or an emotional challenge or a trauma set or mental challenges, said Adler. Whatever that is we all have something we have to work around. When it comes to confronting such challenges, Adler takes a no-nonsense attitude. Well, work around it, Adler said. Dont use it as an excuse, dont use it to be a victim, dont use it to hold you back in any way or influence or manipulate those around you. Own it and know it and just live with it and live your best life. One of the biggest changes to the story in the staged version is the addition of new music written by the award-winning songwriting team from Frozen Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. While audiences will get a bit of fun with Dorys Just keep swimming, the sharks Fish are friends not food, and Crush the turtles Go with the flow, Adler share that there are also more emotional ballads as well. Adler said that Nemo, in particular, transforms visually before the audience through song. In the song Wheres My Dad Nemo conveys complex emotions like sadness over being abducted and missing his dad to feelings of guilt over misbehaving and fear that his dad will never come for him. Nemos development comes more through his music, Adler said. Bringing the colorful and underwater adventure to life for the first time on the Grandstreet stage is a cast of about 40 young actors. Declan Van Wyk, a freshman at Helena High School, first encountered Finding Nemo JR. while attending the Junior Theater Festival in Sacramento, California. I really liked it and I got to sing the shark song and that was really fun, so I was like I want to be a shark now, Van Wyk said. Van Wyks wish came true as he was cast as Bruce, the great white shark in the Grandstreet production. I really like the physicality of being a shark; its very different than how a human moves, he said. I also get to do an Australian accent and thats pretty fun, joked Van Wyk. Hazel Hibbard, a fourth grader at Central Elementary School, was also immediately intrigued when she heard Grandstreet was doing Finding Nemo JR. I just love Grandstreet and love being part of the plays and I thought that Finding Nemo would be a fun show to be in, Hibbard said. Hibbard was cast as both the understudy for Nemo as well as one of the sea creatures in the sea chorus. Being Nemo I get to have one arm kinda stuck to my body which makes it fun to move around, said Hibbard. Its also fun being in the ensemble because then you get to make up your own character. Ki Bachofner, a fifth grader at Central Elementary School, will be playing Kai, a sea turtle and one of Crushs best friends as well as a jellyfish in the sea chorus. The show sounded amazing, so I had to be in it, Bachofner said. I love the music in the show, and this is the best choreography Ive ever gotten to do in my life. Because of the shows underlying story of disability, Adler indicated that there was a big push to attract as much of the disabled community as possible to audition for the cast. You want them to have as many experiences as they possibly can have, and the theater is such a fantastic inclusive safe space for everybody that we do have some cast members with unique challenges, said Adler. In addition to the opportunity to be on stage, the inclusiveness of the cast gave rise to a whole new level of mentoring from everyone. The rest of the cast has just taken them under their wing, said Adler. Its just been a fantastic family environment for them and theyre all having fun. Kids accept others more easily than adults do, continued Adler. Were really lucky to have such a fantastic, caring group that really takes care of and looks after each other on and off stage. With opening night right around the corner, final preparations are being made to transform Grandstreet from the local theater many know and love into an undersea realm to explore. All involved are anxious for audiences to dive into the journey with them. For Adler, her hope is for audiences to be transformed by this retelling of the beloved tale. Im hoping that everyone who comes specifically to this show walks out of here seeing new ways of how they view themselves, said Adler. Maybe theyre held back by their own traumas or by their own disabilities. Maybe they feel like theyre limited. I hope that this shows that you arent. In any situation, you choose your level of limit. Youre the only one thats holding you back. This one is going to hit home for parents, Adler continued. I designed it that way. Its my goal to get parents to be teary eyed at the end of this. I want you as a parent to come in here and realize that this journey is hard not just for kids, its hard for parents too. For the young actors, they are simply excited to share their hard work on the stage and the theater community theyve grown to love. It will be super fun, Van Wyk said about the show. Its a great cast and great board of directors that put it on. Its catered to a younger audience, but I hope parents do come too because theres some pretty good messages in it that parents can pick up on that the littles dont understand yet. I just hope that everybody sees that its hard work to put on a show and that its also fun and maybe theyll try it out too, said Hibbard. The cast in this show is amazing, said Bachofner. We have the best actors ever as people and actors and the show is just amazing. Grandstreet is an awesome place and its definitely fun to see a show here. Close Keir Balukas playing Marlin holds Dory, played by Haddie Dailey, on the ground while being surrounded by jellyfish in a scene from "Finding Nemo JR." during a May 28 rehearsal. Keir Balukas playing Marlin exits the stage during a scene from a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28 at Grandstreet Theatre. Marlin, played by Keir Balukas, left, Nemo played by Hazel Hibbard, center, and Dory, played by Haddie Dailey, hug in the middle of the stage during rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. Sadie Riggs playing Mr. Ray, left, guides a "school of fish" off stage during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. Bruce, played by Declan Van Wyk, sings a song with his fellow sharks during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. Amelia Diedrich fends off seagulls during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28 at Grandstreet Theatre. Keir Balukas playing Marlin is woken up by Crush the sea turtle in a scene during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. Marlin, played by Keir Balukas, holds a single fish egg in a scene from "Finding Nemo JR." during a rehearsal on May 28 at Grandstreet Theatre. Nemo, played by Hazel Hibbard, stands in a coral reef during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." at Grandstreet Theatre on May 28. Dory, played by Haddie Dailey, enters the stage on May 28 during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." at Grandstreet Theatre. Gill, played by Leah Gardner, sings a song with her castmates during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. Haddie Dailey playing Dory, left, stands next to a diver's mask during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28 at Grandstreet Theatre. Dory, played by Haddie Dailey, sits on the ground as she is surrounded by a school of fish during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. Photos: 'Finding Nemo JR.' opens Friday at Grandstreet Theatre in Helena Over 20 years ago, Pixar introduced us to the heart-warming, underwater tale of Finding Nemo. This spring dive back into the water again with Grandstreet Theatres musical production of Finding Nemo JR. The show opens Friday at 7:30 p.m. and runs through June 9. Keir Balukas playing Marlin holds Dory, played by Haddie Dailey, on the ground while being surrounded by jellyfish in a scene from "Finding Nemo JR." during a May 28 rehearsal. Keir Balukas playing Marlin exits the stage during a scene from a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28 at Grandstreet Theatre. Marlin, played by Keir Balukas, left, Nemo played by Hazel Hibbard, center, and Dory, played by Haddie Dailey, hug in the middle of the stage during rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. Sadie Riggs playing Mr. Ray, left, guides a "school of fish" off stage during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. Bruce, played by Declan Van Wyk, sings a song with his fellow sharks during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. Amelia Diedrich fends off seagulls during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28 at Grandstreet Theatre. Keir Balukas playing Marlin is woken up by Crush the sea turtle in a scene during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. Marlin, played by Keir Balukas, holds a single fish egg in a scene from "Finding Nemo JR." during a rehearsal on May 28 at Grandstreet Theatre. Nemo, played by Hazel Hibbard, stands in a coral reef during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." at Grandstreet Theatre on May 28. Dory, played by Haddie Dailey, enters the stage on May 28 during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." at Grandstreet Theatre. Gill, played by Leah Gardner, sings a song with her castmates during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. Haddie Dailey playing Dory, left, stands next to a diver's mask during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28 at Grandstreet Theatre. Dory, played by Haddie Dailey, sits on the ground as she is surrounded by a school of fish during a rehearsal of "Finding Nemo JR." on May 28. The Environmental Protection Agency awarded East Helena Public Schools with a $1,035,000 rebate for three electric school buses through the 2023 Clean School Bus Program. The program was created by Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided $5 billion in funding to change bus fleets in school districts. According to East Helena Public Schools Superintendent Dan Rispens, he hopes the three new buses will arrive this year or early 2025. Rispens added that the buses coming through the rebate will have zero to little cost for the district. East Helena will have four electric buses in total once they arrive. The EPA announced in September that there would be at least $500 million for its program available to selected school districts. The Clean School Bus Program funds electric buses, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, as well as propane and compressed natural gas buses, which produce lower tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors. With todays latest round of funding, we are transforming the nations school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargo our kids -- saving school districts money, improving air quality, and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said. EPA officials said they received an "outstanding" response from school districts across the country since the program impacts districts across 47 states and Washington, D.C. Other Montana school districts that got funds include Big Sky, Bozeman, Livingston and Stanford. When 71-year-old Laurie Higgins Marso received her property tax bill for her home in Browning, she panicked. I thought, Oh my God. What am I going to do? she said. I have to figure out how to get more money this month. In 2021, Higgins Marso paid $700.62 total in property taxes. In 2023, her bill for the year increased 73%. She now owes more than $1,200, half of which is due on May 31. Higgins Marso is retired and on a fixed income. She raises two grandchildren full-time, and on weekends, she takes care of two more. When she got her tax bill, she wondered whether shed have to return to work. Higgins Marso previously worked at the Indian Health Service for 30 years. On holidays and weekends, she would pick up shifts at the local gas station or tutor at the high school. In 2021, she paid off her mortgage and retired. The thought of going back to work scares Higgins Marso, who has a bad back and arthritis. But her fixed income doesnt allow for a lot of savings. I guess were not going to eat, she said. 500% increases Average home values in Montana appraised at 40% higher in the most recent cycle, and property taxes increased a median of 21% statewide, according to an analysis by the Montana Free Press. But in Browning, its a different story. Some Browning residents saw their homes' appraised values increase by 500%. And many must now pay two to four times as much in property taxes as the year before. Located in north-central Montana, Browning serves as headquarters for the Blackfeet Tribe and is home to just over 1,000 people. There, the median household income is $41,250 about $26,300 less than that in Montana and 40% of residents live in poverty. It's the second-largest town in Glacier County, after Cut Bank. Property taxes have increased statewide, partly due to an influx of people moving to Montana during the pandemic. That population growth spiked demand and drove up housing prices, which contributed to higher property appraisal values and taxable values. When asked if people are moving to Browning, Robert Crawford, the tribes real estate agent, laughed. Its at a standstill, he said. People are not leaving, and theyre not coming. The state reappraises home values every two years. Home sale prices are part of the puzzle thats used to calculate a homes appraised value, which is tied to what an owner pays in property tax. Many factors go into what a person pays in property tax, such as local voter-approved mill levies. Browning didnt see an increase in population or a surge in home prices that led to property values spiking around the state. Voter-approved mill levies havent changed in decades. Blackfeet Tribal leaders, Glacier County officials and reservation residents say the increases dont make sense. And the state Department of Revenue, tasked with appraising property values, hasnt provided answers. Representatives from the department told Lee Montana on Tuesday they were looking into the issue but did not respond to further requests for clarification. In the absence of information, finger-pointing has ensued. County officials blame the state for tax increases, and the governor has been critical of local governments budgets, citing that as the culprit of increased property taxes. Many in Browning plan to pay their taxes under protest. Some say paying the high tax bill will cause them to be late on other payments. Others fear they will lose their homes. Nobody returned my calls Kevin LaDue, who works for the tribe, owns two adjacent lots in Browning one with an unused shed and one with his mobile home. Both properties saw a 424% increase in appraisal value. In 2022, LaDue paid $94.25 in property taxes for each lot. In 2023, his bill more than quadrupled. I might be late on my car payment because of this, he said. Local leaders dont have the answers. When Glacier County Commissioner Mary Jo Bremner called the Department of Revenue to ask about the high appraisal values in Browning, she said her call was met with disinterest. She was transferred to someone else within the department who told her to contact Glacier County. I am Glacier County, Bremner told them. Crawford, the tribes real estate agent and homeownership coordinator, said he learned of increased appraisal values and property tax hikes not through the tribe, state or county but through Facebook. Scrolling through the social media site one day, he saw posts from community members who wrote they might not be able to pay their taxes this year. We werent notified of these massive increases, Crawford said. When I questioned the county commissioners, they blamed the state. And when I reached out to the state, nobody returned my calls. Its very frustrating. Property owners last June should have received reappraisal letters from the Department of Revenue notifying them of value increases. Its possible that people in Browning, many of whom have nontraditional mailing addresses, did not see them. The department also held more than 20 town halls across the state to help taxpayers understand their property valuations. The closest meeting to Browning, however, was in Shelby, which is an hour-long drive one-way. While some meetings were held virtually, many in Browning lack access to broadband or a computer. The dearth of information has led to widespread speculation on the reservation. People wonder if Browning residents are being punished for past conflicts between the state and tribe. Some question whether the appraisals were erroneous or biased. It feels discriminatory, Crawford said. I cant fathom the justification of where these numbers came from. What happened? The issue of taxation has long been a point of conflict between the state and Blackfeet Tribe. In 2019, the tribe took issue with a state assessor who allegedly didnt understand the difference between trust land, which is not taxed, and fee land, which is taxed. (The assessor) put trust land on the tax rolls and just did a bunch of goofball things, Glacier County Treasurer Don Wilson explained. He had the bright idea to get a group of appraisers to do a sweep on the reservation. And the (tribal) council said, No. In Sept. 2019, the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council issued a cease-and-desist order to local field assessors, saying there had been no meaningful consultation with the (tribe) prior to property assessments. Wilson and Commissioner Bremner said the cease-and-desist order remains in place, though they are unsure how or if the order influenced recent assessments. The Department of Revenue did not respond to questions for clarification. Residential appraisers in Montana visit neighborhoods year-round to estimate the value of properties, taking into account the value of the land and any structures on it. But if assessors were not allowed on the reservation, local leaders arent sure how the appraisals were done. The Department of Revenue has not provided answers. Bremner wonders if appraisers used Google Earth or Zillow for property value estimations. Wilson said the Department of Revenue likely used a computer model to assess properties on the reservation. And this model was horribly flawed, he added. While lawmakers in the 2023 legislative session passed rebates of up to $675 for each of the next two years to ease the property tax burden, they failed to agree on longer-term solutions. Looking for answers, Kevin LaDue, whose property taxes quadrupled in Browning, showed up to a meeting in Browning last week where he was told hed have a chance to hear from local Department of Revenue representatives. But the county treasurer told representatives from the department not to come to spare them from facing an angry crowd. Instead, the treasurer spoke to dozens of community members about their tax increases. That didnt satisfy LaDue, though. He wanted to know why his property had been valued so high in the first place, and county officials didnt have the answer. I feel let down by my county, LaDue said. What options remain? Hit with high property tax bills, Browning residents wonder what recourse they have. Reservation residents may enter a process to convert their fee land, which is taxed, to trust land, which is not taxed. But not everyone is eligible to do this, and experts say the process which is cumbersome, bureaucratic and expensive often takes years to complete, if its approved. Some Browning residents wonder if they should sell their property. But that requires finding a buyer. Residents can apply for property tax assistance through the Department of Revenue. While the program may provide some relief to individuals on fixed or limited incomes, experts say it wont be immediately helpful to people whove just been hit with a large bill. Residents may also pay their taxes in protest. While they may eventually get a refund on the protested value, protesting still requires people to pay their property taxes in full by the May 31 deadline. Last year, Glacier County saw two protests, according to County Treasurer Don Wilson. This year, as of May 23, Wilson said hed seen more than 100. Higgins Marso, the retired grandmother, plans to file her taxes in protest. She isnt sure how long the process will take or whether she will receive a refund at all. And protesting her taxes wont help her pay for groceries tomorrow. Its like being caught between two rocks, she said. Im stuck. Prosecutors say a Butte home where children were allegedly abused by their parents and a family friend was excessively filthy with cockroaches and what appeared to be bedbugs. The mother and father Sean Lee Northey and Toni Lynn Northey pleaded not guilty Wednesday to numerous felony counts of assault on a minor, plus 11 misdemeanor counts each of endangering the welfare of children. Family friend Shelly Ann Miller, who the children sometimes referred to as godmother, is charged with eight felony counts of assault on a minor and has pleaded not guilty to them all. Charges were recently filed against the parents but prosecutors included more details in newly filed documents, including descriptions of clutter, foul odors and bugs in the home and four children testing positive for marijuana. Police found three of the children walking together in an alley on Nov. 30, not dressed appropriately for the freezing temperatures, and the children ultimately admitted running away because of the alleged abuse at home. Sean Northey, 38, and Toni Northey, 31, appeared separately before District Judge Robert Whelan on Wednesday. Sean Northey was charged with six felony counts of assault on a minor and Toni Northey was charged with four counts of that crime and they pleaded not guilty to all. They each pleaded not guilty to 11 misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child and Sean Northey also pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor obstruction charge for allegedly claiming he didnt know where a wooden paddle used to discipline his children was located. Police found it during a search of the house. Each assault charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and fine up to $50,000. Each misdemeanor charge carries a maximum six months in jail and $500 fine. Prosecutors say the parents struck three of the children a 7-year-old girl and boys ages 8 and 11 several times on the buttocks with a large wooden paddle, causing injury, and Sean Northey is accused of hitting one child in the face with the paddle. Prosecutors also accuse the parents of blowing marijuana smoke in their childrens faces and allowing the family friend to strike their children with the wooden paddle and a belt. When police found the children on Nov. 30, they first told officers their parents were dead and they had been staying in hotels. They soon admitted to running away because of the alleged abuse and poor conditions. Police say the kids were carrying stuffed animals and a binder of Pokemon cards, and when the binder was opened, bugs that appeared to be cockroaches crawled out and the kids seemed unfazed. According to prosecutors, police went to the house that day, looked in a window and saw another boy sleeping on the floor in a hallway. That 10-year-old boy did not join his siblings in running away. Officers knocked on a window and asked Sean and Toni Northey where their children were. Toni Northey said all four should be sleeping on the floor because their bedroom window was broken and there was no heat in their room. Sean Northey ran outside looking for the other three children but was told they were in police custody and safe. Police returned the next day with a search warrant and found the house cluttered and in disorder and there was a foul odor emanating from within, prosecutors said. Mr. Northey came out of an adjacent room and explained that he was attempting to get a handle on the cockroach infestation that he stated was the result of a sewer line break, they said in the newly filed affidavit. The officers began searching the residence and reported the interior of the home as excessively filthy with cockroaches and what appeared to be bedbugs throughout the home, climbing on food items and counters, they said. Forensic interviews were done with all four children. Three said they had been physically abused, had run away and were afraid to return home. The boy who did not run away said he was struck with the paddle three times and his father once made him stand in a corner all day. He also said his parents would blow marijuana smoke in their faces to help them calm down and help them with their attitudes. All four had hair follicles tested and each showed marijuana in their systems, with three of them having a significant amount of cannabinoids. Miller, the family friend, faces eight felony counts of assault on a minor for allegedly striking the children on their bare buttocks with the paddle, applying pressure points to their hands, backhanding the girl and hitting one of the boys in the head with a frying pan. Sean and Toni Northey were allowed to remain free with bail conditions following Wednesdays arraignment, with their next court dates set July 10. Miller is also free but under bail restrictions with her next hearing set June 5. CHICAGO Less than three months before the Democratic National Convention comes to Chicago, the event is already losing a significant portion of its celebratory luster as national Democrats on Tuesday said they plan to virtually nominate President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris before the convention to comply with ballot access laws in the crucial swing state of Ohio. Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Committee, said Tuesday that state delegations will convene virtually before Ohios Aug. 7 deadline for presidential candidates to be certified for that states ballot. The Ohio deadline is 12 days before the DNC is scheduled to open its doors on Aug. 19 at the United Center and McCormick Place for its quadrennial convention, leading up to what was to have been the traditional roll call of the states and the celebratory renomination of the president. Chicago convention organizers said Biden and Harris will still attend the event to celebrate and accept their nominations before thousands of delegates at the United Center who will be attending their first in-person political convention in eight years. The new virtual nomination, a remote process used to nominate Biden during the COVID-19 attendance-restricted 2020 convention, will be held after meetings of the DNCs rules and bylaws committee to implement the change. The committees vote is scheduled for June 4. The national Democrats decision to move ahead with the pre-convention nomination came after Republican state lawmakers in Ohio repeatedly failed to shift the ballot access date, as has been done in the past for both parties. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine had called the Republican-dominated legislature into special session to address the issue, but Democrats said GOP state lawmakers have impeded the process by trying to attach other measures that would make it more difficult to advance citizen-driven initiatives onto the state ballot. Former President Donald Trumps ballot access in Ohio was not in jeopardy since his anticipated nomination is set for the July 15-18 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, well in advance of the Ohio ballot deadline. Joe Biden will be on the ballot in Ohio and all 50 states, and Ohio Republicans agree. But when the time has come for action, they have failed to act every time, so Democrats will land this plane on our own, Harrison said in a statement. Through a virtual roll call, we will ensure that Republicans cant chip away at our democracy through incompetence or partisan tricks and that Ohioans can exercise their right to vote for the presidential candidate of their choice, Harrison said. Trump defeated Biden in Ohio 53%-45% in 2020 after defeating Hillary Clinton there by 51% to 43% in 2016. The state has 17 electoral votes at stake. Despite Republican advantages at the Ohio statehouse, Democrats have been successful in putting initiative-driven proposals on the ballot. That includes Democrats overcoming GOP efforts last year to block the ratification of a state constitutional amendment enshrining a right to abortion. Democrats have used the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade as a major campaign theme against Republicans. Democrats will not trade Ohioans ability to hold their government accountable for presidential ballot access. Just like when they attempted to take away our rights and freedoms last year, Liz Walters, the states Democratic chair, said in a statement. Ohio Republicans have shown their blatant disregard for the rights of voters, and we wont let them get away with another effort to hold our democracy hostage. As was the case when Chicago last hosted the DNC in 1996, whether to renominate a sitting president Bill Clinton then and Joe Biden now is not an issue for convention delegates. Biden easily won Democratic primaries across the country this year without any significant opposition. The decision to move forward with a virtual nomination comes as Democratic convention planners had earlier indicated they wanted to import more live remote programming into the United Center event by using techniques from the 2020 convention when COVID-19 curtailed many traditional convention hall activities. That included the possibility of revisiting the 2020 roll call of the 57 states and territories casting their nominating ballots from remote locations. Officials said no final decisions on the conventions programming, such as a symbolic roll call, have been made. But with their formal nominations of Biden and Harris a fait accompli prior to the actual August convention events, DNC organizers will be looking for ways to try to energize a crowd of delegates in an in-person show of unity leading to and including Bidens acceptance speech. Organizers also face an even greater emphasis to find more creative ways to sell the presidents campaign message before the Nov. 5 election. We are excited to welcome delegates and guests to Chicago where President Biden and Vice President Harris will celebrate their nominations from the United Center and address the American people using beloved elements of conventions past while building on the success of our innovative 2020 programming, said Emily Soong, a Democratic National Convention spokesperson. In a statement, the Democratic National Committee said that in spite of Republicans bad-faith efforts to stand in the way, the in-person convention in Chicago will continue to serve as an important convening event for Democrats across the country. Washington National Zoo to receive two giant pandas from China by year end Xinhua) 08:53, May 30, 2024 Brandie Smith, John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, speaks during a press conference at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 29, 2024. The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., announced Wednesday it will receive two giant panda cubs, one male and one female, from China by the end of the year. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) WASHINGTON, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., announced Wednesday it will receive two giant panda cubs, one male and one female, from China by the end of the year. According to a press release by the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), Bao Li, a two-year-old male panda whose name translates into English as "treasure" and "energetic," will enter the zoo later this year. He is the son of Bao Bao and the grandson of Tian Tian and Mei Xiang. Bao Bao, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang all stayed in the national zoo previously, and Bao Bao was born there. Also arriving later this year is Qing Bao, a two-year-old female panda. Her name means "green" and "treasure" in Mandarin Chinese. The NZCBI also announced that it has extended a cooperative research and breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Now effective through April 2034, the agreement will see the United States and China continue their cooperation in conserving the giant panda species. "Today, I am very glad to share with you some good news: Bao Li and Qing Bao, our new envoys of friendship, will soon fly over the Pacific and join the big family of the National Zoo," Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng said in remarks delivered at the announcement ceremony held by the zoo. Xie said China's success in conserving giant pandas is "inseparable from international cooperation," including with the United States, which is "among the first" countries to work with China and make saving the once-endangered species a joint endeavor. Over the decades, the globally adored species has grown to nearly 1,900 in the wild in China. "We're thrilled to announce the next chapter of our breeding and conservation partnership begins by welcoming two new bears, including a descendent of our beloved panda family, to Washington, D.C.," said Brandie Smith, NZCBI's John and Adrienne Mars director. "This historic moment is proof positive our collaboration with Chinese colleagues has made an irrefutable impact. Through this partnership, we have grown the panda population, advanced our shared understanding of how to care for this beloved bear and learned what's needed to protect wild pandas and preserve native habitat," Smith said. Souvenirs themed with giant pandas are seen at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 29, 2024. The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., announced Wednesday it will receive two giant panda cubs, one male and one female, from China by the end of the year. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Souvenirs themed with giant pandas are seen at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 29, 2024. The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., announced Wednesday it will receive two giant panda cubs, one male and one female, from China by the end of the year. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Espace Louis Vuitton Beijing is hosting an exhibition Malerei, dedicated to German artist Albert Oehlen. Running through to Oct 27, this exclusive showcase features six remarkable pieces carefully curated by Louis Vuitton, including some never-before-seen works that are sure to mesmerize art enthusiasts. Oehlen, a leading figure in contemporary art, was born in Krefeld, Germany, in 1954 and currently divides his time between Buhler, Switzerland, and Segovia, Spain. His artistic journey began at the Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste in Hamburg, Germany, where he honed his craft before immersing himself in the vibrant punk scene of 1970s Berlin. This era of rebellious creativity left an indelible mark on Oehlen, shaping his distinctive style and approach to art. Embracing the spirit of the "Wild New" movement in the 1980s, Oehlen challenged the conventions of traditional painting, aligning himself with a group of avant-garde artists from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. His work, characterized by a bold Neo-Expressionist aesthetic, defied norms and pushed boundaries, earning him acclaim and recognition on the global art stage. Oehlen's influence extends far and wide, with his pieces housed in prestigious collections such as the Centre Pompidou and Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris, the Daimler Contemporary in Berlin, the MoMA in New York, and the Tate Modern in London. His innovative approach to art continues to captivate audiences worldwide, transcending borders and resonating with art aficionados of all backgrounds. As part of the Foundation Louis Vuitton's "Hors-les-murs" program, which showcases the collection's treasures at various Espaces Louis Vuitton around the globe, this exhibition in Beijing represents a celebration of artistic diversity and international collaboration. Through this immersive experience, the foundation aims to bring Oehlen's visionary creations to a wider audience, fostering a deeper appreciation for his groundbreaking work and the power of art to inspire and provoke thought. COMPANY NEWS: Genetec Inc. (Genetec), a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, today announced the opening of several new R&D hubs, Experience Centres, and the expansion of several offices around the world. New R&D hubs Underscoring its commitment to innovation, Genetec is expanding its global footprint with the establishment and expansion of new research and development hubs in strategic locations worldwide. Located in Vienna (Austria), Krakow (Poland), and Orleans (France), these R&D centres will complement the company's existing Montreal-based campus and its other R&D centres in Quebec City and Sherbrooke (Canada), Paris (France), and Bruges (Belgium). These new offices serve as innovation hubs, fostering collaboration amongst our developers as they build the forward-thinking technology that Genetec is known for. Our newest R&D centres will bolster existing initiatives and new capabilities such as intelligent automation, said Christian Morin, Vice President of Product Engineering, Genetec Inc. Not surprisingly, to meet the growing demand for Genetec innovation, we've grown our R&D team by 50% in the past five years." New Experience Centres and office expansions Genetec has also recently opened three new state-of-the-art Experience Centres in Washington D.C. (USA), Sydney (Australia), and Dubai (UAE), in addition to its existing flagship Experience Centres in Montreal (Canada), Paris (France), the City of London (UK), Singapore, and Mexico City (Mexico). Genetec also continues to grow its Montreal headquarters campus, recently adding over 100,000 square feet including two subsidized bistros for its Montreal-based employees. The company has also significantly expanded its offices in London, Paris, Vienna, and Sao Paulo (Brazil). By launching new experience centres and offices in these strategic locations, we're not just expanding our global presence; we're scaling to meet the increasing demand for Genetec solutions across the globe. Our goal is to provide customers, channel partners, and prospects a hands-on encounter with our innovative technology, and an unforgettable brand experience," said Michel Chalouhi, Vice President of Global Sales, Genetec Inc. Since 2020, the company has grown its total headcount by 52% and currently has over 2,100 employees located in 20 offices across four continents. As part of its ongoing efforts to accommodate its organic growth, the company is currently recruiting to fill over 80 new positions, including over 30 openings in R&D across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions. For more information about Genetec innovation and to see our open positions, visit: https://www.genetec.com Over the next 12 months Ricoh Australia will roll out several milestone actions outlined in its RAP, helping to contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society. These include actions to help increase awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, create direct employment opportunities for First Nations peoples, and support First Nations suppliers and companies to improve economic and social outcomes. ''Our RAP signifies our commitment to develop meaningful and respectful partnerships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands peoples, said Yasu Takahashi, Managing Director, Ricoh Australia. Implementing our Reconciliation Action Plan will create new learnings for many of our team members to better understand the importance of First Nations cultures and being on Country. We also aim to create a proud culture for the people of our organisation and to recognise the importance of the First Nations history of Australia. We look forward to meaningfully impact reconciliation in Australia and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society. The creation of a sustainable RAP is also a key component of Ricohs Diversity Policy and supports its commitment to the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the provision of pathways to employment, professional development, and retention strategies. At the same time, Ricoh is also committed to ensure that the individual career goals and personal aims of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff are identified, promoted, and achieved. As a result, the RAP has a strong focus on governance with built-in accountability and transparency reporting on achievements, challenges and learnings both internally and externally, as well as the provision of appropriate support for effective implementation of RAP commitments. Karen Mundine, Chief Executive Officer, Reconciliation Australia, said, Reconciliation Australia welcomes Ricoh Australia to the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) program with the formal endorsement of its inaugural Reflect RAP. Ricoh Australia joins a network of more than 2,200 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have made a formal commitment to reconciliation through the RAP program. I look forward to following their reconciliation journey in the years to come. Universal Music Publishing China (UMP China) signed a deal with Cheerful Music to put some of China's most viral hits on the global map. Grace Gao (left), vice president of Finance and Operations at UMP China and Snow J, founder and CEO of Cheerful Music, pose for a photo. [Photo courtesy of Universal Music Publishing Group] UMP China, a division of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), officially announced on Tuesday that it has signed Cheerful Music, a leading creator of hit songs in China, to an exclusive international publishing deal that will bring the Shenzhen-based label's catalog to the global music market. Cheerful Music's catalog features major hits including "Yi Xiao Jiang Hu," "Xiao Cheng Xia Tian," "Ta Shan He" and "Ban Sheng Xue," each of which have claimed top spots on China's leading streaming services. In particular, "Yi Xiao Jiang Hu," also known as "Ke Mu San" ("Subject 3"), gained extreme popularity as the accompanying music for a social media dance that went viral. The song has been used with videos that have received more than 50 billion views on the short-video app Douyin and has inspired 15 million user-generated clips, sparking global interest in Chinese pop culture. Meanwhile, "Ta Shan He," another standout track from 2020, captivated the nation with its use in videos on Douyin that have been viewed over 10 billion times. Established in 2019, Cheerful Music showcases a diverse array of Chinese talents, including Snow. J, also the label's founder and CEO, and Silk Ye. With a London office that encourages international collaboration with artists like Erik Frank and Grand Nights, the company is devoted to promoting emerging local artists and original music. "From the outset, our vision has been to create music that resonates worldwide, " said Snow. J, adding, "the launch of our London office in 2023 has been pivotal; it positions us to collaborate directly with international artists and songwriters, and to connect with a diverse global audience." Regarding the new deal with UMP China, she stated, "international expansion is intrinsic to our ethos, and I am profoundly confident that our partnership with UMP China - with their expansive network and proven success - will propel our journey of internationalization even further." Grace Gao, vice president of Finance and Operations for UMP China, praised Cheerful Music for having "an adept ability" to produce music that resonates with current trends, crafting hits that enjoy widespread popularity around the globe. "It's exciting to engage with a company that not only brings creative vitality but also has the capacity to shape cultural landscapes. We anticipate that by working together, we can further enhance the international allure of their music and continue to create successful outcomes in the global market." CHICAGO The University of Chicago was Youssef Haswehs dream school. Its why the senior chose to work at its admissions office. He guided campus tours, answered phones for prospective students and spoke on admissions panels. The 22-year-old was set to graduate Saturday. But just hours after he completed his final exams May 24, Hasweh received an email informing him that his degree would be withheld pending a school disciplinary process related to his involvement with the universitys pro-Palestinian encampment. Three other seniors also received an email from the university, according to student group UChicago United for Palestine. I loved this university, Hasweh said. But this year made my UChicago dream a nightmare. A U. of C. spokesman said the school could not comment on individual student disciplinary matters, but noted that the process is standard practice after a formal complaint is reviewed by the universitys Disciplinary Committee. The recent protests on campus brought about multiple formal complaints alleging that students violated University policies, including by engaging in disruptive conduct, the university said. Once a formal complaint is received and, if the Disciplinary Committee faculty lead concurs that the complaint is credible, the matter may be referred to the Standing Disciplinary Committee on Disruptive Conduct to determine if policies have been violated. The four students are still able to participate in graduation and other end-of-year events, and their degrees can be later conferred depending on the resolution of the disciplinary process. But if the committee finds that certain policies have been violated, their degrees could be denied, despite four years of coursework and tuition. Undergraduate tuition for the prestigious institution exceeds $67,000, and rises to more than $93,000 after including housing, food and other miscellaneous expenses. The universitys pro-Palestinian encampment was erected April 29 as part of a nationwide movement sweeping college campuses in protest of the Israel-Hamas war. It was cleared by university police May 7, with school officials citing mounting safety concerns and disruptive conduct. No students were arrested. This is not a new tactic for the university, said Kelly Hui, 22, who also received an email. Theyve used these tactics of intimidation to try to scare us into silence. Theyre trying to jeopardize our future. The students said it was unclear why they were singled out from those who participated in the encampment. In an email to each senior, Associate Dean of Students Jeremy Inabinet said U. of C. had received multiple complaints regarding the quad encampment and that they had been identified as an individual that may have been involved. Im still processing it. Im just angry, said Rayna Acha, 22. This is just a way to continue to enacting repression and preventing people from speaking about Palestine. The disciplinary process includes a fact-finding stage, as well as a hearing and eventual vote by the universitys Standing Disciplinary Committee on Disruptive Conduct. Its unclear how long the process will take. Hasweh, who is Palestinian, called the email a slap in the face. He said he had participated in some of the negotiations with university officials during the encampment on the condition of amnesty. I have no words. I have nothing left here. Im done, he said. Just let me be a university student and administer my degree that I worked hard for over the last four years and paid for. Acha is holding out hope that her degree will still be conferred. Despite her frustration with the administration, she cant imagine leaving without it after four years of classes. Ideally were able to get our degrees, even though this institution is not somewhere that I am proud of being a part of, Acha said. Well be leaving here unemployed and possibly without diplomas. But I, personally, need to have a job. A petition started by U. of C. pro-Palestinian student groups, demanding that the seniors be granted degrees, has garnered more than 5,000 signatures from university community members. The solidarity that we have for Gaza cannot be suppressed or taken away from us, Acha said. Hasweh was also one of the 26 students arrested in November by U. of C. police during a sit-in protesting the universitys alleged ties to weapons manufacturers supplying arms to Israel. He was charged with a misdemeanor and was fired from his admissions office position. The charge was later dropped. He has no regrets. Hasweh said he has family in the West Bank who have been killed in the war. This sucks. It all sucks, Hasweh said. I wont get a degree, but there are people in Gaza that will never get a degree, and thats why were still fighting. 2024 Eclipse: See photos from around Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Solar Eclipse Bloomington Illinois Solar Eclipse Bloomington Illinois Solar Eclipse Bloomington Illinois Solar Eclipse Bloomington Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Chicago Solar Eclipse Decatur Illinois Solar Eclipse Decatur Illinois Solar Eclipse Decatur Illinois Solar Eclipse Decatur Illinois Solar Eclipse Mattoon Illinois Solar Eclipse Mattoon Illinois Solar Eclipse Mattoon Illinois Solar Eclipse Mattoon Illinois Total Solar Eclipse Makanda Total Solar Eclipse Makanda Solar Eclipse Eureka Solar Eclipse Eureka SPRINGFIELD The Illinois legislature has passed a bill that would require more health care facilities to report allegations of patient abuse to the state a measure that follows a Chicago Tribune investigation into the issue. Under the bill, doctors offices and clinics affiliated with hospitals would have to report allegations of patient abuse to the Illinois Department of Public Health, triggering an investigation by the state. Now, hospitals must only report allegations that happen at hospitals. The House unanimously passed the bill Tuesday night. The Senate also previously passed the bill unanimously. The bill now goes to the governor for his signature. The governors office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the bill Wednesday morning. The bill comes several months after a Tribune investigation found that well-known health systems allowed workers accused of sexually abusing patients to continue providing care, and, in some cases, those same health care workers were then accused of abusing additional patients. As part of the investigation, the Tribune also detailed the role Endeavor Health played in allowing former obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Fabio Ortega to continue working despite complaints from patients. Some of the complaints against him involved alleged incidents that happened at Endeavor-affiliated doctors offices outside hospital walls. Ortega has faced lawsuits from more than 60 patients accusing him of sexual assault or abuse, and he pleaded guilty in 2021 to aggravated criminal sexual abuse of two patients. Most of the patients who filed those lawsuits also accuse the health systems where Ortega worked of failing to protect them. The Illinois Hospital Association and the Illinois Department of Public Health both collaborated with Illinois Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who originally proposed the bill. Attorneys representing dozens of women who have filed suit against Ortega also worked with Cassidy on the bill. One of those attorneys, Tamara Holder, who represents most of the women who have sued Ortega and Endeavor along with her co-counsels Johanna Raimond and Stephan Blandin, called the bills passage a huge victory. Women are going to finally be heard when they complain about doctor misconduct in an office or outside of a hospital setting where doctor patient abuse predominantly occurs, Holder said. During the legislative session Tuesday night Cassidy told her colleagues in the House that the bill closes an existing loophole in the law. We have more work to do to make sure that patients are safe in health care situations, but this is an important first start, she said. The bills Senate sponsor, Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, called the bill a strong step toward preventing future patient abuse in a news release after the measure passed through the chamber over the weekend. Carrie Ward, CEO of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said the bill is an important expansion of reporting requirements. Tribune reporting also identified several hospitals that had not reported patient allegations of abuse to the states health department as required. Those facilities appeared to face few consequences as a result. The investigation revealed that gaps in state laws and slow action by the state agency responsible for disciplining licensed health care providers sometimes resulted in doctors and other health care workers continuing to provide care for months or years after patients alleged sexual misconduct. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation spokesperson Chris Slaby said in a statement that the agency, which oversees licensing and discipline for health care professionals, is working on additional reforms with legislators and plans to pursue legislation in the fall veto session. Chicago Tribunes Jeremy Gorner contributed to this report. Actor-activists LeVar Burton and Ashley Judd will speak at the 2024-25 Guilford College Bryan Series at the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, the center announced Wednesday. Burton will present on Oct. 24, followed by Judd on April 8, 2025 Burton is an actor, literacy advocate and the former host of The Reading Rainbow on PBS from 1983-2009. As an actor, he portrayed a young Kunta Kinte in the ABC mini-series Roots and Geordi LaForge in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Judd is an actress and global humanitarian with starring roles in Kiss the Girls, Where the Heart Is, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and De-Lovely. In 2017, she was named a TIME Person of the Year in the Silence Breakers issue for speaking out about the treatment of women in Hollywood. The Bryan Series, which began in 1996, is the regions longest-running subscription lecture series. This seasons programs highlight literacy and mental health. Were excited to present two fascinating evenings with nationally known speakers on topics of literacy and mental health, LaToya Marsh, the director of the Bryan Series, said in a press release. LeVar and Ashley have distinguished themselves as performing artists as well as educational and social justice advocates. We look forward to these inspiring programs. New subscriptions and memberships will be on sale in July and single-event tickets will be available in September for the programs 20th season. Renewals for last seasons subscribers and Legacy Society members are available now. A Washington state man found guilty of transporting a minor for illegal sexual activity was sentenced Tuesday to 29 years in federal prison. David M. Platt, 58, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for Nebraska on a charge of transporting a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Platt was arrested during a traffic stop near Lexington, Nebraska, on May 15, 2022, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr. He was further sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release following completion of his sentence. Additionally, Platt was ordered to pay $29,000 in restitution. Lehr's statement said Platt met a 15-year-old through a social media website where the minor victim was posting about wanting to run away from home. He made a plan to pick up the minor victim from California and travel across the country in his semitrailer truck. On May 12, 2022, Platt picked up the teen, who was then reported missing by their family. During the traffic stop near Lexington, Platt admitted to touching the teen in a sexual manner. The victim was taken to a child advocacy center, where they disclosed that Platt had sexually assaulted them each day of the four-day trip. The victim told the same information to a medical examiner. During an investigation, authorities learned of Platts sexual preference for preteen to teenage girls and his pattern in attempting to find a child to travel with him for sex. Platt had been found guilty of sexual assault in 2012 in Texas and was on a sex offender registry at the time of his latest arrest. This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and the FBI. Top Journal Star photos for May 2024 People visit the exhibition booth of BYD at an auto show in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 1, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) giant BYD has released its fifth-generation DM (dual mode) hybrid technology for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with a comprehensive driving range of 2,100 kilometers. With the technology, BYD's plug-in hybrid vehicles can lead globally in a series of key indicators, achieving a thermal efficiency of 46.06 percent, a fuel consumption of 2.9 liters per 100 kilometers even when in an electricity-deficit state, and a comprehensive range of 2,100 kilometers, BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu said at a launch event in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Tuesday night. The driving range was established based on vehicles with a fully charged battery and a full tank of petrol. The vehicles equipped with the technology run mainly on high-capacity power batteries. At the event, BYD also unveiled two car models powered by the new technology, the Qin L DM-i and the Seal 06 DM-i, which use only a third of the fuel consumed by traditional cars and triple the range. Prices range from 99,800 yuan (about 14,000 U.S. dollars) to 139,800 yuan. Wang said that BYD is confident in leading the global development of plug-in hybrid technology and promoting the green transformation of the global auto industry. The Shenzhen-based carmaker has sold a cumulative total of more than 3.6 million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. In the first four months of 2024, China's production and sales of new energy vehicles climbed to 2.985 million and 2.94 million units, respectively, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Those figures represent respective year-on-year growth of 30.3 percent and 32.3 percent, the association said. 1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them. 2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound. 3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes. 4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic. Vote View Results You are here: Business An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 24, 2024 shows a cargo ship docking at the Meishan port area of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in east China's Zhejiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua] China's container throughput at its ports rose 9 percent year on year in the first four months of this year amid foreign trade expansion, official data showed. A total of 104.03 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers were handled at China's ports during the period, according to the Ministry of Transport. The country's cargo throughput at ports totaled 5.55 billion tonnes in the same period, marking a year-on-year increase of 5.2 percent. Specifically, foreign trade cargo throughput rose 9.1 percent from the same period last year, according to the data. China's total goods imports and exports expanded 5.7 percent year on year in yuan terms in the first four months of this year, stronger than the 5 percent recorded in the first quarter, earlier data showed. North Korea has flown hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure toward South Korea. The strange action led the Souths military to organize chemical and explosive response teams to recover objects in different parts of the country. The balloons came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged his military scientists Monday to overcome a failed spy satellite launch. He said space-spying technology is important to counter U.S. and South Korean military activities, state media said Wednesday. Kim also warned of overwhelming actions against South Korea over a recent military exercise near the Korean border. The military exercise took place hours before North Koreas failed launch on Monday. In a speech Tuesday, Kim called the South Korean exercise a direct military challenge toward North Korea, North Korean state media said Wednesday. South Koreas top military leaders said North Korea has been flying large numbers of trash-carrying balloons toward the South since Tuesday night. The Souths military said about 260 North Korean balloons were found in different parts of the country as of Wednesday afternoon. They were being recovered by the military and explosive clearance teams. The military said the balloons only held trash and manure. So far, the military has found no human waste. It's told civilians not to touch any objects from the balloons and to report to the military or police after finding them. South Korean officials said the balloons are in response to South Korean activists flying anti-North Korean propaganda papers across the border. Kim Kang II is the North Korean Vice Defense Minister. He said in a statement the North was planning to spread wastepaper and filth over border areas and other parts of South Korea. He called the action a direct reaction to the spread of anti-North Korean messages by South Korean activists. Kim Yo Jong is the North Korean leaders powerful sister. On Wednesday, she said on state media the North was simply exercising its freedom of expression by sending the balloons. The Seoul government has cited freedom of expression as a reason for its inability to stop anti-North Korean activists from flying propaganda across the border. Images released by the South Korean military showed trash spread across highways and roads in different parts of the country. In Seoul, military officials found what appeared to be a timer that was likely meant to break up the bags of trash in the air. There were no immediate reports of damage caused by the balloons. Similar North Korean balloon activities damaged cars and other property in 2016. Kim Jong Uns comments about the satellite came during a speech at the Norths Academy of Defense Sciences. He visited the academy a day after a rocket carrying what would have been his countrys second military spy satellite exploded shortly after launch. Mondays launch drew criticism from South Korea, Japan and the United States. The United Nations bans North Korea from carrying out any such rocket launches. The U.N. considers such actions as covers for testing long-range missile technology. North Korea has not commented on when it would be ready to attempt a satellite launch again. Some experts say it could take several months. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. _____________________________________________ Words in This Story balloon n. a thin usually rubber bag that becomes larger when it is filled with air or gas manure n. solid waste from farm animals that is used to make soil better for growing plants response n. something that is said or written as a reply to something overwhelm v. to affect very strongly challenge n. a difficult task or problem academy n. a school that provides training in special subjects or skills Over the past few seasons, exquisite jewelry has taken a leading position among fashion lovers. Massive rings, chains, and bracelets have given way to their more elegant counterparts. However, fashion is coming back, and with it, gold jewelry in the style of the 90s. ADVERTISIMENT As a model of fashion and style, the famous American supermodel Bella Hadid revived forgotten trends and created a new trend. Her ability to combine casual clothes with accent details is becoming a role model, writes Who What Wear Bella Hadid demonstrated her sophisticated sense of style in Cannes, walking in a look that combined simplicity and elegance. The model spent the day on the French Riviera, wearing an asymmetrical white dress, which she complemented with gold jewelry. The main accent was a 90s-style bracelet that adorned the celebrity's wrist. ADVERTISIMENT The style idea was immediately picked up by many influencers. Without abandoning their minimalist aesthetics, they enhance their looks with massive jewelry, combining them with simple dresses or suits, which further emphasizes the peculiarities of the 90s style. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Former French Foreign Minister Roland Dumas has been jailed for six months in the countrys biggest sleaze scandal in recent history. The 78-year-old judge and close confidant of the late President Francois Mitterrand was found guilty of illegally receiving funds from oil giant Elf Aquitaine between 1989 and 1992. His ex-lover, Christine Deviers-Joncour, and two top Elf executives were also jailed for misusing funds in the embezzlement scandal. Ms Deviers-Joncour sank into her chair, head in hands, as the sentence was announced three-years imprisonment, half of which is suspended. Former company president Loik Le Floch-Prigent, 57, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. Alfred Sirven, 74, his former second-in-command and controller of the company slush fund got four years. Both men were also ordered to pay fines of two million French francs ($270,000). Mr Dumas must pay one million francs. The trial that has gripped the nation focused on allegations of corruption arising from the $9m which Elf is said to have paid to Ms Deviers-Joncour for her work as a consultant and lobbyist in support of the firms world-wide sales effort. Mr Dumas has said he played a part, for the sake of France, in what he called a subtle game of shadows and light, but denied that he made any personal gain. The trial produced more headline-grabbing details about the lavish lifestyles of the accused, and the many gifts allegedly given to Mr Dumas by his lover in an attempt to influence government decisions. And in a major dramatic twist Sirven, on trial in his absence, was captured in the Philippines after four years on the run. He was brought back amid fevered expectation of what he might reveal about the affair, as the former controller of the Elf purse-strings. But in the end he refused to testify. The ripples from the case have spread across the border into Germany, where Elf embarked on controversial expansion projects in Helmut Kohls era as Chancellor. Both Dumas and his former lover will remain free while their appeals are heard which could take years. Courtesy BBC News In context Roland Dumas was cleared in January 2003. His initial trial and sentence were widely regarded in France as a sign the French government was ready to rid itself of corruption. But subsequent attempts to prosecute politicians collapsed. In October 2001 President Jacques Chirac won his right to maintain immunity from prosecution on allegations of misappropriating public funds. In the same month prosecutors dropped their case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn the popular former finance minister in Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospins cabinet for forgery and misappropriation of funds. In February 2002 French magistrates published a report ending an eight-year investigation led by magistrate Eva Joly into corruption involving French politicians and the once state-owned company Elf Aquitaine. In 2003 37 people, including three senior Elf executives, were sentenced to spend up to five years in prison for their part in the corruption scandal. Egypt and China yesterday signed agreements deepening their cooperation during President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissis visit to Beijing. El-Sissi, accompanied by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, witnessed the signing together with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a ceremony that coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Egypt-China comprehensive strategic partnership. The Egyptian delegation discussed bilateral relations and bringing stability to the Middle East in light of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, according to a statement released by the Egyptian presidency. The agreements include collaboration in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, which brings Chinese companies to build Chinese-funded transportation, energy, and infrastructure projects overseas. China invested billions of dollars in Egyptian state projects, including the Suez Canal Economic Zone and the new Administrative Capital east of Cairo. Investments between Egypt and China amounted to around $14 billion in 2023, compared to $16.6 billion in 2022, according to the latest data released by Egypts statistics agency. The establishment of a DNA database in Macau involves basic rights such as personal freedom, physical and mental integrity and privacy, the Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, has stated. Legislation is needed for all aspects of the database to ensure individual rights are protected, said Wong, responding to a written inquiry from lawmaker Lam Lon Wai. Wongs office said the regulations need to include strict provisions on procedures, and the preservation and destruction of biological samples, as well as security management of DNA databases such as data access rights to eliminate all potential risks of abuse or infringement. For this reason, the Office said that although it is proceeding with the legal framework related to DNA databases, it is working with extreme care and not in a rushed manner. In the inquiry, lawmaker Lam had asked the Secretariat for Security about the timetable for the establishment of a DNA database in Macau. The same office said recent developments about privacy concerns have forced the Judiciary Police, which was developing the legal framework in the past, to start again and consider new requirements and new norms for data security management and protection. Thai prosecutors said former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be indicted for defaming the monarchy, three months after he was freed on parole on other charges. Thaksin will not yet be indicted because he had filed a request to postpone his original appointment yesterday with proof that he has COVID-19, Prayuth Bejraguna, a spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General, said at a news conference. The attorney generals office scheduled a new appointment for Thaksins indictment on June 18, Prayuth said, adding that Thaksin will also be indicted for violating the Computer Crime Act. The law on defaming the monarchy, an offense known as lese majeste, is punishable by three to 15 years in prison. It is controversial not only because critics consider it harsh, but also because they charge it is used for political purposes to punish government critics. Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006. His opponents then had accused him of disrespecting King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016. Thaksins ouster set off years of struggle between his supporters and his opponents, who were generally staunch royalists. The political polarization led to unprecedented public debate about the monarchys role, which sharpened when student-led protests for greater democracy took the the streets in 2020. Thaksin had been in self-imposed exile since 2008, but returned to Thailand in August last year to begin serving an eight-year sentence on charges related to corruption and abuse of power. He was released on parole in February from the hospital in Bangkok where he spent six months serving time for corruption-related offenses. On his return, he was moved almost immediately from prison to the hospital on grounds of ill health, and about a week after that King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced his sentence to a single year. Thaksin was granted parole because of his age he is 74 and ill health, leaving him free for the remainder of his one-year sentence. Thaksins return was interpreted as part of a political bargain between the Pheu Thai Party, the latest in a string of parties that he has supported, and their longstanding rivals in the conservative establishment to stop the progressive Move Forward Party from forming a government after its victory in last years general election. But shortly after his return, the attorney generals office said it had revived an investigation into whether Thaksin almost nine years ago violated the law against defaming the monarch. Thaksin was originally charged in 2016 with violating the law for remarks he made to journalists when he was in Seoul, South Korea, a year before that, but the investigation could proceed only after he was presented with the charge in person in the hospital in January, officials said. Thaksin had denied the charges and submitted a statement defending himself. Prosecutors spokesperson Prayuth said there is enough evidence for the attorney general to indict Thaksin. He said the prosecutors have already prepared their statement and documents to present to the court next month. Thaksins lawyer Winyat Chatmontree said he is confident he has a strong defense for his client. We have been working on this for several months, since we submitted the statement of defense, he told The Associated Press. But whether we will win the case, its up to the courts discretion based on the evidence. Winyat also noted that the video of Thaksins comments that investigators used as evidence might have been manipulated. Since his release, Thaksin has maintained a high profile and is believed to be wielding influence in the government led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. He has traveled the country making public appearances and was reportedly involved in an attempt to broker peace talks for neighboring war-torn Myanmar. One analyst believes Thaksins growing influence has angered the ultra-conservatives and that the indictment is their response. It is designed to keep Thaksin under control. This is keeping him on a leash. If he doesnt behave then this charge can be activated and could land him in jail. This is to curtail his movement and his maneuvers and to remind him, sending him a signal in a way, to know whos in charge and to know he should not overstep the boundary, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, at professor at Bangkoks Chulalongkorn University. The lese majeste law came under the spotlight again earlier this month when 28-year-old activist Netiporn Bung Sanesangkhom died in a prison hospital after going who went on a hunger strike. She had been jailed on a lese majeste charge. The death sparked fresh calls for reviewing the judicial process that allows political offenders accused of nonviolent offenses to be denied bail and be held for extended periods in prison ahead of being tried. Netiporn had been accused of conducting polls in public spaces in 2022 asking peoples opinions about the royal family. JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI, BANGKOK,MDT/AP The Judiciary Police (PJ) has arrested two 17-year-olds from Hong Kong suspected of committing fraud against older adult residents of Macau. The case came to light Friday when an older woman reported being defrauded of RMB200,000 through the guess who I am technique. A caller claiming to be a relative or friend of the victim falsely said they had injured someone and demanded settlement money as compensation. A person posing as a paralegal later arrived to collect the payment. Further investigation revealed a further three older Macau residents, men and women, had fallen victim to the same scam, losing between RMB10,000 to RMB40,000 each. The police apprehended two suspects near the border gate and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, recovering RMB8,900 in stolen money, as well as mobile phones and tablets connected to the case. According to the alleged suspects confessions, a Hong Kong criminal group had instructed them to travel to Macau four times between May 19 and May 27 to collect the funds, which they would then hand over to the group in mainland China and Hong Kong. Howard Tong Taiwans opposition-controlled legislature passed changes yesterday that are seen as favoring China and diminishing the power of the islands executive leader, sparking protests by thousands of people. The changes pushed by the opposition Nationalist Party and its allies would give the legislature greater power to control budgets, including defense spending that the party has blocked in what many see as a concession to China. It remains unclear whether the package of bills will become law. The Executive Yuan, the executive branch of government headed by the premier, may veto legislation or pass it on to the leader, who has to proclaim bills into law within 10 days. If the Executive Yuan or its leader does not comply, the bills will not become law. Thousands of people gathered outside the legislature to protest the changes. The legislative chamber was festooned with banners promoting both sides in the dispute, while arguments on the floor broke into shouting and pushing matches. The Nationalists, also known as the KMT, officially back unification with China, from which Taiwan separated during a civil war in 1949. They took control of the legislature with a single-seat majority after elections in January, while the executive leaderchip went to Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party, which favors Taiwans de facto independence from China and is hated by Beijing. People must stand up at this time, and we must let those legislators know that the laws they are enacting are not what we want, said Huang Hong-wei, a protester. Thats why so many people are taking to the streets to protest, because we used to believe in these legislators, but they didnt do what they promised, so the people got angry. DPP legislators accused deputies from the KMT and the minority Taiwan Peoples Party of undermining Taiwans democracy by expanding the legislatures oversight of the executive branch. They denounced the legislation as creating a black box for what the KMT has portrayed as reforms. While the KMT controls the legislature, its speaker and its allies in the TPP were elected on party lists, meaning they answer to no actual constituents. Taiwan was governed under martial law for 40 years under the Nationalists, who have lost three consecutive elections but still hold power on the local level through well-entwined networks of business and social interests. Pro-China business groups have also captured a major share of Taiwans media market, even as the younger generation turns to social media for its information. MDT/AP Macau was the most satisfactory destination for outbound mainland travelers in the first quarter (Q1), the China Tourism Academy (CTA) has revealed via its official WeChat broadcast channel. With a score of 83.49 points, Macau jumped from the third to first, for the first time, although this is not Macaus highest ever score. Macau scored 84.09 points in Q1 last year, seizing the current top spot because other regions dropped out, rather than because of an improvement of satisfaction with Macau. The CTA survey showed many mainland residents were enthusiastic about traveling to both Macau and Hong Kong, while there has also been an increase in the number of residents of the two Special Administrative Regions visiting the mainland. Hong Kong dropped from the fifth (82.86 points) to the seventh place of the ranking in Q1 2024 with a score of 81.77. The CTA report noted the Hong Kong drop is related to a fall in mainland tourists visiting Hong Kong over the past decade, because of social movements, Covid-19, and negative public opinion about tourism. The Association said it is hoped the Hong Kong SAR government and the tourism industry will step up efforts to fully restore the confidence of mainland tourists in the Hong Kong market. The report also noted the recovery of Chinas tourism and a new cycle of prosperity and development after the sharp decline caused by the pandemic. Promoting the steady growth of mutual visits between mainland China and Hong Kong and Macau should become a long-term issue and a policy guideline for tourism exchanges and cooperation between China and Hong Kong and Macau, the report said. It noted there is growing tourist demand from both urban and rural residents in the mainland who are the most reliable market force for tourist exchanges between mainland China and Hong Kong and Macau. The news was received with praise by several tourism-related associations and operators, who noted that Macau topping the ranking is encouraging but is also a call to action, with the officials saying that Macau should not rest on its laurels and should work harder to keep the position. The Macau Economic Association president, Lau Pun Lap, said in an interview with public broadcaster TDM Chinese Channel that he expects visitors to Macau this year will surpass the government forecast of 30 million and may reach 35 million. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing on Wednesday. Xi noted that, 68 years ago, Egypt was the first Arab and African state to establish diplomatic relations with China. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, he said, adding that over the past decade, the two heads of state have worked together to guide the vigorous development of bilateral relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Sisi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. Sisi, who is in China on a state visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Photo/Xinhua] China-Egypt relations have become a vivid illustration of China's solidarity, coordination, and mutually-beneficial win-win cooperation with Arab, African, Islamic and developing countries, Xi said, adding that under the new circumstances, building a more enriched and dynamic China-Egypt relationship meets the common expectations of the two peoples. Xi said that China is ready to work with Egypt to deepen mutual trust, advance cooperation, build a China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era, and contribute to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity. Xi stressed that China is striving in all aspects to build a strong and prosperous country and achieve national rejuvenation, and China and Egypt are facing historic opportunities for exchanges and cooperation in various fields. The two sides should continue to firmly support each other and work together to promote common development, Xi added. China is ready to work with Egypt to tap the potential of cooperation in traditional areas such as infrastructure, industry, electricity and agriculture, explore cooperation in emerging areas such as health care, information and communications, and renewable energy, deepen economic, trade and investment cooperation, and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Egypt, Xi said. Xi urged efforts to organize the 2024 China-Egypt year of partnership, expand personnel and cultural exchanges, and make the Luban Workshop in Egypt a benchmark for China-Africa vocational education cooperation. China supports Egypt in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and stands ready to further strengthen coordination and cooperation with Egypt on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS cooperation mechanism, advocate an equal and orderly multi-polar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, as well as the common interests of developing countries, Xi said. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Xi said that China is ready to work closely with Egypt and other parties to build a successful China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, inject new impetus into China-Arab relations, and promote the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. China is also willing to work with Egypt and other African members of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, and work together to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, Xi added. Sisi expressed his pleasure at paying a state visit to China and attending the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, adding that Egypt expects to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and strive to promote regional peace and stability. Sisi said that Egypt adheres to the one-China principle, firmly supports China's position on issues relating to its core interests such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xizang and human rights, and firmly supports China in achieving complete national reunification. It is hoped that the 2024 Egypt-China year of partnership will be an opportunity for the two countries to enhance people-to-people exchanges and strengthen bilateral cooperation in such areas as information and communications, artificial intelligence, new energy, food security and finance, Sisi added. Expressing appreciation to Xi for putting forward a series of global initiatives, Sisi said Egypt stands ready to work closely with China in multilateral cooperation to make positive contributions to human peace and progress. The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi said that the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused heavy casualties of innocent Palestinian civilians and the humanitarian situation in Gaza is extremely grave, and China is deeply saddened. It is imperative to cease fire and stop the war immediately, avoid the spillover of conflict which will impact regional peace and stability, and prevent a more serious humanitarian crisis, he said. Noting that the two-State solution is the fundamental way out for resolving the Palestinian question, Xi said China firmly supports Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations. China appreciates Egypt's important role in cooling down the situation and providing humanitarian relief, and is ready to work with Egypt to continue to provide assistance to the people in Gaza within its capacity, and promote an early, full, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, Xi added. Egypt greatly appreciates China's consistent commitment to justice on the Palestinian question and stands ready to maintain close communication with China to push for an early easing of tensions in the Gaza Strip, Sisi added. After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields, which involve the plan for the promotion of cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road, science and technology innovation, investment and economic cooperation, and quarantine. The two sides also issued a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership. Premium mass players from mainland China are increasingly making multiple trips to Macau, solidifying the Special Administrative Regions (SAR) resilience against an uncertain Chinese economy, according to a survey from investment group CLSA. The survey has revealed mainland tourists continue to view Macau as an attractive travel destination, with 78% intending to visit by 1Q24. The China Reality Research (CRR) surveyed 800 Chinese nationals with gambling experience in Macau and has indicated that despite a slight decrease from the previous years survey, with 78% of respondents planning a visit, the premium mass segment displayed greater strength. Within this segment, 70% intended to visit Macau twice or more in the next 12 months, compared to 57% in 2019. We continue to note high willingness to visit and spend money in the city, with notable strength among our premium panelists, CLSA analysts Jeffrey Kiang, Lance Noble and Leo Pan wrote. This aligns with our view that premium mass visitors are generally more immune to any macro slowdown, given Macau is a niche market targeting the wealthier ones. The survey also revealed premium mass players are more inclined to stay in Macau for extended periods, with 96% indicating plans to spend two or more nights compared to 93% of base mass players. The analysts also observed a positive response to Beijings recent announcement expediting the visa application process. The governments expansion of eligible cities under IVS will likely offer support too, they said. Approximately 45% of respondents said they would expedite their trip plans to Macau as a result. Macaus proximity continues to play a crucial role in attracting mainland players, with 48% expressing no intention to gamble elsewhere. Among those who indicated a desire to gamble abroad, Singapore emerged as the top choice, with 20% of respondents naming it as their preferred overseas destination. Staff Reporter Macaus financial reserves grew 2.81% during the first quarter (Q1) of this year, according to a Q1 report from the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) in the governments official gazette. At the end of March, the governments reserve accounts held MOP596,79 billion. This was composed of the Basic Reserve of MOP153.40 billion, the Extraordinary Reserve of MOP431.86 billion and investment earnings during the period of MOP11.53 billion. At the end of 2023, the financial reserves totaled MOP580.47 billion, which means that from January to March the reserves grew some MOP16.32 billion. Considering the governments current annual expenditure, the reserve funds would be enough to cover five years of the governments budget. The maximum sum ever reached by the financial reserve accounts was of MOP663.56 billion. The 2024 budget is the first from the term of Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng not to be in deficit and so not needing to use the financial reserves to balance the accounts, which is what has happened since 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This story contains spoilers, so if you havent watched the latest episode of Top Chef but plan to watch it, you might want to read the story later. *** Lay It All on the Table, the 11th of 14 episodes of Top Chef: Wisconsin, aired Wednesday night on Bravo. It also can be found on the streaming service Peacock. Chefs describe missing loved ones Contestants on the reality show didnt see their significant others or families during the five weeks of filming in Wisconsin last summer. The absence was clearly beginning to take a toll on some of the cheftestants. Milwaukee chef Dan Jacobs said he missed his wife and best friend of 18 years. That shes only a five-minute drive away, but he cant see her, has been difficult, he said. Jacobs said hed tried out for Top Chef 13 times and said his wife knew how much it would mean to him to win the contest. Colicchio makes secret stir-fry Five chefs remained until Laura Ozyilmaz, who got dismissed on the ninth episode, came back through Last Chance Kitchen, which airs after Top Chef. Jacobs called Ozyilmaz dangerous a tough competitor. The quickfire challenge, worth $10,000, was to recreate a dish celebrity judge Tom Colicchio made for host Kristen Kish and his fellow judge Gail Simmons without knowing exactly what it was. He unveiled the remnants of the dish for the chefs to look at and to smell, but they werent allowed to stick their fingers in or taste it. The chefs were only allowed to ask Colicchio 24 yes-or-no questions about the dish. They learned that it was Asian, that it featured lobster, and that it contained fish sauce, ginger and garlic. Savannah Miller, the only contestant to use a wok, came closest to the spirit of Colicchios lobster stir-fry, the judges determined. Meal served directly on table For the elimination challenge, the chefs were asked to think beyond the plate and make a meal served directly on the table. The dish could be sweet or savory as long as it fit on one tabletop. Jacobs got good feedback for his creation, which the judges said looked like a Jackson Pollock painting. The phyllo demands respect He, Ozyilmaz and Danny Garcia had the favorite tabletops of the day. Ozyilmaz won for a dessert table with each judge getting a dramatic ring of phyllo. It was designed to be eaten in conjunction with the other ingredients, which included raspberry sauce, pistachio, honey and ice cream. Guest judge and two-Michelin-star chef Curtis Duffy said the phyllo demands respect. Simmons called it the key to the whole experience. Gravlax and bagel brunch bombs Manny Barella Lopez and Michelle Wallace had the judges least favorite tables with Wallace getting eliminated for her play on a gravlax and bagel brunch. She did cured salmon with beet biscuits, pickled beets and capers, egg with caviar, fig jam with bacon, plus seasoned potato chips. The judges criticized Wallace for bunching up all of her elements and not using the whole table. They also found that the biscuit hadnt been cooked long enough. There are a lot of things clashing here, Colicchio said. Flash China firmly opposes the U.S. interference in Cuba's internal affairs under the pretext of counterterrorism and its political suppression and economic sanctions against Cuba, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday. Mao made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to a media query. Not long ago, the U.S. government removed Cuba from the list of country not fully cooperating against terrorism, but still designated it as a "state sponsor of terrorism." Mao said that as Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla noted, the United States has just admitted what everybody knows, that Cuba cooperates fully with the fight against terrorism. She said China commends Cuba for its effort to fight terrorism, and firmly opposes the U.S. interference in Cuba's internal affairs under the pretext of counterterrorism and its political suppression and economic sanctions against Cuba. China calls on the United States to handle its relations with Cuba in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the norms governing international relations, Mao said, adding that the United States needs to lift all its blockade and sanctions on Cuba, properly solve disputes and differences through dialogue and negotiation, and contribute to improving U.S.-Cuba relations and keeping the Americas peaceful and stable. Local cement manufacturers lauded the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for bolstering the Philippine manufacturing sector through its enforcement action against non-compliant cement importers. The Department of Trade and Industry said its Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) suspended the permit and issued a show cause order to Newgate Import Export Corp., relative to their importation of blended hydraulic cement under Bill of Lading No. N23.2/23. - Advertisement - The Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CEMAP) said the recent action of the DTI-BPS sends a resounding message that non-compliance and unfair trade practices would not be tolerated. It said the suspension was made after the DTIs action in Iloilo to conduct an intensified monitoring of cement imports coming in to the country. The impact of the DTIs actions extend beyond the cement industry itself. A strong and competitive local cement sector is vital in supporting the Philippines continued infrastructure development and economic growth, CEMAP said in a statement. CEMAP said it has been sounding alarms about the excessive and unfairly priced volume of cement importation that heavily harms the already beleaguered local cement industry. It said local manufacturers invested billions in ensuring local construction and cement products meet the highest quality and safety standards, as mandated by Philippine regulations. The cement manufacturing sector generates more than 1 percent of the gross domestic product, providing 130,000 direct and indirect jobs to Filipinos across various sectors. CEMAP said the influx of substandard, carbon-intensive cement products from cement importers had undermined the industrys progress, creating an uneven playing field, stifling economic growth and endangering countless livelihoods and end-users. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Megaworld Corp. signed an agreement on May 21, 2024 officially designating Arcovia City as a certified IT park. Megaworlds commitment to nation-building is evident through their active participation in the countrys ecozone program. By establishing new zones, we can host global players in the IT-BPM industry, thereby giving more opportunities for Filipinos, said PEZA director-general Tereso Panga. - Advertisement - Megaworlds chief strategy officer Kevin Tan emphasized the partnerships role in strengthening the Philippines position as a top investment destination as he sees ecozones as key drivers of growth. Both parties aim to generate interest, engage and entice housing more local and international investors through the establishment of cutting-edge ecozones. They expressed the shared dedication to advancing the ecozone initiative, which ultimately contributes to the nations economic growth and job creation for Filipinos. Arcovia Citys designation as an IT park is one of 13 proclaimed by President Marcos Jr. in the first half of 2024. These designations represent a total investment of P4.85 billion. PEZA said Megaworlds participation is expected to inspire other real estate developers to join the governments ecozone program. Megaworld, with its affiliates, manages nine economic zones. The economic zones house 221 registered businesses that generated $3.29 billion in exports in 2023 and employ over 160,000 Filipinos. Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) is expanding its international network by launching flights between Manila and Kaohsiung with its signature marketing campaign Piso Sale. The occasional promo allows passengers to explore southern Taiwans urban landscapes at low-cost airfare. Starting on August 16, 2024, CEBs Manila-Kaohsiung flights will operate thrice a week every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Kaohsiung will be the second destination that CEB operates in Taiwan, granting passengers more affordable options. - Advertisement - CEB also flies twice daily to Taipei, the capital city, and economic center of Taiwan. From May 30 to June 13, travelers may book flights to Kaohsiung for as low as one-peso, one-way base fare, exclusive of fees and surcharges. The travel period is from August 16 to October 25, 2024. We are very excited to launch direct flights to the wonderful city of Kaohsiung. With the growing interest among passengers to travel to new destinations, we hope that this launch will encourage them to add another destination to their itinerary or cross off one theyve been looking to visit, said Xander Lao, Cebu Pacific President, and Chief Commercial Officer. With CEBs Manila-Kaohsiung flights, travelers can cruise along the citys famous Love River, experience the Hakka culture in Meinong, or visit the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. The city is a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts and travelers with an appreciation for different cultures and unique artifacts. Passengers may use their existing Travel Funds to book flights and avail themselves of other add-ons. Cebu Pacific also offers multiple payment options, including payment centers, credit or debit cards, and e-wallets. CEB currently flies to 35 domestic and 25 international destinations spread across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. China has called on the Philippines not to be alarmed by its new coast guard regulations that permit the detention of foreigners in the international seas, as long as no illegal activities are involved. This assertion comes amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) or South China Sea. In a press conference on Wednesday night, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized that the regulations aim to standardize law enforcement and enhance maritime order. - Advertisement - Mao further claimed that the new rules align with international practices, asserting that individuals and entities have no need for concern as long as they have not done anything illicit. Chinas door of dialogue and communication with the Philippines remains open, he added. The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued the statement in response to President Marcoss remarks that the new coast guard rules are an escalation and worrisome. Chinas new regulation, effective June 15, enforces a 2021 coast guard law allowing the detention of foreigners suspected of trespassing. This move has raised concerns among countries with competing claims in the South China Sea, or WPS for the Filipinos, a crucial maritime route with over $3 trillion in annual trade. President Marcos, during his recent state visit to Brunei, emphasized that the Philippines would use every possible avenue to halt Chinas aggressive actions and ensure the rights of Filipino fishermen in the WPS. Yes, of course, there are. Ive said it many times. You should try everything, Marcos said, indicating ongoing efforts to resolve the issue through meetings and backchannel negotiations with China. Chinas expansive claims over the South China Sea, which overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, were invalidated by a 2016 ruling from a United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. However, Beijing has refused to recognize this decision, continuing to assert its sovereignty over the contested waters. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Thursday that it is on track to file an environmental case against China for its alleged destruction in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) within the next few weeks. Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano IV disclosed the information during his guest appearance on the program Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon over the state-run PTV network. He expressed confidence in the progress of the case. - Advertisement - We are confident that in a few weeks, the complaint and the attached evidence will be completed, Clavano stated. He added that with the assistance of the Solicitor General, the Philippines aims to move forward with the case promptly. While Clavano did not specify an exact date for the filing, the preparation reflects an ongoing effort by the Philippine government to address environmental damages in the contested maritime region. The push to hold China accountable gained momentum in September 2023, when Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla proposed legal action following reports from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command about extensive coral harvesting along Rozul (Iroquois) Reef. Remulla has suggested that the case might be filed in early 2024. Adding to the urgency, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has urged the government to include damages at Escoda Shoal in the complaint. The Philippine Coast Guard has accused China of constructing an artificial island in the area and potentially preparing for reclamation activities by dumping crushed corals near the shoal. This environmental case follows the Philippines landmark legal victory in 2016 when the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of Manila, invalidating Chinas expansive claims in the WPS or what it calls South China Sea. Despite the ruling, Beijing has not complied and continues its activities in the disputed waters. The contested areas in the said maritime region fall within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, which is recognized by international laws. House leaders have expressed their support for the governments plan to file new cases against China over its illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Assistant Majority Leader and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon said it is only right for the Philippines to adopt a more assertive approach in defending the nations sovereign rights by pursuing legal action against China. - Advertisement - I guess we are already tired [of] the diplomatic approach, asking China to stop this and stop that. So, I guess this is a positive development on the part of the administration to collect pieces of evidence so that we can file a case against China, Bongalon said. This is a declaration that we will not accept any kind of bullying by a powerful country like China. So, I guess this is a positive development on the administration wherein theyre leading our country in making a more credible and more decisive step in asserting our rights in the WPS, he added. The National Security Council (NSC) earlier said the Philippines has started collecting evidence in filing new cases against China over its illegal actions in the WPS. According to the NSC, the evidence gathered will be forwarded to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for the countrys next legal action against China. In 2013, the Philippines initiated arbitral proceedings against China, leading to the 2016 ruling by the Hague-based Arbitral Tribunal that deemed Chinas claimsincluding its nine-dash line, recent land reclamation efforts, and other activities in Philippine watersunlawful. Deputy Majority Leader and PBA Party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles emphasized the significance of evidence and a measured response to address the situation in WPS. It cannot be taken lightly and we can see that we do not fight violence with violence, she said. For his part, Assistant Majority Leader and Manila Rep. Ernesto Dionisio, Jr. said: Any evidence that will help our case against the bullying country will help us fight for our sovereignty. Dionisio also cited President Marcoss stance, particularly the deployment of assets in the WPS, as a powerful message to China and the world that the Philippines will not yield to bullying tactics. Case focuses on environmental damage in WPS The environmental case the Philippine government intends to file against China over the maritime destruction in the West Philippine Sea may be completed in a few weeks, the Department of Justice on Thursday said. We are confident that in a few weeks, the complaint and the attached evidence will be completed. Hopefully with the help of the Solicitor General, we will be able to file an environmental case against China, Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano IV said. - Advertisement - The National Security Council earlier said the evidence includes images of how Chinese activities destroyed the already fragile marine environment in Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc. Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla first broached the idea of filing a case against China in September 2023 after the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command confirmed there were cases of massive coral harvesting along Rozul (Iroquois) Reef in the WPS. House leaders threw their support behind the plan to file a new case against China. I guess we are already tired [of] the diplomatic approach, asking China to stop this and stop that This is a positive development on the part of the administration to collect pieces of evidence so that we can file a case against China, Assistant Majority Leader and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon said Deputy Majority Leader and PBA Party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles said the maritime destruction in the WPS cannot be taken lightly. Marine scientists at the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) have recommended the long-term monitoring of resources at the West Philippine Sea. The college recently facilitated a public forum where UP professors discussed the geopolitical and ecological situation in the WPS, promoting strategies that scientists and researchers can use to protect and preserve the areas marine resources. UPD-CS Marine Science Institute (MSI) Director Dr. Laura David listed the following threats to the West Philippine Sea: climate change, overfishing, oil spills, land use, plastics, and reclamation of islands. David said the number of living coral reefs declined as the number of occupations rose. Dr. Fernando Siringan, MSI professor and National Academy of Science and Technology academician, likewise encouraged long-term monitoring activities involving marine and terrestrial biodiversity in the WPS region. Earlier, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio urged the Philippine government to sue China anew over the destruction of Escoda Shoal and Rozul Reef, which he said are within the Philippines EEZ. The retired SC magistrate made the call after the Philippine Coast Guard accused China of building an artificial island in Escoda Shoal. It said the dumping of crushed corals near the shoal may be in preparation for Chinas reclamation activities. Former Supreme Court Justice Francis Jardeleza also supported the governments to file an environmental damage suit against China. Jardeleza was the solicitor general and acted as the agent of the Philippines when the case against China was filed and eventually won in 2016 with the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague, Netherlands. For the last nine years, China continues to encroach on our exclusive economic zone. In doing so, this hegemon has acted with impunity, destroying thousands of hectares of irreplaceable marine life which took nature eons to create, thereby depriving many of our fishermen and their families of their livelihood, Jardeleza said. President Ferdinand Marcos said he would discuss today the Philippines legal and geopolitical position on the West Philippine Sea at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The Presidents keynote address this evening, which the Palace described as historic,would tackle the escalating tension between the Philippines and China in WPS, which he described as crucial to global trade and the economy. - Advertisement - The fact that they asked the Philippine President to come and speak on that very subject is significant in the sense that it is a recognition that there are challenges that are facing the Philippines, specifically, Mr. Marcos said in an interview with the media in Brunei before he left for Singapore. And not only the Philippines this affects the region and it affects the world. So, what I will present in the Shangri-la forum is going to essentially try to explain the position of the Philippines for both legally and geopolitically and diplomatically. And how we see the ways forward for the Philippines and for the region, he added. The Shangri-La Dialogue, organized by IISS since 2002, gathers defense ministers, military chiefs, and security experts to discuss worldwide security challenges. WARM WELCOME. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez receives a warm welcome from Singapores Foreign Minister Vivien Balakrishnan when they met Thursday morning at Singapores Foreign Ministry. The Speaker is in Singapore to accompany President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. who is set to deliver the keynote address at the opening of the 21st International Institute of Strategic Studies-Shangri-La Dialogue on May 31, 2024. President Marcos is the first Philippine President invited to address the IISS-Shangri-La Dialogue, Asias premier defense forum. Previous keynote speakers have included Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Days before his back-to-back trip to Brunei and Singapore, President Marcos condemned Chinas order to arrest any foreign nationals trespassing in the South China Sea, which includes areas that fall under the Philippines exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. That kind of action would be completely unacceptable to the Philippines, he said. That is unacceptable, and we will take whatever measures to always protect our citizens, Mr. Marcos added. China, for its part, said the Philippines should not be worried about the new rules on trespassing foreigners in the South China Sea for as long there is no illegal behavior. In a regular press conference Wednesday night, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the rules aim to standardize law enforcement and better uphold maritime order. Mao added that the new rules are consistent with universal practices, and individuals and entities have no need for concern as long as they have not done anything illicit. Mao said China is open to a dialogue with the Philippines to address sea concerns between the two countries. Chinas door of dialogue and communication with the Philippines remains open. But its important to note that dialogue requires sincerity and whatever is agreed in dialogue must be acted upon, rather than talking about the need for dialogue while continuing to make provocations, the Chinese official said. It is the Philippines, not China, that has escalated the situation and made repeated provocations in the South China Sea, Mao added. Flash Over 50 United Nations (UN) experts indignantly condemned Israel's deadly airstrikes on civilians in Gaza's Rafah refugee camp on Wednesday. More than 50 UN experts issued a joint statement in Geneva condemning Israeli strikes on civilians sheltering in the southern Gaza camps and calling for an immediate halt to the flow of weapons to Israel, which they believe are being "used to brutally kill and maim Palestinian civilians." The experts include Paula Gaviria Betancur, special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons; Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967; and Michael Fakhri, special rapporteur on the right to food, among others. Furthermore, the experts denounced Israeli air strikes Sunday evening on a camp sheltering displaced civilians in Tal as Sultan in northwest Rafah which have reportedly claimed at least 46 lives including 23 women, children and older persons. The experts stated the attacks were a flagrant violation of international law and an assault on human decency. They asserted that, even if Israeli leaders claim the strikes were a "mistake," they still bear international legal responsibility. The UN experts demanded an independent international investigation into the attacks on the Rafah camps, insisting that "those responsible for these atrocities must be held to account." They also called for unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, an end to the blockade, and the lifting of restrictions on life-saving aid. They also urged for "an immediate and permanent ceasefire, along with measures to ensure accountability and secure the fundamental rights of Palestinians in Gaza." SEOUL North Korea fired short-range ballistic missiles early Thursday, Seouls military said, hours after Pyongyang sent hundreds of trash-filled balloons across the border to punish South Korea. The launch follows a failed attempt by the nuclear-armed North to put a second spy satellite into orbit on Monday, shortly after Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo held a rare summit and called for Pyongyang to give up their nukes. - Advertisement - Kim Jong Uns powerful sister on Thursday referred to the balloon barrage, which reportedly contained animal faeces, as sincere presents for the South in a statement, saying they were justified retaliation for anti-Kim propaganda sent northwards by activists. North Korea also hit back at the UN Security Council, which will hold a meeting Friday to discuss the failed satellite launch, which violated a raft of UN sanctions on Pyongyangs use of ballistic technology. Early Thursday, Seouls military said it had detected the launch of what is suspected to be around 10 short-range ballistic missiles, fired into waters east of the Korean peninsula. The missiles flew around 350 kilometers, Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff said, calling the launch a provocation and saying it was analyzing the specifics alongside the United States and Japan. Japan also confirmed the launch, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida telling reporters the ballistic missiles appeared to have fallen outside of Japans Exclusive Economic Zone. Tokyo strongly condemns the launch, Kishida said, adding they had already lodged a protest. Kishida had been in Seoul on Monday to meet South Koreas President Yoon Suk Yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang for the countries first trilateral summit since 2019, where they reaffirmed their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea said that even discussing denuclearisation was a grave provocation that would violate the countrys constitution, changed in 2023 to enshrine its status as a nuclear state. It conducted its failed satellite launch just hours later, which was widely condemned including by Washington, Seoul and Tokyo. It then sent balloons across the border late Tuesday, before firing its salvo of ballistic missiles Thursday. It is unprecedented that such a large number of short-range missiles were fired simultaneously, Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, told AFP. It appears to be the Norths protest of the denuclearization pledge agreed at the three-way summit and the calling for the UN Security Council meeting to discuss its satellite launch, Hong said, calling it a tit for tat approach. All signs indicate this decision was made at the highest decision-making body, he added. Analysts say there is significant technological overlap between space launch capabilities and the development of ballistic missiles. Putting a reconnaissance satellite into orbit has long been a top priority for Kims regime, and it claimed to have succeeded in November, after two failed attempts last year. But Pyongyang said the rocket carrying its Malligyong-1-1 reconnaissance satellite exploded minutes after launch due to a suspected engine problem. In a speech released by the official Korean Central News Agency late Wednesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country was undeterred. Although we failed to achieve the results we had hoped to get in the recent reconnaissance satellite launch, we must never feel scared or dispirited but make still greater efforts, he said. It is natural that one learns more and makes greater progress after experiencing failure, he said, according to the transcript of the speech, given at the Academy of Defence Sciences. Also on Thursday, North Korea released a statement calling UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres the most spiritless and weak-willed secretary-general in the history of the United Nations ahead of the UN Security Council meeting on the launch. Pyongyang said it had to express deep concern about the fact that the UNSC is going to convene an open meeting again to call the DPRKs legitimate satellite launch into question, said the statement by Kim Son Gyong, a North Korean foreign ministry official. For the North, the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite is an inevitable undertaking for bolstering up the might of self-defence, he added. Seoul claims Kim received Russian technical assistance for its successful November launch in return for sending containers of weapons to Moscow for use in Ukraine. NEW YORK Jurors completed opening deliberations Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) on whether to convict Donald Trump in the first criminal trial of a former US president a decision that could upend the Novembers election, in which the Republican seeks to return to power. The 12-strong New York jury huddled for almost five hours before the judge sent them home for the night, ready to resume on Thursday. - Advertisement - Jurors whose identities have been kept anonymous for their own safety worked in a separate room, leaving 77-year-old Trump and the rest of the court to wait and guess at any developments. Before being dismissed, the jury asked to reexamine testimony from two witnesses and also to hear again the judges instructions on how to interpret the law. After weeks of testimony from more than 20 witnesses, the piercing glare of the legal spotlight is now entirely on the dozen ordinary New Yorkers. You must set aside any personal opinions you have in favor or against the defendant, said Judge Juan Merchan, before sending them to their work. No time limit is placed on the deliberations, but an acquittal or conviction would require unanimity. If just one juror refuses to join the others, the judge would have to declare a mistrial. Trump is accused of falsifying business records to reimburse a $130,000 payment to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels, when her account of an alleged sexual encounter could have imperiled his 2016 presidential campaign. Prosecutors say the fraud was motivated by a plot to prevent voters from knowing about his behavior. If Trump is found guilty, the political repercussions would far outweigh the seriousness of the charges as, barely five months before the November 5 presidential election, the candidate would also become a convicted criminal. The judge instructed Trump that he will have to remain in the courthouse while awaiting the verdict. Trump responded by stepping outside the courtroom to launch an angry statement to journalists, calling it a very disgraceful situation. These charges are rigged, Trump said, claiming that Mother Teresa could not beat these charges. In closing arguments on Tuesday, Trumps defense team insisted the evidence for a conviction simply did not exist, while the prosecution countered that it was voluminous and inescapable. The defendants intent to defraud could not be any clearer, said prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, urging the jurors to use their common sense and return a guilty verdict. If convicted, Trump faces up to four years in prison on each of 34 counts, but legal experts say that as a first-time offender he is unlikely to get jail time. A conviction would not bar him from the November ballot and he would almost certainly appeal. In the case of a mistrial, prosecutors could seek a new trial. Trump has been required to attend every day of the trial. However, he has used his trips to court and the huge media presence to spread his claim that the trial is a Democratic ploy to keep him off the campaign trail. Polls show Trump neck and neck against President Joe Biden, and the verdict will inflame passions as the White House race intensifies. In addition to the New York case, Trump has been indicted in Washington and Georgia on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He also faces charges in Florida of hoarding huge quantities of classified documents after leaving the White House. The New York case is the only one likely to come to trial by election day. Fostering economic ties between Morocco and China was at the heart of a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in Beijing. The two ministers, Nasser Bourita and Wang Yi, raised an array of bilateral cooperation projects from global trade to industry and investments, the Moroccan news agency reported. In this respect, special emphasis was placed on Moroccos Tanger Tech, an advanced technologies and industrial hub at the gate of Africa and Europe that has already attracted global EV battery manufacturers. Tanger Tech was launched in 2016, when King Mohammed VI visited Beijing and met President Xi Jinping. The two ministers also welcomed the growing Chinese investments in the Kingdom, particularly in electric mobility, automotive industry, renewable energies and infrastructure sectors. The meeting also highlighted increasing tourist flows from China to Morocco, notably after the latter lifted visa requirements for Chinese nationals. On this occasion, the Moroccan minister highlighted the Atlantic initiative launched by the King to promote stability, security and economic development in African countries and help landlocked nations gain access to global trade. For his part, Wang Yi hailed the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in promoting the Kingdoms stability and economic and social development, and praised Moroccos contribution to the promotion of regional and international peace and security. The two ministers also welcomed the progress made under the Belt and Road Initiative, with the signing of the 2017 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Implementation Plan for the joint construction of the initiative in 2022. The Ministry of Health in Uganda has launched a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign to protect its population against the mosquito-borne disease. By the end of April, 12.2 million out of the targeted 14 million people had been vaccinated, according to Dr. Michael Baganizi, an immunization official. Uganda will now require a yellow fever vaccination card for all travelers entering and leaving the country, hoping this mandate will increase vaccination rates amid widespread vaccine hesitancy. The single-dose vaccine is being offered for free to Ugandans aged 1 to 60 at various centers including schools, universities, hospitals, and local government units in Kampala and other regions. Previously, Ugandans had to pay $27 for the shot at private clinics. With a population of 45 million, Uganda is among 27 African countries at high risk for yellow fever, a disease that causes 200,000 cases and 30,000 deaths globally each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Earlier this year, outbreaks were reported in the Buikwe and Buvuma districts. Yellow fever is caused by a virus transmitted by infected mosquitoes, with symptoms ranging from fever and muscle pain to nausea and vomiting. Ugandas vaccination campaign is part of a global initiative launched by WHO and partners in 2017 to eliminate yellow fever by 2026. By August 2022, 185 million people in high-risk African countries had been vaccinated. Nurse James Odite noted that unused vaccine doses from the campaign will be used in future efforts. Addressing vaccine hesitancy, the government has invested in community sensitization to educate people on the importance of vaccines. 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: Lingsheng Li Fearful of becoming a victim of anti-Asian hate, older, Asian San Franciscans are choosing to spend more time at home, forgoing activities that they previously loved, like exercising, seeing loved ones and dining out, suggests the research published as a letter in the journal, JAMA Internal Medicine. This increased isolation may be fueling poorer mental and physical health among the city's elderly Asian community if results from 80 in-depth interviews among Asian residents 50 years and older and local clinicians are anything to go by. "We heard a lot of stories about people avoiding going outside to exercise and grocery shop," explains UCSF Division of Geriatrics fellow Lingsheng Li, MD, MHS. Li carried out the research, alongside a team of UCSF faculty, staff and learners. "Those activities are essential for well-being and quality of lifeespecially for older adults who are already isolated in the community." "Some people even avoided going to the doctor's office because it required them to get on a bus, which is where many of these attacks have happened." Among the 20 San Francisco health clinicians interviewed, many reported that isolation exacerbated chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cognitive decline in some patients. "I've seen a few cases where a patient had mild cognitive impairment that worsened to frank dementia," one physician told UCSF researchers. "After a thorough workup, I have to conclude it's because they're no longer going out and walking every day." Nationally, 1 in 3 Asians and Pacific Islanders faced racial abuse in 2023. In San Francisco, about a quarter of anti-Asian attacks that targeted Asians 60 years and older between March 2020 and December 2021 involved physical violence. Fear of becoming a victim of anti-Asian hate could be a risk factor for poorer mental, social and physical health for older Asian community members. Although some clinicians and patients in Li's study said they felt screening for this would be difficult, many also felt that addressing racism's role in health was part of comprehensive health care. "We also heard very strong recommendations from people who feel like clinicians should screen for anti-Asian hate because it shows clinicians care about the whole person and that acts of racism and violence against them, their families and their communities are not okay," Li explains. "As clinicians, we may not be able to change the situation right away, but we can still provide that therapeutic listening space and show patients that we care." Li's team co-created a simple screening question with clinicians involved in the study to help start a conversation between patients and health care workers: "Do you feel safe outside of your home?" More information: Lingsheng Li et al, Anti-Asian Hate and the Health of Older Asian Individuals, JAMA Internal Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.1090 Journal information: JAMA Internal Medicine 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: Bayesian learning of hippocampal spatial tunings during offline states. Credit: Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07397-x Some dreams may, in fact, predict the future: New research has found that during sleep, some neurons not only replay the recent past but also anticipate future experience. The discovery is one in a series of insights afforded by a study on sleep and learning published in Nature by a team of researchers from Rice University and the University of Michigan. The research offers an unprecedented view of how individual neurons in the hippocampus of rats stabilize and tune spatial representations during periods of rest following the animals' first time running a maze. "Certain neurons fire in response to specific stimuli," said Kamran Diba, an associate professor of anesthesiology at Michigan and corresponding author on the study. "Neurons in the visual cortex fire when presented with the appropriate visual stimulus. The neurons we're studying show place preferences." Together with collaborators in Michigan's Neural Circuits and Memory Lab led by Diba, Rice neuroscientist Caleb Kemere has been studying the process by which these specialized neurons produce a representation of the world after a new experience. Specifically, the researchers tracked sharp wave ripples, a pattern of neuronal activation known to play a role in consolidating new memories and, more recently, also shown to tag which parts of a new experience are to be stored as memories. "For the first time in this paper, we observed how these individual neurons stabilize spatial representations during rest periods," said Kemere, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and bioengineering at Rice. Sleep is critical for memory and learning science has quantified this age-old intuition by measuring performance on memory tests after a nap as opposed to after a period of waking or even sleep deprivation. A couple of decades ago, scientists also discovered that neurons in the brains of sleeping animals that had been allowed to explore a new setting just before resting were firing in ways that replayed the animals' trajectories during exploration. This finding aligned with the knowledge that sleep helps new experiences crystallize into stable memories, thus suggesting that the spatial representations of many of these specialized neurons in the hippocampus are stable during sleep. However, the researchers wanted to see if there was more to the story. "We imagined that some neurons might change their representations reflecting the experience we've all had of waking up with a new understanding of a problem," Kemere said. "Showing this, however, required that we track how individual neurons achieve spatial tuning, i.e., the process by which the brain learns to navigate a new route or environment." The researchers trained rats to run back and forth on a raised track with liquid reward at either end and observed how individual neurons in the animals' hippocampus would "spike" in the process. By calculating an average spiking rate over many laps back and forth, the researchers were able to estimate the neurons' place fieldor the area in the environment that a given neuron "cared" about most. "The critical point here is that place fields are estimated using the behavior of the animal," Kemere said, highlighting the challenge of assessing what happens to place fields during rest periods when the animal is not physically moving through the maze. "I've been thinking for a long time about how we can evaluate the preferences of neurons outside of the maze, such as during sleep," Diba said. "We addressed this challenge by relating the activity of each individual neuron to the activity of all the other neurons." This was the study's key innovation: The researchers developed a statistical machine learning approach that used the other neurons surveyed to map out an estimate of where the animal was dreaming of being. They next used those dreamed positions to estimate the spatial tuning process for each neuron in their data sets. "The ability to track the preferences of neurons even without a stimulus was an important breakthrough for us," Diba said. Both Diba and Kemere commended Kourosh Maboudi, a postdoctoral researcher at Michigan and the lead author on the study, for his role in the development of the learned tuning approach. The method confirmed that the spatial representations that form during the experience of a new environment are, for most neurons, stable across several hours of postexperience sleep. But as the researchers had anticipated, there was more to the story. "The thing that I loved the most about this research and the reason that I was so excited about it is finding that it's not necessarily the case that during sleep the only thing these neurons do is to stabilize a memory of the experience," Kemere said. "It turns out some neurons end up doing something else. "We can see these other changes occurring during sleep, and when we put the animals back in the environment a second time, we can validate that these changes really do reflect something that was learned while the animals were asleep. It's as if the second exposure to the space actually happens while the animal is sleeping." This is significant because it constitutes direct observation of neuroplasticity as it is happening during sleep. Kemere underscored that almost all plasticity researchwhich examines the mechanisms that allow neurons to rewire and form new representationslooks at what happens during waking periods as stimuli are being presented rather than during sleep when the relevant stimuli are absent. "It seems like plasticity or rewiring in the brain requires really fast timescales," Diba said, pointing to the fascinating relationship between the duration of actual experience, "which can take up the span of seconds, minutes but also hours or days," and actual memories, "which are super compressed." "If you remember anything, the memoryit's instant," Diba said, referencing a famous literary passage by French modernist writer Marcel Proust in which a childhood memory unspools a whole lost world of past experience at barely a moment's notice. The study is an example of advancements in neuroscience enabled in the past few decades by technological progress in the design of stable, high-resolution neural probes as well as by machine learning-backed computation power. In light of these advancements, Kemere said brain science stands poised to make significant progress in the future, while at the same time expressing concern for the impact of recent budget cuts on continued research. "It's quite possible that if we were starting this work today, we might not have been able to do these experiments and get these results," Kemere said. "We're definitely grateful that the opportunity was there." More information: Kourosh Maboudi et al, Retuning of hippocampal representations during sleep, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07397-x Journal information: Nature 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: Pablo Menendez, Talia Velasco and Oscar Molina, authors of the study and researchers of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute. Credit: Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute A team of researchers has demonstrated that some childhood leukemias originate during embryonic development, although they do not manifest after a few months after birth. The team includes researchers from the Institute of Oncology of the University of Oviedo (IUOPA), the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, the University of Barcelona and the Center for Biomedical Research in Cancer Network (CIBERONC).The study is published in the journal Leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia is the second most common type of acute leukemia in childhood and can be diagnosed within a few months of life. The early onset of the disease had led to the suspicion that the tumor could have a prenatal origin. However, proving this theory has been challenging due to the lack of prenatal or birth samples. "The opportunity to study the origin of this leukemia arose from the case of a 5-month-old baby diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at the Hospital Nino Jesus in Madrid," explains Pablo Menendez, ICREA professor at the University of Barcelona and the Josep Carreras Institute. "The parents, who had preserved the umbilical cord blood, opened a line of research that until now had not been possible to address." Using precision medicine techniques, researchers analyzed the complete genome of the tumor. Unlike tumors in adults, where thousands of mutations are detected, only two chromosomal alterations were identified in this leukemia. "Genome analysis allowed us to design a personalized diagnostic method to monitor the disease," says Xose S. Puente, Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Barcelona. Puente, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Oviedo. "But these data raise new questions, such as when the tumor arose and in what order these mutations have appeared," he says. These questions are difficult to answer, since such research requires blood samples from the baby before the diagnosis, something that is impossible in the vast majority of cases. However, in this particular case, the existence of a frozen umbilical cord sample allowed researchers to separate different populations of blood cells at birth and to study whether any of the chromosomal alterations detected in the tumor were already present during fetal development. The study revealed that a translocation between chromosome 7 and 12 was already present in some hematopoietic stem cells in the umbilical cord. In contrast, the other chromosomal alteration, a trisomy of chromosome 19, was not present in the fetus, but was found in all tumor cells, suggesting that it contributes to increasing the malignancy of the leukemic cells. "These data are highly relevant for understanding the development of a devastating disease, and the existence of this umbilical cord sample was crucial to be able for conducting a study that had been impossible until now in acute myeloid leukemia," adds Talia Velasco, researcher at the Josep Carreras Institute and the University of Barcelona and co-leader of the study. In addition to reconstructing the genomic alterations that the cells undergo to generate this leukemia, the study has also identified a molecular mechanism that had not been observed before in this type of leukemia and which causes the activation of a gene, called MNX1, which is frequently altered in this type of tumor. Knowledge of these alterations is essential for developing cell and animal models that allow us to understand the disease's evolution and develop new therapies for treating these pathologies. More information: Pablo Bousquets-Munoz et al, Backtracking NOM1::ETV6 fusion to neonatal pathogenesis of t(7;12) (q36;p13) infant AML, Leukemia (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41375-024-02293-9 Journal information: Leukemia 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 Florida has become the first state to allow doctors to perform cesarean sections outside of hospitals, siding with a private equity-owned physicians group that says the change will lower costs and give pregnant women the homier birthing atmosphere that many desire. But the hospital industry and the nation's leading obstetricians' association say that even though some Florida hospitals have closed their maternity wards in recent years, performing C-sections in doctor-run clinics will increase the risks for women and babies when complications arise. "A pregnant patient that is considered low-risk in one moment can suddenly need lifesaving care in the next," Cole Greves, an Orlando perinatologist who chairs the Florida chapter of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said in an email to KFF Health News. The new birth clinics, "even with increased regulation, cannot guarantee the level of safety patients would receive within a hospital." This spring, a law was enacted allowing "advanced birth centers," where physicians can deliver babies vaginally or by C-section to women deemed at low risk of complications. Women would be able to stay overnight at the clinics. Women's Care Enterprises, a private equity-owned physicians group with locations mostly in Florida along with California and Kentucky, lobbied the state legislature to make the change. BC Partners, a London-based investment firm, bought Women's Care in 2020. "We have patients who don't want to deliver in a hospital, and that breaks our heart," said Stephen Snow, who recently retired as an OB-GYN with Women's Care and testified before the Florida Legislature advocating for the change in 2018. Brittany Miller, vice president of strategic initiatives with Women's Care, said the group would not comment on the issue. Health experts are leery. "What this looks like is a poor substitute for quality obstetrical care effectively being billed as something that gives people more choices," said Alice Abernathy, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. "This feels like a bad band-aid on a chronic issue that will make outcomes worse rather than better," Abernathy said. Nearly one-third of U.S. births occur via C-section, the surgical delivery of a baby through an incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus. Generally, doctors use the procedure when they believe it is safer than vaginal delivery for the parent, the baby, or both. Such medical decisions can take place months before birth, or in an emergency. Florida state Sen. Gayle Harrell, the Republican who sponsored the birth center bill, said having a C-section outside of a hospital may seem like a radical change, but so was the opening of outpatient surgery centers in the late 1980s. Harrell, who managed her husband's OB-GYN practice, said birth centers will have to meet the same high standards for staffing, infection control, and other aspects as those at outpatient surgery centers. "Given where we are with the need, and maternity deserts across the state, this is something that will help us and help moms get the best care," she said. Seventeen hospitals in the state have closed their maternity units since 2019, with many citing low insurance reimbursement and high malpractice costs, according to the Florida Hospital Association. Mary Mayhew, CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, said it is wrong to compare birth centers to ambulatory surgery centers because of the many risks associated with C-sections, such as hemorrhaging. The Florida law requires advanced birth centers to have a transfer agreement with a hospital, but it does not dictate where the facilities can open nor their proximity to a hospital. "We have serious concerns about the impact this model has on our collective efforts to improve maternal and infant health," Mayhew said. "Our hospitals do not see this in the best interest of providing quality and safety in labor and delivery." Despite its opposition to the new birth centers, the Florida Hospital Association did not fight passage of the overall bill because it also included a major increase in the amount Medicaid pays hospitals for maternity care. Mayhew said it is unlikely that the birth centers would help address care shortages. Hospitals are already struggling with a shortage of OB-GYNs, she said, and it is unrealistic to expect advanced birth centers to open in rural areas with a large proportion of people on Medicaid, which pays the lowest reimbursement for labor and delivery care. It is unclear whether insurers will cover the advanced birth centers, though most insurers and Medicaid cover care at midwife-run birth centers. The advanced birth centers will not accept emergency walk-ins and will treat only patients whose insurance contracts with the facilities, making them in-network. Snow, the retired OB-GYN with Women's Care, said the group plans to open an advanced birth center in the Tampa or Orlando area. The advanced birth center concept is an improvement on midwife care that enables deliveries outside of hospitals, he said, as the centers allow women to stay overnight and, if necessary, offer anesthesia and C-sections. Snow acknowledged that, with a private equity firm invested in Women's Care, the birth center idea is also about making money. But he said hospitals have the same profit incentive and, like midwives, likely oppose the idea of centers that can provide C-sections because they could cut into hospital revenue. "We are trying to reduce the cost of medicine, and this would be more cost-effective and more pleasant for patients," he said. Kate Bauer, executive director of the American Association of Birth Centers, said patients could confuse advanced birth centers with the existing, free-standing birth centers for low-risk births that have been run by midwives for decades. There are currently 31 licensed birth centers in Florida and 411 free-standing birth centers in the United States, she said. "This is a radical departure from the standard of care," Bauer said. "It's a bad idea," she said, because it could increase risks to mom and baby. No other state allows C-sections outside of hospitals. The only facility that offers similar care is a birth clinic in Wichita, Kansas, which is connected by a short walkway to a hospital, Wesley Medical Center. The clinic provides "hotel-like" maternity suites where staffers deliver about 100 babies a month, compared with 500 per month in the hospital itself. Morgan Tracy, a maternity nurse navigator at the center, said the concept works largely because the hospital and birthing suites can share staff and pharmacy access, plus patients can be quickly transferred to the main hospital if complications arise. "The beauty is there are team members on both sides of the street," Tracy said. 2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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 Los Angeles County has launched one of the most ambitious efforts in the nation to tackle medical debt, targeting hospitals for their role in feeding a $2.9 billion problem. For over a year, the nation's most populous county has worked on a comprehensive plan to track patient debt and hospital collection practices; boost bill forgiveness for low-income patients; and buy up and forgive billions in medical debtan effort helmed by its Department of Public Health. Though LA County isn't the first government entity to confront this crisis, what sets it apart is how it casts medical debt not as a political issue, but as an urgent public health threat as prevalent as asthma and diabetes. "Nobody in the county of LA who is facing economic limitations should have that impact their ability to get the kind of health care, the kinds of services and support that we all need and are essential to optimal well-being," public health department director Barbara Ferrer said at a medical debt symposium April 10. Mona Shah of Community Catalyst, a national health equity and policy organization, called the county's efforts boldtackling the root causes of medical debt, in addition to providing immediate debt relief, with input and participation from health plans, hospitals, community organizations, and government partners. Shah said the county's population of about 10 million adds to the significance of its initiative. But on the eve of the symposium, the local hospital association called on the county to revise its plan. "We believe the proposed DPH [Department of Public Health] debt relief program and data collection effort will only burden hospitals with unnecessary requirements, without ultimately helping to address the underlying issue," wrote George Greene, CEO of the Hospital Association of Southern California, in a letter to the LA County Board of Supervisors. Many of the county's recommendations would require hospitals to change their processes and add reporting duties. For instance, the county is asking hospitals to inform it when patient debt is sent to collections and pressing hospitals to improve access to financial assistance programs. Although state law requires hospitals to provide assistance, patient advocates say many don't make it easy for patients to access. Adena Tessler, LA County regional vice president for the hospital association, told KFF Health News the industry provides ample financial assistance and that the county is putting too much emphasis on hospitals' role in the debt crisis, when other sectors of the health care system, such as insurers, should share the blame. Tessler said the county plan should include all players, including health plans, provider groups, and ambulance providers. "Medical debt is a problem, and we want to be a part of the solution," Tessler said. "But hospitals are not the only source of medical debt." Medical debt affects four in 10 adults in the U.S., according to a KFF Health News analysis. LA County found, in its own analysis this year, that about 785,000 residents were burdened in 2022 with a total of $2.9 billion in medical debt. The county analysis shows that medical debt disproportionately affects people of color, low-income people, and families with children. Having medical debt more than doubled the likelihood that patients would delay or forgo health care or prescriptions or be at risk of losing housing or going hungry. Nationally, a handful of states have passed rules to limit medical debt collection or bolster hospital financial assistance policies. Some jurisdictions have relieved residents of debt. Connecticut, Colorado, and New York enacted laws in the last two years to ban medical debt on credit reports, which can depress credit scores and make it harder for patients to get a job, rent an apartment, or secure a car loan. California lawmakers have proposed similar legislation, and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is also developing a set of rules. "It's a huge public health problem," said Naman Shah, medical and dental affairs director at the public health department. "We in public health try to shift the determinants of health. Those are things that impact health deeply and impact people widely. Medical debt fulfills both of those. It's important that we see this as a health issue, and not just a regulatory issue." The department made initial recommendations last spring, then further developed them with the backing of the Board of Supervisors, which described medical debt as "pervasive" and "causing financial, mental, and physical harm especially to those from historically marginalized communities." Shah said that while the department continues to take hospital input and has addressed some of the association's "misunderstandings," officials are moving ahead with the plan. Tessler agreed the focus is on collaboration, not halting the county plan. Over the next several months, the county plans to score hospitals based on financial assistance accessibility and provide them with templates and guidelines to make financial assistance less confusing and less burdensome for patients. States such as Washington, Oregon, and Maryland have developed similar materials for hospitals. The county's goals also call for other debt prevention strategies, including working with plans and providers to better educate consumers to avoid surprise billing and out-of-network charges. Shah said he was surprised by the timing of the hospital association's letter, especially since county officials and hospital representatives met several times before the April symposium. He agreed it is important to tackle all sources of medical debt but said hospitals are a reasonable place to start. Nearly 75% of adults with medical debt owe some or all of it to hospitals, according to a 2023 Urban Institute analysis. "We want to get the most bang for our buck," Shah said. "The largest bill that a patient receives is not a dental bill. It's not an office bill. It's a hospital bill." 2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Flash Houthi group said it shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone on Wednesday over Yemen's central Marib. Yahya Sarea, the group's military spokesman, said in the statement broadcast by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV that "a locally made surface-to-air missile is used in the operation, and this is the sixth MQ-9 Reaper drone we shot down in six months." He added that "we will continue to develop our military defense capabilities to counter the U.S.- British coalition aggression against our country." "We will also continue to support the Palestine people against the Israeli aggression until the conflict and blockade stop," the spokesman stressed. The Houthi television said it would broadcast a video showing the operation of shooting down this drone. It has broadcasted videos of all previous operations, showing the debris of the drones. Meanwhile, the U.S. media outlets cited an anonymous U.S. defense official as saying that "the U.S. Air Force has not lost any aircraft operating within U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility" without providing further details. Last November, the Houthis began to launch anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones targeting what they said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In response, the U.S.-British naval coalition stationed in the waters has since January conducted regular air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets to deter the group but led to an expansion of Houthi attacks to include U.S. and British commercial vessels and naval ships. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A traveler carrying measles flew from Munich, Germany, through Los Angeles on the way to Fresno Yosemite International Airport this May, exposing thousands of California travelers to the highly infectious disease, health officials have confirmed. Officials from the L.A. County Department of Public Health confirmed the case late May 27, bringing the total number of measles cases documented in California to nine for the year. The sick traveler arrived at Los Angeles International Airport's Tom Bradley International Terminal around 3 p.m. May 19 on a Lufthansa flight, then boarded a connecting flight to Fresno Yosemite around 8 that night, health officials from Los Angeles and Fresno confirmed. So far, no associated infections have been reported. It's not the first time this year that someone traveling in California has toted the virus into Los Angeles. In February, a local came home on a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul, stopping for dinner at a Northridge Chick-fil-A. In late March and early April, a sick visitor dined on doughnuts and fried chicken in the Simpsons area at Universal Studios, browsed for souvenirs at the Santa Monica Pier, ate at a string of fast-casual chain restaurants across the city and repeatedly hit the gym at Sheraton Gateway Hotel near LAX before they were identified by health officials. Measles is about six times more infectious than COVID-19 and is frequently deadly in countries where it is endemic. In 2022, about 130,000 people are believed to have died from the virus, mostly children. "Measles is spread by air and by direct contact even before you know you have it and can lead to severe disease," said Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County health officer. "Measles is highly contagious for those who are not immune to it. Initially causing fever, cough, red, watery eyes and followed by a rash, it can result in serious complications for young children and vulnerable adults." The most recent LAX infection is one of more than 140 recorded so far this year across the United Statesmore than double the total reported in all of last year. More than half of those cases required hospitalization, officials said. Most were among people who had not been inoculated. Most Americans are vaccinated against measles as toddlers, though the rate among California children has dipped in recent years, raising fears that the virus could spread locally. 2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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: CC0 Public Domain Night owls, brace yourselves. A new study by Stanford Medicine researchers has found that following your natural inclination to stay awake until the early morning hours is a bad choice for your mental health. In a survey of nearly 75,000 adults, researchers compared the participants' preferred sleep timing, known as chronotype, with their actual sleep behavior. They determined that regardless of one's preferred bedtime, everyone benefits from turning in early. Morning larks and night owls alike tended to have higher rates of mental and behavioral disorders if they stayed up late. The study, published in Psychiatry Research, recommends lights out by 1 a.m. "We found that alignment with your chronotype is not crucial here, and that really it's being up late that is not good for your mental health," said Jamie Zeitzer, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and the senior author of the study. "The big unknown is why." Renske Lok, Ph.D., a postdoctoral scholar in psychiatry and behavioral health, is the lead author of the study. How do you sleep at night? The findings were not quite what the researchers expected. An earlier study by Zeitzer's team had suggested that women with cancer who slept against their chronotype had shorter lifespans. "There is a bunch of data out there indicating that living aligned to your chronotype is very important," he said. "That was our expectation." The researchers set out to study chronotype alignment in a larger population. They examined middle-aged and older-aged adults in the United Kingdom, who were asked about their sleep, including their morning or evening preference. They were sent a wearable accelerometer (basically a fancy activity monitor, Zeitzer said) to track their sleep over seven days. The participants' mental health was determined through their health records. The researchers included any mental or behavioral disorder listed in the International Classification of Diseases. Among the 73,880 participants, 19,065 self-identified as morning types, 6,844 as evening types and 47,979 as somewhere in the middle. Their sleep behavior was evaluated in relation to the whole group. The earliest 25% were considered early sleepers, the latest 25% as late sleepers and the middle 50% as intermediate. Categorizing sleep behavior this way, rather than by specific bedtimes, is more meaningful because different populations can have different sleep norms, Zeitzer said. "If we were doing this study in college students, 1 a.m. obviously wouldn't be that late." It's all about timing When the researchers analyzed the data, they were surprised to find that aligning with one's chronotype was not the best choice for everyone's mental health. It was better, in fact, for night owls to lead a misaligned life. "I thought, "Let's try to disprove it, because this doesn't make any sense,'" Zeitzer recalled. "We spent six months trying to disprove it, and we couldn't." The results were clearboth morning types and evening types who went to sleep late had higher rates of mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety. "The worst-case scenario is definitely the late-night people staying up late," Zeitzer said. Night owls being true to their chronotype were 20% to 40% more likely to have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, compared with night owls following an early or intermediate sleep schedule. Evening types who followed an earlier schedule fared better. Morning types who followed a later schedule suffered, but not too much. Morning larks who rose with the sun tended to have the best mental health of all, to no one's surprise. The researchers found that sleep duration and consistency of sleep timing could not account for these differences in mental health. They also tested the possibility that it was poor mental health causing people to stay up late, not the other way around. They tracked a subset of participants who had no previous diagnosis of a mental disorder for the next eight years. During that time, night owls who slept late were the most likely to develop a mental health disorder. Or is it about choices? There may be many explanations for sleep timing's link to mental well-being, but Zeitzer thinks it likely comes down to the poor decisions that people make in the wee hours of the morning. Many harmful behaviors are more common at night, including suicidal thinking, violent crimes, alcohol and drug use, and overeating. One theory, known as the "mind after midnight" hypothesis, suggests that neurological and physiological changes late at night can foster impulsivity, negative mood, impaired judgment and more risk-taking. That might explain why even late at night, morning types seem to have an advantagethey're out of their comfort zone. "If I had to hazard a guess, morning people who are up late are quite cognizant of the fact that their brain isn't working quite right, so they may put off making bad decisions," Zeitzer said. "Meanwhile, the evening person who is up late thinks, 'I'm feeling great. This is a great decision I'm making at 3 o'clock in the morning.'" Another explanation could be a social misalignment with the mainstream chronotype. "Maybe there are fewer social constraints late at night because you have fewer people around who are awake," Zeitzer said. That is especially true in places like the United States and the United Kingdom, where people tend to be more isolated in the evenings. In a Mediterranean culture, where nights are more gregarious, staying up might even be good for mental health. Though Zeitzer advises night owls to go to sleep before 1 a.m., he knows it's easier said than done. Getting sunlight in the morning and sticking to an earlier routine every day of the week could shift your sleep patterns, but it doesn't change your chronotype. "Biologically speaking, it's very much like a rubber bandyou take a day off and you snap back to where your body wants to be," he said. His team plans to examine whether particular late-night behaviors, rather than timing per se, are linked to poor mental health. "If you like being up late and just do what people normally do at 10 p.m., but you do it at 2 or 3 a.m.maybe that's not a problem," he said. But what's the fun in that? More information: Renske Lok et al, Perils of the nighttime: Impact of behavioral timing and preference on mental health in 73,888 community-dwelling adults, Psychiatry Research (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115956 Journal information: Psychiatry Research This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Rural children and families are having to skip vital health treatments and even ending up in the emergency room, while already struggling rural clinics are losing more patients, as states cull their Medicaid rolls. The process began in April 2023, when pandemic-era rules that prohibited kicking people off Medicaid coverage expired and states again began checking whether families met income restrictions. Nationally, nearly 70% of people who lost coverage did so for "procedural" reasons such as incomplete paperwork. States with the largest drops in coverage also have large rural populations. The loss of coverage compounds struggles disproportionately experienced by rural children and families, experts say, including clinician shortages, long drives to care and poorer health outcomes. Eight statesAlaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Utahhad fewer children enrolled at the end of last year than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent analysis by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. "Medicaid is even more of a lifeline for rural communities than it is for urban ones," said Joan Alker, the center's executive director. "There are quite a number of states with large rural populations where things are not going wellso that's very problematic." A year into the process, frequently referred to as Medicaid "unwinding," South Dakota, Montana, Utah, Texas and Idaho have seen the largest plunges in rates of children losing coverage, with an average of 25% fewer children enrolled in those states since April 2023. In rural areas, which on average have higher rates of poverty, children are less likely than their urban counterparts to have had a medical checkup or dentist visit in the past year, the center reported. These families are already so much living on the edge, and it's hard for them.Dr. Noreen Womack, Idaho pediatrician In Idaho, where 35 of 44 counties are considered rural, "a lot of this is attributed to the state rushing through the process to conduct [income eligibility] redeterminations in six months," said Hillarie Hagen, health policy associate at Idaho Voices for Children, a group that advocates on policies affecting children. "The rush and arbitrary deadline resulted in an alarming number of children losing coverage." Hagen added that the change "is putting families in a very difficult position of having to choose to delay care or risk significant financial burden on their family." Rural Idaho counties tend to be poorer than urban counties, and Hispanic and Native American state residents are more likely than white residents to be living in poverty. Dr. Noreen Womack, a pediatrician at a mobile clinic for kids in Boise and nearby rural communities in Idaho, run by St. Luke's Children's Hospital, said not a week goes by that she doesn't see a patient who has lost Medicaid coverageand who is sometimes unaware they're now uninsured. When kids' parents tell her they have Medicaid, she said, she's learned to ask, "Are you sure?" She said she regularly sees children and teens who are no longer covered and who stopped taking critical treatments, such as antidepressants and ADHD medications, harming their well-being and school performance. Womack recalls one 7-year-old boy who was no longer enrolled in Medicaid and whose family couldn't afford his ADHD medication. He was on the verge of being expelled from school. He looked at Womack, scared and dispirited. "I'm having trouble staying on task again, and they're going to kick me out," she recalled him saying. "It's so sad, because he's only 7," she said. "These families are already so much living on the edge, and it's hard for them." Other young patients who have gone undiagnosed for asthma have ended up in the ER, she said. "One of the things we're trying to do is decrease the amount of unnecessary emergency department visits." As in many states, patient navigators have been key to helping families work through the complex process of renewing Medicaid if they qualify, Womack said. Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare acknowledged the rapid pace of its redetermination process, but expects the number of enrollees to return to normal. "Idaho was one of the very first states in the nation to start and finish unwinding activities while many other states are still in the process of completing all initial renewals," spokesperson AJ McWhorter wrote in an email to Stateline. He added that the agency "early on identified and prioritized individuals who were likely no longer eligible for Medicaid. As other states continue to complete their unwinding activities, we expect these numbers to begin to normalize." Utah has seen the nation's highest overall disenrollment rate at 56%, followed by Idaho and Montana at 55%, and Oklahoma, South Dakota and Georgia, which have each seen coverage loss rates of 50% or higher. Utah's state Medicaid office asserts that because states are at different stages in unwinding, disenrollment rates between states can't be compared "apples to apples." The state's unemployment and poverty rates are lower than the national average, which means Utahns have fewer uninsured people and fewer Medicaid enrollees to begin with, said Kevin Burt, who oversees Utah's Medicaid eligibility determinations at the state Department of Workforce Services. "Having just finished unwinding, I don't think the data is quite settled," Burt added. Jennifer Strohecker, Utah's Medicaid director, said her office has been working with hospitals, clinics and nonprofits to help with redeterminations. "It is our objective that if a person is eligible for Medicaid, we want them to have that coverage," she said, adding that the state aimed to make sure the health centers "had the right resources and tools to meet the needs of the patient as they saw them, and help them with some of the [eligibility] questions." Families of color Across small towns and rural areas nationwide, Medicaid covers 47% of children and 18% of adults, compared with about 40% of children and 15% of adults in urban counties, the Georgetown center found in an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau and Medicaid data. Compared with urban residents, those in rural areas are more likely to have poorer overall health. Many states with the highest rates of Medicaid disenrollments also have large American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Federal tribal affairs and Medicaid officials say the program plays a critical role in filling gaps in funding for tribal health care. Chickasaw Nation member Dr. Jesicah Gilmore, a family medicine doctor and chief medical officer of the Indian Health Care Resource Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said the loss of Medicaid coverage has left many of her patients unable to obtain or pay for specialist care, such as cardiology or nephrology. While the center is in the city, it's also a pillar for rural Native patients, who drive hours to the clinic for primary care and referrals. "Part of what we're seeing is that then they're having difficulty accessing referral services or some of the specialty tests," she said. "It's provided quite a strain on our system." Many lost coverage because they no longer qualified or because they didn't finish paperwork, leaving them to pay out of pocketor forgo care if they can't, she said. "We have staff members here who specifically help patients with paperwork and can help navigate some of the online systemsmany of our patients don't necessarily have continuous access to the internet," she said. "It does get worse when patients are uninsured, because they have no other recourse for care, other than going to the ER." She remembers one patient recently who lost Medicaid coverage two days before an orthopedic appointment for extreme knee pain. Gilmore estimates it could be another three months before her patient can get a knee replacement approved by a specialist and for the clinic to help her find and apply for another payer, such as the tribe, and up to six months until the actual surgery. "It was affecting her ability to continue working, walking, standing," she said. "Who's going to pay for this appointment? This patient has been waiting to get this, hopeful. ... Now, she's kind of in a holding pattern." Loss of revenue for rural clinics, hospitals Gilmore worries the longer-term fallout for her clinic will be a hit to revenue due to caring for uninsured rural patients. The clinic was planning to expand services "but might not be able to," she said. That concern is echoed in other rural health care settings. Straddling the Utah-Arizona border is the Creek Valley Health Clinic, serving a rural area that the Utah Department of Health says is one of the most underserved regions in the state. The area lacked a primary care clinic for over a decade, and many patients would drive an hour or more to the nearest hospital before the clinic opened in 2019. "We inherited such a sick patient population with really high rates of chronic disease and unhealthy habits," said Hunter Adams, the clinic's co-founder and CEO. Adams said the clinic had helped lower ER visits for primary care. Since the clinic opened, Adams said, the patient base has seen improved rates of depression screening, diabetes control and childhood obesity. But since the unwinding, the clinic saw an 8% drop in Medicaid patients. That, along with changes to pharmacy contract programs and expiring COVID-19 assistance grants, has put the nascent clinic in a bind, Adams said. "It's kind of a three-legged impact to our budget," he said. "We're in this kind of hard space where we're not big enough to really contract and negotiate payment change, but we're also big enough that we feel these budgetary changes ... with the Medicaid unwinding." Alan Pruhs, executive director of the Association for Utah Community Health, which represents health centers across the state, estimated that those clinics have seen on average a 12% to 15% reduction in the Medicaid patient population, with some clinics losing up to 20% of Medicaid patients. "Fiscal fragility just was ratcheted up a few more notches, because we're now losing more revenue," Pruhs said. He's hearing from clinics that serve particularly vulnerable clients, such as opioid patients, dropping out of rehabilitation programs because of losing Medicaid. Pruhs said an increase in uninsured patients can further add financial pressure on already strapped rural community health clinics. "From a health center perspective, your uninsured patient now comes in and it's actually costing you moneyit's not generating revenue." 2024 States Newsroom. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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 Joel Fein often tells the story to parents of his young patients at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: how, when he was a child, he knew the contents of every drawer and closet in his family home. There were no shelves he hadn't rummaged through, no hiding places he hadn't uncovered. His parents didn't own a gun, he said, but if they did, and it wasn't locked away in a safe, he probably would have found it. It's what children do, he said. Fein and his colleagues at CHOP are part of a growing number of pediatricians working under a newfound urgency to educate families on safe firearm storage as gun ownership rises, suicide rates among adolescents surge, and as guns have become the leading cause of death for American children. Counseling families about where and how they store their weapons has typically been at the discretion of the doctor, and it's a recommended practice pediatricians have been following for decades, similar to how they ask about car seats, pools, allergies, and household chemical storage. But doctors at CHOP are now not only discussing the subject with parents, but also providing free gun locks to Philadelphians in need. Plans are in the works to also offer free keypad safes in the coming months. Questions about gun safety and storage are now built into many of the hospital system's primary care patient questionnaires. Much in the same way doctors are reminded to ask about nutrition, sleep, and development, they're now prompted to discuss the topic at all visits from when a child is born until age 19, said Dorothy Novick, the attending physician spearheading the initiative. The hope is to educate families about safe storage, and keep guns out of the hands of children, who at just 2 years old, are strong enough to pull a trigger. It's also essential to reducing suicide, Novick said, which is now a leading cause of death for kids 10 to 14. Teens who live in homes with guns are four times more likely to die by suicide, and there has been a dramatic rise in suicide among Black youth in recent years. While doctors are advised to explain that a gun-free home is the safest for a child, they've realized that's not always a realistic option for some families, Novick said. They want to make sure, she said, that if a patient's family owns a weapon, they can have a judgment-free conversation with their doctor to ensure it's stored as safely as possible. "We want to do everything we can to keep children from dying," she said. The need is there. The number of young people in Philadelphia who have shot themselves has risen starkly in the last five years, according to police data. Of the 158 people who shot themselves last year, 17 were 18 or youngermore than five times the number recorded just five years earlier. Three died. Twelve children have been killed in accidental shootings in Philadelphia since 2016, according to police records. Those include a 2-year-old accidentally shot by her cousin with a learning disability who found his grandmother's gun. A 9-year-old boy killed by his teen brother after he held up a gun for a TikTok video and accidentally fired it. And a 4-year-old who shot herself. Families appear to be responding well, Novick said. Last year, CHOP provided 770 locks to families at three of its primary care centersplus 683 to families in the Emergency Department. This is important, she said, because research has shown that providing devices at the time of conversation is key to getting gun owners to store the weapon safely. Only select providers in the hospital system currently offer the locks, but the plan is to soon make cable locks available at all CHOP practices that opt into the program, Novick said. Safes are also on the horizon. The concept is not necessarily new, but CHOP aims to be more expansive than other local efforts. Scott Charles, Temple University Hospital's trauma outreach coordinator, has been giving out free gun locks for years, no questions asked, something Novick said inspired her and her colleagues. And nationally, a few other health systems have built similar structured models, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center, she said. But CHOP says it would be the first institution in the Philadelphia region to formally integrate gun safety across its hospital system. It's now built into the hospital's residency training program, and Novick's team has consulted other health systems on how they could institute a similar process, including Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital, Lancaster General, Bucks County Health Improvement Network, and Children's Minnesota. The work is sensitive, and doctors often field complex questions and concerns from families, including parents who might feel it's a private matter. All of the information gathered is confidential and protected, Novick said. "Safe storage is something people on all sides of the ideological spectrum agree on and can get behind," she said. CHOP first started surveying families for safe gun storage and providing free locks in 2019, initially focusing on families coming into the Emergency Department. In 2021, it launched as a pilot program to its South and West Philadelphia hubs. Their grant to fund the program expires next year, and Novick's team is looking for ways to keep the program sustainable in the long run. Angelic Bradley, whose six children received care from CHOP, said she's always fielded questions about gun ownership, but it feels more consistent in recent years. Bradley is not a gun owner, but her ex-husband was, she said, and she welcomed the conversation. "It's more relevant now because there are more children being shot," she said. While it's impossible to know how many guns are in circulation in the U.S., firearms groups estimate that more than 1 million have been sold in each of the last 53 months. In Philadelphia, the number of gun licenses issued spiked dramatically during the pandemic. Multiple surveys of gun owners have found that more than 50% of respondents do not store their guns locked away, or with a cable lock. A leading reason, according to one report, is that owners want ready access to the weapon for their safety. This is a common concern among Novick's patients, she said. Families affected by gun violence and trauma often ask how they would be able to use their gun in an emergency if it was locked away. It's the trickiest question to answer, she said, given the real fear in their lives. She typically tries to talk through their concerns and circumstances, while helping them understand that ultimately, the risk to a child finding the gun is significant. Toni Richards-Rowley, a CHOP pediatrician and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on federal government affairs, said that many parents of her patients in Souderton, Montgomery County, are gun owners, and that the vast majority store them safely. She's focused her concern on reducing suicide risk, she said, and often asks children directly, especially those with mental health troubles, whether they know the code to their parent's gun safe. Sometimes they do, and the parent is shocked. Richards-Rowley isn't. "Children know a lot more than we give them credit for," she said. 2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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 No one wants to go to the emergency department, no matter where or who they are. Going to the emergency department means, inherently, that something has gone wrong. For those coming in, it's a time of pain, anxiety, maybe fear, maybe even anger. None of the patients or their loved ones who show up for emergency care on a given day woke up that morning and envisioned taking that trip before they put their head back down at night. "Emergency departments are, by their nature, high-emotion and high-stake settings," said Anish Agarwal, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine who works in the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center emergency department. That's a tough role to play when the emergency department is also considered the hospital's "front door," Agarwal said. And, in being the front doorready to help patients with any injury or illness who arrive without warningemergency departments are also "safety nets." For underserved communities, emergency departments are also often the most accessible and most used entry point many people have with health care. "There are communities where there is this notion where you are connected to your hospital and, specifically, that emergency room," Agarwal said. "The connections between hospitals and communities is important to engender trust and reinforce public health. It's a critical link between medicine and people." If someone has a bad experience or perceives their hospital poorly, it can mean that they're less likely to seek out care. That can lead to conditions that worsen over time and become more costly, in every sense of the word. It can lead to worse health outcomes community-wide. But that coin has another side. A hospital and an emergency department that works to make itself a better community partner, one that looks more like the people it serves and shows that it has their interests at heart, can be an invaluable asset for both the public and socioeconomic health of its neighbors. "Trust in any relationship is built through a series of small actions that demonstrate that words are real," said Eugenia C. South, MD, MSHP, the Ralph Muller Presidential Associate Professor and associate vice president of Health Justice for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. "Justice is an action." Trust and recognition Agarwal, South, and colleagues recently published work in JAMA Health Forum detailing interviews conducted in 2021 and 2022 with 25 Black patients who'd visited an urban hospital's emergency department. The patients were asked about their experiences and what they might improve. One of the main points the researchers found in their analysis of the patient interviews was a feeling of distrust of the medical system at large. This could trace back to ancestral or personal experiences with health careor bothand could affect a patient's feelings before they even came through the door. "Just take yourself out of your privilege and understand what our ancestors have been through and what we are still going through right now," one participant said. That, Agarwal noted, is a significant factor that practitioners of emergency medicine across the United States need to build into their work. "We need to recognize that we have blind spots in health care, that Black communities have significant and valid historical distrust in medicine, and really try to be sensitive to that," Agarwal said. At Penn Medicine, efforts are underway in a variety of ways to make its emergency department "front doors" a better experience for anyone who comes in. One of the main efforts is a task force created to specifically address potential racism in emergency departments across the health system. "Early on, we were able to add principles of anti-racism, inclusion, and diversity into our departmental onboarding process, which I feel was beneficial," said Chidinma Nwakanma, MD, an assistant professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine who has served on the task force since the beginning. "In its current form it provides a forum for hospital staff to discuss current issues regarding anti-racism in our department and in the world at large." Other programs spurred by the group include a mentorship program for new nursesas well as staff in other roles who aspire to become nursesto help them better understand and care for people across any culture. Additional efforts are aimed at recruiting more diverse workforces that better reflect the make-up of their surrounding communities. This directly answers something uncovered in Agarwal and South's study, where patients suggested that increasing the diversity of clinicians and staff could help them feel better and more trusting in their local hospital when they go in. And research backs this notion up. Penn Medicine's Department of Emergency Medicine also established a small grants program called Advancing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism (IDEA). Some of the projects funded included the creation of simulations for clinicians and staff to "improve health equity and cross-cultural communication," (a program led by Kristyn Smith, DO, an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine) and the establishment of another program called "Science Through Engagement, Action, and Mentoring (S.T.E.A.M.)" to provide greater exposure to science and medicine for young students from a West Philadelphia middle school (led by Tatiana Carrillo, DO, an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine). "Advancing IDEA small grants is amazing because it allows faculty to actually implement and fund their ideas," said Nwakanma, who is the vice chair of IDEA in Emergency Medicine. "Putting money behind these ideas and projects really shows commitment and the belief that, with support, these projects can flourish and affect change." Planting roots outside the emergency department Doing work outside of emergency departments is also critical to fostering relationships with the neighborhoods and communities they serve. South has long been an advocate for the "greening" of under-served city areas, launching an initiative called "Deeply Rooted" to put more trees and parks in neighborhoods lacking them, which is linked to better overall health of those living nearby. "Our research has demonstrated that turning vacant land into clean and green space reduces gun crime. People living nearby feel safer and less depressed, and they forge deeper social connections with their neighbors," South wrote not long ago in the Washington Post. "Green space has consistently been associated with health benefits." South also created a program called Lift Every Voice, which established an anonymous digital system for clinicians and staff to report instances of racism they might witness. Those reports are then illustrated by a local artist of color and published on an internal system that clinicians and staff can view and engage with. Despite the crises wrought by the COVID pandemic, Agarwal feels that efforts by the medical community since 2020 helped boost the overall reputation of health care in communities that have had complicated histories with the field. "All the work our health system did to put COVID vaccines in the communities, for instance, was a great example of building trust by being humble and really seeking to serve," Agarwal said. "We say it all the time, but meeting people where they are is critical." The researchers say that the commitment of time and energy that Penn Medicine and its staff have made for these initiatives could be replicated anywhere across the country. With generational trauma and mistrust among under-served populations to address, it's critical that emergency departments across the United Statesthe front doors to hospitals throughout the countrymake conscious efforts to be welcoming. "You have to rebuild trust by being humble, asking questions" Agarwal said, "and recognizing the opportunities where there can be growth." More information: Anish K. Agarwal et al, Perspectives of Black Patients on Racism Within Emergency Care, JAMA Health Forum (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.0046 Journal information: JAMA Health Forum The state's Insurance commissioner denied Tuesday the N.C. Rate Bureau's request for a statewide average increase of 49.9% for mobile home casualty policies over a three-year period. Commissioner Mike Causey also rejected an 82.9% statewide average rate increase for mobile home fire policies, also covering a three-year period. The commissioner whether a Democrat or Republican seldom agrees to a rate hike anywhere close to the bureaus full request, whether regionally or statewide. We are not in agreement with the insurance companies proposed increases, Causey said. It is now necessary to hold a hearing to reach a resolution that will make the most financial sense for our residents and insurance companies. Causey has set April 7, 2025, as the hearing date on the proposed increase. The Rate Bureau is an independent group representing insurers writing policies in North Carolina. It submitted its rate hike requests on April 8. It typically asks for rate increases some substantially higher in areas prone to damage from natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods and winter storms. The bureau said a major factor in its sharp rate increase request is that North Carolina has experienced increased wind and hail losses stemming from damaging storms. The fire rate increase request is 24.9% for 2024, 21.2% for 2025 and 20.9% for 2026. The casualty increase request is 15.9% for 2024, 13.9% for 2025 and 13.5% for 2026. The bureau requests that the increases take effect on Nov. 1 of each year. Both mobile-home policies provide property and liability coverage and include flood coverage. The fire policy provides coverage for a broader range of perils. The last time the bureau requested rate increase for mobile home coverage was in 2022. A settlement yielded an average 10% casualty rate increase and an average 15% fire rate increase. Both increases went into effect Aug. 1, 2023. The hearing will be held unless the Insurance Department and the bureau are able to negotiate a settlement. State law gives the Insurance commissioner 45 days to issue an order once the hearing concludes. Once the order is issued, the bureau has the right to appeal the decision, first to the N.C. Court of Appeal and then the N.C. Supreme Court. In February, Causey rejected the bureau's 42.2% proposed hike in homeowners insurance rates. Causey called the bureaus overall proposed increase excessive and unfairly discriminatory. Homeowners were shocked with the high amount requested by the insurance companies, and so was I, Causey said in February. Causey has set a hearing for 10 a.m. Oct. 7 to address the bureaus request, which included an Aug. 1 effective date. The rates typically are set by region, this time ranging from 4.3% in some of the mountain counties to 99.4% in some of the beach areas. The bureau wants a 36.6% rate hike for homeowners in Winston-Salem and Greensboro, as well as in Alamance, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Rockingham, Stokes and Surry counties. It is by far the largest rate increase range sought by the bureau for the urban parts of the Triad since at least 2009. The remaining requested increases are: 41.3% for Wilkes County; 25.2% for Davidson and Randolph counties; 22.3% for Yadkin County; and 20.5% for Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga counties. I havent seen the evidence to justify such a drastic rate increase on North Carolina consumers, Causey said in a statement. The Department of Insurance has received more than 24,000 emailed comments on this proposal, with hundreds more policyholders commenting by mail. Scores more consumers spoke during a public comment forum. North Carolina consumers deserve a more thorough review of this proposal. I intend to make sure they get that review. Its the seventh homeowners' rate increase requested by the bureau since 2009. Causey, a Republican, is in his second term as commissioner. Causey won the Republican primary with 60.6% of the vote. He will face Sen. Natasha Marcus, D-Mecklenburg, in the November general election. Counties with the lowest cost of living in North Carolina Counties with the lowest cost of living in North Carolina #30. Randolph County, North Carolina #29. Columbus County, North Carolina #28. Person County, North Carolina #27. Edgecombe County, North Carolina #26. Lenoir County, North Carolina #25. Stokes County, North Carolina #24. Richmond County, North Carolina #23. Rockingham County, North Carolina #22. Bertie County, North Carolina #21. Burke County, North Carolina #20. Scotland County, North Carolina #19. Martin County, North Carolina #18. Mitchell County, North Carolina #17. Rutherford County, North Carolina #16. Caldwell County, North Carolina #15. Northampton County, North Carolina #14. Surry County, North Carolina #13. Swain County, North Carolina #12. Wilkes County, North Carolina #11. Greene County, North Carolina #10. Robeson County, North Carolina #9. Yadkin County, North Carolina #8. Sampson County, North Carolina #7. McDowell County, North Carolina #6. Duplin County, North Carolina #5. Alexander County, North Carolina #4. Montgomery County, North Carolina #3. Caswell County, North Carolina #2. Jones County, North Carolina #1. Graham County, North Carolina China's top legislator meets president of Equatorial Guinea Xinhua) 09:27, May 30, 2024 Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, in Beijing on Wednesday. Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that the two sides have announced the elevation of their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, drawing a new blueprint for the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to work with Equatorial Guinea to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance strategic synergy, conduct high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and push for the greater development of bilateral cooperation, Zhao said. The NPC of China is willing to strengthen exchanges at all levels with the Parliament of Equatorial Guinea, work with Equatorial Guinea to learn from each other's governance experience, approve and revise legal documents conducive to bilateral cooperation, and strengthen coordination and cooperation on multilateral mechanisms, Zhao said. Obiang said that Equatorial Guinea abides firmly by the one-China principle and speaks highly of the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. It is willing to strengthen cooperation with China and work with China to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries, he added. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Flash Brandie Smith, John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, speaks during a press conference at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., announced on Wednesday it will receive two giant panda cubs, one male and one female, from China by the end of year. According to a press release by the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), Bao Li, a two-year-old male panda whose name translates into English as "treasure" and "energetic," will enter the zoo later this year. He is the son of Bao Bao and the grandson of Tian Tian and Mei Xiang. Bao Bao, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang all stayed in the national zoo previously, and Bao Bao was born there. Also coming later this year is Qing Bao, a two-year-old female panda. Her name means "green" and "treasure" in Mandarin Chinese. The NZCBI also announced that it has extended a cooperative research and breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Now effective through April 2034, the agreement will see the United States and China continue their cooperation in the conservation of the giant panda species. "Today, I am very glad to share with you some good news: Bao Li and Qing Bao, our new envoys of friendship, will soon fly over the Pacific and join the big family of the National Zoo," Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng said in remarks delivered at the announcement ceremony held by the zoo. Xie said China's success in conserving giant pandas is "inseparable from international cooperation," including with the United States, which is "among the first" countries to work with China and make saving the once-endangered species a joint endeavor. Over the decades, the globally adored species has grown to nearly 1,900 in the wild in China. "We're thrilled to announce the next chapter of our breeding and conservation partnership begins by welcoming two new bears, including a descendant of our beloved panda family, to Washington, D.C.," said Brandie Smith, NZCBI's John and Adrienne Mars Director. "This historic moment is proof positive our collaboration with Chinese colleagues has made an irrefutable impact. Through this partnership, we have grown the panda population, advanced our shared understanding of how to care for this beloved bear and learned what's needed to protect wild pandas and preserve native habitat," Smith said. Officials and staff at the National Zoo were extremely excited about welcoming the panda pair to the zoo in the months ahead. "I am so very excited to be able to welcome these two new giant pandas here to the National Zoo," Stephanie Brinley, the zoo's deputy director, told Xinhua during an interview at the ceremony. "We've had such a wonderful history of (curating and studying) giant pandas here," Brinley said, adding that the fact that new giant pandas are coming back just months after the zoo bid farewell to Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and their son Xiao Qi Ji last fall "is just a real, real exciting time for us." Brinley said as the son of Bao Bao -- whose birth in 2013 at the zoo made D.C. residents consider her a fellow Washingtonian -- Bao Li's arrival not only is "really important" to the zoo, but also will send an "incredibly important message" to the panda fans across the United States. "It's almost like we're welcoming Bao Li home, because this is where his family has lived for so long," she said, noting that the male cub's genealogy is a demonstration of "the huge success" the zoo has achieved in its conservation work. Melissa Songer, a conservation ecologist at the zoo, was among those who traveled to China a couple of weeks ago, during which trip the American team of experts selected Bao Li and Qing Bao for the zoo. Songer told Xinhua that "a lot of things went into" the selection process, among them the "emotional connection" the zoo's staff felt about Bao Li. It "means a lot" for both the zoo and the city "that we have a family member coming back," she said. From a scientific point of view, Bao Li and Qing Bao -- "both beautiful and healthy" in China now -- are "genetically diverse," making them "a good pair to be producing offsprings" sometime after they arrive in Washington, Songer said. While it's still unclear when Bao Li and Qing Bao will be ready to breed cubs, Songer said having them produce offsprings is "definitely one of the plans" for the duration of their time at the zoo. Songer was appreciative of the long way American and Chinese conservationists have come in terms of developing and improving the techniques aimed at increasing giant pandas' chances of conceiving and successfully delivering babies. "Every time that we are having this opportunity, we are learning and contributing to the greater body of knowledge around panda reproduction." Echoing Brinley's aspiration that cooperative partnership with China will continue not only "for the next 10 years at a minimum," but also into a "much longer" future, Songer said having pandas at the zoo "makes a huge difference in terms of what we are able to invest in that continued research and conservation partnership." The first pair of giant pandas ever in the United States, Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing, arrived at the Washington National Zoo in April 1972 as a gift from the Chinese government, a few months after then-President Richard Nixon's ice-breaking visit to China. The arrival of Tian Tian and Mei Xiang in Washington in 2000 marked the beginning of China-U.S. giant panda research and conservation cooperation, since which time experts from the two countries have collaboratively bred 17 panda cubs in the United States who survived to adulthood, all of them enthusiastically adored by the people of both countries. It's thanks to the tireless dedication and loving care of the U.S. and Chinese experts that the giant panda has now been removed from the list of endangered species. They are still considered vulnerable, though. Brinley said the zoo's panda habitats are undergoing a reconstruction process in order to give Bao Li and Qing Bao the "best-in-class" care, "so that when they show up here, they have a wonderful place to call home and be very happy pandas." "Be prepared for a party when you come, because all of us are really, really anxious to see you here," Brinley said in conclusion when asked to give some welcoming words to the panda pair. The former fire chief of Pacific Junction, Iowa, is suspected of stealing funds from a charity account for the towns now-defunct fire department. Mills County Attorney DeShawne Bird-Sell announced the arrest of 67-year-old Ernie Gencarelli on charges of ongoing criminal conduct, theft and money laundering, according to video footage of a Wednesday press conference. The investigation began after the towns most recent fire chief, Steven Bogert, reported unusual charges from the Pacific Junction First Responders Associations charity account, which was not tied to the city, according to Deputy Jeremy Ripperger with the Mills County Sheriffs Office. Ripperger said an investigation over the past five months revealed approximately $40,000 in inappropriate charges, including cash withdrawals, loan payments and personal purchases. Gencarelli was fire chief of Pacific Junction for approximately five years, until Bogert took over in May 2023, Ripperger said. The Pacific Junction Fire Department shut down in December 2023 as Bogert and all of the departments volunteer firefighters resigned. Fire calls in the area are now directed to the Glenwood Fire Department. The closure was because of a lack of funding, Bird-Sell said. Ripperger said he believes the funds believed to be stolen by Gencarelli may have contributed to the closure. Pacific Junction was severely impacted by the floods of 2019. Gencarelli is expected to appear in court Thursday. Ezekiel Mutua, CEO of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), is thrilled to have banked his first earnings from the TikTok platform. Sharing his excitement on social media Tuesday evening, Mutua posted a screengrab showing he had earned a little over Kes.1300. He emphasized that this money came from clean content, reinforcing his commitment to promoting appropriate content on TikTok. At exactly 10:20 pm today, I made my first withdrawal from TikTok through my PayPal account. The journey towards sanitizing TikTok with clean content has begun in earnest. I hope to serve as an example that content doesnt have to be dirty to sell, Mutua said. Mutua expressed confidence that he would one day earn up to Kes.1,000,000 from his clean TikTok content. One day I will post a million here through clean and useful content on TikTok! Mutua Lectures Pastor Kanyari This milestone comes barely a week after he met with controversial preacher Victor Kanyari to address his recent conduct on the platform. Ezekiel Mutua criticized Kanyaris behavior, stating that he was setting a bad example for young TikTok users and his followers, especially given his role as a church leader. Pastor Kanyari has disgraced the church. The unfortunate incidents of inappropriate conduct online in the last few weeks must be condemned. If pastors continue with this drama for clout chasing, theres no telling how far this can go. On the other hand, Mutua said he would use Kanyaris experience to mentor thousands of Kenyan youths on TikTok who are engaging in pornographic content for money. Kanyari did well to join TikTok because, despite the unfortunate consequences, we are now having a conversation to restore the youths on these platforms. These are our children, and we cannot ride on high moral horses to condemn and shun them. Mutua clarified that he would not tolerate blasphemy or misconduct in the name of mentoring the youth but rather encourage them to turn around the content they produce. We are not condoning blasphemy or misconduct. Far from it. But we must have a genuine conversation to rescue our youths who are perishing. We cannot afford to wait to get their attention when another one dies. Most of them have real challenges. They are depressed, high on drugs, and resentful. But they are our children, and we must engage. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has refuted media reports suggesting he has acquired a new political party ahead of the 2027 elections. Amid ongoing political tensions within the ruling Kenya Kwanza Coalition, reports claim the DP has reached out to some political players for a possible deal. Gachagua has recently been involved in exchanges with close allies of President William Ruto, accusing them of undermining him. The Nation newspaper reported yesterday that Gachagua has contacted The New Democrats Party, initially headed by former President Mwai Kibakis son Jimmy Kibaki. The daily reported that sources claimed the DP was reaching out to several political players, including a former official in ex-president Uhuru Kenyattas administration, to secure a deal. He has acquired a political party and recently approached a governor from Western Kenya to be part of his team. He even asked him to plan a meeting with a senior former CS so that they can discuss future politics, an unnamed source said, as quoted by the Nation. The DP quickly dismissed the report, accusing the media house of malice. Through Head of Deputy Presidents Communication Njeri Rugene, the DP demanded an apology from the media house and a retraction of the article. This one-sided false and concocted story is laced with innuendos and malice. To associate His Excellency the Deputy President with another political party, especially one with questionable associations, can only have been done in bad faith, with the sole intention of undermining His Excellencys role as the Deputy Party leader of the UDA Party, the DP said in a statement. The DPs office alleged that the article sought to defame the DP and did not take into account Gachaguas perspective on the matter. It is deliberately intended to disparage and attack the integrity of His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, the statement added. The article also clearly violates the tenets of professional journalism that demand objectivity, balance, and fairness. In this regard, we demand a retraction of this fabricated article and an apology with the same prominence. United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala on Wednesday threw a spanner in the works by escalating the political turmoil within President William Rutos Kenya Kwanza administration. Malala issued a stern warning to Cabinet Secretaries involved in the current political feud, pitting Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua against close allies of President Ruto. The UDA Sec-Gen singled out Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Muromen and Moses Kuria, telling them to resign if they wanted to engage in politics. It has come to my attention that some Cabinet Secretaries have been involving themselves in political activities, contrary to the law which requires them to remain apolitical. Moses Kuria, the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Gender, and Affirmative Action, your primary responsibility is to serve the people within your docket. Should you wish to engage in politics, you are welcome to resign and join the political arena, Malala said. Similarly, Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, your focus should be on addressing the pressing issues in your ministry, particularly the reclamation of roads damaged by recent floods. Serve the Kenyan people or step down from your position and return to politics, he added. Malala also warned of disciplinary action against politicians involved in the current factionalism within the ruling UDA party. He specifically called out Oscar Sudi, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, and Githunguri MP Gathoni Wa Muchomba. He stated that the behavior of these politicians not only undermined the ruling party but also showed disrespect to its top leaders. Let this be a stern warning: desist from such actions with immediate effect. Should this behaviour persist, the party will take disciplinary action against you. Furthermore, I urge the young politicians within the UDA who have prematurely begun their campaigns for 2032 to halt these activities, he said. However, Oscar Sudi appeared unfazed by Malalas threats, taking to social media to respond. He likened Malala to an MCA saying he couldnt match the powers of former Jubilee SG Raphael Tuju. Elevated MCA suffering from illusory superiority, thinking he matches Raphael Tujus calibre, Sudi wrote. Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and three others have filed a petition against the government challenging the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS). The petition comes after President Ruto successfully reinstated the contentious positions, resulting in an increase of the countrys public service wage bill by at least Kes.450 million annually. The successful reintroduction followed the gazetting of The National Government Administration Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024, which enshrined the position in law, with the legal changes becoming effective from May 17. However, the legal amendments did not impose a limit on the number of Cabinet Administrative Secretaries, providing President Ruto with the opportunity to reward political allies or any leader of his choosing. If appointed by the Head of State upon a recommendation by the SRC, CASs are expected to receive a gross salary of Kes.780,000. Now, Omtatah and three other Kenyans are urging the court to halt the establishment of the CAS office in a case filed under a certificate of urgency. The four are demanding a re-evaluation of the decision to establish the position. They have asked the High Court to suspend several sections of the National Coordination Act, which created the offices of the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, as well as CAS. According to Omtatah, the creation of these offices will result in unnecessary and unconstitutional spending of scarce public finances, contradicting Article 201 of the constitution. Pending the hearing and determination of this Application, the Honorable Court be pleased to issue a conservatory order suspending sections 8(3), 8(5), 8(6), 8(8), 12a(1), 12a(2), 12a(4) and 12a(8), National Government Coordination Act [cap. 127, laws of Kenya, as amended by National Government Administration (Amendment) Act, 2024, reads part of the petition. Furthermore, the petitioners claim that the government intends to proceed with implementing the changes of the said Act regarding the recommendation and appointment of the officials. According to them, this contradicts a pending appeal filed before the Court of Appeal challenging similar appointments of 50 CASs. Respondents in the case include the Attorney General, the Salaries Remuneration Commission (SRC), and the Public Service Commission (PSC). Flash Local authorities have ordered an evacuation of the village of Grindavik and the iconic Blue Lagoon resort in southwest Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula after a volcano nearby erupted on Wednesday. The volcano located north of Grindavik started to erupt just before 1 p.m. local time (1100 GMT), which was preceded by several earthquakes, the Meteorological Office said. The lava fountains have once reached 50 meters high and the length of the fissure has grown from its initial 1 km to an impressive 3.4 km, the office said in a statement. Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson, a geophysics professor at the University of Iceland, told local radio RUV that this marked its fifth eruption since December and also the most powerful one since its volcanic system became active three years ago. Noting that the area covered by lava would grow to some five square km, the professor also expected the force to abate as more than half of the accumulated magma underground, over 20 million cubic meters, has already been depleted. However, the Icelandic Police Commissioner has declared a state of emergency in the affected area, some 55 km southwest of Iceland's capital Reykjavik. As the fumes from the eruption are expected to reach the capital area late Wednesday, the Icelandic Environmental Agency has recommended residents monitor air quality information on their website, vulnerable people keep windows closed and children avoid sleeping outside during this period. According to airport operator ISAVIA, the Keflavik Airport located at the tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula, is not expected to be affected by the eruption. However, ash created by the contact of lava with groundwater may be a potential hazard to air traffic in Iceland as the volcanic eruptions continue, Icelandic Meteorological Office told RUV. However, the current westerly wind direction protects the Keflavik airport. Lovisa Mjoll Gudmundsdottir, a natural hazard expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, declined to define these eruptions as explosive. "But there are explosions due to the interaction of magma and groundwater," she added. ST. HELENA A petition proposing a hotel at Charles Krug Winery gathered enough signatures to qualify for the Nov. 5 ballot in St. Helena. Organizers turned in the petition with 775 signatures. Napa County officials checked 500 of them and determined that 408 of those were valid, well over the 344 required. The petition is scheduled to go before the St. Helena City Council on June 25. The council will have two choices: approve the hotel proposal as is, or put it on the Nov. 5 ballot. Noble House Hotels & Resorts, the Napa Valley Wine Trains parent company, wants to build a roughly 56-room luxury resort on fallow land at Charles Krug, with access from Deer Park Road. The hotel is designed to be independent of the municipal water and sewer systems. Noble House has decided to pursue the project via initiative instead of going through the city planning process. Noble House CEO Jamie Colee has said the initiative process is quicker and will enable the hotel to start producing revenue for the city far sooner than it could under the usual process. City officials and consultants will write whats known as a 9212 report analyzing the projects impacts. That report will draw on more than 1,000 pages of environmental documents the proponents submitted, mostly in mid-June. Staff plans to present the report to the council on June 25. Under the California election code, the city has only 30 days to present it. The 30-day clock started on Tuesday, when City Clerk Cindy Tzafopoulos certified to the council that the petition was sufficient. On April 9 the council said the 9212 report should analyze the projects effects on water, traffic, city finances, the general plan and zoning, land use, housing, infrastructure, the economy and land use. The initiative is formally known as the St. Helena Agritourism Initiative. Photos: Napa Valley hotels from the luxurious to the basics Cambria Hotel Napa Valley The Archer Napa Hotel The Archer Napa Hotel Cambria Hotel Napa Valley The Archer Napa Hotel Cambria Hotel Napa Valley Cambria Hotel Napa Valley Cambria Hotel Napa Valley Napas Vista Collina resort Napa County hotel visitors Archer Napa hotel Napa hotel Oriental Hotel at White Sulphur Springs, 1875 Embassy Suites Embassy Suites Embassy Suites, Napa Marriott hotel Embassy Suites Napa Winery Inn Stanly Ranch resort opens for business Stanly Ranch resort opens for business Stanly Ranch resort opens for business Stanly Ranch resort opens for business Stanly Ranch resort opens for business Stanly Ranch resort opens for business Stanly Ranch resort opens for business Stanly Ranch resort opens for business Jay Jeffers The Madrona Acacia House Las Alcobas Telegraph Alley History Mount View Hotel Mount View Hotel Sunburst Hotel Mount View Hotel at night Bergson hotel Brannan Cottage Inn wins award Calistoga Hotel The European Hotel Napa's McClelland House luxury inn Napa's McClelland House luxury inn Napa's McClelland House luxury inn Napa's McClelland House luxury inn The George The George Napa The George The George Flash The opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing, China, May 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] The 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) adopted the Beijing Declaration, the CASCF execution plan for 2024-2026, and a China-Arab states joint statement on the Palestinian issue in Beijing on Thursday. During the conference, China also signed a number of bilateral and multilateral cooperation documents with the participating countries and the General Secretariat of the Arab League. The Beijing Declaration reviews the important consensus and progress in implementing the outcomes of the first China-Arab States Summit and clarifies the practical path for promoting the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. It reaffirms that China and Arab states will continue to support each other on core interests, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and expound on their shared positions on political resolution of regional hot issues, dialogue among civilizations, global governance, counter-terrorism, human rights, artificial intelligence, climate change, etc. The execution plan charts the course for strengthening the building of a forum mechanism in the next two years and promoting bilateral and multilateral cooperation in fields such as politics, economy and trade, investment, finance, infrastructure, resources and environment, cultural exchange, aerospace, education and health. The joint statement expresses deep concerns of China and Arab states over the prolonged conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in a humanitarian crisis. It emphasizes the firm stance and important consensus of the two sides in promoting a ceasefire in Gaza, ensuring humanitarian aid, opposing the forced displacement of Palestinian people, supporting Palestine's full membership in the United Nations, and steadfastly working toward an early resolution of the Palestinian issue based on the two-State solution. SIU offering no-cost financial literacy workshops in early June by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. Make Me Bankable, a series of financial literacy workshops will be offered by Southern Illinois University Carbondales Small Business Community Navigator Program at locations throughout the region the first week of June. Make Me Bankable (MMB) is a financial literacy workshop, presented with Operation Hope, to combat credit misunderstandings, improve business financial operations and increase bankability. A series of five workshops will be held at locales around Southern Illinois June 4-5 as part of the Small Business Community Navigator Program, which is funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, to help develop fiscally responsible citizens and foster the establishment of viable small businesses. The workshops are offered at no cost to help participants: Learn the fundamentals of credit, including its various forms. Explore effective strategies to repair and enhance their credit scores. Manage money and credit for maximum potential. Plan now to attend The workshop schedule is: June 4, noon-1 p.m., Mount Vernon, Jefferson County Development, 123 S. 10th St. Sign up by emailing jeffersoncountydevelopment@gmail.com . June 4, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Carbondale, Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive, with Food Works. Register at org. June 5, 8-9 a.m., West Frankfort, West Frankfort Mall Event Center, 1000 Factory Outlet Blvd., with West Frankfort Chamber of Commerce. Sign up by emailing wfchamber@frontier.com. June 5, noon-1 p.m., Marion, EThOs @ The Citadel, 504 Tower Square Plaza, Floor 2. Register at org/events. June 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Carbondale, Carbondale Township Meeting Room, 217 E. Main St., with the Carbondale branch of the NAACP. Sign up by emailing carbondalebranchnaacp@gmail.com or by calling 618-203-6252. Seating is limited, and advance registration is required, so make plans now to attend. For additional details about the workshops, visit bizhelp.siu.edu or email BizHelp@siu.edu. Learn more about the Small Business Community Navigator Program at SIU by visiting the website, emailing bizhelp@siu.edu or calling 618-536-2424. Izzy Zazueta (John R. Lewis 24, politics) will be the first in their family to graduate from college this spring. A third year, deans honors, and first-generation student, Zazueta will leave UC Santa Cruz with extensive research experience, involvement with nearly a dozen organizations, and acceptances into the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaigns Sociology Ph.D. program and the University of New Mexicos Sociology Ph.D. program. Growing up in Pasadena, Zazueta chose to attend UCSC to experience the serenity of the redwoods and the ocean; what they call the best of both worlds. They credit UCSC with giving them opportunities to expand outside their comfort zone. Through internships with El CentroUCSCs Chicanx/Latinx Resource Centercampus research opportunities, faculty mentorships, and programs through the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) initiative and the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP), Zazueta found their community and learned to actively contribute to it. We were taught what community means and the values of community, Zazueta said. Beforehand, I didnt conceptualize the value of finding community spaces and contributing to them, but [at UCSC] Ive learned to foster that sense of community and build those relationships. With El Centro, Zazueta served as an academic intern in their second year and then as a program coordinator in their final year at UCSC. As a program coordinator, Zazueta organized Fashion as Resistance, a student-led event that allowed students to experiment with gender identity and expression, celebrated intersectional identities, and encouraged its participants to break generational stereotypes surrounding gender. I was excited to bring that type of energy to El Centro and introduce folks to this intersectional celebration of being queer, being brown, and demystifying a lot of stereotypes we grew up with. Zazueta also contributed to the creative vision of El Centros Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. Theyre grateful to El Centro Resource Center Director Xiomara Lopez for cultivating an inclusive and supportive environment, and to have had the opportunity to branch outside of El Centro and collaborate with other campus resource centers like the African American Resource Center and the Cantu Queer Center. Zazueta is a member of multiple organizations and programs at UCSC including the Cruz Control dance team; the Politics Departments College Scholars Program; EOPs Pathways to Research Program; is a campus tour guide, and more. On top of all that, Zazueta also worked as a research assistant for UCSC Ph.D. student Michelle Gomez Parra in the Sociology Department. Zazueta says they are heavily inspired by Parra who helped them apply for graduate school and find opportunities to present their research at conferences. Zazuetas research focuses on fashion and aesthetics for Chicanx and Mexican women, specifically Mestizaje identifying women. Mestizaje refers to people of mixed European (usually Spanish or Portuguese) and Indigenous American ancestry. Over the summer of 2023, Zazueta studied abroad in Mexico to conduct their research. They collected fashion magazines from family-owned secondhand bookstores dating back to 1948 and frequented highly populated areas to observe fashion trends. I found that there's a lot of women wearing Indigenous tops and blouses with embroidery, but they wear it with jeans and Nikes, Zazueta said. So its very interesting to see this Eurocentric fashion being blended in with this Mexican indigeneity and this Mestizaje identity being performed in fashion. Zazueta is proud to be a Disability Resource Center student, the child of a Mexican immigrant, and graduating college at 20 years old with distinction under College Nine. They are excited to move across the country and pursue a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I've known California all my life, so Im excited to be somewhere where nobody really knows me, break out of my shell, and continue exploring my research to a greater extent, Zazueta said. I'm excited to be somewhere new and explore new things. After earning their Ph.D., Zazueta hopes to become a professor and eventually pursue an MFA in cosmetology with a focus on hair and makeup. Following a significant delay, authorities have finally taken action in the case concerning the targeted killing of journalist Nasrullah Gadani in Mirpur Mathelo, registering a case under anti-terrorism laws, Dawn reported. Gadani fell victim to assailants in his hometown on May 21, with the attack ultimately claiming his life on May 24 after initial treatment in Rahim Yar Khan and subsequent airlifting to Karachi. The filed FIR encompasses charges under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 337-H (punishment for hurt by rash or negligent act), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, at the Mirpur Mathelo police station. The complaint leading to the FIR was lodged by Gadani''s mother, Pathani, as reported by Dawn. Speaking on the matter, DIG-Sukkur Pir Mohammed Shah characterised the investigation as a "blind case," noting that although several suspects were detained and questioned, none provided substantial leads. "We have not got any clear clue in the murder case of Nasrullah Gadani," he conceded. He further mentioned the comprehensive approach being taken by the police, delving into Gadani''s lifestyle and identifying potential adversaries or challenges he may have encountered. "We have been looking into the lifestyle of the slain journalist to know what problems he was facing and who his opponents and rivals were," Shah added. The Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners (CJMP) had earlier rejected the initial investigation team tasked with probing the attack, urging the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to constitute a new committee. The commission emphasised that the head and members of the new investigative team should not be drawn from Sukkur. As investigations continue, authorities are under pressure to swiftly apprehend those responsible for Gadani''s tragic demise, ensuring justice for the slain journalist and his family, Dawn reported. (ANI) A long march against the closure of a key border crossing between Pakistan and Iran is pressing on towards Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. Led by a coalition of traders, civil society representatives, and political activists, the protest, which began in Mashkel, remains steadfast in its demand for the reopening of the vital passage, Dawn reported. Mir Jiand Khan Reki, a prominent local traders'' leader spearheading the march, said, "Our protest march will persist until the border point with Iran is reinstated, as it sustains our families'' livelihoods." Despite enduring foot injuries along the arduous journey, Reki emphasized the unwavering determination of the participants, stating, "Some of our marchers'' feet are wounded from walking, yet they refuse to abandon the march, saying it''s a matter of their survival." As the march progresses, it garners support from communities along the route. "People are welcoming the participants wherever we reach, showing their support for our cause," remarked Reki. The genesis of the protest traces back to a 33-day sit-in in Nashkel, precipitated by the border closure. Expressing disappointment in the government''s lack of response, Reki lamented, "Government officials concerned have yet to take notice of our protest." The repercussions of the closure reverberate across Mashkel and its environs, exacerbating shortages of food and essential supplies. The marchers plan to escalate their demonstration upon reaching Quetta. "We will stage a protest in front of the Balochistan Assembly once we reach Quetta," said Reki. Locals from the Mashkel area of Rakhshan in hundreds (near the Pakistan-Iran border) on Saturday launched a long march towards Quetta, Balochistan over the the closure of the Pak-Iran Maza Sar border crossing, calling it an essential element for their survival, a report by Dawn stated. The long march on Sunday reached the Yakmach area of Chagai district who were welcomed by the locals. The protesters, including traders, had been staging a sit-in for the last one month in the border town Mashkel demanding the opening of Pak-Iran Maza Sar border crossing used by local people for buying food items and other essential commodities. The Baloch Yakjeheti Committee (BYC), a Baloch rights organisation also showed their solidarity towards the the same. The protestors will also launch a sit-in at the provincial assembly after reaching Quetta, read a statement by the BYC. The State has set its mission to cripple the Baloch nation in every possible way, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, false allegations, border closures, and punishing, harassing, and killing people at the border. Economic suppression is also part of this systematic genocide. The statement mentioned that, the closure of the Maza Sar crossing point since the Covid pandemic has led to severe shortages and malnutrition in the region. The sit-in''s primary demands include the reopening of the Sir crossing point and the restoration of Maza Sar and Zero Point, vital for the local economy. The people of Mashkel are in dire need of assistance under the guise of the borderline. They have been protesting against the recent food shortages for a month, but they were not heard by any government agency. The protesters have resolved to march from Mashkel to Quetta and demand immediate action from the Balochistan Assembly, the BYC statement stated. (ANI) Some unidentified terrorists torched a girls'' middle school in the Razmak tehsil of North Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan destroying furniture, computers and books, police said on Wednesday, Dawn reported. This is latest in a series of such attacks. According to officials, there were no casualties in the incident An official told Dawn that on Monday night some unidentified attackers entered the building of Golden Arrow Girls Middle School in Shakhimar village of Razmak tehsil and set it on fire. The fire gutted the furniture, ceiling, computers, books and other equipment. Abrar, a member of Shakhimar Welfare Organisation, told Dawn the school was constructed by an organisation along with Pakistan Army''s 7th Division in 2020. In March this year, unknown attackers destroyed the school''s solar power system, causing panic among the students. However, local elders convinced the girls to continue their education. Recently, attacks on schools have surged in North and South Waziristan. On May 9, terrorists set fire to a girls'' private school in the Shawa area of South Waziristan. Similarly, on May 17, unidentified terrorists bombed an under-construction girls'' private school in Lower South Waziristan. Meanwhile, Usman Mehsud, the additional Station house officer of Azam Warsak Police Station, Lower South Waziristan district, narrowly survived a remote-control bomb attack targeting his vehicle on Monday. Station house officer Azam Warsak Zabiullah Wazir told Dawn that the blast took place about 150m from the police station in which the vehicle of Mr Mehsud was targeted. He said Mr Mehsud escaped unhurt, adding that the officer''s car was damaged in the attack. According to police sources, in the May 9 explosion, the militants first tortured the watchman of the school and later blew up two rooms of the building. There was, however, no injury or loss of life in the explosion, Dawn reported. Earlier, in May last year, two government schools for girls in Mirali (a town in Pakistan) witnessed similar attacks, with no casualties reported, as per Dawn. Around 500 girls were enrolled in the two schools, Government Girls Middle School Noor Jannat and Government Girls Middle School Yunus Kot which were targeted by the attackers around midnight. These schools were the only private girls'' educational facilities in the area and had previously received multiple threat letters. (ANI) A sting operation unfolded at the AVLC office, conducted by the ARY News exposing DSP Nijabat Hussain''s illicit activities. It was uncovered during the sting that DSP Hussain was secretively offloading motorcycles recovered post-theft without notifying their rightful owners. Operating out of AVLC East, citizens had been lodging complaints against Hussain''s alleged involvement in criminal endeavours. In a carefully orchestrated sting operation, the Sar-e-Aam team managed to procure two motorcycles from DSP Hussain, capturing all conversations and transactions related to the illicit deals. Iqrarul Hassan disclosed that due to budget constraints, the team could only acquire stolen motorcycles, hinting at DSP Hussain''s purported involvement in the sale of stolen cars as well. The ramifications of this sting operation reverberated throughout the police department, prompting an immediate inquiry into the matter. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) AVLC Arif Aslam Rao swiftly intervened upon receiving notice from ARY News, promptly relieving DSP Nijabat Hussain of his duties and initiating an investigation. This incident not only casts doubts on the integrity of certain law enforcement officials but also underscores their potential entanglement in criminal activities. In a parallel development earlier in March, another law enforcement official, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DSP) Ahmed Karim Jilani, faced similar ignominy when apprehended red-handed in a smuggling operation involving Gutka and other drugs. Prompt action was taken by then Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Riffat Mukhtar, suspending Jilani and ordering an inquiry, appointing DIG Mirpurkhas Tanveer Alam Odho as the inquiry officer, ARY News reported. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance to Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal about the government's neutrality in the telecom sector, in a September 2018 meeting, proved to be a significant turning point for the revival of the Indian telecom major, the latter said in an interview with the Economic Times. In an interview with the business daily published on Thursday, Mittal said that Airtel's USD 100 billion market cap reflects India's stable economy under a solid leader. When Reliance Jio was launched in 2016, with free voice and data services, other players in the sector came under stress. Ebidta started crashing and all telecom companies were forced to cut tariffs, which was unsustainable. Three companies went to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Mittal said in such a situation, he sought a meeting with PM Modi as an operator and also as Chairman of GSMA. "I told PM Modi that the situation is very alarming, "I will fight in the market place, but I can't fight the government," Mittal recalled. Mittal said the PM replied, "The government will not tilt towards either side. Whatever is good for the country will be done. You fight in the market ...I don't have a view on that. But from the side of the government, you can be sure that the government will not take sides." Mittal further said, that was enough for him and he got up and thanked the PM and this was the turning point for Airtel. "Sometimes you need inspiration, I needed that, there was a very strong message from the PM to fight in the market," he said. Mittal said he started looking at the business from a different perspective within existing regulations. "Maybe lower tariffs were better for it politically; lower tariffs were better to democratise the data services. You start to see things in a different context, because you are reassured that there is no agenda here". And that was the turning point for Airtel, from a market cap of USD 19 billion in 2019, Airtel added over USD 80 billion to its market cap in the last five years. He further said "And to my mind a lot of statements that this government is only favouring a few are all absolutely misplaced. To my mind this USD 100 billion market cap is a testimony to what India is today, not just my company" "Money is pouring into this country, a lot of capital is coming in. These massive valuations are a function of stable, solid, functional economy under a very sold leader" he added. Mittal, said Airtel is the first, first generation company to cross the market cap of USD 100 billion on May 27, 2024. In his interview with Economic Times, Mittal also raised the concerns of the telecom sector. He indicated that soon there will be tariff hike "We need to have an ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) of Rs 300. Below this, the balance sheet will not be strong to fully serve the digital vision of India. We are at Rs 200 now, it needs to go up. The timing of the hike depends on the market."(ANI) As Paresh Rawal, the legendary Indian actor, celebrates another year of brilliance, it's the perfect occasion to honour his outstanding contribution to cinema. With a career spanning decades, Rawal has showcased remarkable versatility and an unparalleled ability to excel in any role he takes on. Let's celebrate his birthday by revisiting five of the iconic films that demonstrate his prowess and versatility in acting. 1. Hera Pheri (2000): This cult classic comedy directed by Priyadarshan remains one of Paresh Rawal's most memorable performances. In the role of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, a quirky and lovable landlord entangled in hilarious misadventures, Rawal delivered a masterclass in comedic timing and expression. His portrayal of Baburao continues to evoke laughter and admiration, solidifying his status as a comedy icon in Indian cinema. 2. Sardar (1993): In Ketan Mehta's biographical drama 'Sardar,' Paresh Rawal portrayed the revered freedom fighter Vallabhbhai Patel with remarkable depth and authenticity. Rawal's portrayal captured Patel's stoic determination and unwavering commitment to India's independence struggle, earning him widespread acclaim and accolades. His nuanced performance in 'Sardar' showcased his ability to embody historical figures with grace and conviction. 3. OMG - Oh My God! (2012): 'OMG - Oh My God!' directed by Umesh Shukla, saw Paresh Rawal in the role of Kanji Lalji Mehta, an atheist who sues God after his shop is destroyed in an earthquake. Rawal's portrayal of Kanji was both compelling and thought-provoking, blending humour with social commentary seamlessly. His ability to infuse depth and sincerity into the character elevated the film, making it a memorable cinematic experience for audiences. 4. Tamanna (1997): In Mahesh Bhatt's 'Tamanna,' Paresh Rawal delivered a poignant performance as a eunuch named Tikku, showcasing his versatility as an actor. Rawal's portrayal was sensitive and heartfelt, shedding light on the struggles and discrimination faced by marginalized communities. His ability to bring empathy and humanity to the character of Tikku demonstrated his range as an actor beyond comedic roles. 5. Andaz Apna Apna (1994): Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, this comedy film has Paresh Rawal in a memorable supporting role as Teja, a quirky and eccentric crime lord. Rawal's portrayal of Teja adds to the film's comic charm and has become iconic in Indian cinema. These films highlight Paresh Rawal's versatility as an actor, showcasing his ability to excel in both comedic and dramatic roles with equal finesse. The Padma Shri awardee has on Wednesday announced his upcoming venture titled 'The Taj Story'. Paresh Rawal took to his X and released a poster of the film along with a caption that read, "Announcing my upcoming film The Taj Story Shooting commences from 20th July 2024, Producer CA Suresh Jha Writer & Director Tushar Amrish Goel, Creative Producer Vikas Radhesham." https://x.com/SirPareshRawal/status/1795441137089409194? The film is produced by CA Suresh Jha and written and Directed by Tushar Amrish Goel, with Vikas Radhesham serving as the creative producer. The project is under the banner of Swarnim Global Services Pvt. Ltd. The shooting is set to commence on July 20. 'The Taj Story' promises to be a compelling narrative that delves into the history and significance of the iconic Taj Mahal. The film is poised to be a tribute to one of India's most cherished landmarks, exploring its rich heritage and timeless beauty. Apart from this, Paresh Rawal will be seen in Vaani Kapoor starrer coming-of-age Bollywood drama-comedy 'Badtameez Gill', which is about a girl and her family set in Bareilly and London. 'Badtameez Gill' is being produced by Nickky Bhagnani and Viicky Bhagnani, Vinay Aggarwal, Ankur Takrani and Akshad Ghone. It is being directed by Navjot Gulati, who has written Running Shaadi, Ginny Weds Sunny, and directed films like Jai Mummy Di and soon to be released Pooja Meri Jaan. The film also stars Aparshakti Khurrana. (ANI) Shilpa took to Instagram and shared a fun video from the wrap-up. https://www.instagram.com/p/C7l1UEfNIvA/ Shilpa has wrapped up the last schedule in Mysore. The video begins with Shilpa dressed in floral saree sitting in a chair while the makeup artist fixes her makeup. In the clip, she says, "It's a bloody business, bloody difficult business." Then, she walks towards director Prem and says, "Sir, pack up." In the end, Shilpa says, "KD is a film to watch out for. One of my most favourite roles, Satyavati, is in this movie." Sharing the video, she wrote, "It's a wrap for #KDTheDevil - Part One. Can't wait for you to see Satyavati in action. All set to be yours this December." 'KD- The Devil' also stars V Ravichandran and Sanjay Dutt. With Shilpa Shetty Kundra now entering the war zone, this one is guaranteed to leave audiences wanting more. In March, Shilpa announced that she is joining KD's Battlefield as Satyavati. In the poster, Shilpa was seen sporting a retro look, she wore a polka dots sari and oversized glasses. Directed by Prem, 'KD-The Devil', the Pan-India multilingual is set to release in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi. A period action entertainer based on true events from 1970s Bangalore. Meanwhile, Shilpa was recently seen in Rohit Shetty's OTT debut 'Indian Police Force', which also stars Sidharth Malhotra and Vivek Oberoi. The series is streaming on the OTT platform Amazon Prime. (ANI) The Harvey Weinstein case continues to reverberate through legal circles as prosecutors hint at the possibility of issuing a new indictment against the disgraced former movie mogul. Recent developments suggest that more women may be prepared to step forward with allegations against Weinstein, potentially reshaping the trajectory of his legal battles, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. As per the report by The Hollywood Reporter, Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg revealed this possibility during a session at New York criminal court, noting, "Some people who were not ready to speak out in 2020 now appear ready to do so in 2024." Blumberg emphasized the need for a July 9 hearing to facilitate discovery and compliance in light of these potential developments. The spectre of additional accusers prompted Blumberg to petition Judge Curtis Farber to urge Weinstein's defence counsel to refrain from making public statements about witnesses. This plea stems from concerns that such actions might deter new claimants from coming forward. Notably, Weinstein's attorney, Arthur Aidala, had previously held a press conference outside the courtroom, sparking controversy over his remarks regarding witness statements. Weinstein, present in court and confined to a wheelchair, listened as Aidala acknowledged the delicate balance between advocacy and ethical obligations, pledging not to overstep boundaries in the future. Judge Farber, meanwhile, admonished both parties against pandering to the media. The legal saga surrounding Weinstein gained fresh momentum after the New York State Court of Appeals overturned his previous rape conviction, citing prejudicial judicial rulings. Despite this setback, prosecutors reiterated their intent to retry the case swiftly, emphasizing its strength. Amid ongoing legal manoeuvring, Weinstein's physical health remains a concern, with Aidala highlighting his client's "very, very serious medical issues." However, Weinstein's mental acuity remains sharp, according to his legal team, confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. The presence of key figures from previous proceedings, such as accusers Jessica Mann and Miriam Haley, underscores the gravity of the situation. Mann's steadfast commitment to seeking justice was evident during the recent hearing, while Haley's attorney, Gloria Allred, stood in solidarity with her client. Weinstein's legal woes extend beyond New York, as evidenced by his prior conviction in Los Angeles. Despite a 16-year prison sentence, Weinstein's attorneys there are exploring avenues for appeal, particularly in light of developments in the New York case. (ANI) "I arrived at Dumka Lok Sabha seat in Jharkhand. We campaigned in favour of the BJP. We will win from Dumka Lok Sabha seat with a big margin. Jharkhand will create a new record. The government of PM Modi will be formed once again," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Sita Soren, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder Shibu Soren's daughter-in-law, as its candidate from the Dumka Lok Sabha constituency. She will be contesting against JMM leader and a six-time MLA Nalin Soren, in the upcoming election. Sita Soren, a long-time member of JMM and a three-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), joined the BJP in March. The Dumka Lok Sabha seat is a traditional JMM stronghold, with party patriarch Shibu Soren winning the seat 8 times. In the final phase of the Lok Sabha election, polling will take place in Rajmahal, Dumka, and Godda Lok Sabha seats of Jharkhand on June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI) Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa visited the residence of Chandrasekhar, an official of Maharishi Valmiki Corporation, who died by suicide after leaving a note containing an allegation of multi-crore corruption in the corporation. The minister said that the state government would help the family to get justice for the victim. "I visited Chandrasekhar's residence as per the instruction of the Chief Minister. The government has said that it will do whatever kind of help it needs, and it will do justice. I will do whatever cooperation is required from the government, I will do whatever work is required from my side," Bangarappa told reporters after visiting the family. "Such an incident should not happen, the investigation is going on, let the investigation be done, and those who have done wrong should be punished," he added. Meanwhile, the Crime Investigation Department on Wednesday inspected Chandrasekaran's residence. Chandrasekaran's bag was found during evidence verification. A pen drive, laptop, and other items were found in the bag. His wife Kavitha said that the name of MD Padmanabhan of Valmiki Corporation was on the pen drive. The family members asked what was in the pen drive, but the officers did not show it. Officers informed that they had to come to the police station after half an hour to sign the confiscated items. The family members of Chandrasekaran said that this action of the authorities raised suspicion. Earlier, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that the Home Minister and Chief Minister have already ordered for an inquiry and whoever may have done this, will be punished. "We have got the death note. The Home Minister and Chief Minister have already ordered an inquiry, and we have taken it seriously to investigate it. Whoever may have done this, will be punished," he said. Chandrasekaran (45), a resident of the Kenchappa colony of Vinobanagar was an officer of Maharishi Valmiki Development Corporation and was working in Bengaluru Office. Chandrasekaran allegedly wrote a six-page suicide note before dying suicide on Sunday evening. He also mentioned the names of three officials in the death note and revealed the secret of multi-crore corruption. A case has been registered in this regard in Vinobanagar police station. "My death was caused by the corporation officials. The Managing Director of the Corporation, JG Padmanabha, Account Manager Parasuram Durgannavar, Union Bank Chief Manager Suchismitha. Valmiki has illegally looted Rs 80 to 85 crores from the corporation's grant. I have no part in this affair. But under the pressure of work, it was my mistake not to get the checkbook of the said account and not to close the cash book. I am not responsible for this scam. So take action against the guilty officials", Chandrasekaran wrote in his death note. Chandrasekaran's suicide has led to a loud political row in the state with the BJP targeting the state government. Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra demanded a transparent investigation into the officer's death."The reported suicide of an official involved in a massive corruption scandal worth Rs 187 crore in the Valmiki Development Corporation has revealed the true face of rampant corruption in the state @INCKarnataka government. Projects are being made only for commission business and the development works are rusting. It is not known how many more lives will be lost because of this commission's vicious cycle," he posted on X. "It is a tragic misfortune that Congress leaders who make long speeches about the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Tribes have taken the leadership of the corruption and corruption going on in the name of Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department Minister @BNagendraINC should be dismissed from the cabinet immediately. I demand a transparent investigation into the officer's death," the BJP leader added. Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister B. Nagendra said that the action will be taken based on the CID and FSL report. (ANI) Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark against TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee of trying to "throttle the judiciary," Congress leader Surendra Rajput on Wednesday questioned why the Prime Minister remains silent and inactive if such actions are occurring. Rajput suggested that instead of making such statements at public rallies, PM Modi should concentrate on his duties. Coming out in defence of TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee, Congress leader Surendra Rajput said, "If someone is throttling the judiciary, why has the Prime Minister tied his hands and not saying anything? Why is he showing powerlessness in his speeches? Why is he being a coward in Public rallies? Has he forgotten that he is the Prime Minister? Apart from all these talks he should focus on the work, because when he makes such statements in public rallies, people are convinced that he is doing Jumlabaazi and saying all false things". Taking a jibe at PM Modi, over his "sent by God" remark, Rajput said, "In the last ten years, the way in which, in almost every institution of India , chronic capitalists are taking over, be it roads, infrastructure, or roads. So has the Prime Minister sent by God only to help Adani, not the 140 crore Indians?" Earlier, while addressing a rally in West Bengal's Barasat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Trinamool Congress-led government in West Bengal cheated the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state and snatched away their rights to appease the Muslim communities. The remarks of the Prime Minister were in reference to the Calcutta High Court cancelling all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010. The court has directed the West Bengal Backward Classes Commission to prepare a new list of OBCs in accordance with the 1993 Act. Expressing his surprise over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposing the Calcutta High Court order scrapping OBC certificates issued after 2010, the Prime Minister said that how can she question the intentions of the judges? "Will you let your goons go after the judges now ? The whole country is watching how TMC is trying to throttle judiciary," PM Modi said. Six phases of the Lok Sabha elections are over and the final phase will be held on June 1 in 57 constituencies in eight states and union territories. The polling for 42 seats of West Bengal is being held across all seven phases. The results of the elections will be declared on June 4. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav offered prayers at the Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar on Thursday. After offering the prayers, CM Yadav said that he was fortunate enough to offer prayers here at Golden Temple and prayed for the welfare of the country and to become the number one country in the world. "Today is the last day of campaigning for the 7th and last phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024. I am fortunate enough to offer prayers here at Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). The satisfaction received after offering prayers here can't be expressed in words but it can be felt by the inner soul. I have prayed for the welfare of the country and to become the number one country in the world. I hope BJP forms the government again under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the CM told ANI. The chief minister further remembered the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and slammed the Congress party saying the grand old party only believes in the ideology of divide and rule. "Standing here, I remember the time in 1984 when an attempt was made to attack this temple (Golden Temple), I condemn this... Congress only believes in the ideology of divide and rule," the CM said. "It is our requirement today that PM Modi once again leads the country and makes Indian democracy proud across the globe," CM Yadav concluded. The voting in 13 seats of Punjab along with the union territory of Chandigarh is being held in a single phase on June 1. The counting of votes will be done on June 4. On Sunday, the MP CM campaigned in Dumka Jharkhand for party candidate Sita Soren and said that the mandate of 400 seats was in sight for the BJP. Today, while addressing the public meeting organised in support of sister Sita Soren, the candidate of BJP at Chorketta Kerabani under Dumka Lok Sabha constituency in Jharkhand, I sought the blessings of the people for the massive victory of the BJP. In the last 10 years, the BJP government at the Centre has fulfilled its resolve to progress the tribal community. This is the reason why the citizens of Jharkhand are excited to participate in Abki Baar 400 Paar," he said. (ANI) The Mizoram police have rescued around 24 exotic animals, including snakes, turtles, and monkeys, from a vehicle at the Kanhmun police check post, near the Mizoram-Tripura border, officials said on Thursday. The driver and owner of the car are identified as Chawngthanmawi, who hails from the Amapur district of Tripura. In a press release issued by Lalbiakthanga Khiangte, Inspector General of Police and Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Mizoram Police, it was said that Kanhmun Police personnel on duty at the Kanhmun Police check post gate intercepted a maxi cab that commutes between Aizawl and Agartala and was transporting various exotic animals. The vehicle was thoroughly checked and 18 snakes, four turtles, and two monkeys were found inside the cab and seized from him accordingly. The driver was thoroughly examined and upon interrogation, he revealed that a person named Binoi Molsom, alias Sanga Molsom, sent the parcels containing the exotic animals from Zodin Bus Stand in the Aizawl district of Mizoram and told him to deliver the parcels to Sumo at Zo Sumo Travels Counter located at Samuli Bazar in the Agartala district of Tripura. Binoi Molsom had been located by the police team and was apprehended. The police team is further investigating the matter and necessary steps have been taken. Meanwhile, the person named Binoi Molsom (34 years old), a resident of Bakbasa in North Tripura, who had sent the exotic animals to the Maxi cab, was immediately located by Sairang Police and was apprehended for further necessary actions," the CPRO of Mizoram police said. The recovered exotic animals were then handed over to the Range Officer of the Kanhmun Forest Department in Mizoram for further legal action. Earlier, on May 25 the Mizoram Police made a huge seizure of Heroin at Seleshi, Aizawl. The Police team intercepted one black scooter carrying two large white nylon bags near NEC Junction in Selesih. On checking the bags, they recovered and seized 311 soap cases of suspected heroin, weighing 3.547 Kg from the illegal possession of a Myanmar national. (ANI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday called for a judicial investigation into the alleged suicide of an official of the Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation (MVDC) in Karnataka's Bengaluru, on Monday. Former BJP national secretary and the party's senior leader in Karnataka, CT Ravi, targeted the ruling Congress government in the state over the alleged suicide incident, holding State Tribal Welfare Minister B Nagendra responsible and demanding his resignation. "They (the state government) are trying to hide the issue. Funds for the development of SC, ST, and OBC communities were transferred to fake accounts. Karnataka Minister Nagendra is behind all of that. We will protest and demand his resignation. The matter should be investigated under judiciary leadership," CT Ravi told ANI on Thursday. Chandrasekaran (45), a resident of the Kenchappa colony in Vinobanagar, allegedly died by suicide on May 26. Chandrasekaran was a superintendent with the MVDC and was posted at its Bengaluru office. In a six-page suicide note recovered by police, Chandrasekaran mentioned the names of three officials and alleged corruption worth crores in the corporation, demanding action against the named officials. A case has been registered in this regard at the Vinobanagar police station. On Wednesday, a team from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Karnataka police inspected Chandrasekaran's residence. The team found the deceased official's bag, which included a pen drive and laptop, among other items. The matter has led to political outrage, with the BJP attacking the state government. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said that an investigation is underway and that everything will be known after the probe. Regarding the BJP's demand to sack Minister Nagendra, Parameshwara said that a decision would be made after checking the authenticity of the death note. Earlier in the day, Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa visited the deceased MVDC officer's residence and assured support for his family. "I visited Chandrasekaran's residence as per the instructions of the Chief Minister. The government has said that it will provide whatever kind of help is needed, and it will ensure justice. I will provide any required cooperation from the government, and I will do whatever work is necessary from my side," Bangarappa told reporters after visiting the family. "Such an incident should not happen. The investigation is going on. Let the investigation be completed, and those who have done wrong should be punished," he added. (ANI) Launching a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that PM Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister to lower the dignity of public discourse and the gravity of PM office. Ahead of the voting for the last phase of Lok Sabha elections, the former PM released a message urging voters to save the country from the "forces of discord" and give "peace and harmony" a chance. 57 constituencies across eight states and UTs will be voting in the seventh and last phase of general elections on June 1. All 13 seats of Punjab will also poll in the phase. "India is standing at a crucial juncture. In the impending last phase of voting, we have one final chance to ensure that Democracy and our Constitution are protected from the repeated assaults of a despotic regime, trying to unleash dictatorship in India," former PM Manmohan Singh said in the message. He further said the BJP has left no stone unturned in "castigating" Punjab, Punjabis, and Punjabiyat in the last 10 years. "Punjab and Punjabis are warriors. We are known for our spirit of sacrifice. Our indomitable courage and innate belief in the Democratic ethos of inclusiveness, harmony, amity, and brotherhood can protect our great nation," the former PM said. "In the past ten years, the BJP government has left no stone unturned in castigating Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabiyat. 750 farmers, mostly belonging to Punjab, were martyred while incessantly waiting at Delhi borders, for months together. As if the lathis and the rubber bullets were not enough, none less than the Prime Minister verbally assaulted our farmers by calling them "Andolanjeevis" and "Parjeevi" (Parasites) on the floor of the Parliament. Their only demand was the withdrawal of the three farm laws imposed on them without consulting them," he added. Singh served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, where he headed the UPA government. Earlier, he also served as the Finance Minister from 1991-96 and as the RBI Governor from 1982-85. In the message, Manmohan Singh claimed that while Prime Minister Modi had promised to double the income of our farmers by 2022, his policies have "eroded" the earnings of farmers. He further stated that the Congress party in its manifesto has promised "Kisaan Nyay" including legal MSP guarantee, permanent commission for loan waivers and removal of GST on farm input products and equipment. The former PM said that India's economy has witnessed "unimaginable turmoil" in the last 10 years. He blamed the policies of the "demonetisation disaster", a "flawed GST", and the "painful mismanagement" during the COVID pandemic as the reasons behind it, adding that now a subpar 6-7 per cent GDP growth has become the "new normal." He said that the country's youth are the "most neglected" section of society under the present dispensation, adding that Congress under its 'Yuva Nyay' guarantees had promised to fill 30 lakh vacancies. Manmohan Singh also criticised the Agniveer Scheme for the armed forces, stating that BJP thinks the "value of patriotism, bravery and service is only 4 years." He said that the youth of Punjab and sons of farmers who want to serve the country are thinking twice about getting recruited for a 4-year stint. The former PM further alleged that the BJP government at the Centre "denied" funds to Punjab government during the Congress government in the state. Attacking Prime Minister Modi, the former PM said that no Prime Minister in the past has uttered such "hateful, unparliamentary and coarse terms" meant to target either "a specific section of the society or the opposition". He also slammed PM Modi accusing him of attributing "false statements" to him. This was an apparent reference to PM Modi's recent attack on Congress, where he alleged Manmohan Singh said "Muslims have first right on country's resources" during his tenure. "I have been keenly following the political discourse during this election campaign. Modi ji has indulged in the most vicious form of hate speeches. which we purely divisive in nature. Modi ji is the first Prime Minister to lower the dignity of public discourse, and thereby the gravity of the office of the Prime Minister," the former PM said. "No Prime Minister in the past has uttered such hateful, unparliamentary and coarse terms meant to target either a specific section of the society or the opposition. He has also attributed some false statements to me. I have never in my life singled out one community from the other. That is the sole copyright of the BJP," he said. The former PM said that the narrative of dehumanization has reached its peak and it is people's duty to save the nation from these "forces of discord" adding that only Congress can ensure a growth-oriented progressive future where Democracy and the Constitution shall be safeguarded. "With folded hands. I appeal to each one of you to give love, peace, fraternity, and harmony a chance in India. I appeal to each voter in Punjab to vote for development and inclusive progress I appeal to all the young minds to exercise caution and vote for a brighter future. Only Congress can ensure a growth-oriented progressive future, where Democracy and the Constitution shall be safeguarded," Manmohan Singh further said. He ended his note with a couplet by Allama lqbal, "Phir uthi akhir sada touheed ki Punjab se, Mard-e-kaamil ne jagaya Hind ko Phir khwaab se." (ANI) Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that the BJP-led central government achieved in 10 years what the Congress could not accomplish in 60 years of its rule. He added that if the BJP had the same amount of time in power as the Congress did, then under a BJP-led central government, India would become an economic superpower in the world and poverty would be eradicated from the country. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, while addressing a public meeting in Mandi, said, "What the Congress couldn't do in 60 years, we (BJP) have done in 10 years, I can say this with confidence. But what you have seen so far is just a trailer, the real movie is yet to start. If we (BJP) get an opportunity like the Congress, India will become an economic superpower in the world, a 'Vishwa Guru', and poverty will be eradicated. Further, Nitin Gadkari appealed to the people to vote for the BJP's Mandi Lok Sabha candidate, Kangana Ranaut, saying, "On the day of the election... go to vote and press the button of the lotus flower, choose Kangana ji, ...and then don't worry...I will change the situation here... Press the button of the lotus flower, make BJP win, make Kangana ji victorious, and leave the rest of the work to Modi ji and me, we will work with a double engine and complete the work, I promise this," he said. BJP's Kangana Ranaut is contesting against a Congress heavyweight and the son of late former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, Vikramaditya Singh for the Mandi Lok Sabha seat. The Mandi constituency holds symbolic significance for the Congress, as it is considered a bastion of the Virbhadra family. The seat is currently held by Pratibha Devi Singh, the late leader's widow. She wrested the seat for the Congress in the bye-election that was held following the demise of then-BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma. The polling for the 2024 general elections in Himachal Pradesh is scheduled to take place in a single phase on June 1. The state of Himachal Pradesh has four Lok Sabha constituencies: Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, and Shimla. In addition to the Lok Sabha elections, by-polls will also be held in six Himachal Pradesh assembly seats on the same day. These seats fell vacant after the disqualification of rebel Congress MLAs. The results for both the Lok Sabha elections and the assembly polls will be announced on June 4. The BJP won all four Lok Sabha constituencies in the state in the 2019 elections. (ANI) In a notable act of goodwill, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday handed over three Pakistani nationals to Pakistan Rangers a day after they inadvertently entered into Indian territory by crossing the alignment of the International Border near Punjab's Tarn Taran district. All three Pakistani nationals were handed over to Pakistan Rangers at about 11.35 am on humanitarian grounds and as a goodwill gesture, said the BSF in a statement. On May 29 (at about 11.50 am), the BSF said, its alert troops on duty apprehended the three Pakistani nationals on the border in Tarn Taran district, who entered into Indian territory by crossing the International Boundary (IB) from the Pakistan side. As per the BSF-- which is mandated to guard India-Pakistan International Border-- this apprehension took place ahead of border fence near Kalash village of Tarn Taran district. "Questioning of the intruders was conducted by the BSF and other sister agencies, in which it was revealed that the apprehended Pakistani nationals were unaware of the alignment of the IB and inadvertently entered into Indian territory. Nothing specious was found from their possession," said the BSF. On May 30, on the request of Pakistan Rangers, a flag meeting was conducted in which concerns were expressed over their failure to restrict the unwarranted movement of Pakistani nationals. "At about 11.35 am, all the three Pakistani nationals were handed over to Pakistan Rangers on humanitarian grounds and as a goodwill gesture." BSF further said its duty-bound troops remain committed to maintaining strict surveillance on the border, while at the same time demonstrating generosity in addressing the humanitarian issues.(ANI) Congress leader and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday slammed the suspended JD-S leader Prajwal Revanna over the obscene video case and alleged that the leader moved the court for anticipatory bail on the instructions of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Prajwal Revanna filed an application for anticipatory bail in connection with the alleged obscene video case on Wednesday. The bail plea has been filed at the Bengaluru Sessions Court. "I'm quite surprised that he remained silent when videos went viral, when a complaint was filed by the victims, and when the pen drives were being distributed. Suddenly, his consciousness wakes up and he says I was depressed and isolated. If you see the video closely, it doesn't look like a person in depression is speaking. He did not say a word about the victims. He could have said the same thing on Days 1, and 2. Why did it take him 30 days? If you look from a bird's eye view, you'll know that the BJP is directing everything," Priyank Kharge told ANI. He further said that as soon as Prajwal Revanna lands, he will be taken into custody. "It's a matter of time, as soon as he (Prajwal Revanna) lands, he will be taken into custody," he added. The Congress leader accused the BJP of not showing support in this case and alleged that BJP leaders knew about the antecedents of Prajwal Revanna. "The BJP candidate made a full public appearance and has claimed that there are certain videos. He wrote to the BJP high command. He himself has said that the high command in Delhi was aware of it. He also said that he went to a hotel to meet Amit Shah. BJP leaders knew about the antecedents of Prajwal Revanna. They gave him a ticket, and PM Modi campaigned for him. The BJP who showed excessive support for the Hubballi case is not showing support in this case," he said. "If PM Modi can stop the Russia-Ukraine war if he can ensure bombing doesn't happen in Gaza during Ramazan, he couldn't find where Prajwal is?" he questioned PM Modi. Earlier, Prajwal Revanna, in a self-made video released on Monday, said that he will appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on May 31 for questioning. Revanna said that his trip was pre-planned as there was no case against him when the voting was held in Karnataka on April 26 for the general elections. He also alleged political conspiracy against him as he was "growing in politics." Revanna's location is still unknown and is supposedly in Germany, according to officials. The SIT, earlier arrested two prime accused in connection with the case, said police. The arrested have been identified as Naveen Gowda and Chetan. According to police sources, the accused were arrested when they appeared before the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. Arrested Chetan Gowda and Naveen Gowda allegedly distributed pen drives containing videos of Prajwal Revanna sexually assaulting women. SIT has filed a case against five including her husband and father of Prajwal Revanna, HD Revanna. HD Revanna was arrested earlier in connection with a kidnapping case on April 29. He was granted conditional bail by a special court for people's representatives. The case, registered on April 28 at the Holenarasipura town police station, involves allegations of sexual assault by Revanna and his son, Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, on a woman who worked in their household. (ANI) Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 45-hour-long meditation in Kanyakumari, former Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel alleged on Thursday that he had gone to Kanyakumari to influence the voters ahead of the polling in the seventh phase of the elections. "One who is not an ordinary person and sent by God, what is the need for him to remember God? Kangana Ranaut and Sambit Patra made him God...Why is he doing this drama?" said Baghel. He also advised PM Modi to conduct the meditation out of the media glare. "PM Narendra Modi has gone to Kanyakumari to get more publicity. When leaders like Dharmendra Pradhan of Orissa, Sambit Patra, and Kangana Ranaut are comparing him to God, then what was the need for him to go to Kanyakumari? PM Modi should have conducted the meditation out of the media glare," said the former CM of Chhattisgarh. Notably, in the 2019 Lok Sabha election too, PM Modi took a similar trip to the Kedarnath shrine before the final phase of the elections and meditated at a cave. Baghel further alleged that throughout the campaign, the BJP kept discussing about the Congress manifesto. "Throughout the campaigning, the BJP did not discuss anything about their manifesto. They kept discussing the Congress and INDIA bloc agendas. When our manifesto was released, they kept talking about the Muslim League, Mangalsutra, Pakistan, and then spoke about Mujra. Prime Minister Narendra has lost his senses," said the Congress leader. He hit out at the Agniveer scheme and said that even a sarpanch of a village is elected for 5 years. "Even the sarpanch of a panchayat is elected for 5 years, but under the Agniveer scheme, the soldiers are being retired in 4 years and that too for someone who is serving the country," said Baghel. The Congress has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day meditation retreat in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari from Thursday to Saturday would violate the '48-hour silence period provision' of the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polling. The campaigning for the seventh phase of polling was over on Thursday. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered prayers at Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, after the culmination of the Lok Sabha election campaign. The Prime Minister was seen wearing a 'dhoti' and covering his upper body with an off-white coloured shawl. PM Modi will meditate from May 30 evening to June 1 evening at the same place where Swami Vivekanand did meditation, the Dhyan Mandapam. (ANI) Amid escalating concerns raised by foreign experts regarding China''s purported preparations for a potential invasion of Taiwan using civilian vessels, a Taiwan defence expert has affirmed the nation''s readiness to counter such threats, Focus Taiwan reported. In a report dated May 26 by the Daily Telegraph, experts cautioned that the People''s Liberation Army (PLA) could use a fleet of civilian vessels, including large roll-on, roll-off ferries, to augment its amphibious landing capabilities, potentially facilitating the movement of significant military assets across the Taiwan Strait. Tom Shugart, an analyst at the Center for a New American Security, highlighted the strategic implications of China''s civilian vessels, suggesting they could significantly bolster the PLA''s capacity to transport troops and equipment, potentially enabling the swift deployment of up to 300,000 troops within a span of 10 days, according to Focus Taiwan. Echoing these concerns, Chieh Chung, a researcher at the Taipei-based Association of Strategic Foresight, acknowledged the PLA''s lack of dedicated military vessels for troop transportation and its reliance on civilian vessels, particularly in recent military exercises. Chieh noted the substantial transport capacity of each 36,000-ton roll-on, roll-off vessel, capable of accommodating the troops of multiple PLA combined arms battalions. However, he emphasised that these civilian vessels are not specifically designed for military use and would require docking facilities for efficient loading and unloading. In the event of a potential invasion, Chieh suggested that the initial wave of PLA troops would likely rely on military landing ships, helicopters, and transport aircraft to establish a foothold in Taiwan. Only after securing landing zones would civilian vessels be use for further troop deployment. However, Chieh remained confident in Taiwan''s ability to counter such threats, citing existing defence mechanisms such as long-range anti-ship missile systems, naval mines, and suicide speedboats. These defensive measures, he argued, would effectively neutralise the relatively slow-moving civilian transport ships. In response to inquiries by the media outlet, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) affirmed its vigilance in monitoring Chinese activities near Taiwan''s airspace and sea, including military-civilian coordinated operations. The MND reiterated its commitment to gathering intelligence on PLA capabilities and underscored its preparedness to address potential threats posed by unconventional landing and transportation tactics. As tensions continue to escalate in the region, Taiwan remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity against potential threats, utilising a combination of strategic foresight and robust defence capabilities, Focus Taiwan reported. (ANI) As Afghan women continue to remain deprived of their basic rights, United Nations officials have once again raised concerns about the situation of women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. During a meeting titled "Women, Youth Must Have Greater Participation in Peacebuilding Efforts" that took place in New York, the UN officials the rights of Afghan women, especially the prohibition of girls from attending universities and secondary schools, TOLOnews reported. UN's Undersecretary-general for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo characterised the state of women in Afghanistan as a lost cause. "Ultimately, it comes down to a simple vision -- of overcoming obstacles that deny the full contribution of women," DiCarlo said at the meeting. Moreover, Sima Bahous, Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), while stating the figures said, "1.1 million girls are without schooling since the 2021 ban in Afghanistan." More than two and a half years have passed, but the Taliban has yet to make any new statements regarding the reopening of schools for girls above sixth grade. As the Taliban solidifies its control over Afghanistan, the humanitarian crisis in the country continue to worsen. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, emphasized the importance of engaging with current Afghan officials while also stressing the need to "ensure the rights of women and girls" in Afghanistan. "We continue on the same path in terms of Afghanistan which is engaging with the de facto authorities, because they are the de facto authorities in Afghanistan. We also continue to push them constantly and continuously on the issue of the rights of women and girls which are their rights to have which are being denied on a daily basis almost across the border," he said at the meeting, according to TOLOnews. However, despite international outcry, the Taliban has not made any concrete decision on when the schools will be opened for girls in the country Time and again, the Taliban has reiterated that women's rights in Afghanistan are ensured within the framework of Islamic law. The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, said: "Men and women in Afghanistan have rights, and the Islamic Emirate is committed to providing those rights as endorsed by Islamic law. The Islamic Emirate strives to address the rights of all citizens of the country," according to TOLOnews report. Afghanistan's delegate at the UN Human Rights Council, meanwhile, highlighted the nation's efforts to achieve gender equality and demanded the lifting of limitations on women and girls. With infrastructure crumbling and essential services disrupted, millions are at risk of starvation and diseases in Afghanistan as the nation remains under a humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian organisations struggle to provide aid amidst security concerns and logistical challenges. The ban on girls' schools since the Taliban takeover has led to a generation of girls deprived of education, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. (ANI) Google has announced that it will invest USD 2 billion in Malaysia to establish its first data centre and "cloud region" in the Southeast Asian country, which is expected to create 26,500 jobs by 2030, Al Jazeera reported. Farhan S Qureshi, country director for Google Malaysia, said that the investment will unlock new possibilities in several domains. "This investment is not just about infrastructure; it's about unlocking new possibilities for businesses, educators, and every Malaysian," Qureshi said in a blog post on Thursday. Qureshi said the Google data centre would power services such as Google Search and Google Maps and "pave the way for delivering the transformative power of AI to users and customers across the country." The Google Cloud region will offer "high-performance, low-latency cloud services to enterprises, startups, and public sector organisations, alongside key controls that allow them to maintain the highest security and compliance standards, including specific data storage requirements," he added. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the investment would add USD 3.2 billion to the country's economy and create 26,500 jobs by 2030, reported Al Jazeera. "The investment related to Google's first data centre in Malaysia and the development of the Google Cloud region is proof that the Government's clear planning in addition to the country's economic strength and resources are attractive to existing and new investors," Anwar said in a post shared on X. "Undoubtedly, this places Malaysia as one of the leading countries in the use and support services of digital technology-based services," he added. This announcement by Google comes weeks after Microsoft said that it would invest USD 2.2 billion in artificial intelligence and cloud computing in Malaysia, as reported by Al Jazeera. US tech giants have been ramping up investment in Southeast Asia, home to a young computer-literate population of 670 million people and one of the fastest-growing regional economies. Global consulting firm Kearney has estimated that AI could contribute nearly USD 1 trillion to Southeast Asia's gross domestic product by 2030. Moreover earlier this month, Amazon said it would invest USD 9 billion in Singapore to expand cloud infrastructure in the city-state, following earlier announcements of multibillion-dollar investments in Malaysia and Thailand, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) Exercise Red Flag is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise. "Onwards and Upwards. An IAF contingent arrived today at the Eielson AF Base of @usairforce, at Alaska, USA, to participate in the upcoming edition of the multi-national exercise Red Flag 24," the Indian Air Force wrote in a post on X. https://x.com/IAF_MCC/status/1796062909447242131 While on their way to Alaska, the IAF Rafale fighter jets took a transatlantic flight with staging halts at Greece and Portugal. "Ably supported by its IL-78 air-to-air refuellers and the C-17 transport ac, the IAF Rafale fighters took a transatlantic flight with staging halts at Greece and Portugal," the IAF said. "Aimed to integrate aircrew in a multinational environment, Ex-Red Flag is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise," it added. Earlier, the Indo-US joint working group, operating under the Defence Tech and Trade Initiative (DTTI), convened for a pivotal two-day meeting in New Delhi in the early weeks of May to bolster defence collaboration between the two nations. The meeting was led by Indian Air Force Deputy Chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and American Brig Gen Joel W Safranek, the co-chairs of the group, with the discussions centred on leveraging the respective strengths of both partner nations to enhance defence cooperation and co-production, according to Indian Air Force. During the intensive sessions, key officials, including Brig Gen Joel W Safranek and Air Vice Marshal George Thomas, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans), delved into strategic plans aimed at deepening bilateral defence ties. The focus was on overcoming challenges through partnership and cooperative research, in line with the objectives set forth by the DTTI mechanism established in 2012. (ANI) US Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell is set to host China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in Washington today (Thursday), reported Voice of America (VOA). The talks are aimed at maintaining open communication channels to prevent miscalculations and unintended conflicts, especially during the ongoing times of tension. The two officials are expected to hold two hours of face-to-face discussions, following which, they will have a working lunch at the State Department. Later in the afternoon, US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer will continue discussions with China's Vice Foreign Minister, reported VOA. Ma Zhaoxu's visit follows US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Shanghai and Beijing in April. According to the officials, it builds on the US's intensive diplomacy with the PRC to responsibly manage competition in the relationship, even in areas where the two countries disagree. "As we continue to take actions to protect our interests and values and those of our allies and partners, we are also using face-to-face diplomacy with the PRC to clearly and directly communicate our positions and intentions, and make progress on bilateral, regional, and global issues that matter to the American people and the world," a State Department spokesperson said. A spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ma will also "interact and communicate with representatives from various sectors in the US" during his visit from May 30 to June 2. Last month during Blinken's visit to Beijing, he voiced "serious concern" regarding China's support for Russia's defense industry, warning Chinese leaders that Washington could impose sanctions on the matter, reported VOA. However, China defended its approach to Russia, adding that it is only engaged in normal economic exchanges with a major trading partner. Earlier on Wednesday, Campbell renewed the US warnings. He said Chinese support was helping to revitalize Russia's military capabilities, including long-range missiles, artillery, drones and battlefield tracking. During his visit to Brussels, the State Department's second-highest diplomat emphasised the urgent need for European and NATO countries "to send a collective message of concern to China about its actions, which we view are destabilizing in the heart of Europe." The latest US-China talks are set to be held just days after China conducted a large-scale, two-day military exercise involving 111 aircraft and 46 naval vessels around Taiwan, VOA reported. Moreover, Washington has strongly urged Beijing to exercise restraint and has reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, on May 23, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for China and Taiwan Mark Lambert met virtually with PRC's Director-General for Boundary and Ocean Affairs Hong Liang. During the meeting, US official Lambert expressed profound concerns regarding the People's Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. (ANI) Distancing himself from the arrest of his former aide in an alleged gold smuggling case by the Delhi Customs, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that he is "shocked" by the news, adding that the man was a part-time employee. He noted that authorities are free to investigate the matter and take the required actions which are needed. "He was an elderly man who used to help me part-time when his health was permitting him. I am shocked by the news. As I have said earlier, authorities are free to investigate and take any action that is needed," Tharoor told ANI. "He was not there for me at the airport as I am here," he added. Earlier, Delhi Customs on Wednesday detained two people at the Delhi International Airport in a case of alleged gold smuggling. According to sources in Customs, one of the detainees identified himself as Shiv Kumar Prasad and claimed that he was the personal assistant to Shashi Tharoor. Meanwhile, BJP State President (Kerala), K. Surendran has stated that the arrest of Thiruvananthapuram MP and senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's PA in a gold smuggling case at Delhi airport is a "serious issue." Stating that Tharoor's explanation regarding the incident was unsatisfactory, Surendran asked for clarification on the issue by the Congress leader. "Tharoor must clarify how a person involved in gold smuggling could assist him. The MP cannot escape the charges of treason for misusing the position of his PA," Surendran said in a statement. He further said that Congress, CPM, and other parties wish to dethrone Prime Minister Narendra Modi by carrying out such activities. "In Kerala, the Chief Minister's Principal Secretary was jailed for gold smuggling, and even the Chief Minister's office came under investigation. Now, a Congress MP's PA has also been caught in gold smuggling," Surendran said. "Just as in the matters of corruption and communalism, the INDI alliance seems to be united in gold smuggling as well. It is evident that Congress, CPM, and other parties wish to dethrone Modi to carry out anti-national activities like gold smuggling," he added. Earlier today, Tharoor, in a post on X, said that the detained person is a former member of his staff who has been rendering part-time service to him. He also extended his support to the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action. "While I am in Dharamshala for campaigning purposes, I was shocked to hear of an incident involving a former member of my staff who has been rendering part-time service to me in terms of airport facilitation assistance. He is a 72-year-old retiree undergoing frequent dialysis and was retained on a part-time basis on compassionate grounds," the Congress MP posted on X. "I do not condone any alleged wrongdoing and fully support the authorities in their efforts to take any necessary action that may be required to investigate the matter. The law must take its own course," he added. Shiv Kumar Prasad had come to the Delhi Airport to receive a person who had arrived from Dubai. Both people were arrested when the passenger was trying to hand over around 500 Grams of gold to Prasad. "Prasad has the aerodrome entry permit card that allows him access to airport premises. He entered the airport premises and was receiving a packet when he was held along with the passenger," said the sources. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in a reference to the report on the detention of the alleged aide of Shashi Tharoor, criticized the Congress and the CPM, dubbing them an "alliance of gold smugglers." "First CM Secy involved in Gold smuggling, now Cong MP "aide"/PA detained for Gold smuggling. CPM and Cong - both INDI alliance partners-alliance of gold smugglers," Chandrasekhar said on X. Chandrasekhar is the NDA candidate from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency and faces a stiff challenge from the former diplomat and senior Congress leader Tharoor, who is seeking a third term. (ANI) Denying reports of offering any Free Trade Agreement (FTA) proposals to Maldives, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that if Maldives is considering FTA with India, it will surely be looked into. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Indian government has not offered any Free Trade Agreement (FTA) proposal to the Maldivian government. "On Maldives, we have seen some reports the Minister speaking about we (India) offering FTA. We havent done so. If Maldives is considering FTA with us, we will surely look into it," Jaiswal said during the weekly presser. Last week, Maldivian Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed announced that efforts were underway to reach a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Maldives and India, as reported by Maldivian online news outlet Adhadhu. Notably, an FTA was signed between South Asian countries in 2004. The agreement was titled the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA). The agreement was signed to empower the region economically and facilitate trade. Maldives signed SAFTA but it does not have FTAs with individual countries in the region, Adhadhu reported. Maldivian Economic Minister Saeed made this statement during a press conference last week and said India had requested for an FTA with the Maldives, to which, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal denied. "In my recent talks with India, they expressed their wish to have a free trade agreement with Maldives separately, in addition to SAFTA. The President wants to have that opportunity with all countries," Maldivian Economic Minister said. Earlier this month, the Indian government provided a budget support to Maldives in the form of a rollover of USD 50 million Treasury Bill, for an additional year at the request of Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer. "State Bank of India has subscribed for one more year the USD 50 million Government Treasury Bill, issued by the Ministry of Finance of Maldives, upon maturity of the previous subscription. These Government Treasury Bills are subscribed by SBI under by SBI under a unique Government-to-Government arrangement at zero-cost (interest-free) to the Government of Maldives," the Indian High Commission in Maldives said in a statement. This extension of the subscription has been done at the request of the Maldivian government. The ministry further appreciated the Indian government's support to the Maldives in the form of budgetary allocation. Calling it a "true gesture of goodwill," Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer thanked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar after India extended budgetary support to Maldives in the form of a rollover of USD 50 Million Treasury Bill. (ANI) The 6th meeting of the India-Japan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in New Delhi today. The two nations exchanged views on the terrorist threats in their respective regions, including State-sponsored cross-border terrorism in South Asia, South East Asia, East Asia, Middle East, and terror activities in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. The two nations emphasized the importance of strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release. For the meeting, the Indian delegation was led by K.D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (CT), Ministry of External Affairs. Japan's Ambassador in charge of International Cooperation for Countering Terrorism and International Organized Crime, Hiroyuki Minami, led the Japanese delegation. The officials of India and Japan assessed counter-terrorism challenges, including the use of new and emerging technologies by terrorists, according to MEA press release. The two sides agreed to hold the 7th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in Tokyo on a mutually convenient date. In a press release, MEA stated, "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. Countering terror financing, organised crime and narco-terror network also featured in the discussions. "Both sides emphasised the importance of strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation through exchange of information, capacity building, training programmes and exercises, and cooperation at the multilateral fora, such as the UN, FATF and QUAD," it added. Earlier on April 24, the 10th round of India-Japan consultations on disarmament, non-proliferation and export control was held in Tokyo, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed in a press release. The two sides exchanged views on developments in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains, outer space security, non-proliferation issues, conventional weapons and export control, according to MEA. The Indian delegation was led by Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs, while the Japanese delegation was led by Katsuro Kitagawa, Director General for Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science Department, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the press release. (ANI) Presently, Shankar is the Additional Secretary in the ministry. Further, MEA said that Shankar is expected to take up the assignment shortly. India has an extensive bilateral relationship with Ukraine, spanning all spheres of cooperation. India was one of the first countries to recognise Ukraine. The Government of India recognised the Republic of Ukraine as a sovereign country in December 1991 and established diplomatic relations in January 1992. India is Ukraine's largest export destination in the Asia-Pacific and the fifth largest overall export destination. (ANI) According to the FIR, a group of 20-25 individuals, including Advocate Usman Riaz, Mirza Asim, Zahid Bashir, and Ansar Kiani, are accused of assaulting Khawar Maneka, leading to his injuries. The lawyers are purportedly charged with attempting to intimidate and manipulate judicial proceedings, facing accusations of terrorism and nine additional counts. Reportedly, Fatehullah, accompanied by Naeem Panjotha and Advocate Ejaz Bhatti, purportedly physically assaulted Khawar Maneka, while officials Irshad and Waheed's attempts to intervene were thwarted by the lawyers, ARY News reported. Allegations include Fatehullah engaging in a dispute with Constable Khalid and damaging his uniform. The incident occurred during a court session presided over by Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, where Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi's legal plea against their Nikah Case conviction was under consideration. Earlier, Khawar Maneka had been targeted by women outside the courthouse, allegedly in response to derogatory remarks he made during the hearing. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi's marriage in February 2018 in Lahore had been a private affair, attended only by close relatives and friends, with the notable absence of the PTI founder's sisters. The nikah, officiated by Mufti Saeed in the presence of former PTI leader Awn Chaudhary and former SAPM Zulfi Bukhari as witnesses, was challenged by Khawar Maneka on grounds of illegality under Sharia laws. Accusations of marrying within the "iddat period" following a divorce and engaging in fornication were levied against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. In a verdict deemed 'un-Islamic' by Judge Qudratullah, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were sentenced to seven years imprisonment each and fined PKR 5,00,000 for the alleged violations, ARY News reported. (ANI) In a testament to the burgeoning partnership between India and Israel, the Indo-Israel AgriTech Co-Incubation Summit saw the presence of Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, as the guest of honour. Accompanied by Doron Gidony, the innovation attache, Ambassador Gilon underscored Israel's pivotal role in the programme and explored avenues for collaboration in the innovation sector. "Today, Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, attended the Indo-Israel AgriTech Co-Incubation Summit as the guest of honor, accompanied by our Innovation attache, Doron Gidony. During his address, the Amb Gilon highlighted Israel's role in the program and discussed collaboration opportunities in the innovation sector. Alongside Chief Guest Satyaki Rastogi, sidbiofficial, he also presented awards to the top three startups," said Israel's Embassy in India. Addressing the audience, Ambassador Gilon highlighted the shared challenges faced by both nations in the realm of agriculture. "I think it's safe to say that India and Israel are especially in agriculture, but not only are sharing the same challenges when it comes to agriculture," remarked Gilon, adding, "We both are sharing climate challenges, water, and being arid countries with big arid zones. I think it's very similar." Drawing attention to Israel's innovative solutions, Gilon emphasised the country's expertise in overcoming agricultural challenges. "Israel coped with these challenges by developing technologies to overcome them," he stated. "Very known here, of course, the smart irrigation. Smart irrigation that Israel has led." Gilon also shed light on Israel's pioneering efforts in water management, including water treatment and desalinisation. "Israel today is the world leader in reusing water in order to save and have more resources," he declared. "Desalinisation, fertilizing accordingly to the weather, and improving." The summit, graced by esteemed guests including Chief Guest Satyaki Rastogi from Sidbi, witnessed the recognition of top-performing startups in the field. Ambassador Gilon, alongside Rastogi, presented awards to the top three startups, further solidifying the collaborative spirit between the two nations. Reflecting on the robust Indo-Israel relations, Gilon attributed the rapid growth to the "people-to-people element." "The relations between India and Israel are really outstanding," he affirmed. "The cooperation in all fields is incredible. I always say that relations grew fast thanks to one secret ingredient that we have, and this is the people-to-people element. The closeness that Israelis and Indians feel to each other." (ANI) Trillions of red-eyed cicadas are emerging across the eastern U.S. this spring but hidden among them are a handful of "one in a million" blue-eyed bugs, recent sightings show. Earlier this month, 4-year-old Jack Bailey from Wheaton, Illinois, discovered a blue-eyed cicada in his family's yard. Experts at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago identified the specimen as a female Brood XIII cicada belonging to the species Magicicada cassini. Brood XIII cicadas are made up of three species and emerge every 17 years to mate. This year, for the first time since 1803, Brood XIII cicadas are appearing at the same time as Brood XIX, which comprises four species and emerges every 13 years. Jack and his mother Greta Bailey donated the blue-eyed cicada to the Field Museum, where scientists will try to sequence its DNA and identify the genes responsible for the unusual eye color, according to a statement . The blue pigment is likely the result of a rare mutation. "I have been in Chicago for five periodical cicada emergences of our Brood XIII, and this is the first blue-eyed cicada I have seen," Jim Louderman , a collections assistant in the insect division of the Field Museum, said in the statement. "I have also seen two emergences of Brood X in Indiana and two emergences of Brood XIX in Central Illinois. These rare [blue-eyed] insect emergences are always infertile and can not have offspring, which is why they remain so rare." Related: Double cicada bloom 2024 Google Doodle celebrates once-in-221-year event with band of bugs Another blue-eyed cicada was photographed in the Orland Grassland forest preserve southwest of Chicago, NBC Chicago reported . Blue-eyed cicadas are rare and are "one in a million," Gene Kritsky , a professor of biology at Mount St. Joseph University in Ohio, told the news channel. RELATED STORIES Giant 'toe biter' water bugs discovered in Cyprus for the 1st time How do insects know which flowers have pollen? Watch 5,000 fire ants create raft with their bodies to save colony and queen from death by swimming pool Kritsky told NBC Chicago that the image of the blue-eyed cicada in Orland Grassland is only the second he has seen this year out of 40,000 photographs submitted to his app, Cicada Safari , which tracks cicadas in the United States. In previous emergences, only two or three reports out of 500,000 were of blue-eyed cicadas, he said. Cicada sightings in the Chicago area exploded earlier this month after a rise in temperatures. Cicadas emerge from the soil when temperatures a few inches below the surface reach 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), according to a blog post by Martha Weiss , a professor of biology at Washington D.C.'s Georgetown University. Person killed in KLM airplane engine at Amsterdam airport just before departure A Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Dutch flag-carrier KLM takes off from Tegel airport in Berlin on December 29, 2019. A person died at an Amsterdam airport after "ending up" in the engine of a departing airplane. The victim was killed in the spinning turbine blades of a KLM passenger plane at Amsterdams Schiphol airport, Dutch flagship carrier KLM said in a statement on Wednesday. The flight, KL1341, was headed to Billund, Denmark. "Sadly, this person has died," KLM said. The air carrier has not disclosed the identity of the victim or whether they were a passenger. USA TODAY has reached out for further information. The airline evacuated the passengers and employees who witnessed the death, KLM added. The Royal Military Police are conducting an investigation into the cause. Plane was a short-haul Embraer jet The aircraft involved was a short-haul Embraer jet used for KLM's Cityhopper service, taking passengers to nearby major cities, according to Dutch public broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS). The aircraft was made by Brazilian manufacturer Embraer and can accommodate 88 to 132 passengers, NOS reported. A photo shared by NOS shows the plane surrounded by fire trucks and ambulances near a departure terminal. The death occurred Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, where Nicki Minaj was reportedly arrested on Saturday after an exchange with an officer before being released later. Other passenger jet engine deaths have occurred in recent years, including in January when a 30-year-old man climbed into a plane engine at Salt Lake City International Airport. Last June, a San Antonio International Airport employee died after being "ingested" into an engine. And in December 2022 an airline worker died after being "sucked into the engine" of a plane at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Person killed in airplane engine at Amsterdam airport [Source] Nepalese Indian mountaineer Tenzing Norgay played an equally crucial role in the first successful ascent of Mount Everest. Despite this monumental achievement, his contributions and the broader legacy of the Sherpa community have often been understated. Key points: Tenzing, alongside Edmund Hillary, was one of the first two people to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953. His deep knowledge of the mountain was fundamental to their success, although he received less recognition compared to his companion. The Sherpas, a Tibetan ethnic group native to Nepals most mountainous regions, have been essential to Everest expeditions since the 1920s, often risking their lives under hazardous conditions. Despite their critical role, they face high risks and receive modest financial rewards. Tenzing became a symbol of national pride in Nepal and India, representing a broader, humanistic identity beyond national boundaries. Despite his illiteracy, his story and contributions have inspired many, and he has remained a revered figure in mountaineering history. A biopic titled "Tenzing" is being developed to highlight his life and achievements. With the support of his family, the film, directed by Jennifer Peedom, aims to bring greater awareness to his contributions and the enduring legacy of the Sherpa community. Early life and challenges Born around 1915 in the Nepalese village of Thami, Tenzing's early life was filled with hardship and mystery. His family migrated to Darjeeling, India, where he began his journey as a high-altitude porter. Trending on NextShark: Jeremy Lin wins Taiwan basketball championship alongside brother Joseph Despite his significant contributions, Tenzing faced discrimination and remained somewhat enigmatic about his origins, likely to avoid further prejudice. Tenzing is of the Sherpas, who have been integral to Everest expeditions. Sherpas face significant risks, with 125 reportedly losing their lives on the mountain as of 2023. The Himalayan Trust and other organizations work to improve the lives of Sherpas, promoting education and safer working conditions. Trending on NextShark: NextShark Presents Award-Winning Short Film 'One Last Monster' by Gene Kim Sherpas earn between $3,800 to $8,800 a year, a modest sum for the perilous work they undertake, leading to calls for better support and fair treatment. The historic ascent On May 29, 1953, Tenzing and Hillary became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest, standing 29,031 feet above sea level. Tenzing, who had attempted Everest six times prior, played a crucial role in their success due to his intimate knowledge of the mountain. While Hillary received a knighthood, Tenzing was awarded the less prestigious George Medal. Trending on NextShark: Jollibee data breach compromises millions of customers Tenzing also faced intense media scrutiny upon returning to Kathmandu, with many questioning his nationality and the specifics of the climb. Still, he eventually served as the Chief Instructor at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, India, introducing many young students to mountaineering. Tenzing later became a tour leader, including trips to Tibet and Antarctica, showcasing his ongoing dedication to mountaineering. Trending on NextShark: Sunisa Lee models Kim Kardashians Olympics-inspired Skims Legacy and recognition Despite being illiterate, Tenzing's autobiography "Tiger of the Snows" became a significant part of his legacy, though heavily edited by ghostwriter James Ramsey Ullman. He became a symbol of national pride in Nepal and India, embodying a spirit of humanistic identity beyond strict national boundaries. A biopic titled "Tenzing" is in the works, directed by Jennifer Peedom and starring Tom Hiddleston as Edmund Hillary. A search is ongoing for the role of Tenzing. Trending on NextShark: Jay Park reveals OnlyFans account The film aims to bring Tenzing's story to a global audience, highlighting his achievements and the Sherpa community's legacy. Tenzing's son, Norbu Tenzing, is involved in the project, ensuring an authentic portrayal of his father's life and contributions. I could not be more thrilled to be bringing Tenzing Norgays story to the screen, Peedom said in a statement. Ive been working towards this film my whole career, and Im incredibly grateful to Tenzings family for entrusting me with it. Jen is somebody who has earned the respect of our people, understands the community, and is deeply immersed in our culture, Norbu said of Peedom. Shes a great human being and someone that we trust, and she has had a lifelong interest in the story of my father Tenzing Norgay. I am delighted that she has taken on this project and cant wait for the world to see who my father was. Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Now that former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts in his New York criminal hush money trial, becoming the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime, the question arises: can a convicted felon run for office? Simply put, the answer is yes. There is no explicit prohibition in the U.S. Constitution on individuals with criminal records running for president, and the Constitution does not prohibit anyone based on indictments or convictions, according to Kevin Wagner, a noted constitutional scholar and political science professor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. More: Trump guilty on all charges. Read reaction from across Florida. According to Wagner: "Since the U.S. has a federal system, the rules establishing the qualifications for office can vary by which office you are trying for, and by the state, county, or municipality in which you live. For example, Florida, which had barred felons, now allows individuals who have completed their sentences to run for office or serve on juries once they have their civil rights restored. In other states, the rules may be less strict, or may depend on the severity of the crime and the length of time since the conviction. "While states can establish qualifications for their offices, the requirements for election to federal office are set in the U.S. Constitution. For example, Article II describes the requirements to serve as President, such as being a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years of age, and having been a resident of the country for at least 14 years. There is no explicit prohibition on individuals with criminal records running for president, and the Constitution does not prohibit anyone based on indictments or convictions. More: Former President Donald Trump found guilty on all counts in hush money case: Live updates A candidate for U.S. president ran while serving time in prison Wagner said: "In 1920, Eugene Debs ran for President as a Socialist while serving time in prison for speaking out against the draft during World War I. Debs was convicted of violating the Sedition Act of 1918. After charging Debs, the federal prosecutor said, No man even though four times the candidate of his party for the highest office in the land, can violate the basic law of this land. Debs won nearly one million votes while he was in prison but did not win a single Electoral College vote. "The Constitution does not bar felons from Congress either, and the U.S. Supreme Court, in U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton (1995), ruled that states cannot add additional qualifications for congressional candidates. However, the House of Representatives has a rule that members convicted of a felony be removed from committee activities unless and until they are re-elected. Both the Senate and the House can censure and even expel members. "The Constitution does have one additional restriction. Under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, anyone who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States is prohibited from holding federal office. Interestingly, there is no requirement that a person be convicted for this to apply, and it was used to remove individuals linked to the Confederacy during the Civil War. Trump indicted: Has any other former U.S. president been indicted? No, but these guys came close. "Congress has refused to seat some members using this provision. In 1919, Congress cited the 14th Amendment to block Victor Berger, who was accused of supporting Germany during World War I. Berger was eventually allowed to serve after his espionage conviction was reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court. "Recently, we have seen efforts to bar candidates from running for Congress based on their involvement with the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. As of yet, no candidates have been disqualified for federal office based on this, and there is significant disagreement over the meaning and application of this prohibition in the modern context. Ultimately, the most significant limitation on access to elected office is still the voters, who can weigh the importance of a conviction or other actions and decide for themselves who will be their representative. People wave flags and hold signs near Mar-a-Lago on May 30, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida after former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts in his New York criminal hush money trial. What happens to Trump now? Judge Juan Merchan scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11. Experts say states are unlikely to succeed in passing additional eligibility requirements for a candidate to get on the presidential ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court already rejected an effort from several states to bar Trump from the ballot based on the 14th Amendment, which prevents anyone who has engaged in insurrection after swearing to uphold the Constitution (by being sworn into office, for example), from holding office again. Trump can probably vote for himself in Florida The high court did not want a state-by-state patchwork of rules for Trump's eligibility. The variety of state laws on voting rights for convicted felons could impact Trump's ability to cast a vote for himself, but not in this case. Florida, where Trump is registered to vote, gives felons the right to vote if the state where they were convicted allows it. New York only removes a felons right to vote while they are imprisoned, and as Trump may not receive jail time at all, let alone before the election, he will likely remain eligible. USA Today's Kinsey Crowley, Natasha Lovato, Ella Lee, Karissa Waddick, Aysha Bagchi, Maureen Groppe, Bart Jansen contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Donald Trump convicted: Can a convicted felon run for president? Kuala Lumpur, May 30 (News On Japan) - A Japanese woman who was sentenced to death for smuggling methamphetamine into Malaysia has had her sentence reduced to 30 years in prison by a Malaysian court. Mariko Takeuchi, 50, was arrested and charged in 2009 when she arrived at a Malaysian airport from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with methamphetamine hidden in her luggage. Although her death sentence was initially confirmed, her lawyer announced on May 29 that the court had reduced her sentence to 30 years in prison. Last year, Malaysia abolished the mandatory death penalty for certain serious crimes, including drug trafficking, allowing Takeuchi to appeal for a retrial. Takeuchi is reportedly in good spirits and looking forward to returning to Japan. Source: ANN BEIJING, May 30 (News On Japan) - Kokuyo, renowned for its high-quality and innovative office furniture, has opened a new office in Beijing, showcasing height-adjustable desks and phone booth-style spaces. The office in Beijing is a joint space with Lamex, a Hong Kong furniture brand that Kokuyo merged with in July 2022. Japan's Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, visited the office, where customers can observe employees working, allowing Kokuyo to propose not just office furniture but also new ways of working. Masahiro Fukui, an executive officer at Kokuyo, stated, 'Our employees are continuously experimenting, and we are excited to have customers see these experiments in action.' Wang Bing, Regional Sales Director at Lamex, added, 'Our Japanese colleagues are meticulous and serious about their work, adhering strictly to workflow. I believe this will lead to positive outcomes.' Kanasugi commented, 'It is encouraging to see Japanese companies thriving in China's highly competitive market, and I have great respect for the companys efforts.' Ambassador Kanasugi emphasized the various cooperation opportunities between Japanese and Chinese companies. Source: ANN TOKYO, May 30 (News On Japan) - The Imperial Family attended a viola concert on Wednesday evening. Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and their daughter, Princess Aiko, arrived at a concert hall in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward at around 6:30 PM, greeted with applause from the audience as they took their seats. The concert they attended was initiated by the world-renowned viola player Nobuko Imai. Emperor Naruhito, who also plays the viola, attends this concert almost every year. It was the first time in 26 years that Empress Masako attended the concert, and it was Princess Aiko's first time. The Imperial Family listened intently to the viola music and frequently applauded. Source: ANN An interruption of landline phone service has affected residents, businesses, and emergency services providers throughout Iowa. The outage due to an issue with service provider Lumen Technologies, according to a news release from the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. This interruption may affect the ability to reach 911 by landline phone. If you have an emergency, dial 911 from a cellphone. Texting 911 is also an option in all 99 counties in Iowa. The Pottawattamie County 911 Communications Center nonemergency line can be reached by calling 712-328-5737 and selecting option 1. When 911 outages occur in Iowa, responsible parties will conduct a thorough investigation to understand what happened and why it happened so those involved can review if changes are needed to reduce future outages, according to the release. Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand released a schedule for his annual 100 Townhall Tour spanning the next several months. Especially as new laws take effect that increase secrecy, waste, fraud, and abuse of public funds in Iowa, I believe its more important than ever to give Iowans a chance to meet us face to face, to listen to their concerns, and get their input, Sand said in a statement. Sand is the only Democrat to be elected statewide in Iowa, Republicans lawmakers last year passed a law that placed guardrails on the kind of information the state auditor could seek during an investigation. Lawmakers this year introduced, but failed to advance, a bill that would have allowed state agencies to bypass the state auditors office by hiring private accountants instead. Rep. Jane Bloomingdale, R-Northwood, who chairs the House State Government Committee, said members had too many concerns about the potential added costs created by the bill. A fiscal note from the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency found that hiring a private CPA firm could cost up to more than three times as much as using the state auditors staff. Sand said the proposal kneecaps his authority as the states taxpayer watchdog and opens the door to corruption by allowing government officials to bypass the state auditor for annual audits. Sand will hold a town hall Oct. 17 from noon to 1 p.m. at Sunset Park at 1000 16th Ave. in Council Bluffs. Additionally, he will hold meetings July 10 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Hiley Park at 128 Hillcrest Ave. in Glenwood and June 20 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the city park shelter at 800 W. Huron St. in Missouri Valley. A list of other town hall can be found at auditor.iowa.gov/townhall. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Morocco plans to increase its car production capacity from 700,000 cars currently to 1 million next year and 1.4 million in four years, industry minister Ryad Mezzour said. The goal is to reach a capacity to produce 1.4 million cars within the next four years, given the existence of the electrical car sector which will make Morocco among the four or five nations that have a complete supply chain of such an industry, Mezzour told members of the upper house. With 14 billion dirhams last year, the automotive sector topped Moroccos exports, thanks to a cluster of producers of all car components, including production plants by Stellantis and Renault. The car industry, which employs 260,000 people, has a capacity to increase its exports three-fold, he said. Morocco has been attracting electric vehicle battery manufacturers, building on the availability of skilled labor and minerals, key to the energy transition such as phosphates and cobalt. The friendly-investment climate, incentives, and world-class infrastructure also helped attract battery giants. The minister mentioned in particular the role of Tanger Med port, the Mediterraneans largest, in offering an export route at the gate of Europe and Africa. Chinas copper foil producer Hailiang and anode maker Shinzoom signed a deal with Tanger Tech to build two plants for a total investment close to $1 billion, adding to a list of Chinese electric battery investors in the Kingdom. The projects confirm Moroccos attractiveness to Chinese electric battery manufacturers after BTR New Material Group and CNGR Advanced Material received government approval to build cathode plants in the country. The Council of Arab Information Ministers, meeting Wednesday in Manama, Bahrain, lauded the efforts made by King Mohammed VI and the Al-Quds Committee he is chairing in defending the Palestinian cause. In their recommendations, the ministers also called on Arab media to highlight the efforts of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, operational arm of the Al-Quds Committee, in favor of the Holy City, its population, and the Palestinian cause. Arab Information Ministers also reaffirmed their support for Morocco to host the headquarters of the Observatory and the Integrated Platform for Arab Media Abroad, which is an Arab mechanism to implement Arab media action plan abroad, and constitutes one of the most important pillars of joint Arab action in the field of media and communication. Kenya has initiated a probe into alleged rights violations and offenses against civilians committed by British troops based in the countrys central region, with torture, unlawful detention and killings being among the abuses being investigated. Kenyas parliament announced last week it would hold four public hearings into alleged abuses by British troops stationed in the former colony. While the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) provides economic opportunities for many residents in the central town of Nanyuki, where it maintains a permanent base, soldiers stationed there have also been accused of committing offenses, including torture, unlawful detention, and killings. In the most high-profile case dating back to 2012, the body of a 21-year-old Kenyan mother was discovered in a septic tank in Nanyuki. A British soldier has been accused of her killing. Her family filed a lawsuit in Kenya but progress has been sluggish, with hearings repeatedly postponed. Nairobi and London have disagreed over the question of jurisdiction for British soldiers who break Kenyan law, with the UK government saying that it did not accept the jurisdiction of the Kenyan courts. On Wednesday May 29, British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, reportedly met the murdered womans family, who have long demanded justice over her killing. After gaining independence from the UK in 1963, Kenya has maintained close ties with its former colonial master, including a defense agreement allowing for several thousand British troops a year to conduct joint exercises with Kenyan troops in the East African country. Gabons interim president is on his first official visit to France this week accompanied by an entourage of several ministers, with bilateral relations, climate change and forests, and the progress of Gabons transition high on the agenda for discussion between both partners. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguemas 5-day working visit to Paris (May 28-June 2) is obviously designed to distance Gabon from Sahel countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which have been rocked by a string of coups and a wave of anti-French sentiments. Indeed, our transition is distinct. We aim to demonstrate our unique position, noted a Gabonese source who did not wish to be named. We seek a normal relationship with France, akin to our interactions with other partners. On Friday May 31, Oligui Nguema is slated to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. During the regime of former president Ali Bongo Ondimba, the Franco-Gabonese relationship had gone through chilly periods, including when Libreville joined the British Commonwealth two years ago. Now speculations abound that the Gabonese interim leaders visit to France is also aimed at boosting his legitimacy. But French authorities have brushed these speculations aside, citing Oligui Nguemas compliance with the transition timetable. Paris has also refuted any accusations of a double standard, and stressed the differences between the situations in Gabon and the other coup-hit French-speaking African countries. Not all putschists are equal, said an unnamed source close to the French government. The global community commemorates this May 29 the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers to honor the remarkable uniformed and civilian personnel who have served in UN peacekeeping missions. This special day pays tribute to their dedication, professionalism, and bravery, while also remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of peace. Today, on the 76th anniversary of the UN peacekeeping mission, the United Nations commemorates it under the theme: Fit for the Future, Building Better Together, which embodies the supreme commitment to progress and collaboration for a more equitable and sustainable world for all. On this occasion, the United Nations chief has hailed the efforts of the about 76,000 UN peacekeepers who take a great personal risk to maintain peace in strife-torn areas across the world, including many of them in conflict zones around the African continent. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid tribute to UN peacekeepers who embody humanitys highest ideal: peace. Hailing from over 120 countries, our Blue Helmets serve in 11 peace operations in conflict-affected areas in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The so-called Blue Helmets help countries torn by conflicts create conditions for lasting peace, operating under strict guidelines and are often unable to stabilize volatile situations or even protect civilians. More than 4,300 have paid the ultimate price while serving under the UN flag. We will never forget them. In order for our peacekeepers to respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow, they need the worlds support, said Guterres. They are part of a 75-year-long tradition, UN peacekeepers have supported communities rocked by conflict and upheaval across 71 missions, Guterres noted. On the African continent, UN peacekeepers have been deployed in such diverse conflict-torn places as South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mali, and Central African Republic (CAR). Although the UN troops strive for peace in the countries they serve, they have clashed with some administrations in Africa and have also been criticized for achieving little. In October 2023, UN soldiers evacuated their camp in Malis volatile north amid jihadist and separatist fighting after being ordered by the countrys junta to leave, saying the peacekeepers had failed. In April 2024, UN peacekeepers also ceased operations in Congos restive South Kivu province after a more than 20-year presence. Peacekeeping has evolved and undergone many transformations since the first peacekeeping missions of the 1950s. The scope and range of related activities were relatively narrow. With one exception (ONUC, 1960-64), UN peacekeeping forces were utilized to monitor borders and establish buffer zones following cease-fire agreements. But over time, the objective has undergone the transformation from monitoring peace towards actually maintaining the peace. With this broader range of objectives, UN operations promptly became multifunctional, and the multiplicity of tasks expanded to include security, humanitarian, political and socioeconomic objectives, with an eye towards achieving more comprehensive and lasting responses. Faced with this reality and given such diversity, it became critical to develop a new multidimensional approach to ensure unity of effort. Peacekeeping now combines various fields of expertise and brings together administrators, economists, military, police officers, legal experts, deminers, electoral observers, human rights monitors, specialists in civil affairs and governance, humanitarian workers, experts in communications and public information, etc. Thus, an important partnership is reflected in the composition of all UN peacekeeping operations. Furthermore, a broader array of peacekeepers undertakes a wider variety of demanding tasks and plays a pivotal role in helping countries transition from conflict to peace. For instance, they preserve ceasefires, facilitate political processes, mediate local conflicts, protect civilians, promote human rights, coordinate elections, disarm, demobilize and reintegrate former combatants, while reforming the security sector and supporting rebuilding institutions and societies within the framework of todays multidimensional peacekeeping objectives. UN peacekeepers are also on the frontlines of climate-related criseshoping to mitigate climate changewhich has been proven to have a devastating impact on countless communities. Peacekeeping operations are deployed by UNSC mandates, acquire their troops and security forces from Member States contributions, are conducted by the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), and are supported by the Department of Operational Support (DOS) at UN Headquarters in New York. Currently, 11 peacekeeping operations are led by the DPO in a more challenging political and security environment. In this respect, UN Peacekeeping has constantly adapted to meet the demands of different conflicts and a changing political landscape. At present, the initiative Action for Peacekeeping (A4P), launched in 2018, remains the core agenda of UN Peacekeeping that is aimed at enabling the UN to be in tune with the multidimensional challenges facing peacekeeping operations today. Furthermore, the A4P+ came to focus on key priorities and to address the urgent challenges facing UN peacekeeping to promote long-term stability. In this context, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasizes, A4P+ aims to enhance the safety, security and well-being of the UN personnel, while increasing the participation and expanding the role of women in UN missions. On this basis and in accordance with the High Royal Instructions, the Kingdom of Morocco provides unwavering support to various initiatives conducted by the UN Secretary General, in particular the UN A4P. Thus, embracing the ideals of the UN Charter, the Kingdom of Morocco has contributed since 1960 to 14 Peacekeeping Operations mandated by the UN Security Council, and more than 80,000 Moroccans have served as peacekeepers. Morocco has also established 17 military field hospitals in 14 countries, providing over 2,650,000 medical services to locals and refugees. Today Morocco is among the ten largest troop-contributing nations to the UN, by deploying about 1,700 Blue Helmets in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in line with the efforts of the United Nations to restore security and peace in these two brotherly countries. On this anniversary of Peacekeepers, it is significant to recall the outstanding contribution of Morocco to United Nations peacekeeping operations: in Congo (UNOC), Somalia (UNOSOM-UNITAF-UNOSOM II), Haiti (MINUSTAH), Cote dIvoire (UNOCI), Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC MONUSCO) and Central African Republic (BINUCA-MINUSCA). In addition, it is important to praise the civilian, police, and military personnel who have served and are serving under UN flag with dedication and valor to ensure the promotion of peace worldwide. Furthermore, this memorable day is an opportunity to mark the sacrifices of over 60 Moroccans who made the supreme sacrifice while serving in UN missions. A partnership agreement providing for the opening of two Oracle Cloud regions in Morocco was inked, Wednesday in Marrakech, between the U.S. technology group Oracle and the Moroccan ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, the ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, and the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE). These large-scale infrastructures, announced on the sidelines of the opening of the 2nd edition of Gitex Africa Morocco, makes Oracle the first hyperscaler to establish public cloud regions in North Africa, thus supporting Moroccan government digital initiatives and stimulating innovation across the continent. These new infrastructures, which represent a milestone in the regions digital development, will help speed up the implementation of the Kingdoms digital government initiatives, offering high performance and security cloud services to organizations across Africa. The new public cloud regions, planned in Casablanca and Settat, show Oracles commitment to Africa. They will support the digital transformation of companies, startups, universities and investors in Morocco and throughout the region. Richard Smith, executive vice president of technology for Oracles Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, said that as one of Africas largest economies and benefiting from strong commercial and cultural ties with West Africa, the Maghreb region and Europe, Morocco offers unique growth opportunities to companies wishing to accelerate their expansion by deploying the latest digital technologies. The upcoming Oracle Cloud regions will offer new solutions for organizations to build up resilience and explore new markets to accelerate growth, he underlined. Through the planned cloud regions in Morocco, customers and partners will benefit from access to cloud services, allowing them to get better value from their data. The opening of Oracles public cloud regions in Morocco will accelerate digital transformation throughout the region. This strategic expansion, made by a hyperscaler like Oracle, positions Morocco as a unique player in the region, stimulates the development of skills and expands growth opportunities, underlined, Minister in charge of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, Ghita Mezzour. For his part, the Minister in charge of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, Mohcine Jazouli, welcomed Oracles investment in Morocco, which reflects the strong confidence in the expertise and skills of Moroccan youth, and highlights our commitment to promoting technological progress in our country. He pointed out that this initiative also positions Morocco as a key player on the international digital landscape, thus strengthening our ambition to become a leader in the global digital economy. In May, an agreement was signed in San Francisco by the Ministry in charge of Digital Transition and Oracle, enabling the U.S. tech group to expand its research and development (R&D) capabilities in Morocco by growing its local workforce to 1,000 information technology (IT) professionals. This investment will accelerate the development of Oracles cutting-edge technologies that help solve customer challenges worldwide. A high-level delegation from the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the US Army on Wednesday visited the medical-surgical field hospital deployed in Akka municipality, province of Tata. Upon their arrival, members of the delegation led by FAR Inspector General and Commander of the Southern Zone, Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, and U.S. Africa Command commander, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, followed explanations on the goals of this initiative and the human and logistical resources mobilized to ensure the success of this humanitarian operation as well as the various services provided for the local population. This hospital, mobilizing medical teams made up of doctors and nurses from FAR and the US Army, is part of the parallel activities of the combined Moroccan-American exercise African Lion 2024, which is being held in accordance with the high instructions of King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of FAR. The health facility, operational since May 16, provides medical and surgical services covering several specialties, including cardiology, ENT, pediatrics, internal medicine, gynecology, radiology, odontology and ophthalmology. The population also benefits from surgeries, distribution of corrective glasses and vaccination against measles. Subsequently, the delegation which also included US Ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, paid a visit to the Gallery of Resistance and Liberations Historical Memory in Akka. African Lion 2024, running until May 31, is the largest exercise in Africa and is an annual event where military executives come together to exchange procedures and experiences, particularly in terms of training and combined joint training. This twentieth edition testifies to the sustainability which characterizes cooperation between the FAR and the US Army, reflecting the historical and solid links which between the two countries. TEHRAN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of a sabotage explosion leading to the helicopter crash that resulted in the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage, local media reported. The General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces released the second report on the causes of the helicopter crash on Wednesday, the official news agency IRNA reported. The report said given the results of the tests on the helicopter's wreckage and remaining parts and the way the remains had been scattered at the scene of the incident as well as their distance from the fuselage, the possibility of an explosion caused by an act of sabotage during the flight or moments before the chopper's crash into the mountain was dismissed. No sign of an act of electronic warfare was detected on the crashed helicopter, it said, adding that the weather conditions on the way back to Tabriz, the capital of East Azerbaijan province, would need further investigations. According to the report, the total weight of the passengers and equipment onboard was proportionate to the helicopter's maximum load limit at the time of takeoff and during the flight. In addition, during the flight and until 69 seconds before the incident's occurrence, contact had been maintained with the crashed helicopter's flight crew on the specified frequencies, which dismisses the possibility of any disruption in the communication system or frequency interference. The first report of the investigation committee of the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces was released on May 23. The UNICEF urged protection for children in the central Sahel after a surge in violence against them by 130% by the end of last year. Recruitment by armed groups amid rampant insecurity and attacks on civilians contributed to the dramatic increase in casualties among the under-age, notably in conflict stricken countries like Mali and Burkina Faso, the UNICEF said in a statement. Civilians need protection from all forms of violence. Communities caught up in fighting need protection. Far too many children are being affected by grave violations of their rights, including killings, abduction and recruitment by armed groups, Gilles Fagninou, UNICEFs regional director for West and Central Asia said. Between February and April, over 1,180 security incidents were reported, which claimed the lives nearly 3,400 people, UNICEF said. In 2005, the UN Security Council has identified in a resolution six grave violations against children: recruitment and use of child soldiers, killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, attacks against schools or hospitals and the denial of humanitarian access. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International joined their voice to local Tunisian rights watchdogs to denounce the ongoing repressive measures targeting journalists, civil society activists, and critics of President Kais Saieds iron fist. By attacking journalists and other media figures, Saieds government is moving to put the last nail in the coffin of Tunisias civic space, said Lama Fakih, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. After undermining the judiciary, jailing several dozen opponents and critics and attacking civil society organizations, Saied is now targeting the media, she said. As Saieds security apparatus continues to harass independent media, two journalists and a media founder have been sentenced to jail in recent weeks. A lawyer, critical of the government, was arrested in full sight of France24 at the Bar association in Tunis. A pro-migrant rights activist was also arrested for criticizing the violent treatment of sub-Saharan migrants. Freedom of the press has always been described as the last remaining gains of the 2011 Jasmin revolution that once gave Tunisia the title of the Arab Springs success story. Ahead of the elections, the government should ensure that all Tunisians are able to freely express their views without fear of retaliation, and that independent media are able to conduct their reporting free from harassment or intimidation and broadcast open discussions, said Heba Morayef, Amnesty Internationals Middle East and North Africa director. Since 2022, the number of people who have been arrested for their opinions, including lawyers, critics and activists, rose to 70, according to the two rights watchdogs. In its repression, the Tunisian government has been using a decree-law 2022-54 on cybercrime, issued by the President who has been ruling by decree since he suspended the parliament. The law violates the right to privacy and introduces harsh sentences for broadly and vaguely defined speech offenses Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito believes firmly in the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. But within that union, Alito clearly believes it is fine for the man to keep blaming the woman when the man gets in hot water for ethical conflicts at work. On Wednesday, Alito responded to a letter from Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Dick Durbin, who requested that the justice recuse himself from all January 6related cases before the Court for flying MAGA battle flags outsides his homes. They were referring to the New York Times reporting that revealed the Alitos flew an upside-down American flag at their home in Alexandria, Virginia, in the days after the January 6 Capitol riot a flag favored by Stop the Steal proponents and also hoisted a far-right-coded Appeal to Heaven flag at their New Jersey beach house in 2023. When Alito first responded to Times reporters, he pointed the finger at his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, for flying the upside-down flag over an ugly spat with neighbors, which ended with those neighbors calling the police. And in Wednesdays letter, Alito went all in on the spouse-shaming while absolving himself of any responsibility. I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention, Alito wrote. As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days she refused. The wife defense raises a few questions here. Photos of the inverted flag show it very clearly waving in a prominent position on his front lawn in the days after the Capitol riot. Did he have his eyes on the ground the whole time it was up? Alito did at least respect his wifes constitutional rights to fight with their neighbors and cause problems for him at work. My wife and I own our Virginia home jointly, he wrote. She therefore has the legal right to use the property as she sees fit. Though he is one of the most powerful men in America outside his domicile, Alito wrote that there were no additional steps that I could have taken to have the flag taken down more promptly. Alito did not disavow the association between the upside-down flag and January 6 rioters. But he did claim that he and his wife were not aware of the connection between the Appeal to Heaven flag at his beach home and the effort to overturn the 2020 election. To be safe, he pinned its display on his wife anyway. I recall that my wife did fly that flag for some period of time, but I do not remember how long it flew, he wrote. And what is most relevant here, I had no involvement in the decision to fly that flag. Alito wrapped up his letter with a blanket statement blaming his wife for all future ensign-based controversies: My wife is fond of flying flags, I am not. My wife was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years. Unsurprisingly, Alito determined that he remains an impartial judge in January 6related matters, and that he should not recuse himself. Perhaps his wife has a flag to mark that occasion, too. Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Republicans have long been predicting that criminal charges against Donald Trump would lead to Republicans ginning up charges against Democrats out of pure revenge. The prediction, of course, was designed to legitimate it. And now, inevitably, members of the Republican legal Establishment have moved from predicting this turn of events to advocating for it. John Yoo, the former Bush administration lawyer (who himself escaped prosecution for his role in constructing legal justifications to torture detainees, many of whom turned out to be held wrongfully in the first place), has an essay in National Review arguing for revenge prosecutions. The imprimatur of Yoo, a Berkeley law professor and fellow at two of the conservative movements least-insane think tanks (the American Enterprise Institute and the Hoover Institution), underscores the progression of lock her up from wild seriously-not-literally Trump-campaign demagoguery in 2016 to party doctrine in 2024. Repairing this breach of constitutional norms will require Republicans to follow the age-old maxim: Do unto others as they have done unto you, urges Yoo. In order to prevent the case against Trump from assuming a permanent place in the American political system, Republicans will have to bring charges against Democratic officers, even presidents. I agree with Yoo that one of the cases against Trump, the Alvin Bragg prosecution, is weak. Thats not to say Trump is innocent, but that its a borderline case that did not need to be charged. But Yoo is not confining his complaints to the Bragg case. He explicitly denounces all the charges against Trump, including the ones for attempting to negate the election results and for stealing classified documents, repeatedly ignoring or lying in the face of requests to return them, and engineering a cover-up. There are several problems with Yoos argument, beginning with the age-old maxim he cites. The saying, derived from the Bible, is Do unto others as you would have done to you, not Do unto others as they have done unto you. I am not a biblical scholar, but the basic thrust of the teachings the line summarizes is to treat people the way you would wish to be treated, rather than instructing people to take revenge for slights. Second, Yoo attributes Trumps prosecutions to the Democrats: Make no mistake, Democrats have crossed a constitutional Rubicon. For the first time in American history, they have brought criminal charges against a former president. For the first time in American history, they have brought criminal charges against the major (and leading) opposition candidate for president during the campaign Republicans keep asserting that the Democratic Party, or Joe Biden, collectively decided to throw the book at Donald Trump, but there is literally zero evidence for this. Biden has avoided interfering with decisions by the Justice Department, and the two biggest cases against Trump were brought by Jack Smith, who is a nonpartisan figure respected by both parties. Third, Yoos examples of revenge prosecutions underscore his deep confusion about how the Justice Department has been operating. Here are some things he wants investigated: A Republican DA will have to charge Hunter Biden for fraud or corruption for taking money from foreign governments. Another Republican DA will have to investigate Joe Biden for influence-peddling at the behest of a son who received payoffs from abroad. In fact, Donald Trump went to great lengths to do this very thing. William Barr, a Republican, did investigate allegations of foreign payoffs by Joe Biden. He never brought charges because he was unable to find any legitimate evidence whatsoever to support the claim. And David Weiss, who was appointed by Donald Trump, investigated Hunter Biden, and charged him with tax fraud and lying about his drug use on a form he submitted to purchase a gun. Note that these are the kinds of criminal charges a regular person would almost certainly never face. Hunter Biden is being charged because he is the presidents son, and has engaged in sleazy-but-legal dealings that made him a prosecutorial target. If Yoo was remotely capable of perceiving reality objectively, he would grasp that these examples refute his assumption that the Democrats control various prosecutorial arms and have abused them for political purposes. Joe Biden assuredly is not on board with the Justice Department throwing his son in prison. But Yoo seems to believe Hunter Biden has somehow escaped prosecution. The deepest conceptual flaw in Yoos demands for legal revenge is his belief that Trump is an innocent victim. Democrats have crossed a constitutional Rubicon, he argues. Before now, he claims, opportunities to prosecute presidents abounded but were never taken, out of principle: Gerald Ford, in a great act of statesmanship, pardoned Richard Nixon even though it doomed his chances in the close 1976 election. Bush did not prosecute Bill Clinton for lying to the Whitewater special counsel, even though Clintons Justice Department had conceded that he would become legally liable once he left office. Obama did not attempt to relitigate the difficult policy decisions made during the War on Terror by prosecuting Bush and his aides (of which I was one). Trump did not order the investigation of Hillary Clinton, even though her intentional, illegal diversion of thousands of classified emails to her home computer network was a central theme during his campaign. Nor had local or state prosecutors dared to interfere with the workings of the presidency before. It is true that presidents have gotten into legal trouble areas before. But no previous president actually attempted to stay in office despite losing an election. Another thing those other presidents had in common is that they were politicians who sometimes operated in legal gray areas, but fundamentally respected the legal system. Trump is a career criminal who went into politics. Treating laws as suggestions is one of his basic maxims. Once in office, he continued to act like a crook. He routinely berated his lawyers for taking notes in his presence and urged them to act more like Roy Cohn, the mob lawyer he once employed and idolized. He regularly ordered people to violate the law, and sometimes promised to pardon them if they were caught, and is currently promising pardons for the insurrectionists in prison who committed violence on his behalf. Yoo argues that what broke the system was the decisions to charge Trump with crimes, and what can repair it will be charging Democrats. I would suggest the solution instead would be for Republicans to nominate as their next presidential candidate an experienced, vetted politician rather than a professional swindler. And yes, Braggs case is weak, but it too could have been avoided if the GOP didnt pick a presidential candidate who had a standing catch-and-kill arrangement with the National Enquirer. Ted Cruz or Ron DeSantis may be right wing, but they are not mobbed-up crooks, and they wouldnt be facing prison right now if they had beaten Trump in their respective nominating contests. Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images Donald Trump has a lot of issues with tape. Some definitely exist, like the Access Hollywood tape and the bits of Scotch tape he once used to hold his tie together. Others are more mythical beasts, like the pee tape and the Lordy, I hope there are tapes tape. Today we got fresh details on a recording that falls into the latter category: the Trump N-word tape. Bizarrely, weve reached the point where the fact that this story just wont die is arguably more interesting than the alleged recording itself. From 2004 to 2015, Trump was recorded extensively while filming The Apprentice. During the 2016 election, journalists and the Hillary Clinton campaign hunted for these tapes extensively, as they were rumored to feature Trump making all manner of racist and sexist remarks. The idea that this trove included an N-word tape that would be the final nail in the Trump campaigns coffin took off in the days after the release of the Access Hollywood recording on October 7. First, former Apprentice producer Bill Pruitt tweeted this: As a producer on seasons 1 & 2 of #theapprentice I assure you: when it comes to the #trumptapes there are far worse. #justthebegininng Bill Pruitt (@billpruitt) October 8, 2016 Chris Nee, another Apprentice producer, responded in a series of tweets that the worse content was Trump saying the N-word. Nee later deleted these tweets but they were captured by Mic: @mcuban the price is 5 million to cover the penalty fee. And we all get to hear him use the N-word from what I hear https://t.co/IsmJvHHL1KI dont have the tapes. Ive signed a Burnett contract and know leak fee is $5 million. Hearing from producers/crew N word is the much worse. Nearly eight years later, this tape has not materialized, but its legend persists. Comedian Tom Arnold claimed to have seen the offensive Apprentice outtakes and had a short-lived and poorly reviewed show in which he hunted for them, to no avail. While promoting her book in 2018, former Apprentice contestant and White House official Omarosa Manigault Newman made conflicting claims about whether shed heard the N-word tape herself. Now Pruitt has clarified what he tweeted about there being were far worse things allegedly Trump said, namely the N-word. In a Slate essay about what he saw while working on the shows first two seasons, he says he was initially barred from speaking because he signed an expansive nondisclosure agreement that promised a fine of $5 million and even jail time if I were to ever divulge what actually happened. Now the NDA has expired. Deep in the piece, Pruitt alleges Trump used the N-word while discussing who should win the first season of the show. He says Trump used the racial slur after his adviser Carolyn Kepcher praised contestant Kwame Jackson, who is Black: Yeah, [Trump] says to no one in particular, but, I mean, would America buy a n winning? Kepchers pale skin goes bright red. I turn my gaze toward Trump. He continues to wince. He is serious, and he is adamant about not hiring Jackson. [Showrunner Jay] Bienstock does a half cough, half laugh, and swiftly changes the topic or throws to Ross for his assessment. What happens next I dont entirely recall. I am still processing what I have just heard. We all are. Only Bienstock knows well enough to keep the train moving. None of us thinks to walk out the door and never return. I still wish I had. (Bienstock and Kepcher didnt respond to requests for comment.) Pruitt says this exchange was caught on tape, though it took place off-camera, because The Apprentice was a game show subject to Federal Communications Commission regulation, and the showrunner wanted proof that they were not involved in a Quiz Showstyle scandal. So now we have at least one firsthand claim that Trump used the N-word on tape and potentially three more witnesses: Maybe more important than the tape, which Im sure is lost to history, Pruitt names 3 other witnesses to Trump calling a black contestant the N-word. Would be pretty helpful if they could confirm or deny! https://t.co/lBgTR692ZO pic.twitter.com/G9XEqod6my Dan Amira (@DanAmira) May 30, 2024 But does the tape still exist? And if so, will it ever be publicly released? Even Pruitt doesnt think so. He says of The Apprentice recordings: Those tapes, Ive come to believe, will never be found. Back in 2016, MGM and producer Mark Burnett, who created the show, put out a statement claiming that he does not have the ability nor the right to release the footage. Trump has denied the story for years, tweeting in 2018 that there are NO TAPES of the Apprentice where I used such a terrible and disgusting word, as I dont have that word in my vocabulary, and never have. Trump spokesman Steven Cheung told Slate, This is a completely fabricated and bullshit story that was already peddled in 2016. Following the storys publication, he urged an X user claiming Trump used the slur to Prove it, bitch. Maybe someday this tape will surface. Or, more likely, every few years a new source will come forward to insist that it exists, though they cant prove it (bitch). Either way, the truth is we dont need this tape to prove Trump is racist, and were no longer living in a world where that revelation will keep him from being elected president. Photo: Google AI Last week, if you asked Google how to keep cheese from sliding off pizza, it might have told you to add some glue to your sauce nontoxic, of course. It had some other surprising information to share with users, too. How many rocks should you eat? At least one per day (small). Barack Obama was Americas first and only Muslim president; also, 13 others attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. You can pass kidney stones by drinking liters of urine. Staring at the sun for five to 15 minutes is generally safe. Some say, according to Google, that if you run off a cliff, you can stay in the air as long as you keep running and dont look down. This was the wide release of Googles AI Overviews, formerly known as Search Generative Experience, which promises to answer questions for searchers in plain language instead of the expected series of links. It was the second viral PR disaster of the year for Googles AI products after its Gemini chatbot and image generator went viral for absurdist historical revisionism. These examples were, according to Google, rare and unrepresentative. The vast majority of AI Overviews provide high-quality information, the company told reporters, while the bizarre examples above represent uncommon queries. Which, sure, maybe, but as the company well knows, people use Google a lot often dozens of times a day and in some cases hundreds. Strange, funny, or alarming errors delivered confidently at the top of a search page dont have to be that common to create the impression that Google is profoundly broken. The company is manually scrubbing the most egregious examples from its platform, but wildly wrong answers still show up every once in a while, and slightly wrong answers show up most days I use it (this has been true for the year Ive been testing it as well). In other words, the problem Google has created for itself isnt a simple one to fix. Google, which probably has as much institutional knowledge about AI as any competing company on earth, seems prone to overestimating the capabilities of its technology and underestimating the complexity of the tasks to which its assigned. While Googles nonsense AI answers are mostly funny, theyre also a preview of things to come. As other tech companies follow Googles lead and as corporate America turns millions of vague meetings about AI into concrete plans we can all expect to eat a little bit of glue. AI Overviews are easy enough to describe in general terms: Theyre Googles answers to your queries. This is helpful for Google in that the company can roll out a huge new feature to billions of customers without explaining very much; its also incredibly unhelpful to Google in that it sets very high expectations. Googles AI answers are often basically correct, in my experience, but too vague to be helpful. More specific and helpful answers are undermined by user uncertainty, so you end up double-checking them, discovering in the process that Google has done something close to plagiarism. When the feature really works and synthesizes something specific and germane from a variety of sources, which is in many ways a remarkable technological feat, the users minimum expectation has merely been met. Its a fairly unforgiving scenario for Google but one the company has very much created for itself. What AI Overviews are actually doing, though, is a bit less obvious and more specific than answering questions. In Googles language, the feature is intended to take the legwork out of searching. It does this, according to the company, by combining Geminis multi-step reasoning, planning, and multimodality with Googles best-in-class Search systems. Like most AI initiatives, this is an attempt at automation. But what Google is automating here, mostly, is the work previously done by its users. Its automating us. Google gets close to framing it as such: By synthesizing search results into answers, the company removes steps, reduces friction, improves productivity, etc. It does the Googling for you. But this helps explain why such a feature is so hard to get right. Google as most people know it is a complicated tool with which users have decades of experience. We have habits, routines, tricks, and expectations we are, in our highly personal ways, practiced at using a complicated machine. Its a bit like driving a car. Its something lots of people do, with a wide range of skill and attentiveness, to a vast range of ends, with real risks that individual drivers mostly find tolerable. Similarly, although most people probably dont think of it this way, using Google is also work. In exchange for considerable utility, the tool asks a lot of its users. It needs them to vet information, wade through ads, and consider sources and context. It gives them lots of options to sort through, in part because its good for Googles business to keep people searching and clicking and tapping and in part because in many cases the best Google can do is present a bunch of possible results that, together, get the user where they need to go. Before it tried to synthesize its own results, what Google had been automating was link sorting and retrieval. It was, and is, a machine for surfacing material from the web in response to user requests. As any user can attest, this was an automation problem that Google never fully solved because its unsolvable on some level just as a lot of questions dont have simple agreed-upon answers, a lot of queries cant be satisfied by a single link or even many. Search results going into the AI era were already full of noise, errors, and irrelevant content. This was the result, in part, of the perverse incentives created by having a single advertising-supported company situated at the center of the web and a marketplace full of publishers who tried to manipulate Google to their own ends. But it was also the result of the web being a fundamentally human place full of unpredictable human behavior, desires, and needs, a lot like the open road, or a retail store, or a warehouse floor. Google is a search engine, not a social network, but using Google is fundamentally about interacting with other people albeit at a distance, through multiple layers of obfuscation, each with its own distorting effects. Google draws from commercial websites, scam websites, online communities, and reference resources. There is evidence of unpredictable humanity everywhere. The content Google serves to its users is created (mostly) by people, who are unreliable, disagree with one another, and publish things online for millions of different reasons: to inform; to persuade; to mislead; to make money; to be funny; to be cruel; to pass time. Regular Google users become fairly fluent in the strange language of a search-results page, which they peruse, parse, reset, and refine as needed. Understanding that youll encounter some nonsense, scams, jokes, and ads on the way to finding what youre looking for, or realizing that you wont, is part of the job of using Google. By attempting to automate this job, Google has revealed and maybe discovered just how hard it is and how alien its understanding of its own users has become. it's so cool that they fed every reddit shitpost into this thing and there's probably no way to fix it now pic.twitter.com/W0I0wjbeAx lauren (@Very__Regular) May 24, 2024 Its easy to see, from Googles perspective, how automating more of the search process is incredibly obvious: Initially, it could scrape, gather, and sort; now, with its powerful artificial-intelligence tools, it can read, interpret, and summarize. But Google seems manifestly unable to see its products from the perspective of its users, who actually deal with the mess of using them and for whom ignoring a link to The Onion (the eat rocks result) or to an old joke Reddit thread (the eat glue result) is obvious, done without thought, and also the result of years of living in, learning from, and adapting to the actual web. AI Overviews suggest a level of confidence by Google not just in its new software for extracting and summarizing information but in its ability to suss out what its users are asking in the first place and in the ability of its much older underlying search product to contain and surface the right information in the first place. For the many sorts of questions that cant be answered to every users satisfaction with a couple of paragraphs of summary text, Googles best option will be not to try (already, many search categories dont trigger AI results). That AI Overviews seem quite good at producing plausible answers to simple questions is complicated by the fact that large-language-model-powered AI isnt great at, for example, basic math. "train eight days a week" pic.twitter.com/xlDkOQEKo8 Jeremiah Johnson (@JeremiahDJohns) May 26, 2024 There are echoes, here, of the run-up to self-driving cars, in which legitimately massive leaps forward in software and hardware capability made it possible to automate a wide range of driving tasks, leading to an industry consensus by the mid-2010s that autonomous vehicles were just around the corner and would be ubiquitous by the early 2020s. Today, autonomous vehicles exist but with more caveats than promised. There are driverless taxis that operate cautiously in limited markets with mixed results. Tesla claims then denies that it claims to offer full self-driving features in its popular cars, which are genuinely shocking to use on first encounter and remain prone to catastrophic failure, largely because conditions on real roads, including other drivers, are unpredictable. Countless cars now have driver-assist features derived from similar technologies, and there remains a plausible path forward to a world where most cars do most driving most of the time, but not for a while and not before the industry discovers the many ways that automating the incredibly complicated task of driving on public roads is harder than the initial pace of progress initially suggested. The automotive industry also learned some early lessons about the punishing expectations of customers whove been promised full automation. Drivers tolerate a lot of mess, danger, and mortal risk when theyre behind the wheel and feel responsible for their fates. When a machine is in charge when its attempting to synthesize answers to questions like Is that a train? passenger tolerance for errors is somewhere near zero. Likewise, while Google users are accustomed to dealing with a fair amount of bullshit in search results, theyll probably be less tolerant of a Google that occasionally scoops up some of that bullshit and insists its something else. Cameras are good enough for FSD - Elon Musk. Unless you don't want to get hit by a train. "I have owned my Tesla for less than a year, and within the last six months, it has twice attempted to drive directly into a passing train while in FSD mode. The most recent incident pic.twitter.com/XAQccItBYw Artem Russakovskii (@ArtemR) May 19, 2024 Elsewhere on our devices, online, or at work, we should expect to see this pattern emerge at scale. Surveys about AI suggest that people are more bullish about its prospects outside their areas of expertise. In some cases, this could just be a bias toward self-preservation or a mild delusion in the face of inevitability. In others, perhaps they simply understand better than most that their jobs are more complicated than people outside their industries tend to assume not necessarily harder but messier. The intoxicating promise of efficiency combined with a poorly understood technology is going to result in some truly ill-advised attempts at automation by companies that, in some cases, wont be entirely sure what theyre automating. If Google couldnt avoid this trap, others will follow. Photo: Steve Helber/AP In 2017, five years after George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin, the National Rifle Association marketed an innovative new product to its 5 million or so members: Carry Guard, a kind of insurance to compensate future Zimmermans. Carry Guard was, simply put, protection for people who might shoot someone in self-defense. It was sold through big insurance companies like Chubb and Lloyds, which paid policyholders up to $150,000 in legal fees for criminal-defense cases and up to $1 million in civil-liability protection. Carry Guard was almost immediately condemned by critics as murder insurance. In 2018, New York States financial regulator pressured insurance companies to stop offering it in the state, where it was illegal. The NRA ultimately ended the financially successful program everywhere two years later, after facing challenges throughout the country. It later sued New York, claiming that the state regulators affinity for gun regulation made its pressure campaign against the NRA a First Amendment issue. The NRA brought on the American Civil Liberties Union to represent it, claiming that the regulator had gone too far in punishing speech. On Thursday, the Supreme Court sided with the NRA in a unanimous decision that New Yorks regulator had done just that. The opinion, written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, is narrow. It doesnt suddenly revive Carry Guard, nor does it strike down any laws that would make it available in New York at any time in the future. Instead, it focuses on the way that Maria Vullo, then the head of the New York Department of Financial Services, did her job. It also allows the NRA to revive a free-speech argument in the lower courts. The nine justices ruled that Vullo went too far in pressuring insurance companies to end its associations not just with the NRA but with all affiliated pro-gun groups. Vullos alleged communications whether seen as a threat or as an inducement were reasonably understood as coercive, the Court ruled. In one memo it cited, Vullo asked the insurers to review any relationships they have with the NRA or similar gun promotion organizations. Vullo also apparently told Lloyds executives that she would focus on the NRAs program and ignore other syndicates writing similar policies. The message was loud and clear, the Supreme Court ruled. Lloyds could avoid liability for [unrelated] infractions if it aided DFSs campaign against gun groups by terminating its business relationships with them. Vullo has maintained that she did not violate the NRAs rights and was properly using her power as a regulator. The NRA celebrated its win but hasnt said much more about what it will do next. (A DFS spokesperson declined to comment.) The case can now head back to the Second Circuit Appellate Court, where the NRA can argue that Vullo had violated its free-speech rights. Still, this is a case about a single state regulator. It wont do much to recharge the NRA, which was perhaps at its zenith when it began offering Carry Guard and has been on a long losing streak since then. Best in Class The Strategists carefully chosen and rigorously vetted flagship shopping guides. Learn about our methodology here, and find all our Best in Class guides here. Photo: Courtesy of the retailer While I own a magnificently powerful Vitamix, I rarely pull it out since Ive started testing personal blenders. Unless you make smoothies for your whole family and big-batch dinners on the regular, or you rely on an extra-strong motor to create your own alt-milks and nut butters, a more compact model can do almost everything a large one can. Sometimes it can do it even better, like if youre whipping up a dip or dressing that would get lost in a cavernous 64-ounce blending jar. Not to mention that personal blenders are generally significantly cheaper than full-size blenders. To find the very best models out there, I consulted expert cooks and recipe developers about the ones they use in their everyday life. All the picks on this list are dishwasher safe, and all, except for two Ive noted below, have 600-watt motors. Im currently using our best overall pick and will be trying out even more going forward so I can compare them directly. And if youre also in the market for a space-saving immersion blender, you can read my guide to those as well. Update on October 9, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products. What were looking for Capacity Ive listed the maximum capacity each blender jar holds. The numbers vary a decent amount here. The largest jar has a capacity of 32 ounces, helpful if you do heavier-duty cooking. The mid-size ones are around 19, perhaps a better pick if your main use will be daily smoothies you want to drink straight from the blending vessel. And the smallest of all is just six ounces, perfect for dressings, flavor-packed pastes, and more. Size The depth, width, and height of each appliance will determine where you can store it, so Ive listed each measurement. Power mechanism Ive described how each machine operates, whether you push and twist the jar down to blend or you press a button. Ive also noted if there are any extra settings, like for smoothies. Best personal blender overall Nutribullet Pro 900 $110 now 10% off From $99 Capacity: 32 oz. | Size: 12.01 x 7.72 x 15.94 | Power mechanism: Push down and twist I have come to rely heavily on my Nutribullet Pro. Though its still much smaller than a full-size machine, it has the largest capacity of any personal blender on this list, meaning I can use it to whip up a salad dressing to keep in the fridge all week long, blend enough sauce to coat more than a full pound of pasta, and chop salsa for a generous bowl when friends come over. The two blending jars come with lids that turn them into storage containers, so I never have to decant into something separate if Im saving the contents. The blades are powerful: I can throw parsley stems and whole cloves of garlic into a salsa verde and it blitzes them into oblivion. And the operating mechanisms are straightforward. I simply add all my ingredients to the jar, twist on the cap, attach that to the base, and press the whole thing down to blend. My hand acts as the power button, meaning I can easily pulse by pressing down and lifting up as needed. And the jar takes up hardly any space in my dishwasher. This is also the model most of the pros I talked to recommend. Its powerful enough to get through a lot of the same stuff as a Vitamix, says recipe developer and cookbook author Jess Damuck, who uses hers for dips, sauces, dressings, and smoothies. I use it with a lot of frozen fruit, ice, and nuts, and it hasnt had a problem. Food writer and recipe developer Grace Elkus notes that she doesnt even have to worry about making sure her mostly liquid ingredients are at the bottom. Usually, this helps ensure that everything blends smoothly, but Elkus says the Nutribullet can wade through anything. Strategist managing editor Kelsie Schrader has been making smoothies weekly in hers for the past six months and says they get perfectly blended in less than a minute. It hasnt slowed down at all, she says. From $99 at Amazon Buy $100 at Nutribullet Buy Best less expensive personal blender Magic Bullet Blender $50 now 20% off From $40 Capacity: 18 oz. and 12 oz. | Size: 4.5 x 4 x 11.8 | Power mechanism: Push down and twist The smaller and cheaper Magic Bullet is made by the same company as the Nutribullet. While its 250-watt motor isnt quite as powerful as the Nutribullets 600 watts, a couple of experts told me its a solid machine. Personal chef and recipe developer Jane Morgan has had hers for four years and says its still going strong. I use it for smoothies, she says, but also for annoying prep work, like if I need a lot of minced garlic, or to make a mirepoix for bolognese, or to grate a ton of Parmesan. The machine comes with two jars, an 18 ounce and a 12 ounce, the latter of which Morgan says is useful for emulsifying dressings because the blades have a lot of contact with the ingredients. Strategist newsletter editor Ashley Wolfgang has been using a Magic Bullet nearly daily for the past decade (she replaced it recently with a new one as it finally wore out). She primarily uses it for smoothies and says it blends everything I throw in there super smoothly, including frozen fruits, in just about 30 to 45 seconds. From $40 at Amazon Buy $50 at Target Buy Best personal blender with smoothie setting Zwilling Enfinigy Personal Blender $100 $130 now 23% off $100 Capacity: 18.6 oz. | Size: 5.39 x 5.39 x 14.06 | Power mechanism: Dial with smoothie setting I have tested and love the larger version of the Zwilling Enfinigy, so its no surprise that the smaller model comes highly recommended by recipe developer Farideh Sadeghin. She used to rely on her mini Cuisinart food processor, but in the year that shes had the Zwilling, she has been turning to it more often for sauces and herb oils. It does the same thing but with a lot more power, she says. And whereas her Vitamix will take ingredients from full form to supersmooth in a matter of seconds, this machine is more likely to leave a bit of texture, which is a plus for pestos and certain marinades. Sadeghin appreciates the measurements on the side of the jar to help guide proportions but otherwise says her favorite thing is that there arent too many bells and whistles. Its just easy to use, she says. It has a designated smoothie setting that runs for a set cycle, and you can easily pulse by holding the dial to the left for as long as you want it to run. $100 at Zwilling Buy $130 at Crate and Barrel Buy Most stylish personal blender Beast Mini Blender $99 $99 Capacity: 21.6 oz. | Size: 4.13 x 4.13 x 13.43 | Power mechanism: Power button The Beast is a particularly attractive personal blender. It has a cylindrical fluted jar and comes in quite a few pretty, muted colors (though somehow, I think it manages to escape the just-for-Instagram look of some other aesthetically minded kitchen products). Still, Elkus, who recently added one to her personal blender lineup, notes that other people always comment on the nice design when it sneaks into her social photos. She says the accessories are really nice: It doesnt feel like the jar you just blended in. I would never even consider transferring this one. And the jar has this cap that you can stick a straw right into, which I prefer to drink out of if Im taking my smoothie in the car or even just into my office. The Beast operates with one button: If you press it, it pulses. If you hold the button down for a prolonged second, it will automatically blend for a minute (winding down and then back up several times over the duration to incorporate everything more evenly). Elkus does warn that its not quite as responsive as her Nutribullet, so sometimes she has to scrape down the sides for chunkier, harder ingredients like frozen fruit to reach the blades. But once it gets going and everything is moving around, its great, she says. Its never gritty. $99 at Amazon Buy From $100 at Beast Health Buy Best full-size blender with small jar Capacity: 56 oz., 6 oz. jar | Size: 9.02 x 7.59 x 15.8 (with the full-size blender jar), 3.6 x 3.6 x 4.68 (for the six-ounce jar) | Power mechanism: Variable speed dial with smoothie, crushed ice, and icy-drink settings If you plan to stick to single-portion smoothies and small-batch sauces, one of the picks above will certainly save you money. But if you think you might appreciate having a machine that will allow for bigger batches, even only now and again, it may be worth it to splurge on a full-size model (with an ultrapowerful 1200-watt motor) that offers compatible smaller jars. Several of the models on my list of the best blenders have them, but this KitchenAid comes especially recommended by chef Camille Becerra, who notes that even at its regular size, it doesnt take up too much space. (Indeed, the base is on the smaller end in width and depth of all the full-size blenders I recommend.) The jar that she has attached to it the vast majority of the time is a mere six ounces the smallest capacity of any on this list, and the smallest capacity of any of the compatible jars offered with other recommended full-size models. Im not going to make sauces more than six ounces that sit in the fridge for days, she says, so this helps visualize the right amount. She appreciates that the machine still goes to full power because it lets her make supersmooth pastes from fibrous ingredients like ginger and lemongrass. Should you want to go a bit bigger, theres a 16-ounce jar, too. More blenders weve written about Our experts Camille Becerra, chef Jess Damuck, recipe developer and cookbook author Grace Elkus, food writer and recipe developer Jane Morgan, personal chef and recipe developer Farideh Sadeghin, recipe developer Kelsie Schrader, Strategist managing editor Ashley Wolfgang, Strategist newsletter editor get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. This Things Incredible A series where we share products that are so good we would do an entire infomercial about it. (But instead, we published this review.) Read more here. Photo: Michael Zhao I was at the Crazy Shirts flagship store in Honolulu, wearing light-blue Baggies, when I spotted the similar-hued Blue Hawaii-dyed CrazyShorts display tucked against the back wall. These brightly colored, relaxed-fit shorts looked just like the Baggies Id been wearing for the past ten years but were made of prewashed cotton twill instead of crinkly nylon. Upon trying them on, I wondered how I had tolerated the plasticky sensation of nylon against bare skin for as long as I did. The outseam draped against my outer thighs, with none of the flaring Id come to expect from the stiff Baggies. And the wide leg opening let the garment flow with me as I walked around, bringing a breeze with each crinkle-free step. The only detail I didnt love was the embroidered logo on the bottom of the left leg. At least the thread was tonally matched to the garment so it wasnt too distracting (its completely absent from some colorways like teal, black, and navy). If youre at all familiar with Crazy Shirts, its from its iconic line of B. Kliban cat comic tees aimed at tourists visiting Hawaii. While still in production today, vintage designs from as early as the 1970s pop up on eBay for dozens, or even hundreds, of dollars apiece as much a testament to Crazy Shirts construction and material quality as it is to the enduring appeal of cat memes through the ages. Since my mom moved to Honolulu at the height of the pandemic, Ive stopped at the flagship store during each of my visits in search of future classic cat tees for myself and as gifts for friends. But during this past winters annual visit, it was the shorts that caught my eye. Now that hot weather has finally returned back east, my singular pair of CrazyShorts has replaced several pairs of Baggies as the bottoms that go on first thing in the morning and stay on until theres a reason to change out of them. The roughly six-inch inseam (size-dependent) on the mens cuts falls well above the knees to reveal a bit of gam. And theyre just long enough to keep my thighs from sticking to a sun-baked car seat. (The womens version has a five-inch inseam.) They are also great for workouts and dont retain smells through multiple washes the way synthetics can over time. You shouldnt swim in them, but lets be honest: Baggies, with their bubble-trapping pockets, arent great for that either. As far as styling suggestions, Im not gonna pretend like you can dress CrazyShorts up with a linen blazer, but so long as your top is long enough to cover your abdomen, no one has to know youre wearing an elastic waistband. And the drape of the heavyweight twill material of the CrazyShorts could never be confused for pajamas, unlike the jersey-knit Everybody.World Everyday Shorts (which I love for lounging around at home). As comfortable as they were when I first tried them on in the tropical Hawaiian heat, the idea of bringing home multiple pairs of shorts in the middle of December to sit on a shelf until May felt, well, crazy (sorry). But now that summer is here, they are all I want to wear all day every day. Thankfully, I was able to remedy this error during a recent sitewide sale. Another two pairs just arrived in my mailbox mere moments before writing this sentence. get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.